Applejack had no choice but to bring Rainbow Dash to her house by a very windy and rainy storm, but these two ponies will soon realize their love for one another.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash ran into AppleJacks farm house for refugee after a big windy and rainy storm came by which Rainbow Dash convince AJ to hurry up her work and to get to safety.
The two spend the night there together and this day and night will soon turn their Relationship into something more.
Coming along the way a very harsh future ahead of them both.
Applejack stood before her glorious farm, two basket holstered to her sides as she set out to collect some apples for the day.
When she was younger she had tried to deny that being a farmer was in her blood. But her heart had always been in this farm and that is where it would always stay.
She loved nothing more than her farm and family.
They were country ponies, they lived to watch their land grow and thrive.
But every now and then she just liked to have a relaxing work day, picking the apples at a calm pace and to spend the evening just looking after her home, her heart.
She bucked one of the trees lightly and collected the few apples that fell. Sometimes nothing was better than a lazy day of work.
"Heya Applejack!"
She looked up in hearing that loud cheerful voice and saw Rainbowdash hovering above her, her blue wings gusting out wind in easy pants.
"Well good evening Rainbowdash, what brings you round here this time of day?"
"Just gotta warn everypony about the upcoming storm, we're making sure everyone gets inside."
"Jeeze, really?" Applejack said disappointed, "But I gotta pick all the loose apples off today or else they'll be completely blown away."
"Look Applejack," Rainbowdash said hesitantly looking at the dark clouds in the distance "You have probably an hour, an hour and a half tops to get these apples down, but you better hurry."
"Thanks," Applejack said with a smile but sighed "I guess this'll have to be a hectic work day after all."
Rainbowdash saluted her before flying off and Applejack blew out annoyed getting her wit about her and hurried on faster in her work.
The work was tedious and hard, but worth it all the same. She was down half the acre when she felt some damp pats of rain on her back and frowned annoyed.
"Oh no!" she said hasty "It can't be time already!"
She knew Rainbowdash said it would be a big storm, but she couldn't stand seeing so many apples going to waste! She hurried on her way, bucking more loose apples off the trees.
Rainbowdash stood on her cloud a little worried. The storm had started, but knowing Applejack, if she hadn't picked all those apples yet than she wouldn't stop, even in this rain.
She couldn't let her friend get throttled by the wind and rain, she had to help.
She nodded her head hard and began her unsteady flight back to the farm, the wind gushing on her sides and pulling her back. She must be crazy.
Applejack was soaking wet from the down pour. Branches were falling everywhere, one hitting her back and she yelped in pain.
"Stupid damn wind! But I can't loose any harvest!"
"Applejack!"
She looked up fast seeing Rainbowdash flying toward her, the wind pushing her this way and that fiercely but she landed beside the injured Applejack with heavy exhausted panting.
"How did I know that you wouldn't listen to my warning!"
"Well stop complaining, I just picked the last loose apple!"
"You're a stupid apple!"
"HUH!" Applejack said in anger. The two jumped as lightning struck behind them.
"You better get inside, Rainbowdash! Come on!" Applejack yelled and directed her to her house, Rainbowdash nodding, the two running low to avoid getting hit by lightning.
They reached the house and Applejack slammed the door closed with a hard buck, the two panting as water dripped off them and splashed to the ground.
"Jeeze Rainbowdash, why did you Pegasuses arrange such a fierce storm?" Applejack asked flabbergasted.
"We have to clear out all this storage of water in the air so we arranged one night to do it."
"Well I don't think you can go back out into that storm," Applejack said worried looking through the window to the gusting wind and rain outside.
"Hey, it's better for me in here than there... though I'm not too fond of inside houses."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing..." Rainbowdash said, not really feeling like getting into a row and looked around the farmhouse slowly saying confused.
"So where's the rest of your family?"
"They went to visit cousin Jefferson down the valley."
"So it's just you tonight?"
"Why do you think I was the only one picking apples?"
"I don't know, stubbornness,"
"Righto... enough outta you."
Rainbowdash smirked friendly, and sat down at the table.
"So what do you do for fun?"
"I don't know, play games, you?"
"Oh you know me, always racing against the wind, my wings need extra exercise to keep me in tip top shape."
"Someones a little proud." Applejack said teasingly "Maybe that there should've been your element."
Rainbowdash stuck her tongue out in response, Applejack grinning.
These two always had a small banter about them, Applejack felt out of all her friends, she seemed to always empathise the most with Rainbowdash. The two never had that much alone time together so she only really knew the outside of her friend... but even with that she felt like she really knew the blue Pegasus.
"Whatcha thinking?" Applejack aspired to know and Rainbowdash looked at her confused.
"Why you wanna know?"
"I don't know... I've always, I suppose, just wanted to know what goes on inside that thick skull of yours?"
"Look, is this going to be some kind of bonding experience?"
"Got a problem with that?" Applejack asked blankly. Rainbowdash blinked surprised. Applejack always had a tricky way about her, and she usually did manage to get her way with persistence.
"Alright," Rainbowdash said grinning "I was just thinking about how much fun it would be swooping through the air in this storm... though I know it would be dangerous."
"You really love speed don't you?" Applejack asked slowly, and Rainbowdash nodded.
"It's what I was born with, in my blood... I know that sounds stupid."
"No it ain't." Applejack said smiling and sat down beside her "Farming's in my blood, couldn't live without it."
"But if you had to give up farming for something, if your happiness depended on it, what would it be?"
"Are we playing truth or dare now?" Applejack questioned smiling, Rainbowdash shrugged, "Well I wouldn't give up farming for anything."
"Not even to save your family?"
"Well yeah, of course then." Applejack said in an obvious voice.
"Do you ever get annoyed," Rainbowdash said nervously, and Applejack looked at her confused.
"About what?"
"Living with your family still?"
Applejack didn't see that coming. She smiled kindly.
"No Rainbowdash, I love my family, I love this farm, I was born to stay here forever."
"But what if you met a handsome stallion?" Rainbowdash countered.
"And what's that got to do with anything?"
"Well, what if he wanted you to move away to somewhere far far away?"
"Wouldn't do it."
"But what if you loved him...?"
Applejack was silent then... she never really had been in love before... to be honest, she wouldn't know what she'd do. But she didn't have to admit that to Rainbowdash.
"Look if a handsome stallion comes into my life, then who knows what I'd do. But it ain't gonna happen at this moment."
"What? Falling in love or meeting a stallion?"
"Both... I've got too much work to do to fall in love."
"Yeah, me too." Rainbowdash said absentmindedly "I mean, love is all around us, but we don't even generally give the blokes in our town a second look."
"Yep, that's it sister."
Rainbowdash giggled, looking at Applejack with a small smile that lingered longer than a normal one and Applejack looked off nervous.
"Well anyway," she said a little shy for once, "How about you help me make dinner."
"Well what do you usually have?"
"Apples."
"Wow, exotic," Rainbowdash said plainly.
"Oh come on, we also got cider?"
"Cider!" Rainbowdash said in ecstasy and jumped up in the air in joy, "Well let's get eating!"
Applejack laid out the apple treats on the table, Apple casserole being the main with apple pie being the desert.
Rainbowdash's mouth salivated with lust as Applejack poured two points of cider and Rainbowdash swallowed it down eagerly in two gulps.
"Wow thirsty."
"Are you kidding? Your family makes the best cider in all of EQUESTIA!" Rainbowdash said in glee and gave a small bubbly burp, Applejack giggling but also a little taken back from the praise.
"Thanks Rainbowdash, it's nice to get your stamp of approval."
"Why do I not often give it?" the Pegasus asked confused and Applejack shook her head softly, "Really?"
"Well, you don't hide it well when your disappointed I'll tell you that much."
"Oh sorry," Rainbowdash said nervously.
"Don't be, one thing with you is that you always show your emotions on your shoulder."
"I didn't realise that I was so transparent."
"That's a good thing, take it as a praise."
"I guess..." Rainbowdash said with a small unsure smile. She didn't know why it mattered to her, but she suddenly worried about how Applejack saw her.
Applejack was always honest, which was something Rainbowdash really admired about her, but she wondered if Applejack liked anything specifically about her or worse... disliked something.
"Hey Rainbowdash, what do you think of me?"
"Why, I think you're a good friend with a strong heart."
"Be honest."
"But I am?"
"No about my bad points... I know I come off as a little obnoxious sometimes."
"Okay..." Applejack said honestly "Sometimes you do think you're a bit all that."
"Really?"
"And... sometimes, if something ain't cool you automatically label it as not worth your time."
That really hurt.
"Look I'm making you sad!" Applejack said in grief, "Say something about me, for Pony sake!"
"Well... you can be awfully stubborn."
"I can?"
"You haven't notice?"
"I think you mistaking stubbornness for not giving in to what you think is wrong."
"No your pretty stubborn. You wouldn't even go in when the storm started."
"Oh.... Yeah."
"But you are the nicest pony I know, I even think you are nicer- and don't tell her I said this- nicer than Fluttershy."
"Really? Why...?"
"Well you always tell the truth, whereas Fluttershy might lie just to be nice."
"You know, you have some qualities I admire too, Rainbowdash."
"Like what?"
"Like your unwavering bravery, your pure loyalty, how you stick by your friends."
"Really?" Raindbowdash said shyly, a smile going up her lips and her heart then beat hard... as if a realisation had suddenly dawned on her. She had never thought Applejack saw her that way, and she admired that pony so much... she never admired anyone unless they were famous or fast... but Applejack had always gotten her admiration simply for being her.
And the way her heart was fluttering now while she looked at the orange pony, it made her nervous... so nervous she almost wanted to escape.
"You okay there Rainbowdash?"
"Me, oh yeah... but you know, I think that storm i-is settling, I should leave."
"What? But it's like a hurricane out there!"
"Look, it's probably not that bad."
Just as she said that a giant bolt of lightning struck outside, flickering on and off the lights and Applejack looked at her stubbornly saying plain and simply,
"You're staying."
Rainbowdash smile sunk in nervousness... she really did want to spend the night with Applejack... but she felt so shy around her old friend... and especially now, after all that Applejack had said... she didn't know how to feel... cos' this feeling was really strange.
"Well come on," Applejack said as they finished the desert and the dishes were piled on the counter "Time to clear up this mess."
"Right on," Rainbowdash said and got up beside her, Applejack turning on the tap and water pouring into the sink.
The two smiled and joked as they did the dishes before it grew dark and Rainbowdash asked in a nervous smile.
"So where am I sleeping?"
Applejack looking at her confused, replying unsure.
"Goodnight Rainbowdash!" Applejack called as she switched off the hallway light and headed to her own bed. She had led the nervous Rainbowdash to her little sister's room, something unnerving the blue Pegasus greatly but she couldn't figure what.
Rainbowdash had just suddenly gone withdrawn a little while they were eating dinner and she couldn't guess why... but somehow, that nervous feeling had passed on to her and she didn't know how to act really around her friend, so just put on her good hospitality.
Rainbowdash lay in Applebloom's bed with her eyes wide awake as a million thoughts ran through her head. For some reason she couldn't get what Applejack had said about her out of her head... what was worse... she couldn't get Applejack out of her head.
Applejack, that courageous pony... the only one that would call her bluff, and somehow she knew that horse had picked up on her change in attitude.
She wanted to just go home to the clouds... she guessed she was an air head. Rainbowdash smirked at the joke she told herself and snuggled into the blankets. She was sure that everything would just be fine in the morning.
A giant bolt of lightning struck suddenly outside the house and the two ponies jumped in their beds, Applejack galloping to her window seeing a tree had been struck and had fallen to the ground.
"Rainbowdash?"
Rainbowdash's eyes widened as she heard that call from away and peeped back nervous "Yeah?"
"You alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine!" she said with a fake smile that no one could see.
Another lightning bolt jolted down nearly hitting the house and Rainbowdash jumped terrified, running out to the hall to turn on the light but the power had gone out.
She blinked silently as she saw Applejack standing across the hall, a look of terror also in her eyes and the orange pony said scared.
"You okay?"
"Oh yeah... it's just a bit of electricity." Rainbowdash said putting on a fake brave face before the hall lit up with a bolt outside the window and the two suddenly found each other hugging one another tight.
The two realized quickly what they were doing, and let go nervous, Rainbowdash laughing with an off voice and Applejack said scared.
"Maybe you should sleep with me tonight."
"What...?" Rainbowdash said suddenly afraid of that idea but as another bolt hit she nodded her head fast saying "Good plan."
The two went into Applejack's bed silently, Rainbowdash hugging her blanket worried as she looked outside the window to the gusting rain and turned around, seeing Applejack was shivering... probably with fear.
"You okay Applejack?" Rainbowdash asked quietly.
Applejack turned to her and nodded, "Yeah, this wind will be over soon enough."
"I didn't expect the storm to be this bad."
"I know... we lost an appletree." Applejack muttered a little saddened.
"Man, that sucks,"
"At least we haven't lost the house, that's all that matters."
Rainbowdash nodded slowly. Applejack's green eyes looking slightly mystical in the dark. Rainbowdash stared at them silently... Applejack staring back into her eyes, before it felt a little too long for comfort and Rainbowdash turned on her back, laughing nervously.
"Do you think your family will be okay?"
"Wait, is the storm spreading to out west?" Applejack said suddenly worried, and Rainbowdash turned to her quickly saying fast,
"Oh no no... just trying to make small talk."
"You don't need to do that with me Rainbowdash, we're like sisters."
"Right..." Rainbowdash said... but didn't like that word, they were good friends, but sisters just felt... not the way to put how she felt.
She saw Applejack as something more than a sister, but didn't know what.
"Sisters? We're not that close are we?" Rainbowdash joked nervous.
"Well all my bffs are like sisters to me, I see you girls as my family."
"Yeah..."
"What's wrong?" Applejack said worried, picking up an air of sadness from the blue pony.
"Oh nothing," Rainbowdash lied.
"Come on, spit it out." Applejack said.
"No, it's fine." Rainbowdash said quietly and felt Applejack's hooves suddenly tickling her.
"I'm gonna get it out of you Rainbowdash, it's not good to keep things in."
"H-hey!" Rainbowdash laughed going frantic on the bed "S-seriously! HA HA! It's nothing!"
"You swear?"
"Yes! Ha ha! Please stop!"
"Fine, you win this round," Applejack said defeated and Rainbowdash smiled at her with a spark in her eyes... Applejack almost feeling it back, but the orange pony just looked off... whatever she was feeling, just wasn't possible.
"If you want to know..." Rainbowdash said quietly, looking at the orange pony who was still looking away, "I was just thinking, well, me and you are closer than sisters."
Applejack blinked her eyes slowly, looking at Rainbowdash's violet eyes quietly and said,
"...really?"
"Yeah... like we get each other." Rainbowdash said slowly, but seeing Applejack's confused eyes quickly muttered "Don't... you think?"
"Of course..." Applejack said nervous, looking into Rainbowdash's eyes, the life that was in them, the spirit of the Pegasus and she said afraid, "Well then, what are we?"
"I... don't know." Rainbowdash said quietly... what had she got herself into? She wanted to tell Applejack something deep, something which she felt but didn't know how to say.
She looked into those green earthy eyes afraid, before slowly moving her face towards Applejack's, the orange pony's eyes dimming as their mouths nervously touched.
What was this... that Applejack felt suddenly with this strange gesture, before pulling away in a gasp... she had just touched Rainbowdash's lips with her own, and she saw the blue Pegasus looking at her nervous.
"Good night Rainbowdash," Applejack said nervous, but couldn't draw her eyes away from Rainbowdash's and the blue pony nodded slowly,
"Goodnight."
The two closed their eyes, both seeming afraid of what they had done, but Rainbowdash opened one of her eyes, just looking at her friend... before closing it again.
Why did Applejack have to act like that to her... but what other way could the orange pony had reacted?
It took a good half hour before Rainbowdash felt herself drifting off to sleep.
XXXXXX
And when she woke up she saw that Applejack's side of the bed was empty.
"Applejack?" she said confused and got out of bed quietly, walking out confused to the kitchen seeing the orange pony chewing softly on an apple as she looked outside the window with sad eyes.
"Hey,"
She turned seeing Rainbowdash at the door and smiled nervous saying fast,
"Oh hey," she said quickly, finishing her apple and walking over to her, "How was your sleep?"
"It was good," Rainbowdash said fast, laughing nervous before looking at the orange pony and saying slowly "Do you remember anything happening last night?"
Applejack shut her eyes hard, she had hoped that Rainbowdash wouldn't have bought that up but now that she had she couldn't lie.
"Yeah... I do,"
"I guess we were both scared huh?" Rainbowdash laughed afraid.
"Were we?"
Rainbowdash looked at Applejack surprised and shook her head weakly,
"I guess we weren't... were we?"
"Look I don't know exactly what happened last night between us Rainbowdash," Applejack said bluntly and the blue Pegasus looked at her worried, "But... it felt... like it was okay."
Rainbowdash blinked her eyes surprised, looking at Applejack with a small smile,
"Really?"
"Yeah... Rainbowdash... I think, I don't know how I see you."
"I don't know how I see you either...but yesterday you were saying all these things about me, and did you mean it?"
"Of course, I don't lie."
"I know... silly question," Rainbowdash laughed and looked into Applejack's eyes with a small smile.
Applejack gazed back into hers slowly.
"Do you, want to hang out today...?" Rainbowdash asked nervously.
"Sure," Applejack said smiling and Rainbowdash beamed back, "But I have work to do before anything."
"Man you really work everyday, huh?" Rainbowdash said kiddingly and Applejack chuckled nodding her head to the window which Rainbowdash turned towards,
"Well when a storm comes and destroys nearly half an acre, there does need to be some clearing up."
"It really destroyed all that...?" Rainbowdash said quietly looking outside the window to the torn down trees and branches that stretched down the field and she looked at Applejack with a smile saying "Let me help."
"Really?" Applejack said surprised, "Well... thanks,"
The two smiled at each other, their eyes wanting to linger on the others longer but they both broke it off after a couple of seconds and they headed outside, getting ready to start the work.
Rainbowdash flew through the fields, sweeping the branches into a pile where Applejack threw them into a kart, getting ready to pull them away and Rainbowdash flew beside her, smiling largely as she watched her friend hard at work.
"You must have some stamina," she said eagerly, picking up the little branches that Applejack passed and dropped them in the kart as a helping hand.
"Well generally my brother does the work round here, but the family won't be home till this afternoon."
"What you gonna do with these branches?"
"Probably store them for winter," Applejack said knowledgeable and smiled at Rainbowdash as she flew beside her.
The two reached the barn and unloaded the branches, Rainbowdash getting a branch and spanking Applejack's behind, the pony jumping shocked a little and looked at her with a grin.
"What's gotten into you?"
"You need to work harder, Applejack... you need to feel the burn in your thighs."
"Excuse me?" Applejack said confused and Rainbowdash just giggled, landing beside her.
"I'm just messing with you,"
"Yeah..." Applejack said slowly, Rainbowdash getting scared that she offended her before Applejack said with a grin, "I know."
She suddenly grabbed Rainbowdash in a head lock, rustling up her rainbow mane and Rainbowdash laughed, tackling Applejack to the ground, the two wrestling each other, Rainbowdash pinning Applejack down. The two panted exhausted before Rainbowdash realized what she was doing and looked nervously into her hostage's green eyes.
She felt so alive around her, so herself, so free and she licked Applejack's cheek softly, Applejack looking at her quietly.
"What was that...?"
"I don't know..." Rainbowdash said shyly, but suddenly felt Applejack's lips on her own, the two doing something that felt so foreign but so right.
Rainbowdash kissed her back, they lips slipping between each other softly, their mouths so warm... a feeling so hot fluttering through their chests.
The two jumped suddenly as they heard a creak, and Rainbowdash sprung off Applejack into the air as Big Macintosh opened up the barn door, a confused face coming across his own as he saw his sister on the ground and said lost.
"Applejack?"
"Er, Big Macintosh, I-I fell!"
Big Mac looked at her confused before turning his head up to see Rainbowdash floating above her with a big blushing face on.
"Rainbowdash?"
"Oh HEY, Big Mac!" Rainbowdash said nervously "I was just helping Applejack collect twigs."
"Yup," Big Macintosh said, still a little lost, "Got to help Applebloom and Grandma Smith," he said slowly and turned to leave, but looked back at his sister saying "Coming?"
"Er, sure, yup, of course!" Applejack said nervously and followed her brother, her head hanging to the ground.
"I guess you best get going Rainbowdash," she said looking quietly up to her friend and Rainbowdash felt like her heart was close to breaking as she said nervous,
"Yeah, sure... see you later Applejack," Rainbowdash said quietly and left, flying off into the sky but gazed back down at the farm, seeing Applejack following her brother with her head hung low.
Applejack looked slowly up at the sky, seeing the blue Pegasus in the distance hovering in the air. What was wrong with them both... why were they acting this unnatural way towards each other?
They were meant to be just friends... but the way they were acting, it felt so much more than that. Why did big Mac have to walk in on them... and did he see anything?
"What were you and Rainbowdash doing sis?" Big Macintosh asked slowly as they reached the house.
"Nothing, big Mac..." Applejack lied and her heart stung with that, "Nothing."