Discord's Reign

by chief maximus

Ch.13 Head In The Clouds

DISCORD'S REIGN
Chapter 13- Head In The Clouds

The two mares were above the clouds within seconds, soaring gracefully through the air. Applejack found she couldn't hold back a toothy smile, and gave up, letting it stretch a mile wide. Rainbow's forelegs were stretched out in front of her, her extended cyan wings gently corralling the air around them as Applejack realized a fillyhood fantasy she was only able to achieve with the help of her big brother by standing on his hooves while he laid on his back. She was an earth pony, but she was taken by the majesty of the air. She had been in Pinkie's ballon before, but it was nothing even close to the adrenaline rush she was feeling flow through her like a hundred stampeding cattle.

The setting sun cast a magnificent purple hue across the clouds as sank towards the horizon. The wind threatened to remove Applejacks hat, though somehow it held its place. The pure, unadulterated freedom that came with soaring through the clouds captured her very soul.

Rainbow felt her muted orange lover's forelegs wrap snugly around her lower neck. She closed her eyes, feeling Applejack's warm cheek rubbing against hers, never having recalled feeling more content with the world than she did at this moment. Rainbow wanted this flight to last forever. She slowed down considerably, taking a lazy route around the clouds as she enjoyed the soft beating of Applejacks heart against her back.

The country mare had never been happier than when she spent time with the pegasus she clung to. Her heart soared with them among the clouds, never wanting to let go of Rainbow. To hell with Discord, to hell with everything. All she needed was the pony keeping her aloft. In a very real sense, she felt Rainbow was the wind beneath her wings (figuratively speaking). The one pony who had come along and with a single kiss, accidental though it may have been; broke her from the monotony of her somewhat lonely life and lifted her up among the clouds themselves. There may have been a few fights along the way, but anything worth having is worth fighting for. She knew this in her heart, and decided to take a bold step in their relationship.

Applejack leaned closer to Rainbow's ear knowing she couldn't be shy about this, and had to speak up over the wind. Her mother had told her when she was but a filly, that when the right pony came along, you would get what she called 'A warm, flutterin' feelin'' in your heart.

She was sure that was the feeling residing in her at this very moment.

'I don't guess there's a better place to tell somepony you love 'em than the sky...' she reasoned as she steadied her rapidly beating heart.

Rainbow was stirred from her glide by Applejack's lips brushing against her ear, tilting her head back toward the orange earth pony melting into her back, her forelegs still securely around her neck.

"I love you Rainbow."

Four words that meant more to her than any others ever said to her in all her years. Rainbow smiled gently, her heart overjoyed as a warming feeling fought back against the slightly cold wind of the atmosphere. It started in her chest and spread to the rest of her as she tilted her head back, nuzzling her partners chin before flashing a devilish smile.

With a quick unexpected buck, Applejack lost her grip and found herself a few feet above the pegasus, scared to death.

A snappy roll and Rainbow's belly was facing up as she caught her, the look of terror on Applejack's face almost worth the obscenities she knew she was shouting over the wind.

Rainbow flashed an easy grin, "You kiss your granny with that mouth?"

"I never heard you complain!"

After she calmed down, she returned those special words.

"I love you too Applejack."

Belly to belly as Rainbow continued to fly inverted, Applejack shared the same warmth her cyan companion was feeling, leaning in for a passionate mid-air kiss, something she most certainly thought she would never get the chance to do with anypony, let alone the pony she loved. Applejack draped her forelegs over Rainbows shoulders, neither of them daring to break what was easily the most intense kiss either of them had ever experienced. A hoof ran through Applejack's mane, flinging the red rubber band holding it back to the ground, allowing it to flow freely over both sides of her elegant neck.

Rainbow felt blood rushing to a certain part of her anatomy necessary for flight as she reluctantly broke the kiss.

"We're gonna crash if you keep that up." she smirked, taking in how much better she looked with her hair down.

'She looks so good in a breeze...'

Then a naughtier thought hit her.

"You're no fun..." Applejack teased.

"Fun?" she said spying a rather large collection of clouds. "I'll show you fun." she kept herself inverted as she slowed down, landing softly on her back. Applejack sat up, sitting on Rainbow's hind legs, casting those same bedroom eyes she had used to win the race to the library, only this time she was sure she wasn't going to run.

She leaned back into the cyan ponies lips and picked up right where they left off in the sky. The heat from both their bodies seemed to radiate from around them as they slowly but lovingly melted into each other. After more tender kissing, Applejack felt the need to break the silence with an embarrassing admission.

"Rainbow...Ah've never...Uhm...you know. A-and I'm not too sure how two mares are s'posed ta-" a cyan hoof pressed against her lips to silence her, a confident smile across Rainbow's face.

'She's nervous. Oh that is too cute...' Dash thought, though she'd be lying if she said she wasn't feeling the same way. She had the edge however, as she had 'read' a couple of Playmares during some of her lonelier nights, and at least knew how two mares could work.

"It's okay. I haven't either." she whispered, assuring her lover there was nothing to worry about except each other. "But I wouldn't want my first mare to be anypony but you."

A simple smile and Applejack gave herself to her with another deep kiss, the unbridled love she was finally able to admit flowing freely from her lips to Rainbow's.

Cloudsdale wasn't going anywhere, but the two ponies in the sky were on a journey only two lovers could venture. For a heavenly hour, they slept in the clouds both literally, and figuratively.

---

Rainbow's hoof rose up and down rapidly as it rested on Applejacks heaving chest.

The country mare fought to catch her breath.

"Rainbow...that...was incredible..." she said, her foreleg under the object of her affection as her magenta eyes simply stared dreamily into the blush still heavy on the earth ponies face.

"Yeah, you weren't too bad yourself." she said, draping a wing across her, drawing her hoof playfully around her chest.

"But like most things we do, I come out on top." she smirked. Applejack couldn't help but chuckle.

Rainbow picked her head up and looked to the moon rising over the clouds, signaling the start of the night.

She felt Applejack nuzzle her cheek affectionately before resuming her barrage of kisses from earlier in the sky.
The aroused young mare slowly traced Rainbow's jaw until she stopped at her neck, gently tugging on it with her lips.

"I'd love to stay and go another round," the cyan pegasus giggled playfully, "But we should really get to Cloudsdale if you want to see all the cool stuff before it closes."

Applejack tore herself away from her lovers neck with a slightly agitated stare.

"Mark my words Rainbow Dash, Ah will give you a hickey if it kills me."

The lightning fast pegasus grinned, casting a soft look of love towards the earth pony who had reverted onto her back, forelegs playfully in front of her. "You gave me a lot more than a hickey cowgirl. Now saddle up and lets get movin'."

Applejack carefully moved herself onto Rainbow's back, though this time her muscles were far from tense. She lazily put all her weight onto the strong pegasus as she took off, resuming their night flight toward Cloudsdale.

The stars shone brilliantly as they made their way toward the floating city. The lack of lights made the stars stand out beautifully against the dark sky, the center of their galaxy shining brightly, as if to herald their arrival. It was no wonder pegasi loved the air. Applejack could only dream of such freedom on the ground. Rainbow was her escape. Her lightning fast, competitive, but loving escape.

They arrived in the lofty city, heading straight towards a large high rise hotel made entirely out of packed clouds.

The pegasus at the door opened it and allowed them inside as Applejack stared in awe at the opulence of the lobby.

"Rainbow, are you sure we can afford this?" she asked hesitantly, noticing all the staff in sharp black vests and ties.

"We? This is my treat. After all the junk I've put you through, it's the least I can do. Plus I know the manager; he owes me."

The rainbow maned pegasus led Applejack to the front desk, the pegasus behind it looking up from her reservation book and greeting them with a warm smile.

"Checking in?"

"Yup. Should be under Rainbow Dash." she added, tapping a hoof impatiently.

After a few seconds of searching, the mare spotted the name in the book while another fetched their room key.

"Ah yes, Ms. Dash. Your room is all ready for you, the Imperial suite is on the top floor." she slid a polished gold skeleton key across the desk. "Do enjoy your stay!"

'Did she say Imperial suite? How well does she know the manager?' Applejack thought, still dumbfounded by the fanciest looking place she had ever set hoof in. She felt like she was wasting a fortune by just standing in the lobby.

Rainbow nodded and beckoned Applejack to follow.

"Pretty cool huh?" Rainbow asked over her shoulder noticing her friends saucer-like eyes still trying to take in her surroundings.

Applejacks first thought, being a financially minded individual was, "How can ya afford this?"

"I already told ya, I know the manager!" she added slightly annoyed at her marefriends worry, "Now are you gonna play twenty questions or are we gonna enjoy ourselves?"

They reached the room after a quick elevator ride. There were only three rooms on this floor, and theirs was right in front of them. Two large double doors greeted the pair as they stepped off the elevator, the golden handles gleaming in the artificial light. They cast excited glances at each other before Rainbow put the key in the lock, and gave it a good twist.

The couple opened the doors at the same time and gasped simultaneously. The room was as opulent as Celestia's palace, maybe even more so. A fountain of rainbow colored water sat in the stately center of the room, while priceless looking furniture and paintings adorned the walls and floorspace. Large curtains covered the floor to ceiling windows as Applejack stepped toward them while Rainbow Dash headed straight for the complimentary basket of fruits and hay left there by guest relations.

Applejack noticed a tassel on the end of an elegant braided rope. She put it in her mouth and gave it a tug, parting the curtains and revealing a breathtaking view of all of Cloudsdale. The rope dropped from her mouth as she took in another involuntary lung full of air.

"Pretty schweet view huh?" Rainbow said trotting over, her mouth still full of food.

"It's...incredible..." she gasped in awe of the architecture and glistening lights of the city of pegasi.

"Yeah, you kinda get used to it once you live here, but it is pretty nice." Rainbow gave Applejack a playful bump on the flank, "A lot better than lookin' at apple trees all day."

She earned a quick cut from her emerald eyes before a smile cracked across her lips.

"Get ready, we leave for Cloud 9 in a half hour." Rainbow commented walking toward the luxurious bathroom.

"Where?" Applejack asked turning away from the window.

"Cloud 9. Cloudsdales best night club!" she added bobbing her head to inaudible music. "You think I'd take you all the way out here just to look at buildings and stuff? Nah, you're getting a tour de Rainbow."

Applejack lowered her eyes with a grin, "I think I had one of those an hour or so ago."

The cyan pegasus chuckled at her remark before rolling her eyes and heading back to the bathroom.

After a few minutes, Rainbow reappeared, only a few minor changes to her regular appearance. She had donned a light multicolored shade of makeup on her eyelids that matched her mane, as well as two diamond studs, one in each ear.

Applejack couldn't help but giggle. "You're lookin' mighty nice tonight Rarity."

Rainbow cast a sharp grin, taking her marefriends teasing in stride. "I know I'm hot to begin with, but there's no reason I can't make great into amazing is there?"

Applejack at first wasn't going to change anything, though after some pushing from Rainbow, she allowed her mane to flow unrestricted by her usual rubber band as she had done on the way over.

"I don't suppose I could convince you to leave the hat huh?" the pegasus asked already expecting a rocksteady no.

"Not on your life."

"Alright then, lets go. I'll show ya some other cool stuff while we walk over."

With that, they left the hotel and set out towards the searchlights in the distance, the heavy, thudding bass growing louder as they approached.

Once they arrived, a line of all manner of sharply dressed mares and stallions stretched around the block.

"Rainbow...this doesn't seem like my kinda place..." Applejack said nervously. She wasn't much into any kind of music other than country western or bluegrass, and the speakers seemed deafening outside! She couldn't imagine how loud it was actually in the nondescript, white building.

Her cyan partner faced her with an unamused expression. "Seriously? You need to live a little! I tried to take Fluttershy here for her birthday but she didn't make it past the front door. Are you telling me you're a scared little filly like her?"

"No! I ain't scared!" Applejack shot back defensively, "It just...seems a bit loud in there is all."

Rainbow scoffed, "Pfft, if it's too loud, you're too old! Now lets get movin'" she added nearly dragging Applejack along.

Much to Applejacks worry, Rainbow headed straight to the front of the line, getting more than a few angry looks in the process.

"Don't the line start back there?"

"Lines are for suckers. I know the DJ." Rainbow said over her shoulder as two stallions, dwarfing even her brother in size guarded the door, in tight tee shirts and sunglasses even though it was dark out.

As they got closer, the music seemed to be blasting with enough force to knock Applejack over. She put a hoof on her hat for fear of it being blown away by the pounding bass.

"Name?" the bouncer on the right said. The two of them were so big Applejack wondered how they didn't sink through the clouds, despite them being pegasi.

"Vinyl Scratch."

The bouncer with the clipboard raised an eyebrow. Applejack nearly had a heart attack. These two stallions could have easily eaten the two of them in one bite, and now Rainbow was lying to them?

"I know Vinyl Scratch, and you ain't her miss."

"I know I'm not her! Bring her out here." Rainbow demanded indignantly, undaunted in the face of the two intimidating bouncers.

"She ain't arrived yet, so unless you're on this list, I suggest you get to the back of the line." Applejack recognized the bouncer's threatening tone and tugged on Dash's tail.

"Well look who it is!" a voice from behind the both of them announced.

"Vinyl!" Rainbow greeted throwing her forelegs around the newcomer like they were old friends. Applejack had heard of her, but only because Applebloom had borrowed one of Sweetie Belle's records and liked to listen to it in the barn.

"Never thought I'd see you out here again!" the white unicorn with the short blue mane and red sunglasses said before releasing the pegasus. Behind her two stallions carrying all her equipment moved past them and into the club to go set it up.

The cyan pegasus stepped aside as the DJ moved her glasses down her nose to get a better look at Applejack.

"Who is this?" she asked, Applejack feeling a little more than uneasy being ogled by a celebrity.

"This is Applejack. She's with me, you can look, but don't touch. Get me?" Rainbow added putting a hoof between the two mares.

"Oh, so you finally came out eh? About time." the white unicorn commented extending a hoof to Applejack, "The name is Vinyl Scratch. Welcome to the club sister. Nice hat, is it ironic?" Applejack gently shook her hoof.

"No...it's just my hat..." She was unsure how a hat could even be ironic.

Vinyl slowly nodded, seeming just as confused as the earth pony. She stepped past them and toward the bouncers, "Rocco, hook my girls up with VIP wristbands will ya?"

The huge stallions gently affixed two silver plastic bands around their forelegs and held the velvet rope back as they entered. Applejack couldn't hear a thing but the pounding speakers, the sound waves buffering against her chest as every beat of the bass felt like someone was gently bucking her in the sternum. They made their way toward the dance floor, and Applejack gasped for what must have been the fifth time that day.

Ponies (mostly pegasi) were dancing in the giant cloudy center of the room, some parts of the floor gently rising and falling while strobe and lazer lights created a mesmerizing effect as they flashed and moved in time with the music. She spotted Vinyl up on a central stage removed from every one else as she cut the music and spoke into a mic mounted in front of her turntables.

"Alright ladies and gentlecolts it's about to get buck wild in here!" she said throwing on a large pair of headphones, "If you ain't got a drink yet get your flanks to the bar and get one! This is one of my best girlfriend's jam, and she's here tonight so I want to make her feel welcome, this is for you and your beautiful piece of leg-candy Rainbow! Drop the bass!"

If Applejack thought the music was loud before, she was sure her ears would bleed by the end of the night as a thumping bass line erupted from the speakers. Though she was somewhat miffed about being called leg-candy, the look on Rainbow's face was one of pure happiness. She didn't want to ruin this for her by being a stick-in-the-mud. Besides, once she got used to the volume, the rhythm was actually pretty easy to move to. After a few free drinks in VIP, they hit the dance floor.

Rainbow was in her element, even dancing on two legs while her wings held her up. Every eye was on her as she flaunted what she had. Applejack had no such talent, but still enjoyed watching what she knew was the envy of every stallion (and probably a few mares) in the club gyrate on and in front of her. Best of all, she was the one going back to the fanciest hotel she had ever seen with her.

After a few hours, Rainbow and Applejack were exhausted. They stumbled out of the club holding each other for support...and a few other reasons.

Applejack shook her head, ears still ringing from the club. After a few more steps, both lost the coordination to walk entirely, and went down in a tangle of limbs.

Applejack was the first to get up, laughing and leaning against the nearest wall. The situation was just too funny: both ponies were suffering from such a combination of intoxication and sheer exhaustion that neither could walk without the other.

"What are you laughin' at?" Rainbow Dash said, standing on her hind legs and pinning the laughing country mare agaisnt the wall.

"What?"

"I said, what are you laughin' at!"

"What?" Applejack repeated, her smile growing wider.

"I SAID," Rainbow stopped as she realized what she was doing.

"Oh, you think you're sooooo funny don't ya?" the pegasus responded with her own sly smile.

Rainbow pinned Applejacks forelegs against the wall and planted a powerful, if not a bit sloppy kiss onto her still giggling lips. Applejacks sobriety began to slowly return as she realized they were in the middle of a bustling city in full view of anypony outside the club. Her initial reaction was apprehension, but perhaps the alcohol had lowered her inhibitions to a point where she didn't care to hide anymore. After all, the world could be ending soon, why not take a few chances?

She broke the kiss and stared deeply into Rainbow's eyes, now wild with desire.

"Maybe we should head back to the hotel and see how sturdy that dinin' room table is?" Applejack suggested, getting a burst of laughter from her rainbow maned lover.

"I need to drink with you more often!" Rainbow said hopping down and getting onto her knees in front of her.

"Hop on, I don't feel like walkin'"

"Are you sure you're okay to fly?"

The pegasus snorted, "Please, I've been doin' this for years."

After a short but harrowing flight, the arrived back at their suite, wasting little time in resuming what they started outside the club. They went from the front door, barely closing it before they moved to one of the many couches in the living room, not daring to break away from each others lips as the only sound in the room was an occasional giggle. After marathon rounds of love making on various surfaces and rooms, they finally ended up on the king size bed. Both mares breathing heavily as they laid next to each other, beginning to sweat in each other's embrace. The club had tired them out, but this had completely exhausted any energy they had left.

"You're...a fast learner..." Rainbow said between lung-fulls of air.

"Heh...I learned...from the best..."

The booze had long since faded from their systems, both of them sure they had sweated it out during their escapades. Suddenly, a creeping feeling worked it's way from the back of Dash's mind to the forefront. Discord's dream began to unsettle her as she nuzzled her nose into Applejacks apple scented mane. The sweet smell helped to put her mind at ease, but she hated not knowing the truth. She mustered all of her courage and decided to find out.

The only problem was, how to go about it gently.

"Hey AJ...you mind if I ask you a personal question?" She inquired rather timidly, earning a scoff from the muted orange earth pony before she smiled down at her. Applejack closed her eyes and returned the nuzzle into the soft mane of her lover, ready for a reprieve from the action and settling in for a bit of pillow talk.

"Sure Dashie, what is it?"

Rainbow was normally the most up front pony there was, but with Applejack, she knew this could be a rather sensitive subject.

'I can't just ask her why she doesn't have parents! What to do...I know! I bet one of them gave her that hat she loves so much!' she thought, 'Rainbow, you're a genius.'

"Why do you love that hat so much?" she asked gesturing toward the article resting on the bedpost.

"My Pa gave it to me. Before he passed away." Applejack added, a drop in her tone apparent following her words.

Rainbow swallowed hard. The burning guilt in the back of her throat returning with a vengeance as she continued.

"Oh...I'm sorry to hear that...What about your mom?" Rainbow wasn't really concerned with tact at this point, just her insufferable yearning for closure.

"Ma passed away with him...They died at the same time..."

Applejack's voice broke as she said that, making Rainbow regret she'd even considered going down that road.

"I'm sorry AJ, I shouldn't have brought it up-"

"Naw, it's okay. It feels good to talk about it with somepony besides Big Mac." she added reassuringly, "Applebloom was too young to remember it, and Granny Smith has her good days, but she don't remember much from the past. Her mind's startin' to leave her."

They died at the same time. Just like in her nightmare. How could she hope to continue this relationship with that hanging over her head? Still, there was a chance Discord was just lying to her. After all, he could make ponies see what wasn't there, why wouldn't he do it just to try and mess with her?

"AJ...I don't mean to pry, but...how did they, you know..." she added looking into her soft emerald eyes. A saddened expression taking hold of Applejacks gentle features, though thankfully, there were no tears.

The muted orange earth pony stared down unblinking at their hind legs intertwined beneath the blankets as she spoke. "There was a shower scheduled that day. Pa, Big Mac and a couple of my uncles and cousins had come in from all around to help us raise a new apple silo." she said as she began stroking Rainbows mane with the foreleg she had around her shoulder, more to comfort herself than the cyan pegasus, "The old one had outlived it's usefulness and was getting so rickety a strong gust woulda knocked it down. Pa was supposed to take it down, but decided the rain wasn't gonna last very long and it could wait till after."

Rainbow's eyes were filling with tears, though fortunately Applejacks unblinking stare remained focused on their hind legs. Her worst fear was coming true right in front of her. Discord was telling the truth...it had been her fault Applejack was an orphan. The guilt washed over her like a tidal wave, a tear escaping the wells of her eyes and falling onto Applejacks chest, breaking her gaze and drawing her attention.

"Hey now sugarcube, that was a long time ago." the farm girl reassured her, wiping a tear away with her hoof, "I miss them everyday, but there's no reason to cry about it."

She barely heard what Applejack had said as her legs began trembling. She removed herself from the bed and walked briskly toward the balcony.

"Rainbow where are you goin?" the orange mare demanded.

The cyan pegasus hesitated at the door to the balcony, debating weather to even give an answer at all.

Rainbow spread her wings and glanced over her shoulder, tears glistening down her face, jaw quivering, "I...just need a few minutes."

With that she disappeared into the still dark early morning sky, leaving only a few feathers and a confused Applejack in her wake.

Comments

[Trill]

sadness

[PinkieIsMahWaifu]

Ohhhh shit just got real.
Hey you, you're good at making me cry.
Great fic, write moar plz.

[Hex51]

aw man its getting deep luv this keep it going

I shed a single, manly tear. Awesome chapter! I loved the cliff-hanger ending. I hope that this doesn't hurt their relationship..

[Mithrandir]

ugh the suspense!

sigh. wish you skipped ahead to the emotional parts cause if im gonna have shipping i want it to be emotional shipping and not pony sexy time mewantssomediscord

[Grimdark Jester]

nearly cried
cant wait for the next installment

[Bigotonoto]

Ugh and now the waiting starts....

[BraxAttacks]

Why do I smell cheese?...

[commander672]

So! Chapter Summery:

Flying, Fuck, Hotel, Club, Fuck, more fuck, more fuck, depression.

But I kid! I really enjoy this fic (even the shipping), except Discord has done a grand total of NOTHING over the past 13(!) chapters. Oh sure, he complicated the main cast's lives a little, but I'd say so far he's only managed to accelerate their relationships. The only damaging effects being something Rainbow Dash did and just didn't remember/connect the dots.

I'm all for a leisurely pace but at this rate the CMC will get their cutie marks BEFORE Discord makes a move.

[AnonDiscord]

The feels bro

[AjandRd]

Nuuuuuu it's too hard How is she going to break it to AJ, oh yeah that whole weather accident, yeah my bad, Damn I feel for them both