//------------------------------// // Dash Fried // Story: Appledashery // by Just Essay //------------------------------// "There's no tellin' how long I'm gonna be with Shindig tomorrow," Applejack said, staring across the campfire from her sleeping bag. "It could take a few hours. It could take all day." "Don't worry, AJ." Stu Leaves fought a long yawn, nuzzling his cheek against the plush fabric of his sleeping bag. He smiled pleasantly, eyelids fluttering shut. "Take as long as you want. We won't be far away." "Wherever the nearest tree is," Rainbow Dash muttered. "Whatever produces a good shade. You can bet your golden head we'll be there." "Awww... I'm sure they'll have a nice, cool place for y'all to wait indoors." Applejack smiled tiredly. "This Province ain't all sweat and grit!" "I've seen enough of it today. I'm not counting on it." "For real. Shindig will probably have... I dunno..." Applejack shrugged. "An air-conditioned lobby or something." "You think you'll have any luck getting workhooves to operate the factory once you own this place?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Bet you'll have to pay them in ice cold lemonade. Whew." "Heheheh... well, let's not be countin' any chickens before they're hatched," Applejack said. "Would it kill you to think positively?" Rainbow grunted. "Bein' positive is one thang. Bein' realistic is another." "You wanna know what's realistic?" Rainbow's eyes narrowed. "You're as serious and hard-working as ponies get. If Shindig looks past you, then she's gotta be suffering from heat-stroke or some garbage!" "Heh..." Stu cooed. "What she said." Applejack chortled. "Nighty night, sleepy head. Thanks for pullin' the wagon like a good boy all day." "Hmmmmm..." Stu drifted off, wings slack. "Good... boy..." Applejack smiled softly. She glanced back over at Rainbow. "The two of you have been gettin' along so well lately." "Yeah, well." Rainbow Dash shrugged. "Either that or die of backsweat down here." "Seriously, sugarcube. For a moment there, I was mighty scared this trip would go all frosty-like." "Why's that?" "I dunno." Applejack turned over, staring up at the stars. Her body rippled like a golden flame through the heat vapors of the campfire. "Y'all are like polar opposites. I figured I'd be pullin' the wagon all this time. But, turns out, I didn't have nothin' to worry about." "Well, of course not!" Rainbow Dash sat up, blinking. "I mean, what do you take us for, AJ? We're all in this together!" Applejack tilted her head until her green eyes were staring at Rainbow Dash upside down. The pegasus smiled. "We both wanna see you get your heart's desire. Or, in this case, your bit bag's desire. Why'd we ever wanna mess that up?" Slowly, the earth pony mare smiled. "Is anypony in Equestria luckier?" Slowly, she shook her head. "Such loyal... whizzbangin' friends..." "Hey..." Rainbow winked with a smirk. "That's how we make such a great team! Stu brings the whizz and I bring the bang." "Heheheheheh..." Applejack hugged herself inside the sleeping bag, gazing into the fire. "It's almost as if..." She blinked, and her face fell deadpan. "Awwwww never mind." Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "What?" "I'd better get some shuteye," Applejack said, curling up inside the sleeping bag. "I suggest ya do the same. Since I can't convince you two to let me carry the wagon into Shindig's ranch tomorrow, I'm gonna need my friends in top-notch rested condition. Ya hear?" "Uh... sure! Anything for you, AJ." Applejack let out a lasting sigh and was still. "... ... ..." Rainbow Dash stared at her. She glanced over at where Stu slept, and she chewed on her lip. Finally, she curled up under her own sleeping bag and closed her eyes. Aprroximately half a minute passed. "...nnnngh... ugh." Already sweating, she kicked out of the sleeping bag, hovered, smoothed it out, and laid out on top, blue coat exposed to the humid air. "If I'm gonna cook, might as well let my good side get roasted first." And, mumbling, she eventually drifted off into a sweaty sleep.