As the sun shined through the blooming apple fields, Rainbow Dash was still at Sweet Apple Acres recovering from her broken wing.

Her second month.

The first week of the new month began and Dash still hasn’t gotten used to feeding the- “Gosh darn chickens!” -as she exclaimed with every peck they gave her.

She just woke up, she wasn’t in the mood for this.

Of course, in the battle field there was worst then just a few chickens that pecked you and as they did so they tore a piece of your flesh. But atlas, laziness was always the winner in every battle.

She groaned as she made her way towards her seat at the table where all the Apple siblings were talking as they awaited the pegasus.

As Rainbow sat down, she immediately slammed her head at the table and groaned some more.

When she slammed her head, she made every silverware jump a bit and that made the Apple siblings look at the pegasus.

The older Apples just sat there with questioning looks, while the youngest Apple wore a worried look.

“Are ya okay, Rainbow Dash?” Applebloom asked as she poked the pegasus.

Rainbow Dash just kept groaning as she turned her head around to look at the young filly. “Chickens.” She said flatly.

“Chickens?” the Apple siblings questioned.

“Chickens.” Rainbow repeated her response.

As the Apple siblings heard of this they laughed. Even Applejack snickered at how ridiculous and pitiful that sounded.

“Well, ain’t that just one of the most low down pathetic things Ah've ever heard of,” Applejack shook her head. “Ah’ll teach ya what true pain is.” She said with smug face.

Something of what Applejack had just said made Rainbow’s degenerate part of her mind turn her gears.

She waggled her eyebrows towards the orange mare. Applejack paused and shot a questioning look at the pegasus, until her own gears turned and she finally got it… and she didn’t like that thought.

Applejack blushed. “That’s not what I meant!” She exclaimed as she covered her face with her hooves.

Rainbow Dash just roared with laughter, Big Mac chuckled and Applebloom…

“What’s funny?” …was an innocent little filly with no idea at what these ponies were laughing at.

Rainbow Dash was trying to contain herself. “I meant, ha ha!” she spoke through her laughter, “I meant that she would cause me pain if we fu-"

“Miss Dash!” Applejack stomped her hoof on the table, still with flushed cheeks. “That’s nothing of her knowing,” she sighed and regained her composure. “What I meant, Miss Dash, was that harvest season is right up the corner and that we have to give it our all, meaning a lot of pain.

“Now, about those chicken ‘bites’, Ah’ll send…” Applejack narrowed her eyes, shifting her eyes from Big Mac to Applebloom and finally at Rainbow Dash. She raised a brow. Is there really nopony other then me who can take care of bruises? Applebloom is still learning and Big Mac is not very careful when it come to these type of things.

In the end; who chuckles will pay. And now Applejack will be the one to cure the pegasus’ ‘bites'.

That made Applejack roll her eyes in annoyance and sigh. “…Ah’ll send myself to take care of those ‘bites'.” Not only will she be changing Rainbow’s wing bandages, but she has to also stay a few more minutes to take care of the chicken pecks on Rainbow Dash. Consarn it.

“Wow, Applejack. It’s a miracle that you let Rainbow Dash here, stay at the ‘Acres,” Applebloom interjected. “It’s nice to know that yer givin' her a chance.” She finished with a smile.

Yes, Applejack is giving Rainbow Dash a chance, but it doesn’t mean that she enjoys the pegasus’ company – as Rainbow Dash still teased the orange mare; just because Applejack is trying to let loose doesn’t mean she likes Rainbow’s teasing.

Applebloom – as young as the filly was – knew that her sister was very strict and severe. She actually didn’t expect Rainbow Dash to last the week… but lookie here, the second month.

The same goes with Big Mac. He knew his sister and how hot on something Applejack could be, so it came as a shocker for him to realize that Applejack gave the prismatic-pegasus a chance.

“Alright,” Applejack stomped her hoof on the table getting everyone’s attention. “We still have one week to keep preparing for the harvest,” she said. “Rainbow Dash and Applebloom will spend their time in the barn, clearing some storage-“

“Woo-hoo! Girl time!” Dash interrupted Applejack while ruffling Applebloom’s hair.

Applejack narrowed her eyes at the pegasus and kept talking. “-While me and Big Mac spend our time in the factory; we need to check the machines to see if they need a refurbishment. Alright then, since we already know what we’re supposed to do, let’s get to it!”

And so they went to do their jobs.

For the rest of the week – as said by Applejack - Rainbow Dash and Applebloom spent their time clearing space in the barn. They made a few accidents here and there that made Applejack glare at them, but none the less they had fun.

Of course, they didn’t miss the chance to joke about apples. They were along the lines of ‘What do you get if you cross an apple with a shellfish? A crab apple!’ Or ‘What do you see at a funeral for a piece of fruit? Apple-bearer.’ Most of these jokes were from - surprise-surprise - Applebloom and not from Rainbow Dash.

She actually claimed that Applejack said them when they were younger. The little filly smiled sadly at that memory, but none the less, Rainbow changed the mood with a bad pun.

“Hey, Applebloom. You did a fantastic job at moving those wheelbarrows,” Rainbow said. “I apple-laud your great work.” She finished with a grin.

Applebloom started laughing as she shook her head. “Ah think these puns are applepriate for the occasion, Rainbow Dash.”

The two of them shared a laugh and then they went back to work.

Applejack and Big Mac just washed and repaired the machines in the factory.

There wasn’t anything broken, that was good. They still had to do a few adjustments, but all in all the factory will last for some time.

“So, what made ya make the decision of lettin' Rainbow Dash stay here at the ‘Acres, Applejack?” Big Mac asked.

“Applebloom,” Applejack said. “She told me ‘to let loose’ or some whatnot,” she waved a hoof and then sighed. “I just want to give the little filly somethin', y'know? Some kind of hope for this world.”

“Eeyup.” Big Mac nodded, agreeing with his sister.

“With Miss Dash here, there could be at least one happy memory when she’s been a filly,” Applejack said with a frown, but then put on a serious look. “Now come on, Big Mac,” she commanded. “It’s time to get the job done.”

“Eeyup.” Big Mac nodded, moving a barrel as Applejack went and replaced the apple cutter.

They spent their whole week working and preparing for the apples that are about to come thanks to the season.

And if Applejack could have a heck of a headache it was at the moment.

As she said and she’d done; she went and changed the pegasus’ wing bandages and cure her wounds. Rainbow Dash was telling her all the bad jokes and puns that she and Applebloom shared; that was causing her that headache.

She didn’t want to hear all of those bad apple puns. Oh, the agony she was going through.

The worst part? When Rainbow Dash suddenly mentioned that Applejack had made those jokes.

Applejack suddenly froze as her eyes widened. “H-how?!” she asked with a horrified look.

“Applebloom,” Rainbow confirmed. “She told me you thought her.”

“Applebloom, huh?” Applejack asked as she raised an eyebrow. Ah’m gonna have to talk with that filly.

“Yep,” Dash nodded. “She even looked a bit gloomy when she said it, actually,” Rainbow said gaining the apple mare’s full attention. “So that’s when I made a new pun, making her laugh.” She puffed out her chest and smiled proudly.

Applejack - again – raised an eyebrow and let curiosity take over her. “And what would that pun be like?” She asked.

“Weeellll…” Rainbow shifted side to side. Her brain formed a mischievous idea as she grinned. “Ma’am, did you know that you did a fantastic job with bandaging me?” Dash said making the farm pony roll her eyes. “‘cause I apple-laud your great work.” She finished with wide grin awaiting Applejack’s reaction.

And the waiting was worth it. Applejack sighed, facehoofed and started chuckling. I made her chuckle. Thought Dash as her grin widened.

“Y’know that was a bad pun right, Miss Dash?” Applejack asked with a small smile.

“Yeah, I know,” Rainbow nodded but kept that grin on anyway. “But it makes you Apple folk laugh, so that’s a win for me.” She said with a confident tone.

“Whatever you say, Miss Dash,” Applejack said exciting the room, still wearing that small smile. “Whatever you say.”

As the night goes by and day makes it’s way, the second week came and Rainbow was already wide awake.

She was already somewhat getting used to the routine of awaking before dawn, feeding the chickens, breakfast, some chores, lunch, some arguing with Applejack, dinner, dish washing, Applejack changing her bandages, sleep.

As said by doctor Redheart she had tree bucking duty, it was harvest season and there were tons of apple trees that could go on for miles. Last month it was a try out with a few rows, but this time it was for real. She was going to get every apple out of this orchard by the end of the month, but good thing she had company to not drive her insane.

She had Applejack by her side, working along side her just like for her ‘try outs'.

Rainbow decided that it was enough of the silence that surrounded them, with the exception of the ‘thump' that would appear every now and then with their bucking.

“Sooo, ma'am,” Dash said. “Do you have any other interest then tree bucking?” Rainbow asked going for another kick towards the tree.

“Why the question?” Applejack asked while taking the apples she just bucked onto the cart and dumping them out.

“Dunno,” Rainbow shrugged. “Guess I just wanted to chat, a problem with that?” she tilted her head a little as her eyes narrowed towards the farm pony.

The farm pony narrowed her own eyes as she shrugged and responded. “I reckon not.”

“Sweet!” Rainbow exclaimed. “Now, any other activities you like other then kicking trees?”

“It's not kicking them, it's bucking them-"

“Looks like kicking to me.” Muttered Dash, earning a glare from the earth pony.

“There’s a difference, Miss Dash,” Applejack said, irritated. “As for activities, Ah’ve haven't had much time to have some free time since the war began, and well, my life is set firmly caning the apples.”

“But there must be some games you played with your sister ma'am, or some kind of competition you use to attend.” Rainbow inquired.

“You've been rommin’ around the house haven’t ya?” Applejack asked with a frown on her face and made eye contact with the magenta eyes, receiving a flinch from the pegasus.

“Um, yeah. Sorry about that,” Rainbow rubbed the back of her head. “But, I saw some medals in a cabinet in one of the rooms, and well, I thought that you were the one to win them?” Dash asked, telling half the truth. She knew that Applejack was the one to win them, but decided to wait until the orange mare confirm that she did.

“Right you were, Miss Dash,” Applejack confirmed. “Their from some rodeos from Appleloosa. From what? One and a half year ago? Something between those lines.”

“What did you do in those rodeos?” Dash asked.

“Oh, you know; good ol' traditional competition like lassoin', hay throwin’, barrel rollin', you name it. I was always the only mare in those competitions, heh, the youngest too. I always ended up leaving everypony else in the dust,” she sighed as she smiled sadly remembering the past. “The good ol’ days, how I miss ‘em."

Rainbow Dash also smiled sadly. “Yeah, that sounds awesome, wish I could've been in those competitions. They sound fun… and I totally would’ve left you in the dust." She flashed a daring smile.

That got the attention from Applejack. She stopped what she was doing and turned towards the prismatic-pegasus.

“Is that a challenge I hear?” Applejack smirked as she raised a brow.

“Only if you’re not daft, sweet apple.” Rainbow Dash challenged the earth mare.

“What do ya propose?” Applejack asked.

“A race.” Rainbow Dash confirmed.

“A race towards where?”

“One race. Only one. From here, around the barn, and back here to finish the race.” Dash grinned.

“Hmmm,” Applejack tapped her chin in thought. “How about we do it tomorrow. Ah’m mighty tired right now and the sun is already getting low.”

“Tomorrow it is then.” Rainbow spat on her hoof a raised it for Applejack to shake it.

“Tomorrow.” Applejack spat on her own hoof and shook hooves with Rainbow.

When they did the race, it ended up in a tie. So they decided to do another race the other day… and the other one also ended it with a tie. Basically this race was formed into their routine, always ending up as a tie.

“Huff,” Applejack panted. “Why is that we always end up on a tie?!” she asked as desperation took over her.

“Uff,” Rainbow herself panted. “I have no idea, ma’am. But I swear if I had my wings I could beat you.” Rainbow smiled coyly.

“Wouldn’t that be cheating, Miss Dash?” Applejack asked as she raised a brow.

“Um… no?”

Applejack still had her eyebrow raised.

“Alright, maybe it is or maybe it isn’t,” Rainbow shrugged. “Who knows, but the only thing I know is that we have to figure who’s the best of the best.”

“What are ya suggestin’, Miss Dash?”

“I’m suggesting that we keep racing, but this time we make more competitions!” Rainbow said, excited.

“More competitions?” Applejack questioned. “Wouldn’t that be a bit excessive, Miss Dash?”

“Yeah, but it would make working here way more fun,” Dash made her point.
“Plus, not to mention that we have to move all the baskets to the two remaining orchards.”

“Hmmm,” Applejack tapped her chin in thought. Rainbow Dash was right, those competitions would make the job way more easier, but at the same time it would mean that Applejack would have fun; something that she hasn’t thought in a while.

‘Let loose.’ Her sister’s words travel through her mind. Maybe it’s time to listen to that little filly. Applejack contemplated as she finally made her decision.

“Alright. Ah’m game, Miss Dash,” Applejack said with a smirk. “Just don’t be a sore loser when I win.”

Rainbow Dash flashed her own smirk. “You, win? Ha!” she boosted. “You’ll be the one crying just because you can’t keep up.”

“Yeah, right,” Applejack rolled her eyes. “Let’s just get these apples in the barn before night settles down.” She strapped herself to the wagon and started off, leaving the pegasus behind.

“Oh! I’m gonna beat you at everything, just you wai-" Rainbow turned around to find that Applejack was already ahead of her. “Hey! Wait up!” she shouted towards the orange mare as she hurriedly strapped herself and galloped towards Applejack.

As the two of them walked side by side with their wagons, the two of them chatted. It was something they started at the same time as the race. A little walk didn’t hurt anyone now, did it?

Rainbow still got pecked by those chickens, but she was at least grateful that Applejack is there to help her with that. She still teased the farm pony, but she’s been lowing down with the teasing and the puns.

Applejack noticed that, but decided to keep her mouth shut and wait for Rainbow Dash to tell her what was going on, but she never did. So Applejack just shrugged it off and kept on with her life.

The third week came with gloomy sky’s.

Rainbow was used to looking at that gloomy sky, it was the same one from the battle grounds.

She sighed knowing that Sombra had gained some more territory. It was disappointing to know that Equestria may probably fall.

She entered the dinning room with a sad look that the Apple siblings immediately noticed.

“What’s wrong Rainbow?” Applebloom asked. “Is everything alright, you’re not sick are ya?”

Rainbow shook her head. “No, it’s not that. It’s just…” she paused and looked out of the window.

“The war is gettin' worst, ain’t it?” Big Mac asked.

Rainbow nodded with a frown. She didn’t want to accept it, but she had too. There was no other choice.

“Well then,” Applejack said. “Since the sky’s so gloomy and dark, I guess Applebloom won’t be goin' to town today.”

“Whoo-wee! I can finally have a break.” Applebloom cheered with a wide smile.

“Town?” Dash questioned. “Since when does Applebloom go into town?!” Rainbow asked in terror.

“Oh! Didn’t we tell you Rainbow?” Applebloom said. “I go sell some apples into town. Gotta get them bits!” she exclaimed with a cheeky smile.

Rainbow was going to ask more about that, when Applejack intervened. “She’s got a 'sitter that takes care of her,” Applejack reassured the pegasus. “I think she used to be a teacher.” Applejack tapped her chin in thought.

Rainbow nodded understandably, but still had a question. “Wait, doesn’t the military pay you for the applesauce?” Dash asked.

“Yeah, they do,” Applejack nodded. “But it isn’t enough. We still need some bits to, y’know: repair the machines, repair the house, and some few more necessities for our daily lives,” Applejack explained. “We just need a few more bits, and that’s why-"

“That’s why I don’t see Applebloom when we’re working,” Rainbow interrupted Applejack as she finally understood. “Oh! Now I get it, I just thought that Applebloom was just up in her room or something.” She chuckled nervously.

Applejack narrowed her eyes at the pegasus. “Well, she’s been sellin' apples all this time,” Applejack said. “Now that that’s settled, Ah’m hungry. Big Mac, bring those flapjacks and let’s eat ‘em.”

“Eeyup.” And so they wolfed down their breakfast.

The Apple siblings were known for their big appetite and Rainbow could tell. It was amazing how they could gobble their food in a second. But Rainbow was not going to bee left behind. She was like a vacuum cleaner, suctioning her food in less then a second as well.

When they finished their breakfast, Applejack told Applebloom to go sort out the apples that they had in the barn. Big Mac went to wash some of the apples that were in the factory to get them ready for the applesauce. While Rainbow Dash and Applejack went go do their job.

Like they said before, they had to move the baskets from one orchard to another. Rainbow decided to turn that into a competition. “Okay. So you remember what I said last week, right?”

“About makin' more competition?” Applejack asked.

“Yes. Exactly that,” Rainbow confirmed. “What I had in mind was that we do a strength test.”

Applejack raised a brow. “A what now?”

“A strength test!” Dash exclaimed. “To see who's the strongest. The test will be taking all the baskets that you can on your back. Whoever carries the most, wins!”

Applejack narrowed her eyes. “So yer sayin' that we have to take a whole bunch of baskets on our backs from here ‘til the other orchard?” she questioned.

Rainbow nodded, eagerly.

Applejack’s smirked. “Alright then,” she said placing a basket over her barrel. “Just don’t get tired easily, ya hear Miss Dash?”

“You got it cowpony.” Rainbow winked towards Applejack making her roll her eyes.

They trotted off towards their destination, baskets on back. They both carried the same amount of baskets, which were around five or six baskets per pony. When they had to place the baskets, they had to see who was the fastest. When they had to go and get more, they raced.

Applebloom – since she hadn’t gone to town – was bored out of her mind in the house. She went to see what Applejack and Rainbow Dash were up to. She saw them on their little competition they were having, but she didn’t know that.

She was watching them from afar; how Applejack and Rainbow Dash were taking a whole bunch of baskets on their backs instead of placing them in a wagon and taking them to wherever they had to be.

Applebloom’s curiosity won the best of her and approached her sister about it.

“Hey, Applejack,” she asked while her sister was placing a basket on her barrel. “Why are y’all taking the baskets that way?”

“What do ya mean AB?” Applejack asked, obliviously.

"I mean, why aren’t you just putting ‘em in the wagon and takin’ them over yonder?” The little filly asked, pointing her hoof towards a nearby wagon.

“We’re doing a competition,” Rainbow Dash said, placing her own basket over her barrel. “It’s still a tie, but we both know that I’m the stronger one.”

“Now that’s a whole bunch of hooey, Miss Dash,” Applejack intervened. “We’re both taking the same amount, so don’t go fillin' the little filly’s mind with lies.” Applejack narrowed her eyes towards the pegasus.

Rainbow Dash just shrugged and kept on placing baskets on her back. “Sorry ma’am,” she said and then changed her gaze towards Applebloom.

“Hey, ma’am,” Rainbow asked, gaining Applejack’s attention. “What about we make Applebloom be the one to keep track of the scores?”

Applebloom gasped, liking the idea of that. “Ah would love that!” she exclaimed. “What about it Applejack, what about it?” she asked with a wide smile and sparkling eyes.

“I -uh…” she tapped her chin, thoughtfully and then sighed. “Fine,” she said, declaring defeat. “you can watch us-"

“Yay!” Applebloom exclaimed, interrupting her sister.

Applejack continued. “-Only if you’re honest with yer answer.” She said, giving Applebloom a serious look.

Applebloom gulped and nodded. “You got it, Applejack.”

“Alright then,” Applejack said, satisfied. “Shall we get a move on, Miss Dash?”

“Way ahead of you, ma’am!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, already trotting off with her baskets.

“Oh, apple fudge!” Applejack placed her last basket on her back and galloped, chasing the pegasus.

Applebloom saw this and was impressed. Impressed at how her sister could gallop with six huge baskets on her barrel and how miraculously none of them fell.

The little filly sat there, for what? Less then five minutes and her sister and Rainbow Dash were already picking the next set of baskets.

Applebloom placed good attention on them.

Rainbow Dash; yeah, sure, she was fast at placing them over her barrel, but that didn’t matter. It was the strength that mattered. Rainbow had unstable legs when she finished placing them over her, so that’s why she trotted instead o galloping like the little filly’s sister.

Applejack; she worked and dedicated her life to farm work, so it was a no brainer that she was obviously the strongest one. But Rainbow Dash wasn’t that much of a difference from her, from, y’know, the galloping.

Of course - like all living ponies – they had their faults. They stumbled once or twice trying to outwit each other. Heck, Applebloom could hear from her spot some of the curses that either Applejack or Rainbow Dash yelled when one of them dropped their baskets as the other one snickered at the other’s misfortune.

They kept going for this until the sun finally settled down and the dark sky was covered in clouds.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack managed to fill half of the fourth orchard with baskets.

Maybe it was a good idea to work with the wagon, but in the end, they worked the same amount with the wagon on them.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash were exhausted. They didn’t take one single break from their little competitions. It was a surprise that they could still walk.

"I guess you were right, Miss Dash,” Applejack said, out of breath. “We managed the job and it was fun, huh?"

“Yeah. I knew it would be,” Dash said, dusting dirt out of the chest part of her uniform. She then turned her attention towards the little filly next to her. “Okay Applebloom, in the end; who’s the strongest one?” she asked with a wide grin.

Applebloom smile sheepishly towards the pegasus and her older sister. “I -uh? …a tie?” She shrugged.

“A tie?!” Rainbow Dash and Applejack both exclaimed.

“There must be a winner.” Rainbow Dash said frantically.

Applejack took a deep breath and looked sternly at her sister. “Now, Applebloom. You know on what condition I let you keep track.”

“That I had to tell the truth.” Applebloom sighed as she folded her ears.

“Exactly," Applejack nodded. "Go on now, tell us what you saw.”

Applebloom sighed. “Applejack was the stronger one,” she confirmed, making the pegasus slouch and her sister puff out her chest.

“She could gallop while having those baskets over her. While Rainbow Dash wasn’t that far behind, but at the same time you could see her wobble a few times while having the baskets on her.” She finished her explanation and Rainbow stomped her hoof.

“Oh, horse apples. I knew I should’ve taken that earth pony defense class. Dammit!” she kicked at the dirt.

“Now, that was some good competition, Miss Dash,” Applejack said with a kind tone as she saw how the pegasus was. “How’s about we do some more tomorrow?”

That brought the go-to Rainbow Dash back. “You’re on, ma’am!” she said with a daring smile. She then turned her attention towards the little filly. “Thanks for the help, Applebloom.”

“You’re welcome, Rainbow Dash.” Applebloom and Rainbow Dash hoof-bumped, but didn’t realize the dark sky above them.

Like always, Applejack was the one to realize these things. “C'mon you fillies, let’s get inside before it gets darker.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Rainbow Dash and Applebloom said, following the order from the middle Apple sibling.

After that day, Applebloom had to go back to the little village to sell apples. So, Applejack and Rainbow Dash got back to tracking their own points.

They only finished one orchard that day, so the second they would do for the rest of the week.

Did they or didn’t they expect to have so much fun? No, they didn’t. Especially not Applejack. Those competitions were the ones to remind her of all the good memories that she had. She just adored doing this, but she didn’t tell anypony.

Rainbow Dash was having a blast doing this, she wouldn’t complain in a million years. She could compete for however long she wanted, she never got tired. But, she was longing for something; the sky.

Yes, she could compete for the rest of the day, but she just missed how she could just soar throughout the sky without limits. She missed it, and right now she just couldn’t soar.

She sighed as she plopped down on the floor, awaiting for Applejack to change her bandages.

“Y’know I can’t change ya when you’re on the floor, right?” Applejack reminded the pegasus.

“Yeah,” Dash sighed again. “I know.” She reluctantly sat up and folded her ears.

Applejack saw this and raised an eyebrow. “Are y’all okay, Miss Dash?”

Rainbow Dash sighed and shook her head. “Yeah. I’m fine. Just a little sky sick.”

“Sky sick?” Applejack questioned.

“Yeah. It’s like homesick, but with the sky,” Rainbow explained. “It’s a pegasus thing.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. Oh.” Dash frowend.

There was an awkward pause after that. Applejack didn’t know what to say until something came up.

“Maybe you should talk about it.” She suggested.

“Talk about what?”

“Flyin’,” Applejack said. “It always helps me to talk about something that I miss from my home when Ah'm away from it." She told the pegasus.

"Huh." Rainbow said as she looked at the mare who was bandaging her wing.

Applejack snickered at the face that the prismatic-pegasus had. "Plus, I have never gone flyin’ like any of you pegasus’, but I can tell it’s a heck of a wild ride."

“It is,” Rainbow nodded. “You have no idea how much of a blast it is to be up there. You can fly wherever you want. The wind through your mane. The breeze when you just swoon through the air. Oh, how I miss it.” Rainbow Dash said dreamily.

It wasn’t a joke of how much Rainbow missed flying up above, and Applejack could tell from that longing smile the prismatic-pegasus wore. The bad part was that she didn’t know how to cure that felling. Maybe something else could work?

“Ya know…” Applejack said, an idea forming in her head. “Their is still gonna be a whole bunch of apples to buck, maybe we can start some new competitions when the baskets are all finally placed.” She suggested.

And that suggestion got through Rainbow Dash’s ears. “Well, it’s not flying, but it could work,” Rainbow said with a grin. “Plus, you’re a tough pony, ma’am.” She said, nudging the farm pony.

That got a small and rare chuckle from Applejack. “Yeah. I know, Miss Dash.”

The dark night covered all the sky. Until morning set in and brought an end to the period of darkness and beginning the fourth week of the month.

As always, Rainbow Dash had to go feed the chickens. She saw the gray sky and sighed, knowing Equestria lost some more territory and that Applebloom had to stay in the ‘Acres for her safety.

She then entered the dinning room where the Apple siblings were awaiting for her, food and all.

They finished their breakfast and were about to got to their work. Rainbow had to go and put on her uniform, leaving Applejack and Applebloom in the dinning room while Big Mac was already out in the factory.

Applejack was about to go put on her uniform, but then Applebloom got a word in.

“Hey, Applejack!” the little filly exclaimed, getting her sister’s attention. “Since Ah’m free for the rest of the day, can’t I hang out with Rainbow Dash for a bit?”

Applejack narrowed her eyes. “Now don’t get ahead of yourself, sugarcube,” she said. “You’ll still have to do chores around the house.”

Applebloom looked at her sister and then smiled.

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “What?” she asked her younger sister.

Applebloom still had her smile on. “It’s just… Applejack, I haven’t heard you call me ‘sugarcube’ in a long time.” The little filly said, tears forming in her eyes.

Applejack’s pupils shrank as her eyes widened. H-how?! Since when?! She frantically asked herself. She thought it was… strange, to say the least. Because like her sister said, she hadn’t said that in a long time.

“M-maybe it was thanks to yer advice, probably,” Applejack flashed a small smile and shrugged. “Y'know, about lettin' loose.”

“Wait, so you actually followed my advice?” Applebloom asked surprised, wiping the tears away.

Applejack nodded.

Applebloom paused and looked at her sister. “You’re not the Applejack I know.” She said, scrunching up her nose making her look adorable.

Applejack knew better then to ‘aww' at her younger sister, so she just responded: “Well, I know that Ah’m the Applejack that I know.” she said with a small smile.

Applebloom just wore a questioning look. “What?” she flatly asked.

The orange mare shrugged. “Dunno,” she said. “As for your question… go ask Miss Dash, yourself.”

“Go ask me what?” Rainbow Dash asked as she walked in the dinning room wearing her uniform.

Applejack patted her sister's back. “Well, that’s my cue. Be right down in a jiffy.” She said as she went to go change.

Rainbow’s gaze fallowed the orange mare until she exited and then turned her attention towards Applebloom. “Well, what’s the question?” she asked the young filly.

“I wanted to ask you if you wanted to play with me, Rainbow Dash.” Applebloom asked with a wide smile.

“Oh, I -um…” Rainbow Dash was thinking about this.

Of course, she wouldn’t have a problem hanging out with the little filly, but the thing was that Rainbow Dash was missing her flight, and the only way to not fall into that depression that wanted to hit her was doing another thing that she loved; competing.

So she had to find out an excuse to both hang out with Applebloom and compete with Applejack.

A memory of last week flashed through her mind.

“Hey!” Rainbow exclaimed, startling the filly. “How about we three hang out, huh?” she asked Applebloom with a wide grin.

“Ya mean like last week?” Applebloom tilted her head, confused.

Rainbow nodded. “Yeah, I mean-” she scoffed, moving her bangs out of her eyes. “-we still have a few baskets that we have to move, but we can move them in less then an hour. Then, if your sister says yes, we could have the rest of the day off!”

Applebloom gasped as her eyes sparkled like stars. “That would be fantastic. We should go tell her.”

“Tell who what?” Applejack asked while adjusting her hair nets.

“You!” Applebloom said, happily. “We were wonderin' if you could take a break to play!”

“We?” Applejack questioned.

“Yeah. I had a word in this.” Rainbow sheepishly smiled.

Applejack raised a brow. “Why?” she asked.

“Because we want to hang out with you as well, Applejack.” Applebloom pointed out.

“Did you now?” she asked with a knowing smirk towards the pegasus who was rubbing her fetlocks nervously.

“Yeah!” Applebloom said with a wide smile.

Applejack shook her head as a small smile appeared on her face. “Alright then, Applebloom. Go towards the middle of the south orchard. We’ll be their in a moment, we just need to get some stuff ready.”

“Okay!” Applebloom said happily as she ran with her little filly legs towards the orchard.

Applejack turned around to look at Rainbow Dash with a knowing smirk.

“What?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Y’all just want to compete, don’t ‘cha?” Applejack guessed still wearing that smirk.

“Uh…” Dash was sweating now. She didn’t know what to respond. What if Applejack kills me just because she thinks I don’t want to hang out with her little sister?!

Apparently, Applejack guessed what was on the pegasus’ mind. She placed a hoof over Rainbow’s shoulder and patted her. “It’s fine, Miss Dash. I get it. You just miss flyin', but at the same time you just don’t want to hurt the little filly’s felling’s.” She flashed a rare, kind smile towards Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow pupils shrank. “Y-yeah, h-how did you know?” She stuttered as she asked. Why did she stutter? The answer is that she has not seen a kind smile ever since the war began. And she wouldn’t have expected it from the mare that’s been closed up from the first day they met.

Applejack shrugged. “I could just tell. Now, c'mon, times a wastin’.”

That day, the three of them spent the day together.

Like Rainbow Dash said, they finished moving the last of the baskets into the south orchard in an hour. Plus, Dash really needed to compete, it was another one of her passions that she just couldn’t live without.

After they finished their final race – ending in a tie, again – they went to spend some time with the little filly.

Applebloom actually just wanted to take a walk with them and talk as they walked through the orchard, just admiring the beauty that harvest season provided for them.

They talked about the events of the past month that Rainbow Dash was there. They talked about some of jokes that they made as well, making Applejack roll her eyes as a small smile appeared on her face. She was happy that Applebloom would have happy memories when she grows up.

Just the little things that Miss Dash does to make Applebloom laugh is enough. She thought as she saw her sister and Rainbow Dash laugh from afar.

She smiled, satisfied. She wasn’t jealous or anything, she just wished that she would’ve done something better to keep her sister enjoy being a filly while the war was happening, but she never real did anything to do that.

Now, Rainbow Dash was here and she was content that the prismatic-pegasus would make her sister a filly again.

That day ended and the next day came.

They had to change competitions because they were done with the baskets; so they opted to just change them to who can buck the most trees in less then a hour, who could lasso the furthest, who can make all the apples fall at once. Things like these were the ones that they did for the rest of the week.

It was one thing to place all of the baskets, but then it was another to buck the trees.

They spent the other week bucking and kicking the trees as well. The same goes for their competing, it didn’t stop at all.

The bad part about having a competition same time as working your butt out bucking, is that you get exhausted. And that’s what they are right now.

They finally finished their rounds and it was time to unload the apples from the wagons and into the barn.

“Ugh! Ah’m tired.” Applejack said as she unhitched herself from her wagon.

“You could say that again, ma’am.” Rainbow plopped down on the hay and stretched her muscles. Applejack narrowed her eyes at the pegasus.

“Miss Dash, I know we’re both tired but we still have to water the plants.”

“But it’s night!” Rainbow pointed out, yelling.

“Watch your tone, Miss Dash,” Applejack said sternly. “Now c’mon. We better go before it gets even later.”

Rainbow Dash reluctantly stood up and followed the orange farm pony. “You got it boss.”

They went and watered the plants as night finally settled down. Applejack and Rainbow Dash both were used to working at night. Applejack with her farming and Rainbow Dash with her fighting.

There was a peaceful silence, until Rainbow Dash felt her ear twitch. “You hear that, ma’am?” She asked the orange mare.

Applejack raised her head to look around and then shook her head. “I reckon not, Miss Dash.”

Rainbow felt her ear twitch again. “There it is again. It sounds like…” she brought her hoof to her chin to think.

“Like flappin’.” Applejack said, horrified.

Rainbow nodded. “Yeah, just like that,” she then paused and looked directly into the other mare’s eyes. “How did you…?”

Applejack raised her hoof and pointed towards a colony of bats that was flying overhead them.

It was horrifying, to say the least. A dark sky full of bats. For some, yes, it could be beautiful, but for others… it was a nightmare.

They both were thankful that Applebloom and Big Mac were already inside, because they were sure that the other Apple siblings would scream at this.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack were just in awe; just at how scary and enchanting to see all the bats fly by.

But apparently, some bats don’t want to go with the group all the time. Maybe some bats just want to go and scare ponies.

“Aaah!” Rainbow Dash screamed as a bat just popped up out of nowhere in front of her face. If it weren’t for Applejack, she would’ve fallen to the floor.

“Thanks.” She said and got herself up.

“Don’t mention it,” Applejack told the pegasus, “Right know, were in a bit of a pickle, Miss Dash.”

They were surrounded by bats. Not that many, but still a lot.

Rainbow looked around and studied the bats. “Okay, I think we can scare them away if we just send them some rocks.” She said as she looked around for some rocks, pebbles or something to throw.

“Ya mean to kick at ‘em some rocks?” Applejack questioned. “Miss Dash, after buckin' all day, plus the competitions, y’all must be real tired,” she said, breaking a rock and turning them into pebbles. “Ah’ll scare these suckers off and you can-"

“I’m not going anywhere, ma’am.” Rainbow Dash interrupted the orange mare.

Applejack sighed. “Well, I guess we’ll be goin' together.” She said, admitting defeat.

“On three?” Rainbow suggested.

Applejack nodded.

“One,” Rainbow grabbed a hoof-full of pebbles that Applejack had left and looked around to find her targets.

“Two,” Applejack got herself ready as she eyed the bats that surrounded them.

“Three!” Applejack and Rainbow Dash throwed pebbles into the air, then kicked them towards the bats.

Rainbow didn’t care if she hit them or not, but it was good enough for a distraction. Applejack was galloping at full speed towards the house. Rainbow Dash was right beside her, cantering at her speed.

They ran and they didn’t stop. They broke the first rule that the family had; they ran through the dinning room, living room and went all the way to the pegasus’ room.

Applejack immediately slammed the door shut as she noticed that she broke her own rule. “Don’t tell Big Mac.” She told the prismatic-pegasus.

“Yes, ma’am.” She faked a salute and immediately throwed herself onto the floor.

Dash was tired, exhausted and unable to get up. Yeah, sure; she loves to compete and wouldn’t complain from their level of work, but she’s still a living pony, so she was bound to get tired.

Applejack was used to working that much, she would even work three times as hard just for the heck of it. She grabbed the bandages out of the kit and made her way towards Rainbow Dash.

“So, should I try a new way of puttin' these bandages on you or am I supposed to give you an invitation?” Applejack asked with a smirk.

Rainbow groaned and reluctantly sat up. Applejack bandaged the wing as a peaceful silence, until Rainbow broke it.

Dash chuckled, “Didn’t know you could do that.”

“Do what?” Applejack questioned.

“Break rocks,” Rainbow said. “I thought that the mares back at the battle grounds were the only ones to do that. Now I know to not piss you off.” She chuckled tirelessly.

Applejack smirked. “Well, there’s a lot that you don’t know, Miss Dash.”

They shared a smile until they heard loud hoof steps out of the door. They turned their attention towards the door and Big Mac barged in.

He wore a shocked and worried expression, he was panting heavily as well.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack stood there quietly, waiting patiently until Big Mac regained his composure.

He took a deep breath, stood strong and said: “Applebloom is missing.”

“What?!”

Author's Note

That's it for chapter número tres!

Uh-oh. Something happend to Applebloom! Find out what happend to her next chapter!

We'll probably even meet a familiar pony!

Hope you enjoyed!

And feel free to alert me on any typo or mistake.

Thank you!