The Quest for the Golden Apple

'Twas a nice day in Ponyville.  Many trotted along the roads and conversed with others.  Among these was Applejack, suprisingly. She was in town to talk to Twilight.

However, on her way to the library, she ran into Bon-Bon.

"Oh, hey Applejack!"  She said gleefully.

"Well howdy!  Haven't seen you in awhile."  She walked up and bumped her on the shoulder with her hoof.  "How've ya been?"

"Oh, I've been alright myself.  Sales are good.  Yourself?"

"Purty good.  It's busy on the farm, but we're doin' pretty well."

"Good to hear.  What brings you to town?"

"Got a couple things t' take care of.  Don't feel like sayin' much fer th' sake of others."

"Oh, private business?  I have no part in it.  Don't feel bad.  ...Can I ask one thing?"

"Hmm?"

"Does it have to do with Rainbow?"

"Huh?  Rainbow?"

"Yeah.  You know how she's taking it?"

"...Takin'...  What?"

"...Wow, you have been gone for awhile..."  Bon-Bon said, looking a tad worried.

"What happened?  Oh, don't tell me she broke 'er wing again."

"Oh, no.  One of the Wonderbolts...  There was some sort of accident during practice."

"Eesh.  How bad?"

"One of them...  Er..."  Bon-Bon scratched the back of her head, looking down.

"...Oh.  ...I'll have to check on 'er later.  Celestia, that's one heck of a blow for her to take.  I know how much them Wonderbolts mean to her."

"Yeah, I know..."

Suddenly, from a nearby house comes a holler.  Derpy Hooves is poking her head out of the window.

"Bon-Bon!  Hurry up!  We're waiting for you!"

Bon-Bon looked back, a tad embarrassed.  "...I should proabably go, Applejack.  My friends planned to have a little get-together today."  She leans forward to mumble something.   "...And they aren't known for their patience, I can tell you that right now..."

Applejack chuckled.  "Alright.  Best you get to 'em."

"Bye!"

"See ya, Bon-Bon." She said, waving goodbye as she trotted away.  She thought about Rainbow, and at what time she could visit her.

Seeing Rainbow couldn't be done now, unfortunately.  Applebloom's grades had been slipping a little, and since she, unfortunately, had little experience in education herself, couldn't help much.  Applejack could not think of a better pony to help than her friend who lived in a very library.  Unfortunately, this library closes at 2:00 PM on Sundays, leaving Applejac only about 20 minuets.  After a short trot, Applejack knocks on the door.

"Come in!" Said Spike. As she opened the door to look in, she noticed two things. Twilight was nowhere to be seen, and Rainbow Dash was in the library instead.

"...Oh, hey, Applejack! What brings you here?" Spike asked.

"Hey Spike. Was lookin' fer Twi. She 'round?"

Rainbow Dash looked at Applejack, a bit of sadness in her eyes.  "Twilight left to go to Canterlot.  Her family needed her for... What was it, Spike?"

"Oh, yeah.  She's helping her parents move.  They bought a new house somewhere else in Canterlot.  Evidently the old one was out of shape."

Applejack thumps the ground with her hoof.  "Durn it.  When will she be back?"

"A couple days, probably. She left me in charge of the library."

"...Ah..." Applejack said, upset things didn't go as planned. She looked at her other friend.  "So wut brings you here, Rainbow?"

"Returning a book before I go to Fleetfoot's ceremony." She said, holding up a Daring-Do book.  The cover had an image of Daring Do reaching out to grab a golden apple.

"Oh, yeah, Ah heard 'bout that.  Sorry, Rainbow.   ...Wait, a funeral already?"

"She died, like, two weeks ago, AJ."

Applejack blinked.  Why hadn't I found out earlier?, she wondered. "...Oh..."

Rainbow quickly took note of Applejack's apparent cluelessness.  "...I've noticed you don't come to town much anymore. Must be busy on the farm."  Rainbow sighed.  "...Well, I'd better go.  I'll see you later."  She said before setting down her book and trotting out the door, head low.  She usually flies out the window, but clearly her mood prevented her from doing so.

Spike looked up at Applejack, who was now reading the book's back cover.  "...You know, I really hope this turns out good for her.  They're all her role models."

"So do I, Spike.  ...Hate t' say it, but, maybe there's an open spot now." She said, still scanning the book.

"Uh-huh."  Spike looked at the book.  "...Evidently those books are based off of real things." Spike said, trying to strike up a conversation. Things were awfully boring around the library with Twilight gone, due to Owlowiscious' apparent inability to determine who is doing what.

"...Really?"

"Yeah.  Evidently there were 7 enchanted golden apples crafted by some ancient ponies centuries ago. They were stolen by dragons or something.  Nopony knows where they are now."

"...Has anyone ever looked?"

"Heh.  Does anypony other than the Elements of Harmony have the guts to go up to a dragon's lair?"

"...Good point."  She looked at the book some more, and then back up at Spike.  "...Y' mind if I take this?"

"Not at all.  I'll just have to write down that you took it.  I'm sure Twilight wouldn't have a problem with it."

She set the book down, wrapped spike up in her front-right leg, and gave him a noogie.  "..Thank ye, Spike."  She trotted out the door waving goodbye, book in hoof.

A slightly dazed and disgruntled Spike did what he could to say farewell before the door closed shut.