//------------------------------//
// Epilogue 
// Story: Dashing Through the Snow 
// by mobius_ 
//------------------------------//

"Oooh! Oooh! Oooh! Let me see! I wanna see!"

"Hey! Pinkie watch your hooves!"

"Shush!—Ow! Be careful with my scarf!" 

Applejack stares at the tangled mess of mares vying for position near Anon's living room window and lets out a deep breath. "What do y'all think you're doing?" Her drawl emphasises the dissappointment in her voice, if her expression wasn't evidence enough.

"What does it look like, silly? We're watching history in the making!" Pinkie responds in a hurried whisper, staring unflinchingly through a set of binoculars she'd found somewhere. 

She knew what they were referring to of course. Her best friend couldn't have made her interest in Anon more obvious if she'd painted her feelings on a banner and towed it around as an aeirial advertisement, but that was beside the point. Applejacks's Stetson lifts a bit as she raises an eyebrow, "And what sorta history do you plan on watching take place in the privacy of your friend's home?" 

All four impassioned faces turn at once to meet her, matching her dismay with incredulity. 

"Rainbow Dash might kiss Anon!" Rarity states as if the answer was self-evident. 

It sure took that gal long enough. She muses, but otherwise keeps her inner monologue to herself. 

When AJ's expression doesn't change, Rarity quickly adds, "The most affection that mare has ever shown somepony is pulling a prank on them!" Her words were charged with far more energy than they ever held when recounting the intracacies of her latest romance novel on spa day. 

Applejack's gaze moves through the group, one by one. "And so y'all wanna peep in on yer friends in the hopes of seeing somethin' private, knowin' that Rainbow is more bashful than Fluttershy about that sorta stuff?"

The butterscotch mare blushes and grows a guilty expression, but keeps her focus pinned to the window. 

Pinkie also doesn't respond. Every bit of her attention was focused through those binoculars. 

Rarity starts to respond but is cut off by an annoyed Twilight's bluntly insensitive, "Applejack would you please be quiet." 

The unicorn's snarky response comes as a surprise to the farm mare, until she saw her expression. Twilight's big purple eyes were wide with the same sort of excitement a colt might have stumbling across an indecent magazine for the first time. If she had a paper and pencil at hoof, there was no doubt she'd be taking notes on the novel patterns of behavior that were unfolding before her fading innocence. 

Applejack sighs and sets her jaw, "Ah don't care what they're doin', it ain't honest to peep on yer friends. Ah'm knockin'."

"No, don't! It's just about to get good!" Rarity's plea falls on deaf ears as AJ raises a hoof to rap sharply on the festive door. 

Everypony straightens up and rushes away from the window at once, some quietly grumbling. 

Please don't make this more awkward than it has to be. She pleads silently and lets out a sigh as she hears Anon's footsteps approach.