"Well, the original plan was to give it to her this Friday," Stu Leaves said. "But... I-I can't find a good way to frame it. I'm talking about an opportunity to surprise her with it, y'know?"
"Uh huh..." Rainbow Dash hovered above the stallion while he sat on the front stoop of his apartment. Crickets sang in the background under a starry glow. "Maybe you should just—I dunno—take it over her ranch or something?"
"Well, I thought of that too, but I doubt even that's possible." Stu gulped, rubbing his hooves together nervously. "All of a sudden, Applejack's been really... really busy with apple bucking. Almost as if she's got four times the work load as normal. I can't get a word in edgewise."
"Huh?" Rainbow Dash blinked. "Oh. Duh. Winsome Falls."
"Winsome What?"
Rainbow smiled slightly. "Fluttershy came up with an idea for the six of us girls to go and hang out at Winsome Falls," Rainbow Dash said. "Sort of... like... a small, funtime camping trip thingy." She gulped. "Plus Trixie."
"Oh, you don't say?" Stu smiled wide, his wingtips fluttering. "That sounds really, really nice!"
"Yeah." Rainbow shrugged. "It'll be an opportunity for us to catch up, y'know? Chew the fat... get sweaty with one another." She blinked. "Erm... that last part sounded weirder than I meant it to."
Stu chuckled. "I get it. Girl bonding time."
"Right. Girl bondage... bonding..." Rainbow went cross-eyed. "Bleah..."
"Ha ha ha ha ha..."
She smiled. "So... uh..." She dipped a bit in midair, rubbing her numb forelimbs together. She had to get at least one dose before the hike. "AJ's probably... y'know... buffering."
"Buffering?"
"Doing a bunch of work now so she won't have to do a bunch of work later."
"Ahhhhh..."
"So she'll have time for the camping trip?"
"I suspect you're doing the same."
"Eh... I have it waaaaay easier," Rainbow said, slicking her mane back. "Both of my jobs are part-time."
"What about the tornado team meet?"
"Easily avoidable, dude. It's just a matter of scheduling. I'd say I'm in the same boat as Rarity in that regard."
"Well, I do hope everything works out for you girls."
"Yeah..." Rainbow sighed, staring aside. "Me too."
"I know first-hoof how awesome it can be when you and Applejack share the same air." Stu winked. "You two can definitely talk up a storm."
"Yes... well..." Rainbow gulped. "Not recently..."
Stu's voice leapt over that. "Rainbow Dash?"
"Yeah, Stu?"
"About... uhm... about the Trottingham orange tree gift..."
"What about it?"
He cleared his throat and looked up at her with a nervous expression. "You... uh... you won't tell her about it, will you?" A crooked smile, ears twitching. "I mean, at this rate, it probably won't be until after your trip that AJ receives it."
Rainbow stared at him.
"I really want the surprise to go over well. It's all in the presentation, if you catch me."
She continued staring. She smiled. "Sure thing, Stu. Mum's the word."
"Oh..." He exhaled a heavy weight from his lungs. "Oh thank you, Rainbow!" A breathy chuckle. "You've been such a wonderful help. You have no idea!"
"Hey..." Rainbow shrugged, beginning to fly away as the night cast a shadow over her muzzle. "What are friends for...?"