Big Macintosh lay on the ground, crying softly as he realized his loss. He’d just lost his mare. No, not just his mare. His Dashie. His love, his companion, his best friend...all because he couldn’t control his temper, nor see past his work. This was all his fault. He just lay there for a few minutes sobbing to himself before Applejack saw him laying on in the grass field, having left the nearby storage barn after retrieving some supplies. Upon spotting him laying on his side like that and not moving at all at least as far as she could tell from that distance, she'd immediately dropped the paint cans and approached him at a full gallop, fearing he may be badly hurt…or worse.

As Applejack approached Big Mac’s slightly quivering form, and, fearing the worst, she moved around to his front and was shocked by what she saw. Big Mac was crying. Her big brother—one of the toughest, most stone-faced stallions in Ponyville—was crying. Applejack felt a twist in her gut as she wondered what horrible ailment or injury would make someone like her brother be in such emotional or physical distress. “B–Big Mac…” she started, getting closer to him as his sobs continued. “C’mon big guy, what’sa matter?” she asked cautiously, looking him over for any injuries.

Just then, Big Mac only slightly rose his head and held out his hoof to Applejack, and balanced on it was…a stick. “Big Mac, that there's a stick. Y‘all are cryin’ over a broken apple branch?” Applejack asked in disbelief, completely puzzled by the whole situation. Big Mac finally managed to collect himself enough to get off the ground and wipe his tears with the back of his hoof, sniffing as Applejack was still in awe at the weirdness of this situation. Her tough-as-nails brother was seemingly crying over a broken apple branch.

A few minutes later, Applejack had managed to coax Big Mac into the farmhouse. Apple Bloom had gone to a Cutie Marks Crusaders meeting and sleepover and Granny Smith had gone to Appaloosa to meet with some relatives, leaving the house vacant except for them. As Applejack brought a glass of water to him, he shook his head, instead asking for cider. Hard cider. Applejack considered his request for but a moment before she went and got his requested mug of cider from the Reserve barrel he’d spontaneously opened a few days past.

As Big Mac gulped down the cider, he appeared to physically calm down and stopped his soft trembling. With the tear–stains starting to dry on his face, he finally found the nerve to look Applejack in the eyes. As her eyes met his, Applejack read a deep loss in them. “What…happened?” she asked, taking a seat at the chair next to him.Applejack saw as tears started to well in Mac's eyes again as he took another long chug of cider, before he finally spoke again.

“I…I lost my Dashie.”

Applejack instantly knew what he meant, as many pieces of past information wove themselves into one fact: her seeing Rainbow crash–land then be given a wing massage by him, Big Mac sneaking that picnic basket out when he thought she couldn’t tell then opening a Reserve barrel out of the blue earlier on that same day; and most odd of all, Apple Bloom all of a sudden asking why a stallion would kiss a mare between her legs, or why a mare would try to 'eat' a stallion’s penis.

As it all came together now, and the one final missing puzzle piece of this problem put into place, Applejack finally found the revelation she‘d been seeking: Big Mac was in an, apparently sexual, romantic relationship with Rainbow Dash. Or, from the sounds of it, was in. “How'd you 'lose' her?” Applejack asked, feeling suddenly worried for her friend’s well–being as well as trying to figure out how she should help her brother. "Is she hurt?"

Big Mac sniffed as he finally drained the cider mug, sucking out the last few drops before slamming the mug hard to the table – surprisingly not splintering the mug, nor breaking the table from the force the impact. “She ain't hurt. Nah, Ah was stupid. And blind to th’ reality of a sit’ation.” He said, gritting his teeth together as he forced the words from the throat. “She did something great for us, and Ah chided her for it,” he said. “a–and Ah dunno if she’ll ev’r forgive me for it. The way she looked before she flew away…” The moment of her flying away from him crying replayed in his mind, twisting his gut again as the pain of the loss made itself physically evident.

Applejack was still reeling from this massive revelation. “Well, wha–what exactly happened? Did ya like yell at her for peein’ in the grass ‘er something?” Applejack asked, grasping at straws even if in hindsight they made absolutely no sense – trying to explain to herself what had happened and to use that to help her brother and friend. Big Mac abruptly rose from the table and started walking as he nodded towards the front door, indicating for her to follow him. She followed him outside to the field of grass she’d seen him in earlier, before he stopped before the solitary apple tree that stood there in memorium of the others.

Big Mac’s hoof landed on a specific point of the tree’s trunk, making a soft clop on impact before he quickly removed it, indicating where he wanted Applejack to look. Applejack looked at the engraving and saw the initials of her brother and Rainbow Dash with a heart in between them, then surrounded by another heart. How sweet... Applejack thought, smiling softly. Big Mac only sighed. “Ah yelled at her for makin’ that cuz all Ah could see is that she was makin’ that tree vulnerable for Bark–Rot spores, and on t' only survivor of...that...fiasco none–th'–less. Only when it was too late, Ah finally realized the significance of it.”

Applejack knew how important this tree was to Big Mac and could understand why he'd gotten upset when Rainbow had carved into it, but that didn't forgive his apparent outburst. Regardless of her personal feelings on the matter however, her brother needed her help and so did Rainbow Dash. She considered on what could be the next step, looking at the carving as a thought popped into her head. “Y’all wait right here at this tree. I’mma go get her.” Big Mac nodded before plopping himself before the engraving of his initials and those of his seemingly-ex filly-friend, staring at the show of love from his Dashie.

While Big Mac stared at the carving, Applejack headed out, walking in the direction of Rainbow Dash’s cloud home. It was a long walk, and as such she couldn’t fight her mind going back to her discussions with Apple Bloom a few days prior about oral sex like she usually could with some other activity on the farm, a frequent train of thought for her for some reason. At that time, Applejack hadn't even thought of where Apple Bloom had gotten such an idea, figuring maybe she'd heard or seen something at school, but now she realized she must have spied on Big Mac and Rainbow Dash during one of their more...intimate times. Her mind just had to recall that discussion during the long walk, it making her trek feel just that much longer.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Hey Applejack, how come stallions put their muzzles between a mare’s legs and kiss ‘em there?” Apple Bloom had suddenly blurted out a few days previous, the family having just finished dinner an Applejack taking her turn cleaning the dishes. To sum up the family's reactions; Applejack had nearly broken a dish in the sink from dropping it, Granny Smith poked her hoof with her sewing needle, and Big Mac had simply turned a darker shade of red. As Granny Smith sucked on her now–sore hoof and Big Mac looked down at his own front pair, Applejack had quickly ushered Apple Bloom out of the living room and instead to her bedroom, coming in with her and closing the door behind them.

“Wut was all that fer?” Apple Bloom asked, tilting her bow–clad head at her older sister.

“Well Apple Bloom, there are certain things y’ can’t just blurt out like that, even iffin yer only curious,” Applejack replied, her cheeks still slightly flushed.

Apple Bloom crossed her hooves in front of her and pouted. “Y’all said if Ah ever had any questions ‘bout mares ‘n’ stallions t’ ask ya. So Ah did!” she huffed, crossing her front hooves in front of her as she leaned against the headboard of her bed.

Applejack nearly face–hoofed right then. “Yah Apple Bloom, Ah wanted ya t’ ask me. In private. Not in front of the whole gull–dern family!” Applejack sighed, then continued. “Fine, what was yer question again? Ah kinda blanked at ‘muzzle between a mare’s legs’.”

“Anyhoo,” Apple Bloom started, “Why would a stallion put their muzzle between a mare’s legs and kiss ‘em down there?”, restating the same question as earlier.

Applejack considered how best to approach this delicate subject, and just answered as simple and honest as she always did. “T’ make her feel real good.”

“How’s that make a mare feel good?”

“Well Apple Bloom, y’see… y’remember that conversation we had not too long ago ‘bout where foals come from?”

“Yeah?”

“Well, it’s got somethin’ to do with that. Remember how I said it‘d feel real good when the ponies made the foal?”

“Yeah.”

Applejack decided to just be blunt with the filly. “That’s because where the stallion puts his penis in, a mare's vagina, is real sensitive. So that makes it bein’ touched er opened feel good. Real good even, iffin th' stallion knows what he's doin'. If a stallion uses his mouth an' tongue instead a his penis, it feels similar to breedin' and makes the mare feel real good, but there’s no chance of a foal.”

Figuring she’d concluded the conversation, Applejack got up to leave, but her exit was interrupted by Apple Bloom as she reached the door. “…and why would a mare want to eat a stallion’s…penis…and then spit it right back out?

Sitting back down with a sigh, Applejack just wanted to get this rather uncomfortable topic over with. “Pretty much the same reason the stallion licks the mare between her legs, ‘cept the opposite; cuz it feels like breedin' for the stallion instead of the mare. Ponies like to use these pleasin' method–thingies durin’ the mare’s heats when they don‘t want a foal, or if they ain’t emotionally ready to full-on mate yet. OK? Any more questions ‘fore Ah get up ‘n’ have to sit myself down again?”

“One more.” Apple Bloom said, a blush forming on her face. “What do you do if yer… interested in a colt?”

Applejack sighed as she considered this one. This would be harder to explain.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Finally reaching Rainbow’s cloud house, Applejack immediately heard Rainbow Dash sniffling from up above. She felt her gut wrench again with emotion, one of her best friends and her brother both in a pickle over such a little thing. That’s why I’m here, she thought, to make this right.

Applejack cleared her throat before calling up to the cloud. “Rainbow Dash, c’mon down here. We need t‘ talk.” Applejack heard the soft crying reduce to sniffling as Rainbow Dash apparently tried to make herself more presentable to her friend.

Moments later, Rainbow Dash fluttered down from her cloud home, and after landing looked up at Applejack with still–damp eyes. She sniffed again and wiped her nose with her hoof before. “About what?” Rainbow asked in a choked–up voice, the wet tear-paths on her cheeks obvious.

Applejack considered the best way to get her to follow her. She couldn’t be direct about it, because that might just upset the poor mare again. She could, however, play to her competitive side. Applejack smirked slightly; “‘Bout me bein’ able to kick your rainbow p’tooty in a race to Sweet Apple Acres.”

Rainbow Dash looked at Applejack with an unbelieving look in her eyes. It wasn't the first time they'd raced to Sweet Apple Acres, them using the front gate as a finish line all the time...but a race now? “You. Wanna race me. To Sweet Apple Acres. With me like this?” she asked skeptically as she waved her hoof in front of her, indicating her wet eyes, matted mane and ruffled feathers.

“What?” challenged Applejack, “Think y' can’t take me?”

Rainbow Dash chuffed, then snorted through her nose as she looked at her challenger, flicking her wings open and fluttering them to straighten out the feathers as best as she could. She could never refuse a challenge, especially not from her long–time competitor Applejack. When she'd prepared as well as she could, she then turned to Applejack. “So how we doing this? Do I need to do it on hoof, or can I fly?” Rainbow asked, to which Applejack smirked, only confirming to herself that challenging her would work every time.

“Y’all can do anything you want. Y’all just gotta beat me t’ the south storage barn t’ win.” Rainbow Dash snorted again, a smile crossing her face as she unfurled her wings and flapped them a few times to get more blood flowing to them. After limbering up herself as well, Applejack started the countdown. “Three…Two…One…GO!” shouted Applejack and they were off fast, starting off neck and neck and staying that way for quite a while.

~ ~ ~

A few minutes later, Rainbow Dash tapped her hoof against the barn door two seconds before Applejack could, taking first place before proceeding with her usual post–victory celebration. “AW YEAH, WHO’S AWESOME?! RAIN–BOW–DASH, RAIN–BOW–DASH, RAIN–BOW–DASH! AAAAAAAAAH!” she chanted, replicating a stadium crowd much to Applejack’s amusement, even earning a chuckle from her. In reality, Applejack had intentionally lagged behind, letting Rainbow get the win. Rainbow’s feathers were such a mess that she couldn’t get the right aerodynamics, making her go much slower then her usually blazing speed.

During their post–race banter, Applejack subtlety walked Rainbow Dash over in the direction of the grass fields. Rainbow didn't really realize the direction they were heading, her eyes focused on Applejack as they talked and her hooves on autopilot, until she felt the soft tickle of the grass beneath her hooves. When she looked up and realized where she was, she saw Big McIntosh still sitting in front of her engraving on the tree. Her first instinct was to fly away again, sure he was still mad at her, but then she noticed something about him that struck her still. He was crying. Big Mac was crying.

Rainbow watched as a tear impacted the grass beneath Mac, making the small blade dance momentarily before returning to its original position. When Rainbow could recover from the emotional shock of seeing her tough stallion crying, Applejack patted her on the back then gently pushed her forward as she encouraged her to go talk to him. Rainbow Dash slowly approached Mac, unsure of what to do when she finally did reach him.

The sound of movement in the grass behind him made Big Mac get up and turn around, instantly spotting the cyan–colored mare slowly approaching him and startling her into stopping. He walked up to her quickly and she backed away slightly, still unsure of his reaction to her. Noticing her back away and not wanting her to fly away again, Mac stopped and held out a hoof to her. He beaconed to her with a gentle smile, and that was all it took.

Rainbow Dash charged at him, quickly closing the distance as she plowed into him, knocking him off his hooves and making them both tumble over each other briefly before finally coming to rest. She wrapped her hooves around his neck as she pressed her lips against his hard, squeezing his neck so hard he couldn’t breathe for a moment. But he didn’t really need to breathe with her here. She was his oxygen. She was his lifeblood and without her he would die. He realized that now.

Never again. Never again would he let his work come between him and his Rainbow again. Money was nothing compared to his mare. To Tartarus with all the trees if they got between him and her!

Rainbow Dash felt her tears start up again as she embraced her stallion, feeling a wetness on her own chest as Mac too cried, apparently overjoyed at the return of his beloved. The two embraced for a long time, their lips sealed together as they just held each other close, feeling like they’d been apart for years even though it‘d only been an hour as most. Finally they broke their kiss, and Big Mac was the first to speak. “Ahm so sorry Dashie. Ahm sorry for over–reactin' like Ah did. Ah shoulda seen what you did for me…for us…as what it was, a sign a' our love. Not make y' upset over an unlikely sit'ation. Ah beg ya Dashie, could ya ever forgive me?” Big Mac pleaded, still holding her close as he awaited her decision.

Applejack stood on the sidelines, watching intently as she awaited Rainbow’s decision as much as Big Mac was. Rainbow Dash finally rose her head again and stared into Big Mac’s eyes, her beautiful cerise–colored eyes blurred slightly to him by both his tears and hers as their eyes met. Rainbow Dash spoke after a moment, looking up at Big Mac as she did. “I’ll be yours again…under two conditions.”

Big Mac rapidly shook his head yes, willing to do anything for this mare, even if it meant laying down his life if only for his last moments to be with her. Rainbow Dash pushed away from his embrace before laying a short distance away from him, her back facing him as she lay. She looked back to him as she flapped her wings softly, a light breeze from them buffeting him as she gave him a grin. “The conditions are: one, that you forgive me for being so stupid and oversensitive, and two... you give me a preening and wing massage. Cuz aw hay do I need it!” she finished with a giggle.

Big Mac smiled wide as a tidal wave of relief flowed through him, the tension of the situation gone with his mare's words. "Eeyup." he said eagerly, nodding his head eagerly to show his agreement with Rainbow's terms.

Applejack smiled as she excused herself from the field, safely guessing what was to come next. She was returning to the main farm house as Big Mac positioned himself to massage Rainbow Dash – but wasn’t fast enough to miss the first, very loud moan of pleasure from Rainbow as he pressed his hooves into her aching wing muscles. “Oh, brother...” said Applejack, rolling her eyes with a smile as she closed the front door, going back about her duties in the house. But soon after hearing another muffled moan of pleasure from Rainbow Dash, she couldn’t help a grin crossing her face as she heard her brother pleasing his mare. “Y' give it to her, big bro.” she quietly encouraged him, then going back to sorting produce.

~ ~ ~

Big Mac repositioned himself after the initial massage, now pressed against her as he been had on their month–iversary, with his chest pressed against her croup. His rubs on Rainbow Dash’s wings grew slower, continuing to rub deeper, feeling her tension lessen as he kneaded her tired muscles. Rainbow began crying softly again as he rubbed her, so happy to feel his loving touch again, fearing earlier that she’d lost him forever.

Mac soon after moved on to preen Rainbow, removing the many broken and loose feathers she’d gotten while wallowing around in her bed earlier, planting gentle kisses along her wing as he removed the feathers. She occasionally felt and heard a drop of liquid impact on her feathers and she was sure he was crying as well. She started to feel a warmth growing between her legs from the stimulation on her wings, but that wasn’t really what this was about. This was about her and Big Mac being together again. Then again...

As Big Mac finished preening and massaging his mare, he then looked into her eyes as Rainbow looked back at him when he stopped rubbing. She cocked her head slightly, as if to ask ’Why are you stopping?' Big Mac smiled big as he took the hint and went right back to rubbing the wing muscle at the base, rubbing her favorite and most sensitive spot. He got a deep groan of approval from Rainbow Dash as he did, pressing into the pressure-point as Rainbow felt a burst of pleasure between her legs as her now-dripping flower winked behind her.

Big Mac continued to press and rub on that spot, causing Rainbow’s tongue to lull out as her panting increased in intensity alongside the feelings welling up in her love passage. Big Mac soon after took her wingtip into his mouth and bit down gently on it, causing Rainbow to gasp as three pressure-points were being stimulated at once, the gentle over-stimulation almost shattering her mind as she panted hard, with soft, yet orgasmic-level pleasure firing through every nerve ending in her body as her hips started bucking and grinding under him. He grinned around her wingtip as he realized how close she must be already, only a couple minutes in.

Deciding to make her impending orgasm that much better, Big Mac pressed down into all three pressure points at once as hard as he dared; biting somewhat roughly on her wingtip as he ground his chest harder on her rear, and finally pressed his hoof-tip deep into her wing muscle.

The response from Rainbow was immediate as she moaned out very loudly, almost a scream as she came harder then ever before, the force of her hips bucking increasing twofold. Her tail flicked back and forth as her vaginal muscles clamped down and her clitoris winked rapidly, splashing her juices onto the grass behind her.

The pleasure that assaulted Rainbow's senses was so intense that she saw black at the edges of her vision, with every nerve ending in her body on fire as her orgasm never seemed to end. The overwhelming pleasure wracked her for a solid ten seconds, but it was just too much. Rainbow felt one more burst of pleasure race through her, the last thing she felt before her vision suddenly and swiftly faded to black.

~

A few minutes later, Rainbow Dash awoke to the blinding sun in her face, quickly turning her head to avoid it's direct burning gaze into her now-sensitive eyes. She felt no pressure on her rear now, only feeling a gentle breeze caressing and cooling her sweaty body. She lifted her head and felt the breeze against her soaked cheek as well, realizing she must have drooled in her absence of mind. She sighed contentedly, feeling her soft afterglow enveloping her in a light embrace, as well as a light pleasure still radiating from her well-massaged wings. Where's Big Mac? she suddenly wondered, then looked around, trying to both get her bearings and find Big Mac, her mind still a bit cloudy from her overwhelming orgasm.

Seconds later, Rainbow saw Big Mac now standing by her side, looking down at her with a cocky half-smile on his face. Rainbow considered the situation a second before asking. “Did... you just make me cum so hard I passed out?” she inquired with a slight cock to her head, the kind that she used when she already knew the answer to what she was asking.

Big Mac nodded and replied with a confidant smirk now crossing his face. Nothing but a simple “Eeyup.”

Rainbow giggled softly to herself at the confirmation. "That was so awesome!" she said, and Big Mac giggled as well as he lay down beside her, watching as she slowly brought her muzzle to his again.

After the brief kiss, Big Mac started to speak. “ Rainbow, Ah jus' wanna apologi—”

Rainbow interrupted him with another kiss. It was as brief as the first one but just a little rougher, basically telling him 'shut your muzzle'. After breaking it however, she just smiled softly at him then nuzzled against his muzzle with her own. At that moment Big Mac knew what he was going to say wasn’t needed. She had already forgiven him, and he knew he could never hold anything against her either. It was over.

Rainbow and Mac lay down to watch the sun set on this long day, and with it the troubles their relationship had faced. As the sun started to set, Big Mac decided to again invite Rainbow to spend the night at the Apple residence. Rainbow Dash picked up the sticks from earlier, placing them again in the crook of her wing. Before Big Mac had even invited her to spend the night, she already said "Eeyep.", giving him a knowing grin and following behind him as he headed to the main barn, Big Mac rolling his eyes and chuckled at her horrible imitation of him. He remembered he needed to thank Applejack for helping to resolve the day's earlier problems, for if she hadn't stepped in, he may not be with his mare again right now.

~

As they approached the cozy country house a few minutes later, Big Mac and Rainbow could see Applejack downstairs putting a broom back in the utility barn. Rainbow Dash gave Big Mac a wink as she pointed to the ground beneath her with her hoof, and Big Mac nodded and stood back as Rainbow stealthily approached from behind, not wanting to give herself away.

"HI APPLEJACK!" Rainbow suddenly yelled from right behind Applejack, causing the normally fearless earth pony to find herself half-inside the utility barn at the sudden burst of noise. Rainbow Dash started laughing as Applejack recovered from the surprise, barely preventing herself from rolling on the ground.

"Hehe, hi Rainbow Dash..." Applejack started with a nervous laugh, feeling her heart thump at her recent startling. "...so uh, y'all ok now?" she asked once Rainbow had calmed down again, glancing from Rainbow's smiling face over to her brother's, who was also now happily smiling.

"Eeyup...!" Big Mac and Rainbow both said with synchronicity, causing a brief moment of stunned silence before all three burst out laughing. After they recovered, Rainbow finished her previous sentence; "...but we might not have been if not for you, so thank you." Rainbow wrapped her hoof around the orange pony's shoulders, bringing her into a tight embrace as she physically showed her thanks, Big Mac soon after joining in as well.

After the hug, Applejack spoke; "Wow, y' must really like mah brother – y'all are even startin' t' talk like 'im!" This caused Rainbow to blush and Big Mac to chuckle and reply with an "Eeyup!", making all three laugh again. Soon after the group headed inside, as the sun had now fully set.

~

Once inside, Applejack dismissed herself to go ready up for bed while the other two headed upstairs, eager to cuddle together in bed once again. Before they headed to his room however, Big Mac motioned to the trap door leading to the attic. He reached up and pulled the drawstring, causing the trapdoor and stepladder to softly descend without so much as a squeak, the well-lubed hinges doing their job well. As the stepladder stood in wait, Big Mac motioned for Rainbow to go first. She did and he followed shortly, both ending up in the dusty attic of the barn.

Various old boxes and crates stood around the attic, the layers of dust on them suggesting their contents were likely old as the house itself. Big Mac then took the lead, pulling a light chain and lighting the area before proceeding slowly, as to avoid making the floorboards creak and awaken the other likely-sleeping members of the house. Rainbow Dash followed close in tow, eager to see what Big Mac clearly wanted to show her.

Big Mac suddenly turned left and almost made Rainbow run into him, before digging behind a couple of crates. After a moment of rummaging, Big Mac came out with an old, beat up chest. Rainbow's eyes widened as she realized the chest looked the exact same as hers, right down to the color. His was however a bit more beat–up looking, looking as though it had been through quite a bit more then her own had been as a foal. Big Mac pulled the straps out before popping it open.

Inside the chest were what Rainbow Dash had expected; various knic-knacks and newspaper clippings, a few envelopes, an antique Action Ponies action figure that looked more then slightly worn from use...and finally two old Stetson hats. The smaller hat looked far too small for Big Mac's current head-size, seeming to be meant for a colt or filly instead, while the other seemed to match his current size exactly.

Big Mac looked at the hats as tears started to form in his eyes, the memories of where they'd come from starting to come back to him as he looked upon their aged psudo-leather forms. He held up the smaller one, showing it to Rainbow Dash as she waited to see where he was going with this. "This hat was mine as a li'l' colt, giv'n to me by Pa." he stated. He then picked up the larger one in his other hoof, and held it where she could also see it, her noticing a large scar in the hat. "...'n' this one...was my Pa's..." he said, his voice slightly cracking as a tear started rolled down his face.

Before Rainbow knew what had happened, she felt the old felt hat land on her head. A small amount of dust clouded up from the impact, making Rainbow lightly cough as the hat slid down over her eyes, making her lift it with her hoof. Big Mac wiped the lone tear off his cheek before speaking again. "Ah want y'all to have it."

Rainbow's jaw dropped as she realized the significance of this; he was giving to her one of his, if not his most, prized possession. Her jaw remained open, the hat once again sliding over her eyes again as her mind still tried to process what had just happened. A moment later Rainbow felt a hoof gently lift her jaw closed, then lift the hat from her eyes. When Big Mac raised the hat, revealing to her his emerald–green eyes and softly smiling face, Big Mac felt the hard grip of her hooves around his neck and the softness of her lips on his as she pulled him into a hard kiss. He felt a wetness on his own cheek, but it was not his own tear, the answer of whose it was coming from a sniff as Rainbow continued to kiss him.

After softly breaking the kiss moments later, a small string of saliva connecting their lips for a moment more, Rainbow Dash found herself unable to speak the words she so desperately wanted to say. She cleared her throat and tried again, this time succeeding in only getting a squeak out. All the while Big Mac waited patiently, staring intently into her teary eyes as he awaited what she was trying to say. Third time being the charm, she finally managed to choke out; "Thank–you–I–love–you–so–much", before she again felt herself again rendered speechless and felt warm tears streaming down her face.

Big Mac gave his another brief kiss as she cried, then choosing to simply say; "Yer welcome, Dashie."

After Rainbow had stopped crying, Big Mac nodded towards her right wing; the one under which the small sticks from the trees that had started this were being stored by her. Rainbow instantly knew what he meant and lifted her wing slightly as she pulled one of the sticks out, passing it over to him as their lips gently met again when he took it from her. He took the stick and turned towards his storage chest, his muzzle lowering into the chest and coming back out out empty.

Big Mac then closed the lid and tightened the straps, turning around to smile at Rainbow Dash while she again fiddled with the hat that had once again fallen over her eyes. Applejack stood at the trapdoor as she watched the whole scene unfold, feeling a very uncommon wetness on her cheeks as she saw them embrace once more. As she wiped her wet cheeks, she whispered; "Y'better never let 'er go again, big bro. Y'two are too good together fer that."

~

A short while later, Big Mac and Rainbow Dash shared his bed with him pressed up against her back and her to his barrel as they spooned, their closeness evidenced physically and emotionally as both Rainbow and Big Mac smiled in their sleep. Rainbow had once again placed her head against his chest, hearing the heartbeat that she'd never be without again.

Author's Note

Yay for resolution! Writing the last chapter actually affected me a lot personally, so this chapter makes me feel much better. Chompski also gave a number of suggestions for this one, so thanks to him for that!

I hope you like it as much as we liked writing it. Please feel free to comment, etc.