The night stars shimmered high above, resting in the dark atmosphere, and rising over the towering treetops. The cold moon hung in the sky, accompanying the small, bright lights. It was as if the air was still and lifeless. Shadows crept along the edges of trees and their branches as the only form of light glowed dimly; fire. It burned in a small pit, its flames dancing and creating a warm light to everything in the dense foliage of the trees.
A light breeze swept over the forest, rustling leaves and stirring the still air. The warm breeze dislodged a single, dry leaf, which gently fluttered from the canopy and came to rest at the snout of a light orange mare. She smiled, and looked at the slightly yellowed leaf with a joyous gleam in her eyes. Giggling, she adjusted the brown, and slightly frayed, fedora that rested atop her long blonde mane with a hoof. Applejack then lightly snorted, and this sent the leaf tumbling through the air once more, finally falling to the packed down earth.
AJ set her gaze back upon the cyan pegasus that contentedly munched on a gooey, golden brown marshmallow. With a sigh, Applejack admired and set flirtatious glances the mare, hoping Rainbow Dash didn't notice these acts of fondness. Ah’ve loved her for quite some time… Should now be the right time to tell her? She pondered and stared a little tiredly back into the glowing, warm fire. Applejack was trying to answer this question in her mind and inside conscious, but put the thought to rest as Rainbow began speaking.
“So um… Thanks for taking me on this little camp-out AJ.” Quietly murmured Rainbow Dash, almost a surprisingly hushed whisper. “It means a lot, really.” The pegasus looked up from the fire, letting her soft eyes stare and drift into those of her friend. They sat and stared at each other in silence, drowning out the noise, anything else around them; as if in their own worlds. After many hushed moments, Rainbow Dash gave a small, sheepish grin, which made Applejack blush. She hoped that it was dark enough outside for her cheeks to be unnoticed.
As much as she didn't want to look away, AJ quickly shook her head; hoping to remember the purpose why they were camping in the first place, and pulling out of her almost fantasy like world. “H-hey, a’hm glad y’all could come.” She said, and stared down at her legs as they hung from the large log she sat on. As she opened her mouth to speak again, surprisingly, a stifling and quite loud yawn escaped her lips.
Rainbow Dash put a hoof up to her mouth as she softly giggled. “I guess we should maybe ‘hit the hay’, as you would say, soon?” Asked the pegasus, flapping her blue wings once to lift herself onto all fours.
“Wait!” exclaimed Applejack quite loudly. “Erm… Ah mean wait.” The cowpony rose in her spot, trying not to make eye contact with the beautiful mare in front of her. “Before we get some shuteye, ah wanted to just share a little song with yer. Whenever mah family goes campin’, we play ah little somethin’ on a guitar or banjo.” As she spoke, the orange mare trotted to one of the bags they brought with them. Seconds later, she pulled out a six stringed guitar, more modern looking, partially surprising Rainbow Dash.
The pegasus chuckled, and sat back down on the flattened grass. “I didnt know that you played an instrument,” Rainbow said as Applejack strode toward her with a part of the guitar carefully placed in her mouth.
When AJ got padded right next to her friend, she too sat on the ground, and got into a comfortable playing position. “It was hard at first to learn when ah was a little filly, but after some time I got the hang of it,” Smiled the orange mare as she played a chord, running her hoof across the strings. It vibrated through the air for a few moments, leaving the two in silence once again. Applejack turned and looked deep into Rainbow Dash's eyes, knowing her cheeks were probably growing warm at the sight of being so close to her.
“Look, um… Rainbow… There's been something ah have been meaning to tell ya.” She took a gulp. Oh no, is now a good time to tell her? What if she says no? Maybe I should wait a little longer? All of these thoughts raced through her head, causing a small bead of sweat to run cold down the back of her neck. “Ah…”
Rainbow looked back at Applejack with curious eyes, a serious stare spreading across her face, already guessing what might be said. The pegasus opened her mouth to prompt her friend, but before she even spoke a series of chords sprang to life from the instrument. She looked down towards AJ’s hooves, and saw them furiously strumming. It was beautiful, the tune was perfect on the guitar, and the sounds echoed clearly throughout the forest.
Applejack looked back up from the guitar, and faced the cyan pegasus. Taking a breath, she started to sing, “Hold on, to me as we go. As we roll down this unfamiliar road.”
Rainbow Dash’s ears twitched as she recognized the song, and smiled, staring back warmly. Wow, I didn't know she had such a good voice. I can't even hear her southern accent through that… Amazing singing. Her cheeks were now flushed just as much as AJ’s, and her eyes went wide.
“And although this wave, is stringing us along. Just know you're not alone, cause I'm gonna make this place your home.” Sang Applejack with all her heart. Each strum of the guitar, every graceful note that came from her mouth, left Dash more than elated. The pegasus had to try not to look like a dork by smiling so wide. She attempted to hide her glee for multiple moments, holding a hoof up to her mouth. Applejack winked as she noticed how joyous her love was, which left Rainbow almost breathless. Her hoof dropped to the ground, and at that moment, didn't care about her ego, awesomeness, or anything! Dash then happily took in the moment, soothing her ears with the sound of alluring strums.
The cowpony then realized, after noting Rainbows behaviors, What is there to hide at this point? She smiled at the thought, and took a gulp of breath to begin singing the chorus. “Settle down, it'll all be clear. Don't pay no mind to the demons, they fill you with fear” She paused, and blew a small kiss to Rainbow Dash, partially wanting to see her reaction. Dash chuckled, and pursed her lips back while AJ continued to play.
“The trouble it might drag you down… You get lost, you can always be found,” happily sang the cowpony, closing her eyes to focus on sweetening each note.
Applejack was about to end the verse, when surprisingly as she opened her mouth Rainbow began to sing and stomp her hoof lightly to the ground, matching the guitars beat perfectly. “Just know you're not alone. Cause i'm gonna make this place your home.” Dash serenaded a little softly. The two met each others gaze for a moment once again, each having the same glint of delight in their eyes. Applejack then carefully scooted closer to Rainbow, so close that they could lean against each other, all while still playing. Dash instantly blushed at the touch. But, then only reddened her face by letting her head tilt onto AJ’s shoulder.
The cowpony couldn't help but softly giggle, though she too enjoyed the soft fur of her love brush against her. AJ looked up towards the sky, seeing the stars speckle the dark heavens. In synchronization, the two mares harmonized creating the most fascinating sound. “Ooo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo. Oo-oo-oo-oo,” With each change in pitch, their voices both became softer, and softer. The music gently faded into the night, leaving the two ponies gazing gently into each others eyes.
“A-applejack…” Whispered Dash, “I never knew y-you…. Had such a good voice,” She gave a nervous smile, and craned her neck so close to the orange mare that they could feel each others soft breaths. “AJ… What was it you wanted to tell me?”
Applejack blinked twice, then heaved a soft sigh. “Dash, what I wanted to tell you was…” The cowpony paused and set aside her guitar with care, placing it softly in the grass. “That…” She flicked her glowing green eyes back up to the cyan pegasus. “.... That I love you.”
As soon as the words escaped her mouth, Rainbow Dash leaned in and gently pressed her lips against Applejack’s. Seconds later, the orange mare closed her eyelids and let the blissful moment sink in. She kissed Dash back, and for many moments they sat there, in each others hooves, together. In that moment, they both truly let go of any other emotion, thought, or feeling they had before felt. All they needed and wanted was eachother. The fire was now simply a pile of hot coals, bringing a dim orange glow to shadow anything around them. Just the two were an outline in the dark, muzzle against muzzle.
It seemed like hours later, they broke apart from the embrace, both slightly panting from the long kiss. Once Rainbow caught her breath, she turned her head toward AJ’s. With a genuine smile spread across her face, she whispered, “Just know you not alone. Cause I'm gonna make this place your home.”
The End
