//------------------------------// // My Dream Mare // Story: My Dream Mare // by Lysis //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash stood in the hayloft of the barn at Sweet Apple Acres, gazing out over the rows and rows of apple trees. The setting sun set the sky ablaze with warm colors: reds, oranges, and yellows streaked across the sky, ending in a mix of dark blues and violets closer to the horizon. If there was a swath of green, it could have passed for a perfect rainbow.   Some of my best work, Dash thought to herself with pride. She had made sure everything was just right; she’d wanted everything to be perfect, and it was. She spread her wings and gave them a few flaps to work out the kinks before settling into a nearby pile of hay. Breathing in its strong, crisp scent, she stretched out the rest of her limbs and relaxed there for a minute - just waiting. Her ears perked up at the sound of hooves climbing the loft’s staircase. She turned to see Applejack standing at the top with a smile on her face and a piece of wheat between her teeth. She kicked up small clouds of dust and hay with every step.   “Sunset sure is beautiful, Rainbow Dash. Ya wanted to see me?”          “Yeah,” Dash said, smiling confidently. She motioned at a pile of hay right next to her. “I was just thinking, you know...that we could watch the sunset together. Whadda you say, Applejack?”   Applejack shifted the wheat in her mouth, but didn’t stop smiling. It didn’t take long for her to answer. “Aw heck, why not, Dash? It’s been a long day, Ah could do with some relaxin’.”   Applejack unceremoniously flopped down on the pile of hay next to Dash’s and gently removed her hat, setting it down nearby. Wiping the sweat out of her eyes. Applejack looked out the loft and over the orchard, towards the setting sun.          She chuckled. “You plann’d this out, didn’tcha Rainbow Dash; this sunset?”   “Pffft,” Dash snorted, waving a hoof. “I might have had a liiiittle something to do with it. Why d’you ask, AJ?” “Jus’ curious is all. Ain’t every day that ends like this one.” She turned to look at Dash, who hadn’t once taken her eyes off of her. “It’s jus’ a funny coincidence, you know? That you wanted to see me t’night, an’ there just so happens to be a sunset like this.” “Yeah...big coincidence, huh?” Dash felt butterflies in her stomach but fought them back like she would before performing a big stunt. She wasn’t usually nervous, and why should she be now? Everything was going just like she’d planned it...   “It’s great you made it. You’ve been so busy lately I didn’t know if you’d have the time.” “Aw, shucks. You know Ah always have time for a friend.”          “Well that’s good, because...well, I need to talk to you. I’ve needed to talk to you for a while.”          Okay, it’s now or never. If I don't say it now, I'll never say it. “...Look, Applejack,” Rainbow Dash continued, her voice staying strong even as her face began to flush. “I think we both know why we’re really here. I know I’m not exactly subtle, and I know you can tell. You always could tell with these kinds of things.”          “Mmm,” Applejack hummed, not really agreeing or disagreeing. She was still smiling...that in itself was reassuring. Dash swallowed hard and continued.   “I don’t think anyone should have to...stress over this kind of thing. You should just be able to come out and say it! Coolly, without it bothering anypony.”   Nopony minded much when Lyra and Bon-Bon started hanging out, Dash thought to herself. Why should this be any different?   “It just...it just seems like something that I should tell you straight up. I mean,” she laughed, accidentally letting some nervousness slip into her voice, “I wouldn’t say anything if I didn’t think I should.” Applejack shifted on her hay, spitting out the wheat stalk hanging from her mouth. Her smile faded just a little bit, but her voice remained as warm as it had been when she first walked into the loft. “So go ahead then, Rainbow Dash. Tell me.”   Dash gulped again, getting even more nervous despite how well things were going. This was the closest she’d been to Applejack in months. Dash could see the colors of the sunset reflected in her eyes, and could even see small beads of sweat on Applejack’s back, probably left over from the day’s work. Why did something that seemed so easy have to be so hard?   “Applejack...” Dash was getting a little choked up, but there weren’t any tears to fight back. Dash had plenty of time to think this over. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself down and settle the butterflies in her stomach.   “Applejack... I love you. I... I have for a long time, and I was wondering if you felt...well, if you felt the same way about me.”   There were a few things that could have happened: Applejack’s smile could have turned into a look of horror or disgust; either of the two ponies could have run away; Dash could have started stammering out apologies through tears, telling Applejack to forget she’d said anything in the first place and that she still wanted to be her friend and that she hoped this hadn’t ruined their friendship-   None of that happened, though. Applejack’s smile just faded away as she closed her eyes, deep in thought, before looking back at Dash. She was just looking at her - there wasn’t any trace of anger, embarrassment, or love in her eyes.   “Hmmm,” she sighed. “Why?”          “Huh?” Dash was caught off guard. This wasn’t the answer she was expecting at all.   “You were right before, Dash,” Applejack said slowly. “I did know. But that’s a mighty powerful word to throw around. So I wanna know why you love me, plain n’ simple. Why would a fast flyin’, daredevil pegasus like you ever love an Earth Pony like me?”          “W-why wouldn’t I love you?” Dash protested, her voice cracking. “You’re the only pony I’ve ever met that was a match for me! That makes you the best pony there is Applejack, and...and...” Dash trailed off for a moment to take another deep breath to work up the courage. “...and you’re just a better pony than I am,” she finished weakly.          “Rainbow Dash,” Applejack said, stunned. “I never thought Ah’d live to see the day when you’d ever-”          “Just lemme finish, okay Applejack?” She nodded, letting Rainbow Dash continue. “I wasn’t a big enough pony to admit it then, but I am now. What we had before was just a rivalry - we were always trying to outdo each other. Sometimes I won, and... well, sometimes you did.” She still struggled with the last part, even though it was true. It made what came next a little easier to say. “And I know that... sometimes... I cheated to win, too. I’m sorry... I’m sorry about all those times I used my wings to beat you in the Iron Pony contest last year. I’m sorry for those times during the summer festival, for the winter games, and...all of them. It was wrong of me. If I were a better pony, I would have stopped myself.”   There. She’d said it. She’d never apologized for cheating before, but it was the truth. She couldn’t even imagine lying to the most honest pony in all of Equestria now. She could hardly believe she had ever lied to her before.   “You never said I couldn’t use my wings.”   It was her pride and sense of self-importance that had kept her from admitting it before. She knew that. Finally being able to get over it - to be completely honest to this beautiful, understanding mare... It felt good. Really good. A wide smile spread back across her face. “Hmm...” Applejack was quiet for a moment. “...So ya like me ‘cause Ah’m somehow better than you? Dash, that don’t make any sense an’ you know it. Seems a pretty weak thing to base ‘love’ on.” “But there’s more to it than that!” Dash insisted, angry at herself for not starting with what really mattered. “If you’re thinking that there was... I don’t know, an event, something that happened that made me fall in love with you, I... that’s not how it is. I love you for who you are, Applejack: you’re the most honest and dependable pony I’ve ever met and I’ve always loved that honesty. You’re committed to your friends and family, you always forgive anypony that wrongs you, you try and support everypony you know, even if you don’t know each other that well... I’ve seen how you helped Carrot Top set up her stand every day and how you’ve shared the marketplace with her! That kind of generosity is... I don’t think I could do it if I were you, but you make me want to try. All that and... you’re beautiful too.” Applejack started to blush at the compliment, but Dash didn’t notice. She was staring down at the hay instead.   “I... I think you’re beautiful, Applejack. I... I...” This was getting harder and harder to say. She wasn’t any good at sappy stuff like this, and it showed. “I love how your eyes light up when you’re happy... I love your smile, your accent, your freckles...”   Dammit, why couldn’t she just say what she wanted to? The way your mane looks when it’s untied, how it catches the light...how you always smell like fresh apples, the way the dirt and mud stains your coat after a hard day’s work... The last two sent a shiver up her spine. It was taking all her willpower to keep her wings from springing wildly into the air. She could feel them trembling as she pressed them tightly against her sides.   “I think that’s enough.” Dash blinked and looked up. She was more than a little surprised to see that Applejack’s face was almost as red as the apples of her Cutie Mark. “I’ve just been sittin’ here listening to you an’ I think it’s time I said somethin’ too...”   Dash waited, holding her breath in anticipation. “We’ve known each other for a good spell now, right? I still remember how on the first day you moved to Ponyville, I caught ya sleepin’ in Sweetblossom.” That was another thing Dash found adorable about Applejack; her habit of naming her apple trees. She just smiled as Applejack continued. “...I thought you were a thief. I can’t say we met under the best of circumstances, but... well, it didn’t end up matterin’ how Ah met ya. All that mattered was that ya became my friend. An’ we spent so much time t’gether! Felt like every other day was full of games, competitions, arguments, teamwork... I thought it was great fun. Then after Twi came to Ponyville, we made friends with the others... Pinkie, Rarity, Fluttershy... but even then I thought the best times were still the ones with you.”   “Yeah, they were,” Dash agreed. “Hanging out with you was...awesome. It always was.”   “Was,” Applejack said, quietly. Dash flinched - this didn’t sound like it was going to be good. Applejack didn’t sound as happy as before. “It was great to hang out with ya. An’ then you stopped - you didn’t visit no more to talk or play horseshoes, have supper, or nothin’. Whenever I got a chance to talk with you, you’d be givin’ me excuses: ‘Practicing fer the Wonderbolts’ you’d say.” She stared at Dash, frowning. “That might’ve worked on other ponies, but Ah knew it was a buncha’ horseapples. Or ponyfeathers, take yer pick.”          “Oh...” sighed Dash. “I should have known better than to try lying to you.”          “Wasn’t too hard to tell it was a lie, not when I knew you were always watchin’ me from a tree. I’ve known for months - ever since ya did it the first time.” Rainbow Dash turned an even brighter shade of crimson. Her wings twitched, rising a few centimeters before she was able to stop them from rising any further. Applejack chuckled to herself at the slight, but still noticeable, ruffling of feathers.   “Aw, c’mon, Dash. Why’d ya think Ah never bucked the tree you were watchin’ from?” “Well... I... I just...” Dash’s visible embarrassment made talking difficult. “Ah told ya I already knew. How’d you think I found out?”          “That’s...that’s not it. I thought you knew, but I didn’t know you’d known for so long! Why didn’t you tell me?” “Easy. I figured one way or another, you’d come around in yer own time. I didn’t want to say anything ‘cause I figured it’d be better this way. I didn’t want to make you uncomft’able. I thought if I said anythin’ you’d do somethin’ stupid you’d regret. I bet that you’d be the pony to make the first move, an’ I was right.”   The first move...? A hopeful look spread across Rainbow Dash’s face. “So...that means...you...?” Her happiness was mirrored in Applejack’s face with a wide smile of her own.   “Did ya really think I’d come out here, sit down, and listen to you go through this only to tell ya ‘no’? Of course I love you, Rainbow Dash. I only wonder what took ya so long to ask.”   If there were words that could sum up the joy that Rainbow Dash was feeling right then, they escaped her. The feeling was almost as good as- no, it was even better than her first sonic rainboom. That feeling had been fueled by adrenaline and pride - it wasn’t anything at all like the  warmth that was spreading through her.   Applejack scooted closer to Dash. The setting sun was casting a dim amber light into the loft now. Applejack’s mane was catching that light and her eyes were shining just like they always did in Dash’s fantasies. If this was a dream, Dash didn’t ever want it to end. Applejack leaned in closer.   “So what happens now, Dashie?” she asked, half-whispering Pinkie Pie’s pet name for her. “We gonna start datin’?”          “Uhh...well yeah,” Dash said. “Er... I mean, yeah if you wanna start, that’s great, and-”          “You know, yer cute when you’re nervous, Dash, but ya don’t have to be nervous aroun’ me anymore.”   Applejack leaned in even closer and gave Dash a quick kiss on the cheek before pulling her up against her body with a foreleg. Applejack started to nuzzle and lick Dash’s neck, then she slowly stroked a hoof across one of her wings. She couldn’t hold them back any longer - Dash’s wings finally sprang up, every feather tingling.   Well, that was that. Before she had a chance to hang her head in shame or give an excuse though, Applejack laughed. “There, tha’s better, ain’t it? You didn’t have to hold back for so long, Dashie. I wouldnt’a minded any - Ah like your wings.”   Dash let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding in and began to laugh along with Applejack. Not having to restrain her wings meant she could finally relax. Applejack gave her another nuzzling before putting her head down on her back. Looking back over her shoulder, Dash watched Applejack breathe in the scent of her mane - just like she had always imagined she would.   “...You know, Applejack, I really missed hanging out with you.”          “I missed you too. Think we can start again?”          “Yeah, that’d be...awesome.”   For the next few minutes the loft was quiet as the two mares lay in the hay together. Dash was first to break the silence.   “...Hey, Applejack?” “I was just wondering, you...you didn’t really mind me watching you all the time, did you?”          “...Nah,” Applejack said, lifting her head off of Dash’s back so she could look her in the eyes. “Ah’ll admit I’d already had some thoughts ‘bout ya before then, but...the thing is... I figured it was one-sided. When you did it the first time, Ah didn’t know what ya were doin’. When you did it the secon’ time, I guess Ah was...hopeful. When ya did it the third time...hmmm...well shoot, Ah don’t know what I was. How d’you think you’d feel if I was watchin’ you an’ you knew I was watchin’? And that ya wanted me to keep watchin’?”          “I...I don’t think I could stand it.”          “Why, Dash? Ah thought you liked attention.”          “Erm...well yeah, I do, but...” Dash threw a glance back at her wings, still standing at attention.   “Oh,” said Applejack.          “I wouldn’t be able to play it cool if I knew you were watching me, cause when I think about you, well...do I have to spell it out?” “Nah.” There was a pause while Applejack looked for the right words. “I think... Ah felt jus’ like you did. No diff’rent.”         “Yeah?”          “Yeup. Only difference is I don’t have wings.” “Heheh…That’s a real relief, you know? That you didn’t mind.”         “I didn’t jus’, ‘not mind’, Dash. I said it before; Ah wanted ya to watch me. I liked it.” Applejack grinned at seeing the brash, bold pegasus shrink down, suddenly sputtering syllables. “I…w-well, okay, b-but…I…” Dash was only turning redder, stammering like a frightened filly.   “Aww, what’s this?” Applejack asked, tilting her head to the side. “This ain’t the Rainbow Dash I know. Fastest flier in Equestria? Always the best at everythin’? The pony that always has somethin’ to say? The pony that ain’t afraid of anythin’?”   Dash couldn’t answer. She was too busy burying her face in the hay.   “Aw, don’t be doin’ that, Dashie… I already told ya, you don’t need to be embarrassed around me. C’mere.” Her eyes still shut, Dash felt Applejack’s forelegs slip around her chest as the strong farmpony pulled her into a hug. Somewhere in the back of Dash’s mind, it registered that she was close to Applejack...very close. She bit her lip, trying to calm herself down. It wasn’t working. She swore she could feel Applejacks heartbeat, guessing her own must have been twice as fast. It was beating like she was running a marathon. As Applejack squeezed her tighter, Dash’s breathing turned more and more ragged and her wings started to tremble, not content with just stiffly standing up. Applejack seemed to like the reaction.   “Ya know, I’d hoped I’d have this kinda effect on you, Dash,” whispered Applejack as she gave the pegasus another nuzzling, “…but I never thought Ah act’ually would. If just thinkin’ about me is enough to get you worked up… I’m wonderin’ how yer feeling right now…”   Loosening the hug, she gently nibbled on one of Dash’s ears before running her tongue down Dash’s neck, back, and then across one of her wings. The near-electric jolt of pleasure that ran through Dash’s body felt more than just amazing; it felt like her super-sensitive wings were connected directly to-   A moan slipped out as Dash started to shiver, feeling Applejack’s breath on her back. Dash felt hot, like she was burning up inside.   Applejack...why are you so damn good at doing this to me?   “Ooh, so do ya like this...?”          “Yeh… yessss…” Dash managed to gasp out. “But h-hold on Applejack...just s-stop for a second...”   Applejack flinched. She let Dash out of the cuddle and waited for her to catch her breath. Dash was panting and sweating, hay sticking to her coat. Applejack was good at working her up; almost too good. A couple minutes more and she might have...   “Apple…jack,” Dash said slowly, the words punctuated by deep breaths that were gradually getting shallower. “You...you almost…” Applejack nodded guiltily.    “…Ah’m real sorry, Dash. I guess I got carried away there.”          “No! Don’t be sorry,” Dash said, putting on the best smile she could. “You’re just really good at that… A lot better than I expected.”         “Aww, well shucks… am I? I jus’ love ya, Dash. I’ve wanted to do that for…oh, you have no idea how long.”          “Yeah,” Dash laughed. “I mean, I understand. There’s always something I’ve wanted to do with you for a while too.”   Applejack snorted, covering her mouth.   “...Besides that,” Dash muttered, her face suddenly burning.   “An’ what’s that?”         “Well…” Dash wasn’t that worried about telling her - not anymore. Compared to what Applejack had almost done, it seemed harmless. It was just a matter of saying it the right way. “First...do you think you could do me a favor?” Applejack nodded. “Could you…untie your mane?” Applejack didn’t even blink at the request. With two flicks of a hoof, her red hairbands were off. She’d rarely ever brushed her hair properly, so without the hairbands to hold them in place her mane and tail both looked like longer, blond versions of Dash’s own. Applejack’s free-flowing mane fell haphazardly around her neck, framing her face even better and making her look…wild.   She looked exactly like Dash had imagined. She felt herself scooting closer to Applejack, speaking as bravely as she could. “AJ, I’ve always wanted you to… do you think you can… kiss me?”   Applejack seemed to glow as she nodded, her face lit up by her smile.   She was going to do it! After six months of watching her from afar, hoping and wishing and fantasizing about her, it was finally going to happen. Dash felt all of her feelings for Applejack - all of her love - condensed in this one moment. Her heart was beating faster and faster as she moved in for the kiss. Dash closed her eyes, leaned forwards, felt her lips brush against Applejack’s…          And then she woke up.    Her eyes suddenly shot open to see the darkness of her bedroom replace Applejack’s smiling face. Her wings were stiff as boards and pressing into her mattress painfully. She’d been sweating heavily; she was damp all over, especially between- She didn’t want to think about that yet. She tossed aside the covers and opened the nearby bedside table, removing a well-used book and pencil. With the moonlight coming through a nearby window aiding her, she started writing everything down as fast as she could before the memories of her latest dream faded. She wrote frantically for five minutes, her carelessness producing scribbles that only she would be able to read. That was fine, though; nopony else was going to be reading this. Once she’d finally gotten everything she could remember into the book, she returned it and the pencil to the drawer with a heavy sigh. She took a few minutes to allow herself to try and relax. Her breathing had started to calm down along with her wings, and the sweat on her back was already drying in the cool night air coming through the window.     She wasn’t going to be able to relax, though. At the very least, she wouldn’t be able to get back to sleep again; she never was after a dream like that. It was no wonder that she was always so tired during the day... Dammit…stupid sexy Applejack! Why do you always do this to me? Sighing, she rubbed her temple with a forehoof. She knew the answer and wasn’t really complaining either. She always looked forward to the dreams every night. The first dream had been the night after the Running of the Leaves last year; she hadn’t been able to sleep for nearly two days after. Back then, she’d been frightened, disturbed, and disgusted by it - Applejack had been her best friend for years. Dash hadn’t been sure why she’d dreamed about her in...that way...but she’d had plenty of time to think it over since, and there had been plenty more dreams too. Sometimes the dreams didn’t get as far as that last one had, and rarely, they even went...farther. She remembered those with a special fondness, the vague memories enough to put a wide, silly grin on her face. It was almost scary how accurate the dreams were sometimes. Having spent the better part of a year watching Applejack from trees in her orchard or on clouds, Applejack had never called her out on it. It didn’t make any sense. She was both sharp and smart enough to have seen her at least once... Applejack had to have known that Dash was watching her. Why hadn’t she ever brought it up? In the dreams, Applejack often said that she knew Dash was watching, or wanted Dash to watch her, and while a big part of Dash wished it were true, she just didn’t know. She looked again at the drawer holding her journal; the memories still fresh on the pages. Why didn’t she just confess for real? She loved Applejack with all her heart. If there was anything that was consistent between the dreams, it was that she never had a problem confessing. No matter how nervous she’d felt, she’d always been able to come right out and say it. Applejack, I love you. It was a constant and shameful reminder for Dash - she wasn’t confident enough. If she tried to do it, she probably wouldn’t be able to... Just thinking about Applejack; picturing her face, her smile, her laugh, and remembering how she looked when she worked-          With a feathery pomf, her wings popped back up into the air. Dash slapped her face with a hoof, her face burning. There was the proof. She couldn’t blame herself for avoiding Applejack. If that was all it took to give her stiff wings, actually talking to AJ would be a disaster. Is it a bad thing to be too turned on by somepony? Dash always knew what to say in the dreams, at least when starting out. It was always perfect: the talking, the cuddling, the way that Applejack would look at her, undo her hairbands and let her mane freely cascade down her neck in a waterfall of gold... The first kiss... It was a series of images that she had long since gotten used to. What still surprised her was that Applejack was always the bold one in the dreams - always taking the lead. Applejack was the one who held her, nuzzled her, licked her, kissed her… and Dash admitted that she liked that fantasy version of Applejack...a lot. That’s all that vision of Applejack was, though; just a fantasy, and if she never did anything about it, that’s all it would ever be. If there was even a small chance that Applejack might say yes though… she could… no, she should… but if she said no… “Aaargh!” Dash yelled in frustration. Why did she have to be such a wimp about this? It was so uncool to slink around like she had, deliberately avoiding Applejack while stalking her at the same time. Applejack had to know what she was doing by now. It was a miracle she hadn’t been caught by somepony else like Apple Bloom, Big Macintosh, or Pinkie Pie. Especially Pinkie Pie. It had gone on for too long already. She needed to just do it - confess - and get it over with... Why hadn’t she? She didn’t know. The pent up stress was making her feel weak and she hated feeling weak, but the dreams always made her feel so good. Every time she’d had one about Applejack, she felt…happy, even if it was a fleeting, hollow happiness. Maybe that was the problem? That if she confessed, and Applejack rejected her, that the dreams would stop? Even though they were just dreams, they were all she had, and she treasured them. The proof of that was in her journal. She shook her head; she wanted some fresh air to clear her mind and get Applejack off of it for now. Her wings were loose enough for it now anyway. She jumped through one of her large bedroom windows and took to the sky, quickly leaving her cloudhouse behind. The chilly night air felt good blowing through her mane and over her body, drying off what little sweat remained. She breathed in, smelling the dampness of the fresh air and the faint scent of apples. The moon was hanging low in the sky, the sun just an hour or so from rising over the horizo- Wait, what in the…? Apples? Whether by instinct or accident, she was flying right over Sweet Apple Acres. With an exasperated sigh, she let her forelegs hang loosely below her. Even when she wasn’t thinking about Applejack, she was still thinking about her. Ugh... I give up. I can’t keep doing this. She was tired of running, tired of hiding, and tired of feeling so insecure, but there wasn’t anything she could do about it - she didn’t want to do anything about it. She just wanted to rest, to think…to daydream for a while. Spying a nice cloud, she swooped in and settled down onto it. She could easily make out the acres and acres of apple trees in the moonlight. Beyond them was a barn and a house where she knew a certain sweet, hardworking, honest, and beautiful mare was dreaming. Dash promised herself that she’d confess to Applejack when the time was right. Even if her dreams were fantasies, she wanted more than anything to believe that the love she’d dreamt in Applejack’s eyes was real. She wanted to believe that someday, she might even become a part of the family sleeping in that farmhouse. For now though, she’d keep things the way they were. Having dreams about the pony you loved wasn’t so bad...               Unbeknownst to Dash, within the farmhouse, Applejack had just woken with a start, her body covered in sweat.