“Up n’ at em, Rainbow!”
Applejack’s sudden proclamation prompted a thrashing of limbs from the startled pegasus. “Bwuh? Applejack?” Rainbow fumbled around as her vision cleared, setting her eyes on the clock on her nightstand. “It’s five thirty! You said you’d wake me up at six!”
“Ah said Ah’d wake ya up around six,” Applejack asserted. “Granny’s started on breakfast. Should be ready soon. Don’ bother washin’ up, ya’ll jes’ get dirty again when we start workin’. Harvest season’s not quite here yet, but that don’t mean there’s not a heap o’ stuff to do ‘round here.”
“Why do I feel like I’m being forced into slavery?” Rainbow complained.
Applejack smirked. “’S called labor, sugarcube. Get used ta it.”
“Yes, master,” Rainbow said with a roll of her eyes.
Applejack chuckled and left Rainbow to get her bearings and find her way downstairs. Rainbow sighed and walked over to the washroom to splash some water on her face to hopefully wake up faster. Alright, Rainbow, you’ve got six hours to prove you can handle this. Gotta make Applejack want me around, not be a liability. She really needs me this year. Haven’t let her down before, and I don’t wanna start now. Rainbow’s thoughts were interrupted by her stomach announcing its emptiness. But that can wait till after breakfast.
Rainbow left the washroom feeling slightly more alert, and much hungrier. A trip downstairs revealed Big Mac browsing a newspaper, Granny Smith working on breakfast, and Applejack… suspiciously absent. Before she could open her mouth to question this development, a force knocked into her from her side, sending her tumbling across the floor to end staring up into the face of a deviously grinning Applejack. Rainbow tried to wiggle out of Applejack’s grasp, but she was pinned.
After a few moments more, Applejack let the pegasus up. “That was payback fer yesterday,” Applejack explained. “Can’t let yer guard down ‘round me, either.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Rainbow said, a bit disgruntled but still smiling.
“Now come on, breakfast’s almost done,” Applejack led Rainbow into the kitchen proudly, grinning in response to Big Mac’s raised eyebrow.
“Soup’s on, y’all,” Granny Smith said, producing a stack of apple cinnamon pancakes. “Eat up ya silly fillies.” She rustled Applejack’s hair and offered a smile to Rainbow Dash, who returned it a little sheepishly.
“Crusaders ‘re still asleep,” Mac answered before the question could formulate. “Tired ‘emselves out somethin’ fierce, seems.”
Returning her attention to the table, Rainbow Dash regarded the feast before her. Perhaps ‘stack’ was understating it; it was a tower. Apple cinnamon pancakes were a rare delicacy for Rainbow, where it was standard fare for the Apples. As such, they all watched in amusement as Rainbow helped herself to an oversized portion and promptly began to devour them. The remainder of un-plundered cakes were distributed evenly to the rest assembled, who ate at a more normal pace, except for Applejack, who ate with a good deal more gusto in response to her friend’s unspoken and entirely unintentional challenge.
Applejack slowly caught up to the unsuspecting pegasus’ progress, but despite Applejack’s smaller portion, Rainbow’s lead proved to be too much to overcome, as Rainbow finished while Applejack still had about a quarter of her meal left. Rainbow drank the last of her apple juice before sitting back in her chair to wait for Applejack to finish, only to find that Applejack was already done.
“Oh,” Rainbow observed.
“Ready ta get started?” Applejack asked.
“Yeah, of course,” Rainbow answered half-heartedly, disappointed that she didn’t get a bit more time to laze around. It turned out her subconscious plan had backfired on her, though, and she had to start work earlier than hoped.
Applejack smirked. “Ah’m gonna need a bit more enthusiasm ‘n that, Rainbow.”
“Maybe later,” Rainbow replied, getting up to stretch out her limbs before following Applejack out back.
Applejack led Rainbow down to the storage cellar. “Alright, first things first, we still gotta lotta barrels ta take outta storage. They’re a might heavy, so don’ hurt yerself.”
“Yeah, yeah, watch out for splinters, right? They’re barrels, AJ, they’re as harmless as… well, something else made out of wood. Like a table. I never heard of anypony getting hurt by a table.”
“You’d be surprised, sugarcube,” Applejack chuckled. “Now, we gotta get these over ta the barn. ‘S not a long walk. Hardest part’s gettin’ em up the stairs.”
“But isn’t the barn literally just up the stairs?”
“Exactly, piece a’ cake! Now get to it.” With that, Applejack departed up the stairs.
“You’re not even gonna help me?” Rainbow called out.
“They’re barrels, Rainbow, they’re harmless,” Applejack retorted.
Rainbow adopted a frown. “Stupid words.” With a sigh, she heaved a barrel up onto her back. Applejack was right, even empty they were rather heavy, and made the trek up the stairs a bit laborious. Especially considering that the barrel kept slipping off her back.
“Oh come on! Stupid barrel!” Frustrated, Rainbow seized the barrel in her forehooves and attempted to fly out with it, only to bump her head on the low ceiling and lose her grip on the barrel. “Why would you even do this?!”
Rainbow tried a different approach, setting the barrel on its side to attempt to roll it up the stairs. It was working great, until she got to the first step, which the barrel would refuse to roll over. With a snarl, Rainbow worked her hooves under the barrel and lifted it up that first step. “Ha! Nothing to it!”
At her words, gravity worked to spite her, as the barrel rolled back down the single step cleared, of which there were twenty. “Dammit!” Rainbow bent down to repeat her earlier triumph, making sure not to stop after the first step. It was long, taxing, and filled with curses as she on numerous occasions missed the next step and had the barrel punish her by rolling back two, but she made it to the top. She made sure to push it well away from the staircase before gingerly hoisting it up onto her back.
Without gravity pulling it off of her, she was able to keep the barrel in place as she hobbled over to the barn door to drop the barrel heavily and collapse. “Here’s your stupid barrel!” Rainbow shouted.
Applejack looked back from her task of counting the assembled barrels. She cocked a brow upon seeing Rainbow completely spent from getting a single barrel up the stairs. “Took ya long enough. You got that bent outta shape from just one? We’re still missin’ ‘bout fifty more and we gotta get ‘em all up ‘fore noon.”
“What the hell, AJ? I bust my flank for this thing and you tell me it’s not good enough? I don’t know what the hell you’re taking, but this is impossible!”
Applejack looked at Rainbow critically and found something missing. “Where’d ya put the rope?”
Rainbow broke out of her rage at the seemingly random question. “Rope?”
“The one on the wall ta the right of the stairs; yer supposed ta use it ta secure the barrel,” Applejack said slowly.
Rainbow’s eye began to twitch. “Why didn’t you tell me that before I did all that shit?!”
“Ah figured ya knew! Ya’ve helped us out plenty ‘round here before!”
“Yeah, but I’ve never done this!” Rainbow shot back. “It’s always just been bucking apples! I don’t think I’ve even been in your cellar before! That’s kinda why I was expecting some help!”
Applejack sighed. “Ah’m sorry, sugarcube. Ah’m used ta workin’ with the family, n’ they know the farm backwards n’ upside-down. An’ yer around so much, Ah guess Ah plum forgot y’all didn’t.” Applejack looked to her hooves.
Rainbow just sat there, torn between wanting to yell at her friend some more and wanting to comfort her.
“Heh, ain’t even been an hour an’ Ah’ve already screwed somethin’ up,” Applejack mused absently. “Ah figured you mighta, but look at you, gettin’ a barrel all the way up here without even usin’ the rope. Never even known Mac ta do that much. Ah don’ know whether ta be sorry er impressed.”
Rainbow knew this was really getting to her; Applejack wasn’t one to ramble unless she was really upset. She walked over to offer Applejack a one-hoofed hug. “Hey, it’s alright. Honest mistake, right? I’m sorry for blowing up at you; I should have come to you before wearing myself to pieces anyway.”
Applejack cracked a small smile. “Ah shouldn’a expected that of ya. Yer stubborn as an Apple yerself. Tell ya what, Ah’ll give y’all a breather n’ get the rest of the barrels up mahself. Celestia knows ya’ve proven yerself way more n’ capable.”
Rainbow knew better than to decline the help outright, so she did the next best thing. “AJ, I can’t let you do that all by yourself, I’m supposed to be the one helping you. Just… give me a minute to catch my breath and I’ll help you out.”
Applejack smiled a bit wider. “Thanks, sugarcube. Ah owe ya one.”
“I thought the whole point of this was that I owed you,” Rainbow chuckled.
“Heh, guess that makes us even, then?” Applejack supposed.
Loyalty made Rainbow shake her head. “Not even close; I promised you a month of help and damn if I’m not gonna give you the best help you’ve ever gotten.”
Applejack’s smile became sheepish. “Thanks fer stickin’ with me. Means a lot from you.”
“It’s gonna take a lot more than that to drive me away, AJ,” Rainbow said with a squeeze. “Now, we’ve still got some barrels to take care of, right?”
“Right, barrels.”
With the rope Applejack had pointed out, the going was a whole lot easier. Rainbow could practically prance up the stairs without shaking the barrels from her back. Working together, they cut though the barrels in a fraction of the time it would have taken otherwise, finishing hours ahead of schedule. In fact…
“It’s only seven thirty? You said we had to be done by noon!” Rainbow marveled.
Applejack just shrugged. “What can Ah say? Ah guess yer jes' that big a help.”
Rainbow grinned at the praise, walking with a bit more of a spring to her step as they moved on to the next task. “So what’s next? Herding stampeding cows? Expanding the acres? Building a new barn?”
“Simmer down there, sally,” Applejack laughed. “’S just maintenance; the barn needs a bit a’ TLC.”
Rainbow eyed the barn in question. “Looks fine to me.”
“You kiddin’? The paint’s startin’ ta peel, nails ‘re comin’ loose, the hay loft’s a mess…”
“Isn’t the hay loft supposed to be a mess anyway?” Rainbow questioned.
“Not like this it ain’t,” Applejack said, indicating the area above them. “The wood’s gotta be replaced er we’re gonna have hay an’ dead wood everywhere.”
“Sounds like a lot of work,” Rainbow observed. “Were you gonna do this all by yourself?”
Applejack shook her head. “Apple Bloom usually does a lot of this stuff, but Ah figured since we’re ahead of schedule anyway we might as well give her some extra help.”
“And she’s cool with that?”
“’Course; she always is. She’s way too young ta do it all by herself, n’ Ah’m sure she wouldn’t mind a bit more help this year. Definitely in worse shape ‘n it was last year. But Apple Bloom should have it fixed up in a jiffy. She’s got a gift, Ah tell ya.”
“Maybe you should try telling her that; might be nice to not have her running around looking for her cutie mark in all the wrong places. I tried telling Scoot to work on her scooter skills, but she just got all defensive. And now she’s all hooked up on flying, I’m worried she’ll forget about it.”
Applejack smiled. “We just gotta give ‘em time. They’re bound ta get it eventually.”
“Yeah, hopefully before they get outta school, at least. Can’t imagine getting to that age without a cutie mark. Just think; she gets her first heat thinking it’s some kind of pre-cutie mark sickness.”
“Ah would not wanna be the one ta explain that one.” Applejack shivered. “Even if she does have ‘er cutie mark ‘fore then.”
“Well, I did kinda explain the whole orientation thing to them already, in some weird way. So at least you won’t have to cover that.”
“You don’t think any of ‘em go fer that, do ya?”
Rainbow shrugged. “I dunno, Scoot might be thinking about it. She does take after me a lot.”
Applejack paused. “Ya don’ think she’ll lie ta herself, do ya?”
“Nah, she’s a smart kid. I don’t think I have that much influence over her. And if it does come to that, I’m sure I’d be able to spot it pretty quick. But hey, maybe she turns out to be a legit fillyfooler and she wouldn’t have known about the option if I didn’t tell her.”
Applejack frowned. “That reminds me a’ somethin’ Ah wanted ta ask ya. Why did ya think Ah wouldn’ be okay with you bein’ that way? Ah didn’ have anythin’ wrong with Octavia and Vinyl.”
“Well, yeah, but you don’t see them often so it wouldn’t be up in your face. It’s a bit different when it’s a kinda friend than a best friend.” Rainbow pointed out.
“Ah guess so. Ya also said Ah was the first ya told, but Scootaloo didn’t seem ya buy that.”
“I said kinda the first. The thing with Scoot, well… I kinda got my hoof forced.”
Applejack cocked her head. “By what?”
Rainbow sighed. “There were some… rumors going around town. Stupid rumors, totally not true. And Scoot caught wind of them, so she came to me, of course.”
“Rumors ‘bout you?” Applejack prodded, unsure if she wanted an answer.
“Yeah, about me…” Rainbow blushed, “and… well, about you, too.”
“Me?”
“Yeah, it seems ponies were getting the wrong idea about us and, well…” Rainbow searched for the right words. “It escalated pretty quickly.”
Applejack blushed violently. “T-they thought…”
“Yeah, stupid, right?” Rainbow grinned, though her eyes showed uncertainty. “It’s… totally not like that.”
A very awkward silence stretched between the two, neither knowing what to say, or even think. Things were really starting to pile up on them, and they were getting harder to ignore. Rainbow liked mares; she knew that, but Applejack? Applejack, on the other hoof wasn’t even sure which way her barn door swung; she’d never really given much thought to romance. That was always more Rarity’s territory. And what was more…
“Rainbow?” Applejack tentatively broke the silence.
“Y-yeah?”
“We’re outta paint.” Applejack declared.
Rainbow blinked. “So, we gotta go shopping again?”
“Unless y’all can make paint with that pretty mane a’ yours,” Applejack said without really thinking.
Rainbow blushed, but didn’t make to point out Applejack’s advance. Celestia, why can’t this just be easy?
Applejack and Rainbow made their way over to the market in silence, neither daring to make eye contact. In fact, they would have been quite content to have some time to think without any distractions. But, as life was wont to do, it had other ideas. And this time, it was purple.
“Oh, hey you two, what’s up?” The voice of Twilight startled the two in question. Twilight got her first look at the equal parts dejected, embarrassed, and surprised expressions on her friends’ faces. “Is… everything alright?”
“Everything’s fine,” Rainbow squeaked.
“Yep, jes' dandy,” Applejack added in a small voice.
“Why are you whispering? Is it some kind of secret?” Twilight pondered.
“No, no, just… tired,” Rainbow offered.
“Long day,” Applejack agreed.
Twilight glanced upwards to take in the position of the sun. “It’s not even noon yet.”
“Lucky us,” Rainbow joked weakly.
Applejack remained silent.
Twilight frowned. “Are you sure there’s nothing bothering you? I don’t think I’ve ever seen either of you like this.”
Rainbow shrugged. “See something new every day, right?”
“Would be borin’ otherwise.”
Twilight could tell she wasn’t going to be getting any straight answers, but she knew something was up. She decided to ask around, try to find any hints. It was like a mystery! She was getting excited just thinking about it as she ran off without another word.
No words were left spoken by the two mares in search of paint, either, as they collected their plunder in silence.
Twilight, meanwhile, found herself crashing into the biggest information monger in Ponyville. “Oh, hi Twilight!” Pinkie chirped.
“Pinkie! I need your help with a mystery!” Twilight commanded.
“Ooh! Is this like that time on the Friendship Express?”
“Yes, but there’s no cake this time,” Twilight said, much to Pinkie’s disappointment.
“Oh, okay…”
“We need somewhere safe to talk,” Twilight went on. “Somewhere nopony goes.”
“The library?” Pinkie offered.
Twilight’s eye twitched. “Gee, thanks.”
“Don’t mention it!” Pinkie said, bouncing away in the direction of Twilight’s home.
Upon arrival, Twilight shut the door with a little more force than necessary. “Okay, Pinkie, I need to know. Something’s up with Applejack and Rainbow Dash and-“
“Oh! Haven’t you heard? Rumor has it that AJ and Dashie are dating!” Pinkie cheered.
Twilight’s mouth opened, only to close again. She blinked, twice. “I…. What?”
“Yep!”
“Wh-where did they get an idea like that?” Twilight stammered.
“You know ponies. Or maybe you don’t. You are still kinda new to this whole ponies thing. But they’re not like books, no siree. They’re much more fun and exciting!”
“I came here for answers, Pinkie, not a life lecture!” Twilight shouted.
“I thought you came here because Princess Celestia wanted you to make friends!”
Twilight grunted, shoving Pinkie out the door unceremoniously. “I swear,” Twilight muttered, “three years later and the ponies in this town are still crazy.”
Rainbow crashed down onto a hay bale, sighing heavily. “Can today be over yet?”
Applejack chuckled weakly. “Ah reckon not, sugarcube. Even if we leave the barn ta Apple Bloom we still got fields ta tend to. An’ don’ forget ‘bout yer guitar lessons er yer weather jobs.”
Rainbow covered her face in her hooves. “Maybe I did take on a bit too much,” she mumbled.
Applejack saw through the ruse immediately. “You know that’s not what’s gettin’ to ya. Ah know ‘cus it’s gettin’ ta me, too. Ah’m sure it’ll blow over soon, sugarcube. This is new ta both a’ us.”
Rainbow wasn’t too sure; if she was honest she’d say it’s been there a while, and that it wasn’t about to leave either of them alone. But she was loyal; honesty was Applejack’s thing, though it seemed it was getting hard to come by. All Rainbow could hope was that it would work itself out and leave them with their sanity at the end.
“Rainbow?” Applejack’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
“Huh?”
“Thought Ah lost you fer a minute there,” Applejack joked nervously before pausing uncertainly. “Well, Ah was thinkin’… Ah know it’s only been a day an’ all, but…”
Rainbow felt her own nerves strangle her, face reddening in semi-comprehension.
“Maybe we could take a bit of a break – just ‘til lunch!” Applejack blurted out.
Rainbow’s blood quickly diverted itself from her face as her mouth hung open slightly in confusion of this new development. Even if her brief half-understood suspicions held no merit, this was still something new from Applejack. She was never one to shirk her duties, even in light of emotional confusion. Given this was a new kind of emotional confusion, but that didn’t make this new any less new. No, this… this was super-new.
“My gosh,” Rainbow said under her breath before clearing her throat. “Uh, yeah, that sounds like… cool.” …You know what else sounds like cool? Fillyfool... Wait, I mean just fool. Get it together, Rainbow! She slapped herself across the face, forgetting that Applejack could see her.
“Are… you okay, sugarcube?” Applejack asked, her concern outweighing her own inner turmoil.
“Yeah, I’m… I’m great.” Rainbow said, suddenly reminded of her earlier fatigue. All she wanted to do was roll around in this hay and fall asleep. Wait, not like that!
Applejack regarded Rainbow strangely for a few moments before asking, “Not like what?”
Rainbow paused. She had said that out loud? Urgh, stupid. Stop it. “I…” Rainbow sat up, shaking hay loose from her coat. “I need a nap.”
Applejack smiled, “Good thing we got a bed for ya, then; must be more comfy than sleepin’ in the trees.”
“Hey, your trees are like, awesome, alright?” Rainbow said, barely registering that she had offered a sorta-compliment. Her balance failed her and almost had her toppling back into the hay, but Applejack showed her great reflexes even when unusually exhausted and caught her pegasus friend and managed not to fall onto the hay herself.
“Maybe… maybe we should get ta bed,” Applejack said breathily.
“But the hay, it’s so… rollable,” Rainbow mumbled.
Applejack walked her friend back to the farmhouse, showing great fortitude despite her own desires to sleep where she stood. But even Applejack had her limits. Leading Rainbow up the stairs to her temporary room, Applejack began to wobble, but she soldiered on, coming all the way to Rainbow’s door. She reached out a hoof to weakly push at it, nearly toppling herself in the process. Righting herself, she resolved to head-butt the door open, the action leaving her with precious little energy. So little, that she barely had enough left to help Rainbow up onto her bed. In a massive tangle of weakly flailing limbs, she found herself lying next to Rainbow on her bed.
“Nice of you to stop by,” Rainbow mumbled, subconsciously throwing a hoof around Applejack’s shoulders.
Applejack groaned in response, accepting the barely-registered touch gratefully. “Mind if I sleep here?”
“Knock yourself ou-“
Neither mare stayed awake long enough to hear whether or not the last letter made it out of Rainbow’s mouth, not that either would have remembered anyway. Shortly after passing out, Applejack’s hoof found its way around Rainbow’s shoulders, mirroring Rainbow’s own in a sort of sleep-hug. Rainbow smiled through her sleep at the touch, mouthing some sentiment or other.
So blissful and pseudo-ignorant were the dreams each mare had that they failed to register each other in their frequent appearances, merely regarding them as cute orange pony and cuddly blue pegasus, though those roles were interchangeable. A number of other adjectives would have come to mind had they been more conscious, though they were very much reflected in their dreams.
Such was the scene Big Macintosh stumbled across; the door to Rainbow’s room carelessly left wide open, with two familiar mares locked in an epic cuddle asleep on the bed. Mac blinked once before smiling. If there was one thing being a big brother taught him, it was that when catching his little sister in an awkward situation, there were two options. One would be to walk away like a good brother and not mention it. The other would be to hold it over her head for eternity and beyond. Needless to say, he chose the more interesting option in light of this particularly embarrassing development. Fer science, as Miss Twilight would say.
Big Mac re-entered the kitchen with that same smile still present on his face. Granny Smith didn’t need to ask to know that the mares he was sent to fetch were occupied. “Think she gets it, yet?”
“Maybe,” Big Mac chuckled, “but Ah doubt it.”
Rainbow slowly woke up, a smile stretching wide across her face. She cracked her eyes open to regard the orange face she held so close. “Mm, morning, AJ.”
Applejack stirred awake, herself, returning Rainbow’s smile. “Mornin’, Rainbow.” Applejack giggled sleepily. This moment was perfect; her muzzle was practically brushing against her bed-mate’s. All she had to do was instigate. She looked into Rainbow’s eyes and-
Both mares cried out in unison, flinging themselves away from the awkward cuddle, looking anywhere but at each other.
“I didn’t do it, I swear!” Rainbow panicked.
“Well Ah sure as hay didn’t!” Applejack’s eyes were the size of dinner plates.
“Well one of us had to have!” Rainbow accused.
“Well it wasn’t me! Ah would never even think a…” Applejack raised her head slowly to find Rainbow staring back at her.
Slowly, through the thoughts racing in each mare’s recently-awoken minds, a pair of smiles won out on their faces, accompanied by heavy blushes.
“It was a nice cuddle,” Rainbow said in a small voice.
Applejack wanted to agree, but something seemed out of place. It wasn’t the fact that they were best friends with no romantic history, or the fact that they were both mares, or even the implications of what might have happened before said cuddle. No, the thing that stuck out in Applejack’s mind-
“You… you like to cuddle, Rainbow?” Applejack questioned, fearful, curious and touched all at once.
Rainbow’s eyes widened again, running her own comment by herself again. “N-no! I mean, uh- I meant that it was a nice… huddle!”
Applejack looked at Rainbow with hurt, accusation and disbelief.
Rainbow sighed, seeing no other options than to come clean. “Okay, yeah, I guess. I mean, it’s not like I have before, or anything. But that… with you,” Rainbow blushed, “it was nice.”
Applejack donned a blush of her own, meeting Rainbow’s uncertain eyes with a warmth she didn’t fully understand.
Rainbow smiled at Applejack’s apparent contentment, feeling a little bold. “I don’t suppose… you’d want to do it again sometime?”
Applejack’s blush darkened as she mumbled out, “Ah’d like that.”
As the two looked at each other, their blushes began to fade, but the warmth in their cheeks did not. Neither did the sense of contentment they got from sharing a moment such as this with the pony that mattered most to them. What did happen, however, was an interruption by their stomachs.
With the new motive in mind, an air of awkwardness descended upon the room. Neither mare wanted the moment to end, yet at the same time felt afraid of acknowledging it. At length, Rainbow spoke. “I’m kinda hungry,” she said simply.
Applejack spared a glance at the clock. “We did miss lunch,” she agreed. “’S also past noon; maybe we should head out inta town fer lunch an’ hope we didn’ miss yer lesson, too.”
Despite the innocent request, Rainbow couldn’t shake the sense that she was being asked out. What surprised her, though, was that she didn’t see any problem with the concept, but merely what Applejack would think of it. But if Applejack was the one who asked her… “It’s a date,” Rainbow said, immediately regretting her poor choice of words. “I mean-“
Applejack chuckled. “It’s alright, sugarcube; Ah don’ mind.”
Rainbow looked at Applejack with a sense of awe, which was plainly visible on her face. So visible, that Applejack devolved into stammers herself, trying to explain it away.
“It’s alright, Applejack,” Rainbow said, smiling, “I don’t mind.”
Applejack and Rainbow Dash walked into Ponyville in a companionable silence. Their blushes were still evident, though were paid less mind. Rainbow noted that Applejack was walking closer to her than usual, though refrained from commenting lest Applejack distance herself. The implications were apparently not lost on the ponies of Ponyville; specifically those who knew the two personally. Rainbow caught a few giggles and gestures sent their way, some less decent than others. There was one in particular that Rainbow prayed to Celestia that Applejack missed. If she had caught it, Applejack’s demeanor gave no indication.
“Rainbow,” Applejack started in a hushed tone, catching the pegasus’ attention, “back at the farm, ya said that ya never… Does that mean…?”
“That I’ve never been with anypony before?” Rainbow whispered back. Applejack nodded nervously. “Nope. You?”
“Really? Never? But yer so…” Applejack blinked. “Ah mean… No, Ah haven’t.” Applejack finished with a blush.
Rainbow offered Applejack a small smile before indicating the space before them. They had arrived at their lunchery of choice, Café du Mane. Had Twilight been there, she would have insisted to Rainbow that, for the eleventeeth time, that was not a word. But she wasn’t, so Rainbow was left to bask in her word alone. Or rather, with a pony that wouldn’t judge her based on her vocabulary, not to mention being a good deal more attractive to Rainbow. But then, Applejack was-
“The cutest thing ever!”
Rainbow whipped her head around, but the pink mare to whom the voice belonged to was nowhere to be found. Applejack looked similarly baffled by the random outburst, though recovered far more quickly to lead Rainbow to a table.
Down an alley on a side road, Pinkie Pie was bouncing off to Carousel Boutique to relay her discovery, feeling in an unusually gossipy mood, failing to realize she was making two of her best friends’ lives that much more complicated.
Okay, since when can Pinkie read my thoughts? That’s just creepy. And more than a little bit of a problem. Rainbow glanced around again, hoping to catch a glimpse of the now-dreaded pink mare.
“You alright, sugarcube? Yer lookin’ jumpier than a bean.”
“Jumpier than a what?” Rainbow raised an eyebrow.
“A bean. You know, like those ones down in Mexicolt.”
“I wonder about you sometimes, AJ,” Rainbow said, picking up her largely-unneeded menu as more of a distraction than anything. Both mares had the menu memorized by now, along with the other four in their group, so often did they come here for lunch. It almost left Rainbow craving for something different, more romexotic. Also not a word, Rainbow, reminded a voice in the back of her head. Shut up, egghead, Rainbow shot back.
Applejack swore she heard snickers around her, and not from Rainbow, but every time she looked around, everypony was conspicuously aloof. Applejack sighed. This is what I’d have to deal with, huh? Well, at least they’re not getting’ at our throats about it. If ya ask me, what Ah do with Rainbow is ‘tween me n’ her. Another con to add to her list, she supposed. The concept was far from being considered, though she had to admit it made her feel funny. She could only wonder what Rainbow was thinking of it, having one less hurdle to deal with.
“We’re not usually this quiet over lunch, you know,” Rainbow pointed out idly, nibbling on the meal that Applejack could barely remember being delivered. Her own sat untouched, so at Rainbow’s questioning glance she began to eat. It didn’t do much to ease her stress or fatigue, but it was at least enough to curb her hunger.
“Sorry, sugarcube,” Applejack said between bites, “Ah guess Ah just got a lot ta think on.”
“Yeah. Past couple days haven’t exactly been uneventful,” Rainbow said, running a hoof through her mane. “And this one isn’t even over yet.” Rainbow paused. “But hey, I’ve got my guitar lessons soon, so that should give you some time to think, right? Not much need for a head start, if you ask me.”
“You kiddin’? If Ah asked you Ah’d be shocked ta hear ya wouldn’t take a head start.”
“Well, in racing, yeah. But thinking’s different, you know? Like, it doesn’t matter when or how fast you do it, or even if you do it at all! I can do plenty of awesome things without thinking! Who needs thoughts when you can take actions, right?”
Applejack frowned in puzzlement. “But if ya don’ think about them actions first, an’ ya end up hurtin’ somepony close ta ya…”
Applejack felt a hoof on her wither. “Hey, I’d never do anything to hurt you, Applejack. You know that. I’m loyal to a fault, remember? Besides, you mean way too much to me.”
Applejack sighed. “Ah know that, Rainbow. It’s me Ah’m worried about.”
A second hoof joined the first. “AJ, you’re being too hard on yourself again. I know it seems like a lot right now, but I know you can figure it out. And I’ll be there with you one way or the other.” Rainbow cracked a smirk. “You got me for a whole month, remember?”
That earned a grin from Applejack as she weakly pushed at Rainbow’s hold before abruptly hugging her closer. Elements be damned, if there was one thing Rainbow never failed to get from Applejack it was a smile. They knew each other better than most; sporting a closer bond than most couples, even. And they always had each other’s backs, no matter what life threw at them; even a failed relationship that ended with broken hearts. Not to say that would ever happen, though. Rainbow could never do something so cruel as to break her best friend’s heart, and knew the sentiment was mutual. Just how much else was mutual she had yet to find out.
“And maybe a bit more if you can put up with me,” Rainbow said through their embrace.
“You know me, Dash. Ah can take anythin’ ya throw at me. Even yerself… especially yerself.” Applejack pulled away to wink at Rainbow. She made to resume the hug, but stopped short at the uneasy feeling of a hundred unwelcome eyes on their scene. She whipped her head around, catching the eyes of a few ponies who could not react quickly enough to avert their gazes. Among those were ponies both knew, like Lyra, Bon Bon, even the dentist, Colgate. Were their private lives really so easily intruded upon? Taking another look around, she amended herself. Ain’t really private in a public diner.
Rainbow offered a shrug when Applejack’s gaze returned to her. She looked to the clock tower shortly afterward, noting that it was a bit past noon. “I should probably be over at Vinyl’s soon,” Rainbow said to break the silence.
Applejack smiled. “C’mon then, Ah’ll walk ya over.”
“Don’t want that head start on thinking after all?”
“Guess not. Ya musta convinced me.”
“How’d I do that?”
Applejack chuckled. “By bein’ you.”
“Hey, Scratch, I’m ready for my lessons!” Rainbow called after bursting through the door.
Vinyl blinked from her seat on the couch. “I said I was free, not raidable.”
“Yeah, whatever, same thing,” Rainbow agreed absently, unstrapping her guitar case from her back. “You’ll never guess what kind of sweet guitar I’ve got.”
“The Coltson from the shop that looks like a Wonderbolts guitar?” Vinyl answered easily.
Rainbow blinked. “Lucky guess,” she pouted, showing off her new guitar in a more subdued manner than intended.
“That thing cost quite a lot, I’ve checked. How’d you get the money for it?”
“I subjected myself to a month of labor on Sweet Apple Acres,” Rainbow explained smoothly.
Vinyl quirked a brow. “Anything to spend more time with Applejack, eh?”
“Shut up,” Rainbow mumbled.
“You know you like her, Dash. Why not go for it?”
“Because it’s complicated, alright? I don’t have to explain myself to you,” Rainbow said harshly. “Now are we gonna do this or not?”
Vinyl frowned at Rainbow’s words, but started the lesson regardless. “Alright, show me a hoof-slide,” Vinyl ordered.
Rainbow complied with a sound akin to hooves on a chalkboard.
“That was terrible,” Vinyl scoffed. “Try again.”
The second attempt was, if anything, worse.
“Okay, stop; stop, please for the love of Celestia stop.” Vinyl narrowed her eyes at a sheepish Rainbow. “You’re a piece of work, Rainbow. You know that?”
“So are you gonna help me or ridicule me all day?” Rainbow challenged.
“When we’re through today, you’ll learn that there’s not much of a difference between the two,” Vinyl threatened.
Rainbow braced herself for a long afternoon.
Applejack made her way back to the farm alone, grateful for the respite if nothing else. While Rainbow was great company, she didn’t really leave much time for thought, which was her greatest need right now. So great, in fact, that Big Macintosh deemed it necessary to accost her in her trek through the orchards.
“Hey, AJ. Have a nice nap?” Big Mac asked with a brow quirked deviously.
What he received in return was the greatest death glare Applejack had ever mustered. Big Mac winced visibly; he only ever got that look when he really needed to back off, which usually meant something was really bothering her. And to consider this as the most distraught he had seen her in years really said a lot. In fact, he hadn’t seen her so torn up since…
Big Macintosh dislodged the thought with a vigorous shake of his head. No, that was silly; Applejack would never change because of something as simple as romance. Not to mention she would have changed a lot more had it not been for the very pegasus now plaguing her thoughts. If Rainbow hadn’t come along when she did, Big Mac wasn’t sure Applejack would have ever been the same filly again.
Life has its ways o’ offsettin’ the bad with the good. Big Mac philosophized. An’ this can be one heck of a good if ya let it, AJ. Ah can see how happy she makes ya. Why can’t you?
Applejack crashed heavily on her bed, looking for answers in the smooth painted wood of her ceiling. She sighed, knowing the venture was fruitless as she rolled over to regard the two pictures she kept on her nightstand. One of which was that picture of her and Rainbow with their Running of the Leaves medals. The other brought her sadness at times, hope at others, and longing always. It was a picture of her family taken back when her parents were still alive. Apple Bloom wasn’t more than a month old, Big Mac wasn’t more than twelve, and she was at the start of her adventurous phase. What better way to push you out the door than something like that, right?
Applejack felt tears come to her eyes as she thought back on those days. If it weren’t for Rainbow, she might never have left Manehattan. And as if that weren’t enough, she herself came into her life just as she started to relapse back into depression in her painfully empty surroundings. It was like Rainbow somehow knew there was something missing in her life after all that the family had been through. What she got was the best friend she’s ever had.
An’ is that really worth riskin’? Applejack asked herself. Element of Loyalty or not, Applejack knew that a failed relationship would leave their friendship a mere shadow of what it was now. And she wasn’t even sure if a relationship was what she wanted. What do I want? The answer was no clearer than it had ever been. That list of pros and cons her subconscious had mustered was little help. What would she really get from a relationship with Rainbow that she didn’t have already? It admittedly wasn’t much, but the thought of it never ceased to drive her crazy.
Ah could never find a better friend, but at the same time Ah might never get another shot like this with anypony who means so much ta me. Applejack sighed. She means more ta me n’ anything. She looked again at the picture of her parents. Whaddya think Ah should do, Ma n’ Pa? This is too much for me ta deal with alone.
But you’re never alone, her subconscious reminded her. Rainbow will be right there with you.
An’ Ah can always count on the family, Applejack agreed. But can they really help with this? She had no reason to believe so other than her own pessimism. But what if they don’ understand? What if they hate me fer it? Ah ain’t ever heard of fillyfoolin’ in the Apple Family. Ah still don’ even know if Ah am one!
Applejack’s sobs were interrupted by a gentle knock on the door. She knew who it was before the door opened to reveal the concerned face of her older brother. “You alright, AJ? Ah heard ya cryin’ all the way outside.”
“Ah’m not cryin’!” Applejack stubbornly shouted, rubbing her eyes. “Ah just…”
Big Mac walked over to offer Applejack his support. Applejack barely hesitated to bawl her eyes out into the crook of his neck as Big Mac stroked her mane and offered quiet reassurance. After a few minutes, Applejack started to calm down. “Feel any better?”
“A little bit,” Applejack sniffed. “What do Ah do, Mac?”
“’Bout Rainbow?”
Applejack just nodded, too upset to question how he knew.
“Ya don’ have ta do anythin’ just yet,” Big Mac saged. “She’s gonna be ‘round fer a whole month, isn’t she? That gives ya plenty o’ time ta figure it out.”
“Ah don’t know if Ah can face her without an answer.”
Big Mac raised an eyebrow. “Did she ask you already?” Applejack shook her head. “Then what’s there ta worry ‘bout?”
“What if she says no? What if Ah change mah mind? How’re y’all gonna react?”
Big Mac hugged her closer. “Ah know Ah speak fer the family when Ah say we’ll support ya no matter what, AJ. And yer a smart mare; Ah think ya know what ya want.” Big Mac paused. “Is there any reason ta think she wouldn’t say yes?”
“Only reasons ta think she would,” Applejack muttered. “That’s the hard part.”
“Well what kinda reasons are those?”
Applejack hesitated. “Well, Ah don’ know if its mah place ta say…”
“Ah won’ tell a soul,” Big Mac promised.
Applejack sighed. “She’s a fillyfooler, Mac. She already done n’ told me that much.”
Big Mac raised an eyebrow. “Can’t say that’s too surprisin’, ta be honest. How’d she get around ta bringin’ it up?”
“She didn’t,” Applejack explained, driving Mac’s brow higher. “Ain't even sure she wanted ta. Scootaloo’s the one who outed ‘er. ‘Parently got forced inta that one, too.”
“How?” Big Mac prodded.
Applejack frowned, blood making its way to her cheeks. “It’s just… stupid rumors.”
“Bout you n’ her?”
Applejack nodded sheepishly. “Tha’s what got me thinkin’ about it.” Applejack sighed. “She also told me Ah was the first one she really opened up to ‘bout her uh, orientation.”
“Really now? That’s a good sign, AJ.”
“Huh?”
“That she’s comfortable talkin’ bout that with ya,” Big Mac clarified.
“Well, it weren’t exactly… comfortable, ta be honest,” Applejack said, a blush coming to her cheeks.
Big Mac grinned. “Kinda felt like she was talkin’ bout you, huh?”
Applejack nodded weakly.
“Well Ah think that’s plenty ta go on, AJ,” Big Mac chuckled. “An’ if ya ask me, Ah think ya should go fer it. Y’all could make a mighty fine couple.”
“Even though she’s a mare?” Applejack asked in a small voice.
Big Mac looked behind him unexpectedly. “AJ, Ah’m gonna tell ya somethin’ Ah ain’t never said before-“
Applejack didn’t need him to finish. “You, Mac? You’re a… a coltcuddler?”
“Well, not strictly,” Big Mac clarified, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. “Ah figure mah barn door swings both ways.”
“An’ ya don’ think that’s…?”
“Not at all, AJ,” Big Mac said. “’S normal as any other kinda relationship.”
Applejack chuckled. “Alright, now ya got me curious, so Ah gotta ask; top er bottom?”
Big Mac’s face practically exploded in well-camouflaged blush. “Ah-Ah don’ think that’s appropriate ta-“
“Never woulda guessed, Mac,” Applejack said with a knowing wink.
Big Mac gulped nervously; he needed to get back on top of this conversation.
“So, have you two thought of a name yet?” Vinyl asked as they were finishing up the lesson for the day.
“Not really, no,” Rainbow answered.
“Well, you could just do what me and Tavi did.”
“Maybe, but our names don’t flow together as well as yours do. I mean, Octavinyl is just… perfect.”
“I dunno, I think Appledash sounds pretty good,” Vinyl offered.
Rainbow blushed at the name. “And we’re not even…”
Vinyl raised a brow and smirked, but didn’t comment. “Well, you’ve gotta have a name. Nopony ever heard of the super awesome nameless band. Unless that was your name, but that’s not what I meant.”
“Yeah, I’ll think about it. And hey, maybe we’ll find ourselves collabing one day, huh?”
“As it stands now, you’d have trouble collaborating with a pointed stick,” Vinyl stated plainly.
“Yeah, whatever; I’m gonna be awesome and you know it,” Rainbow bragged despite her minimal progress.
“Whatever you say, Dash,” Vinyl remarked, showing Rainbow out the door once she had gotten her Coltson packed away. It was getting close to dinner time, as evidenced by the sun. Rainbow estimated she had about an hour to deal with her weather shenanigans, which left her plenty of time to be early for dinner. The day was an easy one, anyway; the only work requiring her attention being a stray patch of fog in Carrot Top’s fields and a few clouds buzzing Town Square.
Rainbow Dash completed her tasks swiftly, trotting back to the acres with a good forty-five minutes to spare. If all went well, she and Applejack would be taking over Equestria with their awesomeness by the end of the month. The Wonderbolts couldn’t ignore that, right? Now if I could just talk to Applejack without all the awkwardness.
Sighing, Rainbow made her way through the orchard to the farmhouse at the center. Along the way, Big Mac, who was putting some equipment away, caught her eye and gave her a wink. Confused by the random gesture, Rainbow paused for a second before continuing onward. Mac’s not gonna get all weird on me, too, is he?
Rainbow just wanted a nice, quiet dinner without any drama or awkward moments. Mere days ago, she would have scoffed at the prospect of an Apple Family dinner without jovial conversation and laughter, but now it was the best she could hope for. She really wanted to believe Applejack when she said this would all blow over soon, but something told her this was far too complicated to go away quietly.
I just wish I could know what’s bugging her. Then we could work this all out and go back to how it used to be, Rainbow lamented. Is it really so hard to ask the Element of Honesty to be honest?
Rainbow entered the farmhouse with slumped shoulders, feeling no better than she had this morning. If anything, it was worse now. Looking up upon reaching the dinner table, she found Applejack sitting there looking blankly out the window. Normally in this situation, Rainbow’s first instinct would be to get the jump on her, but now she just wanted to comfort her and make everything better.
But I can’t. I’ve never been good with words. That’s Twilight’s thing. Rainbow mused, perking up shortly afterward. Hey, that’s an idea! Twilight’s smart; she should be able to figure it out! She’s been in super-egghead mode ever since she got those wings.
Applejack finally noticed Rainbow when she sat down triumphantly at the table. “Yer lookin’ better, sugarcube.”
Rainbow diverted her gaze to the table. “Not really. I did get an idea, though!”
“Ain’t that what got us inta this mess in the first place?” Applejack challenged.
“What? No, I…” Rainbow looked up at Applejack sadly. “You don’t trust me anymore, do you?”
“What? No, sugarcube, Ah didn’ mean it like that. Ah just…” Applejack trailed off.
“Don’t want it to get any worse?” Rainbow suggested.
Applejack nodded, remaining silent.
Rainbow sighed. “Me too. But if anyone can help us through this, it’s Twilight. She knows everything.”
“Ya sure it’s worth riskin’ all the tests she might put us through?”
“If it would help.” Rainbow raised her eyes to the window. “You see how she’s getting more responsible with her royal duties, though. And I’m not even sure she has time for all that anymore.”
“But she’s gotten a heap more powerful since becomin’ an Alicorn an’ all,” Applejack stated. “And she’s been spendin’ more n’ more time in Canterlot. “
“Exactly! She doesn’t have the time for us anymore! She-“ Rainbow’s eyes widened. “She’s leaving us behind.”
Applejack rounded the table to rest a hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder. “Don’ say that, sugarcube. Princess er not, she’s still our friend. What Ah meant was, she’s been gettin’ advice from the Princesses. Like you said, she’s a smart pony. She’ll figure out a way ta still have time fer us.”
“Then why don’t you wanna go to her for help?” Rainbow prodded.
“Because Ah… She’s already got so many responsibilities, Rainbow. Ah don’ wanna trouble her with somethin’ silly like-“
“Applejack,” Rainbow cut in, “we’re on the verge of cuddling and you’re telling me this is silly.”
“Ah, what…” Applejack noticed for the first time just how close she had gotten to Rainbow and quickly sat up and backed away. “Ah’m sorry, Ah-“
“Don’t worry about it,” Rainbow said with a smile. “I… actually kinda liked it…” She blushed. “But you can’t tell me that something isn’t happening between us. Don’t you want to figure it out so we can go back to the way things used to be?”
“Ah don’t know, Rainbow,” Applejack said, taking a seat across the table from the pegasus. “Ah’m not even sure Ah want it ta stop.”
Rainbow blinked, face growing redder. “Then don’t you wanna uh… figure it out so we can…”
Applejack donned a furious blush. “Ah didn’ mean it like that! Ah meant that… Ah…” Applejack sighed. “Ah just don’t know anymore, Dash.”
Rainbow felt the need to return the comfort Applejack had given her, but couldn’t work up the courage to make a conscious advance. So she just smiled sheepishly and said, “That’s why we need Twilight, AJ. She knows everything.”
“Ah… Okay.” Applejack relented. “Tomorrow, after we finish our chores, we can go see Twilight.”
Rainbow’s smile became a little less sheepish. “Thanks, AJ. Twilight can help, trust me.”
“Ah really hope yer right, Dash,” Applejack said.
“Am I ever wrong?” Rainbow asked, hoping to lighten the mood.
Applejack rewarded her efforts with a small chuckle and a shake of her head. “We should probably wash up before dinner.”
“You mean you haven’t yet?” Rainbow asked.
“Uh, no, Ah was gonna wait for you,” Applejack explained.
Rainbow looked at Applejack strangely. “So we could… shower together?”
“What? Ah- no! Ah don’…” Applejack looked to the clock over the oven that Granny Smith worked before. With all their shenanigans, they had wasted a good half hour. And if they were late to dinner, Granny Smith would… Applejack gulped, thinking quickly. They only had enough time for one shower. So she could let Rainbow shower and take Granny Smith’s berating, or they could…
Rainbow took in Applejack’s fearfully embarrassed expression with a sigh of resignation. “We have to shower together, don’t we?”
Applejack offered a weak nod in response, cursing her subconscious for its questionable goals. It wasn’t like they hadn’t showered together as foals, but they were mares now, so there was a little more to worry about. Applejack prayed to Celestia for a peaceful shower. This is not what Ah need right now.
Wings, please, please behave, Rainbow pleaded in her own mind, unable to stop a feeling of impending doom. Of all the things about being a pegasus…
Walking into the washroom sporting matching blushes, Rainbow and Applejack quietly prepared the shower. Before long, the water heated up, and steam began to fill the air, causing sweat to bead on their coats. They made sure to not look at each other, lest indecent thoughts surface. Rainbow took extra caution on that regard, willing her wings to stay down and thinking unsexy thoughts. Each mare washed themselves in tense silence, spaced out to the greatest extent the shower could offer. Things were progressing without too much awkwardness, and both were beginning to look optimistically on their chances of escaping the washroom with their sanity. At least until Applejack encountered a multi-faceted problem.
“Uh… Rainbow,” Applejack began sheepishly, “could you get mah back?”
Rainbow turned around, and despite her best efforts, she felt her wings slowly expand. Dammit, wings! Rainbow put on a weak smile in an attempt to ward away any awkwardness, but it was of no use.
Applejack stared at the pegasus before her, trying to think of something, anything to say. If she was having such a hard time keeping calm herself, she could only imagine what Rainbow was thinking right now. All she knew was that Rainbow was looking at her with a mildly creepy smile and her wings in a compromising angle that betrayed her arousal.
“Ah… Ah know y’all have yer wings ta get yer back,” Applejack said after finding her voice, “but Ah’m… Ah…”
Applejack didn’t even need to begin for Rainbow to complete the thought in her head. Unicorns had their magic to help them in the shower, while pegasi had their wings. Both were unassuming, perfectly innocent options. Earth ponies, however… Their prehensile helper in tasks was their tail, and in their current space… Rainbow swore she could feel her cheeks melting.
Applejack fared no better, backed into the corner with her hooves straining feebly to reach her back, her blush looking more like sunburn at this point. Both mares desperately needed reprieve from this explosion of compromising emotions, though their only recourse promised none.
After realizing that putting it off only made it worse, Applejack sighed and detached herself from the wall, presenting her back to Rainbow for her to gingerly begin to wash. Applejack bit her lip as Rainbow’s delicate touch seemed amplified a thousand fold. She didn’t know how long she could last before-
“I’m done!” Rainbow proclaimed, launching herself out of the shower and wrapping herself in a cocoon of towels, no hair or feather left uncovered.
Applejack let out the breath she had been holding, walking over to the faucet to turn off the water. A single towel was left unclaimed by the ball that concealed Rainbow. She began to dry herself off, but paused. “Ah’m sorry, Rainbow. This was mah fault. If Ah had just…”
Rainbow’s still-red face poked out between two towels. “It’s… Let’s just forget this happened. I don’t think I can live much longer at this rate.”
“Not if ya strangle yerself,” Applejack pointed out. “Or suffocate.”
Rainbow sighed, disentangling herself from the towels. She was miraculously dried, but her wings still stuck out to her sides. The two mares shared a mutually apologetic glance before Rainbow grabbed a hairbrush.
Applejack began to dry herself off again, before she caught sight of what Rainbow was doing. “Are you… brushing yer mane?”
“No!” Rainbow responded all too quickly. “I was… Okay, yes, fine. How do you think I get it to look the way it does every day?”
“Ya wake up?” Applejack guessed.
“Well, yeah, but if I don’t brush it properly before that I wake up and my mane looks like… well, Pinkie’s.”
Applejack inspected Rainbow, imagining it. She couldn’t hold back the laugh that came in response to the ridiculous image. Rainbow laughed, too, grateful as she felt a lot of the embarrassment drain away. After the humor died down, Applejack finally dried herself off. Rainbow hoofed her the hairbrush with a teasing wink. Applejack sheepishly began to brush her own mane for much the same reasons Rainbow had just supplied.
Exiting the washroom of horror, Applejack and Rainbow managed to barely make it to the table in time for dinner. They made sure to sit at opposite sides of the table as they began to eat with perhaps a little too much gusto. Apple Bloom looked on in puzzlement while Granny Smith and Big Macintosh shared a knowing glance.
“Nice shower?”
Applejack nearly choked on her food, coughing and spluttering. “Dammit, Mac!”
Big Mac burst out laughing at his sister’s reaction. Oh yes, it had been a very nice shower.
Rainbow collapsed onto her bed with a groan. The day had been… strange to say the least. All she wanted to do was fall asleep and forget it ever happened, but her whirling thoughts wouldn’t let her.
Rainbow let out a heavy sigh, rolling onto her other side, looking for an impossible degree of comfort to override her restless mind. After several minutes of floundering around, she gave up, rolling off her bed and going to her window. She looked out over the vast expanse of green-topped apple trees. The first apples were beginning to ripen, adding a splash of red to the scene. Above, Luna’s moon was a beacon amongst a gleaming sky of stars. If she tried, Rainbow was confident she could put a question to each. But the most important question was posed to the moon itself:
“What’s been going on these past two days?”
“Ah’m still tryin’a figure that out mahself.” Applejack’s voice came from behind Rainbow.
Rainbow turned to regard the mare she couldn’t get her mind off of. “I have a few ideas, but I don’t know how many I’m comfortable with.”
Applejack walked to sit beside Rainbow. “Any ya are comfortable with?”
“Maybe,” Rainbow said, averting her gaze. “Maybe just one.”
Applejack smiled. “Which one’s that?”
Rainbow sighed. “I wish I could say. I really do.”
“Ya thinkin’ there might be somethin’ to all this?” Applejack prodded.
Rainbow glanced at Applejack briefly. “I think that’s a given at this point.”
Applejack wouldn’t let the subject drop easily. “If there is somethin’ big goin’ on… would that be okay?”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure I can even speak for myself.”
“Ah’m not sure, either,” Applejack said, feeling bold. “But if ya had to go with yer gut?”
Rainbow shifted uncomfortably. “This is too important for that, Applejack,” she murmured.
“Ya sure? Ya said yerself yer not even sure what this is,” Applejack pointed out.
“I said I have ideas. And even the best of those isn’t enough to risk messing this up,” Rainbow said. “I know you want this to all fall neatly into place. I do, too. But if it’s going to do that, we’re both gonna need time to figure things out. And maybe a little outside help. That’s why we’re going to see Twilight tomorrow.”
Applejack sighed. “Okay, Rainbow.”
“I know it hurts to keep in, but it’ll hurt us both a lot more to let it out at the wrong time,” Rainbow continued. “And that kind of hurt won’t go away.”
“Ah know, it’s just…”
“We’ll get through this.” Rainbow placed a hoof on Applejack’s shoulder, “I promise.”
Applejack took a deep breath and nodded. “Try ta get some sleep, okay?”
Rainbow cracked a small smile. “I will if you do.”
Applejack returned the smile. “Apple’s honor.” She got up to depart, casting one last glance to Rainbow before closing the door.
Rainbow sighed, feeling far more tired than before. She stumbled over to her bed and tucked herself in. She looked to her nightstand, where that special picture sat proudly. With a smile, Rainbow finally managed to fall asleep.