//------------------------------// // Memories // Story: Awakening // by Silver Scrolls //------------------------------// As Rainbow dash silently wheeled Twilight back to the hospital, Twilight began to think back to her times with Applejack, specifically what happened before that Hearts and Hooves day eight years ago. ~ Eight years ago Twilight sat atop the hill eagerly awaiting Applejack, she couldn't stop fidgeting, thinking about what she was going to do. It started when she found herself watching her flank almost a month ago, she didn't understand it then but she had begun to fall for the mare. She had been spending more and more time with her, she had begun researching into farming and apples and other things she know Applejack was into. She had found myriads of reasons, big and small, to be at Sweet Apple Acres as often as she could, and growing depressed and listless whenever Applejack wasn't around. Tonight, she would take the plunge and let Applejack know all of this and ask her to be her special somepony for Hearts and Hooves Day. She noticed Applejack at the bottom of the hill, making her way up slowly, the closer she got, the faster that Twilight's heart began to pound until she was sure that Applejack could hear it from where she was now. She took some deep breaths and lit the candles, and then quickly snuffed them and secreted them in picnic basket with the wine. As Applejack made it to the top of the hill and sat beside her,Twilight could barely restrain herself. "Evening AJ, it's wonderful to see you. I hope you're hungry, I brought some dinner and I thought we could maybe eat and talk." “Of course Twi', ah'm feelin' a mite peckish.” They both sat down on either side of the blanket and Twilight brought out the sandwiches and wine. “So it's not much but I hope you like it, would you prefer wine or cider?” Twilight poured herself some wine while she asked. “Hmm some wine sounds good, it's been a heck of day fer meh.” Applejack smiled gently as she accepted the wine. “So what was it you wanted to talk about Twilight?” Twilight took a deep breath to calm herself. “Lately AJ, if you have noticed, I have been spending more time on your farm and around you. I have been looking forward to any time I can spend with you and trying to get as much as I can in.” Twilight paused and breathed slowly. “I have been unable to look at any other ponies or think much of other ponies without my thoughts drifting to you. I have found myself dreaming of spending time with you, of smelling the sweet scent of apples you carry and your gorgeous green eyes staring into mine. After much research and sleeplessness I realized why, I love you Applejack, and not just as a friend.” Twilight paused to collect herself and steady her nerves. Taking a few deep breathes before continuing. “I know that you may not reciprocate the feeling and that it may damage our friendship, but I had to get it out there. So my question is, Applejack will you be my special somepony for Hearts and Hooves Day?” Twilight sat looking at Applejack waiting for an answer, quickly finding herself more worried than she had been since she got an A- on a test. Applejack sat silently for a minute taking all this in. Had the Twilight Sparkle, the most socially inept pony she had ever met really just confessed to her? Not only had she confessed but she did it in a romantic location on a romantic evening, with food and wine. She could hardly believe it, but more surprising to her was that the mare she had wanted, yet thought she could never have, had similar feelings that she had locked away herself. Applejack took a long slow breath, “Twi' I never thought a day would come when you of all ponies...” Twilight's ears dropped and her head drooped a bit, “would fall in love. I had dreamed of a day like this since I met you when you first arrived but I had never believed it would happen.” Twilight's ears and head shot up with the biggest grin Applejack had ever seen. “Does this mean what I think it does.” Twilight could barely contain her excitement as Applejack smiled at her and leaned in to gently kiss her. “Yes Twi', I will be your special somepony.” Applejack whispered to her gently. They both crawled over to each other and began snuggling in the cold night air. “Twi', this may be hard but please don't tell my folks. I haven't told anyone but you now that I prefer the company of mares over stallions. If we can wait till ah'm ready I'd appreciate it.” Twilight smiled at her, “Of course, I would do anything for you. Plus this is new for me too, you're my first special somepony.” They both looked at the sky and sighed as they snuggled closer together, not wanting to let the night end. The next week was filled with the happiest times that Twilight could ever remember, even over those spent beside Celestia. She spent as much time with Applejack as she could, waiting for Hearts and Hooves Day when they would tell all their friends and then decide on who to tell next. The only damper on the week was Rainbow Dash, she seemed depressed and distracted, going so far as to avoid Twilight and Applejack, they decide to tackle this problem on Hearts and Hooves Day, after all, since when had Rainbow Dash ever missed a party? ~~ The promised day rolled around and everyone had gathered at the library for the party except for Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. As soon as Fluttershy arrived, dragging along a sullen Rainbow Dash. Twilight and Applejack stood up. “It's great to see everypony today, Me and Twi' here have an announcement to make.” Pinkie piped up, “Ooh, is this about how you and her have been dating since last week?” Everyone stared at Pinkie with their mouths wide open, then they all turned to Twilight and Applejack who had gone beet red and were scuffing the ground nervously. “How did you know Pinkie? We've been keeping it a secret and I thought we were doing it quite well.” Twilight said a little sullenly, she had no idea how anypony could have figured it out. Pinkie smiled her massive grin, “I know everything that happens around Ponywille, sheesh. Plus Rainbow Dash sucks at secrets.” All eyes turned to Rainbow Dash. “Was that why you were avoiding me and Applejack Rainbow?” Rainbow Dashs' cheeks turned red enough to match the red in her mane and tail, before she turned and bolted out the door into the night. “Well that was plum strange, figure we should go after her Twi'.” Applejack looked to her marefriend with a worried expression. Twilight looked confused but shook her head after a moment, “I think I might know what's troubling her.” She mentally kicked herself for not seeing it earlier. “Well everyone, I guess that marks the end of the party, sorry Pinkie.” Everyone filtered out and went home except for Applejack and Twilight who smiled at each other and headed upstairs to Twilight's bedroom to talk and plan out how to approach the situation. ~~ It had been five days since the party and no one had seen Rainbow Dash since then, the worry from both Twilight and Applejack now almost palpable. “Applejack, I am really worried. No one has been able to find Dash since Hearts and Hooves Day. Something could be wrong, she could have crashed somewhere meaning that she can't fly and that she's lost and alone and scared and- ” Applejack placed a hoof on Twilight's mouth, “There's one place no-pony has looked yet, that's around the library. Ah thought we could look around for her.” Twilight looked a little confused, “I live here I'd know if she was hiding in the library somewhere.” Applejack sighed, “Have you checked your basement sugarcube. I know it's supposed to be off limits and all but that's what makes it a great place to hide.” Twilight gave her a confused look as she went to the basement door and to her surprise found it unlocked. She gently pushed it open and lit her horn up, casting an eerie glow into the dark basement. “You coming Applejack?” She looked over her shoulder to see Applejack nod and they both made their way into the basement below. They found Rainbow Dash in a corner, sleeping on a pile of towels Twilight used for cleaning up less harmful spills, gently trying to rouse her. Her eyes snapped open and she quickly took off, only just missing the ceiling, heading towards the other corner of the room before she spun around to see that it was just Twilight and Applejack. She landed and ruffled her feathers like she hadn't just been surprised. "Hey guys, what's up? Sweet stuff you got here Twilight, although you probably shouldn't be messing with liquid rainbow, that stuff is really dangerous." “Rainbow we need to talk.” Twilight said calmly, not really surprised that she was here. “How did you know about me and Applejack, and why did you avoid us over these last two weeks?” Rainbow looked around sheepishly before taking a deep breath, “I was lounging on a cloud near the hill watching the stars and thinking about my next awesome trick the night you confessed to AJ, I saw the whole thing from my cloud perch.” She breathed even deeper, “I have been avoiding you two because...” she looked embarrassed and a thoughtful look passed over her face for a moment before she turned a deeper shade of red and shot forwards, kissing Applejack full on the lips. Applejack could barely offer any resistance as she was knocked back against a table, causing a beaker of liquid rainbow to tip over and spill into the box it was resting on. Twilight had time to take a deep breath before her whole world exploded with a corona of color. ~~The present Twilight shook her head, bringing her mind back to the present. Question about the events following the accident swimming around her head in circles like a dog chasing it’s tail. What exactly had happened, why had the liquid rainbow exploded. In it’s liquid form it was fairly stable just caustic and had bad reactions to magic. Her thoughts drifted to the box she remembered it sitting on, what had she been keeping in the box. She thought for a second before it hit her, crystals. She had been experimenting with crystal spell matrixes, using crystals to store spells for a later use. The liquid rainbow must have caused one of the crystals to activate which caused a chain reaction with the liquid rainbow. How could she have been so careless as to leave live magic so close to liquid rainbow? If she hadn't been so careless then Applejack...Twilight’s thoughts ground to a halt as the importance of the statue hit her. Her head fell to her hooves as she pulled them up and she began crying into her hooves. Rainbow slowed to a stop as the sound of sobbing reached her ears. She locked the wheels and moved to face Twilight. Gently wrapping her in a hug she comforted her as best she could. Twilight leaned into the embrace and cried into Rainbow’s shoulders as Rainbow gently rubbed her back, forgetting the world around them as Twilight let the sorrow flow into the cyan coat she was held against.