"I mean it, Rainbow Dash," Stu Leaves said as the two slowly drifted back towards the rest stop below. "You're a really swell friend."
"Hey, I do what I can."
"I mean, not just to Applejack, but to me." Stu Leaves smiled sweetly at her. "So often I'm afraid of doing the stupid think, y'know? Of putting my hoof in my mouth super bad. Or, should I say, doing it again."
"Er..."
"I mean, it's no huge secret that I talk too much." He winced. "I'm doing it right now, am I?" A sigh. "I swear. I'm such a horrible judge of character. I think the reason I like Applejack so much is that she's super honest. Sometimes brutally so. But it's alright! Because the longer I hang out with her, the more I learn about myself, y'know? It's like I start to feel like a better person, because I figure that the more she tolerates me, then I must be improving myself!" He turned to smile at the pegasus. "It's good to know she's got friends who are no less awesome at character testing."
"H-how do you mean?"
"I'm pretty sure that--if you hadn't come along on this trip--I would have done the dumb thing and just... y'know... asked Applejack straight out."
"Yeah..."
"Heh! And can you imagine that happening? Me doing something so dumb and impulsive? Whew. I could have screwed up our friendship real bad."
Rainbow bit her lip, avoiding her gaze.
"I mean, I want what's best for AJ too. I just don't know my own limits, sometimes, y'know? But... but I do now. I'm going to hold back. I mean... we're all better off that way, aren't we?" He grinned wide. "Applejack's got all she needs, and so do I!" He sighed happily, his wings fluttering. "Gosh. It's kind of funny how simple it all is. Can't believe I ever stressed about it for nights on end!"
"Er... right..." Rainbow exhaled slowly through her nostrils. "We're all just... y'know... better as we are."
Stu winked. "Especially when we've got selfless and loyal buddies by our sides, eh?"
"Stu, please... just--"
"Well, two can play at that game." He chuckled. "One of these days, I'm gonna out-loyal you through the floor! Wanna bet?"
"No..." Rainbow gulped. "Not really."
"Awwwww... but you were so eager to bet earlier!"
"Uh huh..."
"Why so stiff?"
"I dunno, Stu." Rainbow clenched her jaw shut, frowning into the lowering horizon. "Does everything have to have an answer? I mean... really?"
Silence.
"Stu...?"
"Oh no..."
"What?" Rainbow Dash glanced over. "What is it?"
"This..." Stu's pupils shrunk. "This is bad." He gulped hard. "This is real... real bad."
"What is?" Just then, Rainbow Dash's heart sank, and her coat turned a paler sheen. "Awwwww crap!" She flitted all over in hyperventilating little bursts. "The cart! The cart!"
"Rainbow Dash..."
"Friggin' A! We promised Applejack we'd watch over it! And fwoooosh I take you up into the clouds and now it's gone! Ah jeez! She's going to kill me! Please say this isn't happening!"
"Rainbow..."
"Oh please oh please oh please..."
Stu tugged at the mare's tail.
She spun around, shivering in-midair.
"... ... ..." Stu smiled. He hovered aside so that his figure no longer strategically blocked the cart and its stack of cider crates from the petite pegasus' perspective. "...made you look."
"... ... ..." Rainbow's brow twitched as her jaw went slack.
"Snkkkkt..." Stu hugged himself, performing little hoofy-kicks in the air. "Ha ha ha ha! Oh Commander Hurricane, spear me! It's like your muzzle's turned to pure strawberries! I've never seen any pegasus blush that hard!"
"What... that... it..." Rainbow wheezed, her voice cracking with every other vowel at this point. "Who taught you how to prank?!"
"Well, something had to melt you!" he said with a smirk. "You were stiff as a board for a moment there!" He bit his lip. "I was hoping you'd laugh or something now that you saw it!"
"Hey Stu, there's something on your nose."
"H-huh?" His eyes crossed. "There is?"
WHAP! Rainbow's tail slammed across his muzzle.
He winced, squinting one eye open. "Oh. I see it now."
"Heheheheheheh..." Rainbow Dash clutched herself, ears tearing. "NOW I'm laughing! Hahahaha!"
"S-so you are!" Stu rubbed his muzzle, blushing slightly. "Heheheh..."
"Whewwwwww..." Rainbow exhaled as she drifted slowly towards the cart. "Been wanting to do that for days."
"For real?"
"Yes. Stu. For real."
"Oh! Uh... me too! Me too..."