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Interlude: A Dragon in Celestia's Court2,198 words
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Epilogue379 words

Chapter 8

Pinkie Pie bounced over to Twilight’s house, a pair of party invitations in her mouth. She had noticed that ever since they'd come back from Canterlot, both Twilight and Spike seemed a bit more sad and stressed, even if they didn’t realize it. But Pinkie realized it. That’s why she was throwing this party, to see them smile again. Maybe she could even convince Applejack to bring Rainbow Dash and they'd have a quiet little get together and have cake eating contests and play charades and pin the tail on the pony and twenty questions and other games that Rainbow could play even with her injuries.

Her bouncing slowed to a stop as she neared the library and noticed a sign fastened to the front door.

‘In Crystal Empire; be back whenever’

Pinkie frowned dejectedly, and slowly pulled the invitations into her mouth with her tongue and ate them. It wouldn't be a de-stressifying party without the two who needed it the most.

And judging from how Twilight hadn't even made the sign a complete sentence or added ending punctuation, Pinkie knew she was super stressed.

* * *

Rainbow Dash opened the door slowly this time. “Hey, AJ,” she said dismissively. “You just couldn’t stay away, huh?”

Applejack shook her head. “Ah owed you the book and all. Couldn’t go back on my word.” She’d thought for hours last night before coming up with this excuse. It was safe, and it was something Rainbow Dash wanted, without being accusatory or blaming either mare.

And it worked. Rainbow didn’t even bring up the preening fiasco. “That’s right, you do. Come in and start reading.”

Applejack fluffed Rainbow’s nest again and set up a few snacks before opening the book. “Daring Do and the Search for the Golden Bridle.”

Rainbow snuggled deeper into the blankets and brought up a hoof to scratch at her mane.

“‘Daring Do licked her lips as she finished her joke. “So then she says, 'Well, duh. How do you think I got the ponyshoes?'” The crowd burst into laughter and Daring Do quickly wiped her hoof against her forehead, watching as it came away wet with perspiration. She was an archeologist, not a comedian; but if she didn’t keep up with these jokes, the only thing she would be was dinner.’”

“So… awesome,” Rainbow muttered, scratching at her mane again.

“‘Daring started again. “So did you hear the one about the two ponies that walked into a bar? You’d think the second one would have seen it!” This one was less-well received, and Daring started to sweat even more.’” Applejack set the book down. “You’ve been scratchin’ a lot. You ok?”

“Yeah, it’s just… it’s just kindof bad today, that’s all.”

“Ah can brush your mane if you want,” Applejack offered. That was a bit safer than the wing preening.

“Nah,” Rainbow said dismissively, turning around. “Just keep reading.”

Applejack quickly leaned down and took a lock of Rainbow’s mane in her hoof. Rainbow flinched, but did not pull away.

Applejack almost did, though. From up close, it was readily apparent that Rainbow’s mane was dirty and so matted that it looked like muddy baling twine instead of the sleek mane she usually wore. How had she not noticed this before? “This is... Rainbow, you need a bath. For reals this time.”

Rainbow shrugged. “Yeah, kindof; but that's not going to happen.”

“Ah’m serious. You’ll feel a thousand times better.” Applejack was almost afraid of the words coming out of her mouth. If preening had ended so badly, how could bathing end any better?

Rainbow snorted. Apparently, when it had been pointed out to her, she noticed just how badly she smelled. “I promise, if I could, I would be in the tub right now. Just… you know… having a little trouble on my own.”

All right, Applejack thought to herself. Back away slowly and change the subject. “Then let's do it,” Applejack said. “Ah’ll help.”

Seriously?!

Rainbow scrambled to her hooves. “You’re serious? Y- you want to bathe me?” she squeaked. It's one thing to mess around in a creek and get each other wet, but it's quite another to roll over and let somepony else bathe you like a helpless filly.

The fact that Rainbow was not ordering her out gave Applejack a bit of confidence. “Ah’ve done this before with Apple Bloom when she was a foal,” Applejack said dismissively. “Besides, you ain’t got nothin’ Ah haven’t seen before.”

Rainbow blushed ever so slightly at just how true that was. “Yeah, but I’m a bit bigger than her.”

“It’s the same idea. So if’n you don’t want to keep smellin' like Hogsworth the Third after a hot summer’s day, you’re gonna get in the bath.”

Rainbow shuffled hesitantly.

“Come on,” Applejack said soothingly. “It'll get your mane lookin' shiny again and Ah'll even brush your coat afterwards.”

Every pony loves being brushed, and Rainbow’s final defense fell. “Fine,” Rainbow sighed, “but don't try anything funny, ok?”

* * *

Applejack stared in confusion at the system Rainbow’s bathroom had. “Ah swear, nothin’ makes you feel more like a fool than usin’ somepony else’s shower,” she muttered. “Ah can’t even see what Ah’m supposed to twist here.”

“That’s because you’re not a pegasus, and those ballet slippers sure don’t make you one,” Rainbow grinned. She reached up and tapped a small cloud on the wall where the dial would be, and suddenly rain began to fall gently down to the tub. Rainbow chuckled at Applejack’s expression. “It’s a perk of being a pegasus,” she grinned.

Applejack nodded appreciatively as she saw the tub fill. “You want bubbles?”

Rainbow laughed loudly. “AJ, I’m not a foal.”

“Ain’t nothin’ wrong with bubbles in the bath,” Applejack protested. “It’s relaxin’.”

Rainbow chuckled. “Whatever you say, AJ. If you really want to give me bubbles, go ahead.”

Applejack looked around, and suddenly noticed that the mirror over the sink had been split by a large crack across the center, as if it had been punched with a hoof. Pointedly ignoring this, she found the soap and soon bubbles were filling the tub as well.

There was silence as the raincloud continued to rain, and soon Rainbow tapped it off. Now came the hard part: getting in.

Rainbow saw the look in Applejack’s eyes and narrowed her own. “You’re not lifting me,” she said firmly.

Applejack rolled her eyes, and all of a sudden a new idea occurred to her. She lay down flat on the bathroom floor next to the tub. “Then climb in.”

“Wha-?”

“Use me like a steppin’ stool and get in,” Applejack explained tersely. “Hurry now, this ain’t comfortable.”

Rainbow wanted to protest, but couldn’t think of any words to do so. As quickly as she could, she climbed on top of Applejack and slid in the tub. As the water hit her body, she let out a sigh of pleasure. This was her first bath in at least month, and she had forgotten just how nice it felt. The buoyancy of the water made her feel light again, and though parts of her wing and foreleg stung, she was able to move her body with reduced pain.

“Why didn’t I do this sooner?” she murmured.

“‘Cause you’re stubborn,” Applejack answered, lifting herself up.

Rainbow considered this and attempted to think of a good comeback, but her body was feeling quite relaxed and she was finding it difficult to be snarky. Part of her knew she should protest Applejack being in the bathroom with her, but with her eyes closed and her breath coming slowly, she was having trouble protesting anything.

Eventually, though, the water started getting colder and she sat up. “Ugh… guess I’d better clean something while I’m in here,” she groaned, reaching for a washcloth hanging from the small rack. She grunted, unable to reach it. Applejack furtively reached out and knocked it down, without making eye contact. Rainbow didn’t acknowledge this as she picked it up and began scrubbing herself. Getting the left part was easy, but the right… Rainbow finally settled for dragging the cloth across her foreleg and calling it good.

Applejack couldn’t help but notice that there was much still left unclean. “You want me to get the parts around your hind legs?”

“Nah, I got it.” Rainbow lifted the cloth and tried to bring it behind her, but dropped it with a shuddering gasp. She couldn’t even pass her middle section. She looked up, but was unable to meet Applejack’s eyes, and instead stared at the water. “I don’t got it. C- could you…”

That’s all she needed to say. Applejack nodded and fished the washcloth back out of the water and went to work.

It was strange. Rainbow was expecting to feel completely violated, and maybe even take a few off-color jokes, but Applejack was nothing but quick and respectful.

“Now for your mane and tail.” She scanned the products on the edge of the tub, but didn’t see anything specifically for those. “Do you have shampoo?”

“No!” Rainbow said far too quickly.

Applejack gave her a look.

Rainbow sheepishly pointed to the upper cabinet next to the cracked mirror. “Everything's in there.”

Applejack opened up the cabinet. Her jaw dropped and she whistled appreciatively at what she found. “You've got more hair mane care stuff than Rarity,” she said, examining the numerous brushes and various bottles of mane and tail products. Most of them were well-used, and had no dust on them.

Rainbow blushed. “Yeah, well... When you have something nice, you take care of it.” She paused. “Don’t tell Rarity,” she pleaded quietly.

Applejack smirked as she pulled out a bottle promising new life and vibrant colors and slid a brush onto her hoof. “Well, you're somethin' nice. Guess that's why Ah'm takin' care of you.”

Rainbow opened her mouth to protest, but then shut her mouth and whimpered in pleasure as Applejack ran the brush through her tail.

“Again,” she pleaded.

Applejack obliged. She continued for a few minutes until Rainbow’s tail shone. “There. You’re all done. Need help getting out, or…?”

Rainbow pushed herself slowly up. “No, I ca-”

But the water had a different idea. Her hoof slipped on the edge of the tub, and she went down hard. Applejack reached out quickly and caught her right before impact, holding her up.

The two remained touching for a brief moment, until Rainbow broke it off. “Uh… thanks,” she said, separating herself just a bit.

“D- don’t mention it,” Applejack said, supporting her weight so Rainbow could get out of the tub.

As soon as she had gotten to her hooves, Rainbow shook, splattering the whole bathroom and much of Applejack with water.

“Hey!”

“What?”

“You have towels for a reason!”

Rainbow snorted. “I can't exactly do that either, now, can I?”

Applejack rolled her eyes and pulled a towel from the rack. “Hold still.”

Rainbow looked at Applejack with apprehension as she neared. “Just... be gentle, ok? My right side…”

Applejack grinned. “Ah’m sure Ah can manage.”

Rainbow Dash flinched as the towel touched her body, but Applejack was just as gentle as before. She worked methodically from her right side, starting with her wing and crossing her ribs. It was quick going, and soon she was at her mane.

Suddenly, Applejack roughly rubbed Rainbow's mane with the towel. Rainbow took an angry step back.

“Hey!” she hissed, glaring at Applejack's mirthful look.

Applejack pointed to the cracked mirror and continued giggling. Rainbow looked and couldn't help but laugh as well at her mane, which was now poofed up and stuck out wildly in all directions.

“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up while you can. Just be nice to my tail. It's my best feature.”

Applejack took this invitation literally and moved back. “It is a nice tail,” she agreed as she stretched the towel again.

Now, Rainbow was no stranger to Applejack poking around under her tail, but she still couldn't suppress a shudder as she neared. But just as before, Applejack was gentle and respectful, and never revealed more than was strictly needed. When most of the water was gone, Applejack looked up. “You have a smaller coat brush?”

Rainbow nodded and gestured at a drawer. Applejack found it and slid it on her hoof, and she slowly began brushing Rainbow. Her hoof traveled gently along her body, and Rainbow relaxed. She soon lay down, giving Applejack better access to her body.

Ten minutes later, Applejack nudged her. “You're done on this side,” she said. “Roll over, wouldja?”

But Rainbow Dash didn't roll over, because Rainbow Dash was fast asleep.

Applejack could only watch as Rainbow breathed slowly. Her face was no longer twisted in a scowl, no longer glaring; she just relaxed and slept peacefully. Applejack smiled and rested her head on Rainbow's. For a brief moment, everything was right in her world. There were no injuries, no insults, no burns or scar tissue; just two lovers cuddling in the afternoon.

* * *

Rainbow's eyes flickered open. The first thing she noticed was that she felt pretty good. She felt relaxed, and more rested than she had in a long time. It was dark, so apparently she had been here a while.

She rolled her neck and noticed a piece of paper flutter to the floor. She reached out and winced as she picked it up. It was a note.

‘Hey Rainbow. Sorry I have to love you and leave you, but I had a lot of chores to do today, and I didn’t want to wake you. I’ll be back soon.
Love, Applejack’

Rainbow flicked it away. It was nice while it lasted, having Applejack here, and getting bathed wasn’t nearly as awkward as she had feared, and she really did feel better; but Applejack really needed to move on, and she intended to tell her so, firmly, the next time she came. No chance for talking; Rainbow would just tell her the next time Applejack showed up that she needed to leave.

* * *

But knowing that she needed to tell Applejack to move on and actually telling her to move on proved to be two very different air currents.

Especially when Applejack brings cider. Nice, cold, freshly-made cider.

"Part of the first batch," she informed her. "Thought Ah'd share some, seein' as how you can't exactly stay standin' in line all day."

She tried to say, ‘Applejack, you need to leave’ but it came out as “Applejack, you need to l- Is that cider? Please pour me some please please please please!”, which Applejack quickly did before pouring herself one as well.

When the cider was halfway gone, Applejack looked over. “Ah need to what?”

“Huh?”

“You were sayin’ somethin’, like Ah needed to do somethin’?”

“Oh… uh…” Rainbow set down her mug and mentally scrambled for another topic. “You know who I haven't seen in a while? Pinkie Pie. How's she doing?”

Applejack didn’t notice, or if she did, she didn’t react. “She’s all right, Ah guess. She’s worried about you, too.”

“Oh, yeah?” Rainbow asked. Pinkie Pie was a much safer topic; and that’s saying something.

“She doesn’t know what to do. She’s back to normalish, you know, but still.” She grinned. “Ah bet she’d be happy to throw you a party.”

Rainbow chuckled. “Yeah, no. That’s not going to happen.” Words kept coming out of her mouth. “I wouldn’t mind seeing her again, though.”

Applejack cracked a smile. “Ya know, if you really want, Ah’ll go get her.”

Rainbow dropped a bit and glanced around. “She’s probably up here, hiding.”

“Nah. Ah saw her this morning at Sugarcube Corner.”

“Oh, we’ve already summoned her.”

Both mares spun around to see Pinkie Pie floating outside the window, waving excitedly. Numerous balloons were strapped to her back, giving her lift, and her saddlebags looked filled to the point of bursting.

“Pi-?”

“Yep!” Pinkie crawled in and dropped to the ground. “I could feel that somepony needed a little Pinkie cheer!”

Rainbow lifted an eyebrow. “Not a party?”

“Nah. I mean, I wanted to, but I got the feeling you didn’t want to and anyway it’s most important to make sure that the pony who is receiving the party has the best time as opposed to the one throwing the party but, I mean, I have a great time throwing the parties-” She stopped to gasp for air. “Unless you really want a party? Because I could totally get one organiz-!”

“No!” Rainbow shoved a hoof in Pinkie’s mouth. “No party.”

Pinkie raised a plate. “How about a slice of cake?” she offered.

Rainbow sighed, not even bothering to question where Pinkie had obtained her cake. “Fine. One slice of cake.”

Pinkie threw her hooves up in the air, apparently forgetting that she was holding a slice of cake. “Yay!”

Applejack did not cheer, though, as the slice of cake landed on her face, covering her mane and cheeks in white frosting.

She did smile, though, as she licked part of the frosting off. “Not bad,” she said.

“Don’t worry!” Pinkie said, completely unashamed at having assaulted Applejack with cake. “I have plenty more where that came from!”

* * *

Rainbow couldn’t help but smile as she looked at the aftermath of the little party, but then shook her head. “Next time, I'll tell her to leave,” she said, trying to suppress the little nagging voice inside that whispered a protest.

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