Poison Kiss

All of the ponies are playing outside and having picnics with their friends. I'm far too busy for that kind of stuff. I'm kicking apple trees at Sweet Apple Acres so that we can sell the applws. Applebloom just started school so we're a bit short hoofed in the mornings, but don't worry about me. I'm not alone. Big Macintosh is working the plow on the other side of the field.

I lift my back legs off the ground and slam my hoofs onto the bark of another tree. I hear leaves and branches rustle from a tree near by. My curiosity gets the best of me and I kick the tree. Instead of apples falling to the ground a blue blur plunges to the ground.

" Ouch!" Rainbow Dash says.

" Rainbow Dash? What are ya' doin' here?" I ask picking up the apples surrounding her.

" I was looking for you so you can see my new flying trick. Then I fell in the tree." Rainbowdash says flapping the leaves out of her wings.

" Oh, that's great." I say.

" Are you even listening?" She asks. Her eyebrows furrow. She swoops over and takes my hat and puts it on her head.

" Yea', yea'. I am. So gimme' back mah' hat!" I say.

" What are you even doing here anyway? I've been looking all over Ponyville for you. Pinkie Pie is having a picnic and she was wondering if you wanted to go." She says.

" Uh, ah don't know. I got alotta' work to do. Maybe some other time. Ah hope you guys ain't too disappointed. I'll try to spend more time with yall' this weekend.." I say kicking a tree and putting the apples into the basket.

" Applejack! That's what you said last time. You're passing up an opportunity to hang out with us for WORK? Work,work work, is that all you do?" Rainbow Dash moans. I stare at the ground and sigh.

" Ah'm sorry, Rainbow Dash. Ah ain't got time for slackin' off. Ah wanna' make mah, friends happy but ah' gotta' keep mah' family happy too." I say bucking at the tree and catching the apples.

" Don't you ever do anything fun? Doesn't it bother you that you spend most of your life kicking trees and selling apples. Do something for yourself for once, Applejack. We can go racing and play sports." She says. I dump the apples into the cart and don't respond. I don't want to let my friends down, but I don't want to not get my work done. Maybe I can get up extra early tomorrow so I can get my work done.

" I'll ask Big Mac. Hey Big Mac. Can Applejack go to the picnic with me? Please! Just this once." Rainbowdash asks.

" E-yup!" He says nodding his head.

" But Big Mac, if ah go you're going to be here all by yourself doin' all the work." I say.

"Ya don't have to-" Big Macintosh says.

" Excuses! Excuses! If you're no going, that's fine. If you're looking for me I'll be with my friends because I'm loyal and I would never leave my friends hanging. You're going to miss out on all the fun." She says taking flight.

" If ah finish early ah might drop by an' visit. See ya later Rainbow Dash." I say.

" See you this weekend." She says disappearing behind a sea of cloud. My ears droop. Was Rainbow Dash right? Have I been taking my friends for granted? Big Mac and I looked at each other but neither of us spoke. Three hours later, I saw my friends coming from outside the fence.

"Howdy everypony!" I say tipping my hat and putting a fake smile on my face.

" Hey Applejack, where's Apple Bloom?" Twilight Sparkle asks.

" She's in the cutie mark crusader club house with Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell." I reply

" We heard you were busy so we brought you some left over cupcakes from the picnic." Pinkie Pie says hopping up and down like a bunny.

" Aw, Shucks. Yall didn't have to do that." I say.

" Oh, Applejack. You're hooves are filthy." Rarity says.

" Yea' it ain't nothing' a little soap an water can't wash away." I say.

" We missed not having you around. You need to come next time, okay" Rainbow Dash says.

" Okay, see yall later. Thanks for everything." I say eating Pinkie Pie's cup cake.

Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash leave. Fluttershy stays put.

" Excuse me, if it's not too much trouble…Can I buy some apples for the bunnies to eat." She says softly.

" Why sure ya can Fluttershy." I say handing her a sack with apples inside. She reaches in her saddlebag. "Nu uh, Fluttershy. It's on me." I say putting my money into the cash bucket.

" No, Applejack! That's your money, not mine." She says. I roll my eyes and kick a tree.

" There's no need to thank me." I say.

" Applejack!" She gasps. I aim my hooves at the next tree. " Applejack don't." She says.

" It's not that big of a deal. It's just a few apples." I say kicking the tree. A yellow object hits the ground and a yellow sticky liquid oozes out. A swarm of bees buzz loudly in my ears. They fly all around me. I feel my heart palpitate. Fluttershy screams and takes off into the sky. A bee stings my flank and my shoulder. I yelp in pain as the venom goes into my blood. Bees fly in my mouth. I feel them crawling on my tongue. I feel the bees stinging my gums and my throat. My tongue feels like a rock. I gallop towards the house leaving a trail of dust behind me. Big Mac watches in terror as the bees surround me. I open the door, run inside, and shut it behind me. I let out a sigh of relief. I lean against the wall and pant. Thank Celestia they're gone! Granny Smith sits in her rocking chair.

" It's awful hot out there. I better crack a window." She says.

" Granny! Don't!" I say. Before I could stop her she opens the window. I help Granny Smith get into another room before any more bees could get to her. The buzzing sounds faint now. I hear screaming from downstairs. Oh no! The crusaders!

I run upstairs to Apple Bloom's room. The three of them are hiding under the bed. I grab the blanket and tie it to the window shade with my teeth. I take each of them one at a time and help them climb down. I'm covered with stingers and my body is throbbing. I know that the drapes won't hold me if I try to climb down. I trot back outside as fast as my swollen legs could carry me.

Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie are outside making faces at each other and laughing. Pinkie Pie crosses her eyes and sticks out her tongue. Rainbow Dash laughs. Rainbow Dash sticks out her front teeth. I tap Pinkie Pie's shoulder. She bursts out laughing and snorts.

" That face is so funny. Applejack." Pinkie Pie says. I try to speak but my mouth just feels like it's on fire. I try to tell them that I can't breathe but a funny sound came out instead.

"Okay, okay you win. You won the face making contest. You can stop now." Rainbow Dash says rolling on the ground. "

Twilight writes my name on the scoreboard with her horn." Wait a minute. I think she's trying to say something. "

" You got fleas?" Rainbow Dash guesses. Can't anypony see that I'm not breathing?

" You learned to speak Japanese?" Pinkie Pie says.

"You're planting trees?" Rainbow Dash says.

" You can't eat cheese?" Pinkie Pie guesses.

" You've got to sneeze?" Rainbowdash asks.

" You lost your keys?" Pinkie Pie says. My face turns blue and my vision gets foggy.

" Guys, I think she can't breathe." Twilight Sparkle says. Everything starts to spin.

" That's ridiculous! You're wearing capris? You hate eating peas." Pinkie Pie says. I fall to the floor and the world around me fades into darkness.