A cry for help split the sky as a rainbow blur plummeted through the clouds, its path seeming to collide with the ground. Pulling up hard and redirecting its path, the pony’s hooves just grazed the grass as she shot toward the call as fast as she could. Somepony’s in trouble! The thought ran through her head as she gained speed and neared the source of the cry.
Upon arriving at the scene and with a slight ungraceful landing, she stumbled at what she saw, holding back a laugh. It being only the smallest of stumbles though, she trotted the last few feet to her friend.
It was Applejack; she had part of her rope tied around one hoof and her other hoof in a hole. The hoof stuck in the hole was what had Applejack frustrated and why she had called for help. At the sound of hoofsteps, she glanced up to see Rainbow Dash and glared at her. “Don’t you dare laugh. Just help me get mah hoof unstuck!” She said, annoyed.
Rainbow Dash did just that though, she laughed and fell back at the sight. “How’d you manage that one?” she inquired after her laughing fit had gone away.
Applejack continued to glare at her, clearly unamused. “Will ya just get me outta here already?” she demanded, struggling with the ground.
Laughing a bit still, Rainbow moved forward and inspected the ground around her hoof before rearing up and wrapping her own hooves around Applejack and then taking flight, pulled back. Hearing a low pop, both Applejack and Rainbow tumbled backwards.
After just a moment, Rainbow shook her head to clear it, only to realize she had a heavy weight overtop of her. Seeing nothing but the orange coat of her friend, she grunted and tried to push her off.
Applejack, being freed from the hole’s grasp, glanced down as she noticed the prodding of Rainbow. Jumping up a few feet, she gave a small blush and stepped back helping Rainbow up. “Sorry ‘bout that, didn’t realize I had landed over top of ya.”
Getting up, Rainbow only shoot her head. “Nah, no worries. Just glad to see you aren’t stuck anymore.” She laughed again and shook herself. “So what did you do to get yourself stuck in the first place?”
“I was just walkin’ with mah rope when I just tripped. Then when I went to stand back up, I realized mah hoof was stuck. Not bein’ able to get free, I got frustrated and called for help. Knew I wasn’t gunna get outta that hole on mah own. As for the rope, jus’ don’t ask.”
Rainbow nodded as her friend told her what happened and then jumped up, hovering above her. “Well watch for those holes next time! Next time I will just stand there and laugh,” she said good naturedly.
Applejack only grinned and took up her rope, getting it ready for just the right moment. Watching Rainbow as she started to fly away, she quickly spun her rope in the air and launched it at her.
Feeling a rope catch around her hoof, she let out a surprised shout as she was pulled from the sky by the cowpony and hit the ground with a soft thud. Next she heard laughter and shook her head, looking over at Applejack. “Hey!”
“That’s for laughin’ instead of helpin’,” she said, still laughing. “Consider us even now.” She trotted up to her best friend and grinned down at her.
Looking up at Applejack, Rainbow Dash smiled despite herself. “You know I’ll get you back for this one.” She said as she stood up and raised the hoof with the rope around it. Taking it between her teeth, she slid it from her hoof and tossed it over Applejack’s ear with another laugh.
Applejack shook it off and threw the rope upwards so it caught in a tree branch before smiling over at Rainbow. “Come on, I wanna show you somethin’.” She turned and lead the way through the trees, following a small overgrown path. “I was headed for it before I got mah hoof caught.” She explained.
Rainbow’s interest perked, she flew up beside Applejack and dropped to the ground, walking along side her. Surely I’ve seen the place before but it wouldn’t hurt to follow. It’d give me a bit of extra time to spend with Applejack… The thought was gone just as soon as it appeared. She may have been on her way already to see Applejack; though got a bit sidetracked and performed some aerial stunts, But she didn’t want to admit to her growing feelings for her best friend. It just didn't seem right. And I have no idea what she would even think about that situation… Shaking her head, she looked ahead as she realized Applejack was still speaking.
“…have somethin’ on mah mind,” Applejack was saying. “I feel most comfortable there so…Jus’ don’t go tellin’ everypony about it, alright?” She stopped before a dense bush and looked at Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow stopped as well and shook her head. “Huh, what? Oh, of course! I won’t tell anypony about it. You can count on me.” She quickly said, cursing herself for not paying attention.
“Pinkie promise?”
Rainbow rolled her eyes, making sure she looked up as she did so as so Applejack couldn’t see before nodding. “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” She recited the oath with the motions made by Pinkie Pie before smiling at Applejack.
“Now ya know I’ll go to Pinkie Pie if ya break this promise and tell her ya broke a Pinkie promise, right?” She laughed and gave Rainbow a nudge. “Don’t worry, I trust ya.” Pushing aside the bush, she stepped through it first and then waited for Rainbow to follow.
The scene ahead was amazing. The first thing to be noticed was a small spring; the sun’s light making it sparkle. The water was so crystal clear that anypony could look straight down to the bottom and see every individual stone that lay at the bed. Surrounding the water was bright green and soft grass, kept healthy from the water in the soil. Off to the left was a small cliff that steeped down right to the waters’ edge, providing a side of shade. To the right stood a large, dead tree that was twisted in a way that gave the area a look of wonder. Despite it being dead, it still stood tall and strong; rooted deeply into the ground. Between the tree’s roots lay a particularly grassy spot appearing to be softer than the rest of the surrounding area.
Applejack watched Rainbow Dash as she took it all in, smiling at the pegasus’ wonder. “It’s a beautiful place, huh?” she asked with a short laugh and trotted over to the spot beneath the tree, gesturing for Rainbow to follow.
Hesitating, she flew over beside Applejack and sat down, letting out a soft sigh at the grass’s touch. “Wow this grass is soft.” She stated which caused Applejack to laugh. “R-really,” she stammered, a bit embarrassed. “I mean I’ve never sat in such a comfortable spot.”
The orange pony just shook her head with a smile and looked at the water. “This is where I come when I need time to think or want to relax.” She glanced at Rainbow. “It’s a nice quiet and peaceful spot.”
Nodding her agreement, the cyan pegasus wasn’t aware of being watched as she scanned the area. “I think I’d come back here and do the same, if you didn’t mind me stopping by this spot all too much. It seems peaceful and really good spot to relax or train or…” she broke off, becoming aware of Applejack watching her. “Or..or…”
Applejack laughed and gently nudged Rainbow. “I don’t mind it, I come down here every night actually. Could use a bit of company every once in a while. I mean its nice and all bein’ out in peace but I’d not deny the company of a friend.”
“Maybe then I’ll stop by once in a while…” Rainbow Dash cast a glance at Applejack and nodded. Now would be the perfect chance…Why don’t I just face it and tell her already? Letting out a silent sigh, Rainbow stretched her legs and padded to the water’s edge. After standing there for a moment, deciding what she’d say, she finally turned around. “Applejack-” She began to speak but stopped. The orange pony had lay down and drifted off to sleep.
Sighing, Rainbow Dash glanced up at the sky and tilted her head. And there goes my chance. She stretched her wings out and jumped up quietly, taking flight. Hovering for a moment beside the water, she watched Applejack as she slept before flying across the spring and landed on the top of the cliff.
Once there, she lay down along the top of it and looked down into the water. It was only the afternoon; the time just before the sun sank below the tree line to cast the long shadows across the land, but her previous flying caught up to her along with the thoughts running through her head. The only way she could think to get rid of them was to sleep; she turned her back to the spring and the tree and curled up, laying her head down and allowing herself to drift off into sleep.
