Hearth's Warming Traditions
Applejack heaved a deep sigh as she prepared herself for that night's festivities. It was Hearth's Warming Eve, and she had suggested to her friends that she could host a small Hearth's Warming party for them all. She stood in front of the mirror above her bathroom sink, applying a small amount of eyeliner per Rarity's suggestion. She wanted to look good for what she was going to do that night.
There was only one problem: she didn't know how to do it.
She knew that Rarity, Fluttershy and Twilight were all in the barn, setting up decorations while Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were getting the snacks. She walked over to the window and looked out onto the snow covered fields of her home. There was even more snow falling lightly from the sky of light gray clouds, and she could see the beauty of the town from her vantage point.
She walked back to the mirror and applied one last touch of blush, which Rarity also recommended, and then headed into the hallway. She went down the stairs and through the kitchen door that led outside. She walked to the barn and stepped inside, marveling at the festive decorations hanging from the rafters.
Long stretches of holly and a few other various decorations hung around the walls, and there was a pair of tables with bright red table cloths spread over them to the far left, meant for food.
She approached Rarity, who was hanging one last stretch of holly up with her magic before tapping the unicorn on the shoulder lightly. Rarity turned to see Applejack and almost shrieked at the sight of her.
"Applejack, darling. You, well, you look wonderful!" Rarity gasped.
Applejack blushed and said, "Thanks, Rarity." Before Rarity could respond, however, Applejack cut her off. "Can we talk? Kinda private-like?"
"Of course we can, just let me finish up here and I'll be right with you," Rarity responded, turning back to hang a small wreath on the wall.
"Thanks," Applejack said, walking back to the door.
A minute or two passed before Rarity joined Applejack outside to discuss whatever it was that Applejack needed to talk about. Applejack started off by saying, "So, Rarity. Ya know what I've been tellin' ya over th' past while 'bout my feelin's for... her."
"Yes," Rarity replied, knowing full well who the mare in question was.
"Well, like I told ya before, I wanna confess tonight, but I don't know how," Applejack explained. "I wanna make it special, but I also don't wanna overwhelm 'er. Any ideas?"
"Hmm..." Rarity hummed, deep in thought. "Have you considered mistletoe?"
"Mistletoe?" Applejack asked.
"Yes, you know how it is; if two ponies end up under it they have to..."
"Yea', yea' I know. Kiss," Applejack said, slightly annoyed and embarrassed at the same time. "But what does this have to do with Rainbow Dash?"
"Well, you could find a way to get her under it? Maybe find a way to get her alone and find a place where you planted it so she'd have to kiss you?" Rarity suggested.
"That doesn't sound too fair, she don't really get much of a say in it then," Applejack said.
"Well, I don't mean to force her into it. Simply find a way, maybe hint at it a bit? Then when you're under it just, you know..." Rarity trailed off.
"Hmm..." Applejack pondered that for a second. "It might work..."
"Well, you decide. I was simply making a suggestion, dear," Rarity said. "Best of luck, though." She patted Applejack on the shoulder before heading back into the barn, leaving Applejack to think of a solution.
***
An hour had passed, and Applejack had decided to go along with Rarity's suggestion and planted a small bunch of mistletoe on an isolated tree in the middle of the orchard. It was on top of a small hill overlooking a vast area of fields, devoid of all but a few trees.
She was back with her friends now, and they were having a fun time partying. Loud music played from a pair of oversized speakers hooked up to a small boom box. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie had arrived with the food some time before Applejack got back, and when asked where she was she simply replied that she needed some air before the party started. It was well underway, and Applejack didn't know when to try and get the object of her affection alone.
She toyed with the idea of getting a dance in whenever the music ended up being a slow song, but knew that it wasn't overly likely unless Rarity wanted to do something for Fluttershy. She knew she had to do it before it got too late, but she also didn't want to rush into things.
Another hour had passed before Applejack decided that the time was right. She tapped Rainbow Dash, who was busy chatting with Pinkie Pie, on the shoulder. The rainbow-maned pegasus turned to face her, and the sight of her beautiful, magenta eyes was almost enough to make Applejack have a heart attack.
"Uh, Rainbow Dash?" Applejack started.
"What's up, AJ?" Rainbow replied.
"Can we... Talk? Alone," Applejack asked, not wanting to sound too secretive.
"Uh, sure," Rainbow said, placing a drink that Applejack hadn't noticed on the table next to them.
Applejack looked to Rarity, who smiled and winked at her. Applejack tried to nod in response, but she was too nervous.
She led Rainbow Dash out and into the cold winter night. A light snow was falling from the sky, though it wasn't too heavy to walk through, and they headed into the fields.
"So," Rainbow started, wondering just what Applejack had brought her out here for. "What's up?"
Applejack sighed, the words trying to burst out of her lips right then and there. "I uh, I wanna show ya somethin'," she said.
"Okay then," Rainbow said, confusion evident in her voice.
The pair walked through the light snow until they got to the spot where Applejack had previously placed the small bundle of mistletoe. They stopped under the tree, and Applejack let out a deep sigh. She watched as her breath fogged in the cold air and then disappeared in front of her, mentally preparing herself for what she was going to say.
"Alright," Applejack started, "the reason I brought ya out here is 'cause I have somethin' to tell ya." She cleared her throat before continuing. "But before I do, I need ya to promise that nothin's gonna change between us when I'm done."
"Uh, yeah. Sure. Why wouldn't it be, AJ? You're my best friend," Rainbow agreed.
"Okay," Applejack said. "So, y'know this tree," she said, gesturing to the tree next to them, "on it is an engraving in the bark. My parents put it there when they first fell in love." She swallowed a but of saliva that had built up in her mouth, also swallowing a lump that formed in her throat at the end of her sentence. "It's right here," she said, placing her hoof directly beneath the engraving.
Rainbow got closer to it so she could see it in the moonlight; it was a simple heart with two initials inside it. It took a few seconds before Rainbow clicked in to what Applejack was doing.
"Wait, what are you saying, AJ?" She stuttered.
"What I'm sayin' is... Well, look up," Applejack said, cringing on the inside as Rainbow did so.
Right above them was the small bundle of three pointy leaves and red berries. The mistletoe that Applejack had placed there before.
"AJ, you mean you...?"
"Yeah," Applejack finished Rainbow's thought for her, "what I'm sayin' is that I love ya."
Rainbow looked at Applejack with an unreadable expression. Before long a smile crept onto her face and she was soon beaming with joy. Applejack, however, was bracing for either a long and fairly strong-worded rejection, or a hit that would never come. But instead, she got something else: Rainbow's lips pressed against her own.
She could feel Rainbow Dash's forelegs and then her wings wrapping around her as she quickly returned both the hug and the kiss. Rainbow broke apart only for a second to take a breath before pressing her lips against Applejack's again, their breath fogging in the cold air around them.
Applejack broke apart from the kiss to look Rainbow in the eyes; "So, I take it ya feel the same way?"
"You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this, AJ. Seriously. I've been thinking about this since we met," Rainbow said, "yes I feel the same way."
Applejack felt a smile creeping across her lips, "Good," was all she said.
Author's Note
Right at the kiss I started squealing like a little girl. That's how much I love this ship. Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays everyone!!!