//------------------------------// // Chapter 2- About Last Night... // Story: Morning Glory // by Jade Ring //------------------------------// If the pounding in her head was any indication, Applejack was going to have to drastically cut back on the hard cider at the next family shin-dig. Judging by the light shining through the window, it must've been half past seven already...a whole hour and a half later than her usual wake-up time. Cursing under her breath, she wiped her eyes clear with a hoof and sat up to scan her surroundings. Her room didn't seem more messy than usual. Her hat sat in it's usual spot, hanging off the bed-post. Okay, so she was in her bed; good sign. There was a warm breathing mass next to her; bad sign. 'Oh, dear.' She thought, starting to panic. Slowly, she turned her head and saw the shape of the body under her hand-made quilt. Whoever it was, they were pony-sized. They also appeared to be sleeping quite soundly. She racked her brain, scanning her memory for any clue as to who might be residing under the quilt beside her. Caramel? No. He'd been making out with Pinkie Pie on the dessert table. That Doctor fella that Derpy had brought along? No. He'd kept disappearing and reappearing all night long. If it'd been him, then he probably wouldn't have stayed the night. She gulped as her mind wandered towards less savory options. Mr. Cake? He'd been real flirty all night with or without Mrs. Cake there. Or what if it was Braeburn? Oh no, not her own cousin...? The gently breathing mass shifted, but not enough to pull down the quilt. Applejack breathed deep and reached for the covers. Maybe she was panicking for no good reason. Maybe she hadn't even done the deed, and was just sharing her bed for the evening. Yeah, and maybe Winona would sprout wings and fly off with the other Bird-Dogs. She swallowed hard, held her breath, and pulled down the quilt. Laying next to her was an electric blue pegasus she knew all too well. Applejack started to feel that panicky feeling again. Rainbow Dash shifted, reaching for the quilt. When she couldn't find it, she grunted in disappointment and opened her eyes. She blinked twice and smiled. "Hey." "Hey." Applejack returned, doing her best to smile back. "Some party last night, huh?" "Yeah. Hey, Dash, silly question. What's the last thing you remember?" Rainbow Dash scrunched her face in thought. "It's kinda blurry, to be honest. I think I hit that hard cider a bit too much." "Yeah, I think I know what you mean." Applejack chucked nervously. "Um, let's see. I remember Granny Smith dancing on the table. Oh, and Pinkie Pie totally hitting on Caramel hardcore, which was hilarious by the way. And wasn't Twilight looking for Spike at some point? Did she ever find him?" "No idea." "But, after all that, nothing. I'm drawing a complete blank." The rainbow-maned flyer shrugged her shoulders and looked around for the first time. "I must've been really messed up. Especially if I had to crash in you guy's guest room." "Uh... Dash? This isn't our guest room." "Who's room is it?" In response, Applejack tilted her head at the familiar hat perched on the bed-post. "Oh." The sleep-dulled cogs in Rainbow Dash's head began to turn faster as her gaze went from the hat, to the bed, to the tussled sheets, and finally to the pony-tailed farmer sitting next to her. "Oh." "Yeah." "So... did we...?" "Yes. Yes, I think we did." "Whoa." Dash's eyes widened and she cast them towards the ceiling. "Uh... wow. This is awkward." "Tell me about it." They sat in silence for a little while more, refusing to make eye contact. "Do you... remember anything?" Dash asked. "Nope. Not a thing." "Damn it!" Dash blurted, pounding her hoof into the mattress and making Applejack jump. "My first time with another mare and I don't even know if I was any good or not." Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Beg pardon? You wanted to sleep with another mare?" Dash shook her head sadly. "Not really just any mare. But I have always kind of wondered what it would be like with... a certain pony I know." "Oh." Applejack looked away. "I'm sorry your first time happened like this. I won't mention it to anypony. I swear." Rainbow Dash looked incredulous. "Um... AJ? I'm pretty sure she already knows." It took Applejack all of five seconds to connect the dots. "Wait just an apple-buckin' minute here. You mean...?" She felt a sly smile growing against her better judgment. "Why, Rainbow Dash. Are you saying that you have a crush on me." Dash laughed again. "Yeah. Crush. Let's use that word." She grabbed a nearby pillow and buried her face in it. "And this is not how I wanted you to find out." Applejack shook her head and patted her friend on the head. "Come on now, Dash. It's not all that bad." "Yes it is." Came the muffled reply. "It's very, very bad." "To be honest with you, I'm kinda glad you have a crush on me." "What?" Dash lowered the pillow from her face, temporarily suspending her plans for self-suffocation. "Why?" "Because... I've kinda had a crush on you for a while now, too." The silence that followed was palpable, but not awkward. For the first time since their revelation, Dash looked Applejack in the eyes. "Are you serious?" "Yep." "You mean you're not just saying this to make me feel better about last night?" "That's right." “So… the Pegasus you mentioned in that letter…?” “Yep.” "Oh." Dash felt her own smile growing. "Well, I guess that changes things a bit." They both laughed to break the silence and started talking about the things they could remember from the party; how beautiful the bride was, how crazy the other ponies had gotten once they hit the hard cider, even how Twilight was thoroughly convinced that she was still sober when she had been farther gone than anypony else at the reception. It seemed they could remember just about everything except the events leading up to their coupling. "If I keep thinking about this, it's going to drive me crazy!" Dash exclaimed, throwing her hooves in the air. "Same here." Applejack responded, laying back onto the pillows. "The only thing I can figure is that we accidently got some of Granny Smith's Secret Honeymoon Cider." "Secret Honey-what now?" "It's an Apple family tradition. A special batch is made to celebrate the newest Apple wedding." "What is it?" "That's a family secret. But what it does is help things along on the honeymoon. Y'know, lowering inhibitions and all that." "Ah. That would make sense, especially considering who the bride is. Any idea how we wound up with some?" "Just that Granny Smith is getting up there in years. Or Applebloom decided to play a little trick on us." She paused and took a deep breath. "Okay, how's this sound. What if we just chalk last night up as one of those things that just... happens sometimes?" "You mean pretend it never happened?" "Right." Dash looked apprehensive. "I... don't think I can do that, AJ." She closed her eyes and looked away. "I meant what I said. I've really liked you for a long time. I mean, you're so brave and honest and beautiful, how could I not? All those competitions we used to have only made me want to be with you more. And now, this happened and all my feelings are just... just... out there. I don't think I can just go back and..." Applejack's soft lips on her cheek silenced her. Rainbow Dash hurridly wiped her eyes and stared in awe at the pony now looking into her eyes. There was something in those eyes she'd never seen before. "I think you misunderstood my meanin', sugar-cube. I meant that we should ignore what happened last night and just start things off right, right now." "You mean...?" Applejack melodramatically cleared her throat and spoke in an exaggerated monotone. "Miss Rainbow Dash, would you do the honor of going out with me?" She chuckled. "Did I do that right?" Dash laughed and straightened up, flexing out her wings for added effect. "The honor would very much be mine, Miss Applejack." They both laughed and collapsed back onto the bed. Applejack rolled over onto an elbow. "You really think I'm beautiful?" "Is that so hard to believe?" "That someone as amazing as you could possibly think all that about me? Just a little." Dash laughed. "So... you doing anything this Friday?" Applejack crinkled her brow in mock concentration. "I'll have to check my schedule. What did you have in mind?" "Dinner. Maybe a walk in the park." Applejack smiled. "It's a date. Pick me up at seven?" Dash smiled back. "Seven it is." She reclined back onto the pillows and looked out the window. "Shouldn't everypony be getting up by now?" Applejack stretched and reached for her hat. "Normally, yes. But since things went so late last night, I guess everypony's sleeping in." Dash narrowed her eyes as she looked up at the orange earth pony. "Well, if you don't feel like getting out of bed just yet..." Applejack froze halfway to her hat. She quickly rounded on her bed-mate. "Whoa there, lover girl. Fresh start, remember? And I'm not that easy... last night excluded." She added at the end sheepishly. Dash rolled her eyes. "Pssh, duh! I was just thinking we could stay in bed a little longer. I could use a nap." "Oh." Applejack looked back at her hat, shrugged, and lay back down next to Rainbow Dash. "A nap does sound nice. I don't often get to sleep in." "...AJ?" "Yeah?" "Could I maybe... hold you?" Applejack snorted in irritation. "Not today. Try again on Friday." Dash's smile faded and she rolled over. She had just closed her eyes when she felt the young farmer's strong arms encircle her. The covers returned and she snuggled deeper into Applejack's heat. "Change your mind?" Applejack nestled her nose into Dash's mane, breathing in the smell that was uniquely and distinctly hers. "Nope. But I get to hold you first, seein' as this is my room." The new couple began to drift off to sleep, but one thought kept tugging Rainbow Dash out of a potential slumber. "Hey AJ?" "Hm?" Came the sleepy reply. "Did you imply that we'd be sleeping in the same bed this Friday?" Applejack chuckled and held tighter. "I'm not easy, sugar-cube. But I ain't impossible neither."