Breathless

Surprise.

Pure surprise could be the only word to describe the mood that draped over the two mares. And even as Rainbow recoiled both mentally and physically, she wasn't the only one to do so. Pinkie, too, visibly tensed as Dash only managed one word, her features contorted into utter confusion:

"What?"

Pinkie Pie immediately made a decision, which was almost as fast as she could gobble down a cake whole. She sprung up, and leaped for the door, which was her only means of exit available.

As she did so, the pegasus managed a haphazard grab for the party pony, but she fell just short. By now, Pinkie had reached within a few inches, quickly extending her hoof in an attempt to wrench it open as she went.

Unfortunately, she tripped. However, 'tripped' would be an understatement. Saying that she stumbled over her rear hooves before smacking her face into the door full force was a lot more accurate.

"Ouch..."

It was dead silent after Pinkie crashed into the door. The pink mare's face remained firmly planted into the oaken door, as she refused to get up.

It was either seconds or years-Dash didn't know which-until the silence was broken by the cyan pegasus. She sighed, looking down. "...Pinkie..."

No response.

"...call me crazy, but...we need to talk."

"No talking." said Pinkie, rising from her unceremonious place on the floor, shaking her head simultaneously.

"Pinkie, this isn't something you just blurt out."

The pink mare arched an eyebrow, as if saying "really?", before shaking her head even more furiously. "I mean, yes, but...not now. Just..."

The earth pony stopped, simply spreading her forehooves wide. A slight cock of the pegasus' head followed, and the pink pony dejectedly stood upon all four hooves again. "Never mind..." she said, before pausing to scratch at her head.

Once again, the silence reigned supreme in the room as neither mare wanted to say anything. Pinkie simply stood accepting of whatever was to befall her, but in contrast, the pegasus' mind was racing at miles per minute.

First Applejack-admittedly, it was kinda' shared-but now Pinkie? I know I'm irresistible, but for Celestia's sake! It gets a little annoying when someone who you half can't stand falls for you...

And what the hay would Pinkie even see in me? She's an entirely random, hyper, seemingly reality-breaking pony who throws parties about as much as I take flight. I mean...seriously?

Eventually, Rainbow made a decision. She'd have to get all of the info she wanted from Pinkie Pie herself, because this was strange. Even for Pinkie.

Before she could speak, however, the pink pony instead interjected, finally meeting the prismatic pony's eyes with arguably some of the best puppy-dog eyes that there were. "You're mad at me, aren't you?" she asked, with the simplicity of a foal addressing its mother. "This ruined the whole friend thing, didn't it?"

"Pinkie Pie. Please, get ahold of yourself." said Dash. "I don't think anything could ever ruin that, first of all. Not if you managed to destroy my house, not if you shaved me bald, not if you even put me in the hospital with two broken legs. Not even if you chained me into a wall and tried to bake me into a cupcake."

"But I wouldn't-!"

The pegasus managed a light chuckle, though not too heavy-this was delicate ground she tread on, more so than a crumbly cloud, and she knew it herself. Pinkie Pie was one of the most emotionally prone ponies that she knew, considering how when they didn't go to her parties for one day, she broke down and went pretty much crazy. "I don't think anypony would," she reassured the earth pony. "The point is, Pinkie..."

As she spoke, the cyan mare had circled around Pinkie, and now lay a hoof around her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her. "...you're my best friend, no matter what."

Pinkie Pie said nothing, but instead simply reached up to the hoof, and gently covered it with her own, closing her eyes and taking a few shaky deep breaths. The tears now simply ran silently down her cheeks, instead of being torn free by silent sobs. It seemed more of a defeated stance, but to the rainbow maned flier, it was better than nothing.

"And nothing's gonna' change that," she continued. "Not even a...'misunderstanding' like this."

It was a few seconds before Rainbow Dash risked another question, the biggest one of all. The caution in her voice was evident, even to the pink pony, as she chose her words as carefully as possible. "...but I have to know...why? I mean, not that it's bad or anything, but...I'd like to know. Y'know, because it's sort of unusual to suddenly have a friend...confess to you."

"I-I..." Pinkie turned her head towards the door, keeping her gaze fairly lowered, so as to not arouse suspicion. It was so unnoticeable, that the party pony could have managed to reorient herself and dash through the door in a trail of tears if she wanted to. But instead, she returned her line of sight back to its original position, continuing.

"Well, I was having fun at a party like usual with everypony...but then I noticed something." A certain layer of uncertainty entered Pinkie Pie's voice, as she sighed. "I was talking to you-by the way, nice pancake joke-when I just felt something-"

"Ahem." The chromatic pegasus gently cleared her throat. "I'm all for a story, but...not now. Can you just cut to the point?"

Too late, Rainbow realized that her impatience was a large mistake, as Pinkie tore away from her grasp, letting loose a short yelp. "I just knew it!" she cried, voice wavering with now unrestrained pain. "You don't even care how I feel! I knew it, I just knew it!" Dash absently took a step backwards as the pink pony advanced towards her, her eyebrows lowering over tearful, hurt eyes. "That's exactly why I had my doubts about coming in here at all! Goodbye, Dashie! Have a good night!"

With a final stomp, Pinkie quickly turned on her hind legs, before hopping with one large bound towards the door. With skill rivaling a rodeo pony's lassoing prowess, a quick flick of her straightened tail yanked the door open, and without even checking her speed, the pink mare hurriedly galloped away, no longer hiding her wails, which echoed freely down the hallway of which she receded into.

Rainbow Dash shook her head, clearing the confusion from her mind. "Pinkie!" she yelled. "I'm sorry! Come back!"

A short, almost interminable interval followed as the hoof steps ceased, leaving absolute silence. The pegasus held her breath, hoping that perhaps Pinkie might give it another chance.

Her anxious waiting paid off, as hesitant hoofsteps started back towards her. A tearful pink face reappeared in the doorway, tilted to the side. "I...I only want one thing..." said the fuchsia mare.

"Yeah, I know, I'm sorry..." apologized the rainbow maned pegasus. "I'll listen."

"You don't have to if you don't wanna'..." said Pinkie, hesitantly stepping into the room once more.

"Really?"

The pink pony nodded, and once more spread her forehooves wide. Again, the pegasus drew breath to ask why she was doing that, but then she stopped. A small, weak smile spread across Pinkie Pie's face for the first time in minutes, and immediately, she understood.

Without another word, both mares stepped forward, and locked each other in a hug that said possibly more than any words could have. Dash felt the party pony's breathing slowly settle, as her forelegs tightened around her neck.

"Dashie..."

"Hm?"

"I'm glad we're still friends."

A small grin broke out across the pegasus' face. "Pinkie-...you know what? We're more than that."

"We are?"

"Yeah. We're best friends."

Another silence followed shortly after. Pinkie eventually broke it. "I just wish..."

"Sorry. It's-..." Maybe I shouldn't say that... "It's you, not me"? Come on, that's just hurtful. Nah, just keep silent. You can pry on stuff later.

Pinkie Pie stepped back, now fully smiling. The tears upon her cheeks were no longer fresh, and her hair was back to its normal, bouncing, curly self. "I'm sorry for gettin' all over-reacty..." she said, scratching at the back of her neck. "If my friends are happy, then I'm happy...I shouldn't try to change that."

"Hey, we all do stuff like that sometimes," said Rainbow. "I guess I should apologize for not being all that open to what you had to say..."

"Apology accepted."

Rainbow Dash arched an eyebrow. "I didn't...ah whatever, close enough."

"Just 2 things, Dashie." said the party pony.

The cyan mare tilted her head, indicating for Pinkie to go on.

"How did the entire Apple family sleep through me stompin' and you yelling and stuff?"

"That's easy," claimed Dash. "Heavy sleepers run in the family. Heck, look at Granny Smith."

Pinkie giggled, a tiny bit of her normal self reappearing in her eyes. Perhaps there would be a little hope for her...

"And also, Rainbow..."

"What?"

"You smell like rainbows. It's funny, because, your name..."

Dash smiled, shaking her head. "Pinkie Pie..." she said, finally grinning widely at her friend. Rainbows didn't even have an odor as far as she knew, but the one thing that she knew for sure...

"...you are so random."

"Well then, ah guess that's it. Ya'll should be free ta' go."

Rainbow looked at the farmpony across from her, before looking down at the dirt floor, and kicking at it. The trees seemed to hold their own breath as she turned to the single path behind her which threaded its way towards the horizon. She turned back, raising an eyebrow. "That's it? I just...go?"

Applejack shrugged, drawing to attention just about how much she was willing to dwell on the subject. "It's been 5 days, hon. Much as I'd love it if ya' could stay here, y'gotta' go. I did my part, now go. Ya'll got a life ta' live."

"But am I-"

The earth pony rolled her eyes, before fixating them sardonically on the pegasus' own. "You're good to go, Rainbow. Doctor only said a few days, an' it's been a few."

Dash frowned. "Oh. Uh, all right then..." she said, reluctantly turning her back on the orange mare. "Bye, I guess..."

It was only when the chromatic pegasus began to lift into the air when Applejack's voice cut through the air. "Now wait jus' a second," she said. Rainbow Dash dropped to the ground, curiously turning to her marefriend.

"Ah know I've been spendin' a little time alone..." said the orange earth pony.

"Little?"

"OK, maybe a lot." admonished Applejack. "But that's beyond the point. Ah got somethin' you may want to see. C'mon, now."

Without another word, the stetsoned mare started off towards the path behind the pegasus, but instead cutting a left where the path continued straight.

Dash quickly shook out her wings-which had hardly been used recently, save for just a few seconds ago-before taking to the air, coming to a gentle hover near Applejack as she trotted on, a sly smile plastered on her face.

"Where we goin'?" asked Rainbow.

"Somewhere."

"Soooo specific..."

The two mares continued along in mutual silence, only the occasional attempt at conversation being made. All attempts ceased, however, when a familiar body of water came into view...

"This place?" asked Dash, eyeing the lake with a certain level of contempt. "I've seen it. What's so special?"

"Let me answer that with a story," said Applejack.

"Oh Celestia..." Rainbow dropped to the ground, slapping her forehead with a hoof.

"Oh all right then, be no fun." said the earth pony, rolling her eyes. "If you really wanna get right to it, jus' look at the water."

The pegasus complied, squinting to get a clearer view. No longer were the waters of Brokehoof Lake stained a murky dark brown, rather instead they nearly glistened with a certain cleanly nature.

"Like what ya'll see?" asked Applejack, stepping into the water with a careful tread.

Rainbow shrugged in response. "So what, it's less brown. Do I care?"

"Ain't all, hon. C'mon in." The farm pony quickly dove into the water, pressing on into deeper waters, where she treaded, awaiting the pegasus' entry.

"Come in? If you say so..." Grinning, Dash leaped across the body of water, landing with a huge splash that left her submersed in the water.

As she opened her eyes, letting out a silent chuckle, there quickly came a pair of emerald eyes that met right in front of hers. An orange hoof pointed downwards, towards the bottom of the lake. She obliged, taking note of the lack of features. Nothing was there except for the muddy floor of the body of water. However, the fact that she could see further than a few feet said volumes about just how clouded the water had been before.

As she looked back up at the earth pony, she saw her pointing upwards instead, before giving a powerful kick with her hind legs, breaching the surface. The pegasus followed, swiping water out of her eyes as she finally released the breath she'd been holding, taking in great gulps of air of which she desperately needed.

"I don't...see anything..." she sputtered. "Agh, think I got waterlogged or something..."

"Well 'course you don't!" exclaimed Applejack. "'ain't supposed to!"

"...can you tell me why I'm supposed to care?"

"Ah spent all this time with a few others cleanin' up the place so that stuff can never happen again." The orange mare explained. "I'd at least expect a little gratitude, y'know."

"Right." Rainbow smiled, tilting her head in a manner to almost be described as deviantly sultry. "Does this count?"

"Does wha-" Before Applejack even had a chance to voice her curiosity, a cyan hoof pushed her under the water, upon which she quickly pulled herself to the surface, sputtering. "What the hay were ya'll thin-"

Once again, the farm-pony was silenced, though by something a lot less abrupt-and just plain rude-than a sudden dunk underwater. Instead, mid-rant, she was not silenced by the actual need to hold her breath, but rather from the thing she least expected treading water in the middle of a lake: a kiss.

In hindsight, Rainbow Dash thought it was a pretty well executed plan. Dunk her in the water, she comes up yelling, and while her mouth is as wide as it always is when she's shouting at...whoever, take her by surprise.

She soon found it to be a very good 'plan' indeed. Within seconds, the orange mare stopped trying to yell over the pressing of the other pony's lips-that was no easy feat for sure-and finally returned the kiss in earnest.

It was a great many seconds, perhaps minutes before Dash broke the kiss, to immediately hear the words, "You know that that doesn't excuse yourself from dunkin' me, right?"

"What, you don't like being underwater?" The pegasus raised an eyebrow playfully before continuing. "What if I do it again?"

"Maaaayyybee..." replied Applejack, her gaze slowly moving left, right, and back again. "Don't know 'til ya' try, do ya'?"

Without warning, the earth pony surged forwards, this time taking it upon herself to initiate the kiss-but this time, her intentions were entirely different than Rainbow's own...

A gentle pomf! could be heard by both ponies, and the pegasus' face slowly began to color as she pulled fervently away from the other mare. "H-hey!" she stammered, turning rather futilely towards her back, attempting to push back the now extended feathery appendages while also maintaining her tread. "No fair!"

"All's fair in love 'n' war, Rainbow."

"Yeah?" The polychromatic pegasus momentarily turned from her rather involuntarily extended wings, and smiled. "I guess that means this is war, then."

Applejack smiled back, winking. "Ah guess it is...'sweetie-pie'."

War time, indeed, it would become for the two mares. Perhaps not at that very moment, but perhaps later on.

But for the moment, it was most certainly 'love' as the two mares came together for another- this time mutual-kiss, their lips meeting with a kind of gentle passion that hadn't been used before at all between the two. And as the two ponies pulled back and looked into the others' eyes, it was so-they were young, and they were in love.

With a gentle smile from Rainbow, the two mares instead pulled each other into a hug, still treading with their hind legs. Rainbow Dash heard nine words over the warmth and contact of her marefriend. Nine words spoken quieter, and with less rough accent than usual. Nine words that were, dare she assume...genuinely caring.

"You know I love you in the end, Rainbow."

Dash couldn't help but to smile, as she swore she felt her heart melting. With a squeeze, she too said a few words, perhaps words very long overdue. But she felt almost lifted to say them, as if she were given a final sense of closure that the first night hadn't given her.

"I love you too, Applejack."