Busy Days to Peaceful Nights

The patchy sun warmed the grass beneath her hooves as birds flew through the air around her. The scattered flowers across the grass danced side to side in the breeze, making Fluttershy’s mane swing about. She had arrived nearly an hour before noon, unable to withstand being home alone any longer. Even if she knew no pony would be there yet, it was just nice to leave the house.

The blanket underneath her topped with a picnic basket made for a simple spread. She hoped Dash would like it. In preparation, she had made one of each sandwich that she could think of. From simple peanut butter and honey to wheat pasta salad, there was bound to be something Dash would like. Angel kept poking at the basket, and she continually pleaded with him to wait until everypony was here before they started eating.

A whir of rainbow trails flashed over her head, and Dash landed hard with all four hooves onto the ground. Tank slowly made his way over the horizon towards them long after Dash made her appearance. “Whew!” She ran a hoof over her mane to smooth it out. “Talk about a morning! Were you waiting long?”

Fluttershy shook her head. “No, not long at all…I um…I just got here.” It was a lackluster lie, and Dash knew it.

“Cool.” She plopped down, gave Fluttershy a knowing sympathetic smile, and stared at the basket. “Did you make sandwiches?” Shy nodded. “Can I dig in? I’m kind of hungry.”

“Please go ahead.”

Dash opened the lid and stuck her nose inside. “Sandwiches?” The smell was oddly peculiar, like every flavor she could think of all at once. “What’s…in here?”

“Um, there’s grilled daisy petal, some minced tomato and basil, a couple of pesto and beans, and-”

Dash cut her off. “Whoa, hang on. Seriously? You really didn’t have to make all that. I would’ve been cool with anything.”

“Well…I wasn’t sure what you liked, so…”

She reached inside and randomly selected a choice. It turned out to be a daisy petal one. “I’ll just have this one.” Fluttershy watched her as she unwrapped the paper and began eating. When Dash noticed her unwavering gaze, she asked, “Ith somethinth wrongth?”

Shy quickly shook her head while Angel climbed into the basket and closed the lid behind him. “No…not at all…I just want to make sure you like it.”

“Yeah, I love it. It’s pretty good.” She licked her lips. “Thanks. It‘s perfect.”

Fluttershy sighed with relief. “Thank goodness. I was worried…” Angel jumped out with his own selection before running off into the field.

Tank finally landed next to her and looked up at his owner with his mouth open. “You hungry?” Dash asked. “Again? You just ate yesterday.” He just stared up at her. “Well, if you say so.” Dash put the corner edge of the top piece of bread in front of him, and he gave it an awkwardly long lick.

“How was work today?” Fluttershy asked.

“Meh, can’t complain. All we did was size up the clouds. Some were too big. It was really boring. What about you? How was your morning?”

“Wonderful. I said hello to the raccoons today. I was worried Mrs. Raccoon might have a sprained ankle after she tripped last week, but she’s all better now.”

“That’s, uh, good.” Dash tried to sound interested. “Glad to hear it wasn’t serious.”

“Me too.”

They awkwardly stared at each other for a few seconds, broken by glances towards the ground. ‘So…” Fluttershy rubbed her hoof against her foreleg, trying to think of something to say, but she was quickly interrupted again.

“I was thinking. Would you like to come with me to Cloudsdale tomorrow?” Dash asked. “There’s going to a junior speedsters stunt competition, and I was wondering if you wanted come.”

“R-Really?”

“Yeah, if you want. I know it‘s not really your thing, but still. You know, since it’s going to rain tomorrow, I figured you’d be stuck at home all day, and Cloudsdale is out of the rain. I was going to go by myself, but that wouldn’t really be a whole lot of fun.” Truth was, Dash felt she’d be lonely all by herself with no pony to hang out with.

“I would love to come!” Fluttershy quickly tried to hide her enthusiasm by covering her mouth. “Um…I mean, of course. It would be my pleasure.”

“Sweet. It’s gonna be so fun. I’ve been waiting all month for this.”

“It does sound fun.”

“Aw yeah! It’s the best. Well, maybe not as good as the Wonderbolts performing, but still pretty awesome.”

Fluttershy giggled. “It sounds a lot like something you would do.”

“Yeah…” Dash sighed. “I was gonna perform when I was filly…but they kicked me out before we had a chance to show off our stuff.”

“I remember that…” She recalled that day when Dash came home extremely angry. She tried to comfort her, but all Dash would do was bite her pillow and angrily whip it back and forth until she calmed down. Her father had to stop her from tearing up her bed. Thankfully, Dash had matured since then, but it was clear that she still held some disappointment.

“It’s no big deal, though.” She shrugged. “At least I got into the Wonderbolt’s Academy.”

Fluttershy smiled up at her. “I was so proud of you that day.”

“P-Proud?” Dash cleared her throat, feeling pink spread across her face. “Really?”

“Oh, yes of course. It’s a big accomplishment.”

“Heh…I know, right? Pretty sweet, huh. It was easy though. No sweat off my flank. Had that one in the bag.”

“Mhm.” The little yellow mare simply nodded approvingly.

There was an oddly familiar springy sound coming from over the hill next towards them. As it got closer, they saw Pinkie Pie hopping up and down. Her face sported a huge smile with her pet alligator flopping around in the air with the nape of his neck in her mouth. The alligator didn’t seem to mind, but Fluttershy thought it looked dreadfully uncomfortable. The little alligator's face did not change expression once. When Pinkie saw the two girls ahead of her, she flung Gummy up into the air onto her back. “Hey there!” She shouted.

“Hey, Pinkie.” Dash waved to her. “What’s up?”

She stopped in front of them and put Gummy down on the grass upside down on his head. “I’m on my way to see Twilight. She said she has something super duper important to show me.” Gummy flopped onto his face, making Fluttershy cringe.

“What’s that?” Dash asked, marginally interested as she took another bite of her sandwich.

Pinkie leaned in close to them as her face turned comically serious. “It’s about super secret timey wimey stuff. Shhhh. You can’t tell anypony.”

“Then, why are you telling us?”

Fluttershy gave Gummy a push with her hoof back up to a more appropriate sitting position before Pinkie spoke. She put her hoof on her chest and said with pride, “I have been entrusted with Ponyville’s super top secret task of testing it out.”

“Testing what out?”

“Oh, you don’t know?”

Dash shook her head and groaned. “If I knew, I wouldn’t be asking.”

“Hmmm…I don’t know.” Pinkie gave her a narrow eyed stare. “How do I know I can trust you?”

“Because we’re friends? C’mon, Pinkie! You gotta tell me us. You can’t just show up, drop a cloud like this on us, then not say anything.”

“Well….I don’t know…” Pinkie rubbed her chin with her hoof. “I could be court marshaled for this…”

“By who?” Fluttershy asked, now very confused.

“Ah! Fluttershy! There you are!” Pinkie put her hoof around her shoulder. “I can trust you, right?”

“Um…” She gave Dash a help-me-please look. “I…guess?”

Pinkie stretched out her other hoof around Dash’s shoulder, reaching farther than anypony would think possible. She pulled them both against her cheeks and whispered, “Twilight is…” She quickly glanced around. “…working on…” She spun her head around painfully far to peer into the distance. “…a time control device.”

Fluttershy gasped. “R-Really?”

“Oh, c’mon. That’s total fiddlesticks.” Dash felt foolish and just wanted to return to her food.

“I’m serious, you guys!...Or girls!” Pinkie put her hooves up in the air, clearly exacerbated. “It controls time!” In a hoarse whisper she added, “You can control when time stops.”

“Wait wait wait…” Dash giggled. “Are you talking about Twilight’s egg timer thingy?”

“Egg timer?” Fluttershy asked, now more confused than ever.

Pinkie clasped her hooves around Dash’s mouth. “SHHHH!! It’s supposed to be a secret! And it‘s called a Timey Wimey Wibbly Wobbly.”

“Seriously? Egg timer. Pinkie, you do know what an egg timer is, right? You have tons of them.” Dash shoved her gently away. “That’s what all the fuss is about?”

“Is her egg timer dangerous or something?” Fluttershy asked, feeling somewhat afraid.

“No, it’s just an egg timer. She told me about it yesterday. She’s kind of into making stuff now.” Dash cocked her head at Pinkie like she was nuts. “Pinkie, what did you think Twilight was working on?”

“Wait a second!!” Pinkie gasped. “You’re telling me its looks like an egg timer?!”

“Uh, yeah that’s what I’m saying.”

“Oh sweet Celestia!!” Pinkie leaped up and pressed her hooves against her cheeks. “This is more serious than I thought! An egg timer than controls time! Controls time, everypony! It! Controls! Time!” With each word, Fluttershy found herself leaning farther and farther away from her.

Dash groaned heavily. “Pinkie, for pony sake! Its just an egg timer!”

Pinkie wasn’t listening. “I’m sorry, girls. I must go. I can’t let this Timey Wimey Wibbly Wobbly fall into the wrong hooves! Equestria needs me!”

“….Sure.” Dash stared her over like a day old half eaten piece of fruit. “You go do that.”

With Gummy returned atop her back, Pinkie looked up at the sky intently. “I may have to go undercover if something happens. You both will understand if I can’t write. It would compromise my position.”

“Yeah, sure thing.” Dash turned to Fluttershy with a snicker. “That wouldn’t be good.”

Pinkie gave them both a painfully tight hug before running off. “Remember! Don’t tell anypony!”

Fluttershy rubbed her eyes with her hooves as she watched her best friend make ridiculous faces while trying to contain her snickers. It wasn’t working. Soon enough, she began to laugh hysterically, and Fluttershy joined her. Tank just continued to stare at his small piece of bread, paying no heed to anypony’s antics.

--o0o--

“You sure ya won’t be needin’ nothin’ else, deary?” Granny smith asked as she approached Applejack in her bed. “Ah can get ya some nice fuzzy slippers if yer ‘lil hooves be shakin’ with the chills.”

Applejack sat up in her bed and shook her head while rubbing her tired eyes. “Ah’m fine, Granny. Thanks." She replied while holding back a chuckle. Granny Smith always had a funny way of saying things. "How’re those ‘lil troublemakers doin’ out there?”

“Aw, ain’t ya just the spittin’ image of a big sister.” Granny tousled her mane like she was a filly, much to her annoyance. “Ah’m makin’ sure they ain’t more harm than good.”

She sighed. “Ah hope so.”

“You just be needin’ to just rest up ‘n get off yer hooves fer a while. Ah ain’t seen ya workin’ so hard before. Didn’t Ah tell ya to take it easy all week?”

“Yes, Granny.” Applejack groaned, feeling like she was being scolded. “You said Ah needn’t be workin’ so hard with buckin’ season comin’ up, ‘n Ah said Ah’d be fine.”

Granny gave her a satisfied grin. “Was Ah right?” She rhetorically asked.

Applejack sighed heavily. “Yes, Granny. Yer right. Ah shoulda been listenin’ to ya.”

“Just got to show ya what yer ‘ol Granny Smith knows, don’t it?” She tousled her mane again, and Applejack tried to hide her irritation with a frown.

“Yeah. Yer right. Ah get it.”

“Let that be a lesson to ya.”

There came a loud crashing noise from out the window. “Ponyfeathers, girls.” Applejack muttered.

“Now don’t ya’ll be gettin’ up just yet. Ah’ll go see what the comotion is ‘bout. Ah have it all under control.”

Applejack nodded. Her granny may be older than most ponies, but she knew how to deal with rambunctious fillies, something that Big Mac had yet to learn. To satisfy her curiosity, Applejack turned towards the window and yelled out, “Ya’ll ain’t makin’ a bigger mess, are ya?”

The three voices of the little crusaders all yelled back, “Everything is fine! Sorry!”

“Ugh…” She groaned. “It better be!”

“Yes mam!”

Granny laughed as she walked out into the hallway. “Don’t fret yer pretty little head. Ah’m-a go check up on ‘em before ya’ll can even braid yer mane.”

“Thanks.”

“Just give us a holler if ya need somethin.”

She nodded as her granny closed the door to her room. Left to herself, she picked up the book sitting on the nightstand next to her that she had borrowed a while back from Dash. It was the first in the Daring Doo series, which she was told that she just had to read. Dash seemed vigorously pleased when she agreed to give it a try, but she was never much of a reading pony like Twilight. Unless it was a farmer almanac, she didn't have much interest. Only a few novels in her lifetime had ever peaked her interest, making her one picky reader. The outdoors was more her suited taste.

The first few paragraphs were confusing to even look at. She read something about a giant rolling stone ball and a collapsing floor. So she was already being thrust into action? It seemed anticlimactic. Maybe a few more pages might add some more context. Daring Do did have a lot of shared characteristics with Dash. No wonder she was such a fan.

Her eyes drifted to her window, and the sight of happy birds passing by almost made her pity herself. “Snap out of it, Applejack.” She muttered to herself. “Ain’t no use frettin’ over something ya’ll ain’t got no control over.”

After a few minutes, she noticed that her vision was blurry when she tried to read and a headache was creeping up on her. Reading had become difficult, and she moved her eyes away from the pages before setting the book down. The ceiling to her room was painfully bare of color. The bumps in the drywall started to look like funny shapes, but nothing worth noting. Now grotesquely bored beyond what her nerves could bear, she started rolling from side to side with her head hanging over the edge each time she changed direction.

This went on for another lousy few more minutes until a knock came from her door. Nearly startled out of her own orange coat, she sat up straight looking very guilty and feeling rather silly. Thankfully, no pony saw that. “C-Come in?”

The door creaked as Rarity poked her head inside. She had a very pretty smile that gave Applejack a very perplexing feeling of relaxation and relief. It was nice. Almost lovely, in fact. “Hello there, Applejack.”

Now feeling much happier, Applejack’s expression lit up. “Howdy, Rarity! Boy am Ah glad to see ya. Ah was getting’ more stir crazy than butter ‘n a bucket a cream.”

Rarity looked around the room, noting how barren and unwelcoming it appeared. There was only three pieces of furniture that included the bed, one small solitary nightstand, and a pitifully ugly lamp. Everything about the room screamed farmhouse functional. “I couldn’t possibly imagine why, dear.” She said. “You simply must spruce your room up more. I feel like I’m visiting you in a country hospital.”

“It ain’t that bad.”

Rarity blankly stared at her. “Well…”

“Wait, really? Is it that bad?”

Rarity walked over to her and gave an awkward chuckle. “I wouldn’t say your room is completely uninhabitable…Maybe just somewhat…empty.”

“So, maybe like a picture ‘er somethin’ will help.”

“Yes, a picture…or maybe five…and an ornate rug…and crimson plaid wallpaper…maybe a bigger lamp with more light…and maybe-”

“Ok, Ah get it.” Applejack cut her off. “My room ain’t pretty ‘n fancy like yours.”

“Please don’t think I’m criticizing you, darling.” She put her hoof on her shoulder. “I meant no disrespect. I just thought I could perhaps make your room feel more…homely.”

“You’d do that fer me?” She asked, now feeling bad for snapping at her.

“Why of course!” Rarity clapped her hooves together, now very happy for an opportunity to renovate somepony else’s room. “It would be my absolute pleasure.”

“That’s might kind of ya, Rare.” She rubbed the back of her head. “Sorry…Ah guess Ah ain’t ’n the best a moods is all.”

“That’s perfectly understandable. I would feel somber as well if I was stuck in bed with a cold.”

She sighed. “It ain’t fair…Ah work my flank off keepin’ my farm goin’ ’n now Ah can’t even pick the apples that ‘er startin’ to fall without feelin’ achy. ”

“Darling,” Rarity sat down next to the edge of the sheets on the floor so their gazes leveled out. “Would you please just let your cold run its course? Honestly, dear. You complain almost as much as Sweetie Belle on picture day.”

“Sorry…” She looked back up at the ceiling and sighed.

Rarity could tell how upset Applejack felt. Apparently, catching a cold bothered her worse than anypony she knew. “Is there anything I can do?” She asked, glancing at the Daring Do novel. “Would you like another book?”

“Uh, no that’s ok.” Came the blunt reply. “Ain’t really in the mood fer readin’ right now.”

“Then what are you in the mood for?”

She thought about it for a moment. “Hm…Ah would like to play a board game ‘er somethin.”

“That sounds like a splendid idea. Where do you keep them?”

“They’re downstairs ‘n a shelf ‘n the kitchen.”

“Do you have a particular game in mind?”

“Not really. Ah’m good with whatever ya’ll wanna fetch down there.”

“Very well then. I will return momentarily. Care for anything to drink?”

“Maybe some water.” As Rarity walked out into the hallway, Applejack added, “Can ya’ll get me some crackers too?”

“Anything else?”

“Maybe some cheese.”

“Is that all?”

“Yep.”

She giggled. “Coming right up, your highness.” When she descended the stairs, she walked around the large kitchen. With so many cupboards, cabinets, and shelves, she felt like she was in a full sized bakery. The task of finding everything was harder than she thought. The cheese was hiding behind a bowl of lettuce, the cups behind stacks of plates, and the crackers under a jar of preserves. Some pony simply must organize in here before a possible disaster. Finally, with everything she need levitating in front of her, she trotted back up the stairs.

The board game she had picked out used small round objects that slid down chutes and climbed up ladders. As Rarity inspected the game pieces more closely, she noticed the rounds things were small wooden apples the size of grapes. "How...quaint."

She arrived back upstairs, and as Applejack stacked cheese on top of her crackers, Rarity set the game up in the middle of the bed. They sat across from each other on top of the sheets like fillies having a sleepover. “You can go first.” Rarity said motioning to her.

Applejack rolled a few spaces and moved her apple. “Thanks for comin’ by ‘n keepin’ me company.”

“Think nothing of it, dear. I said I would, didn’t I?” She rolled five spaces and moved her apple up a ladder to the middle of the board.

“Yeah…” Applejack followed suit only a few spaces behind her. “Ah was worried ya’ll had lots a work to do today.”

“Thanks heavens, no. Besides, no amount of work is going to keep me from visiting a friend in need.”

“That’s mighty kind of ya. Ah can’t remember the last time somepony came to see me when Ah was sick.” She rolled two spaces forward, her apple sliding down quite far. “Darn…”

“I can’t even remember the last time you were ever sick.” Rarity’s apple moved up a small ladder near the top. “I don’t believe I recall you ever being sick before.”

“It sure has been a while.” Applejack tried to think back. “Maybe years ago.”

“You are quite the tough cookie, if I do say. For you to get sick, it must really be something serious indeed.”

“No kiddin’.” She watched as Rarity’s apple fell down the longest slide to the bottom row of spaces. “Yeah!”

“Congratulate yourself now. I will return to beat you.”

“That’ll be the day.” She rolled and moved her apple three squares before hesitating on the fourth. “Uh-oh…”

Rarity giggled. “It seems even the great must fall.”

Applejack whined allowed. “Ponyfeathers.”

--o0o--

After Pinkie had left to embark on her top secret mission, Dash and Fluttershy spent the day lazily frolicking about in the grassy meadow. At first, they just watched their pets roam free among the flowers, but after watching them for some time, they both decided it would be more fun to join them.

Tag had been their first game, but when all the animals realized that they were no match for the blue mare’s superior speed, they banded together against her. Using the blanket as a rope, Fluttershy and all her animals played tug-o-war against the solitary team of just Rainbow Dash on her lonesome. It was hard, but Dash had actually won. Even without using her wings, team Fluttershy was just no match for her strength.

The blanket now turned into a small trampoline, the two mares flung each furry critter who dared into the air while Tank leisurely hovered and watched. Angel bunny was actually becoming quite fond of Dash hanging around all the time. First she made dinner and now she played with him all day. Maybe his owner’s best friend wasn’t such a dense airhead with her mane in the clouds like he thought.

When Angel stared getting dizzy, they stopped and watched him as he hilariously tried to walk a straight line. His wobbly little legs gave out quickly, causing him to flop over onto the grass. Fluttershy ran up to him and quickly scooped him up. “Oh my goodness! Are you ok?”

“He’s fine.” Dash said as she waved a hoof at them casually. “Just give him a minute.” It did take a minute for him to sit up straight, but another couple to stand. “See? He’s alright.”

Very slowly, Dash sneaked up behind them both with the blanket over her head. As soon as she was no more than a couple feet away, she raised the blanket up, completely spreading it out as wide as it would go. Dash roared at them while rustling the blanket around erratically. Both Fluttershy and Angel squeaked in surprise before jumping back.

“Hahaha!” Dash laughed. “You’re faces! Priceless!” The poor little bunny covered his chest with his paws, trying hard to control his racing pulse. Fluttershy took a few deep breaths.

Once the bunny regained his composure, he ran up and jump onto Dash’s shoulder, crawling up and around her head. She squirmed and kicked while becoming airborne, making a crazy beeline above the grass before crashing hard into the ground. “Ugh…” Dash groaned, slowly getting up while rubbing her head. “That kinda hurt!”

Angel stuck his tongue out at her before retreating to the safety of Fluttershy’s mane. “Are you ok, Dashie?” She asked.

“I’m cool.” She felt a pinch in her neck. “I’ve had worse falls before.”

“Angel, please apologize to Rainbow Dash. She didn't mean anything by it.” He did not comply. With his arms crossed, he sat on Fluttershy’s head with a haughty grin.

“No worries. I scared him first, so I guess were even.”

“But he wasn’t trying to scare you.” She reasoned. “He could have really hurt you.”

“Nah. Like I said. I’m cool.” She tweaked her back and shook out her mane. “See? No biggie.”

“Well…” Fluttershy sighed. “If you say so.”

The sky became considerably darker all the sudden. The sun hid behind a low hanging cloud, and both ponies noticed how late it had become. It must have been late afternoon. “Yikes.” Dash commented. “I didn’t know we’ve been out here so long.”

Fluttershy looked sad. “I’m so sorry. I probably kept you from something important that you needed to do.”

“What? No way, Shy! This is tons of fun! I’m really glad I came. I wouldn’t be anywhere else right now.” Angel stuck out his tongue, pointed to the back of his throat, and crossed his eyes. Dash nervously giggled. “Yeah, I guess that was pretty sappy.”

She may have been embarrassed, but Fluttershy felt so happy. Maybe it really was sappy, but she had never felt so appreciated before. “Thank you so much, Dashie…You’re too kind.”

She laughed. “No, that’s you, silly.”

Angel put a paw over his chest and contorted his face like he just got punched in the stomach. “Hnnnghh!” He grunted.

“Angel!” Fluttershy scolded him. “Manners!”

“Heh…” Dash laughed. The little bunny could be quite the comedian. “Good one.”

“You probably want to get going…” Fluttershy eventually sighed, looking down. “The rain tomorrow is going to keep your morning pretty busy…”

Dash sighed. “Yeah…sorry. At least after we get the rain started we can get back together and hang out.”

“…Ok.”

Dash watched her frown towards the grass and wondered if something else was bothering her. The little yellow mare tended to bottle things up so much that if no pony asked about it, she never would say anything. “Hey, Shy?” Dash put a hoof on her shoulder. “Are you ok? You look like you just lost a favorite toy or something.”

“Huh?” She looked up at her and forced a smile. “I’m ok. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“For starters, your face.” Dash cocked her head to the side and pressed a hoof against her cheek. “Is there something you’re not telling me? Cause, if there is, I can always stay and we can talk about it.”

“Oh no no no…It’s ok. I wouldn’t even think about putting you out like that.”

“Don’t be silly, Shy. It’s me you’re talking to here.” Dash tilted her chin back up to her. “Hey…I know I’m not the best listener, but…you can always tell me what you’re thinking.”

Shy looked back down. She really didn’t have anything else to elaborate on, but at the same time, she really didn’t want Dash to go. The night before that they had spent together was the one of the happiest moments of her life, and she wanted to give anything she could to have another night like that again. Maybe it was too soon to ask for her to stay over again. It hadn’t even been a full day yet.

Dash sat on her haunches in front of her and gave her a concerned look. “C’mon, Shy…just tell me.”

“I’m ok, Dashie…”

“No…I don’t think so. What happened? We were having such a nice time. Why so gloomy all the sudden? Was it something I did?”

Fluttershy quickly shook her head. “No, of course not…It’s just…”

“It’s just…what?”

She mustered all her courage and took a deep breaths. “It’s just…I don’t…I don’t want you…to go…” She hid behind her mane while focusing her gaze on the ground harder than before.

Dash felt something tighten up in her chest. “Aw…Fluttershy…” She soothingly wrapped her hooves around her shoulders before giving her a squeeze. “If you don’t want me to go, I won’t. I don’t know what’s bothering you…but…I’m here for you. C’mon…lets go home. I can make you some tea. Would you like that?”

She simply nodded and let Dash lead her towards her cottage while feeling very guilty. It sounded like she was forcing her friend to spend more time with her, and Dash probably was only doing this because she was obligated to.

While wallowing in her pointless self pity, she as very surprised to feel something soft brush up against her neck. She glanced to the side to see Dash rubbing her head against her neck before turning away with a rosey cheeks. “Uh…feel better?” Dash asked, trying to sound casually concerned.

With a big smile returning to her face, Fluttershy nuzzled her back with her nose pressed into her cheek. “Much better…”

Dash gulped, feeling that tightness in her chest intensify. “G-Good…”

--o0o--

With a hearty laugh, Rarity gripped her sides, but Applejack hadn’t finished telling her story. “But then Applebloom took another bite!”

“Even after you told her it wasn’t really candy?”

“Yep! She didn’t believe me! Ah saw her eat the entire bar of Pone-a-lax!”

“Oh dear me!” Rarity snorted hard before erupting into a giggle box. “She most certainly did not.”

“Ah swear on Granny Smith’s zap apple jam.” Applejack said with a wide carefree grin.

“Poor girl!” She didn’t sound too broken up about it considering her humored chuckle. ‘Was she alright?”

“She was fine, but Ah ain’t never seen no filly run that fast to the bathroom before.”

“Oh no…hahaha…” She wiped a happy tear from her eye. “That is too hilarious.”

A knock came from the door to her room. “You girls havin’ fun?” Granny Smith asked. “Sound’s like a hootin-nanny in here.” They both nodded their heads as their giggling lowered to a minimum.

“Applejack was just telling me quite a funny story about Applebloom.” Rarity smiled most pleased.

With a mischievous smirk, Granny Smith eyed her granddaughter before returning an innocent gaze to their guest. “Oh are ya now…Ah bet ya’ll ain’t heard the story ‘bout Applejack ‘n the haunted tree.”

“Oh no! Please, Granny Smith!” Applejack pleaded.

“Now before you protest, darling,” Rarity put a hoof up to her mouth to quiet her. “I believe it is only fair after telling me about Applebloom’s little escapade.”

“Rarity,” Applejack put her hooves on her shoulders. “Ah am beggin’ ya as a friend.”

“Now hold yer hooves, Applejack.” Granny Smith chuckled. “Ah think the nice lady deserves a good story. She‘s right. Ain‘t fair embarrassin’ yer ‘lil sis without yer ‘ol Granny Smith doin’ ya one over too.”

“Crabapples!” Applejack covered her face with her hat. “Ah never shoulda’ told that story!”

“Now I am thoroughly intrigued!” Rarity turned to Granny Smith with immense interest. “Please do tell!”

“Well, it all started when here AJ was just a ‘lil filly out ‘n the orchard playin’ with her brother.” Granny Smith sat down on the edge of the bed next to Rarity.

“Oh brother…Please…fer the love of all things golden delicious…Granny, Ah am beggin’ ya!”

She paid no heed to her kin’s laments. “One day, she’s a comin’ home with a funny ‘lil fruit danglin’ from her mouth. She tells me the fruit be from some tree in the grove by the road, ’n she’s askin’ me what it is cause it don‘t taste right ‘n it looks funny. Ah tell her it’s a haunted apple.” Granny said the word ‘haunted’ all spooky like, making Rarity giggle and Applejack to groan louder. “So Ah says to her that the tree it came from is haunted by the spirit of Josiah Appleton who died from a stampede long time’s ago.”

Rarity poked fun of her friend with her hoof to her tummy, earning a low growl. Granny Smith continued with her story. “So she’s askin’ me what she’s gotta do to get rid of that there spirit. Ah says that she’s gotta put a ring a fresh apples ‘round the base of the tree. If that don’t work, then she’s gotta pick all the haunted apples ‘n give ‘em away fer free, you know, cause Josiah Appleton was a hoarder, see, ‘n ain’t nothing the ‘ol ghost of Josiah Appleton hate more than bein’ nice.”

Rarity snickered hard as she made the funniest contorted face, and Applejack groaned aloud boisterously. “If that don’t do it, then the only thing left doin’ is write to Princess Celestia ‘n ask fer her help banishin’ the ghost back to the grave.”

“Well, that doesn’t sound all that bad.” Rarity said. “I’m sure it wasn’t too embarrassing.”

“It wasn’t what Ah told her to be doin’, deary.” Granny Smith noted. “It’s what she did ‘n her own that’s funny.”

“Granny Smith…ya’ll can be cruel sometimes.” Applejack turned away from both of them to stare at her window.

‘So? What did she do?”

“Well, she sets off gettin’ fresh apples out ‘round the tree that Big Mac picked that day. He gets all curious ‘n asks why she’s messin’ up his work. So she tells him ‘bout the ghost, ‘n he starts playin’ along, eggin’ her on to keep workin. Then she starts pickin’ up all the haunted apples ‘n pushes ‘em on ponies walkin’ by the farm. They’re all thinkin’ she’s lost her marbles. After that, Ah’m ‘spectin’ her to come back home ‘n write her letter. Ah was gonna tell her then that she’d been fooled by her ‘ol granny, but she don‘t come home til late that night.”

“What did she do instead?”

“Granny…Ah am gonna pay ya back for this one day…” Applejack forced her hat over her head down over he eyes and ears.

“She goes into town ‘n starts hollerin’ and screamin’ ‘bout the ghost ‘n her tree. She’s askin’ all the ponies to write letters too, thinkin’ more ponies will get the princess’ attention faster.”

Rarity turned to Applejack with a very bewildered expression. “You didn’t! Did you really?”

“She sure did! After that, she comes home ‘n tells me she got so much help from the town, ‘n Ah shouldn’t worry none cause the princess was a comin’ soon. The next day, Ms. Flowerpetal, who was the schoolteacher back then, came to the house askin’ if Applejack had gotten into the family cider.”

Rarity gripped her sides as hard as she could, laughing with so much force that she couldn’t even breath. With distain and anger, Applejack shoved her over across the bed. “It ain’t funny, Rare!”

“Awwwwwww, darling, don‘t be so surly.” Rarity pinched the very embarrassed mare’s cheek with a hoof. “You must have been so precious!”

She brushed her hoof away and growled at the wall.

“As it turns out, somepony dropped some a them pears from the market by the side of the road. Applejack ain’t never seen no pear before.” She nudged her granddaughter, pulled her hat away from her, and tousled her mane with her hoof. “But ya do know what pears are now, don’t ya, silly filly?”

When Rarity began laughing into her foreleg, Applejack mashed her hat into her face. “Alright, alright. Laugh it up. Ain’t none sillier than when ya’ll was carryin’ that big ‘ol rock ‘round thinkin’ it was a big diamond.”

“Uh, what’s that now?” Granny Smith asked.

Rarity instantly stopped laughing and stared the orange mare down venomously. “Oh! It…Is…On!”