"Here, Trixie," Twilight calmly stammered, helping the other unicorn into the mouth of the cave. "Our tent's over here. Easy. One step at a time..."
"No fair—HIC!" The mare teetered in her grasp, eyes rolling as she shuffled left and right with rosy cheeks. "Sparkle cheated! HIC! Trixie knows it!"
"Heh... yes, well, whether I cheated or not, we can discuss that in the morning." Twilight smiled, opening the zippered entrance to their tent. "Right now, let's just get you to rest. You've had a long night of... uhm... taking shots and eating marshmallows."
"Trixie WILL find Sparkle's weakness! HIC! Trixie swears... mmmmm... zzzzzzzz..."
Twilight sighed. Rolling her eyes, she smirked at the other mares. "Thanks for being such good sports."
"Hey. Don't apologize." Rarity smiled as she and Pinkie trotted off to their tent inside the cave. "I found the experience rather... enlightening."
"Yeah!" Pinkie nodded. "Who knew that a pony that age had such an acute phobia of papercuts!" She blinked. "...and a demented love for pine cones?"
"Good night, girls," Twilight said, waving as she closed the tent. "See you all in the morning."
"Yes, good night, Twilight," Rarity said, stifling a yawn. "Fluttershy, darling, are you coming?"
"Mmmmm... yes." Fluttershy nevertheless lingered behind the others. She looked over her flank with a nervous expression.
Rainbow Dash strolled lonesomely towards her tent. Her head was bowed as she sighed quietly to herself. With gentle motions, she unzipped the thing and stepped inside. The mare was in the process of rolling out and fluffing her mattress when—
"Good night, y'all! Rest easy, now! We've got ourselves one heck of a hike in the mornin'!" And the tent closed up behind, twice as warm as before.
"Huh...?" Rainbow Dash blinked. She turned around, gaping at the other pony. "Applejack?"
Applejack stifled a yawn. "Heck of an evenin', huh, Sugarcube?" She smiled blearily as she shuffled over to her own sleeping mat. "I'll take the north end again."
"What are you doing here?" Rainbow squeaked.
Applejack squinted at her. "Uhm... catchin' some z's?"
"Yeah, but..." Rainbow gulped. "I figured that... that after what I had said earlier..."
"Huh?" Applejack blinked. Her ears twitched, and she smiled softly. "Oh... heh... yes, well..." A shrug. "That's silly games for ya. No hard feelings."
"No hard feelings?" Rainbow grimaced. "I just... totally lashed out at Stu Leaves for... for..." She clenched her teeth, then looked aside. "Never mind."
"No. It's obviously very important to you, so no point in ignorin' it." Applejack turned around three times and plopped down onto her sleeping mat. "Mmmmm... besides... reckon yer not the one who needs to be apologizin'."
"Huh?"
"Things got a mite bit heated back there." Applejack swallowed a lump down her throat. She avoided Rainbow's gaze. "Reckon I... d-didn't know why you was gettin' so competitive. And I... eheh... I-I reached a bit. Said some thangs I really shouldn't have."
Rainbow shrugged. "It's alright."
"I beg to differ." Applejack stared up at Rainbow, eyes narrow. "Yer one of my best friends, Rainbow. T'ain't proper for me to be throwin' jabs at you that ya dun deserve. Especially when we're supposed to be relaxin' all friendly-like."
"Yes, well... that's my fault." Rainbow sighed. "Stu Leaves isn't even here right now... and yet... I-I just can't let him go."
"Mmmmhmmm." Applejack smirked wryly. "The stallion does have a habit of stickin' to ya."
"But... but—like..." Rainbow grimaced. "He knows his boundaries." She sighed, hanging her head. "Which is the least that can be said about me."
"What makes you say that?"
"Pfffft. Isn't it obvious?" Rainbow bit her lip. "I'm... I'm jealous."
Applejack raised an eyebrow.
Rainbow looked up. "Jealous of how easily he's... mmmm... become such a good friend to you, Applejack." She shifted where she stood. "I know it sounds childish."
"Not at all." Applejack slowly shook her head. "Besides..." She smiled warmly. "Must be hard holdin' back when yer so... so..."
"... ... ...loyal?"
"Heh... right."
"Heheh... yeah..."
"Heheheh..."
Silence.
"AJ..."
"Yeah, Rainbow?"
Rainbow sat down, hugging herself with a slight shiver. "Do... do you really think I've been doing extra work as of late just to avoid you and the other girls?"
Applejack hung her head with a sigh.
Rainbow stared at her pensively.
"Lie down and get comfy, Rainbow..." Applejack slid underneath her own sleeping bag. "Let's have ourselves a little chat..."