As the Cider Competition heated, the tension did too. The Apples were losing, badly. The remaining Mane 6 stood their, seeing their friend’s livelihood being taken away, all they could do was to pray they won.
Twilight couldn’t take it, the Apples needed more ponies to win. She approached Mayor Mare, and began to talk to her. Twilight then walked back to the others with a nod, they were in.
The four stood in a line while Twilight assigned jobs.
“Fluttershy, help Applejack with the trees.”
“Got it.” The the yellow pegasus replied.
“Pinkie Pie, you're on apple catching detail.”
Pinkie smiled, knowing she was perfect for this job. “Yessir, ma'am, sir!”
“Rarity,” Twilight said as they came toward the beautiful unicorn, “You've got a discerning eye. Help Granny Smith at the quality control station.”
“Of course.” She responded with a happy tone.
“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight yelled. The cyan pony was unfocused, staring at the pressing. She caught her friends attention. “Do you think you can help Big Maintosh press?”
Rainbow grew nervous, ever since Winter Wrap Up she had formed feelings for the red stallion. The whole time she was working on the weather near Sweet Apple Acres, she and Mac were talking. He told her about how he use to love to wrap up winter with his father, but ever since his death, he dreads the event. Rainbow knew that if she stalled any longer, Twilight would grow suspicious.
“In my sleep!” She said to the magenta unicorn.
Twilight smiled “Alright everypony! Let's save Sweet Apple Acres!”
Rainbow trotted over to the presser like her flank was on fire, half of her was thrilled and the other half wanted to die.
Big Mac smiled as the rainbow maned pegasus walk over to the presser. He stopped run, wiping beads of sweat off him as she got on. They exchanged looks and started to run with apples being crush below their feet, occasionally landing on their face for a little snack.
Time began to run out, too fast for Rainbow’s liking as this was one of her only times since Winter Wrap Up she had actual physical contact with him.
As the contest ended, the two teams stopped with Mac and Rainbow falling atop each other from exhaustion. Everypony start to laugh as Applejack and Granny loaded them into a wheelbarrow towards the farm. They decided that they were too tired to be woken up and left then in Mac’s bed.
Big Macintosh awoke in his bed with swollen hooves from running. He noticed his body was entwined with a mare, but not just anymare, it was Rainbow Dash. She was snuggled in with her hooves holding his, and her head using his chest as a pillow.
She nuzzled him as she talked in her sleep, “You're so cuddly” she whispered. Big Mac wanted to laugh badly but he knew it would wake her up. “I like you Macky, you’re cute.”
After a few minutes Rainbow’s eyes opened, squinting as she noticed the large stallion in front of her. She started to freak out internally, she was in his bed, in his house, with him!
Mac decided to play it cool as he smiled saying “Howdy.” Dash however was still freaking out, which he noticed. “Don’t worry Miss Dash, nothin happened. We both passed out after the competition, so Granny and Applejack just put us to bed.”
Rainbow sighed in relief that she didn’t embarrass herself. “I am gonna go get something to eat.” She said in a nervous tone to get out of there.
Rainbow trotted down stairs to see her best friend, Applejack, looking at her all smug.
“Y’all passed out with my brother after the competition, sorry we couldn’t bring you up to yer house.” Applejack said as she gave her friend a glass of cider. “We are thankful for what you all did so we are inviting all of you to dinner tonight, you in?” She said with a big smile.
Rainbow Dash hadn’t have a dinner with somepony else for awhile, it was usually just her and Tank, and Rainbow knew she wasn’t doing anything tonight. “Hmm, I am pretty busy tonight, but I guess I can put some time aside for you and your family.” She said trying to look as cool as possible.
“Great! If you want you can chill on the farm tonight, or I had a better idea! A slumber party with all our friends!” Applejack said with the same smile before.
Rainbow was shocked to see her friend like this. “Really Applejack? I never saw you as the slumber party type.”
She laughed, “Not until Twilight, Rarity, and I had one durin a storm! It was a blast!”
“Okay AJ, I’ll will do this for you.”
The remaining members of the mane 6 soon arrived to the farm for dinner. Each one carrying a sleeping bag, and Fluttershy carrying an extra for Rainbow Dash.
When they all sat around the table, Rainbow was of course sat next to Big Mac. Granny stood up thanking the girls for their help, calling them true Apple Family material.
After they finished eating, Granny escorted Applejack and her friends to the barn. It was decorated for sleeping with piles of pillows, blankets, and of course Apple Cider. Granny said goodnight to the mares as she walked back to the main house.
Rainbow grabbed a mug of cider for Pinkie and herself, while the others continued a pillow fight. It wasn’t until Fluttershy was pleted with pillows by Twilight did they stop. Rarity suggested that they should maybe go to bed.
As night fell, all the girls got to sleep, except Rainbow Dash. She liked sleeping with Big Mac, his warm breath on her ears and cuddly chest, she loved it all, and she wanted it all. After she made sure everyone was asleep she flew towards Mac’s window. Rainbow tapped on the glass three times, waking Big Mac up to a surprise. He opened the window, for the blushing pegasus.
“Um hey Mac! I, uh, couldn’t sleep and was wonder if I could sleep with you. In your bed. Just as friends.” Rainbow said nervously.
“Eeyup.” He flatly replied as she got settled under his covers. The moment he go back on his bed, she nuzzled his chest, falling asleep.
Rainbow woke up to muffle laughter and a camera click. As she opened her eyes, she saw her friends laughing, practically bursting from the seams. She gave them a confused look until they showed her the picture the took, she and Big Mac were asleep and her tongue was in his mouth, and vice versa.
“So,” Applejack started while laughing, “I guess y’all have a special somepony now.”
Rainbow was enraged by her friend’s teasing, “NO HE IS NOT!” She yelled.
“This the second night you have slept in the same bed as him?” Fluttershy added in, “I am pretty sure that counts for something.”
“So what I like to sleep in the same bed as him, that proves nothing!” Rainbow shot back.
Twilight stepped forward, “You were staring at him the other when I was giving you your task.”
“You noticed?” Rainbow said as she blushed. Big Mac started to wake up before another comment could be made, and the others rush out of the room, leaving Rainbow and Mac alone.
Big Mac yawn and stretched seeing Rainbow next to him. “Howdy again Miss Dash.”
Rainbow’s wings start to go up, “Hehe, hey Big Mac.” Rainbow started to hear muffled laughter from her friends out in the hall.
Big Mac became confused, “What are they all laughin about?”
Rainbow handed him the picture, “They came in to see us like this, this morning.”
Big Macintosh cheeks became a light pink, and with nothing holding him back, he kissed Rainbow Dash.
