6 Months, Several Eternities

Chapters

Catalyst
Residence
Solace
Striking
Consideration
Rollercoaster
Origins
Connection
Anticipation
Confrontation
Wings
Gala
Fanfare
Stars
Reconciliation

Catalyst

It was a summer day in Equestria, and a certain rainbow-maned pony was bored, with a capital B. That's right, Bored. Rainbow Dash needed to get out, to go do something. She lay atop a cloud, thinking about the fact that there was nothing to do. The un-awesomeness of the day hurt. The pegasus racked her brain to think of something. She had it! Maybe she'd visit some of her friends! Never was there a dull moment with them! Well... yes there was. That doesn't matter. She dropped herself through the cloud and unfurled her wings. Ah, the great feeling of being in the air. She loved her wings. She started to think as she flew. Who first? She thought for a moment and decided she would visit.... Applejack! She hung a slight left in the air, headed toward Sweet Apple Acres. She saw the apple trees come into sight and smiled. She headed for the tall barn at the center of Sweet Apple Acres. She swooped down when she had reached the barn, and walked up to a certain red-coated pony.

"Hey, Big Mac," she greeted excitedly.

"Howdy," he replied.

"How're things going here at the farm?"

"Mighty fine," Big Macintosh said

"Where's Applejack?"

"She's out amongst the trees, I reckun. Applebuck Season has started, and of course, she's out there being diligent. I'm resting up for a moment."

"She's not doing the entire crop this year, is she?" Dash recalled one year where Big Macintosh was hurt and Applejack had tried to do the entire crop. It wasn't pretty.

"Nope. One pony plus hundreds of trees just doesn't add up."

"You got that right."

"Eeyup."

"Well, I'm gonna go see Applejack."

"Alrighty."
Rainbow Dash took to the skies and started to fly over the trees, scanning the area. The pegasus flew low over the trees, searching for Applejack, who was surely bucking many apples at this point in the season. She spotted the pony with the orange coat down below, but didn't feel like landing yet, so she called out.

"Yo! Applejack!"

The country pony stopped right before she delivered another kick to the tree and looked up at the pony with a coat of blue.

"Well, howdy, Rainbow Dash!"

Dash came to a hover over the trees.

"How's the work coming?"

"It's comin' mighty fine, I reckun!"

"Big Mac helpin' ya this year?"

"Yep. Like he normally does. Except fer that one time, o' course. Crabapples, what a disaster."

"You got that right!"

"Well, I need to get working. If I work hard, we can get the crop done early!"

"That's great! I'm just dang bored, so I'm going to see everypony in the group!"

"Alrighty, then!"

Rainbow Dash flew off, and turned her head to say to Applejack, "See ya later!"

Applejack called back, alarmed. "Rainbow Dash, watch out!"

"For what? It's not like-"

Her words were cut short as she hit the barn. She had veered too far to the left. Her wings froze up and she began to plummet, her back to the ground. Her wings refused to move, to fly. An eternity seemed to pass as she fell, the world taunting her inability to do anything. She was going to die, she knew it. After a short time which seemed like several eternities, she hit the ground with a sickening CRUNCH! She lay there for a moment as nothing happened. She waited. She knew it was coming. After another short moment, the pain flooded her. It was an immense pain that stabbed her wings and shot around quickly to the rest if her body. It was probably the worst pain she had ever felt in a long, long time, if not ever. She was on the verge of tears, but she was strong. She tried to move, but the pain made that every effort an agony. She came to the bad realization that she couldn't move.

"Help!" she cried in a weak tone. Even that took much effort. After a short moment, a certain Big Macintosh came, running faster than she had ever seen him go, to her rescue, Applejack not too far behind. "I can't move..." she whined, as Big Mac hoisted her up onto his back and started to run to the doctor's office, his muscled legs forcing his hooves pounding against the hard earth, his coat starting to gather sweat. Several forevers later, they made it to the doctor’s office, Rainbow Dash's body still screaming in pain, a pitiful moan coming from her mouth.

They rushed to the doctor, and Big Macintosh spoke.

"She fell pretty hard. Landed on her wings."

"We'll need to get her in right away."

"Eeyup," Big Macintosh replied, using his signature phrase.

Dash's moans of pain spoke for themselves. Soon enough, she had passed out.

* * *

When she woke up, she was laying in a bed. She looked around. She was in the Pony Care Unit. She looked around at the other ponies, sitting in their beds. This couldn't be happening to her. Yet, it was. She remembered the horrible incident, and cringed at the remembrance of the sickening crunch sound that had been created when she had landed. Something bad had happened to her wings. She was in denial and tried to move her wings, but they wouldn't budge, and when she tried, they hurt. She sat up and looked at her back. Her wings had been set at her sides and bound in a cast. She hated to think of what this might mean. She hoped that it was just for her stay in the PCU. Just then, the doctor walked in, his hooves clopping softly against the tile floor. He gave a smile.

"Rainbow Dash, you're awake," he said pleasantly.

"Doc, what's wrong with my wings?" she asked frantically.

"Now calm down, you could agitate the wound. Now I have some bad news."

Rainbow Dash broke out in a cold sweat, dreading.

"Your wings are broken. It was a bad fracture on both wings. You won't be able to use them for at least 6 months."

"No, there's gotta be a mistake, I mean, there's gotta be!" she pleaded frantically.

"Sadly, there's not. We ran X-rays."

"Oh yeah? Show me these X-rays!" she said indignantly.

The doctor reached into a pouch on his side and pulled out the X-rays. He laid them on Dash's bedside table. They were bad. Fractures in many parts of each wing were shown. They made her sick. She pushed the pictures onto the floor and pulled out the large bowl on her bedside table that was set there just in case. She vomited into it.

"Doc," she said, face pale, "how long am I wearing this?"

"I told you. 6 months."

She vomited once more into the bowl, the taste lingering.

"Can I get some water?"

"Of course. Nurse Redheart!" he called.

A pony in scrubs came up and said, "Yes, Doctor?"

"Please supply this one with some water," he said as he stooped to pick up the fallen X-rays.

"Yes, Doctor."

Nurse Redheart left and came back not a minute later with a paper cup with water. Rainbow Dash took it and downed it quickly, not too fond of the taste of vomit. The taste left, but the sadness of the news started to settle. No flying for six months. She wasn't going to get back home. Her house was in Cloudsdale, though she spent most of her time in Ponyville. She was going to have to stay with somepony. Applejack and her family came to mind. They would take care of her. She knew they would.

"Hey, lady?"

"Yes?" Nurse Redheart replied.

"Is my friend still out there?"

"The red one that got you here?"

"Yeah. That one," she answered.

"Yes. I will go get him," she said, and walked out of the PCU. Dash laid there, a deep sadness settling. No more flying for half a year. She loved flying. She loved it more than she loved anything except for her friends. No more feeling the rush of joy that only comes from feeling the wind beneath her wings. Not for the next 6 months, anyway. 6 months was a long time. It was an even longer time when one can't fly.

Nurse Redheart walked back in, Big Macintosh following her. Big Mac walked to her bed.

"Hey, Big Mac."

"Howdy."

"So, I have a question."

"Go ahead."

"I can't use my wings. My wings are broken up and I can't use them for the next 6 months. If you haven't caught on, that means I can't go home. My house is in the clouds. I need somepony to stay with. Do you mind if that somepony was you and Applejack?'

"Nope. That'd be mighty fine."

"Thanks, Big Mac, you're awesome."

"Eeyup," he replied and chuckled.

* * *

Rainbow Dash was let out a couple days later. She was happy for that, at least. The smell of antiseptic made her sick, and she had been confined with the smell for a couple of days. Once, the smell alone had made her vomit. The person responsible for cleaning that bowl out probably hates their job now, thought Rainbow Dash. Finally, the hospital got to see the back of her, as she left the PCU. She still had the cast around her torso, keeping her wings in place. She still couldn't fly. It was the same as the hospital ripping off her wings, her pride and joy. At least she got to stay with Big Mac and Applejack. All of her friends had come to give their sympathy and gifts. Twilight Sparkle had given her a book. Fluttershy didn't have anything, for which she apologized profusely, but she totally cutified the place up. Rarity had given her some stylish pony clothing. Applejack had given her, well, a place to stay for six months with Big Mac, Granny Smith, Applebloom and herself. Pinkie Pie had given her a box full of cupcakes. She hadn't been allowed to eat them during her stay in the PCU, but she carried them on her back as she walked out of the hospital with Big Macintosh and Applejack. As they walked, Rainbow Dash thought about the complete unawesomeness of not being able to fly. That sucked. There wasn't going to be any sugarcoating about the matter.

They soon got to Applejack's house, and in a short time, had created accommodations for another. Applebloom was at little fillies’ school at this time of day, so she was out for now. Applejack was the pony that sacrificed her room for Rainbow Dash. The two did butt heads a lot, but when it came to friendship, Applejack was as reliable as any pony in Ponyville. The two had to go applebucking, so she lay there in bed for a bit, thoroughly tired, and fell asleep.

She woke up to see Applebloom's face up close, standing by the side of the bed. The pegasus jumped and a pain hit her wings.

"Ow..."

"Are ya okay, Rainbow Dash?" Applebloom inquired.

"I was..."

"I'm real sorry," Applebloom apologized.

"That's alright, I suppose."

"Can ah getcha somethin'?"

"You can let me get some sleep."

"Okay. Ah will."

Applebloom trotted out of the room, and Rainbow Dash tried once more to sleep, but she had that small problem of the pain in her wings. She had to keep herself from tossing and turning, which agitated the pain. She thought about the suckishness of this. Sadness filled her, a deep yearning for the cool wind beneath her wings. A longing for the wind whipping at her face as she jetstreamed through the sky. Tears welled at her eyes, threatening to cascade over. She tried not to think about her wings, but that was like an amputee not thinking about their missing limb. It didn't really work so well. What was worse, the wings were there, she just couldn't use them. She just laid there, eyes closed; trying to block out the world around her, though that wouldn't do anypony any good. She hadn't until now realized how much she loved her wings. Man, did she love her wings. She was determined not to cry. How lame would that be? After a while, sleep finally claimed her, stealing her away from her troubles for but a couple hours.

* * *

Rainbow Dash woke up the next morning, and was quickly confused. This wasn't her bed. This was Applejack's bed. Why was she in Applejack's bed? Were they having some sort of sleepover, perhaps? No, she didn't remember anything about that. She sat up, and stretched. She opened her mouth in a great big yawn. Ah, morning. And last but not least, she stretched her wings. Well, rather, she tried. When she tried, her wings stayed put and hurt. They hurt badly. Oh yeah. She lay back down on the bed, remembering exactly what had happened. She had crashed into the barn, and fell. The catalyst for the hell she was in now. She remembered that she couldn't use her wings. She couldn't use her precious wings, her pride and joy, her freedom from the ground. A wave of sadness quickly rose, and hot tears sprang to her eyes. She had promised herself she wasn't going to cry. But she didn't have her wings. The sky was taunting her, the ground being all she could access. The world itself was playing a cruel joke on her. But that wasn't the case, she realized. The first tear sprang from her eye and rolled down the side of her face since she was lying down and hit the pillow. The single tear was soon followed by many more, and she shook with a silent sob. This was no nightmare, this was real. Another silent sob shook her, and another. The tears began to flow as her mouth opened and released a sob, followed by another. She was crying now. She could suppress it no longer. The sobs shook her as her moans rang out. She wasn't even bothering to try to suppress the crying. This was it. Hell had taken her in for 6 months, she was sure to get the meet 'n' greet with Satan any time now. She sobbed louder as the tears started to soak either side of the pillow.

Applejack burst in at a near gallop, but she quickly stopped when she saw what was going on. Rainbow Dash was crying. Not just sad, her tough friend Rainbow Dash was crying. It hurt Applejack to see her pegasus friend like this. The worst part was that there wasn't anything else she could do about it. Rainbow Dash's wings were broken and weren't coming back instantly. Applejack felt slightly guilty. She hadn't warned Rainbow Dash soon enough. She couldn't just let Rainbow Dash lay there and cry. She had to do something to comfort her friend. Applejack walked up to her friend, removed her hat, and leaned her head down to nuzzle Rainbow Dash, to comfort her. Rainbow opened her eyes and saw Applejack, and a slight smile crossed her face, but that was quickly replaced by more crying. Applejack lifted her head and spoke.

"Rainbow Dash?" Applejack said in her country accent.

Rainbow Dash spoke between sobs.

"Y-y-y-yeah?"

"Is there anythang ah can do fer ya?"

"Y-y-you d-d-don't need t-to-" she was cut off by Applejack.

"Ah want to. Whatever you want, Rainbow Dash."

"J-j-just st-stay here..."

"Mah pleasure, Rainbow Dash."

Applejack lowered her head to once more nuzzle her cyan friend. Rainbow Dash liked the comfort, and slowly, but surely, her sobs subsided into shudders, which then subsided into nothing. Applejack's 10 times the pony I'll ever be, Rainbow Dash thought. She wanted her wings back, but Applejack's care and warmth was enough for now. Applejack could help a friend in a way no other pony in all of Equestria could. She laid there, Applejack’s care calming her, the warmth soothing her. Elements be damned, Rainbow thought, Applejack deserved the Element of Loyalty as well as Honesty.

Applejack lifted her head and spoke.

"Well, if ya don't mind, Ah hafta go buck some more apples with Big Macintosh now. I'll stay if ya want me to, but the crop is much larger this year."

As much as she didn't want Applejack to go, there were apples to be bucked. Rainbow Dash couldn't hinder her friend from doing a job that needed to be done. What kind of friend would she be then?

"Yeah, you can go out and buck apples. I feel better now, all thanks to you, Applejack."

"It was mah pleasure, really," Applejack protested.

"Alright, if you insist. Now get out there, Big Mac needs some help," Rainbow Dash said with a smile.

"Ah will," Applejack said, smiling back.

As the orange pony walked from the room, Dash closed her eyes, the exhaustion of the past couple days not being completely covered by that one sleep she had. In short, she was still tired. She thought of Applejack's warmth and comfort, and quickly drifted to sleep, a smile on the cyan pony's face.

Residence

She was running. Her hooves pounded against the cold tile floor. She had to escape, that much she knew. Her adrenaline pumped as a sweat came from her body and was absorbed by her cyan coat. She rounded a corner as she ran. They were after her. She had yet to tire, as the adrenaline rush mingled with fear to keep her going. She rounded another corner and there she saw her chance. It was an open window, her chance for escape. She ran toward the opening. She was close to the window and she jumped at it and tried to snap her wings open. Her muscles didn't obey. Instead she crashed into the wall and lay there as the menacing doctors rounded the corner, one with a hacksaw in his mouth. They walked closer and she began to panic.

"Restrain her, boys."

At the word of the hacksaw-armed doctor, the other two went to Dash and picked her up, pinning her, stomach to the wall. The lead doctor walked up and put the hacksaw into the crook of his right foreleg and placed it at the base of Dash's right wing.

"This'll only hurt a little...," the doctor said menacingly as he positioned the saw.

Rainbow Dash sat bolt upright in bed and let out a yell. Sweat was all over her coat and she was shaking really badly. It was the middle of the night. She had had a nightmare. She was scared, even though it had only been a nightmare. It had seemed so real. She looked to her sides. The cast was still there, and would be for a while, but to her relief, so were her wings underneath.

Applejack came pounding in, looking frantic.

"What is it, Rainbow Dash?"

"I," started Rainbow Dash, realizing how stupid this might sound, "Had a nightmare...."

"A nightmare?"

"Yeah, it sounds kinda stupid..."

"Naw, Ah know how it is. Ya wanna talk about it? Sometimes nightmares aren't as scary when you explain them to somepony."

"Well, sure... so I was running through the halls of a hospital," Rainbow Dash began, "and I was running to escape. I saw a window, and tried to fly out, but my wings wouldn't work. Then, these doctors came up to me, two pinned me to the wall, stomach to the wall, and the third was going to cut off my wings with a hacksaw, but then I woke up," she finished.

Applejack was stunned for a moment, but then spoke.

"Ah see... that is frightenin'," she admitted.

Rainbow Dash, still shaking, said, "It seemed so real..."

"Ah'm sure."

"I suppose I'll be alright, you can go to bed now."

"Alright, Ah suppose ah will."

Applejack turned to walk towards the door.

The doctor dragged the saw across the base of her wings.

"Applejack!"

Applejack turned abruptly and asked, "What is it?"

"S-Stay here."

"You just said ah could leave."

"I changed my mind."

"Well, which is it? Leave or stay?"

"Stay. Please stay. I'm still scared."

"Look, it's just a nightmare, go back to sleep."

She once more started to walk from the room.

Rainbow Dash struggled, but the doctors kept her in place as blood started to come from the wound.

Rainbow Dash shook once more, forcing the image out.

"It's more than a nightmare. It won't leave me alone."

Applejack turned back to face Dash.

“What do you mean?”

“Whenever you start to leave, the nightmare returns. The saw’s cutting into my wings, blood coming out, and pain forcing its terrible path through my body.”

As Rainbow Dash said the words, a fear spread through her. A horrified stare crossed her face.

“Rainbow Dash? Are ya alright?”

“No…”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m… still scared. Applejack, can I ask you a favor?”

“What is it?”

“Can you sleep with me tonight?”

“Well, that’d be a little weird, wouldn’t it?”

“Please? I won’t be able to sleep tonight otherwise.”

“Well, I suppose for you I can do that.”

“Well, thanks, Applejack. I can always count on you.”

Applejack gave a chuckle and said, “You’re supposed to be the Element of Loyalty.”

“Maybe I am, but I feel like you’re more loyal than I am.”

“Nah, you just don’t realize that you are.”

Applejack climbed in the bed, in front of Dash so as to not hurt the cyan pony’s wings. The nightmare vanished from Dash’s head as Applejack settled herself. A smile crossed Rainbow Dash’s face as a warm feeling spread throughout her body. Rainbow Dash nuzzled up against Applejack as Applejack drifted off to sleep, still tired. Rainbow Dash had to silently chuckle, Applejack was in bed with her. The two did seem to butt heads a lot, but Rainbow Dash was more than grateful to have Applejack as a friend. Without knowing what possessed her to do so, Rainbow Dash silently wrapped her hooves around the sleeping earth pony. A light blush appeared on her face, and she didn’t quite know why, but she smiled and soon drifted off to sleep.

Applejack woke up the next morning to realize there was warmth pressed against her back that was Rainbow Dash. Applejack didn’t think much about it, passing it off as sleep movement, until she realized there were cyan hooves wrapped around her torso. Applejack looked behind her and there was Dash, nuzzled against Applejack with a smile on her sleeping face. Applejack supposed that even this must have been sleep movement.

Applejack spoke softly, “Rainbow Dash?”

Rainbow Dash’s eyes slowly opened, but right when the slightest look of comprehension started to dawn on her face, she quickly removed her hooves from Applejack’s torso and said, “Sorry… apparently I moved in the night. I mean I wasn’t trying to cuddle you or anything stupid like that. Why would I do-?”

Applejack cut her off, saying, “It’s alright, Dash, I believe ya.”

“Thanks, Applejack.”

“No problem. Now, if ya don’t mind, I have to get up. This is later than ah normally wake, and ah need to get applebucking. Big Mac’s probably already out there. Applebloom’s off at the fillies’ school already, but Granny Smith sleeps for a good long while.”

“That’s good to know.”

“Rainbow Dash, why don’t you get up and go around Ponyville today? You haven’t gone into town in a couple days thanks to the hospital stay and your stay here.”

“You’re right. I’ll get up soon.”

“Alright, ah believe ya.”

With that, Applejack got up from the bed and walked from the room. Rainbow Dash lay there wondering what had possessed her to wrap her hooves around Applejack last night. She thought about how lame it must have looked last night continually saying she was scared. It was totally uncool for sure. Then, she asked Applejack to SLEEP with her. Applejack must think I’m the biggest wimp in the world, Rainbow Dash thought. How uncool was that?

She got up from bed and gave a big yawn, stretching her hooves. Applejack was right. She needed to get out, to clear her head. She walked towards the door, a soft clop sounding whenever her hooves touched the floor. She made her way through Applejack’s house with ease and made her way through the trees toward town. She looked over to her right and there was Applejack, bucking apples. She smiled when she saw the country pony, and she watched as Applejack’s strong hooves pounded the trees.

She walked into town and looked around, thinking of where she should go first. After some though, she decided that she was in need of some spontaneity lately, so Pinkie Pie it was. She walked her way to Sugarcube Corner and knocked on the door with her hoof.

The door burst open, and there was Pinkie, who started firing off questions.

“Hi, Dashie, how are ya? Are your wings okay? You did break your wings, right?”

“No, Pinkie,” Dash replied sarcastically, “I broke some of my hooves.”

“Well how’d you get here? You’re standing on your hooves right now, silly!”

“YES, I broke my wings, Pinkie.”

“Well which one is it? Make up your mind, silly!”

Rainbow Dash gave a small laugh and said, “Pinkie, I’m just saying ‘hello’ to everypony, to let them know I’m doing fine, so, I’ll be off now.”

“Be off what?”

“I’m going now, Pinkie.”

“Oh, okie dokie lokie! See ya, Dashie!”

Rainbow Dash chuckled to herself as she walked off, in search of my next victim, she joked to herself. Her hooves eventually brought her to Rarity’s house, and she brought a hoof up to the door and knocked. Rarity opened the door a moment later with the air of grace she always carried, and smiled.

“Oh, hello Rainbow Dash. How ever are you, darling?”

“Oh, I’m doing fine, Rarity. How’ve things been going here?”

“They’ve been going splendid, Rainbow Dash. Are your wings doing quite alright?”

“Other than the fact that I can’t use them, they’re fine. They hurt when agitated, but that much is obvious. Anything new in the fashion world?” Rainbow Dash asked the question, not really caring, but asking anyway.

“Oh, not yet, I suppose. I’ve been working on normal customer matters, nothing too massively important.”

“Alright, then, I just came to say ‘hi’ and that I’m doing alright, I’ll be off now.”

“Do take care of yourself, Rainbow Dash.”

“I will, thank you, Rarity.”

With that, Rainbow Dash walked off as Rarity closed the door. The library was the closest to Rarity’s place, so her cyan hooves turned and brought her towards Twilight’s place of dwelling. She walked up to the library door and gave a knock. A crash resounded from inside, and Twilight opened the door, appearing unscathed.

“What just happened?”

“Oh, that crash? That was nothing. I’m just practicing my ability to levitate multiple things at once. It’s relatively easy with books, considering their small size. You heard the much larger things that take up space in the library crashing to the floor. It takes concentration, and you kind of messed that up when you knocked.”

“Oh, that’s cool.”

“Yeah, I suppose. Anyway, what brings you here? Surely it wasn’t books that brought you here.”

“I’m just here to see everypony, say hi, and show them I’m okay. Where's Spike?"

"He's sleeping. I would be surprised that the crash didn't wake him up, but I know Spike. He sleeps through anything."

"Tell him I said hi. I’m going to Fluttershy’s place now.”

“Take care of yourself!”

Rainbow Dash walked off as Twilight closed the door, heading at last to Fluttershy’s house. Once there, she knocked on Fluttershy's door. Fluttershy opened the door to see her rainbow-maned friend standing there.

"Oh, hello, Rainbow Dash."

"Hey, Fluttershy."

"I was not expecting you, so I have not made arrangements, but please, come in... if that's okay with you..."

"No thanks, Fluttershy. I'm just here to say hey, let you know I'm okay."

"Are you okay?"

"Well yeah, that's what I said, isn't it?"

"Oh, sorry..."

"It's alright, Fluttershy."

"I was just tending to a sick bunny, so I'd like to get back to that.... that is... if you don't mind..."

"Go ahead, Fluttershy."

"Oh, thank you, Rainbow Dash."

A series of coughs resounded from inside the house and Fluttershy glanced over her shoulder.

"That's the bunny."

"Alright, you go tend to the bunny, I'll be going now anyway."

"Goodbye, Rainbow Dash."

"See ya, Fluttershy!"

Rainbow Dash walked away as Fluttershy closed the door to go tend to her bunny. Rainbow Dash headed back towards Applejack's, grateful for the time she had outside. She had been out for about an hour now; including the time it took her to walk places. As a result of the late wake-up time, the sun was high overhead, therefore making it sometime around noon in Ponyville. Soon enough, the apple trees were in sight, the outermost ones still yet to be bucked. As she went closer to the house, the trees closer to the house were empty, she saw, and there were buckets full of apples underneath the empty trees. Rainbow Dash leaned down and snatched a shiny one and ate it. She looked around for Applejack in amongst the trees and smiled when she saw a flash of orange in the distance. She tossed the apple core aside and started over that way.

"Hey, Applejack," she said as she walked up to the other mare.

"Howdy," Applejack replied, stopping her work for a moment, “How was yer visit into town?"

"It was okay. I just said hi to everypony."

"Ah see. Anyway, since you've surely nothin' else ta do, ya wanna help buck apples?"

Rainbow Dash thought for a moment, then nodded her head.

"Yeah, that'd be cool."

They instantly set off to work. Rainbow Dash found that bucking apples didn't hurt her wings, so she got to it. She soon realized that however strong she was, Applejack's years of bucking had made Applejack the stronger pony in that right. Applejack, Rainbow Dash noticed, was surely stronger than most mares in Equestria, probably even a good lot of colts. Rainbow Dash watched as Applejack's strong hooves pounded tree after tree. A smile crept onto Rainbow Dash's face. She wasn't quite sure why this was.

As the day wore on, their coats moistening with sweat, Rainbow Dash thought about how lucky she was to be keeping residence at Applejack's house. She thought about the night earlier, when she had asked Applejack to sleep with her, chuckling at how that inevitably sounded. It had seemed lame on her part, but when Applejack had climbed into bed, there was something... right about it. She didn't have a clue as to what it was, but she had liked it. No, no, that's stupid. It was just because I couldn't get to sleep otherwise, she thought. Either way, Rainbow Dash had been happy when Applejack had agreed to stay there.

Don't get her wrong, if there's anything she wasn't, it was a lesbian. She wasn't opposed to the idea of mares with other mares, but she would never in a million years become a lesbian herself. That was absurd. Many of the teasing jocks in Flight School had called her one due to her rainbow mane, tomcolt-ish tendencies, and complete disregard for even trying to get a coltfriend. But to like a mare was completely something else. Applejack was a friend.

Why am I defending myself? There's only myself from which to defend. I don't have feelings for Applejack, plain and simple.

She dropped the subject and continued to buck apples until dinner was called and Dash's hooves were sore. For dinner, they had some apple-based food; Rainbow Dash didn't pay attention to the name of the food. It tasted good though. Small chat went on at dinner for a little while, when Applejack posed a question.

"So, Rainbow Dash, how're yer wings?"

"They're doing fine, I suppose. It depends on one's definition of fine. They're fine seeing as they don't hurt. On the other hoof, however, I can't use them. Duh. So, in that right it kind of sucks. But my wings are doing fine."

"Good t' know, ah s'pose. Ya want me ta sleep with ya again?" Applejack joked as Rainbow Dash cringed, Big Mac and Granny Smith swiveling their heads to look.

"Um... what?" Big Mac asked.

"She's, uh, joking... right, Applejack?"

"'s'nothin' to be embarrassed about, Dash. You just had a nightmare and it freaked ya out, so ah slept with ya. That last part didn't come out how ah'd intended. Did it sound like ah think it sounded?"

"Eeyup."

"Anyway, there's nothin' wrong with it, Dash. Even if it was somethin' else, there's nothin' to be ashamed about."

"Alright, alright. Can we just drop the subject?"

"Alrighty, if you insist."

They ate in silence, Rainbow Dash thoroughly embarrassed. To get everyone’s mind off of what had just passed everypony’s ears, Rainbow Dash posed a question.
“So, where’s Applebloom?”
Applejack answered, saying, “She’s off at Scootaloo’s house with Sweetie Belle and all that.”
Rainbow Dash, hoping that had at least diverted some of the tension, continued eating. Once they were done they had apple pie for dessert, the small talk coming back to the table. Rainbow Dash ate still in silence, but noting how good the pie was. Soarin, a pegasus on the Wonderbolts with quite the heart for pie, would have loved this. Soon enough, dinner was over and the ponies were cleaning their stuff up. Once they were done clearing the table, Applejack and Big Mac went out to continue bucking apples, but Rainbow Dash wasn't accomodated to that kind of work, so she was tuckered out. It was getting late anyway. She went to her (Applejack's) bed and looked out the window. There was Applejack, bucking apples, working hard. Rainbow Dash smiled and, for some reason, watched Applejack buck apples. It made her happy. Soon enough, it had darkened more and Rainbow Dash was tired. Rainbow Dash climbed into bed and lay there, looking at the ceiling. Her life had taken an interesting turn through the past couple days, that was for sure. She wasn't in love with her friend, she didn't think, but something about Applejack made her happy. She was thinking about Applejack as she drifted off to sleep

Solace

Rainbow Dash opened her eyes to see a certain country pony standing above her on the bed. She looked around for an escape route and tried wiggling out from under the orange mare, but Applejack sat down, pinning and straddling the cyan mare. Applejack smiled in a way that didn’t leave much to the imagination as to what she was planning to do.

“Applejack, what’re you doing?”

“Ah think you know very well what ah’m doin’.”

“But Applejack-“

Applejack pressed a hoof against Rainbow Dash’s mouth, silencing her. Applejack then began to lean forward, cementing Rainbow Dash’s guess as to the earth pony’s plans. Applejack drew closer as the pegasus gave in and parted her lips expectantly.

Rainbow Dash’s eyes actually opened to see the ceiling. She should have felt relieved. Instead, she felt… disappointed. She searched her mind for something with which to rationalize. She finally settled with the explanation that she was disappointed to wake up, seeing as she liked sleep. Additionally, her wings hurt, as if they had been pressing up against her cast. She sat up and rubbed her eyes with her hooves, stretched, and opened her eyes. Applejack was standing there, looking puzzled.

“Applejack… how long have you been standing there?”

“Ya said mah name.”

“What do you mean?”

“While you were dreamin’ ya said mah name. What were ya dreamin’ about?”

“Nothing.”

“It didn’t sound like nothin’. You were movin’ around in yer sleep too.”

“Applejack, it was nothing.”

“Alrighty, if you insist.”

“Good.”

"Now, ah oughta keep workin'. When you'd said mah name, ah came to see what the matter was."

With that, Applejack walked out of the room. Rainbow Dash, for some reason, felt once more disappointed when the orange mare walked out. She liked being in Applejack's company. She didn't want to see Applejack leave, but Applejack had to work. The pegasus sat there, thinking for a moment, then she came up with an idea. She was going to work out there once more with Applejack. It was tiring work, but it meant staying around the earth pony. A sudden thought crossed her mind. What if she really was beginning to fall for Applejack? The thought was shot down as quickly as it came. She wasn't going to fall in love with any mare, let alone one of her best friends. That was crazy. So she felt the need to be around Applejack. That didn't mean anything. So she dreamt about Applejack attempting to kiss her. That didn't mean anything. So she and Applejack slept close together in the same bed. That didn't mean anything. So she wrapped her hooves around Applejack in said bed... Did that mean something?

She shook her head, clearing the thought, and got up. She walked out of the room, and into the kitchen, where she ate an apple as a quick breakfast. She walked out into the orchard and looked around. She didn't see Applejack in the immediate vicinity, so she kept looking. Finally, after walking into the orchard a ways, she found Applejack, working diligently. She walked up to Applejack and greeted her.

"Hey, Applejack."

"Well, howdy. Ya need somethin'? Ya could've just called."

"No, I'm out here to work. I've been getting soft lately."

"Alrighty. Just buck any tree with apples on it."

They set off to work. Rainbow Dash made note to stay at a tree very near Applejack while she worked. She, for some reason, felt a compulsive need to work hard, so as to please Applejack. She knew Applejack would be fine if Rainbow Dash did mediocre work, but she didn't want to do mediocre work. She wanted to gain the approval of Applejack. Does THAT mean something? She shook her head once more and kept working. Her work couldn't be crap. It had to be awesome. Applejack had been doing this for Celestia-knows-how-long, so inevitably would be 20% better than Dash's work.

This was getting weirder. This kind of behavior didn't normally come from Dash. She normally didn't care. She normally would have lay back down and gone to sleep. She normally wouldn't have cared to join Applejack in her tedious work. Then again, normally, she'd be flying. Normally, she'd be laying on a cloud somewhere, or practicing her moves. Instead, she was on the ground, wings broken, taking solace in working with Applejack at the moment. But to make things clear, she wasn't in love with Applejack. Was she? Even if she was, imagine the ramifications of the entire ordeal! Applejack might shoot her down. If they did agree to go out together, what would the group think? What would Ponyville think? Since Ponyville was a pioneer town, many ponies would scorn that behavior. The entire notion was absurd. Still, Rainbow Dash liked Applejack's company. She had liked Applejack sleeping in her bed. She had wrapped her hooves around Applejack. She had dreamt about a kiss between the two. She had been disappointed when she had woken up. She had come out here to buck apples for the sole purpose of staying by Applejack. What did it mean?

She cleared the thoughts from her head, saving them for another time. She had momentarily stopped bucking apples while thinking and Applejack had gotten a couple trees away. She skipped the few trees in between and started bucking a tree adjacent to Applejack. An involuntary smile crossed her face while watching the country pony. If she were to be honest with herself, if there was any mare to go out with, Applejack would be a good choice. Not that she was thinking of dating a mare, but all things considered, Applejack would be a good partner in a relationship. She realized the whole ordeal of trying to stop thinking about this stuff wasn't really working.

Inevitably, she got tired. She notified Applejack that she was indeed done, and went inside. She sat down in the chair in the living room, looking out the window to see Applejack. She had gone far enough since the morning that she could be seen out the window. Applejack wasn't even beginning to show the slightest signs of tiring. Rainbow Dash kept insisting that she wasn't in love with Applejack, but a growing, nagging part of her suggested otherwise. Even though she was tired and resting, she had found a way to watch Applejack. Either her brain had been scrambled during the catalytic crash, or she was well and truly falling for Applejack.

She stopped to think. My name’s Rainbow Dash. I have 5 best friends. Their names are Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Twilight Sparkle, and Applejack. I live in Ponyville. I broke my wings over a week ago. I was in the hospital for a couple of days before coming to live here with Applejack. I’m stuck here for 6 months. That was right. I might be falling in love with Applejack. That was the odd one out. She kept denying it, but new evidence contrary to her denial kept popping up. Her behavior lately fully suggested that she was falling for a mare. The first time, where she had cried about losing her wings, she had only fallen back asleep with Applejack's comfort in mind. The nightmare had only subsided once Applejack was there. She had come to work with Applejack out in the orchard for the sole purpose of being near her twice. She had found herself thinking about Applejack constantly. Even now, she was watching Applejack out the window. She was acting completely unlike herself since the crash. Hell, for all she knew, she could get better and completely lose her alleged feelings for Applejack. But she... hoped that it wouldn't happen. There it was again. For some reason, she hoped that getting better wouldn't mean that her feelings were all a result of possible brain damage. She hoped this wasn't a very minor case of serious brain damage. So that was it. She was admitting that she had feelings for Applejack, something she had been denying ever since the thought popped into her head. She soon realized that this brought up an entirely new set of problems. When would she tell Applejack? How would she tell Applejack? WOULD she tell Applejack? Well, she had to tell Applejack at some point. The problem was the circumstances under which she would tell Applejack. After that, though, when and how would she tell the group?

She sat back in the chair, exasperated. All this thinking was hurting her head. She needed to clear her head. Normally, to clear her head, she'd go fly, but that obviously wasn't an option. Instead, she decided to go for a walk. It was slightly anomalous of Rainbow Dash to be out on a walk, but there was not the airborne alternative that she preferred. She didn’t really care for creating a set path, so she decided to wing it-….improvise. She walked for a little bit when she found herself at the edge of the Everfree forest. She stopped in her tracks. She had been into the forest before, but they hadn’t been pleasant experiences. She looked around herself. The only place else to go was back to the orchard. She couldn’t go back to the orchard, she could run into Applejack, and her mind was too overwhelmed at the moment to talk to Applejack. She steeled herself to go into the forest. It was harmless, right? Zecora was in there; she wasn’t too bad. The forest was really just intimidating, once you were used to the place, it was fine, right? Yeah, that was right. She braced herself and walked into the Everfree forest. She looked around. This wasn't so bad. She didn't see anything that posed any threat. She calmly walked further into the forest. There was nothing scary in here.

She led herself to Zecora's door at long last. She hadn't intended to end up here, but she really hadn't intended to go anywhere, so she raised a hoof and knocked. The tribal looking zebra opened the door and smiled when she saw who her guest was. Rainbow Dash greeted herself, and listened for Zecora's rhyming greeting.

"Rainbow Dash, the cyan mare,

With a rainbow mane of hair,

Come, good Dash, into my home,

Out there it's not safe to roam."

Rainbow Dash followed the words of the greeting and walked into Zecora's home. She looked at the pot in the middle of the room, and in it was some bubbling concoction. Zecora walked in and instantly spotted the cast on Dash's back.

"Upon your back there is a cast,

What has happened in your past?"

Rainbow Dash gave a small chuckle at Zecora's physical need to rhyme, then answered.

Rainbow Dash decided to give her the brief overview, saying, "I broke my wings a little over a week ago. I crashed into a barn at a high height and landed on my back."

"Rainbow Dash, you broke your wings,

How did I not know such things?" Zecora replied in her poetic fashion.

"Maybe it's because you live out in the Everfree forest and nopony bothered to tell you?" Rainbow Dash ventured a wild guess.

"That is true, I do suppose,

Broken wings must bring great woes."

"You got that right... weird things have been happening to me... inside," Rainbow Dash said.

"Strange feelings inside, you say,

What has made you feel this way?"

Rainbow Dash hesitated, unsure if she should tell Zecora or not.

"You can tell me anything, you see,

Not many come to chat with me,

Even then, I wouldn't reveal it ever,

Or else I'd lose your trust, forever."

Rainbow Dash heard Pinkie's FOREVERRRRRRR resound in her head. She knew that as far as trustworthiness went, Zecora could be trusted. But was she ready to tell anyone in the first place? She sat there thinking for a moment, and then decided.

"I'm falling in love with Applejack."

Zecora didn’t show the slightest sign of being taken aback. Instead, she smiled at Rainbow Dash.

“Rainbow Dash, you are in love,

A gift from the very stars above,

I will not judge you, I wouldn’t dare,

Even if you are in love with a mare.”

“You’re… fine with it?”

“Rainbow Dash, I do not mind,

A mare, a colt, whatever your kind,

It’s alright, whomever you choose as a mate,

I hope your feelings do not abate. “

Rainbow Dash gave a smile and asked, “So what should I do?”

“Rainbow Dash, it’s not up to me,

Make the future what you want it to be.”

Rainbow Dash smiled at Zecora, thankful to finally tell another living being, getting that out of the way. She did realize that there were still the problems that had come up previously, but at least someone KNEW, for Celestia’s sake. That still didn’t solve what she was going to do about it, but oh well. She thanked Zecora for her time and walked out of the hut and towards Applejack’s place. She still wasn’t anywhere near ready to tell Applejack; that would come in time. She had, however, cleared her head enough to return. She had for sure cemented that she had feelings for Applejack. Her head was no longer swimming with confusion. She was a good liar; she could fool Applejack until she was ready. She soon reached the edge of Sweet Apple Acres, making her way out of Everfree unscathed. There was nothing to be afraid of in the Everfree forest.

She made her way to the house without seeing Applejack. When she got inside, there was Applejack.

“Where’ve ya been?”

It wasn’t a demanding question, rather a curious one.

“I was out on a walk.”

“You were on a walk?”

“I obviously can’t go flying to clear my mind.”

“What were ya clearin’ yer mind of, ah do ask?”

“Oh, I was clearing my mind about fact that I have six months of being grounded, all that kind of stuff, and the complications that will result.”

“Alrighty. Ah was wonderin’ where ya’d gone off ta.”

“Well, now you know.”

“We’re just in for lunch, Big Mac, Granny Smith an’ me.”

“Great, I’m hungry; being so awesome works up an appetite.”

Applejack gave a laugh, which sounded like harmonic angels to Rainbow Dash. That was new. They walked to the table, and sat down to eat. They ate a different apple-related food that Rainbow Dash didn’t know the name of, but it tasted good.

“Oh, by the way,” said Applejack between bites, “Yer doin’ a good job out there, Rainbow Dash.”

Success. Rainbow Dash smiled and felt happiness inside, but had to keep up the Dash.

“Of course I am. I’m so awesome, remember?”

Applejack laughed once again, once more sounding beautiful and heavenly to Dash. “Oh yeah, how could ah have forgotten?”

Rainbow Dash hadn’t before noticed how cute Applejack’s country accent was. It was nice, she liked it. She returned to eating, stealing glances at the orange mare, who had also returned to eating. Applejack was cute even eating. Wow, Rainbow Dash thought, this isn’t me. At least, this wasn’t me until I fell in love with Applejack. She didn’t regret it. She was glad that she had fallen in love with Applejack. She had never been in love before, so a first time with a mare was quite the experiment. She was sure she had fallen in love with the right pony, though, mare or colt.

They were done eating soon afterward, and they proceeded to clean up their lunch. It had been a good lunch. Rainbow Dash was still too sore to go back out and work, so she watched as Applejack and Big Mac went back out there. There wasn’t much of the crop left, and maybe they could get it done today if they worked hard. While Applejack worked, Dash found a window out of which to watch Applejack. She watched the country mare hit the trees, as her mind began to drift. What would a future with Applejack be like? She knew she would get integrated into the bucking tradition, maybe at some point they’d even move in together. One thing she really wondered was: could mares get married to other mares? Was that allowed? She didn’t know, but if they got that far, they’d cross that bridge once there. You know, maybe life with Applejack would be alright. They were great friends already, but that could be a problem. What if Applejack didn’t want to ruin their friendship by going out? What if Applejack refused to even go out with a mare in the first place? These questions ran through Rainbow Dash’s mind, but she pushed them away. Right now, she was just content to watch Applejack. She was in love with Applejack. There were no doubts about it. She was okay with being in love with a mare. It seemed right when it came to Applejack. As Applejack drew out of sight, Rainbow Dash sat there, looking at the trees. She made the same revelation she hade made previously. For the first time in her life, she was in love.

Striking

"And we are done, yeehaw!" Applejack shouted as she and Big Mac walked inside soon before dark. Rainbow Dash smiled and started towards the living room, trying to convey that she was indeed not sitting there staring out the window. She reached the living room and laid her eyes on Applejack. Applejack was sweaty, her mane was messed up, her hooves had dirt on them, and she couldn't have looked more beautiful to Rainbow Dash. This kind of rugged beauty fit Applejack very well.

"Ah call the first bath," Big Mac said nonchalantly.

"Not fair, you got the first bath last time!" Applejack yelled.

"Eeyup."

"FINE, you get the first bath."

Big Mac walked off to the bathroom. Applejack started to talk to Rainbow Dash.

"We got done early this year, thanks to your help, Dash."

"Of course, my awesomeness helps everything."

"Ah s'pose it does, Rainbow Dash."

Applejack gave a small chuckle and a smile at Rainbow Dash's missing modesty. Rainbow Dash smiled back at Applejack, happy at the sound of Applejack's cute, harmonious country laugh. They did tend to butt heads at times, but that didn't matter. Ponies got over small fights like that. That wasn't something that ruined a relationship, she hoped. She didn't know how a relationship worked. This was something she didn't quite understand. She was willing to give it a try, though. It was something interesting, something she wanted to try. She wanted to go out with Applejack. It was an oddity, really. She was the only pegasus who'd ever been capable of a Sonic Rainboom, something that was often thought as just a fake story. Love, however, something that was prominent in the world, something experienced by many, many ponies, was something Rainbow Dash couldn't understand.

A clean Big Mac soon came out of the bathroom, and Applejack walked that way. Rainbow Dash suddenly realized that she too was still dirty and sweaty from her time outside. She was going to take a bath after Applejack, that was for sure. Big Mac walked into the kitchen and started making dinner, seeing as everyone was tired and hungry. It was going to be something apple-related, Rainbow Dash guessed. Duh. Rainbow Dash walked around for a little bit, kind of bored, then realized that she really had to go to the bathroom. She headed that way, forgetting that Applejack was bathing until she barged right in there.

"Dash!"

Rainbow Dash accidently stared for a moment, until that point when she realized that Applejack was still in the bathroom and she was staring right at the bathing country pony. She shut her eyes tight and tried to move out, but instead, she stumbled into the wall and fell over.

"Sorry, I forgot you were in here," Rainbow Dash said as she got back up, blindly trying to locate the exit, her wings in pain from the crash.

"It's alright, but if you would please get out, that'd be mighty nice."

"Well, you said once yourself that we don't normally wear clothes."

"That doesn't mean ah want you watching me takin' a bath!"

"Ok, sorry, I'll leave."

She soon found the exit and closed the door behind her, opening her eyes and blushing thoroughly, her face growing hot. That was quite the surprise. To add on top of it, for a little bit she had actually stared at Applejack. Sitting there in the bath. She had resisted the urge to hop right in. Of all the ways to break the news to Applejack, that was not a good one. She paused to think for a moment. How was she going to break the news? That was a problem. Under normal circumstances, she would've been able to predict how Applejack would react. That was until she fell in love with Applejack. Now it was a game of thinking about the worst possible consequences. She tried to remind herself that it'd be alright, at the worst she'd be friend-zoned, but her mind wasn't working that way.

Applejack came out of the bathroom soon after, and Rainbow Dash feared the worst.

"You don't have to wait any longer, the bathroom's open now," Applejack joked, and then she laughed.

Rainbow Dash laughed too, relieved. So, Applejack hadn't thought anything of it. She smiled as she walked past Applejack to take a bath. She turned on the bath tap and closed the door while the tub filled up. She was relieved. A time to sit, relax, and think was presenting itself.

The tub filled up, and she turned off the faucet and climbed in. Her cast was water-proof, obviously. A warm relaxation fell over her as she sunk into the lukewarm bath water. She stopped to think. Perhaps it wasn't shock that caused her to stare. Maybe it was because... because Applejack was simply beautiful in the bath. Her hat was off, her mane undone and wet, and maybe Rainbow Dash had stared as a result of that, not the shock of accidently walking in on her friend in the bath. To top it off, Applejack had an amazing country body. She really did.

During her thinking, she decided that she had no idea how to tell Applejack the news. So, she was going to ask her friends. She wasn't going to tell them she was in love with Applejack, but she was going to ask them how to tell somepony you love them. They wouldn't suspect it was Applejack, surely. They'd probably think it was some colt that she had met. But wait, what if they thought she was falling in love with Big Mac? She had been spending her time out of the hospital at the Apples' residence. Then, she'd just say it wasn't. Her friends knew she wasn't too big a liar, so if she said she was in love with somepony, she wouldn't have to lie and say it was a colt. She thought for a moment. She'd go to Rarity's place first. Rarity knew a lot about that lovey-dovey stuff. She was always talking about the new romance novels she was reading. In those, however, it was between some muscley colt and some mare. She was definitely not a colt, and not muscley. Rarity could probably think of something, though. She was going to go to all of her friends anyway to gather opinions.

She was soon done with her bath, climbing out of the tub and draining the bath. She started to dry herself off. Once she was dry, she walked out of the bathroom, where dinner was waiting. She never cared what it was called, so she never found out. It did taste good, though. Once dinner was done, they cleared the table. They then proceeded to wind down for the night, as it was now dark. Rainbow Dash went to her bed and lay down, thinking of Applejack in the bath. Applejack was simply beautiful. There were no discrepancies as to that. She was going to tell Applejack tomorrow, she decided. She was going to gather tips from her friends and then tell Applejack. There was no way around it.

Tomorrow was the big day.

* * *

Rainbow Dash woke up, her resolve diminishing the moment she sat up. She was less sure about her ability to tell Applejack once she had gotten some sleep. It was frightening, the prospect of being rejected. After all, she had been shaking at the time of the Best Young Fliers competition, afraid of failure, afraid of disapproval. This was going to be harder than she thought.

She got up soon after waking, and went to get something to eat. She grabbed some applesauce and mindlessly ate a little bowl of it, as she was too busy thinking about Applejack. She had to tell Applejack, yet she was simultaneously frightened by the prospect of rejection. This was a dilemma, if she ever knew one.

She finished her applesauce, and put the bowl away. She contemplated staying around, but this was bugging her a lot. She needed to go see her friends. Rainbow decided that Applejack would probably guess where she was, or at least not fear the worst. She walked out the door and headed to town.

* * *

She tentatively raised a hoof, thinking about what she would say, and then knocked on the door. Rarity opened the door, smiling at her rainbow friend.

“Oh, hello, Rainbow Dash! What brings you here?”

“Rarity, can I ask you a question?”

“Why, of course, Rainbow Dash, what is it?”

Rainbow Dash hesitated a moment, then spoke, “You know those romance-y novels you’re always reading?”

“Well, of course I do, but why do you ask?”

“What I want to say is…”

“Well, what is it, Rainbow Dash?”

“I wanted to ask you… if you know a good way… to tell somepony you’re in love with them.” She rushed out the last bit quickly, almost to the point of being unintelligible.

“Well, you see… Oh, congratulations, Rainbow Dash!”

“Well, thanks, Rarity.”

“So, who’s the lucky colt?”

“Well…”

“Oh, pardon me, Rainbow Dash. I do suppose that is something you’ll tell me when you’re ready.”

“Yeah, that’s it.”

“Do come in, Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow Dash followed her inside, and then Rarity spoke.

“Just sit there, I’ll make tea.”

Rainbow Dash sat at the table which Rarity had mentioned, and waited until Rarity came back, magically hovering two cups of tea in front of her. She set the cups of tea on the table, one in front of Rainbow Dash, one in front of herself, and then proceeded to sit down across from Rainbow Dash.

“Well, back to telling somepony you love them… Well, I suppose you could just tell them how you feel, explain your feelings to them. There’s also the conventional method of asking them out on a date, even though normally it’s the colt that’s doing the asking. Waiting is normally not an option, as they, many times, will not pick up on your feelings for them.”

Rainbow Dash sipped her tea, taking in what Rarity was saying.

“Then there’s something that’s more you, I suppose. There’s always the big surprise, the “coming out with a kiss.” That’s just when you get them alone, and when you feel the time is right, you kiss them. It’s more of a high risk, high reward type of thing.”

When she heard that, something clicked. That was her. Go big or go home, she said. She decided that she didn’t need to see all of her friends when she had the perfect solution staring her in the face. She decided she might just drop by anyway, just to see her friends.

"Dropping hints doesn't really work. Sometimes you'd be astounded by the density of some colts."

Then she muttered what sounded like Blueblood to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash smiled at Rarity, and stood.

"Thanks Rarity, you've been really helpful."

She started out the door, and behind her she heard Rarity calling, "Good luck, Rainbow Dash!" She sounded sincere. She really did.

Rainbow Dash realized that if she was going to pull the surprise move, she was going to have to figure out a way to get Applejack alone, away from anyone else. It was going to have to be brash, a surprise, something fitting for the fastest flier in Equestria. She tapped her hoof on her chin and tried to think. How do I get Applejack alone in a way that fits me? I need a way that won’t make Applejack think anything’s out of the ordinary. She couldn’t just ask if Applejack wanted to go on a walk. That wasn’t her. An idea came to mind. Maybe she would ask if Applejack wanted to help out with her athletics. Granted, she didn’t have her wings, but there were athletic things you could do without your wings. That was it. She could take Applejack out into some secluded spot, and then pull the move! It was an awesome plan, but that was no surprise, coming from the best flier in Equestria.

Just then, Pinkie Pie popped up in front of her.

“Good luck telling Applejack!”

Rainbow Dash was taken aback, shocked. “How… how did you know?”

“Silly Rainbow Dash,” Pinkie exclaimed, “I’m Pinkie Pie!”

“Oh,” Rainbow Dash said. She truly wasn’t surprised that Pinkie somehow knew these things. There was no good way to describe Pinkie; she was just simply Pinkie Pie.

“Yeah, thanks Pinkie. So I take it you’re alright with it?”

“Of course, silly! You’re my friend and friends are supportive! I mean, we’re friends right? And friends make amends! And amends make bends! And bends make sends! And-“

Rainbow Dash walked off before she had to endure much more of Pinkie’s rambling. She pondered whether she should go back now, or if she should deliberate longer. If she were going to play the “need to work on my moves” card, it would be weird to do it at night. Yet it was early, she didn’t want to do it too early.

Suddenly, an idea struck her. She would go back now, but start her scheme after lunch. They’d all be fed, and subsequently energized, and it would be an ideal time to go “practice.” It was genius. It was a plan almost as awesome as she was. She started walking back to the orchard. She was ready.

Operation: Awesome was in effect.

* * *

She got to her temporary home as the sun was high overhead and walked in side. Applejack was there, and the country mare posed a question: “Where’d ya go?”

“Oh I just went on another walk. You know how it is.”

“Um… okay, ah guess.”

“Cool. Cool cool cool.

“Anyway, Big Mac’s gettin’ lunch ready, just so ya know.”

“Awesome.” Her plan was moving forward. Lunch was almost on the table. She walked past Applejack, heading to her room. She sat there on the edge of her bed, thinking. Her body was tired, but she knew that after lunch she would be revitalized, and she would be ready to strike, so to speak. That’s what she would think of it, striking, and either winning or losing Applejack. This was big. She had done the legendary Sonic Rainboom twice, but had never once told somepony that she loved them.

This was it.

It was then that Applejack called everypony in for lunch. The cyan mare walked out to the table to see Applebloom there, home from her stay at Scootaloo’s place.

“Hey, Applebloom,” she said as she sat down, “What’s up?”

“Not much, ah suppose.”

“What’d you do at Scootaloo’s?”

“Well, we tried to find our Cutie Marks, but we still all have blank flanks.”

“It’s alright; you’ll get your Cutie Mark in time.”

“But ah want in now!”

“Calm down, squirt.”

Big Mac, Applejack and Granny Smith walked in then, Big Mac setting the food on the table. They then set to eating, Rainbow Dash scarfing down the food, as Rarity would put it, quite uncouthly. She was set on finishing lunch as soon as possible. She was, of course, done with lunch first, and cleared her stuff from the table.

When they were all done, Rainbow Dash confronted Applejack.

“Hey, you wanna go and help me work on some athletic stuff? I’ve been getting soft and I need to keep my chops up, you know?”

“Sure, that’d be mighty nice.”

“Awesome. Let’s go.”

They walked out of the house after first alerting everypony to their plans of action. Rainbow Dash decided to lead the way, for she knew the perfect spot to strike. She started to lead Applejack to a secluded meadow where she used to practice flying. It was perfect. Rainbow Dash’s heart started to beat faster in her chest, and she started to perspire. She tried to keep cool, and she knew she couldn’t alert Applejack to the notion that something was wrong. She was hoping something was going to go right.

They got there, and Rainbow Dash was nervous. She reminded herself that she was Rainbow Dash. She could do this. Go big or go home. This was it.

"So, what do ya wanna start with? Ah'm up fer anything."

"Um, I dunno. Let's race to that tree over there."

"Alrighty."

They got into running positions, and Applejack, Element of Honesty, counted down.

3...

2...

1...

Go! They both sprinted. Rainbow Dash wasn't used to sprinting, and Applejack's legs were stronger, so Applejack reached the tree first. Rainbow Dash reached it, they decided to race back to their starting point. They raced back and forth a couple times until they were both at the base of the tree, and were both panting. Rainbow Dash steeled herself. If there was any time to do it, now was the time. Applejack was looking off the other way, so she got Applejack's attention.

"Hey, Applejack.

"Yeah?"

As Applejack turned her head, Rainbow Dash made her move. She put her head forward and pressed her mouth against Applejack's. Her eyes closed, but she was sure that Applejack's eyes had opened in surprised. She held her mouth against the shocked Applejack's mouth for a moment, hoping, wishing. When she broke apart, she looked at Applejack's stunned face.

"Uh, sugarcube... what was that?"

"Well, Applejack, it started when I started staying at your house. I started to feel differently about you. I couldn't keep the feelings at bay, and, soon enough, it developed into this. I like you, Applejack. I like you a lot. I decided I had to tell you, to show you. It came to this. Applejack... I want you to consider going out with me. I want you to consider having a marefriend as opposed to a coltfriend. Please, Applejack. Go out with me."

"Well... ah don't know... ah mean, ah like you and all, but... ah never thought of you as somepony ah'd ever have as mah very special somepony."

"Applejack, I'm in love with you. There's really not much you can do about it. I am going to continue being in love with you, even if you reject me, which will surely lead to awkward situations. I want you to REALLY consider it, and don't you dare let the fact that I'm a mare or that I'm your friend get in the way of your decision. Decide if you would want to go out with a pony like me, and if you do, then go out with me, because I can guarantee you that I am the one and only Rainbow Dash."

"Rainbow Dash, ah promise you with all of mah heart, that ah will truly consider a relationship with you."

"That's all I ask."

They left it at that. Applejack walked off, back to the orchard, as Rainbow Dash walked to town, to avoid awkwardness. Rainbow Dash felt dejected. Applejack had said she'd consider, but that didn't mean that it was definitely going to happen.

Oh, but she hoped with all her being that it did happen.

Consideration

Applejack walked home, feeling confused. Rainbow Dash liked her? How did that happen? Applejack was but a country pony, bound to earth. She had no wings. If she knew one thing, it was that Rainbow Dash loved flying more than anything in the whole world. How could she like a pony that had no wings? Additionally, they tended to butt heads a lot, and often took to competition. She had never had a very special somepony before, but she had never considered a mare as hers. She liked Rainbow Dash just fine and all, but there was something out of place about the two being together. Plus, Applejack was an old-style country pony, and Rainbow Dash was a fast moving pegasus, always concerned about "cool."

She got to the house, and when there, she hung her hat up, sat on the couch, and tried to think. Would she really go out with a pony like Rainbow Dash? If there was a colt that wasn't her good friend that was like Rainbow Dash, would she want to go out with that type of pony? She did enjoy being around Rainbow Dash's brash style, and the competition between the two wasn't anything hostile; it was something that Applejack enjoyed. She had promised Rainbow Dash she wouldn't let the fact that she was a mare get in the way, but was she really comfortable with being seen around with a mare? A lot of Ponyville folks wouldn't like that. Ponyville was an old-style town that stuck to tradition, as seen in their 'no magic' policy for Winter Wrap-Up. She could predict Rainbow Dash saying "Haters gonna hate," but was she the same? She was one that liked to stick to tradition, but what did that get her? Would she benefit from going out with Dash? She actually was interested in the prospect of going out with Rainbow Dash, but she was unsure about going out with her good friend, a mare, in Ponyville of all places.

Just then, Granny Smith came in and sat down beside her.

"What are ye thinkin' about?"

"Oh, nothin' Granny Smith."

"Ah know you better than that."

"Alrighty, Granny, here goes. Rainbow Dash likes me. Not just as a friend, naw, she likes me as something more. Ah'm not sure what to do. Ah mean we live in Ponyville. The folks'd not like that one bit. Ah never was interested in going out with a mare, but the prospect of goin' out with Dash is interesting. Do you have any ideas, Granny Smith?"

Granny Smith took a while before answering. “When ah was young, your grandpa took me on one of them rollercoasters.”

“Fascinatin’, Granny Smith.”

“Up, down, up, down, oh, what a ride!”

“That’s a great story.”

“Ah always wanted to go again. Ye know, it was just so interesting to me that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together! Some didn't like it. They went on the merry-go-round. It just goes around and around. Nothing. Ah prefer the rollercoaster. You get more out of it.”

“That’s nice, Granny Smith, but what does that have to do with this?”

“Just think about it.”

* * *

Rainbow Dash walked through town dejectedly, wondering. What exactly did Applejack mean, she’d “consider?” Would a pony like Applejack want to go out with a pony like her? Applejack was one to stick with tradition; she wasn’t one who would normally break the mold by going out with a mare. The problem was, for Rainbow Dash it wasn’t just a romantic curiosity. She had fallen in love, and she had fallen hard. So even if Applejack said no, then where would she be? Hard in love with Applejack, without any feelings in return. THAT would well and truly suck.

Her walking soon brought her to Twilight’s door, where she raised a hoof and knocked. Twilight opened the door to see a morose Rainbow Dash standing there.

“Oh, hello, Rainbow Dash. Come on in. Spike’s away at Canterlot doing something for the Princess.”

Rainbow Dash walked in past Twilight and sat down in a chair.

“Dash, what’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing. Nothing at all is wrong.”

“Dash, I know you better than that. What don’t you want to tell me?”

“Well, the thing is… I’m in love with Applejack…”

Twilight was taken aback for a moment, and then regained her senses.

“”That’s wonderful, Rainbow Dash!”

“You’re alright with that?”

“Of course I am, Rainbow Dash. Now what’s wrong?”

“Well, the problem is that I told her I loved her… well, I came out and outright kissed her, for Celestia’s sake, and she’s “considering” a relationship.”

“Well, what’s so wrong with that?”

“Did you even hear me? She said she’d consider. That means she could just as well reject me as she could accept and go with it. To add on, she’s a country pony, and probably will let the fact that I’m a mare get in the way. Plus, it’s not just some little filly’s crush. I can’t pinpoint why I fell so hard for her if I tried.”

“I understand. But the thing is that Applejack is honest. She truly will consider. You just can’t see that because you’re in love with her, and that makes you expect the worst. If Applejack truly would want to go out with a pony like you, she would go out with a pony like you. She is the Element of Honesty, after all.”

“But will she want to go out with a pony like me? That’s the problem.”

“Well, you’ll just have to find out. Love’s not something you can be the best at, Dash. It’s something unpredictable, something unexplainable. You can’t practice to get better. Nobody’s “good” at love. It’s about how you feel. Now, would you like some tea?"

“Sure.”

Twilight walked off and soon came back with two cups of tea.

"This is the second cup of tea I've had today. I went over to Rarity's this morning."

"So she knows?"

"She knows I'm in love. She doesn't know I'm in love with Applejack."

"Why didn't you tell her?"

"Well, she didn't ask who it was, precisely."

"Alright, I suppose it wasn't quite the urgent matter to tell her you're in love with one of our friends."

"No, that's for sure."

"Do you plan to tell everyone?"

"Not if Applejack rejects me. Then there's no point."

"I disagree. Even if she rejects you, you should always share your feelings with your friends. Hmm, I should put that in a letter to Celestia."

"Well, it's good to know that things are still normal in your head," Rainbow joked.

"Well, I have a letter due soon. This might make a good letter."

"Well, ya gonna mention that I'm in love with Applejack?"

"Do you want me to?"

"Go for it."

"Alright, thank you, Rainbow Dash. I'd been trying to find something to write about, and I know the results of trying to create a problem. Big Mac still has Smarty Pants, but I'm not going to take it back from him. I hope he likes Smarty Pants like I did."

"Well, here's hoping, eh, Twilight? And no, we don't need another incident of the entire town fighting over an old, worn, raggy toy."

"That we don't need."

Rainbow Dash drank her tea, and when she was done, she set it on the table, and when Twilight finished hers, she took both of the cups back to where she got them. Rainbow Dash looked around the library, and she wondered what to do next. She couldn't go back to the Apple house just yet. She really wanted to give Applejack a good long time to decide. She knew deep inside that Applejack would find it in her to make a truly honest decision. She hoped that decision was "yes." But, like Twilight said, love was something that went its course spontaneously. She couldn't predict it. As she had very well experienced, love can affect you and make you act differently.

"Alright, I suppose I'll go find something else to do. Thanks for your hospitality and understanding, Twilight."

"No problem, Rainbow Dash."

"I'll be off now."

Rainbow Dash stood and walked towards the door, Twilight being a proper host and opening it with her magic. She thanked Twilight once more and walked out, hearing the door close behind her. She walked around for a moment, hearing not much but her own hooves against the earth, encountering a couple ponies along the way. As she encountered these ponies she didn't know all that well, she gave feeble greetings, getting weird looks from the people who knew her, even a small amount. Anyone could tell that this wasn't characteristic of Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash was normally the brash, cocky, in-your-face attitude pony. Not at the moment she wasn't. She had been put on the fence, to go one way or the other. That wasn't really something that made her want to emphasize the go-get-'em part of her.

Just then, she looked up to see the weather pegasi moving rain clouds in. Great, that was just what she needed to brighten her day. It started raining, and, just to her luck, it started getting cold outside, too. Awesome, she had quite the list of things going for her. Rejection, pneumonia, broken wings, how could this day get any better?

She walked along in the cold rain, her mane and coat soaking, her body starting to shiver. She walked along, and her hooves started making imprints, as the ground was getting softer under her very hooves. She found a small awning and huddled under it, finding a bench beneath the awning to lie down on. She curled up into herself on the bench, her body shivering. She wanted Applejack to come running to her, to tell her that she wanted to go out, to tell her she's alright with going out with a mare, to tell her that it was all going to work out. Surely, though, that was wishful thinking. Even if Applejack did come find her, she wouldn’t necessarily agree to go out.

She huddled under the awning on the bench, the awning not completely blocking the rain out. The rain would occasionally hit her, and with each cold raindrop came a shiver. Her body heat continued to be leached out into the cold air, and she grew colder the longer she sat there.

In the distance, she saw a pony running, searching, it seemed. As the figure got closer, she saw on its head a hat. It was Applejack, presumably looking for her. She called out, in hopes that Applejack would hear her. Applejack didn’t and continued running off in the distance, not knowing that Rainbow Dash was right there. Dash waited a little, hoping that Applejack would come back. She got lucky. Applejack ran near once more and when Rainbow Dash called this time, Applejack turned her head to the source and ran toward Rainbow Dash.

"What the hay are ya doin', out here in the cold rain? Yer gonna catch a cold," Applejack said when she got to Rainbow Dash.

"Listen, Applejack-"

"Cool it, sugarcube. Right now, ah just want to get you home."

"Awesome," Rainbow Dash said, and stood up. She was shivering pretty badly.

"Ya think ya can make it?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine."

"On second thought, hop on. You look like yer catchin' somethin'."

"No, really, I'm fine."

"Too late."

Applejack hoisted Rainbow Dash on her back and started towards the orchard. She was thouroughly soaked too, but had been moving and hadn't been as chilled by the rain.

They got to the house and Applejack burst in, ran towards her former bedroom, and set Rainbow Dash on the bed. She quickly wrapped Rainbow up in all the blankets on the bed. She tried to think if there was anything she could do from here. The only thing that came to mind was to hop in with Rainbow Dash, to help conserve Dash's body heat. She didn't even care about how awkward the situation might be.

She climbed in, and Rainbow Dash weakly smiled, and feebly joked, "So, here we are together in bed."
Applejack laughed her cute country laugh and said, "Yeah, ah s'pose so."

Rainbow Dash wrapped her hooves around Applejack, and this time, Applejack wrapped her hooves around Rainbow, to conserve heat, and all.

"I know this doesn't definitively mean you've said yes, but thanks for doing this."

"You're right, ah'm still considerin', but you're welcome. Remember, for now it's because I don't want you to get sick."

"Alright, Alright."

Rainbow Dash was content for the moment as she drifted off to sleep.

* * *

Rainbow Dash woke up to see Applejack smiling at her.

“So, you sleep well?”

“Yeah, ah did. By the way, Rainbow Dash, ah’ve decided. Ah want to go out with you. I really do.”

Rainbow Dash was ecstatic.

“You do?”

“Yeah. I do.”

Applejack leaned her head in towards Rainbow Dash. This time she was ready. She leaned her head in, too, and their faces got ever closer, the moment she’d been waiting for about to happen.

Their lips met, but Applejack’s eyes opened in surprise.

“Rainbow Dash!”

Dash opened her eyes to see that she had actually kissed Applejack in the middle of her sleep.

“No, I can explain!”

“Ah said ah’d consider, Rainbow Dash. Ah’m only in bed with you because you were fixin’ to catch yerself somethin’ awful.”

“No, really, it wasn’t on purpose! I was dreaming, and in my dream I kissed you, and evidently did so in real life.”

“Alright, ah’ll take yer word for it now, but just you remember, fancy romantics won’t sway me one way or another.”

“Anyway, what time is it?”

The both looked at the window, and what they saw was a moon, shining in the sky. They had slept from after lunch until night time!

“I suppose I don’t need you here in bed anymore, I feel fine.”

“Well, much obliged. Ah’d like to get back to sleep without somepony tryin’ to lock lips with me while ah’m sleepin’,” Applejack joked.

Rainbow Dash gave a laugh, relieved that under the awkward “judgment” period, Applejack could still be a good friend around her. That was another thing Rainbow Dash could add to her list of things she liked about Applejack.

Applejack walked out of the room, and Rainbow Dash lay back down. She was tired, and she really didn’t want to stay up all night wondering about Applejack. It was just stressful to think about what the result of Applejack’s consideration would be. What Twilight said was right. Love wasn’t something at which you could be the best. Love was unpredictable and there was nothing gained by sitting up and thinking about it all night long except for paranoia.

Rainbow Dash closed her eyes, and drifted back off to sleep.

Rollercoaster

Rainbow Dash opened her eyes and sat up in bed to look outside. The sun was high overhead, but not quite to the point of indicating noontime. She gave a sleepy yawn and stretched her legs. She thought about the previous night. She had been surprised by her own spontaneous sleep-kiss, but at the same time she had liked it. That had been the second time she had kissed Applejack and she had enjoyed them both.

She placed her hooves on the floor and walked towards the door. She walked into the kitchen and grabbed an apple, munching on it as made her way outside. She had nothing else to do today, so she was going to head into town. She walked outside, tossed her apple core carelessly aside, and headed towards the heart of Ponyville.
* * *

Applejack sat up on the couch, her makeshift bed for a while, and took to thinking. She had thought about it alot, but Granny Smith’s rollercoaster story still made no sense to her. So she had gone on a rollercoaster once. What was that supposed to mean,that she should go on a rollercoaster and maybe some godsend spark in her brain would occur? That made no sense. Granny Smith was smarter than a first impression would show. She didn’t hop around water cans singing the alphabet during zap-apple season for nothing. That old pony knew what she was doing, so what did she mean when she talked about a rollercoaster? She tried to remember what Granny Smith had actually said. “Some didn't like it. They went on the merry-go-round. It just goes around and around. Nothing. Ah prefer the rollercoaster. You get more out of it.” Some went on the merry-go-round... What was that supposed to mean?

* * *

Rainbow walked into town, looking around. She had to find something to do so as to pass the time. When Applejack made her decision one way or the other, then she could go back to living there during the day. For now, she was under judgment, waiting awkwardly for Applejack to make her decision. If Applejack said no, and it became to awkward being around her, she could just find somepony else with whom to stay. If Applejack said yes, GREAT! Then she could continue staying with her. At the moment however, it was still on the fence. Only Applejack’s decision could make her fate fall one way or another.

Dash walked around, looking at all the buildings. She had no idea where she wanted to go. So that was a problem...it was always a problem. Dash knew she wanted to do something during the waiting period, but she had no idea what, for Celestia’s sake. This was going to be a long day.

* * *

Something clicked in Applejack’s head. She knew what Granny Smith meant. Granny may have gone on a rollercoaster in her younger years, but that wasn’t really the rollercoaster the story was about. “Some didn’t like it. They went on the merry-go-round.” That made sense! How had she not gotten that? Of course, the rollercoaster and the merry-go-round were figurative! Granny Smith was smart, no, Granny smith was really smart. The merry-go-round was just a constant. It was steady life with no surprises, everyday more or less the same. The rollercoaster was surprise, and it was something that gave you more out of life than the merry-go-round. The constant was nothing. The rollercoaster was what Granny Smith was saying was the better option.

Applejack got up, grabbed her hat, and headed out.

* * *

Rainbow Dash ended up heading to the library to hang out with Twilight for a bit. She raised a hoof and knocked; Twilight almost instantly opened the door.

“Hey, that was fast.”

“Well, I haven’t had much to do around here. I’ve already reorganized the books, reorganized the reorganization of the books, written a letter to the Princess, written a letter to the Princess summarizing all my letters to the Princess, cleaned the library, and made my bed.”

Twilight took a moment to squee in pride for her hard work.

“You should lay off sometime, Twilight.”

“I can’t lay off when there’s so much work that needs to be done. I AM Celestia’s top student.”

“Anyway,” Rainbow Dash said, sure at this point that she couldn’t crack into Twilight’s egghead skull, “what’s new?”

“Oh, nothing much, I’m just cleaning the library again.”

“Ugh. Twilight, really, lay off, for once.”

“Anyway, what’s the story with you and Applejack?”

“I’m still on the fence. I went walking yesterday, and it began to rain. It was cold rain too, not that nice warm-ish rain. I didn’t want to go back to Applejack’s, so I stayed out in the rain. If my wings weren’t broken, I’d have at least made a hole for myself in the clouds. Then again, if my wings weren’t broken, none of this would’ve happened. I might be at my house in the clouds right now, not here, and not worrying about what Applejack’s gonna say. Anyway, I got REALLY cold out there, and I was shivering pretty badly. Just when everything seemed bleak, in comes Applejack to save the day. She scoops me up and carries me all the way back to the house. She lays me down in the bed, and because I could get pneumonia or hypothermia or something like that, she climbs into bed with me to conserve heat. Well, you wouldn’t believe what happened! While I was sleeping, I had a dream that Applejack told me she wanted to go out with me, and wouldn’t you believe it, I kissed her in real life while I was sleeping.”

“And how did that turn out?”

“Well, we obviously both woke up, and she left. Not in a cold way. She just went back to sleeping on the couch like she has been, because it didn’t look like I was still at risk of getting sick.”

“I take that to mean that things are still alright?”

“Yeah, I guess you could say that.”

“Well, I do suppose that’s a good sign.”

“It might be. Like you said, there’s no way of knowing.”

“Well, that is true.”

* * *

Applejack walked quickly throughout town, seeing if she could find Rainbow Dash. The trouble was that Rainbow Dash could be anywhere. Her eyes searched around, looking for Dash’s unmistakable rainbow-colored mane. She didn't see anything other than solid, one-colored manes of most ponies in the town. She wondered where Rainbow Dash got her rainbow mane. She had never seen anypony else with a mane of such color. It could very well be just some genetic fluke, but she had never seen Rainbow's parents. Rainbow had never mentioned them. Applejack made a mental note to ask Rainbow Dash about it sometime. She couldn't stop to think about it. Right now she had to find Rainbow Dash. This was a very urgent matter concerning Rainbow Dash, and there was something that she needed to tell her.

She kept her eyes scanning, heading towards Rarity's place. She didn't know quite what brought her there, but she felt like that was a good place to start. She reached Rarity's place and raised a hoof to knock on the door. She heard some shuffling around inside, and after awhile Rarity came to the door, the place a mess behind her.

"Oh, hello, Applejack. Do come in."

"Howdy," Applejack said as she walked in, "how do ya do?"

"I'm doing fine. Do forgive me for the mess, I'm working on a project."

"S'alright, ah s'pose."

"Anyway, what brings you here?"

"I came t'ask if yah've seen Rainbow Dash lately."

"Well, I have not seen her yet today, but I did see her yesterday; she came in to ask about ways to tell somepony she loves them. Isn't that exciting, Applejack? Our dear Rainbow Dash is in love!"

"Yeah, ah know."

"You do? Has she told you?"

"Sort of."

"Oh, alright then."

"Well, ah best be off if ah want to find Rainbow Dash."

"Best of luck finding her, Applejack!"

"Thanks, pardner."

With that, Applejack tipped her hat and left, continuing her search. The next place to go was to Sugarcube Corner to see Pinkie Pie. She had to ask what she wanted up front, lest Pinkie get derailed. Pinkie had a high derail rate.

She reached Sugarcube Corner and raised a hoof to knock, but the door flew open to reveal Pinkie before she even knocked.

"Pinkie, have ya seen Rainbow Dash?"

"She's at Twilight's!"

"Um, are ya sure?"

"Yep!"

"Well, how do ya know?"

"Silly Applejack, I'm Pinkie Pie!"

"Oh."

With that, Applejack closed the door as Pinkie started to go on about something, and she headed towards the library. She started running. This was an important matter.

* * *

"My place probably looks like crap right now."

They had been sitting there, making small talk over some tea. Twilight had been more than happy to be the hospitable host and let Rainbow Dash stay. Rainbow Dash had decided that a little time after lunch was a good time to go back, surely, Applejack would have had enough time to make her decision. This was an awkward and testing time, but at the end of the day, she’d know. She’d finally know, and she’d be on one of two sides of the fence.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, and outside they heard a heavy breathing.

“I’ll get the door,” Twilight said, walking over there, opening the door with her magic.

It was Applejack. Applejack was standing right there, looking at Rainbow past Twilight.

“Applejack? What’re you doing here?”

“Dash, ah’ve made mah decision. Ah-“

“Wait, before you tell me, I have something to say. I’ll be fine if you don’t want to go out with me. I don’t want a strained relationship. So, if you truly don’t want to go out with me, don’t.”

“No, Rainbow, ah’m just tryin’ ta say-“

“The exception is if you don’t want to go out with me because I’m a mare. I am the one and only Rainbow Dash, and you won’t ever find another pony like me. I can say that we could make a mare-mare relationship work.”

“Rainbow Dash, really, ah-“

“Because I don’t care what others think. Haters gonna hate, I say. Although I know some will look at us with distaste, we can just forget them! The ponies that mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”

“Rainbow Dash, if you’ll please jus’ let me finish! Ah’ve taken a long time t’decide, and ah’ve decided that ah’d like to go out with you, Rainbow Dash. Ah really do.”

“You… do?”

“Yes, ah do.”

Rainbow Dash got up from the table and walked over to Applejack. They looked each other in the eyes for a moment, and then Rainbow Dash leaned her head forward and nuzzled Applejack, pouring affection into it. Applejack returned the gesture, and Rainbow Dash’s heart soared. If you had told her a couple weeks ago that she would eventually be going out with Applejack, she would have laughed out loud. Now, she was glad that she was.

“Um, guys?”

Rainbow and Applejack had forgotten momentarily that Twilight was there.

“Um, ah s’pose we should go.”

“Yeah, we’re gonna go now. Bye, Twilight!”

As they walked away, they heard Twilight yell, “Congratulations!”

As they walked toward the orchard, they smiled at each other, and, somehow, they both ended up walking toward the place that Rainbow Dash had first kissed Applejack. They reached the place, and when they were there, the turned toward each other, and they both leaned their heads in and shared a tender kiss.

Rainbow Dash couldn’t have been more ecstatic.

Origins

They had talked to each other. They had talked about various things and they wondered what people would think about them. Other ponies might scowl distastefully. This was Ponyville after all, and this was a town of tradition. They probably weren’t the keenest about two mares dating one another. Rainbow Dash and Applejack had agreed to do the best they could to ignore other ponies mumbling with distaste about their relationship.

They had then lain down to talk to each other and look at the sky. The two lay there, looking at the clouds in the sky. Applejack had been thinking. She had remembered her mental note to ask Rainbow Dash about her mane.

“Hey Rainbow Dash?”

“Yeah?”

“Ah’ve never seen a pony with a mane of such color as yours. Were ya just born with that? With them fancy genetics ah mean.”

“Well, it’s kinda a long story.”

“Ah got time, sugarcube.”

“Oh, it’s nothing, really.”

“You just said it was a long story.”

“Well… the thing is…”

“Jus’ tell me. No secrets.”

“It really is a long story.”

“Ah don’t mind.”

Rainbow Dash gave a sigh, realizing that she should probably tell Applejack. She was, after all, finally going out with her, and she deserved to know her origins.

“Well, here goes nothin. I was born normal. I was born under boring ponies, and when I was young, I had always dreamed of being a Wonderbolt, of standing out. My parents didn’t think so. They wanted me to be a boring old businesspony and I didn’t want to be one. You know me. I’m no businesspony. I wanted to be a Wonderbolt. I still do. I glorified those ponies so much. My parents were lame. They were totally UNCOOL. So I left. I left my house in the middle of the night. I flew right out of my bedroom window. One thing you should know is that I wasn’t born with this color mane. My mane had been white. You heard me, white. I was bland, and I wanted to stick out. One of the first things I did was I went over to the rainbow vats where they make rainbows. What would stick out more than a pony with a rainbow mane? I stood there for a while looking into the rainbow goop, apprehensive as to what I was about to do. Then I did it. I jumped in. The first thing that came to mind was that I was going to burn to death. You know how Pinkie tried tasting the rainbow once and found it was way too spicy? Rainbows don’t feel as pretty as they look in the sky, the rainbow workers have to be very careful up there. I scrambled out of the vat as quickly as possible, but I still burned. When I washed myself off in the cloud water, my mane remained rainbow. My body was still burned pretty badly though. It hurt for the next couple of days. I decided then that I needed to change my name. My name had been Dew Drop. DEW DROP! That didn’t fit me. It wasn’t a Wonderbolt worthy name. So I changed it to Rainbow Dash. That was a fast sounding name.

That’s why my mane is Rainbow colored.”

Applejack lay there, astonished. Dash had originally not had her trademark mane; as a matter of fact, she was originally not even “Dash”! That was astounding.

“So, uh, what happened next?”

“The guys that had always made fun of me found it hilarious. I then challenged them to a race. That was the race that made us all get our cutie marks. After the race, I just left the Flight Academy. I had confided all this in Gilda. She wasn’t the jerk that you had seen. I don’t know what had gotten into her. I couldn’t go back home. My parents would kill me. So I did the only thing I could do, I left for the first town I could find. That town was Ponyville. Instantly I came across Pinkie Pie. Well, I should say she came across me. I was walking along, and BAM there’s Pinkie, right in front of me. She gave me the whole “you’re new” spiel and introduced me to her. I was quick to ask if I could stay with her. She let me stay with her and the Cakes until I was old enough to become a weatherpony. Then I started making my own money and was soon able to get my own house. Then, as you very well know, one day Pinkie introduced me to you.
And that’s how it all happened.”

Applejack tried to take in all that info. Rainbow Dash had left her parents, gotten burned dying her hair, changed her name, caused the cutie marks, left the academy and come to live with Pinkie until she got back on her feet? Somehow the dye had permanently stayed in her hair too? It must have been some of the magic in the rainbow. She knew there was magic in Rainbow Dash. But this was absolutely mind blowing. This was something that she hadn’t ever bothered to tell any of her best friends. Evidently she was the only other pony that knew the full story. Well, Pinkie might have figured out in the course of Rainbow Dash living there, but how had Rainbow never told anypony?

“Rainbow Dash, how come ye’ve never told anypony ‘bout this?”

“I was embarrassed. Then everypony would know that I’m not really the one and only Rainbow Dash. I’m a white maned Dew Drop.”

“Rainbow, you’re not Dew Drop anymore. You’re truly Rainbow Dash inside. You aren’t meant to be a business pony named Dew Drop. You’re a Wonderbolt named Rainbow Dash. It’s what you do that makes ya who ya are, not some name and your fancy-pancy parents’ plan. If it’s any matter, ah like ya as what ye’ve made yerself to be. You’re the one and only Rainbow Dash. You’re MAH one and only Rainbow Dash.”

“You think so? I mean, I suppose you’re right. I can forget that pony Dew Drop. I’m Rainbow Dash, and nothing can change that.”

Rainbow Dash smiled a triumphant smile.

“It’s been something that’s been killing me. I’ve drove myself nuts sometimes wondering who I am. I wondered if I should have become a businesspony named Dew Drop. Thanks, Applejack. You’ve put that to rest.”

“No problem. Now, ah suppose we should get back to the orchard for lunch.”

“Yeah, but what are we going to tell Big Mac, Granny Smith and Applebloom?”

“Ah suppose we’ll have to tell them at some point. We can’t keep that kind of thing hushed among family. It jus’ don’t work.”

“When do ya wanna tell ‘em?”

“Ah don’t believe in keepin’ secrets, you know that.”

“Yep. You’re the Element of Honesty.”

“Ah think we should tell them when we get home.”

“You’re right. Your family should know.”

They got up and headed toward the orchard. As they walked, they kept their bodies close together, occasionally leaning their heads in to briefly nuzzle each other as they walked. Soon enough, the apple trees were in view; they were nearing the house. Rainbow Dash smiled at Applejack.

“You ready?”

“Ah was born ready, pardner.”

They walked to the house and opened the door. They entered, side by side. This was it.

“Big Mac! Granny Smith! Applebloom! We want an audience with y’all!”

Big Mac appeared from the kitchen, lunch in progress, and Granny Smith soon followed. Applebloom walked in from behind them. They all sat on the couch, across from where Applejack and Rainbow Dash were standing. Applejack and Rainbow Dash steeled themselves.

“Big Mac, Granny Smith, Applebloom, we have somethin’ to say to ya.”

"Well, what is it?" Granny Smith asked.

"Yeah, tell us," said Applebloom.

"Eeyup," contributed Big Mac.

"Well, we don't want ya t'freak out, ya hear? Whatever we tell ya, promise us ya won't freak out."

"Jus' tell us already," said Applebloom.

Applejack looked at Rainbow Dash for some support. Support came, but not the way she had expected. What she expected was a comforting smile, perhaps a nod. What she got was Rainbow Dash quickly leaning in and kissing her, leaving no doubt as to what the news was. With their eyes closed they heard an audible gasp coming from Applebloom, but Big Mac and Granny Smith stayed silent. They soon broke apart and faced the spectators on the couch.

"Yeah, uh, Rainbow Dash and ah are, uh well, marefriend and marefriend now."

"Yep," said Rainbow Dash, biting back the "and there's not much you can do about it" remark she wanted to make. She had to be respectful of Applejack's family.

Granny Smith smiled. "It's about time you understood my rollercoaster story."

"It took me a bit, but ah got it. So ah take it you're alright with it?"

"Of course."

"How about you, Big Mac? You alright with it?"

"Eeyup. Ah'm happy as long as mah little sister is happy."

"Well, thank ya, Big Mac. How about you, Applebloom?"

"Ah had actually thought about you once or twice on Hearts and Hooves day, but we were too focused on gettin' Miss Cheerilee a special somepony, and keepin' her away from that special somepony, that we didn't really think about you. Ah mean, you goin' out with Rainbow Dash is a little unexpected, but ah think ah like it."

"Awesome! Now when's lunch?"

They all laughed, too well knowing Rainbow Dash's big stomach and its tendency to take over.

"Are you gettin' lunch ready, Big Mac?"

"Eeyup."

They all got up from the couch and went to what they had been doing before. Big Mac and Granny Smith went back to the kitchen and Applebloom went back to reading about cutie marks. Rainbow Dash smiled triumphantly at Applejack. Mission: Tell the Family was a success. They shared a kiss, and then got ready for lunch. Applejack and Rainbow Dash sat close to each other at the table, occasionally nuzzling each other.

For lunch they had some apple pancakes, something of which Rainbow Dash didn’t need to learn the name. She had had pancakes many times in her life; it wasn’t something alien when apples were added. The pancakes were delicious. How Big Mac managed to make such awesome food, she would never know. Big Mac cooked better than anypony she had ever met.

During lunch, there had fortunately been no awkward moments, as the Apple family was a fine and accepting family.
After lunch, they all cleared the table together. Applejack and Rainbow Dash started talking to each other.

“Twilight already knows that we’re going out, so we don’t need to tell her.”

“You’re right. Pinkie knew that I was going to tell you, but she doesn’t know how it’s ended up. Rarity knows I was telling somepony that I loved them, but she doesn’t know it was you. Fluttershy doesn’t know anything. I haven’t bothered to tell her. Sooooo we should probably go solve all of those friend related problems soon.”

“We do have a lot of time left in the day, we could go and tell ‘em all right now, ah suppose.”

“Hmm, maybe we should. I don’t really like keeping a whole lot of secrets from my friends either.”

“Ya think we should go?”

“Yeah, let’s do it.”

They both got up from the couch on which they had been sitting, and got ready to go out and tell their friends.

They were ready.

Connection

They thought for a while, debating on how they should do it. Should they get all of their friends in a group, perhaps even Twilight, and spring the news to everyone once, rather than painstakingly going around and telling the news, and seeing each individual reaction? On the former option, it was convenient, killing three birds with one stone. On the other hand, they'd have to set up a time. That wouldn't be too hard. They could just go around and tell everyone to go to the orchard. That was probably the best. The other option of telling the rest of the 6 door-to-door didn't really have any perks over getting the group together. It didn't really have many perks at all, when they thought about it. It was just an option that had come to their heads.

Applejack grabbed her Stetson and Rainbow Dash followed her out the door. The more time went on, Rainbow Dash thought less and less about her cast and her temporarily useless wings. Her wings had been out of order for two weeks now, and already she had gotten over the temporary loss of her them. Sure, it'd be five and a half months until she regained her wings, but Applejack had filled that temporary void. It wasn't that she was thinking of Applejack as a replacement for her wings, it was just that fate had decided she should fall for Applejack right after she lost them, something about which she deeply cared.

They walked through the orchard, the warm spring sun high overhead. Their hooves made small clopping noises as they made impact against the dirt of the orchard at Sweet Apple Acres. Rainbow Dash looked over at Applejack. The warm spring breeze was making Applejack's mane flutter a little in the wind. It was beautiful.

They kept walking as Ponyville's heart came into view. They looked around, but it was lunch time, so not many ponies were walking about. They kept close together, only too eager now for each other’s company. They had talked before they left about whom to go to first. To Rarity’s place it was, since she was the closest.

They walked through town until they reached Rarity’s house. Rainbow Dash raised a hoof and knocked. Rarity opened her door soon after, looking as “fabulous” as ever.

“Oh hello, Rainbow, hello, Applejack, what brings you two here?”

“Oh, we’re rounding up the gang. We have some news to tell everypony. It’s gonna be awesome!”

“Oh, well if that’s the case, is everypony convening someplace that I might like to be?”

“Just come right down to mah house. We’ll all be down there.”

“Oh, by the way, is there a specific time we will all be meeting?”

“You could head down there now; we’re just gettin’ everypony down there.”

“Oh, how wonderful, I must make myself presentable.”

“Rarity, ya look fine. Ya look the same way ya always do.”

“Oh, that’s not true. I’m simply disheveled. I must get ready.”

Rarity then closed her door, leaving the two marefriends looking quizzically at each other. They both shrugged it off and headed to Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie would probably just have to be dealt with straight-forward. They’d knock on the door and tell Pinkie to head down to the orchard to await news. They all knew too well what would happen if they didn’t get their point across quickly enough. She would go into Super Hyper Pinkie mode with unrealistic rambling and bouncing action. They didn’t want that. Nopony wanted that, save for Pinkie, of course.

They approached Sugarcube Corner. They didn’t even knock when they reached the door. They didn’t have to knock.

The door flung open to reveal a certain pink pony.

“Hey, guys!”

“Hey Pinkie. Look, we need you to go down to Applejack’s house in the orchard. We have something we need to tell you.”

“Ooh, what is it? I’m excited because when my friends have news it’s normally good news and when it’s good news that means my friends are happy and when my friends are happy I’m happy and I love being happy-“

She was cut off as Rainbow placed a hoof upon Pinkie’s mouth.

“Just get down to the orchard, Pinkie.”

“Okie Dokie Lokie,” said Pinkie, muffled because of Rainbow’s hoof.

Pinkie then proceeded to bounce off towards the orchard. Rainbow Dash and Applejack looked at each other and gave a sigh of relief, having dodged a bullet that time. Pinkie could have gone on, they knew full well.

The next was going to be the easiest. Twilight’s was the next place, and Twilight already knew.

They reached the library quickly, and Rainbow Dash knocked.

The door opened.

“Oh, hello, how are you two?”

“Jus’ fine, Twilight. Like peas and carrots, I’d say.”

“That’s good.”

“Yeah, I guess. Anyway, we want you to get down to the orchard; we’re telling everypony the news.”

“Oh, that’s great! I have to reorganize the books, though.”

“You can reorganize later, just get your plot down there, egghead!”

“Alright, I’ll have to work extra hard when I get back, there’s much to do.”

Twilight walked out of the library, magically closing the door behind her.

“Wow, I’m surprised we managed to get her away from her work so easily,” Rainbow remarked when Twilight was out of earshot.

“Well, that must be because of the “excess awesome” of the one an’ only Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow laughed and gave Applejack a peck on the cheek before leaving to go find Fluttershy. She was probably at her house caring for the animals and all that. They headed to her place, knocked, and sure enough, Fluttershy opened the door.

“Oh, hello.”

“Hey, Fluttershy, are ya busy?”

“Oh, no, Angel is playing with her friends and all the other animals are just fine.”

“Great, you see, we have some news that we’re sharing with the entire group and we’re all going down to Applejack’s house.”

“Oh, that’s very nice. When are we heading down there?”

“Right now, if ya can manage. We want ta tell everypony as soon as possible.”

“Oh, okay. I will be right down there.”

Fluttershy fluttered out of her house, closed the door and headed down to the orchard.

Rainbow Dash started toward the orchard, but Applejack stood there.

“Applejack, what’s up?”

“Rainbow Dash, ah just don’t know.”

“You don’t know what?”

“Ah’m afraid, ah mean, what will everypony think?”

“Applejack, why is this getting to you just now? You were fine telling your family.”

“Well, that’s mah family. Plus, you were the one that kissed me.”

“Applejack, you can do this. You know that the group is kind of a second family for us; it’s more of a first family to me, obviously.”

“Ah don’t know. What if they don’t agree? Ah mean, Rarity in particular. She’s all fancy-pantsy high class, ya know?”

“If she was truly and completely like that, she’d have left us long ago to go pursue a career in Canterlot. She’s fully capable. Now let’s go.”

Rainbow Dash started walking toward the orchard. Of what was Applejack so afraid?

She quickly realized that Applejack wasn’t by her side. She looked back. Applejack wasn’t there. She ran back and looked around. She couldn’t find her. Applejack had run. Plus, she couldn’t do a flyover to see where she had gone either. Her wings were in a cast…They would be for the next 5 months and two weeks… Awesome.

She ran quickly to Applejack’s house. Predictably, everypony in the six but Applejack were there.

“What ever is wrong, Rainbow Dash, darling?”

“Yeah! What’s wrong? Did Applejack eat a bad cupcake or something? I remember the time she MADE really bad cupcakes and it made everypony sick and that wasn’t good-“

“Alright, guys, Applejack is gone. We need to find her,” said Rainbow Dash. “This news is important and she needs to be here. Now, you guys spread out and try to find her. I’ll stay here, just in case she comes back.”

They all agreed and they all spread out. Rainbow Dash paced by the house, waiting. Applejack had run, even after Rainbow Dash had talked to her. What was evident was that Applejack was afraid of rejection. But maybe that wasn't the case. Was she afraid of something else? What was it? Was it something other than fear? What was she trying to say, if anything? Applejack wasn't one to run from her problems, so this was an oddity.

Some time passed, but Applejack didn’t show up. The rest of the group came back, all of them but Applejack. They had all scoured Ponyville, but none of them could find her. Even Pinkie Pie, who sometimes seemed omnipresent, couldn't find her. It was up to her, Rainbow Dash, to try and figure out where she might be. She tried to think of where Applejack might have gone. It’s not like she could fly to Cloudsdale, and she wasn’t really likely to go to another town. How could four ponies not find her? Ponyville wasn’t very big. Where could she-

Boom. The answer hit her like a train.

“Everypony, I know where she is!”

“You do?”

“Ooh, c’mon, tell us tell us tell us!”

“Spit it out already!”

Rainbow Dash took a breath. “Follow me.”

“To where, do I ask?”

“Just c’mon,” Rainbow said. Rainbow walked in the direction of the secret meadow. That’s why they hadn’t found her. She was at a place about which only Applejack and Rainbow Dash knew. Maybe she hadn't run off in fear. She wanted that to be the location. She had wanted Rainbow to come and find her. Applejack really was smart.

Rainbow Dash found the meadow, and with it, Applejack beneath the tree. Applejack smiled when she saw Rainbow. Rainbow smiled back. Rainbow Dash walked up and stood by her.

"So, how'd you know she was here, in this secluded meadow?" Twilight asked.

"Do tell us, I'm positively dying to know," Rarity chimed in.

"Well, the thing is..."

"What is it?" Fluttershy asked.

"Ooh, tell us tell us tell us!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

"You see..."

"Do share," Rarity urged Rainbow.

"Well..."

"This is where Rainbow first kissed me."

The ponies were confused, save for Twilight.

"What? Nonono, that can't be right. You're a mare," noted Rarity.

"Yeah, what of it? You think there's anything wrong with being in love with a mare?"

"Well, no, it's just very unexpected and sort of unbelievable."

To prove and punctuate the point, Rainbow Dash and Applejack turned to each other and pressed their lips together. That way there was no doubt as to whether they were just messing with their friends.

Twilight smiled, having known this ahead of time and not being surprised by it.

Pinkie jumped up and yelled, "YAY! Oh, I knew it would go well! I should go and bake some cupcakes and we should have a party!" Pinkie Pie promptly rushed off to go do so.

Rarity looked surprised. "So Applejack is the pony with whom you're in love? I hadn't expected it would be a mare, Rainbow, but I am quite pleased! I could sew matching dresses for the two of you. Oh, the possibilities are endless, and all of them are simply fabulous!"

"Oh, congratulations," remarked Fluttershy softly. "I hadn't known, but I'm very happy for you two."
Rainbow and Applejack beamed next to each other.

"So, you ran for this reason?" Rainbow asked.

"Yep. Ah knew you would find me. Ah wanted to do somethin' special. Somethin' that would show the connection between us."

"Awesome."

They leaned their heads toward each other, but before their faces met, Pinkie popped up in between their faces with various party accessories.

"Party at Applejack's place!"

They all laughed and started walking towards Applejack's house to celebrate a beautiful new love.

Anticipation

The party was a merry one. All of the ponies were happy, especially Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Pinkie sure knew how to throw a party. Pinkie even brought Gummy. Gummy was the life of the party, that's for sure..

Rarity had been conversing with Applejack and Rainbow Dash about their upcoming dresses.

"Just make it cool."

"You said that last time. What color would you like?"

"I don't care, just make it look cool."

"What are your ideas for the shape, then?"

"I don't really care, just make it cool!" Rainbow Dash paused. "Buuut…It needs to be about 20% cooler than the last one."

Rarity sighed in exasperation, and then turned to Applejack.

"Any ideas?"

"Um, ah don't know, just make it.... cool," Applejack joked.

"Well, in that case, you two are taking the dresses you're getting," Rarity joked back.

"Sounds good to me," Rainbow Dash remarked.

The party ended soon thereafter, and the four guest ponies went back to their respective homes. Big Mac walked into the kitchen and started cooking dinner. Applejack smiled at Rainbow and vice versa. It was a success; everypony was acceptant of their new romance. Granted, the rest of Ponyville might deliver unto them scornful looks and unhappy mumbling, but it was really just the group that mattered.

Soon enough, dinner was ready. They all convened at the table and took to eating.

“Big Mac, how do you get so good at cooking?’

“Ah do it all the time.”

“Well, it pays off. Your cooking is awesome!”

“Thank you, kindly.”

They ate in silence until dinner was over and then cleared their plates. By that time, it was about time to go to bed, and Rainbow was tired. She went to her bed, and wasn’t expecting Applejack to come in behind her.

“Wait, you sleep on the couch, remember?”

“Well, yeah, but ah was thinkin’ maybe ah could get mah bed back.”

“And have me sleep on the couch?”

“Nope. Rainbow Dash, ah want to be in your company as much as ah can. Ah think that would be a rule in the “couples’ handbook” if they had one, I reckun.”

“Awesome.”

Rainbow pressed her mouth hard against Applejack’s, taking her by surprise. However, Applejack soon gained her senses and kissed back. They didn’t do anything further with it, they just kissed. That was, until Big Mac walked in.

“Woah, howdy there, you two.”

They quickly broke apart.

“Hey, Big Mac, what’re you doin’ here?” Rainbow asked, an intense blush appearing on her face.

“Ah was just checkin’ to see if mah sister was in here. You weren’t on the couch, so ah came to see.”

“Well, ah’m here,” said Applejack, the same red appearing on her freckled face. To Rainbow Dash it was cute.

“Well, uh, ah’m gonna go now…”

“You do that,” Applejack replied.

Big Mac walked out of the room, his blush hidden by the color of his coat, thank Celestia.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash turned toward each other, both wearing the same embarrassed, sheepish grin.

“Well, that was something,” remarked Rainbow Dash.

“Yeah, ah suppose,” Applejack replied.

“You look cute like that.”

“Well, thanks Rainbow.”

Rainbow Dash took the moment to lightly kiss the abashed-looking Applejack.

“Now, I’m tired. Let’s go to bed.”

Rainbow hopped into bed and held the sheets open for Applejack to come in. Applejack obliged, getting into bed next to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow put the covers around them and wrapped her hooves around Applejack.

“You’re beautiful, Applejack.”

She said no words, but replied with a soft kiss.

“Good night, Applejack.”

“Good night, Rainbow Dash.”

They fell asleep in each other’s arms.

* * *

Rainbow woke up to Applejack’s mouth against hers.

“Mornin’ sleepyhead,” said Applejack softly.

“Mornin,” Rainbow replied.

They got up from bed and walked to the table, where breakfast was already being served. They grabbed a plateful of food and sat down.

“Why didn’t y’all wake us?” Applejack inquired.

“Well, ah was gonna, but I opened the door and you two looked peaceful, happy,” replied Big Macintosh.

“Oh, well thanks, we appreciate it,” Applejack stated.

“Yeah, that’s pretty awesome that you did that,” Rainbow Dash added.

They ate their food, Big Mac, Granny Smith and Applebloom already finished.

Applebloom took that moment to pose a question.

“So, Rainbow, have ya told yer parents yet?”

Rainbow Dash choked on her food, coughing until Applejack lifted a hoof and smacked her on the back, the food projecting onto her plate.

“No, I haven’t.”

“When are ya going to?”

“I’m not.”

“Why not?”

“It’s a long story, kiddo.”

“Rainbow, they’re yer parents, you need to tell them.”

“Applebloom, my parents sucked.”

“That’s not a very nice thing to say about yer parents!”

“It doesn’t matter if it’s nice. It matters that it’s true.”

“It’s not true! Yer parents raised you and loved you to be what you are now!”

“That’s crap. You didn’t know my parents. They had no contributing factors in who I am now. They tried to make me be the opposite of who I am now.”

“Ah don’t care, you should still tell them.”

“How am I even supposed to get to Cloudsdale? I have no wings!”

“Ah don’t know, you just need to tell yer parents.”

Rainbow Dash shut up and continued eating, realizing that although she wouldn’t change her mind, neither would Applebloom.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash finished eating shortly afterward and they all cleared the table.

The two were sitting on the couch next to each other after, when Applejack raised a point.

“Ya know, Rainbow, maybe ya should tell yer parents. Ah mean, they are yer parents.”

“Well, how am I supposed to get up to Cloudsdale?”

“Maybe ya could get Twilight to ask Celestia for one of them fancy balloons she flew in on.”

“Even then, I can’t use my wings and can’t walk on clouds properly. You couldn’t, either.”

“Well, we all went up there that one time for the Best Young Fliers competition and Twilight put some kinda spell on us or somethin’.”

“Maybe you’re right, but why should my parents know? They’ve probably forgotten about me at this point!”

“If they gave as much effort into tryin’ to make you a businesspony as you say they did, they probably think about ya more than ya know.”

Rainbow sighed. “Maybe you’re right. They’re probably still living in the same ho-hum house, too.”

“Well, in that case, we should go see Twilight.”

“Ugh, I suppose so.”

They left for Twilight’s house side by side. Rainbow’s feeling of anticipation grew more and more as she thought about her parents and what they would think. Of course, she didn’t need her parents’ acceptance. Their parents didn’t accept who she wanted to be as a filly, they probably wouldn’t accept who she was now.

Soon enough, they were knocking on Twilight’s door.

“Hey, you two, what brings you here?” Twilight asked when she opened the door.

“Well, we need to get to Cloudsdale.”

“Why are you going there?”

“Well, I need to tell my parents…About this. We were thinking that maybe you could ask Princess Celestia for one of those balloons you came into Ponyville on. And maybe you could put that cloudwalking spell on us, because obviously my wings aren’t working properly.”

“I think I can make that happen. But Rainbow, I’ve never seen or even heard a word about your parents.”

“Well, it’s a long story.”

“I can send a letter via postal service to the Princess—because Spike is gone—and you can tell me while we’re waiting for the balloon.”

“I suppose. First, write that letter.”

Twilight grabbed a quill and some parchment and started to write. Rainbow looked at Applejack nervously, apprehensive as to the entire “telling her parents” thing.

“And… there,” said Twilight when she was done writing the letter. “I can go down to the post office to deliver this, and you can stay here if you’d like.”

“Yeah, ah guess we’ll stay here, if ya don’t mind us in yer place while yer away and all.”

“Alright, I’ll be right back!”

Twilight walked out, magically closing the door behind her. Applejack looked at Rainbow Dash and smiled.

“Rainbow, even if yer parents don’t like ya bein’ with me, ya don’t have to take what they say personally. If what ya said is true, yer parents probably won’t like it. But Rainbow, ah’m bein’ honest when ah say ah want ta be with ya. Ya knew goin’ into this that many ponies wouldn’t like it. “

“I suppose you’re right, but they’re my parents.”

“Rainbow, if ya ran from home, why are ya worryin’ about it now?”

“I don’t know what I’m nervous about, really. I should stop worrying about it.”

“That’s the spirit.”

* * *

Twilight reached the post office shortly after she left, watching the pegasus ponies fly in and out of the building. She walked in and was immediately greeted by a certain bumbling, muffin-loving mailpony

“Hiya, Twilight!”

“Hey there, Derpy. Listen, I need you to deliver a special letter to the Princess.”

“The Princess? That sounds exciting!”

“It is, Derpy, and I trust you to bring it to her.”

“Oh, thank you, thank you, Twilight!”

“No problem,” Twilight said, giving the letter to Derpy. “Right to the Princess, okay, Derpy?”

“Okay, Twilight!”

Derpy put the letter in her bag and flew clumsily out the door, hitting a wall once on her way. Derpy may be clumsy, but she could be counted on when it came to mail.

Soon enough, Twilight walked out of the post office. She was once more on her way back to the library.

She reached the library and opened the door. Her jaw dropped in surprise.

Rainbow had Applejack backed against the wall and they were kissing.

She cleared her throat and the two broke off and their heads snapped towards Twilight, both faces turning a brilliant shade of Big Mac red. They moved apart and put their forelegs on the floor, abashedly looking at the floor.

“Well, anyway, I sent the letter to the Princess…”

“That’s cool.”

“Now, Rainbow,” said Twilight, trying to ease the tension, “what about your parents?”

“Well, you see, the thing is…”

* * *

“…And that’s how I came to live in Ponyville.”

“Wow, Rainbow, that’s quite a story.”

“Well, it’s true. And that’s why my parents won’t know until I get up to Cloudsdale.”

Just then, there was a harsh rapping on the door.

Twilight walked to the door and opened it to see the Princess’ guards at the door.

“We have come to pick up your friends as you have so requested, Ms. Sparkle.”

Twilight stood back up and motioned for her friends. Applejack and Rainbow Dash walked out the door to see a hot air balloon waiting for them.

“Wait, what about the cloudwalker spell?”

“Oh, yeah, sorry about that.”

Twilight closed her eyes and focused. Soon enough, her horn was covered in an ethereal purple light, and then encased Applejack and Rainbow. Soon enough, the light vanished, and the spell was complete. The two then proceeded to step into the balloon and head to Cloudsdale.

* * *

They touched down in Cloudsdale not long after. It made Rainbow Dash happy to be in Cloudsdale again, but she couldn’t stay. The cloudwalker spell didn’t last forever. But even if it did, she would be content to stay with Applejack.

“So, Rainbow, where’s yer parents’ house?”

“Right now, I just want to walk around Cloudsdale. It’s been a while.”

“Alrighty, so where do ya want ta go first?”

“I don’t know. Let’s just walk around.”

They walked about Cloudsdale for not long until a white colt with a mane of alternating cyan and black walked up to them.

“Hey, Dash?! I haven’t seen you in a while!”

It was Rainbow’s old friend from Flight School, Midnight Whisper.

“Hey, Midnight, what’s up?”

“Oh, not much, just normal stuff I guess. So, what’s up with the cast?”

“Oh, I broke my wings a couple weeks ago. It really sucks, because now I still have over 5 months until I can fly. Totally lame.”

“You’re right, that does kinda suck. So, um, who’s your friend?”

“Oh, this is Applejack,” said Rainbow Dash, Applejack tipping her hat. “She’s my, uh, well, she’s my…” Rainbow dropped her voice. “She’s my marefriend.”

“Oh, um, hi, I guess, um, it’s nice to meet you…”

Applejack held out her hoof for Midnight to shake, and Midnight took it sheepishly. Applejack started shaking vigorously, shaking Midnight’s entire self up and down.

“Applejack…”

“Oh, yeah, pardon me.”

She let go and Midnight took a moment to get oriented before replying.

“It’s alright. I guess.But yeah, it’s just kind of a shock, because, and I don’t know if you knew this, Rainbow, but in Flight School I had the biggest crush on you…”

Midnight said this shyly, because Rainbow knew that Midnight was a shy pony around ponies he didn’t know, although he was fine once you got to know him.

“Yeah, I think I was catching on to that. Anyway, how’d you know I’m called Rainbow Dash now? And that I have different hair?”

“Gilda told me after you left. When I saw you, I had to double check to see if it was really you. Plus, you made quite a splash at the Best Young Fliers Competition.”

“Hehe, yeah, I suppose I did.”

“Anyway, I don’t wanna sound pompous, but I guess I’ve moved on from my little… crush on you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well… don’t tell anypony, but I’ve got this massive crush on that upcoming DJ P0N-3, you know, Vinyl Scratch.”

“Awesome. She’s a great musician.”

“Yeah, the best! Maybe sometime I could go to a concert, maybe even getting backstage passes to meet her.”

You could tell he was getting excited talking about Vinyl when he started to blush just thinking about it.

“Ha, well, good luck with that. Right now I have to go find my parents.”

“Alright, I’ll see you later, Dash.”

They walked off to go find the house. Rainbow Dash knew exactly where to go. They soon reached the house.

Rainbow reached a hoof and knocked.

The door opened.

“Dew Drop?”

Confrontation

“Hey mom, hey dad.”

Her parents stood there at the door. They were both wearing fancy business suits, presumably leaving for work soon.

“Dew, we’ve missed you so much!”

Her mother cried out and flung herself around Rainbow.

“Mom, I’m not sure if you know this, but I’m Not Dew Drop anymore, I’m Rainbow Dash now.”

Then her father chose to speak.

“Even if you’ve changed appearance, you’ll always be our Dew Drop.”

“No, dad. I’m not Dew Drop, I never was Dew Drop.”

“Oh, Dew, honey, don’t be irrational,” her mother countered.

“No, you don’t be irrational! You tried to make me who I wasn’t!”

“Nonsense, Dew, we were trying to help you be successful!”

“Mom, I was trying to be who I wanted to be! And I’m doing just fine! I won the Best Young Fliers Competition! I pulled off the Sonic Rainboom, mom. Lots of ponies think that’s only legend. I would stink being a businesspony and you know it.”

“Dew, you’d have been great had you listened!”

“No, mom, I won’t ever be a businesspony!”

“Dew, please just consider!”

“Mom, when I left home and dyed my mane, I don’t regret a moment of it.”

“Dew, please, we tried hard to make you a good, hardworking businesspony.”

“Mom, you didn’t listen to me the million times I said I didn’t want to be one!”

“You were acting impulsively! You never gave it thought!”

“I gave it more thought than you did!”

“Dew, we wanted you to follow in our footsteps! We are respected ponies!”

“I don’t want to follow in your footsteps. Your footsteps are some of the most boring footsteps to follow!”

“You don’t understand, Dew!”

“I understand more than you do!””

“Dew, you’re being belligerent. Please don’t do this to us.”

“Look, mom, the reason I came here wasn’t to argue with you. I need to tell you something. You and dad.”

Her father, who had been awkwardly standing off to the side, rejoined his wife and asked, “What is it, Dew?”

“You’re probably wondering who this is,” Rainbow asked, referring to Applejack.

“Well, get on with it, Dew.”

Yes, get on with it!

YES! GET ON WITH IT!

“Her name’s Applejack. I met her after I left. I found Ponyville and met a pony named Pinkie Pie who then introduced me to her. Applejack’s one of the best ponies I’ve ever met, and, well…”

“What is it, Dew?”

Rainbow searched for the words. She thought for a moment. No words came to her, but something else did.
She instantly leaned her head and pressed her mouth hard against Applejack’s and held it there. Applejack was surprised, but didn’t pull away. Rainbow Dash turned her body, determined to show her parents that she was who she was.
Her parents looked in shock as she continued kissing this mare that they had never met, right out in public to top it off.
However, Rainbow had gotten caught in the moment and wasn’t relenting. She had forgotten that she was in front of her parents. She had forgotten that she was still outside in public up at Cloudsdale. She had forgotten mostly everything except for her lips dancing in sync with Applejack’s.

“Dew!”

Rainbow had her forelegs wrapped around Applejack at that point and she looked over at her parents, surprised at how into it she had gotten.

“Stop it, Dew. We get that you’re trying to live on the edge and do what you’re doing for the shock factor, but you can stop it!”

“Mom… I’m sorry about that, I forgot where I was. I really am in love with Applejack. It’s something that was brewing ever since I broke my wings. Yep, I broke them, in case you didn’t notice.”

“Oh, Dew, I’m terribly sorry to hear about such an accident!”

“I appreciate the sentiment, mom. But I realize that what I did might have looked like me being all defiant just to P-O you guys, but it wasn’t. I got caught up in the moment. I’m in love ma, and I’m in love with a mare!”

“Oh, Dew, please don’t do this to us. Don’t tell us you’ve come back to rub this in our faces.”

“Mom, I apologize. I’m not trying to rub it in your faces. I’m just here to tell you the news. Applejack and I started going out recently and I thought I should let you know. The way I’ve been telling you made me look like a jerk, I know. Please accept me for who I am, mom, dad, not for who you want me to be. That’s all I ask.”

“Dew… I think we can do that, right, honey?”

“Of course,” replied the father, who hadn’t spoken much.

“Oh, and guys, I’m Rainbow Dash, now.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, but I guess to us you’ll always be Dew, but we’ll try…Rainbow Dash.”

“Thanks mom, thanks dad. I didn’t think you would like it.”

“Dew… I mean, Rainbow, we just want you back.”

“Well, the thing is, mum, my wings are broken. The only reason we’re both up here is because of a temporary cloudwalker spell that a friend cast on us. I, we, can’t stay up here. My wings are broken for the next couple months.”

“Oh, I see, Rainbow.”

“Mom, Dad… I think… I think I still love you guys.”

“Oh, Dew!”

Her mother flung herself once more around Rainbow, and as an additional surprise, so did her father. Rainbow looked at Applejack and smiled. She had achieved the impossible. She had survived the confrontation, even turning it into a positive outlook.

“Uh, mom, dad, you can let go now. And I’m still Rainbow.”

Her parents stood back up next to her.

“Oh, yes, of course, Dew, I mean, Rainbow. You need your space.”

“Mom, Dad, I’ll try and visit.”

“Thank you, Rainbow. And thank you, Applejack, for capturing our Rainbow’s heart.”

Applejack, who hadn’t said anything yet, replied,”It wasn’t intentional, but ah’m glad ah did.”

“She’s a country mare. I’m staying at her place for the next couple months.”

“Oh, how wonderful!”

“Yeah, it is, ah reckun.”

“Do treat our beloved Rainbow well, you hear?”Rainbow’s dad commented.

“Don’t worry dad, if anyone would treat anypony well, it’s Applejack. She’s one of the most amazing ponies I’ve ever met.”

“Well, shucks, Rainbow, ya don’t have ta say that,” Applejack said modestly.

“It’s still true.”

With that, Rainbow leaned in and planted a soft kiss against Applejack’s own lips and held them there tenderly for a moment, before breaking.

“Hey, mom, dad, can I come in for a moment? I just want to come and check it out for a moment, check out my old room and stuff. Of course, I have my own house in Cloudsdale, but I want to check this place out again.”

“Of course, Rainbow. Forgive us, we are sorry we didn’t invite you in, and we have to get to work. Do forgive us.”

“Just go to work guys, I forgive you. Now if you don’t go, you’ll be late.”

“Thank you, Rainbow. We’re very glad you came to see us. It’s amazing that we get to see our own daughter away. Of course, word got out that you had run away, so we knew nothing bad had happened to you, but we were still worried.”

“Get going, guys. You’ll be late.”

“We’ll see you at another time, Rainbow!”

Her parents then flew off toward their work, and Rainbow led Applejack inside. Rainbow instinctively headed to her room. When she got inside, she smiled and her eyes watered at the brim.

They had kept her room exactly the way it had been when Rainbow had left as a filly. Even her Wonderbolt’s costume was still in a heap on her bed.

“Ah guess yer parents did really care about ya.”

“Yeah, I guess they did. They just didn’t realize any of my wants and needs. Well, this is where I spent the first good while of my life.”

“That was real nice of ya to forgive yer parents.”

“I guess part of me was just being young and impulsive. I’m glad that I have a rainbow mane and a different, suitable name, so I don’t regret what I did. But I see all the sides of the argument, now.”

“Ah always knew you had something deeper in ya.”

“You sayin’ you didn’t like me on the surface?” Rainbow teased.

“No, that’s not I was sayin’, ah jus—“

“Applejack, calm down, I was just kidding.”

Rainbow then gave a kiss to Applejack to show that she really had just been teasing, and Applejack smiled. Rainbow could be a hassle sometimes, but Rainbow meant well.

“Here are my Wonderbolt goggles, just like I left them. And my bed hasn’t changed one bit.”

She picked up the Wonderbolt costume and set it on the floor, and lay down on her bed. Applejack lay next to her, and Rainbow wrapped her hooves around Applejack.

“Applejack, you’re amazing.”

Before Applejack could answer, Rainbow pressed her lips against Applejack’s. Applejack was ready this time, and was instantly reciprocating. Applejack then wrapped her hooves around Rainbow in return. Rainbow deepened the kiss and got more intense, rolling on top of Applejack. Applejack broke off to speak.

“Wait, Rainbow, ah don’t want ta go too fast. We need to pace ourselves.”

“I guess you’re right, Applejack. This is new to me, so this whole “love and kissing” thing is getting to me, I guess. It’s just… every day I want more and more of you. I suppose that’s a thing in this ‘couples handbook’ too.”

Rainbow gave one small kiss to Applejack before getting off. She got up, as did Applejack. Rainbow was content with the nostalgia she had attained, so they left the house. As they walked through town, Rainbow posed a question.

“Applejack, would you like to go on a date with me sometime?”

Applejack answered without hesitation. “Yeah, ah’d love to.”

“The Grand Galloping Gala’s coming up soon. Maybe we could go to that.”

“Yeah, we could ask Twilight to ask for some tickets,” Applejack suggested

“But we didn’t have quite a good time the last time we went,” Rainbow pointed out.

“That’s alright; we’ll have each other this time, not our own little reasons.”

“You’re right. Anyway, we should get back to that balloon.”

“Yeah, we wouldn’t want to fall right through the clouds.”

They headed off toward where they landed in Cloudsdale and surely enough, there waiting was the balloon that had taken them there, two guards protecting it. As always, they had non-changing stone faces.

They walked into the balloon, smiling at each other. It was time to head back to Ponyville, however nice their short little while in Cloudsdale was. Ponyville was their true home, and they had ponies waiting for them to return, ponies who didn’t know that they were in Cloudsdale, even. So they nodded to the guards, who then got the balloon going, and they watched as the beautiful Equestrian scenery passed. They never had really appreciated how beautiful Equestria was. It was something new to them. Like love.

They reached Ponyville and hopped out of the balloon, Twilight smiling at them as they landed in front of the library.

“How’d it go?”

“It went awesome! Turns out my parents had their own side of the little argument, too. We came to an understanding.”

“Well, that’s great!”

“By the way, Twilight, we’d like to ask you something.”

“Fire away.”

“We’d like to ask if you could ask the Princess for some tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala.”

“Why do you ask?”

“Applejack and I want to go on a date.”

Wings

“A date, you say?” Twilight asked.

‘Yeah, we’ve decided it’s time we go on a date together,” Rainbow explained.

“And you want to go to the Grand Galloping Gala?”

“Yeah, we do. I mean, even though last time was a disaster, this time we’ll have each other, not our own separate desires.”

“Well, you two are in luck. I think I can get that for you. I told the Princess in my letter about you, and she’ll probably want to talk to you.”

“Ah’m sure she will.”

“I’ll need to go to the post office again, Spike’s still not here. And I don’t think he knows anyway.”

“Yeah, I suppose we’ll have to tell him that.”

Just then, a balloon came into view. They could see that it was a Royal balloon because of, perhaps, the Royal guard pegasus ponies flanking the balloon. Then again, it was too nice a balloon to be non-Royal. Then, Spike poked his head out of the balloon’s basket.

“Spike! I wasn’t expecting you here this early!”

“Well, I got done with my stuff early, so I came home as soon as I could!”

The balloon touched down and Spike got out of the basket.

“Hey, Spike, it’s nice to see you back! We’ve been missing ya,” said Rainbow.

“It’s nice to be back, Rainbow. Canterlot’s fun, but it’s got nothin’ on the friends I have in Ponyville.”

“I have that effect on everyone,” Rainbow joked.

“By the way, Spike, did you hear about the news?”

“Whaddaya mean, Rainbow?”

“Well, it’s something that happened while you were gone, Spike.”

“What do you mean?

“Well, it may be a surprise, but Applejack and I are marefriend and marefriend now. That’s right, we’re going out.”

“Woah, I didn’t see that one coming.”

They all laughed.

‘We’ve missed our little mail dragon. We need to get communication with the Princess faster,” said Twilight. “The ponies in our cute little couple here want to go on a date.”

“Yech. Dating is yucky. And why do they need to ask the Princess anyway?”

“The Grand Galloping Gala is coming up in a few days, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right, but what does that have to do with this?”

“Spike, it’s obvious. They want to go to the Gala together.”

“But the last time we went, it was a disaster! I ended up miserably eating doughnut after doughnut at the doughnut bar, and it didn’t sound like you guys had a whole lot of success either.”

“Our night ended up just fine, Spike.”

“If you say so.”

Twilight and Spike then headed into the library and the balloon took off back towards Canterlot. Rainbow and Applejack soon saw a green light flash from the windows of the library, evidence of a letter being sent.

They headed off toward the orchard and nuzzled each other occasionally as they walked. Their record so far was impressive. They had gained pretty much all positive feedback so far. They couldn’t keep that kind of track record for long, though. The Grand Galloping Gala ponies tended to be snooty, high class ponies. They might not sit as well with lesbians as their good friends were. Friends were supposed to be accepting. General society wasn’t always the same way. Society wasn’t always too accepting of something different, something alien. It was just pony nature to be scornful toward something you don’t know. It wasn’t something that ponies tried to do. Nopony tries to be an ignorant, scornful pony. It’s just something that happens as a result of the way society is.

* * *

The next couple days passed slowly, not much happening. The day of the Gala was at hand, early morning before the Gala. Rarity had finished their dresses at that point, and they were at the Boutique checking the dresses out.

“Wow, Rarity, this really is nice.”

“Really? Does it need to be, as you say, cooler?”

“Nah, Rarity, this really is cool!”

“I am very pleased that you enjoy it, Rainbow. How do you like yours, Applejack?”

“Ah think it’s just fine, Rarity, And that’s a good thing.”

Their dresses really were cool and fine. They mixed and contrasted each other in a way that only Rarity could make happen. She really was quite talented in her profession.

“So you two are content with your dresses?”

“Yeah, these dresses are great, Rarity.”

“I am very pleased that you like my dresses. I’ve never put so much thought into one project, I hope you know. And Applejack, I’m afraid to say that your Stetson won’t fit very well with the dress I’ve made.”

“That’s alright, Rarity, we appreciate the sentiment and the dresses.”

“Oh, it was something I had to do, I’m not going to create something that isn’t worthy of a couple that deserves the best!”

“You think we deserve the best?”

“Well, of course I do, darling. You two are the most adorable couple I think I’ve ever seen!”

“That’s always nice to know.”

“Of course, darling. Now you simply must get cleaned up, you two, so I have decided to treat you to a wonderful cleanup at the spa!”

“Oh, uh, that sounds very nice, Rarity.”

“Do come along, darlings.”

Rarity led them out the door and towards the spa. They reached the spa and were instantly greeted by the ponies that knew Rarity.

“My friends here need to get cleaned up for their little ‘date’ tonight at the Gala. I’m treating them, so it’s all on me.”

“Rarity, ya don’t have ta pay fer all of this.”

“Oh, no, darling, it’s my pleasure, really. It’s the least I could do to show how much I absolutely love having you two together!”

“Well, thanks, Rarity, this is great.”

Rarity paid in advance, and, surprise, left. That was surprising because Rarity was never one to give up a chance for a good spa treatment.

The spa ponies led Applejack and Rainbow Dash in and it began.

* * *

They came out feeling like their very skin had been scrubbed raw, but they looked in the mirrors and saw that they nearly sparkled. It was noon, and the Grand Galloping Gala started soon. They were back at Rarity’s, putting on their dresses.

“Oh, do come back with the latest in Canterlot gossip,” Rarity urged.

“Sure, ah guess.”

“Yeah, we’ll see if we can pick something up, I suppose.”

“As an up and coming fashion designer, I need to keep up with the latest of times. I surely can’t become a big fashion name if I’m kept in the dark.”

“Alright, we’ll help you out. I suppose we can make an effort to try and pick something up while we’re there.”

“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“No problem, Rarity. Ah suppose it’s the least we can do to repay ya for all you’ve done fer us.”

“Oh, nonsense, what I’ve done for you was my own pleasure.”

“Alrighty then, I suppose.”

They walked over to the library, where the balloon to Canterlot would be landing to take them. It was a good thing that Twilight was so close with the Princess. Then they could get places more quickly in balloons as opposed to paying for a train. Twilight gave them their tickets and commenced to chat.

“You guys excited for the gala?” Twilight asked.

“You kidding me? This is great,” Rainbow replied excitedly.

“Yeah, we’re real excited for this,” Applejack chimed in.

“I’m not surprised. The Gala’s a big event. Anyway, I may have already told you, but the Princess wants you to talk to her at some point during the night. She wants you to discuss what you’ve learned in person. “

“Alright, we’ll be sure to scope her out at some point.”

“Good, she’s really looking forward to talking with you. The holders of the Elements don’t always become couples, so this is something that Celestia would like to talk about.”

“Ah suppose this is something different. It surely is for us.”

“I’m not surprised.”

“This is weird, I’m not normally this dressed up.”

Twilight laughed at how Rainbow had brought that up so randomly.

“I don’t suppose you are.”

Just then, the balloon came into view above them. It was, as it always is, flanked by the white Royal guards, descending in front of the library. Their magnificent armor reflected the sunlight, casting rays of light around. The balloon landed, the basket setting down softly on the grass. The basket opened up for Rainbow and Applejack, and Twilight wished them luck on their date. Rainbow and Applejack walked in after thanking Twilight. The balloon took to the air, and Rainbow and Applejack watched as the Equestrian landscape passed by. Equestria was a beautiful place. It really was. Rainbow looked over at Applejack. Applejack looked absolutely beautiful. Her freckles were some of the cutest things she had ever seen. Rainbow had never before her broken wings been able to see the little things and appreciate them for what they really were. She thought of a song she had heard by the Ponees.

Blackmare singing in the dead of night

Take these broken wings and learn to fly

All your life, you’ve been only waiting

For this moment to arrive

She felt like she had really taken her broken wings and had used them to fly. Maybe she had been waiting her whole life for this. She realized that maybe it was for the best that she broke her wings.

She took the moment to softly press her lips against Applejack’s and hold them there. She briefly forgot that there was a spinning world around them. She forgot for a moment that they were on a date that they were headed to the Grand Galloping Gala because of Twilight’s connections with the princess. She forgot that anything even existed outside this kiss. She could truly lose herself in Applejack. It was heavenly, and it was even more awesome that being able to make a Royal guard’s head turn. Applejack was truly her utopia.

They broke apart and Applejack smiled, and Rainbow smiled back. The world around the two returned, but it was truly an amazing world. A world with Applejack in it was a good world in which to live and love.

The Gala came into view and some of the dressed up ponies even pointed at the incoming balloon. The balloon landed on a patch of grass and the two stepped out of the basket as other ponies looked at them. Rainbow Dash gave Applejack a quick kiss, eliciting some gasps from the on looking ponies, some even murmuring to other ponies distastefully. Rainbow looked at Applejack and smiled, then held her head high so nopony could get to them.

“Haters gonna hate.”

Applejack laughed at Rainbow Dash’s words and the two presented their tickets to the guards. The guards accepted their tickets and they walked in to the Gala.

Gala

The night started off better than the last Gala they went to. For one, they didn’t split off the moment they got inside. Then again, that wouldn’t really be a date, now, would it? Plus, they had just come to the Gala together, the two of them, so they had the time to spend together, all to themselves. Of course, they needed to talk to Celestia and try and pick up some current bit of gossip in Canterlot, but that was alright.

They walked around for a short time before Spitfire had spotted them and walked up to them. She looked different. She wasn’t wearing her Wonderbolt uniform, for one, and she was all dressed up, something that not many ponies saw.

“Hey, you’re Rainbow Dash, right?”

“The one and only.”

“Cool! I’ve been interested in getting to know you a bit better. I felt bad about the last time because I totally hung ya out to dry, and I know that sucks.”

“Yeah, it was pretty uncool, but I’m over it.”

“Anyway, who’s your friend here?”

“Well, she’s, uh, she’s my marefriend. Her name’s Applejack.”

“Wow, really? Not something I expected of the one and only Rainbow Dash.” Spitfire teased

“Well, it happened, and I couldn’t be happier, honestly.”

“Well, that’s pretty awesome that you have the guts to do that. And come to the Gala on a date with her. A lot of these ponies are some pretty snooty, high-class ponies.”

“Yeah, I noticed. We flew in here on a balloon, and you should have seen the reactions when we landed and I kissed her. The thing is, ya just gotta say ‘Haters gonna hate’ and move on.”

“Well, the good thing is that with the news tonight, you won’t be the only dating gossip at this Gala,” Spitfire casually said, unaware that they didn’t know.

“What do you mean?”

“You didn’t hear?” Spitfire asked incredulously.

“Well, no, we just got here and the only pony we’ve talked to so far is you,” Rainbow admitted.

“Oh, well, listen to this! Princess Luna has a date to the Gala! Everypony’s talking about it; it’s not every day that a Princess gets a date,” Spitfire explained.

“Really? Do you know anything else?” Rainbow inquired interestedly.

“Well, his name’s Innate Joy. That’s all I’ve really heard, to tell you the truth,” Spitfire said.

“Wow, that’s surprising. Well, you’re right. Ponies will be talking about more than just this awesome couple,” Rainbow affirmed.
Rainbow smiled and nuzzled Applejack, who returned the gesture.

“You know, you being with a mare is unexpected, but I think it’s pretty cool. You couldn’t find two ponies that would make a more awesome couple,” remarked Spitfire.

“Well, thank ya kindly,” Applejack said.

“By the way, Rainbow, you seemed a lot more fangirly about talking to the Wonderbolts last year than you are right now. I mean now you’re actually maintaining a conversation. What’s up with that?” Spitfire commented.

“Oh, I dunno. Last year you guys were the only things I ever thought about, and you guys filled my head and it made me all excited and stuff. This year, I guess since I have Applejack, the impact of talking to you isn’t as big, you know?”

“Yeah, I get what you mean.”

“Because as much as I love the idea of talking to the most awesome flier s in the world, I guess that I love Applejack more.”

Applejack’s face started showing a slight red shade of blush, and it made Applejack look cute.

“Rainbow, ya don’t have ta say that.”

“Hey, it’s true, Applejack. I know you’re the Element of Honesty, but I’m not a huge liar either.”

‘No, I don’t suppose you are,” Spitfire agreed. “Anyway, Dash, what’s up with your wings? They’re all wrapped up and stuff, what’s up with that?’

“Oh, I broke them.”

“You broke ‘em?!”

“Yeah. I was flying, and in a complete Derpy moment, I crashed right into the side of a barn at the top end of it. Then, my wings decided to not work. As I fell…to the ground. And to top it all off, I landed right on my back. That managed to absolutely shatter my wings! It hurt really badly, not gonna lie. So, I’m stuck in this completely lame cast and cannot fly for the next 5 and a half months. Totally uncool.”

“You’re right, that does kinda suck. Correction: That does sucks.”

“You got that right. But I feel like it might have happened for a reason. If I hadn’t broken my wings, I might have never fallen for Applejack. And Applejack is one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me.”

“Rainbow, really, ya don’t have ta say that. Ah’m as much in love with you as you are with me.”

“I’m just saying that I love you too. You don’t have to go into completely modest mode.”

“Well, ah’ll be darned. My Rainbow Dash actually does know the word ‘modest’.”

“Well, I just, well, I, it’s just that...” Rainbow Dash started hotly.

“Rainbow, ah’m jus’ kiddin’. You should know that,” Applejack assured Rainbow Dash.

“Oh, yeah, uh, I knew that,” she said, face flushing.

Applejack gave Rainbow a quick peck on the lips and Rainbow relaxed.

“Anyway, I suppose we should go scope out the Princess before it’s too late. She said she wanted to talk to us.”

“Yeah, ah guess we have ta go now.”

“See ya later, Rainbow Dash. It was awesome to meet up with you,” Spitfire said, smiling.

“Yeah, it was pretty awesome talking to you too,” Rainbow reciprocated.

“It was a pleasure ta talk to ya,” Applejack said.

“You too,” Spitfire said back.

Rainbow and Applejack took off, looking for the Princess.

They found her just where they thought they’d find her. She was up greeting guests where she pretty much always is.

“Hey, Princess Celestia, we’re here to talk to you. Twilight said you wanted to talk to us.”

“Well, she was right. I’m very interested in discussing with you about what’s happened lately,” the Princess admitted. She turned to the next person in line. “Go get some refreshments and I’ll be back soon.”

The other ponies in line to greet the Princess all walked off to go do something.

“Come with me, I want to talk to you privately.”

They followed the Princess out to the gardens, and to their luck, nopony was there. It’s not like ponies were normally there, anyway.

“So, Princess, what do ya want ta talk ta us about?”

“Well, just tell me what happened.”

“What do you mean, Princess?”

“Tell me the story. I’d like to hear it from you two in person.”

“The entire thing?”

“If you’d care to retell it, yes.”

“Well, here’s the thing. I was bored one day, a couple weeks ago. You know, sittin’ on a cloud all bored and all. I decided to go visit my friends. Cuz, you know, my friends are pretty cool. I flew over to Applejack’s. It was Applebuckin’ season at the time. Applejack was bucking apples. I dropped down and said hey, before flying off to go see my other friends. When I wasn’t looking, I crashed into a barn. For some reason, this crash was particularly bad. I fell. My wings stopped working. I dunno, I musta hit something that made my wings tense up. I fell on my back. On my wings. They nearly shattered. The doctor showed me the X-rays when I got to the Pony Care Unit. My wings had a bunch of fractures and stuff. To top it off, I threw up. A lot. I now hate the smell of antiseptic. Anyway, since my house is in Cloudsdale, I had to find somewhere to stay. I ended up in Applejack’s house. You know, I wasn’t really attracted to her right away. Then I started crying one time in bed. Applejack rushed in from bucking apples not ten seconds later. She comforted me. She stayed with me, nuzzling and all, until I stopped crying. Then, I had a nightmare the night after. I woke up scared out of my mind. I had had a dream about a couple of doctors cutting my wings off with a hacksaw. I called for Applejack and she came running. She comforted me, and started to leave, but the nightmare wouldn’t leave me alone unless she was there. She, honest to Celestia, ahem, I mean you, climbed right in my bed and fell asleep with me. For some reason, at that point, I wrapped my hooves around Applejack. It made me happy. Applejack woke up and didn’t really think anything of it. I then, slowly but surely, started falling for Applejack. I told Zecora about it, actually.”

“Rainbow, ya didn’t tell me that.” Applejack interjected.

“I’m sorry about that. Anyway, I decided I needed to tell Applejack that was in love with her. But how to do it? I went and asked Rarity. I didn’t tell her it was Applejack, or even a mare, of course. But Rarity gave me an idea. She gave me the idea that I should just get her alone and just kiss her, a big surprise. That’s what I did. I went to a secret meadow that only I knew of up to that point. I kissed her, and told her how I felt. She told me that she’d consider. I walked into town, and she walked to the house. That night, I got caught in the rain. It was really, really cold rain. Applejack found me and brought me back. She slept with me again to make sure I didn’t catch hypothermia or something. Then, in my sleep, I kissed her. While I was dreaming, I kissed her. No joke. Anyway, the day after that, she told me she wanted to go out with me. You can’t even imagine how happy I was. Later, we decided we needed to tell her family. Her family took it alright. Anyway, then we decided it was about time to tell all of the ponies. You know, the holders of the Elements, our friends. Applejack seemed apprehensive. While I was looking away, she ran. She bolted and I couldn’t find her. None of us could find her. Until it hit me. I brought all the ponies to the one place she could be. The meadow where I first kissed her. She wasn’t scared, she wanted to do something special.”

“Ah wanted to show the connection between us.”

“Yeah, after that, we told my parents. I suppose Twilight’s already mailed you with that little tidbit of my life.”

“She is very efficient, so yes.”

“Yeah. My parents ended up taking it OK, I guess, and you won’t even believe it. We got your guards heads to turn. We kissed each other in front of the guards and their heads turned. It was an amazing achievement. It really was. And then, we decided to go on a date and here we are.” Rainbow finished having to catch her breath after rambling off the entire story.

The Princess waited a moment before responding.

“That’s quite the story.”

“Yeah, it’s quite something.”

“Tell me, Applejack, what were you thinking during your ‘consideration’ period?”

“Well, to be honest, ah was interested in the prospect of goin’ out with Dash, it’s just that Dash is a mare and that threw me off. Ah finally decided after thinkin’ about what Granny Smith told me.”

“And what was that?”

“Well, Ah can quote Granny Smith. Those words are in my head forever. She said this:

When ah was young, your grandpa took me on one of them rollercoasters. Up, down, up, down, oh, what a ride. Ah always wanted to go again. Ye know, it was just so interesting to me that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together! Some didn't like it. They went on the merry-go-round. It just goes around and around. Nothing. Ah prefer the rollercoaster. You get more out of it.”

“That’s very insightful. I always knew your grandmother was a smart pony.”

“Yeah, it took me a while to get, but when I got it, ah realized that ah really wanted to be with Dash more than ah was scared to do that.”

“I suppose it is a frightening thought that ponies might look down on you for being with a mare. I congratulate you for making the choice that you did.”

“Well, thank ya, Princess.”

“And Rainbow, what do you think made you fall in love?”

“Well, I don’t know, I just did, I suppose.”

“Hm, that’s interesting. For now, I must get back to my subjects. I’ll expect letters, alright?”

“Yes, ma’am, Princess.”

“Thank you for finding me. I’ve had a lovely time chatting with you.”

The princess walked back into the castle to continue greeting everypony, and Rainbow and Applejack took a stroll about the garden.

“You know, I’m glad we came on this date. I’m having fun.”

“Ah am too, sugarcube. We just have our own time together.”

“Yeah. It makes me happy. More happy than you can imagine.”

“Ah can imagine, sugarcube, cuz ah’m also that happy.”

The two stopped at a secluded place in the garden and looked around. It was beautiful.

Rainbow softly gave Applejack a kiss, and Applejack returned it.

This date was going wonderfully.

Fanfare

They walked through the gardens together, looking at all the things around them in awe. They hadn’t really been out here the last time they had come to the Gala. They had been so bent on pursuing their desires that they hadn’t walked around and explored. The lucky thing was that not many other ponies came around to explore here either. They were all inside socializing. A good number of them were in line to greet the Princess. Many others were listening to the live band play, and others were politely eating the teeny, dainty refreshments. Everypony was socializing in their pish-posh way. Well, mostly everypony. Spitfire was actually pretty cool.

They were walking when they heard voices in the garden and stopped. They listened closer and words became clearer.

“I’m just afraid of what everypony will think of you.”

Rainbow and Applejack looked at each other. The voice sounded familiar, but they couldn’t quite pinpoint it. Then, a soft-spoken male voice responded.

“”I know you are, but we can’t stay hidden from everypony forever. They’ve already picked up some gossip. Much of it is completely incorrect, but you know how ponies are.”

“Yes, I suppose you are right. Oh, can I ask you a question?” the female voice inquired.

Of course, my dear, ask me anything,” the male voice responded.

“I was just wondering, of course, if I could perhaps call you Nate.”

Nate? Wait; there weren’t many things that could shorten to Nate. Innate was one of those things. Did that mean—?

“Of course, Princess Luna, call me anything.”

Eeyup, that was Luna and her date, Innate Joy. Suddenly Rainbow felt bad. That had been spying, right? And they’d been spying on Princess Luna, to boot. They couldn’t just walk away at this point. Rainbow nodded at Applejack and the two made their way over.

They walked up behind the two, making noticeable hoofbeats so the two could hear them coming. They overheard Luna say something to Nate.

“Well, there goes our privacy.”

They turned around and saw who it was and Luna’s eyes shot open.

“Oh, hello, Applejack and Rainbow Dash,” Luna said, afraid they had heard what she had just said.

Nate, an earth pony with a grayish coat and a short cropped brown mane, wearing a standard stallion tuxedo, softly responded, “Hi.”

“Oh, sorry, do you want us to leave? Cause I totally just heard you say ‘there goes our privacy’,” Rainbow said, confirming that of which Luna was afraid.

“Forgive me, you two,” said Luna apologetically. “I hadn’t known it was you. You two are probably the two ponies to whom I’d like to talk,” Luna, who was wearing a beautiful, flowing, midnight blue dress, apologized.

“Look, I hate to tell ya, but we were kind of listening in on your conversation,” Rainbow admitted.

“Oh,” Nate said shyly, shrinking away. Evidently, he was a very shy pony.

“Look, it wasn’t on purpose, it just happened,” Rainbow explained.

“It’s okay, Rainbow, I forgive you. We forgive you. Isn’t that correct, Nate?” Luna asked, looking at Nate, silently urging him to come forward.

“Yes, of course, Luna, if these ponies are your friends,” said Nate, slowly coming up next to Luna and standing taller.

“I mean, you two can just go on talking to each other alone, if you’d like,” Rainbow offered.

“No, do stay here. I would like to talk to you two,” Luna requested.

“Ya want ta talk ta us?” Applejack asked.

“Yes, of course I do,” Luna admitted.

“So, what’s up?”

“Well, I’m afraid. What will they all think of Nate? I mean, I am a Princess, and even though my sister gets the publicity, this is a big thing. I want them to accept Nate, but I’m afraid,” Luna said, a foreleg timidly playing with the dirt on the ground.

“And you want my advice?”

“Well, yes, Rainbow Dash, you and Applejack’s relationship is an unusual one, and I’d like to know how you deal with the neighsayers,” Luna asked.

“Well, the thing is, you can’t please everypony. Honestly, there’s not a single thing you can do in all of Equestria and not have ponies complain. It’s pony nature to complain, to get irked by little things. The thing is, you just have to do what you do proudly. Let other ponies know that you won’t crack. Let them know that you don’t give a flying feather what they think, and that if they care, they can stick it up their plots!” Rainbow said, stomping a hoof on the ground indignantly.

“Rainbow!” Applejack yelled, turning to reprimand Rainbow.

“Hey, I’m sorry if I’m not the most eloquent pony, but what I say stands true,” justified Rainbow. “You can’t please everypony. Do what you do proudly. Go out and show them your new coltfriend,” Rainbow said, gesturing to Nate. “I think he’s a great guy. You know what; we’re going to go, but ‘m expecting an appearance tonight. Luna, you can’t hide your coltfriend forever. So, sometime tonight, get out there and show them what you’ve got, you hear?”

“Yes, I hear, Rainbow Dash,” Luna said, nodding.

“I expect a big entrance, too. Something showy, something I would do. Okay, maybe not that over the top for you two, but something that everyone will see. Trust me,” Rainbow said, placing a foreleg on her chest.

“Okay, Rainbow Dash,” Luna said, then laughed. “I find it quite humorous that I’m taking dating advice from one of my subjects. This time, it’s the citizen that’s telling me what to do. It gives me quite the laugh,’ Luna said, chuckling.

“I mean, if you don’t want to do that, that’s fine, just don’t send me to the moon or anything,” Rainbow said, slightly retreating from Luna.

“Rainbow Dash, it’s quite alright. I don’t mind you giving me advice when I need it,” Luna said with a smile on her face.

“Alright, ‘cause you said you needed it. Anyway, I want to ask you, when did you two meet?” Rainbow inquired curiously, cocking her head to the side.

“Well, it was a week or two ago when Tia and I were going around, greeting citizens of various cities, seeing everypony and greeting those that came up to us. We were in Baltimare. It’s a very nice town. Anyway, ponies were coming up to us, greeting us and saying various pleasantries. It was all the same stuff until an earth pony named Innate Joy walked not up to us, but straight to me. He closed his eyes tight and he said, in a very rapid manner, well, Nate, would you care to relay?” Luna asked, gesturing a hoof towards Nate.

Nate smiled and nodded. “Of course I would, Luna. I was so scared. I went up and I asked her ‘Princess Luna, I think you’re beautiful, will you please go out with me, it’s okay if you say no, just don’t banish me to the moon’. Of course, I said this about twenty-seven times faster than you just heard it; it’s a wonder that Luna understood me.”

“I have listened to ponies say words far more unintelligible than that which you said, Nate. I had no trouble understanding you. Anyway, I was amazed at the level of courage you showed me, Nate. I like that. I had never seen somepony try to do something like ask one of us out before. Plus, you are likewise very attractive,” Luna admitted, blushing a little.

Nate gave a small chuckle and said, “Well, thank you, Luna.”

“Anyway, I said yes, I would like to go out with him. Why, he was so excited he bowed down to us. I told him to get up because, and you’ll agree, it’s a little weird for anyone’s coltfriend to be bowing down to them,” Luna informed.

“Haha, I suppose you’re right, Luna,” Nate chimed in.

“Anyway, after that, we decided where we should go on our first date.”

“And where was that?” Rainbow asked.

“It was right here. This is our first date,” Luna said firmly

“Well, isn’t that somethin,” Applejack said, speaking for the first time in a while. “This here is the first date that Rainbow and ah have been on, too.”

“Well, that’s quite the coincidence,” Luna admitted.

“Yeah, I guess it’s like some kind of first date double date!” Rainbow surmised excitedly.

Luna laughed and replied, “Yes, I suppose it is, Rainbow Dash.”

“Anyway, Dash, how did you meet Applejack?”

“Well, here’s the thing…”

* * *

“And that’s how it all happened,” Rainbow finished, giving a triumphant smile at retelling the entire story.

“That’s quite the story, Rainbow Dash.”

“Well, every bit of it’s true. Even that bit about the rainbow goop.”

“It’s quite amazing, let me tell you. Nopony could make up a story like that.”

“I suppose not, but it’s a tale fitting of the one and only Rainbow Dash,” said Rainbow, puffing out her chest proudly.

Luna laughed. “Ah, ‘modest’ isn’t really in our beloved Rainbow Dash’s dictionary.”

“Uh uh, ah heard her say it for the first time earlier today,” Applejack joked along.

“Hey!” Rainbow started, face reddening.

“Rainbow, really, we’re just kiddin’,” Applejack said reassuringly, putting a hoof around Rainbow’s shoulder.

“Oh, yeah, sorry,” Rainbow said.

Applejack gave Rainbow a quick kiss in front of Luna and all. Luna and Nate both smiled at the two. Suddenly, Luna spoke out.

“Oh, I’m terribly sorry. I haven’t formally introduced you. I realize that at this point you all know the names of all of us, but it’s formal and all. Nate, this is Applejack and Rainbow Dash, the first ever couple to be composed of two members of the Holders of the Elements, Applejack and Rainbow Dash, this is Innate Joy, I call him Nate, my wonderful new coltfriend.”

“Howdy do, Nate,” Applejack said, crossing her right foreleg over her left in her little curtsy.

“Awesome to meet you,” said Rainbow.

“It’s nice to meet you two. Yes, it’s okay to call me Nate, thank you for asking,” Nate joked sarcastically.

“Oh, sorry ‘bout that,” Applejack and Rainbow said at the same time.

“I’m just joking, you two; it’s alright with me,” Nate said with a smile.

Rainbow laughed. “Nice, you got me on that one. Anyway, we should get moving, you know, to give you some time alone, wink wink, walk around and see more stuff, all that. And like I said, I’m expecting a big appearance.”

Luna laughed, and then spoke, “I’ll be sure to do so, Rainbow Dash.”

“Shall we?” Rainbow asked Applejack.

“Of course, sugarcube,” came the reply.

Together they walked out of the garden, smiling at each other and back at Luna and Nate, who had resumed talking to each other.

They walked around for a while, and they found themselves at the dance floor, the live band playing a slow song on stage.

“I’m gonna be honest. I haven’t a clue how to dance,” Rainbow said, scratching the back of her neck with a hoof.

“Me neither.”

Luckily for the both of them, they saw a certain Vinyl Scratch walking around, a less formal dress on for the evening. Neither of them had met Vinyl in person, but there was always a first time for everything. Rainbow walked up and tapped Vinyl on the shoulder.

“Huh? Oh, hey there,” said Vinyl, turning around to reveal a pair of luminous red eyes.

“Hey, my name’s Rainbow Dash,” Rainbow said, smiling excitedly at meeting her favorite artist.

“Oh, I know you. You’re the winner of that one Best Young Fliers competition,” Vinyl stated, gesturing a hoof at Rainbow as she said so.

“Awesome! You’re Vinyl Scratch, I know you. Your music’s the best, I thought you should know,” said, leaning forward excitedly.

“Thanks, it’s always nice to know somepony appreciates my music,” Vinyl admitted, giving a slight shrug.

“No problem.”

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Rainbow Dash.”

“Nice to meet you too,” Rainbow said, and they shook hooves.

“Who’s your friend here?” Vinyl asked, curiously gesturing toward Applejack.

“Oh, this is Applejack. She’s actually my marefriend,” Rainbow said shyly, blushing as she said so.

“Ooh, that’s exciting, I like it! How did the high-class ponies react when they saw you at the Gala?” Vinyl asked with excitement in her voice. It was apparent that Vinyl wasn’t huge about the hoity-toity nature of the Canterlot ponies either.

“Like this.”

Rainbow turned and kissed Applejack hard. A loud gasp was heard from the room. They broke apart and could see the ponies gossiping, turned away but occasionally looking over their shoulders at the two. They picked up snippets of conversation, such as:

“…it’s not right…”

“…they’re both mares…”

“...and at our high-class Gala, too, these low class ponies are bringing their lesbianism…”

Vinyl laughed out loud at the reactions. “I don’t suppose that these ponies are too accepting of such an alien concept as lesbianism.”

“Well, yeah, but the thing is that Celestia got us the tickets to come here and provided our transportation. To top it off, she had a nice conversation with us about it. I’d like to see their face if they ever figured out that their beloved Princess is condoning lesbianism,” Rainbow said, chuckling slightly the entire time she said that.

“That’d be hilarious,” Vinyl said, also giving a laugh. “Well, it’s good to meet you too, Applejack.”

“Nice ta meet ya, Miss Vinyl,” said Applejack, once more doing her little curtsy.

“Ugh, this music is too slow. Nothing against this music, it’s just not my thing. I just want to jump up there, plop my records on the turntable, and yell ‘Let’s spin this!’ They’d have some fun with that one,” Vinyl said, chuckling slightly at the prospect of seeing these ponies react to loud and fast techno music.

“You totally should. That. Would. Be. AWESOME,” Rainbow said, voice quivering at how awesome that would indeed be.

“Well, I probably couldn’t bring myself to do it. Not many ponies here would appreciate my music,” Vinyl said after consideration, looking around at the ponies around them. Nope, they wouldn’t react well to Vinyl’s music.

“I guess you’re right. But I know one pony who appreciates more than your music,” Rainbow said, nudging Vinyl with her foreleg.

“What do you mean?” Vinyl asked, raising her eyes in curiosity.

“There’s this guy I know that has this massive crush on you,” Rainbow said in a hushed voice.

“Really? Awesome. It’s nice to know that I’m attractive,” Vinyl said, striking an obnoxiously silly “beauty” pose.

Rainbow laughed. “Yeah, I suppose it is.”

Just then, they heard a fanfare coming from the other room. Rainbow Dash knew exactly what was going on.

They went into the main hall, Rainbow nearly running with excitement, and coming through the double doors at the end of the hall were Luna and Nate, side by side. They both were beaming and walking proudly, the way that Rainbow would have wanted them to do.

“That’s the right idea,” Rainbow Dash admitted, putting a hoof on her chin, giving bonus points for the red carpet walk along with the fanfare.

Luna and Nate walked down the carpet as a Royal guard dressed in the Royal uniform, wearing the normal stone look on his face, followed, booming words.

“Please welcome Princess Luna and the stallion accompanying her, an earth pony all the way from Baltimare, Innate Joy!”

The ponies around stomped their hooves on the ground in raucous applause, all smiling and cheering.

Luna and Nate looked over at Applejack and Rainbow Dash and winked. Rainbow winked back.

The applause continued to thunder as Rainbow and Applejack kissed each other and then turned their heads and beamed at the couple.

This was probably the best first date on which they could have gone, and they both knew it.

Stars

Soon, and sadly enough, the Gala was coming to a close. They had indeed been a topic of gossip. A lesbian couple flying into the Gala on a Royal balloon. Surely, the Princess is not condoning lesbianism, is she? Perhaps these two ponies kept that one a secret from the Princess. But the ponies that had been in line to greet the Princess could attest otherwise. They had even kissed each other multiple times at the Gala. Either these ponies were oblivious, or they just paid no mind to the gasps and murmurs of the higher-class ponies around them.

Of course, they didn’t make nearly as big a splash at the Gala as Luna and Innate Joy had. They hadn’t seen a Princess with a coltfriend in a long, long time, that’s for sure. They even had fanfare to bring them in. You can’t get bigger than fanfare. A red carpet was even rolled out. All the lesbian couples in Equestria couldn’t get bigger than a Princess and her new coltfriend walking down the red carpet, fanfare blasting, a booming Royal announcer following.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash waited outside for the Royal balloon to arrive while the crowd around them slowly diminished with ponies leaving. Every once in a while, a big chunk of ponies would leave, as there were trains out of the Gala, headed to different towns in Equestria.

They sat together on the lawn outside, Applejack resting her head on Rainbow’s shoulder, Rainbow leaning her head against Applejack’s. Occasionally, they heard the distasteful murmurs of the rigid, snooty, high-class ponies around them. Every time they heard something, they’d have small kiss of deliberate defiance. Often this would elicit a gasp or other distasteful murmurs. At one point they overheard one pony say ‘…what would the Princess think?” They both burst out loud laughing at that point. If only they knew.

Not a long time later, the balloon came into sight above them. They reluctantly got up from their nuzzling position and the balloon came to land on the ground, no doubt flanked by the Royal Pegasus Guards. The basket of the balloon opened up and they both walked in and sat down next to each other. The balloon took off not too long after, and the two ended up laying down in the balloon and looking out at the sky above them.

“The stars sure are pretty, huh, AJ?” Rainbow said, turning her head to look at AJ.

“Yeah, they sure are,” Applejack responded, keeping her eyes on the beautiful stars above.

“Well, they’re not nearly as pretty as you are, Applejack,” Rainbow said without missing a beat.

“Well, shucks, Rainbow,” Applejack said while looking over at Rainbow, face reddening with blush, “yer jus’ bein’ kind.”

“Nope, I’m really not. You’re the prettiest pony I think I’ve ever seen,” Rainbow said, face also reddening.

“Rainbow, there are guards right outside this balloon,” Applejack stated, gesturing outside the balloon with her head.

“I know that,” Rainbow said, smiling at Applejack. “They already know about us. What’s the difference if we talk sweet nothings around them? Oh, and you’re blushing. I think it’s cute.”

At this, Applejack blushed even harder. “Rainbow, really, ah’m sure the guards don’t really care ta hear all a’ this.”

“It’s true, though,” said Rainbow, giving as much of a shrug as she could on her back. “Anyway, I’m not just going to fill this chapter with sweet nothings. That would be really boring to read.”

Applejack looked over abruptly. “Chapter, Whaddaya mean, chapter?”

Then, the author laughed maniacally, having put in some good fourth wall breakage courtesy of somepony other than Pinkie Pie.

“Oh, nothing,” Rainbow said quickly.

“Anyway, Rainbow, what are ya thinkin’ ya wanna do when ya get yer wings back?”

“What do you mean, AJ?” Rainbow asked back, looking curiously over at the country pony beside her.

“Ah mean, are ya gonna move back to yer house? If not, what’re ya gonna do with it?” said Applejack, looking over to Rainbow.

“I don’t know, AJ. I haven’t thought about that,” Rainbow responded, looking at the sky to think.

“Well, ah suppose you should probably think about it, ah mean, ah know it’s about 5 months from now, but still.”

Rainbow Dash gave it some thought, and a period of time passed before she answered.

“You know, if we’re still together in 5 months, I might like to move in with you. Or maybe you can move in with me,” Rainbow said, giving a slight shrug.

“Well, if ah move in with you, that wouldn’t really work. Ya see, ah can’t walk on them clouds up there, and yer strong, Rainbow, ah know ya are, but ah also know that ya probably couldn’t keep carryin’ me everywhere,” Applejack explained,

“I guess you’re right, but maybe we could get a new house in Ponyville together. Don’t get me wrong,” Rainbow said defensively, “you’re family is awesome, but if we’re going to end up living together, don’t you think it’ll be a little awkward living with your family? I mean, we’ll go to the orchard every day for Applebuck season, but I kinda want some privacy,” Rainbow ventured, not wanting to offend Applejack in any way. This was their first date. She didn’t want to mess it up.

“Ah feel the same way, now that you mention it.”

“Yeah, we don’t want to be gettin’ hot and heavy and have Applebloom walk in on us, do we?” Rainbow joked, imagining the scene.

Applejack laughed. “Woah there partner, we’re not there quite yet.”

“I guess you’re right. Just imagine, though. What would Applebloom think? That’d be hilarious! I mean, it’d be deathly embarrassing, but it’d be hilarious, too!”

“Ya see Applebloom, when two ponies love each other VERY much…” Applejack trailed off and laughed.

“That’d be a riot if it happened to somepony else,” Rainbow said, her laughter subsiding.

“Yeah, ah suppose it would be funny to tell ponies, but it’d be somethin’ in the moment.”

“Anyway, that probably won’t happen any time soon, so we don’t have to worry about it for a while. I still have my trusty cast on,” Rainbow said with a hint of sarcasm, patting the cast covering her wings.

They lay like that in silence for a while; their heads leaned in against each other. Then, Rainbow broke the silence.

“We gotta be getting close to Ponyville soon.”

They both sat up and, lo and behold, they were descending upon Ponyville in front of the library. There was Twilight, walking outside as the balloon descended.

The balloon landed and the two walked out of the balloon basket, smiling at Twilight.

“So, how’d it go, you two?” Twilight asked, her excitement for the two evident.

“It was SO AWESOME!” Rainbow said excitedly.

“Yeah, it sure was somethin,’” Applejack confirmed.

“So, what’d you do? What happened? What’s new in Canterlot?” Twilight said quickly, excited to hear how the Gala went.

“Well, it was definitely better that the last time we went. I can’t run through the entire Gala, because all the readers would get irritated at the recap chapter,” Rainbow said.

Twilight and Applejack both looked at Rainbow Dash with confused looks on their faces.

“AHAHA!” laughed the author maniacally once more.

“Never mind that,” said Rainbow, quick to change the subject. “Here are some of the big points. We got there, we talked to the Princess, and then we found Luna. Sheeeeee has a new coltfriend!” Rainbow said, excited to be the first to share the news.

“Really!? Who is he?” Twilight inquired, the news having caught her interest.

“His name’s Innate Joy and he’s a really nice guy. They said that the two met in Baltimare.”

“That’s great for Luna!” Twilight exclaimed.

“Anyway, I gave her some advice and then we found none other than Vinyl Scratch! She’s pretty awesome in person. Anyway, then Luna and Nate, as she called him, made this big entrance with fanfare and trumpets and stuff!” Rainbow explained.

“That’s great!”

“Yeah, and then the night dwindled down, and here we are!” Rainbow said strongly, raising a hoof and pointing at the ground on which they were standing.

“Well, that’s wonderful. I’m really happy to hear that you had such a good time. It seems like you’ve even forgotten that you’re wearing dresses, Rainbow, normally you’re always messing with bits of any dress that you wear.”

“I suppose that it’s the awesome night we’ve both had,” Rainbow explained.

“And get this, Twilight, Rainbow actually does know the word ‘modesty’,” Applejack joked.

“Oh boy,” Rainbow said, rolling her eyes jokingly.

“Well, isn’t that something,” Twilight joked back, chuckling. “Anyway, I should get back to reorganizing the books in the library. I’ve only done it once yet today,” Twilight said, causing Rainbow and AJ to roll their eyes.

“Go ahead, you egghead,” Rainbow said, winking in jest.

Twilight walked back into the library, and the two didn’t talk for a little bit, until Rainbow spoke.

“That was pretty awesome what Luna and Nate did,” Rainbow said, her eyes returning to the stars. “It was genius. Why didn’t I think of fanfare and red carpet for the Princess?”

“That sure was something, wasn’t it?” Applejack said, also looking at the sky.

“Yeah, I just wish we could have done something big,” Rainbow said, thinking about possibilities.

“Yer sayin’ what we did wasn’t big?” Applejack said, sounding offended.

“Well, not really, it’s just that Luna and Nate did something that grabbed everyone’s attention, and I’d have liked to do something big, too.”

“Rainbow, we kissed on the dance floor. Everypony there saw. Are you saying that kissing me wasn’t enough for the one and only Rainbow Dash?” Applejack said, the condescendence clear in her voice.

“No, AJ, I’m not saying that, you’re not getting what I’m saying!” Rainbow said back, her voice hinting at signs of pleading.

“Oh, am ah, Rainbow? So it’s mah fault, now?” Applejack angrily retorted.

“Applejack, that’s not what I’m saying, I just wanted to do something big like what Luna and Nate did!” Rainbow explained.

“So our kisses weren’t enough? So ah wasn’t enough for the mighty, one and only, stuck-up Rainbow Dash?” Applejack responded with anger in her voice and tears pooling in her eyes.

“Applejack, I—“

AJ cut Rainbow off without words, but in running away toward the orchard, her dress flowing behind her, but not tripping her.

“Applejack, come back!” Rainbow pleaded, starting to run, but Applejack was too fast. Plus, Applejack wouldn’t want Rainbow in her house that night anyway. But what had she done to offend Applejack?

Rainbow Dash walked the other way, wondering what she had said wrong. Whatever it was, it must have been bad. The sight of Applejack’s angry tears in her eyes made the same tears pool in Rainbow’s, which made her cry out in anguish and she started to furiously bang her head on the nearest wooden surface, the sharp pain growing in her forehead.

That surface just so happened to be the library door and Rainbow faceplanted hard on the ground when Twilight opened the door. Rainbow just lay there, crying at this point, her dress picking up dirt in the ground. Rarity would not be pleased.

“Uh, Rainbow, um, are you okay?” Twilight asked.

Dash sat there speechless for a while, before getting up, eyes puffy and red, and asking, “Can I sleep on your couch tonight?”

“You, uh, care to explain?” Twilight said with a confused look on her face.

“In the morning, please,” Rainbow said dejectedly, walking past Twilight, removing her dress in the blink of an eye and tossing it on the floor.

“Woah,” said Twilight, momentarily shielding her eyes. “Warn a pony, will ya?”

“Sure,” Rainbow said, not really listening. She then hopped on the couch and lay down.

“Oh, well, I suppose we don’t normally wear clothes in the first place, but still… Anyway, I’ll fetch you a blanket,” said Twilight, levitating a blanket to Rainbow.

“Thanks,” Rainbow said, taking the blanket, but obviously not up for chat for the night.

“Ehh, okay then,” Twilight said, turning of the lights and retreating to her bed.

Rainbow lay there, thinking. She’d have to ask Twilight what went wrong. That obviously wasn’t working with AJ. The sight of Applejack crying once more made Rainbow start to cry, and she eventually cried herself to sleep on the couch.

Reconciliation

Chapter 15
Reconciliation

Rainbow woke up, but her eyes snapped closed again. She rolled over so her face was in the couch. She didn’t want to get up yet. Unfortunately for her, Twilight spotted the movement.

“Oh, Rainbow, you’re up!” Twilight said cheerfully.

Rainbow gave a muffled grumble into the cushions of the couch.

“Rainbow, it’s highly impractical to attempt avoiding the day,” Twilight said very matter-of-factly.

“Ugh, jus’ lemme sleep, will ya?” Rainbow said, her words muffled, still lying with her hooves at her sides.

“Get up, Rainbow,” said Twilight sternly. “I’m making breakfast, and you can tell me what happened last night while we eat.”

Rainbow looked up at Twilight. Rainbow was a mess. She had dirt in her tail, her mane was a mess, her eyes were red, and to top it all off, she looked dead tired.

“I don’t wanna talk about it,” Rainbow said, her face plopping back into the couch.

“Too bad,” Twilight said, and Rainbow felt herself being hoisted into the air. Her limbs flailed at the air, as Rainbow saw her vision was coated with an ethereal purple glow.

“Put me down, Twilight, this isn’t funny.”

“If I did put you down, you’d go straight back to the couch,” Twilight said with a knowing tone in her voice.

“Just put me down, Twilight, I don’t like this,” Rainbow said as she hovered in the air while Twilight proceeded to set the table.

“Well, tough love, baby,” Twilight answered as Rainbow began to drift towards the table.

“TWILIGHT, LOOK, AN URSA MAJOR IS BEHIND YOU!” Rainbow yelled, pointing a hoof in Twilight’s direction.

It worked. Twilight’s magic broke as she looked behind her frantically. Unfortunately, Rainbow had drifted so that she wasn’t above the couch anymore, and she hit the library floor hard. Stars burst into her vision as she heard the sound of a dish breaking.

“Oh, my goodness, Rainbow, are you alright?” Twilight said, running to where Rainbow was, levitating her again.

“Twilight, it hurts, but put me down.”

Twilight set Rainbow down on her hooves, and Rainbow stood there, gently massaging her stomach area with one hoof.

“Well, you did your job,” Rainbow said jokingly, although her voice showed the pain she felt on her abdomen. “Now I can’t go back to sleep.”

“Well, come to the table, if you can manage walking,” Twilight said, going over to the table.

“Yeah, my legs are fine,” Rainbow replied, walking over and also sitting at the table.

“So, Rainbow, do you want to eat first, or tell me what happened?”

“Well,” said Rainbow, scratching her neck, “I’m not even hungry, so I don’t see the point of choosing to eat first,” said Rainbow, bracing herself; retelling was coming.

“So, tell me what happened last night.”

“Well, the thing is…”

* * *

“…And then I started slamming my head on your door. I felt like complete crap,” finished Rainbow, surely not the most eloquent of ponies.

“And why did you want to do something big?” Twilight further inquired, trying to find every detail.

“Well, the thing is, I like Applejack, and I really want everypony to know. I don’t know why Applejack freaked out,” Rainbow confessed, scratching her neck and looking down at the table.

“Rainbow, you worded it incorrectly. To her, you made it seem like you thought what you did was small, since all you said was ‘big’.”

“I didn’t think what we did was at all small!” Rainbow defended herself.

“Step one, you should have said ‘bigger’. She might have thought you were just saying that you wanted the spotlight. We do know your tendency to try and grab attention,” Twilight said honestly.

“Hey!” Rainbow retorted, throwing her hooves up to her side.

“Rainbow, you know it’s true,” Twilight explained, pointing a hoof at Dash.

“Well, that’s fair enough, I guess,” replied Rainbow, her hooves dropping.

“And you should have told AJ why you wanted to do something bigger. You didn’t explain why you wanted to do something big, so what you said sounded like you just wanted to grab the spotlight and have everypony see you, not you two,” Twilight explained.

“So that’s what Applejack thought I was saying?” Rainbow asked incredulously.

“Yep, that’s why she was like that. I mean, I don’t think that warranted that level of reaction, but you know us mares. We tend to overreact,” Twilight said, giving a slight shrug.

“Alright, at least I know what’s wrong, but how do I make it right?”

“Tell her what you actually meant, or better, tell her what you didn’t mean. All in all, just tell her the truth. Also, ‘sorry’ isn’t a bad thing,” Twilight added matter-of-factly.

“What if she doesn’t want to talk to me?”

“Well, I suppose that’s something with which you’ll have to deal. I can’t keep guiding you through love,” said Twilight, shaking her head.

“Alright, fair enough,” Rainbow said, standing up. “I’m gonna go now.”

“Rainbow, with all due respect, you kinda look like a mess. Don’t you wanna wash up first?”

“Nope,” said Rainbow Dash, her head held high. “I need to talk to her as soon as I can.”

“Looking like that?” Twilight inquired, cocking her head.

“Why not? I don’t really care, and it’s not like Applejack is going to care either way,” Rainbow said, giving a slight shrug.

“Well, I suppose you have a point,” Twilight said back.

“Anyway, I’m out,” Rainbow said, walking over to the door and opening it with a hoof.

“Alright, I suppose,” said Twilight. She went to the door. “Good, luck with your little reconciliation efforts!” Twilight yelled, waving after Rainbow Dash, and Rainbow waved back briefly before going off to make relationship reparations. Twilight closed the door behind Rainbow, who had, in her haste, left the door wide open.

Rainbow made her way towards the orchard. The spring grass was wet with morning dew and Rainbow’s hooves started getting wet. Some stray grass stuck to her hooves, but she paid no attention. This was no time to be bothering with trivial things like brushing wet grass off of her hooves. No time was to be wasted; there was a big matter at hand. She could do many more Sonic Rainbooms, but she doubted that she could find a relationship such as the one she was going to save.

Applejack had to listen. She had to. The only problem was Applejack’s tendency to be very stubborn. She could very well refuse to listen. Rainbow had to make her listen. There was a misunderstanding, and Rainbow reluctantly agreed with herself to wholly take the blame if that’s to what it came. She wasn’t too knowledgeable on the subject of dating and such, but she knew full well that under normal circumstances, a pony doesn’t like to be blamed. In this state, saying Applejack was partly responsible was probably the worst idea of which Rainbow could think. That’d make Applejack even more mad, which was precisely what Rainbow was trying NOT to do.

Time seemed to stand still as she reached the orchard, a growing anxiety in the pit of her stomach. A Sonic Rainboom involved mere technical things, such as size, weight, velocity, et cetera. Somepony could train to do one, tweaking and perfecting the movements, trying over and over to get it right. Feelings were something else. Flying maneuvers had precious little to do with emotions. Relationship reparations couldn’t be practiced. Well, they could, but it wouldn’t work the same. Everypony is different, and thus reacts differently. It’s a one-shot bid, and if you butcher it, you butcher it. A failed Rainboom might leave you bummed; a failed relationship is an entirely different matter.

As she neared the house, she became more self-conscious. It was completely irrational, she knew, but she feared that Applejack wouldn’t take her seriously. Of course, that made no sense, but this kind of situation can do a lot to a pony. She tried patting her mane down, but her mane stayed where it was. After a couple little tries at bettering her look, she realized that the dirt was staying in her tail, her eyes were going to stay puffy and red, and she was going to look tired. Calm down, Rainbow thought to herself, Applejack doesn’t give two flying feathers about how I look right now. Crap, Rainbow silently cursed herself, I should have gotten her something. She would have given a lot just to keep her mind off of these thoughts for the moment, since they weren’t doing her a lick of good. All they were doing at the moment was scaring her, however much she didn’t like to admit it.

Too long a time later, she finally reached the house. As she grew more nervous, her senses amplified. She could hear her heart beating far too loudly. The grass underneath her hooves tickled her. Her mouth got dry inside, and she became far too aware of her own tongue, not being able to find a comfortable spot for it. She stood there, at the door, bracing herself, and she knocked. Her own temporary house for the next 5 months, and she knocked.

Big Mac opened the door, and a slight frown came upon his face. That wasn’t good. She was unfortunately not surprised that she hadn’t exactly become somepony to be admired in the Apple Family, considering the close knit bunch that was the Apple Family.

“Uh, hey, Big Mac,” Rainbow ventured, realizing that she was treading on broken glass not only with AJ, but with the entire family.

“Howdy, Rainbow Dash,” Big Mac said, not looking entirely too pleased.

“Look, Big Mac, I’m gonna skip the pleasantries and cut to the chase. I need to talk to Applejack alone,” said Rainbow, forgoing the butter-up act.

Big Mac turned his head inside and yelled, “Applejack!”

“No!” Rainbow heard Applejack say indignantly. “Ah don’t wanna talk about it!”

“Applejack,” Rainbow called past Big Mac, “Please just listen to me!”

“Ah heard enough last night, thank you!” Applejack called back.

“Applejack, I’m sorry! I want to explain what I meant!

“Ah know exactly what ya meant! Yer the one and only Rainbow Dash and nothing is enough for you, and you want everyone to notice how radisome ya are, or whatever!”

“It’s ‘radical’ and ‘awesome’, but that’s beside the point! The point is that it’s all my fault!”

“Go on.”

“When I said ‘doing something big’, I didn’t say what we did was small. I wanted to do something that everypony at the gala would see and note. And before you say anything, I want to explain that it’s not that I was trying to grab the spotlight, even though I know I have a tendency to try and hog the limelight. The thing is, this relationship is exciting to me, and I want everypony to know about us, not me. I’m not trying to get the spotlight; I’m trying to give our relationship the spotlight. Applejack, I came over here as soon as I could. I can prove it, since I look like hell. AJ, I love you.”

Rainbow Dash heard naught but silence from the other room. That worried her. What was that supposed to mean?

“Applejack, please come out here. Honestly, I love you, and I need you to forgive me.”

Rainbow heard the sound of things shuffling and moving, and finally, nudging Big Mac out of the way, there was Applejack.

Applejack too didn’t look like she’d had a great night either. Her mane was out of its ponytail, her mane and tail looked disheveled, and her eyes also looked puffy and tired. Of course, that wasn’t the time to mention it.

“So, whaddaya say?” Rainbow said apprehensively, very slightly cocking her head to the side.

“Well,” Applejack started, and paused for a while.

“Well?” Rainbow asked, curiously leaning forward a little bit.

“Well,” Applejack said, pausing, “Yer right, ya do look like hell.”

“…What?”

“Oh, Rainbow, ah can’t stay mad at you,” Applejack said while shaking her head, going forward to hug Rainbow Dash.

“So, it’s alright?” Rainbow asked, returning the hug.

“Yeah, ah forgive ya,” Applejack answered. “And ah realize that ah can’t really say ya look like hell when ah do, too.”

“It’s alright. If you want my opinion, I actually find it kinda hot,” said Rainbow, breaking the hug to look at Rainbow.

“Ya do?” asked Applejack, face reddening.

“Yeah, I really do,” replied Rainbow. “Now, can I return living here? Twilight’s place is nice, but it’s nothing compared to being able to sleep in a bed with my marefriend,” said Dash, smiling and blushing too.

“C’mon inside, we’re havin’ breakfast,” Applejack said, leading Rainbow in.

Rainbow pumped a hoof in the air before following her in, ready to eat.

(AN: This is by no means the last chapter, and the story will continue, but my good pal and editor MidnightWhisper are starting a new collaboration between the two of us, so it might be a while until we return to this story. You'll see what our new bit is once we have the first chapter done. The story will be uploaded on MidnightWhisper's channel/page/user thing, so go watch his page to see it when it comes out. It'll be good, we promise.)