The Story of the Apple Spectrum

***Chapter 2:7:

Swimming and the Friendship Report***

Rainbow touched down at the edge of the lake, looking back into the orchard's trails spotting Applejack booking it double-time. Rainbow smirked as Applejack skidded to a halt near her. She finally trotted right next to Rainbow and glared at the cyan Pegasus. She loosened her towel, let it slide onto the wood next to Rainbow's towel, pushed her hat off, and took a sharp breath.

“Ah 'spose ya didn't really say what kinda race we'd be havin' so ah have nopony t' blame but m'self.” Applejack laughed.

Rainbow pumped a hoof into the air. “Yes! I should talk to Twilight more about this technical stuff.”

They walked onto the dock, Rainbow dropping her towel near the end. Applejack let out a small chuckle as she set her stetson down on her towel. Rainbow was busy posing, letting the wind blow through her mane and tail. Applejack shook her head, stepped forward and let out a sigh. She spun around, leaned on her forelegs and pressed her backlegs against Rainbow's rump.

“Huh?” Rainbow looked over in Applejack's direction.

Pushing hard with her legs, Applejack let out a grunt as Rainbow shot off the dock into the water. A few seconds later, Rainbow resurfaced and began treading in the water. She grinned at Applejack before dog paddling over to the edge of the dock. Placing her forehooves on the dock's edge, she pulled herself onto the dock. She shook off, sending a few cold drops of water in all directions. Applejack raised a hoof, closing one eye to prevent water from bugging her eyes.

“I totally deserved that,” Rainbow said as she stopped shaking, her mane and tail frizzy and damp.

Applejack chuckled as she looked over at the damp Pegasus.

“Ah reckon ya did, Dashie,” Applejack said as she walked over to the edge and sat down, letting her backhooves dip into the water.

“Well I'll try to fly slowly next time. Maybe even backwards so we can still talk,” Rainbow said with a snarky attitude.

Applejack giggled, looking over to Rainbow. At that same time, Rainbow looked over and smiled back. Applejack turned back to the lake, and kicked at the water with her hooves. Rainbow quietly walked over to Applejack, just a few feet away and she stood directly behind her.

“Y'know, ah was thinkin', we need to have more days like this,” Applejack said, obliviously.

Rainbow balanced on her backlegs and placed her hooves on Applejack's back, being careful to not bug her golden mane. Applejack however reacted too soon as she spun around, causing Rainbow to lose her balance. Applejack reached around and grabbed one of Rainbow's forelegs and attempted to yank her over her shoulder into the water. Rainbow placed her other leg down and attempted to pull back with her entire body. Applejack never lost her grip nor did she so much as budge. Rainbow extended her wings in a last ditch effort to win this tug of war when Applejack reached over with her other hoof and grabbed Rainbow's other foreleg and yanked. Both ponies tumbled into the water, Rainbow letting out a shrill cry as she once again fell into the cold lake.

Applejack felt the chills of the water assaulting her body from every angle, conflicting with her sweaty figure. It was the perfect sensation after a nice, hard day's work. She released Rainbow's forelegs, all the while Rainbow flopped around like a fish out of water in the water. Rainbow kicked her legs as she resurfaced, taking another breath.

“Ack, okay, I deserved that too,” Rainbow said, spitting out a bit of water.

Applejack stayed under a few more seconds before kicking her legs and resurfacing next to Rainbow. Rainbow let out a laugh while Applejack snorted, smiling.

“Ah, Rainbow, where would we be without ya?” Applejack joked.

Rainbow looked upwards to think, Applejack facehoofing when she realized the cyan Pegasus will take that question seriously.

“Stuck on the other side of that gorge because I doubt Fluttershy would have fixed the bridge.” Rainbow rolled her eyes at the thought.

“Ah should'a known ya would take that question seriously,” Applejack said with a sigh.

“If you're dealing with me, you should expect everything to be serious.” She looked over at Applejack with a serious expression. “This mare means serious business.” She pointed to herself, her pupils shrinking a bit. “This future Wonderbolt is serious business. Ya got that Apples?” Rainbow said through bared teeth, tossing her two forelegs into the air, treading water with just her backlegs.

Applejack chuckled. “Sure, whatever ya say, sugarcube,” she responded, leaning backwards and proceeding to backstroke out further into the deeper waters of the lake.

Rainbow broke her serious expression and quickly released the laugh that had built up. She took a breath and dived down into the water, furiously kicking her backlegs while bringing her forelegs in front of her and parting the water. It wasn't a proper swimming technique but it worked well enough for Rainbow. She opened her eyes and looked upwards, seeing a shadowy golden blotch of colour almost directly above her. Rainbow swam upwards, pushing her forehooves above her while using her wings to help swim. She gained as much speed as possible and placed her forehooves on Applejack's rump, pushing upwards causing the golden mare to flip backwards into the water.

Rainbow resurfaced while Applejack dived down backwards into the water. She flipped herself around, cursing herself for allowing herself to be pushed. She resurfaced before her lack of a proper breath of air became too much of a problem and she saw Rainbow a few feet away, and she splashed water at the Pegasus. Rainbow closed her eyes briefly as the splash ended and opened them to see Applejack swimming away.

Rainbow grit her teeth and began to paddle furiously her way after Applejack, preferring the sidestroke to the forward crawl. She was nowhere near catching up to Applejack, so she extended her wings, deciding to use her own physical strength to ignore the tiring effects of using wet wings in the water and began to use her wings as an extra set of legs, propelling herself forward. She already felt herself getting tired from her determination to catch Applejack, her wings being the source. She decided that there was no chance she'd catch Applejack using her current method, so Rainbow began paddling her legs as hard as possible.

The two ponies came to the centre of the lake, going at paces that would win them first place in the Pony Olympics. Rainbow was slowly catching up to Applejack, using both her physical prowess plus her lighter Pegasus body to gain that little extra edge. Applejack was getting slightly disoriented, having to keep dipping her face into the water all the while her ears are getting muffled from the constantly moving water. She was getting exhausted once more, opting to continue at her steady pace as she was certain Rainbow's far behind.

Rainbow began to grit her teeth. She slowly swam  past Applejack much to her dismay, but... Rainbow couldn't keep it up. Applejack kept up her pace, her more natural Earth Pony body not falling victim to the exhaustion Rainbow was experiencing nor did she have two soaked wings acting as an anchor. Rainbow eventually was overtaken by Applejack, then they hit the opposite shore. Applejack ran out panting a bit as she ran onto the sandy shores before running onto the grass, shaking herself damp. Rainbow practically crawled out of the water, panting more heavily as her dripping wet wings dragged on the ground.

Applejack turned around with an uncontrollable grin on her face before being stopped as she saw Rainbow: a defeated, devastated and exhausted look on her face. Rainbow grit her teeth and closed her eyes, trying to shut everything out to catch her breath. She allowed herself to pant heavily and Applejack couldn't help but feel a little guilty. She trotted over to Rainbow and placed a hoof on Rainbow's shoulder and rubbed her shoulder in a comforting gesture.

Rainbow felt Applejack's hoof and thought quickly. Applejack swam the entire lake and even now, she's still not as exhausted as I am. She's an Earth Pony; built to have high endurance and be one with nature in a sense. I'm not. Rainbow let out a few shudders as she attempted to hold back a mess of sobs.

This was the bump in the relatively straight road of the past few days; the one event that placed Rainbow in a state of despair. Applejack noticed the few shudders, unable to see the cyan mare's face. Applejack's expression softened.

“Darn it, I've tried my best to step into your shoes, Applejack.” Rainbow raised her head and looked directly at Applejack, the aforementioned mare unable to tell if the cyan Pegasus was crying due her wet coat. “I worked up a sweat, tried to actively work like an Earth Pony, and you still beat me,” she said. She turned her head and stared at her wings. Applejack attempted to speak, but Rainbow cut her off. “It's these wings, Applejack. It's why we can't be equals, why I constantly use my wings in our games. Without them, I can't be an equal and win fairly.”

Applejack scoffed. “Rainbow, don't go bustin' yerself 'cause ya were born with wings. Flyin' was an amazin' gift, one that many Earth Ponies themselves want badly.”

Rainbow shook her head. “I don't want these wings. They're the reason why we get into fights. I challenge you, I discover I can't win fair and square, I use my wings, you call me out on cheating, we have ourselves a bitter argument,” she shouted, stepping back as she shook off Applejack's hoof off.

“Wait Rainbow, don' say that. We're equals-” Applejack trailed off near the end. Rainbow shook her head again and proceeded to shake herself dry. “Rainbow, we're friends. Don't belittle y'self over a lost swim. Ah jus' had a head start,” Applejack said, slowly moving towards Rainbow to try and comfort her.

“No, Applejack. I'm physically weaker than you. I'm an athlete, but as a Pegasus, I'm not able to keep up with you no matter how hard I try.” Rainbow quickly stepped backwards, backhooves getting hit by the water as the wind blew it onshore. “I'm sorry, I just need to think it over,” she said, extending her wings.

“Rainbow, Ah-” Applejack went to say, but stopped. She only stared at Rainbow's eyes which returned the same stare; understanding. “Ah'll see you t'night, Rainbow,” Applejack said, smiling.

Rainbow stared at Applejack, keeping her saddened expression before smiling through her temporary misery. She nodded. “You're a great friend, Applejack. I'll see you later,” she said, flapping her wings as she took flight, not her usual takeoff but a more humble, slow takeoff.

Applejack couldn't help but smile. She never averted her gaze, merely watching that rainbow mane and tail blow in the wind before disappearing over a hill in Ponyville's direction. Applejack sighed, still smiling and began the long trot around the lake back to the dock.

Rainbow never did use her towel.

[*][*][*]

Rainbow touched down atop one of the many light clouds floating above Ponyville, in a rather somber attitude. She lay down stomach first, stretching her legs out as she plopped her head atop a mound in the fluffy cloud. She let out a sigh, having worn out her petty sobs of jealousy. Her eyes were puffy, and now, she just felt disappointed she ended hers and Applejack's swim time. There was at least an hour until dinner at the Apple Family house. She shuffled her body forward on the cloud, allowing her forelegs to dangle off the edge and her head to peer down into the streets of Ponyville. She had a dull gaze, half caring about what went down in the streets of Ponyville.

She spotted Lyra walking into a cafe, Bonbon lying in wait. She saw the mail pony's at work. The air courier, Derpy, flying around in swerves in the general direction of Fluttershy's house, carrying a box on her back. She looked towards Ponyville Town Square, seeing Twilight Sparkle and her assistant, Spike, at the fountain. It was barely visible but Spike had his arms crossed, Twilight was rambling on while she fiddled with the water, probably taking a sample or something along the lines. Rainbow looked towards the Carousal Boutique, seeing that Apple Bloom had left Sweet Apple Acres and stood outside the boutique with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, Rarity pacing back and forth letting out a frustrated shriek now and then. Rainbow stared for a few seconds as Rarity seemingly chastised the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Rainbow snorted at the thought of the Crusaders doing some outrageous thing.

She stopped staring and thought. She spent the last week being something she wasn't: an Earth Pony. When one event made her realize that she doesn't have the traits of an Earth Pony, all that confidence and excitement crumbled. She didn't want to admit it, but she was jealous. Full on jealous. Jealous of Earth Ponies. Jealous of her friend. Her best friend.

Rainbow let out a long sigh as she stared down, letting her eyes stare directly down at the town below. She spotted one thing that stood out against the mess of colours: An erratic, bouncing pink pony being followed by a barely visible small blob of green. Rainbow followed as the two blobs zig-zagged through Ponyville towards Sugar Cube Corner. Rainbow let out another sigh, and allowed herself to roll off the cloud directly below.

She didn't bother standing up and rolled off the cloud. Rainbow began to let herself fall nose first akin to a bomb. Pinkie looked up and gasped, but just before Rainbow slammed into the ground, her wings extended outwards and she slowed down. She allowed her legs to swing from under her, nearly kicking Pinkie in the face. She allowed her legs to dangle back under her, and touched down gently, setting all four hooves on the ground. Pinkie saw Rainbow's expression, and her typical smiley attitude faltered for a second before she pepped up right away.

“Hiya Rainbow Dash! What'cha do~oin?” Pinkie asked in her typical Pinkie Pie attitude.

Gummy walked up behind Pinkie and latched onto her tail. Rainbow almost chuckled; Gummy just mindlessly followed along through Pinkie's antics. Heh, owners really are like their pets.

“I, uh, just came back from Sweet Apple Acres. Raced Applejack. Left in a fit of-” She paused, Pinkie loosing her wide smile and simply went for a smaller smile. “Sadness.”

Pinkie let out a loud gasp, her pupils shrinking. She stayed frozen like that, no sound leaving her mouth as she processed what was just said.

“Dashie? Race? Sad!?” Pinkie said, leaning closer to Rainbow's muzzle with her own on each word.

Rainbow averted her eyes, looking to the side as she let out a long sigh. “Yeah. Sad.” She looked up as Pinkie stopped staring at Rainbow, her eyes darting back and forth as her face contorted into the serious Pinkie face. Rainbow let out one last sight. “Wanna go to Sugar Cube Corner so we can talk about it?”

Pinkie looked up at Rainbow, her train of 'thought' stopping. She nodded and a smile crept up on her face. “Okie doki loki! Laughter was the best medicine as they say, and as Pinkie Pie says, there was no place for laughter like Sugar Cube Corner!” she said as her trademark Pinkie Pie grin showed itself.

This brought a smile to Rainbow's face as she flew into the air, hovering after Pinkie who proceeded to turn and start bouncing towards Sugar Cube Corner.

[*][*][*]

“Alright. Dashie, why's your smile all upside down?” Pinkie said, smiling and twisting her head upside down.

Rainbow pondered the words she could use before sighing once more.

“Applejack and I are friends. That should be known by now, but we compete all the time,” Rainbow started, pausing to make sure Pinkie was listening. Pinkie nodded. “So anyways, lately, Applejack and I have been doing some things together. Competing and such. Today, we decided to finish bucking early so we could compete again. We haven't in a while since we've been busy with competition preparation. We wound up racing, ending in a draw. All good. Then we played horseshoes, and I lost. Again, all good. Then we went for a swim-” Rainbow paused, pondering her words. “We would up racing again, but when I lost this time, I just, I kind of lost it.”

“So you lost? Dashie, I don't mean to be a meanie rude pants, but are you a sore loser?” Pinkie asked, unsure of how to word it.

Rainbow thought for a second, completely unsure of whether Pinkie spoke the truth. Am I jealous of Earth Ponies, or am I just a sore loser? Am I whining because my pride is hurt? she thought and looked over at Pinkie who still had her serious face on.

“I'm really not sure. I don't know if I'm a sore loser even if I did lose something that wasn't a competition-” she paused again, looking back down at her forehooves. “We were supposed to just have a nice, friendly swim at the lake near Sweet Apple Acres after we played Horseshoes and ran through the orchards. After a bit of messing around, Applejack splashed me and began swimming towards the middle of the lake. I decided to chase after and before you knew it, we began to race. I was lagging behind, so I started paddling faster. I began to catch up and I even overtook Applejack, but I got tired. My wings were beginning to hinder me in my exhaustion, and Applejack overtook me. After all this, I realized-” she paused, attempting to hold back a few sobs.

Pinkie simply listened sympathetically. She placed a hoof on Rainbow's shoulder.

“I've acted like an Earth Pony this past week. I saw things from Applejack's, and your perspective. What it was like to work an honest day's hard work, to see things that you or Applejack would have to walk far to see such as the view of Ponyville from Ponyville Cliffs. After this race, I realized that, yeah, I'm not an Earth Pony, and I never will be. I can never be Applejack's equal. Am I a sore loser or am I truly jealous of Earth Ponies?” she looked over at Pinkie Pie, allowing a few tears to drop. “Am I jealous of my friend, Applejack?”

Pinkie said nothing for a second, allowing a brief silence to befall the two ponies. Pinkie leaned forward, wrapping her forelegs around Rainbow's neck in a hug. Pinkie patted, rubbing Rainbow's mane. Rainbow merely leaned her head against Pinkie's neck, letting a few sobs escape.

“Jeez, I've been a mushy pile of sob this week,” Rainbow said, lazily wrapping her forelegs around Pinkie.

“It's alright, Dashie. I won't tell anypony. I Pinkie-promise.” Pinkie released Rainbow from the hug, Rainbow doing the same.

“Thanks, Pinks,” Rainbow said, rubbing her eyes. She looked around, letting her eyes wander as she waited to see if Pinkie had anything else she was going to add.

Pinkie did. “There are times I wish I was a Pegasus,” she started, staring at the ceiling with wide eyes. Rainbow looked over at Pinkie. “Yes, a Pegasus Pony. Maybe if I was a Pegasus, I could create Sonic Rainbooms and create rainbows so everybody I know could smile. Maybe if I was, I could have become friends with you and Gilda. I could have been totally awesome and you and Fluttershy and I could have went to Flight School together. I just want to be able to make my friends smile. With wings, I could get to places faster, help plan parties.” She sighed, leaning against her pillows as Gummy crawled out and onto Pinkie's tummy. “Sometimes, I don't like being an Earth Pony. Maybe I could have smiled from day one instead of stayed on that no-smiles Rock Farm. I would have had different parents and a different childhood but-” she paused. “I wouldn't be here if I wasn't born an Earth Pony, would I?” Pinkie said.

Rainbow's eyes widened. She looked at Pinkie who obviously hasn't met the same revelation as Rainbow. She let out a chuckle. Pinkie looked over at Rainbow, a smile growing on her face as Rainbow laughed.

“Pinkie, thanks for the talk. Sorry, but I have to go tell another Earth Pony the situation,” Rainbow said, rolling off of Pinkie's bed.

Pinkie let out a small giggle. “Heehee, okie doki loki, Dashie! I'm glad this talk made you feel better even if I have no idea when or how the conversation went right,” she said, indulging herself in her own confusion.

Rainbow laughed. “Don't worry about it Pinkie, just remember you helped me.” She trotted over to Pinkie's balcony, opening the doors.

Pinkie rolled off of her bed, giving Rainbow a smile. “Alrighty, Dashie! I'll see you later!” Pinkie said.

Rainbow waved. “See ya, Pinkie.” She walked onto the balcony, closing the doors before taking off towards Sweet Apple Acres.

[*][*][*]

Applejack lay on her bed, resting a bit before dinner. She was worried about her friend; pride was everything to that pony, but Rainbow did know when to put it away in regards to the situation. Applejack studied the dust floating around in her room, the window wide open letting the stiff breeze of the evening give her room a bit of a more natural scent. A few hoofsteps were heard, big and clunky. The door to Applejack's room swung open and Applejack tilted her head to view the entering pony.

“Dinner's ready in five,” Big Macintosh peered his head just passed the door, well enough to see Applejack.

“Thank ya, big brother,” Applejack said.

Big Macintosh backed out, closing the door and Applejack heard his hoofsteps as he trotted back downstairs. Applejack turned her head, staring back up at the ceiling. She began to think once more. More hoofsteps outside her door. Not clunky like Big Mac. The door swung open and Applejack expected Apple Bloom. Instead, Rainbow stepped through, and looked over at Applejack. She immediately sat up in bed and smiled. Rainbow looked at Applejack for a second before smiling herself.

“Ah take it ya feel better?” Applejack asked.

Rainbow nodded. “Yeah, much better. I moped for a bit but then I saw Pinkie, she asked me a question, and then I flew here,” she said.

“So?” Applejack asked, turning to let her backlegs dangle off of the edge of her bed.

Rainbow walked to Applejack's bed, sitting next to the golden mare.

“Applejack, sorry for leaving you back there,” Rainbow said.

Applejack shook her head. “Nuh uh, no need t' apologize, Rainbow. Ah completely understand.” She leaned back on her bed. “Sometime, we all jus' need t' stop an think some thing's over, alone. Ah'm not one fer goin' it alone but sometimes, it's what we all need.”

Rainbow shook her head this time. “Loyalty was being there for your friends when you need it, and when I needed a friend to be there for me, I decided to go alone. I still wound up going to Pinkie because, yeah. I needed somepony to talk to, but that somepony should have been you, Applejack.”

Applejack thought for a second before nodding. “A'ight, ah can understan' that,” she said, placing her forehooves behind her head and crossing her hindlegs.

Rainbow hopped up from the bed and walked to the centre of the room and smiled.

“Spike, take a letter,” Rainbow said.

There was no response as Applejack looked around awkwardly, Rainbow's still expecting a response.

“Uh, sugar cube, Spike ain't here.”

Rainbow turned towards Applejack and thought for a second. She facehoofed. “Heh, oh yeah.” She turned towards the door and let silence overtake the atmosphere for a second. “Applejack, take a letter.”

Applejack cocked her head, smirking with a raised eyebrow. “What was that?” she asked.

Rainbow sighed. “C'mon, it's like a rule. Somepony else has to write this while one speaks,” she said, turning to look at Applejack with a sheepish grin.

Applejack snorted before letting a natural chuckle escape. “Alright, fine. Ya win.” she stood up and walked over to her desk, grabbing line paper and some ink and a quill, setting a blank sheet down and dipped the quills' tip into the ink.

“Dear Princess Celestia,

Today, I learned something extremely valuable about friendship. Life has many freedoms, and friendship is one of those freedoms. Freedom isn't something that you have to earn, but it takes time to nurture. Everypony has their own views and limitations, and I've come to a realization. Freedom is being able to look at yourself, and look at your limitations and being able to live with it. Jealousy is something everypony has, but it takes an understanding of freedom, the understanding of your limitations to live with your jealousy. I'm a Pegasus, not an Earth Pony. My physical ability is less than Applejack's, an all-natural Earth Pony, and I'm fine with that. Don't be envious when you could be supportive.

Your faithful future Wonderbolt, Rainbow Dash.”

Applejack finished writing, not writing as well as Spike but enough to read the letter. Applejack wiped the tip of the quill off on a napkin, closed the inkwell, and placed both ink and quill away.

“Alright, send it,” Rainbow said, not staring in Applejack's direction at all.

Applejack stared, letting a bit of silence overtake the atmosphere once more. Her pupils grew smaller as she looked at the room, Rainbow still in that position, hardly moving. Applejack rolled up the letter, brought it to her mouth, and blew on it, loud enough that it could be heard.

“Alright!” Rainbow exclaimed, pumping a hoof into the air.

Applejack set the letter down on her nightstand, still watching as Rainbow stretched.

“So yer no longer, uh-” Applejack fiddled, pausing to find the right word.

Rainbow nudged Applejack in the side. “No, no. I'm not jealous anymore. If I wasn't born the way I was, many things would be much different and I'm glad with what I have. I have a good job, I have good friends and I have the best friend a pony could ask for,” Rainbow looked at Applejack, smiling while placing a hoof on Applejack's left shoulder.

Applejack smiled. “Thank ya kindly, Rainbow. Yer a great friend t' have too. Ah mean, all circle of friends need one hothead,” Applejack chuckled at her joke.

Rainbow rolled her eyes, smiling as she gave Applejack a minor shrug. “Oh hush you. You're the stubborn one,” she said, chuckling.

“Ah 'spose,” Applejack said, looking down at her hooves while she gave the ground a weak kick, looking over at Rainow. “So, what say we go eat?”

Rainbow nodded. “Sounds good. I re~ally enjoy the awesome food here,” Rainbow said as the two mares exited Applejack's room, closing the door.

Approaching the top of the stairs, Rainbow looked over at Applejack. “It's going to be a tough game, won't it?” Rainbow asked, with a nervous but happy smile. “The Market Harvest, I mean?”

Applejack wanted to say no, but she knew all too well. She didn't want to say yes, so she decided to word it in a fancy way.

“Don't think ya can handle it?” Applejack said with a devious smile.

Rainbow snorted. “I may not have as much endurance and stamina as you Earth Ponies, but your advertisement campaign would fall apart worse than Winter Wrap Up without Twi,” she retorted.

Applejack chuckled, and thought, looking at the wall before looking back at Rainbow.

“Care to make a bet on that?”

Rainbow smiled.

“I win, and I give you my trust,” Rainbow grinned.

“Ah win an ya give me free VIP tickets to yer shows when ya become a Wonderbolt,” Applejack replied.

Both ponies raised a hoof, spat into it, and slapped them together; spit-shake.

“It's on, Applejack.”