• Story: Applecores and Rainbows

    [Shipping]

    Author: CosmicWaltz
    Description: Applejack and Rainbow Dash attempt to turn their longtime friendship into a heartfelt relationship, without letting too many ponies in on the secret. Classic AppleDash shipping. You've seen it a million times, but you know you like it! A simple feel-good work that will make you smile.
    Applecores and Rainbows Part 1
    Applecores and Rainbows Part 2
    Applecores and Rainbows Part 3
    Applecores and Rainbows Part 4
    Applecores and Rainbows Part 5

    Additional Tags: Eh, here are some words

    68 comments:

    1. more shipping...

      and the most overused pairing...


      *reads*

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    2. Read ALL the AppleDash.


      I stumbled across this on DA a couple of days ago, though I had already forgotten about it in the backlog. I'll give it a shot later today now that it is on ED.

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    3. Arg this is shutoff an overdone ship....not that I won't read it....

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    4. Confound these overdone ships taking up our time, move out of the way so I can get round to that ThunderDash fic!

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    5. Imma only read this cause it has Dash in it...

      simply cause i've read 90% of the Dash ship fics here: http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/01/story-archive.html

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    6. Meh, Dash would cheat on her imho.

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    7. IT SAYS COMPLETE!!! YES!

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    8. -sigh-

      Misanthropy +30 points.

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    9. Still can't decide whether I like AppleDash or DashFire better.

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    10. I'm on part 2 and I'm liking it so far.

      not anywhere near the best ship fics i've read but it looks like it's shaping up to be a 4/5. 3/5 for now.

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    11. @mycutiemarkisagun

      Mm, I'm actually curious about this. Can you elaborate a bit more? (It certainly raises one possibility that hasn't been raised in shipping.)

      And yeah, this was a nice, decently done, light ship story. It certainly manages to pace itself better than a lot of rushed ship fics and I like that the author avoids yet-another-teary-eyed-confession-of-love scene when bringing the two principles together. In fact I like how it actually has them dating for a bit before the relationship gets serious. And I've got no complaints about the prose (though it's been awhile since I've read it.)

      In that sense, while it's a very common ship, it's lightness does avoid the heavier melodrama (and certain attached cliches) I've seen in other Apple-Dash ships...well other than that coming out in Equestria is easier than real-life. And that's not bad in itself, but I've seen it done endlessly in AppleDash fics even to build some drama but never comes to much. I will say this though: Cosmic Waltz handles that a lot more skilfully than most authors. If nothing else he's done a better job than most fan-fic authors I've read of portraying the internal anxieties and emotions of the characters being afraid to be open about their relationship...at least as far as Chapter 3 is concerned.

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    13. Whoo! Been waiting for this to get on EQD. Even though I read it like a month ago.

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    14. I loved this one! I re-read it four times. I just felt it progressed extremely well. It's in my favorites on DA, and I'll probably re-read it again.

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    15. Hot damn, it's about time this story got on EqD!

      I remember reading this when it first came out. Such an enjoyable read.

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    16. @blindredquine

      I actually read one once where Dash loved AJ, but couldn't cope with the fact that AJ wasn't a Pegasus and thus could live with her the way Dash would want to.

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    17. This is a lovely story.:3

      I recommend dis!

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    18. It's not a bad story, not at all. I'd say it was worth the read. =)

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    19. Hipster BronyNeumo read this months ago on Da.

      Still amazing, though...

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    20. @Brony Neumo

      Part of the reason I signed up for the AppleDash group on DA is that Equestria Daily was insufficient to FEED MY HUNGER.

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    21. Ugh, you guys are crazy with all your shippings. I seriously don't see how you like pairing me up eith Aj, we're both too competitive and stuff. There's no way it'd actually work, we'd be butting heads too often.

      But whatever. Love and tolerance.

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    23. I really enjoyed this fic. After reading so many that start off I-can't-hold-these-feelings-in-but-I-don't-want-to-ruin-our-friendship and end with both ponies falling in love through life changing tragedy/confession, this was a very delightful change.

      This shipfic felt a lot more natural. Everone gets scared or nervous when a friend reaches out to you, but you'll never know how you really feel about it less you give it a shot

      The story progressed smoothly and believably; I liked seeing a few afternoon outings and not just skip to the dinner date. And I'm glad to see not everyone in Ponyville is instantly accepting of some relationships. Yeah, it's a show full of pastel ponies, but utopias get boring.

      I don't care if Appledash is beaten like a dead horse, this was well done. Thank you for a wonderful read

      -a marsupial surrounded by equines.

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    24. @Rainbow Dash

      Meh. It's not about the shipping pairing. It's about the D'Awwwww. It's pretty much the same reason there are so many Rainbow Dash sad or grim fics. Being the least approachable due to being such a hothead but intriguing due to looks and awesomeness. People like to make the strong one seem more vulnerable, one way or another.

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    25. I totally think AppleDash is the most popular shipping because (even though shipping on a cartoon isn't exactly realistic) it's the most plausible and believable one. Personally, just for shits and giggles, it's my favorite besides DashFire.

      Great job on the fic. :3

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    26. well this was just what I needed to remind me why I read fanfiction again. It may not be perfect, it does has some issues, but it was just[1] what I wanted. Thanks.

      [1] Technically, it was almost what I wanted, but close enough and I _did_ enjoy it immensely, even if it's not my OTP.

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    27. Read it. First half (chapters 1, 2 and half of 3) was thinking "Yes, I will read this gosh darn ship despite its flaws" (pacing issues early on, a few typos etc).

      Once I hit the middle of ch3, the date, it read like an entirely different fic. In a good way. No disrespect meant, but you suddenly just.. sonic rainboom'd a little, and the last half was thoroughly enjoyable and really good.

      So yeah. Overall, loved it. Proof that ship fics can be written without massive angst and hatred; you can have the "conflict" be mild and comparatively unthreatening, yet still deliver a good story.

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    28. Liked this a lot, it was good to see the pairing through the eyes of the other pony- i.e. the one that doesn't have the crush. Thanks for writing!

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    29. I must say it was well written and kept me up until i had read it done

      i just had to say it :3 sry for sending 2 posts

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    30. That was a very sweet read.

      Sometimes all you need is a simple story with a happy ending and this had it. Loved it.

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    31. @Rainbow Dash

      Some of the best lesbian couples I have known (Not, alas, my own) have been between very competitive people. Both You and AJ are both competitive and good sports; you want to win, but you aren't tantrumy about losing when you do.

      Believe me when I say, too, that there is an intensity to competition that will translate into other areas of your life, both directly and as a side effect of other competitions. And as nice as it is to win, there's a huge surge of pride and pleasure when someone you LOVE wins, too!

      If you have to lose, it might as well be to someone you can 'win' with later, right? :)

      As for cheating, monogamy is overrated. I could easily see AppleDash as an open relationship! But, yeah, I'm biased, being a poly lesbian myself who hates that everything has to be 'which two will end up together?' when 'They make a great triad!' is so much nicer. ;)

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    32. All of my diabetes! That was so damn cute!

      But now I'm hesitant to submit my own AppleDash, because everyone's probably sick of it. :s

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    33. There should be laws against making stories this heartwarming.


      @A Weary Exile

      What you say is an impossibility. You will submit that AppleDash, good sir; and I will read it.

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    34. *looks at pic*
      *does not question*
      *starts reading*

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    35. OK, I usually don't read straight shipping without a comedy or adventure tag attached, but many peeps I respect have recommended this...

      "Applejack looked back to her friend in frustration. "Ah needed ya out here because yer the strongest of our friends after me, and we need all the help we can get!"

      Wat. I'm assuming she has ulterior motives already and hasn't actually forgotten Twilight's telekinetic ability to harvest a good thicket's worth of apples at once, as displayed during Applebuck Season?

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    36. @TenchiFreak5

      Eh, I was gonna. Thought I was doing enough differently to make submitting it worthwhile, but looking at these comments makes me think differently. :/

      Oh well. It was fun to write and there's always that western I'm working on. :P

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    37. @A Weary Exile
      "But now I'm hesitant to submit my own AppleDash, because everyone's probably sick of it. :s "

      And yet Equestria Daily *STILL* posts AppleDash fics when submitted, or RainbowPie fics, or TwiLuna fics...

      [LUNA]...THOU WILL SUBMIT IT AND WE SHALL READ AT OUR ROYAL PLEASURE.[/LUNA]

      @A Weary Exile
      "Thought I was doing enough differently to make submitting it worthwhile, but looking at these comments makes me think differently. :/ "

      Because you don't think you are doing things differently enough or because you're afraid that you won't find a receptive audience?

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    38. This was pretty alright. Laying it on a bit heavier on the "coming out" conflict than usual. But it works. Also is indeed heartwarming & cute.

      Appledash best ship.

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    39. @blindredquine

      Afraid I won't find a receptive audience *because* it's not different enough.

      I've got nothing but positive feedback from several pre-readers...but that's what happened last time I got rejected. I just don't think it's worth getting shot-down again.

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    40. I dunno about anyone else, but I'd read it! It is a popular niche for a reason. If you post it somewhere, I hope I get to see it. :)

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    41. @A Weary Exile
      "I've got nothing but positive feedback from several pre-readers...but that's what happened last time I got rejected. I just don't think it's worth getting shot-down again."

      How many times have you submitted? Personally, I'd keep going, ask for feed-back, and work on your writing until it gets accepted. If you want, as my e-mail is now accessible from my blogger profile, send me the drafts you have of the fic so far and I'll see if I can offer any constructive feedback.

      And since EDQ just updated with an Apple Dash fic maybe it would be a good idea to put it on the back burner for now, and do the western, then the Apple Dash fic later.

      (And this is the 'blindredquine' from earlier. I just finally updated my blogger profile. :p )

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    42. @Adam Crocker

      Eheh. Well I suppose it's worth a shot. >.>

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    43. @Adam Crocker

      Your e-mail doesn't appear to be a valid address. >_<

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    44. @A Weary Exile

      Yeah, it was working before but I noticed just today that it's somehow not working. I'll have to call the ISP later to fix it, but for now I've switched it over to a gmail account. Try that.

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    45. @blindredquine
      "...and I like that the author avoids yet-another-teary-eyed-confession-of-love scene..."

      I must now retract this pompous remark since after objectively viewing the 31 or so AppleDash fics I have read there are only FIVE that actually have this. (And one of which does it quite beautifully.) So yeah, not really a cliche. ;-/

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    46. @Adam Crocker

      Now I want your rating list and ranks! But I would settle for the one you mentioned with a touching profession of love scene.

      I admit it. I am a sucker for those. I have only just started reading pony fics, so am curious!

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    47. @Jamie

      Well it's not so much rating list and ranks as it was me sitting down, listing all of the Apple Dash fics I read where this could apply, and realizing it only accounted for a small percentage of them.

      However, with sufficient time (and Red Bull) I could produce a rating and ranking list of Apple Dash fics...and incur the enmity of numerous fan-fic writers. :p

      (I'm actually a sucker for tender confessions of love scenes myself, even the teary eyed ones if handled properly.)

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    48. Seeing as I'm a relatively new arrival to the fandom, I think I missed the time when AppleDash was at its peak popularity (by the time I joined it was already considered "old" and "overdone"). Thus I had never actually sat down and read one. After reading this one, I gotta say I understand why it's so popular. It showed a believable progression of the relationship, compelling without being melodramatic.

      And I love love LOVE that you wrote it from AJ's POV. Seeing her struggling with her sexuality, questioning her feelings, and coming out to her friends and family... that was really believable. That she was willing to try going on a date with her best friend despite the fact that she didn't consider herself a lesbian makes me *that* much more proud of her. It takes bravery to do something like that. I kinda wish more people were open about that kind of thing, since I believe that sexuality is fluid.

      Also, dat ending. D'AWWWWWWWWW!

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    49. @mousetrap9261

      Heck I remember some people claiming that it was overdone by the time I got into fandom (summer 2010) though I've still seen fics come out and long periods of time where nothing shows up and others where there's a deluge. (Though less so on Equestria daily where the flow of fics is more restricted as opposed to FIMFiction.net or the MLP groups on Deviant Art.)

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    50. Ah, a classic ship done well. I really like shipping stories like this, where at least one party isn't already in love with the other. Seeing a relationship actually build is what makes shipping work.

      I do sort of wish you'd spent more time showing them actually falling in love, but I also think that would have run counter to the lighthearted nature of the story. Excellent work, fun to read, and a great portrayal of a popular ship. Five-starred.

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    51. Cosmic, I'm only on chapter 2, but may I say how much I appreciate a shipfic that is NOT about two characters who both secretly like each other but are too shy to say so?

      I really love the concept of the "Well, I don't know, but we can give it a try" plot, which is totally underused and makes for a much more realistic and satisfying story than the usual "cannot spit it out" story.

      Thefact that it's well written and really hits the characters' personalities and voices just makes it better.

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    52. Very Awesome story, So Sweet :3

      5/5

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    53. Good thing I avoid AppleDash stuff. uuuuuugggghhhhhh

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    54. And yet you went to all this trouble to comment as such on a months old story?

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    55. Idec if Appledash is overused or whatever, I can't really see them with anypony else. But I love this :D

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    56. This is the best fanfic I've read so far and I love that it tells a love story the right way by not overusing sex and telling a story that is heartfelt and real. Thanks for writing this and until there's a sequel I'll be reading this over and over.

      Your faithful reader,

      Empire Dash

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