//------------------------------// // Mulch Ado About Nothing // Story: Appledashery // by Just Essay //------------------------------// I sat up on the edge of the now-empty chariot, dangling my lower legs as I hummed to myself. As a gust of wind blew at my mane, I turned and gazed at the front yard of the cottage. Rainbow Dash laid out the last of the mulch, wiping the sweat from her brow. She put on a brave smile and turned towards an elder mare who stood at the front entrance to the ramshackle house. I was too far away to hear the conversation, but I did see Rainbow pulling out a clipboard and gently coaxing the old pony to sign along the bottom of a sheet of paper. Something moved in the corner of my vision. I glanced at the windows of the run-down cottage. For a moment there, I could have sworn I saw—like—a million cats staring out from their perches. I squinted curiously, my muzzle scrunched up in confusion. At last, Rainbow Dash saluted and glided back towards me. I looked over her shoulder as the old mare stumbled her way into her house, having to slide past a mountain of junk threatening to spill out as soon as the door opened. Rainbow's cracking voice snapped me out of my gaze. “Whew! Why do all old mares smell like sawdust and hospitals? Somepony should write a book about it.” “I don't like hospitals,” I muttered. “Heh... why's that, kid? They're all about making ponies get better.” I shrugged. “It doesn't matter.” I looked up at her with a warm smile. “You done?” “Yup.” Rainbow flipped through the sheets on her clipboard. “Flew all the way just to dump the mulch and get a signature. Pretty run of the mill.” “Uh huh...” “Too bad you couldn't join me on a delivery to—say—Dream Valley. I hear the songs sung at the rivers are really rocking.” I almost went cross-eyed. “Songs sung at the rivers?” “Eh... it's a long story.” “Rainbow, could you ask me something?” “So long as you keep it safe for work, kid.” “Huh?” She rolled her eyes and smirked. “Ask anything, Scoots.” I lean forward from the chariot's side. “How come you're delivering boring stuff while dressed in an apron?” “Uhmmmmm...” “Wouldn't you rather be—y'know—practicing your killer moves for the Wonderbolts or breaking speed records?” I sliced my hoof through the air while imitating propeller noises. “Vrmmmm-mmmm-mmm! Y'know, like normal?” “Normal? Pfft! Please, kid. I'm too awesome for normal.” “What's so awesome about making deliveries, then?” Rainbow froze in place, blinking. “It's... uh...” She chuckled nervously. “It's complicated, Scoots. But sometimes—as radical as you may be—you've still gotta do stuff to get by, ya understand?” “No.” I shook my head. “I don't.” “Oh.” Her ears folded, and she tapped her chin. “Hmmmm...” A blink, and she smirked. “What's something that you really hate to do that your parents force you to do?” I shuddered from head to tail. “Brrrrrbbrrr... going to the dentist.” “Uhh... besides that. Like, an activity.” “Oh!” I sighed and glanced aside. “Chores, I guess.” “Like what kind of chores?” “Oh, y'know.” I shrugged. “Raking leaves. Trimming the lawn. Cleaning out the gutters. My dad does most of the work, but he still makes me hang around as if I'm somehow lending a hoof. Most of the time I feel like I'm just hobbling around, doing nothing.” “But it's not nothing, is it?” “Well, no... I guess. I mean, the lawn's gotta look good or else we'd be the laughing stock of Ponyville.” “Heh... I dunno about that, but sure...” Rainbow trotted up to the chariot and began hitching herself to it again. “You see, Scoots, we're all here on this earth to do wicked cool stuff. Especially us pegasi, ya feel me?” “Heehee...” I smiled. “I do.” “Celestia knows where unicorns and earth ponies would be without us to keep the skies clear and the weather chillaxed. But, some of the time, doing our part can be... y'know... really boring.” “Or lame?” “I try not to use that word unless I totally mean it, kid.” “Oh. R-right. Sorry.” “Pfft! Don't be. Some horses are more sensitive than others, not me.” “Heh...” “But, y'know, in more ways than one, we gotta tackle what's ahead of us so that we can keep the world moving. It may be boring from time to time...” She paused to sigh, tugging at the yellow material of her apron. “Even stupid once in a while.” She turned to smirk at me. “But, y'know, all the better! Cuz the sooner we get the dull stuff done...” Her wings spread as she winked. “The sooner we win ourselves time to be awesome like we were born to be!” “So...” I squinted and leaned forward. “You got all of this delivery stuff out of the way so you could have free time later to practice more sick flying moves?” “Uhhhh... Oh! Totally!” Rainbow rubbed her chin, then slowly grinned. “And I can't think of a better pony to spend time doing that with than you.” I nearly fell off the chariot with how hard I gasped. “R-Really?” “Heh... easy there, squirt.” She reached over and ruffled my mane. “You'll bust some squishy foal organ. Now sit tight with all legs and feathers inside the chariot.” She took a galloping start and lifted us effortlessly into the bright blue sky. “Time I worked out a little bit of rust... and you get to judge!” “Wooohoooo!” I pumped a hoof in the air, nearly falling back from the sharp ascent. “Whoah!” “Easy, now...”