//------------------------------//
// Precious 
// Story: Timed Ramblings 
// by Midnight herald 
//------------------------------//

	Rainbow woke before sunrise and sighed, shifting slightly in Applejack’s embrace. AJ’s heart thumped slowly against her back, solid and steady, reliable. The pre-dawn sky, a confusing matte grey, beckoned her through the open window. The ghostly silhouette tops of the orchard seemed to float and sway in unseen waters, their bare branches drifting in lazy arcs. The air would be cool right now, perfect for a morning flight -- But Applejack held her tighter to her chest with a sleepy murmur, transfixed her with gentle snores. Rainbow’s wings twitched and she turned around in the loving cage of legs, stroked AJ’s ribs with a gentle hoof, a precious little smile on her lips.

Applejack was still … precious to her. It wasn’t easy to put into solid thoughts, but Rainbow knew that much. The fires of passion and competition that had drawn them together had faded from her, and her wings no longer twitched and itched when they kissed. She no longer yearned for Applejack’s company and closeness when she was off on tour. It was getting harder and harder to resist the exciting young fangirls who breathlessly asked for her autograph, or a drink, or a fling. But Rainbow couldn’t bear to leave Applejack alone, not when AJ needed her so badly. She could see the unrestrained joy that lit up Applejack’s whole being when she landed outside the farmhouse. She could still hear the desire in Applejack’s voice whenever they talked. Applejack could never hide things from her, because Applejack said what she meant and did what she wanted and acted how she acted with no excuses, no walls. It was probably the bravest thing Rainbow had ever seen.

Rainbow kissed Applejack’s forehead and cringed a little at the happy sigh AJ gave, even in her dreams. Her eyes roved over Applejack’s face, mapping out the little creases and whorls of her warm orange fur before nuzzling into it. She could remember when this got her heartrate up, sent a terrible blush into her cheeks and a blazing sense of completeness and contentment rushing through her very self. It was nice, she decided. Whatever fancy soaps Rarity had finally convinced Applejack to start using had left her coat smooth and velvety to the touch. Applejack yawned muzzily and blinked herself awake, her bright green eyes slowly, joyously focusing on Rainbow’s.

Applejack nuzzled her back sweetly, that tiny crooning, happy sound of hers coming husky from her throat. Applejack nosed through Rainbow’s mane and nibbled lightly along the edge of her ear. Rainbow’s breath caught slightly; it seemed that still affected her. Applejack giggled quietly, squirming playfully and kissing the corner of Rainbow’s mouth before leaning up and glancing outside. 

“What time is it?” she murmured, blinking away the final shredded strands of sleepiness. 

Rainbow shrugged. “Around 5, I’d say,” she answered, running her hoof along Applejack’s side again. She smiled a bit as Applejack squirmed and sighed happily.

“Mmm, should we get up?” Applejack asked, an adventurous foreleg rubbing the base of Rainbow’s wings.

“Nah,” Rainbow half-moaned. She still loved what Applejack could do to her wings. No other pony had ever been quite so good at exciting her with a mere touch.

Applejack chuckled again, a throaty, playful thing, before moving in and nipping at Rainbow’s collarbone. “Fine by me,” she purred, nipping again. Rainbow squeaked. Then Applejack was kissing her, running her hooves through Rainbow’s feathers, and she was kissing back, ignoring the stupid thoughts and doubts in her head. This was simple. She didn’t have to think, didn’t have to do anything but feel. Rainbow tensed and whimpered all the same as her brain reminded her how this used to feel, back when the passion was there. Applejack stopped. Rainbow swallowed.

“Hey, sugar, what’s up?” Applejack asked, tensed with concern.

Rainbow forced out her cocky, confident grin. “Nothing’s wrong, AJ.” Applejack looked down, practically burying her head into her pillow. “Hey, c’mon, it’s fine,” Rainbow crooned, trying to lift AJ’s face with a terrified, gentle hoof. “Hey, babe, c’mon, we’re fine.”
--TIME--
Applejack burrowed a little deeper into her pillow shaking. Was she laughing? Crying? It was hard to tell.

“Baby? Applejack? C’mon, AJ, talk to me?” Nothing. “Applejack, it’s okay, everything’s okay,” Rainbow soothed. “C’mon, AJ, I love you.”

Applejack looked up with teary eyes and a pathetic, shaking smile. There was so much love in her eyes that it hurt to look at, but Rainbow kept her eyes locked. And Applejack gave a horrible little shake of her head, that strange, weak smile still plastered on her face. “No you don’t,” she said, and Rainbow’s world fell apart.