Across the Line

Applejack and Rainbow Dash were at it again.

"1! 2! 3!"

They shouted in unison. The timer started and they were off.

You could hear their hooves hitting the ground as they raced across the track,side by side.

"I'll show you who's the best athlete in Ponyville!" Rainbow jeered, turning the corner of the track and passing Applejack by an inch.

"Ponyville? I'm the best athlete in Equestria!" AJ retorted. She sped up and was eventually on Rainbow Dash's tail.

"See? I gotcha!"

As soon as AJ was about to pass the other pony,dust and dirt was flung into AJ's eyes. She stopped abruptly,scraping her hooves against the track. The filth blurred her vision,burning and reddening her eyes.She stood and tried to shake it out.It only made the pebbles in her eyes angrier.

"Rainbow! Rainbow,stop!" She shouted. "I need help!"

"Why is it my problem?" RD sneered.

"You win! My eyes....I can't see nothin'!"

"You snooze you loose," RD laughed,unaware of the pain her blonde rival was in.She glanced over to her and noticed tears streaming out of her friends eyes.

"Applejack...?" She questioned. The blue Pegasus ran off the track and flew up into the air.

More tears rolled down Applejack's face. "You really have the heart to leave me here..?" She whispered to herself as Rainbow ran out of sight.

Applejack could hardly see her own two hooves.Her eyes felt as if they were going to burn out of her head.The blonde mare dropped to the ground. She squeezed her eyes shut and laid her head on the earth. Her face was wet from tears. Would Rainbow come back? Would she have to try and walk home by herself? The thought sent shivers down her whole body.~

Soon enough,she heard hooves hitting the ground.She couldn't open her eyes to see who it was, the pain was too immense.

"Applejack? Hold on!"

Applejack breathed a sigh of relief at the voice of her friend.

"You came...." She whispered.

She finally forced herself to open her eyes-just a little-so she could see her rainbow-haired friend.

And thank God she did.Rainbow was carrying a large bucket of water and a cloth.Inside the cloth looked like medicine.

Applejack closed her eyes and almost cried again-Out of joy,of course.

Rainbow made her way beside AJ and sat the bucket down.

"Of course I came,what kind of friend do you think I am?"

RD wetted the cloth and began to gently rub AJ's burning eyes.

"It's gonna be okay," Rainbow comforted.She continued to rinse and wet the cloth until Applejack's eyes were cleared.

"Here," Rainbow said, "Its for the pain." She picked up the bottle of eye drops and dropped them into AJ's eyes.

"Thank you,Rainbow Dash...That feels a lot better."

"Sure thing.Lets go home,huh?"

Rainbow Dash lifted her friend onto her back, and began to trot home.

"Rainbow,I can pro'lly walk."

"It's okay,just let me do this for you. After all,I was the one who kicked it into your eyes...I'm sorry I got so competitive."

"Don't blame yourself sugar cube,it could have been anypony.It just means a lot to me that you care.."

Applejack smiled and began to fall asleep as her best friend carried her home.