Just Friends

by lonewolf.007

Chapter 14

Author's Note: Hey guys! Just realised that my last update marked the two month anniversary of the start of this story!

Now this is Chapter 14, obviously, and there seems to be something about the number 14... A fortnight has 14 days, the length of AJ's and RD's journey... among other things...

ANYWAY, the point is, I am now opening a poll. It'll last until the next update. Check it out on my profile, just click my name and it'll take you to my page, which should have the poll. It's a blind poll, just to keep things interesting.

ANYWAY... I think everypony for their patience, school is hectic, and I don't have hours to churn out stuff unless I forgo sleep, which is not going to happen. But as a reward, here is a SUPER HUGE chapter, simply for you guys to enjoy.

Thanks again to my reviewers, you know who you are. Check out "Apple Spectrum" by Arby Works if you haven't already. And if you could all grab a giant stick and stab him, that'd be great 'cause it might make him get a move on with that story of his.

Read on...

Two weeks could disappear in a flash when she was with Rainbow. They were a two days away from the final campsite where they'd stay and prepare for the infiltration. The journeying was exhausting, and the heat of the day and the cold of the night were only made bearable by the amazing fabrics that Rarity had used in their suits and the blankets and water they had packed. But Applejack would only be lying to herself if she said she wouldn't do it again, a million times over, just to be with her beloved Pegasus.

Walking for two weeks with one pony could be extremely boring. But Rainbow Dash wasn't just any pony. They'd talk for hours on end, even finding occasional energy to have a hoof-wrestling match, and even at one point, a full out battle. Applejack recalled the event, smiling a little as a light shade of red tinged her cheeks.

It had been about four days ago. They had spent the morning navigating a particularly difficult area along the rocky range they were following. Resting in the shade of the large rock walls and boulders, they had spent the hottest part of the day eating, drinking and arguing about the Iron Pony Contest.

"I won the wrestling event fair and square!"

"Ah don't think so, sugarcube. Ah seem ta remember seein' ya usin' yer wings fer jus' a second there."

"No I didn't!"

"Yeah ya did!"

"Wanna bet?"

"Alrigh'. Match righ' now, then?"

"Yeah! I'll show you, AJ. I'll win this for sure."

"We'll see, sugarcube."

Rainbow offered her wings to be bound up by rope. Applejack carefully wrapped and tied the wings up, careful not to cause the Pegasus discomfort. When that was done, they face each other, the competitiveness of each other's personality coming out in this challenge.

"Okay… OnetwothreeGO!"

A blue blur barrelled Applejack over, knocking her to the ground, her hat flying off and landing a few metres away. Two hooves pinned the cowpony's shoulders down, while Rainbow sat on top, puffing her chest out triumphantly. AJ was too dazed to act at first. The air had been knocked out of her, but she was recovering quickly.

"HA! Told ya I was the better one!" The Pegasus leaned down, her face inches from Applejack's. All her preparations to knock Rainbow back were gone in a flash, as she became dazed for a whole new reason. Rainbow's face was about an inch from hers, and she was staring straight into the magenta eyes of her secret love. Her heart was pounding, not from exertion, but from nervousness. The cyan pony was too close, the rainbow mane just falling into her eyes. AJ could feel the breath on her lips, feel the heaving chest of the pony that had her pinned down. She wanted to badly to close the tiny gap between them. No… she wanted Rainbow to lean in and kiss her. Kiss her lovingly, and sweep her off her hooves. But Rainbow only chuckled, her breath tickling Applejack. She whispered, "I think I won this. I guess I'm the Iron Pony after all." Rainbow moved her head back, giving AJ some space and a chance to clear her head. Disappointment washed over the Earth pony, but she pushed it aside. With a sudden spring, AJ pushed herself up, throwing Rainbow off balance. She took the chance with both hooves and tackled Rainbow to the ground. The tables had turned, and now AJ had the upper hand.

"Who's winnin' now?"

Rainbow growled and they fought in this fashion for the better part of the afternoon. They had to make up an hour of lost time, but neither of them minded in the least, having enjoyed the wrestling match they'd shared.

AJ heaved a sigh, her eyes downcast. An' that's the closest Ah'd ever get ta that Pegasus. Rainbow was a few metres ahead, and didn't hear the sigh. It was getting close to five and the sky was shot with gold as the sun began its descent again, moved by Celestia's magic to make way for the moon. A couple of minutes later, Rainbow called out to her.

"AJ, we made it!"

Applejack ducked under a rock arch and rounded a boulder to see a decently sized cave where they were to spend the night. Rainbow trotted in, and began to set up the place as they had done previously. Putting the pack on her back down, she began removing food and water, and blankets. Applejack joined her, pulling out some wood to make a small fire for heating the food, and for warmth. The night chill was already filling the air, and the two friends could already feel the dropping of the temperature.

Soon enough, the fire was crackling away, and Rainbow and Applejack ate their reheated apple and cinnamon crisp, hay sandwiches, and canned apple slices. Washing it down with water, Rainbow sat back when she had cleared her enamel plate, stretching her legs and wings. AJ could see how much Rainbow wanted to fly, but as part of keeping a low profile, she had to avoid it as much as possible and the close, twisted rock area made it difficult to stay airborne for long.

"Ya really miss usin' yer wings, don't ya?"

"Huh? Oh… yeah…" Rainbow went to the cave opening and looked up at the night sky with longing. Applejack watched Rainbow, feeling Rainbow's yearning, her frustration at not being able to do what she loved. AJ joined her, and looked up at the stars too. She then gently nudged the Pegasus, as a frown made its way onto her face. "What?"

Applejack simply nodded at the sky to the north, and Rainbow followed her gaze… to see dark shapes in the sky, closing in with a purpose.

"Get in the cave, now!"

The two ponies scrambled back into the cave, and AJ grabbed a bottle of water with the intention of extinguishing the fire, but it was too late. With frightening speed, the shapes reached their rocky outcrop, and dropped down outside the cave. Applejack knew instantly that these weren't the Pegasi Rainbow had talked about. There were five, but none of them matched the description Rainbow had given them. There were five of them, standing in a semi-circle around the cave opening menacingly. One, who appeared to be the leader, stepped forward. The Pegasi wasn't that big, but he was well-built and the scars across his muzzle showed that he was a fighter.

"Well, well, well… look what we have here… looks like Stormfoot was right."

Rainbow snarled. "Who the hay are you?"

"Well, we're not about to tell you that, now, are we?" Jeers and laughter came from the band. "They've got a price on your head, and we were sent to find you. Looks like we did."

"Working for those no-good ponies, are ya? You pathetic excuses for Pegasi!"

"I'd watch what I say if I were you, my friend. You see, you are quite easily outnumbered. And you're two fillies. We were instructed to bring you in alive, but they didn't say anything about not hurting you."

Applejack's blood was beginning to boil, and she could feel adrenaline rush through her. She came up beside Rainbow, and looked at the henchponies in disgust. "A bunch of cowards, if Ah ever seen one. Too afraid ta take on two fillies unless ya got three extras on hand?"

The leader's face flushed in anger. "You watch your mouth, missy, or I'll make sure you can't speak. I hear it's hard to talk without teeth."

Rainbow gave a furious roar and sprang at the Pegasus, catching him by surprise. He was bowled over, and Rainbow began to hammer blows onto his body. But the other Pegasi instantly closed in and one grabbed Rainbow from behind and hauled her back. But before another could kick her, Applejack jumped into the fray, leaping in front of Rainbow and spinning on her forelegs. Her back legs flew out and landing with a satisfying "THUNK" against the Pegasus's skull. And the fight began.

Rainbow threw herself backwards, pushing against the pony that had gotten hold of her. AJ couldn't see what was happening, her attention suddenly taken up by two Pegasi circling her. The one she had bucked groaned on the ground, but she didn't pay too much attention to him. He wasn't an immediate threat. The other two were more weary approaching her after seeing her kick. Then as one, they flew up into the air and dived at her. Applejack threw herself forward into a roll, avoiding one pony, but the other caught her a blow on her back. She didn't feel much, the armour doing its work. But she was a little winded, the speed of the Pegasus causing a decent some effect. Before she could recover, the Pegasi were on her, grabbing her by her hind legs. Without thinking, Applejack grabbed the rope in her mouth and tossed the lasso into the air. Expertly, she used to grab a hold of one around the neck, and yanked, pulling him to the ground. The henchpony was surprised, and a little shaken, but before he could recover, a flash of rainbow and he was knocked out on the ground. Further away, the Pegasus that had Rainbow in his grip was on the ground, clutching his head. Rainbow spun around to tackle the other one that was holding AJ, but he had already let go, and avoided Rainbow's attack. He made to knock Rainbow over as she recovered, but a rope lasso grabbed him by his back leg and with a sharp pull, the Pegasus was brought to the ground with a crunch.

The two ponies instantly stood back to back, looking around them as the leader and two Pegasi, having recovered but were still a little dizzy, stood around them. Every move they made was countered, and they circled, frustrated that they couldn't get within three metres of the two ponies. Another pony joined them, recovered from their previous incapacitation again. The last, however, looked like he was out for good.

Suddenly, the leading Pegasus threw a grin, and whipped out a long knife. At this, the other three drew out knives of their own. Applejack glanced at Rainbow, and each pulled out their own weapons. Blood was pumping around AJ's body, and she could hear it, loud, as it rushed through her mind and body. The adrenaline fuelled her, as well as the fear. She couldn't let anything happen to Rainbow.

A lightning fast strike came from the corner of her eye, and she instinctively moved to block it, but as she did so, she saw another to her right. Tossing her rope around the neck of the first Pegasus, she twisted it, and pulled, causing him to stumble and giving her enough time to meet the second pony. The blades clashed, and she blocked and parried his blows. As the other pony got to his hooves she took the rope again and swung it around, using his body to block the charge of the oncoming pony. The two clashed heads and fell down, unconscious.

Applejack spun around, ready to counter another attack, but found none. Then she caught sight of Rainbow in the air, battling the remaining two Pegasi. The leader and the accomplice were feinting and parrying, but Rainbow managed to keep them away mostly. A few times, the blades glanced off her armour. They aimed for her exposed neck but she always managed to move away in time. She had actually managed to land a few swipes to the strong ponies, but two against one still wasn't in her favour. Applejack darted over immediately, blade ready. Her lasso, however, was left behind, and the airborne battle was out of her reach. She caught Rainbow's eye and mouthed "Distraction". With a minute nod, Rainbow indicated that she understood, and suddenly darted left. It was a feint and she quickly changed direction, moving towards the right, throwing the Pegasi off balance. The leader, however, managed to get a quick swipe in that connected with flesh. It cut across Dash's right foreleg, and blood began to flow. Applejack almost felt the pain herself, but knew she had to concentrate. She grabbed the handle of her knife tightly in her mouth, then spun her head and released it. It flew up and embedded itself in the hind leg of the accomplice. He let out a howl of pain, and spun around, diving at Applejack. She leapt to one side, and gave him a good buck. It connected with his hindquarters, nudging the knife. Cursing, he yanked the knife out and turned daggers on her. But before he could make any move, she felt a cold blade against the back of her neck.

"Don't move a muscle, missy, or it might be the last one you'll ever move." The rough voice in her ear was awful, and she could feel the tip against her fur. She hadn't put her hood up, hence leaving it exposed, and she could only stand and watch as the other Pegasus closed in with his own blade. He was limping, but he made his way over, and placed his blade at her throat.

"Now, I suggest that you should take it easy right now." The voice behind her was directed towards Rainbow. "Make an aggressive move, and she's gone." The cyan Pegasus came into view, her own injury disregarded as her eyes, wide and scared, fixed on Applejack. "So I'll make it simple. You tell us what we need to know and we'll leave you both alone. Heck, we might even let your parents go. If you don't, well… the parents are as good as dead… and… this pretty filly here? You can watch her die."

Rainbow's face had been impassive, but at the last few words, her face suddenly became livid. Her eyes were boring into the leader's and her entire body tensed. Applejack had never seen such fury cross Rainbow's face before. It was terrifying. She hovered there in the air, glaring at the leading Pegasus with so much venom, Applejack almost expected the pony to drop dead right then. Instead he snickered.

"What are you gonna do? You don't even have a weapon with you. Now you're gonna come with us, or we'll MAKE you come with us."

"Oh yeah? And how are you gonna do that?"

The blade pressed a little harder against AJ. "Forgot your little friend here?"

Rainbow twitched. "DON'T TOUCH HER."

Applejack could hear the smile in the Pegasus's voice. "Well, how are YOU gonna stop ME?"

"Rainbow!" Applejack gasped out, feeling the metal against her neck and throat. "Go! Escape!" Rainbow's gaze was directed to her, the anger in her eyes turning to shock and confusion. "Please! Rainbow, go!"

"You better shut up, girly, or I'll do it for you," the voice snarled in her ear, but she disregarded it. AJ looked at the cyan Pegasus with pleading eyes, begging her to leave. There was no way out of this, and if they took Rainbow, who knew what could happen to her. It was as good as checkmate.

A sudden gust filled the cave, and a flash of rainbow. And Rainbow Dash was gone. Applejack felt something inside her break. So Rainbow left. That was what she wanted. She wanted Rainbow to escape, maybe make it back to safety. But she couldn't stop the pain she felt at having been abandoned by the one she loved so dearly, who had once loved her.

"Well, whataya know… that Pegasus left… Element of Loyalty? They must've gotten the files mixed up back there."

"Well, what about this filly, boss?"

The leader gave a dark chuckle. "I don't think we have any use for her. I told you to keep your mouth shut, but you didn't listen did you? And now your friend's left you. Any last words?"

"Why don't ya come an' face me first? Then Ah can say 'em ta ya face, ya coward."

She felt the blade on her neck push in a little, before he came into view, his face wild with anger. "WANT TO SAY THAT TO MY FACE?" A flash, and the blade caught AJ's foreleg, slicing through the fabric and cutting her skin. She gave a grunt, but she wouldn't give in easily.

"YA CO–"

KABOOM!

Before anypony could react, a blinding radiance filled the cave, and the night, with the radiance that could only come from one thing. A Sonic Rainboom.

Applejack didn't know what happened, but suddenly something ricocheted past her, smashing into the two Pegasi and sending them hurtling with it into the opposite wall at the back of the cave. The impact was so strong that Applejack, blinking the bright spots from her vision, could feel the cave floor shake. When she had regained the ability to see, she turned to see a mass of bodies that had crashed a hole into the rock wall. Amongst the dark bodies of the henchponies, cyan and rainbow could be seen.

The cowpony sprang to her hooves, disregarding the pain of the cut in her foreleg. She galloped over and pulled Rainbow away from the mass. There were cuts to both her forelegs, managing to shred through the layering. The helmet had been dragged over her head, and had somehow managed to remain on despite the speed she had been travelling. The Pegasus was unconscious. Applejack looked out to see that only about ten metres away, a cluster of rocks and boulders made it impossible to fly into the cave from a distance. Which meant Rainbow had done the Sonic Rainboom right outside the cave entrance. And the speed with which she hit into the wall…

A sudden deep-seated fear took hold of AJ. She pushed her head onto Rainbow's chest , but could hear nothing through the armour. She carefully but quickly pulled the protective layer off, casting it aside. She leant close to the Pegasus, not seeing a reassuring rise and fall of her chest. The terror inside ran rampant, as she put her head on Rainbow's chest again, straining to hear the thumping of her heart that meant she was still in the land of the living.

Silence.

Her fear and panic threatened to take over, but Applejack quelled it, beginning to pump the cyan chest as tears ran down her face. "Come on, Rainbow, come on. Don't give up. Ya never give up! Come on." She gave thirty compressions, then gave two breathes, administering First Aid. "Come on, Rainbow. Don't leave me. Ya can't leave me! Come on! Not like this. Ya can't do this ta me. Wake up, Rainbow. Wake up. WAKE UP!"

Applejack collapsed onto Rainbow, crying in earnest. She had been doing this for twenty minutes. After the first ten, if there was no recovery, there was a very unlikely chance that the pony would recover. She wrapped her hooves around Rainbow. The ache in her heart was terrible.

"Why d-did ya d-do this ta m-me? W-why did ya save m-mah l-life? What were ya th-thinkin', y-ya silly f-filly?"

"Eurgh… Well, that's, ermff, no way to say thanks to your saviour."

Applejack's eyes opened wide, in shock, as she felt the chest rise and fall again, straining for each breath. She looked at the Pegasus to see her groaning, the look of pain on her face, yet her mouth was stretched into a grin, albeit a pained one. AJ could only stare at Rainbow. Then the magenta eyes moved to Applejack's foreleg. A frown creased her brow.

"You're hurt."

Without thinking, Applejack leaned in and kissed Rainbow Dash right then, right there. She felt the Pegasus freeze beneath her, and realised what she was doing. She quickly drew back, guilt and panic on her face.

"A-Ah'm sorry, Rainbow, Ah didn't mean ta, A-Ah–"

A cyan hoof reached up and pulled AJ back down to meet Rainbow's lips. The world stopped turning. Applejack could hardly believe what was happening, sure this was all a dream. Rainbow Dash was kissing her! She closed her eyes tight, and kissed the cyan pony back. It was so wonderful, and she realised just how much she had missed Rainbow's kisses. It tasted sweet and fresh, like the air straight after a storm. AJ sighed into it, feeling Rainbow smile. She was leaning against her body, and her hooves went up and caressed Rainbow's face. One of them ran through Rainbow's mane lovingly, as they kissed for what could've been a couple of seconds, or a few glorious sunlit days. Rainbow's hooves were wrapped around AJ's torso, and she revelled in the sensation, feeling herself in her love's arms again. Finally, they broke apart, coming up for air. Rainbow wore a small smile.

"Now that's more like the way you should treat your rescuer who just risked her own life to save you."

Applejack had tears in her eyes, this time of happiness, but she glared at the rainbow-maned pony. "Ya scared me, Rainbow! Don' ever do tha' again, ya hear? Ya could've died! Ah thought Ah lost ya!" The tears streamed down her face, and Rainbow sat up, reaching out to wipe them off.

"AJ, it's okay, I'm okay! And do you think for a minute I could have lived with myself if I didn't try and save you?"

The Earth gave a watery chuckle. "Ya loyalty will be the death of ya, Rainbow."

She smiled at that. "That's not completely right."

"Huh?"

"Well, loyalty will partially be the death of me."

"What? Then what's the other part?"

Rainbow rolled her eyes before locking them on the emerald green ones. Rainbow leaned in, grimacing slightly from her injuries, but put a hoof to AJ's lips when she made to protest about Rainbow moving. Leaning her forehead against Applejack's, AJ was sure she had died and gone to heaven.

"Do you really need to ask?"

"Mmmm…"

She gave a sigh. "Loyalty will be partially the death of me. The other part is you."

Applejack felt giddy. Was this really happening? She felt it was necessary to say something, so she smiled, looking into the dark eyes of her beloved Pegasus. "Well, good luck with that. Because if Ah'm on the job, ya couldn' die if ya tried."

Rainbow leaned in again, and Applejack met her halfway, wrapping her hooves around Rainbow's neck, and entwining them in her messy mane. The electricity in the kiss made her heart stop and start, but it was a wonderful feeling, the kind she wanted to experience again and again. She kissed Rainbow right on the lips, head tilted slightly, experiencing the amazing feeling of Rainbow kissing her back. It was better than she remembered, better than she had dreamed. The hunger for Rainbow's affections stirred inside her chest, but instead of filling her need, it only made her hungrier. She pulled Rainbow closer, wanting to feel how close she was, and Rainbow did the same, her hooves around AJ's torso drawing AJ in. The break between each kiss was short, as they could barely stand to be apart for more than a millionth of a second. Then Applejack felt a tongue run across her bottom lip, asking for permission to enter. She opened her mouth and felt Rainbow's tongue slide in, making her moan with ecstasy. There was fire in the kiss, in their hearts, as their tongues began to fight for possession in each other's' mouths.

Eventually, they broke apart again, chests heaving and staring into each other's eyes. Applejack nuzzled Rainbow's cheek, drawing a light blush to the grinning Pegasus's face. It was as if all the physical pain she had been feeling were wiped away in a second.

"Ah thought ya didn't love me anymore," AJ whispered, burying her face into Rainbow's neck. Rainbow wrapped her forelegs around AJ, pulling her close. Running a hoof up and down her back soothingly, Rainbow whispered.

"I think it's pretty much safe to say that I could never really stop loving you… I was just… scared… of being hurt again." Applejack knew how hard it was for the Pegasus to ever admit that she was scared of anything. "And I was scared of losing you again. To somepony else…"

Tears came to AJ's eyes again, at the pain she caused the proud Pegasus. She had broken that pride when she had lied to her and betrayed her. "Ah'm so sorry, Rainbow…"

"Don't apologise, Applejack. I know it was hard for you. It was different for you. I grew up with people making fun of me and calling me a fillyfooler. I got used to it, I could fight it. For you, it was harder, facing the narrow-minded ponies. I understand why you did it."

"Ah don't deserve ya, Rainbow…"

This time, the cheeky flier didn't make an arrogant quip, or a joke. She simply said, "After tonight, I think you've proven yourself." Applejack felt Rainbow nuzzle the top of her head gently, lovingly, just like she used to whenever AJ was upset. "I thought I might've lost you tonight… unless I did something drastic…"

Applejack smiled against Rainbow's fur, breathing the scent of fresh morning air and stormy rain. It was the only way she could describe Rainbow's scent. She loved it. "Ya certainly did tha'. Too drastic, Ah'd say, bu' Ah s'pose if ya hadn't we mightn' be here now… Like this…" She lifted her gaze to meet Rainbow's and they shared another kiss.

When they pulled back, Applejack remembered Rainbow's injuries and quickly looked at her forelegs. "Alrigh', better get ya fixed up now. Look at yer cuts and scrapes. Don't move!" she said sternly, as Rainbow made to get up and groaned a little.

"But what about your cut, AJ?"

The orange cowpony rolled her eyes. "Outta the two of us, Ah'd say yer the worse lookin' one, sugarcube. Ah'll survive fer a couple more minutes. Now keep still!" She reached for her pack and flipped through it, searching for the First Aid kit. She grabbed it and took it over to the grumbling pony, who seemed to have regained her senses for pain again. "Alrigh', stay still. This is gonna sting a bit, but Ah need ta clean the wounds." Rainbow nodded, gritting her teeth. AJ took a swab and gently, tenderly, wiped the cuts and grazes on her left foreleg. She heard the Pegasus draw in a sharp breath, but otherwise she gave no indication that she felt any pain. Throwing the swab away, she took out some white bandages, and carefully wound it around the cyan leg, with the purpose of keeping out the dust and dirt and preventing infection. "Feel alrigh'?"

"Yeah. What now, Doctor Applejack?"

Rolling her eyes again, AJ simply held out a hoof for Rainbow's other leg. She then proceeded to wipe down all the cuts, except for the nasty gash Rainbow sustained in the diversion. "Now this here's gonna hurt some, but Ah'm gonna have ta clean it real good ta make sure it doesn' become infected."

Rainbow took in a deep breath, and let it out. "Okay. I'm ready."

Applejack got some water and gently ran it over the wound. Then, getting a towel, she patted the area around it dry. Taking out another antiseptic swab, she proceeded to wipe the cut, as lightly as she could. Rainbow winced as AJ applied some pressure to it, but didn't complain. When that was done, Applejack inspected the gash carefully. It wasn't too deep, which was a relief. "Ah don' think it's bad enough ta need stitches, but Ah'll have ta bandage it pretty tigh' fer ya to be able ta put weight on it without hurtin'." Rainbow just nodded at this, and Applejack took another white roll from the box, and began to wind it around the upper foreleg. "There." Applejack then directed her attention to Rainbow's upper body.

"I guess Rarity's suit and helmet really did their job," Rainbow commented. Applejack could only agree, and promised herself to go thank Rarity especially for making such an amazing outfit. She shuddered to think of the outcome otherwise.

Her body was mostly untouched, all the areas covered by the armour completely unaffected. Even Rainbow's wings barely suffered anything more than plain soreness. But the upper chest of the Pegasus was a little worse for wear. There was a bruise on her chest, and two cuts on her neck. There was also a bruise on her jaw, but the helmet and the unfortunate Pegasi she had taken down managed to cushion her against the solid rock wall.

Applejack treated her cuts in a similar fashion, cleaning them and applying light gauze to keep them clean. When she was done, she smiled at Rainbow. "Tha's all Ah can do fer now, Dashie," she said quietly, using Rainbow's pet name. "As fer ya bruises…" She leaned in and kissed the one on her chest, then the one on her jaw. "Tha's the best Ah can do."

Rainbow looked at her lovingly, making her want to swoon, but she dismissed this. Applejack doesn't faint! Even if the love of her life was making her all weak in the knees.

"Alright! Your turn!" Rainbow got up, wincing slightly, but when AJ made to protest, she ignored her. "Right. Let's see here…" Rainbow looked at Applejack's foreleg. A long cut ran down it, but it had stopped bleeding. AJ's heart felt like it was going to burst, seeing the concern in her Dashie's eyes over her injury.

"Hmmm, we'll have to get all your armour and stuff off." Before Applejack could move, however, Rainbow was unlatching the metal plates and taking them off for her. "We'll need to get the suit off too." Rainbow helped remove the jumpsuit layer from AJ, carefully moving the fabric over the wound. Then Rainbow took up some water, and gently poured it over the cut. Like Applejack did with her, she patted the area around it dry, before picking up another swab. "Alright, ready?" Applejack nodded at her. "Just let me know if it hurts too much." Rainbow then proceeded to wipe the wound with extreme care and gentleness. Despite being such a rough, tough, daredevil pony, when it came to these things, Applejack knew Rainbow's other side, the one that stayed hidden most of the time, except for when she was around her. In fact, Rainbow could be quite romantic, endearingly so. AJ's mind wondered, thinking about all the moments they'd shared, and the many that would come. If this was really happening and not just some trick or dream.

She was brought back to the present again when Rainbow gently nudged her. Looking down, she saw her leg encased in white gauze. "All done. How about a thank you for all that?" Applejack laughed, and nuzzled Rainbow's cheek.

"Thank ya kindly, Rainbow."

The young flier grinned, puffing her chest out. This drew out another giggle from the orange pony. Only Rainbow could make her laugh like that. Suddenly, a scuffling sound came from somewhere. Instantly alert, the newly reunited lovers turned as one towards the sound. Applejack pressed close to Rainbow, preparing to defend her at any cost. Then a little bunny hopped in. AJ relaxed, leaning against Rainbow for a moment, before stepping forward. "Ya got our next message, lil' fella?"

The bunny stared around at the scene in the cave, eyes wide. Then, tentatively, it hopped over, and gave AJ the envelope. Ripping it open with her teeth, she read it, with Rainbow peering over her shoulder.

Time's passing. Shadows in the light of day may be strange unless there is something there to cast it. Remember to check your tails. Make sure you look after yourself. Yet I state the obvious. You are old enough to remember these small things.

The course is not as hard as you may think.

"So Twilight found out that somepony was tailin' us!"

"Only the message got here too late."

"At least we're alrigh'," Applejack said, nuzzling Rainbow.

"Alright, we better get a reply back to let them know we're okay." Rainbow stretched before sauntering across to grab their paper and ink supplies from the packs. Dropping to her haunches, she got a grip on the pencil, with difficulty, and then looked up at AJ expectantly.

Chuckling, the Earth pony sat down next to her and thought for a moment. "Alrigh'… let's see… how abou'… 'The dark isn't as frightenin' as it used ta be.' Uh… 'The colours of the rainbow will always bring safety… Five here, five accounted fer'… Hmmm… Tha's abou' it. Anythin' else?"

Rainbow had her tongue stinking out slightly as she wrote the words down. "Nope. Oh wait, do we want to tell them about us?"

Applejack looked into Rainbow's eyes. "Mmmm, why don' we keep it ta ourselves fer now? Ah kinda like the idea of havin' ya ta myself fer now…"

"Sounds good to me." The Pegasus leaned forward, brushing AJ's cheek with her nose and bringing on a light red tinge.

Sealing the letter, they passed it to the small bunny, offering it some water and canned apple for its efforts. Having eaten its fill, it gave them a salute and bounded out of the cave. Applejack turned to look around the cave. "We better get these here thugs outta this place." She walked over to the one that had been knocked out first. It must have been a real corker he had taken to the head, because he was still out cold. Grabbing the tail in her mouth, she began to drag the unconscious bounty hunter out of the cave. Next to her, Rainbow was doing the same for another one. Leaving them next to a boulder, hidden from view, they went in for the next two. Rainbow took the other pony who wasn't stuck in the wall. While she pulled them out, Applejack picked up her Stetson that had fallen off in the battle and had lain forgotten in the wake of the reviving of their relationship. Dusting it off, it look none the worse for wear, and she flipped it onto her head again.

She retrieved her trusty rope, looping it expertly and placing it on her armour. Having reordered the mess of objects around the cave, she walked to the back, where the two Pegasi Rainbow had smashed into the wall were slumped. She didn't approach them, still slightly weary. Hoofsteps behind her told her Rainbow had returned.

"Still out of it?"

"Looks like it."

Trotting over, Rainbow prodded one with a hoof. "Nothing." She pushed the leader onto his back and placed a hoof on her chest. "Breathing," she asserted. Both shuddered a little though, as they took in the crumpled look about the ponies. The leader had a huge bruise on his head, and his forelegs were bent weirdly. The other had a huge graze down his side, but it was shallow. There were multiple small cuts, grazes and bruises covering the rest of their bodies, but they'd live.

"They ain't gonna wake up any time soon at least."

They each took a pony by the tail, and dragged them out to join the pile of failed kidnappers. Despite what the henchponies had been aiming to do, capturing them and selling them over to the mysterious Pegasi, both Applejack and Rainbow felt no particular malice towards them and was kind enough to try and not antagonise their injuries any further. Applejack was slightly more lenient, but a part of Rainbow was still fuming over their threats and intentions towards her marefriend.

Dumping the last two ponies outside, they stood for a moment, looking at them. "Should we jus' leave 'em here? Or should we tie 'em? Ah have a spare rope in mah bag…"

"Better than letting them go free. Let's tie them up!"

Quickly trotting back into the cave, Applejack took out her spare rope. It was slightly older and more worn but still strong, just for this kind of purpose. She picked it up in her teeth, and came back to find that Rainbow had shoved them so they were roughly all back to back with each other. Making a lasso, she flipped it over them easily, then wound the rope around them tightly enough to ensure that they couldn't wriggle out of the ropes when they woke again. Finally, it was all done. Exhaustion decided to sit down on Applejack's shoulders, making her sleepy. Rainbow yawned as well, stretching again.

"Time fer bed, sugarcube."

"Yeah, yeah."

Applejack laid out the blankets, dragging over the warm coverings next to their small fire. Rainbow threw herself down onto the warm nest AJ had made, propping her head up with their packs, and the cowpony lay down beside her, pulling their blankets over them. The flier evidently would have none of that. Applejack felt two forelegs wrap around her, pulling her on top of the cyan pony and wings wrapped around her, just the way she had wanted and missed for so long. She looked up into those magenta eyes that blazed with a fire that had returned after all these days. They shared another passionate kiss, before Applejack relaxed against Rainbow, burying her head into her neck.

"I love you, Apples."

"Ah love ya too, Dashie."

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY CLAPS FOR ALL! Been a long time coming, I think.

Oh, that's right! Valentine's Day is the 14th too. Yeah, not a big fan of that day. Too mushy... despite what I have basically just written. 14 just seems to be the number for this story... I'm such an oddball...

WELL, you might think this is over, but I can promise you it's a LONG way from over. More fuzzy fluffiness now though, to ease the hell of a lot of tension that will come your way very soon. No one said this ends happily, right?

*insert evil laugh here*

So, remember to check out the poll, it's a way for me to see what you guys are interested in. After that, there'll be a new one to see where you want this to go when it's all done and dusted. So vote while you can!

Reviews are much appreciated!

Yours truly,
Lonewolf

Note: Posted onto FiMFiction by Arby Works with permission from Lonewolf.007. All credit goes to him for his fanfic, please check it out here or on FanFiction.

Mr. Masato/Arby Works.

Comments

[Meeester]

FINALLY!

Sweet relief.

Loved the fight scene and how you played everything out, mainly the renewal of their feelings. VERY well done

[Lord-Sparda]

THANK YOOOOUU!!!!!!! THAAAAAAAAAANK YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!

[Pinkievstheworld]

dwaaaaaw