Not alone 11
What?! This story is still a thing? You probably thought I'd fallen of the face of the earth. Well I'm back. I have a hankering for some appledash and I know you do too so here is, a year and a half in the making, chapter 11
It was a beautiful Saturday evening, and Sweet Apple Acres seemed to thrive with the essence of nature. Birds chirped gleefully, leaves rustled in the fall summer breeze, and a creak flowed peacefully through the orchard.
Applejack sat on her porch, rocking slowly and sipping cider. The sounds of majesty filled her ears from each direction, but she yearned for a different sound far from the regular heard on the farm. She had sat down only minutes ago, and within a few more, the sound came.
The low mumble of a distant engine echoed from the hills behind the farm house. The growling became consistently louder as if a an angered dog of massive proportions was to trek through the picket fencing at any moment.
Instead, a sleek Ford Mustang rolled though the yawning gates. It accelerated slightly as it powered its way up the remainder of the driveway. As the car pulled close to the house, Applejack stood, waving her hands in a sequence of gestures, advising the driver to repetitively steer her coarse.
In response, Rainbow jerked her wheel from side to side as she rolled. With a chuckle, AJ suddenly clenched her fists, and Dash according nudged her break.
"Am I in the lines?" Dash asked, opening her door and leaning out.
AJ examined the absent markings on the dusty ground before signaling "ok" with her forefinger and thumb. She turned and started toward the porch, Dash in close pursuit.
Once the couple had entered the Apple's humble abode, Applejack turned to speak. "How was it hanging out with Fluttershy?"
"Pretty good." Rainbow disclosed. "We watched some movie, and.. I think she might take shot at that boy."
"And you're cool with that?" Applejack quizzed, collapsing onto a leather couch.
"I guess I have to be." Dash said planting herself next to AJ. "I sorta pushed her to it."
"How'd that happen?" Appejack, asked with a reaching eye brow.
"Am I not allowed to have a change of heart?" Dash chuckled.
"Characteristically, no." AJ responded.
"Well I did." Dash said, crossing her arms. "And if it doesn't work, I'll take care if her."
"You sure it'll be that easy?" AJ chuckled.
"It won't exactly be hard." Dash guessed. "You could say I'm pretty good at making impressions on her."
"Fair enough." Applejack subsided. "I'm gonna get a cider, and we can go climb a tree or somethin'."
"Cool." Dash said standing and stretching. "Grab two and meet me outside."
A short period later, AJ walked out the back door with two bottles held by their necks. "Dash!" She called into the expansive orchard.
Momentarily there was only the sounds of squirrels giving chase and birds singing song. Both were abruptly interrupted by the limbs of a nearby tree quaking with observable force.
Applejack smirked and stilled forward casually. She vaulted the white picket fence with little effort and continued forward until she was directly under the inhabited tree.
One at a time, she tossed her inventory of beverages into the apple tree. Neither came back to the ground.
Applejack hopped up, grabbing a branch and exhibited impressive upper body strength by hoisting herself into the tree. As she perched against the trunk, she grabbed one of the drinks from Dash and uncapped it.
"I wish there were more days like this." Rainbow said solemnly.
"It's nice." AJ agreed. "Just sitting here, not a care in the world."
"I wish everyday were like this." Dash said, squinting into the sun-showered orchard.
"Well, there is always a little work to do." Applejack said enlighteningly.
"You're the only person I know that would say that." Dash said, shaking her head. "Don't you every wish you could just stop working and chill out."
"In the Apple family, we call that a break." AJ informed, pulling the brim of her hat over her eyes.
"I know that our philosophies on this differ." Dash admitted. "But I feel like you work too hard sometimes." She put her hand on AJ's thigh and looked into her soft, green eyes.
"I work so had because there's things to get done." Applejack said, blushing slightly at the physical contact. "No offense, but wouldn't exactly expect you to understand."
"None taken." Rainbow snickered. "I'll admit that I know how to relax."
"Now that ain't my thing, and you know it." Applejack with a grin. "I always gotta keep busy. It's how I cope."
"We all have our methods, I guess." Dash said, leaning against the trunk of the tree.
"Thank you." Applejack said. "Maybe someday, you'll adapt one more.. Productive."
"Yeah, don't count on it." Dash said, smiling and playing with AJ's long, blonde braid.
"I won't, sugarcube." Applejack chuckled. "Trust me on that."
