An Understandable Misunderstanding
On a hot summer day, out in the orchard, Ponyville’s favorite cowgirl bucks some apple trees, her light-brilliant gamboge coat covered in a detergent-like sweat and her mane of pale, light-grayish olive glistening in such a way that Rarity would be envious. A passing cloud gives her some temporary shade, but gets pushed away by a sudden gust as her friend Rainbow Dash rushes down to greet her.
“Whatcha in such a hurry for, Rainbow?” she asks, as she wipes her forehead with her right foreleg.
“I need a favor and you’re the first one I thought of who can help.” She flaps her wings to help Applejack cool off and curry her favor.
“I’m fine with favors, sugarcube; could you tell me what this is about?”
She does a big inhale. “My father is coming to visit and he wants to set me up with some stallion back in Cloudsdale, but I’m going to tell him how much I want to stay here in Ponyville, so I’d like you to come with me for moral support and as an example of how close I am with my friends here.”
“Okay, I’d be glad to be there for you, especially in times like these.”
“Omigosh, thank you so much Applejack, this means so much.” She hugs her for awhile, till Applejack gently pulls away.
“It’s no problem sugarcube.”
“Great! Now we have to get ready.”
[------]
The following day at around noon, Applejack arrives at Rainbow’s place via Twilight’s balloon and able to enter with the help of a cloud-walking spell. As per request, she’s wearing the gold necklace that formerly held the Element of Loyalty and she brought a basket filled with some of her home cooking. She proceeds to knock on the door. Rainbow Dash answers, wearing the Element of Honesty's necklace.
“Glad to see you Applejack. You’re looking good in that.”
“Mighty kind of ya; so, why are we wearing each others’ necklaces? Is it some kind of gesture of close friendship?”
“Yeah, that’s right. It definitely shows how close we are.” She quietly laughs nervously to herself.
“Okay then.” Applejack looks around the place and sees the picture of them that was taken during Rainbow’s heroics-based ego trip. “You kept this and framed it?”
“Yeah, it’s one of the few pictures of just the two of us.”
“That’s sweet I guess. Now that I look at, it seems like—“
“It’s just the angle, honest!”
“What does that have to do with me blinking?”
“Oh, nothing; I’m not one to nitpick anyway. What matters is we’re together in it.”
“Right, so when are we expecting your dad?”
“He should be here anytime now. I’ve almost finished setting the table; I just need to get out the snacks” Just then, there’s a knock on the door. “That’s him.” She gets nervous, not Young Flyers Competition nervous, but still noticeable.
“You can answer it. I’ll get the snacks lickety split.”
Applejack leaves for the kitchen without asking which snacks she wanted. While she does that, Rainbow Dash answers the door. She opens it and there stands Rainbow Blaze, a thoroughbred pegasus if there ever was one, and he carries himself as such…most of time. He picks up his daughter for a hug.
“My little Dashie; It’s been so long! You’ve grown into a fine mare. I can’t hold you up as long as I used to.” He lets her down. “I’m surprised you don’t have stallions lining up at and below your door.”
“Oh stop, you’re embarrassing me.”
“Come on; whoever your guest is that went the all the trouble of taking a balloon up here would understand. You must have told this pony I was coming. So who am I meeting?”
She scratches behind her head. “Actually, about that; you see…” Just then Applejack returns with the snacks: a bouquet of daisies.
“Howdy ya like these?” AJ’s timing couldn’t have been more perfect as far as Rainbow Dash is concerned. Rainbow Blaze sees an earth pony, presenting a bouquet, and notices both her and his daughter wearing fancy-looking accessories bearing the others’ cutie mark, and reaches exactly the conclusion anypony would under the circumstances.
“Dashie, is this your—She interrupts while grabbing her and taking the bouquet.
“Yes dad, this is exactly what it looks like.” She takes a whiff of the flowers. “You’re so sweet AJ; I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Well shucks, it’s no big hullabaloo. It’s the least I can do.”
Rainbow Blaze interjects. “Hello, I’m Rainbow Dash’s father, Rainbow Blaze.”
“I’m Applejack; pleasure to meet you sir.” She shakes hooves vigorously.
“Well I’m starting to see what’s so appealing about this place.” He looks at AJ and addresses his daughter. “You seem have pretty good taste when it comes to earth pony mares.”
Applejack is a bit perplexed at his phrasing. “Thanks, I guess.”
“I guess I’m just a little surprised by this.” Applejack assumes he’s talking about friendship with an earth pony and responds accordingly.
“I don’t see what’s so surprising. I don’t know how things usually are up in Cloudsdale but this day and age, round these parts at least, there’s nothing unusual about it. Me and your daughter have gone through so much, done so many things together, and stuck by each other through thick and thin, that there ain’t nothing, nopony, no how can do to tear us apart.” Rainbow Dash actually teared up a little after hearing all that.
“That was beautiful AJ. To think you care this much.” She hugs her.
“Of course I do. You know that.” Her father can’t help but be moved at such a proud declaration of devotion, even from a mare.
“I understand, and I approve completely. She’ll make a great life partner.” Before Dash can mention the phrasing, Applejack answers.
“You’re darn tootin’. Come on partner, let’s have some grub.” Dash starts to wonder how far this is going to go before somepony says something they need to explain further.
[------]
They sit down to eat, and Applejack lists the meals she brought to the table. “I got us some apple fritters, apple dumplings, apple turnover, apple pie.”
Blaze is intrigued. “It all looks so good.” He starts with the fritters. “Mmm! I have to say, this is the best fritter I’ve tasted.” He has a dumpling. “This too; has anypony ever told you that you’re the best baker?”
“Honestly, I have occasionally.” Rainbow Dash has some too, already aware how good her cooking is, and she shares a look with her dad that says that this is better than mom’s cooking. Then Applejack indulges in her work. Rainbow Blaze cleans his plate to start a conversation.
“I have to say Dashie, she’s pretty, a good cook, and so devoted. Applejack’s definitely a keeper.”
Dash gets more nervous. “She’s a pretty good cook alright.” She tries to think of another topic. Her friendship with Princess Twilight Sparkle since she was still a unicorn, things about Fluttershy since she left Cloudsdale, a tale about one of their epic adventures. Instead her dad goes to the direct topic.
“So when are you making it official, assuming you can here?” Dash nearly chokes on her apple pastry.
“Whatcha talkin’ about now?” Applejack asks, now totally confused. Dash slinks in her seat.
“I don’t know how marriage between two mares works around here, assuming it happens or there’s something else in place for this kind of arrangement.” Rainbow Dash tests the limits of how much a pony’s face can blush while the depth the misunderstanding is still being processed by Applejack. When she looks back at her words from this new perspective, unable to blush hard enough, she faints. Finding a way out of the current situation, she catches AJ before she lands on the floor and brings her up to her room.
[------]
Applejack wakes up on Dash’s bed, her standing next to the bed watching over her. As she gets her thoughts together, the first thing she does is grab Rainbow and demand answers.
“The more I think about it, the more I can understand why he thought we were…that way. My question is: did you know he thought that? Before you answer, I want you to know you have to give me the full, honest truth. Especially considering what you’re still wearing, gem or no, it still has meaning to us.”
Rainbow makes a biting lower lip face, then she looks her right in the eyes. “It was my plan from the start. I figured if he thought I was only into mares, he wouldn’t try to set me up with some stallion. I knew you’d never be dishonest so I didn’t let you in on it. I hoped he just keep questions like that for later, and in private.” Applejack lets her go.
“Next question: Why didn’t you just be honest and upfront about how you feel from the start? He seems like an understanding father. He's understanding enough to accept you being with a mare and even talked about some form of marriage I’ve never even heard of trying to make sure you’d be happy.”
“I probably knew that, but I just wasn’t ready to confront him directly with it yet. I told the truth when I said I needed your emotional support. It takes me a while to work up the courage sometimes but I do the right thing in the end. You know that, you’ve seen it yourself enough times.”
Applejack smiles a little. “Last question: Why me; out of all your friends, why was I the first you thought of for this crazy plan?”
“That’s easy. If I was ever going to have a mare be my special somepony, you’re the ideal one. You have all the qualities I could look for in a stallion or a mare. Does that make sense?”
“Rainbow, I have to say, if I was attracted to mares, what you just said would’ve won me over.” Applejack hugs Rainbow, resulting in her being on top of AJ. Just then, Rainbow Blaze came through the still open door to check up on them.
“Has she woken up yet?” He sees his daughter on top of who he already assumed was her lover, so he backs out of the room and says, “I’ll just wait until you’re done.” At this point they just laugh about it.
“You ready to tell him yet?”
“Oh, but we’re not done yet.”
“Don’t make this weird, Rainbow.”
“I thought there was nothing unusual about it in these parts.” Applejack gently punches her in the upper foreleg. Later, Rainbow dashes down the stairs after her father.
[------]
The next day, at Sweet Apple Acres, the Apple family sits down to dinner when a certain pegasus with a coat of very light cerulean pops her head in. “Room for one more?”
“Come on in, Dashie.” Applejack says with a smirk. Rainbow Dash walks in, closing the door behind her.
