Epilogue
The journey home was long, and due to Applejack's condition following her ordeal, took three days to complete. Despite having been magically healed by her unicorn friend, and regardless of her dogged determination to not hold the group up, Applejack found that she could not walk very long before her aching body succumbed to the demands of exhaustion. For three nights, the tired, yet elated, group slept under the stars. Each night, Rainbow Dash made sure her marefriend's head rested comfortably on her own chest when Applejack drifted off into sleep.
There was no fanfare when they arrived home. Close friends, who had noticed their absence, waved when the saw them entering town again. Others, who hadn't seen the six friends for a while, greeted them as they saw them, but for the most part, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie were able to rejoin their neighbors without many questions about their whereabouts. The majority of the townsfolk were fully aware of the friends' frequent adventures, and few bothered to pry. The six friends each breathed a sigh of relief for this, as they had decided between them that nopony else needed to know of what had happened.
Night had already fallen by the time the group made it back to the town center. They gazed with renewed appreciation upon the brightly-lit, colorful, friendly-looking buildings in town, the dreary scenery of Manesville and the forlorn little cabin having left an unwanted, yet indelible, impression upon them. At the town center, the group bid each other farewell and set off their separate ways. Twilight Sparkle cringed as she returned to her tree-library. She knew Spike would probably demand a full explanation of her absence, and she was sure she wouldn't be able to lie to him. Rarity, exhausted and, according to her, looking worse than she ever had before, retreated first to the spa for a lengthy rejuvenation session. In the back of her mind, however, she hoped even more the soothing steam would relieve her of the terrible memories of her ordeal.
Pinkie Pie, looking drained yet undoubtedly happy, set off for Sugarcube Corner at once. Fluttershy, after giving Applejack a tight hug, as if she could still hardly believe her friend was really alive, quietly retreated to her cottage. She left only Rainbow Dash and Applejack, standing alone in the star-lit night by the bridge that would lead them over the river towards Sweet Apple Acres.
Rainbow Dash happily trotted forward, excited to be finally coming home after so long. She was almost halfway across the bridge when she noticed the lack of a presence at her side. Turning, she quickly glanced behind her to see Applejack, still standing at the foot of the bridge with her head hung low and her eyes closed. Almost instantly, Rainbow Dash was back at her side.
"AJ? Are you ok? Is something wrong?"
Applejack looked up, opening her eyes and closing them again several times wearily. "Ah just… Ah don't know, Dash. Ah'm just tired, Ah guess." She yawned.
Rainbow Dash rested her forehead against her marefriend's, letting their forelocks mingle together in a tangled wave of rainbow and gold. Their noses touched, and they both closed their eyes, breathing in each other's scents in the quiet night. Rainbow Dash brushed a light kiss on her lover's cheek. "I'll carry you."
Before Applejack could protest, she found Rainbow Dash twisting and squirming her way underneath her. Gently, the pegasus lifted herself up so Applejack rested on her back, sinking into her cyan fur. Applejack shifted herself just a bit and laid her head against the back of her mare's neck, letting the multicolored fine wisps of her mane brush across her face. Rainbow Dash started trotting, gently, so she wouldn't make the ride bumpy and uncomfortable for her love. Every now and again, she would glance back, reveling in the sight of the mare she loved resting against her, nuzzling into her neck.
A light breeze washed over the pair as they began strolling through the orchards. The road was winding, but they both knew very well that it would surely lead them home. Applejack smiled as she rested, allowing the soothing rhythmic motion of Rainbow Dash's trotting beneath her to calm her. "Ya don't… ya don't hafta do this fer me, Dash…" she stifled another yawn, trying not to seem as tired as she really was, "Ah… Ah can walk."
Rainbow Dash just kept walking. "I want to, AJ. I want to carry you because you carried me."
Applejack was silent for a long while. She remembered all too clearly the day her marefriend referred to. She would never forget that day. "It... it was nothing Dash."
"It wasn't nothing to me, AJ. It was much more than nothing." Their path wound through the orchard, bringing them past row upon row and grove upon grove of tall, fruit-bearing trees. Then, as they rounded a bend, like a great ship looming over a distant ocean horizon, the quiet farmhouse, tucked away in a clearing surrounded by trees and fields, rose before them.
The windows were dark, save for a single light shining from the living room. They both stopped, standing on the path in the pleasant chill of late evening, and stared. At that moment, to the two tired, hard-pressed lovers, their cozy abode had never looked so appealing, so inviting, or so beautiful. "Ah… Ah can't believe how much Ah've missed this place." Applejack's brilliant green eyes seemed to sparkle in the wavering light.
"I know… me too." Rainbow Dash trotted forward, bringing the two of them to the front door in no time. As quietly as possible, she hoofed the latch, letting the door gently swing inward with as little noise as possible. Gingerly, she stepped over the threshold, allowing her eyes to sweep the dark foyer as she brought her marefriend home. She strode into the living room, looking to see why the lights remained on so late, only to see Big Macintosh, lying belly-up on the couch and snoring deeply, having succumbed to his exhaustion. "Do you… do you think he was waiting for us?"
"Ah… Ah don't know. Poor big brother, he must'a been worried 'bout us; had to take care of AB this whole time. Rarity probably dumped Sweetie Belle here when she left, too." Gently, Applejack clambered down off of her lover, setting her hooves upon the floor. She crept over to her older brother, whose head lay lopsided against the arm of the couch. His big chest rose and fell with each rattling breath he took. She smiled at him in a way only a sister could. Tenderly, she leaned forward, lightly kissing him just above his ear. "Ah love ya, big bro. See ya in the mornin'." He only snored in response.
Applejack walked to the foot of the stairs, where she was soon joined by Rainbow Dash. They nuzzled cheeks and began the ascent, their tails swishing together as they climbed.
Applejack's room still looked as pristine as she had left it. There was no mess, no broken bottles, nothing to remind her of the one place she wished to forget most. She smiled. It was perfect. They looked about the room. Applejack had to suppress a chuckle when she saw the state of Rainbow Dash's cloud. In the many days without care or fluffing, the material had grown this and wispy, pulling apart over time. They both looked at each other.
"Don't worry, Sugarcube. Ya can sleep with me tonight." Applejack grinned, brushing her tail lightly across Rainbow Dash's cheek as she walked past.
Rainbow Dash grinned. "I was already planning to."
Applejack nestled herself into her blankets, snuggling into the softness of her long-missed bed. Rainbow Dash was not far behind her, landing on the bed next to her and immediately tucking herself in next to her marefriend. She reached out and wrapped a hoof over Applejack's shoulder, flipping the orange pony onto her back. Applejack giggled, but was cut off abruptly by Rainbow Dash's lips. She eagerly returned the gesture, pressing her mouth against her lover's.
After a long while, the two pulled apart. Rainbow Dash gazed happily into her lover's shimmering eyes. She reached forward to plant a kiss on her forehead; letting loose strands of Applejack's golden mane caress her nose as she went. She pulled back, smiling, and expecting to see Applejack doing the same. She was surprised, however, to see a frown flit across her marefriend's face. "Applejack?" She paused for a moment in confusion, "Are you ok?"
Applejack looked down, almost as if she were trying to avoid Rainbow Dash's gaze. Rainbow Dash reached a hoof down to Applejack's chin, pushing her head back up so she could look into her eyes. Tears welled up underneath Applejack's green orbs, slipping down her cheeks uncontrollably, even as she fought to keep a straight face in front of Rainbow Dash.
"What's wrong?"
"Ah'm… Ah'm sorry, Dash. Ah just… Ah just." Applejack rubbed at her eyes with a hoof, failing to really stem the flow. "What if… what if Ah didn't make it? What if Ah wasn't here right now?"
Rainbow Dash hugged her tightly, letting Applejack's head slip into the crook of her shoulder. There, Applejack wept, Rainbow Dash trying her hardest to soothe her. "It's ok. You're fine now. You're here, and there's nothing that can change that."
"Ah know, Dash… but… but what if Ah wasn't?" Applejack pulled back to get a good look at her lover. Rainbow Dash tried to smile for her. "There's nowhere Ah'd rather be than right here, with you, right now, but Ah almost didn't make it. Ah… Ah can't… Ah can't stand it."
Rainbow Dash lay down, still holding Applejack around the neck, and let her snuggle in next to her. "Applejack… I won't lie to you. I… I thought you were dead. In fact, I'm pretty sure you were for a while, and I was terrified. I'm never going to forget seeing you there, lying still like that. I thought I lost you. I thought you were gone." This didn't seem to help; Applejack's tears only ran thicker. Rainbow Dash frowned, reaching out to kiss her on the forehead again. "But that doesn't matter now. You're alive, you're fine, and you're with me. We're together, and together, we're unstoppable. That's all that matters."
They night grew even longer as they lay, wrapped in each other's embrace. Applejack kept sniffing, kept trying to keep her tears in. She didn't want Rainbow Dash to see her like this. She felt so weak. She hated it. Rainbow Dash touched a hoof to her cheek. Applejack gazed up at her, her eyes wide. Rainbow Dash smiled wanly. "It's ok." She soothed, rubbing Applejack's cheek tenderly, "It's ok… it's ok to cry."
And so they did. And as the minutes passed, it felt good. Alone, in the quiet night, they held each other, spilling tears for all they had ever endured together, and they never let go. Applejack, her exhaustion finally getting the best of her, finally drifted into a peaceful sleep an hour or so later. Rainbow Dash felt her own eyelids drooping as she gazed at her sleeping lover. She leaned forward to kiss her still form. "Good night, beautiful." It was not long before the beckoning grasp of slumber claimed her as well.
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Despite the happy occasion, or more likely, because of it, Rarity was in a particularly bad mood. In truth, she had been for weeks, much to the chagrin of her friends. As the date of the event grew closer, they resorted to not mentioning it around her, but this grew difficult, especially when they were out in public, as the upcoming event had become the talk of the town early and had retained that position right up until the looming date arrived.
It was past midday, and the festivities were scheduled to begin in the afternoon. As could have been expected, the townsponies were nearly beside themselves with anticipation. Rarity, despite her dourness, couldn't help but get caught up in the joy of the festivities. Her business, with such an influx of orders for formal wear, was doing quite well because of the event, and she could hardly feign that her hurt pride at all lessened her enthusiasm; she was a bridesmaid, after all.
Well, one of five, at least, but that was still good in her opinion. She had at least had the opportunity to make numerous gowns for the wedding attendees, as well as Twilight Sparkle's, Fluttershy's, Pinkie Pie's, and Applebloom's bridesmaid dresses, not to mention her own. Despite this, she still felt like she had missed out, an opinion she seemingly couldn't help but express as the crucial hour neared.
"It's just not fair." Rarity turned her snout upward in indignation.
"Oh, Rarity, are you still going on about that? You silly." Pinkie Pie had never looked more excited. It was seemingly all she could do to keep from bouncing in place on the raised platform she and the others occupied. Before them, it seemed everyone in Ponyville had turned out for the event. The town square hadn't been so packed in anypony's memory, especially given the fact that a sizable chunk of the even more sizable Apple Family had also turned out for the most anticipated, and most controversial, wedding since the marriage of Princess Cadence and Shining Armor.
"Well, I guess I'm just upset to have my skills so utterly turned down."
Twilight Sparkle, standing beside her fellow unicorn, rolled her eyes. "Come on, Rarity, aren't you happy for them?"
"Well of course I'm happy for them, Twilight Sparkle, indescribably so. However, I must say I'm more than a little off-put by their decision."
"Why, it's their wedding, they get to do what they want."
"Well, yes, I know… but… tuxedos? Really?"
Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie giggled at their friend. Fluttershy smiled as well. "I thought it was a cute idea." She chimed, smiling brightly in her excitement.
"Well, I don't know about that. I suppose it might make sense for one of them to wear a tuxedo when they get married, but both of them? They're being ridiculous. Besides, I had such nice dresses planned for them, too." Rarity consigned herself to feigning pouting again.
"Oh, Rarity." Fluttershy's eyes shone as she spoke, "I'll wear whatever wedding dress you want to make for me. I promise."
"Thank you dear."
"Ooh! Look y'all, here they come!" Applebloom was finding it hard to control her excitement. Everypony's head turned. Some had to squint to see, but, in the distance, two moving figures could plainly be seen. As they approached the pony-lined aisle, Rainbow Dash and Applejack could be seen even clearer. They walked slowly, side-by-side, as they marched towards the raised platform of Town Hall. They wore matching fancy tuxedos, both with coat-tails flowing out behind them, the tips of which just dragged along the ground. They kept glancing at each other, attempting not to snicker at how ridiculous they both looked, and tried to maintain a refined, formal appearance.
They failed miserably. They made it about halfway down the aisle before it happened. Rainbow Dash accidently stepped on a coat-tail of her tuxedo with a back hoof. Her hoof slipped on the slick material, and she lost balance, crashing to the ground with a thud. Applejack, initially concerned, turned to see her bride-to-be, only to find her sitting dazed and confused but none the worse for wear. It was then that she started chuckling, an action that soon escalated to a laugh. She clutched her side and had to close her eyes in an attempt to stop her nearly incessant giggling fit.
She didn't even stop when Rainbow Dash tackled her. For several moments, the wedding attendees watched with a strange mixture of horror and amusement as the two brides rolled around in the dirt of the aisle, laughing and shouting in merriment as they engaged in a strange sort of friendly, loving, wrestling match.
Rarity groaned and tried to hide her face behind a hoof. "Ugghh… Don't they know anything about proper etiquette?"
Pinkie Pie took a break from laughing hysterically at the display to wipe her eyes. "Oh, Rarity, it's Rainbow Dash and Applejack! What did you expect?"
It was at this moment that Applejack, having wound up on top of the upside-down Rainbow Dash, looked up to the platform to see her friends waiting for them. "Oops… Come on, Dash! Let's go!" She immediately hopped off of her wife-to-be and trotting towards the stage. Rainbow Dash was quick to join her.
They stopped at the head of the stairs, smiling hugely. Their suits, so pristine only moments before, were covered in dust and had tears in several places. Rainbow Dash was missing a piece of her coat-tail, and both of them had lost their corsages. Still, they beamed with the unabashed enthusiasm of two lovers ready to commit themselves fully to each other. Neither cared about their appearance.
Rarity, however, did. "Oh, honestly, you two. You're making a mess of your own wedding!" Rarity lectured as she set about using her magic to clean up their suits and faces, fix the rips and tears in the black fabric, and replace the lost flowers. "These were rentals, you know."
Rainbow Dash laughed as a bit of magic scrubbed off a patch of dirt from her cheek, tickling her in the process. "Come on, Rarity, lighten up! We were just having a bit of fun!"
Rarity rolled her eyes theatrically as she finished cleaning the two of them up. "I would have thought if you two ever decided to take fashion seriously, it would be on your wedding day." Rainbow Dash and Applejack both grinned at her.
The ceremonies, after the unplanned delay, were just about ready to get underway when everypony was distracted by a noise coming out of the sky. As they watched, a gleaming golden chariot, let by a team of well-groomed white pegasi, descended from above, coming to a gentle rest not far from the Town Hall. Twilight Sparkles eyes lit up immediately in feign surprise. "Princess Celestia!"
Twilight beamed, just managing to maintain enough composure to stay in one place while the pure white princess with a shimmering mane of many colors made her own way over to the stage. Guests and Brides alike bowed their heads in respect; while Twilight leaned up to share a welcoming nuzzle with her old mentor. "Twilight Sparkle. It has truly been too long. I trust that I am not late, yes?"
"We were just about to get started, Princess. You're right on time! I'm so glad you decided to come!"
"Oh, don't be silly, Twilight, two of the Elements of Harmony getting married? I wouldn't miss this for the world!" Behind her, Princess Luna approached, saying nothing, but waving at the assembled friends. "Well, shall we get started?"
In due course, both Rainbow Dash and Applejack has assembled themselves at the altar. Applebloom, Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie all stood behind them and to the side, while Princess Celestia and Princess Luna took up a position behind them even further. Twilight Sparkle stepped up to the podium, looking as if she was about to start a speech, and hesitated. She turned around, facing her mentor. "Princess, would you like to do the honors?"
"Oh, I don't know, Twilight. Shouldn't that be Applejack and Rainbow Dash's decision?"
Applejack turned and smiled. "Princess, it would be an honor."
Twilight Sparkle vacated the podium, allowing Princess Celestia to take her place. Celestia beamed at her student before turning to face the hushed crowd. "Fillies and Gentlecolts, my loyal subjects, today we are gathered here to witness the wedding of two of our most beloved friends, two heroines of Equestria, Rainbow Dash and Applejack!"
Rarity leaned over to whisper in Twilight's ear. "You planned this. Didn't you?"
"…Maybe…"
Celestia, not indicating that she heard their exchange beyond giving a slight smile, continued with her speech. "As I'm sure most of you are aware, this afternoon's ceremony shall be rather… unconventional… in nature. To begin, both brides have prepared speeches to be given before their vows are made. So, without further ado, Rainbow Dash!"
Princess Celestia stepped back to allow Rainbow Dash and Applejack to step up to the podium. They stopped so that they faced each other, both with their sides to the assembled audience. Rainbow Dash blushed slightly as she looked out over the crowd of her friends and neighbors. There was a piece of parchment laid out across the podium with her speech on it, but she neglected it. She already knew everything by heart. She took a deep breath, and began.
"Applejack,…" Rainbow paused, stopping for a mere moment to stare into her lover's eyes. Her cavalier attitude was gone. "Ever since we first met, I knew I had found a friend. Over the years, we've had our fair share of competitions and our fair share of fights, but in the end, it always made us closer. We came out stronger after every trial we've faced together. I realized a long time ago that I might love you. I had always admired your bravery, your strength, your friendliness, and of course, your honesty. I always considered you one of my best friends, and I knew I wanted us to be more, but I always held back.
"I had to come to terms with the way I am at an early age. I'd known the way I felt about other mares for years, but I never met another mare quite like you. I never found another mare who I wanted to spend every possible moment with before I met you. But still, I held back. I never told you about my feelings because I could never know if you would share them. So I distracted myself by trying to become a Wonderbolt. It was all I could focus on. Then, when that dream was destroyed, I didn't know what to do. I didn't know where to turn. That was the day I thought everything was over for me, and that was the day you saved me.
"You saved me. You carried me to the hospital. You stayed there until I woke up, and then you stayed by my side that night and every night after that. That was when I decided I couldn't live without telling you how I felt, but I had never imagined you felt the same way." Rainbow Dash stopped to wipe a tear from her eye, only to stop when she saw droplets running down Applejack's cheeks. She gave a small smile, let her own mirthful tears fall, and continued. "When I didn't know what was happening with my life, you gave me yours. You let me into your home and you gave me a reason to wake up every morning.
"You've been my life ever since. And now… now I know… I know that there's nothing I want more – nothing I've ever wanted more – than to spend the rest of my life by your side. You're my life, Applejack, and you're the one I love."
Save for the occasional muffled sob or sniff, there was no noise. The assembled guests all sat in perfect silence, allowing Rainbow Dash's words to sink over the crowd and permeate the very air. Everyone's eyes were on the cyan pegasus, but her magenta orbs remained fixed on her partner. Applejack and Rainbow Dash held each other's' gaze for an untold length of time before Applejack began her own piece.
"Rainbow, Ah've never met another pony like you. No matter how aggravatin' ya ever got, and no matter how many times we tussled, ah've always considered you to be the best friend Ah've ever known, and more. Growin' up on the farm, ah never knew very much about love. Ah always just assumed Ah would wind up settlin' down with some stallion someday just like Ma and Granny Smith. Ah never thought… Ah never thought Ah'd fall fer another mare.
"Ah never thought that until the day Ah found you… the day I brought you to the hospital. When Ah saw you, lyin' on the ground like that, not movin' or anything, Ah couldn't bear to think about what might happen. Ah couldn't bear to think Ah might lose you. That was when… that was when Ah realized that Ah couldn't live without you. Ah was so worried, waiting for you to wake up at the hospital. In the back of mah mind, Ah kept thinkin' it would never happen.
"When Nurse Redheart said you were awake, Ah was relieved. Ah knew, then and there, that Ah never wanted to be away from ya again. Ah knew that Ah loved ya. When ya told me the same, Ah knew it was everything Ah ever wanted. Ah wanted to stay with you, to keep watch over ya, to spend every day and every night with ya, because you meant everything ta me and Ah never wanted ta see you hurt again.
"Ah know that Ah want to spend mah life with ya. Ah love seein' yer face when Ah wake up every mornin'. Ah love makin' ya smile and makin' ya laugh. You know Ah'd do anyhtin' for you, and now… now… now I know you'd do anythin' for me. You've given me everything, and Ah only hope Ah can pay you back. Rainbow Dash, you're the one Ah love."
A hushed silence remained in place over the crowd. The assembled bowed their heads out of a mixture of respect and shock. Rainbow Dash's tragic story was known to many of them, and for those who were unaware, the pure, raw emotion in the brides' words was enough to quiet them. Overhead, several birds, unaware of the serenity of the event unfolding below them, chirped loudly as they flew past. The sky was a pure, cool blue, specially cleared for the occasion. The sun had risen high into the sky, yet it was not warm. The days were growing colder. Autumn was coming, and everypony knew it. The wind, a subtle reminder of the changing season, blew through the quiet town. The light breeze washed over the ponies assembled in the town square. A few shivered, Big Macintosh included.
Normally, the cold did not get to the large stallion very easily. A lifetime of work and his heavyset frame had granted him a special tolerance for temperature extremes. As he stood, however, at the front of the crowd, dressed up in his best suit and watching his sister, braced against the wind, he couldn't help but tremble. Of the many ponies assembled, he was one of the few who knew about Applejack's disastrous trip. She had told him everything the morning after she returned. His joy at seeing her once again was quelled as detail after sordid detail of the journey was revealed to him. He knew he shouldn't have let her go – he hadn't trusted Cider from the beginning – but no matter how much she tried to assure him otherwise, he couldn't shake the overbearing feeling that everything that had happened was somehow his fault. With time, he had been able to let go of much of his guilt. Yet, he still felt bound and determined to watch over her, and so he shivered in the wind as he took in her words.
It seemed like a lifetime had passed before Princess Celestia stepped back up to the podium, standing between both Rainbow Dash and Applejack. The silence that reigned after their speeches had seemed, if possible, almost as deeply resonating within the hearts of those gathered than their words had been. Celestia took a few moments to gaze out over the crowd – her subjects – before she continued the ceremony. "I believe I speak for everypony here when I say how deeply moving those words were." Celestia tilted her head first to Rainbow Dash, and then Applejack. "I believe, now, that it is quite time for each bride to say their vows."
Rainbow Dash nodded, and began. "I, Rainbow Dash, take you, Applejack, to be my life-long partner, my wife."
"And I, Applejack, take you, Rainbow Dash, to be mah life-long partner and mah wife."
"No matter where this journey takes us," Rainbow Dash continued.
"No matter what we do with our lives," Applejack added, nodding her head.
"No matter how long the road is,"
"No matter what direction we take,"
"No matter how far we are separated by day,"
"No matter how close we hold each other at night,"
"No matter what happens,"
"No matter what happens,"
"I will always love you."
"And Ah will always love you."
"And I will always be yours."
"And Ah yours."
Rainbow Dash and Applejack both bowed their heads mere inches from one another. Their forelocks hung loosely in front of their faces, almost touching. Princess Celestia stepped back to allow them space. Another light breeze played itself over the crowd. Near the front, a mint-green unicorn mare leaned happily against a cream-coated earth pony. Both of them sighed in fond memory as the wind fluttered their manes together. Big Macintosh stared at his sister, watching over her, as he had for many years and would for many to come. Rarity watched intently, the hopeless romantic in her bursting with the desire to see love come to fruition. Fluttershy, unable to control her joy, was close to tears. Pinkie Pie rocked back and forth on her hooves, looking fit to burst from excitement. Twilight Sparkle smiled inwardly, knowing that somehow, none of this would be possible were it not for her. Celestia opened her eyes. She spoke. "Then by the power vested in me, I hereby declare you mare and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Perhaps it was because this was the moment they had anticipated for months. Perhaps it was because they found themselves surrounded by friends, family, and neighbors, feeling the eyes of everyone they cared most about resting on them. Perhaps it was because of the hardships they had endured together, and the strength they had gained together. No matter the reason, Rainbow Dash and Applejack had never shared a more perfect kiss, or a more perfect moment.