Author's Note: Well, my Birthday actually went MUCH better than I thought. Spent a day with my mother during her breaks (working for Red Cross gives her odd breaks). Went to DQ for a blizzard, bought a few burgers and fries at McDonalds, bought myself some of the Travel Ponies (Bought myself the Pinkie and Fluttershy traveller ponies; I already had Rainbow Dash. I just need a normal Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie now (I have an actual Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle)), I got some bubbly pony stickers, bought myself the Twilight Sparkle and balloon toy set, bought myself the cheap little pony figurines from the Hart store. I store my pony stickers inside my Friendship Express DVD case (and yay, full Pony theme). I've gotten over 140 dA messages regarding my picture, "The Apple Siblings" which appeared in the Drawfriend of Thursday as #34 (lolrule34) on Equestria Dail;, thanks guys and thanks to Civille for submitting it. *ahem* Perogies and sausages, root beer and the new Pony episode... god, I'm in a damn good mood; so good I can actually write this chapter part which is Applejack and Rainbow Dash getting together a little bit more; part 10 is my final calm chapter before stuff starts to get serious. Enjoy.

Special thanks to user Civille/Bellum_Civille as my editor. Please check out his stories, especially the Pinkie-verse and Old Friends.

Chapter 2.9:

Running and Horseshoes

After the next hour of bucking the last of the remaining trees, Applejack and Rainbow Dash carefully trotted over to a bench sitting outside the barn; the common place to sit down outside at Sweet Apple Acres. It was close to the house, close to the barn, close to the entrance to Sweet Apple Acres... the ideal meeting spot in the farm.

The two mares sat down to enjoy a quick rest after bucking. They started stretching out a bit before taking off on their run. Both ponies sat down

"So RD, we're done buckin' fer th' day. Next, we're runnin'. T' edge of Whitetail Wood, th' pond, and back to 'ere." Applejack said, Rainbow nodding as she leaned back on the park bench, stretching out her whole body.

"Yup. We gonna make some bet for old times sake?" Rainbow said with a bit of sarcasm in her voice.

Applejack chuckled, leaning against the bench's tabletop on her elbows. Rainbow let out a few giggles herself before simply lying out against the bench.

"Ah was thinkin' maybe we could jus' stick with our runnin' plan, Rainbow." Applejack said.

She looked over at the cyan pegasus, examining her figure. She thought back to the Running of the Leaves... Rainbow, being a Pegasus Pony was a lot more vulnerable to exhaustion while Applejack being Earth Pony was more adjusted to earthly tasks. She could go on forever while Rainbow got tired faster. She really shouldn't disallow the pegasus to use her wings, but flying is out of the question. Using wings to make herself lighter; give her a little extra pep to her jumps or as a temporary substitute to walking.

"Rainbow, this time, if ya get tired, y'all can use yer wings until ya can run again." Applejack offered.

Rainbow instantly shot up on the bench and stared in front of her. Directly at the barn. Her eyes twitched as she thought about what Applejack just said. That was annoying, so she settled for squinted eyes. She slowly turned her head slowly towards Applejack to see the orange mare with a sheepish grin on her face. She knew her friend would have taken it in that way, but it didn't hurt to try.

"Are you saying I'm not as athletic as you again?" Rainbow asked, a very small smile breaking out on her face.

Applejack let out a few nervous chuckles, rubbing the back of her head.

"Ah, um... well, ah never said that. Ah was just..." she looked down at her hooves, unable to look directly at Rainbow for fear that Rainbow might snap and tackle her in a competitive fit. "Ah was jus' sayin', y'all can use yer wings if ya want but don't rely on 'em. Jus' use 'em t' give yer legs a break. If ah was a Pegasus Pony, ah'd prob'ly be usin' them a lot more frequently myself." Applejack said as she decided to face the pegasus.

Rainbow lost her small competitive smile in favour of a warm understanding smile. Her eyes were relaxed, her face had a proper small grin and Rainbow simply looked... in her words, "sappy".

Rainbow let out a few chuckles before breaking out into a hearty laugh as she realized what Applejack intended. It wasn't egging her on but rather, she was letting Rainbow be Rainbow; a Pegasus Pony. She almost overreacted to a kind gesture. Her laughing died down as she wiped her eyes, a few tears forming from the laugh. She looked up at Applejack who was just shaking her head, smiling away trying to fight off a small giggle of her own.

"Sorry, I was just being me again... thanks. I'll try not to use my wings, though." Rainbow said as she leaned onto the table.

Applejack nodded. "S'all good, sugarcube. Use 'em when ya want." she paused briefly. "Rainbow, how 'bout this; if ya don't wanna use yer wings when ya get tired an if ah'm not tired, ah'll just slow down fer ya. Leave no pony behind, how 'bout that?" Applejack stated, confident in her proposal.

Rainbow looked over at Applejack; both ponies wore warm smiles of their own kind, Applejack's was just more common. Rainbow extended a hoof. Applejack looked for a second before reaching hers out for a hoofshake but Rainbow retracted her hoof. She held up her other hoof to signify "One second". She looked at the hoof she retracted and spat in it before extending it again. Applejack let out a small chuckle before pulling her hoof back and spitting on it also. The two ponies slapped their hooves together in their infamous "spit-hoofshake"; it signals an agreement between the two. They shook, neither saying a word.

Both ponies stood up from the bench and did a quick stretch to limber up a bit. Both unconsciously rubbed their spit covered hooves on the ground in the dirt; their hooves no longer wet. The two mares looked off in the direction of the orchard at the various paths. Rainbow looked in the distance beyond the apple trees spotting meadow, Ponyville, Everfree Forest and then, Whitetail Wood. She let out a small sigh as she prepared herself for the long run ahead of her.

Rainbow looked over at Applejack, only to find her chest feel a bit of pressure. The wind began to blow at that moment, making Applejack's mane blow in the gentle breeze. She smiled at Rainbow. That smile... Applejack smiled like that so often but... actually, there is a small difference. Whenever Applejack smiled at Rainbow, there always seemed to be a warmth emitting from her face. Rainbow almost wanted to ask her how exactly she managed to give her smiles such warmth. The pressure in Rainbow's chest increased; her face felt a sudden chill against her face.

She couldn't help but smile honestly at Applejack as she let her mind loosen up a bit. Like their run after the Running of the Leaves, it was just her and Applejack. Non-competitive. No rewards. No places. That was the perfect run, the perfect end to a rather aggravating, aggressive day. Today just felt... different. Almost like Rainbow was on an odd type of medication that prevented her from feeling any pain at all. It was that good feeling except she wasn't in a numb state. Her mind was soaring higher than her wings could take her. It felt like eternity but eventually, the two ponies nodded to each other, beginning a slow trot as they entered the orchards.

Both ponies didn't see each other but they knew they were rather close. Only about two pony distances away from each other. They slowly sped up, getting into a mild jog. The wind blew by lightly, the leaves rustling creating a symphony of natural sounds. There is very few birds chirping at the moment... right now, their ears picked up every sound of nature. It was something Rainbow once again was glad she was here for. This is something Applejack experienced all the time. She trotted through these orchards every day and always heard this sound (plus the occasional buck from Big Macintosh in the distance).

The shoes of an Earth Pony. It was nothing but a wonderful experience; Rainbow actually felt like she was... envious of Earth Ponies. She never truly knew what it was like to wake up every morning and not be able to fly, or use magic like her friends. She never actually knew the restrictions of Earth Ponies... but lately, she had been seeing things from an Earth Pony perspective. She felt sympathy towards her friend for being an Earth Pony but jealousy all the same. She looked over at Applejack, seeing the pony with a large grin on her face as she trotted throughout the orchards.

Both ponies picked up speed; an echo of hoofsteps was heard all around. Both ponies were smiling away as the first pang of exhaustion hit; just the little tingle in your legs that say "Yeah, you're at your usual speed and it kinda bothers me". This was felt usually within the first few seconds and after, it's pure adrenaline. Rainbow felt as her adrenaline kicked in, egging her on to run a little faster.

Applejack noticed Rainbow's increase in speed and opted to do the same. Both ponies ran faster than they generally do. They slowly picked up speed before both reached their top speeds, their legs starting to feel the tingle of being sore. They both felt like they were the only ponies alive in the world. Nothing else mattered, it was just two friends enjoying each others company, all the while they conversed with each other without words.

Rainbow felt the usual tingle ponies felt when running at their top speed indefinitely as they came to the small clearing outside Whitetail Wood. Rainbow looked to her left to see Applejack in the same adrenaline-fuelled giddiness Rainbow was in, smiling away as they turned towards the direction of the pond... or lake, either way.

The pressure inside Rainbow's chest was there again as she saw Applejack overtake her, her golden mane blowing in the wind. She had the lightest glimmer of sweat on her body. Rainbow noticed she did too; both ponies were starting to break through the pain from the extensive running. Rainbow loved this sensation... this sensation she only payed attention to now... only because she's in Earth Pony shoes as of late.

The wind blowing in her mane, the speed, the feel of pure bliss as the everlasting sensation of pain shoots through your legs into your body fading away leaving only the high of happiness. Rainbow would have started laughing maniacally if she wasn't trying to not waste her breath as she ran. This was the greatest feeling in the world. She was going fast, she was allowing her body to show it's stuff, she was with her friend.

Her best friend.

Rainbow's chest felt more pressure but that only served to motivate the Pegasus more. She wanted to speed on; to gallop next to her friend who was slowly getting a lead on her. Rainbow wouldn't have that. Her competitive nature kicked in along with an undying fire, a powerful urge to be considered equal. Rainbow didn't want to be bound by her weaker Pegasus body. She grit her teeth as she felt that adrenaline again. Rainbow picked up the tiniest bit of speed and slowly, she caught up with Applejack.

They cleared a small hill, spotting the lake just ahead. Rainbow and Applejack nodded to nopony in particular and prepared to make the turn. Rainbow leaned to her left back towards the one path that had their goal in plain sight: the park bench they started at. Rainbow was panting now as she ran, this run being different than the Running of the Leaves in the sense that she ran at top speed the entire way rather than the odd bursts she used back then. Applejack wasn't as tired as Rainbow but she was still pretty tired, that much was visible.

They must have been running for several minutes. This entire not-race on the acres covered a large part of the orchards and Rainbow couldn't be more glad. This is the most fun she's had all week, which is impressive for it being the most basic thing the two ponies could do. They continued at their speedy pace; their legs burning but their heads not caring. The rustle of the leaves reminded Rainbow that she wasn't in some odd dream but real life. This was her and Applejack having a run for no reason but for the heck of it.

The pressure was still there, building up. Rainbow was panting heavily and when she turned her head, she noticed that she was practically brushing against Applejack. They were right next to each other. Any closer and she could probably feel Applejack's heartbeats. The pressure was full-blast right now. She was unable to control the smile or blush on her face. Applejack fared no better, having felt similar to Rainbow the whole run. Both didn't stare at each other but rather, knew the other mare wasn't going to let the other fall behind. Both ponies felt light headed as they approached the last few trees before the clearing.

Rainbow began to laugh at this moment. It was an uncontrollable laugh that was building up in her chest; the pressure. She let out a long laugh, unable to stop as her running sporadically jumped between awkward and normal. Applejack merely kept on smiling, trying to hold back laughter of her own. Rainbow didn't seem like she is going to stop anytime soon and both ponies were glad at that. Rainbow felt completely happy. If this could be a daily thing, she would give up her wings for this.

The trees stopped popping up as both ponies entered the clearing, their running slowing down to a jog, to a walk, to pretty much a shuffling as their legs buckled. Applejack laughed as she let the exhaustion hit her, falling to the ground in a heap of uncontrollable laughter. She fell down, rolling onto her back as Rainbow attempted to stand, stumbling around as if she had never walked before. She stumbled over towards the laughing Earth Pony on the ground only to feel her legs give out as she fell down on top of Applejack, laying her chest over Applejack's and resting her head on Applejack's side.

They both continued to laugh through their exhaustion all while trying to catch their breaths. They panted, giggled, panted, and giggled some more. Rainbow didn't feel like getting up anytime soon and so did Applejack. They simply lay atop each other, feeling the others heartbeat. Applejack's entire body was warm in contrast to the cool breeze that dominated the air around them. It could have been hours or days, but Rainbow never wanted this to end even if the Wonderbolts walked right up to her and invited her to join.

"Sugar... *pant* cube, ah think ya... *pant* would be a mighty fine... *pant* Earth Pony..." Applejack said through her odd breathing.

Rainbow nodded, unable to speak at the moment. A few more seconds of pants, Rainbow stretched her legs, feeling a great sensation through it all.

"Thanks..." was all she managed to get out.

Applejack stared directly up at the sky, the clouds high above floating by without a care in the world. Cloud envy... it was such a tempting thing to be a cloud. She couldn't help but reach her hoof out and begin to rub Rainbow's mane. Rainbow was tempted to shove her off but she didn't wanna ruin the moment. The feeling of Applejack's hoof through her mane was comforting and Applejack just felt like she had to do something rather than lay there like a log.

Another few minutes passed? Who knows, but Rainbow and Applejack's panting ceased. They had slow, steady breaths and simply refused to get up. Their bodies were sore and this would be a time where a cloud bed would be heaven. Rainbow decided against it since Applejack can't stand on clouds. The sun beating down plus the cool breeze made the day not too hot or cold. It was like a Spring Day... nearing the end of Summer. This was the calmest Rainbow had felt post-exhaustive session. Applejack let out a contempt sigh. Rainbow attempted to push herself up but merely raised herself slightly above Applejack. She looked down at the mare below her. Directly into those shining emerald eyes which stared back at her. She examined Applejack's face which resembled hers: focused and nervous.

Their muzzles were close to each other, their breath on the others' nose. Rainbow's chest felt that pressure again. She almost stopped breathing as she focused on Applejack's face. She stared and tried to memorize it as if she didn't, it wouldn't exist anymore. Applejack was much in the same situation, opting to merely not move. She honestly didn't know what she wanted but...

Rainbow blinked a few times and pushed herself to her feet, letting her wings stretch out as her tired body got used to the stretch after being curled up for what was only 15 minutes. Applejack let out a breath she didn't know she held in as her mind felt insane relief, Rainbow too.

"So, let's go get the horseshoes, Apples." Rainbow said as she extended a hoof towards the Earth Pony, a smile still plastered onto her face.

Applejack smiled back at Rainbow, taking her hoof as the cyan mare helped Applejack to her hooves. She did a stretch to coincide with the synchronicity that she and Rainbow seemed to be having today. Rainbow looked off towards the direction of the Ponyville, simply wondering what her other friends were doing for the day. She smiled at the thought of Rarity working on some more dresses, or Twilight freaking out over her scheduling, or Pinkie Pie finding a reason to throw another party or Fluttershy tending to some wounded _. She waited a few seconds before Applejack finished stretching and looked over at Rainbow.

"Alright then, let's grab 'em horseshoes." Applejack said as she led Rainbow to the shed.

Rainbow nodded as Applejack trotted up to the shed and opened the old, creaky door revealing the oddly dusty interior. It was ironic how dusty it got regardless of how much the shed was used. Applejack walked over to a shelf, Rainbow waiting outside patiently tapping her hooves (she was getting much better at waiting lately) as Applejack grabbed a box handle between her teeth and carried it out.

Rainbow then trotted over to the small box and the stake for horseshoes, Applejack in tow. Applejack set the box down at their usual line for tossing, opening the top before pulling out three horseshoes of two colours; cyan and yellow.

"Applejack, do you think before we toss a few games, we could get something to drink? I am still kinda out of it from the run." Rainbow asked as Applejack shoved the box aside.

"Well sure. Ah'll be right back." Applejack said with a smile before trotting towards the front door of her house.

Rainbow nodded and before long, it was a little quiet. Shortly after Applejack entered the house, another filly walked in to the acres. Applebloom returning from school, all done for the week. She trotted on the trail from Ponyville, walking through the white painted wooden arch as she walked into the acres. She looked around for a bit to see if her other siblings are working. Big Macintosh was neither seen nor heard, same goes for Applejack but Rainbow was idly standing about near the horseshoe stake, bending her knees in cheap little squats to pass time. Applebloom slowly trotted over to the spectral maned pegasus whom is oblivious to the approaching filly.

"Hiya Rainbow Dash. What'chu doin'?" Applebloom asked as Rainbow turned around.

"Oh, just waiting for Applejack to get back. We're playing horseshoes when she does but I was thirsty so she went inside to get a drink. Then I'm going to destroy her at horseshoes." Rainbow said with a confident grin.

Applebloom cocked her head, shooting Rainbow a disbelieving stare. "'stroy mah sis at horseshoes? Ah doubt it." Applebloom said. Rainbow rolled her eyes as Applebloom nudged at the horseshoes.

"Don't believe me, why don't you stay out here and watch?" Rainbow offered.

Applebloom didn't reply but merely stared at Rainbow with a stern face that shouted "Nuh uh" at Rainbow. Applebloom turned and trotted back to her house to drop her saddlebags off. Rainbow let out a chuckle. Applebloom opened the door, holding it open and stepping out of the way as Applejack walked out carrying a tray holding two bottles of apple juice and something else Rainbow couldn't see. She mumbled something just out of earshot but Rainbow did hear "Apple Pie" and then see Applebloom grow excited and shoot into the house. Rainbow chuckled, watching Applejack trot over to the park bench which is close by and set the tray down. Rainbow saw that besides apple juice, there is two granola bars sitting there. Little snack, no argument there.

"Ah got us some apple juice an two apple cinnamon granola bars fer a quick snack. Figure we'd need somethin' t' stave hunger until supper." Applejack said as she grabbed a bottle of apple juice and took a few sips out of it.

Rainbow cantered over to the park bench and quickly grabbed the other bottle of juice and took a large guzzle, gulping a bit down before spitting the rest of it out. Applejack looked over at Rainbow in a confused angry glare. Rainbow spotted this as she licked her lips.

"What? It's what all athletes do. Don't swallow it otherwise your bathroom breaks will triple during an event." Rainbow said.

Applejack loosened up a bit but still maintained a stern glare. "Ah know, but we're not exactly competin', are we?" Applejack retorted.

Rainbow thought for a second before apologetically grinning at Applejack. "Whoops, I'm just too use to... heh, y'know..." Rainbow said, averting her eyes.

Applejack shook her head, allowing a few chuckles out as she set her bottle of juice down.

"S'all good, jus' try an remember fer later." Applejack said as she approached the yellow horseshoes. "So, who's goin' first?" Applejack asked.

Rainbow pondered the question for a bit before kicking a yellow horseshoe over to Applejack's hooves.

"You can go. The outcome won't be any different based on who goes first." Rainbow said with a smug grin.

Applejack raised an eyebrow, smiling over at Rainbow's display of confidence. She shook her head. "Ah know. Ah'm gonna win again." she said, lowering her head and picking up a horseshoe and gently tossing it in the air, allowing it to land atop her muzzle.

"Whatever. Just hurry up and go." Rainbow said, kicking the ground.

Applejack looked over at the stake, positioning her body so she was lined up perfectly with the box. Rainbow watched intently, wondering how her throw is going to go. Applejack let out a sigh before dipping her head down and raising it immediately, leaning forward a bit. The horseshoe flew off her muzzle, doing a small flip in the air before landing right next to the stake by only an inch.

"Woah, close on th' first throw." Applejack exclaimed as she looked over to see Rainbow with a wide-eyed expression, mouth closed. "Yer turn, RD." she said, kicking a cyan horseshoe over to Rainbow's hooves.

Rainbow gulped quickly before kneeling down and picking up the horseshoe in between her teeth. She tossed it into the air gently, let it land on her muzzle, and quickly dipped down, raised her head and leaned forward, tossing the horseshoe without really aiming. Surprisingly, it flew directly towards the stake. Applejack and Rainbow Dash leaned forward, the suspense building over that one second. The horseshoe spun, and from the looks of things, it was going to be a ringer. Rainbow's eyes widened as it fell towards the stake, still slowly spinning. Instead, the caulkin of the horseshoes' arch almost hit the stake, the two ends positioned equally apart from the stake. It landed directly behind the stake, clanging as one end clasped against Applejack's horseshoe.

"... WHY!" Rainbow shouted out in disbelief as Applejack laughed. Rainbow shook her head as she attempted to hold back her rainbow-wrath. "No. No. Just no. Of all the possible things, THAT has to happen?" Rainbow said as she looked back at the stake to confirm she did what she thought she just did.

Meanwhile, Applejack was rolling on the ground, unable to contain her laughter. Rainbow hung her head in disbelief and attempted to hold back a few laughs of her own at the dramatic bad luck that struck her. She let out a sigh as Applejack recollected herself, pushing herself to her feet.

"Ah... ah'm a might sorry. It's jus' that, yer right. Of all the possible things t' happen, that happens..." Applejack said as she bent down and picked up another horseshoe, plopping it onto her muzzle.

Rainbow simply shook her head. "I swear, there is some invisible force just wanting to ruin everything." Rainbow said as she sat down on the ground, crossing her forelegs.

Applejack proceeded to toss her next horseshoe which soared through the air and as if to pay her back for her fit of laughter, the caulk of her horseshoe hit the top of the stake, bouncing off and out of the small sandbox. Applejack cocked her head, eye twitching at the sudden stroke of bad luck to hit her now. Rainbow snorted but decided not to laugh, not wanting to indulge in karma. Now it was Applejack's turn to shake her head.

"Heh, well, what goes aroun', comes aroun' as they say." Applejack said, rolling her eyes as she sat down.

Rainbow pushed herself to her hooves, picking up her second horseshoe along the way. She decided to aim herself, staring directly at the stake. She checked the positioning of the horseshoe on her muzzle. She dipped, raised head, leaned forward, launched horseshoe. It soared... to the right and hit the side of the sandbox. It slid on the wood before falling off the back. Rainbow let out another long sigh.

"This is how wars are started..." Rainbow said as she looked back at the sandbox.

Applejack chuckled, having learned the same lesson as Rainbow: karma is watching. "Well, at least that throw is better than my last one." Applejack said, picking up her last horseshoe as she stood up.

Rainbow snorted but let the smile stay on her face. She shook her head playfully as she anticipated Applejack's next throw. Applejack lined herself up. Dip, raise, lean, launch. The horseshoe flew through the air, landing caulk-first in the sand as the end swung forward, leaning the whole horseshoe against the stake. Applejack pumped a hoof into the air.

"Aha, ah wasn't 'spectin', that but ah ain't complainin'." Applejack said, satisfied with her two successful horseshoe throws.

Rainbow stared at the stake with nervous eyes as she picked up her final horseshoe, balancing it on her nose. She half aimed, half didn't care. She looked towards the stake, feeling pressure. Not like before, this was the bad pressure. Anxiety. Nervousness. This would decide it all. She turned her head, opting to spin and throw rather than dip, raise, lean and launch. She looked at Applejack during her turn who looked back in a puzzled fashion. Rainbow snorted.

"Here goes nothing." Rainbow said.

She snapped her head back not all the way, but just enough so the horseshoe would go sailing through the air. It spun wildly, soaring towards the sandbox. Rainbow stared as her cyan horseshoe edged closer and closer. Applejack and Rainbow both felt a pang of anxiety root itself into their spines. Almost, closer, closer...

*ding*

The legs of the horseshoe caught onto the stake near the top, spinning around and around as it slid down the length of the small stake to the ground, bumping Applejack's horseshoe off.

"Woah, it's a ringer!" Applejack exclaimed as she stood on her hooves.

Rainbow stared in disbelief that her "throw" actually won her the game. Applejack walked over and nudged Rainbow's wing through her surprised daze. She patted Rainbow's shoulder.

"Congrats, Rainbow. Ya won." Applejack said.

Rainbow let out a small gasp, starting a full on laugh. She beat Applejack fair and square. This felt great. Really great.

"Wow... thanks, Applejack." Rainbow said as she trotted over, Applejack following to go pick up their horseshoes for another set of horseshoes.

The next half hour went on as the clang of metal echoed through the acres; horseshoes hitting horseshoes, horseshoes hitting the stake, horseshoes hitting wood. Applejack and Rainbow continued their friendly games of horseshoes; Applejack won some, Rainbow won others. They continually egged each other on, no longer deciding that testing karma was a good idea but rather teased playfully. After a while, the game dulled a bit due to repeated plays. Applejack took the tray carrying two empty bottles and two empty granola bar wrappers inside while Rainbow placed the box of horseshoes away. After, Rainbow closed the shed, Applejack walked out of the house carrying two towels on her back.

"A'ight, we're off to the pond, or lake, or whatever." Rainbow said as she grabbed one towel.

"Yup. Kind of a long walk, but it's nuthin' much." Applejack said.

Rainbow rubbed her chin. "Hmm... race you there?" Rainbow said, grinning as they slowly walked back into the orchards.

Applejack smiled. "Sure, why not." she said as she snugly wrapped the towel around her neck, Rainbow doing the same.

"Alright. One..." Rainbow said as she shook her hooves.

Applejack prepped herself.

"Twothreego!" Rainbow said, taking off into the air with her wings leaving a surprised Applejack in the dust as she soared towards the lake.

Applejack stared wide-eyed as her pegasus friend launched off towards the lake in their "race".

"Heh heh." Applejack let out a few chuckles as she started jogging before bursting into a full on gallop towards the lake.

Author's Note: Mushy enough? I really wanted to focus on their friendship this chapter part. Next chapter, we get to buck for a change! Note, the main event isn't starting, that's saved for Chapter 4. For now, we get Introduction Chapter 1, Mushy Bond-building Chapter 2... so yeah. Thanks to those who read this.

Special thanks to user Civille/Bellum_Civille as my editor. Please check out his stories, especially the Pinkie-verse and Old Friends.