Homesick

Another week passed, and everything was slowly getting back to normal. Rainbow was right – The world keeps spinning. Whether the Apple family liked it or not, they had jobs to do, and no time to feel sorry for themselves. Applejack still visited the grave every day, seeking some quiet comfort, but she felt herself gaining some confidence as well over time. Every day she would smile and laugh a little more, and think about the family tragedy a little less. She had felt the pain of losing a loved one before, and knew better than anyone that it would just take a little time.

Luckily, she had been sleeping better as well. Rainbow Dash slept by the young farmer’s side for a few nights, but returned to the guest bedroom when Applejack was confident she could fall sleep without her.

Life wasn’t exactly normal again, but AJ did have to admit that things were slowly getting better. There was one thing that still lingered in the back of her mind, though. She knew Rainbow Dash would be leaving in two short weeks, and it honestly scared her a bit. Dash had become somewhat of a security blanket to her – Always there when she needed her most. Seeing Dash go again would be difficult – maybe even harder than the first time they said their goodbyes. She knew she couldn’t ask her to stay, though. She was free to live her life of stardom; traveling around the world with the Wonderbolts, gaining thousands of fans, and infinite fame – Just as Dash had always dreamed.

The Apple farmers had been working especially hard this week, spending countless hours in town trying to sell apple family products, and even more strenuous hours on the farm getting work done. Mac and AJ went over the finances a few times, and at this point could only pray they were able to make enough this month. Even with the young Wonderbolt there helping out, they still seemed to barely have enough to get by.  Applejack had to admit she was worried, but tried to remain hopeful through it all, reassuring Mac that they could pull through it.

It was the end of another busy work day. Applejack was sitting on the porch out front, watching Applebloom tire herself out by playing fetch with Winona. She envied how carefree her sister could be; not having to worry about what would become of the Apple family now that everything was changing. She heard the door close behind her, and looked over her shoulder to see Rainbow Dash, fully geared up and ready for practice. She smiled at her – the girl looked pretty cute in her Wonderbolt suit and goggles.

Dash took a seat next to her friend, and watched Applebloom repeatedly throw the stick, then struggle to wrestle it out of the dog’s mouth. The both found themselves smiling as they watched her.

“I’m getting tired just watching her.” Dash admitted as she watched the youngest Apple chase after the dog, yelling about dropping the stick. “I wish I still had that kind of energy.”

Applejack chuckled. “Ya have more energy than a kid on Christmas mornin’, sugar.”

“Yeah, right. Since joining the Wonderbolts, I’ve barely had any energy. I used to work all day for the weather team, then stay up all night practicing my routines. I’d sleep a few hours, then take on the day again. Now, I can barely get through a day. I’ll fly for a few hours, then barely be able to walk up the stairs. I’d kill to have the energy of a kid again.”

“Ya’ll have been doin’ pretty good, workin’ the farm, then getting’ straight to practicin’!” Applejack argued. “Ah get exhausted wathchin’ ya rattle apples from trees all day, then take off n’ start doin’ your loop-de-loops in the sky!”

Dash started to snicker. “That’s because you’re an old fart, AJ.” She began to tease, sticking her tongue out at her friend. Applejack retaliated by flicking her friend’s nose.

“Alright, alright. No need tah get snippy with me, whippersnapper.”

They laughed and joked for a while, forgetting about their troubles and woes. Dash was getting lost in conversation, forgetting the point of coming out was to practice for a while. It could wait though. Her time with Applejack was more precious to her than that. They got onto the topic of what it’s like being a Wonderbolt. Applejack didn’t know much about it, but was fascinated by the life Dash led. Things were a lot different for her now.

“Hey Dash, can ah ask ya somethin’? Hope it isn’t too personal, but ah guess ah’m just curious…”

“Sure AJ. What’s on your mind?”

“Well, ah hear a lot about celebrities and what not getting’ around, ‘specially ones that are travelin’ all over like you are. D’ya ever…Y’know, sleep around?”

Rainbow Dash just stared. What was Applejack asking for? She noticed the farmer start to laugh nervously, now embarrassed by her own curiosity. Dash smiled coyly.

“Why do you ask, AJ? Jealous of all the tail I get while on the road?” Dash puffed her chest out proudly. The smile faded from the farm girl’s face.

“Uh…Well, no. Y’aren’t serious, are ya? Who’ve ya been gettin’ around with?” AJ was a little worried. She regretted asking; maybe she didn’t want to hear about what she’d been doing on the road.

Rainbow Dash couldn’t keep a straight face. She started to laugh, but her friend still seemed completely flustered. “Jeez, AJ. I’m just kidding, what kind of girl do you think I am? I haven’t been with anyone while I’ve been gone. Like I said, if I’m not practicing, I’m sleeping. I barely have time to think about that.”

Applejack’s face softened, she mentally sighed. ‘What a relief…’

“Why, you wanna mess around?” Rainbow Dash offered, completely deadpan.

Her friend did not find the offer amusing in the least. She was glaring back at the Pegasus, who, once again, could barely keep a straight face. The apple farmer rolled her eyes.

“Real funny, Rainbow. Ha ha.”

The Wonderbolt covered her mouth, trying to silence herself. She had no idea her friend would take that to heart. “S-sorry! I’m just messin’ around. Lighten up, will ya?” Rainbow nudged her friend with her elbow, trying to coax a smile out of her. “Some of the Bolts are like that…And I can’t blame them. I guess it gets pretty lonely out there on the road. And no one can really have a relationship. I won’t lie, I’ve thought about it…But I don’t think I can do it.”

Applejack let out a quick laugh. “Aw, now don’t tell me ya’ll are the sappy lovey dovey type, Rainbow. Never pegged ya as the kinda girl who liked romancin’ and what not.” Sure, she was poking fun, but it actually warmed her heart to hear all this about Dash.

“Yeah, yeah, alright, laugh it up. What about you, AJ? Have any rolls in the hay lately?”

“Sure, but who’s keepin’ count?” Applejack winked at her friend. Rainbow’s eyes widened.

“You’re…Kidding, right?”

“Aw shucks, of course ah am, ya bird brain. I ain’t been with anybody, I ain’t like that.”

“Oh…Well, how was I supposed to know! There’s tons of guys in this town who would kill for a date with you!”

“Sure, darlin’. And there’s thousands ‘f people who would kill tah go on a date with a Wonderbolt. But I ain’t like that. Like ya said, who has time?”

The conversation trailed off. The two friends returned to watching the sun set in silence – it was something they often did together before Rainbow Dash left home.

“I miss doing this kind of stuff with you, AJ.” Dash suddenly broke the silence between them.

“Me, too, partner. More than ya know.” She softly replied.

Rainbow lowered her head to the floor. Why did she feel like her stomach was in a giant knot? She never considered she would miss home so much, doing simple things most people took for granted every day. When you’re a Wonderbolt, you don’t get to laze around and watch the sun set, or nap up in apple trees. Dash was realizing just how much she gave up to gain this kind of fame.

“Ya gonna go practice, sugarcube?”

Rainbow Dash shook her head. “Sorry…”

“Sorry…What’re you apologizin’ fer?”

“Since I’ve been back, you’ve talked about how much you’ve missed me. Everyone has. But I haven’t told you how much I’ve missed you, AJ. I see why you were so mad at me. I must seem like a selfish jerk. While I was gone, I barely thought about home. But now that I’m here...”

Applejack scooted in closer to her friend, just barely brushing up against her thin frame. “C’mon, sugarucbe. Don’t let that bother ya, yer followin’ yer dream. Ah couldn’t be prouder of ya. Heck, if I were in your position, I wouldn’t be thinkin’ about this ol’ run down apple farm either.”

Her lips curled into a small smile. “I do love being a Wonderbolt. But…I guess I’m also homesick. I really didn’t think I’d miss it this much…” Rainbow’s smile faded again.  “Do you ever think about me while I’m gone, AJ?”

The farmer draped an arm over her friend’s shoulder. “What kinda silly question is that? Of course ah do. Every single day.”

Dash slumped down a bit, starting to sulk. “Oh…”

“Dash…Ah just worry aboutchya. Yer mah best friend, and yer off travelin’ all over the place, doin’ dangerous stunts. Of course ah think about ya. I’m sure ah cross your mind every now n’ again.” She tightened her grip around her friend’s neck and playfully pulled her in closer. Dash struggled to get out of her friend’s headlock, until AJ finally released her from the hold.  It didn’t appear to amuse her Pegasus friend too much. Applejack’s smile turned into a look of concern, what was on her friend’s mind?

‘You really ought to tell Applejack how you feel! She really likes you, you know!’ Dash shook her head, trying to rid herself of the memory.

“I…I think about you a lot, AJ. When I’m feeling alone or kind of down, I read through your letters. They kind of smell like home…It’s nice.”

She really hated to see her friend moping about like this. She couldn’t blame her though – being homesick is tough. She recalled moving away to live with her aunt and uncle in the city, and how much she missed her family. That was only for a few weeks – Dash was gone for nearly a year.

The farm girl stood up and grabbed her friend’s hand, ready to lead her away from the house. Rainbow looked up at her friend, totally puzzled.  Before she could question it, she was on her feet, being guided down the path.

“C’mon, sugarcube. We’re gonna get yer mind off of all this.”

~ ~ ~

“What are we doing, AJ?” curiosity struck the rainbow-haired girl. She liked surprises, but it seemed like Applejack was kind of making this up as she went along. They stopped in front of the barn, and Applejack ordered her to wait outside.

After she went in, Dash tried her best to peek and look around, pondering more and more what her friend could be up to.   She couldn’t see a thing inside the barn, so she just stood outside with her arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently. When the Apple girl returned, she was holding something behind her back. Rainbow tried to circle the girl and look behind her back. Applejack simultaneously turned, and used one hand to hold her friend back. The other arm still remained behind her back.

“Cut that out, will ya? It’s a surprise! I ain’t showin’ ya ‘til we get to tha top of Sweet Apple orchard.”

Dash groaned. She was impatient; her least favorite thing in the world was waiting to get something. Still, she obliged, following her friend through the orchard to the top of her favorite hill. Atop the peak was a large apple tree, Dash’s personal favorite (it was the best to nap in, obviously).

“Alright…Sit down n’ close your eyes…” Applejack instructed. The Pegasus stared suspiciously, but did as she was told. She fell back and crossed her legs, then placed her hands over her eyes.

“Okay. Now what?”

“Hold yer horses…Alright…Open yer eyes.”

Dash lowered her hands and stared up at her friend. At the end of her extended arms was a neatly wrapped present. She raised a brow.

“You…Got me something?” She took the gift from her friend’s hands, and examined it for a moment.

“Just a little somethin’ ah knew you’d like…Ah was gonna give it to ya on yer last night here…But ah figured maybe ya’d like it now, somethin’ ta keep yerself occupied.” Applejack took a seat across from her friend and motioned for her to open it.

Rainbow Dash looked back down, unsure of what to say. She picked at a corner of the wrapping paper, and slowly pulled away at it until it revealed what was hidden away.

“Is this…The latest Daring Do book?!” Rainbow was now grinning. She opened it up immediately and started to inspect the pages. “No way! I didn’t even know this was out yet. Where’d you get it?”

Applejack chuckled. “Ah asked Twilight tah get it for me. It ain’t out yet, technically. Doesn’t hurt tah be friends with a princess, though.”

“Ohmygosh! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!” The Pegasus moved over to her friend and gave her a big bear hug.

“Heh…Glad to see that cheered ya up, sugarcube.” She gave her friend a gentle squeeze. Dash pulled away, now completely infatuated with her new book. “Ya seem eager to start readin’. How ‘bout ya read it tah me for a while? We can go relax under yer favorite tree and everything.”

Dash glanced at her friend, surprised by her notion. “Really? Are you sure? I didn’t think you liked Daring all that much. I can just read it later.”

Applejack reached over and gave her friend a few playful pats on the cheek. “C’mon, ya egghead.” With that, the blonde stood up, and tilted her head towards the tree, hinting that her friend should follow her.

For two hours, the pair sat beneath the tree, and became engaged in Daring Do’s latest adventures. AJ was leaning against the trunk of tree, her legs stretched out in front of her, while Dash was resting her head on them, her body perpendicular to the farmer’s. Applejack would occasionally admire her friend’s colorful hair, and take a moment to run her fingers through it. Rainbow Dash didn’t seem to mind – Sometimes she didn’t even notice.  They enjoyed their time together until it became too dark to see clearly anymore.

“Man, it was just getting good.” Dash pouted as she closed the novel. She placed the book atop her stomach, then tilted her head up to look at her friend. Applejack had fallen asleep at some point, her chin was making contact with her chest, and her arms were folded below her breasts.  Rainbow snickered; guess she really did find it boring.

She sat up, and gave her friend a few pats on the leg. Applejack’s head shot up, she was now eye to eye with her best friend.

“What uh…”

“You fell asleep.” Rainbow Dash stood up, and held out a hand, offering to help her friend up. Applejack grabbed hold, and hoisted herself up. She felt her cheeks warm up as they turned a bright pink.

“Sorry Rainbow. Ah must’ve been more tired than ah realized…” She farm girl gave her eyes a gentle rub.

“Come on, Not-So-Daring-Do. Let’s head back home. I, for one, am starving.”

Applejack gave her friend a sly grin. “Not darin’ huh? How about a race back - Loser does the dishes.”

“Oh, you’re so on!”

______________________________________________________________________________________

That was not well planned on Rainbow’s part. She didn’t realize running while gripping a book as if it were her own child would be a little more difficult than usual. Applejack beat her back to the house in record time, and now Rainbow was left to do the pile of dirty dishes left after dinner.

“Jeez, stupid dishes…” Dash mumbled to herself while scraping a stubborn piece of food off a plate. Applejack sat and watched from the table, laughing quietly to herself over her friend’s comments.

“Hey AJ…Can ah talk tuh ya for a sec?” Big Mac had entered the room; he was holding a few pieces of paper in his hand. Applejack nodded at her brother, and followed him into the next room.

“Everythin’ alright, Mac?”

“Ah’m not sure. Ah was lookin’ at what we’ve made so far this month…Ah don’t think we’re gonna make it, AJ. Ah just don’t see how we can get tha money on such short notice.” He looked down at the papers and began to shake his head.

“Are…ya sure?”

Big Macintosh handed the papers over to her so she could compare figures for herself. She read them quietly, then handed them back to her sibling.

“So…What should we do ‘bout it? Ah reckon if we talk tuh the bank maybe they’ll go easy on us. They know ‘bout what happened, they gotta cut us some slack.” Applejack offered.

The farm-boy shrugged. “Ah guess it’s worth uh shot…Not sure what else we can do…”

The Apple siblings went over a few options and ideas, considering what would work best. From behind the wall, back in the kitchen, Dash was listening on. She had stopped her dish washing, and given her full attention to them. She was frustrated at the entire situation – She wanted to go out there and talk sense into both of them, insisting she could help and put all this trouble behind them. She noticed the two had stopped talking, and rushed back over to the sink. Applejack entered the room again and took her place at the table once more. Dash was pretending to dry a final plate.

“Ya just about finished, sugarcube?”

She set down the plate, and turned to face her friend. “Yup! All finished, hehe.”

Applejack smiled at her, then let a small yawn escape from her mouth. “Mm…Ah guess I’d better get goin’ to bed…Don’t stay up too late…” She stood from the table, then pointed at the book to Dash’s side. Dash glanced at it, then smiled back at the farm girl.

“Heh, I’ll try! G’night, AJ!”

“Night, sugar.”

Once the siblings were both upstairs, she took a seat at the kitchen table and cracked open her book. She was distracted by the conversation she overheard though, and kept losing track as she thought back to it.

“Guh, I can’t concentrate right now!” Dash slammed the book shut, then rested her head in her hands. She was frustrated, why was her friend too stubborn to accept help from her?

Dash was pacing around the kitchen restlessly, wondering if it would be right to talk to Applejack about the money situation again or just let it go. She did promise she wouldn’t bring it up again, but it was beyond frustrating to hear her ‘family’ whispering about the trouble they were in, then reassure Dash that everything was peachy keen. They would not be willing to accept the help she was offering, either. Rainbow Dash knew she could so easily make it all go away – But Applejack was too proud to let anyone take care of her in that way.

The amateur Wonderbolt glanced at the clock, and now realizing how late it was, decided to retire back to her room. She wasn’t tired, but if Applejack happened to come down into the kitchen and notice Dash was still up, she would get a motherly lecture about staying up late, then, if Dash were lagging at work the next day, tired from staying up the night before, she’d never hear the end of it.

While Rainbow dragged herself down the hallway, gripping her new book to her chest, she heard a faint voice coming from Applejack’s room. She stopped in front of her friend’s door and listened on quietly, wondering why the farmer was still up, and what she could be talking about.

“Ah don’t know if ah should just ask Dash…What if she ends up hatin’ me? Ah know she said she wouldn’t…”

Dash’s heart skipped a beat. She stuck a finger in her ear and gave it a turn, then leaned in closer to the door to listen again. Applejack was speaking at barely above a whisper, and now the curious Pegasus could barely make a word out. It quickly became too frustrating for Dash to continue, and she marched on to the next door over. She tossed her book onto her bed, then took a seat on the edge of her mattress. It let out a loud squeak when she made contact with it.

“She must’ve been wondering if she should ask me for money…” Dash began to rub her chin gently as she thought more about it. “She’s probably too afraid to ask…Hhmmm…” She felt her eyes getting heavy.

The pegasus let her body fall back onto the bed, and she let out a loud yawn.  “Guess I’ll worry about it in the morning though.”

~ ~ ~

In the early morning the Apple siblings were up and at it, down on the farm doing their usual tasks. For hours Applejack had been working, doing the familiar task of apple picking. She hadn’t seen Rainbow yet today, but figured she still fast asleep (which was very possible, she did that often after staying up all night reading). Applejack was at the very top of a ladder, reaching up to grab some loose apples. As she dropped them below her, she noticed coming down the path. As it came closer, she realized it was none other than Rainbow Dash. Applejack was unsure why her friend was now entering the farm; had she been up working this entire time and didn’t take notice? She slid down from her ladder to greet the Pegasus.

“Howdy, Rainbow. Where ya comin’ from? Ah didn’t see ya leave the house this mornin’.”

“Oh! I uh…Figured you wouldn’t have. I just went flying... I got up a little bit ago and decided to do a lap around town, just to stretch my wings and stuff…”

Applejack looked at her friend suspiciously. Her excuse didn’t seem outrageous at all, but she did seem a little on edge.  She was familiar with how Dash acted when she was trying to hide something.

“Didja stop anywhere?” AJ decided to probe a bit.

“Who, me? No way, just went for a fly then came straight back here! Anyway I’d better get to work, looks like you have your hands full!”

“Dash, ya don’t hafta lie ta me ya know. Didja go to Twilight’s or somethin’?” She was worried this had become a regular thing. Maybe Dash was making a constant of it now, going over to their friend’s library to complain about her behind her back. She couldn’t blame her if she was; Applejack snapped at her a few times, and was amazed the Pegasus came back time and time again, simply able to shine it all on.  Since hearing about the first visit with Twilight, it was something AJ kept in the back of her mind.

Rainbow Dash looked utterly puzzled. “Twilight’s? No….Why do you ask?”

“Well…Ah know ya went there a few weeks ago. After, er…” The apple farmer trailed off there. “I figured ya’ll have been goin’ there. Maybe confidin’ in Twilight, talkin’ about how nuts ah’ve been drivin’ ya?”

“What?! That’s crazy, AJ. I went to Twilight’s a few weeks ago after…The incident, but it wasn’t to talk badly about you. It was more for…Myself, really.” Rainbow Dash felt herself getting backed into a corner here. She definitely did not want to relay what they had spoken about that day.

The farm girl shook her head. “Ah don’t get it, Dash. Ya can tell me the truth, ah won’t be mad. Ya went over there, but that day ya told me the same thing; ‘Ah just went for a quick fly is all’. Why wouldn’t ya just tell me ya went to Twilight’s too?”

“I…Just figured it wasn’t important. I went there for a little bit to catch up with her, but we just talked about boring stuff. Daring Do, Wonderbolts, princess stuff, yadda yadda…” That wasn’t technically a lie, but it also wasn’t the whole truth. “Believe me, AJ. I don’t have anything bad to say about you. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but please believe me when I say I wouldn’t do that.”

Applejack sighed. Her friend seemed sincere in her response; it made her feel a little better about it, but didn’t put her mind at ease completely. Why would she be sneaking around and not telling her then? There must have been something Dash didn’t want to talk about.

“If ya say so. Ah guess it’s yer business, ah won’t bother ya about it anymore.”

This was one of Applejack’s guilt tactics. She would make it seem like everything was okay, then let Dash overthink it, and, eventually, she’d spill everything on her own. She was great at these kinds of mind tricks.

Dash narrowed her eyes – She knew exactly what her friend was up to, but this time she couldn’t let herself slip up. She was not going to tell Applejack about her visit to Twilight’s. Applejack simply carried on with her work, whistling to herself while she gathered the apples into a barrel. Damn, she was good.

“I’m gonna…Get to work…” Rainbow Dash rubbed the back of her neck nervously; waiting to see of Applejack would give any kind of response. Eventually  she gave a simple ‘yup’, then headed back up the ladder to gather more apples.

‘For Celestia’s sake! I’m getting out of here.’ And with that, the two girls parted ways. Dash went off to the opposite end of Sweet Apple Acres to work, avoiding Applejack the rest of the day at all costs.

When night rolled around, and all members of the house decided to retire to their separate bedrooms, Applejack had finally given up hope on making Rainbow crack. Maybe there really wasn’t more to say, maybe she was being honest with her. The farm girl was lying in her bed, eyes closed, trying to unwind from the day and get some rest. As she felt herself dozing off, she heard a knock at the door.

“AJ, it’s me”

Applejack sat up and turned on the desk lamp rested beside her on her nightstand. “Ya can come in, Dash.”

The door opened, and there stood a very sheepish looking Rainbow Dash. She took only a few steps in, but still kept her distance between herself and the bed. Applejack just sat there quietly.

“Uh…Didja wanna say somethin’, sugarcube?”

Dash tensed up. She took in a deep breath, then held it for several seconds. “OkayyouwererightAJ – I went to Twilight’s to talk about the kiss because I was confused  and didn’t wanna talk to you about it but Twilight convinced me to go back and let you explain yourself and I was afraid to tell you I went because..!” she paused to take another breath. Applejack was just staring on, totally mystified. The Pegasus was talking a mile a minute – She could barely understand what she was saying.

“Wow, slow yer roll partner. Ya went to Twilight’s ta talk about the…uh….accident, then what?”

“I…Well.” Dash froze up. Was it time to spill it, let it all come out and just deal with the consequences?  She wasn’t sure if she could do it… “I…Didn’t want to tell you because…I thought you’d be mad…That I told Twilight…About the kiss.”

“Oh.” The blonde was satisfied enough with that answer, but still had to admit she was irritated that Dash kept it from her so long. “Well, ah guess ah ain’t too happy she knows about it, but I ain’t mad at ya. Twilight ain’t a gossip, so ah doubt it’ll get around. Plus, ah can’t be mad atchya fer that…Can’t blame ya for needin’ someone to talk to after that.”

“So, I’m not in trouble anymore?” Dash said hopefully.

Applejack chuckled. “Who said ya were in trouble?” The cowgirl gave her a small wink – her little way of saying ‘I win again’.

Dash rolled her eyes. There was always some way to make a competition out of everything. She was at least relieved to know AJ was content with her explanation, and wouldn’t be bothering her about it anymore. In her own way, Dash won as well. They shot each other a quick smile before Dash headed back out the door. With the door still barely open a crack, Dash whispered “Have sweet dreams about me”.

“Ah’d rather have nightmares t’night,” Applejack teased. “Go get some sleep, silly. Ah’ll see ya in the mornin’.”