Rainbow Dash's goal: To get Applejack to go out with her. Problem: Asking Applejack to go out with her.
Will you go out with me?
Rainbow Dash wants to ask Applejack to go out with her. The problem is that every pony seems to know her feelings EXCEPT Applejack. She enlists the help of her friends. Luckily they have their own ideas as to how to confess.
How can six words be so hard to say? Is it because the brave soul who says these words crosses the line between the friendzone and a possible relationship? Would you take the risk of putting the good thing you currently have with him or her and make it better? What if your crush rejects you? What if they don't?
There are many possibilities that could be unlocked with this simple key phrase. More like a combination.
And Rainbow Dash would explore all the different combinations. She was going to confess to literally the apple of her eye.
"I want it to be cool, you know? Ask her in a way that she'll always remember! Like with fireworks or lightning bolts! Oh my gosh, lightning bolts would be so awesome!"
"L-L-Lightning!" Fluttershy instinctively hid under her hooves, as if there were actually lightning outside. Rainbow Dash just rolled her eyes.
They were all at the newly formed Castle of Friendship, with the attendance including Twilight, Rarity and now a very frightened Fluttershy. They had all found out about the cyan pegasus' secret feelings for the apple farmer, which led to some merciless teasing from the two unicorns (one being more an alicorn) and garnered support from a yellow pegasus. Rainbow Dash enlisted their help as to how she would ask Applejack out on a date.
"Not unless you want her to be scared out of her wits. Honestly Rainbow Dash, have you no romanticism in you?" Rarity rhetorically asked, helping a shivering Fluttershy up.
"Uh duh! I'm not all for that mushy, sappy stuff but if it helps me get the mare of my dreams, it's totally worth it!"
"Mare of your dreams? Oh now I've really heard everything. Quick Spike, write it down in her autobiography!" Twilight jokingly said.
"Hey!" Rainbow Dash said quickly. Then with a knowing smirk, she spoke. "I wouldn't be talking Mrs. Pinkamena Diane Pie"
The name brought an instant blush Twilight's face. Rainbow couldn't take it.
"Hahahahaahaa oh Twilight. Your face oh oh my sides. Priceless I tell you." Rainbow continued rolling on the floor, laughing. Revenge is always very sweet. Very sweet indeed.
"Anyways..." Twilight said, regaining the colour in her face. "How come you haven't told Pinkie Pie? I mean she's going to find out eventually."
"Because I just don't want her to get all excited about it and then throw a 'Rainbow Dash has a special somepony and wants to ask her out-party.' You know she'll totally do that." Rainbow pointed a hoof at Twilight. "Not that she'll blow my cover or anything but I'm not taking any chances. The less ponies who know, the better."
"Alright, so how do you want to ask her out?" Twilight asked, getting them back to the task at hoof.
"That's the problem! I've never asked anypony out before. Sure, I've been out with some other ponies but they've always asked me out." Rainbow proudly put a hoof on her chest. "Guess they couldn't resist my awesomeness"
"Except Applejack" Rarity pointed out.
"Yea..."
"Rest assured Rainbow Dash." Rarity said, lightening up her friend's mood. "We have plenty of ideas that is sure to win Applejack's heart and get her to go out with you. I am an expert on these sort of things, if I do say so myself."
"Yea, yea, yea. Just make sure it's not too mushy. I've got a reputation to maintain!" Rainbow had known Rarity would make her do something that would be completely cheesy and out of her element. She didn't want that.
"The way I ask her out, it has to have the right amount of Coolness! Awesomeness! And radicalness!"
"Aren't those the same-" Twilight stopped herself, knowing how the conversation would end. "Nevermind. Why don't you just go up to her and ask her out?"
"Ugh. Where's the awesomeness in that? Seriously Twi, you have got to get out more." Rainbow pointed to herself. "This is me you're talking about. I need to put a hundred percent into this if I want to get Applejack to go out with me. I mean...she's the first mare that I'm going to ask out! It needs to be cool."
"Enough with the chitter chatter. Time to get to work!" Rarity said, expertly jotting down a bunch of ideas on a piece of parchment paper. The remaining mares huddled around the purple-maned dressmaker, throwing out in their own suggestions but let the mistress of drama, do her work.
If you are a pegasus, skywriting is easy. It just takes a bit of precision, style and speed. Three things that Rainbow Dash had perfected over years of practice.
The forecast dictated that there would be clear skies all day. As a weather pony, Rainbow Dash insisted it to her boss and all the other pegasi, to which they happily agreed.
She practiced her writing her message in the sky. Once. Twice. Three times. After she got the hang of it, she wrote it once more so that her rainbow wake would perfectly spell out what she wanted to say.
She flew back to admire her work and smiled. She was proud of what she saw.
"Will you go out with me?" it said.
Unfortunately skywriting (or in this case, rainbow-writing) only stayed intact for a few seconds before it dissolved in the atmosphere, so she would need Applejack to watch the whole time as Rainbow Dash spelled it out.
Rainbow waited for Applejack to come trotting out of the Sweet Apple Acres homestead.
Today was pie delivery day. She had memorized Applejack's schedule, which she admitted was a bit stalkerish, but she didn't care. Rainbow had only one goal in mind.
A light sparked within her as she saw Applejack come out of the barn, carrying two of Granny Smith's famous apple pies. She sped to her friend's side as fast as lightning.
"Hey Applejack!" Rainbow greeted.
"Shoo! Go on now!" was Applejack's only reply
"Relax AJ! I'm not here to steal some of those pies. Although...." Rainbow Dash licked her lips.
"None fer y'all, ya hear?" Applejack held the pies protectively against her side. "These are fer sale."
Dash rolled her magenta eyes.
"Relax. I was just gonna ask you if you wanted to see my new flying trick. It's gonna be so AWESOME!" Rainbow squealed like a little filly.
"Well Ah'm kinda on the clock here Sugarcube."
"Chill. It'll only take a few seconds. Please?" Rainbow gave Applejack her best puppy dog eyes.
"Yea not so cute." Applejack gently pushed Rainbow's cheek away from her. "But if it'll only take a sec, then get to it RD!"
"You got it Boss!" Rainbow Dash put her goggles on and shot up in the air. She reached a high enough altitude so that she wasn't too far from Applejack's sight and had enough space to write her message.
Here goes nothing. Just like you practiced.
Rainbow Dash began spelling the words out, the sky being her own endless piece of paper. She maneuvered her body to get the right angle and then looped twice.
This is it! Almost-
"Watch out!" the grey pegasus nearly collided with Rainbow Dash, which made the cyan pegasus change her flight pattern.
"Derpy!" Rainbow yelled clumsy pegasus' name through the air, but she didn't stop. Her message was complete with one loop.
As soon as she made the question mark with a rainbow streak, she returned back to Applejack's side.
"So whatcha think?" Rainbow asked in the most confident voice she could make. Pleasesayyes pleasesayyes pleasesayyes!
"Will Ah go out with Maud? As in Maud pie? Um Sugarcube, if ya haven't noticed how she-"
"What!" Rainbow's eyes widened as she looked into the sky. Sure enough, the rainbow-made letters faintly spelled out "Maud".
"Ugh! It wasn't suppose to..ugh!"
Rainbow facehoofed. More than once.
"Well yer a mighty kind friend fer tryin' ta use yer matchmakin' skills on me and Maud, but she ain't exactly my type Sugarcube. Sorry." Applejack said, before heading off. "Cool trick though!"
"Yea cool trick Rainbow Dash! Sorry about that!" Derpy yelled from above. Her head was poking out of the cloud she crashed into earlier.
Rainbow Dash just fell down on the Earth, landing on a the plowing field. The barn door immediately slammed open.
"Y'all get off ma lawn ya gud fer nothin' younguns" Granny Smith bursted out, while holding out a laddle.
Granny's voice was enough to make Rainbow jump up and dash out of there in a flash, while snatching an apple in the process.
"Sooooo how do I start the letter, Fluttershy?" asked Rainbow.
Rainbow had borrowed Twilight's scrolls and quill for this assignment.
Rainbow was ready to admit her undying love to the pony of her dreams. She was ready to dazzle her with her prose. To amaze with her intricate sentence structure. To wow her with a beautiful dissertation on love.
Or so she thought.
For the life of her, she couldn't think of what to write or how to even begin. She had gone to Fluttershy's house for some help but she was having tea with Rarity and Rarity was not a pony to be ignored.
She held the quill in her mouth, scrawling the words, "Dear Applejack". The quill's feather end tickled her nose and the inevitable sneeze took place, wrecking the first scroll. Ponyfeathers.
"Perhaps you should use a pen dear. Or if you want, I'd be more than willing to write it for you!" Rarity chimed, as her magic took hold of the quill.
"No. I have to do this myself. I just...I don't know what to write. I'm not really good at writing down my feelings" Rainbow admitted.
"Well, it's nothing to be ashamed of. It just takes practice is all." With that, Rarity scribbled down a few sentences on the piece of scroll and handed it to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow read it out loud.
"My love for you is like a red rose. The colour of passion, the colour of desire. It emanates deep within my sou-what is this?!" Rainbow Dash scrunched it up in a ball and threw it over of shoulder.
"Well that was rude!" Rarity exclaimed.
"It's just not me! I don't need all that sappy, mushy stuff. I don't know what I want to say but it's certainly not that!" Rainbow shot back.
"Girls!" Fluttershy yelped weakly. The two charged mares backed down instantly. "Now Rainbow...you just mentioned that Rarity's writing style isn't you. Do you know why that is?"
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes again. She hated explaining things that were obvious. "Duh! Because Rarity is Rarity. I'm me. How I feel is wayyyy different from what she feels. She likes all that sappy, romantic stuff. What she wrote, I don't feel that way about Applejack."
"Well...how do you feel about Applejack?" Fluttershy pressed on.
"Close your eyes for a minute dear. It might be a bit easier to void yourself from any distraction" Rarity suggested carefully.
Despite the brief quarrel between them, Rainbow Dash closed her eyes for a few seconds. Her thoughts wandered to Applejack. For a long moment, no pony said anything.
"I feel scared..."
Rarity did a double-take with her tea while Fluttershy angled her head, looking at Rainbow curiously.
"I feel scared...because I never want her to think less of me. I always think she's going to see me as some dumb pegasus who crashes into everything and always messes up."
There was a long pause.
"Oh Rainbow Dash..." Fluttershy said with a comforting tone. "I'm sure she doesn't-"
"I know she doesn't. That's what's so weird but so cool about her. She doesn't change her view of me when I do mess up and she doesn't throw past mistakes in my face. And I love how she can always keep up with me. I've never met another pony that matched my awesome skills. Well, except maybe Spitfire and Gilda, but she's a griffon. I mean she's like Ponyville's best athlete. And have you seen her flank!"
Immediately, Rainbow Dash put her hooves over her mouth and blushed from embarrassment. Rarity's jaw dropped and Fluttershy flushed faintly.
"I guess what I'm trying to say is..." Rainbow started again. "I like the way she's like me and how we get each other. We don't even have say anything, we just do. She's like the most honest and most dependable pony I've ever met. She even rivals in me in my Element, seeing how she's really loyal to her friends and family...I mean she even helped you during that dragon quest Flutters, even if it meant slowing us down. I should've been the one...."
Fluttershy remained silent but smiled, letting the moment come to her.
Rainbow let out a small sigh before she went on. "She...she keeps me grounded sometimes and even as a pegasus....it doesn't seem so bad."
Rainbow Dash opened her eyes to see Rarity smiling at her with tears in her eyes. Fluttershy's face mirrored the pale unicorn's. They then looked at each other and giggled like fillies.
Rainbow turned red. "I mean...I'm just saying that...Shut up! Quit looking at me like that!"
"Dash darling...that was absolutely the most sweetest thing I've ever heard. And it came from you!" Rarity said in a loving manner. Fluttershy nodded her head as well.
Backing down, Rainbow Dash smirked. "I always knew I was brilliant!"
"What Ah mean ta say is that Ah love how yer the most honest, most hard-working and most dependable of all ponies. Ah love how you are with yer family. But most of all...ah love ya for makin' me see that there's more ta life than just followin' yer dreams... and that makes it even more special... as you are." Applejack read out loud, feeling the warmth in her heart.
The three mares watched the orange farmpony from afar, with the leaves from the bushes perfectly disguising them. Or so they thought.
"Oh my gosh! She's reading it!" Rainbow said, her insides exploding with excitement.
"Shhhh" hissed Rarity, from behind her. Her mane was oddly still in perfect condition, considering she was in a bush.
Applejack looked up from the scroll, with a present blush on her face. Rainbow knew that she had read the last line, containing those six words.
Will you go out with me?
She swallowed hard as Applejack rolled up the scroll, signaling she was done reading it.
Then, the three hidden friends heard Applejack mutter something to herself.
This is it!!!! Rainbow practically squealed in her head.
"Well doesn't that take the cake! Ah have an admirer. Sucha shame though. There's no name on it. How am Ah suppose ta know who it is?"
"You. Didn't. Put. Your. NAME?!" Rarity practically spit out each of her words.
"Hehe...Oops!"
Rarity facehoofed. "What would possess you enough not to even bother writing your name!" scolded Rarity.
"Now now Rarity" Fluttershy said quietly. "Don't worry. I'm sure she has plenty of other ideas on how to confess."
"Confess to whom?" a familiar voice asked, coming closer to them.
"Eep!" shrieked Fluttershy, falling paralyzed to the ground in fear and made a goat-like sound in the process.
Rainbow's blood drained from her face as her flight instinct kicked in. She leapt off the ground and zipped into the sky, leaving the three mares below.
Applejack just looked to Rarity, whose purple mane was poorly hidden from the contrast of color from the bush.
"Rarity? What are y'all doin' hiding in a bush? And what's their deal?" Applejack pointed to Fluttershy and up to the rainbow wake that the cyan pegasus left. Seeing Fluttershy lying on the ground in a weird position, made her chuckle a bit, but Applejack offered her a hoof in aid.
Rarity simply stepped out of the bush, now left with the responsibility of making an excuse.
"Well dear, we were umm simply strolling out to see the birds. Yes, they are rather spectacular this time of year."
"You read too, you know? Doesn't that make you an egghead too."
"But the only thing I read is Daring Do. This is way more egghead..ed?"
Rainbow Dash wondered if that was word but then quickly added it to her mental vocabulary list. She picked up the Spanish-Equestrian Translation Dictionary and started flipping through it. She looked at Twilight and gave her the "what the hay is this" look.
"It's a book that translates Spanish words to the Equestrian language. Actually, Pinkie pie donated it to the library." Twilight tried to keep her blush in while saying that name.
"So how does this help me ask Applejack out? There's no way I'm gonna memorize all these lines. I'm a world-class athlete. I don't have time to." Rainbow Dash slammed the book shut in an instant.
" And you won't have to. Trust me this is a great idea."
"Pfff, as if" the rainbow-maned mare stuck her tongue out.
"Trust me." Twilight said, looking at Rainbow Dash with hopeful eyes.
"Ughh fine. So what do I do?" Rainbow Dash said, with an annoyed voice.
"Hey Applejack!" Rainbow Dash waved, with the dictionary in her hoof.
"Well Howdy RD! What brings you here? Aren't ya suppose to be nappin' in one of ma trees?" A knowing grin was on the apple farmer's face.
"As tempting as that offer sounds, I'm gonna pass." Rainbow landed right in front of her crush. The orange mare was sweating from working on the farm. She was currently trying to shovel the pathway to the barn.
"Well listen Rainbow, ah need ta get back ta ma chores. So if y'all would excu-"
"Wait!" Rainbow said a little louder than she expected. "Can you read some of the expressions for me?"
"Umm why?" Applejack asked, with one eyebrow raised.
"Hehe...uh..well I uhh...can't read the writing. Yea that's it." Rainbow chose her next words carefully. She knew that Applejack could spot a liar instantly, being the bearer of the Element of Honesty and all. "Erm..the font is kinda small. So umm would you...?"
Rainbow Dash opened the book to one of the pages.
Applejack had no idea what Rainbow was up to, but couldn't resist helping her friend. She leaned down and looked at the book and tried very hard to pronounce the words. "Meh goosta two sonreesa. What in the world?"
"The translation should follow. Would you read that too please? I'm trying to say it to you" Rainbow gave an encouraging nod.
Applejack looked at the page again. "It means 'I like yer smile'." Applejack raised her head and did just that. "Well ain't that nice of ya ta say Sugar. "
Rainbow liked the way Applejack smiled. It gave her a fluttery feeling in her stomach. But she wasn't done. "Here read this one." Rainbow flipped to another page.
Again, Applejack looked into the book. "Tea enes o jos muy bone itos. It means 'ya have beautiful eyes'." her head popped up again. "Aw shucks Sugarcube. Stop it."
Ok one more. Time for the finisher.
Rainbow Dash flipped to the page and held it out shakily. The book was like jelly in her hooves and was slipping from her grip. She held it so tightly that she felt the pages crease. "Here one more".
Applejack started reading the words in front of her. "Tea enes un trace sero grandy." Then her eyes widened.
"Um Sugarcube..Ah...ah'm speechless".
"Well I mean I kinda wanted to do it for a while now..." Rainbow admitted.
"Wait, y'all we're lookin' at ma butt?!"
"Yeah....wait what!?" Rainbow's eyes widened and stared at the page. She had to squint so much her eyes started hurting.
"Y'all said that ah...that ah have a big butt!" Applejack's face flushed.
"No I didn't! Wait..." Sure enough, the translation that followed her last sentence was 'you have a big butt'.
"No, that's not what I meant. I mean you do but I wasn't looking. Wait I was-ughhh uh ok uhh wrong page." Stupid stupid stupid stupid!
"Will you read this one please?" Rainbow Dash frantically said.
"Dash, I think we should sto-"
"Just read it, will you?!" Rainbow Dash increased her voice. Her nervousness and her embarrassment caused her wings to spring right up.
Applejack slowly but carefully looked at the page. "Uh Rainbow? Don'tcha think that's a mighty big a commitment? Even for you?"
"W-what are you talkin' about?" Rainbow Dash was sure she got the right page this time.
"Ah'm sure that uh 'kee eres casarte con migo' means ya wanna marry me." Applejack's face couldn't have turned even more red.
Oh for the love of Celestia!
Rainbow Dash turned the page towards herself. "No-I didn't mean that one. Look, it's um actually the one before that. Umm please AJ?" She turned the page towards the now slightly irritated-looking mare before her. "Alright alright. But this is the last one. Ah don't think ah can take anymore of these erm..lines of yers." Applejack glanced up at the book for the longest time. "Well it says-"
"Ohh Ohh I know that one" a familiar voice said.
No.
Rainbow Dash's face turned a pale shade of blue.
Oh Celestia please! Anything but that!
Apparently Princess Celestia was busy because a pink blur popped between the two mares, staring at the page. "Oh my gosh! Are you trying to say kee-see eh ras saleer kon meego, which when said faster is quisieras salir conmigo, which means that you want to take Applejack out on a da-"
"Ahhhhhhhh!" An animalistic war cry came from the cyan mare, as she quickly charged at the pink pony and covered her lips with a hoof. This was not how she wanted her crush to find out.
Applejack looked at her two friends and decided that her brief distraction from her work was over. The awkwardness earlier made her want to leave quicker as well. "Well see ya later RD! Ah've gotta sweep the barn. Oh almost forgot. Bye Pinkie."
With the wave of her orange hoof, she trotted away from the two mares and went towards the barn.
Oh horseapples!
Pinkie spit Rainbow's hoof off her mouth. "You like Applejack? Oh my Gosh! That's so sweet of you Dashie! Using the ol' dictionary trick. Do you want me to throw you a 'Rainbow Dash has a special somepony party!'. Oh wait, she's not your special somepony yet. I'm really really sorry. I just love Love LOVE to speak Spanish."
Rainbow Dash took her hoof and hit it against her forehead. However, it still had Pinkie's spit on it and well....it ended with Pinkie laughing hysterically.
"You can't go wrong with flowers Rainbow Dash." Fluttershy said, standing alongside her flying, cyan pegasus friend.
"But which one? There's so many I can't decide!" Rainbow Dash said, frustrated with so many options. They were at Roseluck's cart.
"How 'bout this one!" Pinkie pie popped out of nowhere and held out a candy bouquet, filled with varieties of different treats. "It'll be so sweet!"
"It's perfect!" Rainbow Dash said, licking her lips at the chocolate-covered grapes on the bouquet.
"Umm don't you think she wants something that has real flowers on it." Fluttershy pointed out, much to the dismay of her two friends.
"Ugh fine, but I'm getting that one for myself later." Rainbow said, still eyeing the candy bouquet.
"Here" Fluttershy pointed out the roses. "These are usually a good choice."
"Alright. You're the expert." Rainbow Dash shrugged and called for Roseluck. "Hey Roseluck, how much for a dozen roses?"
Roseluck grinned. "Why Rainbow Dash, aren't you sweet. Tell me, do you have a special somepony by any chance?"
Rainbow's eyes widened. "Uhh No! I uhh..they're for Fluttershy. Yea, Fluttershy!"
Roseluck rolled her eyes at the pegasus, noting the obvious lie. "Well in that case, it'll be 60 bits."
"60 BITS!!! Oh come on! " Rainbow exclaimed.
"I got them fresh this morning. And it's almost Heart's and Hooves Day. Sorry Rainbow Dash but business is business."
"Ok umm," Rainbow said deflated. "Would you happen to have anything that's a bit cheaper?"
Before Roseluck could answer, another pony's voice caught Rainbow's attention.
"Aww Spikey Wikey, you shouldn't have!"
Yup, there was Rarity, holding a dozen of what looked like Roseluck's freshest roses. Spike had a lipstick stain on his cheek that she was sure he wouldn't wash off until...ever.
Rainbow turned back to Roseluck, who gave a knowing smirk.
"There goes this week's paycheque." grumbled Dash.
If any pony was looking up in the sky that afternoon, they would have seen a rainbow pointing right to Sweet Apple Acres.
As soon as Rainbow saw her soon-to-be date, she landed a few feet behind her, with the roses on hoof. She was surprised to see Applejack in the middle of what seemed to be an empty field but decided it wasn't all that important.
Eye on the prize Dash! she mentally prepared herself. "Hey Applejack!"
The orange mare's ears perked up as she heard Dash's greeting. "Well howdy Rainbow! What are ya-" Applejack's eyes instantly shifted to the flowers. "RD, are those roses?".
"Umm. Yea they're for you. I know it's not really my thin-"
"Dash, run."
"Just let me finish ok? I got them for you 'cuz I wanted to ask will you go-"
"Dash, run!"
"Geez AJ, what's with you? I'm trying to-"
"RUN!!"
All of a sudden, a bull came from out of nowhere and upon looking at the red-colored roses, charged at Dash.
"Whoa!" Rainbow's wings instantly flared and she zoomed away from there as fast as she could. The bull however, chased her with great determination and the same speed as the Friendship express train.
Applejack grabbed her lasso and speeded off after them. "I should've told 'er the bull ridin' competition was today".
"I can't. I need to fly" Rainbow ruffled her wings as if to prove her point. "This is waaay too boring for me."
"Don't you want to look good for Applejack or not?" Rarity asked, while trying to adjust some pieces to her attire.
Of course I do! Rainbow mentally answered and kept fidgeting in place. Rarity sighed and glanced at Fluttershy, telepathically asking her for help.
"Umm..for what it's worth" Fluttershy looked at her cyan pegasus friend. "You do look good Rainbow Dash."
At Fluttershy's words, Rainbow turned around to look at herself in the boutique mirror. She found that she didn't look good. She looked AWESOME!
While the rainbow-maned mare narcistically looked at her appearance, Rarity took advantage of the little time she had to try an finish. Unfortunately, time was not on her side.
"Ow! Rarity!" Rainbow gave her a look. "Why do I need to wear this anyways? Its really really tight. Can't I just, you know, not wear it?"
"Don't be silly Rainbow Dash" Rarity said, with a needle carefully clenched between her teeth. "Everypony knows that fashion attracts. I'm just here to help you make an impression. That's why fashion was created, after all. Doll yourself up and make yourself look good."
"Geez, what ever happened to just being yourself?" Rainbow Dash said flatly.
"Though I do agree with that, I believe it wouldn't do anypony any harm to make themself look presentable. If you're trying to win somepony's affection, especially one special to you, you would try to pull out all the stops, no?"
Rarity's advice seemed to get Rainbow's mind back to her goal. If she wanted to get a date with Applejack, she had to commit herself one-hundred percent to the cause.
The silence was shortened by Rarity's voice. "Tada! All done. Now for the finishing touch...."
The purple-maned mare grabbed a heart-shaped looking bottle with the spray bulb pointed right at Rainbow Dash.
"Whoa whoa whoa! Perfume? No way, I don't do perfume."
"Come on Rainbow Dash. Just a little spritz on your neck will have you smelling divine" Rarity persuaded.
Rainbow Dash looked at the perfume in her hooves and examined it carefully. It was purple in color and it looked like any other fragrance.....except for the fact that it was glowing!
"Where did you even get this? And why is it glowing?". Rainbow asked, swishing the liquid around in the bottle.
"Well, Sweetie Belle and her little friends made it, under Twilight's supervision. I've used it myself and it smells absolutely delightful. Why, I'm actually impressed that they created something that didn't blow up or caused the near destruction of Ponyville" Rarity answered.
"Under Twilight's supervision huh?" Rainbow raised an eyebrow. Then she looked at it again and then looked at both her friends. "Ugh fine. But just a little."
Trusting Twilight's supervision and Rarity as a test subject, Rainbow Dash let the fashionista spray a little on her neck. She let out a few coughs after the liquid made contact with her fur, as she was not use to the scent.
Not a few seconds later, a 'ding' was heard at front door of Carousel Boutique.
"Applebloom! Time ta go-" Applejack stopped in her tracks and her eyes were instantly glued to the one and only, Rainbow Dash. She took in Rarity's best work in admiration, as she circled the cyan mare.
"Well golly. Look at you all gussied up Rainbow. You look great in that getup. What's the occasion? Ya goin' on a date?"
The word "date" made Rainbow Dash shrink under her gaze.
Luckily for her, Rarity and Fluttershy took their positions behind the orange mare to signal Rainbow, without being seen by Applejack. Both mares were shaking their heads.
Rainbow's forehead broke into a sweat. "Well..um no. But I'm gonna ask them out! Wearing this..."
Rarity then made a circle motion with her hoof. Rainbow took in the signal and twirled around so Applejack could see all of her awesomeness again.
"Well any pony would be lucky to be seen with you RD. Lookin' like that, you might even turn some heads." Applejack complimented.
"I know, I do look pretty awesome huh? I mean, did you see the colours on the sleev-"
Rainbow's words were interrupted by a light cough from Fluttershy. Once catching Rainbow's attention, the two mares shook their heads furiously and pointed to Applejack.
"Uh I mean" Rainbow started, "I guess it's your lucky day then AJ!"
"Huh? What do you mean?" Applejack looked at her friend curiously. Rarity and Fluttershy nodded encouragingly behind her.
It's now or never Dash. Bite the bullet!
"It's your lucky day 'cuz the pony I wanted to ask out was y-"
"Dash! What's that on your neck?" Applejack's eyes grew larger. Rainbow read her crush's face and knew it wasn't a good sign. "What's wrong with my neck?!"
Fluttershy and Rarity leaned in closer.
"Oh my.." Fluttershy said in her usual tone.
"What? What is it?!!" Rainbow started to panic.
"Rainbow Dash dear! Why didn't you tell me you were allergic to perfume?"
"What? I'm not allergic to perfume. I have no idea what you're talking abou-WHAAAA what's wrong with my neck?!!!" Rainbow yelled, as Rarity held up a small mirror. "What is it?! Why is it red?! Getitoffgetitoffgetitoffgetitoffgetitoff!"
A few hours later...
"Are you alright RD?" Applejack said, applying more cream on Rainbow's rash. She was staying at Fluttershy's house but Applejack decided to spend the night taking care of her friend.
"Hmm yea mmm" Rainbow moaned as the cooling sensation from the medicine was massaged on the irritating spot on her neck. "Thanks AJ"
"Nothing to it Sugarcube. Y'all just get better now." Applejack continued to rub her hoof on Rainbow's neck.
Rainbow let out a sigh of relief and relaxed on the bed, thinking it was surely not the worst way to spend the night.
"Remind me why were goin' here again? Ah thought ya didn't even believe in this kinda stuff." Applejack questioned. This didn't deter Rainbow from leading her there.
"I don't. But I heard the fortune teller is reading for free today. I figured what the hay, y'know." Rainbow Dash had thought of that excuse in ten seconds flat. "Besides, don't you wanna know what your future is?"
Hopefully it's with me Rainbow thought.
"Not really" Applejack shrugged.
"Really? Aren't you just the least bit curious?"
"Well, Granny always said that things just happen when they happen. No use in peekin' at what the future might hold," Applejack recited what she was taught. She looked over to her friend. "I wonder why yer always ropin' me into doin' the craziest things. This ain't exactly the best use of my break ya kno- "
"Oh look we're here!" Rainbow completely cut her friend off, as they reached the purple tent. Being the gentlemare that she was, Rainbow held the curtain up and beckoned the orange mare inside. Applejack sighed and walked in, wondering why she agreed to this.
As the two mare's eyes dilated in the darkness, a green, eerie-looking light caught their attention and they moved towards it.
As they blindly made their way towards the core of the test, they heard a voice-over.
"Enter the chamber of Madame Pinkie pie for the answers you seek. Let us consult the mystical orb of fate and destiny. " Pinkie pie revealed herself as the fortune teller. "Y'like my mystical orb of fate and destiny. I just got it two week-"
"Yea, you got a cool ball that can tell the future. Great. Does it say anything AJ's future Pinkie?" Rainbow said, trying to get on with it. Applejack gave Rainbow a sharp glare, but Pinkie went on. She carefully waved her hooves over the crystal ball.
"As you wish, Rainbow Dash! Look deep into the crystal ball, for soon it will reveal all. Ahh yes...hmm..I see something. I see a vision of the future! From Applejack's future!"
Applejack was not much of a believer, but was intrigued as it was Pinkie pie interpreting the messages. What Applejack didn't know was that Rainbow may have bribed the fortune teller for a reading.
"I see..." Pinkie pie said.
"Yes?" Applejack encouraged her to go on, as did Rainbow.
"That you Applejack...."
"Yes?!" the two mares practically squealed.
"Are going to..."
"YES!!!?"
This is it!!!! Prepare to be mine AJ! Rainbow's heart was pounding in anticipation.
"Have a very good harvest this year! Yup, looks fine to me!" Pinkie concluded.
"What!!!??" Rainbow's jaw dropped.
"I'm just saying Applejack will have a good harvest this year. That's what the crystal ball said." Pinkie repeated.
"Well, that's great news!" Applejack piped up. "Ah was a bit worried since some of our seedlin's-"
"Uggh who cares." Rainbow blurted out, as she pushed the ball towards Madame Pinkie again. "Isn't there anything else? Anything at all!" Rainbow said, without moving her lips.
"Nope! That's it!" Pinkie pie closed her eyes and smiled proudly.
"I mean, can't you, you know, look again?" Rainbow Dash cautioned herself as she got a curious look from the Apple farmer.
"Nope! Oh wait..."
Rainbow looked at the pink pony in hope.
"Look a smudge!" Pinkie pie spit on the smudge and wiped it with her elbow. "All gone now!"
"Ugghh Pinkie!" Rainbow facehoofed. Not once. Not twice. Repeatedly.
"Well Ah'd love ta stick around," Applejack swiftly turned and headed for the opening in the tent. "But ah'm gonna go grab some grub and head back to the market. Those apples won't sell themselves. Thanks fer the readin' Pinkie. See ya later Dash!"
"Later..." Rainbow managed to groan out. As soon as Applejack left, Rainbow's eyes furrowed at her friend.
"What?" Pinkie pie asked.
"Pinkie pie? Three words. What. The. Hay." Rainbow stared at her friend. "Seriously, did you forget the plan? We were supposed to come in here. You were supposed to tell her that a certain pony was about to ask her out. Then I was suppose to ask her out with these!" With that, she held out a heart-shaped box of chocolates.
"Oh right. I forgot. I knew I was forgetting something. Silly me." Pinkie pie then looked apologetic. "I'm so so so sorry Rainbow Dash. I'll make you a cupcake. Or I'll think of something to cheer you up! Let's see, you like cider and....actually I don't know what you like. What would you like Dashie?"
"I want my jelly beans back" Rainbow Dash demanded, as Pinkie's eyes widened.
"No! It's mine!" Pinkie grabbed the jelly bean jar Rainbow gave her as a bribe and held it like her most prized possession. "My precious..."
"Pinkie pie! Let go!" Rainbow started initiating a tug-of-war with the jar.
"I said NO!" Pinkie pie yelled, firmly yanking the jar away from Rainbow Dash and sped away.
"Oh you wanna do this the hard way! Let's do this the hard way!" Rainbow Dash ripped open the heart-shaped box and emptied the contents in her mouth.
Pinkie learned a valuable lesson that day. Never try to outrun a pegasus with a sugar rush.
"Again! Try to hit the high notes darling. Do re mi fa sol la ti dohhh~" Rarity used the solfège method. "Now..."
Rainbow Dash opened her mouth."Doh to the re to the fa to the sol-la-ti-doh. Word!"
Pinkie cackled wildly on the floor of the boutique, while Rarity wondered why she was even trying. The cutie mark crusaders were all present as well.
"Ooooohh Rainbow Dash and Applejack sittin' in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes..." All three fillies stopped their chanting and looked at each other. "Uhh..what comes after?"
Rainbow Dash shrugged. "Eh, then comes really great se-"
"RAINBOW DASH!" Rarity practically screeched. "Not in front of *ahem*" she used her head to gesture towards the three young ponies in front of them. And Pinkie pie.
"Se-se-serenading! Yup! Serenading. That's it!" Rainbow caught herself before Rarity landed a hoof to her face. "It'll be totally cool. I even wrote her a song and I'm gonna sing it to her tonight."
"Awwwww" Sweetie Belle and Applebloom said in unison, while Scootaloo wondered how her idol became so infatuated with the orange mare.
"Alright. I'll be there tonight at 9 squirt," Rainbow laid out the plan to Applebloom. "Ok, so when I get to the barn, which room is hers? Top right or top left?"
"Top left" Applebloom answered.
"Your left or my left. I don't wanna mess this up." Rainbow repeated to make sure.
"Yer left" Applebloom assured. "Definitely yer left."
"Alright. Thanks squirt. Laters!" Rainbow gave each filly a hoof bump and zoomed out of the boutique.
"Or was it right..." Applebloom sat down and thought about it once more.
"Rarity?" Pinkie asked, "Who's *ahem*? Is she or he new here? Do I have to make a banner that says 'Welcome to Ponyville Ahem!' and throw a huge, awesospectacular party!"
Rarity's face made contact with her own hoof, as Pinkie gave her a wide smile.
"Ok here goes nothing." Rainbow Dash said to herself. "AB warned you AJ's a heavy sleeper so you gotta make it loud enough."
Rainbow saw that the top left window was slightly open and that the light was still open. She made a mental note to give another hoof bump to Applebloom for doing that.
She positioned a rain cloud right above her head and made sure there was enough water in it. She then pressed 'rewind' on the portable radio she was carrying.
As the clock struck 9, Rainbow flew right up to the cloud and kicked it. She immediately pressed 'play' button and turned up the volume. When the rain started to fall, she held the radio above her head and began singing.
It's your eyes, it's your smile It's everything about you and more You're the pony that I adore So why can't you see me that way?
You say I'm lazy, you drive me crazy All these feelings are all hazy But freckles, there's something you should know I like you way more than I say
You're the apple of my eye So to ends of the world, I'll fly To show you, to show you~ That maybe you and me could be we
Rainbow's ears perked up at the sound of hoofsteps coming to the window. Her heart was pounding so loud she thought her wings would give way. Time for the finale.
So baby, please please please.... Will you go out with m-
A 'SMACK' sound was made as the purse came in contact with Rainbow's muzzle.
"SHAAD UP! Ah'm tryin' ta sleep here!" Granny Smith grumbled, "Dern pegasus causin' a racket...."
Rainbow held her muzzle with both hooves, in pain, wondering what in the world just happened.
Meanwhile, Applejack tucked herself in her grandmother's bed. "Granny's right. This mattress is too lumpy. At least fer tonight, she'll get a good night's rest."
"So is he game?" Rainbow asked, waiting for a translation from Fluttershy.
"Well, good news! Mr. Beaverton Beaverteeth has agreed to do it, but first you have to give him 50 bits."
"50! He agreed to only 30!" Rainbow shot back. The beaver wasn't threatened by her, as he complained loudly to her face.
"Mr. Beaverton Beaverteeth! Such language! And you did only agree to 30!" Fluttershy mediated quickly. "Oh well, that does seem like a very reasonable request."
"Well, what's he saying?" Rainbow gave the furry animal a glare.
"He said that he'll go with 40 and no lower, only because the winter made the wood more impenetrable to his teeth. It'll be a harder task on his part."
"Fine...just fine! I'll give him the bits but he's gotta double time on this. I haven't got all day!" Rainbow gave in. The patriarchal beaver blew a raspberry her way and began his work.
The beaver magnificently chewed on each tree, expertly using his teeth to carve out the words.
"Applejack's gonna love this!" Rainbow Dash said to Fluttershy, who agreed. Each apple tree had its own word that spelled out,
Applejack, will you go out with
"Alright. Just gotta get AJ out here to see this. Just make sure he finishes and puts my name on it. I don't want it to turn out like last time." Rainbow briefly thought back to the letter. "Just let me tell AB to-"
"Sis, don't! They're not done!" Applebloom tried to distract her older sister a bit longer but was unsuccessful.
"What are y'all talkin' bout AB?" Applejack came trotting down towards the chewed up apple trees. "Done with whaaa-"
When Applejack saw the scene before her eyes, her heart stopped. There stood Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy with an uneasy smile, while the beaver kept at it.
"Rainbow Dash...I...I..." Applejack was at a loss for words.
"Look I know it's not finished yet, but it's suppose to say-" Rainbow began.
"You bet your sweet behind it ain't finished yet! And it ain't gonna finish, ya here!" Applejack yelled angrily. "How can ya let this varmint come on up here and chew down all ma trees?!!" Mr. Beaverton Beaverteeth gritted at his foe, as he prepared for the showdown.
"Stand aside RD! Applebloom get ma rope." Applejack narrowed her eyes at the beaver. Mr. Beaverton Beaverteeth smirked and beckoned with his paws, as if to say 'do your worst!'
"Why that does it! C'mere ya crazy critter!" the orange mare raced after the hefty beaver, who smacked his tail wildly in the air and dived into the nearest body of water he could find.
"Applejack, please don't hurt him!" Fluttershy started to panic and turned to her friend. "Rainbow Dash, you got to calm her down! Rainbow Dash! Rainbow!" Fluttershy started to yell in her friend's blue ear.
Rainbow's brain, however, was taken over by only one thought.
"Applejack will be coming over to get Applebloom this afternoon, which should give you enough time to whip up something delectable. Sometimes a way to somepony's heart is through their stomach, no?" Rarity chimed. "I'll be just in the other room if you need my assistance."
"Uh-huh, yea ok. What's this thing?" Rainbow Dash pointed to something on the counter.
"That's a can opener dear."
"Uh-huh and this?" the rainbow-maned mare poked a hefty machine.
"Why, that's the pressure cooker," Rarity said, questioningly.
"Uh-huh and-"
"Rainbow Dash, tell me, is this your first time cooking?"
"Of course it's not! I know how to prepare a bunch of stuff! " declared the brash pegasus. "I..uh..the equipment is just different than I'm use to. Yea that's it."
"Can you give any examples of what you can make?" Rarity asked.
"Sure! I know how to prepare salad and uh...cerea-ok look the point is that chefs don't tell you what they can make. It keeps things interesting!"
Rarity gave a small scoff. "Well like I said, feel free to use anything you'd like. Just keep the mess to a minimum, ok darl-"
"Yea, yea, yea I got it." Rainbow waved off, as she sat and wondered what masterpiece she can create with her ingenious mind.
Rarity quietly left the room with only one thought. This should be interesting
A few hours later....
"Rainbow Dash! That looks absolutely exquisite!" Rarity said, looking at the perfectly sliced carrots and finely chopped celery, all topped with with gravy and her mystery protein.
"Well duh! Everything I make is awesome!" Rainbow Dash said proudly, earning her an eye-roll from Rarity.
"Well, it seems that I've underestimated your culinary abilities dear." Rarity said, impressed.
"It's ok." Rainbow assured. "Thanks for letting me use your stuff though. I'll clean it all up as soon as I-"
"Rarity!" Applejack's voice, followed by the bell, was heard at the entrance. "Me and Applebloom need ta get goin' so she could get her homework done."
"One sec." Rainbow said dashing out of the room. "Gotta give it to her."
As Rarity caught another whiff of the concoction as Rainbow flew out of the kitchen, she thought it smelled awfully familiar.
Meanwhile, in the other room....
"Wow Rainbow. Ah didn't take ya as the cookin' type but this looks absolutely amazin'!" Applejack's mouth watered at the sight of the dish.
"Eh, I get that a lot." Rainbow told her truthfully, "I just thought since you're working in the fields pretty much all day, I thought it would be cool to cook you something, being the awesome chef that I am."
Dash gave her signature smirk, which made Applejack chuckle heartily.
Then, Rainbow tread carefully to say her next words. "You know, we could do this again sometime."
"Hmm what do you mean?" Applejack unglued her eyes to the food and towards her friend.
"Hehe do I need to spell it out for you Apples? I'm asking you if you will go-"
"RAINBOW DASH!" Rarity screamed at the doorway to the kitchen. "In here now!"
"Ugh! One sec AJ!" said the annoyed pegasus, as she quickly went into the other room. "I told you Rarity, I'll finish cleaning the dishes when I'm through-"
"It's not that," Rarity yelped, slightly panicking. "Did you use this can to make your dish?"
Rainbow looked at the familiar tin can. "Yea, I just used the can opener to get it open and then put it in the pressure cook-"
"Darling, this is Opal's food!" Rarity finally revealed.
"WHATTT!!! But it looks like pony-"
"She has very high standards my Opal-look it doesn't matter. You can't let her... wait she didn't eat it yet, did she?!" Rarity said, a little worried.
"No she didn't! Well I don't think-"
"Wait! Listen..." Rarity whispered. Rainbow Dash and Rarity's ears both perked up as they heard a voice come from the other room.
"Whoo-eee, that was hoof-lickin' good. Rainbow sure knows how to cook a fine meal. Hadn't had anythin' that tasty in all ma life." Then, a loud and clear belch was heard to signify the orange mare's satisfaction.
"Well at least she liked it...." Rarity's eye twitch was completely noticeable, but she tried looking at the bright side of things for her friend. It didn't help.
Rainbow took her hoof and slapped it to her own face. "She'll never go out with me if she found out about this...."
"Great. Now I gotta find a gift for Applejack for her birthday that also shows her how much I lo-I mean like her. How am I suppose to get that?!" Rainbow said, having a mini tantrum in an antique gift shop.
"Calm down Rainbow Dash, I'm sure there's something in here we can find." Rarity said, a bit annoyed with Rainbow's forgetfulness. She was the only one in the group who hadn't gotten a present yet.
"How 'bout this one?!" Pinkie held out a dining set.
"No." Rainbow said flatly.
"Lookie here!" A floppy disk was held up.
"No."
"This one's shiny!" A candlestick was on Pinkie's hoof.
"No Pinkie."
"Well, what kind of gift would you like to give her?" Twilight questioned.
"That's the problem. I don't know what to get that makes me look awesomazing and something that fits her." Rainbow explained.
"Well, do you know what she likes? It might give you an idea. " Twilight responded.
Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Of course I know what she likes! She's my best friend! And I like to study her."
"Oooh really." Rarity and Twilight gave her a knowing look.
"Not like that, smart ones. I mean study her interests. What she likes." Rainbow clarified.
"I'm sure you do," Rarity winked. "Then, tell me, what are her interests darling?"
Rainbow was caught off guard. "Uhh, well, she likes apples! And....you know.....apples."
"Sounds like you have quite the situation on your hooves," the mare and stallion running the store snaked their way into the conversation. "And we might have the perfect gift to save you from your troubles."
"And you are?" Rarity asked.
The navy-coloured mare and yellow-eyed unicorn simply looked at each other with an evil-like smile.
"Thank y'all so much fer these gifts. Honestly though y'all didn't need ta get me anythin'. The real gift is havin' you all as mah friends." Applejack gave her five friends a hug. They were all celebrating in the barn.
"Well its gettin' late y'all and Ah'd hate fer ya ta be late fer yer jobs tomorrow-"
"Uh wait AJ" Rainbow blurted out suddenly. "Um I didn't give my gift yet."
"Ah noticed." Applejack playfully remarked back. "S'alright RD. Y'dont need ta give me anythi-"
"I already bought it AJ. And well...." Rainbow carefully put down a rather large box in front of Applejack and all her friends. The group (except for Applejack) smiled in silence.
"Well y'see. I'm giving you this a few days early. It's not only for your birthday but for um..well in Germaney, they have this tradition..."
Rainbow opened the box and put her hooves around the small pot belly pig. She struggled to lift it while speaking. "...for Heart's and hooves day, where you give each other a pig to signify that-"
"Dash, don't hold it like that!" Applejack warned.
"Relax AJ. It's fine. I know what I'm doing." Rainbow heaved up the pig with all her strength. "When you give each other a pig, it means that you want to ask the other pony out on a-"
"Dash, DON'T!"
Applejack's warning came too late as the pig squealed and flailed in Rainbow's hooves. The cyan mare panicked and dropped the pig on the cake, which splattered everywhere.
"My hair!" Rarity screamed, as bits of cake landed in her mane. "Look what happened to my hair!"
The pig didn't stop, as it snorted in amusement and ran in circles around the table, knocking down all the punch. It leapt off the table, landed on a haystack, and tried to find an exit.
"Oh no you don't!" Rainbow tried wrestling the pig.
"Rainbow. Don't! Y'have ta make sure ta wrangle it without hurtin-oh fer pete's sake!" Applejack leapt into action.
Rainbow Dash had a hold on the pig's well rounded rear but she was dragged through the air. "Whoaa! What the-"
"Rainbow Dash, stop! You're hurting it!". Fluttershy watched in horror and nearly fainted.
The pig dismantled its blue-furred rider into a pile of hay and continued it's run.
Applejack whistled for the pig to come running towards her and the pig did just that. The orange mare quickly prepared her hooves for the grab and simply took hold of the pig's hind legs. This stopped the pig in its tracks as Applejack tied it's hind legs loosely, for Fluttershy's sake. "Now, wouldn't y'all like some grub right 'bout now?"
The pig instantly stopped moving and looked at Applejack with a curious look.
"That's what ah thought. Pinkie! Twilight! Can y'all get some leftovers fer this pig here!" Applejack called out. Both cake-covered ponies, who were stunned by the recent events, shook themselves and obeyed their friend's command.
Once the pig got its food, Applejack untied it's hind legs and put it gently in the pen. The pink farm animal smiled at its new care-taker. "Welcome ta the family sugar" Applejack whispered.
She then trotted over to Rainbow and held an ice pack to her friend's head. "Ah 'ppreciate the gift hon. But next time, try ta find one less messy alright?"
Rainbow didn't debate her. She just facehoofed.
Meanwhile, a certain master of chaos and alicorn of the moon apologetically cowered under Celestia's stare, washing all the dishes at Canterlot Castle. But each secretly admitted it was fun to watch.
"Hey Scoots! AB! Sweetie Belle! C'mere for a sec!" Rainbow Dash landed in front of the fillies after school. The three young ponies looked up at their pegasus elder.
"Listen, wanna make 30 bits?" she asked, instantly catching each filly's attention.
"Keep talking." Sweetie Belle replied.
"Can you guys still print articles for the newspaper?" Rainbow Dash inquired.
"Yea Ah guess," Applebloom answered. "Why? What'd ya have in mind?"
"Well, I was thinking, you know, if you guys could do an article on me. Well not an article actually. More like a..." Rainbow whispered her plan to the three girls and each nodded.
"Anything for you Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo announced.
"Yea, I knew you guys would be up for it. Just have it by tomorrow morning k?" Rainbow Dash gave a brief run with her hoof through Scootaloo's hair before shooting up into the air. "Peace out!"
The next morning...
"You need some coffee?" Big Mac said, looking at the blue pegasus at the kitchen table. Rainbow Dash simply nodded and yawned, wishing that the wooden table would magically transform into her cloud pillow.
"When does she get up?" Rainbow grumbled, as Big Mac handed her the warm cup. "It should be a crime to wake up this early."
"She'll be up soon enough." As true as his words were, Applejack slowly made her way down the staircase while rubbing her eyes. "Mornin' Big Mac. Mornin' RD." It took her a few seconds to notice. "Rainbow! What are ya doin' here?"
To ask you out, duh! Oh wait, can't say that. "Uhhhh....."
"She's here for breakfast." Big Mac answered for her. "Saw her dozing off outside and thought'd be nice for her to join us, considering she's pretty lightweight n' all."
"Yea I was-hey!" Rainbow caught on and both the Apple siblings chuckled.
"Well its real nice of ya ta join us RD," Applejack continued. "Kinda weird seein' you before noon though"
"Yea that's cool. Listen do you guys have the paper by any chance?" Rainbow suddenly asked, trying not to sound enthusiastic.
"Yea sure. Granny Smith should be readin' it by now on her rockin' chair"
Oh no.
"Well, would ya lookie here!" Granny Smith's voice resounded from the living room.
No, don't read it!
"Some deranged pegasus wants to ask mah grandbaby out on a-"
"Nooooo!" the blue pegasus raced to the other room and snatched the paper from Granny Smith's hooves, much to elder mare's dismay. "What the-"
On the front page, it read, " Exclusive gossip: Awesome, but romantically challenged pegasus is looking to ask out Ponyville's most famous Apple farmer."
"Eh, don'tcha know ya ain't suppose ta grab things that don't belong to ya." Granny Smith snatched the paper back, folded it and hit Rainbow on her mane twice.
"Hey quit that!" Rainbow said, rubbing the top of her head to make sure the elder mare didn't flatten it out.
Granny Smith then read over the paper once more. "You! Sweet Celestia of all things dandy! You wanna ask my grandbaby out on a-"
"Please don't tell!" Rainbow pleaded.
"What?! Pardon me dear, ya gotta speak louder," the lime green mare faced her ear towards Rainbow.
"Please don't tell!" Rainbow begged a little louder.
"Please tell? Well, why didn't ya say so?" Granny Smith completely misheard. "Applejack! C'mere for a sec!"
"Wha-no. I said don't tell!" Rainbow held her hooves out but upon hearing her crush's hoofsteps, cupped her hooves over her ears as if to block out the sound. This was not how she imagined Applejack to find out.
"What's goin' on in here?" Applejack came into view.
This is it! My life is ruined! Rainbow pressed her hooves a little more into her ears.
"Well, this fine, young pegasus wants to ask yer brother out on a date! See, she even put it in the newspaper!"
"Look AJ I-" Rainbow's explanation was cut short by the lime-coloured mare's words. "WHAT?!"
"Now ya don't need ta yell!" Granny Smith scolded and turned back to her granddaughter. "Tell Big Mac he's gotta date tonight. And tell him ta wear that wool sweater I knitted him fer Hearth's Warming Eve."
"But I...and she was suppose to...and I was.." Rainbow tried to clarify. Tried was the key word.
"See! She's so worked up 'bout it that she's at a loss for words. Now go on! Get to it!" Granny Smith instructed Applejack.
The orange mare looked briefly at Rainbow Dash, trying to meet her eyes but then sighed. "Well alrighty then. Ah'll go tell him." She trotted out of the room.
Oh come on! Rainbow fell on her back, with the carpet cushioning her fall.
"See! That wasn't so hard, was it dearie?" Granny unfolded the paper and kept reading.
Rainbow just stayed in place. Right words, wrong Apple.
As evening fell upon Ponyville, three fillies were edging closer and closer to the spot where the special event was going to take place. The spot where they'll hopefully get their cutie marks. Not far behind, an orange and blue mare were watching them.
"So, this firefly show, what time did Fluttershy say it was happenin' again?" Applejack asked.
"About 7:30 give or take." Rainbow responded. She then saw the pony she had the hots for shivering. "You really are stubborn, aren't you?"
"Why do ya say that RD?"
"Rarity told you to bring an extra scarf for you and AB. Now you're cold. Here." Rainbow wrapped her magenta scarf over the both of them. "I don't mind sharing."
"What brought this on? It ain't like ya ta be this nice." Applejack grinned.
"Oh can it Apples. I'm allowed to be nice sometimes." Rainbow answered back.
"Well it sure is a side of ya Ah haven't seen in a while. Actually ah wouldn't know." Applejack's breath puffed out. "I feel like ah haven't been 'round much lately. With the farm ta take care of, ah usually don't have time ta do anythin' else."
"That's because you work too hard AJ." Rainbow replied. "But I really don't mind. And I'm sure the girls don't mind either. So don't think 'bout it too much 'kay?"
"Ah sure do hope so." Applejack huddled closer to Rainbow for more heat. The two walked in unison, sharing a scarf.
As they entered the presence of the fireflies, they both watched in wonder.
"Wow. This is amazin'" Applejack's eyes looked at the scene. Then she focused on the younger fillies. "Now girls, don't wander too far or you'll miss the show. Me and Rainbow will be right by this tree here."
"No problem sis!" Applebloom's excited voice came out and beckoned her friends. "Let's get our cutie marks in firefly catchin'!"
In no time, the CMC team went deeper into the forest, but still within sight of their sisters.
Applejack sat right next to Rainbow, who suddenly went quiet.
"Everythin' alright Sugarcube?"
"Yea. I'm just wondering when the rest of our friends are coming." Rainbow smiled, while in truth, she wouldn't mind if they came a little late.
"Well this place here is nice." Applejack looked at each firefly as one landed on her nose. She chuckled and shook it away.
Rainbow Dash simply eyed her friend, knowing she was going to give kudos to Fluttershy for picking such an awesome place to confess.
The fireflies seem to help set the aura as they danced around the two ponies, lighting up the night. They began to form a curve on Applejack's neck, like a necklace. Rainbow took in her friend's beauty and grace. She truly loved Applejack.
As if on purpose, the fireflies formed a halo above Rainbow's head, much to the mare's dismay. "Uggh hey! Watch the mane!" Rainbow waved them off.
"Aww come on RD. It looks pretty on you. Yer like an angel." Applejack said with as much tenderness as possible.
Rainbow stopped and looked at Applejack. "No AJ. You're the one who looks pretty AJ. No scratch that. You don't look pretty, you look beautiful."
"Aww shucks RD. Don't y'all go sappy on me. I'm just yer average mare."
"But it's true AJ!" Rainbow emphasized. "You're like the most beautiful mare I've ever seen. Yup totally cute!"
Applejack looked away, her freckles hidden under a light blush. "RD...ah..ah"
The cyan mare realized what she just said and looked away. "I...uhh...I mean.."
Well since you're already ranting, might as well go for it! Rainbow Dash thought. Well go on! Make your move Dash!
She took in a deep breath.
"Well, since, you know, we're already here and stuff. Um well will you go out wi-ECK!"
"What was that RD?" Applejack stopped and turned back towards her friend. Rainbow's face was red, but not from blushing.
"RD! Rainbow! Good gravy girl, what's wrong..." Applejack saw Rainbow Dash pointing to her neck in a choking gesture and understood. "Seriously? Ya swallowed a fire-nevermind. Hold on"
Applejack went behind Rainbow, as she prepared to perform Heimlich maneuver.
"I wonder where they are." Twilight asked, reaching the place.
"Shhhh!" Pinkie said. "Did you hear that?"
"Pinkie. I wasn't talk-" Twilight started but Pinkie placed a hoof on her lips, as a sign to be quiet. "Listen..."
The four ponies perked up their ears. Sure enough, they heard one mare's voice, loud and clear.
"Come on RD! You can do it! Almost!" Applejack was grunting in exhaustion.
"Oh my...you don't think they're..." Fluttershy's face flushed.
"Only one way to find out!" Rarity said, running towards the source of the sound.
Applejack was thrusting both her hooves harder and upwards into Rainbow's ribcage. "Come on RD. That's it. Keep goin'!"
"Girls!" Twilight's voice became audible as they came towards the hill. " What in Celestia's name is going on-"
"Blechhhoooooo" Rainbow dislodged the firefly right onto Rarity's muzzle.
"Ewww! Rainbow Dash! How revolt-oh my gosh. It's moving!" Rarity closed her eyes. "Grossgrossgrossgrossgross!
"Oh no!" Fluttershy came to the aid of the firefly, as she carefully took it in her hoof. "Henrietta, are you ok?"
"She named them?" Rainbow wheezed out. She then turned to Applejack. "Thanks. I owe you one"
"Wait, you ate a firefly Dashie?" Pinkie asked.
Rainbow spoke up. "No I didn't. That thing!"
"Henrietta." Fluttershy corrected.
"Henrietta! Wait it doesn't matter. She flew into my mouth!"
"And ah was trying ta get it out." Applejack informed everypony. "Nice job RD."
"Poor Henrietta, are you ok?" Fluttershy held the firefly, who seemed to be alive, in her hoof. Henrietta simply laid on the yellow hoof.
The other fireflies looked at their companion and started to waver around Dash. They began flickering their natural-lighted behinds on and off.
Fluttershy knew that signal. "Oh no! Guys! Don't! She wasn't going to eat Henri-"
It was too late. The fireflies formed a swarm and started after Rainbow Dash, who frantically tried to outfly them.
"Come on now Rainbow. I'm sure you remember the steps."
"No way!" the cyan mare pouted and crossed her hooves. Her yellow friend kept at it.
"It'll be really romantic. Don't you want to be romantic for Applejack?"
"Not if it means being lame. And that's just totally lame!"
"What's lame?" Twilight asked, curious as to what her two flying friends were talking about. Especially in a secluded area at the castle.
"Well, I have an idea for how Rainbow could ask AJ out." Fluttershy began to explain, "There's this tradition for when a pegasus wants to attract another pony. They peform the pegasi mating dance, the pegasi-"
"The pegasi prance" Rainbow finished for her shy friend. "And every year when me and Fluttershy were young, our parents made us go to this dance where we were paired with colts our age. It wasn't cool."
"Wow!" Twilight said, with an eagerness to learn more. "So how does the ritual work?"
"Well, the fillies usually would have to get hooficures, get our manes done and dress up really fancy-"
"Like I said. It wasn't cool." Rainbow reiterated.
"The colts would usually dip both their wings at the rainbow factory." Fluttershy went on. "Each colt had to have a different color so they could perform the prance. What they would do is they would have to work in unity to paint a rainbow in the sky to signal mating time was to begin. The colts would then, in unison and correct formation, prance in a circle around the fillies in the centre. It's kind of like the cotillion that Rarity was talking about. Each filly would then have to choose, well it wasn't actually choosing since they paired us up to learn the tradition, but choose their mate based on their prance. The pegasi who were really good at prancing meant they had really good wings and therefore possessed strength. But others-"
"The slow pokes," Rainbow said, rolling her eyes. "They were usually the last to get paired up with. But it's not only about speed, it's about technique. When you're in the centre, you can tell which colts are really putting effort into it and which aren't."
"So the fillies just stand in the centre and look pretty?" Twilight asked.
"Uh-huh" Rainbow responded. "It was soo boring."
"Well, yes. And it was a very quiet process. We couldn't speak. " Fluttershy responded. "Rainbow actually tried to break the rules one time and join the colts and well-"
"Hey! I had more technique than ANY colt that day. I possessed the speed, style and coolness that nopony had. They just didn't appreciate my totally awesome skills" Rainbow defended. "Eh, being grounded to my room for two weeks was worth it."
Twilight rolled her eyes, imagining her cyan friend breaking the norm. "Well how would it end? The ritual I mean."
"Ugh that's the worst part," Rainbow Dash grumbled "We had to lick our partner's wings clean of the rainbow colo-"
"What?!!!" Twilight exclaimed. "Why?!"
"Well it shows their interest." Fluttershy fluffed out her wings. "It's like an admiration of their talent."
"So you want Rainbow to try and ask AJ out like that so she could get a wing-licking?" Twilight inquired, trying to make sense of Fluttershy's intent.
"No! That's totally...." Rainbow then stopped and thought about it. She then gave an evil-like grin. "....a totally awesome idea!"
Since Rainbow Dash could paint a rainbow by herself, she did just that over the marketplace.
Then she did a quick flyby over the heart of Ponyville and landed right in front of the apple cart, where the apple-loving mare was selling her share of apples.
"Hey RD!" Applejack greeted her friend. "Want an apple? It's on m-Rainbow? Why are your wings painted orange?"
Rainbow didn't say anything but shot her face an inch away from Applejack's, completely invading the farm mare's personal space.
"Uhh RD?"
Technique was all on Rainbow's mind as she dashed around her friend, her wings majestically spread out. She revealed each feather as she twirled and made an apple shape out of her rainbow streak.
She stole a rose from Roseluck's cart and clenched it with her teeth. Then, she performed the traditional steps she learned as a foal, flapping her wings as she stepped backwards and forwards with only her hind hooves.
"R-rainbow what are you..." Applejack backed away, close to the apple cart. Rainbow saw this and immediately stopped.
"Hey AJ. Take it easy..." Rainbow said, with both hooves up in caution. "I'm not gonna do anything that'll make you feel uncool. Honest. It's just me."
"RD...Ah think ya might wanna turn around," the wide-eyed farmer said.
"Why, whats-" Rainbow Dash turned around and saw about two dozen pegasi, with all their wings dipped in a different colour. Somepony kindly played some upbeat music.
"What are you guys" Rainbow stopped, as she found the pegasi imitating her words and actions. "Stop it, I-" The pegasi continued. "Cut it out, will you!?" Rainbow heard her voice echoed. "Ugh"
Wait. If they're all copying me, it means they want AJ too! Well that's it, all bets are off!! Rainbow briefly thought.
Rainbow Dash flew high enough and performed her famous buccaneer blaze. The flying move that no pegasus had perfected yet. Then, she danced around Applejack with lightning speed.
And the other pegasi followed....creating a multicolored hurricane that ripped through Ponyville streets. Soon enough, flowers to food to furniture were being sucked up and spewed out of the hurricane.
"Alright everypony stop!" Twilight Sparkle, who came out of Sugarcube corner, halted the pegasi-induced hurricane with a spell. This proved harder to do as she held everything in the air with her magic.
She then disabled the spell and drifted everything carefully to the ground. To her surprise, Rainbow Dash fell out of the pile of pegasi and on her back.
"Owww..." the brash pegasus, said in pain. She then stood up quickly and pointed to another pegasus with her hoof, whose wings were coloured by rainbow. It so happened to be Thunderlane. "You! What the hay is going on?! Why'd you guys do that?"
"Well, we saw your rainbow not too long ago and thought they moved the pegasi prance here to Ponyville. We got all our wings dipped and decided to join in." Thunderlane answered, giving a little flap of his wings. "Sorry about that Rainbow Dash. We didn't know you were doing it to impress somepony."
"Well I was!" Rainbow tested out her wings to find none broken. She then glanced around town and found all the pegasi looking apologetic . This lessened her anger, as she realized that it was partially her fault. "Look everypony. It's ok really. Let's just clean this place up 'kay?" All the winged ponies got right to work.
Rainbow Dash simply looked down at the ground. Twilight noticed and placed a hoof on the blue mare's shoulder.
"I think you're right Twilight. As always" Rainbow said, glumly.
"Right? Right about what?" Twilight asked.
"If I just went up to her and asked her out in the first place, none of this woulda happened. Now she's never gonna go out with me..." Rainbow sighed. "I just thought if I did those things, it'll make me look cooler. To make it like I was a catch. The cream of the crop. Then she'd have to go out with me. Now...."
"Rainbow Dash," Twilight said, in a calm and friendly voice, "You don't need to always prove that you're cool, or radical or awesome. You already are."
Twilight then took her hoof off her friend's shoulder. "Sometimes keeping things simple might make you feel like you're not putting your best effort into something, but sometimes it may be just what you need. You don't need to be all fancy and such to prove you'll be a wonderful marefriend. You just have to be honest and open with your feelings." Then, she looked around and then whispered, "And I think Applejack would appreciate that more."
"....You really think so?" Rainbow looked at the lavender alicorn, with assurance in her words. The Princess of Friendship simply nodded.
"Alright then! I'm gonna go and tell her how I feel!" Rainbow said, with a renewed spirit. "I'm gonna go see where-hey where is she? I swear I saw her-"
"AHHHHHHHH!" the orange mare was falling out of the sky, screaming her lungs out. "AH-AH SOMEPONY HELP!"
Rainbow Dash and Twilight's wings flared and took off after their friend.
I got you. Rainbow thought, IgotyouIgotyouIgotyouIgotyou I-
'SMACK'
Rainbow's head collided with Twilight's as they stumbled back in pain.
The orange mare continued to fall...
Until all of a sudden, a yellow streak was seen as some pony caught her from underneath and set her down to the ground. Applejack clung onto Derpy until she safely had soil under her hooves.
"T-thanks Derpy. Ah appreciate it Sugarcube." the apple farmer thanked the grey pony for saving her and gave her a long hug. Derpy returned the hug because according to her, Applejack's hugs were really warm.
She then talked to Rainbow, who was still trying to recover from her headbang, but made her way down towards her friend. "Sugarcube, ah don't know what you were doin' before but next time ya wanna start a hurricane, please don't leave an Earth pony in the middle."
Rainbow sighed. It could always wait until tomorrow.
Rainbow Dash waited under the tree where Applejack and her always met up. It was the tree that they had always raced to, the one whose apples were there to satisfy their hunger and the one that provided the most shade. This was their spot. This was their tree
Earlier, Rainbow Dash had asked her to Applejack to join her for a chat before going to the Carousel Boutique. Rarity had planned a fashion show for some high society, trend-setting fashionista, but unless the celebrity was Spitfire or one of the other Wonderbolts, Rainbow Dash couldn't care less.
Only when the sun was setting did she see Applejack walking towards her. Something about the scene that unfolded before her made it more...magical.
Rainbow Dash watched as the sun's orange rays reflected off Applejack's coat perfectly. The light breeze in the air made her hair dance in the wind. The green orbs that were her eyes, glimmered as they caught the light. And the way she walked made Rainbow Dash all the more nervous.
It was truly the best time to confess.
"Hey Rainbow! Ready to go?"
"Yea..." was Rainbow's response.
Before Applejack turned away, Rainbow's spoke again.
"Wait. AJ?"
Applejack looked directly into the cyan mare's eyes. "Yes Sugarcube?"
This was it. It's now or never.
"AJ..there's something I've been meaning to ask you. And please don't be weirded out. I don't want this to screw up our friendship or anything. That's the last thing I want to happen."
"Ah reckon Ah already know. Let me save y'all the trouble." Applejack suddenly said.
With this, Applejack put her hooves on both sides of Rainbow's face and kissed the life out of her. Rainbow, although hesitant at first, melted into the kiss.
Mmm...so good
"Dash.."
So warm..
"Dash!"
Mmm...later..
"RAINBOW!"
This yell from Applejack broke Rainbow Dash out of her stupor. She blinked twice and wondered what happened.
"What were ya gonna say? And why are ya droolin'?"
Oh ponyfeathers, I just zoned out, didn't I?
"Hehe..Sorry what did I just say?" Rainbow put a hoof behind her head, with an embarrassed look on her face.
Applejack just rolled her eyes, knowing she had just pulled Rainbow's head out of the clouds. "You said there's sumthin' y'all wanted ta ask me and ya told me not ta be weirded out or anythin'."
"Uhh..yea ok" Rainbow Dash said, catching up to where she had left off. She kept rubbing the back of her head nervously.
"Uh well..you see." Oh ponyfeathers why is this so hard!
Applejack sighed. "Alright Sugarcube. Ta spare ya the embarrassment, I'll tell you that Ah already know."
"Y-you do?" Rainbow Dash said, still tripping over her words.
"Of course I do Sugarcube! I mean, you ain't so hard ta figure out, ya know. And I can tell when somepony has a crush."
Right on!
Rainbow Dash exhaled in relief, but the answer was still unknown.
"Have ya asked the pony out yet?"
Now Rainbow was confused. "Uh what are ya talking about?"
Applejack smirked. "Do ya have somethin' in those darn ears of yers. I said, have ya asked him her out yet?"
Ok Timeout. Who are you talking about?
Then It clicked in Rainbow's head. Applejack simply knew that Rainbow Dash had a crush but she didn't know that she was the one.
"Uhh...AJ? Well..I mean..I've tried many times but she didn't seem to notice?"
"Ahh..so she's a bit slow to catch on, ain't she?"
Uhh you're kinda insulting yourself there AJ. Not that you know that it's you. Just saying. Rainbow thought
Applejack continued. "But judging from how ya were actin', ya ain't helping her either. Here, practice on me."
Rainbow's whole body stiffened. "Uhh what?"
"We got some time before the show so just practice on me. Go on, get to it! I'm all ears. Ask me out," Applejack repeated.
How ironic. This made Rainbow Dash want to abandon her plan altogether. "Applejack, we don't have to-"
"Oh come on RD. I never thought ya were so scared of asking somepony out."
"Hey! I am not scared!" Rainbow Dash took flight but only hovered a small distance over the ground.
"Then ask me." Applejack said for what seemed to be the hundredth time.
Rainbow Dash dropped to the ground and took in a breath. She needed all the energy she had to say her next words.
Three tries later...
"Will-will you go out...ugggh"
"It's alright Sugarcube. Ah'll show you how it's done." Applejack gave her friend a smug look before getting into her role.
"What are you-"
"Shhhhhhh...." Applejack silenced her with her hoof. Then she backed away slowly and paused.
"Wait..Rainbow, do ya have yer shades by any chance?"
"Uhh...yea?" Rainbow Dash always had her shades handy. She always carried it around since it made her look twenty percent cooler. It was a mystery, though, what Applejack was going to do with them. "Don't break them. Or get your hoofprints on them"
"Don't worry, I'll only use 'em fer a sec". Applejack assured the rainbow-maned pegasus. She carefully placed it on her over her own eyes.
Despite her nervousness, Rainbow couldn't help but smile. On her, the shades made her look rad. On Applejack, they looked..erm..not as cool.
This did not discourage Applejack from wearing them though. The tension broke with Applejack's words.
"See sugar it's like this..." Applejack used her hoof to slightly lower the glasses. "Hey babe...Ah love ya beautiful. Yer finer than a frog's hair split four ways. Will ya go out with me?"
Rainbow Dash lost it. She fell to the ground, cackling her sides out. "Oh Applejack..stop haha...oh gosh.That was too rich. Bwhaahahaa".
Applejack was pleased to get a laugh from the pegasus and handed back the shades.
Rainbow Dash had to ask, still trying to stop herself from laughing. "Ok hehe. Seriously AJ, what was that?"
Applejack put a hoof on Rainbow's shoulder. "Ah'm just tryin' ta show ya that you need ta be yourself Dash. There's no fancy way ta do it. Just as long as ya ask her, right? No stutterin' or anythin'. And who knows maybe you'll have a little fun with it too. Ah mean, what have ya got to lose?"
Applejack always knew what to say. The lesson that Rainbow Dash had just learned was going to be put to practice.
"Alright. Applejack, will you go out with me?"
"That's great, Sugarcube! Now ask whoever it is, just like that!"
"I am."
Applejack slowly but surely turned towards her best friend. "Wait, what'd ya say?"
Rainbow said it again, her heart pounding in her chest. "Applejack, I've had a crush on you for a while and I just wanted to ask, will you go out with me?"
No response came. Applejack just stared at her with a surprised look on her face for what seemed to be an eternity in Equestria. Then her face started to show another expression. Rainbow Dash knew that look . "You...you don't have feelings for me, do you?"
Applejack looked at her friend with all the compassion she could give with her eyes. "Ah'm sorry Sugarcube. Ah'm in love with somepony."
Rainbow's heart broke at Applejack's words. All the efforts in trying for the past few weeks were reduced to nothing. She felt the need to cry.
But she didn't. Not in front of Applejack. It wasn't her fault.
"Who's the lucky pony?" Rainbow Dash asked glumly.
"She's a really awesome mare. That's all Ah'm sayin'". Applejack said gently.
Awesome? More awesome than me? Who could be more awesome than me? Rainbow Dash wondered how in the world Applejack could think there was somepony more "awesome" than her.
However, Rainbow Dash knew she was just being jealous. She, instead, offered some kind words of her own. "Well, she couldn't be more awesome than you AJ. I hope you guys are happy."
"Thanks RD. That's real nice of you to say." Applejack playfully nudged her friend. "Come on now. Don't get all down in the dumps over me. We gotta get to Rarity's place pronto. What do ya say friend? Wanna race me there?"
Rainbow really didn't want to but Applejack always brought her competitive spirit out and never backed down from a challenge. They would always be the best of friends.
Rainbow Dash and Applejack tumbled into Rarity's boutique, arguing over who won.
"Ahem! Darlings, please behave yourselves. I have a guest." Rarity interrupted their playful banter. She used her magic to move the nine chairs around.
"Why are there only nine chairs Rarity? Ah thought it was a fashion show." Applejack asked, giving Rarity a quizzical look.
Rarity answered quickly. "Well, I've decided to let her do a pre-show on stage, with a smaller audience. It'll help prepare her for the actual show later tonight. Actually dear, you definitely should go see her. You are family after all."
"One of the Apples is a trend-settin' fashionista? Well I'll be. Ah've got ta see this!" Applejack ran towards the back of the stage to see which Apple family member had made it in the fashion world.
Rainbow Dash just flapped her wings and landed on one of the seats. She hung her head and this sight was enough to catch Rarity's eye. She stopped everything she was doing to see her friend.
"Rainbow Dash dear, what ever is the matter? Why, you look sadder than ever."
Rainbow Dash merely looked away and sighed deeply. "She likes somepony else Rares. After everything...."
"Oh dear. I'm so sorry darling but sometimes things don't always work out. " Rarity put a hoof on her shoulder
"It's ok Rarity but I need to ask you something." Rainbow looked at her.
"Go on" the purple-maned mare sympathetically replied.
"Is it ok if I sit this one out? I really just wanna go home." Rainbow said, with pleading eyes. "Besides you know me. I'll be bored within the first few minutes."
As much as the gem-obsessed mare knew the truth of that fact, she needed Rainbow Dash at the pre-show. "I know you really don't want to be here right now Rainbow Dash. And I don't blame you. But I need the support of each one of my friends for this mare model. I'm sure Applejack would appreciate it as well."
Rainbow Dash sat on down on her haunches. Her loyalty for her friends was more important than her own feelings.
This was going to be a long night.
The nine chairs were almost occupied. The six chairs were reserved for the mane six. The other three belonged to the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who needed foalsitting since nopony would be available to watch over them. Spike would be announcing, so he would mainly be backstage or standing.
Slowly, all the chairs were filled up as the pre-show was about to start. All except one.
"This is so exciting! Isn't this exciting! And look I brought popcorn!" Pinkie enthusiastically said.
"You know it's not a movie, right?" Twilight rolled her eyes.
"I know silly. But it is a show! It's kind of like a movie". The pink pony dived her face right into the bucket of popcorn she got. "You want some Twilight? You knoooww...you gotta shaaare, you gotta caaar-"
"I'll pass. Thank you for the offer Pinkie." Twilight politely declined before Pinkie broke further into the song.
"Suit yourself." The pink pony repeated her earlier motion, chomping away on the popcorn.
As the Cutie Mark Crusaders played loudly in their seats, Rainbow Dash scanned the room, trying find a certain orange mare.
"Hey, have you guys seen Applejack?" Rainbow Dash inquired. Her seat was the only one not taken and the show was about to start.
"Maybe she gets stage fright. I get stage fright all the time whenever I'm on stage." Fluttershy said in a faint voice.
"But she's not even going on stage! She's supposed to be down here!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
"Relax, Rainbow Dash. She's probably still catching up with her kin." Rarity explained. "Oooh the show is starting! Quiet everypony. That means you four."
"Awwwww" whined the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Pinkie pie.
The room darkened, with the spotlight centering on top of Spike. "Hey everypony. I am so honored to present our model of the night... the one...the only, Miss Apple Jewel!"
"Apple Jewel? Who the hay is that?" whispered Rainbow Dash, looking at all her friends.
"Just watch" Rarity winked.
As the curtains went up, so did Rainbow's wings.
"A-A-A-Applejack?"
The orange mare had completely been transformed into a model. Her golden mane was in a tight ponytail, held up by a bejeweled hair tie. Her flank was covered with an emerald gown covered in white diamonds, with a pink layer under. Her chest was covered in a jade and magenta extension, which accentuated her eyes perfectly.
Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom squealed in awe of Applejack's gown, while Scootaloo gave her two friends a curious look.
"Come on, show us your walk darling. Ta-ta"
Apple Jewel (a.k.a Applejack) walked with extraordinary grace and added an exaggerated sway to her hips. She definitely was possessed both flair and style.
Rainbow Dash could do nothing but stare, her eyes never leaving Apple Jewel's flank. The way Apple Jewel walked, stiffened her wings even more and suddenly caused her break out into sweat.
Hot. So hot.
By that time, Apple Jewel had walked to the front of the stage. Apple Jewel continued her trot as she moved to the back of the stage and swayed her behind at the audience.
Then, as the song came to a close, Apple Jewel did one final pose. Her expression was too much for Rainbow Dash to handle.
"Bwhahaha Applejack oh my gosh your face. Haha you have a duck-"
Suddenly, a crash of lightning bolts resounded through the Boutique which had made Fluttershy and Rainbow yelp in fright. The clouds, magically powered by Rarity, began to open up as different-coloured spotlights shone on Apple Jewel.
Then Applejack asked those six words. The words that crossed the line between friendship and something more. She said it to none other than her best friend and loyal rival, Rainbow Dash.
"Why'd you lie?" Rainbow Dash said, a bit hurt.
"Ah did not lie. I said that Ah was in love with somepony Dash. Somepony 'awesome'. Now who do ya think fits that description nicely." Applejack replied.
"Hehe I guess you did give me that hint," Rainbow mentally kicked herself for not knowing the obvious. "But when did you find out?"
"Well, I kinda got a hint with that letter y'wrote and when ya wrote that newspaper clippin'. But when you called me 'beautiful' at the firefly show...well, it was kinda a dead giveaway." Applejack said, with a smirk on her face. "And y'all know I couldn't let ya beat me to it."
"Oh so now it was a competition huh?" Rainbow smiled, knowing that she would have done the same given the insight. "And you all were helping her?"
"And you too Dashie!" Pinkie quickly responded.
"When Applejack had found out" Rarity began, "She revealed her feelings about you too and she wanted in. She wanted to see if she could come up with a 'cool' and 'radical" way to ask you out. We simply helped both of you to see which one had possessed both flair and bravery to ask the other out first".
"But she knew! That's totally not fair." Rainbow crossed her hooves.
"Yes, but we helped you more." Twilight replied back. "And no offense, but you kinda needed it."
"But but.."
Rainbow Dash was silenced when Applejack nuzzled her cheek. "Why you complainin' Sugar? Ya got the mare."
The cyan mare sighed and nuzzled back. "Who...who's complaining? I know I'm not."
The rest of their friends looked at the two headstrong and though they were not use to them behaving so affectionately with one another, each gave their own endearing smile.
"Oh I almost forgot," Twilight pulled out a bag full of bits, much to the curiosity of Applejack and Rainbow Dash, "You win Rarity. Applejack asked fir-"
"Now wait just a second Twi!" Pinkie pie bounced in front of the lavender alicorn. "Rainbow Dash asked her first!"
"But it was also for who had the most flair and though Rainbow Dash tried very hard, I believe Applejack's performance was more impressive." Rarity defended her stance. "Besides..."
As Rarity and Fluttershy debated with the pink pony, Applejack whispered in Rainbow's ear.
"So whad'ya say Sugar. Wanna sneak out the back and paint the town red?"
"Eh, I think orange and blue will make it twenty percent cooler." Rainbow grinned.
"Well, Sugarcube" Applejack gave her a small kiss, "After you."
