Pony Shenanigans

by HowWouldPonyCaligulaBe

Rating: teen
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash, Romance, Drama, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Tragedy, Violence, Anthro, Applejack
Length: 9367

Applejack learns, even if by force, that here’s more to Rainbow Dash than a blinding pride and loyalty…

One year after the events of Twilight's coronation, Applejack eventually felt stronger feelings towards her best friend, Rainbow dash, than ever before thanks to Rainbow's psyche showing a bit of maturing after all those things they've gone through, half of it thanks to Applejack's influence!

And yet, after an intense month of preparations for this year’s new Zap Apple harvest, with ol' Granny Smith's age showing its consequences slowing things down: Applejack noticed her best friend's behavior deteriorating rapidly after a week with the Wonderbolts, until it crashed right into her face in one day straight...

...and sent her and her friends' gazes back into Cloudsdale.

Most Art by me, the canon styled ones are made w bases or screenshots! Credits are told with the pictures :)

Published 2024-11-26 05:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2024-12-09 10:16:53 UTC

Crushing them vegetables, literally

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Introductive image:

https://www.deviantart.com/littlespaceyworm/art/Lonely-Celestia-1125370358

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The golden rays of the sun permeating though the green leaves of the apple tree orchard blinded Applejack, who still kept count of the number of trees left to go down.

6: The number of colors on Rainbow Dash’s mane… such a beautiful number to buck a magnificent tree named Jackeline: While its tree trunk was sick, the fruits that fell were still good, so Applejack was gentle with it.

5: A powerful kick could be felt under and on the ground, scaring some ants out of their hiding spots.

4: Unfortunately for the fourth tree’s apples, some crashed onto the floor. As a matter of fact those earlier ants just had to take their chance to gain the residue of the crushed ones.
Applejack tried to save those who were still edible, and spared the lucky ants. Fluttershy would be happy.

3: She could feel her hooves get more and more worn out of the bucking, but she resisted, ignoring the soreness and sweat that spread onto her hooves….she would wash them later anyways.
And yet, that tiredness always felt like adrenaline to her.

2: She could already feel the weight of work coming to sort the good apples and the apples that would be feed to the farm’s animals, and to make the apples good enough to be sold…but that weight also brought some kind of rest and relief to her life.

1: Applejack started positioning herself to make sure she gets those apples in one hit, and started bending half of her body-

"APPLEJACKKK"

S m a c k

Applejack turned, anxiety filling her thoughts after that shout, but she found relief at the sound of apples falling to their nest, and no pony getting bucked.
Who on Celestia’s name was screaming? Here it goes again!

"Applejack, here ya’re! "

Applejack turned to face her teenager of a sister: Apple Bloom, who came back a bit earlier then what Applejack suggested to sell some apples. As a matter of fact, her younger sister was holding Scootaloo’s shoulder…she had a grim expression and looked the soil.

While she still wore the protections that Rainbow adviced her to keep for now, she had bloodied front hooves, and she was clearly in pain, not to mention the fact she wasn’t riding her scooter….it looked broken: it’s main trunk absolutely too weak to handle her weight.

Understanding the severity of her condition, Applejack trotted towards both of the teens, and calmly asked:

" Wha’s going on, the both of y’all? "

Her sister answered, still breathing up some air:

" Scootaloo crashed onto our cart… "

" Say what now..? Come into tha house, we’ll see if she got anythin’ really hurt, it’s gonna be easier to get everythin’ throughout "

she paused.

" Them wood shards can be huge, ya know? "

But for that, she asked Scootaloo:
" Are ya fine walkin’ ? Do you mind givin’ meh that scooter for a little? "

Scootaloo nodded, and gave her the broken scooter. It seemed to help her move a bit easier.
The group started trotting around the field to get to the barn on the same time as they talked.
Applejack turned to Apple Bloom and asked her another question:

" And did somethin’ hurt ya too? "

her worry about her wellbeing couldn’t hide very well, but she hoped her sister didn’t mind. She now was aware that her ‘protective’ nature revealed itself to be annoying sometimes, even if she took a lot of time to understand.

" Nope… Ah dodged her , but the cart got knocked out…"
Apple Bloom looked a bit better because of the smile on her face.

" Good but…Apple Bloom, Where’s the cart?? "

" …uhhh ya see, some unicorns were around and helped meh to get the cart together, Ah was busy with Scootaloo… Don’t be mad okay? Ah left the cart to Pinkie… "

Applejack hoped that Pinkie would take good care of it….Wait, more in line of praying that she would. But for now here’s more important things such as…

" Ah will see what to do about it later, yer friend’s injuries are more serious "

" Ah still got the money too though! "

Apple Bloom said, obviously relieved at her sister’s positive attitude towards the situation…She would usually be upset, if not angry to the point of scolding her for a week.

" Ah know Ah could always trust ya "

she smiled at her sister, who smirked.

The ‘trip‘ between the red wooden barn and the orchards was short anyways. They all entered the structure, and removed their dirty shoes, putting them next to the entrance, which was Sugar Belle’s new order that Granny Smith approved of!

Applejack guided them (well, Scootaloo mainly) to the living quarters, and allowed Apple Bloom to help Scootaloo sit down on a vintage green couch to remove her protections. While the worst had been spared, she still had some cuts on her left back hoof, front hooves and had a couple bruises.

More worrying then harm done, judging from those small wounds.

Applejack stormed out of the living room, but heard the both of them talk, even if she couldn’t make out the words. She guessed that they talked about her not being angry at Apple Bloom.

Soon enough, she quickly found a first aid kit on one of the gray yet wooden cabinet at the front area of the house, and took it to Scootaloo. To make use of it, she unzipped it, took out multiple pieces like the disinfectant, bandages and a pair of scissors.

" It’s not like her to do that, but somehow it still hurts… "
She heard Scootaloo more clearly.

" It’s true that it’s weird, but it’s a mystery the Cutie Mark Crusaders can resolve, right? "
Her sister then said.

" Whatcha talkin’ about? "

The tired apple mare asked, realizing that they spoke about something else then her: it wouldn’t be too much asked to ask what, right?

After asking, she started patching up Scootaloo, starting with sanitizing her small wounds with a saline solution, in the old way with a piece of cotton.
She took away some wooden shards she noticed.
She heard Scootaloo whimper a little, but it seemed like she did from it being cold.

" Well Ah asked Scootaloo how she crashed, since ya know, it almost never happens.
She told meh she was distracted.. "

Applejack noticed the same pegasus getting uncomfortable but still kept busy treating her wounds, not really looking up. That is to make sure she’s not hurting ‘Scoots’, like her best friend, and perhaps more later, likes calling her.

" Earlier in the day, she tried to ask Rainbow Dash why she wasn’t here on a Wonderbolts thingy- "

her sister was cut short by Scootaloo.

" Training session, I was going to see her train at with the Wonderbolts with her parents. Spitfire told us she wasn’t there and that she got home… But she still let us see the other Bolts thing if her parents didn’t go crazy again"

Scootaloo’s voice sounded weak, understandably.

" What did Rainbow do? "

Applejack didn’t liked where this was going…

" That’s what Ah’was gonna say! Scootaloo told me Dash looked lost for some reason and had a bandage on her head. And then Dash shouted at her- "

" ‘That she didn’t have time for a thing that calls itself a Pegasus’ "

Scootaloo looked down on everypony, but herself mainly.

" …say what?! Why?? "

Applejack felt herself getting paralyzed once hearing what Rainbow did, it didn’t made sense- she had to have heard it wrong.

If Rainbow Dash had to be something, it was loyal. And calling Scootaloo a thing ain’t it, and to be honest with herself, she doesn’t recall Dash calling a pony ‘a thing’, her worst insults being very degrading yet still not going so low to be alienating a pony’s being.
While she may lack empathy and even sympathy towards a couple ponies, Scootaloo isn’t one of them. She’s even one of the ponies she cares the most about.

Something must have happened, and that bandage was clearly a sign, she just knew it…Maybe she got a head injury? Maybe it’s an opportunity to take a chance to take care of her… if that is what was needed.

" That’s what we don’t know, she looked mad even before Scoots come by- "
Apple Bloom thought out loud partially.

That confirmed Applejack’s idea.
Furthermore, she realized how slow she was to attend Scootaloo’s wounds, and started putting her thoughts in a corner in order to be faster…

" It’s Scootaloo or I’ll call you Bloom Apple! " Scootaloo almost yelled.

" Fineeee "
Apple Bloom giggled, and seemed to even want to call her a Party Pooper. But seeing her friend’s mood, she didn’t want to make it worse.

" That’s wild of her, Ah mean more wild then usual- Ah mean that’s not like her at all? "

" Yeah right! Because of that I think she didn’t say that on purpose… But I’m too scared to ask again… "
Scootaloo’s fearful side showed with her voice, Applejack felt pity for that kid.

Applejack then figured that she was almost done with patching her wounds.
Indeed, They were easily fixed, it mainly looked like she fell or was scratched by a cat…well more severely (which wouldn’t surprise her even one bit).

" I know I shouldn’t feel bad but here I am »

" Now sugarcube, I’m sure here’s a reasonable explanation for tha- Ah will go see her myself, it’s more safe "
Applejack said, her tone starting to sound more serious than reassuring.

That’s the most reasonable option, right? she trusted her guts telling her that Rainbow Dash wouldn’t snap at her. Either way, she knew that she can deal with her words anyways. The most important thing is to know what’s up with her and make sure nopony gets hurt.

She trusts Rainbow. She knew she wouldn’t disappoint her, even if a side of herself still wanted her to stay on her guard…

" Can I come too- "
Apple Bloom’s idea rot away with Applejack’s stern look.

" What about those apples ya got? "
Apple Bloom asked, referring to those apples that she just have bucked.

" To make up for that cart loose, ya have to pick them up, slowly BUT get Big Mac to bring back the cart from Pinkie, it’s too big for ya! Not to mention broken! "
Applejack felt her sisterly side crawl into her back. Letting her get hurt? Never!

" Fine- But seriously it would be cool if ya get RD to talk to Scootaloo to say sorry if it was an accident "

" Maybe in my fan club too..! "

Scootaloo obviously wanted to cheer up. Applejack will make sure of it.

" Ah don’t see why it wouldn’ be done, Ah will brin’ her over one way or another other to say sorry anyways, tha’s for sure. Ah wouldn’t mind bringing her tied up too! Ya can trust meh "

Applejack was still satisfied of her younger sister’s attitude, but they have to make up for the lost cart… she hoped the new harvest was satisfactory.

Moreover, she finished patching Scootaloo up and patted her head, finishing with leaving her some space.

" …I’ll get my aunt to take care of my scooter too, but thanks for that "

" Yar welcome, and don’t forget to tell yar aunts about what happened "
She almost was going to mention her parents…until she realized that she had yet to even see them around town. Apple Bloom told her that she still had them yet Applejack had a gut feeling that they weren’t that much close unfortunately.
As a matter of fact, most of her gut feelings ended up true anyways, she hoped it will stay on her side even now.

" Say, ah will look for her now, if ya both don’t mind…Yar grown up enough to take care of yarselves… "
her voice broke at the realization that her sister’s growing up fast…she herself sometimes feels like she’s stagnant in her life.

That’s probably one of the reasons she enjoys Rainbow’s company that much….she always ends up saying interesting, new stuff in her own charming ‘cool’ way.. not to mention the uncountable amount of adventures they had together.

Something to be said, being from Cloudsdale, a rather mysterious city in Applejack’s perspective, she eventually noticed Rainbow’s patriotism even if she still is proud of defending above everything else…Something she can somehow relate for with her own confidence over being an Apple.

" Hehehheh you can trust us! "

Now here’s to hope they’re not gonna throw a slumber party….Granny needs her ears fresh for Celestia’s sake!

" Aight then, see y’all later! "

She said, turning to her sister face for the last time this day. She quickly excited her house, trying to organize her thoughts.

~~~~~~~~~

The farm’s trees, no Rainbows.
Pinkie pie, no Rainbows.
The Sugar cube corner, no Rainbows.
The Lake, no Rainbows.
The joke shop, no Rainbows.

It started getting a bit late… but she still wanted to see her.

The library, no Rainbows.
The spa, no Rainbows.
The weather planning stop, no Rainbows.

She got more and more tired… Ponyville seemed to be empty of rainbows, and the clock was still ticking.

The town’s market, no rainbows.
Fluttershy’s cottage, no Rainbows.

Stopping at Twilight’s old castle, she asked Starlight for a spell to make her able to walk on clouds for a bit. The Apple mare also apologized for bothering her, as she explained the situation.

Moreover, Starlight actually shared that castle with the princesses while they explored the Everfree forest more extensively, thanks Granny Smith she hasn’t noticed them trying to save the day… a habit they earned to make their retirement more enjoyable.

Fortunately, Starlight had accepted and casted a spell that made her able to walk on clouds for 3 days.
And to be even more of help, this rather (scary and) powerful mare helped her mount the cloud house and stayed there to bring her down if Rainbow didn’t showed herself.

Rainbow Dash’s own house, no rainbows.

Applejack guessed that Rainbow got back to the Wonderbolts. Her friend set herself down on the ground to trot away.

While Starlight offered some help to bring Applejack back home by teleporting her along with herself, but she refused: The simple earth pony doesn’t like that much magic being casted on her when she can just use her hooves to move around. She liked having her independence whole, and either way, she liked walking.

" Applejack, wait! "

She heard a raspy voice, and turned around, facing the large cloud home.
A pegasus’s head showed itself though a window.

That same pegasus climbed out of it, a bit recklessly though because of the small opening and flew towards Applejack.

Judging from the somehow feminine features, messy mane, those colors and scars, it obviously was Rainbow Dash. She also noticed her head bandage, but the orange earth pony noticed that it mainly covered her forehead, letting her bangs out. She also wore some kind of Wonderbolt sponsored pyjamas, that’s oddly cute!

" Sorry for not… that door, was busy with Tank "

She said with less power into her voice than usual. She also came closer to Applejack…closer than usual even with all of that flying.

" Howdy here, partner- "

Applejack started, with her voice showing her relief from finally finding her best friend, but got interrupted.

" Yeah whatcha want? I’m still rather busy here, want a dash of Dash? Heh, get it? "

She kept her usual facial expression, smirking a little. Yet her voice was so monotonous…

" Wanted to know how ya were doin’, heard some thin’- "

That’s when Rainbow got too close, Rainbow had put her front hooves on her shoulders, forcing their gaze to connect.

“ Wohoho too close-“

Applejack couldn’t help but flush at this proximity, but Rainbow Dash didn’t seem to hear those words.
Rainbow’s unusual, or may she say ‘uncool’ attitude creeped Applejack out…But she needed more to actually worry.

" The hay did ponies say about me? Who’s talking? "
Now closer to look at, Applejack noticed that rainbow dash was also very sweaty…and that she looked like she hasn’t token a nap for a bit.
The flying Dash then retracted backwards, letting some space between them, but her hooves remained on… they started to lower slowly.
Fortunately, looking at her rainbow maned friend’s eyes, she noticed that she was focused on listening Applejack, looking into her eyes.

" They wanna know how ya were doing… Ah heard ye were actin’ strange "

Her hooves finally gasped her neck and she suddenly put them away, crossing them.
Applejack moved back slightly.
Rainbow smiled nervously…something is definitely wrong.

" …Weird? Nah, sorta tired out to be honest, I really need to put my head off…But say, wanna join me for dinner? Kinda am lonely with Tank, and I missed ya too "

On normal circumstances, she would be excited about being alone with her…but this time it felt different.

Moreover, it is true that Applejack herself missed Rainbow since she hadn’t seen her for a week, but that was Rainbow’s usual schedule (surprisingly so): She would go in Cloudsdale for a week, return back to Ponyville for another week and repeat…

Something to be said, Rainbow does that ever since she moved to Ponyville. That was something that Applejack could get behind, as that cloud city was her original home from the get go… Applejack can relate to a certain need to stay close to family and friends, unless it was for another reason…

" …sure, but weren’t ya with the Bolts- " she got cut off again…

« Let’s talk about them in my house, okay ? I don’t wanna be out for too long… »

her friend’s face screamed ‘ please say yes’, her own guts yelled ´ be very careful ‘ at the ‘I don’t wanna be out for too long’ statement and yet…

" Alright…Ah already have that spell on but Ah will go out once we finish dinning, okay? Also, take yar distance, Sally "

Her friend grinned with excitement, and then her voice struggled:

" Awesomeeee!!!!! "

She did half a loop in the air, and brought her behind near Aj. She started to bind herself backwards, urging Applejack to climb onto her back. Which she did. the contact of their bodies still summoned some kind of feeling that was stuck deep inside of her, she felt the butterflies swarming her stomach because of Rainbow’s warmth.
But it was something she didn’t understand due to her erratic ways this day.

The pegasus then started to fly, her moves remaining methodical, and may she even say, heavily mechanical: it was almost as if those wings flew on their own…

Applejack enjoyed how the flight felt even so, the wind blowing through her mane urged her to keep a hoof on her hat.

Yet Applejack realized that she was flying through a window…she had to brace herself, getting her head closer to that rainbow mane.
Was it her or she smelled like chemicals? What kind of shampoo did she used? Why did she expected her to smell like fruits? Why is she asking Rarity-esk questions now-??

Putting an end to her off-questions, she had miraculously made it into Rainbow’s kitchen, that was connected with Tank’s little corner.

She laid on the blue carpet for a split second, before recovering onto her hooves.
Rainbow appeared as if her landing was safe at least.

" What the hay was that landing for, Rainbow? " she said, her voice slightly raising.
« Heh, sorry about that one… but look around us! We’ve got a whole place for us! »
The rainbow maned Pegasus exclaimed as she opened her wings, as if presenting her kitchen.

The dark blue counters were filled with food, knifes and spoons. Looked like she was cooking before she came around those parts….it kind of was messy knowing that the only things that looked on its way to be finished was two sandwiches.

Rainbow pulled out a chair on her dinning table, and started mumbling to herself a musical tone…Applejack realized that Tank was on the table, smiling at her. That same table was protected by a light blue covering and here was daisies in a small pot on it…it was quite cute from her…

Hang on, did she actually planned this?

" It’s gonna take a lil if you don’t mind, I still can’t figure out those carrots… "

The rainbow maned mare said, keeping the same tone.

" Maybe Ah can help? "

Applejack had to offer help, something clearly is up, maybe she can uncover it through her assistance.

« heheh good one Aj I’m not letting you touch a knife. Either way, I gotta show ya I can cook! » Rainbow added some salt on one of the sandwichs’ interior, and then turned to the other to do the same thing.
" They were supposed to be for me, but I’ll let ya have one of them "

She then took two kitchen knifes who had small blades that were left discarded around her counters to drop them in the sink, who already was busy with multiple plates… almost looking like they’ve been here for days.

Applejack knew Rainbow Dash wasn’t known for her house ‘hygiene’, but she thought that cleaning those were the minimum.

" …okay…but what about the Wonderbolts? You mentioned being lonely.. "
Applejack wanted answers…and to know if the Wonderbolts did anything to her. Knowing her love to this group, if they did something it would clearly leave dash into a bad mental state…she hoped it wasn’t the case though.
She didn’t want anypony to hurt THE Dash.

Rainbow appeared to be thinking for a mini-second…

" It’s a bit confusing, even sorta weird… I had a bad time tryna realize it "

Rainbow turned around to look at Applejack, whose face obviously revealed concern about her friend’s wellbeing.

" It’s like they’re hiding something…Well, minus Soarin’… and don’t get me started on Spitfire! "

That sounds bad, but Applejack wanted to let her speak…

" …urgh I’m not giving up on those carrots though! "
Rainbow took back the knife from the sink, and got back at trying to use it like a child would do on their first try on the counter that bordered the window….Here wasn’t even carrot stuff on here!

Applejack noticed that this counter was near the same window they bargained into.
Looking at it, she also realized how reckless it was for Rainbow to get into it with her…and how much it was out of the ordinary lately for her to put any of her friends into danger.

Indeed, all of that because of that one incident… She used to be more reckless before.
Rainbow earned even more a sense of responsibility over it….Applejack remembered it clearly, it was the moment she started feeling different about her.

She had to stop her from being even more reckless, first helping her use that knife.

Applejack rose up from her chair, kept a distance behind her pegasus friend, and tried to advise:
" Now now partner’, tha carrot’s on the other counter, and ya ain’t holdin’ it safely- "

Rainbow dash grunted at it, probably annoyed at Applejack’s words…

" I know what I’m doing! Just let me take care of this "

She quickly moved near the right counter, and literally stabbed on the carrot…

" -miserable " She stabbed it twice.

" Worthless " a 3rd time…

" But tasty thing! " and a final 4th time, the rainbow maned mare literally tossed the knife into the sink at an alarming speed, as if it was a ball to throw in dodgeball.

Looking at the carrot’s state, Applejack felt a sense of unease: it looked distorted, no ways to use this thing on a sandwich.

She then noticed how much dedication Rainbow has put on thrusting that knife against the carrot… is that a way to vent something out without using words? It maybe can explain why she struggled with it: maybe to decide between pouring out her feelings though it or just cutting it normally.

Yet that wouldn’t explain the knife violence.
Applejack hoped that that knife wouldn’t be used anymore this day too, and so decided to make sure Rainbow won’t use it again.

" See, nothing can beat the awesome, coolest pony *drums rolls* Rainbow Dash! "
Rainbow Dash proudly exclaimed and embraced her ‘talents’, extending her blue feathered wings once more.
That moment of pride was followed quickly by her completing her sandwiches, adding the carrot massacre. She even had put some paper towels on the sandwiches for Celestia’s sake.

She turned around, seeing the farmer standing.

" Dinner’s up! sit down " She said, pointing to the chair Applejack used to sit down on. Her face remained the same too.

« ‘Kay » The apple pony simply obeyed, seeing no problems with sitting.
Rainbow dash quickly turned around and followed Aj’s moves, sitting quite closely and gave Applejack’s own sandwich.
Here was no knifes, forks, spoon or knifes on the table either, for obvious reasons. Just a bunch of paper towels on their respective spaces.

Being quite hungry by now, Applejack looked at the inside of the sandwich she was given to see if here was any things that may end up with her being pranked. She noticed none.

It’s composants were quite normal: The retched carrot bits, actually normal cucumbers slices, daisies (she remembered them being Rainbow’s favorite flowers, who could have guessed?) and apple slices ?

While it was an interesting combination, here’s no ways she’s eating cucumbers and apples at the same time, she could feel Granny passing out in the future if she ever heard of that one.

As a consequence, she removed the sacred and magnificent apple slices: judging from the sweet yet almost sour taste of them when she bit into one, they clearly were hers. Thanks Celestia.

But Applejack had to get down to the bottom of her best friend’s attitude, it started to creep her out even more.
What did she meant by ‘hiding something?’?

" Say, did Spitfire do somethin’ to ya? "

Rainbow dash stared at her with big eyes, as if she was thinking ´I said too much’ before answering.

" Not just her, the whole team minus Soarin…I tried to- "

She paused, her face not changing… Now that she thought about that fact, Applejack noticed that she also was barely blinking.

" Why do you want to know? "

she said, while her voice still sounded the same, the intent behind that was more…suspicious.

The words of Scootaloo flooded Applejack’s brain again: ‘That she didn’t have time for a thing that calls itself a Pegasus’… it probably had to do with the Wonderbolts…did they told her that?

Whatever they did to her had to brought some distress that Rainbow’s chill ways couldn’t handle.

" …Did they fired you? "
was the most horrible of explanations , but she had to know what happened.

Expectedly, or perhaps unexpectedly, Rainbow Dash bursted out laughing, loudly: her voice cracking could be heard all over the house.
What in Equestria’s so funny?

" Hahahaha, Aj, what a good one! Why in Tartarus would they-?! I am the coolest one of them- do you really think they would risk that much loss-?! "

" Then why are ya here and not into the trainin’ ground? »

Rainbow’s face froze for a split second.

Applejack got no idea what it would take to make her say everything… Maybe it is in Rainbow’s rights to not tell her, but if here’s something Applejack cared about, it is her well-being. In fact, it first comes with truth.

At least she knows that she’s probably here because of whatever caused the head bandage, but Applejack knew that making Rainbow Dash mad would make things harder to get though… Yet she looked amused more then anything, as if Applejack was only entertaining her.

Or maybe Applejack’s presence’s just making her feel more at ease, and if so, things would probably get better.

" They called me sick, or something, crazy right? The worst thing about it is that it’s their own fault "
Rainbow said, finishing her sandwich, whipping her hooves with her pyjamas.

Applejack wanted her to say what exactly… maybe if she let her talk, she would reveal it a way or another.

" I’m not even sick, I’ve had this thing before meeting them… "

She pointed at her bandage.

" I even had to fix it myself. I was all on my own… And then they underestimated me… well, maybe I’m the one who did… I’ve seen it though their mask, you know? "

‘say what now?´
The apple mare started to grow impatient…so close to an explanation…

" …Rainbow just get to the point, Ah just wanna know what happen’ so Ah could maybe help ya out "

" You wanna know what happened?! Let me tell you what happened! "

For the first time this day, Rainbow started to actually show some kind of emotion, it was some kind of anger… But Applejack felt like it hid something else, what though? She couldn’t tell.

" So first I was like that, and then they came like this with those… Darn ideas! Only saying the lies he told me! But I ain’t so stupid. I took Soarin’ up and tried to shake him up! I knew he wasn’t into it "
…Applejack had no idea what it meant even with all of those hoof gestures, and the addition of a swear and a ‘he’ didn’t help.

" …have you been sleeping though all of that? "
With some chances, she will tell something useful with this question.

Unfortunately Applejack started to loose hope, but she at least seen that she shouldn’t leave Rainbow alone, and maybe bringing her other friends later would make it better.
Fluttershy is probably the one who could actually make her talk, but she has to do without in the time being, she’s not letting her best friend alone with knifes at her ready.

" …I couldn’t. If I slept, they’d do something to me.. "
Now that’s an answer she could gasp! But ´say-
" Wha’? "

" I don’t know, hurt me or something, because when I’m unconscious they could just do whatever! I couldn’t sleep, and kept… feeling stuff, you know? I just don’t wanna that to happen again… I don’t wanna talk about it. "

Rainbow dash dropped her head onto the table…

This is, simply noted, concerning.

" …so…if I try to understand, some of bolts tried to do weird stuff to you? "

" Mind just… not making me tell this out loud…? Now I’m just glad to be back here…but it ain’t changing anything… My brain’s like…falling again and again and again…even if I try to fly again. But somehow the falling ain’t helping me nap, I sorta need it to do awesome things you see? "

Rainbow Dash’s words slowed down from her normal speech.

" …I don’t feel like being alone… " she whispered.

Applejack’s instincts rise up with those quiet words…seeing her friend being so down was not only uncommon but also so much depressing to see.

While she couldn’t cry at it, it didn’t change the fact that she needed to see her feel happy.
Moreover, she thought she was more than ready to be the one taking care of her on a bad day, unlike the many days where Fluttershy would…

Unfortunately, she didn’t know how rainbow would react to physical touch, so she forced herself to not do the usual things she would do other then listen and advices: hug and for others, kiss on the forehead.

But she still went closer to Rainbow’s form. Closer to see her… she noticed that her expression wasn’t the one of a sad pony… but something close. It almost looked like she had issues expressing with it.

" Hang on here, girly, Ah will stay…And Ah will bring the others to see ya later, alright? "

She didn’t cared about the night overpowering the sky anymore. But at least she knew that what Scootaloo heard wasn’t on purpose.
Rainbow Dash nodded.

" Ah will even try to make ya sleep, ya see "

She nodded again. Her body language being distorted, she couldn’t understand how she really felt about it.
Making it worse to understand, Rainbow Dash got up from her seat, and threw away the papers used during that small diner.

" …can you do something when I sleep? " Rainbow asked.

" Sure " why wouldn’t she agree?

« If I get too weird, get Tank away from me »

Standing up from that chair and turning her gaze behind looking at the table: she noticed the figure of Tank who slept.

Rainbow took the sleeping turtle under his shell, and took him to his normal spot of the room, just besides the window Rainbow and Applejack flew through. She didn’t… hug him like usual though.
She just a bit roughly dropped him onto his red fluffy carpet, took his turtle bowl away into the sink.

She turned around to see Applejack.

« I’m done with Tank »

Applejack simply nodded, as she followed Rainbow who quickly flew towards her bedroom, and landed near her large cloudy bed.

Rainbow took a fluffy blue blanket out of her bed, and gave it to her friend, who quietly accepted it, and put it around her shoulder.

" Say Dash, Ah always have my ear up in the case ya wanna talk "

" I already told ya a lot, just don’t tell the others I’m not well today, keep this between us " Rainbow said, as she took off her Tank slippers, and turned at a corner, to get them out of the way.
.
.
.
Now it was Rainbow’s turn to sleep in her cloudy bed, she laid on it covered by another, this time white, blanket.
To help her into slumber, Applejack tried to pat her head as Dash urged her to…
While she had her eyes closed and wasn’t moving, it was hard to say if she was pretending or genuinely sleeping.

Even after a while, she couldn’t hear any snoring.

And now it was finally her own turn, as she turned to the living room, right into a large sofa. It was oddly comfortable, even with that unfamiliar feel.
She had to remove her iconic cowboy hat down, so it wouldn’t get damages from it.
She fell into Luna’s world quickly, exhausted, thinking of that one… very bad scenario that may have actually happened.

If only she knew it would be the last normal night this month.

Author's Note

It’s my first fan-fic! It’s an idea I had in mind for a loooong time… I got help from friends.
Let the tags guide you onto what happened to Dash though, I’m not gonna put something that may trigger people without warning.

I’ve rewritten season 8 in my au too, I disliked the original, so no school of friendship stuff.
That rewrite is part of the stuff that made Rainbow mature a bit.

I hope the English isn’t too bad haha…

…including apples

———————————————————————

Spectrum, i, n: Originally meaning image, simulacrum, and even revenant in Old Pegasi, not to mention that it has been used and now is used to classify something in terms of its position on a scale too …

———————————————————————

Applejack woke up with a start, but it looked like her dream wasn’t the reason for that. She never woke up that early with a pleasant dream, indeed the sky brought by Luna was pitch black.
After gaining more consciousness of her cloudy surroundings, she found out that there were sounds coming after a crash, and a muffled voice from upstairs to Applejack’s confusion.

‘Must be Dash’ she thought, but then realized what that may imply.

The tired mare got off the cloudy sofa, fighting against the urge to curl up in the blanket, tried to get closer to those sounds’s origin, still being careful of the unusual…cloudy environment.
As a matter of fact , Applejack quickly realizes the sounds get louder and louder as she gets closer to Rainbow’s bathroom:
From the raspy tones of the voice, it was clearly Dash speaking.
And to be honest, it was pretty loud even if she couldn’t make out the words. She had concluded that Rainbow Dash may have forgotten the fact that a friend was here in this house in the first place.

Images now ran like a bull in a rodeo in Applejack’s mind, to explain whatever is going on in here, may it be really bad or simply embarrassing on Dash’s behalf.

To put an end to the mystery, Applejack knocks on the door…or tries to forgetting for a moment it was made out of clouds.
She resolved on trying to call her friend.
“ Rainbow Dash? “

No answer, or any stop of those noises.

‘She better make that break of mah sleep worth it’
She thought, yet still wanted a positive explanation for the speed demon’s awakening.

And so, she opened the blue door, and switched on the light, not ready for what awaited for her to see. She stops at the sight. She hasn’t thought for one second that may be the explanation for her friend’s loud attitude…

Pretty far away from the thought of Rainbow being careless when tired at very late hours, her best friend stood up not that far away from her, her stature pretty unusual from what she used to see… and love in front of the running sink, on which a pink stain was visible at first, but it was easily detached by the running water.

In fact, pretty far away from her usual confidant smile and pose, she seemed withdrawn on herself, her face expressionless but she stared at her friend…blankly, as if she’s having issues processing what she’s seeing… Maybe because of the new presence of lighting.

As for her eyes, they were a bit redder than usual: she was definitely crying a little before her entrance. But something caught her eyes more: Rainbow Dash’s own were dilated, way more then they should be. Not reacting to the lighting Applejack brought, the darkness overpowering the cerise hue that Cherry Jubillie liked.

Looking down at her friend, something she came to do as time went on (to her own shame) she caught something way worse.
Rainbow Dash’s once cool mirror covered by pictures of her friends, Tank, the wonderbolts and the speed demon herself was split in half, some pictures being thorn apart. As a matter of fact though, she couldn’t see which ones were.

One part of the mirror didn’t make it, some shards landed in the bathroom sink, others were spread around the pegasus.

Moreover, the rest of the bathroom was rather clean, indicating that she wasn’t present for long. As a matter of fact, the toilet seat was shinny white, the shower veil untouched leaving the inside of the glass unknown to Applejack and the chair by the drying rack was still occupied by rainbow colored towels.

But everything else wasn’t that clean.. Such as Dash herself, who was pretty worst than anything she could have thought possible…

Rainbow Dash, wearing her robe barely stood on the floor, her wings almost completely limp, and was protected by her ‘Tank’ slippers. She was also holding her left hoof, which was clearly injured. The tired farmer didn’t have to think twice about why.

Applejack also noticed that the bandage on her head was gone, probably to the garbage can. Nevertheless, her very messy mane somehow managed to keep whatever she tried to hide hidden for any pony to see, even if she could guess a bit of redness.

After swallowing her friend’s condition as hard as she could, she approached her. Even if she had already deducted how unlikely it is for the fast one to act normally today…

“ What the hay is going on in here Rain- “

Her friend proceeded to speak over her, with her face twitching and straightening her position. Applejack tried to remember things her family and experiences thought her about helping friends in heavy need…

Unfortunately she realized there wasn’t anything in her mind right now.

“ I get it now “

Her voice though, sounded rougher…even a bit authoritarian and calm, disturbing Applejack a little because of the context. She now stood on her guard, even if really confused.

“ Uh- “

“ All of that mess- It wasn’t because of how AwEsOmE I was or am, ain’t I right-?! “

What?

“ Rainbow, what are ya rollin’ on ? “ Seriously, what on Granny Smith’s makeshift strawberry (out of everything she could have chosen…) pie is she babbling about- ?

Her friend…grunted and then spoke, louder, but this time there was anger of a whole other level.
“ Let me buckin’ speak for once! “

Applejack resigned to let her friend speak, trying to find out whatever she did wrong or what that ‘mess’ is referring to.

“ You wanna break me, is that it-?! Well, it ain’t happening “

Applejack was now speechless, what in equestria is she talking about? Did her friend ate too much strawberries and not enough apples?

Guess she’s got another thing to do in her ‘ to-do list ‘ which was already pretty long because of the farm work, yet the time of night and rainbow’s confusing words won’t and wouldn’t let her think a bit straighter.

“ I am not that weak lil filly anymore! I am more then what you’ve ever been…
And you…Look at you! You’re no better than Blazing- You’re no better than a bucking pile of failures for Twilight’s sake!
That’s worse than being last on a race! Worse than knocking some pillars off in a training field! You’re not even competing against me. And are even less comparable to me. “

Applejack tried to digest what she’s being said, but it came back up, just like the day Apple Bloom tried to bake alone with Scootaloo and ended up creating a cursed abomination.
But was she…degrading Applejack? What on Celestia’s name is her friend talking about? Who is that ‘Blazing’ and what ´Failures’ ?

Her heart started to beat fast, she could feel Rainbow Dash’s building rage…
Yet there wasn’t room for thoughts, she finally noticed that Rainbow Dash’s right hoof was stuck with a mirror shard…

While Applejack couldn’t take the view, Rainbow Dash didn’t seemed to notice and even less care.

“ You’ve always said that those… useless… have never been any bucking good for me… let alone Equestria.. “

She posed, glaring as if staring a colossal enemy where Applejack stood.
Even if she already had gotten a death glare in the past, she never got one from Rainbow herself.

“ You’ve said again, again, and again that I deserved to be… “

Another pose.

“ hurt, and way worse… if I continued to side with them, well guess what? I don’t anymore. “

‘Oh no’

A wicked smirk appeared on her friend’s face, as she brought the broken shard closer to her face, eyeing Applejack with it.

« But now… now… IT’S FINALLY MY TURN! »

The rainbow maned mare launched towards the blonde maned one to stab her, but to no avail. Indeed Applejack took hold of the hoof where the makeshift ´knife’ was. Applejack tried to punch the Tartarus out of rainbow, in the literal sense.
She now was sure that if she let Dash take the advantage,
She wouldn’t make it out in one piece.

Her ‘friend’ got ahold of herself in the air, hovering slightly, realizing she’s been disarmed.
Applejack realized that the shard was bloody red from her old friend’s … whatever that was, it made her sick, she never thought of Dash in that current situation, she had to drop it in the bin…but knew it was better to keep it.
She then tried to get some distance from Rainbow…that is until Dash’s hoof connected on her shoulder. Darn mare was fast, way too fast for a night.
Applejack let a grunt of pain, that was a real kick not a simple joke. But she still was standing up and fighting, even if disarmed herself again.

“ What in the rotten apple’s wrong with you-!? “

Rainbow didn’t seemed to have heard what Applejack said:

« - FOR EQUESTRIA’S SAKE , JUST DIE ALREADY-! »

Her breathing could be heard. But her smile fell.
Moreover, she wiped her bloody hoof onto her lips.
Rainbow paused…..

“ ACCEPT IT GODDAMN IT! “

“ WHY CAN’T I BE THE ONE FOR ONCE, HUH? YOU HAVE NEVER HESITATED TO DO THE SAME TO ME BEFORE! “
Escaped her mouth, clear anger expressed though her mouth.

That’s when things clicked. The element of loyalty would never try to kill one of her friend out of the blue. It didn’t seemed that the now clearly unstable Dash knew who she was really talking to.

The ‘embodiment of loyalty’ got behind her…opponent as fast as she could and started to pull on her neck, seemed like Dash was faster on nights too..

´The hay-‘ she tried to kick the wind off Rainbow but she was flying, so she used all of her remaining strength to push her off the judo way, but Dash…once again had wings with all of her energy very late and didn’t landed on the floor.
Applejack grunted again, and tried to think of a plan fast to get out. But at the same time, she realized too slow that Rainbow was getting some shards on the floor, sink, and even some from the rest of the mirror itself, putting them into the nest she created with her robe.

“ TAKE THAT! “

Nevertheless, Rainbow started firing those shards like a canon at…nothing? They simply lied by the door, big and small.
Confused, Applejack took one of those big shards in her mouth as a mean for last moment defense…But it was just an appearance so Rainbow wouldn’t engage just yet.

“ DARN IT, IF YOU CAN’T, LET GO! OR GET UP AND FIGHT ALREADY! Unless you’re too pathetic for that too… “ Dash ordered un-rationally to herself, and then proceeded to drop onto the floor…

Her face grew red and her eyes got even more puffy as she covered her ears.
She ended up closing her eyes, vibrating…. She stared right into the eyes of a photo of her friends… that’s at least what Applejack could see.

“ ...Girls, hold on “
Her closed eyes showed sorrow and moisture… her wings laid blankly at the floor, unmoving because of the weight of her newfound instability.

Applejack got closer to the shards near the exit, silently, wanting to get out of the mad mare’s grasp… Simply to find help to save her from… herself.

Applejack could almost not hear Rainbow Dash’s quiet cry as she turned towards the door, taking her chance…

That is until Dash kicked her ferociously in her guts, making Applejack loose that shard, which cut her lip, and was then stolen by Rainbow….

Applejack had missed the glass pile by a few inches, having been brought to a dead wall…

Even so, due to this almost supersonic kick, the earth mare let out a scream. Her instincts made her turn away from Dash, who was on her way to kick her a second time. She missed a couple times.
The speedster got more and more enraged as minutes passed, while Applejack tried to grab one of her already moving legs.
It worked, somehow miraculously, thanks Celestia. The unstable mare was put on the floor…. Finally.

“ Can’t be more agile or fast on the floor can ya- “

Applejack tried to take ahold of her friend’s forehooves, as hard as it was, and put on her weight on her. Whatever ever was left of her best friend was a ball of energy. She just wanted her trusty lasso more then anything by now.
Rainbow dash let out a scream of desperation.
That is until suddenly the door slowly opened..

A small head showed itself, yawning.
Tank !

Unfortunately, the small moment of confusion turned against Applejack as Dash used it to push her off, and get back to the air.

“ Tank, get out! Get Fluttershy and- “
Applejack screamed, forgetting for a second that tortoises couldn’t fly.

“ Oh hay no-! “ Rainbow screamed and
Punched her directly to her nose, making a cry escape Applejack’s mouth.

Tank slowly closed the door, as if he hasn’t even noticed the shards.
‘Seriously..?’ The farmer thought.

“ Alright Rainbow, calm down- it’s me Applejack! Your friend remember-!? “

What the hay should she say else when her friend’s seeing something else?!

At the mention of her friend’s name, rainbow snapped. Oh gosh darn it.

“ I SAID NO-! “

Rainbow grabbed the nearby chair, dropping the rainbow colored towels on it and used it as a weapon. Faster than light, she struck it, along with her own weight, 3 times on Applejack’s side, Successfully immobilizing her.

A burning sensation was created on Applejack’s side, she felt something cracking. She closed her eyes due to the sudden sharp of the pain and let out a loud scream. It felt as if she physically endured the pain of a magnificent apple harvest ruined by the sharp teeth of vampire fruit bats, making her family loose loads of revenue from the lost apples….

Meanwhile, the crazed Dash started to chuckle, the angry expression turning into a pure, intoxicating laughter…It dragged for so much time that it would be near impossible for her to rest her chest.

“HAVE FUN TRYING TO HURT HER WITH A BROKEN RIB - LET’S SEE WHO’S THE WINNER NOW~! Heheh, looks like your own orders got against you… “
She said, her tone seeming to border the last ring of whatever sanity was left.

But Applejack found the strength to open her eyes either way, even if just staring at the door.
Breathing hurts now, and she didn’t wanted to stay here in Rainbow Dash’s mercy. But those thoughts only caused more pain and an even more burning sensation on her chest.

She could hear her ribcage struggle to rise itself..

The mad mare giggled after recovering from her initial crackle, and got closer to applejack, who still couldn’t accept her fate. Afterwards, she perks at Applejack sides, trying to grip something, but she touched the ground.

« Wait.. What the buck - did you just become an- »

A long silence followed those words… with Rainbow’s gaze looking lost in the inside as in the outside… until it was broken once again.

« Aj-? »

Applejack slowly turned her head, face to face with whatever replaced her friend. She hoped her friend was back and that it wasn’t a changeling.. Which wasn’t possible, why would one enact that? They are friends with ponies now!

But back to Rainbow, just what the hay had gotten into her suddenly?
Either way, Applejack was too busy covering up her bruised side which started to leak red to care about understanding Rainbow Dash’s incomprehensible words and touches, the injured mare tried to organize her thoughts.

She kept going back to one simple question:
How, just how did this happen, everything was fine, even some hours earlier and now dash threw up a fit, did Applejack hurt Rainbow in someway? No impossible, she literally has put aside her own issues to help Rainbow get better yesterday.
Then what is it? Is Rainbow Dash hiding something? Definitely, but why?… Even if she knew it wasn’t the case, she hoped it was something that she could deal with as a friend but she doubted it would be simple, what even caused that kind of situation? ….She really should have been faster to get out, but could she really let Rainbow Dash alone for a couple minutes? Is whatever this is Rainbow Dash?

In spite of that, she felt her friend’s hooves meeting her own, something that used to make her blush even if the Pegasus was pretty clueless to the signs of affection she gives.
But right now she isn’t with her Rainbow.

« Aj is that…..you? » the once powerful mare’s voice sounded so weak.. It put an end to her brainstorming, and now she met the gaze of her friend: she couldn’t take that sight. She wanted the mare of her affection back.

Just come back.

And while she couldn’t understand everything her ´friend’ told her, some words have been understood : “ Sorry “, being the most important thing to hear, “ Okay? “ “ Where? “ And “ Help? “ Followed.

And so she tried to communicate back.
“Am…Ah okay? Ah should ask that question to ya, ya mad lady-! “

“Ah also think… ya broke somethin’ “

Seemed like it didn’t help, the pegasus just took Applejack into her fore hooves, hugging her into a cursed position due to her own bloodied bruise touching Rainbow, and don’t get her started on the fact that she didn’t even noticed that this position ain’t helping the pain at all. It definitely wasn’t Rainbow Dash…

“ Don’t touch me… “
Rainbow Dash didn’t budge nor move at those words.

“ B-but where am..? “

“ Your house “

“ Let me…go “ At this point, she simply wanted to be alone.
“ Oh, go to Cloudsdale-? “

“ Why would ah wanna be in Cloudsdale? ” she said sarcastically. Can’t she understand a simple sentence?
Yes, Rainbow didn’t even seemed to understand this rhetoric question.

“ Because uh….. Clouds? “
Rainbow dash paused.
“ Can I help? “

“ Uh never mind, just get me out.. “

She just didn’t wanted her to be around.
At the same time Dash was unreasonable…Unfortunately, she has to do with this mare since it seemed that now her life depended on her…
After a couple tries, The apple mare has been brought to this mare’s back: She tried to secure herself by the neck and hips of her friend.
She noticed that her friend hissed once her hips were touched, whatever that meant in that context, it’s a fact that it’s not positive...Applejack just felt so tired of this whole ordeal right now.

“ Ready? “

“ …Yup “ she responded.

Rainbow Dash then took off her bathroom, corridor and then her house all together, trying to join the ER.
On the flight though, seeing that flying calmed down the other mare, Applejack tried to strike a quick conversation since she noticed that the flight was slow. But seemed like the fast one was faster anyways to speak.

“ I can explain…talk once I’m done with Tank… “
Rainbow paused, with a long silence.
“ …you’re awesome “

Was she imagining Applejack talking now?

No words were spoken though this time.
She then eventually started sleeping, seemed like her not official special pony’s body was conforming to sleep on even in times like those.
The last thing she noticed before closing definitely her eyes were that that house’s rainbows were shinning bright…since when would rainbows illuminate things?

She would have time to think later, too much time if she had to be honest….

Author's Note

I’m actually drawing something for that chapter! Just kinda was busy…