A Trip to Remember

by Gallifrey

Rating: teen
Tags: Big Macintosh, Random, Adventure, Slice of Life, Twilight Sparkle, Princess Luna, Applejack, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash, Romance
Length: 37980

Twilight, Luna, AJ and Rainbow take a camping trip, but what adventures lie for them on the way?

Twilight, Luna, Applejack and Rainbow Dash go on a camping trip together while Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy are away in Manehattan, but what adventures lie for them on the way? Will they make it in one piece? Exactly what are Applejack's feelings for Rainbow Dash? And who does Twilight like?

Published 2012-03-11 03:54:02 UTC
Last updated 2012-04-24 19:08:18 UTC

Slip of the Tongue

A Trip to Remember

by Gallifrey

Chapter Two
Slip of the Tongue

Twilight entered Celestia’s study after knocking on the door.

“Ah, Twilight, good to see you looking so lovely again.”

Twilight’s cheeks turned slightly pink at the compliment.

“What is this new magic you’d like to show me?” Celestia continued.

“Well, um, it’s been very complex, but I’ve found a way of communicating over any distance, implementing both visual and audial aspects, provided there is a flat reflective surface for both parties.”

“I see, this could be very useful; do both participants need to have the ability to use magic?”

“Not at all, only one has to.”

“It would make it easier for me to talk to you at least, and could be crucial in an emergency.”

“Indeed, would you like me to show you?”

“Yes please, Twilight.”

Twilight opened her bags, quickly ran over her notes with her hooves and then pulled out two shallow bowls and filled them from Celestia’s water jug, though not before asking her permission. She then muttered almost silently as she concentrated hard to make the spell work. Celestia looked at her bowl of water to see Twilight’s face swim into view on its surface.

“I think it worked!” said Twilight excitedly, her voice sounding strange as it came both from the bowl and from across the room.

“This is very impressive Twilight, are you going to further investigate the mechanics of this magic?”

“Oh yes, I have already started in fact, would you like to hear what I’ve got so far?”

“Certainly, Twilight,” she said, smilingly inwardly at her student’s enthusiasm.

It was time for dinner once Twilight and Celestia had finished their talk together.

“We had better get going Twilight: it’s dinner time and Luna won’t be pleased if she has to wait.”

They made their way to the Great Hall, where Luna was shooing ponies from it.

“No, no more meetings from me,” she said firmly as a blonde-maned stallion tried to argue with her.

“But Your Highness--”

“But nothing, I’m hungry!” she snapped, closing the doors on his face. She slumped to the floor, back against the door and sighed. She looked up to see Twilight and Celestia approaching her.

“Perfect timing!” she said, “I’m so hungry!”

They made their way together to the dining hall, where their meals awaited them. Luna dove into her spaghetti with much eagerness, listening to Celestia as she recounted Twilight’s magical discovery. Twilight meanwhile stared vacantly into space as she ate her quiche. She was thinking of bed and how nice it would be to just sleep.

“Twilight dear? Are you alright?” asked Celestia.

“Huh? Oh yes, I just kind of spaced out there is all.”

“You do look tired Twilight, would you like some rest?”

“Oh no, I can’t do that, I have more work to do and I--”

“Twilight, I insist, you need a little rest.”

Twilight slumped in defeat.

“Alright, where will I be staying?”

“Your old quarters, is that alright with you?”

“Yes, that sounds delightful,” said Twilight.

“Twilight,” said Luna, her voice slightly muffled by a mouth full of pasta. “How fare your other friends these days? I haven’t seen them since Celly’s birthday, which was over two months ago now.”

“Well, Applejack is very busy preparing for apple bucking season, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie are in Manehattan, and Rainbow Dash is working extra hours after Starshine accidentally got struck by lightning, so he can’t head the Weather Committee anymore. He’s alright though,” she added, looking at the concerned looks on both Princesses’ faces.

“You all sound very busy to me,” said Luna.

“Yes, we are, but we all do what we must.”

Celestia’s eyes brightened as an idea occurred to her.

“It sounds to me like you could all do with a holiday,” she said.

“A holiday?”

“Yes, a holiday - everypony should have a break now and then.”

“A break would certainly be nice,” said Twilight thoughtfully.

“Can I come?” asked Luna hopefully.

Celestia considered her for a moment, then nodded.

“Yes Luna, it’ll do you good, I know how you dislike being cooped up here.”

“Thank you sister! Will you be alright running everything yourself?”

“Of course, I ran Equestria alone for a thousand years after all.”

Luna spluttered on her food and looked at her sister.

“I thought we agreed not to mention that ever again, Celestia,”

“Well, I… sorry Lunes…” said Celestia.

Luna went back to her dinner silently, whilst Twilight sat awkwardly in the midst of the sudden change in atmosphere. Celestia gave Twilight a look that clearly told her that now would be a good time to leave. Twilight hurriedly fabricated an excuse as to why she had to go and she took her leave, with Celestia and Luna resuming their bickering. Twilight walked wearily back to her room.

“Luna, we have a guest.”

“That is not an excuse.”

“I know it isn’t, I am sorry Luna, it was insensitive of me.”

Luna looked at her sister and her eyes softened.

“I am sorry too, I know I can be somewhat… mercurial at times.”

“You don’t need to tell me,” said Celestia grinning as Luna laughed. “Would you care for some pudding?”

Luna’s eyes lit up.

“Pudding?! Yes please!”

Twilight opened the familiar door, only to be hit by a sudden wave of nostalgia: it hadn’t even been two years since she left Canterlot for Ponyville, but it felt like decades to the unicorn as she looked around the large blue room, which clearly hadn’t been used since Twilight had left. The bookshelves were empty, there were loose scraps of parchment on the floor and there was a thin layer of dust on almost every surface. Twilight ascended the stairs to her bed, the only part of the room that looked like it had been disturbed recently, with very comfy looking blankets and pillows. She looked at a clock that was on a bedside table, but it was broken. Looking out of the huge glass windows the room had, she couldn’t tell what time it was by the position of the Sun either, as it was still overcast. Twilight looked back at the bed, which seemed to be calling her name. She got into it, and just as she was getting comfortable, there was a knock at her door.

“Twilight? Are you in there?” asked Celestia. Twilight called for her to come in and she heard the door creak and then hoofsteps as Celestia walked up the stairs. The Sun Princess sat herself at the end of Twilight’s bed. Twilight felt the mattress sink under her weight.

“I apologise for my, ah, slip of tongue there,” said Celestia, “Luna is understandably a little sensitive about that.”

Twilight nodded in understanding.

“Is she alright?”

“Luna? Of course, we’ve made up - it takes a lot more than that for us to fall out.”

“Well, that’s good,” said Twilight.

“I also brought some pudding up for you, if you would like it?”

“What is it?”

“Apple pie.”

“Oooh, yes please.”

Celestia’s long horn glowed as she levitated a dish that she had hidden from Twilight’s sight.

“Princess, what time is it?” she asked as ate her pie.

Celestia closed her eyes for a second, feeling for the Sun’s presence in the sky and where its position was.

“Quarter past eight Twilight dear, why?”

“I was just wondering whether I should go to sleep yet,” murmured Twilight, stifling a yawn. Celestia smiled.

“It looks like now would be a good time.”

Twilight happily agreed and snuggled into her pillow. Celestia chuckled and tucked Twilight into bed, just like she did when she was a filly. Both of them enjoyed the nostalgia of the moment. Finally, Celestia kissed the unicorn gently on the cheek and whispered:

“Goodnight, my faithful student.”

“Goodnight Princess,” murmured Twilight contentedly as Celestia quietly rose to leave the tired purple mare in peace.

Overworked

A Trip to Remember

by Gallifrey

Chapter Three
Overworked

Applejack put one heavy hoof in front of another. In the day’s dying light she set down her last basket of the day by the side of an apple tree. She looked around from her viewpoint on the top of a small hill, and she could see that almost all of the trees the Apple family owned had a basket at the bottom, ready for applebucking season to start. Looking up, she saw that the clouds had now mostly cleared over Ponyville; she was glad for the rain, it did the apples no end of good. She looked towards her home and decided to call it a day, plodding slowly back on the dirt road that led to the house, admiring the golden glow everything was given by the setting Sun on her way. Just short of the big wooden house she noticed something moving on the road. She got closer to it and sighed when she saw it was a fat, brown hen.

“Now how in t’hay did you get out?”

Applejack crept around the chicken, and then started cantering towards it in the direction of the hen hut. She corralled it back, and with a little enticement of grain, got it back into its hut, which she locked up for the night. Applejack then trudged back home.
She opened her front door to see Big Macintosh, Applebloom and Granny Smith sitting round the dining table, with a tall stack of pancakes in the centre.

“C’mon AJ, you were almost late fer supper,” said Big Macintosh in his slow and steady voice.

“Aw, I don’t want any supper tonight, I’m plum tuckered,” said Applejack, motioning to the stairway.

“Oh no you don’t little missy!” said Granny Smith firmly, causing Applejack to stop in her tracks, “You already skipped dinner, now set yer caboose down here and eat up.”

Applejack obliged and sat herself down next to Applebloom, taking off her hat and setting it on the back of her chair.

“Can’t believe you wanted to turn down mah pancakes AJ,” said Big Macintosh playfully, “you love my pancakes.”

“I do,” said Applejack, digging into one, “but ah’ve been so tired today I jus’ wanted to go bed.”

Big Macintosh nodded thoughtfully.

“We’ve all been there, perhaps you should get some time-out?”

“What, right before applebucking season?”

“Eyyyup, you’ll need to be in shape come applebucking season - you won’t be much use half-dead AJ. You should take a holiday or somethin’.”

“A holiday? With who?”

“Well there’s Miss Twilight, who nearly sent me flyin’ earlier by the way, on ‘er way to the train station by looks of it. But anyhow, there’s Miss Twilight, there’s also Miss Rainbow.”

Applejack was thinking of how nice it would be to go on a holiday with her two best friends. She noticed Big Macintosh looking at her shrewdly.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothin’ sis,” he said simply, “would just be nice for y’all to get a break ya know.”

Applejack looked at her brother for a second, then turned to her little sister.

“Applebloom, you need to take better care of the chickens, I saw one loose on my way back.”

“Aw ponyfeathers! Sorry Applejack, I was sure I rounded them all up though.”

“Did you count them?”

“Erm… nope.”

Applejack rolled her eyes as she stood up.

“I’m gonna hit the hay,” she said, yawning. “Night all.”

“G’night!” they all said in unison.

Applejack trudged up the stairs to the bathroom. She had been working all day and despite what most ponies would expect of her, she wasn’t about to go to bed without a wash. She came out of the bathroom a short time later with damp but clean hair and coat. She made her way down the corridor to her bedroom. Her door had a plaque on it that read “AJ” with her hoofprint from when she was a filly. Applejack opened it, drew her curtains shut, hung up her hat at the end of the bed, undoing the bobbles in her mane and tail as she went, and collapsed onto the bed, causing a few feathers to puff up from her blankets. She watched one float slowly down onto her. It reminded her of a certain cyan pegasus and she smiled. Her eyes became very heavy, and not wanting to resist any longer, Applejack drifted off to sleep.

Beautiful Blue Wings

A Trip to Remember

by Gallifrey

Chapter Four
Beautiful Blue Wings

Rainbow Dash woke up on the floor next to her fluffy bed, blankets partially covering her and sunlight streaming into her eyes. She groaned and turned her head away, to promptly bang her head on her bedside cabinet.

“Shoot!” she cursed.

She took a few minutes to gather her willpower and eventually managed to haul herself up onto her hooves. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she took a look at her reflection in a mirror on her bedroom wall and let out a long, low whistle. Her mane was definitely not awesome. Her wings were also ruffled and untidy. She beat them rapidly to straighten out her feathers and grabbed a hairbrush off her dresser. She was about to start combing her mane when she looked at her clock. It was nine o’clock.

“Horseapples!” she cried: she started work at the Weather Factory at nine. She was going to be late!

She threw the brush on the floor; the state of her mane the least of her worries right now. With Starshine incapacitated from his accident, she was in charge of the Weather Committee, and she couldn’t afford to be late. She bypassed warming up her wings, opened her window and shot out of it like a bullet, making a sharp turn and a bee line for Cloudsdale.

Good thing I’m the fastest flier in Equestria, she thought, reassuring herself and massaging her ego at the same time. Should be there in five minutes.

She took a very slight deviation through a cloud, thus giving herself a very brief shower. The air streaming past her dried her out very quickly. She tore through the air over Cloudsdale, willing herself to go even faster, wind whipping her face, when it happened. Rainbow’s left wing seized up completely and she couldn’t move it. She started panicking as she began to fall out of the sky. Luckily for Rainbow, Cloudsdale was beneath her, so her fall wasn’t nearly as dangerous as it might have been.

“LOOK OUT BELOW!” she yelled as she hurtled to the ground next to the large statue of Cloud Chaser. Again it was lucky for Rainbow that Cloudsdale’s ground was soft fluffy cloud, which cushioned her fall well, though not enough for it to be painless. She grunted in pain as she landed hard on her right side.

“Rainbow!” came a shocked voice from in front of her. Rainbow felt her heart sink.

Of all the ponies who had to see me mess up, it had to be her didn’t it?

“Rainbow, are you okay?” asked Spitfire.

“To be honest… no, I’m not okay - there’s something wrong with my wing.”

Spitfire took a look at Dash’s left wing as it hung limply at her side. Spitfire gave it a very tentative poke with her hoof, and Rainbow gasped in discomfort.

“Can you move it?” she asked. Dash tried flapping her wings; her right wing obeyed her, her left twitched slightly, and gave her another stab of pain.

“We need to get you to hospital—”

“NO! Not there again!”

Spitfire was startled by Rainbow’s reaction.

“Why not?”

“Because, I hate hospitals, they’re so boring!”

“You sure? I would still say the hospital is a good idea.”

“Nuh-uh, ain’t gonna happen Spitfire,” said Rainbow firmly.

“Well, at least allow me to offer you a place to stay for now, seeing as it doesn’t look like you’ll be flying home any time soon.”

“Now that I’m fine with,” said Dash, getting to her feet. “I really should get to the Weather Factory though, at least let them know I tried to get there.”

“Oh no you don’t,” said Spitfire, “get on over to mine, I’ll go up and tell them why you can’t come to work, okay?”

“Gee, thanks a lot Spitfire.”

“No prob’, help yourself to whatever too,” she said, taking flight and hovering, “See ya in a jiffy.” She sped off.

Rainbow walked slowly to Spitfire’s house, not due to the pain in her wing, more the pain on the right side of her body. After what felt like a long time to Rainbow, she arrived at Spitfire’s home. She opened the door, walked past Spitfire’s multitude of awards into her living room and slumped herself slowly into an armchair. She picked up a copy of a magazine and flitted through the pages, not paying much attention to it until she saw a picture of—Rarity? She hastily flicked back a few pages as she saw not only Rarity beaming broadly, but Pinkie and Fluttershy as well, the latter two wearing dazzling dresses. The headline read: ‘New Fashion Craze Sweeps Manehatten.’ She stared at the article, hardly daring to believe that Rarity had become so popular so quickly. Interested, she started reading:

Manehatten’s streets have a new pony on the block as Rarity, a fashionista from Ponyville, unveils her new line of attire. The attractive pieces have taken the streets by storm in an unprecedented spike of popularity for the relatively unknown unicorn.

‘I just don’t know what to say,’ says Rarity, ‘everypony seems to love my new clothes, it’s a dream come true!’

Rarity makes a living at Carousel Boutique in Ponyville, which is—

“Honey, I’m home!” called Spitfire.

Rainbow snapped out of reading the magazine.

“Haha, you’re so funny Spitfire,” said Dash flatly.

“They’re not too happy with you ya know Rainbow,” said Spitfire as she entered the living room and sat down in a chair.

“Something along the lines of ‘first Starshine, now this!’”

“Oh yeah, well, Starshine got struck by lightning, so it’s getting pretty understaffed there right now I guess. He should be back soon though.”

“So, what does this mean for the weather? Is it gonna go crazy now there are two pegasi less than usual?

“Oh no, it’ll probably just be less predictable than usual is all, it’ll be easiest for them to just have a few sunny days right now. Which would be awesome, I haven’t had the chance to catch many rays recently because of work.”

“Well, you’re gonna have plenty of time while your wing heals,” chuckled Spitfire.

“Hehe, yeah. Hey, could I borrow some paper? I got a letter to write.”

“Sure thing Rainbow. Do you want something to eat or drink?” she asked as she got up.

Rainbow’s stomach rumbled loudly as if in answer to her question.

“I’ll take that as a yes?” said Spitfire, raising an eyebrow slightly.

“Yes please!” said Rainbow eagerly - she had missed out on breakfast after all.

“What d’ya want?

“Do you have pizza?”

“I do have pizza.”

“Can I have pizza?”

“You can have pizza,” said Spitfire grinning as she left.

Rainbow leaned over to Spitfire’s table in the centre of the room, wincing. She moved an empty glass out of the way as she picked up a quill, ink and paper. She smoothed out the paper on the arm of the chair, took the quill into her mouth, dipped it into the ink, paused for a moment, then began:

Dear Twilight,
I know this isn’t the best time for me to be writing to you, with you being in Canterlot and all, but I could really use your help right now. I’ve injured my wing and I am stuck in Cloudsdale because I can’t fly. It sucks big time, a Rainbow Dash that can’t fly is like a Pinkie Pie that can’t party, or an Applejack that can’t buck! But anyway, I need your help, I know you have that big purple balloon; I was thinking if you could be awesome enough to give me a lift and take me back to Ponyville when you return,

She paused for a moment, wondering where she was going to go. Applejack swam into her mind - she always enjoyed spending time with Applejack - she continued:

I’m gonna ask Applejack if I can stay with her until my wing gets better, she owes me one after all the strings I’ve been pulling for her at the Weather Factory to get her apples the way she wants them. Hope you’re having a great time in Canterlot!

Your most awesome friend,
Rainbow Dash

P.S I’m at Spitfire’s place, which is forty-two Skyloft Street, you should find it easily enough.

Rainbow reread the letter to ensure it made sense, then sealed it in an envelope and wrote Twilight’s name and the Palace onto it. She smelled pizza.

“Here you go Rainbow, eat up!”

Rainbow looked up to see Spitfire offering her a pizza. There was a slice missing.

“Thought I’d have a little bit,” said Spitfire, grinning again, “it’s good stuff.”

“Gee, thanks Spitfire,” said Rainbow gratefully as she dove into her first food of the day, “do you want any more?” she asked, a string of cheese hanging in between her mouth and slice.

“Nah, I’m alright, thanks though Rainbow.”

As Rainbow ate her pizza, she asked Spitfire what she had been doing recently. She told Dash of how busy she had been.
“It’s been crazy, ever since the Princess’ birthday, the news of what we did has spread like wildfire and this is the busiest we've been in a long time. It’s really good for us, but it is hard work, not gonna lie.”

Dash had a slightly glassy look in her eyes as she imagined herself working alongside Spitfire and Soarin’, flying all over Equestria to crowds of thousands. She started thinking about just how lucky she was to be sitting inside Spitfire’s house, one of her hero’s homes, not as an interviewer or part of the paparazzi, but as a friend. The filly Rainbow Dash would never have believed it.

“Yo, Rainbow, come back to me here,” said Spitfire playfully.

“Heh, sorry.”

“How’s your wing feel?”

“It hurts. Quite a lot.”

“Celestia knows how many times I’ve pulled muscles and whatnot during training, maybe I can work out what’s wrong,” said Spitfire, glancing at it, “Do you mind if I take a look?”

“Knock yourself out,” said Dash, twisting in her seat.

Spitfire gently raised Dash’s wing: there was a small, dark blue streak at the base of her wing that was slightly swollen.

“Can you move it?”

“Only just, and it’s really painful when I do.”

“I think you’ve sprained it Rainbow, did you warm up this morning?”

“Erm…” Rainbow hesitated, she knew she hadn’t, and it was good practice to warm up before flying, which made her fearful of admitting that she hadn’t to the Wonderbolt. However, she had never been a good liar and decided to tell the truth.

“Erm… no. I didn’t,” Rainbow looked at the floor.

Spitfire smiled inwardly at the cyan pegasus’ nervousness.

“I’ve been there so many times,” said Spitfire.

“You have?” said Rainbow, head snapping back up.

“Sure, I used to always hate warming up when I just wanted to get out there and fly! I don’t blame you for skipping it.”

“It was more because I was late for work.”

“That’s fair enough then, you didn’t have the time.” Spitfire glanced out the window. “Hey, you wanna go outside? It’s nice out.”

“Sure, I can post this letter too,” said Rainbow as they walked out to Spitfire’s garden.

“I can take it straight to the mail centre you know: I know one or two ponies that can prioritise this letter so it can get there for this afternoon, if you want?”

“Wow! That’s fast!” exclaimed Dash.

“I know right? It’s great. You get yourself comfy outside, I’ll be back soon.” And with that, she sped off.

Tea

A Trip to Remember

by Gallifrey

Chapter Five
Tea

Twilight woke up naturally after one of the best night’s sleep she’d had in a long time. She felt so relaxed in the soft embrace of the bed. She eventually sat up and stretched, feeling her sleepiness leave her and alertness return.

“What time is it?” she asked herself, drawing the covers off herself and looking out of the window; the Sun was high in the sky.

“Oh goodness, I’ve overslept!”

Okay Twilight: don’t panic, I’m sure the Princess won’t mind.
But what if she does? Came a niggly little voice in the back of her mind, What if she wanted to share breakfast with you and you never showed up - think of how disappointed she would be.

“Oh no no no no, this is not good!” squeaked Twilight.

She bolted down the stairs and out of the room, making her way down to the Great Hall. Once she got there however, Celestia was nowhere to be seen, but she saw a piece of parchment on the throne. She trotted over to read it, and recognised the familiar wavy hoofwriting immediately.

Out for lunch, Court shall resume at half past one. Twilight, if you are reading this, meet me in the Gardens.

Twilight reread the paper again for good measure, then made for the Gardens - or rather, the bit of the Gardens that was private and not open to the public. She opened a door, and walked down an open corridor with no glass in the arched windows, and ivy growing up the pillars in between. About halfway down the corridor she turned right, to a large balcony with a lawn in the middle, and a plethora of blooming flowers all around the edges. There was a white, round table on the lawn, and Princess Celestia was sitting at it. Twilight looked for signs of disapproval on the alicorn’s face, but her fears were unfounded, as usual.

“Ah, good afternoon Twilight! You got up eventually I see.”

“Heh, yeah, I guess I needed that sleep,” said Twilight, taking her seat opposite Celestia

“You did my dear, you work much too hard. Would you care for some tea? And some sandwiches? I saved some for you in case you turned up.”

“Yes please Princess.”

Celestia poured out two cups of tea, putting milk in both, but sugar only in Twilight’s: she knew how the unicorn took her tea from the many times they had shared it before. Celestia sipped from her cup. They sat in silence for a short while, enjoying the pleasant weather. The balcony gave a good view of the Palace grounds below, including the maze that Twilight avoided nowadays. The sound of chirping birds, buzzing bees and the perfume of flowers drifted in on a gentle breeze. Celestia was just about to ask Twilight something when her ears perked up; she could her hoofsteps. She looked up to see Luna trotting towards them.

“Luna, you’re up early aren’t you?” said Celestia, puzzled.

“Yes I am,” said Luna, with the irritable air of somepony who just wanted to be asleep, “we were trying to make up for the sleep we missed yesterday,” she playfully narrowed her eyes at her sister, “but we were awoken by a blue-grey pegasus knocking at my window with a letter. She seemed confused and thought my window was Twilight’s, so she gave it to me and flew away. Anyway, here is your letter Twilight Sparkle.”

“Thank you Luna,” said Twilight.

“I would also like to apologise for last night, my behaviour was not appropriate in your presence.”

“Oh it’s fine Luna, really,” said Twilight, opening her letter.

Luna yawned widely.

“Excellent, but forgive me, I must return to bed - Celly, I’ll see you at dinner. Twilight, I’ll visit you at some point soon.”

“Sounds good to me, goodnight Luna.”

“Night Lunes.”

“Night.” She trudged off back to bed.

Twilight took her letter out of the envelope and read it. Celestia looked out over the grounds, thinking of nothing in particular.

“Rainbow Dash has injured her wing and can’t fly!” exclaimed Twilight. Celestia’s attention came back to the unicorn.

“But doesn’t she live in the sky? How will she get home?”

“She says she’s going to ask Applejack if she can stay at Sweet Apple Acres.”

A gear shifted in Celestia’s mind. She had been meaning to ask Twilight this for a while.

“Twilight, do you know if Rainbow Dash and Applejack are together or not?”

“Together?”

Celestia smiled at the unicorn’s naïvety.

“Yes, as in a relationship.”

“Oh! Oh no! At least, as far as I know they’re not, but then again, I’m not much good at noticing these kind of things. But I don’t think they are…”

Celestia chuckled as Twilight continually stumbled over her words.

“And I’m not sure AJ is even like that, but then again—”

“Twilight, it’s fine if you don’t know, I was only curious,” said Celestia lightly.

Twilight stopped in her rambling and coughed.

“Heh, sorry. Oh, she also asked me to bring her down from Cloudsdale with my balloon, so I guess I’ll be heading back soon so I can get it done before the end of the day.”

“That’s perfectly fine Twilight. I wouldn’t want to keep you here when your friend is stranded in Cloudsdale - especially when she seems so eager to reach the ground.” Celestia chuckled again. Then a mischievous idea struck her.

“How about you Twilight? Is there a special somepony in your life?”

Twilight spluttered on her tea and blushed.

“Oh, no, there’s no-one in my life, I just keep to myself most of the time with my studies.” She traced a hoof in small circles on the table as she said this.

“Nopony at all? Not even anypony who you find attractive?”

“Not really, I just don’t mind being single is all.”

“I see, you always were a wise mare Twilight, sometimes relationships are more trouble than they’re worth. Not that I would know,” she added with a little resentment. Then she brightened back up. She closed her eyes for a moment, so she could work out the time from the Sun’s position. “It’s time for me to get back to work. Twilight, you can do whatever you wish, when would you like to leave?”

“Is three o’clock okay?”

“Of course it is Twilight.”

Three o’clock came, and Twilight was at the gates of the Palace with Celestia.

“It was lovely to see you again,” said Celestia as she bowed her head to nuzzle her protégé lovingly.

“Thank you Princess, it was nice seeing you again too. Thank you for the meals and accommodation too.”

“It was my pleasure; now hurry, doesn’t your train leave at half past?”

“Yes it does,” said Twilight, picking up her saddlebags. “Tell Luna I said bye too.”

“I will, goodbye Twilight, have a safe trip home.”

“Goodbye Princess!” called Twilight as she made her way downhill to Canterlot town. Celestia watched as her most faithful student became smaller and smaller, to eventually turn a corner and disappear entirely.

Hot Air Balloon

A Trip to Remember

by Gallifrey

Chapter Six
Hot Air Balloon

It was five o’clock when Twilight arrived in Ponyville, and she walked back to her home at a leisurely pace, picking up some carrots and blackberries to snack on as she went.
Once back at her home she set down her bags in her room, glad to be relieved of the burden.

“Now to find Spike.”

Twilight called his name several times, to no answer. She looked in her bed, the various cubbyholes he sometimes napped in, and the kitchen, in case he was eating. She called him again, and a muffled grunt came from the cellar door. It opened as a sleepy looking Spike emerged.

“Spike,” said Twilight sternly, “did you spend the whole time I was away asleep?”

“Not all of it,” said Spike.

“Urgh, you’re gonna have to stop being so lazy Spike! Now come and help me get the balloon ready.”

“The balloon? What for?”

Spike followed Twilight into the back garden to the shed where they kept the balloon when not in use.

“Rainbow Dash is stuck in Cloudsdale… injured her wing… need to bring her down to ground,” grunted Twilight as she used her magic to drag out the basket of the hot air balloon. She positioned it on its side.

“Spike, can you ignite the burner?” asked Twilight once the she was ready. Spike took a deep breath and belched a tongue of emerald green flame at the burner, which erupted in dancing red fire. The balloon inflated quickly and rose up vertically. Twilight turned off the flame when the balloon was ready.

“Coming Spike?”

“Nah, I need to feed Opalescence - better get to it considering I haven’t done it yet today.”

Twilight rolled her eyes at the dragon.

“Alright, see you later then,” she said as she magically turned the flame on again and slowly rose into the sky.

Twilight rose high above Ponyville, and gently directed the balloon with her magic towards the great city in the sky some distance away. It had been quite some time since she last flew her balloon, and she had quite forgotten how tranquil it made her feel to be silently floating over Equestria. Silent until she needed to use the burner at any rate. She looked out over the edge of the basket to see Sweet Apple Acres directly beneath her, and she fancied she saw an orange blob far below in the fields of carrots. She waved, on the off chance that Applejack had seen her drifting overhead. Twilight hummed to herself as she started to float over woods and hills. She had brought her carrots and blackberries with her and she started munching on them as she murmured under her breath:

“I’ll be out of my mind,
And you’ll be out of ideas pretty soon,
So let’s spend, the afternoon,
In a cold hot air balloon.”

She didn’t know where she had heard the song, it sounded like one she had heard long ago, only to be remembered now. She finished her carrots and she started on the blackberries.

A while later, Twilight arrived in Cloudsdale. She landed in the first open area she saw, and found herself in a plaza near the centre of the city. Twilight felt very conspicuous as she descended, with many ponies looking up at the odd sight of a unicorn in a hot air balloon. Twilight quickly performed the spell that let her walk on clouds as the balloon landed. She hopped out, to the astonishment of the on looking ponies, but didn’t fall through the cloud. She quickly tethered the balloon to a nearby lamp post and looked around. She had no idea where Skyloft Street was, so she walked up to the nearest pony to her and asked.

“Sure I know where it is,” said an elderly stallion, “straight up thataways.” He pointed with his hoof.

“Thank you sir,” said Twilight as she cantered up in the direction he pointed. Twilight passed Buck Road, Beak Avenue, Loftwing Street, and then Skyloft Street. She reached number forty-two and knocked four times with her hoof.

A bright yellow pegasus with a fiery mane answered.

“Ah, hello, Twilight isn’t it? You here for Dash?”

“Hi, yes, is she in?”

“Yeah, I’ll go get her, come in.”

Twilight stepped inside and marvelled at all of Spitfire’s awards - just like everypony who entered her home.

“Dash, your friend is here!”

“I’m coming! Heya Twilight!”

“Hi Dash, you ready to go? We can’t wait too long or the balloon will start to deflate.”

“Ready to leave when you are Twi’. Thanks a lot for letting me stay here today Spitfire.”

“Anything for a friend Dash.” Rainbow squeed slightly. Twilight tried not to roll her eyes at Dash’s reaction as they left.

“See ya Spitfire!” called Rainbow.

“Later Dash! Visit me sometime once you can fly again!”

“So Rainbow, how exactly did you injure your wing?”

They were floating back to Sweet Apple Acres, sharing what was left of the blackberries as Rainbow told Twilight how she had sprained her wing.

“How long ‘til you’ll be able to fly again?”

“Spitfire said about three weeks, but I hope it heals faster than that - I already miss flying.”

“Aren’t we flying now though?” asked Twilight, puzzled.

Rainbow sighed.

“Yeah,” she began, looking out to the Sun, which was on its way down as early evening began. “But it’s not the same: there’s no thrill of speed or the wind rushing through my mane or anything up here.”

Rainbow pouted at the prospect of being tethered to the ground for so long.

“At least it’s not permanent or anything,” said Twilight reassuringly.

“Hey yeah, that’s true,” said Rainbow, brightening up a bit, “I forgot to ask you, how was Canterlot?”

Twilight told Rainbow of how Princess Celestia was impressed with her new magical discovery.

“She also said we should have a holiday.”

“Who? Us?”

“Yeah, well, us, Luna and whoever else we want to come.”

“Is AJ coming?” asked Rainbow.

“I’d be more than happy for Applejack to come, you should ask her later.”

“I will! She better say yes, that’d be awesome.”

Twilight grinned but said nothing as she saw Sweet Apple Acres come into view over a hill, and let the balloon gently descend.

Twilight looked keenly for a certain orange earth pony. She soon spotted her, pulling a cart with baskets in it. Twilight steered and the balloon came to land in the field. Applejack heard the thud as the balloon landed and turned to see what caused it. Releasing herself from the cart, she wandered over to them.

“Howdy gals,” said Applejack cheerfully, “I guess it was you who ah saw earlier then?”

“Yes, did you see me waving?”

“Ah thought I did, but was none too sure at the time. What did need the b’loon fer anyway?”

“I’ll let Rainbow explain,” said Twilight, as the cyan mare hopped out of the basket gingerly. “I need to be off now anyway.”

“A’right, see ya later Twi’”

“Bye Twilight, thanks for the lift!”

“No problem, see you girls later!” yelled Twilight over the roar of the flames as she ascended back into the sky.

Two is Company

A Trip to Remember

by Gallifrey

Chapter Seven
Two is Company

“So Rainbow,” said Applejack, bringing her attention to the multihued mare, “why did Twilight need the balloon?”

“Well,” Dash began as Applejack went to pull the cart again, “I sprained my wing this morning so I can’t fly for a while, so I needed to get to the ground so I don’t, like, starve to death, and um, I was wondering if it’d be alright for me to stay with you and stuff.” Dash’s cheeks turned slightly pink.

“Well o’course you can! What kind of friend would ah be ter turn you away?” she said, looking kindly at Rainbow, “Though the spare bedroom is being redecorated right now so ah guess you’ll have ter sleep in mah room. You don’t mind do ya?”

“Not at all!” said Dash as they made their way back to the orchards, so Applejack could place more baskets at the bases of trees. As Applejack finished off her work, Rainbow’s eyes wandered aimlessly, until they found themselves staring at the earth pony; she bucked at a tree to test how close they were to being ripe.

She sure does have powerful flanks, said a sly voice in her mind, very well-toned flanks.
Rainbow shook her head. “What?” she said out loud.

“I didn’ say nothin’,” said Applejack, puzzled.

“Sorry, thought you did,” Rainbow lied quickly. She was a little concerned.

Where did that thought come from? Never had that before. Rainbow wondered.
She was lying to herself again: she had occasionally had similar thoughts about many of her friends, though she wouldn’t admit it to herself, much less to her friends.

“You ‘kay Rainbow? You look a lil' troubled over there.”

“Yeah I’m fine, just hungry I guess.”

“You have no idea girl,” chuckled Applejack, “Ah haven’t had squat since breakfast, I feel like I could eat all of Sugarcube Corner right now!”

“You wanna go eat?”

“Yup, ah’m finished now.”

Once inside Applejack’s house, the orange mare went to wash her hooves before eating. Rainbow could smell something delicious coming from the stove in the kitchen. Big Macintosh was casually stirring a wooden spoon in a large copper pot.

“Well how do Miss Rainbow,” he said politely when he saw her enter.

“Hey Mac, what’s that you got cooking there? Smells like—”

“Leek an’ potato soup, one of yer favourites if ah’m not mistaken?”

“No you’re not, I love leek and potato soup!”

“Good thing you’re here really, I went an’ made too much fer us four to eat on our own.”

“Mmmm, smells good big brother!” said Applejack walking into the kitchen.

“Eyyyyup! S’almost ready, you wanna wake up Granny?”

“I’m on it,” said Applejack.

“Pull up a chair Rainbow, ah’ll only be a few more minutes.”

Rainbow sat down, looking around the kitchen. There was a lot of cooking apparatus hanging on the walls, pots, pans, ladles, whisks and the like. The windowsill had a few small potted plants and rustic ornaments. The clock on the wall read five past eight and the orange light from the evening Sun cast everything in a ruddy glow.
Applejack returned with her grandmother and younger sister.

“Well howdy do Miss Rainbow Dash,” said Granny Smith.

“Heya Rainbow!” said Applebloom.

“Hi, you all alright?”

“Yes, thank you,” said Granny Smith as she slowly sat herself down at the head of the table.

“You betcha!” said Applebloom.

“Good good.”

Applejack sat to Rainbow’s left as Big Macintosh carefully balanced the pot of soup while trying not to burn himself. He set it down on the table, having only spilt a small amount, and he also set down a loaf of bread and some butter.

“Eat up everypony,” he said simply.

They all let Rainbow take the first serving, with her being the guest, then they followed in age order.

Rainbow ate a spoonful of the hot soup. It was smooth, creamy and made her tummy feel warm; she liked it a lot, as she always did.

“So Rainbow,” said Applejack after her first mouthful of soup, “How long you gonna be grounded?”

“Spitfire said about three weeks.”

“Spitfire eh?” said Big Macintosh, “If anypony’s gonna know about that kinda thing, she’s your gal!”

“He so has a crush on her,” murmured Applejack to Rainbow.

“Hey! Ah heard that!”

“Do ya deny it?” teased Applejack.

“She’s mighty purdy is all,” said Big Macintosh, purposefully avoiding eye contact with his sister.

“Heck, I’m only joshing you bro.” She grinned at him. “Anyway, Spitfire, is that where you’ve been all day?”

“Yeah, I was just hanging with her, it’s pretty lucky she had today off really.”

After dinner, Applejack and Rainbow Dash went up to the orange mare’s bedroom. The open window facing west commanded a good view of a few of the fields and hills of apples, and behind them was the blood red Sun as it set, staining the sky crimson and purple.

“Boy howdy, Celestia made us a pretty sunset tonight eh Rainbow?” said Applejack, sitting on her bed next to the window.

“Yeah, real pretty,” replied Rainbow, sitting next to Applejack, the mattress creaking under their combined weight.

Applejack took off her hat and hung it on a hook next to her lasso, undid the bands in her hair and shook her head and body to let her mane and tail flow free.

“AJ, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you with your hair down before,” said Rainbow.

“Really? How does it look?”

“It looks… great!”

“Thank ya kindly Rainbow, but when it’s like this it gets in the way of mah work.”

“Yeah, I can imagine, it is very long.”

“Speakin’ of work, Big Mac has said ah should get some rest before applebucking season.”

Rainbow’s ears perked up.

“Oh really? Well, according to Twilight, Celestia has said that she should have a holiday with her friends.”

“Well, ah do have enough time an’ all, she wouldn’t mind if I came?”

“Of course not! She said she wanted you to come.”

“S’nice of her to say that.”

“I wanted you to come too,” said Rainbow quickly.

“Then it was nice of both of ya,” said Applejack as she grabbed a hairbrush with her mouth and started combing her mane. Every so often, when she got in a difficult position, the brush fell from her mouth and clattered on the floor.

“Fer Pete’s sake,” she muttered.

“Here, lemme help,” said Rainbow, picking the brush up and leaning over to her. She started brushing Applejack’s mane for her.

“Thanks Rainbow, ‘tis difficult to do it by yerself.”

“I know it is,” said Rainbow’s muffled voice through the comb, “kinda makes you jealous of the unicorns doesn’t it?”

“Heh, sure does!”

The pair then sat in silence for a little while. Applejack watched the Sun slowly set as Rainbow continued her ministrations. The orange pony sighed and felt a serene sense of calm at the gentle, repetitive tugs Rainbow gave her as she combed and her eyelids began to droop in contentment. Rainbow meanwhile caught the sweet aroma of apples from Applejack’s hair every time she drew the brush.

Why am I enjoying this so much? Rainbow asked herself, as a gentle breeze flowed in through the window and she smelled apples again. She smells so nice! And she seems to enjoy it too. But I think I’ve finished now, I don’t wanna look weird by carrying on. “All done AJ.”

“That was much faster than usual, and more relaxing, thanks sugar cube.”

“No problem,” said Rainbow happily.

“Would ya like some cocoa before we call it a day?”

“Call it a—Yeah, sure!” said Rainbow hurriedly.

She was used to going bed past midnight, but clearly Applejack had a different sleeping pattern.

“You can have the bed if ya want Rainbow, by the way,” said Applejack at the doorway, “I’ll sleep on th’ floor.”

“No you won’t!” said Rainbow firmly, “You can’t go sleeping on the cold floor!”

“Do you mind me sleepin’ in same bed as ya?”

Buck no! Came the sly voice in her head.

Rainbow shook her head at the voice and also inadvertently answered Applejack’s question.

“No? Well alrighty then! I’ll get your cocoa ready.”

Applejack left the room and walked down the upstairs corridor, pausing halfway and knocking gently on a door.

“Eyyyup?” came a voice from inside. Applejack opened the door and entered Big Macintosh’s room. The red stallion was sitting at a desk with a quill in his mouth.

“Whatcha doin’?” asked Applejack.

“Ah’m writin’, AJ, you know how I like writin’ an’ all.”

“That I do. Anyway, are Granny and Applebloom asleep yet?”

“I ‘spect so, ‘tis past nine o’clock, why?”

“Ah’m gonna make some cocoa, do ya want some?”

“That’d be just dandy sis.”

“Okie dae, I’ll make some fer you too, ah’ll be about ten minutes,” said Applejack as she left the room.

Rainbow Dash pulled Applejack’s blankets back as she got into the bed and threw her head onto a pillow, staring at the wooden ceiling. It felt a little odd for Rainbow to be sleeping on the ground, not surrounded by cloud. She looked around the room, and noticed a small, slightly worn book on the bedside table. Rainbow wondered what it was about and picked it up. She opened it on a random page and was surprised to find that it was Applejack’s diary. She considered putting it back, but her curiosity got the better of her.

“A quick look won’t hurt,”

She opened the book again and looked at the entry for the twenty-ninth of January in Applejack’s untidy hoofwriting:

It snowed an awful lot today, though I still made sure I made it to Fluttershy’s for tea with the rest of the girls.

She skipped to the seventh of April:

Big Macintosh’s birthday today, I got him a nice new yoke for him to wear, I think he liked it a lot, he better do too, it was darn expensive.

The twenty-second of June:

Had a nice walk with Rainbow Dash last night during Princess Celestia’s party at the Palace, she’s such a nice pony in her way, taking me out for a stroll in the grounds—

Rainbow heard hoofsteps as Applejack ascended the stairs, she hastily shut the diary and put it back where it was. Applejack knocked on Big Macintosh’s door.

“Why thank you AJ,” Rainbow heard his low voice, “tell Miss Rainbow I wish her goodnight fer me won’t ya?

“Sure will.”

“G’night sis, have fun.”

“G’nigh—Have fun?”

She turned to ask her brother just what he meant by that, but his door was already shut, his name plaque wobbling slightly.
Applejack frowned as she returned to her room.

“’S’up?” asked Rainbow.

“Nothin’, here ya go,” she answered, handing a steaming mug to her.

Applejack set her own on top of the diary on the bedside table and clambered into her bed, her body gently brushing against Rainbow’s, causing a small jolt of excitement in the multi-coloured pegasus.

“So Rainbow, about this trip thingy,” she said, picking up her mug and blowing gently on it, “do ya have any idea what Twilight has in mind?”

Rainbow took a sip of the hot chocolate and replied:

“Not sure really, but I imagine it’d be camping or something.”

“Ah haven’t been camping in years, I sure do miss it.”

“Do ya want me to run that past Twilight then, see what she thinks?”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea.”

“I’ll go up and see her tomorrow then. Urgh, it’s gonna take so long walking there.”

“How does yer wing feel?”

“Hmmm, it only really hurts if I move it, or lie on it, still can’t move it though beyond twitching.”

“Can ah look at it?”

“Sure.” Rainbow pulled the covers down and turned her back to Applejack. The orange pony turned on a beside lamp and carefully examined the injured wing.

“Can ya tuck it in at all?”

“No, it just stays out.”

“Ah could fold it in for ya with a bandage if you want? It would stop it getting in the way as much.”

“I don’t see why not.”

Applejack leaned over her bed and retrieved a first aid kit from under it, Rainbow sat up as Applejack unravelled some bandage. She carefully took Rainbow’s left wing in her hooves.

“Now this will hurt fer a second,” warned Applejack as she quickly bent Rainbow’s wing into the folded position.

Rainbow yelped loudly in pain as the earth pony swiftly wrapped a strip of bandage round twice to hold the wing in place.

“How does it feel now?”

“It feels… Better. Well, better than it was, and it’s not in the way anymore.”

“Good ter hear sugar cube,” said Applejack, setting down her empty mug. “You wanna get some shuteye now? You’ve had an eventful day after all.”

“Now that you mention it, I do feel pretty sleepy.”

“Alrighty,” said Applejack, turning off the lamp.
She snuggled back under the blanket, leaned over and reached out a hoof in the near darkness to hug her friend. Rainbow, not expecting the contact, jumped slightly, but returned the warm hug eagerly.

“G’night sugarcube,” said Applejack, breaking the hug.

“Goodnight Applejack,” said the pegasus with a wide smile on her face that stayed with her as she drifted off to sleep.

At the Library

A Trip to Remember

by Gallifrey

Chapter Eight
At the Library

Applejack woke early the next morning feeling very refreshed; Rainbow had rolled over during the night and was now very close to her, with one of her hind legs actually pressed against her orange body- Applejack wasn’t sure why, but she liked the contact in a way. Rainbow twitched in her sleep, and inadvertently kicked Applejack softly. She chuckled and sat up, looking at the pegasus. She seemed to be dreaming about something, her eyes were moving rapidly under the lids.

“Appl—jac—” she murmured quietly, smiling in her sleep.

Applejack grinned and slowly got out of her bed, so as not to disturb Rainbow Dash from her slumber. She crept across the room, deftly opened the door and slipped out.

After she had had a wash she ventured downstairs for some breakfast. Big Macintosh was on a break after already feeding the chickens. He was at the kitchen table with his hind legs propped up on the table’s surface, a sprig of hay in his mouth.

“Morning sis,” he said cheerfully, “how’d ya sleep last nigh’?”

“Like a log,” she replied as she searched the cupboards.

“Good, and Miss Rainbow?”

“Still asleep,” said the orange mare as she grabbed a few apples.

“She does like her shut-eye doesn’t she?”

“She sure does,” said Applejack, biting into her apple. “She’s gonna see Twilight later to suggest we go camping soon.”

“So ya takin’ mah advice then and having a little time off?”

“Yup.”

“Ah’m sure you’ll have a great time,” said the stallion.

“O’ course we will.”

Rainbow Dash blearily opened her eyes in the late morning. She reached out a hoof for her friend, searching for her comforting warmth and presence but was disappointed when her hoof met nothing but blanket. She yawned and sat up; looking out the window she could see Applejack working in the fields. Stretching, she rolled out of the bed and walked out of the house. The Sun was warm on her body as she trotted around the back, to tell Applejack she was going to visit Twilight Sparkle.

“Hey AJ!” she called once Applejack was within earshot.

“Mornin’ sugar cube! How did ya sleep last nigh’?”

“Really well, thanks. Hey, I’m gonna head up Ponyville today and see Twilight, I’ll be back sometime after lunch.

“Sounds good. Oh Rainbow, could you pick up some custard for me fer dessert this evening please, from the Doctor?”

“Doctor Whooves?”

“That’s the one!”

“Alrighty, see ya later AJ!”

“Bye!”

Rainbow was irritated by the time she eventually reached Ponyville. It had taken her much longer than she had anticipated on hoof, and the hot weather did nothing to improve her temper.

How do they do it? She thought. This is so boring, I should be flying now! And I’m so hot, I miss the wind so much…

She looked over her shoulder as she trotted along.

“Stupid wing.”

She passed the familiar bustling streets of Ponyville, heading for the library. She would normally just fly through the windows to enter, much to the irritation of the owner, but today, the bell tinkled as the pegasus walked through the door.
A purple dragon was sitting on the floor in the entrance hall , with his back against the wall, eating an emerald.

“Oh hey Rainbow,” he said lazily, “Twilight’s upstairs if you want her.”

“Thanks Spike.”

Rainbow walked up the wooden stairs and knocked on Twilight’s door. There was no answer. She knocked a little louder- still nothing. Growing impatient, Rainbow just opened it; the room was empty. Then she noticed the balcony doors were open and walked over to them. Twilight Sparkle was sitting on a cushion before a canvas, with a jug full of cool lemonade next to her.

“Oh hey Rainbow!” said Twilight when she noticed the blue mare, “How’s your wing today?”

“My wing sucks,” said Rainbow despondently, “it’s like my whole life has been slowed down or something, it took me so long to get here.”

“Well maybe slowing down could be a good thing?” said Twilight encouragingly, “You can view things from a whole new perspective.”

“Yeah, the boring perspective.”

Twilight rolled her eyes.

“What brings you up here anyway?” asked the unicorn.

“Me and AJ have an idea for this trip thing of yours.”

“Ooh, do tell, I don’t want you two to go somewhere you don’t want to after all.”

“We thought of camping.”

“I’ve never been camping,” mused Twilight, “but it is something I’ve always wanted to do. Did you have anywhere in mind?”

“Not really, we can look into that later, I don’t really mind.”

Twilight nodded.

“Can I get you something to drink?” the unicorn asked, “You look a little thirsty.”

“Please, just a little though, I can’t stay too long: I gotta see the Doctor.”

“The Doctor?” said Twilight, bemused, “What have you got to see him for?”

“AJ wants me to get custard off him.”

Twilight looked mystified.

“What an odd thing to want from him,” said Twilight, as she poured out a glass.

“I don’t understand either, but ah well.”

Twilight added a few ice cubes and handed it to Rainbow.

“Here you are,” said Twilight.

“Thanks Twi,” she said as the unicorn levitated a paint brush and washed it in a beaker of water.

“What’cha drawing?” asked Rainbow curiously.

“Not much, just thought I’d paint some mountains or something, I have an hour free so I thought I’d do a little painting.”
Rainbow walked around behind Twilight to look at the canvas and spat her lemonade out in surprise, luckily to the right of the art.

“You’ve done that in less than an hour?” she said, flabbergasted.

Twilight blushed and nodded modestly. Rainbow looked at the art, and looked up at the eastern mountains in the distance: they looked exactly the same, in fact the drawing held more detail of the jagged peaks capped with ice and snow.

“You’re getting quite good at this whole painting business Twi’,” said Rainbow, impressed.

“It’s just a hobby of mine.”

“You should totally sell some of these ya know.”

“Oh, I don’t think I’m that good.”

“Of course you are Twilight! Anyway I gotta go, or I’ll be late back at AJ’s."

“Alright, how’s it going at Applejack’s?” Twilight asked as they walked down the stairs.

“It’s good, it’s really good…” Rainbow’s voice trailed off vaguely, her head full of a certain orange pony. She started grinning inanely.

“Um, Rainbow, you alright?”

Rainbow snapped back to reality to see Twilight looking at her with a little concern.

“I’m fine, I was just thinking about Applej—Apples! Yup, apples! And how awesome apples are!”

“Okaaaaaayyyyy,” said Twilight uncertainly. Was she thinking about what I think she was thinking about? Argh, too many thinkings! She thought.

She narrowed her eyes at Rainbow, who put on a nervous grin despite her attempts to look nonchalant.

“I gotta dash, I’ll see ya later Twilight!”

And with that she opened the door to the library and hurried off.

Twilight returned to her room to analyse the conversation that had just taken place.

“I may not be the most observant pony in these matters,” she said to herself, “but if I didn’t know better, I’d say Rainbow has a crush on Applejack!” Twilight giggled. “Maybe the Princess noticed this long before I did- that will be why she asked me. This could be interesting, I know they’ve always been really close, but why now? Is AJ like that? Her family is quite conservative...” She suddenly realised she was pacing again. She stopped, chuckled, and went to retrieve her latest artwork from outside.

The Lonely God

A Trip to Remember

by Gallifrey

Chapter Nine
The Lonely God

“Ponyfeathers!” snarled Rainbow to herself as she walked away from the library. “What if she suspects that I—”

She stopped dead in the middle of the street. The realisation had only just hit her.

“Do I really like Applejack?” she said, eyes wide. She started walking again, much more slowly, “This is gonna take some serious thinking.”

“Miss! Miss!” came an enthusiastic voice from just behind her.

Rainbow turned around to see a brown stallion with an hourglass cutie mark approaching her with a fairly large tin with a dent in its side.

“Yeah?”

“Here ya go!” he said cheerfully, “That sorts everything out nicely.”

“Thanks Mr. Whooves.”

“That’d be Doctor,” he corrected her, not unkindly.

“Sorry, Doctor. Um... hey... how did you know to give this to me?” asked Rainbow, confused.

“Well, you see, it’s very simple… and erm…”

He suddenly bolted away from her.

Rainbow, wanting to know what was going on, charged after him, gritting her teeth at the jolts of pain running though her wing as it was jostled under its bandage. The Doctor ran around a corner and down a lane that left the buildings of Ponyville behind. He then dashed to the right, behind some bushes and trees. Rainbow made to follow him, but couldn’t find him. She ventured a few more yards into the undergrowth and came across a very odd sight.
There, surrounded by vegetation, was a lonely, wooden, blue box. Rainbow Dash felt very unnerved by it- it felt very alien.

“Doctor?” she called, there was no answer. She assumed he must be hiding in the box. She crept cautiously up to it and knocked, calling his name again. This time, the door opened ever so slightly.

“Yes? Who is it? How did you get here?”

“I’m Rainbow, I just followed you here,” said Rainbow, nonplussed.

“Did you now?” said the stallion, quickly slipping out and shutting the door before Rainbow could see inside. “And why did you do that?”

“You gave me this?” she said holding up the custard tin. “And you somehow knew to give it to me, when it was Applejack who asked for it.”

The Doctor’s mind was whirring as the pieces fell into place. His ears perked up when he realised what was going on.

“Aha!” he exclaimed, startling Rainbow slightly. “Tell me young lady, how long ago exactly did I give this to you?”

“About five minutes ago,” said Rainbow, wondering why the stallion was acting so stupid.

“Brilliant! Thank you, I have to go now, I have things that need to have been done, cheerio!” and without another word, he went back into the box and shut the door on her.

“Wait!” Rainbow yelled, “What are you doing in the box? You’re making no sense!”

She thought she heard a muffled sneeze from somewhere behind the mysterious box.

Meanwhile in the TARDIS, the Doctor was spinning around his controls, pressing buttons and setting gauges.

“Oh what fun is there in making sense?” he said as he finally pulled a lever that set the time machine in motion. “Back to five minutes ago!” The TARDIS lurched, and the tin of custard that was set on the console fell off and hit the floor. The Doctor picked it up and tutted at the large dent in it. “This is your fault, sexy!” he said to the machine around him.

Once it stopped, he cautiously opened the door and slipped out, carrying the tin with him.

“Shoot! I forgot to ask her where she was when I gave it to her.”

Luckily for him, a multi-coloured pegasus with a deeply troubled face was walking straight past him.

“Miss! Miss!” he called.

“Yeah?”

“Here ya go!” he said cheerfully, “That sorts everything out nicely.”

“Thanks Mr. Whooves.”

“That’d be Doctor.”

“Sorry, Doctor. Um... hey... how did you know to give this to me?”

“Well, you see, it’s very simple… and erm…” Quick! Think! She said she followed me to the TARDIS. So back we go!

He bolted. Rainbow gave chase, as soon as he was amongst the undergrowth near the TARDIS, he crept quietly to a hollow full of flowers to hide.

“Doctor?” Rainbow called. He remained silent. She called again, and his past self answered. They went through the whole conversation.
The Doctor in the hollow was trying not to sneeze from all the pollen around him.

“Brilliant! Thank you, I have to go now, I have things that need to have been done, cheerio!”

“Wait!” Rainbow yelled, “What are you doing in the box? You’re making no sense!”

“Atchoo!” The Doctor sneezed into his hooves, not being able to stop himself, hoping that Rainbow didn’t hear.

He heard a gasp as the TARDIS began to thrum and disappear.

“What the buck just happened?” said Rainbow, utterly dumbfounded. She decided to get away from where she was as fast as possible, so she sprinted off back to Ponyville.

The Doctor waited until she was long gone, then breathed a sigh of relief as he made his way back to his beloved time machine.

A very flustered and tired Rainbow Dash arrived back at Applejack’s home in the mid-afternoon. She sought out the orange work-pony, and found her high up on some rickety old steps, checking the levels of the water tanks.

“Hey there sugar cube,” she called down, “ah see ya got that custard.”

“Heh, yeah,” said Rainbow distractedly, looking up at her. Applejack swished her mane out of her eyes and Rainbow felt a tingly sensation run through her body.

“You alright Rainbow? You look mighty troubled,” the earth pony said, coming down the steps.

“I’m fine!” said Rainbow with her trademark bravado, “Just been a weird day so far.”

“Was that because of the Doctor by any chance?”

Rainbow nodded.

“He’s always been an odd one,” said Applejack.

Rainbow suddenly yawned.

“Ah’m not that borin’ am I?” said Applejack playfully.

“Oh no, it’s just that I’ve had an eventful day, and I’ve not walked that far in years. My body really isn’t used to such distances on hoof. Not like yours,” she added, looking Applejack over swiftly.

“Aw shucks Rainbow, you do know how to flatter me, but you’ll always be stronger than ah am.”

“Only in my wings maybe,” Dash chuckled.

“Nah, you’re stronger,” Applejack teased.

“No, you’re stronger.”

“You!”

“No you!”

“Ya know there’s only one way to sort this out don’t ya?” said Applejack, the gleam of competition in her eyes.

“Hoof wrestle?”

“Hoof wrestle.”

They wandered over to a nearby stump and locked hooves.

“Three! Two! One! Go!” they said together.

Both of them snorted under the strain of the wrestle- they were very evenly matched. Rainbow meanwhile was also wrestling with two opposing thoughts in her head.

Let her win! It’ll make her happy, you want to see her happy.
You can’t lose! You never lose! You’re the Dash!
She will be in a good mood.
You’ll be in a good mood if you win.
Let her win!
You win!
Lose!
Win!
Lose!
Win!
LOSE!

Rainbow Dash’s fore hoof faltered for a fraction of a second with her inner turmoil, and that was all Applejack needed to swing her hoof over and claim victory.

“Hooo-weeee! That was a real close one Rainbow!”

“Sure was!” said Rainbow grinning at her.

Inside she was a little disappointed at her loss, but was equally happy that Applejack was happy.

“No hard feelings? Ah know ya don’t take kindly t’losing.”

“Nah, it’s okay, besides, I still beat you all those other times.”

She stuck her tongue out playfully.

“Heh, ya sure did. You go get a nap, I’ll wake you up fer dinner.”

“Sounds like a plan! See ya later.”

She briefly nuzzled Applejack affectionately before walking in the direction of the house, whistling, leaving a certain humble earth pony with a slight blush on her face.

I guess I do like her, thought Rainbow. She can give me the thrill of competition like nopony else! Not to mention her honesty, kindness, loyalty, laughter, generosity and that special feeling I get only around her, what should I call that? Magic I guess…

She suddenly realised she had just listed off the qualities of the Elements of Harmony. She chuckled.

Well, she does have all those things! Loyalty is totally the best one anyway.

Harmonica

A Trip to Remember

by Gallifrey

Chapter Eleven
Harmonica

Princess Luna was unusually quiet the next morning as she ate her dinner with her sister. She was staring down at her plate, moving her scrambled eggs from one side of the dish to the other.

“Lunes, are you alright? You seem awfully quiet.”

“Well, no, I’m not alright to tell the truth Celly.”

“Whatever is the matter?” asked Celestia, concern in her voice.

Luna wondered how best to phrase what she was to say next.

“I… visited Twilight Sparkle in her dreams last night.”

“Hmmmm, you know I don’t really approve of that Luna.”

“Yes, well, I visited her and one thing kind of led to another and—”

Celestia spat out her mouthful of orange juice.

“You didn’t?!”

“Didn’t what… Oh no no no no! Nothing like that!” she started blushing. “I just went to see her, and I just couldn’t help myself, you of all ponies know just how much she means to me, she has done so much for me and asked so little in return, I didn’t even do anything!”

Celestia started chuckling.

“Oh my dearest sister, you should really be able to tell when I’m joking by now, after all these long years.”

“You’re not mad?” said Luna, surprised.

“Mad? Why in Equestria would I be mad?”

“With her being your prized student and all…”

“Gracious Luna, I don’t own her! Though make sure you treat her right.”

“I think we may be skipping ahead here, I still don’t know what she actually thinks.”

“I’m sure you’ll be fine,” said Celestia calmly.

“I do hope so,” said Luna, going back to playing with her food. Celestia looked at her slightly worriedly.

Oh, my dear sister.

Twilight was pacing around her room, her mind racing with a myriad of thoughts.

Was the dream really Luna? What if it was just an ordinary dream? What do I even want? How do I ask her about this? What do I do? Maybe I should—

“Twilight, you’re doing it again,” said Spike dully.

“Oh, sorry Spike,” said Twilight, stopping, brushing her mane out of her eyes.

I need something to take my mind off all this.

“I’m gonna visit AJ and Rainbow,” said Twilight, walking over to a shelf and taking a few books off it.

“What are the books for?”

“We are going to need a map,” said Twilight, “and hauling books around all over Equestria would be a silly thing to do.”

“Howdy Twilight!” called Applejack, once the unicorn arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, “What brings ya round here?”

“Just felt like getting out of the house.”

“Again? You’ve been out and about a lot recently,” Applejack observed.

“I guess I have, though that’s a good thing right?”

“Sure is sugar cube, I’ll come by the house once ah’ve finished up mah chores. Rainbow should be inside if you wanna see her.

“Okay, see you in a bit!”

The curtains of Applejack’s kitchen billowed slightly in the breeze, sunlight pouring through the windows. Rainbow was sat at the table, a small pile of apple cores on a plate next to her. She looked up when she heard hoofsteps and saw Twilight Sparkle walk into the kitchen.

“Oh, hey Twilight,” said Rainbow Dash, “y’alright?”

“Eh, more or less,” Twilight replied.

“More or less?”

“I’m fine.”

Rainbow eyed Twilight in slight suspicion but decided to let it drop.

“What are all the books for?” asked Rainbow.

“Oh, well, I thought it would be a good idea to draw up a map to navigate, and I thought I’d come up so we could decide where to go as well.”

“Cool, but what about the Princess?”

“She’s busy today,” said Twilight swiftly, not looking at Rainbow as she rummaged in her bag unnecessarily for an atlas.

“Oh,” said Rainbow. “Well I hope she likes our final choice.”

“She will,” said Twilight absently as Big Macintosh walked in to wash up for a break.

“Howdy ladies,” he said cheerfully, as he cleaned his hooves in the kitchen sink.

“Hey Big Macintosh,” said Twilight as Rainbow nodded in acknowledgement to him. “How are you?”

“I’m mighty fine Miss Twilight, thanks fer askin’. How is your good self this fine day?”

“I’m good, thanks Mac, and I—”

“You weren’t so sure a minute ago, ow!”

Twilight kicked Rainbow from under the table and continued conversing with the stallion. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and looked out the window, wondering when Applejack was going to arrive.
As if the pegasus’ wishes had been answered, Applejack trotted into the kitchen a few minutes later, taking a seat next to Rainbow.

“An’ they scarpered like it were nopony’s business!” Big Macintosh chuckled as he finished telling Twilight a story of when he caught some youngsters from Ponyville scrumping apples from the south field. The unicorn laughed with him. “But forgive me Miss Twilight, I have a few things to be getting on with that can’t wait.”

“Of course, see you later!” she said as he left the room.

“Alright girls,” said Twilight, feeling much better than she had a few minutes before, “let’s get this trip planned.”

She rolled out some parchment on the worn wooden table and opened up an atlas of Equestria. They started debating on where they should go.

“South is boring,” said Rainbow, “there’s nothing interesting down there.”

“Though south is warmer,” said Applejack, west is quite nice this time o’ year.”

“I’ve read that the east coast is beautiful,” said Twilight, pointing with her hoof to Equestria’s eastern shores, it’s also renowned for its good weather.”

“Although it does mean going over the mountains,” Applejack pointed out.

“Well, they should be alright, it’s not winter or anything,” said Rainbow.

“How does here,” Twilight pointed with her hoof, “sound?”

“Ah’m happy with that,” said Applejack.

“Me too,” agreed Rainbow.

“Good, now all I have to do is draw this up.”

Twilight set to work while Applejack searched the cupboards for a snack.

“Want anything to eat girls?” she asked.

“Yes please!” they both answered enthusiastically, despite the pile of apple cores next to Rainbow Dash. Applejack brought out an apple pie and cut it up for them.

“There, done!” Twilight said happily.

“So we’re gonna be going through Whitetail Wood and over the mountains and down to the sea?” asked Rainbow.

“Yes, sounds like a very pretty route doesn’t it?” replied Twilight.

“How long d’ya think this’ll take Twi?”

“I’d say about ten days.”

“So we’ll be back in about three weeks ya reckon?”

“I’d say so, yes.”

“Back right in time fer applebucking season!” said Applejack happily. “When are we leavin’?”

“The day after tomorrow.”

“Oh cinnamon swirls, I better get packin’ soon.”

In the late afternoon, after Twilight had left, Applejack was alone in her room, packing for the journey. She had already pulled the tent down from the attic and was currently going through her drawers, searching for anything that might come in useful.

“Compass, yes, lasso, yes, bottle caps, no, some bits, yes, harmonica…”

She tenderly picked up her harmonica, which had resided at the bottom of one of her drawers. She sat on her bed, gazing at the small, silver instrument in her hooves.
Memories flooded her mind, some happy, others, extremely painful, heart wrenching, to the point where her eyes were brimming with silver tears.

“Hey Applejack, I got the—” Rainbow walked into the earth pony’s room with a small bag but stopped when she saw her sat on the bed, on the brink of tears. “Applejack?”

Applejack sharply turned her back to Rainbow, hiding her face.

“Hey, hey, what’s the matter?” asked Rainbow gently, sitting on the bed next to the earth pony.

“N-nothin’ Rainbow Dash, you should go, I don’t want you seeing me like this.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” said Rainbow defiantly, putting a hoof around her comfortingly, “what’s got you upset like this?”

Applejack slowly held out the harmonica. Rainbow looked puzzled. Applejack took a deep breath.

“It were my mother’s,” said Applejack thickly.

Realisation spread across Rainbow’s face, and she tightened her grip around the earth pony.

“She gave it to me jus’ before she… before she…”

Applejack couldn’t hold it in any longer, she turned around and buried her face into Rainbow’s chest, sobbing into the blue fur of her friend who was now comforting her as best she could, saying nothing, stroking her golden mane slowly and trying to imagine what it must be like to be an orphan. Rainbow gently kissed the top of Applejack’s head and held more tightly.
Applejack’s cries eventually became more subdued as she calmed down, she raised her head and looked Rainbow Dash in the eyes.

“Th-thank you Rainbow Dash, I’m so glad I have somepony like you around.”

“Heh, it’s what I’m here for. Do you feel better now?”

“Much better, I had thought I’d lost that ya know.”

She looked at the harmonica on the bed. Rainbow looked too, and then back to Applejack, and hesitated with her next words.

“Can I… Can I ask what happened to your parents?” asked Rainbow tentatively.

Applejack looked at her, considering her.

“Ah can understand yer curiosity, but no,” said Applejack. “Sorry sugar cube, but as you’ve jus’ seen, it’s still a very sensitive subject fer me. I’ll tell ya when ah feel ready okay?” She smiled at Rainbow.

Rainbow nodded in understanding as Applejack picked up the silver harmonica, wrapped it in some cloth and set it carefully into a pocket of the saddlebag she was packing.

Wanna Take a Walk?

A Trip to Remember

by Gallifrey

Chapter Twelve
Wanna Take a Walk?

Celestia’s Sun rose brightly on the day they were set to leave. Twilight Sparkle arrived at Sweet Apple Acres to see that Luna had already arrived and was eating with Rainbow, Applejack and Big Macintosh before they left.

“Mornin’ Twi,” said Applejack, as Twilight added her saddlebags to the pile next to the door.
Luna looked at Twilight briefly, then returned to her food.
Twilight sat down next to Big Macintosh and ate a few pancakes with them. Before long they were ready to set off, and they all hauled on their bulging saddlebags.

“Come with me y’all,” said Big Macintosh unexpectedly, standing up and walking to the door.

The others looked at each other puzzled, then followed.
Big Macintosh led them north towards the river, and wouldn’t say why he was taking them when Applejack asked.
Eventually, they reached the river banks and a raft was anchored to the shore.

“My lil’ gift fer y’all,” he said simply, “will save ya a good deal of time and walking. The four mares gawked at him. Twilight was the first to speak.

“Big Macintosh… Thank you so much! Did you make it all yourself?”

“Eyyyup!”

“You’re the bes’ big brother!” said Applejack, nuzzling him.

“Don’ sweat it sis, least ah could do. Take care, all of ya,” said Big Macintosh steadily, as they got on the raft, looking at them in turn. “Don’t do anything ah wouldn’ do.”

As they said farewell, his eyes lingered on Twilight for a little longer than the others, and he smiled at her. She smiled back.

“Have a safe trip!” he called as he unanchored the raft and pushed it gently into the river. With Applejack as the captain, the raft flowed down the river, in the direction of the Sun.

They had been travelling for several hours, and Ponyville was long behind them. They were floating past gently sloping fields that were high with wheat and sugar canes. All around them were many buzzing insects and chirping birds, which greatly interested Luna, she didn’t see daylight creatures as often as the average pony.
Twilight had her head buried in the map, keeping track of where they were. Applejack, Rainbow and Luna had been catching up with one another and what they had been doing since they last met. Luna was sympathetic towards Rainbow’s injured wing, and Rainbow was sympathetic to the Princess’ long dull nights on the throne.
Luna broke apart from the other two and went to talk to Twilight, who was still looking at the map.

“Yes, making better progress than imagined, we can be at Whitetail Wood by day’s end," she murmured to herself.

“You know, a map is quite useless if you don’t look where you are going,” said Luna in Twilight’s ears.

Twilight started.

“Oh Luna, you gave me quite a fright there."

“My apologies Twilight, um, how are you?”

She watched Twilight closely to see if she remembered that dream or guessed that it was really her inside it. She was playing a dangerous game here.

“I’m quite well, thank you Luna, how are you?” said Twilight pleasantly.

“We are good, thank you… Have you been up to anything interesting recently?”

Twilight told Luna about her trip in the balloon and Rainbow’s visit and her artwork.

“Anything else?”

“Don’t think so,” said Twilight.

Luna didn’t quite believe the unicorn, but she wasn’t going to press the issue now, not with Applejack and Rainbow Dash present. She thanked herself that she was a very patient pony. She looked back at Rainbow Dash and Applejack. Applejack was explaining to Rainbow Dash just how the rudder of the raft worked, having seen Rainbow looking over the edge curiously.

By mid-afternoon they came to a fork in the river where it joined another tributary.
Applejack steered the raft to the eastern bank and ran it into the sand after they travelled down it a little at Twilight’s request. The four ponies hopped off and looked ahead of them.
They could see the fringes of Whitetail Wood, being little more than five miles away from it. Looming from behind the line of trees were the mountains.

The same mountains that Twilight was painting earlier in the week. Thought Rainbow Dash as she looked up at the snow covered peaks. Gosh, they’re high.

They took some water before starting; it was another hot day after all. They began walking in the general direction of the woods, across grassy meadows teeming with wildlife. Luna’s mild hay fever caused her to sneeze frequently from all the pollen in the air; something that Rainbow found inherently amusing for some reason.

By early evening they were inside Whitetail Wood, Twilight doing her best not to get lost amongst the trees. The woods were very beautiful, the evening light dappled through the trees, upon the clusters of flowers around the trunks. The trees themselves were young in their years, giving the forest an ever present sense of energy and vitality, the likes of which were not seen in any other woodland in Equestria. They came to a small clearing about a hundred feet wide with soft grassy ground

“Should we stop here for the night?” asked Twilight. They all agreed fervently, setting themselves down. Applejack began unpacking her tent and Rainbow assisted her.

“I think your brother’s raft saved us a whole day’s travel there AJ,” said Twilight as she unpacked her own tent that she bought a few days prior.

“That was mighty kind of him, and a nice surprise,” said Applejack, pegging the tent to the ground as Rainbow untied the strings.

Twilight and Luna looked at their tent, and then to each other, both with clueless expressions.

“We could just guess?” suggested Luna.

“I suppose so.”

They threaded poles through fabric, hammered pegs into the ground and tautened strings, to no avail. The tent refused to stay up.

“Well lookee here Rainbow Dash, the two ponies with magic on their side can’t put up their tent!” teased Applejack.

“We have never experienced camping before,” came Luna’s muffled voice from under the recently collapsed tent. Her head popped up. “We are not familiar with this practice.”

“Can you lend us a hoof?” asked Twilight.

“Of course sugar cube,” said Applejack.

Applejack gathered some dry wood, put a pile in the centre of the clearing, and Twilight ignited it with her magic.
As daylight faded, Rainbow and Luna toasted marshmallows on sticks, though Rainbow’s unfortunately burst into flames which elicited a string of curses from the pegasus.
Applejack laughed heartily, she was sitting a little way off from the fire, nestled comfortably against a tree trunk. She looked down and drew a small bundle of cloth from her bag. She gingerly unravelled it, looked at the silver harmonica in her hooves and then gazed at her friends. Fireflies started glowing and bobbing serenely like living stars around them. She smiled as she put the instrument to her lips and blew.
Applejack closed her eyes as she began playing a song that her mother taught her long ago. It was a sad melody about a pony who wished for longevity, only to be consumed with grief as he eventually buried his family and friends. The song had taught Applejack to be grateful for what she had, and that to be greedy will always lead to unhappiness. Her mother had always expressed the importance of morals.

Of all the ponies sat around the fire, only one was looking directly at Applejack, drinking in every note she played, every bending of the reed, every slow tap of her hoof: she noticed that tears were in Applejack’s eyes again. Rainbow got up and trotted over to her, unbeknownst to the orange pony.
Applejack sniffed and faltered in her song, drawing a hoof across her muzzle. She was going to dry her eyes when she felt a hoof gently touch her cheek. Rainbow turned Applejack’s head to face her, and with her tongue sticking out slightly in concentration, used her other hoof to dry Applejack’s eyes. They looked at each other for a moment, and Applejack couldn’t put her hoof on when it happened, but she felt a connection, a strong bond form to the loving pegasus before her.

Rainbow saw Applejack’s eyes widen slightly as her mind started racing, piecing together many pieces of a puzzle, innocent comments, glances and moments took on a whole new meaning to Applejack as her mouth curled into a grin.

“Wanna take a walk, pardner?”

Hopes and Dreams

A Trip to Remember

by Gallifrey

Chapter Thirteen
Hopes and Dreams

“A walk?” asked Rainbow.

“Yeah, a walk. Jus’ you an’ me.”

“Uh, sure!” said Rainbow excitedly, as Applejack wrapped her harmonica up and rose to her hooves.

Don’t leap to conclusions Dash, she only asked for a walk after all.

“C’mon, follow me, ah know a purdy place not far from here.”

They both left the clearing, Twilight saw their tails fade into the darkness and giggled lightly.

Rainbow Dash followed Applejack through the shadows of the trees, occasionally tripping on hidden roots. Applejack however had no such problems.

“AJ, how are you not tripping over anything? Umph!” she said as she toppled over again.

Applejack chuckled at her.

“Ah have good night vision ah guess,” she replied, “don’t have no distractions in front of me neither.”

Rainbow stopped dead in her tracks.

Whoa! Did she seriously just say that?

“C’mon Rainbow, nearly there,” said Applejack, as though she hadn’t said anything at all.

Applejack led her up a small bank to another clearing, above the trees, so that they could see the woodland beneath them and the plains beyond.
Luna’s Moon just peeked over the tops of the mountains to illuminate them in cool, ethereal light. The stars shone brilliantly from the celestial depths and the planet Venus blazed brightly in the western sky.
Applejack sat down on the soft grass at the top of the small hill, Rainbow swiftly following suit and sitting next to her. They sat in silence for a while, each to her own thoughts. Applejack was the first to speak.

“So… how long have ya wanted to take this pony fer a ride?” she asked bluntly.

“What?!” said Rainbow, stunned.

“Yer know, how long have ya liked me? You do like me righ’?” she said, worried she’d made a big mistake.

“I didn’t expect to hear you ask it like that, but um… yeah… I guess I do.”

“You guess?”

“Alright, I do—Hey, how do you know all of a sudden?”

“There was a moment earlier on where a lot of things became clear to me, certain things ya say an’ do, an’ how much you care about me.” Applejack put a hoof around Rainbow. “Thank you again for bein’ there fer me.”

“Heh, no sweat,” said Rainbow.

“Can I ask ya something?”

“Sure, AJ.”

“Um, why?”

Rainbow paused, thinking about the reasons she liked Applejack.

“Well… boy, this is gonna sound real cheesy, but you’re kind, funny, honest, the loyalist of friends and the most dependable of ponies, you’re also strong, athletic and the only one of my friends who can challenge my abilities in competition- I like that. And... you're beautiful AJ,” she finished, somewhat awkwardly, she disliked being sappy.

Applejack was touched at the kind words, especially when they came from Rainbow, who rarely, if ever, spoke about anypony like that. They sat for a few moments more, watching the sparkling stars continue their eternal dance. They both saw a blazing blue shooting star slash across the sky.

“Make a wish sugar cube,” said Applejack, smirking as she suddenly gripped Rainbow by her side and pinned her to the soft ground.

“I think it’s just come true,” said a surprised pegasus to see the earth pony on top of her. “Bleh, did I seriously just say that?
Applejack smiled and put a hoof over Rainbow’s mouth.

“Hush now, no more words.”

Rainbow’s heart was hammering in her chest, the earth pony’s half-lidded emerald eyes stared into her own, she barely dared to believe this was happening.
Applejack looked at the wide magenta eyes of the pegasus, the Moon and stars reflected inside them, giving them added depth and profound beauty. She lowered herself so that their warm bodies touched and their faces were but inches apart, Applejack’s mane brushed over Rainbow’s snout, tickling it. The earth pony could feel Rainbow’s shallow breath on her muzzle and rapid heartbeat through her chest.

What is she waiting for? Thought Rainbow impatiently, then a grin crept over her face as an idea struck her. As quick as lightning, she twisted and pulled Applejack onto her back, giving Rainbow the higher ground.

“Oh no ya don’t!” said Applejack playfully, retaliating. The two wrestled together until they became tired, Rainbow Dash claiming victory, having trapped Applejack under her hooves, both panting at the exertion.

“Rainbow Dash… I—”

The pegasus just couldn’t restrain herself any longer. She closed her eyes and pressed her lips hard to the earth pony’s.

Applejack’s eyes widened for a moment, then she closed her eyes too and felt the world melt away, all that was left was Rainbow Dash above her, and nothing else mattered.
Rainbow’s right wing flared up, and she shifted slightly above Applejack, and, feeling bold, pushed her tongue against Applejack’s mouth. The orange pony chuckled, breaking the kiss.

“Eager aren’t ‘cha?” she said huskily. She then saw Rainbow’s wing. “Very eager!”

Rainbow only replied by kissing her again, but the earth pony could feel her smiling. Applejack opened her mouth to let their tongues touch, as the earth pony dragged a hoof through Rainbow’s thick mane, to the apparent delight of the sighing pegasus.

“When do ya want to go back?” asked Rainbow.

“Not for a while yet,” replied Applejack, twirling some of the pegasus’ rainbow hair in a hoof.

“Exactly what I wanted to hear.”

Rainbow lay herself next to Applejack, and they watched the stars together, and talked of many things, both enjoying the serenity that had descended over them.

Back at the camp, Twilight’s mind was deep in thought. She was meticulously forming a plan to try and have answers to two questions that had been bothering her for a while. She looked across the crimson flames to see the warped image of Luna gazing at the Moon.

But how to ask without sounding suspicious? Or hurting her feelings?

“Luna, um, may I ask you something?”

Luna remained silent for a little while, the crackling of the flames the only interruption to the surrounding quiet. She slowly turned to look at Twilight.

“But of course Twilight Sparkle,” she said placidly, “what would you like to know?”

“About… dreams.”

Luna suddenly felt very tense.

Oh no, she suspects me!

Adopting her masterful poker face she continued:

“Of course Twilight, we are very knowledgeable on the subject after all.”

She patted the ground next to her, and Twilight walked round the fire to sit next to her. The unicorn hoped this plan worked.

“I’ve been having dreams about certain ponies recently,” she began awkwardly, “and I was wondering if what I dream about is linked to my daylight, conscious thoughts?”

“Well, what exactly do you dream about?” asked Luna.

“Amongst other things, you, Luna.”

“Well… what types of dreams are these, exactly?” she asked, nonchalantly.

“Um…” Twilight’s cheeks flushed. She considered her next words carefully. “They- they are of a less than innocent nature.”

Her face turned brick red, enhanced by the ruddy glow of the fire.

They? Thought Luna. They as in plural? But I only visited one dream. “Well Twilight,” said Luna, inching a little closer, “dreams are indeed often related to one’s conscious thoughts- they can also be completely unrelated too- but can also be related to many unconscious thoughts and desires.”

Twilight sat silently, her mind a haze of myriad thoughts and possibilities.

“Lu-Luna, I er, um,” she stammered, “I’m not sure—”

“Oh? Well, I am,” she said softly.

Twilight was stunned into silence as Luna gave her a deliberate lick on her cheek.

“Luna… I…”

“Hmmm?” asked Luna, looking at the lavender mare.

Twilight swallowed painfully and continued.

“Luna, I-I’m not like that…”

“Like what?”

“I’m not into mares…”

Luna felt her heart plummet inside her body. Twilight could have sworn she felt her surroundings actually become colder.

“You’re not?”

Luna’s pain must have shown on her face because Twilight’s eyes were full of sympathy for the alicorn.

“No, I’m not. I’m sorry, I’m so, so sorry Luna. Please don’t be mad at me.”

“Mad? Oh, Twilight Sparkle, I could never be mad at you.” A faint smile graced her face, though it was forced with effort on Luna’s part. “Though tell me one thing, why were you having ‘less than innocent’ dreams if you’re not like that?”

“You said yourself, that not all dreams are related to my conscious or my subconscious, there must be some other reason for them.”

Luna shifted slightly in her place, trying not to look guilty.

“Dreams are extremely fickle things, and incredibly difficult to interpret,” said Luna, with much less enthusiasm than she would normally.

Twilight leaned closer to the unhappy alicorn.

“Are you alright Princess?”

“I’ve been worse Twilight, believe me. Though might I be able to ask a hug from you?”

“You don’t have to ask permission from me Luna!” said Twilight as she wrapped her hooves around her.

Twilight felt her shudder ever so slightly as she fought back tears. Twilight ran a comforting hoof through Luna’s long mane, feeling incredibly guilty.

At least I know what Luna’s feelings are for me, and I have a better idea of where in Equestria those dreams came from in the first place.

Twilight lost track of how long they were in that position, but eventually Applejack and Rainbow Dash returned to the camp.

“Ohhhh, we aren’t interrupting anything are we?” asked Rainbow.

“No, Rainbow Dash,” said Luna, breaking the hug, “quite the opposite if anything,” she added dryly.

Luna’s words stung Twilight’s already guilty conscience.

“What does that mea—” Rainbow began, only to be stopped by Applejack placing a hoof on her shoulder and shaking her head slightly in indication that she should not ask questions right now.

The orange pony then looked straight at Luna and gave her a look that clearly said: ‘Are you alright sugar cube?’ Luna just looked dolefully at Applejack and the earth pony tilted her head to the right, inviting Luna to come with her as she left the camp again. Luna trotted wearily after her. Rainbow looked on, confused. She approached Twilight and sat next to her.

“Twilight, um, can I ask what’s going on?”

Twilight sighed and looked at the pegasus.

“Yes, yes I suppose you can.”

Twilight then stared at the fire. Rainbow shifted impatiently, she didn’t like waiting. The unicorn eventually spoke, still gazing at the fire.

“Luna asked me out,” she said, simply.

“And you said no?!” said Rainbow, incredulously. “Are you mad Twilight? She’s, she’s—” She’s pretty, but she’s nothing compared to AJ, still, Twilight must be nuts.

“Rainbow,” said Twilight patiently, “I’m only into stallions.”

“Only into… wha?”

The thought was odd to Rainbow, she had liked both genders for as long as she could remember. She tried to imagine what it must be like but just couldn’t.

“So, yeah, I unfortunately had to hurt Luna’s feelings tonight.”

“That’s too bad, Twilight,” said Rainbow sympathetically, “but Luna is made of strong stuff, she’ll be alright.”

“Yeah, I just don’t want this to taint our friendship.”

“Oh it won’t, you’ll be fine,” said Rainbow, striking Twilight’s shoulders playfully, “and I can talk from experience with that.”

“Really?” asked Twilight, interested, “who?”

“Oh, you won’t know them, there were a few colts years ago when I lived in Cloudsdale who I liked but they were never interested.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“I never really mentioned it before, heh. D’you wanna sleep in my tent tonight? It won’t be best for you two to be stuck next to each other.”

“Yes please Rainbow.”

Rainbow felt a little disappointed that she wouldn’t be sleeping near Applejack, but being the Element of Loyalty she wasn’t about to be selfish when her friends needed her, she knew Applejack would agree.

Luna walked gloomily through the undergrowth, following Applejack. The earth pony stopped next to a small stream and turned to the alicorn.

“You okay?”

“No,” said Luna swiftly, looking Applejack straight in the eyes. “No, we are not okay.”

She started pacing agitatedly.

“Sorry to bring it up like this, but what did she say?”

“She said she’s only interested in stallions.”

“So ah guess her barn door don’t swing that way then?”

“Not at all, which is just my luck!” Luna shouted, trying not to dissolve into the Royal Canterlot Voice. “Or maybe I’m just not good enough for anypony.”

She slumped on the ground and bowed her head.

“Hey now,” said Applejack, moving closer to her, “ya know tha’s not true.”

“Oh really? Can you prove me otherwise?”

Applejack was stumped by this question.

“Well… I don’t know a great deal about your life Princess, but ah dare say that in all your long years there’s been at least one pony.”

“Well, there was, long ago, but he betrayed me, and it’s been over three thousand years now, and during that time, I have been repeatedly trying to find somepony to love me- is that too much to ask?! Just one!”

She got up and started pacing again. Applejack observed warily.

“Twilight is the first pony I’ve had feelings for since my… absence. I-I can’t believe this is all happening again! Twilight means the world to me, she has done so much for me and I wanted to have the chance to repay her. IT’S NOT FAIR!” she yelled to the night, stomping her hoof down with a resounding crack.

A gust of icy wind whipped through the trees, sending shivers down Applejack’s spine. The orange mare, daunted, but determined, slowly approached Luna from behind. The alicorn’s breath was shallow, her teeth bared. Applejack placed a hoof round her back; and Luna looked at her. Tears that had been held back for so long began to well up in her eyes.

“S’okay sugar cube, let it all out, you’ll feel better afterwards.”

Luna hugged Applejack tightly, hot tears spilling down her cheeks onto the earth pony’s back.

“Why does everything go wrong? Do I not deserve a break?” she choked.

“Ah have no answer fer the first one, but for the second? You do Princess, of course you do. Do you think your sis might be able to help ya with that?”

“She might…” said Luna thoughtfully, drying her eyes “I might ask her for advice when we get back.”

“There ya go, positive thinking! Do ya feel any better?”

“We do feel a bit better yes. Thank you Applejack, I don’t know what I would’ve done without you."

“Glad t’be of help, now let’s get back to camp eh? It’s mighty late.”

They arrived at camp to see a solitary Rainbow Dash staring blankly into the dying embers of the fire. She looked up at their arrival, happy to see them at last.

“Where have you been? I was sooo bored there!” she whispered loudly.

“We were jus’ talkin, how’s Twi?”

“She’s in bed,” Rainbow jerked her head to her tent, “doubt she’s asleep though, she’s got a lot on her mind.”

Luna inwardly breathed a sigh of relief when she heard that Twilight was sleeping in a different tent tonight. The alicorn silently walked to the other tent and slipped into it, eager to get some rest and brief solitude.

Rainbow Dash looked at the tents in turn.

“Do you think they’ll be alright?” she asked.

“They will be,” replied Applejack, “Give ‘em a few days.”

“Also, do you mind sleeping apart tonight?”

“I'd very much like to be with you tonight, but their need is greater righ’ now.”

Rainbow nodded in agreement.

“See you in the morning then I guess,” said Rainbow.

“Yup, I doubt anypony’ll be getting’ up early though.”

“I know I won’t!”

Applejack chuckled and leaned close and they briefly kissed.

“G’night sugar cube.”

“’Night.”

They entered their respective tents, Applejack carefully snuck into her sleeping bag next to Luna, who was already asleep, eager to escape reality for a few hours. Applejack looked at the surprisingly calm expression on the alicorn’s face.

Aye, they’ll be mighty fine again in a few days.

Rainbow snuggled into her sleeping bag, snorting slightly in impatience as she got her wing caught halfway. She spent the next few minutes trying to find a comfortable position.

“Twilight, you awake?” Rainbow asked once she was cosy.

There was no answer from the unicorn.

In truth Twilight was still awake, unable to get to sleep: her mind refused to shut down, instead deciding to torment her with guilty feelings. She suddenly felt a hoof on her side. Rainbow was hugging Twilight lightly.

“I can tell when you’re not asleep Twilight,” she whispered, amusement in her voice.

“Thanks Rainbow Dash,” said Twilight, smiling as she felt her guilt dissipate and sleep finally descend upon her tired mind.

Riddles in the Fog

A Trip to Remember

by Gallifrey

Chapter Fourteen
Riddles in the Fog

Twilight woke the next day in a good mood, until the events of last night came crashing down upon her.

“Urgh,” she moaned as she stretched her limbs. Rainbow Dash was sleeping next to her, snoring slightly.

The unicorn opened the tent quietly and walked out into the misty morning. Everything seemed to have had the colour leached out of it and it did nothing to improve Twilight’s mood.

“Mornin’ sugar cube,” said a voice softly from the direction of the burnt out remains of the fire. “You alright?” Applejack asked as she took a bite out of an apple.

“Not really, but I’ll survive. How’s Luna?”

“She ain’t great, but she’s handlin’ it better than yer average pony.”

“That’s good I guess?” said Twilight, confused.

“'T’is kinda.”

“Hmmm, I hope we don’t get lost in this,” said Twilight, concerned, looking at the mist.

“I trust ya completely Twi, you’re a mighty fine navigator,” said Applejack, handing Twilight an apple.

“Thanks AJ.”

It was mid-day, and Twilight was leading the group, with Applejack and Rainbow in tow, and Luna sulkily following at the back, occasionally snorting. The fog had reached great thickness, and even the shadows of the trees were becoming hard to distinguish, their spectral forms fading in and out of view.
Twilight was frantically consulting the map for guidance, hoping it would magically show them which way to go. In truth, Twilight had only a vague idea of where they even were.
According to her reckoning they were somewhere around the middle of the forest, but with no Sun for guidance, Twilight was at a loss for what direction they were going.
Twilight’s anxious demeanour had not escaped the others.

“Do you think she knows where we are?” muttered Rainbow to Applejack, concerned.

Luna snorted again.

“Ah’m not sure sugar cube, but Twilight’s the best mare fer the job, and I’m sure she knows where she is.”

“I sure hope so.”

Snort.

Twilight was becoming increasingly agitated by the noises Luna was making.

“Is there something wrong, Luna?” asked Twilight, coming to a stop.

“Oh no, I was just wondering why we have been walking around in circles all day…”

“We haven’t been walking around in circles,” said Twilight, heatedly.

“Then what are these?” asked Luna, pointing at the faint indents of hooves alongside their own.

“They could easily be from another pony or woodland creature,” said Twilight dismissively.

“Not likely,” Luna murmured, but still loud enough for Twilight to hear.

“Well, what do you suggest?” said Twilight through gritted teeth, trying not to lose her temper.

“Look where you’re going?”

“You—“

“Girls!” barked Applejack suddenly, causing the two mares to snap out of their arguing to look at the earth pony. “Ah think where we are is the least of our worries right now.”

“What do you mean?” asked Twilight.

Applejack pointed at the ground. There, imprinted on the ground, was a very large pawprint.

“What do you think it’s from?” asked Rainbow.

“I dunno, an’ ah don’t wanna know!” said Applejack.

A deep growling sound came from somewhere in front of them.

“What in Equestria is that?” asked Twilight, trembling slightly.

“Good afternoon my three young travellers and wise old mare, feel free to run, if you dare,” came a powerful voice.
None of them moved.
The creature walked slowly into view out of the mists. They had difficulty recognising what it was. Two great wings flared up behind it as it approached, it also seemed to have a lion’s body, and its face was not familiar to any of them.

“It’s a sphinx!” Luna whispered to the others. “We must be extremely careful, they are treacherous beings.”

“You are quite right, Princess of the Night. I am a sphinx, if you would believe, and if you answer my questions wrong, I shall not let you leave. Looking at you now, you’d make quite a tasty meal, though condemning you to certain death is not quite to my appeal. So, I will give you now a chance to escape this place unscathed, if you answer my two riddles, the way out of these woods shall be paved.”

“You’ll show us the way out?” asked Luna.

The sphinx simply nodded.

“We don’t have a choice, we will have to try and answer the riddles,” said the alicorn.

They looked up at the sphinx expectedly. She cleared her throat and began:

“There are two sisters: one gives birth to the other and she, in turn, gives birth to the first. Who are the two sisters?”

Twilight, Applejack and Rainbow put their heads together trying to figure it out. Luna meanwhile looked incredulously at the sphinx.

“Is one being serious here?” asked Luna, not believing the sphinx. She nodded in reply. “Girls, you don’t need to bother with this one, it’s day and night.”

The sphinx nodded again.

“How did you know that?” asked Twilight.

“Well I do command the night,” replied Luna, “it was obvious to me. The two sisters are me and Celly.”

“What’s the next question?” asked Twilight.

“I’m at the beginning of eternity,
At the end of time and space,
At the beginning of every end,
And the end of every place.”

“Now this one is more difficult,” said Luna, frowning.

“Any ideas?” said Applejack. The other two shook their heads.

Time passed, and the sphinx waited patiently. Twilight’s and Luna’s minds were growing weary of pouring logic into the question, trying to think what was at the end of time and space and what was at the end of which. Rainbow was just staring into the distance, vaguely imagining the ends of many things. Applejack meanwhile thought she was getting close to the answer.

“Um, is it E?” she asked tentatively.

“Pardon?” said the sphinx.

“E, the letter E.”

They collectively held their breath as they looked at the sphinx anxiously. She nodded and they all sighed in relief.

“AJ, that was amazing!” exclaimed Rainbow.

“Well, the Apple family might not be t’smartest of ponies, but we always get the job done in the end,” said Applejack happily.

“Can you show us the way out now please?” asked Twilight, eager to leave the misty woods.

The sphinx turned around and began walking, the others followed.

“What if this is a trap?” whispered Rainbow to Luna.

“It won’t be, a sphinx always keeps its word.”

Eventually they came to the edge of the woods, at the foothills of the mountains. The sphinx turned and silently walked back into the trees.

“Now all we have to do is climb over that,” said Twilight, looking at the daunting height in front of her.

“That’s gotta be at over nine thousand feet!” exclaimed Rainbow.

“I know, but we can do this! We can get at least half way up today.”

I had hoped that the weather would be good for this bit,thought Twilight as she looked up.
Ominous thunderclouds were forming overhead and the mountains were shadowed by their presence. They had been walking uphill all afternoon and were all becoming weary with the ascent.
Rainbow Dash was panting slightly, her legs not used to this much exertion. She had noticed Applejack was in front of her a short while ago, which the pegasus had no objections to, now that she had something to look at while she walked. She was admiring Applejack’s behind again when she felt something hit her muzzle. She looked up and another drop of rain hit her.

“Um, Twi!” she called to the front, “Don’t you think we should find some shelter? I think it’s gonna really rain in a minute."

Twilight stopped and looked around at the rocky landscape for somewhere to hide. Nowhere was immediately obvious to the unicorn as the rain became more frequent.

“Twilight!” Applejack called, only to be drowned out by a long rumble of thunder. “Twilight!” she called again.

There was no answer.
Applejack walked along a narrow path up to find Twilight quivering on the ground, her hooves over her head.

“C’mon now sugar cube,” said Applejack nuzzling her wet mane, “I know you don’ like thunder but ah found a place fer us to kip tonight.”

Twilight got up and followed where Applejack had pointed. A flash illuminated their surroundings and the purple unicorn yelped, and slipped off the rock to a steep fall.

“Twilight!” yelled Applejack, lunging pointlessly forward in a desperate attempt to save her friend. “Woah, woah!” shouted Applejack as she tried not to slip too, but failed as she felt the ground disappear beneath her.

“Twilight!” said Luna frantically, shutting her eyes and directing her horn at the falling pony.

“Applejack! No!”

Rainbow Dash tore her bandages away, knowing full well how painful this was going to be as she flared both wings and forced them into action as she dived over the edge. Her left wing was screaming in protest, but not as loud as the two ponies beneath her were. Rainbow saw Twilight become surrounded by blue magic and start to levitate up. Good, she was safe, now Rainbow only had eyes for the orange mare beneath her. Her time was running out, the ground was racing up to meet both of them. She bit her lip hard, trying to redirect the pain to her mouth instead of her tortured wing. She swooped down, grasped Applejack firmly around the middle, and soared into the sky, missing the hard rock floor by inches. She forced herself to keep flying- she had to keep flying. She got to the top where Luna and Twilight were just before her wings gave out. Applejack and Rainbow crashed roughly to the muddy ground in a heap. Rainbow blearily opened her eyes to see bright green ones in front of her swimming with infinite gratitude.

“Rainbow—” she stammered, “you saved my life!”

“Heh, ‘s’what I’m here for,” she groaned, her voice weak. The pain all over her body was incredible. “Come here.”

Applejack lowered herself so Rainbow could hug her and give her a kiss out of view of Luna and Twilight.

“Are you okay? You don’t sound good,” said Applejack, worried.

“I’m fine, don’t worry about me!” said Rainbow as she passed out.

“Twi! Luna! Ah need some help here!” said Applejack frantically.

The other two saw the heroic pegasus and lifted her together, into the cave that Applejack had discovered.
Applejack tended to Rainbow Dash, refusing to let the others help as she tenderly reapplied new bandages to Rainbow’s wing, along with drying her body gently so she didn’t catch cold.
Twilight and Luna set about putting up the tents and starting the fire. As Luna was struggling with a pole in the tent, Twilight came to assist her, putting a hoof on hers.

“Luna, I want to thank you for saving my life today.”

“Oh, it’s no problem Twilight,” said Luna warmly, “I’m sure you would do the same for me. We would also like to apologise for our behaviour earlier today as well, I was in a bad mood.”

“I’m sorry too, I was a bit short tempered with the navigation.”

“Friends?”

“Friends.”

They both reared up and hugged each other.

“Atchoo!” sneezed Applejack. Twilight looked over to her.

“AJ! You’re still soaking wet!” she exclaimed.

“Ah’m fine! I gotta make sure Rainbow is alright.”

“Urgh, you can’t stay wet, you’ll freeze!” said Twilight, levitating a towel to the earth pony, drying her off while she was wrapping blankets around Rainbow Dash. “Sorry about your mane,” said Twilight apologetically, “I would comb it for you but we’ve got to put these tents up.”

“It’s no problem Twi,” said Applejack. She bent over Rainbow and tried to wake her.

“Rainbow? Rainbow Dash? C’mon, wake up.”

She looked at Luna and Twilight, both had their backs to her, using their magic to light the fire. She brushed her lips against Rainbow’s. They felt surprisingly warm and Rainbow stirred slightly. Applejack gently kissed Rainbow, and the pegasus, regaining consciousness, returned the kiss.

“How’s my lil’ firefly holdin’ up?”

“I feel awful, my wing is killing me and—firefly?”

Applejack blushed.

“Ah thought I’d try it out, seemed like a nice nickname.”

“I like it,” said Rainbow, gingerly getting to her hooves. “Is there anything to eat?”

“Twi!” called Applejack, “what food do we have?”

“Rainbow, you’re okay! Thank Celestia! And um, we have hay, more hay, some apples, berries, there might be some cake somewhere.”

“Cake sounds good,” said Rainbow eagerly.

Twilight rummaged through her bag, looking for the cake.

“AJ, it might be in yours.”

Applejack began searching her bag, and pulled out two objects. First, the cake, that Rainbow took and began devouring, the other, a small compass.

“Heh,” said Applejack, scratching the back of her head, “ah forgot about this, might have helped ya in the forest hey Twi?”

Twilight placed a hoof on her face in response.

Applejack's Tale

A Trip to Remember

by Gallifrey

Chapter Fifteen
Applejack's Tale

The storm had blown itself out by the following morning and all four ponies had had less than a stellar night’s sleep.

“Right, I know we are all tired,” said Twilight as they ate breakfast, “particularly you Rainbow Dash, but you must be hurting all over too huh?”

“Only in my wing really, but I’ll be alright,” said Rainbow, stifling a yawn.

“Anyway, we’re all tired, but do we all agree we need to get out of these mountains today?”

They all nodded in agreement.

“Good, because to get to the bottom of the other side is only about six miles away, so we can take it slow today.”

It was early afternoon when they reached the mountain’s peak. Twilight and Luna cleared an area of snow so they could eat, Applejack made some hot chocolate from a small fire and Rainbow Dash had a quick nap. Twilight looked around at the landscape: she couldn’t see Ponyville to the west, but she could see all of Whitetail Wood spread out beneath her. She turned around to look at the eastern horizon and she fancied she saw a thin band of blue at the edge of her sight.

Applejack appeared at Twilight’s side.

“Hey Twi, how are ya feelin’?

“Not too bad considering we both nearly fell to our deaths yesterday, how are you?”

“Ah’m good, ah’m good, glad to be alive an’ all.” She chuckled. “How’re you and Luna?”

“Much better now, she’s probably still hurt but she’s not letting it affect her anymore, which I think is good?”

“Well, she don’t wanna bottle it up, but maybe she’s over it already? She’s old and wise enough to get over it quickly maybe.”

“I hope so, I feel bad about it still.”

“Don’ feel too bad about it sugar cube, it’s jus’ the way things are."

She patted Twilight on the back and returned to the water she was heating, that was now boiling.

They set up camp that evening in a sheltered, grassy hollow at the base of the mountain that evening. Despite only having walked six miles, mostly downhill, Rainbow Dash collapsed in a heap when they stopped.
Twilight and Luna were becoming quite adept at setting up the tents now, and after erecting them, Applejack hoisted Rainbow onto her back, causing the pegasus to open her eyes at what was going on.

“Hey, thanks AJ.”

I sure am glad she’s a pegasus. Very light indeed. Thought Applejack.

She set Rainbow down and wrapped her up in blankets.

“No problem Firefly,” said Applejack, giving her a kiss.

Rainbow giggled at the name. Applejack looked curiously at her, she rarely giggled like a little school filly.

“Applejack, remember the other day with the harmonica…”

Applejack sighed.

“Do you want me to tell you how my parents died?”

Rainbow looked startled.

“I-I was just gonna ask you the name of the song you were playing, but um, yeah, I mean, only if you want to of course.”

“Well, of course ah don’t want to, nopony would want to, but I guess, seein’ as how we’re together an’ such like, ah shouldn’t keep secrets from ya.”

Applejack turned around and looked out of the tent to see what Twilight and Luna were doing. They were making a start on dinner, which gave Applejack plenty of time to talk without being interrupted.

“Do you promise not to breathe a word to anypony? You’ll be the first outside the family to know.”

“I promise AJ, I am the Element of Loyalty after all.”

Applejack lay down next to Rainbow and took a deep breath.

“Well ah guess it all begins with my mama. Her name was Ariane. She was the sweetest, kindest pony I ever knew, and she loved us all dearly. I remember her always baking apple pies and leaving them on the windowsill. Me and Big Macintosh used to cook up schemes to eat bites of ‘em while she weren’t lookin’, she never told us off: she said that our burnt tongues were punishment enough.” Applejack chuckled at the memory.

“And there was Pa, Firm-Gold his name was. He poured his all into the farm business, he used ter work harder than me and Big Macintosh put together, which is sayin’ something because he wasn’t a big stallion like Mac is neither. He taught us the ways of the farm and all the tricks and knacks there are to it: he taught Mac how to do all the physical work right, and me to mainly run the business side, selling and what not.

“Then… one day, not long after Applebloom was born, Ma was setting up the new machine that was to mash up the apples so that we didn’t have to do it manually, but…”

Applejack choked up slightly. Rainbow stroked her mane until she was ready to continue.

“When me and Ma first set up the machine, everything was going good for a while; ah was eager to start playing mah harmonica for her to show her a new song I learnt, so we sat in there fer a time while she listened. But then everything went wrong, there was something up with the machine, Ma could tell… She glanced at the dials, she must have saw something was mighty bad because she picked me up and threw me out of the way… And that’s all I can remember, I think I was knocked out at that point. I woke up in Ponyville Hospital next to Ma. Pa told me the machine had exploded. He was a wreck, I’d never seen him cry before then, it disturbed me. Ah got out of the bed to see Ma, she… wasn’t good. She was covered in the most horrible burns and wounds. I- I couldn’t believe what ah was seeing, it was just too much fer me. She turned her head to me, touched my face,” Applejack raised her own hoof to her face, eyes glistening, “and I remember her saying:
“’I’m- I’m sorry sugar cube, I’m sorry I couldn’t be stronger for you. But you gotta be strong for me okay? Make me proud, my beautiful daughter.’
“‘Mama! What- what’re you saying?’
“‘Ah’m saying you’ll be the best gosh-darn Apple in Equestria, I know you will, I love you.’
“‘I love you too Ma.’
“And with that… My mother died…”

Hot, stinging tears began falling not just from her own eyes, but Rainbow Dash’s too.

“Ah often feel like it was all my fault: I reckon Ma could have easily escaped if I weren’t there.”

“Applejack, you can’t think like that! There was nothing you could do!”

“Ah know, ah know,” she said, her voice cracking.

Applejack rubbed her face wearily and sighed.
Rainbow held out her hooves to her and Applejack didn’t hesitate in throwing herself into the pegasus’ warm, loving embrace. The earth pony felt a profound sense of security and care through the hug as she wept into Rainbow’s soft fur. Applejack took a shuddering breath then looked up, determined to finish her story.

“Pa just got worse and worse after that, he fell into a deep depression, and from what Big Macintosh has since told me, turned to drink, though ah think he hid that from me at the time for my own good. One day we woke up to find a note on the kitchen table, saying goodbye to each of us, and that it was best that we all remembered him as he was rather than what he had become. He had left everything he owned to us, including his hat… which he left to me.”

Applejack removed her hat and looked at it in her hooves.

“This was your dad’s?”

“Yup, this is pretty much all I have to remember him by.”

“What, um, happened to him?”

“Honestly, we have no idea. I always hoped that after he ran away some kind pony might have took him in and that he’s still out in Equestria somewhere, but he most likely committed suicide… Ah can’t say I blame him, he lost so much, and after he left us for our own good, he lost everything.”

“Applejack… I don’t know what to say.”

“Tha’s why Granny risked the farm when Flim and Flam came to town: we haven’t used any kind of machinery on the farm since then, and we weren’t gonna be run outta business by one, not after we know what they can do.”

“I just can’t imagine how awful it must be for you to live like this,” said Rainbow, trying to comprehend the pain Applejack must have felt, and still felt.

“Aww, thanks firefly, though if ya wanna feel bad fer anypony, feel bad for lil’ Applebloom, she never knew her parents, at least Big Macintosh and I have our memories of ‘em.” She turned and sadly smiled at Rainbow, “They were the best parents I could ever wish for.”

“AJ! Rainbow! Soup’s on!”

They glanced at each other as they both hastily dried their eyes.

“Comin’ Twi!”

Dragons and Wolves

A Trip to Remember

by Gallifrey

Chapter Sixteen
Dragons and Wolves

Rainbow felt well rested when she woke up the next morning. She could feel warm air on her face. She opened her eyes and found that her face was less than an inch away from Applejack’s; not that she minded at all. She lay there for a time, watching the earth pony slumber, with a sweet smile on her face. She twitched and accidentally head-butted the pegasus.

“Easy girl!” said Rainbow, rubbing her forehead.

Applejack stirred and shifted to lay on her back, her long golden hair covering half of her face up. Rainbow leaned over to gently move her mane out of her face. then set about getting ready for a new day. She sat up and cracked her joints, then picked up a comb and began brushing her hair. She crept outside to clean herself in a small stream. She put a hoof in the water and immediately withdrew it- it was icily cold.

I wonder if anypony would notice if I didn’t wash? She asked herself, looking around. She decided to just brush her teeth and leave it until tomorrow.

“Geronimo!” came a voice from beside her as an orange blur ran straight into the water, drenching Rainbow Dash in cold water. Rainbow yelped and felt her breath catch in her chest.

“Applejack!”

She dived into the water and playfully wrestled with the earth pony, much to Applejack’s delight: she loved play fighting with Rainbow Dash.
The loud splashing sounds had woken Twilight and Luna, who began packing up, watching the two ponies in the water for entertainment. Applejack eventually managed to pin Rainbow down at the water’s edge.

“Gotcha!” said Applejack in triumph.

“Fine, you win this time AJ,” said Rainbow as they made their way back to camp, dripping wet, “though don’t expect me to go easy on ya next time!”

“Pffft, whatever you say Rainbow,” said Applejack.

Rainbow reached into her bag and threw an apple at the earth pony. Applejack caught it in her mouth.

“You’ll haveter fo berrer than tha’ sufar coobe!” she said as she munched on the apple, winking at the pegasus.

“Do y’all hear that?” said Applejack suddenly.

It was mid-afternoon and they were walking across the plains that lay between the mountains and sea.

“Hear what?” asked Twilight.

“I swear ah can hear like a swooshin’ noise or somethin’,” said Applejack, pausing to listen.

“Hey, I can hear it too!” said Rainbow.

Luna looked up at the sky and saw the source of the noise rapidly approaching.

“GET DOWN!” she yelled.

“Why?” said Rainbow, turning to look up but getting pulled down by Applejack not a moment too soon as a very large something swept over them.

Rainbow turned her head to see a dragon banking to the left to approach them again.

“What do we do?” asked Applejack.

“Run!” shouted Twilight.

It was a futile attempt to try to escape a dragon by running, but they didn’t have a choice. He caught up with them in no time at all and landed in front of them.
Twilight thought it looked rather small to be a full grown dragon. It had golden scales, silver belly and horns, and a canvas bag that it wore over its shoulders. It looked down at the frightened ponies.

“Good afternoon,” he said in a deep rumble.

“Oh, you’re a guy!” said Rainbow. “I thought you were a girl!”

“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked indignantly.

“Excuse me,” said Twilight, cutting across them, “but aren’t dragons supposed to be vicious? I mean, I’m glad you don’t seem to be but I—”

“I am different from ordinary dragons, I’m friendly to ponies and other creatures, and they like to pick on me because of it.”

He lowered his head to show the long, vertical, dark gold scar he had over his right eye.

“Oh goodness, that’s terrible!” said Twilight, “What is your name sir?”

“I am Incandus, and I would like to ask how I may help you, if there is any help I can provide, that is, Twilight Sparkle.”

“How do you know my name?” asked Twilight, surprised.

“From your little scaly friend.”

“Spike?”

“Yes, he met me during the dragon migration; we were both on foot, me so the other dragons didn’t target me, and him because, well, he can’t fly- anyway, we keep in touch and he let me know that four ponies would be around these parts about now, so I flew out and here you are! Now, back to the topic at hand, may I help you with anything? I have some tasty stuff you may like in my bag.”

He rummaged in his bag and held out some large bottles.

“Apple juice perhaps?”

He looked at them hopefully.

“Apple juice sounds mighty fine t’me!” said Applejack enthusiastically as he handed it them.

“Wonderful! Maybe some emeralds? Oh… yeah…” he said looking at the incredulous faces of the ponies, “ponies, not dragons. How about…” He pulled out some firewood. “You won’t find much wood that’s good to burn on these plains.”

“Ooh, thank you, I was wondering how we were going to make a fire,” said Twilight.

He searched through his bag again and pulled out something that made all four ponies’ eyes light up.

“Flowers?” he said.

“Yes please!” said Rainbow, drooling slightly. “Honeysuckle! Oh wow, I haven’t eaten honeysuckle in months!”

“I’m so glad you like it!” said Incandus happily.

“Thank you very much for these nice gifts, can you also thank Spike for us too?”

“I certainly can, I’m happy to be of help, I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip.”

“Thank you, have a great day,” said Twilight.

“You too Miss Sparkle, and all of you, farewell!”

They were buffeted as he took off into the skies.

“What a pleasant fellow,” remarked Luna as they continued on their journey.

They set up camp on the plains that evening. Thanks to Incandus they didn’t have any problems finding firewood or food.
After dinner, Rainbow and Applejack said something about ‘getting an early night’ and slipped into their tent together, leaving Twilight and Luna alone by the crackling fire.
The alicorn got up as the Sun set on the western horizon so she could raise the Moon. She faced the east and bowed her head, closing her eyes as her horn began to glow. She felt the connection she had with the Moon and dragged it up above the horizon. Twilight watched as the perfect circle rose above the horizon, looking many times bigger than usual.

Should I show him to her? Thought Luna, looking at the unicorn sat alone by the fire, then back to the Moon. Why not?

Luna took a deep breath then sang a short, otherworldly tune that sent shivers down Twilight’s back.

“Luna, why are you—”

She cut herself short after the alicorn raised a hoof. Twilight could hear a faint howling noise on the night air.

“Wolves!” she squeaked, “Luna, we can’t be out here with wolves.”

“Twilight, there is nothing to fear, you’ll see,” said Luna calmly.

Twilight looked to the east and saw a shimmering silver something running towards them from under the Moon.

“What is that?” asked Twilight.

“That, Twilight, is Lupa.”

“Lupa?”

“My pet wolf.”

“Your pet… wolf,” said Twilight weakly.

The silver wolf padded up to them and sat next to Luna. Twilight noticed that he was translucent, glowed pure silver and twinkled like the stars. The unicorn had never seen anything quite like it.

“Do you like him?” asked Luna, stroking him fondly.

“I… He’s quite something, Luna, but how um… where did he come from? I’ve never seen a wolf like this before.”

The unicorn was having a hard time not leaping to her bag and taking notes on Lupa’s unique appearance.

“We created him, a long time ago, from moonlight and starlight as a companion for me, not unlike Philomena for Celly, though there are wild phoenixes. Lupa is my oldest friend beside my sister, aren’t you?” she said as she ruffled his fur and he licked her face.

Twilight approached the wolf, curious as to what his fur felt like. She nervously extended a hoof and gently patted his head and he closed his eyes in contentment.
His coat felt just like she expected, like ordinary fur, except that he was icy cold to the touch.

“He’s a most curious animal,” said Twilight, still petting him, “why have I never heard of him before now?”

“I don’t go showing him to just anypony, very few know he exists- he prefers it that way.”

“I feel honoured then that you have introduced me to him,” said Twilight happily.

Luna whispered in Lupa’s ear. He nodded and vanished into thin air.

“What did you say?” whispered Twilight, not sure why she was doing so.

“Watch the Moon,” murmured Luna.

Twilight sat down and looked at the large, luminous orb hanging low in the sky. For a few minutes, she saw nothing, but then she noticed a dark shadow began to pass over its face.

“Luna, is that what I think it is?”

“Maybe,” said Luna mischievously. “Would you like some tea Twilight? This will take a while.”

An hour later, they had their tea and were now snacking on honeysuckle. The Moon had become covered in shadow and began to turn blood red.

“Luna, it’s beautiful! Is that how lunar eclipses work then? Does Lupa help with it?”

Luna smiled at the inquisitive mare.

“To a degree… We all know that lunar eclipses happen when this land passes between the Sun and the Moon.”

Twilight nodded fervently to show that she did know this.

“But of course the Moon turns red while in shadow, that is Lupa’s contribution. We are not sure why he chooses that colour, I’d prefer it to be a nice blue, but I can’t get him to change his mind.”

She shrugged and turned to Twilight.

“I didn’t know that, that’s fascinating!” said Twilight enthusiastically.

“And I’d thank you not to mention it to anypony else Twilight, as I said before, Lupa likes to remain elusive and unknown to the general population.”

“Of course, Luna.”

They sat in silence together for a few minutes, looking at the Moon.

“Um Twilight,” said Luna, nervous to change the subject of conversation. “About the other night…”

“Yeeesss?” said Twilight, wondering where this was going.

“I just wanted to apologise if we have made you feel awkward around me at all or anything.”

Twilight looked nonplussed.

“Awkward? Luna, as far as I’m concerned, nothing has changed between us.”

Luna looked into Twilight’s eyes.

“You really mean that don’t you?”

“Every word.”

Luna smiled, then it faltered.

“Maybe I am destined to be alone,” she said, more to herself than to Twilight. “The fates seem quite keen to isolate me from the rest of Equestria. I spend most of my waking hours alone, I even spent a thousand years alone with nothing but rocks for company.”

Twilight felt sympathy to Luna’s situation.

“Luna, I know I can’t really say anything seeing as I can barely even imagine what it must be like to be alone for so long. But look at where you are now: you have friends, friends who care, friends who you are now camping with, sharing an eclipse with a friend. Can’t that be enough?”

Luna considered Twilight’s words thoughtfully.

“I suppose… it is…” she said slowly. “In fact, it definitely is! I love my friends dearly.”

“And we love you Luna.”

A wide smile grew on her face and Twilight opened her arms. They shared a hug together under the crimson Moon.

“You’re right Twilight, I’m not alone.”

Twilight consulted the map the next morning and was pleasantly surprised when she discovered where they were.
“We can reach the sea by day’s end!” she announced.

“Hoooo-wheeee! How long ago did we set off again Twi? Ah lost count.”

“Only five days as it turns out, the raft really gave us a great head start,” said Twilight.

The plains behind them, the four ponies were now walking over low, sloping hills as they gradually approached the sea. Applejack began a game of who would see the sea first, which eventually led them to be almost running to the top of each hill to try and win.

“I see it, I see it!” shouted Rainbow excitedly the nineteenth time she did this.

Out of the four, Twilight was the only one who had never seen the sea before; she sprinted to the top of the hill, eager to see how it compared to her imagination. At first she was unsure where she was supposed to be looking.

“Where is it?” she asked, confused.

Rainbow pointed between two hills. There was a small blue triangle that almost blended with the sky.

“Is that it?” asked Twilight, disappointed.

“It is fer now,” said Applejack, “but believe me Twilight, it gets a lot more purdy than that when you can see all of it.”

“We can’t be more than three miles away now,” said Rainbow encouragingly. “Hey, AJ, think ya can beat me to the edge of the sea?”

“It’s on!” said Applejack, with a determined frown.

“Three, two, one, GO!” shouted Rainbow, and they tore off, leaving Twilight and Luna in a cloud of dust, chuckling at the two ponies.

“Come on Rainbow! Gotta try harder than that to keep up with these dancin’ hooves!” called Applejack from in front. The earth pony looked behind her to see a distinct lack of blue pegasus. Rainbow Dash had decided to take the longer, but less tiring route of running around the hills instead of running direct like Applejack. “Consarnit, how do I know if ah’m winnin’ or not now?”

She gritted her teeth and ploughed ahead.

About half an hour later, the two exhausted ponies had made it close to the sea, they were still neck and neck though now they were barely running faster than walking pace.

“Ah’m… Ah’m still gonna beat y’all,” said Applejack breathlessly.

“My legs feel like they’re gonna fall off,” groaned Rainbow.

“Ya could just give up?”

“No! I wanna beat you!”

They made their way down to the white, sandy beach, the soft sand sapping even more energy out of them. Stumbling forward, they reached the water’s edge and simultaneously collapsed.

“Who won?” panted Applejack.

“I dunno…” replied Rainbow, her tongue hanging out as she tried to get her breath back.

“Ah’m so tired.”

“Me too.”

They turned to look at each other and started laughing.

Rainbow managed to stand up, albeit weakly. She moved closer to Applejack and sat next to her. Applejack sat up.

“I like racing with you like that,” said Rainbow.

“Ah, know you do sugar cube.”

“I really like it.”

And with that, she moved closer to Applejack and kissed her deeply. Applejack surrendered to the moment, enjoying it immensely.

“Well well well, what do we have here?” said a voice from behind them.

Surf's Up!

A Trip to Remember

by Gallifrey

Chapter Seventeen
Surf's Up!

Luna and Twilight reached the top of the last hill before the land sloped down to greet the ocean. Twilight gasped at the view. She had never seen the horizon be so perfectly flat before, nor anything quite so blue. The shimmering water looked like a sparkling galaxy of stars, and the white froth of the waves as they crashed at the shore made the unicorn’s ears twitch, as they produced a unique sound Twilight had never heard. A gust of wind swept her mane and she inhaled deeply. The fresh, tangy smell of the sea went straight to her head, clearing her thoughts, she could even taste the salt on her tongue. With all this hitting her at once, Twilight couldn’t do much more than gape in awe at the scene. Luna inwardly smiled at the expression on Twilight’s face: she completely understood what the unicorn was feeling, having felt it herself all those long years ago when she first beheld the seas.

“Shall we go down to see where dear Applejack and Rainbow Dash are?” asked Luna.

Twilight vacantly nodded in response.

They descended down the hill to the water’s edge, looking for the pegasus and earth pony. They split up and searched different areas of the beach. Twilight walked around a large rocky outcrop and came upon the two ponies, but also…

“Twilight Sparkle! My most faithful student!”

“Princess Celestia?” said Twilight, halting in her tracks, astounded.

“Are you not happy to see me?” asked the Princess, mock sulkily.

“Oh of course I am!” said Twilight hurriedly, “But, um, why are you here?”

“Well, I came here to see you all. I have been here since this morning, assuming you’d be here around this time, and I came across Applejack and Rainbow Dash, being too preoccupied to notice my approaching, I think I may have given them quite a startle.”

Celestia grinned mischievously as the two ponies blushed. The implication flew over Twilight’s head.

“How in Equestria did you know we were coming here? We never told you where we were going.”

“Well,” said Celestia, “this occurred to me too, so I visited Ponyville. I went to see your family Applejack, and Big Macintosh told me where you all intended to go. He also requested I give his regards to you all, particularly to you Twilight.”

“To m-me?” said Twilight, placing a hoof over her face in an attempt to hide her blush.

“Yes Twilight, to you.”

“Oh… my.”

Celestia nodded with a meaningful smile on her face. Applejack meanwhile looked on, eyes slightly narrowed.

“Anyway,” said Celestia pointedly, “I also visited Spike, who told me that he had received a letter yesterday evening from a fellow dragon telling of your whereabouts, hence, explaining how I both knew where to find you and when.”

“That still doesn’t explain why you’re here Princess,” said Twilight.

“Ah, yes, for that, I must talk to my dear sister.”

They walked back down the sands to find Luna.

“Celly?” said Luna once she saw Celestia.

“Good afternoon Luna,” said Celestia.

“What are you doing here?”

“Oh, do I have to say it all again?” pouted the Sun Princess.

“As for why I am here,” said Celestia after she had repeated herself, “I need you back in Canterlot.”

“What am I needed for?” asked Luna, surprised.

“Partly because some ponies have been asking me where you are, wanting to have audience with you, but mostly because the newspapers have noticed your unusual absence- this is the first time you’ve properly left Canterlot since your return after all, and they have been publishing stories that I have, ahem,” she looked down at her hooves, “sent you back to the Moon.”

“What?!” came the incredulous responses from the four ponies.

“I know,” said Celestia wearily, “I have half a mind to send them to the Moon. It has been a nightmare at the Palace, I’ve been swamped by ponies, the press have been demanding I tell of your whereabouts, sister. Since I didn’t actually know, which only made me look worse, I had to go to Ponyville and find out for myself. Now unfortunately I need you to return to Canterlot to stop this whole fiasco.

"Did you learn by any chance the lessons I intended you to learn by sending you on this trip in the first place?” asked Celestia with a glint in her eyes.

“You sending me? Lessons learnt?” asked Luna, confused.

“Yes, I suggested this trip to Twilight, and here you are. Did you learn any lessons in friendship between you?”

She looked at both Twilight and Luna.

“If I’ve learnt anything,” Luna began, “it is that being a true friend to somepony is just as great as loving somepony, which I hadn’t realised until now, and that I am never truly alone when I have such good friends and family.”

“And I learnt that being there for your friends is very important, and kindness and understanding are the keys to helping them if they are down,” said Twilight.

“Very astute,” said Celestia, nodding. “Now, I would love to stay longer with you and hear your adventures, but I must hurry back to Canterlot before they start saying I have abdicated myself or something ridiculous.”

“Farewell girls,” said Luna, “we have greatly enjoyed this trip with you all, we hope to do it again someday.” She hugged each one of them, embracing Twilight last, “Thank you,” she whispered through the hug.

She walked to her sister’s side and Celestia’s horn began to glow with a golden light. There was a brilliant flash of light and they were gone.

“Well, that was certainly unexpected,” said Twilight, “I sure hope the princesses can sort everything out.”

She tapped a hoof worriedly.

“Ah’m sure they’ll be fine sugar cube, don’t you worry none, now what do you say we do? The weather is mighty fine.”

“Surfing!” said an enthusiastic Rainbow Dash, “I love surfing!”

“Where are you gonna get a surfboard from though sugar cube?”

“I saw a big, flat piece of wood further down the beach that looked perfect for the job,” said Rainbow, positioning her body to take off then remembering her wing was still injured. “Heh, I’ll be back in a minute.”

She trotted off.

“Surfing? I’ve never tried that before,” said Twilight, wondering how much of a fool she was going to look.

“Me neither, should be interestin’. I hear Rainbow is quite good at it ya know.”

They heard a huffing sound as Rainbow dragged a flat piece of wood across the sand.

“What d’ya think?” asked Rainbow, spitting the wood out of her mouth.

Twilight looked at it. It looked hydrodynamic enough to her, she just wondered whether she was hydrodynamic enough, she wasn’t the strongest swimmer.

She looked up to see Rainbow Dash was wading into the water to try it out first, she hauled herself onto the board and waited for a big wave to roll in. Once she caught one, she began to stand up. To immediately fall off. And again. And again. And again.

“I thought you said she was really good?” mumbled Twilight to the earth pony.

“Tha’s what she told me,” replied Applejack.

Rainbow soon gave up and grumpily trudged out of the water, dripping from head to tail.

“It’s this wing!” she said, “I usually use my wings to help balance me.”

“O’ course Rainbow,” said Applejack teasingly.

Rainbow snorted in response.

“Twi, do you want a go?” asked Rainbow.

“I don’t see why not, I can’t be worse than you,” she snickered.

“Alright, quit it!” said Rainbow agitatedly.

They continued chuckling, but Applejack gave Rainbow a wink to show it was just a joke. Twilight meanwhile was about to take her first ever steps into the sea. A wave washed over her hooves.

“It’s freezing!” she called.

“You get used to it!” shouted Rainbow.

She ploughed on, the water rising until it touched her tummy, which elicited a gasp of shock from the mare, then over her back completely. She jumped onto the board lightly, keeping her body low and using her tail as a rudder to keep her in the right direction. Twilight looked over her shoulder to see a very large wave coming her way. She started paddling forward with her tail. She caught the wave.

Going good so far, now for the tricky part.

Twilight stood up. She found it no more difficult than she would standing up normally- She waved at the two ponies on the shore, each of whom bore expressions of bewilderment. This was easy for the unicorn as she leaned to the left to travel down the beach, riding the wave all the way until it broke in an explosion of white froth. Twilight managed to hold her ground right up until the wave had died and retreated back down the beach. She stepped off the board and looked for Rainbow and Applejack, who were running towards her.

“How did you do that?” they both asked.

“Beginners luck?” said Twilight modestly.

After they had eaten dinner, they started a fire primarily composed of the surfboard.

“Piece of junk,” said Rainbow as she threw it on.

The Moon rose out of the sea as evening progressed, and Twilight gazed at the large silver orb, wondering whether the princesses had managed to sort out the furore at the Palace yet, but also whether a certain stallion was watching the Moon with her so far away. Twilight felt her heart pang slightly as she realised just how far away she was from him. She missed him a lot, and was determined to see him as soon as possible when she got back.

“Twilight, what do you think?” asked Rainbow.

“Huh?” said Twilight, snapping out of her reverie.

“Me and AJ were wondering what we're gonna do after today? About whether we should start going home or not.”

“We have had a very eventful journey haven’t we?” said Twilight, “I wouldn’t mind setting off home at some point tomorrow.”

“Okie doke,” said Applejack as Twilight turned her head and gazed wistfully at the Moon again.

Big Macintosh was in his bedroom, sitting at his writing desk, lost in his own little world as his quill flew over parchment as he wrote. Moonlight spilled through the window above him and onto his body. He looked up and saw the Moon looking down on him.

I wonder if she’s looking too? She probably is in all fairness, she does love her astronomy.

The stallion looked down at his work again.

Imagination
A poem for Twilight Sparkle

“Ah think she’ll like that,” said Big Macintosh happily.

I do miss her…

“Oh hello Big Macintosh,” mumbled Twilight, “fancy seeing you here.”

Applejack sat bolt upright in her tent as she heard Twilight in her sleep from a few yards away.

“Why yes, you certainly can inspect my bedchambers,” she murmured happily.

Applejack’s eyes widened and she threw her hooves over her ears, not wanting to hear any more of Twilight’s dreams.
Her sudden movement awoke Rainbow Dash.

“Mmmrrrhhh AJ, what’re you doing?”

“Ah’m trying not ter hear Twilight’s dreams about mah brother!” whispered Applejack loudly.

“Why, what’s wrong with-”

“You certainly live up to your name, don’t you?” came Twilight’s slightly husky voice.

Rainbow suddenly understood why Applejack looked so disgusted, then fell about laughing in a fit of silent giggles on the floor of the tent.

“It’s not funny Rainbow!” hissed Applejack, “Ah really don’ wanna hear this stuff!”

“We could go for a walk?” suggested Rainbow, trying so hard not to laugh her ribs hurt.

“We can’t leave Twi on her own here!”

“We won’t go far, just out of earshot for ya.”

“Alright, sounds good to me.”

They quietly left their tent and walked a little way down the beach together under the silver moonlight. Soon, all they could hear was the breaking of the waves.

“So, do you think Twilight likes your brother?” asked Rainbow.

“Ah think so, there hasn’t been any solid evidence yet but Twi has always been very friendly with him, and after what Celestia said today about him sending his regards especially to Twilight, and these… dreams she’s having, I think it’s pretty likely.”

“And you’re okay with it I assume?”

“Well, of course, ain’t no business of mine, s’just weird with it being my brother and one of mah best friends.”

“Yeah, I can imagine… Actually, I can’t, I’m an only child.”

“And ah’ve been thinking recently about how to tell my family about us…” said Applejack slowly.

“They’ll be okay with us won’t they?”

“Ah’m not sure, we are mares after all.”

“And?”

“For ponies in my Granny’s generation, they generally think ‘filly foolers’ and ‘colt cuddlers’ are wrong and unnatural.”

“I-I don’t understand,” said Rainbow, genuinely confused, “why would they think that?”

“Ah don’t understand any more than you do firefly, it’s none of their bucking business what ah do, you do, or anypony else does. Then again, Granny has always been different, she might be alright.”

“And Big Macintosh?”

“He won’t care, besides, ah swear I’ve seen him checking out Caramel before.”

Rainbow snickered.

Caught in the Act

A Trip to Remember

by Gallifrey

Chapter Eighteen
Caught in the Act

Big Macintosh woke up an hour before sunrise the next morning, which wasn’t unusual for him. He sat up and yawned, taking the Smarty Pants doll from his bed onto his desk. The one thing he owned that had a connection to Twilight Sparkle. He smiled at it and went downstairs for breakfast. He felt like having eggs, so he went to the henhouse to collect some.

“Mornin’ my lovelies, don’ mean ter disturb ya, but I’m mighty hungry, so if ya don’t mind.”

He grabbed five eggs and carefully carried them back to the house, picking up that day’s edition of Equestria Daily that was on the doormat.
He whisked up the eggs and poured them in a pan with melted butter. As he idly stirred his breakfast, he looked at the front page of the newspaper, there was a large photo of an embarrassed looking Luna with a very irate Celestia in the background.

Princess Luna: Alive and Well!

Princess Luna, younger sister of our monarch Princess Celestia, made a public appearance yesterday after the recent panic over her mysterious disappearance from Canterlot.
Luna had not been seen at all for five days with no explanation, which lead to suspicion amongst the citizens of Canterlot and soon the whole of Equestria. There were claims that there had been an argument between Luna and her older sister and that she had even been banished to the Moon.

“Well, it was a most mysterious thing,” says journalist Fann Flame, “Princess Luna disappears, and the relationship between the two princesses has been… troubled in the past to say the least.”

Celestia meanwhile has been growing increasingly impatient with the accusations. On Monday she said:

“I don’t know where she is! Now will you please stop badgering me, I have a lot of work to be doing.”

This remark did nothing to improve the affair, the Princess of the Realm claiming that she “didn’t know” where her own sister was added fuel to the “She was sent to the Moon theory.”
Yesterday, Equestria found that it had no leader for most of the day as both princesses were absent from Canterlot, until mid-afternoon when Celestia returned with Luna in tow.
Luna gave a speech on how she had simply been on holiday with some friends and made her opinions on the rumours very clear.

“We cannot believe that any of you would even consider that my sister would… send me back there… it was a time both of us deeply regret and would like to forget,” says the Princess.

Big Macintosh shook his head wearily at how ridiculous the whole story was. He looked up to see that smoke was pouring from the pan, his scrambled eggs were burning.

“Oh honey muffins!” he exclaimed. “Goshdern it, ah’m gonna have ter get some more, the hens won’t be happy about that.”

Twilight and company were walking back along the plains to the ancient walls of rock ahead of them.
Rainbow Dash was feeling increasingly restless, wanting to stretch her wings and soar into the skies.

“AJ, can you undo these bandages?”

“What for sugar cube?” asked Applejack, puzzled.

“I can’t stand this anymore! I want to stretch my wings!”

“Oh no you don’t! You ain’t flying!”

“I’m not gonna fly, I wanna stretch my wings.”

Applejack looked suspicious.

“Pleeeeaaaase?”

“Oh, alright, come ‘ere.”

Applejack removed Rainbow’s bandages and the pegasus slowly unfurled her wings as they trotted along, grimacing slightly as she did so. She gave them a slow, experimental flap and was surprised when it only hurt slightly.
Applejack watched her beadily the whole time.

“C’mon AJ, do you really think I’m gonna fly if you don’t want me to?”

She brushed her good wing playfully over Applejack’s face, tickling her muzzle with her feathers.

“Ah never know with you Rainbow,” replied the earth pony, winking as Rainbow folded her wings neatly without any trouble.

“Come on girls, if we pick up the pace, we can be at the bottom of the mountains before day’s end- We don’t want to have to camp in them again.”

The evening was warm and calm on the plains, they set up camp in the same spot they had three days earlier. All three of them were exhausted but happy that they had made it to the mountain’s foothills.
They sat around the campfire on logs and talked of home, and how eager they were to get back.

“Ah jus’ hope ah’m home for applebucking season,” said Applejack fretfully.

“I just hope Spike hasn’t burnt the library down.”

“I don’t really have anything to hope for, I just wanna see the other guys, not that you two aren’t awesome or anything.”

They started laughing.

“I think we can be back in four days if we keep a good pace up,” said Twilight.

“Sounds good ter me,” said Applejack.

“Excellent!” Twilight yawned widely. “I think I’m gonna hit the hay, g’night girls.”

“Night Twi!” they said in unison.

Twilight slipped behind the folds of her tent and they could hear her humming as she set up her sleeping bag.
Rainbow and Applejack sat quietly around the crackling fire, not talking of anything in particular. After a short time Rainbow cleared her throat.

“Um, Applejack? I got something for you.”

She twisted and picked up something that was hidden behind the log she was sat on. Applejack looked on curiously as Rainbow straightened up. She had a poesy of wild flowers in her mouth.

“I got fese fer you!” she said, her cheeks pink.

Applejack was stunned.

“Rainbow, ya shouldn’t have, they’re so beautiful!”

“They’re not that great,” said Rainbow, placing the flowers next to the earth pony.

“Course they are firefly, they’ll taste mighty sweet, and the gesture was even sweeter.”

Then without warning, she pounced upon the pegasus and they both tumbled to the ground next to the fire, Applejack pressed her lips to Rainbow’s and Rainbow eagerly complied.

“Ah love you, firefly.”

Rainbow paused, that was the first time Applejack had said it to her. She felt a very warm, fuzzy feeling growing inside her chest, ballooning until that was all she could feel, she looked up at the mare above her, shadows from the fire dancing over her face. She almost felt as if she was looking at her clearly for the first time.

“I love you too Applejack,” she said, her voice cracking slightly as she pulled her into a tight embrace, “with all of my heart.”

The kiss that followed was unlike any kiss they had shared before: it began with a gentle lingering touch of their lips, Applejack wrapping a hoof round the back of Rainbow’s neck, drawing her close, then they dove with abandon into a very passionate embrace that seemed to last forever for the pair. Eventually they broke apart and Applejack felt as though sparks were jumping through her as Rainbow gently kissed her neck and stroked her mane.

“That’s new!” said Applejack excitedly.

“I like to mix things up,” said Rainbow.

Meanwhile, Twilight had heard many unusual sounds coming from outside.

What in Equestria are those two doing? She wondered to herself as she stuck her head out to see the two mares locked in a kiss.

Oh… Gosh…

She quietly tried to retreat back inside the tent to give them some privacy but…

“Twi?!”

Oh no! Twilight groaned internally.

With much embarrassment for all concerned, Twilight slunk out of the tent, pointedly not looking at the two ponies by the fire.

“I’m so sorry!” said Twilight, speaking to her hooves, “I didn’t, um, expect that.”

“How could you not?” asked Rainbow, “Don’t you know me and AJ are dating?”

Twilight’s eyes widened.

“N-no, I didn’t know, was I supposed to?” she asked, worried that she had missed something important.

“We haven’t actually told anyone yet remember Rainbow? Well, Princess Celestia saw us kissing but apart from that…” said Applejack patiently. “Yes sugar cube, me and Rainbow are going out now, ah’m sorry we didn’t tell ya earlier, but it slipped mah mind. We have all been mighty preoccupied with sphinxes, near death experiences and dragons after all.”

“Don’t worry about it, I’m not upset about you not telling me, it’s just so weird to see… that.”

“Heh, sorry about that,” said Rainbow, “we thought you’d gone to sleep.”

“Hmmmm, do try to make sure I am asleep next time won’t you?”

“Sure thing sugar cube, ah guess we’ll be getting some sleep too now anywho.”

“Awww!” said Rainbow sulkily, pouting at Applejack. The earth pony gave her a stern look. “Oh okay! G’night Twi.”

“Night girls,” said Twilight.

“G’night sugar cube,” said Applejack with one last sheepish, apologetic look, before entering the tent too.

Twilight closed her tent and threw herself back onto the ground. Her mind was spinning. She had the image of them plastered in the forefront of her mind and no matter how many times she shook her head, it wouldn’t go away. She also couldn’t prevent a sinking sense of loneliness flowing through her either. She suddenly felt terribly alone to be in her tent all by herself, knowing that twenty feet away, Rainbow and Applejack were most likely cuddling as they drifted off to sleep. Her thoughts wandered to Big Macintosh, and with that comforting thought, she fell asleep.

Golden Lightning

A Trip to Remember

by Gallifrey

Chapter Nineteen
Golden Lightning

Twilight woke up the next morning to hear an odd snuffling sound outside. At first she thought it was Rainbow and Applejack again, although she sincerely hoped it wasn’t. Instead, she opened her tent to a wall of scales. Golden scales. She gasped and the dragon turned to face her, fixing one large emerald eye upon her.

“Um, good morning Incandus,” said Twilight, a little apprehensively, never having been woken up by an enormous, fire spitting creature before, “can I help you at all?”

“Good morning Twilight Sparkle! And I was wondering if I would be able to help you this fine day.”

“Help? What sort of help?”

“Well,” he said casually, holding up a claw and examining his talons, “I could fly you three home if you like?”

“Really?!” said Twilight enthusiastically, “hang on, lemme wake up the girls.”

She hurried over to the tent.

“Rainbow, AJ, get up, we have company!”

“Huh, wazzat?” said Applejack confusedly.

“Just a dragon,” said Twilight.

“Dragon?!”

There was a lot of fumbling inside the tent, and the two ponies tumbled out it, landing spread eagled before Incandus’ feet. They looked up, petrified, until they saw who it was.

“Twilight!” said Rainbow crossly, “You didn’t need to scare us like that!”

“Rainbow, I know what you’re like to get up in the mornings,” said Twilight, “so I thought this would be more effective, I think I was correct in my assumptions.”

Rainbow snorted.

“Anyway, surely you’re wondering why there is a dragon in our camp?”

“Oh yeah, why are you here?” asked Rainbow.

“I came here to offer you all a ride home if you want.”

“Really?” said Applejack, a grin on her face.

“Oh boy, that’d be sweet!” said Rainbow excitedly, “It’d be just like flying again!” She flapped her wings a few times, “Plus we get to ride a fully grown dragon, it’s gonna be so awesome!”

“I think that’s a yes,” said Twilight, smiling up at Incandus.

“Wonderful! You do whatever you have to do, and just let me know when you’re ready to go.”

Once they had packed up and ensured that their saddlebags were strapped tightly enough, they were ready.

“All set sugar cube,” said Applejack.

Incandus, who had been lightly napping, opened his eyes slowly.

“You’re ready?” he rumbled, stretching his great wings.

“Yup, all ready ter go.”

“That’s great!”

He knelt close to the ground so that they could clamber on.

“Thank you so much for this kind, whoa, gesture.” said Twilight, as she lost her footing slightly as she climbed up his back.

“Careful now! And don’t mention it Miss Sparkle,”

Applejack thought this wasn’t the best of times to voice her fear of heights to anypony, she didn’t want to ground them and slow the party down. She closed her eyes and hugged Rainbow Dash’s waist rather tightly.

“Here we go!” called Incandus.

He flapped his wings violently, taking off vertically. Their manes ruffled in the turbulence. Twilight was wondering whether anypony had ever actually ridden a dragon before, and whether this was a first in Equestrian history. Rainbow was anticipating the moment for him to start flying forwards. Applejack meanwhile cautiously opened her eyes. As far as she could tell, this flying business wasn’t as bad as she thought, then she realised that for now he was only flying upwards. She looked ahead and saw that they were almost level with the mountain peaks. She looked down and felt her mouth go dry, she couldn’t even make out the camp site any more.
Incandus was panting slightly, as he stopped climbing and started hovering.

“Are you alright?” shouted Twilight.

“I’m fine, just flying up that far all at once isn’t something I do all that often. I’d advise you all to hold on tightly now though.”

Applejack took his words to heart and held even more tightly to Rainbow.

“AJ, can ya let up a little?”

“Heh, sorry firefl- whoa!”

Incandus put on an impressive burst of speed as they shot forward in the direction of the setting Moon, the golden Sun behind them, the beams glinting off his scales. Twilight and Rainbow whooped. Rainbow closed her eyes happily as she felt the wind tear through her mane for the first time in over a week.

Oh boy have I missed this!

She unfurled her wings so that she could feel the air stream over them too and pretend that she was actually flying, she turned to Applejack to see that her eyes were clamped shut and was quivering. Rainbow stroked the top of her mane lightly, the earth pony opened her eyes to see Rainbow looking concerned.

“You alright AJ?” she shouted over the roar of the wind.

“Ah’ll be fine, don’t worry about me!” She looked at Rainbow’s outstretched wings and gave her a quizzical look. "Um, what’s with the wingb–?”

“Oh this?! It’s not what it looks like! I’m just pretending I’m flying for myself is all! I really miss it!”

Applejack decided to take Rainbow’s word for it and shut her eyes again as they tore over Equestria.

To the general astonishment of the three ponies, they saw Ponyville on the horizon before it was even lunchtime. Twilight was thankful, she felt numb all over and extremely cold, Rainbow meanwhile still had a wide grin on her face and Applejack hadn’t moved at all.
Incandus began to descend and Twilight gave him directions to Sweet Apple Acres. He flew through a cloud that sprinkled them all with tiny droplets of water, much to Twilight’s misery as she shivered violently, her hooves feeling like they were about to fall off. All too soon, but still not soon enough for the purple mare, they were close to Sweet Apple Acres. She looked to her left to see orchards, right, farmland. Incandus landed with an almighty thump close to Applejack’s house. Twilight and Applejack slid numbly from his back, while Rainbow sprung lightly to the ground.

“Thank you so much for that! It was awesome!”

“My pleasure, Rainbow Dash,” he replied.

Twilight’s legs buckled and she collapsed to the ground. She groaned at the prospect of riding him home.

“Applejack,” said Twilight weakly.

“Yes hun?”

“Would it be alright for me to come round tomorrow?

“O’ course Twi, you wanna let Big Macintosh know yer comin’, or do ya wan’ it to be a surprise?”

“A surprise pl— Um, how d-did you know?” asked Twilight, her ears flattening in embarrassment.

“Oh Twi, ah heard what Celestia said, and ah saw how you reacted when he gave you his special regards, ah can put two and two t’gether sugar cube.”

“Please don’t be mad,” said Twilight imploringly.

“Mad? Why would ah be mad? Ah’m happy for ya—that is, assuming it goes smoothly heh. Jus’ don’t be all lovey dovey when ah’m around okay?”

“You’re one to talk,” said Twilight, sticking her tongue out.

“Hey, I thought y’all had gone ter sleep,” said Applejack grinning.

“What’s going on?” asked Rainbow, joining in on the conversation.

“Nothing much Rainbow, jus’ stuff,” said Applejack.

“I want to thank you girls for a great trip, even if it did have a few bumpy moments,” said Twilight, looking at them each in turn.

“No problem Twilight, I had fun too!” said Rainbow.

“It certainly brought us all closer together,” said Applejack, chuckling.

“That it did,” said Twilight, clambering back onto Incandus. “I’ll see you two tomorrow!”

“Why, what’s happening tomorrow?” asked Rainbow.

“Ah’ll tell ya later sugar cube.”

“See ya!” she called as Incandus rose into the skies.

As the two waved goodbye, Big Macintosh walked from behind the farmhouse. Twilight saw him, even as she was flying away and waved at him, beaming. He saw her, Twilight Sparkle, riding a great golden dragon and his jaw dropped in astonishment, but he waved back all the same, his mouth turning into a wide smile as she flew off towards her home.
The stallion approached his sister and Rainbow.

“Howdy gals, it’s good ter see ya again!”

“Brother!” said Applejack happily, running up to hug him.

“How are y’all?”

“We’re all good thanks, we had one heck of a trip.”

“Ah could see,” said Big Macintosh, looking at the speck that was the dragon in the distance. “How ‘bout ah make ya both a cup of tea and ya tell me all about it?”

“It better be a big cup o’ tea, it’ll take a while,” said Applejack.

Rainbow snickered.

Twilight slid from Incandus’ back once she was back home, ignoring all the screaming ponies around her who thought they were under attack.

“Thank you so much for the lift,” she said hazily, “d’you wanna see Spike?”

“Ooh, yes please, it’s been a while since I actually saw him.”

“I’ll go get him, feel free to try and reason with these ponies too if you want.”

She stumbled inside, up the staircase to a room Spike frequently spent his time in. She quietly opened the door to find the dragon dancing with a hat stand, singing Pony Gonna Give You Up, one of the cheesiest songs Twilight knew. Despite her fatigue, and not wanting to hurt his feelings, she couldn’t help but fall about giggling at the sight of him.

“Twilight!” he yelped, tripping over the hat stand and falling to the floor. He raised his head, cheeks burning.

“I’m sorry Spike, but that was— hahahahaha!”

“How was your trip?” he said trying to ignore the mare rolling on the floor in front of him.

“It was really good actually, thanks Spike, I’ll tell you all about it later, but right now I’m shot," said Twilight, wiping a tear of mirth from her eye.

“You look it,” said Spike bluntly, “especially your mane.”

“My mane? What about my mane?”

Her smile vanishing, she dashed up to her room to examine herself in her mirror. Her mane was so untidy and out of shape, if Rarity were there, she would have fainted from shock.

“Oh goodness! I hope Big Macintosh didn’t notice!”

“Why do you care if Big Macintosh noticed?”

Twilight’s eyes widened.

“No reason! No reason at all!” she said, flustered. “You have an outside visitor, I mean, a visitor outside for you by the way.”

“Okaaaaay,” said Spike, trying to work out why the unicorn seemed agitated as he left the room to see who was outside.

“Urgh, just my luck!” said Twilight to herself as she levitated her brush to comb her mane.

It took some time. Twilight’s normally straight and neat hair was very tangled from the buffeting it had received during her flight. She was thinking about tomorrow and was wondered how it would go. She just wanted to talk to Big Macintosh, and tell him about her adventures.
She ventured outside once she was satisfied with her appearance and saw Spike and Incandus laughing together.

“Hey,” said Twilight, “I wanted to thank you again, before I have a nap, for the generous offer of the lift.”

“Don’t mention it Twilight Sparkle, take care now!”

“Twilight, you never take naps!” said Spike.

“I know Spike, but that ride took so much out of me, I think I can make an exception this time.”

She nodded to Incandus, who returned it, and stepped back into the house. She rolled into bed and closed her eyes, almost immediately falling into another world where a dreamy red stallion was waiting for her.

At Sweet Apple Acres, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Big Macintosh were sitting in the Apple’s living room, drinking tea after their lunch. It was a cosy room, red in colour, with welcoming, creaky armchairs and soft rugs. There were many pictures on the walls of Big Macintosh, Applejack and Applebloom, many of them featuring them playing together in years long gone. Above the fireplace was the largest picture of the entire Apple family, including Applejack’s parents, all smiling happily, the moment forever captured.

“An’ tha’s when Rainbow had ter go and save me!” said Applejack dramatically.

Big Macintosh raised a hoof to his mouth in shock.

“Ya fell off the cliff?!” he said incredulously.

“Ah was tryin’ ta save Twilight!” she replied defensively, “You would’ve done the same!”

“Ya got me there,” he said, nodding, “it was mighty brave of ya, to try an’ stop Miss Twilight fall, and just as brave of you Miss Rainbow, to go and save her.”

Rainbow looked quite smug at the praise.

“Especially when my wings are injured,” she added, in case he had forgotten.

Applejack suddenly remembered the business with Luna and Twilight, and then she wondered whether to tell him about it. She thought it over but decided to let the unicorn tell him herself if she wanted to.

She and Rainbow continued to regale Big Macintosh with their stories, all the way up to the ride home on a dragon.

“Well, it certainly was eventful now wasn’t it?” he said, once they had concluded, “But ah’m afraid ah’m gonna have ter leave you two and get back to work, there’s a heck of a lot fer me to do.”

Rainbow looked eager at the prospect of being alone with Applejack. The earth pony herself however, had other ideas.

“Can ah help brother?” she asked hopefully.

“Ah couldn’t ask you to do that AJ, not after your busy day.”

“I’ll be fine sugar cube, ah miss workin’ around the farm.”

Only Applejack would actually miss work. Thought Rainbow sulkily “Hey, can I help?” she asked aloud, with as much enthusiasm as she could muster.

“You can if ya want Rainbow,” said Applejack, “we’ll be going down to the south fields to see how the apples are doin’, s’lil’ more, out of the way down there.”

Rainbow’s eyes brightened.

Under a Summer Tree

A Trip to Remember

by Gallifrey

Chapter Twenty
Under a Summer Tree

“C’mon Rainbow Dash!” called Applejack, as she examined a tree closely.

Rainbow plodded over to her. They had been at this for about an hour now. Applejack had shown Rainbow the signs that a tree’s fruit was maturing nicely, and had asked her to help examine some with her. The pegasus would have found it extremely tedious if she didn’t have Applejack for company, talking together about everything and nothing, often at the same time.

Applejack led her to a small glade at the bottom of the farm. There was a small stream running through it, willow trees grew around the water along with much lush, tall grass. They settled down on their backs in the dappled shadow of one such tree, watching the branches sway gently in the breeze.

“It sure is nice out here,” said Rainbow lazily as she stretched.

“This is one of mah favourite spots on the farm, ah come here to think about things.”

“Think about what?”

“Oh everything! Usual things like friends and family, but ah also come down here at night when I can’t sleep and look at the stars and wonder how we all came to be.”

“Wow AJ, that’s pretty deep stuff!”

“Ya reckon?”

“Sure! I hardly ever think about that stuff.”

“Perhaps you should Rainbow, I find it makes me feel happy.”

“Hmmm…” said Rainbow thoughtfully.

Silence descended on them for a short time.

“What are you thinking Rainbow?” asked Applejack curiously, after they had lain quietly for a few moments in the grass.
“About how awesome I am,” replied Rainbow, “and how awesome you are. Why?”

“No reason firefly, jus’ wonderin’”

“What do you think ‘s’gonna happen with Twilight and Big Macintosh?” asked Rainbow.

“Ah dunno, but I guess we’re gonna find out soon enough.”

A pause, then:

“And what do you think ‘s’gonna happen with us?”

“What d’ya mean?” said Applejack apprehensively.

“Oh no no no, I don’t mean I’m unhappy or anything! I was just wondering when we might…” She cleared her throat, “Ya know… I dunno if you feel ready for that stuff yet…”

She started blushing.

“Bucking?” said Applejack bluntly.

“Um yeah… Only if you feel ready and stuff,” said Rainbow awkwardly, her usual bravado collapsing under pressure.

“Well, I dunno” said Applejack, turning to the blue mare, “gimme a lil’ time to think about it,”

She moved over on top of the pegasus, and hugged her, for no other reason than for the simple joy of hugging the pony she loved. She inhaled deeply, the smell of the grass mingling with the sweet, familiar scent of Rainbow’s mane. Applejack pulled up and looked down at Rainbow lying on the grass.

She’s so beautiful. She thought, drinking in Rainbow’s lithe, sleek and muscular form, her glossy, sky blue coat and colourful mane, falling gracefully across the ground. She looked into the magenta eyes as she traced a hoof slowly over Rainbow’s body, beginning on her tummy, moving through the soft fur up past her rapidly beating heart, along her neck to rest on her cheek.

“I love you,” Rainbow said softly as Applejack leaned closer.

“I love you too,” said Applejack, moments before she pressed her lips to Rainbow’s.

It wasn’t the most passionate embrace they’d shared, but it was by far the most tender, the most loving. Applejack raised her hoof from Rainbow’s cheek to run it through her thick mane. She knew Rainbow liked it when she did that and was rewarded with a small giggle from the pegasus and a slightly more forceful kiss.
Rainbow eventually broke the kiss and slowly pushed Applejack to the side to position herself on top. The pegasus undid the ponytail in Applejack’s mane, she preferred it when it wasn’t tied up. She leaned in for another kiss, a more passionate one. As was usual between them, Rainbow started to make a competition out of it, picking up the pace that Applejack had to match or beat.
The earth pony meanwhile didn’t intend on playing by the rules. With a sly inner grin she gently ran her hooves up Rainbow’s back, right to the base of her wings, and pressed down gently.
Rainbow broke the kiss and yelped, though not in pain. Applejack knew that a pegasus’ wings were very sensitive.

“Ya like that Rainbow?”

Rainbow could only nod, eyes closed and shuddering as Applejack ran a hoof along Rainbow’s good wing.

“AJ,” said Rainbow huskily, “have you—nngh—made a decision yet?”

Applejack bit her lower lip and looked at Rainbow through half lidded eyes. The sight drove the already excited Rainbow Dash wild.

“That’s for me to know,” she said, pulling Rainbow closer to her so she could whisper in her ear, “and for you to find out.”

Rainbow felt a thrill run though her like electricity as Applejack whispered those words. She looked hungrily at the earth pony beneath her and grinned as she leaned in for another kiss.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash returned to the house some time later, they had completely lost track of time and it turned out they had missed dinner.

“Where in Equestria did y’all go?” asked Big Macintosh, opening the door and quickly returning to the stew they had for dinner that he had been keeping hot for them, “We started to get worried about you.”

“Sorry brother, we went out for a walk,” said Applejack holding the door for Rainbow.

“A real long one,” added Rainbow, “thanks AJ.”

The stallion raised a skeptical eyebrow but didn’t question them further. He noticed that they seemed to be acting very odd.

Well, odder than usual. He thought.

He saw that Rainbow kept stealing subtle glances at Applejack when she thought he wasn’t looking and that his sister would return them with a small smile.
Big Macintosh was a lot smarter than most ponies gave him credit for; he could put two and two together and notice details that others would often miss. He saw that the way they kept glancing at each other and the way they were speaking to each other was different from when he saw them off on their trip, the niceties such as holding the door that were just a tad beyond normal politeness; all that combined with their disappearance that afternoon only led to one conclusion…

Oh my… Well, I can’t say I’m not surprised, I never thought AJ’s barn door swung that way… Miss Rainbow, well, most everypony guessed that already. Not that I mind of course, I even took a fancy to Caramel that time a while back… That didn’t exactly end well, when he got a girlfriend and all. No, my heart’s set on Miss Twilight, the most clever, the most talented, most beautiful…

“Big Mac!” shouted Applejack, waving a hoof in front of his face, he snapped back to reality.

“Sorry,” he said with an apologetic grin, turning off the stove and ladling out their dinner for them.

“Thanks Big Macintosh,” said Rainbow as she dove into it.

“T’ain’t no problem.”

He watched quietly for a few minutes, observing the chemistry between the two mares as they talked together, wondering when to voice his thoughts. He watched and waited with his elbows on the table, hooves gently tapping together, until Applejack and Rainbow took a big mouthful of stew into their mouths at the same time and then decided to ask innocently enough:

“What’s goin’ on with you two then nowadays?”

Both mares sprayed their stew and started coughing.

Gotcha!

That was all the confirmation he needed, if they weren’t together, the stallion reasoned, they would have reacted with either puzzlement or would have talked about the “walk” they had supposedly been on.

“What d’ya mean?” asked Applejack, trying to act casual.

“Ah, mean, you an’ Rainbow are together.”

“How did you—”

“Jus’ a guess,” he said modestly.

“Well, ah suppose there’s no point in denying it,” said Applejack, ears flattening, “yes we’re together.”

“Then please let me offer my congratulations to you both.”

Applejack and Rainbow let out a collective sigh.

“You have no idea how much that means to us,” said Applejack.

“No, but ah can guess, now, let’s get this cleaned up,” he said, looking at the mess that had been spewed onto the table.

Applejack opened the door to her room to find it exactly as she had left it. She sighed in contentment as she lay on her bed.

“Oh wow, ah’d forgotten how comfy my bed was,” she said as she melted into it.

“AJ, you don’t mind if I take a shower do you?”

“O’ course not firefly, knock yourself out.”

As Rainbow left, Applejack set about unpacking her bags. She shoved the tent and sleeping bags under her bed, put her other equipment in a cupboard and last of all, set her harmonica on her bedside table, next to a small picture of her parents. She smiled sadly and sat up.

“Ah should really wash too,” she muttered to herself.

She got and walked down the corridor to the bathroom, the floorboards creaking slightly. She knocked on the door, she couldn’t hear the shower running.

“AJ?” came a tentative voice.

“Yeah, it’s me.”

A pause, then the lock clicked on the door and Applejack opened it.

“I was worried it was somepony else, that would have been a little awkward.”

Rainbow was in the middle of drying her body, her coat was ruffled and her mane and tail were untidy. Applejack grabbed a brush with her mouth and straightened Rainbow’s tail for her.

“Thanks AJ,” said Rainbow once dry, “I’ll take it from here, you get in that shower.”

Applejack passed the brush to her, and in the exchange, Rainbow snuck in a quick kiss.

“Cheeky,” said Applejack grinning.

Rainbow only winked as she couldn’t exactly speak well with a brush in her mouth.

After her shower, she went back to her room to find it empty.

“Rainbow?”

She heard something move behind her but wasn’t fast enough as somepony jumped on her back and felt a pair of hooves cover her eyes.

“Guess who?” said Rainbow as they tumbled onto the bed, well, Applejack did, Rainbow overshot and fell to the floor on the other side.

“You alright Rainbow?”

“Yeah I’m fine,” replied the pegasus, rubbing her head and getting into bed.

“Good,” said the earth pony, nuzzling Rainbow gently.

“So why’s Twi coming over tomorrow? You never told me.”

“Huh? Oh yeah, she wants to see Big Macintosh tomorrow, so ah say we give ‘em some room, s’only fair.”

“Okay, where should we go?”

“Hmm, we could just go Ponyville and wander around? Do a bit of shopping, have some lunch.”

“Sounds great to me!” said Rainbow, snuggling up to the earth pony as sleep started to fall upon her.

Applejack reached a hoof around Rainbow and closed her eyes.

“Ah love you firefly."

“I love you too AJ.”

Apples and Magic

A Trip to Remember

by Gallifrey

Chapter Twenty-One
Apples and Magic

Twilight Sparkle woke up later than she wanted to the next brilliantly sunny morning. She looked at her clock and it told her it was half past ten.

“Shoot! Just my luck!”

She tried to scramble out of her bed but her hooves got tangled in her sheets and she tumbled to the floor.

“Why do I have a feeling today just isn’t going to be my day?”

She walked cautiously to her desk to make sure nothing else happened.

“Right, checklist!”

She took a fresh piece of parchment and set it down in front of her. Her horn glowed and her quill levitated in front of her, she used it to brush some hair out of her eyes as she thought.
The quill then met paper as she started writing:

One: Have breakfast
Two: Have shower
Three: Brush teeth (could use in conjunction with Two for maximum efficiency)
Four: Wake Spike up
Five: Check library returns
Six: Quickly make sure I have no new assignments from the Princess
Seven: Run to Sweet Apple Acres

Forty minutes later, Twilight was bidding Spike goodbye, who was at a loss as to why she was in such a hurry.

“See ya later Spike!” she called as she left the house.

“‘Kay, where are you going?”

He turned to find that Twilight had already left. Spike huffed and went down to the basement for a nap.
Twilight trotted through Ponyville quite quickly, and was too absorbed in her own thoughts to notice Applejack and Rainbow Dash drinking milkshakes together outside Sugar Cube Corner.

“Lookee here Rainbow,” Applejack said, nodding at the lavender unicorn.

Rainbow could only snicker.

Twilight was hurrying to Sweet Apple Acres, she had just crossed the boundaries of their lands when she slowed down; she was hot from the combination of the journey and the hot sunshine, and she didn’t want to look all sweaty.
She didn’t see anypony as she approached the house, which struck her as a little odd. She left the dirt track to inspect her appearance in the pond just to the side of the house.
She leaned over the water to look at her reflection and inspect her appearance. She noticed her hair was a little untidy, so she used her magic to try and flatten it. What she didn’t notice was that somepony was approaching her from behind.

“You okay there Miss Twilight?”

Twilight started, squeaked and fell straight into the pond.
She floundered for a few moments under the surface, accidentally inhaling some water. She was disoriented and couldn’t tell which way was up. All she knew was that a few seconds later she had been hauled out of the water and laid gently on the grass. She blearily opened her eyes and the face of Big Macintosh swam into her view, his face full of concern.

Today definitely isn’t my day…

“Goodness Miss Twilight, are you okay?"

“I’m fine,” said Twilight, but she immediately started coughing violently.

She was lifted up by the stallion who firmly, but not painfully patted her back as she coughed up the water she had inhaled in her panic. Once she had stopped, Big Macintosh looked at her, his big green eyes looking… apologetic?

“Ah’m so sorry Miss Twilight, ah shouldn’t have surprised y’all like that. Ah understand if you’re mad at me righ’ now.”

“Mad?” said Twilight, puzzled, “Why would I be mad? You probably just saved my life! Thank you!”

“Ah’m kinda the one who caused you to fall in though,” he said sheepishly.

“Not on purpose though, I hope,” she said, flashing him a smile.

Sweet Celestia, that smile.

“O’ course not Miss Twilight! Ah was jus’ wondering what you were doin’ is all.”

“Well, I was, um… just admiring the, um, pond,” she said lamely.

Big Macintosh was confused, but decided not to question the poor mare.

Twilight looked down at her body and saw that weeds were on her coat and in her mane and tail. She felt intensely embarrassed. All her hard work that morning making sure that she looked good and clean had been for nothing, now she was sitting in front of Big Macintosh, soaking wet, covered in weeds, and probably not smelling too great either. The heat rose to her cheeks and she began to blush.

Oh, can it get any worse?!

“Ya know you're more than welcome ta use our shower,” said Big Macintosh, seeing Twilight’s face as she looked herself over.

“That would be wonderful,” said Twilight gratefully and she followed the stallion across the grass and inside the house.

“Take as much time as ya need,” he said kindly to her, handing her his towel.

Their eyes met for a second and neither of them moved, until Big Macintosh coughed slightly and gave a shy grin.

“I won’t be too long,” said Twilight as she slipped into the bathroom.

Big Macintosh walked back to his room, feeling slightly lighter on his hooves than usual.
He opened a drawer and took out a small piece of parchment. He sat down on his bed and put it next to him.

I think now is as good a time as any really…

He waited patiently, tapping his fore hooves together nervously. Eventually his door creaked as Twilight Sparkle entered the room. She almost seemed to actually sparkle to Big Macintosh she looked that clean.
Twilight looked curiously around Big Macintosh’s room. It was a simple room, with walls of an appropriate red colour. The furnishings were wooden; wooden desk, wooden shelves, wooden bed. The stallion was sitting on the bed, his expression looked tense to Twilight, she wondered why.

“Are you alright Big Macintosh?” she asked kindly.

He tried to answer, but found his voice was stuck in his throat. He coughed and tried again.

“Ah’m fine Miss Twilight, really.”

She made to sit next to him on the bed but paused when she saw the piece of paper.

“What’s that?” she asked curiously.

“Oh, it’s um, nothing,” he said, losing his confidence and picking it up.

“You sure?”

The stallion took a deep, calming breath and slowly held it out for Twilight, his hoof shaking slightly.

Okay, it’s over now mostly, all you have to do now is wait, he thought.

Twilight took the paper and unfolded it. She then read.

Imagination
A poem for Twilight Sparkle

There is a shining place,
Where your heart can run free,
That can be explored to no end,
And is always part of ye,
Where dark oceans and white mountains,
Will fashion themselves to your designs,
Where no dark cloud will ever mar the perfect Sun,
There is a place of endless time,
Storms can rage, more terrible than any before,
But you know they can be quelled with a whim,
A place where evil can reign,
Or good can win,
Eternal adventures await you there,
The stars sparkle with words never spoken,
The Moon and Sun watch the events unfold,
As dreams are both made and broken,
A place where laughter and pain,
Joy and fear are sharpened a thousand fold,
Rivers can flow liquid silver,
The sky can shine molten gold,
It is amazing to me,
A place with boundless fascination,
But a place that you alone can see,
This wonderful place is your imagination.

Twilight folded it back up and looked at Big Macintosh who looked more scared than Twilight had ever seen him.

“You wrote this for me?” she asked softly.

“Eyyup,” he replied, his voice sounding higher than usual, “every word fer you Miss Twilight.”

“Just Twilight is fine,” she said warmly.

“Twilight…” he said slowly, looking into her purple eyes.

“That’s so… sweet of you.” She moved up the bed, closer to him. Big Macintosh’s heart started hammering harder than it already was. “Nopony has ever written me a poem before.” She smiled at him and he felt his heart melt in that smile. She moved closer still.

This is what you want isn’t it? He asked himself. So why are you so nervous?

“I just wish there was something I could give in return,” she said with a grin.

“Well, I, ah—” he stammered as Twilight pushed a hoof to his chest and gently pushed him back onto the bed.

“What’s wrong?” asked Twilight, inches from his face, “You seem nervous.”

Big Macintosh mumbled something unintelligible.

“Hmm?”

“Ah’ve… never kissed somepony else before…”

“Never?”

“Nope.”

He looked ashamed of himself.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” said Twilight.

“It’s not?”

“Of course not, it means you’ve been waiting for a special pony to come along doesn’t it?”

“And that pony is you,” he said, smiling warmly at her and rubbing his nose with hers.

The stallion worked up some courage inside of himself.

“Ah really like you Twilight,” he said as the unicorn lay down next to him.

“I really like you too,” she said, closing the distance between their lips.

Big Macintosh’s eyes widened. He felt lighter than air once Twilight’s lips met his for the first time. Not entirely sure what he was supposed to be doing, he followed her lead, Twilight moved so that she was over him and he experimentally ran a hoof through her mane. The unicorn sighed so he thought he must be doing something right. They broke the kiss and the lavender eyes met the green.

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that,” said Big Macintosh.

Twilight grinned and blushed slightly.

He looked out of the window at the warm, sunny afternoon. “Would you like to take a walk with me Twilight? I’d like to take you to dinner, my treat.”

Twilight’s eyes sparkled at his generosity.

“Yes please, you’re honestly the kindest stallion I’ve ever met.”

“Ah do try,” said Big Macintosh wryly.

Applejack and Rainbow returned to Sweet Apple Acres in the orange splashed evening and searched for Twilight and Big Macintosh.

“Granny, you haven’t seen Twi or Mac about have you?”

Granny Smith closed her eyes for a second, in apparent concentration.

“Granny?”

She didn’t respond.

Applejack rolled her eyes.

“Granny!”

“Hewha?" she said as she awoke. "Oh, no… Miss Twilight was here?”

“Never mind,” said Applejack. She looked at Rainbow, figuring now was good a time as any to make a very important announcement to the elderly mare.

Rainbow nodded to the earth pony with resolve. Applejack took a deep breath, a bead of sweat forming on her brow.

“Granny, we have somethin’ important to tell you.”

“Ah’m all ears,”

“Well, ya see, um…”

She shifted nervously on her hooves.
Rainbow noticed Applejack’s distress and stepped forward.

“Applejack and I are… together.” She said the last word with pride, almost as if she was daring the matriarchal mare to disagree.

“Well o’ course you are!” she said, waving a dismissive hoof.

“What?’ said both mares at once.

“Ah may be old, but I’m no fool,” she said steadily, “it’s not difficult to see the way you two act around one another.”

“Are we that obvious?” Rainbow asked Applejack, “Your brother noticed too!”

Applejack still looked a little troubled.

“Are you um, okay with it Granny?”

“Well, I must admit, when I first had my suspicions, I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but who am I ter stop you? Ah’ve always told ya to do what makes ya happy, and if this is what makes you happy, then I fully support it.”

Applejack’s beam was one of the widest Rainbow had ever seen.

Princess Luna was sitting in her bedroom window, watching the Sun sink beneath the world. She turned away once the last ray of light slid from her face and made towards her soft purple bed. She lay on her back on top of her covers and levitated a bowl that had cake and ice cream in it.

“We do love pudding,” she said to herself as she ate a spoonful of it, a spot of it dripping onto her chest, evading her notice.
There was a gentle tap on her door.

“Enter,” said Luna, with a mouth full of cake, knowing who it was.

Celestia opened the door and smiled at Luna.

“Good evening Luna, it’s nice to see you looking so regal and graceful.”

She sat down on the bed, next to Luna and tutted at the drops of melted ice cream in her coat and the ice cream all around her mouth.

“Goodness gracious, you’re as bad as Twilight when she was a filly!”

Luna tensed almost imperceptibly at the mention of the purple mare, but did not escape Celestia’s notice.

Should I tell her? Thought Celestia. I suppose she deserves to know. “Twilight wrote to me about an hour ago,” Celestia began.

“Oh?”

“Yes, she tells me that she has found a colt friend.”

“Really?” she asked curiously, not sounding bitter like Celestia might have expected, which made her smile. “Who is it?”

“Big Macintosh, she informs me that he is Applejack’s brother.”

“Is he a nice stallion?”

“I’ve never met him, but if he’s anything like his sister he will be good for her.” She paused. “I’m sorry, Luna, for not letting you know about Twilight’s feelings for him sooner.”

“What do you mean? You knew?”

“Yes, Twilight told me in confidence her feelings about a month ago.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” asked Luna, confused to why Celestia would knowingly let her get her hopes up and even send them on a trip together.

“Well, I didn’t exactly want you to be rejected by Twilight, but I felt it important that you understand that just because you are not in a relationship, you can’t be happy. I’ve seen you over the long years sister, I’ve watched you chase countless ponies around, it always broke my heart as much as yours to see you so miserable. I thought that if there was any pony who could ever show you that you can still be happy,it would be Twilight Sparkle."

Luna’s mouth hung open slightly.

“I, um, thank you sister! She definitely did show me.”

“I knew she would, she is quite a unique mare after all. I find that I miss her running around the Palace when she was a filly.”

“Time makes fools of us all,” said Luna, slightly sadly.

“And we know it more than anypony,” said Celestia solemnly.

Twilight Sparkle and Big Macintosh entered Sweet Apple Acres together after a wonderful meal together at Ponyville’s most prodigious restaurant, DeCanter's. Twilight had a delightful time talking to the stallion all about her adventures, unaware that Rainbow and Applejack had already done so. Big Macintosh didn’t mention this, not wanting to hurt her feelings, besides, he heard some new stuff, most notably the Luna incident.

They walked under the early evening stars, which were slowly swimming out of the depths of the sky to twinkle over Equestria.

Twilight took a deep breath and yawned in her contentment, smelling the fragrance of the apple trees on the air.

“Ah hope ah’m not boring ya Twi,” said Big Macintosh jokily as they reached the house.

“Oh no no!” said Twilight earnestly, “I just feel so calm right now. It’s weird.”

“Ah know what you mean, ah feel it too.”

He nuzzled her and opened the door to the house, holding it for her.

“Who’s there?” came a sleepy voice from the living room.

“S’me and Twilight Granny, don’t you worry none!”

“Where have you been young man?” she asked, creaking her way into the kitchen.

“We’ve been in Ponyville, ah took Twilight to dinner.”

“To dinner ya say?” asked Granny Smith curiously.

“Eyyyup! Me an’ Twilight are—”

“You too?! Goodness me, it’s certainly been an eventful day for the Apple family ain’t it?”

“Oh, did you hear about AJ then?”

“Aye, I did, I can only wish y’all be as happy as you can possibly be.”

“Thanks a lot Granny.”

She bade them goodnight on the upstairs landing, entering her room at the top of the stairs.
Big Macintosh and Twilight crept down the corridor quietly, though not quietly enough, because Applejack’s door opened and the earth pony’s head stuck out, expression neutral. Her eyes trained onto Twilight, awaiting an answer to a question she hadn’t asked. The unicorn flashed her a smile and nodded.
Applejack’s face broke into a wide grin.

“Congratulations!” she said in a low but excited voice. Rainbow Dash popped her head around the corner.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“Twi and Mac are together now!”

“Really? Awesome!” she said, punching the air with a hoof.

“You best treat her right,” said Applejack light-heartedly, giving her brother a friendly punch on his shoulder, “same to you too lil’ missy,” she said to Twilight, repeating the gesture.

“Thanks gals,” said Big Macintosh, desperately supressing a yawn, “oh my, seems mah bed’s callin’ me.”

“I bet it is,” said Rainbow with a sly grin to the stallion.

“Fer sleep Rainbow, I’m not that type of stallion.”

“I know I know, heh, I was kidding.”

“Ah know you were kiddo,” said Big Macintosh with a wink. “Well, night y’all, have fun!”

“G’nigh—Have fun?” said Applejack.

She turned to ask her brother just what he meant by that, but his door was already shut, his name plaque wobbling slightly.

“Mac, you shouldn’t tease her like that,” said Twilight playfully.

“Ah, she knows ah don’ mean it, it’s quite funny too,” said the stallion, getting into his bed, inviting Twilight to join him.

“It is pretty funny,” Twilight admitted, lying next to him.

He drew the covers up and rested a foreleg over her. She felt warmth radiating from his muscular body and felt so secure to be close to him. He nuzzled her mane, smelling lavender, and kissed her cheek gently.

“G’night Twi,” he whispered into her ear, sending shivers down her spine.

“Goodnight Mac,” said Twilight, closing her eyes in contentment and smiling.

Applejack frowned as she returned to her room.

“S’up?” asked Rainbow.

“Nothing, just Mac teasin’ me like he always does.”

She got into bed next to Rainbow, then leaned over the pegasus to retrieve something from her drawer.

“What you got there?” asked Rainbow curiously.

She held out a small piece of paper to her.

“Tickets to the Thunderway 500?!” she squealed, “How did you get them? They're so hard to come by! Expensive too!”

“Well, it’s amazing what a few kind words and free apples can do for ya,” said Applejack. “The fastest fliers in Equestria will be there, including Soarin’ and Spitfire.”

“I should be there too,” growled Rainbow, as the earth pony put the tickets back in her drawer, “I overslept the qualifiers, heh.” Applejack rolled her eyes. “Always next year I s’pose.”

“And I’ll be there, cheering you on sugar cube.”

She drew Rainbow into a warm cuddle, kissing her softly.

“Thanks AJ. I love you, so much.”

“Ah love you too firefly, with all my heart.”

The two ponies shared their tender embrace, as they sank into sleep together.

The End

Whew! That was a lot of fun to write, I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. I should give special thanks to Alex and Reevsie for their copious amounts of advice and corrections. Also Tim for the excellent pun of DeCanter's restaurant. And thank you for taking the time to read! <3 X

Running Late

A Trip to Remember

by Gallifrey

Edited by Reevsie and Alex

Chapter One
Running Late

Twilight Sparkle was running as fast as she could through Ponyville in the rain, which proved difficult, for the purple unicorn was laden down with bags that were heaving with books, notes and rolls of parchment. Her hooves splattered mud all over the underside of her body as she ran as fast as her legs would carry her - but that was the least of her worries right now. She was running late for the one o’clock afternoon train to Canterlot, and was panicking.

Nonononononononononononono, this is not good! She thought wildly. I’m never late for Princess Celestia!

She hurtled round a corner, almost colliding head on with a surprised Big Macintosh, who was making his way back to Sweet Apple Acres after delivering some apples for Fluttershy.

“Sorry Big Mac!” called Twilight over her shoulder as she continued on her way.

“’S’alright Miss Twilight!” he called to the mare’s retreating back. “Just be carefu--” but she was already gone. He shook his head and carried plodding on his way back home.

Twilight was close to the station now, hoping the train hadn’t left yet. Her legs were protesting in pain, but she didn’t win fifth place in the Running of the Leaves for nothing. She forced herself to keep going. When she was about five hundred yards away, her horn lit up as she teleported the last little distance. She reappeared on the station platform, slightly disorientated.

“Quick, madam, if you want this train, it’s leaving in less than a minute,” said the station controller, with a whistle buried in his silver moustache as he prepared to blow it.

“Tha-thank you!” Twilight gasped, completely breathless. She got on the train towards its rear; where there were fewer ponies to see what a state she was in. Her mane was plastered to her body, steadily dripping water onto the train’s floor, and her legs were muddy and aching painfully. She set her bags down on a luggage rack, though not before checking inside to make sure her papers and books were alright. There were smudges where the ink had run, but they were still perfectly legible.
Twilight groaned as she looked down at her mud splattered hooves.

I can hardly sit down like this can I?

She resigned herself to several uncomfortable hours standing up.

A very irritable and tired Twilight left the train when it reached Canterlot at ten past three.

At least it’s not raining here, she thought, looking up. The sky was overcast, though it didn’t look like it was going to rain any time soon.

She left the station, making her way through Canterlot’s many streets up to the Palace. She kept her head down as ponies turned her way: most of the residents of Canterlot had never seen such a messy pony before - some had never even seen mud unless it was out of a bottle. There were whispers and muttering all around her so she picked up her pace, even though she was afraid of what Celestia would think of her in this state.
When she reached the gates of the Palace she was stopped by the Palace Guards as usual.

“Halt!” one of them barked, “Name?” said the other, even though they knew who Twilight was, it was royal protocol.

“Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia is expecting me.”

“That she is, you are free to enter Miss Sparkle. Have a good day.”

“Thank you; you too,” she said as the gates swung open for her and she trotted to the Palace doors.

One of the guards looked over his shoulder to make sure Twilight was out of earshot.

“Surely she's not going to present herself to the Princess looking like that?”

Twilight ascended the steps to the huge marble doors of the Great Hall, which were open. A few important looking ponies were inside the hall itself. There was a short queue before the throne, which had a very grumpy looking Luna sat upon it.
Twilight waited patiently at the bottom of the steps to the throne while Luna finished talking to a blue stallion, then bypassed the queue, to the faint annoyance of the ponies there to greet Luna.

“Good afternoon, Princess Luna,” said Twilight, bowing.

“Is it?” she grunted, “We should be asleep right now, but Celly woke me up and insisted that I take the reins of Day Court until dinner this evening.” She snorted irritably. Then her face softened. “Sorry Twilight Sparkle; how are you? And pray tell, why are you such a mess?”

“I’m pretty tired to tell the truth, but I’m happy to be here and see you two. And this--”she looked down at her legs and behind at her untidy mane and tail, “this is what comes of running late in the rain.”

“Ah, I see. At least you are well. If you want Celly, she’s up in her study.”

“Thank you Luna,” said Twilight, bowing again and walking down the steps.

“Oh, and Twilight?” Luna called. “You don’t have to bow to me; we are friends after all are we not?”

Twilight nodded and smiled and Luna returned it in kind, waving Twilight goodbye as she opened a side door which led to the Princess’ study.

Twilight eventually reached the top of the spiral staircase leading to the study that was situated in one of the Palace’s towers. The purple unicorn stood before the handsome oak doors of Celestia’s study. Not wanting to dirty the doors with a hoof, she gently tapped it with her horn three times.

“Enter,” came a serene voice from behind the wood.

Twilight opened a door with magic and stepped into the study. It was a large round room, with many bookshelves around the walls in between the six windows that surrounded the room, and Philomena the phoenix was perched on top of an unoccupied wing-backed chair. Twilight, however, only had eyes for the heavy mahogany desk in the centre of the room - or more accurately, the pony sitting behind it. Princess Celestia was wearing gold rimmed half-moon glasses and looked up from a long piece of parchment that she had been reading, beaming as she saw who her visitor was. Her beam turned into a mischievous grin as she saw Twilight’s current condition.

“Twilight!” she said in false shock, “Why are you so dirty?” She stared down at Twilight over her glasses in apparent disapproval.

“I-- Um, I-I didn’t mean to—"

Then Celestia started laughing, taking off her glasses and standing up from behind her desk.

“My faithful student, don’t worry, you’re not in any trouble, though you need a bath before we can talk. I believe you came on account of having new magic to show me?”

Twilight breathed a great sigh of relief. She should’ve known her Princess would play a trick like that on her.

“Yes, yes I do, and a bath sounds so good right now. I’ve been like this for hours.”

“May I ask how you got like this?” asked Celestia opening a door as she began to lead Twilight to a bathroom.

“I ran late this morning: I had library returns to sort out, make Spike’s breakfast and dinner, check all my notes for today, run an errand for Fluttershy because she leaves with Rarity and Pinkie today for Manehattan to help Rarity promote her latest fashion line…”

Twilight continued reeling off reasons why she was late until they reached Celestia’s bathroom. The whole room seemed to be coated with enamel and their hooves clattered and echoed loudly as Celestia walked over to a great hollow, oval shaped depression in the floor that was her bath. It was big enough to be a small swimming pool and Celestia turned on a big tap and steaming hot water cascaded into it. The alicorn magicked a bottle from a shelf and poured a generous amount into the water, bubbles started forming. She finished by adding some cold water so Twilight didn’t scald herself.

“The towels are in that cupboard there.” Celestia nodded towards the back of the bathroom. “Take as long as you need, I’ll be in my study.”

“Thank you, Princess.” She was very grateful for Celestia to have run her a bath.

“It is no trouble Twilight,” said Celestia placidly as she closed the doors and left Twilight alone.

The purple mare walked to the bath’s edge and slowly lowered herself in. She sighed contentedly as she felt the heat of the water soak into her aching muscles, tension unravelling. She drew a breath and submerged her head beneath the water, to wash her mane. After a little relaxation, she swam around the sea of bubbles, splashing the water playfully to create more. Twilight was surprised when she noticed all the mud from her legs seemed to have simply vanished, so she levitated the bottle Celestia had used and read that it simply dissolved dirt into nothing.

How clever, she mused, as she hauled herself out of the bath, water dripping off her entire body. She got a fluffy white towel from the cupboard and a hair brush too. Once she was satisfied with her appearance, the now squeaky clean Twilight magically pulled the plug on the bathtub and left. She still felt tired, though her limbs weren’t aching, and she felt weary as she trotted back up the spiral stairs to Celestia’s study.

Maybe I'm Dreaming

A Trip to Remember

by Gallifrey

Chapter Ten
Maybe I'm Dreaming

A beautiful waxing half Moon shone down over Ponyville that warm summer’s evening, the beams of soft light bleaching the colour out of everything it touched, painting the night in silver shadows. On top of a hill, on a picnic blanket, sat Twilight Sparkle and Lyra Heartstrings, as they often did on warm, clear nights. The studious mare with her eye jammed in a telescope as she took down notes, the turquoise unicorn with her lyre, strumming it gently and singing a slow, sad song, gazing thoughtfully up at the Moon.

“Moonlight soft, sparkle sound,
In the sky, stars around,
Silver dreams, lost and found,
To the Earth, I am bound.

Give me wings my friend,
Set me free tonight,
I’ll fly with you,
And I will soar with delight,

Through the stratosphere,
Into the unknown,
With you beside me,
I am never alone.

I can finally see,
That you’re right there beside me,
I am not my own,
For I have been made new,
Please don’t let me go,
I desperately need you,
Right here beside me.

Show me everything,
Take me to the Sun,
Dance with me,
And we’ll be as one,

Run upon the lanes,
Of the starry skies,
Look at me,
We’ll never die.

I am not my own,
For I have been made new,
Please don’t let me go,
I desperately need you,
You’re right here beside me.”

She finished with a flourish on her lyre.
Twilight had paused in her stargazing to listen to Lyra’s sweet melodies.

“Lyra, that was beautiful!”

The unicorn looked embarrassed but pleased all the same at the praise.

“Thank you Twilight, though it wasn’t that good really.”

“Yes it was! Did you just make it up then?”

“Um, yes, except for the chorus part.”

“What are you going to call it?” asked Twilight, looking back in her telescope and adjusting its position.

“Um…”

Lyra looked up and saw a shooting star streak across the sky.

“Meteor Shower,” she said.

“Very fitting,” said Twilight, “eighteen hours, thirty seven minutes right ascension, thirty eight and a half degrees declination,” she muttered, scribbling down the numbers.

“Would you like some tea Twilight?” asked Lyra as she poured herself a cup from a flask.

“Yes please,” said Twilight, spinning her instrument around to look at a point of light low in the eastern sky. “Ooh, Lyra, look at this!”

“What is it?” she asked curiously.

“One of your favourites,” said Twilight, moving aside and taking her tea.

“Saturn!” squealed Lyra happily, “The rings are so pretty! And I can see some of the moons too- is this a new telescope, Twilight?”

“Why yes it is,” said Twilight proudly, “do you like it?”

“I love it!” said Lyra as she clumsily looked around at other things.

She admired a swirling galaxy and its sparkling lanes of stars.

Twilight watched her. Lyra was always so enthusiastic about the night sky, which was why she was there after all. Twilight was pleased that the unicorn was eager to learn: none of her other friends were as interested in the night sky as she was, and was happy to share her knowledge with somepony who had a genuine fascination with it.

When the evening started to become colder, Twilight and Lyra bade each other goodnight.
Twilight returned to the library, shivering slightly. She put away her telescope under her bed neatly and climbed into it, and was pleasantly surprised to find a hot water bottle inside the sheets that Spike had placed there not long before. Twilight was touched at the gesture and smiled as she closed her eyes and was swept into the world of dreams.

Princess Luna was sitting upon the throne, resting her head on her left hoof, a chess board on her lap, as she mechanically moved various pieces around.

“Checkmate, Mr King, we win again.”

She sighed, Night Court was as dull as it ever was, she pushed her hooves into her face and rubbed her eyes.

“So bored! What to do, what to do?”

She thought to herself for a little while, until an idea struck her.

“I could always watch somepony’s dream,” she said slowly, and she knew whose dreams she felt like seeing. She made herself comfortable on the throne and started concentrating.

Twilight opened her eyes. She was in the circular entrance hall of the biggest library she’d ever seen in her life. A great glass dome was above her; she looked up to see the Moon shining through it. She was spoilt for choice for where to go: there were archways around her, each leading to countless books and texts. She walked to what she supposed was a reception desk, though there was nopony there. On the desk was a scrap of paper, Twilight picked it up and read it.

Stay out of the shadows.

She turned it over, wondering if there was any more. It was blank.
With the somewhat ominous words in her mind, she walked through an archway to the fiction section of the library. She looked around her. Shelves of books towered over her and stretched into the distance in every direction. She squeed slightly at all the reading material around her, and ran to a shelf and picked out the first book she saw.

The Tail of Draig.

She had a look in its pages, thought it rather mediocre, and set it back on the shelf. She walked deeper into the city of books, her hoofsteps muffled by the oppressive presence of the books and the sound died quickly. She picked up another book, and in doing so, unknowingly stepped a hoof into a shadow. Everything around her started to dissolve, until she was surrounded by black. Then new surroundings materialised.
She was outside, that much she could tell by the blurry distinction of green beneath her and blue above. Then the scene snapped suddenly into vivid clarity.
Twilight shifted in her sleep.
She was standing in a field of lush green grass on a sunny day. She felt a light touch on her shoulder and she started in surprise.

“Hello Twilight Sparkle,” said a certain blue alicorn to her. Her mane and tail were in their day form of long blue hair.

“Hey Luna,” said Twilight, “how are you?”

“We are good Twilight, thank you,” she said as Twilight flopped herself on the grass and started rolling around in it.

Luna giggled on the throne, Twilight in her dreams was always a lot less reserved than awake Twilight, which gave her a very sneaky idea indeed.

“We said we would visit you soon, so here I am. Are we correct in assuming this trip is still happening?” said Luna, sitting down beside Twilight.

“Trip?” said Twilight vaguely.

“You remember? That trip you said we were to go on?”

“Um, oh yes! Applejack and Rainbow Dash are coming too,” she said as the ghostly forms of her two friends gambolled past them and off into the distance.

“Do you know where and when we are going?” asked Luna.

“Rainbow Dash said something about camping,” said Twilight, a little more lucidly. “And Applejack has gone camping many times, I’m sure she knows some great spots, and in three days from Applejack’s house I guess.”

“Ah, very good, how are those girls?”

“They’re good, Rainbow’s wing is starting to heal and—” she suddenly remembered Rainbow’s visit from earlier.

“Princess, can you keep a secret?”

“Twilight, what do you take me for? Of course I can!”

“I think that Rainbow has a crush on Applejack!”

“Because nopony saw that coming,” said Luna playfully, “you only have to be around them for five minutes to see that.”

“Oh, well, um…”

“How do you feel about this Twilight?” asked Luna, innocently enough.

“I guess… I feel odd about it, it makes me feel lonely, jealous even.”

Luna nodded understandingly.

“Quite a natural reaction,” she said.

“How do you know?” asked Twilight curiously.

“I am very old Twilight, I have had my fair share of experience in these matters, though not usually good ones: stallions have always tended to flee from me for some reason.”

“Oh, you must get very lonely sometimes Princess.”

“You have no idea, Twilight Sparkle, to be alone for thousands of years, to watch the world pass by full of laughter and love, and watch your sister be showered affection from every direction, and I stand as an outsider upon it all as the wheel of time lengthens your isolation until your life becomes a nightmare, The Nightmare in fact…”

Luna’s eyes sparkled with tears.

“So that’s part of the reason—”

“Yes Twilight, although that’s long behind me, I have matured since then, and not let my jealousy get the best of me.”

Luna then hugged Twilight and Twilight felt a few tears dampen the back of her mane, she hugged her back tightly, inhaling the sweet scent of her favourite flower, stardragon in her mane. Luna broke the hug and Twilight looked up to her and met her gaze. Twilight had never really appreciated just how beautiful the Princess’ eyes were, and her coat, so dark and shiny.

“Princess—”

Luna held up a hoof to Twilight’s mouth. The purple mare had always held a very special place in her heart. She had freed her from the Nightmare, and stood by her side when all others fled. She was her best friend outside of family. She looked down at the beautiful young unicorn with a warm smile, her eyes half lidded as she leaned slowly to Twilight.
Twilight’s heart started racing as she realised what the Princess was doing, their mouths were inches from each other, Twilight could feel Luna’s warm, breath on her muzzle…
Twilight awoke with a start as Spike burst into the room.

Luna groaned in frustration when she felt her mental link to Twilight be severed so unpleasantly.

“I was so close to my first kiss in over three thousand years!”

Then she realised that dreams were not real and chuckled to herself.

“Back to the chess I guess.”

“Spike!” Twilight yelled.

“Um, sorry Twilight, I just had a bad dream is all and wondered if I could stay with you tonight?” said Spike, nervously twisting his tail in his claws.

Twilight’s expression softened as she looked at the scared dragon.

“Sure.”

She scooted over to allow him to clamber in.

“Thanks Twilight.”

“No problem Spike,” said Twilight, moving closer and laying a protective hoof over him.

The dragon smiled as he fell asleep, no longer afraid. Twilight meanwhile stayed awake, thinking over her dream. She felt embarrassed about what had almost transpired.

Dreams aren’t real Twilight, she reminded herself. Though that doesn’t make them meaningless. Even if I do have my eyes on that certain handsome stallion instead of Luna.

With confused thoughts she closed her eyes and went back to sleep.