//------------------------------// // Repay // Story: priceless // by Derec mc coy //------------------------------// “Where is she?” Applejack was sitting in the private room under the stage. “Round two will be starting any minute.” With that, the door of the room slammed open, and a rainbow maned pegasus trotted inside. “No need to worry. I’m here.” Rainbow Dash smiled. “Dash. What in tarnation took you so long?” Applejack asked. “Sorry about that, I needed to do something first..” Rainbow Dash took a paper bag from under her wings. “I made these for after the test.” She said. Applejack looked inside the bag. “Apple turnovers? Ah never knew you could make those.” “Me neither. I got up really early to go to the bakery, and asked for the recipe. Then I asked if I could bake some on my own.” Rainbow Dash explained. “That’s why you weren’t in your bed this morning.” Applejack said. “I left a note.” Rainbow Dash smirked. “Yeah, but next time, be a little bit more specific, will ya? I mean… ‘Don’t look for me, I’ll see you at the arena’ isn’t really specific.” Applejack said. “That was the meaning.” Rainbow Dash smiled. “This was meant to be a surprise.” Applejack cocked her eyebrow. “And why do Ah deserve this?” “For being so awesome. And to say thank you, for carrying me while I was unconscious. It means a lot to me.” Rainbow Dash said. Applejack noticed the sweet smell of fresh baked apple sweets. “Ah’ve got to say, they smell good.” “Thanks. I really tried to do my best.” Rainbow Dash said. “Ah see that.” Applejack said. Before she could say something else, a mare interrupted the two, by entering the room. “It’s time.” the mare said. It was the same mare as yesterday. “Yeah, yeah. We’re coming.” Rainbow Dash said. The white unicorn rolled with her eyes and left. “You’re coming?” Rainbow Dash ask. “Sure.” Applejack smiled. And the two left the room as well. A few minutes later, they found themselves on top of the stairs, which leads to the stage. “About yesterday…” Rainbow Dash started. “Will you please shut it?” Applejack said annoyed. “Ah know you’re grateful, Ah know Ah saved your chance for that money, Ah know it all. But please… shut it.” Rainbow turned away. “Okay. Got it. I’ll shut it. but I just wanted to say that I owe you one.” “Fine” Applejack said. “So, any idea what kind of a test it is today?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Nope. Not the slightest.” Applejack responded. “But Ah saw that they changed the field into an apple field.” “An apple field?” Rainbow Dash asked confused. “Yeah. The whole field is filled with apple trees. But Ah have no idea why.” Rainbow Dash stretched her wings. “I don’t even need to know.” From the outside, they could hear crowd cheering, while a voice was yelling some names. “I’m ready for everything.” Rainbow Dash said. Applejack smiled and shook her head. “Don’t lose your head.” “Rainbow Dash and Applejack.” The voice from the outside said. “Hey!” Rainbow Dash said a bit bothered. Applejack opened the door, and walked to the other duos, with Rainbow Dash behind her. “That was an accident. You were pulling me behind, so I got distracted.” Rainbow Dash said. “Oh, you’re saying that it’s my fault that you ran in that tree?” Applejack snapped back. “Sorry.” Rainbow Dash sighed. “I… didn’t want to say that.” “It’s okay Dash.” Applejack said. “Dear competitors.” Filthy yelled through the megaphone. “You proved that you are fast. But now, we want to know… are you strong enough… to carry the prize money.” He joked. “To test that out, we set up a new test for you. Twilight will explain that to us.” Filthy Rich stepped backward, and passed the megaphone to Twilight. “Thank you. Like Mister Rich said, our competitors will have to prove that they are strong. So, as you can see. There are many apple trees in front of you. It’s divided in five sections. Every duo gets one section. They will have to harvest every single apple, and then make apple juice. The last one who completed the task, will not go to the next round.” Applejack’s eyes shimmered when she heard that. “This is something for you Applejack.” Rainbow Dash said. “Yup. Ah’m born for this job.” Applejack said back. “I know. Sweet.” Rainbow Dash said excited. There was no way she could lose this with Applejack on her team. “As for the rules,” Twilight continued. “No magic, stay in your part of the orchard, and don’t steal somepony else’s apples. Make sure you deliver a good quality, and most of all, have fun.” Filthy Rich took the megaphone back. “May I ask the competitors to go to their part, thank you.” Applejack and Rainbow Dash walked to the left part of the gigantic apple orchard. Every section was separated with iron bars, and it had a placard with the names of the duos. “Now. There aren’t that many apples.” Applejack said. “Ah estimate that Ah buck those in… one… maybe one and a half hours.” Rainbow Dash saw all of the desperate and depressed faces of the other competitors. “We’re totally gonna win.” She looked around. “How are we supposed to make apple juice?” The only thing she saw were a few barrels and a tub. The wooden tub was twice the size of an average pony. “With the tub, the old fashioned way.” Applejack said. Rainbow Dash cocked an eyebrow. “How?” Applejack walked to the tub, and climbed on the edge of it. Rainbow Dash flew next to her, so they both looked inside the tub. “See, you stand here, Ah’ll buck the apples, and load them into this tub. Then, you get into this tub, and squeeze them with your bare hoofs. Like in the old days. With the spigot, the apple juice can drain out into the barrel.” “Wait. With my hoofs? I never heard of that?” Rainbow said. “That’s because this method is real old. It’s more labor heavy than the machine we’ve got on the farm.” Applejack explained. “Oh, okay. That explains.” Rainbow Dash said. “On your marks!” Filthy yelled through the megaphone. “get set… GO!” Applejack jumped off of the tub, and ran to the closest apple tree. Rainbow Dash ran to an empty barrel and placed it under the spigot. Applejack kicked the tree on the right spot, and every apple fell out. She found herself a basket and loaded every apple into it. Rainbow Dash flew over to help. “Take these, and start squeezing.” Applejack said when they grabbed every apple. “I’m on it.” Rainbow Dash flew to the Tub, and threw every apple in it. she jumped inside the tub, and squeezed every apple in it. Before Rainbow Dash was finished, Applejack returned with another basket. “I overestimated it. I only need half an hour.” “Sweet!” Rainbow Dash said. And she started to jump on those fresh apples. After a little while, and a few baskets, Rainbow Dash flew out the tub, and opened the spigot. A stream of goldish liquid drowned out. Straight into the barrel. “And… that was our first barrel already. This is going way faster than the last cider season.” She exclaimed. Applejack ran to Rainbow Dash with another basket filled with apples on her head. “Less talkin’, more squeezin’.” She said. “yeah, yeah… It’s on the top of my list” Rainbow Dash said. Rainbow Dash and Applejack worked harder than they ever did. The sweat was dripping from Applejack’s face. And Rainbow Dash’ hooves were starting to hurt from all that trotting and jumping. They saw all the other competitors having problems too. And the worst thing was that the sun was burning on there heads. But there was no time for refreshments. Applejack accidentally dropped the basket it the tub too. Right on top of Rainbow Dash. “Hay! Watch out.” Rainbow Dash yelled. “Sorry.” Applejack apologised. “Anyway, that was the last one.” “Great!” Rainbow Dash said. And she did a last effort. “It’s warm in here.” “I know. I can use something to drink too.” Applejack said. “I’ve got enough!” Rainbow Dash responded. “Then I’ll take it away.” Applejack said. “Good. I’m ready too.” Applejack closed the last barrel, and Rainbow Dash crawled out of the tub. “We did it.” Rainbow Dash panted. “We…‘re even first.” She could feel her heartbeat in all four hoofs. Applejack laid her exhausted body in the grass. “Yup… We made it.” “Maybe it’s time for those apple turnovers” Applejack suggested. “To celebrate this.” “Maybe later. I saw enough apples for now…”