Prompt: Stadium

Applejack tipped her Stetson low over her eyes; scanning the hastily-erected stands surrounding the rodeo ring. Ponies of all colors were cheering wildly as she cantered around the dirt, lasso gripped tightly in her teeth. With the sounding bell, she whipped her head sharply to the side, bringing the knotted rope into the air. In a flurry of jumps and spins, she raced through her routine with practiced grace and prodigious speed to the mounting calls of the stands. When her routine was up, she crossed both sets of legs, breathing hard. She waited for the judge’s marks. A smile tugged at her lips as she heard a single voice, cracking repeatedly, over the general din.

After getting her score, she cantered over to the side where a beaming blue pegasus was waiting for her. “You were great out there, AJ!”

“Thanks, Rainbow. I don’t know for sure I scored high enough to take the blue, though.” The cowpony wiped her brow on the back of her fetlock, her gaze trailing away.

Applejack felt her hat lift from her head before Rainbow Dash mussed her mane. “Hey, you were awesome and no rocks-for-brains judge is gonna change that.” The blue mare set the Stetson on her own head, hovering a few feet above her friend.

“You give that back, RD.”

“You’re gonna have to come and—” The thick rope of the lasso wrapped around all four or Rainbow’s legs and dragged her to the ground. “Eeep.”

“Well, lookie here; I caught myself a doggie.” The orange mare grinned, slapping her hat back into place. “I don’t s’pose there’s enough meat on her bones to warrant a brandin’ though.”

“Har har. Lemme out, will ya?” The ropes loosened and Rainbow Dash sprung back into the air. “Seriously, AJ, if you can catch the Rainbow Dash, you deserve the blue ribbon for sure.” A resolve steeled over Applejack’s frame. After a moment of hesitation she trotted straight up to her hovering friend and grabbed her chin with a hoof. “What are you—?”

Applejack’s lips silenced Rainbow Dash. Magenta eyes flew wide before fluttering closed, sliding her forehooves into scratchy blonde mane. The farmer leaned in forcefully as Rainbow settled on her hindlegs, pushing the daredevil over until she fell to the ground and dragged Applejack on top of her. When the kiss broke, her blue face was stained scarlet and she panted heavily.

Applejack pecked the tip of Rainbow’s snout. “Did I get my blue ribbon?”

The pegasus chuckled, stroking the earth pony’s mane. “AJ, you got best in show.”

Author's Note

Woo, first ever Appledash I've written.

Prompt Stadium, 100-500 words, four hours. Needed to be slice of life, comedy, or dark. Shut up, romance counts as slice of life.