"Uh…Rainbow?" Applejack raised an eyebrow as she saw Rainbow Dash burying Fluttershy's lower body deeper in dirt and then soaking the dirt with a watering can. "What the hay are you doin' to Fluttershy? I thought Rarity was the one around here who gets people to take mudbaths."
Rainbow Dash set the watering can down and rolled her eyes "It's not a mudbath. I'm keeping her root system moist, duh. Shouldn't you know about this? I mean you work with trees all day." Rainbow Dash shook her head and went back to digging.
Fluttershy looked at Applejack with large, pleading eyes.
"Help me…" she mouthed silently.
Applejack nodded at her before walking up to Rainbow Dash, "Hey Dash, I see something on your head-"
"Ah! Gross! What is it? Kick it off!"
"Hair," Applejack replied with a smile as she knocked Rainbow Dash unconscious with a swift kick to the noggin.
"Oh thank you Applejack!" Fluttershy beamed as she stepped out of the dirt pile and over Rainbow Dash's unconscious form "I appreciate what Rainbow Dash is trying to do for me, but I was starting to worry that I'd get hoof rot. Also, when I'm stuck like that I really can't take care of my little animal friends…"
Applejack gave Fluttershy a hoof-pat on the back "Don't sweat it Sugar-Q. What the bloomin' onion has gotten into that pony anyways?"
"Well, we think she may have gotten a few poison joke spores lodged in her brain when she heroically slammed into the poison joke missile with a sonic rainboom."
"Ah see. And I take it that's makin' her brain all mishy-mashed so she thinks yer a tree."
"Umm…yes. I mean, I don't mind it and…" ballerina pink circles came to her cheeks "…it's actually kind of sweet how she's trying to protect me and everything…but it is a little bit…um, inconvenient…"
"Do ya want me to keep her under control so you can take care of your animals instead of being trapped in a dirt pile?"
"Oh my, well I wouldn't want to trouble you…"
"That's Fluttershy-code for 'yes'. No worries Sweet Bean. I ain't got nothin' to do now that the Apple Farm has gone to shootbaskets. I reckon dealin' with a delusional Rainbow Dash will give me somethin' to keep my mind offa things."
Fluttershy beamed "Oh thank you so much Applejack! I would hug you but my legs are still covered in dirt. My animals have really been needing me, I'm so grateful for your help!"
As Fluttershy ascended into the clouds, she stole once last glance at the unconscious Rainbow Dash. As relieved as she was to be out of a dirt pile and able to take care of her animals, she was actually rather blue about leaving her cyan-colored friend behind.
Even if Rainbow Dash was delusional, her loyalty and protectiveness were real. And Fluttershy just felt ever so safe and valued when Rainbow was around...
Fluttershy may not have grown branches and roots, but she could feel her heart starting to become rooted into Rainbow Dash.