“Hypotheticals”
(AppleDash)
Applejack was not a careless pony, nor a clumsy pony. She was not a pony given to daydreaming or flights of fancy. She was solid and strong. She was tough and no-nonsense. She was, in every conceivable way, the loyalest of friends and the most dependable of ponies.
Except … except perhaps not the loyalest of friends. There was, perhaps, a pony even more loyal than Applejack.
And that was precisely the problem.
There was a pony who caused Applejack to miss certain trees during bucking in the orchard, as Applejack found herself distracted by remembrances of a rough-edged voice and fierce rose-colored eyes. A pony who caused Applejack to stumble over her own four hooves while walking through the trees, as Applejack kept finding her gaze drifting skyward instead of watching where she was going. A pony who rested all too often in Applejack’s thoughts, just as surely as she was, right this moment, resting in one of Applejack’s trees … and a pony who would stubbornly stay put, no matter how many kicks Applejack would give.
But that didn’t stop the farmer from giving the tree a good, hard buck anyways.
“Hey!” The groggy pegasus wobbled a bit but, through years of practice, was able to maintain her perch in one of the apple tree’s lower boughs. “What’s the big idea, AJ?”
Applejack put on one of her best irritated glares. Fortunately, she was good at looking irritated--she had two siblings, after all. “This ain’t no motel, Rainbow Dash!” She gave a snort for good measure. “Why don’t you skedaddle and go make it rain or somethin’ else useful like that?”
Dash stood and lazily stretched, much the same way that Opalescence would. “It’s not scheduled to rain ‘til next week. Besides, you know you like having me around.”
“I’d like havin’ some rain for my crops a whole lot more, I tell you what.”
In lieu of an actual response, Rainbow Dash simply blew her a raspberry. But the pegasus stayed put, just like she always did, nestled quite cozily among the branches of the apple tree and looking as though she had no intentions of leaving anytime soon. The late afternoon sunlight filtered down through the leaves, and where the dapples of light fell upon Dash, her sleek blue coat practically glowed.
Applejack had to look away. She took a deep breath or two and, when she turned back around, Rainbow Dash was still peering down at her with those penetrating eyes of hers, a slight grin on her face.
And though Applejack was not a pony prone to giving voice to every ridiculous thought that crossed her mind--nor a pony prone to thinking ridiculous thoughts--still she found herself blurting out, “What if I hadn’t been in Dodge Junction?”
Immediately Rainbow Dash’s grin dropped into a frown. “Whaddaya mean?”
“What if … what if I weren’t there? When y’all came to fetch me after I didn’t come back from the rodeo.” Applejack paused and licked her lips. “What would ya have done?”
“I guess we woulda kept looking somewhere else ‘til we did find you.”
“But what if I weren’t nowhere?”
“Have you been hangin’ out with Twilight too much lately? 'Cause that sounds just like Twilight’s philosophical mumbo-jumbo.” Dash laughed and good-naturedly shook her head. “You had to be somewhere, AJ! I mean, c’mon.”
The earth pony rolled her eyes. “Well, no kiddin’. I didn’t mean it like that. I meant …” She had no idea what she’d meant. “What if I weren’t even still in Equestria?”
“Huh? Why wouldn’t you still be in Equestria?”
“I dunno!” Applejack yelled, suddenly annoyed. She could feel heat flood her cheeks. “But I could’ve left, couldn’t I? So, what if I’d up and left?”
“Then I would’ve left Equestria to find you wherever else you’d gone,” Dash shot back, sounding equally annoyed. “Ugh! What’s with the game of twenty questions, anyways? What is up with you lately?”
That was a really good question.
It was a really good question that Applejack really didn’t want to answer.
Slowly, the farm pony blew out her breath in a loud, gusty sigh. “I’m sorry, RD. I’ve been feelin’ a bit out of sorts lately--don’t pay me no mind.”
Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow at that but didn’t say anything.
“Now, go on, git. I reckon Twi’s got in the newest Daring Do book by now.” Applejack forced herself to turn around and to start walking away at a nice, even clip. “I ain’t got time for ornery pegasus ponies today.”
But Applejack didn’t get but twenty feet away before she was stopped dead in her tracks by a familiar voice calling out to her, in an unexpectedly gentle tone, “Hey, Applejack?”
“Yes, Rainbow Dash?” she replied, staring straight ahead.
“I would’ve went ‘round the whole wide world, if I had to. Went ‘round twice over, even.” Rainbow sounded oddly contemplative. “You’re stubborn, sure, but I’m even more stubborn--and even though you’re pretty fast for an earth pony, we both know I’m way faster. I would’ve caught up to you, sooner or later.”
Applejack stayed still as stone. She swallowed before answering. “I reckon you’re right. I reckon you would’ve.”
“Besides,” added Dash with a chuckle, “you know Rainbow Dash never leaves her friends hangin’!”
Applejack knew that. Of course she knew that. So she couldn’t explain why such a simple statement of fact was causing her throat to close in tight, as though it was trying to choke her, or why her knees were trembling the way they did usually only after the first day of apple-bucking season.
“Anyways, guess I’ll see you later, AJ. Maybe sometime next week we should--”
"Say, you ever bake an apple pie?”
“Um. What?”
Slowly, Applejack turned to glance over her shoulder. Rainbow Dash was standing on the ground now, only a few feet away, wearing a puzzled expression on her face.
“Apple pie,” repeated Applejack, her voice high and strained, as taut as the strings on her fiddle. “I could teach ya, if you wanted. Ain’t no apple pie that tastes better in all Equestria than the ones made from the Apple family’s secret recipe.”
Dash snorted in amusement. “Uh, yeah, baking is more Pinkie Pie’s thing. Why would I wanna learn how to make a pie?”
That was a really good question.
It was a really good question that Applejack really didn’t want to answer.
“Well, Rainbow ... you wanna get in good with the Wonderbolts, as I seem to recollect.” This was not a lie. “And back at the Grand Gallopin’ Gala, there was that one stallion--Soarin’ was his name, I think?--and he seemed to like my apple pie a whole awful lot.” This was also not a lie. “And I reckon he’d be mighty impressed if you made him the best apple pie he’d ever eaten.” This, too, was not at all a lie.
Rainbow Dash tilted her head and looked thoughtful. “Hey … hey, yeah! Yeah, that’s an awesome idea!” She broke out in a mega-watt smile. “You’d really teach me how to make special Apple family pie?”
Applejack returned her friend’s smile with a grin of her own. “Why, shoot! Of course I would! Anythin’ to help a friend.”
“I’ll swing by the farm after work tomorrow afternoon, then,” replied Rainbow, with a decisive nod. “Thanks bunches!” And with that, she snapped out her wings and launched into the sky like an arrow released from a bow. In a matter of seconds, she was nothing more than a tiny blue dot disappearing into the distance.
Applejack stood there, staring upward at the multi-hued contrail left in the pegasus’ wake, for several long moments. “You’re welcome,” she muttered to herself and, still grinning, trotted off toward the barn to go fetch an apple cart.
She didn’t trip or stumble even once.
---
Author’s Notes: This one was inspired by, and written while listening to, Wreckless Eric’s “Whole Wide World.” I think “The Last Round-Up” made me okay with AppleDash? And I feel conflicted about this? And will now write only in upspeak?
This was beautiful Donny, my only regret is you never follow up on them.
Awesome, and really cute. Rainbow really would look the world over for one of her friends. Nice, sweet and short story.
You're not the only one confilcted. I assure you that.
What can I say?... I don't understand AppleDash, but the way you portrait the interactions and feelings between RD and AJ, makes me think it may could work...
...
Very cute, even if I'm more of a FlutterDash fan myself
You reinforced Appledash as my favorite Dash and AJ ship. Twidash was giving it a run for a while, but you just hit all the right notes that reminded me why it's so great. Plus, Last Roundup.
TwiDash for life.
But seriously, this was a cute little piece. Nice work.
523141
I knooooow. They're all vignettes, so a bit of open-endedness is kind of built into the premise, but I'll try to write some more conclusive ones too.
523155
Thanks!
523314
*laugh* Sorry to make you feel conflicted. Glad you thought it was believable, though.
523588
Much obliged! FlutterDash is higher up on my list of preferred Dash ships than AppleDash ... but RainbowPie is, of course, the One True Dash Ship.
524932
"Last Round-Up" really was a great episode, both for Dash alone and for the AJ/Dash dynamic. Good to hear I did justice to your ship!
527306
Noooooo! RainbowPiiiiiiie!
Hee. Seriously, though, thanks. Glad ya liked it.
528634
I prefer Pinkie with Twilight myself. NO clue why, but I do
528634
I'm glad my pain amuses you T_T
But in my mind, this took place before "Not unless you meant it".
Well this was awesome, and it had AJ being the one to fall for Rainbow instead of the other way around. Which is awesome, seeing as it's usually 'Rainbow sat in the trees all day so she could watch AJ work' or something stalker-ish like that.
And I gotta say (cliche alert!), Applejack's weak at the knees for Rainbow?
Well...
Upvote!
Wait, this isn't reddit!
NOOOOOOOOooooooooooooo
*sucked back into the portal between internets*
528634 I used to be RainbowPie too! But I dunno... I'm shifting! D:
528756
I am down with the TwiPie. RainbowPie is best pie, but TwiPie is a close second for me.
529006
Awww. *pat pat* If thinking of this as the prequel to "Not Unless You Mean It" helps you sleep soundly at night, go for it.
529654
Oh, is it usually Dash crushing on AJ at first? I don't think I've read enough AppleDash to be fully versed in all the cliches and conventions. Well, glad to hear I inadvertantly did something new! Yay!
530635
Noooooo! TRAITOR!
Just kiddin'. RainbowPie is and always has been my #1 ship, but recently TwiPie overtook RariJack for #2 in my heart.
533938 There is only one thing for it...
I shall have to be banished, and then imprisoned in the place I am banished!
You know how all this time i've been complaining you'd write a story and make me like AJ?
Yeah. Turns out you already had. I love AJ here. She's adorable and I want to hug her. And the dynamic between her and Dash is just perfect. The premise of this is so simple, and even the conversation between the two, well amazingly touching, is fairly non shippy. And yet somehow it's one of the most beautiful things i've ever read, and i'd call it one of your most powerful stories emotionally. I'm not sure what it is - I think the way its written and the way AJ reacts to and describes Dash just resonate really well.
Well done, DB. You win this round, with your amazing talent and making me like Applejack-ness. Are you proud of yourself?
You should be.
Yay! Appledash! I never would have thought I would ever ship ponies, let alone magical lesbian ponies, (nothing at all wrong with any sexual orientation, but you have to admit it sounds funny when phrased in that way ) but somehow Appledash made me like it. Its just too cute. And you did the pairing great justice with this, reaffirming it as my number one pairing (although you also made me kinda like RainbowPie with your other stuff too, so kudos) Overall, awesome work
AppleDash is my favorite ship!
I liked all these stories, just felt compelled to comment on this chapter in particular. Very well done!
533938
90% of the time Dash generally is. Stalkerish too. *plays "Every Breath You Take*
Which is weird, because from all of the story ideas I've generated in my head about the two I tend to lean towards AJ falling for Dash.
Anyways this story was WONDERFUL. Even though you didn't actually go into the love being expressed per-se you rather vividly, convincingly, and believably the anxiety of having romantic feelings for someone, not really understanding them, and not really knowing what to do about them. This is something a lot of AppleDash fics also do, but you do it through dropping small details without dwelling on them or understatement instead of overwrought angst that a lot of other writers seem to favour. Well done.
And you were inspired by Wreckless Eric? SQQQQUUUUUEEEEEE!!!
You might want to reword this little bit here, for I have never heard of the word "loyalest" ever used in the English language.
I suggest rewording it to "She was both the most loyal and dependable pony out of her group of friends."
Join the AppleDash herd. You know you want to.
3261530
There's "loyalist", which is someone who is loyal to the cause in-place or the powers currently present. For example, during the American Revolution, "loyalists" were those who stood by the Crown. Then there's "loyalest", as in the most loyal. Both are real words in English.
This is probably the best AppleDash story I've ever read. Most AppleDash that I've read feels fairly forced. But this, this is as natural as can be.