The cyan pegasus struggled to open her eyes against the bright light that was above her. The air tasted clean and pure as in entered her mouth.
“A… A-am I dead?” she spoke out.
“No Miss Rainbow Dash, you’re in the hospital.”
Dash leaned up to see a light brown unicorn next to her looking over some papers. She looks around to see that she’s lying in bed in a small room. To her right she sees the morning sun rising through the window.
“T-the hospital, how long have I been out Doc?”
The Doctor flips through the papers he was levitating. “About two days, you have good friends, any longer in that cave and you wouldn’t be waking up.”
At the word cave, Rainbow Dash remembered back to what happened, the Timberwolves, the cave-in… the kiss.
“Applejack… Where’s Applejack?”
“Don’t worry she’s fine, had a nasty bite but she’s okay. She’s in the next room.”
Rainbow Dash breathed a breath of relief.
“Now” the Doctor said as his horn glowed to open the door. “I believe you have some vis-“
“Dashie!” the pink hyperactive pony yelled as she rushed over to Dash’s bed, leaving a dazed unicorn on the floor.
“Pinkie I-”
“Dashie we were so worried we lost you two! We thought you and AJ were gone!” Pinkie cried into Rainbow’s mane, her own mane was dull and flat.
Rainbow looked up from the crying pony to see that Fluttershy had walked into the room.
“What happened?” she asked as she tried to calm down Pinkie.
“Oh it was terrible Rainbow, when we found you two we thought we were too late” Fluttershy said, wiping tears from her eyes. “When you told me to look for help.”
---------------
The yellow coated pegasus was flying at full speed through the pounding rain, the bushes and trees flew past her in a blur of green. Nothing was going to stop her from reaching help.
“Help, anypony help me!”
Fluttershy continued to fly faster despite the storm. Lightning flashed but she ignored it.
“Twilight!”
She suddenly stopped as she heard a faint whisper on the wind call out. “Fluttershy!”
The pegasus turned her heard in the direction of the voice and began flying even faster. The voice continued to call her name and she flew as fast as she could towards it. Fluttershy rushed through an approaching bush and was met by a familiar purple unicorn and blue alicorn which, in her haste, she almost collided with.
“Twilight! Rainbow, Applejack, cave, help!” the pegasus yelled in between breaths through the rain.
“Whoa Fluttershy! Calm down and tell me what happened” Twilight said.
“Yes, what are thou so worried about?” Luna joined in.
“R-rainbow D-dash and A-applejack are trapped in a c-cave, we must hurry!”
The unicorn’s eyes widen at the news and said “Quick, show us the way!”
Fluttershy nodded and soon found herself rushing through the forest once more, but this time with help. The storm was picking up, the wind howled louder and the rain pounded harder. The tiny sound of panicking animals was listenable only to the pegasus.
“I’m sorry” she whispered as she flew back to her two trapped friends, leaving a trail of tears behind her, blown by the strong wind that was slowing her.
When she arrived back at the cave, the rubble was piled high and the storm had reached devastating conditions.
“Twilight they’re trapped in there, there must be something you can do!”
The purple unicorn nodded and soon her and Luna were levitating rocks away from the cave in a desperate matter. Fluttershy helped as well, hovering over and taking rubble away little by little.
“We must hurry; they probably don’t have that much time left!” Twilight yelled as she continued levitate rocks away.
By the time enough rubble was cleared away to enter the cave; Fluttershy rushed in.
“Applejack! Rainbow Dash!” she screamed, waving her hoofs around in the darkness.
A light suddenly appeared behind her; she whirled around to see Twilight with her horn glowing and producing a white light.
“Need a light?” she asked with a smile.
Fluttershy smiled back and she continued to trek into the cave.
“Rainbow Dash? Applejack? Oh please be okay.”
The group walked further into the cave before she saw them. Lying on the ground, eyes closed were the bodies of her two friends. Without speaking a word Fluttershy rushed over to the two.
“Applejack? Rainbow Dash?” she asked, her eyes beginning to tear up. “Please, please don’t be dead.”
They were both still and made no sound, but were in each other’s arms and had two big smiles on their faces.
Twilight slowly trotted over to the two, she wasn’t about to give up hope. She put her head on the chest of Rainbow Dash and listened.
Thump… Thump
The unicorns frown quickly grew to a smile at the sound she heard. “She’s alive.”
Fluttershy who had been observing what Twilight had done, moved to Applejack and did the same.
Thump… Thump
“They’re alive!” Fluttershy screamed in delight.
“Yes Fluttershy they’re okay for now, but we need to get them out of here. They need serious medical help and neither of us can give it to them.”
Fluttershy agreed and picked up Rainbow Dash while Twilight levitated Applejack. They looked at each other with a smile and then headed out of the cave.
--------------------
Tears and a wonder of emotions flooded Rainbow Dash when Fluttershy ended her story. She could only think of one thing to do at this point; she leaped forward and hugged her friend.
“Thank you (sniff) Fluttershy” she said in between gasps of tears. “Without you, I wouldn’t have made it.”
Pinkie, whose mane had re-inflated to its natural curly state, decided to join in on the hug.
“Oh, you guys, that’s so sweet” she said before grabbing a tissue from out of nowhere and blowing her nose.
The three remained locked in the hug before a soft cough interrupted. They looked towards the door to see the doctor standing there, looking un-amused towards Pinkie Pie.
“Oh hi Doc, sorry about my friend here, she can be a bit excited umm… all the time” Rainbow Dash grinned.
“That’s quite alright Ms. Dash. Anyways, I came here to tell you that Ms. Applejack is awake and wishes to see you.”
Dash nearly jolted up at the name of her loved but was stopped by the blue aura of the Doctor.
“Now easy, you need to take it easy and no flying. Take slow steps and use your friends for support.”
The cyan pegasus seemed disappointed at the ‘no flying’ part, and was not pleased about having to be helped by others, but obeyed and slowly got up from bed. As soon as her hooves touched the floor, she realized why she should listen to the doctor’s advice, two days in bed without moving can be really devastating to your muscles. Fluttershy quickly got by her side as she noticed her muscle tensing, while Pinkie Pie moved towards Rainbow’s other side. The rainbow maned pony slowly but steadily made her way to the door along with Pinkie and Fluttershy at her sides.
“Like I said Ms. Dash, she’s in the next room, right across from yours.”
Dash nodded and walked across the hall and opened the door.
The inside of AJ’s room was the same in turn of color and design. Floor was the same, window was the same, and even the decorations were the same. The only thing different from hers was the orange cowpony on the bed with a purple maned unicorn standing beside her.
“Oh dear Applejack, they really need to clean this place better” Rarity said, she was levitating a duster and was removing some dust spots from everything.
“Tis fine Rarity, Ah don’t mind. Y’all don’t need to clean the whole room… four times...”
Applejack looked over to the door from Rarity, to see two of her friends helping a certain cyan pegasus. At the sight of her beloved, she immediately blushed a deep red.
“R-rainbow Dash, h-how are y’all feelin’?”
“I’ve been better, but also I have been worse, how about you?”
“Ah’m j-jes dandy.”
Rainbow and the rest of her friends moved closer to the left side of AJ’s bed. It was not until that moment that Rarity realized that Rainbow had entered. She stopped her fifth room cleaning, let the duster fall to the floor and freaked.
“Oh my! Rainbow Dash, I’m so sorry not to notice you. I must ask you, how are you feeling?”
“I’m fine Rarity, what are you two doing in here?”
“Oh I was just talking to our dear friend Applejack here about making a dress for her, so she could cover that scar. And a specialized applebucking dress to offer support on the area near the scar, so nothing nasty happens to her while she works. But the missy by my side refuses to use a dress, because she thinks it ‘doesn’t go with her style and that the other one would bother her to work on the farm’ instead of helping her, and that she doesn’t need it.”
Rainbow looked down to AJ’s leg to see a long scar stretched 3 inches across on her leg where the Timberwolf bit her. The pony cringed as she remembered the moment.
That’s my fault, I’m so sorry Applejack
“Ah already told you Rarity, Ah don’t need some dress to cover up a scar. It’s not like Ah care ‘bout it. Besides, Ah told y’all once, n’ Ah will tell you twice, it will get between me and mah job!”
“Well you are most certainly NOT going to get out without me making you a dress, so for the sake of your work, I will design a form fitting dress, even though I hate doing that kind of clothes, so that nasty scar on your leg won’t be noticeable and it won’t get in the way of your work. Talking about it, I just got a new order of an experimental porous fabric that it’s supposed to create a coat-like effect and it can be used all day and all night long. You won’t even notice it! It would be like a second skin.”
Applejack sighed and decided to lose this battle, it was useless to keep fighting anyways, and she had more important things to do at the moment. “Okay Rarity, y’all go n’ do what you wanna do.”
Rarity seemed very happy with this statement and levitated up a sketch book, starting on the design.
Rainbow Dash looked to AJ and could read her eyes. They needed to talk about something not too obvious, but not too random either.
“Umm hey, where’s Twilight?” Dash asked.
Pinkie Pie was the one to answer. “Oh yeah, Twilight had to go on a super duper important trip to Canterlot for some reason. She’ll be back tomorrow.”
Rainbow looked back over to the Doctor who was looking at some papers. “How is Applejack Doc? Is she gonna be ok?”
The doctor shifted some papers and very surprised replied. “Dear Scott! I…”
The whole group went pale and held their breath.
“Oh, wait, these are from another patient” The doctor corrected with a nervous chuckle “Well… it looks like you’re not the one who’s pregnant…”
The ponies sighed in relief.
“How’s her leg.” Said Rainbow Dash
After checking some more papers he announced “Oh she’ll be fine, that scar however will be permanent, but luckily won’t affect her work with applebucking and carrying heavy weights. However I must tell you not to do any of the things I mentioned before for some days.”
“Ha!” Applejack yelled. “See Rarity, Ah don’t need some working dress for mah wound.”
The white unicorn looked up from her sketch book and said “I’m sorry darling, did you say something?”
Applejack facehoofed and said “Ugh, never mind.”
The Doc looked un-amused at being interrupted and continued. “Well as I was saying, Ms. Applejack needs her rest so it’s time for visitors to leave.”
“WAIT NO!” Applejack and Rainbow Dash both yelled.
Everypony looked at them with odd looks.
“Look, I see that you two want to be close and look after one another, but you both need your rest, so whatever is that you need to talk about, you will have to do it another time.”
The two ponies hung their heads low at the disappointing news.
“But hey, don’t worry. Tomorrow we’ll be moving you two to a double bed room. That way you’ll be closer. Now, if you excuse me, I have to tell the good news to the new young mother… Sweetie Be…”
Rarity’s eyes contracted until they had the size of two pins, her mane sprung in smaller curls and the sketchbook fell to the floor.
“No, wait… Sweaty Body. Oh yeah, now I recall, she’s the aerobics instructor.”
Everypony looked at Rarity, who was still paralyzed, Pinkie Pie picked up the sketchbook and Fluttershy helped her walk out of the hospital.
The two remaining ponies agreed on the doctor’s decision. Dash said goodbye and made her way back to her room, now able to walk without her friend’s help.
------------------
Rainbow Dash sat upright in her bed, the warm rays of the setting sun were absorbed into her mane from the nearby window; they felt good. She looked to her right to see her love fast asleep in her bed. They had moved the pegasus to her room first thing that morning, but Applejack was asleep, and is still asleep now.
“Ms. Rainbow Dash?”
Dash looked in the direction of the door to see the doctor. “Yes?”
“You have some visitors, should I send them in?”
She nodded.
The doctor left and not ten seconds afterward, the door opened once again to reveal a familiar purple unicorn.
“Oh hi Twili-” Dash said but was cutoff as her friend rushed towards her.
“Oh Princesses, are you okay Rainbow? I was so worried about you and Applejack. Oh I’m such a bad friend. I should have been here sooner but the princess kept me in Canterlot for the night. I had-”
“Whoa, whoa, calm down Twilight. Don’t beat yourself up, I’m fine, Applejack’s fine, we’re both fine.”
“What the hay are y’all talkin’ ‘bout? Ah’m tryin to sleep her- oh howdy Twilight, when did y’all get here?”
Both ponies looked over to see Applejack had woken up, her mane was bedridden and messy.
“Oh Applejack, I’m glad to see you, how are you?” Twilight said as she walked over to her bed.
“Ah’m fine thanks to y’all n’ Fluttershy”
“You’re my friend, I couldn’t just leave you”
The two stared at each other for a few seconds. The tension could be cut with a knife, Applejack knew what she was going to ask. Twilight looked back around at Rainbow Dash, who was just staring out the window to her left. Twilight supposed she wasn’t going to turn around soon, so she took the advantage, she returned her gaze to Applejack and spoke in a soft voice.
“So… Applejack, what happened in that cave between you two? Did you…?” she whispered with a raised eyebrow.
“Shhh! Not here while she’s next to us!” shushed the orange pony, putting a hoof in front of her mouth. She signalized to her friend to get closer.
“Sorry, sorry”
“But Ah can say that us two don’t have to keep our feelings from each other anymore” she said with a blush.
Twilight could hardly contain her excitement, but she somehow did.
Rainbow Dash looked over to her two friends as they whispered to each other about something.
Wonder what they’re talking about
She turned her attention back to the window but was stopped a few seconds later as a Knock sounded on the door.
“Come in” she yelled.
The door opened to reveal two iconic ponies. One was pure white with a long flowing mane of different colors, and the other was a dark blue with a mane that seemed to match the stars.
“Princess Celestia and Luna!” Rainbow Dash said with wide eyes.
“Princess!” Twilight yelped as she jumped up from where she was and bowed to them “What are you two doing here?”
“I was worried for what happened to your friends, I came to give my care.”
“And we have also arrived to show thee that we care for them as well” Luna spoke.
Rainbow Dash was still stunned to see them here and looked over to Applejack to see the same look of big eyes and an open mouth.
“No offence princess, but why waste your time with ponies in this small town?”
“Nonsense, I come and look after all my little ponies, especially the friends of my most faithful student.”
The pegasus looked over to see the unicorn beaming with pride.
“I’m so sorry we failed the quest for the stone, Princess. I will personally go look for it as soon as possible.”
Celestia shook her hoof in a nonchalant manner “Oh, that won’t be necessary my dear student.”
All other ponies in the room looked up at her and said “What?” in unison.
“Sister, what do thou mean? Luna asked.
“Oh, he he” she giggled, rubbing the back of neck nervously. She cleared her throat and, unable to see directly into her student’s eyes, she looked towards the roof and carelessly said “Ehem . I might have already had the stone in my power all along, after all.”
All ponies once again shouted “What?” in unison.
“But Princess, where was it?” Twilight asked.
“Under my royal bed of course, so I could remember where it was easily” she said with a grin on her face, her eyes looking away from the ponies.
She regretted asking that as she facehoofed herself.
“Sister!” Luna spoke in a serious tone, backing Celestia up against a wall with her horn almost piercing Celestia’s chest. “We need to have a talk.”
Celestia’s pupils contracted as she looked at her student, terrified. Sweat drops rolled down her forehead and the smile turned into a grimace. Luna’s horn glowed blue and a second later, they were gone.
“Well that was strange…” Dash spoke.
“Y’all don’t say…” Applejack answered.
“Well it’s getting late you two, I better go before Spike gets mad at me for being late again. He’s my assistant but he can get really bossy now and then. I’m a grown mare for Celestia’s sake!” Twilight said.
Dash looked to the right to see that the sun had just set on the horizon and darkness had covered the land.
“Oh, yeah, well take care Twilight” she said goodbye.
“Yeah, take care. Come back soon y’all hear? Ah wouldn’t mind a lil’ bit of company these days.” AJ joined in.
The unicorn waved goodbye and said “Well, you will have Rainbow Dash by your side, that should be more than enough!” she said grinning, her horn glowed and she was gone.
“What did she meant by that?” Rainbow Dash inquired.
Applejack shrugged in response and looked away.
Silence filled the air moments after the lavender unicorn left, neither pony spoke a word.
Come on Rainbow, talk to her, now’s your chance
The pegasus obeyed her mind and slowly and hesitatingly got out of bed and walked over to her friend. Halfway there she stopped and said to herself “ Uh… thinking this thoroughly, maybe this isn’t the best moment to talk about it”
She turned around and went back to the bed. She hopped in and covered herself with the blanket, it was fairly hot inside the hospital, but as a pegasus, she was accustomed to clouds, that were comfier and warmer. She never felt cold when she was walking or trotting on the ground, but she needed warmth when she was sleeping, that’s why she hated when she needed to sleep on the ground and made herself a cloud house.
There were only two situations where she liked the ground:
a) Sleeping at Fluttershy’s cottage, because since she was also a pegasus, she always had several covers.
b) When she slept in the same bed with Applejack, on the clubhouse. She was so warm and comfy. Maybe… maybe they could sleep together once again, one of these days, maybe tomorrow, if she could gather enough strength to talk to her that is.
“Sugarcube?” Suddenly asked the orange earth pony.
“Yeah AJ?”
“What happened?”
“What do you mean?” asked worried the rose-eyed pegasus.
“Ah know y’all came here a spell ago. Ah can sense y’all, n’ hear yer hoofsteps.”
“Uh… Umm… It’s nothing to worry, I was worried about you and went to ask you how were you feeling, but you seemed asleep so I thought it was better to leave you sleeping.” “Good one, that should get me off the hook”
“Oh… ok. Thanks fer worrying Rainbow, but Ah’m okay.”
The two ponies fell asleep soon after that small talk.
-----------------------------------
White light… once again that stupid, unnatural white light. Yet another reason to hate hospitals.
She liked to be woken by the sunlight, it felt different, like that was the way to wake up.
But she was stuck here, with the stupid, unnatural white light. “At least I’m with AJ” she thought. “Well… it’s not like I’m not thinking about doing other things with AJ…” she sat in her bed, looked to her left and noticed there was a window there. “What a nice view I have” she sarcastically said.
After a roll of her eyes and an irritated sigh she turned towards her emerald-eyed friend. She looked like she was having a good and happy dream, given that goofy smile printed on her face.
“Lucky Applejack, I never get to remember what I dream… Well, except when I dream of you, that is.”
Suddenly the orange mare’s face cringed with pain as her leg made an unintended buck.
“AJ!” a weak desperate shout escaped from her mouth. She got rid of the blankets and she managed, weak as she was, to get to her friend’s side.
All the noise, along with the pain of the buck, woke Applejack up.
“G-gah… H-howdy Sugarcube… How did y’all s-slept?” She asked, trying as hard as she could to act like she was not in pain, but being the Element of Honesty she failed, making the cyan pony even more worried about her well-being.
“I’m okay, but I can’t say the same about you though…”
Applejack giggled a bit before wincing again.
“What’s wrong AJ? You were feeling better yesterday”
“Ah… Ah don’t know wholeheartedly, Ah reckon Ah’m a lil’ depressed. Y’all know me” She stated “Ah like to watch the sun rise n’ set, to be woken by the crow of the rooster, to work ‘til Ah can’t move anymore n’ sleep peacefully on mah bed after knowing Ah did the best Ah could fer the family. Here at this closed lil’ room Ah can’t do any of those.”
“Well, I can’t help you with that, but what I can do is…” Dash paused as she pondered what could she do for her, until suddenly she got struck with it. “I’m a genius! Twilight Sparkle my flank, I wanna see her coming up with this awesome idea.” “I can describe you what’s going on outside so you can feel like you’re out there!” Rainbow Dash proudly said believing that her obviously awesome idea would cheer up her orange beloved.
Applejack stared at her with a quizzical look. “Is this filly fer real?” She looked at her smug and confident face and answered her question herself. “Eyup… she’s fer real.”
She made her best to smile and answered “Well that is a jes dandy idea, Ah would love y’all to…”
“Okay, but I only have one condition.”
“N’ that is…”
“You can’t look towards me, in fact, you have to close your eyes, lay down, and let your imagination and your senses flow and merge.”
Applejack hesitated but soon obliged.
Rainbow sat and started “The sun bathes everything in it’s invigorating and warm light, the foals and fillies spent their time and energy rejoicing and playing under Celestia’s sunrays. A sweet cool breeze…” As she said that, the speedster pegasus swiftly and expertly flapped her wings generating a sweet cool breeze for Applejack to enjoy the moment and really get into it.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold yer horses Dashie” Applejack said, opening her eyes and pointing at Dash.
“What?”
“Since when y’all are better than Twi at story-tellin’ n’ describin’?”
“He, I guess reading too much Daring Do helps at something huh?” she replied with a smile on her face.
Applejack chuckled “Ah reckon it does.”
“May I?”
“Continue missy.”
Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to talk, but found it stuffed with a pink hoof. She was about to scream, when she saw Pinkie Pie besides her, signalizing to shut up and heard an exaggerated
“Shhh!” The pink mare looked both sides and said “It’s not visit time yet, I managed to enter unseen, and I should remain undercover.”
Rainbow Dash nodded and the baker pony took out the hoof of her mouth. Now, free to talk, the rose-eyed flying pony said in a soft tone “Hi Pinks, what are you doing?”
“Oh, I just came here to be with you two and cheer you up! What were you doing?”
“Rainbow here was tellin’ me how beautiful the sight was through that window by yer side”
Pinkie Pie looked to her side uneasily and said “Applejackie… There’s a-”
Rainbow Dash cleared her throat.
Pinkie looked outside once again and continued “a beautiful day out there! Birds chirping, sun shining, everything is lovely”
“I know right? That’s why I was describing it to AJ” Said Rainbow Dash “and soon you’ll be out playing and running under the sunlight on a pretty day like today.”
Applejack smiled widely, which made Rainbow smile widely, and as everypony knew, seeing her friends smile made Pinkie Pie smile a mile-wide smile. She cheerfully said “Soooo… who wants cake!” She pulled out a cyan cake with orange frosting details that read ‘Get better soon Appledash’.
“Appledash?” asked the cow-pony with a smirk.
“I couldn’t fit the two names. Don’t you like it? I think it’s a good mixed name, they complement each other perfectly, it’s like your names were meant to be one in this one awesome name.”
“Well, a cake is a cake, with full names or half names, it will end up in my stomach soon anyways.” Rainbow Dash said before slicing a piece.
They spent the morning talking and eating until Pinkie started having a combo. “E-ear flop… Eye flutter… Knee twitch! Oh no! Opening doors, somepony’s coming!” She cleaned everything, gathered the remaining things and put them on a plastic bag. She then jumped through the window on Applejack’s side saying “I was never hereeee!”
Applejack looked at Rainbow and said “Weren’t we on a second floor?”
“Yeah… but she’s Pinkie, she’ll be fin-”
She was cut mid-sentence by an opening door, revealing Nurse Redheart and Fluttershy, hiding behind her.
“Girls, you have a visitor, should I let her in?”
“Howdy Nurse Redheart. Of course y’all can let Fluttershy in, in fact, y’all can pay us a casual, non-professional visit sometime too.”
“Thank you Miss Applejack.”
“Please, jes call me AJ, or Applejack, drop the ‘Miss’ thingy.”
“Ok. I will pay you to a visit, later today perhaps, if not, maybe some of these days you could let me taste your famous apple treats.”
“Of course, no problem partner!”
“Now I will leave you three alone.” She said stepping aside, letting Fluttershy in.
As soon as Fluttershy entered the room, Nurse Redheart closed the door a bit harshly. Something that made Fluttershy jump up squeaking.
Rainbow chuckled at the sight and asked “What are you doing here Shy?”
“Oh, um… nothing, I was just umm… I just wanted to see you… D-do… Is it a bad time? D-do you want me to go?”
“Nah, don’t get all shaky, come here. We’re fine, how ‘bout y’all”
“I-I’m… fine.”
“Still worried since that day?” asked the rainbow maned pegasus.
“Y-yes… I can’t take it out of my mind.”
Rainbow knew what she needed to do. She walked, as she could, grabbed her friend by the neck and dragged her towards Applejack’s bed.
Applejack knew what she was thinking and as soon as Fluttershy was at hoof-reach, she lunged forward and said “Group hug!” pulling them closer.
Fluttershy tensed up at first but then she let herself go and started crying.
After some minutes of unintelligible squeaks and words, they finally made out some words “Oh girls I’m so sorry, it’s all my fault.” After some more whining and whimpering she continued “I-if only I were strong-”
“Shhh… calm down Sugarcube, it’s not yer fault, N’ we are safe and sound, that’s all that matters now!”
“B-but… what about your leg? N-now you won’t be able to work, and your family will become poor and you will b-”
“Now, now, that’s not gonna happen. N’ besides Kicks McGee has been trough a lot more and took many blows before. N’ y’all heard the doc, Ah’ll be jes dandy.”
Fluttershy finally stopped her crying and sighed relieved. “Thanks girls… I feel so much better now.”
But Rainbow Dash knew it wasn’t true, she has known her since they were little fillies, she knew her, and she knew when she was ok and when she wasn’t. “Shhh Shy, calm down, calm down and stop crying please. I don’t like to see you crying, mostly because… well, even though it’s not exactly my fault, it is because of me. Stop crying, you’re making me feel bad and guilty.”
And with that the dams broke again “B-but Rainbow, I could have lost you that day, and with you, everything I hold dear! What was I supposed to do if you died? I don’t think you get it” She looked at Rainbow Dash in the eyes, sorrow and despair clearly printed in her gaze “You are my oldest friend, my best friend, my confident, my guardian, my savior, my… my…”
And with that Rainbow Dash got it, it all fell into place: Why she always cheered for Rainbow, why she always helped her when she was feeling sick, why she always listened to everything she said, even if she was talking all day about flying and the Wonderbolts, she would listen to every single word, but more important of all… Why she got the idea of kissing her so Rainbow could see if Applejack was actually the love of her life or not…
Fluttershy was in love with Rainbow Dash… Or that was what she thought, but Rainbow was sure it wasn’t the case. She needed to make Fluttershy realize her error, talk her into her senses, and she knew just the thing to do for Fluttershy both stop crying and listen to her.
But first… she needed permission.
She looked at her orange mare straight in the eyes, the two knew each other so well, they could talk by just looking at each other.
Applejack read the words from Rainbow’s gaze and suddenly froze. “No… y’all are not thinkin’ that, are y’all? No, Ah’m not letting y’all do it.”
“Come on AJ, just look at her!”
“O-okay… she needs it… J-just make it quick.”
The first thing that made open her eyes and shut up was her confusion and surprise, since she couldn’t make out a word about what her two friends were talking about. The second thing, though, was probably the main reason… Rainbow Dash gave her a peck right on her lips. Something was not right here…
“R-Rainb… Huh? I-I don’t get it… I thought…” She said looking at Applejack quizzically.
“Did you liked it?” asked the cyan pegasus.
“Y-yes?”
Dash groaned “That wasn’t the answer I was looking for… AJ, your turn”
“Now Rainbow, as much as Ah care for her, Ah wont kiss’er. We won’t turn to kiss’er jes to make her understand that’s not the way her barn-door swings, it will only confuse her more.”
Fluttershy’s eyes widened and she felt like fainting. “G-girls?”
“It’s Fluttershy who we’re talkin’ about, she doesn’t need actions, she needs words.”
“But I’m no good at speaking, you know that.” Rainbow Dash replied.
“G-girls?”
“Fer once, y’all gotta get in her hooves. Lemme handle her this time.”
Fluttershy was officially dumbfounded. What was happening around her? She had not a single clue.
“Fluttershy” Applejack said tenderly, looking at her. “Y’all love Rainbow, don’t y’all?”
“Y-yes…?”
“Yes, y’all do, y’all don’t have to hide it. Well, Ah love her too.”
“Fluttershy nervously looked away and said “Oh, I-I’m sorry, I-I can try to stop loving her if you really want me to…”
Applejack waved a hoof in the air and corrected her “No, no, don’t be silly now. Ah’m tryin’ to say we both love’er, she loves us both back, n’ Ah also love y’all.”
Fluttershy blushed and asked “A-are you suggesting we…?”
“NO! No, mah stars, yer getting it all wrong” she hasted to correct “Stop thinkin’ about triangles. Ah’m tryin to get y’all to understand, n’ it’s getting quite hard Ah must say, that there are different kinds of love, n’ different ways to show it.”
Fluttershy’s cheeks burned even brighter and redder.
“No, not that way!” A soft blush crossed her face as well. “Whoa Nelly, Ah’m surprised, Ah didn’t expected to get that kind of reaction from y’all.”
“I-I’m sorry…”
“Don’t be Sugarcube, its natural.”
Rainbow Dash was looking at her lover talk with her long-time friend, trying to decipher what was the orange mare planning.
“Now, what Ah’m trying to say, Luna help me this time, is this: Y’all love Rainbow Dash, here by mah side, but not in the way Ah do, not in the way y’all think y’all do neither.” Fluttershy shot her a confused look but Applejack continued anyways. “Y’all are jes confused ‘cause all the stallions y’all have met ‘til now were mean to y’all n’ to Rainbow, well… All except fer one…” “Maybe that is mah best shot… besides Ah would be killin’ two birds with one stone… Glad Fluttershy can’t listen to mah thoughts, she would faint thinkin’ bout two dead birds.” “Ah’m gonna try sumthin… sumthin a bit more practical. But not like Rainbow’s plan”
“Yeah, yeah I’m not a good planner, get over it already.”
Fluttershy nodded slightly and said “O-okay…”
“Close yer eyes n’ listen to me… make a mental image of what Ah say.”
“Alright.”
“Think about… let’s say… Rarity. She’s good to her friends, caring, generous…” She then changed her voice to a lower and enticing tone. “Well groomed mane, nice-lookin’ legs…”
“Applejack!” Fluttershy said while opening her eyes wide.
“Shush n’ imagine what Ah tell y’all to! N’ y’all” she said pointing a hoof at Dash “Y’all don’t say a word ‘bout this.”
“Okay.”
Applejack looked at her for some seconds, then back to Fluttershy, and continued “nice-lookin’ legs, slim n’ stylized body, kickin’ curves ending in a good, round flank…” She inspected the pink-maned pegasus’s reaction… Nothing, just a bit of confusion and embarrassment.
Rainbow Dash was inspecting Applejack, those commentaries about Rarity were pretty weird and she wanted to know how truth they were. Finding no clue, she relaxed, but knowing that Applejack couldn’t lie made her uneasy.
“Okay, that’s what Ah needed fer the first half of the experiment, now… Lets think about…” She stopped a moment to ponder who could be the next test subject. Seconds later she got the perfect one. She slowly said. “BIG Macintosh”
Applejack got the exact reaction she wanted by stressing the ‘big’ part. Fluttershy swallowed hard, and inhaled a bit deeper than normal. Applejack, once again with her tender, nice voice said “He’s tender, cares fer the ones he love, he’s good with animals, very intelligent…” Back with her bedroom voice, she added “Huge muscles, rock-hard body…”
It was more than enough, after a few words she got an overwhelming reaction, just as expected. The usually pale-yellow cheeks were crimson red, her wings were trembling (though Applejack wasn’t very sure if she was trying them not to spring wide open, or if she was unsure if covering her face with them or not), and she moved her mane away from her face with a hoof and started fanning herself with it.
Rainbow Dash noticed this and victoriously exclaimed “Aha! If that’s not a proof then I don’t know what is it!”
“Now Rainbow, stop fer one more minute, lemme handle this ‘til the end.” She turned towards Fluttershy and said “Now y’all can open yer eyes Sugarcube”
The shy pegasus, who was taking deep breaths to recover her composure did as told, but couldn’t meet those green eyes.
“Sugarcube, y’all care fer RD, n’ y’all do love’er, but as a friend, a sister, maybe even more, but not as a lover, yer not attracted to her. As Ah tried to tell y’all, yer barn-door doesn’t swing that way.”
“Y-you may be r-right… Now that I think about it, I-I never thought about her in that way… and you are right when you say I’ve never met a stallion who wasn’t mean. B-but I still don’t get who’s the one you call ‘t-the only one’.”
“Listen Sugarcube, y’all are very good n’ smart, but sumtimes y’all need a lil’ push. Listen to me, n’ listen closely.”
Fluttershy got closer to her bedridden friend.
“Y’all go home now, fast.”
“W-what? D-did I said something I shouldn’t?”
“Y’all go now n’ prepare yerself fer a date”
“W-what!?”
“What y’all heard, y’all will date a stallion tonite!”
“B-but you just helped me figure myself out, a-and I’m not even sure about my sexuality yet!” said the pegasus, terrified.
“Well y’all are about to find out that then! Now run! Run, groom yerself n’ wait in yer cottage ‘til 7 o’ clock. He’ll be there by then.”
“O-okay, I’ll do that. B-but wait! What do I wear? W-what do I do!”
“Jes wear sumthin nice but not flashy, n’ act natural, be yerself. If he really likes y’all, then make’im like you fer who y’all are, not ‘cause of a masquerade. Now go!”
“O-okay tha-thank you so much Applejack! I’m so happy and excited I could just scream of Joy!” She inhaled ridiculously deeply and “Woohoo” A soft and barely-audible cheer escaped her mouth.
It was actually funny, she always shouted at a lower volume than the one she used for normal talk, probably it was because she was afraid it would be too loud.
As soon as she finished ‘shouting’, she hastily fluttered out the door exclaiming “I’m going to have a date! A date!... wait.” She poked her head through the open door and said “W-who is he?”
“Don’t y’all worry none, Ah know jes the perfect stallion fer y’all”
“O-ok, thank you girls! I love you two, but not in that way!” she said giggling and winked at the girls, finally embracing her newfound reality.
After Fluttershy was out of sight, Rainbow Dash looked at Applejack and asked “How do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“She confessed her undying love for me, a mare, and in less than ten minutes you got her to squeal from happiness because she was about to have a date with a stallion. What the buck AJ!”
“Ah was not gonna let her have y’all”
“Aww, that’s sweet.” She looked upwards, to the ceiling and said “So… Rarity has a ‘delicious flank’?”
Applejack groaned at the comment, rolled her eyes and explained. “Oh c’mon Rainbow, y’all know Ah did it fer Fluttershy. Ah needed to see her reactions.”
“Hmm… I don’t know… your eyes seemed to have a little spark while you talked about it” She said with fake resentment and made a little pout. “It made me a little jealous, I confess…”
“Oh don’t be silly now. Y’all know Ah like yer flank more than any flank around.”
“Oh yeah? Then prove it, give it a kiss.” She said grinning slyly, turning around and looking at the orange mare over her shoulder.
“Rainbow, if y’all really think Ah’m gonna kiss yer flank, in a public hospital, with the door wide open, then y’all belong to the madponies wing of this here hospital.” She replied, laughing. Soon the rainbow-maned mare was on the floor laughing, her muscles ached a lot, but laughing made it all better.
Applejack had to stop laughing because of the pain, but still, she was happy. It was such a relief that they could joke around like this, now that they knew what Rainbow Dash felt for her, and Rainbow knew what she felt. Obviously there was ‘The Big Talk’… they still had to have that one… "But that’s a problem fer future Applejack”
“So… who’s the lucky stallion? Being the Element of Honesty that wasn’t a lie, was it? Besides, hyping her up to let her down after that would be very mean, and the sweetest, most loyal of friends and dependable of all ponies wouldn’t do such a cruel thing.”
“It’s a secret fer now, Ah owe him a favor and he owes me one, so Ah think this will be both a favor to me n’ to him. But… Dashie, could y’all do sumthin’ fer me?”
“Yeah, of course, whatever you want.”
“Could you ask Nurse Redheart to communicate with Rarity?”
Rainbow grinned slyly and raising her eyebrows she asked “What, you want to check her ‘delicious flank’ out again?”
“Would y’all stop it with that joke already? Sayin’ that was as painful fer me as talkin’ all sexy ‘bout mah own brother” She shivered at the fresh memory “That was weird n’ disgustin’… What do fer mah friends…” She sighed.
“So… what do I tell the nurse to tell Rar?”
“Jes tell’er to bring that pony here, Ah wanna give her a task only she can perform.”
“Shake her ‘deli-”
“Y’all tell that joke once more, n’ Ah swear to Luna Ah’ll give y’all a headache.”
“Okay, okay, I’ll stop it. And I’ll bring her here… but you better not check her bum… Not. Even. Once. You hear?”
“It’s not like Ah wanna neither.”
Dash walked backwards to the door that lead to the hospital’s corridor, gaze fixed on Applejack’s eyes and a stern face. Before reaching the door, she couldn’t help it anymore and burst out laughing.
Applejack sighed relieved and giggled at Rainbow’s actions.
Soon the cyan pegasus was out of sight, which gave the cow-pony time to think.
“’The Big Talk’… Ah need to tell’er tonite… no more escaping, nor waiting fer her to give the first step. Ah know she was ‘bout to talk it with me last night, Ah should have insisted more for her to tell me, Ah should have known she needed a lil’ help, she was always a bit insecure in this kind of emotional stuff. But tonite Ah won’t let it slip again, Ah’ll-”
Her train of thoughts was stopped by a rainbow tail and a cyan rump behind, walking towards her.
“Rainbow, what the hay are y’all doin’?”
“To make you forget about Rarity forever, I will be swinging my flank all day long in front of your face.”
Applejack chuckled at that and said “Well Ah won’t tell y’all not to do so, but Ah’d like y’all to describe what’s goin’ on outside, like y’all did before.”
“Oh, alright, let me just…” She shook her behind in front of Applejack, which made her blush, and continued. “There, now let’s see what’s going on outside…”
After ten minutes of Rainbow Dash talking, the two mares heard a knock on the door. Applejack, who was completely enthralled by Dash’s description, snapped back to reality and opened her eyes.
“Wow Rainbow, that was really lovely, the way you described the scene… It really worked, Ah’m a heap happier now, but Ah reckon y’all should open the door.”
“Yeah, maybe it’s…”
The door opened to reveal a white pony with a royal purple mane.
“My, my, darlings! I came as fast as I could possible do when I learnt you two needed me, is there something wrong?”
“…Rarity.” Finished Rainbow Dash.
“Howdy Rarity, we’re okay, but Ah need y’all to do sumthin’ fer me” Applejack thought about it a second an then corrected herself. “Well, it’s more fer Fluttershy… let’s jes say y’all gotta do it in the name of Love.”
That piqued Rarity’s interest.
“Oh dear, do tell me what is it about!”
Applejack motioned for her to get closer and started whispering to her ear.
Rainbow Dash could just observe and analyze Rarity’s expressions. Intrigue, stupefaction, joy, expectation, and then confusion.
“Him.”
“Eyup, the one and only”
“You told Fluttershy she was going to date Him?”
“Oh no, it’s an absolute secret, even fer her. Besides, what’s so wrong ‘bout him anyways?”
“No, no it is… he is very handsome and everything, but are you one hundred percent sure they will get along and share common interests?” The white mare said with a forced smile and a worried look on her eyes.
“More than y’all think, actually. Besides, Ah heard sum commentaries on his side now n’ then…”
“I still do not get why you need me in this plan of yours.”
“Ah need y’all to go look fer him, y’all know, ‘cause Ah’m bedridden n’ stuff… Drop the news, n’ make a vest fer him.”
“Must I do all those things?”
“Eyup, y’all must. Y’all Must. Y’ALL MUST!” She said, resembling one of Rarity’s various pleads.
“Do you want me to umm… civilize him?”
“Y’all will be surprised by how civilized he is. Ah’m only asking y’all to dress’im, he knows how to handle the rest.” The orange mare said smiling. “In fact, he could talk with y’all n’ with Twilight fer hours ‘bout books, novels, whatever, even maybe fashion…”
“Really? Now that is a revelation. I will most certainly inquire him ‘bout that!”
“Now y’all should go! Jes make sure he gets there at 7 o’ clock.”
“Of course my dear! Goodbye to you two!” She said, but soon after starting to walk away, she stopped and turned around to look at Applejack with a pouting face. “I-I… I know this may sound a little weird, but may I ask you a little question darling?”
Applejack looked at Rainbow Dash to see if she got something, seeing she was shrugging she decided to just answer “Well… Sure partner, what is it?”
“Do… Do you think I’m pretty?” Her eyes seemed like they were about to shed tears.
Applejack blushed and found herself in a predicament. She looked at Rainbow Dash, whose jaw was dropped, almost hitting the floor.
“A-Ah… Ah… Well… yeah? Y’all are… pretty fer stallions Ah guess…? W-why are y’all asking that all of a sudden?” She asked genuinely thinking maybe Rainbow Dash might have talked to her first and planned it all to see what she would say.
“It is just that, look at Fluttershy, here, getting a date, and I am here, alone… Now that I think about it, it has been a long time since I do not have any invitation nor compliment from a stallion…”
“Well… Spike’s always saying sweet things at y’all! He’s not an… stallion exactly, but Ah’m sure he’s not the only one that thinks that… Right RD?”
Rainbow Dash snapped and thought of something to say, suddenly, she knew exactly what to say.
“Of course Rar! In fact, Applejack here, thinks you have a deli-” Everything turned white for some a few seconds and her ears were ringing, the left one probably because that’s what happens when your head hits the bed, and seeing Applejack’s hoof in the place where her right ear used to be pretty much gave up what happened.
“OUCH!”
“Ah told y’all Ah would give y’all a headache. N’ Rarity, what Rainbow was ‘bout to say, is that Ah think y’all have a very deli-cate personality, n’ that’s very attractive to sum ponies, don’t y’all worry none, y’all find the perfect stallion fer y’all soon.”
“Thank you oh so much Applejack, it’s just what I needed to hear. I will get going now, see you two tomorrow girls!” She hastily ran away.
“So, who is it?” Asked RD, rubbing her head to deal with the pain.
“Mah brother.”
“Big Mac?”
“Eyup. He always talks ‘bout that shy, humble cute pegasus he saw when y’all helped us on the last Applebuck Season, n’ after those two good-fer-nuthin’ twins Flim n’ Flam came to town, he started talkin’ bout her once again.
“Hmm… well, they do love animals and stuff… besides, we already know Big Mac caused… a good impression on Fluttershy.”
Applejack chuckled and nodded.
“So… what are y’all gonna do when y’all get outta this hospital?”
“First of all, fly around, then…”
The two ponies talked for the rest of the day, hoping Fluttershy’s date would have gone alright.
Later that night, Applejack was laying on her side, facing away from her. Her long unbundled golden mane laid spread out on the pillow she laid on. Her Stetson was missing, probably waiting in the Everfree forest for her to get it back. The sun was gone, nevertheless, the golden mane seemed to emanate light itself. Rainbow was hypnotized by this, following the curves of her hair with her eyes. Her glance soon stopped following the hair, and started following her body’s curves. She was so beautiful that the cyan pony could barely resist the temptation of jumping on top of her and hugging her with every ounce of her strength, captivated by that sweet apple scent.
“Applejack?”
“Yeah Sugarcube?” she replied, rolling over to face her.
“I’m so sorry. Really”
“Fer what? Y’all did nothing wrong Sugarcube.”
“Yes I did, I could have stopped that Timberwolf from giving you that scar, but I didn’t. I was just too slow, too weak, too stupid!”
“Sugarcube, y’all know there was nothing y’all could do. Y’all saved mah life and Ah’m forever thankful fer that.”
“But you’re scarred for life” she said, her face starting to tear up.
“Hey” Applejack said, holding her friends face. “It doesn’t matter” she said, luckily remembering something that would make her friend feel better “N’ also, y’all listened to Rarity, she’ll make that fancy dress to cover it up! All that matters is that Ah love y’all. N’ y’all are here by mah side”
Dash looked at her, her cheeks started to turn hot. “I-I love you too Applejack.”
Both ponies grew closer to each other’s faces before they locked lips and kissed.
The kiss seemed to last forever as the memories and the feeling returned to the two.
They felt like they were floating, immersed in a never-ending sea of bliss and love, all the pain and the scars seemed to disappear as the kiss continued, liberating them from the burden that the two mares were carrying, for not being able to together as they wanted to these last few days. Separated by just a bed away, so close and yet so far away.
They finally broke apart, each smiling at each other.
“Sleep with me tonight, would y’all?” AJ asked blushing lightly.
Rainbow nodded and climbed into bed.
Both ponies held each other in their hooves as the night fell, covering the whole land in a dark blue light. They looked at each other’s eyes. Rainbow was lost on those green pools of wisdom, love, patience, and most important of all, Honesty.
Applejack was staring directly to the rose orbs she liked so much. Since they were little fillies Applejack always loved those eyes… those eyes that meant no harm, only willing to care, to protect, they showed Rainbow’s desire for fulfilling her duty with her friends, her Loyalty.
Sleep soon took hold of them. Both were forever happy.
----------------------
One week later
------------------------
Both ponies sat side by side in the grass with each other as the sun’s warm rays pressed on them. A picnic was laid out in front of them, each of their friends enjoying it one by one. The two had an announcement to make, and neither was ready to do so.
“So why did you two bring us out here?” Rarity asked, stirring her tea with her magic. She was wearing a purple dress with sapphire colored stripes, with a long yet not long enough to be uncomfortable, perfectly sized in a way only Rarity could come up with, no wonder her brand expanded through all of Equestria not many months ago.
“Yeah, you said you needed to tell us something super-duper important!” Pinkie said, bouncing up and down in excitement. “You know I like super-duper important notices! It’s a surprise party? Ooh, did I ruin the surprise?”
“Oh yes, I’m sure whatever you have to tell us is very important.” Fluttershy said with a grin. Even before this moment, she has had that stupid grin plastered in her face all day, maybe her date with Big Macintosh the other day did work out.
“Calm down, calm down, if, as you and I think it is, what they are going to tell us is important, then we should calm down and zip our mouths.” She said sternly, looking seriously at he friends. Then she turned around to look at the couple and winked at them.
“That’s right Sugarcube, this here is very important, n’ y’all should listen and zip yer mouth”
Pinkie Pie put a hoof over her mouth and moved it to the other end, indicating her lips were sealed.
Applejack shifted her weight between her hooves, circling a little rock in the floor with her hoof. She finally decided to push Rainbow Dash forward and say “So… how about you tell Rainbow huh?” Applejack said with a nervous smile.
Applejack could notice Rainbow's anger through her eyes, she didn't expect her to be such a chicken, but Applejack wasn't in condition to tell her friends.
“Ok fine I’ll tell you guys, but this might come as a shock.”
“I’m sure whatever you two have to say, we can take it” Rarity said before taking another sip of tea.
“Well okay… If you say so” she said, taking a deep breath. “Me and Applejack are dating.”
“WHAT!?” everypony yelled in unison except for Rarity who just spit her tea out at Pinkie, who didn’t seem to mind.
“Yippy! I’m so happy for you two. GASP! I’m gonna have to throw a party for you two!” An big intake of air later she continued “OhmyohmyohmythisisgoingtobesocoolandfunnyandamazinglycuteandsweetandbecauseofthatIhavetomaketheabsolutelyawesomebestpartyeveroftheevereversonEquestriatheuniverseandeverything! GASP! Oh I’m gonna have to do so much! Get balloons, streamers, party favors-“
“Pinkie, this is private for them, I’m pretty sure they don’t want a big party and all” Twilight interrupted.
“Oh we don’t mind at all right Sugarcube?” AJ asked.
“Well I- OW!” she was cutoff as her friend elbowed her. “Yeah, I don’t mind at all.”
All ponies turned to Rarity, whose mouth was still wide open and eyes big.
“Umm Rarity? Are you okay?” Fluttershy asked.
Nothing. She remained in the same pose.
“Hold on I know how to fix this” Dash said as she got up and walked towards her.
“Rarity” she whispered. “I’m gonna go and do some re-touches to your new dress.”
After those few words, Rarity sprung up, hooves up, about to hit the pegasus, and yelled “I’LL RIP YOU TO PIECES IF YOU DARE TO TOUCH ONE THREAD ON THAT WORK OF ART!”
“And she’s back.” Rainbow Dash said grinning slyly.
“Rarity what do you think of me and Rainbow dating?” Applejack asked.
“Well… I do must say that I am a little bit shocked at this. As much as I know you two, I never expected it, to be honest with you. But well, I shall say, if you’re happy, then I am happy too” she replied. “Besides, I always wanted to try matching couple dresses, I find them so cute but sadly there aren’t many couples I know that are willing to model for my.”
“But Rarit-”
“No, Rainbow Dash, as much as you and Applejack hate it, you will have to model for me, you are close friends and you will not be able to escape from me.” She said giggling in a rather evil way, something that made Rainbow Dash swallow hard. She then turned towards Applejack and asked “But Applejack, dear, aren’t you afraid of what everypony else might think?”
The farmpony walked over to Dash and said. “Well as long as Ah’m with her, Ah’m not afraid of nuthin’.” Applejack grabbed Rainbow and tilted her before locking lips passionately. A chorus of ‘gasps’ and ‘awws’ escaped their friends.
“Ah love y’all Sugarcube”
“I love you too”
THE END
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