> An Adventure in Love
>  by IAreBrony
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Sleep and the Sleepless
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	A quadruple cloud-spin.  An inverted slalom.  A Sonic Rainboom to finish out the act.  All in a day's work for the fastest flier in Equestria.  Touching down in the lush grasses of Sweet Apple Acres, Rainbow Dash strutted over to her best friend and fellow Element of Harmony, Applejack, who was still staring open-mouthed at the sky where Dash had been just seconds before. 

"Good enough for you, AJ?" Rainbow prodded, grinning from ear to ear.

"Sugarcube, that was amazin'.  I mean, I know you're the most beautiful, talented flier in…"

"Wait, did you just say beautiful?" Rainbow asked, surprised.

"Well, yah, Ah guess Ah did.  That ain't a problem is it?"  Applejack questioned.

Dash didn't answer with words, but instead a kiss that sent both of the ponies senses tingling.  "AJ, you have no idea how long I've wanted to-"

*Crack*

"What the hay was-"

With another loud crack, the branch supporting one rainbow-maned pegasus gave and dropped its guest as well as several ripe apples onto the soil and grass below.  Startled, Dash shook her head, ridding her mane of any dust.  What the hay. . . Oh, it was just another dream.  Why do I keep doing this to myself? Dash thought to herself, just now catching a majestic orange pony rolling in the grass nearby.  Turning to face her friend, she realized Applejack was laughing like mad, and Dash's face proceeded to turn a slight purple color.

"Oh, hay Applejack.  What's so funny?"

Gasping for air, Applejack answered, "Only watchin' the 'most graceful flier in all of Equestria' fall out of a tree.  Ain't somethin' yah see every day.  Or ever, fer that matter." Finally she regained her composure and looked at Rainbow Dash, noticing the mild blush her friend was currently adorning.

"Oh, Ah didn't mean nothin' by it, sugarcube.  It was just entertainin' to watch yah land on yer face like that.  Maybe you'll learn a thing er two 'bout takin' a nap in mah trees!"

Laughing at her own foolishness, Dash's embarrassment subsided.  "Like that'll ever happen!  You're trees are the best for sleeping!  Well next to a cloud of course, but those are so far away," she said, gazing up a couple hundred hooves to a small, puffy cloud just above.

"Dash, yer laziness knows no bounds.  Ah know fer a fact yah coulda reached that cloud in no time," Applejack commented.  Rainbow drew her attention away from the sky to look into the deep emerald abyss of Applejack's eyes.  She could feel her wings slowly attempting to lift off her body, but she just couldn't look away.

"Umm, Rainbow, yah got a little drool, right there," AJ said, pointing to Rainbow's left cheek.  Startled out of her stupor, Dash glanced down at her bare hoof.

"Just look at the time!  I gotta go, umm, do that thing!"  Dash's wings were already halfway extended when she snapped them open and took off towards her cloud home in Cloudsdale.

Huh.  Since when does Rainbow wear a watch?  Oh well.  Not that Ah'd notice anyhow.  Darn it, how'd Ah let mahself get lost him her eyes again?  Ah need a good applebuckin' to clear my heads.  Applejack thought, turning to the tree Rainbow Dash had just fallen out of moments ago to buck even the most stubborn apples to the ground.  Many hooves in the air, Dash's thoughts were unsurprisingly along the same lines.

Ugh, I don't wear a watch!  AJ probably knows I'm lying now!  I just couldn't help myself. . .  She looked so strong bucking those trees, so. . . Hot.  Oh, what am I saying!  She's your best friend!  Rainbow thought ran as she darted quickly through the sky.  When she arrived at her minimally furnished cloud home, Dash collapsed on her bed.  Maybe I can get some uninterrupted sleep here. . .  She thought.  Or maybe not.  Probably another night filled with dreams of Applejack.  Why me?  Why couldn't I just fall for some stupid old stallion?  Instead I fall for the most beautiful, strong cowpony in all of Equestria. . .  But with that, Dash's anger dissipated and she fell into a deep sleep.

Dash zigged and zagged in and out of the apple trees, swiping more apples and dumping them into the barrels with every movement.  After a good amount of trees were cleared, she touched down lightly between the barrels and began rolling them toward the Apple family barn.  Applejack came trotting out from inside the barn, whistling at Rainbow Dash's speed.  "Mah, mah, Rainbow, you sure know how to get it done quick!"  Applejack called as Dash rolled the last barrel toward her.

"Well, you know me.  I got it all.  Speed, grace, brains," Rainbow said, gloating again.

"Maybe too much speed an' not enough brain, if yah ask me," Applejack said, teasingly.

"You're just jealous 'cause I could buck as many apples as you in ten seconds flat," Rainbow joked.

"Well, Ah don't know 'bout that, but Ah do thank yah fer helpin' us bring in the apples.  Ah just wish Ah had some way to pay yah fer it."

"No need to pay me, AJ.  That's what friends are for!"  Dash said, grinning.

"Well there is one way Ah could pay yah. . ." Applejack said slowly as she stepped toward Dash.

"Oh yeah?  And how's th-"  Rainbow asked as she was cut off when Applejack pressed her apple-flavored lips against hers.  Applejack shocked her, but Dash knew better than to let it get the best of her.  She pulled away and quickly tackled her friend to the ground, pinning all of Applejack's four hooves.

"What're yah doin'?"  AJ asked, answered by a kiss that sent rainbows through her head and tingles up her spine.  And then, all of the sudden, a blinding explosion inside her mind.

Applejack shot up in bed, woken by the boom of thunder.  Confused, she looked around her, realizing quickly that she was in her own home, in her own bed, alone.  Turning on the lamp and looking down at herself, she saw that she and the bed sheets were both soaked in sweat.  She groaned and tossed the sheets onto the floor.  Not again!  Ah do this every night, hopin' it'll get better!  But it ain't!  Ah can't keep doin' this er Ah'm gonna run outta sheets.  Stupid Rainbow, with her stupid wings, and her stupid, gorgeous eyes, and her beautiful, silky, colorful mane. . .  Darn it, stop that, AJ!  This is yer friend yer thinkin' about, not some stallion yah've had yer eye on!  Applejack told herself, staring out at the driving rain.  Oh, who am Ah kiddin'. . .  You don't want no stallion.  Yer just a stupid. . .  Fillyfooler.  Oh Celestia, Ah hate that name.  Why's it gotta be so darn true, then?  Ah should just. . .  Just. . .  Applejack's thoughts gave her a reprieve as the grasp of sleep took her, only to plague her sleep once more with images of her hexachromatic crush.
> Cuts and Conundrums
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Determined not to let her dreams deter her and Applejack's friendship, Rainbow Dash got up early to go say hello.  Well, relatively early.  About noon instead of around 3 o' clock.  As her hooves touched down onto the lightly wavering grass, she noticed Applejack carrying a white bundle and called out her name.  Applejack nearly shot a whole hoof off the ground in shock.  Oh horseapples, what am Ah gonna say? Applejack thought to herself, looking around for an escape route.  Seeing a hole in some nearby bushes, she made a run for it, dropping the sheets on the ground.

Rainbow Dash was just finishing up her laughing fit when she saw Applejack dart into the bushes.  What the hay?  Maybe she wants to race!  Oh, it's on!  Dash thought, grabbing the sheets in her mouth and taking off after Applejack.

Applejack swatted branches out of her way as she snaked through the growing foliage.  She could hear trees swooshing behind her in Rainbow's wake.  Turning another corner, she found herself constrained by thorn bushes.  The more she fought, the more the thorns bit into her like little fangs.  Gosh darn it, what have Ah got mahself into?  Okay, let's just breathe this one out.  Ah can't rightly get mahself out of here.  Ah guess Ah only got one choice. . .  Applejack sighed.  "RAINBOW!" She called out.

Even though Dash was hopelessly lost, she heard her friend's cry for help and practically tore her wings off doing a pin-point turnaround to locate Applejack.  She coasted above the trees, hoping to spot her companion.  "RAINBOW!  DOWN HERE!" She heard the call, and dove straight down.  Dash found Applejack in her tangle of briars, and proceeded to try and bite the vines away.  Ouch, that stings!  You can do this, Dash.  Don't leave AJ hanging.  Dash told herself, tearing vines after vines away slowly as not to hurt Applejack.  Look at her go.  What would Ah do without her?  Ah'd prolly be stuck here fer days!  Applejack pondered.  In a few moments, she was thorn free and stretching her legs out.

"That was mighty helpful of yah, Dash.  I can't thank yah enough for getting' me outta that snag," Applejack said, looking into her crush's magenta eyes.  Next thing she knew, Rainbow Dash had thrown the dirty sheets over her head, saying, "What would you ever do without me?  Now let's get back to the barn to check out these nasty cuts."  In reality, Dash was just covering for her rapidly increasing blushing and expanding wings.

They walked in silence for a while until Rainbow Dash said, "Well, that race could have gone better."  Applejack looked at her out of the corner of her eye.  She thought we were racin'?  Well, Ah guess that's one less thing Ah need to explain.  "Yeah, some race. . ."  Applejack said distantly.  They had just arrived at the barn, and AJ invited Dash in.  As they walked into the kitchen, Dash decided to take a chance.

"Y'know, AJ, you might have some bad cuts on you.  You want me to take a look?"  She asked, trying to keep the hopefulness out of her voice.

"Sure Dash, that'd be great," Applejack answered.  Rainbow began gliding her hoof up and down Applejack's legs, searching for cuts.  Applejack had to focus all her attention on breathing normally as her friend's touch sent her heart racing and her face warming.

"You look all good, nothing a good bath won't fix," Dash said, smiling.

"Thank yah, Dash.  How's yer mouth doin'?  Those thorns sure can do a number on yer soft parts," Applejack asked, taking a chance of her own.

"Umm, it does hurt a little, now that you mention it. . .  You mind takin' a look?"

Applejack walked over to Rainbow, opening her mouth slowly.  I am sooo glad I brushed my teeth today!  Dash thought to herself, eyeing anything but the glistening emerald's in front of her nose.

"Yer lip's a tad cut up, but the rest looks nice an' healthy!"

Dash was barely listening as she gently closed her mouth.  She and Applejack were mere inches apart.  These were the moments of Rainbow's and Applejack's dreams, and neither was sure where to go in the real world.

"Well, Ah should-"  Applejack began to say as she tripped on a loose floorboard, and she unfortunately caught herself.  Using Dash's lips for support.  For her own.  Both were shocked beyond all thought.  Dash was the first to realize what had happened, and pulled back.

"Well that was, er. . .  You. . . IneedanapseeyalaterApplejack!" She said, flying out the door with her already fully-expanded wings.  AJ just stood stock-still, mind still frozen by what had just occurred.  OH. MAH. GOSH.  Did we just- Did Ah- With Dash?!  Her brain locked up, panicking, while her heart screamed with joy.  Ah just kissed Dash!  Oh, she must think Ah'm some sort of fillyfooler. . . Well, Ah suppose Ah am, but it was just an accident!  But it was so. . .  So. . .  Amazin'!  While telling herself all of this, Applejack didn't bother to look out her window to see the fading Sonic Rainboom glowing in the evening sky.

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!"  Dash shouted at the top of her lungs, the sounded fading to nothing at the speed she was flying.  She had broken the sound barrier easily enough, and she knew why.  She kissed me!  It was amazing!  There were fireworks, and stars, and all that stuff they always say happens!  But she didn't seem like she meant it.  Maybe it was just an accident. . .  Oh hay, I've been getting worked up over nothing!  But what if it wasn't?  I guess there's only one way to find out.  I'll go see her tomo-  Dash's thoughts were cut short as she flew, much to fast, into her front door.  Which would not have been a problem, had she not been a pegasus.  She hit the door like it was a solid object, and was promptly knocked out cold on her front porch.

Back at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack was just getting out of a nice warm bath, just as Rainbow Dash had suggested.  Her thoughts were still circling around the events of the evening as she stepped into the hallway outside her room.  Maybe she knows it was an accident.  Yeah, Ah bet she'd be cool with it if she knew that.  Well, she's cool with everythin', cause she's so gosh darn cool.  Applejack thought to herself, rolling her eyes and giggling at the thought.  Well, Ah  guess Ah'll just hafta go an' ask her tomorrow.  She lay down on her bed, and, for the first time in a while, drifted into an uninterrupted slumber.
> Explanations and Acceptance
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	As Celestia's glorious sun rose over the dew-coated apple trees of Sweet Apple Acres, it's bright shafts of light cut through the darkness of Applejack's room.  Despite always being the early bird, Applejack's sleep went undisturbed.  Having been plagued by restless nights for some time now, Applejack and the grip of sleep were reluctant to release their most recent embrace.  However, the sound of Big Macintosh's large hoof thumping the bedroom door pulled Applejack back to reality.

"Applejack, we got work to do.  Up an' at 'em, Ah'll be down in the orchard getting' started," he said, his slow drawl ever present.

Still groggy from her rest, Applejack pulled herself from her surprisingly dry sheets.  She blindly but deftly grabbed the Stetson from her nightstand and tossed it up onto her head.  Forgetting to brush her mane, she trotted into the hall and down the stairs to the kitchen.  Hazily searching the pantry, Applejack poured herself a glass of apple juice to start the day.  Downing the liquid quickly, she set the glass back down on the wooden counter and strolled lazily outside.

The ground was moist and a low fog had settled, stopping just below the leaves of the apple trees.  The natural sugars of the apple juice slowly kicked in and Applejack realized she had somehow managed to transport herself outside.  Well, Ah'm here.  Might as well get to applebuckin'.  She thought lazily.  Cantering over to the nearest unbucked tree, AJ turned away from the tree and slammed her back hooves into the bark full force.  Even the top apples dropped into the buckets below and Applejack walked slowly to the next tree.

Ah can't remember ever bein' this darn tired!  Ah'm just glad Ah finally got a good night's rest. . .  But Ah'm still so tired.   Maybe a quick nap will get me goin'. . . She told herself as she lay down under the nearest tree, just far away enough the Big Macintosh wouldn't see her from the barn.  She quickly succumbed to the warmth of sleep and dozed off right there in the wet grass.

Off in Cloudsdale, one energetic pegasus found herself sprawled out on her front steps.  Oh my head. . .  How long was I out?  Dash asked herself, glancing at her hoof.  Slapping herself in the forehead with a hoof, she realized once again that she doesn't actually wear a watch.  I should really get one of those if I'm gonna keep checking for one.  Hmm, I must have flown right into my house and taken a well-needed rest. . .  Oh well.  I guess I can't complain; I really needed the sleep.  Walking to the edge of the cloud her home rests on, Rainbow Dash glanced off into the distance, trying to remember what she was thinking about what had caused her accident.

Oh right, I was flying and Applejack had just kissed me and- Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!  I forgot all about that!  I need to go talk to AJ about that!  She began to rush off into the open air; Dash just barely stopped herself at the last possible moment.  "What am I gonna say?  'Hay AJ, you remember that awesome moment yesterday when we locked lips?'  C'mon Dash, think this one through!"  She said to herself, pacing back and forth.  "Just be normal about it.  Yeah!  Play it cool.  Y'know, like everything else you do," she resolved, smirking at her self-doubt.  Jumping off the edge of the clouds, Rainbow Dash released her wings, swooping through the air towards the huge farm in the distance.

She soared over all of Ponyville, admiring the grace of the small town.  She knew that if she were an earth pony, that's definitely where she would wish to live.  Rainbow could pick out all of her friend's houses from this altitude.  In mere minutes, Dash was hovering over Sweet Apple Acres, making but the slightest of breezes.  Looking around, she spotted Applejack resting under one of the trees and darted into that particular tree.

Peering through the leaves below her, Rainbow Dash gazed upon her friend.  Her hair was unkempt, falling loosely over her soft orange head.  Even though her eyes were closed, Dash knew the chillingly beautiful emerald she had grown so fond of sat just behind Applejack's limp eyelid.  After observing for a moment or two longer than Dash wanted to admit, she snapped out of her daydreaming to return to the present.

"APPLEJACK!"  She shouts, bouncing the apples out of the tree and one large one straight down onto her secret crush's head, the mare's treasured Stetson having been blown off her head while she napped.

"Wha- Who- Where am-" Applejack answered, startled rudely.  Her questions ceased as the apple landed harshly on her head just behind the ear.  "Ouch!"  She yelped.

Dash hopped out of the tree, scared she had hurt her friend.  "Ohmygosh, Applejack, I'm so sorry!"  Rubbing her head, Applejack rose.

"That was you, Dash?"  She questioned.  Dash turns her head away and smiles shyly, rubbing the back of the neck nervously.

"Yeah, sorry about that, AJ.  Here, let me have a look," she said, looking at the small bump on Applejack's head.  Lightly poking it, she heard a quick, but small, intake of breath from her friend.  Applejack's heart fluttered as the touch sent tingles through her whole body.  "Are you alright?"  Dash asked, fearing her poke had hurt Applejack.

"Ah'm fine.  Question is, what're yah doin' here so gosh darn early?"

"I don't know if you noticed, AJ, but it's like 10 o' clock," Dash told her fellow Element of Harmony.

"Oh hay, Ah haven't gotten hardly any buckin' done!  Whatever yer here fer, Dash, say it quick!"  Applejack told Rainbow as she rushed over to a tree and bucked the apples down quickly.

"Oh, well, actually it's about yesterday.  In the barn. . ."

Applejack recalled the moment Dash was surely talking about.  She stopped bucking trees to look at her companion.  Blushing slightly, she nodded, showing her understanding.  "Well, what do yah got to say 'bout it?"  She asked, relatively quietly.

"Well, I don't have much to say, except that it was an accident.  I didn't mean for it to happen, and I hope it doesn't ruin our friendship," Rainbow explained.

"Aww, shucks, if anypony here should be worryin' about it, it's me.  Ah tripped over a board, and it was a complete accident.  Ah'm so glad yah didn't take it the wrong way," she said, unconvincingly, as she gave the ground a look over.  Both of the ponies were dejected upon realizing the other mean nothing by it.  Or so she believed.  Looking at her friend, Dash noticed once again that Applejack's mane was untied and uncover.  And it also looked more spectacular up close, not to mention the way she shyly perused the ground.  She looked so innocent and adorable, and Dash quickly found her thoughts fumbling inside her head.

As AJ looked up, she saw Dash's wings sticking out like branches from her sides.  "Umm, goin' somewhere, Dash?"  She inquired.  Dash snapped out of her thoughts, and began stuttering an answer, causing Applejack to raise an eyebrow in response.

"I- Umm- Flying- Fluttershy. . .  Gottagobye!"  Dash called as she took off in the direction of Fluttershy's cottage.  Stumped, Applejack resumed her applebucking, praying the Big Mac hadn't noticed her half of the day's work was unfinished.  Little did she know, Big Macintosh had not finished his half of the work either, seeing as he had not been at the farm since that morning.
> Entrustment and Interrogation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Zipping in and out of trees, Dash flew to her fellow pegasus's ground home.  After hitting herself in the face a couple times, she accepted that she had made a foal out of herself.  Oh ponyfeathers, I bet Applejack thinks I'm some kind of weird pervert.  She just looked so amazing. . .  Stupid wings!  Why can't you just cooperate for once!  She asked, looking back at her rapidly moving wings.  When she faced forward again, a tree was quickly coming to intercept her flight and she had to throw herself out of the way at the last second.

Okay, maybe you're not so bad.  She admitted, thanking her wings for helping her avoid disaster.  Once again, she began to ponder her feelings for Applejack. She's my best friend, and I love her like a friend.  But then again, I love Fluttershy like a friend, and I don't spend hours thinking about her. . .  Speaking of which, she's probably a good pony to talk to about all this.  I'll tell her all about it when I get to her house.  Dash decided as Fluttershy's cottage came into view through the trees.

A house built from an old oak tree sat at the edge of the Everfree Forest; it certainly was a strange place for a pegasus to live.  But then again, Fluttershy had never been much of a flier and she sure did love her furry little friends.

Landing at the start to the trail that led up to the cottage, Rainbow Dash began to second guess herself.  What if she takes it worse than Applejack would?  What if she thinks I'm some kind of freak?  Dash began to panic. No.  Fluttershy is the Element of Kindness.  She's always been there for me, this will be no different. Dash decided, steeling her resolve to tell somepony.

Knocking on the front door confidently, Rainbow heard a startled squeak inside followed by some shuffling sounds.  A few moments later, the door opened to reveal Big Macintosh.  "Oh, hay, Big Mac.  What're you doin' here?"  Dash asked, cocking her head to the side to express her confusion.

"Nothin'.  Ah was never here, yah hear?"  Big Mac asked, more rhetorically than actually asking.

"Yeah, of course.  See ya, big guy," Rainbow said as Big Macintosh galloped off in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres.  "Weird," she said, watching the stallion as he ran.  She failed to notice as a yellow hoof reached for her shoulder.  She cried out as she was thrown inside.  She landed upside down against a table, her dizzy mind barely catching Fluttershy closing the door quickly.

Righting herself and shaking her thoughts loose, Rainbow turned to face Fluttershy who was now sitting across the table sipping herbal tea.

"What was that about, Fluttershy?"  Dash inquired, unused to seeing her yellow friend so jumpy.

"Oh, umm, nothing.  Nothing at all, Dash. . ."  Fluttershy mumbled, seeing the disbelief on Dash's face.

"Fluttershy, you can be open with me.  Celestia knows, I need some openness right about now," Dash pleaded.

"Okay, okay.  You just can't tell Applejack, okay?"  Fluttershy begged of her long-time friend.

"Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye," Dash quoted, making all of Pinkie Pie's ridiculous gestured as well.

"Alright. . .  Macintosh and I are. . .  Well, umm, we. . . Are seeing each other," Fluttershy squeaked, barely audible.

"I'm sorry, Fluttershy, I didn't catch that," Dash prodded, now on the edge of her seat.

"We're seeing each other.  Like, a couple," Fluttershy whispered, blushing a deep red.

"Ohmygosh, that's great!  I'm so happy for you guys!  So how long?"  Rainbow Dash asked her friend.

Upon seeing that Dash wasn't being judgmental, Fluttershy's color returned to normal.  "About a month now," she admitted.

"Wow, you guys kept it a secret all this time?  That's amazing.  But why was he here?"  Dash investigated, hoping to find more information on the topic, forgetting her own issue for the time.

"We decided it was better to keep it a secret to avoid bringing Applejack into it.  The last thing either of us wants is for her to worry about her big brother and her friend being together.  So we meet here every couple days, to eat dinner together, or go for walks in the forest, or just enjoy each other's company. . ."  Fluttershy told her astounded companion, clearly becoming lost in the memories of the topic.

Grinning widely, Dash threw in a startling question.  "So, you find out why they call him 'Big' Macintosh yet?"  She jokingly elbowed her friend in the side.

Fluttershy grew such a deep crimson that Dash could swear all the blood in her body was in her face at that very moment.  Rainbow collapsed on the floor with wild laughter, causing her pegasus friend to hide her face in her hooves.

When she regained her composure, Dash wiped tears from her eyes to find Fluttershy in this state.  She immediately felt guilty, and wrapped her wing around her friend.  "Hay, I was just joking, c'mon," Dash pleaded.

Out of nowhere, she received a quick elbow to the gut, pushing her from her seat.  While holding her stomach, she looked up to see Fluttershy smiling and sticking her tongue out toward Dash.  Rainbow picked herself up off the floor, knowing her friend had hit her out of love.

"Well, that's all the answer I needed," Dash said, poking at Fluttershy's buttons again.  She busted out laughing again and Fluttershy tackled her to the ground.  They began rolling back and forth in the kitchen, laughing their heads off.  After a few minutes, they rolled apart and were breathing heavily.

Lying on the floor, looking at the wooden boards of the ceiling, Fluttershy quietly answered, "Yes," and then rose from the ground.  Shocked beyond words, Dash stared at her, mouth hanging wide open.

"Really?  Wow!  You guys!  Why didn't you tell us sooner?!"  She questioned, receiving no answer.  With the small smile on Fluttershy's face, it was clear her friend would not speak another word of it.

"Now, Dash, I know you don't just drop in for visits, although I sometimes wish you did.  What's on your mind?"  The yellow pegasus inquired, bringing Dash back to her own reality.

"Oh, right, that. . .  Well you see. . .  Nah, forget it.  I'll just go home," Rainbow said, starting to move for the door.  However, a glare from her friend sat her right back down at the table where she began.

"I. . . Umm. . . We'll I don't know if this is news or anything, but I feel like I should tell you first that I'm. . .  A fillyfooler. . ." she whispered.  The second it left her mouth, she felt a silky pink mane occupying the space there the words had just been as well as a crushing grip around her abdomen.

"Oh, Dash, I'm so proud of you!  It takes a lot of courage to tell somepony that, and I'm honored you told me!"  Fluttershy told her friend, still wrapping her in an embrace.
"Oh, yeah.  No problem," Dash said as Fluttershy allowed her to breathe again.  "I had to tell somepony first."  This also earned her a crushing hug.

"Oh my, you came to me first!  I'm so glad you trust me so much!"  Fluttershy said, hopping up and down with the cyan pegasus.

"Down, filly, down!"  Dash told her, trying to extract herself from the hug.  "That's not all I have to say," she admitted, and Fluttershy immediately let go.

"Oh my, please do go on.  You can tell me anything, Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy said, looking Dash square in the eye.

"I think. . .  I think I may have fallen for another mare, too."

"Well of course you did.  That's what happens when you like mares.  So who is it?"  Fluttershy pried quietly.

"Well, you see. . .  It's Applejack," Dash told her, quickly throwing her hooves up to narrowly block another crushing hug.

"Oh that's just wonderful!  I'm so happy for you two!"

"Well, you see, she doesn't know I like her. . .  Or even that I'm a. . .  That I like mares," she said, unwilling to use the slur 'fillyfooler' again.

"Oh my, I think I understand.  You're scared to tell her, aren't you?"  Fluttershy asked, hoping she wasn't pushing the envelope.

All Dash could answer with was a slight sniffle and burying her head in her hooves.  Walking over to her saddened friend, it was Fluttershy's turn to wrap a wing around her companion.  "It's alright, Dash.  We all get scared of what others think sometimes. . ."  Fluttershy told her.  When Rainbow saw her kind friend's warming smile, she wiped the small tears from her eyes and hugged Fluttershy in a truly heartfelt embrace.


Back at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack was exhausted.  She had finished her whole section for the day in a matter of hours, only to find her brother's work completely uncompleted.  Cursing him the whole way through, Applejack bucked every last one of Big Macintosh's apples as well.  Just minutes after she had taken all the apples back to the barn and poured herself a tall glass of apple cider, he came running into the kitchen.

"Well, well, well.  Look who decided to show up.  Where yah been, big bro?"  Applejack asked, narrowing her accusing eyes at Big Macintosh.

"Well, yah see, Ah, umm. . .  Ah was out for a walk around the orchard," her brother lied.  He had not expected Applejack to be waiting for him, and the tone in her voice made him feel uneasy.

"Mhm.  A walk.  An' since when does a walk take all day?  Ah mean, you must have been gone all day, 'cause none o' yer trees were bucked," the mare reasoned, taking a step toward Macintosh.

"Oh, well Ah was just out fer a walk just now.  Ah was. . .  Was. . ."  Big Mac scrambled for another lie, but his panicking mind offered up none.  "Oh, Ah shoulda known you'd figure it out sooner or later."

"Figure out what?  What're yah tryin' to tell me here?"  Applejack interrogated, more confused than before.

"Oh, umm, Ah. . ." He said, tempted to throw out another lie in order to keep the ruse going.  Sighing, he realized he couldn't keep lying to his sister and just told her the truth.  "Well, fer about two months now, Ah been skippin' on mah work every few days.  Yah never seemed to notice, so Ah snuck out at night an' got it all done."

"Two whole months!  Well, where in Equestria yah been off to fer all this time?"  Applejack inquired, astonished.

"Well, Ah was walkin' 'round the orchard one day when Ah come across yer yellow friend, Miss Fluttershy.  She was mighty stuck, got her head caught in a gopher hole.  Gentlecolt Ah am, Ah pulled her out, an' she told me how grateful she was.  Even with all that dirt she got on her face, she sure was beautiful," Macintosh said, remembering the time fondly.  "She invited me back to that nice little cottage o' hers and treated me to dinner.  Ah told her we should do it again sometime, 'cause Ah sure did like havin' her around."

"Mhm.  That's great an' all, but what's this got to do with yah slackin' on yer work?"  Applejack inquired, rather bluntly.

"Ah'm getting' to that," Big Mac snapped, probably the quickest Applejack had ever seen him respond.  She figured it must be real important, so she shut up.  "Ah started sneakin' off to go see her, just to go do whatever.  After 'bout a month o' that, Ah asked her if she'd like to start goin' steady, old fashioned as Ah am.  Why, she nearly squeezed the life outta me, she was so excited.  So after that, we started seein' each other every couple days, and the occasional night.  Ah guess Ah'm just tryin' to say that Ah'm sorry Ah'm 'datin'' yer friend without tellin' yah," he admitted, leaving Applejack speechless.

"Why, Mac, Ah don't know what to say.  Ah'm disappointed yah took so darn long to tell me, but Ah'm so happy you two found each other," she told her brother, bringing him in close.  "But don't yah dare hurt her, she's the sweetest, most innocent li'l pony yah ever did meet."

"Oh Ah understand, an' Ah don't ever want to hurt Shy. . .  Although, Ah ain't so sure on that innocent part, little sis," Big Mac said, grinning.  He barely dodged the cider tossed at him as he bolted out the door, laughing like mad.

Running over to the door, Applejack called out, "Why, you dirty good-fer-nothin', yah owe me big time fer this one!"  The whole time, she was smiling; thankful her brother had found somepony to fall in love with.  She was sure as sugar that he would fall for her, if he hadn't already.  She was so excited, she forgot about her exhaustion and began thinking of whom she could tell.  She decided she would tell her best friend and secret crush, Rainbow Dash, if for no other reason than to be close to her one more time.  With that, her work caught up to her again and she began to wobble.  Oh mah head.  Ah'm just gonna go to bed.  Don't want a repeat of this morning.  Applejack then trotted up the stairs to her room and fell asleep the moment she hit the bed.
> Confrontation and Confession
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Princess Luna's great shining moon rose over the Everfree Forest, illuminating the land of Equestria with it's silver luminescence.  The stars in the endlessly dark night sky twinkled slightly, casting a stronger glow on the land.  It was as if a second sun had risen when the first had fallen.  Or so Rainbow Dash thought, as the glittering light woke her in Fluttershy's cottage.  After confessing her feelings for a particular orange and yellow colored cowpony to Fluttershy, Dash had asked to spend the night there.

Fluttershy had graciously welcomed the cyan pegasus to stay in her home for as long as she liked.  Normally, Dash wouldn't have been woken by a little moonlight, but her mind was still reeling from the events of the day.  It had begun with heartbreak upon learning Applejack hadn't meant to kiss her, and ended with confidence in her sexuality, as well as a surprise about Fluttershy and Big Macintosh.

The surprise was what was actually troubling her at the moment the moon fully woke her.  I need to tell somepony!  I know just who to tell, too!  But I Pinkie promised. . .  And I can't betray Fluttershy, either.  But I just want a reason to go see her soooo badly!  Rainbow thought to herself, pacing back and forth carefully, as not to wake her host downstairs.   Buck it, I'm going!  I just need to see her, and what better reason than this?

Creeping slowly out of her room and down the stairs, Dash snuck into the kitchen.  However, it turns out her host was already awake and greeting somepony at the door.  Leaning out from behind the table, Rainbow could just barely pick out what they were saying.

"Mac, we just can't tonight.  Rainbow Dash is asleep upstairs, we'd surely wake her on a quiet night like this," Fluttershy told her visitor.

"Aww, c'mon, Shy. . .  That filly could sleep through a tornado an' an earthquake.  We'll be extra quiet this time," Big Macintosh pleaded.

At this point, Dash understood what was being asked and blushed in the darkness. I know I shouldn't be hearing this, it's just too good not to, though!  Rainbow justified, leaning in closer to see her friends in the moonlight.

"Macintosh, no.  You know how I can be sometimes," Fluttershy said, looking down and scrapping the ground with her hoof.

"Oh, alright.  Then just let me leave yah somethin' to remember me by," Big Mac whispered to his marefriend as he nuzzled her neck.  He gently caressed her hair and licked once behind her ear, causing Fluttershy to send out a gasp.  Then he kissed her passionately, and Dash found herself feeling dirty from watching the display of affection.  As Macintosh pulled away, Fluttershy wrapped her arms around his neck and brought him in for another quick kiss.

"Oh, get in here, you big dumbie," she told her coltfriend, leading him over to the table Dash was now hiding under.  "What do you say we resume where we left off earlier today?"  Fluttershy asked rhetorically, shoving the stallion back onto the table.  She climbed onto his wide chest, pinning his arms and kissing him roughly again.

Disturbed, Rainbow Dash was true to her name and dashed out of the door as quickly as possible. Ohmygosh, that was so weird!  Who knew Fluttershy is so rough like that?  Well, Big Macintosh, of course. She thought, chuckling at her own thoughts. Wait, earlier today. . .  I was there nearly all day.  When I showed up, Big Mac came out. . .  EWW!  I sat at that table! That's so gross, guys!

Flying gracefully toward Sweet Apple Acres, Dash knew exactly where she was going.  She landed just outside the barn and grabbed an apple from a barrel.  Throwing it at what she knew was Applejack's window, the apple made a good thump and fell to the ground.  In seconds, Applejack was at the window.

What the-  Dash?  What could she be doin' here?  Applejack wondered.  She quietly trotted past Big Macintosh's room and down the stairs.  She certainly didn't want him finding out she was awake at this hour.  Walking out of the barn, she found Rainbow Dash leaning casually against the outside.

"What's up, sugarcube?  Why're yah up so early?  And, more importantly, why are yah getting' me up so early?"  Applejack questioned, clearly confused.

"I just thought I'd come by and tell you the amazing news I heard today!  You ready?"  Dash asked.

"Ready as Ah'll ever be," Applejack told her.

"Well, after this morning, when I was here, I went to Fluttershy's cottage.  And when I got there, Big Macintosh answered the door and then ran off.  Then Fluttershy told me-"  Dash was cut off by Applejack.

"That they were datin'?  Ah know.  Macintosh told me when he got home.  Ah sure did chew him out good for it, though," Applejack said.

"Oh, you already knew. . .  Well, I bet you didn't know that Big Mac is over there right now," Rainbow told her cowpony friend, gloating that she knew more.

"Why, no, Ah didn't know that. . .  Why on earth would he-  Why, that big moron!  Ah know exactly what they're doin', an' Ah say we go pay em a visit!"  Applejack said, stomping her hooves.  "How'd yah know that, Dash?"

"Well, after spending some time with Fluttershy, she let me stay there for the night.  I was sneaking out to come here when I overheard them at the door.  You shoulda heard them, they're into a lot more than you'd think.  And get this; Fluttershy is the boss of the relationship!"  Dash concluded, proud of herself.

"Well, well. . .  Ah can honestly say Ah did not see that comin'.  Why were yah headed here, though?"

Dash blushed, not realizing her slip until now.  "Umm, well, to tell you, of course!  Now hop on, we've got a couple to interrupt!"  She scrambled, stretching her wings out and gesturing for her crush to hop on her back.

Applejack hesitantly wrapped her hooves around Rainbow's neck and braced herself.  Dash could feel Applejack pressed tight against her, which sent her heart fluttering.  Flapping quickly to lift both of them, she took off into the sky, taking it easy so Applejack would be comfortable.

"Applejack, you can open your eyes now," she told the orange earth pony.  She heard a gasp behind her as Applejack caught her first glimpse of the orchard in the glistening moonlight.

"Rainbow, it's beautiful. . .  Thank yah so much for sharin' this with me," Applejack said, amazed at how beautiful everything looked from above.  But, above all else, Applejack was really admiring the Element of Loyalty.  In the light, every strand of her hexachromatic mane shimmered, more stunning than ever before.  And her features were so confident, so much more at ease here in the air.  Leaning in closer, Applejack breathed in her companion's scent, loving every second of it.  She smelled of hard work and a light evening breeze.  It was fantastic.

Below, Rainbow Dash was focusing on flying.  Or telling herself she was. Don't think about it.  You're just giving a friend a ride.  But she's not just a friend.  You love her.  But she doesn't know that.  But you could tell her now.  But I'm just not ready! Dash argued with herself.  She could see Fluttershy's cottage on the edge of the trees and she touched down lightly as possible in the grass.  Applejack still had her arms wrapped around her, breathing in the smell of the rainbow.

"Umm, hay AJ, we're here. . ."  Dash muttered, not really wanting her love to let go.-
Turning more red than orange, Applejack came back to reality and slid off Rainbow's back.  They walked slowly up to the front door, not uttering a single word.  Applejack knocked on the door loudly, and they heard whispering inside.  In moments, Big Macintosh opened the door, his coat glistening with sweat.

"Applejack!  Miss Dash!  What-  How-"  He began to stutter as he was shoved roughly out of the way, a grinning Applejack walking past him.

"Well, well, fancy meetin' you here, bro.  What could yah possibly be doin' here?"  Applejack asked, a bit of icy prodding creeping into her voice.

Macintosh began stuttering an answer again, only to be stopped by Fluttershy coming down the stairs.

"Oh my, this is quite embarrassing.  Well, you see-"  She stopped short when she noticed Dash standing next to Applejack.  "Dash, how could you!  You Pinkie promised you wouldn't tell Applejack!"  Fluttershy accused, causing Rainbow to look downtrodden.

"Shy, ain't none o' this her fault.  Ah had to tell mah sis earlier today or Ah'd have been in big trouble," Big Mac told him marefriend, wrapping his hoof around her.

"Oh. . .  I'm so sorry, Rainbow Dash.  I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. . ."  Fluttershy said, hoping to make up for her offensive tone.

"No, it's alright.  To be honest, that's exactly what I was doing when Applejack told me she knew. . .  I just couldn't help myself after seeing what happened earlier," Dash explained.

"What happened earlier?"  Fluttershy asked, genuinely confused.

"Well, I was sneaking out, when. . .  When I caught you two talking at the door.  I couldn't believe my eyes, or my ears, for that matter.  I was hiding under the table when you decided to move the 'meeting' over there," Dash admitted, emphasizing 'meeting' so they understood the hidden meaning.  Fluttershy turned scarlet once more, and Dash was sure Big Macintosh would have, had it been possible for his coat to be any more red.  He casually rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling uncomfortably.

Applejack stepped in next.  "So, she brought me here so we could make sure everythin' was alright.  Y'know makin' sure nopony got hurt or nothin', straining themselves," she said, grinning slyly the whole time.

Fluttershy turned another shade or two more crimson and Macintosh stepped between her and the other two Elements of Harmony.

"Now, Ah'm sorry yah had to hear that, Miss Dash, but what we do in our private time if none o' yer business.  Either of yah.  Ah understand yah may be wantin' to watch out for yer friend's safety, but Ah swear to you, ain't nothin' gonna hurt her when Ah'm with her," Big Mac told them, rather chivalrously.  Fluttershy whispered something in his ear while giggling, and both Honesty and Loyalty alike could swear that Macintosh's face grew a deeper red as his emerald eyes grew wide.  He began to cough, clearly unsettled by what Fluttershy had said.

Clearing his throat, he gestured toward the door.  "Now, if yah don't mind, I'm gonna have to ask yah to leave us to our business," he said, rather firmly.

Applejack was the first to speak up.  "Actually we do mind yah tearin' our pal in half," she told him defiantly.  Dash's jaw hit the floor and Fluttershy began to tear up with laughter.

Narrowing his large eyes until they were just threatening slits, Big Mac stared his sister down.  "Leave, sis, and take yer fillyfriend with yah. . ."  He ordered, earning an outcry from all three of the mares in the room, for different reasons.  Applejack cried out because she was embarrassed at anypony suggesting her feelings for Dash.  Rainbow cried out because she was unjustly being judged.  Fluttershy cried out because her coltfriend had just insulted both of her friends, as he was unaware of their true sexualities.

After more shouting on Applejack and Rainbow Dash's parts, Fluttershy had managed to usher them both outside, wishing them goodnight.  When she turned around, Big Macintosh was still standing tall and defiant.

"Now, now, Macintosh, you know that was wrong.  Why would you say something like that?"  Fluttershy asked, searching her coltfriend for a good reason.

"She needs to learn to stay out o' mah business, and Ah'd say Ah did a pretty good job of teachin' her that," he replied, proud of himself.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. . .  Maybe I need to teach you a lesson myself," Fluttershy told him.  She swiftly knocked him onto his back and stood on his chest, staring him dangerously in the eyes.  And for the first time ever, Big Macintosh was truly worried about his safety due to his marefriend, and she could see it in his eyes.


Outside, Applejack and Rainbow Dash walked in silence, neither wanting to bring up Big Mac's truthful insult.  Being more confident in herself, Dash spoke first.

"Your brother is an idiot, y'know?"

"Yeah, Ah know.  Ah'm sorry about all that.  It certainly didn't go as Ah thought it would. . ."  Applejack admitted.

"Well, it does make sense.  What he said, I mean," Dash quickly stated, mildly absent-mindedly, as though she were half speaking to herself.

"Whatcha talkin' about, Dash?"  Applejack asked, suddenly confused.

"Not the part about you and me, just the part about the fillyfriend.  Y'see. . .  I like mares. . ."  Dash admitted, hanging her head and preparing for the worst.  Applejack had stopped, looking at her friend with her mouth hanging wide open.

"Applejack, please, say something.  Anything.  If you hate me and never want to speak to me again, tell me now," Rainbow pleaded, wings crossed in hope that everything would turn out alright.

"Rainbow, Ah don't know what to say.  Other than, Ah understand completely," Applejack said, wrapping a hoof around the Element of Loyalty.

Letting out her pent up breath, Dash looked her crush in the eyes.  Those endless emerald eyes. . .  "Really?  You mean it?  You don't hate me?"

"Hate yah?  O' course not, Dash!  Ah'm proud of yah fer havin' the courage to tell me," Applejack told her companion. Celestia knows Ah wish Ah had the courage to tell yah Ah'm the same way. . .  She thought to herself.

"You have no idea how happy I am to tell somepony that, let alone you.  Funny that it took me so long to tell my best friend I like mares, huh?  Feels good to say.  I like mares.  I LIKE MARES!"  Rainbow Dash shouted, hopping higher into the air each time she repeated herself.  Applejack just stood and watched, smiling, proud of her friend. One of these days, Ah'll be able to do the same, and hopefully Dash will be with me when Ah say it. And with that, they both walked slowly back to Sweet Apple Acres in silence, enjoying the moonlight and the other's company on such a wonderful night.
> A Beautiful Storm
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	At Sweet Apple Acres, all was not as calm as it appeared.  On the outside, it would seem that all ponies in the farmhouse were sleeping gently, exhausted from a long days work or questions that had been plaguing them.  However, this was not the case.  Upstairs in a minimally furnished bedroom, a cyan pegasus and an orange earth pony stared at each other in the near-darkness.

To them both, things were better than ever, yet much worse.  Rainbow Dash stared at her crush across the room with squinted eyes. I finally did it. She thought. I finally told Applejack that I like mares.  And she didn't say anything back. . .  She said she supports it, but that really means she doesn't feel the same. . .  Celestia, I've dreamt of being in this room with her for literally ever, and now I'm finally here and she feels even more distant than before! Dash exhaled slowly and silently, trying to prevent any signs that she was still awake.

Lying on her bed, Applejack looked at her friend, imaginarily kicking herself. She told yah she likes mares an' yah just stand there!  What the hay!  She's right there, too!  Just go over an' lay with her an' tell her how yah feel.  Oh, who'm Ah kiddin'.  Ah can't just do that, she doesn't even know yer a. . . Fillyfooler. Applejack thought to herself, frowning at her own use of the derogatory word. She prolly doesn't even like me.  Ah mean, if she was comfortable enough to tell me that she likes mares, why didn't she just say she likes me?  Ah'm tearin' myself up with all these questions!  She's layin' right there!  Ah've thought o' this countless times, and now Ah'm too chicken to do anythin'. . .

Turning over, she looked out the window, hoping to rid herself of the troubling thoughts, only to discover that every cloud sparked another memory of Rainbow.  Disgusted that she was so stuck on the subject, she buried her face in the pillow.  Dash watched helplessly, tempted to go comfort her companion, stopped only by the reminder that she was pretending to be asleep.  She turned over as well, placing her nose just inches from the wall, praying she would fall asleep eventually.  Needless to say, it was a difficult night for both of them, the trouble only ending when Celestia's shining star finally rose over the horizon.

Applejack knew that was her signal to rise from her slumber, if it could be called such.  Setting her Stetson on her head, she left the room, hoping to allow her pegasus friend sleep a little longer.  Downstairs in the kitchen, she found her numb-skull of a brother making breakfast.

"Ah'm surprised yer home so early," she stated, coldly refusing to face him.-
"Sis, we need to talk.  Please, just listen," Big Macintosh begged, gesturing for Applejack to sit in front of a plate of eggs and cinnamon apples.

Deciding to hear him out, she began to eat, still refusing to sit.  She looked at him inquisitively, gesturing for him to proceed lightly.

"Applejack, let me start by sayin' Ah'm greatly sorry fer what Ah said last night.  Ah was tired an' not thinkin' rightly.  Ah didn't mean to imply yah have some kind o' feelin's fer Miss Dash, Ah just-"  He paused, caught off-guard by Applejack's tears dripping off the end of her nose.

"Sis, is everythin' alright?  Ah didn't mean to-"  He started, not sure where he went wrong.  Applejack looked up at him, tears flowing freely from her sad green eyes.

"Mac, it ain't yer fault.  Well, not really.  Yah see, Ah. . .  Ah. . ."  Applejack said, unable to finish her sentence.  Big Macintosh walked around the table and embraced her.

"It's alright, sis.  Yah love her, don't yah?"  He asked knowingly. Applejack just replied with a sniffle and a squeak, but Macintosh already knew the answer.

"Ah don't know how she feels about mares, but Ah'm willin' to bet she'd give it a shot.  Fer her best friend," he told her, lifting her chin while wiping away the tears.  "She's right upstairs, AJ.  You can do this any time yah want."

"Ah. . .  She. . .  She does like mares, Mac.  She told me last night," Applejack admitted.  Big Macintosh took a step back, assuming the worst with Dash still lying upstairs after learning this.

"After she told me, we walked back here an' we went right to bed.  Well, she did.  Ah tried, but Ah kept wonderin' why she didn't say she feels that way 'bout me," AJ said, tears welling up in her eyes once more.

"Maybe she's just not ready, sis.  You ain't ready to tell her how yah feel, are yah?  Ah bet she's waitin' fer you, and yer waitin' fer her," Macintosh said, unknowingly hitting the proverbial nail on the head.

"Ah just can't.  What if she didn't say if fer a reason an' Ah just look like a foal?  Ah don't want it to come between us."

"Well, Ah'll take yer part o' the work today, to say Ah'm sorry.  Y'all have free day, just hangin' out, just the two o' yah," he suggested.

"Ah couldn't do that, Mac.  Yer lookin' pretty sore yerself, everthin' alright?"  Applejack asked, tilting her head to the side.

"Oh, Ah'm just fine, AJ.  Don't yah be worryin' 'bout me!  Go wake yer friend, grab some food, and Ah guess get to work.  Y'know, when yer ready," Big Mac told her.  As his sister left, Macintosh sat on his own chair.  However, he quickly bolted out of said chair.  He gently rubbed the bruised and raw area on his back and flank, remembering his treatment last night with a shudder.

Reluctantly, Applejack trotted upstairs to her bedroom.  When she opened the door, she found Rainbow sitting on the sill of the now-open window.  It was quite uncharacteristic of her to be up so early, although it had become increasingly common as of late.  Dash stared out at the orchard, the gathering clouds, and the distant town of Ponyville, clearly lost in her own thoughts.  Coming up behind her slowly, Applejack put a hoof on her friend's back, who in turn adjusted her head to see who it was.

"Oh, hay AJ.  I was just. . . y'know," Dash said, unable and unwilling to reach an answer.

"No, Ah don't, actually," Applejack told her, confused.

"Good, 'cause I don't either," Rainbow replied, causing them both to giggle.

"Well, Ah do know that Big Macintosh was polite enough to make us some breakfast.  Mind comin' out o' the window to go get food?"

"Sure thing, AJ," Dash answered, swinging her body back inside.  Both the ponies walked side by side down to the kitchen, where the whole place was overwhelmed by the smell of eggs, bacon, and apple products.  Dash went to pour herself a glass of apple juice as Applejack noticed her brother had set out the food in the fashion of a heart.  She quickly rearranged the food so that it resembled no romantic organ in particular.  At least not any healthy one.

Rainbow Dash sat down at the table with two glasses, as she was kind enough to pour her secret crush a drink as well.  Both of the mares enjoyed the food without so much as a word, occasionally stopping to make a funny face using their eggs and bacon in some unusual manner.  They both laughed each time, eventually finished off the meal with full stomachs and heavy hearts.

They both walked slowly to the barn doors, not sure what to say next.

"Well, Ah guess y'll be headin' home now. . .  Ah gotta get a lot of buckin' done in a short time, judgin' by those storm clouds," Applejack tells her smiling friend.

"Well, if you need to get something done quick, who better to come to than me?  I'll have this orchard finished in ten seconds flat," Dash said, taking to the skies and zooming through trees, knocking apples to the ground as she went.  Applejack attempted to follow, placing apples in the barrels.  However, her beautiful and graceful companion was, after all, the fastest flier in all Equestria, and she soon found herself far behind.  After a few minutes, Rainbow returned to her friend's side.

"Whatcha doin' back here?  There's more apples to be picked," Applejack said, tossing apple after apple into the increasingly full barrel.

"Actually. . ."  Dash replied, rubbing the back of her neck casually.  Applejack looked up to see the entire days worth of apples lying in the grass under it's respective tree.  Astonished, Applejack was brought back to reality by a poke in the flank.

"Y'know, if you still need help picking up apples, I'm free all day," Rainbow Dash told the orange earth pony.

"That'd be great, Dash," Applejack said, thrilled the gorgeous pegasus was willing to spend all day with her.  They blew right through the work, both of them working up a sweat.  Both pegasus and earth pony were glistening with the salty substance, yet they were too tired to notice the other for a change.  They had gone quite far in the orchard by the time they were finished.  Looking back at the cleared acreage, Applejack was amazed at the time they had made.  A flash of lightning snapped her out of it.  She and Rainbow Dash made a break for whatever nearest shelter they could find as the rain began to come down.  Noticing a nearby cave in the taller hills, Rainbow wrapped her work partner in her wings and carried her to the cave.

Once inside, Applejack slid off Dash's back and onto the cool rocky floor.

"Thanks, Dash," Applejack said, turning to her crush.  She was struck by just how beautiful Dash looked dripping wet.  Even in the darkness, her coat glittered and her mane lie limp on her face.  She looked so worn out, but still so strong, so confident.  Applejack couldn't help but blush as she turned away, pulling the dripping Stetson over her eyes.

Rainbow Dash looked at her friend who was now digging limply at the gravelly floor.  Applejack looked so great, her mane slicked onto her head, her orange coat shining, looking like the blazing sun of Celestia, even in the dark cave.  Shaking off the thoughts and the rainwater, Dash tossed her body wildly.  Applejack soon followed suit and they both stood in silence, uncomfortably gazing out at the pouring rain.  It didn't appear to be lightening; in fact, it seemed to be doing the exact opposite.

Rainbow turned around to peer into the back of the cave.  Sighing, she set herself down on the rough ground and tried to catch the sleep she had missed the night previous.  Applejack decided on the same and they both lay in silence, repeating the events of the morning.  Just two ponies gazing at each other in the dark, except for one difference.  This time, Applejack knew she had the support of her brother, who had always been a sort of role model for her.

Just do it.  It's now or never, AJ. She thought to herself.  Breathing evenly, attempting to slow her racing heart, Applejack lifted her head to look at the Element of Loyalty more clearly.  She looked so solemn, rather distraught, looking into the back of the cave.  Her eyes remained open, showing she was not as determined to sleep as previously believed.

She cleared her throat, which caught Dash's attention.  She too lifted her head, looking at the Element of Honesty.

"Hay, Dash, Ah got a question," Applejack began.

"Sure, got for it, AJ," Dash told her, hoping to instill confidence in her friend.

"Well, yah say yah like mares, right?"

"Yeah, I remember saying that," Dash answered, now focused intently on Applejack.
"Well, Ah been thinkin' an'. . .  How do yah know yah like mares?"

"Well, I guess it's cause when I'm around a certain mare, I don't feel like I'm with just another friend, or another mare.  It's a feeling I've never had about anypony before, especially no stallion.  It just feels like-"

"Like nothin' could ever make it better when yer together?"  Applejack inquired, finishing Dash's sentence.

"Yeah, exactly like that.  Why do you ask, AJ?"  Rainbow asked.

"'Cause Ah thought Ah might. . .  Be the same way.  But now, Ah see Ah don't like mares," she said, pausing to breathe evenly again.

"Oh, that's okay," Dash said, visually dejected.

"Ah don't like mares, just one mare in particular," Applejack continued, scooting closer to her the pegasus.  "One who's tough, athletic, strong, trustworthy.  She's a great pony, and Ah can't imagine mah life without her.  She really makes each day worth lookin' forward to," she said, just inches from Rainbow now.

Completely oblivious to her surroundings, Dash looked at the ground, still thinking about who it could possibly be.

"She's got these powerful wings, and this shining coat, and her mane. . .  That beautiful rainbow mane. . ."  Applejack said, dropping three huge clues.  Their bodies were barely half an inch apart now.

"Rainbow mane. . .  Applejack?"  Rainbow looked up, yearning in her magenta eyes.

"Ah love you, Dashie," Applejack admitted, putting the last nail in the coffin.  She looked at the cyan pegasus with such desire, such love, it was palpable.

Dash couldn't find any words to follow up with, so her only reply was to kiss Applejack like she had always imagined.  The gravelly world around melted away and the sound of rain became a beautiful whisper.  The gravel they rested on became a gentle cloud, and they were quickly lost beyond all thought.  They both pulled their mouths and tongues back, only to return together less than a second later, not willing to put an end to the intense moment of feeling.

Hours, days, weeks of love poured out of one pony and into the other, and for the first time ever, they felt complete.
> Amazing Tricks and Daring Moves
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Groggily, Rainbow Dash gradually slid her eyes open.  Having normally slept on a cloud, that is, when she actually slept, she immediately registered that the surface she was laying on was, indeed, not a cloud.  Not even close, she noted.  Her mind was still trying to catch up as she slowly rose, squinting at the blinding light coming from the end of the dark cavern she appeared to be in.  She began to step cautiously toward the light, feeling her left wing slide off of something soft and warm.

Turning to look, Rainbow Dash saw Applejack sprawled on the gravel-covered floor.  Almost instantaneously, her thoughts hit her like a brick wall.  Awestruck, Rainbow circled the mare, inspecting to insure that it was Applejack after all.  She recalled so vividly the kiss.  The mind-melting, spine-chilling, sense-overloading kiss.  They had embraced each other as if they had never before embraced another pony.

Their mouths had practically become one.  They had been forced together for so long.  Rainbow Dash had stared for what felt like an eternity at the earth pony's dazzling emerald green eyes.  Applejack had done the same with the pegasus's smooth magenta eyes, which glistened like enormous, shining amethysts.  They had finally fallen asleep holding each other, disregarding the small rocks not-so-gently prodding them in the side.

It finally happened!  You kissed her, and it was amazing!  More than amazing, it was the best bucking feeling ever! Dash thought, prancing in circles on her toes, which she would have found abnormally girly of herself, had she not been intoxicated by love.  She gasped as she remembered the last tidbit of information. She said she loved me!  SHE said it this time! She took off toward the end of the cave and launched herself into the air so incredibly hard that gravel from the mouth of the cave exploded in all directions.  The take off had also succeeded in waking Rainbow's new love.

Applejack blinked as a small rock hit her on the top of her head.  She went through the same cognitive revelations Dash had gone through, only much quicker on account of being woken prematurely.  She was still incredibly tired, entirely unused to the idea of naps in the middle of the day.  Looking at the end of the cave, Applejack noticed the circular imprint left in the floor.  She trotted to the imprint, wondering what in Equestria it could be.  Her mind finally registered that, despite the nap in the cave including a certain cyan pegasus, Rainbow Dash was nowhere to be found.

Looking up, Applejack's Stetson blocked the sun, allowing her to see a cloudless sky and on slightly light speck in that sky getting farther and farther up.  Being ever the pessimist, she began to panic. Oh horseapples, Ah scared her off!  She musta just been humoring me, an' now she's runnin' off to avoid me. She told herself, wishing the whole while that she was wrong, something she very rarely hoped for.

Meanwhile, quite high in the air, Rainbow flew directly upward.  A light frost had begun forming on her wings as she crested over ten thousand hooves in the air.  Then, just as she looked around at the glorious land of Equestria from the brink of space, she tucked her wings in.  One would think this would cause the pegasus's heart to race, but she knew that this was impossible.  Her heart was already thumping like a jackhammer as she reveled in the memory of the cave.

Dash began to fall at incredible speeds, and the sound barrier began to form in front of her.  From Applejack's perspective, it looked as though the cyan pony was on a direct intercept with the clearing before her, worrying her to no end.  She began to panic even more at the thought of losing Rainbow Dash after such a revelation for them both.  Dash just continued to drop.  She quickly snapped her wings out and flapped, a cone of force forming around her.

The sound barrier was becoming increasingly forceful, but Rainbow knew that she still had at least five thousand hooves between herself and the ground.  After about a second, the sound barrier shattered, leaving Rainbow in control of her own speed.  She didn't dare look back at the speed she was flying toward the earth.  Applejack, however, had no choice but to watch as the most radiant and colorful Sonic Rainboom she had ever seen spread itself out over the entire orchard.  Possibly all of Ponyville, possibly all the way to Canterlot.

Rainbow Dash ripped through the air at hypersonic speeds, shredding clouds as she dove through them, occasionally waving to a passing pegasus.  They all just gaped at her and her vibrant rainbow contrail.  Still, she descended toward the orchards of Sweet Apple Acres, almost at two thousand hooves.  Applejack watched in horror, praying that Dash would turn.

Of course, she did.  When she did in fact reach two thousand hooves, she directed herself nearly parallel with the ground.  As her downward force redirected to a sideways force, the power of the transition pressed on her so forcefully that it would have practically wrenched any other pegasus's wings straight off of their body.  Rainbow Dash, however, was not any old pegasus.  She knew as she flew that she actually was that fastest flier in Equestria, and nopony who had seen her make that hairpin turn would be able to say otherwise.

She spiraled around the sky, still picking up speed as she flapped her light wings harder and harder.  She had never pushed herself so hard, yet she felt no pain.  She felt nothing but joy, reveling in her newfound happiness.

Applejack's heart had nearly stopped when Dash made the radical turn.  She knew pegasi had their limits and she did not know if her new love could stand to push herself that hard.  When Rainbow successfully made the turn, swooping over the orchard, a single tear fell from Applejack's eye.  She kicked herself for being so ridiculously worried and finally took the time to be truly astounded by the display of pure talent and determination.

Swinging between clouds as much greater than previous speeds, Dash finally ceased pushing herself through the air and gracefully began performing tricks.  She knew she was finally out of the view of others, the only possible spectators being herself and anypony who happened to watching the sky at the Apple family farm.  Performing high-speed turns, spins, and loops, Dash tore through the sky, continuing to leave a rainbow in her wake.

Applejack watched not the moves now, but the pegasus performing them.  She could barely spot a large grin and a sparkle in Rainbow's eye and at that moment, Applejack knew the flight had been for her.  After her speed decreased to just above supersonic, Dash began to spell out words in the sky with her contrail.  After performing many quick turns and loops, her speed dropped to a crawling speed as she reigned herself in and pointed herself toward the cave where she had begun.

She found Applejack watching her, no expression on her face.  Rainbow began to worry that she was in some form of trouble and landed gracefully next to her friend.  Before any words were able to leave her mouth, Applejack forced her own mouth over the pegasus's, halting any words.  Or coherent thought, for that matter.  When Applejack pulled away, Dash was left smiling dumbly, clearing drinking in the love.  Shaking herself out of it, Rainbow Dash formed enough words to ask, "What was that for?"

Applejack smiled and replied, "Yah had me so darn worried, gosh darnit!  Ah thought you were gonna hurt yerself with that first turn!  Care to explain what took yah so long to get back, anyhow?"

Dash just grinned knowingly, appreciating that a single pony could care so much for her safety.  She wrapped a wing around the orange earth pony, turning her around gently.  There, in the sky over the hill, was rainbow-colored writing.  The simple message read, "I love you too, Applejack."  It was clearly regarding what Applejack had said during the storm, before they had fallen asleep in each other's embrace.

The orange earth pony's eyes began to tear up and she forced her head down, her nose pointed to the grass as her hooves.  Tears dripped onto the green and then into the soil.  Dash was thrown.  She put a hoof gently on Applejack's back.  Applejack, in turn, threw herself into Dash, wrapping her in a tight hug.  Rainbow could still feel the pony's tears dripping onto her mane, confusing her even more.

"Ah was so worried.  Worried you'd never come back, er that yah'd hurt yerself so yah didn't have to face yer mistake. . ."  Applejack sobbed.

"Mistake. . .  What mistake did I make?"  Rainbow asked, still hugging the orange pony strongly.

"Ah thought. . .  Ah thought you'd be upset with yerself fer what happened in the cave.  Ah thought maybe you thought yah'd made a mistake and never wanted to see me again. . ."  Applejack said, the tears flowing freely once more.

"Applejack, you're the best thing to ever happen to me.  If I never saw you again, I don't know what I'd do," Rainbow Dash said, pulling her friend away so that they were able to look into each other's eyes.  Dash saw tears as well as relief in Applejack's eyes, while Applejack saw love and worry in her companion's.  She began to cry again, yet the tears were different now.  They were sweet tears of joy.  She pressed her mouth firmly over Dash's.

Their tongues were hesitant at first, but quickly began their dance, melting away the fears of both pegasus and earth pony alike.  When they separated, Dash's own eyes were brimmed with tears, a sight that Applejack had rarely ever seen.  She cocked her head to the side as if to as 'What's wrong?', and Rainbow quickly wiped the tears away.

"AJ, do you really love me?"  She asked.

"Why, o' course Ah do, Dash.  More than anythin'."

And with that, Rainbow began to sob.  Applejack didn't bother asking what was wrong, as she didn't really need to know.  All she needed to know was that her best friend and possibly marefriend needed her support at that moment.  They sat on the hill, Dash's sobs finally ceasing as the two of them turned to the horizon.  The colors blended beautifully, showing them both a million and a half different ones.  Yet it was nothing compared to the beauty of the two of them sitting on the crest of the hill, watching as sunset gave way to dusk and eventually night.

Even after night fell, the two of them just sat on the hill.  But now, they watched each other and not the sky, taking in the other's gorgeous features.  Dash broke the precarious silence with a question that, in hindsight, probably didn't need answering.

"AJ, does this mean were 'going steady' as Macintosh might put it?"  Applejack didn't answer, but instead punched her marefriend lovingly in the shoulder.  Rainbow Dash proceeded to tackle Applejack to the ground, pinning her limbs as she had once seen Fluttershy do to Big Mac.  Applejack stretched her neck so she was able to plant a kiss right on the end of Dash's nose.  Dash's wings shot out as if she had been struck by lightning, causing Dash's face to grow hot.

Sensing her chance, Applejack tossed her the stunned pegasus off and down the hill, keeping herself still in the mix.  When they arrived at the bottom, Rainbow pinned Applejack once more.  Going for the same tactic again, the orange earth pony leaned forward to lick her cyan marefriend's chest.  Even at the light touch, Applejack could feel Dash's heart rate taking off.  When she looked, Rainbow's wings were standing at attention once more.  Applejack giggled as Dash leapt off and buried her head in her hooves in shame.

"Sugarcube, yah don't have to be embarrassed.  Ah think it's cute.  Endearin' even," she said, coming up with the best words she could think of.

"You mean it?"  Rainbow asked, turning around to face the other pony.

"O' course Ah mean it!  If Ah'm good enough to turn on the best flier in Equestria, o' course Ah'm gonna take it as a compliment!"  Applejack explained.

"I guess I'm pretty good. . ."  Dash said modestly, scrapping the ground with a hoof.

"Celestia strike me down if Ah'm wrong, but did Ah just witness Rainbow Dash, THE Rainbow Dash, being humble?!  Are you sure this ain't a dream?"  Applejack said, poking Dash in the flank.

"What can I say, AJ.  You bring out the best in me.  Now, I should probably get you back to your house before anypony starts worrying," Rainbow said, beginning to trot in the direction of the barn.

Taking off past her marefriend, Applejack shouted back, "Race yah, slowpoke!"  The two of them ran with each other back to the farmhouse, laughing the whole time.  As Dash began to turn to leave, Applejack caught her arm and spun her around.  She placed another heart-stopping kiss on Rainbow's lips, stopping her from moving any further.

"Y'know, yah don't have to go just yet. . . Ah've never been with another filly, and Ah can't think o' nopony better to start with than you, Dashie," Applejack said, trying to look as alluring as possible.  Dash just stood there, mouth agape.  Assuming that was a yes, Applejack took Rainbow's hoof and led her toward her own bedroom.  She stopped in the kitchen when she spotted Macintosh looking at them, mouth open, preparing to bite his midnight sandwich.

Slowly closing his mouth, Big Mac looked at them both and nodded.

"Ah didn't seen nothin'.  Just, try to keep it down, alright?"  Mac asked.  Applejack nodded quickly, running up to her room, hauling Dash behind her.  She couldn't remember being this excited since. . .  Well, during the storm, but before that, she couldn't remember ever being this excited.  Nervously, she tossed Rainbow inside and soon followed, stealthily closing the door, sealing both of the lovers inside until the following morning, leaving them with only each other to enjoy.
> A Morning Together and An Evening Apart
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Off in Canterlot, Celestia and Luna worked their eternal magic to shatter the night.  As the sun rose slowly, the two alicorns walked from their balcony, allowing the sun to rise in it's own gentle arc.  Off in the distance, near the quaint town of Ponyville, the appearance of the sun signaled the start of a new day, and with it, many new experiences for all.  All around, ponies rose from their rest, and one particular pony, the Element of Magic, decided to finally start her own.  Far on the other side of town, at Sweet Apple Acres, the rooster crowed, bringing about a new day of work for the resident farm ponies.

Well, most of them, anyway.  Even while young Applebloom went to begin her morning meal, her older sister lay on her bed of hay, breathing the even breath of sleep.  Beside her, a pegasus's dreams were split by the caw of the bird on the ground below.  Raising her head gently, the pegasusyawned and silently observed her surroundings.  This was the second time this week the mare had begun her day in this room, and she prayed it would not be the last.  Upon looking at her own reflection in the clear glass window, she noted how incredibly disheveled her mane had become.  Instead of attempting to adjust it, Rainbow Dash chuckled slightly. Sure hope nopony sees my hair like this, or I'll get some weird looks for sure.  Dash thought to herself while cracking her cramped back.

The gentle popping noise satisfied Dash, and her muscles relaxed. Celestia knows my neck ought to be sore after last night. She told herself, blushing at the thought of the intimate activities.  Last night had been a night of wonder, something of her dreams.  She wanted to relive every agonizingly pleasurable moment, and judging by the way Applejack unconsciously nuzzled the pegasus, she figured there was an awful good chance that she'd have her fun again.  As much as Rainbow wanted her day with Applejack to begin, she relinquished the thought of waking the earth pony from her deep slumber.

She never gets to sleep like this, so why ruin it?  Besides, she's even more gorgeous like this. Dash thought, letting her half-open eyes scan over the surface of her marefriend.  One hoof under her own head, the other on Rainbow Dash's chest, the orange mare looked like an angel. Well, sort of. Dash told herself. There's no way an angel would do any of what happened last night.  She wasn't even willing to say it in her head, so Celestia knows if she'll ever say it out loud.  Just thinking of the rush, the carnal instincts and pleasure flowing through her body, Dash's face grew bright red.  Pushing the thoughts from her mind, she resumed gazing upon the sleeping figure beside her.

Her magnificent blonde mane cascaded over her face, strands of hair scattered all over.  A veil of the golden strands blanketed over one side of Applejack's face, leaving only one closed eye exposed.  In her sleep, the earth pony twitched an ear which Dash found adorable.  She smiled peacefully as she watched the mare's orange-coated chest rise and fall calmly.  This was possibly the most serene Rainbow Dash had ever felt in her life.  She lay her head back down upon the hay.  She knew she would be unable to return to sleep, but she was more than content to quietly observe her marefriend, reveling in every moment their bodies were touching.

Dash had no idea how long she had been watching Applejack, and she hardly noticed as the star in the sky gently made an arc across the sky.  Later on, Rainbow inferred that she had woken at about noon, yet she had no idea of the time when a knock brought her out of her trance.  Slowly pulling herself from Applejack's embrace, Dash silently floated to the door out of the bedroom, opening it ever so slowly.  On the other side of the threshold stood a formidable-looking crimson stallion.  He did not look overly unhappy, but he definitely did not have a look of enjoyment creasing his chiseled features.  In that moment, Rainbow Dash realized how strikingly handsome Applejack's older brother was, and could sort of understand how Fluttershy managed to put up with stallions.

Dash noiselessly raised an eyebrow, as if to ask Macintosh 'What seems to be the problem?'  The barrel-chested stallion leaned his head as low as he could to whisper an answer.

"Miss Dash, Ah appreciate the silent night and how much. . .  Joy, you bring mah sis, but Ah'm needin' her fer applebuckin', or else today's work won't get done," Big Macintosh said, his accent heavy in a whisper.

"Mac, can't we just rest for a little longer?  We had a long ni-"  Dash began to say, stopped by a hoof on her shoulder.  When she turned her head, Applejack was standing there, a sleepy yet gleeful smile adorning her face.  Rainbow felt bad that her talk with Macintosh had woken the sleeping cowpony, but Applejack's still-messy hairstyle and smile wiped all bad feelings from the pegasus's mind.  Once again, Dash asked herself how in Equestria Applejack managed to look so spectacular every day.

Stepping forward, Applejack looked from Rainbow to her brother, the glow of love fading, but not disappearing, from her eyes.  The rainbow-maned mare laid a wing across Applejack's back, warming her as well as reassuring her.  "Hay, Mac.  Sorry Ah slept in so late, it was a. . .  Err, rather rough night.  Yeah, rough night," she said, laughing nervously.  "Ah know Ah'mprolly like an hour late or so, but Ah could really use a shower."

"AJ, the sun came up 'bout five hours ago.  But you go an' have yer shower, as long as we have Miss Dash to help us again. . ."  Big Mac replied, his voice trailed off as he looked hopefully at the speedy pegasus.

Upon realizing the proverbial spotlight was on her, Rainbow quickly answered with, "Yeah, of course.  I'll be right out after I get something to eat."  Applejack rustled Rainbow's mane with a hoof, and Dash remembered the state she was in.  "On second thought, I'll be out after a quick shower."  Big Macintosh simply nodded his understanding and began to head back down the staircase.  Applejack pulled Rainbow to the bathroom and turned the water on without ever taking her sultry look off her lover.  As Applejack stepped behind the curtain, she winked at Dash and pulled her into the hot stream of water.  They kissed for a long moment, only breaking for air.  AJ had an excited look on her face, while Rainbow Dash's could only be described as devious.

Dash deftly spun Applejack around and proceeded to massage her tense muscles. Oh wow, I can't believe she's still so pent up after last night. . . Dash thought to herself, her hooves getting deep into her marefriend's tendons.  When Rainbow reached a certain point on Applejack's neck, the earth pony subconsciously let out a small moan.  She quickly silenced herself, biting viciously into her lower lip to prevent any noise from escaping her mouth.  However, it was no use; Dash rubbed extra hard on that one spot, as if trying to antagonize the cowpony.  When Applejack let out what could only be called a squeal of pleasure, Rainbow Dash couldn't help but burst out laughing at the sound.

Applejack hung her head, embarrassed at her own overly-girlish sound.  When Dash regained her composure, she lifted Applejack's chin to look her dead in the eye.  The spark of love behind Dash's magenta eye was so bright, AJ's shame flowed off of her like the steaming water around the pair. Their muzzles pressed together for what felt like the hundredth time, but neither of them could have cared less.  They were lost in the other's eyes, the other's scent, and the other's embrace.  It was a moment of complete peace, and they were now completely oblivious to the piercing sound of the shower.  They both took in the beautiful view of their significant other dripping water, their manes plastered against their bodies.  They both smiled and knew that it was going to be a long shower.

Roughly forty minutes and several tender moments later, Applejack and Rainbow Dash stepped out of the shower, both much more relaxed than they had been before.  After drying each other off, Dash draped her wing over her marefriend as they got a quick bite to eat and continued out the barn doors.  Outside, they were greeting by Macintosh, who did not have a particularly happy expression on his face.  As he turned, the couple caught a quick view of a light pink tail vanishing into the trees.  Out of the corner of their eyes, they shared an understanding glance.

After walking up the nearest tree, Dash wrapped her wings around Applejack, pressed said wings and their package up against the tree.  They engaged in yet another passionate kiss, keeping their eyes locked, attempting to keep from smiling when they heard a squeal from above them.  When they turned, one yellow pegasus was watching them, an adorable smile on her face.

"Oh my gosh!  You guys!  Why didn't you come tell me?"  Fluttershy insisted, her voice rose much higher than normal.  She was clearly thrilled by the revelation.

"Well, sugarcube, we were a tad. . .  Preoccupied, at the time," Applejack told her friend as her face grew red.  Fluttershy's eyes grew to the size of plates as she realized what was being implied, and she leapt for joy while squealing girlishly once more.  Macintosh simply smiled and put a calming hoof on his marefriend's shoulder once she touched the ground.

"Oh, I'm sorry fillies, I'm just so happy for you two.  I mean, I knew how you guys felt, but I couldn't say anything.  That would just be mean, so I let things do what they will," Fluttershy reasoned.  Applejack raised one eyebrow, slightly confused by what the yellow pegasus had said.

"How'd yah know how Ah felt ferDashie?  Ah never told nopony," she said, subconsciously using the nickname for Rainbow she had grown to love.  Surprisingly, Dash managed to keep her wings from shooting out stiffly upon hearing the name uttered by the cowpony.

"Applejack, anypony with a brain could have seen how you really felt," Fluttershy explained.  Immediately, there was an outcry from both Big Macintosh and Rainbow Dash.  They both felt understandably insulted by the comment.  Fluttershy retreated slightly into her mane and turned a shade or two more towards red.  "Mac, you were preoccupied, shall we say. . .  And you are Applejack's brother, so it was a little harder for you to notice something that had been the same for a while," the pegasus reasoned.  Macintosh simply nodded, realizing he had been brash with his outburst.  Dash, however, now sat on her flank, hooves crossed.

"Dash, you were too wrapped up in your own feelings to see that Applejack was as flustered as you were.  I mean, did you ever ask Applejack how she felt about the 'accidental' kiss?"  Fluttershy put emphasis on accidental, making sure they understood the implication.

"Now you hold it right there, filly.  It was an accident, and Ah'll swear by that," Applejack put in. Ah'm not 'bout to be accused of kissin' Dash on purpose. . .  Well, Ah've done it at least twenty times since then, so maybe Ah jumped to conclusions too quickly. Applejack thought to herself, attempting to correct her statement as Dash cut her off.

"Well, no, I guess I didn't. . .  Gee, probably could have saved a lot of time with that one, eh?"  Rainbow said, embarrassedly rubbing the back of her neck.  "Well, AJ, how did you feel after that?"  As an answer, Applejack practically rammed her tongue into Dash's mouth, melting any coherent thought Dash possessed.  When she reluctantly pulled away, the orange earth pony stood there, savoring the taste of the cyan pegasus's own tongue.

"Well, Dashie, how did Ah feel?"  She asked, aware that Rainbow was still attempting to form a complete sentence.

"Pretty buckin' awesome," she replied, not even realizing her use of foul language.  Fluttershy and Applejack laughed together, and Macintosh just chuckled uncomfortably, having witnessed his first act of intense passion between the couple.  It was strange for him to see his younger sister do that with anypony, let alone a mare.  Hay, he didn't even have a problem with 'fillyfoolers', for lack of a better term, it was just this one mare.  He had known Rainbow Dash almost as long as Applejack had, and there were two things he knew for sure about her.

The first was that he did not find her appealing in any way.  He practically viewed her as another one of the colts, just a few features away in his mind.  The second thing he knew was that he did not like Dash all that much.  She was helpful, trustworthy, and confident.  When she wanted to be.  On top of that, she was boastful, lazy, overconfident, lazy, brash, and lazy.  He certainly didn't want her attitude rubbing off on Applejack, but there was nothing he could or would do to pull them apart. If Ah ever decide to try somethin' that stupid, Celestia strike me down now.  Ah'd have to be a complete numbskull to do that.  Plus, she makes AJ happier than Ah've ever seen her, and who am Ah to take that away from her? 

When Fluttershy glanced at the overly large stallion, she could tell he was lost in thought again.  Truthfully, Macintosh was perfect for her.  They both loved nature, she needed somepony strong to rely on, and he was actually just as shy as she.  She knew from experience that they could hold a conversation for hours and enjoy every minute of it.  He really was quite intelligent and could easily get lost on his train of thought, as he was doing now.  Were they alone, she could just sit down and watch him think.  She absolutely loved the way his eyebrows scrunched together intensely when he was lost in his thoughts.  Unfortunately, they were not alone.

Fluttershy turned toward Dash, who was now gazing at her lover.  "Rainbow Dash, would you care to join us again?"  She joked.  Dash snapped out of her haze of passion and fixed her gaze on the sky, blushing brightly.  The other two mares laughed, and Applejack nuzzled the side of Dash's neck.  Rainbow looked down at Applejack and her color returned to normal.

"Well, we have a lot of work to get done fillies, and I plan on making sure Applejack gets a nice workout from this one," Dash said, winking to her partner and taking to the air.  She cruised over to a tree, shook the apples down, and moved quickly onto the next.  She wasn't moving as quickly as before, but Applejack still had to rush to keep up.  Careful not to fly into any branches, Dash shook tree after tree, quickly losing sight of the orange mare.  The afternoon sun beat down, preventing even the cross breeze from cooling the pegasus.  She began to sweat, the salty liquid forming in her coat and in her mane.

Aww, ponyfeathers!  I just showered! Rainbow thought as she dodged another enormous branch. Oh well, guess this means I have to get in the shower with AJ again. . . The thought took her mind elsewhere, and she zoomed straight into a large branch.  Falling to the ground with a thud, Dash began gently rubbing her nose, checking to be sure it was still in one piece.  Thankfully, she was pretty indestructible, and everything seemed to be in place.  Behind her, she heard a slight couch, causing her to whip her face in that direction.

A purple unicorn stood, bags resting at her sides.  She had one eyebrow cocked, a feature expression her confusion.  "Hello, Dash.  Are you alright?"  Twilight Sparkle asked, obviously concerned for her friend's well-being.

"Oh, hay, Twilight.  Yeah, I'm great!  Fantastic, even!  How about you?"  Rainbow replied, barely blinking back tears of pain.  The studious unicorn shrugged slightly.

"I stayed up a tad late studying last night, but I needed to come ask Applejack a question.  Speaking of which, isn't that Applejack's hat?"  Twilight inquired, sharing her observation.

Dash pressed a hoof to her head, feeling the rough texture of the Stetson.  She hadn't even realized that she'd been wearing it. Oh buck, I must have grabbed it on the way out of the shower!  How can I explain this one?  She thought, panicking.  For some reason, she just couldn't pull herself to tell anypony else, even Twilight.  "I, umm, I stole it from her.  Yeah, that's what I did!"  Dash said, proud of the own quick thinking.  Her purple companion just nodded and turned toward the rustling sound coming from the trees behind the pegasus.  An orange cowpony came leaping out of the bushes and tackled Rainbow Dash to the ground.

Dash quickly tossed Applejack off and dusted herself off.  She looked at Twilight, who actually didn't look all that surprised by this turn of events.  It wasn't the first time, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.  Applejack stood and went in for a quick kiss, not realizing their friend stood watching.  Rainbow quickly played it off by intercepting the kiss with a headlock, followed by a feverish noogie.  Applejack was thrown off by the gesture and caught a glance at the purple pony while in the headlock.  When she was released, she looked at Twilight Sparkle confusedly.

"Oh, howdy, Twi.  Somethin' Ah can help yah with?"  The orange mare asked, looking confusedly at her new lover.

"Yeah. . .  I was wondering if you could help me find a few different types of apples, I was going to take notes on them as they age," Twilight explained, her reasoning sounding as boring as ever to Dash.  Applejack simply nodded and began to lead her friend back toward the barn.  Once they were past the bushes, AJ looked behind her to see that Dash wasn't following.

"Hold on, Twilight, Ah forgot mah hat," she said as she sprinted back behind the bushes.  She found Rainbow pacing nervously, and the pegasus jumped when Applejack stepped on a twig.

"Dashie, what's gotten into you?"  She inquired.  Dash shook her head furiously.

"AJ, I don't know if I'm ready to tell the others about us.  I mean, Shy already knew how we both felt, but what if the others don't take it well?"  Dash replied, looking more and more fearful by the second.

"Ah can't believe this.  After so much time of waitin', yerwillin' to just put it aside 'cause yer afraid?"  Applejack asked, provoking Rainbow to hang her head in shame.

"AJ, it's more difficult for me than you think. . .  I have my reputation to worry about and-"  The rainbow-maned mare began to say before she was cut off by the cowpony.

"Yer reputation!  Oh, why didn't Ah think o' yer reputation!  It's always been more important to yah than me, so why should things change now?"  Applejack shouted, a fury in her eyes.  She swiped the hat from Dash's head and began to walk back toward where she had left Twilight.  She stopped before passing the bushes and turned to see her marefriend looking hopefully at her.  "Don't bother comin' back to the barn, 'cause Ah'll make sure you don't get let in."

Dash was crushed.  She had screwed up bad, but she hadn't thought it was this bad.  She was mad at Applejack, she was mad at Twilight, but most of all, she was mad at herself.  With a rocketing burst of speed, Rainbow Dash took off toward the Everfree Forest.  Her anger practically radiated from her as she flew blindly.  She zoomed straight over Fluttershy's cottage and continued into the forest, the trees quickly grabbing at her wings.  Rainbow slalomed like a pro to dodge the leafy hooves of the trees, and neglected to pay attention to what was in front of her.  The low sun had hidden a thick, ropey vine in shadow, and it tore Dash from the sky.

She hit the moist ground hard, skipping a few times.  She threw her wings out in an attempt to slow her slide, but she careened into an old tree, still moving dangerously fast.  On impact, she felt a single hollow bone in her thin wings break.  Blinding pain shot throughout her entire body, and Dash struggled to hold back tears.  Adrenaline flooded her brain, numbing the pain and clearing her head.  When she steadied her thoughts, she realized she was now trapped in the Everfree Forest.  She couldn't fly.  That hurt, because one can't be the fastest pony alive without wings.  But even worse, she was trapped in the Everfree Forest, without wings, and she knew Applejack didn't give two bucks that she was hurt.  The full force of what Applejack had said finally hit her.  So there she sat, physically broken, as her heart broke as well.  In the darkness, only the plants and wildlife heard as Rainbow Dash, the bravest pegasus in all of Equestria, began to sob.
> A Frantic Search and A Tense Reunion
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Applejack watched listlessly as her purple friend trotted away from the huge red barn.  Her thoughts were not even close to focused on the unicorn, and each new thought sparked deeper feelings of anger and regret.  She was so confused as to how the day could have begun so amazingly, and ended with her at the farm alone.  Big Macintosh had gone to stay at Fluttershy's cottage for the night, which left little in question as to their intentions. Applebloom was having a sleepover at Rarity's boutique with the other Cutie Mark Crusaders, and, as usual, Granny Smith was already in a deep sleep.  Applejack had specifically told Rainbow Dash not to return to Sweet Apple Acres, and it seemed the pegasus had taken the order.

Applejack both deeply regretted her statement to her marefriend, and was proud of herself for it.  She knew that it stood as a testament to the fact that she would not bend to Dash's will in the relationship, but she hadn't thought through the truly wounding power of her words.  Had she been told by somepony that she had to stay away from Rainbow, it would tear her up inside and she would make it her mission to find a way to see her lover; which is where the anger sparked from. If Dash felt the same way, she surely would have returned with some heartfelt apology by now.  Applejack had not taken her own warning into account when pondering this.  If she had, perhaps she would have realized her lover would just be taking the cowpony's word, and was probably back at her own home in Cloudsdale.

There was no possible way she could have known that the pegasus was not in Cloudsdale, nor could she be.  With a broken wing dragging lamely at her side, Dash walked slowly toward her destination in the Everfree Forest.  Streams of tears flowed freely from her eyes, and the shattering of her heart had deafened her to the dull and constant pain of a broken limb.  Her wingtip left a trail in her wake, marking where she had been.  Without looking up, Rainbow knew she had reached the cave where she would be staying.  She wiped her eyes and looked inside the cavernous mouth.  Inside there were many different and odd features, including a punching bag filled with hay and a mound of the same substance on the opposite wall.

Normally, Dash would work her anger out on the punching bag, slowly beating the hay into submission.  This time, however, she couldn't bring herself to touch it.  She simply stood there, imagining why she would want to hit the thing.  She was aware of the fact that Applejack was the source of anger, and Rainbow knew that she could never bring herself to hit AJ, be it real or imaginary.  Instead, she looked around the damp cave.  It hit her that this cave was not unlike the one she and Applejack had confessed their feelings inside just a day before, and soon she began to sob again.  Rainbow Dash swung herself around to attack the punching bag, her vision blurred by bitter tears.  Before she hit it, she saw her orange marefriend standing in its place.  She lost all will to hit her target and collapsed into heaving sobs.  She hugged the punching bag as though it were the real Applejack, and prayed the mare would come find her.

At Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack stood, still pondering her situation.  Her anger had slowly given way to even deeper regret as she had feared it would, and she hung her head in despair.  Walking back inside, her hooves clopped slowly up the wooden stairs.  Once she was inside her room, she opened the window and sat gently on the sill.  She slid the Stetson off of her head and held it in her hooves.  Dashie wore this earlier. . .  Dash, what have Ah done?  Please come back. . .  Applejack thought, and her tears soon left darker brown splotches on the fabric.  She didn't know how long she sat there, but after while, she turned her gaze to the sky.

The sun had gone, and the crater-covered surface of the moon shone brightly in the night sky.  The dark of night normally gave Applejack a sort of peace of mind, but now it just reminded her of the darkness in her heart.  Even the radiant light reflecting off the orchard didn't penetrate the dark cloud over Applejack's head.  She continued to watch the sky, praying silently to Celestia that Dash would return.  Her eyes stung as she refused to blink, unwilling to miss a single second.  The moon slowly made its course across the sky, and eventually gave way to the sun once more.  Still, Applejack watched the air, but she knew it was too late.  She would have to find her marefriend herself.  Or so she thought as she heard a pounding at the door to the barn.

The orange mare quickly galloped to the door, thinking that it was Rainbow Dash.  When she opened the door wide, the smile dropped from her face.  In front of her, Rarity, Twilight, Pinkie, and Fluttershy all stood, looking nervous.  Twilight was the first to speak, as usual.

"Hay, Applejack, have you seen Rainbow Dash anywhere?  I went to see her in Cloudsdale, and she wasn't home, so I went to see if the fillies had seen her," she said, gesturing behind herself.  "Pinkie and Rarity haven't seen her in days, and Fluttershy and I haven't seen her since yesterday.  I thought maybe she spent the night here, seeing as she was here on the farm when I saw her."

Applejack immediately got nervous.  If Dash hadn't gone home after leaving Sweet Apple Acres, where could she have gone?  A million and one thoughts raced through Applejack's mind, and a hundred different situations presented themselves, the most prominent being that Dash had run away.

"Sorry, fillies, Ah haven't seen her since yesterday," Applejack admitted, struggling to blink back more tears.  "Ah'd be more than glad to help yah look, though."  She closed the door behind herself, and began walking with the other four mares.  She kept to the back of the group until Fluttershy hovered over.

"Applejack, what do you know?"  The yellow pegasus whispered, her intuition telling her there was more to Applejack's silence than the presented emotion.

Applejack once again fought back bitter tears as she explained the situation to her friend.  "Ah. . .  Ah tried to kiss Dash, an' Twilight was standin' there.  Dash told me she was afraid, ashamed even, of her seein' us together, so she played it off like a joke.  Ah told her she was being self-centered, an' Ah told her not to come back. . .  Oh Shy, what have Ah done?"  The farm pony cried, tilting her hat down to prevent her friends from seeing her tears.  Fluttershy simply rested a light wing on Applejack's back and nodded understandingly.

"Applejack, it's okay to cry.  Dash just wasn't ready to admit to everypony how she really felt and you were.  You need to be strong, though.  If not for yourself, for Rainbow.  She probably misses you more than you miss her," Fluttershy said reassuringly.  Applejack simply nodded, and casually wiped the stream of tears from her face.  Lifting her chin, the mare called out to the front of the group.

"Fillies, where the hay are we heading anyway?"

Twilight teleported next to Applejack, causing her to jump into the air.  "Well, we already checked everywhere else, so we're headed for-"

"The Everfree Forest?"  Applejack cut in, realizing what the only possible last resort would be.  Twilight nodded solemnly, confirming Applejack's fears.  They continued to walk, and Applejack slowly steeled herself for the search.  While the other ponies were wearing themselves, Applejack knew each step brought her closer to Dash, and she soon found herself leading the group.  After awhile Pinkie's energy finally gave, and she was forced to walk instead of hop.  Rarity began to complain of the soreness of her hooves, but Applejack continued to walk without uttering a single complaint, or even a single word.  She refused to halt, and was barely keeping herself from breaking into a run.  Eventually, they came to the Everfree Forest.

Its darkness was formidable, its sounds instilling fear into weaker pony's hearts.  Applejack was oblivious to all of this, as her hope to find Dash triumphed all other fears.  Secretly, she was more fearful than ever.  She feared the fact that Rainbow might be injured, or worse.  That she might outright reject Applejack after their fight.  Applejack battled these worries in the back of her mind, her outer confidence and resolve acting as a beacon for the other Elements of Harmony.  The dark of the forest quickly descended upon the group, and the damp of the air chilled to the bone.  They could hardly see their own hooves in front of their faces, but they trekked onward, hoping for any sign of the cyan pegasus.

Off in a cave in the very same forest, Dash was beyond weeping any longer.  She hated herself for how she had acted and proceeded to thrash the punching bag.  She pictured herself this time, and a rage like no other stemmed from the thought.  She was the real reason that she was alone, the real reason that she was crippled.  She had considered trying to return to Sweet Apple Acres, but realized quickly that she was no longer welcome.  It had been her fault anyway, so she had begun to beat on the bag.  The beating had become so continuous that the hay-filled innards began to burst out of the tough exterior.  In a way, Rainbow felt as though she really was beating herself.

She had forced herself to be tough on the outside, unwilling to show her softer side to everypony else.  In the process, she had hurt Applejack and herself, and she would never forget her stupidity.  She tore into the bag with everything she had, attempting to wear herself into the same state as the bag.  Little did she know, the one she prayed to see the most was not as far away as she thought.  Applejack and the others had come to the place where Dash had landed, and could not make heads or tails of it.

"Ah just don't get it.  It looks like she landed her, but where the buck could she be!"  The farm pony cried out, bucking a nearby tree in frustration.  Twilight just shook her head, ashamed that her analytical skills were failing them in their time of need.  There were clear signs that the impact had been rough, most likely unexpected.  But after that, she couldn't understand.  The mark didn't suggest Dash had flown off, but it didn't suggest she had walked away.  Her thoughts were interrupted when Pinkie cut it.

"Oh look!  Twilight, over here! C'mon, over here!"  The pink pony exclaimed, hopping up and down.

"Alright, what is it Pinkie?"  Twilight asked, expecting some useless bit of information.  Instead, she found Pinkie Pie pointing toward a new mark on the ground.  This one was more of a divot, showing a clear direction.  When Twilight closed one eye, she could see that the muddy ground suggested this one had been formed after the first she had seen.  There was an obvious slope down and then back up, and the purple unicorn turned toward the direction she believed to be the correct path.  After a bit of searching, she found another divot; however, this one did not slope back up.  Instead, the mud had been dragged into a tree, suggesting some form of slide.

This breakthrough had brought them much closer to finding Rainbow Dash, Twilight was sure of it.  Applejack ran over and looked over the mark.  She was almost sure that Dash had gotten hurt, but she still hoped she was wrong.  Looking closely, she noticed a line in the soft earth leading away from the tree.  Applejack was more than confused by the scratching, but she had a good feeling that it would lead her to her lover.  She sprinted off, following the line closely with her eyes.  She could feel her friends trailing behind her, but her excitement prevented her from slowing.  If anything, she was speeding up, slowly losing herself in the dense foliage.

After about ten minutes of running, Applejack came to a large, dark cave.  She was pensive to enter, but all hope that Dash was inside forced her through the dark mouth.  She soon noticed shafts of light breaking through the surface and lighting parts of the cave in front of her.  A pile of moist hay rested on the left side, and a mangled bag sat on the other side.  As she slowly approached, she could identify it as a punching bag.  The bag had been torn apart, its hay strewn in every direction.  When the bag shuddered, Applejack leapt back.  She tensely approached again and noticed the tip of a limp cyan wing among the hay surrounding the moving bag.

Excited didn't come close to the joy Applejack felt as she pulled the bag away to reveal a sullen and restlessly tossing pegasus.  Not just any pegasus though.  This one had beautiful cyan feathers, strong muscles, a striking lightning bolt shaped Cutie Mark, and majestic rainbow hair.  Applejack threw herself onto Dash, and the pegasus woke with a cry of pain.  Stepping back, Applejack looked at her marefriend, fearing she had hurt her.  Dash stood shakily, her wing remaining limp at her side.  It was at this point that Applejack understood the trail she had followed had been made by the crippled wing.  Rainbow's mind took a second to comprehend that the real Applejack was standing before her.

Once she came to the conclusion that is was no hallucination, she threw herself toward the earth pony, crying sweet tears of relief and joy.  Dash was so incredibly overjoyed that she didn't even notice the other four mares walking toward them.  Her voice choked with tears, Dash barely managed to whisper, "You came for me.  I thought you hated me, but you came."  She gave in to weak sobs, and Applejack just rubbed her back calmly.

"O' course Ah came, Dashie.  It was one fight.  Ah said terrible things, an' Ah shouldn't have.  Ah'm sorry," Applejack admitted, hoping to mend the hole in their relationship.  Rainbow just hugged her ever closer, and the other Elements of Harmony all watched, uncomfortably confused.  Well, all except for Fluttershy who had a few happy tears rolling down her own cheeks.  Twilight cleared her throat, breaking the reunited couple apart.

"You fillies care to shed a little light on the situation because something tells me we aren't getting the whole picture here," the purple unicorn said, speaking for the rest of the rest of the crowd.  Applejack and Rainbow Dash shared a quick glance and the farm pony stepped forward.

"Well, you fillies know Dash is mah best friend, an' Ah was scared for her safety.  That's all," the mare lied, which was not easy, being the Element of Honesty.  Twilight just nodded slowly, as if trying to find it in herself to accept the lie.

"Well if that's-"  The Element of Magic started before Dash cut her off.

"AJ, I can't do it again.  I lied to Twilight last time, I can't ask you to lie to them all.  Besides, I know this is the right thing to do," the pegasus told her marefriend, who was smiling sadly.  They were both aware that this was the make-or-break moment for their group, and Applejack was proud that Dash had been brave enough to step forward with the truth.  "You see. . .  I've been friends with Applejack for a long time.  Longer than the most of you fillies.  So we've had plenty of time talk, and play, and bond.  I can't speak for Applejack here, but somewhere along the line, I started. . ."  Dash's voice trailed off before she got to the most important part.  "I developed feelings for Applejack.  Like, the kind that mares get for stallions."

Rainbow waited a moment for reality to dawn on the other mares, and they all soon nodded in understanding, even Pinkie.  "Well, I told Shy, and she gave me the courage to tell AJ that. . .  I like mares," Dash said, gesturing to both the orange mare beside her and the yellow pegasus off to one side of their group.  "I guess what I'm getting at is-"  Rainbow began again before she just tossed her gentle approach out the window.  She grabbed Applejack, pulled her in for a close hug, and kissed her tightly.  Oh, how she had missed those kisses.  She had truly believed she would never experience them again, and it had been brutal on her.  When she broke the kiss, Dash noticed the stunned faces of her friends.

"I love her.  I love her endless eyes, her warm coat, her adorable accent, even her terrible sense of humor," Rainbow continued, looking deep into Applejack's eyes now.  She was both conveying the feeling that she was genuinely sorry for what she had done as well as the feeling that she had never stopped loving her partner.  Applejack didn't even take note of the false insult, and her eyes shimmered as she took in all of the cyan pegasus's love.

Applejack herself turned toward the others and told them, "And Ah love her back.  Ah love everythin' about her.  Ah could stand here all day namin' things Ah love about her.  But we already knew that about each other.  We feel downright awful about not telling you fillies, but we were scared," the orange cowpony admitted.  Twilight cocked her head to one side in confusion.

"Scared of what?"  She asked.

"Why, scared yah'd hate us. . .  Fillyfoolers," Applejack said, the term bringing a bitter taste to her mouth.  Twilight laughed audibly at the comment, leaving the couple confused.

"Hate you?  You must be joking!  I can't speak for Pinkie, or Rarity, or Fluttershy, but I still love you guys.  You're still my friends, and that fact that you are together only makes me happier!"  The unicorn explained, rushing over to embrace the lovers.  Fluttershy hovered over without a word, her feelings having already been expressed the day before.  Pinkie was tearing up slightly, and she began to bawl as she rushed into the group hug.

Rarity hesitated at first, still a little surprised by the turn of events.  She simply shrugged off all other thoughts and embraced the group.  In the center, Dash was in a state of bliss.  Everything had turned out alright, and although her wing was broken, she was sure that she would be more than fine.  So in the cave she had dedicated to her bouts of fury, the six of them stood.  Together, they gave a more powerful radiation of magic than they had when using the Elements against Discord and Nightmare Moon.  For this time, they showed the true meaning of friendship.
> Trials Ahead
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"Dash, are you sure you want to do this?"  Twilight asked, the wariness obvious in her voice.

"I'm sure.  I gotta get healed up as soon as possible," the pegasus answered.

"You do know that this could hurt you just as easily?  I mean, I'm no doctor, and there's a reason they don't do these kinds of procedures," the purple unicorn explained.  She was obviously uncomfortable with the idea of using her magic to mend Rainbow Dash's wing.Stealing a glance at Applejack, she could see the earth pony was no more in favor of the idea than she.

"Sugarcube, don't yah think yah could just wait a bit longer?  Ah mean, if yah get hurt instead, what would yah do then?"  The caring in Applejack's voice was more than evident to Dash, but she knew she had to do it.

With a shake of her head, she said, "AJ, I know it's risky, but I need my wings as much as you need Sweet Apple Acres.  They make me who I am.  Besides, I'll go crazy if I don't fly for three weeks!"

"Actually, it would be more like four to six weeks," Twilight corrected, getting a glare from Applejack.  "Well, if we're going to do this, we should get started.  Applejack, I'm going to need you to tie down her legs.  Dash, bite down on this," she said, pressing a rough piece of wood into the pegasus's mouth.  As Applejack tightened the scratchy leather straps, she found herself giggling.  She walked over to Dash and bent down to nuzzle her neck.

"Dashie, Ah didn't know yah were into this kind o' stuff," she whispered with a wink.  She slid her hoof lightly across Dash's outstretched wings.  The fibrous limbs trembled slightly at the touch, and Applejack knew they weren't just sticking out because Dash made them do such.

Spitting out the piece of wood, Dash remarked, "Hay, leave them out of this.  And stop messing with me, this isn't even fair!  I'm strapped to a table and you're not.  You want to make this fair, let me out of these straps and then we'll see who's turned on here!"  Applejack just tossed her mane and smiled as she stroked her marefriend's mane.

It sure is great to have her back.  Ah can't believe Ah almost lost her. . . Applejack thought, tears pushing on her eyes.  Somehow, Dash managed to pull her head far enough off the table to kiss the orange mare on the cheek.  "AJ, everything's going to be fine.  I prom-"  Rainbow Dash's sentence was cut short as Twilight stuffed the wood block back into her mouth.

"You need to keep that in, Dash.  Don't want to swallow your tongue, do you?"  Twilight asked rhetorically.  At the thought of swallowing her tongue, Dash gulped heavily and her eyes grew slightly wider.  Twilight proceeded to place sensors on Dash's chest, which caused the heart monitor to begin a steady beeping.  "Alright, we're all ready to go.  Applejack, you might want to step back.  I know it will be tempting to comfort her, but for the sake of your own safety, please control yourself."  Applejack nodded and took a couple of steps back.

Rolling her head to one shoulder then the other, Twilight prepared herself for the difficult task ahead. Alright, first you'll need to make sure all of the bones are in the correct places.  Then, make sure the wing is in it's joint properly. Her horn sparkling with a purple aura, Twilight began feeling around Dash's wings with her magic.  About eight inches from the joint, the wing was fragmented.  Part of the bone seemed to be sticking into the inside of her friend's skin.  Taking a deep breath, she said, "Alright, Dash, it's about to start.  Are you positive you want to risk this?"  When Rainbow Dash nodded, Twilight prepped herself for the pain both ponies would soon feel.

The problem with magical healing on such a fine-tuned level was that it created a sort of empathy link between the two ponies, meaning that they both suffered pain from it.  She had decided to leave that part out of her explanation, as she knew it would only have worried her friends.  Swiftly but carefully, Twilight removed the bone fragment from Dash's skin, causing them both to suffer a terrible stabbing pain.  Dash jerked her head back and Twilight's magic faltered for a half a second.  Once she regained her composure, the unicorn realized that the rest of the broken bone was misaligned, making her job much more difficult.

Small drips of sweat fell from Twilight's forehead as she concentrated intensely on the procedure.  All at once, she realigned the wing's bones, causing a blinding amount of pain for both ponies.  Dash bit down hard on the wood and pulled against the straps.  Applejack took a worried step forward, only to be stopped by Twilight's hoof and a shake of the head.  Twilight resumed her work, beginning to fuse the bone fragments back together.  This was a much less painful task, but required incredible amounts of focus for the 'doctor'.

Once Twilight was satisfied with her work, she moved onto the joint of the wing.  At this point, the sweat was streaming down her face, and her legs were trembling slightly.  Focusing all her energy on Dash, she looked at the joint and the muscles surrounding.  It appeared that several muscles were preventing the bone from sitting properly.  Slowly, the unicorn began separating the tendons.  Rainbow's wing thrashed furiously, which was obviously painful for her, as Twilight felt stinging in her own back.

The tendons slowly thinned, allowing her to put the wing back in place.  Before moving it back, she prepared herself mentally for the wave of pain that was sure to come.  Breathing evenly for a few seconds, she quickly forced the bone back into it's socket.  The pain hit her like a speeding cart, knocking her to her knees.  Dash thrashed in pain and tossed her head back.  It was clear that the unicorn had dropped the link just in time, as the pain was much worse for the pegasus.  Trying to push herself off the table, Dash slowly lost her strength and collapsed.  Everything seemed fine as the Element of Loyalty's heart rate slowed.  All of the sudden, the monitor went flat, petrifying both Twilight and Applejack.

"No.  No. . .  Nonononono. . ."  Applejack said as she ran to Dash's side.  Tears were quickly forming in her eyes as she pressed her head into her lover's chest.


From the background, Twilight heard a light and squeaky voice that caused her to turn."Hay, what's this thingy do!"  Pinkie called, eyeing the plug to the heart monitor.  It had come unplugged when she entered, and was now lying on the floor.

"Pinkie, plug that back in!"  Twilight shouted desperately.  As the pink earth pony placed the metal plug back into the socket, the heart monitor began beeping steadily again.  Running to Applejack's side, Twilight turned her friend's head to look at the machine.  "Applejack, it's fine!  Everything is fine!  The monitor just got unplugged!"  Twilight told the mare.  Slowly, Applejack's tears died down and her sobs ceased as she placed a hoof on Rainbow Dash's chest.

"She's breathin'!  SHE'S BREATHIN'!"  She shouted as she tossed herself over the unconscious body of the pegasus.

"What's goin' on in here?"  Pinkie asked, trotting up beside Twilight with her head cocked to the side.

"Well, Dash's wing was hurt, Pinkie.  I went ahead and fixed her up using my magic, although it was very risky," Twilight explained.  Pinkie stared at Dash's sleeping form and Applejack hugging her tightly for a second.  With a shrug, Pinkie turned back toward the door and left without another word.  "She's so weird sometimes," Twilight said to herself as she watched the jovial pony leave.  Turning to face the couple in front of her, she began to undo Dash's restraints.  Once the straps were all removed, Twilight gingerly bandaged the feathery cyan wing she had so carefully repaired.

Dash's eyes flitted open about halfway through the bandaging, not a second before the poor mare wretched on the floor.  Wiping her mouth with the back of her hoof, she stammered, "Ohmygosh, I'm so sorry!  I don't know why I just-"  Twilight pressed her hoof over Dash's mouth.

"Rainbow, it's okay.  When ponies feel extreme amounts of pain, they tend to be sick.  It's a natural reaction, you're not at fault here," the purple mare told Dash.  With a nod, Dash accepted that she had no control over her action.  "Applejack, could you help Dash off the table?  We're all finished here, and, I'm glad to say, it went off without a hitch."  Dash more or less threw herself off the table without Applejack's help, causing her knees the buckle.

Before she could fall flat on her face, Applejack caught her marefriend with a hug.  "Careful now, sugarcube.  Yah been though a lot, Ah don't need yah hurtin' yerself any worse," Applejack said as Dash steadied herself.  With a grin, Dash managed to stand without her lover's assistance.  However, when she attempted to walk, she practically landed on her face again.  With a giggle, Applejack commented, "Looks like we'll be spendin' even more time side-by-side now.  Not that Ah mind, o' course."  She rubbed her muzzle against Dash's neck, causing the pegasus's unwrapped wing to begin stiffening.

With a slight shove, Dash told her marefriend, "Well, what makes you think I want to spend so much time with you?"  Applejack would have looked thrown by the response if Dash hadn't lovingly placed her mouth over Applejack's own.  Fading into the moment, both of the mares forgot their surroundings until Twilight coughed uncomfortably next to them.  Blushing, both mares pulled their lips apart, and Dash awkwardly scratched her mane with a hoof.

"It's great to see you fillies happy together, and I'm all for it, but do you think you might be more comfortable doing it someplace else?  Not that I'm kicking you out, but I do have to write down my analysis of the procedure and lie down.  After cleaning up Dash's vomit that is. . ."  Twilight said, causing Dash to blush.  Applejack took Dash by the hoof and began guiding her marefriend up the stairs to the mane part of the library.

"Ah'm real thankful fer the help, Twi," Applejack said.

"Yeah, me too.  I can't wait to get out and fly again.  And sorry about the puke," Dash told her friend.

"Remember, no flying for at least four days.  Applejack, I'm trusting you to keep Dash under control for those few days," Twilight told them both, her voice very firm and serious.

"Ah'll try, but no promises.  Y'all know how Dashie can be," Applejack said, earning her a piercing glare from the unicorn.

"No.  Flying," Twilight ordered, her tone even more serious than before.  She clearly meant business.  With a gulp, Applejack nodded and began to lead Dash out the door again.  Once inside the mane area of the library, the two of them talked as they weaved in and out of precariously-teetering towers of books.

"Twilight sure is being harsh about the whole no flying thing, don't you think?"  Dash asked her marefriend, hoping to justify her defiant attitude.

"Ah don't know, sugarcube.  Ah mean, she really wore herself out tryin' to fix up yer wing.  Ah'm sure she doesn't want to see her work undone, plus, she said that if yah hurt it again, there might not be anythin' she can do next time.  Yah don't want to be without yer wing fer good, do yah?"  Applejack explained, causing Rainbow Dash to worry.

"Do you really think that I might never fly again?  What about the Wonderbolts?  What about my house?  What abou-" Dash was cut off when Applejack stuffed a hoof in her mouth. That's getting really annoying. Dash thought to herself.

"Sugarcube, you'll be fine.  Just do like Twilight said an' stay off the wing fer a few days an' you'll be back up in no time," the orange mare explained with a reassuring smile.  Pulling her hoof from Dash's face, she saw the pegasus was frowning, but nodding in agreement.  Spinning around, Applejack opened the door to the outside for them both.  Taking a deep breath of fresh air, she pondered her next step.   Well, Ah should probably get back to the farm.  But then again, Dash IS lookin' pretty down. . .  The pony thought to herself.  With a shrug and a smile, she nudged her marefriend's flank and began walking into town.

"What do yah say we hit Sugarcube Corner fer a snack before Ah head back to work?"  Applejack asked, not really leaving many choices for answers.  Dash trotted up beside her and draped her good wing over the earth pony.  Applejack nuzzled up against Rainbow's side as they walked together.  It was finally the calm moment Applejack had been looking for, yet fearing.  She knew her marefriend led a fast-paced lifestyle, and her subconscious was constantly reminding her that Dash might only stick around as things stayed interesting enough for her.  While dwelling on her fears, Applejack had failed to notice that two colts had begun to follow them.  Unfortunately, Dash didn't take notice either as she and AJ stepped inside Sugarcube Corner.

Neither of them had taken more than three steps toward a table before being tackled by a fuzzy pink rocket.  The three ponies tumbled across the floor, surprisingly managing to avoid hitting Rainbow's wing.  When they all came sprawling out across the floor, Dash found herself in an upside-down world facing a smiling Pinkie Pie.

"Pinkie, what the hay was that for?"  Dash asked her pink friend without righting herself first.

"Well, you haven't been in here in a long time, like, ever, really, and I was excited to see you and Applejack together, since I hadn't seen you guys since, like, forever," Pinkie said without stopping for a single breath.

"Pinkie," Dash told the other pony as she righted herself, "you saw us yesterday.  Not even a whole day ago, either."

Pinkie just stared at her with her upside-down smile plastered on her face.  Finally, she replied, "Well, yeah, but that's like forever when you're me!"  Rainbow knew she couldn't even begin to argue with that logic, seeing as she barely understood how Pinkie Pie's brain worked most of the time.

"Yeah, okay.  Listen, we're just here to grab a quick bite to eat before heading back to the farm.  Mind grabbing us some cake or something real quick?"  The pegasus asked the Element of Laughter.

"Okie dokie lokie, I'll be right back!  You two get comfortable," Pinkie told them as she hopped into the kitchen.  When Rainbow Dash spun around, she found Applejack already seated at the nearest table watching her with a dreamy and sweet smile on her face.  Dash sat in her own seat, which she scooted right up beside her lover's, the pegasus planted a kiss on Applejack's cheek.  The earth pony blushed a little and pretended to see something on the other side of the room.

Rainbow frowned and asked the orange mare, "AJ, is everything alright?  You seem distracted.  C'mon, you know you can talk to me."  Applejack turned her head back to face Dash before answering.

"It's just. . .  Y'all were so uncomfortable bein' so close in public before.Now, yer all affectionate and everythin'.  What's up with that?"  Applejack asked.  Truthfully, that wasn't what had really been bothering her, but Dash seemed to be satisfied with her lie.

"Well, before, I didn't have my friends behind me.  Besides, this," she said, gesturing to the empty store, "is hardly public.  It's almost as private as Sweet Apple Acres."  Applejack smiled at the thought.

"Well, Ah don't know about that.  There's certainly things we can't do here that we've done back there," she joked, causing her marefriend to blush.

"Yeah, I'll have to draw the line on that one."  Pinkie came running in from the kitchen with two purple and blue slices of cake, which she tossed in front of the couple.  With a nod, she ran off back into the kitchen without another word.  This actually managed to surprise Dash, as it seemed Pinkie Pie always seemed to have something to say, however random that something may be.  With a shrug, she turned back to the delicious cake in front of her.  She practically broke her nose as she drove her face into the food and hit the table underneath it.  When she looked up, Applejack was struggling to hold back tears of laughter.  "Oh, shut it," Dash told her, flicking a glob of icing at her marefriend.

The icing landed directly on the tip of Applejack's nose.  Rainbow busted out in laughter when Applejack went cross-eyed trying to stare at the icing in her vision.  Pouting angrily, Applejack picked up a piece of her cake and called Dash by her pet name.  The pegasus's head perked up immediately, which she regretted the instant she found a large portion of her face covered in icing and cake particles.  Now, it was Applejack's turn to roll with laughter, an action she took literally.  The earth pony collapsed on the ground with laughter, which earned her an entire cake slice thrown on her body.  "Oh, c'mon, that was uncalled for, Dashie," Applejack complained.  The cyan mare just stuck her tongue out and began eating Applejack's slice of cake.

The Element of Honesty grinned as an idea came to her.  Stretching out a hind leg, she kicked the underside of the table, sending remaining cake flying off of the table and onto Dash's body.  They were both laughing now, but Rainbow used the laughter to her advantage.  She tackled Applejack, and they rolled around on the floor for about thirty seconds before Dash ended up on top, as usual.  Applejack struggled against the pegasus's grip, but Rainbow Dash was just better at pinning ponies than she was.  It seemed that every inch of their fur-coated bodies was coated with either cake bits or sweet frosting.  Dash had noticed this and stuck her tongue out.  Applejack felt chills go down her spine and a flutter in her stomach as Dash dragged her soft tongue from chest to chin.

Dash smiled and smacked her lips.  "Mmmm. . .   Sure is a shame that cake's going to waste," she told her pinned marefriend.  Applejack just stuck her own tongue out at Rainbow Dash and struggled against her grip.  Dash giggled at the attempt and, like a flash, tucked her legs into her sides.  Now she and Applejack were pressed together in a dirty, frosting-covered embrace.  They could feel the quick beating of the other's heart against their own, and it made them both smile.

"Ahem," they heard from a sweet voice at the kitchen door.  By the time they looked up, Pinkie was standing right beside them, which caused them to jump in surprise.  Pinkie grinned and asked, "Whatchadoin'?"  Applejack looked at Dash, and Dash looked at Applejack.  Together with Pinkie Pie, they looked at the room around them.  There was frosting on the ceiling, caked smeared all over, and crumbs in every crevice.  Collectively, they all burst out laughing, rolling on the floor.  Eventually, Pinkie sat up and giggled as she said, "Well, I guess I should get to clean up."

Applejack and Rainbow Dash both rose and tried to argue.  "Pinkie, we made this mess, we'll clean it up!"  They both said at the same time.  Pinkie just shook her head, which made her fluffy hair bounce and jiggle.

"You two need a bath, I'll clean up in here.  Oh I know, you can just use my bath upstairs!"  She replied with a grin before hopping away into the kitchen, where there was a loud crash and Pinkie calling, "Everything's fine!  Just go shower!"  The mares shared a glance and a shrug before ascending the stairs.  There, they walked down the hall as silently as possible, trying not to disturb Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake.  The last thing Pinkie needed was a mess downstairs and crying foals upstairs.  Slowly, they managed to reach the bathroom without waking the foals and Dash began to run a bath.

Sticking a single hoof in, then her whole body, Applejack slid into the tub and began to scrub the crumbs and frosting away.  Dash climbed in behind her and went to doing the same.  Once most of their bodies were clean, Rainbow Dash had her lover clean behind her wings, which caused the feathered appendage that was free to begin stiffening.  A mild pink color started creeping into Dash's face before she swallowed her pride and reminded herself that it was only Applejack.  She smiled at the thought that she could be so comfortable with herself around the other mare now.  As Applejack finished cleaning Dash's wings, the pegasus unexpectedly turned her head around and kissed her passionately.

Applejack truly loved those moments, for they washed away her fear, her pain, and her nervousness.  Although she was fine with Dash in public, when they were alone, Applejack couldn't help but wonder what ran through her marefriend's mind in moments of silence.  Since being together, she found that it was much harder to read Dash's expressions and body language, something that she had prided herself on before.  When she broke the kiss, the two of them stared lovingly into each other's gleaming eyes before rising from the large white tub.  With a few shakes and the use of a couple towels, the couple was now completely dry and walked side by side downstairs.  There, they found Pinkie Pie casually leaning against the table they had been seated at.  All around the room, not a single speck of frosting or single crumb of cake could be found.

"Wow, Pinkie, you sure know how to clean up a mess," Dash said in amazement as she looked around the spotless room.

Pinkie giggled and responded, "Silly, you act like this is the first time there's been a mess in this room!  If you could've seen the one time I accidently let Gummy out around the store!  There were ponies running all over and food flying everywhere!  I thought it was pretty funny, but Mr. and Mrs. Cake didn't seem too happy about it.  They made me clean the whole store afterwards, but it was worth it!"  Her speech seemed to fly out at a hundred words a second, and Dash had to struggle to keep up.

The couple started toward the door, thanking their friend for the meal before leaving.  As they closed the door behind them, Dash draped her good wing over Applejack and began walking in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres.  They were barely at the edge of town when two colts blocked their path.

"Sorry, fellas, we're just tryin' to get through here.  Yah mind steppin' to the side fer a second?"  Applejack asked, trying to walk past the two of them.  The grey one smiled for a split second before tossing Applejack back.  She was caught off-guard and stumbled backwards, her marefriend catching her before she fell over.

"What's the big idea, you jerks?"  Dash asked, taking an aggressive step forward.  The larger green one just laughed.

The grey one replied, "Would you look at that?  The fillyfooler is gettin' mad at us, Clunk.  Isn't that just hilarious?"  Once again, the green one laughed in agreement.  Applejack and Rainbow Dash immediately picked up on the insult thrown at them, and they both glared at the duo angrily.

"How's about y'all step aside before we make yah?"  Applejack threatened, hoping to show she wasn't kidding around.  The one called Clunk just laughed again and took a step forward.  It was painfully obvious who was the brains of the pair, seeing as it appeared Clunk could do nothing but laugh and toss his weight around.  Still, his weight was fearsome and his step caused the ground to shake as he brought a massive hoof down.

The smaller grey colt grinned and answered, "We'd like to see you try."  When neither Applejack nor Dash made a move, his grin got even wider.  "Well then, it seems we have a chance to talk.  We don't want your kind here.  We don't need your kind here.  So what do you say you just head home, pack your things, and get the buck out of our town?  I'd prefer not to hit a lady, if you bucking fillyfoolers can still be called fillies, even."

Dash's brow furrowed at the blatant insult.  Applejack, however, was much more put off by the threat to leave their home.  "Now just you listen," she said, taking a few more steps forward.  "Mah family's been workin' these here apple orchards fer years.  We supply darn near half the apples this side of Equestria!  Ah'll be bucked 'fore Ah let two numbskulls like yerselves to stop me an' my marefriend from goin' home an-"  She only got that far before Clunk slammed a hoof into her chest, tossing her into the air and backward.  Dash threw herself to try and soften Applejack's landing, but only managed in getting them both hurt.  Apparently, Clunk did not take kindly to being called stupid.

As Dash stood up, her eyes blazed with anger.  "You did not just do that," she said, a mocking hint of doubt in her voice.

In a terrifyingly deep voice, Clunk replied, "I do again, fillyfooler."  The insult felt like a stab at her, which was bad enough, but the fact that the monster of a colt felt no remorse for hitting her lover in such a way drove her mad.  Even without both wings, she got some pretty good height as she hopped into the air and kicked the grey colt in the neck.  He didn't even have a chance to start coughing before Dash came down on his chest, holding a hoof to his throat.  At first, his eyes went wide with fear.  Slowly, he broke into his characteristic grin.  When Rainbow Dash turned around, she just barely caught sight of a hoof coming down to strike her before she went flying across the road and through the dirt.

"You 'kay, Bolt?"  Clunk asked the other colt who rubbed his neck as he stood up.

"I'm fine, brother," the one called Bolt answered.  Even though Dash was hurt and her head was spinning, she could definitely see that they were brothers.  Same shaggy brown mane, limp brown tail, and pointed facial features.  The pair walked toward her as she lay on the ground, rubbing the side of her head.  Bolt slammed a hoof on the ground, and Clunk immediately pinned all four of her limbs.  She struggled weakly against his powerful hooves as Bolt stood menacingly over her.

"I'll teach you to take a shot at me, fillyfooler," Bolt spit.  Lifting his hoof high in the air, he brought it down right on Dash's cheek.  Her vision blurred and pain spike through her whole body at the contact, which was followed by another hit to the stomach, and another.  Each hit hurt more than the last, and Dash pinched her eyes shut and grit her teeth through the barrage of hits.

"Hay, Clunk, check this out."  When the huge colt turned to see who had spoken his name, two powerful, orange back hooves hit him square in the face.  Despite his size and strength, Applejack's legs were much too powerful for his body to take.  The first hoof broke his nose and the second knocked two crooked teeth out.  The monster's whole body went tumbling across the dirt, freeing Dash's limbs.  Bolt was thrown for a moment, but immediately took off faster than anypony could say his name.  Slowly, Clunk rose and took off after him, hoping to escape the mare that damaged him.

Despite being freed, Dash lie on the ground, breathing heavily and holding her stomach.  Applejack hurried over to her to find tears of pain streaking through the dust that had settled on her lover's face.

"It's gonna be alright, sugarcube," Applejack whispered kneeling down beside the pegasus.  Dash attempted a smile, but her sore face forced her to go back to gritting her teeth instead.  Applejack kissed her gently on cheek.  "It's okay, Dashie.  Let it out."  For a few more minutes they lay together in the road before Dash managed to stand with help from her marefriend.  Leaning heavily on Applejack, the couple stumbled back to Sweet Apple Acres.  Thankfully, it seemed Big Macintosh was out of the house, as was Applebloom.  Granny Smith was sleeping next to the fireplace again, so the two mares snuck upstairs and into Applejack's room.

Once inside, Applejack helped Dash onto the bed and settled herself down next to the cyan mare.  She watched Rainbow for a few moments before smiling gently.  "Dash?"  She asked.  Dash opened an eye and looked over at Applejack before sitting upright and looking questioningly at the mare.  "Thank yah fer standing up fer me back there," Applejack said, which made Dash laugh slightly.

"Silly filly.  It was more than that.  I wasn't just standing up for you; I was standing up for us.  I know I've made mistakes before, but I don't intend to make them again.  I love you, AJ, and I don't care who knows it.  Just so long as you know it."

Small tears rolled down Applejack's face, which Dash kissed away.  Looking deeply into each other's eyes, they both smiled and slowly fell asleep holding each other.
> Where It All Began
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	As the brilliant mid-morning sun passed through the windows of the Apple family home, it's luminous rays came to rest upon a pair of ponies holding each other closely.  Applejack nuzzled sweetly against Rainbow Dash's chest, and the pegasus smiled.  Since they had gotten together nearly three months ago, the two of them had become nearly inseparable, spending nearly every day by the other's side.  Despite their initial apprehension to letting word get out, the two of them had become quite comfortable with the fact that so many ponies knew of their relationship now.  Their friends had embraced it, most of the ponies in Ponyville looked at them no different, and anypony who thought otherwise knew better than to give them any trouble.  As it turns out, fillyfooling was not all that uncommon, especially in the cities.

Even in the quaint town of Ponyville, they had discovered a few couples that shared their interest in other mares.  It came as no big surprise when Lyra and Bon Bon told them of their sexuality, as many ponies had already expected, though some of the more mysterious of mares had surprised them.  A new couple from Manehattan had moved in not too long ago and seemed to be fitting in fine, despite their lack of companions in the new town.  Overall, things had turned out quite well over the past few months, and neither Applejack nor Rainbow Dash would have had it any other way.

Sure, there had been small quarrels between the lovers, but they were always quickly remedied, as was the way of many relationships.  Slowly, they had progressed closer and closer until the fights stopped altogether.  Even now, living in the same household, they found it nearly impossible to find anything to argue about.  Life was as perfect as it had ever been for the two of them.  As the sun finally caught Applejack in the eye, she yawned and looked up at her marefriend.

"Ah suppose it's time to get to work, huh?"  She rhetorically asked the cyan mare holding her.

"UGH. . .  Do we have to?  Can't we just stay here and sleep?"  Dash replied as she sat up in their bed.  Clearly she was not ecstatic about getting to work, but she knew there would be no arguing.

"Sugarcube, yah already know the answer to that one.  If we hurry, we can catch the fillies for a bite to eat," Applejack said as she rolled out of bed and onto her hooves.  Dash yawned and stretched before doing the same as Applejack grabbed her Stetson and tied up her hair.  As usual, her marefriend found it more enjoyable to let the wind fix her mane, so she took flight out the window.  Applejack didn't bother looking as she already knew Rainbow would meet her in the kitchen.  After her wings had healed, Dash had immediately gotten to work, training herself to ensure she lost no ground.  Applejack hadn't embraced the idea at first, fearing that the pegasus might injure herself, but it all went over smoothly.

Each day, Dash would fly a bit, regardless of whether or not it was helpful to her.  She stuck to her idea that she was training for the Wonderbolts, and she finally had the determination to get through it this time.  Applejack never protested the idea, though the opportunity never arose for Dash to go to tryouts, something that the orange mare was somewhat thankful for.  Still, she did love to watch her lover soar across the sky in such magnificent and majestic forms that a few even left Applejack speechless.

Turning toward the door, Applejack threw it open and began trotting down the stairs.  In the kitchen, she found Dash with her head in the pantry, shaking her flank to imaginary music.  Applejack grinned at the sight and began sneaking up behind the mare.  She hadn't taken but two steps before the cyan flank disappeared inside the pantry, which caused Applejack to make an extremely confused face.  Jumping around the door, she peered inside the small room.  Inside there was no sign of her marefriend, so she walked in to get a better look.  Once inside, Applejack looked around for barely a second before a gust of air hit her and the door closed behind her.  In the darkness, she couldn't find the lights, so she stumbled around until her hoof came to rest on something soft and silky.

Confused, Applejack ran her hoof along the material until it came to something a little more solid.  Her hoof wasn't there for very long before she felt something soft and sweet press against her lips.  It didn't take her mind very long at all the recognize Dash's lips and Applejack realized her hoof was already on the other mare's cheek.  Applejack closed her eyes in the darkness just as Dash darted away from her touch again.

"Dashie, what do yah think yer doin'?"  Applejack asked the darkness.

"Oh, y'know, just. . ." A jab into Applejack's flank caused her to yelp and jump slightly. "Messing around," Dash finished as she kissed the end of her marefriend's nose.

"How are yah even doin' that?  Ah mean, it's pitch black in here!"  Applejack said, spinning in circles in an attempt to spot the pegasus.

Dash giggled and replied, "Well, when you fly at night a lot, your eyes get used to the dark pretty quick."  She sounded so entertained that Applejack couldn't even be mad at her.  Suddenly, a weight pressed down on her back just as the door to the pantry opened.  From the doorway, Fluttershy found Applejack standing in the pantry and Rainbow Dash lying on her back, nibbling the back of Applejack's ear, a spot that Dash knew very well was quite sensitive.

"Oh, sorry, fillies, I didn't mean to interrupt anything.  But you know, the pantry probably isn't the best place for that," the yellow pegasus joked.  Over the past three months, Fluttershy had become almost like a sister to the both of them, and she had definitely become much more comfortable around them.  The days of her stuttering in fear were gone, and she often now poked fun at them as she was now.

"Oh, sorry, Shy.  This one just decided to play a little trick on me," Applejack said, tossing Dash onto the floor.  Applejack was glad it was Fluttershy who had found them and not Big Macintosh or Applebloom.  Those conversations were still well beyond awkward.  Big Macintosh was still not fully comfortable around two mares when they were being intimate, and Applebloom's persisting questions made both Applejack and Rainbow Dash very uncomfortable on occasion.

"Hay, Shy, you spend the night here?"  Dash asked her friend from her upside-down position on the wooden floor.  It had become quite the common occurrence that Fluttershy would spend the night at the Apple family residence.  Occasionally, Big Macintosh would stay at Fluttershy's cottage, but they seemed to feel more alone at the barn.  Dash knew the feeling of constantly being watched at Fluttershy's cottage, and it wasn't a very welcoming feeling.

"Actually, yes.  I hope we didn't wake you last night," Fluttershy said, a blush coming to her cheeks.

"Heh, sure didn't.  This one here slept like a log," Applejack joked, poking her head in Dash's direction.  Dash called out in indignation about the reference, which caused both Applejack and Fluttershy to burst out in laughter.  Rolling onto her hooves, the cyan mare pointed her nose in the air and pretended to be above the prodding of her friends.  Walking stiffly out of the pantry with her eyes closed, Rainbow Dash strutted straight into the doorframe, knocking herself down.  This in turn caused the other two Elements of Harmony in the small space collapse on the floor with laughter.  Sitting on the floor, Dash rubbed her sore nose.

"Oww. . ."  She mumbled before turning back to her companions.  "Hay, shut up!  It's your fault!"  Much sooner than Fluttershy, Applejack reigned herself in and pulled herself over to her marefriend and stood up.

Bringing her significant other in for a hug, she said, "Ah'm sorry, sugarcube, that was mean o' me."  Instead of pulling away like old Rainbow Dash would have done, Dash smiled and kissed Applejack's cheek before grabbing a big mouthful of hay from the pantry and trotting off toward the outside.  Applejack just smiled sweetly as she watched her marefriend leave before turning around to see Fluttershy standing beside her.

"So what's on the agenda fer today, Shy?"  Applejack asked, grabbing herself a mouthful of food before following her yellow friend out of the pantry.

"Well, actually, since Mac told me you're so far ahead of schedule, I thought we'd take a day off to spend time together.  I found this beautiful pond hidden just off the edge of the Everfree Forest, and I've been just dying to show Mac!  You should definitely take the day off to spend time with Rainbow Dash.  You guys never just take a break from the farm, but you've certainly earned one," Fluttershy explained, which solicited an agreeing nod from Applejack.

"Yeah, Ah guess yer right.  Maybe we'll go fer an adventure together; we ain't done that in a mighty long time," Applejack replied, already thinking of exciting places to explore with her lover.  Fluttershy nodded lightly and started back toward Big Macintosh's room.  Spinning on a back hoof, Applejack turned herself toward the front door of the barn.  Looking out the window beside the door, she saw no sign on Dash outside, so she threw the door wide open and stepped outside. No sooner had her hooves touched the grass before a multicolored blur slammed full force into her, sending them both tumbling across the ground.

When her vision stopped spinning, Applejack found Rainbow Dash standing over her with a smile and her head cocked playfully to the side.  "Whatchadoin', Dashie?"  Applejack asked, laughing at her marefriend's adorableness.

Still smiling, Dash replied, "Just gettin' a head start on our day off!  What were you thinking for today?"  Stepping off of Applejack, Dash leapt into the air and began to glide around.  "A snack at Sugarcube Corner?  Going to visit the fillies?  Some other outrageous adventure?"  Dash suggested, and her tone made it pretty clear that she was most interested in the last choice.  Applejack just laughed and began walking toward Ponyville.  When Rainbow Dash caught up to her, she smiled.

"Well, a snack and maybe a short trip to see how the fillies are doing couldn't hurt.  I'd really like to spend the day with you, though," Applejack said, her gaze meeting Dash's, and they respectively walked and flew side-by-side all the way to Ponyville.  Neither of them was looking where they were going as Dash flew straight into another pony.  Once she collected herself, she looked around to see that the other pony had been Twilight Sparkle, their friend and trusted doctor for all things Dash-related.

"Ha ha, sorry about that, Twi, I guess something else caught my eye," Dash joked, helping Twilight to her hooves.

As Twilight dusted herself off, she quipped, "Oh?  Maybe that something was Applejack's flank?"  Applejack burst out laughing, and Dash herself chuckled a bit before pushing Twilight back over.  In mere moments, the three of them were lying in the middle of the road, laughing to their heart's content.  Eventually, they all stopped laughing and messing around long enough for somepony to get a word in.

"Y'know, Twi, Dashie and Ah were just headed to pick y'all up fer a snack at the Corner.  Sound good to you?"  Applejack asked as Twilight wiped tears from her eyes.

Despite the aching in her lungs, Twilight was quick to reply with, "Sounds great, fillies!  Shall we stop at Fluttershy's before Rarity's, though?  It seems a bit mean to leave Shy out."  Applejack silenced her with a wave of her hoof.

"Shy and Big Mac are spendin' the day together," she told her purple friend.

"And apparently every night. . ."  Dash grumbled under her breath, which earned her a hoof to the back of the head.

"Hush, you.  When was the last time you went home, missy?  Sure seems like yer always right there," Applejack threw back.  Dash stopped for a second to scratch her chin with a forehoof and then shrugged.

"I dunno.  I don't keep track of those things.  Besides, if I went home, you'd miss me before I even got there!"  Dash joked, which earned her another hoof to the back of the head.  "Oww, stop that!  You know you love me!"  Applejack didn't say anything, just kissed Dash lightly on the cheek and got to walking.  Dash sulked at the back of the group as Twilight and Applejack talked about farms or whatever.  She could care less, really, and as usual, she spent the whole time watching her marefriend's flank move side to side with each step.  Something about it seemed to have a hypnotic effect because Dash didn't even notice when Applejack stopped and she walked right into the cowpony's rear end.

"Hay, watch it back there!"  Applejack remarked, as Dash stood back up and blushed.  When they both looked ahead they saw Twilight knocking on the door of Carousel Boutique.  After a few moments of silence, a loud crashing noise, and the yelping of a cat, Rarity came to the door.  Her brow was dotted with sweat and she was holding pins in her mouth, but she looked like her usual, busy self.  When she saw it was them, her face visibly relaxed.

"Oh, thank heavens it's only you three.  I don't think I can handle another order right now!  Please, please, come in.  Time is of the essence," Rarity rambled and waved them inside.  She was gone before Twilight even got a word in, so they were forced to step inside.  Unlike the piles upon piles of clothes like they had expected, they discovered there to be very few garments lying about.  Twilight, Dash, and Applejack walked around the room for a bit before turning to Rarity, who was fast at work.

"No, no, this simply won't do. . .  If only I had- I've got it!"  The dressmaker mumbled to herself as she whipped around.  "Rainbow Dash, come here please!  I have something I need you to try on for a second."  Dash gulped and took a couple of steps backward.

"Rarity, you know I hate trying on your frou-frou dresses!"  Dash complained.

"Oh no, I'm sure you'll enjoy this," Rarity said, taking a step back.  "Besides, haven't you always wanted to dress like a Wonderbolt?"  On the table before her, a Wonderbolts uniform sat, it's stretchy fabric slightly torn on the flank.  Before anypony could say another word, Dash was standing right in front of the suit, her eyes shining and her mouth agape.

In minutes, Dash had the loose-fitting suit on and was checking herself out in the mirror.  "Why's it so big?  Aren't they supposed to be really snug?"  She asked as she looked at the rip in the fabric.

"Well, yes, but you're wearing a stallion's uniform.  Somepony named Soarin, I believe, if the name means anything to you," Rarity managed to say with her mouth full of pins.  She nearly lost them all as Dash whipped around.

"Soarin?!  THE Soarin?!Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!  I'm wearing Soarin's uniform!"  Dash cried with foalish glee, prancing around on the pedestal.  Applejack giggled a bit at the sight of her marefriend being so happy without her assistance.

"Yes, yes, THE Soarin, now calm down!  I must stitch this properly!"  Rarity snapped and Dash instantly corrected her posture.

Her eyebrow rose and she asked, "How'd it tear, anyway?  Isn't this stuff supposed to be, like, indestructible?"

"Well, in the air, yes, this fabric could withstand quite the beating, but it can't take much physical abuse.  This tear was caused by somepony's recklessness in removing the suit," Rarity explained.

"How do you know that?"  Dash inquired from her pose on the stand.

"Well, I can tell by the way the fabric is stretched next to the tear, by the tear itself, but also because Soarin told me.  He also delivered something for his friend, it's over behind you, Applejack," Rarity gestured with an ear twitch, her focus never leaving the suit.  When Applejack spun around, all she found was a familiar leather vest.  Without another thought, she leaned in and took a deep breath.

"Hmm. . .  Apploosa apples. . .  This here is Brae's vest.  How the hay did Soarin the Wonderbolt get his hooves on my cousin's vest?"  Applejack asked with her head cocked to the side in confusion.  Twilight just shrugged and turned to look at Rarity.

Again, the unicorn replied without looking up.  "Well, Miss Spitfire was quite vague, but, by the sound of it, your cousin's vest wasn't the only thing Soarin had his hooves on," she said, only half paying attention.  Only when Dash whipped her head around did Rarity realize the information she had divulged.

"Soarin is a. . . A coltcuddler?  You're kidding, right?"  Dash seemed more surprised than her tone suggested.

"Well, from what Soarin himself and Spitfire told me, he found somepony special and was deciding to settle down soon, but he needed his suit repaired first, which happened to be the same time that he dropped off Braeburn's torn vest.  Now I don't know what the two of them were getting into, but Spitfire was giving off quite the odd show of feelings," Rarity explained.  Looking back to Applejack, she asked, "Is there any chance that Braeburn IS Soarin's special somepony?"

Applejack seemed to ponder the question longer than was really necessary before replying with, "Well, Ah ain't seen him with a mare since he was a little colt, but that don't mean nothin'.  But why would Brae get mixed up with Soarin anyhow?"  Rarity shrugged and turned back to her work.

"Fillies, we really shouldn't be trading rumors like this.  Somepony could get their feelings hurt," Twilight interjected, ever the conscientious one.

"Quiet, Twilight.  It's Applejack's cousin, and besides, if Soarin really is settling down with a colt, the paparazzi will be all over it in no time," Dash called, still facing the wall so Rarity could get a better view of her stitching.  "Say, Rarity, what did Soarin mean by 'settling down soon' anyway?"  The pegasus asked, and Rarity's head dropped.

Sighing, she answered, "Ugh, fine, but you didn't hear it from me.  The reason Soarin needs his suit repaired is because he's performing in tomorrow's show at Cloudsdale, as you probably know, and then he's retiring.  He's going to make the announcement after the show, and from what I've heard, they're going to be searching for somepony to take one of the junior positions."  For Dash, time seemed to stand still for that moment.

Soarin's leaving the Wonderbolts?  That's terrible!  They can't be the Wonderbolts without Soarin!  Well, maybe the replacement will be good enough to take his place. . .  Wait a second!  A replacement!  That could be me!  Yeah, I'll go to Cloudsdale tonight and try out and I'll get a place on the team!  I'M GONNA BE A WONDERBOLT! By this point, time was resuming, but Dash had already jumped out of Soarin's uniform.  Now, she was zipping around the room shouting, "I'M GONNA BE A WONDERBOLT, I'M GONNA BE A WONDERBOLT!"  Try as she might, Rarity couldn't calm her down effectively enough to coax her back into the suit and just went back to working off of the table.

Applejack and Twilight followed as Dash bolted out of the door.  In a desperate attempt to calm the pegasus, Twilight used her magic to grab Rainbow Dash by the tail and pull her back to the ground.  "Rainbow Dash, calm down!  What's this all about you being a Wonderbolt?"

Dash hopped up and pranced back and forth with excitement.  "They need a replacement for Soarin, somepony tough, somepony good, somepony fast, and who better than the faster flier in all of Equestria?  I'll beat out everypony else and I'll become an official Wonderbolt!"  She had now grabbed Twilight by the hooves and was spinning through the air with her.  From the ground, Applejack watched absently as her mind connected the dots.

Dash is finally gonna live her dream.  Well how 'bout that?  Ah sure am glad she finally got the chance.  But if she becomes a Wonderbolt, where does that leave me? Applejack wondered, her brow becoming increasingly furrowed with worry.  "Dashie, can you come down her for a sec?"  In no time, Rainbow Dash was at her marefriend's side and Twilight Sparkle was dizzily stumbling in circles.

"What's up, AJ?"  Dash asked excitedly.  It was clear none of the thoughts Applejack had come up with had hit Dash yet.

"Sugarcube, we have a small problem here.  Yah see, Ah'm happy yah finally got yer chance to become a Wonderbolt, Ah really am, but what about me?"  Applejack asked.  Still, Dash's excitement wasn't broken.

"What about you?  We can travel Equestria, side-by-side, living the high life!"  Dash threw a hoof around Applejack shoulder and waved her other hoof to suggest great possibilities.  Applejack pulled away a bit to look Dash in the eye.

"Dashie, you know Ah can't just get up and leave the farm.  Granny Smith's gettin' older, Applebloom's not old enough to buck by herself, an' Mac and Fluttershy can't handle it all by themselves.  Ah need to be at Sweet Apple Acres, an' if you become a Wonderbolt, you'll never come home. . ."  By the end of her words, Applejack's voice had hushed to a whisper.  She felt terrible putting guilt on Dash like that, but it needed to be said for the mare to face reality.  Judging from the way Dash's ears fell, reality had hit her.

"Well, I'd be home every now and again, and. . .  And I'd probably never get to see you. . .  But I want to be a Wonderbolt so badly!  I've wanted this since I was a little filly!"  Dash said, pulling away from Applejack.

"Ah know yah have, but what about me?  What about the farm?  Yah can't just get up and leave us for good," Applejack said, trying a little offensive tactics to persuade her marefriend.

"I CAN'T?  Who are you to tell me what I can and can't do!  I'll show you what I can and can't do!  I'll go become the best Wonderbolt ever, and then you'll see what I can do!"  Dash cried, backing away.  Her eyes were brimmed with tears now, and she swatted Applejack's hoof out of the way as the cowpony made a move toward her.  Dash now leapt into the air and took off into the sky, the ground below being dotted along the way with small tears.

Back outside Carousel Boutique, Twilight wrapped a hoof around Applejack and hugged her close.  "It'll be okay, Applejack, she just needs time to see what she really wants," the unicorn said, trying to convince Applejack.

Applejack sniffled and whispered, "Hay, Twi?"

"Yeah, AJ?"

"Isn't that the way to Cloudsdale?"

Twilight hesitated for a moment.  She decided that Applejack needed the truth now.  "Yes, yes it is."  With that, Applejack began to cry harder than she had in all of her months with Rainbow Dash by her side.





As mid-afternoon began to break into dusk, Rainbow Dash landed just on the edge of Cloudsdale.  By instinct, she knew that the Wonderbolts would be practicing for the show tomorrow, and that meant they would be in the stadium.  Dodging all other ponies, she managed to sneak her way into the stadium and all the way to the locker room.  When she knocked on the door, Spitfire answered.

"How did you get in- Wait, you look familiar. . .  Oh, hay, Rainbow Dash, I remember you!  You saved my flank at the Young Fliers Competition!  What's up, if you don't mind me asking.  I figure you off all ponies know the prep work that goes into each show," Spitfire said, her eyebrow cocked up.  For a minute, Dash stood there, her mouth agape.

Shaking herself, Dash responded, "Umm, yeah, sorry.  I'm glad you remember me.  Listen, I know nopony is supposed to know this yet, but I heard from a reliable source that you guys are going to start recruiting soon."

"Yeah, sounds about right," a deeper voice from behind the door said.  The door opened wider to reveal Soarin dripping wet and drying his mane with a towel.  "Y'know, Spit, I would have thought you'd at least wait until I'm gone to replace me," the blue stallion commented, which earned him a playful shove from his teammate.

Spitfire turned back to Dash, who was still amazed there was now two of the most famous living pegasi standing in front of her right now.  "Well, Rainbow Dash, what about it?"  Spitfire asked.

"Well, you see, I was wondering if maybe I could, you know, possibly try out sometime for a position. . ."  She sounded like Fluttershy by the end; her voice had gotten so hushed.  Spitfire just chuckled a bit and pulled Soarin out into the hall with her and Dash, closing the door to the locker room.

"Well, we haven't officially started recruiting yet, Dash, but for the winner of the Young Fliers Competition and the savior of my flank, as well as Soarin's, I don't see why not," the yellow mare explained.  Soarin stepped forward when she finished talking.

"Wait, did you say Dash?  As in Rainbow Dash?"  He asked, and both the mares nodded at him in unison.  "So you're the Dash I've heard so much about!  Braeburn's told me all about you and his cousin and how happy you make her.  But what are you doing here?"  The stallion asked.

"Well, I heard from somepony that you guys were recruiting soon and I thought I'd try and get a spot sooner.  I know I probably shouldn't, but I've wanted this for such a long time!"  Dash rambled on, causing Spitfire to laugh again.

Soarin's brow furrowed.  "What about Applejack?  Did you guys not stay together?"  He inquired, confused.

"No, we're still together.  Before I came here, she told me I couldn't make it, so I wanted to prove her wrong," Dash grumbled.  Soarin frowned a bit at that news.

Turning to Spitfire, he asked, "Spit, would you mind stepping inside for a second?  I'd like to talk to my potential replacement in private."  Spitfire just nodded and stepped back into the locker room, leaving Soarin and Rainbow Dash alone in the hall.  "Now, you say she told you that you couldn't make it.  Are you sure she wasn't saying she didn't WANT you to make it?"  Soarin asked.

Thinking back, Dash supposed he was right.  "Okay, so maybe she wasn't challenging me, but she still didn't want me to go.  Doesn't she want me to be happy?  I mean, you look plenty happy," she told him, waving a hoof in his direction.

Chuckling, he replied, "Of course I'm happy.  These stallions and mares are the best friends I could ask for, and it hurts to leave them, but I want to."  Dash cocked her head to the side in confusion.

"I don't get it.  Why leave if you're happy here?  Isn't this what you've always wanted?"

"Of course it's what I want.  Or wanted. . .  You see, Dash, everything seems great when you have it all, but you eventually realize you don't have anything.  I have close friends, ponies I'll stay in touch with for the rest of my life, but that's all they are.  Just friends.  I realized I wanted something more, and I'm sure Spitfire's felt the same way.  When you've been in it as long as we have, you see these things.  Now for Spit, something or somepony in her past is keeping her from moving forward, so she's practically married herself to the job.  But me, I've still got a chance.  When I met Brae, I thought it might just be another fling, but after a while, I came to my senses.  I still have time to get out and do something that makes my life worth living," Soarin explained.

"But isn't being a Wonderbolt enough?  I mean, you perform for crowds of thousands all the time, isn't that enough to make your life worth living?"  Dash asked.

Again Soarin laughed.  "That's just it.  I perform for THEM, not me.  I don't do it to make myself happy; I do it because I have nothing else.  Or had nothing else, I guess.  Now, I've got a chance to do something to make myself happy and I'm not gonna hesitate to take it.  I'll be plenty glad to help Brae work on his orchard as long as I have him.  I'm sure you've helped Applejack on the farm before, and wasn't it great to be working with her?  If you do this, you might lose her forever, and you'd never forgive yourself for it," he told her.

"I mean, sure, I love Applejack, I love her more than I love myself, but-"

"And isn't her dream to be with you forever?  If you love her that much, why do you need to be a Wonderbolt?  From what I'm hearing, you've got it all already, so why blow it on this?"  Soarin asked her, leaning against the wall.  All of the sudden, Spitfire stepped out of the locker room.

"Practice is about to start, Soar.  Dash, if you're gonna try out, now would be the time."





On the edge of Cloudsdale, Rainbow Dash sat by herself, watching Ponyville far off in the distance.  "Well, that certainly took guts, kid," Spitfire's voice came.  Dash turned her head to look over her shoulder at the Wonderbolt.  "You gave up a lot tonight.  Let's just hope you made the right decision," she said, turning back toward the stadium.  "Don't you have someplace to be?  You ARE going to be pretty busy tomorrow."

Wiping the tears from her eyes, Dash stood up.  "Yeah, you're right. . .  I guess I should tell Applejack I'll be stopping by tomorrow after the performance," she mumbled.  "Know where I can find a good mailmare?"

Laughing, Spitfire replied, "Good and mailmare don't go together in the same sentence.  But I happen to know the best in the business.  Want me to go get her?"

"Yeah, that'd be great."





Applejack sat watching the sky as the sun came up like she usually did when Dash had been out all night, but this time was different.  Now, she watching it longingly, praying that Dash would come home.  A loud crash from downstairs caught her attention and she quickly hurried down to the kitchen.  There, a cloud of dust was settling around the infamous mailmare, Derpy.  In her mouth was a letter, which she waved around vigorously.

Taking the letter, Applejack saw it was from Dash.  She tore the letter open in the blink of an eye.  

"Dear Applejack,

I have some good and some bad news for you.  I hope you aren't still mad at me 'cause I need you to do me a favor.  Just meet me at the cave where it all began at sunset and I'll explain it all.

Love, Rainbow Dash."

Applejack's heart dropped into her stomach when she read 'some good and some bad news'. She made it.  Ah shoulda known she would. . .  Well, Ah guess the least I can do is say goodbye tonight. The letter was now dotted with tears as Applejack looked up.  She hadn't even noticed when Derpy left through the same window she'd entered through.  Steps behind her made Applejack turn around.  There, Fluttershy and Big Macintosh stood.  Applejack passed them the letter, which they read together.  Both their faces dropped as they read it, and Fluttershy looked as though she might cry.  They both embraced Applejack to try and calm her crying.





Walking through the orchard, Applejack steeled herself to the coming onslaught of emotion.  Yer happy fer her, Applejack.  Her dream's finally comin' true, don't let yerself get in the way o' that. After a few more minutes, the sun was almost completely set and Applejack found a faint glowing coming from the cave.  When she turned to the opening, she found an eloquently-set table with three tall candles, a clean white tablecloth, fine china, and delicious-looking food on the plates.  Next to the table stood Rainbow Dash, whose smile looked a tad forced.

Applejack didn't stop to think for another second before rushing over to Dash and giving her a tight hug.  "Ah missed yah, sugarcube," she whispered into Dash's ear.  Letting go, she walked over to her seat.  Dash pulled it out for her and they both sat down to start eating.  About halfway through the very awkward meal, Dash cleared her throat.

"So I met with the Wonderbolts on Cloudsdale," she said.

With an eyebrow raised, Applejack feigned a collected attitude.  "Oh?  How'd that go?"  She asked.

"Well, Spitfire and Soarin were plenty happy to let me try out for the team.  Oh, by the way, the rumors about Soarin and Braeburn are completely true," Dash explained.

Applejack nodded and waved a hoof for her to continue.

"And I talked to Soarin about taking his place.  He said he didn't really mind because he was happy to find 'the one'," Dash said, getting out of her chair and walking behind Applejack.

"Well Ah sure am glad my cousin found somepony who loves him so much.  So how did the tryout go?"

Dash hugged Applejack tightly from behind and the orange mare touched Dash's hooves with her own.  "It. . .  Didn't," Dash whispered.

Confused, Applejack said, "Come again?"

"I couldn't do it.  After listening to Soarin, I realized that I didn't need all that anymore.  I don't even want it anymore," Dash explained.  Applejack was left speechless.

"Ah. . .  Ah don't understand.  After so many years, yah got yer chance an' you turned it down?  Why?"  The cowpony asked.

"Because I have you.  I don't need to be a Wonderbolt when I have everything I could ever want right here, at Sweet Apple Acres."

Still confused, Applejack tried to turn around and look back at her marefriend, but found she couldn't while in Dash's embrace.  "If yah didn't stick around for the tryout, why were yah gone so long?"  Applejack stared at Dash's hooves as she spread them apart.  Applejack's heart stopped for a short moment.

"For this," her lover replied.  In her hooves was a dazzling golden band, perfectly sized for Applejack's hoof.  Dash released her marefriend and walked around to her side, still holding the ring.  Applejack looked up and into Dash's eyes, which were sparkling with both fear and glee.  "Applejack. . .  Will you marry me?"

Applejack's eyes filled up with tears when she heard those magical words.  It had been three short months being together, but they had both never been happier.  Now, Dash had willingly given up her lifelong dream of joining the Wonderbolts for a chance to be with Applejack forever.

"Yes.  Of course!"  Applejack said.  Dash hugged her tighter than she ever had before and they shared a moment like that.  They stared into each other's eyes passionately for a moment before they looked away and blew out the candles.  Walking out of the cave, Dash unfurled her wings and Applejack wordlessly hopped onto her back.  Together they soared through the sky above the orchard, and Applejack loved every second of it because she knew, from that moment on, that she would be able to share times like this with Rainbow Dash for the rest of her life, and that was all she could have ever hoped for.