The general crowd went absolutely wild.
Another hero of Equestria, who also happened to be a celebrity in her own right, was going to perform?
Every creature sure was getting their bits worth of a show.
Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash's friends were frozen in shock.
Applejack was shocked.
And strangely, above all, Rainbow Dash was shocked.
Having been so focused on Applejack's performance (and then caught up in her budding jealousy over the mystery mare), Rainbow Dash had kind of forgotten that the plan was to be set in motion after AJ and Rara finished their second duet.
Oh, horse apples, Rainbow cringed. It's too late to back out now.
Rara walked towards the end of the stage, extending a hoof to help Rainbow Dash onstage. Dash flew forward and took it, more for theatrics sake than a need to be helped.
Why did I agree to this? Why, why, why?
"Applejack, I'm going to have to ask you to take a seat," Rara said to Applejack, who was standing frozen in place.
"B-But—"
"No but's, AJ," Rara said sternly, pushing the mare closer to the edge of the stage.
Applejack regained her senses, glancing towards Rainbow Dash.
"Rainbow, what the hay is—"
"Nope!" Rara interrupted, pushing her again. "Off you go!"
Applejack pursed her lips, but did as told. She hopped off the stage, taking Rainbow Dash's old seat between Twilight and Rarity.
Rara trotted to Rainbow Dash's side. "Ready?"
"No," Rainbow Dash gulped, looking out into the crowd.
Yup, exactly as she suspected: any creature who was any creature was there. The entire world was about to watch her do the craziest, cringiest thing she has ever, ever done.
"If it's about the song we just sang," Rara whispered, mistaking Rainbow Dash's anxiety for anger. "I'll let AJ explain it to you herself, but trust me: it was always about you. I don't want to steal her thunder, but the way she's talked about how she feels about you..." Rara shook her head in amazement. "Just do yourselves a favor and go get the mare, Rainbow."
Rainbow Dash gulped, slowly nodding.
Go get the mare, she chanted. Go get the mare.
Rara turned to face the crowd, her voice amplified again.
"Rainbow Dash needs no introduction. Like Applejack, she's a famed hero of Equestria and currently sits on Princess Twilight's Council of Friendship, though most of you may know her as a member of the Wonderbolts. And tonight, Rainbow Dash will grace us with a special performance unlike any she's ever given."
The crowd cheered, and Rara turned to Rainbow Dash one more time.
"A bit of advice," she murmured, her voice back to its normal volume. "Focus on AJ. Pretend she's the only mare in the room. Heck, pretend she's the only mare in the world."
Rara gave her one last encouraging smile and trotted away, joining DJ Pon-3 to direct the mare's beats.
Rainbow Dash swallowed hard. She flew closer to the end of the stage, taking Rara's advice.
Rainbow Dash looked away from the eager audience to the mare seated in the center front row seat. Her magenta eyes met Applejack's green ones, and it was like that moment at the concert in Ponyville.
The room melted away.
There was silence.
And the only ponies that remained were Applejack and Rainbow Dash.
The moment lasted maybe a second, but it was enough to build Rainbow Dash's courage.
I've got this. She resolved, For Applejack.
"Good evening every creature," Rainbow Dash called, the room returning to its original state. Her eyes widened at the increased volume of her voice. Clearly, a unicorn had cast a spell to make her voice louder.
"I'm grateful to Rara for letting me borrow her stage tonight..."
Rainbow Dash looked back at Applejack, who was hanging onto Rainbow Dash's every word. Ignoring the audience and focusing on AJ, Rainbow Dash found her voice again.
"Having known Applejack for many, many years, I can confirm every word that Rara said. Applejack truly is the best pony in all of Equestria."
A unanimous 'aw' was given by the crowd. But Rainbow Dash remained focused on Applejack, who gazed back at the pegasus with a wondrous expression.
"Applejack has taught me that the truth is one of the most beautiful gifts we can share with one another. So tonight, I plan to share that gift with you all and, especially, with Applejack. "
A gentle smile grew on Applejack's face, understanding reaching her eyes. Rainbow Dash was keeping her promise.
She was going to tell Applejack the truth.
Rainbow Dash turned and gave Rara a nod. Rara saluted, and DJ Pon-3 changed the record. The lights in the room dimmed, until only a blue spotlight shone above Rainbow Dash.
And, coincidentally, an orange-colored spotlight shone above Applejack.
A bouncy pop beat began to play.
Rainbow Dash took a deep breath.
Remember: the only mare in the world.
And with that, Rainbow Dash flew towards Applejack until she was flying right above the space between the stage and the front row.
Sweet Celestia, this is about to get so corny, Rainbow thought darkly. But it's what I wrote, so here goes nothing.
And she began to sing.
It was a song about love, about longing, about respect. Some creature in the crowd began to stomp and, suddenly, the whole audience was either stomping or clapping to the beat.
Rainbow Dash let herself touch the ground, standing right in front of a teary-eyed Applejack. As she finished her song, Applejack stood up as if the lurch forward and hug Rainbow, but Rainbow Dash put a hoof up in a 'wait' gesture.
The crowd around them was cheering, but neither Rainbow Dash nor Applejack seemed to hear them.
Rainbow Dash spoke up first, thankful that her voice no longer projected to the entire audience. "I know this was a weird way to tell you the truth, but I did promise to make it up to you."
Rainbow Dash had a deepening blush growing on her cheeks.
Just say it.
"I'ma start by apologizing for having been the biggest, most insensitive jerk these last few weeks. Even before Rara came to Ponyville, I was a really bad friend and closed myself off to you. I threw myself into work after Twilight's coronation because... I was scared. I was scared to go into Ponyville. I was scared that everything was going to change. So I was super annoyed that the day I finally decided to face my fears and go into town, you were with Rara. And I was so set on holding a grudge against Rara that I refused your invitations to hang out."
Rainbow paused, noticing Applejack's look of understanding. It's just like Granny said.
'Give Applejack the truth, and the rest will fall into place.'
"But, to be honest, the whole annoyed thing wasn't the main reason I didn't wanna hang around you and Rara..."
Rainbow Dash inhaled sharply. Here goes nothing.
No, scratch that— Here goes everything.
"The truth is, I was unreasonable all those weeks for no reason other than the fact that I was jealous," Rainbow Dash finally confessed. It felt weirdly liberating to get it off her chest. Not breaking her gaze from AJ, she continued. "Last week, all that jealousy just exploded out of me. I was awful. I know I was awful. I had made a bunch of accusations and assumptions about you, about Rara, about the tour. And it's all because I was jealous of Rara more than I had ever been of any pony in my entire life. All those rumors about you two dating just..." Rainbow Dash exhaled sharply, the mere memory stirring something in her chest. "It had me out of my mind."
"But really AJ, I didn't go to Ponyville that last week you were there because I was scared again. I was scared that if I saw you, I would blurt out the truth, which is..."
Rainbow Dash didn't hesitate this time.
"That I really, really, really like you, Applejack."
And suddenly, all the emotions she's been holding in burst out.
"I like you enough to fight any pony or creature who tries to hurt you. I like you enough to fly around Equestria to find you, and would have kept going forever until I did. I like you enough to compete with you just to prove I'm as awesome as you are. I like you enough to sleep in your apple trees because they feel more like home than any cloud ever has. I like you enough to hang out with and get to know your relatives. I like you enough to fly faster than the speed of sound and create a sonic rainboom when I finally admit to myself how I feel about you."
At the last comment, Applejack's eyebrows scrunched a bit. Every other comment made sense: they were all throwbacks to past adventures between the two. But the sonic rainboom one was new.
Applejack would definitely ask about it later.
"And... Unfortunately, I like you enough to be a jealous jerk. I know now that you aren't dating Rara and that you aren't leaving Ponyville. But even if you were, that wouldn't change the fact that how I acted was wrong.
So I'm sorry, AJ. To you, and to Rara."
Rainbow Dash looked around at the front row, where all her friends were sitting and very much listening. She wished her teammates were closer to hear her, but she had a feeling that the absolute dead silence in the room meant every creature was listening.
"And I'm sorry to all of you, too. You girls had to deal with all my weirdness these last few weeks, and you never once made me feel bad about it. You supported me, just like you always do. So I'm sorry, and I'm grateful. You're the best friends anypony could ever have."
Rainbow Dash looked back at Applejack.
Oh, to Tartarus with this. I've waited way too long.
I'm gonna go get the mare.
"I know this was a crazy way to apologize and to tell you how I feel. And I don't want to push you to accept the apology, or to respond to anything I said," Rainbow smiled nervously. "But I hope you do forgive me, and that maybe..."
Her cheeks burned.
Just say it.
"Maybe, even though I am a lot to handle and not the easiest pony to be with... Maybe we could hang out as, ya know, more than friends. Only if you want to, obviously."
Applejack stepped forward again, and instead of the hug Rainbow Dash hoped for, she stepped around the pegasus and hopped onto the stage.
"If you don't mind, I'ma take this back sugarcube," AJ said with a pleasant tone, plucking her Stetson off of Rainbow's head.
Huh. She had forgotten that she had AJ's hat on.
Oh gosh. She internally groaned. I just sang a sappy love song on stage with a country hat on.
Now on stage, Applejack was at eyelevel with Rainbow Dash. She took her hat off again and held it to her chest.
"Rainbow Dash, I should've known you'd pull a stunt like this to get your point across," Applejack said, her face finally breaking its serious expression. Her eyes were adoring, a soft on her face.
"I gotta admit that I've kinda had some ideas on the real reason you haven't been yourself lately. But I wanted you to tell me the truth," AJ gave Dash a sincere smile. "I'm proud of you, sugarcube. Just last week you were scared to tell me what was on your mind. And today, you shared it loud and proud."
AJ put her hat back on, tilting it in Dash's direction. "I'm proud of you, Rainbow. More than you'll ever know."
Rainbow felt tears start to form in her eyes. She wasn't a crier, but the situation was overwhelming. Having been in such internal turmoil for weeks, and now to have AJ validate her journey...
It was too good to be true.
"So I accept your apology. It's all forgiven. And I hope that, moving forward, we can just be honest with each other without having to do it so dramatically," Applejack winked, getting a nervous laugh from Rainbow Dash. From that first day, rushing to Sweet Apple Acres to spy on Applejack's, to today, professing her love on stage— it was all dramatic.
And while dramatics were right up Rainbow Dash's alley, she knew Applejack well enough to know that is the exact alley Applejack avoids.
I've got to remember that, Rainbow made a mental note. More lowkey stuff from now on.
"The heaviest truths are the ones we should let others help us carry," AJ smiled. "So I apologize too, Rainbow. I have my own truth to share, and I kept it secret because I wasn't sure you felt the same way. Waiting to hear your truth first was the coward's way out but, like always," AJ's smile grew, her eyes gazing adoringly at Dash. "You remind me to be brave."
Rainbow Dash's heart rate increased. Though Rara had told her in so little words that AJ liked her, Rainbow Dash hadn't let herself believe it. And now, it was all falling into place.
Just like Granny said.
"If you had to be honest while on a stage, I suppose it's only fair I do the same," Applejack grinned. She turned to face the audience, her voice suddenly amplified. "Every pony and creature, give it up for Rainbow Dash!"
The crowd cheered, louder than they had all night. Every creature felt weirdly invested in the Appledash love story. Even those who knew neither of them personally were on the edge of their seats with excitement.
Rainbow Dash felt another blush on her cheeks, but couldn't hold back the puff in her chest. She was proud of what she did and, despite having been wearing Applejack's hat, she would do it again. And with her performance anxiety long gone, she allowed herself a closer look at the crowd.
Princesses Cadence, Celestia, and Luna were in the second row, beaming. Cadence was teary eyed, but Shining Armor was unabashedly sobbing.
She snickered. Rainbow knew Twilight's brother was a big softie, but that was embarrassing.
In the rows behind the royalty, residents of Ponyville and various students from the School of Friendship were cheering as well. Newlyweds Lyra and Bon Bon were especially loud, as well as... Gallus and Smolder? The two normally stoic kids had tears in their eyes and huge grins, making Rainbow Dash's smile grow.
A few ways off was the Apple family, immediate and distant members. Rainbow Dash caught the eyes of the Golden Horseshoe Gals, who gave her an extra loud 'whoop' when they caught her eye. By their expressions, they were happy about the unfolding events.
Rainbow Dash turned to the balconies. The Wonderbolts were hovering over their seats, shouting as loud as they could for their teammate. Spitfire and Rainbow caught eyes, and the two mares saluted.
Everywhere Rainbow Dash turned was a familiar face. The crowd wasn't some scary mob, but a group of ponies and creatures who cared for Applejack and Rainbow Dash. So much so, no creature seemed to remember they had paid to see Rara perform.
"And I know y'all are all waiting for me to give an answer to this gal," Applejack continued, turning to face Rainbow again. Her eyes were brimming with tears, her voice shaky.
"Rainbow Dash, I don't know how and I don't know when, but darn it,” Applejack wiped her eyes as tears brimmed out. “You flew away with my heart, and I never want it back. It’s yours, now and always.”
Rainbow Dash's heart expanded. She felt like it was to explode in happiness.
It was true. It was all true. Her friends' suspicions, Rara's hints, even Granny Smith's not-so-secret hopes. Everypony had been right.
Applejack likes me.
Their love was exposed for all of Equestria to see, and they didn't care.
In that moment, the truth was all they cared about.