> MOAR PONIES > by wasp9277 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I stopped a few feet from Pinkie Pie’s door, feeling the bass vibrate the ground beneath my hooves. There was an uneasiness in my stomach that I couldn’t seem to shake. I paused a few seconds more, preened my mane once more before opening the door and held my breath as I stepped inside. The room was dark, lights were flashing and towards the middle of the floor, there was a mass of ponies dancing. To the left side of the room I spotted a few ponies from my group of friends, but one pony seemed to be missing! I felt the pressure in my chest reside at the thought of this. Good, she’s not here. Nothing to worry about then. I stretched my wings, feeling my body relax more as I trotted to the group of ponies chatting in the corner. “Hey, Rainbow Dash!” Twilight Sparkle yelled above the booming music that filled the air. “Hey guys.” I smiled and glanced at Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Spike as they all greeted me simultaneously. My eyes drifted over the sea of ponies once more, nervously expecting to see her there. “Well, dear. What IS the matter?” Rarity questioned, while also glancing over the crowd. “I…It’s nothing, really. I just feel a little out of whack...” my eyes trailed to the floor. “Aw! Come on Dashie! Have a cupcake! Or TWO cupcakes! Or NINE cupcakes! Cupcakes ALWAYS make me feel better!” Pinkie continued spouting her nonsense. I realized that she was only trying to help, but in my state of mind, I couldn’t help but snap “No Pinkie! Cupcakes aren’t the answer to everything! Not everything is as simple as you are! So just leave me alone!” I snapped my jaws shut and immediately regretted letting my anger get the best of me. Everypony’s eyes were fixed on me and a penetrating silence fell over the ponies in the corner of the room. I stared at Pinkie apologetically and watched as she suppressed the tears that had already begun to flow. “I’m sorry Pinkie, I just…I’ve had a lot going on lately…I shouldn’t have taken it out on you…” Pinkie sniffled as she wiped away one stray tear that had found its way down her cheek. “It’s okay Rainbow Dash…I’m just gonna…go back to the punch table now” My heart filled with disgust for my behavior as I watched pinkie walk away, her gait missing its usual hopping quality and her tail drooping towards the ground. I stared back at my group of friends, searching their eyes for understanding. Rarity glanced at me with disdain, Spike seemed to have missed the outburst entirely, he was huddled over a bowl of gemstones. Fluttershy was completely taken aback, I stared at her for a moment longer than anypony else and felt my heart sink. Her eyes were fixated on a small piece of confetti on the floor and she seemed very content to keep them there. The only one of the group who didn’t seem completely aghast at my behavior was Twilight. She had seen more than her share of my outbursts over our few years of friendship. She placed a hoof on my shoulder and smiled reassuringly. “You know Pinkie; she’ll be fine as soon as she consumes enough cupcakes to fuel her next sugar rush” I rolled my eyes and smiled weakly at Twilight. She was a good friend. And apparently her kind words to me had assured everyone else that it was okay to speak again. As the uncomfortable silence slowly began to reside, I heard her. “Hey y’all! What’s everypony bein’ so quiet about? This here’s a party, aint it?” I felt the fur on my back bristle as her hoof brushed my flank before she gingerly placed it on my back. I quickly sidestepped her advance as the rest of the group greeted her happily. She shrugged nonchalantly and shuffled one step closer to me as the other ponies dispersed to get drinks, food and use the stall. Shit! This was what I had been afraid of! Being alone with her. I wasn’t going to let it happen, not again! Okay, calm down Rainbow Dash. We’re in a crowded place, not technically alone. I glanced at her for just a second, only to find her squinting across the dance floor at Pinkie. “Well, what the hay is wrong with Pinkie Pie?!” she said as her eyes trailed over the room and back to me. I glanced at her nervously and made eye contact for the first time. She looked genuinely concerned for Pinkie. “I...uh...” I had a lump in my throat that made it nearly impossible for Applejack to hear me over all of the surrounding noise. She took another step closer. I pinned my ears back and cleared my throat, looking anywhere but where Applejack was. “I got mad….I yelled at her…I feel like shit about it…” My eyes dropped to the floor and I was filled with disgust again for my earlier behavior. A wisp of hair fell in front of my eyes…I looked up through the red strand of mane that only partially obstructed my vision and saw Applejack smiling at me. She placed a hoof under my chin and tilted my head until my eyes were level with hers. At first I dismissed the thumping in my chest as the bass from the song that was on at the moment before realizing that my pounding was completely off beat and steadily growing faster. I panicked, my chest grew tight, and my knees shook. I looked directly into those big, beautiful green eyes and felt my body relax inch by inch as I felt the warmth of her lips pressing against mine. I lingered there for a few seconds before I realized what had happened. My eyes grew wide as I stared at her with bewilderment, her eyes were not wide, they were relaxed, almost smug. Shit! The lump in my throat became apparent again and my lungs felt as if they couldn’t expand. The heat of all of the dancing ponies became inescapable and it seemed like years before I finally weaved my way to the door and stole one last glance at the room to see Applejack still standing there, she looked upset. > Chapter 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I spread my wings and flapped hard as I felt myself rising in the atmosphere and the cool night air washed over me. I continued flapping, feeling my wings pushing against the air currents as I sped higher into the sky. After gaining so much altitude the bass from the party was a distant humming and the city was no longer visible through the clouds. I searched for a few seconds until I found one that was just the right size and glided to it, landing softly. I heaved a sigh and plopped into the fluffy nimbus cloud. Damn it! I did it again! I just sat there and let it happen! I hate her! UGH! Who am I kidding?! I don’t hate her…..why the hell does she do this to me?! She knows I like colts! Not mares! But why didn’t I run at the first sight of her? And her eyes…as soon as I looked her…No! I shook my head, trying to dismiss the thought to no avail. I rested my head in my hooves and sat in silence for many seconds before it hit me. My eyelids flew open! What if someone saw?! After all, it was one of Pinkie’s parties; there couldn’t have been less than a hundred ponies! I shuddered as I recounted the event in my mind. I didn’t remember seeing anypony looking…except her. I was a little relieved at this notion, but I couldn’t be sure that no one else saw. Okay, I’ll just keep calm until something comes up. I remembered the faint smell of alcohol in the room full of ponies. The punch! Pinkie must have decided to get a little wild and spiked it! Yes! If anypony decided to confront me about it, I could brush them off and tell them they must have been intoxicated. Intoxicated….that word made her mind race back to the first memory of what had happened with Applejack. “Thank ya fer your help today sugarcube! Ah couldn’t have done it without ya!” Applejack sighed as she sank into a fluffy pile of hay in the corner of the barn. “Aw! It’s no problem really! That was a lot of fun! Did you see when I bucked BOTH of those apple trees at once?! It was pretty awesome!” I boasted while reenacting the scene once more for her. Applejack rolled her eyes and smiled as I bucked two empty barrels over and flitted upward with pride. After hovering there for a minute I realized just how exhausted I was and drifted down to rest beside her. I lay on my stomach and inhaled deeply as I felt a small burning sensation in my shoulders and legs. Must have been all that apple bucking! I bet it takes a while for a pony to get used to that kind of work! I groaned as I rolled onto my side and Applejack asked “What’s wrong sugarcube? All that buckin’ got ya tuckered out?” she smirked. I realized her play on words, laughed weakly and admitted that I was indeed exhausted. “Roll on over, Dash, Ah’ll fix ya right up” she smiled and gently prodded my side, inciting me to roll onto my stomach. I hesitated for a second before receiving a genuine smile from Applejack and following her instructions. I felt myself relax as her hooves massaged my aching muscles and she straddled my body. It was complete silence as she worked my body with her hooves, it seemed a little strange to have a mare straddling me, but it felt amazing, so I didn’t complain. My eyes slid shut and I had almost drifted off to sleep as I felt her breath on my neck and her lips press against my fur. It must be a dream I thought, but I felt my body react as it never had in any dream I had experienced. For some reason I wasn’t alarmed or appalled. I rolled over to meet her gaze, searching for what her intention was. Her legs no longer straddled my flanks, but now rested on my pelvis. “Applejack, I don’t think-‘’ my sentence was cut short by her mouth meeting mine as our lips locked together. The sensation that over took me could only be described as “intoxicating”. > Chapter 3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I shook my head once more to snap myself out of it and recalled the speed with which I left that barn….I had never flown that fast before. I was desperate to escape. Not from Applejack…not from the kiss…from my feelings. I wasn’t supposed to feel that way! Mares like COLTS! I cursed myself. I wasn’t supposed to love her! That was it; I loved her…that’s why I didn’t retreat when she kissed me. And then I thought once more about that damned party…about our second kiss and how amazing it felt….about Applejack….Applejack! When I left, she looked devastated. As much as my conscience told me no, I had to see her…I needed to find her…I had to tell her! I tucked my wings in tight to my body and felt myself gaining speed as I descended in free-fall. I spread my wings at the last minute, flapping once to slow myself enough to come to a smooth landing in front of Pinkie Pie’s house. I burst in the door and wrenched my head from side to side; scanning the room in the same manner I had when I first came to the party, this time hoping to find the pony I had been trying so hard to avoid. It was late and most of the partygoers had gone home. My group always stayed to help Pinkie clean up afterwards. All but one pony was there. I saw them and headed their way. Everypony looked up at me, very surprised that I had returned. “Hey Rainbow Dash!” I heard a very high pitched voice squeal from behind me. I was not in the mood to deal with Pinkie again, but I still felt terrible about earlier. I spun around to meet her “Hey Pinkie, look, I’m really sorry for earlier. I want to make it up to you, but right now I HAVE to find Applejack, have you seen her?” “Oh don’t worry Dashie! It’s perfectly fine! I saved you a cupcake though; I even wrapped it up for you!” She exclaimed while bouncing. “Thanks Pinkie. But I NEED to know, where is Applejack?” “Ooooh! Did you ponies get in an argument? She looked really sad when she left! I think it was right after you left actually! She’s probably at home by now!” “Okay, great! Thanks Pinkie, I wish I could stay and help, but I promise, I’ll do it next time” Before Pinkie could respond, I was out the door and gaining altitude. Once I reached a decent air current I slowed myself and began thinking again. She was upset. It was perfectly normal that I was upset by the thought of her kissing me! She couldn’t hold that against me! Besides! I didn’t know yet! I hadn’t realized how I felt! I knew what I had to say. I flapped my wings again and sped towards Sweet Apple Acres. I landed at gallop in front of the barn and was so deep in thought that I collided face first into the strong, muscular chest of Big Macintosh. “Oof! Sorry about that! Is Applejack here?” I sputtered at him. He hadn’t finished his long, drawn out “Nope” before I sped away. I knew where she would be. I took to the skies again, streaming towards the large hill at the back of Sweet Apple Acres. > Chapter 4 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- From this altitude I could see her sitting, staring at nothing….thinking probably. I landed silently behind her and cleared my throat. She turned around, startled and frantically wiped a tear from her face. I inhaled deeply and stepped towards her. “W-what’re y’all doin’ here?” she sniffed, “Shouldn’t ya be at Pinkie’s helping clean up?” A sob shook her body as she turned away. I felt like shit. I had treated her like she was disgusting! A mature pony would’ve just talked it out! I was just as responsible for what had happened as she was...I kissed her back. I took another breath and shook my head. “I told her I’d help next time…” I gave a weak smile and approached her. As she turned away from me I couldn’t help but study her. Her posture, her mane….the way it blew in the cool night air…I slowly walked to her and sat down a few feet to her left. “Dash, Ah’m sorry for tonight. Ah just really thought…well…Ah’m not sure what Ah was thinkin’…” “About that, Applejack-‘’ I managed to get out before she cut me off. “Ya don’t have to say it Dash, Ah can take a hint. Ah reckon what happened in the barn was a one-time thing.” She whispered. “Applejack, tonight, at the party-‘’ “Now dang it sugarcube! Ah get what yer sayin’! Ah’ll leave ya alone! Just go on now...” “I don’t want you to leave me alone!-‘’ “Dash, ya don’t have to patronize me, I-‘’ “Damn it Applejack! I didn’t fly all the way here just to tell you to leave me alone! I have something important to say! Are you going to listen to me?!” I was panting after yelling this a bit more angrily than I had intended. She pinned her ears back and in a hushed tone uttered “Well, Ah reckon Ah’ll listen….” “Good...” I exhaled. “Applejack, in the barn last week…..I’ve never done anything like that before...ever…I…don’t like mares.” “Dash, do we really have to—‘’ “Please, just let me finish…At the party, I was so relieved when I saw that you weren’t there...” I watched Applejack’s expression darken and realized how insensitive I sounded. I sighed and stared at the pony, the mare that I for some reason, against my better judgment, was attracted to. There was a strand of her blonde mane resting over her right eye. I slowly advanced and brushed the hair away from her face as she looked up at me. “Rainbow Dash?” she whispered. I smiled gently and took her face in my hooves “Somepony doesn’t know how to be quiet” I saw the corners of her mouth pull up slightly forming a very hesitant smile as I leaned forward and kissed her. Again, my conscience was screaming at me to stop, but how could I? Applejack resisted at first, very confused, but then relented as we fell into a passionate kiss. As our lips parted Applejack’s eyes were the size of dinner plates. “Dash! What the hay was all that about?! The barn? And the party!” she half yelled. “Ah don’t reckon Ah understand.” I fell back into the tall grass and breathed a sigh of relief. I found myself laughing. “What’s so darn funny?” she looked at me quizzically. I smiled, “Nothing, I’m just relieved….I was so mad at first…I decided to blame you.” I looked at her very seriously “I was wrong for that. I’m sorry….I just didn’t know that I…felt this way” Applejack grinned at me then looked into the sky as her smile faded “Shoot Dash…Ah’m sorry too…Ah shoulda thought about how you’d feel…Ah was actin’ a bit selfish.” I paced over to her and nuzzled my face into her neck. She looked up in surprise, not expecting my affection and then rested her head on mine. It was silent for a long while. “Hey Applejack?” I looked up at her. “Yeah sugarcube?” She smiled down at me. “What happens now?” She heaved a sigh and got to her feet, “well, it’s pretty late. Yer free to stay the night if ya want” I stood beside her for a moment before nodding. I followed her to the loft of the barn where she sat, looking at me. I trotted over to her and looked her in the eye before giving her a kiss on the cheek and taking my place next to her. We both bedded down in the hay, her head resting on my chest. “Applejack….” “Hmm?” “What happens now?” She opened her eyes and exhaled. “Reckon everypony will want to know what that kiss was about at the party” I winced at the thought of this but I felt her tighten her grip on me and snuggled closer to her. “What will we tell them?” She looked at me again, searching for an answer. “Well, what do ya wanna tell them?” I thought about this for several minutes before answering. “Well…I don’t know what to tell them…but Applejack…” “Yeah sugarcube?” “I don’t care what happens…I…L….” I stuttered. Applejack sat up with me, the hint of a smile on her face and reassuringly replied “Ah love you too Rainbow Dash.” Warmth spread throughout my body and I sank into the hay with her lying close to me as we fell fast asleep. > Part II Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The faint scent of apples swirled in the air as I groggily opened my eyes. My brain frantically tried to distinguish where I was, as it always does when you first wake up in an unfamiliar place. As the memories of the past night came flooding back I felt a grin spread across my face and looked down at the orange pony resting beside me, still asleep. I leaned down and laid my head on hers and realized where the scent of apples had originated. She opened her eyes slowly and turned to me still in a sleep dazed state. “Well…Hey there sugarcube” I felt my smile grow even wider. I nuzzled my face into hers. “Good mornin’ to you too!” She pressed her nose against mine, smiling. We lay there for several more minutes, enjoying each other’s company and sharing a very sentimental moment until a growl erupted from my stomach and I realized that I was starving. I blushed a little as she pulled back, a bit startled. “Welp, reckon that’s my cue to get us something to eat!” she stood up and trotted out of the barn as I stared longingly after her. She was back in a matter of minutes with a large picnic basket in her mouth. She set it gingerly on the barn floor before me and opened it. Inside was a variety of apple pastries; pies, fritters, turnovers and the like. As we sat together and gorged ourselves on the tasty sweets, my mind drifted to one of our pony friends. “Mmm, Applejack! You know who would love these fritters?!” “Who’s that sugarcube?” “Pinkie Pie!” I exclaimed. Immediately after I had said this, my stomach began to churn. Pinkie Pie…she didn’t know about Applejack and I…We had to tell them… Applejack saw my expression darken and her face grew serious. “Aw no! Was there somethin’ wrong with that last fritter? A bad apple?” I shook my head and she stared back at me, understanding what I had been thinking. She sighed and put a hoof around me. “Dash, it’s gonna be okay. Ah’m sure everypony will be perfectly fine with it. That’s what friendship is about; accepting your differences and getting along” “Yeah, and in this case, our difference is that you and I like MARES! That’s not as simple as liking a different band as somepony or disagreeing with what kind of sports they like….” Her eyes met mine for a second and then drifted to the window. “Dash, Ah can’t tell ya that ah know everything is gonna be okay….but what Ah can tell ya is that Ah don’t give a hay about what anypony else has to say, not as long as Ah’m with you” Her kind words were meant to reassure me but instead they joined the jumbled mess of thoughts buzzing in my head already. I stood up in silence, approached my marefriend and gave her a quick peck on the cheek before meandering out of the barn. “Dash…If you’re free later, Ah’d like to have ya over for dinner” Applejack called after me. I looked over my shoulder at her and gave a nod as I continued on my aimless path. What the hell was I going to do? Applejack and I couldn’t just pretend forever that nothing was going on between us. Especially not after the scene we had made at the party. I felt a familiar tightness in my chest and a shortness of breath as I pondered the possibility of what I…we...would say. I didn’t have the slightest clue of what was going to happen, and that scared me. What’s wrong with me? It was so unlike me…..I usually just charge head first into things without a care in the world. I continued wandering without a true destination as I pondered my next move. I suppose I was experiencing the same lapse of consciousness as the day I went to find Applejack except instead of smashing into Big Macintosh, I found myself in a head on collision with a tree. > Chapter 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Shit!” I rubbed my forehead with my hoof before glancing up and realizing that I was Twilight Sparkle’s front door. Of course! Twilight Sparkle had always been there for me, even when nopony else was! I can’t believe I didn’t think of this sooner! I rose to my hooves and shook of the minor pain from my crash. I pounded my hoof on the door three times before hearing some shuffling and a voice from inside. “Just a second!” Twilight yelled. A second or two passed before the lock clicked and the door swung open to a very out of breath Twilight. “Umm…Twilight…are you busy?” I said, staring at the ground. “OH! Hey there Dash! Come on in!” She said as she stepped out of my way and swept a hoof in front of her as an inviting gesture. I heard the clopping of my hooves echoing as I entered the library. I followed Twilight to the couch in the den. “So, what brings you to my humble abode?” She said, smiling. “Well, it’s just that I…I need to talk to you..” I looked up at her. “Okay, what’s up?” “I…I…Well, It’s about something…romantic…” “Oh Dash! You met a colt! Oh who is he? I’m so excited for you!!” She exclaimed as she wrapped her hooves around me. I pushed her away very gently and said “No Twilight, that’s not it….” Her face grew solemn “Oh, your first rejection…well, it happens to everypony sometime or another” “Twilight! NO! I didn’t get rejected, it has nothing to do with a colt!” I yelled, leaving myself out of breath. “I’m not sure I understand Dash…..” “I…I’m in love…and I’m SO happy and if I don’t tell SOMEPONY about it, I’m gonna explode!” She sat there, staring at me expectantly. I stood there in silence for a few seconds, gathering my thoughts. I took a large breath and sat down. “At the party….with Applejack..I…Damn it! Look, Twilight, Applejack and I…..we’re together…dating I guess…” Twilight continued staring at me with the same expectant expression on her face. “I….I love her Twi…I can’t stand to keep it a secret anymore…” “Well, I’ll admit, that was a bit of a shock…” It was now my turn to stare, waiting to hear what she would say next. “I heard a rumor at Pinkie’s party; I took it as just that though: a rumor.” She sat quietly, pondering. “Twilight….? Please, just say something….I came to you first, because you’ve seen the best and worst of me…This is what I was afraid of…” My gaze dropped to the floor and I felt my throat grow tight and tears threaten to pour down my cheeks. I clenched my eyes shut to stop the flow of water. Twilight shook herself out of a daze and grabbed me by the shoulders. “Dash! Rainbow Dash! Hey, why are you crying?!” I sniffled and looked into her eyes. “I just thought…..you would…” I was interrupted by a sob, letting the tears flow freely now “I didn’t think you’d….. hate me for this…for being a…a fillyfooler…” “No, no, no! Dash! I don’t hate you! It just came as a bit of a surprise to me! It’s good, great!” she exclaimed, shaking me. I looked back up at her and saw her horn glow as a tissue floated up to wipe my tears away. “You…you don’t hate me?” “I could never hate you Dash!” She hugged me and gave me a reassuring smile. “So, the great Rainbow Dash is in love? And with Applejack no less! Care to explain how it all happened?” I sniffed one last time and smiled at her. “Well, it all started last week when I went over to Sweet Apple Acres to help buck apples….” After a long explanation both of us blushing a few times, the story had been told and I sat on Twilight’s couch, feeling a little surer of my decision to tell her. “Wow! So that explains why both of you ponies left the party in such a hurry! That’s so cute Dash!” She smiled at me and continued “So, how are you going to tell everypony else?” My smile faded and I stared across the room. “I don’t know…I kind of came to you as a spur of the moment decision…I just couldn’t hold it in…I’m scared of what everypony else will think…what do you think?” “Well, I’ve never had to deal with something THIS big before, but Pinkie is really good with secrets…she would be my first choice of somepony to confide in” Twilight calculated every word before she spoke it. I nodded my head and heaved a sigh before exchanging a few more words with Twilight Sparkle and showing myself to the door. “Good luck!” She called after me while waving. I knew this was meant to be helpful, but it caused my stomach to churn and form itself into a knot. Good luck, thanks a lot Twilight…