One year later...
"Yer really sure about this, RD? This is what ya want?" Applejack asked as she looked about the former guest room, now adorned with the decor from Rainbow Dash's cloud castle. "Ya sure ya wanna move outta the clouds an' live down with a buncha earth ponies? Ain' ya gonna miss yer cloud castle and the view ya had from up there?"
A full year from the day Rainbow Dash had become an official member of Applejack's family. How time seemed to fly by so fast, and at the same time be filled with so many changes that it didn't seem possible to squeeze them all into a measured time frame. Since that day Rainbow Dash had been spending more and more time hanging around Sweet Apple Acres, still sleeping over every other night...at first anyway...that amount gradually increasing as time went on, until one day when she made the announcement to everypony that she was going to move in at Sweet Apple Acres and live there exclusively.
It turned out to be a big deal to the Apple family to have her move in with them on a permanent basis; apparently something they'd been planning on for quite some time now. When she made the announcement she was presented with a name plaque for her door that Apple Bloom had painted by herself. Originally it was supposed to read Rainbow Dash's Bedroom, but there hadn't been enough room for all that and eventually she just settled on Rainbow's Room; not that she minded one bit, she was touched all the same.
The move itself had hardly been arduous or burdensome, most of what she had to bring along was simple enough. Her gown and tiara from the Grand Galloping Gala that Rarity had put so much under-appreciated work into, the two nightshirts she'd gotten around the time she made her announcement, the award for winning the Best Young Flyer's Competition, some posters of the Wonderbolts, the Daring Do series she enjoyed reading so much, a jar full of liquid rainbow from her fountain, and of course Tank, she could never forget him.
In the end it hadn't been a difficult move, but it had definitely served as a sad reminded of just how empty Rainbow Dash's life had been beforehoof.
"Yeah I'm sure AJ, this is what I want. The cloud castle might've been my house, but this is my home and it's where my family is now. This is where I wanna be from now on," Rainbow Dash replied and nodded. "It's not like I'm giving up anything important, just a bunch of isolation. I've still got my job with the weather bureau and my aerial stunts so I'll always have a view. And as long as there's clouds around I can always grab a snooze when I'm tired," she explained, earning a playful frown and a hoof bump to the shoulder from Applejack at the last bit. "And besides, now I can help contribute something to Sweet Apple Acres."
"Aw shoot Sugarcube how many times do we have ta tell ya tha' ya contribute plenty enough already. Ya make sure the weather stays stable for our orchards ta grow proper an' all, nopony else can do tha' like you," Applejack told her. "It ain' like we're keepin' a tally o' who puts in how much work compared ta the others. Even if ya was dead last we'd still love ya jus' the same. Tha's what family does, ya ain' no hired hoof er nothin' like that."
"I know, I know. I just...well I'm just so happy to have a family and I wanna contribute. I never got the chance to before," Rainbow Dash replied.
"Ah already told ya, ya contribute plenty aroun' here, remember the last Zap Apple harvest? Wit' yer help we managed to harvest more than we ever did before, an' quicker too what with ya flying back an' forth from tree ta tree," Applejack pointed out.
"Well...I guess you're right about that..." Rainbow Dash finally admitted, knowing she was right about what she said. "I guess I do help out an awful lot around here, making the Apple family 20% cooler and all just by being here," she boasted and laughed.
"Well ya certainly ain't short on opinion about yerself, thinkin' yer somethin' mighty special for a lightweight pegasus an' all. Ah reckon ya couldn't buck half as many apple trees as ah could in the same amount o' time if we was ta compete on it," Applejack shot back.
"Oh really now? You think you can buck better than me? You and what army?" Rainbow Dash asked at the challenge to her abilities.
"Jus' me. Army o' one, city slicker," Applejack replied without missing a beat.
"City slicker! Them's fightin' words right there Freckles!" Rainbow Dash shouted back, doing her best to imitate Applejack's accent.
"Freckles!? Now ya went too far!" Applejack stated and hunched down, bearing her teeth and growling in a hostile manner. Rainbow Dash adopted a similar posture and faced her down.
The two were mere inches apart, eyes locked, teeth exposed, each ready to pounce on the other at a moment's notice to dominate what could prove to be a messy knock down drag out fight. At least it would've been had Rainbow Dash been able to maintain a poker face and not start snickering, before breaking into uncontrollable laughter that nearly sent her to the floor. Applejack was soon to follow, consumed by hysterics and leaning against Rainbow Dash for support in staying up and wound up tipping the both of them over, sending them to the floor in a fit of hysterical laughter. Such bragging, boasting, insults and open hostility had become a regular part of their interaction with each other, never amounting to more than just banter and a way to entertain themselves when they were bored.
"Ah yer too much sometimes Sugarcube," Applejack stated as the laughter eventually died down enough to talk. "But ah still love ya even if ya are the biggest bragger in all o' Equestria," she said and wrapped her forelegs about Rainbow Dash to pull her into an embrace.
"Well I did learn from the best bragger in Equestria who just believes in quality over quantity," Rainbow Dash shot back, looking directly at her with an accusing look. "But I love you too AJ, you're a great sister."
"Flattery'll get ya nowhere," Applejack replied, before kissing her on the cheek. "But thanks anyways."
"Anytime," she replied and returned the kiss.
Neither one of them was in too big of a hurry to get up off the floor now that they'd gotten into a comfortable position, embracing each other and just letting things sink in. That is until they heard Granny Smith ringing the dinner bell and issuing the call to come and get it, that was enough to get them up and moving.
"Race ya downstairs? Loser does the dishes?" Rainbow Dash proposed.
"Ya know better than tha', no racin' in the house," Applejack pointed out. "And 'sides that its yer turn tonight anyway."
"Alright, alright," Rainbow Dash mumbled, all the while trying not to crack a smile.
If there was one thing she was going to miss more than anything about living in her cloud castle it was going to be her cloud bedding. Cotton fabrics might be comfortable in their own right, but they just weren't clouds and nothing was going to change that. But considering what all she had she was alright with that. She had a brother, two sister and a grandmother who loved her and who she loved right back, not to mention a mess of new cousins all over Equestria, and no cloud bed could compare to that.
She was content to just lay there under the covers, listening to the patter of rain from the night's storm landing against the glass panes to the window, barely noticing the rumble of the the thunder in the distance. However she was unable to ignore the bright flash of lightning that briefly illuminated the room, drawing her attention to one of the framed pictures now hanging on the wall. Amongst them was the picture from the last Apple family reunion; her first ever family reunion.
She remembered that well, it only being a couple of months ago, but she would've remembered it even if it'd been years ago. She remembered being so nervous about meeting everypony as they gathered at Sweet Apple Acres for the reunion. But out of the lot that showed up not one of them had a problem with her being a member of the Apple Family; well except for that one uncle who said she was too scrawny to do any real farm work on her own, but he was mainly just giving her a hard time, he was alright overall. Despite the initial discomfort things progressed smoothly, there being games and good treats, swapping tales of everypony's experience, and finally the family photo in front of the barn, with Applejack insisting she be in the front where everypony would see her in her stetson and fringed vest. Good times indeed.
"Hey RD, everything a'right in there?" came Applejack's voice from outside the door and a light knocking, followed by the door being pushed open and her poking her head inside to look around. "Ya still up?"
"Yeah, I've just been thinking. Got a lot on my mind, first night and all," Rainbow Dash replied and waved her in. "What brings you by? Aren't you usually sound asleep by this time?"
"Normally ah am but ah figured ah'd check on ya, make sure everything's a'right an' all, see if there's anythin' ya need," she paused as another rumble of thunder was heard. "Plus there's that. Had ta make sure Apple Bloom's sleepin' fine, she don' take ta storms too well, all the thunder and lightnin' an' all," she explained.
"Ah," Rainbow Dash replied and nodded in understanding. "I'm fine AJ, I've slept through storms before, nothing I can't deal with. Although I appreciate you checking."
They remained silent for a while, simply sharing each other's company during a quiet moment. Rainbow Dash was about ready to say her goodnights again try to get some sleep, when a particularly loud crash of thunder sounded, followed immediately by a bright flash of lightning that illuminated the room. She couldn't be sure if it was an optical illusion caused by the light and the shadow, but she could almost swear she saw Applejack flinch.
"Hey Rainbow Dash...seein' as this is yer first night in yer new home an' all, do ya wan' me ta stay an'...maybe keep ya company?" she asked.
"What's really up Applejack?" Rainbow Dash finally asked and looked directly at her. "You didn't come here just to make sure I'm sleeping fine did you?" she paused and eyed her, "Apple Bloom not the only one who doesn't take to storms too well?" she asked in a knowing tone, presenting it like a rhetorical question.
"Not since ah was a little filly," Applejack hesitantly admitted and left it at that, suddenly finding something on the floor very interesting.
"Well...you know it is kinda different, this being the first night of a permanent basis, I guess it is kinda overwhelming and all," Rainbow Dash mused as she rubbed at her chin and looked at the ceiling, using one of her wings to raise the covers off the mattress. "Would you mind staying over just for tonight?" she asked.
"Heh, anythin' fer mah sister," Applejack replied and climbed up into the bed and laid down next to Rainbow Dash.
"Cozy?"
"Mmhmm, all nice an' cozy," she said as she settled in for the evening.
"...Hey Applejack, we've got some firefly lanterns don't we?" Rainbow Dash asked before Applejack could turn in for the night.
"Yea but why?" Applejack asked, mildly curious as to what she was up to.
"You wanna fire one up, burrow under the covers and read the tale of Daring Do and the Jeweled Temple of Amigdalon?" she asked.
"Ain' tha' just a bit juvenile even fer you RD?" Applejack asked.
"Hey it was worth a shot," Rainbow Dash replied before shrugging and getting comfortable in the bed. "But just so yo know I am so getting you back tomorrow for calling me juvenile," she warned.
"Wouldn' have it any other way," she yawned, "goodnight."
"Goodnight. And don't worry about that storm out there, your big sister Rainbow Dash is here to protect you," she teased, earning a tired but amused chuckle.
"Ya ain' mah big sister. And the day ah need ya ta protect me is the day ah let Rarity gimme a full makeover an' stick me in one o' her fru-fru dresses," Applejack replied.
"It's a date then," Rainbow Dash declared as she shut her eyes. "Goodnight sis'."
"Goodnight sis'," she yawned, "love ya."
"Love you too. Now would you please go to sleep already? I'm tired," Rainbow Dash replied, only to be met by the sound of gentle breathing, indicating Applejack had done just that. She smiled and rolled over, wrapping her forelegs about Applejack and holding her close.
If there was one thing she was going to miss more than anything about living in her cloud castle it was going to be her cloud bedding. But considering all she had right now she wouldn't give it up for all the cloud beds in Cloudsdale. Right now as she laid there, cuddling with her caring sister, she had what mattered most of all and could sleep peacefully without any regrets, and she wouldn't trade that for anything; not even acceptance into the Wonderbolts.
END