Can I Stay?
Applejack bucked at the tree and the familiar sound of apples falling into buckets filled her ears.The warm sun was starting to make her hot and bothered but she didn’t stop. She turned around, picked up the apple buckets and threw them in her cart. She hooked herself up to the cart and started down the track back to the farm. She was walking for a while when suddenly a shadow flew across the ground.
“Hey Applejack!” A loud familiar voice shouted from the distance. A loud thump emanated from behind her and a cloud of dust flew into the air. She turned around. Rainbow Dash was standing right behind her amidst a cloud of smoke a big smile upon her face. It was such a surprise that Applejack just stood there for a few moments staring.
Rainbow noticed the look and said uncomfortably “Hey AJ, there’s going to be a big storm later so I… u-uh thought i’d come and warn you about it” the smile washing off of her face. She blushed and uncomfortably stamped her hooves a little.
“Yeah alright Rainbow, but I got’ta get mosta the harvest done before it hits or we’ll be in strife.” Applejack replied. Not realizing Rainbow was put off by the stare Applejack brushed off the strange way Rainbow acted. ‘She must be a little nervous about the storm’ Applejack thought to herself.
“Anyway I gotta go warn everypony about the storm, maybe you could ask Twilight to come round, she’d be glad to help you do the finish up before the storm hits.” Rainbow shouted as she flew off.
‘stupid, stupid, stupid you should've said something, you made yourself look like a fool in front of her’ Rainbow thought to herself. ‘I mean… you got put off by a stare!’
“Hah, thats not such a bad idea… Thank yee Rainbow” Applejack whispered to herself. She smiled a little to herself, Rainbow looked cute when she was all worked up. She continued back to the farm, apple cart in tow. She arrived a few minutes later and took the apples to the barn where she unloaded the cart and stowed it away. She then took off at a gallop towards Twilight’s, trying not to waste any precious time.
Knock knock knock
“Oh who could that be at this time… I need to get the library ready for tonight's storm” Twilight grumbled to herself as she made her way to the door. She opened it and Applejack’s face appeared, the mare looked a bit distraught. “Oh hey Applejack, what brings you around?” Twilight asked, clearly confused.
Applejack took a few deep breaths to steady herself after her long gallop. She looked Twilight straight in the eye “TwilightINeedYouToComeAndHelpMeFinishTheHarvestbeforeTheStormHits” she said quickly without missing a beat before she went into a fit of coughing.
“Woah woah, calm down Applejack… I can’t tell what you’re saying when you’re all jumpy like that” Twilight said jumping back a bit in surprise. Applejack finished her coughing fit and put a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder.
Applejack took a deep breath “I-i said, I need you to come down to the farm and help me finish the harvest before the storm hits” she finished with another panting breath. She looked at Twilight again with big pleading eyes.
Twilight gave a quick look around the library ‘hmm i guess i could get to it later, or maybe i could get Spike to finish preparations when he wakes up’. “Mmmm… i Guess i can come help if it’s that important, give me a moment to do something.”
“Okay Twilight” Applejack said. Twilight ran upstairs to her room and grabbed a quill and some paper. She quickly scribbled down a note for Spike and ran back downstairs.
“Okay Applejack, lets go” Twilight said as she pushed Applejack out the door and galloped full speed towards Apple Acres. It only took them a few minutes to get back to the farm. Applejack then went and collected her apple cart from the barn before they both ran off towards the fields.
They were both working as hard they could. Applejack bucking apples off the trees and loading them into her cart; and Twilight using her magic to pull the apples off the trees. They were going at it for the next few hours. The sky was getting darker and darker, and that made the two mares work harder and harder to try and get all the apples they could before the storm hit. It started to rain. Suddenly Rainbow flew out the the sky and landed nearby them. Applejack and Twilight momentarily stopped working to look over at her.
“Jeez, you guys still out here working… I suggest you two finish up now and get into shelter. If you guys wait too much longer, let’s just say, things will get nasty” Rainbow said in a hurry. Her face a flurry of concern, her mane and tail stuck to her, sopping wet.
“Ok Rainbow, we’ll get these last few trees then get out of here” Applejack said. Though she was lying, she’d never let any of her apples bite the dust, she just wanted to get rid of Rainbow so they could continue working. The longer they took chatting the less apples she could save. Rainbow however had other ideas.
“No, you go now… take the ones you have and get out of here. Now!” She shouted. The last word came out with a commanding voice that would have made Spitfire shiver. Nonetheless... Applejack was determined to stay.
“No. Let me just get these last few trees, i swear we’ll be gone by the time the storm hits” Applejack pleaded. She swished her wet mane and bucked a nearby tree to finish off her point.
Rainbow would have argued the point with the mare for far longer but she had places to be and people to warn, so she relented. “Fine, get your last few trees” She said angrily “But if anything happens, i swear i’m not going to forgive either of you, or myself” she finished making sure to stress her point. She stamped her hooves then flew off with an angry huff.
Applejack looked at Rainbow with disgust. “How dare she talk to me like that, this is my livelihood! Not hers” Applejack shouted at nopony in particular. Twilight looked at her with both a look of confusion and animosity. “Come on Twi, lets finish up.”
“No, i’m going back to the Golden Oak to hunker in for the night” Twilight said angrily and stormed off in the direction of Ponyville..
“Oh hay! no you won’t” Applejack shouted after her. Realizing she’d have to continue on her own, Applejack angrily went over to a tree and bucked it, the apples falling into the baskets underneath.
“Oh hay. oh hay, oh hay!” Applejack shouted into the air. She’d never get this done. Lightning crackled in the distance. Maybe Rainbow was right. Maybe just maybe. Boom! A lightning bolt hit a tree nearby her. it cracked, popped then fell. Right… On top of her. She had only enough time to scream before the large tree landed on top of her.
“Aaaaaaaaaaa!”.
Twilight heard the scream as she stormed off towards Ponyville. She turned towards the noise “Oh no, that sounded like Applejack” she whispered to herself. She galloped as fast as she could towards where she’d heard the scream. She got there quick as a flash; rain soaking through her coat. “APPLEJACK!... APPLEJACK where are you!” Twilight shouted into the nights air. She heard a groan coming from her left. She looked around. She could barely see. A lightning bolt raced across the sky, illuminating the area just long enough for her to see. Applejack was trapped underneath a huge apple tree, the expanse of branches and leaves had missed her by inches, luckily. She was stuck under the main trunk of the tree, knocked out and barely breathing.
Twilight stood back and braced herself. She took a moment to concentrate and levitated the tree off of Applejack. Dropping it a few metres away onto the track towards the farm. “Ok Applejack, lets get you out of here” Twilight said as she carefully levitated the pony and galloped off towards Ponyville.
Light, lots of light…
A fall? Is that what happened? She couldn’t remember, the feeling of terror as she fell through the empty sky as the darkness rushed to meet her… Then nothing, until she saw the light.
“Oh no, Oh no… Oh no! What happened?! I told her, i told her it was stupid to stay” she shouted, tears streaming down her face.
Twilight just stood at the door and stared at her, not wanting to tell her what had happened, lest she break into tears.
Rainbow Dash looked at Twilight, a look of wild hysteria on her face… she couldn’t understand why she had been brought here, but she had her ideas. She couldn’t understand why Twilight needed her to rush over to the hospital so fast… she just kinda assumed the worst. And she knew, it probably had something to do with Applejack.
“Well, Rainbow it’s just-…” Twilight croaked, tears threatening to fall onto her face.
“What!?!” Rainbow screamed at her, she knew that stubborn pony and knew what had probably happened. that only made her all the more hysterical “Tell me what happened! Let me see her! I know her, she was being stubborn and didn’t leave, right? And now she’s hurt herself?”
Twilight ignored all of Rainbow’s questions “Rainbow, try to calm down, please?” she said trying to hold back her tears. She wiped her muzzle getting rid of some .
“Ok, ok” Rainbow Dash squeaked as she tried to stop the tears flowing down her face. She also wiped her muzzle and slumped down in the dirt.
The light is fading, wait no it’s not, it’s hard to tell in this white place. She could only tell that this was a nice place. It was neither hot nor cold here; nor was there any reason there should be light… Was this just a trick? Her eyes must be deceiving her. Was she really looking through her eyes?
Rainbow Dash had managed to calm herself enough that she stopped crying. She sat there waiting for Twilight to explain the situation to her, tears still threatening to break through.
“Rainbow th-the reason Applejack is in there, is well... because a tree fell on her, she’s unconscious and has a few broken bones but she got lucky, and should be fine” Twilight said pointing into the hospital. She tried to sound as calm as possible.
“She will be!?” Rainbow Dash said a look of pleasure and delight. She clapped her hooves together and locked gazes with Twilight.
“Oh thank Celestia” She said. She sighed and rolled onto her back. “Thank Celestia” she whispered as more tears rolled down her face. These were more tears of joy than sadness.
“Are you lost?” A voice boomed inside her head… She had no answer. She just continued staring into the blank white nothingness.
“Are you lost?” The voice repeated. She didn’t know how to respond, she didn’t know what was going on… Then she saw it, a flash of colour in the edge of her vision. As soon as had come, it was gone. She just thought it a figment of her imagination; it couldn’t have been real, not in this place. Wherever this place was.
“Just let me in now Twilight, i wanna see her” Rainbow said. a fresh wave of tears running down her face. Oh how she hated Applejack right now, if that pony wasn’t broken and bleeding in there Rainbow would gladly go in and give her a piece of her mind. She refrained though and looked at Twilight again.
“You’re not welcome here” the voice boomed, you must go back. Go back where? She didn’t understand what this voice was talking about; she was right where she wanted to be. There was no pain, no sorrow, it was bliss.
“It is not your time yet” the voice continued “Go back to where you came from… Go.”
She couldn’t understand why it was telling her to go, she didn’t know where she had come from. It didn’t matter she just wanted to stay here.
It had been a whole hour since Rainbow arrived. She was soaking wet and wanted nothing more than to go in there and make sure her favourite mare was ok. Twilight went over to Rainbow and helped her up, she nuzzled close to Rainbow, draped a wing over her and walked her to the door.
Rainbow was totally out of energy her constant flying around Ponyville warning ponies to get inside had worked her thin. She just wanted to see Applejack. She wasn’t even crying anymore for her tears had all been shed. So, without another word, she allowed Twilight to lift her up and take her to the door. Twilight took her wing off Rainbow. She went to the door and opened it. Rainbow walked through the door and into the hospital.
“Goooo back” the voice said again, she didn’t know how long it had been telling her to do so and she didn’t care, she didn’t want to go back to wherever she had come from she wanted to stay.
“Don’t make me go back” She said through her thoughts.
“You must, they’re waiting for you” the voice replied booming through her conscience.
She couldn’t- she just didn’t understand.
Twilight followed Rainbow in, closed the door and put her wing around Rainbow again. She led the pony towards Applejack’s room. They reached the hallway where Applejack’s room is and started to walk down it. Applebloom and Big Mac were both sitting on a bench quietly whispering to each other. They both looked up when Rainbow and Twilight stopped beside them.
“How are you two doing?” Rainbow said, a couple of sniffles escaping her nose.
“We’re doing good Rainbow, we’re just waiting here till Applejack wakes up to help her home” Applebloom replied a small, sad smile forcing itself upon her face.
“Eeyup” Big Mac said also.
“Ok guys, i’m just going in to check on her. If she wakes i’ll tell you” Rainbow said. A small forced smile also finding its way onto her face.
“Ok Rainbow” Applebloom said. She turned her head and looked back at Big Mac, more whispering ensued.
Twilight continued walking Rainbow towards Applejack’s room. Soon enough they reached the door and Twilight once again took her wing off of Rainbow. Rainbow looked at Twilight and smiled. “I’ll give you some alone time with her” Twilight said, returning the smile “Just… No funny business” she winked at Rainbow and opened the door to Applejack's room. Rainbow took a few cautious steps inside and looked at the bed. Applejack was laying on her back, her neck was in a brace and one of her forelegs was in a sling.
“DON’T MAKE ME GO BACK” She screamed into her thoughts.
“It is not my choice to make whether you stay or go, I am just the messenger” The voice boomed clearly angry now “It is your choice now whether you go easily, or it is done the hard way.”
No! NO… She didn’t know what to do, she didn’t want to go back she wanted to stay why wouldn’t they let her stay? She felt a tear run down her face.
Rainbow Dash walked over to the bed, she stood next to it and admired the broken beauty of Applejack lying unconscious beneath the sheets.
Rainbow got closer to the pony, putting her muzzle right up next to the pony’s ear. “Applejack?” she whispered into the pony’s ear, a single tear rolling from her eye down onto her cheek, almost the same as the one rolling down the farm pony’s cheek.
“Applejack, come on, talk to me, wake up, i'm still angry at you” - she wiped the tears off both their faces- “come on, wake up”
“Go, they’re waiting for you” the voice boomed
“Who? Who waits for me” Applejack said as her small world of whiteness and beauty broke around her and was replaced by black nothingness… and pain
Applejack slowly opened her eyes. Pain hit her in a wave and it was all she could do not to cry out in pain. That first wave quickly subsided and she was just left with a dull ache throughout her body.
“Applejack, come on wake up, wake up” Rainbow sobbed, she was on her haunches, her head resting next to Applejack’s; a couple of dried up tear spots on her face.
“Now Dashie what on earth are you worrying about, i’m here now, no need to worry” Applejack quirked, she hurt all over. She was confused as to where she was and what was going on and speaking caused her dry lips to split open.
Rainbow Dash jumped back stunned for a moment, all her apprehension went away as soon as she’d heard Applejack speak. She smiled. The thought that that was the first thing Applejack said was nearly enough to make Rainbow burst into laughter. Good to know Applejack still retained her sense of humour.
“Good to see ya Applejack” Dash replied awkwardly. she let out a small laugh to rid herself of some of the built up tension.
“Good to see you Dashie,” Applejack said. She looked Rainbow deep in the eyes. She never realized just how beautiful that pony looked. The lavender eyes, the confident stance, the brazen look she wore. She just wanted to nuzzle and hug her. Rainbow seemed to read Applejack’s mind for as soon as she thought of it Rainbow came forward and nuzzled her, ever so gently.
Rainbow knew this was the moment she should say something to Applejack. “I love you Applejack, i really do, but i swear you push my buttons more than you ought to” Rainbow whispered.
Applejack looked at Rainbow for a moment and thought about what the pony had just said. She stayed silent for a few seconds.“I love you too Rainbow, but please for the moment, don’t be angry with me. We can work this out when i’m healed up. Ok” Applejack whispered back. She stroked Rainbow’s face with her free hoof.
“Ok” Rainbow said a little sheepishly, almost submissively. She laid her own hoof against Applejack’s face.
Applejack quickly changed course “Thanks for coming round Rainbow i know you're worried about me but don't be, i’ll be fine. Just worry about yourself, you look worse than me after that mud trick me and Rarity pulled at the sisterhooves social” Applejack said; a small laugh escaping her lips. Rainbow couldn’t hold it back. She gently kissed Applejack on the lips. Applejack returned the favour in kind. The kiss only lasted a couple of seconds, Applejack didn’t want it to end, but Rainbow pulled away.
“I’ll be by in a couple of days Applejack… don’t do anything brash while i'm gone” Rainbow whispered; a mischievous smirk appearing on her face.
“I won’t, dont you worry bout me” Applejack said waving her free hoof towards the door “now get out’ta here before i change my mind and ask you to stay”
“Whatever you say” Rainbow said as she waltzed happily out of the room.
Twilight, Applebloom and Big Mac all looked at her when she walked out the door.
“How is she?” Twilight exclaimed.
“She’s awake and doing fine, though i think she’d need at least a few days rest” Rainbow replied. A another big smile appeared upon her face and she blushed a bit. She walked out of the hospital and flew back up towards her cloud house, the whole while thinking about Applejack.
A couple of days later
Rainbow Dash walked into Applejack’s hospital room. The pony seemed to be doing fine after she woke up – well, as fine as a pony with a concussion could be. Rainbow continued to walk over to Applejack’s bed. Applejack looked up at her and smiled. They locked eyes, each staring deeply into the other’s. Rainbow stopped next to Applejack’s bed and whispered “Hey Applejack how yah doing?”.
Applejack looked at Dash “I’m doing fine Sugarcube, how’s everypony else holding up” Rainbow quickly told her about the news she’d missed out on.
“-O and Applebloom was complaining about all the extra chores she’d have to do till you got better” Rainbow Dash finished with a smile and a laugh. Applejack couldn’t help but let out a little chortle even though it hurt.
The two looked at each other, the emotions each were feeling for each other were clearly visible in their eyes. The moment got awkward, neither wanted to say anything. So Rainbow leaned in for a quick peck on Applejack’s cheek. Rainbow didn’t think that was enough so she went in for a proper kiss. Applejack decided to meddle a bit. She pretended to look shocked.
“Rainbow! How dare you!” She said with awfully feigned shock. She tried not to smile but couldn’t help it.
Rainbow caught on to Applejack’s trick “How dare i? You looked so beautiful lying there, i couldn’t dare give up the chance”
Applejack laughed “Oh aren’t you the bringer of petty one liners” She sighed. “Dash are you busy today?” She asked. She hoped the pegasus would stay.
Rainbow Dash looked at her bright green eyes with a huge grin then replied “No, I cleared my schedule for today, I thought it’d be fun to hang out” She pecked Applejack again “You know, just you and me and a quiet room all to ourselves”
“But i mean if miss fancy pants doesn’t want me here i’ll leave” She said with a sly grin. She looked at Applejack, took a deep breath and said “Can I stay?”
Applejack looked at Rainbow with as big a smile as she could muster. “Yes Rainbow, you can stay, i don’t think there is anything i’d rather have you do right now”
Rainbow and Applejack laughed together. Then Rainbow leaned in and nuzzled Applejack again. “I think we can work something out” She said with a smile. “I don’t think there’s any place i’d rather be right now.” They kissed again. Rainbow pulled a chair up next to the bed and slumped into it.
‘No, there is definitely no place i’d rather be right now’ each thought to themselves.
Author's Note
Hey readers and random passers by.
This is my first real go at a fanfic so i'd like to know what you think. I don't care what sort of criticism you give me. Tell me what's wrong and tell me what to improve. Tell me what you think and if you want more.
I'm hoping to make this a little trilogy story so hopefully the next chapter will be out soon.
Thanks for reading.
-SunStick
