Rainbow woke up with a start from her dream, feeling a hoof nudging her shoulder. She lazily opened one eye and with blurry vision, stared at the orange mare beside her. She yawned loudly, rubbing her eyes. As the picture became clearer, Rainbow became aware of how dark the room was, spotting the dark star-lit sky outside.
"AJ, babe, gimme ten more minutes." She pleaded, struggling to fight off Applejack's hoof as she retreated back under the warm bed covers.
"Rainbow!" She whispered, her eyes constantly checking the bedroom door. "Sorry sugarcube, I can hear someone outside." She stammered slightly, frantically trying to move Rainbow as she heard the hoofsteps outside getting closer. "Y'need to hide."
"Chillax, Applejack." Rainbow had her eyes closed, stifling another yawn. "It's probably just Applebloom or something..." She said absent-mindedly. There was an awkward pause as the pegasus' mind caught up with the situation. "Oh sweet Celestia! Applebloom!" She exclaimed, leaping out of the bed suddenly and slamming head first into the wall as punishment.
Both mares stopped dead at the sound of a small filly's voice on the other side of the door. "Uh sis? You alright in there?"
Rainbow's movements became more panicked as she tried to rise to her feet. Applejack willed her on from the bed, gesturing towards the closet. Rubbing her sore head, she lumbered towards it, still half-asleep. She quickly opened it and dashed inside, sneaking a last peek at Applejack, smiling.
"Being with you is such a hassle sometimes." She remarked playfully, winking at the mare.
"Jus' get in there and keep quiet." Applejack begged in a hushed tone. Rainbow simply sighed in response.
"Yes, mom." She closed the closet, packing herself neatly into the tight space. Thin cracks of light shone through the closet as the bedroom door creaked open and Applebloom stepped in. On seeing Applejack on the bed alone, she looked around the room. Rainbow held her breath, keeping completely still.
"What are you doin' up so early, Applebloom?" Rainbow could faintly make out the exchange, putting an ear up to the closed door. "Shouldn't you really be asleep?"
"I couldn't find my pink bow anywhere." Applebloom gestured to where the bow should have been. "Anyway, I heard voices down the corridor when I went lookin' for it." She continued to trot around the room, confusing Applejack.
"What's with all the pacin'?" She asked.
"I coulda sworn I heard two voices..." Applebloom replied, turning back to Applejack who was blushing a deep red. Rainbow watched the scene with a smile. Wow, she's so damn cute with that blush... She thought, relaxing a little as she continued to gaze at her marefriend.
"Can't think why." Applejack chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of her neck. "Nopony here but me!" She tried to smile as sincerely as possible. Applebloom frowned at her sister, questioning whether to believe her or not.
"Okay..." Applebloom began to walk across the room, still keeping eye contact with Applejack, who continued to smile at her. "Well, since I'm here, I'll just grab another bow from in here." She gestured to the closet and trotted towards it. Applejack's pupils shrank, gasping.
"Applebloom, no! Wait..." In the sudden rush to stop her, Applejack fell out of the bed, landing clumsily on the floorboards. She looked up as Applebloom raised a hoof to the closet, biting her lip. "Oh, we are so done for." She muttered under her breath, putting her head between her hooves in shame. Before Applebloom could open it however, a certain rainbow-maned pegasus opened it from the inside quite suddenly, catching the small filly off guard. Rainbow took another look at the hinges on the closet door, examining every inch of the wooden closet, before letting out a small sigh.
"I'm sorry Applejack..." She swung the door to and fro and shook her head. "...I'm afraid that the stop on this door is broken." Both of the Apple mares looked at her, stunned. Rainbow merely continued the charade. "Frankly, I think that's why you were having so many problems with it rattling all the time."
What? Applejack mouthed. Rainbow Dash winked, moving up to the farmer who was still in a heap on the floor. "If you want my advice, get a professional." Applejack nodded weakly as the pegasus turned to the filly behind her.
"I- I don't understand..." Applebloom was lost for words, still standing in front of the closet. "What were you doin' in-" Rainbow cut her off, putting a hoof on her shoulder.
"Well, Applebloom. Your sister happened to be having terrible problems sleeping because of that closet." Rainbow smiled re-assuringly. "I just happen to be a master when it comes to closets so decided to give her a helping hoof!"
Applebloom frowned, looking back at Applejack and then turning to Rainbow. "But why were you in the closet?" Applejack turned a delightful shade of red, hiding her face in her hooves again. Rainbow struggled to answer, opening and closing her mouth constantly but no words to follow up. She finally just grinned at the filly.
"A true master never gives away her secrets." She tapped her muzzle with a hoof knowingly and grabbed a pink bow from the closet for Applebloom. "Now scoot off to bed and get some sleep." Coincidentally, Applebloom yawned as Rainbow ushered her into the hallway.
"Whatever. Night y'all." She muttered, weakly trotting off to her bedroom.
As the hoofsteps disappeared down the corridor, Rainbow turned back to Applejack with a wicked grin on her face. "I swear by Celestia's name... how in the hay did you do that?" Applejack sat in a state of shock.
"Oh come on, AJ." Rainbow giggled as she helped the other mare to her feet, planting a kiss on her forehead. "You know I'm awesome!"
As they both crept back into bed, Rainbow felt Applejack's fur brush against her own as the apple farmer cuddled her under the covers. Rainbow slowly closed her eyes, letting the warmth of Applejack's body put her back to sleep.