Appledashery

by Just Essay

...then Comes the Carriage...

"Rnnnnngh!" Listing Breeze's muscles rippled as she swung a metal door open.

Rainbow squinted, her eyes blinded by a burning yellow world outside. She and Listing stood within the hollow of a collapsed, wheel-less carriage. All around them, overturned chariots, the segmented hulls of decommissioned zeppelins, and random bits of rusted junk lay spread out like gravestones.

As Rainbow's pained vision came into focus, she saw an immense sprawling desert stretching north, south, east, and west. A howling wind produced a constant ambient hush, and Rainbow saw sprawling orange mountains lingering to the north and west.

"I can't believe this..." Rainbow grimaced. "...you dumped me in the desert?"

"I brought you home," Listing grumbled. "I gave you water. Gave you a bucket to throw up in. Y'know... whole nine yards."

"You live out of a run-down carriage?!" Rainbow grimaced. "I thought you said you were making a living!"

"Oh, and like you live in a royal mansion."

"I happen to have a four room cloud home, thank you very much."

"Yeah? For how long?" Listing Breeze smirked. "Or did your financial habits actually improve since the last time we talked?"

Rainbow bit her lip.

"What'd you come to Las Pegasus for anyways? A warrior's funeral? I bet The Last Stand was the most fitting place for you to bottom up."

"For the last time, none of that is your busin—" Rainbow's eyes widened. "Crud!"

Listing blinked. "What?"

Rainbow spun around in a prismatic circle. "Crud crud crud crud crud!"

"What?! What?!"

"My bag of bits!" Rainbow's voice cracked. "The stuff Lyra won me! Oh gosh oh gosh oh gosh..." Her teeth chattered. "I can't believe I'm so stupid! Those punks must have taken it! Ah jeez... ah jeez I am the worst..."

While Rainbow was rambling, Listing hobbled back into the carriage. She came back out, holding a weighted bag of coins.

Rainbow blinked at it. "You!" She snatched the bag, opening the contents and staring inside. "How many did you take, huh? One quarter? One half?"

"Celestia on a pogostick, Rainbow! What do you take me for?!" Listing folded her forelimbs, frowning. "I kept it safe. Just like I kept you safe."

"Two hundred... three hundred..." Rainbow fumbled through the clattering coins.

"Nine hundred and thirty-four bits," Listing said.

Rainbow blinked. She looked up. "You counted them?"

"And left them there. Cuz they're yours, not mine." Listing shrugged. "Sure, I could have definitely used them, given how rough things have gotten over the past month... but I'm no monster."

"Yeah, well..." Rainbow's nostrils flared as she fastened the bag tight. "The past speaks differently."

"The past is just farts and misunderstandings." Listing squinted. "Rainbow, what happened between you and me—"

"No!" Rainbow frowned, pointing a hoof. "We are not getting into that! Not now! Not ever!"

"Rainbow..."

"Especially not here in the... friggin' land of unwanted toys." Rainbow glanced around. "Just what kind of crud do you do for a living to make this your home?"

"Very lucrative work."

"Doing what? Bashing skulls in?" Rainbow's nostrils flared. "You were always super good at that."

"Says the mare whose skull I just recently saved from being turned into an ash tray."

"I don't owe you nothing, Listy."

"Heh..." Listing chuckled, her wings fluttering. "Heheheheh..."

Rainbow blinked. "What?"

"Been a long time since I heard you call me that."

"... ... ...I said 'Listing.'"

"No you didn't."

"Bullcrap."

"You're welcome."

"Rmmmfnngh..." Rainbow rubbed her head, stumbling away from the carriage. "Just point me in the direction of Las Pegasus."

"It's over there," Listing said, pointing northeast. "About four and a half miles."

"Good." Rainbow spread her wings.

"You're actually going to fly there now?" Listing blinked hard. "In your condition?"

"It's my legs that are noodles, Listing. My wings are fine."

"Yeah? For how long?"

"Goodbye, Listing." Rainbow hovered, flexing her wing muscles. "Guh... never thought I'd ever have to say that a second time..."

"Rainbow..." Listing cleared her throat. "In all honsety, I-I could really use your help."

"I told you that I don't owe you a thing!"

"Of course not. It's just..." Listing sighed. "You looked like crap when I brought you here. And for the past day and a half, you recovered so quickly... and you looked so peaceful sleeping like that." She gulped. "I dunno. I was... kinda hoping we could start out on the right hoof. Catch up."

"Yeah. So I could do you some stupid little favors, huh?"

"I just need help with one thing. That's it. Then I'll be out of your mane."

"Forget it."

"... ... ...my life is in danger, Rainbow."

"Buck you, Listing." Rainbow frowned, turning to glare at the pony. "Buck you. Buck you and your promises. Buck you and your lies. Buck you and your passive aggressive horse hockey. I ain't doing you jack."

Listing Breeze smirked. "You forgot 'buck you atop snow cloud.' That was always your favorite—"

"Rrrrrgh!" Rainbow blurred east. "Good bye!"

"See ya..." A red hoof waved.

Comments

[Macky]

hehehe. This is fun! Oh I can see the adventure arc coming already!

[Fishberry]

That is not Applejack.

[DrEggnog]

I . . . kinda like her. o.O Wasn't expecting that. I'm since there are valid reasons for every ounce of Rainbow's anger though.
7174562
Very keen eyesight you've got there.

[zaponator]

I'm actually down for a Listing redemption arc. She's a turdface, for sure, but Rainbow needs something to start her down the path towards being remotely emotionally healthy. Making peace with her past is a big part of that.

[Phoenix Kitten]

7174849 I'm pretty sure most creatures would advise the path to mental health means staying away from those that have abused you in the past.
After all, the best revenge is living well.

[arancaytar]

Rainbow blurred east. " Good bye! "

Austraeoh's arc words.