Applejack and Rainbow Dash in the Smoke.
"Hey Applejack? I don't know where we are." Rainbow Dash caught locks of her mane in her mouth as she twisted her head in one direction after another. She thought she recognized that building up ahead, but how could she be sure? Shouldn't they have taken the last left turn, before going past the gate? With a clumsy hoof, she pulled the wet hairs from between her teeth. She could feel that her eyes were wide open; the easy breezes going by as the two trotted along laced her eyelids and she felt her tear ducts swell from the discomfort. To adjust, she allowed herself to squint. This also seemed to help her focus, though she couldn’t help but feel silly. However, Rainbow Dash was having a more difficult-than-usual time focusing. "Shouldn't we have taken the last left turn?"
Applejack strutted ahead of her friend, and let out a delighted whinny. "Now listen here, girl," she said. "I know my farm. I can find my way 'round it when the pigs get loose after sundown and Big Mac and I gotta chase 'em all over the dang orchard. That's tough doing, too. Weaving through all them trees. Bucked a couple with my head, to be honest. But in any case, I know where we are."
Rainbow was not convinced by this testimony, and was about to let out a disheartened groan when she walked into Applejack's halted hindquarters. The already dizzy pony felt her head spin faster before bringing herself back to an acceptable equilibrium and asking the confident pony what she was doing. Looking over her shoulder, Applejack informed her that they had made it to their destination, which confirmed Rainbow's suspicions that the building she had seen was in fact the Sweet Apple Acres barn. With this great, red structure standing in front of her - being so obviously what it was - Rainbow couldn't help but laugh at her previously held doubts.
She realized also that even if her friend was lying about how well she knew the farm on which she had spent her whole life, Rainbow herself had spent countless hours there - certainly enough to know how to get to this monstrous red beacon on the top of a hill. As she laughed, Applejack smiled. The earth pony was enduring her own hindrances to her mental capabilities, but she was able to find satisfaction and relief in her friend's happiness. It had been awhile since she heard a genuine laugh out of the pegasus. She had been laden down with her responsibilities regarding the Wonderbolt Reserves, and some particular issues with Scootaloo. Then of course there was the pressure and uncertainty that each of her friends were feeling as they awaited their new duties as aides in Princess Twilight’s castle.
That was partly the reason why the earth pony thought it would be such a good idea to invite Rainbow over for a sleepover. Just a chance for two friends to unwind. However, Applejack had planned a special activity to help with that, unbeknownst to her pegasus friend.
Earlier that day, Rainbow Dash was soaring over the tops of the apple trees, excited to spend some private time with Applejack. It had been awhile since the two had such an opportunity, and she was anxious to stretch her muscles in another test-of-strength. When the front door to the Apple’s modest farmhouse swung open and the pony in question came into view, Rainbow dove down and swept her off her hooves, flying her back into the air with a tight embrace.
“Rainbow, put me down!” the farm pony ordered, slight panic escaping between her words. But the pegasus was too excited, and with a laugh she released Applejack. Beneath the ponies lay at least forty feet of open air, and then a rough landing on an empty apple cart. Applejack flailed in agony, her doom imminent. A low cry burst from her within her chest, and she shut her eyes. After thirty - maybe thirty three - feet of descent, a beam of color flashed beneath her and she felt Rainbow’s forelegs once again fasten around her waist.
The two glided gently to the top of a tree, where Rainbow let go of her friend again, but safely this time. Applejack was drenched in sweat and shivering like Winona after a bath. While Rainbow held her sides in manic laughter, Applejack composed herself and gave her friend a lethal look. Upon seeing the virulent eyes of the sweaty earth pony, Rainbow quit her laughing and looked away innocently.
Applejack rolled her eyes and said, “Anyway, it’s nice to see ya, Rainbow. In a matter of speaking,” she added, her voice low and unamused.
But Rainbow Dash just grinned back at her and said, “Oh, AJ. It’s nice to see you too. Really, I’ve been so bored lately. Well, you know, not ‘bored’, exactly. I mean, a lot of interesting stuff’s been happening.”
“I know, I know, but we haven’t had any time to relax and be together as friends.” The earth pony sighed. She’d forgiven Rainbow by now, and her excitement about the surprise she had in store was returning. “Say, Rainbow Dash. I’ve known you for quite a long time now.”
“Yeah, I guess you have,” the proud pony interrupted, tossing her mane. “You’re welcome.”
Applejack smirked, and continued. “Right. Well, from what I’ve gathered, you’re quite a party pony. I mean, not like Pinkie Pie, that’s for sure…” Not sure how exactly to bring up her proposal, she was beginning to feel a little awkward.
Rainbow felt this too. “Yeah, nopony’s a party pony like the Pink,” she chuckled. “What are you trying to say, Applejack?”
She looked at her with her glistening red eyes, and Applejack thought for a second about how scary those eyes might look a few hours from now. Then she cleared her throat and said, “Well, I was just wondering if you ever...experimented...with anything. At any of those parties.”
Rainbow looked flatly at Applejack. “Seriously, AJ?” She laughed. “You think somepony as cool as me could possibly not have ‘experimented’ a bit?” She laughed even more. It was a prideful laugh, not motivated by anything truly funny.
But Applejack felt embarrassed anyway. “You’re right, I guess. I shoulda known better.” However, this did relieve the earth pony of the most difficult part of her plan - the initiation. With a gentle exhale, she kept talking over Rainbow’s laughter. “Well then, would you be interested in toking with little ol’ me tonight?”
The pegasus giggled some more, hardly listening. Tossing her mane again, she asked, “Sorry, do what with you tonight?”
Still feeling a little uncomfortable, Applejack repeated herself. “Would ya wanna smoke up with me tonight?”
That made Rainbow go quiet. She looked at Applejack, her bright green eyes staring curiously back at her. With a trembling voice, she answered. “Of course. Why not?”
The two descended the apple tree, and Applejack led them through the orchard, toward a series of small greenhouses. As the two trotted past these buildings, Rainbow peeked in through the windows. She saw tiny tomato plants, potatoes, and cabbage. One of the greenhouses was bursting with various colored flowers. Finally, Applejack stopped. The ponies stood in front of the door to a greenhouse with windows that were tinted, so Rainbow couldn’t see what was inside.
“Here we are,” Applejack said, catching the door handle in her mouth and throwing the entrance open. Rainbow Dash stepped inside. The contents of this building were much less interesting than the others she had seen. All that was here were rows and rows of dry green bushes. And the smell was awful.
Applejack wandered over to the back of the greenhouse, smiling at the plants as she passed. In the back, there was a foot locker decorated with several stickers - some were peace signs and some seemed to be the leaves of these bushes. Rainbow watched in nervous silence as Applejack unlocked the locker and pulled out a large glass pipe.The pipe was clear except for red swirls that wound around it like peppermint sticks. Applejack set the pipe in front of Rainbow Dash and then returned to the locker, pulling out a sandwich bag of crumbled up leaves and placing that next to the pipe.
Rainbow tried to hide her confusion and her anxiety, but her tail swished back and forth involuntarily. This didn’t go unnoticed by Applejack, who long ago guessed that her friend had lied to her. She probably doesn’t even know what this is, she thought, opening the sandwich bag and removing three buds. As she started packing the bowl, Applejack thought she’d have some fun.
“I harvested this plant just the other day, and I saved these sprigs just for you, Rainbow.”
“Well, that was very nice of you, Applejack.” Her teeth chattered slightly as she responded. She didn’t know what this plant was, in fact. And she didn’t know what they were going to do with it.
With the buds firmly packed down, Applejack removed her hat and pulled a lighter from its inner lining. She nudged the lighter and the pipe toward Rainbow, a giddy smirk between her freckled cheeks. Rainbow looked down at the offering. She slowly took the pipe between her teeth and glanced at Applejack before reaching for the lighter. Holding it up to the green puddle, she sparked the flint and lit the plant on fire.
She sat and watched it burn.
Applejack rushed over to her and held her hoof over the choke.
“Dang it, Rainbow. Suck in,” she grunted, exasperated.
Her eyelids twitching and her tail tucked between her hind legs, Rainbow obeyed. The fire burned brighter until she was out of breath, and it died away. Applejack uncovered the choke and repeated her command. Rainbow inhaled about half the smoke before she fell into a coughing fit, and Applejack had to finish for her.
“Not bad, girl. You feeling okay?” Rainbow’s mane fell over her eyes as she coughed up spit. She held her chest and rolled on to her back. Applejack rolled her eyes again and took her own hit. Then she trotted over to the locker, next to which lay an old, coiled up water hose. Taking it between her teeth, she opened the valve until water poured out of the hoses at a slow and steady drip, and then returned to her choking friend. “Here, sugar cube. Drink up.”
Rainbow took the water with glee. Applejack sat and watched her clean out her throat. When she seemed to have calmed down, she said, “You don’t have to breathe in the smoke completely.” Rainbow blinked at her. Applejack smiled. “Do ya wanna try again?”
She passed her the pipe again, and Rainbow’s wings fluttered gently as she cautiously accepted it. Applejack reached for the lighter, and placed Rainbows hoof over the choke before lighting the green leaves on fire again.
An hour later, Rainbow’s eyes looked just as creepy as Applejack imagined they would. But she couldn’t help but find them silly, too. The two skipped dizzily into the barn. Inside, the sun’s orange light bled in through the cracks between the slats that made up the walls. Rainbow’s mane glowed in colorful stripes lit up by the sun. It was warm in here, and the drug suddenly gripped the two giggling ponies more tightly. Rainbow Dash yawned dramatically, and Applejack turned to her and shoved her muzzle backward. This caused Rainbow to lose her balance, and the scared pegasus flailed pathetically before tumbling onto her backside. Her pusher grabbed her hat and cried out in laughter.
“Heh! That’s what ya get for that little stunt you pulled earlier!”
Rainbow looked up at her, surprised and confused for a minute. Then she remembered, and clumsily, she hurried to her feet. “Oh come on, AJ! At least I caught you!”
Applejack let out a little, unapologetic yawn, and looked around for a good place to sit. There were bales of hay in the loft, she knew, and after telling Rainbow this, the blue pony got excited and spread her wings. Having already fully forgotten her little trick, she wrapped her forelegs around Applejack’s torso and flew crookedly up to the loft.
She dropped her country burden onto some hay and threw herself down next to it. The hay was soft and toasty in the evening sunlight, and she stretched her limbs out wide, tickling Applejack’s nose with her feathers. The earth pony snorted and rolled toward Rainbow, locking a foreleg around her velvety blue belly. Rainbow gently scratched Applejack’s back with her hoof, and let out a sigh.
This was definitely what the pegasus needed. Just one evening away from all the centaur overlords and mirrors to other dimensions. Her mind was clear of everything except thoughts of the warm blanket that was her dear friend. She would have to come up with a good way to thank this blanket.
But for now, she would just relax. Digging herself deeper into the dry hay bed, she felt all her muscles sink into rest. Suddenly, though, she let out a high pitched whinny.
“What is it?” Applejack muttered into her chest.
Rainbow Dash wiped her tired eyes and giggled a little more. “I was just thinking,” she said, slowly but happily. “Do you think Pinkie Pie’s ever ‘experimented’?”
