> Our Pasts That Haunt Us
>  by Dynasty-Kaine
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1: A Love Of The Earth
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Rainbow Dash was a simple pegasus, with her cyan blue coat and flowing poly-chromatic hair. She ruled Ponyville's skies with awesome skills unmatched, but on the ground there were a few that could match her--even push her to her limits. Today Rainbow had been at work as Ponyville's resident weather manager, the clouds were especially difficult to handle today with her small crew. It had taken them most of the morning to get the skies back under their control, but when Rainbow Dash was leading the team they were guaranteed success.

Now, the cyan mare was flying about double checking her team's work before she took her break, and after about ten minutes she decided it was all quiet again.She let the others know she was taking her lunch break before flying off towards Sweet Apple Acres to fulfill a craving she had suffered for the past week. It was something she was still so unsure of how to handle, and Rainbow didn't enjoy the feeling of doubting herself. It all became apparent one day to her a week ago, and just thinking about the event now got Rainbow Dash's heart racing away from her.

It was at a party the Apple family had thrown a week ago all her friends were there, but one mare in particular caught Dash's eye in a way she had never thought of before. It was her best friend Applejack. She had dressed herself to the nines, which was exceptionally rare to see. The music around them was blaring along to a swinging sound and the cyan mare couldn't help but stare at her friend at this moment. She was breathtakingly beautiful tonight, her simple black silk dress outlining the curvature of her body flawlessly as she walked around talking with everyone. Her hair was down for once, and the pegasus thought of how smooth it looked compared to its usual straw-like appearance.

Then there was Applejack's eyes deep pools of emerald green. "Wait" Dash thought, the haze clearing from her mind as she noticed the orange coated mare was looking right at her. The cyan mare felt a heat rising in her cheeks as she looked away; what was she doing checking out her friend like that. It wasn't normal for her at all, where were these feelings coming from all of a sudden she found herself thinking. She had stood there pondering so long she didn't notice Applejack come up to her. The straw blonde mare reached out to poke Dash's forehead.

"Earth to Dash, you in there sugarcube?" Rainbow heard AJ's voice.

"Uh, heh, yeah sorry about that AJ."

"Sheesh shug, you could at least pay me some attention when Imma talkin', or maybe yall heard what I asked ya?"

Rainbow rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment,"Sorry AJ what did you ask me?"

The orange mare's tone was soft and gentle as she held out a hand and asked,"Will ya dance with me Dash?"

Dash blinked rapidly in utter surprise. She didn't know what to say, and couldn't seem to manage words so she let her actions speak instead. She reached out and took AJ's hand and nodded her approval. The last song had come to an end and started into a slow song, and Dash felt her heart flutter nervously. The timing of that song was far too perfect for her tastes, but with AJ leading her to the dance floor it wasn't really that big of a deal. AJ put one hand on Rainbow's hip and the other took Dash's hand in hers, all the cyan mare could manage was to mimic her friend. As they began to sway slowly back and forth it felt like the cyan mare's mind was on record mode; making sure she wouldn't forget a single thing about the earth pony that now danced close to her.

Dash began blushing a deep crimson as she reminisced over the fond memory. She wasn't sure yet about things, but at this point she found it was fair to guess she was a fillyfooler. Something in her mind said if it was so then she didn't care; so long as it was with AJ. She knew there was cloud cover over Sweet Apple Acres today as she had made sure there would be. Dash landed on a cloud overlooking the enormous apple tree fields. She wasn't one hundred percent sure AJ would be out in the fields today, but she had to try to catch a glimpse of the earth pony stealthily.

As luck would have it Applejack was out this afternoon bucking away at the trees knocking their fruits free into baskets placed expertly below the trees. Beads of sweat all along her body, Dash could only assume the orange mare had been out there all morning working. It was always amazing to see Applejack drop down onto her arms before snap kicking a tree, the muscles along her legs rippling with the strength needed to shake the tree. Her trusty stetson through all of this somehow managed to stay upon her head; that in itself was a feat that defied logic.

The cyan mare stayed there hidden on the cloud watching Applejack for hours just admiring her for her strength and determination. The orange mare stopped for a break removing her stetson and wiping the sweat from her brow. AJ looked up at the sky, directly at the cloud Dash was hiding in. The cyan mare's heart raced, "Oh sweet Celestia don't let her notice me!" her mind cried out feebly. The earth pony below cocked her eyebrow inquisitively before smiling warmly and going back to work. Rainbow Dash let out a small sigh of relief, which was inevitably her biggest mistake.

Without turning around she heard AJ holler, "Ah sure hope yer enjoyin' yerself up there Dash. The view good enough fer ya up there?"

Dash practically had a heart attack as she jumped and fell out of the cloud towards the ground rapidly. Spreading her wings she just barely caught herself, still landing rather ungracefully about fourty feet from Applejack. The orange mare stood there smiling, her hands placed on her hips as if sizing up the rainbow haired mare. Rainbow now felt extremely hot under her coat, and she wondered if she was experiencing what Fluttershy went through daily. She couldn't help but look AJ up and down noticing the curve of her bust through her white and red plaid button up, and AJ's hips in her snug fitting blue jeans.

Applejack didn't miss the look that Rainbow had unconsciously given her though, and began walking over to Dash with a neutral look. The look AJ wore scared the blue mare to death and caused her thoughts to race uncontrollably her tail twitching, "What if she knows? What if she doesn't swing that way? What if this ruins our friendship?" Dash looked down to the right, away from AJ as she came to stand in front of her. "Oh sweet Celestia if she knows...please don't let it ruin our friendship. I couldn't bear that!" Dash thought anxiously.

Applejack bent down to face Rainbow Dash who was now sitting down cross legged. The cyan mare couldn't help but notice how prominent AJ's bust looked close up like this. With that little thought Dash's wings began to flutter of their own accord, her face quickly turning red as a beet. She did all she could to control it even looking away but it was no use, she couldn't avoid the mare in front of her. She then felt AJ's hand softly touch to her shoulder, and she looked up into her emerald eyes to see affectionate understanding there. She couldn't look away from those eyes that just seemed to draw her in.

AJ broke the silence gently, "So Dash, am I right in assumin' that you've taken a fancy ta me?"

The cyan mare's eyes went wide, she found several times she tried to speak but just couldn't utter the words. Why? Why couldn't she say anything? She was Rainbow Dash, the single most amazing pony there ever could be, the confidence to look even death in the face and defy it, but one look at the mare in front of her and she felt her words disappear. Applejack's smile was warm as she chuckled, lightly rubbing Dash's shoulder which only blew the cyan mare's mind further out of proportion.

"Looks like ya have if ya can't even utter a single edgy remark, miss Iron Pony. Talk to me RD what's goin' through that head o' yers?" AJ cooed softly.

"AJ I-I..." Rainbow started not sure what to say next but she kept trying seeing the look in her friends eyes,"...I kinda sorta...well that is that I..."

"Come on shug it's okay you can tell me." the orange mare gently nudged Dash to say what was on her mind.

There was a pause where Dash looked down from AJ before looking back up a fire in her eyes, "AJ for the past week I think I've been developing a cr-crush on you."

AJ's eyebrows raised in surprise at the sudden straightforward answer to her question, but her demeanor didn't change more than that. Rainbow Dash could feel her face burning up if this kept up she felt like she would pass out with so much blood rushing to her face. It was out now that Rainbow Dash liked mares, and she was so embarrassed by it but she couldn't help who she was attracted to. As Dash's thoughts subsided she realized Applejack was still rubbing her shoulder. It felt nice and she let it comfort her slightly as she looked up into the orange mare's deep emerald orbs.

"So yall like mare's then Rainbow, but not just any mare's--you fancy me?" Applejack started with gentle care in her voice.

Rainbow smiled letting her friends touch calm her nerves and began to nod her approval of the question.

"Ahm glad you could be honest with me Dashie, now it's mah turn to be straight with you." AJ said a light flush of red lighting her cheeks.

"Applejack?" Rainbow found herself saying shakily.

"That night at the dance...ah noticed you were lookin' mah way, and deep down it made me feel good. Made me feel special. Ah wasn't sure iffen it was just a passing thought mahself, but ah wanted to be near ya right then." Applejack was blushing fully as she finished her thought, "An' so I came over ta ask ya fer that dance...so ah could see if it was more than a passin thought."

"Applejack, are-are you serious?" Dash asked her eyes wide with surprise.

"W-Would ah ever lie to you sugar cube?"

"W-Well...was it more than a passing thought?"

"It t'was. Ah've been out here in these fields sun up to sun down tryin' ta figure out jus what these feelin's mean. Mah family's been worried sick with how hard ah been pushin' myself, but it was the only way I knew to clear my head. Havin' yall sit up there daily shadowing me though makes clearin' yer mind tough." AJ finished rubbing the back of her head sheepishly.

"Sorry about that AJ, I just couldn't seem to help myself once the thought crossed my mind."

"S'okay shug, ahm still not too sure what to do about this either..."AJ removed her hand from Rainbow's shoulder to motion between the two of them, "Ah mean ah've been with colts before, but ah've never been with 'nother mare..."

AJ looked away suddenly more bashful toward their situation it seemed to Dash. The cyan mare wasn't going to miss this chance to make her move.

"Jackie...I've never been with a mare before either, but if there was ever a mare I'd be willing to try it with..." Rainbow Dash paused as Apple Jack looked up into Rainbow's magenta eyes,"...it would be you."

Applejack's eyes teared up as she reached forward and wrapped her arms around Rainbow Dash, pulling her into a tight embrace. They weren't alone in what they had felt about one another, and both of them returned their individual feelings. Rainbow Dash felt like this was the start of the most beautiful possible relationships she could ever find. Nothing could ruin this possibility for her ever, but life is seldom that easy.
> Chapter 2: Like The Wind Through My Hair
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The sun shone down sleepily on the two mares as they sat there holding one another. Applejack found quickly that she didn't want the embrace to end, but she came to a realization that hit her like a ton of bricks. Rainbow had been watching her for at least two hours, and her lunch break couldn't have covered that. She broke the embrace first and the cyan mare looked a little confused at AJ's sudden panic.

"Shug, don't you still have work to go back to?" AJ inquired with worry in her voice.

Rainbow's eyes flew open, "Oh sweet Celestia, I totally spaced on that!"

Applejack stood up and reached out a hand to help her friend up. Her friend grabbed her arm and the orange mare pulled, a little harder than she had intended. The result was Dash flying up and smashing into AJ knocking them both over again. This ended with Rainbow Dash laying atop Applejack heavily, pinning her down. The orange mare quickly noticed Dash's reactions. As she stared into Rainbow's eyes she saw the intense blush building and her wings stretched wide open and erect. The blonde mare found it quite difficult to resist the temptation to lean up and kiss the rainbow maned bombshell in front of her.

Rainbow Dash quickly flapped her wings getting herself up this time turning away from Applejack in utter embarrassment. The farm mare slightly got up stopping to lean on her left elbow, while quickly observing Dash's figure. She had such a lovely athletic figure body toned down rigorously. She wore tighter blue denim shorts today, and a semi loose, on her, dark blue tank top. Dash's bust significantly less than her own, was actually quite appealing to AJ. Though those magenta eyes held more intrigue and mystery than a thousand of Twilight's mystery based books.

It was hard to understand entirely for Applejack. On one hand she did enjoy the feeling of this moment, but she did also enjoy what she had experienced with stallions before. Could she enjoy the affections of both equally, or did she have to choose was what she would find herself often wondering in vain. She knew that right now though that she was one hundred percent attracted to the rainbow haired mare in front of her, and that was perfectly fine for her.

"Uh, hey AJ, you enjoying looking me up and down that much?" Rainbow Dash broke into the orange mare's thoughts.

She just realized she was looking Dash up and down with a grin apparent on her face. She blushed heavily at being noticed, instinctively pulling her stetson down to cover her face slightly.

"Aw shucks Dash, Ah'm sorry. Ah jus' couldn't resist lookin' ya over like yall did me." AJ returned eliciting more embarrassed reactions from the pegasus in front of her.

Rainbow then turned and faced Applejack a nervous look written across her face as she started, "S-So Jackie...we've both agreed we are, well, attracted to each other..."

"Yes sugar, that we did. What of it now?" Applejack inquired gently, as she pulled herself up to a sitting position.

Rainbow Dash kicked at the ground nervously as she continued, "Wh-Where are we gonna go from here?"

The orange farm mare stood up and sauntered over to her friend, "Well there's plenty we can do from here, but mah only question to ya Dashie...Is where do yall want it ta go?"

Dash hesitated for a moment as AJ got close and placed her hands on the cyan mare's hips.

"W-Well, we should start things off with some kind of date first. Maybe see where it goes from there?" the rainbow maned mare replied at last breaking from the haze AJ seemed to place over her mind.

Applejack found her immediately railing off a time and place, "Sugarcube corner, roughly 7 o'clock tonight?"

Applejack stared into Rainbow's eyes with a veiled seduction, begging her to say yes. Her friend looked around considering things for a quick moment that seemed to stretch out forever to the straw blonde farmer. "W-Was she going to say no? Had she come on too strong to her friend?" AJ worried frantically for a moment before Dash made an indication of speaking.

"You're on Applejack!" The rainbow maned mare replied with a hesitant, yet strong, fire in her eyes.

Applejack pulled her close and gave her friend a quick peck on her cheek.

"Alright hon, yall had better get back to work before ya get in too much trouble."

"Yeah of course Jackie!" Rainbow said as she turned to go.

"Dashie..." AJ Shouted before her friend took off,"...see ya tonight, gorgeous!"

Rainbow Dash blushed bright red before waving and taking flight once again, bolting straight to the weather office for Ponyville. Applejack tilted her stetson up and looked into the sky, the wind gently blowing through her hair. It made her feel so free to just let out the feelings that she had, until a few seconds ago, had such great reservations about. Now she just felt stupid for second guessing her hearts honest feelings.

She smiled as she turned around collecting the baskets of apples and transporting them to a cart a short distance away. After a while, the cart now full, she headed off to find her brother Big Macintosh. She found him only a short distance away walking casually around the trees inspecting all of his younger sister's work. His expression was mute as usual chewing on a bit of straw thoughtfully. Sometimes Applejack really wanted to know what ran through that stallion's mind, but on second thought that could be dangerous.

"Ey, Big Mac!" She called to her brother.

He looked her way replying, "Heya sis. You doin' okay?"

Her brother only spoke when something bothered him, and in this case it was probably over AJ's well-being. It always warmed Applejack's heart to know she had such a loving family. Then AJ began to wonder about her planned date tonight. Her family had no idea that she had recently developed feelings for another mare, and it sparked a tinge of worry in her heart.

"Oh Ah'm just fine big brother!" AJ said with a bright smile and a bounce in her step.

Had what just transpired between her and Rainbow Dash put such a positive charge to her personality? Applejack wasn't sure but the overall change in attitude was enough for Big Mac. He smiled genuinely and nodded walking over to his sister and embracing her in a big warm hug. It was another odd thing the farm mare had never confronted entirely, her brother gave the warmest and most encompassing hugs. It always felt like in those arms of his, she would always be safe. She shook her head roughly to clear the thought from her mind; she shouldn't be thinking like that she scolded herself.

Their hug parted Big Mac looked to his sister and asked, "Ya called me, so what is it you were needin' Applejack?"

"Well Ah jus' finished in the western fields, and Ah was wonderin' iffin ya could grab the carts an get 'em in tonight?" the orange mare asked kindly through her rustic accent.

Big Mac tilted his head clearly confused, "The way yall said that, ya sound like you dun have time to lend a hand. Are you busy tonight?"

Applejack smiled deviously, "Ah may have plans tonight with another pony."

Big Mac looked at her plainly and replied, "Rainbow Dash?"

"Yeah Rainbow--Wait what? Big Mac how did ja know about that?" the blonde mare replied in surprise.

"The party last week. Yall were acting awfully comfy with one another all night. Not ta mention that dance." The stallion replied nonplussed.

Applejack blushed and scratched the back of her head, "Were we that obvious?"

"Eeyup. Least ta me you were." He replied gently following with, "You get along now and get ready fer your night. Ah've got yur back...this time."

The orange earth pony couldn't restrain herself from throwing her arms around her brother in a great big hug. She felt his body against hers and said to herself, "In another universe, Ah'm sure ah know much more intimately what yer body is capable of big brother, but that universe ain't this one in any way!" With this thought she laughed inwardly.

Breaking the hug she began running back to the farm house to get ready for her date with Rainbow Dash. It was a good thing Applebloom was at a crusader sleep over at Rarity's home tonight, it took away the nosy little filly from her preparations. She still wondered how her grandmother would react to what she was up to. The sun was starting its decent into the west, and the farm mare knew she would have a limited time to get ready--an hour or so at most.

She got into the house to find Granny Smith asleep in her old rocking chair; that would make things much easier. She headed upstairs to her room and rummaged through her clothes for something decent to wear tonight. Applejack wasn't usually one to dress to impress but tonight she felt compelled to do so. Only issue was she would never know how Rainbow planned on dressing for tonight. She held outfit after outfit up to her frame inspecting herself in the mirror in her room, and each time she cast aside the outfits she tried.

"Aw forget it!" Applejack exclaimed giving up with her prior task she walked over to the closet.

She opened it up brazenly revealing the dress she had worn but a week ago. It was short for her being just down to her knees, and very form fitting. She didn't see any reason Dash would have to object to this choice, but now came the hard part that she never enjoyed doing. She tossed her hat onto the bedpost, headed to the shower just across the hall from her room, and closed the door. She sat her make-up and dress down upon the counter and walked over to the shower quickly drawing up a hot shower. She worked at getting her tight fitting jeans off, before unbuttoning her shirt and throwing it aside. Her underwear and bra next to go were easily taken off and tossed aside as well.

She hopped into the shower and let the heated water flow over her body, washing the dirt and dried sweat from her pelt. Her hair down with water running through it like rivers to the ground, she was determined to make her hair as soft as it was the night of the dance. Applejack was suddenly quite aware of how out of character she seemed to be, she was never this purposefully feminine before. She smiled affectionately before mumbling, "If this is what truly carin' about someone does ta me, then ah think ah can get used to it..."

Applejack couldn't explain why she felt this strongly about things so quickly, but she resolved that no matter what she had to stay true to what she felt. Though she admitted to herself, that it might be prudent to at least try to keep things with Dash at a casual pace. She was finishing up and she stepped out of the shower grabbing a towel and wrapping it around herself after doing a quick rub down of her body. She wiped the steam out of the mirror, but what she saw was far from normal. Instead of the way she normally looked she saw her face darkened and covered in cuts, scratches, and bruises. Applejack screamed in terror at the sight before her falling to the ground in shock.

She sat there a moment before getting up and looking in the mirror again, the image gone now.

"Wh-What in tarnation was that?" AJ breathed out heavily checking her face to make sure what she saw was just an illusion.

The orange mare chalked it up to her mind playing tricks on her because physically she was exhausted. She wasn't about to let one hallucination ruin her night though. She began the long arduous process of drying herself and her hair fully still wary of the mirror in front of her. Combing out her hair, adding eyeliner, and a golden eye shadow working her appearance until it was hard to tell it was the same Applejack. She wondered just how Dash could even hope to match her looks tonight, competition was something that they would always share. AJ didn't think there was the slightest hope she would lose to Dash this evening, but it piqued her interests to imagine the cyan mare outdoing her.

Applejack had gathered her things together and put them in her purse as she headed downstairs carefully. Granny Smith was still sleeping softly in her rocking chair despite the scream earlier. She was grumbling about some silly younguns or something, but the orange mare knew it was incoherent gibberish. She looked up at the clock as she strode on out the front door 6:38. She had plenty of time to make it to Sugarcube Corner by 7, and if she was lucky Dash would do all she could to be there first. The night ahead held so much potential, and Applejack was taking her first steps toward finding out how she could possibly love a mare.
> Chapter 3: The First Party
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Applejack strode along at a casual pace towards the town, the sun now set in the distance and the dark of night swallowing up the sky. The air out tonight was comfortable considering it was summer. Alone with her thoughts AJ began to wonder about the little encounter with her mirror earlier. She couldn't explain any of that away entirely. Because if it was a hallucination why did it involve something so brutal rather than just something odd. Her face hadn't been the only area injured it had actually been her entire body, but she had focused on her face at the time.

The troubling thoughts began to clear as Sugarcube Corner came into view, her rainbow haired date clearly standing outside in front of the building. As Applejack got closer she noticed that Dash had done just as much as she had to get ready. Her hair as usual shoulder length short, but looking exceptionally well treated tonight. Not a hint of make-up adorned her face at all, the farm mare enjoyed this. Rainbow Dash wore a simple navy blue corset with a red, blue, and white plad skirt that went down to her knees. Looking her date up and down she realized that she had definitely been outdone.

"Well color me impressed Dash! Ah never seen y'all wear a skirt before, let alone own one!" Applejack said as she came up to Dash.

"Yeah well, surprise Applejack! I see you wore that lovely silk dress again." the mare replied with a smirk.

She smiled,"Glad ta hear ya approve of my choice! Gotta say though sugar cube, didn't expect ya to out dress me tonight."

She looked her date over once more admiring how well it accentuated her athletic figure. "Those curves could give so much--Stop thinking like that AJ" She had to scold herself privately for her mischievous thoughts.

"You gonna stare at how amazing I look all night AJ, or are we gonna get on with this date?" Rainbow said breaking into the orange mares thoughts.

"Yeah, of course shug." Applejack said sheepishly rubbing the back of her head before continuing, "It's just sorta hard ta look away from y'all tonight; ya really outdid yerself. Anyways, did ah keep ya waiting long Dash?"

"Nah not really, you know me always trying to be ahead of schedule. Been here five maybe ten minutes tops." Rainbow smiled confidently,"So why don't we head inside while we're at it?"

Applejack liked to see the change in Rainbow Dash's mood from earlier. It was enticing to know she wouldn't always have to be the bold one with the mare. She looked into the cyan mare's eyes and nodded her approval; taking the lead to the door and moving to open it for her date. She passed AJ with an affectionate smile that made her feel like a million butterflies erupted into flight inside of her.

As she stepped inside of the shop she looked around to notice all the little details of cakes, candies, and sweets on display. It was well lit inside allowing AJ to make out the images of some ponies sitting at tables eating a guilty pleasure food, or sipping on one of the many sweet mixed drinks the Cake's made. Some were reading diligently, while others set to gossiping among their friends. There was even what looked like, to the farm pony, another couple there sharing a single drink together.

The two found a decently secluded table that they could talk at without fear of eavesdropping. All of the ponies that worked together in the shop seemed to be busy, and that was fine with both mares at the table. After all, this was only intended as a starting point for the night; it was in this moment Applejack realized she had no idea where they should go tonight.

"So then Dash where shall we go tonight? Off to see a movie or play maybe?" Applejack fumbled through her mind for an idea, realizing she hadn't gone on a date in quite some time.

"Mmm, nah there really isn't anything that interesting out right now..." Rainbow said disinterestedly.

"Uhm, well how about a date to--" Applejack was cut off by the sounds of crashing pans in the kitchen of the confectionery.

Within mere seconds did a cotton candy maned pink mare flash up to their table with a bright smile to inquire,"So looking for a fun place to go on a date, which one of you was looking for that advice cause I got tons of it!"

Applejack looked up to their new guest and friend, Pinkie Pie. She looked sheepishly at Rainbow Dash for an answer to give Pinkie. This was in part because she had never thought about what would happen should someone ask about Dash and her. Looking at her date though she realized Rainbow hadn't considered it either and was looking rather caught off guard.

"Hmm you two look awfully good tonight, that's odd for either of you. Unless, its like a super special occasion!" Pinkie began railing off in her usual manner, "Are you two still waiting for your dates maybe? Nah that's too coincidental that you would both have the same meet-up place as each other, but then again I guess its totally possible. Anyways what's up guys?"

The party mare smiled at them ecstatically and AJ sighed before replying,"We are both doin' great Pinkie. As fer who needs some advice on fun date ideas, well that's us as well."

"Oh wow both of you need ideas?" the pink mare replied oblivious to the hint AJ just dropped, "Well is it your first date or second one?"

Rainbow replied this time, "Well you could say it's our first date." She emphasized the word our.

"Hmm first dates..." Pinkie put a hand to her chin to think again missing the hint, "Well a good first date is always something simple that can build in potential fun, not my sorta thing but it seems to work for every other couple."

"Well then Pinkie do y'all got any suggestions?" the farm mare in black inquired.

"Well I'd personally suggest a new cafe...sandwich shop...cafewich shop? Anyways it just opened up on the other side of town, and it has some DELICIOUS sandwich's! You two would have a splendid time there!"

Applejack and Rainbow Dash's jaws dropped at this sudden implication.

"The two of us, Pinkie you do realize what you just said right?" the rainbow haired mare asked.

"Of course I do silly Rainbow Dash! At least I think I do...was it something bad or was it something good?" She now looked worried.

"Woah there Pinkie it ain't nuthin bad. It's just...sugarcube it's mine and Rainbow's first date, together." AJ delivered the news to the pink haired mare.

Pinkie gasped loudly at the news and AJ began to feel her cheeks heat up as she turned and looked at her date. Rainbow was blushing too, now looking away from their crazy partying friend. Both of them were a hundred percent unsure how Pinkie Pie would react to this.

"You mean you and Dashie..." The pink mare pointed first at her then Rainbow before continuing, "...are dating?"

"Yeah Pinks what of it?" Rainbow replied defiantly even though she was blushing bright red.

The pink mare smiled so wide it hurt Applejack to look at almost, "That is absolutely, positively adorable! Not to mention it makes a lot of sense when you really think about it, but that is a conversation for another time entirely." The mare pulled a seat up and sat in it then said confidently, "So you two are dating and I'm one hundred and fifty percent sure have no idea how to go about things since being a fillyfooler isn't exactly something they teach at school."

Applejack cocked an eyebrow at the pink party mare, "And y'all would know about this sorta thing then Pinkie?"

"Silly Applejack of course I would! That's only cause it's the exact same thing as with a stallion! Love is love, how you go about it may be different but the idea is really the same. Only difference is now your looking over a mare instead duh!"

The farm mare could barely believe that their friend was taking this so matter-of-factly. It was sheer luck no one else in the place was paying them much attention, otherwise it would have destroyed what confidence Applejack still had. Pinkie's idea of a sandwich cafe was actually of interest to her though; it was simple and could go anywhere afterwards.

"So yeah you two could go down to Harmony Breads and Cafe. It's located a little way out of town actually. Same way you would walk to get to the Rolling Hills off to the east. From there the possibilities are absolutely endless!" The pink party mare exclaimed happily.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash both got up from their chairs and looked at one another and nodded.

"A'right then Pinkie, ah think we'll take yer advice and start there. Thanks so much fer takin' this so positively sugar cube." the orange mare said as they began to head for the exit of the confectionery.

"Anytime guys." She jogged over to AJ and Rainbow whispering to them both, "You guys make such a cute couple. I'll keep it hush hush till you guys are ready to tell people." 

They both smiled at her compliment blushing lightly. She seemed to genuinely support their relationship, not caring if it was mare and mare or mare and colt. AJ felt that Pinkie was practically protective of their relationship, but she shrugged feeling this was overly dramatized to think considering it was Pinkie Pie they were talking about. They began to walk off to the shop their friend mentioned smiling. AJ reached down to grab Rainbow's hand and softly took it in hers; her date hesitated slightly before relaxing a moment after realizing what had happened.

It was their time to be together now, and Applejack wasn't going to let this night go to waste anytime soon.

______________________________________________________________________________

Pinkie Pie stood there waving to her friends as they walked toward the sandwich shop she had advised them to go to. They had only walked a short distance before her friend Applejack took Rainbow Dash's hand in hers. Watching her friends go she noticed how happy they looked together, and didn't want that happiness to ever fade. She found that she never wanted to see those smiles turned upside down, that would just be horrible.

"Those two can't face the way things are without someone at least trying to watch their backs. If I don't do something to keep those smiles bright, I will never forgive myself." The party mare mused aloud, "The world can be so cruel to those in love that the stupid world cannot understand, and I will do all I can to protect their relationship!"

Pinkie Pie made that vow in all seriousness which was not something average for her. "Do I  secretly deep down inside know something bad will happen to my friends?" she pondered. She simply shrugged to herself turning to head inside the shop again, but was stopped by a full body shiver. All of a sudden her body was racked with a feeling of ice flowing through her veins. This wasn't her typical pinkie sense, it was much worse.

Looking up at the night sky she exhaled shakily. The moon beginning its ascent while a few lazy clouds floated about here and there. The night was chilly but not cold enough to elicit the shiver Pinkie just experienced.

"That wasn't my pinkie sense...so what could be so dangerous and ominous that's coming? If I'm gonna keep my promise to my friends, I will have to be extra vigilant for them."

She hoped what she felt wasn't really real, and that it would simply go away. As she turned to head inside she once again felt the chill hit her. She gulped down hard and tried to push the thought aside, there was still a lot of work to do tonight for the Cake's.
> Chapter 4: A Vengeful Heart
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Loud sounds of thrashing and destruction but moments ago had filled the room that a single she gryphon occupied. It was a small apartment building in the lands of the Gryphon Confederacy capital city. Wallpaper slashed through with deep talon marks, papers scattered about, picture frames tossed across the room now laying shattered, the room darkened from the lights being smashed forcibly, and the bed sheets slashed up by the same talon marks that scored the walls.

The she gryphon now stood in the doorway leading out to the balcony looking out at the setting sun. She was standing there in the nude, still breathing heavily from her rampage a moment earlier. She kept trying to forget Rainbow Dash, but no matter what she did she couldn't let her go. Even though things had ended the way they did last time, she felt it didn't really mean anything. There was and always would be something special between her and Dash. Couldn't that dweeb see that was why she was being so overly protective of her, it was all for her own good.

Time and time again the gryphon found herself wanting to go back to Ponyville to see the one she cared for so much it hurt. With what had transpired last time though she was quite sure she would never be happily welcomed back. Dash had even told her to leave, and that still made her feel like her world had been shattered into a thousand pieces.

She gritted her teeth and said, "Oh Dashie why did you have to go and do that to me, with everything we had been through. You would think that we would have gone farther..." She growled and continued, "Grr...C'mon Gilda get your head straight these thoughts aren't getting us anywhere."

The brown plumage from her neck down began to fluff up as the agitation inside her once again started to rise. The gryphoness was on the edge of a complete mental break with reality, and she was slowly losing her control. Her anger seemed to be all she had left now days, all she wanted was to make every-pony that Rainbow cared about disappear so there would just be them again. Just like their days at the Junior Flight Academy, when they had been young, foolish, and what Gilda would call in love.

She raised her arm and put her hand over her face as a memory started to creep into her mind. She didn't want the memory to come forward, she wanted it to go away right now. She began to grip at her forehead with great strength, and consequently enough began bleeding from her talons at the tips of her fingers digging into her flesh. It took all Gilda had to suppress the memory, and usually the pain would do the trick for her. She forgot that a lot of physical pain you can easily develop a tolerance to, and therefore it wasn't as effective as it had been weeks ago.

She doubled over and stumbled backwards toward the bed. Even though she was usually good at keeping herself in check, of late it felt like she was slipping more and more every day. She landed on the bed and quickly curled up into a tight ball, her eyes tightly shutting as the memories flooded back into her mind.

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She and Dash were at the academy, and were talking about the usual girl gossip in the room that they shared. In this case the subject had been guys, and Gilda had long since developed a strong sense of distaste for males. Her friend though was just so curious about everything involved about that sort of thing; it must have been nice living such a life of innocence.

"So Gilda what are male gryphons like? Do they act the same way as colts do, or do they act different at all?" the rainbow maned mare asked eagerly.

"Eh, I guess so. Minor differences here and there, but that's expected when we are different species after all..." Gilda deflected.

"Oh come on you never seem to want to talk about guys! It's like you have no interest in guys at all, isn't that abnormal for girls our age?"

"So innocent and so naive..." the gryphon mumbled before stating with a shrug, "Eh well I guess but I've never been too normal have I Dashie?"

She gave a playful nudge to the cyan mare, who returned with a shove back to her friend. Within a few moments they were playfully wrestling on the floor. Gilda worked hard to keep the upper hand on Rainbow as they tumbled about, and after a short amount of time they stopped wrestling. The gryphoness had pinned the pony girl beneath her finally, only stopping cause they had run out of breath and energy. It felt like static was charging through her feathers as she looked down into her friends magenta eyes. "What is this I'm feeling?" she thought to herself with worry.

"What's up Gilda you look upset." Rainbow Dash broke into her thoughts.

"N-Nothing!" She said taking a hand from the mare below her to scratch the back of her head sheepishly, "Not like you would know anything about it anyways..."

"Would too!" the cyan mare yelled as she now pressed the advantage of her free arm rolling the she gryphon beneath her, "At least I think I do."

"Dash how could you know anything about it, you're still so innocent and naive about a lot of things." Gilda said with a laugh.

The mare stared back into the gryphon's eyes defiantly and said, "Fine if I really know nothing about it, then why don't you teach me about it?"

Gilda swallowed hard at what the girl on top of her had just asked. The pony had no idea what her friend was talking about and yet she so brazenly walked into it. In her mind the gryphoness couldn't be entirely upset with this outcome, but was it right of her to do it was the real question.

"I-I can't do that Dash." She replied finally looking away from her friend now.

"Wait why not?"

"Just because. If you don't know what it is already; then you've lived a much nicer life than me."

"What are you talking about Gilda, you're not making any sense."

Gilda grimaced in pain and strength flowed through her as she pushed Rainbow Dash off of her. She got up and climbed up into the bed by herself.

"Hey, what the hay was that for Gilda?" the cyan mare shouted irritated at her friend, "Stop pushing me away! I'm your friend Gilda, why can't you just talk to me for once?"

Gilda rounded on her friend anger on her face tears welling up in her eyes, "You want to know what I think of guys? I think they are all filthy, dirty, scumbags and that they should all rot in the deepest darkest dungeons of the world!"

Her friends jaw dropped in a breathless scream; she looked absolutely horrified but didn't say a single word. Instead she covered her mouth with her hand since she apparently lacked the ability to close her mouth herself.

"Now I suppose you wanna hear exactly why I feel this way?" she asked with fury in her voice.

Rainbow looked dismayed at bringing this up at all, "I-I'm sorry Gilda I didn't mean--"

"It all started with my good for nothing father. As you know my mom died giving birth to me, and he always hated me for taking her from him. As I grew up he made sure to make it as hard as he could on me flogging me down almost daily for even the slightest thing. As time went by and my body began to develop and change, so did the way he treated me."

"Oh my gosh Gilda you don't mean that he..." the mare said walking over to her friend.

"Yeah that's exactly what happened. He would come home drunk off his ass and he would come on to me rather than hit me. It scared me at first, but then I realized that for once he wasn't beating me. Though all too quickly did I realize what he was doing now was also wrong; touching me where he shouldn't."

The thought seeped back into her mind vividly, and it caused her to blush. She was ashamed of what she was about to admit to her friend. The tears now streaming down her face she did what she could to speak clearly through her beak.

"It was just touchy feely between us for the first month, and I-I...I started to actually enjoy it after a while. It just felt so good, even though I had no idea what was going on or what it was. After that first month it changed, he got more and more aggressive with his behavior. Until finally one day he came home drunk and angry. He stormed into my room and there were no usual foreplay rituals just the concept of, 'I have wants and you're going to fulfill them.' He came at me and ripped my shirt, bra pants, and underwear all off."

Rainbow Dash now sat at her friends side, wrapping a comforting arm around Gilda. "Go on Gil, let it all out now." Rainbow gently cooed to her friend.

She turned into the crook of her friends shoulder and continued, "He wrestled me onto my bed where he pinned me down and positioned himself between my legs. He put a hand to my neck practically choking me as he reached down with his other to undo his own pants. I lost my virginity that day, to my own father!"

The gryphon was an emotional wreck at this point, but now enveloped in Dash's arms she wasn't afraid of showing what she felt. She looked up into her friends eyes, and without fear or hesitation she leaned up to kiss the mare on her lips. Dash's eyes at first went wide with shock, but quickly softened as the feeling sank in. When their lips parted Dash spoke first.

"So has that sort of thing happened since you ran away from home?"

"Three more times, with guys who lead me to believe they were genuinely good guys that were worth a shot. Only to turn around and do exactly what my father did, one of which was a stallion."

It was then something unexpected happened, Dashie leaned in and pecked lightly at Gilda's lips a few times.

"Then you're attracted to girls? You could have told me you didn't like our conversations about guys. We could always talk about the girls in the academy you find cute."

"Well there's you Dashie." the gryphoness replied her cheeks flushed and hot.

The cyan mare's cheeks lit up a rosy red very quickly at this comment, and she looked away. "Quit kidding around Gilda..."

She leaned up and nuzzled Dash's face forward again before planting a deep kiss upon her soft lips. When they parted this time Gilda was first to speak, "I wasn't kidding you dweeb."

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The gryphon snapped out of her memory for a brief moment uncurling herself from the ball she had rolled into. She put both hands upon her temple gripping tightly her talons instantly sinking into her skin again. She then began to slowly drag them from her scalp down the fur on her face blood welling out of the wounds she left on herself. Gilda arched her body upwards toward the ceiling as the pain began to hit her system.

"AH, GOD MAKE IT STOP! I CAN'T TAKE THESE MEMORIES! STOP TORMENTING ME PLEASE! I'LL BE A GOOD GIRL FROM NOW ON JUST PLEASE...MAKE..IT..STOP!!!" She screamed out in pain.

The memories were just too much for her to bear anymore. The only pony that had ever mattered in her life, the only one she had ever trusted enough to tell her tragic secret to, didn't want to ever see her again. Ever. She couldn't even imagine being held by any other gryphon or pony's arms, she only desired Rainbow Dash. Gilda didn't even want to get started with the thought of another holding HER Rainbow Dash.

The blood had quickly spread across her face, tears now joining the mixture. She didn't feel like herself anymore. She felt like she was falling from a great height and couldn't slow or stop the plummet that would end in her inevitable death. She curled back up into the fetal position closing her eyes tight again, the memory continuing onward as if punishing her for being alive.

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"Not to be inconsiderate, but where do we go from here?" Rainbow Dash asked looking into the gryphon's eyes hesitantly.

Gilda blushed, she knew exactly where she wanted it to go at this point. "Well Dashie, where would you like it to go? I already know I want to go forward, but I...I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable."

"I..Well, that is I've never done anything like this with anyone ever before." the mare said looking up at the ceiling nervously.

The gryphon leaned up and nipped at Dash's neck lightly before saying, "I'll treat you right Dashie, I promise you that. Just lay back more on the bed if you want to continue."

At first her friend didn't react and Gilda felt a sadness quickly grip her heart. It looked like Dash's fears would outweigh her today. All of a sudden she looked down to the gryphoness and said softly, "Okay lets do this then Gil, but remember you're just teaching me about what this is and how it feels kay? So take it slow alright?"

The emotion that swelled inside her heart showed with the smile that spread across her face. She got up from the bed to give her friends some space to move around. Rainbow was blushing bright red as Gilda turned to look at her; the cyan mare then crawled around the bed to get into a more comfortable laying position for her coming lesson. Once she was sure Dash was comfortable she crawled up onto the bed and on top of her friend, and began caressing and tasting every pleasure her friend could offer.

The memory faded out to black all of a sudden and skipped ahead to the ending. After Gilda had satisfied her friend and taught Rainbow how to do the same for her, they both lay upon the bed panting heavily still lost in the ecstasy of the feeling in their bodies. Their arms wrapped around one another in a mutual embrace, holding each other close, their foreheads touching softly.

"Th-That was amazing Gilda. I didn't know I could feel this good at another girls touch." the rainbow maned mare mused gently.

"Yeah I know. I didn't think you would do as well as you did for your first time, you're a fast learner." the gryphon said gently but impressed.

"Well I am the most awesome pony there ever was after all." Dash boasted.

"I guess so Dashie. Hey, do you think we could just cuddle here tonight...in my bed?" Gilda asked rubbing her friends back lightly with one hand.

"That sounds good to me Gilda. Come here and lay in my arms for a while."

The gryphon smiled and replied, "With pleasure, Dashie."

As she snuggled into Rainbow Dash's embrace the memory quickly began to fade away again.

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"NO, NO DON'T LET IT END AGAIN!" Gilda screamed out as her eyes shot open she sat bolt upright.

She always hated it when the memory ended, it left her feeling hollow and cold. The look in her eye became very distant as reality set back in; it almost looked like her eyes were dead. The memory of what her father had done to her had been satisfied a short time after her incident with Rainbow Dash. The last bit she remembered from that though was standing before the thrashed up body of her father, his manhood cleaved from his body lay upon the floor. It had been at this time Gilda became aware of her instability, and was quite fearful of it.

She didn't have those nightmares anymore because of what she had done, and it was times like right now when she felt absolutely hollow that she did not fear falling away. Pain didn't exist when she felt like this, when she felt nothing at all. She had hated her father, but she loved Rainbow Dash and she wasn't about to let it slip away. She would make her friend see that they needed one another desperately, and if not then she would make sure they would die together.

"Yeah that's what I'll do. I'll go back and make her understand why we should be together forever. It's not like she would be with..." Gilda stopped mid sentence realizing what she was saying.

What if Rainbow had found someone else in the time Gilda hadn't been there to feed her loving heart. Gilda's expression darkened, a sadistic smile quickly spreading across her face as she declared, "Then I'll simply make that pony or gryphon disappear...permanently."

She got up from the bed and casually walked to the dresser, opened the drawer, reached inside, and grabbed a small pouch of bits. It was all she would need to do what she had to in Ponyville. She went to the closet to get dressed for her coming trip quickly getting on a black silk bra and panties. She was always amazed that she had been blessed with a rather buxom bosom, although it was a curse as well causing men to stare at them quite often. Some part of her took a sick pleasure in the thought of their eyes undressing her slowly, and she never understood fully why.

She shook the thought from her head as she reached for a tight fitting, low cut, black v-neck t-shirt. She pulled that over her head then reached for a pair of pants laying on the ground idly. They were a very comfortable fit for her even if they were tight and form fitting, they still gave her amazing flexibility. Another thing she was surprised about was that with these pants her butt was extremely well defined, and had gotten her quite a few looks as well. Her tail swished side to side happily as she looked in the mirror at her backside, very pleased that the black denim pants did what they were supposed to.

"Dash won't be able to resist me when she sees me again. I bet her wings will flutter at just the sight of this!" Gilda said laying a hand on her ass seductively.

She walked off to the balcony spreading her wings she crouched to take off, and in one mighty leap was air bound. With only a few flaps of her wings she was quickly hurdling towards her destination, Ponyville. She would have Rainbow Dash, even if it meant they both had to die to be together. The moon had risen and was about halfway through the sky this evening, and though Gilda hated to admit it, the trip to Ponyville would take at least a day.

"Watch out Rainbow Dash, I'm coming back to take you away from all those crazy ponies. They have deluded your mind long enough!" Gilda declared defiantly as she flew off into the distance.
> Chapter 5: The Lights Above The Green Grass
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	As Rainbow was pulled along she was hardly aware of the town as it passed her by. Applejack was pulling her along energetically, her hands smooth for one who worked so hard with her them. The mare could still hardly believe that her date had already interlocked their hands together tonight. She could tell the orange mare was just as exhilarated by tonight as Dash was.

The buildings became more sparse as they continued east toward their destination. The moon was quickly on the rise, and the stars above glimmered brightly with a few tufts of clouds lazily floating by.

"AJ take it easy now the night has only just begun!" Rainbow shouted to her date to slow down.

Applejack slackened her pace before coming to a stop to catch her breath. She was smiling despite her rush to get to the little cafe Pinkie Pie had suggested to them. The black dress she wore still holding itself in good form, even though Dash could swear that it was starting to ride up a little bit. She was caught looking though and the farm mare looked up into Dash's eyes with what looked like challenge to the weather manager.

She just smiled gently back at her date. This was, after all, only the first date and Dash didn't want to take things too fast. She was deep down still unsure of what would happen tonight, and how it might effect the both of their futures. This hesitation bothered her greatly as she wasn't accustomed to such feelings.

"Hey we goin' or not shug?" Applejack broke into the rainbow maned mares thoughts.

"Huh? Oh, yeah of course. Sorry AJ!" she replied sheepishly.

This time they strolled casually along just talking as they took in the night and each others company. Rainbow couldn't help but notice their conversation went back to the night of the dance they shared. Her date talked openly and honestly about how it had felt so right to be dancing with Dash that night, and she found she couldn't argue against that sentiment in any form. After that they got into talk about their daily work, which Dash was surprised to find she enjoyed.

"So since y'all are the weather manager fer Ponyville, Ah guess that explains why there has bin extra coverage over the orchards the past week, right RD?" Applejack joked nudging the mare playfully.

"Okay okay, you caught me AJ!" Rainbow said rubbing the back of her head sheepishly, "Being in charge does come with its perks, but that doesn't mean it's easy work!"

As they continued to talk Dash got to learn more about her friend that she had never known before. Applejack had been interested in stallions from a young age and she had dated and fooled around with a few guys before. She knew her date had never tried to make the connection with another mare before, and she even seemed to be unsure of herself with tonight deep down. The cyan mare found her cheeks warming at this thought. It gave her confidence a boost to know they were both trying their hands at something they weren't sure would work out.

It wasn't long before they arrived at a simple grey cottage building with a simple wooden sign that read: Harmony Breads and Cafe. They walked up to the door, and once again AJ opened the door for her date with a warm smile. Somehow Applejack's smile always made her feel like she was melting inside, and she liked it a lot. She returned the smile without hesitation showing exactly how she felt inside as she entered the shop.

She was greeted to a very well lit shop, with tables spaced out across the floor spaciously able to fit a good number of customers. Rainbow Dash could also hear music playing throughout the building, it was a nice touch to hear something from her childhood playing. It started with a low rumble that built into the full rush of the song.

"Awesome, I know this song! You don't hear it played much on radios anymore!" Dash exclaimed.

"Yeah not a lot of ponies know what they're missing out on by letting the old classics pass them by!" A voice came from behind the doors to the kitchen.

Applejack came in behind Rainbow wrapping her arm gently around her waist as they approached the counter to place their orders. Out of the kitchen came a deep forest green colored stallion with a bright electric yellow mane, his eyes a deep shade of blue.

"Well hello there, new customers I take it? What can I get ya this evening?" the stallion said with a smile.

There was a decent selection listed on the board behind the counter and it had the two mares really guessing at what they wanted. Luckily their host was on top of his game, and broke into their thoughts with a suggestion.

"Well since you are both relatively new to my establishment let me make a recommendation for you both tonight. Looking the two of you over, I would personally advise that you..." He pointed to Rainbow Dash, "...would most likely enjoy my extreme solo slice combo. As for a drink, the house special lightning strike cocoa. Am I right?"

She was amazed at his choice. Those were the exact things she had been eyeing on the menu.

"Yeah you are. That is so amazing!" She replied to the owner.

He bowed then looked to Applejack, "You are a tougher choice though. Such a mixture of expression, maybe tonight you would enjoy my rustic rally medley combo? With your drink being, most possibly, a zap apple soda?"

The farm mare put a hand up to her chin before saying, "Wow y'all are good at this."

He laughed heartily, "That is why I decided to get into the business after all! It will take me about twenty minutes to put together your sandwiches and drinks if that doesn't bother you at all?"

They both replied, "Not at all."

"Alright then your total comes out to 26 bits girls." he said with a bright smile.

Applejack got out her coin purse and laid out 26 bits on the counter for the pay, before Rainbow could even attempt to pay her half. He took the money and put it into the register before heading back into the kitchen. The two mares began the task of picking a table to sit at in the room.

"Hey AJ, I coulda paid my half of it ya know?" she said puckering her lips in a pout.

"Aw shug dun worry 'bout it! Ah was the one who set the date up after all." the blonde mare said casually. When Dash's expression didn't change she reached over and put a hand on her date, "Okay then shug, how's about y'all pay fer the next place we go ta...sound fair?"

The blue mare instantly perked up at the prospect of this continuing after their dinner. Dash knew exactly where she wanted to go after dinner too, something to spark their competitive nature would be a good touch. They finally decided on a small table on the opposite side of the building as the door, but it was perfect for just the two of them to talk and enjoy their meals. They sat down opposite one another facing each other; it was perfect for the weather manager to stare into her date's emerald green eyes.

As they waited for their meal they continued their small talk from earlier, but Rainbow couldn't help but notice that her date looked so good tonight. Applejack had said she had been outdone in appearances by her cyan coated date, but Dash just couldn't buy into that sentiment. There was a natural beauty in the simplicity of the orange mares choice of attire for the night. She felt heat build in her cheeks again, and her navy blue corset suddenly began to feel tight around her torso. Her date kept her gaze on Dash even though she had looked away herself.

As their meals arrived the stallion wore a knowing look on his face. He set the plates in front of the mares as well as their drinks. He stood for a moment as they thanked him, choosing his words before speaking.

"First date you two?" he asked kindly.

Dash looked at him quickly shock plainly written on her face, were they really that obvious to others?

"I thought so. My son went through the same thing himself a few years back. I have no issues with it personally, love is love after all right?" the stallion stated with warmth in his tone. "Though you both should know that not everyone will be entirely accepting of your unconventional relationship. So please be careful you two, alright?"

The rainbow maned mare just smiled at the concerned shop owner and replied, "Of course we will, but in return you have to keep playing this awesome music. Deal?"

He laughed, "Absolutely! Now if you don't mind I'll take my leave."

He bowed and headed back toward the counter as another couple came in. He promptly began to take their order, and made the same psychic like recommendations he had for Rainbow and Applejack to them. The blue mare didn't even begin to understand how in Equestria he could do that, but it was probably safer she didn't know.

She turned back to her food, picking up her sandwich to take a big bite of it. The thing was absolutely the most amazing thing she had ever tasted. She couldn't believe that a simple sandwich could taste this good. As she looked up to her date she noticed that she had come to the exact same conclusion and was munching away happily. Another song had started playing Rainbow noticed, another classic that started with a simple vocal harmony that immediately lead into some intense guitar playing.

When she reached over to take a tentative sip of her drink she was once again not displeased. It had to be some of the best chocolate cocoa she had ever drank; she would have to ask the owner where he got it in the future. AJ seemed nonplussed by her soda, seeing as she worked on the very farm that made the zap apple soda. Dash had one of her hands laying upon the table sitting idle as she looked around the room only to snap to attention when she felt something rest on the top of it. Applejack had placed her hand on top of Rainbow's, and she was blushing hard as she tilted her glass to her mouth to take a drink most likely trying to conceal her blush.

It was cute when her date did things like that, and Dash enjoyed the care that AJ showed when she took action. She turned her hand upward and softly squeezed the farm mare's hand before pulling it away slowly to get back to her sandwich already half eaten. As time passed they continued doing small things like that as they paused from their meal, and eventually they both had finished their meals. Applejack had finished first, and the rainbow haired mare found herself not caring too much since it wasn't a real contest.

After the owner came and collected their dishes Applejack was first to speak, "So Dashie, where do ya think we should go from 'ere?"

Rainbow smiled devilishly, "Oh I was thinking the bowling alley for a little friendly competition, that is if you're up for it Jackie?"

The orange mare looked back at Dash through her sparkling emerald eyes declaring, "Oh you are on sugarcube!"

It was just a short walk across town to the bowling alley the two of them chatting competitively about their past bowling exploits. As they entered the building they quickly noticed that it was couples night, and all of them were paired mare to colt. It was a good thing they came here with the attitude of competition, or else this would be extremely awkward. Rainbow paid the fee for a lane, two bowling balls, and two pairs of anti-skid horseshoes costing her a total of 70 bits. It was more expensive than their prior destination, but this was worth it to beat AJ in a fair game.

Dash had paid for a short game which would only go through eight rounds of play before a total would be determined. After placing the shoes on they headed over to lane twelve, currently the only open lane in the alley. It looked like they had been lucky enough to get in the last lane of play, and Dash silently thanked Celestia for this luck. They flipped a coin to see who would go first, and Applejack won this toss. They set up the scorecards as such, and started the game the farm mare taking a ready stance ball in hand.

Despite being in a short and tight dress AJ still managed to throw an amazing pitch taking out all but one pin. Rainbow marked it, got up, went and got her ball, and then positioned herself carefully lining up her shot. She couldn't deny that her outfit was probably more comfortable to play in than Applejack's, but really that was of little importance since her date played just as skillfully. Dash started forward building momentum as she swung her arm with the ball in it backwards, before whipping it forward rolling it dead center toward the pins in the center of the lane.

She jumped up in glee as the pins were obliterated, "Oh yeah, strike baby!"

Applejack looked at Dash with a crooked smile on her face, "Oh it's on now shug!"

Round one quickly turned into two, three, four, and before they knew it round eight was upon them. Dash was in second place at this point, but it was still her turn and one shot could win it for her. The only issue was that she faced a dreaded shot, the 7-10 split. If she could do it she would win, but she had never figured out how to get the shot exactly. It was usually pure luck that she ever got the shot. She started her approach and as she whipped the ball forward she flicked her wrist to put a slight spin on the ball. Watching it with the utmost anticipation Dash could easily conclude that she wasn't going to make the shot, and as she had predicted she was only able to hit one of the pins.

"Oh pony feathers! I was so close too!" Rainbow lamented as they exited the bowling alley into the cool night air.

"Yee-haw!" Applejack hollered in jubilant triumph. "Now that was a close game shugar. Y'all were right Dashie, this was a great idea!"

The two mares had noticed a bench just outside of the bowling alley that they decided to sit at and cool off from their intense game. Rainbow was looking at her date, and noticed she was once again blushing seeming hesitant to ask her something. That wasn't like Applejack at all, and if she wouldn't get it out then the cyan mare would have to pull it out of her somehow. She noticed the orange mare was holding the edge of the bench with her hands as if trying to keep herself steady for whatever reason. She reached out and put her hand on top of AJ's for the first time tonight getting in the first move.

Applejack looked up into her eyes at that moment, and Rainbow could see they were etched with uncertainty. It was her turn to help her date out with a tough choice.

"Hey Jackie." Dash started out softly. "I can clearly see there is something you want to ask me. So why don't you just ask me already?"

The orange mare looked away for a second then returned her gaze into the blue mare's eyes, "Well is jus' that the night is quickly gettin' away from us, an' there's someplace Ah'd like to go...but we won't get there in time on hoof..."

The cyan mare tilted her head in confusion, "Okay, well then why is it so embarrassing to say that?"

AJ looked down as she said, "B-Because Ah need ta ask if y'all can fly us there so we can make it in time ta see something special."

Now she understood why her friend was so hesitant to ask her question, but she found it cute in her own way. It wouldn't be all that hard to carry her date somewhere while flying, and in fact this could put them quite close to one another. The rainbow maned mare had one thing she had to ask though.

"Okay Jackie I think I can do that no problem, but where are we talkin' about so I know?"

The farm mare tensed slightly looking hesitantly up at Dash, "The Rolling Hills where we usually have lunch with Twilight."

This was actually a decent distance away, but she was sure she could do it for Applejack.

"Hmm alright I can do that easy peasey Applejack, but you have to hold on to me exactly how I tell you got it?" Rainbow Dash replied confidently.

Her date nodded her approval and asked, "Okay then how do you want me to hold on?"

The blue mare stood up and held out her hand to help Applejack up. As they stood facing one another Dash reached out grabbing her date and pulling her close to her body, "You have to wrap your arms around me, but make sure they are just below my wings so they don't get hit too much. I know this may sound weird but you also have to wrap your legs around my waist to make double sure you don't fall. I really wouldn't want that after how awesome tonight has been Jackie."

Rainbow could feel a heated blush in her cheeks and as Applejack looked up at her she saw the exact same blush burning up her cheeks. This would put the two of them extremely close physically for a first date, but if the farm mare wanted to get to The Rolling Hills quickly then this was the only way. She felt her date wrap her arms around her tightly pushing their bodies together nicely, and with that she gave a little hop and quickly managed to wrap her legs around Dash's waist. The blue mare looked up at the sky trying to keep her mind clear of thoughts arising from the physical closeness they currently shared.

Dash crouched down then sprang upward with all her might unfurling her wings and flapping them strongly. They quickly gained altitude within moments she could easily see their destination, but Applejack wasn't looking her face stubbornly buried in the spot where Rainbow's neck met her shoulders. She could feel her breathing heavily into her neck, and this made it very hard to keep her mind clear of the dirty thoughts that felt like they were about to consume her.

"Here we go Jackie, hold on tight!" she announced to her date, and the earth pony tightened her grip.

She took to flying for their eastern destination; not as fast as she would usually. This was because she had the distinct impression Applejack was afraid of this extreme height. She would have never been able to tell since she had seemed so comfortable years back at the young fliers competition in Cloudsdale. As they headed toward their destination Rainbow looked down at the few ponies still walking the streets tonight, it was a good night for a casual walk or flight. All of a sudden Dash felt her passenger wiggling up against her, and it seemed to be on purpose.

"Hey what are you doing down there?" she asked looking down to be met by Applejack's glowing emerald eyes.

She looked up again to notice they had arrived, and she headed to the hill they usually met Twilight for lunch on. It was one of the hills with a few trees on it, but it had the best view of the sky despite the trees. She held her wings outward and flat creating a good drag in her speed and slowing down she began to drop toward the ground. Her date buried her face into Rainbow's neck again. The winged mare flapped her wings gently slowing their descent, and they gently landed on top of the hill. Applejack immediately dropped her legs down onto the earth again letting out a sigh of relief.

Although she had put her feet to the ground she still held tight to Rainbow's body; the embrace was just obliterating her ability to think straight. The sweet smell of apples and grassy earthen undertones were wafting up from Applejack's hair, and it took what little willpower Dash had left to avoid nuzzling into it among other things.

"S-So Jackie why did ya wanna come out here anyways?" Rainbow managed to ask finally.

Leaning back slightly so she could look at the cyan mare levelly she replied softly, "It looks like we are early. It doesn't look like it has started y-"

Just as Applejack stopped the sky suddenly began to flash brightly. Rainbow Dash looked up and was amazed at the sight surrounding her, it was a full blown meteor shower. Streaks of light illuminating the sky brilliantly; it seemed as if it was raining stars all around them in that moment. She looked back to her date, who was admiring the light show above their heads spellbound.

"Hey Jackie, how did you know this was going to happen?" Dash asked after a short time.

Applejack looked back to Rainbow before replying, "Even if Twi, is a bit long winded in what she talks 'bout, she tends ta be quite specific about astrology. Ah jus' paid attention ta some've the things she was talkin' about as Ah helped her the other day. So, what do ya think about this Dashie?"

"It is absolutely amazing Jackie!" she replied with breathless amazement.

She felt like she could kiss Applejack right now, but her mind warned her this would be taking things way too fast. She instead came up with another solution for the two of them, and once again Twilight's obsessive tendencies would help them tonight.

"So AJ, would you mind...I dunno...sharing a blanket." She stumbled through her thought. "You know lay together and watch the meteor shower together?"

The orange mare smiled softly and replied, "I'd like that a lot Dash, but where would we get the blanket?"

She pulled out of their embrace and rushed over to the tree quickly finding the chest Twilight had hidden under the tree. She opened it and pulled out a large quilt that they usually laid out for their picnics. As Rainbow closed the chest taking the quilt she had to remember to thank her friend for her obsessive actions. She came back around the tree to find the blond mare sitting on the ground now looking at the sky. The cyan mare draped the quilt around Applejack's shoulders before sitting next to her and wrapping it around her as well.

"See I paid attention to Twilight once too, how is the blanket Jackie?" She asked a blush lightly hitting her cheeks again.

Applejack leaned toward Rainbow Dash and laid her head on the cyan mare's shoulder replying, "It's perfect Dashie."

Rainbow fished around for AJ's hand and found it quickly. She interlaced their fingers as she gripped the orange mare's hand. She could feel the farm mare nuzzling into her shoulder softly, her breaths slow and steady. Looking up into the sky it was still raining bright blazing lights as the meteors streaked across the skies. Her intently focused gaze was broken by the feeling of soft lips upon her cheek. She looked down to see Applejack making herself comfortable again after getting up to kiss her.

Rainbow smiled a warmth spreading across her body rapidly as her heart beat sped up. She squeezed Applejack's hand once before leaning over and softly kissing her on the top of her head. This night was absolutely perfect for the both of them and Dash was sure that neither of them wanted it to end ever. The grass cool beneath them, and the dark night sky lit up by the bright stars falling from it. Rainbow Dash just laid her head on top of Applejack's as they leaned into one another sharing their closeness and warmth.
> Chapter 6: It Was Just A Dream Right?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Applejack opened her eyes to a dimly lit room, and something felt terribly wrong. She tried to move but found her wrists locked in iron bracers chained to a stone wall. At her failed attempt to move she also winced in pain and looked down at her body; she was bleeding from many scratches and cuts lining her body. The only articles of clothing upon her body was a simple red bra and black panties. Her body ached everywhere and she grimaced as she continued to try to escape the shackles that bound her.

A dark mass appeared before her speaking to her, but she couldn't make out a single word it was saying. All the orange mare knew was the dark figure sounded quite angry. It was pacing back and forth across the room ranting on and on about something. Suddenly it lunged at her and scored a deep gash across Applejack's stomach.

"Guh!" she groaned as blood welled up and out of her mouth.

"You can't have her, I won't allow it." the shadow figure said in a deep echoing voice close to her face. "I will kill you to make sure you understand my point."

The dark figure took a step back grabbing something like a metal spike and lunged violently at the blonde mare.

"NO STOP!" Applejack screamed as she sat bolt upright in her bed sweat streaming in beads down her face.

Within seconds her big brother was in the door and at her bedside worry etched across his face. It was the third night in a row the orange mare had had these vicious nightmares, and she was beginning to think her hallucination before her date was more than she could come to terms with. She checked her body over to make double sure none of the wounds followed her back into the waking world.

"Sis, are ya alright? Was it another nightmare?" Big Mac asked her at last breaking into her thoughts.

She had regained her composure by this point and replied, "Yeah big brother it was. They jus' seem ta be gettin' worse 'n worse as the days go by."

"Have ya had the chance ta talk with Rainbow about it?" Macintosh asked in earnest.

She sighed and replied, "No Ah haven't Mac, and y'all know very well why ta boot."

In the past four days they had both been far too busy with work and personal responsibilities to get a moment to themselves. The farm mare missed Dash's cocky personality, but admitted they still had things to do. It still struck Applejack as something odd that not seeing the cyan mare for an entire day had triggered these dreams. Just the simple thought of this deeply concerned her and she looked down into her lap for a moment, tuning out her big brother.

This didn't last long as he put a strong, but gentle hand on AJ's shoulder. He looked into her eyes with kindness, "Maybe ya should get ready fer yer day at the very least ta clear yer head sis."

She nodded her acceptance of this and he got up and saw himself out of the room. She got up and set to getting her pajamas off, and into something comfortable for the day. The farmer eventually settled on a simple blue button up t-shirt and a pair of blue denim jeans. After fighting to get them on she grabbed her namesake stetson and put it atop her head. Just as with the day before she wasn't going to let these dreams get in her way and distract her from the day.

"Ah gots me a lot ta do today, and Ah can't just sit here worryin' on my laurels!" She declared with a defiant grin on her face, but deep down worry was still there.

Her stomach then sounded loudly in protest of its lack of viable content. The farmer headed out of her room narrowly dodging Applebloom as she bolted down the hall. As Applejack came down the stairs heading towards the kitchen the phone rang out in its loud raucous tone.

"Ah got it!" the blonde mare announced heading over to the phone and picking it up. "Apple family residence. Applejack speaking, how may Ah help ya?"

"Awesome, you know it makes me feel a lot better hearing your voice again Jackie!" Rainbow Dash's voice came through clearly on the other end.

The farmer could feel a slight warmth in her cheeks as she replied softly, "Dashie, the feelin' is mutual. So what can ah do ya for?"

"Well with all of our time recently being so heavily occupied, I thought we could...ya know, unwind? Maybe go out on a movie date tonight...if you still wanted things to go that way that is." Dash finished hesitantly.

Applejack's heart fluttered at the chance to go on another date with the rainbow haired weather manager. Then Rainbow's last sentence hit her with meaning, they hadn't made anything official with their last date. The winged mare had carried the drowsy farmer home after the meteor shower had died down, and both had been too tired to say much. They simply had parted with a kiss upon the cheek individually. She realized that she had been silent a moment longer than usual and could feel Dash's anxiety spiking.

"Sorry fer that silence shug, had ta think for a spell. Ya know Dashie, ah would love ta go out on another date with ya. In fact with this date, ya wanna know somethin' special 'bout it hun?" the orange mare said in a gleefully teasing voice.

"Y-Yeah what about it Jackie?" Rainbow said with barely contained excitement at AJ's consent.

She felt her face flush as she said without hesitation, "With this date, y'all can consider us officially marefriends."

Applejack heard Dash cheer loudly in excitement on the other end of the line, and she felt her own heart flutter a little at what she just said. It was a big leap even for her, but she was going to follow her heart through and through. The two of them had moved hesitantly the first night with both of them trying to take things slowly. AJ had no intent of moving too quickly, and she would do what she could to keep things at a casual pace.

"So what movie did ya wanna go see anyways Dashie?" the blonde mare inquired.

Rainbow was quiet a moment before replying, "Um actually AJ, I hadn't thought about that just yet. Was planning on asking if there was anything you wanted to see if you accepted in the first place."

She could imagine the blue mare rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment. In all honesty she hadn't a clue what was showing, but so long as it was action oriented Applejack didn't really care all that much. Knowing the two of them though it shouldn't be too hard for them to just go down to the theater and pick something anyways.

"Well hun tell ya what, how's about we meet up later tonight fer the movie an' jus' pick it when we get there?" the farm mare replied in a mock negotiating tone.

"That sounds absolutely fine to me! How about we meet there at 6, sound good?" Rainbow asked her energy barely contained.

"Yer on Dashie, ah can barely wait ta see ya!" a smile spread across her face instantly.

"Same here. Well I'll talk to you then okay Jackie?"

"Of course shug. Later!" She replied as they both hung up the phone on their respective ends.

"Yee-haw!" Applejack exclaimed as she jumped into the air with exhilaration.

Big Mac came out into the hall where the phone was a moment later to check on his sister, a knowing look plastered on his face. She was hopping up and down in her own world now blissfully absorbed in the moment. She then ran up to her brother and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.

"She asked me out again Mac!" AJ told her brother in her happiness.

He put his arms around her too a hand resting on the center of her back before saying, "Ah'm glad ta hear that sis. When at?"

"Tonight at 6!" she said breaking the hug to look him in the face. "We're goin' ta see a movie, and could ja believe we're goin' as official marefriends?"

Big Mac simply replied, "Eeyup."

Applejack then danced around her brother into the kitchen to finally get some food in her stomach. After the events that had just transpired though she didn't feel hungry anymore, she felt as light and wistful as the wind. Her nightmare now far behind her she looked brightly forward at the day ahead of her.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Pinkie Pie had been doing her best since her friends told her about their relationship to watch their backs. Though her bloodcurdling shivers still had not subsided even though things appeared fine around her. In the past three days though customers had been talking about some odd things happening in Ponyville. Items stolen, trash littering certain secluded areas, and even money stolen. One pony reported being beaten up by some creature they couldn't make out in the dead of night.

"...I mean my money was stolen that night but at least the next day I came across a renter for that absolutely abysmal home on the outskirts of town. Got my money back on that venture, but I can't see why anyone would want to move in there..." the beige stallion commented to his companion sitting across from him.

Pinkie listening in to everything as she worked, knew every single happening in Ponyville at almost any given time. Though she never seemed like she was aware of what was going on around her, in actuality she was entirely focused on the subjects going on around her at all times. These acts of cruelty from what the pink mare had heard over the past three days, sounded hauntingly familiar to her. Try as she might though she couldn't place where she remembered the personality that went with it.

"Pinkie dear we have a delivery ready to go, would you mind taking it?" Mrs. Cake broke into Pinkie's calculating.

"Hmm? Oh of course Mrs. Cake, can do!" She replied cheerfully.

She walked over to the counter to check the order's given address, and from quick assessment she was pretty sure it was a house on the outskirts of the town. Maybe even the one that was recently, and suspiciously rented. "Time to investigate!" Pinkie thought with a laugh in her mind. She picked up the package, wrapped in brown paper, and carried it outside to her delivery bike. She placed it in her carrying basket, hopped onto the bike, and then began pedaling like a maniac.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

The day could not have possibly passed more slowly than it did for Applejack today. It seemed like she was out in the orchard all day with the sun still not setting or getting anywhere close to setting. After what seemed like forever she headed in from picking to see if she could work on something else like work with the animals, maybe she could feed them since it was getting close to their dinner time.

As she approached the barn she saw her little sister Applebloom actually home attending to her chores, and immediately this put the orange farm mare on guard. She was giving the animals their baths, and since this was on time for once, the blonde farmer sighed. She couldn't feed the animals.

"Ey there Applebloom, whats got cha so on time with yer chores today?" Applejack said walking up to her sister.

The young filly jumped in surprise at first then turning to see her sister she smiled and said, "Oh this sis, well it's kinda a secret."

She noticed Bloom's cheeks flush oh so slightly, and she realized there must be something special behind her timely work on her chores. She knew it wouldn't solve anything to pry into her little sister's business so she just decided on a different course of action.

"Alright Bloom whatever ya say, but maybe y'all would like some help?" she offered to her sister.

"R-Really Applejack?" She said with a surprised bounce.

"A'course lil' sis. Where do ya need the most help?"

With that the day seemed to speed away from her again. During her time helping her little sister she was pretty sure she had locked onto a definitive answer for why she was acting so responsible. Applebloom had been asked out on a date tonight it seemed, but try as she might the blonde farmer could not get the who out of her.

After a while Big Macintosh came out of the fields looking for his sister. "Jack, have ya been payin' attention to the time? If y'all don't get cleaned up now you won't make it ta the theater by 6."

Applejack looked up at the sky, and it looked a lot later than she had expected. She noticed her brother wearing a watch which she found to be odd, but in this case it was quite handy.

"What time do ya have big brother?" She asked in earnest.

"Five thirty."

AJ's face lit up in shock. She wouldn't have any time to get ready if it was already that late. On top of that she and Applebloom hadn't finished their job. She looked from the animal they were washing to the house and back again.

"Don't cha worry sis I got this, you go get ready for yer date tonight!" Applebloom piped in.

The orange farm mare smiled to her sister gratefully. "Thanks a million Bloom!" she shouted as she started running to the house to clean up as quickly as she could.

She was running as fast as she could to the movie theaters after changing and at the least making sure she didn't smell like the chicken coop after a week of not being cleaned. She was wearing a black button up over shirt that was currently unbuttoned, as well as a navy blue tank top underneath that. She had changed into a clean pair of blue jeans, and had combed her hair into silky smoothness--even though she put it back into a long braided ponytail.

She arrived in the front of the small, humble theater fifteen minutes late. It looked like Rainbow wasn't there either. "D-Did she leave already?" Applejack thought in worry. After five more minutes the orange mare felt an almost unbearable sadness begin to creep into her chest. She closed her eyes, her head slumping to the ground as she turned to head home. Her ears then perked hearing something, but before she could do anything she was hit into a nearby bush by the weight of another pony.

She looked up into the triumphant eyes of Rainbow Dash who had just tackled her into a bush. Her marefriend reached forward wrapping her arms around AJ in a tight hug speaking softly into the farmer's ear, "Jackie I am so, so, so sorry for being late, and I hope I didn't worry you too much."

Applejack nuzzled her cheek against her marefriend's, it looks like Dash was just as worried as she had been a moment earlier. It was good that they had landed off of the main road cause they sat there holding each other a moment more before getting up. As they headed over to the theater they looked over the board that showed what would be playing tonight, and it was almost not worth going until they noticed the third movie. The other two were sappy romance flicks, but the other one seemed more like an action oriented movie. It was, to what AJ could tell, an old school noir cop flick and those were usually action packed.

They walked up to the ticket booth after agreeing on the choice and Applejack requested, "Two fer The Untouchables at 6:40 please."

The ticket booth mare simply replied, "Of course that will be 32 bits." As she printed up the tickets.

They both got out 16 bits each because they had agreed to split ticket price, but AJ demanded that she get the snacks. To which Rainbow had, for once, easily conceded defeat to. After paying for, and receiving, their tickets they headed inside of the theater getting in line for some snacks. This was going to make them late for the movie though since the lines were quite long for once, probably for one of the romance flicks tonight as it was highly anticipated.

After what seemed like forever they got to the front of the line and ordered two combination boxes. It came with a drink, popcorn, and a candy snack. Rainbow Dash got Skittles for her candy and Applejack got sour apple twist straws. After getting their trays of snacks, and 25 bits later for the farm mare's coin purse, they rushed to the theater.

They entered the dark room near the top of the seating in the amphitheater. The movie had already started the picture on screen showed Al Caponie in a barber's chair surrounded by reporters questioning him casually. Rainbow moved around Applejack to the back row and sat down in the middle of it, and AJ found it odd of Dash to not want to be closer to the screen. Then she noticed the back tier of the theater was mostly unoccupied, and she began to wonder what Dashie's intent was.

"Come on Jackie, you want an invitation to sit or somthin'?" her date hollered in a hushed whisper.

"Ah'm a comin' calm down shug." she replied coming over to sit next to her cyan mare.

The rainbow haired mare was snickering as the farmer sat down next to her, and she was pretty sure she knew why. "Aw shut up Dashie." she said playfully punching her date in her right arm.

"I couldn't help it AJ, didn't know I was THAT good!" she said in a hushed voice again before throwing some skittles into her mouth.

As she began to watch the movie the scene had changed to a dark alleyway with a cop scouting it out before heading back to the group further out of the alley. It was about this time she felt Rainbow's hand moving near her body trying to find the blonde mare's hand. She happily obliged her and slid her hand down to Dash's; where she felt her date quickly interlock their fingers together.

The movie felt like it was taking forever to build up and the orange mare began to find herself getting a little bored, possibly sleepy. As a waiter for the hotel Al Caponie was staying in brought him his breakfast Applejack felt a nudge from her left side. She turned to see Rainbow looking into her eyes expectantly.

"Hey Jackie, can we possibly cuddle tonight?" Dash whispered to her.

Applejack wanted nothing more than that and so she just nodded her head. Dash set her tray of snacks down sliding them underneath her seat, and then pulled the retractable chair arm up and out of her way. She wrapped her arm around AJ and laid her head gently on her shoulder, to which she laid her head softly on top of Rainbow's. She could smell the very wind in her hair along with a faint trace of lavender, AJ felt her body relax stresses slowly fading away from her muscles. Her eyes slowly closed as she drifted off into a dream.

At first she felt a sort of bliss in her sleep but it was quickly interrupted by a scream of anger. AJ could feel the familiar shackles around her wrists. As she opened her eyes in a blur she could see a familiar rainbow maned mare standing in a doorway across the room. She stormed up to the shadow figure and began to tussle and fight with it knocking it to the ground.

"This. Is. Not. Right!" She declared between blows with the shadowy figure who appeared at first unwilling to fight Rainbow.

After a few moments of fighting the shadow began to slash at Rainbow with intent leaving blood streaming across her cyan coat. Dash was losing and once the figure broke her guard it drove her viciously into a post with what looked like a stake. Rainbow Dash let out a scream of absolute agony as she was stabbed in the shoulder forced back into a post.

"Oh don't look at me like that Rainbow Dash." the shadow figure growled at the cyan mare, "You did this to yourself after all. Now back to this filthy little harlot, I just may have an idea for her."

The shadow figure turned toward Applejack and she could swear she had seen the eyes looking at her before, but she couldn't place where. They looked absolutely dead inside as the figure quickly closed on the farmer she closed her eyes. In the next moment she felt the cuffs around her wrists click open as she fell to the ground, pain shooting through her body like lightning as she landed.

"Well here is your chance you dirty little harlot, door is open you can still get away from this. I don't suggest that though since you will just die anyways...why not fight and impress your little Dashie one last time then? Come on get up!" the shadow taunted her.

Applejack could run away and get help, but she would rather die than abandon her friend and lover. She felt the shadow push her forcibly then stepping back a few paces as if in a mock, "Fight Me!" manner. AJ had to admit that was practically impossible in her condition. She had bled out far too much and was beyond exhausted. She wouldn't have any hope to win without her marefriend at her side.

"Jackie just run, get out of here! I don't want you getting caught up in the costs of my past!" Rainbow cried out to her looking utterly furious that she could do nothing to help her beyond that.

Applejack closed her eyes and let her body soak up the warmth of Dash's love for her, and forced herself to her hooves. She was ready to stand against the enemy in front of her, but she was ill prepared for the shadowy figures actual plan. She felt a sharp pain hit her gut as her legs buckled underneath her. Something held her up placing her head over the shadows shoulder, she looked at Dash shock in her eyes as well.

The shadow smiled sadistically, "You thought I'd give a dirty piece of trash like you an actual chance? Priceless. Now look into Dashie's eyes as the life leaves your eyes forever."

Applejack was held there a moment more as she felt a tear trickle out of her eye she saw one run down Dash's cheek as well. She felt the shadow figure move away and she crumpled down to the floor the long sharp object now removed from her stomach. She kept her eyes on Rainbow as she let out a horrified scream the shadow figure turned to the blue hued mare, "Now what to do to you, maybe a slow torture..."

The blonde mare came to with a scream, the movie just hitting a scene where two stallions were shot brutally in an elevator. She was absolutely horrified as she rushed out of the theater hearing her date coming to exclaiming, "Wha-What the hey Jackie, what's wrong?"

She ran outside in tears the dream had continued despite that they were together again. When would they end, they were driving her heart in two. She couldn't take it anymore she just ran and ran till she couldn't run anymore, and before she knew it she was atop the eastern hills where their first date had taken them. She looked up at the night sky, stars glittering and the moon shining brightly.

"Jackie!" Rainbow's voice called out from above her.

The mare landed a few feet from AJ and walked toward her slowly. She just turned away from the rainbow maned mare. She was taken by surprise as Dash enveloped her in a tight hug from behind.

"What's wrong hun, what was all that at the theater about?" she asked in such a gentle voice the farmer could barely tell she was really Rainbow Dash.

She wrapped her hands around the blue mare's forearms softly before saying, "I's a nightmare, an' no matter what Ah do it won't go away. It has been doggin' me the past three days now!"

Tears began to trail down AJ's face again as the memory of the dream started to play again. She gripped her marefriend's arms more tightly, but she didn't flinch in response.

"Wanna sit down with me and talk about it then, maybe I can put your fears at ease?" she whispered into the farmer's ear softly.

She nodded and followed Dash to the tree they had sat under four nights ago, the memory of that night also still fresh in her mind. She preferred it so she pulled it to the forefront of her mind instead. As her friend sat down cross legged against the tree she motioned the blonde farmer to lay he head in her lap, and she did not protest in the slightest.

She laid down in her lap and just began regaling her tale to Dash in full detail sparing not a single moment of the dream, her marefriend listening patiently. It was uncharacteristic of Dash, and Applejack had to admit she liked it because it showed how much she cared for the simple farmer. After all they were just dreams. They couldn't hurt them, right?

______________________________________________________________________________________

As Pinkie Pie arrived at the residence on her order she found she was right, it was the creepiest house on the edge of Ponyville. It still looked practically abandoned minus the lights on in the windows. It was a simple one story cottage with what looked like a possible cellar beneath. There was a large tree with many low hanging branches off to one side of the house.

"Man is it super CREEPY here. Who in their right mind would rent a place like this, unless of course they could totally fix it up that is." the pink party pony spoke aloud to herself.

She heard wings above her and saw Rainbow streaking through the sky. Probably off to another date with AJ and was running super duper late. Pinkie smiled to herself and got off her bike retrieving the package she had to deliver. She headed up through the yard and up onto the front porch each board creaking as she went.

"Yup super, duper, extra special, creepy!" She said before knocking upon the door, "Delivery from Sugarcube Corner, two special sugary cake surprises!"

There was no answer. Not even a mouse stirred in the house. How was Pinkie to deliver them their tasty delights if they couldn't even be in for receiving the order. She turned to leave with package still in tow, but as she got to the bottom of the steps off of the porch she heard a loud sound around the side of the house with the tree. There they had to be, time to see the person that had moved in!

As she ran under the tree something hit her square in the face knocking her to the ground her consciousness slipping away from her. She saw a blurry shape drop out of the tree and stand over her.

"Oh crud, I almost forgot about you living here..." the figure said in a tomboyish voice that Pinkie felt she knew, and the name was on the tip of her tongue.

Pinkie fell unconscious and into the depths of a long sleep. When she woke up in the morning the package was gone and there was money left in her hand. She noticed a branch hung low enough to strike her easily in the dark as the rays of morning illuminated it. Looks like she had in her excitement to meet a new pony, she had clocked herself one good.

"Aw that's no fun they took their package and went. Oh well, but if I've been out this long it might be worth going to see nurse Redheart." the pink mare said rubbing the back of her head sheepishly, "Ouch, that smarts! Yep, to the doctors!"

She got up and carefully headed back to her bike, but before getting on it she got her bloodcurdling chills again. She turned and looked at the house feeling there was something from last night that was slipping her mind. She got on her bike and rode off towards the hospital insanely.

"Whatever I'm forgetting I'm sure I'll remember soon enough!" She shouted over her crazed peddling.
> Chapter 7: Putting Out Fires Around Us
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	It took every ounce of restraint Dash had to not react negatively to the tale the farmer told her pertaining to her dreams. They were extremely harsh and got worse with each encounter. Her marefriend woke up each time in pain or in utter fear, and Dash couldn't stand for something to be wreaking such havoc on somepony's mind let alone Applejack's. The blonde mare twitched from time to time and Rainbow would just reach down and softly stroke her golden locks still tied back in a ponytail.

She knew AJ needed her to be strong, yet gentle and understanding. Dash wouldn't fail her when she needed it, because she knew the farmer would do the same. She reached down and stroke Applejack's cheek gently as she had just closed her eyes still talking through the dream. She had just started to describe tonight's nightmare, and the longer it went on the more Rainbow could feel her muscles tense.

"A-Are ya alright hun?" Applejack broke into her building rage with gentle eyes.

"Y-Yeah I am no problem. It is just a lot to take in I guess...I mean I would seriously hate feeling that helpless." Rainbow admitted her head drooping pitifully eyes closing.

She felt her marefriend's hand soft on her cheek and she opened her eyes, "It really does mean a lot ta meh that you care so much fer lil old me ,Dashie." the farmer said gently.

Rainbow held her wrist watch up and looked at it, 8:33 P.M it read. It had been a lot longer than she had thought, but at least there was still time in the night. It was then she heard a loud growling noise, and she was pretty sure she knew where the sound had come from.

"I see someone is still hungry eh, Jackie?" Rainbow taunted her lightly.

Applejack blushed and replied, "Yeah Ah reckon so. Didn't eat all that much at the theater...an' we left our snacks as well. What a waste."

"No worries hun I have an idea, but we gotta hurry so we can make it. Get up real quick." Rainbow ordered the mare laying upon her lap.

AJ complied and got up sluggishly, which usually showed that she was physically fatigued. Rainbow stood up knowing very well the fastest way for them to get to Harmony Breads and Cafe. She came up behind the blonde mare, spun her around, and grabbed her pulling her close. Dash heard her marefriend squeak in surprise as she unfurled her wings and leaped into the crisp night sky.

"Y'all need ta warn me when yer gonna do that Dash!" Applejack said indignantly.

"I'll try, but it's more fun when you aren't prepared!" Dash called over the rush of wind that passed them by.

It was a short trip really and they landed outside the shop at 9:00 sharp, she flew rather slow for her lovely farmer. Now that AJ was walking in front of her she noticed just how well defined the farmer's blue jeans were on her. "Sweet mother of Celestia does she have some amazing legs!" Rainbow thought to herself with a smirk.

Applejack walked in the door first with Rainbow following, and they were quickly greeted by the shop owner once again.

"Hello there again ladies, here for some late night grub I can only assume?" The forest green stallion inquired.

The orange mare had stopped in front of Rainbow and she couldn't tell why for a moment only that AJ's ears were perked up. She moved around the blonde farmer to see nostalgia lighting her eyes, as a new song started up on the radio.

"What's the hold up Jackie, thought you were hungry?" she asked trying to break into her mind.

The orange mare shook her head, "Sorry Rainbow, I just got lost in the song playing for a moment."

She smiled and continued toward the counter to order, "What like remembering your first time or something?"

Now she had originally intended this as a joke but when she got to the counter and Applejack didn't stand beside her she knew something was up. She turned around to see her standing there looking down at the ground blushing intensely, and she looked far from happy as well. Bad.

"L-Look hun I meant it as a joke. I had no idea I hit the nail on the head." She said walking over to her marefriend.

The farmer took a huge sigh before responding, "Naw Dashie it's okay. The anger is more fer mahself than you."

Looks like the blonde earthbound mare had her own demon's that stalked her mind at any given moment. Dash liked this because it showed she wasn't perfect, and that she had seen her share of life rather than blindly running through it. She motioned Applejack over to the counter, and they indicated they wanted what they had last time they were here. Rainbow paid the 26 bits this time and they headed over to the same table they had last time. It seemed rather vacant tonight in the sandwich shop but it was better that way, quieter even.

The two of them ate in silence tonight, neither knowing quite what to say it seemed. It was murder to Dash to bear the silence.

"AJ, do you wanna talk about what that was a few minutes ago?" she started.

"Not really hun, it's in the past...a past Ah'd rather not bring up 'iffin Ah can avoid it." was the reply Dash got after a seconds delay.

"Okay I just don't want ya to have to bear it alone. If you ever want to tell me I'm here." she replied in sentiment.

Her marefriend smiled back at her now looking at Dash levelly. She loved to see Applejack's emerald green eyes glimmer when her affections boiled over to the surface. It made the rainbow haired mare feel warm everywhere, but especially in her cheeks. It was in this moment Dash had a bold idea but it was worth venturing.

"H-Hey Jackie, I was wondering something." she started off slowly seeing if AJ would go along.

"Yeah shug, what is it?" the farmer replied.

"Would it be alright if I maybe stayed with you tonight? I-I mean nothing serious just sleep next to each other tonight--Wait no that doesn't sound right either!" Dash became flustered as she couldn't say what she meant.

"Dashie. Dashie. Dashie!" Applejack broke through Rainbow's nosedive, "Ah know what yer askin' and...Ah'd like fer that a lot. Maybe that'll drive mah nightmares away fer good."

Her eyes went wide in surprise as she felt the biggest grin sweep over her face. She knew she would enjoy it, but deep down she knew if it could help Applejack get away from her nightmare she would do it in a heartbeat. The orange mare got up from the table and headed for the exit.

"C'mon Dashie, lets head home!" the blonde farmer threw over her shoulder at Dash.

They walked outside and, holding one another's hand, began to walk down the road back to Sweet Apple Acres. It took them over an hour to finally reach Applejack's home, but it was worth it for the closeness they shared that evening walking through the center of Ponyville. Rainbow had more than once felt like they were being watched though, and this slightly unnerved her. Almost 11:30 most of the Apple family was already asleep, and so her marefriend and her made their way over to the barn.

As the farmer opened a smaller side door so they could get inside Rainbow felt an odd warmth slip out of the doorway. Looked like it would be quite comfortable to sleep in there tonight, and so she hurried inside and AJ closed the door again. Dash was just following the golden locks of her marefriend around trusting that she would know the best place to sleep. They climbed up into the rafters and, reaching a third level, found a comfortable arrangement of hay. The hay even looked like it was arranged on purpose to be a bed.

"Welcome to mah afternoon nap spot Dash. Should be quite comfortable since Ah did make it mahself after all." the farmer announced pulling a quilt off of a nearby post.

She wrapped the quilt around her shoulders and knelt down crawling comfortably onto the hay bed. She looked up to Dash expectantly, "What are ya waitin' fer shugar?"

At that she couldn't keep herself from the farmer's side, and she too knelt down then crawled up alongside AJ. Their eyes met and they leaned in touching foreheads together before Applejack turned over and away from Dash. She snuggled under the blonde mare's quilt and close behind her gently enveloping her with her arms. One rested around the farmers side, the other weaved under the hay giving an extra pillow to her marefriend.

The heat she felt between them was breath taking, and it was in this moment Dash became aware of something. "I really have fallen in love with her haven't I?" was the last thought that crossed her mind before she passed out. With her nose close to the farmer's hair she could smell  the delicate scent of apples and turned earth, which left her relaxed and in peace.

The next morning had come all too soon for the both of them, but they parted ways all the same. Dash had to go in for an early shift of paperwork for the weather office, but had told Applejack that she would give her a call sometime this afternoon so they could spend more time together. The paperwork had been utterly unforgiving this morning approvals of next week's spread of clouds, on top of the coming big storm to bring in rain for the apple orchards. With all her willpower though Dash easily trucked through it, and clocked out heading to a popular cafe in the center of town.

When she arrived outside the Hayseed Cafe, she pulled her cell phone out of her pocket. Flipping it open she found Applejack's number and hit call.

"Hey Jackie it's just me. Yeah I'm here at the Hayseed with the rest of the day to myself, would ya like to come spend it with me? Really, awesome! I'll be here hun." with that she clicked her phone shut and slipped it back into her jeans.

She casually strolled into the cafe and ordered a simple lavender scented green tea, paid her 6 bit fee, and went to get a table while she waited for her drink. She let her memories of her past few days with her blonde farm mare blissfully slide across her mind until all of a sudden she felt a tail flick hers. She sat bolt upright, that wasn't something AJ did to her ever. She turned to see something she would never in her wildest dreams see, Captain Spitfire of the Wonderbolts.

"Hello there miss Rainbow Dash. May I sit with you for a moment?" the blazing orange haired mare asked.

Dash noticed the tail flick that Spitfire had just given her, and she wasn't sure she liked where this was going already. The Wonderbolt Captain had been known for her often brazen and harsh behavior. Even though this was her personal idol asking, things seemed more casual than professional.

She looked away from Spitfire, "I'm going to have to decline you that seat right now. You see I'm saving it for a special friend of mine."

"Oh don't worry Dash I'll just be a moment." Spitfire replied obviously thinking Dash was playing hard to get as she went and sat in the seat across from her.

Of late the captain had been overly out of control with her life. She had been reported in news articles to have openly fooled around with whomever she felt the inclination to do so with. She would party till she couldn't consciously do so anymore, and was caught more than once breaking air traffic laws. A lot of ponies were put off by this once great pegasus acting so rebelliously, and with her new levels of freedom her temper was also becoming quite notorious. She apparently wanted Dash and wasn't going to take no easily, but she wanted to avoid the Wonderbolt's temper at all costs.

"So Dash after you are done hanging out with this friend of yours how about you and I go to a party tonight? I'm sure I can make it worth your while." the brazen ginger said with a wink at her.

"Look Spitfire, I was quite specific that I didn't want you sitting there because of a 'Special' friend I am waiting for. Personally I've seen what 'Worth your while' has meant to you lately, and quite frankly I..." She paused feeling the captain rubbing her leg up against Dash's, "Would you stop that Captain." She finished blushing.

"Oh come now Dash this isn't a professional setting, I wish you wouldn't refer to me like that." the Wonderbolt replied not stopping, making Dash feel helpless. "You know I take what I want, and right now I want you."

At this Rainbow stood up from her seat indignantly just as her marefriend stormed up to hear Spitfire's last line. The orange mare had looked furious, but hearing that last line dropped AJ. Rainbow's eyes shot wide in shock jaw agape in horror. "Had she seen everything that just happened?" Dash lamented in dread.

"Ya know what Dash, y'all have fun with the rest of yer day you sleaze!" Applejack's eye's were tearing as she gripped her hat and threw it at Rainbow in her fury.

The farmer stormed off away from her and she felt a hollowness creep up inside her dark and cold. There would be no forgiveness or even the least bit restraint with how she handled Spitfire now.

"Well then looks like you are free the rest of the day n-"

"SHUT UP SPITFIRE!" Dash cut the captain off loudly. "You can't possibly begin to understand the degree to which you just bucked my life. I mean have you fallen so far that you don't even register consequences anymore?" She shouted turning to the older mare who now looked quite sheepish. "What the hay happened to you, you used to be great! Now all you do is party and throw all caution to the wind! I mean how do you still have friends living the life you do now?"

"Well I-"

"No you don't get to explain any of this shit to me. Because of you I have to go try to explain to my MAREFRIEND what was really happening and why she should forgive me for not knocking your lights out when you started this!" Rainbow Dash fumed as she turned to leave, "You need to get your life together before you drive the Wonderbolts into the ground, as well as lose every friend you have ever had."

She left Spitfire looking absolutely crushed in spirit, but she deserved it for what she had done. Rainbow ran as fast as she could to Sweet Apple Acres after Applejack. She prayed to Celestia with everything she had that she could make the blonde farmer see what had happened. Gripping AJ's Stetson tight in her hand she knew she would have to grovel at her marefriend's hooves for forgiveness, but would she get it?

________________________________________________________________________________________

After a short visit to the hospital, nurse Redheart gave Pinkie the all clear. It seemed as if the pink mare had suffered a minor concussion which would leave a few short term memories blurry. She was allowed to go back to work tomorrow but with limited duties as to not stress her healing skull. As she walked out of the hospital she waved to nurse Redheart gleefully getting on her bicycle again and peddling home easily to be safe.

She hoped that nothing bad had happened while she had been out of commission, but that question was soon answered as Applejack sprinted across her path. Tears streaking across her face, and no Rainbow in sight.

"Well golly gee that's no good, I'm gone no more than a few hours and all hell broke loose didn't it?" She pondered aloud for a time.

Rainbow Dash then came bolting across the way next, and Pinkie gave chase. As she caught up she yelled, "Hey, Dashie! Why is everybody running?"

"Sorry Pinkie can't stop right now! I have to go throw myself at AJ's mercy." She shouted back as Pinkie came to a stop.

"Hmm..." She put a hand to her chin for a moment, "Ya know it's probably better to let them solve this themselves. I'd better get back to let the Cake's know I'm okay."

A short ride later the cotton candy maned mare arrived and headed inside, "Mrs. Cake, Mr. Cake I'm back!"

"Oh Pinkie dear we were worried half to death!" Mrs. Cake yelled rushing up to hug the pink mare tightly.

"Aw it's okay Mrs. Cake I just made a silly mistake on last night's delivery, and wanted to make sure I was okie-dokie first. Nurse Redheart says I have a mild concussion from trying to beat a tree branch with my head." Pinkie Pie replied nonplussed.

"Oh my goodness dear that isn't some small injury!" Mrs. Cake fretted.

"Now dear I'm sure Pinkie will be alright, she does have quite the resilient skull in there after all!" Mr. Cake interjected lightly.

She gave him a nasty look that hinted at his death, and he sheepishly retreated back into the kitchen. When Mrs. Cake turned to talk to Pinkie again a voice broke into their conversation.

"Um, am I interrupting anything at all?" a gryphon said as she walked in.

Pinkie took in a long powerful gasp as she looked at the gryphon who entered the Cake's shop, it was Gilda. She looked different somehow though, with more of an air of polite respect that she had been sorely lacking with her last visit to Ponyville.

Mrs. Cake must have noticed as well as she replied kindly, "Not at all dear, come in. What can I help you with today?"

"Not much I was actually looking for Pinkie Pie." the brown plumed she gryphon replied bashfully.

She was acting so much more emotionally than before, Pinkie smiled, "Well here I am Gildie, what can I do for ya?"

Mrs. Cake took her leave at this point and headed back into the kitchen, probably to scold Mr. Cake for his earlier comment.

"I-I wanted to apologize to you personally for being such a jerk all those months ago. I feel I wronged you the worst so I...I felt the need to try to make it good between us before moving on with my life." she said looking down and away as if in shame at the memory.

"Oh? Well okay then, I can accept that apology. You seem to really mean that! In fact you seem like an entirely different person Gilda, you could apologize to everyone in Ponyville at this rate!" Pinkie said with a bright smile.

"N-No! I'm not ready for that yet. Could I ask if you would spend some time hanging out with me? I'm still not totally used to this redemption thing yet." the gryphon scratched the back of her head sheepishly.

"Of course we can! That sounds like loads of fun!" the party mare bounced at the prospect.

"Oh you have no idea..." Gilda mumbled in a low tone.

"What was that?" Pinkie said oblivious.

"Nothing Pinkie, I'm glad your willing to give me another chance. Thank you." she replied with a bow to Pinkie.

"No problemo Gilda, but what should we do? I mean I don't have work today so I have practicalacticly the WHOOLLEE day to pal around!" the cotton candy maned mare replied with barely contained excitement.

"Let's just start off with a walk and see where things go yeah?" the gryphon replied with a devilish smile.

"Okie dokie lokie!" the pink mare replied bouncing outside Gilda following behind her menacingly.
> Chapter 8: Forgive Me Please
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	After her encounter with Pinkie Pie she had put on whatever she had left to catch up to AJ. Rainbow Dash arrived at the Apple residence, with what she could tell, shortly after Applejack had stormed through. She found Big Mac standing perplexed in the front yard looking at the front door of the house. The big stallion looked absolutely sick with worry, and she couldn't blame him in the least.

"Big Mac which way did she run?" she stopped to ask the red stallion.

"No." was all he said.

"Please Big Mac, this was a huge misunderstanding! Right now I need to tell her what happened, and beg for her forgiveness!" Dash found herself practically groveling to the stallion for information.

"Why should Ah Rainbow?" was all he came back with.

She fell to her knees gripping the stetson tightly in her hands, "Please Macintosh, I need her...I just can't...I can't..." tears beginning to erupt from her eyes as the whole situation settled over her.

As she closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Applejack's hat she felt two hands on her shoulders. They slid down her arms and eventually wrapped around her sides, she knew the arms that embraced her now.

It was then she heard a whisper in her ear, "Now don't cha let me distract y'all from tellin' Bic Mac here what ya need ta. Go on tell him."

She looked up at him a fire in her magenta eyes and answered him, "Because I love her, and I need her more than anything I've ever needed before! I don't want to lose a mare like that in my life."

He simply nodded and walked off into the eastern fields, it was about the time in the week they would be tending that part of the fields anyways. Slowly he disappeared into the distance, and now it was time to ask the question that was quickly eating away at her. She needed to understand why Applejack was being so gentle with her.

"Jackie, why? I thought you were angry with me?" she asked in confusion.

"Ah still am." she replied gently.

"Then why are you?" Dash said even more baffled than she was before.

"Cause Ah wanted ta coax ya inta admitting why ya gave chase after Ah stormed off. No normal mare or stallion woulda done that without a mighty strong reason." she finished slowly standing up and walking away from Dash.

She turned around in desperation, "No AJ wait I--"

"Just follow me Dashie, and we will talk. Don't ya worry y'all will get yer chance." the blonde farmer cut Dash off.

The farmer began to head toward the western fields opposite the one Big Mac had gone into. They walked for what seemed to be hours to Dash, but she continued to follow AJ determined to set the record straight with her. Finally the orange mare found a comfortable spot below an already bucked apple tree and motioned for her to sit as well. The nature surrounding them seemed rather familiar.

"Okay then sugarcube, Ah'm listening." she stated flatly her eyes level and unbiased.

She sat down and took a deep breath, "Okay AJ, you have every right to be upset with me. I shouldn't have just passively put up with Spitfire like that. Had you not come by at that moment I was going to tell her to leave, but things didn't happen that way at all."

Applejack nodded in silence at her explanation.

"After you left I just about decked Spitfire for what she had done, but instead I told her off. Even mentioning loudly that you were my marefriend in the cafe." she paused for a moment blushing and trying to gauge the response of her friend.

The blonde farmer nodded again and simply asked, "And when was it y'all noticed how ya truly felt?"

"When I was chasing you. I was scared you would never forgive me, that we would never be together again. I knew I needed you. So please, Jackie forgive me," Rainbow replied with pure honesty then held out the stetson, "By the way I brought back your hat."

She sat up on her knees and reached forward to take the hat, but caught Dash off guard with her grip. Applejack had instead grabbed Rainbow's wrist and pulled her forward in a quick instant. It was in this split second that the whole world stopped, their lips colliding in perfect harmony. Her lips were soft against Rainbow's as they for a brief moment shared a deep passionate kiss. 

Rainbow wrapped her arms around the orange mare and she did the same to her, their bodies held tight together. In that moment Dash felt like she was one with Applejack, and she found herself not wanting that moment to end. 

Applejack ended that moment when she broke away to say, "Ah forgive ya shugar, with all mah heart."

Dash didn't hold herself back a moment more as she pushed the apple farmer up against the empty apple tree. She pushed her lips up against AJ's once more reveling in their sweet taste, so warm and so alive. Warm panting between them showed they were going to need to breathe soon, but Dash couldn't break this passion now. Finally Dash ran out of breath and they broke apart. She looked into the emerald orbs of her love letting them swallow her up as she panted trying to catch her breath. She moved to lay beside her marefriend and was quickly wrapped and pulled close. She snuggled into the crook of Applejack's shoulder.

"So Dash don't y'all recognize this spot at all?" the blonde mare suddenly said putting her hat back atop her head.

She looked around for a moment trying to figure out where they were, it couldn't be where she thought it was. She thought it looked eerily familiar, but it couldn't be possible that the blonde farmer would remember the exact spot in the orchard. She looked up at the farm mare expectantly for the truth.

"It's where things between us really started, where we both got more serious about what we felt." Applejack said softly. "Now Ah gotta ask y'all to forgive me Dashie. How I acted earlier had to do with my past...my first coltfriend to be exact. Ah'm quite ashamed of how it made me jump the gun."

Rainbow Dash had been waiting for the moment this story would come out, and she had waited for her marefriend to feel comfortable enough to tell it.

"Go on Jackie. Tell me more, and I will listen." she cooed softly to the blonde farmer.

"When we were together things went real well. He was awful sweet ta me constantly, but the odd thing was with his looks he coulda had any mare. Yet he chose ta be with me. We got close quickly, and after making it official Ah often found mahself feeling jealous of all the other mares he would attract. Yet he always managed ta ease these paranoid fears o' mine, and boy was Ah blind in hindsight." she stopped a moment as if getting sucked into the terrible memory again.

Dash nuzzled into her shoulder softly and began rubbing her marefriend's stomach lightly. She did what she could to keep the orange mare feeling comfortable and safe. She knew Applejack had to let this memory out to finally be free of it.

"One romantic night swept the both of us away, and that was the night Ah gave mahself to him. Ah was so sure he was the one that Ah would be with forever, and yet..." she bowed her head tears falling from her eyes.

Rainbow reached up and attempted to wipe away Applejack's tears a gesture that made her look at the rainbow maned mare with a smile.

"It was a week later Ah caught 'im at a cafe with another mare. At first Ah thought it was nothing seein' as this happened often. Ah snuck up casually behind him...wouldn't he be surprised ta see me with a day off? It was then that Ah heard the mare say, "Oh you know I take what I want hun, and right now I want you. So what do you say big boy?" Ah thought that she would be in fer quite the surprise when he replied." she laughed before continuing, "Little did Ah know it was ME who was in fer the surprise when he answered, "Yeah I'm game, just let me get my--" It was then when he got up to go get his drink from the counter, that he turned to see me standing there horror stricken."

Applejack shuddered, and Rainbow just continued to hold her tight as the memory gripped her tightly. It seemed to be taking everything the blonde farmer had to keep going with the memory, the tenseness in her body quite evident to Dash.

"Jackie if it's too much you can stop." she said sympathetically.

"Now that's why Ah love ya Dashie, you genuinely give a hoot about me. When he noticed me there all he did was try ta explain it away. Not once did the sorry excuse fer a stallion even try to say sorry. Not once! In one moment, Ah lost everything Ah had dreamed would be an' then-some. He had left me feeling dirty and used, an' Ah hated it but more than that...Ah hated mahself fer letting him use me." she began to sob as she pulled her knees up closer to her body.

Dash sat up allowing her to pull her knees as close as she could before embracing her as wholly as she could. That was why Applejack had flipped, it was the exact same line that shattered her heart years ago. It was simply natural that she had reacted in such a negative fashion. What that stallion had done to her Jackie was unforgivable, and Rainbow knew if she ever met the sorry sack of sewage she would give him something to remember what he did--permanently.

"D-Dashie..." She heard AJ mumble through her tears.

"Yeah Jackie?" she answered softly.

The emerald eyes peaked over the farmer's knees as she asked through sobs, "Do-Do ya forgive meh for gettin' so wound up?"

"Of course I do." she lifted Applejack's head from its burial between her knees to face her, "I love you after all Jackie."

With that their lips met again as they simply melted into one another. Dash gently stroked the orange mare's cheek with her hand, and held the back of her neck with the other softly propping her up into the kiss. The orange mare had been through far more than Dash could have ever imagined, and she just hoped that now she could give her all the happiness she deserved. She wasn't going to let anything deny them their happiness, even if she had to die trying.

When the kiss parted again they simply stared into one another's eyes before laying down next to each other in the orchard. Their arms wrapped tightly around the other, they shared the warmth of their bodies as they let the day slip away. Their hearts beating, together as one.
> Chapter 9: The Abduction
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The day had been full of activities and excitement for Pinkie and Gilda. They went to the ice cream parlor and spent some time there just talking about their lives since Gilda left Ponyville. They managed to get into a playful ice cream fight, which inevitably led to them being asked to leave. To this Pinkie, covered in chocolate ice cream, replied, "Okie dokie Soft Serve. I am really sorry about the mess."

The cream colored stallion replied with a sigh, "It's alright. Most ponies expect these kinds of shenanigans with you by now, Pinkie."

Turning to walk away with a wave to the ice cream parlor proprietor, "Alrighty then take care, Softy!"

Gilda smiled and turned to the pink mare, "Wow, you can seriously get away with this sort of thing all over town?"

"Yup yup!" she replied with a bounce. "It's one of the perks of being friends with like everyone after all Gilda! Anyways what shall we do next, maybe some bowling?"

"Sounds great to me!" the gryphon replied with excitement.

It was a good walk to the bowling alley, and Pinkie began to really feel like she and Gilda were starting to bond. She was surprised the gryphoness could be this conversational and enjoyable. They talked about everything from the happenings in the news, to favorite foods, to deeper girl gossip from their individual origins.

Walking into the bowling alley, they were both laughing hysterically as a joke Gilda had just told. Pinkie looked around to notice the lanes were practically all open, save for two. They decided to play a full game of fourteen rounds, and Gilda paid for it accordingly. After getting on what Pinkie thought were silly bowling shoes, they headed off to pick up a set of bowling balls. Of the thirteen total lanes Gilda picked the last one since it was open.

It was a long and close game, but it was often the conversation and company of the two that made the party mare feel most comfortable. If this was the new Gilda, then Pinkie felt she could easily get used to her company more often. It felt nice to be around someone who was starting to find their way in the world, and the warmer side of their heart. She watched as the gryphoness lined up her last shot with unparalleled focus, and she couldn't help but admire the athleticism of her in that moment.

She approached swinging her arm back then releasing the ball as she swung forwards again. Within seconds the ball made contact, knocking all the pins down, it was a clean strike. The gryphon jumped up in jubilee at her victory, and the cotton candy maned mare only stared in awe at Gilda. Pinkie then shook her head a thought popping in, "Wh-What is this I'm feeling in my chest? It can't be..." she paused placing a hoof on her chest. "Can it?"

"Well looks like I win this game, eh, Pinks?" Gilda said cheerfully as she walked over.

"Yep it sure does Gil! But it was sooo close!" She replied with a bubbly smile.

They went to take off the silly bowling shoes and return the balls they had borrowed. As they walked outside they noticed the sky was beginning its descent into the west. Pinkie snapped to attention when she noticed Gilda wrap an arm around her shoulders. The gryphoness was pointing at something, and was trying to direct her toward it.

"What is it, Gilda?" she asked brightly.

"If the sun is setting we only got a short time left in the day. Why don't we go see something pretty as the night begins. What do ya say, Pinks?" the gryphon replied with great charisma.

"Okie-dokie-lokie! Sounds fu-Woah!" Pinkie exclaimed as Gilda grabbed her hand and pulled her along.

In the position she was in she had time to reflect on Gilda's attire today. She wore a tight, red,  spaghetti strap tank top that really showed off a lot more than Pinkie expected the gryphon to show off. It got better as she continued down only to notice the athletic tone of Gilda's perfectly sculpted backside fit snugly into a tight pair of black denim jeans.

The pink party mare months prior would have never expected any of these reactions she was now having to Gilda's mere presence. Yet she had to admit the gryphoness had gotten much more personality since then, and it was enticing for her.

A short run later they were walking toward the Apple family's eastern orchards. There was a hillside within the orchard, and Pinkie felt the gryphon was taking her there to see the crescent moon rise this evening. This was so romantic of Gilda to do, but maybe it was just intended as a platonic whim she acted on. The pink mare couldn't be absolutely certain. As they arrived at the edge of the orchard they both stopped looking ahead.

A devilish smile crept across Gilda's face, "Hey Pinks, I got a challenge for ya."

"Oh really, what kinda challenge?" she replied with a bounce turning to face the gryphon.

"I'm sure you know where the hill is in this orchard, and so do I actually. So how about a race through the apple orchard to see who can reach the top of the hill first?" she splayed out her wings then tightly clasped them back at her sides. "As a courtesy I won't use my wings, you game?"

The pink mare put her hand to her chin for a moment before replying, "You're on, Gil! Betcha have no idea what you are getting into!"

"Oh I think it's the other way around..." the gryphoness mumbled under her breath.

"What was that, Gildy?" she replied tilting her head to the side.

"Nothing! Anyways you ready for this?" Gilda challenged.

"Whenever you're ready, lets do this!" she said turning back to the orchard in a ready to run position.

Gilda bent over in a ready position as well, "Okay then. On your mark, get set, GO!"

Pinkie bolted off into the orchard, the darkness of night quickly beginning to overtake the tree covered landscape. Looking over her shoulder behind her she couldn't see Gilda anywhere. Perhaps she had chosen a different course to follow, but that was silly since the straight shot was fastest. The air that night was crisp and cool, but it seemed darker and more eerie as she got closer to the hill that served as their goal.

Finally arriving at the top of the hill out of breath, Pinkie found that she had beaten Gilda. The pink mare doubled over trying to catch her breath, she really had given it her all to win. It was then she heard a twig snap in front of her, in a direction that the gryphon couldn't be coming from. She stood up and began to cautiously approach the place the sound came from. She was about to call out, but before she could, something came up behind her grabbing her and covering her mouth with a white cloth that smelled of some chemical. She began to quickly feel light headed and her vision rapidly blurred. She turned her head slowly toward the figure behind her, and her eyes shot open in shock.

"G-Gilda?" Pinkie uttered in a muffled tone cause of the cloth.

"Oh yes it's me. I can't believe you fell for my ruse you silly pony!" Gilda said with a laugh. "You were an obstacle last time I was here, and as long as I don't do something about you." she paused. "You will become an obstacle yet again! I simply can't afford that with me and Dash's fated reunion. For now though just sleep, we will talk more when you become conscious again."

Pinkie looked back in front of her, and as her consciousness started to slip away her she noticed something red in the shrubbery around a solitary apple tree. "What is that?" she thought to herself as she slipped off into a deep sleep.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Pinkie Pie felt like she had been beaten senseless by a passing tornado as she stirred back into consciousness. Upon opening her eyes she found she was in a vacant cellar from what she could tell through the pervading darkness. There were maybe four lanterns hanging from the ceiling, dimly lighting the room. As she tried to move, she quickly found herself bound to a wall with chain shackles upon her wrists.

"What is this, and where am I?" she asked no pony in particular as she looked around.

It was then she noticed a movement to the left of her in a corner. She couldn't see what it was, but she could tell that it had just gotten up from sitting in a chair. She could hear it slowly pacing it's way over to her, the sound of sharp claws against the cobblestone floor. As the creature slowly came into the light Pinkie quickly made out a beak and brown plumage, it was Gilda.

"Well dear Pinkie, you are in my control for one. As for what this is well, it's what I like to call problem solving." the sultry gryphoness began. "Now then, I have some pressing questions for you. If you're a good girl, you may even get out of this alive."

Pinkie gasped in horror, "What? You can't seriously mean you would hurt me for not cooperating with you?"

The gryphoness extended the talons on her hands and lashed out scoring a slash across the pink mare's face.

"I think that answers your question, dweeb." she said unimpressed. "Now to bigger matters. I want to know who this blonde mare Dash has been paling around with is, and what she is to her."

Pinkie felt broken inside, but at the mention of her two friends, she twitched. Her normally poofy hair slowly became sullen and straight, her mood quickly darkening. She would have to endure what was next in her mind, and in her heart.

"You know what's really sad?" Pinkie started in a creaky prattling voice. "You are. The world at your talon tips and you throw it away for a mere obsession? Pathetic." She finished staring right into the gryphon's eyes.

Gilda scowled and punched the pink mare in the face, "How dare you call it MERE obsession! What I feel is pure love for Rainbow Dash! Like you could understand though!"

The pink mare recovered instantly, "Oh as if, Gilda. If you really had changed your ways, I could guaruntee you woulda found more than enough love!" she roared with fire in her eyes. "And not even with Dashie!" she spit the last words out like venom.

The gryphon raised her eyebrows, "Oh, really now? What happiness could I possibly find outside MY Dashie?"

"You could have found it with me, you stupid gryphon!" she uttered, lunging at Gilda with fury.

She only laughed, "Oh, that's a treat! You and me? I don't think so, Pinkie." the gryphoness' expression darkened. "You were simply a means to an end. Now...answer my question!"

Gilda's talons struck her again but this time across her body slashing open her lovely baby blue t-shirt. The blood of the mare dripped from her face onto her shirt as well now, and she saw it quickly stain her shirt. She chuckled lightly her pupils constricting to mere beads.

"What question?" she replied in a demented voice. "If you think I am just a means to an end, then you are gonna go through hell trying to get there!"

Something deep in Pinkie's mind snapped to attention, and it was going to stubbornly defy anything Gilda wanted from her. Her reply had irritated the gryphoness as she began to use more coercive tactics to get Pinkie to give up her friends. The more intense the punishment the more the pink mare laughed maniacally.

"You have to be kidding me!" the gryphon roared after fifteen minutes. "How can you laugh at this much pain?"

"Cause BUCK YOU! That's how!" the mare lashed back, anger still burning in her eyes.

Despite her fierce reply she could feel the effects of blood loss setting in; Gilda had really cut her up badly. Her clothes barely hung upon her body still, and were stained in blood. Her powder blue dress tattered and torn along with her shirt. Her eyes glazed over slightly, and the monster in front of her seemed to notice this with a sadistic smile.

"So looks like you are still after all a normal pony. If you won't tell me what I want to know, then I guess I'll patch you up..." Gilda paused, Pinkie looked up. "Then I will go and find out for myself!"

"No..." Pinkie barely managed to utter loud enough to be heard.

"Cute that you are protecting them, but you were fated to fail against me, dweeb!" the gryphon said as she turned and walked back over to her table.

It took everything the mare had to try to stay conscious, but it was a futile effort on her part. She was after all still mortal, and bleeding was never a good thing for mortal ponies to go through. Her eyes drooped once, twice, three times before they shut tight in the embrace of sleep.

As darkness enveloped her she heard a blood curdling scream and she felt her chill return racking her body in a spasm. "If this is a dream how can I still feel my body?" Pinkie thought to herself in worry.

Oh dear, what about my friends? They're in great danger with that monster prowling the streets of Ponyville! How could I have been so blind...I-I've failed them...

As Pinkie Pie's thoughts spiraled downward in her mind, in the waking world a solitary tear slid out of her eye and landed alone upon the now tarnished cobblestone floor.
> Chapter 10: Clouds On The Horizon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

One week later...

It had been a rough week for Rainbow Dash at the weather office for Ponyville. Left and right, mistakes were happening, and they were quickly becoming dangerous. Just yesterday Cloud Kicker had lost control of a cloud she was handling and it had spiraled into town hall. Thunderheads were somehow going fully active with no triggers, and had managed to catch a few of the thunder wranglers off guard.

On top of this week's problems, the cyan mare had just been approached by a Cloudsdale weather inspector. They now sat in a small office lined with filing cabinets, a couch, two guest chairs, and then Rainbow's paperwork cluttered desk. She sat behind her desk as the inspector gathered herself together, she had been working undercover apparently.

"So Miss Dash." the plain white pegasus began sitting in the chair opposite Rainbow. "As you now know, I have been undercover watching how you run your Ponyville weather team. Before seeing it firsthand, I thought I would be amazed. Yet I am disappointed at what I've found."

"I am aware this hasn't been the best of weeks for my team miss...?" Dash inquired formally.

"Miss Sureshine." she replied easily setting her briefcase down beside her.

"Yes, well, Miss Sureshine, for once I cannot offer much in the way of an explanation as to the failures we have suffered in the past week. We are still investigating the causes, and with such a small team to start with my resources are limited."

The inspector nodded evenly, "The Cloudsdale factory is aware of such, and will be taking direct control of those investigations. As well as implementing the necessary changes to fix the problems within your offices."

Rainbow was worried and unraveling inside at her situation, but on the outside maintained a cool expression. The way the inspector sat and spoke, there was no way for the cyan mare to tell if anything bad was going to happen. Maybe for once Cloudsdale was sending her the help she had been requesting for almost two years now. The inspector just sat there stoically, watching her, as if waiting for a good moment to say something.

The white mare in front of her began to show tones of emotion as she began again, "Miss Dash, upon my arrival, here I found myself in a cafe. You may remember visiting it a week ago, the Hayseed Cafe?"

"Um, yes, I do recall the cafe." the blue mare replied furrowing her brow in confusion. "Though. I don't see the significance of the topic Inspector Sureshine."

The white mare flicked her light brown mane out of her face as she stood up casually, "It is of more importance than I'm sure you are aware of."

She picked up her briefcase, sat it on Dash's desk, opened it, and pulled out a letter handing it to her. The rainbow haired mare looked at it incredulously, it looked like a formal letter of some sort from the hiring board in Cloudsdale. Her heart skipped a beat, it couldn't be what she thought it was, could it?

"As I am sure, you are aware the Weather Factories of Equestria are all about maintaining their image." the inspector began. "In this we are a family focused company, and if my ears heard you correct a week ago...then your personal life does not fit with this company's views in the least."

Rainbow narrowed her eyes, "What do you mean by my personal life doesn't 'fit' with the company's views?"

"Simply put Miss Dash, your open declaration of affection for the same gender isn't looked kindly upon."

"That is absurd!" Rainbow fumed before she shook the letter in her hand. "If this is a request for resignation based solely on the fact of MY personal choices outside of work, you can take this back to Cloudsdale and tell them to shove it! Who I choose to love is my business and it doesn't effect the company in the slightest!"

The inspector's eyes grew serious, "Oh really now? I beg to differ on that topic. You have for the past week, reassigned tasks that only the manager is supposed to handle to others on your team just so you could simply leave on time. Rather than stay and finish the task that could turn into a massive problem later on down the line if done wrong."

"I entrust the task to those on my team, that, I am full well understanding of their competency and performance levels." she defended.

"That is not the point Miss Dash. It's volatile break of protocol in fact! From what I've seen, your lack of forethought has actually lead to more than half of the fifteen accidents this week! But you wouldn't know that because you never stayed a second past the time you were supposed to leave just to make sure the task was handled right."

Dash simply grimaced in response, she actually couldn't counter this statement because it was true.

"The letter you hold isn't a request for resignation, it's a letter of termination. From this day on, you are relieved from work as Ponyville's weather manager." Sureshine said in a subtle tone. "Your things are to be packed and out of this office within two days."

Dash's jaw dropped in utter shock, "Wait they're firing me simply on my personal life? Won't that look bad for the company?"

"You think so? Well why don't you read the letter before assuming their reason for firing you?" she replied with a cocked eyebrow.

Rainbow looked at the letter in her hand and then reached over to open it with her other hand. She pulled it out and unfolded it and began reading.


Dear Miss Rainbow Dash,

It has been brought to our attention that, in the recent week, your management tactics have been less than satisfactory. At first, the Board had been willing to overlook this with your prior rates of execution, but of late with rates of accidents going up steadily in your sector, reconsideration was necessary. Accidents should be avoided at all costs for the company to prosper.

In the past week you have had three Lightning Wrangler's sent on medical leave, and two Cloud Kickers sent on administrative leave for the nature of their mistakes. This string of issues must be dealt with swiftly, and after reviewing the dossiers sent by Mrs. Sureshine the Board has come to a conclusion.

As of this moment the Board has voted to terminate your services as Manager of Ponyville weather services. You are to clean out your desk and office over the next two days before a replacement is sent to take over formally. We are sorry to have to take this action, but we hope you will understand it is nothing personal. However, we wish you well in your future endeavors.

Sincerely,
Downburst
Head of Cloudsdale Safety and Weather Efficiency Board.


By the end of the letter Dash was in tears. They were going to pin all the accidents on her and use it as reasoning to fire her. Completely covering up the real reason why they were doing it, and it was shattering her heart. She was always meant to be a weather pony, and now she wouldn't be able to follow that calling anymore because of who she was. Whatever reputation she had once had as an employee was destroyed in an instant with this.

"Well then Miss Dash, I must take my leave now if I'm to make it back to the Cloudsdale office in time." Sureshine said with a bow. "Good day to you."

"Yeah sure...great day..." Rainbow said with a dismissive wave of her hand before wiping her tears away.

As the door closed behind the inspector the cyan mare leaned back in her chair in thought. She needed a new job now, or else she was going to have issues paying rent on her house. She had a reserve of money in savings, but she wasn't too sure how long that would last. Since it now had to cover all her expenses she tried doing the math in her head quickly.

"Hm, so if I really buckled down on my money then I can make the savings last maybe one month to a month and a half." she paused putting a hand to her forehead. "That's if I'm obsessively watchful of my spending like Jackie usually..."

Rainbow's eyes shot wide open in distress at the realization. They were going to be going out again tonight, and Dash concluded that she may have to cancel. She didn't know what to do about things now thinking about Applejack. There was time before their date though, and she concluded that maybe if she was lucky she could solve the problem before then.

"Maybe Pinkie will have an idea for me. Though it's odd that I haven't heard from her in over a week..." Dash pondered aloud.

She decided it would be better than nothing, and got up out of her chair. She went around straightening up and organizing her office to prepare for removal that she would handle tomorrow. She then headed out of the office and locked it as she went, putting her key's in the back pocket of her blue jeans as she walked away. As she left the office the few pegasi on desk duty looked at her curiously. Rainbow shrugged it off through her dark blue tank top and continued to Sugarcube Corner.

Her office wasn't far from the Cake's confectionery, so it only took about five minutes to get there. Dash quickly noticed something off though, it was extremely busy. The Cake's seemed to be over their heads with work today, and she found herself wondering where Pinkie was in this chaos. She managed to get inside after a ten minute wait for the crowd to dissipate, and made a b-line for Mrs. Cake.

"Wow I don't think I have ever seen it so packed in here Mrs. C, what's going on?" Dash asked with gentle humor.

The pink maned mare replied with a look of anxiety, "Oh Rainbow dear, good to see you! To put it simply Pinkie hasn't showed up for work for about a week now. It is actually beginning to worry us where she got off to."

She looked back in dejection, "Aw really Pinks is gone, and you have no clue where she wandered off to at all?"

"No deary, not a single one." the older mare sighed. "Never thought I'd admit it but without her, running Sugarcube Corner has been much harder than either of us could expect. And the kids aren't taking her absence well either. So our time has been too preoccupied to do anything. If you could Rainbow, please keep an eye out for her no telling what she has gotten into. Just let her know we need her back as soon as possible."

"Sure thing Mrs. C! Well, since she isn't here guess I'll head out then. Take care!" Dash said as she turned and left the building.

Dash was worried as well because Pinkie never went off for a week without at least telling someone. Yet she was still more worried about herself. With Pinkie missing in action, she had no leads at all on work in town. She was wandering along the roads so deep in her thoughts that she hadn't paid any attention to where she was going. She hadn't realized it but the older ponies that passed her were shooting her the dirtiest of looks, judging her for what she had declared she was a week ago.

Those looks stopped quickly as she got further and further out of town. She began dwelling on being fired again, and felt tears welling up in her eyes again. Then she was shocked out of her daze by a familiar voice.

"Dash? Dashie, is that you?" Applejack said running over to her.

Oh great Celestia, in her haze she had wandered up to the Apple farmhouse. AJ was the last person she wanted to see right now in this feeble state. The sun was on its way down, which meant their date wasn't far off either. Things couldn't get any worse for her at this point she felt.

"Shug, is there somethin' wrong?" the farmer asked a look of worry on her face.

The orange mare got close to Dash and grabbed her waist pulling her close. As AJ wrapped her arms around her and pulled her into a hug, she felt her defenses melt away. Rainbow threw her arms around her marefriend and began sobbing into her shoulder.

"Ah knew it." Applejack whispered into her ear softly.

For a short time they stood there as the blonde farmer let Rainbow get all her tears out. When they began to subside, AJ grabbed her by the arms and pulled her back looking her in the eye. She always felt so drawn into the beautiful emeralds that resided in Applejack's eyes.

"Wanna go up to mah room ta talk 'bout things or are y'all okay with talkin' here?"

"AJ they," she sniffled and wiped her eyes, "they fired me today."

Shock quickly overtook her marefriend's expression, "What, why would they fire you sugar?"

"Cause of all the accidents lately will be what they say, but it's mostly cause of the statement I yelled out in the cafe last week." she said looking down in dismay. "They're a family friendly company, and being a filly-fooler is shunned apparently."

"Now tha's jus' not right! They can't do that to ya, it's discrimination!" the farmer replied with a fire.

"Jackie don't. I know you care, but they covered their butts from here to the next century." she closed her eyes a tear falling from them slowly. "It's not worth challenging, but I'd like to know if you can help me get my things from the office tomorrow possibly?"

"Well okay hun 'iffin you say so. Tomorrow, Ah could try askin' if Big Mac can cover fer me fer a bit so Ah can help ya. Dunno how that'll go though, seeing as he has been preoccupied lately himself." she stopped and scratched her head. "Honestly though, Ah can't figure why."

"Wait what's got him preoccupied?" she asked suddenly curious.

"Ah said Ah wasn't sure hun. But knowin' him it's nothin' he will admit ta us." AJ shrugged, before her face lit up with an idea. "Ya know Rainbow, Ah could help ya while yer out of work. Just till ya get back on yer feet an' all. Ah'm sure Ah can pull double shifts fer public sales."

"Woah there Jackie, I don't want you going out of your way for me!" Rainbow said with a flustered look on her face.

Applejack got close again and put her forehead to Dash's saying softly, "It's not a problem when it's all fer you Dashie."

Before she could reply the farm mare silenced her with a deep kiss. She just melted into it again, as her tears once again spilled over. With Applejack she always felt she was safe, and she hoped she left the farmer feeling the same. They parted their kiss and just stared into one another's eyes for a time before Rainbow spoke.

"I love you Jackie."

"Ah love you too Dashie." she replied with a smile. "So about our date tonight, should we postpone?"

Dash looked sheepish for a moment before answering, "I don't know. Was actually wondering the same thing, but what do you think hun?"

Applejack put a hand to her own chin for a moment before replying, "Well Ah got an idea on what we can do ta change it up. Meet me up here at the barn this evenin' 'bout eight, an' make sure ta wear somethin' comfortable fer dancin' in alright?"

"What do you have planned Jackie?" Dash asked, a smile creeping onto her face.

"Ah'm not tellin' Dashie, y'all will jus' haf ta wait an' see!" the orange mare smiled devilishly. "Oh also, maybe you could pick us up some food fer the evening. My treat?"

Dash smiled warmly, "Nah it's okay hun, I can take care of this for you."

"Alright, long as yer sure 'bout it." Applejack leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. "You had best go get ready then hun, an' Ah gotta get back ta work."

As AJ jogged off back to her work, Dash put a hand on the cheek she had kissed. It still felt warm, and she cherished that feeling. She turned and took to the skies slowly heading for home. For all the bad that had happened, there was still good to be found in the little things. She had almost lost herself and pushed AJ away earlier, but it seemed like the farmer knew her better than she ever could have imagined.
> Chapter 11: Universal Law 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Applejack had feigned going back to work to go get her brother and ask him for help on getting the barn ready for the night. Through what seemed like an endless battle of negotiations Big Mac had finally agreed to help. Finally after a massive load of work they got the barn all cleaned up and hung little lights from the beams above. It wasn't meant to be a massive party date, just a simple get together and dance date.

It had taken the blonde mare another amount of time to find a tape of music she knew she had somewhere within her room. It had songs on it that she felt needed to be played tonight, but it took a cart load of digging to find. She finally managed to dig up a cardboard box out of her closet, she pulled it out and opened it. There it was on top, marked with a simple heart on a white cassette.

"Tonight will be perfect now!" AJ declared picking up the tape and moving it over to her dresser.

She then dove right back into her closet and began rummaging for something to wear tonight.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Meanwhile...

Rainbow Dash's hair was shining tonight; straightened and pulled back in a ponytail. She wore her navy blue corset tonight, and a pair of tight fitting black denim pants. It was rare for her to do but she had decided to use make-up tonight. Her lips outlined with a light purple lipstick, and her eyes shadowed with a darker glittering blue.

She walked in the door to Harmony Breads and Cafe to see the place was quite busy tonight. The traditional music playing over the sound system was a beautiful acoustic ballad. Every other pony was seated already eating so Rainbow was easily able to walk right up to the counter.

"Hey sandwich master you back there?" the rainbow haired mare called out.

"What do ya want you young punk?" he called from back in the kitchen.

"Lil take out service would be nice actually, if you are okay with that?" she cracked a joking tone.

"Yeah sure. Actually Dash could ya come back here a minute?" was his only reply.

She just shrugged and walked behind the counter and through the door leading into the kitchen. The cyan mare was curious why he had asked her to come back. It didn't take her long to find him working diligently at a cutting board preparing her and AJ's usual meal.

"Hey there, what's up?" she opened happily.

"Huh, surprising that you're so chipper. I mean really, you looked horrible earlier wandering through town." he commented evenly not losing his focus on his work for a second.

"Oh yeah that." Rainbow paused. "Well I got sacked today. More for my personal life choices than what the company will admit to."

"Ah, I was afraid that was gonna happen when I heard the rumor going round that you liked mares. Let me tell you that rumor spread like wildfire, even if it's true." he smiled and laughed. "So how are you taking the results overall?"

"Well I ended up wandering aimlessly as you saw, and somehow I ended up back at AJ's place. Go figure a place I didn't want to go. Yet, Jackie took care of me and pulled me back up." the cyan mare mused happily.

"Good to hear. Dash, how did you like that job?" the stallion asked putting the tools of his trade down and turning to look at her seriously.

"Uh, well I." she hesitated. "It was what I was meant to do. It was my calling to be a weather pony. Why do you ask?"

"Do you have a dream profession that you work at constantly to get better and closer to becoming often?" the forest green stallion pressed.

"To become a Wonderbolt, but seriously why do you ask?" she retorted with an edge of irritation.

He walked over to the sink and washed his hands quickly and dried them on a towel. He took off his apron and hung it up on a hook before walking to a door in the back.

"Follow me Dash. This old one has something yet to teach you." he said with a glittering smile.

She complied and followed him out back and saw a cottage; it must have been his home. He walked inside, leaving the door wide open, he began to turn on the lights. After a few seconds she heard something from inside the house, it was the sound of a guitar amp. Only seconds later she heard a guitar solo begin to echo through the house. She rushed inside at this point to see the sandwich shop owner playing an electric guitar with a practiced precision that was unmatched.

She sat and watched as the stallion played the guitar with what she could see was all his heart. She could see his cutie mark tattooed upon his arm at this point, and it looked like something more akin to a chef or food maker not a guitar player. She couldn't even begin to understand what was going on, nor what the lesson he had mentioned was. As the song ended in a true rock fashion she applauded.

"My cutie mark represents my ability as a provider of sandwiches to any and all ponies. I just can look at you and know what sandwich fits your personality. That was what I was called to do, but I wasn't always dedicated to that pursuit." the stallion said solemnly.

"I don't get where you're going with this um, you know we never got your name." Rainbow realized in embarrassment.

"Signature Sandwich, but I much prefer Signature. Now what I'm trying to teach you is actually simple." he walked over and sat on his large amp. "My calling is sandwiches, but my passion is music. Because of this I endeavored day in and day out to learn to play the guitar even though it wasn't meant to be my specialty."

"That hard work really shows with that little display you just put on, but what does this have to do with me?" Dash asked still quite confused.

"Your calling may have been as a weather pony, but in truth you can still forge your own calling in life through sheer hard work." Signature smiled. "For a while I was a guitarist in a band, and I loved it! But I was called back to my real calling eventually. Mind you I did other odd jobs when I pursued my musical whim!"

The rainbow maned mare laughed, "Oh I'll bet you did Sig!"

The forest green stallion looked at her thoughtfully for a moment, "On that thought, I might have an idea for your current lack of work."

She beamed instantly, "Really? What kind of idea?"

"Well as you noticed tonight it was packed in there." Signature paused and she nodded her understanding. "The place is getting awfully popular lately, and I find myself at limit of my ability to serve AND prepare the food."

"A-Are you asking me to?" the cyan mare asked with reality setting in.

"Would you like a job as a server here in my shop Rainbow Dash?" Sig asked with a pleasant smile.

The rainbow haired mare jumped into the air in excitement letting out a cheer. She just couldn't believe it, she was getting a new job. Not just any job, but one with an awesome atmosphere and cool boss! The day could only get better from here on out.

"Yes, yes! All the hay yes!" she answered Signature.

"Alright, that's the spirit! Now so you know I still gotta get things in proper order for it, so it will be at least a week before you start. Is that okay?" the stallion asked one final question.

"Of course Signature, it's perfect!" Dash declared her smile almost contagious in its current state.

"Alright why don't we get back to the kitchen so I can finish you and Applejack's meal for tonight." Signature said as he began turning lights off and shutting his house down again.

As they both walked back to the cafe Rainbow felt herself skipping across the lawn happily. She bounced into the kitchen as Signature went right back to his work.

"Well I think I made your night almost perfect then." he said with a laugh.

"Almost perfect, what is it missing?" she replied with naivete.

"Applejack holding you close whispering sweet nothings into your ear." he said casually as he wrapped both sandwiches up quickly.

"H-Hey, Sig!" Rainbow squeaked blushing intensely. "Not cool!"

He laughed as he got out a box and began putting their meal in it carefully. It looked like he also added in a few other goodies since he had them handy. Dash wondered how much this box tray of food would end up costing her.

He picked the box tray up and turned to hand it to the cyan mare, "Give your marefriend my regards!"

She stared at him in shock, "But I haven't paid you yet Signature!"

"It's on me tonight Dash, no worries!" Sig said with a wide grin.

"You're serious aren't you?" she asked in disbelief.

He turned her toward the door and began pushing her, "Go on get!"

"Alright, alright! Really thanks again Sig." Dash paused. "For everything you have done."

Dash quickly headed outside holding the box of food for her and AJ. She continued to smile in happiness, and all she had to do to get there was glide through the wind figuratively. The farmer would be ecstatic at Rainbow's news, and as Sig had said tonight could only get better. She began her trek to Sweet Apple Acres on hoof simply because she didn't want to chance dropping tonight's meal.

As Rainbow walked up to the barn she saw light filtering through the breaks between the boarded framework. As the cyan mare got closer to the barn door, slightly cracked open, she could hear AJ's voice singing along to a powerful emotional song.

"Oh, what do ya got iffin ya ain't got love, whatever ya got it jus' ain't enough." The blonde mare began humming to the rest. "Ah'm afraid ta lose Rainbow." she said as a line in the song made such a statement.

It was a cassette player the music was coming from and the mare was impressed AJ had such an old music player. This wasn't her focus though, as she peered into the room she laid her eyes upon Applejack. She wore a scarlet red form fitting dress that went down to her knees, and was patterned with sequins glimmering softly in the light of the barn. Her hair once again down and straightened, but the one sight Rainbow wanted faced away from her.

Dash kicked at the barn door since her hands were full she couldn't do much to open the big door. The orange mare inside jumped in surprise, and paused before she kicked again.

"Yo, Jackie open up! My hands are too full with our dinner!" the rainbow haired mare called out.

The one door that was just open, began to open up more as Applejack pushed it, "Hey there hun how--woah nelly that's a lotta food!"

"I know, and that's not even the best part of my trip! Now move your sexy butt aside so I can get in!" Dash said swinging her left hip into her marefriends, their tails lightly touching for a moment.

As the farmer moved aside Rainbow moved inside and quickly headed for the first thing resembling a table she could find. Her arms hurt immensely from carrying that box of food across town, but she found her soreness slip away as she turned to see Applejack closing the barn door and facing her. Her Jackie was breath-taking tonight. The farmer's eye shadow was a glittering golden hue, and she had used eyeliner to draw emphasis on her soft emerald eyes. A light shade of reddish lipstick had covered her lips now as well.

"Woah, Jackie." Rainbow began practically stunned, jaw agape. "You look gorgeous tonight!"

"Aw shucks Dashie." Applejack said as a blush crept into her cheeks. "Yer not so bad yerself."

Dash approached her marefriend slowly, and within a second was inches from her face.

"And here I was thinking your eyes couldn't get any more beautiful."

"Likewise sugarcube." AJ said as she leaned in and took the kiss that she rightfully deserved.

As they parted they both blushed lightly before Dash took the farmer's hand and lead her over to the food. Together they worked to get everything out and distributed among the two of them. After which, they pulled up a few old looking wooden chairs and sat down at the possible table the cyan mare originally set the food down on. They began talking about the events that had happened to Dash not an hour ago.

"Wait really hun? He gave ya the food fer free, an' a new job?" AJ exclaimed clearly surprised.

"Yup, he really is a great stallion when it comes down to it!" she replied.

"Well Ah'll be. If that ain't the best of luck fer ya Dashie, Ah dunno what is." the orange mare replied before taking a drink of her soda.

"He also managed to remind me my day isn't perfect just yet either." the blue mare replied with a playful grin.

"Oh yeah shug, what'll make it perfect?" Applejack replied walking into a trap as she took another drink of her soda.

"Holding you close and whispering sweet nothings into your ear as we sleep together tonight." she sprung her trap with an affectionate smile.

Applejack's reaction was priceless as soda shot from her nose as her face flushed a deep red. She quickly covered her nose in embarrassment, as Dash erupted into laughter. As the situation calmed down again Rainbow looked seductively at AJ.

"But seriously Jackie, that will make tonight perfect."

Applejack smiled and got up. She walked across the room to the casette player and popped in a new tape. It looked like she hit play on the player before turning and walking over to Rainbow.

The blonde farmer held out a hand, "Will you dance with me Dashie?"

She took her hand and answered, "It would be my honor Jackie."

As they headed to the center of the barn they took a position Dash remembered clearly. A slow dance to start, and yet another moment she would never forget. Steel strings and a steady drum beat interrupted her thoughts. AJ began to sway softly, but Rainbow heard the words above anything. Had Jackie picked this song on purpose?

Applejack leaned her forehead against Dash's as she sang the first chorus, "Dashie ya left me defenseless, and Ah've only got one plea. Won't cha lock me away, inside of yer love, an' throw away the key. Cause Ah'm guilty, of love in the first degree."

"Jackie I--" Dash started but was interrupted by a simple finger AJ placed on her lips.

From that point their dance got more intense and affectionate. As they spun and pranced about the room Applejack continued to sing along with the song. The stare of affection the blonde mare gave her though said these words were directed at the rainbow haired mare alone. Slowly the song faded out and the orange mare leaned in and softly kissed Rainbow.

Though Dash knew there was more music on the tape she had an impulse she had to follow now. She pulled away from AJ and jogged over to the player, popped the tape out, flipped it over, pushed it back in, and hit play. As she went back to the farmer she was greeted by the pure sound of a steel string guitar again, but this sounded much more up beat and joyous to her.

Upon getting to her marefriend she took her hands and looked into her eyes to see utter surprise.

"What's got you so shocked Jackie?" she asked.

The farmer's expression melted away and she replied, "Never mind, good choice of music though."

This time their dance was much faster, and much more rigorous. Twirling Applejack away from and then back into her arms she had turned the farmer completely around. She now had the mare she loved facing away from her. The silky blonde hair draping away to one side revealing Jackie's soft neck, which Rainbow wasted no time nuzzling into. As they swayed there while the song faded out the cyan mare began leaving gentle kisses along the orange mare's neck.

Once the song finished and it was quiet she lifted a hand to Applejack's chin, turning her face toward her own, as Dash drew her into a deep passionate kiss. The kiss lasted several minutes but to the two mare's sharing it it felt like the world just stopped. Once they parted Dash was the first to speak.

"I love you Applejack."

"An' Ah love you too Rainbow Dash, but from the looks of it." she said lovingly as she nodded toward the clock on the wall. "Time has flown by a lot faster than we coulda thought."

Looking at the clock she noticed it had just struck eleven. It wasn't all that late for the two of them, and Dash didn't understand AJ's meaning.

"It isn't that late thought Jackie. We've been up longer than this before." the cyan mare said with a clueless expression.

"Y'all sure we shouldn't retire to a bedroom fer the night?" Applejack said in her most sultry voice even putting a hand on the pegasus' arm and stroking it softly.

Realization hit Rainbow Dash like a lightning bolt, "You might be right hun. Same place as last time right, third level?"

"Yeah Dashie, an' Ah even made it a bit more cozy fer tonight. Y'all head up first, Ah gotta change the music one more time." the blonde farmer said as she broke away from Dash's hold.

She just smiled and hopped up unfurling her wings gently flapping her way up to the third level rafters they had slept in not too long ago. As she came up to the area there was a cloth covering the way to the hay bed. She found a split in it and slipped inside to find an actual mattress laid across the floor topped with satin blue sheets. To her it looked like AJ had put a lot of her heart into preparing this.

She went to lay down but was stopped by the sound of climbing. She turned and waited for her marefriend to get to her. Applejack's pace slowed as a gentle country styled love song started playing echoing easily up to the third level. What happened next Dash could have never expected. The blonde mare burst through the cloth doorway and tackled her onto the bed in the most forceful kiss she had ever experienced.

The next moments of Dash's life felt absolutely perfect, and nothing could take that from her in a thousand years. Rainbow felt the most honest love pour forth from both her heart as well as from Applejack's. When you take pleasure in the little things and don't despair at darkness, the universe almost seems to smile on you.
> Chapter 12: Universal Law 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Pinkie had come to consciousness for what felt like the millionth time this week. She looked at the bandages on her arms, legs, and body with sorrow. Aside from the first day of bloody suffering Gilda had delivered to her, she had only been roughed up with blunted blows since. It seemed like it happened when she could hear the gryphoness arguing with herself on the floor above her, and as she spiraled she lost control of herself.

The pink party mare sighed in utter weakness, she truly pitied Gilda's condition. The gryphon could be so much more if she just got control back and turned away from this mad obsession over Rainbow Dash. This was something Pinkie tried to pry into when she would get assaulted, she was desperately trying to get a glimpse of Gilda's past. She just hoped that there would be something there she could use to get the she-gryphon to come back to reality.

She tugged at her bindings again, and they were just as secure as they were a week ago. It had been rather quiet all day in the house above, and thinking about it for a moment this was odd. With what the pink mare had gained from listening to what was happening around her she was sure she had a daily procedure figured out for Gilda. She would wake up, head out to extort others while gathering her precious information on Dash and Applejack, head to a bar to get drunk, come home with someone she would pick up at whatever bar she went to, proceed to bed the lucky mare or stallion loudly, and after they left she flowed right into her break downs.

Here it was the middle of the afternoon and no drunken Gilda luring in another victim of her seduction. Pinkie would have tried calling out for help before, but in reality she knew the consequence for this wasn't worth the risk just yet. She would simply bide her time, and it wasn't as if Gilda treated her like absolute filth. She was allowed to use the bathroom, was fed, and was even given clean underwear and bandages daily. The pink party mare knew this was in part because the real Gilda was still there deep, deep, deep down inside.

Her tummy growled loudly in hungry protest, and she looked down at her bare stomach. She, unlike Rainbow and AJ, had a small bit of tummy fat going for her since she was not as athletic as her friends. Overall with her sturdy built legs, wider hips, and the sensuous curves of her bust the little bit of tummy she felt fit right in.

She sighed, "Oh I do hope Rainbow and Applejack are still okay. I'll worry less once Gilda returns."

Pinkie having nothing in particular to do felt her body grow weary once again. Sleep seemed to be the only thing she could do anymore. As her eyes drooped and closed, sleep instantly claimed her taking her far away from this hell.

The pink mare would be awoken many hours later to loud thrashing noises coming from the floor above. Gilda was home, but something sounded off in her usual rant. She seemed so angry and despondent; like what little bit of her there was left had died while she was out today. Paired with that she sounded extremely drunk, and when combined this worried Pinkie greatly.

The door into the cellar was thrown open violently moments later as the gryphon stumbled down the stairs; a lantern in her hand. She went around the room lighting the various candles set about before turning to Pinkie. What she saw in Gilda's eyes absolutely horrified her to the core, her eyes were hollow and dead. Something had broken her permanently, and in an instant she was worried about her safety.

"How long -hic-?" the gryphon asked hollowly.

"How long what?" Pinkie replied cautiously.

The gryphon instantly backhanded the pink mare in fury, "Don't play dumb with me! How long have you known about Rainbow Dash going out with this Applejack? How long did you know they were marefriends?"

Pinkie shuddered in response to the strike, "I-I don't know. A week or two maybe, but I didn't know they got serious."

Gilda cocked an eyebrow before letting out a belch. Something about the pink mare had caught her attention, and she was afraid of what it was. She was trying so hard to keep a side of her mind buried within, after all these years of suppressing it she couldn't slip now. The gryphon stepped in front of Pinkie the scent of alcohol washing over her as Gilda panted heavily. She dared not look up at the gryphoness.

"You know Pinkie." Gilda said unsheathing a talon, placing it at the top of her cheek, then dragging it down to her chin lightly drawing her blood. "I think you enjoy pain. I think for some reason it brings you pleasure, and that's why I couldn't -hic- crack you when I first abducted you."

Pinkie shivered at the feeling of her face being scratched, "N-No, that's a lie!"

"You sick masochistic pony!" Gilda said with a laugh. "But I can relate, it is after all -hic- why I tolerated my father as much as I did."

A piece of her past that Pinkie had been waiting for, "W-What did he do to you Gilda?"

The gryphon closed her eyes ominously for a moment before saying, "Oh are you sure you want to know that Pink-hic-Pinkie Pie? Damn hiccups."

Pinkie didn't reply, she was scared of the consequences of that question.

"No answer huh?" the gryphoness smiled with insanity. "Too -hic- bad that asking or not asking will get you the same result."

Pinkie felt Gilda's hands on her hips, talons all out sharper than ever. She squirmed trying to get out of the broken creatures claws, but she only succeeded in getting more scratches. This sent even more chills down her spine, why couldn't she control this feeling? It was then Pinkie noticed what Gilda was up to, she was using her talons to remove her underwear, bra, and bandages.

"Wh-What are you doing Gilda?" the pink mare cried out in horror.

"Ya know Pink's I never noticed before -hic-, but you have quite the supple body. The things I could do to you, the things I could make you scream." Gilda said in a sultry voice.

"What?! No, no, no, nonononononononono! You can't do that!" Pinkie cried in desperation.

"Oh, but Pinkie. I don't think you get to decide what I'm -hic- going to do to you." she replied matter-of-factly.

The party mare did everything she could to keep her clothes covering her more private parts, but when she tried to Gilda would grab them and rip them away. Within moments she was entirely naked before the gryphoness.

"So Pink's I have a question for you." she paused malevolently putting a talon lightly on her nose. "Would you by chance still be a virgin?"

Pinkie clenched her eyes shut and turned away declaring, "That's none of your business you, you poor excuse for a gryphon!"

Gilda closed the distance between them to mere inches in a second and said in a dark threatening tone, "I'll take that as a yes then, and poor excuse for a gryphon? I think by the end of this you will be changing your tune -hic- my little canary."

She felt Gilda drag her talons sharply up her leg, and she inwardly felt a great deal of pleasure from this. The mare hated this feeling so much she began to break down and cry. When she tried to back away she found herself pushed back into the wall as the gryphoness pinned her there.

"N-No, please stop Gilda." Pinkie whimpered.

Gilda sheathed her talons, "You wanted to know what my dad did to me? Well he didn't do it the same way, but you are about to experience my personal hell!"

As Gilda's arm moved forcefully against the pink mare's body she felt a tearing sensation in her body. The mare let out a scream of sheer pain, and blood fell from her body to the cobblestones below just as it had a week ago.

"That is only the beginning of your night Pink's! I've got a lot more about my father I'm just dying to show you!" Gilda said laughing manically. "And if you're a good girl I'll show you the type of relationship me and Dash shared when we were younger!"

Pinkie's mind slowly drifted off and away from consciousness, instead fracturing into a second piece. Gilda had succeeded in breaking the party pony severely, and there would be repercussions for this sort of action. For one who acts in great evil and continues to hold intent to commit more foul deeds, will be dealt with all in good time. Yet in Pinkie's mind, when will that time arrive if it ever arrives at all.
> Chapter 13: Viper In The Grass
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Applejack awoke to her body gently tingling all over, with a warmth wrapped in her arms that reminded her of the night before. Her face buried in a rainbow colored mane of hair that smelled of crisp, fresh air mixed with hints of lavender. She inhaled deeply wishing to just sleep a little longer under those warm blankets with her love, but she knew all too well once she woke up her body would need to get moving soon.

She worked her way up, then leaning over Dash and kissing her on the cheek softly. The mare below her smiled at the kiss, and AJ couldn't resist doing the same. The farmer got up slowly and did her best not to wake the pegasus, quietly redressing herself. For all of her tact to stay quiet she ended up tripping and falling back onto the bed. To the orange mare's surprise though, Rainbow was on top of her in a flash.

"Morning Jackie, thought I was asleep didn't cha?" the rainbow haired mare said with a bright smile.

"Well Ah was hopin' to avoid wakin' ya, but looks like that's outta the question now!" she replied in good humor.

"Yup, totally but now that I'm laying here on top of ya I gotta say." Dash said prodding Applejack's bosom. "You are just too comfortable to not catch a few more zee's on!"

"H-Hey quit that, Dash!" the farmer exclaimed at the sensation her marefriend had triggered.

The cyan mare stared back in surprise, "Oh, still sensitive are you, Jackie?"

"Oh hush you." Applejack said pushing Rainbow off of her. "Sides, shug, once Ah wake up Ah gotta start movin'. It's just how Ah am in the mornin'."

"Well okay, AJ, but you're missing out." the rainbow maned mare said playfully. "So, what are ya gonna do today, hun?"

As the blonde farmer put a hand to her chin she thought for a moment before concluding, "Well Ah guess Ah should help y'all with moving yer things outta yer office. Then off to try to drum up business fer the farm--Ah'm still gonna do that fer us."

Applejack smiled devilishly, then turned and crawled back up the bed atop Rainbow, and planted a deep kiss on her lips their tongues intertwining for but a moment.

"But, before we get ta that Ah gotta say Dashie." the orange mare started in her best bedroom voice. "Yer quite exposed and more vulnerable than me right now. Maybe Ah'll treat you this mornin' sugarcube."

____________________________________________________________________________________

A short while later both mares tired and out of breath lay next to one another yet again. Rainbow had snuggled up into AJ's arms, and the blonde farmer couldn't be happier at this stroking the cyan mare's back gently. The mare in her arms was practically falling asleep again. Applejack almost let her fall asleep too until a voice called up from the base level of the barn.

"Applejack are you possibly up there? I needed a hand at the library today, and was wondering if you could spare the time?" a lavender mare called out.

Rainbow's eyes shot open in shock as she rolled and fell straight out of the bed. What chance they had at avoiding their friend Twilight was now gone. She would have to buy her marefriend at least a moment to get herself together, so she improvised.

"Uh yeah Twilight, Ah'm here. Could y'all gimme a minute though? Ah kinda fell asleep up here last night." she called down to their friend sheepishly as she sat up on the bed.

"That's alright it will take me a minute to get up there anyways." the bookish mare replied.

AJ heard her begin climbing up and panicked, "No offense Twi but Ah'd rather come down to you."

"Nonsense Applejack this will be easier for you." Twilight replied obliviously. "Plus I had a question I wanted to ask you anyways."

Rainbow had managed to get her clothes on and seemed to notice the orange mare's tenseness building. She crawled up next to her and began to rub her back in a soft circular motion. She leaned her head onto AJ's shoulder for a moment before whispering to her.

"We're caught Jackie, we may as well face it now."

Dash was actually being quite considerate of the situation neither of them was prepared for, coming out to their other friends. The both of them knew Pinkie could care less as long as they were happy, but how would Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rarity react to it? There was no telling AJ knew in her heart, yet she was about to find out Twilight's position as she finally reached the third level.

"Here we go Jackie." Dash whispered taking the farmers hand with her free one. "We will this together and that's all that matters."

"Sounds like someone is in there with you Apple--" Twilight said as she parted the curtain that had hid them a moment ago. "Dash what are you doing, oh!" she noticed them holding hands. "Huh, well guess that takes care of my question."

"What do y'all mean by yer question?" AJ replied absolutely stunned.

"Well I heard a rumor going around lately that Dash declared you were her marefriend recently. This intrigued me so much I figured that I should at least ask you if it was true." Twilight rambled on in her usual scholarly tone. "Though with Rainbow here, you two embracing, and not to mention the holding hands...well sort of answers my question."

The purple librarian didn't seem to know how to react to the situation she had blindly stumbled into. Gripping the bottom of her blue sweater vest, and tapping her hoof on the ground slightly shifting her purple skirt. She seemed to avoid looking at the two of them, instead acting absolutely shy and pensive. Applejack was afraid of this reaction, and Rainbow tensed beside her.

"What's the problem Twilight? It's not like we aren't the same mares anymore!" the cyan mare protested indignantly.

"I know Rainbow, it's just not something that happens every day. Needless to say I'm not sure how to react to this." the deep purple maned mare replied seeming so sad to AJ. "I mean I'm happy for you both, but at the same time I can't quite understand how that type of relationship works out as well."

As she started to rail off things in her mind because of anxiety the farmer began to repeat her name, "Twilight. Twilight. Twilight!"

She snapped to attention, "Y-Yes?"

"It's okay that yer unsure of how ta react. Dash an' I were unsure of what we were feelin' at first too." AJ comforted Twilight looking over to Dash for a moment to see a warm smile before turning back. "Long as we're still friends, Ah don't think there should be an issue here. Am Ah right shugarcube?"

Twilight smiled, "Yeah that makes sense enough. Cause I can always work on getting used to it over time."

Dash broke in, "So you're okay with it Twilight?"

The lavender mare stepped closer, "Yeah I am Dash, we will always be friends no matter what happens!"

The matter seeming to finally sink in to their friend's mind they all sat together on the bed and began to talk about other things. One thing that came up was that Pinkie was still missing and it was going on a week now. Twilight seemed very concerned as Pinkie hadn't told her she was off on one of her odd adventures as she always did. Applejack was very concerned about the pink mare's safety when she up and disappeared.

Dash sat bolt upright, "Hey Twi do you have the time by chance?"

She looked down at her wristwatch, "Well it's about 10:15, why Rainbow?"

"Oh crud!" she turned to AJ and she knew what was on the fliers mind. "Jackie we gotta go get my stuff from the office today."

Twilight interjected, "Oh moving stuff out of your office Dash? Would you both like a hand with that?"

They both looked to their friend smiling happily before the rainbow maned mare replied, "That would be great Twilight, would even save us some time, but we should probably go get changed first."

"Yeah that prolly would be a great idea Dashie." Applejack said remembering they still wore last nights attire. "How about we all meet at yer office once we are ready, minus Twi since she's practically ready."

"Hey!" Twilight cried out.

"I like that idea Jackie. I'm sure she can read something while she waits." Dash replied with a laugh.

Twilight just made a pouty face with her lips puckering together as her friends laughed. As they all got up and headed down to the barn floor, AJ was last to leave watching Rainbow in front of her as they descended the ladders and stairs. "Ah couldn't be happier than Ah am with this mare." Applejack thought to herself with a smile.

As they got outside Rainbow came over for a quick kiss before lifting herself into the skies, waving as she flew towards her house. Twilight just smiled and shook her head before coming over to hug her friend.

"I think I'll walk to the weather office. If I'm lucky you will both get there by the time I arrive." the alicorn replied humorously.

As Applejack was left alone to her doings she headed inside and up to her room. It looked like everyone was gone this afternoon as she crossed the eerily empty halls. Upon entering her room she went over and turned on the radio tuning it to a station with something decent on, and it was then that she happened upon a song she hadn't heard in many years. A lone steel guitar started in plucking a melancholy tune before it was met by another.

The farmer sighed, "Much better when there's music in an empty house."

It took her very little time to pick out her outfit for the day. She started with a simple red lace bra, and black silken panties. Then she got on her usual light blue denim jeans, and threw on a white tank top before getting a white, green, and yellow plaid button up to go over that. She grabbed her brush and made sure to get all the knots out of her hair before pulling it back and tying it at key points.

Looking around her room she declared, "Now where in tarnation is mah hat?"

It took some looking but she found it behind the backboard of her bed. Apparently when she threw it to the bedpost last night she had failed miserably. She headed over to the mirror to check that the make up from the night before hadn't smeared or run too badly, but she ended up deciding to take it off anyways heading for the bathroom.

She turned on the water and, cupping her hands, began to rinse her face with the cool water. AJ reached over and grabbed the towel and began vigorously drying her face. As she pulled the towel away she could swear she could see her element of harmony in the mirror.

"What in the name o' Celestia is that?" the farmer questioned quietly.

As she stared she noticed the gemstone set in the necklace begin to crack and break apart.

"That's not possible!" she exclaimed before blinking and rubbing her eyes.

Upon returning her gaze to the mirror the image was gone. She looked down into her hands for a long moment. What she had just saw couldn't be explained away, and with no explanation Applejack walked back to her room in shock. "Ah thought those creepy dreams and sights had gone away...why is it happening again?" the blonde mare thought in dismay.

It seemed like the farmer was lost in her own reality for the longest time until she heard the house phone blaring from downstairs. She rushed down in a flash to answer and was quickly greeted by her marefriend's voice.

"Jackie where are you we've been waiting here for at least twenty minutes now!" Rainbow declared melodramatically before getting serious. "Are you alright hun?"

"Y-Yeah Ah'm jus' fine Dashie!" Applejack stuttered. "Guess Ah musta zoned out for a bit there. I'll race over as fast as Ah can!"

"Okay, and Jackie." Dash started catching the farmer before she hung up. "Love ya."

"Aw love you too shug." she said before hanging up the phone.

She stood there for a moment before deciding what was next officially.

"Ah gotta take care of this right now, but once the day is dun Ah should really consider talkin' to someone 'bout these weird visions o' mine." Applejack said to herself as she headed out the front door into the bright midday sunshine.

____________________________________________________________________________________

As Rainbow and Twilight waited for their friend they conversed about many things. The prime topic of interest to her was of her favorite book series, Daring Do. She knew that there was going to be a new edition coming out soon. Soon enough she and the lavender mare were conversing long and hard about what they thought was going to happen in this volume. It was amazing to see how creative they could get with it at times.

Now that things between them were comfortable Twilight took a chance at asking something Dash had been waiting to hear.

"So um, Dash." the purple maned mare paused. "What's it like?"

"You're gonna have to be a bit more specific there Twilight. What is what like?" the cyan mare coaxed.

She blushed heavily before trying again, "What's it like being a fillyfooler?"

Rainbow shrugged, "Same as being a normal straight pony. Well, minus the liking the opposite gender. It's still love after all ya know?"

"Yeah okay, but...how did you know you liked Applejack that way?" she continued to inquire.

The rainbow maned mare thought for a moment, "Well I dunno. It just sort of came to me. The same way that most mares fall fer stallions really. Twi, it really is the same as a straight relationship just with the same sex instead of opposite."

The mare continued to ask questions about the topic and it made her begin to wonder something. Was it possible that Twilight had known about what being a fillyfooler was about, and was curious to try the lifestyle to see if she liked it? She would have to watch the little librarian closely to see if that actually developed any further, but Rainbow felt it wouldn't go too far.

"So you know why I'm cleaning out my office I take it Twilight." the light blue mare started.

"No actually I have no idea why." the purple mare replied honestly.

Dash sighed remembering the day, "I got sacked yesterday."

Her friend gasped in utter shock before replying, "Dash that's horrible! Why did they fire you of all ponies though?"

"Trust me Twilight, I'd rather not talk about it." Dash stated with conviction. "Seriously Twilight no." she said before her friend could utter a rebuttal.

As the lavender mare tried to start again Applejack arrived out of breath, doubled over, and looking like she had run a lot longer distance than from Sweet Apple Acres. Rainbow marched right up to her and grabbed her marefriend's shoulders and helped lift her up a little before leaning in and kissing her softly.

"Glad you could make it hun." Dash said breaking from the kiss.

"O' course Dashie. Anythin' fer you hun." AJ replied panting. "Let's get ta work!"

"Hold on there Jackie, you need ta catch your breath first." the cyan mare said patting AJ's shoulder gently. "Me and Twilight can get started on some of the easier stuff while you rest a little."

"Nonsense Ah'm ready ta--"

"Applejack!" Dash shouted. "Rest first oh stubborn one."

As her marefriend grunted her submission Rainbow signaled to Twilight to follow her. They headed in the front door and were surprisingly greeted by all of Dash's co-workers. A banner crossed the small front office space that read:


We will miss you being our boss!


"Wh-What's going on here?" the cyan mare said in disbelief.

Cloudkicker was the first to race up and hug her, and with tears in her eyes she began to apologize to the ex-weather mare.

"I'm so sorry for everything Dash they fired you cause I made a stupid mistake. We all did, and we never thought it would come back to bite you!" she said with nothing but kindness.

"You guys threw me a going away party?" the cyan mare asked in shock. "Kinda sucks since I'm only here to clean out my office."

The group of weather ponies let out a loud groan. Rainbow reasoned that she could possibly stay for a few, but she needed somepony else to come join her.

"One second everyone, I'll be right back." she said as she stepped outside to get Applejack.

"What's goin' on in there Dashie?" the farmer said with a steadier breath now.

"Well looks like everyone threw me a going away party, and I feel like I can't partake in the party without my favorite mare." Dash said with a smile. "So come on and get in here!"

As she stepped back inside holding Applejack's hand her co-workers reactions were priceless, but they were mostly speechless. Jaws fell agape all around.

"So in case everyone doesn't know already, this lovely mare is the real reason I was fired. And I really do hope that any of you that have this type of relationship now or in the future know what you could lose over it." Rainbow declared boldly. "I knew what I could lose, but this mare was worth the loss."

She looked to Applejack and saw her blushing bright red at her praise. It was then she heard something she didn't expect to hear, applause. She turned to see her co-workers all cheering for her.

"None of you have an issue with this?"

A black stallion was first to speak, "Heck boss, even if we don't agree with it. It had to have taken a ton of guts to declare that to all of us!"

"Thunderlane..." Rainbow started but stopped feeling a tear come to her eye.

Applejack reached over and wiped the tear away before saying, "Ah'm sure we can stay fer the party fer a few. Maybe yer co-workers can help us with yer office even."

She looked down into AJ's emerald eyes, "You are a genius sometimes Jackie."

The rainbow maned mare noticed Twilight hovering around the outside of the group watching them with a smile. It was starting to seem like she could get used to the idea of her friends being together. She looked back to her now old co-workers and decided on how they could do things.

"Hey everypony listen up!" she commanded and they listened. "Before we start this party, could I get a hand getting my stuff out of the office and back to my place? The quicker that's done the more time I'll have to enjoy this party with everyone here, what do ya say?"

They hollered their approval, which pretty much blew Dash's mind away. With everyone working together she had all of her things packed and ready to go, but she was alone in her office when she found something not seen for years. It was a picture of her and Gilda years earlier at Junior Speedster Flight Academy.

Where had Gilda gone those months ago when she stormed off in a fury, and had her heart mended like Dash's did when she stood for her friends over the gryphoness? She may never know the answer to that question, and so she put the picture in her last box and stepped out of the back office.

"Alright guys last package, I got it myself. Thunderlane, where are my keys?" Rainbow asked turning to the black stallion who was standing on the opposite side of the room.

"Here boss, catch!" he called as he threw the keys to her.

She effortlessly caught them and sprinted out the door unfurling her wings taking flight toward home. She got home to find everything had been placed in the main room just past the entrance, of course they would put it there. She walked over and sat the box she carried down and lingered a moment more. Stepping outside she closed the door behind her and locked it before taking off back to the party.

They stayed at the party for about an hour, and in that time learned plenty about the ponies Dash had worked with for years now. Thunderlane had just revealed his own preferences were quite ambiguous as well.

"So you just take whatever lover comes your way?" Dash roared in laughter. "You greedy son of a mule you!"

"Hey what can I say, it's just how I am." Thunderlane said with a noticeable blush building around his cheeks.

As it got closer to two in the afternoon, Dash noticed Applejack seemed to be getting quite ancy.

"What's wrong hun?" Rainbow said leaning over to her marefriend.

"Y'all know Ah still gotta go out to the sales stand today at least, right Dashie?" the farmer replied curtly.

"Yeah that's true--wait, didn't Twilight say she needed your help too?" the light blue mare exclaimed.

"Aw shoot!" AJ replied entirely forgetting her friend had asked for help.

"No worries hun, I got an idea!" the rainbow maned mare declared confidently. "You go whip up sales, and I'll go help Twi in your place. I mean it's not like I have anything else to do right?"

As Applejack mulled it over Rainbow, several times, thought she saw a glimmer of worry cross the farmer's eyes. She left it alone though knowing how her marefriend would react, and patiently waited on her response.

"Mmm, alright Dashie Ah guess that sounds fine 'n dandy ta me." AJ smiled warmly.

Thinking no one was watching them, the blonde farmer leaned in and kissed Dash deeply. All around them you could hear the groups committal cheers, but all the cyan mare could hear was the orange mare in front of her. As their lips parted again they stared for a moment before Applejack piped up.

"Ah love ya Dashie, no matter what happens to us."

"Love you too Jackie, forever." was Dash's heartfelt reply.

As the three of them finally headed outside together they discussed their plans with Twilight. At first she was hesitant, but she eventually let Rainbow have her way. More for Applejack's sake than her own sake, but this didn't bother Dash one bit. With one last kiss and exchange of "I love you's" they went their separate ways.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Applejack worked herself to the bone trying to sell her families apple based products. Most of Ponyville already enjoyed and purchased their goods daily, but with current circumstances she felt she had to push for a little more. She had set up in front of town hall, and had managed to sell quite a few things here and there. It just happened to be mostly the food based products; pies, turnovers, ciders, and cakes.

It had been four hours of the most vigorous salesmanship the farmer had ever pulled off. She had even had a long conversation with Roseluck as well as Vinyl Scratch. Roseluck had wanted to put in a future order for apple blossom scented oils and flapjack mixes. Vinyl, in her usual manner, had wanted to know when she would next have a chance to buy some of the Apple family's special stocks of alcoholic ciders. To which AJ let her know she could come by the farm tomorrow and she would set her up with her favorite Zap Apple Brandy.

The DJ pony nearly cried at that sentiment, but instead gave her a hug. Simply saying to the orange mare, "You can count on me being there tomorrow at two in the afternoon. Well, give or take thirty minutes, but you get the picture."

Applejack laughed to herself for just a moment, that DJ was always a refreshing personality. The farmer was just now packing up all her supplies as well as taking apart the stand to pack away. It was then she heard something behind her. She spun around about ready to fight to see a gryphon standing before her with a smile on her face. She seemed familiar somehow.

"Woah there, I'm not here to pick a fight now!" the gryphon announced to an empty town square. 

"Y'all look familiar, do Ah know you?" she inquired.

"Well you might. I'm Dash's old friend Gilda." she replied sheepishly.

"The one gryphon that stormed off months ago in a hissy?" she replied with a cocked eyebrow.

The gryphon blushed, "Y-Yeah that one sadly. Wish I had left on better terms to be honest."

"Y'all can always try ta undo yer bad reputation." the blonde farmer replied starting to loosen up a little.

Gilda smiled slightly, "So since you know Dash, could I ask you something? H-How is she doing?"

"Well Ah sure hope she is doin' alright after the past few weeks we've spent together." Applejack said freely.

She looked the gryphon up and down one time. She found it quite unusual that Gilda was wearing some extremely provocative clothing. The farmer had best check to be certain this wouldn't turn out like the time with Spitfire.

"Could Ah ask ya somethin' as well, what's with the getup?" she said pointing out Gilda's noticeable areas of over exposure.

"Oh this?" the gryphon said in surprise. "Well I guess you could say it's all I've got right now. Sorry if it gives you the wrong idea."

"S'okay just wanted to avoid a situation me and Dash went through a while back." she replied in earnest.

"Oh really now, what happened if I might pry a little." the gryphon politely questioned.

"Well Dash was being hit on by Captain Spitfire of the Wonderbolts, and she was goin' all out on Dash. Ah lost mah temper with her cuz Ah thought she was enjoyin' an' goin' along with it, but turns out Ah jumped the gun." Applejack confessed.

The gryphoness tilted her head in confusion, "But what would Dash getting hit on matter to you, you're just one of her friends."

"Oh darlin' you ain't been back in Ponyville long have you?" the blonde farmer questioned hypothetically as she turned back to putting her things away. "She an' I are marefriends after all."

"Hmm." the gyphon started. "Then that would make you Applejack correct?"

"Sure shootin' it does!" she declared proudly still facing away from the gryphon.

"Oh then that changes everything. I have a little present for you." the gryphoness said coldly.

Applejack tried to turn around but she was too late as Gilda had already closed the distance and wrapped a funny smelling cloth over her mouth from behind. The farmer did all she could to kick and struggle but the gryphoness was stronger than she had bargained for, and her blood rush caused whatever was on the cloth to hit her harder. She felt dizzy and increasingly sleepy.

"Mmfh, mmfhm!" Applejack tried to yell but it was futile.

"Now now my dear sweet Applejack. Don't take this in offense but I need you to come home with me compliantly so we can talk. Just sleep and everything will be okay." Gilda said with a psychotic look upon her face.

She had to fight it she thought but the more she fought the stronger the effects became. In only a matter of minutes Applejack's body went limp and fell back into the arms of the gryphoness. The world around her slipping away into unconsciousness. Then there was a gut wrenching scream she could hear in her mind, shock fluttered her heart one more time before she went under.

Mah dreams were real, an' they were tryin' ta warn me 'bout Gilda! Dashie...h-help me...
> Chapter 14:Casualties Of The Universe
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Pinkie Pie laid on the floor of the cellar no longer bound in chains, but no longer willing to leave where she was. All she could feel right now was her body tingling with anticipation at what delights Gilda would bring her when she returned. The pink party mare was still quite severely mentally fractured from the night before. This new persona just wanted to be physically harmed till she could scream out with feelings of ecstasy. Pain, sex, it was all the same to this new mind given form by Gilda's cruelty.

She was so far gone and the gryphoness had knew it too, which was why Pinkie was unchained. Now she was a slave to her own inner vices and they weren't going away any time soon. Gilda seemed so happy when they were done last night, maybe she did something good for her. Deep inside all Pinkie wanted was to be used by the sultry gryphoness again and again. It was as if the real her was still in a deep sleep buried somewhere far, far away.

It was while she was drooling imagining Gilda that she heard noises from up above. That couldn't be her Gilda home to punish her so early, but if it wasn't her then who could it be? As hooves hit the ground heavy and slow she could tell it was a stallion, but not which one it could be. It was then she heard a drawl southern accent she knew.

"Pinkie Pie, are y'all in here? Please lemme 'ave found the right place..."

A light sparkled in Pinkie's eyes for a moment, "B-Big Mac?"

"Iffin Ah was that shifty bird, where would Ah hide ya?" Big Mac asked aloud.

Pinkie began to wake up from her haze, but was being fought every inch of the way.

"Big Mac...down here." her voice came out but a tiny whisper.

Gilda had to have hidden the entrance to the cellar well because the bright red stallion wasn't checking anywhere near it, at least with what she could tell. Her hemorrhaged mind was at war and she wasn't winning the fight with her masochistic side. It was pushing her to stay quiet and wait for Gilda to come home and reward her for being a good little pet. It was then a thought popped into her mind, a memory of something she had said weeks ago.

If I don't do something to keep those smiles bright, I will never forgive myself.

A tear welled up in Pinkie's eye and ran down her face. My friends need me more than I need that demented gryphon. She pushed one last time to get Big Macintosh's attention, and her voice broke free.

"Big Mac, I'm down here! In the cellar!" she cried out sitting up as she called.

He immediately looked to the floorboards and replied, "Pinkie? How are ya down there, Ah dun see any way down there 'less it's outside."

He moved to check and Pinkie shouted, "No it isn't out there! She has probably covered it to make it look like an inaccessible part of the house."

"Pinkie y'all know Ah'm not good at these kinds a riddles..." Big Mac hesitated.

Pinkie felt the split personality gain strength in her mind again, "Gah nonononono!"

"Pinkie ya alright?"

Her reply was a loud moan first then she actually spoke, "Mac I don't know how long I can keep my mind here, you need to find that door." she said holding her hands up a moment. "You need to start looking to your immediate right!"

Pinkie had to do something to satisfy the split personality, so she began to bite her arm viciously. It was working, but it came with a flash of memory from the night before. She had sold out what the Apple family did today most times, they sold their goods in the town center. If Applejack had been the one out making sales today she was in grave danger!

She could hear the red stallion ripping through the entire side of the house she told him to look through, but would he be able to get to her before Gilda got back? It was a thought that put Pinkie on an irritable edge.

"Please tell me you've found the entrance Big Mac!" the pink mare hollered in desperation.

"Ah, Ah think Ah found somethin'!" he called back. "Yes! Ah've found it, but it's gonna take a moment ta clear all the debris surroundin' it."

"Oh fer the love of buck!" Pinkie hollered as she slouched back down onto the cold cobblestone floor.

She felt the sedated feeling slipping back into her body, her mind was shifting control again.

No, no, no! Not now! Pinkie cried in her mind.

Pinkie, you really gotta learn to shut up and let it happen. Now that I'm here I'm not leaving. A sultry deeper tone of Pinkie's own voice replied.

No you need to...go......away.......... Pinkie said as she faded from consciousness.

She opened her eyes again, a burning lust now lighting them.

"So he's called Big Mac, wonder if I can lure him into doing me a...big favor." the split of Pinkie said under her breath.

She got up and walked over to a wall and leaned up against it for a moment before sliding down it roughly. She tore up her back with scratches and once again moaned out, this time in more evident pleasure. The pink mare wondered just how long it would take that stallion to get down here.

As she found herself wondering this the door knob turned and the door swung open. The stallion quickly rushing downstairs trying to find Pinkie, and came upon her quickly. He rushed over and nelt down beside her. He tried to pick her up and move her but she pushed away.

"Oh no, no big boy. You don't get this pink mare till you do me a favor first." she said in a sultry bedroom voice.

"Pinkie stop kiddin' around we gotta get outta 'ere." the stallion replied.

"Oh Pinkie? She is currently on hiatus till I've had my fill of you. Now are you called Big Macintosh for any particular reason?" the mare replied.

Big Mac was definitely blushing now, "Stop it Pinkie, that's not funny."

"I'm not Pinkie that's no joke big boy." she grabbed him and pulled him down on top of her nude body. "Now how's about we find out if you can give me what I want."

With one strong motion he pushed back off of her and paused a moment looking directly in her eyes. His stare was just so powerful, she found herself biting her lip in anticipation of what could be ahead.

"Dunno how long y'all can keep yer mind 'ere..." Big Mac repeated words the real Pinkie spoke earlier shock setting in. "Oh mah stars, that gryphon didn't...did she?"

"Oh she did! She broke me in all the right ways too! I can still feel her talons slashing their way down my back!" the pink mare declared lustfully.

"So y'all exist cuz Pinkie couldn't take the pain. Damn that gryphon!" Big Mac cursed ruefully. "Fine then, till y'all give me Pinkie back fer at least 'n hour, ya can't in any way have what y'all want from me."

The pink mare looked back at him with disgust, "Oh so you're gonna try and play hard ball with me?" she said crawling toward him. "I don't think s--hey! Where are you going!"

He had stood up and began to walk towards the cellar door, and sat down in front of it.

"Ah could leave ya, but then Ah'd be lettin' Pinkie let her friends down. So Ah guess as long as yer around all o' Ponyville will have ta frown." the red stallion stated evenly.

"Arrrggghhh!!" Pinkie roared and began to thrash about on the floor as the war in her mind commenced once again.

After a few moments Pinkie's body came to an eerie halt, and she slumped over onto the floor unconscious.

I'll be back Pinkie the split persona said.

Fine, but not if you're gonna bring frowns to other pony's! Pinkie answered defiantly.

It was scary to admit but she felt her persona was capable of so much more evil than it currently exhibited. As she slowly came to she knew she had wronged Big Mac and had to say something.

"Big Mac I know you're still there, and I am so sorry you had to go through that just now." the party mare said as she began to cry in shame.

He got up and came back over to her, "An' Ah'm sorry fer not savin' y'all back in the orchards before Gilda did this to ya. Now come on we gotta get out of here."

Gilda, this snapped Pinkie to attention, "Didn't you wonder at all why that monster isn't here to stop you Mac? It's because she's out stalking her next victim, and her prime target is either Applejack or Rainbow Dash!"

"Wh-What?" the stallion did a double take at the mention of his sister.

"Was Applejack scheduled to do the sales stand today?" Pinkie questioned direly.

"Mmm...eeyup." was all he said as he looked away from the mare.

"Oh noes! What time of day is it, we might be able to get to her before Gilda!" she declared noticing the stallion not looking at her still. "What's wrong Big Mac?"

"Yer still naked Pinkie. Prancin' through town like that will prolly get us stopped." he replied with a slightly noticeable blush.

"Oh right." she said sheepishly. "Gilda kinda thrashed my clothes though. So I don't have anything to wear unless."

A smile spread across her face as she got up giving Big Mac a full view of her.

"Could ja warn me next time y'all do that?" the stallion said covering his eyes.

Pinkie quickly headed upstairs, "Sorry Mac, when inspiration hits you go with it!"

She began digging through Gilda's thing quickly trying to find a suitable pair of clothes, and ended up with tight black denim jeans and a loose black v-neck shirt. No undergarments were available that weren't torn up so she just decided to go commando. Right now her best friends needed her more than anything.

She peaked back down into the cellar, "Big Mac you comin'? We have to get to AJ now!"

He stood up and strode over, "Whenever yer ready to run Pinkie."

From there they quickly bolted to the town square, and with the sun starting to set slowly she knew if they got to the orange farmer they would barely catch her. It was a twenty minute run from the outskirts to the town hall, and Applejack was nowhere in sight. Big Mac had stopped in front of a group of boxes.

"She would never leave an Apple family box abandoned in the street. We were too late Pinkie." a tear escaped the stallion's eye. "That monster has my sister now."

As Pinkie laid eyes on the scene it was obvious her friend had put up a strong resistance, but the struggle broke out after the gryphon had her in her grip. Just like she did when she manipulated Pinkie, but those claws were just so appealing. She shook her head as a headache set in strong.

"Ungh, why now?" Pinkie groaned.

Big Mac noticed her change in posture and leaned into her ear, "Hasn't been an hour yet."

She turned to the ginger maned stallion, "What do you mean?"

"Just remindin' that other half o' ya what Ah told it earlier." he said with a cocky smile.

It seemed that he had pulled her split personalities strings effectively as the headache began to subside, and the thoughts of Gilda's talons subsided. Looking at the scene before them Pinkie had a feeling that Gilda had taken to the skies with her prey, but she seriously doubted she would drop her. She wanted to torture anyone who would say they loved Dash more than her.

She knew Big Macintosh wanted to go beat the gryphoness to a pulp for what she had done, but Pinkie couldn't let this slide. It had to be Rainbow Dash that settled her own past quarrels. She walked over and set a soft hand upon the tall stallion's shoulder. He turned to look at her tears and fury in his expression.

She just looked back and calmly said, "We need to get Rainbow first, Macintosh."

"But she's mah sister Pink--" he was cut off as Pinkie placed a finger on his lips.

"I know Macintosh, but this is Rainbow's past that's come back to haunt her." the pink mare paused. "Therefore only she can end it, and whatever ending may come has to be."

"But what if she can't save AJ?" he questioned his tone worried.

"Then she'll die trying." Pinkie said somberly. "Now let's get to lookin' for her, time's a wasting!"

Pinkie was ultimately an innocent victim of a cycle of hatred and obsession, and would be scarred for life with that encounter she knew. Yet this didn't mean she would simply lie down and let that become her fate a hundred percent. It was more like a fifty-fifty split now, at least in her mind it was.
> Chapter 15: The Blood In This Heart
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Rainbow Dash had ended up helping Twilight with her reorganization of the library, since she couldn't get Applejack to help with a heavy lifting job. This absolutely vexed the cyan mare, the level of organization her friend did was obsessive. As the sun was going down she looked up at the clock in her friends study, 6:05. Her Jackie would show up soon she was sure of it.

Seven o'clock came and still no AJ. At this point Dash began to worry just a little bit, but she held off the best she could helping the lavender mare move a table. She would keep her feelings inside for the time being, she had to trust that her marefriend would make it home alright. Her friend had seen her worry try as Rainbow might to hide it, and set her end of the table down.

"Dash what's on your mind?" Twilight inquired gently.

"I dunno. Applejack should have been here by now, she always sticks to her time frame." the cyan mare said setting her end of the table down. "I guess it just worries me that she isn't here yet, and I really hope she's okay."

Her lavender friend smiled, "Oh that's all? Don't worry Dash I'm sure Applejack is just fine!"

Just then a heavy knocking came at the front door of the library, too heavy to be the blonde farmer. Twilight looked at her with confusion, and the rainbow maned mare simply shrugged. As the lavender mare moved to open the door in through it came Big Macintosh, carrying an unconscious Pinkie Pie in his arms.

"Pinkie!" Twilight exclaimed rushing over in panic.

"Step back Twilight!" Big Mac ordered. "She needs somewhere ta lie down now."

"O-Of course, lets get her up here in my bedroom." she said leading Big Mac upstairs quickly.

Rainbow was frozen in place though. She had looked Pinkie up and down, and the key thing she noticed was that the party mare's clothes were not her own. They looked like something Gilda wore when she came to visit months earlier. The pink mare had also shown signs of physical abuse with cuts, scratches, bruises, and what looked to be talon marks littering her body.

"I-It can't be...Gilda?" she uttered almost breathlessly in shock. "What's she been doing with Pinkie?"

"Rainbow what are you doing, get up here now!" Twilight yelled from upstairs.

She shook her head and cleared her head before jogging upstairs to the librarian's bedroom. As she walked into the doorway she laid eyes on her pink friend panting lightly, her mind flickering just under the surface. Something seemed off to Dash about the overall aura about Pinkie Pie though, it seemed cracked.

She looked to see Big Mac twitching impatiently, he never did things like that. This behavior coming from the stallion had the blue mare intensely worried. It was almost like he knew something, but wasn't telling them a word of it. It also seemed like he was, angry? No, that wasn't possible, this was Big Macintosh the kindest and gentlest stallion around. What had him so off skelter with his normal behavior?

"Hey Mac what's going on, where'd you find Pinkie?" Dash asked with a barely controlled composure.

"Dash Ah wish Ah could say, but Pinkie is prolly the better pony ta talk to 'bout what's really going on." the red stallion said with strain apparent in his voice, he was really holding back. "As much as Ah'd like to."

"Th-Then buckin' wake her up already!" Dash found herself shouting.

"Rainbow, what's come over you? This is your friend laying here covered in wounds, and you're demanding to wake her up?" Twilight said incredulously as she rounded on the cyan mare.

"I just." she paused a moment putting a hand on her chest. "You can say what you want Twilight, but I'm worried about Jackie. If Big Mac is here then I have a really bad feeling this involves her!"

They stared into one another's eyes for a moment, and she noticed out of the corner of her eye that the ginger stallion nodded. It was in this moment Pinkie stirred back into the waking world. A strange light flickering across her eyes for but a second before disappearing again.

"Big Mac are we at Twilight's place yet?" she said drearily.

"Eeyup. Yer in her bed in fact." the big stallion replied.

Pinkie shot straight up and immediately locked eyes with Rainbow, "D-Dash?"

She walked past Twilight to stand at Pinkie's side, "Yeah Pink's what is it?"

"I failed you and Applejack!" the pink mare shouted as tears flooded from her eyes.

She felt her heartbeat quicken but held her tone, "Calm down Pink's and tell me what's going on."

The pink party mare took in a breath and began, "Dash for the past week I've been Gilda's prisoner. She has been torturing me to try to get information out of me as to how your life was, and more about Applejack." she shivered with the memories. "And in the process of such, she decided the best way to work with me was to break me apart mentally. I can't tell you how she did it but she succeeded in fracturing my mind. It was so bad I almost didn't want to come back to you girls."

Twilight came over and sat on the bed beside their friend, "Well you're here and everything is gonna be alright now Pinkie Pie."

The rainbow maned mare felt her heart sink at these revelations about her old friend. She hadn't gotten over her feelings for Dash and had descended into madness. This posed so many potential problems for her and AJ, but despite this new information she felt sick in the deep pits of her stomach. She felt Pinkie hadn't broken the worst news yet.

"No that's just it Twilight!" she shouted all of a sudden breaking into the cyan mare's thoughts. "Dash, Gilda has gone insane with her love for you! She will hurt or kill anyone that gets in the way of her having you! She would rather everyone dead so long as she can have you!"

She didn't want to accept the truth of what she knew in her heart was coming next, "Pinkie. Where is Applejack?"

"Even with Big Mac's effort to free me from Gilda's house, and all our heart behind our run for the town center, and--" the mare began rambling from anxiety.

"PINKIE!" Rainbow shouted grabbing her friend by the shoulders. "Where is Applejack?"

The pink mare flinched and began crying again as she loudly sobbed out, "She took her before we could get to her!"

Her hands fell limply away from Pinkie's shoulders as fear quickly set into Dash's magenta eyes. Gilda had taken her marefriend prisoner, and had full intent to hurt the orange farmer. With this in mind fury began to slowly and coldly inch its way into her mind. Just because that gryphon had lost everything important to her due to her selfishness was no reason that she should come along and take the most important thing to Rainbow away.

She loved the blonde farmer with all her being, and she would be dammed if she did nothing to stop this madness. The rainbow maned mare would even go to the death to try to save her marefriend from Gilda, the psychotic gryphon.

"Pinkie, you said Gilda kept you at a house?" she stated coldly.

"Y-Yes, on the outskirts of--ungh, not now!" Pinkie cut off flinching and moving herself away from her friends in a bizarre manner.

"Pinkie, not yet, y'all have ta give Rainbow the last bit o' yer infermation!" Big Mac called to her.

"I-I know Mac. Dash, it's that abandoned creepy looking house that no pony would buy months ago. That's where she kept me and cut me up like this."

"Alright then. I have some business to attend to." the blue mare said turning toward the doorway to leave.

"Wait!" the pink mare shouted. "There is a seperate building from the main house, it's--ack. It's hidden along the edge of the treeline behind the house. It's made of stone masonry."

She turned back and nodded to Pinkie, "Got it Pink's, thank you. I'm sorry that you had to get caught up in this. Twi, stay here and take care of her. She needs it more than you know right now." turning back toward the door she headed out. "Now it's time I closed this chapter of my past for good."

______________________________________________________________________________________

Applejack's eyes fluttered open finally after what felt like hours of sleep, but in reality was probably much less than that. As her eyes became adjusted to the environment around her she could tell she was in a dimly lit stone encased room. This all felt too familiar to her, and to test that theory she attempted to move. The farmer found her wrists bound in iron chains above her head, a detail that wasn't in her dreams.

Moments after her movements sharp pains began shooting up through her nervous system to her brain. Delayed reactions were possibly due to whatever Gilda had drugged her with. She looked down to see many shallow scratches and cuts all over her body, most likely from when the gryphoness used her talons to rip Applejack's clothes from her body. Yet she still wore her red lace bra and black silken panties. The farmer was perplexed by this odd sentiment.

She knew what was happening, and was waiting for Gilda to show her dirty hide. She did not appear, and so the blonde farmer began to struggle to free herself from bondage. It was no use these chains weren't going to break, and it was then she heard claws scraping across the stone floor from another room.

"Awake already are we Jackie?" the gryphoness said sadistically as she stopped in the doorway.

She didn't even bother replying to the creature before her.

Gilda approached AJ, "Aw, not speaking to me now? That's gonna make this much more difficult you see."

The gryphon struck a hard punch into the orange farmer's stomach, causing the mare to double over in pain.

"I still need to have that little talk with you." the avian monster said in a eloquent tone.

"An' what could y'all possibly achieve by talkin' ta me?" she spit the words out like venom standing upright again.

"Now Jackie you should do well..." Gilda cocked her hand back and then brought it forward again backhanding the mare hard. "...to mind your tone of voice!"

She was surprised at just how strong the gryphon actually was, but none-the-less she looked back in defiance of the monster in front of her. The avian stood there wearing a white shirt with a black leather jacket, and tight black denim jeans. The blonde farmer couldn't help but notice the sickening smile Gilda had perched upon her face.

"Well now that you understand your actions will have consequences," the gryphon brought a talon up to her face and drug it hard down the side of AJ's cheek drawing blood. "let us begin."

The gryphoness took a step away and began pacing, and following her motions back and forth Applejack began to make out the objects around her. A lit and heated forge used for quick heating of metals, and many differing metal blades and rods already cooled were leaned up on the wall next to the forge. There were also two simple tables near the forge area, one containing more metal works, and the other a simple empty table. Was she going to use all those different metal tools to torture her? the sheer thought of that sent chills up her spine.

"So then Jackie, you are aware Dash has a prior obligation to me in the relationship we've had since our academy days correct?" the gryphon queried.

"No she never once mentioned being with y'all in that way ever. Prolly cuz she dun even think of you two like that!" the country mare replied simply.

"Oh really now?" Gilda quickly stepped in towards her. "She did once upon a time. I can still remember exploring every inch of her cyan body, and then-some!"

"As if Ah could believe that!" shot back defensively.

"You might be the first mare she has ever been with, but I was her absolute first." the gryphon said with unmasked delight. "Pity she didn't trust you enough to tell you about it."

AJ couldn't stand the vile she gryphon taunting her like this, it angered her greatly. In one quick motion the farmer gathered her saliva together and spit directly into Gilda's face. The gryphon covered her face with her hand then wiped it away. When she looked back at the blonde farmer the look was purely psychotic.

"Oh what, so you think you're better than me do you, you stupid country bumpkin?" she walked over and grabbed one of the rods and stuck it into the white hot coals of the forge.

After a few long moments the gryphon turned around and approached Applejack. It was as the farmer had feared, in Gilda's claws was a white hot branding iron.

"So think you're so much better than me, well why don't you and your cutie marked flank choke on this!" she yelled as she drove the iron into Applejack's cutie mark on her hip.

The pain was excruciating and impossible to bear without screaming in agony. Her cutie mark was being singed away, and a part of who she was would die along with it. After only about ten seconds Gilda pulled the hot metal away from her now scarred flank. She began to laugh maniacally as she inspected the results of the branding.

"Ah yes much better! Now I have another question for you, and this one is quite serious. So please don't mess it up." Gilda said in a authoritative tone.

"Go ahead ya demented creature!" was all the farmer could manage eyes still tearing and pain still shooting through her body.

"Well then, I would ask that you submit to my wishes and leave Rainbow Dash. In return you can walk out of here quite intact." the gryphoness paused. "As you can tell that branding was only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what I can do to you."

AJ's head fell darkly and she mumbled something that none but she could hear.

"I'm sorry what was that Jackie?" Gilda said with a sick smile of assumed triumph.

The blonde farmer looked up with a fire in her eyes, "Ah said, go ta hell you loathsome coward!"

The gryphon frowned, "Now, now Jackie, I'd reconsider that choice."

"Stop callin' me that, only Dash can use that name on me!" the orange mare yelled lashing forward with her fury. "Ah will not reconsider nuthin', the blood in this here heart runs fer Dashie alone. Y'all can never take that from--guh!"

Her sentence was cut short by a furiously crushing punch at the right side of her chest. The farmer knew Gilda had just broken one of her ribs as she began violently hacking and coughing. Just as quick, the monster swung again and broke a rib on her left side sending an immense level of pain through her body. With the next cough she could taste iron on her tongue, she was coughing up blood already.

"Last chance you dirty tramp, give up Dash or suffer worse." the gryphon snarled.

"Ah'd rather suffer an eternity of torture from y'all than give up my love. Do yer worst!" Applejack challenged.

"Fine! I'll Make you regret every one of those words!" Gilda roared furiously.

The gryphon extended all of her talons, and slashed at her face brutally. AJ turned away at the last second and Gilda only managed to catch her left side, but it bled profusely. She could do nothing to protect herself from the assault that was coming against her body with her legs and arms bound. The gryphoness continued to used her talons to score deep cuts and gashes where she could on Applejack's exposed body.

All of a sudden she was in the orange farmer's face, "You can never have my Dashie. I won't allow it! Even if I have to kill you to make sure you stay away from her!"

This was it and the blonde farmer knew it, she would willingly die for her honest love. The gryphoness strode over to the stockpile of metal items, grabbed a long sharpened rod, and then walked threateningly back towards Applejack. No matter what happened here tonight the orange mare would always love the rainbow maned pegasus she gave her heart to.

"Say goodbye to everything you've ever known you disgusting peasant!" Gilda roared as she rushed forward with her weapon held at the ready.

It was at that moment that fate decided to intervene. The front door was blown open with an amazing amount of force from an athletic mare with wings. Now standing in the opening of the stone building was a cyan mare with a rainbow mane the farmer knew all too well, it was her Rainbow Dash.

She screamed out in anger, "GILDA, WHAT IN THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING TO MY JACKIE?"
> Chapter 16: May My Love Go On
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Applejack smiled in relief at the mare who had come to her rescue. Gilda spun around in an instant dropping her long sharpened weapon. The gryphoness apparently hadn't planned on Dash showing up in the middle of this moment. Now she had to go on the defensive which, at this point, was rather impossible to pull off.

"D-Dashie what are you doing here? This isn't what it looks like at all. Jackie here was just helping me with a role I'm trying out for in a play!" the avian stalled for time to think.

"This isn't what it looks like, really G?" Rainbow said walking up to Gilda. "Then how about explaining the talon marks scoring down Pinkie Pie's body? Or even what play you could possibly be taking part in that is so violent looking?" Dash looked absolutely indignant at the gryphon's excuses. "What I most want to know, is what makes you think you have the right to call her Jackie!"

The cyan mare lunged forward and slugged the gryphon full force across the face, causing her to stumble heavily. She looked back in fearful confusion at Rainbow.

"But Dashie I--"

"Can it Gilda this isn't right and you know it!" she swung again at the gryphon knocking her off balance again. "You could've gone about this in a much less violent way. Did you think I would ever love you after finding out that you killed off every pony I ever cared about?"

The gryphoness began to block Dash's subsequent attacks, her mind seeming to enter a different state than before. It was probably the last straw in her mind that she could now never have the cyan mare, and this thought appeared to be slowly taking hold of Gilda's mind and being.

"Then at this point if I can't have you in life, I'll take you in death!" the gryphoness yelled in an unbridled rage.

She dodged Dash's next punch steeping aside quickly and using her shoulder shoved the pegasus a good distance away. Gilda moved with great agility to reach a small table with smaller versions of the iron spike she was nearly impaled with moments earlier. It looked like a small iron stake, and her marefriend had gotten up again already to rush the gryphon again. She was walking into a trap!

"No Dashie stop, it's a trap!" she screamed and thrashed wishing she could break away and save the polychomatic maned mare.

It was too late, as Gilda ducked under Dash's punch and charged her shoulder into the athletic core of the blue mare. She didn't stop there though as she put the spike in its position hovering over Rainbow's right shoulder. It was a few seconds after this they collided with one of the four thick wooden beams holding up the building. In that moment just one gut wrenching scream broke the air, now affixed to the wooden pillar was Rainbow Dash.

Dash was wearing a simple teal form fitting tank top that was quickly being dyed with her own blood. In the end her marefriend not wearing her usual evening coat had definitely cost her tonight. The rainbow maned mare looked down in pain at her shoulder before looking back up at Gilda in defiance of her assault.

"Oh don't look at me like that Rainbow Dash." Gilda growled at the cyan mare in disgust. "You did this to yourself after all. Now back to this filthy little harlot of yours, I may have another idea for her."

Gilda turned toward her and looked at her with eyes that looked dead and lifeless, there was no longer any light left in the gryphon. She had seen this before in her dreams, but in reality it felt much more impending and dreadful. Gilda charged in rapidly, and Applejack flinched closing her eyes to the gryphoness. She could be dead already and not even know it.

She quickly realized she was still alive as she heard and felt the iron cuffs come undone, dropping her to the floor like a dead weight. The pain that immediately exploded through her body as she hit the ground though was enough to elicit a grunt of pain. She then felt the shackles on her legs click open as well, and she looked up at Gilda as the gryphoness stood back up.

"Well Jackie, here is your chance to walk away yet again. The universe is so kind to you it would seem." Gilda said with a bout of laughter. "Door is open you can try to run away now and live, but I'll still have to come kill you anyways. So maybe you're up for another option? Why not get up and fight for your Dashie one last time?"

"Why should Ah? Yer just gonna kill me either way." AJ used her dream to her advantage. "Even if Ah try to fight you won't let me throw one punch before you run me through."

The gryphon looked at her shocked for a moment before regaining her composure, "Oh really now Jackie? Fine you got me then!" the avian reached back and removed the knife from her belt tossing it aside. "It's your lucky day Jackie, I'll give you a fair fight. But the result will be the same. What do you say?"

This was more to the blonde mare's liking; she wouldn't have abandoned her love for any reason, and now she wouldn't ever need consider it. Unlike in her dream she hadn't actually bled too much so her strength was more so than then, and if she pushed herself she might actually be able to get them out of this situation.

"Jackie just run, get out of here! Gilda will never hold her end of a fair fight deal! Please, I don't want you becoming a victim from the mistakes of my past!" Rainbow cried out to her desperately, tears lining her eyes. She knew what would happen.

Just like in her dream Applejack closed her eyes and let her body soak up the warmth of Dash's love for her, "Thank you kindly fer all yer love Dashie, but Ah gotta do this."

With her new found strength she pushed herself up onto her legs again, and found they were still unsteady from lack of motion. This could turn around in the blink of an eye. AJ looked up as Gilda assumed a fighting stance, and the farmer realized she could take the gryphon. She rushed in with a feigned punch from the left, and then turned and smashed Gilda with a high kick from the right. The shot was enough to knock the gryphoness to the floor easily, she had to win with her strongest muscles--her legs.

"I'm not gonna deal with those legs of yours a moment longer!" Gilda growled lunging at the orange mare, talons extended.

The pain that shredded through her right leg was absolutely unbearable. Deep gouges were scored up the front of her thighs, and Applejack had to hobble around on one leg till she got close to an empty table near the forge. She leaned her weight onto the table, and fear began to quickly set in again. In a single moment, Gilda had ripped the blonde mare's chances of living through this away. She faced Dash and saw a look of frantic worry there, it was almost like she was planning on pulling herself off of the stake that held her in place.

Gilda had got herself up again and this time rushed Applejack. She blocked the first attack, second, and then there was an opening. The farmer took her chances and aimed a strong shot at Gilda's neck, but the orange mare failed to notice the gryphoness setting up the counter for that very strike. Both collided in an instant and AJ felt a familiar sensation from her stomach as Gilda propped her up over her shoulder facing Dash.

"Looks like you were doomed to fail no matter the circumstances dear Jackie." the gryphon said mockingly. "Now why don't you look into Dashie's eyes one last time, as the life leaves your eyes forever."

Applejack was held there just a moment more as she felt a tear trickle out of her eye she saw the tears streaming down Rainbow's face. The cyan mare was screaming out her name frantically but no matter how hard she tried she couldn't answer her marefriend. She felt Gilda heave upward and toss her onto the floor in front of her, and as the blonde mare looked up she was horrified. The gryphon was licking her blood soaked talons clean. That sight was enough to make her realize, talons removed, that she would be forced to bleed out slowly.

Gilda turned to the cyan mare still cleaning her talons, "Now, what shall I do with you Dashie? Hmm maybe I'll torture you slowly till you break, or maybe I could just kill you then take my own life? So many options all end with me having you!"

Dash's tears had dried up in anger, "You know what Gilda, no matter what you do you can't have me the way you really need me."

"Oh really dweeb? I don't think you can refuse me that!" the avian replied pompously.

"The moment you decided to kill Jackie, a piece of me went with her. You will never have my heart now. Smooth move G!" she shouted her hollow victory.

The gryphon looked absolutely stricken with rage as she lashed her talons out across Dash's face; the cyan mare merely laughed. Applejack watched in silent horror, still breathing and clinging onto life.

"Fine you want to deny me everything? Then I hope you enjoy pain cause I'm gonna bring you to the brink of life and keep you there till you beg for death!" Gilda shouted in psychotic rage.

No! She's gonna hurt mah Dashie, Ah won't stand fer that! Even if Ah have ta die ta protect her!

Dash's screams began to echo throughout the room as Gilda began using her talon's like knives. The blonde farmer pulled herself slightly up and saw the very pole the gryphon had tried skewering her with earlier. She slid herself over slowly then grasped the iron spear and used it to prop herself up with what little strength she had left in her. It was a miracle that both Dash and Gilda were too occupied in their own individual grievances, and in a sense it was a blessing sent down from the very spirits of her parents.

Applejack took one more deep breath and reveled in the flash of memories that rushed through her mind of all the time she had spent with Rainbow Dash over the years. The memory last through her mind was the last time they stared into one another's eyes.

"Ah love ya Dashie, no matter what happens to us." Applejack declared softly.

"Love you too Jackie, forever." was Dash's heartfelt reply.

Ah woulda wanted ta marry an' spend the rest o' mah days with ya Dashie, but it looks like the universe has other plans. AJ mused in her mind as tears fell down her face.

She readied the sharp spear and mustered all of her strength, "Ey Gilda! Y'all won't be hurtin' mah Dashie ever again!"

Applejack shouted her loudest as she rushed and drove through the violent and oppressive gryphon, swinging her away from Dash after she was sure of her strike. She collapsed back down onto her knees with the deed done and her true love finally safe. Looking vaguely over she saw the gryphon twitching and fidgeting as she rapidly succumbed to her wounds.

She looked up to Dash who was pulling with much needed haste at the stake in her shoulder, "Ey, Dashie...looks like yer safe now. Doesn't seem like Ah'm gonna make it though shugarcube."

Rainbow's eyes bolted wide in fear a new strength allowed her to pry the stake from her shoulder, and through gritted teeth she shouted a curse. Her wound didn't slow her action though as she quickly came over to AJ holding her shoulder tightly. Dash helped the blonde mare to lay down upon her back evenly on the floor. She pulled off her shirt putting it to the farmer's stomach wound applying as much pressure as she could.

"Y-You're gonna be alright Jackie. Now that I got you, stop talking like yer gonna die!" the rainbow maned mare said through her tears.

"Dashie, come 'ere." Applejack managed to motion her closer.

The blue mare complied bringing her face close to AJ's, and in that instant the farmer reached up and pulled Dash down into what would be their last kiss. Tears streaming from both of their eyes they both embraced the kiss as if it were their first. As the kiss parted Applejack held Rainbow close so she could hear her last words.

"R-Rainbow Dash, I Applejack love you with all mah heart an' soul. Ah woulda taken you in marriage an' fer the rest o' mah days. Sadly Ah--" she broke off in a coughing fit before continuing. "Ah must, say goodbye baby, but 'member what we said earlier Dash?"

Rainbow, though shattered and in pieces replied, "No matter what happens to us we will love one another forever. Jackie please I'm not ready to lose you!"

"You remembered, Ah'm...Ah'm glad." Applejack said her voice getting quieter as she faded. "Remember Dashie...Mah love fer you...will go on. Ah...Ah love...you."

"Jackie? Jackie! Applejack!" Dash yelled shaking the farm mare's body as her emerald eyes closed forever.

______________________________________________________________________________________

It was another hour before authorities arrived to the scene and immediately set to work trying to process the area. The one area they could not manage to get anywhere near was where Rainbow Dash now sat, with Applejack's unmoving head in her lap. Any time a pony got close Dash got viciously defensive, the world seemed like nothing outside of the mare lost in her arms.

It wasn't until Pinkie Pie arrived with Big Macintosh at her side that Rainbow opened her eyes to her surroundings. The pink party mare looked fearful, and Big Mac looked stricken with grief at what he saw.

Pinkie spoke first in a hesitant voice, "I-Is she..?"

"Yes Pinkie, Jackie's gone." Rainbow said numbly.

Big Mac simply looked away too taken by his grief to say a word now that his fears were confirmed. Rainbow couldn't blame the bright red stallion, right now she felt dead inside. As if her heart had been carved right out of her chest and left to turn to dust in the wind. Pinkie broke down completely at this point.

"This is all my fault! I should have known better than to trust her! Now one of my best friends is dead and the other is sitting here broken!" Pinkie lamented loudly before breaking away from Big Mac and running off.

Dash had tried to yell after her, but with that outburst she knew the party mare wasn't lying about Gilda causing her mind to hemorrhage. She was worried what the pink mare would do next. Then a touch broke into her thoughts, it was Big Mac's hand upon Dash's shoulder.

"We need ta let the crime ponies take it from here Dash. Lets go home, mah sister wouldn't want ya stayin' here in pain." he said to her gently.

Tears streamed down her face again as she looked at him, "But I can't Mac, I'm not ready for her to leave yet!"

It was then the stallion seemed to realize he and the police ponies would have to work together to separate them. After a bit of convincing Big Mac managed to get Rainbow to accept a piggy back ride from him, and she climbed onto his back slowly wrapping her arms and legs around him. Things passed Dash by in a haze, Gilda's rigid lifeless body, the police ponies handling her once warm marefriend with great care, the photographers taking pictures of the crime scene, and the crowd of ponies gathered outside the abandoned residence.

As they passed the paramedics on their way out, they tried to stop the red stallion. This was likely because of the cyan mare's deep shoulder wound, which had long since closed itself up. He simply stopped and gave them a stern look as they impeded his path.

"Ah think she has a bigger wound ta tend to that y'all can't treat even with yer fancy medicine. Now git outta mah way."

They took a moment to think over the stallion's words before they complied with his request and stepped aside. Everything seemed to pass by in slow motion as they walked through town. After what seemed to be a long time of Big Mac carrying her through the cold night air, she began to notice the familiar apple trees that lined the road toward the Apple family home in Sweet Apple Acres. What reason would he have for taking her there?

"Hey Mac, why are you taking me back to the farm with you?" Dash inquired innocently.

"Considerin' how much mah sister loved ya Rainbow, yer as much an Apple as she was." the red stallion concluded.

"But we never got far enough to be married." the cyan mare despaired.

"Don't matter, yer family enough to me." the ginger stallion paused. "Sister in law."

"Big Mac I," Rainbow paused, she was touched by his sentiment as tears again broke from her eyes. "...thank you."

As they reached the farm house together all was silent, but soon there would be sadness unrivaled among the entire family. Big Mac carried her through the front door, avoiding Applebloom's instant barrage of questions, and began to carry Dash upstairs silently. At the top of the stairs though, stood Granny Smith. Her eyes looked red from what Dash could only assume were tears, a warm and gentle smile across her face. The old mare had always had ways of knowing just what was going on with her kin, and Applejack had been no exception to the rule.

"You know where ta let this young one rest 'er head Mac." the white maned older mare said with a creaking voice as she let the stallion pass.

He continued forwards only a short way before opening a door with a name engraved upon it, Applejack. Slowly the stallion strode over to the bed, turned away from it, and bent down to allow Rainbow the time to crawl off slowly. As the rainbow maned mare got herself on the bed comfortably, she found herself surrounded by the scent of the blonde farm mare as if she were still with her right now. Yet, she knew it wasn't possible for her love to be back. Her shoulder throbbed in pain, but the hollow feeling in her heart swallowed up that pain and made it feel like nothing.

"Rest yer head one last time with Applejack. We'll treat that wound o' yers tomorrow when ya wake up." Big Mac cooed softly.

She gripped AJ's pillow tightly crying, "Thank you fer ev-everything Big Mac."
> Chapter 17: In The Aftermath Of Loss
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two weeks later...

Rainbow Dash straightened out her black dress in front of the mirror in her room. Applejack's funeral was today, and she would not miss it when on the guest list she had been marked as 'Spouse'. She had also found out quite a bit about herself over the past two weeks.

In fact, the past weeks had been one heck of a rough ride to say the very least. Her shoulder had gotten an infection the day after the incident, but she was able to fight it off with the good doctors of Ponyville at her side after only two days. She had remained in Applejack's room for the longest time not yet ready to let go. It had taken Signature Sandwich, her boss and friend, to get her moving finally. She stood there and let the memories of the time leading up to this point wash over her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dash had been simply laying on AJ's old bed when the forest green stallion walked in. She just sat up wearily and looked at him with a dull expression. This didn't seem to deter the stallion any as a thoughtful expression broke across his face.

"So Dash, I hear you haven't left this room much since that night last week?" he questioned.

"Yeah what of it?" she replied with little emotion.

"Hmph, you really aren't gonna make this easy fer me." the stallion said as he crossed his arms.

"Make what easy on you?" the cyan mare replied dully.

He simply grunted and approached the mare, and reaching over in one movement picked her up. He couldn't separate her from Jackie's presence, she reached out and grabbed the bed post desperately.

"No I won't go!" she yelled.

"Rainbow Dash." the older yellow maned stallion said kindly. "If Applejack could see you now, what would she say? All I want is for you to come out of this room and see what is happening in the world around you."

"I don't want to! As far as I'm concerned the world stopped turning the night Jackie died!" she squeezed her eyes shut and held onto the bed.

"Fine." Signature said as he let go of Dash and let her fall to the floor coldly.

She rounded on him anger in her eyes, "Hey, what was that for?"

"If the world stopped turning for you that night, then everyone to you simply don't exist anymore. And if everyone in the world don't exist then I surely can't hold you up." the green stallion said once again crossing his arms. "You need to stand on your own two hooves again before anypony can help you. Also, due to the circumstances you have another two weeks before you have to start work. Oh and another thing, once you find yourself again come and let me know the real Rainbow Dash is back."

With that the sandwich maker walked out of the room leaving the door wide open. Dash just sat there dumbfounded for a moment before pulling herself back up onto unsteady legs. Maybe the older stallion was right, maybe it was about time she at least tried to stand again. If not for herself, then at least for Applejack.

She stepped out of the room and slowly headed downstairs to find Granny Smith, Big Mac, and Applebloom all rushing about and active. Big Mac was on the phone talking, Granny Smith was digging through what looked like an address book, and Applebloom was doing everything she could to clean and straighten the rooms of the house.

"What's going on here?" Rainbow broke the air around the main room.

Every Apple stopped what they were doing and looked up at her shocked at first, but quickly easing into warm smiles. Applebloom was the first to come to Dash wrapping her arms around her in the biggest hug. The red stallion quickly got the last of the information he needed from whomever he was on the phone with, and then hung it up walking over to her as well.

"It's good ta see ya up and about again Dash!" Macintosh said with a bright smile.

"Eh, still not back to a hundred percent so don't go assuming things." the rainbow maned mare said with a slight smile. "So what is everyone up to?"

"We're gettin' the family all together fer Applejack's fu--" the cream coated Applebloom cut her sentence at the last second, realizing what she was saying.

Rainbow put a hand gently on the young filly's head, "It's okay Bloom, I've sorta accepted she's not coming back to us again."

The younger mare looked happy, "Ah'm glad to hear that Rainbow."

"Well then since yer willin' to talk about it, why don't chu lend us a hand in getting things ready?" Granny Smith said in her usual spirited tone.

Rainbow felt a pain in her heart still, but she bore it with what was left of herself. She knew Jackie was dead, and that she would never feel her again. It didn't change the fact that she missed her greatly, but she had to do what she could to cope and live carrying her marefriend's love on. The last thing she could do for Applejack was make sure that the funeral went perfectly.

"Granny, I'd be honored to help in any way!" Dash answered the older mare with a bright smile.

Over the next three days, Dash worked harder than she ever had before in her life preparing the funeral. She was amazed at how fast all of Applejack's family members came, starting to arrive only a day after she came out of the room. She had helped Big Mac dig out the spot, it was right next to their parents and Rainbow had to admit that the spot was breathtaking. After that they headed back to the barn to prepare it to house the wake that would follow shortly after the burial.

All the pegasus was doing was keeping her mind busy with work, totally denying herself any more time to think about her feelings. The mare had done it all day and the sun was already beginning its descent, it wouldn't be easy to do the work in the barn without light. As she reached forward to open the barn door the red stallion reached out a hand and stopped her.

"Mac, what're you doing?" she turned and asked him a tinge of irritation on her voice.

"Dash, Ah appreciate what chur doin' an' all, but ya need ta take a moment fer yerself." was his simple reply.

She cocked her eyebrow in confusion, "What do you mean?"

The ginger stallion sighed before continuing, "All you've dun is busy yerself since y'all left that room, why don't cha head home and take some time to think 'bout yer feelin's? The invitation fer the funeral will be along the day before or earlier."

She stood there for a long moment taking in fully what he was telling her, but she was having a hard time with it suddenly. She blinked several times anxiety beginning to edge its way into her body language. Her mind cleared by a light shake from Big Mac.

"Dash, don't go losin' yerself now!" he said firmly.

"Huh, oh sorry Mac!" she replied sheepishly. "Guess having a moment to myself could do that. So back to work."

As she tried to reach for the barn door again the ginger maned stallion pulled her away again, "Ah'm serious Dash go home fer the night."

She looked down in melancholy defeat, she couldn't keep hiding from her problems. She turned and walked away from the farm not saying a single word as she went. Then, when the memories came flooding back to her yet again she broke into a sprint. She didn't know where she was running, but Rainbow knew she had to run. Before she knew what was happening she, had unfurled her wings and taken to the skies above, tears streaking from her eyes as she felt her broken heart beat in her chest.

"This...This is just too much! It still hurts!" Dash yelled to herself over the wind current. "I have to go home, there has to be something that can help my heart heal!"

As she came to a landing at the front porch of her home, she was stunned to see Signature Sandwich sitting on the front step. The last rays of sunlight outlining his figure, highlighting his face in a sagely manner. How was it even possible for him to stand on the clouds, this reeked of Twilight Sparkle's magic.

"Took ya long enough to get here!" the electric yellow maned stallion exclaimed noticing her arrival.

"How are you here, more importantly why?" she asked with ample confusion walking toward the stallion.

"Firstly, your alicorn friend Twilight. Second, for you Dash." Signature replied as the cyan mare went to sit next to him.

"I don't understand, how did you know I would come home once I finally got out of Applejack's room?"

"Let's just say, that I've rode through this rodeo before. Member Dash, I'm old!" he said with what seemed a forced laugh.

She smiled and started something she didn't begin to understand, "Alright then oh old one, why don't you share your wisdom with me then?"

"Of course." he simply nodded. "Ask away."

"Whenever I'm not keeping my mind busy and my thoughts wander, I start to feel my memories come back. I start to literally feel my broken heart pounding in my chest, and it hurts." her voice cracked at the end of her sentence.

"Hmm go on then." he gently eased her on.

She calmed herself and continued, "For all the strength I have to accept the fact that she is dead and gone, I just can't stop the pain from the memories of when she was here! I mean really what am I gonna do without her?"

"Go on living happily." Sig answered.

"What? Happily,how is that even possible?" a sob evident in her voice.

"I dunno Dash. That's for you to find out yourself, but I personally started with music." the stallion revealed.

She looked at him in surprise, "You started with, but Sig that implies..."

"Yeah it sure does, the mother of my son. My wife, my love, and my everything. What you just described sounds not all that different from what I felt when I lost her."

"I'm sorry to hear that Sig." she said softly.

"Don't be, I found my strength again. Here's an idea, go through all of your music as well as hers and just listen to it. Maybe one song will catch your heart, and from there who knows?" the older stallion suggested. "For all you know it will possibly even mend your heart and give you the closure you need, but remember to do it all in your own way. Cause who better can heal yourself than you?"

She smiled warmly and leaned over to hug the older stallion, "Thank you for sticking by me Signature."

"Anytime Rainbow Dash." he said as he returned the hug.

Once Signature left Dash immediately broke into all of her music and began going through it to find songs that lifted her heart and elated her soul. She worked on a list of the ones that hit her the hardest, and found only six songs that would work for what she wanted to do. She had one last message for Jackie, but she needed the perfect song.

She had worked her way through Applejack's extensive music collection on and off for the next few days. While she was at Sweet Apple Acres she helped out here and there, but always went back to her music search. The blonde mare had much more suitable music for what she wanted with a total of over twenty songs, but she still hadn't found that perfect song yet. It started to drive her into a brooding depression, but she tried to hold out hope as she flew home the day before the funeral.

She checked her mailbox to find the invitation letting her know more details about the funeral, letters from friends wishing her well in her time of grieving, and a curious package signed simply from a friend. She headed inside to go through the mail, and opened the invitation first sitting down upon her couch. She thought she knew what would be contained within, since she had helped put the majority of them together, but what she read turned her heart to mush. One part in particular touched her heart.


"The seat you are to take at the funeral, wake, and otherwise will be marked with a simple card hung on it reading: Spouse. None of the family will understand it at first when you take that seat, but as time goes on they will begin to understand that you are family."


She set the invitation on the coffee table in front of her, a tear welling up in her eye but not strong enough to break free from her eye. She then looked to the strange package that was addressed to her but was signed as being simply from a friend. Who could of sent this, and what could they have sent? It was small, and yet enticing so she picked it up and ripped the top of it open. She tilted the package down toward her opposite hand and out slid a CD case with a simple disc in it, all of which was wrapped in bubble wrap.

"What the? A CD, who could have sent this?" Dash pondered aloud.

She shrugged being stumped at the mystery before her. She pulled the bubble wrap off to see that she could see through the front of the case. It was a custom made disc with inked writing scrawled on it. It read simply:


Songs Of The Ailing Heart


She knew she was going to have to go dig up one of her old CD players if she ever wanted to determine who this package really came from. She got up and walked over to her work desk as she knew there would be a player in one of the lower drawers. She opened it and there it sat waiting for her; she picked it up happily, realizing quickly she needed headphones too. She quickly ran about her home trying to locate her headphones, and found them laying in the last place she checked, her bedroom.

"Finally!" Dash exclaimed as she returned to her spot on the couch. "Well now lets see if we can figure out who this is from!"

She reached over, opened the case taking out the disc within, popped open the cover of the portable CD player, and put the disc inside. She double checked it for batteries before she put her headphones on, and turned the player on. The player read five tracks. Awfully short for a mixed disc with the name, Songs Of The Ailing Heart, Rainbow thought.

She hit play and was greeted by a voice she hadn't heard in what felt like years. The mare spoke in sophisticated Canterlot tones, and though she seemed dry and emotionless she was a burning soul of musical talent.

"Why hello there Rainbow Dash. It has been a long time hasn't it? Don't remember my voice per chance? Well then let me reacquaint you and I formally. It's me Octavia." the cellist paused for a moment. "Good now that the name has sunk into your mind again, let me start off by saying that I am truly sorry to hear about the tragedy that has befallen you recently. Vinyl told me everything she could find out from the day she went to visit Applejack only to find that she had gone on."

The cyan mare remembered that Big Mac wasn't with her that first day while she fought her infection. He must have been downstairs explaining to the DJ the fate that had befallen his sister and Dash. Though Octavia was the one talking on this disc not Vinyl, she knew the cellist and DJ were close but this implied a bit more.

"If I know you Rainbow you're wondering about me and Vinyl, and let's just say it's complicated for now shall we? On to my point of sending you this disc though. As a musical soul I find the best solace in life is through my music, and being that it can evoke any strong emotion I found a few of the older compositions I've played in that truly rang deep in my heart." she paused noises of papers shuffling in the background. "I'm quite sure you'll recognize the first piece, as it was played at the concert we first met at."

As the disc switched to track two a heavy bass sound lulled its way in as a symphony slowly came together around a voice that absolutely pierced Dash's heart. She did remember this song, from many years ago when Rarity had drug her to the concert with her. She had been bored to tears until this song had began to play, and she had watched in awe at the cellist playing with all her heart and the vocalist who sang with all of hers.

"Octavia, how did you know to send me this?" the polychomatic maned mare said as tears broke free from her eyes at last.

As the song went she felt a lifting feeling in her heart, almost like it was being slowly renewed. Almost as quickly as the song had come the orchestra and vocals faded, and Octavia's voice came up again an edge of emotion to it now.

"Ah yes beautiful. I remember playing the song that night with all that I had. It really sang to my very essence, to my soul. Though I'll bet you wonder how I knew to send you music like this, and the answer is quite simple. You lost a love brutally, and you still linger on. The feeling must be one absolutely devoid of everything. Now of all the songs I had to sort through, Vinyl was the one who found the next song." she chuckled. "Hard to imagine isn't it, that one having a mushy side. Anyhow this was a song the orchestra did recently, and in my honest opinion it will hit home with your heart deary."

As the song opened Dash instantly hit pause, shock lighting her face. She knew the song in her heart, but she hadn't the faintest idea to explain how she knew it. It was in that moment she felt warmth spread from her heart just like when she was with Jackie. That was it, she had found what she was looking for.

"It's the perfect goodbye for you Jackie." she said holding the CD player to her chest.

She skipped the song for now, she would listen to it later tonight and make sure to memorize it.

Octavia's voice came back in after a second on the fifth track, "It really is an absolutely angelic song isn't it? Well, anyways I hope you enjoyed the songs Dash. If you feel you need to contact me for any reason I'll be staying in town as the symphony has been asked to appear at the funeral. As for how to contact me well..." the cellist hesitated for a moment. "You have Vinyl's home number I'm sure...so just call there and I will answer without hesitation!"

Her and Vinyl were staying in the same house together, this concept made Dash roll with laughter. Yet, there was still a light bulb going on in her head. It occurred to her that Octavia had mentioned being at the funeral, and to contact her should she feel the need. It was in that moment Rainbow Dash knew exactly how she was going to give closure to their lives. She got up and headed into her kitchen making a b-line straight for her land line phone.

Yes, it was true, she could have used her cell phone, but for some reason Vinyl's home phone never got the calls from her cell. So Dash had kept her land line just in case of moments like this. She set about dialing the home number of the DJ and it started ringing. Once, twice, three times, and then a noise of someone answering the phone in a Canterlot voice.

"Home of Vinyl Scratch, Octavia speaking. How can I help you?"

"Hey Octavia, got your little present and listened to it. I'm gonna cut straight to the point. I've got an idea for something at the funeral, but I need you're help with it." Dash said in a business like tone.

"Well hello to you to Rainbow Dash." she said with a chuckle. "You know, you sound more desperate than I'm sure you're willing to admit to, but what can I help you with?"

"That second song you put on the disc, I want to sing it to Jackie before they bury her. I haven't listened to it yet but the few seconds I did hear I just." Rainbow paused wondering if this sounded crazy to the Canterlot musician. "I just knew that, that was the song. The perfect song...to say goodbye."

There was a long pause on Octavia's end of the phone before a reply came back, "For that reason alone, I'll gladly agree to help you. Be a dear though and memorize those lines by tomorrow though."

The cyan mare just laughed, "Of course Octavia, I won't embarrass you! In fact." she paused before going on in a gentle tone. "In fact I'll sing with every bit of my heart."

"Good to hear. Well then, if that's all I will see you there tomorrow?"

"Of course. I'd rather die than miss Jackie's funeral. Good night Octavia." Dash said as she hung up the phone.

She headed back into the living room, grabbed the CD player, and headed back up to her room. She laid down in her bed and turned the audio player back on, put her headphones back in, switched the CD to track four, put it on repeat one, and fell asleep singing it. The song was everything she imagined it would be and more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She came back into reality humming the song she planned to sing tonight at sunset. She made sure her make up looked good, and that her hair was perfect for tonight. The exact same way she would if it was a date with Applejack. She looked up at the clock on her wall 4:30, and the services would commence at exactly 5:00 pm. It was time to go, and so Dash grabbed her things, especially her invitation, and headed out her front door.

She spread her wings into the breeze that flowed free and true. She kicked off the cloud and started on her way to Sweet Apple Acres. As she flew it became apparent that all of Ponyville was turning out for this sad event. Once she came upon the orchards she found they were absolutely packed with more ponies than she could have ever imagined.

"See AJ, you touched more people with your kindness than you will ever know." Rainbow muttered to herself as she tried to pick out a place to land so she could find Octavia.

From above she quickly realized only family and close friends were allowed anywhere near the graveyard of the Apple family. Everypony else had showed up in support and memory of the blonde farm mare. Dash thought it would be too brazen and over dramatic to land at the gateway that barred access to the graveyard, but she could find nowhere better to land. She came in fast, quickly retracting her wings, and landed gracefully in front of Big Macintosh.

"So Granny made you the guard for tonight?" Dash said straightening out her dress again. "When it's your sister, that's just not right."

He laughed happily, "Looks like yer back to yer ol' self. Anyways, we're just waitin' fer one guest in particular before startin'."

"Oh and who might that be?" she asked with a well humored smile.

"Stop jokin' around Dash! Granny insisted we wait fer the Spouse o' her gran-daughter to arrive. Ah'm sure y'all know who that is."

"How could I ever forget big guy. May I?"

The stallion stepped aside ushering her in, "Always."

She nodded her thanks to him and walked by casually. She would have to find Octavia inside, but everything seemed like it would work itself out. The Apple family graveyard was tucked into a small valley surrounded by sheer rock faces on all sides, but to get there you had to walk a short distance through a canyon. As she got closer she heard weeping and a beautiful melody being played softly in the undertone.

As Dash came into the open valley that served as the graveyard, many of the faces turned to look at her in surprise. There was only one seat left, but most of them knew her as Applejack's best friend. She didn't care as she strode down the center aisle to the front as she went and sat comfortably in the seat marked, 'Spouse'. Part of the family seemed absolutely shocked at her behavior until Granny Smith, who was standing behind Applejack's coffin, spoke up loudly through a microphone.

"Glad y'all could join us here Dashie. Applejack, would be proud o' yer strength a heart!"

At the older mare's words, it seemed the shocked half of the family quickly understood why Rainbow took the seat she did. As she nodded her understanding to the old mare, the mourning began. Granny Smith had worked tirelessly with the mortuary to prepare her Jackie for one last display, and as the aged mare opened the top half of the coffin for all to see Dash was amazed. It was as if the blonde farmer was just sleeping there, completely unchanged from her death weeks prior.

Every pony took turns standing up to say a few kind word's about Applejack before sitting back down again in tears. Some just got up and left a rose in her coffin without saying a word, far too choked up to speak. Some would begin speaking and, after holding it back so long, would break down into tears of pain. Dash had no intent of this being a weepy, teary, sad goodbye. She would say her goodbyes, and wish Jackie well where ever her spirit roamed.

It was halfway through the proceedings that Octavia came over to her in a casual manner. Now would be their chance to talk.

"So Dash, are you prepared for what you planned?" the cellist asked professionally.

"I am, Octavia. As long as the band is ready to play with all their hearts." she replied seriously.

"I told them the circumstances behind the song, and I'm sure they're going to give it their all to make sure Applejack hears your song all the way into the next life. In fact, we had to find a volunteer guitarist, but I'm sure you'll agree with my choice." Octavia said with pride.

"Oh really, good. I trust your judgement Octavia. Still, it's gonna take everything I have to keep it together while singing." the cyan mare lightly fretted.

"Don't worry deary. You loved her with all your heart, and for her that was enough I'm sure. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go make sure the band is ready for your turn to speak." The greyish brown mare bowed and took her leave once again.

As she looked about the crowd behind her she noticed every one of her friends there but Pinkie Pie, why would she avoid this last chance to pay her respects to the orange farmer. Had she really lost that much of herself since AJ's death? Rainbow would have to look into that first thing tomorrow, she was quite worried about the pink mare.

While she had been observing her surroundings the last few ponies had trickled down, and Granny Smith rose once again to speak. She told the story of Applejack's hard and often impossible life, but she also spoke with great clarity as to the good times as well. In what seemed to be such a small amount of time she was finished.

"It-It's just such a darn cryin' shame ta see a youngin' with such potential pass on before mah old and useless bones do." the aged mare lamented.

It was then that Octavia got up and walked over to the older mare whispering into her ear.

"What's that deary? You'll have ta speak up, mah ears ain't what they use ta be." the patriarch of the Apple family declared, and Octavia tried again in a different tone. "Oh, okay shugarcube, Ah can do that." She turned back towards the crowd. "Iffin' nopony else would like ta speak er wish Applejack farewell, Ah'd like ta bring this ceremony to a close with someone who cared very deeply fer mah grandaughter. Rainbow Dash come on up here would ya hunnie?"

She stood and came forward to embrace Granny Smith in a hug before taking the microphone, "Thank you Granny Smith for everything." She walked over to look at AJ again before speaking again. "You know, me and Applejack have been friends since we were kids. At the time I would have never imagined falling in love with her, but I guess that was more or less cause we were too busy competing with one another while growing up. I mean really there wasn't another mare or stallion alive that could push me so easily to my limits and beyond."

The rainbow maned mare felt tears trying to surface as memories came again, but she held them back for what she needed to yet sing.

"But that was then, and this is now. Over a month ago now, Jackie and I realized we had something more than friendship. Something much stronger. But neither of us knew what it was or how to even begin to handle it." she paused remembering the day in the clouds that started it all. "That was, until I took a risk and started looking her way more and more. Eventually though, she caught me lookin' and took a chance of her own in asking me out first. Yeah, I know, everyone prolly thinks, Wow Dash didn't ask first, but I'll tell you what. It never felt so good to not be first."

She had gotten the crowd around her to laugh a few times, bringing the mood up just like she had wanted. The whole of the Apple family no longer judged her for the seat she took at the start, they understood her completely.

"And yet, with the tragedy that we know befell her and I. There is only one thing I can say and it is this; I'd give up everything, just to do it all over again." she paused with a distant look at AJ's face again. "But I know I can't do that, and that Jackie wouldn't want that. In fact, I-I think I can still feel her lingering, watching all of us remembering her life with a smile and a tear."

She reached into Applejack's coffin and laid a soft hand upon her cheek, "Jackie, won't you listen to me one more time? I have something I've gotta say to you, and it isn't easy for me to say at all. But maybe if I sing it, and with some help from the orchestra, you will be able to hear me say." She paused as one tear broke the surface of her right eye. "Say goodbye my truest love."

Octavia didn't need more signal than that as the guitarist of her group stood up and came forward, brandishing an old wooden acoustic. The replacement was Signature, Octavia was right Dash did approve. He started off with only a few notes that were high and pure, and as the orchestra started in so did Dash


Lay down, yer sweet and weary head,
Night is falling,
And you have come to journey's end,
Sleep now, and dream of the ones who came before,
They are calling,
From across the distant shores,

Why do you weep, and what are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see, that all of your fears will pass away,
Safe in my arms,


Dash decided to cut a line from the song here as her memories flooded back to her of the night Jackie ran out of the movie theater in utter terror. Tears streaming down her face, and Dash did everything in her power to make her remember she was safe so long as they were together.

Before the chorus started she said, "I really wonder Jackie..." and back into the song she dove.


What can you see, on that horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the seas, a pale moon rises,
The ships have come, ta carry you home,

And all will turn, to silver glass,
A light on the waters, that all souls pass,

Our hopes fade, into the realm of night,
Through shadows falling, out of memory and time,
Please, don't say, that we have come now to the end,
White shores are calling, for you and I will meet again,

And you'll be here, in my arms,
Just sleeping.


Dash could feel the tears flowing from her eyes as she sang, and as every memory Applejack and her ever shared passed before her eyes. Every word she sang rang out pure and true, resonating from the deepest chambers of her heart. She belted out into the chorus yet again.


What can you see, on that horizon?
Why do those white doves call?
Across the seas, a pale moon rises,
Those ships have come, to carry you home,


Rainbow's voice began to falter as her crying took hold of her, but she used every ounce of her determination to finish this song for Applejack. She had told herself she wouldn't cry, but in the end she cared far too much to not do so.


And all will turn, t-to silver glass,
A-A light on the waters,
That your ship will pass,
Into the West.


"I love you Applejack, but we have to say goodbye fer now. T-Till I can hold you safe in my arms, again." Dash promised through sobs, her face soaked with tears she leaned down and gave a final quick kiss to her love's lips before retreating.

At this point the entire crowd watching began to applaud as they cried right along with Rainbow Dash. It didn't matter that they were fillyfoolers in that moment because what the cyan mare just did, showed everyone that they had truly loved one another without a second thought. As Applebloom, Big Mac, and Granny Smith were applauding they came to the front of the procession to join her. It was time to return Applejack's body to the planet.

Rainbow Dash looked to them, then back to her love one last time before reaching up, and grabbing the open lid of the coffin saying words she never wanted to say, "Goodbye Jackie. Till we meet again." and with that the mare slowly closed the door shut on her love for the last time.

The rest of the family gathered together to lay her down, Dash included. They picked up the coffin carried it to the grave and gently lowered her in, and covered her with a final offering of fresh apple blossoms. No one could explain how they were still so fresh at this time of year, but none-the-less it seemed a fitting miracle to go with the emerald eyed beauty they had all lost. 

Once all the guests had filed out of the graveyard Braeburn and Big Mac stayed behind to do the hardest task of filling the grave. Yet it was here Rainbow lingered, and it was for the sole reason that she had to help them. She walked over, grabbed a shovel, and began to help them fill the hole before them. Neither of the stallions tried to stop her, they knew she had to do this just as much as either of them did. Because, the cyan mare didn't want to go to the wake and social afterwards, all she wanted to do was go home and cry.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Three months later...

It had been a long hard road for the rainbow maned mare since Applejack's funeral, but overall she couldn't complain. Thing's had been rather peaceful around Ponyville of late. Although there had been the occasional disappearance every month, but every time the pony turned up not knowing where they had been. Rainbow Dash had barely woken up and it was probably sometime around noon, good thing it was her day off from the sandwich shop.

She had gone to work for Signature Sandwich at Harmony Breads & Cafe as a server a week after the funeral. She had needed something to keep her mind active, and that had proven to be exactly what she needed. Yet she still had those days where she would come home and fall asleep crying, but they had grown much less frequent over time.

She stumbled through the living room to the front door of her house and stepped outside to be greeted by the bright sun. It was a Friday, and she had just one mission on Fridays; to get the paper and laze around the rest of the day. She walked outside, quickly located the paper, and bolted back inside to get some food, but most importantly, some coffee in her system.

As she crossed the kitchen, she threw the paper on the table near her home phone before heading over to the coffee maker and hitting the on switch. It began to bubble and heat quickly working on her precious morning brew. It was the only cup she could ever manage to drink, but it was an essential part of her morning all the same. Once she had a bowl of cereal ready on the table and a cup of coffee she sat down to enjoy a drink of said coffee as she opened the paper up.

That coffee stayed in her mouth a very short time though, as she spit it out in shock and disbelief at what she read on the crime page in front of her. It read:


Pinkamina Diane Pie Admits To Being The Cause Of The Recent String of Disappearances! 
The pink mare has even admitted to there being a dead victim as a result of her actions! She made her confession at the Ponyville Psychiatric Hospital of the Sun yesterday evening around midnight. The mare has been admitted to ward B under strict watch with an indefinite term of evaluation and treatment forthcoming.
Sadly the victim, Berry Punch(27 y.o.), mentioned earlier was found at a yet undisclosed location by the police. But it has given proof of the once lovable pink party mare of Ponyville, being a murderer.


"N-No Pink's, it can't be!" Dash paused with fear in her mind. "You can't have broken down this far from what Gilda did. Why didn't you get help sooner, why didn't we get you help sooner?"

Well this morning was officially going great, now she was going to have to go make sure Pinkie was okay. As well as how bad her mind had fractured since last they spoke. Now thinking about it though, no pony had seen Pinkie since they discovered Applejack was dead. Rainbow had done everything she could to find her the day after the funeral but had turned up no results. It was sad to know she had finally lost her grip on reality, but maybe the cyan mare could bring her back somewhat.

It was at this time that her doorbell rang out, distracting her from the bad news.

"What the, I'm not expecting guests. Who could that be?" Dash said getting up from her chair in the kitchen and heading for the door. "Hold on, I'll be there in a second!"

As she reached the door she opened it, blinded again for a second. As her eyes adjusted she saw a pony she never thought she would see again, Spitfire.

"Oh really, what are you even doing--" she started in discontent turning away.

"Dash wait!" the ginger mare cried. "Just give me a chance, please."

Something seemed different about the once overly forward Captain so Dash gave her a chance to explain herself.

"Thank you Dash, I came to apologize for my arrogant actions months ago." the captain looked absolutely genuine, surprising. "I treated you in such a disgusting manner, and I deserved the lashing you gave me completely. Cause every word you said...was true."

"So what Spitfire, you came here seeking redemption or something?" the cyan mare scoffed.

She shifted from side to side, "Well I guess you could say that, but it's really a part of my rehabilitation process."

Rainbow had a double take moment, "Come again? You got thrown into rehab?"

"No." she started seriously. "I checked myself in actually, and it has been the best and hardest months of my life."

"Okay so that doesn't quite explain why you're here still. It can't just be to apologize." she retorted in utter bewilderment.

The Wonderbolt sighed and answered, "No Dash it really is that simple, I have to start by apologizing to those I've wronged through my behavior. I wronged you pretty bad, and in front of..." she stopped cold.

Dash pinched the bridge of her nose, "Just say it Spitfire."

"...in front of your marefriend. I only recently heard about that, and I must say I'm truly sorry to hear about it. She actually seemed like a great mare. A much better individual than I was at the time." now the ginger maned mare seemed almost deflated in personality.

As she looked at the mare in front of her she realized she wore plain clothes and that look of windswept hair was gone, giving way to short, shoulder length, straightened, copper hair. Every time she made contact with Spitfire's amber eyes, she could see actual sincerity where there used to be none. Where ever the pegasus had gone for her rehabilitation, her therapist was doing an amazing job with her! There were still flashes of her dominant spark, but now she was using it in a much less aggressive and derogatory way.

"Anyways Rainbow." she looked up at her, cool determination in her amber eyes. "I've still got a lot of ponies I have to go apologize and make amends with before I can sleep tonight. So I'll see you later."

The Wonderbolt captain was acting like her old self again as she turned and started to walk away. A small thought occurred to Dash in this moment, "Could this be the universe dropping something into my life that I need, or is this your doing Jackie?" She couldn't chance either one being wrong.

"Spitfire wait up!" she called and the ginger mare turned around a look of curiosity upon her face. "Can you give me a way to contact you again?"

The flamboyant ginger flier smiled warmly at Rainbow's sentiment, it was the softest the cyan mare ever saw Spitfire's expression. As she walked back over to her, the rainbow maned mare knew that she may have taken just the right risks for her life yet again.

"I hope you can approve of this Jackie. Cause I still have to carry on somehow."