//------------------------------// // epilogue // Story: The Magic of Love // by ashley-luv //------------------------------// Applejack and Rainbow Dash shared a secret smile while the Mane Six and Spike watched Luster Dawn trot towards her new friends. Seeing the filly reminded them of the news they plan to share with their family and friends. Once Luster Dawn was a safe distance away, Rainbow Dash did what she'd been dying to do the whole time: rest a hoof on Applejack's head. Years had passed, but the need to be in physical contact with AJ had not. But Dash had grown more subtle with her touches, respecting her wife's preferences. While Applejack and Rainbow Dash's love remained constant and strong, so much else had changed. Fluttershy lived with Discord and ran a cross-dimensional sanctuary; Pinkie Pie was a mother and head baker at Sugarcube Corner; Rarity was an international designer; Spike was Equestria's ambassador of friendship; and Twilight, of course, was princess of Equestria. Despite their separate endeavors, their decision to meet every moon meant they still met regularly. Tonight's meeting was a dinner hosted by Applejack and Rainbow Dash at Sweet Apple Acres. Their friend group guessed the pair had an announcement, but didn't outwardly ask about it. They'll know soon enough. Once the sun set, Pinkie Pie broke the peaceful scene. "Applejack, I think I'm finally ready to eat your apple fritters again." Strangely, Pinkie's pregnancy craving had been AJ's apple fritters. Applejack made them for her daily, sometimes nightly, when she had been pregnant with Lil' Cheese. But ever since Pinkie gave birth, she hadn't been able to eat a single bite. "Don't tell me you got another little one on the way," AJ teased, getting a laugh from Pinkie. "Gosh, no. I can barely handle Lil' Cheese! I'm not ready for foal number two." "Well, in that case, let's head to the farm and get you some fritters." Applejack glanced at Rainbow Dash, silently indicating for her to lead the way. Rainbow Dash gave her wife a small smile to confirm she understood, leading the group down the path home. Yes, that's right. Home. She no longer thought of Sweet Apple Acres as the Apple farm. As an Apple herself, it was her farm and home, now and always. "Are we eating outside?" Rarity asked, a small frown of concern on her face. She hadn't exactly dressed for the outdoors. "Don't worry, Rares. That big coat will keep you warm if you get cold," Spike teased. He had long outgrown his childhood crush on Rarity, and the two were now best friends. Rainbow Dash took the familiar path that led to the Apple Pear tree, getting hit with nostalgia. The last time they gathered there, it had been for her wedding. It was only right that the next chapter of her and Applejack's life begins there, too. Big Mac had done a great job setting up. There were neatly placed benches and tables, as well as string lights and lanterns to illuminate the night. Pinkie Pie squealed. "Oh my gosh! We're eating here?" "Yup," Applejack and Rainbow Dash replied at the same time, and the two shared a grin. Rainbow had picked up some of Applejack's mannerisms over the years, a fact she was secretly proud of. It was a testament to how in sync they continue to be. Already seated were the cutie mark crusaders, who were all grown up and living at the School of Friendship as professors, as well as Big Mac and his family. Spitfire and Fleetfoot were also present, and the couple were talking to a pair of ponies by the main food table. "RARA!" Applejack broke out into a quick trot, running towards her best friend. Rara squealed, leaving Soarin's side to collide with Applejack in a tight embrace. "AJ!" Rara laughed, pulling away. The mares nuzzled noses, a gesture that had long stopped making Rainbow Dash uncomfortable. "I didn't know you were coming," Applejack accused playfully, glancing over at her wife. "Did you know?" "Yup," Rainbow beamed. "Just 'cause she already knows doesn't mean she can't be here when we tell everypony else." Soarin joined the trio, saluting Rainbow Dash and hugging Applejack. "We would have come even if she didn't know," he pouted at Rara. "I still have to hear the news from you two, since Rara won't even give me a hint." Rara had a special twinkle in her eyes as she winked at her husband. Once his celebrity crush waned, it left space for the two to enjoy an unexpected romance that surprised everypony, but no one more than Soarin. To see him so comfortable with Rara warmed Rainbow Dash's heart. "Good," Rainbow smirked. "I'm glad Rara isn't giving you any special treatment. You gotta be just as surprised as everypony else." "Crash! AJ!" Spitfire and Fleetfoot flew over to join the conversation. They saluted Dash and landed on the ground to hug Applejack. For the life of her, Rainbow Dash couldn't remember when AJ and her former teammates got on hugging terms. But between countless dinners at Sweet Apple Acres and the many times AJ cheered them on, her wife became a favorite among them. I'm pretty sure they like AJ more than me by now, Rainbow Dash thought without envy. "Any chance I get a hint to the news?" Spitfire asked hopefully. "Come on, I was best mare with Rara. That's gotta count for something." "Hey!" Fleetfoot nudged her partner. "Don't you mean 'we' should get a hint?" "No," Spitfire snickered, nudging her life partner back. "I mean 'I.'" "Well, it'd be a 'no' either way," Applejack cut in with a mischievous smile. "No special treatment. Y'all have to wait like everypony else." "But Rara already knows," Spitfire complained. "How come she didn't have to wait?" "Guess I'm just more important than you are," Rara teased, causing Spitfire to stick her tongue out at the earth pony. "Come on everypony," Applejack interjected, gesturing to the nearby food. "Eat up and enjoy. Y'all will know soon enough." The night was soon full of laughter, everypony enjoying the company and, of course, the food. With Applejack's cooking and Sugar Belle's pastries, dinner with the Apple's was a favorite among everypony present. Once she saw everypony finished their meal, Rainbow Dash flew a few inches above her seat, chiming her glass in the traditional manner to call for a toast. The gathered ponies grew quiet, looking up expectantly. They all knew there was news to be shared, and were more than ready to hear it. "Hi everypony. It's great to see y'all here. As you've probably guessed, Applejack and I have some news." Rainbow Dash looked down at Applejack in acknowledgment, feeling a slight blush on her cheeks. Her heart still skipped a beat when the country mare smiled at her like that. "But, it's only fair that the pony who helped get us together gets to share it too," Rainbow said, looking over at Rara. Rara beamed at Dash, standing up too. "Hi everypony! As you all know, Applejack and Rainbow Dash have some news," she smirked, looking very obviously at Spitfire and Fleetfoot. "I'm lucky enough to already know it—" "Favoritism!" Spitfire said under a fake cough, which got laughter from the group. Rara rolled her eyes, her smile growing. Her gaze softened as she looked over at her best friend. "Applejack has always been the best pony I know. And in these last few years, I've gotten to know Rainbow Dash and can attest that—" "Applejack can do better!" Spitfire called, getting laughs from the group and a glare from Rainbow Dash. This is their mare of honor/best mare speech all over again, Rainbow Dash grumbled internally. But a reassuring nudge from Applejack kept her from responding. Rara finished laughing and continued. "In all seriousness, I can't think of anypony more deserving of Applejack than Rainbow Dash. They challenge each other, they balance each other, and, above all, they love each other." Rainbow Dash glanced down at Applejack, who gazed adoringly up at her wife. She couldn't help it— she flew down to sit beside Applejack and wrapped a wing around her. This was a gesture that would have once made Applejack shy. Now, Applejack snuggled against her wife with a happy smile. "Team Appledash is the strongest team in the kingdoms—" "AGREED!" Everypony turned to glance at the princess of Equestria, who smiled nervously and shifted in her seat. "Sorry Rara, go on." Rara smiled reassuringly at Twilight, going on again. "And, as the strongest team and most perfect pair I know, I can't wait to see them take on their next challenge. And as the foal's godmother, I'll have a front-row seat to watching AJ and Rainbow raise their foal, who I'm sure will be as beautiful, loving, and wonderful as their moms." A collective gasp erupted, swerving to look from Rara to Applejack and Rainbow Dash. "Actually, it's two foals," Rainbow Dash corrected, secretly loving the reactions. Even Rara's eyes were bulging now. "The birth mother is having twins, a filly and a colt. So get ready for two amazing, awesome, fantastic Apple-Dash babies." Applejack sat up straight, a proud smile on her face when she heard their combined last names. Rainbow Dash, with her wing still around Applejack, beamed in pride as well. Though their friends had used the term 'Appledash' before, Rainbow loved knowing it was officially their last names now. Everypony got out of their seats, rushing towards the couple to congratulate them. Always one to dislike attention, Applejack glanced at Rainbow Dash, her eyes pleading for what she wanted: for Rainbow to continue to hold her. Rainbow Dash gazed adoringly at her role model, her best friend, her rival, her lover, her wife, and now, the mother of her children. Tightening her grip around Applejack, Rainbow murmured in her ear, "Don't worry." "I won't let you go." Applejack and Rainbow Dash remained by the Apple Pear tree long after their guests had gone. Cuddled against the tree's bark, the wives were in pure and utter happiness. "Hey Dash?" "Yeah AJ?" The chapter on the magic of friendship had closed. "I love you." But the story about the magic of Appledash's love will go on forever. "And I love you."