The Best Way to Listen
A Fanfiction
"Applejack!"
The Pony nearly jumped out of her skin. The loud, tomboyish voice penetrated the silence of the small meadow, in which she'd chosen to take a short nap. Bringing up a hoof to wipe the sleep from her eyes, she looked at the Pony who'd woken her from her light dozing.
"Rainbow Dash, ah swear, those wings'a yours are gonna make you the death'uh me."
Rainbow Dash landed, picking a spot next to where Applejack continued to laze, a soft breeze blowing through the ripened apple trees that provided this napping spot such wonderful shade. As the trees rustled, Rainbow Dash began to talk rapidly, leaving Applejack reeling to catch up.
"There's a new DJ P0n-3 album out today and I really want someone to come with me to buy it! So will ya' please?"
Applejack stared for a moment, her thoughts coalescing in her rattled brain, still groggy with sleep. "Ya'll are askin' me... to go with you to pick up a new album...? Why can't ya'll just go by yourself...?"
"Because that's no fun! The best part is listening to the new songs with someone! Then you get to see what they think too! Come on, Applejack, it'll be fun!"
Applejack, with a dawning idea that she wouldn't get to finish her nap, grumbled a bit and stood up on all four hooves and stretched. "Ahlright Rainbow, let's go. Might as well try and get there before the lines get too big."
As the two ponies trotted along, they passed a couple of others that were talking about the new album as well. The excited chatter prompted Applejack to say "Hey Rainbow... Who's DJ P0n-3, anyway?"
At that moment, Rainbow Dash nearly fell out of the hover she was maintaining. "Who is DJ P0N-3?! How can you not know who she is?! She's only like THE best musical talent in all of Equestria!"
Applejack felt like blushing out of embarrassment. "Oh... well, what kind of music does she play?"
Rainbow Dash, overcome with excitement at the thought of getting to enlighten another pony about DJ P0n-3, began to speak quickly, almost faster than Applejack could understand, saying something about House music and dropping the Bass, and wubs. Applejack had never heard of wubs before. "Uh, Rainbow... I think we'd best leave the explanation until we get the album. Maybe it'll be easier for me to understand."
***
Now that the CD had been purchased, after what had seemed like hours to Applejack, they were finally on their way over to Pinkie Pie's house. Rainbow Dash had told Applejack that she'd promised to bring the new CD to Pinkie's place so that they could listen to it. This prompted Applejack to groan.
"What?" Rainbow Dash asked, concerned something might have happened.
"Rainbow, you told me the whole reason you wanted me to come was so that you could 'Share it with a friend.' Why did you need me to share it with if you were already headed to Pinkie Pie's house?"
Rainbow Dash laughed and, still hovering next to Applejack as she walked, placed a hoof upon her back. "Applejack, the best way to listen to music is to listen to it with as many friends as you can!"
Applejack gave a sigh and frowned, though she continued to trot toward Pinkie's house. "Ah hope you're happy... I could still be nappin'..."
***
"I LOVE IT!"
Pinkie Pie's ecstatic voice rang throughout the entire house as she celebrated the new album.
"Uh, Pinkie Pie, you haven't hear it yet." Rainbow Dash spoke with vague confusion, but somehow, Applejack didn't seem too surprised by Pinkie's exclamation of enjoyment before she'd even heard it. Applejack figured Pinkie must love every kind of music, because it's all good for some kind of party, and this was especially good for lots of people dancing, Rainbow Dash had explained.
"When people hear it, they pump their hooves back and forth and everybody can have a good time because it doesn't mean you have to learn some kind of complicated dance!"
Applejack was, truth be told, a bit excited to hear it, after all, she was an open-minded pony of course. She simply had no way of knowing what to expect.
"Come on, Dashie! Put it in, put it in!" Pinkie Pie was her usual loud, bouncy self as Rainbow Dash placed the record into it's player. 'Leave it to Vinyl Scratch,' Rainbow thought, 'To bring back something so old.'
After a moment, when the Record didn't begin to spin, Applejack gave Rainbow Dash a perplexed look. "Rainbow, why aren't you playing it?"
"Yeah, why not, Dashie?!"
"Guys, guys! Patience! The best way to listen to music is to anticipate it!"
Rainbow Dash thought she heard Applejack mumble something under her breath, but wasn't sure what it was.
***
"That... was the best thing Ah have ever heard."
Applejack's first words after the record stopped playing surprised even herself for a moment. "Well, musically, Ah mean."
"See? I told you, didn't I, Applejack!"
Rainbow Dash gave a triumphant look toward the two ponies who sat on the floor in front of her. She glided behind them and announced, "I declare that this new album officially makes Vinyl Scratch even cooler! About 20% cooler, actually."
"Yeah! I agree!" Pinkie Pie chirped, and bounced up onto all four hooves in an instant.
"Mind if I borrow it, Dashie? I'm gonna throw a party tomorrow, and I want everypony to hear the new record! It just makes me sad thinking about all the other ponies who couldn't get it!"
"Sure, go ahead Pinkie." Rainbow Dash floated down gingerly, and let her hooves hit the floor with a soft clop.
Applejack gave an almost dejected look at Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie. "Well ya'll... Ah reckon ah better head back to the farm..."
Rainbow Dash took to the air and glided in front of her, blocking the exit of Pinkie Pie's home. "Aw, come on Applejack! Can't you just lounge around for a bit longer with me? You always work so hard on the farm, you deserve a day off once in a while! It's good for you!"
"...Well... Ah what the heck, I guess I can. Come on, Rainbow. I know a good place with a great view of the orchard and a tree that looks darn comfortable for takin' a nap in." She nodded and then trotted out the door, giving Pinkie Pie a wave. Rainbow Dash glided over to move along next to her, keeping pace.
"So, what do you wanna listen too? I can fly over to my house and get my portable record player if you want. I have lots of Vinyl Scratch's stuff." Applejack looked over at Rainbow Dash and gave her a smile.
"Rainbow, that sounds wonderful. If I've learned anything today, it's that no matter what kind of music you listen too, being with the ones you love is always the best way to listen."