Some very short stories

The Best Pony

"Hang it all!"

Rainbow Dash stood brooding over her latest creation, sweat running down her face and stinging her eyes, mouth dry, eyes bloodshot. A sordid smell taunted her for her labor, inspiring despair. The smoke detector in the hall looked on in ominously silent judgment, waiting for any excuse to reemploy its battery and speakers, its red eye blinking threats. Broken and defeated, and sporting a tattered and singed chef's apron to complete the picture, Rainbow Dash cut a ridiculous figure.

"There are only two days left!"

Mistakes had been made, certainly, but nothing that couldn't be corrected. Nothing that couldn't be... rectified. Time was running short, yes, but matters were not yet hopeless.

A sudden light switched itself on in Rainbow's mind, and without losing a second, she dove back into the refrigerator. She wasn't about to give in that easily...

The smoke detector blinked its red eye unsympathetically.

* * * * *

Twilight Sparkle whispered to Fluttershy.

"Where is she?"

"I... I'm not sure. Maybe she got held up?"

"She's the fastest flier in Equestria! That shouldn't matter!"

"Well, what if... what if there was a problem..."

"You don't mean... the birthday gift she's been working on for Applejack?!"

"Well, you know, Twilight, donuts are hard to make well... and apple glaze isn't exactly easy either."

"...You're right. I just hope she figured it out in time. Otherwise, somepony's feelings could get hurt."

Twilight and Fluttershy eyed their own neatly-wrapped presents bearing Applejack's name. It would be embarrassing for Rainbow if her gift turned out less than edible, but that was exactly what each of them feared would happen.

Rarity moved to join the conversation. "The decorations are complete, and Pinkie assures me that the party favors are in order as well. All we need now are Rainbow Dash and Applejack, preferably in that order." As it happened, Applejack showed up just then, bursting Rarity's bubble. Having been led by Pinkie Pie to an unknown location, and being fully conscious of what date she was born on, Applejack couldn't have been too shocked to find she was being led to her own surprise party, but she affected surprise nevertheless.

"Oh my goodness! Great Celestia! A surprise birthday party? For me? Really, I never expected this! You girls are too much!"

Twilight couldn't help but chuckle at Applejack's poor acting, but Pinkie seemed to eat it up. "That's because we TRICKED youuuuuuu!!! You never saw it comin', didya? We totally had you fooled, didn't we? Didn't we?"

At that moment, Rainbow Dash arrived, empty-hooved.

* * * * *

The time for cake had come and gone. The dancing and party games were over. Applejack was unwrapping her gifts. The last one, a new saddle from Fluttershy, was in her hands.

"Aww, shucks, Fluttershy. It's beautiful. I love it."

Fluttershy blushed. "I'm so glad you like it."

Applejack turned and counted her presents. "One, two, three, four... I guess that only leaves Rainbow Dash! Come on, pardner, what'd you get me? Let's see it!"

Every pony in the room stared at Rainbow Dash. Applejack suddenly realized that there were no more presents in sight. Apparently, Rainbow either hadn't set hers out with the rest, or....

Rainbow fidgeted. "Um... well..."

Applejack saw that Rainbow was uncomfortable. "Oh, sugarcube, it's okay if you didn't get me anything. I—"

Rainbow Dash interrupted her. "It's not that. I was going to cook something for you, but... well, apparently there's a good reason my cutie mark isn't a frying pan. So, sometime yesterday evening, after I failed at cooking donuts for the umpteenth time, I realized I'd be better off spending my time working on something I actually can make. And... I made it!"

Applejack looked around. "Oh?" She didn't see anything, and Rainbow wasn't holding anything. "Well, um... Where is it?"

Rainbow gave a smirk. "Step outside and you'll see."

Rainbow, Applejack, and the other four all stepped outside together and, at Rainbow's motioning, they looked up into the sky, to see a message written in the clouds:

APPLEJACK IS BEST PONY

Looking up, Rainbow blushed and laughed nervously. "Whoops... that was s'posed to say the best pony. I guess I was tired."

Applejack for her part, blushed too. "Aww, shucks, Rainbow! Who else but you would've done something like this? And to think, I've been walking around under these clouds all day and never once looked up at them!"

Pinkie Pie scratched her head. "Hmm... none of us looking up for a whole day? That is strange. How'd you pull that off, Dashie? Magic charms to keep our eyes fixed on the ground? Invisible weights around our necks? Huh? How’d you do it?"

Everyone laughed.