Learning to Love: A Daring Spectrum of Apples

Chapter 4

Daring and Dash kept a neck to neck pace as they race down the corridor in pure terror. Twilight and, surprisingly, Applejack trailed behind. Twilight wasn't used to such activities, her partial shut in lifestyle catching up to her, and Applejack was in serious pain and it was only getting worse. Applejack's lungs burned, her mouth was shut tight to keep her pain nausea at bay, her eyes were filling with tears, and her surroundings were growing fuzzy faster and faster. She looked back and groaned when she found the rock was only gaining speed and getting closer not close enough to worry but still close. Gritting her teeth tighter, she pushed herself to catch up with Twilight, who seemed to be getting hazier. They leaned into a turn and Applejack screamed out in pain as her leg gave out with a sickening crack. She tumbled to the ground and rolled for a while before lying perfectly still.

Daring looked over her shoulder and gasped before pulling back, racing to Applejack’s side. She managed to get to Applejack and get her onto her back before running twice as fast, to catch up with the others. She rushed to Twilight's side and yelled, "Run faster Twilight! Faster damn it!" Twilight groaned but picked the speed up regardless. They ducked into a corridor that Dash waved from and collapsed from exhaustion. Daring panted then rolled Applejack off of her back, looking to Twilight. "Check her over please. Something's be wrong." Twilight nodded and looked down at Applejack then pressed her horn against her side. Her horn was alight for a short second before she moved back.

"Her leg broke while she was running. I can fix it but need your guys’ help." Twilight moved, looking from Daring to Dash. "Dash, you need to hold her down. We can’t have her bucking around or it’s only going to make this worse. Daring, can you move her leg back into position? I'll try to direct you the best I can." Daring and Dash nodded and moved into their positions. Dash straddled Applejack's chest and put her hooves on her shoulders to prevent her from rising, while Daring moved into position by Applejack’s broken leg, looking at Twilight. Twilight's eyes began to glow and she said, "Okay, press it up." Daring did as Twilight instructed trying to be as gentle as possible while still attempting to move it fast to limit the pain. Applejack jolted awake and shrieked in pain as her leg was moved quickly, causing an immense amount of pain. "Now to the left and inward." Daring again did as instructed and Applejack withered in pain, whining softly.

Dash held her down and looked away while she whined. She felt sick seeing her friend in pain. "Damn, now a bit to the right. She moved it out of place." Daring moved it again and Applejack cried out loudly and twisted slightly then screamed as her leg moved out of its place completely, creating a nasty and flinch worthy looking sight. "Damn it! Push it in! Dash, hold her better!" Dash bared all of her weight down on her then closed her eyes and braced herself. Applejack screamed in pain as Daring moved her leg back together; Twilight moved forward at once and pressed her horn into the broken segment before it could be moved out of place again.

Applejack screamed loudly once again and her fore hoof took a swing at Dash, missing by just an inch. "Calm down Applejack! It has to be done!" Applejack tried to hit Dash again but missed and hit the wall next to her, causing a pain induced hiss to come from her. Sweat poured down Twilight's face as she poured more magic into the bone and forcefully mended them together as fast as she could. After a while, that felt like hours, she moved back and Applejack's twisting and swings grew weaker. Applejack stopped, panting heavily, tears rolling from her eyes and into her mane. Dash hugged her tightly, sniffling after having to hold her friend down and watch her in pain, Daring sat next to her head stroking her mane and Dash's, whispering, “There, let's take another break before we continue. I think we need it."

Twilight looked from her food to Applejack, who was unconscious, snoring softly, into Dash's side. Daring and Dash were speaking softly over her body, which was sandwiched between them. Dash had a light flush on her cheeks while Daring was smiling and taking an occasional glance at Applejack. Applejack snorted in her sleep and both mares paused to look at her and grin at each other, giggling at her snort. Twilight cocked her head to the side and smiled lightly. Cute. She took a bite from her sandwich and blinked. Rarity's group had come up with nothing so they were headed back and to them.

Over by Dash and Daring, Applejack slowly came awake and raised her head, groaning softly. "What in..."

"Nice to see you awake sleepy head." She looked to Daring then Dash and winced lightly. "How's the leg?"

"Hurts a little but nothin' Ah can't handle." They nodded and Daring slowly got up, stretching as she did so. "Well we've had enough time to rest. It’s time to get a move on. Applejack if you have a problem with your leg tell us okay?" Dash stood and, both, her and Daring helped Applejack up to her hooves. She stood a bit unsteadily for a second before stretching out and moving her leg.

"Yes'em. Well my leg feels much better. What happened after Ah fell?" Dash and Daring looked at each other than shook their heads, sharing a grimace.

"Don't ask."

Soon, the four mares trotted down the corridor at a leisurely pace. Twilight was examining the walls, while Dash and Daring argued over something not noticing Applejack looking thoughtfully from Daring then to Dash, giving them both her attention. She was thankful about being rescued and there was a new feeling in her chest that was starting to bloom but she still liked Dash right? Did she like them both? She shook her head then scowled at the ground, her face getting red at the thought. What the hay was she thinking like that for in a corridor of traps and death?! She sighed then pulled the front of her Stetson down and trotted after the two confusing mares. Daring smiled as Dash talked in detail about saving someone during the young flier's competition and then looked forward. "Company halt!"

She stopped and looked back to see Dash and Twilight were looking at her in confusion but stopped while Applejack stood ramrod straight and to attention. "Applejack have you had military training?" Applejack seemed to snap out of a stupor and flushed a deep red.

"No! Just....mah pa and ma...oh ferget it." She grew redder then snorted. "What'd you stop us fer anyway?" Daring smirked then turned back and pointed to down to the hole in front of her. Their eyes widened and Dash squealed. "The statue!" Daring nodded, frowning as she looked around. "Something must be out of place. This seems just too easy." Twilight's horn lit up then went out abruptly and her eyes widened, her mouth falling open in a bit of shock and horror. "My magic!"

Daring nodded, trying to flared out her wings but gasped when they refused to open. "My wings seem to be out of commission too." Dash whined as she came to the same conclusion and they looked down and around. The statue rested in the center of the room below them on top of a huge mound of diamonds and other jewels. It was too low to jump to and Twilight couldn’t use her magic to grab it either.

Daring frowned and looked for a way to the mound only to see Applejack grin as she pulled her signature rope from under her hat. "Rope. Never leave home without it." Daring laughed as she tied one end of it around a large rock and motioned to it. "After you my ladies." The four slid down to the ground and looked around. A treasure room. The two inexperienced mares looked around the room in awe while Twilight stuck to Daring said, "Don't touch anything. It’s more than likely to be booby-trapped." The other two moved closer to them and Daring inched her way up a flight of gold coin stairs to the statue.

She took a deep breath, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and flexed her hooves, only to get smacked for taking too long from Applejack before she finally snatched the statue off the mound of jewels. She smiled and ushered them down the mound and they gasped when the mound began to melt down and turned into a spinning vortex before their very eyes.