> The Magic of Love
>  by ashley-luv
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> what about your cupcake?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Wait a minute— since when is Countess Coloratura in Ponyville?"

It had been weeks since the five friends (Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity) had been together as a group, the last time being at Twilight's coronation. They had gotten caught up in their own lives and endeavors, and could never find a time that worked for everyone.

Well, it was more accurate to say a time that worked for Rainbow Dash. The rest of the ponies had continued to see each other often, but Rainbow Dash had claimed to be 'too busy being awesome' to ever come into Ponyville. Though suspicious, none of them thought twice about it. As a fully fledged member of the Wonderbolts, it made sense for Rainbow to be busy.

But it wasn't the truth. In reality, Rainbow Dash had purposefully been avoiding Ponyville. Of all her friends (besides Twilight), she had been the one most anxious about this new chapter in their lives. Would her friends still be close, despite leading such vastly different lives?

It was a question Rainbow Dash was too scared to answer. So, she had simply avoided Ponyville, deciding no answer was better than facing the possibility of an answer she didn't like.

It was only after much nagging from Pinkie Pie that Rainbow Dash finally relented. She agreed to meet for a simple brunch with her friend group at Sugarcube Corner. But when she arrived, she had immediately noticed a certain Stetson-wearing pony was absent. In asking about Applejack's whereabouts, Rainbow Dash wished she hadn't asked at all. Because now she knew.

Rara was back in Ponyville.

Rarity looked at Rainbow Dash perturbed. "Rara— as she prefers to be called now— arrived to town yesterday. She is yet to be physically prepared for some complex choreography she is to perform at her next concert. Unfortunately, her trainer is injured, leaving Rara with nopony else to help her. So, she has asked Applejack to train her. In exchange, Rara promised Applejack some (and I quote) 'good, old-fashioned earth pony fun.'"

Rarity made a face. "I can only imagine what that means."

Applejack and Rara had met at some summer camp so, most likely, their version of fun entailed the type of outdoor activities Applejack loved and Rarity hated.

Rainbow Dash was lost in her own thoughts. Having skipped Coloratura's concert the last time she was in Ponyville, Rainbow only remembered her as some stuck-up celebrity. She couldn't imagine what type of 'fun' a pop star like Coloratura could offer anypony, let alone one as sporty and competitive as Applejack.

Remembering the concert resurfaced other feelings against Coloratura. While Rainbow Dash had shared her entire life story with Applejack, from anecdotes about flight camp to competitions her parents enlisted her in, Applejack was never one to talk about herself. But Rainbow Dash never thought twice about AJ's lack of communication. She had known from others that AJ competed in rodeos since fillyhood, and had assumed that was the extent of Applejack's childhood experience.

But Rainbow Dash had been wrong. When Coloratura came to Ponyville, Rainbow Dash learned that Applejack had had more of a colorful youth than she let on. Who knew Applejack went to summer camps as a filly?

Certainly not Rainbow Dash.

For some reason, the casual omission had annoyed Rainbow. She had always been open with Applejack; in fact, besides Fluttershy, Applejack knew more about Rainbow Dash's past than any other pony. Learning that the reverse wasn't true had bothered Rainbow Dash, enough so that she skipped Coloratura's concert. She didn't want to be around the mare who served as a reminder that Applejack had memories she never bothered to share with Rainbow.

And now, Applejack was going to make some more memories with Coloratura.

But why? Rainbow asked herself. Why would she choose to hang out with some boring, stuck-up pony over me? Does she not even care that I haven't been around?

Rainbow Dash felt a sudden pain in her heart.

No; that just can't be true.

Pushing aside her feelings of neglect, Rainbow Dash projected her anger onto another aspect of Rarity's comment.

"'Earth pony fun?' What does that mean?" Rainbow Dash huffed. "AJ has plenty of fun with non-earth ponies. I mean, look at us! AJ and I always have a good time," she narrowed her eyes and crossed her hooves. "And I'm not an earth pony."

Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie exchanged uneasy looks. They didn't think AJ's absence would be a big deal. In fact, they had encouraged Applejack to miss brunch, citing that Rainbow Dash would understand. After all, Applejack hadn't seen Rara for much longer than she hadn't see Rainbow Dash. And, Rainbow could see Applejack any day, whereas Rara was only in town for a little while.

These were all points that flashed through Rarity's mind, but she suspected none of them would make a difference to Rainbow Dash.

So, with all the patience she could muster, Rarity spoke again.

"Rainbow Dash, it was a comment made in jest. Rara meant it as a humorous way to convey that she plans to have fun with Applejack during her visit, not just spend all their time training. They must have all sorts of little sayings like that between them." Rarity gave Dash a look. "Now darling, is that really what's bothering you?"

Rainbow's nostrils flared, ignoring Rarity's question.

"Well, I bet that whatever they're doing is at least twenty percent less fun than if AJ had come to brunch with me. I mean, us," Rainbow corrected. "Come to brunch with us."

Rainbow Dash's wings unconsciously began to flap, lifting her from the booth. The cupcake she had been eating sat completely forgotten on the table.

Rainbow Dash declared, "I'm gonna go to Sweet Apple Acres and check out all this earth pony fun Applejack is having. And I can bet you girls right now that it won't be even close to the fun AJ and I have on a daily basis."

"You mean 'had.' Had on a daily basis," Rarity corrected with a raised eyebrow. "It's hard to have fun with a pony when you haven't seen them in weeks."

Rainbow Dash glared at Rarity, crossing her hooves. That was a low blow, but a fair one.

"Rainbow Dash, why don't you sit down and finish your breakfast?" Fluttershy suggested, looking up anxiously at her friend. "Applejack is so happy to be with Rara again. You wouldn't want to interrupt that, right? It could make them both unhappy."

Huh, Rainbow Dash mused. Making Coloratura unhappy sounds kind of nice.

"Great idea, Fluttershy," Rainbow beamed. "I'll go over and interrupt whatever they're doing. AJ will be super grateful I saved her from whatever boring stuff Rara has her doing. And then, she'll want to have some real fun." Rainbow Dash puffed her chest. "And that's where I come in!"

Rainbow Dash saluted in goodbye to her friends. "I'll see you mares later!"

And in a streak of rainbow, Rainbow Dash flew out the door towards her destination.

"WAIT!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, though Rainbow Dash was long gone. "WHAT ABOUT YOUR CUPCAKE?"

Pinkie Pie gave a sad pout in the direction of RD's half-eaten meal. She knew Rainbow wanted to crash Rara's visit, but she could at least do it on a full stomach.

Meanwhile, Fluttershy and Rarity exchanged worried looks.

"We should go after her," Fluttershy suggested quietly.

"Agreed," Rarity glowered, getting out of her seat. Why is it always Rainbow Dash? She mentally grumbled.

"Come on girls! If we hurry, we can get there before she does something she'll regret."
> a mare of many talents
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lyra and Bon Bon had a special bet whenever they saw the familiar rainbow streak across the sky.

"Wonderbolts practice." "Sweet Apple Acres."

When the streak headed towards the countryside, Lyra gave her wife a smug smile.

"Told you."





Rainbow Dash arrived at Sweet Apple Acres a moment later. Before she had to decide where to begin searching for Applejack, she heard laughter coming from inside the barn. With narrowed eyes, Rainbow Dash flew to one of the window and peeked inside.

Applejack and Rara sat on the barn floor, their bodies leaning against each other's. In front of them was a thick record album, and a record player sat a few ways off from them.

Rainbow Dash felt a pang of nostalgia at the sight of Applejack. She hadn't seen the mare in weeks, and it took everything she had to not simply fly into the barn and hug her.

Or, alternatively, tell her off for missing brunch.

"Okay okay, we have to do this one," Rara pointed at a record that was too far for Rainbow Dash to read its inscription.

Applejack gently pushed Rara in repulsion, glaring fondly at her.

"Rara, I love you, but I'm never singing that song ever again," Applejack tried to hold in a laugh, but couldn't. "You don't remember the last time we sang that song?"

"Of course I do!" Rara joined in Applejack's laughter. "Which is why we should sing it again. You know, for the memories."

"Singin' this song at camp karaoke is a memory from fillyhood I've worked very hard to forget," Applejack pushed back again, but the huge grin on her face betrayed she was close to breaking. "I still can't believe there are ponies out there who might remember me singing this silly song."

Rara glared playfully at AJ.

"Hey! I wrote this silly song," she complained, but couldn't hold back another laugh. "So if anypony should wish that nopony ever heard this, it should be me."

"Then why don't we find another song to sing along to?"

"Oh, come on AJ! Pleaaase?" Rara pleaded, poking Applejack's shoulder repeatedly with a puppy-dog eye expression. "For me?"

"Oh alright, fine!" Applejack finally relented with another laugh. "But only because you're so darn annoying."

Rara squealed, throwing her hooves around AJ and hugging her tightly.

"You know you love me," Rara sing-songed, prompting a smile from Applejack. The two nuzzles noses affectionately as Rara got to her hooves and took out the record.

Rainbow Dash gagged. Since when is Applejack so sappy? She thought to herself in revulsion.

But Rainbow Dash couldn't help but to unconsciously feel it a little unfair that her and Applejack's nose touches were limited to competitive stand-offs. They were never gentle touches of affection.

The realization prompted a sour emotion in the pit of her stomach, one she couldn't name.

Shaking off the unidentifiable and very unpleasant feeling, Rainbow Dash refocused her attention to what was happening inside the barn. Her eyebrows scrunched in confusion when AJ procured two handheld microphones from seemingly nowhere. She tossed one to Rara, keeping the other for herself.

The appearance of the microphones made Rainbow Dash take a look at the rest of the space. The inside had changed from a typical barn to the backstage set of a concert. It was fraught with various instruments and sound equipment, as well as trunks she assumed contained Rara's things.

Rara trotted to place a record on the record player. It began to spin, letting out a cheerful and bouncy beat. It was the type of beat Rainbow Dash never would have associated with Applejack, even if she hadn't already known that AJ's favorite genre of music is country.

Rara playfully danced back to Applejack, bouncing to the rhythm of the beat. It triggered a sudden realization for Rainbow Dash as she realized what was about to happen.

"Oh please, karaoke?" She chortled nastily to herself in a low voice, blowing a raspberry. "That's so lame!"

So much for earth pony fun, Rainbow thought to herself smugly. I don't have to be an earth pony to know AJ is musical. She and I have sung plenty of songs before.

Rainbow's ears twitched as she heard running hooves behind her. She didn't bother turning: the hooves and accompanying boing boing was enough to know that her friends had finally caught up to her.

"Oh Rainbow Dash, thank heavens you decided not to interrupt," Rarity called breathlessly, stopping to stand below a flying RD.

"Agreed," Pinkie chirped, "I didn't think you'd hold back. But here you are!"

"Puh-lease, I—"

Before Rainbow Dash could continue her defense, a powerful soprano voice drifted from inside the barn. The sudden singing caused Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity to sprint to the window, peeking inside the barn with Rainbow Dash. 

Rainbow Dash's mouth dropped and her eyes widened. Throwing caution to the wind, she pressed her face fully against the window to get a better look inside.

AJ and Rara were standing face-to-face, singing in a classic duet style into their microphones. It was obvious that Applejack was trying to hold in laughter, but the huge grin on her face was one Rainbow Dash hadn't seen in a while. They moved in sync as they sang the chorus, their simple choreography making it clear that they had, indeed, performed the song before.

In the middle of her lyric, Rara shook her flank in the exact way Twilight and Princess Cadence do during their weird greeting. At the sight, Applejack couldn't contain her laughter. She fell on her back, laughing hysterically.

Rara stopped singing, going to the record player to turn off the loud music. She tried to give a scolding look to Applejack but failed miserably. Instead, she burst into laughter, falling right besides the cowgirl on the barn floor. The two mares were hysterical, barely forming sentences as they tried to speak.

"I- I can't believe you actually tried doing the dance!"

"Applejack, you were supposed to do it with me!"

"I— I couldn't. It was too— too—"

Applejack cut off, another guffaw stopping her.

Rainbow Dash couldn't watch anymore. She landed on the ground, feeling strangely defeated. She and Applejack have sung plenty of songs together.

But never for fun. And never with the intention of being silly, letting loose, and having fun.

Rainbow Dash shook her head vigorously, as if trying to shake off her thoughts. It's not like she was actually in a competition with Rara to see who Applejack had the most fun with... Right?

"Now Rainbow Dash, do you do goofy karaoke with Applejack?" Rarity interrupted Rainbow Dash's brooding, a smirk on her face. "You and Applejack's activities always focus on sports and the like. You forget that she isn't just an athlete. She's a mare of many talents and hobbies. While you may share emotionally and physically exhausting athletic play with her, perhaps Rara is better equiped to partake in more fun and pleasurable activities."

Fluttershy frowned at Rarity, sensing her friend was trying to instigate. Choosing her words carefully, Fluttershy said, "Don't feel bad, Rainbow Dash. None of us— besides Pinkie Pie, obviously— are as musical as Applejack. Ponies don't have to share every single hobby to have fun."

"Yeah!" Pinkie Pie interrupted. "And don't feel bad that Applejack is having loads more fun hanging out with Rara when, on the other hoof, you two always end up arguing when you hang out!"

Rainbow Dash's nostrils flared. Pinkie Pie may have been well-intentioned, but the comment was much more blunt than Rarity's sly attempt to get under Rainbow Dash's skin.

"What Pinkie means," Fluttershy interjected hastily, "Is that maybe this is what Rara meant by 'earth pony fun.' Most pegasi like to fly or do sporty things, which can get really competitive and scary. It's why I like being on the ground more; there's more options for things that count as fun."

"Yup!" Pinkie agreed with a vigoruous nod. "Earth ponies and unicorns can't fly and do cool tricks. But we can definitely throw a mean sleepover with karaoke and face masks and cool stories!"

Pinkie Pie let out a loud gasp.

"I bet that's what Applejack and Rara are going to do every. Single. Night!" She exclaimed, bouncing in place. "An endless sleepover! That's a recipe for endless fun! And—"

"OKAY!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, her cheeks flushed in annoyance. "I get it! Rara and her stupid, boring 'earth pony fun' is better than whatever AJ and I do!"

"Darling, no-"

"That's not true—"

"Yup!"

Rarity and Fluttershy glared at Pinkie Pie, who hastily corrected herself.

"Um, I mean, nope! Karaoke and sleepovers and laughter and fun are definitelyb no better than competitions and exercise and trying to one-up each other and getting angry all the time."

Rainbow Dash sighed in frustration, but couldn't be too angry.

Because Pinkie Pie was right. As the element of laughter, who better to judge when AJ had the most fun? Applejack's current situation with Rara versus the many competitions Pinkie had referee'd for Applejack and Rainbow Dash over the years made the choice obvious.

Maybe she's right, Rainbow Dash thought forlornly. Maybe me and AJ don't have as much fun together as I thought.

"Cheer up, Dashie. You can't be the best at everything," Pinkie Pie beamed. "Besides, you don't have time to keep spying on Applejack and being sad! You have Wonderbolts practice!"

Rainbow Dash's eyes widened.

Oh, horse apples! How did I forget? When have I ever forgotten a Wonderbolts practice?

Never. Not until today.

Her eyes anxiously shifted back to the barn. She couldn't help it: she wanted one last peek.

Rainbow Dash flew over her friends to the window, peeking in. AJ and Rara were sitting up again, sifting through the album. They were laughing, smiling, and just, overall, enjoying each other's company.

For the briefest of seconds, Rainbow Dash imagined herself in Rara's place. Sitting on the barn floor, her and AJ's tails tangled, leaning against each other to stay upright, laughing as they recounted memories...

"rainbow dash? Rainbow Dash? RAINBOW DASH?"

Rainbow Dash made an indescribable sound of surprise as she was snapped back to reality. Fluttershy was flying besides her, waving a hoof in RD's face.

"Right! Yes! Wonderbolts practice!" Rainbow tried to sound excited, but the comment came out slightly bitter. "Well, see you girls later!"

And with no further goodbye or explanation for her behavior, she was gone.

Rarity sighed, exchanging glances with the remaining ponies. They all had a look of dread.

"We should check on her later," Fluttershy said softly, to which the other two nodded.

"Who knew Dashie could get so jealous?" Pinkie Pie commented off-handedly, the three mares walking back up the path that led to town.

"I'm not surprised," Rarity said darkly. "When it comes to each other, I'm never surprised the extent to which Applejack and Rainbow Dash get caught up in their emotions."

Fluttershy gave Rarity a questioning look.

"Do you think...?"

"Darling," Rarity deadpanned. "It's been obvious for a while now."

But was 'it' obvious to Rainbow Dash?

Most certainly not. As the pegasus sped towards the Wonderbolts compound, Rainbow Dash replayed the image of Applejack sprawled on the barn floor laughing again and again. Rainbow Dash knew she was upset because of it, but she didn't understand why.

All she knew was that it had something to do with the visiting earth pony that was laughing alongside AJ.

A pony that wasn't her.
> we are definitely not friends
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow Dash arrived at the Wonderbolts aerial compound with her mind still on the ground. Try as she might, she couldn't explain to herself why was so annoyed about Rara's visit.

What the hay is wrong with me? I should be happy that AJ is happy. Rainbow Dash chided. I haven't seen her in weeks, and look at how much good that did her. 

Her thoughts shifted to a dejected tone. I guess she made the right choice to hang out with Rara instead of me. 

"Crash! There you are!" Spitfire called once Rainbow was within earshot. "Practice is on the ground today. We've been waiting for you to head to Ponyville's gym."

Rainbow Dash made a face.

"Um, aren't we a flying team?" She questioned. "How does practice on the ground make sense?"

Spitfire rolled her eyes and explained, "Soarin's celebrity crush-"

"RARA IS IN PONYVILLE!" Soarin interrupted, speeding to Spitfire's side. In a gushing voice of an overzealous fan, Soarin exclaimed, "Rara, previously known as Countess Coloratura, is going to be at the Ponyville gym! She rented out a private room, and I got us the room right across from her's."

Rainbow Dash let out a loud groan of annoyance.

"What is it about Coloratura that everypony wants to spend time with her?" Rainbow Dash crossed her hooves as she glared at Soarin. "She's not even that cool! I can think of soo many ponies that are way more awesome than her."

Soarin reciprocated Rainbow Dash's glare. He flew up to her altitude, while the rest of the Wonderbolts watched in amusement. This was something they had to see. 

"Rara is a huge pop star! And with her upcoming tour, she's going to be an international pop star, since she's going to visit kingdoms outside of Equestria," Soarin defended. "Of all ponies, I would have thought you'd like her, Crash. In all her interviews, Rara gushes about that one mare, one of your fellow Elements of Harmony. I think her name is—"

"Wait, wait, wait," Rainbow Dash interrupted. "Do you mean Applejack?"

"That's her!" Soarin exclaimed with a pleased expression. "Sorry, the name slipped my mind for a teeny second."

Rainbow Dash didn't care that Soarin apologized. She was offended on Applejack's behalf.

How could Soarin not know the name of Ponyville's best athlete, of the hero of Equestria? 

"Well, her name is Applejack, and she's saved the world more times than anypony can count. How many times has Coloratura ever saved the world, huh? Zero! And yet, somehow, you know her name," Rainbow Dash retorted, crossing her hooves. 

Soarin was dumbfounded. He was too speechless to even defend Rara. He knew Rainbow Dash was loyal to her friends, but this felt strangely different. 

Meanwhile, Spitfire had taken a keen interest in the conversation. She had a feeling about what Rainbow Dash's real issue might be, but wasn't sure. 

Yet. 

Spitfire flew up to Soarin and Dash's, a smirk on her face. 

"So I'm guessing you and Rara aren't the best of friends?" Spitfire asked Rainbow Dash with the intention of instigating. 

Rainbow Dash took the bait. She glared at her captain with genuine annoyance. 

"We are definitely not friends," she grumbled, "And I don't plan on befriending, either."

Spitfire snickered. "Well like it or not, we already reserved a room at the gym. So you're coming, Crash."

With a pout, Rainbow Dash followed her team to Ponyville. She blocked out their excited chatter, lagging towards the back of the group. This morning, she had been desperate to spy on AJ and Rara. But now, she wanted to do anything but be near them. She remembered AJ and Rara's uncontrollable laughter, their small touches of affection, and constant exchange of childhood memories. The remembrance brought a sour taste to Rainbow's mouth. 

This was not going to be fun. 

A unicorn greeted the Wonderbolts when they arrived, leading them upstairs. The private rooms at the Ponyville gym were set up identically. They all had a door that had to be magically opened, and a rectangular window besides said door that gave a view inside. People in the rooms across from each other could, theoretically, watch each other the entire time if they wished.

The unicorn stopped at the end of the hall, pressing her horn against the door. A click was heard, and the door opened. 

"Sweet Celestia, it's HER!" 

The sudden declaration startled the group. Soarin's face was pressed against the window of the room opposite of their's. He was clearly love struck, and looked a little weird overall. 

Ugh, Rainbow thought to herself a little embarrassed. Is that how I looked this morning when I spied on AJ?

Rainbow Dash tried to keep her cool, but her impulse control wasn't built for that. She shoved past her teammates to peer into the room as well. 

The room had various exercise equipment placed in an orderly manner. The back was set up like a dance studio, with mirrors covering the wall and a dance floor replacing the regular floor. 

AJ and Coloratura were stretching in front of the mirrors. Coloratura was spotting AJ as the farmgirl lifted her back hoof onto the ballet pole. Both mares were wearing athletic clothes, outlining their difference in figures. Coloratura was lean, while AJ was toned.

"She's so pretty," Soarin sighed. 

Rainbow Dash, whose gaze was on the orange earth pony, didn't think twice about her reply. 

"Agreed."

The moment she said it, Rainbow's hoof flew to cover her mouth. She flew backwards and away from the window, crashing into the wall behind her. She was met with the questioning eyes of her teammates. 

"I thought you didn't like Rara," Soarin accused, looking at Rainbow Dash suspiciously. 

"I don't think Crash was talking about Rara," Spitfire, who had flown to see inside the room, commented. She turned away and smirked, prompting RD's cheeks to burn crimson. "I'll give you this, Applejack sure is built."

Fleetfoot peered into the room. She exchanged a sly smile with Spitfire, an unsaid conspiracy between them. 

"And I gotta say," Fleetfoot said, dramatically staring at Applejack. "She's a looker. Very mare-next-door."

"Well I don't think AJ is pretty!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. Her eyes widened in horror as she backtracked because, well, that was a lie. "I mean, she is. But that's objectively speaking, you know? Like I can't think she's pretty, because it's an established fact. It's like... Like saying 'I think the sky is blue'! Everyone knows that, so you can't claim to think it, you know?"

Rainbow's babbling was interrupted as her entire team burst into laughter. Spitfire and Fleetfoot hoof bumped, grinning at their success. 

"Never thought you would fall this hard," Fleetfoot snickered. 

"Well, crash is more accurate," Spitfire countered. The comment got another round of snickers among the team. 

Rainbow spluttered, words not managing to form aloud. What the hay are they talking about?

"Alright, alright, that's enough for now," Spitfire called the team to attention. "Crash and Soarin can drool over the mares later. Now come on, team!" Spitfire barked, "We still got a work out to complete!" 

Spitfire led the way into their room, followed by the rest of the team. Soarin was the only one left besides Dash in the hallway. He gave her a sympathetic pat on her head.

"Cheer up, Crash. If Applejack has any sense, she'll know to settle for you," he said. "Childhood friend or not, Rara is out of all our leagues."

Rainbow Dash growled after Soarin. In this hypothetical situation, AJ would be settling for boring, less cool Coloratura. Being with Rainbow Dash, on the other hand, would mean AJ would be with someone her equal. 

What? Why am I even thinking about this? Rainbow chided, shaking her head vigorously to clear it. 

Rainbow Dash gave one final peek into the opposite room. Now, AJ and Rara were on their backs. It was evident that AJ was teaching Rara an exercise, as Rara mimicked whatever AJ did. Rainbow recognized the exercise: it was an ab and hooves exercise that really, really hurt. But AJ made it look easy, her abdomen and hooves flexing obviously in her athletic wear...

"CRASH! Get your flank in here!"

Rainbow snapped out of it again. For Merlin's sake, this was the millionth time today she got lost in her thoughts about Applejack. What the hay is wrong with me?!

"COMING!" Dash shouted back, flying into the practice room and shutting the door. 

Rainbow Dash silently promised herself that she wouldn't look out the window and into the other practice room. If she doesn't look, she can't see AJ. And if she can't see AJ, she can't get lost in these weird thoughts about her best friend.
> i Pinkie Promise
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spitfire led a hardcore workout that, by the end, had the Wonderbolts collapsed in exhaustion. As Spitfire went into one of her infamous 'pep talks' (code for 'shouting a lot of insults'), Rainbow Dash concentrated on not looking away from Spitfire to look into the room across from their's. 

But she couldn't help herself. 

She looked. 

And that was enough to hold her attention, her jaw dropping in awe. 

Applejack and Rara were on the dance floor. AJ's hat was gone, and her mane in a high ponytail. While Rara had spent the majority of the time mimicking AJ as they worked out (Not that Rainbow Dash would know, of course. Not that she accidentally-on-purpose looked every few minutes), AJ's eyes were now trained on Rara. The choreography was complex and, by the looks of it, meant for two. 

Drowning out Spitfire, Rainbow's tired wings lifted her from the ground to get a better look. 

Wow, she thought to herself as her eyes widened in fascination. AJ's got moves...

"RAINBOW DASH!" 

Rainbow was, again, snapped back to reality. Spitfire was flying in front of her, blocking her eyeline. 

"Is there somewhere else you want to be?" Spitfire spat. 

"No ma'am! I'm, ah, happy to be here," Rainbow replied, stuttering in the second sentence. Years of friendship with Applejack had done her no good: she couldn't even lie anymore. 

Spitfire sighed. "This is useless. You and Soarin need to just go over there and say hi." 

Though Rainbow wasn't looking, she guessed that the high-pitched squeak came from Soarin. 

Spitfire looked at her teammates, who were still on the floor. 

"Let's go team! Crash is going to say hi to Applejack, who will then introduce Soarin to Rara." Soarin looked unimpressed at Rainbow Dash and Soarin. "Will that make you two happy?"

"Yes!" Soarin shouted, life jumping back into him. The hope of meeting Rara brought the Wonderbolts to their hooves. They flew off the floor and rushed to the door, excited at the opportunity to meet a fellow celebrity. 

Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash dragged her hooves as she flew after them, an annoyed look on her face. She didn't want to introduce Coloratura to anypony, thank you very much. She thought about sneaking off... But her desire to see Applejack outweighed her desire to avoid Coloratura. 

Sighing, Rainbow followed her team out the door and across the hall. Spitfire gestured her forward, and Rainbow Dash unwillingly flew forward to knock. 

After a few seconds, the door swung open. And after a day of spying on her friend, Rainbow Dash was finally face-to-face with Applejack. 

Up close, AJ's cheeks were flushed from exercise, and small beads of sweat lined her hairline. Her bangs had escaped from her ponytail, giving them an extra fluffy look. 

'Earth pony fun' my flank. I've seen AJ sweat like this before, Rainbow thought as she grinned at her friend. It was a snide comment that made her feel better, as if AJ's time with Rara was nothing special. 

"Rainbow Dash!" Applejack grinned and stepped forward for a hug before stopping herself with a sheepish smile. "I'd give you a hug, but I'm a little sweat—"

A blur of rainbow launched itself at Applejack. Rainbow Dash has never in her life cared how sweaty or dirty AJ was. And this certainly wasn't going to be the day she started to. 

"APPLEJACK!" 

Rainbow Dash and Applejack crashed onto the floor in a tight embrace. Applejack let out a hearty chuckle, giving Rainbow a fond smile as she reciprocated the hug. Applejack stood up, closing her eyes as she snuggled against Rainbow.

"I've missed you too, sugarcube," she said. "Sorry for missing today's brunch. I'm entertaining a guest."

AJ's apology snapped Rainbow out of her euphoric daze. Right— Coloratura was there. 

Rainbow Dash's embrace loosened as she huffed. "Oh yeah. I heard," she grunted with narrowed eyes. "Not that you told me, of course. Bet you didn't want to tell a pegasus all about the 'earth pony fun' you and your best friend are gonna have."

Applejack frowned at the sudden change in Dash's mood. But before she could ask about it, Rara's voice interrupted. 

"You must be Rainbow Dash," the pony said with a smile as she got closer to the pair. "AJ's told me all about you. She can't stop bragging about her awesome Wonderbolt friend."

AJ and Rara exchanged a look, with Rara having a slight smirk and AJ a warning glare. But the look went unnoticed by Rainbow Dash, who was busy focusing on the fact that Applejack had bragged about her. 

And to Coloratura, of all ponies, Rainbow thought, a pleased expression crossing her face. Take that, Countess.

AJ trotted besides Rara, putting a hoof around the mare's neck. It was meant to seem as a hug, but Rainbow could have sworn Applejack was pinching Rara. 

"Speaking of the Wonderbolts," Applejack changed the subject, glancing towards the doorway. The team was nervously huddled there, with Soarin peeking behind an unamused Spitfire. "Everypony, I'd like y'all to meet Rara. I'm sure y'all know who she is, with her being a big-name singer and all."

Rara blushed, but was pleased at the compliment. "And Rara, I'd like you to meet Rainbow Dash and the rest of the Wonderbolts."

Before Rainbow could give a nasty quip about not knowing who Rara was, Soarin rushed inside the room. 

"Hi Rara I'm Soarin," he said in a rushed tone. He extended his hoof and grabbed Rara's, shaking it fast. "It's so nice to meet you. Well, better than nice. It's great. So cool. Amazing."

Applejack stepped away as the rest of the Wonderbolts entered the room to introduce themselves. Her eyes went to an annoyed Dash. What had gotten into her friend?

Dash felt a sudden pull of her tail, strong enough to yank her from the sky onto the ground. She landed right in front of Applejack, and their eyes met in a mutual annoyed look. 

"Can I have a word, Rainbow Dash?" AJ asked, her tone indicating that she wasn't going to take no for an answer. 

Rainbow Dash flared her nostrils. 

"Not like I have a choice," she grumbled, following AJ away from the larger group and to the doorway. 

"Rainbow, what is up with the attitude?" Applejack demanded in a low voice, her eyes drilling into Rainbow. 

Rainbow slumped against the doorway and crossed her arms, meeting AJ's gaze defiantly.

"I don't have any attitude."

"Rainbow Dash..."

"Yes A.J.?"

"What is your problem?"

"Oh, I have a problem?" Rainbow finally snapped, her wings flapping to levitate her off the ground. She gestured with her front hooves back towards Rara and the Wonderbolts. "No, AJ, I think it's you who has a problem. How come you didn't tell me Coloratura was coming to Ponyville?"

Applejack frowned. "Sugarcube, I didn't know myself until a few days ago. And I hadn't seen you close enough to the ground to tell you, with you being so busy."

Rainbow opened her mouth and closed it. That is... A valid explanation. 

So why am I still mad?

"Okay, well, why didn't you come to today's breakfast? Is Coloratura and her 'earth pony fun' more important than me?"

Applejack raised an eyebrow. Yikes. That was a slip up Rainbow herself didn't expect. 

Rainbow Dash quickly corrected, "Me and the other girls. Is Coloratura more important than me and the other girls?"

AJ couldn't help it: a small, knowing smile grew on her face. 

So this was what Rainbow Dash was upset about. 

"Sugarcube, you know you're one of the most important ponies in my life. I've missed you, and not seeing you around these last few weeks has been worse than a spoiled zap apple season," Applejack's tone had softened, which calmed Rainbow. Besides, the reassurance of Applejack's affection made her feel a bit better. No— a lot better. "I just haven't seen Rara in so many moons, I decided to skip brunch. I want to soak up all the time I can get to be with her and catch up, since she's always so busy. She's kind of like you in that way," AJ flicked Rainbow's bangs affectionately, "Busy chasing a dream."

Rainbow Dash felt a heavy weight in her stomach. Put that way, she kind of was like Coloratura: two celebrities whose careers kept them away from their friends. 

But I don't want to be like her, Rainbow Dash gulped. The mere thought of only getting to see AJ once every few moons made her nauseous.

"Applejack, I am never too busy for you," Rainbow Dash flicked Applejack's ponytail, mimicking how AJ had flicked her bangs. "I'd rather quit the Wonderbolts than not have time to hang out. Or nap in your trees. Or drink your cider. Or prove to you that I'm the better athlete." 

The last comment drew a sly grin from Rainbow, but before AJ could playfully disagree, Rainbow Dash flew a little lower to put a hoof to the mare's mouth. 

"I'm not finished," Rainbow Dash said. The words poured out after that.  

"I guess I have been caught up with the team. It's probably why I was so upset when I heard you were with somepony else when I finally had free time. I, ahem," Rainbow looked away and rubbed the back of her head, a faint pink going to her cheeks. "I even ditched the girls and flew to Sweet Apple Acres this morning to confront you. But when I saw you all happy with Coloratura in the barn, it felt like you were happier... Without me."

This time, Applejack cut in. 

"Now hold on a pony minute Dash," Applejack said a bit taken aback, as if offended by the mere suggestion. "I understand why you were upset. Believe me, these past few weeks, I also haven't been myself. You can ask Big Mac or Granny Smith." A matching blush grew AJ's face. "Or Rara. All day, I'd keep my eyes to the sky while I worked the farm, hoping I'd see you flyin' down. I'd write to Rara about how proud I was of you, but how I missed you all the same."

It was Applejack's turn to look away from Rainbow Dash's unreadable expression. But Rainbow Dash wasn't upset. 

I was on her mind this whole time?

"You're right, I could've found time to go at least for a few minutes to brunch. But I had seen all the girls recently, so I would only have gone to see you."

Rainbow Dash pouted. So much for being on Applejack's mind. 

"Well?" Rainbow demanded, crossing her hooves. Her accusing tone was back, despite the mushy, warm feeling she had in her heart as a result of AJ's admission of missing her.  "If you missed me so much, why didn't you go?"

"Same reason you didn't barge in on me and Rara this morning," Applejack met Rainbow's eyes. "I thought you were just as happy with me as without me."

Rainbow's heart dropped. 

How could Applejack think that, even for a second? Rainbow thought in shock. If anything, I'm probably the most happy with AJ. 

And it was true. Rainbow Dash preferred the cowgirl's company over anypony else's. Heck, that morning's breakfast became unimportant when Applejack hadn't shown up, even though Rainbow Dash had also not seen the rest of her friends. 

Suddenly, it all clicked in Rainbow's head. 

She had felt everything Applejack had felt, except AJ had felt this way for weeks and said nothing. She didn't march up to the Wonderbolts compound to spy on Rainbow Dash. She didn't trash-talk the Wonderbolts to their friends. She didn't even treat Rainbow Dash any different when she first saw her at the door. AJ took the imaginary slight in silence, hiding her pain while Rainbow Dash had worn it on her sleeve.

"AJ, I'm so sorry. You're right. I—" Rainbow Dash let out a heavy sigh, flouncing onto her flank in defeat. "It was kind of hypocritical of me to get mad at you for missing today's breakfast when I haven't made time to see you either. I shouldn't have gotten mad like that. But I Pinkie Promise AJ," Rainbow Dash recreated the movements for the famous promise, "From now on, I'll find time. And if not, I'll make time."

Rainbow Dash suddenly felt two hooves around her neck. A faint blush spread on her cheeks as she registered that Applejack was... Hugging her. It's not as if the two friends hadn't hugged before. If anything, Rainbow was the most physically comfortable with her friend and occasional rival. 

But not having talked to AJ in so long made the hug so much more awesome. 

Rainbow Dash's body relaxed against AJ's, and she closed her eyes as she snuggled against the earth pony's shoulder. This close to her, Rainbow Dash recognized the familiar scent of AJ's body (the slight smell of sweat was almost unnoticeable, due to being overpowered by a natural sweet smell) and mane (this one was easy: apples and cider and happiness).

After a long moment, the two ponies separated. 

AJ smiled at Dash, and made the gestures of the Pinkie Promise. 

"Rainbow Dash, I Pinkie Promise that from now on, I'll let you know when I miss you. I can't exactly fly up to your fancy house or training grounds, but I'll find some way to let you know."

Rainbow Dash beamed, her wings flapping to fly her off the ground. She was weirdly at peace, calm even. Knowing AJ missed her as much as she did felt good.

Take that, Coloratura. 

Nothing could bother Rainbow Dash right now. Not even the strange smirks exchanged by Spitfire and Fleetfoot, or the knowing smile on Rara's face. They had all been watching the interaction, and it was enough to confirm their suspicions. 

Rainbow Dash had fallen (though crashed is a better term) for Applejack.
> i can see why you'd like her
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Applejack and Rainbow Dash walked (or, in Rainbow Dash's case, flew) back to the larger group. 

"Rara and I are cooking dinner for the family tonight. You should join us, Dash," AJ mentioned, glancing at her friend with a smile. It was the ideal situation for Applejack: she would be with her favorite ponies all at once. 

Rainbow Dash hesitated, looking over at Coloratura. Now that Applejack had compared the two, Rainbow Dash could think of two other important similarities between herself and Rara. Remembering the scene at the barn, Rainbow guessed that Rara cared for Applejack almost as much as she does. And two, both ponies have both been separated for some period of time from AJ. 

If Coloratura cares about AJ even twenty percent as much as I do, being away from her must have totally sucked, Rainbow thought to herself. Even just being away from AJ these last few weeks was torture. Imagine a few moons? 

Rainbow Dash mentally cringed at the internal question. Celestia forbid that ever happens. 

She sighed heavily. As much as she wanted to spend time with Applejack, she realized Coloratura needed that time more. 

"I don't wanna intrude," Rainbow finally replied. 

"Wouldn't be no intrusion," Applejack immediately replied. 

By then, they had reached the larger group. 

"Oh, Crash is always an intrusion," Spitfire smirked, not knowing the context of the conversation but unable to resist the opportunity to insult somepony. "What event is she crashing this time?"

Applejack trotted over to Rara, and nudged the mare with her shoulder softly. 

"I was thinking we could have Dash over at dinner," AJ explained. 

Rara's face lit up in joy, but somepony spoke up before she could. 

"Dinner?" Soarin's ears perked up, flapping his wings vigorously as he looked back and forth between AJ, RD, and Rara. "Is Rainbow Dash not accepting to have dinner with Rara? Because if so, I will happily take her place."

Spitfire flew besides Soarin and put a hoof on the stallion's shoulder. 

"I think Applejack wants dinner with close friends," Spitfire explained not unkindly. "She's not hosting a Rara meet-and-greet."

"Dinner with Dash sounds great," Rara beamed before catching herself. She gave Rainbow Dash an apologetic look. "Sorry, Rainbow Dash. Applejack uses your nicknames in her letters, so they stick in my head."

Dash chuckled uncomfortably, shrugging. 

"S'all good," she managed to say. The truth was, she felt guilty. Here she had been using Coloratura's full name out of spite, while she had been using Rainbow's nickname out of preconditioned familiarity. 

Maybe Soarin is right, Rainbow thought glumly. Maybe Applejack is settling for a friend like me, when she deserves a great friend like Rara.

No. What am I even saying? Rainbow Dash's resolve steadied, banishing the insecure thought. I'm twenty percent cooler than everypony, including Rara (but excluding Applejack). And I'm gonna prove it!

"Dinner sounds good," Rainbow Dash said with renewed gusto. "I'll be there."

Spitfire watched the exchange in amusement. Like Rarity (and anypony who had eyes and some sense), she had long suspected Rainbow Dash to have some sort of different connection with Applejack. But now that she was almost certain Rainbow Dash had romantic feelings for the mare, it was entertaining to watch them interact. 

Spitfire's only remaining question was how nopony else noticed. 

Remembering that she wasn't just there to watch a live love story, Spitfire said, "Well, we best get out of your manes. These ponies still have aerial practice."

Groans rang throughout the room as the entire Wonderbolts team looked at Spitfire dejectedly. Their last workout had been hard enough, and now they have another one? 

"Oh, that's so fun! AJ and I still have some choreography to practice, too," Rara beamed at Spitfire. "It was nice to meet you Spitfire, and your whole team."

"It was great to meet you too, Rara. And to see you again, Applejack," Spitfire saluted to them both in goodbye, flying out of the room. The rest of the Wonderbolts gave various goodbyes, waves, and salutes, following their captain. Soarin sighed, but gave Rara one final handshake in goodbye. 

That left Rainbow Dash. Rara gave her a warm smile. 

"It was great to finally meet you, Rainbow Dash. I can't wait to get to know you better at dinner." She waved in goodbye and trotted back to the dance floor, moving to adjust the sound system. 

Applejack gave Rainbow a huge smile and mock salute. "I'll see you at six p.m. sharp, sugarcube." 

Rainbow returned the grin, saluting back. "You got it, AJ." 

And with that, Rainbow Dash left the room in a streak of rainbow. 

Coloratura is actually nice, Rainbow Dash mused. And I guess I should try to call her Rara. It's only fair. 

Once the door closed behind Rainbow Dash, Applejack halted in place when she saw Rara giving her a suggestive grin. 

"She's cute."

"Who? Rainbow Dash?"

"Yup."

"Well... I guess so."

"I can see why you'd like her."

"I would hope I like her. She's my friend."

Rara snickered at the word 'friend,' but didn't push the subject. Like Spitfire and Rarity before her, she sensed something deeper between the Applejack and Rainbow Dash. But before she could say with one hundred percent certainty what it was, she was going to need to watch them interact more. 

Luckily, she wouldn't have to wait long.
> quit the yappin’ and start the actin’
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow Dash zoomed towards Sweet Apple Acres, getting a sense of déjà vu. But unlike her flight this morning, she wasn't crashing Applejack and Rara's uninvited. Now, she was invited to crash it.

Rainbow Dash halted a few yards from the residential barn door, her stomach growling in response to the aroma of food. She flew towards the open window where the smell came from, a drip of drool coming from her mouth. Whatever dinner was, it was going to be good. 

Incidentally, the window looked into the kitchen. AJ was peering over Rara's shoulder as the mare took out a batch of potatoes from the oven, beaming in pride. 

"Those potatoes look mighty dandy, Rara!"

"Well, I had a great teacher," Rara replied with a wink. 

The two mares nudged shoulders, exchanging smiles. AJ put on oven mitts, and trotted around Rara to get another casserole out of the oven. 

That was the source of the amazing smell: AJ's famous apple fritters. 

With no time to spare, Rainbow Dash flew to the door and knocked vigorously. 

I should have known dinner with the Apple's meant AJ's apple fritters... Maybe even AJ's cider! Oh my gosh, this is gonna be great. 

Applebloom opened the door, trotting excitedly in place. 

"Howdy Rainbow Dash! AJ told us you'd be coming. You here to meet Rara?"

The question put a sudden halt to Rainbow Dash's cider train of thought. 

"What?" She gawked in slight affront. "No! I'm here for AJ."

It was Applebloom's turn to gawk. "But you see Applejack every day! I thought-"

"Well, ya thought wrong," Rainbow interrupted, flying over the filly's head to go inside. "I haven't seen AJ in a while, so she invited me over for dinner. I would have come whether or not Colora-aaaahh. Whether or not Rara was here."

Try to be nice, try to be nice, Rainbow Dash mentally chanted. Since she and Applejack had basically smoothed things over, she had no reason to be annoyed with Rara. 

But it will take a bit of effort to shake off her lingering feelings of dislike.

Applebloom shrugged. Unlike the older ponies, she noticed Rainbow Dash's strange behavior but didn't think twice about it. 

"Well, go on in to the dining room. Applejack and Rara are prolly done puttin' the food on the table."

Rainbow Dash led the way, realizing this was actually the first time she had ever gotten a look inside Applejack's home. Sure, she's been to the adjacent barn for parties, and went inside AJ's room many moons ago for the purpose of pranking the cowgirl. But she had never actually been inside Applejack's home. On the other hoof, AJ (despite being an earth pony) had gone countless times to Rainbow's cloudominium. 

How do I je learning new things about Applejack, Rainbow Dash speculated, When it feels like she knows everything about me?

Her train of thought disappeared when she entered the dining room, the aroma of food hitting her harder than before. 

Rainbow Dash's eyes bulged out. The table was loaded with various dishes, and every one of them looked delicious. 

Holy smokes, I knew Applejack was a good cook, but wow— this is amazing. 

"Rainbow Dash! You made it."

Applejack's greeting refocused Rainbow Dash. She was coming from the kitchen, holding the apple fritters Rainbow Dash had seen from outside.

"Wow AJ," Rainbow breathed, still eyeing the food. "This all looks so good."

"Well, I had a little help this time," AJ turned to smile at Rara, who was still holding the potatoes. 

Rara put the dish down and sat at the right hand side of one end of the table. She rolled her eyes playfully. 

"AJ, stop being so modest. All I did was put the potatoes you diced and seasoned in the oven, and poured the cider you made in a jug. I doubt that counts as helping."

Rainbow Dash did a double-take, flapping her wings so fast she flew up to the ceiling and bumped her head with a thunk.

"CIDER!?" She exclaimed. "Ohmygosh, ohmygosh, ohmygosh!" 

Rainbow zoomed to sit across from Rara, looking around the table expectantly. "Where is it?!"

The room erupted in laughter. Applejack sat at the head of the table, between Rara and Rainbow Dash. 

"We'll start serving it when everypony gets their flanks down for dinner!" 

AJ said the last four words loudly, but it was unnecessary. Granny Smith was already entering the room, sitting across from AJ at the head of the table. Applebloom and Big Mac sat besides Rainbow Dash and Rara, respectively.

"Good to see you again, Rainbow Dash," Granny Smith croaked with a fond smile to the pegasus. 

"You too, Granny," Rainbow smiled widely at the older mare, their bond irrevocably cemented since that first fateful trip to Las Pegasus so many moons ago.  

Big Mac nodded in greeting to Rainbow. "Sugar Belle is away on a trip, but she says hi," he murmured. "She's sorry to be missin' dinner with you."

"S'all good," Rainbow Dash immediately replied, but Granny Smith spoke over her reply. 

"Alright then!" Granny called the group to attention. "Somepony get that filly a full jug of cider and the rest of us a full plate. I'm hungrier than a timberwolf on a full moon!"

And with that comment, the two eldest Apple siblings moved in sync. Big Mac served everypony cider (and did as his grandmother said by leaving the jug near Dash) while Applejack served the food.

Once Rainbow Dash got her mug, she couldn't help but chug it down. 

"Ah," Rainbow said in content, smacking her lips like a food connoisseur. "Perfect as always."

Rara giggled. "You really like Applejack's cider, huh?" 

"Uh, duh. AJ's cider is the best in all of Equestria," Rainbow Dash scoffed, reaching to refill her mug. 

"And it will fill you up before you've had a single bite to eat," Applejack scolded, returning to her seat. Rainbow Dashdidn't have to look to know Applejack was giving her a scolding look.

"Oh, come on, AJ. You know I would die happy if I could have cider as a meal for the rest of my life," Rainbow quipped. 

Applejack smiled fondly. "I know Dash. I know."

Rainbow Dash reached for her utensils to start eating, but stopped when she noticed that nopony else had.

What are they waiting for? 

Not wanting to be the odd one out, Rainbow Dash held back. She noticed Applejack hadn't served herself, and it wasn't until she finished finished and picked up her fork that the rest of the family started to eat. 

Ohhh. They had been waiting for her. 

Having grown up as an only child, Rainbow Dash had never learned that particular etiquette of eating. She ate when she wanted to, no matter if her parents were eating or not. 

But seeing the Apples have that unspoken rule warmed her heart in a strange way. 

"So Rainbow Dash," Rara began after the thanks to AJ for the amazing meal dwindled. She gave her an inquisitive look. "I'm guessing you and AJ are really good friends?"

The single question jumpstarted a conversation led by Applejack and Rainbow Dash, with an interjection here and there by Applebloom and Granny Smith. They related their favorite friendship moments from the years, eager to catch Rara up on what she had missed. 

Though they had known each other before Twilight arrived to Ponyville, most of their favorite moments took place after. From defeating Nightmare Moon ("Me and AJ totally took care of that manticore!") to the Iron Pony Competition ("Ah, the day I learned Rainbow Dash is a big cheater." "Am not!" "Are too!") to the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well ("Fine, I'll admit it: AJ might be stronger than me. Maybe.") to getting Applejack back from Dodge Junction ("What would you have done if you hadn't found me?" "Searched all of Equestria until I did. Duhh.") to meeting the Flim Flam brothers ("I still think you should have let me get in at least one punch.") to finding out who was the most daring pony ("It's me." "No it's not!" "Oh, come on! You thought I put my hoof around you. Bet you were the one who wanted that support!" "That's just not true!") to Rainbow Dash and Granny Smith going to Las Pegasus ("I still can't believe you saw my floating head remindin' you of what I said!" "Me neither. I definitely went nuts.") to trivia night ("Heehee, I made Applejack forget a question about apples." "Shut up, Rainbow.") to countless camping trips with Applebloom and Scootaloo, to countless times saving Equestria, to countless small moments between the two that no one ever noticed...

While AJ and Rainbow backtracked to recount their first meeting Trixie ("I couldn't let her embarrass AJ. So I stepped up!" "And you got your flank handed to you just like I did." "Oh, right."), Rara met Granny Smith's gaze. The two exchanged knowing smiles. 

How was it that everypony saw the obvious except Rainbow Dash and Applejack?

"Whew! I. Am. Stuffed." Rainbow Dash slumped in her seat, full from the meal she just had. Before she closed her eyes, she snapped them back open. "This was great Applejack. Thank you. Oh and, ah," Rainbow hesitated. "Thanks Rara."

Rara scoffed and shook her head. "You're right to only thank AJ. I meant it when I said I did absolutely nothing."

"That's our Applejack," Granny Smith said fondly. "She sure can stuff us like pigs in a blanket. A meal like this needs a good stargazing to let it sit. Big Mac, why don't you take a jug of cider outside and set up the usual chairs?"

"Eeyup," Big Mac nodded, getting up with a jug of cider and walking out the room. Without being told, Applebloom got up and cleared the table. 

"AJ, you didn't let me cook. At least let me wash dishes," Rara offered, to which AJ shook her head. 

"No, no, Rara. You're a guest. Me and Applebloom will take the dishes," Applejack countered. "Why don't you and Dash go on and help Granny Smith outside? We'll meet y'all there lickety split."

Rara frowned, but didn't push the issue. She silently watched Applejack gather the last of the dishes and head to the kitchen. 

Once AJ was gone, Rara turned to Rainbow Dash. She gave the pegasus a knowing look, like they shared a secret. 

"That mare never rests, does she?"

Rainbow Dash suddenly felt a pang of guilt. She hadn't offer to wash dishes (not that she particularly wanted to). It made her look bad in comparison to Rara's generosity.

"Nope! No, she doesn't. She's like a firefly, that one. Flank all aflame, runnin' around tryna put it out," Granny Smith croaked, getting up out of her seat. "Rara, be a dear and go grab the extra jug of cider in the kitchen and take it outside. Rainbow Dash, why don't you help me up?"

Rara nodded, following Granny Smith's instructions. Rainbow flew to Granny Smith's side, and narrowly missed getting smacked on the head with her cane. 

"Hey!" Rainbow exclaimed, "What was that for?"

Granny Smith glared at Rainbow Dash. "I only got so many years left of life, Rainbow Dash. And I'm hoping to see AJ in good hooves before I die. So quit the yappin' and start the actin'!" For added effect, she waved her cane again. "Now get out the way, lil' filly. I ain't need nopony's help to walk. I ain't dead yet!"

Granny Smith wobbled out the room, leaving behind a shocked Rainbow. 

'Hoping to know AJ in good hooves'— What was that supposed to mean? 

But before Rainbow Dash could give the comment further thought, she heard hooves behind her. 

"Got the cider," Rara said in singsong. "Let's head out!"

Yeah. Cider and chillaxing is just what Rainbow Dash needed. It's been a hectic enough day— no need to dwell on Granny Smith's comment. It would only make an already weird day extra weird.
> an amazing idea
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow Dash flew behind Rara, following her outside. Big Macintosh had set up four chairs and a hammock, and was dozing off in the chair besides Granny Smith.

"Is usually just the four Apples and Sugar Belle, so we only got the five chairs," Granny Smith explained. "But don't you worry, that there hammock is strong enough to support two ponies just fine."

"Dibs on the hammock!" Rainbow Dash immediately declared, zooming over Rara to reach the hammock first. She extended herself over it, a satisfied sigh leaving her lips. It was just as spacious as Granny Smith had said, and quite cozy. It almost beat out her usual cloud bed. 

Almost. 

"Fine by me," Rara chirped, taking the chair on the other side of Big Macintosh.  

Soon after, Applejack walked outside with a drowsy Applebloom draped across her back. The combination of food, chores, and overall excitement of the day tuckered the filly out. Not wanting to exclude her little sister, AJ carefully laid the sleepy filly on the chair on the other side of Granny Smith. 

Noticing all the other chairs were taken, Applejack silently trotted towards the hammock. 

"Scoot your flank, Dash," Applejack said with a playful smile at her friend.  

"Fine," RD rolled her eyes, returning the smile. 

Rainbow Dash sat up to give Applejack space to sit besides her. Once AJ was comfortably seated, Rainbow Dash laid back down, her back hooves now draped across AJ's lap. 

Neither mare thought anything strange about the arrangement. The two may not be prone to small, sweet gestures of affection like nuzzles. But, of all their friends, they were the most physically comfortable with each other. From Applejack using Dash as a pillow to Rainbow Dash always placing a casual hoof around the cowgirl, their physical touches were less showy and more... Comfortable. 

Rara took note of the comfortable touch. Even with her, Applejack wasn't that... Well, comfortable. 

Wanting to get a closer look, Rara stood out of her chair. 

"Any pony want a glass of cider?" She asked casually, with an immediate 'yes' from everyone except Applebloom. 

Rara served those in chairs before trotting over to the ponies in the hammock. 

"I'm going to leave you one of the jugs," Rara said pointedly to Rainbow Dash. "I'm guessing you'll need it."

Rainbow chuckled unabashedly, sitting up to take the jug. She poured herself a mug, setting the jug on the ground 

"Thanks sugarcube," Applejack beamed, sipping her now full mug of cider. 

"Of course," Rara replied with a sly smile, looking back and forth between Applejack and Rainbow Dash suggestively. 

But AJ didn't pick up the subtle suggestion. 

"I'm glad you decided to visit, Rara." Applejack gave Rara a fond smile. "It's been real nice having you around today."

Rara beamed at AJ, temporarily distracted. 

"No, I should be thanking you. You and your family welcomed me on such short notice." Rara laughed. "I still can't believe you have the energy to help me and do your chores. Like today, I took a nap while you bucked trees!"

Rainbow Dash cracked a smile as she listened in the conversation.

"That's Applejack for you," Rainbow said in a bragging tone. "Ponyville's best freakin' athlete!"

Applejack's cheeks went a slight pink. 

"Aw shucks, Rainbow," AJ said. "S'no big deal."

Rara noticed Applejack's blush, smiling slightly. 

"Well, with Ponyville's best athlete helping me, I'll be in shape for my concert in no time."

Applejack beamed in pride, but Rainbow Dash frowned. 

Did Rara only come to use Applejack? 

Rainbow felt a growing resolve in her chest. No pony takes advantage of Applejack. 

"Wait wait wait. Lemme get this straight." Rainbow Dash gave Rara a shrewd look. "You're only visiting Applejack because you need a favor?" 

Applejack's eyes widened, while Rara looked taken aback. 

"What?" Rara exclaimed flabbergasted. "Rainbow Dash, of course not!"

Rara closed her eyes and inhaled sharply, exhaling slowly. Once she had regained some composure, she opened her eyes again. 

"You're right. I shouldn't have come because I needed something," Rara looked glumly at AJ. "I've wanted to visit you for sooo long. But I've been so caught up with singing and performing..." 

Rara trailed off, looking down t her hooves. 

"So when I got the opportunity to visit you and work, I had to make it happen. Applejack, trust me," Rara looked back up pleasingly. "I came to visit and get help, not to visit because I need help."

Rara glanced over at Rainbow Dash, who was unimpressed by the explanation. 

Rara sighed. She didn't want to be on bad terms with Rainbow Dash who, if she was right, meant a lot to Applejack. More so than maybe any other pony. 

Rara looked back at Applejack, her expression more serious. 

"Rainbow Dash is right, AJ. I've been a really bad friend," Rara admitted. "I've been performing nonstop since I rebranded as Rara. I had forgotten how much singing and performing makes me happy, and I only remembered because of you, AJ." Rara reached to hold one of AJ's hooves. "I wish you could see how much better I've performed ever since I came to Ponyville and you helped me. You're such an amazing friend, and you deserve great friends, too. So I hope to make it up to you during this visit."

AJ's expression was serious as Rara spoke, but by the end of it, she had an understanding smile.

"Rara, I'm just glad you're here. And don't worry. No matter how much time we spend apart, I'll always be here for you," Applejack said, pulling the mare in for a hug. 

Rara returned the hug, but her face was still glum. 

Good, Rainbow Dash thought to herself, satisfied to see genuine remorse on Rara's face. 

And, while watching Rara hug Applejack made Rainbow's insides feel weird, it felt good to know that Rara wasn't as perfect as everypony said she was. 

Once Rara pulled away from the hug, she sighed heavily. 

"I wish there was a mini Applejack I could carry around. Then I could travel and perform and just keep you in my pocket," Rara said with a slight smile. "Then I'd be doing what I love with some pony I love."  

Rara suddenly squealed, her gasp giving Pinkie's a run for their money. 

"Oh my stars! Applejack, I just had an amazing idea." She squealed again, her excitement changing the seriousness of the conversation. "You should come with me to the tour's kickoff concert in Canterlot! We could perform together, since you'll totally know the choreography better than me by the time we finish training. And, if you like performing, you can join me on the tour! We'll go all over Equestria and the other kingdoms, like a road trip! Isn't that a great bonding experience?"

AJ's eyes widened, caught in a state of shock. But most shocked of all was Rainbow Dash.  

What. The. Hay? Rainbow internally freaked out. Did Rara just ask AJ to leave Ponyville for who knows how many moons? That's just so... Selfish. Rainbow Dash clenched her mug tightly. Rara just wants to do what she likes to do while keeping AJ. Why should Applejack have to sacrifice something for her?

Rainbow Dash felt like this was the ultimate proof of what she's known all along. 

Rara was just a selfish superstar. 

Noticing Applejack's silence and Rainbow Dash glare, Rara chuckled nervously.  

"You don't have to give me an answer right now. Just... Give it some thought." 

Rara patted AJ's knee affectionately, quickly going back to her seat. She did not like the daggers Rainbow Dash was glaring at her. 

Once Rara was out of her sight, Rainbow Dash took a shaky sip of cider. 

I just wanted to call Rara out, Rainbow Dash thought darkly. I never thought she would try to take Applejack away. 

A sick feeling grew in the pit of Rainbow Dash's stomach. It was a feeling she had felt before, long ago. 

When Applejack had went off to Canterlot to compete in a rodeo and never came back, Rainbow Dash had been absolutely devastated. So when they found her at Dodge Junction and convinced her to return to Ponyville, Rainbow Dash had actually cried. Cried! Her tears had been a combination of relief and of pain— pain she had carried those few days of not knowing when Applejack would return to Ponyville. 

This was Dodge Junction all over again. 

Except this time, it would be Rainbow Dash's fault if Applejack leaves and never comes back.
> the priority over a dream
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

From an outsider's perspective, the atmosphere at Sweet Apple Acres would be deemed absolutely peaceful. Fireflies and stars illuminated the night, and the vague smell of dew and apple trees was a delicious fragrance. The night may have gotten a bit chillier, but no pony dared break the serenity of the evening by getting up for a blanket. 

Yet, Rainbow Dash was anything but at peace. 

Stupid Coloratura and her stupid offer, Rainbow simmered in anger. What gives her the right to invite AJ on a tour all over the kingdoms? It's such a dumb idea! It's as dumb an idea as if I invited Applejack on the next Wonderbolts tour! 

Except... If she thought about it, it really wasn't such a dumb idea. Rara had promised Applejack 'earth pony fun.' And, as Rainbow Dash learned today, earth pony fun was just an umbrella term for pastimes pegasi like her would never consider trying. Except for the odd pegasi like Fluttershy, they typically lived in the clouds and enjoyed hobbies to do with their flying. 

But Applejack was an earth pony. She could sing, dance, play various instruments, and was skilled in cooking and manual labor. If she wanted to, she really could travel the kingdoms and would survive well enough on her own. 

Rainbow Dash remembered what Pinkie said that morning: Applejack and Rara could have "endless fun" together as earth ponies. The thought caused Rainbow to create a mental list of other points of difference between her and Rara's friendship with Applejack.  

1. Rainbow Dash had gone to flight school: Applejack and Rara went to summer camp.
2. Rainbow Dash lived in the clouds her whole life: Applejack and Rara lived on the ground. 
3. Rainbow Dash toured with the Wonderbolts performing aerial shows: Rara toured with her team performing concerts, something AJ could do because it's all on the ground. 

Rainbow Dash chugged her mug of cider, but her throat was still dry. She grabbed the jug and refilled her mug, jugging another. 

You know it's bad when even cider can't cheer me up, Rainbow thought glumly, giving up and setting the items on the ground again. 

Without needing to sit up anymore, Rainbow Dash laid across the hammock again, hooves still across AJ's lap. She looked towards Applejack, curious to see the pony's reaction to Rara's recent offer. 

Applejack was facing the orchards, the home of her beloved apple trees. But her eyes were distant, her mind obviously elsewhere. 

Maybe she's thinking about seeing something besides those apple trees, Rainbow thought morosely. Maybe shes thinking about all the places she could see, about all the cool creatures she could befriend. Heck, maybe they'll be better friends than me or Rara ever could be. 

The final thought shot a stabbing pain through Rainbow Dash's heart, making her physically flinch. There goes another similarity between her and Rara: neither of them were good enough friends for an amazing mare like Applejack.  

Rainbow Dash's sudden movement brought Applejack back to the present. She caught Rainbow Dash staring at her, and her eyebrows immediately scrunched together in concern.  

"You okay, sugarcube?" AJ asked in a low whisper so as to not disturb the others. 

Rainbow Dash quickly nodded, scrambling for an excuse. 

"Yup! Just really full and, ah, cold! Yeah. Cold."

Rainbow Dash mentally kicked herself for such an obvious lie. Pegasi rarely get cold, since they're used to the chilly temperatures of flying high. But Applejack, trusting that everypony around her was just as honest as she was, didn't question her friend. 

"Rainbow, you should've just said so." 

Applejack plopped her Stetson onto the floor, laying on her side to snuggle besides to the pegasus. Instinctively, Rainbow Dash shifted to give AJ more room. The hammock was wide enough to let the mares lie side by side.

Applejack rested her head comfortably on Rainbow Dash's shoulder. Interesting enough, the physical proximity to Applejack calmed Rainbow Dash. 

Woah. Applejack is really cold, Rainbow noticed. 

Just as Rainbow Dash was about to extend her wing around AJ, she stopped herself. 

Oh, she wanted to. Like, really wanted to. 

But if she hugged Applejack, Rainbow Dash wasn't sure she'd ever let her go.

Rainbow Dash couldn't stand the silence, nor could she keep in her thoughts much longer.

"AJ, can I ask you something?"

"Of course, sugarcube."

"You're not thinking about going, right?"

A long pause followed. 

Rainbow Dash's heart began to beat faster. This close together, Applejack would surely to notice the increase in tempo. 

Finally, Applejack replied. 

"You know how we Pinkie Promised to make time for each other?" AJ whispered, but didn't wait to hear Rainbow's affirmative. Of course she remembered. They had made that promise a mere hours ago. "Well, isn't that what Rara is doing? She's trying to find a way to spend time with me." 

Applejack inhaled sharply. "I don't know, RD. I haven't seen Rara in so long, I had almost forgotten how much I love her company, her energy... The whole pony.

So who knows. Maybe these next few weeks with her might not be enough for me."

Silence followed. 

In a weird way, Rainbow Dash could understand AJ's feelings; it was how Rainbow felt about her. Tonight's dinner reminded Rainbow Dash how much she loved Applejack's company, her energy... The whole pony. 

Rainbow's heart clenched. If Applejack went on tour, she wouldn't be around anymore at all. Which meant that Dash may only have these next few weeks with her.  

Applejack shivered a bit, the cool night air getting to her. But this time, Rainbow Dash didn't hesitate to put a wing around her. She started when Applejack's cold coat pressed against her, but didn't move. She had a reason to hug Applejack.

Their hugs may be numbered.

"Dash, what would you do if you were in my position? If this was your best friend?"

Before Rainbow Dash could say she would follow Applejack anywhere (with maybe a joke about how it would probably be Applejack chasing the relatively more famous Rainbow Dash), AJ elaborated, "What would you do if Fluttershy up and became a model or something? And you didn't see her for years and, one day, she asked you to travel with her. What would you do?"

Oh right. As Rainbow Dash's childhood friend, Fluttershy was technically the right allegory for Rara. 

But she wasn't Rainbow's best friend. That spot belonged to the pony currently in Rainbow Dash's embrace.  

But since the hypothetical was about Fluttershy, then technically Rainbow Dash's response to the question wouldn't be a lie. It's conveniently what Dash wanted AJ to do, so she didn't correct her on the whole best friend thing. 

"I wouldn't go," she replied. "Fluttershy would never ask me to choose her over Ponyville and the Wonderbolts. If she was actually a good friend, she would find some way to spend time together without either of us sacrificing something super important to us. 

Like today was a good example. You and Rara hung out together and had fun. Yes, you took time to train her, but she respected the fact that you still had to work on the farm."

Rainbow Dash hesitated, but pressed on. 

"Applejack, don't you think Rara's offer is a little... Selfish? If you accept, you'd be sacrificing a whole lot for somepony who—"

Rainbow Dash stopped her rant. What she wanted to say wasn't exactly super flattering.

But this was the Element of Honesty she was talking to. Of course Applejack would want the truth. 

"'For somepony who' what Rainbow?"

Rainbow Dash sighed. 

"For somepony who hasn't really sacrificed anything for you," she pointed out. "Like this visit isn't exclusively to see you. And I know she apologized for that, but if she wanted to be with you 24/7, wouldn't you be the priority over her dream?

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing bad about prioritizing a dream. Trust me," Rainbow Dash chuckled dryly. "I know. But I also know that I'd stop being a Wonderbolt any day if it meant I'd never get to hang with you."

A long silence followed Rainbow Dash's speech, making her internally panic. 

Did I say too much? Was I too honest? Maybe I shouldn't have been blunt and said Rara was being selfish. Or maybe—

Applejack suddenly shifted so she was on her stomach, partially laying on Dash. In that position, their faces were mere inches apart.

This close to Applejack, Rainbow could see every speckle of color in AJ's green eyes. She had noticed before the speckles of yellow and hazel, but the moonlight made the speckles shine like stars in the night.  

"I was wrong, Rainbow," Applejack murmured, interrupting the brief silence. "You and Rara aren't alike. Similar, maybe. But not alike." She cracked a small smile. "Not alike at all."

And, just like that, AJ leaned forward and nuzzled Rainbow's nose. It was a gesture of affection Rainbow Dash had seen Applejack do countless times today with Rara, and often with Applebloom, Fluttershy, Rarity, and even Spike. 

But never with Rainbow Dash. If Rainbow Dash and Applejack were ever nose-to-nose, it was during a competition or out of anger/rivalry.

But never out of affection. 

And before she could reciprocate the gesture, it was over. 

Applejack pulled away and smiled fondly. She didn't even bother explaining her comment, sliding off the hammock and stretching her hooves. 

"Alright y'all, I think we're all plum tuckered out. Let's call it a night," she called in her normal voice.

By then, the rest of the Apple family had fallen asleep. Only Rara lay awake, straining— but failing— to eavesdrop in the whispered conversation between Applejack and Rainbow Dash. 

Rara slid off her chair, mimicking AJ and stretching her hooves in between a yawn. 

"This was nice," Rara said with a slightly sleepy smile. She trotted over Applebloom and carefully placed the sleeping filly on her back. "Don't worry, I'll take her to bed."

"Thanks Rara," Applejack said gratefully, a fond look reaching her eyes as she watched the pair. 

Rara trotted to the door, pausing momentarily. 

"Good night Granny Smith. Good night Big Mac," she called, to which the two mumbled a tired 'good night' as they stumbled out of their own chairs. 

Rara turned to Rainbow Dash, who was still laying lazily in the hammock. "Hey Rainbow Dash, are you joining us for brunch tomorrow?"

"Brunch?" Rainbow Dash repeated quizzically, turning to Applejack for an explanation. 

"Pinkie is hosting us at Sugarcube Corner for brunch so the girls can get to know Rara," Applejack looked hopefully towards Rainbow. "It's at a later time, so if you can make it around ten, we'd love to see you."

"TEN is later for you?" Rainbow exclaimed flabbergasted. Her loud tone made Applebloom stir, earning her a glare from Applejack. 

"I'm going to take her up," Rara said quickly. "Good night, Rainbow Dash. I really hope you can make it tomorrow." 

With a genuine smile, Rara trotted into the farmhouse. She was soon followed by Granny Smith and Big Mac, who both bid Rainbow Dash a good night. 

Big Mac having already put away the chairs, Applejack collected the glasses. Rara's question from earlier in the night returned to Rainbow Dash's mind. 

'The mare never rests, does she?'

Before Applejack could refuse the help like she did Rara's, Rainbow Dash zoomed off the hammock and snatched the mugs out of Applejack's hands. She flew inside in a streak of rainbow, washed them, and put them to dry in record time. 

There. Now I can feel less guilty for not offering to wash dishes earlier. 

Rainbow Dash flew back outside. Applejack was back on the hammock, laying outstretched as Rainbow Dash had been all night. Rainbow flew towards her, flying a ways above Applejack's head. 

Applejack gave Rainbow Dash a small smile. 

"Thanks Rainbow," Applejack said quietly. She was looking at Rainbow Dash a little strangely, but not in a bad way. "So did you decide if you're gonna come to brunch tomorrow or not?"

Rainbow pretended to think before theatrically replying, "Well, since you want me and my awesomeness there so bad, I guess I can fit it in my schedule."

Applejack chuckled, rolling her eyes. 

"I'll save you and your awesomeness a seat then."

For a moment, the two mares just stared at each other with silly smiles plastered on their faces. It took Rainbow Dash a few moments to realize that they were just gazing into each other's eyes.

And that it was time for her to go. 

Oh. Right. Applejack lives here, Rainbow mentally facepalmed. I should be the one leaving. 

"Well, I should head out," Rainbow said, saluting Applejack. "G'night Applejack. See you tomorrow."

Applejack gave Rainbow Dash a soft smile in return. "G'night sugarcube. Sweet dreams."

But something was missing from the goodbye. It didn't feel... Complete. 

Before Dash knew what she was doing, she flew down at Applejack's eye level, closed her eyes, and leaned forward to nuzzle AJ's nose. 

"G'night AJ," she repeated herself softly, pulling away and opening her eyes. AJ's expression was surprised at the sudden gesture of affection, but not unpleasantly so. AJ nuzzled Rainbow's nose back before the pegasus pulled away. 

Rainbow Dash gave Applejack one last winning smile before flying away in a rainbow streak. 

She didn't know what the hay possessed her to do that. But she could see why Applejack did it so often: the little action reinvigorated Rainbow Dash. The extra jolt of happiness gave her the energy to fly all the way to the Wonderbolts compound instead of flying to her much more nearby cloudominium. 

So, even though Rainbow Dash was still upset by the prospect of Applejack leaving, she couldn't help but focus on the happy realization that she and AJ nuzzled noses. 

Maybe this night hadn't been so terrible after all.
> just a hunch
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow Dash tossed and turned all night. Her usual easy sleep was marred with nightmares. 

Well, one nightmare. 






The view of Sweet Apple Acres, usually a bright and sunny one, was darkened. Grey clouds blocked out the sunlight, and the atmosphere had a tint of gloom. 

Work ponies were carrying Rara's equipment out of the barn and into a large chariot. While the sight of Rara leaving should have made Dash happy, her vision was blurred with tears. Rarity was collapsed on her fainting couch, sobbing with Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. Applebloom was held by her fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders, also sobbing. Big Mac and Granny Smith were teary eyed, and a group of ponies from Ponyville were watching morosely. 

A unicorn in an official suit walked out of the Apple home, levitating a number of suitcases to the chariot. Following the unicorn was Rara and, finally, Applejack. 

Applejack was leaving. 

As Rainbow Dash looked over at Applejack, the two mares caught each other's eyes. Suddenly, everypony else melted away. 

It was just Applejack and Rainbow Dash. 

Alone. 

"AJ, I've got something to tell you."

"What?"

"Please, Applejack. Don't go. I lo—"

It was here that Rainbow Dash always woke up. 







"DON'T GO!"

Rainbow Dash sat up, flying out of her bed. She had slept at the Wonderbolts compound, the feeling of elation from dinner last night long gone. That nightmare had made her sleep restless, and she felt as if she hadn't slept at all. 

The door into the sleeping quarters swished open. Spitfire and Fleetfoot flew in together, both looking directly in Rainbow Dash's general direction. Her outburst had been heard all the way outside, and they've come to check on her. 

"And good afternoon to you, Crash," Spitfire said with a raised eyebrow. "I'm guessing you didn't sleep well?"

"It's still technically morning, captain," Fleetfoot added, her gaze becoming less curious and more sympathetic. "Who's leaving Dash?"

"No pony!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, flying closer to ground level. "No pony is leaving. No pony."

Fleetfoot and Spitfire exchanged glances. 'This one is off her rocker,' they seemed to silently agree, looking back at Dash. 

"Well, since you slept through half the day already, get lunch and meet us for the afternoon training session," Spitfire said. 

Rainbow Dash's eyes bulged. 

"Lunch?" She repeated aghast. "Oh horseapples! I was supposed to meet AJ and the girls for brunch!"

Spitfire and Fleetfoot exchanged another look, this time one that said 'this pony's an idiot.'

"Crash," Spitfire said in deadpan, "It's almost midday."


———





Rainbow Dash crash landed through the door of Sugarcube Corner. Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rara, and Rarity were gathered in a large booth, in the middle of laughing. 

Rainbow Dash frowned when she saw Rara was in Dash's usual seat. 

So much for saving my seat, Rainbow glared at the group, who were just registering what— or, who— came in. 

Everypony clamored in greeting, but Rara and Fluttershy's quieter voices were overpowered by the other three. 

"I didn't think you were gonna make it," Applejack's country accent was the easiest to distinguish.

"Applejack said you were gonna come, but your pancakes are probably cold by now," Pinkie bounced out of her seat towards the kitchen. "I'll reheat them for youuu!"

"Darling, you look awful. Did you not sleep enough?" Ah, Rarity's concern masked with an insult.

"I'll have you know I slept great," Rainbow lied, flying over to the group. The girls shifted so Rainbow Dash could sit at the end of the circular table, placing her between Rarity and a temporarily absent Pinkie. But Rainbow Dash flew to sit right between Applejack and Rarity, both who moved hastily to make space. 

"Thought you were gonna save my seat," Rainbow complained to Applejack, a slight pout on her face. 

Applejack frowned. "And I did, but somepony showed up almost two hours late."

Rainbow Dash chuckled nervously. "Oh yeah. Right."

Just in time to prevent Applejack from scolding Rainbow, Pinkie Pie bounced back to the table. 

"Great news! I got Dash's pancakes, and more apple juice for everypony else," Pinkie declared, setting the glasses and plate down in front of their respective owners. The table erupted in thanks, though Rainbow's was hard to hear with her mouth already full.

"So," she munched, crumbs falling down her chin. "What y'all talk about?"

"Rara's invited us to her opening show in Canterlot!" Rarity bursted, having wanted to share the news since Dash arrived. "Our dearest Applejack is going to perform with her. Who would've known Applejack was a talented performer?"

Rainbow glanced at AJ in time to catch a blush on her cheeks. A key difference between AJ and RD was that everypony knew when Dash was good at something. For example, it was known that Dash was a decent dancer herself.

But on the other hoof, Applejack was always modest and hid when she was good at something. Case in point: she apparently was good at dancing. 

And has been for years, Rainbow thought in amazement. How come nopony knew?

"I just can't believe you all didn't know!" Rara exclaimed. "She's what the industry calls a triple threat: a singer, dancer, and musician." 

Rara glanced half exasperatedly, half adoringly at Applejack. 

"I can't believe you just hid all that talent from your friends. You're way too modest."

"And we can't wait to see you finally show off at the show," Fluttershy beamed towards Applejack, getting another embarrassed blush from the mare. 

"Oh, shucks everypony. Is not-"

"Applejack, if you say 'it's not that big of a deal' one more time, I will smack you upside the head with your own hat," Rara warned, but her grin kept the threat from being too serious.

Ignoring the weird feeling caused by how comfortable Rara was with teasing AJ, Rainbow interrupted by asking, "So AJ, did you decide that to go on tour with Rara?"

"I just agreed to do the one show," AJ replied, avoiding both Rara and Rainbow Dash's eyes. "It's been a while since we all went into the city."

"And since we've seen Twilight!" Pinkie chimed in. "Rara and AJ sent a letter of invitation to Twilight, so hopefully we'll see her, too!"

Rainbow said nothing. How could she? It was generous of Rara to invite all of them to her concert, whose tickets were certainly coveted. And it was kind of her to invite Applejack, who's never performed in her life, to join her onstage for such an important event. 

But it was a step towards going on tour with Rara, making it a step away from Ponyville. 

And a step away from Rainbow Dash.

"Oh my gosh, I've just had a great idea!" Pinkie exclaimed, breaking Rainbow from her inner panic. "I should throw a party before we go to Canterlot! Well, Rara and AJ are going to leave before us, so we'll have it before they leave. It'll be a 'Thanks for visiting Rara, see you soon!' party, and also a 'Good luck onstage Applejack and Rara!' party, and also a 'YAY! We're going to Canterlot!' party, and—"

Rarity stuck a hoof in Pinkie Pie's mouth, laughing nervously. By the way she peeked at Rara, she didn't want her friend group embarrassing her in front of the celebrity. 

"Yes yes, darling, all of that is true," Rarity readily agreed. "But for now, let's just call it a 'party' until we come up with a more condensed title."

Rarity removed her hoof, and Pinkie Pie immediately gasped. 

"Dashie, you're already done with your pancakes!" She jumped out of her seat again. "I'll go make you some more. Does anypony else want some, too?"

"Actually, Rara and I should be going," Applejack said, finishing her glass of juice. "Rara got us an appointment at the dance studio for every afternoon to practice that choreography of hers."

"Oh! Well, have fun you two. I'm sure it's going to go great," Fluttershy murmured, flying up out of her seat to allow space for Rara and Applejack to scoot out. 

"Thank you so much for hosting us, Pinkie," Rara said with a grateful smile, getting out of the booth. "And it was so nice to officially meet you, Rarity and Fluttershy."

Applejack scooted out as well, shooting Rainbow a teasing smile. 

"And at least Rainbow Dash made an appearance. It's something," Applejack snickered. 

Rainbow Dash stuck her tongue out at AJ in jest, a gesture the cowgirl returned.

"See ya'll later!" AJ tipped her hat towards her friends, and a cacophony of goodbye's rang. 

Once Applejack and Rara were gone, Pinkie Pie popped back into the kitchen, and Rarity gave Rainbow Dash a disapproving look. 

"Really, Rainbow Dash. I know you're not fond of Rara, but you could have at least attempted to join us," Rarity scolded.

"I did!" Rainbow defended herself. "I'm right here!"

"Yes, but you could have joined us on time," Rarity emphasized. "What kept you?"

Rainbow hesitated, but decided to be honest. Ugh, Applejack has rubbed off on me too much. 

"I didn't sleep well."

"Oh dear," Fluttershy murmured, eyes wide. She shivered a bit as she asked, "Was it nightmares? I hate nightmares. They're so scary and awful and just... Scary."

"No no! No. No, it wasn't nightmares," Rainbow Dash exclaimed erratically, her tone squeaky. With raised eyebrows from Rarity and Fluttershy, she sighed. "Fine. Maybe, hypothetically speaking, it was."

Rarity looked kindly at Rainbow Dash. "Do you want to talk about it, dear? Perhaps that will help prevent them from returning."

No, Rainbow Dash did not want to share, even if it was with her friends. Buuut if it meant the possibility of avoiding another sleepless night...

"Well... Again this all hypothetically speaking," she prefaced. She swallowed hard and spoke again, her words almost too quick to decipher. 

"These last few weeks have been really intense with the Wonderbolts and I was worried Twilight being gone would change everything, so I didn't come to Ponyville and I guess Applejack missed me but she didn't tell me or maybe she couldn't because I was never around so I didn't know she missed me, so then yesterday she didn't come to Sugarcube Corner to see me because she thought I didn't miss her but I really really did which was why I was so mad that Rara was here because then I couldn't hang out with AJ and then I saw AJ at the gym and I Pinkie Promised to dedicate more time to our friendship but then at dinner Rara asked Applejack to go with her on her tour which makes sense because AJ is literally the most talented pony ever BUT if she leaves then I won't be able to keep my promise to spend time with her and also I'll miss her but I don't wanna stop her from being happy even if it makes me unhappy and I wanna tell her it'll make me super sad if she goes but what if that just stops her from doing what she actually wants, which is to go?"

Fluttershy and Rarity were taken aback by Rainbow Dash's rapid speech. They had known Applejack missed Rainbow Dash from previous conversations with the mare during Rainbow's absence. And they had both presumed Rainbow Dash had been envious of Rara yesterday.

But they never would have guessed the deep agony both mares seemed to have felt in the absence of the other.

Rarity and Fluttershy shared a glance, silently confirming what they had suspected, perhaps for years, to be the truth: there was something beyond friendship between Rainbow Dash and Applejack. 

But did they know it was the real question. 

"That's quite a predicament you're in, Rainbow Dash," Rarity finally found her voice. "I think Applejack, of all ponies, would appreciate your honesty. You should tell her that you want her to be happy but, if she decides to leave, that you will miss her dearly."

Hmmm. As the Element of Honesty, it made sense that AJ would want the truth. Whether or not Rainbow could bring herself to share it was the real question. 

Then again, Rainbow couldn't stand another night of little sleep. 

"Alright. I'll try to talk to her," Rainbow Dash said slowly. "I just... Don't know when. Or how."

"You better do it before my party!" Pinkie Pie hopped back to the table, placing Rainbow's plate down. "Because Applejack will be going to Canterlot with Rara to prepare for their show a week before it happens. And she'll probably know by then whether she wants to leave or not."

"Pinkie!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed in shock. "You heard what I said all the way from the kitchen?"

"Oh, about how you and Applejack wanna hang out together forever but are too stubborn and scared to admit it to each other?" Pinkie beamed. "Nope! I couldn't hear a thing from the kitchen. It was just a hunch." 

Rarity and Fluttershy giggled when a blush grew on Rainbow's cheeks. It seemed everypony knew something deeper was going on. 

Everypony except Applejack and Rainbow Dash.
> a pony like me
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The weeks leading up to the party went by faster than Rainbow Dash could comprehend. During that time, she tried to follow her friends' advice and speak with Applejack. 

But the cowgirl was almost never without Rara, making it impossible for Rainbow Dash to speak to her one-on-one. 

If Rainbow Dash woke up 'early,' Applejack was with Rara at the gym or dance studio. If Rainbow looked for her during lunch, Applejack was with Big Mac out on the farm. If she went in the late afternoon, AJ and Rara were busy with all their 'earth pony fun.' They often went to for a swim, a hike, a picnic, or even an overnight trip to other towns like Appleoosa or Manehattan. 

Despite being invited, Rainbow Dash always made some excuse for not joining them. After that dinner at Sweet Apple Acres, Rainbow Dash realized she couldn't trust herself to be nice to Rara. 

And, as she told Spitfire before, she had no intention of befriending the pony who was threatening to take Applejack away. 

In any case, Pinkie Pie and Rarity had set the date for Applejack and Rara's going-away party for that very Friday. It meant that Rainbow Dash only had five days to speak with Applejack. 

After practice, I will talk to Applejack, Rainbow Dash resolved while she flew to the Wonderbolts airstrip Monday morning. No more excuses. 

Fleetfoot, Soarin, and Spitfire's were flying close together, clearly in the middle of a heated discussion. 

"If I had known a spell like that existed, I would have done it. Now it'll look like I'm a crazy fan," Soarin complained. 

"Well, aren't you?" Fleetfoot snickered, getting a laugh from Spitfire and a glare from Soarin. 

"And even if you did know, the spell requires a physical part from both ponies." Spitfire raised an eyebrow. "What, would you have stalked Rara until you could pull a hair off her mane?"

"Actually, yes. Yes, I would have."

"You're such a weirdo, Soarin!" Fleetfoot declared. "Sweet Celestia, if you had just asked Rara out on a date, this all could have been avoided. Now you and Crash are going to be all in a twist."

"What's going on?" Rainbow Dash interjected after hearing her nickname. But, from the sound of it, she may not want to know. 

Every Wonderbolt looked anxiously at each other. This was gossip nopony was eager to share with Rainbow Dash. 

Spitfire sighed, deciding to take one for the team. She flew a bit forward, and began her tale.  

"We went into town for new goggles this morning, and read today's newspaper. This past weekend was the Mane Music Awards."

The MMAs were the annual music ceremony for the most famous artists in Equestria. It was held in Las Pegasus, which made it no surprise that there was always some scandal at every event. 

"Oh," Rainbow Dash snorted in amusement. "I'm guessing this is about Rara?"

"Not just Rara..." Fleetfoot trailed off, but she had no desire to be the bearer of bad news. 

Spitfire sighed. If not her, then clearly nopony else was going to clue in Dash. 

"Rara took Applejack as her plus one to the MMAs," Spitfire continued. "Some crazy spell became all the rage at the after-party. The spell temporarily lets you share cutie marks with another pony."

Spitfire hesitated, exchanging anxious glances with Fleetfoot. She sighed, resigned to the fact that nopony else was going to step up.  

"I hate to be the pony to tell you, but the spell was only done by couples. And...

Applejack got the spell with Rara."

Soarin suddenly threw himself onto the cloud, pounding his hooves in tantrum. "I missed my chance!" Soarin wailed, "Because Rara already has a special somepony!"

Soarin began to sob, burying his face in the cloud. Spitfire rolled her eyes at the dramatic display, but grudgingly patted the stallion's head in comfort. But she, like every other Wonderbolt, had a concerned eye on Rainbow Dash.  

If Rainbow Dash didn't value her dignity, she would have joined Soarin. But she was frozen in place, her wings the only thing keeping her in the air. Externally she was unmoved, but internally her thoughts and feelings were a mess.

No. No no no no noooooo....

AJ and Rara? A couple? A romantic couple? Spell or no spell, that just can't be true. It just can't be.

Applejack is sooo... Applejack. She's happy doing farm work, loves anything to do with apples, enjoys a good competition, and is the most dependable pony and friend in all of Equestria. 

And (from Rainbow's decidedly biased perspective), Rara was nothing like Applejack. 

Rara is happy on stage, loves music, enjoys performing, and, from I've seen, not a very good friend. She's loyal to herself and her work first. I wouldn't be surprised if doesn't have any close friends besides AJ. 

Rainbow Dash's face flushed in a deep shade of red. Well I won't let anypony get away with associating AJ's good name with somepony like Rara. 

"You're wrong!" She exclaimed, startling her teammates. "Applejack would never be with a pony like Rara. She would want somepony who is there for her, who respects and encourages her work at Sweet Apple Acres, who makes her laugh. Somepony who she shares hobbies with, but who will still keep her on her hooves. A pony like—"

Spitfire raised an eyebrow. "A pony like you?"

Rainbow Dash didn't think twice about her response. 

"Exactly! A pony like me. Not a pony like," Rainbow Dash made a disgusted face, "Coloratura."

Rainbow Dash crossed her hooves and declared, "I'm going to Ponyville to ask Applejack about this right now. I'll prove to all of you that these rumors are just that: rumors!"

Before Rainbow Dash even blinked, Spitfire zoomed to block her path. 

"Absolutely not, Crash," Spitfire spat. She gestured towards Soarin and back to Dash. "I'm sorry your crushes are dating each other, but you two need to get. It. Together!"

"Rainbow Dash, you know Applejack way better than any magazine. If you think she wouldn't date Rara, then she isn't," Spitfire said with a more calm tone. "Besides, you'll only embarrass yourself if you go and confront Applejack while you're upset. So," she looked pointedly again at Soarin. "You and Soarin need to calm down and get your heads in the game. We're already behind schedule, so LET'S START PRACTICE! FIFTY LAPS, ALL OF YOU!"

Still fuming, Dash wordlessly did as her captain said. There was no use in arguing with Spitfire when she yells like that. 

It wasn't until Rainbow had finished a few laps that she registered what Spitfire had said. 

'Your crushes.'

Plural. 

Rainbow Dash's speed began to increase. She became a blur around the track, her teammates' shouts falling on deaf ears. 

She was going fast, way too fast. 

But she was hoping to fly fast enough that her mind would just shut up. 

No. No. No! Stop it, stop it, stop it! Rainbow squeezed her eyes shut, flying around the track out of instinct now. Applejack is my friend. My best friend. And she's also, like, a rival. 

Rainbow Dash noted, But that's because she's the only pony who challenges me, who pushes me to be better, and who understands why winning is important. 

Well, she does more than that, Rainbow admitted. She holds me back from doing dumb stuff. And she's always the pony to pick me up when I'm hurt. And before all this crazy stuff with the coronation, I always hung out at Sweet Apple Acres just see what she was up to. 

Rainbow Dash remembered fondly that it was at one of these visits she learned about buckball. And at another visit, she became a member of the Apple family's Gold Horseshoe Gals. Another of her favorite memories was when she visited the farm and goaded Applejack into a competition to see who was the most daring pony. 

Why did I visit her so much? Rainbow asked herself bewildered. She's always working anyways. So why?

Rainbow Dash knew she was starting to get closer to the real reason. But she didn't want to admit. 

She couldn't. 

I mean, I can admit I like AJ. As a friend, obviously. That's why I like hanging with her. She's my friend! Rainbow amended. Sure, her accent's funky, but it's a cool, cute funky. And she makes corny country jokes that I don't understand half the time, but I always end up laughing anyways. And she works way too much, but I don't mind helping out with her chores because it means I get to spend time with her. 

But besides that, Rainbow Dash resolved she had no deeper love for her friend. Sure, she went to Sweet Apple Acres whenever she could. And yeah, she liked spending time with AJ. And maaybe it's weird to nap in Applejack's trees, but they're comfortable. And yes, she's gotten to know every single member of AJ's immediate family. And yeah, maybe it was a little painful to even think that Applejack was with another mare...

Rainbow Dash's eyes, literally and metaphorically, opened.

Oh. My. Gosh.

Her speed having been increasing during her inner monologue, this last thought pushed Rainbow Dash to the speed necessary for a sonic rainboom. The pony's trademark rainbow and accompanying loud boom filled the morning sky. 

Rainbow Dash had finally realized what everypony else already knew. 

I like Applejack.
> not if the pony isn’t you
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Four days. 
About ninety-six hours. 
Monday. Tuesday. Wednesday. Thursday. 

And today— Friday. 

That's how long it's been since Rainbow Dash admitted to herself that she had a crush on Applejack. It was only a few days, but they were more than enough to agonize over her self-confession. 

And the more Rainbow thought about it, the more she knew that 'crush' didn't do justice to her feelings. 'In love' was too corny, but 'crush' was too simple. Somewhere between those two is where Rainbow Dash was. Or, at least, that was the extent to which she currently admitted her feelings.

Questions like How long have I liked Applejack? Was it since we first met? Since we got to know each other better after Twilight came to Ponyville? Was it before or after... were constantly running through her mind. Her attempt to pinpoint the exact moment she developed feelings reminded Rainbow Dash of that dinner conversation at Sweet Apple Acres. All those moments she and AJ have shared...

And somewhere in between those moments in time, Rainbow Dash crashed from the sky and fell head over hooves with the cowgirl.  

After her sonic rainboom on Monday, Spitfire had relented and given Rainbow Dash the day off to go into Ponyville. But instead of searching for Applejack as she had originally intended, Rainbow Dash searched for a newspaper. Once she found one, her heart broke just a little. 

Spitfire had been telling the truth. 

Dubbed the 'cutie mark connection madness,' it was a temporary spell that allowed ponies to share cutiemarks. Ponies had their original cutie mark on one side of their flank, and their partner's on the other. A picture of every couple who got the spell was provided. Rainbow Dash skimmed the pages, looking for the one mare she cared for. 

When she found Applejack, Rainbow Dash's eyes bulged. 

She had looked absolutely breathtaking. 

Applejack's trademark Stetson was missing, letting her hair fall in loose waves. She was wearing a figure-fitting, shimmering green dress that matched her eyes perfectly. In the photo, she was standing besides Rara on the red carpet, the two mares turned away from the cameras and facing each other. Applejack was laughing, and Rara's face was partially hidden as she whispered in Applejack's ear. Beneath the image was a caption:


"Rara, previously known as Countess Coloratura, hit the red carpet with long-time friend, Applejack. Applejack is best known as a hero of Equestria and for serving on Princess Twilight Sparkle's Council of Friendship. 






The hero and pop star were among those to get the cutie mark connection spell. Equestria wishes the powerful pony pair all the best in their budding romance! 






To see more of the couple, reserve your tickets for their upcoming performance in Canterlot."





The idea of Applejack with somepony else (and not just any pony, but a super famous, super rich, admittedly pretty mare who AJ's known since fillyhood) tormented Rainbow Dash. 

Even if it was a rumor, how could she ever compete with that?

Since reading that article, Rainbow Dash hid at the Wonderbolts compound, unwilling to risk seeing Applejack or Rara. If she saw the former, Rainbow would be unable to hide her feelings from the perceptive mare. If she saw the latter, Rainbow would be unable to hold herself back from physically hurting the pop star. 

But Rainbow Dash couldn't avoid them forever. Thursday morning, Derpy dropped off two elegant invitations. One was addressed to the general Wonderbolts team, inviting them to the School of Friendship's ballroom for the goodbye party. The other was the exact invitation, but directly addressed to Rainbow Dash. Written in Applejack's hoofwriting, it read,


"RD,


That sonic rainboom on Monday sure was something special. 






I miss you. Hope to see you at tomorrow's party.


Lots of love,


AJ






P. S. This is me keeping my Pinkie Promise. I expect you to keep your's."





The note was a callback to Rainbow Dash's promise to spend more time with AJ. But, with Rara around, Rainbow hadn't exactly been keeping her end of the bargain. 

In any case, the party was unavoidable. Rainbow Dash had shivers all day, nauseous as the hour for the party approached. 

What am I going to say to Applejack?

If Rara wasn't in the picture, it would have been simple. Rainbow Dash would have rashly told Applejack how she felt, and maybe done the normal thing like ask her on a date. 

But everything was so complicated now. There was Rara and the dating rumors and the possible tour...

The invitations called for formal wear so, in true team fashion, the Wonderbolts wore matching but individualized suits. Rainbow's customizations were cufflinks and a bow tie in the shape of her cutiemark. Her blazer's tail was long like a dress, but elegantly ripped at the end. She tried to smooth out her hair, but it was too late to do anything fancy with it. She let it be, and joined the rest of the team to fly down to the school. 

Once they were close, Spitfire flew besides Rainbow Dash. 

"Crash?"

"Yeah?" Rainbow quickly corrected, "I mean, yes ma'am?"

Spitfire snickered. "Speaking as your friend and captain... Do us all a favor and talk to Applejack. And please," Spitfire looked at Rainbow Dash pointedly, "Don't do it in a way that embarrasses us."

Rainbow Dash gulped. No promises there. 

Despite her discomfort in having somepony know her secret, Rainbow Dash was glad it was Spitfire. Besides that comment on Monday, Spitfire hadn't mentioned nor try to push Rainbow Dash to talk about her feelings. She respected Dash's privacy, something the latter was grateful for. 

The Wonderbolts soon reached the entrance of the school. Muffled music poured out, and beautiful streamers decorated the inside. The elegance but festiveness of the night was surely a combination of Rarity and Pinkie Pie's work. 

Applejack and Rara were at the door, greeting ponies and creatures as they arrived. Upon seeing Applejack, Rainbow Dash's eyes bulged.  

Applejack looks... Good. Like, really good. 

Her eyelids had a lightly applied dark eyeshadow, causing her green eyes to shine like emeralds. A choker with a red apple pendant on it and matching earrings gave color to her face. Her hair was swept loose to one side, her Stetson missing again. And like the one she wore to the Las Pegasus party, AJ was wearing another form-fitting dress. This time, it was black with a slight V neckline. Her long dress went a little below her hooves, but had a slit on her side to reveal Rara's cutie mark on her flank. 

Rainbow Dash heard snickering around her, and a quick glance revealed it was Spitfire and Fleetfoot. 

"I'll give you this Dash," Fleetfoot nudged her shoulder. "Your cowgirl sure can clean up."

Rainbow Dash chuckled nervously. Does every pony know about how I feel? Am I that obvious?

Giving Rainbow Dash a wink, Spitfire and Fleetfoot flew down first, saluting the pair at the door. They were followed by Soarin, who eagerly shook hooves with Rara. Then the rest of the team went as a group. 

Finally, the only one left was Dash. 

"Rainbow Dash!" Applejack beamed. "You made it! And right on time, too."

Rainbow chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of her head. "Heeey AJ..."

"It's good to see you, Rainbow Dash," Rara said earnestly. Rainbow Dash involuntarily glanced at Rara, giving her a cool look and no response. Rainbow noticed that the pony was wearing a matching dress to AJ's, but her's was white.

All those bits she must have, and she couldn't afford a different dress? 

Rara looked from Rainbow Dash to Applejack, giving them a not-so-convincing casual smile. 

"I think Rainbow Dash is one of the last ponies to arrive, so I'll just head inside let you two catch up." 

Rara gave Applejack a pointed look, promptly trotting inside. 

For a moment, Applejack and Rainbow Dash just stood (or flew, in in Rainbow's case) in silence, not-so-subtly appraising the other. 

"You look good, Dash," Applejack finally broke the silence, moving forward a bit to flick Rainbow's bangs. 

"Th-thanks," Rainbow stuttered. 

What the hay was that? Rainbow thought in horror. I'm Rainbow Dash, for crying out loud! If I'm going to have a crush, I gotta be cool about it.

Finding her voice, Rainbow Dash quickly added, "So do you, AJ. I mean, you always look good. But you look especially good right now."

Rainbow Dash kicked herself mentally. So much for being suave. 

A modest smile spread on Applejack's face. 

"Aw, shucks, Rainbow," she smacked the pegasus' hoof with a twinkle in her eye. Rainbow gave her a goofy smile, nudging her back. 

"I missed you, ya know," Applejack commented, her smile falling a bit. She got a determined look in her eyes, seemingly finding the courage to say what was on her mind. "Ya know, it is a little strange. One second, you're pestering my family and askin' 'round where I am all the time. And the next you just... Disappear."

Rainbow Dash opened her mouth and closed it. If she answered this question honestly, she would have to admit that she stayed away because she was upset about the Las Pegasus party. And then she'd have to explain she was upset because of her feelings...

The air caught in Rainbow Dash's throat. 

Anything but that. 

"Oh, so once I wasn't around is when you started to miss me?" Rainbow Dash asked flippantly. 

Rainbow Dash felt a knot in her stomach tighten. It would be so much easier to simply lie and say the Wonderbolts kept her busy. But her knot of anger was finally unraveling. 

Before Applejack could reply, Rainbow Dash continued. 

"You had said at the gym that I never make time for you anymore, so I did. Almost every day after that, I went to find you. But you just wanted to be with Rara," Rainbow had a mocking tone when she said Rara's name, her face twisted in a slight scowl. 

"So you know what, yeah! I didn't come to Ponyville this week. I'm not going to go somewhere where my presence isn't as important as somepony else's." 

Okay, that wasn't the total truth, bjt it was partially. Rainbow Dash had felt neglected these last few weeks, like she had been replaced. 

Applejack glowered. "And every time you came by, I invited you to hang out with us. I invited you to join us for breakfast, for lunch, for dinner, for a work out, for a hike, even to our trip out to Appleoosa. And you said 'no.' You said no every time." Applejack's nostril flared. "If you were just gonna say 'no' every time I invited you, why'd you even come looking for me?"

Applejack laughed without humor. "Seemed like you only came around for appearances. You kept your promise of making time: you just didn't spend it with me."

Rainbow Dash's wings shot out, flapping harder to keep her from falling straight to the ground. 

Unbelievable. Unbelievable. 

"Of course I wanted to spend time with you!" Rainbow Dash declared hotly. "But you were always with Rara! And I didn't wanna hang out with her, I wanted to hang out with you!" 

Applejack spluttered. "Rainbow Dash, you know she's visiting. What was I supposed to do, leave her waiting on the farm to hang out with you? You, who could have hung out with me whenever you wanted those last few weeks before Rara came, but you didn't. You, who only started to make time for me once Rara did come."

Applejack scowled. "Tell me, is that what's got your mane in a twist? Because Rara showed you up as a better friend by actually spending time with me?"

A silence fell between the two mares as the question sat in the air. Clearly, Applejack had wanted to get that off her chest for a while. 

And Rainbow Dash knew she had a point. She had treated Rara and her visit as some sort of weird competition over who's the better friend. The right thing to do would be to admit that and apologize. 

But Rainbow Dash wasn't done arguing. 

"Applejack, why is it so hard to understand that once I started to make time, it was for you, not you and Rara!"

"If you had truly wanted to spend time with me, you'd have done it even if Rara was around! All the other girls joined us," Applejack pushed back. "So what's really your problem, Rainbow Dash?"

"My problem is Rara!" Rainbow Dash finally exploded. "And the fact that you're dating her!"

The accusation surprised Applejack. She had been expecting everything but that. 

Without thinking, Rainbow lunged forward and pressed her nose against AJ's in similar fashion to when they competed. 

"So, AJ, do you deny it? Or is it true?"

Applejack's eyes narrowed, and she stepped forward to press her nose harder against Rainbow's. 

Her tone slightly offended, Applejack replied, "Let me guess, you read that from one of those gossip magazines you yourself have said are a lot of huey?"

Well, yes. 

"No!" Rainbow Dash verbally denied. "It's because you and her got that cutie mark... couple... connection... curse... Ugh, whatever that spell is called! How am I not supposed to think you're a couple?"

"Is that why you avoided me this week? 'Cause you thought we were dating and didn't want to third-wheel?"

"NO! No, that's not it!"

"Then why didn't you come to town?"

"Are you dating her or not?!"

"Why does it matter?!"

"It just does!"

"Rainbow Dash, tell me the truth!"

"NO!"

By then, both ponies were fuming, a deep scowl etched in their faces. Before Applejack could interject again, Rainbow threw out another question. 

"So, have you decided to go on tour with your little girlfriend?"

Applejack's face flushed.

"What is wrong with you Rainbow? Do you not like Rara or something?"

"Well, obviously not!" Rainbow shouted in disgust. Finally, a question I don't mind answering honestly. "She's not a good friend to you, AJ! She's selfish for asking you to leave everything behind to go with her on your. And she took advantage of the fact you'd literally do anything for anypony and made you train her with the dumb excuse that you were going to have soo much 'earth pony fun.'"

Applejack stepped back from Rainbow Dash, breaking their physical contact. Her expression was colder, and it was very clear she was trying to remain calm. 

After a few deep breaths, Applejack swallowed hard. "Look RD, I understand your concerns, but you were there when Rara apologized."

"Nuh-uh," Rainbow Dash pointed out. "She apologized for taking advantage, but not for being selfish."

Moving on, she quickly accused, "Okay, I already answered one question. You still haven't answered me about the dating thing."

Exasperated, Applejack rolled her eyes. "Rainbow, why does some rumor about me dating Rara have you more upset than a chicken who missed feeding?"

"So it is a rumor?"

"Well of course it's a darn rumor!" AJ exclaimed as if it wasn't important news. "So why does it matter?"

Even though they were in the middle of a small screaming match, Rainbow Dash felt a little better knowing that. 

Just a little. 

"It just does, AJ."

"Rainbow Dash, tell me the truth!"

"Ughh. The truth doesn't matter! You're leaving to Canterlot anyways!"

"Is that why you're mad? Because I'm performing?" Applejack seemed to reach an understanding, one that flushed her face in anger again. She moved closer to Rainbow Dash to press her nose against hers. "I'll have you know, Rainbow Dash, you're not the only one talented enough to be performing for folks. I—"

"Applejack, I know that. I know you're amazing," Rainbow Dash cut her off. "That's not my problem. My problem is, well—"

Rainbow Dash's mind raced. She couldn't tell AJ that her problem was she was practically in love with her. 

Not in the middle of an argument. 

Luckily, Rainbow Dash point of contention. 

"It's the whole tour thing!" She settled on. Her friends had advised her to talk to AJ about it. And now seemed as good a time as any. "Why in Equestria would you be performing with Rara if not to kick off some magical friendship tour or whatever?" 

"So that's what this has all about," Applejack said dryly. "You're upset because Rara offered me a long-term solution for us to spend time together."

"That's just it!" Rainbow Dash flailed her hooves. "It's not a solution, AJ! If you choose to go with her, you'd be choosing wrong!"

"Oh, and since you're so clever," Applejack said with a raised eyebrow, "Then what in tarnation is the right choice?"

Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to reply, her answer most likely involving choosing her. But before she could—

"Uh, ladies?" 

Rarity's voice startled the arguing friends. She and Applejack had still been nose to nose, but the sudden apparition of an audience made them jump back. 

Rarity, Rara, Fluttershy, and Starlight Glimmer were standing in the foyer with varying looks of concern. 

"Um. We could all hear you inside," Starlight Glimmer said uncomfortably. "Just wanted to let you two know that before... Other things were said."

Rainbow Dash felt the color leave her face. Replaying the conversation quickly in her head, she realized in horror what it sounded like. On the surface, it was a heated fight between two friends. But anypony with suspicions like Soarin's or Fleetfoot's would take it as the ultimate proof of Rainbow Dash's feelings. 

The ultimate show of... Jealousy. 

"Well, thank y'all for interrupting us," Applejack said stiffly, her cheeks still flushed. "We were just about done here anyways."

With a last glare at Dash, Applejack walked inside. Starlight looked hesitantly at Rainbow, but decided against whatever she wanted to ask and lead the way inside. Rarity and Fluttershy rushed to Applejack, each putting a hoof around her and bowing their heads to converse in whispers. Once the small group walked away, only one pony stayed. 

"I don't want to talk to you," Rainbow Dash snapped at Rara, turning to fly away. 

"Rainbow Dash, wait!" Rara blurted out in desperation. "You should know she would never date anypony else! Not if the pony isn't you."

Rainbow Dash stopped on her tracks. 

"What?" Rainbow Dash swirled around, returning to fly right in front of Rara. "What did you say?"

Rara's eyes widened as she realized what she said. But it was too late. She couldn't take it back.

"It's not my place to say any more besides that. But you should know that after meeting you," Rara offered Rainbow Dash a small smile. "I doubt any creature has a chance with AJ."

Rainbow Dash plopped onto her flank. 

Does that mean...

She suddenly flew off the floor, whooping. 

"You're saying she likes me!" She exclaimed, a smug grin on face. "Not you, me. Ha!"

Days of worrying had been for nothing. Rainbow Dash had feared AJ had chosen Rara. 

But she hadn't. 

She liked Rainbow Dash. 

"Hold your horses," Rara scoffed, annoyed at the gloating but ignoring it for the sake of the conversation. "I heard the fight. Every creature heard. And I don't think AJ is going to be too keen on having a heart-to-heart after that."

Oh. Right. The fight. 

Rainbow Dash's spark extinguished, her throat dry. She had behaved terribly tonight.

But not just tonight. She'd been a bad friend since before Rara arrived. Hiding her fears about her friend group collapsing without Twilight, spending 24/7 with the Wonderbolts, getting jealous (because that's truly what it had been all along: jealousy) when Applejack was suddenly unavailable. And it was true— Applejack had been willing to include Rainbow Dash in her activities with Rara, but Rainbow had selfishly wanted to be alone with Applejack. 

And here I had called Rara selfish, Rainbow thought glumly. When I've been selfish, too. 

And tonight, her jealousy had been revealed for all to see. Furthermore, if AJ did like Rainbow Dash in a romantic way, the accusation of dating Rara would definitely have been hurtful. 

But some things still weren't adding up. 

Rainbow Dash questioned, "If you two aren't dating, why did you get that cutie mark spell?"

Rara explained, "We got it in commemoration of the first ever concert Applejack and I will do together... And probably the last." Rara kept a focus on Rainbow's expression, trying to gage her reaction. "Last Monday, she told me she couldn't go on tour with me. Something about... A rainbow pointing her home again."

The sonic rainboom. 

It must have reminded AJ of the time she was a filly, searching for another life in Manehattan. Rainbow Dash's first ever sonic rainboom had pointed AJ home back then, and resulted in both ponies getting their cutie marks. If anything could convince AJ to stay in Ponyville, it would be a sign like that. 

Rainbow Dash felt like an idiot. It could have been simple. So, so very simple. 

If I had just gone to see AJ on Monday instead of looking for some magazine with silly gossip, I would have saved myself a lot of trouble, she thought to herself. And now look what happened. Did I ruin our chances?

Rara interrupted Rainbow's train of thought. 

"But you're right, Rainbow Dash." Rara was looking at the ground in shame. "It was selfish of me to ask AJ to leave everything she loves to go on a tour, just so I could have her company. I have been a bad friend, and all I can do now is make it up to her." Rara looked back up at Rainbow Dash with steely resolve. "So I'm going to share one more thing, not because I want to break AJ's trust, but because you both deserve a win."

"On Monday, she told me that she's known she wanted to say no since my very first night here. But she didn't want to break it to me because I was so excited." Rara looked away again in embarrassment, but she took a deep breath and looked back up. "She said she's known since then what she wanted, but really, I think she meant to say that she had figured out who she wanted."

Rara gave Rainbow Dash a very pointed look in her direction. 

If AJ had known since Rara's first night in Ponyville, then she must have decided after our conversation on the hammock, Rainbow pieced together. She had asked me what I would do, and then made that weird comment. 

'I was wrong... You and Rara aren't alike. Similar, maybe. But not alike. Not alike at all.'

And suddenly, it clicked in Rainbow Dash's head. 

Earlier that same day at the gym, AJ had compared Rainbow Dash and Rara as two mares "busy chasing a dream." But after hearing Rainbow Dash's advice, Applejack took back that observation. 

AJ had meant that as a hint! Rainbow Dash started to fly a little higher. She never wanted to go on tour with Rara, prioritizes singing above everything. She was always going to stay in Ponyville. 

And, if Rainbow Dash was right, it was to stay near the mare who prioritized Applejack above everything. 

Does AJ know how I feel? Has she know since even before I known?

The logistics didn't matter. It was perfect. It was all perfect. Everything was perfect. Even Rara was perfect. 

Because now, Rainbow Dash understood. Rara had never really been the problem. 

Rainbow Dash had been her own worst enemy the entire time. 

And she had to make it right. 

"I've got to talk to her," Rainbow Dash muttered, her voice growing decisive. "I gotta talk to Applejack right now!"

"I know you want to, but trust me," Rara moved to block the entrance inside. "That fight isn't going away in Applejack's mind. You know her— she's stubborn. She won't listen to a thing you'll say." 

Rainbow Dash's face fell. She did know Applejack. And an angry Applejack was never an easy pony to have a conversation with. 

"So how am I supposed to talk to her about, ya know...?"

"You're going to have to tell her how you feel in a way that will make her listen." A sly smile spread on Rara's face. 

"And I have just the plan to do it."
> i’ll make it up to you
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rara and Rainbow Dash entered the ballroom side-by-side, the party in full swing. Ponies and other creatures were eating, dancing, and socializing. At the end of the ballroom, a stage was set up with a large performance curtain. 

Huh, Rainbow noted. That's new.

Spotting Applejack with their larger group of friends, Rara nudged Rainbow and beckoned in their direction.

"Come on, let's go join them," Rara suggested, but Rainbow Dash shook her head vigorously. 

Rainbow Dash owed AJ an apology, not just for tonight, but for her behavior these last few weeks. 

But it was an apology that had to wait. 

Rara and Rainbow Dash had come up with a plan, agreeing to send express letters every day after she left to work out the details. 

Until then, Rainbow Dash couldn't face AJ without collapsing in embarrassment from their fight. She just couldn't.

"Oh come on, Rainbow Dash," Rara chastised. She put a reassuring hoof on Rainbow's shoulder, a gesture that half an hour ago would have caused Rainbow Dash to smack the earth pony. But after tonight's conversation, the action didn't even trigger a flinch. "You don't want AJ to leave without at least having said goodbye. You won't get to see her till next week."

Rainbow Dash sighed. Rara had a point. A few days without AJ had spun Rainbow Dash into a panic. Another week— and without a goodbye, no less— would do horrors onto her emotional health. 

Rainbow Dash trailed after Rara, who headed in Applejack's direction. Many ponies and creatures greeted them, though some gave Rainbow Dash a funny look. Rainbow caught Spitfire's eye in passing, her captain shaking her head disapprovingly; Dash will definitely get some sort of reprimand for embarrasing herself and, by extension, the Wonderbolts later. 

Maybe I should sleep at my place tonight...

Rara and Rainbow Dash reached the larger group. Voices rose in greeting, though everypony had the same awkward expression. AJ was looking back and forth between Rara and Rainbow Dash suspiciously. After Rainbow's declarations tonight, how are they even together? 

"It's alright, everypony," Rara reassured them cheerfully. "Rainbow Dash and I talked it out. No harm, no foul."

Rara statement relaxed the entire group, besides Applejack of course. 

Rainbow Dash felt a pang of gratitude for Rara. Her jealousy had definitely clouded her from seeing just how generally nice Rara was. Even if she wasn't a super famous pony, Rainbow suspected ponies would have adored her anyways. 

"I'm glad at least y'all two are good now," Applejack muttered under her breath, giving Rainbow an annoyed look. 

"Let it go, Applejack," Rara said sternly. 

Everyone's head swirled to look at Rara with varied expressions of surprise, including Rainbow Dash. 

"You two can sort it out later. Right now, we're at a party." Rara smiled warmly at AJ, nudging her. "So enjoy it."

Another pang of gratitude. Rainbow Dash knew Applejack well; the cowgirl's stubbornness would have kept her mad at Rainbow Dash all night. But under Rara's influence, Applejack seemed resigned to the fact that she couldn't be upset with Dash. 

For now, at least. 

Applejack sighed in defeat. "Fine."

Applejack looked at Rainbow Dash solemnly, trotting towards her. She spat on her hoof and put it forward for Rainbow Dash to shake. The gesture, which AJ and RD had done countless times before several competitions, seemed out of place at the formal party. But it was familiar, and it was so... So Applejack. 

And Rainbow Dash loved it. 

Rainbow had a small grin on her face as she spat on her hoof and knocked it against AJ's, sealing the deal. No fighting tonight. 

"Gross," Rara snickered, getting many giggles from the group. 

Applejack cracked a smile at the comment. She put her hoof down and sighed incredulously. 

"I don't know what trick you pulled on Rara, but don't think I'ma let this go just as easily," AJ warned Rainbow. "I'll wait for you to be honest, no matter how long it takes."

Rainbow Dash flew a bit lower to be eye level with Applejack. 

"I know," she said with a soft smile. "I'll make it up to you. Truth and all."

"You better," AJ warned, before Rara was at her side again. She draped a hoof around AJ, nudging her. 

"We should start getting ready to go up," Rara murmured. "We'll need a few minutes to prep DJ Pon-3."

"DJ Pon-3?" Rainbow Dash repeated. Why did they need to talk to her?

Applejack looked back at Rainbow Dash, a slight blush on her face again. It made her freckles more pronounced, which was really cute... 

Hold on. Rainbow paused. Since when did Rainbow Dash notice AJ's freckles, let alone any other particular aspect of her face?

"Rara here convinced me to give y'all a sneak peek of what we can do," AJ explained. "An exclusive, one-time showing of two songs we wrote together. One in pop, Rara's usual genre—"

"And one in country," Rara finished the mare's sentence with a grin. "AJ's favorite."

A loud reaction of excitement errupted from the group. 

"I didn't know you two were performing!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed in glee. 

"How ever did you keep it a secret?" Rarity asked in amazement. 

Applejack winked at Rarity. "I may be the element of honesty, but I know how to plan a good surprise."

Rainbow Dash said nothing, gawking at Applejack. She had seen AJ dance, sing, and play instruments... But she had never seen her actually perform in a formal setting. 

And did she plan to do so in that dress? 

If so, Rainbow Dash might actually faint.

"Will you girls head out afterwards?" Rarity asked, her question rising among the chatter of the group. 

"Yup," Applejack nodded, getting a clamor of protests.

"But you won't even be here for the cake," Pinkie Pie complained. "You can't miss the cake!"

Applejack chuckled, giving Pinkie a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. There are plenty of guests here who will enjoy it."

"Exactly," Rara beamed. "Besides," she winked at Pinkie Pie. "We'll take plenty of slices to go."

Applejack gave a quick wave to the group. "I'll see y'all in the foyer after we're done."

Applejack's gaze fell on Rainbow Dash last. Rainbow smiled encouragingly, giving a small salute. Applejack gave the pegasus a hesitant smile back. The mares held their gaze until Applejack turned to follow Rara into the crowd.

The smile gave Rainbow Dash hope. At least for tonight, they were okay. 

Once Applejack left, everypony in the group (Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Starlight Glimmer) turned to Rainbow Dash. Their voices mixed until, finally, Rarity stepped forward with a frown and took the lead in the conversation.

"Excuse my language everypony, but Rainbow Dash," Rarity said. "What the hay happened out there? You and Applejack just... Lost it at each other! And then you come back in hoof-in-hoof with Rara like you didn't explicitly state you detest the poor mare."

Rainbow Dash couldn't help it: she snickered. Who would have thought she'd live to see the day where classy Rarity cursed?

"I know, I know, it's not funny," Rainbow Dash put two hooves up in surrender, still flying mid-air. Gaining her composure, she cleared her throat. "Look, I know it wasn't my best moment—"

"That's the understatement of the year," Starlight grumbled. 

"Anyways," Rainbow Dash raised her voice, ignoring Starlight. "Me and Rara talked afterwards, and she helped me get my head straight. And don't worry, I apologized to her because, well," Rainbow gave a sheepish smile. "She's actually really nice. And I promise you all, I will make it right with Applejack, too."

"'But how?" Starlight exclaimed. "We could hear you two arguing from all the way in here! It sounded really... Intense. How are you going to apologize for all that?"

"Don't worry," Rainbow Dash reassured her friend. "I got a plan. You'll see."

"So you're okay, Rainbow Dash?" Fluttershy murmured, giving Rainbow an anxious glance. "The argument sounded... Serious. And personal. I know I wouldn't like knowing that every creature heard something like that."

Rainbow Dash opened her mouth and closed it. Am I okay? 

Truth be told, after her conversation with Rara, she was. Rara's plan to make up for her behavior was overdramatic and showy and very, very out-there— just like Rainbow Dash. And even though she wouldn't be able to execute it until next week, that was okay. Knowing she was only saying a goodbye-for-now to Applejack and that her apology would (hopefully) win her was enough. Rainbow Dash could live with everything else.

Besides, Rainbow Dash admitted. I've done loads more embarrassing stuff before. An argument is fine by me. 

Rainbow Dash shrugged. "Eh, it happened. And even though I wish I could take it back, it's too late. All I can do is make it up to AJ."

"That's a really mature way to look at it," Starlight noted. Everypony in the group nodded, proud of Rainbow Dash. Whatever was going on between her and Applejack, it was going to be okay. 

Before the conversation could continue, the lights in the room dimmed.

"If I may have your attention please!" 

Trixie's voice echoed in the ballroom. She was onstage with her familiar magician's cape, but it was over a blue dress. Smoke covered the the stage slowly, giving her an eerie aura. 

But it didn't exactly wow the crowd. By now, everypony was familiar with Trixie's overdramatic antics.

"I am honored to introduce Ponyville's very own Applejack, performing with international pop star, Rara!"

Shouts and stomps eruped in the hallway. Rainbow Dash felt a weird wave of excitement. Tonight had been a rollercoaster of emotions, and seeing AJ perform was going to be the icing on the cake.

"Ponyville is honored to have welcomed Rara these last few weeks, where she remained at Sweet Apple Acres as Applejack's guest. The childhood friends will be giving us an exclusive sneak peek of their onstage chemistry before riding off to Canterlot to perform next weekend!" 

More shouts and stomps.

"And so, without further ado, Applejack and Rara!"

In a puff of smoke, Trixie was gone, and so were the lights in the room. Shrouded in darkness, there was a moment of silence. 

And then the show began.
> keep this safe for me
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A country-rock tune filled the room. A lone spotlight in a light blue-grey hue (the color of Rara's coat) lit up to reveal Rara at the end of the stage. As she sang, Rara walked with a nervous, jittery countenance, vaguely reminiscent of Fluttershy’s mannerisms. From Rara’s lyrics, her ‘character’ in the song was a newcomer to a small town. 

Another spotlight illuminated the opposite end of the stage where Rara had stood. This time, the spotlight was a light orange hue (Applejack's coat color), revealing the cowgirl herself. 

Rainbow Dash's mouth dropped. 

AJ was now wearing her Stetson, standing on two hooves and leaning casually against the wall with a piece of hay between her teeth. She had a bottom hoof resting flat against the wall, her dress' slit showing off Rara's cutiemark on her flank. The stance gave Applejack a dangerous, yet alluring, aura. 

Rainbow Dash suddenly felt herself fall a little forward, her body literally swooning. Her wings barely caught her from tilting fully forward, her eyes never leaving Applejack. 

She was reminded of Fleetfoot and Spitfire’s comments at the gym all those weeks ago. Now that Dash knew they had guessed how she felt about Applejack, it was obvious the two had been trying to goad her into an outburst by commenting on Applejack’s beauty. Rainbow recalled Fleetfoot’s particular words. 

‘Mare-next-door,’ as if,  Dash thought. Applejack is the most beautiful pony in the room. Hay, the most beautiful pony in the kingdoms. 

AJ spat the piece of hay out of her mouth, leaning forward to stand on all four hooves again. She sang opposite to Rara, her character in the song (ironically) a hard-willed country girl from the town Rara's character was visiting. As they sang, they performed a simple choreography that mirrored their lyrics. 

AJ's accent took dominance, making her the clear lead of the duet as the song came to its grand finale. The crowd cheered as Rara's cutiemark on her and Applejack's flank shone. The rainbow music notes pulsed strong as AJ's voice riffed at the end of the last lyric of the song. 

Unfortunately, it was too much for poor Rainbow Dash. 

Applejack looking crazy good in a dress and her Stetson was pushing it. But Applejack in a sexy dress on a rising platform while showing off her vocal range? 

It was too much. All too much.

Rainbow Dash didn't catch herself as she swooned forward, her fall softened by Starlight Glimmer's body. Starlight yelped in surprise as they both hit the floor. 

"Rainbow Dash!" Starlight exclaimed, shoving Rainbow Dash off of her and standing up. "What gives?"

"Sorry," Rainbow gave a half-hearted apology, flying off the ground to see the end of the performance. She didn't even register the conversation happening below her. 

"You'll have to forgive her, darling," Rarity whispered.  "She's a little, ah," Rarity giggled, looking up at Dash. "Distracted."

"You mean... ?"

"Mhm."

Rarity and Starlight's snickers were drowned out when the crowd erupted in applause after the song ended. 

"That. Was. AWESOME!" Rainbow Dash shouted, which made the audience applaud and stomp harder. Her exclamation caught Applejack's attention: the mare's eyes zeroed in on Rainbow Dash. 

And suddenly, it was like no one else was in the room. The noise melted away, and leaving behind Applejack and Rainbow Dash. 

Alone. 

Oh, how Rainbow Dash wanted to just fly forward and tackle Applejack and just lean down and...

Wait a second. 

Why the hay am I thinking about kissing AJ?

And the room went dark again, ending the gaze between the two. Rainbow Dash blinked, swallowing hard. Even though they were in a room full of ponies, for a second there, it had felt like it was just her and Applejack.

Like nothing else ever mattered.

A strange tune with an unnerving sci-fi tone began to play, disrupting Rainbow Dash's thoughts. The beat dropped, and two orange and blue-grey spotlights shown on Applejack and Rara, respectively. They were on a raised platform, with Applejack on the right side of the stage and Rara on the left side. AJ's Stetson was back off, and she had a thick white scarf wrapped around her neck. A bridge connected AJ and Rara's pedestal-like platforms. 

Applejack opened the act, singing while using the scarf as a prop in a slow, slightly seductive choreography that led her across the bridge towards a still Rara. Rainbow's magenta eyes were wide, pupils obviously dilated. She couldn't help it: she imagined herself in Rara's place, watching AJ sing and twirl towards her, until she finally reached Rainbow and the two made out right on stage...

Rainbow blinked and shook her head furiously. 

Sweet Celestia, what is up with me right now?

AJ reached the end of the bridge by the end of her verse. She wrapped her white scarf around Rara's neck, and Rara pulled a black scarf from seemingly no where and wrapped it around AJ's neck as well. 

AJ walked backwards on the bridge, pulling Rara forward. Many in the crowd gasped, but Rainbow just watched with her eyes never leaving AJ. 

Applejack, fall? Never. 

The two ponies reached the center of the bridge and snapped their scarves off each other's neck. They sang the chorus together, quickly trotting back to their original positions. They shared a sly smile, now back to their original positions. The spotlights suddenly went out, leaving the room in darkness. 

The blue-grey spotlight shone again, triggering gasps in the crowd. Rara's scarf was now magically glued to the ceiling, mimicking the rope a professional trapeze artist would use. She jumped off her platform, using the scarf to swing her body slowly across the stage while she continued to sing. The spotlight then switched hues to a light orange. Rara disappeared into the darkness, with Applejack now the light's focus. Rainbow Dash gasped, flying a bit higher. 

Is she going to...

Applejack seemed to meet Rainbow Dash's eyes before jumping off the platform. Her grip on her own scarf, now also magically attached to the ceiling, kept her from falling. 

Rainbow Dash's mouth fell open in awe: Applejack was a natural in the air. Nothing Rainbow had ever seen or done with the Wonderbolts could compare. 

And, with no wings, AJ would be relying completely on her muscles, her earth pony strength, to keep her in the air. 

What. An. Athlete. 

Applejack swung across the stage in the direction Rara came, singing her lines and never breaking contact with Rainbow Dash's gaze. The performance felt intimate, as if it had been purposefully done to put Applejack in the air and at eye level with Rainbow Dash. 

Rainbow Dash's breath caught in her throat sharply. Every small movement of AJ's was so graceful, so accurately timed, so... perfect. 

She's perfect. 

Applejack and Rara gripped the microphone, singing passionately as the song came to an end. Rara's cutiemark's illuminated on both their flanks like before, and the crowd cheered as AJ held the last syllable, her voice reaching a beautiful high note. Rara's cutiemark pulsed before seemingly erupting, spreading rainbow music notes throughout the room. 

Ponies in the room cheered in excitement. The cutiemark dimmed, leaving the room in darkness for a brief second before the lights returned. Applejack and Rara were side-by-side at center stage, hooves around each other. AJ had her Stetson back on, and she took it off as she and Rara bowed. 

The crowd exploded in applause, cheers, and stomps. Streamers and confetti flew everywhere, and different voices were clamoring in the crowd. 

But no creature, not even Soarin, was louder than Rainbow Dash. 

"THAT WAS AWESOME!" She repeatedly shouted, doing a celebratory circle shape in the air. "GO APPLEJACK!"

Applejack easily picked out Rainbow's call among the increasingly loud cheers. Her eyes lifted to the pegasus, gave her a huge grin, and tipped her hat in Dash's direction. Rainbow Dash returned the grin, feeling a weird tug on her heart. 

Who would have thought Applejack would be such a natural performer? Rainbow asked herself in awe. No offense to Rara, but Applejack was way better than her. Actually, way better than anypony I've ever seen. 

Applejack and Rara nuzzled noses before waving at the crowds again, gaining more cheers. Rara reached for the microphone, gently tapping her hoof against it to draw the crowd's attention. The crowd fell silent, letting Rara speak. 

"Thank you all for your wonderful reception. AJ and I performed when we were fillies, and it is such a joy to do so again." 

Rara beamed at AJ, and the two snuggled their cheeks against each other. 

Rara and Rainbow Dash may be on good terms, but Rainbow Dash still felt a sour taste in her mouth when she saw the gesture of affection.  

"Thank you all for welcoming me to Ponyville these last few weeks. And I am especially grateful to the Apple family for opening up their home to me. Applebloom, Big Mac, Granny Smith— thank you for treating me like family," Rara finished. 

She passed the microphone to Applejack, who removed her hoof from around Rara to grasp it. 

"I'd just like to reiterate Rara's thanks for such a positive reception to our little performance here. In a week's time, Rara and I will be performing out in Canterlot to kick off her tour. If you can, we'd love for every single one of you to join us."

Applejack turned to face Rara, giving her an adoring look. 

"And on behalf of all of Ponyville, thank you for coming, Rara. You'll always be welcomed here."

AJ's last words triggered another cheer from the crowd. Rainbow Dash clapped too, out of genuine support. Though brief, Rainbow Dash and Rara's conversation revealed the latter was a true friend to have.

Darn it, she thought morosely. I should have taken up Applejack on at least one of her invitations to hang out with Rara. 

Maybe one day. 

Applejack and Rara gave one last wave to the crowd before walking off the stage. Pinkie Pie hopped on after them. Rainbow Dash barely listened, only registering that her announcement had something to do with cake. Her attention was on following Applejack visually to see where she was going. 

"Rainbow Dash! Come on!" Starlight called from the ground. 

Rainbow looked down. Her friends were struggling to push through the crowd, trying to head to the hallway. 

Oh yeaaah. Applejack said to meet them at the foyer to say goodbye. 

Rainbow Dash zoomed out of the ballroom, not having to bother with fighting the crowd. She raced down the halls, and slammed open the castle doors to go outside. 

Applejack and Rara were standing besides a chariot pulled by palace guards. Twilight must have sent them, meaning AJ and Rara were staying at the Canterlot palace. 

The mares turned when they heard the doors open. Seeing Rainbow Dash, Rara quickly said, "I'll, ah, go back inside and see where the others are." 

Not waiting for a response, she ran inside, shutting the doors behind her. 

Applejack and Rainbow Dash stared at each other. 

"So..."

"So."

"You're leaving?"

"For now."

For a moment, neither mare said nor did anything, not wanting to be the first to get sappy after a fight. 

But even their stubbornness wasn't strong enough to keep them apart. 

Applejack and Rainbow Dash lurched forward at the same time, their bodies colliding. Rainbow Dash gripped Applejack close, burying her face in AJ's loose mane, breathing in deeply. Unsurprisingly, Applejack smelled like apples. There was also a woody, earthy smell, and... Something else. A scent Rainbow Dash couldn't describe other than with the word 'happiness.'

They stood silent, just holding each other. After a long moment, Applejack pulled away. 

"Look Rainbow. I—"

"Don't say anything," Rainbow Dash interrupted. "I was a total jerk, even before tonight. Since before Rara came... I've been a terrible friend."

"It's not just your fault, sugarcube," Applejack said gently. "I've been real stubborn, and—"

Rainbow Dash put a hoof on AJ's lips, cutting the mare off. 

"I know I owe you a better apology," Rainbow admitted. "And the truth. And I promise I'll give them to you both. Soon."

"You better," AJ said in a warning tone, but her smile betrayed she wasn't being too serious. 

Maybe it was the guarantee from Rara that Applejack felt something for her, or maybe it was just the combination of the night sky with AJ's beauty. 

Or maybe it was as simple as Rainbow wanted to. 

Rainbow reached for Applejack's hoof, placing it against her cheek. AJ's eyes widened for a second before breaking into a soft smile, her eyes now gazing adoringly into Rainbow Dash’s. 

Slowly, not wanting to startle Applejack, Rainbow Dash placed one of her own hooves on AJ's cheek.

Rainbow Dash couldn't help but grin when Applejack leaned her cheek against it too, and the two mares remained in that position. They didn't look away nor remove their hooves; they just gazed into each other's eyes. 

Rainbow Dash swallowed hard. 

I can just lean in and kiss Applejack. Hadn't I wanted to do that the entire time she was performing? Rainbow Dash questioned. I can lean in and just do it. 

But no. Rara had advised Rainbow Dash to be patient and make sure the truth was out before doing anything rash. 

And kissing Applejack would definitely count as doing something rash.

It was strange to trust Rara so readily, but Rainbow Dash felt it was the right thing to do. 

So instead, Rainbow Dash let go of AJ and flew a bit off the ground to pull away. She pulled off her bowtie, and carefully flew closer to AJ to tie it right above her choker. 

Rainbow Dash smiled; her cutie mark was placed right above AJ's. 

"I know it's only a week, but it's a little something to keep me in mind," Rainbow said, her throat dry. It made her voice faintly husky.

"In that case," Applejack took off her choker. "Come here, sugarcube."

Rainbow Dash had a slight pink in her cheeks when AJ stepped forward and tied her choker on Rainbow Dash's neck. Rainbow had never worn something of another pony's...

"One last thing," Applejack added. She took off her Stetson and plopped it on Rainbow's head. She gave Rainbow a quirky smile. "Keep it safe for me."

Rainbow Dash's eyes widened in shock. 

Applejack has never willing given her hat to anypony before, Rainbow Dash internally screamed. What does this even mean? Is she not mad at me anymore? Does she actually like me?

"But AJ! It's your hat. Your signature hat! I—"

"I can't wear her on stage anyways," Applejack dismissed her protests. "And I can't think of anypony else who'd take better care of Tallulah. You'll give her back when I see you at the show."

Applejack smiled softly. "Take it as an olive branch, sugarcube. We don't have time now to talk, but I know we'll get everything sorted out soon."

Rainbow Dash gave Applejack one last look of amazement before flying forward to nuzzle Applejack's nose.

"I'll keep her safe," Dash promised. 

Applejack didn't verbally reply, but she returned the sweet and sudden gesture. 

Though they stopped nuzzling, the two kept their noses pressed together. They were so close, Rainbow could feel AJ's every inhale and exhale against her face. She noticed every glitter of color in Applejack's eyes, and could count every freckle on the mare's face. 

Oh, to Tartarus with this. Rainbow's resolve hardened. I'm Rainbow Daring Dash! And if I wanna kiss AJ, I'm gonna do it. 

Before Rainbow could act on that thought, the castle door swung open. Noise from the party spilled out into the night. 

Rainbow Dash and Applejack jumped away from each other immediately, fast enough that nopony from the crowd who came out noticed the intimacy of the moment they had interrupted. 

"APPLEJACK!" Applebloom wailed, running towards her older sister and tackling her to the ground. "Please take me with you! Pleaaaase!”

The rest of the Apple family reached the two sisters, hugging them tightly. 

Rainbow flew back to give them space, a soft smile on her face. Knowing each of them individually, Rainbow Dash knew they would do absolutely anything for Applejack. 

It was something they all had in common. 

Somepony tugged on Rainbow's tail gently, drawing her attention. Rainbow Dash looked down in surprise; it was a gesture only Applejack ever did. But now, it was Rara who was doing the tugging. 

"Nice hat," Rara commented with a sly smile. Standing besides her was Rarity, Starlight Glimmer, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy. All of them had various expressions of curiosity as they looked at Rainbow's new accessory. 

"Ah, thanks?" Rainbow said confused. "It's not mine though. It’s AJ's."

"Oh, we know," Rarity said loftily with a smirk to match Rara's. 

"Oooh! Is that Applejack's choker?" Pinkie Pie noted in wonder. "It kind of looks like your old element necklace. With the red jewel in the middle and stuff."

"It does look nice," Fluttershy smiled lightly at her friend. "Did Applejack give it to you?"

Rainbow Dash nodded, but didn't have time to reply. Applejack walked towards her friends, drawing attention away from Dash as they all lurched forward to hug her. 

But Rara stayed besides Rainbow, giving her a teasing smile. 

"Who would've ever thought Rainbow Dash, a pegasus who loves the sky more than anything, would ever let herself be tied to the ground?"

"Well, you're wrong," Rainbow Dash said not unkindly. "I've never loved the sky more than anything. I've always cared about my friends and family and Ponyville the most."

"And is that still true?" Rara implored. "Do you still care about all those things more than anything in the world?" Rara glanced pointedly at Applejack. "More than anypony in the world?"

Rainbow Dash hesitated. As much as it felt weird to admit... 

No., she realized. That's not true anymore.

The element of loyalty should obviously be most loyal to her loved ones. But everything had changed. 

Or, maybe, nothing had changed. Rainbow Dash had been and always will be loyal to her friends, family, and Equestria. 

But I've always had a special loyalty to Applejack. A special bond and commitment to her, Rainbow Dash went on. How have I never noticed that?

Before Rainbow Dash could reply to Rara's question, the larger group bombarded Rara in a hug, too. This left Rainbow Dash to silently fly to Applejack's side. 

"If you tell anypony I said this, I'm just gonna deny it," Rainbow Dash warned. "But I kind of regret not getting to know Rara. She's one cool mare." Rainbow quickly amended, "Not as cool as me, obviously. But she's up there."

Applejack smirked, saying nothing. Whatever had happened between Dash and Rara to get them to be friends, she wasn’t going to question it. 

"It's time AJ," Rara called, trotting to the chariot. 

She paused when she passed Rainbow Dash, and the two new friends exchanged salutes. 

"Tell Soarin I said bye," Rara smiled slyly. "And that I hope he makes it out to the show."

Rainbow Dash snickered. "You know you personally inviting him might kill him, right?"

Rara grinned. "Oh, I'm counting on it."

Applejack looked up expectantly at Rainbow Dash and, for some reason, the pegasus knew what AJ wanted without either pony saying it. Rainbow closed her eyes and flew down to nuzzle noses with Applejack in silent farewell. She barely registered that their audience collectively aw'ed, though Granny Smith audibly mumbled, "Well, it's about darn time! I thought I was gonna die before anything happened."

Hearing Granny Smith, Applejack stepped away from Dash, her cheeks donning a soft pink. She gave Dash one last, shy grin before turning to the rest of the group. 

"I'll see y'all in a week!" She called, trotting to hop onto the chariot. 

Rara and Applejack turned their bodies to wave as the chariot ascended to the sky. A chorus of goodbye's and see you soon's continued until the chariot was only a speck in the sky. 

"Well, at least Rara got cake to-go," Pinkie Pie beamed. 

At the sound of 'cake,' the Apple family trotted back inside in hopes of cake too. This left Rainbow Dash with her friends. 

"Okay, did I miss something?" Starlight immediately demanded once the friends were alone. "One second, you and Applejack are fighting, and the next you and Rara are buddy-buddy even though we all know you didn't like her. And on top of that, you, of all ponies, are swooning over Applejack and being weirdly affectionate and wearing her stuff—"

"Oh Starlight, don't tell me we have to spell it out for you," Rarity interjected dramatically. "It's been obvious for quite some time now that Applejack and Rainbow Dash feel, ah, certain feelings for each other."

"Wait wait wait," Rainbow Dash sputtered. "Did you ponies know that I— That Applejack—?"

"Well, we didn't know per say," Rarity admitted. "Just suspected. But after tonight, I doubt even you and Applejack can be oblivious to the other's sentiments."

Rainbow pouted. She wasn't embarrassed nor ashamed of her feelings. She was a little annoyed, actually. 

"If it was so obvious, how come nopony told me? How come you all knew before I did?"

Rarity laughed. "Darling, why in Equestria would we explain your own feelings to you? No, no, no. That was not our place. That was a journey for you and you alone. One that has clearly fast forwarded ever since Rara got here."

Rainbow opened her mouth to give some comeback, but immediately closed it. Rarity did have a point... 

Rara's visit triggered some strong feelings from Rainbow Dash. Jealousy, protectiveness, sadness, anger, frustration.

But it was worth it, Rainbow reasoned. It was worth it to find out how I've always felt about AJ, and how she feels about me. And, bonus: I made a new friend. 

"Wait, so are you and Applejack together? Like," Starlight clicked her hooves together to emphasize, "Together together?"

"Um, no," Rainbow Dash said immediately, laughing nervously. 

When she talked about her feelings with Rara, it felt comfortable. Rara and Rainbow Dash both held a claim to knowing AJ better than anypony else. If anypony could help Rainbow Dash, it was Rara. 

And it's not that her larger friend group didn't know Applejack, nor that Rainbow didn't trust her friends. But she just wasn't ready to discuss her feelings in depth with so many ponies all at once. 

"Could we not talk about this right now?" Rainbow Dash asked, rubbing the back of her neck.

"Of course, Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy replied immediately. She gave her friend an encouraging smile. "We would never intrude or force you to talk. But we're here for you if you ever do want to."

All the ponies nodded in agreement. 

Rainbow Dash smiled. Knowing that her friends had her back, even though she had kind of made a mess of things, made everything better. 

Rainbow Dash turned her head to wink at Pinkie. 

"So... Anypony want cake?"
> a sunflower following the sun
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The week following Applejack's departure went by too slow yet too fast. While Rainbow Dash yearned to see AJ again, she knew that when she did, she would have to execute her and Rara's crazy plan. 

A plan that, if it goes badly, Rainbow Dash would never be able to live down. 

Luckily, the week also gave Rainbow Dash time to gather her thoughts. The night of the party had been an overload of information, with the most important being Rara's inside knowledge that Applejack liked her back. 

But despite Rara's encouragement (and the rest of her friends' not-so-subtle commentary), Rainbow Dash couldn't bring herself to fully believe it. It felt too good to be true. Only in hearing the words from Applejack herself would Rainbow truly accept it. 

Thankfully, her friends had given Rainbow Dash the privacy she asked for. After eating a slice of cake, Rainbow Dash left the party early and flew back to the Wonderbolts compound, only to find the whole team waiting for her. The moment she enteredthe sleeping quarters, Spitfire blocked her path. 

"Tell me Crash," her captain had said with a poker face, "Did you at least get the girl?"

Rainbow had given Spitfire a reassuring smile coupled with a salute. "I'm working on it."

Spitfire had nodded, and hadn't brought it up since.

On the other hoof, Soarin would not shut up about the concert. He had already been ecstatic when Rainbow Dash confirmed Rara and Applejack weren't dating. But the news that Rara had specifically expressed interest in seeing him at the concert was too much for the seasoned Wonderbolt: he had literally fainted. 

"I think it'll work out just swell for us, Crash," Soarin boasted after he had woken up. "I'll get my chance with Rara, and you'll get to keep your Applejack."

After Soarin started using the term 'your Applejack,' Rainbow was all too willing to listen to him prattle on about his ideas for wooing Rara. 

The week passed, and it was Saturday morning.

The day of the concert arrived. 

Soarin awoke the entire team with his loud racket. He flew from one end of the room to the other, very much overpacking for an overnight trip. He was the only Wonderbolt to join Rainbow Dash on the early train to Canterlot. The rest of the team was heading out in the afternoon, but Soarin had said he needed "to have plenty of time to get ready."

Rainbow Dash groaned. She had wanted to sleep until she absolutely had to get up. But, with Soarin's noise and not-so-quiet jovial humming, she decided to get up and just head out. 

Right before they flew to the train station, Spitfire called out to Rainbow Dash. 

"Good luck Crash," Spitfire saluted. The perceptive captain suspected that the concert was going to be another colorful evening. 

Rainbow Dash saluted back, determination growing in her chest. The plan was crazy and stupid and irrational... Enough so that it just might work. 

Rainbow Dash was silent on the train ride, ignoring the chatter of the other ponies in the car. Onboard was Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Starlight Glimmer, the immediate Apple family, and the rest of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Rainbow Dash had overheard that the majority of Ponyville, as well as AJ's past students from the School of Friendship and her extended family, would be taking a later train into Canterlot. 

After AJ and Rara's sneak peek last Friday, every creature wanted to see what else the mares could do. 

Rainbow sat in a corner booth, looking out the window in silent contemplation. She mentally went through the plan again and again, making sure she knew it inside out. Once she saw Canterlot approaching, her stomach started to do summersaults. 

How can I do dozens of Wonderbolt performances, but this one plan is making nervous? Rainbow Dash grimaced. Get it together, Rainbow. It'll be okay, it'll be okay, it'll be okay—

"Lot on your mind, Rainbow Dash?" 

Rainbow Dash jumped in surprise. Granny Smith sat down in the seat besides her, giving her a sympathetic look. Since their trip to Las Pegasus, Rainbow Dash absolutely adored Granny Smith, a feeling that was very much mutual. 

"Heh... You could say that again, Granny," Rainbow chuckled nervously. 

Granny Smith gave Rainbow Dash a knowing smile. "I don't claim to understand everything that's going on between you and Applejack," she said with a maternal tone. "But I do know one thing. That girl's a sunflower following the sun when you're around. I ain't ever seen Applejack push herself as hard as she does when you challenge her, or smile as brightly as when she looks at you."

Rainbow felt a bubbly tingle in her heart. If what everypony has been saying is true, then Rainbow Dash's plan was bound to work. Not because it was crazy and extravagant, but because AJ felt what she felt, too. 

"It'll be okay, Rainbow Dash," Granny continued. "It's Applejack. Just give her the truth, and the rest will fall into place."



After getting off the train, the ponies went their separate ways. The Apple family, despite Twilight's invitation, had decided to stay with family. Soarin had booked a hotel with the rest of the Wonderbolts. Everypony else was staying at the castle. 

Twilight was waiting in the castle parlor to greet them. She had grown a few centimeters since they last saw her, and her wings and horn were slightly bigger too. Any another day, Rainbow Dash would have definitely teased her about it. 

But today, Rainbow Dash only had one focus. 

"Where's Applejack?" Rainbow asked once greetings had been exchanged. 

"She's off with Rara doing a final run-through of the show. But they'll come back for lunch soon," Twilight replied. 

"How soon is 'soon'?"

The group exchanged smirks, with many ponies (well, just Rarity and Sweet Belle) giggling. Rainbow Dash ignored her amused audience, not to be deterred from her inquiry. 

"Around midday. So once you all get settled, come straight to the dining room. AJ and Rara should be back by then," Twilight replied in confusion, noticing her friends’ smirks and knowing smiles. Having been in Canterlot, she missed out on everything that had passed between Applejack and Rainbow Dash since her coronation. 

But that was gossip to share once Rainbow Dash was out of earshot. 

Everypony dispersed to their rooms, though Starlight stayed behind to talk to Twilight. If Rainbow Dash had been more observant, she would have noticed that everypony was giving her a look. They were all invested in Applejack and Rainbow Dash's relationship, more so than was probably necessary. 

Once in her room, Rainbow Dash quickly unpacked. She hesitated as she held Tallulah; should she give her back now or wait? 

Rainbow carefully tried on the Stetson, flying to a mirror. She's worn the hat before, but wearing it now felt different... It meant something different. AJ had leant it to her willingly, instead of Rainbow stealing it or wearing to spite her. 

There was a loud knock on the door. Forgetting to take off Tallulah, Rainbow rushed to open it.

"Howdy Rainbow," Applejack grinned, her eyes shifting to the top of Rainbow Dash's head. "Glad you liked the hat. Are you—"

"APPLEJACK!" Without waiting for Applejack to finish her question, Rainbow Dash lurched to embrace her friend. Seven days without her had been seven days too many. 

Applejack was startled, but returned the gesture willingly. The two hugged for a long moment until Applejack broke it up.

Rainbow Dash flew a few inches of the ground, giving AJ an embarrassed, almost shy, smile. 

"Hi AJ."

"Hi Rainbow."

An awkward pause followed. 

"Oh! Um, this is your's," Rainbow took off the Stetson and plopped it on AJ's head. 

Applejack had a pleased look on her face, happy to have her hat back. But she took it off and placed it back on Rainbow Dash's head. 

"Why don't you give it back after the concert?" Applejack suggested. "I won't get to wear it till then anyways."

Her eyes strayed to Rainbow Dash's hoof, her smile growing. The choker she had given Rainbow Dash was now being used as a bracelet. At the same time AJ noticed that, Dash noticed her gift was being worn too. Her bowtie held Applejack's ponytail. 

Rainbow Dash's heart almost burst. 

Surely this is a sign, right? She pondered in glee. I mean, I've only ever seen Lyra and Bon Bon do the whole 'marefriends wear each other's stuff' thing. It means something to wear your special somepony's cutiemark. 

"Anyhoo," Applejack cleared her throat, having also been lost in thought. "The girls are all downstairs for lunch. You coming?"

Rainbow Dash's stomach growled, "Um, yeah. I'm kinda hungry."

The two ponies laughed, heading downstairs. AJ caught Rainbow Dash up on everything she's done the past week. From meeting Rara's Canterlot friends to integrating costumes and special effects into their choreography, Applejack had been kept busy. 

Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash didn't have much to share. Besides sending secret letters with Rara to smooth out the final details of their plan, nothing new had happened.

But Applejack trying new things isn't bad, Rainbow Dash reminded herself. She isn't one of those mares who wants to go off and see the world. She's already seen the world— actually, scratch that. She's saved it so many times, she's tired of it.

So what that she had fun this week? Doesn't mean she's going to change her mind about the tour.

Right?

The dining room was loud and full of laughter. Twilight sat at the head of the table, with everypony else already seated. Applejack had a seat saved by Rara, while the last available seat was on the opposite end besides Fluttershy. On seeing Rara, Rainbow Dash smiled in greeting and saluted, a gesture Rara returned with an even bigger smile. 

Everypony noticed that Rainbow Dash was wearing Applejack's hat, but didn't comment. And Twilight, now caught up on all the gossip, knew to say nothing, too. 

The ponies spent the lunch catching up, with plenty of stories to be shared. None of them (besides AJ and Rara) have seen Twilight in weeks. Between eating and catching up, no one had time to notice that Applejack and Rainbow Dash, usually two of the louder voices in the room, were abnormally quiet. As much as they wanted to be with their friends, they would have preferred time alone, though for different reasons. Applejack was still expecting an apology and explanation; Rainbow Dash just wanted to be physically close to her again

After eating, Applejack and Rara headed out to get ready for the show, with everypony wishing them luck. 

But it made Rainbow Dash's stomach churn. The next time she'll see Applejack, AJ will be performing and Rainbow Dash will be executing the plan.

While the larger group planned to go into Canterlot and explore before the concert,  Rainbow Dash made an excuse to stay behind. She claimed she got no sleep the night before (which was true) and was going to nap (which she hoped would be true). Making Fluttershy promise to wake her when they got back to the castle, Rainbow Dash returned to her room. 

This is insane. A crazy plan. A crazy plan that could totally embarrass me, Rainbow Dash spiraled once she got to her room. And, even if it does work, my reputation as the awesomest, coolest pony to ever live will be totally ruined. 

Rainbow Dash groaned loudly and face-planted onto her bed. 

“I can always just find Rara and call it off,” Rainbow Dash mumbled to herself. 

But no. 

I can't do that. 

"I won't do that."

Rainbow Dash's resolve solidified. She flew off the bed, declaring aloud, "I'd rather be teased forever with Applejack by my side than abort the plan and always wonder if it would have worked. Sure, there are less embarrassing ways to go about telling AJ how I feel. 

But those ways are boring. They're for boring, average ponies."

Rainbow Dash smiled to herself. "But me and Applejack?"

"We're not average ponies."

If this is going to be the beginning of our relationship, it's sure as hay not going to have an average beginning.
> it wasn’t with me
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow Dash flew besides the chariot carrying Twilight and the rest of their friends towards the concert. As she looked down, her stomach did somersaults. 

All the adjacent streets to the concert hall were flooded with traffic. Chariots were lined for blocks, and many pegasus opted to abandon their rides and fly to the front. 

This crowd is bigger than any I've ever seen at a Wonderbolts show, Rainbow Dash observed nervously.

Of course, their chariot had clearance to skip the foot traffic and land at the top of the concert hall, which was reserved for the most important of the guests. Rara had disclosed during lunch that celebrities (like the Wonderbolts and Sapphire Shores) to royalty (Princess Cadence, Celestia, and Luna, as well as Shiningg Armor, had all reserved seats) would be using the entrance. Even royalty from abroad, ranging from Yakyakistan, the Changeling empire, and Seaquestria, were arriving. 

The thought of so many important ponies and creatures who were coming did not help calm Rainbow’s nerves.  

If me and Rara's plan doesn't work, she thought miserably, I'll be an international laughingstock. 

Oblivious to Rainbow Dash's emotional turmoil, the larger group excitedly walked downstairs to the seating area. The front row had been reserved for them, their names specifically placed. That had been Rara's idea: it was to ensure Rainbow Dash was placed precisely in the middle of the row. 

Rainbow's teeth began to chatter in fear.  she took her seat. She turned her body to peek at who was in the crowd. Every row was full, as well as the overhead balconies. But these weren't the only ponies and creatures watching. Rara had also shared that there are viewing areas set up outside the concert hall in the adjacent buildings, where unicorns would be broadcasting the event live on various screens. 

All of Equestria is here, Rainbow gulped. Watching. 

Before Rainbow Dash could consider flying out of her seat, leaving the building, and never returning, the lights in the room dimmed. 

"That's my cue," Twilight, who was sitting to Rainbow Dash' right, murmured. 

The princess flew to the center of the stage, extending her wings in a gesture for silence. The crowd fell silent almost immediately. 

"Good evening every creature! First, I'd like to begin by welcoming you all to Canterlot. We are happy to have you, especially on a night as special as this one. We're beyond honored to be the kickoff city for the first international tour of any musical artist. Give it up for Rara for embarking on this incredible journey!"

Twilight's speech was cut off as the crowd exploded in cheer. Twilight let it continue for a few seconds, extending her wings again to call for silence. 

"A unique tour like this demands a unique kickoff. So for tonight only, Rara is performing with some surprise guests." 

A low, excited murmur rose at the news. Applejack's performance had been advertised, but Twilight had said "surprise guests." As in, plural.  

Not wanting to deter too long, Twilight continued. 

"So without further ado, I welcome to the stage international pop star Rara joined by one of Equestria's heroes, Applejack!"

A loud cheer exploded from the audience. Rainbow Dash flew a few inches above her seat, whooping at the sound of Applejack's name. Twilight flew to Rainbow's side, both mares sporting huge grins. Rainbow Dash temporarily forgot her nervousness— she was ready to be amazed yet again by Applejack. 

The lights dimmed until the audience was engulfed in darkness. A digitized, eerie beat began to play, increasing in tempo before dropping. 

A blue-grey hued stage light illuminated the right side of the stage. Rara was sitting on a large hula hoop that was suspended from the ceiling. As she sang, the hula hoop slowly twirled in place and descended. 

An orange-hued light on the other side of the stage turned on, revealing Applejack. She was perched on her own hula hoop, which was also doing a continuous 180° spin while descending. She was wearing a ringmaster's suit, making Rainbow notice Rara had one on, too. Rara's was a royal purple blazer with a skirt, while Applejack's was a red, traditional pantsuit. As props, they both had lassos hanging on their shoulders. 

They performed choreography while hanging from the hula hoops, singing as they did so. The movements pulled forward the memory of watching Applejack train Rara at the gym. Anypony who trained often could tell AJ had been building Rara's core strength. The agility and strength needed to perform their current choreography was definitely a result of the intense training Applejack put Rara through. 

Rainbow Dash was at a loss for words besides these: What. An. Athlete. 

The beat dropped, and two ropes swung from the back of the concert hall towards them. The crowd gasped as the duo caught the ropes and hoisted themselves in the air.

Rainbow Dash's eyes widened, and she (as well as most of the winged creatures and ponies in the audience) flew a few centimeters out of their seats to turn and keep watching. 

Applejack and Rara swung in a circular motion on opposite sides of the room. They converged at the center, snapping their lassos against the ceiling. The lassos illuminated in the color of their coats, magically connecting to the ceiling. 

Sweet Celestia, a magic lasso in Applejack's hooves? 

Rainbow Dash couldn't think of anything more attractive. 

A web of ropes had magically appeared above the crowd, allowing for AJ and Rara to navigate like professional trapeze artists. Their bodies twisted and turned, and they convened many times to push against each other's back hooves in order to keep momentum. 

Rainbow swallowed hard. It went against the grain to let Applejack, who didn't have wings, fly through the air like that. While Dash had no doubt that AJ's strength was enough to keep her in the air, she couldn't help but feel a bit anxious for her crush. 

But no one else in the crowd was worried. They were too enraptured with the show, cheering loudly. 

The beat dropped again. Confetti and smoke erupted on the sides of the aisles as Applejack and Rara swung themselves back onto the hula hoops. They performed a more complex while backup dancers onstage performed the same graceful choreography. But Rainbow Dash didn’t notice the special effects nor the other ponies. 

Her eyes were on Applejack. 

Applejack and Rara's hula hoops swung against each other, connecting like magnets. The mares hung from the hula hoops, using half their bodies (Rara used her right side, and Applejack used her left side) to keep themselves upright as they finished their song. 

The applause and cheers were deafening. Pegasi and other winged creatures flew out of their seats, exclaiming in amazement. 

And Rainbow Dash was the loudest of them all. 

"THAT. WAS. AWESOME!" She shouted at the top of her lungs. "ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!" 

The hula hoops reached the stage, and both performers hopped off. Rara wrapped a hoof around Applejack's shoulders and, together, they bowed. This prompted louder cheering, which was just fine by Rainbow Dash. 

She could cheer on Applejack forever.

As the cheering died down, Rara cleared her throat to speak. 

"Thank you all!" She called, her voice magically amplified. This prompted more cheers. She let it go on for a moment before raising a hoof, silencing the crowd with as much command as Princess Twilight. 

"I am incredibly excited to be performing across the kingdoms for my tour. But of course, I had to kick it off in the capital of Equestria!" 

More cheers and whoops. 

"Above all, I am beyond thrilled to be performing with somepony special to me tonight," Rara glanced at Applejack, getting many aw's from the crowd. "You may know her as a decorated rodeo pony, as a hero of Equestria, as an Element of Harmony, as a member of Princess Twilight Sparkle's Council of Friendship. 

However, I know her as my fillyhood friend, a pony I consider my sister, and the most honest, dependable, compassionate soul I know. She is, quite honestly, the best pony in all of Equestria. Every creature, give a big round of applause for Applejack!"

The crowd cheered again, with no creature louder than Rainbow Dash. Rainbow had never been good with words, and she felt a twinge of... It wasn’t jealousy. It was almost disappointment in herself. Rara had put into words what Rainbow always wished to tell Applejack. 

But at least somepony let her know how awesome she is, Rainbow reminded herself. 

"As you all may or may not know, there have been a few rumors surrounding the nature of me and Applejack's relationship," Rara continued. 

A murmur rose from the crowd, with many audible gasps. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash's smile fell from her face. 

What is Rara doing?

"And while Rara and I love each other dearly, it is as sisters," Applejack finally spoke up. “In any case, we’ve co-written a lil' song for all y'all mares who can relate to what it's like when you find a particularly special mare."

"Of course, don't take it to mean anything about us," Rara added quickly, her gaze fixed quite obviously on Rainbow Dash. "It was a fun piece Applejack and I wrote together, in commemoration of our own, separate experiences."

The low whisper from the crowd grew louder as people began to speculate on what was going on. Whatever it was, it was going to be the talk of the town. 

Maybe even the talk of the kingdoms. 

"Experiences!" Rarity, who was seated on Rainbow Dash's other side, exclaimed. "Do you think the song is based on Rara's experiences," Rarity raised an eyebrow at Rainbow Dash, "Or has our dear Applejack had special encounters with a certain somepony?" 

Rainbow Dash's cheeks burned. "If she has, it wasn't with me," Rainbow quickly clarified. “But come on everypony. AJ? Romance?" She scoffed. "As if!"

Rainbow Dash was almost one hundred percent sure that none of her friends, including Applejack, have ever had a serious romantic experience. Sure, she's heard stories about Trenderhoof's visit and his crush on Applejack. But she also knew that Applejack didn't entertain him for one second. That has been the only romantic story among their friend group over the course of their friendship. 

But Applejack is really private about her past, a tiny voice in Rainbow Dash’s head whispered. Maybe Rara isn’t the only mare Applejack has kept under wraps. 

"I wouldn't be too shocked, Rainbow," Twilight contemplated. "Applejack did go to summer camps as a filly... It's where she met Rara."

"And she's travelled on her own to various rodeos since fillyhood too," Rarity added. "I'm sure that plenty of other dashing ponies were there."

Rainbow Dash glared are Rarity for the pun. Rarity, in response, fluttered her eyelashes innocently. 

Instigator. 

"And she went to a bunch of clubs and parties with Rara these last few weeks," Starlight Glimmer, who was sitting on Twilight's other side, chimed in. "Remember that Las Pegasus party? I heard ponies were making out left and right."

Rainbow Dash sputtered, unable to form words. 

Is it true? I mean, even if it isn't, is it?

As for Dash... She herself has never had any 'experiences.' Sure, she's had crushes (As a young filly, she crushed hard on the then-members of the Wonderbolts. She may even go as far as to admit that she had had the tiniest crush on Daring Do before she met the author of the novels). 

But Rainbow Dash had never experienced anything as intense as her current feelings for Applejack. And, on some level, she had believed that was the case for Applejack, too. It would have been kind of cool for the mares to experience every aspect of romance firsthoof. 

Together. 

It made Dash nervous to think that she was wrong. That there are mares out there who have told Applejack how pretty she is before she did... Who have kissed AJ before she could... 

Before Rainbow Dash could continue her internal downward spiral, the lights dimmed again. The stage completely darkened, making Applejack and Rara disappear. 

After a few moments, the stage was illuminated with light again. DJ Pon-3 was at the back of the stage behind her usual DJ set up. Applejack and Rara were standing side-by-side, now wearing red, shimmering dresses. AJ had an electric guitar hanging on her neck, while Rara had a firm grip on a microphone. 

Even in her emotional turmoil, Rainbow had to admit that Applejack looked good. She was reminded of Fleetfoot's comment so many weeks ago, categorizing Applejack as a mare-next-door beauty. 

Bet Fleetfoot wouldn't say that now, Rainbow mused, admiring the sexy pop star look Applejack had going on. 

DJ Pon-3 smoothly put on a record, and an upbeat pop tune played. Applejack strummed on her guitar, giving Rara a knowing smile. Instead of the complex choreography from before, the two mares were focused on their song. 

The lyrics bordered on scandalous, the type of declaration nopony would ever suspect from Applejack. It was exactly as Rara and Applejack said it would be: about a mare finding that special mare, and what happens afterwards. 

If it was based on "experiences," then Applejack has definitely had past romances. 

But with who? Rainbow Dash panicked. Who was she? Was she pretty? Was she a celebrity? Does AJ have a thing for celebrities? Or maybe they were a rodeo pony, like Rarity said. Was she as tough and beautiful and amazing as AJ?

Rainbow Dash had forgotten about the cutie mark spell. From the shining light coming from Applejack and Rara’s flanks, it clearly hadn't worn off yet. As AJ hit the climaxing chord on her guitar, the beat dropped and the stage was illuminated in a dazzling light from the cutie marks on both their flanks. The cutie marks seemed to explode, spreading its light past the entrance door. 

And, in a flash, it disappeared. Applejack strummed the last note, ending the song. 

The crowd erupted in cheers. Rainbow Dash hesitantly joined in, clapping her hooves out of tune. 

Applejack's past didn’t change her feelings, but it definitely made her a little jealous over the mystery mare. 

Or mares. 

Or stallions. 

Or both. 

When the applause died down, Rara raised the microphone to her lips again. 

"Thank you, thank you," Rara beamed. "AJ and I may not be in a romantic relationship, but that doesn't mean that romances between mares is nonexistent. Love is love, always!"

Even from her spot, Rainbow Dash could hear Fleetfoot and Spitfire, who had seats in the balcony with the rest of the Wonderbolts, cheering louder than they ever had in their lives. 

After tonight, they might be bigger Rara fans than Soarin. 

"Now, I promised you all more than one guest tonight," Rara continued.

Uh oh. 

“It is my great pleasure to invite to the stage...

Rainbow Dash!"
> the only mare in the world
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The general crowd went absolutely wild. 

Another hero of Equestria, who also happened to be a celebrity in her own right, was going to perform? 

Every creature sure was getting their bits worth of a show. 

Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash's friends were frozen in shock. 

Applejack was shocked. 

And strangely, above all, Rainbow Dash was shocked. 

Having been so focused on Applejack's performance (and then caught up in her budding jealousy over the mystery mare), Rainbow Dash had kind of forgotten that the plan was to be set in motion after AJ and Rara finished their second duet. 

Oh, horse apples, Rainbow cringed. It's too late to back out now. 

Rara walked towards the end of the stage, extending a hoof to help Rainbow Dash onstage. Dash flew forward and took it, more for theatrics sake than a need to be helped. 

Why did I agree to this? Why, why, why?

"Applejack, I'm going to have to ask you to take a seat," Rara said to Applejack, who was standing frozen in place. 

"B-But—"

"No but's, AJ," Rara said sternly, pushing the mare closer to the edge of the stage. 

Applejack regained her senses, glancing towards Rainbow Dash. 

"Rainbow, what the hay is—"

"Nope!" Rara interrupted, pushing her again. "Off you go!"

Applejack pursed her lips, but did as told. She hopped off the stage, taking Rainbow Dash's old seat between Twilight and Rarity. 

Rara trotted to Rainbow Dash's side. "Ready?"

"No," Rainbow Dash gulped, looking out into the crowd. 

Yup, exactly as she suspected: any creature who was any creature was there. The entire world was about to watch her do the craziest, cringiest thing she has ever, ever done. 

"If it's about the song we just sang," Rara whispered, mistaking Rainbow Dash's anxiety for anger. "I'll let AJ explain it to you herself, but trust me: it was always about you. I don't want to steal her thunder, but the way she's talked about how she feels about you..." Rara shook her head in amazement. "Just do yourselves a favor and go get the mare, Rainbow." 

Rainbow Dash gulped, slowly nodding. 

Go get the mare, she chanted. Go get the mare. 

Rara turned to face the crowd, her voice amplified again. 

"Rainbow Dash needs no introduction. Like Applejack, she's a famed hero of Equestria and currently sits on Princess Twilight's Council of Friendship, though most of you may know her as a member of the Wonderbolts. And tonight, Rainbow Dash will grace us with a special performance unlike any she's ever given."

The crowd cheered, and Rara turned to Rainbow Dash one more time.

"A bit of advice," she murmured, her voice back to its normal volume. "Focus on AJ. Pretend she's the only mare in the room. Heck, pretend she's the only mare in the world."

Rara gave her one last encouraging smile and trotted away, joining DJ Pon-3 to direct the mare's beats. 

Rainbow Dash swallowed hard. She flew closer to the end of the stage, taking Rara's advice. 

Rainbow Dash looked away from the eager audience to the mare seated in the center front row seat. Her magenta eyes met Applejack's green ones, and it was like that moment at the concert in Ponyville.  

The room melted away. 

There was silence. 

And the only ponies that remained were Applejack and Rainbow Dash.  

The moment lasted maybe a second, but it was enough to build Rainbow Dash's courage. 

I've got this. She resolved, For Applejack. 

"Good evening every creature," Rainbow Dash called, the room returning to its original state. Her eyes widened at the increased volume of her voice. Clearly, a unicorn had cast a spell to make her voice louder. 

"I'm grateful to Rara for letting me borrow her stage tonight..."

Rainbow Dash looked back at Applejack, who was hanging onto Rainbow Dash's every word. Ignoring the audience and focusing on AJ, Rainbow Dash found her voice again. 

"Having known Applejack for many, many years, I can confirm every word that Rara said. Applejack truly is the best pony in all of Equestria."

A unanimous 'aw' was given by the crowd. But Rainbow Dash remained focused on Applejack, who gazed back at the pegasus with a wondrous expression. 

"Applejack has taught me that the truth is one of the most beautiful gifts we can share with one another. So tonight, I plan to share that gift with you all and, especially, with Applejack. " 

A gentle smile grew on Applejack's face, understanding reaching her eyes. Rainbow Dash was keeping her promise. 

She was going to tell Applejack the truth. 

Rainbow Dash turned and gave Rara a nod. Rara saluted, and DJ Pon-3 changed the record. The lights in the room dimmed, until only a blue spotlight shone above Rainbow Dash. 

And, coincidentally, an orange-colored spotlight shone above Applejack. 

A bouncy pop beat began to play. 

Rainbow Dash took a deep breath. 

Remember: the only mare in the world. 

And with that, Rainbow Dash flew towards Applejack until she was flying right above the space between the stage and the front row. 

Sweet Celestia, this is about to get so corny, Rainbow thought darkly. But it's what I wrote, so here goes nothing.

And she began to sing. 

It was a song about love, about longing, about respect. Some creature in the crowd began to stomp and, suddenly, the whole audience was either stomping or clapping to the beat. 

Rainbow Dash let herself touch the ground, standing right in front of a teary-eyed Applejack. As she finished her song, Applejack stood up as if the lurch forward and hug Rainbow, but Rainbow Dash put a hoof up in a 'wait' gesture. 

The crowd around them was cheering, but neither Rainbow Dash nor Applejack seemed to hear them. 

Rainbow Dash spoke up first, thankful that her voice no longer projected to the entire audience. "I know this was a weird way to tell you the truth, but I did promise to make it up to you."

Rainbow Dash had a deepening blush growing on her cheeks. 

Just say it. 

"I'ma start by apologizing for having been the biggest, most insensitive jerk these last few weeks. Even before Rara came to Ponyville, I was a really bad friend and closed myself off to you. I threw myself into work after Twilight's coronation because... I was scared. I was scared to go into Ponyville. I was scared that everything was going to change. So I was super annoyed that the day I finally decided to face my fears and go into town, you were with Rara. And I was so set on holding a grudge against Rara that I refused your invitations to hang out."

Rainbow paused, noticing Applejack's look of understanding. It's just like Granny said. 

'Give Applejack the truth, and the rest will fall into place.'

"But, to be honest, the whole annoyed thing wasn't the main reason I didn't wanna hang around you and Rara..." 

Rainbow Dash inhaled sharply. Here goes nothing. 

No, scratch that— Here goes everything. 

"The truth is, I was unreasonable all those weeks for no reason other than the fact that I was jealous," Rainbow Dash finally confessed. It felt weirdly liberating to get it off her chest. Not breaking her gaze from AJ, she continued. "Last week, all that jealousy just exploded out of me. I was awful. I know I was awful. I had made a bunch of accusations and assumptions about you, about Rara, about the tour. And it's all because I was jealous of Rara more than I had ever been of any pony in my entire life. All those rumors about you two dating just..." Rainbow Dash exhaled sharply, the mere memory stirring something in her chest. "It had me out of my mind."

"But really AJ, I didn't go to Ponyville that last week you were there because I was scared again. I was scared that if I saw you, I would blurt out the truth, which is..."

Rainbow Dash didn't hesitate this time. 

"That I really, really, really like you, Applejack."

And suddenly, all the emotions she's been holding in burst out.

"I like you enough to fight any pony or creature who tries to hurt you. I like you enough to fly around Equestria to find you, and would have kept going forever until I did. I like you enough to compete with you just to prove I'm as awesome as you are. I like you enough to sleep in your apple trees because they feel more like home than any cloud ever has. I like you enough to hang out with and get to know your relatives. I like you enough to fly faster than the speed of sound and create a sonic rainboom when I finally admit to myself how I feel about you."

At the last comment, Applejack's eyebrows scrunched a bit. Every other comment made sense: they were all throwbacks to past adventures between the two. But the sonic rainboom one was new. 

Applejack would definitely ask about it later. 

"And... Unfortunately, I like you enough to be a jealous jerk. I know now that you aren't dating Rara and that you aren't leaving Ponyville. But even if you were, that wouldn't change the fact that how I acted was wrong. 

So I'm sorry, AJ. To you, and to Rara."

Rainbow Dash looked around at the front row, where all her friends were sitting and very much listening. She wished her teammates were closer to hear her, but she had a feeling that the absolute dead silence in the room meant every creature was listening.  

"And I'm sorry to all of you, too. You girls had to deal with all my weirdness these last few weeks, and you never once made me feel bad about it. You supported me, just like you always do. So I'm sorry, and I'm grateful. You're the best friends anypony could ever have."

Rainbow Dash looked back at Applejack. 

Oh, to Tartarus with this. I've waited way too long. 

I'm gonna go get the mare. 

"I know this was a crazy way to apologize and to tell you how I feel. And I don't want to push you to accept the apology, or to respond to anything I said," Rainbow smiled nervously. "But I hope you do forgive me, and that maybe..." 

Her cheeks burned. 

Just say it. 

"Maybe, even though I am a lot to handle and not the easiest pony to be with... Maybe we could hang out as, ya know, more than friends. Only if you want to, obviously."

Applejack stepped forward again, and instead of the hug Rainbow Dash hoped for, she stepped around the pegasus and hopped onto the stage. 

"If you don't mind, I'ma take this back sugarcube," AJ said with a pleasant tone, plucking her Stetson off of Rainbow's head.

Huh. She had forgotten that she had AJ's hat on.

Oh gosh. She internally groaned. I just sang a sappy love song on stage with a country hat on. 

Now on stage, Applejack was at eyelevel with Rainbow Dash. She took her hat off again and held it to her chest.

"Rainbow Dash, I should've known you'd pull a stunt like this to get your point across," Applejack said, her face finally breaking its serious expression. Her eyes were adoring, a soft on her face. 

"I gotta admit that I've kinda had some ideas on the real reason you haven't been yourself lately. But I wanted you to tell me the truth," AJ gave Dash a sincere smile. "I'm proud of you, sugarcube. Just last week you were scared to tell me what was on your mind. And today, you shared it loud and proud."

AJ put her hat back on, tilting it in Dash's direction. "I'm proud of you, Rainbow. More than you'll ever know."

Rainbow felt tears start to form in her eyes. She wasn't a crier, but the situation was overwhelming. Having been in such internal turmoil for weeks, and now to have AJ validate her journey... 

It was too good to be true.

"So I accept your apology. It's all forgiven. And I hope that, moving forward, we can just be honest with each other without having to do it so dramatically," Applejack winked, getting a nervous laugh from Rainbow Dash. From that first day, rushing to Sweet Apple Acres to spy on Applejack's, to today, professing her love on stage— it was all dramatic. 

And while dramatics were right up Rainbow Dash's alley, she knew Applejack well enough to know that is the exact alley Applejack avoids. 

I've got to remember that, Rainbow made a mental note. More lowkey stuff from now on. 

"The heaviest truths are the ones we should let others help us carry," AJ smiled. "So I apologize too, Rainbow. I have my own truth to share, and I kept it secret  because I wasn't sure you felt the same way. Waiting to hear your truth first was the coward's way out but, like always," AJ's smile grew, her eyes gazing adoringly at Dash. "You remind me to be brave."

Rainbow Dash's heart rate increased. Though Rara had told her in so little words that AJ liked her, Rainbow Dash hadn't let herself believe it. And now, it was all falling into place. 

Just like Granny said. 

"If you had to be honest while on a stage, I suppose it's only fair I do the same," Applejack grinned. She turned to face the audience, her voice suddenly amplified. "Every pony and creature, give it up for Rainbow Dash!"

The crowd cheered, louder than they had all night. Every creature felt weirdly invested in the Appledash love story. Even those who knew neither of them personally were on the edge of their seats with excitement.

Rainbow Dash felt another blush on her cheeks, but couldn't hold back the puff in her chest. She was proud of what she did and, despite having been wearing Applejack's hat, she would do it again. And with her performance anxiety long gone, she allowed herself a closer look at the crowd. 

Princesses Cadence, Celestia, and Luna were in the second row, beaming. Cadence was teary eyed, but Shining Armor was unabashedly sobbing. 

She snickered. Rainbow knew Twilight's brother was a big softie, but that was embarrassing. 

In the rows behind the royalty, residents of Ponyville and various students from the School of Friendship were cheering as well. Newlyweds Lyra and Bon Bon were especially loud, as well as... Gallus and Smolder? The two normally stoic kids had tears in their eyes and huge grins, making Rainbow Dash's smile grow. 

A few ways off was the Apple family, immediate and distant members. Rainbow Dash caught the eyes of the Golden Horseshoe Gals, who gave her an extra loud 'whoop' when they caught her eye. By their expressions, they were happy about the unfolding events. 

Rainbow Dash turned to the balconies. The Wonderbolts were hovering over their seats, shouting as loud as they could for their teammate. Spitfire and Rainbow caught eyes, and the two mares saluted.

Everywhere Rainbow Dash turned was a familiar face. The crowd wasn't some scary mob, but a group of ponies and creatures who cared for Applejack and Rainbow Dash. So much so, no creature seemed to remember they had paid to see Rara perform. 

"And I know y'all are all waiting for me to give an answer to this gal," Applejack continued, turning to face Rainbow again. Her eyes were brimming with tears, her voice shaky. 

"Rainbow Dash, I don't know how and I don't know when, but darn it,” Applejack wiped her eyes as tears brimmed out. “You flew away with my heart, and I never want it back. It’s yours, now and always.”

Rainbow Dash's heart expanded. She felt like it was to explode in happiness. 

It was true. It was all true. Her friends' suspicions, Rara's hints, even Granny Smith's not-so-secret hopes. Everypony had been right. 

Applejack likes me.  

Their love was exposed for all of Equestria to see, and they didn't care. 

In that moment, the truth was all they cared about.
> the first and the last
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Applejack and Rainbow Dash ran out the back exit of the concert hall, laughing in pure and utter happiness. They weren't doing anything wrong, but after being on stage in front of a crowd of hundreds, it felt like they were running off into the night. 

Which they were. 

Without waiting for the applause to die down, Applejack and Rainbow Dash rushed backstage. They were supposed to have returned to their seats and watch Rara perform the rest of her concert. But the two ponies had wordlessly rushed out the back door, Applejack running and Rainbow Dash flying.  

Now outside, the cool night air calmed them both. Rainbow Dash took a deep breath, letting the chill in the night wash over her. She had been running on pure adrenaline ever since she and Rara orchestrated their plan. 

And now, all that was over. She had serenaded Applejack, apologized for everything, been forgiven, and learned that Applejack reciprocated her feelings. 

It had all been worth it. Absolutely, one-hundred percent worth it. 

"Well I'm starvin'," Applejack broke the silence, leading the pair down a side street. They could still hear noise from the concert, but it was growing fainter. "You wanna get something to eat?"

"Yes please," Rainbow nodded, realizing just how hungry she was. She had planned to eat at the private party after the concert, but the performance and overall excitement of the evening had left her famished. "Do you know a place?"

"Rara showed me a little café not a few ways off from here. We ate lunch there a lot since the owner didn't make a big fuss out of Rara being a celebrity and all," AJ replied, turning into a more industrial street. Many of the shops were still open, but the street itself was surprisingly quiet. 

Oh, right. Everypony was definitely at the concert. Thinking about the large crowd didn't worry Rainbow as it did before, though. None of her worries mattered in light of the fact she got the mare. 

"Here we are!"

Applejack stopped in front of a shop and pushed open the door into a small café. The front of the shop had a bakery display, while the side walls had booths and the back had tables. It wasn't grand nor extravagant, but cozy and welcoming. 

The waft of the room slammed Rainbow Dash's senses, making her mouth water. The room smelled good, like, super good. She flew over to the bakery display, scanning the menu. 

"Oh shoot," Rainbow Dash turned to AJ with a worried look. "I didn't bring any bits."

"Don't worry," AJ said dismissively. "Rara and I got a tab here. We'll just put it on that and pay her back later."

Rainbow Dash suspected Rara would refuse any form of repayment, but held her tongue. 

Free food was free food. 

A unicorn stepped out from the kitchen, and they beamed when they saw the duo. 

"Applejack, darling! You bring me new customer!" They had a slight accent on their voice, similar to Gustave Le Grand's. "And what is your friend's name?"

"I'm Rainbow Dash," Rainbow cut in before AJ could respond. "Are you the chef here?"

"Yes," the unicorn nodded proudly. "I was actually just taking out fresh chocolate chip hay muffins from the oven. Would either of you care to have one?"

"I'll take three," Rainbow said immediately. She chuckled nervously when she saw AJ's glare. "Or four, if AJ wants one too..."

"We'll take four, M. Fleur," AJ nodded to the chef. "And two hot ciders, please."

"CIDER!" Rainbow Dash gawked. She's had cider other than AJ's before, but it was never as good. But if there's cider, she'll take it. 

"Yup! Besides Granny Smith, M. Fleur here has some of the best hot apple cider around," Applejack beamed at the unicorn, who bowed. 

"Applejack has a tongue of honey. Always dripping with kindness," the unicorn drawled. "I shall get your order now."

M. Fleur turned on their heel and headed back to the kitchen, leaving the duo alone. AJ led the way to a corner booth, and Rainbow Dash flew after her. Once they were seated, there was nowhere to look but at each other.

Okay, I like Applejack. Applejack likes me, Rainbow thought. Now what?

Before the awkward silence could stretch any longer, M. Fleur waltzed out the kitchen, magically levitating a large dish with five cupcakes, two smaller plates, and two mugs of what Dash assumed was the hot cider.

"Thank you, M. Fleur. It smells amazin'," Applejack beamed. M. Fleur bowed as they set everything onto the table. 

"The pleasure is mine, ma chérie," M. Fleur replied with a bow. They theatrically began to walk backwards to the kitchen. "If you need me, I shall be in the back. Just give the bell on the counter a little ring." 

And with that, they were gone. 

Ignoring the weird chef, Rainbow Dash didn't hesitate to serve herself. 

"Cool! There's an extra muffin," Rainbow Dash exclaimed, already munching on one. 

Woah. These are good. 

"You seem a lot hungrier than I am," Applejack snickered. "You can have it."

Rainbow beamed at Applejack, grabbing the extra muffin. 

"Alrighty. Well, if we're putting everything on the table tonight," Applejack spoke, staring at the muffin in her hooves with a little too much concentration. She eventually put it down and looked back up at Rainbow Dash with determined resolve. 

"What did you mean when you said you made a sonic rainboom because you realized you were sweet on me?"

Before she explained, Rainbow Dash took a curious sip of the apple cider. 

It's good, she noted. But not as good as AJ's. But back to the question...

"Do you remember the sonic rainboom from last Monday?"

"Yes?"

"Well, it happened because of you."

Applejack's eyebrows scrunched together. "What d'you mean?"

"The team had been gossiping about the Las Pegasus party. One thing led to another, and Spitfire made a weird comment that me and Soarin's crushes were dating each other," Rainbow quickly explained, "Obviously meaning you for me and Rara for Soarin. But it wasn't until I was flying and really thinking about it that I realized what Spitfire had said."

"I got so... I don't know. I started thinking more and that made me feel more and that made me fly faster. Next thing I know, I was flying fast enough for a sonic rainboom."

Dash couldn't help it; she beamed in pride. 

"Got to say though, it was one of my best works," she bragged. "I mean, it even convinced you to finally tell Rara you're not going on tour with her."

Applejack made a face. 

Uh oh. 

"Who told you about that?" Applejack demanded. "Was it Rarity?"

"Rarity?!" Rainbow Dash repeated flabbergasted. "She knew about that?"

"'Course she did. I told her when she had me and Rara over to finish our costumes for tonight," Applejack said, a look of understanding reaching her face. "But if it wasn't her, then that means..."

"It was Rara," Rainbow Dash confessed. "But please don't be mad at her. She meant well."

After all Rara had done for her, for them, Rainbow Dash didn't want to repay Rara by causing tension between her and AJ. 

"I'm not mad," Applejack said, a frown still on her face. "When did she even tell you?"

"Last week, at your going-away party. I was going to leave after our fight, but she stopped me. We talked, and she told me about the whole sonic rainboom being the reason you finally told her you didn't want to go on tour with her."

Applejack swallowed the bite she took from her muffin, still unconvinced. 

"I still don't understand what happened that night to make y'all buddy-buddy. She refused to tell me anything, sayin' you'd explain it to me later."

Good looking out, Rara, Rainbow Dash thought sarcastically. 

"Okay, um, basically," Rainbow Dash tried to begin, but she didn't know where. "Most of the conversation was figuring out what I wanted to do onstage tonight. Rara wanted a whole fancy production, but I know you," Rainbow Dash smiled fondly. "You're not big on the whole fancy-shmancy stuff. So we decided I would write a song and sing it."

Applejack cracked a smile, but remained silent to let Rainbow Dash continue. 

"Anyways, that whole conversation started because she had kind of hinted that you, ya know," Rainbow Dash blushed, still unable to say the words aloud.

"Oh gosh," Applejack mumbled, tilting her hat forward to hide her face in embarrassment. "You've known how I felt since y'all talked last week?"

"Hey," Rainbow Dash frowned, leaning forward to gently tilt Applejack's hat back up. She kept a hoof on AJ's cheek, and smiled reassuringly. "Don't be embarrassed. Rara only told me because she knew I felt the same way. So, if anything, I should be embarrassed because everypony totally knew how I felt about you for who knows how long."

Applejack's soft smile returned, and she leaned her face into Rainbow Dash's hoof. 

"Yeah, you didn't exactly keep that a secret," Applejack teased. "I had guessed as much, but I didn't want to make any assumptions. It felt too good to be true."

"I had the same reaction!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, removing her hoof from AJ's face to flail it around. "When Rara hinted it, I couldn't believe it. And I didn't believe it until I heard it from you tonight. And now that I officially know, I couldn't be happier. Honest."

"I'm happy too, sugarcube," Applejack murmured, her gaze soft. She shook her head again, but she didn't seem too annoyed anymore. "I can't wrap my head around what made Rara be so forgivin', but you're right. We owe her one."

"Well, she owed you one," Rainbow Dash corrected. "You're too good of a friend to ever admit it, but Rara knows it wasn't okay to ask you to leave Ponyville. She wanted to make up for it, and," Rainbow shrugged. "I guess she thought the best way to do that was to play matchmaker for us."

"Huh," Applejack replied, in awe of her friend. "I guess she knew the best way to make it up to me was by getting me the one thing— well, the one pony— I really wanted."

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, but couldn't hold back a silly grin. 

"You're so sappy."

"Says the mare that serenaded me."

"Touché."

The couple exchanged grins, and Applejack continued with her mini-interrogation. 

"Okay, about tonight," she prefaced, her grin still in place. "What in tarnation gave y'all the idea to get you up on that stage?"

Oh, this one is easy. 

"You," Rainbow Dash said as if it were obvious. "I knew I had to apologize, and that I had to tell you how I felt. And yeah, serenading you in front of hundreds of ponies and creatures is... A lot." Rainbow Dash confidently reached across the table to take Applejack's hoof. "But it worked, didn't it?"

"I suppose it did," AJ mused, not removing her hoof from Rainbow Dash's hold. "I still have more questions, but I reckon' it's only fair I let you ask some, too."

Good thing Rainbow Dash had plenty of questions.

Well, mostly one. 

"So about the last song you and Rara sang." She reminded herself: no assumptions. "What did Rara mean when she said it was based on 'past experiences'?"

Applejack concentrated on her and Rainbow Dash's joined hooves, sighing as she finally looked up at Dash. 

"I'm gonna share something personal with you, and I don't want it leaving the two of us," Applejack said, and Rainbow tightened her hold on AJ's hoof. Everypony knows Applejack is really private. So for her to share something with Rainbow means a lot. 

Rainbow nodded. "Everything we ever say to each other will always stay between us." 

Applejack seemed to relax a bit, and began. 

"I've known since I was a little filly that I'm partial to mares. Rara was the only pony who knew that, we bein' each other's first kiss and all. It had been nothing romantic, just two fillies bein' curious. We're obviously just friends now," Applejack quickly amended when she noticed Rainbow Dash's glower. "Anyways, I don't know when I started likin' you Dash. I was already falling before I knew I had even tripped. Then, when Rara came to visit, she asked me about you the very first time she saw us together. You remember that day at the gym?"

Rainbow Dash nodded. 

"With just that one interaction, she guessed everything I felt," Applejack sighed and looked down at their hooves again, clearly embarrassed. "But I denied it. I didn't want it to be true, 'specially with us being friends. And I didn't even know if you liked mares anyhow. So I told her it wasn't true, and hoped I'd convince myself it wasn't true, either. 

But when you came over for dinner that night and we were on that hammock... It just felt right. Cuddled up with you like two leaves during the fall. I felt truly at peace. Safe. Happy."

Applejack looked back up to give Rainbow a small smile. "I knew then that I couldn't go on tour with Rara. Performing was what made her happy. But what made me happy was being at Sweet Apple Acres with my family. And staying in Ponyville with you." 

Rainbow Dash's cheeks felt warm, and her insides all gooey. Something wet hit her cheek, making her realize she had been tearing up the entire time. 

Hadn't she also felt something that night? Hadn't she wanted to hug AJ close to her? Hadn't she imagined the unbelievable pain if AJ went on tour? Hadn't she not wanted to leave the farm after everypony went to bed, just to stay with AJ?

Wait, Rainbow Dash reined in her feelings, and quickly wiped her eyes. This wasn't what I asked. 

"Okay, so where do the 'past experiences' come in?"

"I'm getting to that," Applejack replied with patience. "I told Rara that very night that she had been right— I had feelings for you. She had tried to convince me that you felt the same way, but I didn't believe her—" 

"But I did! I always have!"

"And like I said, it all felt too good to be true," Applejack spoke over Rainbow's interjection and continued with her tale. "So I decided to say nothing. And like I told you before, I took you comin' over but never stayin' as a sign that you didn't really want to spend time with me. So—"

"But I did," Rainbow interrupted again with pleading eyes. "You know that now, right?"

Applejack smiled. "Yes Dashie. I know that now."

She continued. "Anyways, I told Rara she had been wrong and that you didn't feel no special way about me. I told her instead of goading me on, she should help me get over you," Applejack cringed a bit. "That came more from a place of hurt than actually wanting to get over you. But it had felt mighty awful to think you didn't want to be around me."

Rainbow Dash felt a stab to her stomach. She had never meant to cause Applejack pain. She squeezed Applejack's hoof in silent apology. 

Applejack nodded at Rainbow, taking it as encouragement to go on. 

"I don't think she wanted to, but Rara's a good friend. So, she tried. In the big cities, there are plenty of clubs and bars and parties that Rara can walk into just because she's a celebrity. It was during our weekend trips that we'd go to one of those places, I'd meet a pony, we'd talk a bit, maybe dance. But when I got as far as kissing with one of the ponies I met, it just didn't feel right."

Applejack looked down at their connected hooves, unable to meet Rainbow Dash's eyes. 

"None of it had felt right. Nothing compared to how I felt when you hugged me that night on the hammock, or nuzzled my nose when you said goodbye. I didn't wanna be dishonest to myself because, the truth was, I was thinking of you. And that wouldn't have been fair to anypony. So Rara and I would still go out and have fun, but I fended off any interested pony.”

"What ended up happening more often than not was that I acted as Rara's wingpony," Applejack chuckled. "So the song was mainly based off Rara's experiences, but I wrote a line or two."

Rainbow Dash's body relaxed. She didn't care about these mystery ponies' names or looks. Nothing had happened. 

"Well, you're here with me now. And that's all I care about," Rainbow Dash said confidently, letting go of AJ's hoof to eat the rest of her meal. 

"Well, how 'bout you?" Applejack raised an eyebrow, taking another hefty sip of her cider. "Bein' a Wonderbolt and all, I imagine you athletes get up to your fair share of fun."

"Some do," Rainbow said nonchalantly. "But I've never."

AJ raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Never?"

"Never."

"So I'd be the—"

"Yes," Rainbow Dash gave AJ an awkward smile. "That's not weird, right?"

"'Course not, sugarcube," AJ chuckled, a slight twinkle in her eye. "Hopefully I'll be the first and the last."

Rainbow Dash's stomach did a somersault. She hadn't dared to imagine Applejack liking her back, let alone think about their future. But, strangely, the thought didn't terrify her. 

It made her feel brave and happy and... In absolute love.

Forget 'crush,' Rainbow Dash felt the epiphany dawn on her. I'm in love with Applejack. Head over hooves in love. 

"Hopefully," Rainbow Dash grinned. Cautiously, she asked, "And if it doesn't work out, we'll still be friends?"

"I doubt it won't," Applejack said with a sly smile. "Knowing us, we're too stubborn to not succeed at something when we want it."

Rainbow Dash snickered. "That's true."

"But yes, if it doesn't work out... You're still gonna be one of my best friends."

The term 'friends' felt sour in Rainbow Dash's mind. She didn't ever want to go back to being just friends with Applejack. She wanted more of what happened tonight: doing crazy and slightly idiotic things for the other, sneaking small gestures of affection, spending time together alone, holding hooves in public. 

"You know what," Rainbow Dash shook her head vigorously. "You're right. That was a dumb question because it will work out. It just will. I'll make it work."

Applejack laughed at Rainbow Dash's sudden change in mood. 

"You wouldn't be the Rainbow Dash I know if you didn't."

The two mares finished their meal, moving on to lighter topics. Looking at the clock on the wall, they knew they should be heading out to the celebration party. 

But Rainbow Dash didn't care for all that socializing. 

She just wanted to be here. With Applejack. 

"We should head out," AJ commented, looking at the clock but remaining in place. 

"We should," Rainbow Dash nodded, also not moving. They just gazed at each other, soft smiles and adoring eyes never. 

'The first and the last,' Applejack had said.

Yeah. I could live with that.
> the last ones
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow Dash had been right: a love story like her and Applejack's was never meant to be average. Following their on-stage professions of love, they returned to Ponyville to live out their epic romance. 

Everything that followed was beautiful. Their first date. Their first kiss. Their first strictly platonic all-nighter. Their first 'I love you.' Their first time sleeping together (though they didn't do much sleeping). Their first time sleeping over at each other's homes and staying for breakfast. Their first joint family dinner. Their first romantic weekend trip. And so many more first's...

Rainbow Dash learned, yet again, that her worries were for nothing. She and Applejack shared plenty of firsts: in fact, the most important ones. AJ's past experiences (which Rainbow Dash later learned were limited to dates and impromptu kisses) didn't matter. Why?

Because, while they had known the magic of friendship before, it was nothing to what they were experiencing now. Applejack and Rainbow Dash were learning about the magic of true love.

And it truly was magical.

Applejack became a magnet for Rainbow Dash (more so than before). In public, Dash always flew close enough to casually place a hoof on AJ's head or, if they were sitting, sat so close their bodies touched (and, if there was a table, Rainbow Dash never hesitated to keep a soft grip on AJ beneath it). Applejack, who had always been a bit shy with being physically affectionate with Rainbow Dash, preferred quick gestures of PDA, like nuzzling noses or quick hugs. 

Everypony was surprised that Rainbow Dash was the more physically affectionate of the two. So, while their friends adjusted easily to their new status as a couple, it was unsurprising that Rainbow Dash was teased the most about it. 

After a lifetime of actively disliking sappiness and displays of affection, Rainbow knew it was well-deserved. 

Despite the teasing, everypony loved watching the little ways Applejack and Rainbow Dash were changing because of (and for) each other. The mature and level-headed Applejack was more carefree, while the hot-headed Rainbow Dash was more thoughtful and empathetic. Applejack made time out of her busy schedule to cheer on Rainbow Dash at her Wonderbolts performances, while Rainbow Dash often helped Applejack with her chores after practice. And on top of all that, they went on regular dates at least once a week, whether it was for a run and then a picnic or just dinner and playing games at Sweet Apple Acres.

Of course, it wasn't an easy romance. Their tempers and stubbornness were grounds enough for huge arguments. But they had a rule: never go to sleep angry. That rule kept them from holding onto any anger or frustration that may come up. It taught them to communicate, to be patient, and to be willing to be wrong. 

And, for each other, Applejack and Rainbow Dash would do anything, including put their pride aside. 

There were also external conflicts, like the time Rainbow Dash got seriously reprimanded for skipping Wonderbolts practices in order to spend time with Applejack. Spitfire warned Rainbow Dash to keep her priorities straight. 

But one dinner with the Apple family sorted all that out. In Spitfire's words: "If you bring me some of AJ's apple fritters when you're late, I'll conveniently forget it happened."

There was also the time Applejack got injured while saving Spike during a friendship mission. Though AJ had not been seriously hurt, Rainbow Dash had been inconsolable. She called out Spike for being careless, and exploded at Twilight for continuously putting Applejack in danger. But Rainbow Dash had been most upset that Applejack had been in danger, and she hadn't been there to protect her. 

The situation led to their first major decision as a couple: either they face danger together, or not at all (with Rainbow Dash blatantly saying, "Equestria be damned, I'd pick keeping you safe over all the kingdoms any day"). 

From then on, Twilight knew to only send one on a mission if the other was going too. Their instinct to protect each other gave them something (or, better said, some pony) to fight for, pushing them more than ever to succeed. 

As Twilight put it: "Team Appledash is now absolutely unstoppable."

But all the conflicts had been worth it when the day came for Rainbow Dash to ask Granny Smith for her blessing to marry Applejack. 

"I finally quit the yappin' and started actin'," Rainbow Dash had teased, a throwback to what Granny Smith had said all those moons ago. 

Once Rainbow Dash got on three hooves,  it was an immediate yes from Applejack. 

Their wedding day was, hooves down, the happiest day of both mares' lives. They, like Big Mac, held the wedding underneath the Apple Pear tree. They had wanted to keep the wedding small, but that had been impossible from the start— they had too many loved ones. From family to friends to even past students, their wedding guests were varied but all overjoyed for the couple. 

Of course Rara had been Applejack's mare of honor. And, in a surprise decision, Rainbow Dash chose Spitfire as her best mare. Though many had thought it'd be Fluttershy, Spitfire had been a special witness to AJ and Rainbow's relationship. So, it was only fitting she was up there when the two said their I do's. And, not wanting to divide their friends nor offend anypony or creature, Applejack and Rainbow Dash decided to forego the call for bridesmaids. 

So, with Mayor Mare acting as officiator for her third Apple wedding, Applejack and Rainbow Dash wed. 

The newlyweds had thought it impossible to be more happy... Until the Apple family unveiled their wedding gift for the pair: a relatively large cottage on Sweet Apple Acres. As the unofficial heads of the Apple family, it had been the Gold Horseshoe Gals who gave the two teary-eyed mares the keys to the place. 

The gift had resolved another conflict. For weeks, Applejack and Rainbow Dash had struggled with the logistics of where to live after they married. Applejack couldn't bear to leave Sweet Apple Acres, but Rainbow Dash wanted them to have their own space. With the cottage, AJ got to stay on Sweet Apple Acres, and Rainbow Dash got the privacy she wished for. 

Rara and Spitfire gave their best mare/mare of honor speeches together, with Rara adding the sentimentality and Spitfire the comedic relief. Afterwards, Rara gave a live performance for the duo's wedding song.

And while Rainbow Dash enjoyed the attention, she knew her new wife— wife, I can't believe Applejack is my wife— was anxious to get away from the spotlight. So when dawn came, Rainbow Dash was more than happy to help Applejack onto a royal chariot (which had been lent as a gift from Twilight) and whisk her away to their honeymoon. 

The chariot ascended into the sky. In full view of all their loved ones, Rainbow Dash and Applejack kissed with such love and disregard for the world around them, it was more obvious than ever that the two had mastered the magic of love. 



Many moons passed. Equestria had changed; Ponyville had changed. It's only right Applejack and Rainbow Dash changed, too. 

Applejack was now the official head of Sweet Apple Acres. When Granny Smith died, she bestowed the deed of the land to her eldest granddaughter, knowing the farm was left in more than capable hooves. Big Mac, Sugar Belle, and their son lived in the old farm house, while Applejack and Rainbow Dash continued to live in their separate home. Though it had started out as a cottage, Rainbow Dash's love for the extravagant meant the home was constantly remodeled (and it helped that Rainbow Dash had married a mare that knew how to build and repair anything). The cottage was large, practically a house borderline mansion, but Rainbow Dash kept the cottage vibe for Applejack's sake. 

Rainbow Dash was now captain of the Wonderbolts. Having been the youngest on the team before, she was the only one left of her original teammates. Soarin had been the first to go: unlike Applejack, he accepted Rara's offer to travel the world with her (though she had asked as his girlfriend, so there was that added factor). When he left, he never looked back, inspiring the rest of the Wonderbolts to retire one by one.

Rainbow Dash fondly remembered Rara, who was now one of her bestest friends, as she and Applejack headed towards Twilight's palace. She specifically reminisced about that concert all those years ago, and the role Rara played in getting Applejack and Rainbow Dash together. 

If it hadn't been for Rara, who knows if I would have ever been gotten the mare, Rainbow wondered, glancing at her wife trotting below her. She immediately banished the thought— a life without Applejack was unimaginable. 

"Darn it, I think we're late," Applejack broke Rainbow Dash's internal tangent. 

Looking ahead, the reason why Applejack said that was clear: a familiar blue coat had just disappeared into the castle. If Rarity, who was fashionably late to every meeting of the Council of Friendship, had beaten them, they were definitely late. 

Rainbow Dash gave Applejack a familiar goading look. Applejack rolled her eyes as if she was above whatever Rainbow Dash wanted.

Suddenly, the cowgirl broke into a run. 

"Hey! That's not fair!" Rainbow Dash called as she flew after Applejack, the two racing towards the entrance while laughing. 

They may be older, but that didn't mean their competitive natures disappeared. It was remarkable that they were just as strong and swift as they had been when they were younger, a fact many of their friends were in awe of. 

Once they reached the castle and rushed inside, the two bickered over who won. 

"You're such a sore loser," Applejack teased. 

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Am not."

"Oh, don't get too riled up, Rainbow," Applejack teased. "You started it."

"Well, I wouldn't have started it if I hadn't been trying to hurry you up," Rainbow complained good natured. "Which I've had to do all day."

Applejack rolled her eyes in playful exasperation. "Might I remind you I only took forever back at the farm because I was finishing up all the chores by myself."

Lost in their own world, the wives didn't notice they had reached the throne room. 

"Maybe we could get to places on time if you let me do some of the chores instead of always doing everything yourself," Rainbow chastised with a smile. She already knew where this comment was going to take her: absolutely nowhere. 

"Maybe I would if you did them the right way," Applejack shot back with an adoring look, to which Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. She had guessed what Applejack was going to say, but it didn't hurt to try to convince her again. 

"Oh!" Applejack's eyes widened. They had been so caught up in their own world, they hadn't noticed they had arrived in the throne room. 

Walking inside together, the pair received fond smiles from some of those already present: Twilight, Rarity, and Spike. Years had passed, and it still warmed their hearts to see how the usually hyperaware pair could forget everything in the world except each other. 

"Sorry," Applejack said sheepishly, half apologizing for being late, half for being distracted by her wife. "We're not the last ones, are we?"

Rainbow Dash took one more sneak peek at Applejack. She would have put a hoof on the cowgirl's head, but she noticed a filly besides Twilight. The stranger's presence was enough to make Dash refrain from the affectionate gesture. Not because she was embarrassed, but because she knew Applejack (despite the years) was still her blushing bride, and was shy about PDA.

For now, loving glances will have to do.
> epilogue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Applejack and Rainbow Dash shared a secret smile while the Mane Six and Spike watched Luster Dawn trot towards her new friends. Seeing the filly reminded them of the news they plan to share with their family and friends.

Once Luster Dawn was a safe distance away, Rainbow Dash did what she'd been dying to do the whole time: rest a hoof on Applejack's head. Years had passed, but the need to be in physical contact with AJ had not. But Dash had grown more subtle with her touches, respecting her wife's preferences.

While Applejack and Rainbow Dash's love remained constant and strong, so much else had changed. Fluttershy lived with Discord and ran a cross-dimensional sanctuary; Pinkie Pie was a mother and head baker at Sugarcube Corner; Rarity was an international designer; Spike was Equestria's ambassador of friendship; and Twilight, of course, was princess of Equestria.

Despite their separate endeavors, their decision to meet every moon meant they still met regularly. Tonight's meeting was a dinner hosted by Applejack and Rainbow Dash at Sweet Apple Acres. Their friend group guessed the pair had an announcement, but didn't outwardly ask about it.

They'll know soon enough.

Once the sun set, Pinkie Pie broke the peaceful scene.

"Applejack, I think I'm finally ready to eat your apple fritters again."

Strangely, Pinkie's pregnancy craving had been AJ's apple fritters. Applejack made them for her daily, sometimes nightly, when she had been pregnant with Lil' Cheese. But ever since Pinkie gave birth, she hadn't been able to eat a single bite.

"Don't tell me you got another little one on the way," AJ teased, getting a laugh from Pinkie.

"Gosh, no. I can barely handle Lil' Cheese! I'm not ready for foal number two."

"Well, in that case, let's head to the farm and get you some fritters." Applejack glanced at Rainbow Dash, silently indicating for her to lead the way.

Rainbow Dash gave her wife a small smile to confirm she understood, leading the group down the path home.

Yes, that's right. Home. She no longer thought of Sweet Apple Acres as the Apple farm. As an Apple herself, it was her farm and home, now and always.

"Are we eating outside?" Rarity asked, a small frown of concern on her face. She hadn't exactly dressed for the outdoors.

"Don't worry, Rares. That big coat will keep you warm if you get cold," Spike teased. He had long outgrown his childhood crush on Rarity, and the two were now best friends.

Rainbow Dash took the familiar path that led to the Apple Pear tree, getting hit with nostalgia. The last time they gathered there, it had been for her wedding.

It was only right that the next chapter of her and Applejack's life begins there, too.

Big Mac had done a great job setting up. There were neatly placed benches and tables, as well as string lights and lanterns to illuminate the night.

Pinkie Pie squealed. "Oh my gosh! We're eating here?"

"Yup," Applejack and Rainbow Dash replied at the same time, and the two shared a grin. Rainbow had picked up some of Applejack's mannerisms over the years, a fact she was secretly proud of. It was a testament to how in sync they continue to be.

Already seated were the cutie mark crusaders, who were all grown up and living at the School of Friendship as professors, as well as Big Mac and his family. Spitfire and Fleetfoot were also present, and the couple were talking to a pair of ponies by the main food table.

"RARA!"

Applejack broke out into a quick trot, running towards her best friend.

Rara squealed, leaving Soarin's side to collide with Applejack in a tight embrace.

"AJ!" Rara laughed, pulling away. The mares nuzzled noses, a gesture that had long stopped making Rainbow Dash uncomfortable.

"I didn't know you were coming," Applejack accused playfully, glancing over at her wife. "Did you know?"

"Yup," Rainbow beamed. "Just 'cause she already knows doesn't mean she can't be here when we tell everypony else."

Soarin joined the trio, saluting Rainbow Dash and hugging Applejack.

"We would have come even if she didn't know," he pouted at Rara. "I still have to hear the news from you two, since Rara won't even give me a hint."

Rara had a special twinkle in her eyes as she winked at her husband. Once his celebrity crush waned, it left space for the two to enjoy an unexpected romance that surprised everypony, but no one more than Soarin. To see him so comfortable with Rara warmed Rainbow Dash's heart.

"Good," Rainbow smirked. "I'm glad Rara isn't giving you any special treatment. You gotta be just as surprised as everypony else."

"Crash! AJ!"

Spitfire and Fleetfoot flew over to join the conversation. They saluted Dash and landed on the ground to hug Applejack. For the life of her, Rainbow Dash couldn't remember when AJ and her former teammates got on hugging terms. But between countless dinners at Sweet Apple Acres and the many times AJ cheered them on, her wife became a favorite among them.

I'm pretty sure they like AJ more than me by now, Rainbow Dash thought without envy.

"Any chance I get a hint to the news?" Spitfire asked hopefully. "Come on, I was best mare with Rara. That's gotta count for something."

"Hey!" Fleetfoot nudged her partner. "Don't you mean 'we' should get a hint?"

"No," Spitfire snickered, nudging her life partner back. "I mean 'I.'"

"Well, it'd be a 'no' either way," Applejack cut in with a mischievous smile. "No special treatment. Y'all have to wait like everypony else."

"But Rara already knows," Spitfire complained. "How come she didn't have to wait?"

"Guess I'm just more important than you are," Rara teased, causing Spitfire to stick her tongue out at the earth pony.

"Come on everypony," Applejack interjected, gesturing to the nearby food. "Eat up and enjoy. Y'all will know soon enough."

The night was soon full of laughter, everypony enjoying the company and, of course, the food. With Applejack's cooking and Sugar Belle's pastries, dinner with the Apple's was a favorite among everypony present.

Once she saw everypony finished their meal, Rainbow Dash flew a few inches above her seat, chiming her glass in the traditional manner to call for a toast.

The gathered ponies grew quiet, looking up expectantly. They all knew there was news to be shared, and were more than ready to hear it.

"Hi everypony. It's great to see y'all here. As you've probably guessed, Applejack and I have some news."

Rainbow Dash looked down at Applejack in acknowledgment, feeling a slight blush on her cheeks. Her heart still skipped a beat when the country mare smiled at her like that.

"But, it's only fair that the pony who helped get us together gets to share it too," Rainbow said, looking over at Rara.

Rara beamed at Dash, standing up too.

"Hi everypony! As you all know, Applejack and Rainbow Dash have some news," she smirked, looking very obviously at Spitfire and Fleetfoot. "I'm lucky enough to already know it—"

"Favoritism!" Spitfire said under a fake cough, which got laughter from the group.

Rara rolled her eyes, her smile growing. Her gaze softened as she looked over at her best friend.

"Applejack has always been the best pony I know. And in these last few years, I've gotten to know Rainbow Dash and can attest that—"

"Applejack can do better!" Spitfire called, getting laughs from the group and a glare from Rainbow Dash.

This is their mare of honor/best mare speech all over again, Rainbow Dash grumbled internally. But a reassuring nudge from Applejack kept her from responding.

Rara finished laughing and continued. "In all seriousness, I can't think of anypony more deserving of Applejack than Rainbow Dash. They challenge each other, they balance each other, and, above all, they love each other."

Rainbow Dash glanced down at Applejack, who gazed adoringly up at her wife. She couldn't help it— she flew down to sit beside Applejack and wrapped a wing around her. This was a gesture that would have once made Applejack shy. Now, Applejack snuggled against her wife with a happy smile. 

"Team Appledash is the strongest team in the kingdoms—"

"AGREED!"

Everypony turned to glance at the princess of Equestria, who smiled nervously and shifted in her seat.

"Sorry Rara, go on."

Rara smiled reassuringly at Twilight, going on again. "And, as the strongest team and most perfect pair I know, I can't wait to see them take on their next challenge. And as the foal's godmother, I'll have a front-row seat to watching AJ and Rainbow raise their foal, who I'm sure will be as beautiful, loving, and wonderful as their moms."

A collective gasp erupted, swerving to look from Rara to Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

"Actually, it's two foals," Rainbow Dash corrected, secretly loving the reactions. Even Rara's eyes were bulging now. "The birth mother is having twins, a filly and a colt. So get ready for two amazing, awesome, fantastic Apple-Dash babies."

Applejack sat up straight, a proud smile on her face when she heard their combined last names. Rainbow Dash, with her wing still around Applejack, beamed in pride as well. Though their friends had used the term 'Appledash' before, Rainbow loved knowing it was officially their last names now.

Everypony got out of their seats, rushing towards the couple to congratulate them. Always one to dislike attention, Applejack glanced at Rainbow Dash, her eyes pleading for what she wanted: for Rainbow to continue to hold her.

Rainbow Dash gazed adoringly at her role model, her best friend, her rival, her lover, her wife, and now, the mother of her children.

Tightening her grip around Applejack, Rainbow murmured in her ear, "Don't worry."

"I won't let you go."



Applejack and Rainbow Dash remained by the Apple Pear tree long after their guests had gone. Cuddled against the tree's bark, the wives were in pure and utter happiness.

"Hey Dash?"

"Yeah AJ?"

The chapter on the magic of friendship had closed.

"I love you."

But the story about the magic of Appledash's love will go on forever.

"And I love you."