Chapter Text
Chapter One
Monday
At 6:03 in the morning, Rainbow Dash was awake.
Not because she was in any hurry to be, but because the blaring annoyance that was her cell phone had been going off for 3 minutes and, even then, it had not convinced her to get out of bed.
She blindly fumbled across the nightstand knocking over a bottle of water, her cell phone, and another plastic bottle that hit the floor with an audible clink.
"Ugh".
Rainbow finally grabbed her phone and silenced the alaram.
The house was quiet once more, save for the occasional creaking of the wooden floorboards.
For a few moments, Rainbow simply stared at the ceiling.
Her surroundings were dimly lit, save for the rectangle of blue-gray light filtering in from the blinds on the windows.
Her track shoes hung from the desk, already bundled in the sport bag.
A basketball leaned against the wall.
Various medals hung from a peg near the closet door, a few of which hung crookedly from their string.
On the desk lay a half finished science assignment that Rainbow had completely forgotten about.
She groaned.
"Future Rainbow's problem".
Rainbow rolled out of bed and trudged toward the kitchen, brushing her fringe from her eyes.
The house was silent, save for the distant thud of the grandfather clock in the living room.
More accurately, it was completely empty.
Rainbow sighed and peered into her mother's room down the hall, noting with a pang of something that the queen sized bed was made up.
Her mother was probably already gone.
She was becoming used to this.
Rainbow padded back towards her room, pausing only to snag a glance at the sticky note on the counter.
Late shift. Dinner's in the fridge. Love you.
Rainbow took the note and briefly scanned over it before turning it over and setting it back on the counter with a small scoff.
" 'Love you too' , huh?"
She folded the note and tossed it back on the counter, already uninterested.
Rainbow opened the refrigerator, grabbed the container her mother had left for her, and closed it again.
She was not in the mood for food.
Grabbing a piece of toast instead, Rainbow was already lost in thought about the upcoming day, namely the interactions that she would have with the other girls.
She preferred loud people.
People meant noise, and noise meant that she did not have to think.
And thinking was boring.
She was in the process of brushing her teeth when she became aware of the fact that she was already fretting over a test in chemistry.
She turned off the tap and leaned against the sink.
Across town, Applejack was already up.
Her morning ritual involved a certain number of roosters crowing, Apple Bloom yelling something indistinct from upstairs, Granny Smith yelling back, and the sound of something heavy hitting the ground in the kitchen.
Applejack opened her eyes.
"Five more minutes".
The whinny of a horse sounded from outside.
Applejack sighed and shuffled out of bed.
She pulled on a pair of jeans, a faded green sweatshirt, and a pair of damp boots from the corner.
The smell of coffee, toast, and hay filtered through the back door.
"Morning, sugarcube".
Granny Smith stood at the stove.
"Morning, Granny".
"Sleep well?"
"Like a rock".
“Rocks don't snore.”
Applejack paused halfway through reaching for a piece of toast.
"You heard that?"
"Whole house heard that."
From the doorway, Apple Bloom dangled a backpack from one shoulder.
"Applejack, did you see my-"
"No."
"You don't even know what I was gonna ask."
"Still no."
Apple Bloom narrowed her eyes.
"You're annoying."
"Learned from the best."
Granny Smith chuckled.
Applejack grabbed another piece of toast and headed towards the back door.
"I'm checkin' on the horses."
"Eat first!"
"I got toast!"
"That ain't breakfast!"
Applejack was already outside.
The chill in the morning air made her pull her sleeves over her hands.
Applejack inhaled deeply.
Everything seemed different in the morning before the sun had risen.
The fields were a silver mist, the fences a charcoal line, and somewhere in the distance, a horse was thudding the ground with its hoof.
Applejack smiled.
"Good mornin', girls."
The horses nuzzled her shoulder.
"Morning, girls."
Applejack scratched the horse's head, already smiling.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket.
She pulled it out.
Rainbow:
you alive
Applejack smiled.
Applejack:
Unfortunately
Three dots appeared almost immediately.
Rainbow:
good
Rainbow:
need someone to lose to me today
Applejack snorted.
Applejack:
Dream big, Rainbow.
Rainbow:
I do.
Applejack paused, then shook her head.
"She's ridiculous."
The horse next to her gave a short whinny.
"I know."
Applejack tucked her phone back in her pocket and strode towards the other horses.
"Morning, girls."
By the time Applejack pulled into the school parking lot, Rainbow was already there.
Of course she was.
She leaned casually against the front doors, her bag slung over one shoulder.
She spotted Applejack's car and immediately straightened.
Applejack arched an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Rainbow pushed off the wall, already looking at her watch.
"You're late."
"Three minutes early."
"Late for me."
"You waiting on me?"
"No."
Applejack smirked.
"Sure."
Rainbow opened her mouth to retort, then closed it again, before jabbing a finger at Applejack.
"Don't."
"Didn't say anything."
"You were about to."
"Was I?"
"Yes."
Applejack turned to go, but Rainbow fell into step beside her.
"Hey."
"What?"
"You got an apple?"
Applejack shot her a look over her shoulder.
"Why?"
Rainbow was grinning.
"Just askin'."
"No."
Rainbow narrowed her eyes.
"You're lyin'."
"Maybe."
The two girls walked the short distance to the front doors in silence, save for the distant chatter of the other students filtering through the halls.
Rainbow reached into the side pocket of Applejack's bag.
Applejack caught her wrist.
"Rainbow."
"What?"
"Get your hand outta my bag."
"I was checkin'."
"For what?"
"Evidence."
"Evidence of what?"
"That you have an apple."
Applejack sighed.
"You are unbelievable."
Rainbow grinned.
Applejack released her wrist and Rainbow's hand shot back into the bag.
"Rainbow!"
Applejack pulled out an apple.
"I knew it!"
"That is mine."
"You weren't eatin' it."
"I was savin' it."
"For what?"
Applejack reached for the apple.
Rainbow raised it over her head.
"You're too slow."
"Rainbow."
"Applejack."
"Give it."
"Nope."
Applejack took another step forward and Rainbow took a step back.
“You're not getting it.”Give me my apple."
"Come take it."
Applejack and Rainbow stared each other down for a long moment, Applejack smiling the whole time.
"Oh, you shouldn't have said that."
Rainbow's grin faltered.
"Wait-"
Applejack lunged.
Rainbow laughed and ducked down the hallway.
"Hey!"
Applejack chased after her.
"Give it back!"
"Catch me!"
Students turned to watch the two girls as they weaved through the crowded hallway.
Pinkie Pie poked her head out of a second story window.
"Are they fightin'?"
Twilight peered out from the other side.
"No."
Rarity leaned against the doorframe of the classroom.
"They're flirtin'."
Twilight blinked.
Pinkie gasped.
Fluttershy covered her mouth, trying to stifle her giggles.
Rarity smiled knowingly.
Twilight turned to look at the two girls.
"Are they?"
Rarity gave Twilight a look.
"Twilight."
"What?"
"Look at them."
At the end of the hall, Rainbow was laughing so hard that she almost walked into a trash can.
Applejack finally caught her and pulled her hood over Rainbow's head.
"Gotcha."
Rainbow whirled around, her eyes wide.
"Hey!"
Applejack took the apple.
"Mine."
"You cheated."
"How?“You grabbed my hoodie.”You stole my apple."
"You weren't eatin' it!"
"I was goin' to!"
"When?"
"Eventually!"
Rainbow crossed her arms.
"You're impossible."
Applejack bit into the apple.
Rainbow glared at her.
"That was unnessacery."
"I think it tastes pretty good."
"You're mean."
Applejack smiled around the apple.
"You'll survive."
Rainbow rolled her eyes, but she was smiling too.
---
The first few hours of the day blurred together in a haze.
Pinkie Pie acquired snacks from unknown means, the teachers babbled on about assignments, and the girls all sat down to eat at the usual table near the windows.
During lunch, the six of them all plopped down on their usual spot.
Pinkie leaned forward.
"Okay! Important question."
Rarity sighed.
"Whenever you say that I become concerened."
"What are we doin' Friday?"
Twilight blinked up from her book.
"Why Friday?"
"Because Friday is a thing."
"That's not a valid reason."
"It doesn't have to be!"
Pinkie leaned across the table.
"Sleepover?"
Fluttershy smiled.
"I'd like that."
Rarity mullled it over.
"My house is being painted."
"You know what? Mine's available."
"Pinkie's house!"
"I didn't say that!"
"It's set!"
Twilight looked around the table, noting that everyone was smiling, and sighed.
"Fine."
Rainbow leaned back in her chair.
"I'm in."
Applejack nodded.
"Same here."
Fluttershy smiled.
"I'll come."
Rarity smiled.
"Then I suppose I'll have to come rescue you all from whatever Pinkie has planned."
Pinkie placed a hand over her heart.
"Rude."
"You know it's true."
Pinkie considered this.
"Okay."
Rainbow laughed.
Applejack shot her a quick look, then back at the table.
Rainbow was staring at her.
Their eyes locked, and for a moment neither looked away.
Then Pinkie waved a hand between them.
"Helloooooo?"
Rainbow blinked.
"What?"
"You two have been staring at each other for like, three whole seconds."
Applejack nearly choked on her straw.
"We were not!"
Rainbow sat up.
"Yeah, we weren't!"
Pinkie narrowed her eyes.
"Suspicious."
Rarity sipped her juice and smiled.
Twilight looked genuinely confused.
Fluttershy chuckled.
Applejack jabbed a finger at Rainbow.
"She was staring at you."
Rainbow pointed back.
"She was staring at me first."
"I was not!"
"You were!"
"Why would I stare at you?"
"I don't know!"
"Exactly!"
Rainbow crossed her arms.
Applejack did the same.
Pinkie beamed.
"This is going to be a great Friday."
---
After lunch, Applejack had English.
Rainbow had chemistry.
For once, they were separated.
Applejack didn't mind.
She pulled out her notebook and paid half hearted attention to the lesson on the upcoming project.
She managed to last for fifteen minutes before the boy two desks away leaned over.
"Hey, Applejack?"
She blinked up at him.
"Yeah?"
He held out his worksheet.
“Did you get number six?”
Applejack glanced at it.
"Yup. It's B."
"Thanks."
"No problem."
He smiled.
Applejack turned back to her notes, not really paying attention.
Nothing strange happened.
Nothing important.
The class ended, and when she walked out the door, the boy caught up to her.
"Hey. You goin' to the library after school?"
Applejack adjusted her bag.
"Probably not. Got chores."
"Oh."
He nodded.
"Maybe tomorrow?"
Applejack smiled politely.
"Maybe."
Rainbow's chemistry class was far less entertaining.
She spent most of it thinking of ways to annoy the teacher while working on the early finished assignment.
She wasn't really paying attention when a paper airplane landed on her desk.
She opened it.
You look bored.
She spotted Pinkie a few rows back.
Pinkie waved.
Rainbow crumpled the paper.
Pinkie mouthed:
Rude.
Rainbow smiled.
The teacher cleared his throat.
"Miss Dash."
Rainbow immediately sat up.
"Yes?"
"Would you like to share with the class?"
"No."
"Then I suggest you stop distracting yourself."
Rainbow nodded.
"Absolutely."
Five minutes later, she was once again bored.
After school, the field smelled of grass and the tacky rubber of the track.
Rainbow pulled her shoelaces tight as she waited for Applejack.
She had passed the house on the way in, noting with some sorrow that Applejack's mother was already gone.
And there had been no note on the kitchen counter.
She barely registered when the whistle blew.
Rainbow took off, her sneakers slapping against the track.
For a few minutes there was nothing but the rhythmic pounding of her hooves, the whistling of the wind, and her own breathing.
When she finally stopped to catch her breath, her muscles burning, she barely noticed the sound of someone running up behind her.
"Dash!"
She turned to see Applejack standing by the fence.
Rainbow straightened.
"What are you doin' here?"
"Thought I'd pass by."
"Liar."
Applejack shrugged.
"Maybe I wanted to see if you're really as fast as you say you are."
Rainbow grinned.
"Oh, you want to race."
"No."
"You do."
"Nope."
"Come on."
"I've got chores."
"Scared?"
Applejack narrowed her eyes.
"You really wanna do this?"
Rainbow's smile widened.
"Always."
Applejack glanced at the track, then back at Rainbow.
“You're gonna owe me a snack.”
Rainbow laughed.
"Deal."
They raced.
Applejack won, barely.
She shot her hands into the air.
"YES!"
Rainbow bent over, hands on her knees.
"Lucky."
"Skill."
"Lucky."
"Skill."
Applejack shook her head.
"You're so annoying."
"You're just jealous."
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
For a long moment, neither of them said anything.
Rainbow blinked, then quickly turned away, clearing her throat.
"I mean-"
"I know what you meant."
"Good."
"Sure."
"Good."
Applejack chuckled, and Rainbow followed suit, both of them quickly forgetting the small awkwardness of the moment.
That evening, the farm was golden.
Applejack walked across the yard with a bucket in hand, the sun setting behind the trees.
Apple Bloom was arguing loudly with Granny Smith about something homework related.
Inside the house, someone was blasting music.
A dog barked somewhere near the barn.
Applejack paused to enjoy the smell of hay and apples before her phone vibrated in her pocket.
She pulled it out.
Rainbow:
you cheated
Applejack laughed.
Applejack:
you lost
Rainbow:
barely
Applejack:
still counts
A pause.
Then:
Rainbow:
rematch tomorrow
Applejack smiled.
Applejack:
you just don't like losing
Rainbow:
I don't lose
Applejack shook her head.
"Sure."
She tucked her phone back in her pocket.
Inside the house, Granny Smith called for her.
Applejack turned towards the sound, and, for the first time in a long while, everything was precisely where it was supposed to be.
---
Across town, Rainbow sat at the kitchen table.
Her mother was still not home.
The microwave beeped.
Her homework sat on the table next to her, untouched.
Her phone vibrated.
She opened the group chat to see Pinkie sending pictures, Rarity commenting on the pictures, Twilight attempting to communicate in a language none of them understood, and Fluttershy sending a picture of a small rabbit she had found that afternoon.
Rainbow smiled, then her eyes landed on Applejack's name.
Applejack:
Don't forget. You owe me a snack.
Rainbow typed.
Rainbow:
Keep dreaming.
She sent it, already regretting it, and immediately following up with another message.
Rainbow:
I'll bring you one tomorrow.
Applejack:
Deal.
Rainbow leaned back in her chair and stared at the screen.
Then she swiftly locked her phone.
Outside, it was quiet.
Tomorrow would be another day filled with races and arguments and normal things.