Chapter Three: Three Frisky Fillies

Applejack had known Rainbow Dash for several years at this point, and considered the blue mare to be a borderline sister in the best - and worst - manner. She didn't know the mare inside and out, but there was something rolling around her friend's head today. She could feel it in her gut. Perhaps a slightly damaged brain, but honest troubles too. What was odd was both the raw need of the filly, and yet, the faint feeling Applejack got that something more was afoot. It was more than a craving for a hoedown of the more moonshine kind.

Seeing the athlete craving a bit of attention to her plot was nothing new nor unusual. It was a legendary trait that Rainbow Dash had that everyone around her knew of. In fact, the more Applejack thought about it, it was rare when sexual conversation came up for Rainbow to not mention her own posterior in some manner or form. Or, in fact, her physical sleekness period. Rainbow Dash just liked her body. It *is** a very cute body,* Applejack thought.

The moment those words tossed around in her head, Applejack lassoed them back into the chain gang section of her worst daydreams, not keen on thinking of her sister from a different mister's body strutting itself about in a sexually charging manner. Sadly, the thought just kept on repeating itself over and over inside of her head. It was why she drank from time to time.

“Feelin’ better after yer power nap?” Applejack said, flicking her thick tail idly behind herself. Rainbow rested on her side with a soft yawn, content to make the grass beside the dirt path a momentary resting spot. She pulled herself up onto her four hooves for only a few seconds, before letting her famous wings bring her frame to an idle hover mere feet above the ground. It was Dash’s classical traveling position. "And thank you for actually wipin’ yourself off; I take that kindly you have some decency in you this mornin'.”

Rainbow opened her mouth for a moment, clearly intending to break that spell of decency with a good vulgarity or two. Instead, she rolled her eyes with a dismissive huff. “I did more than wipe myself.”

Pinkie Pie squished her snout into her neck in honest shock and even a bit of disgust. “Way too much info too early in the morning, Dashie. And that’s coming from me,” Pinkie twitched. “Although... that would explain why you took so long. You’re holding us up.”

As quickly as she was shocked, her mood flipped into anger, Pinkie stabbing her forehoof into Dash’s snout, watching the pegasus squish her muzzle into her own toned neck in return. “You, are holding, ponies, up. How dare you, Rainbow Dash,” she continued harshly, “how could you hold hostage to our time?”

Applejack simply blinked in confusion. Pinkie Pie was random; she was the definition of random. Uncontrollable. She was literally out of the world at times, and her moods and ideas could swing wildly depending on what was going on, or simply on her own whim. To see her half interrogating their mutual friend and fellow Element was a bit frightening. “Now, Pinkie-”

“I-I-I uhh, have never slowed anypony down ever have I?” Rainbow softly whimpered. Pinkie nodded in the affirmative, her stern glare leering Dash down. Her wings flapped harder with every passing second. “W-w-wow, I don’t like to waste your time! Crap. L-l-let’s get a move on yeah? Busy day and all! We got a-”

“Oh no you don’t!” Pinkie dug her forehooves into Rainbow's thick, husky coat fur, gripping firmly into the hair of her friend as if the athlete had mugged a child. “You justtotally rub a dub dubbed your pegapuff on a fluffy cloud and filled it with Skittle sugar. Now I’m sure you do that from time to time but this early and today, Rainbow Dash? Something is tickling under your tail and we wanna know what made you squirt!”

Applejack wasn't so sure that the imagery of Rainbow moaning in sexual release was one she wanted in her head. Sadly, it stayed there, and a small, decrepit part of her enjoyed it. “Umm... Pinkie,” Applejack interrupted, tapping the fellow earth mare on the shoulder. “I think yer bein’ a bit rough on Dash here, and I really don’t want to know what yer wantin’ her to talk about right now. Ya know, early and not enough cider in me.”

Rainbow looked like she was about to urinate herself. Her wings flapped rapidly, and yet the pink mare holding onto her didn’t seem to be budging, despite the strength in Dash’s wings. “Please, Pinkie, you’re scaring me,” she whined. Her ears had wilted to the side of her muzzle, fear creeping along the corners of her cerise eyes. Despite more than capable of being able to pull herself away, she was shell shocked. “This isn’t funny. I'm just a bit horny, alright? Okay, really horny today? Put me down?”

“Who or what made your bell ring, Rainbow? Get it out now and save yourself punishment!” Pinkie insisted.

“Pinkie, that’s enough,” Applejack said sternly, nosing Pinkie to the side. “Come on, Pinkie,  you’re not actin’ like yerself.”

“Who dashed your driveway!?”

“Shining Armor filling me like Joe’s icing filled doughnuts!” Dash cried.

Pinkie immediately dropped her friend, blinking rapidly in amusement. “Well... this is going to be a very awkward conversation, and that’s coming from me!”

“Pinkie, you’ve crossed a line and hurt poor Rainbow’s feelings,” Applejack said, stuffing a hoof into Pinkie's mouth, listening to her muffle out muted protest. She turned toward Rainbow, folding her ears in shame. “She’s been mighty calm, even for herself this mornin’, and I should've known somethin’ was up, RD. Maybe her gumball machine needs a quarter inside of it too. Maybe that’s why she wanted to know the details,” Applejack said sharply, her hazel eyes staring at Pinkie's sharply.

With a shake of her head, Rainbow pulled herself back up into the air, brushing herself off, although still clearly slightly perturbed in a manner that Applejack did not expect. She looked emotionally relieved, and damaged, at the same time. “No, Pinkie’s right,” she said dejectedly. “If she hadn’t done that, I'd would've dodged the question. You gotta know when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object, somethin’ happens. Come at me head on with my problems you know?”

Somethin' else is up here. I can feel it. Rainbow Dash is awful at hidin' her emotional troubles when they boil over, and *somethin'** is ruffling her feathers.* Applejack had to find out. For her friend not to be excited about the one day where she could let herself loose even more than usual was concerning, to say the least.

“See?” Pinkie removed Applejack's hoof from her mouth, petting the hoof idly. “There’s a method to my madness,” she chirped. “If Fluttershy or Twilight was here, I wouldn't have done that, but since it’s the three of us, I had to act!”

Or you could've just let me take care of it, but you’re about as impulsive as Dash, Pinkie; and dang it, where’s an energy drink to calm you down? The irony of the statement was a theory Twilight was still testing out. “I had it handled,” Applejack stated sternly, resulting in a slight wince from Pinkie. “Rainbow’s clearly 'n need 'n more ways than one, and while she and I can take a mighty beatin', there’s more to this than I think she’s lettin’ on. Right, Dasha?”

For a moment, it didn’t look like Rainbow would answer. Her eyes looked at the ground as she quickly landed. She began to scoff at the grass in the manner she had picked up from Fluttershy out of nervous habit. “I... damn it, yeah, I got more problems than me just needin’ a lay, I think. Maybe. I’m not exactly known for being a thinking kind of pony.”

With a bounce, Pinkie slid herself besides Rainbow, wrapping a forehoof around her supportively. “Come on, Rainbow, you know if you got a real problem, we’re here to help you! You know that I love you, and we love you. So what if you got the urge on Twilight’s brother? He’s your kinda colt, and it’s not like anypony can read your mind or you’d do anything to hurt her. And, well, don't tell anypony, but he's... really cute too.” Pinkie let out the infamous squee that while she was not the inventor of, was its most vocal supporter. It didn't however, cover the red that was beginning to work its way across her cheeks.

Rainbow Dash’s wings flapped rapidly, as if they were pleading her to take off toward the nearest bastion of clouds she could hide behind. I was right, Applejack thought. But I don't think she's in heat either. Somethin's *still** not bein' said.*

Dash was doing everything in her power to keep the urge to run away inside of her. Applejack knew her well enough that the ability for her friend to do that had long since passed. She was going to tell her friends, in the shielded manner that the cyan filly did. "I... it’s more than me just wanting Soarin’ or any good lookin’ pony for the night or a month; I think I might have a crush on Shining Armor, guys. Not the hots. A crush. A 'I want to be your mare and make you breakfast' kind of crush."

And there it is. That explains-

Pinkie choked back a laugh, her thought process clearly only catching the words she wanted to catch. "You can't cook anything well except for waffles, Rainbow Dash! Silly. You'd kill him through mustard gas!" She stroked her chin in contemplation. "I don't know where you'd get mustard gas, but your cooking is almost as bad as Sweetie Belle’s!"

"Now, Pinkie, I think here Rainbow Dash is being honest and isn't joking around, for once." Applejack said. Dash nodded quietly, her hooves twitching by the sides of her lean frame. "I really do think this is more than you gettin' a bit antsy and needin' a good release. You just might need to settle down after what Tesla Coil did to ya, sugarcube."

There. That was the issue. The moment the words escaped from Applejack's mouth, was the moment she noticed that the athlete's frame had relaxed. The core issue that Dash had been hiding had been exposed, and one of her closest friends was helping her address it. Personal emotional tension, and Rainbow Dash, did not mix. Applejack would happily fix that.

Applejack continued with her prep talk, joining her pink comrade with a forehoof wrapping around Rainbow's shoulder, forming a security blanket Dash. "I know you’ve certainly grown frisky ‘n are known for bein' that, and that’s yer prerogative ‘n all, but sex just doesn’t cover it I think for you anymore. Shinin’s a good stallion and should be the ideal yer aimin’ for. And if I may say so myself, he’s as noble of a colt out there as any I’ve seen. I don't think you have a crush on him though; I think you got a crush on a pony like him. Ya want somepony who's kinda like what Rarity's after."  She chuckled quietly. "Shoot girl, you just want yourself a noble, modern knight who can kick tail."

Rainbow Dash quickly perked up, her ears flicking upward as her wings spread in contentment. “Thanks, AJ," she said, giving her friend a gentle cheek nuzzle. "I think you helped me realized what I meant. I’m just looking for a pony who kinda won’t treat me like a clop object, not that yours truly isn't the best clop object ever,” she added, scoffing at her own chest.

"I'm not sure that was part of the talk," Pinkie said, raising an eyebrow. I will keep the satisfaction of knowing that Pinkie Pie acted completely normal for about five seconds simply to myself, Applejack chuckled.

Applejack rolled her eyes at her friend’s ego returning to the playful showmanship that she had. She was a friendly mare to new comers. She truly was, but she slipped into what others might call a 'bitch' to protect her weak points if they got prodded. Her friends knew she had a heart of gold and steel at the same time, much like Applejack herself. If I can be so humble. Ponies just don’t realize there’s a lot more tickin’ in that head of Rainbow’s than flyin’ and braggin’, Applejack thought. It could be the mare may need somethin’ to stable her in.

Celestia would that be nice to see her stabled and reined in, like a Germaney punk rocker and her ear pierced master, her more snide side replied.

Now *you** watch it head,* she warned. I’ve never had as much fun in my life as I’ve had around her; she helps me unwind better than anythin', and you know it too! We’re both physical fillies, and she just knows how to make us laugh and enjoy life, much like Pinkie Pie does. Dasha just does it in her own unique way. Like... Pinkie.

Dang it, her snide side sighed. Why do ya make good points?

Cause that’s what we do.

“Jackie has a good point, Dashie.” Pinkie stroked through the wild mane of her friend. “You might have shaken your plot too much, and would rather have a pony tug on your heart instead of your mane." Her ears folded sweetly, the wave of tittering giggles escaping from her mouth infectious on Applejack, who joined in with Pinkie as a soundboard. "Aww, that’s so cute! You’re totally adorable when you’re in love!”

Rainbow’s cheeks began to quickly match the red in her mane. “Pinkie, stop it! I'm totally getting you back for today. Just you wait!" And there she goes. Her fences up an' runnin' again and back to the filly I call my sister.

"Oh, I will wait, Dash. I'll wait for you all night long." Pinkie growled seductively into her friend's ear, the raw cherry on the pegasus' cheeks glowing like a Hearthswarming decoration.

Rainbow shoved Pinkie away from her playfully, forcing out a squeak from the pink mare and an amused chuckle from Applejack. "Go buck yourselves, both of you," Rainbow growled, the blood on her cheeks not keen on going away anytime soon. " I need a pony after Tessie and you're teasin' me, Pinkie! You're so creepy when you are teasin' ponies. Most likely cause... heh... you're good at it."

Pinkie Pie teases the manure out of ponies when she needs her doors greased, and Rainbow gets soft an' pissy at the same time. I've always known this, but I've never seen these two this bad before. I hope to Celestia this isn't somethin' you catch. The last thing Applejack needed was an injection of whatever was frisking up her friends. Either she was too busy from her work to really focus on her loins, or she simply had a small and playful rookus that usually wasn't on the tier of what her two friends were capable of. Usually.

"Look, can we get moving?” Rainbow scowled. The faintest of smiles crept over the corners of her lips, giving Applejack that little hint she needed to know she had done a job well done. Dash pulled herself up into the air with a loud crack of her back. “Sheesh, it's like half of Equestria is out to get me, including myself. Did I crap on someone's cloud or something?"

Pinkie Pie frowned shortly, scoffing at the ground herself. "I'm sorry, Dash, I guess AJ's right: I might need a bit of a pogo sticking too. Oh!" She bounced into the air with a springing hop of glee. "I know! Let me take you out to our favorite place, Rainbow! There we can eat and talk and laugh and be silly fillies and plan on hooking you up with somepony! Or a party! A bachelorette party!"

Both Applejack and Rainbow facehooved in unison. "One step at a time, Pinks'," they said together. Slowly they turned their eyes toward each other, emerald looking into shades of cerise light. They laughed out loud at their mind melding, shaking their heads at what years of friendship had turned them into. Applejack wouldn't trade it for the world.

Rainbow Dash shook her head once again, snorting out a little ending chuckle. She smiled happily once again. "You're insane, Pinkie, but free food is just the way to my heart! I do love food. But not quite as much as you or Twilight."

"Now come on, Rainbow," Applejack said, folding her forehooves in mock disgust, "can't ya wait till Twi's next to ya to make fun of her? Twi’ needs ta be able to defend herself and lower you down a notch. Cause you know full well that when she gets a goin' on ya hard, dear Gringolet she can bring ya down faster than a cannonade to a ships mast."

"But we were making fun of Rainbow before she got here." Pinkie chirped.

"It better be awesome calamari," Dash huffed, "or I swear to Celestia." She burst down the main road toward Ponyville, her wings leaving her peers quickly behind as a crackle of colored mist emanated behind her.

"You always say it is-wait up, Rainbow!" Pinkie pronged after Rainbow Dash, leaving Applejack alone to shake her head.

Ya know, this must be why Twilight says she's never having kids; because if I ever had one like these two, I'd quickly run out of bourbon. At least runnin' will build up an appetite. With a disgruntled huff, Applejack galloped after the afterburning pegasus and springing pink mare. She didn't have a chance in Tartarus to catch either of them, but that tended to be her lot in life. She'd have it no other way.

Most of the time.