Teaching
Due to confusion that's plaguing the reviews, I wanted to say that the point of forming a drabbles collection (which it was intended as) was so I wasn't restricted to continuity. The whole Applejack proposing to Rainbow was more of hints at the future, though I may write about it.
For instance there may be some alternate reality chapters up soon (hint).
Again, I apologize for not being clearer when writing this. It can be taken as a flashback or as a separate piece of fluff. Your choice.
What's taking her so long? Rainbow thought, standing outside Applejack's hotel room with a yellow braid wrapped around her hoof. After pulling off a perfect rainboom at the wedding she was bursting with pride, even more than usual. She felt like she could do anything and everything. That was, everything but tie her mane, and while Rarity was the most trained of her friends when it came to appearances, Applejack was the only pony she trusted to touch her mane. Besides, it was a nice excuse to get a second alone with the mare. "I need you to fix my mane, again!" the pegasus shouted, pressing her forehead against the door. She could hear music playing faintly on the other side, a slow song that made her anxious. Is she . . . dancing with somepony?
Unable to control her curiosity, Dash pressed lightly on the door, peaking in through the small crack. To her surprise, Applejack was indeed dancing, swaying across the room in awkward little steps, balancing on her hind legs with that green and red gown moving with her. She was missing something though, something the feathered pony immediately picked up on. There was no partner, no pony for her to follow or lead with. Rainbow found it funny and cute, if a little sad. She stood there for a minute, watching as the farm mare stared into what the pegasus guessed was the eyes of the non-existent pony. With every little tumble Applejack mouthed the word 'shoot', never making an actual sound.
Rainbow snickered before fully opening the door. "Hey AJ, you enjoying yourself?" the earth mare turned in fright, turning so red that she began to look like an apple. "Sheesh, you were just dancing, not like I walked in on you . . ." Dash hushed, finding herself returning to the thoughts she had when she was alone.
"There's a lil' somethin' called privacy Rainbow." Applejack shoved past Dash and shut the door.
"You know me better than that AJ, and again, it was just dancing. Don't get me wrong though, it's a stretch to even call it that." Dash walked to the record player, lifting the needle and halting the music. "What the hay are you doing anyway, dancing in here all alone? I mean, there are plenty of ponies looking for a dance partner." Rainbow considered suggesting herself, sure that she could play it off as a joke if it scared the poor farm girl, but shook her head and moved away from the part of her brain that craved Applejack.
"It's none of yer business!" Barked Applejack, startling the pegasus.
"Has that ever stopped you from telling me something?" she asked, giving the farm mare with the swirly blond mane an intense gaze. Applejack matched it with the same fierce eyes. Neither could take the other seriously in their dresses, taking away all intimidation and prolonging their staring competition. Knowing this was going absolutely nowhere, Rainbow pulled out her final trick, her favorite. "You know I came here to ask for your help, not learn how much you don't trust me. Forget it, I'll just ask Rarity." The pegasus pushed the earth mare aside and opened the door, waiting for the guilt to work into her friend's mind.
"Rainbow wait," Applejack sighed, pulling Dash away from the door. "Give me the braid and sit down." She ordered, taking the yellow tie from Dash. The winged pony smiled, still impressed with the guilt trip play, even after a dozen uses. Twisting her mane, Rainbow did as instructed, feeling the tugs and pulls as Applejack worked from behind.
"So, why were you dancing in here all alone?"
"Ah was practicin'."
"For what, it's not like you need to. I've seen you dance Applejack, you're fantastic." Rainbow stiffened up, afraid she'd just given too big of a compliment to her crush. "Except for whatever it was that I saw you doing a second ago, that was horrific."
Applejack chuckled, "Yeah, Ah suppose that was a heck of an eyesore. Don't go misunderstandin' me Rainbow, Ah know how ta dance. You won't find a better line dancer this side of Equestria, but when it comes to slow-dancin' Ah have four left hooves. All finished." She gave Dash's hair a firm tug before rising from her flank.
"I could give you a quick lesson, if you'd like." Rainbow nominated, holding back a hopeful stare. Applejack busted up, gripping her sides as her eyes watered, acting a bit melodramatic in the pegasus' opinion. "I'm serious, you wanna learn to dance or what?"
"An' you know how ta slow dance?" the orange mare asked, calming down. Rainbow Dash nodded, a bit embarrassed.
"It's no big deal, just a nice balance and a steady partner. Last chance, yes or no?"
"Fine, show me." Dash lit up in excitement but quickly pulled it back, careful not to seem too gleeful. She walked back over to the record player, pressing the needle down and returning to Applejack's side. "Okay, so which type do you want to learn? The nuzzling, four hooves one or the balance on two legs one?"
"Two, Ah don't want a stranger that close ta mah face."
"Alright, stand up." She instructed, working onto her own hind legs. "Now the trick to this style is pure balance, don't be afraid to lean on your partner for support, that's part of the job." Rainbow wrapped her fore arms around Applejack, feeling the leather saddle of her gown that rested a few inches above her tail. Apple bucking sure had its benefits, with the firm and skinny stomach Applejack had. "You alright?" the pegasus asked, sensing the earth pony stiffen up.
"Yeah, Ah'm fine . . ."
"Now I'll take the part of the stallion, all you have to do is wrap your hooves around my shoulder and follow. I'm going to do a simple sidestep and lead you around." Applejack did as she was told. Next is distance. It says a lot, for instance if the stallion – or mare – you're dancing with is just a friend then you'll be at least a foot apart. Like how we are right now." Applejack glanced at the space between them, nodding as the information went into her ears. "The closer you are, the more serious you are." Rainbow pulled the tense mare closer, bodies pressed tight together. "It can mean a kiss, or something . . . more intimate." Applejack blushed, again turning red, and looked down at their hooves, moving in rhythm against the carpet.
What did Applejack taste like, was her tongue smooth or rough, questions Dash had spent hours wondering. The answers were mere inches away, and yet too dangerous to reach for. "It's fine to look at your hooves when you start, but once you have the rhythm you should focus on your partner." Rainbow moved her around the room in large counter clockwise pattern. "That's about it, simple." Rainbow Dash squeezed Applejack just a little tighter, producing a small stutter from the mare. She stared into Applejack's emerald orbs whenever the farm mare glanced up from the ground, hoping for some information or clarity.
Applejack looked at the clock above the door, unwrapping from Rainbow's shoulders. "We should head downstairs, Twilight would be pretty mad if we missed her brother's first dance with his wife." She explained, flashing a nervous smile. Dash understood, aware that she couldn't hold onto the pretty mare any longer. Two minutes, that was all she was given, a hundred and twenty measly seconds that went by in one. She released Applejack, falling back onto all four hooves. The farm mare cut the music. "Thanks, Ah appreciate ya takin' the time ta help me. Yer a great friend Rainbow."
"Yeah, you too." Rainbow replied, doing her best to not look disappointed.
"Ready ta go?" the orange mare asked, standing by the door.
"Can you give me a minute, I mean if you trust me alone in your room."
"Course, jus' shut the lights off on yer way out, kay?" Rainbow nodded, watching as Applejack walked out the door.
So close, and yet she was too afraid to act. The pegasus felt like she could punch through the wall in frustration, and that's just what she tried. A decent little dent in the wall and an aching hoof was all that remained of her outburst, a private moment she'd keep to herself. Still, she at least got a dance out of it, something she had only dreamed of. It took a bit of the sting away. Groaning and rubbing at her somewhat bruised hoof, Dash glared at the record player. "This is all your fault." She growled, shutting off the room light and slamming the door so roughly that it swung back open, raising her anger.
Now if only she got some hint from Applejack, something other than nervous squeaking, trembling, and lack of eye contact. Rainbow gently closed the door, mumbling to herself that this was Twilight's night, it was her brother's wedding and it would be all smiles and games that most ponies probably wouldn't remember the next morning. But the moment she just shared with AJ would be burned into her memory for fond reflection, no matter how much partying she'd be doing over the next few hours.
A/N: More soon.