//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 - Daily Life // Story: Facing Consequences, Making Choices // by 1Bit //------------------------------// Waking up was always the hardest part of the morning for Rainbow. As sunlight seeped in to Applejack's room, both mares groggily got out of bed. Applejack trotted towards the window and put all her might into getting it open. A few heaves later, the window gave in and creaked open. She poked her head out the window, shivering at the cold breeze as it ruffled her mane. Rainbow stretched her tired limbs, groaning as her legs clicked at the joints. Applejack returned to her marefriend, giving her a quick kiss. "You'd better get goin', sugarcube." Applejack pointed out, sadly. "Best you get out of sight." "Well, Applebloom already knows I'm here." Rainbow replied, determined to stay by her side. "Yeah, but I don't think everypony will fall for that trick you pulled." Applejack chuckled. "Oh, master of closets." She added, jokingly. Rainbow rolled her eyes, smiling. "Alright, Alright. I guess it was a little stupid...but it worked, didn't it?" She reminded her. "Darlin'...it was in the middle of the night. Applebloom was still half-asleep." She sighed, looking back at the open window again, the small red curtains flapping gently in the breeze. "But you need to go. We're keepin' things quiet, remember? All hush-hush." She gave the pegasus a hug, instantly relaxing the pegasus. "Fine then." Rainbow Dash gave in, putting her forehooves on the window sill. "Wait..." She looked down from the window. "Uh, AJ? I can't fly, remember?" She said, nervously. "I don't think it's very-" She was interrupted by a sharp pain in her flank as Applejack bucked her out the window. "SAAAAAFE!" Applejack cantered over to the window as Rainbow disappeared from view. She looked down to see a rather angry pegasus glaring back at her. "See? Nothin' to be afraid of!" She remarked, stifling a laugh. "You're so cruel sometimes, you know that?" "You wouldn't love me any other way!" Applejack shouted, swiftly disappearing back into her room. I hate it when she's right... Rainbow thought, wincing a little as she walked away from the farm before the other Apples woke up. I'm definitely gonna get her back one day. Rainbow grinned as wicked thoughts began to slip into her mind. She didn't stop grinning all the way back to Ponyville. Ponyville was like a ghost town at this hour. Streets were barren and shops were shut. The only noise that could be heard was the steady clip-clopping of Rainbow's hooves as she made her way to Twilight's treehouse. The silence was deafening for Rainbow and she began to quicken her pace, self-concious about the sound of her hooves clattering on the cobblestone street. Her magenta eyes darted from left to right and she slipped into the treehouse still watching for any movement; any stirring whatsoever from other ponies. With a sigh of relief, she closed the door behind her. Inside the treehouse was just as quiet as outside. Rainbow moved as quickly as she dared, aiming to slip into the crumpled sleeping bag on the other side of the room without waking up Twilight or Spike. Her wing made it...difficult to reach her own floating home so Twiilight had graciously offered up a place for Rainbow in the treehouse. While Rainbow would much rather have enjoyed Applejack's company for the duration of her recovery, she would have felt bad turning down the unicorn. Gently shuffling into the sleeping bag, Rainbow did her best to relax. But this proved quite difficult for the mare who constantly twisted and turned as she tried to get comfortable. Wish Applejack was here. Ever since she'd started sneaking off to sleep with Applejack every night, returning to the cold sleeping bag on the hard wooden floor of the library became harder and harder. Finally, she found a somewhat suitable position and began to drift off back to sleep. Back at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack was already up making breakfast. She hummed to herself joyfully as the rest of the family came down the stairs to join her. "Mornin' y'all." She said, smiling. "Did y'all sleep alright?" "I haven't slept alright for fifty years, youngin'!" Granny suddenly exclaimed, taking them all by surprise. "...but thanks for askin' anyway." She added, quietly. Applejack just laughed. "How about you, Big Mac?" She turned to her brother who was letting out a deep yawn, shaking off the last remnants of sleep. "Eeyup." He replied simply, taking his place at the kitchen table. Applebloom bounced up onto the seat next to him, beaming. "You seem to be in a particularly fine mood, Applebloom." "Why wouldn't I be?" She said, practically jumping around on her seat. "Today is the day I'm gonna get my cutie mark!" Applejack couldn't help but facehoof. "Applebloom, sweetie..." "Me and Sweetie Belle are gonna try our hand at Lion tamin'!" Big Mac and Granny both gasped, lost for words. Applebloom just sat there, bemused by their reactions. "What? We're not usin' an actual lion, silly!" Before Applejack could advise against it, Applebloom was out the door and halfway down the orchard. Big Mac just looked at her and she offered a shrug, returning to the breakfast she was cooking. "So you ready to get buckin' Applejack?" Granny piped up. "I figure we got a good few days work ahead of us!" "Eeyup!" Applejack paused for a minute. She'd almost completely forgotten about Applebucking season; what with all the crazy events of the past month or so still fresh in her mind. "Well I have some things I'll need to take care of first." She replied calmly, realising she'd need to talk to Rainbow. "Oh don't worry, child! We'll give ya plenty of time to check on Cloudjumper before we start." Granny smiled warmly at her and Applejack couldn't help but smile back. Her family had been immensely supportive of her after Cloudjumper was admitted into Ponyville Hospital. It warmed her heart each and every day that she had such wonderful folks behind her. Which just made it worse that she had to hide the truth from them. "Thanks, Granny." With a sudden loss of appetite, Applejack made for the door, momentarily spinning round to look at the others. "I'll be back later y'all." "You take care now!" Granny replied, waving her goodbye. Big Mac smiled calmly, joining Granny in waving at her. With a smirk, she slipped out into the fresh air and broke into a steady canter down the dirt path, heading straight for Ponyville.