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// That Time You Learn Where Rainbows Actually Come From 
// Story: Awkward, But Worth It 
// by bahatumay 
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	Big Mac walked steadily down the dirt path, hauling the wagon filled with wood.That windstorm had really done a number on the farm, and had taken out more than a few trees and had badly damaged the various barns on their property. It also had destroyed the Crusaders’ treehouse. While the farm always came first, Big Mac simply couldn’t resist the pleading abilities of three young fillies; so bright and early on Saturday morning, on his first day off of the month, he was carrying wood and supplies to help rebuild it while the three crusaders bounced along beside him. Briefly, he wondered what their next crusading idea would be.

“All I’m saying is, maybe we should try building small dams at first before trying to block the river.”

On second thought, he was ok with not knowing.

They arrived at the site, and looked in despair at the remains of the tree house. The foundation had held, but most of the roof was gone and what was left of the walls was perforated by branches, flung by the wind. 

"We're never going to get this fixed," Sweetie Belle whimpered. 

"Come on, Sweetie," Apple Bloom said comfortingly. "It won't be that bad. We can do it. Together, like we always do."

"Yeah," Scootaloo agreed, pumping a hoof in the air. "Cutie mark crusaders disaster repairers!"

"Cutie mark crusaders pass me that hammer and stand clear," Big Mac corrected. "Ah have no intention of goin' t' the hospital on mah day off."

Thankfully, that was not needed, though there were some close calls throughout the whole five hours. Luckily for Big Mac, the only casualties were two misplaced hammers and a missing measuring tape before most of the heavy lifting was done. 

Sweetie Belle was in a much better mood as she surveyed their newly reconstructed base of operations. "This is awesome! Now we just have to redecorate the inside."

"And do a little sandin'," Apple Bloom added. 

"And make a spot for Rainbow Dash whenever she comes to visit!" Scootaloo said.

Both her friends gave her an off look, but neither said anything. 

"Well, we're definitely inviting her to the grand rededication of our clubhouse," Scootaloo declared. 

Both her friends stared again, but this time for another reason. 

"Ah've never heard you use such big words," Apple Bloom commented. 

"Hey!" Scootaloo protested, flaring her tiny wings. "School is dumb, not me." She paused. "I wonder what Rainbow Dash is doing right now."

"She's prolly with Applejack," Apple Bloom said. "They've been hanging out a lot recently."

"Then she's doin' just fine," Big Mac said with a knowing smile. 

He was right, of course. He was very, very right. 

Rainbow collapsed on the bed, waves of pleasure rocking her body. Applejack smiled. For a first timer, she felt that she had done a good job of taking care of Rainbow, and felt quite proud of herself.There was just something about watching the one you loved having a good time, all thanks to you. And judging by the noises she had made, Rainbow Dash had had a really good time. 

These pleasant thoughts were interrupted when she saw a very recognizable liquid pooling on her bed that could only have come from Rainbow. Applejack could only stare. It was a few minutes before she could speak. 

"Rainbow?"

"Y- Yeah?" Rainbow asked shakily, aftershocks still coursing her body. 

"Ah don't know how to say this... There's rainbow in my bed."

Rainbow smirked as she caught her breath. "Yeah, I know. I was here the whole time.”

"No. Ah mean, there is literally rainbow on my bed. And I think it came out of your... uh... your..."

"Myyyyy marehood?" Rainbow asked, poking fun at Applejack's hesitancy to use stronger words by spreading her legs a little further and rotating her hips slightly so that that part of her anatomy was placed provocatively in Applejack's line of sight. 

"Yeah. That."

Rainbow dropped her legs. "Yeah? And?"

Applejack was taken aback. "That's not freaking you out?"

Rainbow laughed. "Nah. Of course not. It's natural."

"Natural?!?" Applejack sputtered.

"Yeah," Rainbow scoffed. "Where did you think rainbows came from, anyway? Magic? Unicorn puke? Light refracted through water?"

"Uh... Ah never really thought about it. You mean... All rainbows? From there?"

"Well, this isn't exactly something unique to me, you know. Every pegasus mare cums rainbows."

Applejack frowned. “Wait. We went to the weather factory and we watched them making rainbow there.”

Rainbow shook her head. “Nah. They were distilling it. They mix all the raw stuff and make sure it's got a nice even spread of color and consistency. Gotta keep it uniform, you know? Every pony’s got a slightly different mixture." She pointed to the little puddle of rainbow pooled under her hips, which was now soaking into the sheets. "Mine's easyflowing and a little heavy on the blue with not much red and almost no green. Other pegasi have different thicknesses or colors. Like Derpy? Hers is like completely yellow." She smirked. "That first time had to have been a real shock for whatever his name is that she's seeing now."

Applejack was coming to grips with a few of the strange implications of this discovery, and was not entirely certain that her brain could handle it. 

"Do Ah want to know how you know that?"

Rainbow looked down at herself. "I'm a little surprised you'd have to ask, actually."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "You can't tell me you've never clopped."

"Nope."

Rainbow narrowed an eye suspiciously. 

"Ah've always shared a room," Applejack explained. "And when Ah didn't, our walls are really thin."

"Oh. That'll do it."

There was another awkward pause. Applejack almost asked how Rainbow knew about Derpy, but decided against that. Her poor brain could only take so much. 

"So... that... happens in the Rainbow Factory?"

"Yep. All those stories you hear about kidnapping foals or giant dangerous lightning-powered generators? Rumors to keep other ponies out of our business, if you know what I mean." She winked playfully. 

"So this whole time..."

“Yep. This whole time. Every rainbow you’ve ever seen started out inside a pegasus mare.”

"Nuh-uh."

"It's true,” Rainbow insisted. “Pinkie promise." She even did the motions. 

Applejack waited. To her shock, no pink earth pony appeared to contest that claim. She could only stare in abject horror.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Rainbow Dash protested, shielding her face from Applejack's look. “It’s not like we all do it in the same room. You get your little closet, with the stack of magazines, and you can bring your own toys and such. Just collect it all in the tray when you’re done, give the little cup to the worker, and you’re good to go. I mean, it's just an in and out. I went last week, and...”

Applejack finally twitched. "Ah dunno if that’s cheating or..."

Rainbow waved a hoof dismissively. "Nah. It was my turn. Every pegasus mare gets assigned into the rotation. It’s just doing your civic duty, like jury duty or something."

“Ah hate jury duty.”

Rainbow snickered. “Yeah, but if it were like this, I bet you’d like it.”

Applejack shook her head. "Ah think there’s something seriously wrong with you. And anypony who'd even think about that. Or talk about that. Or write about it, for that matter."

"No one writes about it," Rainbow scoffed. "No one would. And even if they did, nopony would read it. It'd be stupid. They'd think it was a really bad April foal's day joke or something. That’s why we let the rumors spread. It's just not worth it to correct them."

"That makes sense, but Ah'm still not convinced you're telling me the truth."

“Hmm...” Rainbow rubbed her chin thoughtfully. She then had an idea. “Remember Pinkie’s reaction to tasting rainbows?”

“Yeah...?”

Rainbow lifted her legs again and grinned cheekily at Applejack. "You're welcome to a taste test if you want."

"Pass."

Rainbow shrugged and rolled over. “That’s cool. Now get over here. It’s my turn, and I wanna know if you taste like apple cider.”