//------------------------------// // 133. Cuddlin' With the Gal Pals // Story: Azure Edge // by Leaf Blade //------------------------------// There’s definitely worse positions to be in. That’s what Applejack was thinking as she sat on a big comfy couch in the corner of the Neighagra Falls Inn lobby, her beautiful girlfriend Rainbow Dash cuddled up under her arm, and her dear friend Rarity sidled up on her other side—at Rainbow Dash’s request, no less. “You were right, Rainbow,” Rarity purred as she made herself comfortable right next to Applejack, “this is quite relaxing.” “Toldja,” Rainbow chuckled wriggling underneath Applejack’s arm before giving her a kiss on the neck. “Applejack’s like the most comfortable pony to hang out with.” “I appreciate the sentiment, Rainbow Dash, but uhh,” Applejack cleared her throat awkwardly, “are you sure it’s okay for Rarity to be this close when she ain’t, like—” “Are you uncomfortable, Applejack?” Rarity pulled herself away and asked concernedly, and Applejack immediately felt her absence and missed having Rarity’s body pressed up against her own. “Nah,” Applejack said shortly, “not exactly.” “Then what’s the problem?” Rarity hummed, cozying right up next to Applejack again and gently brushing her finger under Applejack’s chin. “As long as everypony’s comfortable with it?” “Yeah,” Applejack smiled and hoped it wasn’t as obvious to Rarity that Applejack’s cheeks were probably burnin’ at about a million degrees, “you make a good point, Rarity.” The three of ‘em just kinda sat like that for a bit, just silently enjoying each other’s company and proximity. It was weird at first, at least for Applejack. It felt really intimate and vulnerable, and while she didn’t mind being that way with her girlfriend, with Rarity it felt a little out of sorts. At first. Applejack found she got used to it right quick, and before she knew it her arm was around Rarity, and Rarity was humming contentedly as she used Applejack’s chest as a pillow, while Rainbow Dash meanwhile had her head on Applejack’s lap as she applied tender kisses to Applejack’s knuckles. “Hey, Applejack,” Rainbow said with a very enticing gleam in her eye as she looked up at Applejack. “Gotta say, it’s real sexy how you made up with Twilight this morning.” “C’mon, Rainbow,” Applejack blushed and fretted with her mane, “don’t say it like that.” “What can I say,” Rainbow chuckled, giving Applejack’s fingers a quick kiss, “I like a girl who can be honest about her feelings, and do the right thing by her friends, y’know? On that note, hey Rarity what’s the holdup on your end?” “Rainbow Dash, please,” Rarity groaned, and while Applejack expected her to recoil, if only to get away from Rainbow, instead she clung harder to Applejack’s chest. “I had a very… complicated relationship with her. Even more so now because of her little secret. Learning that she had been lying to me this whole time, I just—” Rarity paused and bit her lip. “She couldn’t exactly tell us the truth,” Applejack muttered, not sure if she should really say anything, but she was never too good at keeping her opinions to herself. “You think I don’t know that?” Rarity growled and glared at Applejack, but when Applejack gave her an apologetic frown, Rarity pouted and curled her legs up, practically turning herself into a ball. “That doesn’t make it hurt any less.” “Is it really cuz she was keeping a secret from you?” Rainbow sat up and looked Rarity dead in the eye. “Or is it cuz she’s a dr—” “Don’t say it,” Rarity said coldly. “Honestly, what do you expect from me? All my life I’ve been taught that dragons are evil creatures hellbent on destroying ponies— not just destroying them, but tricking them into becoming friends and then destroying them! “Now all of a sudden I’m supposed to throw those lifelong beliefs away? It isn’t that easy!” “I dunno nothin’ ‘bout any other dragons,” Applejack said, “but Twilight ain’t like the stories we’ve been fed at all.” “How can you be certain though?” Rarity said, looking up at Applejack with pleading tears in her eyes, but Applejack couldn’t bring herself to respond with anything but a sigh. She didn’t have an argument or explanation for why she decided to trust Twilight. It just felt like the right thing to do. “And what about Celestia?” Rarity said, biting down on her thumb. “If we’ve all been wrong about dragons, what does that mean for her? Is she being tricked like the rest of us, or does she know what she’s doing? Honestly, I’m not sure which is worse.” “I’m pretty sure I know which is worse,” Rainbow scoffed, causing Rarity to groan and whimper into her hands. Applejack ran her fingers through Rarity’s mane and rubbed her shoulders a little bit, Rarity humming and leaning into Applejack’s movements before letting out a contented sigh. “Hey, y’all?” Applejack said distantly, a memory suddenly crashing into her brain like a meteor. “Speakin’ of the royal sisters, what about Luna?” “What about her?” Rainbow grumbled. “Ugh, that’s right,” Rarity groaned and melted off the couch until she was sitting on the floor. Applejack decided to sit on the floor next to her and put her arm around her, but Rainbow stayed on the couch looking frustrated. “She met Twilight. She talked to her at the train station, even shook her hand.” “WHAT?!” Rainbow balked, perching on the back of the couch and flaring out her wings. “She what?!” “Yeah, that’s what I’m sayin’,” Applejack said tensely. “Alicorns can see through a dragon’s magic disguise. There’s no way in hell Luna doesn’t know about Twilight’s secret.” “Then why the hell hasn’t she done anything?” Rainbow asked, clawing at Applejack’s shoulder in a panic, Applejack taking Rainbow’s hand gently in hers and giving it a tender kiss, Rainbow sinking back down onto the couch, before joining the others on the floor and cuddling up against Applejack, who put her arms around Rainbow to help her feel safe. “I have no idea,” Rarity said, rubbing her temples. “I have absolutely no idea. We’re just going to have to ask her ourselves.” “When?” Applejack scoffed. “When’re we gonna have the time?” “I don’t know,” Rarity pinched the bridge of her nose. “We’ll just have to make the time, sometime before we reach the Crystal Empire.” “Yeah, maybe,” Rainbow huffed. “But for now, let’s just forget about Luna-” Rainbow purred and gently rubbed her head against Applejack’s chest, Applejack’s cheeks flaring up like when you first light the barbecue “-let’s focus on Applejack.” “Darling?” Rarity sighed and wrapped her arms around Applejack, closing her eyes and humming peacefully. “I couldn’t agree more.” Applejack smiled bashfully and put her arms around the two gals. There were definitely much worse situations to find herself in.