The Bubbly Mare

"Moonlight"
3, 7

Applejack looked off into the night sky. Except for a few chirping crickets it was completely silent. No breeze, no clouds, just stars and the moon. She let out a sigh.

She must've been outside a good forty minutes. It was relaxing to be out there, alone. Derpy was likely asleep. So was Apple Bloom and Big Macintosh. Hopefully they didn't overhear what Derpy had to say through the walls... they weren't exactly thin, but a word could carry here and there. Fortunately Big Mac was the closest, and he knew a thing or two about discretion. She could trust him... at times he could be a bit too reserved, which didn't always make him the most forthcoming about things.

Even Derpy, she would've thought, was exaggerating when she described hitting Thunderlane. He didn't exactly have the typical compact stallion body one might find in a pegasus... he wasn't much smaller than Big Mac, actually. Had Applejack not seen the half dozen or so hoof prints on Big Mac's back after he tried to pick Derpy up she would've chocked it up to the alcohol. But, thinking about it, Derpy was pretty strong...

She could leave a mark. That was the biggest problem.

Derpy was right to do it... Applejack could see herself doing the same thing in her place, for considerably less, but Thunderlane sounded almost... vindictive, from what Derpy had said.

"Ah don't really know Thunderlane," she'd realized and repeated several times already while standing outside by the tree. It was true. She did not know him, and saying it again and again didn't change that.

Applejack had met him so many times she'd lost count. It was hard not to run into most any pony while out in Ponyville. He seemed no different than any other stallion she saw throughout the day. Nothing special, maybe a teeny bit awkward, wanting to seem larger than life... but that's something some mares liked, so who was Applejack to judge? The pair had only been a couple for a few months and already several times she'd run into them together... he seemed okay for her. He was big, didn't say too much, took her places, and her face lit up whenever they talked about him ... that's all she really needed.

Derpy doesn't want much...

Besides he gave her more reason than just a job to go up in the clouds. She didn't like to fly, but Applejack believed exposure is the best medicine. All the Apples did. It worked for Derpy so far, and some extra incentive was just the cherry on top.

There was only one pony who didn't really like Thunderlane, and Applejack, playing the conversation she just had in her head, felt a little sick:

"I think maybe it might've made me happy to know I was being like you, Applejack."

Derpy described Thunderlane to me as arrogant. Rainbow describes Thunderlane to me as arrogant... Heh. Rainbow is arrogant. Silly Rainbow... it's quite different here, though. Quite different.

She looked up at the moon.

"Why should Ah have payed it any mind? Rainbow's the type of pony who can be 90% full of hogwash after she gets mad enough. It's kinda cute sometimes, but... no pony else complains about him. Not even Fluttershy or Rarity, and Ah think they'd be pretty in tune fer somepony like that. Makes no sense, but... why would he even ever talk to 'em past a howdy-do if he's like this?"

Derpy said she wants to be like you, Applejack. What're ya gunna do?

"Yeah, that's a problem..." She sighed, closing her eyes and rubbing her temples. "Boy, howdy-do is right. Wish Ah knew what Ah could do. Can't leave her now. Few hours Ah gotta go to plan... never enough time to rest." She yawned. "Never enough, and Ah don't even want to now."

She leaned against the tree, looking out at the orchard. So much time would be lost on this, a day if not longer, but Derpy was worth it. Two fold and then some, and she always would be. So would Granny, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom.

They've all dealt enough with this already. Besides, Apple Bloom can't go out to make this Doctor's appointment fer Derpy, and Ah wouldn't want her to anyway. It's inappropriate, to say the least.

Applejack would rest. This would be enough for her... she could make anything work, even on just a few hours of peace outside in the orchard by herself a bit before midnight.

* * *

The farm pony had pulled her hat down. She felt herself drifting in and out. It was still cool, but when it started warming up, with the sky turning orange... then it would be time to go.

"Applejack?" a familiar, gravelly voice seemed to echo behind her.

The farm pony almost jumped out of her skin, but turned around slowly. She saw the rainbow-maned pegasus slowly descend from above the tree line.

"Rainbow," she said quietly, continuing to lean against the apple tree. "Thought you'd be in bed by now."

The pegasus didn't flinch at the remark, though in any other scenario she probably would have gotten annoyed in spite of its real meaning.

"Just thought I'd check to see if there were any lights on, then go home. Saw you out here by the tree. Um... are you alright?"

Applejack smiled.

"No, Rainbow. No, Ah am not."

The pegasus sighed.

"Me neither."

Applejack smiled again, this time more directly at her Special Somepony.

"So ya came down here hoping ya could talk, then. Right?"

"Um... maybe."

"It's quite alright. Tell me... what's on your mind?"

"You first."

Applejack gritted her teeth.

"Ah... don't rightly wanna talk about it yet. Hope you understand."

"I do."

Both ponies smiled at each other, then Applejack sighed.

"So... how bad could yer problem be, then?"

"I think..." Dash swallowed. "I think I'm going to have to fire Derpy." There was a long gap of silence. Rainbow touched the ground, looking over at her Special Somepony who had taken a very sudden interest in the dirt. "Uh... Applejack?"

The farm pony put up a hoof. There was another break of silence in which she took a breath, exhaling slowly.

"Okay," she said, finally, looking up. "All right.... Ah get ya."

"I really don't want to."

"Ah know, Ah know... She went to his house in the middle of the night, barged in, didn't leave when he told her to scram, so he gave her both barrels and she ended up giving him a black-eye. That's pretty much the gist of it, right? "

"Actually, she hit him in the ear... but, yeah. You got it."

Applejack blinked. "Well... that actually sounds like it probably hurt a lot more."

"It does. Don't ask me how I know, but it does."

"Been hit by a branch, and, yeah... it smarts." Applejack sighed. "So... there ain't nothing we can do?"

"He's got a pretty big bruise... plus another pony heard them fighting."

"One of the couple in his room?"

"Yeah." Rainbow shook her head. "Derpy probably told you about all of this, huh?"

"Ee-yup. She's honest to a fault."

"Yeah..." Dash looked at the dirt, biting her lip. "Can't say that's ever really been a problem with her."

"Least it stacks up with what you've been told..." Applejack took a breath. "Not that that's a good thing." She paused, again looking up at the night sky. "Wow, Rainbow... this is a lot to deal with. Really."

Instinctively Dash ran up to her Special Somepony, giving her a hug.

"I'm here, AJ. Talk to me. Tell me how I can help... I want to. You just have to tell me."

Applejack looked back at Rainbow.

"Could you... jus' keep her on the weather team as a favor to me? Maybe on a different shift?"

Face to face with each other the cyan pegasus sighed.

"That's... not going to happen, AJ. Thunderlane said he's going to complain about her to my bosses. He'd feel safer if she just didn't work there anymore, at all, and if he tells them the story he told me, well... you know what's going to happen."

"Ah know..." Applejack shook her head. "Wow. Rainbow, in about six hours Ah gotta go to Doctor Stable's. Derpy was gunna see him in the morning, on account of peein' on Thunderlane the other night. Ah think it's best Ah bring 'im here."

"Wait..." Dash blinked twice. "What?"

"Ah said Ah gotta bring him here."

"I got Doctor Stable for you, AJ... trust me, don't worry about it. I'm probably not getting any sleep at this point, either, but... what did you just say about Derpy and Thunderlane?"

Applejack put a hoof to her mouth.

"Never you mind tha-" She stopped, shaking her head, sighing. "No... Rainbow, Ah thought Thunderlane probably had told you. Shouldn't have said that."

"He told me he broke up with her, he didn't tell me why. Derpy... peed on him?"

Applejack sighed again.

"It was an accident... Derpy's control of her bladder is normally pretty good, but she told me she sometimes loses it in certain situations... goin' to bed with Thunderlane prolly just stretched out the wrong muscles. Not to get too graphic, now, though, but most mares pee a tiny bit during that activity... even with another mare. Apparently it happened in a big enough amount to get the bed wet, though, and that was too much for him. He broke up with her without even telling her."

Dash blinked again. "Woah."

"Just tonight Ah remembered Ah once saw her in diapers during a sleep over at age eight or ten. It happened so long ago Ah don't rightly remember her age... Derpy doesn't like to talk about her personal stuff, even with me, and we go way, way, way back. Speaking of which, Rainbow... Granny had to put some protection on her, because she kinda lost control of, well... everything. The only reason Ah tell you this, and you'd better not repeat a word of what I just said to Derpy, is because, well... she's in the diapers Ah got for you. Granny found 'em and thinks they're for me."

Dash's mouth hung wide open.

"You're kidding me. Seriously?"

"'fraid so, Rainbow."

"Well, that's..." Rainbow paused. "That's not awkward or anything. Not at all! Just don't tell her they're for me, okay?" She sighed. "I know you won't. AJ, I'm not sure Derpy's just hung over, thinking about what Thunderlane and those two... bimbos are getting over right now. I think she's actually sick."

Applejack looked over at Rainbow Dash.

"Bimbos, huh?" She chuckled. "You're the only bimbo Ah know, Rainbow."

"Hey! Not funny."

Applejack sighed.

"Just trying to lighten the mood." She sat down by the tree. "Rainbow, Ah wanna sleep... and Ah know there are a few hours left. Ah could, but ma stomach is in complete knots. Wanna put my head through the barn wall jus' for tellin' you what Ah did a few moments ago. Feels like Ah really betrayed Derpy there."

Rainbow sat down by her special Somepony and placed a hoof around her.

"Hey." She felt Dash gently poke her barrel. "It's not leaving this orchard, okay? Unless I need to say something to Doctor Stable, but nothing else. Promise."

Applejack turned so the two were face to face.

"Ah know Ah can trust you, Rainbow," she said with a smile. "Sure you're not really the Element of Honesty?"

"That's your job."

"Really, now."

"Yup."

The two were inches from each other. A gentle breeze wafted over... cooling. Rainbow gave Applejack a gentle peck on the lips, and Applejack responded by closing her eyes, then leaning in for a slightly longer smooch. They two locked lips under the moonlight for a moment, enjoying this small amount of time together. They felt warm.

Applejack was the first to pull away, looking at the cyan pegasus. Rainbow's eyes were closed, she opened them slowly. Applejack could have giggled as Rainbow appeared to be so tired that one eye was opening slower than the other. It was kind of cute. Letting out a giggle herself, Rainbow paused for a moment with her eyes half open, and Applejack's body stiffened like Apple Bloom had just traipsed by, stepping on her tail.

Under the faint moonlight Rainbow Dash appeared almost grey. Her sleepy eyes, half open appeared to not line up perfectly for a moment. Her wide smile and somewhat relaxed, slow giggle caused Applejack to swallow.

"What is it, AJ?" Dash said, yawning. "You look like you've seen a ghost or something."

Applejack swallowed again.

"It's nothin' Rainbow..." She looked at the stars. "Nothin' at all."

"Oh, I know that tone." Dash playfully rested her head on Applejack's flank. "You can't fool me... I've got a Dashie sense and you know it."

"Ah think you've been spending too much time 'round Pinkie Pie."

"Yeah, well... I know you're thinking about something. Just spit it out already."

Applejack looked at Dash.

"Rainbow... Ah love you, okay? You may be an impulsive so-and-so, but you live each day like it's yer first and yer last. It's always fresh to you."

"Yeah, well... Guess I'm guilty of that. So what?"

"Ah... Ah kinda admire it, Rainbow. Really. Always have. Goes way back. Even having to go run an errand for me, Ah bet it's looking a bit like an adventure to you."

"Kind of. It's just a trip to the Doctor, though."

"Wish Ah could be more..." The farmpony bit her lip. "Ah don't know... fancy free, like that. Guess you gotta feel light as a feather all the time. Must be nice."

Rainbow wrapped both forelegs around Applejack.

"You're tired, AJ. Get some sleep."

"Yeah, that prolly ain't gunna happen, but... you're helpin' me relax, at least. It's nice."

"Good."

As Rainbow shut her eyes, Applejack again looked at her Special Somepony and chuckled.

Y'all two do look a lot alike.

She then kissed Rainbow on the forehead and looked up as the pegasus rested on her barrel. She wouldn't sleep, she knew it... but this, this would at least help for a little while.