The Requirements of Love : Sacrifice

Applejack lay asleep in a makeshift cot in the corner of Rainbow's infirmary room.  A week has passed since their arrival here, and not once has Rainbow awoken.  In the time that has passed, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy had all come by at multiple times to keep Applejack company.  Despite all their pleading, she would not leave that room except for her meals and baths.

“Applejack are you still in here?” came a soft voice from outside the room.

Seconds passed, and the door opened slowly.  In walked Princess Luna, gazing upon the sleeping Applejack, before allowing her gaze to fall upon Rainbow who lay in the same position as she had for the past week.  “She is worried about you.” Luna said, eying Rainbow.  “She isn't the same, and she keeps blaming herself... Why won't you just wake up Rainbow... Wake up for my sisters sake!”

But Rainbow didn't move, she lay there as lifeless as ever.  Luna watched, letting a few tears trickle from her eyes before leaving that room.  As she walked, she noticed her sister sitting alone in the Royal guest room, and walked in to meet her.

“Tia...” Luna whispered.

Celestia sat on the edge of her bed, tears streaming from her eyes, Luna had never seen her older sister like this before... except on that day... when she told her of the passing of her little sister Maya, the day after she herself had been restored from the evil powers of Nightmare Moon which consumed her.

Luna sat next to her big sister, and nuzzled up into the side of her neck.  “It's not your fault Tia...”

Celestia shook her head in disagreement.  “No it is my fault Luna, it has always been my fault.  If only I had told her long ago, then... maybe then we wouldn't be in this predicament.”

“Oh hush.”  whispered Luna, handing her sister a handkerchief.  “Everything is going to turn out just fine.  Rainbow will be fine, Applejack will be fine... I'll be fine...”

With a small glow from her horn, Luna shut the lights off in the bedroom, where she curled up next to her older sister and fell asleep.

The next morning was as uneventful as the night before.  Upon waking up, Applejack looked around the room in a bit of a daze, until the beeping of the machines reminded her of where she was at.  As the hours passed, so did the tears the AJ tried so hard to hold back, until she reached her breaking point and as a result, a stream of tears followed.

“Applejack?” a soft voice spoke from the hallway.

Applejack didn't respond, not because she chose not to, but because she couldn't hear the voice.  To her this moment, the only thing she could focus on was Rainbow Dash, who now laid before her, as good as dead.

“Applejack?”  Spoke the voice, once again unheard by AJ.

The truth was, even if Applejack had heard that voice, she wouldn't have responded to it.  She was determined to sit by her marefriend's side until she comes out of unconsciousness.

A third time the voice spoke.  “Applejack, sweetie...”  Applejack heard it this time, and notice that Princess Celestia was standing next to her, with her hoof on her back.

“Princess....” AJ spoke.

Celestia rubbed AJ's back softly, almost soothing the young mare.  Applejack closed her eyes and between sobs, “why Princess?  Why Rainbow?”

Celestia lowered her head, placing it against the side of AJ's in an attempt to further a little closeness from them.  “I don't know sweetie, I don't know why it had to be her.”

“Is there...” Applejack spoke, stopping to clear her throat.  “Is there, anything ya can do with yer magic to heal her?”

Celestia's heart skipped a beat, for it was true that she could possibly heal Rainbow with her magic, however....  “No Applejack I can't... I could, but... the strain it would put on her body, may end up doing more damage than she is in now... For now, the best thing to do would be to wait it out, as difficult as it sounds... That is... the safest option.”

“But...” Applejack whispered, only to be stopped by Celestia's hoof, which was gently maneuvered in front of her mouth.

“No buts... I would never risk the safety of Rainbow, and I know deep down neither would you Applejack.”

“Ah guess yer right Princess.” AJ said, lowering her head slowly.

“I think...” Celestia started, “you should go home for a few days to clear your head.”

“Ah can't Princess. Rainbow still.” Applejack said, once again a hoof appearing in front of her muzzle.

“Rainbow Dash will be fine dear.  Luna and I are still here, and don't forget Cadance and Shining Armor are both here as well.”  Celestia said, lowering her hoof.  She walked over to Rainbow, and gave her a quick nuzzle before turning back to Applejack, who watched carefully.  “Besides... you should let your family know you're all right.”

Applejack wiped her muzzle, and after after a few sniffles finally replied.  “All right, you're right tho, I best let them know ah'm ok.”

Celestia nodded, and motioned for Applejack to follow her, to which she did reluctantly, but not before giving Rainbow a quick kiss on her forehead.  Applejack followed behind Celestia as they walked through those castle corridors which always seem to go on forever.  They eventually reached their destination, which was the Castle courtyard.  Shining Armor and Cadance were waiting patiently, and moments later Luna flew in and touched down next to them.

“Tia!” Luna exclaimed happily.  “Repairs have been started in Canterlot, the damage has been evaluated and it will take...”

“Save that for later please little sister.” Celestia responded.

“Alright sis.” Luna replied.

“Are you ready to go Applejack? Celestia asked, to which Applejack shook her head.

“Ah'm not ready, but ah have to ah guess...”  She said softly.

“You don't have to go if you really don't want to” Cadance said softly, with a warm smile.

“I know...” AJ whispered.

Cadance walked over and embraced AJ.  “She will be fine... I promise.” she told AJ.  AJ stared into her eyes... eyes that were full of compassion and understanding.

Applejack took a gulp and nodded.  “I'll be back in a week?”

Cadance took a step back and nodded.  “She'll be right here waiting for you.”

Applejack nodded one more time, and smiled as she stepped onto the castle's private train.  As she took her seat, she stared out the window and watched as everypony waved goodbye to her.  Moments passed and the train began its long trip back to Ponyville: A lone tear left AJ.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The trip to Ponyville took all of 8 hours, many of which Applejack spent sleeping.  The past week had stripped Applejack of most of her sleep, as she spent countless hours each night watching Rainbow, praying for a miracle to allow her to wake up.

As she stepped off the train, she was met by Applebloom who immediately threw herself into Applejack's body, sobbing heavily.

“Where is Rainbow sis?  Is she ok?  What happened?”

Applejack lowered her head and nuzzled her little sister, a small frown forming as she began to recall what happened in Canterlot a little over a week ago.

By the time that Applejack had finished the story, she had drawn a small crowd around her.  Everypony who had heard was in tears, all offering their apologies.  As she witnessed the crowd, she couldn't help but lower her head and exit the crowd.

“Hey sis!  Where ya goin?” Applebloom called out.

AJ stopped to look back at her, a fake smile forming on her lips.  “Home... I'm going... Home...”  She said, as she resumed her walk.

“Home...” She thought to herself.  Picturing the red delicious trees, the barn, her house, Big Mac, Applebloom, Granny Smith, and.... Rainbow Dash... who laid half dead hundreds of miles away.  “This sure doesn't feel like home anymore...”

The gates to Sweet Apple Acres soon came into view, and as soon as AJ stepped through them she immediately saw Big Mac out in the fields hard at work, bucking trees, stopping every few minutes to take the baskets of apples and load them into a large cart.

She tried her best to make a straight line for the house, so that her big brother wouldn't notice her.  Ever since Rainbow had started staying with them, Big Mac had a tendency to act as if Applejack didn't exist, or when he absolutely had to talk to her, would add a rude remark about her, anyway that he could.

But despite her effort, he had noticed her and began a quick paced trot over to meet her.

“Where ya been sis?  Trees ain't gonna buck themselves ya know.” He said, getting straight to the point.

“Not now Mac” AJ said, keeping her head hung low as she walked by him.

“Where's yer filly at?  Did ya break up or somethin?”  He asked, striking a nerve.

“You wanna know where she's at?  For yer information she's layin half dead in the Crystal Empire.  You member that Wonderbolts convention I got her and I tickets for?  Yeah well some-pony named Starshine blew up half of Canterlot, and almost killed us in the middle of it!”  She screamed at the top of her lungs.

“Eeyup, defiantly a omen.  Some-pony’s tellin ya, ya can't be with another mare... it's unnatural.” Mac said, in his usual manner of speech.

Applejack didn't reply.  She stormed into the house in tears, running past Granny Smith without giving her any sort of recognition.  She ran into her room, and threw herself into her bed after slamming her door shut.

It was this moment that Applejack couldn't hold it in any longer.  The pain she had kept inside had built to the point not even she was strong enough to hold the tears back any longer.  Burying her face into her pillow, she let out an assault of sobs, cursing her brothers name as the cold bastard he was.

“Damn you Mac, ah thought family's suppose to be there fer each other?”

Moments passed as Applejack began to think she was going to have a heart attack with the throbbing that was emitting from her chest.  Her crying eventually died down to a small whimper as she thought about her marefriend, and the night before the tragedy.

“Ya just gotta be ok Rainbow... ya just gotta.”  She whimpered, looking out her window as she pulled her bedsheets up to her chin.  “Ah need ya.”

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

That evening after her nap, Applejack decided on visiting the local tavern to try and get her mind off of current events.  The cheery atmosphere was being drowned away as Applejack drank glass after glass of hard apple cider.  Eventually, even the stallion doing karaoke, who Applejack had thought was terrible, was starting to sound pretty good.

It was about 2 hours in, that Applejack had completely lost track of how many glasses she had drank, but that didn't stop her as she placed a few more bits on the bar, and was rewarded with another glass of her favorite fizzy, foamy, hard apple cider.

After finishing it in one large gulp, another was placed in front of her, paid for by a white unicorn that was all too familiar to her.

“You..” AJ stated blatantly.

“Yeah...” said Buster Cloud.  “Look, I'm sorry about before” he said, offering a mix of a small smile and a smirk.

Raising an eyebrow, she took the glass of cider and like the rest, chugged it down in a large gulp.  “Oh yea?” she said to him.  “And just what are y'all smirkin about then?”

Smiling menacingly, he placed a hoof onto her mouth and whispered, “You'll find out... soon enough... dear Applejack.”

Applejack pulled away from his hoof, but upon her hoofs hitting the floor, a sudden sense of dizziness overcame her body.  As Applejack struggled to stand, Buster asked the bartender if he could, “escort his marefriend,” out the back entrance, as to not cause a scene, to which he complied.

By the time Buster had exited the bar, Applejack was unable to stand any longer.  After placing her under a covering in the back of an old cart, he strapped the cart to himself and took off trotting down the south exit of Ponyville.

When Applejack finally came to, she couldn't see her surroundings from the covering.  She immediately noticed that her legs were bound, and that she was gagged and suddenly fear overcame the young mare, as she lay helpless as she was carted to who knows where.  She tried her best to listen for signs of other ponies, but all that she could hear was the sound of quiet nature, and of the trees ruffling their leaves softly in the breeze.

Applejack had noted that it was approximately a half of an hour since she had awoken to when the cart finally stopped.  Moments after stopping, the covering was thrown out of the way by Buster, as he used his magic to propel Applejack from the cart and onto the ground.

“Ya know,” Buster yelled to Applejack, as she laid helpless on the ground.  “The Everfree Forest will be a perfect resting spot for you... I told you...”  He said, walking by her, stomping a hoof into the ground an inch from her face, as Applejack stared wide-eyed at the hoof that had just barely missed the side of her head.

“I told you, you would regret hitting me on the train that day...”  Using his magic he swung her across the dirt, and into the side of an old oak tree.  Applejack tried to move, but once again was reminded of the bindings on her legs.  “Yer gonna regret that... plus yer gonna regret... dating my filthy half-sister.”

“His half sister?” AJ thought to herself. “He looks nothing like Rainbow... He's white, and his mane is green and pink... the only thing that has any sort of tie to Rainbow would be his cutie mark, two clouds... one dark and one white... but...”  She thought to herself as once again she was flung into another tree.  She winced in pain, unable to move.  “He has Rainbow's eyes” she thought, staring into those ruby eyes that glared at her.  “No, Rainbow's eyes aren't that evil.”

“Yes... little gay Dashie... she always looked for attention... father left me with my filthy mother... he wanted nothing to do with me... but... I guess I shouldn't call him father... mother gave birth to me by force, another father I will never know.”  He rambled, pacing back and forth in front of Applejack who laid before him with her eyes closed, almost giving up.

“Rainbow...” She thought to herself... picturing the image of the blue Pegasus who laid in a infirmary ward hundreds of miles away... “Will we join each other tonight?” She thought to herself once again, a tear streaking down the side of her face.

Buster took note of this tear, and laughed at the fear he was causing his victim.  “Oh what?  You were hoping to join her tonight?  Don't make me laugh!” he snarled.  “What you will have is much worse than death. It was a filthy earth pony who did that to mother, you'll pay... for you... a filthy no good earth pony getting involved with my sister...”

What happened next was just a blur to Applejack, who laid there helpless as he forced himself upon her.  She didn't care, she didn't cry... she laid there motionless thinking of her love, and hoping she would join her.

As he finished having his way with her, he took a step back to look at the pitiful pony laying before him.  “You tell her what I did to you.  You tell her WHY I did it.  Make her release her anger towards me.  Tell our mother too if you dare.  I DARE you to tell her!!” he yelled, picking up a stone with his magic and tossing it into the side of AJ's face, rendering her unconscious.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

When Applejack regained consciousness once again, she noticed her location had changed.  She didn't know where she was, all she could make out was a small dark room with a single window.  Dawn was approaching, as the moon was slowly making its way towards the ground, just as it did every other night.

“AJ?”  Came a soft voice from a distance away.

Applejack pulled her covers over her completely, hoping that she would remain hidden and unseen to whoever would come through that door in just a few moments.  It didn't work, as the blanket was engulfed in a purple glow.  Applejack immediately assumed a fetal position, shaking violently, scared at what her captor had in store for her this time.

Her fears died when she felt a warm embrace on her side, opening her eyes to see Twilight Sparkle holding her in that bed.  Seeing her smile, AJ let loose a violent storm of tears, crying profusely, almost drenching Twilight if it wasn't for the fact she placed a small handkerchief to catch the tears.

“How'd ah get here?” She said between sobs.

“Zecora brought you here AJ.  She told me what happened, he told me the story.”  Twilight said, letting loose her own flood of tears.

“Ah wanna go to Rainbow.” AJ said quickly.

Twilight nodded.  She knew that right now... being with Rainbow Dash was probably the best thing for her, even if she was still unconscious.

A few hours and one long train ride later, Applejack and Twilight were stepping off the train into the private train station of the Crystal Empire.

“Twilight!  Applejack!” Called the regal white Alicorn.

“Princess.  Now's not the time...” Twilight replied.  Celestia, noticing something was wrong, asked a guard to escort Applejack to the infirmary ward while she had a private talk with Twilight.

“...So he dared Applejack to tell Rainbow's mother...” Twilight said, watching Celestia nod slowly, tearing up from the story she had just heard.  “I... didn't know Rainbow had a brother... she never said anything about that... nor about her mother...”

“Guards!” Shouted the princess, effectively calling forth 2 of the Royal Guards who stood at command before Celestia.  “Put a warrant out for the immediate arrest of Buster Cloud... on the charges of Assault, Battery, Unlawful use of harmful magic, Kidnapping, Attempted Murder, and Rape, on a member of the royal family.”

The two guards saluted and trotted off quickly to the guards command center where they immediately began dispatching Guards to search all of Equestria.

“Royal family?” thought Twilight.  “Princess?  Since when is Applejack... royal family?”

Celestia sat down next to her star pupil.  “You and all of your friends are like daughters to me Twilight.  I'd consider you part of my family any day of the year.”  She said calmly, and lovingly.

That night as Applejack lay asleep in her bed, a soft knock from her door awoke her out of her well needed sleep.  Grumbling, she walked over to the door, and upon opening it was greeted by a warm muzzle forcing itself against her own.  Opening her eyes, she couldn't believe who was on the giving side of that kiss, for there stood Rainbow Dash, appearing as if nothing had happened the prior week.

“Hey.” Rainbow said, looking at a teary Applejack.  “Sorry, guess I've been outta it for awhile...”

Applejack nodded, “No, it's not that... I'm so happy you're ok!” she said joyfully.  Embracing her marefriend, slowly collapsing to the ground with her.

“I heard... I heard Celestia talking to Luna about what happened.”  Rainbow said, as Applejack stood there wide-eyed.  “I thought it was a dream, but dreams can't hurt like the way I was.  I guess... hearing that, is what woke me up.  I'm... gonna find him... and... I'm gonna kill him.”

Applejack put a hoof up to Rainbow's mouth, and shook her head.  “You will do no such thing there partner.”

“But!” Rainbow argued, watching as her marefriend simply shook her head.  Rainbow's eyes softened at the sight of her marefriend.  Rainbow nudged Applejack, and led her to the bed, where they slept in peace for the first time in a week.

In the month that followed, AJ and Rainbow had spent a lot of time talking about the possibility of kids.

“Rainbow...” Applejack spoke, “Ah don't want my child growing up to be an only child.”

“If!” Rainbow interjected, “If! You have a child.”

Applejack lowered her head.  “The doctor said its a 99% chance.  Buster used some form of magic ta make sure of it.”

Rainbow nudged her marefriend softly.  “Well... I could get a donor... I'm not having a Penis put in me.” Rainbow said, thinking about the irony in that sentence, as she had once been attracted to a certain member of the Wonderbolts, and would have given ANYTHING to have an opportunity to have a go with him.

Applejack chuckled at the statement, thinking the same thing that Rainbow had.  “That reminds me sugarcube, ah really need ta head into town today.”

Rainbow nodded, as she remember she also had some shopping to do.

“So ah'll see ya round in a few hours?”  Applejack asked.

Rainbow nodded, before quickly thinking of a plan.  “Hey AJ!”

“Yeah sugarcube?” she asked.

“Wanna go to dinner tonight?”  Rainbow said, praying that Applejack says yes.

“Ah don't know sugarcube... we're in the bucking season now... and there’s lots of work to do and...”

“Please please please!” Rainbow pleaded.  Seeing the look in Rainbow's pleading eyes, Applejack couldn't NOT say yes.  “YES!” Rainbow cheered!   “OK then!  Meet me at the Ristorante De Deminigo”

“Huh?”  Applejack said.  “But that there is in Canterlot.... Sugarcube, that's awfully far, and....”  Applejack said, remembering what happened the last time they were in Canterlot.

“Please Applejack!  Tonight's very special to me...”

Once again, she couldn't help but say yes.  After giving her marefriend a tight hug, Rainbow bolted down the dirt path, heading for the train station.

“That Rainbow Dash... you can't hide anything from me.”  Applejack said, trying her best to hold back a laugh.

“Sis... can ah have a word wit ya?”

Applejack turned around to see her big brother standing at the entrance to her room.  “Whatdaya want Mac?”  She said in annoyance.

“Ah overheard you... and Rainbow... about havin kids... it got me thinkin... that... you two really do have a future ta-gether... even bein mares... so... ah was wondering... if ya wanted me ta donate... ya know... so that yer kids are blood related?”

Applejack began to tear up.  For the first time in almost a year, her brother was now acting like the brother she used to have.  Wiping the tears, she ran to him and was pulled into a tight embrace.  An embrace she missed dearly.

“Mhmm.”  She nodded.

He closed his eyes, placing his head on top of hers.  “Ah'm so sorry fer everything sis...”

“Shh.” She said, placing a hoof to his muzzle.  “That's enough...”

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

That night, at precisely 8pm, Applejack was met by a happily grinning Rainbow Dash, who joined her in their walk into the restaurant.

“Two?”  A greeter asked.  And was replied with a nod from both ponies.  “Very well... follow me.”

As they walked to a secluded corner booth, they noticed all of the high class rich ponies had been staring at them, some of them taking the time to whisper to their guests.

“Here you are misses...” the greeter said, as he showed Rainbow and AJ to the table.

“Thank you” they said in unison, and with a swift about-face, the greeter departed for the door where another couple was waiting to be seated.

“Mighty fine place I reckon” AJ said, attracting the attention of a pair of business ponies sitting to the table beside her.

“Yeah, this place is awesome!” Rainbow said happily.  “Perfect restaurant for a date night.”

“A date night?”  Asked a professionally dressed Pegasus, sitting in the adjacent booth to the two mares.

“Yeah you know... go out... have dinner... stuff couples do right?”  Rainbow said.

“The nerve.”  The Pegasus replied, turning back to resume his conversation with his guest.

Applejack shrugged her arms, and continued in idle chit chat for a few moments until the waitress appeared.  They placed their order, and with a bow the waitress left to place the order.

Rainbow leaned across the table and placed a small kiss in the center of Applejack's muzzle, which left her blushing, and the neighboring ponies disgusted.

“Have you no shame?” The Pegasus yelled.

“Nope.  Ah love her very much.”  Applejack said, with a smirk on her face.

“You what?  So... you're the filly fooling ponies from Ponyville.  I'm not surprised, such a backwater place to live, proven by that dire accent you have.”  The Pegasus snickered.

“Mah what?  Some ponies actually speak English and not that there fancy talk.  Why not try sayin it in the English language so we can better understand ya.”  Applejack retorted, placing emphasis on every word she could.

The argument soon died down as their food was brought out by a magnificently dressed unicorn, hovering the tray just above his head as he walked towards the table.  A few seconds later and stretched before them was a scrumptious looking feast of fruit salad, dandelion and hay sandwiches, hay fries, mashed oats, and two glasses of apple cider.

As the two were reaching the end of the meal, Rainbow excused herself to visit the little mare's room to “freshen herself up” she said, striking Applejack as odd considering Rainbow was the last pony you would expect to worry about appearances.

In the bathroom, Rainbow paced in front of the mirror, checking her hair, checking her dress, making sure every little thing about her looked perfect.  “Oh come on Rainbow Dash, get it together!” She said out loud.  Checking herself over once more, spinning a complete circle, she was sure she would eventually hurl her recently eaten dinner.  “Come on, I'm fearless... but I'm scared... wait did I just say that?”  Rainbow said, looking under the stalls to make sure no other pony heard that.  She once again looked at herself in the mirror, with a slight adjustment of her bangs, and a large sigh, she left in order to rejoin Applejack at the table.

She walked more slowly than normal.  As soon as her marefriend came into sight, her heart, which was beating about a thousand beats per minute, now easily doubled its speed and Rainbow swore it was going to jump out of her chest any moment.  She slowed her pace even more, almost coming to a standstill in the middle of the restaurant floor.  Applejack, sensing something was wrong, left the table and walked over to her marefriend.

“Oh no, here she comes.  OK Rainbow Dash, keep it cool... you GOT this!” she encouraged herself.

“You ok sugarcube?” Applejack said, looking at her marefriend with a soft smile.

“Well... now or never” Rainbow said to herself.  Rainbow lowered herself onto her front knees and an audible gasp was heard from Applejack as well as the entire restaurant.

“Applejack... I can't recall the first time I looked at you and thought damn you're beautiful.  Even today... you are just as much.  I love all the memories I have of us, all the happy memories... even the sad ones... because... they are about you... about us...” Rainbow started.  As Applejack looked on with tears in her eyes, ignoring all the whispering of the ponies that surrounded them.

“I've never been as happy in my life, as I was when I fell in love with you, and especially as much as I am at this very moment.  You've stuck with me through tough times, and I've stuck with you through your tough times.”

Applejack sat down, in front of her marefriend, and listened carefully to her words, not missing a single one.

“I want to have a family with you... I want to have a future with you... and I don't care what anypony thinks about us, even the ones here that are obviously disgusted with us.” she said, as she was interrupted by a thundering voice emanating from the kitchen.

“OK you guys that's enough.” Said the manager of the restaurant, as he walked out of the kitchen and into the presence of the two mares.

Rainbow ignored the manager, and continued.

“Applejack, I've loved you as long as I can remember... and well...” Rainbows voice quivered on the last few words.

…

…….

….….….

“Will you marry me?” Rainbow finally asked, and was met with screaming and shouting all around her.

“Filly foolers!” one couple shouted

Another couple left screaming, “What would Celestia think?!?”

Applejack, completely unfazed by ramblings of the others had her answer... long before Rainbow ever asked...

….

….….

“Yes”

Rainbow's ears and wings perked up at the sound of her voice, and immediately she threw herself into her marefriend.  Slipping a white gold pearl necklace onto Applejack's neck, before being chased out of the restaurant by the manager and a swarm of protesting ponies.

“Stop!” boomed a thundering voice, seeming to come from the clouds.

Seconds later Princess Celestia showed herself in the middle of the path in which Rainbow and Applejack were using to make their escape.

“Yes! The princess is here!  That will show you FILLY FOOLERS!  The princess is going to throw you both in prison for us.”  One pony said.

“Justice has been served!” screamed another.

Celestia shook her head.  “Silence!”  she screamed, and every pony except for the couple in front of her bowed to the ground.

“You should all be ashamed of yourself” said Celestia.  “Judging two ponies only on the assumption of their sexuality... you should all be ashamed.”

“They're gay!  It's not right!” yelled one pony.

“SILENCE!” Celestia commanded once again.  “I will not allow bigotry in my kingdom!”  She shouted, as the pony who had just commented, forced himself even closer to the ground.

Celestia leaned down and embraced the two mare's that stood before her.  “I'm so proud of you Rainbow... and you too Applejack.”

Another audible gasp was heard from the audience, but this time Celestia only shook her head.

“When is the wedding?” Celestia asked.

Rainbow and Applejack shook their heads at each other.  “Next... month?”  said Rainbow.

Celestia looked at Applejack, who appeared to be thinking it over.

“Ah ain't got no problems with it.” She replied.

“OK, it's settled then.” Celestia said.  Lifting her head, she spoke once again to the crowd of ponies that gathered.  “The wedding of Miss Rainbow Dash, and Miss Applejack will take place in one month from today.  I will preside over it... that is unless there are any objections to it?”  she asked, looking at Rainbow and Applejack who smiled and shook their heads in unison.  Celestia nodded and smiled.  “As I was saying, I will preside over their wedding, and as all royal weddings are, everyone will be granted the opportunity to attend... but might I warn you that any form of bigotry will not be tolerated.”

As Celestia finished her speech, she turned to Rainbow and winked, before taking off into the clouds once again.

Staring at her marefriend, Rainbow could only smile.  As now.. her life was almost complete.  “In one month from today, I'm gonna be marrying the most beautiful girl in Equestria.” She announced to Applejack.

“Oh really?” She asked playfully.  “How do ya plan on marrying yerself then?”

The two smiled and let loose a volley of laughs.  Embracing each other, in front of those hateful ponies once more, they shared a passionate kiss.  One by one the ponies, ashamed with themselves, began to clap... eventually cheering.

In the clouds above sat a cloaked pony, staring down in envy.  “Rainbow Dash” she said.  “My how the fates favor you... let's change that...”

“Shall we?”