Appledashery

by Just Essay


Alphabetical

“Zecora???”

Rainbow Dash floated down, flapped her wings, and landed before the hut in the center of Everfree Forest.

“Hey! Z to the C to the A!” Rainbow Dash knocked on the door, her saddlebag bulging with the appropriate ingredients for a potion. “It's your gal pal! Y'know... the one who sounds like she works at a little pet shop!” She knocked again. “Sorry for being so late! I... k-kinda got caught up with some last second stuff, but I'm here now!”

Silence.

“You there?” She fidgeted. “Uhhh... if I'm bothering you, then—like—I could leave the stuff here and you can make a brew with them later? If that's... alright...?” She squinted, then cocked her head to the side to look through a window.

Not only did it appear empty inside, but none of the candles were lit.

“She's not home...” Rainbow tapped her chin. “I don't suppose there's been some pilgrimage to Meccolt that I don't know about?”

More silence.

“Hrmmmmm...” She flexed her limbs, wincing at the numbness. “Darn it, sass-stripes, where could you be?” She paced about in a circle, wings twitching. Then, with a sudden realization, she froze. Blinking, she flapped her feathers and lifted up... up... up... banking about and heading her way towards the forest's edge.


Rainbow Dash glided towards the east fields of Sweet Apple Acres. The sun was beginning to set, and—sure enough—two shadows stretched broadly across the emerald hilltops flanking the orchards.

“Ah hah!” Rainbow grinned. “One way or another, all things wash up here.” She squinted. “Buh?”

One of the shadows belonged to Zecora... and the other to Big Macintosh.

Biting her tongue, Rainbow Dash dropped straight down and crouched low along the fence line. Led on by nervous curiosity, she inched forward over the hill, approaching the two figures as they finished planting a row of seeds.

“It'll take more than moisture for Zebraharan fruit to grow,” Zecora said, sporting a bright grin. “Just follow my keen instructions whenever you sow. By allowing these Everfree worms to stay in the soil, you'll rid yourself of much unneeded toil. They'll consume every nutrient, save but one, and this will allow the fruit to grow swiftest in the Equestrian sun!”

“Eeeeyup,” Big Mac said, observing the wriggling creatures with awe and amusement.

“I am grateful, Big Macintosh, that you've entertained my advice. Most Equestrians would think that these creatures would only be a vice.” Zecora chuckled slightly and said, “I assure you that with enough attention and care, your family will grow a new crop that is both delicious and rare.” She gestured at the rows of raised soil. “It will certainly give you an edge in the local market, and those ponies who scoff at you can simply bend over and s—” She blinked over the ridge, and her ears twitched. “Rainbow Dash! Is that you?”

Rainbow flinched, leaning back. “Uhh... uhhhhhh...”

“Good evening, my fine friend!” Zecora grinned. “Big Macintosh and I are at our labor's end.”

“Eeeyup.”

“So good to work so closely by your side,” Zecora said, turning to him. She bit her lip, trying not to blush. “I hope you don't mind the many hours that were applied.”

“Eenope.” The stallion smiled pleasantly at her.

“Alas, I have scheduled business with Rainbow.” She played with a few blades of grass and avoided the stallion's gaze. “Perhaps we can resume where we left off... t-tomorrow?”

“Eeyup.” Big Macintosh bowed low, snatched up the basket of seedlings, waved, and trotted back to the barn.

“A wonderful and fortuitous thing!” Zecora waved at him. “Many more seeds I'll be sure to bring!”

“Eeyup.”

“Hmmmmmm...” Zecora sat back on her haunches, exhaling through a contented sigh.

Rainbow Dash trotted up. “Uhhh... y'know... if you wanted to reschedule, I could totally bother you another evening.”

“I wouldn't mind if he b-bothered me every night,” Zecora cooed deliriously into the air. “Such gentle disposition and yet such muscle and might...”

“Errrr...” Rainbow Dash grimaced her way into a coy grin. “Do we need to take a dip in the frozen north on our way to your hut?”

“Hmmm? Oh! By the shadows...” Zecora fanned herself and turned tail towards the dirt road beyond the fenceline. “Let us make the brew that is so sorely overdue.”

“I don't think I'm the one who's asking to be sore.”

“Eunngh... Rainbow...”

“Heeheeheee...”