Appledashery

by Just Essay

Shindig This

The first thing Rainbow Dash saw was a yellow horn, and it's what instantly tripped her mind. Thus, she was a bit slow on the draw when it came to spotting the mare's outspread wings from the sides of her flowing gown.

"No way..." Rainbow Dash muttered.

Gustave squatted low by her side. "Shindig is... an alicorn?"

Rainbow gulped, slowly shaking her head. "Not even close. Shindig's an earth pony. But in this place..."

"Shhh... here she comes." And both the griffon and the pegasus were silent.

Accompanied by a train of maidens, Shindig trotted to a graceful stop. She was indeed an alicorn projection of the mare Rainbow had spotted on the billboard outside her ranch. In addition, this pony was considerably taller, thinner, and youthful of complexion. Her soft green eyes fell on everyone in attendance, and—with a beam of magic—she tossed her scarlet mane back and spoke with regal poise.

"My children, how good it is to see you. Frederick... Felix... your presence here honors me."

"Oh, that we could bring you praises every hour of every day, Mommy Dearest!" Flam said with a wink.

Flim smiled and added, "And every second of every minute of every hour—"

"That'll do, my dear," Shindig said, tapping his chin. The gathered ponies chuckled as she trotted down the line, skirts trailing. "Like sweet cider, true adoration takes much time and care, and my life is so... so very sweet because of you. Philanthropy shines in splender because of the sacrifices all ponies have made. And, trust me, not a moment goes by when I do not feel thankful... or blessed."

The alicorn figure came to a stop, squinting at Gustave and Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow and Gustave couldn't help but fidget.

"A reenactment?" Shindig's lips curved. "How very quaint. What horrible deeds is the Blue Jay guilty of this time?"

"Ermmm..." Gustave gulped and looked aside.

Rainbow Dash stared at Serenity Shindig. "Oh, you know, burglaring'n'stuff."

Epcot finally stood up, glancing shiftily at her two companions.

"But of course." Shindig tilted her head to the side. "And where might the Red Rook be?"

Dead silence. Gustave's beak trembled. Rainbow bit her lip.

"Oh, he called in sick, your shininess!" Epcot spoke up, grinning. "A rat bit him while he was scouring the lower dregs of Philanthropy!" The chaperone winked a purple eye. "Method actor, you see."

The room filled with chuckles.

"Well, what a shame. I do hope he feels better." Shindig took a deep breath. "This city does well to remember where magic belongs and for what purpose." She turned to pace off—but stopped. Craning her neck back, she reached out and tilted Rainbow's chin up.

Rainbow stood dead-still, her face caressed by the alicorn's limb.

"Funny..." Shindig's green eyes were thin. "...I don't remember the Blue Jay looking quite so... delicate."

Rainbow cleared her throat. "Well, your eminence... uhhh... chalk it up to the wonderful luxuries of living in this city you and your sons have sculpted!" She smiled awkwardly. "Soft belly... but a strong heart!"

"Hmmm..." Shindig slowly nodded. "If only the real Blue Jay was so humble." She turned towards Gustave. "And you—ever loyal—you are a tribute to your own kind."

"Erm... much appreciated!" Gustave smiled through his beak. "I think..."

Rainbow swatted him in the side with her tail.

Shindig trotted before the bowing ponies, her mane flowing. "My beloved children, this is a great time to be alive in the valley. Soon, my heir shall bring glory to this entire realm. And—by the spirit of my beloved Philanthropy—all that was once a gray and dismal web of darkness shall no longer exist,for her glory will multiply my spirit and joy by a hundred fold. Let it be known—from here to the ends of the heavenly realm—that the Cider Princess lives."

"The Cider Princess Lives," dutifully chanted the whole group.

Epcot, Gustave, and Rainbow Dash listened on.

Comments

[Aatxe360]

I shouldn't have been surprised, yet I was.

[viofriedsevey]

Oh more hints at rainbow dash being small, do you imagine her the size of a cat? And clearly she loves to snuggle....

[Lightning Bearer]

Even in dreamland, Rainbow's petite.

[Sam the Anti-Ninja]

So, Shindig fancies herself an alicorn, does she? Just wait until Rainbow kicks her flank outta cyberspace. She can meet a pair of REAL alicorns in person, and learn a valuable lesson in why you don't kidnap an element of harmony!

[Fishberry]

Short chapter is short!

But I guess you have a life, dear author... it's all good.

But, you know. The suspense might literally kill me. That would suck, because being dead would rob me of enjoying your fantastic writing. I wanna live at least long enough to see this story end all coolie-crispies with Dashie awesomeness and all the fuzzy snuggly Appledashing.

[Rex-Inverse]

I'm waiting for Rainbow to go full on hero mode and beat up every pony to get to apple jack. But I must be patient. *Even if this suspense is killing me*

[MidnightReflection]

Trying to wait just isn't awesome. So I decided to read Austraeoh to better understand some of the references in Appledashery. So far she has flown east, fought Quarry Eels, and is fighting some hydra. Next? She's most likely flying east. Just a hunch.

By the way, does anypony else feel like Lancie has probably cleaned out Sparky's refridgerator by now?

[Sheendough]

5731340 Uuuuhhhhh... What? .-.

[Fishberry]

5731796

You don't want to see the Rainbow Dash badflankery that ends with fuzzy, snuggly Appledashing?

Hmm... tangentially, I wonder what Discord has been up to this whole time.

[Tchernobog]

5731828 Who says it'll end with appledashing? They'll get together, and we'll see more past the getting together as well! AppleDash until they can't dash apples no more!

[TheOddPerson]

5731260

Speaking of dreamland, do you think a certain princess has any powers or insight here?

[Leftover of Saikano]

Ah, dear Shindig, she belittles all the other races, but she didn't even remain an unicorn.

5731748 Austraeoh spoiler she flies east.

[Fishberry]

5732095
What of Discord? I wonder if the journey and all of the things he witnesses will truly make his heart grow three sizes and if maybe he'll get over the whole 'getting turned into stone' business and maybe not mess with ponies in vengeance of his instant fossilization.

[Tchernobog]

5732251 A different pegasus tames the beast, this time~

[Sheendough]

5731828 Oh, I do. It's just that the whole death thing threw me off.

[Sheendough]

5729014 Yeah, now that I think about it, I think there should be a tag for straight stories (since they're so rare compared to the gay ones)... Or at least there should be a group for that.

[zaponator]

So... This entire dreamworld is simply a byproduct of Shindig's raging horn envy?

[LucyHorseThing]

5731125
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[arancaytar]

"Hmmm..." Shindig slowly nodded. "If only the real Blue Jay was so humble." She turned towards Gustave. "And you—ever loyal—you are a tribute to your own kind."

I mean, on the bright side, that's actually the least racist thing any of them have said so far.

[bronyheat]

8548632