The Farmer and the Wonderbolt

Applejack had seen these kind of views of Ponyville before from the basket of one of the local hot air balloons, but this was undeniably different. It was like a roller coaster ride where you had no idea where it would go next. But thankfully, Rainbow was gracious and kind enough to let the earth pony know which way she was going to lean and turn next, so her mind and stomach were able to keep the motion sickness to an absolute minimum. The farmer was glad, because these views of Ponyville and the surrounding hills were unbelievably spectacular.

"Alright, AJ, we're gonna be taking a little curve to the left here." Rainbow told her, moments before turning the pony-loaded cloud towards Ponyville's restaurant-laden northwest region. She kept the descent slow and even, not wanting to get the farmer queasy before their lunch. As they passed over Twilight's castle, AJ figured if she tried, she could reach down and touch the top fountain on the rooftop balcony.

The two ponies continued to descend into what Ponyville had compared to Canterlot's Restaurant Row, down to the cluster of outdoor dining tables in front of the Cafe Hay. AJ noticed that one of the center tables had already been set for two. As Rainbow softly touched the cloud down, the head waiter came out to meet them.

"Hello again, Miss Rainbow Dash. Your table is ready, right this way please." He greeted. Rainbow pulled the top of the cloud away, letting Applejack get to her hooves and step down onto the grass.

"That flight was amazing, Rainbow." Applejack said, leaning into the pegasus momentarily as they walked to their table.

"Hope you don't mind if I ordered ahead. I know you haven't been here in awhile, and they have the most amazing salads."

"I don't mind at all. I was honestly wondering if I was going to be somewhat under-dressed for someplace fancy." The farmer told her.

"I'm afraid that this is as fancy as it gets for just a few hours notice. I figured you wouldn't be into going to anyplace too 'frou frou-y'. Especially for a first date, ya know?" Rainbow replied as they took their seats at the table.

"Well, if it's with you, looking all gussied up like that, I think I could do fancy."

Rainbow's cheeks tinted at the compliment, now wondering what Canterlot dining destination she could take the farmer to. The options were certainly more robust than they were here in Ponyville, and undoubtedly twice as expensive, and then some.

She normally wasn't one to be in dress uniform unless protocol absolutely called for it. She had thought about taking AJ out to lunch without it, but there was a part of her that was adamant about being seen as a Wonderbolt out with her marefriend.

Not that she'd do anything out here that would absolutely confirm Applejack as her marefriend; their friendship was known around Ponyville, and anything she could do to show it had gone beyond that would definitely be considered a public display of affection, and would likely result in a dressing-down in Spitfire's office. So Rainbow was now wondering if a reserved part of her came here in uniform specifically to stop herself from showing any displays of affection towards Applejack. She mentally shook the doubts away. She wasn't even absolutely sure Applejack would appreciate that kind of attention in public, Wonderbolt dress uniform or not. But really, what did it matter? This was just a light lunch, and any affection she was keeping in right now would certainly come out later tonight up in her bedroom.

Now her thoughts went from doubting to lewd as the waiter came out of the front doors of the restaurant, carrying two plates, each full of a fresh, lush salad. He set them down in front of each mare, and then poured two glasses of apple cider, before setting the glass pitcher down in the center of the table, and stepped away to allow the pair to enjoy their meal. Rainbow took her first bite of the fresh apple and pecan salad that had been set in front of her, identical to Applejack's.

"Mm, that is absolutely tasty. I'll have to try making this back at home." Applejack said.

"Make sure you pile it with pecans." Rainbow told her. Sweet Apple Acres' pecan orchards produced some of the crunchiest pecans in the region, and their butter pecan ice cream sold nearly as well as their cider. While some of the pecans they sold were for ponies' salads at home, AJ had to admit that she hadn't tried making it herself. But that was clearly going to change.

"Along with more apples, of course." Applejack added, wondering how long it would be before they would essentially be making a fruits and nuts salad.

"Naturally," Rainbow replied, getting another forkful of greens, apples, and pecans. More than halfway through her salad, she gave it another drizzling of the vinaigrette dressing that it had come with on the side.

"Well, this isn't going to take us until dinner, and I assume you don't want to sit here talking for hours before asking for the check What do you want to do after this?" The farmer asked.

"Well, I didn't exactly have a lot of time. I was only able to plan lunch, dinner, and, um... after dinner." Rainbow answered, blushing at the cheeks towards the end of her sentence. "So we could go flying, or just go for a walk around town. I wasn't planning on starting dinner until around six or seven."

Applejack finished the last bite of salad, and used the available spoon, which had so far gone untouched, and scooped up the remaining pecans along with the last drops of the salad dressing, and sucked the utensil clean in one last bite.

"It wouldn't exactly be running of the leaves, but a trot around town would be nice. Walk this salad off, ya know?"

Rainbow smiled at her.

"As long as it's with you, I can do anything."