Appledashery

by Just Essay


Hunger

Rainbow Dash drifted slowly down the streets of Atlantrot, threading her way between buildings at the third and fourth story levels.

As the day waned, and the glossy windows reflected the red sheen of sunset, the streets below grew less and less crowded. Rainbow saw stagecoaches and their pullers retreating towards the outer districts, where they parked alongside and beneath buildings before the various equine citizens of Atlantrot retired for the night.

One by one, the windows and lamps and skyscraper summits lit up. The air grew cooler, but in an invigorating way. Rainbow felt her lungs urge to expel their breaths from the chill. She kept her muzzle clamped shut, regardless.

While drifting forward, she glanced to the side. Something made her linger in the air, and soon she resorted to perching on a window ledge, peering across the way towards an apartment complex.

Two ponies stood on the edge of a balcony, a mare and a stallion. The mare had a pitcher of water in her mouth, and she was sprinkling over a line of potted flowers. The stallion strolled up from behind, reaching in to nuzzle her neck. The mare smiled to herself, then almost dropped the pitcher entirely when the stallion nibbled lightly on her ear.

She giggled in protest, placing the pitcher down before turning around to give the stallion a playful swat in the chest. The stallion merely chuckled, gazing down into her face with thin eyes.

She brushed his bangs back. Then, closing her eyes, she leaned up and gave him the lightest of feathery kisses on the lips.

Rainbow watched, blinking slowly.

The stallion reached a hoof up. Despite his towering figure, he gently caressed the mare's cheek and neck. He kissed his way down towards her lower muzzle and chin, and she sighed daintily into his embrace. Then, after a few seconds, they parted ways, staring at each other evenly. Next, the stallion tilted his head up, brushing his chin against the mare's head. She acquiesced, lowering just enough so that his chin was nestled against her mane. With a peaceful smile, she tilted her head back, rubbing the nape of his throat with her soft neck. The couple stood there in their nuzzling embrace, relishing in each other's scent as it was carried by the brisk evening wind.

By this time, Rainbow Dash was hugging herself. She sighed gently out her nostrils, her eyes watering slightly. Eventually, her gaze fell towards the street below, where they hopped from one flickering lamp to another in the dulling haze of night.

After several minutes, she finally built up the courage to stretch her wings and dive off the window sill.


Applejack whistled to herself, which caused an echo across the concrete pillars inside the underground wagon port. She trotted around her carriage, checking on the cider barrels and making sure that everything was fastened tight.

With a satisfied smile, she turned towards the exit—only to nearly run into a blue figure. "Whoah nelly!" She hobbled back, holding a hoof up over her chest. A few blinks later, she chuckled. "Whew... Rainbow! You gave me quite the scare, ya silly filly!"

"Er... sorry..." Rainbow winced.

"Had a nice flight?"

"Sure. I guess."

"I was wonderin' when you'd get back!" the mare exclaimed, trotting towards the exit. "We done fetched our room for the night. I hope you dun mind that I went on ahead and dragged yer things in."

"That's... super nice of you." Rainbow Dash bit her lip. "You didn't... uhhh..." She fidgeted. "Uhm..."

"Rainbow... honestly." Applejack smirked back at her. "Who do ya take me for, sugarcube?" She tilted her hat back. "I dun look into ponies' private stuff anymore than you would."

"Er... right..."

"Are you sure yer feelin' alright, darlin'?"

"I'm... uhhh... I..."

Applejack's green eyes blinked.

Rainbow looked away so she wouldn't have to stare at them. "Guess I'm a bit tired, is all."

"Well, reckon you deserve a good night's sleep." Applejack nodded. "But not without gettin' some fuel in ya! Tomorrow's gonna be a long day! Not one of us is all too familiar with the roads down in Fillyda."

"Uhm... what did you have in mind?"

"It was Stu's idea, actually. There's this really fancy restaurant two blocks down. Figured we'd have a nice bite to eat there and then put in for a nightcap. What do you say?"

"Well..."

"My treat!" Applejack winked.

Rainbow smiled faintly. "That's super nice of you n'stuff... but... I-I'm not all too hungry."

"Awwww... what a shame." Applejack shrugged. "Suit yerself." She made for the exit. "Head on upstairs, if ya like, and get some early shuteye. Stu and I will just have to go to the restaurant on our own—"

Fwooosh! Rainbow Dash perched at Applejack's side. "You know what?! I-I-I think I'm feeling my stomach rumbling already!"

"Oh... uhhh... Well okay, then!" Applejack smiled nervously. "What changed yer mind?"

"Do they... s-serve grilled cheese there?"

"Err... maybe?"

"Grilled cheese!" Rainbow smiled twitchingly. "Grilled cheese changed my mind!"

"Heheheh..." Applejack shook her head. "Rainbow, darlin', you never ceased to surprise me."

"Well," the mare muttered. "One of us has to."

"Hmmm? What was that?"

"I-I said I can't wait to chew!" She grinned awkwardly. "On cheese! Grilled cheese!" She reared her hooves and galloped off. "Now let's go already!"