Princess Luna's great shining moon rose over the Everfree Forest, illuminating the land of Equestria with it's silver luminescence. The stars in the endlessly dark night sky twinkled slightly, casting a stronger glow on the land. It was as if a second sun had risen when the first had fallen. Or so Rainbow Dash thought, as the glittering light woke her in Fluttershy's cottage. After confessing her feelings for a particular orange and yellow colored cowpony to Fluttershy, Dash had asked to spend the night there.
Fluttershy had graciously welcomed the cyan pegasus to stay in her home for as long as she liked. Normally, Dash wouldn't have been woken by a little moonlight, but her mind was still reeling from the events of the day. It had begun with heartbreak upon learning Applejack hadn't meant to kiss her, and ended with confidence in her sexuality, as well as a surprise about Fluttershy and Big Macintosh.
The surprise was what was actually troubling her at the moment the moon fully woke her. I need to tell somepony! I know just who to tell, too! But I Pinkie promised. . . And I can't betray Fluttershy, either. But I just want a reason to go see her soooo badly! Rainbow thought to herself, pacing back and forth carefully, as not to wake her host downstairs. Buck it, I'm going! I just need to see her, and what better reason than this?
Creeping slowly out of her room and down the stairs, Dash snuck into the kitchen. However, it turns out her host was already awake and greeting somepony at the door. Leaning out from behind the table, Rainbow could just barely pick out what they were saying.
"Mac, we just can't tonight. Rainbow Dash is asleep upstairs, we'd surely wake her on a quiet night like this," Fluttershy told her visitor.
"Aww, c'mon, Shy. . . That filly could sleep through a tornado an' an earthquake. We'll be extra quiet this time," Big Macintosh pleaded.
At this point, Dash understood what was being asked and blushed in the darkness. I know I shouldn't be hearing this, it's just too good not to, though! Rainbow justified, leaning in closer to see her friends in the moonlight.
"Macintosh, no. You know how I can be sometimes," Fluttershy said, looking down and scrapping the ground with her hoof.
"Oh, alright. Then just let me leave yah somethin' to remember me by," Big Mac whispered to his marefriend as he nuzzled her neck. He gently caressed her hair and licked once behind her ear, causing Fluttershy to send out a gasp. Then he kissed her passionately, and Dash found herself feeling dirty from watching the display of affection. As Macintosh pulled away, Fluttershy wrapped her arms around his neck and brought him in for another quick kiss.
"Oh, get in here, you big dumbie," she told her coltfriend, leading him over to the table Dash was now hiding under. "What do you say we resume where we left off earlier today?" Fluttershy asked rhetorically, shoving the stallion back onto the table. She climbed onto his wide chest, pinning his arms and kissing him roughly again.
Disturbed, Rainbow Dash was true to her name and dashed out of the door as quickly as possible. Ohmygosh, that was so weird! Who knew Fluttershy is so rough like that? Well, Big Macintosh, of course. She thought, chuckling at her own thoughts. Wait, earlier today. . . I was there nearly all day. When I showed up, Big Mac came out. . . EWW! I sat at that table! That's so gross, guys!
Flying gracefully toward Sweet Apple Acres, Dash knew exactly where she was going. She landed just outside the barn and grabbed an apple from a barrel. Throwing it at what she knew was Applejack's window, the apple made a good thump and fell to the ground. In seconds, Applejack was at the window.
What the- Dash? What could she be doin' here? Applejack wondered. She quietly trotted past Big Macintosh's room and down the stairs. She certainly didn't want him finding out she was awake at this hour. Walking out of the barn, she found Rainbow Dash leaning casually against the outside.
"What's up, sugarcube? Why're yah up so early? And, more importantly, why are yah getting' me up so early?" Applejack questioned, clearly confused.
"I just thought I'd come by and tell you the amazing news I heard today! You ready?" Dash asked.
"Ready as Ah'll ever be," Applejack told her.
"Well, after this morning, when I was here, I went to Fluttershy's cottage. And when I got there, Big Macintosh answered the door and then ran off. Then Fluttershy told me-" Dash was cut off by Applejack.
"That they were datin'? Ah know. Macintosh told me when he got home. Ah sure did chew him out good for it, though," Applejack said.
"Oh, you already knew. . . Well, I bet you didn't know that Big Mac is over there right now," Rainbow told her cowpony friend, gloating that she knew more.
"Why, no, Ah didn't know that. . . Why on earth would he- Why, that big moron! Ah know exactly what they're doin', an' Ah say we go pay em a visit!" Applejack said, stomping her hooves. "How'd yah know that, Dash?"
"Well, after spending some time with Fluttershy, she let me stay there for the night. I was sneaking out to come here when I overheard them at the door. You shoulda heard them, they're into a lot more than you'd think. And get this; Fluttershy is the boss of the relationship!" Dash concluded, proud of herself.
"Well, well. . . Ah can honestly say Ah did not see that comin'. Why were yah headed here, though?"
Dash blushed, not realizing her slip until now. "Umm, well, to tell you, of course! Now hop on, we've got a couple to interrupt!" She scrambled, stretching her wings out and gesturing for her crush to hop on her back.
Applejack hesitantly wrapped her hooves around Rainbow's neck and braced herself. Dash could feel Applejack pressed tight against her, which sent her heart fluttering. Flapping quickly to lift both of them, she took off into the sky, taking it easy so Applejack would be comfortable.
"Applejack, you can open your eyes now," she told the orange earth pony. She heard a gasp behind her as Applejack caught her first glimpse of the orchard in the glistening moonlight.
"Rainbow, it's beautiful. . . Thank yah so much for sharin' this with me," Applejack said, amazed at how beautiful everything looked from above. But, above all else, Applejack was really admiring the Element of Loyalty. In the light, every strand of her hexachromatic mane shimmered, more stunning than ever before. And her features were so confident, so much more at ease here in the air. Leaning in closer, Applejack breathed in her companion's scent, loving every second of it. She smelled of hard work and a light evening breeze. It was fantastic.
Below, Rainbow Dash was focusing on flying. Or telling herself she was. Don't think about it. You're just giving a friend a ride. But she's not just a friend. You love her. But she doesn't know that. But you could tell her now. But I'm just not ready! Dash argued with herself. She could see Fluttershy's cottage on the edge of the trees and she touched down lightly as possible in the grass. Applejack still had her arms wrapped around her, breathing in the smell of the rainbow.
"Umm, hay AJ, we're here. . ." Dash muttered, not really wanting her love to let go.-
Turning more red than orange, Applejack came back to reality and slid off Rainbow's back. They walked slowly up to the front door, not uttering a single word. Applejack knocked on the door loudly, and they heard whispering inside. In moments, Big Macintosh opened the door, his coat glistening with sweat.
"Applejack! Miss Dash! What- How-" He began to stutter as he was shoved roughly out of the way, a grinning Applejack walking past him.
"Well, well, fancy meetin' you here, bro. What could yah possibly be doin' here?" Applejack asked, a bit of icy prodding creeping into her voice.
Macintosh began stuttering an answer again, only to be stopped by Fluttershy coming down the stairs.
"Oh my, this is quite embarrassing. Well, you see-" She stopped short when she noticed Dash standing next to Applejack. "Dash, how could you! You Pinkie promised you wouldn't tell Applejack!" Fluttershy accused, causing Rainbow to look downtrodden.
"Shy, ain't none o' this her fault. Ah had to tell mah sis earlier today or Ah'd have been in big trouble," Big Mac told him marefriend, wrapping his hoof around her.
"Oh. . . I'm so sorry, Rainbow Dash. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. . ." Fluttershy said, hoping to make up for her offensive tone.
"No, it's alright. To be honest, that's exactly what I was doing when Applejack told me she knew. . . I just couldn't help myself after seeing what happened earlier," Dash explained.
"What happened earlier?" Fluttershy asked, genuinely confused.
"Well, I was sneaking out, when. . . When I caught you two talking at the door. I couldn't believe my eyes, or my ears, for that matter. I was hiding under the table when you decided to move the 'meeting' over there," Dash admitted, emphasizing 'meeting' so they understood the hidden meaning. Fluttershy turned scarlet once more, and Dash was sure Big Macintosh would have, had it been possible for his coat to be any more red. He casually rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling uncomfortably.
Applejack stepped in next. "So, she brought me here so we could make sure everythin' was alright. Y'know makin' sure nopony got hurt or nothin', straining themselves," she said, grinning slyly the whole time.
Fluttershy turned another shade or two more crimson and Macintosh stepped between her and the other two Elements of Harmony.
"Now, Ah'm sorry yah had to hear that, Miss Dash, but what we do in our private time if none o' yer business. Either of yah. Ah understand yah may be wantin' to watch out for yer friend's safety, but Ah swear to you, ain't nothin' gonna hurt her when Ah'm with her," Big Mac told them, rather chivalrously. Fluttershy whispered something in his ear while giggling, and both Honesty and Loyalty alike could swear that Macintosh's face grew a deeper red as his emerald eyes grew wide. He began to cough, clearly unsettled by what Fluttershy had said.
Clearing his throat, he gestured toward the door. "Now, if yah don't mind, I'm gonna have to ask yah to leave us to our business," he said, rather firmly.
Applejack was the first to speak up. "Actually we do mind yah tearin' our pal in half," she told him defiantly. Dash's jaw hit the floor and Fluttershy began to tear up with laughter.
Narrowing his large eyes until they were just threatening slits, Big Mac stared his sister down. "Leave, sis, and take yer fillyfriend with yah. . ." He ordered, earning an outcry from all three of the mares in the room, for different reasons. Applejack cried out because she was embarrassed at anypony suggesting her feelings for Dash. Rainbow cried out because she was unjustly being judged. Fluttershy cried out because her coltfriend had just insulted both of her friends, as he was unaware of their true sexualities.
After more shouting on Applejack and Rainbow Dash's parts, Fluttershy had managed to usher them both outside, wishing them goodnight. When she turned around, Big Macintosh was still standing tall and defiant.
"Now, now, Macintosh, you know that was wrong. Why would you say something like that?" Fluttershy asked, searching her coltfriend for a good reason.
"She needs to learn to stay out o' mah business, and Ah'd say Ah did a pretty good job of teachin' her that," he replied, proud of himself.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. . . Maybe I need to teach you a lesson myself," Fluttershy told him. She swiftly knocked him onto his back and stood on his chest, staring him dangerously in the eyes. And for the first time ever, Big Macintosh was truly worried about his safety due to his marefriend, and she could see it in his eyes.
Outside, Applejack and Rainbow Dash walked in silence, neither wanting to bring up Big Mac's truthful insult. Being more confident in herself, Dash spoke first.
"Your brother is an idiot, y'know?"
"Yeah, Ah know. Ah'm sorry about all that. It certainly didn't go as Ah thought it would. . ." Applejack admitted.
"Well, it does make sense. What he said, I mean," Dash quickly stated, mildly absent-mindedly, as though she were half speaking to herself.
"Whatcha talkin' about, Dash?" Applejack asked, suddenly confused.
"Not the part about you and me, just the part about the fillyfriend. Y'see. . . I like mares. . ." Dash admitted, hanging her head and preparing for the worst. Applejack had stopped, looking at her friend with her mouth hanging wide open.
"Applejack, please, say something. Anything. If you hate me and never want to speak to me again, tell me now," Rainbow pleaded, wings crossed in hope that everything would turn out alright.
"Rainbow, Ah don't know what to say. Other than, Ah understand completely," Applejack said, wrapping a hoof around the Element of Loyalty.
Letting out her pent up breath, Dash looked her crush in the eyes. Those endless emerald eyes. . . "Really? You mean it? You don't hate me?"
"Hate yah? O' course not, Dash! Ah'm proud of yah fer havin' the courage to tell me," Applejack told her companion. Celestia knows Ah wish Ah had the courage to tell yah Ah'm the same way. . . She thought to herself.
"You have no idea how happy I am to tell somepony that, let alone you. Funny that it took me so long to tell my best friend I like mares, huh? Feels good to say. I like mares. I LIKE MARES!" Rainbow Dash shouted, hopping higher into the air each time she repeated herself. Applejack just stood and watched, smiling, proud of her friend. One of these days, Ah'll be able to do the same, and hopefully Dash will be with me when Ah say it. And with that, they both walked slowly back to Sweet Apple Acres in silence, enjoying the moonlight and the other's company on such a wonderful night.