//------------------------------//
// Epilogue 
// Story: What do I win? 
// by HapHazred 
//------------------------------//

Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, there was a house, painted as red as as an autumn leaf, surrounded by apple trees, crimson as can get. The warm sun was beginning to dip over the mountains, casting long shadows through the orchard. 

In the orchard stood two mares: one as orange as honey, mane as golden as wheat on a summer afternoon. The other was blue as the sky, and her mane was as vibrant as a canvas attacked by a painter gone rogue. She was standing a foot behind her friend, watching her closely.

"You're sure you know how to do this?" she asked, doing her best to hide the twinge of worry in her voice. The corner of Applejack's mouth rose slightly, as she leant her head to the side, aligning her left eye with the barrel of the gun.

"Ya'll think I'd be an Apple and not know how to fire the ole' Widowmaker?" she asked. "Trust me, I can do this." she said. 

She raised the barrel slowly, pointing it only slightly above the low hanging apple on the tree. Rainbow Dash grinned.

"If you're so confident, how about we make this interesting?" she asked, split seconds before the trigger was pulled. Applejack hesitated.

Curse that mare.

"What were ya'll thinkin'?" she asked, lowering the rifle. Rainbow Dash grinned, and leant to the side, her shoulder carelessly balancing against Applejack's flank as she rubbed her chin, feigning thought.

"Well... how about we have ourselves a little wager? Y'know, to see whether you'll hit the apple or not."

"What do I win?"

"If you win... you get a kiss." Rainbow declared. Applejack smiled.

"Sounds worthwhile."

"But if you miss, you'll have to kiss me." Rainbow Dash finished with a flourish. Applejack grinned.

"Not on your life."

Rainbow Dash flicked some mud out of her hoof, and then stepped away from her marefriend. "Best take care, then."

Applejack raised the rifle again, taking careful aim. She listened intently for the sound of anypony nearby... no sense hitting them by accident, after all, even if they were trespassing on her orchard. She stroked the trigger as she slowed her breathing.

She pulled the trigger.

The terrifying 'crack' of the gunshot almost deafened Rainbow Dash. She had no idea that guns were so loud. She swallowed nervously: no wonder those things were a rarity in Equestria these days. They scared her.

Applejack blew on the smoking barrel of the gun, the smoke dissipating into the air, as if the noise had been nothing more than a nuisance. Rainbow could only focus on the shape her lips made as she calmly dispelled the noxious cloud. She returned her attention back to their little challenge, and peered into the distance.

"Where was that apple again?" she asked.

Applejack shrugged.

"Over there... and there, and there..." she replied, pointing at seemingly random places over by the tree she had aimed at. Rainbow Dash flew over to it, searching desperately for any trace of the fruit: there was none.

"You know... I didn't believe you when you said you had a gun at the house... and I sure as hay didn't believe you when you said they were this scary." she commented. Applejack cantered to join her.

"I'm the pony of honesty... what did you expect?" she asked. "Anyway, I think ya'll owe me something."

Rainbow folded her hooves.

"Nope." she replied, playful as ever, if a little startled by the noise. Applejack sighed and held up the rifle.

"Ya'll sure about that, sugarcube?" she asked. Rainbow Dash backed off a little.

"Uh... that isn't loaded, is it?" she asked, her ears flattening against her head. Applejack shook her head.

"'Course not. But it can be if ya'll don't get over here right this second... I won, remember?"

Rainbow Dash was only too happy to oblige, and the pair embraced tenderly for a while under the cover of the apple trees. Applejack tossed the gun into the grass, a few feet away. Applejack savoured the moment whilst it lasted, and if felt all the better for having earned it. Their fur was sightly ruffled as they pulled away to breathe.

"So... how's talking about your feelings going for you?" Rainbow Dash asked. Applejack shrugged.

"Not sure yet. Rainbow, sometimes Ah think I don't get as appreciated as other ponies."

"That wasn't so hard, was it? How'd it feel?"

"Like a kick to the stomach. How's learning how to plan ahead going for you?"

"Not well. I forgot to plan for it."

Applejack laughed.

"You're terrible."

"Yup. We're as bad as each other." Rainbow Dash countered. She glanced nervously at the weapon hidden in the grass. "And I totally appreciate you. All the time."

She pecked Applejack's cheek, leaving a small mark where her muzzle left her fur. Applejack found herself stroking Rainbow back as the pegasus refused to release her completely. Rainbow Dash glanced across the grass to the gun lying there, almost hidden save for the tell-tale glint as the sun reflected across it's barrel, like a trap waiting to be sprung. She recalled, quite against her will, the terrifying sound of the gunshot.

"Hey... can you put that back inside? It... sort of scares me."

Applejack felt a small increase in pressure as she leaned back to get a better look at the weapon. She eyed Rainbow suspiciously.

"You're scared of loud noises?"

"Hey! A lot of ponies have that problem." she retorted. Applejack snorted.

"What, are you afraid of plastic bags, too?"

"Sh-shut up. Just get rid of it, 'kay?"

Applejack nodded, and nuzzled her marefriend reassuringly, making sure to keep the barrel of the weapon, loaded or no, far away from her. Rainbow sighed in relief, and let herself be drowned in a tidal wave of affection. She wondered how she could have ever gone a single day without her Applejack, but quickly returned to focussing on how lucky she was, right now.

"'Course, sugarcube. Anything for you."

They both began trotting to the house, Rainbow's wing hugging Applejack and keeping both of them from moving at their top speed: neither mare cared about that, though.

"It's the end of Sun Season tomorrow. Ya'll got work again, right?"

The ground was as dry as it could be, and it was time for the water cycle to start again. Rainbow was usually proud to be part of the engine of weather, but this time, all she could think about was that it would be a day she'd have to spend most of away from her favourite pony ever.

"Yup. But it's been a great holiday."






The End