*** Chapter 5 ***

Lightning rippled through the clouds as Applejack ran desperately through the storm, dodging low-hanging tree branches and narrowly missing trees in the darkness of the forest. She lost track of how long she had been running, and was completely drenched in rainwater as well as her own tears. Her hat had fallen off of her head a ways back, but she didn't care. All she could think of was running, trying to get away from the terror that was Mortal Coil, the one who had torn her away from her peace of mind, just when it was within her grasp. She had worked so hard to fight the pain inside, and he only twisted the knife more. She hated him. She wanted him to go back wherever it was, and just-

"Gah!" Applejack cried out as she tripped over a tree root, barreling head-over-hoof along the ground. She landed on her back, and stared up at the sky for a moment. The purple, threatening clouds were blurred by the rain falling on her face, and she rolled over onto her stomach, her eyes beginning to water once more. She didn't think she could possibly cry anymore, but she didn't know what else to do. She pulled herself to her hooves and made her way to the nearest tree to try and shelter herself from the rain. The flurry of thoughts in her head had subsided, and was replaced by only one: Rainbow Dash.

"I miss you, Dash..." Applejack said aloud, stifling a sob. "I can't lie to myself, or anypony else anymore. I really, really miss you. I miss the way you used to pull pranks on me and our little gang with Pinkie Pie, and how you'd show up to the farm, makin' shade with the clouds even when you were supposed to be clearin' 'em..." Applejack held her breath for a moment, starting to lose what was left of her composure, and let it out in a shuddering sigh. "I just wish I could've stopped this, all of this. I don't know what or who to believe anymore, and all I want is to have you back again, to hear you tellin' me 'it'll be okay.' I just wish I had told you how much I cared about ya', and I now can't forgive myself for being so darned stupid..."

The cowpony stopped suddenly when she heard a snap come from in front of her, and jumped to her hooves. "Is that you, Coil?" she whispered, nervous. Lightning struck in the distance, lighting up the sky and revealing a very soggy cowpony hat lying on the ground in front of her. The pony next to it nudged it towards her, and Applejack felt her heart seize up for a moment when another flash of lightning revealed the mare who had brought the stetson to her.

"R-...Rainbow...?" Applejack stammered in disbelief. The pegasus nodded her head slowly, a pained look of concern on her face. She stepped towards the cowpony, but froze when Applejack took two steps farther away. Applejack picked up a short stick in her mouth, and aimed it at the pegasus defensively. Panicking when Rainbow Dash stepped forth again, she lobbed the stick at her target, which, much to her surprise, sailed right through the silent pegasus and landed on the sopping wet ground behind her. Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to speak, but Applejack was already sprinting in a random direction in terror, her brain fully unable to understand what was going on around her. The pegasus spread her wings wide and bolted towards the cowpony, catching up to her in a matter of seconds and tackling her to the ground.

"Stop! You're not Rainbow Dash! Get away from me!" Applejack screamed as she struggled vainly against the pegasus, who planted the cowpony on her back and sat on top of her, holding her front hooves down. Applejack glared up at the pegasus for a moment, before her brain began processing what had just happened. She looked to both of her hooves, and back to the pegasus. Her eyes widened in shock as she noticed that she could just barely see the rain falling above her and landing on the pegasus' back from underneath her. The mare's whole body was slightly translucent, but here she was, holding Applejack down like she had done long before. Applejack remained silent as the pegasus stared at her intently, searching for something in her expression.

"Applejack..." Rainbow Dash whispered, just barely audible above the slowing rain and wind. "Do you really love me?"

The question threw Applejack off, and no sound came out of her mouth when she opened it to speak. Her head ached as she tried to form an answer, but the only reaction she could give was a stifled sob as her eyes started to water painfully. The pegasus backed slowly off of her, and the cowpony sat up for a moment, her head hanging as she began to cry softly.

"Applejack...?" Dash said, confused.

At that moment, the last strand of control Applejack had broke. She pushed herself into the pegasus' shoulder and sobbed, embracing her tightly. Rainbow Dash leaned her head against Applejack's and returned the embrace, running her hoof through the cowpony's wet mane. The wind had died almost completely and the rain began to subside to a light drizzle, making Applejack's pained wails audible through much of the forest. As Rainbow Dash stroked Applejack's mane, she turned her head slightly to whisper into her ear.

"It's going to be okay, alright?" she said lovingly, making the cowpony go silent as she looked up.

"W-what did you just say...?"

Rainbow Dash held the broken mare's face closer to her own, stroking her cheek softly. "I said that it's going to be okay. I'm here now. Isn't that what you said you wanted?"

"I-I was just... and you were... but..." Applejack stammered, feeling heat rush to her cheeks as she noticed the proximity of their faces. Rainbow Dash felt her own cheeks redden as she drew even closer.

"I heard you say that you cared about me, too," Dash whispered. She looked away slowly, closing her eyes in shame. "I'm so sorry, I should have seen it before. I should have gotten over myself and started paying attention." In her haste to speak, she released Applejack who suddenly stopped the pegasus, nudging her face back with a hoof.

"It's alright, sugarcube..." she said, the tears on her face flowing less than before, her mouth turned up in a weak, nervous smile.. "I... I just want you to know now... here..." Slowly, she closed the distance between them, embracing Dash desperately, fearful of the mare's reaction. Instead of freezing up like Applejack expected, the pegasus closed her eyes and wrapped her front hooves around the cowpony and pushed her onto her back, returning the kiss with sincere passion. Applejack's mind reeled as she felt warmth emanating from the cyan pegasus, but found great comfort in it and relaxed considerably. Rainbow Dash released Applejack to look at her once more, and felt a pang of guilt when she saw Applejack shiver slightly.

"Are you alright, Applejack? I think we need to get out of this weather." she said hesitantly, watching the cowpony's expression intently.

"That'd be nice, I think," Applejack chuckled. "But I don't even know where we are."

"I do, kinda. I've been here before when I was younger. There's a cave not too far from here we can crash in for the night."

"I hope ya' don't mean that literally, Dashie." She smiled sheepishly as she could see a faint blush on Dash's face from hearing Applejack's pet name.

"Here, just hold onto me. I promise I won't let go." Rainbow Dash said, lifting slowly into the air and reaching for Applejack's sides. The cowpony donned her soaked stetson and hesitantly heaved her forelegs around the pegasus' body, careful as to not hinder her wings. Rainbow Dash gripped tightly onto the mare underneath her and began to take off through the trees and away from the forest. Applejack looked down for a moment and instantly pressed her face to Rainbow Dash's chest, wanting to un-see the several hundred feet of air between her and the solid ground. Rainbow Dash reassured her, and used her rear legs to support Applejack and press her closer to her body. Applejack blushed again, and this time looked ahead of where they were headed. There were mountains nearby, one of which had an enormous waterfall coming out of the cliffside. Smaller caves dotted the area around it, and an especially large one appeared to be the pegasus' target.

"Are we headin' over there?" Applejack yelled over the wind in her ears, pointing towards it. Rainbow Dash nodded once, leveling her wings and beginning a wide, curved descent towards the treeless mountainside. Moments later, the two mares landed gently inside the mouth of the cave, just as another flash of lightning lit the whole cave and the rain began to pound the forest below. As wide as the entrance was, it was shallow enough that they could both see the end, and were happy enough to know that no other creature would be bothering them. Applejack carefully released her grip on the pegasus, and looked at her with some concern.

"That was a might, dangerous, ya' know, flying in a storm with all that lightning. Something coulda'-mmmmm" Applejack started, silenced by the lips of the pegasus in front of her.

"You're welcome," Rainbow Dash chuckled, enjoying Applejack's half-shocked look. "Now that we're out of the rain, I guess we'll have to do something while we wait until morning." She eyed the cowpony up and down for a moment, winking at her. Applejack froze, her brain unable to form a thought and her mouth unable to form words. Her cheeks flared as various fantasies flooded her mind. Rainbow Dash stepped forward and nuzzled her cheek. "I know you think I'm not into mares, but I think I can make an acception," she whispered, nipping the cowpony's ear in the process. "...just this once." Applejack closed her eyes and exhaled softly as the cyan pegasus drew her tongue down the side of Applejack's ear, making her crane her neck to the side as the pegasus continued down. Her heart steadied, and beat slightly harder as she felt a hoof press against her chest.

"Please, let me make this up to you," Rainbow Dash pleaded quietly, placing small kisses along Applejack's neck and pressing forward into her chest, encouraging her to resume their earlier postition. Applejack slowly leaned back onto her haunches and finally onto her back, completely subdued and at the mercy of the mare above her. Rainbow Dash looked down lovingly and pressed her lips into the base of Applejack's neck and shoulder, earning a small sigh from the cowpony as she relaxed more onto the floor of the cave. It was hard as hell, but she couldn't care less.

"Is... Is this a dream, Dashie?" She whispered, making the pegasus pause. Dash lifted her head and looked Applejack in the eyes for a moment.

"I have no idea, but I want you to enjoy it anyway, Applejack." she whispered softly, placing a small kiss on her nose and rubbing her hoof in circles along Applejack's side. The cowpony squirmed slightly, giggling adorably.

"That tickles, Dash," she said, sighing when the hoof reached down and started caressing her cutie mark. "Oooh, right there, sugarcube..."

Rainbow Dash reached her other hoof over to stroke both cutie marks at the same time, alternating her movements and making the cowpony's breathing quicken slightly. She leaned her head down and bit down softly on Applejack's collarbone, tugging gently at the toned muscle and skin, releasing it and eliciting a small gasp from Applejack. She repeated the motion again and again, moving down the mare's body and pressed even harder on her cutie marks. Applejack was in bliss now, her whole body tingling as her brain registered every little massage, every single nip and bite, until she realized that Dash had reached her stomach and was still moving. She moaned quietly as she felt one last nip just above her hips, and felt the mare's massaging hooves let go. She looked down, and saw the pegasus looking back nervously.

"I-is it alright, if I... you know..." she stammered, turning her head suddenly and staring at the cave wall. Applejack's pleasure induced mind put two and two together, and she smiled gently, reaching a slightly shaking hoof down to the pegasus' cheek.

"Sugarcube," she whispered, a sultry tone overtaking her voice. "You can do whatever you want."

It was Rainbow Dash's turn to blush as she saw Applejack's lust-filled glance, and leaned her head down, smiling cutely. She slowly spread the mare's hindlegs, and ran her tongue across Applejack's inner thigh. The cowpony sighed heavily, biting her lip in anticipation. Rainbow Dash's tongue continued up Applejack's leg until it reached her swollen marehood, and dipped tentatively in as she pressed her mouth to Applejack's crotch. Applejack moaned softly, arching her back slightly as the pegasus ran her wide tongue up and down her slit, and felt it tap teasingly at her now-stiffening bud. She gasped as she felt Rainbow Dash stroke it deftly with the edge of her hoof. She held in a second moan, but failed to keep silent as she felt the hoof return and join the mare's eager lapping. Dash's ears flicked playfully as she heard the cowpony's moans, feeling herself become aroused as well. However, her attention stayed with the mare she was servicing, the one who she had so selfishly been ignorant of for so long.

"A-ah~!" Applejack let out a slightly deeper moan, pressing Dash's head closer and grinding her hips upward. "Please..."

Rainbow Dash pulled her hoof back and drew the small bulb of flesh into her mouth, making the cowpony's muscles clench and release erratically. She flicked it with her tongue lightly, applying the weakest of suction to send the mare over her limits. Applejack was now groaning and wriggling on the cave floor in ecstasy as she felt surges of pleasure flow through her body. She struggled to form words as she felt the pegasus begin massaging her rump with both hooves and grazing her teeth gently across her clit.

"Rainbow, I'm gonna- Aaah-... you need to...- A~aah-... stop..." she moaned loudly. She expected the pegasus to withdraw and finish her with her hoof, but took in a lungful of air in surprise as Rainbow Dash doubled her pace and pressed her hooves roughly into the cowpony's cheeks, kneading the toned flesh eagerly. Applejack's moans increased in volume and turned to short squeaks and squeals of pleasure as she felt her body reaching its breaking point. As if by magic, Dash redoubled her efforts and Applejack's mind was filled with static. Her whole body spasmed erratically, and she felt a familiar release between her legs, which the pegasus eagerly gathered into her mouth and swallowed quickly. She rode the climax to its finish, her body going numb as the waves of pleasure subsided. The pegasus finished cleaning both Applejack and herself, and slowly stood herself up and laid down next to the spent mare.

"Did... Did I do well?" Dash asked, sounding and feeling as if it had been her first time with any kind of sexual encounter. Applejack responded with a quick and passionate kiss, pressing her body into Dash's and wrapping her hoof around her neck. Applejack tasted herself as she slowly slipped her tongue into the other mare's mouth, but ignored it as she felt Dash's tongue wrap around hers in kind. The two remained on the floor of the cave as the rain poured and the wind howled outside the cave, making them draw closer to retain their body heat. Applejack's vision started to weaken as she felt sleep begin to overtake her, but allowed it to take hold of her mind as the last thing she saw was the mare she once loved, in front of her, holding her and staring passionately into her eyes.

Author's Note

Yeah, yeah, I know I jumped onto the AppleDash bandwagon.
So sue me.
Hope y'all enjoyed the chapter. More to come soon.
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