Small and Stupid Things

by bahatumay

Candy Wrapper (Twist)

Looking over the pile of things she had collected over the years, Applejack couldn’t help but grin. There was so much life in these old things. Objects that had breathed life into her relationship, simple items that meant so much more than what they were.

Something stood out among the assembled objects, catching her eye and looking out of place like a white piece of trash on an otherwise pristine green lawn. Leaning forward, Applejack picked it up; it was an old candy wrapper. It was amateurish, definitely, and hadn’t been tied very neatly way back when it had held a candy. It bore a quickly drawn set of crossed candy canes, the cutie mark of the mare called Twist. These days, Twist made hard candies that were the envy of pretty much every candymaker in Equestria. Flavor, texture, size, design; she could and did create anything you could possibly think of.

But this wrapper had come from an earlier time, when Twist had just been starting out on her own, and had crossed paths with Rainbow Dash. Applejack couldn’t suppress a smile as she recalled the events that had happened that day, and the far-reaching consequences of a simple candy.

* * *

* * *

Rainbow Dash grinned as she entered Ponyville market. It was always a hive of activity, with ponies talking and sharing information and wares. The best thing about the market was, you were never sure what you could find. Although Canterlot law required a fee and proper documentation for any stand in an open market, Ponyville law had reduced that to a half-page form with a one bit fee. 'To help the free economy,' the mayor had insisted. More likely it was because the mayor hated paperwork; but since nopony likes paperwork anyway, nopony called her out on it, and therefore there really was no limit as to what might appear at market.

For example, there was the time the CMC had decided that the residents of Ponyville needed their ghost hunting abilities, and set up a little stand proclaiming it to the world. Or the time Twilight decided that the library would become more popular if she had a little exhibit of the many books it had.

In all fairness, if she had brought books other than reference materials and thick spell books, she might have had some success.

Today, Rainbow Dash paused in front of a new booth that had been decorated with red and white stripes. It might have appeared as a barber stand were it not for the hoof-drawn sign reading 'candies' overhead. Underneath, in a foal's best cursive, was written, 'by Ponyville's most accomplished candy-making apprentice'. Twist sat underneath, smiling hopefully, hooves crossed in an attempt to appear relaxed and nonchalant, but the way she was sweating and her ears and tail were twitching indicated that she was anything but. It was obviously her first day on the job, and Rainbow couldn't just pass up a perfect opportunity like this.

She paused in front of the stand and made a slightly dramatic show of reading the sign out loud. “Ponyville's most accomplished candy-making apprentice, eh?” Rainbow asked, a hint of teasing in her voice. “And just what gives you the right to that title, huh?”

Twist grinned. She could answer this one. "'Cauth I'm the only candy-making apprentithe in Ponyville!"

“Can't argue with that logic,” Rainbow agreed. “So what kind of poison are you selling today?”

Twist frowned and crossed her forelegs defensively. “They're not poithin,” she protested. “They're good candieth. Bon Bon helped me make them.”

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “I dunno... Bon Bon will put laxatives in your chocolate if you make her angry.”

“Thee duth not!” Twist shook her head and vigorously defended her boss. “That'th never been proven!”

Rainbow chuckled, and decided to lay off the filly for a while now that her anxiousness was gone. “All right, then. She doesn't. So, what kind of stuff do you have?”

Twist pointed to the sample plate in front of her. “Butterthcotch candieth,” she answered proudly.

“They’re pretty cheap,” Rainbow commented. She examined the slightly-misshapen ovals a bit closer and frowned. “And a bit ugly,” she added truthfully.

“Yeah,” Twist blushed ever so slightly, “I'm thtill not tho good with cutting them out yet. But they tathte jutht fine!”

“I'll be the judge of that,” Rainbow said, picking up a candy from the samples plate and popping it into her mouth. She slowly sucked on the hard candy, and her eyes widened as the sweet flavor hit her tongue. She often got candies like this at her grandmother’s house, and she’d end up crunching them after a while, but these... “This is really good,” she said.

Twist grinned. "Toldja tho."

"I'll take one."

"Jutht one?" Twist couldn't keep the disappointment out of her voice.

"One bag, smart filly. I've got a picnic today and these will make a good dessert." She grinned. "And good for tossing into AJ's mouth when she's not looking."

Giggling and very much mollified, Twist gave Rainbow one of the bags and sat back, ready for the next customer.

* * *

Applejack set the basket down and looked around the park. “This looks as good a place as any.”

She was taken aback as Rainbow Dash flopped down next to it. “Great! I’m starving!” She reached up to pull out something to eat, but Applejack slapped her hoof away.

“Not yet! You gotta set up a picnic ‘afore you can have it.”

Rainbow sat up and stomped a hoof. “I don’t care. I’m hungry, you’re here, food’s here, and that’s what’s important.”

“More important than doin’ it right?” Applejack asked as she pulled out the blanket and began spreading it out.

“It’s just food, Applejack. We eat it. That’s it.”

Applejack grinned, knowing that this was more a result of Rainbow’s being hungry than wanting to get in a fight. “Grandpappy always said if’n it’s worth doin’, it’s worth doin’ right,” she teased.

Rainbow made a big show of throwing her hooves up and crossing them exasperatedly. “Fine! But if I starve to death it'll be all your fault!”

“However will I live with the guilt,” Applejack said flatly, but the twinkle in her eye indicated that she was still just teasing.

“You'd better feel guilty,” Rainbow grinned, giving her a playful nudge. “I expect you to cry at my funeral.”

“Oh, hush.”

Lunch was soon served, and the two ate happily. Applejack had provided in spades, as usual, and the food was delicious.

“Hey, Applejack,” Rainbow said as she finished off yet another sandwich. “What's for dessert?”

“Ah'm thinking we rest for a while,” Applejack said, leaning back against a tree and putting her hat over her eyes. “There'll be plenty of apple pie and apple crumble for la- gah!”

For Rainbow had taken one of her hard candies and tossed it into Applejack's open mouth, and had scored a direct hit.

“Scooore!” Rainbow cheered.

Applejack spat out the offending item. “Real mature, Rainbow.”

Rainbow tossed the bag over and opened her own mouth. “Here. You try,” she said, pointing at her mouth.

Applejack rolled her eyes, but unwrapped a candy and tossed it. It hit Rainbow right between the eyes, and she couldn't suppress a giggle. “I knew I was a better ponyshoes player than you,” she teased.

“Issat so?” Applejack asked, unwrapping another. “Then take that!” She tossed another, and this one hit Rainbow right on the nose.

“Are you even trying?” Rainbow teased.

“Keep laughing, feather brain,” Applejack grinned as she tossed a third one. This one fell perfectly, landing directly in her mouth.

Rainbow sat up and grinned. “Nice shot,” she said. “About time, too.”

Applejack tossed the bag over. “Then you try doin’ it again,” she challenged.

Rainbow grinned. “Will do!” Pulling the bag back over, she unwrapped another and tossed it gently. It landed squarely on Applejack's nose.

She giggled and shook it loose. “How the mighty have fallen...”

“Hey! ‘The mighty’ is just getting started!” Rainbow defended herself. She picked up another and tossed it a bit harder this time. It bounced off her cheek and hit the ground.

Applejack snickered.

Rainbow took this as a challenge and threw the next one harder. This one got lost somewhere in her mane.

Applejack roughly brushed it out. “And here Ah thought you wanted to actually use these. You might as well be throwin' pebbles and stop wastin’ good candy.”

Rainbow growled and threw the final candy. This one flew straight and true.

Too straight.

The hard candy flew right into Applejack’s mouth, straight down her throat, and got stuck. Applejack doubled over and began coughing, trying to dislodge it. Rainbow rushed over and began pounding on her back, trying to help.

With a powerful hack, Applejack managed to release the candy, spitting it out. Both ponies stared at it, both breathing rapidly. Once panted for breath, the other hyperventilated from worry.

Finally, Applejack recovered enough to speak. "Hitting me there doesn't help, you know. It only works if’n they can’t cough at all."

"Sorry," Rainbow said sheepishly. "I panicked."

"You, panic?" Now that Applejack was out of danger, she could joke about things again. "Didn't think you ever panicked. I've seen you pull stunts so crazy that they would have made a lesser pony soil herself."

"Only when things are important," Rainbow defended herself. She paused. "Not the soiling part, the panicking part."

"And I'm important, is that what you're sayin'?" Applejack teased.

"Well, kindof, yeah. I mean, I'd hate to lose you. Really, I would."

"Ah'd hate to lose me too," Applejack grinned. "Maybe Ah'll stick to just pie for dessert from now on."

And with that, the conversation shifted and was soon forgotten. At least, by one participant.

* * *

Later that night, Applejack was fast asleep when she was suddenly interrupted by a little explosion and then a heavy weight on her bed. She sat up, eyes half closed but hooves raised and ready to fight.

“What do you think you're doin'...” Applejack paused as she recognized the intruder. “Rainbow?”

“Hey, Applejack,” Rainbow grinned sheepishly from under the mess of blankets. “What’s up?”

“Ah could ask you the same thing,” Applejack responded, slowly pushing her covers off to look Rainbow in the eyes. “Why are you here this late at night?”

“No reason.”

Applejack frowned angrily. She did not get woken up in the middle of the night just for that. “You're lyin',” she growled. “Why are you here?”

Rainbow stammered, “Well, I... You see, I...”

“Spit it out.”

“I think I love you.”

Applejack froze. “Ya wanna run that by me again?”

Rainbow buried her face in the blankets, and her next answer was muffled. Applejack put a hoof on her mane and physically lifted her head, at which Rainbow covered her face with her hooves, still blushing furiously.

Applejack took the protective measure of placing Rainbow's tail firmly in her own mouth. “Ah ain't lettin' you go until you explain that, so start talkin'.”

“...”

Applejack waited. “Ah'm awake now, and Ah can wait here all night if'n Ah have to.”

Rainbow sat there for a good ten minutes before looking up. “Fine...” she said, defeated. “I've never been good with this mushy stuff. It just seemed like a good idea at the time...”

“What did?”

Rainbow answered with another question. “Remember our picnic today?”

“Sure do,” Applejack grinned. “It was only a few hours ago.”

“And remember when I said 'I'd hate to lose you'?”

“Yeah...?”

“I was thinking about that all evening. I would. I really would.”

Applejack paused. “Would you now?”

“Mm-hm,” Rainbow said. “I would. Ever since the running of the leaves, I've liked hanging out with you. Our games and picnics and little competitions have been great. But when you said that, I realized just how much I would miss you. I...” Her voice trailed off. “I should go.”

“You’re goin’ nowhere. Keep talkin’.”

“I like spending time with you. I like hanging out with you. You’re pretty awesome, and that means something coming from me.”

Applejack suppressed a smile.

“But yeah, it’s just... I was thinking of how I’d hate to lose you and then I started thinking how much I like you and then the next thing I knew I realized, I think I like you. Like, like like you.”

Applejack blushed ever so slightly. “Issat so?”

“Yeah,” Rainbow said. “I mean, look at you. You’re strong, you’re fast, you’re almost good competition for me, you look great! Even before today, whenever I fantasized about going to a socks and saddles club, it was you on stage!”

Applejack cocked her head.

Rainbow paled. "That... that came out wrong," she said hesitantly.

"Did it now," Applejack said flatly.

"I mean..." Rainbow slammed her hooves into her face. "Argh! I can't win, can I? Maybe I’ve liked you for a while and just never knew it. Look, all I came here to say was, I really think I want you to be my special somepony.”

“You think?”

Rainbow buried her head in the covers again. “You know I’m no good with the mushy stuff! It just seemed like a good idea to tell you and next thing I knew I was here.”

Applejack released her tail and rested a hoof on her head. “Well, shoot. Ah really don’t know how to respond to that. But Ah do know that you’re pretty awesome too.”

Rainbow Dash looked up hopefully. “So are we special someponies now?”

“Not yet,” Applejack said, “but Ah’ll be thinking about it.”

* * *

* * *

Back in the present, Applejack couldn’t suppress another chuckle. Oh, yes. She had thought about it. It had taken a while and a few more adventures before she found her answer, yes; but she had thought about it. And then she had made her choice, and that had been the best decision of her life.

Setting the wrapper down, she made a mental note to send Twist some extra apples this next order, and looked over her treasures again. The next item to catch her eye brought back other powerful memories, and Applejack couldn’t help but think back once more.

Author's Note:

What else is on her table? Leave a comment and through the miracle of ADD, it just might happen.
Eventually.
Maybe.

Comments

[Flying-Claw]

Uuuhh... A hairtie ?

[DbzOrDie]

Zap apple core?
Hoofcuffs or rope?
A collar?
Rainbow's teddybear Mr. McAwesome?
One of the first feathers Rainbow ever shed given to AJ?
snobby unicorn pranking kit?
Pinkie Pie? (Yes, the actual pony is lying on the table, deal with it.)
Wacky tobbaccie?
Tickets to a rodeo?

“You'd better feel guilty,” Rainbow grinned, giving her a playful nudge. “I expect you to cry at my funeral.”

[Uncr3at1ve]

No table would be complete without the proposal feather...

[LunaTheFox]

A burned up hat. One of Applejack's, of course.

[Aderes7Storm]

a lead pony badge