So, ladies and gentlemen, here we have Chapter Two! I'm sorry it's taken so long to update a new chapter, especially given how short these chapters are, but, writing two fanfictions, working on a new novel, and college combined keeps me pretty busy.
Again, this is not my story, my intellectual property. It belongs to the awesome Appledash99, who, sadly, has passed away a few years ago. However, her best friend, her next-of-kin, we'll call her, Silverpotatoes, has given me permission to redo this story with edits, corrections, and other various twerks and such. So, here is the second chapter of Complications. If you love it, feel free to leave a review, but please, also go and show Appledash99 some love on her profile by leaving a review for her version as well.
As per usual, Hasbro owns My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, not me.
ADDITIONAL STORIES BY Guardian Kitch:
My Little Pony: Eye of the Storm
Star Wars: Jedi Wasteland
Gates of Terabithia
How Can I Help You To Say Goodbye?
Attack of Team Aqua
Always in Motion, The Future Is
Chapter Two: Truth or Dare?
Upon realizing that Rainbow Dash would be short a room for the duration of her stay with the Apple family, and agreeing that it was far too late in the day for them to search for an alternate way to get her home, Applejack and Rainbow Dash found themselves looking through the closets for a sleeping bag that the stricken Pegasus could use. When at last they found one, an old tattered orange thing with yellow stripes, they took it upstairs to AJ's room and spread it out across the floor at the foot of her bed. Once everything was situated for the impromptu sleepover, the pair then trotted back downstairs to find something for dinner.
"So, AJ, what's for food?"
"Ain't that just like yeh, Rainbow Dash? Always thinkin' 'bout food, always thinkin' with yer stomach."
"Hey, I'm a growing mare." Rainbow Dash pouted playfully as the pair entered the kitchen.
"A growin' pain in ma flank, more like it." Applejack laughed. "And ta answer yer question, we're a havin' Zap Apple Sandwiches tonight.
"Hey, that sounds awesome." Rainbow responded happily. "I know I'm starving from all the flying I've done today."
"Ah reckon Ah'd be plum tuckered out too, with the day yeh've had. But yer problem ain't the flyin', Rainbow Dash, it's yer crashin' that did yeh in."
The two young mares entered the kitchen, their laughter echoing and bouncing off the old wooden walls as they continued shoving and pushing each other playfully with their hooves. While the injured Pegasus took her seat at the table, Applejack went into the kitchen and made their sandwiches. Once done, she then brought a large plate overflowing with the oozing, delicious sandwiches, pausing just long enough for Rainbow Dash to take hers before sitting the food-laden plate on the kitchen table.
"TIME FOR SUPPER, EVERYPONY!" Applejack shouted. As though the extended clan were channeling some lingering Unicorn magic, the Earth Pony collection appeared quite suddenly, gathering around the table as they each happily took their food. The din of chatter remained light and happy as they all ate their fill of Zap Apple Sandwhiches. However, as the Apple family members soon began to take notice of, no pony ate as much as the pair of best friends, who, it became obviously clear, had turned the typically-normal activity into a bit of a contest, as though the pair had silently challenged one another to see who could eat the most.
"Why, I wish I was still a springy young'un." Granny Smith laughed as she finished her second sandwhich. "Back in meh day, I coulda give both ya young mares a run fer yer apples."
"Ee-yup."
"Ain't that right?! An Apple can put away any apple food quicker than ma's old mule friend woulda kicked yeh fer comin' up on him from behind." Braeburn laughed, getting in on the excitement.
"Yee-haw!" Apple Bloom added, gleefully watching the contest. "Ya might be awesome, Rainbow Dash, but ain't nopony ever beaten an Apple when it comes ta eatin' tha most Zap Apple sandwiches. Right, Big Macintosh?"
"Nope." Big Mac agreed.
However, within only a couple of minutes, the usually-silent workhorse had grabbed the plate of sandwiches and pulled them away from the battling friends just so that the rest of the clan could finish their own dinner before they ran out of sandwiches…not that it mattered much, as both Applejack and Rainbow Dash were now leaning over the table, dreadful looks on their face as they groaned, each rubbing her stomach with a free hoof.
Once they'd finished their food, the sizable gathering dissipated, with Rainbow Dash following Applejack back upstairs to her room.
"So, AJ," Dash continued after Applejack had closed the door. "We're not going to bed yet, are we?"
"Now Ah thought yeh said ya were plum tuckered, Rainbow Dash." AJ challenged.
"Well yeah, but it's still light outside. Besides, if this is going to be fun, we can't crash right after we eat."
"Oh yeah? What are yeh sayin'?"
"How about—I HAVE IT! How about a game of Truth or Dare?"
"Actually, Rainbow Dash, Ah reckon that sounds mighty darn fun. Okay, then, Rainbow Dash, you go first: Truth, are Dare?" She finished, suspecting she already knew the answer.
"Well duh!" Rainbow laughed. "Dare, of course; I mean, I am Rainbow Dash, after all; I'm the fastest flier in Equestria, I'm twenty percent—"
"Twenty percent cooler than anypony else in Equestria, Ah know, Dash, yeh say it all the time. Hmmm…" She trailed off, her countrified brain hard at work to think of something that would throw her friend for a loop. "Ah got it! Ah dare ya ta go downstairs an' pour a cup o' ice water on ma brother."
Laughing, Rainbow Dash climbed back to her feet. "Hahahaha! This is gonna be too easy; he won't know what hit him."
With that declaration, Rainbow Dash walked over, opened the door, and disappeared. As Applejack waited for news of her completion of the assigned dare, Rainbow Dash trotted downstairs, her hooves clattering against the wooden floor and sending eerie echoes all around her, the house now empty as everypony had gone on with their afternoon plans. She did as instructed, getting a glass and filling it up, first with ice then with water, and then made her way through the old house until she'd reached the closed door of Big Macintosh's room. Slowly opening the door, she peered in, moving forward only when she'd found the big red stallion fast asleep in bed. Tipping across the room, Rainbow Dash moved slowly until she at last reached the bed. Then, seizing her opportunity, she spilled the contents of her cup over his snoozing head.
His eyes snapping open wildly, he let out an angry, surprised neigh that screamed shrilly throughout the house. Laughing off the brief moment of fright, Rainbow Dash, living up to her name, dashed out of the room and didn't stop racing until she was back at her friend's side.
"That wan'unt funny, yeh fillies!" Big Macintosh bellowed, as angry as either mare had ever heard him before. The two friends, however, were too busy laughing and giggling appreciatively to care for his words.
"Like I said: too easy, AJ." Rainbow Dash laughed, at last beginning to settle down. "Now, your turn: Truth, or Dare?"
Not one to be outdone by her flightful friend, Applejack glanced over at her friend, adopting a look of smug courage.
"Dare."
"I dare you to do the same thing, Applejack, only this time, do it to Granny Smith!"
"Are ya crazy, Rainbow Dash?"
"What's the matter, Applejack? Chicken?"
"Ain't nopony alive can call meh a coward. Ah'll be back before yeh can say Zap Apple Jam."
Once Applejack had returned minutes later, now sporting frayed hair and a slight lump on her head, courtesy of Granny Smith's walkin' stick, she proceeded to give Rainbow Dash her next challenge. Dash, then, upon successfully completing her dare, made to one-up Applejack, and so on and on the daring went, neither pony willing to back down from her friends increasingly-daunting task. From Dash doing a hoofstand, upside down, for three minutes, only for Applejack to then be forced into singing for five minutes, loud enough for the entire house to hear her…on and on it went, each dare slowly climbing in risk and humiliation. Finally, suddenly, however, it was Rainbow Dash who proved just how far their game had gone.
"Okay, then, Appeljack, let's see just how brave you really are."
"Oh yeah? What ya got, Rainbow Dash?"
"I dare you, AJ, to ride on my back the next time I fly."
A bead of sweat trickled down her face and another down the back of her neck as she realized just how dangerous this game had gotten, fully aware of the risks that could come with flying atop a Pegasus, especially one as daring and speedy as Rainbow Dash. Looking into her friend's maroon eyes, however, Applejack realized it'd be impossible for her to back down, especially when so close to her best friend and chief rival.
"Hehehe." She chuckled. "No problem; yer on!"
"Then let's go, Earth Pony!" Rainbow Dash laughed, leading her friend downstairs. Of course, it might have done them both to remember the single most important fact of the day: Rainbow Dash was grounded, a Pegasus who, albeit it for a single day, could not physically fly thanks to a recent Apple Tree crash.
So, what'd ya'll think? Feel free to leave me a review, and, while you're at it, go to Appledash99's profile and leave a review on the original story.