"Come on, you lazy sack of bones!" Cried Applejack jokingly, pulling on Rainbow Dash's mane to yank her out of bed.
"Hey, you apple-kickin'-" She was cut off by a light orange hoof shoved in her mouth.
"We need to be quiet," hissed Applejack, tiptoeing out of the room. Rainbow Dash followed, bleary-eyed, as they crept out of the house. Then, giving each other a look, they took off on a race to the edge of the orchards.
"Applejack, there's something I need to tell you," whispered Rainbow Dash as she stopped at the orchards. Applejack had already begun bucking apples as Celestia's sun came up over the horizon, but she stopped at Dash's words.
"Yes?"
"I-I kinda like you. I know I just sprung this on you, but I really do." Applejack stared for a moment, confused, before realizing what had just been said.
"Dashie-" Rainbow Dash was bucking apples at incredible speed now, bucking the tree and then having time to catch the apples that fell as well. She had cleared a fifth of the orchard when Applejack ran over and tackled Rainbow Dash.
"What in the name of..." She stopped, just staring up at Applejack's bright green eyes. The next thing she knew, she was kissing Applejack, and Applejack was kissing back.
~~~About a week ago~~~
"Ahh!" Applejack heard the scream from the other side of the Northern Orchard, and she ran over toward Big Macintosh's scream. Big Mac laid on the ground, unable to stand.
"What happened?" She cried, worry clear in her eyes.
"Ah tried ta carry too many apples," he muttered.
"I think you threw your back!" Cried Applejack, and with a grunt, she hoisted him into a wheelbarrow and pushed him back towards the farm, as fast as she could while being careful.
~~~About two hours later~~~
"Who are we gonna get to help with the applebucking? Cider season is coming, and we need to do the Running of the Leaves, but we can't unless the apples are done!" Applejack had been pacing for quite some time in her room, wearing a light spot in the wooden floors. Suddenly, she heard a knock on her door. Pacing over, she pulled open the door with her mouth.
"I heard you needed some help?" Asked Rainbow Dash, flipping her hair out of her eyes.
"Yes! Would you be willing to help? We can pay you a little, but until Cider Season..." she pointed over to a very small bag of bits. "That's all we've got." Rainbow Dash laughed, flying up a bit.
"All I want is the first mug of cider. The first," she enunciated, to make her point clear.
"That I can do," grinned Applejack, her eyes lighting up. "Now, we have to finish the Northern Orchard, and the Western one, but we finished the East and South already."
"Already? It's barely noon!"
"Eeyup. And no lunch until their done, so let's go!"
"Race ya to the Northern Orchard!"
"You're on, Speedy Gonzales!" Applejack smiled, finally able to relax. Nurse Redheart was with Big Macintosh, so she could just enjoy the day for now. Rainbow Dash pulled ahead, her eyes watering, and Applejack finally began putting her whole effort in as they tore off to the Northern Orchard.
~~~After finishing the orchards~~~
Applejack glanced over at Rainbow Dash. There was something captivating about her. With a shake of her head, she turned back to the stew she was cooking. There was daffodil petals, dandelion leaves, and a few other spices, along with some alfalfa. She strained off the excess water and began serving it into bowls, one for her, Apple Bloom, Big Mac, Granny, and Dashie. Hopefully there was enough. She had filled Big Mac's bowl, which was a rare occurrence, and Granny had a half bowl. Apple Bloom had a half bowl as well, and Rainbow Dash's had been filled to the brim. Applejack ate the last leaf, before carrying Dash's bowl out to her.
"Thanks, AJ!" Cried Rainbow Dash, beginning to eat right away. Applejack grinned, and went back to get Apple Bloom's bowl, which she set on the table too. She carried Granny's to her rocking chain, then grabbed Big Mac's. Trotting up the stairs, she knocked on the door with the side of the bowl, which she held in her mouth. Nurse Redheart opened the door.
"Yes, Miss Applejack?" She inquired, her voice kind.
"I have some food for Big Mac here," she muttered, and Nurse Redheart grabbed the bowl and carried it to the tray that sat over Big Macintosh.
"Sis, that sure is an awful lot of food," he protested.
"It is?" Inquired Nurse Redheart, whose only answer was a death glare from Applejack.
"Ah know," insisted Applejack, her western accent returning, though she tried not to use it much. "But you need your strength, so eat it!" He nodded, and began eating in small, polite bites. Applejack excused herself, walking over to Apple Bloom's room.
"Apple Bloom, food's on the table," she cried through the door, which was replied to with an acknowledging grunt. "It's on the table NOW!" She heard an exasperated sigh, and the door flew open.
"Fine, AJ," she muttered, darting down the stairs. Applejack peeked in the room, to see Apple Bloom building a picnic table, probably for the Clubhouse.
"When will she realize?" She muttered to herself, before darting down the stairs herself. She sat down at the table, glancing around at every pony eating.
"Aren't you gonna eat, AJ?" That was Dash, speaking through a mouthful of food.
"I'm not hungry," she insisted as her stomach growled in protest. "Okay, fine." She stomped off to the kitchen, grabbing a week-old slice of bread and stuffing it in her mouth. "Happy?" She said, to no one in particular, rolling her eyes and sitting back down at the table.
"No, I'm not!" Insisted Rainbow Dash, her wings flaring. "I'm not going to stuff my face while you starve!" She pushed up from the table, stomping off to grab a bowl from the kitchen. Carrying it back in her mouth, she set it down and promptly poured half of her bowl into the new one and shoved it towards Applejack, then sat down and began eating in silence.
"What in tarnation..." whispered Applejack, confused at Rainbow Dash's sudden mood flare. Granny Smith and Apple Bloom stared at Rainbow Dash before Applejack tugged on them. "Leave her be, y'all." Granny Smith nodded, and Apple Bloom sighed before turning back to her food and carefully licking at the stew.
