Bonding Marks

by booksmart


Closed Wings

Applejack bucked the tree behind her mechanically. The apples fell perfectly into the baskets. She barely noticed though. She was too lost in thought. She hadn’t even realized she was almost done todays work and would soon be working on tomorrow’s. She still couldn’t believe what Rainbow Dash had told her earlier. That poor filly rapped at such a young age, she couldn’t even begin to imagine the trauma that it would have caused. It warmed her heart to know that Dash would share that with her but Applejack also had no idea how to react. She knew she wasn’t going to treat Dash as a victim, that would be the last thing that mare wanted, but at the same time it wouldn’t be fair to expect Dash to continue comforting her while Applejack now knew that the pegasus could use comforting.

She set up another tree and let out another buck just before the very mare on her mind landed in front of her. It wasn’t a landing Applejack would have expected. Instead of a big skidding entry to show off Rainbow Dash’s “awesomeness” the rainbow manned pegasus landed gently on the ground and slowly retracted her wings. Warning bells immediately went off in Applejack’s mind.

“Howdy Rainbow,” she called enthusiastically. Rainbow Dash never returned the greeting. She simply walked up to the apple farmer. Applejack didn’t dare move as her marefriend approached. Dash nuzzled Applejack’s cheek and gave her a gentle kiss, completely out of character for the brash pegasus. The contact lasted no more than a few moments before Dash nuzzled her head into Applejack’s mane. Applejack felt Dash inhale deeply, the exhale came in broken breaths. Applejack nuzzled into Rainbow’s mane as she felt wings wrap around her. Applejack flipped her hat onto Dash’s head. Neither pony spoke, they didn’t need to. Applejack knew that Dash just wanted to hold her, and so they stayed silent and still, Dash with her head in Applejack’s mane and wings around the mare protectively.

After what might have been hours Applejack finally broke the silence with a whispered, “Feel better Surgarcube?”

She felt Dash nod, “You smell nice,” she mumbled.

Applejack chuckled, “Ah take it didn’t go well with yer parents.” She felt Dash nodded again before the pegasus retracted her wings and pulled away. “Yah want t’a talk about it?” Applejack asked.

Rainbow Dash stopped halfway while shaking her head and let out a sigh, “Applejack do you care if my parents approve of you?”

Applejack cocked her head to one side, “What happened today?”

“My parents want me to settle down…” Dash began.

There’s that marriage thing again, Applejack thought to herself.

“…with a stallion.”

Applejack shook her head, “That ain’t too much of a surprise Dash.”

Applejack saw Dash’s wings flare out in anger, “That’s not it! They got it in their head that I was dating Big Mac and…why are you laughing?”

Applejack managed to regain control of her laughter and took a deep calm breath, “I’m sorry Surgarcube but ya and Big Mac…” she let out another laugh, “Yah ain’t exactly his type.”

Dash rolled her eyes, “Lucky for you he isn’t mine either.”

Applejack nodded, very thankful for that fact, “So what’s the problem that made yah go all mushy? A little misunderstanding?”

“No! They disapproved of Mac because he was an earth pony! They didn’t even know that I was dating anyone and the second that they find out it’s an earth pony they act as though I was dating Discord! I mean can you imagine what they would say if they found out I was dating an earth pony mare?” Dash yelled.

Applejack was about to responded when out of nowhere Discord appeared in a bath tube. He poked his head out of the curtains and smiled, “Someone called?”

Applejack facehoofed, “Not a good time Discord.”

“Applejack! I am hurt. Can you not make time for your friends?” Discord replied turning off the shower.

Applejack pointed to a fuming Rainbow Dash, “What do ya want Discord?”

Discord shrugged, “You look like you need some cheering up, here.” Discord snapped his figures and a large rainbow colored mustache appeared on Dash’s face.

“DISCORD!” Rainbow yelled.

“What? Everyone likes mustaches,” Discord replied innocently then looked at Rainbow Dash more carefully, “Aww is someone dealing with daddy issues?” Applejack gave him a glare, “Fine.” The mustache disappeared from Rainbow’s face and the mare quickly put herself between Applejack and Discord.

“I do not have the patients to deal with you right now,” Dash growled raising her wings protectively in front of Applejack.

“Is that anyway to treat the pony…like creature that has the answers to your problems?” Discord asked.

“What are you talking about?” Dash replied her aggression faltering slightly.

“I’ll just make Applejack into a pegasus stallion and viola your problem are solved.”

You have got to be kidding me, Applejack thought to herself. She quickly looked to Dash’s face hopping the mare had more sense than to agree with the god of chaos.

“Over my dead body,” Rainbow Dash said, the aggression back in her voice, “Applejack is perfect the way she is and no one is changing her.” Applejack felt warmth flood her body at Dash’s words.

Discord stuck out his tongue, “Fine do it your way.” With that the god of chaos disappeared.

“I’m sorry AJ,” Dash said after a while.

“Ah ain’t got not’in t’a be sorry ‘bout. Ah’s be worried what mah and pa might think ‘bout ya in yer position too,” Applejack responded running her hoof through her marefriend’s mane.

Dash quickly looked to Applejack, “I don’t care what they think really. They can go to Tarturs for all I care. I’m worried you’ll want their approval. I know how important family is to you.”

Applejack smiled, “Their opinion ain’t goanna change nothing. Ah’ll always love ya.”


“And then she just up and left,” the pegasus mare in front of Rarity exclaimed as she examined a rack of dress.

“Rainbow Dash is nothing is not impulsive if you don’t mine me saying so Mrs. Rainbowshine,” Rarity replied her eyes wandering to her window. It was not the window that interested her but rather the castle she could see beyond it. The past couple days had been hard to say the least. She had wanted to go an apologize to Twilight but work, Sweetie Belle, and Spike kept getting in the way.

“That’s an understatement,” the stallion accompanying Rainbow’s mother chuckled, “That and saying she’s stubborn.”

“I honestly don’t understand what that filly is trying to hide,” Rainbowshine muttered. Rarity’s ears perked up and for the first time since Rainbow’s parent step into her store they had her full attention.

“What do you mean by that?” Rarity asked leaning forward in curiously.

Rainbow Blaze scoffed, “It’s like thinks flying away will hide the fact she’s dating that earth pony.”

Rarity’s ears flicked, “If you don’t mind me asking, what’s wrong with her dating the pony she loves? They make a lovely couple.”

Rainbow Blaze rolled his eyes, “I thought you were a fashion designer, red and blue don’t go well together.”

Rarity bit back her comment about the fact that there was red in the couple’s blue coated daughter’s mane and instead opted to sigh, “What dose that have to do with anything?”

Rainbowshine looked up form the dress she was studying, “I thought you said you knew Rainbow Dash?”

Rarity cocked her head to one side, “Of course I do. We are both barres of the Elements of Harmony. We’ve had many an adventure together and I would trust her with my life if necessary.”

“Then how can you not know she dating that red stallion from the apple farm?” Rainbshine asked.

Rarity’s eyes widened, “I assure you the pony she is seeing is not Big Macintosh. Where would you get such an idea?”

Both parents looked at Rarity with curious expressions, although Rainbow Blaze’s seemed harder then his wife’s, “How would you know that?”

“Because the stallion considered Ponyville's hottest stallion is already taken by our lovely school teacher,” Rarity replied, “That’s a cute couple,” she mused. She had wanted for a while now to do up an outfit for the two but they repeatedly denied her suggestions.

“So if she’s not dating the earth pony then who is she hiding from us and why is she spending so much time at a farm?” Rainbow Blazed asked, Rarity could see a bit of anger welling inside the stallion and it began worry her, “Unless…”

“What is it honey?” Rainbowshine asked.

“When I went to see Dash she was on top of a mare,” Rainbow Blaze growled.

Rainbowshine began to laugh, “You can’t be serious. Our Rainbow Dash a fillyfoller?”

Rainbowshine’s words stung Rarity and she cast another glance at the castle. Longing more then ever to be there now. Her patients with these ponies was growing thin. They had after all been here almost an hour, not bought and single thing and just complained about their daughter none stop.

Despite his wife’s laughter Rainbow Blaze’s face only grew darker, “I raised her better then that,” he muttered.

Rarity facehoofed, “What dose it matter if she like mare?”

The glare she got from Rainbow Blaze could have melted steel, “They are an abomination against Celestia herself.”

Rarity kept her anger in check, not only was Rainbow Blaze insulting her, but he was insulting her sister, and a Princess of Equestria, two if you wanted to be picky about it, “I believe that your stay at my establishment is longer then it needs to be. I must ask you to leave so that I may continue my work.”

“Is that anyway to talk to your customers?” Rainbow Blazed asked.

“No. But is how I am going to address you. Now OUT!” Rarity yelled and flung the door open with her magic. The two ponies where quickly shoved out the door only to have it slam shut behind them. Rarity let a sigh and flopped down on her couch. Then she heard foot steps coming down the stairs.

“What’s going on?” a sleepy looking Spike asked as he rubbed his eyes.

“Nothing Spike. Just a couple of close minded ponies,” Rarity replied.

“You’re going over to talk with Twilight.”

“No, I’m afraid I have too much work again,” Rarity said half heartily. She actually did want to see Twilight. It pained her that she had caused the alicorn pain, no matter how small it may have been.

“No you’re going to speak with Twilight. You’ve put it off long enough and if you don’t…” Spike paused as his voice hitched, “…come back with a marefriend I will burn your store down.” Rarity stared at the dragon. She couldn't fathom how hard it must be for him to do this, push her towards Twilight when he was the one that wanted her longest. “Am I clear?”

Rarity wrapped Spike in a hug and gave him a peck on the cheek, “Like the crystal of Twilight’s castle. Thank you Spike you are a true friend.”

Spike blushed, “Yah well go before I do something stupid again.”


Rarity stood on the door step to Twilight’s castle admiring the ornate door. She began playing with ideas for how to decorate the place. Inside could do with some more rugs and the outside a few banners announcing the presents of the royalty within and so on.

Stop stalling, she told herself. But try as she might she kept finding things to distract her. Maybe I should have brought that dress over for Twilight, a peace offering of sorts, she mused. Shaking her head to clear her mind she raised her hoof, then lowered it, then raised it, then lowered it again.

Alright you coward. You are going in there and you professing you love for the Princess of Friendship and you are going to like it! She internally yelled at herself and confidently knocked on the door. A few moments later the door swung open revealing a sight that made Rarity’s confidence shatter. There standing before her in all her glory, the pure white coat, gold medal shoes, graceful neck and beautiful pearl white wings was the monarch of Equestrian itself.

“PRINCES CELESTIA!”