//------------------------------//
// Day Seven - Dramatization 
// Story: Tenacious Dash 
// by Hipster Cloudchaser 
//------------------------------//

	Big Macintosh woke the next morning to find Rarity was already awake, and didn’t look entirely happy at the moment. Mac thought about what could bring this on, and the first thing he thought of was… “Rare, Ah’m sorry,” he began. “If this is about last night, Ah-”

Rarity cut him off with a sigh, turning her head to look at him and placing it back on her hooves. “No, it’s nothing that simple, Mac. I was… thinking about how we might tell Twilight and Pinkie about us… and me.” Rarity turned her head to face forward. “And it occurred to me that I’d forgotten somepony in all of this. It hurts to think I would be so stupid as to forget somepony so close to me so easily.” She leaned back slightly to gaze up at the ceiling. “Oh, Spike. How am I supposed to make this right?”

Big Mac nuzzled his marefriend. “Ah’m sure ya’ll find some way, Rare. Ah can be there with ya if ya want.”

Rarity sighed, shaking her head. “No, that would only hurt him more. I have to do this alone. Besides, you have somepony you need to talk to as well.”

Big Mac blinked. “Ah do?”

Rarity chuckled. “Yes, you have to make things right with Cheerilee. I’m sure she had some reason why she did all that. Wouldn’t it make you feel better to consider her a friend again?”

Mac sighed, rubbing a hoof across his face. “Ah guess yer right. Ah haven’t even talked ta her since then.”

“And it didn’t turn out so bad, now did it?” Rarity ventured, placing a kiss on Mac’s nose.

Big Mac chuckled. “No, Ah guess not. Cheerilee’s no unicorn, so Ah’m pretty sure Ah’d know if she was a colt, too.”

Rarity giggled, pushing Mac to the bed playfully. “You’re never going to let that die, are you?”

“Why would Ah? It’s one o’ mah favorite things about ya,” Mac countered.

Rarity blushed. “And that’s one of my favorite things about you, Mac. You don’t judge me, or even settle for me. You actually prefer me the way I am.”

“Funny how things work sometimes, huh?” Mac pulled Rarity down on top of him. “And Ponyville never has ta know if ya don’t want ‘em to.”

“I may work up the courage someday, but for now… I would rather keep it between us and the girls.” Rarity nuzzled under Mac’s chin. “But before we get too carried away, I do think breakfast should be ready soon.”

Granny Smith’s customary meal call reinforced Rarity’s assertion.

“Alright,” Mac conceded, letting Rarity up. “But Ah expect some good cuddlin’ after all this.”

Rarity smiled, looking back over her shoulder. “Do a good job and you might get something even better.”

Mac blushed as Rarity winked and exited the room with a sway in her hips. “Last time Ah try ta beat her in a battle o’ sexy wits.”





“So, I was thinking that once we get done with breakfast, we could start reading that book,” Rainbow said, following Applejack downstairs for breakfast.

“Nope. First thing we’re gonna do is apologize ta Vinyl fer missin’ that lesson yesterday,” Applejack asserted.

“Oh, fine,” Rainbow frowned. “But, hey, maybe they’d be interested in the book, too! We could bring it with us and read it together.”

Applejack paused, thinking. “Ah can accept that. But don’t get upset if they don’t wanna.”

“Please, this is gonna be awesome. I mean, any book called the Dark Ages has to have some kinda action in it, right?”

Applejack shook her head, continuing on to the kitchen, where they found Rarity and Big Mac at the table.

“You two have fun last night?” Rainbow teased.

Big Mac blushed. “Ah’m sorry, did ya hear us?”

Rainbow blinked before laughing. “Didn’t need to. So, who’s bigger, then?”

“Rainbow, Ah’m not sure this is appropriate table talk,” Applejack muttered.

Rainbow shot Applejack a smile. “Relax, AJ, I’m just poking a little fun.”

Rarity spoke up after a pause. “If you must know, Mac is most certainly big.”

Mac blushed furiously. “Rare!”

Rainbow sniggered, both at the assertion and Mac’s reaction. “I’m sure you’ll have lots of fun playing with it.”

Rarity smirked. “I certainly am looking forward to it.” She turned to Mac and gave him a kiss on the cheek, calming him slightly. “What about you girls? Find anything to experiment with yet?”

Rainbow donned a cocky grin. “Sure did. Your next step is ours.”

Rarity quirked a brow, grinning. “Oh, is it now? Well, I do hope it treats you well.”

“I know it will,” Rainbow answered confidently, measuring Applejack’s expression of slight embarrassment before continuing. “I think we do still need some work on the foreplay, though.”

Rarity laughed as Applejack turned and smacked Rainbow. Rainbow laughed along, rubbing her cheek. “You know Ah’m not comfortable talkin’ ‘bout sexy stuff with other ponies. ‘Specially when mah brother’s right there!”

“Sorry AJ,” Rainbow apologized, still giggling lightly. She gave her marefriend a placating kiss on the nose, whispering, “We do still need to work on getting you to loosen up a bit.”

Applejack sighed, gaining a smile. She knew Rainbow liked to brag, and Rarity was a notorious gossip. But she had to remember they were all friends here, no matter the incriminating subject matter. She figured she should be flattered that Rainbow held her in such high regard as to talk about her in a way previously reserved for her flying skills and exploits. It may sound a little shallow to others who didn’t know the real Rainbow Dash, but Applejack knew how important flying was to Rainbow;  as important as the farm was to Applejack.

Applejack felt very lucky to have the ability to combine her two great loves, but frowned when she considered that Rainbow might not get that same opportunity. One day, she knew their relationship would conflict with Rainbow’s other dreams and desires, as well as her own. There was no such thing as a stay-at-home Wonderbolt. Applejack understood that all too well, from all Rainbow babbled on and on about them. Applejack never wanted what she had with Rainbow to end, but…

“You alright, AJ? You haven’t been eating,” Rainbow asked, concern in her voice.

…But she could always count on Rainbow for some featherbrained scheme that somehow worked itself out. Applejack smiled, nuzzling Rainbow in response. Ah really do need ta stop thinkin’ so much. Like Ma used ta say, nothin’s perfect, but that’s what makes it so precious.

Rainbow smiled, relieved that she had caught Applejack before she could relapse into another one of her moments of self-doubt. One day, Rainbow was sure she would get Applejack to understand how special she really was. I mean really, she makes me act all sappy. I mean, if I’m gonna be all romantic, I should make it awesome, right?

“Now yer not eatin’ either, sugarcube,” Applejack pointed out.

Rainbow blinked, realizing she had been staring at Applejack for the past minute. “Dammit, AJ,” Rainbow muttered, blushing.

Applejack merely chuckled in response.





“Alright, let’s head on over ta Vinyl’s,” Applejack said, leading Rainbow out of the house after breakfast.

Rainbow followed along obediently, knowing this was entirely her fault. Well, hers and Applejack’s, actually. “You know, this wouldn’t have happened without your sneaky seduction powers.”

“Yer still goin’ on about that?” Applejack asked, bemused.

“You haven’t proven me wrong yet,” Rainbow pointed out.

Applejack glanced over to Rainbow. “And how exactly am Ah supposed ta do that? Show ya how well Ah can’t seduce some random pony with some kinda crazy powers Ah don’t have? Do ya know how many ways that could go wrong?”

Rainbow paused, making Applejack come to a halt as well. “Seven,” Rainbow answered at length.

“Care ta share what those are?” Applejack asked, wondering how she had come up with so many.

“Nope! But now I know it really is a stupid idea,” Rainbow stated confidently.

“So yer not gonna make me do it, then?” Applejack asked hopefully.

Rainbow smirked. “I never said that. I just thought of a particular pony to unleash you upon. Should make for some good laughs.”

Applejack gulped. “Who’d ya have in mind?”

Rainbow grinned, leaning in to lick Applejack’s cheek. “It’s a secret.”

Applejack shivered, fearing what Rainbow had in store for her.





When they reached Vinyl’s door, they saw it carried a note.

Rainbow,

I’m over at Tavi’s place today. No time for lessons, but if you need me for anything, you know where to find me.

Vinyl

Rainbow shrugged, leading the way to Octavia’s house two blocks down.

Applejack wasn’t entirely sure what to expect of it. She knew Octavia was quite well off, but you could only live so extravagantly in a town like Ponyville. That thought was tested as she beheld the house Octavia apparently lived in. It was at least twice as big as Vinyl’s small abode, though it somehow radiated the same coziness every other house in Ponyville offered. She couldn’t say definitively, but it was certainly one of the biggest she had seen.

Rainbow strode up to the porch and rapped a hoof on the door three times. The door was quickly answered by Octavia herself, who wore a smile. “Oh, hello, Rainbow; I take it you’re looking for Vinyl?”

“Yeah,” Rainbow answered sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head with a hoof. “She’s not too mad about me missing the last session, is she?”

Octavia giggled. “See for yourself,” she answered cryptically, holding the door open for them to come in.

Vinyl was slouched upon the couch in Octavia’s living room, and gained a devious grin as she noticed their visitors. “So, how was it?”

“How was what?” Applejack asked obliviously.

“You know,” Vinyl said, waggling her brow, “the sex.”

Applejack sputtered, blushing heavily as Vinyl cackled.

“Two days, Scratch,” Rainbow proclaimed. “I think that demolishes the two months it took you.”

Octavia’s brow rose. “Two months? Is that what you told them, Vinyl?”

Vinyl grinned sheepishly.

Octavia rolled her eyes. “We’ve been together for about eight months now,” Octavia said, looking at Vinyl pointedly. “And here I thought you were over that.”

“Hey, I can’t just have Lyra beat me like that and let everypony know it,” Vinyl grouched.

“Somethin’ we’re missin’ here?” Applejack asked, confused.

Octavia cleared her throat. “I’ve told you about Vinyl’s past… experiences with Lyra, yes?”

“Tavi, you wouldn’t!” Vinyl squeaked.

“Oh, I think they’ve earned the right to know, Vinyl,” Octavia smirked.

Vinyl crossed her forelegs. “Well, let it be known that I hate you.”

“We both know that’s a lie, dear,” Octavia returned.

“Before all that…” Rainbow cut in, glancing to Applejack. “You’re not mad about me missing last session to have sex with AJ, right?”

Vinyl laughed, “Nah, I woulda done the same thing. Not every day you get to have that kinda fun.”

“I told you before, dear, you can have all the sex you want if you’d just move in with me,” Octavia reminded.

Rainbow frowned. “That is a good question. Why haven’t you moved in with her yet, Scratch? This place is pretty awesome.”

“We’ve been debating that for quite some time now,” Octavia replied. “I’ve been telling her to sell that hut she lives in, but she’s much too stubborn to listen.”

“Hey, I’m a DJ. I need to have some kind of independence,” Vinyl stated. “Besides, why would you even want me here? I’d just wake you up in the middle of the night when I’m mixing our songs.”

“I have a spare bedroom, Vinyl. You can take that and make it into your own little studio of sorts, and just use a soundproofing spell when I’m sleeping,” Octavia pointed out. “You can’t tell me you didn’t learn one to get in some late night mixing sessions when you lived with your parents.”

“Wait, Scratch has parents?” Rainbow chimed in. “I thought she just crawled up from under the sink or something.”

“Very funny, Dash,” Vinyl grumped. “I do have parents, and I’m certain you know their names.”

“Bubble Butt and Crotch Floss?” Rainbow jested.

“I meant that they’re ponies you’ve met before,” Vinyl growled. “One I’m sure of, and the other you might have.”

Rainbow chortled. “Cranky and Matilda?”

“Do I look like an ass to you?” Vinyl snapped. “I bet I haven’t even heard of your parents!”

“Probably not, but you haven’t even told me who yours are yet,” Rainbow pointed out.

“Because she’s a little embarrassed about her roots,” Octavia explained. “Her parents are rather famous, but in a field she’s never been too keen on.”

“Which is?” Rainbow prompted.

“Fashion,” Vinyl relented. “I don’t know if you’ve met my mom, but she’s been in Ponyville before. Her name’s Photo Finish. I think Fluttershy had a run in with her. My dad… Well, I think you know him a little better. Hoity Toity, the big shot fashion aficionado Rarity showed your Gala dresses to.”

“Ah remember you playin’ at that first show, Vinyl,” Applejack recalled. “If ya really don’t like fashion so much, why did ya agree ta somethin’ like that?”

Vinyl smiled, reminiscing. “Because he asked me to. That was the first time he really acknowledged me as a music pony. Mom was always more open about that, but Dad wanted me to get into fashion. It’s kinda funny though. I’m teaching you how to play guitar, and those have strings, and sewing is all about string. Why are they so different?”

“Because of the way to express yourself, dear; you can make much more noise with a guitar than a sewing machine,” Octavia answered, chuckling.

Vinyl laughed. “I guess you’re right. Still, I don’t think I’d have gotten to meet you any other way.”

“You never know,” Octavia agreed. “But you don’t have to think about it.”

Vinyl nodded, nuzzling into Octavia’s embrace. “You know, I might just have to move in after all.”

“Remember my promise,” Octavia chirped, getting Vinyl to blush.

Rainbow and Applejack looked on in bewilderment, but before they could question further, Vinyl re-composed herself. “Sorry about that. Tavi can do that to me sometimes.

“It’s those earth pony superpowers!” Rainbow insisted. “Applejack does it to me all the time!”

Octavia smirked. “So I take it that since friendship is magic, love is therefore superpowers?”

Rainbow’s brow furrowed, contemplating the question. That was more coherent than she was comfortable with. As amazing as Applejack was, there was no way Rainbow could have already fallen as far as that. That kind of stuff was for Rarity’s stupid romance novels, not real life. And definitely not Rainbow Dash.

Applejack said nothing, but the warm smile on her face told enough. She wasn’t quite ready to call it that, either, but seeing Rainbow so torn up about it let her know the feeling was mutual. They’d cross that bridge when they got there, but for now…

Rainbow was snapped out of her reverie by Applejack’s lips upon hers. The kiss was brief, but enough for Rainbow to gain a goofy smile. Applejack giggled as Rainbow’s wing settled around her midsection and pulled her closer, brushing against her cutie mark briefly.

“Ya seem ta have a good bit o’ history together,” Applejack began. “We should share stories sometime.”

Octavia smiled. “We should. After today, Vinyl and I are free for the next couple of days.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Applejack smiled back. “But fer now, Rainbow and Ah have this book Twilight got us on some kinda long-lost magic that lets mares have foals together. Rainbow’s got it in her head we should read it now that we’ve had a roll in the hay, and she was wonderin’ if you’d be interested.”

Vinyl looked thoughtful for a moment. “A spell that lets mares have foals together? Why is that long-lost? That sounds awesome.”

“Twilight said it had somethin’ ta do with Princess Luna, an’ it was around the time o’ Nightmare Moon. So once Luna was trapped in the moon, Ah guess it couldn’t be done fer a thousand years.”

“But surely it would show up on some record of those times?” Octavia pressed. “This sounds like quite a breakthrough to have been forgotten.”

“Ah’m not quite sure on that, mahself,” Applejack admitted. “Times were different then, an’ Ah’m not sure how open Equestria was ta two mares in a relationship. But maybe since Princess Luna became Nightmare Moon some time later, the ponies thought it was some kinda dark magic she used? Ah really don’t know, and Twilight’s stuck out in Canterlot. So this book’s the best we’ve got fer now.”

“Well then what are we waiting for? Let’s read it!” Vinyl insisted.

Rainbow took the book out of her saddlebags, grinning as she brandished the dark cover. “The Dark Ages. Sounds pretty cool, huh?”

“No, it sounds lame,” Vinyl smirked. “Now read the damn book already!”

“Fine! Way to ruin the scene, Scratch. Anyway…” Rainbow opened the book. “The Dark Ages was written by… blah blah blah boring stuff. Preface, table of contents… Here we go, chapter one! How it all started.”

“Lame,” Vinyl repeated.

“You shut up!” Rainbow shot back before returning to the book. “Okay, let’s see. Talking about what it is, we already know that. Dramatic build-up, blah blah blah. Okay, the spell! It says here it was created by Princess Luna, obviously. The spell used the power of the Elements of Harmony. Huh, whaddya know.

“How it works… The princesses used the Elements of Harmony to create a spell that let two mares… uh… What’s this word?” Rainbow showed the book to Applejack, who shrugged.

Octavia took the book from them. “Please, you three are hopeless. I’ll read it.”

“The princesses used the Elements of Harmony to create a spell that let two mares conceive a foal. The spell worked by binding the essences of the two together to create an offspring. To use the spell, the power of the Elements had to be infused and maintained in the couple while they…” Octavia paused, gaining a very noticeable blush. “Copulated.”

“Meaning…?” Vinyl prodded.

“Meaning that to use this spell, we would have to let Rainbow, Applejack and their friends watch us while we have sex,” Octavia squeaked.

“So Luna was a rampant voyeur, and Celestia was kinda dragged into it, so once Luna was gone, Celestia didn’t want to keep doing it?” Rainbow inferred.

Applejack was blushing heavily, herself. “Rainbow, ya know this means the same for us if we ever get ta that point. Would ya really be okay with havin’ our friends around fer all that?”

Rainbow shrugged. “Hey, if it gets back into use, that means we’d get to see a whole lot of ponies having sex. And they’d all be mares, so…”

“So it’d be like porn in real life!” Vinyl burst out, getting a smack from Octavia in response. “You guys are lucky! I wish I had an excuse like that!”

“Rainbow, Ah like mares, too, but Ah’m not sure Ah’d be comfortable doin’ that. Sex is supposed ta be private,” Applejack insisted. “’Specially when you’re doin’ somethin’ as intimate as havin’ foals.”

“I have to agree with Applejack,” Octavia said. “As much as I would like to know that I could someday have foals with Vinyl…”

Vinyl hugged Octavia. “Don’t worry, Tavi. I’m sure you’ll have warmed up to the idea by the time that gets tossed around.”

“I’m not so sure about that…”

“We’re not even thinkin’ about the others. Can ya imagine how embarrassed Fluttershy would be?” Applejack frowned, sympathizing with the timid mare.

Rainbow giggled. “I can, and it looks hilarious.”

Applejack shoved Rainbow away from her, breaking their wing-hug.

“Hey, Applejack, come on. I’m just trying to lighten the mood here,” Rainbow said, putting a hoof on Applejack’s shoulder. “It’s not like we’re having foals tomorrow, right? That’s still a long, long way down the road, remember?”

Applejack sighed. “If it really does come ta that…”

“Then we’ll be there together, right?” Rainbow finished hopefully.

Applejack smiled. “Ain’t we lucky we’ve got such good friends?”

“I don’t know, something about having the princesses watching us…”

Applejack slapped Rainbow playfully before giving her a kiss on the same cheek. “Ya really are terrible, Rainbow.”

“Don’t you ever forget it,” Rainbow laughed.





Rarity walked up to Golden Oaks Library, composing herself before knocking. You can do this, Rarity. It’ll be alright.

Spike answered the door. “Oh! Uh, hi, Rarity. I uh, come in!”

Rarity sighed. Spike’s normally endearing infatuation with her was now just painful, knowing it would soon come to an end. “Twilight isn’t here, is she?” Rarity asked fretfully.

“Nope, it’s just me today. Twilight’s still up in Canterlot,” Spike relayed. “I don’t know about you, but I think something’s going on with her. She’s been a little distant lately.”

“That’s actually not what I’m here about, Spike. I just needed to know we’d be free of distractions,” Rarity said in a soft voice that gave Spike hope. “I… came here to tell you that there’s something going on with me, too. And that… I haven’t been entirely truthful to you, or the girls.”

Spike blinked. “Truthful about what?”

Rarity took a shuddering breath. “Spike, I know you’ve been pining after me for quite some time now. But there’s something about me that you don’t know, and I’m not sure you’ll like.”

“W-what are you talking about? I like everything about you, Rarity,” Spike stammered. “You’re the most beautiful, caring mare in the world.”

Rarity winced. “That’s just it, Spike. I’m not.”

“Not what?”

“A mare,” Rarity whispered.

Spike recoiled as if struck, backing up several paces. “I… what?”

“It’s how I was raised, and how I appear for the most part, but… the truth is, I’m a stallion, Spike.” Rarity smiled sadly. “If it would make you feel any better, I could show you. This is hard for me, too, Spike.”

Spike gulped, eyes watering. “No, that’s… that’s okay. I just… I need to think for a while.” Spike turned back after reaching the stairs. “Do you… do you still love me, though?”

Rarity cast her eyes downward. “I’m so sorry, Spike. I never meant to hurt you.”

Spike let out a gasping sob as he retreated upstairs, leaving Rarity feeling miserable.

“I hope Mac is having a better time with Cheerilee,” Rarity mumbled to herself, going to sit on Twilight’s couch to wait for Spike’s return.





Big Mac walked through Ponyville, thankful it was summer, and classes were down to just once a week. He knew he wouldn’t be doing this if it weren’t for Rarity, but he also knew this was the right thing to do. Knowing Cheerilee, she’d be…

“Big Mac?”

Mac turned to regard the source of the familiar voice. “Hey there, Cheerilee. You got a minute ta talk?”

Cheerilee hesitated, unsure if this was some kind of advance on Mac’s part.

Mac smiled. “Ah won’t bite.”

Cheerilee sighed, gesturing inside her house, which they stood in front of. “Mac, I’ve felt terrible for what I did to you, and even worse that you had to hear it from my sister. Back then, I… I was scared about what would happen if anypony found out.” Cheerilee sat herself on a chair, offering the couch to Mac. “I felt like I needed cover, and I didn’t really stop to think about what I was doing. I lied to you for far too long. I lied to myself. And I lost a good friend.”

Mac closed his eyes, sighing. “So it weren’t nothin’ Ah did, then?”

“Of course not, Mac,” Cheerilee insisted. “You were wonderful to me. There were even times you almost made me believe what we had was right. But we both know that wasn’t the case.”

“Ya said ya were scared,” Big Mac went on. “What was there ta be scared of? Expressin’ yerself?”

Cheerilee frowned. “I was scared for my job. Teaching little fillies and colts… it’s what I love. But you know how impressionable they can be. If word got out that their teacher was a… a fillyfooler…”

Big Mac smiled wryly. “Ya always did think o’ yer kids first. Ah really didn’t believe it when Ah first heard it, but now that Ah’ve had time ta think about it…”

“I do love kids,” Cheerilee agreed. “That’s part of what made it so hard to cope. I can’t have foals with another mare, but was it really worth lying about? I caused you so much pain, and I can never ask you to forgive me for that…”

Big Mac’s smile became more genuine. “Ya really did hurt me, Cheerilee. But that pain’s numbed a good deal lately. Ah reckon our time together taught me a lot about mahself, too.”

Cheerilee smiled in bemusement. “Mac, you’re not telling me… you’re a coltcuddler?”

Mac chuckled. “Little bit o’ both, Ah’d say.”

Cheerilee’s brow furrowed. “With just one pony?”

“She really is a special mare.” Mac grinned.

“I… I’m afraid I don’t understand…”

Mac laughed. “Ah’m sure she’ll tell ya herself someday. Sure had me fooled, too.”

“So you don’t resent me for what I did to you?” Cheerilee asked in a small voice.

Mac smiled. “Nah. Ah’d much rather have an old friend back than live in the past. So whaddya say, Cheery?”

Cheerilee beamed, eyes leaking tears. “You really are a great friend, Mac.”

Big Mac wrapped Cheerilee in a hug, glad that everything had turned out alright. Ah guess she was right, after all. Thanks, Rare.





Apple Bloom yawned, rising from her bed and rubbing her eyes. She had certainly slept in, as the clock read 10:26 AM, but she still felt tired. She slid herself out of bed groggily lest she fall back into sleep’s embrace.

Walking to the washroom to splash some water on her face, Apple Bloom’s thoughts wandered. She wondered what Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were doing. She hoped they weren’t having as rough a go of it as she was. Apple Bloom blushed as she looked at her reflection, remembering the rampant sexual energy Rainbow Dash seemed to be emanating. There was certainly a great deal of talk about it.

Apple Bloom’s stomach growled, reminding her that she had yet to eat breakfast. She dismounted the sink and ventured downstairs, where Granny Smith was reheating some leftover fritters from breakfast.

“Mornin’, sleepy head,” Granny Smith chirped, ruffling Apple Bloom’s mane. “Don’t let sleepin’ this late become a habit now.”

“Sorry, Granny. Ah was just… Things have been gettin’ a little awkward ‘round here an’ with mah friends,” Apple Bloom said, shuffling over to her seat. “Oh, and good mornin’ ta you, too.”

Granny frowned. “Apple Bloom, has there been somethin’ goin’ on?”

Apple Bloom shook her head. “Ah just need ta figure this out on mah own.”

“Well, don’t let it set too long now, er it might get bigger ‘n it needs ta,” Granny counseled, hoofing Apple Bloom a plate of fritters.

Apple Bloom ate them gratefully, thinking about her next move. There’s gotta be somethin’ Ah can do. Maybe there’s somethin’ at the club house that’ll help me think. The clubhouse always reminded her of the way things were supposed to be, before all this mess with sexy stuff. Everything was great when it was all just hugs and kisses, but now there was just that bit of information in the back of her mind that seemed to taint everything that used to be innocent.

Maybe we never should’a asked about all that, Apple Bloom supposed. Maybe that was somethin’ we should’a learned on our own. Maybe Ah should stop thinkin’ in maybes. They’re gettin’ me nowheres! The only thing that’s gonna help here is action. If Ah can’t make this right in mah head, maybe Ah can at least- no, Ah  will make this right with the girls.

Apple Bloom nodded her head in conviction. “Thanks fer the food, Granny!” She called over her shoulder as she rushed outside. She had to get to the clubhouse, find something that could help make this right. They had tons of stuff there! Pictures, mementos, an orange pegasus filly sleeping on the floor...

Apple Bloom blinked, returning her gaze to the last item she had observed. Sure enough, Scootaloo lay in the middle of the room, resting peacefully. Apple Bloom frowned as she shook her friend awake. “Scoot, wake up, this is important.”

Scootaloo blinked, eyes slowly focusing on the yellow earth pony filly before her. “O-oh! Hey Apple Bloom? What brings you here?” She attempted to assume a casual pose on the floor, failing as her foreleg gave out and sent her head crashing to the floor.

Apple Bloom’s frown deepened. “Scoot, did you spend the night here again?”

“Of course not! I was just, you know, passing through and uh… I must have, uh, fallen asleep at some point and…”

“Scoot,” Apple Bloom lowered her voice, pulling her friend into a hug. “What’s been goin’ on? How come ya haven’t been goin’ home every night?”

Knowing that she had been found out, Scootaloo changed tact. “Oh, you know, I just wanted to spend more time with you, and…”

Apple Bloom silenced Scootaloo with a kiss. “Please, Scoot, no more lies. Tell me what’s wrong. Is it ‘cause you’re uncomfortable facin’ yer parents about us?”

Scootaloo sighed, breaking away from Apple Bloom. “I’d feel better if Sweetie Belle were here, too. This would be… really hard for me to do twice.”

Apple Bloom rubbed a hoof along Scootaloo’s back comfortingly. “Well Ah’m sure we could go-“

“I thought I’d find you guys here,” Sweetie Belle’s voice sounded from the doorway. “Listen, girls, about all this-“

Apple Bloom turned to Sweetie Belle. “Please, Belle, Scoot’s gonna tell us somethin’ real important.”

Sweetie Belle blinked once before nodding and coming to sit next to them.

“We’re all here now, Scoot. Now please, just tell us what-“

“I ran away from home,” Scootaloo interrupted. “It wasn’t too long after I met you guys; right after Dinky got her cutie mark. I just-“

“Woah, hold on a second, Scoot,” Apple Bloom cut in. “What’s this gotta do with Dinky? And that was almost three years ago, Scoot. Yer tellin’ me ya’ve been away from yer family all this time?”

Scootaloo sighed, looking up to the ceiling. “I never did tell you girls about my family, did I?”

“Scoot, just how much have you been keeping from us?” Sweetie Belle asked, slightly hurt.

“It’s hard for me, okay?” Scootaloo snapped. “When you haven’t seen your parents for three years, it’s hard to think about. I never know what they think of me, or if they even love me anymore! I ran away for such a stupid reason, and now I…” Scootaloo gasped, tears leaking from her eyes. “I can’t find a way to go back.”

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were there to dry her tears in a heartbeat. “It’s okay, Scoot. We can help you with this,” Sweetie Belle promised.

“Yeah, what are fillyfriends for?” Apple Bloom added with a hopeful smile.

Scootaloo choked back a sob. “Thanks, you guys. But I don’t know if it’s gonna be as easy as that.”

“Well, why don’t you start by telling us a bit about yer family?” Apple Bloom suggested.

“You said something about Dinky,” Sweetie Belle added.

Scootaloo nodded. “Dinky… she… is kinda my twin sister. I guess.”

“Kinda?” Apple Bloom asked skeptically.

“You guess?” Sweetie Belle cocked her head.

“It’s… complicated. I never really understood it, myself,” Scootaloo admitted.

“Well, what makes it complicated?” Sweetie Belle pressed.

“It’s about my parents,” Scootaloo replied. “I kinda don’t really have a… dad.” Scootaloo cocked her head, as if she’d confused even herself.

“What happened to him?” Apple Bloom asked softly.

“She’s a mare,” Scootaloo clarified.

“Wait, what?”

“You mean he somehow got changed into a mare?” Sweetie Belle guessed.

Scootaloo shook her head. “I’m not even sure that’s possible. She’s always been a mare, as far as I know. Even if she is a little nutty.”

“Well, how’d ya get born if both yer parents are mares? Applejack told me it don’t work that way,” Apple Bloom questioned.

“I know Dinky’s mom is Derpy,” Sweetie Belle ventured. “So does that mean Derpy is your mom, too?”

Scootaloo chuckled. “That’s the thing. Derpy’s… kinda my dad.”

Apple Bloom furrowed her brows. “How does that work?”

“Yeah, how can she be both a mom and a dad at the same time? Especially if you and Dinky are twins.” Sweetie Belle held her head in her hooves, trying to process the impossibility.

“I said we’re kinda twins,” Scootaloo reminded. “We were both born at the same time, but my mother is her father, and my father is her mother.”

“What?”

“So if Derpy’s your dad, then who’s your mom?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Golden Harvest,” Scootaloo answered. “Or I guess she likes to be called Carrot Top now.”

“Wait, so you used ta live on the Carrot Farm?” Apple Bloom mused, looking out the window and spying Carrot Top’s farmhouse easily.

“Yeah, I guess I’m not too far from home, am I?” Scootaloo marveled, smiling briefly before her face darkened. “But I can’t go back now. Not after how I just ditched the place.”

“Don’t say that, Scoot. They’re yer family,” Apple Bloom reproached. “Ah’m sure they’ve been waitin’ all this time fer the day ya came home.”

“What, and just forget how I ran away for three years just because I was jealous that my sister got her cutie mark before me?” Scootaloo demanded.

“That wasn’t the only reason, was it?” Sweetie Belle asked knowingly.

Scootaloo winced, turning away. “No, I guess not. Dad was never very good at teaching me how to fly. She somehow had a better time teaching Dinky magic, even though she’s a pegasus. Mom couldn’t help much either, since she’s an earth pony. I met Rainbow Dash for the first time not too long before then, and she was the greatest flier I’d ever seen! I was sure she could help me out someday.

“But it took her two years to really notice me. And by that time, I was pretty far gone. When you spend two whole years chasing after one thing, I guess you can kinda lose sight of everything else,” Scootaloo lowered her head ashamedly.

“Did you ever tell Rainbow about that?” Sweetie Belle asked, coming to stand beside Scootaloo.

“No,” Scootaloo answered simply, turning away again.

Apple Bloom advanced on her from the other side. “Would ya feel better if ya did?”

Scootaloo sighed. “Maybe.”

“Then let’s go look for her!” Sweetie Belle insisted.

“Yeah, she’s probably with mah sister somewheres. It’s almost lunchtime so they’re sure ta be somewhere in Ponyville. C’mon!”





Rarity was feeling her first pangs of lunchtime hunger by the time Spike made his way back downstairs. She smiled up at him sadly.

“You’re… still here?” Spike asked incredulously.

“I have been the whole time,” Rarity affirmed.

Spike came to sit next to Rarity, something she allowed. “Who is he?”

“You’re quite perceptive for your age, Spike,” Rarity observed. “It’s Big Macintosh. I’ve had my eye on him for a while, and he truly accepts me for who I am. I couldn’t imagine you would do the same.”

“No, I guess not. I’d just be lying to myself,” Spike agreed. “Is it… really true, though? That you’re not really a mare?”

In lieu of an answer, Rarity turned to face Spike, splaying her legs slightly to reveal her secret. Spike looked on in disbelief until Rarity’s self-consciousness kicked in and she hid herself with a blush. “I wouldn’t do that for just anypony, you know. I never showed Applejack or Rainbow Dash, and I don’t intend to show Pinkie or Twilight.”

“What about Fluttershy?” Spike asked.

“That was… rather unavoidable,” Rarity admitted. “When you have weekly spa visits with somepony for almost five years now… It’s hard to hide, even with magic.”

“Was she the first pony you told?”

Rarity nodded. “It was only about a year ago, maybe less. She never judged me, either, but…”

“But you’re not interested in mares?” Spike suggested.

“Well, no, I don’t suppose I am. But it was more… platonic. Fluttershy may accept me, even embrace me, but we’ve only ever been friends. Best friends.”

Spike nodded. “You two have been having those spa trips ever since I came to Ponyville.”

“I have to apologize again for all this. I never meant for it to be this… complicated.”

Spike smiled sadly. “It’s alright, Rarity. I think I always knew it could never work between us. You’re a pony, I’m a dragon. You’re all grown up, and I’m still just a kid. Heh, you’re gay and I’m straight!”

Rarity chortled. “I suppose that’s true, isn’t it? I never really saw it that way, myself. Despite it all, I’ve always viewed myself as a mare. I suppose that tends to happen when you’re raised a filly, hm?”

“I wouldn’t know, sorry,” Spike shrugged.

Rarity laughed. “I wouldn’t expect you to, Spike. And I will be forever thankful to you for taking this so well.”

“Hey, a dragon’s gotta be noble, right?” Spike grinned.

“And you’re the noblest of them all,” Rarity praised, pulling Spike into a hug.

“I’m guessing you’re gonna wanna keep this a secret?”

“If you would be so kind, noble dragon.”

Spike held a claw to his chin dramatically. “Hm, only if you pay me a royalty in gems!”

Rarity laughed. “I’m sure that can be arranged, your majesty.”

Spike laughed along, happy that nothing had changed between them.





Big Mac and Cheerilee were headed out to lunch at Café du Mane to catch up on each other’s goings-on. That was when the pink menace attacked.

“Oh, hi, Mac! You worked things out with Cheerilee? What about Rarity? Because you were looking for her a couple of days ago, and the way you were talking about her made it sound like you were a couple, and also like there was something fishy going on, which is weird because fish are more Fluttershy’s thing, and she and Rarity go to the spa together, but when I looked there, there weren’t any fish, which meant the fish must be out of water! So that’s when I decided that I should throw a big pool party to get all the fishies back where they belong, but that meant I had to get all the fish accounted for, and make sure they’d be safe and not to invite any griffins because they eat fish and then that made me think of Gilda, because I never saw her eat any fish when Rainbow brought her here. And that’s when I remembered that Rainbow was acting all fishy, too, and that it had something to do with Applejack, and probably something mushy, because I saw it in her eyes, but Rainbow doesn’t like to talk so much about mushy stuff, and she didn’t want to talk to me about it, so it made sense! But then I thought of what kind of mushy thing would involve Applejack and Rainbow, and that’s when I remembered that Rainbow looked at me funny when I asked if she was taking Applejack on a date, so obviously they must be a couple, too! But they almost blew my cover yesterday when they came to Sugarcube Corner for something, so I had to distract them by giving them cupcakes I made for the party which I decided to make about all kind of fishiness and not just fish, which included them, which meant that it was a party to celebrate their new ship, and that meant I had to make it about more than just fish, so I had to think of what fish and ships had in common. At first I thought about how they both had sh in their names, but if I threw a sh party then everypony would think they’d have to be quiet, and a party’s no fun if it’s quiet! So then I remembered that there was gonna be a pool at the party, and ships and fish both need water! So now I need a way to invite Applejack and Rainbow to the water party without telling them what it is, and you’re here and you live on Sweet Apple Acres so you could figure out some excuse for them to come to Sugarcube Corner! Sorry for the wall of text, by the way, I’m just so nervouscited! This is gonna be the best water party ever!”

Big Mac and Cheerilee blinked in the wake of the verbal carnage. “Ah’m sorry, what?”

“Go tell Applejack and Rainbow Dash to come to Sugarcube Corner tomorrow at lunchtime,” Pinkie instructed more slowly, donning a big grin and bouncing away without waiting for confirmation of Mac’s comprehension.

Mac summarily shook his head to dislodge the questions his mind had begun to formulate, returning his attention to the task at hoof. “Anyway, what were we talkin’ about?”

“Nothing that won’t come up again, I’m sure,” Cheerilee laughed. “I think she mentioned something about your sister and Rainbow Dash, though. Did something happen between them?”

“Oh, yeah, AJ an’ Rainbow started datin’ a few days ago after Rainbow got her caught up in some kinda band shenanigans,” Mac explained. “Ah’m not sure if that’s what Pinkie was goin’ on about, but Ah’m never sure what she is.”

“That’s wonderful news, Mac. Be sure to give them my congratulations.” Cheerilee smiled. “You know, my sister has found her way into a relationship, herself.”

Mac cocked his head. “Berry? Ah thought she was as bad at holdin’ colts as alcohol.”

Cheerilee giggled. “It’s not a colt this time.”

“Really now? And here Ah thought she was one o’ the last straight fillies left in this town,” Mac joked.

Cheerilee shrugged. “I’ve never seen her discriminate between hitting on either. She’s just had better luck at seducing colts in the past. I do wonder how she managed to catch such a respectable mare, though.”

“Who’s her latest victim, then?” Mac chuckled.

“I’m not sure we can call it that. Berry’s only ever gone on about how great she is, even when she’s sober.” Cheerilee sat herself across from Mac at one of the available tables. “Who knows, maybe she and Colgate hit it off when she was getting her teeth fixed.”

“Colgate, huh?” Mac smiled. “Might be good fer her ta have somepony like her close at hoof.”

“It might be too much to ask to get her drinking under control, but treating the negative effects would be the next best thing,” Cheerilee agreed. “It almost makes me wonder if Colgate doesn’t see her as some sort of project to be worked on as well as a marefriend. There isn’t too much else I could see that would have drawn them together.”

Mac shrugged. “You know how these things go. Most of the time it don’t make sense, but it works out all the same.”

“To a point, yes,” Cheerilee sighed. “But then I’ve yet to crest the next hill, I suppose.”

“Anypony you’ve got yer eye on?” Mac prompted.

Cheerilee shook her head. “It’s difficult to find the right balance. I mean, I’d want somepony respectable enough to have around foals, but not to the level of being too stuffy. I’d want somepony more relaxed, maybe even a little soft-spoken. Somepony like you, I suppose, but…”

“A mare?” Big Mac suggested.

Cheerilee nodded hesitantly. “It just sounds so shallow when it comes down to it.”

Mac chuckled. “Well, Ah think Ah know the pony yer lookin’ for.”

“You do?” Cheerilee squealed.

“Ah’m not sure how her barn door swings, but it don’t usually take much ta convince Fluttershy,” Mac laughed.

Cheerilee gasped, eyes going wide. “Fluttershy?”

Mac smiled at Cheerilee’s reaction. “Ya know, Ah had mah eye on her once, but Ah was always just too dang nervous ta ask her out. Ah’m not sure how well it coulda worked even past that, though. Relationships only go as far as ya take ‘em.”

Cheerilee giggled, seeming not entirely there. “Yes, between the two of you… initiative…”

Mac frowned. “You alright, Cheer?”

Cheerilee blinked before shaking her head. “Yes, I’m… sorry. I just got caught up, uh…”

Big Mac smiled knowingly. “Thinkin’ about Fluttershy?”

Cheerilee nodded sheepishly.

“Ah think the two o’ you could work out real nice together,” Mac encouraged. “Ya both like foals, yer both sweet an’ unselfish, an’ ya both make great role models fer yer students.”

“I suppose it would be a good idea to teach them about the option,” Cheerilee agreed. “But listen to us getting way ahead of ourselves. I still have to work up the courage to ask her out.”

“Ah’m sure that’s somethin’ ya can handle,” Mac chuckled.

Cheerilee laughed along. “Thanks for the help, Mac. I might not have even made that connection myself.”

“What are friends for, right?” Mac smiled.





Applejack sighed, leaning back in her chair after consuming her last bite of the delicious lunch Octavia had prepared. “Thanks again fer lettin’ us stay fer lunch, Octavia.”

“It’s no trouble at all,” Octavia assured, turning to Vinyl.

“Yep! But if you’ll excuse me, I’ve gotta go get ready for a gig tonight. See ya!” Vinyl waved, grabbing her saddlebags before exiting the house and making her way to the club she was performing at tonight.

Along her way, she caught sight of three familiar-looking fillies, one in particular that looked quite down. Walking over to them, Vinyl called out, “Hey, aren’t you Rainbow Dash’s kid sister?”

Scootaloo perked her head up, looking for the source of the voice. An erratic-looking white unicorn with an electric blue mane and purple sunglasses was waving at them. Curious, the three fillies broke from their search to investigate. “You know where Rainbow Dash is?” Scootaloo asked.

Vinyl cocked her head. “Yeah, she’s at my marefriend’s house. I’d show you, but I’m running kinda late as it is. It’s the big house over that way with the treble clef on the door. Gotta run!”

With that, the quirky DJ was off, and Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were thoroughly confused. “What’s a treble clef?” Apple Bloom wondered.

“Oh, I know! It’s the clef that sheet music for a lot of lighter string instruments like violins are written in,” Sweetie Belle answered confidently.

Scootaloo blinked twice. “What are you, a dictionary?”

“Hey, I-“

“Let’s please not start this again, gals,” Apple Bloom cut in, separating the two.

Sweetie Belle’s face scrunched up before she turned around and started walking in the direction Vinyl had indicated. With her freaky knowledge of music, Sweetie Belle quickly found the aforementioned house and knocked on the door.

The door was answered by Octavia, who looked surprised to see such young visitors. “Oh, hello, can I help you?”

“We’re looking for Rainbow Dash,” Scootaloo said, darting in front. “You marefriend said she was here.”

Octavia nodded slowly, stepping aside to let them in. “Rainbow Dash, these three fillies were looking for you,” Octavia called as the crusaders entered the kitchen.

“Oh, hey you three, what’s up?” Rainbow asked.

“It’s… kinda a long story…” Scootaloo began sheepishly.





“So what are we waiting for? Let’s get you back home!” Rainbow insisted immediately upon the conclusion of Scootaloo’s explanation.

Scootaloo’s eyes widened. “B-but what about-“

Rainbow interrupted by grabbing Scootaloo, throwing her on her back, and flying out the door. Applejack shook her head in bemusement, turning to Octavia. “Well, Ah guess this is where we’re gonna part, then. Nice talkin’ to ya.”

“Likewise,” Octavia said, smiling in amusement.

Rainbow reached Carrot Top’s farm in record time with a deathly afraid Scootaloo clinging to her shoulders for dear life. Scootaloo tensed as Rainbow knocked on the door. She jumped in front of her idol. “Wait, Rainbow Dash, I’m not ready for-“

“Scootaloo?”

Scootaloo looked behind her. The door was open, and there stood Carrot Top, eyes brimming with tears. Derpy settled beside her in the doorway, smiling. “Mom, Dad!” Scootaloo flung herself into their arms.

“Scoot!” Derpy cheered.

“We knew you’d come back someday,” Carrot Top spoke through her tears.

Scootaloo never wanted to let go again. She was home, and there wasn’t anything-

“Welcome home, Scoot.”

“Dinky!” Scootaloo glomped her sister, peppering her with kisses.

Dinky giggled. “I missed you, too, sis. But I don’t remember you ever being so affectionate.”

Scootaloo righted herself sheepishly. “Sorry, I…”

“You were never alone, you know,” Carrot Top said, drawing Scootaloo’s attention. “Every day, your father,” Carrot Top smiled at Derpy, “would keep an eye out for you. All the time she could find between deliveries, she was watching over you.”

Scootaloo’s eyes widened. “Is that true, Dad?”

“How do you think you were always able to find food when you needed it?” Carrot Top asked.

“They don’t call me the greatest delivery mare in Ponyville for nothing!” Derpy puffed out her chest.

Scootaloo laughed, drawing all three of them into another hug. “I love you guys. I missed you so much.”

“We missed you, too Scoot,” Derpy returned in a moment of clairvoyance, extending her wings to wrap around them all. “And we’re really happy you’ve found two wonderful fillies that brought you back to us.”

“I guess this means we’re gonna be staying over here for a while, huh?” Sweetie Belle put in.

Scootaloo broke from the hug to give her fillyfriends each a kiss. “Thank you guys so much. I… I love you both.”

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle smiled warmly. “We love you too, Scoot.”

Scootaloo slowly built up into a fit of spontaneous laughter. Without knowing why, she pulled Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom on top of her, rolling around and laughing without a care. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle happily joined in, needing no reason to see Scootaloo so giddy.

From one side, Dinky giggled while Carrot Top and Derpy leaned their heads together, smiling warmly. From the other, Rainbow and Applejack shared a glance, after which Applejack leaned her head on Rainbow’s shoulder. Rainbow smiled, placing a kiss on Applejack’s forehead.

“We don’t blame you, you know,” Carrot Top said, having skirted the developing cuddle pile with Derpy to join Applejack and Rainbow. “Scootaloo was always looking for some kind of great adventure, and we knew we couldn’t offer much on a simple carrot farm. I actually feel like I should thank you, Rainbow Dash, for giving my daughter new purpose in life.”

Derpy nodded. “Before you came along, she was always so bored around here.”

“I don’t think you have to worry about that anymore,” Rainbow chuckled. “Who knew little Scootaloo had such a wacky foalhood.”

“That’s a really good point, actually,” Applejack picked up. “How did ya have foals without the spell? Twelve years ago, Princess Luna was still trapped up in the moon, and we weren’t bound ta the elements yet.”

Derpy’s eyes traveled further to opposite sides as her face scrunched up in thought. “I dunno. I think it had something to do with that carrot muffin we ate.”

“A carrot muffin?” Rainbow asked incredulously.

“More like a carrot lodged inside a muffin, but yes,” Carrot Top reinforced. “I’m not entirely sure that was really the cause, but it was the only thing I can think of that was different.”

“So, what exactly happened?” Applejack prompted.

“Oh, I know this one!” Derpy perked up. “It all started back when you were just fillies…”





So, Derpy and Carrot Top were hanging around one night when they got to talking about muffins.

“Actually, dear, we were talking about foals,” Carrot Top reminded.

“Then how did the muffins come up?” Derpy asked.

“Maybe I should just tell the story,” Carrot Top laughed.





Carrot Top sighed wistfully, looking up into the night sky. Derpy soon appeared at her side as she always did.

“What’cha thinkin’ about, Carrot?” Derpy asked.

Carrot Top averted her gaze to her companion briefly before refocusing on the stars. “Oh, nothing you have to worry about, dear.”

“Is it about muffins?” Derpy prodded.





“See, I told you we were talking about muffins!” Derpy interrupted.

Carrot Top shook her head hopelessly before continuing her tale.





“No, it’s nothing quite as simple as that, I’m afraid.”

Derpy’s brow furrowed. “But muffins are like, the most not-simple thing I can think of!”

Carrot Top laughed. “And that’s what makes you so adorable, Derpy.”

“Yay, I’m adorable!” Derpy cheered. “What’s that?”

Carrot Top chortled, shaking her head. “No, I was just thinking about how I might like to be a mother someday. But I can’t bear to think of ever leaving you.”

Derpy frowned. “Why would you have to? You can be a mother any time you want!”

“You mean by adoption?” Carrot Top asked.

“Sure!”

“While I admit it’s a good option for some… I just can’t feel it’s quite the same,” Carrot Top despaired.

Derpy frowned again, thinking. “Oh, I know what’ll help!” She said, perking up and darting away before Carrot Top could ask what she was going on about. Derpy returned shortly with a carrot in her mouth, which she offered to Carrot Top. “You’re always telling me how carrots can fix anything!”

Carrot Top smiled sadly. “I’m afraid this is something they can’t fix, dear.”

Derpy’s ears drooped. “But… but…” Unable to think of anything to say, Derpy left the room helplessly. Something carrots can’t fix? That’s impossible! Carrot Top’s always right! Derpy paused. Right?

In her wanderings, she found herself drawn to the kitchen, where a muffin sat on the table. Derpy smiled. A muffin could always cheer anypony up. Derpy considered that for a moment, before making a connection. Without hesitation, she stabbed the carrot through the muffin and ran back to Carrot Top triumphantly.

“Carrot! Carrot! I figured it out!” Derpy called, skidding to a halt inside the room. “You’re right; carrots aren’t the best at everything. But they can fix a lot of stuff. I saw how sad you were, and then I found this muffin! Muffins always cheer anypony up! And when you put that with a carrot, it’s like, unstoppable!” Derpy placed the carrot-muffin on the windowsill beside Carrot Top, grinning.

Carrot Top glanced between the hopeful grin on her marefriend’s face and the carrot-skewered muffin. After a pause, she couldn’t help but break out into laughter. She wrapped her hooves around Derpy, giving her a kiss. “It’s not the muffins that cheer ponies up, you silly filly. It’s you.”

“You mean I’m a muffin?” Derpy gasped.

Carrot Top giggled. “You’re my muffin.” Carrot Top moved to give Derpy another kiss, but Derpy stopped her.

“Wait! Before anything else, we’ve gotta eat this! It’ll make everything better!” Derpy said, holding up the muffin with a hoof.

Carrot Top laughed, nodding. Together with Derpy, she ate the humorous concoction. While strikingly different, Carrot Top had to admit that the flavors did complement each other quite well. She might just have to look into that.

“But for now…” Carrot Top grinned. “I have something much better in mind.”

“Oh boy, sex!” Derpy cheered, causing Carrot Top to giggle before tackling her to the ground.





“We had sex like we usually did, and wouldn’t you know it, three weeks later, we found out we were both pregnant,” Carrot Top finished, laughing.

Rainbow cocked her head. “So… eating a carrot-muffin thing… let you have foals?”

“Carrot-muffin, then sex,” Derpy corrected.

“Ah… Ah don’t know what…” Applejack could barely form a coherent sentence.

“I don’t know how it happened, either,” Carrot Top admitted. “But the only thing that matters to me is that I got to have foals with the mare I love.”

“D’aww, I love you, too, Carrot,” Derpy said, hugging Carrot Top.

Rainbow turned to Applejack. “You don’t think-“

Applejack held a hoof to her lips, prompting Rainbow’s silence. Rainbow nodded, chuckling. “Well, Ah think our work here is done. Make sure ya don’t go losin’ her again now, y’hear?”

Carrot Top nodded. “Thank you again for bringing her back. We’ll never forget that.”

“Make sure Scoot doesn’t, either. We’ve still gotta get her flying!” Rainbow added.

“We’ll be sure,” Carrot Top promised, smiling.

“Take care now,” Applejack said, leading Rainbow out.

Carrot Top and Derpy waved goodbye before returning their attention to their newly-returned daughter. “It’s so good to have you home, dear.”

“It’s great to be back, Mom,” Scootaloo returned, saluting.

Derpy saluted back. Carrot Top giggled.





Rainbow sighed, settling herself at the base of a tree as they entered back into the orchard. Applejack took a spot next to her, smiling. "Ah’m glad that all turned out alright. Ah was worried fer a bit it mighta been somethin’ serious.”

Rainbow frowned. “I don’t know, AJ. That still seemed pretty serious. I mean, being away from your parents for three years, at her age…”

Applejack winced. “Ah’ve been away from mine a lot longer n’ that, sugarcube.”

“But you still had your family with you,” Rainbow ventured after realizing her misstep. “Scootaloo was…”

“On her way ta makin’ a family o’ her own,” Applejack finished pointedly. “Ah’m not sayin’ it was easy fer her, bein’ away from Dinky, Derpy and Carrot Top, but Ah think she found herself a couple pretty special fillies.”

Rainbow’s shoulders sagged. “Well, it didn’t turn out too bad for you, either. I mean, you got me, right?” Rainbow smiled hopefully.

Applejack smiled back. “Ah guess Ah did,” she admitted, nuzzling Rainbow’s cheek.

Rainbow chuckled, rubbing the back of her head nervously. “I’m… I’m sorry, I… You know I’m no good with words.”

“Ah suppose Ah do,” Applejack agreed. “But that don’ mean Ah can’t tease ya about it sometimes.”

Rainbow laughed. “Who’s terrible now?”

“Ah reckon we can be terrible together.” Applejack gave Rainbow a peck on the nose.

“I’m sure we’ll be doing plenty of terrible things later,” Rainbow suggested.

“Maybe,” Applejack smirked. “But fer now, we’ve still got stuff ta do.”

Rainbow frowned. “Like what?”

Applejack chuckled, rising to her hooves. “Did ya ferget that little idea we had yesterday?”

Rainbow furrowed her brows. “Which one?”

Applejack rolled her eyes. “About how we’re gonna work on this whole band thing. We’ve been at it fer a week and we’ve gotten nowheres.”

“Hey, it’s not my fault your sexy powers are slowing us down,” Rainbow retorted. “Besides, we still have like… three weeks before that music award thing.”

“And ya really think that’s gonna be enough time?” Applejack pressed.

“Yep! We’ve just gotta learn to control your powers so we can use them for music and sexiness. Maybe even at the same time!”

Applejack shook her head, laughing. “Ah’m sure ya’ll get a kick outta those drumsticks.”

Rainbow grinned. “There are two of them, you know…”

Applejack chuckled. “Now come on, we gotta figure out how we’re gonna scrape some bits together fer that drum set.”

“Did you even see how much it was?” Rainbow asked.

Applejack paused before shaking her head. “Ah never got the chance. Ya were in an’ out pretty quick.”

Rainbow grinned sheepishly. “Yeah. Right. Sorry.”

“Ah fergive ya,” Applejack giggled. “Ya did make up fer a whole lot yesterday.”

Rainbow blinked. “What else did I have to make up for?”

Applejack shook her head, not gracing the question with an answer.

“What? Come on, seriously! What did I do?”





“Thanks fer lettin’ us stay, Miss Carrot,” Apple Bloom said, compulsively helping clean the dishes after lunch.

“It’s no trouble at all, Apple Bloom,” Carrot Top assured. “You and Sweetie Belle can stay as long as you like, especially if you keep insisting on helping out.”

Apple Bloom chuckled. “Sorry, it’s kinda a habit.”

Carrot Top glanced behind her briefly. “Well, it seems you are causing a bit of a hold-up. I can take it from here.”

“You sure?” Apple Bloom asked uncertainly.

Carrot Top laughed. “Yes, I’m positive. Now go run along.”

“Alright,” Apple Bloom dismounted the sink and walked back over to the assembled fillies waiting impatiently for her. “How long have you gals been-“

“The whole time,” Scootaloo deadpanned. “Are you gonna do this every time you come over?”

Apple Bloom blushed. “Ah’m sorry, y’all, Ah just…”

Sweetie Belle giggled, nuzzling Apple Bloom’s cheek. “You’d make a great mom someday, Apple Bloom.”

Apple Bloom nuzzled her back. “Thanks, Sweetie Belle.”

Scootaloo rolled her eyes, keeping her distance. At least until her fillyfriends converged upon her and created a humorous scene for a giggling Dinky.

“They’ve got you good, huh, sis?” Dinky teased.

Scootaloo’s head popped out of the pile of fillies to retort, “You’re one to talk, Dink. The way Rumble has you tied around his hoof…” Scootaloo paused. “How are things going with Rumble, anyway?”

Curious at the development, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle disengaged their prison system and listened attentively.

Dinky blushed. “Oh, you know, same kinda stuff…” She trailed off before frowning. “You probably don’t know about what’s been going on with his brother, do you?”

“You mean Thunderlane?” Scootaloo cocked her head. “What kind of trouble is he getting into now?”

Dinky’s brow furrowed in thought. “Well, you know how he’s been going out with Blossomforth, right?”

Scootaloo nodded. “He didn’t get her pregnant, did he?”

Dinky laughed. “No, nothing like that. At least I don’t think so…” Dinky’s head fell to one side. “That would make everything so much more complicated.”

“Why, what happened?” Sweetie Belle pressed.

“Well, the way I understood it he was drinking-“

“Big surprise,” Scootaloo put in.

Dinky smirked. “He was drinking and he finally got himself in over his head. He’d hit a bump with Blossomforth, had one too many, and ended up in bed with another mare.”

Scootaloo recoiled in shock. “Woah. Who was it?”

Dinky smiled sadly. “Cloudchaser.”

“Oh, sweet Celestia,” Scootaloo face-hoofed.

Dinky nodded. “He managed to get things patched up with Blossomforth. I don’t know if he told her the truth or not. But, well…”

Scootaloo sighed, nodding. “How’s she holding up?”

“I’m not sure,” Dinky said, shaking her head. “If Thunderlane’s seen her since, he never told Rumble.”

“How long’s it been?”

“Two months,” Dinky answered sadly.

Scootaloo sighed, shoulders drooping, positively radiating sympathy for-

“Who’re we talkin’ about? Is there somethin’ we’re missin’ here?”

Scootaloo chuckled humorlessly. “You girls don’t know the half of it. Oh, where to start?”

“Rumble and I have been dating for about a year. His big brother, Thunderlane, is kind of a jerk, but Rumble’s just the sweetest colt you could ever find.” Dinky’s eyes grew dreamy.

“Focus, Dink,” Scootaloo chided. “So, yeah, Thunderlane’s been around the block a few times. He’s been dating Blossomforth for the past few years after he broke up with Cloud Kicker. Funny thing is Cloud Kicker’s probably the closest thing you’ll get to Thunderlane in mare form.”

“Tell me about it,” Dinky said, chuckling dryly. “Blossomforth, on the other hoof, is a really sweet mare. I really never knew what she saw in Thunderlane, but I guess I don’t know the whole story. Anyway, Cloudchaser’s one of Thunderlane’s old friends. She and her sister Flitter usually stop by quite a lot to watch over Rumble whenever his parents and Thunderlane are out.”

“Yeah, and it’s no secret she had a huge crush on him for who knows how long,” Scootaloo picked up. “Cloudchaser was probably just doing it to get closer to Thunderlane, hoping to catch him on a rebound from one of his fights with Blossomforth. And, well, I guess she got her wish, huh?”

“In the worst possible way,” Dinky agreed. “I know it might sound like she had it coming, but Cloudchaser’s one of the most innocent mares I’ve met. She’s up there with Fluttershy, just without the skittishness.”

“Yeah, and almost as much of a hopeless romantic as Rarity was before she found Mac, from what I hear,” Scootaloo added. “I never really met her myself, but… she’s one of those types that’s really hard not to feel sorry for.”

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle shared a glance, unsure what to make of the new development. Could Scootaloo’s family get any more confusing?





“Okay, since you don’t seem to want to tell me, I’m gonna assume it’s nothing. So unless it was something important, I-“

“We’re here, Dash,” Applejack interrupted, stopping before the Ponyville Bank.

Rainbow regarded the building dubiously, having never utilized its services before. “They really keep all of Ponyville’s money in that little thing?”

Applejack chortled. “Hay no. There’s way more of it underground. That ya see there’s just the reception.”

Rainbow frowned. “If it’s all underground, wouldn’t that make it really easy to break into?”

Applejack cocked her head. “How do ya figure?”

“Well, you’d just have to dig down and break through the ceiling, right?”

Applejack rolled her eyes. “So you think ya’d be able ta just start diggin’ a hole in the middle o’ Ponyville and have nopony notice?”

“It’s not like it’s all under the road, right?” Rainbow went on unabashed. “I mean, there have to be some houses above it. So you wouldn’t even have to leave your house!”

“So yer suggestin’ the ponies that built this thing had the oversight ta build a vault right under somepony’s house?” Applejack challenged.

“Or maybe somepony had the undersight to build a house on top of one of the vaults,” Rainbow concluded.

“Ya do know that’s not a real word, right?”

“Well it should be!” Rainbow declared.

Applejack rolled her eyes again, humored. “Are we gonna go inside er what?”

“What?” Rainbow blinked, glancing at the bank they stood before. “Oh, yeah. Sure.”

With how easy she gets side-tracked, it’s a wonder she can hold all that dedication, Applejack mused, entering behind the marvel of a pegasus. “So how come you never put any money in a bank before?”

Rainbow shrugged. “I did when I was a filly, but that let my parents get into it. Besides, what safer place to put my money than where I can guard it myself?”

“And Ah’m sure Tank makes a great security system when yer away,” Applejack joked. “Well, if yer gonna start livin’ with us at the farm, yer gonna hafta get used ta comin’ here.”

Rainbow frowned. “Why?”

Applejack paused to converse briefly with the teller before returning her attention to Rainbow. “It’s the way we handle money nowadays. Mac did some stuff with his mathematics and found out we could turn a profit if we pooled all our money together and tossed it in one o’ these here vaults.” Applejack gestured to the rows of them on each side of the hallway they were being led through.

“So… how does that affect me?” Rainbow asked quizzically.

Applejack smiled. “Yer one o’ the family now, ain’t ya? Besides, with all this money ya got saved up, we could make a lot on interest.”

Rainbow frowned, nodding hesitantly. “I guess so,” Rainbow admitted.

The rest of their walk was had in silence before they stopped at the Apple Family’s vault, which they were let into by their attendant. Applejack shifted her saddlebags as they walked inside. Rainbow inspected them more closely, noting they were considerably more bloated than she expected.

“Wait, what do you mean by ‘this money’?” Rainbow questioned.

Applejack smiled sheepishly, removing her saddlebags to reveal the bits inside. “Ya never did ask me why Ah brought mah saddlebags.”

Rainbow’s eye twitched. “You took my money? When did you even… How did you…?”

“Under the mattress ain’t exactly the most secret spot ta keep yer bits, sugarcube,” Applejack joked weakly, hoping to ease the tension. Rainbow responded by narrowing her eyes at her. “Okay, Ah’m sorry. Ah knew ya probably wouldn’t like the idea, and Ah didn’t know when Ah’d get another chance like this.”

“You could have at least told me first!” Rainbow argued.

“Ah didn’t think ya would let me!” Applejack insisted. “Ah was just thinkin’ o’ the family. It probably don’t show much this early inta the harvest season, but we ain’t exactly in the best shape right now. Granny’s gettin’ older, an’ she can’t make as many trips out ta town anymore, an’ that means we gotta sacrifice some valuable harvest time ta go in her place. It might not sound like much, but in the heart o’ Applebuck Season, that could mean the difference between twenty rotten apples and two hundred.

“Ya really have been a great help so far, sugarcube, but this is just the foal’s work we’ve been doin’ so far. It’s gonna get a lot harder, and we’re gonna have less time fer all o’ this. Ah know yer really worked up about this whole band idea, but we just ain’t got the bits ta spare right now, and, well, yer carryin’ so much that…” Applejack hung her head dejectedly, unable to meet Rainbow’s softening glare. “Ah really didn’t mean ta make ya upset. It would just be such a load off everypony’s shoulders if we had some extra bits around.”

Rainbow sighed, lifting Applejack’s head with a hoof. “I can’t stay mad at you. Especially when you go and pour your heart out at me like that.” Rainbow averted her gaze briefly. “But… I’m not stupid, you know. And you’re not alone. I might not have the experience you do working on the farm, but I can still help with some of the decisions. That’s what family’s all about, right?”

Applejack looked at Rainbow with teary eyes, a smile slowly growing on her face. “Ya really are the best, Rainbow.”

Rainbow smiled back. “And it’s not just me, either. I’m sure Rarity would be willing to help out whenever she’s not busy with her dressmaking. She helped yesterday, didn’t she? Probably a bit more than I’d have expected from her. I mean, if all you’d need her to do is make a trip to the marketplace now and then, I’m sure that’s something she could handle.”

“Ya never know with Rarity, though,” Applejack put in. “Ah mean, just think how much she’s been foolin’ us with such simple stuff.”

Rainbow laughed lightly. “Yeah, she can be a little shifty sometimes. But you see how she’s practically glued herself to Mac.”

Applejack nodded, chuckling. “Are ya sure yer alright with this?”

“If you’re really hurting for money that much…” Rainbow smirked. “You are providing food for me.”

“Ah was pretty surprised ta see how much ya had left over. Could it be that ya were milkin’ it a bit when ya said ya’d need ta live on apples fer a month?”

“Hey, that thousand we took was my food money. The rest was my… other stuff money.”

Applejack cocked a brow. “And that other stuff is more important to ya than food?”

Rainbow blushed. “Well, when I’ve got such a willing source of food already…”

Applejack chuckled helplessly. “So what is that other thing ya were keepin’ all that money for?”

“Oh, you know, Wonderbolts shows. Tickets can get expensive, you know. And then there’s the travel, the merch, all sorts of stuff,” Rainbow rattled off absently.

“Ya really do love yer Wonderbolts, Dash,” Applejack mused.

“Yeah, I actually-“ Rainbow paused, blinked and shook her head violently.

Applejack frowned. “Somethin’ wrong, sugarcube?”

“No it- it’s nothing. We should probably just deposit what we don’t need and head on over to the music shop,” Rainbow said unconvincingly.

“Ah thought we were makin’ a promise not ta keep secrets, Rainbow,” Applejack prodded.

“I really…” Rainbow spared a glance to the vault door to confirm that their attendant was still standing there, looking bored. “I really don’t want to talk about this here. Can we please just… get out of here?”

Applejack sighed. Normally this would be the part where Rainbow would avoid the question for the rest of the day, but this time… “Alright, but ya gotta promise me we’ll talk when we get back home.”

“Promise,” Rainbow responded eagerly.

Applejack smirked, counting out the bits in her saddlebags. “How much ya think we’ll need?”

Rainbow shrugged. “I’d say take a thousand just to be safe. Whatever we don’t use we can keep on hoof.”

Applejack nodded, separating a thousand bits from the pile, leaving about three thousand to be deposited. Applejack deposited the thousand bits back into her saddlebags, leaving the rest to be sorted by the attendant. Within a few seconds, the attendant showed them out, locking the vault behind them.

Being out of the bank filled Rainbow with an odd sense of freedom. Something about having no view of the sky really unsettled her. She fell into step beside Applejack as they made their way across town. Applejack sent frequent glances her way, as if to make sure she hadn’t run off. Rainbow met her with a smile each time, but couldn’t help but feel a little hurt that Applejack still didn’t trust her completely.

“You should be more worried about the drum set being there than me,” Rainbow blurted.

Applejack turned to regard Rainbow with obvious befuddlement. “Why would Ah be worried about you not bein’ there, sugarcube?”

Rainbow frowned. “Because you keep looking at me funny!”

Applejack matched Rainbow’s frown. “Ah keep lookin’ at ya ‘cause Ah’m worried about ya. Ya’ve been actin’ real edgy ever since Ah brought up the Wonderbolts.”

Rainbow’s face hardened. “Well, let’s just say you’ve got your problems, and I’ve got mine.” Rainbow took off with a flap of her wings, rushing off towards their destination.

Applejack’s ears drooped at Rainbow’s unexpected departure. “What’s goin’ on inside that head o’ yers, Rainbow?” Applejack muttered to herself.

Rainbow was silent for the rest of their trip; pointedly avoiding physical contact, never meeting Applejack’s eye. Applejack grew increasingly worried for her marefriend, hoping she hadn’t done something to bring this about, but unable to get a response from her either way.

The drum set was purchased with little enthusiasm, and ran them about six hundred bits. Applejack hefted the kit up onto her back, thankful that it was held together at a central point. Rainbow took off for the farm as soon as Applejack looked to be able to walk without falling over.

Applejack sighed, able to take solace only in Rainbow’s promise to talk once they got back to the farm. But she was starting to really get worried that this might be something words alone couldn’t fix.

Applejack arrived to a quiet farmhouse. Granny was asleep, and Big Mac and Apple Bloom were absent. Applejack didn’t know whether to be grateful or jealous. She deposited the drum set in her closet, not finding Rainbow in her room. She moved to her window, scanning the orchard for any sign of her marefriend, though none was to be found.

Applejack was startled as she heard Rainbow curse loudly from within her room, followed by what sounded like… sobbing? Applejack rushed in to comfort Rainbow, but was pushed away. “Rainbow, please. Tell me what’s wrong.”

In place of an answer, Rainbow merely gestured weakly to a letter by her bedside. Applejack instantly recognized the seal of the Wonderbolts and set about reading the missive.

Dear Rainbow Dash,

As captain of the Wonderbolts, it is my honor to inform you that you have been accepted into our ranks. I knew you were something special ever since you saved us back at the Best Young Flier’s competition a couple years back. You proved yourself to me at the Academy, and it didn’t take much to convince the others. Now that a spot has opened up, we’re proud to have it filled by such a promising prospect as yourself. That being said, you have a month to report before your position is forfeit.

Your Captain,
Spitfire

Applejack’s jaw slackened. Rainbow had done it, she had achieved her lifelong dream. So why was she so upset? Applejack re-read the letter, wondering if she had missed some slight or other, but came up empty.

“Rainbow, this is great news! Ya’ve been wantin’ ta get inta the Wonderbolts fer as long as Ah’ve known ya,” Applejack said, placing a hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder, which was not shoved away this time.

Rainbow turned herself to face Applejack, fur matted with tears, nose dripping mucus. “Don’t you get it, AJ? This is exactly what I’ve been afraid of since this whole thing started. I was literally just talking about how I’d be there for you, and now look!” Rainbow gestured again to the letter.

“Ah am, sugarcube, and Ah couldn’t be more proud of ya,” Applejack insisted.

Rainbow choked back a sob. “I have a month, AJ! If I don’t go to them, I might never get this chance again. But going to them would mean that…” Rainbow paused, before continuing in a small voice. “It would mean that I’d have to leave.”

Applejack blinked back a couple of brimming tears. “Whaddya mean, Rainbow? Ya said yerself, ya’d always be here-“

“And I can’t do that!” Rainbow burst out. “The Wonderbolts are my life, AJ, and they really would be if I joined. I’d have maybe three weeks out of a year to come back to spend with you, and I can’t do that! And if you’re really hurting so much for money, that would mean you’d have to somehow make it work without me.”

“Ah’m sure we could figure somethin’ out, sugarcube. Ah mean, what if ya just joined part-time-“

“There’s no such thing as a part-time Wonderbolt, AJ! It’s all or nothing with them. Don’t you get it? To join them I’d have to leave behind the most amazing mare in Equestria. But to stay, I’d have to throw away everything I’ve worked for the past fifteen years of my life!” Rainbow shivered, prompting Applejack to wrap her in a warm embrace, pulling the covers over them both.

“We can get through this, Rainbow,” Applejack promised. “It won’t be easy without ya, but Ah can’t take somethin’ like that away from ya. We’ll find some way to get by, and you can go live yer dream. Just… promise me you’ll come back someday.”

Rainbow let out a ratcheting sob, breaking out in tears again. “What the buck am I supposed to do, AJ?”

“Just relax,” Applejack soothed, fighting back her own tears. “We’ve got a month ta figure this out. We don’t gotta commit ta anything just yet. So how’s about you take yer own advice fer once and stop worryin’ so much?”

Rainbow looked up to Applejack’s hopeful face. She could never say no to that face. For Applejack, she had to be strong; she had to be there while she could. If this was to be their last month together, she’d be damned if it wasn’t the best month of their lives.

“I… I lo-“

“Shh, no need ta be hasty now,” Applejack interrupted softly. “The time’s gonna come when we’re ready to call it that. But right now, let’s just enjoy our time together and leave all that technical stuff outta it.”

“Okay,” Rainbow answered in a small voice. “But, do you…?”

Applejack tightened her grip. “With all mah heart, sugarcube.”

Rainbow beamed, planting a shaky kiss on Applejack’s nose. Applejack would have returned it, but…

“Let’s get ya all cleaned up, sugarcube,” Applejack suggested. “We still got a couple hours ta do whatever ya’d like.”

Rainbow blushed at the first thought that came to mind, revealing her hoof to Applejack immediately.

Applejack giggled. “Ah’m sure we could arrange that.” Applejack hefted Rainbow onto her back. “Now come on, we got a nice, hot shower waitin’ fer us.”

Rainbow nuzzled into Applejack’s neck. “You’re too damn good to me, AJ.”

“Only as good as ya deserve, sugarcube,” Applejack returned with a smile.





Clop it!





Big Macintosh walked through Ponyville feeling accomplished. He’d managed to regain a good friend and spend a good lunch catching up on things. In all, it was a good day. His only problem was that he had no idea where Rarity was. They hadn’t set up a meeting point or anything, and it was getting rather close to dinner time.

On a hunch, Mac made his way over to the library. Through the window, he saw Rarity and Spike talking animatedly. Ah guess that means everythin’ turned out alright, Mac concluded before raising a hoof to knock on the door. It was opened before he could, though, and Spike stood at the door.

“Hey, Mac. No hard feelings, buddy. I’m not really sure I’d have been able to get over the whole stallion thing anyway,” Spike said, shaking Mac’s hoof and leading him inside.

“Oh, hello Mac,” Rarity greeted, coming up to nuzzle him. “I’m sorry, I must have lost track of the time. Spike’s just been such a dear about all this.”

Spike grinned. “So, Mac, what’s it like?”

Mac blinked. “Beg pardon?”

“You know, dating a secret stallion,” Spike clarified. “I’m still not sure if it’s really coltcuddling. I mean, she’s practically a mare; she just has the wrong parts. Does that still count, or…?”

“Ah wouldn’t know,” Mac answered uncertainly, glancing to Rarity to silently question Spike’s odd behavior.

Rarity merely shrugged. “It’s all up to interpretation, I suppose.”

“I still can’t believe I never noticed that you had a dick, Rarity,” Spike went on.

“You wouldn’t have, dear. I keep it hidden in public.”

Spike cocked his head. “There’s a spell for that?”

Rarity nodded. “Rather odd, isn’t it?”

“It’s definitely not one Twilight knows,” Spike laughed. “So what about the sex? How’s that?”

Big Mac spluttered. “Ah… Ah don’-

“We haven’t delved too deep into that, but I’ll be sure to tell you when we do,” Rarity promised, winking at Mac.

“Rare! What-“

“I think we should be going, however. It was lovely talking to you, but we wouldn’t want to miss dinner again, would we?” Rarity shot Mac a meaningful glance.

“Oh, right, dinner. Uh, don’t you go getting’ inta any trouble now, y’hear?”

Spike chuckled. “Oh, you don’t have to worry about me.”

Rarity smiled, pushing Mac out the door. “Well then, shall we?” Mac followed along sheepishly, not entirely comfortable with Rarity’s openness.





“So, AJ…” Rainbow started, returning to Applejack’s room after their shower. “How long do you think we have before things start getting hectic around here?”

Applejack thought for a moment. “It usually doesn’t start to get too bad ‘til a couple weeks in. Not to say it’s gonna get any easier next week, but it shouldn’t be too bad.”

“Oh, so we have some time?” Rainbow asked hopefully.

Applejack nodded. “And Ah promise we’ll find time fer band practice through it all. Even if we gotta stay up all night.”

Rainbow chortled. “Alright, then I promise to stop being stupid and really enjoy myself again. No use worrying about the future, right?”

“Yer almost as bad as me,” Applejack jested.

“I know, it’s like we’re infecting each other,” Rainbow laughed. “It’s kinda cool.”

“And here Ah though ya were too old ta believe in cooties.”

Rainbow frowned. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

Applejack just laughed, happily tormenting her newly-reformed marefriend. Rainbow was quick to respond to Applejack’s taunts by tackling her onto her bed and commencing her all-out assault. Tickling, cuddling, kissing, hugging, Rainbow threw just about everything she had at the upstart farmer.

“You give up yet?” Rainbow taunted.

“Never!” Applejack tackled Rainbow down to the pillows, pinning her down by her shoulders.

“A hostage situation? You’ll never get me to talk!” Rainbow wriggled around in Applejack’s grip, but it was too strong.

“Ah just did, and Ah didn’t even have ta do nothin’,” Applejack chuckled.

“Touché.” Rainbow fought back with her only remaining appendage, kissing Applejack full on the lips. Applejack giggled into the kiss, deepening it and releasing Rainbow’s shoulders to wrap her hooves around her midsection. Rainbow happily returned the embrace, feeling like it had been too long since they had shared a moment like this.

Their kiss was brought to an early end as Granny Smith called the family together for dinner. Applejack parted reluctantly, but Rainbow smiled. “Don’t worry; we’ll have plenty of time after dinner. Maybe even a little during?”

“Ah’m sure Granny would be thrilled ta have us makin’ out on the table,” Applejack agreed jokingly.

“Well, then what are we waiting for, let’s go!” Rainbow rushed off eagerly, leaving Applejack to worry she had given Rainbow false hope. But upon arriving at the table to see her smiling face, Applejack found she actually might be willing to oblige, if not for the spread Granny had set before them.

Applejack looked around the table, sensing something amiss. “Where’s Apple Bloom?”

“She and her little friends are stayin’ over at Scootaloo’s tonight, or so Ah hear,” Granny said. “Come ta think of it, Ah’m not sure where that is, exactly.”

“Oh, it’s none too far,” Applejack laughed. “Closer ‘n any o’ us woulda expected.”

“I knew it, she lives in the closet!”

Applejack had to stop herself from spitting out her mouthful of apple juice in her mirth. “Have Ah told you that yer terrible today?”

Rainbow shrugged. “I can never remember.”

Applejack lost herself to a fit of giggles, unspeakably glad to have Rainbow acting like herself again.

“Oh, and Rarity, we totally beat you to the plot stuff.”





Applejack and Rainbow retired to their room on shaky legs. The night had been filled with mirth, fueled by this sense of inebriation they had developed despite not partaking in any alcohol.

“…And then it was like kaboom and it exploded! But I got out just in the nick of time ‘cuz I’m awesome like that,” Rainbow finished her latest Daring Do inspired tale.

Applejack chortled. “Yer a silly pony, ya know that?”

“I know you are, but what am I?” Rainbow countered, swaying and almost crashing into Applejack as they crossed the threshold of Applejack’s room.

“Impossible,” Applejack giggled, pushing Rainbow onto the bed, joining her shortly after. “And sexy.”

“Impossibly sexy?” Rainbow suggested. “I think I can live with that.”

Applejack placed a kiss on the impossibly sexy pegasus’ forehead. “Good night, you sexy thing.”

“No, you’re the-“ Rainbow’s thought was interrupted by a snore as she fell asleep. Applejack laughed herself to sleep beside her, unable to figure out why she was feeling so giddy.