CHAPTER SIX
Morning Has Broken
She could feel the warmth of the Sun on her fur, and the weight of the comforter pressed against her body. The waves of drowsiness and slumber were slowly ebbing, as awareness took it's firm, but gentle, hold. Even so, she kept her eyes closed, and took in her surrounding environment with her other senses. She could feel soft fur against her back, a foreleg draped over her side, a light snoring sound near her ear. The soft breath from her lover's muzzle tickled the back of her neck.
As she lay there, in the warm companionship of her beloved Rainbow Dash, Applejack thought about the events of the previous night. Rainbow Dash, as loyal as any pony could be, had stood by her side and declared her love to her parents, who had then reacted as if they had been struck in the very center of their hearts. On one hoof, Applejack couldn't blame them. Until she had learned just what it was like to be loved as deeply, and as fully, as she had been loved by Dash, she had never considered she would be anything other than a stallion's mare.
On the other hoof, however, she had been hurt. Dash's parents' rejection cut her to the core, as it were, and the utter sense of helplessness as she watched the whole thing collapse into shock, and rage, it was so much to bear all of a sudden. It wasn't that she was some useless damsel in distress, heavens to betsy, no. What cut her down, in her heart of hearts, was the rejection of family. Violet Tempest had been so happy, and so willing, to bring Applejack into the fold, that for a moment more than she could spare, Applejack believed that Dash's parents would have been just as open, just as accepting. It was, of course, a mistake to make such an assumption. Many times in her young life, Applejack had seen otherwise reasonable ponies make foolish choices, snap decisions that brought nothing but anger and shame upon families. Whole generations turning on one another because of a poorly worded phrase, or an unapproved idea. Usually, after a time, things would calm down and return to normal, the incident forgotten or forgiven, or both, and the family would become a whole unit again. It's how things worked in Ponyville. It's how things had always worked.
Still, this was Los Pegasus, Cowlifornia. Things worked differently here, if what she saw so far was to be believed. Ponies were more rude, more outspoken, they were more willing to ignore other ponies, especially other ponies they felt were beneath them. To be honest, it almost felt like Canterlot, or maybe Manehatten. Both were large cities, both filled with the upper crust and elite, and both regarded as hotspots for either fame or famine, depending upon your wits, or your connections.
She realized she had drifted off of her initial thoughts, regarding the events that had taken place the night before in the Dash household. Applejack had felt responsible for setting everything in motion. If only she wouldn't have blurted out how she felt before Dash had the chance to explain herself, or maybe if she would have denied it. Could she have lied to protect Rainbow Dash? A quick bit of introspection told her that while she would defend Rainbow with her very life, she could never lie to her, or for her. She simply loved her too much.
Applejack couldn't disagree with the self assessment.
She felt the bed shift ever so slightly, as Rainbow adjusted her position in her sleep, her foreleg falling back behind her. Applejack turned herself over, ever so carefully, to face the peaceful visage of her dozing defender.
The Sun was casting it's golden beams across her face, highlighting the soft cyan fur of her cheeks. Applejack noticed the faintest hint of a smile on Dash's lips, and wondered, for a moment, what the beautiful Pegasus was dreaming about. She wished that somewhere in that pleasant dream, was an orange country mare, who wore a stetson hat, and an "accent". A mare who had 3 red apples on her flank, and golden blonde hair falling down past her withers, in a loose braid.
Applejack wanted to be the focus of her lover's hopes, her dreams, and her desires. It was vain, and Applejack wasn't one for vanity, but surely, if there was any joy to be found in the heart of another pony, there could be an allowance for this. Surely those that supplied the world with love poems, sweet candies, and silver trinkets, surely they could understand why she just wanted it to be so.
And so it was, that Applejack brought her hoof slowly to Rainbow Dash's chin, lifted it gently, and with the faintest touch, kissed her on the forehead.
Applejack started to back away as slowly as possible, so as not to disturb Dash's peaceful slumber, when she felt a foreleg against the back of her neck, pulling her back in. A moment later, she was muzzle to muzzle against smiling lips. A second later, a single eyelid opened, revealing the glistening rosemary iris underneath.
The kiss began as a soft nuzzle, but quickly flared in intensity, becoming passionate, and fueled by a longing to make the hearts of it's owners complete. They embraced one another tightly, and brought their bodies in close. They were so close, the beating of their hearts mingled together, dancing out a staccato rhythm of love and lust.
Finally, the couple pulled away, gasping for breath. They stared into each other's eyes, muzzles so close, that another long, passionate kiss threatened to dominate their attention once more. Finally, before the temptation to engage in another long kiss with her marefriend overtook her, Rainbow Dash smiled, and spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Now that's how you wake up to a totally awesome day."
The mare of her affections smiled, a twinkle in her emerald eyes as she leaned over her marefriend's head and grabbed her stetson hat, placing it on her blonde mane as she spoke.
"Mornin' sugarcube."
<(/)*(\)>
"So what is everypony's plan for today?" Twilight asked her friends as they sat around the table in the main living area, eating their breakfast.
"Rainbow and Ah have been talkin', and we were gonna head on down ta the hotel gym." Applejack said, before finishing her applejuice. Her expression soured as she looked at the label.
Rainbow Dash nodded, her mouth filled with a blueberry muffin. "Yeah, I'm gettin' kinda restless just walkin' around everywhere" she said between the mouthful of muffin, "and being a top athlete means workin' hard! Being awesome isn't free, ya know!"
Rarity nodded. "To be honest, I wouldn't mind staying in the hotel for the day, either. I hear the spa at the Ritz-Colton is the best in all of Equestria! Just imagine all of the pampering, the luxury, the pampering!"
Fluttershy raised her hoof quietly. "That sounds wonderful. It would be nice to relax, and it would feel like home. Oh, I miss it already."
Twilight smiled. "What about you, Pinkie?"
The pink pony was busy stuffing a large cake into her mouth when Twilight's question had put her on the spot. She looked at the assembled ponies out of her open eye (the other couldn't be seen because of frosting), midbite. She shoved the cake down her throat. "Ooh! Me and Spike were gonna visit a pizzeria that was in the Equestrian Book of World records for baking the largest pizza ever made!"
Spike piped up. "Yeah, and they also make Ruby Red fire pizza. You can't find that in Ponyville or Canterlot! I'm going to eat a whole pizza! Then maybe another one!" He sat back, rubbing his tummy and staring toward the ceiling, dreams of gem encrusted pastry filling his thoughts.
Twilight giggled at the young dragon's buoyant enthusiasm. "Well, it sounds like you have your day planned. Rarity, would you mind if I joined you and Fluttershy for a day at the spa?"
Both Rarity and Fluttershy nodded their assent.
"We would love you have you join us, wouldn't we Fluttershy?" the white unicorn demurred.
"Oh yes, Twilight! The more the merrier!" the butter yellow pegasus cooed, her face lit up, and then immediately cowered, a lock of her pink mane sliding in front of it as she added softly, "I mean, if... you know, you want to."
The purple unicorn nodded and smiled. "Then it's settled!", she said, stamping her forehoof on the table for emphasis, "we can set out after breakfast!"
<(/)*(\)>
After they had finished breakfast, the group set out.
"Man, I haven't exercised in days. I hope that hasn't taken off my edge", Rainbow said out loud, in an attempt to start a small conversation.
Applejack looked up, her eyes unfocused, "Huh?", she said. She shook her head and looked at Dash. Ah'm sorry, I wasn't listenin'. What'd ya say, Rainbow?"
"Oh, I was saying that I haven't exercised in days, and I was hoping it didn't take away my skills. You know what they say about a lazy pony", Dash said, an admonishing tone in her voice. Every since she was a tiny filly, she had been told what happened to lazy fillies who didn't clean their rooms, or finish their homework.
The thought brought back the tender subject of her parents. She still couldn't believe they had been so willing to just throw her life away like that. They didn't even try to understand, they just put their hooves down and talked about Applejack like she was some kind of evil stranger. The family's only saving grace in that whole day had been the words of her sister, who actually cared, who wanted her and AJ to be happy. Why could she understand when her own parents couldn't? Why couldn't they be that way? Why couldn't they be happy for her? Maybe if they got to know AJ better, they would see how honest and hard working she was, but she doubted it. If anything, they became more stubborn the more they learned about her. It just wasn't right.
Still, every time she thought about them, the pain in her chest increased, and her headache would come out of nowhere and pound in her skull.
"Rainbow?", a sweet, southern voice broke in.
Rainbow Dash looked up to see Applejack staring at her, concern in her eyes. She leaned in toward Dash, stopping a centimeter from her own muzzle.
A moment of quiet, and then a cracking voice replied. "Yeah?"
More silence, but only a breath of it, before Applejack leaned in the last centimeter, and licked Dash right on the nose. "Ah love you, Rainbow."
A few seconds later, the elevator doors opened, and as they stepped out of the elevator, Dash recovered quickly, stopping long enough to notice that her chest pain was gone, and the headache had receded.
They made their way toward the gymnasium.
<(/)*(\)>
The volleyball screamed across the expanse of hardwood floor, almost landing square on the line, right before Rainbow Dash dived in at the last second, knocking it back into the air, jumping up, meeting it, and slamming it downward with a hard spike. Applejack dove for the ball, only to miss it by mere centimeters. Rainbow Dash gave a victory whoop and sailed into the air, ducking as she neared the ceiling.
Applejack got to her hooves, glaring daggers at the cyan pegasus. "That ain't fair, Rainbow! You agreed no wings!"
"Hey, what can I say, Applesnack? Some of us ponies just have natural gifts for everything, and it would be criminal if we didn't use 'em!"
Rainbow Dash wiggled her butt in the air, toward Applejack. "Ya wanna try again, Appleshack?" she taunted gleefully.
Applejack's glare turned into an almost sadistic smile, as she wiped the sweat off of her brow with her towel, laying it back on her shoulder. "Ah sure do, but ah think we should pick somethin' other than volleyball. Somethin' a little more challengin'. You up for it, Rainbow Crash?"
Rainbow puffed out her chest, "I'm not afraid of anything, Apple...uh...crack", she finished with a snort, proud of herself for coming up with yet another pet insult for her friend.
"Well, then, Rainbow, if ya think ya can handle it, why don't ya follow me into the other room?", Applejack retorted, raising an eyebrow as she turned and headed toward the back of the gym, swaying her tail ever so slightly.
Rainbow's quizzical expression was met with it's answer as Applejack lead them into the weight room, right up to the giant machine.
"Leg presses?" Dash asked, her tone fraught with skepticism. "Is this it?"
Applejack nodded as she placed a forehoof on the machine. "Yessiree, this is it. Why do ya ask? Ya scared?"
The sharply worded tease was enough to get Rainbow Dash right in Applejack's face, muzzle to muzzle. "I'm not scared. I'm not afraid of anything! You want to go? Let's go!"
Before Applejack could say anything, Dash seated herself in position on the leg press, her head, shoulders, and back against the padded cushion which lay tilted downward at a 45 degree angle, with the weight system angled on the opposite side, so that the user had to press with the back legs to move it up and down, while using the forelegs to grip the hoof holds. These were attached to the pulley system, along with a failsafe, to prevent the pony from accidentally dropping the weight at full strength.
Off to the side of the machine were 100 kg weights on each side that could be slid over and locked into position on the machine, which added more weight for the lifter. Applejack got into position as the spotter, as Rainbow unlocked the pulley system.
"You know the rules, right, Rainbow? Ya have to do five lifts each weight level, ya cain't use yer wings, and ya have ta lift more than yer opponent. The winner is the one who can lift the most weight. Got it?"
Rainbow Dash nodded. "Got it. Now, with all that talkin' out of the way, are you ready for me to show how it's done, there, AJ? I won't go too fast, that way your brain can keep up!", and with that insult, she let out a cackle as the first level of weights dropped down.
Dash did her ten reps without any effort, her legs easily handling the 200 kg weights. "Bring it on, next level!"
Applejack locked the second set of weights in place. "Okay, go for it, Rainbow."
Again, Dash pushed against the iron, making ten more reps before locking them back in place. "Easy as pie! Next round, AJ!", she said, though she was breathing a little harder this time around.
Applejack locked the next set of weights in place. "Here we go, Rainbow, be careful."
Rainbow grunted as the 600 kgs of weight pressed against her. As she finished her 7th rep, the thought occurred to her that she may have been in a bit of trouble. She noticed that she was straining now, the beads of sweat running down her face, leaving dark tracks in her fur.
At the 9th rep, she couldn't push anymore. She didn't want to give up, she wanted to keep going, but her body was exhausted, especially after the last round of Volleyball, and it was catching up to her.
She sighed. "Okay, Applejack, I give. This is all I've got right now."
Applejack locked the weights in place, and pulled back on the machine, helping Rainbow up and out of the leg press.
"Ya did 9 reps at 600 kgs, Rainbow, that's pretty durn good! Ya should be proud!" Applejack said as she patted Dash on the back, and handed her a towel. While Dash dried off, Applejack cleaned off the seat that was still wet from Rainbow's profuse sweating, and reset the machine.
Stepping into it, and laying back against the cushion, she called out to Dash. "Ya ready, RD?"
Dash called back in the affirmative. "Yep, whenever you're ready, AJ."
Applejack nodded, and gave the word. "Go!"
Rainbow Dash locked in the first level of weights, as Applejack pulled back on the hoof holds, releasing them onto her legs. Like Rainbow Dash, she did ten reps without breaking a sweat.
"Okay, Dash, bring down the second set."
Rainbow locked the second set of weights in place, and watched as Applejack did ten more reps. She didn't even seem to be winded at all.
"Bring the next set on down, RD!" Applejack called from the press.
Rainbow locked the third set of weights in place, as Applejack once again began her reps. Steadily, and smoothly, she completed her ten reps, though she was winded at this point.
"Aw man, ya beat me!" Dash called out, her voice containing disappointment.
Applejack, however, had not stopped. "Rainbow", she began, "bring down the next set", confidence in her voice.
Rainbow locked the next weight set in place, 800kgs. "Be careful, AJ."
Applejack nodded, as the weights slowly released. She began her reps, straining, but after a few minutes, had completed all ten. As she brought the pulleys back, she was breathing heavy, sweat pouring from her.
"AJ", Dash said, caution in her voice, "I think you proved your point."
"More! Bring the next ones on down, RD!" Applejack called out as she caught her breath.
"AJ, I don't think that's a good-" Rainbow Dash began, but was interrupted by the orange mare.
"No, now come on, Dash, ah can handle this just fine. Load the next set!"
Dash hesitated, but relented, knowing the earth pony wouldn't give up this easily.
"Okay, but if I see you starting to pass out or anything, I'm going to stop you. Got it?" Dash's tone was stern, but filled with fear as she locked the last set of weights into position. 1000kgs.
Applejack nodded.
The weights slid down in place as Applejack began to press against them. The first three reps weren't too difficult, but as she kept going, Applejack could feel her muscles starting to tremble. Sweat was pouring from everywhere, as she strained to hit the 9th rep. Barely making it, but at the cost of a pulled muscle, she brought her legs back in for the last one. The last rep.
Applejack began to press into the machine, as her right rear leg burned like fire. She was halfway up the track. All she had to do was push a little more. Her legs were trembling fiercely now, as if her whole body were the epicenter of an earthquake. She could feel her forehooves rattling against the hoof holds. She tightened her grip. She had to do this. She had to. She had to finish this rep. She wasn't doing it for herself, she was doing it to show Rainbow something she felt was important. Something she had to prove to her. She pressed harder, her body reaching it's limit.
Rainbow became concerned as she watched Applejack began to twitch, as if her muscles were about to give.
"AJ, you should stop now. You're going to hurt yourself!" she called out plaintively. "Come on, now, stop! You already beat me! You won! You don't have to keep going!"
Applejack replied, through clenched teeth, "Yes, ah do!", her voice straining as she continued pushing against the iron. "Ah... have ta show... you... that ah... am..." she pressed harder, her legs quaking, her breathing shallow. "Ah have... ta show you that ah... am...STRONG!". On the last word, her legs slammed into the weight at full power, so hard that it locked the weights back into their sitting position.
Applejack collapsed onto the ground, sliding out of the padded seat in the process.
Dash was at her side in half a heartbeat.
"AJ! Are you okay?! Come on, talk to me!" Dash called out, gently slapping at Applejack's muzzle, in an attempt to clear her head.
Applejack opened her eyes, though she was still breathing heavily, she looked like she had fought a tornado and lost. Tears had formed at the corners of her eyes, though Rainbow wasn't certain if it wasn't sweat.
"Rainbow..." Applejack began, her voice reedy, "ah had ta prove... to you...", she paused for a moment to take in a gulp of air. Dash let her head down and grabbed the water bottle, making AJ drink several small gulps before letting her continue. "Ah had ta show you that ah was strong. That I was strong enough ta be there fer ya."
Rainbow Dash stared downward at the beautiful mare in her arms, that she was holding as she sat on the cold floor of the weight room. If any other pony were around, they would have thought they'd walked into a love story.
Dash licked her lips. "This is about my parents, isn't it?", she asked, staring at Applejack.
A soft "yes" escaped Applejack's lips.
Rainbow Dash sighed gently, not wanting to make the earth pony think she was upset, because she wasn't. At least, not at her. "AJ. Applejack. Look at me. You don't have to prove anything to me. I know you're strong. You're the strongest pony I know. No one works like you, no one plays like you, not even me. What happened yesterday was not your fault, and you're going to have to let it go. If my parents come around, they'll come around. If they don't, then we'll just know they're not as cool as we are. Besides, we have Violet, who thinks you're awesome."
At the mention of Violet's name, Applejack smiled.
Rainbow gently bopped her in the arm. "Ha! See? You know she cares about you. She likes you, and why wouldn't she? Anypony I like has to be the coolest pony in Equestria, aside from yours truly, of course." She winked at Applejack as she said it.
Applejack sat up and looked around, noting the condition of the two of them.
"Well," she said, "ah can be shore of one thing. We both stink somethin' awful. Ah think we could use a shower, and quite frankly, ah think you should be the first one in."
Rainbow sniffed under her foreleg. She looked up, making a sour face at Applejack. The two mares laughed together, embracing a long moment, before standing up, and grabbing their towels, heading for their suite.
<(/)*(\)>
After a short elevator ride, they arrived at their suite in the penthouse. Throwing the towels and sweatbands on the floor next to the hamper, Rainbow Dash turned on the water, bringing it to a warm, steamy temperature. She stepped into the shower, closing the door, and grabbing the Mane 'n Tail shampoo. After a moment of just enjoying the hot water, she poured some shampoo into her hoof, and lathered it into her mane.
As she scrubbed her mane, she felt something pull on her tail. Thinking it was just her imagination, she continued scrubbing. It was after the second pull that she realized somepony (or something) was scrubbing her tail. She stretched a hoof out, unable to see due to the shampoo still in her mane, but didn't feel anything. She put her head under the shower nozzle to rinse her face so she could get a better look. As she cleared her face of the soap, and rubbed her eyes to clear them, she found herself face to face with an orange, and very wet, muzzle.
"Hey, sugarcube. Need some help gettin' ta those hard ta' reach places?"
"You know you have your hat on, right?"
"...ah know. Ya want me ta take it off?"
Rainbow Dash said nothing, but instead, simply smiled as she pulled the shower door closed.
<(/)*(\)>