The wind howled through the trees, whipping at Rainbow's mane as she forced one hoof in front of the other, battling forwards. She grit her teeth. She enjoyed pretty much every kind of weather. Sun was always a blast. She liked going swimming and diving and having a good time. Snow was cool too. It was maybe her favourite type of weather.
But then there was wind. Not just any wind: gales. She'd be sent a stern letter a week in advance and that was it. No flying for every pegasus in Ponyville. Day officially ruined.
Her hooves ached as she climbed up the hill, the third on her way out of Ponyville. It wouldn't even be so bad, she thought, if she could just stay at home, maybe enjoy a book? Ponies did that, and they found ways to have fun. If they could do it, well, so could Rainbow.
But no. No staying inside for this mare.
After what felt like hours of climbing, she finally reached the top of the hill. Her primaries were plastered to her sides, as safe as they could possibly get from the wind. She breathed a sigh of relief. It was all downhill from here.
And if it hadn't been raining so much, it might have even been easy.
Rainbow's hooves slipped on the grimy, wet earthen path. She wobbled, keeping herself steady. A sudden gust of wind knocked her to the left, and she instinctively spread her wings for balance. A mistake she'd regret.
The wind caught her wings and pulled her up. Her hooves flailed at the muddy ground to no avail and she was propelled forwards like a sailboat caught in a hurricane. She let out a panicked, and very girlish, shriek.
"And then... and then..." Rainbow stammered, her teeth chattering from the cold, "I fell straight into y-your water-bucket-thing..."
Applejack threw another towel onto the soaked and freezing pegasus. "Just hold up one minute," she said. "I got warm cider 'round here somewhere..."
Rainbow clasped the towel between her hooves and wrapped herself as tightly as she could. "Y-you don't think you could make your f-farm a bit easier to get to?" she asked. "The trip takes me forever when I c-can't fly."
Applejack returned from the kitchen with a mug of steaming liquid. Rainbow's nostrils twitched. It smelled spicy, and most importantly, warm.
"You could just not come over for a few days 'til the weather clears itself up," Applejack replied as Rainbow gulped the cider down.
"Or maybe that's a d-dumb idea," she countered. "If I don't m-make it up here, who will?" she asked. Applejack shook her head.
"Well, ain't no arguin' there," she said. "So, now that you're here, what d'you want to do?"
Rainbow continued shivering. Water was even dripping from her nose. The trough had really done a number on her: one of the many trials that came with early spring. "Get another towel," she said. Applejack smiled.
"I got one better," she replied, and rested her hoof and head against Rainbow's ice-cold body. "Careful not to drip on my hat, though."
"Th-thanks," Rainbow stuttered, feeling the warmth of her partner spread across her coat. She was still damp, but at least she was a little warmer.
The trip was always worth it, at least.