Everypony LOVES Rainbow

PART THREE
EQUINE MATING HABITS

Sun rays poured in through a window, causing Rainbow Dash to twitch and roll over. She yawned and attempted to go back to sleep when a thought in the back of her mind became louder.

"Applejack! Do you still love me?"

She sat up in bed suddenly, taking in her surroundings. She was in a very large and cushy bedroom, so it was probably a guest room in the castle. She hopped out of bed and noticed there was another bed next to hers, but it was empty. The covers were bunched up and thrown over the side of the mattress, so clearly somepony else had been sleeping there recently.

She had no recollection of how she got in the bed at all. Her very last memory was confessing to all her friends how she truly felt about them in an attempt to remove the...

The necklace!

She trotted up to the mirror that was hanging on the back of the door. She almost squealed with delight when her neck was bare, she had been successful in getting rid of it! As she took in her reflection, double checking it was real and not a dream, she heard murmurs of ponies talking down the hall. She opened her door and followed the sound.

All of her friends were talking to Princess Celestia, it sounded like. As she walked down the hallway to get to the source, she began to clearly make out what was being said.

"So, yer tellin' me that ya invited us here last night and the second we got here there was an unknown magical surge that caused us all to black out?" That was obviously Applejack, always the skeptic.

"Indeed," The Princess replied.
"My guards are investigating what it could have been as we speak. I am sorry that you were affected, my little ponies, but I saw to it you were all properly taken care of. I hope you all slept well in my guest rooms?"

Then, she continued,
"I can assure all of you nopony was hurt and there are no negative effects, as far as I can tell. Do come to me if you experience anything troubling, but I'm quite sure all it did was cause a bit of memory loss. As far as I have investigated, you just forgot getting my invitation to come visit and arriving here yesterday. So, you haven't missed a thing- Ah! Rainbow Dash, you're awake!"

Dash had entered the room where every pony was discussing things.

"Excuse me, every pony, I need to speak with Rainbow Dash privately. I'll also fill her in on what has happened."

Celestia walked over to Dash as the others began to get up and head to the dining hall for breakfast. Every pony except Twilight and Applejack, who both eyed the remaining two questionably. Twilight opened her mouth to add something, but closed it and followed the others with the farm pony.

"How are you feeling?" Celestia asked when every pony had finally left.

"Confused," Dash replied.
"What were you talking about? What happened after the necklace came off?"

"Well, the way the spell was designed was to make any pony involved forget everything that happened upon being enchanted. None of your friends remember falling for you or any of the things they did in the process. I was merely giving them all an explanation as to why they woke up here with no memories."

"So, no pony remembers the past few days?"

"Nope."

"YES!" Dash flew up into the air excitedly. It was almost like the whole thing never happened.

"Haven't you learned anything from this experience, Rainbow Dash? You do realize they also forgot all the things you said to them last night."

Dash landed back on her hooves, now looking a little solemn.

"You mean, I have to do that again? Ugh, it was SO hard!"

"Maybe you won't have to line them up and tell them exactly how you feel one by one. Instead, why don't you show them how much you love and appreciate their friendships from now on?"

Dash nodded and began to smile.

"Oh, but...There may be one pony that you need to speak with..." Celestia added, winking.

Without another word, she turned and left Rainbow to ponder. Dash looked out the window and sighed. She knew exactly what the Princess meant, but she wasn't sure if she was ready to hear how Applejack REALLY felt about her. As she observed the gardens below, she noticed Applejack begin to walk around outside.

"Well, might as well take this opportunity..." She said to herself and opened the window.

She flew out and landed next to her friend.

"Hey, AJ, wanna go for a walk?"

"Uhh, sure, Rainbow. But, what they hay did the Princess wanna talk to ya about? And what exactly do you make of this whole 'magic surge makin us lose our memories' stuff?"

The two ponies walked in unison into the gardens. Before Dash could answer, she looked over to see Scootaloo sleeping peacefully in one of the bushes, still clad in her "armor" from the day before. Dash chuckled and pointed out the sleeping filly to Applejack, who rolled her eyes.

"Ah've started to never be surprised when it comes to them crusaders. Ah hope AppleBloom isn't curled up somewhere here."

"Probably not," Dash said.
"I only brought Scootaloo along."

"Well, how do you remember that?" Applejack began to suspect something was amiss here.

"Listen, Applejack, I need to tell you something...really important."

"Ah'm listening." Applejack sounded stern and prepared herself for bad.

"I...I love you. Not just as a friend, although if you don't feel the same about me, I hope we don't lose our friendship. I've been pushing down all these feelings I have for you because I didn't want to face them, but I can't fight them anymore. I'm so scared of losing you, but I'm more scared of never knowing if what I feel is real. I...I don't know, I bet this all sounds pretty stupid, huh?"

Applejack just stared at the pegasus, stunned. She was speechless for a moment, which made Dash feel embarrassed.

"Yeah, I figured. I'm sorry, I'll just...go."

"Ah, no! Wait! Rainbow... Ah'm sorry, Ah didn't mean to jus stare like that. Ah jus wasn't expectin that of all things to come out of yer mouth. Not that it wasn't unwelcomed. Ah mean...Well, what ah'm tryin to say is..." Applejack removed her hat and peered over it with her bright green eyes.

"Ah've been harborin feelings fer you mahself. Ah always figured nothin would ever come from it and I sure as hay didn't expect you to confess ya'll been feelin the same way!"

"Oh, Applejack! I'm so happy to hear that! I was so scared you... Uh, I mean, scared you wouldn't feel the same way! Just being near you makes everything...so much better." She pulled the earth pony into an embrace.

"Well, ya better get used ta bein' this close, 'cause ah'm never gunna let you go!"

Dash gasped and pulled back from her lover slightly.

"A-Applejack...where did you get that from? What I mean is, did you...make that up?"

"I, uh, I don't know. Fer some reason it's been replayin' in mah head ever since you said you loved me."

Dash smiled, perhaps not everything had been entirely forgotten. She pulled her lover back in and nuzzled her softly.

"I really love you, Applejack. I'm so glad I have you."

"Me too, sugarcube, Ah love you, too." Applejack replied, forgetting all about the weird explanation and anything else that didn't have to do with her new found romance.

* * *

Rainbow Dash was galloping through the halls of the castle. After spending the day with Applejack and then her friends for dinner, it was time to return to Ponyville. Everpony was waiting on her to go to the train station. The sun was getting ready to set and Rainbow was speeding to her friends.

Princess Luna, who had just woken up, was wandering over to her tower to prepare to raise the moon. She hadn't even noticed Rainbow running straight into her path.

The two collided after Dash had seen her and tried to put the brakes on, but she didn't have enough time.

"Oh! I'm so sorry Princess Luna!"

Luna looked up to see it was Rainbow Dash that had crashed into her and jumped up suddenly, blushing profusely.

"Oh! It's fine, Miss Dash. I, uh, I have to go raise the moon!" Luna took off in a flash.

Dash stood there for a moment with her head cocked to the side.
"Wait a second, does she...? Nah, Celestia said every pony forgot, she's probably just late!"

"Rainbow! Would'ja get yer lazy, but very sexy, flank out here? We're all waitin on you!"

"Coming AJ!"

"Ugh, Applejack, we are all happy for you and Rainbow Dash, but can you please keep your opinions about Rainbow's flank to yourselves?" Rarity gagged.

Applejack just laughed as Rainbow joined the group and they prepared to leave. Scootaloo bouncing behind her sister, had also forgotten the past few days.

Huh, Rainbow Dash thought to herself,
I wonder what Celestia did with that necklace?

Meanwhile, deep within the snowy Crystal Mountains...

A pony wrapped in a black cloak was traveling through the mountain, training herself in magic and discipline. As she was hiking down the summit, preparing to finally get her vengeance on her nemesis, something in the snow caught her eye. She peered down to see a necklace, rainbow colors shining, half buried in the snow.

"What's this?" She wondered and used her magic to levitate it over to her.

After careful inspection, the unicorn felt magic surging from it. Very powerful magic. Perfect.

She put the necklace on, thinking it was a magically charged amulet.

"Now, Twilight Sparkle, after months of training magic, the GREAT and POWERFUL Trrrrixie will finally have her revenge! Mwahahaha!"