> The Cowpony and the Racer. > by Darkened Lightning Storm > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > chapter 1. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sweat dripped off Applejacks forehead as she bucked away at countless trees. This was her usual work on the farm. buck apples, buck more apples, buck more apples, feed the pigs, keep Rainbow Dash away from my crops. Applejack thought and swished her head from side to side half expecting to see the blue pegasus. She gave a small relief sigh and turned back to her apple crates, only to be greeted by the rainbow maned annoyance. "What's up AJ?" Rainbow Dash said with a grin on her face and took a bite of apple. Applejack let out a "I-should'v-known" sigh. "Rainbow. what the hay are ya doin' here?" "I'm eating, duh." Rainbow Dash snickered at her own joke and tossed AJ an apple. Applejack glared at her slightly but couldn't help but smile. "Rainbow, yah know yer goin' to hafta' buy these, considerin' ah sell them to keep this here farm ah live on alive." Applejack put the Apple back and gave the pegasus another glare as Rainbow Dash threw the apple core behind her and shrugged. "Just put it on my tab." Rainbow laughed and reached for another apple but her hoof was quickly swatted away. "If ah counted up the amount of money yah owe me, Celestia wouldn't even have enough to pay that price." Applejack said as she carried the crate inside of the barn. After she put all the apple crates away and locked the barn door, she turned to Rainbow Dash, who was sleeping under an apple tree wearing Applejack's stetson. Smirking, the orange mare walked up next to the tree and gave it a BUCK making apples fall down on Rainbows head. The rainbow maned pegasus quickly jumped up. "I'M UP! WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? WHOSE HURT?!" Rainbow Dash shouted as Applejack fell over laughing. Realizing that AJ had pulled a prank on her, Dash blushed and folded her wings. "S-shut up..." Rainbow muttered at threw Applejack's hat at her. "Easy now sugarcube, It was just a joke. Anyways, Ah'm done movin' all those crates into the barn, ya'll wanna go for a run?" Applejack picked up her at and smiled at the now calming down Rainbow Dash. "Sure, it was the reason I came here earlier in the first place. To ask you if you wanted to go for a run." Rainbow said as she and Applejack started to trot down the dirt path leading away form Sweet Apple Acres. ~A little later~ Rainbow Dash ran along side her best friend. Oh, the weird feelings were back alright. The butterfly feeling pounded against her stomach and her heart was trying to pop out of her chest. She was trying hard not to let her wings burst out every time Applejack would run into her playfully. Finally, Dash got an idea. "Hey AJ!" Dash shouted as Applejack turned her head. "Yes sugarcube?" She asked as Rainbow Dash got a sudden speed boost and ran ahead of her. "Come on slowpoke, I know you can run faster than that!" Dash laughed as Applejack grew a smug look on her face and bit down on Rainbow Dashes tail causing Applejack to fly over and tumble into her, knocking them both into the ground. Both out of breath from laughter, Rainbow Dash stared at Applejack's bright, emerald, green eyes. Applejack smiled at her and got up, holding out a hoof. "need help up ya lazy pony?" Applejack grinned smugly as Rainbow Dash took her offer for help up. The two mares trotted endlessly threw the dirt paths they knew so well. "Hey.. AJ..?" Rainbow Dash said finally getting the courage to speak up as Applejack turned to her. "Yes sugarcube?" Applejack said as they trotted towards the small clearing that led toward a cliff. Here's your chance Dash. You got this. Dash paced some steps forward and took a seat next to Applejack. "What do you think of FillyFoolers?" Dash asked trying to stay calm and causal. Applejack looked at her friend for a second and raised an eyebrow. "Where the hay did that question come from?" Applejack looked at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow tried everything in her willpower not to do something she'd regret. "I'm just.... I'm curious. Say if.. one of us, You know, you, me, and the rest of the gang. What if one of us really really liked someone else in the group. How would you feel about that?.." Rainbow Dash looked away as Applejack stared at her. "Ah'd think that there entitled to there own opinions ahn' beliefs." Applejack said as she turned away from Rainbow's gaze. "But what's you're opinion and belief?" Rainbow Dash pressed on trying to get the information she needed. Applejack gave Rainbow Dash a weird look and shifted somewhat away uncomfortably. "Since when did ya'll care 'bout what Ah think 'bout FillyfFoolin'?" Applejack asked and Rainbow looked at her hooves kicking at the ground trying to avoid the question. There was a short silence between the two mares until Applejack spoke up again. "Ya'll ganna' answer mah question Rainbow?" Applejack stared at her friend as Rainbow sighed and returned her stare with an awkward gaze. "I... I..." Rainbow Dash swallowed and forced out the last part. "I like you... A lot... Not in a friend or a sister way like I do with the others... I like you like I think your really hot and I want to kiss you." There was silence. An awkward, uncomfortable, silence. This was not what Rainbow Dash wanted. She wanted a warm, happy, silence. She also wanted to get rid of the stupid blush that was slapped across her face and wouldn't come off, like somepony super glued it there. Way to go Dash, way to say everything you weren't supposed to, now you probably just ruined your friendship with AJ. I'm surprised I didn't say "I also think your flank is amazingly hot" while you were at it. She looked up slightly to see Applejack staring at her, still soaking in what she had been told. When Rainbow Dash went say something, she just couldn't. She stopped herself before she could make anything worse. It was Applejack's move anyways, Rainbow had thrown the ball into AJ's hooves and it was her turn to throw it back. "Rainbow..." Applejack started but something got stuck in her throat. She coughed and continued. "Rainbow. Ah have honestly no idea how to respond..." Applejack stared at her best friend and let out a small smile. Rainbow Dash noticed this quickly and one of her ear perked a little and she gave her a curious look. Applejack decided to finish what she had started to say. "Ah like you too." > this is the second chapter. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The three days the followed the eventful evening where the same for Applejack, take care of the apple orchard like it was her own foal. Yet, something took over her mind and made her work day a daze, like the whole day only lasted an hour. That thing on her mind was none other than Rainbow Dash, who hadn't been around for those three whole days. Dating or not, Rainbow Dash still usually came to orchard and spent the day there, sleeping in the trees. Applejack sighed as she closed the farm doors and looked to the sky, hoping to see the rainbow pegasus. Applejack climbed up and sat on the stairs of the porch, waiting silently. Big Macintosh must'v noticed this odd behavior as he stepped out onto the porch and saw his sister. He sat down next to her and Applejack turned her head slightly and smiled at her brother as if he couldn't tell she was upset. "Howdy Big mac, Everythin' alright big brother?" She asked him with a fake cheerful smile on her face. "Noooope." Big mac's face stayed a frown as he stared at her. Applejack sighed and leaned her head against the wooden railing poles. "What's wrong?" She asked hoping that he wasn't going to say something about her, even though she already knew. "Ah'm not blind AJ, Ah'v seen you in that love struck daze of yer's fer the last three days, Ah'v also noticed that rainbow maned mare hasn't been around..." He said. "Well it's not mah' fault tha-" Applejack had started to protest but was cut off by a voice in the sky. "HEY AJ!" The voice shouted as Applejack look up to see a rainbow hurling toward her at full speed. Almost instantly realizing that that rainbow was Rainbow Dash. Fear struck through AJ as Rainbow came closer and closer without slowing down or changing direction, but relief that Dash actually showed up today also flowed through her and made her relax and smile. Big mag stood up and smiled softly down at his sister getting the proof he needed by applejack's smile and somewhat red cheeks and the pegasus coming at them full speed. "Yer not mad?" Applejack asked somewhat surprised and even more relived that her brother wasn't mad that she was a fillyfooler. "Nooope." He said before heading inside. Applejack quickly jumped up quickly and waved at the speeding pegasus, who instead of spreading her wings to slow down, completely folded them and dived-bombed straight into Applejack. Usually, this would anger Applejack, because one of them could'v gotten hurt or broke something, but she had missed Dash enough to let it slide. Rainbow Dash quickly popped up and helped Applejack up. "Come on, I have a surprise for you." Rainbow Dash said excitedly taking hold of Applejack's hoof and dragging her behind. ~~~ The two mares slowed down to a stop as the came across a clearing in the woods with an overlook of the sleeping Ponyville. There was a blanket spread across the ground with plates, cups, and a candle lit in the center. There was also rope tied to four trees that had firefly lanterns hanging from it. a smile spread across Applejack's face as she chuckled. "Dash, what in tarnation is all of this?" Applejack chuckled and Dash smiled. "Welcome to our official first date. You can thank me later for setting all of this up. Anyways, may I take your hat ma'am?" Rainbow Dash mocking fancy restaurants as Applejack couldn't stop laughing as she handed Rainbow her hat, who replied with sticking her tongue out at AJ and placing the stetson on her head. As they sat down Dash took out two apples and Applejack couldn't help but grin. "Apples... Really Rainbow?" AJ felt herself fighting laughter again as Rainbow Dash blushed. "S-shut up ok? I was running out of daylight and the stupid bakery where I was supposed to get the daisy and dandelion sandwiches closed before I could pick up them up." Rainbow sighed and handed Applejack an apple. AJ couldn't help but spread an even bigger grin as she looked up at Dash. "Want me to put these ones on yer tab too?" Applejack finally fell back in laughter as Rainbow blushed even deeper and pulled the stetson down over her face. "I said shut up!" ~~~ After the mares had eaten the apples Rainbow Dash had put everything back in the basket and now they were staring up at the stars. "Hey AJ.." "Yes sugarcube?" "This is awesome." Rainbow Dash smiled still wearing the stetson. "Just lookin' at the stars is awesome, but yah don' think mah lassoin' is awesome... what the hay is wrong with you?!" Applejack turned her head to Rainbow Dash who only chuckled. "I never said you being able to kick any ponies tail with a lasso wasn't awesome AJ. I just meant.. lying here with you, looking at the stars and talking. It's way more awesome than anything else, maybe even cider." Rainbow Dash gazed at Applejack happily who only in return started to rant. "Now wait just a apple-bucking moment! This is comin' from the pony who sits in ah 5 hour line just fer one mug of squashed up-" AJ had started but Rainbow Dash placed a hoof on her friends mouth and interrupted her. "AJ?" "What?!" "Like I said before, shut up." And before Applejack could scowl and rant anymore Rainbow Dash leaned over and kissed her. If was a soft, quiet kiss. Nothing big for a first date. Moments after Applejack had responded to it, Rainbow Dash softly broke the kiss and smiled at AJ, who was speechless. "Hey Applejack?" "Y-yes sugarcube?" "Will you be my special-somepony?" Rainbow dash asked as Applejack smiled. "Of course, sugarcube." > Saying "I love you." > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A month later It's just three simple words Dash, how hard can it be? Twilight's word echoed around the walls of Rainbow Dashes skull and rung in her ears as she lay still in an apple tree watching her marefriend buck apples. As Rainbow Dashes mind drifted on, she thought more about those three simple words. I love you. It didn't seem that difficult, right? It's not like these words could mess up there relationship or anything, right? Just, fly down there and tell her. "Applejack, I love you." doesn't seem that hard. I mean, come on, it's not like Applejack is going to laugh at me or anything. I'm pretty sure that if she wanted to, she would'v when I told her I liked her. Aren't couples supposed to be all mushy anyways? Wait, what if she's going to think that I'm taking things to fast... Rainbow Dash sighed and rolled over on the branch, accidentally falling off and onto Applejack. "Heh... Hey AJ..." Rainbow Dash blushed and got off the cross cowpony. "Rainbow, Ah swear that's the third time ya done that..." Applejack said raising her eyebrow at the Pegasus's spacey mood. Somethin's up inside of that head Rainbow's got there... Applejack thought as she leaned over and nuzzled Rainbow Dashes cheek, and in response she got silence and Dash staring off into space. "Everythin' ok RD?" Applejack asked as Rainbow Dashes ears perked up at the sound of her name. "Huh? Oh... Uhhh.. Yea..! Why do you ask?" Rainbow said and smiled as AJ slightly frowned. "Ya seem more... Distant.. Than yer usual self.." Applejack glanced at her nervously as Rainbow Dash looked around avoiding the subject. Shifting her hooves in the dirt Rainbow Dashes wings unfurled and she started to hover over the ground. "Uh well I better get going.. I have to uh... Practice my moves.." Rainbow Dash smiled nervously as she leaned down and gave AJ a small peck on the cheek before taking off into the sky. Before AJ could call out Dash was barely a rainbow blur. Applejack sighed before leaning against a tree. "What the hay was that all about...?" A voice came from behind and Applejack turned around to see it was Inkstroke, one of Applejack's top buyers and an Apple family friend. "Ah don't know.. That mare has been actin' rather strange lately..." Applejack told Inkstroke as they trotted towards the house. "Now give me a second sugarcube, Ah know Ah left yer apple pie in the window sill." Applejack said leaving Inkstroke to stand in the doorway. She soon returned with the Pie that was promised. "Oh thanks AJ, the kids have been bugging me for one of these lately. Anyways, about the RD thing, she seemed like she was hiding something... Like there was something she wanted to tell you but didn't." Inkstroke told AJ as she used her wing to place the pie in her bag. As they said there goodbyes and Inkstroke trotted off, AJ had a feeling that Inkstroke had a point. "Ah'm goin' to find out what that mare's up to..." Applejack grumbled before trotting out into the orchard to continue her farm work ~~~ Rainbow Dash grumbled as she folded her wings some trying to pick up more speed. She had to do this tonight, or else it would never get done. As she dove through the cloud layer, she instantly saw her target. Tightening her jaw around the bouquet, she dove head first towards Sweet Apple Acres. When she soon came close to the ground, she spread her wings slowing down as she softly landed on the ground. As she trotted over to the door, she felt the nervousness start to seep under her coat as she knocked on at an Big Macintosh stepped out. "Hey Big Mac. Is AJ home?" Rainbow asked as a bead of sweat dripped down the side of her head "Eeyup." Big Mac simply stated and instead of letting Rainbow in, he blocked the door more. "Uh, can I see her please?" "Noope." Big Mac grumbled and closed the door before Dash could stop him. Grumbling, the cyan pegasus quickly flew up and knocked softly on Applejack's window. At first there was no answer, which was usual, then the orange cowpony Rainbow had been looking for showed up in somewhat of a hustle. Applejack quickly opened the window and right away she was greeted with a kiss on the lips. After five seconds, the pony who had kissed her pulled away. Applejack's eye quickly flew open to see it was Rainbow Dash, standing there was a bouquet of orange, red, and yellow flowers. AJ stepped back some allowing the pegasus to fly in. "Hey." Dash smiled and held out her hoof with the bouquet of flowers that Applejack hesitantly took. "Howdy Rainbow...Care to explain yer odd behavior?" Applejack cut to the chase placing the bouquet down of her red and orange quilted bedspread and raising and eyebrow as Rainbow Dash looked to her hooves. "I need to tell you something..." "Ok then, what is it?" "I can't tell you..." "An why is that?" "Because.... I'm... Af... Afra... A... Afraid... You might leave me... If I tell you." Applejack stood there in shock at what Rainbow Dash had said. Never once had Rainbow admitted to anypony about being afraid of something. Never. AJ quickly pinched herself and then hugged the embarrassed pegasus. "Now sugarcube.. Ya know Ah'll never leave ya... Jus' tell me what ya have ta say." Applejack smiled and stared into Rainbow Dash's eyes putting a hoof under RD's chin. "I... I love you." Rainbow said as Applejack simply smiled and started to giggled, causing Rainbow to grow nervous. "That's what's ya been spacin' out over lately?" Applejack chuckled and Rainbow Dash nodded as an embarrassed blush was scribbled across her face. Applejack stopped chuckling after awhile and leaned over and kissed Rainbow Dash, wrapping her forehooves around the rainbow mare's neck and surprising her. Rainbow soon grew comfortable and melted into the kiss. After a couple moments, Applejack broke away and lightly pressed her muzzle to Rainbow's. "Yer insane if ya thought Ah'd leave ya Rainbow, I love ya too." Applejack said pressing her lips to Rainbow's once more.