//------------------------------//
// Wishes Granted, Somewhat 
// Story: Appledashery 
// by Just Essay 
//------------------------------//

	"Whew... well..."  Stu Leaves stifled a yawn as the three of them trotted up to the front entrance to their hotel across town.  "I don't know about you girls, but I certainly couldn't have asked for a better evening."

"Of course you couldn't."  Applejack smirked.  "You paid for it."

Rainbow giggled.

With a roll of his eyes, Stu Leaves smiled.  "Even still, it was nice getting to talk about stuff that wasn't exclusively limited to Shindig, Orlandoats, or the wagon trails in between."

"Eeyup.  Reckon we should do it more often," Applejack said.  "Only, y'know, not costing you so many bits."

"Oy.  Will you let it rest about the bits, AJ?"  Stu Leaves chuckled.  "It was my treat.  And I wouldn't have had it any other way."

"Yeah, I feel ya." Applejack nodded.  "Just don't sell yerself short, y'hear?  Yer a fine gentlecolt, Stu, and a pretty darn nifty friend."

He smiled rosily.  "Yeah, well, I try."

"Seriously, though," Rainbow Dash's voice cracked.  "Read a book.  Learn more about the Elements of Harmony before you swallow your own hoof next time."

"Rainbow..." Applejack quietly chided.

"Heh... nah, it's alright."  Stu nodded with a wink.  "I get it.  And I think I'll take her up on her advice."  He fought another yawn while pushing his way into the front hotel lobby.  "After all, the next time Equestria is in Crisis, I think I wanna know how it's gonna be defended."

"Well, hopefully it won't ever come to that," Applejack said.

"It's late, girls.  See you in the morning?"

"Eeyup.  Dun let the bed bugs bite."  Applejack waved at him across the lobby.  "Whew... talk about a full rich day, eh, Rainbow?"

Rainbow hovered in the middle of the room, bleary eyed.  "Mmmmhmmmm."  She nodded.

"A whole bunch of trotting, a whole bunch of eatin', a whole bunch of talkin'..."  Applejack stretched her lithe muscles before making her way for the central stairs.  "I could certainly use a whole bunch of sleepin'.  How about you?"

"Mmmhmmm—"  Suddenly, Rainbow's eyes bulged.  "Wait."

"Flap along, sugarcube.  I'll show you the way to our room."

"Uhhhhh..."  Rainbow was trembling.  "...AJ?"

"S'all good.  You'll be restin' yer petite blue feathers soon enough."

Rainbow chose to ignore that word.  Instead, she gulped and chanted to herself as she flew ahead:  "Pleaselettherebetwobeds.  Pleaselettherebetwobeds.  Pleaselettherebetwobeds..."





Minutes later, Applejack stood in front of a room, fiddling with the lock and key.

"Ungh!  Dag nabbit.  If Stu swapped the wrong keys, I swear, I'm gonna buck him into a ditch..."

Rainbow Dash hovered a few feet away, still wincing, still chanting.  "Pleaselettherebetwobeds.  Pleaselettherebetwobeds..."

"What in tarnation are ya murmurin' about, sugarcube?"

"Uhhhhhh—"

Click.

"Whew!"  Applejack smiled, pushing the door open all the way.  "False alarm!  Alrighty..."

As she entered the room, Rainbow Dash took a deep breath and peered in. She blinked... blinked again... and ultimately relaxed in midair.

"Mind if I take the one closer to the window?" Applejack asked, hopping towards the bed in question.  "I like to have the morning sun wake me, seein' as there're no roosters around here."

"Hmmmmm..."  Rainbow Dash smiled tiredly, her limbs trembling less.  "Yeah.  That's fine."

"Is... everythang alright, darlin'?"

"Yeah..."  Fwooosh!  Rainbow darted in, hovered over the other bed, and let gravity take its course.  Fwomp! She landed on the duvet, curling up in a little blue ball and giggling with relief.  "Everything is awesome... phweeeeeee"

Applejack rolled her eyes.  "Yeah, well, I'm gettin' washed up."  She grabbed a towel and trotted towards the bathroom.  "Remind me never to let you have that many breadsticks ever again."