The blue pegasus peered down into the large, black cauldron. Seeing the contents, she couldn’t help but scrunch her muzzle in disgust. Inside, a slimely green liquid lazily boiled, the bubbles growing to the size of a hoof before bursting with a loud Pop! Shimmering fumes rose up to the ceiling and she caught sight of the ocassional flicker of dancing sparks.
“Tell me my friend, what do you think of this blend?”
The pegasus looked to the other side of the cauldron where a zebra, adorned with golden neck rings and ear rings, stood patiently waiting for a judgment.
Rubbing her neck, the pegasus replied, “Well, Zecora... to tell the truth... it kind of stinks.”
Zecora smiled, “Rainbow Dash, potion making is an art.” Taking a sniff of the cauldron, she gagged before adding, “Though I’d agree it smells like a fart.”
“Isn’t that kind of a crude rhyme for you?” asked Rainbow Dash.
Chuckling, Zecora explained, “When you speak like this all the time, sometimes it can be a stretch for a rhyme.”
“A guess that make sense. I couldn’t do it. This one time, I had to write poetry in school. Let’s just say my parents weren’t impressed.”
“I thought your parents’ reactions were always big and loud, letting everyone know of you they’re proud.”
Rainbow Dash nervously laughed, “Not when you bring home an F.” She glanced back down into the foul stew. “So, this potion will really work?”
Zecora feigned anger. “Rainbow Dash that was a grave insult! Remember, you sought me to consult.”
“Yeah, sorry. I just really want this to work.”
“This is certainly the potion, to set your prank plans in motion.” She dipped a large laddle into the concoction, then poured it into a small glass vial.
Rainbow Dash examined the bottle, a grin growing across her face as she considered the implications. She started to rise higher as her wings beat faster and faster in excitement. “So, all I have to do is drink this polyjuice?” she finally asked.
Shaking her head, Zecora answered, “You must add a hair, to truly become the mare.”
She thought for a moment before replying, “Getting a hair shouldn’t be a problem.”
Giving the pegasus a pointed look, she said, “Perhaps you are going too far. Would you consider a lower bar?”
“No,” responded Rainbow Dash without hesitation. “This prank is going to be epic!”
“As you will not change your mind, perhaps a lesson you will find.”
Rainbow tsked, “Don’t worry. This isn’t like the time with the joke cookies.”
“Truly I pray, it is as you say,” said a skeptical Zecora.
“Everypony will find this prank funny,” Rainbow Dash reassured.
“Now that you have the brew, it is time for my due,” she said as she held out an open hoof.
She passed over a small bag. “Five bits, as we agreed.”
Zecora smiled, “Now that I have my pay, I wish you a good day.”
Heading for the door, Rainbow Dash said, “Yeah, I’ve got to prepare for tomorrow. It’s going to be the best April Foal’s Day ever!”
In the east the first rays of dawn broke the horizon. The trees horded the sunshine, casting long dark shadows upon the ground. Meanwhile, in a secluded clearing, a small pond lay cold and still.
A blue pegasus silently glided down and effortlessly landed in the clearing. None who knew her would be amazed at her mastery of flight. They would, however, be surprised by two odd behaviors. First, on a day off from work, it was highly unusual to see her up and about before noon. Second, the stetson hat she wore was the trademark of another mare.
The pegasus approached the pond and gazed at her reflection. She studied it for some time, almost as if she would never see it again. In the pond, a blue pegasus mare with pink eyes and a rainbow mane stared back.
At last, she reached up into her hat and withdrew a small glass vial filled with a thick green sludge. She also retrieved a single golden strand of hair. Popping the cork, she dunked the hair into the vile vial and sloshed it around for a moment. Finally, she steeled herself for the foul flavor and downed the contents.
She stood there waiting for something to happen.... Nothing. She began impatiently tapping her hoof on the ground. Nothing.... She sighed, “Well, I guess it’s a dud.”
Suddenly, she dropped the vial and it shattered upon the ground. She grimaced in agonizing pain and clutched her barrel tightly, barely managing to stay standing. Her wings flared and stretched to the greatest span they ever had. Then, they began jerking back and forth, twisting and contorting into grotesque unnatural shapes as the joints popped like popcorn over the stove. She stared in horror as her beloved wings dissolved back into her sides.
Releasing her barrel, she gasped for air. She watched as her blue fur turned orange and her rainbow tail transformed into solid gold. Even her cutie mark melted away, replaced by a trio of red apples. For a long time she just stood there, panting heavily, until she at last approached the pond again.
The reflection was familiar, yet at the same time foreign. Green eyes shone in large eyes framed by a friendly, freckled face. A golden windswept mane hung lazily from her neck and the brown stetson rested firmly on top of her head. Only one thing left to do. After tying her mane and tail, the transformation into the perfect doppelganger was complete.
The mare introduced herself, “I’m Applejack.” The voice was not her own but belonged to the reflection. “Yee haw.” She tried again, “Yee haw?” She reared up onto her back legs and cried, “YEEEEEE HAW!” Falling back down onto all fours, she continued, “Cornsarnit! Dangnabbit! Land sakes! What in tarnation?” A grin split her face. “Ah’m Applejack, y’all!”
With that, she turned and disappeared into the orchard....
“Applejack” continued her trot through the forest of trees. The morning was cool and quiet with a light dew upon the soft grass. A gentle breeze blew through the orchard, carrying the sweet perfume of ripe apples and the melody of songbirds. She began to understand why Applejack truly loved the farm.
“There you are!” came a voice.
She spun in place to see a little yellow earth pony with an oversized pink bow. “Oh hi, Apple Bloom.”
“Applejack, Granny Smith said breakfast is ’bout ready.”
“Oh boy breakfast! I skipped it this morning. I’m starving!” replied the older mare, arching her back as if she were willing non-existent wings to lift her in the excitement.
Apple Bloom gave her “sister” a strange look. “Skipped it? What do yah mean?”
“Nothing!” Rainbow Dash internally cringed at the slip and paused for the slightest of moments to get back into character. “Now why don’t we all mosey back to that there farmhouse, suga’cube?” she said with an extra-large grin.
Apple Bloom continued to give her a strange look but said “Alright” and led the way back to the house.
After a short walk the home to four generations of Apples came into view. As they approached the kitchen door, the air became filled with the smell of fresh pancakes and the sounds of something sizzling on the stove and the shuffling of dishes.
“There y’all are, we’re ’bout ready to eat,” said Granny Smith as she looked up from the stove at the pair of ponies entering the kitchen.
“Eeyup,” added Big Mac as he set the table.
“Applejack was out fer a mornin’ walk in the orchard,” explained Apple Bloom.
Rainbow Dash smiled and swung her right foreleg, “Yer darn tootin’!”
“Well, git yer flanks to the table so we can have some breakfast,” ordered Granny Smith.
Rainbow Dash didn’t have to be told twice, sprinting to an open seat at the table. Soon her plate was laden with pancakes, a muffin, and hay sausage, accompanied by a big bowl of sliced apples and a glass of amber liquid.
Granny Smith sat down with the rest of the family and the Apples began to eat.
Rainbow Dash glanced around in eager anticipation.
“Ain’t cha’ hungry?” asked Granny Smith.
“Oh, right,” said Rainbow Dash as she loaded butter and syrup all over her pancakes. She cut a big, sticky piece and shoved it into her mouth. A look of confusion spread across her face. “Is this apple butter and apple syrup on an apple pancake?”
“Eeyup,” said Big Mac.
“We all know how much you love it,” said Granny Smith.
She let out a sigh before brightening up, “Ah just love me some apples! Cain’t get ’nough of them apples, that’s fo’ sure!”
“Eeyup!”
“That’s the spirit!” cheered Apple Bloom.
Rainbow Dash continued eating her apple syrup and apple butter-covered apple pancakes. She took a big bite of the muffin – an apple muffin. She cut up the sausage – apple-flavored hay sausage. She rolled her eyes. But throughout, she frequently glanced around the kitchen looking for something that was missing.
Noticing the strange behavior of the orange mare, Granny Smith asked, “Somethin’ a matter, Applejack?”
Rainbow Dash said hesitantly, “I don’t know.” She got up from the table and opened the back door, hoping to find it waiting outside but found nothing. Closing the door, she awkwardly rubbed her neck, “Is everypony here?”
Raising her head from the plate of food she’d been devouring like a ravenous wolf, Apple Bloom asked, “What do yah mean?”
Granny Smith said, “Course everypony is here. There’s four members of this here family.” She pointed a hoof at everyone. “One. Two. Three. Four. That’s everyone.”
“Eeyup.”
“Are we expectin’ company?” asked Apple Bloom, placing her forehooves on the table in eager anticipation of a mystery guest.
“No, I... guess not,” said a confused Rainbow Dash.
“Awe there, Applejack. Maybe yer comin’ down with somethin’. Come over and let me feel yer head,” commanded Granny Smith.
Rainbow Dash trotted over, and the elderly mare placed a hoof on the orange pony’s head. “A little warm. No wonder yer not feelin’ like yerself today. But,” she smiled, “Ah know what’ll keep the doctor away.... More apples!”
“Eeyup!” said Big Mac as he loaded even more apple pancakes onto Rainbow Dash’s plate.
She sighed as she took a gulp of apple juice and looked at her untouched bowl of apple slices.
After breakfast, Rainbow Dash helped clear the table and wash the dishes, though she kept looking around trying to find the somepony she was looking for. A look of worry began to grow on her face. When the kitchen was spick and span, she said, “I’m going into town. I need to find somepony.”
“Now hold on there, youngin’,” said Granny Smith. “You know today is Big Mac’s turn to run the stand. You got yer mornin’ chores to do.”
Rainbow Dash cocked her head. “Chores?”
“Eeyup,” confirmed Big Mac.
“What chores?”
The two other adults shared curious looks.
“You know,” Apple Bloom started as she packed her saddlebags for school, “choppin’ the firewood, waterin’ the garden, feedin’ the chickens an’ collectin’ the eggs.”
“And feedin’ an’ cleanin’ the hogs,” added Granny Smith.
“Eeyup.”
“But –”
“No ‘buts’ Applejack, you can go play with yer friends later.”
Rainbow Dash deflated and hung her head. “Okay.” She headed outside.
“Applejack, where yah goin’?” asked Apple Bloom as she galloped to catch up with “Applejack”.
“I’m going to chop the firewood,” Rainbow Dash explained.
“Uh, the ax is in the toolshed that away,” said Apple Bloom as she pointed in the opposite direction.
“Of course it is,” sighed Rainbow Dash as she turned and headed to the small building on the other side of the farmhouse.
Swish! Chop! The log split in two. Rainbow Dash paused to tip her hat and wipe the sweat from her brow. It had taken a while, but she was finally done. Chopping wood was difficult work. No wonder Applejack was so strong! Rainbow Dash had used muscles that she didn’t even know that she had. Still, she was surprised she was able to do the work at all. She mused that, in addition to giving her Applejack’s form, Zecora’s polyjuice potion must have given her Applejack’s earth pony strength as well. That was the only way to explain how she had lifted the heavy steel ax and swung it with such force to split massive logs with only a single strike.
With that done, now she could... move onto another chore. What was next? Oh, right, watering the garden. She was sure that she could get it done in ten seconds flat!
Rainbow Dash rubbed her head as she surveyed the garden. It wasn’t like Fluttershy’s garden or the small family plots found behind many of the houses in Ponyville. No, this was a vast field easily spanning several acres. It would take hours to water this by hoof. Luckily, there was an intricate network of pipes crisscrossing the field.
She turned a valve and waited expectantly. Nothing. She went on to the next valve and turned it. Again, nothing. This process was repeated several more times, but not a single drop watered the garden. Something wasn’t right.
Finally she approached a large valve and decided to give it a try. Nothing. The old, rusty wheel was stuck. She stood up, placing her forehooves on the wheel and started applying that newfound earth pony strength she had acquired. Still nothing. She straddled the pipe to get better leverage and tried again. She put all her strength into turning the valve. Suddenly, it spun wide open. Rainbow Dash’s elation was cut short when she felt a rush of water under her butt that lifted her up, flipping her midair. She landed with a Thud! on the ground and looked up to see a small geyser of water shooting into the sky before falling as an artificial rain. “Ow,” she groaned.
By late morning, “Applejack” had finished most of her chores. Yeah, parts of the garden had been turned into a muddy quagmire and other parts had barely seen a drop of water. But she crossed that off her mental checklist. And fully half of the day’s haul of eggs had been casualties, dropped as she fled from the angry chickens attacking her for stealing their eggs. But she crossed that off as well. She only needed to feed and clean the hogs then she could head into town and look for the real Applejack. She sincerely hoped that something terrible hadn’t befallen her best friend.
Rainbow Dash arrived at the pigpen, a large group of mud-covered hogs staring up at the familiar orange mare expectantly. She dumped the bucket of slop into the trough and the pigs eagerly gorged themselves. They only stopped for a moment when they heard some loud noise off in the distance. Still, Rainbow Dash was too tired to care. All she wanted to do was get the hogs cleaned so she could finish her chores.
She grabbed a large brush and a bucket of soapy water and opened the gate. Upon hearing the squeak of the hinges, the hogs looked up and saw the bucket and brush and did what their instincts told them to do – run!
“Oh no you don’t!” cried Rainbow Dash. She took off after them, but they ran this way and that, in circles and squares and back and forth. Rainbow Dash spied a little piglet and zeroed in on it. She pumped her legs fast closing the distance on the squealing pig. The piglet cut to the left and Rainbow Dash came within a foreleg’s reach – until her hooves slipped out from under her and she fell down. All the hogs stopped to watch the mud-covered pony trying and failing to stand up.
“Granny?” called a dirty, disheveled pony covered in filth as she entered the house.
The grandmare entered the kitchen. Instantly her eyes widened and her jaw fell open. “Land sakes child! What happened to yah, Applejack?”
“Cleaning the hogs is harder than it sounds,” replied Rainbow Dash. “I got all the chores done, so I’m headed into town.”
Granny shook her head. “You ain’t goin’ nowhere lookin’ like that! We may not be as particular ’bout the way we look as Rarity, but no grandfoal of mine is goin’ into town lookin’ like she spent the last year bathing in the swamp.”
“But –”
Granny waved her off. “Ah won’t have yah traipsing through the house leavin’ mud all over the place. Go wash up using the tub by the barn. It hasn’t been used nearly as much since Apple Bloom an’ her friends got their cutie marks.”
“Yes, Granny,” sighed Rainbow Dash as she turned and left the kitchen.
A while later a clean, though still somewhat wet, orange pony returned to the kitchen. “Granny, I’m headed into town.”
Granny was reading a book as Big Mac stood at the stove.
Looking up, Granny Smith noted, “It’s lunchtime.”
“Eeyup.”
Rainbow Dash’s stomach let out a large growl, and she sighed in resignation. She sat down and shortly Big Mac filled everypony’s plate. Taking a sniff, she began, “Is that –”
“Apple hash,” finished Granny Smith.
“Eeyup,” said Big Mac as he joined the other two.
Rainbow cocked an eyebrow as only Applejack could. “Seriously?”
“Eeyup.”
“I mean, I know the Apples are real big into – apples, but this is getting ridiculous.”
Putting her fork down, Granny Smith asked, “Somethin’ the matter, Applejack?”
For a moment, Rainbow Dash was at war with herself. On the one hoof, the polyjuice had worked perfectly and she looked and sounded like the real thing. On the other hoof, the prank wasn’t complete without the real Applejack. Then again, everypony believed she was the farmpony, so she could keep this going as long as it took. But what had happened to the real Applejack?
Nervously she fidgeted, “Yeah, there’s something you all should know.... I’m not really Applejack. I’m Rainbow Dash.”
The other two ponies stared at each other. Then, Big Mac began to snicker followed by Granny Smith.
“What?”
A smiling Granny Smith said, “You thought you got us? Well yer wrong!”
“Eeyup.”
“April Foal’s Day has been around since Ah was a filly.”
“Eeyup.”
She shook her head. “Ah’m just disappointed in yah, Applejack. That’s a pretty lame prank. Claimin’ yer Rainbow Dash when Ah can tell with mah own eyes an’ ears who yah really are.”
“Eeyup.”
“But –” attempted Rainbow Dash.
Granny Smith continued, “Next year, yah should put some more effort into yer prank, like that Rainbow Dash friend of yers.”
“Eeyup.”
Rainbow Dash protested, “No, really. I’m Rainbow Dash. I used this potion to turn into Applejack and I don’t know where the real Applejack is.”
The two began openly laughing, Big Mac pounding the table with a hoof.
“No, I can prove it. Ask me something only the real Rainbow Dash would know.”
Granny Smith rubbed her chin in thought for a while. “What’s the best angle of attack for maximum lift-to-drag?”
Rainbow Dash faltered, “Okay, pegasus aerodynamics was never really my strong suit. But you can – hold on a moment, how do you know about something like that?”
Granny Smith smiled, “Ah dated a handsome rainbow-maned pegasus stallion before Ah met yer grandfather.”
“You did?” gasped Rainbow Dash.
She chuckled, “Ah haven’t told yah everything, Applejack.”
Rainbow Dash sat speechless.
“Now Applejack,” Granny Smith said soothingly, “yah gave it a good try, but now yah need to git out to the orchard and applebuck.”
“Eeyup.”
“But you said I could go into town when I was done with my chores!”
Granny nodded, “Ah said when yah are done with yer morning chores. But yah wasted all mornin’ doin’ them. Now it’s time tah do afternoon chores.”
“Eeyup.”
“But – But –” Rainbow Dash protested in vain.
Bam! Rainbow Dash looked up and saw the apple swing back and forth on its branch. She turned and reared onto her front legs then shot her back legs into the tree trunk. Bam! She looked up and again the same apple taunted her, never snapping free.
She heard a rumble and saw Big Mac hauling a wagon of apples towards the barn.
“Big Mac?” she called.
He stopped then gave her a lazy stare. “Eeyup?”
“You know Applejack, right?”
“Eeyup.”
“You two grew up together?”
“Eeyup.”
“You know here like the back of your hoof?”
“Eeyup.”
“And you could pick out the real Applejack from a crowd of strangers?”
“Eeyup.”
“And you can tell that I’m not the real Applejack?”
“Nnope.” He turned and continued hauling the apples towards the barn.
Out of frustration Rainbow Dash kicked the tree. A moment later the elusive apple bounced off her head.
Rainbow Dash held her breath as she listened through the door intently. All she could hear was the loud snoring that rivaled her own. Good. With Granny Smith asleep, she could carry out her new plan.
She carefully walked down the hall, ever cognizant of squeaky floorboards that could rouse the napping matriarch. She opened the bedroom door and looked around. Upon a shelf stood a row of books. Scanning the titles, she found what she was looking for. She rummaged around the closet, moving foal’s clothing and pink bows out of the way, until she pulled out a potions kit.
Five minutes later Rainbow Dash was set up in the kitchen, reading the instructions. “This looks complicated,” she said to herself. “Still, I think I can brew the polyjuice antidote. It’s just a good thing that Apple Bloom has all the ingredients.” She began throwing everything into a pan heating on the stove then put the lid on it. She set the timer for ten minutes and paced around the room, listening to the incessant ticking.
She pondered where Applejack could be. It made no sense. This was where the farmpony lived and worked, where could she be? The more she thought about it, the more a terrible thought began gnawing away at her. What if, when she turned into Applejack, the real Applejack disappeared? That couldn’t be it. Zecora knew she wanted Applejack to see this prank. But the zebra did mention a lesson. Could making her friend vanish off the face of Equestria and leaving her with a guilty conscience be the lesson? Perhaps if she took the antidote, the real Applejack would return?
Brrrr! cried the timer. Rainbow Dash eagerly went to the stove and removed the lid – Blew!
Rainbow Dash stood shellshocked as she and much of the kitchen lay covered in a sticky green slime.
The door swung open. “What happened here?” cried Apple Bloom.
“I, uh, had an accident,” admitted “Applejack.”
Finally the kitchen and the faux-farmpony mare were clean.
“That’ll teach yah fer goin’ ’round makin’ potions without any trainin’,” noted Granny Smith. “Y’all made enough messes today, Applejack. Ah don’t want anymore.”
“Eeyup.”
“Okay, okay,” Rainbow Dash sighed. “Can I finally go into town?”
“Nnope.”
Rainbow Dash balked, “What? I did all my chores.”
“Have y’all forgotten, Applejack?” asked Granny Smith. “It’s yer turn to make dinner.”
Rainbow Dash slowly trudged up the stairs, each step an exhausting endeavor. Even with earth pony strength, she was bone tired and could barely keep her eyes open. How did Applejack do this everyday? She couldn’t care less at this point. She pushed open the door to Applejack’s bedroom and flopped onto the bed, falling asleep instantly.
Rainbow Dash groggily opened her eyes. The blinding sunshine hurt, and she snapped them shut again. She rolled over, every muscle in her body screaming in the effort, and buried herself deeper under the covers....
The next thing Rainbow Dash knew was violent shaking. She bolted upright, and the shaking suddenly stopped. “Huh? Was that an earthquake?” she mumbled as she attempted to get her bearings.
“Applejack, it’s time tah get up.”
She gazed over to the smiling yellow face and shining orange eyes of the youngest Apple. Rainbow Dash grumbled, “I keep telling you – I’m not Applejack. I’m Rainbow Dash.”
Apple Bloom frowned and waved off the mare with a hoof, “Yeah, yeah. Yah know yah can stop now, Applejack. April Foal’s Day was yesterday.”
Rainbow Dash groaned at her “sister’s” insistence.
“Anyways,” continued the filly, “Granny says breakfast is ’bout ready. Yah better get yer flank downstairs.” She turned and left the orange earth pony alone in the bedroom.
Rainbow Dash brought a hoof to her head to massage away the headache that was forming.
The faint smells emanating from the kitchen caught her attention. She slowly climbed down from the bed, grimacing as all her muscles formed a chorus of pain. How did Applejack do this everyday? Rainbow Dash couldn’t figure it out but managed to stagger down the hall and descend the stairs to the kitchen.
“There yah are, Applejack,” said Granny. “Get on over tah the table.”
Rainbow Dash stumbled to Applejack’s place at the table and sat down hard. She reflected on all the hard work of the day before. It was worse, or better depending on your point of view, than her normal workouts. She mused that a few more months of this and she’d be as ripped as Big Mac.
“Yah better eat up, ’cause y’all got ’nother full day of chores ahead,” said Granny Smith.
“Eeyup,” said Big Mac and he entered from outside.
Rainbow Dash suddenly felt even worse at the prospect of having to go through another day of Applejack’s chores. She needed at least three days to recover from yesterday. Two backbreaking days in a row would require her to recuperate for at least a week. In total defeat she hung her head low and vacantly stared at the empty table in front of her.
She snapped out of her trance as a plate full of scrambled eggs and butter toast filled her vision. A bowl with half a grapefruit was set next to it along with a glass of orange juice.
“What’s this?” she began. “Where’s all the apples?”
Sitting down at the head of the table, Granny Smith said, “If’n y’all want apples, you can make yer own darn breakfast.”
“Eeyup,” added Big Mac as he joined the rest of the family for breakfast.
Rainbow Dash wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. She’d had her monthly fill of apples the day before so this was more than a welcome change. She eagerly began devouring the savory food, having eyes only for the loaded plate in front of her.
The kitchen door creaked open.
“It’s ’bout time yah showed up,” greeted Granny Smith.
Rainbow Dash looked up to see standing in the doorframe... Rainbow Dash?
The pegasus smiled, “How y’all doin’, Applejack?”
“Applejack?” sputtered Rainbow Dash. “Wait, what’s going on?” she demanded.
The three other ponies started to snicker as they looked amongst themselves. Snickering quickly became laughing, with wry smiles on their faces. Laughing turned to howling, with Big Mac again pounding on the table and Apple Bloom tearing up.
Ignoring the pain, Rainbow Dash hopped to her orange hooves. “Would somepony tell me what the buck is going on around here!?” she roared.
Granny Smith eyed the pony masquerading as her grandaughter. “Here now, ain’t any need fer such langauge at the table, ’specially with a youngin’ present.”
“Well, Applejack,” began Apple Bloom with special emphasis on the irate orange pony’s name, “it all started the day before yesterday. Ah was goin’ to visit Zecora for help with one of mah potions. When Ah got there, Ah overheard y’all talkin’ ’bout prankin’ us with some polyjuice potion. Ah came right home an’ informed the family as to what you were plannin’.”
“With how hard she’s been pushin’ herself,” continued Granny Smith, “between Winter Wrap Up an’ plantin’, we conspired tah give Applejack – our Applejack – the day off.”
“Eeyup,” confirmed Big Mac.
“An’ since we couldn’t have two Applejacks runnin’ around, we figured that we should turn Applejack into Rainbow Dash,” explained Apple Bloom.
“What’s good fer the goose is good fer the gander,” said Granny Smith with a shake of her head.
“Eeyup.”
“So, this was all a prank on me?” asked Rainbow Dash as she attempted to wrap her head around it.
“Eeyup.”
Granny Smith chuckled, “How’s it feel to have some of yer own medicine?”
Rainbow Dash rubbed her aching head, “It feels like DeJa’Vu all over again.”
“So, Rainbow Dash,” Apple Bloom asked as she looked at the blue pegasus, “how was yer day off? Was it nice an’ relaxin’?”
Rubbing the back of her head, Applejack hesitated. “Well....”
Misty Fly soared high in the morning sky. Her dark blue and gold Wonderbolts uniform made her easy to spot against the pale blue background. She gazed down, carefully scanning everything below her. After apparently failing to find what she was looking for, she banked to the right and moved to another patch of sky to continue her search.
Suddenly her wings flared flat to the strong headwind, acting as an airbrake, and coming to an abrupt halt. She tucked her wings tight against her barrel and entered a steep dive, making slight adjustments as she honed in on her target. At the last moment her wings flared again, bringing her to a near stop as she landed gently on the white cloud.
She looked over and saw the rainbow-colored tail hanging limply off the edge. It emerged from a piece of cloud being used as a fluffy blanket. And emerging a little further up was a blue snout with the rest of the head hidden by what appeared to be a bit of cloud shaped like a hat and tipped over the face. As if she needed any more confirmation as to what the mare was busy doing, she heard soft, raspy breathing accompanied by the occasional snore.
Misty Fly trotted over to where the mare’s barrel was hidden by the cloud and began to violently shake.
Instantly the mare bolted upright, the bit of cloud vanishing to reveal the wide-open red eyes and rainbow mane. “Uh? Wha?” asked the disoriented mare.
“There you are! We need you back at HQ pronto!” said Misty Fly.
“Wait – what?” ask the mare, still trying to get her bearings after being rudely awakened.
“Spitfire wants you to report now,” she explained.
Rubbing her head, the mare said, “Ah don’t understand. She wants me?”
Misty continued, “Spitfire said ‘Go get Rainbow Dash and bring her back here ASAP,’ so here I am.”
Looking at her blue hoof, the mare seemed to come around, “Oh, Ah get it.” She looked at Misty, “Still, ain’t this Rainbow Dash’s day off? What’s Spitfire need?”
Misty huffed, “I don’t know. But we have to get flying.” She took to the air and hovered above the cloud impatiently.
“Ah don’t think –”
“Look, Rainbow Dash, if you don’t want to be in trouble with Captain, then we have to go now!” she said, crossing her forelegs.
“Oh, don’t want there to be trouble,” the mare mumbled. She approached the edge and looked apprehensively at the ground far below.
“What are you waiting for?” demanded Misty.
Gulping, “Rainbow Dash” took a step off and plummeted towards the ground. With a startled cry, she furiously flapped her wings, slowing her descent before gradually climbing back up to the cloud.
Shaking her head, Misty commanded “Quit showing off and come on!” before heading north, with a blue pegasus struggling to keep up....
At first, Applejack simply focused on flying. Flap wings down, raise wings, repeat. Exhale with down stroke, inhale with up stroke. Forelegs straight ahead and rear legs splayed back. Bank slightly for course corrections. Maintain visual with wingmare. Avoid clouds.
But as time went on, she noticed that flying became easier. Her flapping found a natural rhythm and corrections became more precise. It seemed that in addition to Rainbow Dash’s form and pegasus flying magic, she also gained the muscle memory and flight instincts that belonged to her friend.
After half an hour, Applejack at last felt at ease. She could feel the air beneath her wings, the wind blowing through her feathers and whipping her mane back and forth. At this altitude the air was cold and quiet and sweet. She stole glances at the ground below, beholding the majesty of the fields and forests and rivers and towns spreading out to the far horizon. For the first time in her life, Applejack began to understand why Rainbow Dash loved flying so much. She almost felt like a natural-born pegasus herself. A smiled grew on her face and she shouted, “Yee haw!”
Misty Fly slowed down and assumed a position next to the blue pegasus, almost wingtip to wingtip. “You feel alright, Dash?” she asked.
Applejack smiled mischievously, “Well, let’s just say that though Ah don’t feel like mahself today, Ah do feel pretty dang good.”
Misty gave “Rainbow Dash” a strange look but didn’t press the issue.
After another hour of flying, the pair approached a large cloudbank that formed a nearly impenetrable wall in the sky. Applejack slowed down, unsure if they would go around or over or try to bust straight through it. Unconcerned, Misty took the lead and banked left to fly alongside the cloud. Applejack decided to follow the Wonderbolt and quickly fell in behind her.
Suddenly Misty made a sharp right turn and disappeared into the cloud. Shocked, Applejack almost missed the turn point but banked hard to the right, unexpectedly finding herself in an artificial tunnel within the cloud. Following the contours, she began a shallow dive that progressively grew steeper and steeper. An end appeared out of nowhere and her pegasus senses took hold, snapping her into a vertical climb into another branch of the tunnel. Then she banked to the left, followed by a hairpin turn to the right, then barrel rolled until she broke into open sky. Getting her bearings again, she beheld the hallowed flat mesa that had been home to generations of Equestria’s best flyers.
Applejack flapped harder and harder to catch up with Misty. The pair descended towards the landing strip where a large group of pegasi gathered.
Misty flared her wings at the last second, coming to an abrupt halt and landing gracefully on the runway.
Applejack, however, hadn’t quite figured out that trick. She swooped down at a high speed and valiantly attempted a running landing, working her legs as if she were galloping. Unfortunately her right forehoof clipped the tarmac. Applejack careened forward, her wings flaring as she tumbled halfway down the runway. She wound up sprawled with her back on the ground and her legs in the air and a headache to boot. “Ow,” she groaned.
“Crash! What’s going on!?” she heard an angry voice demand.
Scurrying to her hooves, she soon stood before Spitfire herself.
“Ah heard you were lookin’ fer me, Spitfire,” she offered.
Leaning forward until they were nearly muzzle to muzzle, Spitfire narrowed her eyes and scowled over her sunglasses. In a low, harsh voice she reprimanded, “You know better than that! Address me by my rank in front of new recruits!”
Blinking, Applejack said, “Oh, beg yer pardon, Captain. Meant no disrespect.”
Captain scowled for a few more seconds before turning to the group of pegasi. In a voice worthy of any drill instructor, she announced, “I’ve seen you Wonderbolt wannabees in action and I can say I’ve never been more unimpressed in my entire life. Right now none of you are good enough to even serve in our cleanup crew scrapping gum off the bottom of the grandstands. That’s why I recalled Rainbow Dash to show you what a true Wonderbolt is capable of. She’s going to set the bar for all of you underachievers by performing her signature sonic rainbow.”
Applejack blinked, “Ah – uh – what?”
Captain turned and stared expectedly. After an awkward pause, she barked, “That’s your cue!”
“Well – yah see –” stammered Applejack.
Pointing to the sky, she ordered, “Get yer flank up there and just do it!”
Snapping to attention, Applejack saluted with her left forehoof, “Yes ma’am!” Before she could be chewed out by Captain again, she took to the sky. “What a mess this is. Hope Rainbow Dash is having a better day being me,” she mumbled to herself as she climbed high above the training grounds.
Not really sure of the exact mechanics of a sonic rainboom, she remembered the few times she had seen Rainbow Dash perform the feat. The only thing that came to mind was to go fast – really, really fast. That, and a cocky attitude born of overflowing confidence. Applejack couldn’t match the self-confidence, but she could use Rainbow Dash’s skills to go fast.
Turning to the far end of the mesa, Applejack took a deep breath then dashed for all her might. Wings down, wings up, wings down, wings up. Faster. Wings down, wings up. Faster! Downupdownup! She reached the other side of the mesa. Dang!
She entered a shallow bank and made a wide turn in the sky. Must go faster! She leveled out and tried again. Wings down, wings up, wings down, wings up. Faster. Wings down, wings up. Faster! Downupdownup! Faster still! But again she found she had reached the other end of the mesa without succeeding at the spectacular stunt.
She spiraled down towards Captain. “Captain, Ah don’t think Ah can do it.”
“Crash –” growled Captain.
Taking a deep breath, she tried, “About that. There’s really somethin’ yah should know ’bout me –”
Gritting her teeth, Captain vowed, “If you don’t go up there and give it everything you’ve got, so help me Celestia –!”
Applejack didn’t need to hear the rest of the threat before she shot back up into the sky. She was letting down Rainbow Dash! She was giving her friend a bad name in front of the new recruits. Applejack had to do more.
She reached far back to the first time she’d seen her friend do a sonic rainboom. It was in Cloudsdale, during the Young Flyer’s Competition. She’d done it while saving Rarity and the Wonderbolts. But how? Well, they were falling so she shot down after Rarity and them and – Wait! She was going down! She used gravity to increase her speed. Well, since this was Applejack’s first time, maybe she needed that extra boost too.
Applejack climbed higher and higher into the sky. The air became thin and each flap was harder than the last. She looked down and saw the tiny mesa far below. She almost pulled a Fluttershy and stopped flapping in fright but managed to keep herself aloft. She kept climbing higher, gasping for a breath in the thin air. She climbed until she couldn’t climb any higher.
She took a couple of deep breaths and steeled herself for her last shot. Nothing would be left on the table. She was boldly going where no earth pony had gone before.
Applejack leaned forward and entered a steep dive. Must go faster! She pumped her wings hard. Must go faster! – UpDownUpDown – Faster! The air piled up before her, creating an invisible impenetrable barrier. Faster still! – UPDOWNUPDOWN – The mesa quickly grew larger in her field of view. Faster damnit! The mesa was almost all she could see! She was going to slam headlong into the ground! She pulled up and entered level flight mere feet before certain death. It’s now or never! She gave it everything she had. Suddenly she felt a pressure wave move through her body and witnessed an explosion of colors before her. A sonic rainboom! She had done it! “Yee haw!” she shouted in triumph as she experienced the pure joy of flying.
Reaching the end of the training grounds, she slowed down and banked back towards the Academy. She came in fast but had learned her lesson and landed on her hooves. She saw Captain and galloped over to her in excitement. “Did’ja see! Did’ja see!”
Captain glared at Applejack through the frames of the sunglasses. Only tiny, jagged pieces of glass remained from the shattered lenses. “What the buck was that!”
Baffled, Applejack replied, “A sonic rainboom. Ah thought yah wanted me to do it.”
The fury in her eyes matched her voice, “You know better than to do that at low altitude!” She pointed her right foreleg over to the cadets, many of whom were lying on the ground. “Half the class needs to go get checked out by the flight doctors. Some have concussions.” She swept her left foreleg. “And the rainboom caused structural damage to our facilities.”
Applejack surveyed the wounded pegasi. Those that weren’t hurt were staring back at the blue mare in fear. She glanced off to the other side and saw buildings with shattered windows, holes in the roofs, and large cracks running throughout. Even the massive cloudbank that shielded the Academy now had large fissures, large enough to fly a pegasus chariot through. “Oh,” remarked a sullen Applejack.
“This is coming out of your paycheck,” growled Captain.
“Rainbow Dash” flew through the air. “That’s one chewin’ out Ah’ll never forget,” she grumbled. “Ah didn’t even know there were so many swear words until today.”
“Count yourself lucky that there’s a weather emergency, otherwise she’d have probably thrown you in the brig after the stunt you pulled,” Misty retorted.
“She was yellin’ so much, Ah couldn’t get a word in edgewise,” Applejack continued.
Misty sighed, “Well, Rainbow Dash, you do have a history of ticking off Spitfire. Remember last week when you buzzed the tower? Spitfire spilled a cup of coffee all over her new uniform.”
“Ah can honestly say that Ah don’t remember that,” Applejack said, almost letting a chuckle slip into her voice before becoming somber again.
“Then there was that Wonderbolts show in Ponyville where you caused total chaos,” Misty added.
“Yeah, that wasn’t the best day,” she admitted.
“And that doesn’t count the pranks you’ve pulled over the last couple of months,” Misty finished.
“Yeah, the pranks do seem to get out of hoof,” acknowledged Applejack with a grim expression across her face.
“Just don’t piss off Spitfire again and things will blow over,” reassured Misty.
Applejack smiled a little, “Thanks for the advice. Ah’ll pass it along.”
Giving “Rainbow Dash” another strange look, she asked, “‘Pass it along?’”
“It’s a long story,” Applejack remarked before quickly saying, “But first, Ah want to know what we’ve got to do.”
“A group of storm clouds broke loose from their holding pen,” Misty explained. “We’ve got to get them put back ASAP.”
“That don’t sound like a major emergency,” noted Applejack.
“Well, if they rain, then either the weather factory will have to work overtime to make more or someplace will experience a drought, like say, your friend’s farm. And if they all rain in the wrong place... well, that could cause a flood. And nopony wants that.”
“Ah can see that,” conceded Applejack.
“There they are,” said Misty as she pointed off in the distance.
A large black mass was pushing east. The formation was so tight that it was hard to tell where one cloud ended and the next began. Still, Applejack counted at least two dozen distinct clouds, each one nearly the size of Twilight’s castle and as dark as charcoal. Just looking at them filled the earth pony-turned-pegasus with a deep sense of foreboding, rekindling foalhood memories of cowering in fear during thunderstorms.
The closer they got, the larger and more ominous they became. “We got to move all of them?” clarified Applejack.
“Yeah, we’ll be lucky if we finish by sunset,” complained Misty.
Pushing her foalhood apprehension back down, Applejack screwed up her courage and with bravado declared, “Well, let’s get a goin’!” She swooped down to what looked like a good, stable place to push.
“Rainbow Dash, you might not want to –”
Crrck-BOOM!!!
Applejack blinked. Electricity crackled through her mane and tail, both now standing on end. Wisps of smoke rose from her singed fur and feathers.
“That was the biggest lightning bolt I’ve ever seen,” Misty noted dryly.
Applejack coughed, “Yah don’t say.”
The night was exceptionally dark. The waning crescent moon of the night before had vanished, leaving the land longing for the moon’s return. The thousand dim stars fought the darkness but provided only the faintest of light. And it was quiet. Gone was the normal hustle and bustle of the day. The only sounds came from the flapping wings of a lone pegasus out in the night.
Applejack struggled though the night sky. It was so dark she wasn’t sure she was heading in the right direction. Her pegasus vision might be better than her earth pony’s, but it still paled in comparison to a bat pony’s. She could only make out the vague shapes of hills and lakes. At this point, she navigated more by dead reckoning than anything else.
Applejack also struggled because she was bone tired. Performing a sonic rainboom had been exhausting enough. But moving dozens of storm clouds all afternoon had sapped what little energy she had left. It had been just after sunset when they completed their assigned duty, and she had bid Misty farewell. Sure Misty had invited her back to her house for the night, but Applejack wanted to get back to Ponyville. If only home wasn’t so far away... wherever it was.
At last she felt she could fly no more. She desperately needed rest before she fell out of the sky. In the distance lay a small hamlet. Applejack almost lost hope when she realized that she didn’t have any bits on her to pay for a hotel room. But she was in luck! Reflecting the lights from the houses was a small cloud.
Applejack swooped down onto the mass. She fell into the fluffy goodness and, letting her pegasus instincts take over, pulled some over to form a soft, warm blanket. Within seconds she was fast asleep.
“You did a sonic rainboom!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash. Her reaction was equal parts shocked, impressed, and horrified.
“Yeah,” replied Applejack.
“That’s amazing sis!” cried Apple Bloom.
“Eeyup,” added Big Mac.
“Wow...,” Rainbow Dash fought for the words, “just... wow.”
A smiled crept across Applejack’s face as she relived her moment of glory. “Yeah, it was... pretty amazin.’ Like nothin’ Ah’ve ever experienced before in mah life.”
“I can’t believe it,” remarked Rainbow Dash. She rubbed her head. “That must be that loud noise that I heard yesterday when I was feeding the pigs.” Reflecting on what Applejack had said a bit more, she perked up and asked, “So were all the recruits impressed by the awesomeness of Rainbow Dash?”
Applejack’s smile faded, “’Bout that.” She awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck and ruffled her wings.
Sensing something wrong, she demanded, “What happened?”
“Well, Ah did the sonic rainboom all right. Ah just... didn’t know it was it wasn’t supposed to be performed at low altitude.”
“You didn’t!”
Applejack nodded, “Afraid Ah did, Sugarcube.”
Apple Bloom cocked her head, “Is that a bad thing?”
“You have no idea,” responded Rainbow Dash. Then, with a sigh, she asked, “So, what’s the damage?”
“Well, Ah sent half the cadets tah the hospital. Lot of the buildings were damaged. An’ Ah hope y’all weren’t attached tah the new cloudbank surroundin’ the Academy.”
Rainbow Dash rubbed her head. Now she definitely had a headache. “So, Spitfire must have been pretty pissed.”
“Language,” reprimanded Granny Smith.
“Eeyup,” confirmed Applejack. “Gave me a right good chewin’ out. Good thin’ there was a weather emergency.”
Rainbow Dash looked up, “Weather emergency?”
“Eeyup. Me an’ Misty had to wrangle up some ornery clouds.”
“Storm clouds?”
“Eeyup.”
“Big?”
“Eeyup.”
“Black?”
“Eeyup.”
“Get struck by lightning?”
“Eeyup.”
Now Rainbow Dash burst out laughing.
“Ain’t that funny. Ah got hit by this big old’ bolt.”
Rainbow Dash kept laughing. “What did you do? Approach it from the bottom?”
“Eeyup.”
Rainbow Dash howled even more. “First thing you learn on the weather team is to never approach a black storm cloud from below.”
“Well, if’n yah didn’t notice, Ah’ve never been on the weather team.”
“But Rainbow Dash has, and you look just like Rainbow Dash,” noted Apple Bloom.
“About that,” began Applejack as a thought struck her. “How ’bout you start mixin’ the antidote to the polyjuice potion? Being Rainbow Dash was fun an’ all, but Ah’ve got chores tah do that require an earth pony, not a pegasus.”
Now Apple Bloom imitated her big sister. “Yeah, about that....”
“What happened?” demanded Applejack.
“Well... Ah don’t know how to break this... so Rainbow Dash will tell yah,” she quickly finished.
Rainbow Dash sighed, “You see, I got worried. The prank was to have two Applejacks, not one. I didn’t know where you were. I began to wonder if maybe... maybe when I took the polyjuice it made you disappear.”
“Polyjuice doesn’t work like that,” interjected Apple Bloom.
“Yeah, but I didn’t know what happened to Applejack. So, while Apple Bloom was at school, I tried to make the antidote. Let’s just say it didn’t work out so well.”
“She an’ half the kitchen got covered in green slime,” explained Granny Smith.
“Eeyup,” added Big Mac.
“So, what are you sayin’?” asked Applejack.
Apple Bloom looked sheepish, “Rainbow Dash used up all the ingredients for the antidote, so Ah can’t make any.”
Applejack groaned and rubbed her head with her left wing. “Ah’m stuck like this?” bemoaned the blue pegasus.
“You wish,” retorted Rainbow Dash.
Applejack looked up, “Yah know, yah are stuck being me as well.”
Rainbow Dash looked smug. “Zecora’s brewing the antidote as we speak. We can go get some whenever we want.”
“Good,” said Applejack with relief filling her voice. Looking at the table she said, “Ah’m starved,” as she took a seat next to Apple Bloom. “Say, no apples?”
Granny Smith said, “If’n y’all want apples, you can make yer own darn breakfast.”
Two earth ponies and a pegasus trotted through the Everfree Forest. Or rather an earth pony, a pegasus that’s really an earth pony pretending to be a pegasus, and an earth pony that’s really a pegasus pretending to be an earth pony, trotted through the Everfree Forest. After a brisk walk, the three arrived at the hollowed-out tree that served as a home for Ponyville’s resident zebra and potions master.
Apple Bloom approached and tapped on the door.
After a moment, the door swung open to reveal Zecora. She blinked in surprise, “Do my eyes deceive? Is that Rainbow Dash I perceive?”
“Howdy, Zecora,” greeted the blue pegasus.
Taken aback, the zebra remarked, “The situation is most strange. I see Applejack has had a change.”
“Yeah, it’s kinda a long story...,” began Apple Bloom.
She deadpanned, “You don’t say, my young protégé?”
“Let’s just say things didn’t go according to plan,” added the orange earth pony.
“Yes I can tell, my potion performed well.” Zecora stepped back and opened the door wider, “Please come in I say, you three have come a long way.”
The three entered the house and the zebra closed the door behind them....
After half an hour of explaining, with occasional pauses to allow Rainbow Dash or Applejack to get their laughter at their doppelganger’s plight out of their system, Zecora was fully caught up.
“So,” summarized Rainbow Dash, “we need two does of polyjuice antidote.”
“Yes, the antidote I have made, but first I must be paid,” said Zecora.
“What do I owe you? Five bits?” asked Rainbow Dash as she rummaged around for her bag of bits.
“If you want my brew, five hundred is due.”
“What!” cried Rainbow Dash as Applejack exclaimed, “Five Hundred!”
Zecora chuckled, “A secret I will share my friend, my profit is made on the back end.”
Rainbow Dash sighed, “Well, I can cover that. Thank goodness Friday was payday.”
Applejack covered her face with her wing again. “Sugarcube, there’s somethin’ y’all should know.”
“What?”
“You know all the damage Rainbow Dash caused with the sonic rainboom?”
“Yeah?”
“Spitfire is dockin’ y’all’s paycheck tah pay fer the damages.”
“How much?”
“All of it.”
Rainbow Dash groaned as she brought an orange hoof to massage away her headache. “Buck!”
