Appledashery

by Just Essay

Framing

Rainbow Dash touched down on the front stoop of her floating home that night. She ignored the “For Lease” sign as she made her way into the front room, pausing beside a table where there was placed a photo of her and her best friends. Using her feathers as opposable fingers, she picked the frame up and looked at the glossy surface.

Twilight was in the center of the photograph…of course. She was always in the center--as she deserved to be. Rainbow Dash hovered along the fringes, her wings blurred in mid-flap as the camera did its best to capture the moment.

Blinking, Rainbow placed the photo down and looked at the others arranged across the table. There were several group pics in the pegasus’ collection, an outrageous bunch for that matter, most of which she had received from the likes of Rarity or Pinkie Pie, and she had never had the nerve to toss them away.

In every photo, Rainbow Dash was always hovering, flying, or levitating along the edges. She’d be positioned to the side of the group, above them, or behind them, peeking through to flash a smirk. It never occurred to her that she had made it happen that way every time she posed for a photograph. Still, the realization tickled her in a strange way.

But it wasn’t nearly as curious a discovery as what she saw next. With squinting eyes, she leaned forward, staring at each photograph.

There was another pony positioned along the edge of each frame, a pony that accompanied her, a pony that--evidently--saw the need to situate herself as close to Rainbow Dash as possible, as if acting as a final link between the center of the group and the loyal pegasus in orbit.

A breath escaped Rainbow Dash, and her grin grew gradually. Her eyes reflected the pony’s smiling face, her bright green eyes, her strong and dependable frame leaning within proximity of her own.

When Rainbow Dash went to bed that night, she was too delirious to bother showering. As she lay beneath the sheets, the sweat and anxiety of the day mingled with her, and she imagined it was the scent of somepony else, somepony always keeping watch from her, even if from far below.

“Hmmmm…” She snuggled into her pillow with an exhausted smile on her face. “I am in love…” And the smile grew wider.

That was enough for that evening. She didn’t have to murmur the six words. Not that night.

She fell into the arms of sleep and drifted away.

Comments

[Tchernobog]

Then do something about it you silly horse!

[Sheendough]

The pacing is killing me. Do something, Dash!

[Shadepal P]

I agree! Do something Dashie!

Also, what are the six words? We don't know yet, do we?

[MellowMabari]

Gah! I've got a love/hate relationship going on with this pacing. It's simultaneously intriguing and vexing, slowly figuring things out, but then being set back by Rainbow Dash's stubborn (possibly partially warranted) fears.

Onward!

[zaponator]

[BabySkittleMonster]

Those damn six words... Oh, how I hate them. Why can't I figure out what they are?

[Stardoost]

5189078
3711217 Call me crazy but I think that the words are "hope it's better in the morning" Then again for all I know I could be hopelessly wrong.

[SHL]

3706206 I agree!!!!!!!!

Yeah, I know, this is really old, but I'm reading this story now ><

[Gammahoof]

She didn’t have to murmur the six words. Not that night.

"Swiggity swooty, coming for that booty"
"Wonder if it tastes like apples..."
"Should've took that shower, I smell"
"sally sells seashells by the seashore"
"jet fuel can't melt steel beams"

[Metal Aura]

RD wins the least photogenic award.

[AppleTank]

I am in love with AJ?

[arancaytar]

In every photo, Rainbow Dash was always hovering, flying, or levitating along the edges. She’d be positioned to the side of the group, above them, or behind them, peeking through to flash a smirk. It never occurred to her that she had made it happen that way every time she posed for a photograph. Still, the realization tickled her in a strange way.

I just went on Google Images and entered "mane six", and all their group pictures really are like that.

[arancaytar]

That was enough for that evening. She didn’t have to murmur the six words. Not that night.

Oh, that's what they are? I Am In Love With Applejack? I thought they might have been addressed to AJ, but I could only get four or seven words that way.

(Making Up Six Words Is Hard, as Skirts put it.)

Edit: Oh right, contractions.