"Hey!" Stu Leaves grinned from where he briskly trotted down the center of a wide south-bound highway. "Where you guys from?!"
"Marebile!" One of a half-dozen ponies replied from a wagon in the rightmost lane. "How 'bout you, stranger?"
"Ponyville!" Stu Leaves nodded his head while drawing Applejack's cart. "Due west of Canterlot!"
"Wow! Yer from the heartland!" Several of the ponies in the nearby wagon chuckled pleasantly. "Where we come from, we dun see many winged ponies. Much less pullin' an earth pony wagon!"
"Hey?! When in Roam!" Stu Leaves winked.
"Heheheh! Where y'all headed?"
"Orlandoats."
"Ya mean deep down in Fillyda?"
"Yeah. But we're having to pass through Atlantrot along the way! Could you tell us if we're on the right path?"
"Darn tootin'! This here is the fastest, clearest highway ever built 'round these parts! Had to tear down an old factory or two to pave it, but we ain't complainin'! Transportin' oats is as easier as ever! Believe you me—it'll get y'all to Atlantrot within a day and a half!"
"Heh... not as bad as I thought! Say, are there any rest stops along the way?"
"Reckon so! About thirty miles south of here, along the right side! There's a town called Dayton. Them's good eats!"
"Heh... we'll be sure to check it out!"
"Though, if you want our advice, only go for Dayton for the vittles. You wanna get a nightcap, head on a few more miles to Trotsville. It's further away from swampland, so less mosquitoes to nip you at night!"
"Hey! Thanks!"
"Anytime, partner!" The ponies waved as they drew out of earshot in their larger, heavier wagon. "Safe travels, now, y'hear?"
"Definitely!" Stu Leaves chuckled, then glanced back behind him. "Celestia, I love southerners. Salt of the earth."
"You say that 'bout any farmin' ponies," Applejack said with a smirk.
"Heh. If you say so."
"I know what I say, and I say what I know."
"Don't worry, Applejack," Stu Leaves said. "Ponyville agriculture is still my favorite."
Applejack squinted. "What in the Sam Hill is that supposed to mean?"
"I'm just saying, you don't have to be jealous." Stu Leaves chuckled. "Sweet Apple Acres still gets the Hospitality Award in my book."
"Pfft! Stop comparin' me to southerners! I dun even know where y'all get the idea."
"Heheheh..." Stu Leaves smirked in mid-trot. "It's a total mystery."
"Now enough of that, ya fuddy duddy!"
"Wuh oh! Is somepony fixing to wrassle me?" Stu stuck his tongue out.
Applejack giggled and prepared to say something in response—
"SO." Rainbow Dash perched on the wagon between them. "Stu! How're you holding up in terrestrial acclimation!"
"Terrestrial... erm... what?" The stallion blinked.
"Oh, I'm sure you know all about it." Rainbow smirked. "The difference in air pressure... the change in humidity levels... the presence of pollens and other allergy-inducing things so close to the earth's surface..."
"Oh... Ohhhhh!" Stu blinked. "That! Yeah, I remember all about that... uhhh... from junior-grade school."
"I'm afraid I dun follow," Applejack muttered.
"Oh, it's a common thing most pegasi go through, especially ones who grew up in a cloud city like Rainbow and me." Stu Leaves smirked. "When such pegasi move permanently to a terrestrial location, they can... uh... take a while to adjust."
"Some longer than others," Rainbow said. "I mean... pfffft... I got over the severe migraines and intestinal bloating withint weeks of setting up house in Ponyville. But that's just 'cuz of how I've got my tubes arranged, if you know what I mean." She winked, elbowing Applejack.
"Erm... reckon I dun, sugarcube."
"Yeah. What do you mean, Rainbow?"
"Oh... I-I mean... I'm sure it's no big deal with you." Rainbow sat back, faking a yawn. "After all, you're so busy working, Stu. It's not like you've had time in your life to even bother with it."
"Bother with what?"
"Eh, not like it matters. The odds are only—what... one in five?" Rainbow's eyes blinked. "Whoah... now that I think about it, that is kind of huge. Still, that gives you four chances out of five to not be affected."
"By what, exactly?"
"Well... I'm no biology major..." Rainbow leaned in, her voice taking a whispery tone. "But I hear that the reason why most male pegasi don't like moving out of their cloud cities is because they like making babies in the future."
"Huh..." Stu blinked. "You don't say."
"But hey! If you're doing just fine, Stu, then you're the expert!" Rainbow leaned back, stretching her legs and wings out. "I'm sure you've got nothing to be worried about!"
"Er... right!" Stu bit his lip. He fidgeted, his eyes glancing down as he slowed his pace a bit.
"Say, uh, Rainbow?" Applejack glanced over.
"Hmmmm?" Rainbow smiled, her eyes shut.
"Did ya sleep just fine last night?"
"Sure did. Why? What's up?"
"That's a darn good questin."
Rainbow glanced over. "Huh?"
"I'm just... not used to ya soundin' so... so..."
"What? Content?"
"I was gonna say 'academic-like.'"
"So what if I get a bit nostalgic over biology class once in a while?"
"You?" Applejack's eyes were like narrow slits. "Nostalgic over book-learnin'?"
Rainbow bit her lip. At last, her voice squeaked. "It could happen."
"Darlin', if somethin' was botherin' you, you would tell me, huh?"
"Uhm..." Rainbow fidgeted. "I... uhh..."
Suddenly, Applejack's ears perked up. Her freckles dimmed as she glared at the pegasus. "Of course... now I see..."
Rainbow started shivering. "See what?"
"All this time... it makes perfect sense..."
"What d-does...?"
"Yer demeanor... the way you've been actin'..." Applejack smirked devilishly. "...how feisty it's gotten you..."
Rainbow tried not to whimper. "Applejack, what are you tr-trying to say?"
"Dun worry, sugarcube." Applejack leaned forward, breathing. "I'll get you fixed right up."
Rainbow gulped. "Fixed?"
And immediately, Applejack smiled and shouted towards Stu. "Get in the right lane, Stu! We'll exit at Dayton!" She pointed. "Rainbow Dash's starvin' for some food in her belly!"
"H-hey! What a coinkydink! I could go for a bite myself!"
"Ain't nothin' more wholesome for the pegasus metabolism! Ain't I right?"
"Heh... you know us so well, AJ."
"Reckon I should! Yer kind are the biggest threat to my apples, second to fruit bats. Er... no offense..."
"Heheh... how could you ever offend me, AJ."
"Just you wait, Rainbow." Applejack patted the mare's shoulder with a proud smirk. "Soon enough, you'll be swallowing the grumps away with some old fashioned country vittles!"
"Jee, thanks..." Rainbow Dash exhaled, hugging herself as she glanced at the passing scenery. "You're so thoughtful..."