//------------------------------//
// Fluttershy's secret 
// Story: Apples and rainbows 
// by FinnPony 
//------------------------------//

Applejack and Rainbow had reached the outskirts of the town. Celestia's sun was going under the horizon, painting the landscape with warm orange color. Everfree forest seemed to suck all the light around it, making it look really dark. It grew larger and more threatening in front of them as they got closer to it.
AJ wasn't scared. She had been in the Everfree forest for many times, usually chasing timberwolves away from the Apple family's grounds with her brother. Rainbow in turn, did not like being close to the Everfree forest at all. Applejack noticed that. Usually she leaned against Rainbow when they were walking, but this time Rainbow was the one who leaned against her. 

"What's wrong sucargube?" she asked. Rainbow winced as AJ spoke to her.
"Nothing," Rainbow replied and began looking towards the forest. Then they heard  distant howling and Rainbow pressed against AJ's side even tighter. AJ could feel Rainbow's heart racing and her breathing was also more dense.
"Are you scared?" Applejack asked. 
"No! Of course I'm not! I'm the bravest pony in whole Equestria!" Rainbow said with shaking voice. Then Applejack grabbed her in a gentle hug. "You can tell me, I won't tell anypony," Applejack said and ran her hoof in Rainbow's multicolored mane.
After a while she broke the hug and watched as Rainbow sat down on the ground. Applejack sat down in front of her. Rainbow's lower lip quivered. She then asked: "Remember when I crash landed three months ago?"
Applejack did remember. She remember how bad Rainbow had looked like. Her body was covered in scratches and bruises and her left wing had been dislocated.
"Yeah, I remember. Ya told that you crash landed over that field, but how does that have anything to do with Everfree forest?" AJ asked.
Rainbow squirmed as she said: "I haven't told anypony about this, but I didn't really land where I told you."
"Where did you land then?" AJ asked with concern in her voice.  Rainbow didn't say a word. She just pointed her hoof at the Everfree forest. "I landed there and my wing didn't work. I didn't know where I was, so I started to walk. Soon I was chased by tree timberwolves. After half an hour of running I finally found my way back to Ponyville."
Applejack was shocked. She hugged Rainbow again and said: "Oh poor little thing."
"I was so scared," Rainbow said with a shaking voice. "I never told anypony, so they wouldn't think I was just some scared little filly," she continued. Applejack had never seen Rainbow so sad.
"Don't worry, Ah won't tell nopony. And you know what, we can go there -" Applejack points her hoof at the forest "- and give those timberwolves good ol' flank whooping with Big Macintosh if ya want," AJ tried to cheer up Rainbow.
That made Rainbow chuckle. She looked right into AJ's eyes and asked: "Would you really do that for me?"
Applejack stared back at Rainbow and said: "Anything for you, sucargube."
They stared at each others eyes for a moment.

Then Rainbow leaned forward and pressed her lips against Applejack's. It was a quick kiss, but it made AJ blush harder than ever. "Woah, that was... something," she said smiling. Rainbow smiled too. They quickly kissed again. It was a bit longer this time. After they broke the kiss, AJ said: "We should get going. We still have that picnic ahead of us, and Ah can't wait for it." She smiled and planted a last kiss to Rainbows cheek before they rose up.
"I hope nopony saw us," Applejack said and looked around them.
"I don't care. It's not their business or anything," Rainbow said and they started walking again.

~~~~

Now they were at the small bridge that led straight to Fluttershy's cottage. There were all kind of flowers growing on the both sides of the small road that went to Fluttershy's door. They stopped in front of the door. There was light coming from the windows so Fluttershy was still awake. Rainbow knocked on the door. They heard someone running on the door and it swung open. It was Fluttershy. She threw her arms around Rainbow, her eyes were closed and she smiled.
"I thought you forgot!" She said.
"Umm... We didn't know that you knew we were coming..." Rainbow said while giving a confused look to Applejack.
Fluttershy opened her eyes and saw Applejack, who was looking at her with wide eyes. Then she looked up to the pony she was hugging. "Hi Fluttershy!" Rainbow said.
Fluttershy released Rainbow from her hug and quickly retreated inside of her house. Her face was red from the embarrassment. She hid behind her mane and said with barely audible voice: "I'm so sorry Rainbow Dash, I.. I was waiting for somepony else."
"It's alright Fluttershy, no harm done," Rainbow said and lifted Fluttershy back to all fours. 
"Can we come in?" Applejack asked.
"Of course you can, make yourself at home," Fluttershy said. 
They entered Fluttershy's home. It was warm and cozy. Little animals were running around the floor and Angel bunny was reading a book on the living room couch. It looked at the visitors, and after he decided that they were not interesting, he returned back to his book.
"I'm sorry for all this ruckus. The little ones won't go to bed for some reason," Fluttershy said while trying to catch small weasel, which ran under the table. After catching the runaway, she turned to face AJ and Rainbow.
"Umm.. I don't mean to be rude.. but it's pretty late and I should get the animals to sleep..." She said shyly.
"Oh we won't bother you long. We just need something and we hoped that ya could help us." Applejack said while petting a little kitten on the floor.
"Help... How can I help you?" Fluttershy asked with a surprised voice.
"Can you borrow a basket for us. And if you have a blanket that you could borrow, that would be awesome," Rainbow said.
Fluttershy was really confused, but she had to help her friends. She wasn't element of kindness for no reason.
"Well.. I think I have one just over here," She said and went to her bedroom. There she lifted a worn blanket with red and white squares in it onto a bed. She then opened the closet door and took one picnic basket from there. Fluttershy threw blanket in the basket and grabbed it from the handle with her teeth. She then went back to the living room, where Rainbow and Applejack were.
"Hfere you fgo!" she muttered with the basket in her mouth.
"Hey thanks Fluttershy, You really saved our d..." Rainbow was interrupted by knock from the door.

They all looked at the door. It started opening and a big red stallion entered the room while saying: "Ah'm sorry for being late Fluttershy. Ah had to be at the fa..." He stopped when he saw three mares looking at her.
"Big Macintosh!" Applejack and Rainbow Dash shouted at the same time.
"Bifg Mafcintoshf!" Fluttershy shouted with the basket still in her mouth.
Applejack looked at her brother then she turned to Fluttershy, who's face was redder than Big Mac's coat.
Applejack's eyes widened and her jaw dropped when she realized what was going on.
"It was you!" she said and pointed at Fluttershy, who laid down to the ground.
"Please Applejack! Don't be mad at us!" Fluttershy cried on the floor. She soon felt hoof on her shoulder. It made her wince. She looked up and saw Applejack. AJ sat next to her and said: "I'm not mad at you."
Fluttershy watched AJ with a surprised look on her face.
"You're.. not.. mad at me? she wept.
"Of course I'm not! Why would I be mad at you?" Applejack asked.
"Because I am dating your brother?" Fluttershy sobbed.
"That's a good thing! I'm really happy for both of you!" Applejack said and hugged Fluttershy. Fluttershy didn't cry anymore. She was looking at AJ with her watery eyes. She then lounged at her and hugged her tightly.
"Oh Applejack! I should never doubted Mac when he said that you wouldn't be mad!" Fluttershy said while she wept in joy.
Applejack gestured Big Mac to come to her, and so he did. He closed them both in a big hug. Applejack smiled, but her expression soon changed to a stern stare. 
"Ya better be treating her like a princess. Because If I ever see her sad because of you, I will make you wish ya were never born," Applejack said while she stared at her big brother. Big Mac was looking scared. He had never seen her sister so mad at him.
"Oh don't worry about that Applejack, he's a best stallion a filly could have," Fluttershy giggled while nuzzling Big Mac's cheeks. 
"Eeyep," Big Mac replied and started kissing Fluttershy. They shared really passionate kisses while Fluttershy crawled on top of Big Macintosh and they continued kissing. 
Applejack was dumbfounded. She looked at Rainbow, who was as confused-looking as she herself. They watched Fluttershy and Bic Mac make out while little animals ran all over the place. After a moment Rainbow said: "Heh.. Well thanks for the help Fluttershy."
"Mhhm..." She answered wit her mouth locked to Bic Mac's.
Rainbow took the basket and they started to make their way towards the door. At the door Applejack turned towards her brother and Fluttershy.
"So.. congratulations you two," she said. Fluttershy quickly nodded as 'thank you'.
"Have good night!" Rainbow said with a smirk.
"Umm... Could you lock the door please?" Fluttershy said before they closed the door. She had a sheepish smile on her face. Applejack blushed as she realized what Fluttershy meant with that.
"Yeah, sure..." she said and locked the door behind her.

After they were safe distance away from Fluttershy's house, Rainbow cracked in total laughter.
"That's not funny!" Applejack said blushing.
"I think its really funny!" Rainbow said while wiping tears out of her eyes, still laughing a little.

After Rainbow finished laughing, they started to walk towards Carousel Boutique once again.