//------------------------------// // Convalescent // Story: Precious to Me // by Rose Quill //------------------------------// Rainbow limped along, stretching out the wing finally freed from it’s splinted cast. “You have no idea how good it feels to have that off,” she said, giving it a gentle flap. “Now I just got to wait from the rest of my feathers to grow back in and I can return to duty.” “That’s assumin’ you are healed up proper,” Applejack said. “That rib on your left was busted pretty bad. You ain’t going up till it’s finished healing.” “It isn’t that bad,” the Pegasus huffed, then hissed as the orange farm pony reached over and poked her gently on the side. “Seems to be a might tender still,” the pony chuckled. “Now, hopefully, Mac and Bloom got the guest room fixed and aired out by now. You’ll be staying where we can keep an eye on you till those bones finish healing up.” “I really appreciate this, AJ,” the cyan pony whispered. “And…and I’m sorry it took so long to get back.” Applejack stopped in mid stride and turned towards the stunt pony. “You still don’t get it?” she asked incredulously. “You didn’t have to go after it in the first place! It’s just an old hat.” “It was you dad’s hat, AJ,” she protested. “I couldn’t handle being the cause of you losing that. I’d never forgive myself.” “And if ya died trying to get it?” came the heated shout from the farmer, tears starting to brim in her eyes. “How d’ya figure Ah’d feel if you didn’t make it back, or if ya hadn’t woke up the other day?” Rainbow’s ears pinned themselves to her skull, realization more painful than the slowly healing bones. She ruffled her wings, a muted clicking sound from the sheaths of the regrowing feathers brushing against each other. “I’m…” “Don’t say you’re sorry again,” Applejack said. “Ah’m just happy yer ok and on the mend, is all. That’s the important part, sugar cube.” She reached out nuzzled the Pegasus along the neck. “You’re more important than any old hat, Rainbow Dash.” The stunt pony’s ears and wings shot straight up, shocked. “If anypony got reason to apologize, it should be me,” the Earth Pony whispered. “Ah should have told you about the hat long before Ah did, but talking ‘bout mah folks ain’t easy.” And she kissed the Pegasus. “But maybe we can give each other a second chance,” she said. “If’n you’re willing, that is.” Over the next couple of weeks, Rainbow healed up in the Apple household, exchanging help around the house for board instead of just accepting their generosity. She’d already taken enough for granted about Applejack. Life went on, one day into the next, but the thought that occupied Rainbow’s thoughts at night was the words that she had been told just before reaching the house. A second chance, if’n you’re willing… It wasn’t making sense…She should be asking her for a second chance. The more she thought about it, though, the less she felt that mistakes were what they needed to talk about. Mistakes had been made, but rectifying them didn’t undo them. If she had learned anything in her time as the bearer of the Element of Loyalty, it was that sometimes you just have to own up to your shortcomings and keep on going. “So just what was you needin’ to talk to me about that it couldn’t wait till morning?” muttered the groggy voice of Applejack. “I couldn’t sleep until I told you this, AJ,” Rainbow whispered, trying not to wake up other members of the household. “I’ve been thinking a lot.” “That’s a new one,” AJ smirked as she scooted aside to let the Pegasus slide onto her bed. “I’m being serious, Jackie,” the stunt pony said, looking hard into the emerald eyes of the other pony. “I need to say this, and I need you to hear me out.” Applejack narrowed her eyes but nodded. “How long have we been dating now, a year? Eighteen months? And yet, in all that time, we haven’t really said what we wanted out of this relationship. Just went along because we liked each other’s company. “But that’s not enough, really, you think?” Rainbow said, reaching out and rubbing a hoof along the other mare’s foreleg. “At least, I’m not thinking it is. Not anymore.” “What’re you saying?” Applejack whispered. “You’re the best thing that’s happened to me, Applejack,” Rainbow continued. “Kept me on my hooves, made me work for things. I’m just now coming to appreciate everything you’ve done for me. “You’re precious to me, AJ, and I would give anything to keep you.” She leaned forward and kissed the astonished mare. “Applejack, you’ve got no reason to say yes, but I’d consider it the greatest honor if you’d agree to marry me.” The Pegasus closed her eyes, fearing the response. A sudden weight settled on her head and a softness graced her lips. She opened her eyes to see the orange mare kissing her. And on the edge of her vision was the brim of an old, weatherbeaten stetson. “What took you so long?” came the whispered drawl.