//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Date at Dodge Junction // by Rated Ponystar //------------------------------// Date at Dodge Junction Epilogue By The Rated Ponystar Edited by: Apple Spice and Mr. Minimii *** Okay, note to self. Never get shot again, thought Rainbow Dash as she felt her consciousness return to her. Her eyes slowly opened up, revealing a white ceiling that she quickly recognized as a hospital from personal experience. Groaning, she winced upon feeling her the area she was shot act up and glanced down, noticing a cast around both her leg and her wing. She cursed, knowing this was gonna cut into her practice time, but she was alive at least. Looking around, she quickly saw a snoring Applejack on a chair nearby. Smirking, she gave a high pitched whistle that made Applejack nearly jump out of her chair, much to Dash’s amusement. Applejack, however, was quick to glare until she realized who it was that she was looking at. Within a millisecond, she was already hugging Rainbow Dash with misty eyes. “Yer alive... thank Celestia, Luna, Cadance and Twilight even!” Rainbow Dash winced when she felt her wound being pressed, but she ignored it when Applejack was hugging her. And she definitely ignored it when she then kissed her on the lips. It wasn’t long, but it was enough to make Dash’s mind explode and her good wing poof up. Applejack quickly separated from Rainbow and blushed. “Ah... Ah...” Rainbow smirked and raised a hoof. “Hey, remember what I said? I know... and I totally didn’t mind that kiss, either.” “S-so yer okay? With me... lovin’ ya?” asked AJ, bashfully. “Would it help if I said I’d take a bullet for you? Then again, I already did.” The two chuckled a bit before, Dash grabbed Applejack by the hoof and brought it to her eye level. She leaned in closer and kissed Applejack on the lips before saying, “Yes, Applejack. I love you too.” “Dash...I...” Before Applejack could finish, the door of the room opened and in came McShady. Still frowning, but looking a bit softer in the eyes, he nodded. “Rainbow, good to see ya awake.” “Thanks. So what happened to Metal Hoof and his gang?” asked Rainbow Dash. “Those that are still breathin’ are gonna get the noose later this month after the Princesses sign the execution warrants for their crimes. The rest are gettin’ buried in unmarked graves like the rest of the criminals down in these parts, including, Metal Hoof,” answered McShady. “Ah managed to convince them to give Shorty jail for life instead of the rope. Mah last deed to him as his uncle. Maybe he’ll find religion or something.” “What about the competition?” asked Dash, looking at Applejack who sighed in dismay. “What?” “They cancelled it,” answered Applejack, lowering her hat with her hoof. “Because of the smugglin’ and cheatin’ done, they put a stop to it.” “Yeah, Ah’m even bein’ investigated for my role in all this despite Shorty confessin’ Ah had nothin’ to do with all this,” remarked McShady, spitting on the ground. With a heavy heart, and a sigh, Dash fell back onto her pillow and weakly said, “So it was all for nothing? We can’t save Cherry’s farm?” “Ah wouldn’t say that.” The two ponies yipped when they saw two large bags land on the bed. Opening them, they gasped at the sight of the hundreds, maybe thousands, of bits in each bag. They turned to McShady who smirked. “Metal Hoof had a bounty of thirty thousand bits, dead or alive. Since y’all helped me out, Ah figured it’s only fair we split it three ways.” Ten thousand bits each. Rainbow Dash and Applejack’s jaws dropped. Never before had they seen so much money. “This... this is more then enough for Cherry! Hay, I’ve never even owned so much! If I knew you could get paid for taking down criminals, I would have trained to be a bounty hunter long ago instead of a Wonderbolt!” Dash turned to McShady and grinned. “You. Are. Awesome!” McShady chuckled. “Just don’t get hung up in anythin’ dangerous again.” He tipped his hat and made for the door. “Well, Ah just came to deliver that. Best be goin’ now. Y’all take care of yourselves. And by the way...” He turned around and grinned. “Next time we meet in a rodeo, Ah’m winnin’.” With that said, he left. “Wow, he may look scary, but he was a pretty cool guy, huh, AJ?” Dash waited for an answer but got none. When she looked back at Applejack she saw her staring at the bit still. “Uh, Applejack?” “S-sorry,” apologized Applejack, taking her eyes off the money. “Ah just... this is just so much money. The things Ah could do with this for the farm. For the family. So much debt to pay back, and even save some for college for Apple Bloom.” Her eyes dripped a few tears. “Ah... Ah’m just so happy.” Dash smiled and slid over to Applejack before leaning in closer. Face to face. “Ah know what else can make you happy.” Applejack grinned and soon pounced on Rainbow Dash as the two locked lips once again. *** Applejack never felt happier to see the familiar green hills of Ponyville as she watched them pass by on their train. Dodge Junction was quite an adventure, and she was looking forward to some good R&R. Plus, she wasn’t going home empty hoofed. She had a lot of money, and a marefriend to bring home. Speaking of which, she glanced down at a sleeping Rainbow whose head rested on her lap. She had partied too much at Cherry’s farm after the owner declared a celebration for having her farm saved. There was dancing, laughter, and of course drinking cider from the emergency stash. Rainbow Dash had managed to drink most of it in a few hours before passing out. Not after giving the biggest kiss Applejack ever got. With the station right around the corner, Applejack nudged Rainbow. “Come on, darlin’. We’re home.” Dash yawned and smacked her lips. “Already? Great, I can’t wait to go home and sleep on the clouds.” She then gave a grin at AJ and kissed her on the nose. “Unless you want to join me, that is?” Applejack smiled and shook her head. “As much as ah Ah’d love to, darlin’, we’re gonna have to wait ‘till yer back a hundred percent before we can roll around in either hay or clouds.” “Fine,” groaned Dash as they got their backs and made for the doors. Once they stepped onto the platform, they were quickly met with a large cry. “Surprise!” cried out all their friends and Applejack’s family while holding a banner that had their cutie marks on it along with the words “welcome back”. Their cries of joy were then replaced with shocked as they noticed Rainbow’s casts. “Oh my gosh! What happened!” “Are you hurt?!” “Wow! Is that a bit bag! Its huge!” “Eeyup!” “When did you two get together as a couple?!” Everypony froze and turned to Pinkie Pie who looked at them all and asked, “What?” “H-how did you know we were a couple?!” shouted Dash in shock. “Just a hunch,” answered a smiling Pinkie Pie. Everypony just stared at the two blushing ponies before Applejack sighed. “It’s a long story...”