> The AppleDash Project
>  by bookplayer
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Fillyfooler (Fall Weather Friends)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The run through the Whitetail Woods was exhilarating. By the time the sun was setting, and Applejack and Rainbow Dash made their way back to Sweet Apple Acres, they had to admit that they were a little tired.

They were halfway through the orchard when Applejack stopped, leaning against a tree. She was breathing heavily, and held up a hoof to Dash. “I gotta catch my breath.”

For just a second a smirk flashed across Dash's face, before her own exhaustion hit her and she flopped down in the grass next to the tree. “Yeah. A breather might be good.”

AJ  smiled at her friend. “Dash, I gotta tell ya', whatever foolishness we got up to, it's real nice havin' a friend who can keep up with me.”

“Thanks. You keep me on top of my game. I need that, if I'm ever gonna be a Wonderbolt.” She paused, then looked up at the sky. “And. . . I like having a friend I can just mess around with, too. That run reminded me why I do all this, ya know? It was fun.”

“Darn right it was. Reminded me of bein' a filly, just runnin' 'round the schoolyard with the colts, no real point in mind.”

“No other fillies to run with, huh?”

Applejack shrugged. “Not really. Rarity and her friends were mostly playin' dress up and pony dolls. What 'bout you? You have a lot of girls you were friends with?”

“Well. . . there was Fluttershy, but she was more like a little sister. I tried to get her to play with my action figures with me, but she kept worrying about them hurting each others feelings.” Dash grinned, remembering. AJ laughed a little.

The grin fell from Rainbow Dash's face, and she said a little more softly, “I always had one or two friends, but most of the other foals couldn't handle how awesome I was. They were always calling me Rainbow Crash and laughing at me.”

“I know how that feels, sugarcube. There was a while there where other foals were callin' me some mean things.”

“Like what?”

After Dash's behavior earlier, AJ wasn't so sure about trusting Dash with things that could hurt her. But Dash had trusted her first, so AJ traced her hoof in the dirt. “Fillyfooler. Ah was never sweet on a bunch of colts, ya' know.”

Dash gave her a little smile, “Yeah, I got that one a few times.”

“I reckon foals are gonna throw that at any filly that can out play the colts. That don't make it true.” She knew it didn't in Dash's case at least. Dash commented regularly, and sometimes lewdly, on certain male Wonderbolts. 

Applejack wasn't so sure about herself. There were stallions who were handsome, sure, but she'd never felt that spark. As for mares, she tried not to look at them too close since those names got tossed at her at school. But all those rainbows all over Dash made it pretty hard not to look, sometimes. 

Dash just laughed a little. “Of course not. Just because you're good at sports, that doesn't make you a fillyfooler.”

“Yup,” AJ said with a nod.

Dash went on, “And if you don't really care about girly things, that doesn't make you a fillyfooler, either.”

“No, it don't,” AJ agreed. “And if some mare's flank just kinda catches your eye, that don't do it neither.”

Dash looked at her, a little confused, and Applejack panicked for a moment. “I mean-”

“Nope, it doesn't,” Dash interrupted. She sounded casual as she said, “Heck, even if you thought about kissing a mare once or twice, just to see what it was like. . .”

“Then you still ain't a fillyfooler.” AJ nodded. She hadn't thought about that, but now that Dash mentioned it she felt herself staring to blush. “Um, right?”

Dash nodded, but she looked like she was sizing Applejack up. Then she got up and started flying back and forth between the rows of trees. 

“I can't sit still.” She said, but she was still staring at the ground.

“Is somethin' wrong?”

“Um- well- uh-” Dash stammered, then she took a breath and let it out slowly. She stopped in front of AJ, still looking at the ground. “What if there's this amazing mare, and you really really like her. . . like, when you're close to her you can hardly think? And you'll do the dumbest things just so she knows you're awesome, because it's the most important thing ever that she doesn't think you're a loser?” 

Applejack opened and closed her mouth a few times while things fell into place. Even when she thought she understood, she had no idea what to say.

“What do you think?” Dash pressed. 

Of the jumble of thoughts AJ was having, one stood out. So she blurted out, “I think you're a darn fool, actin' like you did!”

Rainbow Dash finally looked her in the eye to glare at her, “Hey, I never said-”

AJ put her hoof on Dash's mouth, cutting the pegasus off. “And, I think that might just make ya' a fillyfooler. And I think if you can stop actin' like a darn fool, I might be ready to try a little fillyfoolin' myself.”

As AJ took her hoof away, it was Dash's turn to be shocked into silence. So Applejack went on, “I'd be lyin' if I said you weren't a special pony, Rainbow Dash. And ya' didn't havta act like a school colt pullin' my mane for me to see that.”

“So. . . you'll go out with me?”

“Sure. Let's give it a whirl.”

Dash looked up to the sky. She seemed to spot something, and smiled at AJ. “Um, hold on just a minute.”

Zooming into the sky, the pegasus landed on a cloud about a hundred feet away. Then Applejack heard a very loud squeal, followed by shouts of “YES! SHE LIKES ME! SHE LIKES ME! I AM SO AWESOME!”

Seconds later, Dash landed in front of AJ with a relaxed smirk on her face. “So, next Friday?”

Applejack chuckled, knowing full well that going out with the puffed up little pegasus was going to try her patience something fierce, time and again. But she also had to figure that Dash was ambitious and determined, and could work her wings off when she wanted to. And most importantly, Dash would always come through for her. A pretty pegasus who was the element of loyalty wasn't something AJ could pass up.

“Next Friday sounds good. It'll give ya' time to get your mane gussied up,” Applejack said, smirking.

Dash smirked right back.“Yeah. And maybe you can run a brush through your tail for once.”

They looked at each other for around three seconds, then both burst out laughing.  

> Moving Slow (Suited for Success)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

 So far, the date had gone better than Applejack hoped. Rainbow Dash took her to the Ponyville High polo match against Cloudsdale, which was especially exciting because she'd never mentioned to Dash that she used to play for Ponyville High. AJ never got to see a game much anymore, between work on the farm and spending time with her friends, so it was a treat to cheer her lungs out for her old team. 

Over a late dinner they talked about the game, a mostly friendly discussion of the various ground, magic, and wing fouls that had been called or missed by the ref. It never got too heated, they were quick to remind one another that it was just a game, and neither of them were even on the teams.

Now the date was winding down. They were walking slowly back to Sweet Apple Acres, neither of them seemed to be in any hurry for the night to end. They were also closer than they usually walked, flanks brushing occasionally, each time sending a tiny chill up AJ's spine.

“So, second date?” Rainbow Dash asked casually.

“Sure. Yeah. I think I'd like that.” Applejack smiled at the pegasus.

Dash smiled back, but that turned to a teasing grin. “Maybe I'll take you someplace fancy, so you have to dress up.”

“Sweet Celestia, we done enough of that this week, haven't we?”

“Two fashion shows in two days is two too many. On the up side, you did look pretty cute in the dress Rarity designed. That other one, though. . .” Dash laughed and shook her head.

“Ya' mean the one I designed?”

“Yeah,” Dash said, trying to fight off full out laughter. “With that hat. And those-”

“It wasn't that bad!” She had liked it. There was no accounting for the taste of those fashion ponies.

“Galoshes!” Dash cried out, laughing to the point where they had to stop walking. “You wanted to wear galoshes to the Gala!”

Applejack tried to pout, but a smile was forcing itself on her face. Come to think of it, she really wasn't sure where she got that idea. But she wasn't about to let Dash get her laughs off of it. “Ya' know, I don't recall yours bein' much better there.”

“My outfit was awesome!” Dash protested, calming herself to the occasional snicker.

Applejack started to chuckle, “It looked like somethin' outta one’a them comic books!”

“So? Dressing like a superhero is appropriate for any occasion!” Dash said with a grin.

“So're galoshes!”

“That settles it,” Dash declared. “For our next date, you wear your red hat and galoshes, and I'll wear my superhero costume, and we'll go wherever we want because they're both perfect for anything!”

“I'm pretty sure the only place Rarity's gonna let us wear 'em is a cave or somethin'. And even then it better be a really dark cave.”

She felt Dash's wing rest on her back and squeeze her close. “Hey, I'm up for that if you are.”

Applejack caught the slightly leering smile on the pegasus and blushed. “On our second date? I ain't that kinda filly, Dash.”

The wing loosened its grip, but stayed draped casually over AJ's back as Dash smiled and said, “Sorry. . . you know I move fast.”

AJ smirked. “Ya' know, I hear that ain't always a good thing in these situations.”

“Hey! I didn't mean like that!”

“Well then you'll havta slow down and maybe you'll get to prove it one’a these days.”

Dash leaned over and whispered in her ear, “I can go as slow as you want.”

The feel of her breath and the brushing of their flanks made Applejack blush as much as the implied meaning. She was so focused on it that she was surprised when she looked up at the Sweet Apple Acres buildings. 

“Wow, we're here already?” Applejack said, looking at the house. 

“Guess so.” Rainbow Dash stared at the farmhouse for a minute, then her eyes went wide. She quickly pulled her wing away from AJ and started flying backwards away from the earth pony. “Uh. .  In that case. . . seeya!”

Applejack looked at her like she'd gone crazy, “Dash, you okay?”

“Yeah! Just gotta. . . uh. . . I have toast in the toaster, ya' see. ..  and. . .”

“What's got into you?” AJ asked, confused and a little hurt. “Not five minutes ago you were comin' on to me, and now ya' ain't even gonna kiss me g'night?”

“I- um-” She was still eyeing the farmhouse. Applejack looked at it, confused. It looked perfectly normal.

“You look like you're scared of the farmhouse. But ya' been here a million times, and you were fine when ya came to pick me-” A thought struck AJ, and she frowned. “Dash, just who let ya' in the house when ya' came to get me?”

“Big Mac.” Dash squeaked. 

“I thought so. And did that big lump say somethin' to ya then?”

“Um. . . yeah. . . He said if I liked my wings, I wasn't gonna lay a hoof on you. And there's a light on in the house and. . . I really like my wings, AJ.”

Applejack narrowed her eyes. “Oh hay and tarnation, wait'll I see him!” She took a deep breath, and her expression softened as she focused on the pegasus. “Look here, Dash, Macintosh ain't gonna do nothin' to ya. I'll take care’a my brother. You don't gotta be scared of him.”

“I'm not scared!” Dash said, landing and relaxing a little. “It's just. . . what the hay do you guys feed him? He's, like, twice my size!”

“Well I can tell ya' he'll be eatin' my hoof for what he said to ya'. But lemme worry 'bout that later, so we can finish our date. I was kinda hopin' you'd say g'night proper.”

With one last nervous glance at the farmhouse, Dash looked deeply into Applejack's eyes. Then Dash smirked and took a step towards her. “How proper do you want?”

Applejack smirked back. “Just proper 'nough for a first date.”

“Gotcha,” Dash said, as she closed the remaining space. For a few seconds their faces were inches apart, and Applejack could feel Dash's breath on her muzzle as she stared into those magenta eyes. Then she felt warm lips against hers and she closed her eyes to enjoy the sensation.

Dash was softer than she expected, and the kiss was chaste compared to ones AJ had seen other ponies give. But it ended with a teasing lick on her lips, and a nuzzle on her cheek that seemed to have lit a fire inside of her. 

She whispered, “Uh. . . what's second date proper like?”

“I'd show you buuuut. . . I'm trying this slow thing someone told me about,” Dash said with a huge, teasing grin. “I guess you'll have to wait and find out.”

AJ tried to quickly steal another kiss, but Dash was too fast, hopping backward through the air and leaving the earth pony leaning in awkwardly. 

“Rainbow Dash! You get that fancy tail back here!”

Dash was hovering in the air and laughing now. “It is an awesome tail, isn't it?”

Applejack darted forward and caught the end of Dash's tail in her mouth, yanking her from the sky. Spitting it out, she put a hoof on it to keep the stunned pegasus grounded. Dash looked shocked, and shook her head to clear it as she stood up as much as she could.

AJ leaned in and gently kissed Rainbow Dash again. This time she was the one pressing it just a little, her tongue just parting Dash's lips and meeting the tip of the pegasus's tongue.

Applejack pulled away, grinning at Dash's surprised expression. She winked. “G'night, sugarcube.”

Rainbow Dash just stood there with the expression frozen on her face as AJ trotted into the farmhouse.

Inside, Applejack happily leaned against the door as she closed it, thinking about kissing Rainbow Dash and feeling downright giddy. She was pretty sure this was that love stuff everypony was always talking about, and it was pretty darn good. 

Then she suddenly stood up and straightened her hat, heading upstairs. As she got to the second floor, she saw the light go out in Macintosh's bedroom, but that didn't stop her. She knocked at the door, and Mac opened it warily. “Heya, AJ.”

Applejack just glared at him. Neither of them spoke for a good minute, and AJ's face held her glare, while Mac's went from slightly embarrassed to downright scared. Finally, Applejack said, “You ever gonna butt in my love life again?”

“Nnope.”

“Right then. G'night.”
> Playing it Cool (Sonic Rainboom)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The party was huge. Everypony in town must have been there, and there were rainbow banners hung all around Sugarcube Corner. Rainbow Dash had just returned from her day with The Wonderbolts and she hadn't taken off her victory crown since Princess Celestia put it on her head. Every time she turned around somepony was congratulating her, and Scootaloo nearly fainted from excitement when Dash asked the filly to get her another cupcake.

In other words, all was right in Equestria, as far as Rainbow Dash was concerned.

On second thought, one thing was out of place. Dash's wing wasn't wrapped around a certain pretty orange earth pony she'd been seeing. For everything to be perfect, everypony at the party should know that not only was she the winner of the Best Young Flyer competition, and a hero for saving Rarity and the three Wonderbolts, but she was also cool enough to get a pony like Applejack to date her.

This was easy to fix. Rainbow Dash scanned the crowd for Applejack, and saw her standing and laughing with Twilight and Fluttershy. They hadn't mentioned their dates to their friends yet, but this was the perfect time. 

Rainbow Dash flew through the crowd with style, like she owned the place, and stopped right in front of Applejack. Before AJ had a chance to speak, Dash leaned forward and kissed her lips. 

She wasn't expecting Applejack to hop backwards with a look of shock on her face, almost running into Pinkie.

“Woah there!” AJ cried nervously.

“Applejack, are you okay?” Twilight asked, obviously confused by the scene.

“She's fine,” Dash said with a wave of her hoof. “We've been going out! Right AJ?”

“Uh, yeah. . .” Applejack said, her cheeks turning slightly pink.

Twilight looked mildly surprised, “Going out? Like, dating?”

“Did somepony say dating?” Rarity appeared as if summoned. She glanced between the pegasus and earth pony who were the center of the groups attention. “You two?”

“This is so exciting!” Pinkie squealed, hugging the first pony she could get her hooves on, which happened to be Applejack. Applejack managed to pry herself free, still blushing as she straightened her hat. 

“We're very happy for you.” Fluttershy said softly, a gentle smile on her face.

“Oh, true love! How romantic!” Rarity sighed, “When did this happen? Oh! Your little race thing must have been a lovers quarrel!”

“Lovers?!”Applejack exclaimed, “Lands sake, we only been datin' a couple weeks!”

“Of course I didn't mean it like that, dear. You're both proper- well, you're both ladies at least. But go on. . . details!”

AJ shook her head, but Rainbow Dash went on regardless, “Well, after that race we were talking and I guess she was pretty impressed with me, I mean, who wouldn't be? So when I asked her out, she couldn't wait-”

“Rainbow Dash? I'm not sure that Applejack wants to talk about this right now,” Twilight pointed out nervously.

“Yeah, she looks kinda like she's gonna explode!” added Pinkie.

“What? Why wouldn't she want to talk about how she caught the Best Young Flyer in Equestria?” Dash said with a grin, but glancing at Applejack revealed the truth of their friends words. 

Applejack's cheeks were close to the color of the apples in her cutie mark, and her green eyes were shooting daggers at Dash. There was a tension in her demeanor her that indicated that either steam would shoot out of her ears or something was going to get bucked. 

Through gritted teeth and an extremely fake smile, AJ said. “Dash, we gotta talk. Alone.”

Rainbow Dash nodded, but she was confused as she followed Applejack outside and down the street a little ways. Everything tonight had be going perfectly, and she hadn't even meant to make AJ mad this time. She went over what she had done, but none of it seemed out of line. This party was for her after all, who here wouldn't want her to kiss them, or let the whole town know that they were dating a champion and bone fide hero?

When they were well clear of the ponies coming and going from the party Applejack stopped and turned to Dash, glaring accusingly. “Why'd you go and embarrass me like that?” 

“How was that embarrassing? I was just telling them about us.” Dash asked, but she was getting a little angry by now. This was her party, and Applejack was acting all weird all of a sudden.

“What's between us is our personal business, Rainbow Dash. And I don't appreciate you tellin it to everypony in town!”

“So you don't want them to know you're dating me? What happened to honesty?” Dash shot back.

“Honesty is darned important, but that don't mean you gotta tell your friends every time you use the bathroom. Some things are your own business, and for me that includes my love life.”

“Why? I know you're not shy.” Dash said, then her face softened as she had a thought. "Are you afraid ponies will tease you like when you were a foal? Cause if they do, I'll-” She held up her hooves, ready to defend Applejack, but the earth pony cut her off.

“It ain't that. I don't care if everypony knows we're datin'. I just was hopin' we could tell 'em quite sometime, so they wouldn't all make a big deal outta it.” 

Dash was stunned. The idea of not making a big deal out of something as awesome as this was completely foreign to her.

Applejack had calmed down by now, and went on, “I'm a down-to-earth kinda pony, Dash, and I'm proud of that. I don't like folks thinkin' I've gone all moony-eyed and mushy over you. . . even if sometimes I kinda am.”  

Dash smiled. Pride was something she understood. Of course, so was taking AJ down a peg or two. “Moony-eyed and mushy, huh?”

“I said sometimes." AJ pointed out. "Don't you let that go to your head.”

“How mushy? Like, writing sappy love poetry? Oh! I know! I bet you've got a picture of me and you look it before you go to bed every night!”

“I don't even got a picture of you!” Applejack protested.

“I can get you one. You can kiss it.” Dash said, giggling. She pretended to cuddle a picture and said in an awful version of AJ's accent, “Oh Rhainbow, Ah luv ya so much!”

“You're provin' my point.” Applejack said, dryly. 

“I was joking!”

“I know, but Rarity wasn't with all’a that romance stuff. I know she means well, and none of my friends would make fun of me.” She glanced at Dash and rolled her eyes, “Well, 'cept the one I'm datin', Celestia help me. But now ya' see where my problem is, ya' think you could keep this stuff between us?” 

“I guess I can live with that. But since I don't get to kiss you around our friends, you owe me extra kisses when we're alone. It's only fair.” Rainbow Dash looked into Applejack's eyes and gave what she hoped was a charming smile.

AJ's serious expression melted into a smile, “I reckon I can part with a few extra kisses.”

She leaned forward and touched her lips softly to Dash's. When they parted, she said “That one's for bein' the best flier in all Equestria. Even though I coulda told ya' that before.”

Rainbow Dash smiled. “I've gotta find more contests to win.”

Applejack kissed her again softly. “And that one's for bein' so understandin' bout me wantin' this kept quiet.”

“Nopony will notice a thing,” Dash agreed happily.

Then Applejack kissed her a third time, as deeply as she could. For Dash the world fell away, and there was nothing that mattered more than Applejack's soft lips and gentle tongue.

When AJ pulled away, she whispered, “And that one's for never mentionin' me bein' mushy over you, ever again.”

“Uh-huh.” Dash nodded, dazed. Then she came to her senses. “Hey, that one was a trick!”

“You fell for it,” Applejack said, grinning over her shoulder as she started back towards the party.  

“Dumb 'sensible ponies' and their amazing kisses,” Dash muttered, smiling as she flew to catch up with AJ.



When they reentered the party, they spotted their friends in a group, glancing at them and looking worried. AJ made her way through the crowd as Dash flew behind her. Appearently their friends noticed their smiles right away, because all four of them looked releaved as Dash and AJ joined them.   

Twilight smiled at Applejack. “So I guess you guys worked things out?”

Applejack nodded. “As we were sayin', me and Rainbow Dash are kinda seein' each other, but we'd rather not make a big deal over it. Right Dash?”

“Yeah. We're playing it cool,” Dash said, crossing her front legs with a nod.

AJ glanced at Rarity. “That means no details. Not a one. Alla that's between me and Dash.”

“Very well, dear. But if either of you need any advice, or if you need to beautify yourselves for a date. . .” Rarity paused, considering the likelihood of this. “You're never going to talk to me about this, are you?”

Applejack smirked and shook her head.

Rarity sighed, “Well, I'm here if you need me.”

“We all are,” Twilight added.

“But we completely understand that you need your privacy,” Fluttershy said with an empathetic smile towards Applejack.

Pinkie started to nod, then gasped and darted away.

“Um, what do ya think that meant?” AJ asked, a little worried.

Dash shrugged. “It's Pinkie. Who knows?”



* * *


The next day, Rainbow Dash received a strange invitation for that evening. She had no idea why Pinkie might be throwing a party at 8 o'clock in the park, but she had no idea why Pinkie did most things. Dash had been feeling a little down all day, the highs of winning and celebration were starting to fade, so she was kind of glad for the distraction.

She got there on time, and there was a picnic blanket and basket with a lantern for light, but the only other pony there was a very confused Applejack. Dash had to smile when she saw her.

“What's this?”

“Dunno. I got this here invitation from Pinkie, but I don't see her anywhere.”

Rainbow Dash flew around the blanket, checking it out. She spotted a note on the picnic basket.

She got closer and read out loud:


“Surprise! This is a very, very private and not a big deal, 'Congratulations on finding a special somepony who's one of your best friends!' party, just for Rainbow Dash and Applejack! Have fun!
Love, 
Pinkie Pie
PS: Last night I gasped 'cause I was like 'I should throw a party! But they don't want a party! So I should throw a very very private party that's just for them!' then I ran away because I had to get the party ready then I remembered that I was AT a party then-”


Dash stopped reading and looked up, “It goes on like that for the rest of the page.”

“Well if that don't beat all!” Applejack said in happy surprise, sitting on the blanket.

Dash just grinned and landed on the blanket next to AJ. She wrapped a wing around Applejack and smiled at the whole scene. “You know, I have the coolest friends and the coolest marefriend. My life is awesome.”
> Foal Stuff (The Show Stoppers)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

At first Dash hadn't been thrilled with the idea of going to see the Crusaders talent show, but AJ convinced her that it was really important to Scootaloo. Dash was glad of that, because while AJ was dying of second-hand embarrassment, Dash had never enjoyed a performance quite that much. 

She'd been expecting some lame foals thing, maybe with a boring pop song, but now she knew she should have had more faith in Scoot. Dash knew it had been a good idea to give the kid her old MISS albums. The sight of three completely serious school fillies doing arena rock, combined with their amazing lack of talent, was like watching “This is Saddle Tap” live. It had been no problem telling the kid how cool it was after that.

Plus they got the kids good and sugared up at Sugarcube Corner afterward, and shoved them off on Rarity for a sleepover that Dash laughed just thinking about. She was pretty sure the Crusaders were tiny blurs of pure adrenaline by this point, she couldn't have planned a better prank. It would probably be best for Rarity to lock herself in her room and deal with the destruction in the morning.

Dash was walking AJ back to Sweet Apple Acres, actually walking to be as close as she could to her earth pony. She was still laughing occasionally at memories of the performance. AJ seemed to be in a good mood too, since the fillies were happy with their comedy medals. 

“Ya know, I wouldn't of pegged ya' as the type to be good with foals, but it was real nice how you went on over Scootaloo tonight.” Applejack said with a smile.

Rainbow Dash shrugged, “What can I say? Foals usually don't do much for me, but Scoot's a pretty awesome little filly. I'm kind of glad she looks up to me, it's cool getting to see her do stuff like this sometimes.”

“I know just how ya' feel.” Applejack said as she brushed closer to Dash.

Dash laughed again, thinking of what the kids were probably like now.“But, it's also cool that I get to send her somewhere else when she's driving me nuts.”

“Sometimes I wish I knew how that felt.” Applejack chuckled. Then she shook her head, smiling. “But ya' know, I wouldn't trade havin' Apple Bloom 'round for anythin' in the world. 'Sides, it's good practice for when I have foals of my own.”

“And Scootaloo's great practice for when I have a bunch of fans,” Dash said with a smile.

“You think that's somethin' you really need to work at? I'd think it'd come pretty natural.”

Dash grinned. “I doubt it's as hard as being a mom, but it's a lot more fun to practice.”

“Well, I think you're gonna make a great ma someday, practice or no.” AJ said with a soft smile.

Dash laughed, “I doubt it.”

“You're too hard on yourself. By that time-”

“By what time, AJ?” Dash asked, still laughing a little. “I'm not having a kid now, and I'm not gonna take time off from being a Wonderbolt to have kids. And that's if there was even a stallion in the picture, right now I've got this pretty mare who's all I can think about. . . yeah, there's probably not gonna be time for a foal in my life.”

Applejack was quiet for a minute. “Don't that make ya' sad?”

Dash shrugged, “Not really? Like I said, foals don't do much for me.”

“Oh.” Applejack said. She seemed a little confused by the idea.

Dash was a little confused by something, too. “AJ, if you want kids, how are you gonna do that if you're not into stallions?”

AJ shrugged a little, “I ain't really thought that far. Right now it's just daydreams, stuff I'll do someday.”

Dash nodded, “I know how that is. Like when I plan out stuff I'm gonna do with The Wonderbolts. There're a lot of steps between now and then.”

“Yeah.” Applejack said quietly. 

There was a short silence, and Dash felt like she had to make conversation. “So . . . if you haven't thought about how, what have you thought about your kids?”

“How I'd raise 'em, what I'd teach 'em.”

Dash smiled, "Yeah? How would you raise a foal?”

AJ looked up in thought, and Dash couldn't have cared less about foals. Applejack's eyes caught the moonlight, and the pegasus could have stared at them for hours. “Well, like I was raised, I suppose. I'd teach 'em how to buck apples and bake, and how to do right by their family and friends. I'd like to watch 'em run through the orchards and play in the yard. The good life, ya' know?”

“That sounds cute.”

She was met with silence. After a minute, Dash realized that the eyes she had been staring at were looking at her expectantly, as if Dash was supposed to say something else.

Dash reviewed AJ's words, trying to think of how she was supposed to respond. 

“Um. . . your foals will be really cute.” Dash tried.

“Thanks.” AJ said quietly.

That was not it, apparently. “I think you'll make an awesome mom.”

AJ sighed. “Thanks.”

Still not it. It was time for plan B: Distraction.

“So, uh, trip to Appleloosa tomorrow! That's gonna be fun, right?”

Dash was watching Applejack closely. AJ gave her a little glare, then just sighed. Thinking that her distraction had failed miserably, Dash tried to come up with another one.

But then AJ looked up and smiled. They'd reached the apple orchard, and AJ started down a path that lead away from the farm house.

“Where are we going?” Dash asked, now lagging a little behind. “You know you live that way, right?”

Applejack nodded, “I just wanted to say g'night to Bloomberg.” 

“Who's Bloomberg?” Dash asked, confused.

“The apple tree we're takin'. We're diggin' 'im up tomorrow.” AJ explained.

Dash felt like every answer she got made less sense. “And you wanted to say good night. . . to an apple tree?” 

“Well, yeah. I'm gonna miss 'im.”

“It's a tree, AJ.” Dash said flatly. 

“I know darn well he's a tree! He's onea the best trees in my orchard.”

“It's not a he. It's an it. A tree is an it.”

“Now there's no reason to be rude.” Applejack said as she walked over to a tree that looked, to Dash, exactly like every other apple tree. “In't dat wight, Bwoomberg. You'd never say anythin' mean to Dash, nah, yous a powite twee.”

Dash stopped across the path from AJ. “Applejack. First, I'm not being rude to your tree, because it's a tree, and you can't be rude to a tree. Second, your tree isn't polite or rude, because it's a TREE!”

An apple fell from the tree Dash was standing under, bouncing off her head and rudely disproving her point. 

AJ just snorted, and turned her attention back to Bloomberg. 

Dash waited a minute, fuming a little, before finally saying loud and clear, “Well, guess I'm going home. Bye!”

“Bye.” AJ called back, but she didn't look around. She cooed some more to the tree, and Dash could have sworn she saw AJ give the tree a little kiss.

Dash took off, flapping hard on her way home. It wasn't quite as therapeutic as stomping, but it had the benefit of actually making the trip faster.

Dash wasn't exactly sure what had happened. But she did know that her marefriend was acting really weird, and that she was being ignored in favor of a tree. Neither of these things put her in a good mood as she started to get ready for the trip to Appleloosa. 
> A Way Through (Over A Barrel)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Applejack sat on the back platform of the caboose, watching the desert flash by. Her friends were all inside, but she had a lot to think about. She'd made up with Dash, she guessed. Or they'd made up for the fight they technically had, over the buffalo's stampeding grounds. But the problem Applejack had noticed before they left was still there.

She was the element of honesty, she'd never lie, but she did have a very hard and fast definition of what was her business and what was other ponies business. Something worrying her that nopony could change was her business, her problem to deal with. That was clear.

But these past few days had shown her all too well what could happen if ponies weren't open enough with their problems. And they had shown her that there are ways out of even the toughest places. And she had Pinkie's darn song stuck in her head, and she likely wasn't getting it out without somepony to distract her. 

She was relieved the hear the door behind her open, and even more to hear Rainbow Dash's voice.

“Hey.”

“Howdy. Can ya' sit a spell? I need a word with ya',” she said, still looking at the desert.

“That's why I came out here.” Dash sat down next to AJ. Applejack felt the pegasus's wing twitch, but it didn't wrap around her. Instead Dash just looked at her, “What's wrong?”

“I oughta admit. . . was a little upset with ya' already, before we even left for Appleoosa.”

Dash nodded. “You know, I kinda figured that when you spent a few days talking to a tree and didn't say anything to me.”

“Well, I was wrong to act like that. It wasn't even your fault.” She sighed, “Remember the other night, when we were talkin' bout foals? You were sayin' you didn't want 'em, cause of joinin' The Wonderbolts, and I was sayin' how I did one day?”

“Hold up! You're saying this is because I don't want foals? AJ, I-”

“No, it ain't just that. It's you and The Wonderbolts and me and Sweet Apple Acres. I been fallin for ya', and I plumb forgot. . . it can't last. You're gonna fly off and join The Wonderbolts one day, and I ain't about to leave my farm and run off chasin' rainbows. Rememberin' that made me a bit prickly, and I couldn't see a way out.” Applejack sighed. She glanced over at Dash, who was starting to look panicked by the conversation. 

AJ gave her a nuzzle on the cheek and went on. “But then this here trip got me thinkin'. . . maybe we'll find a way through this. Maybe one day we can find a compromise we can both live with. And maybe it's worth takin' that chance. What do ya' think?”

Dash gave a relieved sigh and smiled. “AJ, where's my house?”

Applejack stared at her for a second, confused by the question. “You went and lost it? I knew that was gonna happen onea these days! That's the first thing I thought when I saw it floatin' up there, that thing's just gonna blow off one day, and-”

She stopped because Dash was laughing at her. “You are such an earth pony. That's not how cloud houses work, AJ. I'm pretty sure it's where I left it, which is. . .?”

“Ponyville?”

Dash nodded, “Right. And where do all of my friends live?”

“Ponyville.”

“Yup. And where will I always be able to find you?”

Applejack just smiled, understanding what Dash was getting at.

Rainbow Dash smiled too. “Right. No matter what happens I'll be around Ponyville as much as I can, and I'll always be there whenever you need me. Of course we can find a way through.”

Applejack grinned, “Thanks, sugarcube. You sayin' that makes me a lot more sure.”

“And, for the record? I said I didn't want to have foals. That's like, a year per kid I'd have to take off from being a Wonderbolt. I never thought about being a mom if somepony I love wanted to have the foals. . . but that sounds like it might be a pretty cool deal, someday.”

Applejack smiled and nuzzled Dash's cheek, “I still think you'd make a good ma. Maybe not quite as good as me, but-”

Dash grinned and kissed AJ's nose, “Oh, it's on now.”

Applejack laughed, “We got a ways to go before we buck them apples.”

“Yeah. And plenty of time until then, just you and me running and playing and-” Dash finished by kissing AJ on the neck.

“Mmm. . .” Applejack moaned softly, closing her eyes and nuzzling Dash as the pegasus kissed and nibbled on her.

Dash pulled away a little, and grinned.“Yeah, lots of 'mmm.'”

Applejack caught Dash's lips, putting her weight behind the kiss and forcing the entirely willing pegasus to lay back on the platform. Dash wrapped her forelegs around Applejack, running her hooves over her marefriend's body until they reached her flank. 

Applejack felt a hoof run over her cutie mark and broke the kiss quickly, “If you think we're doin' that on the back of a movin' train, you lost your darn mind.”

Dash smirked. “Can't blame a pony for trying.”

“Hooves in front of the cutie mark, or I'll buck ya offa here.”

“Got it.” Dash said, as Applejack's lips met hers again, and the two settled into nice long make out session.

By the time they looked up, laying in one anothers legs, the scenery had changed and Celestia was lowering the sun in the sky. There was still enough light to see the green hills and farmland, and those warmed Applejack's heart. It meant that they were closer to home, closer to her farm and family, closer to where she belonged. She smiled and sighed in happy contentment.

Dash grinned at her, “Kissing usually makes everything better, doesn't it?”

“It ain't just that. I'm just happy to be near the fields I know again. But I'm glad I got the chance to see the desert, and go runnin' with you and that buffalo gal.”

“Yeah, Little Strongheart is cool. I think she had a crush on me,” Dash said with a little smile.

AJ eyed Rainbow Dash, “What's that supposed to mean?”

“It's not like I did anything.” Dash laughed. “Just that I probably could've done something if I didn't have a marefriend already.”

“So, is that why you were so quick to side with the buffalo?” Applejack asked, a little accusingly.

“No. It was totally unfair what was happening to the buffalo. But also.  . . I really hated that tree.” Dash admitted.

“Bloomberg?” Applejack asked in surprise, “How could ya' hate Bloomberg?

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “You spent three days talking to it! And the other night in the orchard, the tree got a good night kiss and I didn't!”

“You're sayin' you were jealous?”

“No!” Dash protested. “Well, maybe a little.”

Applejack side eyed her. “He's a tree, Dash.”

Dash pouted a minute, then smirked, “Hey, we haven't gotten past heavy petting, I don't know what kinda stuff you're into.”

Applejack's mouth fell open as her brain refused to understand Dash's implication. “What do ya'. . .  How's that. . . That's. . . I think I'm just gonna pretend you didn't say that.”

Dash started giggling, “No, I understand. It's lonely on the farm, and there's this big strong apple tree-”

“I'm not listenin' to you!” AJ said, rising to her hooves.

“A pony has urges after all.” Dash said. 

AJ opened the door and started back into the train, “I wonder if Pinkie wants to sing that song again. It's better than thinkin' 'bout this.”

“Hope you use protection! You don't wanna get splinters!” Dash called, rolling on the platform with laughter as AJ slammed the door behind her.
> Catching Rainbows (The Cutie Mark Chronicles)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

That afternoon was especially happy for the six friends at Sugarcube Corner. The discovery of their special connection to one another seemed to make their normally friendly conversation something magical, like sitting there and talking and laughing with each other was exactly where they all belonged.

Rainbow Dash felt a special pride at having been the pony responsible for all of them getting their cutie marks, but that was overshadowed by something bigger. She already knew there was something amazing between the six of them, they were the elements of harmony after all. It occurred to her that maybe she hadn't done that sonic rainboom, at least not by herself. If they were fated to be friends, maybe that sonic rainboom just happened by magic, to show her who she really was just like it showed her friends. 

Of course, she'd never admit to thinking like that. It would be one less sonic rainboom to her credit after all. It had to be a fact in her mind: Rainbow Dash had done a sonic rainboom before AJ could even buck an apple tree.

As the group split up early that evening, Applejack smiled at her as they stepped out of Sugarcube Corner, “We gotta few hours before sundown. Care for a run?”

“Sounds awesome.” Dash said, falling in step with AJ.

Her connection to AJ was different from the one she had with the rest of her friends. It wasn't as flashy as glowing elements or a sonic rainboom. It was just a partnership. They were both tough ponies who had each others backs, they could laugh at the things that drove them crazy about each other, and there were so many little things they didn't have to explain, they just understood. From the beauty of a coat and mane messy from hours of exertion, to the nagging tension of an unmet challenge, they were on the same page. 

The kisses were a bonus. A really awesome bonus.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack trotted to the edge of town, then took off running to the Whitetail Woods. They didn't have to ask, they both knew they were going there. The winding trails belonged to them, together.

As they entered the shade of the forest, Applejack fell behind Dash. Dash looked back at her, a little worried at first. But she didn't seem to be tired or hurt, just holding back on her speed. 

“Checking out my flank?” Dash teased.

“I got a healthy appreciation.” Applejack replied. 

Rainbow Dash sped up a little, a sprint to the next bend in the path. AJ was right behind her, but didn't even try to get ahead. Dash was starting to get suspicious that the earth pony was up to something.

“You're losing your touch. I've been in the lead this whole run!”

“It's that pacin' thing Twilight told us 'bout. I'm lettin' you wear yourself out, but I still got some speed in me.”

“Yeah, right.” Dash smirked, and waved the end of her tail in AJ's face. “I thought you weren't the type of pony to chase rainbows?

Dash could hear the smile in AJ's voice as she answered,“I guess I learned today that some rainbows are worth chasin'.”

Dash grinned over her shoulder, “Yeah? What happens if you catch one?”

“This.” AJ said with a burst of speed and a leap forward, tackling Dash. The two rolled a few feet, landing with Applejack on top of Rainbow Dash, pinning her to the ground. 

AJ laughed, “You're good and caught now.” She kissed the pegasus on the lips, then the cheek, then down her neck.

Dash grinned and relaxed, “If I'd known this would happen, I'd let you catch me more often.”

Applejack smirked, “Let me catch ya? Ha!”

“You really think you could just tackle me like that? I totally planned this.” Dash knew that AJ's weight was more than enough to keep her on the ground, so she moved her forehooves behind her head and smiled like this was exactly where she wanted to be.

“Yeah? What's the next part of the plan, then?” Applejack teased.

“See what you'll do." She said casually. "More kisses would be nice.”

AJ laughed and kissed Dash's lips again, “You're a pain in my rump.”

“You love it.” Dash said with a teasing grin. But AJ didn't respond. She was just smiling down at Dash.

Rainbow Dash stared up into those big green eyes, and decided that they were probably the most beautiful thing in the world. Sure there were sunsets and gem stones and flowers and stuff, but none of those things had any feeling behind them. Dash felt like in those eyes she could see all of AJ's warmth and humor and affection, and that made them more beautiful than anything else.

“I love you, Rainbow Dash.”

Dash grinned. “I know. It's in your eyes. You have no poker face, you know that?”

Before AJ could say anything, Dash leaned up and kissed her. As their lips parted, Dash continued, “And I love it. I love you too, Applejack.”

Applejack smiled, but it turned quickly to a smirk. “Well now, if you think ya' can read me so well, I reckon ya' already know what else I was gonna say.”

Dash studied Applejack's face, with the teasing smile AJ was wearing there was no hint. But Dash wasn't about to admit that. “You love me and. . . you think I'm the most awesome pony in all Equestria?”

“I think you got the biggest head in all Equestria. But that wasn't what I was gonna tell ya'. This time, at least.” Applejack said, still smiling.

Dash shrugged, “Well, that's all I got right now. You'll just have to tell me.”

Applejack leaned down and whispered in Dash's ear, “I'm ready.”

“Ready? Ready for wha-” Dash said, then her eyes went wide as AJ nibbled her ear and she realized exactly what AJ was ready for. "Right now?"

"No, not now. We're in the middle of a path and the sun's still up. But maybe tonight-"

Dash shot out from under AJ and up into the sky. “YES! This pegasus is getting lucky tonight!

“Real romantic, Dash.” Applejack said, rolling her eyes.

“What can I say? I'm a charmer. That's why you love me, right?” She said, landing in front of AJ with a smile.

“Yeah, well, to be honest I dunno how lucky you're gettin', bein' as I never done this before. But you know I'll always do my best, and work hard 'til I get it right.” AJ said with a firm nod to her own statement.

Dash grinned, “It's been a while since I went all the way with a mare- well, another girl. But it's totally not that different from a colt. Just messier.”

“Dash, I meant I never done this before at all, with a mare or a colt. What we been doin' is the most I ever done.” 

Dash stared at AJ, confused and a little surprised. “Wait. You're a virgin?”

AJ frowned a little, “Go on and laugh. I was just waitin' for somepony special to come along, somepony I was really in love with. Between what all we talked 'bout on the way home from Appleloosa, and what we found out today, and how I feel 'bout you, I reckon I'm ready now.”

Laughter was not on Dash's mind. It should have been, under any other circumstances if Dash had found out that AJ was a virgin there would have been hours of teasing. But right now, her brain was replaying the conversation so far, and coming back with one message that was ringing through her mind and drowning out everything else: You can not mess this up. 

Dash's voice cracked as she asked, “Are you. . . sure you're a virgin?”

Applejack stared at her like she'd gone crazy, “Pretty darn sure.”

Dash nodded. “Right. I mean, you'd know. And you want to. . . with me?”

That made AJ chuckle. “Course I do. You been turnin' me on somethin' fierce since we first kissed. I just had to feel like it was more than that, like it was somethin' real.”

“Something real. . . right. I mean it is! This is totally real. And soon we're gonna make it really real. And. . . you don't need to worry, because I can take care of everything!” Dash pulled out every ounce of bravado she was capable of to make that sound like she was sure. She almost convinced herself.

Applejack just smiled with confidence. “I ain't worried, Dash. I love ya', and I trust ya'. So. . . do ya' wanna meet up tonight, or what?”

Dash considered that. Of course she wanted to meet up tonight, but where? Applejack lived with her family, and she couldn't very well come to Dash's place. Even if they got Twilight to use that spell, Dash didn't want her earth pony any more nervous than she had to be, and even if it was perfectly safe Dash could see how floating in the middle of the air might make somepony without wings a little tense.

There was the barn, or one of the far orchards at Sweet Apple Acres, but Dash didn't want AJ's first time to be like that, worried about bug bites or itchy hay or being caught by somepony. And Dash was still a little worried about being caught by Big Mac. Even though he hadn't said anything since their first date, Dash was pretty sure that if he caught her doing that to his sister, her wings were toast.

Finally, it came to her. A night fit for the two most awesome ponies in Equestria, and special enough to be AJ's first time. 

Dash grinned. “No, not tonight. I think we should wait a little bit longer. Like, say, after the Grand Galloping Gala, while we're in Canterlot! It'll be so cool, we'll be staying at the palace, we'll look amazing. . . the perfect end to the best night ever!”

AJ smiled, “If that's what you want, Sugarcube. It does sound like a nice idea.”
> Best Laid Plans (The Best Night Ever)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Warning: This fic contains one line of dialogue that takes place in the middle of. . . personal relations. Nothing else is described, and the line is set off by a line break, so if ponies doing that bothers you then you can skip that line and pick it up from context.)

Princess Celestia had been kind enough to offer all six Ponyville ponies a room in the palace after the Gala. She was even kind enough to sneak them back in to avoid any nasty looks they might have received for their parts in the events of the evening. 

The rooms weren't lavish, there were Very Important Ponies in town for the event who were staying in the fancy tower rooms. But the suite of three rooms, each with two beds, and bathroom and sitting room was more then welcoming to the six bedraggled ponies and their dragon companion.

Once they were inside, Rarity put her hoof to her forehead, “I, for one, am exhausted. What were those sleeping arrangements again, Twilight?”

“You and Fluttershy are in one room, Rainbow Dash and Applejack are in the second, and Spike, Pinkie and I will take the third.”

Applejack felt herself start to blush, wondering if any of them thought twice about putting her and Dash in the same room, but nopony seemed to notice. All of them were yawning and making their way to their rooms.

All of them except for Rainbow Dash, who had been a little jumpy since they returned to the palace. Applejack elbowed her in the side, “Wanna hit the hay?”

“Um. . . sure! Yeah, boy am I tired. Looong night.” Dash said, trying to blend in with the rest of the retiring ponies as she darted for the empty bedroom. Applejack just rolled her eyes and followed.

As soon as they were inside, AJ threw off her dress. “Well now, that was a night.”

“No kidding.” Dash said, tossing her own dress on the floor next to AJ's while Applejack shook the braids out of her mane and tail. Dash flew over to the bed and laid back. “That was not what I expected. What happened to your other boot?”

“There was a flyin' cake, a stampede of wild animals, the whole room darn near fell in. . . take your pick.” Applejack said as she got her remaining boot off and laid on the bed, nuzzling Dash's neck.

“AJ, are you sure you want to do this tonight?” Rainbow Dash asked, seeming worried.

Applejack stopped nuzzling and stared at Dash, “I told ya' weeks ago I was sure. I didn't change my mind cause of some dumb party.”

“I just don't want you to be nervous or anything. And with how tonight's been, I'm pretty sure we're due for an earthquake, or a flood, or, I don't know, can hurricanes happen in a bedroom?” Dash glanced around nervously.

Applejack chuckled, “Well it's a good thing I got my own weather pony, ain't it?”

“I'm serious, AJ. I just want this to be special for you, since you waited so long.” Dash said. And she did look serious, for once in her life.

“Is that what all this is about?” Applejack asked, surprised. “Dash, I tried to tell ya, I was only waitin' for it to feel right. And it feels right with you, so I don't care if it's perfect this time. I mean, it ain't like this is the only time we're gonna have sex, right?”

“Right. I mean, I hope.” Dash said, still sounding unsure.

Applejack smiled and started nibbling on Dash's neck again. “'Sides, if it don't go smooth, I reckon that just means we need some practice.”

Dash grinned, “I always like a good long practice session.”

“Then get on over here and gimme a work out.” Applejack pulled back as Dash rolled over on top of her.

“You want a work out, huh? Let's see if you can handle this.” Dash said, smiling as she reached over and turned out the light.




***



“Ooh Dash. . . Aw yeah. . . Yeah. . . YEAH. . . Oh my! I'm- unh!. . . YEEEEEE-HAAAAAAW!”



***




A few moments after her shout, Applejack laid back against the pillows, out of breath and blushing.

Dash was next to her, also out of breath, mostly from laughing her tail off for the past few minutes. "I can't believe you- that was- Yee-haw! I've never heard that one in bed before!"

"It wasn't that funny." AJ said, but she started to chuckle in spite of herself.

"It just. . . surprised me.” Dash said, her expression changing from amusement to worry. “So that was good, right?"

"It was amazin'. Least, until I went and embarrassed myself." Applejack blushed even more deeply. "Sorry 'bout that, I guess I got a bit carried away."

"What? That's not embarrassing." Rainbow Dash grinned. "It's just funny. Ponies do funny stuff all the time during sex. Now this one time I was with another pegasus and his feathers kept getting in my face, and I sneezed all over him, right in the middle of it. That was embarrassing."

Applejack cringed, "I can sure see how that'd be embarrassin'. . . thanks for keepin' your feathers outta my face."

"Don't mention it.” Dash replied with a grin. “But stuff ponies say, and faces they make, well, everypony's a little goofy during sex. And none of them are as cute as my cowpony."

"You're just sayin that." Applejack said, blushing.

"Nope! Totally cute." Rainbow Dash leaned against Applejack and started kissing her neck.

"Ya' really think?" AJ smiled and gently ran a hoof over Dash's shoulders.

“I think I can't wait to give you another ride.” Dash said, then she looked up and smirked,  “But you have to wear your hat next time. And we'll have a talk about the lasso later.”

“Hey now, what this talkin' bout me? I never even got a chance to get my hooves on you.” Applejack kissed Dash, moving her hooves down Dash's back to the base of her wings.

“Mmm. . . I guess I can wait a little while.” Dash said as she flared her wings.

Applejack smiled and ran her hooves gently over the wings, to the tips. “Good, cause I wanna see what funny noises I can get you to make.”



***



The next morning, after a short but comfortable night's sleep, Applejack was awake. She sat on the bed tying her mane and tail in her red ribbons. She felt great, her activities with Rainbow Dash were a wonderful way to work off the stress left over from the Gala. And when she closed her eyes she could still feel lips and feathers and hooves everywhere, which sent a happy shiver up her spine.

Dash rolled over, mumbling next to her.

Applejack just grinned and said cheerfully, “Rise and shine, everypony's up already.”

“Mmmph. How do you know?” Dash asked, her face still in the pillow.

“I can hear 'em rustlin' 'round in there.”

Dash shot straight up, hovering over the bed, her eyes wide.

“So now you're up. What's got into you?” Applejack asked, surprised.

Dash landed on the bed, still slightly panicked. “AJ? Did you have a good time last night? With me, I mean?”

Applejack smiled, “Well, 'course. I thought you knew that.”

“Just remember that. You had a good time.” Dash took a deep breath, and went on. “Because we might have been a tiny bit. . . loud.”

Applejack cocked an eyebrow, “Loud? What do ya mean?”

They heard several loud thumps from the next room, then Twilight's voice came through the wall clearly. ”Pinkie! Spike! Do not jump on the beds in Canterlot Castle!”

Dash swallowed. “Like, that loud?”

Applejack's face was frozen in shock,“You're sayin' they could hear us?”

“Yeah. Probably.” Dash said with a little nod, her eyes never leaving Applejack's face.

Applejack took her hat from the nightstand and flipped it on her head so it sat low, covering her eyes. She laid back on the bed. “If you'll excuse me, I'm just gonna sit here and die of embarrassment.”

“It's not that bad, AJ.” Dash said, putting a hoof on Applejack's shoulder.

“First off, they're gonna know just what we got up to. And even if they already expected as much, now they're all gonna know that my cowpony comes out in the sack.” She cringed, almost wishing she hadn't enjoyed last night quite so much.

“They'll all be way too embarrassed to say anything.” Dash pointed out.

“Course they will." AJ agreed. "They didn't wanna know that 'bout me any more then I wanted 'em to know it. But they're gonna know it anyhow.” 

“So what? It's not like we all live in the same house or anything. They heard you get a little wild in bed, and after this morning no one will ever think of it again.”

AJ sighed, “Fine. Maybe I'll show my face again. Someday.”

Rainbow Dash slowly lifted Applejack's hat, and gave a  seductive smile, “Of course, since they probably figure your marefriend is the best lover in Equestria, they'll all be jealous of you.”

At that Applejack started to chuckle. She raised an eyebrow at Dash, “Is that what they're gonna be thinkin'?”

Dash nodded, still smiling. “Totally. You'd better come out there with me. They might all come after me at once, and I don't know how long I'll be able to fight them off.”

Applejack smiled, “Well, if ya' need my protection, maybe I can help ya' out.”

“Hey, I mean, I could handle all four of them, but not after how amazing you were last night. I think you almost wore me out.” Dash teased her with a cocky grin.

“You are the craziest darn pony.” Applejack said. She got up, still dreading seeing the others, but Dash's teasing did lighten her mood and make the situation seem a little sillier.

“It got you out of bed.” Dash said, brushing by Applejack with a kiss on the cheek.

Dash flew out of the room first, but AJ was walking right behind. Applejack couldn't stop herself from blushing as she saw her friends in the sitting room. They were already talking and laughing, probably about her unfortunate performance last night. She grit her teeth as she and Dash joined them.

“So, did everypony get a good nights sleep?” Rarity chirped, seeing the two of them make their way out to the sitting room.

“Uh, yeah.” Applejack said, cringing slightly and waiting for the glares or smirks she was sure to get.

“Oh yes! Those ear plugs were a great idea, Rarity!” Twilight said happily. 

AJ looked up, and Fluttershy and Pinkie were nodding.

“Oh I know, they're lifesavers. After that trip to Appleloosa, I knew they'd come in handy. Besides, with all the ponies here for the Gala, one never knows what might be going on in the next room.” Rarity said, looking straight at Twilight without a glance at Applejack or Rainbow Dash.

Applejack caught Rarity's eye with a questioning look. Rarity had never offered her ear plugs. Rarity just met her eyes with a wink.

Applejack felt her blush fade, and the tension drain from her shoulders. She grinned,“Yeah, thanks Rarity. That was real nice of you to think of.”

“Don't mention it, dear. Now move along, everypony, Canterlot awaits!” Rarity said, ushering the ponies out the door. Rarity herself was the last one out, but Applejack hung back a little and noticed the unicorn's horn glowing. 

Looking past her, AJ saw the blanket on the second bed in the room AJ and Dash had shared being pulled from the bed and dropped again, as though somepony had slept in it. 

Rarity just smiled at her. “For appearances, darling. If somepony would talk to me once in a while, I could give them some advice.” 

As Rarity and Applejack caught up with the rest, Applejack could only smile and mutter under her breath, “Sweet Celestia, thank ya' for my friends.”
> Tough Ponies (The Return of Harmony)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Applejack stared at the wall of her dark bedroom. She was so tired, and all she wanted was sleep. She tried closing her eyes once again, but she was greeted by the same terrifying yellow eyes, and echoing laughter. Her eyes snapped open a second later. 

With her eyes open, she could see that everything was normal. When she closed them, she couldn't be sure.

From behind her in her bed, she heard a whimper, followed by a sharp cry of fear, and Dash's wings opened, ready to fly. 

Applejack rolled over to face the pegasus. Rainbow Dash was still asleep, but the whimpering continued, and Applejack shook her gently. “Dash, wake up. It's a dream, Sugarcube. He ain't here, it's only me here.”

Dash gasped deeply for breath, and rose a few inches off the bed as her wings flapped in panic. She seemed to notice Applejack there and tucked her wings away, landing close against AJ. Applejack wrapped her forehooves around Dash, who returned the hug with almost uncomfortable force.

After catching her breath for a few seconds, Dash relaxed a little. “Sorry. You know. . .”

Applejack knew exactly. It was the reason that Dash had been sleeping at Sweet Apple Acres for the past week, and also the reason nopony knew it. Since they defeated Discord, neither of them had been able to sleep without the other. They would never admit it to anypony, and by mutual agreement they didn't say the word to each other, but they were scared.

Applejack couldn't close her eyes without seeing him. That meant that she didn't get to sleep until she was so tired she didn't know she was doing it. Dash had no problem falling asleep, but had awful nightmares once or twice a night. It was after one of those that she had flown to Sweet Apple Acres and knocked on AJ's window in a panic. 

They both agreed that first night that taking over a pony's mind was low-down, dirty cheating. Fighting a dragon, they knew where they stood. Win, die, or run away. But the idea that they could have spent their lives as those hollowed out husks, never knowing friendship or love, or even that there was anything wrong with the world, was too much for the two straight forward ponies to take. They couldn't buck something that could use their own minds against them. 

Fear burrowed into their minds even though he was defeated. They hated it, and they each knew exactly how much the other hated it. So Dash came to AJ's window every night, and they helped each other through it with as little fuss as they could.

“Yeah, I know. It's okay. Need some water or somethin'?” Applejack said in a low voice, so as not to wake the rest of the household.

“No.” Dash responded with a sigh, also keeping her voice down. “I just need to talk about something normal.”

Applejack nodded and relaxed into the pillow, letting go of Dash so that she could do the same. “Alright then. I got a new record.”

Dash raised a skeptical eyebrow, “Is it one of those country music things?”

AJ smiled, “Sure is. I know you wanna hear it tomorrow.”

“You know, I think there's some kind of weather stuff I was supposed to do all day tomorrow.” Dash said with a smirk.

Applejack chuckled softly, “Funny how that always seems to work out.”

“It's not really that funny. You just have the worst taste in music.” Dash said as the smirk became a teasing grin.

“Beg pardon?” Applejack said, raising her eyebrows in mock offense, “You're the one that listens to that screamin' and yellin' rock music.” 

Dash nodded. “Right. I listen to awesome rock, and you listen to lame country.”

Applejack grinned, “Oh, you wanted to hear me tell ya' again 'bout all the great and talented country music stars of history? Well sure. Now real country music started with-”

“Please stop?” Dash interrupted. “I'll kiss you if you stop.”

Applejack chuckled, “I guess I can shut up for that.”

“Double win.” Dash grinned and pressed her lips to AJ's. It was a chaste kiss, neither of them was interested in doing anything in AJ's house.

The kiss broke, and they settled back into their pillows. AJ went on, “Anyhow, the record is Tawny Cash. You like Tawny Cash, remember?”

“He's not bad.” Dash agreed. “Kinda mopey though.”

“Soulful is how it's generally put, Dash.”

“Whatever.” She replied. “It means the same thing. But at least Tawny Cash is tough and mopey. Maybe we can curl up and listen to it in the barn when you finish work.”

Applejack smiled, “I'd like that. I'll make a country fan outta ya' yet.”

Dash responded by rolling her eyes and pretending to gag. “Please, I was just looking to make out with my marefriend and listen to some okay music that just happens to be country. Rainbow Dash is not now, and is never going to be, a country fan.”

Applejack gave her a teasing grin, “I dunno, Dash, you'd look mighty cute in a stetson.”

“That's only because I look awesome in anything.” Dash grinned.

“Too bad we'd never find one big 'nough for-” Applejack interrupted herself with a yawn, “For your big head.”

“What time were you up yesterday?” Dash asked suspiciously.

“5 o'clock. Same as always.” Applejack said. Just saying it made her sleepy.

“And what time is it now?”

“1:30, or thereabouts.” AJ said as she yawned again.

“You were up this late last night, too. You need sleep, AJ.” Dash pointed out, surprisingly sensible for a change.

“I know, but I can't.” 

Dash just nodded, “You should have said so earlier. Roll over and close your eyes.”

“Thanks, Sugarcube.” Applejack said as she rolled over, facing away from Dash. She closed her eyes.

There they were. Those awful yellow eyes staring back at her. The laughter started soon after that. Her body tensed, and she fought her instincts to keep her eyes closed, until she felt Dash's body pressed against her back, and heard her voice whispering, “Applejack, it's okay. He's not here. I'm here with you, I'm right here. I understand, and I love you. You're brave, AJ. We both are. We won't be like this forever. Everything out there is normal, and soon we'll be normal again too. Until then, I'll be right here for you. And you'll be here for me. That doesn't make us weak. It makes us way stronger then he was. . .”

Rainbow Dash kept whispering to Applejack until all she could see was the darkness behind her eyelids, and all she could hear was Dash's voice. She was finally able to relax and drift off to sleep, and her last thought was of how lucky they both were to be strong enough to take care of each other.   

***

Rainbow Dash awoke early the next morning to a knock at the door. She was expecting it, before she went to sleep she had turned off AJ's alarm clock. This plan involved making Applejack furious at her, and letting Big Mac know that Dash had been sleeping in his sister's room, but those weren't even in the top five most dangerous things she'd done this month. Of course, the Discord thing was throwing that list off a little.

Dash got up and flew to the door quickly, before the knocking could wake AJ. She opened the door to find Big Mac standing there. He looked surprised to see her, but she held a hoof to her mouth to signal him to be quiet until she could step out into the hall and close the door behind her. 

Once the door was safely closed, Dash swallowed nervously. ”It's not what you think.”

Mac just stared at her.

“Applejack and I are. . . dealing with something. But she's barely had any sleep for the past few nights, and she can't get up and work today. So you're gonna let her sleep, and I'll do her chores. Got it?” She said, her voice barely cracking at all.

“AJ know about this?” Mac asked.

“Well. . . not exactly." Dash admitted. "But you know she'll work herself to death before she'd think about taking care of herself. It's my job to take care of her, and right now that means letting her get some sleep.”

He seemed to consider this, then said slowly, “She ain't gonna be happy when she gets up.”

“Yeah, she'll be pretty mad at me, but I can take her.” Dash said, then she grumbled, “I'll be listening to a lot of country music to make up for this one.”

“Eyup.” Mac said, smiling. 

Since Mac was smiling, and not trying to rip her wings off, Dash decided the plan was probably a success. The fact that success meant that she had to do AJ's chores just went to show the extreme level of sacrifice Rainbow Dash was willing to make for Applejack. “So, um, what kind of chores are these, exactly? Are there chickens to wake up or something?”

Mac raised his eyebrows, still smiling. “How 'bout if I take carea the chores, and you just deal with AJ?”

Dash grinned. “Deal.”

Mac turned and started down the stairs, while Dash turned back to the door to AJ's room. 

“Sucker.” They both muttered at exactly the same time.

> Ropes and Feathers (May the Best Pet Win)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow Dash made sure the apple tree at Sweet Apple Acres had been bucked already before she settled in to nap. While Applejack didn't mind Dash napping in her apple trees, she never wasted time giving a warning that Dash was getting in the way of real work. And despite similarities to other words, getting bucked was never fun. 

Rather then falling asleep, she found herself scanning the ground for Tank. She brought him when she came here to nap because he seemed to like to eat the fallen fruit on the ground. And AJ liked that he liked it, because it was less for her to clean up. Any time Dash could make her favorite pony and tortoise both happy without having to lift a wing was pretty cool.

When she first got Tank home, after the adrenaline from the rock slide had worn off, she briefly wondered if she'd gone crazy. She was a pegasus, and she now had a tortoise for a pet and an earth pony for a marefriend. It was like she was trying to chain herself to the ground. But both of them were too awesomely amazing to pass up just because they couldn't fly. 

With Tank, it was easy. She got him his flying belt. She also set up a big tank- a Tank tank, she had joked- in her cloud house since the tortoise couldn't walk on the floor. The problem was solved, and she had the best pet in the world.

Tank was pretty easy to spot on the ground, another benefit of his flying device. Dash figured she was a genius for thinking of that thing. Tank was smart too, he totally got the hang of it in no time. And it was really cool having somepony to fly with whenever she wanted, even if that pony was a tortoise.

She heard the thump of hooves hitting tree trunks farther down the row of trees. Her earth pony was more complicated. Dash was fairly sure it would be a very bad idea to suggest that AJ get a flying device like the tortoise.  Besides, AJ would never enjoy flying with a clumsy machine with Dash flying circles around her.

This did lead Dash into her guiltiest of fantasies, though. It made her feel bad to think of, but every now and then she couldn't help imagining AJ with a set of orange feathered wings. The idea was so awesome, fun, and sexy that Dash had to be able to enjoy it from time to time. 

Rainbow Dash closed her eyes, and lost herself in a fantasy of  soaring through the air with AJ at her side. Applejack would be a strong flier, she figured. Not as fast as Dash, but at least as powerful, probably more stable in high winds. She'd have amazing stamina, they could probably race to Cloudsdale and back. Now that would be a race, just the two of them and the open sky. And afterward they could curl up on a cloud and watch the sunset over Sweet Apple Acres.

Just as Dash was getting to other activities two pegasi could do on a cloud, she was inturrupted by a voice from below.

“Well hey there, Tank. You cleanin' up the bad apples for me? I bet this means there's a lazy pony up in onea my trees.”

“Not lazy, just conserving energy. I might need it later.” Rainbow Dash said, opening her eyes and glancing down at Applejack. For a fraction of a second, she was disappointed to see AJ's smooth back, but that was quickly pushed aside by the warm, happy feeling that came from seeing those big green eyes and beautiful smile. 

“Ya' got big plans, huh? A trainin' session?”

“Nope, better.” Dash flew out of the tree, landing in front of Applejack. “How about if I take you flying later? You can hold onto my back.”

“Flyin'?” Applejack raised an eyebrow skeptically. “Why? There's no place we can fly to that we can't walk just as easy.” 

“Yeah, I know. But it would be fun. I mean, I can't do my best tricks, but I can give you a show.” Rainbow Dash grinned.

AJ smiled, “I got a better idea. Why don't we have a run, then you can show off your best tricks and I'll watch.”

“Oh come on, you're not scared, are you?” Dash taunted with a smirk.

“Of course I ain't scared!” Applejack said firmly. “I just- look, if ya' really wanna take me flyin', that's fine.”

Dash could tell that it wasn't fine. She frowned, slightly hurt that AJ would just go along with something she didn't want to do rather then admit to Dash that she didn't want to fly. “Why don't you want to go?”

Applejack sighed and rolled her eyes, “I just said I'd go, Dash.”

“Yeah, but you don't want to. Why not?”

“I don't much like bein' in the air, is all. Feels weird.” AJ said with a shrug.

Dash rose into the air a few feet and crossed her forelegs. “So you're scared.”

“I rode on top a balloon and lassoed you at the same time, Sugarcube. I ain't scared of bein' in the air.” Applejack said, then she thought for a moment and went on, “But I guess I spend the whole time thinkin' bout getting my hooves on the ground again. It's like this shiver all over, and it makes me kinda jumpy.”

Dash just frowned. How could flying not feel amazing? Sure, for a scared-y pony like Fluttershy it might be weird, but Dash believed AJ when she said she wasn't scared of it. In fact, she was pretty sure she knew exactly the feeling Applejack was describing, she just hated to think that flying would make Applejack feel like that. 

Applejack seemed to think she'd offended Dash. She said gently, “I did say I'd go with ya', and I meant it. I'll be okay with flyin' once in a while.”

Dash shook her head, “That's okay. I want you to want to come. But. . . I totally understand how you feel in the air, it's the same way I feel when my wings are tied. I won't do that to you without a good reason.” 

After a moments thought, Dash grinned and added, “Or if it would be really funny.”

“I do have a lasso, ya' know.” Applejack warned with a smile.

Dash started to laugh. Then it hit her, a way she'd have no problem getting AJ to agree to fly, even if it was just for a little while. And it would be totally fair, too. “And I have an idea. Get your lasso.”

“Ain't it a little early for that kinda game?” Applejack teased.

Rainbow Dash shook her head, “It's not that kind of game. Totally innocent. We can invite our friends to watch, if you want.”

Applejack just smirked and raised her eyebrows.

“Not like that! Sheesh, since when do you have a dirty mind?” Dash said, laughing.

“Musta borrowed it from this pegasus I know.” Applejack said as she grabbed her lasso and followed Dash away from the orchard.

About an hour later, Applejack and Rainbow Dash were standing in the middle of the park, about twenty feat apart, facing each other. They'd marked off a large field, and outside of the boundaries their friends and a handful of bystanders were watching. 

“Ya' ready?” Called Applejack.

“I was born ready! Count us off, Twilight.” Dash said, crouching down.

“On your marks. . . get set. . . go!” Twilight shouted, playing her usual roll of referee.

Dash took off in a blur over AJ's head, stopping just short of the out of bounds mark behind AJ. Dash looked back, hoping for a clear shot, but Applejack's rope was already spinning in the air. 

AJ turned and grinned, the rope held loosely in her teeth, and moved slowly towards Dash. “Ya' can't hide over there, Sugarcube.“

“Who said anything about hiding?” Dash answered with a matching grin. 

Dash flew around the edge of their playing field, staying far enough from AJ to make her hard to catch. AJ's eyes were following the pegasus, and Dash knew the only chance was go get her to toss that rope and miss.

“What's wrong there, cowpony? Am I too fast for ya?” Dash taunted from what she hoped was a safe distance.

Applejack, who had been moving cautiously, galloped towards her with a burst of speed and the lasso flew toward Rainbow Dash.

Dash darted up, narrowly escaping the loop. She wanted to say something snappy, but there was no time, this was her chance. Flying over AJ, she looped down to the ground behind her and landed, galloping towards the blonde tail as the earth pony was collecting her rope again. 

Dash put her head down and darted between AJ's legs, then stood and spread her wings with AJ firmly on her back. Dash took off and only got a few feet in the air, before AJ wrapped her legs tightly around the pegasus. 

“Woohoo! First point!” Dash yelled, and their friends cheered from the sidelines.

“Congratulations, now put me down!” AJ said urgently, but she was laughing. Rainbow Dash felt her nuzzle her neck. 

“Down? Which one's that? I get kinda turned around up here.” Dash said, laughing as she flew a loop that made the earth pony hold on tight.

“The one you're gonna fall to if I start bitin' out your feathers!”

“Oh, that down.” Dash said, landing gracefully in front of their friends.

Applejack slid off Dash's back with another quick nuzzle. “Not bad for a first try. Course, that ain't gonna happen next time.”

“We'll see about that. Grab your rope, let's go again.” Dash said eagerly, stretching her wings.

“Sure thing!” Applejack trotted over to her lasso and they both took their starting positions again. 

They played the game for the rest of the afternoon. Sometimes Applejack wound up in the air, and sometimes Rainbow Dash ended up tied on the ground. But there was enough laughing and joking, and a few subtle nuzzles, so that neither of them got angry or upset with the situation.

As Dash waited for AJ to untie her wings after losing the last round of the game, she was actually grinning. The friendly competition had turned a giant gap between them into a joke, something to laugh about and play with. This game wouldn't be half as fun if they weren't so different, and for once Dash was actually glad that she had a beautiful, amazing earth pony for a marefriend.
> Awesome (The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“You really had to do that?” Rainbow Dash asked, as she and Applejack watched the sunset over Sweet Apple Acres. Dash had an emotionally draining few days, and finding out that AJ, along with the rest of her friends, had been avoiding her to play the part of her hated rival was just the confusing cap on it. She knew she acted badly, but she still couldn't see where she had acted badly enough that they would just. . . abandon her like that. 

“After that stunt ya' pulled with the picture?” Applejack said, raising an eyebrow. “You know darn well how I feel 'bout that in public. Immortalized as your friend. . . you're lucky Twilight talked me down, 'cause my plan was to immortalize your tail by nailin' it to the wall.”

Dash smiled and relaxed a little. That made more sense, she did know that AJ hated anything mushy between them in public, and she had gone a little over the line there. “So instead of nailing my tail to the wall, you just turned into a masked hero. . . remind me not to tick you off again.”

“Another fine lesson to learn.” Applejack smiled and said with a nod.

“Maybe I should have added that to my letter.” Dash grinned. “'Dear Princess Celestia, PS: I also learned that my marefriend turns to costumed heroics when I act like a jerk. Let me know if you ever need the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well, 'cause I am awesome at making Applejack mad.'”

Applejack smiled and nuzzled Dash. “Dear Princess Celestia, Today I learned that there ain't a force in Equestria that's gonna keep Dash from actin' crazy. But for some darn reason I go right on lovin' her.”

Dash returned the nuzzle and ran a hoof down AJ's side. “Dear Princess Celestia, Today I learned that Applejack looks amazing in a skin tight body suit. I hope this will be really important to certain activities later tonight.”

“I'm pretty sure the Princess don't need to know about that one.” Applejack chuckled.

“Are you kidding? Your flank looked so hot you could stop the royal guards in their tracks. She needs to have somepony keeping an eye on that. And I'll selflessly and humbly volunteer, for the good of Equestria.”

AJ paused for a moment, “So. . . my flank looked hot, or Mare-Do-Well's? There were four of us in those costumes.”

“Well, I guess you all looked pretty hot.” Dash said, smiling. Applejack's glare told her that this was the wrong answer, so she went on quickly, “But, I mean, you looked the most hot.”

“You didn't know it was me, Dash.” Applejack noted, clearly not appeased.

“Hey, before I knew it was you guys I wasn't even thinking of her flank, except how I wanted to kick it!” Dash said.

Applejack latched onto the flaw in that, with the instincts of a jealous marefriend. “So you're sayin' that you were thinkin' Twilight, Pinkie, and Fluttershy looked hot after ya' knew it was them?”

“Um, there's no good way out of this conversation, is there?” Rainbow Dash finally admitted. “Look, there are a lot of good looking ponies in the world, and some of them are our friends. But you're the one I'm in love with, and you definitely have the best flank.” 

Applejack was still pouting a little, so Rainbow Dash grinned, and leaned over and whispered, "Personally, I like Kicks best, but I'm don't want to make Bucky jealous."

Applejack had to chuckle at that. “I don't rightly care if you think I got the best flank, but I'd rather you weren't checkin' out other mares, and especially not our friends.”

“Can I still check out stallions?” Dash grinned playfully.

Applejack glared.

“It was a joke!”

Applejack raised her eyebrows, “I catch you checkin' out anypony else, and you can forget 'bout Kicks and Bucky both for a long while. Got it?”

What Dash got was that AJ was jealous, just like she had been of Dash's heroics. She also got that she had not done anything wrong, she'd never so much as winked at another pony since she asked out AJ. And she could have called AJ on it, then they could have had a fight, which Dash was pretty sure she could win. 

But the feeling of loneliness from the past few days came back to her, hard. The cost of winning a fight with AJ didn't seem worth it. Applejack could leave her, she was pretty sure of that now. And she couldn't leave AJ. It seemed impossible.

Dash swallowed, “Yeah. I got it. I'm sorry.”

“Well. . . good.” Applejack watched Dash for a moment, before suspicion turned to concern on her face. “You okay?”

Dash nodded and leaned against AJ. “Fine. Just fine. I was really lonely without you. Without everypony. I hate being alone.”

Applejack put a front leg around Dash, “I'm sorry, but I just couldn't take ya when you got like that. I love ya', but that don't mean I gotta put up with anythin' disrespectful.” 

Rainbow Dash nodded, and hesitated before she whispered, “Applejack. . . you still think I'm awesome, right?”

“Course I do, Sugarcube! I was darn proud of ya, before you started puffin' up, and I'm proud of ya now.” AJ answered, smiling. 

“Do you think Scootaloo and the other ponies in town still think I'm awesome?”

Applejack laughed, “I can promise Scoot does. But I do hope they threw away those wigs, or hats or whatever they were. That was kinda creepy.”

“Okay, yeah, I guess it was.” Dash said with a nod. “I should have had a talk with Scoot about that. But it's so cool when ponies think I'm awesome.”

Applejack smiled, “Can I tell ya' a secret? Ya' ain't allowed to tell anypony I told ya. . .”

“Pinkie promise. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. What is it?”

Applejack got closer, and Dash felt AJ's warm breath on her ear as AJ whispered “You are awesome, Rainbow Dash. That's just a fact, and anypony with a brain ain't gonna need t-shirts and autographs to remind 'em of that.”

Rainbow Dash wasn't sure if it was the feeling of Applejack's breath, or her voice, or what she said, but Dash's whole body relaxed. Applejack somehow made everything perfect, and Dash could never give this up. 
> Big Darn Heroes (Hearth's Warming Eve)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Applejack was thrilled to have been in the pageant, and even more thrilled to have gotten to play Smart Cookie. She would have done her best if they'd decided she should play Puddinghead, but she was relieved when Pinkie Pie jumped at the roll. There weren't that many well known earth pony heroes in Equestrian history, and bringing Smart Cookie alive for a whole audience of all kinds of ponies, especially little ones like Apple Bloom and her friends, was a real honor. 

They were further honored with rooms in the palace, large tower rooms this time. Apparently after defeating Discord they had become those Very Important Ponies that other ponies had to make room for. Of course this meant that Applejack wasn't officially sharing a room with Rainbow Dash, but having a pegasus for a marefriend made sneaking between rooms easy.

There was a tapping at her window about ten minutes after everypony had gone to bed, and AJ got up to let Dash in. 

“It's a little chilly out there.” Rainbow Dash said, shivering as she flew in.

Applejack shut the window quickly. “I can tell, but what've ya' got on your- Dash. Why are you wearin' your helmet from the play?”

Dash grinned under the helmet. “One: It's warm. Two: It's awesome. And three:” Dash landed on her side on the big bed, smiling seductively, “I was hoping you could show Commander Hurricane some of that earth pony magic you do so well.” 

Applejack chuckled and shook her head. “Bein' good in bed ain't really earth pony magic, and no magic of any sort is gonna happen while you're wearin' that silly hat. 'Sides, it belongs to the Princess.”

“Aw, you're no fun.” Dash said with a smile, taking off the helmet and tossing it aside. 

Applejack trotted over and climbed in the bed, curling up next to Dash. The pegasus was still cold from the snowy flight between towers, so AJ pressed against her to warm her up. “You know it. The whole reason I'm in this world is to keep ya' from havin' fun, Dash.” 

“Well you messed up today. That pageant was so awesome. I always wanted to play Hurricane, but at school they always said I wasn't tall enough. Guess I'm tall enough for Canterlot!”

Applejack smiled. “It was kinda neat to play the leads. I can't say how many times I played '2nd Earth Pony' back when I was in school.”

“Hey, I never said I was a background pony. I got a lead in my school pagent.” Dash said with a smirk.

Applejack raised an eyebrow, “You said you'd never got to play Hurricane before. . . you ain't tellin me you played Pansy.”

“I'm not saying. But it was a lead!” Dash said, starting to get a little defensive. 

“Uh-huh. Sure. That don't sound like a pile of hay or nothin'.” 

“I did!” Dash demanded.

Applejack smirked at her. “I still ain't hearin' any details.”

Rainbow Dash was obviously trying to make a difficult decision, and finally she said, “Well. . . I went to school in Cloudsdale.”

“So?”

“Sooo. . . no earth ponies. Or unicorns. Pegasi had to play all the parts.”

Applejack considered that. “Well that don't really seem in the spirit of things, but I guess it makes sense. You still ain't said who ya' played.”

Dash tried to casually cover her mouth with her hoof as she muttered, “I was Pprumhruuf.”

It took Applejack a minute to decipher the mumble. When she got it, a grin spread across her face. “Dash? Please tell me ya' just said you played Puddin'head back in Cloudsdale.”

“It's a lead!” Rainbow Dash insisted, “Do NOT tell anypony.”

Applejack laughed so hard she couldn't breathe. Occasionally she tried to pull herself together, then pictured it again and started laughing all over.

Dash just laid back and pouted, “Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up. But I never played '2nd Earth Pony' or anything. Besides, everypony is gonna want to play Rainbow Dash when we get our pageant.”

Applejack had calmed down enough to speak by that point. “What in Celestia's name are you talkin' 'bout?”

Dash grinned at her, “Come on, you've never thought about it? We're the elements of harmony. The first time we did it, we got a stained glass window. The second time we got a big ceremony. I figure next time Princess Celestia has to give us a holiday. I can't wait!”

“Dash” AJ asked dryly, “You do realize every time we do that it's cause somethin' is tryin' to destroy the world and everythin' we love, and that ain't exactly a good thing, right?”

“Well, yeah,” Dash admitted “But a holiday would be awesome.”

Applejack couldn't help but smile at her pegasus. “I wouldn't hold your breath, Sugarcube. The Princess don't go 'round handin' out holidays. I mean, we're important, but we ain't legendary heroes or nothin'.”

Dash raised her eyebrows, “Uh, yeah, we kinda are.”

“Didn't we just have a talk 'bout your ego, Dash?”

“This isn't about me, it's about all of us,” Dash said reasonably. “You don't think that someday the history books will tell about how we saved the world, twice?”

AJ smiled and gave Dash a little shove. “How would you know what's in a history book? Closest you ever got was one hittin' you in the head at the library.”

“Hey, that thing hurt. And I might not read history books, but I know they exist, and I know they're usually filled with important stuff about history. I don't think they can skip the parts where Equestria was almost destroyed.” Dash pointed out.

Applejack raised an eyebrow.“You really think we'll be in a history book one day?”

Dash smiled. “I'm sure of it. We might even be in one now. How long ago does history start?”

“That sounds like somethin' to ask Twilight.” She paused, and thought about being in a history book. “I ain't sure I like the idea of bein' a hero.”

“I don't really think you can skip it.” Dash said with a grin. “I don't think they can list the elements of harmony as 'Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and 2nd Earth Pony.'”

Applejack chuckled, “I suppose not.”

“Besides, you know how few earth ponies make the history books. You really want it to be just Smart Cookie, Puddinghead, and Pinkie?”

“There are a few more in there, but I get what you're sayin'.”

Rainbow Dash smiled and wrapped her wings around Applejack, “You can act humble all you want, but someday when they're doing our pageant every earth pony is gonna want to play Applejack, the element of honesty. They'll put on a stetson, and probably do a really bad accent, and they'll be proud to have the chance to show little foals that there was a pony as cool as you.”

Applejack laid there and held Dash close, thinking.

Unlike Rainbow Dash, Applejack did read history books on occasion. In the winter when the sun went down early, she liked to curl up with a nice a biography or the story of great events of the past. She tended to focus on the great earth ponies, they were easier to relate to, doing it all with their four hooves. 

The ones who truly lived good lives made her proud. Ones like Smart Cookie, who never rested on their achievements, who went on to do great things and kept working to make things better. But there were too many who did something great, then fell apart. Who went on to fail at some dumb scheme, or threw away their legacy on salt or fancy things and died a laughing stock. 

Applejack already worried about failure, about letting down her family or friends or the ponies of Ponyville. Now the idea was planted in her head, what if she let down all the ponies who might read about her someday, too? What if she wasn't good enough to be a hero?

She couldn't let that happen, as long as there was a breath in her body. If she had to be in the history books, and Dash made a pretty good argument for that, she'd give them a pony they could be proud of. 

> Rainbows and Roots (Family Appreciation Day)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Author Note: Slightly sad? Well, not as happy as normal.)


Applejack waited until Apple Bloom was at school and Mac had started in the fields before she went looking for Granny. She had to ask Granny's permission for something. She hadn't really asked Granny's permission for anything in years, AJ was a grown mare after all. But this was family business, and when it came to that it was only right to defer to Granny.

She found Granny in the kitchen, carefully lining up jars on the table for later interrogation. 

“Granny. . . I dunno if you noticed that my friend Rainbow Dash has been 'round a lot lately.” Applejack started nervously.

“I guess I noticed that. I ain't blind, missy.” Granny said after carefully setting a jar on the table and eyeing it suspiciously.

Applejack nodded, then forced herself to go on. “Well, I know. I just. . . well, she and I ain't exactly friends.”

Granny looked over at her, “I said I ain't blind. Ya' think I can't tell when a filly's in love?”

“Ya' knew?” Applejack asked, eyes wide.

“Ha! You young'uns, probably think you invented fillyfoolin'. It's been 'round since my day at least. Never was my nevermind what two ponies were doin' together.”

“So you don't have a problem with. . .?”

“Where you're stickin' your nose is your own business, missy.”

“Well. . . I guess I'm glad of that. Real glad.” Applejack said, blushing. She was partially relieved that this wouldn't be the issue she had feared, but mostly she never wanted Granny to use that turn of phrase when talking about this, ever again. 

Applejack took a deep breath and got to the point of the talk, “But I was tellin' ya this to say, I- well, I wanted to ask her to help with the zap apples.”

“You and Mac can get 'em just fine.” Granny pointed out, giving Applejack a stare not unlike the one she gave the jam jars.

Applejack nodded, “I know that. It ain't cause we need help. It's cause. . . I want her to be there.”

Granny turned back to the jars and nudged one into place. After a minute she said softly, “Well, she ain't gonna be there.” 

“Alright.” Applejack said, looking down. Granny was still the last word at Sweet Apple Acres, and Applejack wasn't about to argue it.

“Don't you pout like that.” Granny ordered. “You can ask her all ya' want. I'm just tellin' you you're wastin' your breath. When I was a filly, folks always said that pegasi got some pretty feathers, but they don't know how to land. There might be a some exceptions, but that filly you got ain't one of them.”

“You're wrong, Granny. Rainbow Dash is the element of loyalty. She ain't like that.” Applejack said with certianty.

“Oh, I don't doubt she'll come through if'n you need her, but you're not askin' for help. You're askin' her to be an Apple, and that means puttin' down roots. And I'm tellin you plain, cause you're a big pony, rainbows don't got roots.” 

Applejack was speechless, hearing her fears put so bluntly. She stammered a little, then managed to say, “I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, Granny.”



As Applejack left the farm to find Rainbow Dash, she considered what Granny said. She wasn't sure that Granny was entirely wrong. Still, it couldn't hurt to ask.

She was feeling a lot of weight, lately. The farm, the town, her friends and family, she couldn't afford to let them down. There was no one thing she couldn't handle, just a long list of things that were hers to do the way everypony expected her to do them, one hundred percent right.

It wasn't that she needed somepony else to help her with anything. She needed somepony to help her with everything. To share the list with her, to share the pride in doing it all right, and share the blame if something happened and the job wasn't up to standards. Somepony who would stand with her and put Ponyville and the farm and her family first. 

When she finally came upon Rainbow Dash praticing in a field, hurling towards the ground in a tight corkscrew that looked to the earth pony like a very colorful way to commit suicide, she started to suspect that Granny might have been right. 

Rainbow Dash pulled out of it at the last second, flying in a streak of rainbow parallel with the ground. She came to a stop a couple yards away from AJ, shook her head, then flew right up to her with a grin.

“Hey AJ! I'm practicing some new moves, wanna watch?” Dash said, then gave her a quick kiss, hovering in front of her.

Applejack had to smile. “I'm kinda busy today, zap apple harvest and all.”

“Yeah, I heard, that means I have four whole days off! You guys sure you can't do this more often? Once a week would be cool.” 

Applejack chuckled, “If we could we'd be doin' it, but not for the benefit of lazy pegasi.”

“Do I look lazy to you?” Dash said, putting her forelegs on her hips, “I'll have you know I've been training all morning.”

“I know. I was kiddin'. You look good.” Applejack said.

Dash smiled and leaned in a little closer, “Up there or down here?”

Applejack glanced over Dash's wind swept mane and coat. She stepped forward and nuzzled Dash's cheek, enjoying the faint smell of sweat and clean fresh air. “Well if I gotta pick one, I'd say down here's where I like ya' best.”

Rainbow Dash planted a long, sweet kiss on Applejack's lips, then pulled away smiling. “You're suuuure you have farming to do today?”

“Yup. All those days you got off, I've got work to do.” Applejack said, sighing a little.

“Hmm. When you put it that way, this isn't as much fun.” Dash said with a little frown. “Can a pony sleep in zap apple trees?”

“Only if you wanna end up with a fried tail.” Applejack chuckled. “They don't call 'em zap apples for nothin'.” 

“Definitely no fun. I have an awesome four day vacation, and my marefriend is busy for all of it.”

Applejack looked down and pawed at the dirt with her front hoof. “Well, there is a way we could spend some time together. Not really alone, so much, but. . . I was wondrin' if you wanted to help harvest the zap apples with me and Mac.”

“Sure! I'll tell the rest of the girls, and we can get it done in no time.” Dash said happily.

AJ just shook her head. “Don't bother the rest of them. It ain't that we need help, it's just. . . this is kind of a family thing. We Apples have been harvestin' the zap apples here since Granny Smith was a filly, this is the only place they grow in Equestria. It's part of what makes you an Apple, I guess. And I want you there with me, if you wanna come.”

Applejack's heart fell as Dash's face went from happy to confused to slightly uneasy.

“This isn't about hanging out, is it?”

Applejack shook her head.

Now Dash looked panicked. Her eyes were darting around, Applejack wasn't sure if she was thinking of an excuse, looking for someplace to run, or trying to make decision. AJ felt sorry for her, she should have known the answer to this. She never should have asked. 

“Don't worry 'bout it, Sugarcube. You just work hard at your flyin'.”

A look of relief crossed Dash's face. “AJ, your family is awesome and all, but. . . I'm not an Apple. I mean, I can't sign up for that, not right now. You know that if you need me I'll be there faster then you can call my name, but. . .” 

Applejack sighed and nodded. “I know. It was just a thought.”

“I love you.” Dash said with a pleading look in her eyes. 

Applejack smiled through her disappointment. “I love ya' too, Dash.”

Rainbow Dash put a hoof on top of hers, looking into her eyes. “Someday. I mean it. I'll be ready someday, and when I am. . .”

Applejack knew that Dash hated to disappoint her. But AJ couldn't help being disappointed, even though she'd been warned. She truly believed Dash's promise. Or, she wanted to believe it. But it did nothing for her in the here and now. There was still too much to do. 

“I understand, Dash. I gotta go. . . zap apples and all.”

“Okay.” Dash said, hesitating. She seemed to want to say more, but all she added was, “Be careful with that wild weather.”

“Will do.” Applejack nodded, then made her way back to the farm.


> Gone (The Last Roundup)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Authors note: This is the sad one.)




Applejack lay awake in the hotel bed in Canterlot. She couldn't sleep.

It wasn't Discord this time. It was visions of Apple Bloom's face when she found out there were no blue ribbons. The Mayor when she learned there would be no prize money. Town hall crumbling, and ponies whispering that it was her fault. All the ponies in town leaving the wreck Ponyville had become, taking their business with them. The farm going bankrupt, and her family being forced to move someplace else to make ends meet.

She could imagine ponies telling it in the future: ”Despite saving Equestria twice, Applejack could not prevent her town or farm from falling into disrepair. Abandoned by everypony, the ruins of Sweet Apple Acres and Ponyville are now known as 'Applejack's Failure.'”

The voice of reason told her this was probably going a bit far. But the voice of reason was faint and far away after two days without sleep. She wanted Rainbow Dash here with her so badly right now, to feel her forelegs around her and hear her voice saying it would all be okay, but admitting her failure to Dash seemed worst of all.

She was supposed to go home tomorrow, but she couldn't. If she went home a failure, she was afraid that there wouldn't be a home to go to after a while. She had to get that money for Ponyville.

. . . And after that? What would she do the next time? The next time the town came to her, the next time she did her best and still failed them? What would happen when she failed her friends, when they were up against something awful and she just messed up? It had almost happened with Discord, what if next time they lost, because of Applejack?

She couldn't take that risk. She couldn't let the ponies in town, her family, her friends keep counting on a pony who was a failure. There was that job offer in Dodge Junction, a cherry orchard. She would take it, send home the money, and disappear. The ponies in town would find a better pony to count on, Big Mac would finally step up to run the farm, and her friends would find an element of honesty who wouldn't be turned around by something like Discord. 

What was she going to tell her friends? None of them would understand this. They all had things they were dedicated to, but none of them felt this kind of responsibility. Twilight was probably closest, but Twilight always came through. Even against Discord. Twilight was the kind of pony who deserved to be a hero, she would never understand that Applejack's best just wasn't good enough.

Then there was Rainbow Dash. Should she tell Dash anything? More than anypony, Dash didn't accept failure. Even if she didn't say anything right away, Applejack couldn't stand the thought of Dash growing more and more disappointed in her, especially as Dash moved on to bigger and better things. The love and respect they had for each other was so perfect that Applejack nearly started to cry at the thought of that turning to pity and shame. She'd never be able to explain this to Dash, but she couldn't very well lie about it.

She made her decision. This was what was best for everypony. Leave, send back the money, and then they'd be rid of her for good. She'd send a quick note to let them know she hadn't forgotten about Town Hall.



***


The scenery flashed by the train from Ponyville to Canterlot. Rainbow Dash had her head out the window of the train, the wind in her mane calmed her down just enough to keep from losing her mind. 

How could Applejack do this to her? How could she just leave her? Didn't she know how much Dash loved her, how much this would hurt? It was the cruelty of it that tore Dash apart. No break up, no long letter explaining what went wrong, that she found somepony else or hated Dash for something she did. That just wasn't AJ.

It wasn't AJ, and that idea turned her rage into terror. She couldn't sit here and blame her if Applejack was hurt, or in trouble. Imagining Applejack scared and alone felt like a nightmare she couldn't get out of her head. She started to make a list of everything she could think of that might have happened. Maybe she was in the hospital, or in trouble with the guards. Dash decided that captured by a monster was unlikely, monsters didn't usually let a pony send a telegram. Unless it was a really weird one. Like- Oh Celestia, no.

“Twilight!” She cried to the unicorn, who also had her head out the window. She motioned inside the train, and pulled her head in.

Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were all sitting there, trying to calm their nerves in various ways. Twilight pulled her head into the car, and Dash nearly pounced on her.

“Twilight, what if Discord got out again? What if he got AJ, and he's using her to lure us into a trap? We need to stop by the palace and get the elements!”

The four other ponies looked nearly as panicked as Dash for a moment, until Twilight collected herself and said firmly, “No. Just. . . no. We would have seen signs. Princess Celestia would have warned us.”

Everypony but Dash relaxed. Dash was willing to admit that made sense, but her mind kept tossing up worst case scenarios. “What if there's something out there worse than Discord? What if there's something that's even bigger or more powerful?”

Twilight sighed and put a forehoof on Dash's shoulder. “You need to stop it. I know that you're worried, but this isn't helping.”

“Well what would help?” Dash asked, flying away from Twilight's hoof and circling the train car nervously. “I'm just sitting here, and all I can think is that either something bad happened to her or that something bad didn't happen to her and she's just as happy to let me think that something bad happened!”

“Rainbow Dash, dear, we know how hard this is-” 

“Good!” Dash cut Rarity off. “Then help me think of what could have happened.”

“Okay! Maybe she fell down a really big hole! Maybe there was a trap at the bottom and she's trapped at the bottom of a really big hole!” Pinkie suggested, eyes wide.

“Oh my gosh, you really think so!?” Dash asked, zooming over to Pinkie.

Pinkie shrugged, “No. But it could have happened.”

Dash's frayed nerves couldn't take it, and she screamed, “YOU'RE NOT HELPING!”

Pinkie looked surprised at the outburst. “Sorry?” 

“Dash!” Twilight admonished, “Pinkie doesn't know any more than you do, than any of us do. We're doing what we can, we're going to find her.”

“But what if. . . what if. . .” Dash tried to counter, looking around frantically. Finally she sank back into a seat with her face in her hooves and whispered, “What if she just left me?”
> A Safe Place (The Last Roundup)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy and Twilight made their way back to Dodge Junction. The walk was relatively cheerful for the later three, with everypony just relieved that Applejack was safe and happy to come home. Dash started out absolutely thrilled with that, but as they got closer to the town something darker crept in.

Applejack just abandoned her over losing a stupid rodeo. She put her through Tartarus, and nearly gave her a nervous breakdown, just because she got second place. She was willing to throw away their love, her family, her friends, all because she was embarrassed. Something was wrong with that.

But that meant that AJ must have been lying, or at least not telling the whole truth. Two weeks ago, that would have seemed like a completely crazy idea. But in the past few days, Applejack had shown that she could get pretty technical with her definition of honesty. 

Dash was getting really frustrated, she hated being alone, she hated these dumb guessing games, and she hated the pony she loved more than anything in the world for putting her through all of this. She had to talk to AJ. No, to be honest she had to yell at AJ. She had to make AJ see exactly what she was doing, and find out what had happened to turn her strong, honest marefriend into somepony who would break her heart over some ribbons.  

Once they were on the train back to Ponyville, Dash turned to Twilight and Fluttershy.

“Guys, I have to have a talk with my marefriend.”

“Dash,” AJ whispered, “Cut out the marefri-” 

“No. Right now I've had it with you hiding things. They already know, there's nopony else in this car, so I don't see why I should have to make them guess why I need them to leave for a little bit.”

“Um, we would've figured it out.” Twilight said, looking between Dash and AJ.

Dash threw a glare at Twilight.

“Right! Leaving! Come on, Fluttershy. I think these two need some time alone.”

As Twilight and Fluttershy headed to the next car over, Dash heard Fluttershy whisper “I hope they don't hurt each other.” Dash figured it was a little late for that. Then the door closed behind them.

“So.” Dash said, her anger giving the word a sarcastic bite. “Why did you leave?”

Applejack bit her lip and looked away, “I told ya', bout the ribbons and not winnin' the prize money.”

Dash narrowed her eyes. “Yeah, I heard that. It's probably true, you can't lie. Though you seem to be getting better at it these days.”

“I did not lie!” AJ said defensively.

“Maybe not, but you were doing some fancy hoofwork around the truth there. And you're still doing it. So are you gonna tell me the truth, or are you gonna let me believe that some stupid rodeo prize means more to you than I do?”

Applejack looked at Dash, shocked at the blunt accusation.“That ain't it at all! You know you mean the world to me.”

“Then tell me why you left me.” Dash said slowly, through gritted teeth.

“I'm sorry. I just. . . I failed. I let Ponyville down. I let my family down. I let you down. I just can't do it, and I thought it'd be better if I just quit now, before anypony else gets disappointed.” 

Applejack did look genuinely sorry, but nothing in what she said made Dash feel any better, or did anything to make up for the anguish she'd been through, which just made her angrier at AJ. 

“You lost at a rodeo, so you decided to abandon your entire life? You know, on the crazy scale this is up there with Twilight almost destroying the town over that stupid friendship report! You're tougher than that, AJ! I'm not buying it.”

Applejack just sighed, defeated. “Well I guess that's one more thing I messed up. I can't even give up right.”

“Argh! Will you listen to yourself? What is going on?” Dash rose into the air, gesturing with her front hooves. “Do you know how much you hurt your family and friends? Do you know how much you hurt me, how scared I was that something happened to you, how scared I am now that this was all my fault?”

“I said I'm sorry.” Applejack whispered.

“I don't want an apology! I want honesty!” Dash shouted, but she went on in an even tone, “And I never thought I'd have to ask you for that.” 

“Stop it!” She yelled, nearly in tears. “I don't need to hear more ways I'm messin' up right now.”

“Fine.” Dash took a deep breath. She knew that she had every right to be angry, every right to demand the truth, but she couldn't just keep attacking AJ. “I'm not telling you how you messed up. I'm telling you how you can keep from messing up again. You can tell me right now what the hay has gotten into you, or. . . or we're over.” 

Applejack just stared at Dash, and Dash tried to keep her expression strong. Despite her appearance, she was near crying, and every thought was begging Applejack not to call her bluff. 

After what seemed like an eternity, Applejack sat down and looked at the floor. She gave a big sigh, then said softly, “Just look at my life. I got a whole farm to run, and a family I gotta take care of. Mac don't pay attention to nothin' but the crops, and Granny's gettin' too old and Apple Bloom's so young, so it's all up to me. . . then I got a whole town fulla ponies who don't think twice 'bout comin' to me for whatever I can give, and they expect me to give it just like Apples have been doin' for Ponyville since it was founded. . . then every now and again I gotta really step it up and go hoof to hoof with the worst evil Equestria's got to offer. . .then to top it all off, it's all gonna go in the history books and some day ponies who ain't even born yet are gonna sit there and decide just what kinda pony Applejack really was!”

“I know I can ask for help. I know y'all will do your best for me. But at the end of the day, you think anypony's gonna say 'Applejack's friends just couldn't handle runnin' that farm,' or 'Applejack's friends just ain't as dependable as her grandfolks were'? You think those history books are gonna read 'Even though Applejack was the element of honesty, Applejack's friends just couldn't keep her life from fallin' to pieces?!'”  

Applejack paused, realizing the rant that her pent up frustration had become. She shook her head and calmed herself. “I'm sorry, Dash. I'm so sorry. I just lost at the rodeo, and I didn't get the prize money, and I couldn't stop thinkin' about alla that. I was so tired and I couldn't sleep and I didn't know what to do.”

Dash just blinked. She knew that AJ worked harder than anypony she'd ever met. She had just never thought about the kind of pressure a pony would have to be under to make them work that hard all the time. Just the thought made Dash want to hide, and AJ lived with it every day of her life.

Dash flew over and sat down next to Applejack, wrapping her wing around her. She nuzzled AJ's cheek and said softly, “Well telling me this stuff would've been a good start.”

“What's that gonna do? You don't wanna-” Applejack stopped herself, then looked at Dash sympathetically.  “You got your own life. And it's a darn good one, Best Young Flyer and Wonderbolts, savin' ponies lives. You're right, one day every foal's gonna wanna be Rainbow Dash.”

Dash struggled with what to say to that. The anger was completely gone, something had been really wrong with AJ, she had been scared and alone. It just wasn't something she'd let anypony see. Dash wasn't any better than AJ at opening up her doubts and insecurities, but it might make AJ feel better to know that she wasn't alone.  And right now, making AJ feel better was top priority. 

“Hold up.” She said softly, this was for AJ's ears only, even if they were alone in the train car. “I only won Best Young Flyer because Rarity decided that she was too cool for wings. I bombed my whole routine before that, and I hadn't done a sonic rainboom in years. And I. . . I'm not a Wonderbolt.”

“Yeah, just give it time. You're a shoo in. It's your destiny.”

Dash shook her head. "Wrong. Take a look at my flank, AJ. This isn't the Wonderbolt's insignia. I hope I'll make it. I work my tail off so that I will. But it's not a done deal, I know that way too well some days. But I always thought that if. . .”

Dash took a breath, and gently turned Applejack's face toward hers, “If I don't, there's a beautiful mare, with a farm that makes amazing cider, in a town with all of my friends. My safe place to land. And when you left it didn't seem all that safe any more. I was scared, AJ. I need you.”

Applejack bit her lip, fighting back tears. “I'm sorry I let you down, Dash. But that's just it, one more pony who needs me, and I let her down. Where's my safe place when I fail at alla this?”

“I'll be your safe place. I promise you, if you lost the farm, if you let Ponyville down so bad that they ran you out of town, there would be a rainbow to take you someplace safe. I would be right there for you, however you need me. And as long as you stay with me, you can't let me down, because. . . that's all I want.” Rainbow Dash said, gazing into those green, teary eyes. She felt her own eyes filling with tears, but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered but making AJ understand how much she meant that, from everything inside of her. 

Finally Applejack smiled, and brushed the tears from Dash's eyes, then her own. “You tryin' to make me all sappy now?”

“Payback.” Dash said with a smile, then she leaned in and kissed AJ deeply. Loneliness and fear melted away, and everything was perfect again. The kiss continued, flowing naturally into more kisses as they wrapped their forelegs around one another.

After a few moments, Dash pulled away and rested her head on AJ's shoulder. “So, this really wasn't my fault at all? Nothing to do with zap apples?”

“Nah. I'm sorry 'bout that too. I was just thinkin' that if somepony was there with me in alla it I'd feel better. But I knew that wasn't somethin' you could take on now.”

“It's not,” Dash agreed. “And. . . maybe I should have thought that sometimes you don't like having all of that responsibility for other ponies, either. Sorry, but you didn't really pick the most sensitive of marefriends.”

“Nah. But I picked the strongest one I could find, the one that'll never let me fall, and I couldn't be happier with her.” Applejack kissed her just below the ear, then whispered, “I missed you so much, every darn day I was gone I missed you.”

Dash just grinned and nuzzled her neck. “I was totally strong and in control the whole time. Just don't ask the girls about that. And don't ever do that to me again.”

Applejack chuckled, “You got my word. I'll even Pinkie Promise, and I do believe she's gonna hurt me if I ever mess 'round with onea them again. . .say, what ever happened to her and Rarity?”

Dash thought for a moment, then her eyes went wide. “I. . . um, kinda left 'em behind when we were chasing you.”

“You left 'em behind? Miss Loyalty?” Applejack said raising an eyebrow.

Dash blushed, “Heh, yeah. I was kinda focused on other things. Soon as I know you're safe at home I'll fly back and find them.”

Applejack smiled and gave her a squeeze. “I'm sure it'll be okay, Sugarcube. We all fall down on the job every now and again.”
> What's So Great About Cider (Super Squeezy etc.)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cider had been acquired and drunk, and Applejack didn't lose her farm. It was truly a great day.

Rainbow Dash was curled up in a hay pile in the barn at Sweet Apple Acres, napping with her empty mug propped in front of her nose so that she could dream she had more of the delicious apple beverage. She'd worked her tail off that morning, and while she normally would have selected a nice apple tree for napping, it was easier to get the cup to stay put in the hay. She discovered another benefit to sleeping closer to the ground when she awoke to feel a nuzzle at her cheek. The first thing she smelled was cider and the first thing she saw were those beautiful green eyes.

“Why isn't waking up this cool all the time?” She mumbled happily.

Applejack chuckled, “Dash, I got a surprise for ya.” 

“Yeah? A good surprise?” Dash said, blinking and yawning.

“I reckon it's towards the top of a list of things you want.” Applejack said, backing up to give Dash room to get up. 

“You and Spitfire in a tub of cider?” Dash said with a grin as she rose to her hooves and stretched her wings.

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Does that sound like somethin' I'm likely to have for ya'?”

“A pony can dream.” Dash said. Her eyes fully adjusted to being awake and she noticed that AJ was wearing two bulging saddle bags with a pot hanging from one. But most the most important thing was the small wooden cask strapped to her back. 

Dash's eyes grew wide. “Is that what I think it is?”

“Yup.” Applejack said, grinning. “But ya' can't have any yet. We're gonna go down the Whitetail Woods and make a night of it.”

“Does making a night of it include. . .?” Dash asked hopefully.

AJ smirked, “Most likely.”

Dash flew into the air and did a small loop, grinning. “Yes! Sex and cider! You really do love me!”

Applejack laughed and shook her head. “I have never in my life seen a pony get so worked up over cider. I just don't get it. Now zap apples I could see, they're kinda special bein' magic and all, but cider's just pressed apples.”

“Zap apples are okay, I guess,” Dash said with a apathetic shrug. Then she grinned again. “But your cider is the best tasting thing in Equestria! So, what else do you have in there?”

“Stuff to really make cider. We sell it plain 'cause everypony likes it different, but if ya' really want somethin' special it just starts with fresh Sweet Apple Acres cider.”

Dash's wings stopped in shock, and she fell to the ground. “There's something more special than cider? What are we waiting for!?”

“Nothin', Sugarcube. Let's get goin'” Applejack said, laughing at Dash as she set off at a brisk trot. Dash was right behind her.

They made their way to the Whitetail Woods as the sun was setting. Applejack lead the way to a clearing in the woods and used her tail to sweep it clean. Dash helped her to gather wood and light a bonfire in the center of the cleared area, well away from any trees. The night promised to be crisp and cool, and the fire provided a comfortable warmth.

Once the fire was going, Applejack put the pot on and emptied the cask of cider into it. Then she pulled a jar of what looked like dirt out of her saddle bag. She opened the jar and started to pour it into the pot.

“WAIT! What are you doing to the cider?” Dash asked, her eyes wide.

Applejack finished pouring, then set down the jar and laughed, “Calm down, Sugarcube. It's just spices. All part of the recipe.”

“Okay,” Dash said, suspiciously. “But if you messed up perfectly good cider. . .”

Applejack raised her eyebrows with a smirk, “I think I know a thing or two 'bout cider, Dash.”

Dash rolled her eyes. “I guess so. We'll see.”

Applejack settled in next to the fire, and Dash sat down across the fire from her, staring intently at the pot warming there.

After a little while Applejack said softly, “Dash, I gotta thank ya'.”

“Huh?” Dash asked, looking up from the pot. “Oh, no problem. You don't think I'd let you lose your farm without doing what I could to help, do you?”

“No, I mean, well, thank ya for helpin' today, but I really gotta thank ya' for the talk we had on the train ride home the other day. If I didn't feel like I had you when I thought we lost, I. . . I can't even think what I woulda done. But it wouldn't have been pretty, lemme tell ya.”

Dash smiled. “Yeah, when Granny agreed to take them on I was a little afraid your head would explode.”

“No kiddin'. It may be that no one calls Granny a chicken, but I had a mouth full of words I wouldn't have minded callin' her at the time.” She sighed and shook her head. “I did not need that all that stress. What all did she think we were gonna do if we'd lost?”

“Take up cherry farming?” Dash said with a teasing grin.

Applejack gave a bemused stare.

“I hear it makes a nice change from apples.” Dash couldn't help snickering.

“And here I thought you wanted some cider. . .” Applejack said with a smirk.

Dash's face fell in an instant, and she responded quickly, “I'll never mention cherries again. There's no such fruit.”

Applejack laughed and picked up the ladle to stir the cider.

This brought Dash's attention back to the pot of cider, and she grinned eagerly. “Is it ready yet?”

“It takes time, Dash.” Applejack said with the ladle still in her mouth.

“You're teasing me. Stirring that right in front of me.”

Applejack lowered her eyelids seductively. She slowly circled the ladle around the pot, lifting it and letting the cider drip out.

“Wow,” Dash said, a familiar tension growing in her wings. “Now I want you and the cider.”

Applejack set the spoon aside and sat back down. “Give it time and you'll get both. What is it 'bout the cider that drives ya' so crazy?”

“I don't know.” Dash got a dreamy smile thinking of the drink. “It's just. . . really amazingly good.”

“So's apple pie, but I never see ya' try to eat it off the dirt.” Applejack pointed out.

“I can have apple pie any time. Cider is special. It only comes around once a year, and you can only get it here.”

“Other places got cider, Dash. Maybe not Sweet Apple Acres cider, but. . .”

Dash shook her head, “No, I mean. . . on the ground. I never had cider until I moved away from Cloudsdale.”

“Oh.” AJ said, mildly surprised. “Well, I suppose not. It don't keep well, that's why we sell it fresh.”

Dash got a far away look as she remembered her first mug of cider. “It's so different from anything I'd had before. The first time, I couldn't believe what I was tasting, it was like drinking the best apple ever. It's the weirdest, coolest thing in the world. Cider is like everything good about the ground in a cup.”

Applejack smiled a little. “I guess I never thoughta that. I mean, I been 'round cider my whole darn life. 'Course, I been on the ground my whole darn life, too.”

“Yeah.” Dash nodded. “Try to imagine moving to Cloudsdale. Think about how weird and different everything would seem. Stuff I grew up with, like lightning fizz or snowcloud slushies, might be amazing to you. I should have made you get some of that while we were there for the young flyers competition, but it seems so boring to me that I completely forgot that you've never tasted anything like it.”  

“I guess somethin' that different would be awful special. Maybe we'll go again someday. I'm glad you like the cider here, though.” She was still smiling gently at Dash, and Dash smiled back.

“It's my second favorite thing on the ground.”

Applejack blushed a little, then looked down at the simmering pot. “I think this is done now. Now this is a family recipe, passed down for years. All the ponies in line just go and drink their cider up, they never bother to do it right. This is how the Apples do it, so you know it's good.”

She picked up the ladle, and scooped some into a mug for each of them. Dash grinned and picked up the mug with a reverence she usually reserved for items The Wonderbolts had personally touched.

Rainbow Dash stuck her muzzle in the top of the mug and breathed in deeply. The heat made the smell of the cider even stronger, and the spices added the scents of cinnamon and nutmeg and a few more subtle ingredients. But as if that wasn't enough, the faint scents of woodsmoke in the crisp air, the trees around her, and the earth they were sitting on mingled with the unbelievable beverage. To a pegasus more used to the smells of fresh air and clouds it was an exotic and powerful combination.

“What is this?” Dash whispered.

“Just cider and spices, heated up. You okay?” Applejack said, sounding worried. But Dash focused only on the cider.

“I'm. . . I'm. . .” Dash took a sip and a huge grin spread over her face, tears of joy in her eyes. “You. . . made. . . cider. . . better. Oh my gosh, I should have known you're the only pony who could make cider even better!”

“I'm glad ya' like it.” Applejack chuckled.

Dash looked at AJ, who sat illuminated by flickering firelight, smiling at Dash and drinking her own mug of cider happily. Around them the peaceful forest occasionally gave way to rustling and far away calls of animals going about their business. The fire crackled and popped, and the scents of the cider and clearing still filled her nose. 

Dash loved clouds. She loved the air, and she loved flying more than anything in the world. But this seemed like a totally different world, like a dream or a story. Nothing in the sky, in her cloud house, or in all of Cloudsdale could offer this combination of sensations. For this moment, this forest clearing was a little world of everything amazing about cider.

She took a long draught, then set down her mug and walked over to Applejack. For some reason it felt like flying would break the spell. Applejack set down her cider, smiling warmly as Rainbow Dash leaned in and kissed her.

The taste of cider and Applejack's lips mingled on Dash's tongue, and she pushed the completely willing earth pony to the ground. After a long, deep kiss she pulled away and looked into AJ's eyes. She wanted to try to explain it, but she didn't think Applejack could really get how awesome this all was. Cider was normal to her. Woods were normal. Laying on the ground was normal.

Rainbow Dash reached over and picked up Applejack's mug and took a drink. She set it back down and as she leaned in to kiss Applejack again, she said the only words she could think of to get across how this felt.“I really love cider.”
> Giving In (Read it and Weep)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Just a little tighter.” Rainbow Dash said as Applejack dropped the rope from her mouth. The pegasus was tied firmly to a tree in the sunny apple orchard.  

Applejack just shook her head. “Nope. I'm the one that's gonna be untyin' these ropes later, no way am I makin' it harder than I haveta.”

“You don't think I can get out?” 

“I know you can't get out.” Applejack smirked. 

“Ha! You just wait!” Dash said with a cocky grin. “What about the fire?”

“Nope. Might hurt the tree. Not to mention burn my idiot marefriend to death.” Applejack said dryly. She was being as patient as she could with Dash's new hobby. 

While her wings recovered Dash had torn though the Daring Do books. Now that she was out of books, Dash had decided to live the Daring life, which apparently involved recreating scenes from the books and proving that she could do anything Daring Do did. If this involved risking her neck, that was a bonus. Applejack just tried to make sure that death defying stunts stayed death defying.

“I totally read the book. I'll be perfectly safe.” Dash said, rolling her eyes.

“It's fiction, Dash. Not a how-to guide for bein' crazy.”

“Whatever. It's not as cool without the fire.”

“You go on and get outta that, and we'll talk about the fire next time.” Applejack relaxed against a tree across the row to watch.

“Fine,” Dash said, grinning. “Here I go.”

Dash squirmed and struggled against the ropes, but AJ had tied them tight. She'd roped enough critters in her time to keep a pegasus from going anywhere, and sure enough twenty minute later Dash was still trying to get the knot to budge. 

“Urmph! Unrh. . . almost. . . got it. . .”

Applejack was grinning by now. “So, 'bout that fire.”

“Shut up.” Dash said with a glare, trying to bite at the ropes.

“Hello, Applejack. . .” Fluttershy said as she walked up the row of apple trees. Then her cheeks turned pink as she caught sight of Dash. “Oh my. I'm, um, interrupting something, aren't I?”

Applejack chuckled, “Nope. Nothin' like that. Dash is just showin' me an amazin' trick she picked up from Darin' Do.”

“I said shut up.”

Fluttershy looked concerned. “Should you. . . untie her, maybe?”

“Dunno. Hey Darin', you ready to admit defeat?”

“Never!” Dash shouted with renewed determination.

“I'd say she's gonna be there for a while.” Applejack told Fluttershy with a grin. “What can I help ya' with?”

“Well, I know that Rainbow Dash said it was fine, but I just wanted to check and make sure you were really okay with the butterfly migration.”

“Butterfly migration?” Applejack asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh yeah.” Dash paused in her escape and looked up. “AJ, you don't care if I go with Fluttershy to watch some butterflies fly around, do you?”

Applejack shrugged. “No, can't say I mind that. Why would ya' ask?” 

“Well, because. . . I know I'm not supposed to say, but. . . well. . .” Fluttershy looked over to Rainbow Dash, hoping for help, but Dash had returned her attention to trying to shimmy out of the ropes, so Fluttershy went on. “It's on Hearts and Hooves day this year. I wasn't sure if you had plans.”

“Oh.” Applejack blinked. She hadn't given a thought to what, if anything, she was doing for Hearts and Hooves day now that she had a serious marefriend. “Well, as a matter of fact we didn't have no plans, did we Dash?”

“Urrn!” Dash responded with a piece of rope between her teeth, but no closer to being free.

“I mean, I hadn't really been thinkin' that far.” AJ explained to Fluttershy.

“Oh, well if you were going to make plans, then. . .”

Dash spit out the rope, “Fluttershy, she said she's okay with it.”

Applejack blinked. “Well. . . yeah, I reckon I did. Y'all go on and have a good time.”

“Oh! Thank you!” Fluttershy squealed softly. She hugged AJ, then trotted over and hugged Dash before heading back towards the road.

Applejack watched the hug closely, and replayed it after Fluttershy was gone. Was Dash blushing? Did it last longer than when Fluttershy hugged her? She looked at Dash for a few moments, but there were no hints from the pegasus, who was tied up with trying not to be tied up.  

“So, you said you'd go out with Fluttershy on Hearts and Hooves day before ya' asked me?” Applejack asked. 

“Sure. You don't go for that mushy stuff. Why did you tie this dumb rope so tight?” Dash said, pausing in her struggles to catch her breath.

“We didn't haveta do nothin' mushy.” Applejack said absently.

“Do you not want me to go with Fluttershy?”

“Nah, I said it.” Applejack said with a shrug. “I ain't about to go back on my word. I guess I'm just a little disappointed that you didn't think of me.”

“I did think of you. I thought you wouldn't care.” Dash said, looking a little worried.

“Well, okay then.”

“It doesn't sound okay.” Dash said suspiciously. “We're not doing the hiding stuff thing again, AJ.”

“Well, it oughta be okay.” Applejack said with a sigh. “You're right, you had no reason to think I'd care 'bout Hearts and Hooves day. I don't really care 'bout Hearts and Hooves day, and it'd be just silly for me to be jealous of Fluttershy, wouldn't it?”

“Yup.” Dash nodded. “I mean, Fluttershy is pretty but . . . butterfly migrations? You'd never ask me to go to something as lame as a butterfly migration.”

Applejack glared at Dash suspiciously. “Am I pretty too?”

“Yeah? Since when do you care about that?”

“I- I don't.” Applejack said, almost surprised. “I just care if you care.”

Dash sighed, “AJ. . . okay, first, Fluttershy is pretty, but you're amazingly hot. Second, you're way more fun. And third, I love you. I've known Fluttershy since we were fillies, but for a marefriend I think I'm gonna stick with the hot, fun pony that I love.”

Applejack smiled, “I love ya too, Sugarcube.”

“Great. Now, to prove how awesome you are you could untie me without saying a single word about this.” Dash said hopefully.

Applejack chuckled. “Nope. Don't think I can.”

“Um, why not?”

“Cause the sun's goin' down, and I got a beautiful pony all helpless and tied to a tree.” Applejack said with a seductive grin. She walked up to the bound pegasus and rested her forehooves on Dash's shoulders, kissing her deeply. Dash's eyes widened. 

Applejack pulled away from the kiss, still grinning. “You're gonna be sorry ya' crossed me, Darin' Do.”

Dash's look of shock turned to an excited grin as AJ ran a hoof down to her flank. “I have the coolest marefriend.” She squirmed against the ropes.“Do your worst, evil temptress!” 

“Don't you worry 'bout that, I sure will.” Applejack said, licking Dash next to the ear.
> Team Players (Hearts and Hooves Day)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The butterflies flapped. . .

Aaand that's about all they did. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were still waiting for the migration to start, and Dash was already dangerously bored.

A blue butterfly landed on Dash's nose in what she was sure was a really cute and adorable scene of a rainbow maned pegasus frolicking with nature.

“Not happening, buddy.” She said, wrinkling her nose and shooing it away.

“Did you say something, Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy said from across the meadow. She had about half a dozen butterflies perched on her head and back, and there was clearly frolicking going on over there. Now that was a cute and adorable scene.

“I was just talking to a-” Dash stopped and considered the rest of that sentence. “Know what? Never mind. I'm gonna take a nap. If anything looks like it's frolicking near me, would you chase it away?”

“Um. . . sure?”

“Thanks.” Dash said, finding a relatively comfortable patch of grass and curling up. This was going to be a really long day.



***



Applejack was also facing a really long day, but hers consisted of the same farm work she always did, with an added loneliness knowing that other ponies were enjoying the day with their special somepony, and her special somepony was enjoying the day with somepony else.

She worked most of the morning, trying to keep her mind from wandering. It was almost lunch time when she heard a familiar voice.

“Yoooo hoo! Applejack!”

Applejack looked around and blinked in confusion as she saw Rarity walking towards her. She tried to remember the last time Rarity had come to Sweet Apple Acres without their other friends or Sweetie Belle. Applejack was pretty sure that was never.

“Hey there! What brings you to these parts?”

“I wanted to invite you to the spa.”

“Um. . . beg pardon?” Applejack asked, confused.

“I normally go with Fluttershy, but she told me about that nature thing she's doing. She mentioned she was taking Rainbow Dash with her, so I knew that you didn't have plans. I would adore some company, if you wouldn't mind.” Rarity saw the uncertain look on Applejack's face. “Maybe just for a massage and a dip in the hot tub?”

“As fun as goin' to the spa sounds, I'd rather-” She stopped. Rather what, buck trees by herself all afternoon while her marefriend was in some romantic meadow with another pony on Hearts and Hooves day? “Now that I think it, the spa don't sound so bad.”

“Wonderful!” Rarity said with a smile and a little hop. “This will be such fun! Come dear, let's be off.”

Applejack gave a backwards glance at her work, but she decided she deserved a day off for Hearts and Hooves day. She would have taken one to spend with Dash, so she might as well use it to spend some time with Rarity instead. 

The two walked to the spa in Ponyville, covering small talk about the weather and and their friends various activities. They continued that as they got settled in the lounge chairs at the spa and Aloe applied Rarity's facial mask while the masseuse went to work on AJ.

The massage relaxed Applejack a lot, but it also gave her a break in the conversation, and thoughts of Dash crept back into her mind. As soon as the masseuse left she could feel the annoyance at the situation tensing her muscles again. 

She realized that she was laying next to the one of her friends who claimed to be any sort of expert on relationship issues, so she took a deep breath and asked, “Rarity? Just say for a moment your special somepony said they didn't care 'bout romance and mushy stuff. If somepony else asked you to do somethin' with 'em on Hearts and Hooves day, what would ya' do?”

“I'd tell Fluttershy to find somepony else to go with her, and plan a simple, private dinner. But you're not dating me, and Rainbow Dash is unbelievably dense sometimes. Surely you know that by now.” Rarity said plainly.

AJ sighed, “Yeah. So should I be mad at her?”

“Are you mad with her?”

“I don't know, that's why I'm askin you. I ain't happy with her, that's for darn sure. I just feel like. . .” Applejack trailed off. Discussing her feelings was never easy for her.

“Yes?” Rarity said eagerly.

Applejack shook her head and started to climb off of the lounge chair. “Never mind, this is dumb. I gotta get back to the orchard.”

She got a few steps towards the door, when Rarity said softly, “Applejack, dear, may I tell you a secret?”

“Sure. I guess.” Applejack stopped and turned around, then trotted back over to Rarity so she wouldn't have to yell it across the room. 

“I asked you here today because. . . I don't have a special somepony. I hate it! I'm beautiful and talented and successful, and here I am, alone another Hearts of Hooves day!” Rarity moaned dramatically. Then she gave a little huff. “Pinkie and Twilight don't seem to mind so much, but when I heard that Rainbow Dash was going to be spending the day with Fluttershy, I thought that you might be lonely as well.”

Applejack gave Rarity a small smile. It was sad that a pony who cared so much for romance hadn't found it yet, and it was nice of her to be thinking about other ponies who might be lonely today. “Well now, I reckon I was lonely, some. You know the spa ain't my favorite place.”

“I know. Thank you for humoring me.”

“Thank ya' for thinkin' of me. And that massage thing was kinda nice. Real relaxin'.”

“That is actually the point of a spa.” Rarity pointed out.

Applejack chuckled and sat back on the lounge chair. “Okay, so maybe I shoulda given it a chance before.”

They were quiet for a moment. Applejack thought about what she had been trying to say before, and admitted to herself that if anypony could help her, it was Rarity.

“Rarity? What I was sayin' before. . . I feel like Dash just don't think 'bout me. She does all them dangerous tricks, and got herself hurt. Then she went and did a bunch of crazy stuff tryin' to be like Darin' Do. I worry when she's doin' stuff like that. And she agrees to go with Fluttershy on Hearts and Hooves day and tells me Fluttershy's pretty. Well, that makes me worry too. I don't wanna keep her from doin' stuff, but I'd like if she thought about how much I love her, and maybe once in a while held back so I don't have to worry.”

“She said Fluttershy is pretty? What did she say about me?” Rarity asked quickly.

Applejack gave her a glare. “Nothin.”

“Sorry.” Rarity said, embarrassed. Then she gathered herself and went on. “I can certainly see how dating Rainbow Dash might take patience. . . a lot of patience. If you don't mind my asking, have you spoken to her about any of this?”

Applejack blushed. “No. . . don't suppose I have. I kinda got a habit of doin' that. Gettin' all worked up without sayin' nothin'. I like to handle things myself, ya' know?”

“A relationship isn't about you, Applejack dear. And Rainbow needs to understand that it isn't about her. You need to think of it like. . . one of those sports teams. You can not handle things by yourself, and she must consider what's best for both of you. You must work as a team if you want it to succeed.”

Applejack thought about that for a moment, and smiled. “That makes a lotta sense, Rarity.”

Rarity paused a moment, then said, “It does? That worked? Oh, thank heavens. I honestly had no idea if sports teams worked like that.”

Applejack laughed. “I appreciate ya' tryin to make me understand.”

Rarity smiled. “I told you when you started down the bumpy road of romance that I would always be here to help. That's what your friends are for if you give them a chance.”




Applejack was laying in her bed, but not asleep. She was watching the clock tick. She hoped, somehow, that Dash would think to come see her before Hearts and Hooves day was over. Just to say goodnight. But it was 11:30 now, and she was losing hope. Not that she could be mad, it was one more thing she'd dropped the ball on by not saying anything.

As the clock flipped to 11:31, she thought she heard a knock at the window. Probably just the wind, she figured. She wouldn't let herself get too hopeful.

As she got out of bed and peeked through the curtains, a grin spread across her face. She opened the window quickly.

“I was hopin' to see ya'. Happy Hearts an-” Applejack was cut off by a deep kiss. Dash wrapped her forelegs around AJ, and AJ returned the embrace.

Then Dash broke the kiss. “I have a surprise. But you've gotta let me bring you to the ground.”

“Can't I just meet ya' down there?”

“You could, but I'd have to let you go. So no.” Dash said with a grin.

Applejack looked down at the ground from her bedroom window. It wasn't that far, really. She'd jumped that height before. “Alright then. But this better be good.”

“It's the best.” Dash assured her, as AJ climbed half way out of the window. She wrapped her forelegs around Dash tightly. Dash slowly flew back from the window with Applejack held securely, and AJ tried to ignore her heart pounding. But in just a few seconds, Dash had landed them safely on the ground.

“So, where are we goin'?” AJ whispered once her hooves were planted on the ground in the dark farmyard. Dash nodded towards the barn, where AJ could see the door was cracked open and there was a soft light coming from inside.

“You been tresspassin'?” Applejack teased.

“Yeah, you wanna chase me off?” Dash answered, grinning.

“Let's see this surprise, then I'll decide.”

Dash grinned and opened the barn door enough to let them in.

Inside was lit by a few lanterns which provided a dim light towards one side of the barn, but left most of the large interior dark. The light surrounded a pile of loose hay with a picnic blanket spred over part of it. Next to that was a basket with two bottles of juice and two cupcakes, and the phonograph softly playing one of Applejack's country records.

Applejack couldn't help but grin. “Oh, Dash.”

“Come on.” Dash smiled and flew towards the lighted area, landing on the blanket and laying down.

Applejack happily trotted over and laied next to her, nuzzling her face. “How was your butterfly thing?”

Dash made a face. “Even less awesome then it sounds. I actually think it might have been sucking awesomeness out of me to fill the massive lack of awesome it had.”

AJ had to chuckle, “I dunno. Ya' still seem plenty awesome to me.”

“That's because being here with you is extra awesome. It actually makes me cooler when I spend time with you.” Dash said, grinning and nuzzling her face. “So how was your day? Did you get a lot of farming done?”

“Actually, I went to the spa with Rarity.”

“Yeah right. Really, what did you do?”

“I just told ya'. I got one of them massages, and it was kinda nice.”

“You're serious.”

“Yup. And while I was there, I kinda asked her some advice.”

“About what kind of hoof polish is best when you kick trees all day?” Dash said giggling. “Or what mane style looks good if you're never gonna brush it and spend half your time sweating and tossing it around?”

Applejack shook her head, “No, 'bout what I'm gonna do with my fool marefriend.” 

Dash's face fell instantly. “AJ, is there a problem? Why didn't you talk to me?” 

Applejack put her head on Dash's shoulder, smiling. “Cause it's silly. I was tellin' her that I worry 'bout ya. I worry 'bout losin' you. I worry 'bout you bein' safe when you're doin crazy stuff, and I worry 'bout you findin' somepony you like better when ya' say how pretty other ponies are, or go out with 'em on Hearts and Hooves day.”

“AJ, I-” Dash whispered, but Applejack cut her off.

“I know it's dumb of me, Dash. I know you and Fluttershy are just friends. But this is how I feel, and I gotta let ya know. That's part of what Rarity said.

“She said that you and I are like a team. That I can't be hidin' stuff from ya', 'cause you're on the same team and you gotta know what's goin' on. And you oughta think more about how I'll see things, cause I'm on your team and whatever you do you pass off to me. 

“The way I see it, that seems 'bout right. If we lose one another, we both lose. And neither of us likes losin'. But Rainbow Dash, I know I'm in this game with a winner, the best of the best. The prettiest, toughest, most lovin', most loyal mare in Equestria. So I gotta do my part. I ain't gonna be the one to lose all this.” Applejack finished, looking into Rainbow Dash's eyes.

Dash looked back at her, thinking a moment before she said, “You're right, AJ. You're totally right. You deserve my best, we deserve the best for our team. I can't let you think for a minute that my head isn't in this. Together we're the most awesome team in the world, I won't let us lose.”

Applejack grinned. “I love you, Dash.”

“I love you too.” Dash said, smiling. “So you really spent the day with Rarity and didn't kill each other?”

“Yup. Just talked 'bout stuff.” Applejack remembered something and glanced at Dash. “Oh, and she wanted to know if you think she's pretty.”

“I know a trick question when I hear one. . .” Dash said with a smirk. “Okay, how about this. Do you think Rarity's pretty?”

Applejack blinked. “I never thought about it. . . um, yeah? She's got a real pretty color, and a nice figure. But she wears too darn much make-up.”

“I totally agree.” Dash said with a nod. “We have a team answer, we both think Rarity is pretty but wears too much make-up.”

Applejack smiled, “Well, that ain't so bad when it's us agreein' on it.”

Dash smiled seductively, “So who else do you think is pretty?”

AJ got a teasing grin, “Well now, I suppose Twilight's got a real cute face. . .”

“Applejaack!” Dash whined.

“But I know this beauty of a pegasus with big eyes the color of roses, and an amazin' rainbow mane and a body I could look at all night.”

“No way. You've gotta do more then look.” Dash said with a grin, moving on top of AJ and kissing her deeply. "We need a good long team practice session."

"Well, long as it's for the team." AJ said smiling as she pulled Dash in for another kiss.
> A Better Pony (Hurricane Fluttershy)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Authors note: Credit to dbzordie for the idea for this one, and for proofreading it for me, and for being generally awesome all the darn time.)




Of course there was a party that evening. Ponies were happy that something happened, and Rainbow Dash knew that Pinkie couldn't resist throwing a party for that anymore than she and AJ could resist a challenge. Dash stayed by Fluttershy for most of it, making sure that she didn't hide and that other ponies knew that they couldn't have done it without her. After spending most of her life getting laughed at for her poor flying, she knew how important this was to Fluttershy.

But a few hours into the party, Dash noticed a conspicuous absence. She knew Applejack was around here somewhere, but she hadn't seen her in a while. So she left Fluttershy with Pinkie, and went searching for her marefriend.

It took a while, but Dash found her outside of the party, leaning against a wall and looking at the night sky.

“Hey AJ, you okay?” Dash asked, worried. 

Applejack didn't seem to have noticed the question. “Fluttershy really came through for ya' today, huh?”

“Yeah. I wasn't sure she had it in her, but she did great.” Dash answered, a little confused.

“Good.” Applejack said with a nod, still looking at the sky.

“Wanna go inside and get some cake?” Dash said, really hoping that they weren't getting ready for another game of 'guess what's bothering AJ.'

“Maybe in a bit. First, I gotta tell ya' somethin'. Cause, ya' know, we're a team and all.”

Dash breathed a huge sigh of relief, and made a mental note to fix the humidity around the Carousel Boutique to be exactly right for a good mane day. “I'm listening.”

Applejack bit her lip, then said, “I'm jealous. Of Fluttershy.” 

Dash rolled her eyes, “Again? Sheesh AJ, how many times do I have to say it-”

“Not like that.” Applejack interrupted quickly. Then she sighed and went on, “It's just, when I saw how hard you were workin', how much it meant to you to do this thing right, well. . . there's nothin' in this world I wanted more than to help you. And in the end, it was Fluttershy who could come through for ya, not me. All cause I don't have. . .”

Dash wasn't sure what that last word was until she followed AJ's gaze to the wing resting at her side. “Oh Applejack. . .”

Applejack blushed. “I never wanted 'em before in my life. I don't even like bein' in the air, you know that. But I wanted so bad to be there for you, and I couldn't. I'm sorry, Dash. After all the times you been there for me. . .”

AJ seemed close to crying, and Dash knew better than to say anything that might make her cry. AJ hated crying almost as much as Dash did. She decided it would be best to keep her mouth shut, so she just walked up next to AJ and nuzzled her cheek.

“Ya' know, normally anypony that said I was just an earth pony would be wipin' my hoofprint off their face, but that's how I'm feelin' right now. I'm just an earth pony, and Fluttershy's a pegasus, so of course she's gonna be more help to ya'. 'Course she's the one who's gonna be there with ya', the one you're gonna be proud of.”

“AJ, come on, we both need help from other ponies sometimes, and it can't always be each other. I mean, most of the time when you need help you get Big Mac, 'cause it's stuff I'm nowhere near strong enough to do.” Dash said quietly.

“Mac's my brother. That's different.” Applejack said with a huff.

“Fluttershy is practically my sister. It's the same thing.” Dash pointed out.

“You sayin' you never wished I had wings?”

“I- I-” Dash wanted to say something to make AJ feel better, but she knew that her answer wouldn't do that. She knew that AJ knew the answer already, her hesitation had confirmed it, so she went on honestly. “I've thought about it. But not because I want you to be more help, and not because I'm not proud of you. Just because it would be fun, ya' know? I love flying, and I love you, and it'd be so amazingly awesome to fly with you.”

“Fluttershy can fly with ya.” Applejack said with a sigh.

“That not what I dream about, AJ.” Dash said, nuzzling her cheek. “Even if I'd love to have you in the sky, I love you more on the ground than any other pony anywhere.”

“But you'd love me more in the sky. I bet you were wishin' I could be there for ya' today. . . and I let ya' down.”

Dash considered that for a long time. “I was thinking about you. A lot. But I wasn't thinking for a second about you having wings.”

“What do ya' mean?”

“When I found out that we'd never break that record, and we might not even have the wing power to raise the water, I thought about just quitting. I mean, what's the point if I couldn't be awesome, right?” Dash said, raising her eyebrows.

Applejack just rolled her eyes.

Rainbow Dash smiled. “But there was this little voice in my head, saying 'Dash, ya' can't let Cloudsdale down. There's gotta be somepony everypony can depend on, and right now that's you.' And that voice had a cute cowpony accent.”

Applejack gave her an almost hopeful look. 

Dash thought about that moment, when everypony turned to her to make the call, and how she felt like AJ was there inside her, a part of herself that she couldn't let down. “You didn't even have to be there to help me, AJ. You helped me without ever leaving the farm. Being with you has made me a better pony. . . a pony I hope you're proud of?”

Applejack beamed and nuzzled Dash's cheek happily. “Oh Dash, you know I'm proud of ya'. You worked your tail off for this, and even if ya' didn't get all that glory you wanted you came through for everypony, and that's what matters in the end. You really think I helped ya' do that?”

“Do I usually give credit to other ponies for cool stuff I did by myself?” Dash said with a teasing grin.

Applejack chuckled, “Fair 'nough.”

“Let Fluttershy help with the flying, AJ. That's not the important part of this, not to me. It's awesome that we managed to get the job done, but we never would have started the job if it wasn't for your voice in my head. Fluttershy helped me today, but you've changed me forever. So, thanks Applejack. I couldn't have done this without you.” 

Applejack just blushed and smiled, “Aww shucks. I didn't change ya', Dash. This was in you the whole time, I reckon I just helped ya' see it.”

“Whatever you did, it worked. Does that make you feel a little better?”

“A lot better.” Applejack said smiling. “This talkin' bout stuff ain't that bad.”

“Great!” Dash smiled. “Oh, and while Spitfire was here I brought up the whole you and her and a tub of cider idea. She's totally cool with it, she said to meet her in her hotel room later.”

“You did what now?!” Applejack said, eyes wide.

Dash tried to keep the smile, but it only lasted a few second before she burst out laughing. “Oh Celestia, your face. I totally got you.”

Applejack just smiled at her. “Did I say I was proud of you? Cause I meant to say that you're a great big pain in my rear end.”

“Yeah, but I'm a dependable pain in your rear end.” Dash said, still snickering.

“Yup. I can always depend on that.” Applejack chuckled.
> An Image (Ponyville Confidential)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow Dash landed in the orchard at Sweet Apple Acres and posed heroically. Her eyes darted around, then she tossed her mane to make sure she really had that active, windswept look before trotting over to where AJ was bucking apples and resuming her pose.

“You still at this?” AJ said before giving the tree a buck.

“What do you mean?” Dash said as she crouched down like she was ready to take off, then glanced around.

“I mean that the Gabby Gums thing is over. You don't really gotta worry about paparazzi no more.” Applejack said, rolling her eyes.

“You never know, AJ. They could be lurking anywhere.” Dash said, suddenly looking over her shoulder with a big grin.

“I've mentioned that you're crazy, right?”

“Sure, call me crazy. But the next time anypony takes a picture of me, I'm gonna be looking awesome.”

AJ raised an eyebrow. “Can ya' look awesome and kiss me?”

“Of course!” Dash said happily. She started to lean in, then she stopped. “Um, just gimme a minute to figure out how.”

Applejack did not look impressed.

“Hey, you know kissing's kinda mushy. That why we don't do it in public, cause you don't like to look mushy.” Dash pointed out.

“But we ain't in public, Dash. We're on my farm, miles from anypony. And I'd kinda like a kiss without worryin' 'bout some imaginary camera gettin' your good side.”

“Well I figured it out!” Dash said with a grin.

Dash used her wings to hold herself upright as she wrapped her forelegs around AJ, bent her back backwards and kissed her deeply.

Applejack pulled back from the kiss. “Put me down, ya' fool!”

Dash put Applejack on her hooves and nodded to herself, grinning proudly. “Yeah, I think that looks awesome enough.”

Applejack glared at Dash. “You're gonna look awesome with a black eye in a second.”

“Actually, that might make me look pretty tough. Or a scar!” Dash said, only half teasing.

“Rainbow Dash, you're gettin' on my last nerve.”

“An eyepatch?” Dash asked, nuzzling her annoyed marefriend. "I think Pinkie has some extras."

Applejack had to chuckle as she sat under an apple tree. “Will ya' just sit down here with me?

“Sure.” Dash sat down next to AJ and leaned against her. “Those little life-wreckers aren't around anywhere, are they?”

“I think Apple Bloom and her friends are off somewhere, if that's what ya' mean. They said they're sorry, Dash.” Applejack said, giving Dash a nuzzle.

“And I stopped making it rain on them. That doesn't mean I wanna see them.” Dash said with a huff.

“Everypony else forgave 'em.” Applejack pointed out.

“They didn't ruin everypony else's life.” Dash said, pouting.

“It's that bad up in Cloudsdale?”

“I haven't been back. I can't show my face there again!” Dash cringed, imagining how she must be the biggest joke there right now. 

Applejack just raised an eyebrow. “Cause they think ya' got a hooficure?

“I have an image, AJ! And it definitely does not include hooficures.” 

“Yeah, well, so do I, but I reckon I can still show my face 'round Ponyville, even if they caught me sleepin.” Applejack pointed out, then she smiled and nudged Dash. “And I'm blamin' you for that, by the way.

Dash blinked. “Me? What did I do?”

Applejack smirked. “Somepony kept me up to all hours that night, if I recall. Somethin' about the barn and my lasso.”

“Heh. Oh yeah.” Dash grinned. “It's a good thing those kids didn't catch that one.” 

Applejack's eyes went wide. “Oh my. Maybe we oughta find someplace more private than the barn.”

“Anyway, we were talking about my life? And how it's ruined?” Dash said with a sigh.

“Why yes, we were. You know, Spitfire's wearin' hoof polish in that magazine picture you got of her.” Applejack pointed out.

Dash tried to remember the picture, a centerfold in Flyers Illustrated: Wet Feathers Edition. “You can see her hooves in that picture?”

“Yeah, they're a ways below her flank, that's why you didn't notice.” Applejack said with a smirk.

“It doesn't matter,” Dash said. “Wonderbolts can do whatever they want, but I'm not a Wonderbolt yet, I have to look good.

“I thought you always look good?” Applejack teased.

“Not when somepony spreads lies about me! No matter how cool you are, you can't look good if somepony lies and says you aren't cool.” Dash argued.

“Sugarcube, you always look good to me. I don't care if you let Rarity put make-up and a frilly dress on ya', the real you would still be there shinin' through.”

“I know.” Dash sighed. “But all those other ponies. . .”

“Remember after you tried bein' a hero? When you were all worried that nopony thought you were awesome?” Applejack asked, wrapping a foreleg around Dash.

“Yeah.”

“You remember what I told ya' then?”

Dash smiled. “You told me I'm awesome, and it didn't matter what other ponies thought 'cause it's just a fact.”

Applejack smiled back. “It's just as true today. And all ya' gotta do is keep on bein' awesome, and they'll see the truth.”

“Okay.” Dash grinned. “I was going to keep being awesome anyway.”

“And ya' might as well let it go with the fillies, Dash.” Applejack added. “They did somethin' a little dumb, but they're just kids.” 

Dash's grin turned to a frown. “They're not kids. They're traitors.”

“They ain't traitors.” Applejack sighed. “Folks told 'em they were doin' good, up till those same folks got a taste of it. Weren't you goin' on 'bout how cool Gabby Gums was?”

“Well. . . yeah.”

“So Scootaloo hears that, what do ya' think she's gonna do? She's just a filly and you're a pony she looks up to.” Applejack pointed out.

“Weeell. . .” Dash hemmed. AJ had a point. 

“It ain't really fair to expect 'em to have more sense then we do.” AJ said reasonably.

“I guess. . . you're right.” Dash admitted. 

Applejack chuckled. “Can I get that in writin'?”

“No way, but I'll tell the kids it's all cool next time I see them.” Dash said. Then she grinned, “And I'll give you a really mushy kiss.”

“I guess that's good 'nough for me.” Applejack said with a grin as their lips met. 
> A Very Long Day (A Canterlot Wedding)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Authors note: This is a rewrite of the stand alone fic “A Very Long Day.” The beginning and ending are the same, but some of the middle is completely different to fit with the history AJ and Dash share now, and themes I've addressed along the way.



The wedding was finally over, and all of the Ponyville ponies in Canterlot had gone to bed. It was almost one in the morning and it had been a very long day. Rainbow Dash was alone in her room at Canterlot Castle, her dress was in a heap on the floor, and the ribbons had been pulled out of her mane. The wedding was exciting, way more exciting than even she had hoped, but she was ready for things to get back to normal. She couldn't help but grin when she heard a knock at the door.

She flew off the huge canopy bed over to the door and opened it a crack, finding a tired and grumpy looking Applejack on the other side. “I thought it might be you. Didn't you get enough of a workout earlier today?”

“Dash, lemme in.” Applejack said, seriously.

The pegasus grinned, “Hmm, I don't know. I was kinda in the middle of-”

“Lemme in, or I will buck this door down, so help me Celestia.”

Dash sighed a little, still smiling. “Fine, you're no fun tonight.”

Applejack had also lost the dress, and her mane and tail had been brushed straight and tied with her red ribbons, stetson firmly on her head. She was frowning as she walked in, looking around the large bedroom, “Who ya' got in here?”

Rolling her eyes, Dash gestured to the empty room, “The Wonderbolts, a couple of royal guards, and that DJ. . . I don't have anyone in here, I was waiting for you.”

Applejack stared her down for a minute, looking for a lie or half truth, then hopped up on the bed and laid down. Dash joined the earth pony, snuggling against her, but Applejack didn't move.

Dash knew the signs by now, something was bothering AJ. With any luck, AJ would decide to talk to her about it. All Dash had to do was give her some time.

“You kissed 'er.” Applejack finally said.

Rainbow Dash stopped her nibbling and looked up into accusing green eyes, “You saw that? It was in the middle of the fight!”

“I keep my eye on you. You ain't denyin' it?”

Dash propped herself up on her front hoof and one wing, her body still pressed against the jealous earth pony. “Well, no. . . but it was just a kiss on the nose! She was hiding her eyes while I took down those changelings, I had to let her know it was the real me somehow.”

“You coulda just said.” Applejack pointed out.

“She's like my sister, AJ. I was trying to say a little more than 'it's me.' I was trying to say that, and 'I've got your back', and. . .  and 'if we go down here, you know I care about you'. And I was kinda short on time. If it had been Apple Bloom you would have done the same thing.”

Applejack nodded, seeming to accept that. But then she got that suspicious look again. “So, what 'bout Soarin?”

“Well, Spitfire wasn't here, and you didn't bring enough cider anyway.” Dash teased.

“So ya' spent all evenin' dancin with him?” Applejack said with another accusing glare. 

“He's a Wonderbolt!” Dash answered. AJ's look told her that this was not an excuse, so the pegasus added,  “And it was just dancing. What's got you all worked up?”

“Noth-” She started to huff. Then she sighed. “I just. . . I wanna know you love me.”

“Well duh,” Dash rested her head on AJ's shoulder. “Of course I love you. I tell you that all the time.” 

Applejack rolled her eyes. 

“What?”

“I love ya too, but. . . you think we coulda done what Princess Cadance and Shining Armor did?” Applejack asked, nuzzling Dash behind the ear.

“Since we're not unicorns, I'm gonna go with no.”

“Rainbow Dash. You know what I mean. That true love stuff. Do ya think those two bicker and roll their eyes at one another, or have times when they're so fed up they could hogtie the other and toss 'em in the cellar?”

“I doubt either of them knows how to hogtie a pony.” Dash said with a teasing smirk. “But she's a princess, so she probably has a dungeon.” 

Applejack gave a snort, but Dash could tell she was smiling as she said, “You better be glad I don't got a dungeon right now.”

“Seriously, they probably aren't much different from us. Weddings are for pretending those times don't happen, but nopony is perfect.”

“You sayin' you ain't perfect?” AJ teased.

Dash grinned, “I might have a tiny flaw or two. But you did get really lucky when you caught me.”

“I did.” Applejack whispered. 

Dash nuzzled her neck. “So did I.” 

“Glad ya' know it.”

Dash looked up with a smirk, “You don't think I'd give my heart to anypony but the second best pony in all of Equestria, do ya?”

Applejack shot her a look, “Second best?”

Dash gave AJ a little grin. “Yeah. I haven't figured out how to date myself yet.”

Applejack chuckled and shook her head. “You coulda asked onea them changelin's.” 

“Are you kidding? If any of them had been half as awesome as me, we would've lost.”

“Dash? We did lose.”

Dash sighed, “Yeah, I know. But we took out a lot of them first!”

“Yeah.” Applejack said softly.

“You okay?” Dash asked, just as soft. She knew AJ took failure hard.

“I guess. . .” Applejack shifted, wrapping her forelegs around Dash. “I mean, what woulda happened if Cadance and Shinin' Armor weren't there?”

Thinking about the potential damage, of Ponyville looking like Canterlot after the changeling invasion, Dash was very glad AJ's legs were around her. It made her feel stronger, and it reminded her how strong Applejack was. “It would have been bad. . . but we would have made it.”

“How do ya' know?” Applejack asked. 

“We were alive.” Dash said softly. “As long as we're alive, me, you, the rest of the girls, we'll keep fighting, and we'll win someday. Those guys were no Discord, there were just a ton of them. We would have beat them eventually.”

There was a short silence, then AJ said, “Guess the Elements of Harmony ain't gettin' a holiday this time.”

Dash laughed a little. “Yeah. That totally sucks. But Cadance and Shining Armor better not get one. They're still on 'stained glass window,' I don't care if she is a princess.”

Applejack just chuckled softly and hugged Dash close, while Dash just enjoyed the feeling of relaxing in AJ's strong legs after a long, dangerous, and confusing day.

Finally, without moving from AJ's forelegs, Dash asked, “What was your final count?”

“You were countin'?”

Dash smirked at AJ, “Like you weren't.”

Applejack was quiet for a minute. “Forty three. You?”

“Forty-” Dash paused, and eyed Applejack, who she found eyeing her back. Dash deflated a little and finished, “Forty two.”

“How's second best feel, sugarcube?” Applejack smiled and gave her a squeeze. But seeing Dash pouting, she went on. “'Sides, Pinkie got more then either of us.”

“Yeah, but that doesn't count. She had Twilight, and the party cannon. It only counts if you do it with your bare hooves.”

Applejack laughed, “I'll buy that for two bits. Pinkie probably came out cleaner then us, though. I thought I'd never get the changelin' bits outta my hair for the weddin'.”

“Why'd you have to?” Dash joked, running a hoof down AJ's blonde mane. “You looked so cool after that fight, all sweaty and messy. If I hadn't been distracted by failing all of Equestria, I would've pulled you up here right then.”

Applejack had to laugh, “A city fulla changelin's wouldn't a stopped ya, huh?”

“Nope, I would've been like, 'Outta my way guys, I've got a hot marefriend to make out with,'” Dash laughed. She leaned in and kissed AJ deeply, and AJ kissed her back. 

The kiss lasted a long time, it held all of the nervous energy of two ponies who would never say die, but might have had the thought cross their minds once or twice in the past day. When it finally broke, Rainbow Dash found herself looking into those bright green eyes and feeling too many things that she couldn't express.

“I love you, Rainbow Dash.” AJ said.

“I love you too, Applejack.” Dash answered, which wasn't a bad start. But there was more. “If- if anything ever happens to me, I want you to know. . .”

Applejack bit her lip, but waited patiently. Dash tried to put what she was feeling into words, but these kinds of emotions just weren't her thing. 

Finally she gave up, and grinned impishly. “You'll make a slightly less awesome best pony in all Equestria.”

For a second, AJ was shocked, then she started laughing and gave Rainbow Dash a shove, “You're the worst, ya know that?”

“You mispronounced 'best.'” Dash said, grabbing the leg AJ used to shove her and pulling her close.

AJ hugged the pegasus, then used her body to push Dash into the bed. “Best pain in my rear end.”

Dash grinned, wrapping her front legs tight around AJ, “I'd better be. It's a great rear end.”

Rainbow Dash wondered if she'd ever actually be able to say all that she needed to before it was too late. But as she laughed and joked and held Applejack close, she wondered if maybe she didn't have to. Maybe nights like this said it all.

> Epilogue and Author's Note
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was a day like any other on Sweet Apple Acres. The sky was blue and dotted with fluffy white clouds over the trees full of ripe fruit. Applejack happily bucked a tree, watching proudly as all of the apples fell neatly into the waiting bushels before moving onto the next one.

She bucked the next tree, and the apples fell as they always did. She smiled at those full baskets.

Thud.

An apple landed on her head, then bounced to the ground. Applejack's eyes went wide in shock. 

She stared at the apple. Whenever she bucked a tree, she always knocked out all of the apples right away. At least as long as she was on top of her game, like today. And the apples never fell on her, not if she was bucking right.

She shook her head, wondering if her aim had somehow been off. Then she used her tail to whip the apple into a bushel, and walked over to buck the next tree.

She took a minute to compose herself and focus before she twisted to plant her hooves on the trunk. She felt the tree shake, and the apples fell perfectly into the bushels. She sighed with relief.

Thud.

Another single apple. 

Applejack blinked, then quickly looked around. Something had to be wrong. She felt fine, and everything looked normal, apple trees, green grass, blue sky, fluffy white clouds.

A smirk slowly spread across her face. Fluffy. White. Clouds.

She grabbed her lasso and tossed it, aiming for the closest cloud above her.

“AAH!” Yelled the cloud. Or the pony laying on it who just got roped, more likely.

Applejack planted her hooves and yanked, tugging the cloud's occupant out of the sky and onto the ground. 

“Heya, AJ.” Rainbow Dash said with a grin, picking herself up and shaking her head. She ignored the rope around her midsection and tried to keep from laughing. “Don't you know it's against the law to interfere with a weather patrol pony on duty?” 

AJ raised an eyebrow, still smirking. “Well sorry there, didn't know there was a rain of apples on the forecast.” 

“Apples? What ap-” Dash started, then noticed her open saddle bag, full of incriminating red fruit. “Oh, that's just, uh, my lunch?”

Applejack's knowing smirk didn't waver as Dash tried her hardest to look innocent before bursting into laughter.

Applejack shook her head and walked up to the pegasus. “You are the most irritatin', annoyin'-”

“Most awesome?” Dash added, still snickering.

AJ started to chuckle. “Most awesome, craziest-”

“Hottest?”

“Hottest.” Applejack nodded. “Goofiest-” 

“Best.” Dash smirked.

“Best bunch of good for nothin' ponyfeathers in all Equestria.” Applejack finished, kissing Dash on the nose.

Dash grinned. “Yeah, I am. And you love it.”

“Celestia help me, I do.” Applejack said, her grin matching Dash's. 

“So, I came over here to see if you wanted to go for a run. I need to stretch my legs.”

Applejack glanced at Dash's saddle bag.

Dash smiled sheepishly. “Okay, I came over here to throw apples at your head, then see if you wanted to go for a run.”

AJ laughed and nuzzled Dash. “I'm never gonna figure what to do with you.”

“Kiss me. A lot.” Dash suggested, returning the nuzzle.

“That sounds nice.” AJ said, planting a kiss on Dash's lips. “So does a run, if ya' gimme a bit to finish this row.”

“Awesome. I needed a nap.” Dash looked to her sides, where the lasso was still around her wings. “Can you untie me?”

“I dunno.” Applejack raised an eyebrow. “I think keepin' ya' on a leash might be a good idea.”

“We can do that later.” Dash smirked. “Right now there's a tree branch with my name on it right there.”

Applejack smiled and loosened the rope. “I'd love to know why ya' seem to think all my apple trees have branches with your name on 'em.”

Dash shook off the lasso and flapped into the air, landing on a branch. She smiled as she laid back and closed her eyes. “Because this is perfect. A nice sunny day, a comfy branch, and a beautiful farmer harvesting her crops nearby who wants to go for a run later. All that's missing is the awesome pegasus to sleep on the branch, enjoy the view, and keep her company. It's like there's a spot in your life just for me.”

Applejack smiled up at her pegasus. “There sure is, sugarcube. There always will be.”

***












Author's note: Season Three


Seasons one and two of The AppleDash Project are complete. If you're interested in following season three when it comes out you should either make sure you have this story favorited, or watch me. I'll be making a blog post announcing it and publishing it as a new story.

It will probably go up soon after the second episode (or third, in the case of a two parter) airs. I will be making some changes for season three:

Longer chapters – since I have an enforced waiting period between each episode, I might as well use that to make each chapter more of a story in it's own right.

More episodes covered – I hope to do all of them, actually. If AJ and Dash don't appear I'll use the slot to do a side story for them.  

A larger story arc – This is a gamble, since I have no idea what each episode will bring. This is the reason I'm giving myself an episode for a buffer, so I have a little wiggle room there. But it should be fun to watch me flail when we get an episode that Josses everything I've been doing so far!



 Other Stuff 


I recently posted a meme to my blog, offering to do commentary on stories or chapters of stories I'd written. Two chapters of The AppleDash project were requested, so here they are with author commentary: Tough Ponies, and What's So Great About Cider. More might be added in the future, who knows?

Those of you who commented a lot, I was totally keeping track of you. I'd get worried if you skipped too many weeks, and extra happy when I saw your username again. Seriously, you guys, comments are gold and commenting as a story goes along means a lot to an author, or at least it does to me. So thank you.

A special thanks to DbzOrDie, who PMed me one day and has since become on of my best internet friends and the person who's always there to listen to my crazy ideas and help me to work them into something I can write. He's willing to read over what I wrote at the drop of a hat, and I can't express how useful that is. 

Finally, DbzOrDie and I are the co-admins of the group AppleDash. We hang out on the message boards there along with other awesome AppleDash fans and writers. We also post art we find, and keep the folders completely up to date with decently rated fics. So if you ship AppleDash, you should check it out.