//------------------------------//
// Loyal Lull 
// Story: Appledashery 
// by Just Essay 
//------------------------------//

	Rainbow Dash sat in Sugarcube Corner.  She sipped from a tall mug of orange juice while tightly perusing a set of notes from the previous day's tornado practice.

Meanwhile, off to the side, Fluttershy and Rarity stood at the front counter.

"I just feel bad for her, is all," Fluttershy murmured.

"Why's that, darling?"  Rarity glanced over at her dear friend.  "You said it was her first day off since our camping trip.  Shouldn't that be a good thing?"

"Yes, but the weather is so... unpleasant," Fluttershy remarked, her ears folded back.  "You'd think that the one day she has to herself to forego working the fields she'd have a little bit more to look forward to."

"Well, knowing Applejack, that probably means a day spent inside baking her splendid apple treats."

"Well..."

"Well what?"

"It's just that... according to Big Mac, she was really... really looking forward to spending the day out with Stu."

"Ohhhhh... well that changes everything."

"... ... ..."  Rainbow Dash glanced up from her notes, blinking.

"But Stu seems like an understanding fellow," Rarity remarked.  "Surely he wouldn't mind if they reschedule."

"Yes, but you know how it is with Applejack."  Fluttershy reached for a mug of juice along with Rarity.  "She won't have another break for days at this point."

"Doesn't Stu usually help her with the farm work?"

"Oh, yes.  But... it's not the same."

"Hmmm... suppose you do have a point."  Rarity trotted across Sugarcube Corner, followed by Fluttershy.  "That is most unfortunate."  She saw Rainbow and brightened up.  "Oh!  Rainbow!  What a pleasure seeing you here!  Mind if we join you?"

"Uhm... that's cool and all..."  Rainbow cleared her throat and gathered her things into her saddlebag.  "But I was just leaving."

"Oh?"  Fluttershy blinked.  "You were?"

"Yeah... I just... uhm..."  Rainbow flapped her wings and hovered out the door.  "I have some errands to run."

"Well, we understand, dear."

"Smell ya later."  Rainbow saluted, and was gone.

"Hmmmm..." Rarity sat down at the table with a tiny sigh.  "If Applejack isn't busy with something, then it's either myself or Rainbow Dash.  I'm telling you, Fluttershy.  Sometimes I feel like things are moving too fast as of late."

Fluttershy stared silently out the door.

"...Fluttershy?"  Rarity cocked her head to the side.  "Is everything alright?"

"I... uhm..."  Fluttershy gulped.  "Maybe?  I'm  not sure..."





Thunder rolled as Stu scampered up to the front stoop of the Apple Family residence.

He knocked on the door, then winced as a fresh batch of rain fell across the field.

With a creak, the door opened and Applejack stepped out.  She blinked.  "Stu!  Uhhhh... you came!"

"Well of course I did."  He smiled nervously.  "A stallion never breaks his promise!"  He squirmed.  "Well, I suppose statistically that's not so true, but this stallion is different and—"

"Just hold yer horses."  Applejack chuckled, waving a hoof.  "What I mean is... I reckoned the inclement weather was a clue."

"A clue for what?"  Stu blinked.  "Awwwww rats..."  His ears folded back.  "We gotta call it off again, huh?"

"I... I-I'm sorry, Stu..."

"Well... maybe we could... I dunno... hang out here instead?  Chat it up?"  He smiled crookedly.  "Chatting is nice."

"Oh, for sure.  And I'm happy to have a gab with ya."  Applejack sighed as she shuffled across the porch.  "I was just really... really hopin' to show ya around the farm sometime soon."

"Why?"  Stu blinked.  "Something you wanted me to see?"

"Well..."  Applejack fidgeted.  "As a matter of fact—"  Just then, her eyes lit up.

Bright sunlight cascaded across Sweet Apple Acres.

"What in tarnation?"  Applejack breathed.

"Hey!"  Stu peaked his head out from under the porch and squinted up at the sky.  "Heeeeeey!"  A bright grin.  "Will ya look at that?"  He flashed his eyes in Applejack's direction.  "Bluer than a bucket of pearls!"

"Well I'll be..."  Applejack smiled.  "Reckon we should take advantage of it while it lasts."

"It... uh... it rained a bit on the way here."

"No worry!"  Applejack dashed into the house with a happy breath.  "I'll grab my galloshes!"

"Heheheh..."  Stu shuffled after her with a smile.  "I love how you say 'galloshes.'"





High up above Sweet Apple Acres...

Rainbow hovered, covered in sweat.

Nevertheless, with gritting teeth, she kicked the last of the rain clouds clear.

"Whew..."

She levitated in place, brushing her hooves off.  She winced slightly, then flexed her limb forelimbs.  Nevertheless, she sported a devilish smirk as she looked at the brightly-sunlit fields below.

Eventually, Applejack and Stu stumbled out of the farm house.  Then, side by side, they strolled pleasantly across the grounds.

Rainbow Dash exhaled, flapped her wings harder, then drifted back east...

...giving them distance.