The Fruit Falls

by Mochas Dungeon

Rating: mature
Tags: Romance, Applejack, Drama, Original Character, Porn, Rainbow Dash, Sex, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe
Length: 191354

Applejack and Rainbow are engaged, however a lot of issues are going to come to light before they move forward in their lives.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash are engaged, however, what will test their new level of relationship?

The tragic and hopeful events that will transpire over the next few months will reshape their lives in ways nopony could have imagined.

Thanks to the following members of the team:
AtomicBrony458 - Editor for the first half
deltablaze22 - Proofreader
DragonInquisitor - Coverart

Published 2015-05-24 16:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2016-08-21 22:03:23 UTC

That Evening

Applejack walked into the kitchen and slammed the door as Rainbow was putting the cobbler pan in the sink.

"Rainbow Dash, Ah don't know what got into you earlier but you hurt our friends' feelings, care to explain?"

"AJ, look, now that I'm all yours I don't see why I have to be all extra nice.  I can be myself with you and I guess I can be my outside self with them."

Applejack frowned at Rainbow but didn't want to start a fight so she thought of the right thing to say.  "Rainbow Dash, I think you should sleep on the couch tonight?"

Rainbow spun around and looked at Applejack with shock.  "What?  Why?  What'd I do?!"  Rainbow hovered in the air and flew to Applejack, "Whatever it was I'm sorry."

"Rainbow, in the last two hours you went from the mare I fell in love with to the filly I knew before I started flirting with last year.  I can't sleep with you if you're that filly again."

"But, but AJ, I'm sorry!"  Rainbow felt shock and agony in her heart as Applejack spoke to her.  "We just got engaged, we can't do this the first night!  We have to celebrate and, ya know..."

"Ya should apologize to our friends before you try cryin' to me."  Applejack walked to the stairs and drooped her head, "I'm disappointed in you, Rainbow Dash, I thought you were better than acting this way."

Rainbow watched as Applejack took her hat off and carried it upstairs in her mouth, her ponytail hung to her far side but everything about her conveyed sadness at the situation.  Rainbow felt her sadness growing as she landed and thought about chasing after Applejack.

She's right, I had no reason to be so mean to my friends.  They were only saying congratulations and they helped make it happen.  She looked by the door at the bag of candy Pinkie had left and went to get a piece.  I know how to make this better!

She opened the door and flew to Sugarcube Corner as fast as she could.  "Pinkie!  I need your help one more time today!"

"Applejack, you are cordially invited to Sugarcube Corner for a free Brownie Sample Platter in honor of your engagement.  Please show up at 5:30pm for your prize."

Well butter my pancakes, it's so nice of the Cakes to give us a, oh.  Right, I gotta get Rainbow.  I guess I scolded her a little harsh, but she needed a push, I know she'll apologize and we'll be in bed cuddling in no time.

"Applebloom, ya here?  A.B?"  Rainbow and AB aren't here.  Great, I know Big Macintosh and Granny are shopping at the market.  I guess I'll unpack and get our room ready, then get the cellar ready for a long night.  I gotta repair the mattress after last time, though.  She chuckled as she remembered being on top of Rainbow Dash and Rainbows wings getting caught in an errant string and pulling half the bed open.  They had managed to finish their sexcapade, and afterwards They spent time quick patching the mattress but it was a lost cause.

"I think I'll skip the cellar and go mattress shopping."  Going to her safe she opened it and took out a 50 bit coin and a few extra, putting on her saddle bag she pocketed the money and left for the market.

"Welcome to Quills and Sofa's.  Applejack!  It's so nice to see you, are you here for a new bed?" Davenport winked with a smile.

"That's exactly why Ahm here.  What ya got I can take apart and reassemble easy?"

Davenport was taken aback by the response.  "Well, I don't really have a bed you can disassemble and reassemble.  I can sell you this deluxe twin, it has a collapsible headboard."  He led her to a wall with a few beds.  "If you want portability I have blow up beds that aren't as sturdy as what I've heard you two can put them through, but they're easy to repair and cheap to replace."

Applejack felt herself blushing.  "Davenport, we're not supposed to talk like that outside Quills parties, ya know that.  I've got my secret place and we broke the," Applejack rolled her eyes as she smiled wide, "yeah, you know how we get."

With a hearty laugh that garnered the attention of the other shopper and salespony at the register he placed a hoof on Applejacks shoulder and spoke softly.  "I've heard you can be heard from the barn to the edge of town some nights.  Is that true?"

"Ya know it ain't.  Just rumors, made by ponies like you who wanna know more than ya should," Applejack smirked, half serious.  "I got a small doorway to get it into and these're all too big.  I built the last one but we need an upgrade."

"Applejack, why don't you just use the house like normal ponies in relationships?"

"Well, we do get loud at the end and we have a full house.  Woke up Applebloom a few too many times so we had to go into hiding to get our time."

"Applejack, I have a suggestion.  Why don't you move into a house, you can make all the noise you want and have your own place when you're married, start a family." he chuckled as he winked again.  Applejack took a step back, she hadn't thought about starting a family.  "Never planned that far ahead, well you're gonna need more space someday, when you need furnishings, you know where to come."

"Thanks, but I don't even know where to move, Sugarcube.  Me and Rainbow had a fight earlier and I'm trying to think of a way to make up."

"Oh, a fight on the first day of your engagement?  Well," he leaned in close, "When I almost asked Mud Patty to marry me he was so excited he shouted yes in the middle of almost every sentence I was asking until I got fed up and decided not to ask.  I still have the ring hidden under the sink, just in case.  At least you got this far."  He leaned back as Applejack thought about what two stallions getting married would be like and then, the wedding night.  She shuddered slightly.

"Sugarcube, we did get this far and some of it is thanks to you and Muddy, but there's a lot we've been through on our own.  Now, suddenly she's back to her old self like I just dropped an apple into a bucket.  I don't know what to do, I told her to sleep on the couch if she doesn't apologize, but Ah don't know if I can sleep alone anymore."

"AJ, it's gonna be okay, one way or another you're soul mates and you'll work it out.  I have knowledge of a nice cottage outside town with a den window facing the setting sun.  The light comes in the kitchen every morning and makes the whole ground floor shine like it's made of gold in the mornings and there's a huge flower garden outside the north side, the south side has a small vegetable garden... It's heavenly."

Applejack sighed at the description and smiled as she imagined it. "Wow, how do you know so much about this property?  It sounds amazing," her voice was higher than usual.

"It's mine, but I finally made the next step and I'm moving in with Muddy!" he squealed as he reared up and clapped his hooves.  His salespony smiled as she came back into the shop from loading a chair into a ponies cart.

"And we're all happy for them, to finally have love.  I'm so jealous, I'll never find a stallion that nice that isn't taken or..." she giggled, "you know."

"So, if you're interested darling, let me know.  Talk it over with Dashie and we'll see about getting you a sturdy bed, I'll even throw in a hat rack for you if you furnish through us."

They had a good laugh before Applejack decided on a simple mattress and had it delivered to the barn while she went for a quick visit to Quills.

"Applejack!  Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry I missed it!  I saw the clouds though, they were beautiful.  Misspelled, but still, I'm so happy to see you.  Where's Dash?  Oh, I know that look.  What happened?  Tell me all about it.  Lime, we have guests."  Pulling Applejack inside she closed the door and led her to the kitchen and poured her a cup of hot water then added some tea leaves.  "I know I don't make tea the usual way, but I like how the aroma fills your nose from the leaves instead of after you take the first sip.  Drink up, tell me everything."

Applejack had finally sat and gotten comfortable and the tea was mouthwatering in its aroma.  "There must be four kinds in here, what are they?  They smell amazing, Quill."  She gasped as she was hugged from behind, a few strands of yellow mane fell into her face.  "Hey Lime!  I missed ya.  I misses ya both.  I was just about to tell Quill about the week in Canterlot."

"Oh, tell me too.  I haven't seen you since you left last week and it was so adorable how you two are in public now.  Wait, where's Dashie?  Did you two fight your first day of engagement?"  Applejack lowered her head and took off her hat.  She hadn't tied her ponytail and her mane was messier than it had been in public in a while.  "Oh, you're under a lot of stress I take it.  Drink up and tell us, then we'll help you find Dashie and make this all better."

"I need to see Col Gate."  Lime said rubbing her cheek after hearing the whole story of the week in Canterlot.

"Oh sweetie, are you okay?  Did you hurt your mouth?"

"No, Quill.  They're so sweet I got a cavity," Lime giggled, shortly followed by the others.

"Applejack, she's right.  You two are the perfect couple.  I, we really think you should just let it go and be together tonight.  It's not worth having this as a memory, dear.  We all have issues and secrets, 'baggage' is what they call it these days.  We have to let others carry it with us and when a pony goes as far as you two have, you have to learn to share everything.  Why did she suddenly act that way again, AJ?"

"Well, I dunno.  We were laying in the hay and Pinkie showed up, a minute after she left it was Twilight and she was makin' plans for the wedding.  Then we left and saw Rarity and Fluttershy.  You know about that part."

Lime placed her hoof on her chin and thought for a couple seconds as Applejack was finishing.  "AJ, you and Twilight were going out.  Then you dumped her to go out with Rainbow Dash.  Rainbow Dash was magically assaulted by Twilight and you all haven't really had much contact privately since then.  Now she's showing up and planning your wedding?  I think there's still some jealousy there, and animosity."

"Nah, we all talked it out a while back.  Buried the hatchet and had lunch the next day, everything was fine."

"AJ, dear, just because a pony says it's okay doesn't mean it is.  You, Twilight and Rainbow Dash aren't ever seen hanging out like you used to, it's no secret about your relationship now.  That Lilli told every pony she sold flowers to about Twilight's love life after she caught Twilight documenting their time," Applejack raised a hoof to her forehead and slowly applied pressure.

"I told her to not be herself.  Don't take notes, lists or documents.  Don't plan, just do and she goes and acts like herself; the same Twilight that ended us.  Is Lilli still in town?  Can Ah help?"

The two mares looked at each other, almost daring the other to go first.  "AJ," Lime started, "after you left two days went by before Lilli started acting strange.  Two days before you got back she went to the police and turned in hundreds of pages of research notes that Twilight had compiled on a dozen ponies around town including your relationship with her, Rainbow Dash and Rainbow Dash and Soarin, among others.  The police returned the documents but the damage was done between Lilli and Twilight.  The police Captain handled it personally and he's well, you know."

"Muddy, right.  So he kept this all secret and only a few of us know about it?"

"That's right dear.  He told Quill, me and Davenport in private during our tea party yesterday.  Twilight was devastated and when she found out about your engagement she went crazy happy, like 'I need medication' happy."

"That doesn't sound like the Twi I know."

"I know, she really needs somepony to talk to and everypony is busy or she's trying to avoid them.  On top of all that, there's a rumor there will be a royal wedding coming up soon.  I don't have any idea who but Princess Luna is available and have you seen her shape?  Oh, black and blue, she can invade my dreams any night!"

"Lime!"  They all laughed for a half minute before their composure returned.  "Okay, so we know Twilight needs an ear and shoulder to cry on.  You have to patch things up with Dashie and Limes leaving a wet spot on the floor for Princess Luna," Quill giggled as Lime gasped and punched her in the side playfully.

"Well, I have an invite to get a free brownie at Sugarcube Corner.  Wanna go with me?  I'd hate to eat it alone and Dashing is off doing something.  Probably hiding on a cloud somewhere, cute as ever."

"Lime, we have to help them, there's no way they can have a fight like this ever again," Quill said seriously.

Lime got up and walked to Applejack, picked up her hat and placed it crooked on Applejack's head.  "Ya coming?  We got a job ta do."

"Lime, Ah love ya like a sister but don't speak in a country accent again or Ah'll roll ya in the mud, ya got that?"  Applejack mused.

"Sounds kinky.  Let's not leave Dash out of it though, c'mon."

They all left the house in great spirits walking side by side down the side of the street talking and giggling as they approached Sugarcube Corner.  They opened the door and twenty ponies shouted "SURPRISE so loud the windows shook.  Rainbow flew over to Applejack with a cone party hat and wrapped the string under her chin to hold it on as Pinkie blew a noisemaker in the air.  Two party cannons exploded confetti and streamers across the bakery as the music turned on.

A rendition of a tune hundreds of years old that still carried the weight of joy in it's tones.  Lyra Heartstings, Noteworthy and three other ponies were playing live in the living room as the rest of the ponies turned and split into smaller groups and began to enjoy each others company and the desserts Pinkie was personally serving across the room to ponies.

"Rainbow, you did this?"  Applejack asked as she was pulled to her group of friends/element barers, minus Pinkie.  "Thank you, Dashing.  You're so awesome."

Rainbow landed and opened her wings wide and proudly as Applejacks praise washed over her.  "Applejack.  Rainbow apologized to us all for her attitude early this afternoon.  We were a bit staggered in our seeing you and that's probably what made it more annoying, we understand Rainbow's frustration.  We love you too much to be anything but happy for you in your proposals and life together."

"Twi, you're a great friend," Applejack said wiping a tear from her eye.  "Rainbow, you're forgiven, c'mere."

Embracing into a hug they squeezed tightly for a moment before a quick kiss and then they joined the party.

The girls giggled as they left the party, minus Pinkie who was winding the party down.  "Quill, Lime it was great to see you again.  I hope I see you again soon."  Twilight said as she hugged the duo goodbye for the evening.

"Goodbye and thanks for having us over again, Applejack."  Applejack chuckled and waved goodbye.

I didn't invite them, they tagged along to a surprise party.  "It was a blast, gals.  See ya Friday!"  Applejack said as she and the others gathered to talk about plans for tomorrow.  Finally agreeing on meeting at the library at 4 PM they split up, Applejack and Rainbow walking almost close enough to rub sides Rainbow would let her wing move slightly so her primary feather tips would brush against Applejack's cutie mark.

"Hey Dashing?  I always wondered why you tickle my flank so much.  It never really bothers me but you do it a lot more now."

"You don't know, AJ?  When a Pegasi likes you they brush their wings against your cutie mark to let you know.  We also count staring at our wings a big flirtation."

Applejack slowed as she had flashbacks of dozens of Pegasi mares giving her the awkward eye while she was checking them out passively, she thought, and how many Pegasus have done just that to her while bartering for apples.  "So, all those ponies that keep trying to barter th price down on my apples are trying to seduce me into lowering my prices?"

Rainbow smiled wide.  "You do give good discounts so word got around that you like a little flirtation.  Every Pegasi in Ponyville knows that, I guess you had to find out eventually."

"Well that's just great," Applejack said sarcastically, "hundreds of ponies think I'm dying for love and give discounts to the ones I like?"

"Yup," Rainbow said bluntly, "but they all know now you're off the market so you can expect a bump in sales.  You can charge whatever you want and the extra bits can go to our wedding."

"Dashing," Applejack picked her pace up again almost fast enough to leave Rainbow behind for a moment, "I got an offer for a house.  Our first house where we can start... A family."

"Woah, a family?  AJ, you know we're both, yeah.  But, that's a lot to think about!  I mean, we don't even have a home yet and you're thinking of a family?!"

"Dashing, don't shout.  We have a lot to go over still and we haven't seen the place or anything so don't worry.  We have to plan a lot on who's gonna even carry it," she joked as she lightly bumped Rainbow, who stumbled and fell over but quickly got back to her hooves and sided like it was nothing.  "I keep forgetting how cute and tiny you are compared to me."

"Yeah, you're a giant boulder sometimes but I still love you.  Where's this house by the way, is it in town or farther out?"

"It's Davenports, he's moving in with Muddy."

"Oh my gosh!  I gotta tell them congrats, that was some week we were gone, did you hear about Twilight and Lilli?"

"Yeah, I wish I could say I was surprised.  Let's just get home and install the new mattress."

"New mattress, bout time.  I can't wait to break it in.  C'mon AJ, race ya there!  Last one there's on top!"

I thought we were...  "Hey, wait!  No flying!"

That Night

Applejack and Rainbow arrived back a the farm around ten in the evening.  The mattress Applejack had purchased was in the barn leaning against a wall just inside the door with a receipt on it and wrapped in cheap plastic that was already breaking from the temperature change between day and night.  Applejack looked at it and sighed as Rainbow hovered beside her.

"AJ, did you buy a new mattress for the cellar?"

Applejack started walking into the barn and looked at the mattress as she reached the cellar door.  "Eeyup."

She grabbed the rope and tugged it hard, popping it open and walking the door fully ajar before motioning to the new bed.

"Wait, ya want me to carry that thing?  What about equal efforts and all that in a relationship?"  Applejack frowned slightly at Rainbow Dash.  "Okay, AJ.  Okay, I've got it."  Rainbow flew to the mattress and grabbed one side of it.  Heaving heartily she struggled to lift it into the air and fell to the floor with it letting it go just before it landed with a large puff and a loud thump that echoed lightly through the barns interior.  "AJ, it's too heavy."

"Now Rainbow Dash, ya know if ya can't fly with it, drag it.  Just don't damage it none.  I wanna see ya sweat some today and not from what we did on the train ride back or what we're gonna do in a few," Applejack said sternly with a little urgency in her voice.  Rainbow groaned and went behind the mattress and began pushing it with all her might making descent progress to the middle of the barns secret door.  Flapping her wings for more force she got to her destination with a light pant.

Applejack grabbed it in her mouth and pulled it effortlessly to the short stairwell leading to the cellar then to the kegs of cider that marked the secret entrance to their love room.  "You don't have to show off your earth pony strength, AJ.  You could at lease make it look tough."

"Where's the fun in that?  You're already outta breath pushin' this fifty feet, what're you gonna do later when you're back to cloud bustin'?"  Applejack dropped the heavy thing and turned to pull a stack of kegs from the wall showing the entrance.  "Now, this' gonna be tough for even me, this' a tight squeeze for us so we gotta fold this in three before we can slide it in, lets get foldin'."

A few minutes of grunting and effort finally managed to get the new mattress stuck in the porthole they used to get in and out.  "Push harder Rainbow Dash, it's almost there!"

"I am pushing, pull it inside harder!  It's almost there, I can feel it moving, maybe we can turn it a bit in the hole and it'll slide faster."

Big Mac was walking back from a date with Cherilee when he heard the ruckus from the barn.  The girls' sexcapades weren't unknown to him and several others, but he wasn't keen to hear about it.  "Nope.  Nope nope nope."  He started to gallop back to the house trying to imagine anything besides what they were doing this time.

With a final push pull the mattress slid into the room and unfolded with a rough thud against the kegs in the room knocking several of them over to the floor.  Empty.  Applejacks eyes widened as she heard the extremely valuable kegs that were full a while ago clatter on the floor and bounce effortlessly around the cramped cool room.

Rainbow crawled in with a large grin across her muzzle which fell as soon as she saw Applejacks expression.  Even the dancing rainbows in the room from the hanging gems that created the light couldn't hide the sorrow in her eyes.

"Rainbow, did you drink these dry?"  Applejack asked with her voice almost cracking.  Rainbow let her wings fall to her side and her lips moved helplessly, trying to make a word.  "Rainbow, these are worth more than we make in an entire season selling cider, each of them," her voice was becoming more confident as she lowered her voice.  "I trusted you and you drank 20,000 bits in a month!?"  Her shout reverberated through the room and into Rainbows heart.

"AJ, I-uh, maybe.  Ah," try as she might she couldn't say anything as she slowly backed toward the porthole, "I love you, I didn't think about the cost, honest!  We were having an awesome night, can't we just pretend-"

"Pretend what, Dashing?  That you didn't put in your belly, steal, money from my family?"

"I'm sorry," Rainbow began to cower next to the bed as Applejack approached her, "I didn't know how much it costed, I'll pay it back."

"It ain't about the bits, Dash.  It's that you stole it and tried to hide it.  I'm-I'm so disappointed in you Rainbow Dash.  Get out, just go."

"But, AJ.  Where?"

"Not here, not right now.  I can't..."  Applejack turned left and crawled out of the room punching a gem as she left shutting the dancing rainbow cascade of lights off.  The sound of Rainbow sniffling in the room quieted as Applejack left the cellar and went back to the house broken hearted and alone.

Rainbows Helpers

*Thud thud thud thud thud*

"I'm coming, jeez.  What's the fracas?"  The door opened slowly and Rainbow Dash was sobbing, tears leaving her eyes almost blinding her as she barged in and laid on the wooden floor.  "Rainbow Dash?"  Suddenly awake she tried to understand why her friend was crying in front of her so late in the night.

"Twilight, she hates me.  I don't know what to do, what do I do?"

"Uh, Rainbow.  You have to give me context, is this Applejack you're talking about?  She'd never hate you, tell me what happened."  Twilight used her magic to bring a quill, inkwell and some note cards over then prepared to listen as a quill scribbling started against paper.

"After the party we raced back home then we were gonna do something in the cellar."

"I remember the cellar," Twilight said, her magic faltering slightly as she squeezed her eyes shut tightly as Rainbow continued.

"We got the new mattress in and a few barrels of cider fell over."

"Oh no!  Were they damaged?  You know each one can sell for about 3,000 bits, right?"

Rainbow started to cry into the floor loudly, all Twilight could think to do was place a hoof on Rainbow's side while trying to keep a safe distance away.  Their friendship meant a lot to her and she didn't want to jeopardize it again.  After a long minute Rainbow gasped and sat up.  "I didn't spill them I drank them!  Every last drop of six barrels since I first went in there.  Twilight, I drank 10,000 bits from Applejack, what'll I do?  I can't pay that back even if I saved for five years."

Twilight sat down and stared at Rainbow for a moment.  "18,000 bits.  You drank 18,000 bits.  That's a full years salary for you as a cloud buster, Rainbow Dash.  I-I don't know what to say or how to help," her writing equipment floated to the floor as she blinked at Rainbow, "I'm sorry but I think we have to sleep on this one.  You can take the cot, I'll set it up since Spike is asleep.  You know baby dragons need their rest."

Twilight went upstairs and pulled the cot from under her bed, all ready and made.  "Just needs a lift and," while moving it to the other side of the room she set it up and with a click locked it legs into place.  "There you go Rainbow Dash, one cot ready and, well ready for you to sleep in.  I'm going to get the lights, if you need anything you know where the bathroom and kitchen are and Spike is just a nudge away from you," Twilight yawned and crawled back into bed, "I hope you have a great sleep, Rainbow Dash and we'll talk with Applejack and work this out in the morning."

Twilight pulled up her blanket and was almost asleep before she heard Rainbow sniffling.  She tried to cover her ears and pull the pillow over her head but even the slight whimpering drove into the deepest parts of her skull and annoyed her to no end.  "These have been the longest thirty seconds of my life!  What's wrong Rainbow Dash, just tell me so we can go to sleep."

"Grrrrugh," Spike groaned as he woke up slightly, "Twilight, is everything okay?  Need another glass of water or bedtime story?"

"No Spike, Rainbow Dash is spending the night and won't go, to, sleep," Twilight said frustrated.

"No, it's okay Twi.  Spike, I think I should just go, maybe I can sleep at Fluttershy's."

"No, it's okay.  I'm sorry Dash.  I," Twilight stopped and got out of bed and placed a hoof on Spikes head pressing him back into bed.  With little resistance he fell back asleep and Twilight pulled the blanket back over him.

"Rainbow Dash, lets talk.  Mare to mare, not as anything else okay?"

Rainbow sat up and furrowed her brow raising her left eyebrow.  "You want to actually talk?  Not lecture or whatever?"

"I think we need to talk.  We haven't spent any time alone since...  We have to be friends again and," Twilight stopped and took a breath, "let's talk this out between us before I help you and Applejack."

Rainbow fluttered her wings to help her roll over and sat up in the cot cross legged as she peered at Twilight.  "Okay, fine.  Let's talk.  You're an awful lover."

Twilight reeled back in horror as the words struck her heart.  The pain stung for a moment as flashes of Lilli shouting about distrust and disgust at her actions as a lover and as a mare.  "Rainbow, why?"  Was all she could say as she sat and her shoulders drooped.

"You have to know the truth and that's it.  You hurt AJ.  You hurt Lilli... You hurt me when you cast that spell," Rainbow and Twilight winced at the flash of memory, "and I don't know how we'll get past that.  Your turn."

"My turn?  That was an awful thing to start with, Rainbow!  I meant talk like adults not like that.  Fine; you're a cocky...  No, we're not doing this," Twilight gritted her teeth for a moment as she glared back at Rainbow who was now sitting up waiting calmly for a reply.  Is, is she actually waiting for a rational response?  Is this how she talks normally?  I guess I've never really talked with her, it's always been with the others around or when I, wow.  I really do lecture a lot, I don't listen to my own friends and they expect insults and lectures in return.  Lilli was right.

"Rainbow, I loved Applejack a lot," she started, "and every pony was right; I am an egghead.  I lecture too much and don't listen.  I'm too focused on my studies and learning everything I can about everything that I sabotage every close relationship around me.  But you have the chance to be with the most brave, dependable and honest mare in Equestria and you can't blow it.

Did I ever tell you about the first time I confessed to her?"

"Wait, you confessed to her?  I thought she made the first move, you don't seem like the type.  Is there a book here that's all about asking somepony out?"  She looked seriously around at the books below them for a moment before Twilight coughed to get her attention.

"It was after the Mare Do Well incident.  Remember?"

"Yeah, everypony dressed up in costumes to teach me to relax.  Totally hilarious you thought it'd work that easy."

"Yeah, all it took was a week with Applejack to calm you down," Twilight said smirking, "anyway, I came back here and hung up my outfit and went to the bathroom to take a shower.  All I could think of was how her hair looked in the costume, the smell of apples from her mask and the sweat that moistened it slightly."

"Woah, wait.  You stole her hood?  That's kinda creepy, Twi.  Even for you."

"Hey, I am not creepy, except that once.  I held it all night and when I woke up I put it on, then decided I had to take the chance.  I heard a rumor she was looking at flanks and not cutie mark flanks, sexy flanks.  Cherilee, Bonbon, even Pinkie Pie, those secrets fly faster than you Rainbow.  So, I practiced and practiced over and over.  I made a dozen lists of places to ask her but it never felt right and then one day a week later we were walking in town and she asked me if something was wrong.

I tripped and fell on my horn and started to cry like a filly and she held me.  Right there in the middle of the street as ponies passed us and looked at me like I was... I can't even describe the looks.  She asked me if there was any place I'd like to go to freshen up and I just pointed to a bench.  She picked me up like it was nothing and tossed me on her back and carried me there.  I remember smelling her as-"

"Okay, Twi.  Stop with the details and get to the asking part, she's my fiance still."

"Sorry, anyway she let me lay my head on her chest and then asked me how I felt.  I know she was being sincere but I blurted out the most embarrassing thing I could say.  I feel perfect right here.  I couldn't believe I said it and I felt her squeeze me tighter than she was just holding me.  I looked up at her and the shadow on her face from her hat just made her eyes sparkle, even in the shadow.  She bit her lip and I saw her muzzle tremble and I sat up.  I said something more honest.  I want to hold you next time, as close to my heart as I can.

That was it.  The moment I though would end with us being happy together forever.  But that was just an empty dream, I thought I'd live with her here and we'd grow old together and, you know.  They whole filly dream of a perfect life we all have once in a while.  Your turn, tell me about your relationship with Applejack."

"It's pretty cool."

"That's it?  You need to talk more, tell me more and get it out so I can help you and we can fix us."

"I don't know what to say, except for me drinking her cider I know everything is perfect."

"Perfect how?"

"Well."

"Except the sex, how are you perfect?"

"Well, she helped me get my job back at weather control and introduced me to a lot of other ponies that're like us.  Then I help her pick apples and..."

"And?"

"And, move clouds so they help her and she doesn't get to hot.  And I help her sort the apples sometimes."

"And?"

"Why do you keep asking?  We talk a lot about stuff."

"Like?"

Rainbow frowned as she looked at Twilight.  "Cloud busting and how awesome it is to be together mostly."

"So, you're saying your whole relationship is about her working hard and you watching, basically?  Is that what she needs in love, do you think?"

"Twi, I don't know!  I don't know what else to do or how to do it or even when.  It's always been about me since I was a filly trying to impress my parents and school mates.  I befriended any pony or griffin weaker than me so I could show them up and when I met Applejack I though she was the same, then she turned out to be the same as me.  No matter what I tried her matched me or bested me and it was awesome," Rainbow flapped her wings subconsciously raising her into the air, hovering as she continued, "she'd race me and tie my wings down and it was so hot.

She'd challenge me and let me win a few I knew but I was okay with it.  It was always in fun until the last time we raced before we, well.  You and the town knew after that night.  Ya see, something Pegasi don't talk about is that our wings being tied down is super sexy and reserved mostly for foreplay before we get. It. On."  She grinned wide, "then I guess rumors spread before that night that we were an item but I blew it off.  Then she made a few moves that night that really made me all confused and then I gave in to her.

She did things to me and made me feel a way no stallion ever had before or since.  I felt like my whole life was a lie before her and then everything was going to be okay when I was with her.  Then," Rainbow stopped and landed back onto the bed with her legs over the side.  Her body facing half away from Twilight as her wings drooped along with the rest of her.  "Then she showed me the secret room.  It was so cool to see her secret place and then what we did.  But then as soon as it was over she was asleep, smiling so cute and panting fast."

Twilight scrunched her muzzle as she imagined Rainbow and Applejack making love in the room as Rainbow continued.  "I, I got out of bed quietly and grabbed a tasting mug and tapped a barrel then poured a taste.  It was so good.  Slightly chilled and sweet and fermented just right.  I drank six more mugs before she woke up and then I lied to her so good she believed me.  I told her I only had one, to taste it.  Well, I told her that later.  Then I started sneaking back for more and more until I finished a barrel.  Then another.  And another.

I figured I could pay her back or help her harvest more apples before it was a problem but I kept going back and moving the barrels around closer to the entrance where they'd be out of her counting."

"Inventory."

"Twi, my turn.  Now, we moved a new bed in and it knocked over the empty barrels and she got mad.  Twilight, I have a problem with cider.  I can't get enough and it might have ended my marriage before it started, but I guess I deserve it."

"Rainbow Dash," Twilight said moving to the cot and sitting next to her friend, "You don't deserve anything like that and it's not over.  It's barely begun; you were both so happy that no pony could end that so easily, not even you.  I think you're an alcoholic, I can help you and a few of us will always be here for you to keep you on the right path.  You can do it, right?  Stop drinking hard cider and ales and beer?"

"What?  But those are awesome and delicious.  I can't just quit being fun."

"But you can quit on Applejack?"

Rainbow sunk a little lower as she realized the choice she had in front of her.  This is gonna be tough.

The next morning Twilight woke Rainbow up early and led her to the hospital to check her into phase one of treatment.  "I'll let Applejack know you're here and you're working on your problem.  I'll be a scroll away if you need me.  Just send a message to me anytime and I'll be here with Applejack in no time, just call out the window really loud and one of us will-"

"I get it Twi.  I've got this, it's no big deal.  I'll have this licked in no time flat."

Later that morning while Twilight was talking with an upset Applejack they saw Rainbow Dashes trail heading back into town.  "What the heck is she doing?  Twi, you said she was at the hospital.  What's goin' on here?"

"I don't know, she was there a little while ago.  Let's follow her trail and see where she's going."

The two of them galloped quickly into town and followed the trail to the Ponyville Pub.  A small bar that never closed and served all types of alcohol to ponies who needed a drink to stop a hangover or start a new one.

"Oh heavens ta Betsy.  She's drinkin' this early?  Twi, let's get her."

Barging in the scanned the room and saw Rainbow sitting at the bar on the far side of the room.  "Rainbow Dash, what are you doing in here?" Twilight scolded.

"I'm having one last drink before I go in."

"You were already in!  How'd you get out?"

"Uh, hello?" Rainbow flashed her wings and grinned.  "Fastest pony in Equestria, got out before they knew I was out."

"Sweetie, ya do have a problem.  Do you do this often?"

"Every day!  She's one of my best regulars.  Every morning afternoon and evening she comes in.  I know I like the business but she's here as much as I am some days.  Rainbow Dash," the bar owner turned to her, "even I think you need help.  You can't live like this and throw your bits away on the drink.  It'll ruin you like it did Saddle Sore over there."  He pointed to a stallion that was ragged and disheveled, asleep at a table with a mug in his hoof.

"That's who I smelled when we walked in?" Twilight said covering her nose.  "Rainbow, come with us or I'll take you."

"After my last drink, Twi.  AJ, I mean it.  Please trust me, honey."  Applejack looked between Twilight and Rainbow before sighing.

"One last drink, Dashing.  Then we leave."  Twilight gasped and followed Applejack to a table arguing her point as they sat and Rainbow sipped her drink.

Finishing the drink almost twenty minutes later she got up and trotted happily to the others.  "Hey, can I do my shift at work, I need to talk to them before I disappear for a while.  I'll meet you at the library in an hour, tops."

"Twilight, I don't see a problem with that."

"I do, she's making excuses to stay out of treatment.  Rainbow, we have to go now."

"No, I trust her Twi.  She'll get her bosses to know then she'll meet us up at the library.  Right Dashing?"

Rainbow smiled wide and nodded as she trotted past them and left, taking to the air and flying away.  "Applejack, you just got taken as a chump by your fiance.  She's not going to work and if she does she'll end up right back here."

"No she ain't.  She'll meet us at the library like she said.  Ya gotta have faith Twi."

"We wait here until an hour passes, if she doesn't come back I'll but you lunch."

"Fine, then you get to buy lunch and smoothies."

They stared at each other before Twilight got up to get some water and nuts for while they waited.

Thirty minutes later Rainbow galloped back into the pub and to the bar.  "An ale, quickly.  I've got a place to be."

"Rainbow Dash!"  Applejack shouted.  Rainbow gasped and dropped her bits to the floor as she snapped around to see her friends sitting at the same table as before.  Twilight looked almost proud she was right while Applejack was shocked and angry.  "Ya get over here now."  Rainbow froze in place as she debated begging for forgiveness or another drink before she was taken out.

"Barkeep, get me that ale fast!"  He stood still and frowned at Rainbow.

"No, go with your friends.  I'm cutting you off, Rainbow Dash."  Rainbow growled and tried jumping over the counter as Twilight grabbed her in a force field and levitated her out of the bar with herself and Applejack.  Rainbow was screaming and fighting valiantly as ponies watched her thrashing in the field as she was carried through town.

"Let me go, I don't have any problems!  Tell her AJ.  I'm fine, you can trust me!"

Applejack hung her head.  I understand why she loves cider so much now.  Why she drank those barrels dry and why she won't open up a lot of the time unless we're about to make love.  Oh, Celestia.  "Rainbow, I'm gonna make sure you get help.  All the help you can get."

"Applejack, please.  Let me go, I've told you already that everything is fine.  Work knows I'm gonna be gone for a couple days so everything's taken care of.  That was gonna be my last ale.  No more cider, ale or anything.  I promise, AJ.  Believe me, I love you.  Don't take me there."  Rainbow was beginning to feel tears streaming down her face, ignoring the ponies staring at her display.

"Twilight, what's going on here?"  A voice called from above as Quill came closer and landed.  Rainbow stopped thrashing and locked her eyes onto Quill.

"Quill, ya gotta help me.  They're gonna lock me up!"

"We are not locking you up.  You have a problem and we're helping you."

"Against my will and I don't wanna go cuz I don't have a problem."

"Quill, she's been drinking a lot.  She needs help, we're taking her to the hospital."

"What?  Rainbow Dash, is this true?  You're an alcoholic?  Well, that explains a lot actually.  Twilight, come with me.  The hospital won't help, they'll watch her for a day then let her go because she says she doesn't have a problem.  Follow me, I know a safe place we can help her.  I've dealt with this before."

Rainbow resumed her fighting and shouting as they followed Quill outside town.  "Fluttershy's cottage?  This is your safe place?  I can see why but I didn't know she helped ponies with problems, only critters."

"No, she'll help any creature in need.  She helped me when I was," Quill paused as the others walked and then looked back.  She quickly caught back up.  "I was hooked on Diel Weeds."

"Really?  Aren't those just for putting foals to sleep?"

"In large doses it numbs any mind, I hurt my wing once and I tried it with a former friend.  After a few tries I was hooked, spend hours a day drooling on my couch before I'd pass out from drinking wine when I started to come down.  Just to keep the effect going, I almost died a few times and Davenport carried me here.  Fluttershy opened her door without asking a question and put me in bed and helped me get better.  It was really hard and it's going to hurt, Rainbow Dash.  But you're gonna be so much happier once you're better and your life will be so much brighter."

"No it's not, I don't need help.  All I need is AJ and..."  Rainbow stopped and began looking at the trio carrying her as she stopped and the thought passed through her mind again.  She finally gave in and floated with Twilight's magic to Fluttershy's door.

With four heavy knocks and a few seconds Fluttershy opened the door and smiled at the three and then Rainbow in an energy field.  "Um, hello everypony.  Are you here for pre-afternoon tea?"

"No Fluttershy," Quill started, "Rainbow needs your help like I did."  Fluttershy stepped back and gestured for the others to enter.

"I understand.  Rainbow Dash, what's wrong?"

"Nothing!  It's a misunderstanding, that's all."

"She's a drinker, 'Shy.  I need her back to her old self and our lives together again."

"Oh my, I need your help then girls.  One of you will have to stay with us to keep her from escaping and I'll need your help tying her wings down so she can't fly away."  Rainbows eyes widened as she started shouting and thrashing again.

A few minutes later Rainbow had her wings tied to her body and was tied across her midsection to a soft bed upstairs screaming as they went downstairs to talk.  "Who's going to stay with us, girls?"

The trio looked at each other then at Applejack.  "Ah'll do it.  We'll be spending the rest of our lives together and this' as good a start as any.  I'll see ya later and have a great day.  Can ya tell Granny and Big Mac I'm gonna be busy for the next couple days?"

"Actually, Applejack.  This may take a while longer, depending on how much she's used to."  Applejack huffed and kicked her foreleg under her body casually leaning on herself.

"It's no big deal, this'll be as easy as bucking an apple tree.  Let's get this over with."  Applejack beamed confidence while inside she begged Celestia for the strength for herself and Rainbow to make it through.

"Call us if you need help, AJ.  I'll take care of her job and keeping this quiet Twilight, can you find a spell that will help her with her addiction?"

"I'm sure I can find something, but there's no cure for addiction.  The best I've heard is alleviating the need, I'll scour my books for something useful and maybe another pony in town knows... Nevermind, we have to keep this quiet.  I almost forgot, we'll do all we can, Applejack."

With a big group hug they separated and Applejack looked at Fluttershy.  "What do we do now?"

"We help her.  It is going to be very hard for you, Applejack.  You have to stay strong for you both and you can't trust your feelings when she says she's better, alright?"  Applejack let her smile fall and sighed then took her hat and tossed it to a chair, a half dozen critters scurried to hide from it as it landed.  The critters gathered around it and examined it intently as Applejack let her facade fall completely.  Collapsing to the floor she groaned and covered her head, her ears fell and she shuddered slightly.

"Fluttershy, I had no idea this was goin' on.  She lied to me, a lot.  And she was so good I couldn't even sense it, how can I be such a fool?  Listen to her up there, raisin' Tartarus and it's partly my fault."

"Applejack," Fluttershy said sweetly as she laid a hoof between Applejack's whithers, "that's what love can do.  Now your love can help heal the both of you.  Come with me, we have to brew some tea; a lot of tea."

The Healing Begins

Fluttershy led Applejack upstairs carrying a pot of hot water each while a small group of squirrels followed behind with tea leaves.  Rainbow was almost exhausted and had stopped screaming and thrashing against her binds a few minutes prior and was gasping, looking at the ceiling with turmoil in her expression.

"AJ!  Please, let me go.  You know how much I need to fly, I can't lose my wing power.  Just let me have one wing, c'mon.  I won't try to escape, promise."

"Oh Dashing.  I'm so sorry but this has to be.  We need you back and I'm gonna be here with you until it happens."

"Rainbow Dash, we brewed you some tea, you should have some," Fluttershy said pouring a cup of hot water onto the leaves.  The scent of fresh tea filled the room quickly and Applejack felt her nose tingle, a smile formed on her face slightly.

"I don't need tea or ale or anything.  I'm fine."

"Rainbow Dash, I understand you are frustrated and you don't want this, but it has to happen and the sooner you get that out of your system and learn to control your impulses-"

"I don't have. A. Problem!"

"The sooner you'll get back to your life."  Fluttershy motioned for Applejack to stay back a certain distance, "will you drink this now or shall I offer you later?"

"Never, Fluttershy.  Leave me alone," Rainbow crossed her forelegs and turned away from them, the sun in her face she turned to her back and pulled the pillow over her head.

"When you're ready to start, Rainbow Dash, just ask.  I'll be back shortly, Applejack will be here with you until then," Fluttershy pointed to a spot at the far side of the room where they huddled close.

"She's going to say and do anything to get out, if she does we may have to start over only this'll be harder for you both.  Don't touch her binds and the alcohol is lying for her.  Remember that." she whispered, "I'll be back shortly, I have to get some supplies for the next couple days."

Fluttershy left and went downstairs, the door opened and shut shortly afterwards and only critters and two ponies remained.  Chirping squeaking were the only sounds in the house for several minutes.  Applejack had been staring at Rainbow for the whole time.  "Rainbow Dash?  Can we talk?"  Applejack asked calmly, Rainbow's binds on her wings moved as she tried to move them but she didn't respond.  "Sugarplum, I'm here for you.  What can I get ya to make you feel better?"

Rainbow peeked her face from under the pillow and looked at Applejack blankly.  "Besides a drink.  Would you like some tea now?"  Pulling the pillow back over her head relative silence filled the room again.

The door opened and Fluttershy walked in with Twilight speaking loudly, waking Applejack from Rainbows bed.  She yawned and looked around for her hat before remembering she left it on the chair downstairs.  "Rainbow, how ya feeling?  Ready for that tea?  It might be cold but it's still wet."

Rainbow chuckled from under the pillow.

"Ya laughed!  That's great to hear Dashing.  I haven't heard you laugh since last night at the party, have you thought about the house yet?"

Rainbows chest heaved and she pulled the pillow off her head and laid on it.  "I don't know, AJ.  After you doing this to me I don't know about us anymore."  Rainbow pointed to the tight strap across her midsection and moved her wings under her wing restraints.  "If you loved me you wouldn't keep me tied up like this, unless you were going to do to me what you did in Canterlot," she winked then sat up.  "At least I have enough room to move my legs, but what about when I have to go to the bathroom?"

"Then we give you the pan, Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy said walking up the stairs.

"Uh, what?  The pan?  What's that exactly?"  Rainbow asked with a half grin.

Fluttershy trotted to the bed and pulled out a bed pan and placed it on the floor several feet from the bed so everyone could see it.  "Oh flock no!  I am not going in that!  What do you think I am?"

"You're a friend in need and you won't be judged.  What happens here won't leave these walls and I'm here to help you.  I have two bottles here.  One has ale the other tea; choose one and drink it and we'll go from there."

"Wait Fluttershy, you can't be serious.  Giving her a-"  Fluttershy raised a hoof and glared at Applejack.

"Choose."

"I choose that one!" Rainbow shouted pointing at a bottle.  Fluttershy opened the top and gave it to Rainbow who chugged half of it before coughing.  "Ugh; tea.  Can I try the other one?  Please?"

"Fluttershy, can she?"  Applejack asked squeezing her eyes shut like a fool as she said it.

"You may try it with me downstairs Applejack."  Fluttershy took the other bottle with her downstairs and motioned for Twilight to go upstairs to watch Rainbow.  "Applejack,"

"I know, I went too far asking ya for her to drink the other one.  I'm sorry 'Shy.  Do we have to start over?"  Fluttershy pressed the opened bottle in front of Applejack.  "Ah'm not really in the mood for a drink, Fluttershy.  Sorry."

"Taste it," Fluttershy said in almost a demand.  Applejack took it and a small sip.  Then drank half of it with a confused smile.  "They were both tea.  We're going to offer this test a few more times and at the end she won't choose either, you did exactly what she needed because you both have to heal from this and you'll be closer than ever before after this."

Applejack sighed with a smile still on her face.  She took out her hair tie on her mane and shook it all loose.  Her mane flowed like golden water across her back and down past her knees.  "I guess I should get comfortable, let's get back to it."

"FLUTTERSHY HELP!" Twilight shouted downstairs, fear gripped them both as they galloped upstairs almost tripping as they went.  Rainbow was throwing up to the far side of the bed violently.

"Applejack, get her mane from her face, Twilight hold her back," Fluttershy shouted as she hopped on the bed.  "Rainbow it's okay," she said softly placing a hoof on Rainbows cutie mark, "you're going to be okay."  Rainbow swung a leg at Fluttershy trying to get her away as she heaved breakfast and alcohol to the floor.

"Rainbow, you're gonna be fine.  I'm here for ya, honey."

Rainbow finished heaving and rolled back grabbing her head as tears stopped dripping from her eyes.  "My head hurts, I need a drink, please."

They others looked at each other.  "You'll get some in a little while, Rainbow Dash.  Have some tea to help your headache."

"'Shy, she's shaking really bad, is that normal?"

"Yes, Applejack.  I have a comb on the dresser, can you brush her mane and Twilight will help you clean her up.  Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy had flown on to of Rainbow and Twilight levitated a cup of warm tea over to her, "drink this Dashie."

Rainbow resisted at first but opened her mouth and Fluttershy began to pour tea into Rainbows mouth carefully.  "That's better, your headache will ease shortly."

"I can cast a headache away spell," Twilight said as she reapproached Rainbow to help brush while Applejack took a small amount of water from a nearby bucket to clean Rainbow's face and mane.

"No Twilight, she has to go through this.  Rainbow, you're going to be fine.  Drink more tea."  Finishing the cup Fluttershy climbed off and prepared another cup as Rainbow fell asleep in the bed.  "I haven't seen a case this bad in a very long time.  Thank you for your help girls.  She's still trembling?"  Applejack nodded as she held Rainbows head in her lap, "You're a great mare Applejack.  Keep her warm I'll be right back, if she has another episode turn her to the side of the bed again.  Twilight, there's a bucket in the corner over there, please move it closer."

Applejack and Twilight were very impressed with Fluttershy's professional and direct management of the situation.  "Twi, I don't think I've ever seen Fluttershy act so bossy before, is it cuz Rainbow's a friend?"

"I think it's because we're all friends and we help each other when it's needed.  She's the element of kindness, it's what she does," Twilight sat and rubbed her hooves together for a moment, "I have to tell you something Applejack but, you have to promise to not be mad."

"'Twi, at this point I don't think I can get mad."

"Okay, here it goes," Twilight took in a breath and closed her eyes, "I can feel when you two are having sex.  We all can, I didn't Pinkie-you-know what so I can say it."

Applejack raised an eyebrow while half smiling.  "Say what now?"

"Our elements are connected, as you know.  Each of us has experienced a small orgasm when you've been having sex.  At first it was just a fluke we thought.  Then we were chatting and Pinkie, Rarity and myself almost collapsed at the same time.  It wasn't that hard to figure out the cause and I guess we've just been taking advantage of it until," she closed her eyes tightly and shuddered, "your time in Canterlot.  We were having a small party and we all fell over screaming and... ahem, leaking fluids, and then Pinkie disappeared and my horn went off and so did Rarities and Fluttershy actually screamed as loud as when you did the sonic rainboom... When we got back to our senses it was the most awkward few minutes of our lives."

"Wow, so you're tellin' me y'all have been getting off on our gettin' off?  That's kinda weird, Twi.  Is there a way we can maybe stop sharing Rainbow and my love with ya girls?"

Twilight sighed.  "I don't want to and I don't think the others do either.  For Rarity and Pinkie it's the only pleasure outside their talents they get."

"What about you and Fluttershy?"

"I get satisfaction from studying and Fluttershy gets satisfaction singing and from her animals.  But it's not a bad feeling to get there at random, even if it is in public.  Pinkie can fake it off but the rest of us have to learn new things and ways to hide it.  It's kinda fun to be honest."

"Twilight, I'm honored you all enjoy sensing our love making but I think that should be ours only.  Find a way to stop it, please."

Twilight smiled awkwardly as she stood tall again.  "I'll look into it, but I may falter the spell some nights."

"Leave my wedding night to us, please."  Applejack said slightly stern.

"We're still getting married, AJ?"

"Rainbow!?  Oh Sugarplum, how're ya feeling?  More tea?"

"I feel like a buffalo is sitting on my head and yes please.  What happened?  I remember throwing up and then now.  Why's it so cold, can I get another blanket?  This' the most lame day ever.  Can I get a cider instead, Twilight?  It's just to help my hangover."

"Not yet, Rainbow Dash.  First some tea then we'll ask Fluttershy."

"Wait, Fluttershy?  What's in that tea?  Sleep meds?  Get it away from me," Rainbow bucked the teacup from Twilights hands shattering it while it was still in the air.  "Get me a real drink and I'll be better in no time," she said loudly.

Twilight and Applejack shared a concerned look that said 'this is going to be very hard.'

X Recovery

Almost a week had passed since Rainbow had begun her treatment under Fluttershy with Applejack by her side.  The others had come by to lend a hand in their own way as well.  Pinkie didn't hold a party but did plan several pranks to do with Rainbow.  Rarity made a hat that was gaudy and fancier than anything Rainbow would every wear in public, but it was accepted anyway.

Even Scootaloo and the CMC had gone by to offer a large card and several dozen dandelions from the road in.  While Rainbow was grateful however she quickly gave the weeds to Fluttershy to dispose of once the fillies had left.

"AJ.  I feel so much better now, better than I have in years.  The headache is gone and look," Rainbow held her forelegs out and they held steady, "no more shaking.  Aren't you proud of me?  I couldn't have done it without you, oh, and Fluttershy and the others."

Applejack took her hat off and tossed it onto the floor beside Rainbows bed.  "Dashing, I've never been more proud of you.  Fluttershy's the best pony for the job."

"Thank you Applejack.  Are you feeling well enough for a tea?"

"Oh, yes please.  I hope it's that fruity one.  I really liked that one."

"Well, you have to choose.  Six bottles.  One has Applejack's families special cider from the cellar and the other five have herbal green tea.  Which one would you like?"

"Uh," Rainbow looked at the options before her raising a shaking hoof to the lot and scanning back and forth.  Beads of sweat began to form on her brow as the seconds passed and even Applejack had stopped breathing.  "I-I don't know.  Do I have to choose?  I don't wanna go through all this again, Applejack.  Please, don't make me pick one."  Fluttershy smiled slightly as she walked to Rainbow on the bed and placed a hoof on her head.

"Rainbow, you are cured."  The joy in the room was palpable as Applejack jumped into the air with a whoop and Rainbow gasped happily.  "But there will be temptation and you have to remember to say no, to fight the urges and if you have to; you run away.  Fly back to Applejack no matter where she is in Equestria an no pony will think less of you and if they do then they aren't your friends.  Okay?"

Rainbow wiped a tear from her cheek as Applejack embraced her tightly.  "I do.  Totally got ya and thanks.  You're the most awesome mare in Equestria right behind me and Applejack."  Fluttershy giggled and untied Rainbows midsection and nodded for Applejack to undo her wings, Applejack began to untie her wing binds but Rainbow stopped her.  "Wait, I think we can keep the wings down for a little bit.  Right AJ?"  Fluttershy snickered and left the room taking several hiding critters with her.

"I'll leave you to yourselves for a little bit.  Don't blow up my cottage, okay?"

"Ah, I don't think we'd do that here, 'Shy."

"Shut the flock up," Rainbow said as she jumped from the bed and knocked Applejack over.

"Oh dear, come friends.  They need some privacy," Fluttershy said as the kissing noises continued she opened her wings and flew to the door, opened it and whistled making dozens of animals scurry into hiding or out of the house as she shut the door.  "I think it's lunch time, I'll tell the girls they're better while Rainbow recovers."

Rainbow kissed Applejack all over as she moved her knee to the base of her tail.  "Yipe!" Applejack squealed as Rainbow pressed against her sensitive spot.  "Rainbow, ya sure you're up ta this?  In Fluttershy's house?"

"She's been helping animals breed for years and you know it.  I think I'm not the only one who needs a release.  Right Awesome Jack?"

Applejack chuckled goofily.  "Ya ain't called me that in almost two weeks.  I guess a little AH, Rainbow that knee is gonna make trouble soon."

"That's what I wanted to hear."

Sliding down Rainbow began kissing her way down Applejacks body.  Applejack trembled slightly as the kisses went lower and lower reaching her inner thighs.  Rainbow leaned in closer to Applejack's mound and sniffed loudly.  "What're ya doing down there?"

"I missed your scent, apples and coconut soap.  Love it."  Leaning in Rainbow kissed the thighs until she reached the moist goal she had sought after for days.  Kissing Applejacks lower lips she shuddered and let her tongue slide from her mouth past her teeth and press against the warm moistness she had almost forgotten the flavor of.  Instantly she was overtaken with passion by the flavor and aroma she began licking from bottom to top tickling Applejack's clit as she reached it with every pass.

Slowly pressing deeper inside she felt the hot musk rush against her face as Applejack laid flat on her back and relaxed her legs as best she could under the circumstances as she let Rainbow go to work.  Squishy licking sounds filled the room as Applejack moan and grasped at anything she could, finding only her hat she grabbed it and pulled it upside down onto her head tightly as the giggling pleasure filled her gasping body.

"Oh Dashing, Celestia you're bucking awesome."

Rainbow stopped suddenly and swallowed a gulp as she sat up, her muzzle glistening with moistness.  She leaned into Applejack and pursed her lips.  Applejack wasted no time passionately kissing her in return licking her muzzle clean as they kissed.  Rainbow leaned her foreleg into where she had been a mere few seconds prior and began rubbing quickly against the dripping area between Applejacks legs slowing until she had Applejack's favorite pace.

Applejack moaned and gyrated her hips as she pulled back from the kiss and gasped as she let Rainbow have her fun.  Before she knew it she felt an orgasm rocketing through her body and she trembled and shook, pulling Rainbow close to her body tightly.  Rainbow felt herself tense and release some hot moisture as Applejack finished and released her.

Rainbow panted lightly as she fell back onto her haunches and looked beneath her to see a light patch of moisture under her.  "AJ, I came but we didn't even get that far.  What happened?  I mean it was a little one but still."

Applejack sat up, sweat beading on her face as she took her hat and pressed it firmly on Rainbows head.  "Lover, that's something I guess we do.  The others just did that too at the same time you did and now they know we're done.  At lease one of us is," Applejack grinned as she moved closer to Rainbow.

"No, I'm fine.  I want you to have a moment, can we get a drink and get some food and I really need a shower."

"Okay, and ya can keep my hat, for now."  Applejack got up and walked past Rainbow brushing her tail against her face as she passed and walked down stairs.

Rainbow looked at the bottles left on the shelf by Fluttershy and licked her lips as Applejack went downstairs.  Walking over Rainbow looked at them all.  Each of the six garnered a second of her attention before she reached to her chest and tore the strap loosed.  Her wings flared and she yelled loudly flapping and hovering in the air she spun and kicked them all down in one move as she bolted downstairs into a startled Applejack who stood her ground this time.

"AJ!  I didn't do it.  I didn't drink any of them and I ran to you.  You're the rock to my roll that Fluttershy said I needed, thank you."

Applejack hugged her lover lightly and smiled.  "You do need a real bath.  Lets go home."

A Day Out

After a refreshing bath with Applejack Rainbow looked at her coat and smiled.  She put on Applejacks hat again and they pranced happily beside each other into town.  Several ponies greeted them as they passed and Cherilee and Bonbon asked about the hat to which they replied 'I don't know what ya mean,' in unison each time with a giggle.

"Dashing I'm so glad we're out again.  I like Fluttershy's cottage and all but eight days there was too much."

"Yeah AJ, totally cooler to be outside than in bed for that long.  Let's get some real food, I'm so hungry I could read a book."

"Read a book?"

"A cook book.  I know it's not very funny but it's the first joke I've had all week, kinda rusty."

"Well, that'll get better with time.  Hang with Pinkie and in no time you'll be back to your old self."  Rainbow stopped when Applejack said that.

"AJ, I have to congress something.  Fluttershy told me that I'd be different now that I'm not drinking and the Rainbow you and everypony knows was always," Rainbow stood and poked the ground, "you know.  So, I don't know how I'm gonna be now.  I just hope you still love the new me that I don't really know yet."

"Dash, I love you and nothing will change that.  If anything I may love you more and if not we'll make it work."  Applejack placed a hoof under Rainbows chin and lifted it and kissed her lightly.  "Sugarplum we gotta get food in ya, lets see Lime at the cafe.  It'll beat them fancy vittles Canterlot has any day.  Race ya?"

Rainbow smiled and took a starting stance folding her wings by her side.  A second later they were galloping ahead leaving a light trail of dust behind them.  "AJ, wait!  I lost your hat!"  Applejack looked back to see Rainbow turning around to get it and kept running grinning wide as she looked ahead to her goal.

Rainbow grabbed the hat in her teeth and galloped her fastest to catch Applejack and turned into an alley to get ahead.  It's not cheating if I don't lose.

Turning ahead back into the street she looked back to see a startled Applejack galloping faster.  "Ya ain't gonna win by cheating!"

"I didn't fly so anything's game, your rules.  Remember the leaf run?"

The cafe in sight they weaved through ponies as they reached the tables skidding to a halt at the same time panting and grinning.

"Hey!  If it isn't the cutest couple in Equestria.  I missed you two, how's the wedding plans?"  Lime asked as she trotted over and gave them a light hug waiting for a response.

"Well, it's our first day out again since, you know.  So we want a #3 and #7 and three smoothies," Applejack said taking a seat at a low table so they wouldn't have to bother with chairs.

"Three?"

"You got a lotta eat and drink and I don't see why we can't share one a shake as we catch up with Lime."

"Okay, I'll put in your orders and get your drinks right away.  Enjoy the fresh air and I'll bring you a water to hold you over while you wait."

"Thanks Sugarcube."

"Yeah, thanks Lime."

Lime nodded and went to another table to take their order quickly while Applejack and Rainbow looked at each other.  "Rainbow, ya sounded a lot calmer just now sayin thanks to Lime.  I like hearing that."

"Well, thank you a lot AJ."

Applejack smiled and sighed as she gazed into Rainbow's ruby eyes.  "I forgot how pretty your eyes are, funny how we take som things for granted, right Dashing?"

"Awe!  I always come by at the perfect time," Lime said placing waters in front of the mares.

"Thanks Lime," they said in unison.

Lime smiled and trotted back into the restaurant.  "Ladies first," Applejack motioned to Rainbow who smirked in response.

"After you, sir."  They stared at each other for a moment before breaking into laughter.  "Okay.  That's not gonna work anymore AJ."

"Tikd Olchat!"

Ponies around them and looked at the two who clanked their glasses together and took a drink.  "Excuse me ladies," and elder stallion asked, "what language was that?"

"It's the secret language of the elements.  Didn't you know that?"  Rainbow said as her laughter died down.

"Secret language," began being whispered around them as ponies gathered around.

"Rainbow Dash, ya ain't supposed ta talk about the secret language!"

"Oops," Rainbow said covering her mouth, "no pony heard me, right?"  A dozen ponies standing around them shook their heads eagerly.  "Look, its a secret so don't tell anypony else but there a secret language only us element bearers and the princesses know.  Twilight has a book under 'S,' for secret," she whispered the last words loudly as Applejack glared at her.

"Alright y'all, break it up.  Ya heard her, nothing's goin on.  Git."  As the ponies dispersed and had left the area whispering to each other and others as they went on.  "Rainbow Dash?" Applejack hissed as she leaned into the table as Rainbow did too, "I can not believe how great an actress you are," they giggled quietly and kissed quickly as they leaned back.

"So, secrets in the open?  Sounds like a prank Rainbow or Pinkie would pull, but you Applejack?" Lime snickered into her hoof.

"Well, I figured if I'm gonna be with her then I gotta learn some of her tricks and she's gonna learn some 'o mine."  Rainbow held the water to her lips and grinned wider than the glass, distorting her smile partly.  "Not like that, Dashing!  Keep yer mind up here," Applejack tapped her head, "and ya get a better chance of whats down there." She winked.

"Aaaand that's my cue to check your order.  Smoothies'll be a couple more minutes."  Turning she went to another table leaving the couple alone.

"So, Rainbow Dash," Applejack started, "or should I say Rainbow Jack?"

"Woah!  Who said I'm taking any of your names?  I think Dasphle."

"Dasphle?"

"Yeah, Dash and Apple but they're together and mushed up so much you can't get 'em apart, just like us," she said sipping her water and looking into the cup lazily.

"Wow, you've thought a lot about this, haventya?"

"Only every waking and sleeping minute since like, three weeks ago but especially on the train ride to Canterlot and like the whole time we were there.  I imagined you proposing to me at every place we went and every time I wasn't talking.  I kept saying different versions of our name the whole week and I settled on Dasphle cuz it's the most I can mix our names without it being too crazy."

Applejack sat back in a mix of amusement and amazement.  "Well, I'll have to really think about that.  Dasphle. Dasphle. Dasphle.  I dunno, Dashing.  Let's just talk it over later," She looked back at Lime who was finishing the other tables order and sighed, "I really want my smoothie."

"I hope we get good ones.  Last time I got kale and orange zest with carrot," she scrunched her nose and shook her head in disgust, "I like Chef Lock and Key, but his 'creations' are sometimes the worst."

"Yeah," Applejack replied peering into her memories of the past week.

"AJ?  AJ?  AJ?" Rainbow said loudly snapping Applejack back to reality.  "I lost you for a second there.  Don't you agree?"

"Uh, yeah Sugarplum.  Just thinking how great you are and our recent, adventure, and what we're going to do now."

"I wanna get a house.  Davenports house.  Soon."

"Oh my, I keep popping up at the best times.  Here's your smoothies and one fish and egg salad sandwich and for you; one beetroot, mushroom and kale burger on a sesame bun.  Eat up gals, I'll check on you in a few.  OH!  Before I forget, Quill wanted me to tell her when I saw you two and I'm supposed to say," she closed her eyes for a moment while she recalled the message, "great job and we're all proud of you and, um, come over for dinner anytime and, urg, oh yeah!  You still have your job busting clouds but you haven't been paid for the week you were gone!" She smiled wide proud of herself for remembering it all.  Turning around she pranced back to the doorway and trotted through.

"She's certainly happy, isn't she?  Maybe she and Pinkie should hang out."

"Dashing, I don't think she could do five minutes with her, Celestia knows how we've been able to sometimes.  Dig in Dashing, looks good!"  Taking bite of her burger at the same time Rainbow bit into her salad.  Their eyes widened and they spat their food onto their plates.  "Dangnabbit!  LIME!  I ain't payin' for Chef to test pickled everything on his customers!"

Later that evening the couple walked up the steps to Quills house for dinner and a chat.

"Welcome ladies!  Dinner is ready and hot for you," Rainbow chuckled lightly, "and we're ready for a long night so hope you're ready!"  Quill motioned for them to enter and shut the door behind them.  "Lime, they're heeere," she sang into the house as she followed them into the living room.  The dinner table was set and candles were lit and five place settings were ready.

"Why five settings?" Rainbow asked.

"We asked Fluttershy to come but she just sent a parrot to cancel a minute ago.  So, it's us four plus the ghost of dinners past, ooOOoo," she moaned waving her wings.

"Quill, you're a riot," Lime said flatly rolling her eyes, "let's eat with the ghost of whatever before our food gets cold," she sat on the floor and beckoned the others with her wings waving over the table as the candles flickered in the air current she lightly created.

Applejack trotted ahead of the group and took a seat that would put her between Lime and Rainbow and tapped the floor beside her.  "I'm so hungry I can eat a book!" Rainbow said sitting down as Applejack rolled her eyes.

"A book?"

"Yeah, a cookbook.  It's full of food!"  She laughed and hit the table with her hoof as the others chuckled lightly.   "Get it?  Food?  Cookbook?"

"Yeah, that was funnier last time I heard it when Davenport said it last time we were all together," Lime said pouring a glass of wine for herself.

"Lime!  Put that away, NOW!" Quill screamed flaring her wings aggressively. The others at the table jumped and Lime spilled her pour as she dropped the bottle.

The glaring from Quill and posture told Lime to do it right away as she took the bottle to the kitchen and returned with a towel right away.

"I'm sorry girls, I know how recovery can be first hand I know I relapsed the first week and almost died and I'll never let that happen to you, Rainbow Dash," she said sincerely.  "And I'm sorry Lime, I really am.  I'll make it up to you later," she turned to the couple that were now sitting with their sides touching, "I'm not violent or abusive don't worry.  I think this' the first time I've yelled in this house in anger."

"Well it's the second but I understand," Lime said as she tossed the dirty wine towel over her shoulder and picked up her wine glass and then turned motioning for the others to place theirs between her wing feathers so she could take them to the kitchen, "I should know better than to pour wine when celebrating this kind of recovery.  Habits of the trade, right Quill?"

"Yeah, but I'm really starting to feel bad about yelling.  I coulda asked and I went off.  I'll make it up to you, I promise.  I don't think I can top their proposal kind of make up, but it'll be nice."

Lime stopped and turned her head back to Quill. "Proposal you say?  Rainbow's the quickest in Equestria, I know you're going to wait for the right time.  But if you do you'll be," Lime made a sad face, "happy with my answer," then left into the kitchen.

Quills eyebrows raised and she was obviously flustered.  "I hate when she does that, plays faces against words.  She knows our problem like that."  Rainbow nodded but Applejack didn't understand.

"Dashing, is that another Pegasus thing?  Reckon I'd love to know another secret."

"It's no secret AJ.  Pegasus are watchers first listeners second; give or take.  We look at physical actions and reactions to make a decision and when a pony says yes but is like, crying, it confuses us since that's how it is."

"Oh, I get it.  I think.  It's like when you're bakin' an apple pie and you gotta explain how ta make the crust just right but my lover is watching the pie in the oven instead of learning our secret recipe.  Something like that?"  Applejack smiled wide as Rainbow scooted a little further away to get comfortable again.

"Yeah, well the pie was better together than it was the crust by itself.  She made me try 'em raw and cooked Quill!  Raw and cooked.  Raw pie dough is for the birds!  I'll take an awesome slice of hot apple pie with ice cream anyday."

"One hot pie and cream coming up," silence fell through the house as the voice in the kitchen muttered, "I'll be right out I mean."

The room erupted into laughter as Lime walked out blushing deeply carrying four cups, two on each wing.

"It was a simple mistake from work!  Let it go," she said placing a cup in front of each pony and herself and placing a jug of lemonaide on the table and opened it, holding her ears against her head as she poured them each a cup.  "Laugh it up, I'll have a laugh at you someday!"  She fell onto her haunches and closed her wings and crossed her legs with a humph.

A minute later they were laughing and eating a nice salad with fresh pasta and mushroom sauce.  "Its kinda cold but it's amazing," Rainbow chimed slurping a noodle loudly spraying white sauce across her face.

"Oh, looks like someone found the stallion!" Lime laughed pointing to Rainbow as Quill almost chocked on her mouthful of food.

"Uh oh!  Dashing's first up after dinner," Applejack said loudly pointing to Rainbow.

"Fine, but if you tell anypony I'll deny it to the next life."

"We Pinkie-Promise," they all said in unison and then looked around for Pinkie to pop out of nowhere.

"Well tickle my nose with a feather, when she said she wouldn't be popping in on us anymore I guess she meant it," Applejack said happily.

"But I can still pop up on them when you're GoOoOone," Pinkies voice sang from the kitchen before echoing into nothingness.

"Aw flock.  I can't sleep knowing that now Pinkie will pop up anytime after you leave.  Once she popped in on us at midnight to wish Lime a happy birthday-"

Lime placed a hoof into Quills mouth.  "We will NEVER speak of that event for the rest of our lives and if Pinkie does," Lime grit her teeth and blushed as she looked at the plate of pasta in front of her.  She removed her hoof from Quills mouth and took another bite of food silently staring into her plate.

What happened?  Applejack mouthed to Quill.

Quill slowly lifted a wing and placed it as a block from her hoof movements.

"Oh my," Applejack said.

"What did that mean?"

"Pinkie jumped out when Quill was going down on Lime and she bit."

Rainbow's eyes widened then she took a quick bite of food and slurped loudly as she sniffled and gulped trying not to laugh.

Monday Morning

The sun rose and the rooster crowed loudly as Applejack stirred in bed.  Turning over she looked and saw she was alone in the room.  Now, where'd that mare get to so early?  Getting out of the bed and making it quickly she stretched her hind quarters for a couple minutes and yawned.  "Well, time to start a new week.  Hope Dashing has a good reason for leavin' me alone in bed this mornin'."

Walking to the dresser she looked into the mirror and sighed.  Somehow she missed the blue lipstick kiss on her neck from the party last Saturday.  That explains why I was so popular all yesterday.  Ah'm gonna have to have a long talk with that cyan mare and pranks like these.  Grabbing a scarf from the bottom drawer she wiped her cheek.  I guess I could have just taken a shower but now I know why she insisted on giving me a bath.  Here I though it was all about the romance and then we made love in the shower, heh.  Well, more like she...  Well anyway I guess I asked for it.  I did put her through the makeover and all.  Smiling as she bundled and replaced the scarf she kneed the drawer shut with a thud.  Then again I  could just give her a hickey.  It'd show up real good with that bright coat of hers.

Grinning as she looked in the mirror she admired herself and made a couple faces scrunching her muzzle and then kissing the air.  Suddenly a flash of thought went through her head of her and Rainbow standing face to face.  Princesses Celestia and Luna smiling in their usual humble ways as their friends cheers drowned into the roar of applause around them from a hundred of their closest friends and family as they leaned in for their first kiss as a married couple.

She gasped as the flood of emotions filled her to the point even her tail was as straight as it could be.  Oh Celestia...  Shaking her head she felt her mane flow freely across her back as she smiled again, lighter this time.  She reached into a basket on the top and grabbed her hair ties and quickly brushed her mane then tied it into her trademark pony tail then did the same for her tail.  Heh, the one day I forgot to tie 'em down I got caught on a branch and almost took the tree down.  Well, maybe not down but I coulda knocked all the apples loose and that'd been a waste uh good money.

Tying her tail up she grabbed her hat and flung it in the air jumping quickly and landing it on her head mid air before tumbling to the floor and in one swift roll she was in front of her door.  "Let's get today goin'," she said happily as she opened the door with a quick twist she shouted and jumped back.

"Good morning honey!  I made you breakfast!  It's eggs and hay bacon with a cup of hot fresh coffee and some oatmeal and-"

"Dash?  Wha-What the hay?"

"Well, I woke up a while ago and decided to make you breakfast in bed but I heard the crow and I knew you'd wake up so I rushed at the end.  Your juice is still downstairs."

"Well, I-"

"Back inta bed and take that hat off," Rainbow lunged forward and grabbed the hat in her teeth and tossed it toward the dresser and groaned as it missed before she turned her attention back to Applejack.  "Now, git.  I don't wanna hear you say another word unless it's 'yum.'"

Applejack was about to protest but she just resigned to the fact that she was about to have her first breakfast in bed.  And it was by Rainbow Dash of all ponies.

"Okay."  Applejack turned and pranced back to bed and laid down.

"Under the covers, now."

"Dash we don't eat in bed."

"Then it wouldn't be breakfast in bed then would it?"

Applejack smiled at the wisdom in the words as she tossed a few times and curled up under the covers, leaning against the headboard and the pillow under her back.  Rainbow picked up the tray and trotted over and placed it on Applejacks lap with a grin she backed up and sat down expectantly.

Applejack leaned over the tray and took a deep sniff in.  Everything smelled okay.  The coffee was black.  The oatmeal was oatmealy, the eggs were actually sunny side up and the hay bacon looked crispy and was from their week old batch that was seasoned and left out to smoke with sugar and hickory.  Her mouth watered slightly as she leaned and took a bite of the oatmeal.  Before she knew it she was licking the bowl clean and moving on to the bacon and eggs.  Gobbling it up in a most undignified manner she grabbed her coffee with her mouth still half full of food and washed it all down in a just a few swallows.

Exhaling a little puff of vapor she fell back and her head made a thump against the head board as she moaned in pleasure.  "Dashing, that was the best meal I've ever had in this room.  How in tarnation did ya do it?"

Rainbow hopped up and bowed quickly before opening her wings and hovering with her forelegs out implying her want of the tray.  "Well, I asked Pinkie and the Cakes how to make the bacon just right, only cost me 15 bits worth of bacon to learn it.  Big Mac gave me the oatmeal recipe and set it all up for me last night and Quill gave me the egg recipe and showed me how to cook them and Fluttershy gave me the eggs.  Lime gave me the recipe for the coffee and Twilight helped show me how to make the perfect fire to cook it all on.  Rarity gave me a few tips on how to carry a tray so I wouldn't spill it walking up the stairs.  Her first rule was don't fly with it full and I learned that the hard way; boy was she mad when I spilled juice all over Sweetie Belle.  Hey, you okay AJ?  Ya look kinda sleepy still."

Applejack felt her mouth getting dry then realized her lower jaw was down.  Closing her mouth and swallowing a couple times to remoisten her tongue she blinked in disbelief and awe.

"So Sugarplum.  You're saying the reason I didn't see ya yesterday was because you we're with all our friends learning how to make this for me?"

"And Big Mac, he's more like a brother.  But whatever, yeah sure."

Applejack was completely dumbfounded at what she heard.  Never had a pony done so much work for something that meant so much to her, not even one of Pinkies random surprise parties measured up.  She's never say that out loud lest the pink mare pop out of a coffee mug crying or something, but this was epic in its awesomeness.

"Rainbow, I-Ah, thank you.  This' the start of the most perfect day."  Getting out of bed she hugged the hovering mare across her midsection before turning around and beginning to undress the bed.  "Ah guesh lundry day ish tuhday."

Rainbow nodded then flew slowly out of the room.  "Heya A.B.  How was your sleep?"

"Fine Dashie, did she like her breakfast?"

"Ya know it.  Ya may have ta help her with the laundry though."

"Eeew, not again.  That's gross-"

"No silly filly.  We don't... Ya know what, it's just food this time and ya shouldn't be thinking about stuff like that at your age.  See ya A.B."

Applebloom trotted into Applejacks room happily.  "So I heard ya liked your surprise, ya know she was all over town yesterday finding out how to cook eggs of all things?  She asked me to teach her how to make fresh apple juice even.  Not cider, juice.  Is she goin' crazy?"

Applejack chuckled as she balled the sheets into a bundle.  "Nah, she's just being the mare she always coulda been.  Now, help me get some washin' water ready so I can get the oats outta my bed 'fore Granny gets up and asks why I was eatin' in bed."

"She already knows," Applebloom chirped as she grabbed part of the bundle in her mouth heaving it onto her back.

"Say what now?"

"Well Dashie was gonna make toast too but she kept burning it.  She even started a fire and there wasn't any bread in the toaster.  Ah've never seen anything like it.  Except when Sweetie bell makes juice," they both shuddered.

"Well let's not think of that and lets just get the water goin so you can get to school on time.  I know Dash and she cooked enough for two at least so ya go and eat up while I get this out there."

"Okay sis, see ya at the table, oh.  Never mind, I'll see ya outside."  Applebloom galloped out of the room and down the stairs in anticipation of sharing breakfast with her new sister as Applejack gathered the laundry.

This house is more of a home now than it was a couple months ago.  I hope Davenports place; our new place, will be just as nice.

Rainbow arrived to work early and ready to start her shift busting clouds and moving others.  She didn't have any rain showers scheduled for her shift so her day was planned to be an easy one.

"Heya Flutterwing, hows the leg?"

"It's better, doctor said I'd be back to galloping across the wide open plains in a couple weeks," she laughed with Rainbow, "yeah, like Pegasi need to gallop.  He's a crazy old mule but I guess I've gotta keep the bandages on till then."

"Wow, I never thought you'd crash into Derpy though.  You're always so careful and then I heard she actually held onto you as you both fell?"

"Yeah, she was nice enough to try to stop our fall but she let me go and, boom."

"Well at least it was only a sprain."

"Yeah, well I was temped to do more to her than what she did to me."

"Hey," Rainbow placed a hoof on Flutterwing, "it wasn't her fault her mail bag got tangled in your wings.  She at least saved you from breaking something, right?"

Flutterwing smiled.  "Rainbow, I don't know where you've been the last week but I like you.  I mean, I liked you before but now.  I don't know, you're more sincere."

Rainbow smiled and felt her chest warming.  "Thanks, I was...  Helping a friend.  She changed my view on a few things and I'm trying to do better.  Let's talk with Derpy later and work this out, okay?"

"Yeah, I think that's a nice idea.  I'll schedule something and put it in your box, just let me know if it works.  We have a couple days before it gets too late and I hope she doesn't forget."

Rainbow sighed and took her hoof to the floor.  "Her name is Ditzy Doo.  I'm not calling her Derpy anymore, its a hurtful name and she's doing her best for her and her filly."

Flutterwing took a step back in surprise.  "Wait, you're the one who renamed her Derpy in the first place and now...  Wow, who's this friend?  I need to meet her if she could change you into a caring mare."

Rainbow took a deep breath in and held it as she though over the past two weeks.  From the days in Canterlot when they had gone shopping and eating to lazily watching the sunset and moon rise all the way to the night she got a makeover and had more fun than she knew she could have with her marefriend and two of their best friends outside the elements.

Exhaling slowly she placed a hoof to her chest to maintain her calm demeanor.  "She's a great friend that helped me in my time of need even though I didn't know I needed it.  That's all that matters and I have to get my paperwork started so," raising a hoof for a bump goodbye she smiled as she looked into her friends eyes.

Looking back into Rainbows ruby eyes Flutterwing felt a sense of peace and happiness that she never sensed from Rainbow before.  She happily bumped Rainbow hoof and nodded as she opened her wings and flapped them taking her into a hover as Rainbow trotted away.  What is going on with that mare?  She's actually acting normal, maybe...  "Oh, wait Rainbow!"

Rainbow stopped and looked back as Flutterwing flew over quickly and landed, gesturing for Rainbow to come close.  "Don't tell anyone, but I think Diamond Wing is leaving."

Rainbow stepped back and forced a look of surprise onto her face.  "What?  No way."

Leaning in close and lowering her voice Flutterwing continued.  "I heard he's getting fired and his replacement is starting soon.  Some big shot that wanted a career change."

Rainbows interest piqued as she listened.

"So, who do you think it'll be?   Maybe and actor or maybe a corporate stiff who just wants to monitor us and watch our productivity?"

"Well, I don't care really.  I know we're an awesome flock and if he or she can't take it we'll get them to quit like we did with Pillow Case."

Flutterwing laughed loudly as another pony was flying past.  "Yeah, that chick was a total tool.  She went back to corporate within two months and you're the one who got the credit."

"Well, I was a total bitch to her and convinced the flock she was," Rainbow stopped herself and lowered her eyes to see her hoof poking the floor, "a lesbian.  I guess the jokes on me now, huh?"

Flutterwing walked to Rainbow and lightly punched the mare in the chest.  "You're still awesome and sometimes life throws you a cloud you can't see falling until it hits you, right?"

Smiling back to Flutterwing Rainbow nodded and excused herself again.  "I really have to get to work, I have a lot planned and I'm going to help AJ pick apples today."

"Okay Dash.  See ya in the skies."  With that they parted, Flutterwing to begin her shift and Rainbow to get her paperwork.

"Rainbow Dash, can I see you in my office?"

"Uh, yes sir."  Rainbow followed Diamond into his office and waited for him to take his seat.  This time however he walked beside his desk which was clear of paperwork and clutter for once.  Rainbow looked at him almost awkwardly as he began.

"I'm retiring, Miss Dash.  And I've called you here for a reason."

"Um, okay sir.  Whats up?" she asked casually as she sat on the floor before him.

"I'm promoting you to supervisor.  You'll have level eight pay and responsibilities at full time hours and I'm not taking no as an answer.  Also," Rainbow stirred and was about to protest but he cut her off, "I know about the proposal and you're going to need the pay to save for the wedding.  Lastly..."

His pausing was concerning to Rainbow as the silence continued for almost 30 seconds, he was obviously trying to find a way to say something.  "Miss Dash, my replacement is Soarin."

Time stopped as Rainbow held her breath and let the words sink into her head to he soles of her hooves.  Fear disgust and anger filled her making her tremble.  "Rainbow, I heard about your prior relationship with him and did protest however he has a status that I can't argue with.  Corporate-"

"Flock corporate!  What the hay are you talking about?!  You're, they're letting that...   Work here?"  As my boss?  On his reputation alone?!"  She screamed hopping up and flaring her wings aggressively glaring ready to fight no pony in particular.  Diamond backed away to behind his desk and lowered himself slightly from the intimidating mare before him.

"I don't have a say in the matter, being mad at me is fruitless.  All we can do is do what they say, if you're displeased you may file-"

"I'm not filing a report, I'm going to Cloudsdale to tell those mules to buck off and make Quill the boss!"

"Miss Dash, it won't matter.  Please calm down, nothing will change this.  You know they're authority is absolute over us all.  They make the clouds, we make the weather.  It's how it's always been," he said taking his seat and returning his professional demeanor.  Placing his hooves on the desk he pulled himself to the desk closely and closed his hooves together.  "If you have a complaint you may file it and have Derpy personally deliver it to the head office."

Rainbow lowered her wings slightly and glared at him.  "I'm not mad at you one bit, Diamond.  You were a fantastic manager and you're almost a friend to me now since you hired me back," she clarified.  "But if I didn't need this job I'd quit again, but I can't do that to my fiance and my future family."  Diamond raised an eyebrow when he thought of Rainbow having a young one inside her for a moment before she turned to leave, stomping with each step on each leg, her wings still open aggressively.  "If I don't say it later, you're a great stallion and I hope you have a great future, but I can't promise I'll be as kind to him.  And her name is Ditzy, not Derpy."

Opening the door she jumped out and with her tail slammed the door so hard the frame cracked.  Looking at a dozen mares watching her she turned and stomped to Quills office.  Whispers about what may have happened began to pass as Rainbow stomped by, her hooves making a heavy clunk with each step against the faux stone floor.  A mare looked at the glass of water on her desk and watched the ripples encircle from the outside of the glass to the center and back out, overlapping each other as she trembled from the rage that was emanating from the cyan mare.

Opening the office door she entered to see a surprised Quill with forms in front of her.  "Rainbow, whats-"

"You knew, didn't you?"

"Knew what?"

"Flocking SOARIN is going to be the boss.  And you didn't tell me?"

"Wait, that plot hole is gonna be my new boss?!  What the hay?"

Quill jumped and flew out of her office on a mission straight to Diamonds office.  Rainbow relaxed her wings and folded them to her body but was still upset as she walked cautiously to the managers in the office.  Shouting back and forth was heard for several minutes.  Rainbow had relaxed fully and was trying to listen but the walls mumbled the conversation too much.  Every pony was listening intently trying to hear what was being said and shouted before a loud crash and clatter was heard.

The interest in the door was absolute as ponies landed and loosened their wings by their sides waiting for the next happening.  Another clatter was heard by the sound of something metal thumping several times as Quill opened the door.  The office was a mess, his desk was overturned as Diamond was flaring his wings and growling panting.  File cabinets were on their sides and paper was spilled across the room as she landed outside the door facing him.

"And if I ever see him near her I'll find you and buck you and the corporate douche bag who approved this back to the dark ages," grabbing the door knob as it was swinging shut in a wing she slammed it, splintering the wood around the handle as she faced the ponies looking at her.  "Your new branch manager is going to Soarin, of the Wonderbolts," lowering her wings as she tried to calm down, "He begins tomorrow so prepare your greetings, welcome letters and any paperwork you may have for Diamond to finish before today is over.  Diamond will be leaving Sunday night and Soarin will be officially in charge tomorrow so show him all the respect you can since he's leading our flock now."

She turned and walked quickly back to her office grumbling as ponies dodged out of her way watching her walk to her office and slam her door.  Rainbow looked around at the other ponies who were all scanning the faces and expressions on each other.  Rage was uncommon in their society even though Pegasus were known for their long history of being the warriors and first into battle those days were past.  Even the Pegasus military that all were required to join and be members of from the day they pass flight school to the day they reach forty years of age, become disabled or retire with permission from a senior military pony was, more or less, a formality of days long past.

Rainbow quickly flew to Quills office as the sound of cleanup and grumbling began in Diamond Wing's office began.  Knocking two times she tried the knob but it was locked.  "Quill?  It's Rainbow, can I come in?"

"Go away.  I've got stuff to do."

"No.  I'm not leaving like that.  Let me in-"

"Go away Rainbow, please," Quill said from the other side of the door.  Frustration in her voice Rainbow took a look around at the ponies around watching and waiting for another scene.

"Hey, you're awesome for what you did.  I'm gonna start my shift and I'll catch ya later, stay cool."

Rainbow gave a cocky smile as she turned around and faced the ponies before shrugging and flying away to her box grabbing her orders for the day and left quickly without another word to the others.  Once outside she smiled wide and flew as fast and as high as she could, making sure her rainbow contrail led away before she stopped and folded her wings letting gravity take her down.  The silence as she began to fall was always peaceful and gave her a moment to reflect on how great it was to fly but this time her thoughts were on Quill.

Time to visit my friend.

She waited until she was dangerously close to the ground before opening her wings and gliding along the grass near the school house as students were taking their seats.  No hoots or hollers this time greeted her daredevil antics and for once she she didn't care.  She hugged the ground and sped into town less than a meter from the ground until she was nearing the office she stopped and landed into a quick trot as though she'd been doing it for a while.

Going to a side of the building she leaded on the wall nonchalantly and scanned for other Pegasi to leave the building.  Seeing none for the moment except for the random ponies that weren't weather ponies she opened her wings and quickly flew up to the top floor and into the opened window of Quills office.

Quill gasped and lifted her head from her desk, her eyes were moist and her wings were hanging limply by her side.  "Rainbow, what the hay are you doing here?  You have work to do, go to it."

Rainbow flew across the room and landed beside Quill and placed an arm over the tearful mare.  Quill tried to pull away but Rainbow wrapped her other around Quill and pulled her into a hug.  Quill thought to fight but she gave in to the warm body against her and buried her face into Rainbow.

"Quill, what the flock is wrong with you all of a sudden?  I've never seen you so upset of a little fight."

Quill pushed Rainbow back but not enough to break the hug.  "You don't understand.  I was ready to fight that stallion just now.  And I mean to hurt him."

"Why?"

"Ugh, I don't know," Quill hung her head and wrapped her forelegs around Rainbow and looked into her eyes.  "I don't know, when I heard he was leaving I was upset.  When I found out he was being replaced by Soarin I was mad, but when I saw it in your eyes I went crazy.  You're only a friend to me but you're a great friend, Rainbow Dash.  I can't lose you as an employee or as a friend.  Not over Soarin or something stupid like that."

"Quill, I won't quit over that plot hole and I won't stop being your friend ove-"

Quill leaned in quickly and kissed Rainbow locking their lips and pulling her in close as Rainbow stood stunned, wide eyed at the mare that was letting her tongue explore her mouth before Rainbow pulled back with a gust of wind from her wings.

What the hay?  Why does every mare want me?

"Oh, my, gosh.  I am so sorry Rainbow.  I-I just, I-I don't..."

"Quill, it's okay.  I'm totally awesome.  I know and everypony does too, but I'm with AJ and you're with Lime.  You two are totally meant to be together just like me and AJ.  I think we need to all talk this over though but we're still totally cool, right?"  Rainbow was getting closer to the window with each flap which didn't go unnoticed by Quill who was blushing as deeply as a purple coat could show.

Nervously she replied.  "We're cool, just let me tell Lime okay?  I don't know how this'll go if it comes from anypony else."  She lowered her eyes to her desk as she fell into her chair and sighed, listening to Rainbow leave in a hurry and papers fall to the floor.  "You forgot your orders..."

As if Rainbow heard she swooped into the window again and awkwardly smiled as she grabbed her paperwork and bounced backward out the window she just fell into.

She's even graceful jumping backwards.  Damnit Quill, you just opened a tornado spell.

Rainbow landed on a cloud and scanned her orders with a growl.  Why do I keep getting stupid orders?  Now I have to help arrange tonights rain shower over the southern end of town for...  "10 PM?!  I'm supposed to be asleep or anything but I have to come back that late to punch clouds til they're dry?"  Growling and throwing the papers up in the air as she fell back onto her cloud she closed her eyes and the sight of Quills muzzle pressed against hers flashed in her mind startling her eyes open.  She released the breath she didn't know she was holding as she craned her neck over the edge of the smaller cloud and saw the papers landing askew on the grass below her.  The cloud cast a shadow that was over one of the pages and Rainbow sighed rolling off the cloud.

Landing with a huff she picked up her paperwork and gathered it all up.  The paper under the shadow was last, she looked closely at it and fell to her knees.

Miss Rainbow Dash,

It has been an honor to work with you these past couple months.  The years before working with you were some of the hardest in my career with the Cloudsdale Weather Corporation but since you found love I can honestly say you have grown into a mare that I would be honored to take over my position in a few short years.

Whatever life throws at you, whatever anypony says, whatever happen just remember that you're the great Rainbow Dash and you are amazing at everything you do.  You convinced this grumpy old stallion that there's life to live and I'm not wasting any more of it in my office.  I'm going to travel for the next three years and see everything and everypony I've missed and it's all thanks to you.

You can change the world, Rainbow Dash.  Just be the mare you are destined to be.

Sincerely

Diamond Wing

Regional Manager Cloudsdale Weather Corporation: Ponyville Division

A tear left Rainbows eye as she sat and looked up at the cloud she was on.  It hovered right where it was just like it was supposed to but she really wanted it to rain on her so she could hide the tears she was feeling.

I was always mean to him over the years and now I find out he's changed his entire life because of me?  What kind of example am I setting?  I-I know I'm great and all that.  I know I'm supposed to be 'awesome' and shove it in ponies faces but...  Who am I?  I don't feel like gloating over this or bragging or anything.  I changed his life being me, not with stunts or showing off or whatever.  Who am I?

Rainbow opened her eyes and looked around.  No pony was around and the fields of grass were still.  Hills in the distance were covered with flowers and the air smelt lightly of apples making her smile.

"I'm the luckiest mare in Equestria, that's who I am."  Sappy or not I love AJ and I wouldn't be who I am if she wasn't there for me since the first time I crashed into her trees and she helped me out when we were fillies to the day she helped me to Fluttershy's to get better.  Rainbow hovered in the air grinning with confidence.  I'm an element bearer, loyalty, and I'm the best, fastest and most daring flier in the land.  Rainbow began flying quickly as she continued.

I'm getting a house with the pony of my dreams and a promotion at work and someday...  She let her smile fall as the air began to thin slightly and the sign of the pre-rainboom cone began to form.  She shoved her paperwork into her saddlebags that were empty save for an apple and carrot in each and thrust her forelegs in front of her flying faster; her goal in front of her as the cone funneled sound away from her and the pressure pulled at her mane and tail.

Had she been a lesser mare she'd worry about losing hair but the stinging drove her faster as she finished her thought.  I'm gonna be a mom with my wife, Applejack.

The smile returned to her face as she broke the sound barrier sending a ripple of rainbow through the sky.  The increase of speed made her jet at an upward angle again and she planned for this one this time.  Looking down she saw apples falling from the trees in Sweet Apple Acres, even though something seemed different about them she focused her energy on creating a heart in the sky over the acres before she landed.  Scanning the area as she descended she saw a stunned Applejack and Big Mac by a pile of apples under a tree.

What the hay, I totally did a rainboom *and** a heart in the sky, what's so special about the apples I knocked down this time?"*

Rainbow landed with style right next to Applejack and nuzzled her as she folded her wings, letting one brush Applejacks cutie mark before it closed too.  "Hey, why aren't you impressed with what I just did for you, Sugarcube?"  Rainbow said softly into Applejacks ear.  "Hey, hello?  AJ?  Big Mac?  What the hay?  Ya deaf from that rainboom?"  Rainbow took the air and hovered before the stunned ponies breaking their gaze.  "What the hay, AJ?  I'm totally talking to you and you're staring at apples?"

"R-Ra-Rainbow?  Ya did this?"

Rainbow crossed her forelegs and rolled her eyes not landing.  "Yeah, I knocked 'em all down and now ya have to pick 'em all up.  Sorry but it was a impulse thing."

"Ya-ya-ya-ya..."

"Zap Apples," Big Mac said looking at the cyan mare who was defiantly crossing her forelegs and looking into the sky.

"Yeah, jelly.  Big whoop.  What's that gotta do with me?"

"Dashing," Applejack said as she lunged Rainbow into a pile of apples, "ya turned 'em all inta Zap Apples!?!  How?  No, don't say anything...  Big Mac, get anypony you can to gather 'em up.  We're starting jam season early.  Rainbow tell Granny and give her this as proof and let her talk as we all gather.  This' the biggest thing since our first batch of cider.  Hurry everypony."  She shouted gleefully as she galloped to another tree and bucked it hard making dozens of Zap Apples fall to the ground.  Big Mac and Rainbow dashed their own directions to fulfill their tasks.

"Now Rainbow Dash, ya know Ah need my sleep and this joke with paintin' apples ain't worth my time, right after ya shook me to the bone with that boom ya do.  Zap Apple season isn't for months and I ain't fallin' fer your jokes.  Git outta here 'fore Ah get mad."

Rainbow rolled her eyes again and picked up the grumpy mare who protested greatly until she was outside and saw every tree that could bear the magical fruit holding dozens of fully ripe Zap Apples ready for picking.

"Oh Celestia... What?  How?  Dangnabbit put me down ya blue buffoon.  I kin walk fine. Where's Applejack?  She's gotta harvest before it's too late."

"She's coming Granny.  She wanted me to show you so you could get ready for some jam making, I guess."

A loud thud was heard in the distance as Applejack was heard whooping.  "I'm thinkin' we're gonna need some help with this harvest...  I'll go get some special helpers.  Ya help her get the apples down and where the hay is Big Macintosh?"

"He's getting help too."

"Well what're ya waiting fer?  Get one of them turnadoes and help pick 'em up!  That's a lotta jam apples waiting.  I'm gonna warm my pots and talk to my jars.  Time might be short, magic is as magic does, ya know."

Rainbow nodded and flew into the house again to grab her goggles before she went to work.  Within an hour a dozen larger ponies and Filthy Rich were at the barn waiting for orders.  "Now I need all the help I can to buck trees and pick apples.  This' gonna be a long day but this' gonna get our famous Zap Apple jam out months early and we may have another harvest on time.  Granny's getting the preparations ready so let's get pickin'!"  Applejack raised a hoof in the air as the helpers cheered and licked their lips turning to charge the fields.

Filthy Rich galloped to the house and found granny.  "I'll take the first 100 jars now and next harvest Granny."

"Filthy."

"Call me Rich."

"Rich, Ahm gonna need your help talkin to the jars and paintin' the walls.  Can ya get somepony to get the honey?  Remember they gotta talk extra sweet to tha bees!  Hurry," she commanded as the rich stallion galloped out of the kitchen to gather ponies to help him gather supplies.

Granny giggled in her elderly way as she finished lining up her jars and donned her battle helmet readying herself for a long couple days.

Monday Afternoon

Rainbow tried to kick a tornado up but there were too many ponies running around the area grabbing Zap Apples for her to make one and she figured they'd do it all soon enough anyway.  She flew above the acres and landed on a cloud; she always made sure to keep a few above the acres just in case.

Looking down she admired the hustle all three races of ponies had as they scurried like ants between the trees in the orchard.  Hanging lightly on the cloud she let her forelegs dangle and wave as she tried counting the ponies below.  She noticed only a large area of the acres were affected by her magic.  She quickly got tired of watching others work so she rolled off the cloud letting herself free fall to the treeline before she opened her wings and glode across the length of the acres without a single flap.  She headed to the house once she was out of the trees to find Applejack.

"Hey AJ?  How's it goin?"

"How's it goin?  Rainbow?!  Ya just made...  Ya," Applejack ran half the length of the kitchen on her hind legs like Pinkie would and grabbed Rainbow into a tight hug.

"So, we're cool then?"

Applejack pulled back from the hug and smirked at Rainbow.  "Dashing, ya even have ta ask?"  Letting the mare go Applejack turned and galloped out the door ready to issue more orders as Twilight and Rarity came galloping into sight and stopped Applejack to talk.  The surprised looks and expressions said they couldn't wait to have a few exciting words with Rainbow.  Rainbow sighed as she let a smile creep across her muzzle and landed before strolling out the door of the farm house casually looking to the sky as her two unicorn friends galloped to her and began bombarding her with questions.

"How?"  Did you plan this?"  "The colors are amazing, can I use them as inspiration?"  "Is this a side effect you've known about?"

"Girls girls girls," Rainbow opened her wings and took to the air hovering as she waved a hoof dismissively.  "This is just what I do."

The excitement left the two unicorns partly as they realized they were talking to Rainbow Dash, after all.

"So, is this a known side effect of the sonic rainboom that you didn't tell us or is this just a happening?  Can we run some tests and see the effects sonic waves and rainbows have in conjunction with-"

"Oh enough of that sciencey talk, darling.  Rainbow, can I have you model some new Zap Apple clothing I just realized we should have on hoof?  If we're going to have sonic rainbooms over our town then we should have outfits to match."

"Rarity, that is just...  An inspired thought, however I really think we should study the effects of her magics effect on the environment first.  What if she has a higher output of magic than other Pegasus that has lasting effects when she performs a sonic rainboom?"

"No Twilight.  Fashion waits for no mare and this is the greatest inspiration I've ever had and Rainbow Dash is to thank...   Where'd she go?"

Twilight and Rarity scanned the area around them then looked up to see a rainbow contrail heading south west.  "She ditched us?" the unicorns said in unison before looking at one another and giggling as they walked into the acres to help pick zap apples.  "Oh that mare is always in such a rush, dear.  I swear that if she ever stopped she'd turn to stone," Rarity joked.

"She's just excited to have done something so amazing.  No pony could have ever expected this to happen and to such a deserving family."

"Oh!  I wonder if this would work on cherries.  I can try to make cherrychangas, or would they be zaperrychangas?  Cherryzappas? Cherryzapachangas?"

"Pinkie, where in Celestias name did you come from and what are you talking about?"

"Oh!  I was in that tree over there and saw you walking and thought 'gee, those ponies sure did look happy to see all these apples that Dashie turned into zap apples' and then I thought about cherries and how great cheery pie is then cherry cake and then I thought how chimichangas are really good too.  They're like fried burritos; and then I thought-"

"Okay, okay Pinkie Pie.  Thanks for the view into your mind however I'm sure you'd be a bigger help gathering zap apples for the Apple family?  Zap Apple jam is supposed to be one of their biggest cash crops I heard and I can't wait to try some."

"Twilight?!  You've never had Zap Apple jam?  Here, try some.  I have some in case of emergency right here."  Pinkie reached into her mane and pulled out a nearly empty jar with swirling colors of the rainbow inside it.  Taking the top off she produced a spoon and stuck it into the jar.  "Open wiiiide."

"Um, thanks Pinkie but I-"  Pinkie shoved the spoon full of jam into Twilights mouth and with an oof Twilight let the flavors fill her senses.  "Oh Celestia that's amazing!  Hurry everypony, lets get these zap apples picked," Twilight shouted excitedly as she galloped into the acres.

"The sugar in that batch must be extra potent," Rarity exclaimed watching Twilight use her magic to grab several apples from a tree into a bushel.

"Yeah, this ones a couple years old.  I really should get a new one."

"A couple years?  Is that safe Pinkie Pie?"

"Well, it's a little fermented but that just makes it yummier in the tummier!"  Taking a spoon full herself she shuddered and closed the lid then zipped off into the distance.

"Maybe that's where she gets some of her energy from..."

Gosh, I left those two hangin' asking questions I can't answer or don't wanna.  I guess I should expect that from now on.  The great Rainbow Dash is always full of surprises.  Also, she has a job to do and doesn't wanna get fired so yeah.  I'm really glad that Applejack is so happy but I know I'm not gonna be much help with all the other ponies there doing their own jobs.  I'll see her tonight and we can talk about-  Oh yeah, Quill and me kissing.  Rainbow was at her area to start her shift but she hovered for a moment thinking how to bring the topic up on such an exciting day for the Apple family.

I guess I don't have to bring it up today and I'll just let Quill know we'll wait until this whole Zap Apple thing blows over.  What's the worst that can happen from keeping this little kiss a secret for a couple days?  Week tops.

Rainbow shrugged and pulled her goggles over her eyes as she went to work moving clouds and busting others and preparing for the storm later the evening.

"Works done now I'm off to...  I don't know.  AJ has the acres.  I'm an hour early to end my shift, like expected, and I'm not really tired so maybe I can grab a snack.  I bet Lime can get me a discount on a smoothie."  Rainbow licked her lips and reached into her saddle bag and smiled.  Just enough for even if I can't get a discount.

She turned and headed to the Ole Deli.  Walking in she saw Lime behind a counter mixing what looked like coffee and milk.  Rainbow licked her lips then shook her head quickly.

"Heya Lime, can I get a smoothie?"

"Sure thing, 3 bits."

"Can I get a discount?" Rainbow winked as she dropped two bits on the counter.

"Sorry Dash.  Boss is really counting the beans lately.  If she finds out I'm giving discounts to friends I'll get reprimanded.  Maybe fired," she whispered.

"Oh, okay then!  Not a prob, my fine mix mare.  I'll take a smoothie on the rocks," she smiled slamming the last bit on the counter startling a table of ponies nearby.

"It's okay, she's just boasting," Lime smiled and waved a hoof dismissively to the table.

"Dash, calm down sweetie.  I'll get right to it, care to take a seat while I finish up their drinks?"

"Sure thing Limey."

"... Don't call me that, silly filly.  That's for Quill," she winked as she whispered and went back to stirring a drink.

Rainbow smiled then shrugged as she turned to scan the room.  Even for an after lunch hour it was pretty slow.  She chose the table she and Applejack first sat at by the window and watched as ponies walked by.

Ya know, it's been a long time since I've been on an adventure?  Flying and doing stunts is fun and all but I kinda wanna fight another dragon, save a city from a Ursa Minor or maybe even just go on a bender and...  No, never again.  Why would that even cross my mind with all I've done and what I'd lose.  No, this isn't the time or place to think like that, I have too much going on right now.  I'll just have to stay awesome by being sober.

Rainbow smiled to herself as she waited for her drink watching ponies pass by.

"Rainbow, here ya go hun.  I've got a few minutes if anything's on your mind, you look stressed."

"Well I'm not gonna see AJ for a while cuz I turned a bunch of apples into Zap Apples and she's gonna be workin' like crazy."

"Oh my gosh!  I knew that was a sonic rainboom but I was in the basement and didn't see it," she sat across from Rainbow in the open seat and brushed her mane from her eye.  "I thought it was an earthquake and ducked under the stairs.  When I came up there was gossip all around and I had missed it," she groaned placing her hooves over her eyes, "I missed the last one too when you did a heart when you first got together."

"Well that was a really awesome accident, actually,"  Rainbow said taking the drink in to her mouth and sipping with a smile, "this' really good Lime, you're a smoothie artist."

"Thanks but you're seriously telling me that that super romantic gesture was an accident?  Ponies were talking about it for days and you oopsed it?"

"Yeah, I usually just kinda get bounced back up when it happens and I turned then landed and poof, it was a heart.  Best mistake I made since..." Rainbow cleared her throat and took a big drink.

"Since, Soarin?  Is that it?"

"Well, kinda.  I guess I just have bad luck with stallions in general."

"Well, that's in the past now hun.  You're with AJ and your one ex lover is hiding in Cloudsdale somewhere rubbin' it off," Lime giggled.

"Well that's..." Rainbow tipped her drink back and chewed a chunk of poorly mixed fruit.

"Oh my," Lime snickered, "how many stallions have you had?"

Rainbow blushed lightly and looked into her drink.  "What kinda fruit do you use in these?"

"Don't change the subject," she pressed.

"Lime, order up."  Chef called from the kitchen puling the mare back to work.

"Oh you got lucky, I'll be right back and you better have a good answer," she smiled and glared lightly challenging the cyan mare.  Once Lime was in the kitchen Rainbow drank the last of her drink and flew out of the restaurant taking to the skies.  With a barrel roll before opening her wings she caught a good thermal and rode it high into the sky; she quickly landed on a small cloud and laid flat.  Letting her body relax she sank lightly into the cloud and buried her face into it.

I can't believe I started this.  Now I'm gonna have to talk to all of them and explain my old life.  Oh crap...

A few minutes passed before Rainbow turned over to look at the sky.  Clear and blue; warm sun passing its apex and the scent of fresh grass from only Celestia knows how far away carried on the breeze.  "I guess I can finish my shift then go do more practice.  I might not be a Wonderbolt but I can sure use the exercise, I feel my wing power falling by the day.

Rolling off the cloud she bucked it as she began flying into town zipping between the houses to the office.  Not wanting to stop she flew past the other Pegasi that were congratulating her on her creating Zap Apples AND a sonic rainboom before her shift began.

Flying into the office floor she was greeted with cheers and applause as she landed and decided she should take it all like she used to.  She posed and grinned widely as ponies gathered around her asking questions that she proudly answered to the best of her ability.

"Okay, okay.  Break it up and get the flock back to work," Quill shouted flying over landing before the prideful Rainbow Dash.  "I thought you were done being like that silly filly we all knew?"

"Well I am, but if everypony wants to talk to the great Rainbow Dash who am I to stop them?  Did you even see that rainboom?  Epic."

"Yeah and you also should expect a visit from the guard and a bill from the mayor.  You shattered dozens of windows and made one mare go into labor three weeks early," she quipped as she wrapped a wing over Rainbow and walked with her to the order boxes.  "So, you didn't talk with Lime, did you?"

"Nah, I got a smoothie and she almost got me to talk about something totally else from my past.  I left before I had to answer though."

"Wait, you ditched Lime?  You know she'll never let it go now, you could have lied to her or told her to buck herself but now she knows its serious gossip.  You, my friend, are in so much trouble now."

"Yeah, keep smiling and maybe she'll find out something about you like that."

"Oh Dash, she already has and she helped me to Fluttershy to fix it.  But whatever you're having is gonna be big news.  It might even leave our little circle... by accident."

"You wouldn't dare," Rainbow said surprised.

"Well, you better come over sometime in the next couple days or you may spill it outside the walls of secrecy."

Rainbow rolled her eyes but couldn't disagree.  Whatever happened in Quills home was a secret kept on a level even the Princesses would admire. "Fine tomorrow night, just the four of us and we get this whole mess out of the way.  I've got cool stuff to do and I can't wait for this shift to be done."

"Like?"

"Like doing a few stunts and practicing moves to impress the Wonderbolts of course," she beamed as she broke free from Quill and reached into her saddle bags producing her paperwork.  With a few stamps on pages she raised them and put them into a 'completed' box before leaving, looking at one sheet before putting it back into her bag and hovering in the air, looking at Diamonds office.  The door was open and the mess was cleaned however several of his personal affects were gone.

"He's gone Rainbow Dash, and good riddance.  After that whole mess this morning he cleaned his office and packed a box and left before lunch."

Rainbow looked at the mare.  "Flutterwing?  But, I didn't get to say goodbye.  Where is he?  Back at his house?"

"No, he said flock this place and left for Cloudsdale.  He dropped his box with the post office and it's gonna be shipped.  He couldn't wait to get out of this tiny town for the big city I guess."  Flutterwing shrugged and trotted away leaving Rainbow to look into his office sullenly.

I didn't get to say goodbye and thanks for the letter  She sighed and flew to the exit, up the stairs and out of the building into the sky.  She began doing some of her common tricks, spins, loops and dives as she left the city limits before deciding that speed should be her training for the next few hours.  Twilight is helping get apples, so I can't use her wing power tester.  Fluttershy wouldn't keep up with a bird at top speed.  Pinkie would tie me down with streamers and Rarity wouldn't want to mess up her mane.

So, how am I supposed to judge my speed or show off becomes the question.  She smiled and clapped her hooves together.

"Ghost race."

Monday Night

Rainbow Dash arrived home to the acres as the sun was setting.  She would only admit it to Applejack but watching the sunset was the best thing for her some days.  She laid on one of her clouds over the orchard and watched the colors change and meld into a symphony of beauty that was unrivaled in the world, second to waking up in the morning and seeing her lovers freckles on her cheeks move slightly as she breathed in her slumber.

Rainbow let her thoughts drift to the morning when she woke up as the moon was setting before the morning light painted the sky it's orange hues, laying in bed staring at her orange mare sleeping.  A stream of drool hanging from her cheek and a light snort every so often as her rear leg would twitch and buck slightly.  Rainbow imagined Applejack bucking trees in her sleep, a true passion... or obsession.  But who was Rainbow to critisize with her endless flying and practice for a dream that wouldn't come true.

Her smile soured into a grimace.  It's because of *him.**  The image of Soarin filled her mind as she shut her eyes and groaned.  If it wasn't for him I'd still have my dream of being a Wonderbolt, I'd still have my cloud house, I...  I wouldn't have AJ.  I wouldn't have such great and supportive friends like Quill, and Lime.  I wouldn't know Davenport or Muddy the way I do and I know I'd be awful to them.  I'd still be drinking cider at the the Silly Filly bar until I couldn't walk and have to be dragged out so I could fly home and throw up all over my doorway.*

Rainbow opened her eyes and noticed she had missed the rest of the sunset and gazed at the moon as it rose above the horizon but didn't care.  She was in a better place and Soarin was to blame, or thank?  She may have to take a sick day tomorrow to work these thoughts out but she couldn't avoid him forever.  Not in a town as small as Ponyville and with Pinkie undoubtedly planning a party she would have to attend to welcome him to town.

I'd better go tell Pinkie to not mention my relationship with him.

Rainbow pushed herself up and took to the skies, the air rushing past her body was exhilarating as always making her want to go faster, her rainbow contrail followed her as she zipped to town weaving through the clouds spinning around some and others she looped over making sure not to bust any after hours or that weren't on her orders.

She arrived over Sugar Cube Corner and quickly landed outside the door, the sounds of clatter and giggling could be heard behind music and the lights flashed and flickered through the windows.  What the hay is goin on in there?"

Opening the door a party was in full swing and dozens of ponies were in attendance.  Walking in she looked around and saw nearly every pony from the office, their dates and friends and even three of her fellow element bearers who she made her way to right away, flying over the crowd and dodging a large set of balloons and another Pegasi that was trying to get to the other side of the room for her own reason.

"Rare?  Twi?  Pinkie?  What's going on?  There's a party and you didn't invite me or AJ?  What the hay?"

The three stopped their conversation as they snapped their heads to the Rainbow manes mare landing into their group with a confused look.

"It was them, they made me not invite you, I'm so sorry Dashie.  Is AJ here?  I'm SOSOSOSOSOSO-gasp-sossosorry."  Pinkie cowered back and hid under a table behind her trembling.

"Wait, so you're having a party and you actually didn't invite somepony?  Especially your two best friends and Fluttershy?"

"No darling, we didn't mean any harm by it and Fluttershy had a critter to help, or something like that," Rarity said lifting a hoof to her chin trying to remember.

"What's important is that we didn't want you here for your own good, Rainbow.  We're sorry but we had a good reason," Twilight said trying to salvage the conversation and calm the fraying nerves of her colorful friend.

"What reason could you possibly have to make this okay?  Is this because I'm a les-"

"Rainbow Dash!"  A voice called from right behind her startling her.  Her wings fell to her sides as she straightened her back.  "Well, I haven't seen you like this for a while," the voice said in amusement with a chuckle as her Twilight and Rarity hoof faced and Pinkie had vanished from where she was a second before.

"...Soarin," Rainbow said in a whisper as she looked at her friends' faces.  She turned around and looked at the confident white stallion before her and felt her heart drop.  She couldn't figure out what to do, slap him or run.  Should she say something or just stare at him like an awestruck filly?

"Well I knew you'd be surprised to see me but I didn't expect you to be silent for once.  How about we blow this party and... catch up?" he winked obviously seductively.  A retching sound from Rarity came from behind them but Soarin never broke his confident facade.

"Uh, no.  No thanks I'm just gonna go and... be somewhere that's not here."  Rainbow backed slowly into between her horned friends and wrapped her wings over them.  "We've gotta go, right girls?"  Rainbow said with a forced grin, pulling her friends closer and tighter against her.

"You're not leaving yet, are you?"  Pinkie said appearing from behind them wearing a pout.

"Uh, I-"

"Of course not, Pinkie Pie.  We're just starting this party, right ladies?  Tell me about some of your adventures Rarity, I hear you're a designer of some sorts?"

"Some sorts?!" Rarity gasped placing a hoof to her chest before breaking free from Rainbows wing on her back and in front of Soarin beginning a discussion of her works.

"He's gonna be there for a while, let's go Twi."

"No Rainbow, now that you're here I'll tell you why we didn't invite you.  Its because Pinkie planned this party for your ex, the stallion that ruined your life."

"Twilight," Rainbow gasped as she folded her wings to her body and stepped back.

"Uh-oh," Pinkie whispered as she lowered a tray of colorful cupcakes she had produced while the others were talking.

"Ruined my life?  Ruined my life?!"  The party went silent as the musicians and everypony stopped what they were doing to look at the scene unfolding.  Twilight flattened her ears to her head and cowered back slightly.  "You think that plot hole ruined my life?" She pointed her wing primaries to to Soarin who took a step back letting his smile fall.  "It's thanks to him that I got away from stallions.  It's thanks to him I lost my job as a manager and got my life back.  It's thanks to that jerk that I'm not drinking anymore and it's thanks to his horrible sex that I fell for the best mare in Equestria and we're gonna be married someday.  Ruined my life?  He saved it a dozen times and he doesn't even know it yet!"

The party guests were silent as they watched Rainbow shout at Twilight like an angry mother at a colt who just broke her favorite vase.  Rainbow blinked and realized her wings were flared and she was holding an aggressive stance toward her friend.  She quickly looked at Soarin and Rarity hopped out of her gaze landing a length back to watch the scene as two ex-lovers quarreled.

"You," Rainbow stepped towards Soarin, "you saved my life and thanks to you being such an awful lover and coltfriend.  You did hurt me in a lotta ways and I'll never forgive you for that but," Rainbow lowered her wings and softened her posture and expression as she approached Soarin who was starting to sweat.

Stopping in front of him she raised a hoof and smiled.  "I forgive you and thanks."

Soarin stared at Rainbow mouth agape and glanced back and forth between her extended hoof and her face.  "So, no hard feeling over everything?"  He asked almost sheepishly.  For a moment many ponies envisioned Fluttershy speaking through him.  He raised his hoof and connected with hers and she nodded as the ponies around them cheered in joy enveloping the duo and hoisting them up almost to the ceiling.  The music began again as the duo were carried laughing to the punch bowl.

Pinkie was there with two cups of dark pink punch ready as they were lowered to the floor.  She reached across the table and hoofed a cup into each other their extended fore hooves beaming with a traditional Pinkie smile.  Looking at one another they drank their punch in one swig gulping it down as the ponies cheered and downed their drinks or clapped and their hooves in approval.  A moment later the party was back in full swing with  music and flashing lights, conversations were being held and Pinkie was on the other side of the room handing out party horn topped cupcakes to a few delighted earth ponies that were gathered together.

"So, that's how it is then?  One one sided shouting match and we're friends again?  And, you're a filly fooler?" Soarin said with an awkward smile and a raised eyebrow.

"Yup, and now that you're in town I actually have competition when it comes to flying.  Ya know I had to ghost race myself earlier just to get a challenge?"

Soaring refilled their cups.  "So, I haven't heard of that for ages and then it was only a reference at Wonderbolts boot camp.  You actually do that?"

"Well duh," she replied taking the cup and walking with him to a wall where they could talk, "all you have to do is race your trail, pass it and you're faster than you were, can't catch it and ya better get training; hard core," she said with a confident look.

"So, you actually raced your own contrail and did you win?"

"I guess I'm averaging a wing power of 26 now."

Soaring spit his punch out of his mouth in a fine mist across Rainbow Dash beginning to cough with surprise.  Pinkie galloped over smiling with two towels and dried Rainbow quickly before zipping away into the kitchen almost faster than most ponies could see.

"26!?  That's almost the sound barrier, how can you do that?"  He asked incredulously.

Rainbow turned slightly and looked at her form and opened her wing fully cantering it slightly showing off her body professionally.  "I watch my diet so I don't have any unnecessary fat.  I exercise for hours a day and stretch for 30 minutes every six hours, every muscle in my body from my ears to my tail tip.  I preen my wings a dozen times a day and spend every free second hovering unless I'm gonna be stretching or napping soon.  Plus I have my mare friend who makes time to help massage or preen me when I need it."

Soarin smiled a cocky grin.  "Well she's one lucky Pegasus to get a mare like you."

"She's an earth pony," she said smirking as he swallowed a gulp instead of spitting this time.

"What?  You said earth ponies could never hold a mare as awesome as you down and now you're with a female earth pony to boot?"  He shook his head in disbelief as Rainbow turned to face him.

"And engaged to be married," she added.  Soarin sat down on his flank and felt his wings starting to open.  "You're getting a wing boner, calm down you're not gonna see anything."

He snapped back to reality and looked to his sides blushing trying to will his wings down unsuccessfully.  "Wow, you really get aroused easily, not that that's anything new."

"Oh shut up Dash, I've gotta go to the restroom, where is it?"

Rainbow laughed as she pointed to his underside.  "You're poking out, you nasty male you!  It's over there, and wash your hooves when you're done," she pointed at a room at the base of the stairs, he got up and galloped to the room.  "I'll see you in six minutes, just like old times," she quipped  as she hobbled with his wings fully opened to his sides covering himself like a teenager in high school.

"Oh that's rich, I've gotta tell AJ about this.  She waved goodbye to her friends and pranced to the door.  Pinkie was just outside the door holding a small box.

"This has a cupcake for you and AJ to share, okay Dashie?  I'm really sorry I didn't invite you but I didn't want your feelings hurt and so did the others.  I can throw you a 'sorry-I-didn't-invite-you-to-the-welcome-to-Ponyville-Soarin-party'."

"No, that's okay.  Let's just let this one go, it went better than I ever thought it would so that's all the party I need.  Thanks for the cupcakes and I'll make sure she gets one.  You're a great friend, Pinkie.  Random and I really wish I knew how you dissappear and appear everywhere but that's what makes you, you!"

"Awe, thanks Dashie.  Someday I'll tell you and the same goes to you, my friends outside the fourth wall," she smiles at you warmly.

Rainbow looks in your direction but sees nothing but the town.  "Pinkie, who are you talking to?"

"Our readers and viewers, silly filly.  I've got a party to get to so I'll see all of you later!"

What the hay?  Random doesn't *begin** to describe that mare...*

"Honey I'm home," Rainbow called as she opened the door to the farm house to see a dozen ponies in the kitchen looking at her.  Most were holding empty jars while wearing bunny suits, Granny could be heard singing the alphabet in the den as the others turned away and began hopping in unison around the table.

Applejack pranced happily into the room with her coat matted with Zap Apple juice in several dozen spots and a grin on her face.  "What kept ya?"  She asked entering into a gallop and tackling Rainbow back to the closed door with a thud the windows rattled startling the others in the room, Granny poked her head from the den not stopping her alphabetic chant.  Seeing the couple against the door made the elder mare smile before stomping her hoof and the others began hopping again.

Pressing Rainbow by the chest into the door Applejack leaned in and gave a light kiss to Rainbow.  "Rainbow, I don't know how ya did it but this is gonna make our cider season look like a drop in a barrel.  Hun, we can't thank you enough," Applejack said looking passionately into Rainbows ruby eyes feeling herself get lost in them.

"AJ, I don't know how Ah did it but I'm gonna do it again, not just fer you but cuz it's the right thing ta do," Rainbow said softly as she felt herself getting lost in the deep emerald pools Applejack called eyes as she leaned in to kiss her.

"Get a room you two," a stallion in the hopping group called out making the others who were mostly mares giggle.

"Uh, AJ.  They're looking at us," Rainbow said looking behind Applejack at the ponies that were sneaking a peek focusing more on the scene at the door which was naturally more interesting than hopping around a table to an elder singing a child song.  Rainbow felt herself blushing as Applejack leaned over into her view again.

"Rainbow, I think purple looks really good on ya.  Let's go upstairs and talk about the day," Applejack released Rainbow who fell to all fours and coughed lightly as Applejack trotted past the group to the stairs.

The group made a 'Ooooo' sound in unison as Rainbow walked past.  "Hey, quit yer noise makin and get back to hoppin so them jars vibrate with happiness to help keep the colors separate."

"Yes Granny," one of them called back as the rhythmic chanting resumed.  The scent of sweet apple pie filling filled the house Rainbow noticed as she reached the stairs and ascended behind Applejack she looked behind and stuck out her tongue at the hopping bunnies just as they disappeared from view behind the walls.

Rainbow followed the hoof sounds to their room where Applejack had entered, looking in she saw Applejacks hat on the dresser and the mare herself looking at herself in the mirror.  "Rainbow, do I look happier to you?"

"Well, I dunno.  I guess you're always happy so I dunno...  Whacha mean?"

"Well, all day I've been runnin' crazy like a chicken from a timber wolf, but I've been so happy Ah don't even feel tired.  Rainbow," she turned to look at Rainbow who was in the room now and taking off her saddle bags casually listening, "There's no way for me to every thank you enough.  Every drop ya drank from the barrels down below, this makes up for 'em."

"AJ, I didn't do it because I wanted to pay you back, I didn't even know it'd happen.  All I wanted to do was show you I," Rainbow looked at the floor and poked it once with a hoof before stomping hard and looking at Applejack firmly, "I love you and you're the best thing to happen to me."

Applejack smiled and approached Rainbow but Rainbow held a hoof up stopping her approach. "AJ, I thought a lot today and a lot happened that we'll talk about later but the biggest thing is that I made peace with Soarin tonight."

Applejack stood taller and looked at Rainbow skeptically. "Say what now?"

"Remember I said he was gonna be my boss?"

"Ya never told me that!  When'd ya find out that little bitta news?"

"Oh yeah, I was gonna tell ya but then you got all wowed by the apples and all that and I guess I figured that was more important.  Anyway, I was gonna come home and I found myself at a Pinkie party for him."

"What?  What's this about a Pinkie party?"

"I know, I know.  She didn't invite us," Rainbow said taking a seat on the bed motioning for Applejack to join her, "well, it was to spare our feelings and starting a fight.  I guess there was a little bit of a fight when I got mad a Twilight, but she said he ruined my life."

"He did Dashing.  He ruined so many things for you," she said softly placing a hoof on Rainbows withers just above her wings.

"No, no he didn't.  If it wasn't for him I would still be drunk and I wouldn't have you or Quill and Lime.  So many things have gone right since he left me and, since you found me," Rainbow said lowering her head deeply, "yer the reason I'm a better mare than ever before and I, Ah owe you so much," Rainbow shuddered slightly as she was quickly wrapped in Applejacks tight embrace she let a stifled sob leave her lips.  Squeezing her eyes tightly she fought to keep control.

"AJ, you're the only pony I can see myself with for the rest of my life and I, I..."  Rainbow acted like she was coughing to cover her sobs for a moment, "I wanna be a mom with you."

Applejacks grip tightened as she felt the words echo in her head several times.  She listened and scanned it over and over for humor or sarcasm or anything but all she, her element, her soul told her was this was the honest truth she was hearing.

"R-Rainbow  Dash, are you serious?"  She asked keeping her tight squeeze on the cyan mare stifling blubbering sounds into her chest.

A moment passed before Rainbow nodded softly.  She pulled her face from the rainbow matted fur and giggled slightly.  "AJ, you're covered with apple jam."  She joked.  "Let's get washed before we go to bed, Ah think we're both in need of a good bath after our day."

Applejack smiled and pulled back giving a playful punch to rainbows foreleg.  "Ya know what, yer talkin' a little more normal every few days.  I like it," she hopped off the bed and trotted to the door opening it quickly and leaving.

Rainbow watched Applejack leave and cocked her head.  What's she mean talkin' normal?  I always talk normal.  Maybe she's getting crazy like Pinkie.  Nah, she smiled as she flapped her wings and took off after Applejack to the bathroom.

X Showers Part 1

Rainbow knocked five times quickly on the bathroom door letting Applejack know it was her.  "C'mon in Dashing, waters gettin' warm."

Rainbow opened the door walking in quickly shutting the door and locking it with the latch behind her as she turned to look at the shower.  "I though it was always warm or cold, did you get a heater today?"

"No," she replied smiling warmly, "but I think it's as warm as we need it ta be.  Ya got yer stuff?"  Looking at Rainbow as she passed her going to the sink she took out her pony tails and let her hair fall freely with a few shakes of her head.  She smiled and looked at her reflection and didn't react when she felt a tug at her tail as Rainbow took her tail band off.  "Dashing, why do you have ta do that?"

"Do what?" Rainbow said dropping the tie to the floor looking confused.

"Help me so much?  I know ya and I don't know why you're so helpful."

Rainbow thought for a moment before shrugging.  "I dunno, I'd say it's cuz I love you or I guess because I'm awesome would be an answer the old me would give.  But I guess it's just who I am and being with you makes it easier.  And maybe it's my element too, loyalty and all that.  But, lately it's been easier to be good, ya know," Rainbow stood beside Applejack and looked at the orange mare in the mirror, "I know it's thanks ta you and those freckles."

"Oh hush," Applejack said bumping her shoulder to Rainbows making the smaller mare stumble away, "I know you're good at heart and I reckon you're in a great place thanks to all of us; not just Quill and us but Fluttershy and them too.  Ya have friends all over that're here for you and by gall ya know I am.  Let's get all cleaned up, I've had one long day and I know you're only a little better."

"Hey, I was working with rain clouds today."

"Don't smell like it," Applejack turned away emphasizing Rainbows odor.

"Oh shut up.  Ya know Ahm a hard worker and all my practice-"

Applejack kissed Rainbow as she protested.  "Ahm joking Sugarplum.  You're as sweet as an apple pie fresh outta the oven."  Another kiss brought a smile and blush to Rainbow as Applejack slid open the shower door and walked in, nodding to Rainbow to join her.  Rainbow opened her wings slightly and followed sliding the door shut behind her.

The water was warm and refreshing.  Rainbow stood behind her lover as the water cascaded down her body they both closed their eyes and looked to the water as it rained upon them from the tip of their nose and down their body.  Rainbow broke the almost meditative silence as her wings flapped creating a heavy breeze spraying water across the enclosure.

"Dangit Dash, don't do that!" Applejack complained as her eyes opened only to close instinctively as water swirled around her.  Briefly she held her breath as Rainbow chuckled.  "Oh that's funny?  What about this?"  Applejack spun her head quickly sending a wave of water from her mane straight into Rainbows face and open mouth.

A heavy coughing fit stopped her flapping and the swirling air with it as Applejack laughed goofily as Rainbow composed herself.  "What the hay AJ?  Ya coulda killed me, I thought you loved me," Rainbow pouted as she folded her wings and sat down.  She had learned a great pout from Scootaloo and the other crusaders.  Her eyes widened and her pupils dilated instantly, combined with her bottom lip poking out slightly got a unique result from the orange mare sharing the shower with her.

"Awwhaawa...  Dashing, that's the cutest thing Ah've ever seen, gimme a hug," Applejack said in a voice most used when talking to foals.  As she wrapped Rainbow into a hug Rainbow sighed and relaxed into her forelegs resting her head on the strong shoulder under her.  "I think it's time we got clean and this time I'm washin myself."

"Why?" Rainbow asked softly looking at the water falling just out of their reach.  She thought about how badly she wanted to be under the steady and random flow of water that was being wasted during their hug.

"I saw the lipstick ya left on me this morning.  Gotta say I loved it and then the breakfast was really nice but I gotta say Ah don't know what brought it on."

Rainbow planted her hooves and pushed against Applejack and the moved back into the water.  "This is so nice AJ.  I really had a great day and I'm glad I'm with you."

"That's why ya made me breakfast?"  Applejack asked sitting up and looking at Rainbow, water washing over her head and flowing down her hair in waves as she awaited an answer from the mare before her.

"It's just what I felt like doing.  Ever since I left Fluttershy's I just, I don't know.  I guess the best way to describe it is I feel different.  I feel the magic in my body more and it's easier to fly.  I don't have to work as hard moving clouds and I haven't taken a nap in days.  I wake up early and I watch you sleep for, like, a half hour some mornings and I can't think of anything besides you and how you've made my life better and, I dunno, I guess I wanted to repay you with food since I know you like that," Rainbow shrugged trying to make sense of her ramblings.

"I think you're a better mare than you were before because ya give in to your feelings finally and you're awesome for it."

Rainbow smiled and leaned under the water closing her eyes again feeling it weigh down her hair and flow between her more sensitive feathers on her wings.  The water was warm still and smelt of fruit and fresh rain and she didn't resist when she felt a kiss approaching her.  She accepted it with a light moan as the water bounced between them and with a huff they both exhaled a light spray of water onto each other.  A giggle fit followed before Rainbow grabbed a bar of soap and turned Applejack around.

Beginning at her withers she rubbed the soap down her body and sides rubbing roughly just how Applejack liked it.  Feeling the taught muscles under her coat was exciting as she reached her forelegs around Applejacks front and pulled her close and tight into a nuzzle from behind.  Applejack reached behind her and tried to feel for the wings she loved wrapping around herself but couldn't find them.  Craning her neck she turned her body around and smiled wide.

"What the hay AJ?  I was enjoying that."

"Ah can tell," She grinned and pointed at Rainbows wings that were fully extended.  "Wing boner much?"

Rainbow gasped and blushed deeply, the water cascading down her body began to feel cooler as her heart began to beat faster.  "Uh, I, um, well yeah," Rainbow said awkwardly.  Another kiss pressed against her lips this time made her legs weak as she felt her face being cradled in the hooves of her lover.  Her hearing was filled with water droplets pounding against her body and against the floor of the shower, the sound getting louder as she lowered herself to the pressure Applejack was applying to her and before she knew it she was laying down, Applejack shielding her body from the onslaught of water.

Applejack's hair fell loosely against Rainbows body tickling her lightly with the ends of her hair as she leaned in to kiss her again.  Her body lightly touched Rainbows as they kissed again, the sound of their passionate affection filled the small enclosure as Rainbow wrapped her legs around Applejack pulling her as close as she could.  As a little joke Applejack planted her hooves and waited until Rainbow had pulled herself off the floor before lowering herself and her full weight onto her lover moving her knee to the base of Rainbows tail, and slowly moving up.

With a surprised gasp Rainbow broke their kiss and pulled her tongue back into her mouth smiling at the mare above her.  "I knew that was coming and still I love it.  Ever since that first time in my cloud house, before I knew what love really was."

"Dashalicious," she said as she leaned back into a kiss then slipped slightly kissing her cheek, then jaw, then neck.  With a series of kisses across the cyan coat she heard a happy sigh and felt a slight shudder as she kissed her way down to her chest as Rainbow relaxed her body, her wings relaxed and fell flat to the floor as her legs released and fell open in preparation for what was to hopefully come.  With a giggle she squirmed as she was kissed on her sides, right where Applejack knew she was ticklish before moving to her upper thigh, then pausing to admire the area she was about to take advantage of for as long as she could handle, the owner be damned.

With a deep breath in, taking the scent of fresh water washing away the aroma of her goal and a slight drop in the smile across her muzzle just before she licked her lips then leaned in to kiss the moist mound that was being shielded from an artificial downpour by her lover who was sliding her forelegs under the hips of the great and awesome Rainbow Dash, locking onto her hips so she couldn't get away easily.  With a light moan Rainbow acknowledged her readiness as she rested her head back and lowered her wings so the ends covered Applejacks head from the water.

With a kiss against the fresh awaiting lips she began letting her tongue slip from the safety of her mouth to the outer areas of the cyan mound.  A light tremble shuddered through Rainbows legs as Applejack paused for a second, torturing the always rushing mare into having to wait for the next tickle.  With a firm grip and squeeze on Rainbows hips she let her tongue free from her mouth as her lips pressed against Rainbow's slit, a light moan escaped from Applejack's sinuses as the warm fluids washed over her tongue and lightly coated her muzzle while she pulled Rainbow closer, holding her from squirming away.

The world fell away from them replaced by swirling blue and red colors above them with what felt like a warm summers day still air around them as Applejack let her tongue go as far as it would reach.  Rainbows wings began flailing independently as she twisted her body and tried to decide with giggling or moaning but fighting the urge to scream since she knew she was at home.  She clenched her teeth and moaned with a few grunts as she felt her deepest parts of her insides being touched by the firm, hot, strong and flexible tongue of her lover.

Moans left Applejack consistently as she felt her passion flowing into her actions faster than the juices flowed out of Rainbow with each flavorful lap.  The water pelting her head and face only mixed with the aromas fueling her lustful passionate attack on Rainbows midsection.  She stopped, reluctantly to catch her breath as Rainbow looked down her body panting, her eyes pleading for more, as if to say 'don't stop, it's so amazing, please please please.'

Applejack appeased her lovers unspoken cries for continuance resuming her previous actions releasing Rainbows hips so the Pegasi mare could move freely.  The first thing Rainbow did was wrap her rear legs around Applejack so she could have a little control of the situation as Applejack let her fore hooves down to her own pleasure area, letting them explore and rub to their own devices, running more on instinct than conscious actions she felt Rainbows legs pulling her rhythmically tighter against and deeper into her body as she felt a big one rising inside her body.

A strained groan almost roared from her clenched teeth as wave after wave after wave of pleasure racked through her body, locking Applejack so tightly she couldn't breathe.  Looking down her muzzle she felt her heart racing as she was pulled against the bright pink hiding so closely to a guarded surface, only she was allowed to be a part of.  Speeding her own personal massage in various circles with one arm while the other pulled her labia open giving her more area to touch Rainbow released her from her tight leg grip.  Sitting up Applejack didn't stop masturbating as Rainbow panted trying to close her legs unsuccessfully as the orange mare sat between them purposefully letting the water strike the swollen exposed pink interior of Rainbow Dash.

With a quick kick of one of her legs Applejack threw her body against Rainbows slapping their clits together as Applejack grabbed one of Rainbows legs and used it as leverage to pull her body tighter against the already quivering and confused Rainbow Dash's body.  Rainbow was acting on instinct and couldn't decide to pull free, bear and take more or let go and fall into a near comatose state as the pleasure waves exhausted her energy reserves more than doing consecutive sonic rainbooms and racing a fully grown dragon across the sandy plains of Saddle Arabia; a task she always wanted to do but now knew it would be nothing compared to what her body was going through.

Applejack grunted as she thrust her hips forward and let gravity pull her back in rapid succession until her own orgasm began creeping in.  She kept the pace and smiled as she felt it build, sweat washing away as fast as it formed as the water cooled slightly more.  With a sudden rush of an indescribable feeling Applejack began racing her hips as she released Rainbows leg and braced herself against the shower wall and clamped her legs tight against Rainbows body, their personal fluids mixing completely as an almost suction pulled them together gasping and panting.

Applejack fell off Rainbow, their legs still intertwined as they panted and chuckled.  A sniffle left each of them as they tried to stifle sobs not wanting to worry the other before they moaned and cried, their bodies having had enough they sat up and hugged sobbing from such an intense orgasm and closeness they shared and would share for the rest of their lives.

A couple minutes later they laid on the floor of the shower, Applejack resting on Rainbow as the cool water slowed it's descent from lack of pressure and a low water tower.  Their cries having stopped and fully flushed bodies made the water feel like ice.  They didn't care, as long as their bodies were together they were as warm as the summer day they had experienced during their passion.

Applejack sat up quickly, her mane flowing angelically as Rainbow watched their eyes meet.  "Dashing, the girls know we just did it," she said.

With a second of thought they both burst into laughter as Applejack turned the water off and slid open the door, grabbed a towel for each of them and left, closing the door so Rainbow could flap her wings dry and shake her mane as clear as she could before leaving the enclosure.  The sound of flapping and shaking was quick and ended with a blubbering sound as Rainbow shook her head.  The door slid open to show a beaming Rainbow Dash with her trademark messy mane, wetter than usual, and shining coat.

"Honey, that was the best shower I've ever had," Rainbow said skipping the towel being offered by her lover to go straight to the mirror to check herself.  "Wow, I'm super clean and fresh and," she hopped to rear up and her legs gave out sending her plummeting to the floor as Applejack laughed.

"Dashing, ya know not ta rear up after what I do to ya.  You shouldn't even fly for an hour afterwards, remember that one time?"

Rainbow blushed as she got back up and closed her wings quickly.  "Yeah, I flew sideways into the wall and broke a picture.  How can I forget, it was the one of us after we helped defeat you know who."

"Yeah, mister snap his claws and crazy stuff happens.  Well that's when we learned that Pegasus don't handle their bodies bein' rocked by an earth pony."

"Yeah, well you cried afterwards."

"So. Did. You," Applejack said walking nose to nose with Rainbow Dash.  They stared at each other until Rainbow blinked and Applejack kissed the air just outside Rainbows reach as she turned and began drying herself off with a towel.

"So, AJ.  After all that I think I need ta rest.  Can we go lay down in bed before my night shift?"

"Night shift?  They havin' ya do another overnight storm?  It's almost winter, why are they pushing for so much rain?"

"I don't make the rules, I just make the weather."

"Well, ya also make my body want you almost as much as my heart does, who makes the rules for that to happen?"

Rainbow walked up beside Applejack and nuzzled her neck.  "You do, with every awesome thing you do."

Applejack nuzzled her back and sighed.  "I'm so happy we got together.  I've never been happier than since I met you."

"You mean mounted me?" Rainbow mused, her neck rubbing against Applejacks.

"No, since the day I helped pull you outta my tree.  You were the first mare, filly back then, I had feelings for.  All those years ago I watched and waited and a lot of time was too scared to talk to you then one day," she turned and hugged Rainbow lightly, "you challenged me to a race."

"Wait, you mean when we were barely mares?  When I raced you to the end of the block and beat you before you could move."

"I was almost half way and you were flyin', cheatin' as usual."

Rainbow gulped hard as she pulled back.  "We should go to the room, I have to tell ya something."

Showers Part 2

Closing the door behind her Applejack looked to the bed where Rainbow had hastily flown to before landing cross legged and looking sullen.  "Sugarplum, what's wrong?  You've looked down for a few minutes now and that just ain't you.  What can mama do ta make it better?"

"Come here AJ.  I did something wrong," Rainbow said avoiding eye contact with her lover.  Applejack trotted quickly to the bed and hopped up sitting on her flank looking concerned at Rainbow waiting for a response.  Rainbow took a deep breath in and held it for a moment before closing her eyes and speaking softly.  "I kissed Quill today."

She waited for a fight.  Screaming, shouting, disapproval and disgust at her from Applejack at what she had done.  It could even mean the end of their relationship, the fear was all encompassing.

"That's all that's got ya so worked up?"

Rainbows eyes opened wide as she looked at the compassionate face of her fiance, quickly scanning for any negative inflections.  "What?  I mean, you're not mad or furious that she kissed me?"

"Yeah, that's more like her.  She kissed you, she kissed me, she even kissed Twilight, Muddy...  She must've gotten mad or somethin' fierce but when she gets that way she kisses the first pony that comforts her.  Don't beat yourself up sugar, even if you two did kiss ya kept yer hooves in a safe place, right?" She asked raising an eyebrow.

Rainbow sat up straight and shook her head quickly.  "No no no no no, totally a hug.  Then she kissed me and I was all like 'that was awesome but I've gotta go' and left.  Totally not a 'kiss' kiss."  Rainbow had raised her forelegs and was waving them dismissively to emphasize the lack of romance between the twos earlier kiss.  She spent the next few minutes detailing the events that led up to the kiss as Applejack nodded and listened intently to every detail without interrupting.

"So, Diamond is out and Soarin is in?  I reckon this' gonna be a big change.  What about Lime, oh no..."

"What?  What's wrong with Lime?"

"Lime's a jealous type and doesn't know about Quills hug 'n kiss thing.  Is there time for us to all talk?"

"Uh, I dunno AJ.  She said she was gonna tell Lime herself 'later'."

Applejack pressed her hoof to the bridge on her muzzle and sighed.  "I really wish we could be there, you and Lime talked earlier and that's just gonna make it worse for them.  Have you seen them fight?"

"Yeah, Quill yells and scares the feathers off of Lime," Rainbow smirked.

"No, that was different.  That was Quill defending you, Lime drinks and has used drugs to help her handle the stress of almost any argument.  That night we gave you the makeover, she was in the kitchen long enough to polish off a bottle of wine before she came out with that other stuff.  How long does it take ta get a few glasses and juice?  Not seven minutes for sure," Applejack had lowered her hooves to her lap and was looking seriously at Rainbow, "We need to make sure she doesn't do anything reckless.  Can ya check on them after your shift tonight?"

"Yeah, I'll do that.  I didn't know she had a problem like I do, did."

"Rainbow, sorry ta say, but it's worse sometimes.  She uses drugs and drinks whenever she's under a lotta stress and only a few know it.  We're worried it'll get worse but we can't stop her because just like you, it's hard to catch her.  And lots of drugs like onn powder or egg fluff are almost impossible to see and can be hidden in her mane easily, used then it's gone.  We can't treat her like a foal so we just have to wait for her to slip up before we can get her help.  Fluttershy or some other pony or maybe even a real hospital like Broadhoof."

"Woah, that's extreme.  That place is for total nuts that can't do anything," Rainbow made small circles by her temple as she spoke, "I wouldn't even be admitted there at my worst."

"They don't only take total crazies Dash.  They also take anypony that needs help; suicide, depression, anxiety, drugs.  Whatever that needs help."

"Well, maybe we should think about it then?  I'm better now and I think she could use it too.  I mean she's great but I wonder what she'd be like?  Sober I mean."

"I reckon the same mostly.  But no pony knows, let's just keep an eye out, okay?"  Applejack asked with soft concern as she leaned forward and moved her body so she was laying on Rainbows lap.  Rainbow softly ran her hoof through Applejacks mane in the most relaxing moment of their day Applejack closed her eyes and giggled while Rainbow pet her.

"What's so funny AJ?"  Rainbow asked softly, not wanting to break the calm.

"Zap Apples.  If ya can make 'em we're gonna have so many bits we could buy more land and plant more trees."

"Shh, don't talk about work honey.  You're great at apple bucking and chores but I want to be with you right now.  The mare I can be myself with."

Applejack moaned in approval as time passed too quickly.  The sound of a door slamming heavily meant it was almost 9 which was not only bed time but it meant Rainbow would have to leave to finish her shift.  They both laid down and Applejack let Rainbow hold her closely from behind, draping a wing over her as they nuzzled each other until they nearly fell asleep.

"AJ, I've gotta get my work done.  Then you better believe we're gonna be like this again before ya know it."  Rainbow kissed Applejacks cheek as she pulled herself free and looked to see Applejack had fallen asleep a moment before.  Her chest rose and fell slowly and her mane laid flat and loose against the bed where Rainbow was a moment before.  Resisting the urge to wake her lover with a kiss she hovered out of bed and blew out the lanterns before quietly opening the window, sliding it closed as slowly as she could and looking back into the room to see the silhouette of her fiances upper body laying on the bed before she turned and flew to the sky to gather the clouds together to storm the area.

The plan was to have one last thunder storm for the month to help the harvest so supplies would last the longer than usual winter.  An extra week was scheduled for winter this year to make up for seasonal displacement after so many evil entities had made the world so chaotic.  Arriving to find Quill and, to her left, Soarin was preparing the mission and orders while a gathering of Pegasus gathered on the cloud layer mingling and talking.

Several minutes after she arrived a few stragglers had finally shown up and Quill flared her wings, gathering the attention of every pony there.  "Okay, it's late and I don't think any of us want to be here.  Soarin is here to observe how we operate and to watch our efficiency.  You are going to be split into teams of two, pair off like usual and don't pick favorites.  We want this done as quickly and efficiently as possible.  We're not here to socialize or gossip.  Do you understand me?" She asked flapping her wings for show before she took to the air and landed behind Soarin.

"Hey everypony.  It's nice to meet you finally and thanks to those of you who welcomed me to town at the party earlier.  From what I've heard I should be expecting a lot of parties with that one around," he paused as a round of ironic laughter spread across the group, "well I assume this'll be a great experience overall then.  So, don't let me hold you up and let's get to work.  Show me how the best in Equestria make it rain."  With a few flaps he was hovering in the air with Quill right beside him as Pegasi paired off.

"Hey Dash, can we be a team?"

"Flutterwing!  I haven't been partners with you before, I think it's be great.  Just try to keep up with me," Rainbow said confidently.

"Oh, I think I've learned a few tricks to impress the great Rainbow Dash."

"Oh yeah?  Let's put your bits where your mouth is, three bits if you impress me."

"Deal, let's get to position."  They flew to a large patch of clouds and hovered over it smiling competitively at each other waiting for the signal to start.  Quill let Soarin handle that and with a controlled kick a roar of thunder filled the skies as Pegasi landed quickly starting a down pour below them.  The rain falling steadily in turns the teams dove beneath the cloud layer and focused their magic to the underside of their wings and with a strong flap created heavy breezes that combined to form a typical thunderstorm covering every available area with water as quickly and evenly as possible.

Flutterwing waited for the breeze to get a good flow before she waited for her competitor to return above the cloud layer.  With a nod she flew up and closed her wings falling in a tight corkscrew below the cloud layer.  Rainbow landed and pulled open a small section to view the first trick.  Flutterwing opened her wings and stopped mid air suddenly creating a powerful blast of wind to form below her flattening grass and with one strong pump she shot up really fast breaking the cloud layer and looping before hovering in front of Rainbow proudly.  "Impressed?"

"Oh, that was supposed to be the start?  I didn't even notice you do anything awesome.  Let me show you a little something," Rainbow said cockily folding her wings and trotting across the cloud stamping her rear right leg making showers fall faster in certain spots before she placed a step forward and fell through the cloud acting surprised.  Flutterwing quickly flew to the hole that formed and saw Rainbow slowly falling in a controlled descent with her wings closed, opening them several feet above the ground and flapping heavily, spiraling as she ascended, stopping near the cloud layer then plummeting at a top speed between her rainbow contrail  to the ground skimming the surface with millimeters between her underbelly and the ground before rocketing back up to the cloud layer and through it stopping behind a surprised Flutterwing.

"That was it?  You just did basi-"  She was cut off by shards of ice water pelting her back at high speed following Rainbow's flight path.  With a startled shout as her body went for comfotably warm to having an ice cold backside she flapped her wings to face the pelting instinctively and immidiately regretting the action as she felt her body shudder as she fell to her knees shivering.  "Huh-huh-huh," she huffed, "what, the, buck?  There's no way the water was that cold."

"Yeah, I learned to focus my magic to change water temperature a while ago.  If you want I could make it hot enough to make tea with or I can make it hail.  Your turn," she challenged.

Flutterwing pushed herself up and shook herself dry.  "I owe you three bits," she smiled wide and offered a hoof bump.

Returning the bump Rainbow beamed.  "I know, sorry ya can't match my awesome but that was almost pretty close."

"Rainbow Dash, is that part of the procedure or did I miss something in my training?"

Rainbow rolled her eyes as she planted all four hooves on the cloud and turned around lowering her tail slightly.  "Yeah Soarin, it's a new policy you haven't gotten the memo on yet.  I'll have a talk with my superiors and make sure you get one, m'kay?"

"Well you're still the mare I knew back then I see.  And who're you, miss?"

"Don't call me 'miss' and it's Flutterwing."

Soarin hovered and placed a hoof to his chin thinking.  "Ah, Flutterwing.  The combat specialist that decided to take to the clouds.  If you ever want a spot in the military I can pull a few strings," he offered genuinely.

"No, there's a reason I don't want to be in the service and that reason is mine.  Now we have work to do, don't we Rainbow?"

"Wait, I'm sorry.  I really didn't mean to offend you ladies.  Let me buy you a drink after shift and we'll talk this over, you can tell me how to treat locals, what do ya say?"

Flutterwing landed with a force that let lightning and thunder explode from the cloud under her.  She smiled and nodded.  "Sounds great to me, ya down Rainbow?"

Rainbow hovered in the air and thought for a moment acting like she was debating the options.  "Sure, but nothing hard.  I only drink juice and water now."

"Yeah right," Soarin laughed, "you drank me under the table a half dozen times in a week.  No way you're not drinking."  She shrugged and crossed her forelegs.  "Wow you're really taking this seriously.  Okay then, juice and beer it is.  Finish up so we can get outta here and have some fun."

Flutterwing, Rainbow Dash, Soarin and Quill landed outside the Silly Filly bar.  After some coaching and promising Quill and Rainbow were reassured they'd only be getting water and juice all four entered.  The music was loud and ponies from all walks of life were there crowding the dance floor and shouting over each other.

"Why don't we get a table?  They're enchanted, right?"  Soarin yelled pointing to a high bar table that had empty mugs on it.  The others nodded and went to it, pulling out a chair each they sat and the noise of the bar drowned into a loud whisper.  Soarin sat between Flutterwing and Quill, opposite Rainbow.

Soarin sighed lightly in the magically enhanced silence.  "That's more like it.  You'd think that spending years flying through the skies at top speed would make me like the noise, but I really wore ear plugs most of the time."

"No way, you really wore plugs?"  Flutterwing asked clapping her hoof down on a gem in the center of the table.  "I thought only scouts wore those."

"Well, young filly," he replied with a wing that made Quill and Rainbow roll their eyes, "I was a scout.  I could see eight miles through a blizzard and hear half that through a thunderstorm.  Made me a great asset for scouting enemy encampments and training grounds."

"We aren't at war with anypony silly," Flutterwing said leaning forward slightly.

"Exactly.  It's thanks to us scouts that wars are prevented."

Quill and Rainbow leaned in to whisper to each other.  "Was he always this cheesy?"

"Worse, our first date I brought a box of crackers,"  Quill snorted quietly, "I'm serious.  He's got a way about him that fits into any mare her talks to."

"Well he sure fit it in you," Quill teased as they both sat upright.  Rainbow kicked Quill in the pastern as a waitress came over.

"Hey y'all.  Names Silver and what'll ya have?  Rainbow Dash, I haven't seen ya for weeks.  Ya gonna have the usual?"

Rainbow held up a hoof and shook her head.  "Water."  Silver raised an eyebrow but nodded before turning to the others and taking their drink orders.  Leaving quickly to the bar Quill began talking with Rainbow about weather patterns and the next weeks weather plan as Flutterwing and Soarin flirted openly.

"Here's yer drinks y'all.  And, a water for the great Rainbow Dash.  Or should I call ya Rainbow Dry now?"  A light round of humorous chuckles rounded the table as Rainbow grabbed her drink then chugged it all before the waitress left.

"Refill me, feelin' kinda dry."  Silver grabbed the cup and trotted back to the bar top.

"That was a really dry joke Rainbow," Flutterwing quipped as the others tried to think of another joke to keep it going.

"Well, we were having a dry spell before tonight so I guess I should dry harder."  The table erupted in laughter as the Pegasus relaxed their wings and picked up their drinks.  Raising their mugs they shouted 'Cloudsdale' before drinking.  The waitress returned and delivered Rainbows drink before smiling and going to another tables, her ears pressed to her head Quill noticed as she exited the enchantment aura into the noisy room.

The lights were low and there was a DJ playing music in the corner, flashing lights turned on and the bar turned into a rave as unicorns cast spells that created nearly tangible light that other ponies would move through the air.  Other ponies ran to a few buckets around the DJ's table and dipped their hooves or tails into the mysterious mix to pull them out glowing and flowing behind them as they galloped to the dance floor and began dancing.

"Woah, this place just got exciting.  What's going on?"

"Rain party, 'when it rains, it pours' is the theme.  Clear drinks are two drinks for the price of one for mares," Rainbow said flatly looking into her water sitting flatly in the mug before her.  With a deep sigh she picked up her water and took a sip as Soarin watched her intently.  Every facial movement and twitch didn't miss his gaze or peripheral vision the entire time since he met her eyes on the cloud layer earlier that evening.

He got up and held out a foreleg inviting Flutterwing to dance.  She didn't hesitate to jump off her chair and join him practically pulling him to the dance floor as she began trying to dance to the thumping bass pounding from the speakers.

"Rainbow, do you even know what kind of music this is?  I've never heard anything like it and it's really...  Different."

"It's called moo-drop.  Sounds just like the name if you ask me," Rainbow replied lazily tipping her mug back and forth, watching the water swirl, splash and ripple with more interest than she'd shown the entire night with their unofficial double date.  "I've never been her and only had water.  It's not as much fun like this, but at least I have you here to keep me company," Rainbow said glancing briefly at Quill.  Soarin smirked as he began trashing wildly on the dance floor with every other pony.

At least half an hour passed before Flutterwing returned to the table laughing and exuding energy and sweat as she entered the enchantment screaming incoherently made up words to an instrumental song waving her wings before she flapped and landed on her chair pumping her forelegs  before placing her hooves on the table and looking at Soarin walk to the bar.  She leaned in to the center of the table and gestured for the other mares to lean in too.

"I am so getting laid tonight," she giggled, "and with out new boss.  Oh Celestia he's so cute and he dances like a snake."  She turned her blushing face to Rainbow her look changing to one of almost desperate pleading.  "Please, tell me he's good in bed.  Please tell me he is.  I so need to get laid," she let her head fall to the table as she almost sobbed in desperation.  The others looked on then to Soarin who was waiting at the bar for a round of drinks.

Rainbow and Quill looked at each other and shrugged in resignation.  "Flutterwing," Rainbow started, "he's good enough to so that you'll never forget it."  Rainbow felt a hoof strike her pastern but she ignored the stinging sensation.  Quill stayed still as she stifled her giggling while Flutterwing sat up and began to smile widely.

"Oh thank Celestia, thank you girls."

"Ladies, what'd I miss?"  Flutterwing sat up straight and cleared her throat as she composed herself and turned to resume flirting.  Soarin put  a fresh mug in front of each of them and smiled warmly at Rainbow before returning his attention to Flutterwing.  "I got you a special drink," he passed a mug to Flutterwing.  She smiled and held her mug up with the others, "Cloudsdale!" they said before downing their drinks.  Finishing off the mugs they placed them all down and sighed with refreshment.

"Wow, apple juice?  That was a nice surprise, thanks Sowararin," Rainbow said smiling.

"Well I guess that was some good AJ, huh?"  Soarin joked returning a nod and his attention to Flutterwing.

"Rainbow, are you okay?  You look funny," Quill asked.

"Fhunny?  I'll shhow you funny," Rainbow said hopping down and trotting to the dance floor.  She flattened her ears to her head as she left the enchantment and into the pounding of the bar, trying to pace to her hoof steps to the beat.  Bouncing her head to the thumps she had a good rhythm then joined in the dancing fray.

From the midst of the dance floor everything seemed to make more sense as she bounced and flapped her wings in time with a half dozen other Pegasi across the floor.  She could feel their magic flowing, and that of every other pony on the dance floor, flowing like a whirlpool around and around, she was just a leaf going with the flow.  The colorful lights the unicorns were casting were more vibrant than any she'd ever seen and the sound of the bass from the DJ was transcendent.  Rainbow could feel every pony, all their magic and almost taste the air she was moving through.

She came back to reality outside the bar with Quill holding her head in her lap rhythmically singing "It's okay, you'll be fine soon," staring angrily into the void of her mind.

"Qu-Quill?"  Quill snapped back to reality and looked at Rainbow.  Her eyes welled with tears as she breathed shaky breaths.  "What happened?" Rainbow asked moving her body, "Ow, uh.  I feel awful, did I get into a fight?  Did I kick her flank?" She giggled as she forced herself up.  Warily she tried to stand but her back half wouldn't cooperate and her head felt like it was spinning.

"Am, am I drunk?  Quill, what happened?"  Rainbow asked laying back down on Quill's lap.

"He drugged you."

"Oh, that's not very nice of him," Rainbow said calmly with a light yawn, "why'd he wanna go and do that for?"

"He left with Flutterwing right after you started dancing.  I think he meant it for her, I checked and you both had apple juice only your cup had something at the bottom.  Party pills."

"Heh, I had apple's juice in the shower tonight Quill.  It was epic, I mean totally -yawn- awesome," Rainbow was falling asleep again as Quill ran her hoof through Rainbows colorful mane doing her best to keep herself calm and not do something horrendously illegal to another pony.  "Hey Quill?  I had a lotta fun today, and you kiss nice but I love AJ.  And I really wanna be a mom with her and I wanna..."

"Rainbow?  Rainbow?  Oh thank Celestia she's sleeping aga-"  The sound, scent and feeling of vomit spraying across Quills under body and lower legs was the final straw for Quills frayed nerves.

She carefully got up and picked the ill mare onto her back trotting quickly out of town to Applejack's house.

*tap tap tap*

*tap tap tap*

*Bang*

Applejack opened her eyes and turned over to the window to a startled jump to her front hooves.  Seeing Quill hovering outside her window was one dream she hadn't had for a year and didn't think it'd happen now.  Shaking her head she crawled from the bed and went to the window quickly as Quill beckoned her.

"Quill?  Is that really you?  What's got ya up so late?"  Applejack asked opened the window and opening her eyes to Luna's moon rising in the sky.

"AJ come quick, Rainbow was drugged," Quill said in a loud whisper extending her forelegs to catch Applejack through the window.  Without a second thought Applejack lunged ahead several feet to Quill who caught her and flew her to the barn at the best speed she could get carrying another mare 50% heavier than her.

"Quill, Ah know it's not nice ta say but did ya get sick at the party?"

"No, we went to the Silly Filly and this is her mess on me.  But you better believe when I say this mess is far from cleaned up."

Applejack thought on those words for a minute before her head shook and she growled as fierce as a bear.  "That bucking...  HE DRUGGED MY GIRL!?*  If he's lucky he'll fly into a dragons nest and bathe in volcano fire 'fore I get to him.*"  Applejack shouted like a raging bull.  Quill lowered closer to the ground in case the orange mare had to be let go or escaped her grasp.

"AJ, don't.  There's a way we have to go about this and you know it.  Let's get her better then we get him back, alright?"

Applejack didn't answer and Quill couldn't see her face but the tense muscles and trembling body told her she shouldn't land any time soon and she should make sure to not mention where Soarin was staying just yet.

Arriving near the barn she let Applejack go and before her hooves hit the ground she was galloping, rushing as fast as a stunt pony she raced into the barn leaving a wake of dust particulates to float on the nights air reflecting the moonlight bathing the freshly wettened soil.

"DASHING.  Oh, sweet Rainbow Dash, are ya okay?  Please, say something."  Quill flew into the barn after Applejack and stayed a few feet above the floor.  "How long's she been out, how much did she take?"

"She's been asleep for about twenty minutes and as far as how much of what I don't know what to say."

"Say somethin' damnit!  Give me something to work with, please."  Applejack was shouting in anger to cover the pain she was feeling, a pain she thought she'd never have to feel again and now after not even a week sober her lover is drugged at a bar.

"I'm gonna get Fluttershy."

"Don't ya dare.  She can't help this one, you're a drug user how long do these last?"

"Woah, I haven't used for months.  And most only last an hour or two.  She should have been coming down from the high.  That's why she did this to my beautiful coat and legs."  She pointed to her lower body with a frown as her fur was matted with the contents of Rainbows stomach and upper intestines.  "And I hope for his sake this washes away quick."

Applejack had Rainbows head in her lap then moved her so if she did vomit again it wouldn't get on her.

"Oh har har, don't wanna get puke on you?"

"Quill, hush up and get us some water from the well.  She's gonna need water when she comes to."  Quill nodded then left for the farm well as Rainbow was caressed by Applejack in the darkness of the barn.

Rainbow groaned lightly. "wanna make sure she's... happiest mare... Equeshtrr...  Little... AJ... me..."

Applejack smiled to know Rainbow was at least alright enough to ramble.  "Dash, are ya wakin' up?" Applejack asked softly placing a hoof on Rainbows cheek as she stirred.

"I love my wife, Soarin.  Buck off," Rainbow said turning over and curling her body around Applejack, still asleep.  Applejack couldn't help but smile at the subconscious assault Rainbow was giving Soarin.  They waited for a few minutes before Quill returned with a bucket of water.

"What took ya so long?  It's been forever."

"Well I'm not gonna trot around all night smelling like apple juice.  By the way she mumbles something about apple juice in the shower, what did that mean?"  Quill asked teasingly as she handed a full bucket of cold water to Applejack.

"It means I like ta have a few secrets between my mare friend and me.  This isn't the time Quill.  Get me a ladle from over there," Applejack pointed to a bucket against the wall.  Quill flew there and back in a couple seconds, ladle in hand and as Applejack tipped Rainbows head Quill gave water to Rainbow.  At first Rainbow had a coughing fit but then reached up to take the ladle like a foal with a bottle and began drinking by the ladle full almost the whole bucket before she roused into consciousness.

"Ugh, why am I drinking like a foal?  And don't make any mama jokes," Rainbow said rolling to her knees and flapping her wings until she was hovering comfortably in the air.  "What the hay?  I'm home?  I was just drinking water with everypony, how'd I get here?"

Quill and Applejack looked at each other before Quill started.  "You don't remember anything from the last couple hours?"

"Hours?  No, and don't even think about saying I snuck a drink cuz I am not doing that to us," Rainbow pointed to Applejack as she stared at Quill who continued.

"Soarin got some party pills at the club and slipped them into Flutterwings drink, then gave that drink to you.  You spent an half an hour on the dance floor before I knew something was definitely wrong.  Normally you dance for a while but when I noticed you swaying like a zealot to a song of Celestias greatness I knew something was wrong.  Half the dance floor cleared and you started doing the can-can dance."

Applejack snorted a laugh breaking her resolve for a second.  "Rainbow, you danced to religious music?  You must've been drugged," Applejack said doing her best to become stoic again.  "We gotta fix this stallion like I fixed Winona."

"I thought Winona's a girl dog," Rainbow asked with a confused awkward look.

"She is, but...  Ya know what, let's go buck his teeth out," Applejack said getting up and walking to the barn doors.

"Wait," Quill called as a grin began forming on her muzzle, "I have a better idea.  Who's ready to go to my house and plan a game?"

Operation Fly in the Soup

Applejack and Rainbow arrived home around four in the morning, tired and groggily they woke up when Applebloom pounded on their door stirring them from their short sleep.

"A.B. let us alone, we're tryin' ta sleep in."

"But it's almost time fer school and I gotta go, that means Dash's gonna be late ta work and Big Mac's already started the chores and Granny's mixin' the last of the Jam.  Ya gotta help set up the sale stand AJ, please?"

Applejack groaned loudly as she unwrapped herself from Rainbow's tight embrace and wings rolling off the bed in one swift move.  She looked to Rainbow who was sleeping peacefully and trotted around the bed to the door opening it quietly.  Apple Bloom stood firm and looked at her sister waiting for a response.

"Fine, Ahm gonna let Dash sleep for a bit longer," she yawned loudly and shook her head to try to get the sleep away, "Ah'll get goin', go ta school Apple Bloom and tell your friends I said hello."

Apple Bloom smiled and started running away.  "And don't do any dangerous crusading today, I need ya to help sell jam," Applejack called to the filly clopping down the stairs.

"'Kay, have fun settin' up."

Applejack turned and closed the door with a light swish of her tail before getting her hair and tail tied and placing her hat on her head.  "Rainbow Dash?" she asked softly to the sleeping mare in her bed, "Dashing?  Time ta get up."

Rainbow groaned and curled up grabbing her tail like a safety blanket and whinnied softly.

Applejack giggled turning away covering her mouth with a hoof.  "Rainbow Dash, sweetie?  Time to wake up," Applejack said softly and sweetly like she was talking to a younger Apple Bloom.

"Mmmnng.  Mommy, I don't wanna get up."

Stifling another laugh she poked Rainbow between the wings lightly and asked again speaking slowly and calmly.  "Sweetie, time to get up and go to school."

"Mommy," Rainbow groaned pulling her tail tighter to her body as she curled tighter, "please, I don't wanna go to flight school.  Can't I just-" Rainbow released her tail and in a second of fluttering she was on her hooves wings open loosely by her side she panted as she scanned her environment.  "AJ?  I had the worst dream.  I was back at home and had to go to flight camp again and no pony could keep up and they were all mean."

"Oh no, that sounds just terrible," Applejack said in a slightly concerned tone, "at least you're home now.  Let's get breakfast and get ta work."

Rainbow hopped off the bed and went to the door before Applejack coughed to get her attention.  Rainbow turned to see her lover leaning on the bed.  "Okay, I'll help make the bed.  Sorry AJ."

"I wanna hear ya say it..."

Rainbow got to the other side of the bed and pulled the covers up before rolling her eyes.  "Awesome Jack.  Are you ever gonna let me stop?"

"Nope.  I stopped callin' ya Dashalicious in trade."

"Fine," Rainbow said walking around the bed and giving Applejack a kiss on her cheek before trotting to the door and opening it. "But you are awesome."

"And you're dashing," Applejack replied following Rainbow out the door.  A knock got their attention at the front door and they split up, Rainbow to the door while Applejack started a quick breakfast of left overs.  Opening the door Rainbow saw Ditzy Doo holding a letter in her mouth.

"Mplhhth."

"Uh, thanks Ditzy," Rainbow said taking the letter than closing the door.  "Hey AJ, we got a letter."

"Who from hun?"

"Dunno, should I read it now or later?"

"Now so we can get it outta the way."

Rainbow sat on the floor in front of the table and opened the letter and read it.  "Heh," Rainbow laughed as she finished reading, "Twilight must have discovered a new egg head thing."

"What's that Dashing?"

"She wants to see us before lunch today with good news.  I guess I can take a little time off busting but what about you?"

"Sugarplum I'll be done settin' up before too long, most of what I'm needed for is helping Big Mac bring jars up, Ah can do that after lunch no problem."

"Okay then, it's a date," Rainbow exclaimed as Applejack turned the stove top on and started reheating some food.

Rainbow arrived to work late on her first day as a supervisor.  Great way to make an entrance.  Show up late and looking hung over like the old days.  Rainbow walked to her box and fished out her orders and went to an open cubicle to sort her orders and kill some time looking busy.

A hoof stomping beside her startled her making her look at the offending noise.  "Rainbow Dash?"  Flutterwing almost hissed under her breath.

"Uh hey Flutterwing.  What's wrong?"

"You knew he was like that in bed, didn't you?"  she retorted with a hint of hurt in her voice.  "I can't believe you set me up like that, how could you?"

Rainbow didn't smile but leaned closer to Flutterwing to say something personal.  Flutterwing leaned in too ready to receive and apology or something from this new Rainbow Dash she's heard of.

"Why do you think I switched to mares?"  Rainbow said in a hoarse whisper before turning quickly back to her paperwork, scanning it intently.

"Why you, I, you," Flutterwing tried to argue but realized he was as bad as she had heard and let her desires wash those away in hopes of a good night.  "Fine, I'm not mad at you but you were right."

Rainbows ear turned to Flutterwing subconsciously as her interest piqued.

"It was an experience I'll never forget," she said with a huff and turned flying away before Rainbow could react.  Chuckling to herself she picked up a pencil in her mouth and scribbled some notes on her paperwork before gathering it and going to Quills office.

"Quill, is there a fly in the soup?"  Rainbow asked peeking her head in.

"There is indeed a fly in the soup, I think we should try to stir it out first."  Quill responded.  The both nodded and Rainbow went to Soarin's office.  With two knocks she opened the door quickly and entered to see him hanging a photo of him in his Wonderbolts uniform.

"Why Rainbow Dash?  What brings you here?"

"Well, first I was gonna yell at you for accidentally drugging me last night at the bar," she said loudly enough so a couple ponies flying by the open door could hear, "but I know you were trying to get Flutterwing so I wanted to thank you.  I was wondering if I could get more, that stuff was crazy awesome."

Soarin froze in place, the picture slowly slid from his grasp and to the floor shattering the glass bringing him back to the moment.  "Uh, oh.  Um, that was you-  I mean you weren't supposed to have-  I don't know why-"

"It's okay, just see what you can do and I'll get some more drugs from you later, okay?  Ex-lover?"  He stood in place dumbfounded as to what that crazy mare he knew was up to.

She turned and left the office nudging the door letting it swing slightly more closed as she pranced out and flew from the room and building smiling wide as she went to work.

Phase one has begun.

Applejack and Rainbow arrived at the Golden Oaks library just before lunch the following day, both taking time off from work and chores to meet the excited mare that had a letter delivered same day.  Knocking loudly they waited for the librarian to open the door; A light purple glow covered the door and the handle clicked and the door swung open to show an excited purple mare beaming with a smile.

"Hi girls, I have amazing news.  Oh you can't believe it; I can hardly believe it," They entered the main room listening to Twilight go on, "What are the odds that you'd actually be right Applejack?  Oh, I didn't mean you're never right but this once and, oh Celestia it worked," Twilight was bouncing on her hooves as she slammed the door shut and began prancing in circles happily.

"Sugarcube, I think I'm happy fer you but I really need to know what I was right about."

"Yeah, you're talking like an egghead in love.  Did you do a new science thing that no pony but you cares about?"  Rainbow asked hovering next to Applejack with little interest.

"No, I wasn't me," Twilight said turning and grabbing Applejack in her magic levitating her over before grabbing Applejacks cheeks in her hooves, "I wasn't me and it works!"  She released a startled and confused Applejack from her grasp and magic as she fell to her haunches and punched the air above her with a squeal.

"Wow, I think the egg head finally cracked.  Let's go get some help for her AJ; race ya to the hospital," Rainbow said turning and floating towards the door.

"No, I'm in love.  It's so awesome and she's awesome and it's perfect."

Rainbow and Applejack turned to look at Twilight intently.  "Sugarcube, that's great ta hear but-"

"I took your advice and really thought about it then I made a list and then another and another and I did a few tests and started taking notes," she held up a hoof stopping Applejack's comment coming as she moved her lower jaw.  Still beaming she continued.  "Then I threw it all away.  For the first time I discarded all of it, every note and list and spent a few days just walking around town and 'hanging out' as you call it.  Then I went to that dance pub thing we got Rainbow out of that last time and I met her.

"Oh Celestia she's amazing.  She's beautiful and smart and totally cool, she's a Pegasus and she's a really hard worker and she's staying at the Inn for the week but she said she'd totally stay here in town just to hang with me," she giggled and squealed loudly in her excitement.

"Heya Twi, I know you're all happy but are you sure this' love and not just you freaking out?  You do that a lot, just ask...  Where is your dragon anyway?"

"Spike is helping Rarity collect gems again.  He's totally obsessed with her but I guess my number one assistant deserves time off.  Anyway I know it's love, she came over last night and we spent half the night reading next to each other.  She fell asleep on me, on me, and at about nine last night she kissed me and it totally happened.  More intense than any I'd felt from any kiss ever before," she sighed looking wistfully at a soft couch in a reading nook.

Rainbow and Applejack snickered and looked at each other.  "Sugarcube, what exactly happened when ya kissed?"

"Oh," Twilight blushed, "well I guess I had a contraction of my reproductive system resulting in," she looked at the others and cleared her through, "an orgasm."

Applejack and Rainbow giggled to each other.  "So Twi, last night you had a orgasm while getting kissed?"

"Well after that she didn't waste any time and we totally did it the right way.  Oh it was great, I didn't know a candle holder could-"

"Stop!" They shouted in unison hurridly.  "Twi, we don't need to know your style any more than you need to know ours, just-"

"Just take it slow and keep doin what you're doin." Applejack interjected,  "Sounds like its a good start but trust me that rushing it can be a great thing and it sounds like she's a fast one," Applejack said with a wink.

"So what kinda work does this pony do?  She some kinda egg head or what?"

"She's a DJ," Twilight said giddily, "she dropped some mad beets at the hole that night."

"Mad beets at the hole, huh?"  Rainbow said casually before falling to the floor in laughter.

"Twilight, I think ya better learn how ta talk more like us normal ponies 'fore ya say that in public."

"Why?  I thought that's how you said it, she totally cut the cheese."

Applejack joined Rainbow in laughing but Rainbow was crying at this point, unable to tease Twilight any further she folded her wings and rolled on the floor laughing loud enough to garner attention from passers by outside the library who looked at the tree confused but shrugged and continued on their way.

"Hey stop laughing," Twilight urged, "she's totally awesome at catching bass and dropping the wubs.  I'll show you tonight," Twilight said looking at the others with total confusion as they gasped for breath between laughing fits.  Applejack had tears leaving her eyes and rolling steadily down her cheeks as she covered her head with her hooves, ears perked up and her tail swooshed side to side.

Rainbow was holding her sides with her forelegs and kicking the air with her rear legs.  Her wings pressed so hard to her body she could feel them tingling from lack of blood flow like a foot falling asleep.  It only fueled her laughter as Twilight continued trying to stop her friends' uncalled for laughter.

Rainbow sat with Applejack and Twilight at Ole Cafe.  They hadn't spent quality time together like this in months and it was nice for Rainbow to let her wings down with her old friends as much as her new ones.  Lime took their orders and rushed to make their smoothies while the three mares talked about the past few days.

"...and that's why we're getting revenge on him."

Twilight sat mouth agape in shock.  "So he drugs his dates?  What the spell kind of stallion does that?"

"Twi, we know.  That's why we're getting even.  It isn't even about him being my boss or getting him out of town, it's about teaching him how to treat mares and to change his style.  Sure the whole super nice guy thing works but it gets old quick.  If we hadn't rushed into bed I swear I'd have dumped him in a flap."

"Well, be that as it may I would love to help get some revenge on a stallion like that.  He's the lowest dredge of societies sludge and-" Rainbow turned to Applejack when she began rambling.

"AJ, do you think we should let her in?  All of us in the plan are Pegasus and two earth ponies.  We could use some active magic," Rainbow whispered.

"I think it's a good idea.  After all, she is the princess' student,"  Applejack said rolling her eyes before they returned their attention to Twilight.

"... And that's why even pond scum is insulted by him.  So if you'd let me I'd really appreciate the opportunity to help you girls out."

"Well, ya sure made your case and I'd be happy to have you on our team," Applejack spit in her hoof and extended it to a grossed out Twilight who reluctantly reached her hoof up.  Applejack lunged across the table and clacked them together and sat down quickly.

The rest of the next hour was full of idle chit chat and some gossip before separating to their individual tasks.

Applejack returned to the acres and saw the sales stand set up outside the secondary entry lane and Big Mac pulling a cart full of Zap Apple jam while a line of ponies was hurridly forming a line that began to crest the hill leading to the north west border of their land.  With a smile she turned into a quick trot and helped Big Mac pull the cart into place and galloped back to the farm house to help pack the next batch into a wagon to be used as backup.

"Granny I'm all loaded up and ready, how much more ya got to make?"

"About 40 jars worth left, Ahm gonna be doin this for the next two day but we're gonna make it through the next year with these sales."

Applejack walked into the kitchen to see Granny stirring a pot while two ponies hummed the alphabet and poured jam into a series of jars with the most vacant expression on their faces.

"Granny, are they okay?"

"Huh?  Oh yeah them. Well it gets ta be a bit much singin' the same song for three days.  Reckon I went crazy once from makin' this stuff but now I'm a better mare for it," Granny smiled warmly going back to stirring.

"Hey Granny?  I had a thought.  What if we charged 15 bits per jar this year."

"And why would we add five bits ta each sale?  What's in yer head young'n?"

"We can sell these for more because it's early season and it was made by a sonic rainboom.  If we push that we can make more bits and take it easier the rest of the year."

"Well I think that's a good idea.  Ya got yer moms blood in ya for sure.  She was always best with sellin ta other ponies," she chuckled, "she sold yer pappy on her so that's tellin' ya somethin'." Granny joked as Applejack smiled listening to the story remembering parts of the story of when her parents met.

"Thanks Granny, means a lot to me.  I'll just let you and these two get back to jammin' the jars.  See ya in a bit granny."

Applejack walked out the door before entering a full gallop into the acres to check the trees for bugs or any missed apples that were almost ripe.  When jam preparations and sales were done she could get back to bucking the regular apples off trees.  This' the life; everything is falling into place and I can't believe how happy I feel lately.  Life is perfect and a lot of it is thanks to Rainbow Dash.

Honest Truth

The Previous Night

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Applejack and Rainbow had left late after the rough revenge planning, leaving Quill and Lime alone.  The house was chilly and dark except for a single lamp illuminating the living room.  The table was set for six even though four occupied it and there were cups of water placed on the table where each pony had sat a few moments before.  Quill waved goodbye to the departing mares and closed the door softly, trying to keep an air of calm that had been achieved.  Yawning mightily Lime shook her head and looked at Quill with slightly droopy eyes, her lemon yellow mane was messy on her head as she gathered the cups carefully on her right wing, balancing them expertly as Quill came to her side and nuzzled her lightly on the cheek.

"Quill, you're great to every pony you meet," Lime said sleepily as she placed the last cup on her wing and slowly walked to the kitchen.  Crossing the threshold with Quill behind her she approached the sink and stumbled nearly falling before Quill lunged and caught her.

"Lime," Quill asked with concern, "are you drunk?"

Lime looked at Quill with a smirk and snorted loudly before laughing.  "No, silly filly.  I haven't had a drink for hours.  Smell my glass, nothing in it."

Quill frowned and leaned over to smell the cups while Lime waited patiently.  "Okay, you're not drunk.  But I know you sweetie.  Something's wrong with you, ever since I got back with the girls you've been off, let's talk before we pass out," Quill said suppressing a yawn.

Lime trotted to the sink and slid the cups into it with a loud clatter that almost sounded like one had broken before she turned back to Quill to answer her question.  "Since you met me there's always been something wrong.  You're so nice to every pony, every mare you meet.  How nice are they back when I'm not around?  Hmm?" Lime asked taking a step forward and planting her hoof firmly on the wooden floor with a loud clack.  Looking determined through her bodies desire to sleep, she waited for Quill to answer.

"What the hay are you suggesting?" Quill asked sternly.

"Are you cheating on me!?" Lime asked fervently.

"What the flock is going on in that beautiful head of yours Lime?  I'd never cheat on you, where's this coming from?"

"I see the way you look at those two, and the time you spend with them."

"I work with Dash and I, we, have been friends with AJ for almost a year.  Why are you so... paranoid," Quills voice wavered as she spoke and her eyes widened slightly, "fluff?"

"What?" Lime asked confused for a moment before she took a step back and loosened her wings letting them fall until her primaries touched the floor making her flinch.

"You're on fluff again, aren't you?  How long?  How long have you been on it!?" Quill shouted with a combination of hurt and anger in her voice.

"Quill, it's just something to get me by.  I'm usually sleeping it off right now but," she gestured with her left forehoof to the living room through the doorway, "I've been up three hours later than usual planning revenge for another mare you're helping."

"I help anypony in need, gender be damned.  Lime, why are you doing fluff again?"

"I-I need to stay calm.  It's a lotta stress being with you," she hissed as she turned to glare at Quill.  Quill stood tall and softened her expression.

I remember being like her, she needs help but getting her help is going to be hard.  Fluff isn't like most other drugs, it only makes you calm and you can't overdose on it.  The only side effect is paranoia and that's not enough for doctors or even Fluttershy to help her without cause, so I have to be the one to help work her through this.

"Lime, I'm sorry," Quill said calmly.  "I understand I seem like I'm a whorish mare that would lay with anypony and I used to be when I was younger."  Lime growled slightly but listened, her ears faced forward and followed Quill as she spoke and began to pace.  Lime stood firm.  "I grew up when I met Fleck Torn.  You didn't know her but she was almost twice my age and from a town that's so small you could miss it by sneezing on the train.

"I was still young and foolish, foalish if you will," she mused looking at Lime.  Lime had started to soften her expression as she followed her lovers' pacing across the kitchen, light clopping almost echoing in the silence between Quills sentences.  "I wanted to party and go out all the time and she was really relaxed and calm.  She taught me a lot about taking things slow and that all ponies should help one another, not just friends or family but everypony.

"She was great in bed too, but that wasn't why I stayed with her for those few months.  She had something about her that told me I couldn't run around and have sex all the time, party all day and night and use drugs to keep awake as long as I could.  It wasn't healthy and twice she had to carry me from a party like my mother would have if I was at a slumber party.

"Waking up with your lover sitting by your bed nursing you back to health was humiliating but what made it worse was that she was so...  mother like."  Quill stopped pacing and looked at the floor.  She began poking a spot in front of her, focusing on a small knot in the wood she gazed at it like it was a newborn in her arms.  "Fleck told me I almost died, just once, but it was enough.  I drank a new liquor from the Griffons' land, I can't remember the name but it was almost like drinking fire.  I remember taking the first drink then," she sighed turning her face to Lime, looking into her eyes, "I woke up three days later in Trottingham."

Lime's wings perked up and she changed to shock and concern for her marefriend.  "Oh my."

"Yeah, Fleck took time off work and followed the clues to find me.  We were in South Manehatten and I somehow was thousands of miles away with no memory of where I was or how I got there, I-" she chocked as she remembered the story and tears started to flow down her cheeks while she tried to stifle sobs, "I tried to forget what happened when I woke up, I really tried Lime, but the party didn't stop.  The drinking and partying...  I was in the hospital Lime."

Shaking her head trying to dry her face she fell to her haunches and felt Lime's wings then forelegs wrap around her.  She turned her face into Limes coat and cried hard, wrapping her own wings around Lime.  The sound of Quill crying filled the kitchen as Lime trembled with her.  Tears welled in the corner of Limes eyes as she felt her coat wetting and the heaving breaths blowing against her flesh, warmed by the tears of her lover.

"L-Lime, I was so scared," Quill whimpered from beneath a shield of wings, "they said I had sex, a lot.  Without protection or anything and I was in estrus, and I knew it but I couldn't say no.  I could've gotten a disease or pregnant and I'd never know who did it to me," she said between sobs.  She felt a drop of liquid drip on the top of her head, then another and another.  She held her breath and pulled back slightly to see Lime looking forward, lost in memory crying.  With a sobbing huff she swallowed hard.

"Lime, are you okay?"

"It was my step-father."

Quill stiffened and chocked again almost coughing as her body tried to swallow and gasp at the same time.  Her...  "Honey, what do you mean?"  Quill asked pulling away a little and folding her wings.  She nudged Lime to sit with her on the floor as she tried to stop her tears.  She looked at Lime, a blurry smudge in a wavy world through her tear filled eyes but tried to focus all her attention.

"I was a young mare when my mom remarried.  A stallion like any other, but he was... sick," she spat the word out.  "Ever since I was old enough to leave home I left and never went back.  I remember that flocker too often, Quill."  Lime sat before Quill but gazed through her as though she wasn't there, lost in bitter memory.  "He took so much from me and I never got over it; how can anypony get over that?  I started using any drug I could get before I ran away from home and I haven't stopped running."

Quill looked at Lime and blinked hard, her eyes clearing of tears enough so she could see Lime finally.  Lime sat in front of Quill blank of expression, tears streaking down her face and muzzle creating a small puddle on the floor between them.  "Lime, that's... awful.  Did you tell the guard?"

"No, what kind of work do you think he did?"  Lime spoke flatly looking at Quill in the eyes.

"He, he was in the guard and was one of those?  How-"

"I DON'T KNOW," Lime screamed finally breaking down and letting her body fall.  Quill bore the full weight of Lime as the green mare gasped and trembled.  "I-I can't cry anymore Quill.  I, I spent, too many years-"  Quill pulled Lime into her body and enveloped her in her wings and forelegs tightly.

"It's okay, don't talk.  I'm here for you, except for one kiss with Rainbow nothing has happened.  You're the only mare for me and nothing will change that, understand?"  Lime shuddered and fell limp.  Quill released her grip quickly and looked at Lime.  She fell asleep.  Heh, I guess emotions and being tired don't mix when you're a foal or in your twenties.  She yawned loudly and got up, carefully picking up Lime on her back she slowly walked out of the room and upstairs to the bedroom.

I left the lights on but I think this' more important.  She climbed into bed with Lime on top of the blankets and snuggled as close behind her as she could and took in a deep breath of Limes mane.  Smiling, she quickly joined her lover as sleep embraced her.

Twilight's Time

Two Nights Earlier

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twilight walked through the door to the pub with her ears pulled back to head as far as they would allow.  Her fur was lightly damp from nervously sweating but she had decided to take Applejack’s advice and be more spontaneous.  The lights were flashing and strobing across the room casting dancing shadows across the walls.

For such a small building this place is a lot bigger on the inside.  I’d better get to a table or the bar before I suffer hearing loss.  Moving at a fast trot she made it to the bar and sighed as the noise fell dramatically under the enchantments.  Now if only there was something to do about the lights…

A fleeting thought of blinding herself came and passed as the bartender cleared his throat.  “What’s yer poison lady?”

Twilight sat up a little straighter and smiled.  Using her left forehoof she brushed her mane from her eye and blinked at him.  “Y-you think I’m a lady?”

“Keep the stool dry please.  It’s just a saying,” Twilight felt her body sag under the insult, “What do you want to drink,” he annunciated.

“What’ve you got,” she mumbled as she took in a deep breath.

“Lad- Miss this is a bar, pretty sure we have what you want.  Need a minute?”

“Surprise me,” she said as she placed her forelegs on the counter folded and laid her head on them exhaling the rest of her heavy breath.

The bartender growled and turned around grabbing several bottles in sequence pouring them into a decanter before reaching under the counter and pulling a light green jug of what looked like fruit smoothie mix and poured some into the mix. Shaking it violently with his magic he turned and levitated a glass cup with a large hollow inverted conical shape and a long stem that led to a small circular base.  He moved it just in front of her muzzle making her sit up slightly.  I think that’s a martini glass, mom had a couple dozen for her girls nights.

Carefully he poured the entire contents into the glass, the mix went to the rim and the meniscus lined up perfectly making Twilight’s jaw slacken slightly.  Not a drop spilt over the rim crusted with what could have been sugar or salt.  I hope it’s salt, Twilight thought.

“Five bits,” he said looking at her with disinterest.  Twilight used her magic to gather the bits from a pocket in her saddle bag.  An inconspicuous place sewn into the strap that held it to her body just under her body where no pony or creature would think to look.  'Statistics don’t lie, I’m 37.4% less likely to be robbed if I don’t carry my money in an openly visible place', she’d tell her closest friends.  Moving the bits from her hidden pocket to under her saddlebag and making it seem like she had removed it from her pocket she deposited the money on the counter and took the drink in her magic levitating it to her lips.  A slight tilt let the drink pass her lips and enter her mouth.

Her mood increased immediately to any observer.  Her ears perked up standing erect, her posture improved until she was sitting upright and she smiled wide giving a single spin in her chair.

“This is amazing!  This’ the best drink I’ve ever had, what’s in it?!” She asked excitedly as the bartender was walking away.

“I don’t know, you said surprise you so I did.  Enjoy it cuz the next won’t be the same.”  He turned his head and trotted to the next waiting customer opening with the same line to the stately mare.

Isn’t that Cherry Blossom?  She’s cute, I wonder if she’s…  No Twilight, you’re here to socialize.  Don’t analyze or plan; do.

Twilight slid off her chair and trotted carefully to Cherry, her drink above her to avoid the other ponies walking around.  This drink is too good to spill a drop. “Hey Cherry, I didn’t think I’d see you here,” Twilight said quickly.

“Oh Twilight, right?  I come here every couple days and get an ale, I’ve never seen you here before.  Something big happen that you’re celebrating like one of us adults and not having a Pinkie Party with the rest of the foals?”

Wow, she’s a bitch.

“No,” Twilight smiled before rearing to match Cherry’s height at the bar, “I’m looking for a date.  But, not you.  Don’t worry, you’re not my type.  I think my type would be more agile and a bit thinner.  Maybe a dedicated employee and smart?  I don’t really know what I’m looking for but when I find that one-”  Twilight glanced over to see an empty seat next to her.  A brief scan of the area to her right showed her Cherry was walking away.  She left me mid sentence.  How rude, here I am talking about my perfect mate and she leaves me.

Twilight lowered her chin slightly. She didn’t ask me and I didn’t even ask her anything, I just jumped right into myself.  I don’t even know if she’d be into me, I just assumed…  No, not again.  Do.  Do.  Do.

Twilight took a larger drink of her mix and smiled.  Bobbing her head slightly she looked around and saw all the ponies dancing and left the enchanted area to dance with them.  Her ears folded to her head and she felt slightly dizzy as the music assaulted her.  So loud!  How can they dance to this crap?  I have to get back to the bar, Twilight thought as she turned around and reentered the quieted zone and found a quiet spot against the bar to lean.  She reared up and leaned against the bartop sipping her drink quickly. I feel like I’m back in magic school.  The dances they’d have and I’d be with the nerds against the wall waiting for a handsome colt to take me to the floor.  And when I was asked that one time in fourth year I sneezed my drink on him.

Twilight raised the drink to her mouth and tipped it all the way getting the last drops from the glass with her tongue before wrapping her tongue around the rim of the glass licking all the salt in one movement.  Swallowing smoothly and smiling slightly as the last of the drink slid down her throat she placed the glass on the bartop and released it from her magic.

“Another one please kind sir,” she said dropping five bits onto the counter with a smile.  She waited as he talked with another pony at the other end of the bar.  And waited.  And waited.  “Excuse me?  Mister barkeep?  Can I get another drink?” she asked louder garnering a glancing glare from the stallion to her right.

She did her best to ignore the growing want to argue social interaction guidelines with him and instead focused her magic to tug lightly at the bartenders mane.  He turned quickly and shot her a look that made chills run down her spine as he galloped to her quickly.

“What the spell is your problem lady?  Can’t wait to drink all your problems away?  Fine, here’s another drink.”  He turned angrily away as twilight shrank slightly almost wanting to hide beneath the bartop from his and the others’ gaze.  He placed another glass on the counter, this time cylindrical and tall he filled it quickly near the top with a white mix and snatched her bits from the counter before stomping away.

“I-I’m sorry,” she said softly picking up the drink in her magic and walking away into the thundering music folding her ears tightly to her head she found a nice spot on the wall she could lean against while she sulked and sipped her drink. Last drink and last time I take her relationship advice, Twilight though taking a large drink of her new mix.  Three swallows had cleared half the glass before she tasted it.

Coughing almost as loud as the music she fell to her haunches and the drink wavered in her magic.  It’s like drinking sweet fire, oh Cerberus this burns and not in a good way.  Tears welled in the corners of her eyes as she looked to the bartender who sneered at her and averted his gaze as she began almost retching the alcohol from her body.

The music died finally and ponies cheered for the DJ’s performance slowly scattering from the dance floor as Twilight sat up straight and felt her head swim in alcoholic haze.  I’ve never been drunk like this fast before, I hope I don’t make any bad decisions.  Leaning against the wall she steadied herself and took short controlled breaths with her eyes closed trying to keep her intelligence about her.

“Wow you’ve got skills,” a mare’s voice came from Twilights left peripheral.  Flicking an ear in her direction and a light swish of her tail was all she could respond with.  “I saw you finish your first drink and I was hoping to buy you another but it looks like you’ve got one already.”

Twilight opened her eyes slightly and looked at the glass wavering in her magic grasp as a blue wing leaned in to take it.  Primary feathers slid into the handle and held it steady while Twilight cancelled her magic and closed her eyes for a second before taking a cleansing breath.  She followed the primary feathers to the secondary feathers, elbow and then locked eyes with their owner.

A white Pegasus with a blue and white mane and the most sapphire blue eyes Twilight had ever gazed into.  Twilight did the most logical thing her mind could let her do at that moment.

“Gyaahyahyahaha!” She laughed goofily as she tried to sit up straight but almost fell over, catching herself on the wall with a light thud only her body heard as she slowly slid to the floor.  “You’re pretty, wanna read a book with me?  I have lotsa books.”

“Wow, you’re smashed!  How much have you had to drink?”

Twilight snickered loudly and blew a raspberry letting her tongue hang from her mouth on the floor for a second too long.  The salty flavor a dozen hooves and where they may have been raced through her mind as she sat up quickly spitting once on the floor.

“So you spit?” The mare said smiling at Twilight.  Another goofy laugh and Twilight nodded quickly, her horn throwing her balance off slightly making her stumble again before planting her hooves firmly on the floor splayed slightly to help her stay up.

Twilight cleared her throat.  “One and a half, drinks that is.  Not lovers, only WH-one of thems, she was great but I wush not too good ta her.”  Twilight tried looking at the floor as she slowly lost control of her forelegs and they spread apart slowly lowering her to the floor until her muzzle was flat against it with her still staring at it.  “...I think I’m really drunk,” she said to the floor.

“Yeah, I can tell that.  Look, I was supposed to have another set coming up but I think I should call it off and get you home.”

Twilight tried to protest but she couldn’t form a sentence at the moment.  She pushed herself up and with uneven eyes looked at the drink in the white mare’s wing tips.  Coconut water, I hydrate need.  Taking it in her magic quickly she brought it to her lips and drank it all in four quick swallows as the white mare looked on in surprise.

“Luna that was crazy!  I smelled that and it was enough to make my head swim, are you sure that was smart?”

“I-I am a LI-brairiririeayn.  I know SmaRt cuz I’m a Library home tree.  Spoke, Spike, Speak?  Where’s my -” Twilight wavered mightily before laughing as she fell to the side and dropped the glass in between herself and the concerned mare.

“Okay, you live in a library.  I’m getting you home now, I don’t think you’re used to this.”

Twilight smiled weakly and nodded. “How’s Rainbow DID thatsis?  Urp,” she burped lightly as the room spun and twisted and she felt deeply unhappy and confused.

“You’ll be fine, you’ll be home in a minute.”

Who’s she know, I live.  Tree, funny word; TrEE.  TRee.  TrEe.

“Twilight?!  Oh no, what happened?  Who’re you?”  Spiked?  That you?  Me-

“You’re gonna be okay Twi,” Spikes voice came as a rush of trembles washed through Twilights body and her stomach twisted and cramped.  A sound of a female roaring faded quickly as she tasted something awful.

“-ain, hold her still!  Get more water.”  There’s that voice aga- *Hurk*

“-axe, stay calm dragon-”

“-tia can help, we know her.  Twilig-”

“-oolish, just stay calm and get mor-”

What’s happening, why do I keep having these flashes?*Urp*

“-er head, I’ll get another bucket.  Oh Twi be oka-”

“-tell me what to do, help me get her a blanket, please Spike.  Twilight, it’s almost over.  You’re going to be fine, just breathe,” the mare’s voice faded away as a smile crept to Twilight’s muzzle.

“She’s waking up!  SPIKE?  SPIKE!?”  a mare’s voice shouted to the suffering throb in Twilights head.

A long steady groan left Twilight as she tried to pick her head up from the floor.  Wood floor, thirsty, what happened?  Where am I?  My whole body hurts.“Ohhh my head,” Twilight complained as she fought the pain in all her limbs and lower back to move a foreleg to the side of her head poorly covering her eyes.  The light from the sun was like a magnified laser blasting right through her eyes into her brain.

“Oh thank Celestia, here Twi drink this.”

“Get a spoon Spike, she can’t drink from a cup right now or it’ll be last night all over again.”

Last night?  What happened last night?  I went to the Silly Filly bar, drank a drink and now I’m here with this strange mare yelling at Spike.  She sounds concerned so maybe I got drunk and hurt.  I hope I didn’t get into a fight, what if I’m in the hospital?!  Oh no, that’s why I hurt everywhere, I was beaten to a pulp. “Mommy,” she whimpered.

“No, you’ll be okay and I’m here to make sure of it.  You’re at your library home and my name’s Blu.  I’m a DJ and you got way plastered last night.  If I found you five minutes later I’m sure some stallion would have taken you to the back alley and…  Well that didn’t happen so you’re safe with me,” Blu said yawning.  Her eyes were drooping and her body sagged like a pony that was fighting sleep with everything they had.

She stayed up all night with Spike to help me?

Twilight opened her right eye and rolled it to the fuzzy silhouette of a mare leaning beside her and sighed.  “Wanna read a book with me? I’m a librarian.”

A Romantic Interlude

A Romantic Interlude

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Rainbow returned home after her shift to see a line of ponies cresting over and passing the hill waiting for their share of Zap Apple jam.  Rainbow hadn’t seen a long line since last cider season and smiled at the thought of her having helped make it happen.  She flew in quickly leaving her rainbow contrail behind as she looped over a cloud and descended at high speed to the ground.

Stopping inches from the ground her tail hair smacked the earth and created a small puff of dust and a muffled slap as she landed behind Applejack with a grin.  “Heya AJ, how’s sales?”

Applejack turned around quickly and beamed a smile to Rainbow.  “Fantastic, c’mere I’ve gotta tell ya something.” Quickly Applejack turned back to Big Mac and whispered something to him, he nodded with a slight smile in reply as he leaned over to Apple Bloom and whispered something to her.  A quick look back and beaming smile later she was galloping to the farmhouse as fast as her little legs would take her.

Rainbow hovered in the air with a few gentle downstrokes to keep her aloft as Applejack passed her leading her into the acres.  Following slightly behind Applejack, Rainbow couldn’t help but smile at the view she was privy to.  A yellow tail swaying with every step, tough muscles movings visibly beneath a warm orange coat, and seeing the top of an apple from Applejack’s cutie marks show for the briefest of moments between paces.

It was almost hypnotic watching, so much so that Rainbow didn’t notice the tree branch Applejack had led the distracted mare into.  Laughing goofily Applejack whinnied before covering her mouth with her hooves.  “Gotcha peekin again.  I said ‘follow’,” Applejack said walking to Rainbow who was on the ground sitting on her right flank rubbing her forehead where the branch had scratched her lightly, “not to plan our next personal time.  Ya okay Dashing?”

“Heh,” Rainbow placed her hooves on the ground forcing herself back up to all fours, “ya whinnied.  You know what that means?”

“IF we were at Quills then yeah, but we’re not, and let’s hurry.  I’ve gotta tell ya something.”  Applejack turned to a gallop and ran face first into a low tree branch.  Bursting into laughter, Rainbow hovered nearby, holding her sides.

“That’s ironing for ya!”

Applejack sat on the ground groaning holding her forehead for a minute before she adjusted her hat and stood up tall and walked calmly ahead with Rainbow laughing behind her following a safe distance above and behind.  Rainbow stopped laughing as they topped a hill near the center of the acres and saw a small picnic setup with a large wicker basket, handle up, and a red and white checkered picnic blanket being held in place under it.

“A picnic? That’s the big deal ya dragged me here for?”  Rainbow asked slightly annoyed as she looked at Applejack who still didn’t look back at her.  “AJ, ya okay?  Ya haven’t said anything to me since that tree slapped ya silly.”

Applejack turned and smiled wearily at Rainbow with a small cut on her cheek.

“AJ!?  Oh Celestia I’m SO sorry, I had no idea.  Your beautiful freckles,” Rainbow dashed to her side and caressed her face in her hooves looking intently at the light cut that was slowly bleeding on Applejacks cheek.

Applejack jerked back with a look of displeasure on her face as she locked eyes with Rainbow.  “Dangit I ain’t a filly Dashing, let’s just go and have our picnic.  Ah’ve got something to tell ya.”

Rainbow took to the air again hovering lightly as Applejack fiercely rubbed a postern against her wound clearing it up mostly until it was a light red line barely noticeable across her cheek between her freckles.  With a slight temporary wince she was as good as new and began prancing past Rainbow to the top of the hill.

Rainbow flew ahead quickly landing at the top of the lush green grass.  The scent of apples in the air was as refreshing as ever. Everything was silent except the wind rustling through the leaves and the light panting of Applejack as she arrived.  “Let’s dig in.  We got fresh pie, fritters, Berries, bear claws-”

“Okay, I get it.  Any real food in here too?”

“Real food?  This’ the best apple selection in Equestria-”

“Right, well lets dig in,” Rainbow interjected as she reached for the basket.  Applejack slapped Rainbow’s hoof back.  “Ow, what the hay?”

“Prayers, ya know how it is.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes as she crossed her legs and said a prayer with AJ.  The distance heralded the fast sound of tiny galloping hooves as they finished their prayer and Apple Bloom arrived holding a small box with a pink bow tying it closed.  She passed it to Applejack and beamed a smile before galloping away back in the direction of the sales stand.

Rainbow smiled and looked intently at the box.  “Ya get it after we eat,” Applejack said with humor in her voice.  A very brief scowl came and left Rainbow as she nodded reaching for the basket again.  She hesitated for a second glancing at her mate waiting for permission to open it.  Smiling when she got the feeling it was safe she opened it and took out a pie and two fritters.  Placing one in front of Applejack and one in front of herself she took a blunted pie spatula from the basket and cut the pie into six pieces before laying on her belly with Applejack.

The blanket was firm cloth and the seams, hoof sewn, were ridged high and Rainbow could feel them pressing against her body slightly.  Rainbow didn’t mind though, she prefered homemade work to that fancy machining from the big cities.

Celestia’s sun was low on the horizon and if Applejack looked left she was facing the event.  The lower sun was signaling the beginning of the colorful display that sang in nearly everyponies’ hearts; sunset.

Rainbow ate her fritter in one bite chewing quickly as she closed her eyes savoring the fresh apple goodness.  “It’s still warm AJ.  This’ so good,” she said with a slight happy shiver trembling down her flanks.  Swallowing slowly as the warm chewed pastry slid down her throat with a slight gulp she exhaled and giggled slightly as the flavor passed her mouth again tickling her tongue.

“Dashing you’re so cute when you eat my food,” Applejack said watching Rainbow exhale.  She watched as Rainbow opened her eyes and looked into her own eyes.  “You’ve got the prettiest eyes Dashing.”

“No they’re not, stop treating me like a filly,” Rainbow said waving her hoof dismissively,  “I’m rough, tough, and don’t take no mess from anypony.”

“No Rainbow Dash, not with me,” Applejack said letting her smile fall, “you act like that to every other pony in Equestria as much as you want or even when we’re in public.  With me I want the real you,” she smiled as her foreleg rose and she reached out to boop Rainbow’s nose.  “That’s the mare I fell for.  The filly who crashed into my trees and cried when I got her down in my forelegs cuz she thought she broke her wing.

“The young mare who raced me to the end of the fence and beat me without breakin’ a sweat.  The mare who cried into my chest a dozen times confiding in me the deepest secrets and fears,” Applejack watched as Rainbow blushed lightly and looked at the blanket tracing a seam with her the tip of her hoof, “and fiance that holds me every night like I was the only pony on Earth.”

She leaned in to kiss Rainbow and stopped inches away closing her eyes and waiting.

*

Rainbow leaned back as Applejack finished talking, everything she said was true.  From the moment she had laid eyes on Applejack’s freckles when they were fillies she had felt a true bond to her at a level she didn’t know existed in the world.

At first she was sure it was jealousy, then as time passed she thought it was the challenge of the strongest earth pony in the world.  Then on rare occasions a member of a sexual fantasy or once a wet dream.  Something she had dismissed as a common thing among all ponies at the time, or maybe once in a while?  Once at least?

If they had never had that dinner in her cloud house what would have happened to her?  Would Applejack have gone on to find another, would she have waited?  Could she have been happier with another?

No.  This is how powers greater than Celestia had made it happen.  There was a reason they were in the same town and had were the each the best at what they did.  She was an acrobatic stunt flier and Applejack was a rodeo pony and farmer.

Hesitating no longer Rainbow blinked and took a slight breath in as Applejack paused puckering her lips waiting for Rainbow to kiss her back.  The longest three seconds passed as she thought about the rest of her life with Applejack for a brief second before leaning in, closing her eyes and touching her lips to the orange mares.

*

Their hearts fluttered as they kissed lightly for a moment, separating from each other they shuddered lightly and exhaled a breath mixed from each other and gazed into each others eyes for a moment.  A cool breeze rustled the leaves again and the sound of a half dozen apples falling to the ground in the distance made Applejack’s ears twitch and turn as she blinked.   She leaned and turned her head left.

Reaching for the box she bit it lightly and placed it between her forelegs and rejoined Rainbow gazing into her eyes.  Without a word she reached her left foreleg behind the box and slid it forward to Rainbow.

*

Rainbow watched as Applejack leaned and grabbed the box she had been glancing at the whole meal and did her best to hold back the excitement.  She couldn’t stop her ears from perking up and facing the box, her tail for swaying lightly in anticipation.  The box finally being placed so close she looked at Applejack and tried to ascertain the contents from her expression.

She watched as Applejack’s eyes sparkled as she slowly slid the box to her.  Her smile betrayed her as she fidgeted and her eyes watched intently until the box with it’s pink ribbon was between her forelegs.  No bigger than an apple she longed to know what was inside and looked to Applejack.

*

Applejack nodded and saw Rainbow beam a smile as she grasped the box in her forehooves firmy and then took the ribbon in her teeth pulling quickly to remove it in one motion.  Discarding the ribbon into the breeze it fluttered and landed a few lengths away as she grabbed to top of the box and flipped it aside to see what the gift was.

Her expression turned to one of slight confusion as she peered into the box for three long seconds before blinking and looking to Applejack with wonder.

“What’s this?”

“A key, silly filly.”

“Another key to your heart?  Uh, thanks AJ but I’ve already got four of these now and I don’t need another.”

“Rainbow,” Applejack said scooting closer until their forelegs were crossing and Applejack touched the box, “it’s a key to our new house.”

Rainbow sat up straight in surprise.  “Wha-what?  House, us.  A-a house? A HOUSE?!” she shouted, her wings flared and a smile wider than Pinkies crossed her face.  With a flap of her wings she tackled Applejack and rolled and tumbled with her down the hill laughing.

*

“Awwwwwe.”  A set of voices rang from a tree nearby.  Applejack and Rainbow were giggling holding each other as they looked up to see Applebloom and Pinkie sitting on a branch watching.

“AB, Pinkie?!  What’re ya doin up there?”

“Well you see-” Pinkie started.

“We’re just watchin’ is all.  We knew ya were gonna tell her ‘bout the house but we didn’t know it’d be so-”

“Adorable!  That was the cutest thing I’ve seen since the twins learned to bounce a ball between each other using their heads!”  Pinkie shouted falling from the tree to the ground landing from almost 20 feet onto her hooves like it was a light bounce.

Holding out her forelegs she caught Apple Bloom and set her on the ground as she and Pinkie galloped the short distance to Applejack and Rainbow.  “Congratulations from everypony in Ponyville,” they shouted as Pinkie threw confetti and streamers from her empty hooves across Rainbow and Applejack who were sitting and lying on the ground appropriately.

“So, uh, AJ.  Did ya get Davenports place then?”

Applejack rolled to her belly and pushed herself into a sitting position.  “Rainbow, not only that but I got all his furniture and the land.  It’s gonna cost us 400 bits a month for the next 20 years but it’s ours and Ah’ve paid the first five years down.”

“Wait,” Rainbow said turning and grabbing Applejack by the shoulders, “You spent your life savings on a house?”

“No, our house and it’s totally worth it.  I-I have something else to say.”

Rainbow relaxed and prepared herself for more news.  She looked at Applejack and felt her forelegs tremble.  Applejack was wearing an expression Rainbow hadn’t seen before.

“Rainbow.  I had a talk with the doctors at the hospital.”

“Oh no, I hope she’s okay,” Pinkie said covering her mouth.

Applejack cleared her throat and felt her whole body getting hot and her face blushed as she breathing trembled.  “We can have a foal, I’m fertile and spring’ll be here ‘fore ya know it so one of us, if you’re willing, can carry it.”

Rainbow sat still as she tried to process the new information flowing through her mind.  Slowly she smiled awkwardly and nodded.  “Uh, we have a few months to figure it out so let’s just talk it over in private.  ‘Kay hun?  Ah don’t wanna rush into it but I totally want one with you.”

Applejack exhaled and hugged Rainbow as Pinkie and Apple Bloom ‘awww’d’ again but Rainbow couldn’t stop trying to think about actually starting a family.

Bed time fun

Bed time fun

Applejack laid in bed as Rainbow laid behind her closely.  The moon was taking its position; coating the land in brilliant shades of red yellow and orange while the sky was blessed with darker purples and blues with a rim of blue haze at the outer reaches of the mountains.  She opened her eyes and stretched her legs and felt two forelegs around her barrel pull her tightly as a wing rustled and reached over her pushing the covers aside and acting as another blanket.

A deep groan vibrated against her neck as Rainbow protested Applejack’s rustling which was fighting her delicious sleep.

“Dashing, can we talk for a bit before we go ta bed?”

“Gmnggmggm nomggmttpt.”

Applejack giggled quickly squirming forward fighting Rainbow’s grasp.  “Dashing, ya can’t talk inta my back like that, it tickles.  Now, I wanna talk about our last couple days before now.”

Rainbow fought the urge to pull Applejack into a tighter cuddle and grunted in frustration as she released her grip.  “I just wanna sleep, Ah feel the drugs are gone but I’m still beat.  C’mon sugarcube, just go ta sleep with me..”

Applejack snorted a laugh then turned over garnering a light wince from Rainbow as her fur was pulled causing a sting on her right forearm.

“Rainbow, why’re you talkin’ more like me and my family lately?”

Rainbow opened her eyes and felt her face getting warm from a sudden blush as she folded her wing to her body.  “I dunno, I asked Twi and she said it was psycoseptic or something.  Ah guess it means I’m so like, in love, that I’m actin’ like you.  If that makes any sense to you, can you explain it ta me?”

Applejack tossed her right foreleg over Rainbow and pulled her close until their muzzles were almost touching but pulled back when Rainbow leaned in for a kiss.

“I think I know.  When I was crushing on a mare a couple years ago I did everything I could to be around her until one day a certain rainbow maned babe called me out, told me I was acting so much like her that I coulda been her.”

“...Wait, Cherilee?  She was one of your mares?”  Rainbow smiled a toothy smile as Applejack sighed.

“Yeah, a lotta ponies were.  You know how it is when a mare’s in the mood better than me.”

“Hey, just cuz I’ve had a couple coltfriends doesn’t mean I’m easy.”

“A couple?  Do you remember what you told us while you were recovering?”

Rainbow raised an eyebrow and waited for an answer.

“Ya know, about almost every stunt flier and Wonderbolt show you’ve ever been to since you were 15?”

Rainbow shut her eyes tight and wished a wish that what she said hadn’t been said.  “Horse apples.”

“Yer darn tootin’!  Ya used to sleep with the best racer ya could beat then watch the airshow and ditch ‘em the same night.  Ya easy filly you.”  She poked Rainbow on her nose with her own and giggled as Rainbow scrunched her muzzle and crossed her eyes briefly.  “Ya got around more than a ball at a playground.

“Hey,” Rainbow shot back, “it doesn’t count cuz it wasn’t love.  It was lust, so there.” she said turning her chin up.

“Close enough.”

“Uh!” Rainbow gasped, “No it ain’t!  Love is when you wanna be with a pony and it’s special, ya get warm butterflies in your belly and it makes you feel all tingly all over.  Lust is when you want a pony just ta get off.  That’s what happened then and until I.  Met.  You,” Rainbow said enunciating each word at the end opening her eyes wider with each word.

“Ptbtbtbtbtb.” Rainbow finished with.  “I win, so there.”

“Dash, it is not a contest.  But if it was you’d win.”  She stuck her tongue out inches from Rainbow as she tickled Rainbow’s side.  “Who was the best?”

After a few seconds of tickling Applejack let Rainbow calm down before answering.  “Fine, fine.  If you haveta know it was a stallion at a Wonderbolts show in Manehattan.  He was just another fly stallion trying to show off, but we raced and he was a distant second.  First of the losers is winner still.

“I was taking a nap by the time he caught up and fell into the sand at the beach.  It was just kinda cute how he tried to act cool but couldn’t move a muscle or wing until the last pony arrived.”

“So, all it took was a pony to come in second?”

“Nah,” Rainbow smirked, “not usually.  What it took was everything I showed in myself; determination, drive, speed, athleticness.  Trying to be the best and coming as close as they could.  And being cute as hell.  Well, we got a few more races in and did a bunch of stunts around the city.

“ The Royal Guard and local police were called to stop us but couldn’t even keep up; it was a blast.  We flew all day until we went back to his hotel room-”

“Seriously?  Ya know this stallion a few hours and-”

“Yeah, that’s how it worked for most of us at the shows, not just me.  Anyway we get in the room and it gets hot and heavy right away.  Kissing, licking, he brushed my flank and pushed me on the bed and I felt something hit my barrel and looked down and saw his huge black-”

“Okay, I get it.”

“Then I laid my face into the soft pillow and-”

“Stopit!” Applejack pleaded starting to blush.

“-he dragged it across my whole underside and I felt his forelegs lock onto my hips-”

“Dashie please!” she begged raising a hoof to Rainbows mouth.  Rainbow laughed and continued from the side of her mouth.

“-and i felt his huge cock press against me and slide in deeper than any-”

Applejack pulled her hoof from Rainbows mouth and kissed her, trying to stop the story.

“-Shtahllion had gowne befowe as I moved my tail and raised my hips and felt him throb in me.” Applejack stopped kissing and covered her face with her hooves in embarrassment as Rainbow laughed loudly.

“Why wouldn’t you stop?  Now that image is in my-  GAH, my head!  I can’t get it out, his.  And your.  And, gahhh, why Dashie?   Why?” Applejack pleaded holding back nervous giggles.

“You wanted to know.  So, after he started to come in me and I felt it’s hot juicy-”

“AAA!”  Applejack screamed into her hooves, trying to stop the images from flooding her mind to no avail she pulled free from Rainbow and turned to her back kicking the covers from her body.  “Please stoppit Dash, ohmygosh.  Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew!”

Rainbow laughed and scooted closer to Applejack and waited until she calmed down.  Then whispered in her ear.  “Cock, filling me with his seed inside my waiting womb...”

Applejack lost her mind temporarily and thrashed in bed awkwardly before she rolled to her belly and pulled the pillow over her head and moaned loudly, faking awkward sobbing noises.

“Hey, stop that or they’ll think we’re doing it again,” Rainbow scolded as Applejack trembled slightly then took in a deep breath and removed her head from the pillow.  “... just like we did it again an hour after he planted his own apple orchard-”

Rainbow laughed as Applejack thrust her face into the pillow and screamed as she covered her ears and tried to block the story that was poisoning her view of apple orchards for the rest of her life.

A long deep scream vibrated the bed lightly as Applejack emptied her lungs of air before turning to glare at Rainbow.  “Ya think yer so funny?  What about Gilda?”

Rainbow stopped laughing instantly and closed her mouth for a second. “That was one dream.  One time!”

“Her feathers covering your whole body-”

“Ew!  No, she’s a friend-”

“Her talons gliding along your back as you climb onto her feathery chest and she opens her beak just enough to let her tongue slide out-”

“Stop it AJ,” Rainbow said flatly wearing a blank expression.

“Then you see her hard bulbous tongue as she uses her enhanced strength to spin you around and plants your plot on her beak-”

Rainbow broke her resolve and squealed like a dozen mice covering her face with her hooves and pulling her left wing over her face to act as a shield.  “Please stop!  Ohmygoshohmygosh OHMYGOSH”

“-and the you feel each bump of her tongue pop into your dripping vagina until you’re straddling her beak.”

Rainbow curled into a fetal position and giggled as Applejack shuffled to her side and pulled Rainbow’s wing down to show her curled tongue wiggling slightly to a purple shaded Rainbow Dash peeking through her hooves before squeaking again in embarrassment.

“OMC, who are you right now?”  Rainbow said through clenched teeth as she tightly shut her eyes.

“What’re you talkin’ about?  I didn’t say anything.”

“What?!  You can’t pull that innocent thing on me.”

“What’re you goin’ on about?  I’m just here tryin’ ta sleep and yer keepin me awake.”

“What?!  You’re-,  You’re so not-, ugh!”

“What the hay is your problem Dashing?  Can’t we just get ta sleep?”  Applejack said in the most honest voice she had.  Rainbow lowered her wing and uncovered her eyes opening them cautiously to see Applejack’s emerald eyes showing the deepest most honest look she’d ever seen.

“What are you doing?”  Rainbow asked.

“Nothin’ honey, just tryin’ ta sleep and you’re over there thinkin’ about riding Gilda’s beak!” Applejack snorted as Rainbow’s eyes widened and she gasped as her wing flew back up between them.  Applejack laughed loudly and kicked her rear legs enthusiastically and covered her mouth with her hooves while Rainbow curled back up and groaned.

“See if I tell you any of my dreams ever again after this, AJ.”

Applejack stopped laughing and said as calm as though she was talking with a customer she was trying to sell apples to at the market.  “What’re ya talking about?  I’m just here relaxing, you’re the one actin’ all crazy.  Maybe I should call a doctor?”  She reached and touched Rainbow’s wing and Rainbow jumped slightly giggling.

“Holy crap who are you?  You never act like this!?”

“Well, figure if you’re actin’ like me I can act like you,” Applejack said.  The smile she was wearing was audible in her voice as Rainbow lowered her wings and looked at Applejack with a blank expression.

“Seriously?  That, and you’re…  I’m not that bad!”

“Bad?!  I dunno what you’re goin’ on about,” she mused as Rainbow’s eye twitched.

“You know I’m not like that.”

“Like what?!  How’m I acting different?”  Applejack asked innocently as Rainbow rolled her eyes.

“I thought you couldn’t lie…”

“I can’t, but you can,” Applejack said poking Rainbow in the chest lightly.  “And I don’t know what you’re talking about?  I’m just tryin’ ta sleep here,” she said nuzzling her pillow affectionately letting a soft comfortable moan leave her.

“What?!  I can’t, you!  But, you’re honesty?!  How can you be so convincing?!” Rainbow asked stammering though every word holding her forelegs out at Applejack in disbelief.

“Oh, I’m honesty?  Must’ve slipped my mind,” she replied faking a short yawn and smacking her lips nuzzling her pillow a little more, settling into it.  “‘Sides, I’m feelin a might tired of thinking ‘bout you and Gilda.”

“Ohmygosh!” Rainbow said as she turned to her belly and hid under the pillow, pulling it free from Applejack’s grasp and head.

“Dashing?  I know you can hear me.  I just want you to know that if you ever wanna have Gilda’s tongue pop inside you-” Rainbow screamed a full lungs worth of air into the pillow before Applejack finished, “can I watch?”

“WHAT?!” Came a muffled shout from under the pillow as Rainbow flared her wings and flapped until she was airborne.  Thrusting her forehooves at Applejack who was looking at Rainbow innocently again.  “Wha?!  H-?  Y-? I don’t-?  I can’t even-?  What the feather have you done with my Applejack!?  You’re a monster in disguise?  A mind control bug?  Alien from planet Click Tack Too?”

Applejack looked at the hovering mare above her with a confused expression.

“Dashing, what are you talking about?  I’m just tryin’ ta go to sleep and you’re keeping me up!”

Rainbow hovered over Applejack quickly and fell onto her.  “Oh YOU!?!  I can’t believe this!  What the hay?  Why’re you acting like me?!  I can’t stand it!  It’s driving me… I don’t even know!”

Applejack rolled to her back as Rainbow moved to make her transition easier before wrapping Rainbow in her forelegs.  “What on Equestria do you mean?  Explain.”

“AJ, I don’t think I’ve ever felt closer to you than I do now…  I love me and you’re me and you’re you and now the love has been doubled!”

“Bwahahahaha,” Applejack and Rainbow laughed.

“Ya sound like Luna at Nightmare Night!”

“Well I didn’t think ya’d get it,” Rainbow giggled, “‘sides, I saw you lookin at her that way back then.”

“Dashing, she may have an immortally fine rump but yours is the only one I want next to me.”

“Awe.  You’re so sweet,” Rainbow said blandly, “so you love me for my rump and well toned flanks?  That’s it?”

Applejack blew a bit of air at Rainbow making her look into her eyes.  She leaned in for a soft kiss and it quickly became passionate.  A rush of pleasure washed through their bodies as they trembled and gasped, they moved their mounds together and began to rub quickly before they had the quickest orgasm they’d ever had.

“What the?”  They said in unison, “did I just?  Did you just?”  They giggled and Rainbow climbed off Applejack.  Applejack winced as Rainbow’s tail brushed her moistened labia before Rainbow draped a foreleg over her orange chest.

“You know what, AJ?  No matter what you’ll always be better than Gilda.”

“What?  What’re you talking about?”

“I dreamed of her once; I dream of you a couple times a week.  You’re way better,” Rainbow said as she kicked a leg over Applejack’s and nuzzled her lightly and savoring the soft embrace the pillow offered.

“Dash, you’re so sweet.  I wish you were like this for everypony and not the tomcolt.”

“Hmm?  Well, someday maybe, but now Ah’m gonna stay awesome for Scoots.  She’s really impressed with my life now and I’m still her big sis-,” Rainbow paused and lifted her head until she could see Applejack looking at her curiously through one eye.  “let’s adopt her.”

“What?” Applejack said snapping her head to face Rainbow.  Rainbow looked at the confused awe she was seeing and cleared her throat as she propped herself up on her right wing.

“Let’s think about it.  Scoots is almost definitely an orphan, we want kids but I’m not ready to carry one and I think she’d make a great one for us to start.”

“Wait, ya don’t want kids with me?  Not even five hours ago you said-”

“No no no, I do.  But, I don’t feel ready to carry one.  Do you feel ready AJ?”

Applejack thought for a long few seconds before a look of determination crossed her face.  “Yes, yes I am.  But, with the new harvest comin’ in and chores ta be done I guess rushing it wouldn’t be wise.”

“Yeah, Applebloom would have another sister who’s also one of her best friends.  Scoots would have a family and when she comes to move in we get a maid outta the deal.”

“A maid!?  Seriously?”

Rainbow laughed.  “Not really, but she’ll get a real life.”

“Rainbow, do you even know if she’s an orphan?  Except for a few rumors…”

“Well that’s the thing.  It’s been almost a year and no pony has seen her family.  No pony has seen her house and several ponies have said they see her sneaking around town after sunset and before sunrise.  Not to mention that she naps midday in their clubhouse.

Every sign points to her being homeless and dodging sleeping place to sleeping place.  I think even if it’s not that she wouldn’t go off on her own crusading in the middle of the night.”

“Ya gotta point, but how do we do it?  We can’t just go up to her and ask her if she’s an orphan Dash.”

Rainbow laid back on her side and laid close to Applejack again wrapping her in a half embrace letting a small yawn break the silence.  “I’ll just go to her tomorrow and ask her if she’s an orphan and wants to move in with us in our new home as our daughter.  Easy.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea but I’m too ti-red to argue,” she yawned as she turned to face the window and smiled as Rainbow pulled herself as close as she could get, her warm breath on her neck was so comforting.

“Dashie?  We forgot the covers.”

Rainbow groaned loudly.  “I don’t wanna.  Too comfy.”

Applejack reached her legs as far as they’d go and hooked a hoof under the quilt pulling it up to her hip before Rainbow draped her wing over her.  Applejack moaned lightly.  “This’ll do.  This’ll do.  Sweet dreams Dashing, and don’t dream about Gilda.”

Rainbows breathing stopped as she raised her head to look at Applejack who was trembling, holding in her laughter with a hoof in her mouth and her eyes shut tight.  Without a word she willed Applejack to be quiet before taking a slight breath in.  “Seriously?  Are you ever gonna let that go?”

“Maybe, but not tonight,” she snickered, eyes still shut tight and trembling slightly as her chest heaved and fell quickly.

“Go ta sleep AJ or I’ll, I’ll.  I don’t know but I am the queen of pranks in this town.”

“Hey,” Applejack calmed down and turned to look at Rainbow who was blushing still, “how’s the revenge on Soarin going?”

“Oh, that’s going fine.  Tomorrow we’ll get into phase two.  I’ve already got the orders in and everypony has their plans.  Quill and Flutterwing are gonna go in tonight and do a little work and Twilight’s marefriend said she’d help with phase three.”

“Oh, I wish I could see his face when he gets phase two.”

“I’ll tell you all about it,” Rainbow said laying back down and closing her eyes.  “Now please, lets get to sleep.  I’ve got a big day and so do you, selling jam and all then us checking out Davenport’s house”

“Our house and sweet dreams.  For real this time.”  A minute passed before Applejack asked her last question of the night.  “Dashing?”

“Yeah AJ?”  she replied very sleepily and quietly as sleep was embracing her mind.

“Can I ask Gilda if she dreams about you?”

Rainbow groaned and buried her face in the pillow as Applejack stifled her laughs again.

Deciding the Path

Rainbow flew into the weather office on time and ready with a slightly devious smile.  "First day completely solo and he's late?" she asked a random pony trotting by.

"Don't know or care, I've got my orders and I'm getting to work, boss."

"Well carry on then," Rainbow replied waving a hoof before turning to her right and continuing to her box.  Reaching in she grabbed her paperwork and started to a cubicle to begin her sorting.  Laughter was heard starting from the rooftop entrance and growing louder.  She hovered from her chair and looked to the laughter and felt herself fill with glee as she looked at soarin.

Bright pink. A pink that rivaled Pinkie Pie and a green mane.  She couldn't help but laugh as she fell to the floor knocking her chair out of the cubicle into the path of another Pegasus who was laughing herself.

Quill pranced to Rainbow laughing.  "Fly in the soup?  Cover it up," she said as she turned to face the multicolored stallion embarrassedly walking to his office with his head partly hidden behind his wingtips.  "I think this' the best thing I've ever seen!"

Laughter filled the floor as he tried the knob only to find it was locked.  He dug into his saddlebags and rummaged finally removing a key and putting it into the lock, turning it quickly he opened the door and stepped in and shouted loudly as a bucket of glitter fell upon him covering him with shimmering colors that sparkled in the light. He turned around and pouted.

"Oh, c'mon!  I understand pranking the new boss but this? This?! This' too much ponies, c'mon," he said in disbelief as he shook his head raining glitter around him and floating some across his office.  "Oh Luna damn it," he shouted as she turned to look at his office that was now full of floating glitter that was landing across the room.  With an annoyed groan he closed the door with his rear leg as the floor roared with laughter that was audible outside.

"...So then the bucket fell on him and covered him with glitter!  It was hilarious," Rainbow said as she laid on a cloud with Lime above a field.  "I wish you could've seen his face, we took a picture but Quill's having it framed tonight so that's all there is to that.  Hey, wanna see my new stunt?"

"Nah, you've shown me enough of them.  I'd be impressed and jealous while you gloat."

"Lime," Rainbow said turning to her, "are you okay?  You've been down all day and I'm used to you being the happy one."

"’Happy one?’"

"Yeah, you're happy.  I'm confident, AJ is thoughtful and Quill is fun like.  We're like a family and that's our thing."

"Hm, I never thought of it like that.  It's just that," Lime paused for a moment.  As Rainbow was opening her mouth she continued.  "I know you and Quill kissed."

"Oh that?  That was nothing, just emotions ya know.  She was upset and I comforted her and boom, thank you kiss.  Totally innocent," she said waving it off as she rolled to her back and stretched her hind quarters.

"Wait, so you didn't kiss her?"

"No, she kissed me but-"

"That damned mare!  She lied to me!  She said you kissed, like you both kissed each other."

"Woah woah Lime, cool it.  It wasn't anything, she was sad and-"  Rainbow sat up holding her forelegs out.

"So she kissed you because she was 'sad'?  What if she was mad?  Would she lift your tail and stick her tongue in your-"

"Hey now, that's too far and you know it," Rainbow said shocked, "she's a great mare and you two are totally made for each other like me and AJ.

"If you're so perfect then why don't you just take Quill into your happy life then," Lime said as tears formed in her eyes.  She rolled off the cloud quickly and dove as Rainbow scrambled to the edge of the cloud to watch Lime fly off.

"What just happened?"  Rainbow asked herself as she followed Lime until she disappeared into the town.

"So, then she just flew off like all sad and stuff.  What do you think?"

"Dashing, Ah dunno but it sounds like she's jealous.  Really jealous.  I don't know what'll happen but Ah think we'll let them handle it for now.  Ah really wanta finish somethin we started talking about last night.   Ah'm okay to look into adopting Scootaloo but... Ah wanna carry one too.  I wanna start a family now that we have a house and can turn it into a home. Ah reckon yer a bit scared but Ah know I can handle it for the botha us.  Won't ya do this with me?"

     Rainbow bit her bottom lip and sat down.  The grass under her was cool, the orange mare before her beautiful, and the scent of apples from the orchard around them gave her a moment to focus.

"AJ,  Ah really love you and can't think of being with anypony but you.  I, I don't know if I'm ready for a foal.  I have my job and we keep getting into 'save the world' things.  What if you're pregnant and get hurt, or I do?"

We have everypony here for us and nothing'll happen.  It's been seven months since the last thing and it's been life like normal since.  Ain't no monster or beast gonna get us apart as long as we have each other."

Rainbow looked at the desire in Applejack's eyes and felt her body warming, her nerves making her start chewing the inside of her cheeks in anticipation.  "Fine, but how?" she said reserved as she poked the ground with her hoof.

Applejack walked to Rainbow and hugged her with one foreleg.  "Thanks Sugarplum, Ah'll always remember this moment," she said lowering her other hoof to Rainbows chest and letting it trail down her body.  "I'll repay you tonight like you wouldn't believe."

Rainbow giggled as Applejack kissed her cheek.  "We're going to the clinic tomorrow to see how we can make this happen," Applejack said softly.

"You knew I was gonna say yes, didn't you?"

"I know you as good as I know apples, and that's a lot," she said as she leaned back.  As though Celestia knew the perfect moment a breeze blew in from behind Applejack and her hat flew off into Rainbows face.

"AJ, I guess this' a good obem."

"Omen, Dashing.  And the day I met you was the best anything."

"AJ, yer gettin' all sappy."

"Yer the one with tears."

Rainbow wiped her cheek and looked at her hoof.  The moisture didn't lie.  "Some dust in yer hat got in my eye is all."

"And yer talkin' like a farmer again," Applejack teased taking her hat back.

"No I am not," Rainbow said slowly, before hopping up.  "Hey, can we get to work tryin' this or nah?"

"Dashing, I would love to try it.  Off ya go."

Rainbow cleared her throat and pulled her goggles from her saddlebag.  She reached under her belly and unstrapped them letting the bags fall to the ground as she jumped and opened her wings powering up through the air like a fish through water into the sky far above the acres and hovered in place.  The entire orchard looked like rows of green dots with red scattered about as she turned and powered into a Sonic Rainboom.

A few seconds later the city was shaken by the sound wave as a magic rainbow encircled the city as ponies awe'd.  Rainbow turned and broke speed quickly turning into the acres and landing by Applejack beaming a smile.

"So, how many Zap Apples we get this time?"

"Notta one," Applejack said scratching her chin.  "What happened?  What did ya do different last time?"

"I dunno," Rainbow shrugged then removed her goggles and looked around at apples littering the ground.  Ponies in the distance wandered under the trees picking up the fallen apples.  "But now we gotta pay these ponies for picken regular apples and that's cuttin' into our pockets.  If you can think of anything it'd help heaps."

"Well, I don't know.  Let's just try again," Rainbow said lowering her goggles and flying into the sky faster than Applejack could stop her.  "Another Rainboom and no Zap Apples, better try again."

Three Rainbooms later there was a roar of angry shouting from across the town  as she rounded the acres to setup the next one.  She looked to Applejack who was scowling. "What the hay?"

Landing she looked at the frustrated orange mare and smiled awkwardly as Applejack stomped to her.  "Rainbow, I said no, I told you stop, and now the tree's ain't got any more apples and we've got til tomorrow ta get 'em all up 'fore they go bad.  What were you thinkin'?  Doin' so many of them booms?"

"I,I was just tryin' ta make you happy and get more apples...  I'm sorry AJ," Rainbow said pouting slightly.

"Dangit Dashing, why ya gotta be so cute.  I swear to Celestia ya do that again I won't preen ya for a week," she said narrowing her eyes before turning and walking to a cart.

"Sheesh, try ta help a mare out," Rainbow said smirking as she took to the air again, this time to the farmhouse to get some food.

Trotting in she say dozens upon dozens of jars ready to be filled with jam.  Granny was marching talking to them and giving the motivational words as Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon donned pink bunny outfits.

I've really gotta figure this out.

Rainbow went to her room and fell onto the bed looking at the ceiling.  She had carved her and Applejacks name in the ceiling in a heart and that was always a point for her to focus on.  She had spent so much time lately trying to be her old self to every pony outside her circle of friends and a sappy bubbly mare with AJ, Quill, Lime, and the others.

What’m I gonna do?  I can’t get Zap Apples going?  I don’t think Ah’m ready for kids.  Scoots might be an orphan but NO PONY KNOWS.  How the flock am I supposed to ask her when she looks up to me like a sister.  Can I even *be** a mother?*

She rolled to her belly and looked out the window at the orchard now nearly bare of apples.

“I have AJ.  Why can’t I be me?”

“Well kiddo,” Granny said from the hallway looking in startling Rainbow slightly, “ya don’t know who ya are yet.  Yer in love and anypony can see that, but yer also fightin’ who you wanna be an’ who ya are.”

“But Granny, I know who I am.  I’m the great Rainbow Dash,” she said sitting tall and opening her wings, grinning.

“Are ya sure of that?  Or are you just Rainbow Dash?”  Granny turned from the doorway and walked back downstairs leaving Rainbow sitting, proudly in place lost in thought.

I’m Rainbow Dash.  I AM Rainbow Dash.  Who else could I be?  I’m me.  That’s that.  Right?   Her wings fell limp and she slumped.  “Am I?  Who am I showing off for anymore?” she said under her breath.  She fell back again and looked at their names in the ceiling and fell into an empty void.  A place where she was completely relaxed, she didn’t have any thoughts, her mind was blank and her vision focused keenly on their names.

Rainbow’s body twitched and she sat up quickly.  “I am Rainbow Dash.  I have AJ.  That’s who I have to be awesome for,” she said in a eureka moment as she galloped to the door and down the stairs.

“Thanks Granny!” she shouted as she left to the elder mare who nodded.

“AJ!  AJ!  I know what to do!” she screamed as she flew into the sky donning her goggles again.  A roar of shouts told her to stop but she couldn’t hear them over the speed and distance she had put between herself and the ground.  She thought of her love and passion for Applejack.

How she wanted to do everything with her and how she had no reason ever again to be

anypony except who Applejack wanted her to be.  She stopped and descended letting her love fuel her speed until she created a Rainboom, much to the frustration of the city.

The trees shook and waved under the magic rainbow and burst into bloom with Zap Apples filling most of the orchard with the cash crop as Rainbow spiraled around the farm leaving a rainbow spiral in her wake as she landed by Applejack.

“AJ!  It’s love!  It’s my love for you that makes it happen!  You’re the reason AJ!  It’s YOU!” Rainbow said tackling the stunned orange mare as ponies began to pluck and buck the zap apples from the trees taking a bite every once in a while.

“Sugarplum, Ah-I don’t know what ta say except we gotta get ta work,” she said pushing Rainbow off, “we’ll celebrate after harvest!  Ponies, get pickin’!  Tell Granny we got a load comin’ in.”

With that Applejack began organizing the crew to work as Rainbow went to work picking apples at her own pace.

Yeah, I can get used ta this.  “Hey AJ, I wanna talk about our family!” she shouted loudly so ponies across the area heard.

Applejack galloped back and looked at Rainbow dropping one apple at a time into a basket.

“Say what now?”

“I wanna talk about our family.  Tonight, before we celebrate.”

Applejack looked at Rainbow raising an eyebrow before crossing her legs and laughing.

“Ya got a deal.”

New Home Inspection

Rainbow and Applejack stood outside their new home and cocked their heads at it.  “Well, this’ it I reckon.  We best head on inside and see what it looks like.”

“Wait, you’ve never been inside?”

“Well, yeah but not since I decided to buy it a couple weeks ago.  Needs a bit a work ta be honest but it’s nothing between us, we raised barns and destroyed monsters.  Won’t be a problem,” she said giving Rainbow a punch in the shoulder.

“Ow, why’d you hit me?”

“That was a love tap and ya know it. Let’s head in.”

They walked the stone path lined with flowers along the sides to the nice two story log cottage.  A bay window facing the rising sun to the right of the entrance door and a smaller window to the left for a kitchen view.  Two windows indicating the rooms upstairs and a smaller window above those centered near the top for an attic.

“Wow.  It’s so big, and we live here?” Rainbow asked in awe as she reached the door with Applejack who produced the key in her teeth with a smile.  Applejack slid the key into the lock, turned it and it clicked.

Rainbow felt her wings twitch in anticipation as she watched the door swing open.

“Oh. My. Gosh.  This place is awesome!”  She flew inside and began flying between rooms quickly covering the bottom floor before Applejack could close the door behind her.  “Applejack, there’s a pool table in that room!  Is there a basement?  Oh my gosh I’m gonna check,” she said turning and flying around a corner.  Hearing a door swing open and bump a wall Applejack smiled and trotted into the living room and looked at the couch.

“Blue.  Maybe we can get a different one, not my favorite color.”

“Oh well excuse me for being blue,” Rainbow said hovering in the doorway.

“Ya know darn well I didn’t mean you.”

“Yeah yeah, I know.  Just giving you a rock time.”

“Rock time?  Ya mean hard time?”

“Pinkie got me callin’ it rock time.  What’s harder than a rock, right?”

“Well ya got me there.  So, whatya think of the place?”

“Yeah, it’s pretty cool. Ya know, for an earth house and all,” Rainbow said looking away before flying a few inches from Applejack.  “Oh Celestia it’s amazing!  I can’t believe this’ our house!  It’s our house?  House.  Home.  Wait, we have to talk,” she said landing on the couch falling back.

“This couch sucks. We gotta get a new one, you’re right. So, about a family. What’s your thoughts?”

“Well, I dunno what you’re askin’.”

“Okay, I wanna have a family but I can’t carry a little one inside me. Not yet. I’m only eighteen.  What am I gonna do with my stunts and acrobatics?  I’m still totally into it even though I can’t be a wonderbolt now.  I love to stay in shape and be the fastest, even if I change everything about me I still have to be a part of me. The part of me that’s still awesome. I’m not ready to give that up.”

“Who said ya had ta give it up?  Ya can still be an acrobat and all that when yer pregnant.”

“Ick.  I don’t even like to say that word, that ‘p’ word.”

“Well, then are you okay if I do it?”

“I dunno.  That’s up to you AJ.  Ya got yer farmin’ and Apple Bloom, Granny, Big Macintosh.  What’d ya gonna do with all that if ya can’t work there?”

“Dash. Rainbow Dash,” Applejack said turning to Rainbow and placing her hooves on Rainbow’s that were in her lap moving them to the middle of them resting them on the couch, “they’re doin’ fine and with you makin’ zap apples Granny’s already teaching Apple Bloom to make the jam and whatnot and they’re payin’ a crew of twenty to pick ‘em.

“We’re talkin’ about hirin’ a farm crew and that means less work and chores for us.  I ain’t gonna stop workin and chorin’ cuz that’s my life and calling but buckin’ season; it would be nice to work a bit less.  However, ya gotta know that no matter what I’m a farmpony and cowpony. I love the rodeo and until Ah’m too big I’m gonna be livin’ like I always have, just like you.

“Ah don’t want ya to change or do anything ya ain’t ready for, but ya gotta be there for me when I do have your little one inside me.”

Rainbow sat up quickly. “AJ, what’re ya saying?  You’ve already made plans and we don’t even know if we can yet.  There’s so much that can go wrong and all the stuff we need to get ready for.  It’s only a year AJ.  After that then we’re official parents, what, how about. If we or you, or me-”

“Dash, ya ain’t makin’ a lick of sense.”

“I, I don’t know what ta say. I love ya to the end of the world and back, but, I don’t know what ta say.  Ah’m really scared of this, all of it. It’s a totally awesome house and piece of land but to make it a home… I just dunno,” she said shrugging. Her eyes were closed, she couldn’t  look at Applejack while voicing her concerns.

“Dash, look at me,” Applejack asked placing a hoof on Rainbow’s cheek. Slowly Rainbow opened her eyes and saw Applejack’s emerald eyes looking into hers as soft as ever.  “I love you and I’m not askin’ for us ta change our lives, just to see what can happen. Ya wanna see about Scootaloo then lets look into it.

“Reckon the worst ya find is ya can’t, right?”

“Yeah, I guess so,” Rainbow said uncertainly, “my only thing is she looks up to me like a sister and then to be her mother?  What’ll she do when she sees me like this?  All sappy and soft?”

“Rainbow like ya said; you’re eighteen.  Ya got a few years ahead of you ta figure it all out and Scootaloo could use a real mare to guide her through life and not be a hothead showoff,” she said winking.

“Hey, I am not a hothead.”

They looked at each other then giggled. “Okay, okay. You’re right. I’m a hothead show off. I guess I can just be cool and not as awesome around her when she moves in.”

“If.”

“Yeah, that too. Can we get off this couch? It feels like I’m sitting on a soggy noodle.”

“Yeah, I guess they loved it enough ta keep it but that don’t mean we gotta.”

They got off of the couch and looked around their new living room and then they snapped to look back at each other. The idea dawned on them at the same time.

“AJ, do you think…”

“Dashing, I…”

They both looked to the couch and shivered.

“Soggy.”

“Noodle.”

Rainbow reached to the couch and lifted a cushion and to their dismay was a very large sex toy under it.

“Dashing, ya gotta take it out back and bury it.”

“Me!?  Why me?  You bought the house and the couch and everything with it.”

“Oh hay no, you’re the one who sat on it.”

“Okay, first off: Ew,” Applejack giggled at Rainbow’s response, “B: we both know where it’s been and you’re better friends with them.”

“Well you’ve been with more stallions!”

“Well you owe me for saving you from Nightmare Moon,” Rainbow said letting the cushion fall and cover their argument piece as she crossed her forelegs and floated in the air with several slow flaps of her wings.

“Well I saved you from the drink,” Applejack said smirking.

Rainbow opened her mouth to protest but her mind went blank.  She frowned and stuck out her tongue before turning her body away.  “Fine, I’ll do it but I need gloves, a shovel, a bubbly soapy bath and lots of lemonade.”

“Now, the gloves and shovel I understand hun, but what in tarnation do ya need all that other stuff for?”

“Cuz, I wanna take a bath and I think that’d be really relaxing after the day we had and nothing says goodbye to the day than a nice cold lemonade,” she said smiling turning back around to face Applejack.

“Ya know, ya had me goin’ for a minute. Sounds good, is that gonna be a bath and lemonade for one?”

“Meh, I’m sure I could find a way to share it. If Ah have a good reason,” she said drifting closer to Applejack.

“Oh, I think Ah can entice ya somehow.”

Rainbow leaned in close for a kiss and smiled as Applejack closed her eyes. Quietly she reached into the couch and removed the stallions toy and held it in her hooves as she kissed Applejack.  “Hey AJ?” she asked as they finished their kiss.

“Yeah?” she asked opening her eyes slowly.

“Catch,” she said throwing the dildo at Applejack who screamed and jumped back as Rainbow flew away.

“Dashing yer so dead when I get ya,” she shouted with a smile as she chased Rainbow around their house.

Their first memory of their house was certainly memorable, however undiscussable it may have been.

Doctor Visit

The Rooster crowing woke Rainbow Dash first as she felt Applejack rustle out of bed with a light yawn.  She loved seeing the blond hair swaying around the orange coat of her fiance first thing in the morning.  Fiance, what a weird word to use for another you’ve chosen to spend the rest of your life with even before you’re married.

“Mornin’ Dash, ready fer the day?”

Rainbow rolled from the bed and grabbed her side of the blankets and with Applejack and one smooth movement they pulled the blankets to the top covering the pillows and then three pokes and a tug later the bed was perfect.  “Perfect ev’ry time now Sugarplum.  Ah can’t believe it.”

“Yeah,” Rainbow said before she let a large yawn leave her, “it’s easy when you’re with the great Rainbow Dash, and all that stuff.  Yadda yadda,” she waved her wing as she stumbled to the door.  “I think I’m gonna nap on a cloud for a bit today so don’t expect me for lunch.”

“Sounds fair, ya ain’t really up to all this farm work and I guess we can make Saturdays Zap Apple days, but Granny has to talk with the mayor first.”

Applejack went to the dresser and tied her hair quickly and grabbed her hat turning to Rainbow who had sat to watch Applejack get ready.  Applejack trotted over to Rainbow with her hat in her mouth and a smirk before placing the hat on Rainbow.

“AJ, what’re ya doing?” Rainbow asked smiling at her lover.

“Ah’m makin’ a big change today, Dashing.  I want you to wear my hat when you nap.”

“What?  But I don’t need it, I can just move a cloud over me if I need ta.”

“I know, but I want you to wear it for taday, just try it out.”

“What about you?  Won’t ya get all hot in the orchard?”

“Well, I’ll stick to bein’ under the trees today, I need to know what it’s like too.  We’re gonna be spending a lotta time sharin’ everything so this’ the best start.”

“But, your hat?  It’s what makes you you.”

“Not anymore, sugarplum.  Now you’re what makes me.”

Rainbow sat in stunned silence.  “How do you do that?  Say the coolest stuff ever?”

“You give me all the reason I need,” Applejack replied leaning to kiss the rainbow maned mare wearing her trademark hat on the cheek.  “Now, ya git ‘fore I give you a reason to be late,” she snickered as Rainbow blushed.

“Fine, Ah’ll see ya round 3 for the doctor then we’ll see about dinner?”

“Nope.  Dinner’s already planned out, Rarity called and she’s having Sweetie Belle make us a meal.”

Rainbow’s eyes widened.  “Oh please no.”

Applejack burst into a fit of laughter as she hugged Rainbow.  “I wouldn’t wish that on Soarin and ya know it.  We’re goin to Twilight’s and Spike is cookin’ us a dinner fit for a princess since we’re planning so many things and the others’ll be there too.”

Rainbow hugged her back before whispering in her ear. “Thank you, you mean so much to me.”

Applejack moaned in approval and broke the hug.  One final kiss in the room then she opened the door and they both left for breakfast.

“Mornin’ Big Macintosh.  What’s in the pot today?”

“Morning AJ, Rainbow Dash.  Oatmeal and eggs with apple juice and a muffin.  Be ready in ten minutes, so ya got time ta use how ya see fit.  Mornin’ Apple Bloom,” he acknowledged his youngest sister as she came into view from the stairs.

“Mornin’ y’all.  So, AJ, I guess yer movin’ out tamorrow?”

“Well, I dunno yet.  We got the place and it’d be a waste ta let it sit alone for too long.

Apple Bloom looked downtrotten for a moment.  “Ah understand, ahI guess.  But, you’ll visit right?”

“Apple Bloom,” Applejack started, “ahI’m still workin’ the farm and we only live a walk away and you can visit us anytime.”

“And you can bring your friends and stay the night,” Rainbow added with a smirk looking at Applejack.

“Yeah, the Cutie Mark Crusaders are welcome over but ya gotta ask me first.  Dashie there ain’t ready to have sleep overs yet,” she winked at Rainbow.

“But, Granny said the same thing about you and now yer gonna marry her, why is it okay now?”  Apple Bloom asked cocking her head slightly looking to Applejack as Big Mac chuckled lightly under his breath.

“Well, ya see AB, uh.”

“Cuz we’re adults and we get to make the awesome decisions and break the rules and make new rules and do awesome stuff all the time, that’s why.”

“Well if’n ya wanna get in trouble ya look at it that way,” Applejack said throwing Rainbow a quick glance, “but when you get older yer gonna have a few hits and misses and when ya know it’s right yer gonna know.  Now git ready fer school ‘fore breakfast or you’ll be late to school when yer done.”

Apple Bloom nodded quickly smiling to Rainbow and turned trotting upstairs to her room for her saddle bags.

“I like having her for a little sister, she’s smart and fun.”

“Dash, what’re you talkin about?”

“She totally pranked you with that whole question thing.  You just haven’t got it yet,” Rainbow replied hovering by the table.

“Big Mac, do you know what,” she stopped to see him with his cheeks puffed trying to hold laughter in while he watched the pot almost too intently.  “Well ya can both yuk it up, Ah’ll prank ya both so good ya won’t even believe it was me,” she finished falling to her flank at the table frowning between the two.

Apple Bloom returned and tossed her saddlebags by the door as she took her place at the table and at the space her bowl should have been.  “Hey, where’s the plates and stuff?”

Rainbow groaned and flew to the cupboard opening it and grabbing the cups, bowls, and plates and flying back to the table as Big Mac placed the pot in the center of the table.  “Whell it’s about time ya remembered your mornin’ chore.  Ya don’t got lots so ya should know it by now.”

“Thank mom,” Rainbow said sarcstically before turning to get the tableware.  She turned back to see the other three looking downbeat at the table.  “Sheesh, who died?”  Rainbow set the tableware down and took her place looking at Applejack waving a hoof.

“It’s nothing Dashie, let’s just eat.”

“Okay, looks great.  I get first scoop!” Rainbow called reaching for the ladle and taking a big scoop and dropping it on Apple Blooms plate smiling at her.

“But, Dash?” she asked.

“I get first scoop, didn’t say I’m keeping it.  Eat up A.B., ya got a long day ahead.”

“That was might nice of ya Dashing.  Apple Bloom, eat up like aunt Rainbow says.  She’s right, we’ve all gotta long day ahead and need a good meal in our bellies to start it right,” Applejack said smiling as Rainbow dropped a scoop of food on her plate while Big Mac poured drinks into the cups before him.

Applejack passed out a hard boiled egg each while Apple Bloom placed a raspberry muffin as close as she could to each adult and then herself.  A plate was set for Granny who would be waking when she was ready.

Eating and trading fun little stories always made the day seem happier and some days that was what made a breakfast so important.

The mares met at the doctors office and sat in the lobby waiting for their turn.  The clinic was clean and as sterile as magic could make it.  A feeling washed over them every few minutes that made them tingle; a simple pain reduction spell that did wonders for headaches and smaller pains or aches.

There were toys in the corner for foals to play with and two large vertical windows on either side of the door to let ponies see out.  Potted plants were scattered along the walls along with pictures hung of nature and scenery with one by the foal area with a popular cartoon mouse, duck, manticore and cat that would teach basic calculus and defensive techniques when facing a carnivore.

Rainbow spent a minute looking before trotting over and starting to play with the toys as Applejack blushed and hid her face with her hooves.  She longed for her hat back but a promise is a promise, even if you regret it later.

“Misses Appledash?”

The two gasped then giggled walking side by side.  “That Apple and Dash,” Applejack corrected.

“Well you’re the most well known mares in town, bets are placed and I’ve got Appledash for a your married name.”

Applejack and Rainbow stopped following the nurse to look to each other.  Taking in a deep breath they started walking again in silence.

“Here you go, room A119.  Doctor Potts will be in in a moment.  I’ll scan you quickly to get some basics out of the way.  First, race: earth pony. Name: Applejack.  Blood type: A+.  Age?”

“Uh, 19 ma’am.”

“19, okay.  Reason for visit?”

“See if Ah’m able to carry.”

“Able, carry.  Okay.  Next is the great Rainbow Dash.  I know the answer to every question since you’ve told everypony a dozen times everything about yourself.”

“Hey!” Rainbow protested before Applejack bumed her cutie mark to Rainbow’s cutie mark.  “Fine, I do.  But it’s only because I’m the best and they should know it.”

“Uh huh, sure you are.  The doctor will be in shortly.”

The nurse left the room walking through the cloth hanging drape leaving them alone.

“Hey AJ?”

“Yup?”

“Do you think I can bring one of those toys in here to kill the time?”

Applejack facehoofed.

“So, no?”

“Yer sure yer not two foals in a costume?”

“If I was you’d be in for more of an adventure than carrying a foal,” Rainbow said smiling at the floor absently.

“Yup, yer right again.  Whelp, can I have my hat back?  Kinda feel naked without it.”

“AJ, you’re always naked ‘cept for your hair bands.  That’s what I like about ya.  And no, not till tonight.  Ya gotta get it offa me.”

They smirked at the thought of fighting for the hat and what would ensue as the doctor walked in.  A light grey unicorn stallion with a blue mane.

“Okay, so let’s get this started.  Miss Applejack, please lay on this table.”  He motioned to the floor and cast a spell raising a table from the floor to a comfortable height for her.  She laid upon it and the doctors horn lit aglow and a 3D image of her appeared over her body with a green hue.

“Excellent health and a fantastic muscular skeletal system, even for an earth pony.  Especially in your rear half.”

“You don’t gotta tell me,” Rainbow blurted looking intently at the image trying to understand what she was seeing.

“Right, well,” the doctor cleared his throat collecting himself, “everything looks to be in order and let me check your reproductive system…  Well, that’s interesting,” he said as the image focused a great detailed image of Applejack’s uterus and vaginal canal.  So detailed Rainbow hovered and went in closer to the image to get a better look.

“Wow, so that’s what I’ve been touching.”

“Rainbow Dash!?” Applejack shouted feeling her heart race and her cheeks starting to warm up from an oncoming blush she couldn’t fight.  “Ahm sorry doc, she doesn’t have a filter fer this stuff.”

The doctor tried to stop smiling but couldn’t fight it.  The image of what he could see and the knowledge of how it all worked was flashing through his mind.

“It’s quite alright.  Happens all the time.”

Applejack felt him lying but let it go and instead glared at Rainbow who was still looking at the image tracing Applejack’s vagina in her mind.

“Well, it seems like you’re able to carry a foal but, OH MY GOSH!” The doctor shouted turning and jumping to a table behind them laughing uncontrollably.

“What in the-?”  Applejack turned and rolled off the table in embarrassment hiding her head on the floor.

Rainbow looked to Applejack and the doctor as the image faded and returned her tongue to her mouth.  “What?  I was wondering how deep it went.”

A nurse peeked her head in to see what was so funny and saw the scene.  She shrugged and left sparing the doctor one last glance at the doctor who was leaning on the desk pounding it with a hoof in a fit of uncontrolled laughter.

“Very well, I’m Doctor Night and I’m taking over for Doctor Potts.  Apparently he’s having a laughing fit and is unavailable.  Miss Dash, please lay on the table.”

Rainbow hovered over and laid down.  A 3D image with mostly green hues over her body lit up with yellow on her ankles and wings.

“Interesting, I know you’re Rainbow Dash and all, but these images show that you’re pushing yourself too hard.  Even for a Pegasus you’re stressing your body.  The yellow shows stresses that aren’t healing.  Your ankles are at a higher risk of arthritis and the same for your wings.  In a few years you’ll start to notice a stiffness when you fly and it’ll only get worse unless you pace your flying.

“So, does that answer your questions?”

“What?  I’ll be fine flying until I’m old.  And we’re here about me carrying a foal.”

“Carrying a, oh Celestia darn it.  I thought he wrote actually carrying, like picking up.  Okay,” he sighed and focused on Rainbow’s reproductive system and nodded.  “Yup, you’re in fine condition.  When’re you going to start?  I can schedule something for a month or so in Manehattan.”

Rainbow opened her wings and hovered over the table waving her forelegs.  “Woah woah woah, no way.  Not yet.  We have a lot to do before then and I’m not losing my figure ever.”

“Now wait a apple bucking second.  No way I’m carrying all of ‘em.”

“Ladies!  This is a conversation to have elsewhere.  Please, if you don’t have anymore questions you may go.”

“I have a question,” Rainbow asked raising her foreleg, “why are most doctors unicorns.”

“Because our magic can scan instantly and doesn’t require tools or other devices.”

“Cool, can I do it?”

The doctor and Applejack sighed deeply.

“C’mon Dashing, let’s git.  We got time ta get a snack.”

“Okay, let’s go to Lime’s restaurant.  She’ll get us a discount.”

With a nod they left the clinic and headed into town.

New Spot

Applejack and Rainbow Dash trotted to a table outside the cafe and waited to see Lime.  Looking around they didn’t see her right away they decided to talk about the day's events.

“So, do ya wanna talk about what happened back there?” Applejack asked narrowing her eyes at Rainbow.

“What?”

“What ya did to my scan thing.  Ya embarrassed me somethin’ fierce in front of that doctor.”

“Well I’m sorry.  I was just wondering and now I know.”

“That ain’t gonna cut it Dash.  Lunch is on you.”

“What?!  It’s your turn to pay and I only have a few bits left.”

“Then buy me lunch and we’re even.”

“Wha, that’s not even, but.  Ugh, fine.”  Rainbow crossed her forelegs and groaned.

“Hi, what can I get you?” the waitress asked.  A yellow earth pony with brown mane and blue eyes looked at Rainbow awaiting an answer.

“Oh, well, Ah thought Lime worked today.”

“Oh, well,” the waitress replied uneasily, “my name is Light Lane and I’ll be serving you.  Lime kind of stopped working here.”

“She quit?  What the hay is wrong with her?” Rainbow huffed.  “One freak out on a cloud and everything changes?  Where is she?”

Light took a step back and swallowed hard.  “Um, I’m sorry but I don’t know.  Would y-you like a drink?  Water, maybe?”

“Rainbow Dash, calm down and get a smoothie,” Applejack said turning to Light, “We’ll take two smoothies, any flavor, and a heap of water.  Reckon we’re gonna need ta drink up with the work load ‘o chores we have taday.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes and huffed.  “I hate chores.  Give me a number 14 and she’ll have a number 11.”

“Oh, you know what you like ladies.  I’ll get that going.”

“Thanks sugarcube.  Dashie, I gotta ask ya.  Do you think she’s okay?”

“I hope so AJ,” Rainbow replied looking at the table.  “I know it wouldn’t be my fault really but if she quit and left town I’d still feel bad.  Like, what about Quill?”

“Hun, they’re grown mares just like us.  Ain’t nopony gonna change their minds once they make ‘em,” Applejack said reaching halfway across the table.

Rainbow reached and connected her foreleg with Applejacks and they locked eyes.  “Ya know AJ, I shouldn’t be this sappy in public.  I have a reputation to maintain.”

“Say it.”

“What?  AJ, I thought we were past that.”

“Ee-nope,” she chuckled, “say it, for me.”

“Fine, Awesomejack.”

Applejack looked around quickly and sighed sitting back and relaxing letting her forelegs fall to her sides.  “Well, I reckon that idea was a bust.”

“What idea, exactly?”

Applejack smirked.  “Whenever I get ya to be sappy Lime pops up and goes all filly.  Ya know, ‘awww’ and all that.”

Rainbow giggled.  “You know that’s almost a prank but that was a better idea.  So, how do Ah look in your hat?”

“Cute as a button,” Applejack replied sweetly.

“Ew, I can’t look like that.  What if somepony sees me?”

“Dashing, ya been seen all day.  Everypony knows about us and we got engaged in fronta the whole town.  What the heck are ya talkin’ about?”

Rainbow shrugged.  “I dunno.  Hobbits I guess.”

“I don’t know what that word means but Ah think ya mean habits.”

“Meh, whatever.  Hey, what’re we gonna do about, ya know, moving and the whole Scootaloo thing?”

Applejack’s ears perked up and she sat up straighter. “Well Ahm thinking we pack a couple bags and move in tonight like we planned then tomorrow I’ll swing by the school and catch Cherilee and ask her about Scoots while you swing by Fluttershy’s and ask about Scootaloo’s sleeping habits.  She can ask them critters and they’ll let her know by chores end.”

“Yeah, are we gonna make love tonight?  I really need it.”

Light arrived and coughed uncomfortably.  I’m sorry to interrupt but, um, your drinks are ready.”

“Thanks sugarcube.  Don’t mind what Dash here says, she’s just happy we got us a house.”

“Yeah, with toys all over it.”

Light smiled.  “Oh, that’s so sweet.  Is it a nursery?”

“Not yet,” Applejack replied softly.

“Not with the toys we found especially,” Rainbow stated flatly as she took a sip of her drink.  “Ughh.  Ick, what is that?”

“Your smoothie.  I’m sorry if it’s not that good but I’ll make you another?”

“What the hay did you put in it?”

“Oh, um,”  Applejack took a sip and made a sour face placing the cup down and pushing it away. “I used kumquats, squash, a dragon fruit, some orange peels-”

“Wow, okay.  No more smoothies, how about a glass of apple juice.  Two of them,” Rainbow stated firmly as she pushed her drink next to Applejack’s.  Light picked them up and, with her head low, she trotted back into the restaurant.

“Dashing, Ah think you were a bit hard on her.”

“She made a terrible drink.  Even you couldn’t drink it.  I’m not paying for something that awful.  Nopony can mess up apple juice so then we eat out meal and call it a day.  Head back to the acres and get packing then meet at Twilight’s for dinner then off to our new home.  Planned and ready,” she said smugly.

“Nope.  Now we’re checkin’ on Lime and Quill before we go ta dinner.  I’m worried Dash, what if Lime up and left town?”

“Well,” Rainbow said leaning back and flexing her wings, “she is a bit emotional and all that.  Maybe she’s going into heat?”

“Maybe, but Ah reckon we check ‘em out anyway.  Let’s finish here and get back to the farm, I’ll do my chores and you pack.  Meet me at the new house and we’ll spend some time unpackin’ then get to Quills and check up on ‘em.”

“Huh?  Oh yeah, sounds great AJ.”

“Dash?  Did you hear a word I said?”

“Yeah!  You said, um, I’m the best?”

Applejack groaned and placed her hooves over her eyes.  “Rainbow, we’re in public so ya gotta be all like that, but what the hay were ya doin’ that you couldn’t listen to me?”

Applejack lowered her hooves to look at Rainbow who was looking at the sky.  “AJ, how do birds sit on clouds?  Pegasi can and birds can, but I don’t get it.  Shouldn’t they fall through or are they magic too?”

Applejack raised an eyebrow at Rainbow then looked up to see a small flock of birds passing overhead.  “I don’t think anyponies ever really thought of it.   Why are you thinking that?”

Rainbow looked to Applejack and sighed resting her face in her hooves.  “I miss my cloud house.  Quill didn’t want it so Cloudsdale took it back and who knows what it is now.  Maybe a playground or next seasons snow.  A lot’s happened AJ and I, I dunno, kinda miss the old way.”

“Rainbow,” Applejack started calmly, “Ah know you do.  Ya gave up a lot to be with me and I appreciate it so much.  I know you’re happier now though then ya were back then and no pony could make either of us this happy, right?”

“Yeah,” Rainbow said sighing again sitting up as Light returned with their drinks.  “Thanks, this looks…  What is this?”

“Apple Cider.”

Rainbow and Applejack looked at each other.

“You’re Rainbow Dash, right?  They said you like this stuff so-”

Rainbow opened her wings and flew away down the street landing at the corner looking back at Applejack.

“Sugarcube, cancel our order.  She doesn’t drink that anymore and ya should ask next time before you change an order.”

Applejack slid off her chair and nodded to Light as she turned and trotted to Rainbow.

“Rainbow, that was a might strong thing ya did there and I’m proud of you.  But I’m still hungry and I know you are.”

“Well, lets think of some place that won’t serve me hard cider ‘by accident,” she said making quote marks with her hooves as she took to the air in front of Applejack again.  “How bout that burger place that makes those fries?”

“I dunno, potato fries?  Sounds kinda weird to me.”

“Maybe it’s a fad and we can tell our kids about… It.”

Rainbow blushed as Applejack let a grin creep across her muzzle.  “Yer blushin’ again.  So, how many ya thinkin’?  Three?  Four?”

“FOUR?!  No way, I’d have to carry two then and that’s too much,” Rainbow said exasperatedly backing away from Applejack.

“Woah Nelly, who said we were takin’ turns?  What if you carry the first three then-”

“N. O.  No,” Rainbow said crossing her forelegs and turning her head away.

“C’mon Sugarplum, yer makin’ a scene and we gotta get lunch ‘fore my belly scares a bird away.”

“Fine, but lets make it quick.  I really wanna try these ‘potato fries’ and see if they’re as good as everypony says.

Rainbow and Applejack trotted across the city to the new restaurant, Mac L Mares.

“Mac L Mares?  Hey AJ-”

“No Rainbow, he didn’t.  It was one dream about bein’ a princess and we shouldn’t talk about it.”

“Yeah, so he says.  Let’s get some food,” Rainbow said smiling as she landed and pushed the door.  “Oh,” she blushed as she pulled the door open and walked in.

“Ow, hey!  Hold the door for your partner Dash,” Applejack scolded as she pushed the door from her hip and hopped in the rest of the way past the threshold.

“Well this place looks okay,” Rainbow said looking around at the scattered rounded tables each with a circular bench seating around each table padded lightly with a green and brown striped cushion.  There was a bar setup against the far wall with ponies taking orders at a register and a small window for the cooks to pass food through as well as a doorway leading to the back of the restaurant.

“Whelp, let’s see what vittles they got and hope it’s as fillin’ as Granny’s apple cobbler right after bucking season.”

Applejack took the lead as Rainbow looked with interest at the ponies sitting and others lying on the benches eating their meals on trays.

“AJ?  Is this like a school lunch place?  I never liked school lunches,” Rainbow stated as she turned to look at Applejack.

“Hey Rainbow,” a mare said inches from Rainbow’s face.

Rainbow shouted and stumbled back.  Taking a moment to recover herself while Flutterwing chuckled Flutterwing offered a hoof in greeting.

“Heh, hey Flutterwing.  Nice seein’ ya here.  You try the food yet?”

“Well, yeah.  It was really interesting.  By the way, don’t order anything with red letters.”

“What?  Why?  Too much fat or something?”

“This is one of those feed all places, they serve carnivores.”

Rainbow gasped and looked quickly to Applejack who was starting her order.  “Applejack, no!” she shouted flying to her, leaving Flutterwing behind with a smirk on her face, “don’t order the red stuff!”  She turned to the colt taking the order.  “You’re gonna serve her the red stuff aren’t you?”

“Rainbow Dash,” Applejack hissed through her teeth, “what in tarnation are ya doin this time?”

“They serve meat here Applejack.  MEAT!  And this colt was gonna give you some, weren’t you?”

“Excuse me is there a problem here?” a more mature mare stated as she walked to the colt who was frozen with fear at the outburst.

“Yeah, that colt was about to serve my fiance here meat!”

“Rainbow Dash, no he wasn’t and he’s hardly a colt.  He’s at least 12 and he’s got a cutie mark.  Set down,” Applejack snapped.

“Ladies, I understand your concern but the meat items are only available to carnivores or omnivores.  Unless you’re willing to sign and stamp a waiver we won’t sell them to any ponies.  Please calm down Miss Dash and have a sample potato fry,” the manager offered.  Rainbow scoffed and landed looking to Applejack and shying back as she felt the glare she was getting burn her anger away and replace it with shame.

“I, I’m sorry.  Applejack, can you order for me and I’ll get a seat?”

Applejack’s expression softened immediately and she nodded.  “Sure thing sugarplum.”

Rainbow sighed and leaned in to give Applejack a light kiss on the cheek before she turned to find a seat by a window.  This place is surrounded by windows but none have a good view.

She picked a seat at a table by a window facing the town center.  Nothing was viewable except the steeple at the top and a lot of houses and ponies but it was a view.

She took her seat and looked outside.  Every few seconds she would glance to Applejack who was placing their order and talking with the manager mare.  Applejack collected two mugs with straws in them from the counter and brought them to the table setting one in front of Rainbow and one by her spot right next to her.

Laying on the bench she leaned down and kissed Rainbow on the shoulder.  “Thanks for being so defensive of me Dashing.”

“AJ, I was a total dweeb just now.  I totally just made a scene and scared that colt over nothing,” she sighed and looked at the drink in her mug, “root beer?  Thanks.”

“No prob hun, and it was very nice of you ta worry about my diet.  Actually I mighta asked for one of the things.”

“Really?” Rainbow asked surprised.

“Well not knowing about it and they wouldn’ta sold it to me but knowin you’d make a fool of yourself to save me was sweet.”

“Yeah, I guess it was pretty sweet.”

“Here ya go ladies. A number one and two.  Enjoy,” the manager said placing the tray down with a smile and turning to return to the kitchen.

“So, what’d ya get me?”

“You’re my number one, so here ya go.  It’s called the,” she sighed and blushed, “Big Mac.  I got the double black bean burger meal.”

Rainbow snorted and laughed into her hooves but decided not to make the obvious joke.  She was gonna save that for the next time she saw Big Macintosh.  She looked at her tray and saw a small bowl with fries heaped on it and a burger wrapped in cloth.  Opening the burger she looked at it as she stopped laughing.

“Well it looks good,” Rainbow started as Applejack sat up and began to open her meal, “so AJ, what do you think of the new place?  Do we really have to,” she trailed off as she watched Applejack begin to eat her meal like a certain barnyard animal.

“Daphshng, thsh ish gooph.”

Rainbow looked at her tray and leaned in to grab a french fry with her mouth.  The flavor was salty and smooth while the aroma carried a certain sweet earthiness she hadn’t expected that filled her senses for a brief moment.  She inhaled and the salty grease carried the same flavors but the added aroma of sweetness of the fresh soy oil used to fry them all in.

Before she has finished chewing the first bite she had chomped a mouthful, half her given amount, and was loudly enjoying every single fry with ecstatic orgasmic moans garnering the attention of several other ponies in the area.  Turning her attention to the burger her salivary glands were already working but they went into overdrive at the thought of her burger.

She reached and picked it up with her hooves and with a glance to Applejack from her peripheral vision she opened her mouth and pushed the burger past her lips and into the fried mash she had created.  As her jaw closed she had the thought that maybe the burger wasn’t going to be as good as the fries.

Hesitantly she clenched her jaw and pulled the burger away letting it fall to the tray as her pupils dilated and her heart rate increased.  The mayonnaise, lettuce, cheese, tomato, onion, and bun were an ambrosia of heavenly grace that Celestia herself must have bestowed upon these lucky fools then she began to giggle.  The burger was made from the most beautiful blend of several different beans, spices, herbs, garlic, and a little spicy pepper that opened her taste buds and left a slight tingle in her mouth.

The sweetness of the fries she was still chewing was the catalyst that sent her into a giggle fit while chewing that she hadn’t ever had before.  As she tried to keep her lips sealed bursts of air would send food spraying across the table while she kept her eyes shut and wrapped her forelegs around her barrel and chewed as quickly as she could.

Swallowing the sweet mushy nectar of a goddess higher than Celestia herself send chills down Rainbow’s back and she had to open her eyes and grab the edge of the table to prevent falling backwards onto the wooden floor.

She opened her mouth to say something but only a shaky laugh escaped her as she saw her hooves reaching for the burger again.  A moment of memory darkness and she was shoveling fries into her mouth again and chewing, experiencing the flavors again.  Sending giggles out of her, mostly chewed food across the table and a familiar sweet tickle only females know between her legs.

“Oh, oh Celestia,” she said gasping gripping the table rim as she felt a wave pulse through her lower body.  Swallowing hard she gasped as the food cleared her throat and she reached for the mug of cola while she legs crossed tightly under the table as she felt the hat leave her head and fall to the floor.

She fumbled the mug and watched as it luckily landed in a standing position and didn’t spill a drop.  Then watched as her vision telescoped out of her control so deeply she could count the bubbles in the drink.  Her mind went blank as she let a chortle leave her like a hiccup.  Then another, and another.

The flavors were more perfect than anything she had ever experienced and she realized she had had her first foodgasm.

The scent of her orgasm snapped her out of the confusing pleasure to notice she was lying on the bench giggling uncontrollably with Applejack staring at her with a shade brick red covering her whole head.

“AJ, this, this’, this’ the best thing I’ve ever aten.”

Applejack’s eyes widened as she sniffed the air and she moved her mouth making empty words, trying to grasp one that would work.

“AJ,” Rainbow said clutching her chest as a laugh left her, she sat up with shaky forelegs pushing her up, “what’s wrong?” she panted.

Rainbow looked at Applejack and then the window past her and the specks of food on it.  “Oh, sorry AJ.  I spit.”

A roar of stallions laughed behind her causing her to snap her head around and notice her wings were fully erect.

“She’s got a wingboner too!” a stallion shouted from a dozen stallions and adolescent colts looking at her from around the dining area as most of the mares hid their faces and a few others had huge grins on their muzzles.

“Hey?!  What’s the big deal?” Rainbow shouted as she reached behind her and pressed her left wing down to her body.

“Rainbow Dash, you just had the loudest,” Applejack leaned in close to speak softer, “food orgasm ever Ah think.  We have ta go.”

Rainbow looked at Applejack then giggled and turned around on the bench placing her rear legs on the floor and falling onto all fours.  She leaned down and picked up the stetson and placed it on her head with a smirk.

“That was the best food I’ve ever had and I’m coming back for a number one, soon,” she finished winking at the colt behind the counter who was blushing and standing slack jawed.

“I’ll have what she had!” a mare shouted from her table as five others clamored over each other and pushed through the males to make for the counter, bits dropping as they rushed.

As Rainbow and Applejack left the restaurant the clamor had turned to laughs and chuckles from the stallions while the mares all eventually lined up to order their own number one meal.

“Rainbow Ah have never been so embarrassed to eat in my life and now,” she stopped at the edge of the street and looked at Rainbow who was still slightly flushed from her food adventure.  Applejack sat at the curb and motioned with her hoof at the ground for Rainbow to sit with her.

Leaning in Applejack wrapped her forelegs around Rainbow’s neck and pulled her into a deep passionate kiss for any passerby to see.  Most ponies tried to ignore the sight of two mares kissing in public while others stopped to watch and at least one pony trotted into something immobile ending with a quiet curse word.

Ending the kiss Applejack kept her forelegs around Rainbow’s neck and slid them up to her head and expertly took her hat to her own head.  “You’re fulla surprises Dashing, let’s git.”

With a nod Rainbow took in a deep breath and smiled genuinely as she followed Applejack back to the acres.

Looking for Lime

    Quill landed by Rainbow and Applejack suddenly enough to make them jump back and prepare for a fight for the briefest moment before they recognized her.

    “Now Quill ya know ya shouldn’t jump at us like that,” Applejack said relaxing.

    “Yeah, we actually fight monsters pretty regularly so-”

    “I need your help, Lime’s missing and I can’t find her,” Quill interrupted, “she’s been missing for almost a whole day.  She,” she stopped to catch her breath and fold her wings, “she didn’t come home last night after we got into an argument.  Have either of you seen her?”

    Applejack and Rainbow looked to each other.  “No, can’t say we have.  We were gonna check on ya both tonight but if ya need us we’ll help ya look right now.  Rainbow, you take the skies and see if there’s any trace.  Quill, check her favorite spots and I’ll ask around.  Somepony has to’ve seen her.”

    Quill and Rainbow nodded and took to the skies separating and beginning their search while Applejack turned and galloped back to town.  Asking a pony every so often she had spread the work to keep an eye out for a lime pegasus with yellow mane who was missing.  Every pony she passed and asked nodded and spread the word until most of the town had knowledge of the missing pegasus within an hour.

    Rainbow met up with Quill and they found Applejack by the town hall standing in front of a small gathering of ponies.

    “We need a search party to check the edges of the Everfree forest.  I’ll head over with Quill to Fluttershy’s place, Rainbow it’s good ta see ya.  You take a couple pegasi and fly over the border while the rest of you check the other end of the town’s borders.  Let’s git, she could be in trouble,” Applejack finished with a stamp of her hoof and the ponies, with a determination in the air, scattered to their designated areas.

    Rainbow and Applejack nodded to each other as Rainbow pointed to five pegasi and they joined her to search the skies.  Applejack turned her attention to Quill as she landed beside her.

    “Just the two of us at Fluttershy’s?  Why?”

    “Well, Ah was thinkin’ that if she’s using she might’ve gone ta get help and ta find her there with so many others might be bad.  I guess I shoulda thought of that before I started a search party but I’d told a dozen ponies already,” she said lowering her head slightly in regret before she stood tall again.

    “No time ta think like that, let’s git.”

    She turned and began to gallop her fastest to Fluttershy’s cottage with Quill behind her.

    “Applejack, I didn’t know you were so fast.  Slow down a little,” Quill said loudly so Applejack could hear over her hooves clopping on the ground.

    “Sorry Sugarcube, when I get goin’ it’s hard ta slow down.  Just try ta go faster.”

    “I’m not Rainbow Dash, I have limits,” Quill replied as she strained her body and focused what little magic she could control into helping her fly a little faster.  It wasn’t much but Applejack was only getting farther away slower than a few seconds before.

    Five minutes later Applejack arrived at the walkway to Fluttershy’s cottage stopping heavily with a cloud of dust rising in her wake.  She swished her tail and adjusted her hat  as she turned back to look for Quill.  Squinting her eyes she made out the pegasus approaching and began to pace back and forth several steps until she arrived.

    “Damnit Applejack, I asked you to slow down,” she said landing and stumbling to a fall landing on her chest.  Applejack helped her up.  “Darn it,” she panted, “I haven’t gone that fast since flight school.  I thought the rumors about you were just rumors.”

    “Well, some are and some aren’t.  We’ll sort those out someday.  C’mon sugarcube, even if she isn’t here her animals might help us look.  A good day of searching and everything’ll be okay.”

    Quill took a dry gulp then nodded exhaling before she took the lead to Fluttershy’s door.  She knocked lightly and waited with Applejack for an answer.

    “Maybe she’s out helping some animals,” Quill suggested as a commotion was heard inside.

    The door opened quickly to show Fluttershy sweating.  “Oh good they found you, come quick.”  Fluttershy turned and opened her wings taking flight up the stairs.

    Quill and Applejack jumped ahead and became lodged in the doorway for a minute scrambling to get in.  Finally free they raced up the stairs after Fluttershy and gasped at what they saw.

    Lime was lying in the same bed Rainbow was such a short time ago only she wasn’t struggling; she was gasping for air and drooling heavily while her body shivered under a light quilt.

    “Did you bring the herbs I asked for?  She’s really sick and we need to help her.”

    “W-what?  What happened?  Why isn’t she at the hospital?!  What are you doing?!” Quill screamed as she lunged to Lime’s side shoving Fluttershy to the floor and out of her way.

    “B-but I just sent Pinkie to find you and Zecora and to bring me herbs,” Fluttershy said standing back up but staying back.  “She crashed outside my front door last night with something in her body, some drug, but she couldn’t tell me what it was, only that she wanted me to help her and she was sorry.  I took her in and I’ve been trying to help her but she’s not doing well at all.”

    Just then the door slammed open downstairs and hurriedly galloping was heard around the downstairs before it moved to the stairway.  Pinkie appeared with saddlebags loaded with herbs and plants.

    “GIRLS!  You’re here.  I looked all over the city for you twice and you were here the whole time?!”  Turning her attention to Fluttershy Pinkie flipped in the air tossing the bags to Fluttershy’s hooves.  “I went to Zecora like you asked and I gathered all the herbs she said I might need, then I grabbed a few plants just in case and I ate one and it wasn’t too bad but here ya go ‘Shy.”

    Fluttershy was already rooting through the bags and pulling out items she could use before she removed a small scroll.  Unrolling it quickly she smiled and looked to Pinkie who was watching with interest.  Taking the bags and scooping up the contents she’d dropped on the floor with her wings she trotted to Pinkie and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek.

    “Thanks my Pinkie-Winkie,” she said before trotting downstairs careful to not drop anything.

    Quill looked with curious awe at Pinkie then to Applejack.  “Oh Tartarus, you knew about them?” Quill asked Applejack.

    “Pinkie promised, couldn’t tell,” she smiled widely.  Looking back Quill rolled her eyes to see Pinkie was gone.

    “Cats make more noise than her,” Quill huffed as she turned back to lean over Lime and look at her.

    “Lime, I’m sorry sweetie.  If this is because of our fight last night I promise I’ll make it up to you.  Just be okay, please.”

    Time passed and Lime’s condition didn’t change.  Pinkie had stopped the search parties and Rainbow had joined them for a little while before leaving to pack and move into their new home.  Around 9:00 Applejack took her leave and went to their new home.

    Applejack had almost walked back to Sweet Apple Acres before she remembered the move.  A surprise party had been held that she’d missed because she was helping with Lime but she knew everypony would understand.  She turned and took the new path home and made it there at almost 10:00.

She gripped the handle and gave it the light turn and push it needed to open then sighed as she entered the house.  It didn’t feel like home yet but it had new furniture and a really good cleaning by professional cleaners.  All it took was Rainbow to return the toy from the couch to Davenport at his business for him to come to reason and offered to fix the place up.

Applejack walked into the kitchen to see Rainbow sitting on the floor at the table with an empty place and a nearly burnt down candle in front of her.  The only lights in the house were a lantern in the living room and the candle that illuminated Rainbow’s face with its glow casting shadows across her to the ceiling above.

“So, I talked with Twilight and she had Spike pack us a light dinner instead and we’re gonna reschedule a dinner with her after she does a buncha egghead stuff and makes lists and stuff.  Eat up,” Rainbow said pushing a wrapped box to Applejack, “dinner was warm three hours ago.”

Rainbow got up and began to walk to the side door leading to the hallway where the stairs were to their room.

“Wait Rainbow.  Please.  Ah, ah’m sorry I was late and all.  I was really worried is all.”

“You were worried?  You’ve known them and had your parties for ages so I get it but this is our night.  Our night.  We were supposed to be at the surprise party together.  I had to lie, lie for you so Lime wouldn’t get found out.  If anypony asks you were on an emergency request from Zecora.

“Top secret Zebra stuff,” she said turning back to look at Applejack, “so this’ our first night here?  You’re hours late and missed everything,” Rainbow said quietly as she calmed down.  “This was supposed to be the first step in our new lives and now it’s just another day.”

Applejack looked at the food and the candle on the table and sighed in the silence Rainbow had left.  The sound of her hooves clopping on the wooden floor became the only noise as she walked to Rainbow and passed her half way.

“Your cutie mark is beautiful.”

“What?” Rainbow said looking back to Applejack.  Applejack was smiling at Rainbow’s cutie mark.  “What’re ya talking about?”

“Clouds make rain, rain water feeds the plants and the apples I grow.”  She turned and stood beside Rainbow and bumped their cutie marks together causing Rainbow to stumble from the stronger mares touch.  “Without you, I wouldn’t be here in any way.  I never woulda met you or the others.  Never woulda been the element of Honesty.  Never woulda been truly happy.”

Rainbow was flooded with confusion.  “But if you never met me you woulda still met the others.”

Applejack kissed Rainbow on the cheek before nuzzling her.  “No I wouldn’t have.  I’d probably be in Manehattan still.  It was your Rainboom.  Ah realized a while ago Dash, it was your rainbow that led me home.  It was you that kept me here to find you.  Ah know ah done messed up today.

“Lime’s in good hooves and I shoulda left it at that and I swear if I could Ah’d handle it different but now it’s our time.  Ah don’t want our time to be spent mad,” she said siding with Rainbow again and lightly bumping their flanks, “I just wanna be with you.”

Several long seconds of silence permeated the room save for their breathing.  “AJ, how do you do that?  Make me go from mad to sappy in ten seconds flat?”

“Sugarplum, someday I’ll tell ya.  ‘Till then, let’s ferget about cold vittles and get into a hot bed,” she said seductively turning to the doorway.  Rainbow felt a smile creeping across her muzzle again as her heart started beating faster.

“Ah’m okay with that,” Rainbow said turning to blow out the candle.  Rounding the corner she flew to the lantern and blew the light out before hovering and scanning their living room again.  I think today’s been great overall, now to Celestian this house in our name. she thought as a wicked grin crossed her muzzle and she rubbed her hooves together.

Bolting to the stairs she ascended and landed at the top.  Left was their room, right and front were guest rooms.  Looking to the right her mind slipped and a sigh escaped before she turned left and trotted in through the open door to see Applejack lying under the covers leaning on her side and patting Rainbow’s spot on the bed.

“Come ta mama, sugar, we’ve gotta break in these sheets.”

X Christening the House

X Celestian the House

“Wait, I got a surprise for you,” Rainbow said as she turned and left the room and Applejack in the bed.  The room was lit by a fire in a single lantern by Applejack’s nightstand casting its light in flickering waves.  Rainbow shortly returned to see Applejack snuggled into the bed under the covers with her forelegs behind her head looking at the ceiling.

“Back,” Rainbow said softly with a slight uncertainty in her voice.  Applejack glanced over and her head snapped to Rainbow hovering in the doorway.

“W-what?  Oh land sakes.”

“D-d’ya like it?”

“Ah, Ah do, but I wasn’t expectin’ that.”

Rainbow started to blush and landed in the doorway letting her wings fall to her sides to cover her slightly.  “Rarity ordered these for me last week and, ya know,” she shrugged.

“Where in Equestria did she get those for ya?”

“Well, the socks were easy to get cuz they go up past my knees,” she said lifting her right foreleg to show yellow and pink striped socks, “these panties things are special order from a magazine cuz they cover my you know what and let my tail free,” she said turning and showing her rump to Applejack and raising her tail to show her covered mound, “these hooky things around my hips are a custom fit that Rarity had to measure me for,” she reared up and showed a garter around her hips covering her teets that was made of a light but firm material colored black like the rest of her outfit, “and it was super embarrassing but she was cool with it,” she said as she cleared her throat and turned to face Applejack again blushing deeply.

“So, Rarity is to thank for what I’m seein’?  C’mere and let’s try that out,” Applejack said as she rolled to her side and huffed excitedly.

Rainbow began taking silent steps forward to the bed before she hopped into her side and pulled the covers to her neck covering her body.  Looking at her lover she began to feel her heart beating fast as Applejack’s green eyes stared at her.  In a single motion Applejack bucked the covers off of the bed and looked Rainbow up and down her body.

Covering her body slightly with her forelegs she tried to avert her gaze as she was being ogled.  She felt the bed moving slightly as Applejack scooted closer and leaned in for a kiss.  Turning to face her, Rainbow looked at Applejack.  Her eyes were closed and her lips were slightly pursed waiting for the return.

Rainbow noticed Applejack’s breath coming in heavy pants through her nose as she waited.

Those freckles, Rainbow thought as she leaned in and pressed her lips to the waiting pair an inch from her face.

With a heavy breath they exhaled and began breathing at their own rhythm as they wrapped around each other.  Their legs crossed as they turned their heads and opened their mouths letting their tongues dance around in the space between them with an occasional dart into the others’ mouth.

Moaning softly Rainbow moved her knee up eliciting a slight gasp from Applejack as her eyes opened to see the cyan mare passionately enjoying the kiss while smiling.  Her knee moved back and forth becoming slightly moist as Applejack moaned and tightened her thighs around Rainbow’s leg pulling it closer and giving her a slightly deeper press into her.

With their lower bodies moving in a light sway while Applejack gasped Rainbow wrapped her wing as a cover and pulling her slightly closer.  Gasping, Applejack rolled on top of Rainbow keeping her legs locked and rubbing the knee deeper inside of herself as a squishing sound began to fill the room between kissing sounds and moans.

Squeaking quietly, Applejack released Rainbow’s leg and began to do the same to Rainbow who wasted no time or silence letting her passionate noises fill the room as her body was pressed against and her panties became saturated with her juiced.

“Rainbow, can we take these pants things off?”

Sighing with a large smile Rainbow shook her head slightly as she leaned up and with her wings pulled Applejack to her body and kissed her deeply.  With a couple flaps she was side by side with Applejack again and grunted between wet kissed letting Applejack know to open her legs again.

Reaching down she opened her legs and began to fondle Applejack’s wet mound and press inside her rubbing her hole as she glided across from front to back, back to front, a slight press at Applejack’s love hole and back again repeating the pattern as Applejack reached and tried to do the same to Rainbow.

Sensing her frustration, Rainbow rolled Applejack to her back and straddled her.  “I’m gonna show you what I learned,” she said gulping as her body shuddered before she sat up and opened her wings and flapped taking to the air turning around and planting her rear legs above Applejack’s face.

“Move them to the side with your teeth and work for it.”

“Uh, okay?”

Rainbow leaned down and sniffed the aroma she loved so much.  So many different scents and always a hint of apples in the foreground from their steady diet made her mouth water as she leaned down and kissed her lips lightly twice before her tongue licked lightly at the top of Applejack’s clitoris getting a pleasureable gasp in response and a light leg spasm.

Inhaling and holding her breath she let her tongue glide along the length and back before she paused and lowered her head so her mouth was in one of her favorite positions and pressed her muzzle against Applejack and let her tongue slide deeply and slowly inside Applejack’s hole.  Tasting the sweet goodness and feeling Applejack’s legs tremble slightly as she wrapped around them to keep them still, she relished the sounds her lapping was beginning to make.

Applejack felt her heart racing as she leaned up and tried to gently bite the panties, unsuccessfully at first since Rainbow knew the spot to go for for maximum results.  Nipping the panties in just the right spot she giggled at her success and let her tongue free quickly enough to get inside and touch Rainbow’s wetness.  The flavor was intoxicating with a blend of fruit flavors and stickiness she couldn’t get enough of.

I’m gonna taste the Rainbow, she thought as she used her nose to move and hold the panties to the side as she lapped the outer lips clean of flavor.  Pulling Rainbow’s hips down she laid her head back and let her tongue slide in and out of Rainbow’s slightly looser hole as they began moaning between pants and laps.

Rainbow stopped and raised her hips from Applejack.  Whining at the loss of her favorite snack Applejack watched the panties slip closed getting caught inside Rainbow’s labia.  With a wiggle they were freed and covered her again.  Rainbow, still with her mouth pressed against Applejack’s tasty love canal turned until she was parallel and with skill opened Applejack’s pussy lips and huffed as she returned her tongue to her mouth.

“I love the color pink in you honey,” she whispered as she rubbed her nose against the swelling clitoris that was glistening in the lantern light.  Applejack placed her forelegs across her body as she began to quell the instinctive trembles she was having.

Rainbow began to feel a slight ache in her panties and, reaching down with her free hoof, began to quickly and almost violently rub her panties, feeling them soak with her own fluids as she moved her hips up and down quickly slowing to an oval swirl that circled her entire vagina.

Seeing her goal in reach she began rubbing the back of Applejack’s twitching pussy against the opening to the deeper parts of her body while beginning to furiously lick and suck the fully swollen and exposed nerve cluster that was one of Applejack’s favorite spots.

With a series of heavy pants and noises Applejack’s body spasmed out of her control.  Reaching down she tried to push Rainbow out of her body but Rainbow moved her head side to side as she continued her assault inside her lover's body.

Feeling the waves of orgasm inside Applejack, squeezing against her tongue and pulling it slightly deeper inside, drove Rainbow to laugh as she finally was struck on the top of her head making her stop as Applejack rolled to her side closing her legs.  Beginning to weep quietly she looked to Rainbow.

“What the hay did ya do to me?  That was-”

“Awesome, right?!”

Applejack reached to her cheek and wiped a tear from her face as she nodded.  “It was so good Ah’m crying.  What the?” she said as she inhaled sharply and let a trembling whinney leave her.  Rocking her hips front and back she swirled her tail against her body as another wave of orgasm passed through her, topped by another before the previous one ended.

“Wow!  I gave you a multiple!” Rainbow shouted as she hopped to her side of the bed and sat up watching and listening to Applejack groan and moan while she grasped for anything to hold onto.  Reaching under her she grabbed her pillow and squeezed it until it tore slightly letting feathers puff across the bed.

Rainbow lost it and began laughing as Applejack’s body slowed to a stillness Rainbow knew was the end of their sexcapade.  Letting a content nicker out Applejack fell asleep squeezing the broken pillow for dear life, the pillow letting feather loose every time she’d move.

Leaning over Rainbow kissed Applejack on the cheek twice.  “I love you so much and Ah’m so glad ya love me back.  One kiss for each cheek and the freckles I love.”

Snorting Applejack let the pillow go from her embrace and began to snore while Rainbow slid off the bed and took off her clothing letting the fall into a pile before she hopped into bed and laid on her back looking at the ceiling and the light from the lantern.  “Might as well,” she shrugged as she got out of bed and went to a box at the foot of their bed hidden under a folded quilt.

Moving the quilt she looked up to make sure Applejack was still asleep and not faking her snores before she opened the box to see their personal variety of sexual implements.

At the top was one of her favorites she picked up and looked at before setting it back down.  The thought of something going deep inside her, as great as it felt, wasn’t what she wanted.  She looked and rifled through the box before sighing.  Nothing was going to compare to what she’d get if she wasn’t so awesome at pleasing her freckled lover into sleep.

Covering the box she recovered it with the quilt and stood tall and flapped her wings in slow motion to calm herself before she returned to bed with the covers in her mouth.  Covering Applejack and prying the pillow free and lifting Applejack’s head and returning it to its rightful place.

Rainbow laid on her back and looked at the ceiling until she fell asleep, peaceful and content in her job well done.

Rainbow felt a rustle to her side as she slumbered and dozed back to sleep.  The feel of a soft kiss on her lips took her by surprise as a light moan rumbled the rear of her sinuses while she felt a smile form; then she was asleep again.

She woke suddenly to the feeling of Applejack on top of her pressing her lips tightly to hers.  Mewling slightly at the surprise she didn’t have time to gasp as she felt the firm apple flavored tongue searching her mouth before retracting.

“You ain’t gettin’ off that easy, sugarplum.  I owe you a big one and Ah’m gonna pay up as soon as I can,” Applejack said breathily, inches from Rainbow’s startled face.  Her eyes peering with slight exhaustion into Rainbow’s ruby eyes for hardly a blink before Rainbow reached up and pulled Applejack’s mane, forcing her into a more controlled kiss.

Suppressing a yawn while she was kissed Rainbow began to breathe heavily through her snout and gasped for air anytime their mouths opened to turn sides.  Rainbow couldn’t hold back a shudder as her wings opened slowly only to be stopped by Applejack’s forelegs that were planted firmly to the bed to Rainbow’s sides.

The wings pressing against Applejack’s pasterns drew an annoyed grunt from Rainbow.  Darnit, she know’s I’m ready and I don’t wanna stop kissing.

Applejack pressed harder and sucked Rainbow’s tongue as she lifted her head from Rainbow’s.  Heavy panting was the only sound in the room until Applejack moved herself to sitting up.  Without a word she lifted her right leg and placed it between Rainbow’s and did the same with the other.

Grabbing Rainbow’s pasterns lightly she raised and pushed them to Rainbow’s chest where Rainbow nodded and a look of anticipated passion crossed her.  Her heart was racing as she used her wings to wrap around her legs to keep them in place while Applejack moved back and laid prone looking at the fully exposed pink that was hidden under cyan lips.

A plethora of shining juices were gleaming in front of Applejack’s nose as she inhaled slowly to take them all in she gasped.  “Pears?!  Ya been cheatin’ on me?”

Rainbow tightened her grip pushing her abdomen muscled slightly making her vulva pulse open and closed once.  Applejack’s eyes locked onto the pink opening as she licked her lips and leaned in with her tongue out and ready.  With her forehooves she pressed lightly on Rainbow’s rump lifting her hips slightly as she began to softly and slowly lap the surface juices and fluids from Rainbow’s body.

Offering a slight pull she remained still as she dragged Rainbow to her waiting muzzle opening her jaw wide enough so her lips almost sealed around Rainbow’s and she slurped, as she closed her mouth, the remaining moisture from Rainbow’s rapidly rewetting folds.  Opening her mouth again she sealed her mouth to Rainbow’s open and exposed pink slid with a little suction before letting her tongue dance freely against the swollen clitoris that was no match for her strong tongue’s attacks.

Darting every few licks into Rainbow’s tight love hole was delicious and familiar as eating a warm apple cobbler, no relation to her cousin, and just as juicy sweet.  This was hers and no other pony would ever share this treat.  Feeling Rainbow start to tremble she coughed to both break the seal she had made closing their bodies and to clear her throat from the thick creamy juice she had started to swallow.

Moaning in approval she licked her lips andlet Rainbow’s hips fall before climbing back up Rainbow’s body and looking at the panting pegasus before her.  She pried her wings open and flinched as her legs fell quickly to the bed before Rainbow jumped into a passionate kiss with Applejack.

Licking her juices from her lovers muzzle and tasting the flavors used to make Rainbow sick to her stomach, now it was more intoxicating than the finest Sweet Apple Acres ale.  Slurping a stray strand of her own fluids that had mixed with some mucus from Applejack from Applejack’s chin.

Turning Applejack’s head Rainbow kissed her neck below her jaw and began to work her way under and to the other side stopping and licking lightly the freckles that were such a focus of her attraction with a slight swirl of her tongue before placing a light peck on each cheek.

“I really love you, but can you make me cum?” Rainbow whispered in Applejack’s ear softly.

Laughing with her usual slightly goofy flair Applejack nickered and nodded before she cleared her throat and spoke softly.  “Ya wanna use Luna’s Dream or Celestia’s Cepter?”

Rainbow nodded.  “Yes.”

“I’ll choose then,” Applejack whispered seductively as she leaned in to kiss Rainbow.  Unwrapping her legs from Applejack’s hips Rainbow snuggled into the bed and finally noticed how comfortable it was.  A quiet yawn escaped her as Applejack left the bed for the box at the foot.  Tossing the quilt heavily she quickly opened the box and began rifling until she pulled something out and trotted to the bedside.

Small metal chain links clattered as she grunted and huffed, tightening something to her hips before she turned to the lantern and blew out the light sending the darkness, save for the waning moon light, across the room and mares.

“Ready Dashing?”

“Mmm-hmm, what’d you pick?”

“Hush, you’ll know in a second.”

Crawling onto the bed Applejack lined herself with Rainbow and beginning at Rainbow’s right knee began to kiss her way to the blue mound that hid her moist target.  With a light kiss she began kissing her way up Rainbow’s body stopping at her barrel before pushing up on her forelegs and resting her lower body weight on her knees.

Taking a deep breath and holding it Rainbow looked at Applejack and nodded letting her legs fall to the sides opening her body wide for the soon to be intruder.  Pressing against her pussy Applejack reached down and pressed and gave a slight twist to a gem at the base of the strap on she was wearing.

Gasping as a rare and unfamiliar sensation flooded her body she pressed the rounded tip into Rainbow as she bit her lips and winced at the different pleasure she was having.

Rainbow reached and grabbed Applejack’s forelegs and squeezed them close to her body as she was slowly penetrated, the strap on providing its own small amount of magic lubrication slowly slid effortlessly and painlessly inside her until Applejack stopped to catch her breath.

“Dash, I-I’m not used ta this feeling.  How d’ya do it with this thing?”

“You got Celetia’s Cepter, that’s what it does.  Now get moving,” Rainbow said wrapping her legs around Applejack’s thighs and pulling her lightly, deeper, inside.  Both gasped as Rainbow felt her hole being stretched in a way she almost missed but wouldn’t do with another pony except Applejack for the rest of her life.

Applejack groaned and let a restrained whinny noise as she felt her hips reach Rainbow’s.  The magic giving her the sensation a male would feel if he was penetrating a mare using advances magic, crystals, and a perverted mind in Canterlot.  She trembled and began to move her hips back as the feeling coursed through her magic extention to her nervous system.

She began a slow rhythm of rocking her body and lifting her hips so she could get the best feeling and give the best.  Opening her eyes she saw Rainbow had closed her eyes, was biting her bottom lip, and was huffing heavily while her head arched up.

Feeling the motivation she began to hump faster and grit her teeth as she felt a wealth of sensations squeezing and pulsing inside Rainbow around her magic strap-on almost making her fall from the near orgasmic waves that passed between them both.

Rainbw began gyrating her hips while tightening her legs and pulling Applejack deeper than she knew she could go.  Starting to groan loudly Rainbow reached her right foreleg to the pillow and grabbed it tightly while she reached and held into Applejack’s flank and lightly rubbed, in small circles, until she felt her insides tightening.

Small pulses grew larger and larger until they peaked and a floodgate of emotion and stress washed away in a heavy scream that hurt Applejack’s ears until she folded them to her skull tightly.  A light yellow glow came from Rainbow then pulsed a light throughout their room as her body fell limp.

Sweat beading across her panting body she trembled from her legs to her wings while she sniffled into her hooves and turned away.

“Rainbow, are you crying?”

Without an answer Applejack began to move in and out of Rainbow again, she had felt her own orgasm approaching and didn’t want to waste it.

“W-whoa, n-no.  I-I can’t take much more, it feels too good,” Rainbow said panting between thrusts.

“I, Ah need to cum.  I need ta know what it feels like.”

Rainbow reached her legs to Applejack’s hips and gently pushed her back and out of her body.

“Fine, how close were you?”

“I think I was almost there but I don’t know with this thing.”

Rainbow rolled to her belly and raised her rear swishing her tail.  “Just do it, please.”

Applejack felt the strap on pulse and send a rush through her as she lined herself behind the beautiful mare of her dreams and looked at her in a different way; from behind on all fours while feeling the lust of a stallion coursing through her.  Grabbing Rainbow’s flanks she penetrated her again and gasped.

It’s tighter and wetter.  The smell, the sounds, the control, and how deep I am.  Oh Luna, Applejack thought as she began rhythmic pounding into Rainbow who had started screaming into her pillow, loudly.

A feeling at the tip sent half a dozen pulses to Applejack’s dripping pussy as a feeling of a male orgasm sending her thrusting so deep into Rainbow she could feel Rainbow’s cervix resisting her force to penetrate into her womb.

Rainbow’s rear was lifted in the air as Applejack gripped and looked to the ceiling and screamed a grunting noise she’d never made before.  Her back arched and she was worried for a fleeting second she’d bend backwards hurting herself while her body spasmed and thrusted out of her control into Rainbow’s deepest parts.

Then, just like it started it was gone.  The wave of passion and feeling of greatness was gone, leaving Applejack exhausted and out of energy.  With a reach to her hips she pulled the release strap and she fell to Rainbow’s back and rolled off onto her side of the bed closest to the window and fell asleep just like that.

Rainbow laid in place with the strap on left inside her body too exhausted to move, let alone pull it out.  She couldn’t even think as she fell asleep like that, with her body squeezing the toy that was filling her hole and refusing to let it slide out.

Morning came and a rooster crowed to wake them from their slumber.  Applejack woke up first with a slight feeling of guilt of having done what she did to her marefriend and rolled out of bed.  Looking to Rainbow she snorted to see the snoring more on her knees still with the strap-on still inside her.

Her body had pushed almost all of it out but it hit the bed and was wedged at just the right angle so it wouldn’t fall out.  Rainbow whinnied loudly in between her snores as Applejack reached under Rainbow and lightly tugged the toy from her body.  A small pool of fluids poured from Rainbow and onto Applejack’s hoof and foreleg up to her fetlocks.

To her surprise she wasn’t in the mood when she woke up but this was too much to pass up.  It was still celebrating their new bed and house as long as one of them was in bed, right?

Licking and slurping her foreleg of some of the sweet musky fluids she was tempted to put Celestia’s Cepter back on and take advantage of the situation but opted out.  Choosing instead to start a breakfast in their kitchen.  Opening the window Applejack threw a horseshoe at the rooster stopping his crows so Rainbow could sleep a little longer.

Returning the toy to the box she looked at it and groaned.  She’d clean it later, or she’d make Rainbow do it.  Breakfast was more important right now.  She didn’t get dinner and she knew Rainbow was a more athletic pegasus and needed to eat six times a day, sometimes more.

Trotting to the bathroom she looked at herself in the mirror and scoffed.  Her mane only got messy when Rainbow got wild with her.  Taking a brush she took it to her mane and tail before she finished her bathroom time.

Descending the stairs she took in the smell of their new house and the scent of rustic older wood and flowers as she turned to the kitchen.

Another Fantastic Day

Rainbow woke up and cleared her throat loudly as she smacked her lips, the taste and scent of the previous night hung heavy on her muzzle.  From her knees she sat up and stretched her wings wide letting a quiet yawn, followed by a nicker, start her day.  Looking around her at the messy bed she smirked.

“Yup, I’m the best.  She probably had to crawl out of here; why’m I the best?  Cuz I’m Rainbow Dash.”

Rolling off the bed she landed on her rear legs and began her morning stretches as the faint scent of breakfast began to waft to their room.  Darn, I just started.  Can’t stop or I might miss something… It smells really good too.

Rainbow got ten minutes into her preflight stretches before Applejack’s voice sang through the house.

“Rainbow Dash~?  Chow is ready and I hope you are too~.”

Rainbow bent backwards into a bridge bend balancing on her head and wings while her tail curled around her right hind leg.  With a slow tug she felt her tail stretch longer and a slight resistance in her leg as well as telling her she was doing it right.

Relaxing she rolled her tail around her other leg and pulled feeling the stretch again.  She felt a pop at the base of her spine where her tail jointed and stopped suddenly; paralysed with worry and fear.

D-did I just break my tail?  Oh no, please no.  I need it to balance and it’s a part of me…

Flexing her abdomen and swinging her chin down she rolled smoothly to her rear legs than forelegs as her wings folded to her sides in a single motion.  Turning she looked at her tail which hung limply behind her.  Turning she reached her right foreleg out and poked at it then sighed as it swished away.

“You scared me, Zappy.  Don’t do that again, okay?”

“Zappy?” Applejack said in a tone of disbelief, “ya named yer tail ‘Zappy’?”  She chortled then began to laugh as Rainbow scowled at her.

“What about Bucky McGillicuddy and Kicks McGee?” Rainbow said smirking looking to Applejack’s legs.

Applejack kept laughing shortly after Rainbow joined in for the next minute.  “Darlin’, ya got any more names I should know about?  Yer mane named ‘Stripey Flow’?” Rainbow said slowing to a guffaw.

“AJ, Yer a barrel of laughs.  C’mon, I guess I’m done.  I’ll just do more pre-nap stretches today at work.”

Calming down they walked out of the room side by side and Rainbow led the way downstairs.

Breakfast smelled simple and as Rainbow reached the bottom and rounded the staircase to the kitchen she sighed.  It was simple, rustic even.

I don’t know why but I was hoping for something huge on our first morning.

“Pick up the pace Dashing, I’m gettin’ a might hungry and we gotta shower before we head on out,” she said as she shoved past Rainbow and trotted to the table first.

Taking a seat Applejack wasted no time and leaned into her bowl of plain oatmeal and slurped a gulp down.

Rainbow arrived to the table and held back a joke that just went through her mind.  You’re a mare, don’t get all stallion on her and scare her away.

Sitting she looked at the plate, cup, and bowl and let a small sigh go before she followed suit and took the first bite of plain oatmeal.

Applejack had turned her attention to the hard boiled egg that sat shelled on her plate and took a bite, followed lastly by a drink of apple juice.

“Rainbow, ya doin’ okay?  Ya look plum tired still; I didn’t wear ya out that bad, did I?”

Rainbow swallowed her mouthful of oats and cleared her throat.  “Erhm.  Well, I was hoping for a bigger breakfast, but I know we haven’t done any shopping yet, not really anyway.  Want me to fly by the market today and pick up a few dozen things?  I can see ya and say ‘howdy’.”

“Dashing, yer a grown mare that has a house yer own now.  Ya can get the groceries, so long as ya buy a bushel of apples,” she said pointing a hoof to the empty basket by the pantry door.

“What?  Why?  We get ‘em free from the farm, AJ.”

“Ain’t nothing free in the world.  Ya work and earn yer keep like the rest of us sure, but supplies ain’t free and farmin’s still a business.  Less’n ya wanna spend a day or three doing odd chores ‘round the farm?” she asked hopefully raising her eyebrows.

“Nope,” Rainbow said in a Big Mac impression, “Ah’ll just buy a bushel from ya, but ya gotta bring ‘em home tonight.  Deal?”

Applejack furrowed her brow and spit in the palm of her hoof and reached across the table; Rainbow did the same and they clapped their hooves together.

“Deal, AJ.  I’m gonna buy a ton of sugar, plain oats are for the birds not pegasi.”

Applejack nodded as she picked up the remaining egg and popped it in her mouth.  “And some stuff fer a good stew.  Big Mac done gave me a good recipe and I aim ta try it fer dinner.  By the way, four nights a week we’re havin’ dinner on the farm with the family, at least.”

“Sounds good ta me.  I like the Apples and it saves us a few bits on groceries.  I’m down with the ground, after all.”

Applejack rolled her eyes.  “Yeah, sugarplum.  Just don’t be late.  Six thirty, tonight,” she emphasised.

“Alright, Alright.  I get it, I’ll be there or I’ll be square,” eating her egg in one bite then gulping down her juice she began to hover and rubbed her belly. “First meal of the day; good start.  I’ll get a few muffins and a donut at work but thanks, darlin’,” she said flying around the table and landing next to Applejack.

“You’re the best marefriend ever.  Hurry up, I’m gonna shower but can’t wait up.”  She took to the air again and flew to and up the stairs quickly and a few seconds after she left the shower turned on.

Applejack sighed and finished her juice before gathering the dishes and putting them in the sink.  “That mare hates cleanin’ up but I gotta get her ta start or this place’ll be messier than a pig pen in july.”

Finishing the dishes she wiped the last plate dry and set it in the stack with a frustrated huff.  Rainbow wrapped her forelegs around Applejack’s barrel and squeezed tightly and gave her a nuzzle.  “I wish you were there just now, all I thought about was our night.  It was awesome.

“Dash, it was, but ya gotta start helpin’ out here.  Now git ta work so ya can earn a few bits for the house.  We need a new roof and Ah’m thinkin’ I can talk it over with a couple construction ponies and price it.  Dash,” she said shaking her hooves dry into the sink and turning to embrace Rainbow back, “ownin’ a house is gonna be expensive so we gotta pull our weight for a bit and make this work.  Ah believe we can do it, as long as we work together.  Now git.”

With a light kiss on the cheek and a return nuzzle they bade each other a loving farewell to start their own day.  “Ah cleaned up breakfast but we’re gonna start a chore chart soon so we have a fair load, ‘kay?”

“‘Kay AJ, see ya later.”

“Dash,” Applejack said as Rainbow was almost to the door.  She paused for a moment before turning to face her.  “I love ya, and, well, thanks for everything.”

Sharing a smile Rainbow opened the door and floated outside.  Taking a deep breath in she smiled as she took higher to the skies to begin her day.

Rainbow arrived to work a few minutes early and began her greetings like any other day, until she went by the offices.  “Hey, where’s Quill?  Shouldn’t she be here?”

“She’s taking a vacation; you’re in charge again while she’s gone,” a stallion said as he passed, almost in a saddened tone.

Rainbow hopped into the air and flew to the stallion, stopping him with a tug on his tail.  “What?  I saw her yesterday, where the hay did she have to go?”

He looked back and swished his tail and frowned at her. “I don’t know or really care, you’re the boss so that’s your job,” he said curtly before huffing through his nostrils and turning to face her, “Look, I’m sorry about that.  Personal stuff.  Rumor is her marefriend is sick and she’s nursing her back to health.

“Quill’s a really sweet mare and everypony knows she’s do anything to help another pony out so this’ just something she’d do.  Are you okay?”

Rainbow sighed and nodded.

“Alright.  I’m sorry again about that but a lots been going on.  Did you hear a monster attacked Canterlot two days ago?”

“Holy Sun,” Rainbow said perking up and taking to the air again, “that’s awesome!  Was it a huge blowout fight, where Luna had to use her magic and blasted it back to Tartarus where it came from?”

“No, but my aunt’s cat was stepped on by the beast.”

“Oh…  I’m sorry.  So, it was a big monster then?” Rainbow asked with a hopeful look.  He sighed and rolled his eyes.  “So, that’s a yeah?  Was it a demon?”

Still looking to the ceiling his eyes trembled slightly, as though they were spinning in his sockets.  He lowered his gaze to her and smiled. “It was your ego,” he said before scowling and turning away, back to work.

“Huh, what was his problem?”  She shrugged and turned to her new managers office; Soarin’s.  “I better find out what my duties are for the time being.

“Knock knock, boss.  What’s up?” Rainbow chimed as she pushed the door open to see Soarin with his face in a file cabinet.  He waved her in while rifling through folders.  A light pink hue remained on his coat but his mane was its old color again.  Rainbow giggled into her hoof when she saw him before he turned to address her.

“Rainbow Dash, my favorite employee and manager filler, inner-?” he said trying to see if that wording fit, made sense, or existed, “anyway, since Quill is out you’re going to take over her resposibilities until she’s back.  Now, I know you’re known as the best cloud buster in town here but there’s a lot of work-”

“Yeah, yeah,” she interrupted, “I was a manager before and I’m not looking to take over her job; just help out.  Give me the paperwork so I can sort it out and get it into the right hooves before I get out there and make some weather, she said confidently pumping a hoof.

“Well, in that case I’ve done some restructuring of our file systems to bring them more in line with Cloudsdale; now we have less paperwork,” he smiled and she beamed.  “But, we have more to do as far as communicating our plans through meetings.”

“Wha-”

“So, since Quill isn’t here today, we were going to have a staff meeting with the department heads at 2:30 this afternoon then sit in on the subsequent meetings.  We should be done by 6:00 tonight, but that’s when we get to start the real tough task of-”

“Wait a minute,” she interjected, “I have plans tonight.  I’ll just do whatever tomorrow.”

“Wrong.  You’re acting manager, and if you want to keep your job you have to do manager work.”

Rainbow frowned and opened her mouth to protest before he began again.  “If you have a complaint you may take it up with corporate, in pink lettering,” he said almost spitting the words out.

“I know you played a part, as much as Quill did, in my current coloration.  I also know that three guards arrived here and spoke to me while others ransacked my residence looking for illegal drugs; thanks to your proclamation the other day.”

“But-”

“And I also know you have a new home, can you afford it on a cloud jockey’s salary?”

“Ye-”

“Didn’t think so, so now I’ll tell you what’s going to happen,” he said walking from the file cabinet to almost touching her muzzle with his.  His nostrils were flaring, the heat of his breath was washing over her muzzle; a sensation she did not miss in the least.

He took in a deep breath and spoke in a deep stage whisper.  “You’re going to be a good mare and do the work assigned to you or you’ll be without a job in the corporation ever again.  I don’t want any other words from you or any of your brash attitude.  Am.  I.  Understood?”

Rainbow felt her heart pounding and her vision began to blur from the rage she was feeling.  Every part of her wanted to open her wings and show this colt how to speak to a mare as awesome as her; though a variety of punches, wing slaps, and kicks to his body that’d make the pink be a welcome color compared to the purple bruises she’d leave him with.

She leaned in and pressed her nose to his and stared him down for a long few seconds, then she blinked.  She leaned back and lowered her head; with a sigh. “I understand,” she said softly.

“That’s more like it,” he said standing tall again and ruffling his feathered wings proudly, “your marefriend’s broken you nicely, filly fooler.”  He turned to walk back to his desk then felt a thump to his side just below his ribs; a split second later he felt the other side of his body impact a hard object.

Sound and pain racked his head as he took in his current surroundings.  He was laying on the floor with no less than seven ponies pulling Rainbow away from him.  His forelegs were up guarding his head and he noticed throbbing pain across his entire midsection.

What the hay just happened? he thought as he lowered his forelegs and listened to the cyan mare grunting and struggling against the others pulling her out of the room shouting for her to calm down.

Rolling to his side he exhaled and chuckled.  A steady stream of mucus colored with blood left his mouth.  He felt with his tongue and huffed a pained laugh.  “Two teeth and I don’t know what happened, except that I lost to her again.”

Rainbow stormed up the stairs and to the roof, opening her wings and flying away, without a direction in mind, in an angered hurry.

“That bucking…  Bucking…  Damnit he’s such a fucking asshole!” she shouted into the wind ahead of her, ”how dare he talk to me like I’m his bitch?  ‘Be a good mare and blah blah blah’, well he can kiss my flank.  The corporation can kiss me goodbye too…  Oh crap,” she thought slowing and beginning to fly in a circle.  Collecting water from the air she formed a nice cloud to lay on.

“I just bucked myself out of my job,” she said somberly; landing on the fresh white cloud and taking a seat, “what the hay was I thinking?  All I wanted to do was live a simple life here in Ponyville and bust clouds.  No responsibilities or expectations of me to do anything with my life but that.”

Then I became an element bearer, then I started having adventures, and traveling more,” she sighed, “having sex more.  I thought I liked the life I was making for myself.  I spent the last few years exercising and getting ready for the wonderbolts to take me in only to find out I’m ineligible for the next couple years.

“Now,” she pushed part of the center of the cloud to the edge making a pillow, “I don’t have that. Now I have a house and no bits to buy food,” she winced at the prospect of what Applejack was going to say, “and I have to tell AJ.”

She laid down and sighed.  “Well this day is kinda screwed up but at least there’s one thing I know I can control,” she forced a smile as she yawned and stretched her legs out, rolling to her side, “naptime.”

Rainbow yawned before she opened her eyes to see the sun above her. Almost Lunch, she thought as she rolled off the cloud and flew higher into the air.  Corkscrewing through a cloud above her she banked hard and began flying in circles around it until it span, beginning to send whisps of itself off.

Stopping suddenly she stuck a hoof to the edge of the cloud and began flying opposite it smoothing it out until it had rounded some and slowed to a steady spin.  Flying to the bottom she punched it creating a small dent, then she did the same to the top.  She sighed with a smile at her work then placed a hoof to her chin, thinking of what was missing.  “Oh yeah!”

Waving her hooves in a circle in front of herself she collected some water from the air and began to form a cloud which she left hanging in space as she hovered back and looked at it.  “Needs to be bigger.”

Flying around it she increased its size until it was as large as her body.  Nodding in approval she began to press it together into a ball, then she tightened it so it was firm enough.  Lining herself with the cloud she had formed she turned and bucked the ball through it creating a hole the size of her head in a cloud roughly the size of a small one bedroom house.

“That’s half of it.”

Looking to another cloud she flew to it and sized it up.  “Eeyup.”  Flying along it’s cumulous ridges she flattened them and began to knead it into a spear shape, then grabbed it, guiding it to the hole in the other cloud, fitting it in snugly until the two were one.

“That’ll do pig, that’ll do.”

She flew to the far side and began to gently push the cloud back to Ponyville, focusing her magic so it would keep its shape all the way.

Arriving over the market she lowered it to just above house height and dropped to see Applejack blushing by her cart.

“Dashing, Ah love it but, do ya gotta make such a scene?”

“I dunno what yer talkin’ about AJ.  It’s just an apple that looks like a heart with an arrow through it, no biggie,” Rainbow shrugged smiling and looking at her hoof casually.

“Well, thanks but are ya just gonna leave it there for the town ta see?”

“Eeyup.  Oh yeah, I think I got fired earlier.  Again,” she said quickly as Applejack was looking to the cloud.

“That’s nic- what?” Applejack asked looking to Rainbow who was half smiling, nervously.  “Come again?”

“Only at home.”

Applejack lowered her head and frowned.  “Come. Again?”

“Ah, I-I got fired, I think.”

Applejack scowled deeply and stomped a hoof to the ground, letting an angry growl leave her.  “Rainbow Dash, ya best be pullin’ my tail.”

“Well, I kinda beat up my boss.  I won though!”

Applejack’s eyes widened and she leaned back.  “What?!  Ya beat up Quill?!  What for?  She’s goin through enough, and now yet gettin’ inta hoof fights?”

“No! Nononono, it was Soarin,” several ponies gasped and began whispering, “c-can we talk somewhere more private?”

“No we can’t.  Ya started this here we’re finishin’ it here.  Why in Hel did ya go and do that for?”

Rainbow landed and sat on her haunches, rubbing a foreleg to another. “I-I don’t know.  He was treating me like a foal for coloring him pink and getting the guard to raid his apartment.”

Applejack took her hat off and threw it to the earth and stomped the ground next to it.  “I can’t believe what Ahm hearin.  Ya got as much sense as a lone bit in a gorge; he’s yer boss Rainbow Dash,” she shook her head and looked to her hat in disappointment, “ya pranked him and ya got caught.  He has every right ta treat you like a foal if ya act like one.

“I thought ya were growing up but yer still the same old Rainbow Dash in a lotta ways.”

“I’m not,” she protested standing up and taking a step closer.  Applejack shot her a look that stopped her in her tracks.  “I-I guess I am, but with you I’m totally different.  I,” she lowered her voice, “I can be sappy with you.”

“That ain’t it,” Applejack said in resignation, “ya gotta be better out here to.”  With a passing wave of her hoof she gestured to the town around her.  “That,” she pointed to the apple in the sky, “ain’t enough.  Any pony can see we love each other, but we have to support each other too.”

Rainbow scrunched her muzzle and cocked her head.  “Like, help you reach something?”

A few chuckles sounded from around them from the still market that was watching the scene.  “AJ, can we please talk in private.  This’ embarrassing.”

Applejack huffed and looked to the sky. “And do ya think that’s a welcome sight?  Ahm sellin’ here and ya bring me a heart-apple and leave it hangin…  Ya know what, that ain’t even it.  Ya gotta help me, us, in any way ya can.  Gettin’ fired twice in the same year ain’t helpin’.

“Where are ya gonna earn bits?”

“The farm?”

“We don’t need help and you ain’t doin’ chores.  Zap Apples harvest is fine for the rest of the week so we don’t need more, yet.”

“I dunno AJ!  I didn’t plan on it, he said you broke me and called me a fillyfooler and I lost it.”

“And what the hay is wrong with what he said?!  I done broke ya of yer old habits, or so I thought.  And ya are a fillyfooler,” she said baring her teeth, “Ah can’t believe ya got fired over his statin’ the obvious,” she huffed turning her face away and blushing lightly.  “Dash, ya best make this right quick, fast, and in a hurry.”

Rainbow sat and worked her jaw, trying to for a comeback.  A retort.  A witty observation; anything.  Applejack picked up her hat and whacked it against the side of the cart, clearing it of most of its dust and dirt before placing it back on her head.  “And please get that outta here, I don’t wanna see it,” she nodded to the cloud above them.

“Apples!  Apples fer sale.  Hey, green stallion, interested in a few apples fer dinner?”

Rainbow jumped into the air and flew to the cloud focusing a great point of magic to her forelegs and flew into it; busting it without stopping.  Applejack looked up to see the rainbow contrail streaking away into the distance and sighed.

I love ya Dash, but ya gotta grow up someday. She thought as she placed two apples and a fritter into the stallions saddle bag.  Life quickly returned to normal around her; destined to turn to gossip for a couple days before it went away.  Ahm gonna get a talkin to from the others about this.  That’s gonna be as dandy as a sour apple at a rodeo.

Employment and Loss

“Rainbow Dash,” a voice called from behind her as she flew away from town to waste the rest of her afternoon and plan on a new career.  She stopped and looked back to see a blue contrail dissipating but no pony behind her. “You’re still too slow,” Soarin said from above her.

She looked to him and scowled. Looking at Soarin she felt her blood boiling and her muscles tense and a little mirth at his current image.  A light pink pegasus, blue mane, black eye, bruise on his right ribs, and a tissue in his nose with blood lightly soaked into it.

“Now what?  You can’t fire me twice.”  She crossed her forelegs and huffed as she watched him hover to her side.  Turning to face him she waited for his next witty remark.

“Rainbow Dash, I’m sorry.”

The words hit her like a crash to the earth from a bad stunt.  Twice in the same few minutes she worked her jaw to say something but nothing came out.

“What I said was out of line and I was wrong for doing that to you in any way, shape, or form.  Can we talk this over, in a public place?” he asked as he held a hoof out; a smile graced his face genuinely.

Rainbow looked at him with wide eyes and looked to his extended foreleg and hoof.  “Why?” she asked meekly. “I hit you, a lot.  I said words that would make Luna blush while I kicked you and wing slapped you.  Why would you forgive me? I’m,” she hesitated, “I was mean to you.”

Soarin kept his hoof extended to her. “And I was a jerk for letting my emotions turn me into a predator.  I spent six years in the Wonderbolts and not once did I lose my cool.  Not when I was hazed for being new, or when I was hurt doing a stunt and grounded, or when I fell for an underage tryout who really was contender for the team.”

“Really?  I was gonna get on the team?” she asked hopefully becoming excited again.

“Not with your attitude,” he said.  She sighed and looked to the ground below them.  They were so far up but hardly that high at all.

“Is that why I’m banned from the Wonderbolts?”

“Banned?  Who the hay said banned?”

Rainbow’s ears perked up and she looked to him again. “But, I got a letter that said I wasn’t gonna be on the team since I was with a Wonderbolt.”

Soarin laughed heartily and clutched his sides as Rainbow looked at him confused.

“Rainbow, did you read the letter?  Every recruit gets one of those!” he shouted. “It’s a test to see how you’d react to failure; you failed by the way, but you’re not out.”

Rainbow gasped and covered her mouth.

“Rainbow Dash, you’re one of the top pegasus in Equestria in every area.  Get your attitude under control and you’re at least going to be in the reserves,” he said straightening up and talking like a leader.

Rainbow rushed him into a tight hug for a second before pushing him back with enough force to make him lose balance. “Sorry, but I’m still mad at you for what you said.  Even if it was true,” she said softly. “I’m not broken, Soarin. I’m just being put together.”

“Wow, that was really philosophical,” he said looking to her skeptically.

“Filly-what-ankle?”

He chuckled. “It means smart.”

“Oh, AJ said that to me a while back.  I guess that’s me though,” she shrugged. Looking to the sky she found the sun and looked to the horizon. “What’m I gonna do now that I don’t have a job, Soarin? All I wanted to do is be a weather pony and a Wonderbolt,” she asked looking to a cloud on the horizon.

Feeling a hoof on her shoulder she turned to look at him.  He was still smiling. “I never said you were fired.  I got two loose teeth and a bloody nose for what I spat at you in anger, and we’re even.  Still wanna set those meetings up?”

“Really?! Oh my gosh, AJ’s gonna be so happy,” she squeaked, “this is so awesome, you’re a great boss.  Thanks Soarin,” she said puckering her lips and leaning into him.  He placed a hoof to her lips and she stopped.  Blinking quickly she looked to his hoof over her mouth and turned away spitting and wiping her lips.

“Holy Celestia what was I doing just now?”

“Dash, it’s okay.  Most mares can’t get enough of me as it is, you just happen to have slipped up is all,” he said grinning.

“Flock your ego is big.”

“Yours is bigger and everypony in Equestria knows it,” he quipped while looking behind her to the town. “Speaking of the known world, yours is still in that town.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve heard about how much you and that apple farmer have going on.  It’s more than I’d ever want, personally,” he said rolling his shoulders, “but you’re you, so go for it.  Can I expect to see you at work in an hour?”

“...Sure, whatever,” she said trying to hide her smile, “thanks, Soarin.  You saved me, finally.”

He cocked his head slightly and looked at her. “When’d you save me?”

She let her cocky smirk cross her muzzle. “Sonic. Rainboom.”

He blushed and looked away. “Yeah, well.  Your friend kicks like a Buffalo.”

“Either way, you were out and I saved your feathers.”

“Well, thank you then.  The thank you I never said, you know, for saving my life and all that.  I’m, uh, gonna go and get back to work and change my nose plug,” he said looking to the end of his muzzle at the slightly reddened tissue in his snout, “and maybe see a doctor about these loose teeth, before our meetings.”

“‘Kay, see ya.”

They turned and both flew back to Ponyville, separating at the town’s border.  Rainbow flew back to Applejack and landed with a beaming grin beside her.

“Rainbow Dash, what’re ya doin’ back so soon?” she asked turning to face the cyan mare.

“I have great news-”

“Ya got yer job back already?!”

“Nope.”

“Well what the hay are ya doin’ here then?” she asked starting to frown.

“I never lost my job.  He caught up to me and apologized, then I did. He’s gonna see a doctor quick and then I have a meeting and a few more,” she said happily.

Applejack started to smirk. “Yer fulla surprises, sugarplum.”

They leaned in and nuzzled each others cheeks then Applejack rolled her chin over Rainbow’s head to nuzzle her other cheek.

A few ponies hooted in the background causing the mares to blush and withdraw slightly in embarrassment.

“Get a room you two,” a mare said with a giggle as she passed.

“Ah can’t believe we did that.  Shoulda just kissed,” Applejack said reaching to her hat and pulling it down slightly.”

“Bah, let ‘em laugh, they’ll never have what we do.  But let’s try to keep it cool in public, sheesh.”

They stood up and gave each other a kiss. “Sugar, get ta work. Ah’ve got a bushel ta sell.  See ya fer dinner?”

“Eeyup. 7:00.”

“6:30, Dashing.”

“I know, just messing.  See ya, Awesome Jack.”

Rainbow took to the air and flew up and away while Applejack turned to the crowd to resume selling apples.

That mare is fulla surprises.  What next?

Two days later

Rainbow, Applejack, and Quill were sitting in the soft grass of the park enjoying oat-cinnamon-apple caramel rolls they had purchased from Sugarcube Corner.

“Rainbow, how’s the office been?  Lime’s doing better so I might go back in a week or so.  You know, gotta pay bills.”

“Must be nice owning your house, right Quill?”

“Yeah, it has its ups.  I can do what I want, when I want, how I want. Someday I’ll finish that bathroom and have a party in there.”

“Now, what kinda party ya thinkin’? Ah’ve heard about parties like that and I only want Dash here.”

“Oh heavens no, not an orgy, silly filly; a bubble party or something.”

“Did somepony say bubbles and party?!” Pinkie shouted from above them, falling to the ground lightly with a balloon tied to her mane.

“I was just talking about the future, Pinkie,” Quill said forcing a smile while looking to Pinkie, “I have to finish my bathroom and was thinking of having a party to celebrate, would you like to plan it?”

“OhmygoshIwouldloveto!  First I have to-”

“No,” Quill interrupted.  Pinkie sat on her haunches and looked at Quill with a raised eyebrow.  “I don’t want streamers or confetti.  I want a party like they have in Canterlot; fancy and refined.  I’m not a filly anymore and I want a real party.”

“Balloons are okay still, right?”

Quill tapped her chin in thought.  “Earth colors, not filly colors.”

“Sugarcube, why do ya want a fancy party for? Pinkie’s parties are fun.”

“I want to try something different is all.  I want a regal party, the kind a princess would go to,” she said softly looking toward Canterlot’s mountain.

“Well, I guess I could work some of my rustier party skills, but sure.  I owe you a favor anyway, so it’s a deal.  Just let me know when,” Pinkie said hopping to her hooves and smiling again.  “Well, if that’s it I guess I’ll just mosey on that way and bug somepony else.”

Turning she began a happy trot out of the park.

“That mare’s fulla surprises.”

“Yeah, but her parties are pretty awesome.”

“Yeah, but they’re always set for foals.  What about those of us that are trying to grow up?  You’re gonna get married, I’m a manager at the weather office, Lime’s…  Oh, I forgot to check on Lime.  I’ve been so busy trying to catch up with my friends that I’ve gotten side tracked.  Wanna help me shop for supplies and see Lime?

“She’s only had one other visitor, Fluttershy said, since she went there.”

“Oh, who was that?”

“Honey Well, a bee farmer from a ranch in the north.  She’s pretty cool and I guess she gave a jar of honey to Lime, for when she’s better.”

“Oh, that’s nice of her. Why’d she just show up, did you tell her, Quill?”

“No,” she said laying on the grass and looking to the sky, “I thought Rainbow Dash told her, you know how she can’t keep a secret to save her life.”

“Hey! I haven’t told anypony!  Lime’s a good friend and I wouldn’t hurt her reputation like that.  That’d be totally lame,” Rainbow said falling back into the grass, “and if there’s one thing I’m not is lame.  I’m the best.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow at the two pegasi enjoying the afternoon sun.  “So, if neither of ya told, how’d she know?”

Quill shrugged and moved her forelegs under her head. “I dunno, that’s a good question.  Somepony must have said something to somepony.  AJ, heard any rumors about her?”

Applejack thought for a long minute. “Nope, the market’d be the place ta hear any rumor and last I heard of Lime is she was takin’ a week to visit family.  I wasn’t gonna call her out just like that,” she said stomping a hoof to the ground.  “So, who else knew?”

Rainbow hummed lightly and exhaled in a steady rhythm.  “Well she’s napping,” Quill said looking to Rainbow. “I dunno,” she sat up and ruffled her wings. “I think only us four and Davenport and Muddy know.  They have no reason to gossip about recovery, Fluttershy wouldn’t. We didn’t.”

The feeling began to tense as Applejack and Quill looked around at the other ponies in the park enjoying their own time in their own ways before looking at each other.  “When did Honey Well stop by, Quill?” Applejack asked with some concern in her voice.

“Uh, erhm,” she cleared her throat, “yesterday afternoon while I was out buying her flowers for a snack.  She almost cried asking, but she never said anything… about… a visitor,” Quill hesitantly said taking to her hooves and opening her wings.  Looking up she took to the sky while Applejack pushed Rainbow.

“We hafta go!” she urged, “Lime might be in trouble, hurry Dash.”

Rainbow stirred and yawned fluttering her eyes open to look at Applejack. “AJ, what’s up?”

Hopping to her hooves she turned to the street. “Hurry to Fluttershy’s.”  Taking a hopping start she entered into a full gallop reaching her top speed in a few lengths.  Rainbow flapped her wings and took off after her taking a higher route to avoid the dust cloud in Applejacks wake.

Looking at Applejack galloping at top speed was always a turn on for Rainbow.  Watching her taut muscles contracting under her skin, sweat beginning to form on her sides, her mane standing straight behind her while her tail bobbed with each stride. A grin began to form on Rainbow’s muzzle as she watched Applejack turn through town and dodge other ponies.

Maybe we’re gonna be kinky and do it in Fluttershy’s tree, or in the bushes behind her cottage.  That naughty pony, she thought as she took a slight lead and lowered herself to Applejack’s side as they left town down the path.

“AJ, ya gonna tell me what’s up?”

“Just hurry,” Applejack said with a slight strain in her voice.

She’s really pushing herself, I hope she’s not too tired when we get there.

Taking the last turn they saw a flurry of animals outside Fluttershy’s home and the front door ajar.  “Hurry Dash, we gotta check on them.”

Rainbow finally realized the gravity of the situation and landed in a full gallop behind Applejack as they reached the walkway and slowed to a fast trot inside the home.  Animals were in a tizzy, some gathering fruits and items and flying them upstairs while others huddled in groups together.

Looking at the scene the couple looked to the stairs and ascended as quickly as they could to see Fluttershy and Quill holding Lime on the floor.  A jar of sticky honey spilt beside the bed and three rodents dead beside it.  The sight hit them like a cart full of bricks.

Quill cradled Limes head in her forehooves while Fluttershy looked sadly at the mare below her, she was sitting over her with her hooves resting on Lime’s chest, tears dripping onto her green coat.

“Quiet, my friends,” Fluttershy said softly.  “It’s time to sing her to sleep, like the others.”

Critters silenced instantly and an eerie quiet befell the cottage.

Quill looked to Fluttershy with teary eyes and mouthed words but couldn't make a sound, save for an occasional squeak sound.

Fluttershy sat up and moved off Lime and looked to the critters around the room.  With a nod they began a soft chorus, holding a steady tone.

Fluttershy placed a hoof on Quills shoulder and began.

“Hush now, quiet it now, it's time to lay your sleepy head.”

Quill’s eyes widened. “N-no.”

“Hush now, quiet now, it's time to go to bed”

“No, Fluttershy. D-don’t, please don’t tell me…”

“Hush now, quiet now, close your sleepy eyes.  Hush now, quiet now, my how time sure flies.”

Quill let her tears flow onto Lime as she pulled her into a kiss. “Please baby, please don’t go.  Please, I can’t be without you.  Don’t leave me like this.”

“Drifting, drifting off to sleep the days excitement behind you.”

Lime’s eyes fluttered open and she raised a hoof to Quill’s cheek.  She whispered to Quill then her foreleg fell to her chest and she exhaled her last breath.

“Drifting drifting off to sleep, let the joy of dreamland find you.  Goodbye Lime.”

The chorus of animals stopped and only the sound of Quill’s crying broke the silence.  Looking to the ceiling she grit her teeth and groaned, then took a deep breath, and screamed a sorrow so deep it could cut through the most steel resolve.

Rainbow listened and hugged Applejack tightly as tears flowed slowly from her clenched eyes.

Quill screamed.

Critters left the room quietly and Applejack’s rear legs gave way as she looked at the sight.

Quill screamed.

Fluttershy turned her head but kept her hoof on Quills trembling shoulder.

Quill pulled Lime to her chest as tightly as she could and rocked her slowly as she looked to her love and a single tear that had trailed partly from Lime’s eye down her cheek.

Kissing her repeatedly Quill sobbed until she too fell into a quiet cry.

“Lime, I love you; always and forever,” Quill whispered as she traced Lime’s face, committing it to memory, engraving it into her heart, “and when I meet you again I’ll be yours, as your were mine.”

Moving on

    “Quill, ya gonna be okay?” Applejack asked as they walked from Quill’s house for the last time.

    “Yeah, I-I just can’t be there, or here, anymore.  Too many bad memories, too many good ones,” Quill said looking to the ground quickly, wincing at the memories that flooded her mind, “If you hear of anypony that wants a house you have my address in Wind Falls, right?”

    Applejack forced a soft smile. “I do, but those pegasi cities are hard to get letters to so quickly, bein’ all up there and all.  Wish I could visit.”

    “Well,” Quill said looking to Applejack as they walked to the train station, “you can always get a spell cast on you, or just let me know.  I’m willing to touch the earth for my closest friends.”

    Applejack let her smile fall as she walked slowly with Quill.  “Rainbow isn’t takin’ it any better yet.  She ain’t seen death before, and ta see it like that,” she pursed her lips and glanced to Quill, “Ah didn’t mean ta bring it up, sugarcube.”

    Quill stopped and began to stifle her sobs as Applejack draped a foreleg over her shoulders and pulled her to her side. “Sugarcube, you’re gonna be fine and you’ll live for her, just like ya know she wanted ya to.”

    “Her last words, though.  I-I’ll never forgive myself,” she frowned and growled lightly, “or her.”

    Applejack turned to face Quill and pulled her into a hug.  Quill’s feathers bristled then she relaxed into the strong earth ponies hug.

    “Quill, ain’t nothin’ we could do.  Honey Well’s a farmer and seller, ya know the laws; she made a sale and that was how the law has it.  All we can do is make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

    Quill tensed up and flexed her wings, pushing Applejack back from her.  “I know the laws, and I hate them. They let the mare that killed my Lime get off with a fine.  A FINE!” she screamed as she flared her wings aggressively, startling and garnering the attention of a pair of guardsponies patrolling the street.

    “She died and Honey Well gets to sell her honey laced with whatever to whoever pays still.  It’s,” she fell to the ground in a heap, “it’s not fair,” she said curling up in the middle of the street.  Ignoring the looks of the passers by and the approaching guard Applejack walked to Quills side and leaned down to talk to her, but stopped.

    She stood up and looked to the sky, a single cloud was still following them.  Why won’t Rainbow just come and say something?

    “Quill, Lime loved ya more than anything.  The fact that she used herbs and whatnot ain’t yer fault.  C’mon, git up and help me.  Rainbow is right up there, maybe ya can say goodbye to her.  She needs something, but I can’t get to her while she’s up there.  Can ya help me get her down?”

    Quill huffed a chuckle and looked to Applejack. “I know what reverse psychology is, I studied in flight school, unlike some ponies,” she pointed to the cloud.  A short giggle between them and Quill stood up. “I guess I’m not immune to it, I’ll help you out, dear.”

    Crouching Quill opened her wings and hopped into the air, flapping and taking to the sky quickly.  She flew to the cloud and above it to see Rainbow’s mane and tail poking out of the top.

    “Rainbow, can we talk?”

    “...”

    Quill landed on the small cloud and kneaded it flatter until it was long enough to lay on herself.

    “Rainbow, you haven’t really said anything since the funeral.  Can we say goodbye like friends?”

    “...”

    “Rainbow, please?” Quill asked softly.

    Rainbow shuffled and slowly emerged to the surface of the cloud, a look of defeat on her face.  “I-I’m sorry.”

    “What?” Quill asked softly as she reached a hoof to Rainbow’s, “Why do you feel sorry?”

    Rainbow laid her head on her forelegs, crossing her other to hold Quill’s. “I should have been faster.  I should have been better.  I should have known something was up.”

    “Rainbow, what’re you talking about?  You didn’t have anything to do with this.  It was just bad luck.”

    Rainbow burried her face in the clouds and screamed.  Her muffled scream turned to muffled words.

    “Rainbow, honey, I can’t understand you.  The train leaves soon and I really want to say goodbye to the new weather manager, again.”

    Rainbow pulled her face from the cloud and looked to Quill. Seconds passed without Rainbow blinking, her pursed lips trembling as she sat like a statue, peering into Quills eyes.

    “I-I did it.  I’m so sorry, Quill.”

    Quill pulled her hoof back and looked to Rainbow, her brow slowly creasing as she watched the regret in Rainbow’s eyes.

    “What, what did you do?” she asked cautiously.

    “F-Fluttershy asked me to get some honey for Lime’s tea” she started, looking into the cloud; avoiding eye contact, “I remembered a traveling salesmare in the market and asked her to sell me some for my sick friend.  She asked and I told her it was for detox, then she said she’d deliver it personally,” Rainbow lowered her muzzle to the cloud and slowly sank into it, “I paid for it and told her where to go.”

    Rainbow looked to the saddened eyes of Quill, her mouth slowly opening in shock.

    “Honest, I didn’t know.  I’m so sorry, Quill.  Please, hit me.  Push me and I won’t stop my fall.  Do anything to me, just don’t hate me,” Rainbow pleaded as she stopped halfway into the cloud, she wouldn’t let herself cry this time.  This time it was put up or shut up.  She had to accept the consequences.

    Quill stared at Rainbow for what felt like a minute before she closed her mouth and blinked.  She wettened her mouth and took in a deep breath before raising a hoof high into the air.  Rainbow steeled herself for the strike.  She hopped to the surface of the cloud and laid, sitting tall and closing her eyes so she wouldn’t flinch or duck.

    She exhaled and didn’t inhale, so she couldn’t scream or shout, just incase it hurt a little too much.

    The silence was unnerving and sweat began to bead across Rainbow’s coat.  She relaxed her body as best she could.  Why is she taking so long?  She must be really trying to put a lot of power into this.  If she breaks my muzzle I deserve it.

    The sound of a shaky breath took her by surprise as she finally prepared for the hit.  Her body tensed as she felt her body being squeezed.  For a second she was afraid she was going to have to fall to the ground before she heard Quill.

    “I forgive you.”

    Rainbow opened her eyes and sniffed her lungs full of air as she processed the happening.  “Y-you forgive me?  No, you can’t, not like that.” Rainow urged. “You have to get revenge, or something.  I,” she began to tremble as she felt the weight of what happened crush her again.

    “It wasn’t your fault, or anypony’s for that matter.  She was sick and made a bad choice, don’t blame yourself.”

    Rainbow trembled as she returned the hug.

    Applejack had no idea what was happening but she sat and waited by the side of the street.  Finally the two pegasi left the cloud and landed in front of Applejack.

    “We’re okay now, I guess.  AJ, can I go with you to the station?”

    “Sugar plum, ya don’t have ta ask.  Let’s git ‘fore they leave without ya, Quill.”  Applejack had a genuine smile this time and trotted between the two pegasi as they walked silently to the train station.

    “Quill, ya know if ya need anypony to help ya, ever, ya call on me.”

    “And me,” Rainbow added softly.

    “Call on us.  Ain’t no problem to small or to far for us ta be neighborly.”

    Smiling to each other they joined for a final tight hug, Applejack causing the others to cough their breath out before she released them.

    “Sorry, earth pony and all,” she said sheepishly while rubbing the back of her head.

    Gathering a single bag and adjusting her saddlebags Quill backed to the train, looking at Rainbow and Applejack.

    “Wait!” A shout came.  Davenport and Muddy galloped to the platform just as Quill was almost on, right to her and hugged her tightly.

    “Quill, you’re the best and we hope you have the best travels,” Muddy said giving her a kiss on the cheek.

    “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to write and I’ll even give you a decent discount on any sofa, loveseat-” Davenport coughed as Muddy kneed him in the belly.  “Well, you know what I mean.  I love you, and it’s not goodbye, it’s see ya soon, right?”

    Quill walked with the stallions by her side to Applejack and Rainbow, who were smiling and holding back tears.

    “You guys are the best friends a pony can have, just use my place for parties like we used to.  That’s an order,” she smirked, “or else what would she say?”

    “Get over here,” Rainbow said gruffly, pulling Quill into a tight hug, “see ya soon.”

    The others joined in and said their farewells as the conductor called ‘all aboard’.

    “See ya soon, my friends.  I’ll write often and if you’re ever near Wind Falls, look me up.”

    Quill winked and giggled.  “Way up.”

    Her earth pony friends smiled and waved goodbye as Quill boarded the train.  The doors shut and they watched her walk to a seat as the train pulled away.  She sat on the far side of the train so she couldn’t see them wave her off, but she was still happy to have had such great friends in such a great town.

    “Who knows,” Muddy said turning to the group after the train had departed, “maybe she’ll come back.”

    “I don’t know, sweetie.  What I do know is it’s almost Saturday and we have a party to plan.  I have the keys to her place, let’s get ready for some games.”

    The group smiled and sighed, looking to the train as it distanced itself from them.  “It’ll never be the same, but at least we can remember the good times together.”

    “And make some new ones, I reckon.”

Guilt (dark chapter)

“Hey~ Applejack,” Rainbow said as she stumbled into their house, hours late for dinner, “did I tell you how pretty you are lately? Cause, whooo~,” she jumped into the air flapping her wings awkwardly trying to hover, only to fly quickly left and slam into the wall separating the living room from the doorway.

“Rainbow Dash?!  What in tarnation… Have ya been drinkin’?”

Rainbow righted herself to her hooves again, stumbling to the doorway and bracing herself at the frame.

“What?! Nahh, I swear to ale that I haven’t had any Celestia in wheeks.  C’mare, babe,” she gestured with a hoof, but it was more of a flailing than a wave.

Applejack stood in disbelief at Rainbow, who was regularly besheveled looking, but never had she seen Rainbow this drunk.

“Rainbow Dash, yer drunk, and that ain’t good.  C’mon, let’s get ya ta bed and I’ll-”

“No!  I’m not goin’ ta bed, or to shleep.  OR…  You’re really pretty, AJ.  Did you know that?” She asked half smiling as she stood tall for a second.  Stumbling back she turned around and weaved into the living room, around the end table, just barely, opened her wings, and caught the edge of the couch, causing her to stumble to a stop and fall with her front forelegs splayed out and her chin on the floor.

“Hey, AJ.  Ah’m ready, give it tah me,” she broke into a giggle fit as Applejack trotted over to her.

“Rainbow, yer worryin’ me.  C’mon, let’s get ya some shut-eye.  You’ll be better after some sleep and we can talk about this in the mornin’ over breakfast.”

“Grmpmsmpt,” Rainbow grumbled into the carpet.  Applejack laid down facing her lover.

“Come again, sugarplum?”

Rainbow lifted her head and took in a deep breath. “Gri, duhn, wan, ah, sleep.”

Applejack leaned her head back as the alcohol passed her nose.  It was so intense Applejack had a fleeting thought of getting second hand drunk.

“Rainbow, Ah ain’t takin no for an answer, c’mon.  We gotta big day tomorrow and ya missed supper, get ta bed and I’ll get some help fer ya.”

Rainbow moved her forelegs under her and pushed herself up with a lot of effort before falling flat again.  Moving her wings into position she pushed herself up and got to her hooves again, then let her rear fall.

“No, ya ain’t…” Rainbow trailed off and stared at the couch, “dildo?” she snorted, “rembmember the one time we…  And when Lime laughed at the story, and Quill,” was all Rainbow said before she stood again, wobbling, and turned to the doorway again.

“Rainbow,” Applejack said galloping ahead cutting off Rainbow’s progress, “I know yer upset, so am I, but ya don’t gotta drink the pain away.  Ah’ve seen it done, it ain’t pretty.”

Rainbow forced a smile, her eyes were half lidded and a dribble of drool was on her chin. “You’re pretty.  Ah, I, eahm just gonna go fer a fly; ya know. Clear my Head.”

“No, yer stayin put.  Talk ta me, ya ain’t said much since Quill left this mornin’ and I know it’s eatin’ ya up.  Are ya sad she’s gone?  We can still visit.”

Rainbow’s expression turned to frustration. “Visit? Visit?!  She’s DEAD Applejack.  Lime’s dead and it’s MY FAULT!”

“Sugar,” Applejack said sternly as Rainbow tensed, her wings flared unevenly and she moved her legs open more to stabilize her stance, “ya didn’t do anything, it just happens sometimes.  Lime’s gone and I talked to the trade guild, Honey Well ain’t sellin’ anything but pure honey now-”

“No, AJ.  I killed her,” she said quietly beginning to hiccup, “it’s my fault she’s gone.  It’s my fault,” she began repeating as her eyes widened and she laid on the floor, “it’sh my fault.  My fault.  My fault…”

“Dash, yer not makin’ sense, you didn’t give her the drugs…”

“I bought them, bought the honey, *urp*, had it delivered.  Wanted to impress Soarin,” she said as her eyes watered slightly and she sat up, “more points for Wonderbol-bol-b,” she promptly began throwing up.

Applejack hopped back and jumped over the growing spray from Rainbow and landed behind her, quickly pulling Rainbow’s mane back with one hoof and stroking Rainbow’s back with the other.  “It’s okay, you’ll be fine.  Sugar, don’t you worry, everything will be fine.

She looked to Rainbow after it seemed she was done to find she was asleep.

Dangnabbit, all this mess and she passes out in it. Applejack grumbled quietly as she carefully picked Rainbow up onto her back and walked her to the kitchen.  Laying her on the wooden floor she had the idea to put linoleum down over the floors, make this a might easier ta clean up if’n this happens again.

Taking a small bowl of water and a dish cloth she quickly wiped Rainbow’s muzzle and front free of most of the vomit before picking her up again and walking to the stairs, ascending carefully, and entering the bathroom.

A simple standard bathroom with a squat toilet, standup shower with light cloth curtains, and a set of knobs to turn the water on.  Twilight had given them several enchanted fire rubies to use to heat the shower water as needed and this was the third time the first gem was going to be used.

Laying Rainbow in the shower, Applejack undid her hair, walked to the hall and tossed her hat into the hall with her hair ties, then returned to turn on the water.  The floor was angled so the water would pool in the center of the room’s floor and be funneled outside into the garden.

Turning the water on she overcalculated the cold and squealed as the icy water hit her.  Rainbow raised her head and gasped, shaking her body quickly as she hopped to her hooves and looked around in surprise.  The water quickly turned warm, Rainbow relaxed, laid down and fell back asleep.

That mare is gonna be the biggest chore Ah’ve ever had.

“C’mon, time ta get washed up,” she said as the warm water soaked their manes and matted their coats.  Wasting little time to massage the water into Rainbow’s coat, Applejack grabbed a bottle of shampoo, poured a generous amount across Rainbow’s back and began to lather her sleeping form.

Taking a moment to style Rainbow’s mane in several comical styles including a mohawk, zig-zag, and twisting it all into a conical spire, she finally washed it away, taking the musk of a day’s work from the cyan coat.  Doing the same for herself she quickly washed what little perfume she had put on before turning the water off.

Now, this’ll be new.  She’s always shaken or flapped the water off.  Usually takin’ a quick fly around the house ta dry off.  Whelp, this time she’s gettin’ toweled.

Waiting for the water to drain away more she went to the small towel closet, grabbed a towel and draped it over her back.  Pulling it with her teeth from side to side, and her hoof to move it around her back and neck, she quickly dried herself, wrapping the towel around her head.

Waving her tail quickly she gave a good snap and sent the water away, drying it almost completely.

Looking to Rainbow, sleeping almost peacefully in the shower the thought of letting her stay there was tempting.  “Ya know, Ah think fer now it’s safest.  C’mon,” she stated gripping the sleeping mare around her barrel and dragging her to the squat toilet.  “Ya wake up, ya toss in there and Ah’ll be back in a few.”

With a subconscious grunt from Rainbow, Applejack went downstairs and began the arduous task of cleaning up Rainbow’s vomit.  Looking into the living room, Applejack felt a level of pity she had never had for Rainbow as she noticed a brown streak sprayed across the carpet.

“Oh, Rainbow…”

Spending the next hour scrubbing the carpet and entryway wasn’t too bad for the chore heavy life of Applejack, who finished and habitually wiped her brow and cursed under her breath.

“Well, another quick shower then it’s off ta bed.  Luna, help Rainbow if ya can,” she said standing up, slipping the handle of the bucket onto her snout, and walking to the back door to deposit the contents under the stairs with a good kick of dirt over it.

It was a beautiful day to go flying, the air was warm, the sun shone a beautiful yellow and the sky was clear.  Rainbow flew half of her top speed, glancing back to see the contrail behind her.

“I wonder how my endurance is doing?” she asked herself.  Looking ahead she pointed her forelegs forward and began to fly faster.  Faster.  The sonic rainboom loomed ahead of her as she grinned and lowered herself, aiming for Sweet Apple Acres.  “Gonna surprise AJ with a fresh batch of Zap Apples.”

She crossed the threshold, the shock wave rippled the trees as she arced upwards, curling into a heart again.  “I can’t believe how sappy I am with her.”

She finished the top loops and rolled to finish the other half then gasped, stopping as quickly as she could.  “I-I was too low?”  The trees were destroyed; their apples turned to mush laid across the ground, the leaves blown off trees, and several had fallen over.  A fresh crop of zap apples adorned the magical trees, lush with the spent magic she’d sent them.

“Oh no, this is bad.  Very bad,” she said softly.  Flying over the acres she remembered the last time she drank and how Applejack had taken care of her, now I go and do this?  Celestia, help me when she finds out.

She held her breath as she glided over the devastated orchard she stopped at an odd sight.  “Is, is that a hat?  Oh no,” she gasped, covering her mouth with her hooves, eyes wide, and skin tingled with apprehension.  “AJ,” she whispered, looking at the hat next to a fallen tree.

Flying over the spot she flapped hard and blew the leaves away the hat to see nopony.  A sigh escaped her as she looked around for Applejack.  “AJ, where are ya?  I found your hat and I’m really sorry I kinda messed up a few apples.  The wind was really rough and I, I dunno but it wasn’t all my fault.”

She floated over the leaves and apple mush looking for Applejack then screamed as a hoof grabbed her rear leg tightly.

A cough came from behind her as she turned quickly, taking a fighting position and tossing the hat onto her head.  “Who’s that?” she asked threateningly.

A shuffle of leaves showed a red bow. “Apple Bloom?!” Rainbow shouted as she landed and pulled the filly from a pile of leaves. The filly had cuts, a bruise, and a messy mane, but was otherwise okay.  The other crusaders climbed from the leaf pile.

“Cutie mark crusaders, rainboom survivors?” they said in unison.

“Ah don’t think this’ a cutie mark Ah want.”  The others nodded in agreement.

“Girls, I’m so sorry.  Are you okay?  I didn’t know you’d be here,” Rainbow apologized as she lowered Apple Bloom to the ground.

“We’re fine,” Sweetie Belle said as she sat next to Apple Bloom and brushed leaves from her sides, “but Rarity is gonna freak when she sees my mane.”

“Rainbow Dash, that was so cool!  How you boomed all the trees like that.  You’re the best mom ever.”

“Wait, what?”

“What? Mommy, you’re not making sense,” Scootaloo said questioningly and raising an eyebrow.  Taking to the air she flew next to Rainbow and crossed her forelegs. “Yup, she’s an earth pony alright.”

“What?!  Scoots, yer…” she looked to her sides and gawked at her wingless nature, “What in the feathering nature of all things holy!?”

Sweetie Belle teleported behind her in a puff of green magic and nodded as Rainbow turned around in surprise. “Yeah, she is kinda slow too.  She’s pretty old, can’t blame her.”

“What was that?” Rainbow asked raising a hoof to her ear and gasping at the light sky blue and wrinkled foreleg she saw. Inhaling slowly she stumbled back, expecting Apple Bloom to catch her, only to fall next to Applejack.  Lying under the leaf pile bleeding and taking raspy breaths.

“R-Rainbow, ya killed me.  Why’d ya kill me?”

“B-but you’re talking, you can’t be…”

Placing her forehooves in front of her, Applejack pulled herself forward from the tree she was under.

“Wha-? Where’d that tree come from?  AJ, let me help.”

With a heavy pull Applejack’s body ripped and her body split, spilling her innards from her chest.  Screaming in terror Rainbow tried to crawl away but her elderly body could barely move her fast enough to escape Applejack’s approach.  Mere hooves away, Applejack crawled toward Rainbow, her flesh ripping from her body as she approached.

Bees began flowing from her mouth, swarming around Rainbow, covering her, surrounding her, blocking her vision and sending her into darkness.

The air became still but loud as she felt her heart pounding in her chest harder than ever before.  Her head swam as she tried to move, she began pushing the bees away, trying to get a grip on something.  She stumbled to her hooves and began galloping in the darkness, the only sound she could hear were the buzzing of bees.

A pinprick of light to her left called to her. “Rainbow, come to me.  I’ll keep you safe,” a mares voice called to the panicking pony.

The voice was familiar but Rainbow couldn’t place it.  Turning, she galloped to the light.  As it grew brighter she was blinded by a green flame.  “Crystalis!” Rainbow shouted as the flames swirled around the pony ahead of her, burning the bees quickly, turning them all wistful ashes in a wind that was beginning to blow softly.

Lime stood in the center of the fire as it died down. “No, Rainbow.  It’s me.”

“...Lime?”  Rainbow squeaked quietly.

“Yes, and I don’t have long.  I’m here for one last night, and I chose you instead of Quill.”

Rainbow looked around, she was back in the orchard.  Lush trees bore ripe fruit and the crusaders were playing in the distance with a ball.  Granny Smith, Big Mac, and Applejack were talking as they watched the fillies play.

“I-I don’t understand.”

“You’re going to hurt yourself, or die, if you don’t accept what happened was an accident.”

“I-it wasn’t an accident,” she replied, lowering her head.  She took note of her strong body again, but brushed it off.  “I bought it, and let her give it to you.  When you were weakest I let a pony give you drugs.  Even if I didn’t know, that doesn’t make it okay.”

“Rainbow,” Lime said softly, placing a wing around her and pulling her in close from an impossibly distance away, “let me tell you what happened.”

I was lying in bed, the sun was beaming on my sweating body, making me sweat worse.  Fluttershy had left me for a moment, taking that mean little rabbit with her.  I knew the honey was laced with concentrated deil weed oil.

“One teaspoon in your tea per day, no more than that, and you’ll sleep like a foal,” Honey Well said when she gave me the jar.  I nodded and hid it under my pillow under the guise that Fluttershy wouldn’t let me have honey, but I’d sneak some later.  I thanked her and we hugged, however she was worried and reminded me, ‘only one teaspoon a day’.

When she left I quickly got the jar, opened it, and dipped my hoof tip into it, closed it, and hid it under the mattress.  Taking a taste I felt my head swim and licked my hoof clean.  I fell asleep shortly after.

When I woke up I felt great.  I looked around and was so refreshed.  Fluttershy knew something was wrong, given how quickly I had recovered, but couldn’t figure out why.  I had slept the whole day and night, from one hoof tip of honey, and I felt amazing.  I figured if I slept more she’d think I was finally getting over it, let me go, and I could see Quill again.

We’d make love, have drinks, and get back to life.

The next morning she left with the bunny again to get me some breakfast.  That was when I took a full drink from the jar, hiding it under the bed this time.  I started to fall asleep when that infernal bunny returned.  I dropped the jar on the floor, falling out of bed to catch it.  I missed and landed on the floor.

Everything went dark after that.  I woke up with Fluttershy pressing my chest, telling me to hold on.  My heart was gonna stop if she stopped.  I felt no pain, but watching her over me made me think of Quill.  I fell asleep again.

I woke up to see my love, Quill, over me.  I reached up and pulled her close to me and whispered my last words to her. “Live for me.  Love for me.”

“Then that was it.  I watched you beating yourself up over what happened from between this world and the next and had one chance to visit one dream before I moved on.  I didn’t hesitate choosing you.  And now, you’re lying poisoned with alcohol, on the verge of death on your bathroom floor.”

“What?!  No way, I hardly had anything to drink.”

Lime looked to Rainbow with disbelief.

“Okay, maybe I had a few ales and a cider or two,” with a sigh Lime let Rainbow go and motioned with her hoof behind Rainbow.  Mugs stood in stacks with what they held written above them on a pink banner.

“Ale, cider, beer, wine, hard liquor, even salt to chew on between drinks.  You drank more than two stallions could handle, all while thinking of what happened.  You’re at death’s door, if not tonight, when will you do this again?  What will happen to everypony if you died like this?”

With a motion the orchard morphed into Rainbow lying next to the toilet, Applejack crying over her, the sunrise shining through the window.  Vomit with some blood mixed into it pooled under Rainbow, her dead body stiff, her eyes cracked open slightly to show dilated dead eyes within.

“R-Rainbow Dash, what’m I gonna do?  How could you do this ta me?  To yer friends? To Scootaloo?  Oh, Celestia, why?!”

“N-no, I can’t do that to everypony, to Applejack.  Lime, I’m so sorry.  I’m SO sorry!”

“Rainbow,” Lime said hugging her, “I’ll never blame you, Honey Well, or anypony.  It was me, all me, that chose to do what I did.  You had no part in it, if you didn’t buy that honey I was ready to end my own life.  I had hidden a fork from a previous meal and was going to use it to cut myself, stab myself in the foreleg and bleed out.  I was in so much pain and wasn’t strong enough to handle it, the pain that is.

“You were not at fault.  Please, talk to somepony.  Let them help you understand this wasn’t your fault.”

“B-but-”

“No.  You’re going to wake up soon, promise me.  Promise me you’ll get help,” Lime stated firmly as the scene faded to a white void.

“B-but, I’m so sorry, Lime”

“Pinkie Promise me, before it’s too late, please,” Lime pleaded as her form began to fade

“O-okay.  Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”

“And remember, you’re one of my best friends, in any life I live.  Live and love, and don’t die too early sweetie, I don’t wanna see you any sooner than a few decades from now,” Lime said with a smile in her voice as she vanished into the void.

Rainbow woke up and looked around.  The sun was rising and she was on the cold linoleum bathroom floor, Applejack was sleeping with her head on Rainbow’s side, a foreleg draped over her cutie mark.  Her mane was untied and her blonde hair was strewn across Rainbow’s body.

She felt her body cursing her for what she’d done the evening before and didn’t remember anything after her third beer, but she remembered her dream vividly.

She laid back down, sleep pulling her back. “I’ll never leave you, AJ.  And I’ll keep my promise, Lime,” she said under her breath as her stomach rumbled, her lower jaw trembled, and she began to feel her stomach cramp.

Crap, this’ gonna be a long day, she thought as she moved over the toilet.

Regrets

Rainbow woke up on the bathroom floor with Applejack lightly combing her mane.  She felt terrible and wished she had never drank before in her life.

“Applejack,” she groaned as she sat up carefully, her stomach cramped horribly painfully and she quickly leaned over the toilet to dry heave for a minute while Applejack stroked her back.

“Sugarcube, ya don’t have anything left.  Ya woke up a dozen times last night, Ah couldn’t even give ya water,” she said softly, placing a hoof on Rainbow as Rainbow let herself fall back to the floor, her right side was cold so that was the side she fell to.  “Ah tried ta move ya but that wasn’t happening, it kept comin’ outta both ends, and I wasn’t gonna clean up the whole house all night.”

Rainbow groaned in a low tone before she forced a foreleg up and moved it over her muzzle, letting it fall. “Really?  Ah’m sorry, AJ. Ah don’t ever wanna get drunk again.  I had the weirdest…  Applejack,” she said softly,  “ I saw Lime, she told me,” she stopped to cough her lungs clear before she spat in the toilet.  Applejack pulled the string and it flushed, water flowing down the tube and taking the foul stench away.

Rainbow laid back again, waiting for her vision to stabilize. “She told me, that it wasn’t my fault, and that I have to live.  What do you think she meant?”

“Rainbow, Ah I think she meant what she said, but ya know, maybe ya should ask Twi, she’s more inta that stuff.  Are ya okay ta be moved ta bed?  I got a bucket all ready for ya,” Applejack said sweetly as she patted Rainbow on the side.

“Ugh, my everything hurts, even my feathers.  Why are you so awesome to me?”

“Cuz, Sugarplum, I gotta be awesome ta be with ya.  Can’t imagine my life without ya, even as a best friend.  Now, hang on and hold it all it, if’n ya gotta go, just let me know.  Ready?” she asked as she angled her head behind Rainbow’s back.

“Eeyu- *urp*, I am,” Rainbow replied through a wince of cramps and a throb in her head that hadn’t gone away head.

With a swift motion she was on Applejack’s back.  With a squeal of pain she raised her hooves to her head and pressed her temples as she was bounced to their bedroom just down the hall to the right.  “AJ, even my feathers hurt.”

Carefully she was placed into bed where she laid limply, her head in her hooves as she shut her eyes tight.

“Well, Sugarplum, looks like Ah’m takin’ a day off the farm.”

“N-no, I’ll be fine.  Just a hangover, had thousands.  Leave the bucket and get to work, can you swing by and tell the weather office Ah’m really sick?  It ain’t a lie, and they’ll believe ya,” she mumbled as the covers were pulled over her.

“Ya sure, love?  I can miss a few chores, Big Mac’ll understand.”

“Nah, just go.  And, can you send Twi over?  I need to talk to her.”

“Ah’m here for ya.”

“No, a professional.  I-I have a problem that only she can help with, hopefully.”

Applejack bit her lip lightly and frowned. “If’n ya need to, I understand, but Ah don’t want secrets between us.”

“First, get the shades, Celestia must have it out for me,” Rainbow grumbled at the morning light entering the room, “second, I’ll tell you soon, but I need to get this offa my mind.”

“Well, the thing is ya haven’t seen Twi for a bit, her new marefriends have been takin’ a lotta her free time.  Kinda clingy and all, but that’s their thing, not my place ta gossip.  I’ll send Rarity over if ya wanna gossip.”

“Gnn.  No Rarity, no Pinkie, maybe Fluttershy with tea and a cure from Zecora for this ache.”

“Now Dash, ya know that yer gonna have ta suffer through this, I ain’t sending a cure so ya can forget what put ya here.  Okay, I’ll go.  One last thing.”

“Ugh, what now?” Rainbow grumbled as Applejack turned to the window and darkened the room enough for Rainbow to open her eyes slightly.

“Promise me you won’t do this again,” she said softly, “Ah was so worried you were gonna…  Just please, don’t do this again.  If we need to, we can drink a drink socially to help you, but no more of this, please Dashie.”

“Wow, you’re using all my nicknames,” she mused as she licked her lips, “I quadruple Pinkie Promise.  This is the last time I drink more than a couple in a week ever again, in secret or public, never again.”

She felt a kiss on her forehead and a light huff on her head as Applejack leaned back. “I love ya, see ya tonight.”

“Heh, eeyup.  Just shower before you come to bed,” Rainbow said peeking an eye open to see Applejack crack a smile.

“She laid in bed, covers drawn to her chest, her wings fluttered slightly as she woke from her rest.  Slowly she began to stir-” A female voice sang softly.

“Who the feather’s talking?” Rainbow muttered as she woke up.

“She muttered into her pillow while she wallowed in-”

“Gsh-shuttup!  What the hay?  Who’s there?” She said opening her eyes and regretting it immediately.  She hadn’t had a migraine this bad in a long time, even her eyelids hurt.  Hooves to her eyes and a squeal in pain was her next response.

“Woah, she’s excitable,” the new voice that was singing with a slight southern drawl said, “I like her, can I take her home?”

“Calm down, girls,” Twilight’s voice rang in Rainbow’s head, “I’ll need you to leave in a minute.  Rainbow, these are my marefriends, Blu and Ashy.”

“Them.  Out.  Now,” Rainbow demanded.

“She spoke harshly to her new best friends and cast them out with-”

“Get out!” Rainbow screamed in frustration before turning the scream internally as the pain swole, clasping her head tighter as she hissed in agony.  “Twilight, can my brain explode?!” she asked in a panicked whimper.

Twilight giggled and shooed her marefriends away as she took a spot by the side of the bed and sat on the floor.  “No, Rainbow Dash.  Unless there’s a dark spell cast on you, that is.  And I heard rumor one was cast here in town last night, maybe it was on you.”

“W-what?” Rainbow stammered between throbs in her head, “a-am I cursed?”

“The dark spell was alcohol, and a lot of it.  You’re cursed, all right; with the mother of all hangovers.”

“Ugh, I didn’t need you to tell me that.  Can you, ya know.  Make it a little better?”

Without a word or hesitation Twilight's horn lit and dimmed. “Is that better? I cast a mild pain relief spell.  Applejack said I could use that, but you had to suffer your consequences and learn your lesson.  Speaking of learning lessons; it’s been a while since Celestia has given me any projects to work on.  Ever since I told her about my relationship she’s only sent me one letter.

“It was only one word and said ‘Finally’.  What she meant by that I don’t know.  I thought-”

OH great, lecture mode is in full blast.  I guess I asked for this by asking her over, but I wanted help, not a lecture.  How’m I gonna talk when she’s going on like that, has she even blinked in the past minute?  My head does feel better, but it’s only a little help and my stomach is killing me.

How have I not thrown up yet?  Oh yeah, nothing left.  Sad, I really wanna hay burger.  Oh! A MacBurger with blue cheese and hayfries with ketchup and horseradish sounds really good.  Do they have hot sauce there?  I can bring my own next time. Maybe I’m cramping cuz I’m almost in heat again.  Stupid thing, being in heat.  But, at least I can’t get pregnant any other time.

Estrus, what a weird egghead word. At least it’s not messy, but makes me really horny.  Glad I have AJ, or else I’d be under any colt that’d have me.  Not going through that again, condoms aren’t cheap and suck; they are so smooth I can’t feel hardly anything and-

“Rainbow Dash?” Twilight’s voice faded into Rainbow’s mind.

“What? Uh, yeah, I totally agree Twi.”

“See! I knew you would understand, every other pony I talk to is all ‘you’re just a third wheel in their relationship’, or ‘they’re using you’, but you understand I’m an integral part of their, our relationship and sex isn’t all I’m there for.”

Rainbow looked to Twilight with an uncomfortable smirk.  “Twi, when it comes to love, you’re wrong: there’s no spell or egghead book that can teach you what to do, trust me.”

“W-what’re you talking about?  I love mares, I always have.  You can’t just change like that, it’s not a choice.”

“Twi, look at me.  I was with dozens, maybe even a hundred colts since I started, and now I’m with AJ.  Try it, ya might like a good rut once in awhile. I remember that it was great, depending on the colt, but ya gotta remember they’re all diff- Hey, you’re here for me!”

“Well, for once you were doing such a good job lecturing, I didn’t want to stop you.  I don’t know, maybe you’re right.  Know any good colts in town?”

“Nnope.  You have to find one yourself.  I heard Ditzy is a bit of a matchmaker when she’s not working.  Find her and ask her, now, do you mind?” Rainbow asked, almost pleading with her eyes.

“Okay, anything we talk about is between us.  So, I heard you had a dream last night that bothered you? Tell me about it all and what led up to it.”

Rainbow told Twilight about her dream as best she could.

“Well,” Twilight started tapping her temple with her hoof, “it sounds exactly like it sounds.  There are some reports of ponies having dreams of lost loved ones after their passing, but scientific studies are sketchy on that topic since nopony has ever been able to enter the dreams of another.

“However now that Princess Luna is back I guess the research could advance-”

“Egghead,” Rainbow sighed rolling to her back, “stop it.  I need your help.  I really blame myself for this one.  Usually I can pass it off, but I’ve never killed a pony before.”

“Rainbow, you didn’t kill her.  In any way.  I spoke with the trade guild leaders and she was approved to sell medicated honey as well as regular honey.  She’s banned from selling medicated honey until they hold a council meeting, but it was on her and the guild, not you.”

“I bought it.”

“She delivered it.”

“I didn’t tell her Lime had a drug problem.”

“She should have known from the state she was in.  Look Rainbow, we can go for hours like this, and I’d enjoy it,” Rainbow narrowed her eyes, “but, you have to understand that you aren’t at fault here.  Yes, you bought the honey.  Yes, you had it delivered.”

“And I killed her.”

“Rainbow, this’ bigger than that.  And, what about you?  What if you drank yourself to death last night, like in your dream?”

Rainbow remained silent as the dull pulsing pain in her head became the lesser of her concerns.

“Would it be right for Applejack to blame herself for letting you out of her sight?  Would it be okay for her to blame the bartender?  Put him out of business with all of his debts to crush him?  What about the grain suppliers and fermenters, would it be their fault you drank yourself to death?” Twilight said holding her expression, however her voice was slightly trembling.

Staring at Twilight through her eyes, narrowed from the pain across her body, Rainbow moved her jaw, trying to form the right words.

“I’m a idiot.”

“‘I’m an idiot’, Rainbow Dash, sorry,” she said softly.

“What do I do?  I can’t think this about now.”

“Rainbow, your sentence structure is atrocious, is it because of the migraine?”

“Mirgaine?  Mngop p.”

“Rainbow, are you okay?” Twilight asked, growing concerned.

“Hurts big.”  Twilight cast her spell again, stronger this time.

“There, the spell I cast was enough to take the pain away.  You’ll be okay, I’ll talk to you again soon, rest it off.”

“Twi,” Rainbow said under her breath as she began to fall asleep,” undo it.  No more taking the pain away.”

Twilight looked at her friend with a deeper respect. “Okay, just don’t hesitate to call out, we’re gonna be downstairs until Fluttershy gets here.”

Rainbow hummed softly in approval. “Thanks, Twi.  You’re a great friend.”

Twilight leaned in to kiss Rainbow on the forehead before leaving.  After the slight peck she felt Rainbow’s foreleg grab her around her neck and pull her tightly to her chest.

“Ack, what the-?”

Rainbow replied with a loud snore, directly in Twilight’s ear.  With a wince she teleported to the door and took in a deep breathe. “So, she’s a cuddler, never woulda guessed,” she said watching Rainbow grasping at anything until she bunched up the sheets and blankets enough to hold close to her.

“Sweet dreams, Rainbow.  Get better.”

Rainbow woke and scrambled over the edge of the bed for the bucket, only to have Fluttershy scurry into sight and push it to Rainbow’s flailing grip.  A minute of dry heaving echoed through the room as Fluttershy laid on the bed, patting Rainbow’s back and holding her mane back.

“Feel better, Rainbow?” the soft voice asked as Rainbow hacked her lungs clear and spat into the empty bucket.

“Yeah,” she replied with a rough cracking voice, “never better.”

“Well, I have tea from Zecora.  Twilight and her, friends, have left,” she hesitated, “I’m laundering your couch with the help of Mister Bear, but it’ll be a couple days before it’s clean enough to sit on again.”

“W-what?” Rainbow asked as she laid back into the bed, covering her eyes with her hooves.

“Well, um, hmm,” she went silent.

“They ‘mated’ on the couch, didn’t they?”

“Oh my, well.  If you can call it that, I guess.”

“Who’s that new mare that was with Twi and Blu?”

“A country pony passing through that caught Blu’s eye,” she started as she climbed off the bed and went to a try set up on the dresser, pouring some tea into a small cup.  “You see, here, drink up,” she said softly, passing the cup to Rainbow Dash, who was more than happy to sip it.

“Blu’s a DJ.”

“Yeah, everypony know that.”

“A traveling DJ,” she said with emphasis on traveling.

“Oh, I get it.  And Twilight-”

“Is staying right here.  She’s too swept away with this infatuation to notice.”

“Oh, so when Blu leaves she’s going with Ashy?”

Fluttershy nodded to her closest friend as she took the now empty cup from Rainbow.  “So, how’s things with you two?” Rainbow asked.

Fluttershy giggled softly. “We’re great.  Pinkie’s everything I need, and likewise.”

“I never woulda thought you’d be so happy with her.  Have you two, ya know” Rainbow looked to Fluttershy with a wink and a poke into the air with her hoof.

A bright pink blush took hold on Fluttershy’s face.

“Oh my gosh, owowow,” Rainbow grabbed her head, “you did it? Finally?”

“Oh, well, not really, kind of, but, oh dear,” she replied after she replaced the cup on the tray.

“Did she tongue you?  Does she really taste like cotton candy?  What’s she keep in her mane for that stuff?”

Fluttershy couldn’t respond verbally, only with a shake of her head before she looked away.

“Woah, did you cum?!  Was it like a waterfall?” she teased.

“Oh my, no. Rainbow, please stop.”

“C’mon, you want me to get better?  Then spill the beans.  I want allll of the juicy details of my best friends getting it on.”

Rainbow had sat up and winced with every heartbeat as it sent a pain into the right side of her head, but she gave her total attention to Fluttershy.

“F-fine.  Oh dear, s-sh-she watched, and I watched.”

“What?  You watched animals do it?  That doesn’t count,” Rainbow said with a snort.

“N-no, we, watched,” she squeaked softly.

Rainbow looked at Fluttershy for a full ten seconds before she got it.

“Holy Celestia, you masturbated to each other?! Owowow. Wow ‘Shy, didn’t know you had it in ya; Pinkie yes, but you, heh-heh.”

“O-oh my.  Don’t tell anypony, it was our first time.”

“Well, tell me all about it, c’mere and tell me,” she implored as Fluttershy shrank into herself. “Fine, I’m coming to you then,” she said making a lot of noise ruffling the sheets and blankets.

“N-no.  Don’t get out of bed, please.  I’ll come to you.”  Climbing onto the bed Fluttershy laid next to Rainbow, on her belly. “What do you want to know.”

With a sly grin Rainbow winked.

“Fine, but no pony knows and you better not tell.”

“You know I won’t, and since I’m never, ever getting drunk again it won’t slip.  Except to AJ.  So, spill.”

“And not to those friends at your parties.”

“Not even them.  Only Applejack, my fiance.  Well…”

“Fine,” Fluttershy said perking up and turning to face Rainbow, pulling a pillow under her barrel for support.  "It was just another night, she was over and we were reading when she starts to scoot closer.”

“Ooo, okay, then?”

“She likes to lay on my lap sometimes, it’s comfy, she says.”

“Yeah, I bet that’s the only reason.”

“She laid on my lap and,” she began to blush again, “moved her hoof to my legs, and went up to my-”  She gasped and stopped, pursing her lips; the word lost to her.

“Pussy?”

Fluttershy nodded.

“And then? C’mon, don’t leave me hangin’.”

“S-she, her hoof, and small circles.  Deeper, then,” she was beginning to pant recalling what had happened.

“Details, ‘Shy, this’ what best childhood friends do.  Talk about everything, so tell me or I’ll tell you about the last time me and AJ did it.”

“No, please,” was the instant reply.  The detail and motions Rainbow put into her stories were too vivid for Fluttershy. “She leaned up and kissed me, then went to start doing those little circles again, but I wasn’t feeling ready.  She, kinda was sad, but I-I, um, well, I started.”

“Woah,” Rainbow stated flatly, her eyes widening, “wow.  Woah!  You started masturbating in front of her?!  No way, that’s awesome!”

“Well, kind of I did.  Then she leaned back and put her legs over mine and started.”

“Woah, don’t stop, keep going.”

“That’s what she said,” Fluttershy said with a smirk.  Rainbow let out a laugh at the quick response.  “And that was it, we just did that until it was over.”

“That was it?  Just a quickie?”

“Well…”

“What else happened!?” Rainbow screamed, rolling to her belly and facing Fluttershy, listening with rapt attention.

“She got there first, then opened it up, so kept going, looking at her.  She’s pink, Rainbow.”

“Everypony knows tha-.  Ohhh, heh heh, like that. You didn’t know that?”

“I-I never looked or needed to know about ponies’ back there,” she said moving her rear legs slightly, “so, I was almost there and she was so open and pink and, I kind of got there, too.”

“That was it? I thought something cool happened,” Rainbow said, letting her ears fall.

“Then I sucked her hoof until it was clean and she did the same to me.”

“You tasted her hoof?!  After you, how was it?”

Fluttershy giggled into her left hoof and held the other out to Rainbow.  “What? Why’re you, wait,” she sniffed the air then looked to the hoof aimed at her, leaning closer she sniffed. “Holy Luna that’s cotton candy!  She really tastes like it?”

Fluttershy giggled and nodded.

“Wow.  Uh, congrats, ‘Shy.  Wanna trade for a night?”

Fluttershy’s giggle stopped and she scowled at Rainbow, narrowing her eyes, her upper lip trembled.

“Uh, joking.  Just, a joke.  She’s all yours,” Rainbow said as a tremble of fear ruffled her wings. That was worse than the stare, what was that?

Her smile softly returned. “Good.  Now, how about more tea?”

With a nod Rainbow was alone in bed as Fluttershy flew over her to the dresser to get more tea.

“So, what’s this I hear about you blaming yourself for what happened?  You know she was in my care.”

“I know, I’m sorry, ‘Shy.”

“I had never lost a pony before, but many times I’ve had to deal with the deaths of my critters.  It was the first time we’d sung a pony to sleep,” she said as she poured the cup of tea.

“You’re taking all that really well, she died right in front of you.”

Hoofing the tea to Rainbow she continued. “I have to see it often, sometimes too often.  It’s sad, and I’m scared of monsters and the pain of death.  The loss of my friends and loved ones, even Angel.  But I know that it’s part of life.

“I learned years ago, when I almost died falling from the clouds when we were fillies, that life is fragile.  In an instant it can end, and all any of us can do is live until it happens.”

“Woah, so, like, you’re not scared to die?”

“Terrifed, but do you know what scares me more?”  Rainbow shook her head. “To have regrets.”

“What?”

“To have my life full of things I wish I’d changed or done differently.  What you’re doing Rainbow Dash, is regretting what happened.  What you should do is accept it and move on.”

“It isn’t that easy, ‘Shy.”

“No, it isn’t.  But you learn from it, just like failing a stunt, you have to move on if it’s too tough or easy.  You have to make new ones and teach yourself to get over the old ones.”

“Oh,” Rainbow said finishing the tea and setting it on her lap, “I get it.  I can’t think of this like a failed trick, just go on to the next one.  Like, when she died, I have to move on and get a new friend.”

“Maybe not like that, friends are easy to get.  You have to learn how to get past the pain and get on with life.  It’ll take time, and you’re going to be different.  When it’s over and you’re better you won’t even know it, but your life will be better.  Your heart will be stronger for it.”

Fluttershy hopped onto the bed and hugged Rainbow. “You’re going to be fine, no matter how bad it seems, you’ll always have her in your heart and memories,” she ended the hug, climbed off the bed, took the cup in her hoof and sat beside the bed.

“Now, you’re looking better, but you need rest.  Lay back and I’ll get more tea, sing you a song, too.”

Rainbow laid back and snuggled into her blankets. “Thanks ‘Shy, I’m so glad to have met you.”

“Me too, Rainbow Dash.”

The rest of the day was spent with Fluttershy taking care of Rainbow.

Recovered

Recovered

    “Rainbow, Ah’m home.”

    “Up here, Applejack,” Fluttershy called from the top of the stairs a few seconds later, “Rainbow’s feeling much better.”

    “Ah’ll be up shortly, gotta put away some… Where’s the couch?”

    Fluttershy and Rainbow’s giggling were barely audible to Applejack.  “What’s goin’ on, girls?”

    “I’ll tell ya when ya get up here, hon.  And bring those freckles, we gotta tell ya something totally awesome,” Rainbow called.

    Applejack shrugged and set her saddlebags by the door, taking out a small wrapped box with a bow on it, a bottle with a cork in it, and a small bag with vegetables in it.  “Ah brought you a snack, comin’ up.”

    Ascending the stairs, she stopped at the top and readied herself for anything that Rainbow might have to tell her, or that she may see.  She looked to her room door, just cracked, and walked to it, bumped it with her nose, and looked around.  Rainbow was lying on the bed with Fluttershy, both facing the door and wearing healthy smiles.

    “AJ!  C’mere, Fluttershy has to tell you something,” Rainbow said quickly.  Fluttershy, in an uncharacteristic manner, punched Rainbow in the foreleg with a ‘shush’.

    “Well, somepony’s feeling better.  Brought ya some magic potion from Twilight and a gift from the farm.”

    “Oh boy, chores,” Rainbow sighed sarcastically.

    “Dash,” Fluttershy said softly, in a scolding tone.

    “Oh, I’m just kidding.  What’d ya get me?!”

    “Well, I dunno if ya deserve it, talkin’ like that to the mare ya love,” Applejack said stomping her hoof and leaning forward, puffing her chest.

    “Hey,” Rainbow said loudly opening her wings and flying quickly, landing almost chest to chest with Applejack, “I can talk how I want to who I want.  You’re not my boss.”

    “Ah am if’n ya want yer gifts.”

    “Give ‘em to me or Ah’ll take ‘em.”

    “Ya ain’t tough enough, filly.”

Rainbow’s feathers bristled as she grit her teeth and looked ready to fight.  “Who ya callin’ a filly?

“The only one I see in front a me.”

“G-girls, don’t fight.  Oh my.”

Both reared and readied their forehooves to strike, only to land into a tight hug.  Fluttershy let a sigh of relief as she sat taller again.

“Sugarplum, I’m so glad yer better.  Ya had me as worried as a hen in a timberwolf den,” she said moving her face into Rainbow’s mane.

“Babe, I’d never leave ya, not like that.  Sorry for scaring you,” she said quietly as she inhaled Applejack’s scent from a day of work.  She shivered slightly. “I told ya to shower ‘fore I saw ya.”

“Getting turned on?”

“Eeyup,” she replied starting to kiss Applejack’s neck.  Her tail began to swish and raise as Applejack leaned back and nipped Rainbow’s ear.

“Um, girls, I’m still here.”

“Oh,” they said in unison, landing on all fours and looking to her with a slight blush.

“So, uh, ya had news?”

“Where’s my stuff, first?”

Applejack turned around and slowly knelt forward in front of Rainbow in an effective tease and show, grabbing the box in her teeth.  “Here ya go, open it up,” she encouraged.

Rainbow sat down and giggled in apprehension as she tore the ribbon off of the box and opened it.

“Oh.  Paper, thanks AJ,” she said crestfallen.

“Take ‘em out, silly.  Ah was gonna wait ta give ‘em to ya, but this’ to remind you of why yer the best.”

Rainbow reached in and took the paper out.  Her eyes widened as her mouth opened slowly while smiling.  “Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh!  Tickets to the next Wonderbolts show in Maretonia!  Thank you so much AJ,” she screamed and took to the air.

“Well, somepony’s feelin’ a might better.”

“Yes, we spent the whole day talking and drinking tea.  She wanted to wait for you to get back before she ate though.”

Rainbow was hugging and petting her tickets.  “She’ll be busy fer a minute, what’s goin’ on that ya had to tell Rainbow first?”

Fluttershy blushed and shuffled on the bed then nodded and straightened her back. “Smell this,” she said firmly pointing her right hoof to Applejack.

“Uh, okay?  Oh, new hoof polish?  Scented like… Cotton candy?”

Rainbow turned to look at the scene by the bed, with her best friend letting her lover smell her hoof with a determined look.

“Didn’t know you for the scented polish kind, but it’s good, almost wanna taste.”

Rainbow burst into her trademark laughter and held her sides.

“What the hay’s gotten into her, ‘Shy?”

Fluttershy pulled her leg back and hid it under herself, beginning to blush again, she turned her head to hide her eye behind her mane, keeping a distant view on her orange friend.

“‘Shy, what’s goin’ on?  You two aren’t pranking me, are ya?”

“P-P-Pinkie.  A-and.  Oh, this’ too good,” Rainbow said wiping a tear from her eye, “go on, tell her,” she said hugging her tickets to her chest again, grinning widely.

“Me and Pinkie ..did stuff.”

“What was that, Sugarcube?”

“Me and Pinkie did stuff.”

“‘Shy, ya gotta speak up.  You can trust me, I won’t laugh like some ponies.”

Rainbow smirked, but to Fluttershy, which raised Applejack’s curiosity.

“Me and Pinkie did stuff.”

“What kinda stuff?”

Fluttershy looked down, burying her face in the pillow beneath her, and mumbled the answer.

“Oh Celestia, just please tell me ‘fore I get it from Rainbow.”

“Please don’t,” Fluttershy said looking up into Applejack’s eyes.  “Pinkie and me, did some stuff a couple nights ago.”

“A couple nights?!  You haven’t washed your hoof since then?!”

“Be quiet Rainbow, she’s talkin’.  Go ahead, Ah’m listening.”

“And, that’s about it,” she finished sheepishly.

“Well, what’d ya two do.  Ohh, I get it.  Woah!  You and Pinkie finally,” Applejack raised an eyebrow suggestively.

“Oh, n-no, not really, I mean, oh gosh.”

“They masturbated to each other, at the same time,” Rainbow blurted.  Fluttershy inhaled sharply and looked between the two mares.

“Congrats, ‘Shy, you’re finally almost to the next level.  Wait, if ya did it in front of each other…  Wow, cotton candy,” she said wiggling her nose before she shook her head, “how’d yer get her smell on ya?”

Rainbow flew over and looked to Fluttershy.  “Yeah, how did that happen? I can’t believe that I didn’t ask.”

Fluttershy’s blush took over her body, turning her a very light shade of pink from nose to tail.

“Holy shit,” Rainbow said staring wide eyed at Fluttershy, garnering a glare from Applejack and a squeak from Fluttershy, who returned her face to the pillow, wings over her head.

“Rainbow Dash, that language is not welcome in this house.”

“AJ, don’t ya get it?  Fluttershy hoofed her.  Fluttershy hoofed Pinkie Pie!  ‘Shy, I didn’t know you had it in you to be in her like that,” Rainbow said in a steady voice.

Applejack took a reactive step back and looked to Fluttershy.  Her heart began pounding in her chest as the imagery took hold.  Pinkie laid back, legs splayed open with that flexibility of hers on Fluttershy’s bed.  Fluttershy lying parallel with her left hoof on Pinkie’s teats and her right slowly entering the extra pink folds of…

She shook her head and noticed Rainbow staring with the same level of shock and awe as she was.

Both of them stuttered and mumbled, trying to find words to say.  Anything to say to Fluttershy.  Applejack was the first to speak again.

“Uh, um, well congrats.  Wanna come over for one of our parties?” she finally asked.

“Yeah!  That’d be awesome, us four?  That’s,” Rainbow began counting, “only two left of our super group and then-”

“Rarity would never be a fillyfooler,” Applejack said flatly.

“Well, there’s Twilight still.”

“She was smilin’ like I’d never seen, talkin’ about she found a stallion and she kicked them other mares out the same hour.  Somethin’ about you havin’ a talk with her,” she looked forcefully at Rainbow, “Rainbow.  What’d you say to her?”

“Well, I didn’t tell her to turn straight!  I just suggested something about her trying a rut, or something, I don’t really remember cuz I was all achy.”

“Well, then that’d be four of us six, D and M, and maybe Cloud Kicker,” Applejack said before she was interrupted by Rainbow making a ‘gross’ face and Fluttershy looking up, her face apple red, in surprise, her eyes begging ‘no’.

“Okay, no more Cloud Kicker.  But the six of us should have some fun in this house, try some games.  Like ‘meet the stallion’, right Dashie?”

Rainbow frowned and stuck out her tongue.  “Not gonna happen.”

“We’ll see.”

“Anyway,” Rainbow said turning to Fluttershy, “so, this’ a big occasion, and I was wondering if, maybe, I could smell your hoof again?”

A second later a pillow hit her in the face.

Party Plan...

Rainbow, Applejack, and Fluttershy lay on the living room carpet where the couch was.  The bag of vegetables were between them while they talked.

“So, ‘Shy, now that you’re at the next level with Pinkie, are you gonna come by the party tomorrow night?” Rainbow asked between bites of a large celery stalk, fresh from the farm.

“Um, I have to talk it over with Pinkie first, but I think I’d like to try.  M-maybe it’ll be fun?”

“Maybe? ‘Shy, this’ gonna be a great pairs party.”  Applejack scowled at Rainbow. “Not pears, to eat.  Pairs, like two ponies together.”

“Well Ah still don’t like that word.”

“Pairs of boots, pairs of socks, pairs of-”

“Stop it, Dashing or Ah’ll stuff this carrot up yer nose.”

Fluttershy giggled. “Maybe Pinkie and I can be like you two someday.”

“Nah, ya don’t wanna be like us,” Applejack said thoughtfully, “every couple needs to be themselves.  If’n ya wanna be silly with her or ya wanna sit and read, it’s your lives.  Don’t try and be anything more.”

“Yeah, if things change just go with it.  Look at me, I’m a wreck, but AJ’s fix’n me up to be a better pony everytime I break.”

Applejack and Fluttershy smiled to each other then to Rainbow. “That was a very mature thing to say about yourself, Rainbow.”

“Yeah, well,” she replied blushing, “just don’t go messin’ up my image.”

“Oh, enough with that big head nonsense.  Yer better than ever, ya got more respect than you ever had before, and, well,” she hesitated looking to the carrot she had in front of her, “Ah’m more proud of ya now then ever, except when ya fall offa the wagon.  Dash,” she looked into the ruby eyes she loved so much. “Ya scared me.  I ain’t been that scared since I was almost ate by a timberwolf.”

“AJ, I’m sorry.”

“She’s sorry Applejack, so let’s-”

“No, Fluttershy.  I have to say this.  I felt so bad about losing Lime that I was ready to die to tell her I was sorry,” the others straightened in surprise as Rainbow looked to the last bite of her celery and pushed it away from her, staring intently at it, “I didn’t think about you or anypony.  I just thought of myself.”

“When I saw Lime in that luship dream and we talked, I felt, well,” she looked to Applejack’s hooves, “sad and happy.  I was sad that she was gone, but happy she was happy and cared about me,” her gaze raised to Applejack’s neck, “but then I was sad, ‘cuz of you.”

“Dash?”

“You,” she interrupted, “you cared more about me than I cared, ever.  I used to do whatever I wanted and feather anyone who thought otherwise.  That’s why I was always fightin’ ya back then, it was more ta see how far ya’d let me go and how ya’d take care of me.  Sure, everypony cared, but…”

“I understand, hon.  Is that why you always wanted to get into the Wonderbolts?”

“Nah, they’re the best and totally awesome and I’d be able to travel and, well, back then I could get laid a lot more.  Kinda a second reason to join,” she said looking back to her hooves, “but now, I don’t give a feather about that.  You’re my reason to do whatever, but not hurt myself when doing it.”

“Rainbow, you didn’t hurt yourself on purpose, did you?”

“Sometimes, ‘Shy.  But it wasn’t often, usually I was drunk when I did that.”

“But never again, right?”

“Of course, AJ.  I-I can’t give up drinking, it’s something every mare does,” she winced as Applejack shot her a look of disapproval, “almost every mare does, but I’m gonna when we have a party, with your permission, AJ.”

“That’s more like it.”

“Fluttershy, where’s Pinkie, I need her for something.”

“Somepony call me?!” Pinkie shouted from the kitchen, hopping into the room to everypony’s surprise, except Fluttershy. “I had a tingly hoof and an itchy ear, then a twist in my tongue, which means that my Shy Fly was thinking of me and wanted me to answer a question!  So, what’s it honey stick?”

Rainbow and Applejack giggled, looking at the blushing yellow mare. “Um, well Pinkie-Winkie, wanna go to the girls’ next party?”

“Oh my gosh!  I’d love to; I’ll bring cake, cookies, punch, I’ll set up balloons and streamers and-”

“No, Pinkie, it’s a lovers party.  Only couples like us.”

“Foolers and cuddlers?  Why?”

“Cuz it’s fun and we get to party like older ponies.”

“But, we’re not older ponies yet, we’re not even over twenty one yet.  We should be kids and have fun for as long as we can, right?”

“Well, uh, yes.  However, Pinkie Winkie,” Applejack and Rainbow looked to each other and made a motion with them sticking their hooves in their mouths, “I think it’d be nice to try something different. Maybe you’ll be inspired for another party of yours.”

“Well, if you think so, Sweetie Roll.  So, that’s it?”

“No, Pinkie.  I was gonna ask you to witness my biggest Pinkie Promise ever.”

Pinkie looked seriously at Rainbow and nodded, her hair bouncing.

“I, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Promise to never get drunk again, and any time I wanna drink, no matter where I am, I’m not going to take a drop until AJ says it’s okay.  Cross my heart, hope to fly, even though I already do, stick a cupcake in my eye.”

“It’s official.  If you break your promise,” Pinkie said narrowing her eyes seriously, “forever.”

“I know.  It’s not worth it to lose AJ, or myself again.”

“Great!  It’s a promise, let’s celebrate,” she said grinning a little too wide.  She produced a tray of rainbow sprinkled cupcakes from behind her and placing between the trio. “Gotta run, Pinkie sense is tingling,” she said looking to the kitchen intently.  “Bye, girls.”

She turned and trotted back into the kitchen, then her hoof falls went silent.

“AJ, there’s no way out of the house from the kitc-,” Rainbow shook her head as she looked back to the others, “never mind.  So, let’s eat up.  I’m starving and this a great way to start, dessert first.”

“We’re goin’ ta Mac L Mares, ya ain’t been there in a couple days and I got ‘em to start carryin’ a fire sauce and horseradish mix called ‘Rainboom’.  It’s goin’ great and you get a free burger a week.”

Rainbow grinned, icing on her lips and sprinkles across her teeth.

“Well, someone found the stallion!  C’mon ‘Shy, I’ll teach ya her favorite game.”

“Oh tartarus no you don’t,” Rainbow shouted taking to the air, with another cupcake in her hoof, as she flew out of the room.

“And that’s why ya gotta come, ‘Shy.”

Sharing a giggle they took a cupcake each and took a bite.  They moaned as they chewed.

“Fluttershy, how does she make these so good?”

“She told me, but it’s a secret ingredient.  I can tell you this, though: it’s something she grew up with.”

“Hmm,” Applejack thought, “is it a rock?”

Fluttershy swallowed and giggled. “I’ll never tell.”

“Fair enough.”

“Well, I’m gonna go now that she’s better.  Make sure she eats well and drinks plenty of fluids.  And, if she talks about what’s bothering her, just let her talk.”

Fluttershy stood and left the room to the door, opened it and said a goodbye to Rainbow, before she closed the door, leaving the duo alone.

Rainbow returned and landed next to Applejack, draping a wing over her.  She leaned in to nuzzle before she was pulled into a kiss.

“Ya still in the mood, Dashing?” Applejack said softly.

“When am I not with you around?”

“Heh, true.  Wanna go upstairs?”

Rainbow tapped her chin with her hoof and looked up, seemingly deep in thought.

“No.”

“Okay, I’ll meet ya the-, wait, what?” Applejack asked as she was pushing herself up, she stopped to look at Rainbow.

“I don’t want that to be what we’re about, just, just lay with me.  We’ll do that later, maybe tonight, maybe not.  Just, I wanna be with you, Applejack.  I almost lost you, and you still…” Rainbow pulled Applejack back to her side and laid on her forelegs, Applejack hesitated before laying her head over Rainbow’s.

“Rainbow, you’re full of surprises.”

“And, I can’t believe I’m gonna say this, but love, too.”

With a content sigh Applejack rested and relaxed on Rainbow on their living room floor.

“Rainbow?”

“Yeah, AJ?”

“Where is our couch?”

Saturnight Party - Part 1

“Well, the place is set up and everything’s ready,” Pinkie said trotting down the stairs to Applejack, “I like your new home by the way, Apple-Dashie.”

“Now, sugarcube ya know Dashie doesn’t like that name.  It’s Dash’pple.”

“Oh, shut up,” Rainbow shouted from the kitchen, “that was a joke.  They’re both awful,” she said hovering into the living room wearing a yellow apron, “if you had to choose one, go with Pinkie Pie’s.  Now, can I get back to cooking?”

Applejack smirked. “Don’t cha mean reheatin’? We’re havin’ apple goods from the farm and yer poppin’ ‘em in the oven.”

Pinkie didn’t say anything but smiled, looking between the two, as she stood beside Applejack.

“Well, the oven’s pretty hot and they could burn,” Rainbow said defensively.

“The oven has half a log in it, it won’t boil water before it burns out.”

Rainbow stuck her tongue out at Applejack as she turned back into the kitchen.

“Oh my gosh, this’ gonna be so much fun!  I can’t wait to learn new games and have fun with my filly friends and we can stay up late telling stories and I can’t forget about the colt cuddlers, I know about them but I’ve never seen them at a party together.  This’ gonna be so much fun!”

“Well, I’m glad ya got yer hopes up, but it might be a bit more relaxed.  What with Fluttershy bein’ here, and this’ll be the first one since…”

“Oh,” Pinkie’s smile faded slightly, “well, do you want to talk about that tonight?  I can bring it up.”

“No, don’t.  We’re finally getting over it all,” she said softly looking to the couch, “what time is ‘Shy comin’ by?”

“Oh!  My little Flutterpie is gonna be here after she talks with a friend about stuff.  Maybe an hour,” Pinkie tapped her chin while Applejack giggled.

“‘Flutterpie’?”

“Oh yeah, um, did she mention-”

Applejack didn’t let Pinkie say another word. “Cotton candy.”

Pinkie’s eyes went wide and a grin took her face. She tittered and fell to the floor holding her sides letting a couple laughs out.  “Oh-oh gosh, she told you everything?” she asked mirthfully.

“Nah, just a couple tidbits and I gotta tell ya, I can’t believe ya two did what ya did.”

“Yeah,” Rainbow shouted from the kitchen, “I thought she was gonna die a virgin.  Congrats.”

Pinkie was back on her hooves in the blink of an eye. “Oh, well, s-she was…” Pinkie’s mane deflated a little, she sat down, “y-yeah, she’s happier now.”

Now, what’s gotten into Pinkie’s craw? “And as long as she’s happy, so are we.  C’mon Pinkie, let’s try the couch out.”

“Oh, silly filly, you know I’m with Flutterpie.”

“What?” Applejack looked at Pinkie as she pronked to the couch. “Oh, no Pinkie, not like that,” she said blushing, “Ah meant sit on it, now that it’s clean and all.”

“Oh yeah, Flutters said it was pretty clean, but there was a stain that was tough to get out,” she giggled, “turned out Angel was using the cushion as a towel after he played in the mud!  Isn’t that bunny so silly?”

“Yeah, a real hoot,” she replied with a roll of her eyes as she climbed onto the couch.

“Heya, gals,” Rainbow said as she flew into the room, apron free, and landed between Pinkie and Applejack, “so, when’s the orgy?”  Applejack looked at Rainbow with a deadpan expression while Pinkie’s smile faultered. “Woah, tough crowd.  So, Pinkie, where’s ‘Shy?  And what’s this I heard about a new nickname for her?”

“Oh!  She’s totally gonna be here in about an hour and she’s really excited, well, as excited as she can be.  Her new nickity-name is, Flutterpie, because she’s my Fluttershy and I’m her Pinkie Pie.”

Rainbow burst out laughing. “Yeah, and you let her eat your pie, I heard.”

Pinkie blushed and leaned back.  “Um, well-”

“Now, Rainbow, stop with that nonsense.  Yer makin’ her uncomfortable.  Sorry, Pinkie.”

“Oh, whoo, that was a good one.  Look,” Rainbow said wrapping Pinkie with her foreleg and pulling her in close to her, “you’re lucky to have a friend as awesome as me, but ‘Shy is a real catch,” Applejack poked Rainbow and cleared her throat; trying to change the topic. “I know how much she cares about you, and if you’re doing what you’re doing, you’re helping her more than anypony ever has.”

What is Rainbow goin’ on about?

“There’s a few things I couldn’t help her with when we were in Cloudsdale and I think you’re just what she needs.”

“Um, well thanks, Dashie.  I’ve got it covered like frosting on a cake,” Pinkie said unsurely as she pulled out of Rainbow’s hug.

“‘Sides, we have a huge announcement to make once this party is rollin’,” Rainbow took to the air and hovered in the middle of the room, “AJ, is it seven yet?”

“No, Dashing, it’s only six fifteen.  Ya gotta wait.”

“Grugh,” she replied in a deep groan, “I hate waiting.  Can’t I just tell Pinkie?  She can keep a secret, right?”

Pinkie nodded quickly. “No, sorry Pinks, but we’re tellin’ all a’ya at once, then we tell everypony else.”

“OoooOooOOo,” Pinkie howled like a wolf at Rainbow, “I can keep a secret like Luna keeps the moon!  C’mon, tell me AJ!  I can know for a little bit, just a teensy-tiny little itty bitty bit.”

Applejack and Rainbow smirked to each other.  “EE-Nope.”

“Aww,” Pinkie said falling into a lying position on the couch, “you did that joke twenty four chapters ago.”

The others looked at each other. “What?”

“Oh, nothing.  I’ll wait.  It’d better not take a dozen chapters or I’ll have to have a talk with the author.”

“Pinkie, you’re not making sense again.”

Applejack put a hoof to her lips and hushed Rainbow silently. “Oh, it’s okay, Honey, Pinkie’s just bein’ silly’s all.  Right?”

Pinkie looked to Applejack with a forced grin.  “Yuppers!  That’s me, silly filly party pony extraordinaire!”

A knock at the door got their attention and a quiet sigh or relief from Pinkie.

“Davenport, Muddy!  So glad ya made it, might neigborly of ya to bring some, uh, wine?  Um, ya know we-”

“Oh, don’t worry, dear,” Muddy leaned in to whisper to Applejack, “it’s just grape juice in a wine bottle.  No more drunk Dashie,” he winked.  She smiled and nodded.

“Thanks, this wine looks mighty fine.  Can’t wait to break into it.”

“Oh, none for me,” Pinkie shouted from around the couch.  The door shut and the group walked into the living room again.”Heya, cuddlers.  How’s it hangin?”

“Well,” Muddy started.  Davenport jabbed him in the ribs to stop him.

“Everything’s fine, darling,” Davenport said in place of Muddy at a slightly more relaxed higher tone, “business is great and we’re fine and dandy like cotton candy.”

The mares giggled.  The stallions shrugged.

“So, I see ya brought wine,” Rainbow asked, taking a seat next to Pinkie, “sorry, none for me.  Still kinda hungover, not gonna make it worse.”

“Admirable, darling.  Where’s miss Fluttershy?”

“She’ll be here soon.  Pinkie, she’s coming, right?  I don’t want ‘Shy to be all ‘oh no, I’m so scared and shy’, and miss out.”

“Nopers, she’ll be here.  She’s been getting better, lately.”

“Dear?  Why did you hesitate?” Muddy asked taking a seat on the floor next to Davenport while Applejack went to the kitchen to get drinks.

“Well,” Pinkie said as she scratched her mane, “I don’t know how to say, but she’s coming out of her shell lately,” she smiled, “and it’s super duper!”

“Jeez, one hoofing and you really ‘opened her up’,” Rainbow said before laughing.

“Oh my!” the stallions said in unison.

“You two finally…” he trailed off.  Pinkie nodded slightly and looked down to her hooves. “You seem like that’s a bad thing, darling.  You didn’t hurt her, did you?” he questioned intently.

“Oh, nonono, I’d never hurt my Flutterpie,” the room d’awwed.

“Then what, inquiring minds have to know!” Davenport asked, growing in excitement.

“Now, yall, if’n she ain’t ready to talk don’t make her, have some Apple juice,” she said passing out mugs and placing a pitcher in the center of the foot table.

“No, I guess I can say something.  She was hurt, but, um,” she spoke quietly, “not by me.”

The others in the room looked at each other.  “What the hay does that mean?” Rainbow blurted, “I thought you were her first, was she lying?”

Pinkie looked sullen before smiling and looking at Applejack. “Thanks for the juice AJ.  Hey, if I drink this, am I drinking you?” she giggled.

“Oh, hey!  I have a great joke for you,” Rainbow said joining the change in subject, “if I have sex with AJ on the farm, am I cumming ‘in cider’?  Huh, huh?”

Laughter erupted and Pinkie felt relief as the topic changed so easily.

“Flutters, so nice you made it,” Davenport said softly as Fluttershy entered the house.”

“I was knocking, but I didn’t want to interrupt your laughing, I’m sorry if I was too quiet.”

“Heh, here I thought she was more open,” Muddy said with a smirk.

“She is, she is!  She’s totally more open,” Rainbow snickered, “and she’s filling my hole,” Applejack started to giggle, “and I’m filling her hole too!”  Fluttershy blushed fiercely as Pinkie spoke.

“Um, Pinkie, I think you mean ‘void’, like we talked about.”

“Eh, hole, void, whatever!  All that matters is we’re both full of my pie at the end!”

Fluttershy facehoofed as the others burst into laughter.

“Hey,” Rainbow said as she gathered her wits from laughing, “Fluttershy, you didn’t get all, ‘Fluttershy’ when we laughed.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, how am I supposed to be?  I’ll try harder next time.”

“NO!  I like this you, way more fun!  The way you facehoofed instead of hid was awesome.”

“She’s right, sugarcube, jus’ c’mere and get a cuppa juice.”

“We’re proud you’re happy, Fluttershy, and we heard about your, ehem, ‘first time’,” Muddy said with a raise of his eyebrows twice.

Fluttershy looked shocked to Pinkie. “Y-you told them?” she whispered.

“Oh, nothing about it!  Just that when Rainbow asksaid I nodded, I didn’t say anything about it, honest!”

Fluttershy looked to the others in the room with trembling wings before she sighed and stood taller, placed a hoof to her chest, took in a deep breath, then extended her hoof exhaling.  “I’m better, just had a moment.  So, what’s the plan this evening?”

Saturnight Party - Part 2

What a turn out.  We got my Dashie, and a Dashing one at that.  Then ther’s Fluttershy and Pinkie.

Ah never woulda thunk them an item.  Reckon it was a just a bit ago they were just friends, now they’re growin’ up and talkin about all kinds’a adult stuff.  Even starting to have, uh, adult relations.  Ah’m happy fer ‘em.  Maybe ‘Shy’ll come outta her shell some.

Then there’s Muddy and Davenport.  They’re the oldest and most mature of our group.  Colt cuddlers ‘re always so mature, even when they start younger than Ah am now.  Kinda feel bad they ain’t gonna have a little herd and family of their own.

“Earth to AJ?  Come in,” Rainbow said waving a hoof in front ‘a me.

“What’s goin’ on?” I asked, all nice like.  They were all lookin’ at me like I had crumbs in my fur.

“Darling,” Muddy started talkin’ all sweet to me, “we’ve been talking to you for nearly a minute and you’ve been staring into space, smiling like a lovestruck filly,” I felt myself blush a little and Ah was gonna say somethin’, but he kept goin.  “So, have your eye on a new filly to bring into the herd?”

Ah swear he knows just what’a say to get Rainbow goin’.  She’s gonna keep this up all night.  Ah looked at Muddy and smiled nice, but one ’a them fake one’s that sends a message.  This one was ‘thanks’.  All he did was grinned mischievously. And that means he’s gonna egg on my little birdie.

“Well, Ah’m here now, so, who’s hankerin’ for an apple tart?”

They got happy and smilin’.  I love to see a happy customer.  No, wait.  I’m not sellin’.  This’ my home and these’re my friends.  Mah family. “Be right back, don’t go hog tie’n Rainbow ‘til I get back.”

“Hey!” she shouted shootin’ me a look.  I just swished my tail and watched her blush as Ah walked into the kitchen.  Ah, the sounds of teasing, I love it these nights.  Now, where’s that oven mitt?

“Dashing?” I called, then felt a smile tug across mah muzzle as the other’s whispered teases at her.  She hushed them harshly, but it didn’t take.

“Yeah, hun?”  I giggled inta my hoof.  She’s so cute when she’s tryin’ not ta be.

“Whare’d ya put that mitt?  Gotta get the goods from the oven.”

“Just reach in, it’s warm, not hot.”

Oh, that mare…  Ah swear, she forgets her feathers are heat resistant, my mouth ain’t. “Darlin’,” I started a little firm, “Ah need ‘em cuz I’m not burnin’ my tongue.  Not if ya want me to use it later.”  I felt my heart beatin’ a little faster, talkin like that with others around.  She was in fronta the oven before two shakes of salt lookin at me.

I couldn’t hold my laugh in.  She was blushin’ hard!  “Sugarplum, yer, purple.”  Celestia I love this mare.  She’s just so much fun.

“Oh, hush,” she said while I wiped a tear from my eye.  She reached inta the oven with her wings; those sexy feathery things that I cuddle into every night.  “Here,” she offered ‘em to me.

“Yeah, and ya can bring ‘em to the other room now, miss hot wings.”  Oh, she didn’t like that.  She’s purple again, must. Not. Laugh.  …  Failed.  I fell over laughing as she stomped into the living room.  I got up and stubbed my hoof on a loose nail.  “Darn things.  Ah’m gonna fix this floor up next week.”

Ah walked back inta the livin’ room and felt so proud. Everypony was eatin’ my goods and lovin’ it. Smiles, chewin’, and not a word said, ‘cept fer ‘mmm’.  Ah had ta get a taste with ‘em.  I sighed.  Picked up a fritter.  Raised it to my mouth.  Took a bite.  And lied.  It hurts to do it, but it’s fer the family and farm.

“Ah tell ya, this’ one ‘a the best fritters Ah’ve ever had.  Sure do love my apples.”

That’s right, always love ‘em.  Always make the sell.  Always word it just right to make it sound like a statement, but it’s a question they think ‘bout for days, ‘til they’re slobberin’ like a dog at supper.  Buy’n up all the fritters that are the same as when Granny was a filly.

The same recipes fer almost a hundred years, always makin’ it sound like it’s the newest secret recipe every year.  Every year the lies get easier.

Rainbow Dash loves ‘em.  She loves the lie.

Wait an apple buckin’ second.

Ah stopped chewing and looked at the others and let my smile fall to match what my heart felt.  I swallowed and put the fritter down.

They all looked at me.  Never had I stopped eatin’ in fronta them like that.

“What’s wrong, Darling?” Muddy asked, spittin’ some crumbs out.

“Dear, if something’s wrong we can help.”

I heard Rainbow flappin’ and land next to me on the floor, her shoulder bumped mine, but she acted like it was nothin’ but a accident.  She knows a shoulder bump gets my feels goin where they need to.

She’s takin’ another bite ‘a the lie.

“A-Ah,” I took a deep breath, “Ah lied.”

They all stopped eatin’ and looked at me.  One ‘a them looks that’s disbelief and surprise.  ‘Cept Pinkie, Ah think she knows.  She smiling at me, tellin’ me ta tell ‘em with her eyes.

“Applejack,” Fluttershy said, “you can tell us, we’re your friends and won’t be mad.” Pinkie even gulped her mouthful and gave me a smile of trust and encouragement.

I felt my heart strings bein’ plucked like a banjo and I sniffled. “This ain’t easy ta say, cuz Ah’ve been lyin’ ‘bout it fer so long…”

I heard Rainbow stop chewing next to me.  She done gulped the last of it down.  Ah think she thinks it’s gonna be bad.  Always think’n of herself.  No, don’t get distracted.  Ya can do this.

“Everypony, I don’t like apples.”  I looked at my hooves and waited for the gasps of shock.  Maybe for Fluttershy to faint and Rainbow to laugh at me.  Instead, I felt her wing over my back, a couple feathers tickled me but I didn’t smile or laugh.

Ah looked up to the others and saw ‘em smilin’ at me.

“Dear, everypony knows that, but it’s so nice to hear you say it, finally.”

I looked at Dav and then around.  Even Rainbow was smilin’, like she was understanding me.  “Wh-what do you mean, ‘everypony knows’?”

“Hun,” Rainbow started, “no pony can love what they do all the time.  I think tonight, as we go on, we should share a secret.”

She was so calm, like she wanted to tell somethin’ big, somethin’ fierce too.  They all nodded, then came over and hugged me.  I couldn’t help it, what happened next.  I sobbed like Apple Bloom when she can’t get her cutie mark.  Ah felt free of the weight that was holdin’ me down.  And Ah was surrounded by my best friends.

This’ what bein’ a true friend is, bein’ so close, that they’re family.

Saturnight Party - Part 3

Well, that was something.  I can’t believe AJ doesn’t like apples.  Well, I can, since it’s all she’s ever really talked about.  Her whole life is around ‘em.  Even her cutie mark is of ‘em.  I wonder if she’ll ever tell the real story about her cutie mark?  One last squeeze and a tap on her rump.  That's it, give me the look.

I love the smell in her mane.  It’s something she can’t hide or cover; pineapple.  She sneaks them all the time.  I guess tonight will be the night I have to come clean too.  I can’t be one-upped by AJ, even if she is my marefriend.

“So, does that mean we can stop havin’ apples so often?” I asked with a grin.  I made sure to keep some food in my teeth so they’ll have a giggle.  The look on AJ’s face, it’s like she just had an orgasm after a long week.  Just, so much relief.  Those freckles.  Can’t.  Look.  Away.

“Sugarplum, we’ll have less, but they’re free so Ah’m gonna be bringin’ ‘em home still.”

Everypony is going back to their places and finished eating their snacks, still loving them.  At least they don’t have to live with apples in everything.

But, I do love her baking.  Apple stuff is good, but too much gives me gas.  I can’t tell her that though.  She’d be upset.  Just look at her smiling.

“Ya know what else’ll be a good thing?” AJ said with a laugh, “apples give me gas, so that problem’ll fix itself.”

I love her so much, I could be a baby tree.  Haha, I’m gonna use that one someday, it’ll get laughs everywhere.  Mmm, I love, sniffing her mane too.

“Well, who’s up for a game?!” I shouted so loud Fluttershy coughed on her food.  Pinkie grinned in that freaky way she does.

“I am, I am!” Pinkie giggled bouncing on the couch.  Alright, time to break in the budding feathers.

“Okay, first off,” I said grinning at Pinkie and ‘Shy, “kissing contest,” I waved my hoof like it was no big deal.

“O-oh, oh my.  Um, you see-”

“I love it!  Let’s get ready,Flutterpie.” Pinkie’s licking her lips, getting ready.  And ‘Shy’s blushing.  If they even cheek kiss I’d be amazed.  Maybe three or four party nights and they’ll kiss open mouthed.  Oh that’d be so hot…

I better fly over to ‘Shy. “Don’t worry, it’s you against the cuddlers,” I whisper to her a great tip, “just turn and show ‘em your plot, you’re guaranteed to win.”

She’s turning so red it was almost orange, like, AJ.  If she had freckles I’d ravage her on the spot.  NO!  Focus, games, not sex.  GAMES, not sex; with your super cute best friend that you’ve known forever and has always made you think funny things...

Wow, really brain?  Or would that be my pussy?  It’s so tough to know which is my boss sometimes.

“Let’s move this table and get to it.”  I’m getting this side and AJ just grabbed the other in her mouth.  Those strong, firm jaws that can pull a pin feather like a drop of water on my nose…  Whew, it’s getting warm back there.  Heh.

“Okay, here’s the rules,” I’d better sit so Aj doesn’t get the scent I make when I’m turned on, “first, we close the windows and shades,” the stallions got it.  Two windows, they’ll be quick, “second, only couples kiss.  Third,” winking at AJ; check, “kiss and mean it, winner gets a prize!”

“Ooo, I wanna prize,” Pinkie said excitedly.

…

Five minutes of encouraging and finally Pinkie is at least standing next to Fluttershy and Muddy is looking at Dav like he’s gonna win.  I love this game, but there’s only one problem...

“Ready?” I raised my right hoof.

“Set?” AJ raised her left.

We’re dropping them in 3, 2, 1.  “GO!”

Dav and Muddy are going right to it, their lips touching, their tongues lapping each other’s noses and lips like dogs.  Not bad.

Have Pinkie and Fluttershy started?  So awkward, they’re looking at each other, then the floor, then rubbing their knees with their forehooves, then back to the looking.  Lame. Maybe six more nights...

“C’mon ‘Shy, you can do it!”  I’m gonna get her going, or at least not be called a chick for not helping.  YES!  Now everypony’s chanting, getting her going.  She’s looking at Pinkie more…  C’mon ‘Shy, let me see your soft pink tongue lick your soft, warm, cottony lips… STOP IT PUSSY BRAIN!

Oh my gosh, she’s finally leaning forward and her lips touched Pinkies.  I Pinkie’s back is wiggle like jello.  That mare is so random.  Holy, their lips are touching.  Darn, I’m breathing heavy.

Now it’s getting hot!  Seeing Fluttershy start to kiss Pinkie was good, but now they’re getting into it.  Their eyes are closed and their hooves are caressing each other’s bodies, they’re about to, yeah, that’s it, rear up and hug.  Holy Luna, I’m gonna need to use the bathroom soon.

The cuddlers got back while I was watching the foolers, let’s see and, oh yeah; Muddy pounced on Davenport, holding him down.  Their tongues fighting in their mouths, now the problem I have watching cuddlers go at it, they’re starting to poking out.

I know AJ hates to see that part of a stallion, but I can’t look away.  They’re making out and just rubbing their cocks together like crazy all over their bellies!  Luna, what would I wouldn’t give to be in the middle of them.  Both of them stuffing me, my pussy and ass, rocking me between them while they kiss.  Damnit, I’m matting my fur back there.

Aaand now AJ’s giving me ‘seriously’ look.  Heh, I’m grinding the carpet, can’t hide that. I’ll use my ‘oops’ smirk. Gosh she makes me uncomfortable when she sees me get turned on by…

“Holy crap,” I better point, AJ has to see this.  Her jaw dropped.  In the few seconds I was staring at the cuddlers Fluttershy had taken top of Pinkie and was kissing her all over her neck.

Pinkie isn’t giggling, she’s panting.  Sweet Celestia… “AJ, do you smell that?” She smells it too, and ‘Shy’s leg.  It’s doing the knee thing right in Pinkie’s moist, wet, cotton candy smelling spot.  I don’t know if I can make it.  This’ the hottest make out ever.  What the hay is going on here?

I can’t breathe, it’s so hot, mmm, need to kiss AJ.  Can’t stop myself.

Ohhh yeah, she’s in the mood too.  Her warm lips, soft tongue, taste of apples.  Woah, haha, now she’s gonna be on top?  Oh this’ so hot. “I want you so bad, AJ.”

“Okay.”  Wait, why’s she all breathy, we can’t really do it, can we?  Right, “mmm,” here.  Oh, she’s nibbling my neck, oh shit, I can’t take it anymore.

X Saturnight Party - Part 4

Ah, my clit, she’s rubbing it with her knee, her fur tickles.  Oh gosh, her soft yellow fur is rubbing against me, her tongue is in my mouth and her pink mane is mixing in mine like taffy and cotton candy.  Oh yeah, this’ gonna happen, hehe.  They have to pull us apart with the jaws of life, even though those kinda don’t work like that, and they don’t technically exist, yet.

I really think this’ gonna be too much for my Flutters to handle.  I might need to give her a cuddle when we’re done. “Please, don’t stop, ‘Shy.”

    Ever since we had that heart to heart. “Oh, yeah, nibble my ear, you naughty little rabbit,” since that talk, she’s been more comfortable with doing this at her cottage with her animals watching, now. “Oh my gosh, you bad puppy, licking me like that,” now she’s gonna do it here?  Wait a minute, my 4th sense is tingling.

    HA!  You’re gonna read about me and Fluttershy doing it, you’re so lucky.  Get your imaginations ready cuz this writer is pretty good at this stuff.  But, this’ll be between us.  We know this story isn’t that popular.  All three of you readers would agree, I bet.  Insert wink emoji here.

    “O-oh my.  Pinkie, look...”

What’s Fluttershy looking at?  Wow, I’d better not let my eyes fall out, that’s always a mood killer.  AJ is gonna start doing Dashie, right there!  Hokey pokie this is lokie in the kokie!

    “‘Shy, make love to me, my pretty little pet, I’ll pet you when you’re done.”

    That gets her going every time.  “Mmm,” she’s licking my neck like a candy cane; from bottom to top.  Her knee’s just in the right place, I’m going loco on my coco!  “That’s it, Mm-hmm, good kitty, purr for me?”  I hate my squeaky voice, I can’t keep it quiet enough, not with what she’s doing to me.

    “Eek,” Oh my, pulling her knee into me deeper, what the hay am I doing?  This’ not what I thought this party was gonna be.  “Ahh, ahah, ah, mmm.”  I feel something, my ear is tingling, that means- “Ah, that hurt.  Do it again.”  She has the cutest evil grin.

    I need to kiss her before she goes down there, I’m not a big fan of cotton candy.  Holy bucket of oats, the cuddlers are doing it?!  I’ve never seen it like that.  Muddy’s all in his, rump hole, and Davenport is rubbing his thingie.  I bet that feels good.

Maybe I’ll try some Futa with Futashy, haha, just kidding.  You’re reading this, not me.  Get your head outta that place!  My Fluttershy is one hundred percent mare.  I’m scowling at yooo-whoa Nelly…

    “Yeah, that’s good, I love when you lick my belly.  Good puppy, give me a bath.”  Oh, oh my, this’ intense, like really.  Fluttershy’s licking my belly now; working her way down my body.  Caressing my sides and grabbing my flanks.  She’s so soft and gentle, most of the time.  I love it when she hurts me in just the right way.  Not enough to make it really hurt, but just enough to make it hurt a little.  Then she’ll hurt me big and she knows just when and how, it’s like magic.  I wonder if it’s a pegasi thing.  Maybe they have sex magic that I don’t know about.  Woah, I’m totally not paying attention.  Better moan to let her think I’m totally with her.

    “Mmm, oh yeah.  That’s my little filly, nibble my-  OWIE!  Sorry ‘Shy.”  Oh yeah, that’s what I like.

    Her kisses are touching my skin, oh, the skin on my legs.  My inner thighs.  My heart’s pounding, I feel the ache in my hole that I only want her to fill.  “‘Shy, taste my pie.”

    Ha, I knew they’d laugh when I said that, but I never thought I’d say that like this.

    “Holy Celestia,” I can’t help but tremble more; my Pinkie sense knows.  This’ a doozy, it’s gonna be a doozy.  Her breath on my lips, so warm and a slight chill going inside me.  Wrapping my legs around her and pulling her in.  She needs a little help to get goO-ing, yeah.

    “Ohhhoahohaho.”  Full.  Body.  Trembles.  From lips to lips…  HA!

    Mmm, her tongue is so soft and she goes so deep now.  Her tongue is extra long but no pony would guess, and it’s in me.  “Hhohoholy crap,” she’s licking my cervix, I can’t believe how deep she is, “please, do it,” whispering…  I hear AJ and Dashie grinding.  That sweet squishy sound, AJ moaning in her alto voice.  Rainbow flapping her wings, trying to grab anything she can.

    The sound of the cuddlers grunting over there, I can tell they’re quick.  Can’t have that!  Nopers scopers!  Reach in mane.  Hammer, no.  Chips, later.  Gotta be in here somewhere.  Let’s see, ah, a spray bottle.  Ready, “Oh gosh, yes, right there, hoof me slowly,” aim.  Fire.  Ha!  The look on their faces.  Perfect shot to their, um, connection point.  Heh.

    “Take it slow, boys, this’ gonna be a doozy, make it count.”

    They’re grinning, oh yeah, they know what that means.  Where’d my chips go?  Oh, who cares.

    “Pinch ‘em, shy.  Start making it hurt,” I better keep it at a whisper.  Wow, AJ and Dashie aren’t whispering.  Moaning and squishing all over.  Heh, Rainbow’s a mewler.  I’m so wet. “Yeah, don’t let a drop get away, Flutterpie.”  She’s slurping my fur clean.  Her hoof is so soft and smooth from her getting spa treatments.

    “Hahehhe.”  She’s hoofing me so deep, stretching me out, hurts.  Just a little.  I feel her fur tickling my clit between laps of her wet tongue along the outside of my lips.  “AH!”  Squeaked too loud, but she’s biting me, like a carnivore.  Her teeth are so roug- “Urrgh-yeah.”  She twists when she pinches.  I-it’s happening, soda bubbles everywhere.  Popping around me!  Like a bath in sticky soda.

    She’s pushing so deep I feel like I’m having a contraction, my legs are trembling.  “It hurts, don’t stop. N-now, now.  Please, do it!” Now they see how she gets me there, show ‘em all.”

    “Uhhhuhhh-ggrrrng, yesss, get it all in there, all of it.  Do it you naughty stallion, fill me with your meat!”They’re gasping, I can feel their eyes on us, I can’t open my eyes.  My body’s frozen, legs locked on wings, grunting, spasm, ohhh. Her knee is almost touching my clit.  Gasp, there it is.  The rush of wigglies in my head.  “Ohhhmm,” I can’t move.  Heheheee.

    Wow, that was great.  But, my job isn’t done yet.  Not if I’m a good marefriend, anyway.

Next chapter, please hurry!  I need to finish this...

X Saturnight Party - Part 5

Take it.  Take it all you naughty filly.

Oh my, I’m kind of being too assertive again.  This' my Pinkie Pie, not me.

So?  I’m free, Pinkie is helping me.

But, I don’t want to hurt her too bad.

But she likes it.  She’s asking for it, you’re just doing what she wants.

Yes, I am.  I’m a big filly now.  I have a marefriend.  However…

Remember what Iron Will taught you; don’t be a pushover, not even to yourself.

But, what if I go too far?

You apologize, I penalize.

Ouch!  I bit my tongue a little too hard, that time.

“Flutters, I’m done.  Please.”

Look at her, loving every push of my foreleg into her body.  A bite on her puffy lips and she’ll squeak for me.  “That’s my little mousie.”

She’s done, I did my job.  I’m a good filly- mare!

My turn.

I need it.  I need the release, I need it.

“Pinkie,” I’m gonna lick my way up her body.  She likes it when I do that.  And she smells so yummy.

Then I’m going to put my dirty tongue in her mouth.

Her tongue’s fighting me back, but I’m going to win.  She’s my Pinkie Winkie, mine.

Her cheeks are so soft between my hooves, she’s still shaking from what I did.  That smile, it’s so warm.

She’s nodding?  She wants me to do it here?  Now?

I’m gonna sit up and show her I mean business.

Oh my, what did I just do?

I raised my hoof and brought it down at a heavy arc, right across her muzzle, the sound is like bucking an apple tree.  She squealed like a little piggly wiggly for me.  She loves it.  She loves me for doing it.

Her kiss is so much hotter now.  Her legs are all over me, I can hardly control myself. I feel so, animalistic.

Oh my, she’s got a little swelling on her cheek. I hope she's,  no.  I know she's okay.  And that's good, I’ll show her what it’s like to live my life.

            “You’re such a bad girl, I’m gonna punish you.”  That look of hungry fear in her eyes, that’s what he saw in me.  Only, I know she likes it; wants it.   I'm the boss.  With her  I’m free.

Free of my past.  No hiding, no secrets, no shyness.  Flutter Storm is alive again, with Pinkie Pie my heart is finally open.  And my gift to her, is the pain she never gets to feel.  And yes, what she does to me makes me feel good.  Better than I have in years.

She’s not going to be able to do this right if I let her get up.  I have to keep on top and make it happen the right way.  Oh my, they’re all looking at me.  M-maybe…

Maybes are for babies!

Let them look at us.

Not one of them is going to stop me from being with the mare I love.

Look at them, looking at us.  I’m going to take what I want and look ‘em in the eye.

Eyes, blue sparkling eyes full of care for me.  She’ll keep me safe and help me.

“Pinkie, you know I love you and don’t really mean to hurt you, right?”

I really do love her, and I'll do anything to keep her.

“I know silly filly, this’ fun and, you know, I like it when it hurts, like, umm, oh!  Like when a bug bites you and it itches for a day.  You’re my itch.”

Oh, those blue, honest eyes.  Her soft pink lips.  Her warm, wet, flat tongue.  The swelling in her cheek is going away already, that’s good.  She’s a fast healer.  The things she wants me to do sometimes worry me, though.

Look there.

Oh my.

The cuddlers are going faster watching us, they’re hard things slapping inside each other, bouncing around.  Horrible things.  Bad things.  I hate stallions thingies.  I only want Pinkie.  Soon, she’ll do whatever she wants to me.

I’m almost confident enough.  I almost am through the wall that is my fear.  The fear is almost gone, thanks to my Pinkie.

            And look at them.

           Applejack and Rainbow are looking at us, worried, oh dear.  Maybe I’m being too assertive again.  What if they hate me for what I’m doing to Pinkie.  For acting so mean and hitting her.  But, Rainbow hasn’t stopped grinding her hips into AJ.  The squishy sounds and the smell of apples in the air.

She’s enjoying this.  They all are.  This isn’t about me.

Stop being so selfish, Fluttersh- Flutter Storm.  Tomorrow will be a better day.

With Pinkie by me, I can do anything.  Like let her make me feel warm fuzzies.

All I have to do is get up and flap my wings, landing with my aching pussy on her face.  She knows what to do.  She’s…  “Yeah,” I’m moaning loudly, “that’s it,” I might not last as long as before.

Her forelegs are holding my hips, “AH! Oh my,” she’s making circles on my cutie mark again.  I feel her hot breath on my rump hole, every huff from her snout blowing on my tail root.  Her tongue is in me, just a little bit at at time.  She’s so kind to me.

“You’re a good little mousie, keep going and I’ll give you a tasty treat.”

Tail.  I see her tail, right there.  It’s mine.  I just let myself fall until my face is against her again and, “Mmm,” I let my tongue glide along the entirety of her slit.  I love to nibble her nipples.

Oh, that’s right.  She likes it when I bite a little too hard.  Maybe I’ll just…

“Eek!”

“Sorry, Pinkie.  You like it, right?”

Pulling my rump away from her slightly is a great punishment.  She whines like the sad puppy she is.  “Drink your juice and don’t make trouble.”

I grab her tail and yank.  There’s the stretchy sound, her legs are trembling.  She loves this.  Time to bite the next nipple, she yelped again, twisting her hips in pleasure.  She likes this, right?

Oh dear, what’m I doing?  I’m hurting her.  She’s my Pinkie, she’d be so upset with me if I really hurt her.  No, now I’m being a pushover to myself.  I’m trying to block myself.  “No.  I rock!”  I’m gonna look between our bodies, I want to see her enjoying my gift to her. “Yes. Please, right there.  It feels so nice.”

Her pace is picking up.  I feel like such a naughty filly again.  Only now, I’m the boss.

She’s licking my spot.  The special spot so deep inside me, inside my body that only her tongue can reach.  I have to taste her, wrap my legs around her flanks and taste the cotton candy.  Her soft fur against my muzzle.

The scent of my Pinkie’s aroma isn’t musty at all.  Sweet flower honey laced with cotton candy and a hint of mint.  She likes to stay so fresh for me.

Oh my, oh dear!  It’s happening.

The sounds of mating all around me.  Like two ravenous dogs the cuddlers are going at it.

Like a pair of fighting cats, grunting and hissing, Dash and AJ are mating so furiously.

I feel it, my tail is twitching.  My wings are opening, can’t keep them closed.  Don’t want to and my feathers are bristling.  My legs are squeezing her head between them.  Her tongue knows my secret spot.  “Oh yeah, taste it all.  I’m orgasming for you, my Pinkie.  Taste my cupcake, frost it!”  Oh, I felt my back crack between my flared wings; I sound like Mr. Bear.

“Ugh, that was great, Pinkie-Winkie.  Hehe, you’re winking at me still.”

It felt so good.  Like every time.

I have to twist my body away from her.  She won’t stop licking me if I don’t get away, then it starts to feel too good.

My legs are all trembly.

The cuddlers are going so fast, Muddy’s so deep, I see his balls slapping against Davenport’s rump.  And they’re doing it belly to belly, wow!

Davenport is starting to cum. It’s spurting between them, so sticky and white.  I can’t look away, it’s fascinating how they do it.  And horrible too.

But, I’m still happy they’re happy.

I always moan when Pinkie nuzzles me.  She’s laying on my barrel, watching the cuddlers go at it with me.

What’s happening tonight?  I don’t even kiss in public yet.  And now I’m mating with my Pinkie right here?

Muddy’s grinning and thrusting as hard as he could into Davenport, grunting.  A lot of grunting.  Oh my, no, don’t remember.  Don’t think about what happened back then, it’s in the past and Pinkie is now.  Fluttershy is going away, I hope.  Watch them, Flutter Storm.  Never again.  That’s never happening again.

I’d rather watch my friends.

“Oh my,” I was weeping again, like after every time, but the good kind.  It’s weird watching my fellow element bearers making love.

Their legs wrapped around each other, a tail holding up AJ and Rainbow’s wings are straight out.  The look on her face is cute, like she’s about to sneeze.

Oh, OH!  That’s what she looks like when…

So sleepy and Pinkie is so comfortable.  Such a nice cuddler; just need to close my eyes, just for a minute.  Then I’ll ask what’s happening.

...

What happened last night?

“HOLY HORSE APPLES!” Rainbow shouted, scaring everyone in the living room awake.  Startled they all looked around before locking eyes with each other, beginning to blush fiercely. “AJ?!  What the hay happened last night?”

Applejack stammered, looking to the others for a hopeful answer.  They sat up on their flanks, stunned silence filled the room.  Fluttershy trembled and began to shy behind Pinkie, who was also at a loss of words, furious embarrassment and blushes were on their faces.

Pinkie looked to the floor, rubbing her hooves together awkwardly.

“Um, maybe we should go?”

“N-no, it’s okay Pinks, we have to figure this out.  What the hay happened?  First it was a kissing game, then a freaking orgy?!” Rainbow asked the room.

“Dashie, calm down, we lost ourselves, that’s all.  We gotta-” Pinkie started with an obvious uncertainty.

“No!  I’d never do that, um, I’m sorry, but I really wouldn’t, um, I shouldn’t stay, I’m sorry. I’m really s-s,” Fluttershy began to tremble and weep behind Pinkie who turned and hugged her marefriend.

“D-darling, i-it’s fine, just fine.  Um, we’re friends, right?  We can do these things?  Secret rules apply still?”

“You’re right, dearest Muddy.  Even though there’s the humiliation of the event, perhaps we’re all closer for it?”

Applejack cleared her throat, finally with something to say. “Ahm almost inclined ta agree.  We’re like family, and we’re as close as peas in a pod.  Remember that in the past pony’s’d do it right in the street durin’ heat,” she tried to reason, garnering a couple uneasy nods at the pony’s of past generations.

“What time’s it?” Applejack asked as she looked to the clock on the wall and gasped. “Three in the mornin’?  We done did it ‘til we were tuckered out and all fell asleep?  Somethin’ ain’t right here.”

“Oh dear, I have to put out food for the nocturnal animals and check on mister turtle’s shell.  I have to go,” Fluttershy quickly said, galloping to the door, “I-I’m really sorry about what I did, please don’t be mad at me.” She slammed the door and the sounds of her beginning to galloped away were heard.

“You know, I think we’re a bit tired still, perhaps we should go as well.”  Muddy nodded in agreement with Davenport as they both stood and blushed at the wet spot on the floor from where Davenport was sitting.  Their eyes trailed to Muddy’s chest and the matted fur that was stuck together in firm clumps.

“Don’t worry, partner, I’ll clean up here.  Ya’ll have a nice rest ‘a the night and we’ll figure this out,” she gestured to the remaining mares in the room.

With their heads low the stallions left silently, closing the door with a quiet click.

The mares looked to each other in silence, not even Rainbow had anything to say.  Two long, awkward, silent minutes passed.

“Um, girls, maybe I should go too?”

“Pinks,” Applejack hesitated, “if you wanna go, Ah ain’t gonna stop you, but we gotta get this straightened out, what happened ain’t what these parties are about, and we know we all have more control than that.”

“Yeah, I mean, it was awesome, but more weird than anything I’ve ever had happen before in my life!  I can’t even describe it, I was out of control.  Even Fluttershy was hard core fucking.”  Applejack shot Rainbow a harsh glare. “You know it and saw it!  None of us were inhabited, totally no inhabitednitions!”

Pinkie snorted. “In-ha-bitions.  But, I don’t know.  I’ll ask around tomorrow, see if anypony knows anything.  I have to check on my Flutterpie-bee wybie, she’s gonna need a lot of cuddles to feel better,” she said with a sigh, “you know how she is.  See ya laters gators, oh no!  I haven’t fed gummy, he’s gotta be hungry as a crocodile right now.”

Pinkie trotted to the door, left and closed the door silently, slamming it with a loud bang just before it closed.

“Ran-dom.”

“Okay, Rainbow Dash, we need ta clean up and figure out what the hay happened.  Did you do somethin’ to the snacks?” Applejack accused with a pointed hoof.

“What?  NO!  No, no, no, no.”

“Okay then, why in the name of applesauce did we all lose it and have sex all over the place like crazed dogs in heat?”

“AJ, I have no idea, but I think we should ask Twi.  She’s the egghead, I’m sure she’ll come up with an idea on why we did something so awesomely weird.  Maybe there’s something in the early fall air?  I’m going into heat in a couple weeks, and so are you.  Maybe that has something to do with it, could be we all just got a hormone high.”

Applejack looked at Rainbow for a few seconds before she relented herself to the wisdom. “Alright, ya got me.  It’s early, or late, and we’ve gotta clean up, then get ta bed right.  Tomorrow’s gonna be awkward as a fly in a bee’s nest.”

“Whatever.  Hoof wrestle to see who cleans the carpet,” Rainbow stated landing on her belly, foreleg ready.

The next morning Applejack and Rainbow were standing outside their home, ready to be out and about, see the town’s life and get their mind off the previous evening.  Walking into town they noticed a lot of unease amongst the population.  Venders in the market weren’t advertising their wares, ponies avoided eye contact with each other, and even the fillies and colts were huddled into gender groups, whispering amongst themselves.

“Rainbow, what’s goin’ on here?” Applejack whispered up to her marefriend.  Rainbow shrugged as they turned to head to Sugarcube corner for a morning snack.

The door chimed and they entered to a room devoid of the morning pony rush.

“Hello, welcome to Sugarcube Corner.  Oh, hiya girls,” Mr. Cake said cheerfully, a grin plastered on his muzzle.

“Sweet tart, is the rush start- oh, hello ladies,” Mrs. Cake said in a chipper voice, smiling blissfully, “Pinkie’s still in her room sleeping.  She’s been really quiet since last night, but between us, we’re enjoying a bit of silence in the house.  If you’re interested in a few muffins...” Mrs. Cake trailed off slowly raising her eyebrows suggestively with a slight nod, the salesmare she was.

“Oh, why thank ya kindly.  We’re not here ta bug Pinkie, she, uh, had a rough night.”

Rainbow snorted and giggled. “Yeah, rough night,” she hinted to Applejack who frowned slightly. “Oh yeah.  Well, we were hanging out and she left early, I think she was a bit full with Fluttershy,” she finished grinning widely.

“Well, that’s nice to know she wasn’t hungry when she came back.  It sounds like you two need a muffin or two.”

They smiled to each other.  The sales ponies selling and the mares knowing they’d buy.

“Fine, Ah’ll take five.  Mix ‘em up.  We’ve gotta see Twilight and she might need one.”

Their snack paid for the cakes were standing side to side, waving them off, as they left.

“That, was awkward.  It was like they were super happy.  Like, oh boy, AJ.  What if they did it last night too, wouldn’t that be weird?  What if they get pregnant!?  A little foal at Sugarcube Corner?  They’d have two kids to take care of,” Rainbow laughed.

“Well, there’s a chance.  Ain’t seen ‘em that happy in a coon’s age.”

Trotting through town they smiled at every group and individual pony they could, only to be met with an awkward smile or eye avoidance each time.

“Hey, there’s Twilight.  She’s out and isn’t all mopey.  Let’s see what’s up, maybe she knows.”

“Hey, Twilight? Ya gotta minute, somethin’ screwy’s happenin’,” Applejack called down the street to the lavender mare who looked to them with a sad expression of defeat.  She turned and began trotting away quickly.

“AJ, what the hay is with everypony being so down today?  Maybe they all need to get laid.”

A few gasps were heard around and when the couple looked around they saw shocked and blushing faces looking at them.

“Aright, that tears it, c’mon.” Applejack declared patting her stetson tighter on her head and entering into a gallop as quick as she could.  Rainbow smirked as she took wing above her mate.

A few seconds later they were beside Twilight, a cloud of dust washed over them, caught in their wake.

“Alright, Sugarcube.  What’s the deal?  What’s goin’ on in to-wn?” Applejack stuttered as she and Rainbow appeared in Twilight’s room in the library, Twilight was on her bed.

“Girls, I’m so, so sorry.  It’s my fault, did it affect you too?  My stupid mistake?”

After a glance to each other they joined Twilight on the bed.

“What’d ya do, sugarcube?”

“Ah, well, I had a date planned with this stallion I met.  Everything went great; dinner was perfect, we talked about stuff for hours, I even kissed him good night.  Then I met him a few hours later to have sex.”

“Holy Luna’s left teats!  What, I can’t say ‘shit’ around AJ.” Rainbow said as she got a painful jab in her shoulder. “Anyway, why in all the insanity of Discords nightmares would you jump on the first stallion you met the same day?”

Twilight levitated her pillow over her head and let it fall, holding it tight while she groaned.  “Now, Ah know Rainbow has a way with words, and all, but we’re wonderin’ why you rushed.”

Twilight raised her head, the pillow balancing on her face covering her eyes, making her look a bit silly in her saddened state.

“It was awful.  I was so awkward, I was pretending to be a nurse and I could have killed him.  After I got so frustrated I just dropped the fantasy and just let him rut me-”

“Wow, you’re a tough date,” Rainbow deadpanned.  Another jab in the same spot on her shoulder yielded a yelp from Rainbow.  Rainbow rubbed her shoulder and pouted.

“Continue, Twi,” Applejack motioned with her hoof.

“He, well, it went in and I felt something I never did before, and I achieved climax at a higher rate than I’d ever before and it was highly enjoyable..”

“What?”

“It means she got there, Dashing,” Applejack informed.

“Oh, cummed; got it.”

“Oh gosh,” Twilight laid her head down and spoke slightly muffled. “I did that, then fell asleep in the span of twenty seconds.  He must’ve been aroused still since when I woke up I stepped in a puddle of semen on his bed.”

“Wait, you’re sayin’ he finished in ya and-”

“No, no, no, no, Celestia, no.  He took care of himself,” Rainbow and Applejack giggled to themselves, “well, I don’t blame him!  I heard males took a few seconds, not us,” she said with a frown and taking the pillow off her head to look at her friends.

“So, a puddle?  He just let it go under you?”

Twilight growled in frustration. “No, I climaxed then fell asleep, he released to on his bed next to me.  Then I woke up while he was in the restroom-”

“Why didn’t he just do it in there?” Rainbow asked seriously.

Twilight face hoofed.  “I.  Don’t.  Know.  Anyway, I teleported back here and Spike was out with Rarity, so the place was mine.  I felt bad for what I did to him, leaving him so quickly with a lie.”

“Heh, you mean a lay,” Rainbow winked.

Twilight stared at Rainbow for a long five seconds. “No, a lie.  I told him I had to fight a monster.”

“Really?  Sugarcube, ya didn’t,” Applejack asked pressing a hoof to her forehead, “even fer a lie that’s really bad.”

“I know!  So, I cast a spell for him to, um, ‘get lucky’,” she finished moving her ears up with each word.

“So, how’s that affect us?”

“Well,” she hesitated, bringing a book over with her magic and opening it to a page, “see?”

They looked at the page intently. “We see, but it’s in unicorn magic script.  We can’t understand it.”

“Oh, sorry.  It’s a spell that grants what I thought was a night of luck.  The glyph was smudged and it actually said lust.  It also says here,” she pointed to a line with a symbol that looked like a swirl with a star in the center, “effect.  I thought it mean ‘it will affect the pony’, but the spell is an area effect.”

“So, yer sayin’ that ya felt so bad ‘bout leavin’ this guy that ya cast a spell on, oh dang,” Applejack’s eyes widened as she understood. “Twi, we had a party last night, the first at our new place, and we-”

“It was an orgy!  You made the whole town do it?!  Wow, that’s what’s going on out there.”

“I don’t know what to do!  Girls, I cast another spell that messed up the town.  First the want-it need-it,” which garnered a frown from Rainbow, “Sorry Rainbow, now a lust spell.  The whole city was having sex worse than the first week of spring!  This was like everypony of every age was in heat, right in the center of town!” she shrieked pulling the pillow over her head groaning.

“Woah, everypony? Every age?  AJ, do you think Apple Bloom-”

“NO!  She’s a good filly, she wouldn’t be out in that mess.”

Rainbow snickered then coughed to put up a serious front. “No, she wouldn’t.  But it was Saturday, what do the crusaders do every Saturday?”

Applejack’s eyes widened and she slapped her hoof to the bed, climbing to Twilight, biting the pillow and throwing it to the closed window, where it flopped helplessly to the floor. “Twi, tell me ya didn’t put my sis in some magical heat with two of her best friends durin’ a sleepover.”

Twilight shrank back and whimpered.

“Celestia help you, Twi,” Applejack said glaring at Twilight with narrowed eyes.  She huffed hot air from her snout into Twilight’s face, Twilight’s mane blew up slightly, then Applejack turned to leave.

“Wow, Twi, that spell was hard core, even for you,” she flew closer to Twilight who laid on the bed, covering her head with her hooves, “at least that means Spike finally got Rares, right?”

Rainbow screamed in pain as Twilight leapt up, jamming her horn into Rainbow’s jaw, nearly making her bite her tongue.  Falling to the floor with a heavy thud both mares nursed their wounds.

“What the hay did ya do, Twilight?!”  Applejack barreled toward Rainbow, standing between them, taking defense of Rainbow.

“Owowow,” a tear left her eye as she patted her horn lightly, feeling for damage, “she surprised me and I jumped, that’s all.  Sorry Rainbow Dash, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’ve taken worse, just a reactive shout I use when I do something awesome,” Rainbow said taking to a hover and rubbing her jaw.

“Wait, why do you make that sound when you do something you consider awesome?” Twilight asked, cocking her head to the right slightly.

“Because it’s usually when she crashes and hurts herself,” Applejack interjected.

“Ha. Ha.  Let’s go, AJ.  Twi, we’ll talk later,” she pulled the two closer, “maybe we can try that spell sometime soon.”

The others pulled back and punched Rainbow in the shoulders firmly.  Rainbow yelped and frowned.

“Well, what’m I gonna do?  I just caused a town wide orgy, that’s never happened before.  Princess Celestia will be upset, maybe I’ll be banned from practicing advanced magic for a month!?”

“Twi, calm down.  Reckon yer overreacting.  Remember that time you couldn’t write a letter to the Princess?  Just calm down.  This’ll blow over.  Worst case, there’s gonna be a buncha babies in town next year this time.”

Applejack and Rainbow smiled while Twilight frowned again.  “Not. Funny.”

A Big Surprise

“Okay, that was the second best burger I’ve ever had,” Rainbow commented loudly as she left Mac L Mares, garnering a few ponies’ attention.

“Dashing, ya gotta do that every time we leave?”

“Uh, yeah!  One, it’’s true.  The best was the first one,” she winked to Applejack as they walked to the street to their next appointment, “second is they offer a bigger discount to us.”

“Bits aren’t a problem, Rainbow.  Now that we’re makin’ Zap Apple Jam by the cartload, Filthy Rich is makin’ deals ta sell it across Equestria and beyond,” she slowed to raise a hoof,  panning across the horizon, “so it ain’t a problem payin’ two extra bits for a burger.”

“And potato fries!” Rainbow excitedly added.

“Eeyup, that too.  Ahm just sayin’ that we can be a little more free if ya want.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t want to,” Rainbow said nodding to a passing pony before she turned back to Applejack, “I’ve changed so much over the last few months since we first, you know.  Well, it’s been two weeks since my last drink.  I haven’t been stunt flying much either.  I’m really feeling happy, AJ.

“Sure,” she opened her right wing to look at it, nearly brushing it against Applejack’s flank, “these babies are still awesome, but what’s the point of bein’ in the sky when everything I need is on the ground?”

Applejack exhaled a shaky breath. “That was so sweet, did ya just come up with that?”

“Eeyup.  I know you’ve noticed I’m not always flying nowadays.  I still do, but why bother?”

“Well, it’s who ya are.”

“Was.  I ain’t in a rush ta be a wonderbolt.  Ah’ve got a ways ta go.”

Applejack giggled. “Yer talkin’ like me again, Dashing.”

“Good.  I’m better since I met you, and bein’ with you’s been makin’ me happier than I’ve been in, ever.”

“Aww, yer so cute when yer honest.”

They shared a caring look and continued their path.

“AJ?”

“Yeah?”

“I wanna have a foal.”

Applejack stumbled and would have face planted onto the ground if Rainbow hadn’t had a wing ready to catch her.

“W-what?!”

“Ya heard me,” Rainbow said nuzzling Applejack, “but I don’t wanna carry it.”

“Oh, but, what’ll that mean for-”

“Hush,” Rainbow said kissing Applejack, “also.  It’s time.”

“Time?” she asked as a content smile crossed her muzzle.  She pushed herself back to her hooves and balanced her stetson on her head.

“I want to talk about Scootaloo.”

Applejack’s ears perked up and her expression became much happier.  “Ya mean ya wanna adopt her?” Rainbow smiled weakly and nodded, “well that’s great!  Ya haven’t talked a word since the doctor visit, what brought this on?”

“Well, I-I saw her sneaking into their clubhouse one night so I checked on it late one night and she was sleeping in there.  Alone, AJ.”

“Darn,” was all Applejack said as they started walking again. “So, when was it that that happened?”

“A couple days after the doctor.  It just hurt so much to see, and I don’t know how long it’s been happening, and-”

“Sugarplum, it’s fine.  Ah understand and,” she took in a controlled breath, “I know she’s been livin’ in the clubhouse.”

“What?!” Rainbow asked incredulously.

“I’d leave her snacks now and again.  Extra blankets during winter.  Let her ‘sleep over’ and play dumb for the weeks her parents’d be on vacation.  She’s never been a burden and she pulls her own weight.  She’s a good filly, but I have ta admit, with the harvest bein’ constant now she can’t stay there much longer.”

“Well, then we’d better get that filly before foal services does,” Rainbow said in a hushed whisper.  Applejack nodded in agreement.

“So,” Applejack said factually, “goin’ in heat next week?”

Rainbow snapped back. “What?!  Why do you ask that?”

Applejack smirked. “Don’t think Ah haven’t noticed over the years, every year this time and the other time ya get sappy.”

“Hey, I do not,” Rainbow protested.  Applejack wrapped a foreleg around Rainbow and pulled her into a deep kiss; a few seconds into it Rainbow lost strength in her legs and collapsed, ending their kiss.  A blush across her face and a goofy grin across her muzzle.

“Like Ah said, next week.  Let’s do it,” she said turning to lay beside her dazed fiance, “let’s have a baby.”

Rainbow guffawed and looked into Applejack’s eyes.  “Heh, eeyup.”

“Alright sugarplum, wait here while I check us in,” Applejack said as she pointed to a couch large enough for the two of them.

Rainbow nervously took a seat on the couch and laid down comfortably, however there was a paper draped over all the places to sit that was annoying her.  Not just why they were there, but the sounds they were making, the constant crunching of paper.  The waiting room was nearly full of mares in heat.  Some had stallions, some were in herds, all were there for the same reason.

“So, are you here for a baby?” A lone unicorn mare lying on a single pillow across from Rainbow asked, snapping her out of a daze she was in.

“Um, what?  Sorry, I wasn’t listening.”

“I asked, ‘are you here for a baby’?”

“Oh, uh, well.  Yea, I mean, no.  Well yes, but not me.  I’m not ready yet, but my marefriend is.”

“Aww, that’s so sweet.  But you know, you never know when you’re ready, it can sometimes just happen.  I’ve got five, none ‘planned’ as they say.”

“Wow, five!  You must,” Rainbow stopped herself from insulting the mare across from her, “uh, be so happy.”

“I am!  Everypony handles it different, but once you have one, the whole world changes for the better.  My name’s Mystic Fire,” she said extending a hoof.  Rainbow smiled.  She got up from the couch.

“Name’s Rainbow Dash, best flier in Equ-” she gulped as she felt a discharge of fluids and some children playing nearby scream and run away from her.  Most parents hushing their children, other parents giggling.

She looked back to see a light yellow mark on the paper covered couch, then she realized why they were there.

“Oh, well, don’t worry about it.  We’re mares in heat; it happens,” Mystic dismissed the event and booped Rainbow’s nose.  Rainbow looked to her nose and wiggled it then raised her hoof, greeting Mystic officially.

“I’m Rainbow Dash and I’m going to die of embarrassment right now,” she said lowering her head and hooves to the floor, her tail drooped and she looked from the corners of her eyes at the other ponies who had gone back to their own business.

“Oh, pshaw, don’t fret, dear.  That’s why we’re on these awful things,” she motioned to the paper, “mares discharge, it’s a fact.  Just wave a hoof and one of the nurse aides with come over and clean it up.”

Rainbow felt a blush tingeling her cheeks as her left wing raised straight up.  An aged stallion walked by and cast a spell, replacing the marked paper with a new one.

“So, a bit shy about your time of the year, huh?” Mystic asked knowingly.

“Um, yeah,” Rainbow meekly replied as she took a seat on the couch again, the other side this time, “normally I can play it off as I’m sick or something and stay at home, or have my time in the clouds over Ponyville.  But,” she looked around at the other mares in the room, “I lost my cloud home and moved to the ground.

I can’t really say Ah don’t miss it, but I’ve got a reason to be down here now.”

She looked to Applejack who was waiting patiently in line.

“Ah, I see.  And I’ve heard of you, the mares who saved the world a couple times, right?”

Rainbow grinned and puffed her chest. “Eeyup, Ah beat ‘em all with my friends,” she gloated.

“Yeah, that’s what they say.  Now you’re having a baby with somepony?  How are your friends gonna handle a new mom to the group?”

“Oh, they’ll be fine.  My marefriend is one of the group, so we’re always gonna be together.”

“Hmm,” Mystic thought, “what about battles and future threats to Equestria?  Will she be going in while pregnant, sitting them out, or maybe,” she chuckled slightly, “be cheering her ‘Dash’ on from the sides?”

Rainbow grinned confidently. “Oh, we’re definitely gonna be fighting together.  No pony, monster, beast, or alien invasion can stand up to our friendship.  Plus, we’re the toughest of the group, no pony can touch us.”

“Except Discord, he reportedly took your wings, right?” Mystic asked.

Rainbow’s deflated a bit as she looked at the floor. “Yeah, well, he didn’t actually touch us, he used his magic to prank us,” she said solemnly, “but we kicked his flank and turned him to stone before he could really hurt anypony,” she justified.

“Well, that’s good to know.  And you have your wings back, so that’s great, right?”

“Yes it is, and until recently I was going to be a Wonderbolt,” Mystic gasped and sat up slightly, “but, I’m over that.  I’d rather just be happy at home with AJ.”

Mystic smiled and laid back down, the paper annoyingly crinkling. “Well, she must be special for you to give up a spot on that team.  And, who’s AJ, exactly?”

“Oh, the super sexy orange pony over there with the hat and apple cutie marks.  She has deep green eyes, her mane smells like coconuts, her coat smells like a day of hard work, her kiss is like apples and makes me all jelly,” Rainbow had closed her eyes and was lost in the image of Applejack, “her freckles are the best thing to wake up to in the mornings and her accent.  ‘Well, sugarcube.  Mighty pleased ta meetcha, put ‘er there’.

Oh Celestia I love the way she touched the side of my muzzle when she kisses me and-”

“Whew!  Okay, wow,” Mystic interrupted.  Rainbow opened her eyes and looked around to see nearly half the waiting room looking at her expectantly, “that was, vivid.  What I wouldn’t give for that in my relationship.”

Several ponies agreed before turning back to their own tasks again.

“Sorry, I kinda get carried away.  So, who’re you here with?” Rainbow asked.

“My husband, Square Knot.  He’s two in front of your marefriend.”

Rainbow looked and nodded.  “Eeyup, he looks like a husband alright.  Is he a good guy?”

“Certainly, he is,” Mystic said with a warm smile, “I work from home and he spends half a day everyday at a factory in Trottingham, that’s where we’re from, making parts for carriages.”

“Huh, that’s cool.  Never knew a factory pony before.  I work in weather management and I help AJ on her farm.  I bring in a crop of Zap Apples every week for her to harvest.”

Several ponies turned to look at Rainbow, their mouths hanging open.

Mystic swallowed and cleared her throat. “Th-that’s you?  And, and her?  The two of you are the makers of that amazing treat?”

“Well, not really,” Rainbow said puffing her chest again, “I just make the fruit appear with my awesomeness, then AJ picks ‘em.  It’s up to her granny to make sure it’s made right.  We only have a day to pick ‘em and get ‘em ready or they vanish, did you know that?”

“N-no, but I know what I’m craving now,” Mystic said licking her lips, along with much of the room that was ease dropping, “Some Zap Apple pie with vanilla iced cream.  This can wait, I’ll come back some other time,” Mystic said rolling to her hooves and fast trotting out the open door into the warm Canterlot day.

Several other mares followed her, opening most of the room and sending a sigh from the various aides and staff that had to reshuffle the paperwork.

“Well, ain’t that just the luck.  What happened here, Dash?  The whole place cleared out faster than the farm durin’ a tornado.”

Rainbow scowled at Applejack.  “That was one time and it was supposed to be a prank, how many time do I have to apologize?”

Applejack chucked.  “I don’t mean it like that.  Where’d everypony go?”

Just then Mystic returned with a content smile and happy step in her trot.

“Well, now the time’s been cut more than in half.”

“Applejack, this’ Mystic.  Mystic, this’ Applejack.”

Applejack smiled warmly. “Well, sugarcube.  Mighty pleased ta meetcha, put ‘er there,” she said as she extended her hoof.

Mystic chortled and looked at Rainbow Dash who was staring at Applejack’s mane, intently.  Extending her hoof she was greeted by a nearly violent hoofshake that was surprisingly relaxing.

Applejack ended the shake and turned to hop next to Rainbow on the couch, the paper garnering a frown from Applejack.  “Ah declare, why in tarnation…  You okay, sugarcube?” she asked Mystic who was looking at her slightly trembling hoof that was recently shaken.

“Um, yes, but I have to ask, are you the Applejack, that makes Zap Apple products?”

Rainbow and Applejack looked at each other and grinned, then turned to smile at Mystic.  “Well, reckon I, we are the ones who grow and harvest them,” she emphasised, “but Granny Smith and a few helpers make it into the jam and whatnot.”

“Yeah, and there’s this guy, Messy Rich, or something, he sells it across Equestria!”  Rainbow added happily.

“Well,” Mystic said with a smirk, “then I guess you’re rich, happy, and planning to have a baby?  Sounds like a perfect relationship to me.”

“Mystic Fire?  Mystic Fire?  The doctor is ready to see you.”

Mystic smiled and trotted to her husband who had sat, seemingly upset, near the nurses station.  He grumbled something to her that made both her and the nurse frown before they went around a corner and out of view, leaving only a dozen or so mares and a stallion in the room.

It was eerily silent for the next minute while most of the mares settled into their seats and the stallions looked at either the ceilings or the walls.

“Well, this got boring,” Rainbow called out loudly, “who wants to hoof wrestle?”

“Oh, hush, Dashing,” Applejack said with a smile, “ya know Ahm the only one who can beat ya with my eyes closed.”

Rainbow snorted at her. “Wanna bet?”

“Don’t need, Ah make the bits in this here relationship.”  A few mares and the stallion ooo’d.

“Well, ya wouldn’t have them bits without mah rainboom,” Rainbow nearly shouted puffing her chest and opening her wings.

“Any ya wouldn’t have ta use it without havin’ me in yer life,” Applejack challenged narrowing her eyes and puffing her chest.

A nurse at the reception began to gather herself and prepare to stop a fight.

Rainbow Dash flared her nostrils and huffed hot air, nearly blowing Applejacks hat off.

“Without you I’d be miserable and not know it!  You saved my life!”

“Ya dang fool,” Applejack shouted leaning into Rainbow’s muzzle with her own, “if it weren’t for yer first rainboom when we were fillies I’da stayed in Manehatten and been miserable too!  Ya gave me a reason to stay home!”

The other ponies in the waiting room watched with bated breath, even the nurse had stopped to listen.

“You’re the reason I wanted to stay in Ponyville, I just didn’t know it.” Rainbow said leaning back.

“And you were the first mare I’d loved, I just didn’t know it,” Applejack sighed and lowered her guard.

“AJ, I’m sorry I yelled, I didn’t mean it.  I love you, and I don’t wanna make ya sad,” Rainbow whimpered.

“Oh, Rainbow Dash, I love you so much,” she sniffled in response, “Ah’m sorry Ah yelled too.  Ah dunno what came over me.”  They embraced into a hug and the room filled with sighs of contentment from the mares and stallion.

The medical staff huffed.  “Damn lovers heat.”

“So, Ms.’ Dash and Apple, what brings you to my office today?” the doctor asked looking between the two mares in an exam room.  The room was very medical efficient with simple art depicting a mare’s reproductive system.  The doctor was an experienced white unicorn stallion.

The look of years of asking the same question wore on his expression and he didn’t bother to feign interest in the question or answer as he mentally prepared for a rehearsed series of quoted answers he used several times a day.

“Well, reckon I ain’t used ta talkin’ bout this-”

“Now, Ms. Dash-”

“I’m Rainbow Dash!  How can you not know me, I’m the fastest flier in Equestria!”

“Nice to meet you.  Now, Ms. Apple, I understand there is some apprehension that comes along with all this, however part of the process is that you have to tell me what you want and expect, then I can answer your questions before we move forward,” he stated flatly, glancing to his paperwork.

“Well, we’re lookin’ ta have a little one; ya know, the pitter patter of little hooves.”

“Ah, yes.  Well, first you need to be financially stable, do both of you work or just one?” he asked looking to Applejack.

“We make Zap Apple jam!” Rainbow said enthusiastically.  The doctor finally showed some emotion as his mouth opened in shock.

“Z-Zap Apples?  That’s you two?  You’re the Apples?  Um, well,” he smiled happily, “I guess we can skip a few of the usual questions.  How soon were you thinking of getting pregnant?”

The mares smiled to each other.  “As soon as possible, before we go crazy!”

The doctor sighed. “Well, I understand your, enthusiasm, however this is a big step in any creatures life.  Once you start there’s no going back, and while there is adoption as an option for unwanted foals, the options for ponies that make the medical choice are more limited, especially to the more financially affluent.”

“AJ, what’s he saying?”

“Ah haven’t the foggiest.  Say doc-”

“What I mean is that if you go through with this you’re in it for the long haul.  No adopting the child out.”

“What?!” They both shouted.

“Let’s get this clear, partner.  Ain’t no Apple gonna be tossed aside, ya hear me?”

“And I know she’s gonna be too awesome!  There’s no way she won’t get into the Wonderbolts.”

The others looked at Rainbow.  “Who says it’ll be a pegasus?”

“What?  You mean it might be an earth pony?”

The doctor waved a foreleg to get their attention. “Ladies, there’s a one in six chance you’ll get any of the races.  There’s even an incredibly slight chance of you having a hybrid.  These happen once every few generations but they are a normal pegasus that can be born with a horn, giving the appearance of an alicorn, without the powers.

“I should add, before you get too excited, these rare ponies have only one third the power of each of their races, so they are actually quite dependant and may not receive their cutie marks until they are older.”

Rainbow and Applejack sighed. “So, it’s a retard?”

Applejack scoffed at Rainbow’s comment. “It’d be family and that’s all that matters.  Powers or not, there’s always a place on the farm.  We even got a job fer you, if’n ya forgot.”

“Ladies, I know you’re both in heat and are prone to more emotional outbursts but please, control yourselves.”

“Well, she started it!”

“No, she did, ya heard her talkin’ ‘bout the baby like that.”

“It was the truth!”

“That’s a terrible word ta use with kin.”

“What about your cousin ‘Apple Sauce’?  Ya make of of her.”

“We treat her like any other member of the family!”

“Yeah, I heard you laughing at her that one time.”

“She told a funny joke about oranges!”

"LADIES, PLEASE!  Relax, please.  This isn’t what we’re here for, right?” Rainbow and Applejack shook their heads, taken aback by the doctor’s outburst.  “Very well.  Then let’s continue.  I cannot perform the operation today, if you’re certain you have to schedule for next month and make sure to think about this.”

“What?!  But, I won’t be in heat next month,” Rainbow said dejectedly, “same for her.”

“I’m sorry ladies, it would be unethical for me to just-”

“I’ll give you fifty jars of fresh jam,” Applejack blurted.  Not one to bribe she covered her mouth with her hooves and looked between them nervously.

He smiled. “You know how to grease the wheels.  The princesses will be honored to have your increase to the population.  Relax,” he said as his horn lit up.

“Are you doing one of those scan things?”

“Shhh,” he hushed.

Rainbow and Applejack felt their bodies tingle then when his horn stopped glowing the sensation went away.

“And there we are.  Congratulation, you’re going to be a mother, take these pamphlets and just send the jam here, please.”

“W-wait, that was it?  I thought-”

“Yes, yes.  Operating room and all that.  Just sign here,” he said levitating a paper to them and a quill.  They signed it and he smiled wide. “Now if you tell anypony about the procedure, let’s just say you don’t want to do that.  The exit is down the hall and to the left.”

He sat on the floor, smiling contently as he watched them leave.  “And don’t forget, fifty jars.  No less.”

The mares walked into the waiting room almost bewildered.

“So, what was that?”

“Dashing, Ah’m thinkin’ we got taken fer chumps.  Now Ah’ve gotta pay that doctor and send ‘em fifty jars ‘a jam.  Hornswagglers.  Next time Ah’m just goin’ to Canterlot.”

“Well, whatever.  At least now we know it’s a bust,” Rainbow added as they made their way through the lobby.  Ears of other ponies followed them but their owners kept their noses down.

As they left the clinic they both grinned. “Mystic, what in tarnation’re ya still doin’ here?  I’d thought ya left.”

“Well, Square thought it’d be a good idea to take a taxi back to the hotel.”

“Well, that’s mighty kind of him.”

“Alone.”

“Wow, what a jerk.”

“Now, Rainbow Dash-”

“No, Applejack, she’s right.  He wasn’t ready to be a father again and I went into heat early.  We had it marked on the calendar but ya know, mother nature is a fickle mare,” she chuckled.

“Well, that don’t make what he done okay,” she said in a huff, “Ah swear to ya, almost every stallion’s in it fer ‘emselves.”

Rainbow laughed and playfully punched Applejack in the shoulder. “Says the mare that’s never had one.”

Applejack scowled at Rainbow. “I don’t need to be with one ta know they don’t sit right with me.  Mystic,” she turned and smiled warmly, “care ta join us fer some chow?  Headin’ ta get some grub at the market.”

“Oh, well, if you don’t mind.  I am a bit hungry, being pregnant and all.”

“Yeah, I heard that happens.  Maybe when we get to a real doctor that’ll actually try to get us pregnant.”

“Awe, it didn’t work out?  Did you remember to see him last month so he could work with you now?”

Applejack and Rainbow lowered their heads in defeat. “No,” Rainbow started, “we thought it’d be a in and out.  Now we’ll be done by the time we get back ta see him and have to wait at least six months until the next time.  If it even happens.  You know how irregualar I am, AJ.”

“Well, reckon Ah don’t rightly know just yet, but if ya say so.”

“Then, my fellow mares,” Mystic proclaimed loudly, “to the food!”

With a giggle they turned left and headed toward the market.

Meal in Manehattan

“So, Mystic, what d’ya do fer a livin’?” Applejack asked as the three sat at a picnic table in the marketplace.

“Well, I’m a librarian.  It’s not a glamorous lifestyle, but once I move to Ponyville…” The others looked to her with surprise, “just kidding!  I’m not moving to that hamlet when I already have a family and kids; not to mention everything the city can offer.”

“Yeah,” Rainbow said flatly taking a seat, trying her best to find a comfortable spot for her haunches on the firm wood bench, “like these benches made for all creatures.  Anyway, I know a librarian and it's an egghead job,” she avoided looking at the frown from Applejack, “and this city might work for you, but it’s too much to live in.”

“Well, I manage fine enough.”

“Yeah, I’m not used to this.  Even Cloudsdale was pretty sparse, this’ too much.”

“Anyway, Sugarcube, what kinda work does you mate do?”

“Oh, nothing big.  He works in sanitation.  My wife works in a hospital.  My other wife works in a small factory, and my other wife is a stay at homer; taking care of the little ones.  Even though they’re not all that little.”

“Wow, you have a full herd!  I haven’t heard of that in Ponyville in years.”

“Wait, Rainbow Dash, you’re saying Ponyville is a monogamous town?” Mystic asked incredulously.

Applejack took a bite of her sandwich and listened as the other two chatted.

“Yeah, I guess so.  I mean, it’s kinda small so herds would just use most of the population up.  Most smaller towns are monogamous; me and AJ are doing fine.”

Applejack nodded as she swallowed and took a small drink from her peach tea.

“Well, congrats to you for having that, unique, lifestyle.  I, for one, prefer a herd.”

“To each their own,” Applejack said, breaking the growing tension.

“She’s right,” Mystic said relaxing and taking a drink of her juice, “no one way is right, as long as we’re happy.  And from what I heard, Applejack, you’ve made her happy as a, um, bee in honey?”

“That right there’s a nice use ‘a words.  Reckon ya got some country in yer family?”

“Nah,” Mystic waved a hoof dismissively before eyeing her salad intently, “I just knew a few country ponies that would frequent my shop, so…” she trailed off leaning in and taking the first bite of her salad, scrutinizing it.

“Wait,” Rainbow stated suddenly, “I thought you were a librarian.”

“Ah um,” Mystic started, holding a hoof up to hold the conversation while she finished chewing, “ahem, I am.  I own a bookstore and I loan out books, at times.  So, it’s like a library, I guess.”

“Oh, close enough.” Rainbow said as she looked into her bowl of soup and smiled, “Mmm, tomato.  One of my favorites.”

“Well, you’re not mentioning anything about that burrito and salad, so if you don’t wanna eat ‘em,” Mystic said levitating them slightly from the plate.

“Woah, not so fast!  I’m just getting started,” Rainbow shouted waving her forelegs over her food, trying to brush the magic away.

The others laughed at Rainbow’s theatrics. “Dashing, Ah swear,” Applejack started, “yer the best joker.  Ya know ya can’t wave magic away.”

“Well, it’s my food and I ain’t givin it up so easy!  Reckon she’s gonna hafta get some ‘er self.”

“Wow,” Mystic said quietly, “she’s really into you, Applejack. Accent and all.”

Applejack grinned. “Eeyup.  Really inta me.”  She yelped as Rainbow punched her in the shoulder.

“What the hay was all that ‘gotta keep some secrets’ stuff?”

“Dashing, ain’t nothin’ secret ‘bout our love, just our,” she paused to look at her plate, “personal lives are secret.”

        “Oh, you mean like the last party where mpghgppg-”

Applejack had plugged her hoof into Rainbow’s mouth.  “Yes, Rainbow Dash/i],” she said sternly, “those things are private.”

“Juicy.  But, anyway,” Mystic said taking a smaller bite of her salad, “I hear the farming is, uh, really, plowing this time of year?”

Applejack and Rainbow looked, with raised eyebrows, at Mystic, who was forcing an awkward smile. “Sugarcube, you don’t need ta ask like that.  If you don’t know what farmin’s about yer welcome to come down to Sweet Apple Acres anytime, Ah’ll even give you a tour and show ya how we farm our other crops, too.”

“Well, that sounds divine!  I’ll take you up on that, after,” she pointed to her belly with a smirk, “half way, so springtime I’ll bring over my little foal, too.”

“That’d be nice.  My little sis, Apple Bloom, would love to watch her while I show you around.”

“And I can show you how I bring in the Zap Apple crops!”

“Not, that’s a great idea!  Not too many outside ponyville get to know how it happens.  Reckon you’d never forget it.”

“Well, how can I say no?”

Sharing a nod in agreement they turned their attention to their meals and ate heartily.

“Well, Mystic, it was nice meetin’ ya, partner.  I hope ta get yer letter soon,” Applejack said extending a hoof.

“Yeah, the train’s leaving soon, mares.  We’ve gotta go, AJ.”

“Oh, slow down fer once, Rainbow,” Applejack groaned.

“When you’re the best and fastest, that can’t happen.”

“Even in private,” Mystic interjected.  Several ponies looked to the trio as they passed them on the train platform.

Rainbow was the first to grin widely. “Well, what happens there, stays there, mostly.”

Applejack smiled at Rainbow and nodded. “Yeah, as long as Twilight isn’t casting a spell that affects the whole town, everything is private.”

“You know,” Mystic added, “you’ll have to tell me what that whole thing is about.  It’s the only thing you’ve been secretive about all day.”

“Well, maybe we will, until then; write us!”

The sound of the train rumbling down the tracks and the sight of the hills and farm lands, as far as Rainbow’s eyes could see, took both their attention from the uneventful trip.

“Hey, AJ,” Rainbow said quietly, looking out the window.  She turned to see Applejack snoozing soundly on their bench seat, curled up like a cozy cat, her hat covering her eyes. Rainbow leaned in as close as she could and lifted the stetson, looking at the blond mane and closed eyes that hid the green gems she couldn’t imagine not looking into everyday.

“I love you,” she whispered, kissing Applejack on the head before lowering the hat back and returning her gaze to the transforming landscape, losing herself to the sound of the train that was taking them home.

Scoots

        “Rainbow Dash, you’ve been waiting three days since you got back to talk to Scootaloo, why are you procratinating?”

        “Ugh,” Rainbow groaned, “Twilight, I’ll get to it when I get to it; I’ve been really busy with scheduling winter preparations and teams, I’ve been practicing stunts, and I’ve just been busy doing stuff on the farm.”

        “Rainbow,” Twilight said taking a seat next to her, “look around this library and you’ll see I have every little thing in order.  It’s only a matter of prioritizing, but I don’t think that’s why you’re not doing it.  Are you afraid of what she’ll say?”

        “What?!  I’m not afraid of talking to a filly about becoming,” Rainbow paused and gulped, “her mother.”

        Twilight smiled warmly as she bumped Rainbow with her shoulder. “Being a mother isn’t all bad.  I’ve even thought about it with my new stud.”

        “Ew,” Rainbow reacted, twisting her face to disgust and sticking out her tongue, “you mean that guy you met, rutted, then you cursed the whole town trying to make it up to him?”

        Twilight frowned. “That was an accident and you know it, but,” she closed her eyes and cleared her throat, “this isn’t about me and my Sunny D-”

        “Sunny D?  I thought his name was Sun Struck, or something.”

        Twilight grinned. “He has a sunny personality and I love his D-”

        “Okay!  I get it…  Just, weird.  One day you’re a filly fooler, the next you’re banging and planning a baby with some random colt you just met.”

        “Well, love happens when it happens.”

        “Twi, speaking of love; have you seen Fluttershy lately?  I haven’t seen her since the party… Wait, Pinkie too.  Are they okay?!”

        “Oh, I saw Pinkie a couple days ago.  She was walking a bit funny, but with those two who knows what happens in private.”

        “I might have an idea,” Rainbow replied quietly. “Anyway, I’ve got a thing to do and…”

        “No, you’re waiting here until Scootaloo gets here and I’m going to make sure it all at least happens.”

        “Ugh, but she’s late!”

        “You were an hour early, Rainbow Dash,” Twilight giggled, “a bit more excited than usual too.”

        “What?” Rainbow tried to dismiss the comment, “I thought we agreed to two, not three.”

        Rainbow stood and began to pace the center of the library.

        “Rainbow, you need not be anxious, simply sit and relax.”

        “‘Need not’?  What’ve you been reading?”

        “Oh, a book on grammar of the last age!  Simple transposition of certain modern words can-”

        “Egghead.” Rainbow said flatly as she glance back and ruffled her wings.

        Twilight scowled again. “Stop calling me that.  It’s a hurtful phrase.  I’m well read.”

        “Rhymes with egghead.”

        A knock on the door stopped them from beginning an argument.  “And there she is!”

        Rainbow gulped and opened her wings, preparing to fly away, anywhere out of the library tree and to hide in the clouds.  With a snort Twilight pointed to her horn glowing lightly, then the floor beneath Rainbow as she turned to open the door.

        Rainbow looked at her hooves and grunted; magic covered her hooves, sticking her to the floor.  She closed her wings and suppressed the trembling her body was doing, forcing an awkward smile at the still closed door.

        The door opened with a pale purple glow.

        “Scootaloo, thanks for coming over.  I’m glad to see you’re on time.”

        “Oh, it was no problem, Twilight.  I don’t have much happening today so…  Oh, hi, Rainbow Dash!  I didn’t think I’d see you here,” Scootaloo beamed a smile at Rainbow, “so, um, what’s the big deal?” she asked looking to Twilight who closed the door and released Rainbow before Scootaloo could notice.

        “Uh, hi, Scoots.  How’s it going?” Rainbow started as she trotted over to Scootaloo, smiling again.

        “Oh, well, it’s good.  I got outta school early but AB and Sweetie had to do chores and I, uh, had to too,” she said softly, rubbing her foreleg on her other, “then here I am.”

        “ScootalooIwannaadoptyouandbeyourmomandyoucanlivewithmeand-”

        Scootaloo snorted a laugh as Twilight hopped between them.

        “Woah, woah!  Slow down, Rainbow.  Breathe, and let’s talk this over a cup of tea.”

        “Um, do you have juice?” Scootaloo asked.

        “Grape juice?” Rainbow asked.

        “Oh yeah!  I’ll take a glass of that!”

        “But I don’t have-”

        “Apple juice?”

        “No, Scoots, I have too much as it is.  Orange?”  Twilight rolled her eyes at the pegasi debating juice options.

        “I can’t believe you only have tea and guava juice.  What’s a guava anyway?”

        “It’s a fruit and it has juice.  Drink up,” Twilight urged, smiling as the mare and filly sniffed their juice.  “Well, Scootaloo.  I asked you to come here because Rainbow and Applejack had a question for you, which Rainbow blurted earlier.”

        “Yeah, that was funny.  You were all ‘blahblurg-a-blooba’.  It was a great Pinkie impersonation.”

        “Uh, yeah.  About that.  Well, you see,” Rainbow felt herself blushing as she looked to Twilight, who nodded slightly in encouragement, “Why don’t you drink first and tell me how it is.”

        “Um, okay?  Is that why I’m here, to drink this guaba juice?”

        “It’s pronounce goo-ah-vah, and no,” Twilight corrected, “you’re here for something much, much more important.”

        Scootaloo shrugged and took a sip, licked her lips and shrugged again. “It’s not bad.  But the way you were talking it was like Rainbow Dash was gonna ask to by my mom, or something…  I didn’t mean that!” Scootaloo shouted as she nearly dropped her cup onto the table.

        “I do!” Rainbow shouted, knocking her cup over, spilling the juice and wincing as the glass shattered on the floor.

        Twilight growled at the mess and teleported out of the room, leaving the pegasi alone in a deep, awkward silence that was broken only by the slow drip of guava juice from the table to the floor.

        Scootaloo gulped loudly as she stared at Rainbow, across from her at the small table.

        Rainbow Dash stared, wide eyed at Scootaloo then noticed her wings were laying limply behind her. She turned and looked to them, they didn’t raise when she tried to move them.  She looked back to Scootaloo and saw the corners of the fillies mouth twitch.

        “Uh, S-Scootaloo, um,” Rainbow stuttered rubbing behind her ear with her hoof.

        “W-what do you mean, Rainbow Dash?”

        “What do you mean, ‘what do I mean’?” replied Rainbow with some confusion.

        “You know what I mean!  When I asked you what do you mean, what did you mean?” she retorted with a growing depth to her voice.

        “I mean, what I meant.  I,” Rainbow felt the words stop in her throat as she  clapped her hooves together and began to rub them in small nervous circles.

        “You, what?” Scootaloo asked softly, her voice taking an edge to it.

        “I wanna be your… mom.” Rainbow said looking at her hooves.

        “What makes you think my mom’d be okay with joining your herd?” Scootaloo said looking intently at Rainbow.

        “Wait, your mom, in our herd?  AJ and me don’t have a herd.  Just us.”

        “For now.  Any pony can start a herd, just need a couple more.”

        “Wait, wait.  Your mom?  What the?” Rainbow asked, opening her wings, “I, we, thought…”

        Scootaloo hesitated then laid her chin on the table. “I am.”

        “...You are what, Scoots?”

        “An outcast from my family, my herd, my life.  Until I learn to fly, which isn’t going to happen.”

        Rainbow leaned over the table, placing her hoof on Scootaloo’s head. “You’re not an outcast.  Tell me what happened.”

        Scootaloo sniffled and grunted. Years of keeping her past a secret, she finally decided to tell somepony besides her best friends.  “Fine, but don’t tell anypony.”

        Rainbow smiled and gave a Pinkie Promise, listening intently for the pink mare to shout something or pop out of the oven.  Nothing happened.

        “Fine.  I was a foal.  My mom was taking me on a trip from Pegasopolis to when she said an explosion happened in the sky.  A rainbow hit her, as silly as that sounded, it was your rainboom from when you were a filly.

        “I slipped from her back and fell...”

        “Oh no, I’m so sorry Scoots.”

        “...I was high enough so she caught me, but she’d caught me by my left wing,” she said fluttering them both, “pulling a tennon, so I can’t fly until it’s healed.”

        “...But, that shouldn’t be a big problem to fix or even heal.”

        “I know!  What happened was that my moms were so ashamed of having a daughter that couldn’t fly,” she shouted, slapping Rainbow’s hoof away, “that they dropped me here to learn to fly from the best flier in Equestria!  Only,” Scootaloo hesitated.

        “Only what, Scoots?” Rainbow asked, calmly.

        “I, I, I kinda love you like a mom and don’t wanna go back.  Rainbow,” Scootaloo said, tears forming in her eyes, “I don’t like them.  They abandoned me here and I’m supposed to go back when you teach me to fly.”

“That’s awful, Scoots!  I’d be honored to be your mom, even if I have to fight them for the right!  They don’t deserve a filly as awesome as you, their loss!  What a herd of grass eaters!”

Scootaloo blushed as her eyes widened. “I’ve never heard you talk like that!  You,” she lowered her voice, “used tribalism.”

“Meh, when you’re as awesome as,” Rainbow paused and thought of what Applejack would say and feel. “What I said was wrong, don’t do that, okay?  We’re all awesome in our own ways.”

        “Right on!” Twilight shouted from the doorway before pulling her head back out of the room.  A small towel levitated into the room and onto the spilled juice before the glow around it faded and Twilight cleared her throat before the sound of her hooves clopping indicated her leaving them alone.

        With a snicker Rainbow took to the air, hovering toward Scootaloo.  Scootaloo nodded and hopped into Rainbow’s forelegs and together they left the library.

        “Scootaloo, do you like the idea of being a member of our little family?  Me and AJ, that is?” Rainbow asked as they settled into the cloud they were on.

        ”Well, I don’t know.  I guess you know how I’ve been living the last few years?”

        “Well, most of the town has rumors.  Most of them are that you’re a wild and reckless young mare,” Rainbow joked as she lightly punched Scootaloo in the shoulder.  “Some of the others are not as nice.”

        “Like?” Scootaloo ruffled her wings, letting them flap on their own for a second.

        “Well, the better ones are that you’re a drifter and you’ll vanish one day, never to be seen again.  The worst one I heard…  Was that you were a demon spy, sent to watch us.”

        Scootaloo laughed at that one.  “Oh, wow.  Like that’d scare you, right?  You almost got me.”

        “No, I was scared,” Rainbow said sternly, “for you.  Some ponies were talking about performing a cleansing ritual.  If it was true you’d be gone forever.  If it wasn’t, you’d never trust the town again.  It’s not only cuz you’re my number one fan, Scootaloo,” Rainbow poked the cloud they were on.

        “Then what?  If you don’t think of me only as your fan, what am I?”

        “Well.  I kinda thought of you like the sister I never had, only I didn’t know I wanted you, but I did, only… I don’t know how to say what I mean,” Rainbow huffed, “why does talking have to be so hard?”

        “Well, I think I get it, Rainbow Dash.  But, if you want me as a sister then and a daughter now, does that mean you, um, love me?”

        Rainbow felt her heart race as she looked into Scootaloo’s eyes.  “As a daughter, I guess, I guess I do.”

        Rainbow felt her neck being squeezed tightly as Scootaloo nuzzled into her mane.

        “You’d make the best mom for me, Rainbow Dash.”

        Rainbow returned the hug.  “And Applejack, she’s a part of my life too, now.”

        “...Wait,” Scootaloo pushed back and looked at Rainbow intently, “I have two things.  First, none of that loud adult stuff.  I’ve heard rumors, too.”

        “Fair enough,” Rainbow giggled, “and the other thing?”

        “If I’m gonna be your daughter, then when you finally marry Applejack, I’ll be Apple Bloom’s sister, so…”

        “So?”

        “Can I have sleepovers whenever I want?”

        “Uh, that’s something AJ has to answer.  She kinda makes most of the rules.”

        “Well, I’ll have to have a talk with her.  I bet I can get a couple sleepovers a week,” Scootaloo said puffing her chest.

        “Yeah, let’s worry about how to handle that stuff when it happens.  Right now, I’ve gotta listen to Twilight grumple over us not cleaning that mess.  Wanna tag along?”

Meeting Sunny D

        Rainbow and Scootaloo landed outside the kitchen and peeked into the kitchen window expecting to see Twilight huffing in frustration, Scootaloo perched herself on Rainbow’s foreleg to see in, holding onto the sill for balance.  Instead, Twilight had cleaned the mess and was sitting at the table across from an orange unicorn stallion drinking juice.

        “Rainbow,” Scootaloo whispered, “who’s that guy?”

        “I think it’s her new stud… I mean date,” she stumbled.

        “Stud, like they do it?”

        “Well, yeah.  But they aren’t gonna have foals yet, so we have time to find out about him.”

        “You mean she’s never gone into estrus?” Scootaloo said peering into the window.

        “What?” Rainbow asked, glancing over the filly beside her, “how do you know about that stuff?”

        Scootaloo looked at Rainbow flatly. “We learned this stuff last year after the whole hearts and hooves day thing where we, um,” she looked down and cleared her throat.

        “Yeah, everypony knows about that.  At least you learned a lesson.”

        “Yeah, don’t make love magic,” she smirked as she fluttered her wings, catching herself from losing balance.

        When they looked back in they screamed in surprise as Twilight’s face was nearly pressed against the glass smiling at them.

        Rainbow lowered to a reasonable height and placed a hoof to her chest and took in a couple deep breaths while Scootaloo sat up and dusted dirt from her coat.

        “C’mon in, mares!  I wanna introduce you to my new coltfriend!”

        “...”  The pegasi looked at each other then back to Twilight.

        “Twilight,” Scootaloo said, “are you sure he’s okay?  We don’t know anything about him.”

        “He could be dangerous,” Rainbow added.

        “Or," Twilight said, poking her head out of the now open window, “he could be the best thing to ever happen to me; even Princess Celestia is thanking herself for me finding somepony.”

        “Whatever, let’s just meet this guy,” Rainbow said as she landed and let Scootaloo hop onto her back, “then we’re outta here.  I have a stunt to show Scoots here.”

        “Okay, I’ll meet you at the front door in five and a half seconds,” Twilight giggled as she pulled her head in, letting the window fall shut.

        “Okay,” Rainbow said as she hovered with Scootaloo holding onto her neck, “where’s this guy.”

        “Right here and pleased to meet you,” a younger voice came from the doorway.

        “So,” Scootaloo chirped as she hopped to the floor and narrowed her eyes at him, “you’re that Sunny D guy?”

        Rainbow snorted and laughed.

        Twilight inhaled sharply and began to blush.

        Sun Struck grinned.

        “So, Sunny D?  That’s what you call me behind my back?  Not too bad, Twi-pie.”

        Twilight looked at him and blinked.  “Y-you said you’d never say that aloud.”

        Scootaloo looked between the adults with a confused smile.  “What’s so funny?”

        “Nothing you need to worry about, Scoots,” Rainbow said wiping a happy tear from her eye, “it’s nice to meet you, Mister D,” Rainbow said bursting into laughter, falling to the floor.

        “Yeah,” Scootaloo said smiling at Rainbow.  She extended a hoof to him. “Nice to meet you Mister D.”

        At a loss with Scootaloo’s innocence the rest of the adults broke down into laughter.

        …

        “Oh, oh my.  That was the best,” Sun said after they’d recovered, “I can’t believe that this’ your best friend and her little sister.”

        “Actually, she’s not my sister,” Rainbow started.

        “I’m almost her daughter!  Isn’t that right, Rainbow Dash?  It’s so awesome!  And she’ll be better than my real moms.”

        “Right on, Sport.”

        “Well,” Twilight interjected, “I’m glad we’re off to such a great start, but Scootaloo, his name is Sun Struck.”

        “But why’d you tell Rainbow you love his ‘D’?”

The Last Fall Storm

        A sonic rainboom shook the town of Ponyville, announcing the start of another work week.  Ponies eagerly looked out their windows at their new morning alert and the rainbow that graced their town.

        Applejack smiled at the harvest that was suddenly ripe for the picking and the regular apples that had fallen into the baskets that had been set up.  She let her gaze sweep the orchard from her stance on a small balcony that had been set up outside her old room in the farmhouse.

        Unicorns were beginning to collect the regular apples while earth ponies were gathering the zap apples, since magic couldn’t be used to collect them.

        The sound of Granny Smith shouting her orders to the ponies she’d trained to help her make jam in the barn was music to her ears and the thought of selling so much more product filled her with pride to be a member of the Apple family.

        Rainbow stopped and hovered behind Applejack, lifting her flight goggles, clearing her throat loudly.

        “Apple Tart, I thought you were gonna be down there today?”

        “Yeah, Sugarplum?  I thought you were gonna make a heart up there again.”

        Rainbow scratched her mane uneasily.  “Well, I thought it might be getting old, so I figured I’d skip it this week… You’re not mad, are you, babe?”

        “How can Ah be mad at the perfect mare?” Applejack asked looking over her shoulder and giving a wink before she looked back over the orchard.  “Dashing, all this is thanks to you, she said thoughtfully, “I might not love apples like I tell ‘em I do, but I still have pride in a good crop.”

        “Ha, yup, and this’ going to be the best year the Apple family has ever had, and one ‘a the best years of my life.”

        “Aww, shucks,” Applejack said as she felt a blush warm her face, “what say we have a party tonight?  Invite the girls over and have a shindig.  It’s been a while and it’d be nice ta see ‘em without fightin’ some monster or savin’ the world.”

        “Reckon,” Rainbow said with a wink, “that’s a good idea.”

        Applejack turned and looked at her hovering mare, raising an eyebrow. “Sugarplum, aren’t ya gonna be late fer work?”

        “Psh, I’m the boss, I make my own time…” Rainbow withered under Applejack’s stare, “and I have to make a good impression to the others, so yeah, see ya, my Apple Tart,” Rainbow said backing up and donning her goggles before turning and flying away, her contrail showing her path.

        “That mare, I tell ya,” she said turning back to the orchard.

        “Heya pegasi!  What’s the news?” Rainbow asked as she flew to her office through the bustling weather floor.

        “We just got orders to set up a storm over the entire region,” a stallion said flying past in a hurry.

        “What?” Rainbow asked another pegasi that passed who shrugged at her.

        “Rainbow Dash?” Soarin called out to her from the loud noise of the floor, “Emergency, come here.”

        “Coming,” she called flying close to the ceiling to his office, “what’s the problem?  Why’re we doing a major storm?”

        “Corporate just told me that they lost the requisition forms from Canterlot.  We’re overdue by six months for a storm and it’s having negative effects across the area.”

        “But, I haven’t noticed anything and Fluttershy lives at the edge of the forest, she’d tell us if anything-”

        “The Everfree, not the others, not Whitetail; the long term effects could be disastrous to the wildlife there.”

        “But the running of the leaves is in a couple weeks, that much water won’t evaporate in time and the leaves might not fall right.”

        “Mights and maybes aren’t why we’re here.  We have to do the weather and you have to be my voice to them,” he pointed a wing to the open door at the pegasi flying around the room, “come here and help me set up the teams, we have a few hours to get this ready before Cloudsdale dumps the clouds on us and if we’re not ready in time…”

        “What’ll happen, Soarin?”

        “I don’t even know, no pony team has ever had this happen.  They’re always so on top of it, it just doesn’t make sense,” he said in a panicked voice before gasping in several deep breaths.

        “Calm down, sheesh, you’re like, going to hippo-ventil-eat.”

        Soaring gasped and chuckled. “Yeah, don’t want that to happen.  Okay, I’m better now.  So, let’s figure this out, okay?”

        “But, Soarin,” Rainbow said looking at a rolled map on his desk, “the whole region?  We’re talking eight thousand square miles.  Even if we had three days and almost every pony that could fly, we’d still fall short.  When’s this thing due by?”

        Soaring pressed the bridge of his snout. “Three days.”

        “You’re shitting me?”

        “No, I’m not.  We have three days to cover the whole are in an inch of rain or the spring won’t produce the foliage needed; creatures will die.”

        “Well, I’m glad AJ isn’t here, because I can say this without getting ‘the look’.”  Soaring looked at Rainbow and smiled. “Fuck this shit.”

        “Exactly my feelings, Rainbow.  Let’s just think this through,” he said unrolling the map, “what if we roll the clouds in early and start in a rotation?”

        “Can’t, the area’s too large and we don’t have the ponies.  And before you say it, calling in reinforcements would still put us a day behind, not to mention messing up their own weather.  What if we ask unicorns for help?”

        “Use their magic to do our work?  Then they realize they have that power and take it from us?  Weather is all we have, we can’t give it up,” he said with a frown, “what about the hills?”

        “What about ‘em,” she asked looking at him, not the map.

        “Rain on them and the water rolls down.  That takes care of a solid tenth of our workload.”

        “But what about the other seven?”

        “Seven?”

        “Yeah, of the ‘nth’s’,” Rainbow said matter of factly.

        “You mean nine, and that’s why you’re here to help.  Let’s get ready to spend a few hours on this,” he said tapping the map.

        “Great, and I thought it was gonna be an easy day.”

        “No such thing when you’re the best.”

        Rainbow puffed her cheeks, lost for words before she exhaled in a nicker. “Fine, let’s just get this figured out.”

        “Whoo, it’s gonna be a banner year, Applejack.  Ain’t never seen a crop this big in Equestria, I bet,” Granny Smith said gleefully as she hobbled toward Applejack.

        “Yeah, Granny.  This’ gonna cover us for the next two years easy, but let’s not get too big headed.  Like Uncle Cider said, ‘one year at a time.’”

        “Yeah, but he was a ciderholic, ya know what he meant,” Granny said with a knee to Applejack’s side and a single ‘eh’.

        “Yeah, he’s still kickin’ though.  How’ve things been the last couple days with me at the new ‘stead?”

        “Oh, rightly fine, ya know.  Half pint’s still playin with her friends, Big Mac’s been takin’ charge of zap apples and it’s goin’ good ‘nuf.  So,” Granny asked, her voice pitching high, “how’s you’n yer marefriend?”

        “Shucks, Granny,” Applejack said pawing the ground as a blush graced her cheeks, “everything’s fine.  We’re fixin’ ta take in Scootaloo and in a few years, maybe have one of our own.”

        “Well, that’s great ta hear.  ‘Bout time I get a great-grandfoal,” she grinned widely as Applejack looked at her with wide eyes and red cheeks, “and I’m hopin’ it’s a colt, we need more of ‘em on the farm,”

        “G-granny…”

        “Ah ain’t rushin’ ya.  I got a few years left and I know y’all’re on yer way.  Now… Say, are we scheduled rain taday?”

        Applejack looked to the west, following Granny’s gaze and narrowed her eyes. “No, but maybe that’s for somewhere else.”

        “Ah’m hopin’ so, young’n…  Clouds them dark’re gonna soak the area good.”

        “Oh, don’t fret, Granny.  Rainbow’d tell us if’n it was gonna rain here.  It’d ruin the harvest, and she wouldn’t do that.”

        “Now yer overreacin’.  Rain ain’t never ruined a harvest,” Granny said with a laugh, “worse it’d do is set us back.”

        “Well, zap apples don’t last that long,” she replied.

        “Ain’t no storm gonna hit us fer a whole day, keep yer head on and let’s get ya buckin’ some ‘a them apple trees while I get ta pickin’ the fields.”

        Applejack stopped and hugged Granny Smith before fixing her hat tighter to her head and galloping into the orchard.

        A loud thunderclap over Ponyville town hall shook the town, announcing a storm beginning soon.

        “What?” Twilight said as she and Sun Struck looked to the sky and the pegasi forming clouds across the sky.  She looked around and noticed earth ponies and unicorns; every pegasi was on weather duty.

        “I said that it isn’t scheduled to rain for three more days, why’re they making a storm?”

        “I-I don’t know, Sunny, but I’ll try and find out.  Maybe it’s just them getting a storm ready for somewhere else and they’re going to push it to wherever all at once.”

        “That isn’t likely, it’s starting to sprinkle over town hall,” he said nodding in its direction, “and that’s usually a sign it’s going to stay.”

        “Well, let’s head back to the library and wait it out.  A rain shower should only last an hour or so.  According to pegasi standard weather law it can only rain, unannounced, twice a year per region, and thanks to the Everfree we’ve already had six, so -gah-!”

        Twilight lept, wrapping her forelegs around Sun tightly as the thunder clapped ablove them.

        “Woah, filly.  It’s alright, Sunny’s here to keep you safe and warm.  It’s just the warning claps.  This’ gonna be a big storm, let’s get back and have your dragon make us some food.”

        Twilight nodded. “Okay, but he’s not my dragon; he’s Spike and he’s family.”

        Flutterwing stood atop her cloud and focused magic to her hooves before rearing and landing heavily, sending a bolt of lightning through the growing cloud and the thunderclap notice about.

        “I hope they don’t get mad at us for this…  I’ve never even heard of a single storm rolling through a region,” she conversed with herself, “but, I just do what I’m told, and I was told to do warnings while the others made the storm, so…”

        “Okay teams, we have our first clouds ready.  Roll with systems one, six, and nine going east.  Two, four, eight, and ten going north.  Three and seven are going south and the rest are going with me to the west,” Rainbow shouted to the team leaders who saluted and spread across the cloud tops to their own teams to begin the work.

        “AJ, I hope you aren’t mad about this, but I can’t even tell you.  Just, keep harvesting and don’t get mad,” Rainbow said softly as she took off to the west and began leading her team to begin the rolling storm.

        “Oh my, it’s really coming down!  Hurry, Sweetie Belle, we have to get home before my mane is ruined,” Rarity whined as she picked up her little sister in her magic and held her as an umbrella over her.

        “Sis, Rarity?!  Stop it, I’m not an umbrella, just cast a spell.”

        “I don’t know any that protect from rain.  Just be patient, we’re only two blocks away.”

        “I’m trying to be patient,” Sweetie shouted in reply.

        “What, Sweetie?  I was talking to myself.  You’re doing fine, just stop thrashing, you’re making rain splatter my mane.”

        “I hate when it rains,” Sweetie grumbled as she was soaked.

        Scootaloo looked out the window and smiled.  The scent of apples wafted throughout the house and she was warm and dry.

        “I think I’m gonna like being a part of a real family.”

        “Scootaloo,” Apple Bloom drawled, “it’s yer turn, c’mon, these clouds ain’t gonna cuminate ‘emselves.”

        Scootaloo rolled her eyes and smiled as she sighed. “Okay, I’m comin’, sis.”

        Futter Storm stared at the door and waited.  The door burst open with a gust of wind, leaves and rain poured in as Pinkie hopped in and slammed it quickly.

        Her coat and mane was wet, her tail lay against her rear legs, and she wore an apologetic smile.  “I’m sorry I’m late, Fluttersh-Storm,” Pinkie hesitated, “I didn’t know it was going to storm today…”

        Flutter Storm glared at Pinkie. “You’re mostly forgiven,” she said giving a light kiss to Pinkie before whispering, “you have one last punishment for what you did, and in private, you call me by my real name.”

        Pinkie’s ears flattened to her head and her tail moved between her legs as her head drooped; she nodded, replying with a real smile. “Make it hurt, I was a horrible marefriend, letting him do that to me.”

        “Yes, yes you were,” Flutter Storm replied with a nip on Pinkies ear, yielding a pleasurable yelp.

        “I’ll shower first, mistress, then you can punish me as you wish.”

        “Okay, sweetie, see you in bed.”

Evening Delights

        Rainbow hovered at the stove, stirring a pot of vegetable stew while Scootaloo set the table.

        “Hurry, Scoots, it’s almost sunset so she’ll be home soon.  I have to get this done or she’ll be mad all night.”

        “Okay, Rainbow Dash, almost done.  Just gotta get the spoons and cups and juice and-”

        “I get it, I’m almost done,” Rainbow said hurriedly as she lowered and opened the oven.  A wave of hot air washed over her as she reached in and grabbed the loaf of bread, shouting and dropping it onto the floor as she blew on her hooves.

        “Rainbow Dash!  Are you okay?” Rainbow nodded as she kicked the oven closed, flew to the sink, and turned on the cold water. “Rainbow, use the mitts next time,” Scootaloo said, annoying, knowingly, as she gathered the spoons.

        “Thanks, Scoots, I’ll remember that for next, OH NO, the bread,” she turned quickly and picked up the bread, yelping as it burned again, less enough so she could toss it to the table, breaking Applejack’s plate.  “Nightmare darnit,” she cursed loudly as she flew from the room to get the dustpan and broom.

        “Um, I think I’ll just leave her to finish,” Scootaloo smirked as she heard Rainbow grumbling in the utility closet under the stairs.  She placed the spoons on the table in a pile and left the room quickly.

        Rainbow returned and didn’t notice Scootaloo had left as she placed the broom on the table and swept clumsily, sending the spoons to the floor as well as some of the plate shards.

        “Nightmare damn it,” she grumbled.

        Scootaloo listened and giggled as she trotted through the living room to her little cushion in the corner to rest and listen.

        The sound of clattering and glass breaking almost made Scootaloo want to help, but she know Rainbow Dash was in complete control.

        “NIGHTMAREDAMN IT!” Rainbow’s voice shook the house as she shouted at the stew as it boiled over and filled the kitchen with the stench of burnt food.  Smoke billowed across the ceiling as she flapped the smoke, trying to blow it away before she realized the window was closed.

        She opened it as quickly as she could then looked down to the sink below the window.

        “NIGHTMARE DAMN IT TO TARTARUS!”

        The drain had been plugged and was overflowing, cold water was running across the counter and starting to run onto the floor.  Rainbow flew out of the kitchen, upstairs, and to the bathroom.  She returned, holding her breath, through the black smoke that was steaming from the boiling over pot to the sink.

        Dropping all their towels into the sink she turned back to the stove in a panic and flapped hard, sending the pot off the stove onto the floor and clearing most of the burning bits from the stovetop.

        She growled like a carnivore protecting its young at the mess as the front door closed and galloping approached.

        “Rainbow Dash, are ya o- …”

        Applejack looked around the kitchen in shock, her eyes landing on Rainbow, panting and trembling from anger and anxiety.  It was a mere second before Applejack burst into laughter and fell to her side.

        “Applejack?  What happened?  What’s so…” Scootaloo looked at Rainbow who was still hovering.  The food on the floor.  The sink overflowing with towels in it.  The broken plates on the floor with a broom lying between them.

        “Wow, Rainbow Dash… You’re more clumsy that Derpy.”

        Applejack lost it.

        “Well, sugarplum, Ah’ll be honest that Ah was a bit upset ta have my harvest held up a few hours, but a little mud work ain’t stoppin’ an Apple from doin’ their chores.  Ah appreciate the effort you put inta makin’ it up with a supper Ah’ll never forget, but it wasn’t needed, darlin.”

        Rainbow landed on the couch with a defeated huff and a sad look. “I just wanted to make dinner, one of those I’m sorry I made it rain on your harvest things, and I messed it all up.”

        “Not really,” Scootaloo said hopping onto the couch, “it was going perfect until you burnt your hoof pads on the bread pan.”

        “Ya burnt yer hooves?  Lemme see,” Applejack said firmly.

        “Ah’m fine, Apple Tart,” Rainbow said moving her forelegs behind her back.

        “Rotten apples you are, now lemme see.”  Rainbow sighed and held her hooves out, looking away. “Rainbow, it doesn’t look to bad, but ya shouldn’t be walkin’ for the rest of the night, ‘kay?”

        Rainbow leaned forward and winked.

        “None ‘a that either, sorry.”

        “What?! I have to be on bottom?”

        Applejack shushed Rainbow, glancing at Scootaloo to her side. “No, we’re takin’ a break.  We’ll talk about it later, when filly ears ain’t listenin’.

        “D’aww, I was hoping to listen to you two fight.  I heard it was epic!” Scootaloo said hopping and flapping her wings. “One time, Applebloom said you were screaming and yelling at each other in the barn so loud it sounded like you were going to tear the whole thing down,” she finished rearing tall before falling back.

        The mares looked at each other and blushed. “Rainbow, we’re gonna have a good talk about that stuff later.”

        With a nod, Rainbow agreed before leaning closer and nipping Applejack’s ear. “Later then, Sugarcube,” she said softly, “until then, I’m not cooking anymore.”

        Applejack laughed. “Fair enough, Ah’m the better cook anyway.”

        “Well, I didn’t say you were better.  Let’s say you stick to dinner and I’ll do lunch.”

        “I can cook breakfast,” Scootaloo added, breaking the mares from their discussion.

        “That sounds as fair as any idea I’ve heard all day, and I think we otta head to town.  We ain’t cooking in that kitchen tonight.”

        “The bread is still good,” Rainbow said as she fell back into the couch.

        “Uh, I tried it, Rainbow Dash, and it’s not that good.  It tastes like wood.”

        “Well, I used apple treebark.”

        “What? Why’d ya go and do somethin like that?”

        “Rough apple bread, you said you loved it.”

        Applejack grinned. “I said when Ah’m roughin’ it, I like bread, silly filly,” she said bopping Rainbow on the nose.

        “You two are way more sappy than I thought you’d be, why’re you so, sappy?” Scootaloo asked trying to find the words.

        “Well, how we are out there,” Rainbow pointed to the door, “is always different than how we are in here.  Everypony knows there’s the public and private life.”

        “Oh, I haven’t noticed.  I’m not really an inside pony,” Scootaloo said looking around.

        “Well, now that you’re living with us you’re going to be,” Rainbow said as she and Applejack pounced Scootaloo into a group hug.

        “Gah, stop it!  You’re gonna smother me,” Scootaloo giggled.

        “With love, sugardrop.”

        “And then with soap, whew.  Scoots,” Rainbow recoiled with a smile, “you stink!  Go take a shower, little filly, right now.”

        “Aww, but mom…  I mean Rainbow,” she retorted over herself as the mares’ eyes widened at the proclamiation, “I took a bath yesterday.”

        “And now it’s today, Sport.  Head on up and I’ll be there in a minute to join you.”

        With a nervous smile Scootaloo smiled and jumped from the couch, quickly going upstairs as the mares looked to each other.

        “She just called me mom, Applejack.”

        “Ah, Ah know.  That’s a problem.”

        “What?  Why?” Rainbow asked raising an eyebrow.

        “I was thinkin’ I’d be mom…  Guess it’s mama fer me.”

        Rainbow pulled Applejack close and into a hug against her chest. “You’re mama, alright, and ya better join us for the first family bath, or I’ll show ya what ‘mom’ can do when ‘mama’s’ naughty.”

        “Rainbow Dash, if that’s how it’s gonna be, ya can’t call me mama no more, only the foals and Scoots.”

        “Well, it might slip out once in a while, besides, now we have to get a good bathtub if we’re gonna be a family.”

        “Why ya reckon?” Applejack asked as she pulled back and began to trot to the stairs, Rainbow hovering by her side.

        “Well, family baths are an earth pony thing too, right?”

        “Sometimes, but I won’t mind it once in awhile, if yer insistin’.”

        “Ah am, Apple Tart.  A perfect way to end a day is takin’ a hot bath with the ones you love, right?”

        “Rainbow Dash, that was the sappiest thing Ah’ve ever heard ya say, and I think I like it,” she said nearing the stairs, “firstonetothebathroomwins!” she shouted scrambling up the steps as Rainbow blinked.

        “Hey!  No fair, I’m flying there, see ya.”

        Scootaloo stood in the shower and looked up.  She hadn’t showered or bathed in the past few days.  Usually as swim in the lake would clean her up enough until she could spend the night with Apple Bloom or Sweetie Belle, but now she had to really get clean.  And with Rainbow Dash.

        “Okay, how do I turn on this water, thing?  Apple Bloom always did it when I stayed over, I think this one is cold,” she mumbled to herself as she turned the knob.  She yelped as the water rained upon her; icy cold. “Okay, this one’s warm then,” she said turning off the cold and twisting the hot water.

        She shrieked just before Rainbow and Applejack burst in the room, hot water raining down upon the filly as she scrambled around the room, flapping her wings, and panting.

        “Scootaloo?!  What happened?  Are you okay?” Rainbow asked as she stopped in the center of the room, literally.

        “No, the water was super hot, Rainbow Dash, why don’t you have a warm water, like at the farm?” Scootaloo replied shaking the excess water from her coat as Applejack hurriedly turned off the water.

        “Well ain’t that just somethin’, ya never had a shower before?”

        Scootaloo glanced at Applejack. “Yeah, I have.  Only, the other girls were the ones to start the water while I got my stuff ready, since it was their homes.”

        “And pegasi don’t have hot and cold water, it’s always air temperature,” Rainbow added, unless there’s magic, of course.”

        “Like the gems Twi gave us,” Applejack added as she turned the cold water back on, gesturing for Scootaloo to watch, “first ya start cold, then ya add hot a little atta time, and it makes warm.”

        “Ohhh,” Scootaloo said, “I never knew that, thanks, Miss Dash.”

        Applejack hiccupped as Rainbow snorted.

        “What was that?  Why would she be miss me?”

        “Well, you’re more sire-like so I figured…”

        “Darlin,” Applejack said looking at the filly intently as she took her stetson off and tossed it to Rainbow who then tossed it out of the room, “ain’t none of us stallions or sires.  Ya just call us by our names and, if’n yer want’n to, I’m mama, she’s mom.  None of this ‘Miss’ nonsense; ya save that for the teachers.”

        “Yes ma’am, um, Applejack.”

        “Okay, now that we know I’m the sire,” Rainbow laughed as she landed and went under the water, “I say we get clean.”

        Applejack winked at Scootaloo before she reached and turned the hot water off.

        “Well, that was a great shower, mom, um, I mean, Rainbow Dash.”

        “Scoots, call me whatever.  Just nothing silly, like sire or Miss Jack,” she replied as she flew into the master bedroom and landed by the bedside.  She looked to make sure the chest at the foot of the bed was closed before she let Scootaloo dismount.

        “Scoots, c’mon over and let me help you preen.”

        “Preen?  You mean fix my feathers?”

        “Yeah, it’s an intrecal part of flying; keeping feathers clean and in line, c’mon, let’s get ‘em ready for flight practice in the morning.”

        Scootaloo hesitated. “Um, no pony’s really ever helped me with my wings since I, um, left home.”

        “Wait,” Rainbow said laying on the floor and curling slightly, opening her wing subconsciously to encourage Scootaloo to come over, “you mean you’ve been self preening without practice for all this time?  No wonder you have so many problems flying, it’s a team effort to fly.

        “It takes more than a feather to keep the flock flying.  Did your mothers ever tell you that?”

        “No, they didn’t really say anything to me,” Scootaloo said as she entered Rainbow’s soft embrace, “usually it was more encouraging me to be better faster.”

        Rainbow wrapped her wing over Scootaloo and leaned down, firmly biting Scootaloo’s first primary feather and stretching her right wing open.

        “Wow, lookit these things, when was the last time you even tried to preen?”

        “Um, I dunno, a while ago,” she said blushing and trying to close her wing.

        “Nuh-uh, we’re starting now,” Rainbow said as she swallowed let the feather go and nibbled Scootaloo’s wing just on the underside, sending it open with a gasp from Scootaloo.  “Sorry, but there’s no other way to open a stubborn wing.  Just, watch.”

        Rainbow swallowed two more times before she leaned down and licked across Scootaloo’s wing-arm.

        She began nibbling and tugging softly across every few feathers, pulling the weak ones free and straightening the crooked ones.  She repeated this process six times before she looked at her work and smiled.

        “Well, that was a lotta work for such a little wing, but it’s in better shape than it was…  Scootaloo, are you sleeping?”

        “...”

        “Fine, I’ll just do the other and we’ll talk about this in the morning… before I have to go back to work storming the whole region.  At least,” she grumbled as she turned Scootaloo, so she’d be able to start the other wing, “we took care of the city first.”

        Applejack watched as Rainbow meticulously preened Scootaloo, from the doorway, before deciding going to get supper and bringing it home would be a nice surprise.

        She returned an hour later and looked around the livingroom.  She listened intently but didn’t hear the regular hustle of the pegasi.

Must’ve gone out for a late night fly.  That Rainbow ain’t letting a shower keep her clean, Applejack snickered to herself as she went to the kitchen and put the small box of food in the ice box.

        “Well, house’s in shape, might as well turn in and get ready for another early mornin’.”

        She ascended the stairs and stopped as she entered her room.

        Rainbow was wrapped around Scootaloo, her wing covering the small pegasus like a winged blanket; both asleep contently.

        Applejack couldn’t help but whimper at the cute sight before her as she slowly went to the bed, pulled one of the quilts from the bottom and gently dragged it onto the floor next to them.

She took her hat off and lay it on the bed before curling up on the floor next to Rainbow and Scootaloo for the warmest night they’d had in their new home, so far.

The Decision

The Decision

Breakfast consisted of the dinner Applejack had purchased the evening prior.  The morning had started great and Scootaloo was following Rainbow throughout the house, even to the bathroom, just to be around her.

The early hours passed quickly and by nine o’clock they were ready to head to the town hall to have a brief meeting and sign a paper to make Scootaloo theirs; or so they thought.

Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Scootaloo walked proudly into Ponyville town hall before turning and walking through the curtains to the right to see the administrative area.

“Hey,” Rainbow said taking to the air and flying ahead to the receptionist, “we’re here to see the mare from that ministry, thing.”

“Ah, yes, Rainbow Dash and Applejack, do you have representation?”

“Heck yeah, everypony know me, I’m the fastest flier in Equestria.”

Rainbow puffed her chest as Applejack cleared her throat. “She means a pony of the law, not yer big headed reputation.”

“Well, we have both…  Wait, where’s-”

“Here I am,” Twilight called as she galloped into view, “sorry I’m late, I had to make sure I read the book on basic family laws and asked a friend for advice on modern versus classic adoption cases.”

The three mares and Scootaloo looked at Twilight for a second before sighing. “Well, let’s get this started, I have to practice a new stunt if I wanna get into the Wonderbolts,” Rainbow said hovering over her family, “and I can’t do it without my herd.”

“Aww, that’s so cute,” a mare said from the top of the stairs but still out of site, “but we have things to do, let’s hurry and finish this nonesense.”

The element bearers looked to each other and shrugged before ascending the stairs and hearing a gasp from Scootaloo.  A green pegasus with yellow eyes, blue mane, and a lot of extra weight stood before them with a Manilla folder under her right wing and a smug look on her face.

“Hello, daughter.”

“M-mothers Glove, it’s been a long time.”

“Glove?  You’re one of that herd that kicked Scootaloo out,” Rainbow said narrowing her eyes, “you’re really mean to do that to a filly.”

“And you’re naive to think that we’d let you have our daughter without contest,” Glove retorted.

“Okay, let’s wait until we’re in front of the ministry representative before we bicker, girls,” Twilight said as she trotted between Rainbow and Glove.

The council room filled quickly with all parties, three royal guards, and the mayor; acting as mediator.

“Welcome and thank you for coming, Ponyville is honored to host ponies from the Equestria ministry of families, foals, and mental health in the matter of the adoption of Scootaloo, filly pegasi.

“The potential adoptive mothers are present, as well as two mothers from Scootaloo’s birth herd.  Are there any questions relevant to the proceeding hearings?”

Twilight stood and shook her head, as did Scootaloo’s mothers, the other tall, thin, and varying shades of red from nose to tail.

“Very well, let us begin.  Scootaloo is a filly, aged 11, living in Ponyville… Scootaloo,” Mayor Mare asked, “where have you been staying, I don’t have an address here.”

“Uhm,” she looked around to the other mares in the room, “with Rainbow Dash and Applejack,” she said with a nervous smile.

“Yer honor, she was livin’ in a shed ‘til we found out a few days ago and took her in.”

The room was deathly silent as the group slowly looked to the mothers and they ruffled their wings in the uncomfortable air.

“W-we didn’t know she’d be homeless the whole time,” the tall one said as she looked nervously around, “she had enough bits to-”

“She had enough to get a room at the inn until she found a place to stay.”

“Okay, let’s not begin like this,” the ministry representative said loudly, “Mother’s Glove, why do you wish to retain custody of Scootaloo?”

“She’s our daughter and we love her.  I foaled her myself,” the tall one started, “our sire has strict rules that we have to abide by.”

“Cowshit,” Rainbow shouted pointing a hoof at the mares, “no family should send their foals out into the world because they can’t do what their tribe does.”

“Hush, Rainbow Dash,” Applejack said grappling Rainbow to the floor before whispering into her ear, “this ain’t the time ta be tough.  We gotta play by the rules.”  The mares stood up as one of the royal guard approached, giving them a stern look. “Sorry, sir.  We’re good now, just had ta reign in the moment’s all.”

“What my friend is saying is that what just happened won’t happen again, and if it does the offending pony will be excused from the hearing, right, Rainbow Dash?” Twilight said with a nervous chuckle.

“Yeah, fine.  Whatever,” Rainbow said sucking in her lips and biting them lightly, pointing to her closed muzzle and humming sharply.

“Yes, well, as I was saying, our sire has many rules and one of them is that the foals have to hover by the time they’re eight and be flying by nine.  Scootaloo didn’t meet his requirements so, against all our pleadings and wishes, he banished her to the ground,” the tall one sniffled as the other patted her back in support.

“Oh, what a load of…  Sorry!  May I speak, please?” Rainbow asked the room.  Mayor Mare nodded and gestured for her to begin.  “If she goes back she’ll still not meet your rules, cause she can’t fly or hover yet,” she leaned down and whispered a quiet sorry to Scootaloo.

“If that’s the case, she’ll be tossed back to the ground in no time, only somewhere else,” Rainbow said staring daggers at the mares.

“Yer honor, may I?  Thanks.  Ya see, once we found out Scootaloo was out on her own we took her in, but it’s been two years she’s been alone.  She’s a tough one, might tougher than me, I reckon, but that don’t mean she can handle a life in fear of her father kickin’ her or some other outta the home.”

“That would never happen, Scootaloo was… never mind,” the short mare said.

“No, the ministry demands to hear what you were going to say.”

She looked hesitantly before nodding and standing. “Scootaloo was a, um, an accidental pregnancy.”

“There are no ‘accidental’ pregnancies, your honors,” Twilight said smirking at the two mares who were fidgeting, “can they elaborate?”

“W-well, I was supposed to be done and saw a doctor too.  I got pregnant none the less,” the tall one replied, standing as well, “then we did what we had to, and when it didn’t work we followed through and had her,” she finished matter of factly as silence befell the room again.

Mouths opened and the silence was broken only by the silent panting from Scootaloo, who was trying to choke back the memories.

“Wait an apple pickin’ second, are ya sayin that ya tried ta… get ridda Scootaloo, here, before she was born?”

The short one nodded slightly. “It would have worked, but she was as stubborn inside as she is now.”

“Guards, thank you for removing Rainbow Dash from the proceedings.  Her, outbursts, while understandable, are unwarranted,” the ministry representative said confidently, “I will hear nothing more from the parties and make my decision.  Normally this is a longer process but this has been eye opening, and not in a good way.

“In the case of Applejack and Rainbow Dash, requesting custody of one filly, Scootaloo, the Equestria ministry of families, foals, and mental health rules in favor of Rainbow Dash, to have full custody.  Being in a non-union herd, unrecognized by the crown, I choose to put the filly into the care of one of her tribe.

“This is only because as she grows, she will have questions only another pegasis can answer.  I wish you and your family the best and once you are in an official herd, you’ll share the rights and responsibilities.”

Grins formed on Applejack and Twilight, while Scootaloo let her mouth hang open in awe at the ease of the decision.

“In addition, to the birth herd of Scootaloo; the rules of your herd are very concerning.  There will be an investigation into your family and its dynamics, soon.”

“I can’t believe this,” the tall one shouted, flaring her wings, “our sire is a great stallion and we’ll fight this to the top.”

Twilight snorted in defiance. “That would be the princesses, and I happen to know them personally; they won’t get involved in a case like this, to defend a mean mare like you, or you,” she addressed the shorter one as she turned to leave.

Her friends in tow she opened the door with her magic to see a royal guard sitting on Rainbow.

“Um, sir, what’s going on?” Scootaloo asked.

“It was the only way to keep her out here,” he said taking to his four hooves again and bowing his head to Twilight before returning to the chambers.

“Whelp, this’ one heckofa day.  What say we get a cake to celebrate from Sugarcube Corner?”

“Ah’m for it!” Rainbow shouted taking to a hover raising a foreleg.

“Well, it’s nice to see you recover so quickly,” the mayor said exiting the doorway, “but we have paperwork to sign from the both of you and Twilight as the witness.  It may take an hour, but once it’s done, she’ll be your daughter and you’ll be her guardians.  You are prepared for this, right ladies?”

With a smile Rainbow landed and pulled Applejack and Scootaloo into a hug.  “Eeyup.”

Scootaloo's Strife

“Great, that took way too long, I’ve gotta get to work.  I’ll take a, rain check, on the sweets,” Rainbow said with a wink to her family as she took to the air.

        “Well, Applejack, that leaves you and me.”

        “Actually, Sugardrop, Ah’ve gotta get ta the harvest.  A few hours left on the zap apples and more’n enough apple trees ta buck.  Gotta help Big Mac with his fancy maths and get a small assembly line workin; he’s talkin bout building another barn just fer the zap apples fulla pink polka dots and the like.”

        “Well, okay then, I guess I’ll see you later.  Maybe Sweetie is in town this week and Apple Bloom isn’t busy so we can finally do sister stuff,” Scootaloo said eagerly.

        “Actually,” Applejack added, “Apple Bloom is helpin’ basket up with chores this year,” she smiled softly, “she insisted, sorry, Scootaloo.  You can come and help with chores.”

        “Nah, I’ll go check on Sweetie Belle.  I’m not really big on chores, I’ll just go back to your house and get my scooter and stuff.”

        “Scoots, it’s your house now, too.  And don’t let life get ya down, little missus frown,” Applejack said lifting Scootaloo’s chin and looking into her eyes, “and ya got a family who loves ya, like ya deserve.  Ah’ll be home fer dinner, just make sure you’re home by the time the street light come on and the fireflies come out, understand?”

        “Great,” Scootaloo scoffed, “the first mom moment.”

        Applejack ruffled Scootaloo’s mane, roughly. “That’s, Mama, now get and have fun, bedtime’s at nine and ya know we gotta get ya into a routine.”

        “Fine, I’ll see you this evening for dinner,” she said, slightly dejectedly.

        “That’s the spirit; it’ll go by before ya know it, if ya need me, Ah’ll be at the farm; just ask around.”

        Applejack patted Scootaloo on the head and turned towards Sweet Apple Acres, leaving Scootaloo alone.

        She looked around the area.  To the right was the market, bustling with ponies shopping for food and stuffs.  To the left was the slightly more empty streets of the residential area.  Forward was Rarity’s shop and her destination.

        The bell rang and shortly afterwards so did Rarity’s voice. “Co~ming, welcome to Carousel Boutique, how can I a’dress’ your needs?  Oh, Scootaloo, how nice to see you?  Sweetie is upstairs resting.  You haven’t seen each other for days, I was worried you’d had an argument.

        “Ever since last Sunday she hasn’t even mentioned you or Apple Bloom since then and she’s been in the most dreadful of moods.”

        Scootaloo chuckled nervously as she began to make for the stairs. “Yeah, that’s sure weird.  I’m gonna go say hi and tell her I’m Rainbow’s daughter now.”

        “You’re WHAT?!”

        Scootaloo hopped to the side in fear at the sudden shout and pony running at her.

        “What, What?!”

        “What do you mean ‘what, what’?  When in the wide realm of Equestria did you get adopted by Rainbow Dash, and, Applejack?!”

        “T-today, Miss Rarity…”

        “Well of all the rude, insensitive…  How could they go through an entire adoption and not tell their friends?” Rarity huffed before turned and beginning to pace. “Of all the events we’ve shared and things that’ve happened, to disclude us from something of this magnitude…

        “Scootaloo,” she asked harshly, “how long has this entire process taken?  Weeks, months?”

        “Um, t-two or three days, I think.”

        Rarity stood nearly frozen and stared at Scootaloo in shock. Her eyes followed the filly even as she began to inch herself closer to the stairs, as she ascended them slowly, and turned the corner out of site.

        “That, was super weird,” Scootaloo said to herself as she approached Sweetie’s room, “okay, Scootaloo.  All you have to do is not mention anything about the last sleepover and everything’ll go back to normal and we can start crusading again.  I’m just glad we didn’t get our cutie marks in…”

        She knocked on the door and waited as she heard shuffling and noises inside.

        “I’m coming, sis.  Don’t come in, I’m almost ready.”

        The door opened a crack then Sweetie’s snout poked out, forcing the door open with a grin that fell when she saw Scootaloo.

        “Oh, hi, Scootaloo.  Why’re you here?”

        “Sweetie, please, don’t be mad at me.  I just missed seeing you and having you around the clubhouse.”

        “Well, you see me, feel better?”

        “Wanna go, get a cookie or something?  I have really awesome news for you.”

        “Not really, I’m trying to lower my sweets intake,” Sweetie said taking a pace toward the open door, intending to close it.

        “But this is really awesome news, you have to hear it!” Scootaloo began flapping her wings excitedly as she grinned, proudly, at Scootaloo.

        “Wow, you finally learned to hover?  That’s pretty cool, thanks for showing me,” Sweetie said as she began to close the door.

        “What?  I’m not… Sweetie, I’m hovering!  Oh my gosh, I can’t wait to tell mom!  She’ll be so happy when I show her.”

        “Wait, your mom?  She’s here?” Sweetie’s voice cracked as she asked.

        “Yeah, when I get home she’ll totally freak!”

        “You’re going home?!  B-but, what happened at the sleepover, I’m not that upset about it, you don’t have to go home.”

        “Well, yeah I do.  Especially now that I can do this,” she said slowly rotating in the air as she puffed and slowed, landing finally, “wow, that’s a lotta work. Mom’s gonna have to help me but, maybe I can get my cutie mark in flying, finally.  Oh yeah, I forgot my scooter,” she said looking down the hall.

        As she began to gallop she was tackled around her hips by Sweetie Belle. “Scootaloo, please, don’t leave!  I’m sorry I tried to do that stuff, just don’t leave, you’re like my bestest friend,” she said squeezing tighter.

        “Ouch, Sweetie, let go, you’re hurting me.  I’m just going home for a little bit, I’ll be back soon to tell you the seco-third best news today.  Well, maybe it’s tied at first, I’ll have to-”

        She looked to see Sweetie’s eyes full of tears and her bottom lip quivering as she whimpered. “Scootaloo, I’m so sorry I tried to… um, let my feelings take over.  I won’t let it happen again, please, don’t move away.”

        “Sweetie Belle, I live just outside town with Rainbow Dash and AJ.  That’s my surprise, I live with them now,” she said jovially, “they adopted me today!”

        Sweetie gulped loudly and wiped her eyes. “W-what?”

        “Well, I wanted to tell you over a shake at Sugarcube Corner, but since you’re almost squeezing the pee outta me…”

        “Oh, I’m sorry,” Sweetie said releasing Scootaloo, scuttling back, and sitting up with a sniffle and smile. “So, you’re… wait, I don’t get it.”

        “Tell ya what, follow me home, we’ll get some bits and some sweets, and then I’ll tell you all about the weirdest three days of my life, except last saturday,” she winked as Sweetie looked away and blushed slightly.

        “Well, I’ll pay for the ice cream, I owe you that much after everything that happened, and as a congratulations, I mean, wow.  You have to tell me everything.”

        “Sounds great to me, just, watch out for your sister, she’s acting weird again.”

        “Yeah, tell me about it.  When it rained yesterday…”

An Unpleasant Encounter

       “Scootaloo, time ta get up an get buck’n,” Applejack called up the stairs.

        Scootaloo mumbled and turned over in her bed, her blankets slowly lowering from her body as she sat up and opened her eyes slowly.

        A smile crossed her muzzle as she saw a poster of the Wonderbolts to her left, just next to the window.

Her room.

A place she had to call her own for the past few weeks since she was officially adopted.

        She yawned and stretched, flapping her wings until she hovered above her bed for a few seconds.  She flipped suddenly and landed on her face with an oof, the blanket ruffling more as she rolled to her hooves and stood proud.

        “I meant to do that,” she said to herself.

        “Scoots, don’t make me come up there,” Applejack called.

        “Coming, Mama,” she said stopping and shaking her head.  Calling out mother names was something she hadn’t done in years, and now she was doing it to her idol and her idol’s marefriend.

        She hopped to the floor and grabbed the golden rod blanket in her teeth, making the bed quickly, before she turned to the door.  “Here goes another day…  Awesome mom and sappy mom, also Applejack,” she snickered as she opened the door and sniffed the scent of a full breakfast.

        She was downstairs and in the kitchen a moment later, sliding to her spot at the table, sitting on a plum purple cushion right next to Rainbow Dash.

        “Good morning, Mom,” she said hesitantly as she leaned to her left, against Rainbow.

        “Morning, Sport,” Rainbow replied wrapping a wing around Scootaloo while clearing her throat.  “I don’t know how long it’ll take for me to get used to being ‘Mom’.”

        “Sugarplum, you’ll get used ta it,” Applejack said taking a saucepan from the stove to the table before returning to gather more food.

        “Wow, Mama, thanks!  This totally beats left overs,” she said leaning down to dig in.

        A slap to her mane stopped her as she glared at Rainbow Dash.

        “Scoots, ya know the rules; not til after we show respects,” Rainbow said firmly.  She winked to Applejack who placed the juice on the table, taking a seat opposite the others, and cleared her throat.

        “Ancestors; thanks for this meal.  Help it to nourish us and keep us strong through the day.”

        “Now can I eat?”

        “Yeah, dig in,” Rainbow said to Scootaloo.

        “So, big weather plans today?” Applejack asked as she plated herself some food.

        “Whelp, gotta finish winter preparations.  Then I’ve gotta have a couple meetings-”

        “Naps, she means,” Applejack interjected quietly.

        “After my meetings, I’m going to do a few stunts and tricks.  Ya know, keep up appearances, then lunch.  What about you, Scoots?”

        “Well, school.  Recess.  More school, then I guess I’ll be at the clubhouse with the girls.”

        “Y’all can always come over and help clean up the orchard.  One last batch of zap apples is due tomorrow, right, Rainbow Dash?”

        “Yeah, then the winter off,” Rainbow said while chewing, “ from farmin’, anyway.  Weather never gets a break.”

        “Or school,” Scootaloo added gulping a mouthful of food.

        “Chew yer meals, Scoots,” Applejack said pointing at the plate then filly, “and ya do.  Ya get the last part of Hearths Warming month off.”

        “Oh yeah, we’re gonna try to get a cutie mark in acting again, this time in the plays.  One of them has to work, there’re gonna be so many.”

        “Well, I know you can do it, Scoots.  Just, be yourself and it’ll happen in no time… Hey, why’re we outta oatmeal?”

        “Dash, ya ate almost all of it just now.”

        “Well, you ate almost all the eggs and juice.”

        “I ain’t on trial here, ya ate yer fill and then some.”

        “I only ate what you put on the table, next time don’t put so much,” Rainbow retorted.

        “Ah put it all cuz we got a family ta feed, or, Ah gotta family ta feed.”

        “Well we know why I don’t cook.”

        “Because ya burn the house down!” Applejack said standing tall and puffing her chest.

        Scootaloo shrank and chewed slowly, looking between the mares.

        “I only did that twice and we agreed I’d cook breakfast, which you took from me!”

        “You started sleepin’ in again.”

        “Because I’m tired!” Rainbow said flaring her wings.

        “I’m just gonna, get ready for school,” Scootaloo said swallowing her mouthful.

        “Ya see, now yer scarin’ Scoots.”

        “I’m not scaring her, you are with your shouting.”

        “Ah ain’t shoutin’, Ah’m raisin’ my voice.”

        “Now yer shoutin’!” Rainbow shouted back.

        “Ah’m only shoutin’ cuz you are.”

        “Well I’m still hungry!”

        “Then get somethin’ at work!”

        “Fine!” Rainbow shouted folding her wings and stomping to the door.

        “Wait, right, there,” Applejack demanded as she got up and trotted to the frowning mare who was facing the door. “Rainbow Dash, Ah love ya and I know you’ll have a great day.”

        Rainbow sighed and turned around, looking at Applejack with a weak smile. “I know.  I-I’m sorry.  I’ve been really emotional lately, I think it’s cuz the stress of actually managing the weather.”

        “Well, Ah know I’ve been a pill too.  It’s been a tough couple months so, it’s understandable, right?”

        “Yeah, I know, my Apple Fritter.”

        “Apple Fritter, now?”

        “Yeah, cuz I can’t get enough of you,” Rainbow said leaning close and lowering her muzzle.  Applejack did the same until their foreheads were touching. “And I can’t imagine life without tasting you once in awhile.”

        A retching sound came from the kitchen as Scootaloo held her mouth open and her hoof pointed in. “Gross, I’m going to school now,” she said getting up and taking her plate to the sink.

        “Hey,” Rainbow shouted sending Scootaloo’s ears flat to her head, “clean your plate, young mare.”

        Scootaloo complied before placing the plate in the sink and approaching her mothers. “Okay, I’m going to school.”

        “Not yet, Sugardrop,” Applejack said meeting Scootaloo in the living room, “first ya gotta tell me why yer happy to be here.”

        “Again?  But-”

        “Bah-bah.  No butts, Scoots, it’s to help us all be a better family.  Doctor Shot said so,” Rainbow said waving her tail as she remembered.

        “But, he’s a weirdo shrink.  Why should we have to,” Scootaloo stopped as she met eyes with Rainbow.  “Fine, I’m happy because I have a home.  I have a mom, and Mama, that love me and take care of me, and I finally get to spend so much more free time with my hero, Rainbow Dash!”

        “Awe yeah, that’s what I’m talking about.  I’m happy I get to have the two best mares in the world in my life,” Rainbow said flying to the others and wrapping them in a hug.

        “Dashing, yer the best.  Ah’m happy that everything is lookin’ up and we’re only arguin’ a couple times a week, not all the time.”

        “Yeah,” Scootaloo added, “I was scared that was how it was always gonna be,” she said looking down to the floor and Rainbow’s rear legs.

        “Well, we’re a family, and we fight.  As long as we’re not swingin’ it’ll be okay.  ‘Sides, Rainbow’s been moody as a timberwolf.

        “I. Have. Not been moody,” Rainbow said, “you’re moody.  Happy as a school filly one minute then cryin’ the next.”

        Scootaloo rolled her eyes as she ducked from the broken hug and went to the door as the mares began another arguement.

        “Okay, I’m going to school.  See ya at lunch?”

        Applejack and Rainbow stopped arguing and smiled at her. “Have a nice day,” they said in unison before scowling at each other and going back to their arguing.

        Scootaloo chuckled as she left, closing the door behind her. “I wonder if they’re ever going to stop play fighting,” she asked herself as she began the twenty minute trot to school.

        “Honestly, I think they fight more now that they live together than they ever did before… But, what if they always did?  I didn’t exactly follow them everywhere.  Sometimes I’d only see them once or twice a week.

        “Now I see them all the time.  I wonder how many times they’ve argued the last couple weeks.  Let’s see.  Every morning before I leave.  Every evening before they go to bed.  Some morning before I wake up I can hear them mumbling and growling.

        “They always seem happier a couple hours later, too.  I just don’t get it, what’s going on with them?  The first couple weeks were fine, they just giggled and had fun.  We still do, but then they both get into this thing…”

        Scootaloo mumbled almost the whole way to school until she saw Apple Bloom merging onto the path.

        “Hey, Sis,” Scootaloo called.

        Apple Bloom turned and grinned, waving to Scootaloo as she trotted to meet her before they started walking side by side to school.

        “Ya know, Ah ain’t yer sis yet.  Not ‘til sis and Rainbow’s union is official.”

        “Whatever, I’m still gonna say it.  You’re like a sister anyway.  So, when’s Sweetie coming back?  It just isn’t the same when she’s gone.”

        “Ah dunno.  Maybe in a couple weeks, maybe tamorrow.  Ya know how her parents are, especially during winter.”

        “Yeah, I guess we won’t see her ‘til spring.  Hey, I know, let’s write her a letter after school.”

        “I love that idea, Scootaloo,” Apple Bloom chirped.

        “I bet that’s not all you love,” a voice came from beside them, watching them from a side alley.

        “Yeah, I heard that you’re more than sisters,” Silver Spoon added as she began to titter.

        “What are ya talkin’ about, ya two?”

        “Go eat some rotten hay,” Scootaloo said as their tormentors approached and began to circle them like sharks after their prey.

        “I heard they spend their nights sleeping with Applejack and Rainbow Dash, doing things.”

        “Oh, my goodness, Diamond Tiara,” Silver Spoon faked a gasp, “what kind of things?”

        “Oh, I can’t say them outloud in public,” she replied glaring at the fillies as adult ponies glanced at them as they passed, “but it’s something that fillies like them would be expected to do.”

        Diamond Tiara glanced around the area and the moment she noticed the adults were sparse enough, or not looking, she reached and poked Scootaloo under her tail.

        With a sharp yelp in surprise Scootaloo jumped beside Apple Bloom as the bullies tittered again.  “Look, Diamond Tiara!  They’re starting in public!  How scandalous?!  I’ll have to tell everypony I know,” Silver Spoon said with a wicked grin.

        “Ya two are plain evil, and one day you’ll get what’s comin’ to ya,” Apple Bloom said as she took a defensive stance and lowered her head.

        “Oh no, Silver Spoon, we’d better hurry and leave before they start with us!  Run backwards, Silver, they’re looking at our tails,” Diamond Tiara shouted backing up while laughing at the blushing fillies they just teased.

        “Ya better turn tail and run, ‘fore Ah make ya.”

        “Yeah, I bet you want our tails,” Silver Spoon added, waving her tail and frowning as she backed a few more paces with her friend before they left, laughing.

        “Scootaloo, are ya okay?” Apple Bloom asked her friend who had her face buried in her side.

        “No.”

        “What?” she asked, not expecting that answer as she moved and looked at her friend.

        Scootaloo lowered her head and sighed. “I don’t know why, but they’re arguing all the time.”

        “What?  Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara are bullies, they don’t argue; unless it’s on how ta bully us later.”

        “No, Rainbow and Applejack.  Why’re they always arguing?”

        “Oh, I dunno,” Apple Bloom started draping a foreleg over Scootaloo, “what do they argue ‘bout?”

        “That’s the thing, sis, everything!  Two or three times a day for the past couple weeks.  It’s the only thing I know is going to happen, except for breakfast and dinner.  D-do, do you think it’s my fault?  Am I the reason, Apple Bloom?”

        “Naw, that’s just who they are,” Apple Bloom said pulling Scootaloo into a one sided hug, “sure, they argued back at the farm.  But, they were always happy an hour later, like nothin’ happened.”

        “But, a few times a day?”

        “Well, that seems a bit more than I’d heard,” Apple Bloom contemplated as she released Scootaloo and nodded in the school’s direction, “but ever since they went to Manehattan to see cousin Orange Applejack’s been a bit different.  Wouldn’t surprise me if some adult stuff happened that made her all flustered.”

        “Adult stuff?” Scootaloo asked as she began a steady walk with Apple Bloom to school. “Like what adults do?”

        Apple Bloom looked ahead before she gulped. “N-no, not that kinda stuff.  Business or talkin’.  Maybe the Oranges don’t see eye ta eye with ‘em about their union.”

        “Oh,” Scootaloo said perking up, “that makes sense.  I guess I’m just getting upset over nothing.  I mean, they even say nice stuff to me while they’re arguing…  It’s almost like they’re play fighting for some reason.”

        “Scoots, some things are best left unknown… Brr,” she shivered, “that wind’s startin’ ta have a chill to it.”

        “Oh, I don’t really notice until it gets bad.  Pegasi don’t get hot or cold as easy.”

        “Yeah, that feathers and thick skin stuff.”

        “Yeah, it’s sometimes the only good thing, I think, about being a pegasus.”

        “Scoots!  That’s a bad thing ta say,” Apple Bloom scolded while bumping Scootaloo slightly.

        “No, we can fly and do the weather too, but I can’t really get into the whole ‘make it rain’ thing.  I mean, someday, sure, maybe.  But I’m more into racing my scooter, can’t do that if I’m up there,” she looked to the sky.

        “Well, Ah don’t get it.  If I had some kinda cool power I’d use it all the time!  Not like Ah hate bein’ a earth pony, but all this strength doesn’t matter a hill ‘a beans most ‘a the time.”

        “Well, it matters to my moms.”

        “What’d’ya mean?” Apple Bloom asked.

        “I hear ‘em wrestling sometimes…  Oh no,” Scootaloo said wincing.

        Apple Bloom giggled. “Yeah, ya just got it?  Sometimes that ain’t them arguin’.”

        “Oh my gosh, I’ve been trying to listen to them…  doing it?”

        “Yeah, but don’t feel bad,” Apple Bloom said as a slight blush graced her cheeks, “there were a few nights Ah’d listen too.”

        “Wow, were they that loud?”

        “Sometimes, others I’d stand outside their door,” Apple Bloom said meekly.

        “Sis!  You… wow, so, um…  How was it?  To listen?”

        “It was okay, I guess,” she said before the school grass was almost under their hooves, “got me goin’ a night or few, but not somethin’ Ah’m rushin’ ta start with a coltfriend.”

        “A coltfriend?!  Who is it?”

        “Nopony yet, but you’ll know when it happens.  Yer my sis, no matter what.”

        Rainbow arrived to work above Whitetail Woods and began the rolling storm with her team.  The cold, high atmosphere, air chilled her but she’d never admit it as she helped the storm flow steadily.

        Suddenly her stomach cramped and she had to land on the cloud.  The static electricity made her skin tingle and her hair began to lift, standing individually up.

        “Hey, boss.  You alright?” Cloud Kicker asked, landing next to Rainbow.

        “Yeah, just cramps.  I think I ate too much too fast this morning.”

        “Ohhh,” she winked, “a little morning delight with the missus?”

        Rainbow looked at her and smirked. “Yeah, that too.  But I ate a lot of food too.”

        “Aww, if you need to burn off some energy I can make a cloud out of the way and we can-”

        “Stop right there.  Never gonna happen,” Rainbow said firmly, “not only am I your boss, but I don’t want you in our herd.”

        “That’s fine, I’m just looking to finally lay the most awesome pony in the world.”

        Rainbow blushed as proud smile formed. “Well, it still won’t happen, but you know your way under a mare’s tail.”

        “And between a colt’s legs,” she added, “can’t forget them.”

        Rainbow sighed as she flapped and took to the air. “I try to.  Good feeling, but one nighters don’t fill me the same way.”

        “As long as I’m full of something, I’m okay,” she replied softly as she took to the air beside Rainbow, “and you know how great it is to smell like a half dozen stallions the morning after.”

        Rainbow face hoofed.  “Yeah, and that was a risk I’m not proud of.  Let’s get back to work, my love life isn’t what it was and talking about it is not going to get this done any faster.”

        “Right-o, boss,” Cloud Kicker saluted with a wink and a lick of her lips as she returned to her place.

        Rainbow watched her fly away before she realized Cloud Kicker was keeping her tail to the side, showing herself off to Rainbow.

        Rainbow shook her head and looked at the clouds below her again and went back to work, the image of Cloud Kicker’s pussy flashed in her mind every so often, overshadowed by a mental image that Rainbow forced to the forefront of Applejack smiling.

 The best way she knew to keep her mind clear and her labia moist for only one mare was to focus on the freckles and that warm, country smile.

Nighttime Talk

        Rainbow yawned loudly, earning her a look from Applejack.

        “Sugarplum, ya gotta be so loud?  Yer gonna wake Scoots.”

        “Oh, psh.  Whatever, it’s just a yawn.”

        “A yawn that’d wake the dead,” Applejack mumbled as she went to her side of the bed and pulled the covers back.

        Rainbow looked at herself in the mirror over the dresser and winked, whispering. “You got it, mare.”

        “Why d’ya do that?”

        “Because I always have?” Rainbow replied uncertainly.

        “Come ta bed, let’s just get some shuteye.”

        “Yeah, you mean mess up the bed some?” Rainbow smiled as she approached the bed and blew out the light.

        “No, and that’s somethin’ I wanna talk about, too.”

        “Ugh, why can’t we just do it instead of talkin’ about it?” Rainbow whined as she climbed into bed with a sigh of relief. “Holy sun it feels good to lay down.”

        “Rainbow,” Applejack started, “do you love me?”

        She snorted and rolled her eyes. “Uh, yeah.  We’ve been marefriends for like, six months.”

        “That don’t mean love.  Do ya know what love means ta me?”

        “Uh, cuddling at night and apple bucking in the day?”

        “No, well, yeah, but that’s not what I mean.  Ah feel like we love each other different,” Applejack said lowering the volume of her voice.

        “What d’ya mean?  Ah love everything about ya.  From yer freckles to yer mane.”

        “That’s what Ah mean, Sugarplum.  Ya love mah looks, not my heart.”

        Rainbow sighed and closed her eyes. “Yer the best friend anypony can have.  Yer sweet, kind, helpful… Everything a pony should be.  You’re,” she hesitated, “better than me and I’m lucky to even know you.”

        “Rainbow Dash, why in tarnation do you think Ah’m better than you?”

        “You’re not afraid.”

        “Now, that’s hogwash.  Ah’m afraid plenty.  Timberwolves, fight’n monsters, Granny Smith,” she chuckled.

        “I-I’m being serious,” Rainbow said softly.

        “Oh, sorry, Sugarplum.  Not used ta you bein’ serious.”

        She sighed and opened her eyes. “Please,” Rainbow asked as her voice cracked slightly.

        “Okay, tell Mama why you’re upset.”

        A smile began to form on Rainbow’s muzzle. “You’re not afraid of…  D’ya remember what I told ya forever ago, when we were in the cellar at the beginning?  About my family… parents?”

        “Reckon I do.  They weren’t so kind to ya,” Applejack said remembering, “but don’t fret, you’re already a great mom.  You’ll never be like them,” she said raising a hoof from below the sheets and placing it on Rainbow’s side.

        “I know, but, I’m scared of a lot of things.  What if I fail as a mother?  What if I teach her the wrong things?  What if, what if I die?” she said wincing and gulping.

        Applejack let her hoof slide from Rainbow’s side as she looked more intently at Rainbow. “Open your eyes,” she told Rainbow.  Rainbow opened her eyes and looked into the frowning face of her lover. “You gotta stop worryin’ about that stuff.  Live fer now and don’t worry about the end.”

        “Easier said then done.  We fight monsters, we protect the town and Equestria, we’re in danger all the time.  Even one failed stunt can be it.”

        “Ya stop or Ah’ll slap the sense into ya,” Applejack said firmly, “look now, we just started all this motherin’.  We’re doin’ fine so far and I swear that if you or me mess up, the other’ll be on ‘em.  Right?”

        “Yeah.”

        “And remember I love ya.  Now, Ah wanna hear you say something nice.”

        “I don’t know what to say, Apple Tart, I’m just…  Sad.”

        “Why?” Applejack asked with true curiosity.

        “...I, I don’t,” she looked deeply into Applejack’s emerald eyes, the light of the moon reflected slightly in her pupils, “I don’t wanna be alone.  Just, let me finish,” she said placing a hoof to Applejack’s mouth.

        “I don’t, can’t, be without you.  My whole life I was alone, spent my time running from the truth and hiding my feelings.  I realized I was scared of a lot of things when I finally gave my heart to you,” Rainbow said frowning, “and then I gave up the whole life I knew.  The life I thought I wanted.  The life I had made to hide behind, to sleep in the same bed as you.”

        “Aww, Sugarcube, that’s-”

        “Shh, I’m not done,” she whispered, “when we first started having sex it was great.  It was all I wanted from you,” she watched as Applejack’s eyebrows furrowed, “then we got engaged and, I was a jerk,” she snorted in humor, “and you bucked the sense into me.  We got a house.

        “We got a daughter.  We wasted a weekend vacation in Manehattan but made a friend.  You, and our friends, helped me with my problems… And,” she choked up and closed her eyes again, “I haven’t done anything for you.  All Ah’ve done is take, and Ah’m so sorry, Applejack,” she tried to fight the tears forming.

        “Sugarcube, you’re not that bad.”

        “Yeah,” she sniffled and shuffled her body back, “not that bad.  What’ve I really done, except for zap apples, that’s helped you or anypony else?”

        Applejack thought for a second then smiled nervously.

        “Exactly, I, I don’t deserve you, Applejack.  Why do you stay with me?  Why do you let me stay with you?  Why-”

        A hoof covered Rainbow’s mouth this time. “Now hush or I’ll shove more than a hoof in yer craw.  Ya got a long way ta go ta find a reason to help me that much.  Now,” she said moving her hoof to Rainbow’s cheek, “ya know I ain’t perfect.  Nopony is, not even Celestia or Luna.

        “But you an’ me, we’re a team.  When I need help, and it’ll happen, you’ll be there fer me before any other pony even knows I’m in trouble.  Ya gotta admit though, ya save the day plenty of times when we’re out in Equestria doing stuff.  Like that time ya saved Rarity from falling from Cloudsdale.”

        Rainbow smiled remembering. “And I saved the Wonderbolts from crushing Rarity, got to win the competition, Celestia gave me the prize and a royal pass,” she grinned, showing her white, prefect teeth that gleamed in the moonlight, making Applejack’s heart skip a beat.

        “Wh-what’s a royal pass?”

        “If I ever break the law, I just show ‘em a scroll and boom, freedom.  But, I wasn’t supposed to tell anypony… but I know you won’t tell.”

        “Darn sure, it’s our secret.  But, what kinda crime ya think’n?  Wanna rob a bank?” Applejack asked, almost hopefully.

        “Uh, no, Hon.  Ah wasn’t planning on any crimes, and it’d only be me that gets off.”

        “Oh, well shoot,” Applejack snorted in frustration, “Ah always wanted ta rob a bank… Ya know, just ta know what it’s like.”

        “Heh, let’s not do that.  I don’t wanna see you in a cell… Not again anyway,” Rainbow said with a light poke.

        “Yeah, and I thought we weren’t bringin’ that up again.”

        “Yeah, I know.  So, you took down two of Twilight Sparkles shields just ‘cuz ‘a what she did.  And you think I’d forget about that?”

        Applejack inhaled slowly, a deep breath. “After what she did, she’s lucky I got stopped when I did.”

        “Yeah, but more importantly, I learned how much ya cared.  How far ya’d go to protect me.”

        “Ah’d go farther than that, if I had to.”

        “Applejack,” Rainbow said with a gasp before she asked seriously, “you’d, kill?”

        Applejack closed her eyes and swallowed hard. “If’n Ah had to, I’d do it ta keep you and mah family safe.”

        “Wow,” Rainbow whispered, “that’s intense.  Hey, wanna make out?”

        Applejack chuckled heartily. “Always in the mood and in a rush.  Rainbow, Ah wanna talk about it, finally.”

        “‘Bout what?”

        “Rollin’ in the hay, ya keep puttin’ it off, don’t think Ah haven’t noticed.  Sure, we’ve been goin’ at it like rabbits in springtime, but this’ important to me.”

        “Fine, what?” Rainbow said rolling her eyes.

        “We don’t make love,” Applejack sighed.

        “Yeah, we do.  We take turns even.  And I got us the box of fun down there, and we always finish… almost always, but ya know it happens.”

        “Yeah, and I’m not mad when you pass out before we’re done.  But, Ah’ve talked to a few ponies and, what we do isn’t love makin’.  Ah wanna try it.”

        “Okay?  So, do we have to do anything special?  Is it supposed to be classic style or one of the camelsutra I found?” she winked.

        Applejack gave Rainbow a ‘seriously’ look. “No.  I mean we go slow and not rush ta be the first done.  None ‘a the box.  None ‘a the pain, or the screamin’, or the challenges while we’re goin’ at it.  I just, wanna try it slow.”

        “But, we just do it.  It feels good and makes us feel better, why ruin that?” Rainbow asked, scooting closer until a hoof width separated their muzzles.

        “Let’s try it, once.”

        “Now?!” Rainbow asked loudly, startling Applejack to lean back.

        “Hush!  Ya darn galoot, ya wanna wake up Scoots?”

        “Oh, my bad,” Rainbow said as Applejack laid back down, “but seriously, wanna try it now?”

        “No, Ah’ve still gotta say somethin’ serious.”

        “What’s that, my little Apple Tart?”

        “Rainbow Dash, I think we’re p-”

        Scootaloo screamed suddenly, startling them and making them scramble over each other to get to her room, right across the hall.

        “Scoots? Darlin’ ya okay?”

        “It was horrible,” Scootaloo said as tears fell from her face to the blankets that she was clutching to her chest, “h-horr-orible,” she stammered as she began to sob.

        “Oh, Scoots,” Rainbow said flying and landing to her right while Applejack climbed the bed to the left.  They wrapped her in a tandem hug, Rainbow placed her head over Scootaloo’s while Applejack stroked the filly’s mane.

        “Sugardrop, tell us what happened.  It’s only a dream and it can’t hurt you.”

        Scootaloo sniffled. “It was, terrible, mommy.  I saw horrible things, and scary things…”

        “Tell us, nothing will scare us, we’re heroes, afterall.”

        “That’s right, Sugar, we’ve fought monsters, timberwolves, and Nightmare Moon.  Tell us so you can get this outta yer system and get a good night's rest.”

        “O-okay…  I saw; you promise you won’t be mad at me?”

        “We promise, Scoots.  We’ll love you no matter what.”

        Scootaloo sighed at Rainbow’s reaffirmation. “Death,” Scootaloo whispered, “I saw cities burning, ponies were… melting, but their bones were there,” she began to sniffle again, which turned to a sob as Applejack and Rainbow moved their heads up and looked into each other’s faces.

        The fear in their expressions screamed that they didn’t know what to do.  As Scootaloo cried softly, holding into Rainbow; Applejack and Rainbow were mouthing words, trying to figure out what to say to a filly that had had such a nightmare.

        “I saw an orange stallion,” Scootaloo said, gathering the undivided attention of the mares, “he had five ponies with him.  All earth ponies and they were all mean looking,” Scootaloo said as she wiped her eyes as she pulled away and turned to hold onto Applejack, “they were evil, mommy’s, and they laughed.

        “Then, I woke up.  What do you think it means?”

        “Oh, Sugarcube.  It was just a dream, a horrible dream, but still a dream, my little filly.  Here, lay down and we’ll stay right here…  Okay, let’s go back to our room; it’ll feel safer fer us all.”

        A few minutes later they had all snuggled into the large bed, Scootaloo between her mother’s.  She was laying on her back and had the mares’ forelimbs crossed over her, keeping her safe.

        Applejack and Rainbow Dash whispered back and forth for a while before deciding it was only the nightmare of a filly.  Finally going to sleep, they all had sweet dreams, but the thought lingered when they woke the next morning; why did Scootaloo have such a vivid nightmare?

Meh, it was nothing, they figured.  Just a one time thing; if it happened again, they’d have direct access to the princess of the night for help...

A mother's advice

        “Scoots, c’mon!  I’ve waited all week to get the day off, we’re meeting everypony at the lake to go skating,” Rainbow called from outside their house to the filly who was getting ready inside.

        “I’m coming, Mom, keep your boots on.  Sheesh,” Scootaloo replied from the top of the stairs.

        “Don’t sass me, young mare.  Mama left already with Apple Bloom, I don’t wanna miss anything.  If ya don’t get down here in a minute Ah’m comin’ up there ta get you,” Rainbow demanded as she stomped inside and slammed the door.

        “I’m coming!”

        “Don’t shout at me!”

        “I’m not shouting, I’m screaming!” Scootaloo screamed as she floated down the stairs.  She landed before Rainbow with the most angry expression she could make.  “You have to give me more time, Mom.  I’ve gotta make sure I have everything ready to get our cutie marks in ice skating.”

        “Whatever, Scoots,” Rainbow said jumping into the air and beginning to hover, opening her forelimbs, “I can’t believe we’re gonna be almost an hour late over your cutie mark!”

        Scootaloo frowned and opened her wings. “Well, if you spent more time with me; maybe I could get it in flying!  But all you do is drool over Applejack!”

        “You call her Mama, and she’s my marefriend, fiance.  Ah’m gonna pay her my mind when I’m around.”

        “And you talk like her too much too!  What happened to the cool Rainbow Dash?  I miss it when you’d just fly by and I’d see you for a second and dream of this.  This sucks!  You’re not awesome, you’re sappy!”

        Rainbow landed and stood tall, towering over Scootaloo, both refusing to lower their guard. “What the hay, Scoots?  Why’re you talkin’ to me like this?”

        Scootaloo’s facade deflated and she let her head, ears, wings, and tail droop. “I, I can’t tell you.”

        “Scootaloo,” Rainbow said taking in one last deep breath before exhaling most of her tension away, “Scoots,” she said softer as she lowered her head to Scootaloo’s level, “you can tell me anything.  You’re still the coolest filly I know and always will be.”

        Scootaloo let her snout touch the floor before she noticed how low she’d gotten and huffed her nose clear.  “I, really wanna, but if I do I’ll be a terrible pony.”

        “What?  There’s no way you’d ever be anything less the totally awesome, Scootaloo.  Tell me what’s up, if you want we’ll keep it a secret between us.  Just, get it off your feathers so you can fly better.”

        “Ya know,” Scootaloo said wiping her snout with the back of her hoof, “I don’t always get the feather stuff.  I’m not a Cloudster, I’m a Faller.”

        “Meh, Cloudsdale, Rainbow Falls; still have pegasi in cities.  You should know some of the things we say.”

        “I do, Mom, but I don’t, haven’t, had to use them since I’m always on the ground.  Like ‘keep your feathers preened and cleaned and you’ll be a fightin’ machine’?  Who even says that?”

        Rainbow opened her mouth then realized what was happening. “Wait, you’re changing the tropic!  I won’t fall for that… wow,” she said reflectively, “that’s how AJ feels.  Anyway, you’re gonna tell me why you’re upset, right, Scoots?  Just Mom and… daughter.”

        Scootaloo poked the wooden floor with her hoof and nodded slightly before she turned and began to walk to the couch, Rainbow slipped out of her boots; lest she incur Applejack’s wrath, then followed.

        They both laid on the couch, facing each other, waiting for Scootaloo to start.  “Scoots, Ah know I said we hafta go, but there’ll be other days like today all winter; I can see to that.  Let’s just talk about this, like Mama would say, ‘talk now, feel better later’.”

        “Fine,” Scootaloo said, “I have a bully problem.”

        “Oh, that’s it?  Just tell ‘em off and it’ll be over in no time; bullies hate confrontation.”

        “That’s the thing, Mom.  I’ve tried.  We’ve all tried: They’re ruthless, relentless, almost evil…”

        Rainbow closed her wings and shuffled into the couch a bit. “Now, what are you talkin’ about?  No pony is that bad.  Who’s so mean?”

        “Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.”

        “Oh, those two?  They’re your best friends, I thought,” Rainbow said as Scootaloo sneered in disgust, “they’re always encouraging you to get your cutie marks and giving you ideas of crazy stuff to do, right?”

        “Rainbow Dash,” Scootaloo said narrowing her eyes, “who said they were our friends?”

        “Well, we just see ‘em hangin… around, you three…  Aw horse feathers, I never even thought that they were bullies.  I mean, I never saw y’all bein mean, really.  Just them laughing,” Rainbow said as she reached a hoof to Scootaloo’s.

        “Well, they’re evil.  They’ve been tormenting me, us, since we first all met.  Every, single, day.”

        “Oh, that can’t be.  What about when you’re inside all day?”

        “They slide notes through the window.”

        “Wh-what do they say?” Rainbow asked softly, remembering how tough she was and how it didn’t apply to the filly before her.

        “They’re blank.”

        “Oh,” Rainbow said as a smile graced her in relief, “that’s not so bad.”

        “Blank flank.  That’s what they’re telling us, calling us, teasing us all the time.  Since you adopted me, it’s gotten worse, Mom.”

        “Worse?” Rainbow asked as her voice cracked, “how can two fillies make you so upset?”

        “Mom, they’ve been saying I’m a fillyfooler, with Applebloom.”

        “Oh, well, I guess-”

        “And you, and Mama, all at the same time.  They poke me under my tail and ask if it’s where everypony takes turns first,” she said lowering her head to Rainbow’s hooves, “and they laugh.  They’re so mean, mom.”

        Rainbow gulped as she stared ahead.

That’s what the dream was about, I bet, she thought, this’ the first time you have to be a real mother to your… foal.  Just, say the right thing.

        “I’ll buck them in the head!” Rainbow shouted taking to the air and putting up her forelegs in a fighting stance.  “I’ll rip out their manes and … they’re earth ponies, right, Scoots?”  Rainbow looked down at the defeated expression Scootaloo had and winced.

Wrong answer.  It’s okay, you can save this; you’re Rainbow Dash.

        Rainbow closed her wings and fell to the couch, lowering her head. “I’m sorry, Scootaloo, that wasn’t a nice way to handle it.  I just, I dunno, forget that I’m a mom now.”

        Scootaloo placed her hooves on Rainbow’s bangs and moved them from her eyes. “It’s okay, Mom, I’m not used to being a daughter again.  I’m sorry I yelled at you, before.”

        “No, it’s okay.  I have to learn to not be so, rushy.  AJ’s always tellin’ me ta slow down sometimes, but Ah just don’t know how.  I mean, look at me,” she sat tall and grinned, “I’m the best flier in Equestria.  But, that’s not important right now.  Let me tell you something,” she said laying down and motioning for Scootaloo to do the same.

        “Scoots, bullies only act tough because they’re weak.  That’s why I never had to bully anypony, gryphon, or whatever.  Because I know I’m weak.”

        “Wait, what?  You’re not weak; sappy, yes.  But not weak,” she retorted indignantly.

        “Scoots, I’m only telling you this because you’re family.  I’m scared of failure, I saw a shrink when I was a filly for a bit, and stopped going because she said I’d have to face failure someday, even with my cutie mark of pure awesomeness,” she said looking back to her flank.

        “Well, that’s you.  I’m not afraid of failing; I just want my cutie mark.”

        “Is the reason you and the others want your cutie mark… because you want them, or to stop the bullies?”

        Scootaloo opened her mouth then froze.  Her eyes shifted slightly as she thought, debated, the answer.  Rainbow began to daydream about stunts she’d perform later to pass the time in silence as Scootaloo snapped her muzzle closed and inhaled sharply.

        She started to cry.

        Rainbow moved closer and pulled Scootaloo into a hug. “It’s okay, Scoots.  We’re all here for you, and those two can eat a falling pile of mud.”

        Scootaloo snorted a laugh and pulled back, looking at her mother. “Mom,” she started, her eyes barely clinging to what tears hadn’t washed down her face, “I don’t think the crusaders are crusading for the right reason anymore.  What do I do?  Do I disband our club?  Should I just leave?”

        “Darlin’,” Rainbow said softly, “running will never fix your problems.  You’ve gotta be awesome and face ‘em down.  I don’t want you to hurt them too bad, but those bullies have to know you and the others aren’t rainclouds and won’t be walked on.  You’re all storm clouds, ready to strike them in the tail if they don’t treat you right.”

        Scootaloo sniffled and smiled as Rainbow carefully wiped the fillies eyes clear with a pillow from the couch. “Mom, what if they don’t listen?  What if Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon get worse?”

        “Then I guess I might miscalculate a sonic rainboom over their houses and shatter all their glass until their parents get on ‘em.”

        “Mom, that won’t work.  Their parents are rich, they can afford new windows.”

        “Yeah,” Rainbow said, “but not if the glass is their shipments of jam.”

        “Ohh,” Scootaloo grinned, “then they’d lose business and… wait,” she sighed again.

        “Sco~otaloo,” Rainbow whined, “you’re thinking too much.  Let’s just break something, that always makes me feel better.”

        “Well, just listen, Mom.  What if we just ask the Apples to stop selling them jam?  They have to have it to sell around the world, or else they lose money.  Diamond Tiara’s dad might do anything to get the jam, so we could just have him send Diamond Tiara away.”

        “Fine, let’s try that.  First though, can we get to the skating pond?  I wanna try my hoof at horse hockey; I already bet Mama I’d beat her.  She’ll win if I don’t show up, and I don’t wanna do chores for a week on the farm,” she said hopping and flapping, hovering over the couch.

        “Okay, mom.  Let’s go,” she sighed.

        “And, I’ll keep an eye out for those two.  If they bug you, I think I can have Pinkie start a snowball fight with them; no holds barred.”

        Scootaloo hopped into the air and hovered. “Now, that sounds like a great plan.  Let’s go start a snowball fight, just because.”

        Rainbow flew to the door and landed in her boots. “Hurry and get ready, I call the grey bully.”

        “Her name’s Silver Spoon.”

        “More like, bruised at noon!”

        Sharing a laugh, Rainbow helped Scootaloo get ready before they left in a hurry to the lake… forgetting to close the front door during an especially chilly morning.

        “Mom, I can’t fight her.  What can I do to beat her without getting in trouble?”

        “Hmm,” Rainbow thought as she picked up Scootaloo to her back and began flying quickly, “hugs are a great way to get a pony to calm down.”

        “So, like a bear hug?” Scootaloo said squeezing Rainbow’s neck a bit tighter.

        “Ha, no, silly filly.  I mean a friend hug.  Maybe her friendship tank is empty and that’s why she’s so mean.”

        “...Maybe, I’ll try it, eventually.”

        “That’s all I ask for, Sport.”

Confrontation

        Scootaloo smiled as she waited for Applebloom on the intersection they’d meet at every morning for school.  She had a lot to tell her, so much to plan, so much to be excited about.  The winter chill didn’t seem to phase her as she stood still, looking down the street for her sister’s bow to come bouncing.

        An annoying voice rang from behind her, making her roll her eyes. “He~y, blank flank.  Waiting for your mate?”

        Scootaloo turned to Diamond Tiara and grinned. “High, DT.  I missed you yesterday at the lake, I was hoping you’d be there so I could give you something.”

        Silver Spoon leaned in to whisper. “Uh oh, Diamond, watch out, she might finally have snapped.”

        Diamond flicked her mane before she walked faster ahead, going within a pace from Scootaloo to challenge her.  Getting hit would open a whole new world of torment she could use, even after Scootaloo got her cutie mark.

        Silver Spoon stood back, holding a proud facade while her knees trembled.  If Apple Bloom came out of nowhere, she’d be ready to run, screaming, for help.

        “Diamond Tiara,” Scootaloo said raising her hoof from the ground.  The snow stuck to her boots for a moment before falling to the ground in small clumps.  Diamond Tiara grinned venomously, standing stock still, thinking of the things she could say.

        Scootaloo moved fast, pulling Diamond into a hug, first with one foreleg, then the other, pulling her in until their chests were touching and Diamond couldn’t get a good enough grip on Scootaloo’s coat to push her away.

        “Let me go.  Let me go you filthy peasant!  You’re going to mess up my mane with your dirty fillyfooler hooves and fur.  Silver, help, she’s trying to mate with me,” Diamond said as she struggled.  Other ponies began to stop to watch and listen to the mare as she made a large scene.

        “Diamond Tiara, thank you so much for being such a great friend,” she said loudly, trying to go over Diamond’s shouting, “you’ve always been encouraging us to get our cutie marks and we didn’t realize it; you’re the best friend a filly could have.”

        Silver watched in disbelief as Diamond continued to scream insult after insult against the filly and her friends before Scootaloo let her go, only to be pushed back into the snow.  Diamond Tiara landed on her boots and spat at Scootaloo.

        “If you think I would ever be a friend to a disgusting little pile of plot like you, you’re as stupid as your whore mothers!” she shouted before turning around to the shocked faces of no less than fifteen ponies that had stopped to watch the events unfold.  “Um, we’re acting in a play,” Diamond said looking to her friend.

        “Right, Silver Spoon?  We’re acting in a play,” Diamond told her.

        Silver looked shocked at first then frowned. “No, my mother’s want me to go to school on time,” she said raising her nose in the air before turning right and moving through the crowd.

        “Oh my,” Scootaloo feigned a gasp and spoke softly, under the murmur of the crowd, “I hope this doesn’t hurt your reputation with the herds in town.”

        “Scootaloo!” Apple Bloom called as she trotted up. “What’s happening, did she hit you?”

        “No, it’s okay, Apple Bloom, our best friend just got upset,” she said with a wink. “Don’t worry, Diamond, you can still meet me alone at the clubhouse later to, talk this out.”

        Diamond turned and scowled. “This isn’t over,” she proclaimed before turning toward the schoolhouse and walking ahead, the crowd parting, watching her, as she left.

“That poor filly.”

        “Why would she say something so vile?

        “I heard her father is a monogamist, by choice.”

        “What play would have fillies talking smut like that?”

        “Why would she refuse a hug?”

        Scootaloo smiled as she stood and shook the snow off her, as best she could, fluttering her wings to clear them as well.

        “C’mon, sis,” Scootaloo chirped, “we’ve got a big day of school ahead of us!  We have to keep our perfect attendance and high grades, you know.”

        Apple Bloom looked around briefly before she hurriedly caught up to Scootaloo.

        “Scootaloo, what just happened, did she hit you?  Are you okay?  Lemme see yer face.”

        “I’m fine Apple Bloom, I just had a talk with mother’s and they told me to just hug the mean out of her… more or less.  So, I took matters into my own hooves and it worked better than I thought it would.”

        “But, Scootaloo, ya made her look like a fool, what if she get’s even?”

        “I’m not worried about that, I have contingency plans.”

        “What?”

        “It means, Apple Bloom, that if I have to, I’ll keep hugging her in public until she leaves us alone from embarrassment.”

        “O-kay, I guess that makes sense,” Apple Bloom said looking intently at the smile and confidence on Scootaloo’s face, “but, what about Silver Spoon?  Ya didn’t hug her away.”

        “A.B., Diamond took care of that herself.  She called mother’s a bad name that hurt Silver’s feelings.  It’ll be a couple days before they’re both bugging us again, and if you’re willing to, could you hug Silver Spoon?”

        “Oh yeah, we used ta be really good friends, until… somethin’ happened.”

        “Really?  You never told me,” Scootaloo said as they passed the last houses, the schoolhouse in view as other fillies and colts were making their way to it as well.

        “Mah parents… left us.”

        “Oh, I’m sorry.  I kinda forgot about that.”

        “No, it’s okay.  Ah mean, it was horrible’n all.  All Ah wanted was mah best friend, and that was when she went ta Diamond Tiara.”

        “Wow, that really sucks, Apple Bloom.  Did you ever find out why she left you when you needed her most?”

        “Nope.  Ah didn’t, but whatever the reason it don’t matter now.  It’s the past, right?  All Ah can do is move on.”

        “Well, we’re here, so I wanna know about the rest of the story later.”

        They walked into the warm schoolhouse and exhaled the last breath of chilled air, inhaling the warm air as warm, prickly, tingles rushed through their bodies.  They went to the locker wall and undressed, enjoying the feel of air on their bodies again before as they gossiped to their seats.

        “Well, well, well.  If it isn’t the foolers,” Diamond Tiara mocked, “need to use some tissues for when you’re done?” she asked.

        Scootaloo and Apple Bloom smiled to each other as they approached Diamond Tiara.

        “What’re you going to do?  You can’t embarrass me here,” she snarked, looking away.  Miss Cherilee watched from her desk to see what would happen, hoping it was a reason to send Diamond Tiara to the corner for a good part of the starting hour, again.

        The fillies approached her and went to both sides of her desk.  Rearing they wrapped her in a double sided, unwanted hug.  They nuzzled her and Apple Bloom had begun to pet Diamond’s mane softly in the two seconds from the time they started the hug.

        “Augh!  Get off me, you daughters of whores!  I’m glad your parents are dead,” Diamond Tiara shrieked, sending the class into silence, except for her struggles against the fillies holding her, eyes wide in shock.

        “If your mom wasn’t I bet she’d still be here to teach you how to do it, get off me!”

        Scootaloo leaned back and looked into the ragged, mean, hate filled face of Diamond Tiara who looked more vicious than any pony should.  Apple Bloom’s eyes met Scootaloo’s before she turned and ran for the door.

        Miss Cheerilee was faster and grabbed the filly by her sides and looked with distain at the angry filly who pushed Scootaloo away and crossed her forelegs in frustration.  Apple Bloom cried openly, quickly hugging her teacher as she was carried out of the schoolhouse to the teacher’s room a few paces back from the student entrance.

        The room was silent, save for the students breathing, staring at Diamond Tiara…

        “Apple Bloom, it’s okay, just cry.  I’m here for you,” Cheerilee decided to say, “what she said was inexcusable and she’ll have to answer for it on her own time.  Don’t worry about what she said, okay?”

        Minutes passed before Apple Bloom could stop crying enough to pull herself free from her teacher and look into her eyes.

        “Miss Cheerilee, it’s okay.  I-I just wasn’t expecting her to say that…  I mean, I’d heard some things when I was a foal about how they… left us, but no pony ever said they were happy.”

        “And no pony is, little mare.  She’s just angry and confused.  I’ll have a talk with her, are you okay to finish school today?”

        Apple Bloom almost said yes before the thought of seeing Diamond, and the other students, made her heart ache.  It was her responsibility to get an education though, so she nodded slightly.

        “Very well, Apple Bloom.  Let’s go back to class and I’ll send Diamond to the dunce corner, does that sound okay to you?”

        “Yeah, I guess.  It just feels like, she always gets away with bein’ mean, and I don’t know what ta do, mama.  I mean Miss Cheerilee!” she blushed as she tried to recover.

        “Apple Bloom, it’s perfectly fine to feel that way, she get’s away just by the skin of her teeth.  I’ll have this cleared up… what’s that sound?”

        Scootaloo looked in shock at Diamond Tiara as she sat in her seat, forelegs crossed and wearing a scowl.

        “Diamond, that was really mean,” Silver Spoon said quietly as she reached to poke her friend.

        “Oh, shut up!  You didn’t back me up earlier, where were you when I needed you?”

        “Y-you’re being unreasonable, Diamond.  My herd has three mothers, and they all love me.”

        “Yeah, so?  That doesn’t mean anything,” Diamond retorted, “my mother loves me, you don’t hear me whining about it.”

        Silver huffed in frustration. “You’re just jealous that your father only has one mare and you, that’s what my moms and dad says.”

        “You dad’s just as dumb as her mother's,” Diamond said pointing to Scootaloo.

        “Hey, you don’t have to be a… bitch about it,” Scootaloo said reluctantly, her ears lowering as the class made a collective ‘ooo’ sound, enthralled by the argument.

        “A bitch?  A little slit licker like you has no right to talk to me, go taste your mom.”

        “What?!  That’s so insulting on so many reasons, why’re you so evil?” Scootaloo retorted.

        “Evil?  I’m not evil, Apple Bloom’s mother is!  She tried to ruin my family, I can’t believe you didn’t know that.  All I’m doing is treating her like she deserves.”

        “Enough, Diamond Tiara,” Silver Spoon shouted, “I can’t believe that’s the reason you think she’s…  She’s the nicest filly I know, knew, before you came along.”

        “Don’t you take her side, Silvie.  You know if she didn’t die she’d have gone after your dad next.”

        Silver spoon lunged from her seat toward Diamond, knocking her from her desk and pinning her to the floor.  The class erupted in a chorus of shouts as Silver Spoon began to roll, struggling for dominance in their fight.

        Diamond Tiara rolled Silver to her back and pinned her, raising a hoof before Scootaloo tackled her from the side, freeing Silver Spoon who rolled to her four hooves and leapt onto Scootaloo’s back, biting her mane and tugging.

        Scootaloo yelped in surprise, pulling her head down, trying to yank free; only to connect her forehead to Diamond’s muzzle.

        Scootaloo twisted and swung a hoof, connecting with Silver Spoon’s neck, freeing her mane before she felt a sharp pain on her right pastern.

        Diamond was biting, hard.  Before Scootaloo could attack back she felt a thud against her belly as another pointed pain stung her.  She spit up a little bile onto Diamond’s face before she knew what happened.

        Silver screamed and whacked Scootaloo across the side with Diamond’s saddlebags, sending her to the floor for a second before she flapped her wings and hovered to a stable position.

        She looked as Silver pounced on Diamond and realized that they were both fighting for the right to beat the snot out of Diamond.

        She felt adrenaline coursing through her body as her mind buzzed.  It was different than when she was flying around town on her scooter, this was… primal.

        She leaned forward and flew ahead, for the first time, making a target; she knocked silver spoon in the side right into Diamond’s desk and landed on top of Diamond Tiara, who was bleeding from several cuts on her muzzle.  Her forelegs were up, guarding herself as she squirmed to get free.

        “Two FUCKING years!  You’ve been a horrible,” punch, “bitch to me and my friends,” slap, “for two years!” she spat into Diamond’s open mouth before  Apple Bloom tackled and pinned her to the floor.

        “Scootaloo, what the hay?!”

        “Children, take your seats,” Cheerilee shouted at the class who quickly scurried to their seats, looking intently at the four fillies on the floor near the front of the class; the ones in the back craned their necks to try to see the aftermath of the first fight in three years.

Scootaloo's Punishment

        “Scootaloo, Ah’m not happy with what happened,” Applejack said as she led Scootaloo from the schoolhouse, “gettin’ into a brawl ain’t right, not even ta defend the honor of yer sis.  Now, what’m Ah gonna do with ya?  Ya warm enough, Darlin’?”

        “Yeah, Mama,” Scootaloo sighed.  She looked up at Applejack with a small bandage taped to her muzzle, “I’m sorry.  I didn’t really think, it just happened.  Wh-what’re you gonna do to punish me?” she asked, her ears flat to her head and her tail was as low as she could let it fall.

        “No sweets for a week, that includes syrups and jams; the school’ll know too.  Ah’m only goin’ easy on ya cuz of what Diamond said ta get ya riled up, you could have it worse.”

        “Oh, that’s not so bad then,” Scootaloo said perking up.

        Applejack sighed. “Now, ya have ta remember that we’re not yer other mother’s.  We don’t punish the way they do, ‘kay, Sugardrop?”

        “Why do you call me that?”

        “Sugardrop? Because you’re a drop of the sweetest stuff on the planet,” Applejack said showing a wide smile to Scootaloo, which was reciprocated.

        “Mama, is Mom gonna be mad?”

        “Yer Mom’s Rainbow Dash, Ah have no idea.  What Ah do know, is that ya got me outta shoveling duty on the farm, so Ah thank ya fer that.  Wanna go ta Bonbon’s and get some taffy?”

        “Nah, I wanna go to Sugarcube Corner.  They have the best shakes, and I need one after today.”

        “Well, that was a test, ya ain’t goin’.  But, Ah’ll make sure ta get you some when yer done bein’ punished.  Now, we’ve got a whole day ta kill and both our days’re open.  Wanna go skatin’?”

        Scootaloo smiled weakly and nodded.

        “I was just thinking, why was Diamond so mad at Apple Bloom’s, I mean, your mom?  It doesn’t make sense.  She made it sound like your families were gonna join into one herd, but that’s a good thing, right?”

        “Well, Scoots, reckon it’d be somethin’...” Applejack stopped in place, a feeling flooded her heart as she listened intently for what, she didn’t know.

        “Mama?  What’s up?  We’re still goin’ home to get the skates, right?” Scootaloo asked from a couple paces ahead. “M-mama?  Applejack?”

        Rainbow sighed happily as she soared over Ponyville.  She swayed slightly and performed a lazy corkscrew as she enjoyed the sights of the town from above.

        The market was sparse on food, but plenty of toys for the fillies and gifts for the lovers were on sale.  She recalled the previous week as she glanced around, scanning the skies for anything interesting and the ground for the same reason.

        She thought of snuggling into Applejack’s chest after a long day of work for them both.  The consoling of Scootaloo and her weird nightmare, the talks that she had been having with Applejack.

        It was beginning to become difficult to separate her indoor life from her public life.  Too many times she’d slip into a drawl or forget to gloat over something she’d become used to at home and in private.

        She turned mid air and began to fly up, the air flowing over her body in almost predictable currents.  She felt the fur on her face waving crazily, her bangs left her vision, her mane and tail tugged slightly as the air resisted her pushing through it.

        Then she stopped and let her momentum carry her as high as it would.  She began to fall, a smile formed for an instant before her mouth clamped shut and her eyes closed.

        She was free.

        Free of the stress of life.

        Free of the pressure.

        Free of the burdens.

        For the next few seconds she’d let herself fall, and let the world fall away from her.  The irony not lost, that as the world fell from her, she fell to the world.

        A pegasi, any pegasi, could survive a freefall from terminal velocity.  She was no exception.  She wasn’t keen on the idea of crashing on purpose, though.  And her image would be tarnished if she crashed.

        Her image.  What did it matter?  She opened her eyes, still a long way to go, she closed her eyes again.

        Finally, she could think in peace.

        Why did she need to have an image now?  Who was she trying to impress?

        The Wonderbolts?  She was a shoo-in, there’s no way they won’t let her in someday.

        Her friends?  The ones that matter: she already had their respect and trust in more ways than she understood.

        Her fans?  Wouldn’t they still be her fans if she was just as awesome, but softer?

        She opened her eyes and looked up at the ground.  A few seconds to go.

        She opened her right wing at an angle to throw herself into a tumble.  The world spun, twirled, whirled, and flipped as she spun on all axis’.

        She, like all expert fliers, didn’t get dizzy anymore.  It was just time to calculate the time to the next move, the next flap, the next air current.

        Ponies were around and would watch her, she’d be near the school and show off to the school children, that’d make them happy as snails in a tomato.

        She looked and watched as the ground became all she saw, two seconds.

        She held her breath.  One second.

        She opened her wings and felt the pull against her wing arms, her feathers tugged sending prickles of pain all the way to her back as she focused her magic on redirecting the air currents under her for a fraction of a second aiding in her swooping out of the free fall  and riding the smallest breeze she herself had created.

        She rode it a hoof width from the ground, her legs all pulled close to her body, were being struck by larger blades of grass that had survived the winter thus far while her magic pushed snow away, clearing a path and leaving a telltale trail.

        She stayed low as she felt the chill bite her ears before she moved her wings to break speed and shut her eyes, cursing herself for being so low.

        Her rear legs touched the ground as she grunted, tucking and holding her forelimbs close to her body as she began to tumble across the snow covered ground.

        She had passed the schoolhouse and skimmed the ground fine, beginning to crash just as the cleared gravel streets began.

        A mare screamed as she lept out of the way of the tumbling mare who left the street after several rolls and struck the side of a house, sending her spinning flat like a propeller before she closed her wings and tumbled to the ground again, rolling twice before finally stopping.

        She opened her eyes and watched as the world twisted slightly as a smile formed again.  She was dizzy.  If only she’d thought a second earlier to cut the magic back she would’ve only tumbled a couple times and might have recovered.

        Her vision focused on an orange pony with yellow mane that was galloping at full speed toward her.  An odd taste was in her mouth, a taste she knew and hated.

Blood.

She probably had lost another tooth.  Easy fix for the hospital, now the only problem would be how long would she be in the hospital before she could be in the air again.

It must’ve been a great crash though, ponies are really worried.  I can still feel my wings, and my legs, and it’s the eighteenth day in the second month of Hearths Warming.  Okay, maybe it’s not that bad, she thought.

        She moved her hooves under her body and groaned.  It hurt a lot, but she could move.

        “Sweetie?  Oh, Celestia, lookit ya.  Dash, don’t move, ya got hurt in that crash,” Applejack said as ponies began calling for help.  Applejack turned and shouted.  “Ya dang fools, don’t yell help, go get it!  Get some help!”

        At her order several ponies scattered in their own directions, hopefully looking for medical help.

        “M-mom?  Wow, that was a really awesome crash,” Scootaloo praised her while trying to not look at Rainbow.

        “Th-thanks, Sport.  Wh-why,” she breathed heavily, “aren’t you in school?”

        “I got into a fight, it was an easy win though.”

        Rainbow was about to comment but felt darkness surround her as she fell unconscious.

Crash Recovery

        Rainbow woke in the hospital, again.  She groaned and regretted it as her mouth was dry and her throat ached for water.

        A small amount of ice chips entered her mouth from a cup.

        She couldn’t see.  It hurt to move.  But she was alive and her wings were still there, that was all that mattered.

        “Sugarplum, yer alive and well enough fer me ta ask you what in the hay you were thinkin’ pullin’ a stunt like that!” Applejack’s voice rose steadily.

        “Eh,” Rainbow said with her voice cracking, “I didn’t, make, crash.  Wings, ‘nd, too low,” she stammered between breaths.  “How, bad?”

        “Oh, Sweetie,” Applejack said calmly.  Rainbow felt her bangs being moved slightly and a kiss on her forehead. “Ya nearly broke yer left back leg, ya skinned yer back somethin’ fierce, and nearly broke yer right wing clear off, they said.”

        Rainbow gasped and tried to see her body.

        “Sugar, calm down.  Ya got a lotta stuff in yer eyes so the doc’s wanna let ‘em heal on their own ‘fore they magic ya better.  Yer whole body’s in rough shape but they’ve fixed ya up fine’n dandy.”

        “W-wings?”

        “They’re fine.  Yer not gonna fly fer til about Hearth's Warmin’, but you’ll be right as rain ‘fore ya know it.  Now, lay back and let Mama take care ‘a ya.”

        Rainbow pouted, her lower lip quivering slightly as she felt Applejack pouring more ice into her parched mouth.  “I, will, be… better marefriend.”

        “Darlin’, yer fine enough.  Ya think ya haven’t given me anything, but I thought about it; you’ve given me a lot.

        “Rainbow, the other night when we were helpin’ Scootaloo.  We were in bed all cozy and you fell asleep first.  I saw my mother in ya.  You cared about our daughter in a way that no other pony could; like a real mother.

        “Ya held her close to yer chest and let her hold ya like a foal clingin’ to her mother.  Yer the one she needs, and the one I need.  Every night Ah wake up, well not every night, but there’re night’s I wake up and just look at ya.  Yer silken mane, yer blue fur that glistens in the night, on those special nights.

        “Yer chest risin’ and fallin’ under the sheets… the way yer eyes flutter when ya dream.  Ya don’t have to give me things, or do things.  Just, be the mare that knows our bed’s our safe place, and anythin’ that happens there is just what I need, all Ah need, from you.”

        Rainbow sniffled and smiled, her tongue moving around her mouth.  She had all her teeth.  She was in the perfect place now.  She could feel the love like a changeling must be able to, it was warming her, making her feel safe.

        She chewed another few pieces of ice and relaxed as Applejack climbed into bed with her, lying to her side.

        Even though they were unable to cuddle and nuzzle, they felt happy being that close to each other.

        “Hey, ya want me ta read some’a that Daring Do to ya?”

        “Ngh-Hng!” Rainbow moaned happily.

        “A’right, Ah’ll be back in a jiffy.  Stay put,” Applejack chuckled as she climbed from the bed, the room silent after a moment.

        The sound of quick hooves entered the room and approached Rainbow.

        “Miss Dash,” a male voice said, “it would be in your best interest to have your family and mates leave the Rich family alone and stop digging up the past, or else,” the voice said.  Rainbow felt a small pinch in her side that alerted her senses of panic, “this is how easy it would be to end the problem.”

        He left in a hurry and she was alone again.  Listening intently after a short time she felt her head swim, her stomach tensed, and she felt sleeps sweet embrace.

        “Rainbow?  Rain~bow?” Applejack’s voice called to her in her empty dream.

        Rainbow woke suddenly in a panic; screaming and thrashing.  The pain didn’t matter, she had to get away from her attacker.

        A female voice she didn’t recognize called some color she didn’t care about and a few seconds later she was being held down.

        “Miss Dash,” A stallion’s voice she recognized asked her, “what’s wrong.  Can you understand me?”

        Rainbow inhaled sharply. “I want a female doctor and Applejack.”

        “Ah’m here, Sugarplum.  C’mon, tell me what happened?  Did ya have a bad dream?”

        “No, AJ.  Some stallion came in here and threatened me, us, then gave me a shot and knocked me out.”

        “Miss Apple,” the stallion asked suddenly, “how long has she been asleep?!”

        “Ah, Ah dunno, maybe three hours, Doc.”

        “Nurse,” he ordered, “I need a guard here now, and bring another just to be safe.  I want to know every pony that’s come and gone from the premises for the past day.”

        “Yes, Doctor,” a mare replied before the sound of her hooves striking the floor, she left in a hurry.

        “Miss Dash, where did he inject you?” The doctor asked.  She tugged her limbs before she felt the restraints leave her.  Magic, of course.

        She touched her side where she was injected.

        “Okay, lay still,” he said as she felt a wave of tingles wash over her.  “Okay, the injection site is here, give me a moment,” he said as she felt a sensation like water being poured over her side, “opioid etorphine; expert dilution, hypodermic needle, non-sterile injection area, no magic residue, inserted into a vein.

        “Whoever did this is experienced in medicine," he concluded, "Miss Dash, I’m sorry this happened to you under my care; I’m going to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” he said as Rainbow felt a hoof on her belly.

“Get off me, stallion!” Rainbow shouted and swung blindly.

        “Darlin’, it’s me.  Ah’m here,” Applejack reassured.  “Doc, Ah reckon it’d be best if’n ya left.”

        “Right, I’ll be nearby.  If she has any reactions or seems weird to you, call a nurse immediately,” he insisted, “Miss Dash, I’ll see about getting doctor Heart for you.”

        “AJ, I was so scared,” Rainbow said, her voice trembling.

        “Don’t worry, Sugarplum, Ah won’t leave ya alone again.  Anypony that comes near ya’s gonna hafta go through me.”

        “Thanks, my Apple Dumpling.  I, I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you, or if you lost me…”

        “Don’t think like that, we’re fine and that’s all that matters.”

        “AJ?”

        “Yeah, Dash?  What can Ah get ya?”

        “I really wanna have sex.”

        The sound of Applejack facehoofing made Rainbow smirk.

        “So, that’s what happened, girls,” Rainbow said facing the ceiling.

        “Oh my, that’s horrible.  Why would somepony do that to you?” Fluttershy asked.

        “Well, I find it dreadfully inept of the hospital to leave the patients under such lax observation.”

        “Grr, that pony’s a meanie.  Hey Twi, can I spy?  I haven’t spied for a while.”

        “Pinkie, where’d you… No, Pinkie, we don’t need a spy, we need to make sure she’s safe, now please take off that spy stuff.  We have find out why the Rich family would want to take such a risk threatening her.”

        “But,” Fluttershy started, “why would they even threaten her?  Rainbow hasn’t done anything mean, have you?”

        “Of course not, darling.  Rainbow Dash is many things, mean isn’t one of them.  Perhaps it’s a misunderstanding?” Rarity offered.

        “No,” Rainbow replied, “he said that we had to stop digging for info.  Like, we were getting too close to something.  I don’t know what I did though.”

        “Rainbow,” Applejack said looking to the others that were standing around Rainbow’s hospital bed, “Ah think I know.  Scootaloo and Apple Bloom said somethin’ about that Tiara girl; the reason they started fightin’.”

        “They were in a fight?!”  Twilight exclaimed, “are they okay?  Why were they fighting?”

        “I dunno, Twilight,” Pinkie chirped, “maybe there was an ice cream cone and only one of them could have it and-”

        “They were fighting Diamond Tiara,” Rainbow interjected impatiently.

        “That little filly who’s good friends with Sweetie Belle and the others?” Rarity asked, “Surely there’s some decent reason for it then.”

        “Well, Rare’s, that’s the thing,” Applejack started hesitantly, “Scoot’s told us that she’s a bully, her and Silver Spoon.  Been tormentin’ them three fer the better part’a two years, now.”

        “When I heard that I almost told her ta buck ‘em in the flank, but that’d make AJ mad at me,” Rainbow said sitting up and taking a fighting pose, “so, I told her to hug her instead.”

        “That was when the little filly went’n started talkin’ ill ‘bout my mom like she was a...”

        “Yes, I, gathered as such.  Spoiled little children are going to say and do as they wish, afterall.”

        “Rarity,” Twilight said firmly, “that’s no excuse for behaving like a pack of gryphons.  There’s a reason that Rainbow was attacked right after the fillies got into a fight, and we’re gonna find out.”

        “Well, ya’ll go and try’n find some clues…  Pinkie, how’d ya change from spy ta investigator…  Nevermind,” Applejack shook her head, “Ah’ll stay here with Dash.”

        “Ooo, a little alone time?” Pinkie said suggestively.

        “Shush,” Fluttershy said eliciting a whimper from Pinkie.

        There was an air of silence as Rainbow listened. “O-kay,” Twilight said before her hoof falls indicated she was moving as the others were following, “we’ll be back later, stay safe.”

        “Yeah, see ya.  Don’t be gone too forever… Oh, Twilight.”

        “Yes, Rainbow?”

        “Bring me a Daring Do book, ‘kay?”

        Twilight giggled. “Okay, but, now I’ve got two mysteries to solve and a coltfriend to get back to.  See you later, Rainbow and AJ.”

        Rainbow laid back and enjoyed the moment of silence.  Applejack was next to her still, the hospital was relatively quiet, and the air was hospital fresh.

        A great time to be alive.

        “Applejack,” Rainbow asked, “I’m glad I’m not dead.”

        After inhaling deeply Applejack replied.

        “Me too, Rainbow.  Me too.”

Family Secret

        Scootaloo knocked on the hospital door softly and looked to her left to Apple Bloom.

        “C’min,” a voice called almost immediately.

        The fillies entered the room and looked around at the empty walls, three beds in the room, and a window.

Rainbow was bandaged and laying on the center bed with Applejack beside her in the otherwise empty room.

        “Mother’s, how are you?  Oh no, is Rainbow ever gonna see again?”

        “Scoots, I’m fine,” Rainbow said exasperatedly, “I’ll have my eyes back tomorrow-”

        “Wednesday,” Applejack corrected.

        “-Wednesday, and I’ll be in the air within a month.”

        “Month and a half, Sugardrop.”

        “Apple Fritter...” Rainbow whined in frustration.

        All the others in the room giggled.

        “Sorry, Sugarplum,” Applejack said looking lovingly at Rainbow before turning to the fillies, “so, girls.  What’s goin’ on?   How was school?  Learn a lot?”

        “Not really,” Apple Bloom said glancing to Scootaloo.

        “What’s that mean?” Rainbow inquired.

        “Well, Mom, Diamond Tiara wasn’t in class today because she was ‘hurt to bad’,” she said in a mocking tone.

        “She’s just fakin’, Sis!  She wasn’t pumelled that bad.”

        “Yeah, I only got in a good slap,” Scootaloo said proudly.

        “Don’t forget when you head butted her,” Apple Bloom added.

        “That wasn’t me, Silver Spoon bit my neck and I moved.”

        “Girls!” Applejack shouted, stopping their proud argument, “Ah swear, Ah’ve never been more unhappy ta hear of a fight in my life.  A couple’a young mares like you, gettin’ inta’ fight over words.

        “If Ah had the mind ta, I’d send ya both ta the farm and have ya do chores fer a week and learn ya some respect.”

        “But, Mama, how would that teach me respect?” Scootaloo snarked back before covering her mouth in shock she said it aloud.”

        Applejack climbed off the bed and reached to the side table, grabbed her hat, and placed it firmly on her head.  “Young’ns, yer comin’ with me.  Rainbow’s tough enough and there’s a guard on duty ta keep her safe.  We’re goin to the farm, Dash,” she said turning and giving Rainbow’s cheek a kiss before walking ahead, out of the room.

        “Um, sorry, Mom, I’ve gotta go,” Scootaloo said as Apple Bloom whispered something.  “Oh yeah,” she flew awkwardly to Rainbow and landed next to her and gave her a hug. “Mom, that was an awesome crash, but, don’t do it again, ‘kay?”

        Rainbow snickered. “I can’t promise but-”

        “No, Mom,” Scootaloo said in a firm, deep, steady voice, “please, don’t do it again.”

        At first Rainbow felt uncomfortable, then she listened to the silence in the room.  All she could hear was Scootaloo.  And Scootaloo was now standing over her, rear legs were against rainbow’s hips, and her forelegs were holding her steady on Rainbow’s chest as she took shaky breaths.

        “S-Scoots, I-I…  I don’t know what to say.  I, I have to be awesome.  It’s who I am.”

        “Even if you get hurt like this again?!  What if next time it’s worse?” Scootaloo asked loudly.

        “Scoots,” Rainbow stopped and held her breath.

        “Mom, all I ever wanted was you to be there to teach me how to fly.  Now, I’m family.  I’m getting used to having three mothers; sappy mom, awesome mom, and Applejack,” Rainbow snorted a laugh, “but I don’t care about awesome mom if she’s gonna get hurt like this to show off.”

        “Oh, c’mon Scoots…”

        “C’mon what, Rainbow Dash?  Part of being cool is being honest, you said that to me.”

        “I know I did, but, I,” Rainbow swallowed hard, “I’m gonna tell you a secret that only AJ knows, okay?  I’m scared.”

        “You?  Yeah, I know.  But then you punch your fears in the face and-”

        “No, I’m always scared, Scootaloo.  I’m scared of failing, losing, being the worst by being myself,” rainbow said softly to the filly standing on her, “that’s why I do crazy stunts and act awesome.  I’m not awesome, not in my heart.”

        “Rainbow, you don’t have to be awesome; you just have to be happy.”

        The bandages on Rainbow’s eyes absorbed the tears she had, but the trembling smile she had said plenty as she pulled Scootaloo into a hug that hurt her in many places; but it was worth it.

        “Scootaloo, I promise I won’t hurt myself like this again.  I guess I have to be a family mare now, since I have a family.  Once I’m married to AJ, a lot will change around here.  But, for you, I’ll make a couple changes now.”

        “Thanks, Mom.”

        “No prob, Sport.  Now, go catch up to the others ‘fore AJ get’s on ya.”

        “What?  They’re in the doorway waiting for me,” Scootaloo said pulling out of the hug and hopping from the bed, a flutter from her wings breaking her fall.

        “Oh…” Rainbow said blushing.

        “Don’cha worry, Sugarplum.  Family secret,” Applejack said as the door creaked shut and Rainbow exhaled a heavy breath.

        “Well, at least it’s in the family.  Family, wow.  This has been the most bucked up year ever, if next year’s as crazy I think I’ll have a breakdown.”

        Rainbow relaxed into her hospital bed and groaned at the silence.  This, was going to be a long week, too.

Out and About That...

        Rainbow groaned as she was wheeled from the hospital entrance, the sunlight bathed her in its warmth and stung her magically healed eyes.

        With Applejack and Twilight by her sides she stood and stretched before beginning the walk back home.

        “So, AJ.  I know I’ve asked a bunch, but how’s life in the real world?”

        “Oh, ya know.  Shovel’n snow, plowin’ the paths.  Winter ain’t the best time ta be a farmer, ya know.”

        “Well, Ah’m learnin’ this year,” Rainbow replied with her slight drawl.

        “I see you’re both having a sociolinguistics experience still.  Rainbow Dash, I expect you’ll adopt it more than Applejack since you’re a bit more open as a linguistic adaptable pony.”

        The others looked at Twilight.

        “It mean you’re picking up Applejack’s accent nicely.”

        “What? Ah’m not talkin’ like AJ?  Am I, Sugarcube?”

        Applejack laughed and slapped Rainbow on the back. “If’n ya ain’t, then Ah ain’t a pony.”

        “What?  So, I’m talkin’ like ya?”

        “Yes, Rainbow Dash.  It’s a common occurence in relationships, it’s just adapting to each other; totally normal.”

        “So, Twi,” Rainbow asked, “does that mean you’re gonna start talking like Sun, or he’s gonna learn egghead for you?”

        Rainbow laughed at her question while Applejack rolled her eyes sarcastically.

        “You know what, Rainbow, I’m not an egghead; I’m well read.”

        “Did you learn that in a book too?” Rainbow retorted with another laugh.

        Twilight groaned in frustration before looking at Applejack. “So, how’ve Scootaloo’s nightmares been?”

        “Wait, she’s still having them?”

        “Only once since tha last time, don’t fret.  We got’er in ta see a shrink and with a little magic it cleared up.  Doc said she had some stress and somethin’ I don’t know what; a little meditation and more oats’ll make her right as an apple tree at harvest time.”

        “Well,” Rainbow squeaked, “if you think so.  If I have to Ah’ll get Luna to fix her up.”

        “Rainbow Dash,” Twilight admonished, “you can not expect the princess to help you ever time you have a problem.

        “Duh, this isn’t for me, it’s for Scootaloo.”

        “You know what I mean!”

        “Now, girls.  Ain’t no use shoutin’.  Let’s just get home’n have a good day.  T’morrow we’re gonna go have some fun in the snow and Rainbow’s goin’ back ta work.”

        “Paperwork, yay,” Rainbow said sarcastically.

        “You know, I could help you learn to do your work faster.”

        “Thanks, but I’m allergic to eggheads.”  Rainbow exaggerated a grunt of pain as Applejack poked her side.

        “That ain’t nice, Rainbow.  Now, ya best apologize, a’right?”

        “Why…  Okay, fine.  I’m sorry you’re an egghead.  Ouch!  Fine, stop poking me.  I’m sorry I called you an egghead, Twilight.  There, happy now?” she asked rubbing her ribs quickly.

        “Reckon Ah am.”

        “Me too.  Now, let’s discuss the hunt for the mystery doctor.”

        “Ooo! Ooo,” Pinkie’s voice seemed to come from all around them, “I have a suspect,” she said standing to the outside of the group by Twilight.  They all just stopped on the path and  sighed.

        “Okay, Pinkie, what’s your thought?”

        “Okay, so I was sleuthing like a spy all over town.  I followed the tracks from the hospital room to the market.  The market to the residences.  Then the residences to Noteworthy’s house.”

        “So, it was Noteworthy?”

        “That’s what I thought, Twi!  But then I asked him a few dozen question and before he went to sleep standing up I saw hoof prints by the window.  Suspicious hoofprints.  They were the ones I followed earlier.  That told me,” she said blowing bubbles from a corncob pipe she hadn’t had a moment before, “that I was on the trail again.

        “I followed the hoof prints to the Silver estate, where they went through the house.  Did you know Silver Spoon’s mom likes to wear socks at home?  Oh, and all the butlers are dressed like Prench maids?

        “Anyway, I followed them through the house with my super spying magnifying glass when I found, this!”  She held up a pair of tweezers with a single fur hair pinched in it’s tongs.

        “And, what’s that supposed to be?” Rainbow asked, her interest rising.

        “It’s hair, silly.  I took this to a friend who had it analyzed and compromised, and discombobulated until we found out it was a stallions!  I was back on track…”

        “Pinkie,” Twilight asked, forcing a smile, “can we get to the end?”

        “I’m almost there, Twilight.  Okay, so I followed the hair to another, and another.  Whoever they belonged to was shedding a lot…  Almost a little too lot.  So, I followed them with my super duper microscope of justice to the Rich residence and they led me to Cogsworth, the butler!”

        “So, yer sayin’, the butler did it?” Applejack asked doubtfully.

        “I have to say, with one hundred percent indubidubidubity, that, he didn’t do it.  It was actually Greywithers, the senior accountant.  He has grey hair, not brown like Cogsworth.  That, and he keeps a bunch of medical stuff in a hidden cabinet behind the bookshelf to the left of his desk.”

        “Wait, you got all that from a hair?” Rainbow asked incredulously.

        “What?  No, that’d be silly.  I got it from- Oh, gotta go.  Here Twi, I wrote down what happened in the sixty page manuscript.  See ya later,” Pinkie said jumping into a bright green, lush bush that wasn’t there while they were talking.

        “What, just happened?” Rainbow asked again.

        “Pinkie happened, Rainbow.  Let’s just, look this over at your house,” Twilight said as she held the manuscript close to her side.  The rest of the way they walked in silence, watchful for Pinkie to hop out again.

Settlin' Down

        “Okay, all settled in?” Applejack asked as she fluffed the last cushion Rainbow was laying on.

        “Yeah, Apple Fritter, I’m fine, sheesh.  Stop treating me like a foal…  Can you put one more under my wings?”

        “Sure thing, Sugarplum.  Better?”

        Rainbow winced from the sharp pain in her wings and back, but nodded.

        “So, girls, we have to think about this whole ‘threatening Rainbow’ thing.  Since Silver Spoon and Scootaloo got into the fight with Diamond Tiara, Diamond hasn’t been to school, or even out of her house.

        “Pinkie was very comprehensive in her investigation, so much so that I may start locking my doors and windows at night,” Twilight said as she closed the document.  “What’s important is that it seems the accountant did, indeed, threaten Rainbow Dash.

        “We have to figure out why he’d do something so risky over a filly fight.”

        “Well, Ah dunno.  Ah don’t think it’d be rightly smart ta investigate ‘em.  They’ve been workin’ with the farm fer generations.  What’d it mean fer business on the farm if’n they split?”

        “They wouldn’t end your business deal that easily; now about twenty percent of their business is from your farm.  They’re shipping jam across the continent, they’re even more rich than they were before.”

        “So, what the hay got inta that filly ta make’r go’n insult my family?”

        “Well, she was very… descriptive, in her choice of words,” Twilight said, glancing between Applejack and Rainbow.

        “She called her mom a whore, Twilight, that’s harsh for even the meanest adult.  Why’d a filly say that?” Rainbow asked.

        “Well,” Applejack said lying next to Rainbow and nuzzling her before continuing, “Ah don’t recall much, an’ I don’t wanna bring it up ta the girls again…  Somethin’ about my mom tryin’ ta ruin their family.  Ah just don’t get it.”

        “Well, what if, nevermind,” Rainbow said cracking her neck.

        “No, Rainbow, any idea is a good one.  What were you going to say?”

        “Well, it’s a stupid thing, but if I wanted to be richer than the Rich’s, I’d get the two together and double or ‘nth’ the bits.  We do the same thing making storms.  Small ones make big ones,” Rainbow said examining her hoof.

        “Rainbow, that… is actually a great thought.”

        “What?” Rainbow replied looking at Twilight, “what’d I say?”

        “Y-you really don’t remember what you just said?”

        “No, I was just thinking out loud.  Was it about how thirsty I am?  Cuz I’m pretty thirsty.”

        “Applejack, do you mind if I ask you a couple things, about your past?”

        “Well, Ah guess we hafta, now.”

        “Alright.  Do you remember anything about your parents’ relationship with the Rich’s?”

        “Well, not really.  Granny’d be the one ta ask, Ah was still a filly when…”

        “I understand, Applejack.  You don’t need to answer anything you don’t want to, or can’t.”

        “Well, Ah remember ma’n pa’d spent a lotta time with ‘em back in the day.  Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara were almost like sisters and we’d spend a lotta time over at their house, but that’s all I know.”

        “Well,” Twilight said looking to Rainbow who was resting her head against her forelegs and starting to doze, “I think I’ll have a few words with Granny, if that’s alright with you,” Twilight questioned softly.

        Applejack followed her gaze to Rainbow, slowly falling asleep and nodded. “Eeyup, reckon it’d be best if I wasn’t there when ya did, though.  Same for the others.  Maybe Ah can take ‘em out fer a walk while ya talk to Granny?”

        “That sounds okay.  What about Rainbow, will she be okay alone?”

        “We’ll only be gone a couple’a hours, Twi.  She can’t fly, but she’s still Rainbow Dash.”

        Rainbow smiled when she heard her name as she fell asleep.

        “Ah think Ah’ll wait a bit, you can go on ahead, Twi.  I wanna spend some time, in our house, with my Rainbow.”

        Twilight stood and stretched, letting a slight yawn escape her.  With a shake of her head she tried to fight the sudden wave of sleep away.

        “Yeah, I think I should head back to home too.  Sun said he’d be stopping by tonight so I think I’ll freshen up.”

        “Twi,” Applejack started, “Ah know ya like this colt, but are ya sure he’s the one?  Ya have ta take is slow, ya know.”

        “I know, AJ.  Right now it’s all about the sex,” Twilight said plainly beginning to lecture, “and according to several books I’ve read we’re in what’s called the ‘honeymoon period’ of the relationship.  Everything will be perfect until it passes, then we’ll be in a real relationship that’s based of emotions and feelings, he’ll want sex a lot less than he does now and it’ll be so much nicer to sleep with him and only him.”

        “Wait,” Applejack said sitting tall and looking at Twilight as she blushed, “what’d’ya mean ‘only him’?”

        “W-well, I’m not supposed to talk about it… But okay,” Twilight giggled and hopped in place, “ever since that first night when I cast that spell by accident that turned the town-”

        “Inta an orgy the likes Equestria ain’t seen in centuries?”

        “Yeah, that one,” she sighed and looked at her hooves in regret, “...anyway, the next day I decided I’d hook up with Blu again,” Applejack groaned, “no, wait, okay?  So, I went to the room she was renting and saw Sun there and he was so shocked to see me!  Blu and Ashy pushed him out and-”

        “Don’t tell me yah did it with ‘em-”

        “Please stop interrupting me, Applejack.  So, we started making out and it was going fine.  Hooves were going places and Ashy has a tongue that vibrates, I swear, okay!  I’m getting past that.  I was only there for a few minutes before I felt guilty about seeing Sun again, so I said I had to wash my hooves.

        “I opened the door and stepped right into a wet spot of his… um, fluids,” she said trying to hold back a smile while Applejack stuck out her tongue in disgust, “I knew it was his from the smell.  It was just like carrots, not many ponies could love carrots that much.  So, I left and ran into Pinkie.

        “No, we didn’t do anything but she did invite me to a party at a friend's apartment that night.  I showed up and Pinkie had warmed him up for me, she said.  I looked and saw he was ready to go, so I didn’t waste any time!

        “Oh, Celestia,” Twilight said laying on the floor and grinning, “it was amazing.  I’d never, ever, had an experience like that…  No offence, AJ.”

        “None taken, Sugarcube.  So, is this goin’ somewhere?”

        “Yes, what I’m saying is that I think we were destined to meet and be together!  He’s perfect for me, and he’s totally into starting a herd with me, Blu, and Ashy.  He loves watching while we all make love, then he gets to rut me and everypony wins!”

        Applejack made a combination retching sound while groaning. “That’s the most… unique, herding Ah’ve heard of, Ah guess.  If’n ya think it’s what ya want, Ah say go fer it, but, Twilight,” Applejack said trying to find the words, “don’t rush inta it.  Makin’ a herd’s a big deal, and doin’ it with a buncha ponies ya don’t rightly know, and only have sex with, is just askin’ ta be hurt.”

        “Oh, AJ,” Twilight said waving her hoof dismissively while sighing contently, “you sound just like the princesses, my family, his family, the ponies at the bar, and Rarity.  You’re all so cautious it’s funny.  I know what I’m getting into, just, worry about taking care of Rainbow,” Twilight said with a soft chuckle.

        “I’ll see you in a couple hours at the farm,” she said charging her magic, “and don’t be surprised if my mane’s a little messed up,” she finished with a wink before a bright purple flash told of her departure.

        Applejack swallowed and looked to the blue pony beside her.  She leaned down and took a long inhale of Rainbow’s mane, savoring the nature pony scent she had at the moment.

        “Rainbow, Ah’m SO glad Ah got with ya…”

        Rainbow snored in response.

Conclusions part 1

        “Applejack, let’s meet back at your house.  I have a troubling hypothesis,” Twilight said as she met Applejack in the orchard.  Big Mac and Apple Bloom had gone back to the farmhouse a few moments earlier to begin supper preparations.

        “Well, if ya insist.  Wanna grab a couple of the best apple products in Equestria ‘fore ya go?”

        “Well, I can always use a pie or three,” Twilight agreed with a smile as she joined Applejack in a quick trot back to the farmhouse.

        “Rainbow, we’re home and Ah brought ya a basket full’a goodies,” Applejack called as she entered the house, a basket full of various apple filled desserts on her back and Twilight behind her, munching on her third fritter.

        “I’m still in the living room,” Rainbow called as the mares entered the room.

        “Rainbow, ain’t ya moved since I left?” Applejack teased as she let the basket slide from her back to the couch.  It nearly fell but Twilight caught it in her magic and mumbled with a mouth full of fritter, gesturing to the kitchen.

        “AJ, Ah’m not exactly in shape ta go running around.  I almost broke my legs, it hurts ta walk.”

        “Oh, suck it up some,” Applejack said leaning in for a nuzzle.

        “No, I can’t just suck it up,” Rainbow grunted with a frown, “I was stupid.  I was dumb and did something dangerous that I shouldn’t be doing anymore…  I, I know.”

        Applejack gulped and felt her throat dry.  Tunnel vision was a rare occurrence to her but it happened right then.  Her knees trembled and she couldn’t even think of anything to say.

        “AJ, why?”

        Twilight’s hoofsteps stopped at the kitchen doorway as she froze and observed the scene.

        “Uh-Ah-Yuh… R-Rainbow, I…”

        Rainbow looked at Applejack with tears forming in her eyes, refusing to blink or look away as she waited for an answer to her unasked question.

        “R, Shug…  I-I don’t, didn’t know how ta talk about it or bring it up.”

        “How long have you known?”

        “Sugar,” Applejack said finally moving, blinking, and feeling the world twist beneath her, “Ah found out when ya were in surgery after yer crash.”

        “So, were you ever gonna tell me?”

        “What?  How could Ah just tell ya?!  It’s not somethin’ that ya just bring up.”

        “‘Not somethin’ ya bring up’?!  I could’ve died not knowing, Applejack!”

Applejack shied back as her ears fell, her body slumped slightly, and she took a shaky breath. “Ah, Ah know.  If you’d’a died, not knowin’... Even Ah didn’t know.  Ah, just, please,” she sniffled, “ya promised ta not do anythin’ stupid before this was even a thing.  Just, oh, Twilight.”

Applejack wiped her eyes on her foreleg and waved her in.

“Hey, Twilight.  Me and AJ were just talkin’ about something,” she sniffled and blinked her eyes clear; her tears running from her eyes, disappearing into the fur over her cheeks as she forced a smile. “We’re gonna finish talkin’ about it as soon as ya leave, though, right AJ?”

        “Eeyup,” Applejack said with a wavering smile, still looking at Rainbow.

        “O~kay, well, I’ll just get to business then so you can talk about what you need to and I can get back to my Sunny D.”

        Rainbow snorted and laughed. “Yeah, Scootaloo still calls him that, too.  What?  It’s funny,” she said defensively.

        “Rainbow, I would appreciate it if you’d stop having your daughter call my coltfriend that.”

        “Ugh, fine.  Spoil all the fun.  Anyway, what’s up?  What’s the big news?”

        “I, don’t really know how to bring this up in a kind way, so I’ll do it in my way.  Applejack, from what Pinkie researched and what I’ve learned, plus a couple of questions at town hall, I’ve come to the conclusion that Filthy Rich was going to start a herd with your family.”

        Rainbow coughed on some spit she inhaled when she heard that as Applejack sat in silent shock.

        “It looks like they were already starting to plan it, possibly mating, and somepony in one of your families was against the idea.”

        “Poison,” Applejack said under her breath.

        Twilight cleared her throat. “Y-yes, Granny told me how they, left.  It all points to a member of one of your families-”

        “Shut up, Twi!” Applejack shouted jumping to her four hooves. “Ain’t no member of my family…  We wouldn’t, do that to our own…  Mama, papa,” she said as her eyes betrayed her.  She galloped past Twilight out of the room and up to her room, the door slammed a few seconds after she left the room.

        “Um, Rainbow, I think I should just go.  I’m glad you’re fine, and I’m sorry about upsetting her.  Sh-should I come back tomorrow?”

        Rainbow rolled to her hooves and winced as the soreness made itself known to her rear legs. “Yeah, that’d be cool.  I’ll talk to her and we’ll get over this, together.  Just, stay warm and safe and bring lots of chocolate,” Twilight smiled and nodded, “we’ll have a nice day in.  If you see Scootaloo send her home right away, okay?”

        “Okay, and, you’re a great mom, Rainbow Dash, just don’t hurt yourself too bad before you learn that yourself.”

        Twilight walked to the door and left quietly as Rainbow slowly walked to the stairs.

        Rainbow looked up them and moved her wings, squeaking at the sharp pains she got from the still healing bones and tendons.  She sighed and placed her forelegs on the first step and moved her rear legs into place, and began the painful and slow ascent of the stairs.

Conclusions part 2

        Finally cresting the top she fell flat on her underbelly and panted. “That, was, the, longest, walk, ever,” she grumbles as she pushed herself up on her forelegs and whinnied in pain; her back half was too sore to move.

        The door to her left opened and showed a surprised Applejack.

        “Rainbow, what in tarnation?  Are ya okay?”

        “M-my legs hurt, really bad.”

        “Wh-why would ya go’n climb a run ‘a stairs when the doc said don’t?” Applejack said as she moved her head under Rainbow’s side, sliding her onto her back.

        “Because, you needed me.”

        “Oh, Sugar, Ah was gonna head down after she left.  Ah just needed a minute ta compose myself; havin’ somepony say my family’d poison each other over hitchin’ up families is just…”

        Applejack gently brought Rainbow to the bed and let her climb off and get comfortable while she left to get the medicines Rainbow needed.

        “‘Kay, this here’s fer tha pain, this’ fer the swellin’, and this one’s ta help ya relax.”

        “No, I don’t want the last one.”

        “Sugar, the doc wouldn’t give ‘em if they were dangerous.”

        “Applejack, why didn’t you tell me I was pregnant?!”

        Applejack sighed and finished lining the bottles on the night stand by Rainbow’s side of the bed.

        “Ah just… ya didn’t wanna be the first.  Ah was more’n ready when we went to that doctor, but we didn’t say who wanted the baby,” Applejack said sitting on the floor and laying her head on the bed.

        Rainbow began petting Applejack’s mane slowly. “I understand, but sheesh.  I could’ve done something really dumb, AJ, without knowing.  And, don’t you think I’d notice when a little filly was bucking my insides like it was shakin’ an apple tree?”

        Applejack chortled at that. “Rainbow, Ah’m resistant, that’s why Ah wasn’t and ain’t pregnant with ya.  Doc says that my back half is so strong from a lifetime of buckin’ apple trees that the magic’s turned most’a my insides inta ‘thaumatic resistant tissue’.  Took me an hour ta learn ta say that.”

        “So, you mean you can’t carry foals?” Rainbow said resting her head next to Applejacks.

        “No, Ah can, but the natural way’d be easiest, and Ah ain’t lettin’ that happen.”

        Rainbow frowned. “Me too.  No more stallions.  But, we have so much to do now that we know, AJ.  We have to try to keep it secret for as long as we can-”

        Applejack sat up and huffed as Rainbow’s hoof slapped her nose. “What’re ya sayin’ keep it a secret?”

        “Just, until I have time to wrap my head around this, AJ.  This’ huge!  I don’t even know anything about all this.  I was gonna,” she stopped and sat up and began poking the quilt she was on, “let you go through it and use that as a what to do.”

        “So, you were gonna let me foal a baby, then do the same thing, if ya felt like it?”

        Rainbow nodded weakly.

        “Sugarplum,” She said placing a hoof on Rainbow’s, “we’re gonna go through this together and,” the front door slammed shut, announcing Scootaloo’s return home, “and with our friends and families.  We’re not alone in this, and Ah won’t let ya be afraid of gettin’ help with our little one.”

        Scootaloo opened the door with a large smile. “Heya mom’s.  Mom, I’m so glad you’re home, I wanted to show you my homework project but I couldn’t bring it to the hospital, can I get it, Mama?”

        “Sure thing, half pint.”

        Scootaloo raised an eyebrow at the nickname before she turned and trotted out of the room to her own.

        “Rainbow, ya wanna do somethin’ for me?  Then keep yourself and our little one safe, we’ll talk about this more tonight before bed… And no, we ain’t rollin’ in the hay when ya can’t even move.”

        “Aww, killjoy,” Rainbow pouted, “not even a little; to celebrate everything?”

        “Maybe some kissin’ could let a hoof go somewhere, but not yet.”

        Rainbow groaned loudly as she rolled to her back and let her forelegs fall to her sides. “Dang it!  I haven’t orgasmed in weeks!  Just take me, AJ.”

        “Hush with that talk, Rainbow.  Scootaloo’ll hear ya.”

        “Oh, fine.  But those hooves tonight better be soaking before I go to sleep,” she grunted as Scootaloo’s hoof falls left her room and approached.

        Applejack sighed heavily and rolled her eyes as a smile crossed her muzzle.

Maybe...

Rainbow Sleeps

Rainbow’s whimperin’ woke me up.  Ah opened my eyes ta see the back of her head.  Ah listened fer a minute and before I started ta fall back asleep she moved her wings, makin’ her whimper more.  Her feathers brushin’ against my belly didn’t tickle, they just felt soft.

        She whimpered again.  Ah knew she was in pain before, but Ah didn’t think how much.  Ah wonder how much more it hurts her inside known' she can't fulfill her dreams fer a month and some.

Takin’ the rainbow out’a the sky is like takin’ the apples outta my orchard.

        Ah turned and rolled outta bed, shakin’ my mane from mah face and rollin’ my back, gettin’ the kinks out, ‘fore I went and walked around the bed to look into her face.

        I felt the corners of my mouth tuggin’ a bit as Ah looked at her.

        She was in pain.

        Ev’ry time she’d move her wings she’d get the look like she was ‘bout ta cry.

        Musta been horrible ta be her right now.  More’n half her body hurts’n all Ah can do is give her medicine’n hope fer the best.

        She whimpered again and that’s when Ah felt somethin’ I hadn’t felt fer her before.  Ah felt like a mother lookin’ at her baby; all I wanted ta do was stop her pain.  Ah sat and laid my hoof on her forehead.

        She was cool.  I felt my the right side’a my mouth smirk’n.  She’s cool.  That’s all she ever wanted ta be, all she ever was.  She always will be.

        I whispered to her. “How can Ah make ya better, my little rainbow?”

        She smile a bit and sighed.

Can ya hear me in yer slumbers, Sugarcube?

        I watch yer eyelids flutterin’ as ya dream.  Ah hope they’re sweet dreams of ya flyin’ through the sky.  Makin’ yer rainbows as ya move from cloud ta cloud.

Are ya dreamin’ of me?  Of Scootaloo?

Are ya dreamin’ of our baby?  Playin’ in the grass?   Teachin’ her ta fly?  Teachin’ her ta buck tree’s with me?  Takin’ her ta school with Twilight ta learn magic?

        Here I am, bein’ selfish all day tryin’ ta be strong fer the both’a us, and here ya are, the real you, safe in our bed.  Our safe place.  The gentle mare that’s honest and afraid.  Soft and gentle.  Funny and sweet.

        The mare who cries from admitting her fears as much as from the powerful love we have for each other, even without gettin’ our muzzles wet.

        Ah’m sorry fer makin’ ya wait weeks ta have sex, Sugarplum, Ah really am bein’ selfish; makin’ ya wait ‘til I felt like ya earned it, deserved it.  Now, all Ah wanna do is make ya happy; but it ain’t right ta cause ya pain just ta get our tingles.

        ...

        You’re so soft and sweet.  Ah can’t help but pet yer mane, it’s as soft as the sides of yer feathers, softer’n any pony’d ever believe.  But Ah know, it’s as soft as yer eyes when ya look inta mine.

        Even if we fight, Ah can’t help but love ya more.

Oh no, please, don’t whimper.  Ah know it hurts, Ah’ll get yer medicine.

        Ya move yer head up and whine when Ah take my hoof from yer mane; are ya askin’ me ta keep pettin’ ya?

        Ah yawn as Ah put my hoof back on yer head and pet ya again.  Ya smile and moan, movin’ yer head deeper inta the pillow.

        Yer in a happy place.  Yer comfy right now.  Ah’ll stay right here as long as Ah hafta, just ta see ya smile like that.

        Ya wince and yer face pains fer a second before ya smile again.  Ah let my hoof move to yer cheek and lean in ta kiss ya.  You purse yer lips when mine touch yours.

Ya have such soft lips.

        Yer breath smells like the apple treats Ah gave ya before Ah cooked Scoots and me dinner and ya spent some time alone.

        Alone again.  Tryin’ ta solve yer troubles by yerself?  Sugarplum, ya know we’re here fer ya.  Me.  Scoots.  Our friends.

Oh, Celestia, what’re we gonna tell ‘em?  Ya got pregnant by accident?  That won’t fly.  Darlin’, Ah think yer right, maybe we should wait a tick ‘fore we tell ‘em all.  Hearths Warmin’.  That’d be the perfect gift.

        I take my hoof from yer face and sigh.  The moonlight from behind ya, the window ya let me look out when I turn away from yer side’a the bed, shined through yer mane at just the right way ta make it look like ya have a halo.

        “Mah angel; the best thing ta happen ta me,” I whisper again as I get up and go around the bed again.

        I get in and you whine.

        “A~J?”

        “Yeah, Rainbow?” Ah ask quietly as Ah lay my head on the pillow.

        Ya move and whinney as ya turn over.  It must hurt so much…

        “Ouch,” you say with a smile as yer sleepy eyes look at me, “AJ, I’m scared again,” ya say.  Yer voice cracks as yer eyelids start to close again.

        “Scared’a what?” I ask as I reach my head down and bite the blankets, pullin’ ‘em up and layin’ my head down.  Darn hair, I think as I move ‘em outta my face and behind my ears.

        Ya yawn and as yer eyes close ya say it. “Of bein’ without you.”

        Then yer asleep.

        I feel my heart beating.  I swear I can hear your heartbeat.

My deepest dreams never held anything as amazing as you.

        Ah choked back tears as Ah watched yer eyes flutterin’ again.  You swirled in my vision as tears began to spill from me and I to cover my muzzle with my hoof, and it doesn’t work.  I start cryin’, lookin’ at ya as you sleep and can’t help but fall so deep in love with ya; more than I didn’t know was missing before.

Rainbow Dash, I think as I swallow and start to compose myself, Ah’ll love ya for the rest of my life, and beyond.

        Ah start ta fall asleep looking at you.  You’ll be in my dreams tonight, and tomorrow Ah’ll take care’a you, like a good wife should.

Mornin'

        “Mornin’, Sugarcube,” Applejack called loudly as she entered her bedroom.

        Rainbow stirred and groaned as she moved her left foreleg to pull the blanket over her head, the sunlight too much for her at the moment.

        “C’mon, sleepy head.  Time ta get up, Ah made ya some breakfast,” she said sliding the tray of food she had onto the dresser before turning and approaching the bed.

        “AJ, I dunwana.”

        “What?  Can’t hear ya in them blankets.”

        Rainbow lowered the covers from her head to repeat her protest of being awake.  Applejack nipped rainbow in the ear with a soft bite getting surprised yelp in reply.

        “AJ, what the hay?  Ouch,” Rainbow said rubbing her left ear and turning her head to look at the orange mare.  The frustration gone when she gazed into the deep emerald green pools that were Applejack’s eyes.  She blinked and turned her head back to the pillow and sighed.

        “AJ, I don’t want to adult today.”

        “Well good news fer ya.  Ah’m here ta take care’a you ‘til you can walk better.  Ah brought ya breakfast in bed.  Ah made a quiche and vegetables, apple juice, some oats and hay, and last but not least,” Applejack said turning back to the tray as she lined her body with the dresser and carefully dragged the tray onto her back again with her teeth, “a cupcake.”

        Rainbow’s ears perked and she turned, craning her neck. “One, single, cupcake?”

        “Well, Ah had Scootaloo go by Sugarcube corner and put in an order.  I ate mine, her’s is waitin’ fer her when she gets home, and here’s yours.  But,” she said slowly walking to the bed, “ya gotta eat yer food ta get it.”

        Rainbow began the painful process of turning over, finally on her back she pulled the covers to her hips and exhaled a pained breath.

        Applejack looked over to the medicine bottles, corked and ready to take.  Rainbow followed her gaze and sighed.

        “Fine, I’ll take ‘em.  Just, watch me and make sure nothing funny happens,” Rainbow said reaching to them.  With a groan she let it known she was in serious pain and trying to hide it.

        “Rainbow,” Applejack said turning her approach to the sidetable, “Ah’ll get ‘em fer ya.”

        A few minutes later Rainbow was smiling widely at the tray of food that was nearly empty before her.

        “Mmm, AJ.  Now, that was good.  Ah forget sometimes how good ya cook,” Rainbow cleared her throat, “thank you.  Now, about that cupcake?”

        “Ya earned it, Rainbow.  Here ya go.”

        “Thanks,” Rainbow said as Applejack went to the dresser to fetch the final treat.  “Hey, why aren’t you calling me some cutesy sappy name?”

        “Because, Ah remember why I started and it wasn’t right,” she said flicking the cupcake onto her snout, trotting back as she showed off her balance skills somewhat.

        “Ooo, gimme, gimme, gimme,” Rainbow giggled excitedly, bouncing her rear legs slightly.  She gobbled her cupcake and the wrapper it was in, washing it down with the last of the juice before she burped.  “What’d’ya mean it wasn’t right?  What happened?” Rainbow asked as Applejack sat and looked at her.

        “We had sex that first time in yer cloudhouse way back then.  Ah made a few jokes ‘bout yer name.  Like Dashalicious and the like.”

        “Oh, that.  Yeah, I remember now.  I wasn’t liking the names back then, but they grew on me,” Rainbow said as she pushed the tray away from her.

        “Honest, Dashing, Ah didn’t think we’d get this far,” she confessed, “Ah didn’t think we’d last more’n a few weeks, maybe.  Just rollin’ in the hay ‘til we got fed up and moved on.  But, Ah dunno, Sugar,” Applejack sighed.

        “What?  You’re calling me a few sappy names, the ones I really like,” Rainbow commented as she shuffled her wings slightly, the pain medicine doing its job.

        “Ah started as teasin’ ya, like we do.  But, that was before Ah really fell in love with ya.  I know it was just about rollin’ around and getin’ our hooves wet, but now…  Even a couple’a months ago; something just changed.

        “Ah started callin’ ya new names ta try ta find one that worked.  That fit you just right, but nothin’ really works.  You’re too great for all’a the ones I try ta make up.”

        Rainbow’s smile grew to a grin at Applejack’s words.

        “Rainbow, yer too awesome ta make inta somethin’ as small as a little sappy name.  You really are the greatest mare in Equestria, and Ah’m honored ta be the one ya chose to settle with.”

        “Well,” Rainbow said patting the bed as she scooted slightly over for Applejack to climb up.

        Applejack instead moved the tray to the floor before she climbed up.

        “As I was saying, I didn’t really have much choice back then.  Remember I got fired and all that, they took my cloud home.  Honestly if I didn’t meet you I still woulda had that job and house,” Rainbow said placing her forelegs behind her head and leaning back.

        Applejack felt her brow furrowing as Rainbow spoke.

        “Yeah, I’d be livin’ up there in the sky, carefree and without a care in the world.  But that was all I ever did,” Rainbow added before Applejack could get too mad, “I flew.  I pranked.  I slept.  I was a total nothing; I was a bird, not a pegasus.

        “When you first let your knee slip under my tail, my whole world changed in ways I never knew,” she said looking at Applejack who was starting to listen more intently, “honestly, the sex has always been amazing, but there was a time when I thought that’s all we were too.

        “I looked at a few mares and stallions and wondered, but then I remembered all those years ago when I crashed into your farm and your freckles were the first thing I saw, or remember, about you.

        “That’s why I couldn’t leave you at first.  I didn’t wanna just leave you for another pony, or give you a reason to leave me.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I thought it’d happen too.  The sex was great, but that was all we had in private.

        “Then, one night after I bent your horseshoes with my awesome skills,” she winked as Applejack smiled in remembrance of so many times she’d almost broken the mattress in the cellar thanks to Rainbow’s tongue and hot breath, “you went to sleep.  I watched you for maybe half an hour.

        Everything about you when you were sleeping was like watching the sunrise and set every time you took a breath, and I didn’t know what the feeling was then.

        “Now I know it’s love, but it’s different now than it was then.  Especially now.  I had a dream last night that I was alone in this house and it scared me,” Rainbow said looking to Applejack again.

        “Dashing, ya don’t hafta worry.  Ah ain’t gonna leave ya,” Applejack reassured.

        “Ah dunno.  It was weird, and scary.  There was this orange pony outside the window flying past as I looked out and I swear I could see smoke coming from Canterlot.  I called to you or anypony but it was as quiet as a… thing that’s really quiet.  A mouse, maybe?”

        “Rainbow, ya said ya saw an orange pony?  Was it a stallion?”

        “Oh yeah, he was kinda cute but he was angry at something,” she said moving her forelegs to her lap and looking at them, “he had a pony with him, AJ.  It was horrible, and ugly,” she said trembling slightly.

        “Can ya remember anything else about the dream?  What’d the other pony look like?”

        Rainbow swallowed hard and closed her eyes. “I don’t know if it was colt of mare, but it was burned all over and its horn, it was a unicorn, its horn was broken or something.  It had blood oozing out of its skin and… I-I don’t wanna remember any more, AJ.”

        “It’s okay, Sugarplum.  Don’t fret it,” Applejack said placing a hoof on Rainbow’s belly.

        She looked at Rainbow as she placed her head back and rested it against the headboard with a content sigh.  Inwardly she was scared, as scared as the last time she was attacked by timberwolves.  Rainbow described the same dream that Scootaloo had had a couple nights prior.

        To have one pony she loved having such nightmares was concerning, both was downright worrisome to the farm pony.  If her family was in trouble, she had to help, it was her duty.  But, how could she help in another’s dream?  Maybe Luna wasn’t such a bad idea…

        “AJ?  Are you listening?”

        Applejack was pulled from her worrying thoughts and looked at Rainbow’s smirk.  “What’s that, now?”

        “I asked if yer tryin’ to feel the baby?  Cuz you’ve gotta wait a few months ‘fore that happens, Fritter.”

        Applejack looked to where her hoof was resting.  At first it was to comfort Rainbow, but she realized it was resting above Rainbow’s teats, where the baby was; their baby was right below her hoof.

        The realization sent a wide grin to Applejack she didn’t even notice.

        “Ah’m gonna be a Mama, with you, Rainbow Dash,” she said rolling to her side and looking at Rainbow’s belly.

        Rainbow left the mare to look at her cyan belly as she looked out the window began to daydream about flying.

        She gasped as she felt a pressure under her tail.  She looked down quickly to see an orange foreleg between her legs.

        With wide, excited eyes she looked over to see Applejack giving her a sultry look as she raised her hoof and brought it to her lips and licked it slowly.

        Rainbow’s heartbeat quickened as she grinned.

        “Finally, are you gonna do this makin’ love to me?”

        Applejack snickered and nodded as she rolled on top of her and winked as she moved her knee up, getting a gasp and wince from Rainbow.

        “Oh!  Sugarplum, Ah’m sorry, Ah fergot about yer wings.  Ya okay?”

        Rainbow swallowed the pain and nodded, wrapping her forelegs around Applejack’s.  “I’m fine, just-”

        A loud knocking from the door pulled their attention to the door with a collective groan.

Morning' Hun

        Applejack snorted and nickered in frustration, looking back at Rainbow and sneering with a smile. “Fuck ‘em.”

        Rainbow’s ears perked and she giggled softly. “You just-”

        “And if ya tell anypony Ah’ll give ya another week ta think about family secrets,” she replied as she moved her knee again, pressing firmly and making small moves she listened as Rainbow took a shaky breath.

        She knew it was going to be a short session, but Rainbow needed it and deserved it.  She kept eye contact with the excited blue mare as she moved down her body, stopping to rest her chin on Rainbow’s teats.  Her forelegs moved to lock around Rainbow’s flanks, pressed firmly against her cutie marks.

Rainbow shuttered expectantly, her eyes almost pleading as Applejack inhaled deeply and let her head slide back and her tongue flicked out, tasting the musk of Rainbow’s inner juices.

        Applejack and Rainbow relished the experience, ignoring the repeated knocks on the front door.

        Applejack let her tongue loose, as deep as she could go inside Rainbow Dash’s body, the trembling mare’s legs falling more open as she welcomed the soft assault on her.

        Rainbow gasped and smiled, closing her eyes as the feelings tingled through her body.  Even her wings twitching didn’t hurt as much, sending a deep moan from her.

        Applejack missed the flavors of Rainbow’s deepest parts and notices a new hint of sweetness as she continued.

        Rainbow reached down and placed her forehooves on Applejack’s head, gently massaging her mane as she tittered when Applejack touched a great spot.

        The pounding on the front door rattled a picture from a wall in the entryway sending a groan between the two mares.

        “AJ, don’t stop.”

        With a groan Applejack swallowed hard, savoring the flavors and dropping her muzzle to the matress, looking into the pink depths of Rainbow’s inner body.

        “Ah’m sorry, Darlin’, Ah just can’t stay in the mood with that racket.  Ah’ll be right back, just, don’t go anywhere,” she said forcing herself up and jumping from the bed to nearly the open door.  “Ah mean it, ya stay ready, Ah’ll send ‘em on the way and be back in a jif.”

        “Fine, stop talking and go already,” Rainbow encouraged.

        Without another word she turned and descended the stairs towards the door.

        “What can Ah do ya for,” she said as she opened the door with a practiced smile.  “Oh, hey Rarity, can this wait a tick?  Ah was helpin’ Rainbow relax.”

        “Well, it’s quite nice to see you as well, however I have something to share with you..  Please, may I?” she asked gesturing inside the home.

        Applejack rolled her eyes and stepped back, letting the unicorn in.

        “So, where’s our darling Rainbow Dash?  I have something for her that I know will make her feel better in no time.

        “Rare’s, just leave it with me’n Ah’ll get it to her.”

        “Oh, I won’t have it.  I believe she’s upstairs, am I correct?  I have a gift for her and I can’t wait to see her reaction,” Rarity dismissed Applejack as she slipped out of her boots and magicked her scarf to the side, folding it and setting it on the couch as she made her way to the stairs, ascending quickly.

        Applejack frowned as she followed the mare upstairs, avoiding her eyes as Rarity’s tail shifted showing her pussy every few steps.

        Rarity turned left and walked into the doorway.

        “AARGH?!”

        “Eep,” Rarity squeaked as her ears fell to her head and her eyes closed. She turned and ran into Applejack, falling to the floor as Applejack glanced in the room to see Rainbow starting to blush, pulling the covers over herself quickly.

        Applejack sighed and looked at the blushing alabaster mare before her and shook her head.  “Ah said ta wait…”

        “Well, I do apologize for walking in on your… personal session, Rainbow, it wasn’t my intention,” Rarity said apologetically as she sat by the bed.  Rainbow was sitting, leaving her head against the headboard and letting her wings rest on the pillow as she looked out the window.

        “Yeah, well, I was almost there twice this morning.  Almost,” she said looking to Rarity.  “So, what’s the rush?  You aren’t gonna join,” she winked to a scowling Applejack, “so what’s up?”

        “I, uh…  I brought you a hayburger with Rainbow Sauce and some of those potato fries ponies are raving about.  I simply wished to aid your recovery with your favorite meals.”

        Rainbow grinned and reached, holding out her hooves.  “Gimme, gimme, gimme.”

        Rarity leaned back and looked to Applejack, pleadingly.

        “Fine. Dash, she ain’t goin’ near yer hooves knowin’ where they just were.  Rare’s, gimme the goods and Ah’ll pass ‘em to her.”

        “Ugh,” Rarity scoffed, “very well,” she said opening her saddlebags and taking out two bags, one from each, and giving it to the mares.

        “I had planned to catch up, however it seems you’re both very, busy,” she hesitated to say.

        “Ah, it ain’t nothin’, say, have ya had one’a these potato fries yet?”

        “No, actually.  I shy away from, fried, foods.  A mare must maintain her figure.”

        “Yeah, right.  I’ll be saying that in a few months,” the athletic mare grumbled.

        Applejack opened her bag and reached in, grasping on in the frog of her hoof, and taking it out.  Holding it to Rarity she smirked. “Either ya try it now, or Ah’ll foll’a ya all week til ya do.  Ya know there ain’t much farmin’ durin’ winter.”

        Rarity weighed her options and forced a smile. “I would love to, darling.”

        She took the fried vegetable from Applejack and bit half of it, chewing slowly.  Her eyes widened and she swallowed it, eating the other half greedily with a moan of pleasure.

        “That’s delightful!  Why haven’t these become industry standard across Equestria?!” she asked as she stood and, before Applejack could resist, leaned her muzzle into the bag.  Withdrawing she had several of the long oddly shaped wedges in her teeth and with a flick of her head she had nearly of them in her mouth, greedily munching while moaning in pleasure.

        “Theesh awr poshitibgly orgashmic,” she said swallowing and looking at the ones on the floor, leaning down to nibble the bits up before she realized where she was and the eyes upon her.

        Standing tall again she ignored the giggling she was receiving and fluffed her mane, speaking hurriedly. “I must be going.  I suddenly realized I’ve missed lunch and must go and order myself something... fried."

        With that she pushed past Applejack, descended the stairs, and a few seconds later the door slammed shut.

        The mares shrugged with a smile and ate their free lunch.

XX Home Alone

        “Urrrghrrruuuummmmbugh.”

        “Rainbow, ya keep makin’ them noises yer gonna call some monster.”

        “Yeah, Mom, I know you’re bored, but so what?  It’s been three weeks-”

        “Three of the longest weeks in the history of Equestria,” Rainbow said exasperated.

        “Darlin’, it’s cold out and ya need somethin’ ta do.  Look,” Applejack said as she laid next to Rainbow on the livingroom floor, “Ah’m goin’ to the spa with the girls.  C’mon, stop mopin’, and let’s get relaxed.  Maybe it’ll help ya get yer mind offa yer healin’.”

        “Grrruuuuugh… Fine,” Rainbow said forcing herself up, leaning closer to Applejack and whispering, “but I swear, if I feel better you owe me two months worth of rollin’ in the hay.”

        Applejack blushed and looked down, speaking softly in reply. “Ah said I’m sorry, Dashin’, but Ah don’t wanna hurt ya til youc’n move yer legs easy.”

        “Tonight, I’m wrapping them around you,” Rainbow whispered harshly, “and you’re not stopping even if,” she raised her voice as she turned toward the door, “Celestia is fighting Discord right outside our window.  Scoots, yer stayin’ here and we’re goin’ ta get spa’d up; go play with sis.”

        Scootaloo rolled her eyes as she smiled. “Yeah, I haven’t played with Apple Bloom for days.  Maybe we’ll build a snow pegasus, or have a snowball fight.”

        Applejack hopped up and followed Rainbow to begin putting on her boots and scarf as well. “And that’s the only fight’n I wanna hear about.”

        “Mama,” Scootaloo grumbled, “That was weeks ago and she’s all better… But it was pretty cool to see her with a blue eye and she hasn’t teased us since.”

        Applejack stopped and looked back after slipping her rear legs into her boots and narrowed her eyes. “That don’t make fightin’ okay, but we’re over that,” she focused on putting on her boots and grabbed her scarf, unfurling it.

        She flipped it around her neck twice before grabbing one end, giving it a tug and holding it in place with her hoof before sliding it into the fold, making a loose knot.

        “Rainbow, ya need any help?”

        “No, Fritter, Ah’m…  I’m fine,” she replied as she tossed her scarf to the side and turned to the door, “I won’t get cold anyway, let’s-”

        “Yer not goin’ out without a coat, Sugarplum.  Ya know yer wings-”

        “Are feathering fine.  Don’t baby me, I’m a big mare and I know what’s best for me.”

        Applejack hesitated before nodding and gesturing to the door. Rainbow left and Applejack quickly donned her saddlebags, stuffing the scarf Rainbow had discarded into it and giving Scootaloo a wave. “Stay safe and have fun, Sugardrop.”

        “I will, Mama.  You too.”

        The door closed and left Scootaloo alone in the house.  She sighed and laid back on the couch, thinking of what to do to pass the time until she went to see Apple Bloom.

        It was mid morning on a saturday.  Their slumber party was hours away and she had at least an hour to kill until she could go have lunch on the farm, again.

        A sly grin crossed her muzzle as she felt her heart race at the memory of the feeling…  She quickly jumped from the couch and made her way to the top of the stairs, her heart pounding in her chest more and more as she turned left, into her mother’s’ room and went to the box at the foot of the bed.

        She listened intently for her solitude to remain as she opened it and gulped at the selection of pleasure items.

        With a trembling foreleg and the sound of her heart pounding in her ears she reached in and grasped the purple cone looking one with rounded edges and quickly went to her room.

        She slammed her door, flew to her bed, and laid back.  Finding the pressure switch she turned it from a still yet firm silicon item to a buzzing center of joy.

        She opened her legs, imagined Sweetie Belle’s affections when the town had been turned into an orgy, and let the vibrator glide from her neck, down her chest, over her belly with a giggle, and between her legs.

        “Oh, Sweetie.  Does Apple Bloom taste like Apples?” she remembered asking the filly.

        With a loud slurping sound both of the other fillies were lost in the moment as Scootaloo straddled the beanbag they’d had, watching the other crusaders.  Sweetie had begun to use her horn, sliding it inside and out of Apple Bloom’s ass before Apple Bloom moved in a heat of uncontrolled passion.

        Pushing Sweetie from her body Apple Bloom kissed the unicorn filly, reaching between both their legs and beginning to rub, with earth pony strength, Sweetie’s special place.

        Scootaloo sat up in her bed and clamped her legs closed as she let the vibrator go.  She fell back onto her pillow and grunted louder than she ever had, trying to force her legs open.  Trying to stop the buzzing feeling from attacking her loins to no avail.  The better it felt, the tighter her legs stayed.

        That is until she peaked, a new level of climax coursed through her body as her wings cramped from instinctively forcing themselves fully open, her whole body rushed with more energy than she’d ever felt, her legs began moving as though they were all galloping her to a new place, and through clenched teeth she let a restrained scream fill her room.

        Then, it was over.

        Scootaloo panted, realizing she was gripping her pillow with one hoof and her blanket with the other she began to feel sleep pulling her into its blissful realm.  She let her pillow go, reached far, far down between her legs, and turned off the vibrating function.

        Hiding it under her pillow she sighed contently and let sleep claim her.

        “Land sakes, it’s as cold as the top of Canterlot mountain out here taday.  Rainbow, maybe we should go back and just spend the day with Scootaloo.”

        “Nah, that filly has too much stress as it is, she doesn’t need us to weigh her down with parent stuff.  She’ll be fine.”

        “Well, as long as she stays outta our room, Ah ain’t worried.”

        “Psh, our room is as exciting as the bathroom… especially at night.”

        Applejack looked around, noticing pegasi beginning to create the day’s snowfall. “Ah said I’m sorry.  Tonight, as long as yer legs aren’t hurtin’ somethin’ fierce, I’ll be makin’ ya scream my name like it was our first week.”

        “Yeah, well it’s the only night Scootaloo is going to be gone for sure and if you don’t help me release I swear I’m using the cone after you’re asleep.”

        “Rainbow, that reminds me…  We’ve gotta wash all’a them toys.”

        “What?!  The smell is one of the best parts.  I’ve even checked a few lately and they’re still as sweet smelling as ever.  Let it go, AJ.”

        “Fine, but if’n I get the chance Ah’ll wash ‘em when yer sleeping.”

        “Deal, except for Celestia’s Scepter and coney.  Those’re my favorites.”

        “Yeah, and Luna’s Nightmare,” Applejack winked, “Ah ain’t much on stallion’s things, but that one makes me…”

        “Come like a dog that’s called?”

        “Nicely said.  Now, let’s get to the spa, I know we need a massage.”

"And you need a pony-pedi.  Your hoove're scratching my back, and not in a good way," Rainbow said with a chuckle.

Spa Day

“I must say ladies, the weather may be cold, but it’s certainly nice out today.”

        “That’s right-o-rific!  It’s cold but pree~ty, like my Flutter’s.”

        “Awe, thank you, Pinkie-Winkie.  It’s been awhile since we’ve all been together, hasn’t it?”

        “Eeyup, reckon about a good two weeks.  Why’re we so busy lately?”

        “Well, I, for one, have been doing a lot of reading, studying, and researching into the habits of herding families and-”

        “Oh puh-lese Twilight, can’t we go a day without you going on about all that egghead stuff? “I’m gonna make a herd with Sun and we’re gonna live happily ever after!.”

        “Well, excuse me for having lofty goals and dreams.  I just want to feel loved, and he gives it to me.”

        Rainbow lowered herself into the water slowly, her legs were a bit stiff from the brisk walk but she was moving smoothly at least.  She winced as her wings tried to open.

        “Slow down there, Sugarplum, take yer-”

        “I bucking know!  Let me do it,” Rainbow snapped sending all eyes to her.  “I-I’m sorry.  I’ve been a bit…”

        “You’re acting as though you are in heat, dear.  Lord knows I have a moment or two during that time of the year, but I swear, if I had that attitude so often,” Rarity shuddered.

        “Well, um,  let’s not dwell on such matters, girls.  Let’s just let the water soak your stress away.”

        “Um, Rarity, could you pass me a sponge?  I have to wash Pinky’s back.”

        The others smiled at Fluttershy who extended her hoof in wait.  Rarity took a sponge in her magic and moved it into Fluttershy’s hoof.

        “So, how’s the, uh, well…” Rainbow tried to find the word before sighing as she settled into the hot water, “how’s the sex?”

        Pinkie sputtered and ducked under the water, laughing and sending bubbles that managed to capture her voice until the floated up in the air and popped releasing the giggles inside them.

        Fluttershy blushed and clutched the sponge to her chest. “Uhm…”

        Rarity and Twilight shot Rainbow a vicious glare while Applejack slowly shook her head.

        “What?  It’s a legit question.”

        “However it’s totally inappropriate, Rainbow Dash.  You should apologize to them, especially poor Fluttershy.”

        “Now, just wait a moment, Rarity,” Fluttershy scolded, “I’m not that unfortunate.  I have friends, Pinkie, and all of you.  Our, personal life, is just fine, Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy stated, glancing to Applejack with a small smirk, “and how’s yours?”

        Applejack sank into the water and began playing with her ponytail. “Well, it, it ain’t.”

        “What?!” the others gasped.

        “That’s, unfortunate,” Rarity said with a compassionate look, “it seems as though I’m not the only one without a lover, now.”

        “Oh, shut up,” Rainbow grumbled, “I can’t really do much with my aches and wings.”

        “Well, maybe I can find a classic spell that would dull the pain long enough for you two too… You know,” Twilight suggested with a raise of her eyebrows.

        “Uhm, n-no thanks.  I, don’t really want any unnecessary magic or medicine for a while.”

        “Rainbow,” Pinkie asked from behind the rainbow mare, startling her and making her yelp in pain as her wings half flared before the bandages stopped them.

        Applejack swam the short distance to Rainbow. “Are ya okay?  Pinkie, what in Celestia’s name are ya doin’, poppin’ outta no where behind her like that?”

        “I-I’m sorry,” Pinkie said softly as her mane deflated a bit, “I, I didn’t think about it.”

        “No, it’s fine.  I’ll live and all that,” Rainbow said sitting back and leaning against the wall of the jacuzzi as Pinkie swam around her.”

        “Um, I was gonna ask if you wanted some advice or help,” Pinkie said as her enthusiasm quickly returned. “Fluttershy and me are doin’ really good at that stuff and maybe, if Rainbow’s flexible,” she twisted her upper body into a corkscrew three times before unfurling, sending water spraying all the others.

        “Gah, Pinkie?!  You’ve soaked out towels.  Now my mane’s gonna be frizzy,” Twilight whined.

        “Oh, Twilight.  We’re going to get our hair done anyway,” Rarity said with a roll of her eyes.

        “You’re one to complain!  ‘Oh no, a drop of water and a speck of dust are in my perfect mane, worst day ever’ Twilight mocked with a grin.

        “I don’t sound like that,” Rarity said flatly.

        “Yeah, it’s more like-”

        “Pinkie, hush,” Fluttershy interrupted.

        Pinkie’s ears flattened to her head and she winced with a forced grin. “Y-yes mistress.”

        The other’s looked between Fluttershy and Pinkie.

        “Uh, ladies?  Is everything alright?” Rarity asked with concern.

        “Yeah, yer as scared as Apple Bloom on test day.”

        “Hey, she’s gotten better,” Twilight said, “I’ve been helping her study, afterall.”

        “Oh, stuff it, egghead.”

        “Woah, that was harsh,” Pinkie said quietly.

        “Well,” Rainbow said with a frown, “she’s always goin’ on about boring stuff!  Why don’t we talk about the Wonderbolts?  Now they’re awesome.”

        The others groaned.  “No, not again,” was the consensus.

        Aloe and Lotus walked up the step and poured an aromatic mix of scents into the water.  A collective sigh of pleasure filled the air as they all sank into the water to their chins.

        They sat in silence for a minute before bubbles popped at the surface of the water.

        All the others looked at Rarity who blushed as they began to laugh.

        “Nice one, Rares, isn’t that’s a bit,” Applejack paused, a couple bubbles popping around her, “uncouth.”

        “Uh oh,” Rainbow laughed and paddled to the center of the tub, “on your marks, get set, toot!” she splashed the water with a shout.

        “Gah!  Rainbow, my mane!”

        “Ladies, let’s not… The last thing we want is to ruin such a lovely scented bath with… that.”

        “Ya started it, Rarity,” Applejack said leaning to the side with a devious grin.

        “Oh, for Pasture’s sake,” Rarity sighed as she got up and swam to the edge, “if you make a mess in here, I’m not paying a bit for the clean up.”

        The others laughed as Applejack did it again before following Rarity out of the tub.

        “Oh, I wanna massage next!” Pinkie chirped as she bounced, totally dry, by Twilight, who was just grasping a towel in her magic to dry herself.

        “I wish I could have your energy, Pinkie,” Twilight said as she began to dry herself.

        “Well, I, for one, need a mud bath.  Will you be joining me, Fluttershy?” Rarity asked.  Fluttershy nodded quickly before Applejack commented.

        “Ah just don’t know why yer fine with layin’ in mud here, but can’t get a drop of it on ya at the farm.”

        “Because, darling Applejack, this mud is imported from across Equestria!  It has minerals and is infused with the unique properties of their locales to offer a rich aid to a shiny coat, replenish lost minerals and moisture as well as removing toxins that can interfere with all types of natural functions,” Rarity finished drying herself and tossed the towel towards the bin.

        Shocked, Applejack stood still and stared at the white unicorn who was smiling smugly.

        “So, yer gonna pay ta lay in mud from what could be some pig pen in Appleloosa, but ya won’t spend a bit ta roll in the dirt at the Acres?  Heck, Ah’ll even give ya a bucket of water fresh from the well ta make yer own mud.”

        “Har har, but I’d prefer to let the experts in the mud business buy the mud.”

        “Suit yerself,” Applejack said rolling her eyes, “but the offer stands.  Rainbow, ya think we should start makin’ mud baths at the acres?  Five bits and ya get an apple slice on ya eyes ta boot.”

        “Run it by the fam, AJ.  I’m gonna get a massage with Aloe.  She’s got magic hooves, literally.”

        “Well, each pony to their own area.  I’m going to get a massage with Pinkie,” Twilight said as they turned and descended the stairs.

        “Fine, we’ll meet at the massage tables in a few minutes.  I’m gonna go with AJ and a good brushing first.”

        “Actually, Sugarcube, ah’m gonna get some sauna time.”

        “W-well I don’t wanna be alone,” she shuffled her rear legs, “but I guess I’m not alone anymore.”

        The others smiled and turned to their destinations.

        “Okay, see y’all in a bit.”

        They all nodded and separated, Rainbow Dash looked back for a moment before proceeding to the grooming area.

Spa Day Part 2

Rainbow Dash turned the corner and through the divider, entering into the mane and groom room.

        “Ah, a single pony?  Ce magnifique,” a unicorn mare spoke with an over dramatic accent that would make Rarity sigh, “vith you, I shall make art of zat, scrub  vou call a mane.”

        Rainbow walked ahead and slapped the mare’s hoof away from her bangs as she walked past.

        “Violette, drop the accent with me here and brush me ‘til I sparkle.”

        The mare looked out the room to make sure she was out of earshot before sliding the door mostly closed.

        “Ya know, Rainbow,” Violette said in a rough voice that sounded like she was speaking with gravel in her throat, “if ya didn’t drink while I smoked for those years, ya’d never know I sound like a wheelbarrow was rollin’ in my neck.”

        “Yeah, and you’d never know what I’ll never remember, any more stories ya like to bring up?” Rainbow said as her voice cracked while climbing onto the table and lying on her side.

        “Yeah,” she replied walking to the vanities, “these were dressers that Aloe and Lotus got from the garbage and made look like they’re worth a lotta money,” she grabbed a lower drawer and pulled it, the knob came off.

“See,” she grumbled, “it’s all junk just made to look nice.  Now,” she grabbed a tray in her magic and walked over to a side table and set it down, taking a soft brush first, “let’s get ta cleanin’ ya?” her voice lightened as she took on a Manhattan accent.

“Sounds good,” Rainbow sighed as the brush began on her right foreleg from knee to hoof in soft, smooth strokes.  Rainbow relaxed and let her wings slowly fall loose to her sides. “Oh yeah.  That’s good stuff.”

“Ya know, ya ain’t as rough as usual.  What gives, usin’ new conditioner?”

“No, I haven’t flown forever since I crashed.”

“Oh, ya don’t say?  What happened?” she asked still brushing, moving in longer strokes along the whole side of Rainbow’s leg.

“I was having a day, just did a stunt to show off, ya know, make myself feel better.  Then I messed up, crashed, and almost broke my wing and legs,” she said nonchalantly.

        “Wait, ya almost broke yer body and it’s nothin’ to ya?  The one time ya almost broke yer leg ya were drinkin’ and whinin’ for a week, ‘member?”

        “Uh, no.  Not really.  That’s when I was drinking, remember?”

        Violette hummed then snickered. “Well, guess I do now.  Whelp, might as well bring ya up ta date.

        “Ya crashed a couple years back doin’ a flying’ thing and it didn’t look good, the crash that is.  When ya got rushed by the shop I worked at. Ya know back  before  my voice got messed in a fight; that I won, by the way,” she brushed against the fur and got a grumph from Rainbow, “sorry, dearie.

        “Anyway, ya rushed by and that apple farmer was chasin’ after the cart that was draggin’ ya-”

        “Wait, AJ was back there, back then?!”

        “Yeah, that’s the one.  Orange with yellow hair?  Anyway, swear yer back leg was gonna come off that same day, had ten bits lost in the pool, by the end of the day.”

        Rainbow sat up and glared at Violette. “You put bets on me losing my leg?!”

        “No, no, no.  We did, most of the town has what we call the crash pool… thought ya knew of it.”

        Rainbow relaxed and laid on her brushed foreleg as Violette moved to the other one. “No, but I should join in… wait,” she asked raising her head and looking intently at her groomer, “who won about the crash?”

        “Oh, I dunno.  I haven’t played that since a few months ago when ya didn’t catch fire, you remember, ya kissed that farm pony outta nowhere,” she rolled her eyes, “now that’s a bet I wish we’d thought ta make.”

        “What the hay, V.  I thought we were buds from the same tree,” Rainbow retorted.

        “I said that when you were the sap and I was on fire, ya dope,” Violette chuckled while grasping a bottle in her hooves and dispensing some liquid into her hooves. “Now don’t tell me you didn’t think it was funny then and now.”

        “Yeah,” Rainbow huffed, “I guess it’s pretty funny.”

        With a glow of Violette’s horn her voice softened again. “Now, I won’t talk like you’re in a fancy country, darling, but I don’t like my voice being rocky.  However I would like to know what is wrong.  You’re not yourself. You’re not  the supermare we all know and love.  Where’s your ego, the stories, the bragging?”

        Rainbow didn’t react beyond laying her head on her forelegs again and sighing.

        “Awe, c’mon Dash.  I know you’re doing great with your mate.  Oj, right?”

        “Applejack and me’re doin’ fine.  It’s, just, a lot’s been goin’ on.”

        “And since when has that stopped the flood of stories about you?  About the mighty Wonderbolts or anything.  I can’t usually say a word and now you haven’t said anything.  You’re in good hooves, tell me what’s going on.”

        Rainbow sighed and her ears folded to her head. “I can’t fly and I’m bored.”

        “Oh,” Violette dismissed with a giggle, “there’s more to it than that.  I’ve know you and been in this business long enough…  What’s really going on?” she asked in her sweet, smooth voice that dripped of sugary tea.

        Rainbow tried to resist but the tone was something akin to what Applejack would use that melted right through her defenses.

        “Fine.  I’m not just bored, I’m worried about what kinda mom I’ll be to Scootaloo.”

        Violetta rubbed Rainbow’s back and around her wings, making sure to stay away from the bandages and splints, while the brushes begun to work her back legs.  Rainbow Yelped.

        “Sorry, Dash, you have some knots in your leg fur.  Been afraid to wash?  You shouldn’t be, ya know.  You don’t wanna have to see Doctor Horse or Nurse Redheart.”

        “I can do to see nurse Hearts Crossed, though…”

        They both giggled. “Oh yeah,” Violetta said with a grin, “I prefer stallions to mares anyday, but she’s a looker.”

        “It’s her cheeks!  Honestly,” Rainbow said looking back with a sappy smile, “I swear her cheeks are just so pinchable and I’ve seen her tongue… she gets a pony-pedi here, I can tell from when she helped me outta bed at the hospital, I…”

        She blushed when she noticed the brushing and conditioner had stopped and the unicorn was looking at her with a restrained giggle.

        “Well, yeah, but I won’t do that to AJ.”

        “I know, mon ami,” she winked, “ but what’s getting to me is this…  Why haven’t you rolled over?”

        “Uhm… you’re doing my back?”

        “Yeah, we’ve done this once a week every week for a year, more or less.  As soon as I do your wings you roll like a puppy.”

        “Maybe I don’t want my belly groomed today?” Rainbow answered awkwardly.

        Violette blinked and her mouth opened slowly.

        “Turn over, Rainbow.”

        “Nah, I think I’m shining, thanks and-”

        “Rainbow Dash,” she said sternly, like a mother to a disobedient foal.

        “F-fine,” she relented and rolled to her side, carefully, lifting a leg to cover her teats.

        “Holy cow pies…  Rainbow,” she grinned and squealed, clapping her hooves together, “I can’t believe you haven’t told everypony in Equestria, how’d you get mphgghg.”

        Rainbow stared down the length of her forelimb and to the hoof that was planted in Violetta’s mouth. “No pony knows yet,” she whispered harshly pulling her hoof clear.

        “You’re lucky I know you were just bathed,” Violette wiped her mouth on her fetlock. “In any case,” her horn flickered again softening her voice from the slight grumble that had returned, “what’s the deal?  Who’s the father?  Is OJ okay with… this?!” she asked intently.

        Rainbow growled and sneered.  “Her name is AJ, Applejack; not OJ.  Not Orangejack…” a light red glowed in her chest, “don’t you dare, dare, insult her,” she hopped to her hooves and would have extended her wings, had they not been splinted to prevent such an action.

        “Woah, woah…  I-I didn’t mean it, Dash.  Just, please,” she fell to her flank and held her foreleg in a defensive manner.

        Rainbow gasped and fell onto the bed panting.  “Oh, Celestia, I’m so sorry, V.  I, I just… What happened?”

        Gulping heavily and standing on shaking hooves Violetta stood and moved towards Rainbow.  “Uh, I don’t know.  I sensed magic, like crazy magic…  How?”

Spa Day Part 3

    Spa Day 3

    Pinkie and Twilight moaned as Aloe and Quake massaged them.  Twilight grinned and winced as Aloe pressed a knot free from her left shoulder.

    “Ah, ouch.  I got that from reading a tome while on my side…  Ach, wow…  Eeep,” she mumbled and twitched as Aloe blissfully drifted into memory while working the motions.

    Quake was having a little more trouble massaging Pinkie. No matter where he pressed, it never seemed she had any knots or tension.  It was as though she had flexible bones and taffy for muscles. He did what he could, although he was becoming more frustrated working on her than trying to soften Bulk Biceps when he came through town.

    “Ya know, Twi,” Pinkie started as she looked to the floor from the masseuse table, “I hope you’re thinking the right thing with this Sun stallion.  I mean, he’s good in bed, but he lays there and doesn’t do much.”

    “Yeah, but other times he… wait, what?!” Twilight asked sitting up and squealing in pain as she was pushed back down.

    “Stay down, Twilight, or you’ll get hurt,” Aloe warned as she returned to her motions.

    “What the hay do you mean by that?”

    “Uhm…  I kinda got him ready for you that one night at his party,” Pinkie whimpered when she finished.

    “Great,” Twilight grumbled, “that’s why he kept asking if frosting was a usual thing.”

    Pinkie chortled. “Really?  No way?!  That’s awesome, I totally, snkt-hehehee.”

    “What the hay did you do, Pinkie,” Twilight asked, grimacing as Aloe poked her, intentionally, with her hoof.

    “Relax, Twilight, please.”

    “Well, I was riding him like a cowpony and he got the spot, so I squirted and… um, uh…”

    “What does squirting mean… oh, OH!  Eew, Pinkie!  Seriously?”

    Quake chuckled, Aloe grinned to him as they looked to the mares they were rubbing.

    “Uhm, yeah.  It was just some bags of frosting I carry with me for cupcake emergencies, but they were there and I squirted them all over when I got there.”

    “...That’s why there was frosting all over the room!  Oh, Luna’s teats.  I’m so having a stern talk with him and the girls when I get home.”

    “Uh, girls?”

    “Yeah, Blu and Ash are back.  They’re renting Quill’s house with Sun so I can study in peace at the library.”

    Aloe and Quake rolled their eyes and shook their heads.

    “Well, that sure sounds… fun.  Want me to throw a happy housewarming party?  And why didn’t I hear about them moving into her house?”

    “What?  Pinkie, since when don’t you know about a pony in this town?”

    “Well, mistr… I mean, Flutterstor… Fluttershy has been a bit strict with me since that night with Sun,” Pinkie said quietly.

    “Wait,” Twilight said lifting her head up to look at Pinkie, “what are you talking about ‘mistress’, and who’s ‘Flutterstore’?  Fluttershy, strict?  That’s illogical, at best.”

    “Um, I don’t know if I can talk about it.”

    “Or should” She added in a whisper

    “Pinkie,” Twilight sighed as she laid her head back down and settled her face into the massage table, “we’re at the spa.  It’s the safest place to gossip and vent ever.”

    Quake shot Aloe a look that screamed his urge to boastfully laugh, while she shook her head at him pleadingly.

    “Fine, just a little.  Um, Fluttershy’s birth name is Flutterstorm, and she’s a bit,” Pinkie hesitated, “more assertive in private. The weird thing is that I like when she hurts me.”

    “Woah,” Twilight asked uncertainly, “hurts you how?”

    “Oh, ya know, the fun way!  Like whipping me until I say the magic word while I’m tied to the bed.  Candle wax dripped all over me.  She’ll put me in a collar and leash and make me walk around on my knees like a adorable little puppy.

“And f I don’t act like a puppy I get,” she stopped to shiver happily.  Quake leaned back as her back rippled and vibrated, scaring him.  Aloe shook her head and smiled, calming him, “Punished.  She knows how much I love frosting, she also knows where it needs to go when the puppy needs to clean her.” Pinkie started drooling a slow puddle to the floor.

Aloe was prepared and motioned for a side pony to bring a bucket to catch Pinkie’s joyous drool. Twilight was lying in shock at what Pinkie was rambling off about, and so happily and excited.

“Another thing she does is tie me up so I can’t move and takes a really sharp knife and-”

    “Pinkie!  That’s not normal love,” Twilight said in shock, “I don’t care if you like it, it’s dangerous.”

    “B-but, Flutterst- Fluttershy says that I deserve it for being a bad filly…” Pinkie grinned wickedly as her voice trailed off.

    “...What do you mean ‘a bad filly’?” Twilight asked trying to glance at Pinkie who was still face down in her massage table.

    “Well,” Pinkie started excitedly before Rainbow Dash’s shouting could be heard, startling them from their talk.  A warm sensation warmed in their chests as they went quiet.

    “We’ll talk later, Pinkie.  Let’s just enjoy our massage before our pony pedi.”

    “Okie doh’nie silly pony.”

Spa Day Part 4

    Rarity moaned contently as a spa pony placed sliced cucumbers over her eyes before moving over to do the same to Fluttershy, who fidgeted, trying to get her wings into a comfortable position in the mud, without much luck.

    “I say, Darling, it’s this luxurious?  Just devine in how the mud gets into every nook and crevice of one’s body.”

    “Uhm, it’s not too bad, I guess.  I enjoy the, uh, color.”

    “Fluttershy!” Rarity snarked, “I’ll not have such talk, this is imported from across the realm, there’s no reason to love only the color, which is quite garrish and… dark.  It’s about the minerals and whatnot.”

    “Yes, it’s nice and all, but I don’t like how it gets, under my tail,” she said blushing.

    Rarity used her magic to lift one of the cucumbers off her eyes to glance at the blushing pegasus with a smirk.

    “Say, Fluttershy… I was meaning to ask, since we’re essentially alone, how has it been?”

    “Oh, well enough I suppose,” she replied finally sinking into the mud with a sigh as the weight pressed against her chest; she let her wings and forelegs sink as well into the warm embrace, “Mister Bird has a slight cough, Angel is taking care of it while we’re… I’m out, and-”

    “No, no, no,” Rarity said with a haughty laugh and removal of both cucumbers, setting them aside, “I mean your relationship with Pinkie Pie!  Darling, I imagine she’s quite the hoof full; what with her boundless energy and impatience.  It must be terribly exhausting.”

    “Oh, uhm… No, it’s actually really nice to be with her.  She helps me to,” she hesitated, “relieve stress and I help her feel things she always wanted to feel but didn’t know how.”

    Rarity laid back with a sly grin. “Oh, do enlighten me.”

    “Uhm, well it’s just kind of pretty private, and I wouldn't want Pinkie to, well you know.”

    Replacing the cucumbers she insisted again. “Fluttershy, I may be able to help if you’re having troubles, and a nice comparison couldn’t hurt.  Celestia knows I’ve gotten quite a few tales of my exploits while traveling the country.

    “I’ll start.  There was a stallion in Manehattan that was simply perfect, save for a slight malodor that one couldn’t ignore.  It didn’t stop us from having a time, or perhaps three in a broom closet before and after the fashion show.  If he hadn’t surpassed me, I imagine we might have at least had dinner the same evening, but I digress; your turn, deary.”

    Fluttershy blushed and gulped while beginning to breathe heavily.

    “Fluttershy, are you alright?”

    “Y-yes.  F-f-fine.  Um, when I was a filly-”

    “No, Fluttershy, I mean…  Oh,” she stopped and listened.

    “Um, when I was a filly a couple of stallions would stay with my mother and…  well, Pinkie helps me with that.”

    “Oh, Fluttershy.  I’m so sorry, I had no idea,” Rarity pouted and sank deeper into the mud.  “Is there anything, perhaps, I can do to help you?”

    Fluttershy grinned slightly. “Can you wear a collar?” she asked confidently.

    “Wh-what was that?”

    “Oh!  N-nothing…  I was just, um-”

    A shout came from the other side of the spa.

    Fluttershy and Rarity gasped slightly as they felt their chests obtain a  warm sensation.

    “Oh, certainly they’d keep riff-raff out of here.  Anyway, what were you saying about a collar?” Rarity asked blushing lightly as she took the cucumbers off her eyes to look at the happy grin on Fluttershy’s blushing face.  The noise had drawn the other spa ponies away, leaving them alone.

    “Oh, I was, um…  Do you know what a collar is?”

    “Certainly I do, and,” she glanced around before leaning out of her mudpit and closer to Fluttershy, “I’ve been known to use them at times,” she whispered before fiercely meowing with a hiss after it.

    Fluttershy sat up and the cucumbers on her eyes fell into the mud.  “Wh-what?  Y-you… too?”

    “Uhm,” Rarity laid back and blushed again nodding, “on rare occasions I like to have my dates, or I, wear one with a,” she glanced around as her heart raced at the thought of telling her best friend her sexual secret, “leash.  I-I don’t think we should talk about this here. Perhaps, you can come by the shop later and…”

    “O-oh, maybe.  Sh-should I bring my Pinkie?”

    Rarity’s breathing quickened as her vision narrowed in anxiety.  She nodded slightly as she sank to her chin in the mud with a whimper. “Y-yes, maybe tonight at eight, then?”

    “Then, um… call me Mistress when we come by,” she finished as she gulped and got out of the mudbath, “and remember,” she looked intently at the head of the unicorn next to her, “maybes are for babies,” she finished and grabbed a towel, wrapping it around her mane before wrapping another over her back and beginning to clean herself.

    “Now, meet me in the sauna so we can sweat this mud out of our fur,” Fluttershy said firmly, turning to the bathroom, wings open slightly to let the air pass by her.

    Rarity gulped and trembled in nervous excitement, quickly following Fluttershy’s actions.

Spa Day Part 5

    Applejack was laying in the sauna, a wooden ladle of warm water in her mouth slowly poured over enchanted stones with a loud hissing sound, sending a puff of steam into the enclosed room.  With a grin she dropped the ladle by her belly and inhaled deeply.

    “Whoo-whee, this’ hotter than a of day buck’n in the summer, durin’ a heat wave in Appleloosa, while the sun’s touchin’ my hat…” she grinned and began to pant as her rear leg drooped from the bench in relaxation.

    The door opened suddenly sending air that felt like ice into the room, blinding Applejack and the ponies outside with a wash of white steam.

    “Ah!  Oh my, you certainly do appreciate the steam, don’t you, AJ?”

    Applejack shivered slightly at the temperature shift with a smile. “Always up fer a good sweat,” she replied taking a shallow breath.

    “Well, this is one of the few times I’m inclined to agree,” Rarity exclaimed trotting into the room being followed by Fluttershy.

    “Oh, this is nice.”

    “Couldn’t’a said it better m’self.  Take a spot and lay it out, girls.”

    The door shut with a blue hue of magic sending the room into temporary blinding darkness as their eyes adjusted to the mana crystals’ light.

    “Well, how was payin’ fer a roll in the mud?”

    “Better than a roll in the hay, darling.”

    Fluttershy snickered at the exchange as she chose a spot at the back to lay as her eyes adjusted.

    “So, Applejack, how’s Rainbow recovering?”

    “Mighty fine’n dandy.  Her legs are almost all healed, but she’s milkin’ it a bit fer attention.  Her wings are another thing…”

    “How do you mean?”

    “Well, with her wings all tied up and bandaged,” she started gripping the ladle by the end of the handle, “she can’t exercise,” she dipped the ladle into the water and poured it over the rocks.

    “Now, that doesn’t sound so bad.  She’ll enjoy the extra work to get back in shape.”

    “Nah, it’s cuz she can’t fly, she’s gonna need a couple weeks outta her splints.”

    “So, she’s not gonna fly until around Hearths Warming?  That’s going to be difficult.”

    “Certainly, Fluttershy.  I couldn’t imagine not using magic for a week, much less not flying for a month, plus physical therapy.  Are you in need of any, financial assistance, Applejack?”

    Applejack dropped the ladle and tucked her legs under her body. “Nah, farm’s got more’n enough bits and whatnot ta cover a little doctor stuff.”

    “Well, while I don’t doubt your farms abilities; I do know medical expenses can add up to hundreds of bits a session, easily.  Why, all this could cost you several thousand bits by the time it’s all over.”

    “Rares,” Applejack sighed, “Ah said it’s fine.  Ah got more’n enough saved.  Heck, I done bought the house outright last week,” she smiled, “Ah just have ta tell Rainbow.  It’s my Hearths Warmin’ gift to her.”

    “Applejack, that’s so sweet.  I hope you make your house into a amazing home.”

    “Our house is a home, Fluttershy.  Every mornin’ I wake up with the mare of my dreams, a daughter that’s as full’a energy as a flock’a parasprites, and everyday somethin’ new happens.  This whole winter has been time ta come together and it’s been great.  Once Dash has our…” she blinked and swallowed hard, glancing around in thought.

    “Your what, Darling?” Rarity asked with her eyes closed, sitting regally as she began to sweat.

    “Uh, our, uh, weather planned out… yeah, our weather, it’ll be time ta start a small garden fer the girls to try ta get their cutie marks at.”

    “Oh, I understand.  Springtime and all that.  You know, I believe that they try hard enough to get their marks, but they’re going about it the wrong way.”

    “Hear, hear,” Applejack agreed.

    “I don’t know.  Maybe they’ll get their cutie marks in trying?”

    Fluttershy was the first to giggle at her suggestion as the others joined.

Spa Day Part 6

        The sauna door opened bathing the room in thick white fog and a shriek, that came from the doorway.

        Rainbow Dash pushed through the fog like it was cotton bedding and found Applejack right away.

        “Rainbow?  What in Sweet Apple…  Oh, Rainbow?” Applejack’s voice softened as Rarity shut the door and the billowing steam leveled out.

        Sniffling and restained sobbing filled the room as the others looked at Applejack lying on the bench, cradling Rainbow Dash’s head and forelimbs in her forelegs.

        “R-Rainbow?  Is, is everything alright?” Fluttershy asked looking at the mares.

        Rarity  waved a hoof and motioned for Fluttershy to be quiet.

        “Rainbow, what happened?  I ain’t seen ya this upset in a timberwolves age.”

        Rainbow looked up into Applejacks sweating face and deeply inhaled. “It’s really stuffy in here,” she said with her voice cracking.  “AJ, I… I…”

        “What’s goin’ on, darlin’?”

        “I don’t know, I just missed you so much,” she sniffled and pressed her face into Applejack’s neck.  The blonde mane, damp and hot, billowed slightly at the sudden motion before settling and mixing into Rainbow’s.

        “Well, it means a lot ta me and I missed ya too.  But, maybe ya wanna take a lay and relax with us?”

        Rainbow inhaled deeply the scent of Applejack’s coat, her skin, her mane.  She pulled her face back and pulled Applejack’s muzzle toward her own.

        “Aww, how sweet,” Rarity sighed as Rainbow kissed Applejack.

        “AJ,” Rainbow sniffled, “I can’t be without you…  I missed you so much, please don’t leave me.  I, I’ll do anything to make you stay with me.”

        “What in tarnation are ya gabbin’ about?!  I ain’t leavin’ ya!”

        “Who’d wanna be with a pony who shouts at an old friend outta nowhere?” Rainbow sniffled and stifled a sob as her ears pressed to her head and her body sagged.

        All the mares looked at Rainbow in stunned silence.

        Applejack blinked and rolled her eyes.  “Sugarplum, I love ya more than Ah love apples, farmin’, and even bakin’ on my nights off.  If’n ya went and bucked me fer mouthin’ off, reckon Ah might even love ya more, after Ah put ya ta work on the trees, that is.”

        Rainbow snorted a laugh and sat up straighter, looking to the other mares with red eyes from crying. “Hey, um.  I’m sorry… Don’t be mad at AJ, I was just-”

        “Think nothing of it, darling.  You’re merely in false heat, dear.  Happens to us all at times, some more than others, though,” she sighed, returning to her regal posture.

        Fluttershy was staring at Rainbow Dash and gulped loudly before forcing a knowing smile and laying her head down.

        Rainbow sagged again and turned to look at Applejack.

        Immediately her breath was taken away as she peered into Applejack’s eyes.  She saw her reflection in her eyes, everything she was, reflected back at her.  Then she glanced down and looked at Applejack’s freckles.

        She lunged Applejack into another kiss, beginning to sob softly. “I love you, so much.  So much, my fritter.  My Apple Pie,” she mumbled between kisses, beginning to peck quickly across Applejack’s muzzle and cheeks.

        “Okay, Dashie, okay,” Applejack giggled, raising a foreleg as a barrier, stopping the pecking assault, “Ah love ya too.  What’s gotten inta… you,” she looked at Rainbow’s face and sighed, leaning in to whisper into Rainbow’s ear.

        “Rainbow, you’re a month in; are ya gonna be okay?”

        Rainbow nuzzled Applejack and laid her head against the soft golden mane of her lover. “As long as I have you, I’ll always be okay.”

        “Awww,” Fluttershy and Rarity sighed.

        Rainbow sniffled and pulled back, moving her legs as she sat down and groaned. “This feels pretty nice.  Can I lay with you, AJ?”

        “Sure thing, just-” Rainbow jumped and laid behind Applejack, resting her head against Applejack’s cutie mark with a nuzzle. “Well,” she said blushing as the others averted their eyes with a smile across their muzzle, “I guess that works.  Almost time ta head over to get a pony-podi, though.

        “Rainbow Dash, ya comin’ with us when we go?  Rainbow?  Rainb-  Seriously?”

        Rainbow moaned contently as she slept on Applejack.

        “You certainly seem comfortable to somepony, Applejack,” Rarity said looking at Rainbow’s content smile.

        “Well, Ah guess I am.  Know what else I am?  Gettin’ a might parched,” she chuckled with the others.

“A couple more minutes, then Ah’m headin’ ta get some water at the trough and get a shine ta my cloppers.”

“Well, I honestly love having you with when I get mine done,” Rarity added, “but what about Rainbow Dash?  Won’t she just, forgive the phrasing, but fly away?”

“Well, she seems to be really cuddly so maybe she’ll just nap with AJ while we get our hooves filed and polished,” Fluttershy said.

“Cotton candy scented?” Applejack turned to look at Fluttershy who stuck out her tongue at Applejack.

Well, you two go ahead, I’ll wait a few minutes and finish sweating the mud from my fur,” Rarity sighed.

Spa Day Part 7

        The door to the sauna opened bathing the four mares in white steam, again.

        “Heya, gals.  Who’s ready to sweat like we were buckin’ apple trees in Appleloosa on the hottest day of summer?”

        Applejack glanced over to Pinkie as she pronked in, followed by Twilight.

        “Actually, Ah’ve been in here for a tick too long.  Ah’m gonna get a drink and dry off,” she looked back to the sleeping mare on her flank, “and get this’n to relax a bit.  She’s been on edge all day cuz… reasons.”

        “Awe,” Pinkie whined as she sat next to Fluttershy and nuzzled her before lying down on the bench.

        “Actually, I’ll be leaving in a minute as well,” Fluttershy added as she panted, sweat pouring down her face and across her body.  Her mane lay limply against her head as she returned the nuzzle.

        “Well, that’s unfortunate because I have n~ews,” Twilight sing songed gathering the attention of the others.

        “Oh~, finally some gossip?” Rarity asked between pants and with a growing tired smile.

        “Um, Rarity, you look like you need fresh air,” Twilight said as she closed the door and nickered from the temperature.

        “Oh posh, it can wait, a moment.  Do tell,” she asked.

        Twilight used her magic to take the ladle from below Applejack and scoop some water, pouring it over the magically heated rocks sending billowing steam into the room before she lay beside Rarity.

        “Well, this’ between us, but… I wanna baby!”

        The room was deathly silent.

        “Well?!  Isn’t that great news?  I’ve already made plans for the spring to-”

        “Twilight, darling, while I don’t doubt your maternal abilities,” she gasped in a deep breath of air, “I don’t believe you’re thinking this through and with the right stallion.”

        “Oh, psh.  You sound like Princess Celestia now.  I know what I want and what we need.  We’ve been having a little trouble and I know that a baby would fix it right up,” Twilight said knowingly.

        The room was deathly silent except for the water boiling on the rocks.

        “What?”

        “Twi…  Uh, Ah really think ya need to take a bit to think of this…  A foal ain’t gonna fix nothing, and it could make it worse if yer havin’ troubles.”

        “Hey,” Twilight said furrowing her brow, “it’s not like you and Dash are having one, like, ever.  And if you did, sure, Rainbow’d make a rough mother, but I’d support you.”

        Applejack narrowed her eyes as she glared at Twilight. “Reckon ya may be right, but Ah believe we’re in a good place and we ain’t thinkin’ of havin’ a baby ta fix up anything.  Why not listen to what everypony’s sayin’ and wait.  This Sun guy’s still new around here, same goes for them mares yer all over.”

        “They come back often,” Twilight mumbled.

        “Well, for one, I…  I really believe you should, wait and…  and discuss it with him.  Have, you talked with him about, it yet?” Rarity began to pant.

        “Rarity, you really don’t look well.  I really think you should go and cool off.”

        “Oh… tell us, first.  Quickly dear,” Rarity said quickly as she began to list side to side.

        “Fine,” Twilight said quickly, “we haven’t talked yet but once we do we’ll make concrete plans.  Now please, hurry out,” Twilight urged.

        Rarity whimpered as she tried to get up and collapsed.  Twilight didn’t miss a beat as she lifted Rarity in her magic and opened the door, quickly sending the alabaster mare out of the room and to the floor outside the sauna before closing the door again.  “She’ll be in good hooves,” Twilight said taking a deep, clensing breath.”

        “Well, Ah’m headin’ out.  Dashing,” she turned her head and whispered in Rainbow’s ear, “time ta get up.”

        Rainbow nuzzled Applejack’s cutie mark before sitting up and looking around the steam filled room.

        “Woah, what happened?  I feel really refreshed and…  Oh no!  I’ve gotta go; I don’t wanna scramble my eggs,” she hastily got up, slipping and staring wide eyes as she slid to the door, opening it and hopping out, leaving the others.

        “‘Scramble her eggs’,” Twilight asked openly as Applejack got up and shook some sweat from her body.

        “See y’all in a bit.  Ah’m gonna talk with Dash and make sure she’s okay.”

        “See ya in a Kia, AJ.”

        “...Yeah.”

        “Pinkie, what’s a ‘Kia’?”

        “Oh Twilight, you’re so funny sometimes,” she said as her poofy mane fell heavily from the humidity.

        “Well, I think I’m fine as well,” Fluttershy said as the white steam billowed through the room.  She leaned over and nipped Pinkie’s ear before getting up and walking from the room.

        “Did ya see that, Twi?!” Pinkie beamed.

        “Pinkie, I can’t see my hoof in front of my face.”

        “Oh, that’s okay.  Let’s sweat until we look like dates.”

        “Uhm, well, that’s a good idea, but not very safe or realistic.”

        Pinkie sighed. “Ya know, for one of the most powerful unicorns in history, you sure don’t just believe enough.”

        “If this is about your Pinkie sense…”

        “No, it’s about,” Pinkie scrunched her face in thought, “it’s like when you have a cake and two cupcakes,” Twilight groaned, “and you eat the cake but inside is another cupcake.  For a foal it’s like, super magic, but for a grownup isn’t it just magic to watch them love the three cupcakes?”

        “Pinkie, what’re you talking about?” Twilight asked shaking her head as sweat began to drip into her eyes.

        Pinkie got up and walked to the door, opening it.  No steam billowed this time even though it was just as hot and humid.

        “You’re like a pony who showed up to the party and only saw three cupcakes,” Pinkie said as she walked out of the doorway, leaving Twilight alone to dwell on Pinkie’s wisdom.

Spa Day Part 8

        Four of the six friends lay on clothed reclining beds with green kelp facial masks and cucumbers on their eyes.

        Rainbow Dash sat by Applejack’s bed while Applejack groaned in frustration.  “Ah swear, if they don’t get ta my hooves in the next five minutes-”

        “You’ll wait longer!” Pinkie added.  Rarity and Fluttershy giggled.

        “Well, I don’t mind a wait.  These masks are so refreshing.  I must thank Twilight, when she arrives, for helping me out of the sauna.  I had to drink several glasses of water to recover enough to stand alone.

        “So, did anything else happen while I was in the capable hooves of the spa ponies?”

        “Nah, just a bit’a ramblin’ and whatnot ‘fore we left.”

        “And all I did was talk for a bit about nothing with Twilight.  Well, not really nothing because if it was nothing then it wouldn’t be talking, would it?  Because-”

        “Oh, here they are,” Fluttershy said happily and moving her legs to the side of the bed, as did the others.

        “So, if we were talking about nothing then would nothing be-”

        “Hush, Pinkie.”

        “...Yes, Mistress,” she whispered just loud enough for Fluttershy to hear and smirk at while the others looked to Fluttershy with raised eyebrows.

        “Now, how in Applesauce’s purple mane did ya manage that?”

        “I just know how to talk to Pinkie, is all,” Fluttershy said reaching and fixing the towel on her head.

        “Rainbow, get on a bed and let ‘em file yer hooves,” Applejack said firmly with a scowl to Rainbow.

        Rainbow’s ears flattened to her head and she nodded, getting up and going to a bed before stopping and turning back, quickly.

        “Hey, I don’t have to do what you say!”

        The girls giggled at Rainbow’s reaction. Twilight turned the corner to see her friends giggling as the spa ponies set their equipment down and prepared to do some hoof work.

        “Well, Twilight, won’t you be joining us?” Rarity asked replacing the cucumbers to her eyes that fell off when she was giggling.

        “Oh, yeah… Let me just get a spot.  Uhm, Rainbow, are you gonna be joining us?”

        “Yeah, that’ll be the day,” Rainbow huffed as she lay on a clothed bed and frowned, “And don’t give me flak, I have my reasons.”

        Applejack laid flat on her side as the spa pony began the process of removing her horseshoes.

        “Dashie, ya should at least let ‘em change yer shoes.  Ah ain’t gonna keep buggin Big Mac ta help me with ‘em.”

        Rainbow blushed as she looked around to the others who were snickering at her.  Even a spa pony smiled that certain way at Rainbow that just grit on her multichromatic nerves.

        “Grrr, fine.  When we’re here they can change my shoes, that’s it.”

        “Whoo-hoo!  Take it off, girl,” Pinkie shouted as the spa pony removed her left rear horseshoe, dropping it at Pinkie’s shout.  “Oh, she dropped it like it was hot,” she snickered into her fetlock.

        “Pinkie, you’re always going at it, how can you have so many jokes?”

        “How can an egg have so many yolks?  It just does!” Pinkie retorted bursting into laughter and rolling to her back, kicking her legs in joy.

        “Ahem.”

        “Oh, sorry Aqua, I forgot again.”

        “Quite alright, madame.  Please, try to not use the legs I’m working on while expressing such… joys.”

        “I do say, you have a lovely accent.  Canterlot?”

        Aqua looked at Rarity before rolling her eyes and focusing on Pinkie’s next horseshoe.

        “Well, that’s certainly rude.  When a paying customer asks you a question you should answer,” Rarity stated haughtily.

        Aqua frowned and lowered her head to her eyes were below Pinkie’s body, blocking her from sight of Rarity.

        “Well, I never!  Where’s Aloe, I demand to see-”

        “Miss, I am from a suburb of Canterlot, happy?” Aqua hissed over Pinkie’s body.

        Pinkie reached a cupcake between the two mares and leaned impossibly over and rested her chin on her side, raising her eyebrows suggestively.

        “Not now, Pinkie,” Rarity nearly spat, “Canterlot has no suburbs, darling.  If you’re going to lie, then I suggest you choose a more realistic place.”

        Aqua grit her teeth as another spa pony trotted over and whispered in her ear.  She huffed loudly through her nose across Pinkie’s cupcake sending a pout across Pinkie’s muzzle before Aqua got up and, with her head held high, she pranced away.

        “I’m sorry, ladies.  She has an interesting past and her life in Canterlot wasn’t the best.”

        “Well, with her attitude I can see why,” Rarity grumbled, looking at the spa pony who was intently ignoring the exchange and working on the last horseshoe.

        Within a minute all the mares, except Rainbow Dash, were having their hooves cleaned and scraped of a weeks worth of town experience.

        The spa pony working on Fluttershy wore a safety mask, a result of Fluttershy living with so many animals usually meant some things would be growing in the cracks and gaps her hooves; none of them pleasant to ponies’ senses of scent.

        “Applejack sighed as her hooves were carefully smoothed and polished to a shine.  A snore from behind her sent a wicked idea through her mind.

        “Hey, Fire Mane,” she whispered, “get a polish ready for Dashie.  I’ve got a plan ta get her hooves done up right.”

        Reluctantly the spa pony looked over Applejack to the sleeping Rainbow Dash and nodded.

        “Want me to finish yer hooves or what?” Fire Mane asked.

        “Well, yer already half way, might as well.”

        “Right-o, boss.”

Spa Day Part 9

Rainbow lay asleep, the thoughts of gliding through and over a mountain range filled her dreams.  The white snowcaps reflecting sunlight onto her underbody offering no warmth from the cold air from being so high and from the natural cold of the area.

        “Why’d I choose to fly today?  It’s cold, even for me.  Sheesh.  What’s with the cold, anyway?  Feels like I’m getting dizzy, a bit,” she spoke to herself as she banked left and spiraled slowly towards a plateau of dense snow.

        Landing she felt her hooves go cold before a tickling sensation climbed her legs sending her into a giggling fit.

        She fell to her side and rolled over in the snow, stopping the sensation for a moment before it returned with a vengeance.

        She laughed so loud she was worried she’d start an avalanche and get caught in it before she could recover and fly away.

        Finally her torture ended and she wasted no time taking to the air, flying high and giggling at the feeling in her hooves and up to her pasterns.  “What the hay was that?  Tickle snow?” she snorted a laugh before she looked back at it and shook her head.

        “No, no sitting in the snow to test tickle snow.  It’d melt before I could get it home to share it, too.”

        She felt warmth returning to her body and her belly.  Her belly, where her foal was growing.  A whole month old now.  A tiny speck inside her body that would soon become the most important thing in her and Applejack’s life.

        She turned and dove, wrapping her wings around her body and trying to feel the baby inside her through her wings; knowing it was futile.

        She opened her wings and took the updraft with grace as she glided again, the soft drawling voice of Applejack in her ear send chills down her spine.

        “AJ, I… I think this baby is making me super moody and, I’m sorry if I said anything mean to you before I left to cool off,” she whispered to herself as she closed her eyes and breathed the lavender scented air.

        Rainbow’s eyes fluttered open, she gawked at being surrounded by her friends.

        “What?”

        The girls snickered as Applejack nuzzled her with a hum. “Ah’m sorry, Sugarplum.  Ah just had ta do it.”

        Rainbow pulled back in surprise and shock.

        “Wh-what’d you do, AJ?” she asked as her voice cracked.

        Applejack glanced away then stepped back with the others.  Rainbow snared and furrowed her brow in confusion, then a glint caught her eye.

        Her mouth hung agape as she looked at her smooth, polished, painted hooves.  “Gaaagh!”

        Rainbow scrambled to her hooves and began to hyperventilate.  “AJ, girls… what happened?  M-my hooves are… p-pretty?!”

        “And you giggled like a filly, it was sho cute,” Fluttershy cooed.

        “You were giggling and squeaking the whole time,” Twilight said with a grin.

        “I hope you like the colors,” Pinkie shouted from behind Rainbow, startling her to fall forward onto Applejack’s back, “I heard you like scented so I got them some cotton candy for you.”

        Fluttershy blushed while Twilight and Applejack laughed out loud.

        Rarity smiled at the work the spa ponies had done. “I think you look devine.  The purple on your hooves goes well with your fur and mane.  It’s, just so you!”

        “Well, get it off!  I can’t go out in public like, like this,” she said sitting and holding her forelegs out.

        “Ooo, I can see myself in them… I look like a date,” Pinkie gasped, “Wanna go on a date, Fluttershy?  I’ll buy,” she grinned to Fluttershy who smiled back, “whatever we eat!  Oh, I wanna go to that burger place, can we?  Canwe, Canwe, Canwe?”

        Fluttershy giggled and nodded as Pinkie jumped in the air and hoof pumped before showering the area in confetti and streamers.

        “Gah!  No, Pinkie!” Rainbow shouted as the confetti stuck to her still wet hooves.

        Twilight took the opportunity to cast a spell, sealing the polish full of confetti.

        Rainbow glared at Twilight.  “What the hay?!  Why’d you do that, they could have scraped it off… Wait, they still can.  Spa girls, get that scrubbing stuff and get this off.”

        “No can do, Sugarplum.  This’ perma-paint.  Ain’t comin’ off for two weeks.”

        “Three!  My spell extended its life,” Twilight added proudly as Rainbow pounced her.

        “I’ll extend your life the other way!” she shouted as she loomed over Twilight who, in a flash of purple magic, teleported a few feet away and stuck out her tongue.

        She galloped away laughing as Rainbow chased her.  Every time Rainbow would get close Twilight would teleport a few more feet ahead, behind, or to the other side of the room.

        Rainbow finally stopped with a growl and shook her mane. “At least you didn’t mess with my hair.  That’d be a one trip ticket to hurt town,” she said looking back carefully to her mane and tail.

        She smirked at them being normal.

        She jumped at a hoof on her other shoulder, she looked to see Applejack.  “Look, Ah’m sorry.  Reckon ya can wear yer boots ‘til the polish comes off.  Ah just had ta, ya know.”

        Rainbow huffed and rolled her eyes.  “Fine.  Ya pranked me.  Just, be on yer guard.  Ah’m gettin’ ya back.”

        The girls giggled as Rainbow looked at her hooves. “Ya know, Ah guess it ain’t all bad…” she admitted as she took a quick trot around the room, her trot turning into a prance as her head rose in pride.

        The others cheered her on as she pranced back to them, head and tail held high and a grin on her muzzle.

        “Well, I must say, you look most dashing.”

        “Whoo-hoo!  Way to walk the carpet.”

        Fluttershy stomped the floor in approval as the others praised Rainbow Dash.

        “Okay, okay.  Fine, I guess I can keep it until it goes away.”

        “That’s more like it!  Now, what say we get some lunch?  Mac L. Mare’s is open and Ah’ll get the discount,” Applejack shouted to the cheering group.

Post Spa

After spending an hour getting their manes done and their coats brushed, the mares were ready to leave the spa.

Rainbow slipped her boots on, shooting a shocked looked to Applejack at how easily they went on.  She grinned and held her head high and closed her wings to her body as best she could as Applejack paid for their spa day.

        “Well, Ah’ll, we’ll see y’all later.  Ah dunno about ch’all, but Ah’m plum tuckered.”

        “But, I thought we were going to get a burger,” Fluttershy asked.

        “Well, I dunno about you, but awesome this great needs some sauce to go with it,” Rainbow beamed a smile as she walked out of the doors with the others.

        “Rainbow,” Twilight asked, “I don’t get it…  W-wait, did you just call yourself awesome sauce?” she giggled loudly as the others joined in.

        Their spirits were high as they made their way to Mac L Mares.

        “Hey!  Rainbow Dash and her friends,” the manager shouted as they entered.

        “Hey, Burger… hehe, hay burger,” Rainbow snickered, “how’s it goin’?”

        “Business is fantastic ever since you started hangin’ out here.  Sorry about your wings, I heard you crashed bad but to see them bandaged up like that,” Burger sighed and shook her head, “the best cure is ten percent off your order,” she smiled.

        “A-ha, I love this mare,” Rainbow said trotting up and wrapping a foreleg around Burger, “she’s got the best discounts in the town.  So, who’s had potato fries?”

        Rarity blushed and raised her foreleg, as did Twilight and Pinkie.

        “Well,” Rainbow said with a wink to Burger before she shouted, “we have virgins here!”

        There were only several ponies in the restaurant, however several dozen appeared out of seemingly nowhere to gasp in faux shock, before stampeding out of the building.

        “What… The… Hay?”

        “I just don’t even ask anymore…  Let’s get in line,” Twilight said as she trotted ahead of the others and past Rainbow and her close friend, but not that kind of close.

        “Oh, I want a double bean burger with ketchup and mayonnaise, plus fries and a large water.”

        “Fluttershy, you’re sure eating big,” Rarity said with a smile as she nodded, “I’ll take the same, but I would prefer a large tea, thank you.”

        “Alright,” the cashier stated flatly, “next, Miss Purple?”

        “Twilight, and I’ll take a hayburger with Rainbow Sauce meal, juice please.”

        “And, for Pinkie,” the cashier droned.

        “Oh, you know me.  Just pies and soda!”

        “Well, reckon I’m next.  Ah’ll take a burger with the fixin’s, large juice,” she leaned in to whisper, “grape,” before leaning back, “and fries,” she finished with a grin.  “Rainbow?”

        Rainbow gulped her saliva and trotted ahead to place her order.

        “I’ll take a black bean hay burger, a double; Rainbow Style,  with extra fries, a shake, juice, water, and a pie, not a slice…  Oh!  Horseradish and ketchup, make the deluxe a with extra pickles on the side and…” she said scouring the menu, “a little fish from the red side of the menu, I’m feeling adventurous,” she grinned as the cashier looked at her with her mouth agape.

        Shaking her head she forced the company smile. “And is everypony on one tab?”

        “I’ll pay for this one, dears.  It’s the least I can do for you all accompanying me on my spa day.”

        “Well, that’s alright with me, but next time I’ll pay my own,” Twilight said as she levitated several cups to her and her friends.  Water’s over there, right?”

        “Yea, right next to the tea.  Soda’s and juices we have in the back.  Miss Dash, we have your discount ready…  Twenty percent, right?”

        Rainbow beamed. “Yeah, of course.”

        “Rainbow, didn’t Burger say ten percent?”

        “Yeah, that’s for all of you.  Me and AJ get twenty.”

        “...Oh,” Rarity said looking into her bit bag.  “Well, here you are, will twenty cover it?”

        The cashier smirked. “Almost, keep it comin’.”

        “Twenty five?”

        “Nineteen more.”

        “That’s ludacris!  Almost fifty bits?!”

        “It adds up, ma’am,” the cashier said taking the bits into her register, “we’ll call you when it’s ready, Miss Dash.”

        “Awesome,” Rainbow squealed as she almost galloped to a large table against the window.

        Rarity approached Twilight speaking in a hush.  “I didn’t know Rainbow ate so much.”

        “She’s a pegasi, they eat a lot to keep up their metabolism.”

        “She’s not flying, though.  I’d hate to see her put on extra weight…”

        “I don’t think we should be talking about her like this.  If anything, she’s going to work it all off once those wings are free.”

        “Ah, I suppose you’re right.  And if it does happen that she puts on a little weight it’d be good for us to spend a little time trotting around town.”

        “OH-oh-oh, can I come?” Pinkie asked falling from the ceiling.

        “Come where, darling?”

        “Wherever you’re going, silly.  I think a good trot around the town a few times would be great on a cold day; then we can get hot chocolate and,” she inhaled a deep breath, “Cancel my soda!  Hot chocolate,” she shouted running to the cashier.

        “And, that’s why we should talk in private,” Twilight said with a smile as she filled her cup.

        “Private is a good thing, but I’m not sure secrets are that good,” Pinkie reappeared, jumping from the teapot and landing between the mares.

        Twilight groaned and poured her drink out into the nearby sink.  “Can I get a new pot of tea?”

Home Alone (part 2)

        Scootaloo woke up with a quiet yawn and sighed.  Guilty feelings flooded her over what she’d done, she never understood why.  Maybe because she violated the trust of her parents, maybe it was the thoughts she’d had, she didn’t know, but she didn’t like it.

        She grumbled and dragged her hoof from her cheek to her neck, then down to her chest and shook her head vigorously, shaking the sleep away.

        “Why’d I fall asleep?  Sheesh, I’m not an old pony,” she mumbled as she took the conical shaped item from beneath the pillow in her teeth and trotted to her mothers’ room, replacing it and grumbling.

        “It smells grossly sweet…”

        She frowned and turned away, leaving the room and descending the stairs.  She wandered the lower floor aimlessly as she tried to collect her mind over what to do before she decided to meet Apple Bloom, maybe even on the way to her house.

        Scootaloo galloped around the house once for fun before she went to the door and began to get dresses for the chilly day.  She made sure to put on a knit cap Granny Smith had made her before she left.

        Opening the door she inhaled the chilly air and jumped out of the threshold before landing and closing the door behind her.  She looked at the fenced property and the snow piled along the path that she had cleared with Apple Bloom the day prior for a couple bits.

        “A good job and good pay,” she chirped as she fluttered her wings and took a coasting speed toward the open gate at the end of the cleared walkway.

        “H-hello.”

        “Grah!” Scootaloo shouted in surprise as she twisted in midair and landed in a small snow drift across the short street with a puff.

        “Let me help you, S-Scootaloo,” a familiar voice said.  With a couple tugs and grunts Scootaloo was free and shaking her head clean of snow.

        “Oh no, my hat,” she said turning and digging through the snow.

        “I have it, r-right here.”

        Scootaloo turned to look at the speaker and gasped.  “D-Diamond Tiara?  Wh-what happened to you?”

        Diamond smiled with several false teeth apparently in place, a small row of stitches on her muzzle, and her trademark tiara were what caught Scootaloo’s eye.

        Diamond sighed and poked the ground with her hoof, digging a small hole as she mumbled.  “I-I was mean, and wrong to treat you the way I did.  I, got into another fight when I went to visit my family in Canterlot…  It,” she sniffled and looked to Scootaloo, “it hurts to be teased.”

        “Y-yeah, it does.  Um, a-are you okay?  Do you wanna talk about it?”

        Diamond stood tall and stuck her nose in the air for a second before lunging at Scootaloo.

        Scootaloo took a fighting stance and swung, too slow.  She was embraced into a tight hug by Diamond, who began to sniffle into her winter coat.

        “Y-you’re so, so, much stronger than I could have imagined.  I…” she leaned back and wiped her nose across her boot and turned away, jumping back to where she was and tossing the hat back to Scootaloo.  “I-I’ll see you later, Scootaloo.”

        Catching the hat as it soared a little too high with a wing assisted jump she hovered in the air, slowly descending, watching as Diamond Tiara galloped away.

        “...What just happened?” Scootaloo asked aloud as she fit her hat to her head and turned the other way. “I have to talk to sis about that… maybe she knows if there’s something in the water,” she snickered as she began to trot, “or maybe that’s why we don’t eat yellow snow.”

        “Heya, sis,” Apple Bloom called as she trotted gaily along the paved path from the farmhouse to the main road from Sweet Apple Acres, “I’m sorry Ah was late… Ah had ta get some chores done quick and ya know how Big Mac is when he can’t do anything with his marefriend.”

        “Oh?  How’s Berry Punch treating him?” Scootaloo asked as she turned and led Apple Bloom in the direction of the town.

        “Well enough, Ah guess.  He ain’t complainin’, ‘cept for when she gets busy at work and can’t spend time over here or with him.”

        “Yeah, well, she’s a busy mare and your brother-”

        “Our brother,” Apple Bloom chirped happily as she bumped into Scootaloo with a grin.

        “-Big Mac, he’s a farmer and so’s Mama, so, like, they don’t have anything to do during winter except be all, bored and stuff.”

        “Well, yeah, but Big Mac’s got a lotta stuff ta do, like, uhm…”

        “Isn’t he doin’ the math for the farm?”

        Apple Bloom cleared her throat. “Yeah, but it’s almost all done.  Winter’s all here, so there’s not much ta do.  We could harvest zap apples again, but what’s the point when, well, you know what happened last time.”

        Scootaloo giggled. “Yeah, Rainbow Dash made an avalanche on a buncha hills and even down Canterlot Mountain.  It was so cool!  I can’t believe she’s actually my mom!”

        “Yeah, she’s mah sis now,” she replied rolling her eyes slightly, “Ah’m so excited, I just don’t know what to say.”

“Oh, hey!  You’ll never guess what happened,” Scootaloo said jumping ahead of Apple Bloom and walking backwards as they began to enter the town, “I saw Diamond Tiara.”

“Wow,” Apple Bloom droned as she motioned with her head for Scootaloo to move over, “Ah can hardly contain mah excitement…  was she in the teeth of a timberwolf?” She asked looking from the corner of her eye as Scootaloo took a slightly faster trot.

        “No, but she was beat up pretty good.”

        Apple Bloom stopped and raised an eyebrow as Scootaloo turned around to look at her. “Ya, beat her up again?”

        Scootaloo blurted a laugh and shook her head, sending her mane waving.  She turned and began to trot by houses and businesses with a chuckle as Apple Bloom gallopped to her side again.

        “So, what happened with DT?”

        “She was acting really weird, but not mean.  She said she got into a fight and gave me a hug, saying sorry for how we treated me, and us, I guess.  I dunno, it was pretty weird if ya ask me…  I miss my scooter.”

        “Woah, don’t cha go changin’ the topic, now.  What’d you do?!  What’d she do?”

        “Ugh, I told ya, that was it.  She met me on the path to the farm, hugged me, said sorry, then left.  Nothin’ else to it; she’s gone crazy from being hit in the head too hard,” she said with a smile as she reared and made the sound of a motor.

        “Yeah, you might wanna calm down, Scootaloo, ya don’t wanna make a fool of yourself in front’a Rumble.”

        “Rumble?!  Where?  How’s my mane?  Are my boots…” she looked to Apple Bloom who was biting her lips and snorting.

        Apple Bloom snorted loudly before falling to her side and kicking her legs, laughing whole heartedly at the blushing filly beside her. “Ah, Ah gotcha!  I knew it!”

        “Shut up, Apple Bloom, I was just… practicing for Rarity; so she doesn’t have to fuss over me.”

        Apple Bloom rolled to her hooves with a huge grin and punched Scootaloo in the shoulder, sending the orange filly to the ground with an oof.

        “Ya can’t lie ta me, Ah thought ya liked him, and now I know.”

        Scootaloo flapped her wings and took to her hooves herself with a scowl.  “So, what’re you gonna do about it?”

        “Nothin’, Ah just wanted to make sure which way yer barn door swings,” Apple Bloom said trotting ahead.

        “Wh-what?  I, wait,” Scootaloo said trotting to catch up, “I don’t get it, I don’t have a barn, you do at the farm.  Do you mean the shed?  Cuz it swings out.”

        Apple Bloom rolled her eyes with a smile and leaned over to whisper into Scootaloo’s ear.

        “...”

        Scootaloo stopped in shock as she watched Apple Bloom trot ahead before she galloped to catch up.

        “Hey!  I totally like colts!  Just cuz that one time we all, umgph-” she grunted as Applebloom tackled her into a pile of snow near Sugarcube Corner.

        “We said we’d never talk about that, so keep it to yerself,” Apple Bloom said bopping Scootaloo on the nose, “boop.”

        Scootaloo wiggled her nose and frowned. “Don’t do that!  Get offa me,” she huffed as she was tugged back to a standing position.

        “Sorry, sis.  Let’s get that cupcake and talk about our plans today,” Apple Bloom said as she climbed the steps and opened the door.  “Oh, hi Rumble!”

        Scootaloo gasped and felt herself blushing as she trotted in, inspecting the floorboards intently before she bumped into somepony.

        “Oh, there she is,” a colt’s voice said, sending chills through Scootaloo’s body and her mind reeling.

        She looked up to see the gray cold looking at her with a big smile. “Hiya, Scootaloo.  Wanna sit with us?”

        “Gup, pluh, aff…  Guh…  Uh,” she stammered and began to giggle as she blushed fiercely and backed away from him.

        “Heck yeah, we’d love to sit with ya, Rumble,” Apple Bloom teased and pulled the shocked filly with her to a seat in the corner with another colt.  “Hi, uh, Gallop, somethin’.”

        “The name’s Gallop J. Fry,” he introduced himself.

        “Hi, so you’re Gallop J. Fry?  Interesting name.”

        “Yeah, so’s your bow.  Like, who wears a bow that big?” He asked her.

        Apple Bloom picked Scootaloo up and placed her in the chair opposite Rumble with a smirk as she took a seat opposite the new colt. “Ah do… so where’s a colt like you from?”

        “Manehattan, mostly…  what’s up with your friend?”

        Scootaloo was sitting still and grinning foolishly at Rumble as he ordered several items for their table from Mrs. Cake.

        “Oh, she’s a little… hungry.  Sweets make her silly.”

        “Oh, I can get behind that,” Gallop said looking at Scootaloo then shrugging, “so, what’s with the accent?”

Post Spa 2

        The girls took seats at the table with Rainbow Dash, waiting for their food to be prepared the engaged in idle conversation, the topics varied, but Rainbow’s appetite was on their mind.

        “So, Dashie, what’s up with the food?  Ya eat like you’re starving or something,” Pinkie asked as she bounced into her seat and looked intently at Rainbow.

        “I’m not starving, I’m just hungry.  The sauna really takes a lot outta a pegasi and I didn’t really eat breakfast and I need food ta heal, ya know.”

        “Wow, you’re really taking a liking to Applejack’s accent, aren’t you?”

        “Huh?  Ah dunno what you’re talkin’ about, Pinks.  All I know is I’m famished.”

        Pinkie and Applejack snickered. “Yeah, she’s talkin’ a bit like me, sure ain’t eatin’ like it though, what’s with the fish?  We’re vegetarians, afterall.”

        “Well, I know ponies who eat fish and a couple who eat birds sometimes.”

        Fluttershy inhaled sharply.

        “Don’t worry, Fluttershy,” Twilight said smiling warmly, “she’s just joking.  Ponies don’t eat meat.”

        “Yes they do,” Fluttershy mumbled.

        “What?  That sounds disgusting, who’d stoop so low as to eat another animal?”

        “Well, many ponies do, often in secret or to supplement their diet in certain circumstances,”  Fluttershy responded, sulking slightly.

        “Well, I know one kinda meat Twilight likes,” Rainbow shouted pointing a straw at her.  Pinkie chortled right away while the others giggled.

        “Hey…” Twilight’s mouth opened and closed several times at a loss for words before signing and lowering her head.

        “Don’t be so direct, Rainbow,” Rarity chirped, “I do as well, as you know.”

        “Yeah, yeah.  Herd it up, ‘til then; you’re a cellist.”

        Rarity did a spit take across the table and coughed as the others laughed.

        “Rainbow, where’d you hear that wording?” Twilight asked.

        “I read it in Daring Do and the Curse of the Midnight Diamonds.  The leader of the cult of Vanra’a was a cellist and when I looked in the dictionary you gave me I knew I had to use that sometime,” Rainbow replied taking a sip of her drink.

        “Well, you certainly got me,” Rarity said levitating several napkins from the nearby dispensary to the table, “however I am far from it.  Why, most recently was a few weeks ago in Canterlot with a nice stallion who was… uhm, nevermind.”

        “Woah now, Sugarcube, that sounds like a story Ah wanna hear,” Applejack said placing a hoof firmly on the table and leaning forward.  Pinkie copied Applejack’s motions.  “Now, spill,” she said with a wink.

        “I-I don’t quite know it’s an appropriate location for such a tale, Applejack.”

        “Hey, everypony, I haven’t had sex in almost two months,” Rainbow shouted, garnering the attention of every other pony in the restaurant.  “There, now it’s a place to talk.  My ears are ready,” she said.

        “Oh, you’re impossible, Rainbow.  Fine,” she said leaning closer to the table and lowering her voice.  “The stallion was a friend of a friend who knew a very important pony who was in need of an expert seamstress.  So, with a little time well spent, I got the client,” she grinned and leaned back, smirking with a hint of pride as the others looked at her in differing levels of shock.

        “Rarity,” Fluttershy said leaning past Pinkie and speaking in a loud whisper, “y-you had sex for a client?  I-isn’t that illegal?”

        “Oh, pshaw, first, it’s business, second it was purely romantic and not related to the client, and lastly he said he’d write me soon,” she sighed in reflection, “and when he does we’ll have another amazing time.”

        “Woah,” Applejack said as she leaned back and almost lost her balance off the bench, “Ah never thought you’d be the type ta let yerself get played like a fiddle.”

        “Ain’t no doubt, Fritter, she’s usin’ sex to get business.  That’s prostitution and, let’s face it,” Rainbow said looking to the service counter with anticipation as their trays were loaded with food, “she’s gonna have ta pay taxes on her business now.  You know, Rarity,” she said with a wink, “Celestia has to get paid for your business getting filled.”

        Pinkie giggled while the others rolled their eyes.

        “Dashin’, drop it.  Food’s almost ready, who’s hungry?”

        “Me.”

        “I say, I’m nearly famished.”

        “I’m ready.”

        “Ah, ahem, I can eat a whole tray myself.”

        “Order forty seven, you’re food’s ready, uh, Miss Dash,” a mare called as Twilight looked over.  Her horn glowed a light purple and the trays levitated high and to them, lowering to the table.

        “Oh, lookie, lookie, Rainbow has a whole tray to herself!” Pinkie said as she grabbed her items expertly and unwrapped one, taking a bite.

        A mare in uniform came over to their table with a small tray of assorted sized glass cups in her magic.  “Your drinks, ladies,” she said levitating the cups to the table, “help yourselves,” she said turning away.

        Rainbow licked her lips and began unwrapping everything, but stopped at the fish.  She moved that to the front and opened it’s parchment carefully.  A puff of steam and aroma escaped the packaging.

        Rainbow sniffed and inhaled the steam deeply with a hum.  “Oh yeah, this’ gonna be worth it,” she said opening the paper all the way to look at the fish.

        A simple enough headless, tailless, boneless fish filet lay in the parchment.

        Leaning down Rainbow ignored the silent looks of the others and nipped a tiny bite, letting its flavors and texture slide across her tongue.  With a quiet swallow she looked around and panted.

        “I-it’s really good, gals.  Wanna taste before I eat it up?”

        Hesitantly the others shook their heads while Rainbow took in their answers with a stoic position before she inhaled and fell, muzzle first, into the wrapper and gobbled the fish up.

        “My word, she’s like a carnivore suddenly,” Rarity whispered to Twilight.

        “I don’t know why, but I think she’s hiding something.  This could be stress eating,” replied in kind.

        “Well, I have that from time to time, as you know, however it’s never a good thing in the long run.”

        “Okay, I’ll ask her,” Twilight said as she sat back up and took a bite of her burger before taking another sip of her tea to wash the food down.

        Rainbow had torn into her burger and taken several sloppy bites of all her food while the others took more sensible bites.

        “So, Rainbow,” Twilight said after her first bite, “we couldn’t help but notice that you’re eating an awful lot lately.”

        “Well duh, I’m eating for two~...” she looked wide eyes to Applejack who stopped mid bite to stare at Rainbow, “-meals.  Yeah,” she gulped and wiped her mouth on her foreleg, reaching for her shake, “I totally missed breakfast, yeah, so, I’m, like, uh, catching up?”

        Twilight raised her eyebrow as she took a bite of her first potato fry.  Her pupils shrank as she looked to the small box they came in.

        “Twi-Twi?  Ya okay?”  Pinkie asked between slurps of her hot chocolate.

        “Th-this is one of the best things I’ve ever tasted in my life… Why aren’t these everywhere,” she said breathily as she slowly took another in her magic to her mouth and ate it with a quiet giggle.

        Pinkie reached over and took one of Fluttershy’s, tossing it into the air and catching it on her tongue, balancing it for a second before lunging forward and chomping it in one bite.

        Rainbow leaned over to Applejack. “I bet she’s really good at using her tongue for other stuff too.”

        Applejack shoved her shoulder into Rainbow with a smirk, sending the pegasus back to her sitting position.

        “Holy shmoly on the poley!  That’s the most yumtastical thing I’ve eaten in weeks,” Pinkie shouted lunging like a ravenous dog toward Fluttershy’s fries.

        With a sharp look from Fluttershy, Pinkie stopped midair and looked intently into Fluttershy’s eyes before reversing her lunge and returning to her sitting position with a grin.  “Flutters, may I have a fry, please?”

        “Yes, you may,” Fluttershy responded hoofing a couple in front of Pinkie, “now, if you’re going to act like an animal-”

        “Nope, not today, I’m a good filly,” Pinkie said as she picked up and examined a fry before eating it with a shudder and giggle.

        Fluttershy looked at Pinkie with a content smile and nodded. “Yes, you are.  Now,” she said  taking a bite of her burger with a smile.  “This’ really good.”

Rarity nudged Twilight abs motioned her head towards Pinkie’s tail, which was wagging quickly.

With a glance Twilight looked and rolled her eyes, mouthing to Rarity. ‘It’s Pinkie.”

        Rarity looked to her food and bit her lip in apprehension.

Home Alone (part 3)

“So, Scootaloo, I see you’re flying like, super good,” Rumble said as he took a sip from the straw in his cherry soda with an unnecessary amount of whipped cream and an oddly large maraschino cherry perfectly placed on top.

        Scootaloo followed the cherry as it moved from the top of the drink to the table, then lined with his eyes.  Her gaze lingered in his eyes for a little too long before he swallowed and looked up.

        Scootaloo inhaled with a squeak and looked down to her plain muffin.

        “So, Scootaloo, I like your hat.  Did your mom make it?” Rumble asked as he placed his drink on the table and grasped his cupcake.

        Scootaloo mumbled in a high pitched tone as she looked up to see him and blushed as she grabbed her plain muffin and took a bite.

        “Uhm, so, is your muffin good?  I didn’t think plain would be your flavor…  I thought carrots and raspberries, to be honest.”

        Scootaloo gasped and began to cough muffin debris onto the table and floor.  Apple Bloom reached over and patted her on the back, hard, sending Scootaloo draped over the table as she felt her airway clear.

        She heard Rumble giggling to himself.  She slunk back into her seat and looked at Rumble again finally smirking, then smiling, then giggling herself at the bits of muffin stuck to Gallop.

        Apple Bloom was the first to laugh as Gallop started licking the muffin he could reach from his body. “Hey,” he said, “this’ a pretty plain joke, but where’s the icing?”

        The table erupted with laughter as Scootaloo finally felt her heart beating more normally.

        “So, yeah, my Granny Smith made me the hat.  It’s super nice and warm,” Scootaloo said as she wiped her mouth on her fetlock.

        “Oh, that’s cool.  My granny keeps sending me pillows made with her old feathers… kinda creepy.”

        “What the hay?  That’s so weird…  Why would she do that?”

        “I dunno, somethin’ about tradition and saving stuff, or something,” Rumble shrugged, still grinning as he placed his hooves on the table.  “Do you like feathers?  I mean, in your bed… I mean pillows!” He stammered starting to blush.

        “Y-yeah, mostly mine, though,” she said with a sigh as she looked at him, “but someday…”

        “Someday, what?”

        She gasped and grabbed her slushie, slurping it loudly, gulping several times.  She placed it down and felt her heart racing. “Uh, no real reason, ya know.  Uhm, I mean, someday maybe I’d find the right coltfriend to show my bed… my room!  I…  didn’t…  Aaaugh!”

        Scootaloo screamed at him, making him lean back and almost fall backwards as she she grasped her head and slammed it to the table.

        Several other ponies looked to see what the ruckus was.  Apple Bloom looked on, aghast.

        “Scootaloo!? Are ya alright?  What’s wrong?!”

        “B-b-b,” she stopped to cough and exhale loudly, “brain freeze.”

        Within several seconds the room had erupted into laughter at the pained, highly embarrassed, filly who was suffering from the oldest pain of all; the pain of having a crush laugh at her.

        Mrs. Cake trotted over quickly with a warm cup of water she delivered to the struggling filly who drank two fast gulps, exhaling a puff of chilly air.

        “Is that better dearie?”

        “Y-yeah, th-thanks… it’s going away now.  Sorry for the fracas.”

        “Uhm, it’s no problem, dear,” Mrs. Cake said turning away.

        “Are you feeling better?”

        “Carrot and raspberry is my favorite muffin.”

        “...Wow!  I got, like, mind powers, did ya hear that, Gallop?”

        Gallop had finished cleaning his mane with a napkin as he looked intently at Apple Bloom. “Yeah, cool.  So, Apple Bloom…”

        “Yeah,” Rumble huffed, “he’s in his own world again.  So, that was a lucky guess, huh?”

        “Y-yeah, not too bad, for a stallion.”

        Rumble grinned wide.  “Thanks, no pony’s called me a stallion before.  Wanna know how I guessed the flavors?”

        “Uh, sure,” Scootaloo replied taking a smaller bite of her muffin and swallowing quickly.

        “Your eyes and wings.”

        Scootaloo gulped and felt her whole body heating up as her wings began to open widely.  She began to pant.  Her vision narrowed a bit.  Finally, she felt a wettening on her cushioned stool.

        “Huhh, I, I gotta go,” she said breathily as she practically fell out of her seat and galloped to the door, opened it, and left with a quiet yelp as she jumped into a snowpile just outside the door.

Post Spa 3, time out.

        The mares gathered just by the exit door and said their goodbyes.  With several passing hugs and warm smiles they opened the door and entered the street.

        “Fritter, what’s the plan?  I know I’m all nice now, but I don’t wanna go home yet.  Maybe we can go skating or… Gah, I don’t know.  Without flying this’ the most boring winter ever.”

        “Now, now, my blueberry,” she grinned at Rainbow, “don’t fuss.  We’ve got a few things ta do-”

        “And no chores!”

        “Well shucks, ya took the rug from under me… Ah dunno, we can check on the fillies.”

        “Nah, they’re out and about.  We can try on frilly fru-fru dresses and have a fashion show,” Rainbow said thoughtfully before snickering and bursting into laughter.  “Yeah, that’d be the day.”  She spoke in a fancy accent. “My name is Rainbow Dress, and my mate here…”

        “...Apple Jewel, fashionist to the stars,” she chuckled.

        “And together we’re the most fabulous, darling.”

        They laughed to each other.

        “Nah, so, really Fritter, anything to do?  Earth ponies have to do more than chores during winter.”

        “Well, save fer goin’ out and about visiting and bein’ neighborly, reckon there ain’t much Ah know of.  The farm’s been my life since I was a filly, now I’m a mare and makin’ zap apple jam by the barrel.

        “Dash, Ah’m kinda worried,” Applejack confessed, “what if apples become less popular because of your love booms?”

        “‘Love booms’?  Whatever,” Rainbow blushed and shook her head, “apples are a staple of our diet and you still sell them every week!  They’re not going anywhere.”

        “That’s somethin’ else… There’s been talk about me hirin’ somepony ta sell apples while the family takes time off durin’ the warm season.”

        “Heck no!  You’re sellin’ apples ‘til you’re as old as granny, and don’t give up bucking,” Rainbow frowned, “it’s who you are, like I am in the air.”

        “Yeah, yer right… sorry, just a lot’s happened since we got together.”

        “Seven months, is it?”

        “Meh, who’s keepin’ track.  It’s been a few and I haven’t been happier… it’s just that the farm’s changed so much.”

        “I think I’ll take a vacation to Marestopolis.”

        “‘Marestopolis’?”

        “It’s a city that’s only allowed to let mares in its borders.  Maybe I’ll have a fling and take some time not flying while I’m there.  I can try my hoof at painting fruit in a bowl-”

        “What’re ya talkin’ about, Sugarplum?”

        “Ugh, if I did something crazy what’d happen to us?  If I stayed the way I was, what’d happen to us?  Change happens and it can be good or bad.  As long as Ah’m awesome you’ll be fine, Fritter.  Don’t fret- uh, worry about it.  I’m here ta catch ya.”

        Applejack looked to Rainbow and sighed.  “Ah’m so lucky ta have ya in my life.”

        “Yeah, I know,” she said smugly.  “Oh yeah, you too, but about you, not me… right?”

        Applejack chuckled. “Close enough.”

        “So…”

        “Ugh, I dunno what ta do, let’s just walk and see if anything happens.”

        …

        An hour later nothing worth noting had happened during their walk sending Rainbow into a bit of a funk.  “UGGH, I’m getting into a funk here, I need something to do!”

        “What about doin’ some weather stuff!  Ya love bossin’ ponies around.”

        “When I can fly and show ‘em how it’s done.  I’ve done the paperwork for the next day.  It’s winter; all we do,” she waved to the clear sky, “is move clouds around and make it snow, which is two days out.  Like I said, boring.”

        “Look, Ah’m sorry, but Ah just don’t know.  Why not race home.”

        “...three, two, one, go!”  Rainbow shouted rocketing off.

        “Heh.”  A few seconds later they were galloping through Ponyville, kicking up snow and dusting the roads and ponies on their way out of town.

        “Detour!” Rainbow shouted taking a sharp right and heading to Sweet Apple Acres.

        A grin spread across Applejack’s panting muzzle.

        “Big, Mac… Gonna ask, him stuff.”

        …

        “So, Big Mac, how’s it goin’?”

        “Fine.”

        “Okay, glad ta catch up,” Rainbow chirped as she turned and trotted from the farmhouse, followed by Applejack who raised an eyebrow.

        “Rainbow, ya went and asked that?  I thought ya wanted ta talk.”

        “You know he’s not big on words, I just needed a reason to get out here.  C’mon, let’s check out the girls’ clubhouse.”

        “Ugh, you’re impossible, Dashing.”

        Rainbow galloped ahead and through the snow and fell to her back, flailing while laughing.  She got up and looked at a rough shape and frowned.

        “Sugar, ya can’t make a snow pegasi without your wings.  How’re they holdin’ up?”

        “Ugh, fine.  As long as I keep them to my body they don’t hurt too much.  Just, gotta keep ‘em warm, she winked and turned to frolic through the snow and between the hibernating apple trees.

        Applejack guffawed and trotted after Rainbow.  “Yer actin’ like a filly, ya silly mare.”

        “I can be whatever I want cuz I’m all grown up and…  you know,” she grinned widely as she made their way through the orchard.  The clubhouse loomed ahead, snow covered the roof and the ramp was thick with a layer of snow that hadn’t been disturbed all season.

        “C’mon, Fritter, she me what the fillies did in your day.”

        Applejack rolled her eyes and followed Rainbow up the slanted ramp.

        “Brr,” they shivered as they stepped inside, “Fritter, it’s like, colder in here than outside.”

        “Don’t worry, over here,” she replied going to a lantern and turning it on.

        “Ahh, I love magic,” she sighed as the lantern radiated warmth around them and slowly warmed the interior as the laid by the lantern and looked at each other.

        “...What?”

        “Huh?  Just, lookin’ at the mother of my children.”

        “Ugh, don’t remind me.  I already feel hungry again,” she frowned, “I really need to fly this weight off…  I’ve never been on the ground so long in my life!”

        “It ain’t all bad,” Applejack said as she got up and lay next to Rainbow, “ya got me and the whole Apple family ta help ya.”

        Rainbow winced. “Are they gonna be mad that we didn’t tell ‘em right away?”

        “Nah, I know they’re gonna be fine.  We’ll tell ‘em ‘fore we leave ta Canterlot and have a little party just fer us.  Rarity can watch the fillies for the night until we’re done and we’ll take AB right away to the train with us in the mornin’.  She’ll find out with the rest and it’ll only be a few weeks before everypony knows.”

        “Oh my gosh!  I can’t wait to see their reactions, it’s gonna be epic.  Like, rainboom epic, but more than that.  Like, they’ll be happy for hours,” she sighed and leaned against Applejack, “won’t they”? She asked as her voice cracked.

        “Ah now they will be,” Applejack replied as she nuzzled Rainbow.  “Sure is warm now,” Applejack sighed.

        “Yeah, magic warm stuff.  I love it.”

        “I think it’s warm enough,” Applejack pulled her head back and took her hat off to look into Rainbow’s ruby eyes, “to relax.”

        “Yeah, I know.  It’s really cozy right now.”

        “No, Sugarplum…”

        “...” Rainbow gasped and grinned. “Y-you mean?  Here?  Now?”

        Applejack tossed her hat aside and leaned in, pressing her lips to Rainbow’s.  Her tongue was the first to dart out of her mouth and into Rainbow’s sending the blue mare into a panting mess of restrained giggles as she kissed back.

        Moaning and mewling into each other they quickly kicked their boots off, stripped from their coats, scarves, and hats before Applejack pounced on Rainbow, pressing her to the floor.

        Rainbow winced.  “Don’t stop, don’t you dare stop,” she said firmly as she pulled Applejack closer with her forelegs and gasped happily as Applejack’s knee pressed in just the right spot.

Whispers with Honesty

        Applejack pulled back as Rainbow’s legs clamped shut, her tail snapped down covering her vulva, and a roar left her throat.  Applejack wiped a forelimb across her muzzle and stood on all fours before smiling at Rainbow’s reaction.

        The lantern was still glowing in it’s magic warmth filling the room with a comfortable climate, warmest by the device that was now on a table so they wouldn’t have tipped it over.

        They had moved a soft blue rug that was large enough for them to roll around on under themselves.

Rainbow fell to her side and began to sob uncontrollably as she hugged herself, curling and uncurling as her body let months worth of stress loose.  The world fell away from her as the sounds of her heartbeat, crying, and the feeling of warmth crashed through her body in waves like against a beach in a storm.

It took several minutes for Rainbow’s breathing to steady and her sobs to turn to panting whimpers.  Her heartbeat was still pounding like she’d just flown to Cloudsdale at her top speeds.

        With the feeling returning to her extremities and a goofy grin across her muzzle she trilled and sniffled.

        “Wow,” Applejack whispered as he lay parallel to Rainbow, resting her chin on her forelegs and a content smile was plastered on her features, “I love you.”

        Rainbow hummed and moved her head to the side as she looked to Applejack’s green eyes. “That was pretty awesome,” she finally said in a whisper as she reached a trembling hoof towards Applejack, stopping as a tickle shot through her forelimb.

        Crawling ahead, Applejack let Rainbow’s hoof touch her cheek as she hummed contently.

        “AJ, you’re so soft.  You’re eyes are so soft.  Your fur is so soft.  Your lips are so soft…” she stopped to inhale a steadying breath as her ears flattened to her head, “c-can, c-can you-”

        “What, Sugarcube?”

        Rainbow’s eyes widened and she leaned in to kiss her.

        “H-hold me?”

        “Heh, that’s all?”

        “And, call me that again?  It’s like the old days, before this,” she said trembling slightly.

        Applejack stood and walked around Rainbow, laid behind her, and pulled her in close, Rainbow’s wrapped wings pressed firmly into Applejack’s belly.

        Applejack leaned close and nibbled Rainbow’s ear lightly sending trembles through her wings as she whispered. “Sugarcube.”

        Rainbow lifted her head and waited as Applejack slid her foreleg under her head before she laid back down.

        She sighed and trilled before she spoke, her voice cracked.  “Honey, can I tell you something?”

        “Hmm… of course, Sugarplum.”

        “Well,” she moved against the soft small rug they were on and scooted back, deeper into Applejack’s embrace, “that was, totally amazing and I’m so glad we’re over that dry spell…  But, I don’t want it to change us.”

        Applejack nuzzled Rainbow from behind. “What’d’ya mean?”

        “Well, -hmm, I like that-,” she commented, “since before I got hurt and after I got… pregnant,” she shuddered slightly, “I was kinda, different.  I don’t know how to explain it, but, since we went to Manehattan I’ve been feeling, happier?  No, maybe it’s more sappy.  Yeah, that’s it.”

        “Sugar, how’s this gonna change us?”

        “I don’t wanna start doin’ it like we used to.  I-I dunno, we’re so, always trying to beat each other, and, like, most of the time that’s cool and all, but maybe not when we do it.”

        “Ah,” Applejack said with a nod and wrapped her forelegs around Rainbow’s chest and belly, tugging her closer into her warm embrace.  She smiled as she felt Rainbow’s legs shaking in a steady rhythm.  “Rainbow, we’re gonna be like that forever, Ah hope, but that don’t mean we’re gonna race in everything.  Reckon we can take it slow sometimes too.”

        “Like when we had the parties, we’d lay on… Quill’s bed with Lime,” Rainbow sighed, “and watch the candles.  Ah didn’t wanna admit it, but that was the best time Ah ever had not flying.  Just, being with you and them; no pressure.  No showing off.  No rush to get done.  AJ, I miss them.”

        “Me too, Love.  Me too.  We can always visit Quill, right?”

        “Yeah.  Ah’m not in a rush.  It’s been a month, maybe.  She needs time ta settle,” Rainbow said softly as she relented and relaxed into Applejack’s embrace.  “AJ, do you think Quill’s mad at me?”

        “Not for a minute.  Sure, she was shocked; we all were.  But, you’re you.  You were trying to help and it didn’t matter, Ah think, no, Ah know that Lime had a problem and nopony could help her.  Don’t think for a minute that you’re at fault,” she said laying flat, “you’re the best friend they had and needed.

        “We were there with them through thick and thin.  We were there at the end; Lime loved ya so much ya saw her in yer dream before she passed on,” Applejack sighed softly, “and that’s how Ah knew, what I wrote to Quill too, that she loved you as much as she loved me and Quill.”

        “...Thanks, AJ.  I, I really needed to hear that.  Ah might need ta hear it again, though.  And not just ‘cuz your voice is amazing to mah ears… Promise me,” she sniffled.

        “Promise?  Now what’re ya spountin’ about?”

        “If Ah don’t make it, take care’a the baby.”

        Applejack chortled. “Now, Ah swear yer pullin three’a my legs.”

        “Taint!  Yer gonna fix to make my last wish!” Rainbow said firmly.

        Applejack chuckled. “Ya know, ya are talkin’ like an Apple more’n more every now’n again,” as she waved away Rainbow’s concern.

        Rainbow frowned before letting the tension evaporate with the trembling waves of pleasure that still flowed through her. “Psh, I’m just talkin’ like an Apple ‘cuz…” she paused and lay still, save for her trembling legs and deep inhales.

        “Why?  What’re ya sayin?”

        “Because,” she sniffled and grasped Applejack hooves, pulling them off her body and forcing herself up.  She placed a hoof and Applejack’s side, implying for her to stay down as she turned and lay facing the orange farm pony.

        “Because, AJ,” she said as she curled her legs to her body and glanced across Applejack’s face, “Ah wanna be an Apple…” she whispered softly.  Shortly after she felt the corners of her muzzle tugging and whimpered.

        Burying her face in Applejack’s furry chest she inhaled deeply and smiled.  Her head swam and her memory flashed to a quiet day flying, coasting over Sweet Apple Acres.  Years ago she had just wanted to glide around the town and the scent of the orchard was still new to her.

        Dirt.  Sweat.  Everything about a tree.  Apples; sweet, crisp, red, juicy like Applejack.

        Her mind swam through happy thoughts and memories of sensations past as Applejack petted her multicolored mane.

        “Rainbow, what’re ya sayin’?  Yer already a member of the family.”

        “But,” she said into Applejack’s chest as her voice cracked, “Ah wanna be a official Apple; our union before Celestia and recognized before the world.”

        “Heh, you sound like a poet.  We’re already planning a wedding, right?”

        “That’s the thing,” Rainbow said pulling back and looking into the green pools of emerald bliss, “we haven’t planned anything!  We did everything so far, but not one plan for the wedding.  Are we even serious about it, or is it just something we’re going to talk about?  Ah mean, sure, I never wanted to get married in the first place.

        “Ah wanted-” she grumbled as she looked to her hooves and tapped the carpet, between herself and Applejack softly as she spoke confidently, “Ah wanted to get laid by any stallion that would race me.  Just, live to the extreme.  No pony could touch me, and the ones that wanted to would have to work for it.

        “Thing is, you fought for me; even if you didn’t know it.  I just saw you as a challenge; another pony to beat.  But, no matter what Ah did you’d take the match as seriously as me.  More than me at times.  Like the Iron Pony thing,” Applejack chuckled and smiled, “or the running of the leaves.”

        “Ah remember that.  We both won last place after we cheated the whole way, fought, and tricked each other.   Best time Ah ever had flirtin’ with a mare.”

        “...That was flirting?”

        “Rainbow Dash style flirtin’.”

        Rainbow rolled her eyes and reached a forelimb out, booping Applejack’s nose.  “Ah don’t have a style, Ah just do.”

        Applejack scrunched her muzzle and squinted at her nose.  “Maybe so, but even you have a way about ya.  Like how we started out, that night.”

        “Oh Celestia, I forgot about that,” she giggled, “the meal.  The fire and me kissing you.”

        “Twilight shockin’ me ta next week with her magic.”

        “The night you did things to me Ah never thought about.”

        Applejack smiled. “The next morning when I kissed ya goodbye.”

        Rainbow sneered, daringly. “Ah did myself after you were gone with a huge dildo and screamed your name.”

        “...”

        Rainbow fidgeted in the light of the lantern but didn’t leave its sphere of greater warmth.

        “Well, ya win that one.”

        Rainbow hoof pumped with a proud wince.  “Another for team Rainbow.”

        “Well, you’re on team Apple now, so watch it; or Ah’ll have ya buckin’ trees free of snow.”

        “Hey, you wouldn’t let your pregnant marefri… Fiance work herself like that, would you?” She pouted.

        “Heh, eeyup.  All ya gotta know is that the more it hurts the more Ah love ya,” she leaned in and kissed Rainbow softly on the nose.

        Rainbow snickered and then giggled into her hoof.

        “What’s up, Dash?”

        “...I smell myself on you.  I’m still shaking,” she leaned in to kiss Applejack again.

        With a soft hum Applejack kissed her back. “Yeah, that’ll happen.  Ah love ya… Sugarcube.”

        Rainbow yawned loudly making Applejack recoil slightly.  She leaned forward and buried her face into Applejack’s chest and, with her mane being lightly stroked, fell asleep with trembling legs, a warm heart, and a smile on her face.

        …

 SNNNZZZZZRKRKRKTT

        Applejack rolled her eyes and pulled Rainbow closer.

        With a quiet hum the blue mare fell silent and her wings twitched; she didn’t whimper.

        “Almost there, Sugarplum, almost there.”

Taking a trot

        Scootaloo poked her head from the pile of snow and shook her mane and head clear.  The door to Sugarcube Corner squeaked open, then closed.  A moment later Apple Bloom entered her vision.

        “So,” the bow wearing filly said smugly, “Ah take it yer talk with Rumble went okay?”

        “Y-yeah,” Scootaloo said before she cleared her throat and climbed from the pile.  She fluttered her wings and cracked her neck before looking around.

        No pony was paying her any attention so so sighed in relief.

        “Yeah, I’m better now.  He,” she looked to the closed door of Sugarcube Corner and blushed a little, “he started talking about my eyes and wings… my heart was going to jump outta my chest, Apple Bloom!”

        “Heh, so yer-in-love,” Apple Bloom said in a sing-song voice, “Ah can’t believe it, my sis in love, and what a looker he is too.”

        “Stop teasing me, Apple Bloom,” Scootaloo grumbled as her face grew hotter.

        “Okay, okay.  Ah left mah muffin, Ah’ll be right back,” Apple Bloom chirped between snickers as she returned to the confection shop.

        Scootaloo paced the area, making sure her body was as snow free as she could before she groaned, winced, and looked to the clear blue sky. “I left my coat and boots in there.”

        She was ready to excercise her wings and just hop-fly home, but the door opened and Apple Bloom exited…. Followed by Rumble and the new pony.

        Scootaloo’s body froze as she noticed her coat in the mouth of Rumble.  His breath getting caught in her sleeve; the thought was numbing.

        “Scootaloo?  Scootaloo?!”

        She gasped and blinked at Apple Bloom who was smirking, inches from her own muzzle. “Guh!?  What?!  I wasn’t thinking anything just now!  Really.”

        “Yeah, Ah could tell,” Apple Bloom drawled, “Ah got yer boots and,” she winked to Scootaloo, “Rumbles got yer coat there, in his mouth.  He gobbled his whole meal just to make sure you got it, right Rumble?”

        The colt smiled warmly to Scootaloo and, with a flip of his head, sent the coat to Scootaloo, who let it cover her head as she inhaled deeply, unbeknownst to the others.

        “Yeah, it’s cold and I didn’t want your feathers to get hard.  I got wet the other day,” Rumble said adjusting his coat, “and my feathers froze, almost.  They were so hard and stiff… I swear I could see drops of water falling from the tips of each one as they thawed.”

        Apple Bloom pursed her lips and held back a giggle as the coat fell from Scootaloo’s head, showing the shocked face and fully extended wings she had.

        “Now, Ah think mah sis needs a bit’a time ta warm up herself; after jumpin’ inta the snow like that.  We’ll see y’all later.”

        “Oh, can I come?  I wanna see the town,” Gallop asked with a grin, food across his chin.

        “Why, Ah don’t see why not!  Only as long as Rumble tags along, though.”

        “I’d love to,” he chirped and fluttered his wings in excitement.

        “...” Scootaloo forced a confident grin, “great,” she replied as she fell in line with Apple Bloom leading the way.

        “Scootaloo, you walk with Rumble, Ah know the perfect place ta go.  Ah wanna talk with Gallop s’more.”

        Rumble stopped and waited for Scootaloo to catch up and matched her pace.  “So, what’re you doing tomorrow?”

        “Uhm, well, I dunno yet. Probably playing at the pond with Apple Bloom and my moms, maybe, probably, Pinkie Pie,” she said nervously.

        “Wow, you have a lot planned, can I come?  I wanna show Gallop how to make a real snowpony, he says he knows how but I don’t believe it; they don’t keep enough snow in Manehattan.”

        “Oh, I didn’t know that,” Scootaloo replied as she looked ahead several paces, Apple Bloom and the new colt were talking on their own.  She was alone, essentially, with Rumble.  “So, did you go to Manehattan then?”

        “Nah, Gallop’s my penpal friend.  Don’t let him fool ya, he’s got a city attitude,” Rumble said softer, “he’s not afraid to fight for his friends, like you did with Diamond Tiara.”

        Scootaloo looked ahead and blinked. “Did he get into a fight with Diamond?”

        Rumble sighed and looked at the snowy gravel just ahead of him.  “Yes.”

        “And, he’s the one who cut her muzzle?”

        “What?  No,” he replied incredulously before a trace of a smirk crossed his muzzle, “the ground did when she tripped running from him.”

        Scootaloo grinned. “Ha, so she’s all flank hurt over hurting herself?”

        “Oh, she got a good hoof to the chest and a buck to the ribs,” he added, “but the first thing she did when she saw us was start teasing us.  Gallop doesn’t play with bullies,” he shrugged, “and she’s a bully.”

        “Yeah, true that,” Scootaloo chirped as she felt some tension leave her body and mind, “so, how’re you enjoying winter?”

        “It’s awesome!” Rumble shouted, garnering a couple amused glances from passersby, “a whole month of snow, fun, hot chocolate, friends, parties… just, it doesn’t end!”

        “I know!  I’ve been skating, played a dozen games like hockey, snow fights, snow boarding, skiing, some forts-”

        “I love snowball fights in forts!”

        “Me too!” Scootaloo replied flapping her wings, taking a slight hover. “Wanna come with me?  … Tothepond!” She blurted.

        “I’d love to!  It’s gonna be awesome.  We can have teams,” he looked ahead and leaned closer to Scootaloo, who dropped to the ground, “Pegasi versus earth pony, huh?”

        Scootaloo looked ahead and furrowed her brows. “Yeah, I can get behind that.”

        “I’m behind you, no matter what,” Rumble said with an innocent nod.

        Scootaloo felt her throat tighten at his last comment.

        …

        “So, this here’s Sweet Apple Acres,” Apple Bloom announced proudly, “and we’re goin’ round the side here ta get t’our clubhouse; home of the Cutie Mark Crusaders.  Ah’m thinkin’ y’all can join up as honorary members,” she finished as she climbed through the fence.

        Scootaloo flew over the fence and landed with a pose. “Yeah, that’s how it’s done.”

        “That was really cool,” Rumble and Gallop said in unison.

        Scrambling through the fence they laughed as they got tripped up and began tossing hoof fulls of snow at each other.

        “Apple Bloom,” Scootaloo asked hoarsely, “why’re you in such a rush to get to the clubhouse?”

        “Ah’ll make a distraction and get Gallop outside with me, leaving you two alone,” Scootaloo gulped, “don’t worry, sis, Ah’ve got yer back.”

        “I… I don’t need to be alone with him,” Scootaloo whispered, “I can’t even talk to him!”

        “Well, ya best learn quick,” Apple Bloom giggled.

        “Hey!  Why’d you leave us alone back there?”

        “Cuz, ya need ta toss snow and it don’t involve us.”

        “Oh, sorry, Miss Bloom.” The others laughed at Gallop. “What?”

        “Mah name’s Apple Bloom, ain’t no ‘Miss’ about me.”

        “Well, let’s see about that,” he said jubilantly.

        “Huh?! Oomf,” Apple Bloom stumbled to the side as a snowball struck her head.  “...Okay, it’s on…” she shook her head and scooped a snowball, packing it tight and threw it at Gallop, who ducked it.

        “Ha, there’s a ‘miss’ about you.”

        “Oh-ho-ho, now yer gonna get it,” Apple Bloom laughed as she gathered another snowball.

Happy Hearths Warming

        The room filled with gasps as Rainbow’s closest four friends, and marefriend, looked at the prismatic pegasus who was beaming, glowing with pride.

        “I-I can’t believe it, darling…  When did this happen?!”

        “It’s super-duper-rific!  I can’t believe I didn’t see it earlier, I was practically there!”

        “It’s was bound to happen,” Twilight giggled.

        “Oh, I’m so happy for you, Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy said as she smiled warmly.

        “Oh yeah,” Applejack looked at Rainbow and tipped her hat, “she took ta flying a couple days ago.  Reckon it was hard as herding a pack’a parasprites by my lonesome, but she stayed down ta show y’all tonight.”

        Amidst the hoof stomps, whistles, and cheers; Rainbow hovered proudly.

        “Okay, girls,” Rainbow’s voice cracked, “time ta get ready!  Let’s rock this pageant,” she pumped her hoof as the girls looked around the dressing room.

        “Ooo!  Ah, please, somepony catch me, I’m actually here,” Rarity said and waved a hoof, fanning herself.

        “Heh, it sure is somethin’ purty nice,” Applejack added as she dug into a box of set clothes, “can’t believe Ah’m gonna be Chancellor Pudding Head’s secretary!  Ah can’t think of a better pony ta have been cast,” she grinned as she held up a full body tunic.

        “Oh my, it certainly doesn’t leave much to the imagination,” Rarity pouted before she squealed in delight and tugged a flowing white and purple robe from a box and nuzzled it.

        “What’re you talking about, Rare-Rare?” Pinkie giggled as she stood tall and proud wearing her tunic backwards with her custom hat on her tail, “these things are full of historically accurate- Ooo!  Fluttershy, you look,” she paused to gaze at Fluttershy.

        “Um, P-Pinkie, do I look, alright?”

        Pinkie pulled herself into her tunic like a turtle and, a second later she was wearing her costume correctly.  She barreled toward Fluttershy and sat next to her on her haunches, wagging her tail and looking around.

        Fluttershy quickly leaned over and whispered in Pinkie’s ear, sending a series of vibrating chills down the pink mare’s back.  Pinkie cooed and fell to her belly with a goofy grin across her muzzle.

        “You two are so random,” Rainbow said as she placed her helmet on her head.  “Oh yeah, that’s the stuff,” she said, adjusting it, “Commander Hurricane is in the castle,” she said flying over to a mirror and looking at her reflection.

        A gust of wind blew a nearby window open sending a heavy chilled wind through the room and within a few seconds hooves were being pointed at who should close it.

        Finally, Twilight closed the windows just as Spike announced the beginning of the Hearths Warming Eve Tale.

        “Oh my goodness,” Rarity shouted as she galloped around and made sure her makeup, crown, and cape were on properly while the others adjusted their costumes.

        “It’s time to start, let’s get into our places!” Pinkie whooped and tumbled, cart wheeled, and flipped around the room, landing by the curtains with a loud hush to the others. “Keep quiet,” she stage whispered, “they need to concentrate.”

        One of the actors on set, a pegasi, shot Pinkie a mean look while he was taking food from earth ponies.  Pinkie mouthed the words ‘sorry’ and looked back to her friends who were slightly nervous.

        Applejack patted Rainbow’s hooves as the blue mare nervously hovered above them.  With grace, she lowered and kissed the hoof that was outstretched to her and smiled.

        “Darlin’ just lookit me when yer nerves get on ya, Ah’m here ta keep ya strong.”

        Rainbow nodded fervantly as she sweated under her helmet and bit her bottom lip.

        “Rainbow Dash, it’s no reason to be nervous,” Twilight said as she looked across the others, “we’re all scared, but think about Fluttershy.  Be strong for her, right, Commander Hurricane?”

        Rainbow grinned daringly. “You bet!  No way Commander Hurricane is gonna be afraid of a little stage play.  She led the ponies of Stratopolis to Equestria creating Pegasopolis, no pony ever did anything that epic,” she grinned to the acting chancellors.

        “Well, darling, now that that is out of your system, let’s get ready,” Rarity said before she began to hum in various octaves, “the show won’t wait for any of-”

        “Tribal leaders, you’re on,” the stage manager called.

        “-Eep.”

        “You can do it, ‘Shy!  We gotta get this done so we can try out that costume,” Pinkie giggled as she pronked into her place.

        “Good luck, ladies,” a stagehand said as he pushed a set of prop doors open and, with Spike’s narration, they began their parts in the play.

…

...

        “Whoo-wee, that went better than harvest time on the farm,” Applejack sighed happily as she traded her costume hat for her stetson and settled it firmly on her head just before she finished replacing the costume into the box and closed it tight.

        “Ugh, I certainly hope they launder these promptly,” Rarity scoffed as she pushed a closed box away from her, her ears swiveled and a grin crossed her face as she heard the hasty pattering of hooves.  “And the girls are here,” she said looking at a stage door.

        The cutie mark crusaders barged through a door, giggling happily as they raced around their sisters and mothers.

        “That was such a great play,” Sweetie Belle commented as she stood between Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, “I can’t believe that there was a time we weren’t in harmony.”

        “Yeah, what if we were livin’ like that right now?  Would we be the cutie mark crusaders?”

        “I don’t think so, Apple Bloom,” Scootaloo said with a worried look, “we’d probably never even meet…  I don’t like the sound of that.”

        “Me neither.”

        “Ah’m gonna stay extra harmonious and be friends ferev’r,” Apple Bloom chimed happiply in a heavy accent.

        “And how,” Applejack agreed with a swipe of her hoof.

        “Okay, okay, enough of that, I have a hunger pain and Ah’m getting somethin’ to eat, who’s down for some Donut Joe’s?”

        “Rainbow,” Twilight asked, “you’ve eaten six times today.  Even for a pegasi, that’s a lot.  Are you feeling well?”

        “I’m inclined to agree, Rainbow, one rarely eats that much without some type of illness… Oh my, you’re not,” she pointed inside her muzzle and made a vomit motion.

        “What?  Puking?  I’m eating, Rares, sheesh.”

        “What she means,” Fluttershy said stepping closer, “is that you aren’t eating healthy, either.”

        “Yeah!” Pinkie appeared from a closed box. “I know unhealthy eating and you’re doing it!  Pickles, onion, zucchini ice cream with sour cream?” All the mares made ‘gross’ faces. “Even I wouldn’t eat that, and I’ve eaten rocks stuffed inside cardboard that was soaked in spit… what?”

        “Uhhmm,” Rarity said shaking her head and refocusing on Rainbow Dash, “we’re just, growing concerned.  Certainly Applejack, your spouse and mate, can attest to the awkward diet you’ve taken up recently.”

        “Look, gals, it’s no biggie,” Rainbow waved them off with a casual motion, “I just have… I mean, I want to try new things.  And if you haven’t tried sour cream on your ice cream then you don’t know what you’re missing.”

        “I think I’ll pass,” Twilight grimaced. “Applejack, doesn’t her recent diet bother you?  She’s even been eating fish a lot more as of late.”

        “Well, Ah ain’t one ta complain about another’s diet, long as there’s a heapin’ of apples ta go with it.”

        “Ugh, girls, I’m fine, we’re fine, all’s fine!  Look,” Rainbow did a backflip and landed in a trot, “see, just a case of the hungies.”

        Applejack cleared her throat and motioned to the fillies. “And, let’s not ferget about these darlin’s.  Ain’t’cha famished?”

        “Meh,” Scootaloo shrugged with the others, “it’s kinda fun watching you all get excited.  And you think sour cream ice cream is weird?” Scootaloo rolled her eyes as Rainbow waved and gestured for the filly to stop, unnoticed by all except Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.

“She’s been eating apple pies with anchovies and onions late at night, pickles and fritters, peanut butter and jelly, and a whole lotta juice… every night.  It’s like she’s trying to get fat,” Scootaloo said looking at Rainbow, who now had her hooves around her neck, acting like she was strangling herself… then she pointed to Scootaloo who gulped.

        “Rainbow Dash, darling,” Rarity started and gathered all the attention back to the mare hovering just above and behind them, “is this true?  Are you attempting to gain weight?  Your petite and athletic figure are your most endearing traits-”

        “And you look super skinny and tough too,” Pinkie interjected, ignoring the frown Raroty was giving her, “and if you wanna put on a few inches; I say have at it, sister.”

        “She’s right, Rainbow,” Twilight added with a stomp of her hoof, “it’s your body and if you wanna get… plump, then you go right ahead.”

        “We’ll support you no matter what,” Fluttershy added with a nod, “because we’re your best friends and we love you for who you are, not how big you are.”

        Rainbow facehoofed and groaned.  “I’m not trying to get fat, can we just drop it?”

        “Well,” Pinkie tapped her chin, “sounds like you’re pregnant… but you can’t be; you’re with AJ, and we all know she doesn’t… have, uh?  Why’s everypony looking at me like that?”

        Pinkie turned to look among her friends who were glaring at her. “You can be as funny as you wish with the rest of us, Miss Pie,” Rarity raised a hoof and waggled it in a scolding way, “but do not make fun of our friend in such a way.”

        “I agree,” Twilight nodded and pointed to Rainbow Dash, “eating disorders are no laughing matter and you never tell a mare she looks pregnant, especially during the holidays!”

        “Yes, Pinkie-Winkie, that’s not very kind of you.”

        “Wow,” Sweetie Belle whispered to the other crusaders, “this’ better than the play.  Let’s see if they get harmonious again.”

        “Or if windego’s freeze them all,” Scootaloo snickered.

        “Oh, sister popsicles?!” Apple Bloom added as all three giggled quietly.

        “Nah, I’d say they’d just hug it out before the next five minutes.”

        “Ugh, Spike, can’t you just play along?”

        “Hey, I’ve been watching quietly since the start; it always goes the same way.  They’ll fight, something dangerous or scary will happen, they’ll make peace, hug it out, and… see, there you go.”

        The cutie mark crusaders gasped and frowned. “We missed the thing,” Apple Bloom mumbled as they hung their heads.

        “Bah, don’t fret none, sis,” Applejack said softly as she tilted her sisters chin up, “we’ve got a hum-dinger of a story ta share at supper.  We’re goin’ ta Donut Joe’s, so saddle up.”

        The crusaders and Spike grinned widely before splitting up.

        Spike ran and jumped onto Twilight’s back, holding on with his legs as the mare trotted and gossiped with Rarity and Fluttershy; Sweetie Belle began a side conversation with the whelp.

        Scootaloo strained herself but hovered beside Rainbow Dash and got a noogie for her efforts, while Apple Bloom asked Applejack how it was acting in the play.

Happy Hearths Warming Eve 2

        “Whoo-hoo!” Pinkie shouted as she cartwheeled into Donut Joe’s and all the way to the counter. “I want a dozen frosted, please!”

        “Uh, yeah, sure,” Joe responded with a raised eyebrow, “ya sure ya should be havin’ more sugar?”

        “Hmm… YES!” She laughed maniacally.

        “Pinkamena Pie?!”  Pinkie gasped and stood on all fours as stiff as a stuffed doll.

Is that any way to behave in public?”

        “N-no, Flutters.  I’m sorry,” she said meekly, “I just get so excited over sweets, you know.”

        The mares and fillies, plus one awkward dragon, entered the shop after Fluttershy, who was scolding Pinkie along her way to the counter. “Sorry?  You needn’t apologize to me, apologize to mister Joe and his customers for that display,” Fluttershy stated as she approached the pink party pony.

        Pinkie giggled and jumped under a nearby table.  Within two seconds the first of several customers gasped, shrieked, or yelped in surprise as Pinkie appeared next to each one of them, staggered across the restaurant, apologizing to each of them.

        Pinkie lastly appeared behind Joe and lay across his back with a grin. “Sorry, Mister Joe-Joe.  I didn’t know-know what got into me,” she giggled as she was bucked off his body and to the floor.  He turned to yell at her, but she was gone.  “So, better, ‘Shy?” Pinkie asked as she stood behind her friends.

        “Ran-dom,” Rainbow said with a roll of her eyes as she flew to the counter. “So, I’ll take a six muffins,” she looked back to her friends, “two glasses of juice, a coffee; large, four jelly donuts, a plain bagel, three cupcakes… and,” she tapped a tune on the counter before gasping in delight, “a side of each sauce you have.”

        “Um, Rainbow, darling, I appreciate you ordering for all of us-”

        “What? Rarity, this’ for me.  I’m gonna need shome shnacks tonight too,” she chuckled and rolled her eyes at the silly remark, “hey Joe, box ‘em up, I’ll eat what I need… and mix all the sauces; they’re gonna be mixed anyway,” she giggled patting her tummy. All the others gawked at her while Applejack hid her face behind her hat. “I’ll be at the table, see ya there!”

        She flew a little too quickly to a booth table, causing napkins and loose articles of winter clothing to fall to the floor from the tabletops.

        The group looked at Applejack as she slunk toward the counter. “Ah-Ah’ll take one apple fritter, please.”

        “Make that two!” Rainbow shouted from across the room.

        Applejack was visibly embarrassed as her face was turning a shade of pink that was rarely seen by them. “Yeah, what she said… what’s the damage?”

        Joe looked at Applejack, to Rainbow, then to the rest of the group… then shrugged. “Thirty eight bits… wait, forty two, with those fritters added on.”

        Applejack groaned and reached into her saddlebag, producing a 50 bit coin. “Keep the change,” she smiled, “and have a good’n.”

        “Whatever,” he mumbled, “next?”

        Applejack trotted toward the table Rainbow had chosen and glared at her. “...What?” Rainbow asked curiously.

        “‘What’?” Applejack grumbled toward the floor then looked back to Rainbow, “just that yer eatin’ like a parasprite durin’ the harvest festival.”

        “AJ, what’s with all the parasprite-isms?” Rainbow asked as she crossed her forelegs, “run outta other animals ta tease?”

        “Hrmph.  Who needs an animal when Ah’ve got you?”

        “Woah, no pillow talk in front of the gals,” Rainbow winked.  Applejack sighed and scooted her way next to Rainbow.

        “Rainbow, you feelin’ okay?  Like, really?  Ah ain’t seen ya eat this much, or anypony ‘cept Pinkie Pie, and it’s startin’ ta show.  Ah didn’t wanna bring it up, but yer gettin’ a bit-”

        “Pudgy?  Yeah, I know.  It’s gonna happen; I read so.  And before you laugh, I can read more than Daring Do… when I have to,” she dropped her voice to a whisper as the others of the group began filing over, post order placement. “And I’ll just have to work it off a little bit at a time over the next couple weeks.”

        Applejack couldn’t let it go that easily and used her hat as a shield to get in a last word. “Darlin’ it ain’t gonna go away easy, slow down on the chow.”

        With that she gave Rainbow a peck on the cheek and replaced her hat.

        “Well, I must say that your appetite is certainly, voracious,” Rarity said as she sat beside Applejack, “I do hope you aren’t trying to add fluff for the winter chill,” she joked, “our coats are thick enough as it is.”  She laughed haughtily.

        “Uh, reckon ya got somethin’ stuck in yer teeth, Rarity… best ya check in the mirror.”

        Rarity gasped and forced her way out of the booth and nearly knocked Twilight over in her rush to the restroom, her lips pursed tightly.

        “So, she was joking gain?” Twilight asked, taking Rarity’s spot, leaving a space between herself and Applejack out of respect.

        “Heh, yeah.  She’s Rarity, ya know.  She’s cool, but sometimes she should think before she talks,” Rainbow said as she laid her chin on Applejack’s shoulder, “right, Fritter?”

        “Yeah, right,” Twilight droned as she rolled her eyes, “anyway, with the stuff you ordered I think we’ll need another table… Are you two alright? You look, flustered?”

        “Meh, we’re fine as ever.  Heck,” Rainbow glanced to Applejack, “I think the three of us are doing just fine.”  Applejack sniffled awkwardly as Twilight glanced between the two.

        “Yeah, I know we’re all fine, but I was asking about you two.  I think you’re hiding something, but I can’t put my hoof on it,” Twilight tapped her chin as Fluttershy and Pinkie trotted over, the former doing so backwards.

        “Are you talking about the weird way those two are acting?” Pinkie asked as she stood on her forelegs and balanced herself on a large bright ball with a star on it.

        They chose to ignore Pinkie being Pinkie, and where the ball came from. “Well, as a matter of fact, I was.  Something’s funny and it isn’t the pranks…  Ohh, Twilight is understanding now,” Twilight winked at Rainbow Dash, “this’ a prank to make us think you’re trying to get fat.  Ha ha,” she droned sarcastically, “but that’s not very funny.”

        “Rainbow, I thought you were-” Fluttershy started before Pinkie shoved a cupcake into her muzzle.

        “Eat this, you’re cupcake to kindness ratio is way off!”

        The mares at the table stared for a moment before looking at Twilight, dismissing the disappearance of the ball and sudden cupcake. “Well, anyway,” Rainbow started, “I don’t know about y’all, but I’m gettin a might famished.  Where’s our food?”

        “Ugh,” Twilight groaned, “it’s been two minutes and it’s not even a meal; it’s a treat, one that you’re overindulging in, by the way.”

        “Bah,” Applejack waved Twilight back from leaning a little too close, “let her eat, ain’t hurtin’ no pony.  Hey-a fillies, what’d ya get?”

        “We got some donuts,” the crusaders said in unison as they took a seat in a nearby table, “and a couple drinks,” Apple Bloom added.

        “Sounds like a good snack, but we gotta think of what ta have fer supper.  Chow time’s passed but we’ve still gotta eat a balanced meal,” she looked pointedly at Rainbow.

        “AJ, c’mon,” Rainbow sighed, “I’m totally having a salad, but that doesn’t mean I can’t balance it with some sweets.”

        “Well,” Rarity said as she approached from the restroom, smiling proudly, “as long as she’s happy then I, for one, don’t mind… would you mind scooting over some, Fluttershy?”  Fluttershy nodded and moved further in with Pinkie, making room for Rarity on the end.  “And here comes the first of our snacks.”

        Rainbow grinned widely. “Nope, just mine… lookit all the boxes,” she pointed and bounced in place clapping her hooves as a unicorn brought our five boxes and two mugs of drinks in his magic to the table. “Ohboyohboyohboy!” She clapped and giggled as the stallion set the drinks and boxes in front of her.

        The others looked on, Spike finally approaching and hopping in to sit next to Twilight in the small space she’d left for him. “Wow, Rainbow Dash, you eat like a growing dragon should be eating,” he snickered and ribbed Twilight, getting a scoff in reply.

        Rainbow opened the first box and began eating ravenously.

        “Rainbow Dash, mayhaps you should slow down?  I would like to enjoy my snack with the rest of you.”

        Rainbow gulped a whole muffin and smiled as she grabbed a mug and brought it to her lips. “Lighten up.”

        “Rainbow, I have to say, I am becoming most concerned!  You’re eating is most uncouth and unhealthy, if this is some form of depression we, your friends are all here for you.”

        “Grrruh!  It’s not a big deal!  Can we just drop it,” Rainbow grabbed a donut and balanced it on her nose.

        “No, Rarity is right,” Twilight said as she gave a warm smile to Rainbow, “we’re all here for you.  You seem to be different, and if you have a problem, please let us help you.  Applejack, you’re with her all the time, can you shed any light on what’s making her so hungry and moody?”

        Applejack took her hat off and used it as a barrier while she leaned toward Rainbow’s ear. “What in tarnation are ya expectin’ ta say now?”

        “AJ, you’re more than capable of blowing them off, just let us eat… she wants sweets, I’m giving her sweets.”

        “RD, Ah swear, y’all use her as an excuse fer everything… and what if it’s a colt?”

        “Um, I don’t mean to interrupt, but are you both alright?” Fluttershy asked.

        Applejack replaced her hat on top her head and huffed. “Reckon it’s my job ta take care’a this, once and fer all.  Ah was gonna wait… We were gonna wait, but it’s time ta come clean.”  Rainbow coughed violently and began flailing her forelimbs.  “Rainbow, drink somethin’ and let me talk… less’n ya wanna?”

        Rainbow slumped in place and blushed,her wings opened in her anxiety and she raised her fetlocks to her chest as she gulped her mouth clear. She whimpered and with a last, pleading glance to Applejack, she grinned nervously at her friends around the table, glancing between them all..

        “Girls, Spike, fillies… Ah’m a member of the Apple family and, soon enough, Rainbow will be too… and our little one with her.”

        “...” The group was silent.

        “Ah’m sayin’ that we’re gonna be mother’s, gals.  Rainbow’s carryin’ our baby, and we’d appreciate your help and support along the way.

Happy Hearths Warming Eve 3

The group fell so silent they could hear each other's breathing.

Even Pinkie was still and silent.

All eyes were on Applejack and Rainbow Dash, scanning them for signs of a prank or joke.

Post Winter Wrap-up Event

Happy Hearths Warming Eve 4

Oh. My. Gosh.

Oh. My. Gosh.

Oh. My. Gosh.

Oh. My. Gosh.

Oh. My. Gosh.

Oh. My. Gosh.

Oh. My. Gosh.

Oh! My! Gosh!

Oh! My! Gosh!

Pinkie was the first to break the silence as the others began to smirk.  Then smile.  Then grin.

Oh. My. Gosh.

Within a few seconds the group erupted into questions and congratulations, giggles and gawking.

Oh. My. Gosh.

        Rainbow grinned awkwardly through her embarrassment as Applejack puffed her chest proudly and weathered the chatter.

Oh. My. Gosh.

        Twilight stopped asking questions to Applejack. “Pinkie, are you alright?”

”THIS IS GOING TO BE THE MOST AMAZING PARTY I’VE EVER DONE!”

Pinkie screamed.  The windows rattled and hooves covered ears that had flattened to every head in the restaurant. “Dashie!  I can’t believe it!  I can’t believe it!  When?!  How?!” she beamed a smile that was nerve rattling to everypony at the table.

Stremers.

        “Woah, Sugarcube, Ah’ll explain it all in a tick, let’s just not get our saddles turned sideways.  One at a time.”

Red, blue, pink, green!  I have to get more!

        “I’m so glad for you both, dears.  I never imagined you two for family mares, to be honest, but since you’ve taken in Scootaloo you’ve been fantastic role models.”

Confetti!  Barrels and barrels of confetti!

        “Thanks, Rares.”

        “I have a question,” Twilight started as the gaggling had turned into a turn based question round, “how, exactly, did this,” she grinned and looked at the table that Rainbow’s lower belly, ”happen?!”

Can’t forget balloons!  -gasp- I need hot air balloons so everypony know how big this party is.

        The table agreed, now with fillies at the far end buzzing with excitement.

        “Alright, reckon some explanation is in order.”

I’ll get my party cannon oiled and primed.

        Applejack explained the day of the procedure, the doctor misunderstanding, and the trip back.  Rainbow added a few details about the trainride back that melted the hearts of every mare there.

        “So, let me get this straight,” Scootaloo chimed in as she and the other fillies stood, their forelegs against the table, “you mean not only am I in a family with the most awesome mare in Equestria… I’m gonna be a sister too?!”  She squealed in delight as the other crusaders dropped to all fours and began talking about plans to have the youngest member of their club join.

I have a list somewhere in my mane for what I might need.

        “I am so happy for you.  I had my suspicions, though,” Fluttershy said leaning on the table and looking pointedly at Rainbow Dash, “like the emotions.”

        “And the eating,” Rarity added with a smirk.

Oh. My. Gosh.  I never even thought about Rainbow being the mommy!

        “And the sappiness,” Twilight winked at Rainbow.

        “Look, alright, I’ve been a bit,moody,” the others giggled at Rainbow’s self interpretation, “but look, I’m still gonna be me!  I can still fly, fight monsters, and beat any pony at anything,” she said with a daring sneer.  “Who’s first?”

        “Ugh, Rainbow, darling, you needn’t be so brash.  We’re happy for you as you are, not as you want us to see you.  I know that I couldn’t, and wouldn’t, challenge you to anything outside of the fashion industry.”

        “Bleh, no thanks.  You can keep your fru-fru lacey getups to yourself.”

        Applejack ribbed Rainbow, causing a squeak of pained surprise. “Darlin’, yer gonna hafta wear somethin’ on our weddin’ day.”

        Pinkie appeared behind Rainbow and wrapped her forelegs around the blue mare’s chest, lifting her from her seat.  “Pinkie?!  What the hay, put me down!  Lemme go!”

        “Look, girls, she has a baby-bump!” Pinkie shouted over the fracas she had created eliciting gasps of awe and sending Rainbow into a blush that rivaled any Fluttershy had shown, ever.  “Isn’t it awesome.”

        “Awe-awesome?  What’re you talking about, Pinkie?” Rainbow stammered as she opened her wings, pushing Pinkie off her body and landing on the table, turning to look at her friends’ expressions.  “Y-you’re not, mad, or grossed out?”

        “Why would you think that, Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy asked in surprise

Rainbow opened her wings and flapped, taking to a hover, circling over the table and looking down at her friends. “Because, I’m not gonna be me, anymore.

“Not gonna be you?!  Who else would you be, silly filly?  There’s only one sonic rainbooming, zip-zap-zooming, twirly-whooming Rainbow Dash in the whole world!”  Pinkie pointed at Rainbow with a grin.   "Wow!  I got pink text!"

        “Girls, I think what Rainbow is trying to say... wait, 'pink text?'  Anyway, what I think Rainbow is trying to say is that she needs our help,” Twilight said looking around, and she’s going to get it, right?”  Everypony and dragon nodded fervently. “So, there you have it.  Rainbow Dash, You’re one of my best friends, and nothing will change that.”

        A pair of unicorns arrived with boxes of donuts, muffins, and other sweets for the mares’ orders to be complete.  “Congratulation, Donut Joe’s giving you a member card, good for two free donuts,” one stallion said as he levitated a small card to Rainbow Dash before droning. “Thank you and come back soon.”

        “Well, he sucked the fun from the room.  He needs a balloon, be right back, gals.”  With that Pinkie slipped under the table and was gone.

Yay, more Pink text!  Hi mister Grumpy!  Have a smile! Boom          Ahhh, confetti in my eyes!

        “...So, Ah reckon Ah’m mighty glad ta have t’all as friends.  We both are.  Soon, we’re gonna have a weddin’ the likes Ponyville hasn’t seen.  Then…” she grinned proudly, “we’re gonna have a baby in the house and keep the Apple name goin’.”

        “Woah, woah, woah,” Rainbow interjected, “who said we were gonna name her after an apple?”

        “Who said we weren’t?” Applejack countered with a sparkle in her eye.

        “Ah didn’t agree ta nothin’ ‘bout namin’ her, but Ah…” Rainbow looked around the table and blushed, landing where she was sitting, “I, uh, guess we’ll have to talk about it… after we eat?”

        Another round of laughter settled the tone for the rest of the evening.

Start of a School Year

Post Winter Wrap-up Event

        “So, mah Apple Fritter,” Rainbow sighed as she lay across Applejack’s forelegs on a grassy knoll in the apple orchard, “how are you feeling?” The sun was rising as they shared the cool spring morning, soft grass beneath them, and quiet, save for the leaves of the apple trees rustling.

        “Heh, Ah’m as happy as any mare ever was.  It’s springtime, so that means we have to,” she looked down and leaned in to nip one of Rainbow’s ears, “get married soon.”

        Rainbow’s ear twitched away from the light bite but she still moaned softly. “I’m still scared, but I can do it.  Just, after the baby’s born.”

        “Rainbow,” Applejack sighed and squeezed her eyes closed in frustration before she continued, “we’ve talked about this.  Ain’t no use puttin’ it off if it’s gonna happen.  Waitin’ til the baby’s here just gives ya another reason to postpone t’all.  A baby now, then whatever comes after…  Ah c’n wait a lifetime fer you, Sugarplum, but that doesn’t mean Ah wanna.”

        Rainbow lay back down with a grumble.  “Ah’m hungry, but Ah’m getting fat.  Look at my hips, AJ!” Rainbow rolled to her side and looked at her flanks. “My cloud looks like a cumulonimbus!”

        “Rainbow, it ain’t-”

        “I could land a dirigible on it,” she pouted and rubbed her cutie mark, “mah perfect body is ruined, forever!  I’ll never be a super athlete anymore, I’ll be too heavy to do any stunts,” her eyes watered, “and then I won’t be able to fly more than a few hundred feet and even then I’ll be slow, and ugly, and no pony will race me or think Ah’m awesome anymore and-” she was cut off by Applejack leaning down and blowing a raspberry on her belly.

        Rainbow broke into laughs as she pushed Applejack away. “What the hay, AJ?”

        “Yer just havin’ a mood.  Tell me, ain’t ya feelin’ better now?”

        “Ah guess.  It’s just, Ah don’t feel attractive anymore.  If I’m fat now, what’ll it be like in a few months when I’m ready to have her?” she began to pout again, with a trembling lower lip.

        “Love, ya ain’t fat.  Ya ain’t even chubby, large, or big.  Yer pregnant and as cute as the moment Ah saw ya crash inta that tree over there.”

        Rainbow turned her head and looked at the tree Applejack was pointing at. “That one?  Wow, ya sure have a good memory.”

        “Nah, just guessin’.  Ah reckon that tree’s lost somewhere, with a knot where yer head hit it.”

        “Yeah, thanks for that memory.  Ah had a headache for a whole day and no bits to see a doctor.”

        “Right, but I helped and wrapped yer head up nice and tight.”

        “That’s the first time Ah got somethin’ tight from you.”

        Applejack blushed. “Really?  Yer makin’ that inta somethin’, like that?”

        “Like what?  Sexual?  Hot?  Horny?  Damn it… I’m turning myself on,” Rainbow frowned and blushed as well.

        “Well, ya brought that one on yerself,” she poked Rainbow in the belly, “and he ain’t helpin’ any.”

        “She.”

        “He.”

“She.”

        “He, and that’s final.”

        “It ain’t up to you.  Ah’m the mom, Ah say she, so that’s that.  Isn’t that right?  You’re gonna be the second fastest mare in Equestria,” she said softly as she patted her belly, “just like yer moms.”

        “Ah know, Sugarcube.  Ah’ve never known ya ta quit and this’ one thing that’s always gonna be on your mind and memory.  Just think, a year ago we were fightin’ monsters and racing around like a couple’a colts.  Now, we’re here.”

        The sun was nearly done rising as Applejack finished speaking and they spent the next few minutes in silence.  “AJ, I think I have a name for our baby.”

        “Oh really, now?” Applejack asked with serious interest, “what might it be?”  Rainbow sat up and leaned in, whispering into Applejack’s ear.  With a knowing smile Applejack nodded. “Darlin’, Ah think that’s the best name ya’ve come up with yet.  Ah’ll add it to the list, near the top.”

        “Above ‘Dashpple’, right?”  Applejack guffawed and pushed Rainbow in the shoulder as she got up and began galloping back towards the farmhouse.  “Hey!  I was joking when we thought of that and you said you were gonna take it off the list,” Rainbow protested as she opened her wings and took to the air flying after Applejack.

        “Awe, c’mon, Dash.  The baby ain’t messin’ up yer flying again, is he?”

        “No, she isn’t.  Ah swear, AJ, yer carrying the next one and I’m totally gonna tease you back.”

        Applejack slowed to a quick trot and let Rainbow catch up. “So, ya admit ya wanna have another with me?  Ah reckon there was a mare, just like you, who said she wasn’t ever carryin’ a baby,” she stuck out her tongue.

        Rainbow rolled her eyes as she lowered to a comfortable height in front of Applejack and began flying slowly inverted. “Yeah, but Scoots is a great daughter and you’re the perfect mare for me.  I don’t really see why we can’t have one more, but the next one is yours.”

        Applejack laughed softly. “They’re ours, love.  Ain’t no denyin’ that, right?”

        Rainbow sighed. “Yeah… I can’t believe how sappy you made me.  I should be fighting monsters and doing stunts for the Wonderbolts, instead here I am, in the orchard with you and talking about family.  Our family, AJ!  Rainbow Dash and Applejack Apple.  Mothers.  Married!” Rainbow stunned herself with the realization.

        “Don’t sound too excited there, ya might smile,” Applejack teased.

        “No, think about it,” she leveled out and landed next to Applejack, folding her wings and stumbling once before matching Applejack’s pace, “if it wasn’t for that one night.  That one spell.  That one kiss.  I never would have been this happy and, with my best friend.  We’d never have all this,” Rainbow said as she took a seductive look and puckered her lips, leaning into Applejack.

        “Well, Ah reckon Ah’m inclined to agree,” she replied as she slowed and leaded to kiss Rainbow.

        A second later she coughed as a cloud of dust engulfed her. “Ha, you can’t beat me!  I’m still the fastest mare in Equestria!”

        “Oh, that’s it!  Ya don’t get ta use kissin’ as a distraction,” Applejack grinned as she took off at full speed after Rainbow.  “Ah’m gonna make ya pay fer cheatin’!  Just wait til we get home.”

        With a sharp turn Rainbow turned down the path away from the farmhouse and back toward the road. “See ya at home, then!”

        Applejack grumbled as she began to catch up to Rainbow before she realized the rush to get home.

        The fillies were having a sleepover at Sweetie Belle’s before school.  The orchard was going to be fine for a few hours and since she’d cut the staff by half to keep a hoof on the farm more that left her mornings free, if she chose.

        Free to be alone, at home, with a horny, pregnant Rainbow Dash.

        A warmth filled Applejack’s chest and a tingle she knew all too well under her tail sent her into a gallop that brought her neck to neck with Rainbow.

        “What the?!  AJ?  How’d you catch up?  I was so far ahead you shouldn’t see anything but my tail… or what’s under it,” she winked as she pressed more speed into herself and pulled ahead.

        “Darlin’, Ah swear yer gonna eat those words before Ah’m done with ya.”

        “Ha!” Rainbow called back, “that’s not all I wanna eat.”

        Applejack stumbled and nearly fell, catching herself but losing too much speed to catch the cyan mare.  “That mare’s gonna be the biggest chore Ah’ve ever had,” she smirked as she trotted now toward the house, still in the distance.

        …

        “Rainbow, ya home?  Ah didn’t see ya get here but if’n yer not home Ah guess Ah can-”

        “I’m upstairs relaxing.  C’mon up.”

        Applejack rolled her eyes.  Another nap for the pregnant mare, just what she needed to get the mood going. She rolled her eyes and imagined, at least, watching Rainbow snooze for a while.

        Applejack slapped the door with her tail, shutting it with a slam, she took her hat off, rubbed her hooves clean on the magic rug, and ascended the stairs.

        “Okay, Ah’ll tuck ya in, sleepy head.  When ya wake up Ah... “ Her eyes widened to see Rainbow lying on the bed on her back, legs curled, wearing orange socks.  A large dildo lay across her belly.  “Oh my…”

        “Ah think it’s time ta take a nap with me, after I wear you out,” Rainbow winked to Applejack and waited for a reply.

        “R-Rainbow… Ah, uh, I mean…”

        “Shut up and mount me like the naughty mare you are.  I have the perfect fantasy, this time.  Hurry up, or I’ll start without you,” her brow furrowed, showing the seriousness in her claim.

        Applejack walked to the bed after nudging the door almost closed and taking little time to make it to the bed.  Taking in the sight of the submissive mare before her.

        Rainbow adjusted herself on the bed, staying in a submissive position.  “AJ, Ah feel kinda silly, can we start?  Ah’ll tell you the fantasy after we get goin’.”

        “Nnope.  Ah’m gonna do this right,” Applejack said climbing over Rainbow and looking at her, planting her forehooves beside Rainbow’s head and looking at her. “Rainbow, Ah love you more than Ah can say.  Ah really wish I had the words, but that ain’t me.  Ah just, love ya so much that if I had to, I’d march through tartarus with the world on my withers just to hold you.”

        “Awe, that’s pretty cool.”

        Applejack groaned and closed her eyes thinking of another way to say her piece.  “Look, if Ah had to, I’d grow wings and check every cloud to find you.”

        “Wow,” Rainbow’s eyes widened as she wrapped her legs around Applejack, “y-you’d do that for me?”

        “Ah wouldn’t even have to think about it,” she said as she leaned down and let her lips press against Rainbow’s.  Rainbow’s wings began to extend as the kiss ensued, their tongues dancing and fighting, trying to get into each other’s mouths as their breaths heated and grew faster.

        “Okay,” Rainbow panted between kisses and mewls into Applejack’s mouth as her body trembled with excitement, “the fantasy is... a mare really wants to get pregnant... so she goes to a baby doctor…”

        Applejack inhaled deeply and nuzzled Rainbow as she listened, panting seductively into Rainbow’s ear.

        “The doctor really likes her, and they’re alone for a long time because it’s lunch, or whatever, and she’s super hot and in heat and everything,” she continued as Applejack moaned and licked Rainbow’s neck in a small circle until she could feel the soft flesh beneath the fur and covered the area with her lips, sucking firmly.

        “Ahh-ah-ah-ah!  You’re gonna give me a hickey... Don’t stop.”

        “Mmm, then what happens?”

        “Oh, yeah,” Rainbow panted, “then he asks her to raise her rump so he can look at her, and then…”  Rainbow stopped as she felt Applejack sliding the dildo down her body.  With a nicker Rainbow relaxed and imagined a hot stallion that looked exactly like Applejack mounting her in an exam room.

        The toy rubbed against Rainbow’s vulva, a bit dry and uncomfortable at first before her moisture wettened it enough so it slipped inside her, just a little.  Enough to elicit a gasp from her as it was pressed firmly against her waiting hole then removed from her body, then slowly reentered her, repeating the pattern, deeper each time until she felt it as deep as it would go comfortably.

        Applejack knew just where to stop before slowly twisting it and moving it out, in, out, in.  “How’s that?  Feelin’ like Ah’m off to a good start?”  Rainbow bit her bottom lip and nodded as Applejack gave her a light kiss. “Good, cuz this doctor visit might take a while, Ah’m the best in the biz, and Ah’m a bit, pent up; This’ gonna be a thorough exam.”

        Applejack pulled the dildo almost from Rainbow’s body before sliding it back inside her, sending a tremble through both their bodies at Rainbow’s pleasure sounds.  Rainbow whimpered, moaned, then shuddered, adjusting herself as Applejack slid down her body, kissing and nipping as she went.  “Turn over, this is part of the exam.  Ah think Ah know how ta get ya pregnant, but we’re gonna have to try some different techniques.”

        Rainbow tittered and carefully rolled to her knees, lowering her front and keeping her tail to the side as best she could.  “Like this, Doctor AJ?”

        “Yeah, Ah think I can make this work, relax and think of the baby.”

        She bit the dildo and began moving it in and out of Rainbow, watching as it moved inside and out, the folds of Rainbow’s pussy moving with the fake member.  The scent.  The squishing sounds.  “Wait here, Ah’ve gotta get somethin’.”

        “Yes, Doctor AJ.”

        A moment of rummaging through the toy box at the foot of the bed and Applejack returned.  “Are ya ready for somethin’... new?”

        “New?” Rainbow asked, genuinely curious as she felt her body slowly be emptied of the dildo she’d grown to enjoy over the past few minutes.  “Yer not into new stuff, really.  What’s-”

        “Hush, Doctor’s orders.  Now, relax, this’ll be, interestin’ fer us both.”

        Rainbow nodded and stayed still as silent seconds passed.  She felt herself winking, waiting to be filled, tongued, hoofed, anything.Applejack finally made a shuddering sound and whinnied softly, then shifted onto the bed.  “AJ?  You okay?”

        A few seconds later she heard a telltale slurp as something left Applejack’s mouth.  Whatever it was, she was lubricating it with her mouth.  Rainbow waved her tail and felt it enter her again.  Soft and hard, it went past her special spot sending a wave of giggles though her before it stopped.  It withdrew completely and Applejack shifted on the bed again. “Doctor AJ?  C’mon, please, stop teasing me!”

        “Ah love ya winkin’ at me.  Ya ready?”

        “Celestia yes already, Ah need it, Ah need you inside me!”

        Applejack was silent as the toy reentered Rainbow’s body. “Oh yeah, it’s so big, Doctor AJ.  Are you always this naughty with your patients?”

        “Nnope, ah,” Applejack gasped.  A few motions later and Rainbow felt something odd.  She looked back to see Applejack’s tail pressing against her own as their pussies made contact.  “Ah, Ah’m inside you, so deep.  Is it good?” she asked moving her hips and rubbing their clits together.

        “A-AJ!  Y-you’re, we’re tail to tail!?  Hokey pokey this’ hot!”

        “Yer the patient, now take mah advice and work with me,” she said softly as she and Rainbow began pressing their rumps together, pressing their plots together and bouncing.  The double ended dildo as deep as it could go, sliding in and out of them in turn as their bodies forced it between them.

        A few minutes into it and Rainbow felt a rush coursing through her body.  Her wings were fully extended sending tingles through her back making it hard to think clearly.  “As yer doctor, Ah’m gonna get ya pregnant today,” Applejack said between grunts, “right now, Ah reckon.

        The dam broke through Rainbow as her body tensed and wave after wave of pleasure passed through her.  Higher and more powerful than ever before she screamed like an animal in pain as she lost control of her body and fell forward to her belly and wrapped the pillow in her forelegs as she screamed for the next thirty seconds along with the waves running through her.

        …

        Rainbow woke up with matted fur and feeling a chill.  Her head swam as she sniffled and noticed tears had dried across her cheeks.  She looked to the side to see Applejack smiling at her.  “AJ, what the heck happened?”

        “Heh, the good Doctor did his job.  Congrats, yer pregnant, see ya tomorrow fer a checkup?”  Applejack winked.

        “Oh, shush.”

        “Nah, ya had a big one… Ah’d say huge, to be honest.  Then ya cried in yer sleep fer a few, now yer awake.  Ya feel better?”

        Rainbow wiggled her lower body and giggled, nearly screamed, at the rush of post orgasm tenderness she felt.  Her rear legs began to tremble as her body flushed. “Yeah, what the hay?  You were, and I was, and then…” she giggled and hugged the pillow tighter as a small wave washed through her.

        “Ah told ya somethin’ new.  Surprised?”

        “Ah’ve never been more surprised in my life!  Where’d that come from?!  You’re usually all about keepin’ to the classics.”

        “Well, everypony’s gotta try somethin’ new.  Now, ya ready ta nap?”

        “W-whoa, y-your t-turn to get there.”

        “Sugarplum, Ah did when you did.  Ah can’t say Ah love these things inside me, but hearing, seein’ ya… I had a little one.  It was enough.  Ah’d have a big one, but ya started cryin’ and that lost it fer me.”

        “...Fine, but next time you’re gonna be screaming and crying.”

        “Sure,” Applejack smiled, “if ya say so.  Look, as long as ya get there, Ah’m happy.”

        “That’s not fair.  You said it wasn’t a race, but it feels like it.”

        “Nah, it’s just makin’ love in our way.  Ain’t no rush or wait ta get there.  It just happens.  Now, rest and Ah’ll make ya some tea.”

        “Wait!  D-don’t go yet…  I, wanna talk about our wedding a little.”

        “Really, now?  Ah thought it was just gonna happen as it did.”

        “Well, you made me sappy.  So, I think in a few weeks, just to get it out of the way.  Then we can worry about the baby over the summer and… sheesh, a late baby.  What’re we gonna do?  Every other pony’s got birthdays in spring and we’re gonna have one in fall.”

        “Not everypony’s born in the spring or summer, Dash.  And he’ll be just as awesome as any other pony.”

        Rainbow frowned.  “I’m sure she will be, but Ah want her ta have a married mom and… mama.  That still sounds kinda weird to say, but here’s something else, what if we started a herd?”

        Applejack nickered. “A herd?  Who’s the stallion gonna be, before we get inta this?”

        “Well, Muddy and Dav could use a couple of baby mama’s,” she said without a smile, as hard as it was.

        “So, ya wanna start havin’ colt cuddlers babies?”

        Rainbow burst into laughter. “Yeah, we can take turns having them.  Have a whole herd of filly-cuddlers!”

        Applejack sighed and shook her head. “Ah just dunno what ta say ta that.”

        “Just kiss me and nuzzle me for the next forever.”

        “Now, that’s somethin’ Ah can get behind… after you, that is.”

        “Ooo, naughty Doctor, getting a patient pregnant,” Rainbow said breathily.

        “Ah guess I could go for another little one.”

        “Soon.  I have to move ta do that,” she snickered.

        “Ah get it.  Ya owe me a big one next time, right?”

        “Heh, eeyup,” Rainbow replied as she nuzzled into Applejack’s chest.

        “Ah’ll hold ya to that.”

        “AJ… I wanna get married on the farm,” she said softly as sleep embraced her.

        “Ah wouldn’t want it anywhere else, now sleep, ya silly filly.  Ah’ll make ya a breakfast fit fer the three of us.”

        Rainbow snickered as she nuzzled Applejack’s chest and exhaled. “Ah love how you make me feel, AJ.  Ah never thought ‘sappy’ and ‘Rainbow Dash’ would go together.”

        “As long as Ah know ya, it’ll be our secret.”

        “Hmm…” Rainbow moaned as she fell asleep.

        “Ah promise, no matter what, Ah’ll never leave ya, and when we get married everypony across Equestria will know it.”

Start of a School Year 2

Start of a School Year

        “SCOOTALOO!  Time fer school, let’s go!  C’mon,” Applejack shouted up the stairs to the filly.  Scootaloo hovered from her bed and to the floor before she opened her eyes in groggy restraint and a yawn.  She looked around her room.  A poster of Rainbow Dash mid stunt, another of Sapphire Shores with a mouth-drawn crayon sketch of Sweetie Belle singing a note below it, and finally a picture of herself and her closest friends just outside their clubhouse.

        Scootaloo smirked briefly and looked back to her bed then grumbled. “Gotta make my stupid bed, get my dumb food, go to school with the best friends and teacher ever…”  she sighed and began to smile. “I guess it’s not all bad,” she said with growing happiness.  “Comin’, Mama.”

        “Make sure ta make yer bed, then it’s breakfast.  Ah made Apple fritters, pancakes, eggs, and fresh squeezed juice.”

        Rainbow shouted from the kitchen, her voice muffled. “I’ll squeeze your juice.”

        “Rainbow Dash?!  Not in front’a Scootaloo,” Applejack chided loudly as she stomped from the base of the stairs.

        “She’s totally up in her room, she can’t hear me,” Rainbow retorted casually.

        Applejack lowered her voice to a casual scolding as she left Scootaloo’s earshot.  “Heh, mom’s.”  Scootaloo finished her bed, went to the bathroom to brush her coat and tail, leaving her mane besheveled like Rainbow Dash’s.  With her morning routine done she, eventually, left the bathroom, hooves washed and dried.

        She descended the stairs quietly to listen in on the conversation between her mothers.

        “...ove ya, but ya gotta rein it in.  Yer winkin’ at me from both ends and it’s tough enough ta say ‘no’ when yer achin’ somethin’ fierce.”

        “Fritter, Ah want you, is that so wrong?”

        “No.  Just… what’s the word Twilight uses, appropriateness.  That’s it.  After Scoots gets her mark it won’t be as big a deal, but right now she’s ripe fer ideas that can give her a mark in the wrong way.”

        “Wike, whaf?” Rainbow asked with an obvious muzzle full of food, “ish shfee,” she paused to slurp some drink and swallow, “is she gonna be a sex therapist?”

        “That. Ain’t. Funny, Rainbow Dash.  Ya gotta keep a plug in it when she’s around, alright?”

        “I want you to plug it…  but fine,” Rainbow sighed, “I’ll try to watch what I say.  Can’t promise cuz I don’t have a filter, and you know it.”

        Scootaloo stomped on the last stairs loudly and galloped into the kitchen, taking flight and crossing the table before breaking two inches from, and landing, facing the lonely wall, next to Rainbow.  She scooted around and looked sheepishly at her mom and mentor in flight. “I, uh, totally meant to stop like that.”

        Rainbow rustled Scootaloo’s mane while snickering. “Like a little awesome me, right AJ?”  Applejack was pouring a cup of juice for Scootaloo but mumbled her agreement.  “So, Squirt, ya ready fer school?”  Scootaloo nodded and took a large, messy bite of her food. “That’a girl!  Saddles packed?  Paper and pencils?  Sharpeners?  Lunch?”

        “Ah got her lunch right over yonder on the counter.  First day’a school, don’t ferget it.  Ah ain’t runnin’ from here to yer school.  If’n ya ferget it, yer sharin’ with yer friends.”

        “I won’t forget, Mama.  Sheesh, I’m not a Forgetful Forgetterson.”

        Rainbow rolled her eyes in bemusement.  “You’re spending too much time with Pinkie Pie.  It’s good school’s back in so we can get her with her school friends again.”

        “Sweetie’s still up north until the end of the month,” Scootaloo said with a slight pout before she took another large bite and grinned, teeth filled with food, to Rainbow.

        “Ah reckon yer not gonna get a coltfriend with those manners,” Applejack teased.

        Scootaloo started chewing her food with a smile.  She pointed to her mother’s then herself, then shrugged.

        “Ha!” Rainbow laughed. “The day you come out as a lesbian is the same day I like stallions again.  Ah’ve seen ya lookin’ at a lotta colts the same way I used to.  Only I know you, Scoots, yer not gonna make my mistakes and find love in the best and weirdest place after a hundred bad memories.  Yer gonna find one colt that’s perfect for you and you’ll know that he’s the one.”

        Applejack placed a hoof on the table near Rainbow’s plate.

        “Hey, that’s my plate…  oh, heh,” Rainbow smiled warmly, “Ah mean, I’d love to hold her hoof.  See, Scoots?  It took me years ta find the one, and that’s ‘cuz Ah wasn’t lookin’ in the right place.  Yer... smarter than I am, Scootaloo,” Rainbow admitted, fidgeting and fluttering her wings, “you won’t make the same stupid mistakes as I did before I met Mama.”

        “Awe,” Applejack cooed before she leaned over and gave Rainbow a kiss on her cheek, “Ah love ya too, Sugarplum.”

        Rainbow’s ears burned from embarrassment. “And, I don’t want anypony to ever know what I just said, Scoots, am I clear?”

        “Heh, eeyup,” she grinned. “Ah’m almost done, what’s your plan’s today, mommy Dash?”

        “Mommy Dash?” Rainbow scrunched her muzzle, “Not bad, but I don’t think so, Scoots.  Ah don’t really have big plans, just gotta bust a few clouds over town then, I dunno, maybe make Mama a cloud to show her how much Ah love her.”

        “And here Ah thought you were done bein’ sappy in public,” Applejack teased before shaking her head. “Ah’m gonna be sellin’ apples and Ah can’t have the distraction.  Sorry, Dashin’, bucha gotta find somethin’ else ta do.”

        “I wanna do you,” Rainbow mumbled to herself.

        “Dash!  What’d Ah ask ya?!”

        “Sorry!  It’s spring and you know what that means…”

        “Rainbow, yer already pregnant.  Ya aren’t goin’ inta heat this year.”

        “And thank Celestia for that, but you will,” Rainbow winked to Applejack, “and we’re gonna need the house to ourselves for that week.  Sorry Scoots.”

        It was Applejack’s turn to blush as she pulled her hoof back. “We’ll buck that tree when we come ta it.  It ain’t ripe yet so no need to rush it.”

        “It was ripe last night.”

        “Eeew!  Mom, that’s too gross.  I’m going to school,” Scootaloo made a gross face and pushed her plate, nearly empty, away and got up, practically running to her lunchbag. “I’ll be home after Apple Bloom and me do some crusading.”

        “Bye, Scoots!”

        “Have a great day.”

        Once Scootaloo was gone, Applejack swatted Rainbow in the back of her head.  “What in tarnation is wrong with you?!  Ya just gave her some bad idea’s and, Luna forbid, she tries sex and gets a cutie mark in it.”

        “AJ, she’s totally grossed out by it, for number ‘B’, she’s not gonna get a cutie mark in that.  What’d it even look like?  A dick and balls with a tongue wrapped around it?  Sheesh, get real.”  Applejack frowned and got up from the table, leaving Rainbow alone. “So, can I eat yer food?”

        Scootaloo removed her ear from the door with a wicked grin and galloped down the walkway and then the road.

        ....

        Rainbow coasted over the town of Ponyville, gliding as often as she could between bursts of speed that took her fast enough to drown the noise of the world behind a whooshing static in her ears.

        She turned, arced, rolled, and dove at a fast, but not too fast, speed and stayed high enough to avoid crashing into anything.

        “I’m bored.  I guess I can go by the old place, see what’s goin’ on with Saddle Sore, if he’s still there.  He used to tell the best stories!  I remember I laughed until I peed a couple times.  Ponyville Pub, here I come.”

        She glided along the side street and landed in front of Ponyville Pub.  An acrid smell struck her nose and she felt her stomach tighten before she trotted in.  “Hey-a ponies, Rainbow is -urk-” she nearly vomited at the stench of bodily fluids and alcohol that permeated the air.

        “Rainbow Dash!  As I serve and pour, good to see ya,” the barkeep greeted her, “here fer a drink?  I’ve got some ale that’d relax you in no time.”

        Rainbow trotted toward the counter and looked at the filthy seats; Cushions that were stained with the fluids of dozens of ponies and streak marks… ‘The streaks.  Oh Celestia, ew.’’

        “Hey, uh, Bar Keep.  You should change the cushions, they’re looking kinda, used.”

        “What?” he mused, “I’ve never had a complaint so I’ve never changed ‘em.  A splash of vodka kills the germs and they’re good as new.  Your seat’s right over there, if I remember right.”

        He pointed to a seat three to her left.  She moved to it and recoiled.  Rainbow hairs still stuck in the chair and cushion, along with dozens of other hairs and stains.  “Ugh,” she heaved into her hoof. “I’m fine.  I was just, uh, checkin’ out the place I spent most of my time.  How’s,” she swallowed some bile that was threatening to escape her mouth, “ugh, business?”

        “Fine enough.  Since you stopped comin’ by it’s hurt a little but everypony comes back,” he said leaning on the counter.

        “So, where’s Saddle Sore?”

        “Heh, funny.  He’s asleep in his booth; ya gonna say hello?”

        “I, was thinking about it,” she looked to the booth, third from the door that had a single rear leg dangling from the bench seat. “I-I don’t know if I should wake him, though.”

        “Heh, funny gal.  You’d jump on him and talk with him for hours.  I’d ask if you remembered but you were pretty sauced.  Speaking of which,” he winked and raised a mug to the countertop.

        “Uhm, I-I’ll wait a minute.  I wanna check on Saddle Sore… make sure he’s okay.”

        “Whatever keeps ya comin’ back.  Ah’ll be right here and, so’ll your seat.”

        Rainbow looked at the seat, still sporting her hairs from nearly eight months prior and turned quickly toward the sleeping stallion in the booth.

        “Hey,” she asked softly.  “Saddle Sore?  A-are you okay?”  The stallion groaned and farted, loudly and messily.  “Sick, Dude!  What the hay?!” she shouted and slapped his leg.

        With a buck and scramble, with some incoherent mumbling thrown in, he rolled from the bench to the floor with a groan.  A few seconds later he was climbing onto the equally filthy seat, if not more so, than Rainbow’s by the bar.

        “Oh, Rhainblow… ugh, Desh!  Yeah, that’s it.  Who’aw’ve you… -yawn- been?  Ain’t seen ya here fer, what?”

        “I didn’t say anything.”

        “Huh?  Hey!  Rainbow Dirsh, what is up, huh?  HUH?!  Bwahahaha!”

        Rainbow raised an eyebrow, watching him laugh and pound the table.  “Uh, yeah.  Ha ha,” she forced a smile.

        “That’s more like it!  Rememberer that whun time…  You were up and then, HahahA, then down…  you were all ‘Look at me, I’m Rainbow Dish and…’  huh?  So, haven’t see you in, what, a wheek?  Why so long?  Yer a hoot!”

        “It’s been, like, eight months now, I think.”

        “Wha?!  No way, you were sitting over there yesterday.  Only you were brown and had a green mane.  And you were a dude, but you were totally you, but in disguise.  I saw you, just like I saw…” he sniffled and grasped an empty mug, trying to drink from it.  He looked inside the mug and sobbed. “Just like her, empty for me.”

        Rainbow was feeling very uncomfortable and began to slowly back away.

        “I can’t believe she left me for that two bit travelin’ ass.  Sure, he was a donkey and dumb as rocks, but still.”  He reached toward Rainbow and nearly wrapped a foreleg around her head to pull her into a hug.

        Rainbow pulled back and winced from the stench in his coat.  Old alcohol, cheap pipe smoke, and urine were just what she could smell.  She knew there was more to this stallions filth than she could smell.

        She back pedalled and made it to the counter. “Dude, that guy needs-”

        “Another round?  Wanna start the tab and I’ll get you a mug of yer own?  It’s nice to see you and him like the old days.”

        “...”  Rainbow stared at Bar Keep then looked to the weeping stallion at the booth. “We were like that?”

        “Yeah,” he replied knowingly, “I’d stand here at the bar and you’d tell us all about your flying, he’d tell us something like he just did, then you two’d laugh until you lost it.  So, ale?  Cider?  Beer?  Starting with shots?”

        “Dude, I’m pregnant,” Rainbow said in a teasing tone, “you know what that means, right?”

        Bar Keep rolled his eyes. “Yeah, you pulled that one all the time.  Look, for old time sake I’ll give you the usual fifty percent ‘pregnant’ discount on the first three drinks.  It’s the best I can do.”

        “No, seriously, I’m pregnant, for real.”

        Bar Keep squinted at her then broke into a grin. “Then you get two free drinks!  Take yer seat and I’ll give you and your ‘baby’ so drunk you’ll dump it before they day’s over.”

        Rainbow looked appalled at the stallion then backed up, the entire room, environment, and ponies were too much.  She felt her stomach cramping and she ran from the pub, making it outside before she vomited what she could.  Staggering away she leaned against a building across the street and stared at the doorway to the pub.

        “I… I used to live like that?  With ponies like that?  I… What the hay was I thinking?” she said softly to herself and flew to where she’d vomited, covering it with a pile of dirt.  She took to the air and began flying tight circles, trying to get as much of the stench of the pub off her before she went home to bathe.

        “I can’t believe that I used to hang out there, and what I used to do.  Who knows what I used to do that I don’t remember.  Gah, I can taste the air still!”  She spit and turned, pouring on as much speed as she could to get home.

Morning Delight

Start of a School Year 2

        Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were in the middle of the crowd of school children that rushed to find the best seats, saving one for Sweetie Belle for when she’d next come to Ponyville.

        Silver Spoon sat in a seat and a moment later Diamond Tiara pranced in with a confident sneer. “It’s alright, everypony, I’m here.  No need to hold class for me.”

        Most ignored her but the two cutie mark crusaders rolled their eyes. “Hey Diamond Tiara.  I thought you were gonna be out this week after that fight you were in.”

        “A fight?” A Twist asked loudly.

        “Oh yeah,” Scootaloo said with a nod, “she got into a brawl in Manehattan and got cut up pretty bad on some colt’s hooves.  Out there they aim to leave a mark, right, Diamond Tiara?”

        Diamond scoffed and reached her seat. “I wasn’t in a brawl, like some common ponies.  It was an attack and I fought back… and won in the end.”

        “Yeah, the colt got grounded for a week then sent here to see his cousin.”

        Diamond inhaled sharply, eyes widening as her body tensed. “H-h-he’s… here?  Miss Cheerilee?!” she called loudly looking around the room, waiting for the teacher to appear from nowhere.

        “What’s wrong, DT?” Apple Bloom leaned closer from her desk, “Gallop get yer tongue?”

        Diamond trembled but waved a hoof, speaking confidently. “It’s no concern of mine.  Some stupid colt from the city isn’t treated like royalty here, right, Silvy?”

        “Oh, I dunno about that,” Scootaloo said pointing quickly toward the door.  Diamond yelped and hid her face in her hooves as eyes looked to the doorway.

        “Oh, well, hello children.  It’s fantastic to see you all again as well.  I hope you’re ready for a great school year.”

        “Yes, Miss Cheerilee,” the room said in harmony.  Diamond Tiara raised her head and shot Scootaloo a glare.

        Scootaloo was smiling happily, ignoring the look she was getting from her pink rival. “Miss Cheerilee, I’m sure this’ll be the best year yet!”

        “Me too, Scootaloo!  I love the attitude in the class this year already.  Now, does anypony need a pencil?  We’re going to start by writing our names…”

        …

        “Apples?  Howdy ma’am?  Interested in a few apples fer dinner?  Maybe a snack?  Okay, see ya later.  How ‘bout you sir?  Best apples in Equestria, guaranteed.”

        Applejack  trotted around her cart, selling apples or, trying to.  Customers just were not interested in buying her product.   Applejack blew air from the side of her muzzle in frustration when she was sure she wasn’t being watched and turned to her cart.  “Ah think a sip’ll help.”

        She took a small flask and sipped quickly from it, returning it to her cart before sighing and forcing a smile.  She turned and returned to trying to sell apples.

        “Rosebud!  Ah didn’t know you’d be out’n about; fancy an apple while ya shop? A bit fer an apple.”  Rosebud shook her head politely and passed by with a quicker step. “That’s fine, Ah’ll be here all day,” Applejack replied with a wave.

        A loud thud sounded a ways behind her.  She turned to see a small dust cloud around where Rainbow had landed and, without pausing, had begun trotting to her.  “Oh, hey Hun.  What’s goin’ on?”

        Rainbow approached, wings now folded and a solemn look on her face.

        “Rainbow, heh, uh, ya here ta buy an apple?  Ah’ll give ya the family discount,” she joked.

        Rainbow approached, now a few lengths away and getting closer, Applejack was growing nervous.

        “Is everything alright, Sugarcube?”  Rainbow’s ears fell to her head as she approached.  “Alright, what’s goin’ on?” she asked, looking around, and up. “Is this a prank?  Is there trouble?  Did Scootaloo get in another fight?”

        Rainbow was a length away and Applejack was visibly tensing.  Her taut muscles rippling beneath her coat, prepared for anything.

        Rainbow lunged and wrapped Applejack into a tight hug, forelegs and wings. “Thank you,” Rainbow whispered as she felt Applejack’s mane brush her cheek. “Thank you.  Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Rainbow repeated as Applejack forced a grin and looked around at the looks she was getting.

        Applejack raised a foreleg and patted Rainbow’s back. “Yer welcome, for whatever Ah did.  Now, can ya let me go?  Ah love a good hug, but Ah’m workin’.”

        “Thank you, thank you, thank you, AJ,” Rainbow almost pleaded.

        “Okay, now I’m gettin’ worried.  What’s goin’ on?”

        Rainbow pulled back, a sad smile on her face. “Y-you have no idea how much you saved me.  Without, I mean, if you didn’t…  It was terrible, where I was before you helped me and… Ah just can’t thank you enough.”

        “Ah, shucks.  Tweren't nothin’.  Twilight was there too, and without her magic-”

        Rainbow placed a hoof to Applejack’s lips. “Ah’m not with her.  She carried me, you helped me along the whole way.  I went to the tavern, AJ.”

        Applejack raised an eyebrow and used her fetlock to free her muzzle. “And why’d ya do that?”

        “Thank you,” Rainbow whispered again as she looked the the gravel beneath her hooves, “and Ah’m sorry,” she looked back into Applejack’s emerald eyes and saw her reflection.  She felt she looked pathetic, and deserved it.  “I was a terrible pony before I stopped drinking.  I did horrible things and let stallions do things to me that I’ll never forget.

        “I went back to that place to see my old ‘friends’ and catch up.  It was gross, AJ, and I remembered some things that happened in places…  I was drunk and I couldn’t,” she sniffled and her eyes began to water, “c-couldn’t say no.  I thought I loved it, and deserved it.  I was as filthy as that place,” she blinked her eyes clear to see Applejack was listening intently with a sad expression.

        “Rainbow-”

        “But I didn’t deserve that, I didn’t need any of it; because what I needed was in front of me the whole time,” Rainbow said as she stomped a hoof for emphasis.  “It was you, always you.  You’re what I needed,” she said as she choked back a sob and looked to the gravel again, “and I’m so happy, so proud to be carrying your baby, AJ.

        “Not some random stallion’s during the spring heat.  Not Soarin’s.  Yours,” she began to cry pathetically, “the most awesome pony in the world…  I pretend,” she felt herself wrapped in an brace by Applejack.  The mare’s musky sweet orange fur made Rainbow sob louder.  “I pretend I’m the best, but… I’m not,” she wailed into Applejack’s mane.

        “Rainbow, yer the best pony.  Ah’m only pushin’ ya to stay on top of yer game.  Now, what say we get you a drink and somethin’ ta eat?  Ah can tell yer gonna be back to bein’ awesome in a few minutes.  Thank the baby fer that.”

        “N-no, it’s not that, I really am sorry and thanking you.  And, a double hay burger sounds nice.”

        Applejack snorted a laugh and gave Rainbow a last, tight, hug before letting her go.  “Alright, Sugarplum, let’s get you some early lunch.  It has been a good hour since ya last ate, right?”

        “Yeah, might as well make my cumulonimbus bigger,” Rainbow cracked a smile as she wiped her face clear of tears, “maybe the baby’ll have a town to live on by then.”

        Applejack laughed as she rolled her apron and tossed it to her cart. “Yeah, ‘Rainbowville’ sounds great.”

        “...AJ, what’s that?” Rainbow asked, looking to the reflective metal flask that was next to Applejack’s apron.

        “Ah, my last guilty pleasure,” she leaned in to whisper to Rainbow, “pear juice.  A swig keeps me in the mindset of why our apples are the best.”

        Rainbow grinned, feeling a lump in her throat. “You’re super smart too.”

        “Okay, Ah’ll buy you some potato fries ta boot.  Let’s get before lunch rush comes and Ah miss some good business.”

Resurgence

Morning Delight

        Rainbow sat up, she screamed briefly as the orgasm waved through her body.  Try as she might, she couldn’t stop the labial assault since she was on top and Applejack had her hips hugged tightly.  “Ah, p-please, oh gash… gosh dang it!  Celestia, please stop, Fritter!  Ah, oh, ughh!”

        Rainbow looked down as beads of sweat dripped from her matted face and across Applejack’s open, aching pussy.

        Finally, she was released and rolled to her side before she fell, face first, between Applejack’s legs.  Rainbow was panting, gasping, and grinning. “Darn you,” she said between pants, “I’m never having a sixty nine with you if you’re not gonna stop!”

        Applejack rolled to her side, the soft quilt of their bed beneath them, as she licked her snout. “Ah can’t help it, ya taste so much sweeter now that yer all stuffed with Apple goodness.”

        Applejack smiled, winked, then opened her legs. “Wouldn’t mind a turn at gettin’ the trembles, ya know.”

        Rainbow looked at the winking slit and sighed. “I think Ah can do that… are you ready for the most awesome orgasm of the afternoon?”

        “Dash, it isn’t even lunch yet… Ah’ve still gotta get ya that snack and back ta my cart.”

        Rainbow and Applejack moved on the bed, Applejack took to her knees and moving a pillow close, so she could bite it.

        “It isn’t my fault you agreed to a quickie, I thought you’d say nah.  Move yer tail, Fritter, Ah’ve gotta get that snack,” she inhaled and leaned in.

        “Ah’m goin’ inta heat soon, we’re both gonna be sore before it’s- Oh… yeah.”

        …

        “Thanks fer the walk back, sorry Ah didn’t buy ya that burger,” Applejack said with a nuzzle and kiss as Rainbow turned to depart the market.

        “It’s fine, I had a taco and loved it.”

        Applejack blushed and moved to her cart, donned her apron, and waved Rainbow off.  “Apple’s fer sale!  Two fer a bit!  Ah’ve got the juiciest apples in Equestria!”

        “Oh, Applejack, darling.  I was worried you were ill; I so rarely see your cart without you by it.”

        “Nah, thanks Rares, but I had to get home ta help Rainbow with somethin’.  Pregnancy really is an adventure.”

        Rarity laughed quietly into her hoof. “I certainly bet.  Here, use my ‘kerchief to dry your tail before anypony else notices.”

        Applejack gasped and tucked her tail between her legs.  “Thanks, Ah didn’t notice.”

        “That’s because there isn’t anything to notice.  I’m simply teasing you, my dear, in good fun.  Honestly,” Rarity continued as Applejack frowned at her and mumbled her disagreement with the joke, “I’m quite pleased since Rainbow has been with you.  Sure, she has moments where she’s the same Rainbow that grated on all our nerves-”

        “There a point ta this?  Ah’m not sellin’ while we’re talkin’.”

        “Why, yes, Applejack!  She’s grown so much in the past few months that she’s nearly a completely different mare!  I came by to buy a bushel of apples and I’m going to make them into the most amazing cake you’ve ever had,” Rarity grinned as she levitated several bits from her saddlebag.

        “Well, thanks, Rares.  It’s been a slow day and… just, thanks,” Applejack hugged Rarity.

        “Oh my, I know that smell… did you wash your hooves after…”

        “Oh, Ah figured the dirt’ll cover it up.  Didn’t expect ta see ya so that’s how t’is.”

        Rarity rolled her eyes. “And you were going to hoof apples to customers with hooves like that?”

        “Nope… Ah am gonna.  Ain’t leavin’ the cart ‘til I sell s’more and Ah have a long way ta go.  You c’n help yerself to that bushel right there, Rares.  Thanks again and see ya soon.”

        Applejack waved politely to Rarity before she looked at an orange pegasus. “Mister!  Flyin’ takes a toll, interested in an apple or three ta replace yer energy?”

        The stallion turned sharply and landed.  “Why, yes!  I’d love an apple.  Here’s two bits,” he tossed them and grabbed an apple before taking flight.

        “Ya fergot yer… change.  Ah well, he’s too far ta hear anyway.  Ya need any help with them apples, Rares?”

        “Oh, perish the thought.  A bushel of apples is no match for my magic.  I’ll have your cake ready by tomorrow evening.  Stop by my boutique and pick it up, ta-ta.”

        “Uh, yeah, ta-ta.  Hey, ma’am, bushel of apples fer fifteen bits!  Good fer what ails ya.”

        Rarity grinned as Applejack began selling more apples and quickly returned to her boutique.

        “Honestly, a whole bushel of apples for a single cake?  What was I thinking?” Rarity chided herself as she deposited them in her kitchen.  “Still, best not dilly-dally.  I’ve garments to make and a cake to prepare…”

A loud, thunderous boom shook her boutique and sent items falling to the floor.

She looked aroundin surprise and shock. "W-what the?"

A Short Hello

Resurgence

        Apples spilled to the ground from the bushel that had just fallen off a pony’s back.

        “Don’t worry, sir, Ah’ll help ya clean this up.”

        “I’m more worried about what that noise was,” the stallion looked around to the shocked faces around them.

        A rainbow shockwave rolled through the sky, sending sighs and smiles through the crowd.  “Reckon it was Rainbow Dash.  Ah dunno why she’d do one’a them now though…”

        “You know the pony who did that?!” The stallion asked in shock.

        “Heh, eeyup, gonna marry her soon enough,” Applejack said as she picked up an apple from the ground.  The bushel landed next to her with the sound of cracking wicker. “Sir?”

        “I don’t want any food from, one of your kind,” he spat on the apples that had spilt, “and I don’t want my money back.  I know it’s been tainted,” he harrumphed and turned away, kicking dirt as he left.

        Applejack had stood up and fought the urge to yell back at the stallion when he spit on the apple, but held back. “Thank, you sir,” she chomped her teeth and forced a smile, “as one earth pony to another, have a good day.”

        A small voice came from near her. “Applejack?  Are you, alright?”

        She sighed, an exhale of the frustration that had built up. “Yeah, Ah’m fine enough.  Ah don’t see what he was goin’ on about, though ‘Shy.  We’re both earth ponies,” she said kicking the apple he spit on aside while gathering the others and replacing them into the basket.

        Fluttershy looked on and moved from beside the apple cart to help Applejack pick up the apples.  “I, um, I think he was talking about you and Rainbow Dash.”  Fluttershy winced and hid slightly behind her mane as Applejack shot her a look. “I-I’m sorry.”

        Applejack rolled her eyes. “It ain’t that, Sugarcube, and ya know it.  Ah can’t believe ponys’re still like that,” she muttered, “dang outta towners.”

        “W-well, maybe he just doesn’t like apples?” Fluttershy added.

        “Then why’d he go’n buy a whole bushel?  That ain’t a way ta act.”

        Fluttershy nodded and moved to begin helping again. “Perhaps he’s an actor, and he just wanted you to have more business?” Fluttershy offered as she bit the stem of an apple and lifted it, about to move it to the basket.

        “Did ya have anythin’ ta do with that?” Applejack asked, a hint of hurt in her voice.

        “Oh, no, no.  That was just, awful, the way he acted and treated you.  However, somepony could have put him up to it.”  Fluttershy dropped the apple into the basket and was reaching for another.

        “Well, Ah reckon that makes sense,” Applejack resigned herself, “it just… it wasn’t nice, dagnabit,” she stomped her rear hoof on the spit-on apple, smashing it to rough pulp.

        “Oh, Applejack, don’t be upset, please,” Fluttershy said softly with a reassuring smile, “it’s over n-now and you have bits and more apples to sell, right?”

        Applejack frowned. “Ah don’t want, nor need, his bits.  This’ll go ta the orphanage in Trottin’ham.  Apple’s don’t need any money with hate’n on it.”

        “I think that’s a very good idea, Applejack.  Um, maybe you could donate some to me and my animals?”

        “Ah wouldn’t say no ta that, Sugarcube.  Ah guess Ah’ve gotta relax a bit,” Applejack said as she gathered the last couple in her forelegs and reared to place them in the basket, “what that stallion said was mighty hurtful, thought.  He’s got me sore’n Ah wanna just… Ah dunno-”

        “Um, buck something?” Fluttershy added with a small smirk.

        “Heh, yeah, sure.  Ya know, ‘Shy,” Applejack started as she began to move the basket back to the cart, “Ah get a bit confused when ya act different in public than with’r friends.”

        Fluttershy cowered slightly. “It’s not that I mean to, it’s just that, well, what would they think if they knew about our personal lives?”  Her eyes widened. “About what Pinkie Winkie and me… what we do,” she whispered and whimpered, “they’d be so mean to her.  I, I couldn’t do that to her, Applejack.”

        Applejack had finished resetting the basket and turned around. “Ah know we’ve all said this, but ya’ve gotta understand that what you and Pinks do isn’t that weird.  Same fer me and Dash, Twi and Sunny; ‘s long as we’re not hurtin’ other ponies or each other, Ah reckon they won’t say a thing.”

        Fluttershy turned her mane slightly to hide her eyes.

        “‘Shy, whatever ya do it ain’t mah business, just like it ain’t anypony else’s.  Just, let me say, Ah’ve never seen you and Pinkie happier and,” she winked, “ya needed it more than she did.  Ah remember that night like it happened a few minutes ago; our party that Twi done messed up,” she smiled at the blushing pegasus.  “What we all were doin’ was the most right any way ya look at it.  Now, Ah’ve gotta get back ta work, but here’s some bits,” Applejack hoofed several to Fluttershy, “and a hug, ta say ‘thanks.’”

        “You’re w-welcome, Applejack,” Fluttershy said softly before she broke the hug and turned, with a smile and nod, then walked away.

        “Heh... Apples fer sale!  Mister, ya look like a hungry unicorn; if ever I’ve seen one…”

        “Whoo-hoo!  Go mom!” Scootaloo shouted as she galloped from the schoolhouse to see the rainbow shockwave.

        “She’s so cool, Scootaloo.  I wish one of my moms, or all of ‘em, were as cool as her.”

        “Nah, it’s cool, Buttercup.  I know not every pony can be as lucky as me; to have a mom like her.”

        “Scootaloo,” Apple Bloom said as she sided with her sister, “we’ve gotta get back in.  We’ve seen her do that plenty’a times; Miss Cheerilee’s gonna teach us about sound waves and how they work.  Maybe we c’n get our marks in radio, or somethin’!”

        “Oh, yeah!  That sounds cool.  Radio cutie marks would be awesome!”

        The fillies returned to the schoolhouse, the rainbow shockwave dissipating in the distance.

        “Urrggghhh,” Rainbow landed quickly on a cloud and began to vomit over the side.  “Hrurk, ugh… rut me, -hrrugh-, no more, -gak-, rainbooms after bre -hrrrruugnh- breakfast.”

        A moment later, Rainbow had finished looking to make sure she hadn’t rained her breakfast on some unfortunate pony in the orchard.  With a bemused chuckle she fell back onto the cloud and let her body roll itself to the side.  She groaned in frustration.

        “Now I really do have a baby bump… And I’m fat,” she sniffled, “and I’ll never be the fastest anything ever again!”

        She began to cry, the cloud darkening beneath her as it began to rain.

        “I’ll be the fattest mare in Equestria.  Goodbye dreams of being a Wonderbolt, or even having a fanclub across the nation,” she curled into a fetal position and gripped her tail, holding it tightly, “I’ll have my own nation…  Rainbow Huge...ness, slowest mare in her own world.”

        “...Wow, you’re really pathetic, huh?”

        Rainbow inhaled sharply and lifted her head, looked over, and grinned wider than she had in longer than she could remember.  “QUILL!”  Rainbow lunged from the cloud and hugged the gradient purple mare.  She sniffed Quill’s tan mane and felt a giddy cry flush through her.

        “Woah, watch out, supermare, I heard you were pregnant; you might hurt me with your mood swings.”

        “Oh, ha-ha,” Rainbow giggled as she wiped a tear from her face, only for another to replace it, “I… why’re you here?  Oh no, you didn’t come to see how fat I am, did you?”

        “Rainbow,” Quill said and she squeezed tighter, “Rainbow, Rainbow.  Honestly, you’re still the mare I had fantasies about… Only,” she paused to move her head back to lock her orange eyes to Rainbow’s, “you usually cried after what I’d do to you.”

        The both snorted and began to laugh; Rainbow hovering now.

        “Yeah, I… Why’re you here?  I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”

        “Well, you didn’t write, for one,” Rainbow shrugged, “and we know you’re not good at that, so the next reason is that...  I’m moving back to my old house.”

        “...”  Rainbow hovered, slightly further back, staring in silence with a thoughtful expression.

        “Uh, well, that is… If I’m still welcome here, that is.”

        “Quill,” Rainbow sighed, flying back to the dark cloud she was on.  She stomped on it, turning it white by pushing all the dense rain water from it, then sat. “I haven’t forgiven myself… for, everything.”

        “Shut up, Rainbow,” Quill whispered.

        “What?”

        “I said SHUT UP!”  Her shout nearly echoed back to where they were.  Rainbow recoiled, her ears falling flat to her head, and tears beginning to flow again.  Quill sighed, smiled softly, and composed herself.  “You did nothing wrong.  I got too many letters from AJ telling me about how you beat yourself up about it.

        “How you still cry in your sleep over what happened, and how sad you look whenever you seen a pony with her colors.  Rainbow; you’re forgiven.  As Celestia as my witness… what the hay.  With every culture’s gods, goddesses, spirits of peace and chaos, and even the baby in your belly,” she pointed, cracking a toothy grin, “I promise you that you’re not to blame in the least.  And you’re not fat, too.”

        Rainbow, through her tear filled eyes, giggled at the last part.

        “S-so,” Rainbow sniffled.

        “Luna’s teats you’re crying so much!”

        Rainbow shrugged and pointed to her belly. “So, you’re really coming back?”

        “Heh, yeah.  I mean, this’ my home.  Besides, I read about the party you threw.  All the things we’d joked about and you have to wait until I move to have an orgy?!  What the pluck?”

        “Pluck?”

        “It’s a Rainbow Falls thing.”

        “Oh, well, it was Twilight’s fault!  She cast some magic, thing, that made the whole town-”

        “I know,” Quill frowned, “and the fillies and colts, too.”

        “Meh, they’re gonna learn about it soon enough anyway.”

        “Rainbow, not everypony rushed into it like you did; some of us waited and made it meaningful.”

        “And whatcha think this is?” she, once again pointed to her belly.

        “An excuse to feel bad about yourself.”  Rainbow opened her mouth to retort but no words came to her. “You’ve grown up a lot over the past few months since I last saw you, Dash, but you have to be bigger.  You have a baby to think of, right?”

        Rainbow huffed from the side of her muzzle. “You always were too wisdomed.”

        “Thanks.  Uhm, so, now that we’re all better and you’re almost done crying-”

        “Totally done.”

        “Yeah, why don’t we grab something to eat?  AJ’s raved about the new place and the fries are crazy good, right?”

        Rainbow smiled, nodded quickly, and hovered.  “You know, I think I could go for some fish and chips,” she grinned daringly.

        “Oh, they have that here?  I love some good coastal food, but without hayfries?  They’d better be good.”

        “Quill, they’ll make you wanna pluck a primary and poke your mom with it.”

        Quill rolled her eyes. “Yeah, we’ll see.  And, I like your accent; very, country.”

"Ah dunno what yer talkin' 'bout, Sugarcube," Rainbow joked.

Party Night! (part1)

A Short Hello

        Rainbow hovered beside Applejack with a cheesy grin and desserts across her muzzle. “You’ll never guess what just happened, AJ,” she giggled.

        “Uh, ya went and dunked yer head in the dessert bin?”

        “Ah only did that once, as a prank,” Rainbow crossed her forelegs and took on a daring look that sent butterflies through Applejack’s chest.  Applejack took a stronger stance.

        “Yeah, reckon Ah had ta pay Bonbon fer what y’all and Pinkie gobbled… and that was before us,” she pointed a hoof to Rainbow, then herself.  “If’n yer done, Ah’d like a kiss g’bye and fer ya to let me get back ta-”

        “Oh, be nice to our dear flagship of pride,” Quill said from behind Applejack.  With a sharp gasp, Applejack spun like she heard a snake striking out and leapt ahead, embracing Quill and tackling her to the ground.

        “Land sakes!  Ah never thought you’d make it back, Quill!”  Quill coughed and tapped Applejack with her wings.  Applejack smiled and released the purple mare from her grasp and helped Quill to her hooves.  Rainbow snickered from the side as she distracted herself with licking her muzzle clean of chocolate and what appeared to be cilantro whipped cream.

        “Thanks, I needed a good back crushing,” Quill rolled her shoulders, “and it’s great to see you in the fur, too.  Ya know, I wasn’t gonna say it,” she leaned in to speak softly with Applejack, “but she’s put on a few.”

        Quill giggled as Applejack smirked and shoved her slightly. “Behave, or she’ll ‘moody’ all over ya.”

        “Rainbow!  Applejack said mphrit-”

        “‘Mphrit’?  AJ, why’re you puttin yer hoof in her muzzle?”

        Applejack removed her hoof from Quill’s muzzle and flicked it dry. “Ah dunno what y’all’re talkin about.  What say we have an apple ta celebrate our reunion?”

        “An my triumphant return to Ponyville and to the party I’ll be having at my place next Saturday!”  They all grinned at the thought.  “And they guys are invited, along with your new friends,” Quill smirked, “Pinks and Shybie.  I never woulda thought, to be honest.”

        “Now, now.  Ya keep in under wraps, darlin’.  Some ponies are fine knowin’ they’re together’n that’s it.  Now, here’s an apple each.  Ah’ve gotta sell a few more, head back ta the farm, do mah chores, then Ah c’n visit.  Rainbow, how’s about ya show off our home and all’a that.”

        Rainbow saluted. “Yes, ma’am,” she turned to Quill, “so, ya remember Scootaloo?”

        “That filly that you adopted?  Yeah, I remember her.”

        “Great!  She loves showing off her room, so that’ll take a bit’a time and while she’s doing that I’ll tell you about what the Wonderbolts have been up to.  Spitfire started the season off with a bang, literally when she-” Rainbow started as she and Quill flew up and towards Rainbow’s home.

        Quill looked to Applejack with a pleading expression while Applejack shrugged and waved goodbye, mouthing ‘see ya later’.

Party Night! (part2)

Party Night! (part1)

        “Well, Ah’ll be a dragons nanny.  This place is just like Ah remembered it,” Rainbow said in a heavy, mock accent.  Applejack frowned at Rainbow as the cyan mare hovered through the doorway wearing a slight smile and wide eyes as she took in the refurnished home.  “And the guys’re here!  Muddy, Davenport… still slapp’n balls, and all that?  Ouch!  AJ?!  You can’t hit a pregnant mare,” she scowled to her side.

        “That’s rude and ya know it, Sugarplum. Now, apologize to the nice colts,” Applejack sternly told Rainbow.  Applejack’s hair was loosely braided with strands hanging out at random.  She wore a light brown dress with short green tassels that shifted as she replaced her hoof to the floor.

        Rainbow stared at Applejack for a long two seconds before wilting, her combed mane waving slightly as she sagged and lowered, nearly to the floor.  Hanging her head she looked, sheepishly, towards the stallions.

        “Ah… I’m really sorry.  Th-that was mean and I’m sorry… Better?” she grumbled to Applejack as the stallions’ blushes faded and they smiled in return with a nod.  The sound of music playing in the background fought the sounds of Pinkie rambling in the far room as Quill descended the stairs on all fours quickly.

        “Girls!  You’re here and the only ones late, as usual,” she hugged Applejack tightly and nuzzled her neck before taking wing and nuzzling Rainbow, then landing again.

        “Wow, ya look mighty pretty all gussied up, Quill.  Ya been back four days and the house looks like new.”

        “Yeah, Davenport really gave me a good deal and with the bits I saved I got most of the stuff at a discount.”

        “Oh, hush,” Davenport waved a hoof, “you’re going to spoil business if everypony knows I give friendly discounts.”

        “Oh,” Muddy hummed in his deep voice, “don’t get him started.  When he gives a sales pitch; it’ll be the longest minute of your lives.”  Davenport jokingly punched Muddy in the shoulder while inhale-squeaking.  “It’s true, baby.”

        “Oh, you’re just as terrible as a parasprite.”

        “You’re the one who nibbles,” Muddy retorted. Davenport gasped and blushed so deeply his ears turned red.  He took a glass of wine that was behind him and drank liberally, finishing with a gulp.

        “Well, I missed this stuff, ‘fo reals.  Who else’s with me?”

        “‘’Fo reals’?  More Rainbow Falls talk?”

        “Heh, eeyap, as ya say here.”

        “It’s ‘eeyup’,” Applejack corrected, “and Ah think we need a drink.  Rainbow, a glass of wine?”

        “Wha?!  N-no!  Ah’m fine and you know I don’t-”

        Applejack and the rest of the rooms ponies snickered. “No, dearest.  Ah meant fer me.  A sweet one, just like you, if’n ya don’t mind.”

        Rainbow blushed and landed, beginning to canter to the kitchen where she ran into Pinkie, literally.

        “Oh, hey, Rainbow!  I was telling ‘Shy about how I used a hammer to clean a baking pan, but Discord showed up and turned the pan into a lasagna noodle and the hammer into a stick of meat while I was swinging to loosen some crusty muffin overflow.  That happens sometimes when you put too much batter into the pan.  When I hit the pan, I mean noodle, a spray of yogurt exploded and rained across the whole kitchen!  Miss Cake was really upset and-”

        Fluttershy smiled and walked past Rainbow, trapped by Pinkie, and towards the others.  “Oh no, was I… were we supposed to dress up or do our manes?  I’m sorry if I’m under dressed, I’ll go home and-”

        Quill landed suddenly in front of the meek mare with a thud as her hooves hit the floor; silencing the room.  “Fluttershy, I missed your… how do I put it?”

        “Cowardice?” Fluttershy whispered.

        “Excitable personality!  I always had a feeling you were fun, but keeping up with Pinkie?!  That’s gotta be exhausting?”

        “Oh… well, you see… I guess it’s not that difficult.  I mostly see her after my caring for the animals, I guess.”

        “And she’s super awesome at it!  She can feed all the animals and help them get better in no time, then she STILL has time to walk her puppy.”

        “D’awww!  You got a puppy, Fluttershy?  Can I see it sometime?” Quill asked as Pinkie sat next to Fluttershy and wagged her tail.  Pinkie’s tongue lulled from her mouth as she began to pant.  Quill’s excitement faded as she looked at the deeply blushing yellow mare.  “So… Pinkie’s your pet?”

        Fluttershy nodded.

        “Ha!  That’s bucking with a feather awesome!  Pet play was one of… our, favorites,” Quill swallowed hard and looked to the floor as she felt hugs and nuzzles across her head and neck.

        “Huh?  Oh,” she wiped a tear from her eye, “I still have feelings for her and I’ve been known to zone out.”

        “Psh, I do that all the time,” Pinkie said as she let Quill go, “you were only out for about twenty seconds.  I can go for hours.  Wanna see?”

        “Uhm, no thanks.  We’ve gotta get this party started soon.  I’ve got games planned after dinner,” Quill looked at Rainbow Dash and winked, “of vegetable pasta alfredo.”

        Rainbow rolled her eyes. “I’ll pass on dinner.  Got more than enough at lunch.”

        …

        The sounds of slurping made the others pause and look at Rainbow gobbling her meal.

        “Um, I don’t think ‘finding the stallion or mare is gonna fly this time, friends,” Quill said, looking in awe as a noodle dragged itself from Rainbow’s ear, across her cheek, and finally wiggled its way into her muzzle; where it was chomped with a dozen others and swallowed, still half chewed with a heavy gulp.

        As Rainbow was gulping a pink mare across from her was eating in the same manner, shoveling food, swallowing it unchewed, and repeating in just as sloppy a manner as Rainbow.  “Pinkie, please stop eating like that,” Fluttershy asked.

        “Buf, shief in ah eaging confest!  Ah gomma -gulp- win!”

        “No, Pinkie, she’s not in a contest, she’s just a slob,” Quill giggled as she forked another roll of pasta to herself and, with the others at the table, chewed properly.

        “A prego slob who’s goin’ down!  No pony can out-eat me!”

        Rainbow snorted a laugh at Pinkies choice of verbiage and a strand of noodles shot from her nose and dangled in front of her guffawing muzzle sending the rest of the table into a laughing fit.

        With a slurp; Rainbow swallowed her nose noodle and beamed a smile to Applejack, who was laughing into her hoof, trying to be polite… also to hide the sauce that was across her muzzle from slurping a few noodles when she could.

        “Heuk, hehehe, yee-haw doggie yer a hoot as always,” Applejack laughed, giving in to her good nature. “And if Rares was here she’d call us all ‘uncouth’.  Ah say,” she paused to inhale, then burped loudly, “Ah’m proud of it.”

        Another round of laughs and a couple cheers as glasses were tilted and sipped from.  Rainbow looked at a glass of rice wine in front of Quill and licked her lips.  Maybe just a sip?

No!  Bad Dashie, no.  NO!

        Rainbow frowned and coughed loudly, to get everyponies attention.  When it didn’t work she hovered and cleared her throat again, silencing the table.

        “Okay, so, thanks fer all’a y’all comin’ by’n whatnot.  We’re glad ta have our Quill back, right?”  There was clapping and hoof stomps as Quill whispered to Davenport, then shared a secret laugh. “Ah know it’s been a while, but the last party we had was… a bit of an orgy,” she blushed slightly as she crossed her rear legs.

        “Ah, ahem, I’d like to start the game we were doin’ again, if that’s cool?”

        “Oh!  You mean kissing and then Twilight’s gonna make a love spell and we’re all gonna-”

        “NO!  This time we’re gonna tell a secret each through the night!  Sheesh, always with the adult stuff right away, Pinkie.”

        Pinkie shrugged, then nudged the bashful mare to her side who squeaked slightly and whispered something to Pinkie.

        “Fluttershy said she’ll go first.  Good job, Flutters!”

        Fluttershy reared onto the table and inhaled deeply, a calming breath.  The exhaled.  Inhaled.  Exhaled.  Inhaled.  Exha-  “Get on with it!” Rainbow grumbled.

        “F-fine.  I… I’m,” Fluttershy looked around the table, “I, well… I suffer from anxiety, and my medicine makes me not want to care for my animal friends; so I don’t always take it.”

        There was silence for a long few seconds, where Fluttershy began to sweat and tremble.  A slow clop on the floor from Applejack signified her approval, and soon the room was awash in gentle, approving, clops.  “That’s very good to know, Fluttershy.  Thank you for sharing,” Quill added.

        “So, kissing game, anypony?  I’ll take Rainbow,” she grinned to Applejack who gave a disbelieving expression.  “What, it’s no secret I’d ride her like that dragon that’s always on Twilight.  I’d make her whinney so loud Celestia’d raise the moon by accident.  I’d-”

        “Ah reckon we get it and it ain’t happenin’; right, Sugarplum?” Applejack asked in a challenging tone as Quill’s grin widened.  Applejack looked to Rainbow to see a blush across her face and muzzle.  “Rainbow Dash!  Don’t ya even think about it!”

        “Ah’m sorry, AJ.  It’s my estrus time and that means… I’m horny again.”

        Applejack and the other mares sighed. “I know that feel,” Pinkie whined; laying her head on the table.

        “Great; now we don’t need some stupid spell to make us orgy, just nature,” Quill giggled as she stood on all fours.  “I’ll go next, then we can play kissy-wissy.  Let’s see…  So many secrets and only one to share…  What about that time Pinkie surprised me on my birthday?”

        Pinkie sat up tall and shook her head.  “No?  Why?  I was having a ‘bite’ to eat…” Quill paused to let Pinkie blush and slide down her chair and under the table.  “Okay, here’s one.  I found a new, temporary, lover in Rainbow Falls.  He was a nice enough colt, but I couldn’t stand being rutted…  it was just, it felt wrong after everything I’d been through.”

        “Oh, my.  A stallion?  I… don’t really know about that.”

        “Yeah, it was a fling.  Rebounding, ya know, Shy.  Anyway; you and Pinkie versus Dav and Muddy!  Let’s go to the other room and start!  Oh, if everypony’s done, that is.”

        Rainbow landed and nodded. “I’m good ta go!  Now, let’s see them kiss; and make it slobbery.”

        Pinkie reemerged from behind Applejack with a startling grin. “Yay!  We’re gonna whoop ya colts to next party!”

        “Oh my, did you hear that, Davvie?  She’s gonna whip us?  Moi?!  Dearest,” he looked at Pinkie, then locked eyes with Fluttershy, “you don’t know what we’re capable of.  Bring.  It.  On,” Muddy snorted between each word.

        “Ohhhhhohoho, it is so on.”

        “...oh my.”

Party Night! (part 3)

Party Night! (part2)

        Rainbow sat to the right of Quill while Applejack sat to Quill’s right; all three giggled and talked amongst themselves about who was doing better.  As it was, Davenport and Muddy were locked in a deep, but calm repetative kiss while Pinkie was trying to lick Fluttershy’s muzzle in a playful fashion.

        “...gotta admit, Pinkie’s really taken to the role of pet play,” Quill said to Applejack.

        “If Ah could see into their night, just once, Ah know Rainbow’d never ferget what Ah’d make her do.”

        Rainbow’s mouth hung agape as she looked to Applejack before she closed her mouth and rolled her eyes.  “And what about Scoots?  We’re just gonna start sending her out when we make love?”

        “Make love?  When’d you get all soft, Rainbow?”

        “She’s always been a softie.  Ya just gotta know her, like when she talks in her sleep; cutest thing ever.”

        “Yeah, and when you dream about bucking trees and almost get me?  Ah had to start wearing enchanted nightgowns to bed, Quill.  Clothes ta bed!  It was so weird,” Rainbow stuck her tongue out at Applejack.

        Quill shuttered. “Keep it in your mouth; you know how I feel about you, Rainbow.”

        Rainbow was going to retort but a loud whine gathered her attention.  “Y-yes, Mistress,” Pinkie said softly as Fluttershy stood over her with a frown.

        “Now, kiss me like a good pony, or I’ll have to spray you again.  Understand?”

        “Yes, Mistress,” Pinkie grinned from her spot, lying on the floor with her belly up.  The room was silent as they watched Pinkie bounce to her hooves and lean in to kiss Fluttershy in a more appropriate manner.  With soft humming the two began to kiss passionately.

        Applejack looked to Rainbow and mouthed the word ‘spray’.  Rainbow opened her mouth and pointed to the back of her mouth, where her preen gland was.  Applejack nodded and swallowed hard.  The thought of making oil in her mouth for her mane wasn’t comfortable; how pegasi did it was beyond her.

        Davenport and Muddy took that as their cue to kiss in the same manner; with tongues dancing the dance of war; fighting for victory in each other’s mouths.  With a light shove, Muddy was on top and took a powerful lean into the kissing.

        “Oh!  We have a winning team!  Muddy and Davenport have taken the title with Muddy’s display of triumph over the mares,” Quill shouted as all eyes fell to Muddy… and his dangling member.  With an instinctual thrust, he pressed his hard cock against Davenport’s belly and stepped back.

        “Ha,” Muddy nickered, “it’s about time.  I was tired of losing to Rainbow and AJ.”

        “Yeah, yeah,” Rainbow waved him off, “that’s the closest you’ll be getting to me with that thing out there.”

        With a devious grin, Muddy galloped and jumped at Rainbow Dash, pinning her to the floor, on her back, as Quill and Applejack hopped to the side with a giggle. “Well, it’s close right now,” he said with a cheeky grin.

        “And it’ll be gone in three seconds.  Don’t mess with a mare in HEAT!”

        Rainbow bucked her rear legs, just missing his flopping dick and striking his belly.  With a loud fart, Muddy fell to the side; grunting, and off of Rainbow.

        “Rainbow, I don’t think he knew-”

        “Muddy!?  Oh, baby, sweetie, she didn’t hurt Floppy, did she?  Or you,” Davenport added as he rushed over.

        The mares snickered at Muddy. “Mister Floppy, eh?  Ah’m thinkin’ it’s a nice name.”

        “Yeah, for a worm,” Quill muttered. “Why not Throbber?”

        “Well,” Davenport said as he cradled Muddy’s head in his forelimbs, “Salty Peter wasn’t his favorite choice.”

        The room broke into laughter as Muddy blushed and rolled away and to his hooves, his penis sheathed again. “Well, pardon me for having pride in my stallionhood.  Mares just aren’t as sensitive as it seems,” he humphed.

        “Oh, c’mon ponies, let’s just move on to the next game…  Wasn’t it that we each have to tell a secret?  Pinkie, you lost with Fluttershy, so you’re up next.”

        Pinkie’s smile fell and she sighed as she mane drooped and her body sagged.  “I, guess I should.  A game’s a game, and you can’t cheat during one,” Pinkie paused to look around the room, stopping on Fluttershy.  The shy mare nodded to the usually excitable mare next to her in approval.

        “...Now, don’t get upset when I say this, but… I killed a pony.”

        Silence befell the room to such an extent that their ears began to ring from silence, then Rainbow snickered and laughed loudly, hovering and pointing at Pinkie. “Oh, yeah, right!  Did you bake her into cupcakes and feed her to us, too?  Pinkie,” Rainbow rolled onto her back, while midair and hovered, “that was the worst prank ever.  What’s your real secret?”

        Pinkie’s hair fell limp and her color greyed.  A soft hoof touched her forehoof and a silent whisper from Fluttershy made Pinkie’s ears twitch.

        “His name was Robin’s Will.  I, was a filly still; throwing parties around the land and when I did his, he had a heart attack when I used a confetti bomb to surprise him,” she sniffled and looked to Fluttershy who had a slight quirk to her eyebrow, “and no, I didn’t cook him into cupcakes.

        “I love all my friends too much to do that, Rainbow Dash, especially you and my Shybie.  It’s just, no pony knows when they’ll go, or how.  So, I throw parties to make sure they all know to enjoy the time they have.  It’s more for them, than for me, I guess I’m saying…  But, that’s my secret.  Now you know, and please, don’t hate me and stop being my friends because of it,” she sniffled and lay on her belly, covering her muzzle with her fetlocks, “please.”

        “Oh, c’mere ya big baby!”

        Applejack scooped Pinkie into a deep hug, squeezing the pink mare until her eyes began to widen.

        “Hey, I wanna hug her too,” Muddy whined as he got up and pranced over; hugging Pinkie from the side.  Soon everypony was embracing Pinkie, and each other.  Except for Quill and Rainbow Dash.

        Quill sat back and looked at Rainbow Dash, who looked back at her.  Rainbow landed and, with a sigh, stomped her hoof on the floor several times.  She turned to face the huddled group.  “Okay, ponies.  We know she’s totally awesome and I’m super sorry for being all ‘cupcake killer’ at her.  Now, can we get on to the next game?  I’m ready for a game of… what’s the next game?” Rainbow asked openly.

        “Please say pin the tail on the pony.  Please say pin the tail on the pony.  Please say pin the tail on the pony.”

        “Well, Pinkie wants pin the tail on the pony, after that she deserves it,” Rainbow said with a forced smile, “I just don’t think we-”

        With a whoosh, Pinkie ran past her and, puffy mane, bright fur, and beaming smile; had a poster on the far wall.  Blindfold and pinned tail in hoof.  “I’m first!”

        The room was awash in whispers before Quill said the obvious.

        “Screw me with a tornado, girl!  Why didn’t you tell us how you do THAT?!”

        “Oh, it’s easy and I’ll tell you that,” Pinkie said pronking over and leaning forward.  The group gathered behind Quill and listened intently.  “You put on the blindfold and take the pin, then try to…”

        The group exhaled as one in defeat.

The world wasn’t meant to know this day.

Party Night! (part 4)

Party Night! (part 3)

        “I wanna feel!”

        “Me too!”

        “Oh my gosh!  It’s kicking again!”

        “It’s buckin’ like a colt, tee-hee.”

        “Or maybe she’s having a good dream.”

        “I like the idea of it being a filly, myself…”

        “Oh, I wish I could have one.”

        “As if, dude!”

        A round of laughter.

        Rainbow lay on her side, blushing with a frown, as everypony at the party touched, nuzzled, and waited to see the baby move.  She was used to being, or trying to be, the center of attention but now it wasn’t her they were paying attention to.  With a defeated sigh she propped her head on her elbow and began to skim a book she’d found.

        Nearly half an hour passed before she was almost asleep and a party cannon ended that.  With a startled leap she flew up and slammed her head into the ceiling and returned to the floor with a thump on her haunches.

        “Did that wake the baby?” Pinkie asked as she pushed the cannon aside.

        “Pinkie?!  Okay,” Muddy started, “where’d you get the idea that was a good idea and where the buck did you get that from?!”

        “Duh, it was a gift,” Pinkie rolled her eyes and grinned, “besides, she’s fine,” she pointed to Rainbow, “she’s Rainbow Dash, just lookit her, she’s happy as ever.”

        Rainbow’s eyes rolled in opposite directions as she grinned awkwardly for a few seconds.  Shaking her head she looked at Pinkie and stuck out her tongue. “You keep doing that and Ah’ll have somepony else do the baby shower.”

        Pinkie covered her mouth with her hooves in sudden pained fright. “Y-you wouldn’t…  Would you?”

        “Not a chance, Pinkie,” Applejack said, taking a stand next to Rainbow, “yer parties’re the best; we wouldn’t have anypony else do one.”

        “Yeah, besides,” Rainbow smirked, “who else’d do it?  You’re the only Party Pony we know.”

        “Yeah,” Pinkie nodded, “but there are others out there; far, far away,” she gestured to a wall as she swept her forelimb.  “And right now there’s a space battle with lasers and plasma cannons and fighters…  Ooo, ‘X-Wings’...”

        “Ugh, Fluttershy, she’s all yours,” Rainbow mumbled as she got up and stretched her legs.  “Ah swear, layin’ like that gets me cramped somethin’ fierce… What?!  Why’d’ya’ll keep lookin’ at me funny?”

        “Rainbow,” Quill said as she draped a wing across Rainbow’s back and pulled her close, “it’s nice you’ve fallen for such an amazing mare; one that holds your heart and all that quotable stuff.  But, maybe you’re trying too hard with the accent.”

        “Huh?  Ah don’t have one,” Rainbow said with a sniff.  Another sniff led her to Quill’s neck, then mane. “Mmm, yer wearin’ lavender?  Ah have a thing fer-”

        With a light tug and a firm glare, Applejack took Rainbow to her side again. “Now, Quill.  It’s nice’n all ta have ya back, but this’ the real Rainbow now.  She’s just taken kindly ta the way mah family’n me talk is all.  If it bothers ya, we’ll work it out, but Rainbow is as Rainbow is, right?”

        “Oh, don’t get me wrong, ladies.  I believe in you and your love, it’s just that sometimes it’s not so easy to understand Rainbow and why she does what she does.

        “It just kinda feels like a prank or something.  Just, I never took you for a country gal.”

        “Ah never took me for a mare who’d fall for her second best friend, but here we all are,” Rainbow said, nuzzling Applejack’s neck.

        “Awe,” Quill chirped, “okay!  Next secret and one more game… then it’s time to call it a night.  I may love mares but I’ve got a toy that needs some-”

        “Okay!  Sheesh, I’ve got another,” Rainbow added.

        “Rainbow squirts,” Applejack shouted, stunning the room into silence before the room broke down into laughter, except Quill and Rainbow, who both blushed and looked to the floor.

        Davenport was the first to compose himself and notice the pegasi. “Darlings?  What’s wrong?”

        “Eh…  It- it’s…  Embarrassing,” Quill stuttered.

        “N-no, Quill, I’ll tell them,” Rainbow said through a strained voice.  “Pegasi have a gland in the back of our mouths for preening our wings… uh,” she poked the floor lightly with her hooftip, “and if we come, and our mouths are open it,” she cleared her throat, “squirts out…  It’s not like unicorns who squirt from their horns!”

        The room erupted into laughter after Rainbow’s attempted redirection, even Quill giggled cutely. “Or how earth ponies squirt from their vaggies.”

        “Hey,” Muddy added, “we squirt too!”

        “But everypony knows about that.”

        “Well, we still squirt.”

        “Oh, darling, let it go.”

        “Oh, I wish I was a mare…”

        “Is that why you’re-”

        The next half hour was spent in good spirits as they teased and joked.  “Sadly, ladies, time ta go,” Quill  finally said as the group had settled into good natured joking about the weather.

        “Oh, fine,” Muddy sighed, “I guess my secret’s out anyway, right girls?”

“You’ll be one of us no matter what, Muddy.  And you’ll make a great sire someday, Dav.  Just, get over your fare of mares’ vaginas and you’ll get a step closer,” Quill hugged the stallions as they left. “Fluttershy, you were quiet and timid, as usual,” Fluttershy blushed, “and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  Pinkie,” Quill pulled Pinkie and Fluttershy into a hug, “be a good puppy, now, okay?”

        A wet panting sound tickled Quill’s ear from Pinkie’s side.

        A wave goodbye and only Quill, Rainbow, and Applejack were left.

        “So, should we mosey on home?”

        “Wait a minute, AJ.  I’m not ready and Apple Bloom and Scoots are having some filly time at home,” Rainbow pouted.

        “Well, what’d ya have in mind, Sugarplum?”

Off to the Next

Party Night! (part 4)

“Well, I think we should just have some girl time; old school.”

“So, what?  Like paint each others’ hooves and braid our manes?” Quill looked hopefully to Rainbow Dash, who shook her head slowly.

“Ah’m think’n she means we light a candle or three and watch the shadows.”

“Oh, I guess that’s fine too.  We do have to catch up,” Quill tapped her hoof to her chin then nodded. “I like it, you gals get to the bed, I’ll get some candles and meet ya there… no funny stuff,” Quill frowned, then smiled as Rainbow and Applejack giggled.

A few minutes later they were in Quill's room.  “So, yah don’t got any furnishins ‘cept fer the bed and a chest?”

    “It’s just that,” Quill hesitated, “I’m just back and most of my stuff is going to be delivered tomorrow.  Well, let’s get to it.”

    …

Rainbow and Quill flopped to their backs, panting, trying to catch their breaths as their forelegs touched with a tremble.

“Huh, heh-heh, that was awesome, Ah can’t feel my hooves.”

“I know,” Quill replied, “I’ve waited months for that kind of release.”

Applejack frowned. “Ah can’t believe ya two.  Stop pretending ya just rolled in the hay and let me on the bed already.”

    “Oh, you know we’re just messin’, AJ.  I wouldn’t do that, without you there for real.”

    Applejack smirked and rolled her eyes as she lay next to Rainbow as the pegasi scooted over and swallowed hard.  “Yeah, Fritter, Ah love ya too much ta waste all we have on a quickie.”

    “Oh, thanks,” Quill rolled away and flapped a wing, striking Rainbow on the side playfully.

    “Ouch!  AJ, she’s hurting the baby,” Rainbow pouted.

    “Oh, grow up,” Applejack teased.

    “But,” Rainbow sniffled, “if she hurts me, she’s hurting our little mare.”

    “He’ll be fine.”

    “Okay you two, don’t make me get a squirt bottle.”

    Rainbow looked to Quill, as did Applejack as she leaned slightly over Rainbow. “And what?  Squirt us with your juice?” Rainbow said while beginning to laugh.  Applejack snickered and lay back as Quill began to blush again.

    A few minutes of silence passed as the shadows danced against the ceiling.

    “Ah wonder what it’s like in the Pastures beyond.”

    “Well,” Rainbow said softly, her voice cracked, “Pegasi don’t know much about that stuff.  Like praying and ancestors being in trees and stuff, but,” she said quickly, “if I had to guess, I’d bet it’s pretty nice.”

    “All the grass you can eat, the best flowers to roll in.  The best clouds to perch on and the warmest air currents…”

    “Ah rightly don’t know what it’d be like ta be a pegasus.  Ah had wings fer a couple days ‘fore we got engaged, but that was just somethin’ Ah did fer Rainbow.  It wasn’t the same’s spendin’ my life with mah head in the clouds,” Applejack turned and blew a puff of air at Rainbow.

    “Well, sometimes the only way to be alone is to be in a cloud.  Just like how you farm and don’t talk… it’s just, getting in the zone, right, Rainbow?” Quill asked.

    “Yeah…  I still miss her and-”

    “Now doncha start.  We covered all’a that already and we’re better for it.  Gimme a kiss, Sugarcube.”

    “Okay!”  With a flap of wings and a gasp of surprise, Quill was laying over Rainbow and pressing her lips to Applejacks’.  With a pant as Rainbow shoved the gradient purple mare off her body, Quill flew high to the ceiling.  “Amm, num num, tastes like apple pie.”

    In the blink of an eye, Rainbow had Quill pinned to the ceiling, teeth bared and a grimace on her face that sent a shiver through Quill, even through her smirk.  “What, the, HAY are you doing to my wife?!”

    “Wife?  I don’t see her name in your hoof,” Quill teased as Rainbow pulled a hoof back and drove it forward and into the ceiling.  As soon as Rainbow’s fetlock was deep enough Quill pulled Rainbow in close and stuck her tongue into Rainbow’s mouth.  In a stunned surprise, Rainbow instinctively moved forward and kissed Quill.

    A pillow and a shout from below them shocked Rainbow, closing her wings to her sides.  She and Quill fell into a pile with Applejack.  “Ah dunno what’s-” Applejack was cut off by Rainbow kissing her.

    “Ah’m so sorry, AJ.  My Fritter,” she mumbles between pecks, “I just…” she paused her kiss to inhale and look to her side at Quill, who was looking lustfully between her and Applejack.  “I.. just, I’m sorry, AJ…”  Rainbow whimpered as she turned to Quill and leaned in for another kiss.

    “Ah, shoot,” Applejack nickered then moved to push Rainbow aside; kissing Quill with a exhausted moan.

    “AJ?!  What the hay are you doin’?” Rainbow shouted in disbelief.

    “Rainbow,” Quill panted a moment later as she swallowed the shared saliva in her mouth, “every filly fooler wants one, don’t you?”

    “Uhh…”

    “A trio of fillies, alone in a bed?  Didn’t you ever have sleepovers?” Quill asked as she slid back on the bed towards the chest and winked at Applejack who began to breathe heavier.

    “Uh, no.  Not really… AJ!  Your tails aside, I can,” she paused and made an oh face.  “You m-mean… us, three, at the same time?!”  With a click, the chest opened and Quill tossed a small bottle onto the bed.  It bounced twice and landed on Applejack’s rear leg.

    Rainbow read it slowly. “Lubricant jelly; water based?”

    A second later a buzzing sounded and stole her attention.  Quill was holding a magically powered vibrator in her teeth, it was horse sized.

    “Celestia that’s big,” Rainbow said with wide eyes as she watched Quill fly onto the bed and line the toy with Applejack’s love hole.

    A flick of her tail and the toy fell to the bed. “Ah ain’t never had a pony in me ‘cept Rainbow and that’s how it’s gonna stay,” Applejack said firmly, with finality.

    “Woah, fine then,” Quill dropped the dildo and turned to face Rainbow, “what’d’ya say?  Wanna ride my pony?  His name’s Stormy Day, and he’ll-”

    “Celestia, I’m so horny right now I’d do a box of pencils,” Rainbow shouted as she tackled a surprised Quill and tumbled with Applejack over each other.

    Applejack gasped and giggled as the vibrator turned on between her and Quill.  As she fought to carefully remove herself from the pile the sounds of kissing caught her ears again.

    With a frown, she lowered her head and grabbed the toy in her teeth and shuttered as her head vibrated with it.  She turned and tossed it to the bed, grasped the bottle between her hooves and squeezed a large amount of lubricant on the dildo and smeared it across the top half.

    With a frustrated grunt, she turned it off and gripped it in her teeth again as she left the bed.  Shock beheld her as she saw the beautiful blue hooves she loved so much, wrapped around the mare they both knew so well.  Applejack nickered as she leapt and landed on the floor, turned, pressed the horse sized faux cock against Quill’s vulva, and pushed.

    With a startled gasp the purple gradient mare shuttered and looked back to see Applejack beginning to work the toy inside and out of her body.  Applejack could see the wet, pink, sweetly scented insides of the mare as she slid the dildo in and out.  In and out.  A push, really deep, so deep Quill whinnied in pleasure, then slowly pulled it out.

    With a squishing sound, the toy was free of Quills body and landed right on Rainbow’s winking hole.  With trepidation, Applejack pushed the toy inside her mare’s body.

    “H-h-hokey p-pokey, AJ!  Ah, i-it’s so huge… Ah!  Ah,” she moaned in pleasure, “oh my, how deep is it?”

    Quill scooted her body forward, leaving a trail of pussy juice that matted the fur on Rainbow’s underbelly and looked back. “About a third of the way,” she said dismissively as she moved until her teats were over Rainbow’s muzzle, “wanna taste?”

    Rainbow whimpered and nodded once as Quill moved until her tail was against Rainbow’s chin, then she squatted.  Gasping sharply as the pink tongue flicked lightly against her purple vulva, Quill tittered and bit her bottom lip as her tail flicked from side to side.  “Oh… Rainbow, I’ve waited for this for so long,” Quill said softly as she looked between her forelegs at the mare beneath her.  Yellow eyes met Ruby and for a second a spark was felt.

        “HEY!” Quill shouted looking back at Applejack’s devious grin and the dildo she had in her teeth that had just hit the back of her neck.

        “Slipped, darlin’.  Just don’t get too inta it, she’s still mine.  Now, don’t stop ya two.  Rainbow, Ah’ve had enough ‘a this nasty thing.  Ah’m goin’ it the way Ah know the best.”  Quill was going to yell but yelped as Rainbow pressed her muzzle and pushed her tongue as deep as they could get against Quill’s body.

        It was at the same moment that Applejack pressed her muzzle against Rainbow’s spread thigh and nipped her lightly.  Another nip on the other thigh and Rainbow was trembling across her body; her hole begging for any pleasure as her pregnant hormones were screaming for orgasmic release.

        One last nip on Rainbow’s vulva and the cyan legs wrapped around Applejack’s long, slender neck and yanked, unsuccessfully.  Applejack held back as a huge grin crossed her muzzle.  The tension she was making Rainbow feel was palpable to the point that Rainbow was beginning to take her passions out on Quill’s lower body.

        Applejack looked on, trailing Rainbow’s underbody at the mare, her mare, the mare she was going to be with forever… the same mare that had her forelegs held so tightly against Quill that if the mare tried to fly away, even with wings as stiff as ironing boards, she’d be stuck with Rainbow lapping away like a starving dog at a watering hole.

        Applejack chuckled to herself as she finally leaned in and began to taste Rainbow’s sweet nectar while watching the mare she was tied to enjoy the nectar of another.  This one time, it’d be okay.

        Just this once…  Or, maybe once more, later.

Home from the Party

Off to the Next

Quill was the first to collapse onto the bed as Rainbow drove her tongue cervical deep and came, releasing pent up stress and sweet, angelically perfumed nectar onto Applejack’s awaiting tongue and muzzle.  Freed from Rainbow’s grasp, Quill turned quickly and looked at Applejack.  Both mares licked their lips and stood, faced each other, then, while standing over a sweating, matted, panting Rainbow Dash, began to kiss.

        Tongues danced, heated breathes exchanged, and arousal moans filled the room as Applejack let Quill push her to the bed and turned around.  Knowing they were both still in the mood and needed release, Applejack having the longest way to go, Quill started to nibble above Applejack’s slit while Applejack wasted no time.

        The flavor and scents in the room were manna to her senses and she was quickly lost to a more primal, animalistic need and craving for sex and release.  She swallowed Quill’s fluids as she finally felt her body being touched and nibbled.  Her neck mane prickled in excitement as she waited for her to be tasted and enjoyed.

        A moan left Quill and her thighs trembled, tightening and folding Applejack’s ears uncomfortably as Quill let a guttural whinney from the deepest parts of her being out… Then she collapsed onto Applejack’s body, trembling and breathing in raspy breaths.

        “Uh,” Applejack wiggled her head until her ears were free and swallowed, “Sugarcube?”

        A chorus of snores suddenly replied to Applejack’s dismay.  With a controlled shove she was free from the sleeping mare that was on her.  With a sigh Applejack sat up and huffed at the preening mucus that was splotted against her left hind leg.  She rolled to her belly and wiped her leg off on the blanket as she looked at the pegasi asleep haphazardly on the bed next to her and the oversized dildo from before.

        With another sad sigh she moved to the side of the bed, climbed off, and left the mares to sleep their time away.  But not before going to Quill’s toy chest and taking a far smaller toy for herself. “Ah’ll name ya Little Dashie fer the next few minutes,” she said quietly as she left the main room for a short two minutes alone in the guest room and its carpet that was soft to her belly.

        “AJ, I said Ah’m sorry.  Are ya mad?”

        “Rainbow, Ah don’t know what’s gotten inta ya.  It was yer first time like that, Ah ain’t sore,” she smiled inwardly.  She was a bit sore from what she’d done to herself, but Rainbow didn’t need to know that and Quill wouldn’t tell.  “It isn’t a bad thing ta fall asleep after’n Ah got a good nap in too.

        “B-but, you were in the other room.  You must be so upset with me,” Rainbow mumbled as she hovered beside Applejack, “Ah swear, I’ll make it up to you.  I’ll-”

        “Now, don’t get yerself inta a tizzy.  We’ve got days ta make up fer it and I, fer one, can use a good tooth brushin’ and muzzle wash.  All that mess in mah fur’s gonna chafe if Ah don’t get it out.  And the same to you,” Applejack winked to Rainbow.

        “Oh, you’re plannin’ something.  It… won’t hurt, will it?”

        “Ah can’t promise that… especially after the way ya handled half ‘a that… what’d Quill call it?”

        Rainbow blushed and looked away. “Nevermind, I’m kinda sore about that.”

        “Ah betcha are,” Applejack guffawed as she trotted quicker.  “C’mon, it ain’t that late.  Ah wanna see Twilight’n her new beau.”

        “That Sun guy?  What’s the big deal with him and her?”

        “Well, as far as Ah can see it, she’s inta him more than he’s inta her, but that’s why I don’t have a coltfriend.  The dang gender can’t figure out what they want.”

        “So, what if we walk in on them rutting?”

        “Then we join in, twice in a night sounds good and four-”

        “AJ?!  Seriously?  What the-” Rainbow was in shock, so much so her wings closed to her sides as she landed and she had to fight them from opening stiffly.  Then she noticed Applejack snickering.

        “Ah’m just messin’ Dashie.  C’mon, let’s get and see Twi before it’s too late.”

        Rainbow pouted as she relaxed. “That’s not very funny.  You know I want it like, all the time.”

        “Yeah,” Applejack sighed as she looked up to the stars, “we’ve knocked a few apples loose over the past couple weeks on the farm.  Lookit the sky, Sugarplum.  Ain’t it beautiful?”

        “Yeah, I guess.  So, are you really not mad at me for, ya know.”

        Applejack rolled her eyes but didn’t answer.

The Worst Wednesday

Home from the Party

        “Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, we’re home.  Ah hope ya haven’t had any troubles while we were gone.”

        “Nah, Mama, we’re fine.  We’re playing carts and carriages, wanna play?” Scootaloo called from the livingroom to the left as Applejack and Rainbow Dash entered the home.  “We cooked some, well, warmed some apple cobblers and I know you’re Mom’s Fritter, so Apple Bloom made you one.”

        The fillies snickered and giggled as the toys began to squeak again as they played.

        “Alright, little mares.  Yer Mom and me need ta rest up and relax, scoot over so we can get to the couch.”

        “Sis, yer hair’s really messy and why’s yer hat all smushed?”

        “We got into a tussle with a tumbleweed,” Applejack said as Rainbow snickered into her hoof and flew past her and lay on the couch with a groan of pleasure that lasted almost too long.

        “So, how was the party?”

        “Well, A.B., it was somethin’ we’ll never ferget,” Applejack said flatly as she passed the fillies and crawled onto the couch, laying her head on Rainbow’s belly.

        “Whew, what’s that smell?” Scootaloo asked waving a hoof in front of her snout, “it’s like sweat and something I can’t ex...plain,” she stammered as she sniffed one last time and recognized the sweet, unique scent of a mare’s tail coated in post orgasm fluids.

        “Uh, Apple Bloom, would ya mind if we played in my room?  I think mom’s need a shower after they relax.”

        The mared shot the filly a confused look as the fillies got up, collected their toys, and left the room.

        “We’re alone now, so Ah gotta ask, AJ.  Why’d you decide to go at it with Quill?  I mean, I can’t explain how awesome it was, and quick, but then we were all over each other and… I don’t know, it was great but,” she hesitated.

        “Sugarcube, Ah can hear the baby.  It’s movin’.” Applejack whispered.

        “I know, Ah can feel it,” Rainbow said as she looked to Applejack’s smiling face.

        “Sugar, Ah love ya and ya don’t have ta worry.  Ah’m here for ya no matter what, and let’s just be here and now.  Don’t be like Twilight and Sun, just in it fer the sex.”

        Rainbow lay her head down and sighed contently. “I know I love you… but I wanna do something.  Ah dunno what.  It’s just been boring the past year.  Only one monster’s come outta the Everfree, work’s been lame, and I’m getting fat from not doing stunts,” she raspberried, “ugh, I’m just gonna be a fat blob of feathers and fur before this baby shows up.”

        “Hehehe.  Rainbow, ya don’t hafta worry.  When my, my mama was ready ta have Apple Bloom she didn’t get too big a’tall.  She only had ta push a few times and I had a new sister.”

        “Ugh, don’t remind me about that stuff.  Ah already know that when I have her the unicorn’s gonna have to teleport it outta me.  Then there’s teaching it to walk and feeding it, washing it, all that stuff.”

        Applejack raised her head and looked at the semi-depressed pegasus. “Sugarplum… you do know how foals are born, right?  They aren’t magicked out.”

        “Yeah, right.  That’s what my mom said,” she sighed.

        “Uh, I don’t think you know what happens, do you?”

        “UGH!  We go into the doctor’s office.  He casts a spell and the baby’s there.  Then we go home.  How complicated is that?”

        Applejack’s jaw hung open in dumbfounded silence before she finally blinked and spoke again. “Rainbow,” she said softly, “Ah’ve gotta be the one ta tell you how it really works, don’t I?”

        “What are you talking about?  We got magicked into me ruining my body and that’s how it ends.”

        “Sugarcube, sit up, Ah can’t believe I need to have this talk with you,” Applejack said as she sat tall and waited for Rainbow to force herself over, making over exaggerated motions about her small increase in size. “Good enough.  Now, what we do is go to the hospital and…”

        “...and that’s when the doctor’ll start tellin’ ya to push, when that happens…”

        “and then the baby’s out, cleaned up, given some medicine, and then they start pushin’ on yer belly to…”

        “And then before ya know it, three weeks’ll pass and we can start makin’ love again.  And that’s how mares have babies.”

        Rainbow had paled a while before the story was done.  She felt cold and uncertain about the world she knew.  How could anything so tiny be so much trouble, and that was just coming out.  “Guh, bwuh, puh… The thing comes outta my thing and,” Rainbow began to tremble as Applejack moved to hug her.

        “It’s okay, Rainbow.  Ah’ll be there the whole time.”

        Rainbow’s mind wasn’t on the mare holding her, comforting her.  The mare with the freckles she fell in love with and the heart that kept her full of love.  It was the entire experience she was going to go through and what was going to happen to her body, her career, her dreams and the mare who she believed was at fault for it all.

The Worst Wednesday 2

The Worst Wednesday

        “Breakfast was great, Fritter.  Ah, nothing like a full belly to start the day,” Rainbow grinned as she began to hover from the table.  Scootaloo was nearly done herself and Applejack was cleaning up as Rainbow hugged her from behind and nuzzled her softly. “It’s gonna be another long day.  I’ve gotta make up for Red Winger taking the week off.”

        Applejack hummed and leaned into the nuzzle. “Me too.  We’re plantin’ in the south fields.  Still spring and that means gotta get ready fer harvestin’ all summer.”

        “Yeah, we’ll see each other a bit less but Ah still love you,” Rainbow softly whispered as she kissed Applejack on the cheek.  “I’ve gotta go, but I’ll see you for dinner?”

        “Heh, eeyap.”

        “It’s eeyup,” Rainbow corrected as they giggled at the inside joke.

        “I don’t get it.  Why’s that funny?  She said it wrong,” Scootaloo asked, head cocked to the side.

        “It’s just a joke we know.  Eat up and give Mom a kiss ‘fore she leaves.”

        “First Mama’s gettin’ a freckle kiss,” Rainbow said as she began kissing Applejack’s cheeks several times on each side before a final kiss on the lips.

        “Ah love you, Rainbow,” Applejack said with a pause, “Ah’ll see ya tonight.”

        Rainbow said her goodbyes, hugs, and kisses then she left.  Taking to the skies she wasted no time busting clouds and moving others around town to their designated areas.

        With a heavy sigh she came to a stop over a house and slowed her flapping, slowly descending to the ground.  A loud two knocks and a moment later the door opened.

        “Rainbow, you’re late, is everything okay?”

        “Yeah, just started work, Quill… I’m on my break, I really should hurry,” Rainbow said in defeat.

        “It’s fine, you never last that long,” she said in a reassuring tone as she motioned for Rainbow to enter, closing the door quickly after she entered.

        Rainbow lay on her side as Quill unstrapped the saddle from her body, both exhausted from their act.  Rainbow sniffled quietly as Quill lay behind her and cuddled into her blue fur and spectral mane.  “That, was amazing.”

        “Y-yeah, it felt great,” Rainbow replied, sighing heavily, “it’s just that, isn’t this wrong?”

        “What?  Two friends hangin’ out?”

        “No, the making love part.  I, just feel like I’m hurting inside after we’re done.”

        “Oh, psh.  You worry too much.  Just enjoy the moment, Honey.  Mmm, I love your scent, like citrus.”

        “Yeah, new shampoo AJ and me use, together.”

        “She’s lucky to have you.  Now, wanna shower and get all that sexy sweat off or ya gonna wait for it to dry in the clouds?”

        Rainbow shuddered slightly as she felt the baby move inside her belly. “I need to shower and then I’ve gotta get back to work, Quill.”

        “And I’ve gotta remember your smell until you come by tomorrow.  Same time?”

        “Y-yeah.  I guess.”

        “Oh, c’mon.  Don’t be that way, it’s been two amazing weeks since you knocked on my door, crying like a filly and begging for an ear to listen and wing to cry on,” Quill nuzzled Rainbow’s neck.

        “Yeah, and you kissed me.”

        “You kissed back and started nipping my neck.”

        Rainbow’s heart was heavy at the memory as she rolled away from Quill. “We shouldn’t be doing this.”

        “Then I’ll say what I’ve said everyday since last week:  Stop coming over.”

        …

        “Ah, just can’t.  It hasn’t been the same since that party.  She’s different.  She’s distant, like she’s bottling up somethin’, Ah can tell she’s hiding something, Quill.  Ah just don’t know what.”

        “Come to mommy, darling,” Quill opened her legs and embraced the mare as her wing covered the orange mare as well, “look, you’ve been sneaking to see me every evening you can.  The sex is amaze-balls and you can use your tongue like it was a snake but you’re not a liar, Applejack.  Since the party you’ve been lying to her and yourself.  It’s been a week that you’ve been sneaking here after chores on the farm, behind her pinions and primaries no less, and I have to ask, isn’t it worth it?”

        Applejack sighed and nuzzled into Quill’s embrace and sniffled, then began to weep. “Ah’m a terrible pony, Quill.  Ah’m cheatin’ on my everything.  She’s carrying my baby and I’m rollin’ in the hay with our best friend.”

        “It’s not like she’d ever know.  I won’t tell her, honest truth.  You should leave her for me.”

        Applejack felt like she was bucked in the chest at that moment as she thought about the offer.

        …

        “Oh, Rainbow, it’s not like she needs you.  She has her family, all the other four girls and who knows how many other mares after her.  There’s a reason you come back to my house everyday midmorning.”

        “Yeah, you told me it was the best time to talk.  Now we’re having sex every day… what about AJ?  Huh?!  What’s this going to do to her when she finds out?” Rainbow shouted as she opened her wings aggressively and lowered her head. “It’s your fault this happened, that I… love another mare.”

        “Who’d you say was at fault the first morning you came here?  Who made you carry her baby?  Ruined your body and dreams?  Stopped you from doing whatever you wanted by making you move into a ground house with her?  You could have made a new cloud house, right?”

        Rainbow’s body and wings sagged. “Yeah,” she looked aside, “I said all that, but it doesn’t mean anything if I have to hurt her.”

        …

        “Who said you’d hurt her, AJ?  You’ve been coming by every evening after work and working up a great sweat with me.  She’d do the same,” Quill averted her eyes, “if she had the chance.”

        “No!  She’s the perfect mare, Quill.  Ah’m the one that’s doin’ bad.  Ah’m the one,” Applejack pressed her face into Quill’s chest and inhaled the mare’s scent, “that’s fallin’ fer another mare.”

        Quill grinned widely as she pulled Applejack into a tighter embrace.  “Leave with me, tonight.  Let’s just go away, the two of us.”

        …

        Rainbow huffed as she paced the room. “A herd?  With the three of us?  Ha!  That’d never work.  She’s into ‘monogamy’,” Rainbow rolled her eyes, “and I guess I am too, now.  Quill, I love you, but this has to stop.”

        “Fine, then leave and don’t come back!” Quill shouted and rolled over, hiding a smirk while she fake cried.

        Rainbow took a hesitant step away before she moved toward Quill and lay behind her, holding the gradient purple mare with her legs. “Look, I’m sorry, Quill.  I, I don’t want to lose you.  It’s just that I don’t want to hurt AJ.”

        …

        “Quill,” Applejack whispered, “lemme go and... help me ta tell Rainbow about us.  About this.  It’d help if you were there and maybe it’ll all be okay.  We can go back ta the way t’all was.”

        Quill’s smile fell as she felt Applejack moving away from her.  She tried to hold tighter but was no match for the earth pony’s strength and was shoved back by a forceful hoof.  “What the feathering buck, AJ?”

        …

        “I love the mare I’m engaged to and you’re not worth losing her, Quill,” Rainbow said as she rolled away and back to her hooves, kicking the saddle away from her side of the bed, “and you’re not worth losing her.  I’m going to tell her, soon, and whatever happens,” Rainbow nearly whispered before she started to cry, “I love you, but as a friend from now on.  And I’m not coming back alone.”

        “No!  Lime, don’t go!” Quill shouted as she scrambled to her hooves in a desperate move to stop Rainbow.  “I-I mean Rainbow.  Please, don’t go.”

        Rainbow winced at Quill’s plea and began to open the bedroom window. “I got over it, her, and happened.  You need to too.”

        With that Rainbow was gone from Quills house and back into the sky.  She resumed her work at a higher altitude to cry to herself as she worked.

        …

        “What Ah’m sayin’ is that Rainbow’s mah reason fer bein’.  If Ah’m gonna be with her,” she paused, “then I have to be with her.  Ah’m in love with her and I’m not givin’ her up for another mare… even if she does listen as good as you.”

        Quill’s bottom lip trembled as her furrowed her brow. “Get out.”

        “Look, we don’t have ta end on bad terms.  We can-”

        “I’ve been grinding Rainbow for two weeks and she left me yesterday.  You ruined her body so I was helping her feel better,” she began to fan her wings in aggression, “you two deserve each other!  Get OUT.”

        Applejack turned and took a reflexive step away. “Quill, I don’t-”

        “I’m fucking your fiance, you ignorant country hick,” Quill said with a sneer.  Applejack’s eyes widened and her ears fell back to her head. “I’m doing you both and you both wanna break up with me? You don’t wanna be with me?  Well fine then.  Get out and be with your whore of a finance.  I loved her more in the past two weeks than you’ve loved her in the past months,” Quill spat on the floor between them as she reared and landed with a loud stomp of both hooves.

        Applejack backed away and tripped over the rope they’d finished using a few minutes earlier. “Quill, Ah hope yer just talkin’ sap with them bad words and that yer tryin’-”

        Quill snared daringly and began to Quote Rainbow. “‘I came home last night and she was wearing mesh panties.  Black ones.  We haven’t made love since the party and I’-”

        Quill stopped quoting Rainbow after a controlled slap crossed her muzzle.  “If you ever come near any of mah family again I’ll send ya halfway ta see Lime,” Applejack growled as she turned and left the bedroom, leaving Quill completely alone.  The front door creaked open as Applejack stepped out with a frown on her face, her freckles seemingly gone as she marched her way home.

Salvation

The Worst Wednesday 2

        With a buck to the front door that took it off it’s hinges and sent all three Cutie Mark Crusaders scrambling in fear for the nearest adult, Rainbow Dash, Applejack turned and stomped into the house.

        “Alright,” Rainbow shouted as she flew around the corner with her hooves ready to swing, “what’s the big idea of scaring… AJ?”

        Applejack stomped past Rainbow and looked into the living room at the three fillies that were huddled together.

        “Mama?  Why’d-”

        “Get over to the farmhouse, girls.  Mama needs ta talk to Rainbow Dash, now,” she growled.

        Silence filled the house for a long four seconds as the weight of Applejack’s words fell into place into every pony in the room.  With ears flat to their heads and tails low the Crusaders hurriedly rushed past the adult mares and out of the house into the darkening evening.

        The living room was nearly sparkling clean from ceiling to floor and Applejack nearly smiled as she took notice before her frown returned.  A sniff of the air made Applejack weak in the knees as she smelled her favorite stew boiling in the kitchen.

        “AJ, Ah, ahem, I cleaned up.  I, didn’t get it all but I started the main rooms and,” Rainbow hovered into the living room, “our room.”

        Applejack stomped heavily into the living room, tracking dirt and mud as she went.  Stopping near Rainbow she scowled so deeply she could hear Rainbow gulp behind the flapping of her wings. “Get.  Down.  Here.”

        Rainbow stopped flapping and landed in the center of the room, muzzle inches from Applejack’s.  “Uh, what’s up, Fritt-”

        “Gah!” Rainbow stumbled to the left, caught herself, and looked at Applejack with a glare as she flew at her with her own left hook.  With a resounding thud her strike crossed Applejack’s muzzle and sent her staggering to the right. “What the buck is your problem?!  Hitting me while-” another slap, this one harder, sent Rainbow to her right side on the floor.

        “Ah’m rollin’ around with Quill, Rainbow.”

        Rainbow snapped her head to Applejack as her cheek throbbed with each heartbeat, the next faster than the last.  With a growl she swung as she took wing and whalloped Applejack so hard she left the floor and landed onto the couch.

        “I’m fucking Quill, too!” Rainbow shouted as she flared her wings, landing on the coffee table.

        Applejack sneered and leapt at Rainbow who flew to the ceiling and grinned at the missed lunge, until she noticed Applejack land on her front hooves only and launch herself backwards at her.  “Oh buck-” she narrowly dodged the hooves that were aimed at her by zipping to the side.  “What the hay!  You’re actually-”

        “Grraahh!” Applejack shouted as she landed on the floor by the kitchen and leapt at the flying mare again, this time catching Rainbow’s tail in her teeth and yanking hard.

        Rainbow screamed and landed with a heavy thud on the floor as Applejack leapt and pinned Rainbow to the floor. “Ah said no bad words in this house!!”

        “Ah don’t give a shit!  You’re cheating on me.”

        “You started with her first!” Applejack retorted as Rainbow flapped her wings and began to struggle for her freedom.  Applejack slipped and Rainbow nearly got away but she was wrapped in a reverse bearhug and fell to the floor again, biting her tongue this time.

        “Gah!  My tung…  AJ, Pthleeth, owowowwow.  I bic mah tung.”

        “Then you can’t use it on Quill fer a couple’a days, then?  Boo-hoo, ya tramp!”

        Rainbow craned her head glared at Applejack. “You’re jutht as bad!  I broke up wif her today and wuv gonna tell you and everythung,” Rainbow said as she rolled her tongue in her mouth then spat bloody spit in Applejack’s direction, knocking the hat off her head.

        Applejack gasped and squeezed Rainbow tighter around her barrel.  “Ah can’t believe this,” Applejack said as she held the struggling mare tight until she sighed and let Rainbow loose.  Rainbow scrambled free and turned to face her orange lover from two pony lengths away. “What’s wrong with me… us, Rainbow Dash?”

        Rainbow was glaring daggers at Applejack as she swallowed some coppery spit with a gulp. “Ah love ya,” Rainbow said as she raised a hoof to her swollen cheek, “even if you hit like a deer.”

        Applejack snorted loudly and moved her tongue around her mouth then made a sucking sound, spitting a bloody molar onto the floor. “Ya hit like Ah buck trees, Rainbow.”

        They both forced a smile, as awkward as it was.

        “...Tho, now what?” Rainbow asked.

        “Ah, I don’t know.  Ah’ve got mah beliefs on family and love and ya got yer pegasus rituals of meet, mate and leave.”

        “Thath not how it is,” Rainbow countered but looked into Applejack’s eyes and relented, “uth-ually.”

        “Ya know we can’t be with each other if we’re with somepony else.  Do, do ya wanna fly off like yer tribe does?”

        “Hey!  Don’t get twibal with me,” Rainbow grumbled.

        “Ah ain’t gettin’ tribal.  But pegasi are like a herd ‘a birds.  Ya mate and leave each other and the whole flock raises the babies.  Ah know how it works up there, even though I don’t live there.  Ah’m not a fool, Rainbow.”

        “Ah know, ouch,” she whined and stuck out her slightly swollen tongue, “bah, thupid bike, look, AJ, Ah love you ang,” she gulped and winced as she forced her tongue to move more normally, “and, I messed up.  I was totally not awesome and I totally did the wrong thing by doing her and not telling you,” she lowered her muzzle and sighed, “and doing it for two weeks, but I felt bad about it after the first week.”

        Applejack facehooved. “Ah, you know how mah family and most earth ponies feel about herdin’ outside the relationship.  Sure, we herd, but it’s somethin’ we talk about, right?”

        “Right, sure, whatever,” Rainbow said as she looked at her tail hairs, “it’s just that I have this drive to make love right now, and you haven’t been there for me.”

        “I haven’t been there fer you?!” Applejack shouted, “Ah’ve had sex with ya every other day fer the past two weeks, and all I wanted was you ta listen to me.”

        “I made love with Quill cuz she listened to me…” Rainbow huffed. “We both went to her for the same thing that we didn’t get from you and me…  Ya know?”

        “Yeah, Rainbow… Mah Sugarplum,” Applejack swallowed a some bloody saliva herself and shuddered at the taste. “Would ya wanna tell me about what’s eatin’ yer grapes?”

        Rainbow slumped back and lay flat. “Well, rith now my whole faith hurth.”

        Applejack chuckled. “And Ah’ve never tasted blood before.  Reckon it’s gonna make me throw up soon.”

        Rainbow giggled. “Only the first time.  After that you get really bad runs when it happens cuz you swallow it and we can’t handle it like monsters can.”

Applejack chuckled loudly.  A beat later and Rainbow began to laugh until Applejack had crawled to Rainbow and lay with her on the floor, both looking at a set of horseshoe marks on the ceiling where Applejack had connected.

“Fritter?”

“Yeah, Sugarplum?”

        “I’m really hungry, and so’s the baby.”

        Applejack snickered and leaned over to nuzzle Rainbow. “Ah’m really sorry about hittin’ ya.”

        “Yeah, me too.  I’m glad ya stopped though.”

        “Why, thought I’d hurt the baby?”

        “Nah, Ah was gonna stop pullin’ my punches and show you what awesome hits like,” she grinned.

        Applejack smiled and looked towards the door that was half shattered and imbedded deeply in the far wall. “Yeah, Ah wouldn’t want that.”

        “Ah swear,” Rainbow said firmly, “Pinkie Promise times forever that I’ll never be with another pony without letting you know and talking it out first.”

        “Hrmph, and I promise ta talk it out with you instead of another pony.”

        “Oh yeah, I’ll add that to the promise.  Can we, maybe eat while we talk, finally, about what’s buggin’ us?”

        “Heh, how bad’s yer tongue hurt?” Applejack asked softly.

        “Too bad for that,” Rainbow looked to the side with a smug look.

        “Let’s get some stew and talk a bit.”

        “A bit?  AJ, we’re not gonna sleep tongith, tonight, cuz we’re gonna be thalkin’ all night.”

        Applejack grinned and so did Rainbow.  With a single kiss they nuzzled, got to their hooves and walked, leaning against each other, to the kitchen.

        Quill sat alone in her living room, a lantern was burning before her.  A photo, the only photo of Lime was held tight to her chest.  Tears streamed down her face, following the contours of her muzzle and landing on the photo.  A jar of honey sat beside her, nearly empty from a few moments of guzzling.

        “I’m all alone now.  They’re all gone, Lime.”

        As the world begun to spin and her body began to numb, the last thing Quill did was knock the lantern over, spilling the kerosene across the floor.  The fire followed it quickly without pause.

        “Lime…  I’ll see, yoo-” she said groggily as she fell to her side and drifted to a blissful eternal sleep.

        …

        …

        …

        Lime placed a light kiss on Quill’s forehead as she awoke in a green pasture covered with wildflowers.  Quill sat up and looked around at the paradise that spanned the horizon before her. “Hey, sweetie.  I missed you,” Lime said with a giggle. “But, you’re here too soon and for the wrong reason.”

        “L-Lime?  I, I missed you.  I was alone and lost without you,” Quill whimpered as she moved to hug Lime.  They embraced like they had for months while alive together.

        “Quill, I missed everything about you,” Lime sniffled, “but it’s not time, yet.  We all have a moment where we are meant to go and this isn’t yours.”

        Quill hummed contently as she nuzzled Lime.

        “You’re going back, but be the mare you know I want and need you to be.  When it’s your time come back, I’ll be here waiting.”

What to Do, Now?

Salvation

        “Quill?  Quill!  Wake up!” A voice shouted, stirring Quill from her slumber.  She felt herself being pulled by the scruff of her neck for a ways, the pressure the only sensation she could feel.  She knew it was a pony but was far too groggy to know who, much less where she was and what’d happened.  “We’re gettin’ ya outta here,” the voice shouted, muffled to her ears, as the body she was suddenly draped over began to move.

        The night air was, for a moment, fresh before turning chokingly thick with the stench of fire.  Burning.  Her house.  Her house?!

        She opened her eyes and looked through the haze to see her home burning, fire licking from the upper story windows and door behind them.  Orange.  Blonde.  …

        “A... Applejack?”

        “Doncha worry, Quill, we’re here.  We’re here,” Applejack reassured her as they came to a slow canter before stopping two houses down.  The fire team was already casting spells and using various forms of magic to quell and control the fire before it could spread to the next house and, subsequently the whole town.

        “Where’s,” she took a heavy breath of fresh air, “Lime?  I just,” she coughed as fresh air entered her body again, “saw her.  Take me back, to her.”

        “Ya need a doctor before anything, Sugarcube.  Hey,” Applejack called to a nearby pony that was gawking at the fire, “Ah’m headin’ to the hospital with Quill, if anypony asks, that’s where we are.”

        The yokel gawked at Applejack and grinned a missing toothed grin. “Heh, why shucks, t’ain’t no problem.”

        With a curt nod, Applejack took to a gallop away from the fire and within a minute was nearly halfway through town.  The hospital was nearing.

        Quill yawned and bobbed. “Uh, I can walk you know.”

        “Yeah, Ah know.  If ya get off yer in for a hurt though.  Ya got a good burn to yer side there and it’s gonna smart somethin’ fierce soon.  That’s the reason Rainbow stayed back to help with the fire.  She can’t carry you like you are and she’s not as tough as I am fer runnin’... without cheatin’,” Applejack mumbled as she took a sharp right and nearly lost Quill to the centripical forces.

        “Yeah, but I’m a Pegasus.  I’ll just fly,” Quill groaned as she made to open her wings.  Sharp pain shot through her back for the instant she did try to move her wing arms. “Ah, I get it; wing burn.  Duh,” she said as her stomach turned from the pain in her back, wing and burns.

        “Stay put’n hold on.  One last turn and we’re there.  What in tarnation?” Applejack mumbles as she neared the hospital.

        “What?” Quill asked.

        “Uh, nothin’.  Just mah eyes playin’ tricks on me.”

        …

        “So doctor, how’s she lookin’?” Applejack asked Doctor Horse as he looked intently at a medical clipboard.

        “Well, we’ve healed the burns and she’ll regrow everything in time.  But what concerns me is why she was asleep in a housefire to begin with.  There’s no alcohol in her system and we couldn’t trace any illegal substances in her,” he stopped when he noticed Applejack looking aside and biting her lip.  “Applejack, what happened?”

        Applejack exhaled and looked to the floor.  His hooves were really interesting for a second while she thought of what to say. “She tried ta take her life, Doc.”

        “Oh my.”

        “Her lover died from tainted honey and she must’ve saved the jar.  Whole thing was empty when Rainbow’n me pulled her outta the house ‘fore the fire could get to her.”

        Doctor horse exhaled and pressed a hoof to his forehead as he took in the news.

        “Before ya ask, Rainbow’n me weren’t there when the fire started.  We were-”

        “Nononahnope,” he interjected, “we know enough about your love life thanks to Rainbow Dash-”

        “Ah was gonna say havin’ supper,” she frowned, “and what’s this you’ve been hearin’ about mah personal life from a certain mare?  Huh?”

        “Oh, boy…”

        …

        “So I was like ‘whoosh’ and ‘pow’ and ‘splash’.  Heh, yup.  Totally owned the fire,” Rainbow said landing and ruffling her wings as Scootaloo sat beside Quill on a hospital bed.

        “Wow!  That’s so cool, Mom!  I can’t wait to fly as awesome as you and do half your stunts.”

        “Yeah, I know,” Rainbow polished a hoof on her chest, “but you’ll have to keep your expectations lower until you get half as awesome as me.”

        A rolled sock bounced off Rainbow’s snout. “Oh, hush it up.  You were probably carrying one bucket of water when the chief put out the fire, right?” Quill stated with mirth as she pulled Scootaloo into a hug and gave her a noogie.

        “Hey, those clouds don’t make themselves and I only had a little help.  So, yeah,” she paused to sigh and look at Scootaloo who wasn’t listening through her beginning to rough house with Quill.

        “Hey, I call this one the Scootaloo Jammer,” Scootaloo said as she hovered and began to use all four legs to strike at Quill who was using one of her pillows as a shield.

        “Oh yeah?  I call this one-”

        “Stop that, both of you,” a nurse scolded as she poked her head into the room, “you’re sick and need rest.  You’re a filly and should be in school.  And you... “ she stopped and looked at Rainbow before sighing, “just, keep the room calm.  Please.”  The nurse left the mares and filly alone again, the room in silence as Scootaloo stood on the bed and looked at Rainbow.

        Quill slowly moved a foreleg and poked Scootaloo under the tail yielding a yelp in surprise from the filly.

        “Ha!  She poked ya in the eye,” Rainbow laughed as Quill smirked and Scootaloo scowled.

        “It’s not funny when my friends do it, it’s really not funny when she does it,” Scootaloo turned and pointed at Quill.  Then yelped again as Rainbow poked her under the tail.  Scootaloo huffed and jumped to the floor, stomping out with her tail low. “You guys are jerks,” she said before she slammed the door shut behind her.

        “Wow, she’s so done with us,” Rainbow said before she started to laugh.

        “I don’t know, I remember that being a fun game when we were fillies-”

        “And anytime just because,” Rainbow added.

        “Between friends, yeah,” Quill continued, “but I’ve never been much for the poke game with fillies.”

        Rainbow scratched her chin. “What’re you talking about, you’re a ‘filly’ fooler, right?” Rainbow egged her on. Quill returned the joke with a deadpan expression.  “Okay, too far.  Sorry, but… well,” Rainbow hovered and scratched the back of her mane.

        “I saved the honey Lime ate and hid it away in my house.  I never thought I’d ever see it again, but-”

        The door opened quickly showing Applejack and Scootaloo behind her forelegs. “What in tarnation’s goin’ on in here?  Quill,” she directed her questioning, “did you poke her under her tail?  And Rainbow Dash, you just let it happen?”

        “Hey,” Quill started.

        “I didn’t think it was wrong until a few seconds ago, honest, Fritter.”

        Scootaloo poked Applejack’s leg to get her attention and whispered softly, pointing to Rainbow. “Rainbow Dash!”

        “Busted,” Quill whispered.

        “You poked her too?!  Ah just can’t…  Scootaloo, Ah need ya to get home and play with yer friends while Ah have a talk with these two.”  Scootaloo smirked at Rainbow then Quill before turning and leaving Applejack’s underbody, flicking her tail as she left.

        Applejack closed the door and walked over to Rainbow and pulled her into a kiss. “Don’t do that again.”  Rainbow nodded as a nervous smile crossed her muzzle.  “And you, Quill.  Ah’m not gonna even start on you with a filly’s game.  Tell me why Ah had ta pull you out of a fire you started after tryin’ to kill yourself?”

        Quill sighed and moved to get more comfortable in her bed. “I thought you left me.  I… can’t be alone again, not from all my friends.  All my lovers.  All my reasons to be here.”

        “Quill, why’d ya go and think we left ya?”

        “You both left me for each other,” Quill said firmly.

        “Yeah, and we fought it out-”

        “Talked it out, Rainbow means,” Applejack pulled Rainbow to her hooves with a clatter, “and I thought we were gonna talk about it.”

        Rainbow stomped a hoof. “And I said I was gonna talk with you both and AJ.  AJ,” Rainbow looked at her, “I was cheating on you for two weeks with Quill and I totally stopped.”

        “Yeah, out of the blue,” Quill nearly pouted before biting her lip instead as both mares looked at her.

        “Yer gonna stay quiet fer a minute,” she tapped Rainbow on the shoulder as she turned to face Quill.  “Ah was having sex with you ‘cause you listened to mah problems, and the whole time you were listenin’ to both of us talk about the other?”

        “...Yes.”

        “Sheesh, we could’a just had a threesome everyday then,” Rainbow rolled her eyes before she was shoved back a length by Applejack.

        “Ah said hush.”

        “Y-yes, ma’am.”

        With a nod Applejack turned back to Quill. “Why, Quill?  Why’d ya go and lead us both on?”

        “I... “ she paused as silence befell the room, “I love you, both.”

        “Ugh,” Rainbow groaned and facehooved.

        “What do you mean ‘ugh’?  I… fell in love you.  A long time ago, Rainbow.  You know that from the time I kissed you in your office.”

        Rainbow groaned. “Yeah, I remember.”

        “And what about me, Sugarcube?”

        Quill sighed. “The threesome.  It was, my first time and what you both did to me just,” she inhaled deeply, “I haven’t felt like that since Lime and,” she pouted, “I miss her, girls.”

        Rainbow snorted in frustration. “Look, Ah got over it, finally.  Why can’t you?”

        “Rainbow,” Applejack said calmly, “did you love Lime?”

        “Duh, no.”

        “What’d you do if I died?”

        Rainbow frowned. “Ah’d kill whoever did it.”

        “What if a tree fell on me and nopony found me until after I passed into the pastures?”

        Quill gasped but it went unnoticed. Rainbow continued. “Ah, Ah’d die inside.  AJ, without you…  I don’t know what I’d do without.  Scootaloo, our baby, the farm?  Our,” she sniffled and began to cry on the spot, “baby, Fritter.  What’d I tell her?  How could I tell about how awesome you are?”

        Applejack pulled Rainbow into a hug. “Sugarcube, that’s what Quill feels like right now.  It’s not somethin’ that goes away easy like.”  Rainbow continued to cry as Quill watched on and sniffled.

        “That’s what I fell in love with.  How much you two love each other, when I thought you were gone I drank, wait, why didn’t the honey kill me?”

        “After what happened with the party where Twi turned the town inta an orgy-”

        Rainbow sniffled. “We had her cast a safety spell on the town.  All the drugs were rendered useless because we were worried about somepony trying to hurt themselves.”

        “So, I’m alive because your friend’s a magic idiot?”

        “She got her stallion,” Rainbow said as she tried to wipe her eyes dry then gasped, “she moved again!  Oh my gosh, Quill, you haven’t felt her yet, have you?” she took to the air and hovered over Quill.

        Quill looked to Applejack uneasily but after a nod of approval reached up and waited.  A grin crossed her muzzle.

        “Now aren’t ya happy ta be alive?”

        Quill removed her hoof and Rainbow moved beside Applejack.  With a smile plastered on her expression, Quill chuckled. “Eeyap.  Wait," she asked, "why'd I fall asleep from the honey if it wasn't poison?"

The three looked between one another, they didn't know.

Moving in

What to Do, Now?

        “So, now what?”

        “Quill,” Twilight said softly to the mare in her hospital bed, “they’re going to take you to a medical facility where you can be helped.”

        “I refuse,” Quill said calmly as she crossed her forelegs.  The room fell into near silence, save for Rainbow’s wings flapping to keep her afloat. “I’m a fully grown and competent mare that made a mistake.  You know they can’t force me without legal intervention and I’d win anyway.  Don’t push the subject,” she said knowingly, “I took a season of law just for fun.”

        “I didn’t mean to imply-”

        “That all pegasi are as dense as Rainbow?” Quill smirked.

        “Hey!” Rainbow interjected, “Ah heard my name, what’s goin’ on?”  Applejack pulled her hat down to cover her face while Twilight and Quill giggled.

        “And ‘Ah rest mah case’,” Quill said pointing to Rainbow.

        “I need a rest?  Nah, Ah’m fine.”  Even Applejack laughed into her hat, now hiding her mirth at Rainbow’s expense.

        “Okay, reign it in, girls.  What’ll you do, then, Quill?” Twilight asked.

        “Uhm, I don’t know.  I guess I could just go hobo-style.  Live house to house, cloud to cloud.  I’m not going to get my job back at the weather corporation since I won’t reapply.  I could always sleep my way into-”

        “Shutup, Quill,” Rainbow said curtly as she hovered to the window and pointed out, “you’re staying with us until we get you on your feet.”

        “...What’re feet?”

        Rainbow sighed. “Just a prank me and Pinkie were gonna do on Lyra, if you don’t even get it… Wait, I was being serious about you staying with us.  Ah’m sure Scootaloo wouldn’t mind.”

        “Well, she’d better be over that whole poke thing,” Quill rolled her eyes as Twilight groaned loudly to the ceiling.

        “You did NOT poke her in the ‘eye’, did you, Quill?” Twilight sighed in defeat, knowing the answer.

        “Hey, Rainbow did too!”

        “You did it first,” Rainbow replied to Quill, pointing a hoof at Quill and sticking out her tongue.

        “Eee-nuff!  Girls, it’s settled and this squabblin’s done,” Applejack said as she fixed her hat to her head. “Quill’s getting out in two days and she’s stayin’ with us.  ‘Til then Rainbow, ya got work ta do.  Ah’ve gotta get chores done cuz we’re harvestin’ beans soon.  Twilight, just get and let Quill have some time alone,” Applejack glared between the other three mares, “and if any of you meet up ta roll around Ah’ll show ya what it’s like ta be an apple tree on harvest day.”

        The room was filled with gulps and nods as Applejack turned to Rainbow and puckered her lips. “Uh, right,” Rainbow said landing and kissing Applejack and nuzzling her. “We’ll see you later, gals,” Rainbow said as she wrapped her tail around Applejack’s leg then walked in tandem out of the room.

        Quill chuckled to herself.  “What?” Twilight asked.

        “Rainbow’s totally into AJ, didn’t you see that?”

        “The kiss or the threat on our lives?” Twilight deadpanned.

        “Rainbow’s tail, it was on AJ’s leg.”

        “So?  I don’t…” Twilight made an ‘oh’ face as she looked back to the door, “she’s tail tied?  Rainbow?!”

        Quill snickered and nodded. “Wow, my parents don’t even have that,” Twilight said wistfully before looking into Quill’s eyes. “Wait, doesn’t that imply?”

        “Heh, yeah, Rainbow’s finally done it.  She’s truly in love at a level I’ve never even known.”

        “Sheesh, maybe I should try that with Sun.”

        “Twi,” Quill asked, “what’s with you and that orange stallion?  He sounds kinda weird.”

        “What?  Weird, nah,” Twilight waved her hoof dismissively for a second before turning and nearly pressing her muzzle to Quill’s. “Help me, what do I do?” she asked backing up, “all he wants is sex.  He’s already started a whole herd,” she sat and nibbled on her hoof tip, “three other mares.  Four mares to him and what will happen when he wants us all at the same time?

        “What if he wants me to watch again?  I can’t keep watching my first coltfriend be with another mare.  It doesn’t turn me on like it did at first… what?”

        Quill sat with her mouth agape for a moment before she blinked hard and closed her mouth with a gulp. “Twilight,” she said softly as she rolled to her side and gestured for the lavender mare to place her hoof on her bed, then she placed a hoof on top of Twilight’s, comfortingly, “Twilight, he sounds like a very nice colt.  You talk about him like he’s just the parasprite’s wings… but he’s not your type.  I’m telling you as a mare who knows, that you’re better off without him.”

        Twilight’s lower lip trembled and she whimpered. “Y-you sound like every other pony and dragon in my life.  Why can’t I be happy with him?”

        “Are you happy with him?” Quill asked wisely.

        “Y, yes?”

        “Are you asking me or telling me?”

        “Yes?”

        “Twilight, I have a question about a book.”

        “Oh, okay!” she sniffled and wiped her eye with her free leg, “what is it?”

        “Howdoyoufeelaboutyourcoltfriend?” Quill rambled quickly.

        “I don’t want to be with him.  Oh my,” Twilight pulled her hoof back to cover her muzzle in surprise at what she’d said.  “Uh, I,” she paused and blinked tears from the corners of her eyes as her horn glowed to life and she vanished in a purple flash of spherical light.

        “I don’t think that went so bad,” Quill said to herself as she lay in silence, alone again.  “Heh, all alone and the scent of a half dozen mares.  What, to, do?” she smirked as she scooted lower in the bed and sighed as she relaxed and let her hoof trail down her body.

Goin' Away

Moving in

“Well, here it is.  Case of ala home!  Ya know, this’ the first time you’ve been here,” Rainbow Dash greeted Quill as she followed Applejack into their house.

        “Yeah, it’s my first time here, alright,” Quill replied uneasily.

        “Hey!  Quill, my room’s upstairs and AJ sleeps with me.  Scootaloo’s room is across from ours and the guest room is at the end of the hall, next to the bathroom.  AJ said she’s gonna tell you the rules, though, she’s good with that stuff.  Ah’m headin’ out for a quick fly ‘round the town.  Gotta keep these flanks toned up for after the baby gets here.”

        Without another word, Rainbow rocketed past the two mares and out the door and into the sky.

        “AJ, how’s she working out her flanks if all she’s doing is flying?”

        “Ah don’t ask, she doesn’t tell?  Now, Ah’m gonna lay down the rules while Ah show you to yer room.  Just follow me and bring yer bags,” Applejack took her hat off and tossed it blindly to a hatrack she’d gotten as a gift from Davenport.

        “Nice toss.”

        “Thanks,” Applejack replied as she began to ascend the stairs with Quill following uneasily.

        “AJ, I know Scootaloo’s still upset with me.  When’ll she be home from school so I can apologize to her?  I really didn’t mean to offend her.  It was a joke I didn’t think she’d take personally.”

        Applejack crested the stairs and took several paces as Quill followed. “That’s Scootaloo’s room and that to the left’s ours.  Yer not allowed in either without permission.  The bathroom’s open as long as the door’s open.  Closed door means ya use yer manners.  Yer a houseguest and we know how ya are,” Applejack said as she stopped and turned to look at Quill.  She smirked.

        Quill fidgeted and looked away, avoiding Applejack’s gaze. “W-what?  I-I’m not going to do a-HENY-Whattheheck?!” she yelped as she jumped towards Applejack while spinning and opening her wings so she wouldn’t hit the orange mare.

        Scootaloo was grinning ear to ear as she shook her hoof dry. “Gotcha back.”

        Quill glared at Scootaloo and was about to sigh in defeat but yelped as she was poked again from behind. “APPLEJACK!” Quill gasped as she took to the air and nearly placed her rump to the ceiling with a frown. “Seriously,” she blushed furiously, “that is inappropriate on so many levels.”

        “Heh, eeyup.  And that’s the next rule.  No more pokin’ allowed in this house.”  Applejack nodded as Quill lowered herself, backside to the wall and a frowning blush on her muzzle. “Now, with a filly in the house and mah sis an apple’s throw away, we won’t be havin’ any nightly visitors, right Quill?  Scoots, go be a darlin’ and go play in yer room… after ya wash yer hooves.  Mama’s gonna lay down s’more rules.”

        Scootaloo smirked as she trotted past Quill and Applejack, her little tail low and her wings exercising as she trotted by.

        “That filly’s gonna be trouble when she hits estrus.”

        “Don’t change the subject.  Almost done now.  So, no havin’ mares or colts over fer a romp, right?”

        Quill nodded fervently. “Not a-one.”

        Applejack nodded and turned to the last room in the hall, opening it with a light shove of her hoof against the door handle. “This’ yer room.  Ah got ya some bedding, basic bathroom stuff, a dresser and curtains.  It’s yer room so ya wanna decorate it how ya want then you can.  You have ta get a job and pay rent startin’ next month.  That gives ya thirty two days ta make rent and,” Applejack let Quill enter the room before she closed the door and faced Quill again.

        “Quill, Ah know we we’re havin’ a good time’n all back last week.  All of us, but Ah don’t want it ta happen again.  Not with Rainbow bein’ pregnant with mah baby.  Not with our trip comin’ up to the north.  We don’t need ya messin’ it all up like before.  I, just…”

        “Hush,” Quill said softly as she placed a hoof to Applejack’s lips, “I don’t want you or Rainbow Dash to hate me, or each other.  Just, let’s see where it goes.  I’ll be right here to listen to you both when you need to talk and,” she giggled softly, “maybe listen for when you’re both having some fun-”

        “Yer not joinin’ in, Quill,” Applejack said wistfully as she took a pace back and away from Quill’s touch. “What Dash and me have, it’s special.  It’s somethin’ that not even Discord could break, and boy did he try with that whole mind magic of his.  Ah told ya how he made me a liar and her fly off fer whatever reason?”

        “Heh, yeah.  And how Twilight gave back her memories?”

        “Yeah, what Ah didn’t tell you was Ah was the first one she looked at.  I saw in her eyes, even before we were a couple, that she missed me.  Now, Ah just don’t know, Quill,” Applejack said turning and climbing onto the bed then lying down on her belly like a content canine, “that’s better.  Um, look.  Ah don’t know what I’d do without her now.  Sure, she can’t buck a tree ta save a life.  She’s still cocky as a colt around a mare in heat and sometime Ah just wanna wring her out ta dry when she tries ta act tough.

        “But then Ah hear her talk, I see her walkin’ more’n more.  Her voice’s takin’ on mah drawl and, I never even told or asked her ta do it.  She’s lettin’ everypony touch her belly and tellin’ ‘em it’s a girl even though we don’t know yet.  She’s just the best thing ta happen to me, Quill.”

        “That so swee-”

        “And when you offered me ta leave her,” Applejack’s voice turned serious, “and Ah thought about it fer that one second.  It tore mah heart out ta think of life without her.  A day without mah Dash is a day Ah don’t wanna be awake for.  If ya try’n get between us, Quill, Ah swear ta Celestia that you’ll be out of our lives fer good, understand?”

        Quill nodded and swallowed hard, remaining silent as Applejack got up and went to the door.

        “Quill, bath time’s at eight and Scootaloo goes ta bed at nine so don’t be late or ya bathe alone, okay?” she said over her shoulder.

        “Y-yeah, got it.”

        “Good, now get comfy fer the day.  Ah’m off to the farm ta finish some chores then Ah’ll be back with lunch fer you and Scootaloo.  Play nice, ‘kay?”

        “Oh, sure!  I love children,” Quill said with a natural smile.

        “Okay then, Scootaloo?  Mama’s headin’ to the farm.  Any troubles, come and get me.  Mom’ll be back soon, too, so be the good filly ya are.”

        “Okay, I’m just playing with Diamond Tiara right now, but she’s gotta go soon to see her dad about some stuff.”

        “Oh, well then ya two have a good playdate.”

        “We are, mama.  Love ya, have an awesome time like Mom would,” Scootaloo shouted from her room as Applejack passed by, leaving the first floor alone.

        Her nerves were a little on edge, but it was the right thing to do by letting Quill stay, right?

Bonding Time 2

Bonding Time

“Scootaloo, what’re you doing after school?” Quill asked as she exited the house with the filly the following morning.

“Well, since mother’s are gone I guess hang with my friends.  We’re totally getting our cutie marks today in skiing.”

“Skiing?  It’s springtime, dear.”

“Nah, we’re grass skiing on the acres.  It’ll work this time, Ah know it will.”

Quill raised an eyebrow but didn’t press the issue. “I hope you remember your helmets and knee pads.”

“Yeah, we leave ‘em at Apple Bloom’s cuz her family never leaves.”

“Good idea, so, ya want me ta walk you to school?  Your moms are gone and I don’t really know what you do.”

“I just walk with the girls to school.  Now that Diamond and Silver are cool they’ve started helping us with ideas to get our marks, and not even mean ideas,” Scootaloo beamed, “like swimming with crocodiles to get our-”

“What?!”

“Just jokin’, sheesh, you’re as lame as your pranks.”

“Lame?  Me?” Qull replied with some genuine surprise, “I can get you pranked by the end of the school day.”

“Yeah, and I’ll get my cutie mark in getting pranked,” scootaloo replied as she waved to Apple Bloom and entered into a gallop. “See ya later, Quill!”

“Yeah,” she shouted, “see ya later… alligator,” she smirked.

…

“Excuse me, Miss Cheerilee?” an officer said from the door of the schoolhouse.

“Oh, children, this is Mister Muddy from the police department.  How can we help you?”

“Actually,” he sighed and removed his constable hat, “I need to speak with miss Scootaloo.  There’s, been an incident.”

The room was awash in whispers and nervous words as Scootaloo pointed to herself.  With a nod from Miss Cheerilee she left her desk and went to the officer.  “Y-yes, mister Muddy?  What, um, what happened?”

“I’m sorry, but pieindaface.”

“Huh?”

Muddy pulled a small meringue pie from his hat and smushed it in Scootaloo’s face. “Pie in da face!” Quill shouted as she landed on Muddy’s back and pointed at the filly, grinning widely.

Scootaloo shook her head free of some pie, enough to see, looked at Quill with a slight sneer… then she burst into laughter as the other children laughed.  Miss Cheerilee frowned at Muddy who shrugged and backed away slowly and then turned into a trot as he left, his job done and a solid to Quill repaid.

“Okay, Miss…” Miss Cheerilee led on amiss laughing children.

“Quill, ma’am,” she landed and extended a hoof to the teacher, who didn’t return the greeting.  “Uhm, I guess I should get a towel?”

“Miss Quill, this is a school.  The playground is out there and if you wish to ‘prank’ my students; don’t.  I hope you have a fantastic day,” she intoned her disdain at the mare.

“Oh, well, okay then.  I thought you’d be cooler since you taught the class about mating but fine,” she smiled slyly as the class began to calm down from the pie incident of a moment before, “I’ll see ya later, gators!”

Miss Cheerilee blushed and frowned as Quill turned and trotted out, slipping on a smattering of pie and barely catching herself as the class resumed their laughter.

…

Quill was standing outside the school with a couple parents of the school children, waiting.  Scootaloo left the class first and jumped into a hover and floated from the door to the ground as her friends caught up.  Without missing a beat she joined in a loud conversation with Diamond Tiara.

“Hey!  Scootaloo!  I’m here!” Quill shouted and flared her wings happily.  Scootaloo looked up waved hello before returning to her conversation and continuing to do so as she passed Quill.  “Oh, I get it,” Quill resigned and turned away, taking to the air and leaving the area to rest on a cloud, alone.

“Sheesh, what a lame town without a house to hang out in.  Sure,” she mumbled to herself as she tramped a cloud, “I can use Dashie’s, but then what?  Cook?  Clean?  Masturbate?  It’s just not the same, I’m,” she fell chest first into the cloud and groaned, “bored.”

She quickly felt herself getting sleepy and began to doze, the first thing she saw was an egg as she entered sleep.

…

“So, come here often?” a stallion asked her from behind.  She didn’t know how long she was out, but she knew where he was he was getting a good look below her tail.

“Back off, I’m in heat,” she lied as she moved and rolled to her side and looked at the stallion.

“Well, I can wait.  It’s nice to meet a kind mare like you,” he winked.

“Yeah, you sneaking a peek doesn’t make me kind, it makes you rude.”

“Would you like me to buy you a drink or take you out for lunch?  It’s the least I can offer for what I just saw without permission,” he asked meekly.

“Wow, you’re slick,” Quill smirked as she took wing into the air above the cloud, “and you’re lucky I’m hungry.  You’re buying,” she pointed at a restaurant below them.

“You’re on,” he reared and back flipped, diving down and sending a thrilling tingle down Quill’s body as she saw his huge member fully erect and unsheathed.

“Mmm, maybe a little snack and dessert is in order,” she closed her wings to her body and pulled her limbs in and began a controlled fall after the stallion.

…

Scootaloo entered her home just before sunset, tired from a long day and another failed attempt she just wanted to have a shower with Quill and call it a night.  A quiet moan got her attention from upstairs as she began her ascent.  She knew what the tone meant but she was still curious.

The door to Quill’s room was open so her tip hoofed while flapping quietly to the door and peeked in to see a stallion behind Quill, mounting her and making a quick thrust inside her.

“Soarin?!” Scootaloo screamed into the room startling the adults.

“Scootaloo!  Honest, I can,” she paused as the stallion thrust once more and moaned loudly, falling onto her back, “... are, are you serious?”

“H-heh, wow, that was…”

She bucked and pushed him off her and glared at his blissful expression. “Did you seriously last two thrusts?!  What the… what if I was in heat?!  I wouldn’t have stood a chance,” she asked loudly.

“Meh, you wouldn’t be the first,” he chuckled as his eyes grew heavy.

“Oh Tartarus, no!  You are NOT falling asleep in my bed after that.”

“Awe, c’mon babe,” he whined.  Scootaloo backed away and galloped to her room, slamming the door while Quill watched her leave he continued, “you sound like Flutterwing… uh-oh.”

Scootaloo slammed her door closed just as Soarin was done saying something and before Quill began shouting.  “What the hay did I just… Ugh,” she made a disgusted face as the image of Soarin’s black member vanished inside Quill’s body and… how fast he was done.  No pony she’d ever known had been done that fast, right?  When Cheerilee and Big Mac had done it before class it took nearly half an hour.

When her mom’s would go at it she’d hear it going for about fifteen minutes.  But that was seconds.  Was that some standard she didn’t know about?  Scootaloo inhaled sharply. “She said something about being in heat, does that make it faster?  She wasn’t happy so… oh no, is that why mares get together?  Cuz stallions only last a little bit when a mare’s in estrus?”

As her mind began to swirl with horrid thoughts of living a life with stallions that couldn’t last she heard a door slam, Quill’s room door.  A few hoofsteps later and a soft knock rapped the door.  “Scoots?  Um, Scootaloo?  Can I, come in?” Quill asked softly.  Scootaloo gulped and opened the door slowly.

“That’s not how it always is, is it, Quill?”

Quill sighed and paced into the room and hugged Scootaloo. “I am so sorry you had to see that.  Please, don’t be upset.”

“I… I’m not upset, auntie Quill,” Scootaloo said as she hugged her back, “but if I have to be with a colt and-”

Quill squeezed the filly tightly to stop her from talking. “Look, when your mom’s come back I’ll have to move away, so just know that I’m not proud of what happened.”

Scootaloo pushed Quill back and flared her wings to get space. “I won’t tell.  I like you, you pranked me good today.  It was totally awesome, you’re cool now.  Everypony was asking me about you and if you were joining my mom’s herd.  I can’t just say you left because you broke a house rule.  Besides,” Scootaloo smirked, “what do you think we play during our sleepovers?”

“Heh, ya little scamp,” Qull smirked, “be careful or you’ll end up in love with a pony that doesn’t know you exist.”

“Psh, I’m so there.  Rumble could rumble me in an apple tree until it was empty,” she giggled as Quill’s mouth opened in awe. “What?  Fillies can’t talk like that?”

“N-no, I mean, y-yes, but not, I mean…”

“Yeah, I’d let him do me while the whole class watched if I got the chance.”

Quill looked at the smug look on Scootaloo’s face. “Are you sure you’re not Rainbow’s daughter?”

Scootaloo cocked her head to the side. “Of course I am, she adopted me last year.”

Quill sighed and smiled to the ceiling at the naivete the filly still had.

“Look, let’s just pretend that didn’t happen and just make dinner?”

“Nah, I ate a salad and grazed a little.  Oh, and a bug.  It was actually pretty good.”

“Wait ‘til you try a dragonfly!  They’re hard to catch with a bite but it’s crunchy like a dry leaf and tastes divine!  Just remember to not tell grounders,” she winked, “we can’t let them have the good bugs.”

Scootaloo giggled as she trotted from the room. “Oh, unicorns wouldn’t eat them but earth ponies would.  I’ll keep it a secret!  Maybe I can get a cutie mark in bug eating,” she said hopefully as she turned to the bathroom.  “I need to scrub the grass from my coat and you’re my shower buddy, so let’s get to it.”

“Hey, wait for me,” Quill followed and quickly caught up to the filly, “do you even know how to handle a shower by yourself yet?”

“No, but if I had to I’d go and shower with AB.  She’s a bit rough and doesn’t know how to wash wings, but she get ‘em clean.”

“Well, we’ll work on teaching you how to wash your coat yourself.”

“I never said I didn’t know how,” Scootaloo rolled her eyes, “I was alone for two years.  I know the basics.  Mom taught me how to preen and Mama taught me how to brush my mane and tail so they look the same but aren’t knotty.”

“Okay then,” Quill said with a smirk, “go ahead and wash my wings first then.”

“Fine, and once I’m done you can wash the image of you and Soarin outta my brain.”

“Oh har har,” Quill snarked, “that was as funny as you and Rumble rutting in class.”

“I’d let him do it,” Scootaloo stated, quieting Quill until the shower was on and producing warm water.

Scootaloo was the first under the controlled spray and trembled as the warm water washed over her and touched her peach skin every so often, washing away sweat and scents of the day that were better outside the house than inside her fur.

Quill stepped in and stood over Scootaloo and took all the water with a sigh of relief.

“Hey!  Water hog,” Scootaloo giggled and ducked from under Quill and opened her mouth to get some water… only to remain dry.  “Hey!  No wings,” she scolded as she flapped and entered a hover that brought her above Quill and into the waters again.

“Hey, you shouldn’t fly in the rain until you’re more experienced, you know that, right?”

“Psh, like that applies to me?  I’m Rainbow Dash’s-” she squeaked as her wings became waterlogged and unbalanced, sending her into a sudden spin and into Quill’s grasp.

“I warned you,” she said happily, “you didn’t preen and you’re still a filly.  And a silly one at that,” she said placing the filly on the shower floor.

Scootaloo crossed her forelimbs as the rain pelted her and Quill began pouring soap over the filly. “I woulda done it fine if you weren’t watching.”

“Yeah, and you’d have bruised your little rump from that fall if I wasn’t here to catch you,” she replied as she dropped the soap bottle to the side and grabbed a brush in her bite.  “Now, stand up so I can clean you up.”

“Ugh, fine.”  A moment later a brush was beginning to lather across Scootaloo’s coat, turning white bubbles grey with layers of filth. “Eew, I’ve got so much gross on me today!”

“Yeah,” Quill said as she began brushing the soap in Scootaloo’s mane into a lather, “and I think you smell like you were in the mud… were you in the mud?”

Scootaloo huffed. “I washed in a puddle,” she said defensively and puffing her cheeks .

“You need to wash in a shower or river, seriously.  Clouds can’t get you clean at your skill level,” she paused to walk behind Scootaloo and work on her back legs and underbody.  “Lift,” she said.  Scootaloo lifted her tail and let Quill gently wash her personal areas before moving onto her tail.

“Okay, filly.  Rinse, then wings and my turn.  You don’t need to worry too much, though.  I’m pretty good at self maintenance.”

Scootaloo rolled her eyes and sat on her haunches, letting the water wash the soap and true scum of the day away.  She turned and exposed herself to the water, cleaning under her tail and tail itself.

“Okay, enough washing back there, I know what you’re doing,” Quill smirked to the blushing filly.

“Hey, it feels good, so why not?” she grumbled as she stood and shook herself dryer as the rain continued to fall.

“I didn’t say it was bad, just that I need to get your wings, so scoot over, Scoots.”  Scootaloo rolled her eyes again and turned sideways, opened her wings and waited while Quill lightly brushed the arms, and some feathers, and was essentially done cleaning the filly. “Now all you’ve got is after shower clear.”

Quill took the soap bottle in her hooves and squeezed some over her head and massaged it into her mane and coat from her muzzle to her chest and forelimbs.  Eyes shut tight she washed herself clean and repeated for most of her body.  “Uhm, Scoots… can you, uh?”

“Wash your back side?  Sure enough,” she agreed taking a soft brush in her mouth and moving behind Quill.  Legs and underbelly were done quickly but under Quill’s tail was where Scootaloo paused.  “Quill?”

“What’s up, silly filly?”

“That white stuff, does it hurt when he gives it to you?”

Quills tail fell and she turned, lowered her front and let the water wash her while she had a talk with Scootaloo. “Look, Scootaloo, I know I was joking around earlier, but don’t rush being with a colt or filly.  I mean, sure, what you and your friends do during sleepovers is one thing, but falling in love is more than just letting somepony else have your body and heart without giving it back.  What happened earlier with me and Soarin was a mistake in the heat of the moment,” she winced inwardly, “and I mean it was a mistake.  I’m supposed to go into heat sometime in the next couple weeks and-”

“Yeah yeah, then you get all hot and bothered and any colt can mount a mare and maybe get her pregnant and-”

“No,” Quill interrupted, “it means that if I had done something with him during that time I’d regret it for the rest of my life.  Scootaloo,” Quill moved and sat under that water with the filly, “I’m not the kind of mare that wants to have a baby.  I don’t have the lifestyle for it and I know I couldn’t do what the flock does,” she said.

“You mean that thing where you have a baby and the mares raise it?”

“Yeah, only thing is the mares in my life are all in this house and that’d make things really weird and more stressful around here.”

“Yeah, that’d suck big time.”

“So, most mares will be in heat this month,” Quill intoned, “so keep that in mind when a colt is behind.”

They shared a snicker and giggle.

…

“Now that we’re all cleaned and preened, what do you wanna do?”

“Well,” Scootaloo tapped her chin, “read?  Play games?  Go to the park?”

“I think a board game sounds great!  You pick and I’ll play.”

…

“Goodnight, Scootaloo, have a fantastic sleep and don’t let the parasprites nip your ears,” Quill kissed her on the forehead.  She blew the light out and left the filly in bed, walked down stairs and began to clean.

...

…

“MOM’S!  Mama,” Scootaloo lunged and nearly knocked Applejack over as she walked in.  Rainbow Dash fared worse as Quill gripped her in a four leg hug that pulled her to the floor amid a nuzzle she’d remember for days.

“Mom!” Scootaloo grinned like Pinkie as she joined Quill in a tight hug on Rainbow.

“Rainbow, AJ,” Quill pulled them into a hug with Scootaloo and held them tight for as long as she could before Rainbow and Applejack hugged back, hard.  “Guah, what, the, hay?” she giggled, “you’re as strong as a bull, AJ.”

“Ah know, I just missed ya both, too.  Welcome home party’s tonight at the farm, Pinkie, bless her heart, made all the plans knowin’ when we’d be back,” she finally broke the hug as everypony took a pace back and stood in a circle with Scootaloo perched on Rainbow’s back, attention on her, “before we left.  Now, the Apple family’s next on our list ta visit and yer all welcome to come along.”

Scootaloo hopped and hovered, then hoof pumped. “Yeah!  I love parties, we only had the one the whole time you were gone, Mom.  It was okay, but Aunt Quill doesn’t know how to have Pinkie parties,” she landed on Rainbow’s back and perched again.

“Okay, Scoots, yer gettin’ a bit big.  Sheesh, did you grow since we left?”

“Duh, it’s been a month!  Auntie Quill’s been really cool, though.  I gained half a hoof in height and sixteen pounds!  I’m built like a buster, Auntie says.”

Applejack and Rainbow grinned in approval to Scootaloo.

“So, why’s she Auntie, now?  She’s not part’a the family.”

“Not yet,” Scootaloo chirped, “but she’s totally awesome!  Not Rainbow Dash awesome, but she’s really cool.  She knows how to do all kinds of stuff and was totally amazing at cooking, cleaning, baking, talking about mom stuff like that I shouldn’t fight or what to wear to that one party with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon and Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle!”

“Wow, that’s amazing,” Rainbow said, “I can’t believe she was so useful,” she smiled to Quill, “and she makes a better housemare than me,” she smirked to Applejack.

“Well, Ah’ll be the judge of that,” Applejack sniffed the air and smiled. “Ah smell Apple Betty’s, did ya know we were comin’ back today?”

“Nah, I made those last night for dessert.  The smell lingers in a clean house, ya know,” she winked.

“Well, the house looks nice’n clean…  Ya weren’t in our room, were ya, Quill?”

“Only with Scootaloo to watch as I cleaned and did a little extra… to the walls!  Sheesh, I’m not always about that stuff.”

“She means sex!” Scootaloo nearly shouted.  All the mares looked to her with surprise.

“Quill,” Rainbow said with a forced smile, “what’d you teach our daughter?”

“She didn’t teach me anything ‘cept to be safe and wait for when I make love with Rumble.”

“Wait, wait, woah, hold yer horses there, filly,” Applejack motioned with her hooves, “when ya what with who, now?  Quill-”

“Hey, she told me all about it and her plans, hopes and dreams when it comes to that colt.  I just told her to be safe and wait to see if they fall in love first.  I, kinda had one fling while you were gone and it was a disaster.”

Scootaloo fluttered into the air. “He was a two pump chump right, Quill?” she said with innocence.

Quill facehooved. “Fine, I mentioned a couple things about the act itself, but I didn’t include her in anything inappropriate or-”

“Bah, it’s fine,” Rainbow dismissed, “we have a party to get to, right, Scoots?  AJ?”

Applejack rolled her eyes in humor. “Fine, Ah swear, last year Ah’d make y’all work the farm ‘til ya learned manners.”

“Yes,” Quill said, “but we’re all very different than we were,” she said as she trotted out the door after Rainbow.  Applejack followed and closed the door tightly. “I remember Rainbow being a real I-don’t-care daredevil and AJ only cared about her farm.  Now you both care about each other and, let’s face it,” she giggled lightly, “AJ is more like a mom and Rainbow’s cool, not awesome.”

Scootaloo and Rainbow gasped. “I am not just cool, I’m awesome!  I do stunts and I’ll get into the Wonderbolts someday.”

“And she’s the most awesome mom ever in the history of forever!”

“Well, Ah think Quill’s got a point, there.  Ah really haven’t heard ya talkin’ about the Wonderbolts fer months and yer stunts are safer, lately.”

“I have a baby to worry about,” she mumbled.  Scootaloo was silent as she looked down at the mare she was on and bit her lip.

“What about the lazy river?  The stunt where you slide down a cloud slowly on your back and move into a trot when you touch the ground after a slow glide?”

Rainbow blushed. “What if the baby gets scared?  I can’t go too fast all the time.”  The other mares laughed while Scootaloo closed her eyes and turned her face away.

“And the big dream?”

“I think rocking is a great stunt.”

“Yeah, on a swing while whistling softly to your belly?”

“Ugh, look, I’m still awesome, just carefully awesome.”

“Now, Quill,” Applejack said in a calming tone, “she’s just bein’ a good mom ta be.  Celestia knows she’s got four months left before she’s back to the old ways.”  Rainbow frowned but was silent.

“So soon?  Dang, it feels like last month we were playing ‘find the stallion’, now we’re having a baby!  Oh, I got a job on Golden Harvest’s farm.  I’m helping to pick herbs and some vegetables.”

“Oh, that reminds me.  Ah wonder if the corn and sunflowers’ve come in yet?  Should be close!  Ah think the apple trees should be close ta bearin’ greens and-”

Applejack talked about the farm for a few minutes until they could see the balloon streaming above the red barn.  “Well, there it is,” Rainbow grinned, “the welcome home party we’ve been looking forward to all week.”

“Hey, two weeks on a train would make we want to spend a night on the streets in Canterlot,” Quill said as she took the lead. “C’mon, who’s ready to party?”

…

The barn was decorated in a manner that Pinkie and children loved.  Streamers, balloons, tinsel and ribbons.  From every overhang something was hanging while the floor was packed with clusters of conversing ponies near tables that were covered with rainbow colored table cloths and had drinks, snacks, and a Pinkie Pie on one of them.

Pointing around she, Pinkie that is, was selecting various mares to go onto stage and dance with her.  A balloon popped loudly and gathered everypony’s attention until Pinkie screamed into her microphone. “Hey everypony!  We’re back from a month of saving another country!  Who’d of thought that our own little Spike would have saved the day and that Shining armor was such a great thrower?  Huh?” she grinned as the crowd remained silent.

“Long story, we’ll tell you all later.  But now,” she pulled out her party cannon and pulled the string. “Let’s party!”

A few seconds of cheering later and music began playing from the rafters and ponies returned to their conversing while Twilight and Rarity moved to small groups and began to tell the tale of their adventure.

Fluttershy was sitting contently alone in a corner of the barn while several ponies converged on Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

“There she is,” one whispered loudly, “I can’t believe I get to be near her.”  Rainbow couldn’t help herself beam with pride as her ego inflated and she moved her back just enough so Scootaloo had to hop to the floor.  Rainbow took to a hover and grinned.

“Wow, she’s so cool.”

“It’s so cool to meet you, Rainbow Dash,” one offered a hoof and a smile. “I’m a huge fan!  You’re so awesome, did you save the Crystal Empire by yourself or did your friends help?”

“Whelp,” Rainbow polished a hoof on her chest, “I had some help but most of the tough stuff fell on me.”

Applejack rolled her eyes. “Like sellin’ fugelhorns and jousting against Fluttershy?”

“Hey, you were guarding a fake glass heart under a towel, somepony had to keep them distracted.”

“And Ah was doin’ just fine ‘til Pinkie bounced and broke it.”

“I was keeping them distracted,” Pinkie shouted from behind Applejack with a grin, “and those fugelhorns aren’t very aerodynamic when being juggled.”

“Fugelhorrns aren’t supposed to be juggled, Sugarcube.”

“Or played,” Pinkie pouted, “I never did figure those things out,” she pulled one from behind her and bit it with her muzzle. Shouting into it she produced a sound akin to it’s name. “See, just too complex a machine,” she shrugged as she tossed it behind her and out of the barn.

“Anyway, let’s schmoozle!  Tell us about the last few weeks and we’ll tell you about our three days of awesome in the great north.  I bet Auntie Quill’s got a couple stories to share,” Pinkie winked as she shoved past the group and dashed to another, entering their conversation like she was a part of it to begin with.

Bonding Time 3

Bonding Time 2

“So, I think that was one of the best Pinkie parties of the year,” Quill said with a yawn as she scooped Scootaloo onto her back, “let’s get home, gals.”

Applejack and Rainbow trotted to catch up and sided with Quill. “Ah reckon yer right.  That was a hum-dinger of a party.  It sure is good ta be home in Ponyville.  Ah liked bein’ away but we sure missed y’all.  And it’s nice ta see ya and Scoots are so close.”

“Heh, yeah.  Totally awesome how yer all close and stuff.  Ah didn’t think it’d be as fast but you two are totally,” she yawned, “ready to be a part’a the family.”

“Heh, we’ll see about that.  I’ve been taking care of the filly and house for a month, that’s all.”

“Well, she’s taken to ya like a worm to an apple durin’ harvest week.  That’s good enough fer me ta know yer the kinda mare we need in our lives, even if it’s only as a boarder.”

“Heh,” Quill grinned weakly, “not a prob.  Just another month in Ponyville.  If it took a lot of work then it’d be a job and I can’t really charge you for living with you,” she mused as she yawned.

“Ah think we should just get home’n rest up.  We’ve got a lot ta discuss and catch up.”  Rainbow landed on Applejack’s back and promptly fell asleep. “Ah think that’s the plan, then.”

“Hehehe,” Quill tittered, “best plan of the day.”

…

The mares walked into the house and upstairs, depositing the sleeping pair in their appropriate beds before returning downstairs and going into the livingroom.

Quill went into the kitchen and shortly returned with a pot of hot water and several tea leaves.

“Ah, this’ the best way to end a day, I’ve found over the last couple weeks.”

“Ah see.  So, what’ve you been up to?  The house looks better than when we left, that’s fer sure.”

“Yeah, cleaning’s fun if you make it into a game.  I just raced myself.”

“You pegasi and racin’, always goin’ at it.” Applejack said as she poured water over her tea leaves. “Anyway, how was yer time with Scootaloo?  Ah like the house bein’ clean, by the way.  Ya even got the nooks ‘n cranny’s Ah look for.”

“Thanks.  I know it sounds like something I’d say, but I have a thing for nooks and getting into cranny’s,” she smirked as she set her cup in front of Applejack to have water added, “but seriously,” she started to yawn and covered her muzzle with her hoof, “I think everything went fine.  I let Scootaloo start calling me auntie since I was the only family she had while you were away.

“We pranked each other a few times and I think I’m banned from the school house for a while still, but it was a great experience.  If I had to do it again, I would.  I really didn’t think foal sitting was going to be fun but it was a blast!  I don’t want one of my own yet, but to think that they are actually fun…”

“Eeyup, they can be a hooffull too.  Ya didn’t let her stay up late, did ya?  Or spoil her diet with sweets?”

“Hehehe, nah.  I know how important a good diet is to a filly and she was sleeping fine.  Even had her friends over and, I’ll be honest with you,” she blew on her tea, “they’re experimenting with love sometimes.”

Applejack gulped and looked aside as she sat by the tea table and sniffled. “Well, fillies’ll be fillies, Ah guess.  I remember doin’ that stuff when Ah was a filly, but it was fer the lovin’ feelin’ while mah friends did it fer the fun.  Ah just hope she knows what she’s doing.”

“Oh, I gave her some tips,” Quill said taking a sip.

“Quill,” Applejack scolded, “Ah swear that if yer tryin’ ta teach mah baby girl ta love mares and take away her choice…”

“Oh, no such thing.  It isn’t a choice, the way we live and who we love and you know that better than  anypony.  Look at you and Dashie, she was totally into colts and then boom, a night with you and she’s totally into mares.  There’s something about you, AJ.  And,” she moved next to her and sat down, nuzzling her before Applejack could take her first sip, “I love that about you.”

Applejack sighed and returned the nuzzle and didn’t resist the kiss that was placed on her lips. “Quill, Rainbow and me missed ya somethin’ fierce.  Like a fruit bat loved mah apples,” Quill giggled as she kissed Applejack again and then nuzzled her orange neck, taking in the scent of the farm mare.

“You don’t smell like apples or the farm, AJ,” she said softly, “I kinda miss that.”

“Quill, what’re ya doin’?”

“I missed you both, so much,” she moved to lay her head on Applejack’s back while the orange mare hummed contently.

“Ah think it’s bed time.”

“Aww, I was just getting comfy, I don’t wanna go to bed yet.”

Applejack blew on her tea in the ensuing silence then drank half of it in a gulp. “Ah mean, come ta bed with me and Rainbow.  We’ll talk in the mornin’ about a lot of things, including us.”

Back to Work, Again

Bonding Time 3

Quill woke early at the first crow from a rooster.  All the mares were lengthwise on the bed, resting comfortably.  Applejack stirred but simply turned and rested her head on Quill’s side while Rainbow snorted lightly before turning to her back and began motioning like she was walking.  The rooster crowed again but the other mares stayed asleep, exhausted from the party the evening before.

Quill leaned over and kissed Rainbow lightly on the neck with a soft playful bite.  Rainbow groaned and turned to her side, moved around and placed her rump in Quill’s face, inches from her purple muzzle, then moved her tail aside as she fell asleep again.

Stricken with the dilemma of her life, Quill lay there staring at the waiting pink opening, the warm scent of musk, the blue fur that was slightly moistened and guiding her back to one of the places she knew she loved.  “Oh buck me with an eagle,” Quill whimpered and leaned forward, pressing her nose to Rainbow’s perineum and letting her tongue slide free from her mouth into Rainbow’s vulva and waiting body.

Rainbow snorted again but remained asleep with only a slight tremble of her body as Quill began to lick and press her flat teeth against rainbow’s body, tasting the sweet flavors that lied within as she felt Applejack stirring.  Pulling her tongue back into her mouth she swallowed and lay back quickly as Applejack moaned and fluttered her eyes open.

She moved up and nuzzled Quill and kissed her under her chin, then noticed Rainbow’s position and Quill lying, staring intently, stiffly at the ceiling. Applejack’s eyes glanced between the mare and the rump then moved closer to Quill’s ear. “Do it, Sugarcube,” she whispered.

Quill looked to Applejack in shock as Applejack nodded and winked. They both knew they all needed it.  A month and some without release, without love, without sex.  Quill turned her head and returned to what she was doing a moment before, this time with Applejack watching, breathing heavier, and letting her hoof trail the length of Quill’s underbelly; up and down.

The rooster crowed again as Quill turned to her side and placed a hoof firmly on Rainbow’s cutie mark and held her still while she began to work her tongue in her expert fashion while she felt Applejack scoot down the bed and place her head in her open thighs and scoot closer to her body.  Her tail moves aside on its own and Quill shuddered as Applejack began to taste her, her tongue going deeper than any other mare ever had and, she could only describe it as a spinning sensation.  Whatever Applejack was doing it was going to be a quick one...

…

“Celestia, that was, amazing,” Quill panted as she and Applejack lay side by side, forelimbs interlocked, then Rainbow stirred.

“Oh, wow,” Rainbow stretched her wings and arched her back, “I had the most amazing dream, AJ.  Quill and you were here and we had another three way…  What if we go over and jump her, I’m super horny, I feel like I just got there,” she giggled and turned to see Quill and Applejack looking at her. “Uh, what’d I miss?” she asked as the other two began to laugh.

…

“So, lemme get this right,” Rainbow started as she and the other mares sat around the table.  The stove was heating up and oats were on the menu. “You both did me and I slept through it?”

“You whinny when you come, Dashie.”

“Ah do not!  It’s more of a moan,” she retorted but relented, “usually.”

“And you nearly took off into the next room when it happened,” Quill giggled, “if I wasn’t holding you down you’d have a lump on your head.”

Rainbow frowned. “I wish I was awake for it, now I feel violated.  Next time you’re asleep…”

“Well, either way we had our fun and now we gotta have a talk about what ta do and what the plans are.  Quill’s got a job farmin’ and Scootaloo’s in school, you’re still doin’ weather ‘n Ah’ve got mah farmin’.  We’ve got full days and some stormy nights,” she looked to Rainbow then Quill, “but Ah think we’ve got it worked out already.”

“Yeah, casual sex!” Quill shouted sending Rainbow into a giggle.

“No, Quill.  Ah mean that we’re in a good place ‘n I’m glad ta have ya in the house.  What happened this mornin’ isn’t gonna the norm.  But, once in awhile’s fine by me,” she looked to Rainbow who was still giggling into her fetlock, “now, oats’re ready ta go in and we’ve gotta get Scootaloo up fer school.  Anyone have anythin’ ta add?”

“Nope, just feed the baby,” Rainbow said patting her baby bump and smiling at Applejack.

“And the boarder,” Quill added sarcastically before grinning, then winked, “you know what I mean.”

“Ah’ll get Scoots,” Rainbow said taking to a hover then leaving the room quickly and returning with a filly holding a stuffed pony doll that was still waking up. “Food ready?”

“Sugarplum, ya know we gotta cook it first, right?”

“We’re vegetarians; herbivores.  We can eat it raw with hay and some wood from the house,” Rainbow said as she dropped Scootaloo to her spot on the floor by the table, “feed me au natural.”

Applejack rolled her eyes. “We’re eatin’ cooked food like civilized ponies, not wood from the walls, Rainbow.”

Rainbow groaned. “Ah know that, I was just messin’.  Quill, you knew that, right?”

“No, you were serious.  I can hear your belly talking.”

“Oh, whatever.  Please, AJ, I’m so hungry I can graze…”

“Alright, alright, hold yer socks,” Applejack said with a grin as she took to the stove and began cooking the oats. “Ah can’t believe how much y’all’re eating.  We had ta stop the train twice ta restock our food supplies cuz Rainbow and Pinkie ate it all.”

“Really?  Mama, why isn’t Mom fat?”

“Because, Scoots,” Rainbow interjected, “Mom’s the fastest mare in Equestria and that means I’ve got a great metablamism.”

“Yeah, but her hips are starting to look plump,” Quill teased as she began to stare at Rainbow’s hips.

“Well, Ah love ‘em,” Applejack added.  Rainbow landed and touched her flanks, pressing lightly into the growing fat, small as it was.

“I’m… not fat, am I?”

“Well, she’s still the coolest mom, even if she is getting big.”

Rainbow gasped. “I am not getting fat, I’m pregnant!  I’m gonna put on baby fat and fly it off, easy,” she motioned with a hoof, “and you’ll never believe how awesome I look.”

“Okay then, okay, I get it.  Let’s just drop it, eat breakfast and then get to work.  I’ve got stuff to pull out of the ground,” Quill huffed, “and I hate it, but it’s work.”

“That’s what Ah like ta hear.  Put some sweat on yer brow and crack them hooves some, make a farm mare’a you yet.”

“Yeah,” Rainbow said as she settled on the floor, “just go to the spa with those cracked hooves and get them fixed cuz no one’s touching this mare and scratching me again.”

“Oh, that happened by accident,” Applejack dismissed as she stirred the oats, “and Ah learnt my lesson.”

“Mom’s, why’re you talking all weird again?”

“Because, Scoots,” Quill leaned over the table to whisper to Scootaloo, “that’s what ponies in love do.”  Applejack and Rainbow looked to each other and smiled.

“Whatever,” Scootaloo yawned and set the stuffed pony under the table, “as long as it isn’t about mating I’m fine.  Just, eeyuck!  It’s all I hear everypony talk about lately!  It’s like it’s in the air, or something.”

“Oh my,” Quill looked to the filly’s parents, “doesn’t she know what this month is?”

“What?” Scootaloo asked. “What’d I miss?  Is it important?”

“It’s estrus month, Scootaloo,” Rainbow told her, “and that means you’re going to notice a lot of ponies going into the tents around town or some sweet smells all over the place…”

“Sugarplum, don’t be like that.  Scoots,” she took the pot off the stove and to the table, “what’s happenin’ is everypony’s gonna be mating.  It’s natural and nothin’s wrong with it, it’s the pony way.  Just, this year you’ll notice it because you’re gettin’ ta that age.  Just, don’t follow adults too close and if a pony in yer class is gone fer a day or two, it just means they’re peakin’ and are bein’ kept at home so they don’t-”

“Lift their tails and get poked by a colt,” Rainbow interjected as she scooped a large portion for herself.

“And end up with foal before you get your mark.  You don’t want a cutie mark in having foals, do you?” Quill asked, more like teased.

“N-no…  I’ll be safe!  Honest.”

Applejack took control of the conversation again and placed a hoof on Scootaloo’s withers. “Sugardrop, Ah trust ya to do the right thing and if a colt come’s a-pokin’ just buck’m away.”

“What if I hurt him, or his penis?”

“Ya won’t.  Ya see…”

“I’ve seen a lot of unsheathed penises, Mama, I know what they look like.  But they’re sensitive the colts say…”

Applejack sighed and squeezed her eyes shut.  She wasn’t planning on having this talk ever, much less at breakfast.  Quill picked up on it and took over.

“Scootaloo.  They are sensitive, but they’re also really… floppy.  They don’t get really hard until they’re almost inside so if you buck at a colt that’s getting too close it won’t hurt them, just scare them that their little sticks might get stepped on.”

Scootaloo nodded. “Got it.  Kick ‘em off before they get off.”

Rainbow snorted and swallowed half a mouthful of oats, barely avoiding choking as Quill and Applejack chuckled at the filly’s proclamation.

Farmin' Ain't Easy

Back to Work, Again

Applejack looked to the spring sky and wiped her brow, wincing as dirt flaked into her face, then returned to dropping seeds behind Big Macintosh as he plowed. “Big Mac, ya ever wonder what it’d be like to fly?”

He thought for a moment while dragging the plow. “Eeyup.”

“Would ya, if ya got the chance?”

“Eeyup.”

“And, Ah know I did it once last summer but,” she moved to shake more seeds loose, “it just wasn’t the same as bein’ free in the sky.”

“Nope.”

“Ah guess, what I’m gettin’ at is that sometime I get a little jealous of Pegasi.”  Big Mac turned his head back and raised an eyebrow as he plowed ahead. “Now, don’t give me that.  Ah know what yer gonna say and Ah’m proud ta be an earth pony.  A grounder, farmer, harvester.  Ah dunno what Ah’d do if I could laze on a cloud all day or drift in the wind.

“But, it’d be nice ta see the whole of the acres and get around without the trouble of all this,” she stomped in the soil, “and it’d make mah hooves stay pearly.”

Big Mac chuckled.  “Eeeyup.”

“Hey, Ah’m allowed ta feel girly sometimes.  Ah reckon ya have your moments, Princess.”  Big Mac stumbled to a stop and looked back in surprise. Applejack smirked. “Ah guess ya talk in yer sleep sometimes.”

“Ya don’t even sleep here anymore,” he grumbled.

“Apple Bloom told me.  Ah know yer gonna be upset, but she promised ta tell noone else.  So, m’lady,” she bowed slightly and tipped her hat, “shall we get back to it?”

Big Mac grumbled under his breath and turned forward, stomping ahead as he plowed and was followed by Applejack.  Silence ensued between them.

Rainbow landed in the weather office building’s side window with a roll and pose. “Calm down, everypony.  Rainbow Dash is back,” she grinned as she took a stride towards Soarin’s office.  “Soarin?  Ah’m back from my trip to save another empire from certain doom,” she said loudly garnering the attention of the floor.

“Rainbow,” Flutterwing appeared suddenly from the side, “didn’t you hear?”

“Uh, no, I was gone for a month to the frozen north,” she replied sarcastically.

“Soarin’ left for the rest of the season and left Thunder Stamp in charge.”

“Oh, really?” Rainbow leaned in, “what’d he do?”

Flutterwing snickered and whispered. “Quill.”

Rainbow pulled back with a look of disgust. “Eew, she and him?”

“Totally, and it was worse than it was for us,” Flutterwing  giggled into her hooves. “Two.”

Rainbow blinked and thought for a couple seconds. “Two?  You mean-?”

“YES!” She shouted and began to laugh while Rainbow stood on the floor dumbfounded.

“Wow, she really did have it rough while we were gone,” Rainbow said in a stupor as a smile formed on her features.  Then she chuckled and began to laugh with Flutterwing.  “Oh, I so have to tell AJ about this,” she said as she sat and began to laugh loudly.

“Oh my!  Dashie, you’re really showing!” one of the mares said as she cantered to Rainbow.

“Yeah, I’m happy as ever to know Soarin still sucks at sex.”

“No, your baby bump, Rainbow,” the mare said quieting Rainbow, “you’re really pregnant!”

“Uh, yeah?  Duh, I said I was when it happened.”

“But none of us believed you!  Rainbow!” she hugged the cyan mare and nuzzled her, “we thought you were just trying to take more time off…”

Rainbow gulped as ponies surrounded her and gave her hugs and nuzzles.  “Uh, thanks, no, really, thanks… I’m fine, she’s fine-”

“She?!” the crowd shouted in unison and reaffirmed their hugs and nuzzles, swarming her like a flock of penguin in a blizzard, trying to keep warm.

“Well,” Rainbow’s words were lost in the gleeful mesh of words, “we don’t know it is for sure…”

“Ugh, I hate the way dirt tastes,” Quill grumbled.

“Now, now.  It’s soil, darling,” Golden Harvest said softly as she led Quill to her harvesting spot.  Now, the weeds grow between the plants so try to pull them out by the roots and you can eat as much as you want.  They’re sweet enough but don’t get fat,” she giggled.

Quill rolled her eyes and followed. “I only have this job to keep AJ and Dash happy, if I get fat I’m blaming you,” she said flatly.

“Yes, yes.  You’re not the first to have weed duty and have the same worry.  It’s more of a joke than a fact.  Look at Silver Hoof over there,” Golden pointed to a yellow pony, “he spent two seasons pulling weeds-”

“Two seasons?”

“-and he’s still fit as any stallion his age.  Hello, Silver Hoof,” Golden smiled warmly, “Quill here is the new weeder.”

He chuckled. “Have fun!”

“I was supposed to be pulling crops!” Quill yelled to the stallion who was smirking at the mares.

“Yeah, so was I,” he mused turning back to a cart with grain stalks.

“...Two years?”

“Nah,” Golden leaned in, “he has nice hind quarters,” she giggled and looked back to the stallion as he leaned forward to grasp something.  Muscles rippled as he hefted the cart up to hitch himself in. “I couldn’t have that leave the fields and get a new job and you know what they say about a stallion and his stomach?”

“There’s more brains between the two than between his heads?”

“Huh?  Quill,” Golden chuckled innocently, “you say the strangest things.”

“Yeah, and some ponies never know what the world has to offer beyond what they’re told.”

“I’m sorry, darling, I just don’t understand you sometimes.”

Quill sighed and shook her head. “Is it too late to get a job scrubbing toilets in the weather office?” she mumbled.

“I, honestly don’t know, Quill.  But, you can always ask.”

“...This’ gonna be so much fun,” Quill smiled widely and stood tall.

“That’s the spirit!” Golden chirped and trotted ahead slightly, oblivious to Quill sagging slightly.

“This sucks,” she whispered.

And One Makes Four

Farmin' Ain't Easy

Scootaloo returned home at five o’clock to the scents and sounds of cooking.  She dropped her bags by the stairs and trotted to the kitchen to see Rainbow cursing over the oven. “Nightmare darn it!  Why can’t Ah cook toast in the oven?”

“Mom, I’m home,” Scootaloo called, startling the pregnant mare.

“Sheesh, Scoots… how was school?”

“Oh, ya know,” she shrugged, “now that everypony’s friends it’s just great,” she smiled, “so, what’cha cookin fer dinner?”

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “Vegetable and mushroom stew with burnt bread and butter,” she pulled a tray of smoky charred bread from the oven with her hoof mitts.

“Uh, I think I’ll just have the stew.  The toast smells awesome, though,” she lied with a forced smile.

“Really?” Rainbow asked and leaned in to taste one.

“It’s still hot!” Scootaloo shouted and moved to stop Rainbow.

“Oh, right,” she snickered, “well, I’ll have one, since they’re made with pure awesome.”

Scootaloo turned away to roll her eyes. “I’ll set the table.  When’s mama coming home?”

“Sunset.  Quill should be along at about the same time.  So, the stew has a couple more hours to cook.

“...Then why’d you make toast so early?”

Rainbow placed the sheet pan aside and shrugged. “I guess I just got bored waiting.”

“Hey!” Scootaloo opened her wings and hovered, “let’s go for a fly around Ponyville!”

“Shh!” Rainbow hissed, “I’m not going in the sky until tomorrow at least.  The weather ponies haven’t left me alone since I got back,” she rushed and pulled a curtain shut, “they moved my clouds for me.  Busted my clouds for me.  Nuzzled and hugged me like a baby… it was sickening,” she shuddered.

“Oh, because they missed you?”

“No, because this baby is a nuzzle magnet.”

Scootaloo felt and fought the urge to nuzzle Rainbow’s belly. “I know what you mean,” she said as she landed. “Well, I can’t fly around town myself yet so what’d’ya wanna do for the next hour or two?”

“Ah dunno.  Why don’t you tell me about your time with Quill?  We haven’t really chilled since we got back.  The party, the sleeping, the going back to work…  Oh my gosh, what you said at breakfast was the most awesome thing any filly’s ever said.”

“What?  About bucking a stallion?”

Rainbow took to the air and flew into the living room, landing on the couch. “Eeyup.”

“Well, not much really happened.  She kinda just foalsat me the whole time.  There was a lot of talking and our showers were really detailed… but not in a bad way!  She taught me how to clean my feathers and preen them in a certain way that works with my body style.  Uhm, and she gave me love advice,” she sat beside the couch and poked the cushion, “and told me to wait.”

Rainbow bit her lip.

“What?”

Rainbow sighed. “That’s great advice, but if you wait you might miss the fun… at least that’s what I always believed,” she laid her head down on her forelegs, “and then I met AJ in my cloudhouse,” she sighed. “Okay, maybe taking it slow is good for some things, just not everything.”

“Like racing!  I totally wanna race you when I’m older.  I bet I can beat your times, easy.”

“Ha, as if.  Call me when you do a Sonic Rainboom, Squirt.  Until then, you’re my trainee slash daughter slash little sister.”

Scootaloo beamed with pride as they began to talk sports and racing, among other things (Wonderbolts).

***

Quill and Applejack met outside the house and looked one another over.  Both were covered with matted fur, dirt, and sweat.  Applejack sported a tired smile while Quill, she was worn out and teetering, ready to sleep standing.

“Quill,” Applejack nodded and turned to the house.  A heavy thud sounded behind her.  Applejack turned her head to look back at Quill, asleep on the gravel path.  With a soft chuckle she went back, nosed under Quill and slid the purple mare onto her back, fixed her hat, and went inside.

“Rainbow, we’re home.”

“Mama!”

“Fritter!”

“...Quill?”

“Is she, okay?”

“Heh, she’s just done tuckered out from a long day on the farm.  Reckon we’re gonna take a quick shower then eat some’a that yummy smellin’ supper.”

Rainbow nodded and pointed with a wing upstairs. “Want some help?”

“Ya know it.  Y’all ain’t showered yet?”

“Heh, nah,” Scootaloo dismissed, “I was waiting for Mom to offer.”

“I was just gonna skip it tonight.  After the day I had, there’s no reason.”

Applejack made for the stairs. “Tell me in the shower, Ah need it more’n you know.”

“Okay!” Rainbow chirped, flying to the shower and turning it on a full ten seconds before the others made it to the bathroom. “Your rain awaits,” she bowed with a smirk.

“Well, thank ya kindly, Sugarplum.  Sugardrop, ya head in first and get rinsed while Ah get Quill ready.”

“Ready?” Rainbow asked, “for what?  She’s already covered with muck and sweat.  It’s like the other night on the train when-” she stopped when she remembered Scootaloo was listening with an ear aimed at the mares.  Quill snorted awake.

“Mommy, I don’t wanna take a shower,” she mumbled as her eyes fluttered open and the haze of the room steadied into focus.  “Oh, when’d I get home?”

“Ah carried ya in, ya whippersnapper,” Applejack joked as she took her hat off and tossed it to Scootaloo. “Scoots, give’r a rinse.”

“‘Kay, Mama.”

“Good girl we got there, Rainbow.”

Rainbow nodded and turned to join Scootaloo.  “Yup, we got first since we’re not super gross.”

“Fair ‘nuff.  Quill, what’s got ya so tuckered out?  A day on the farm isn’t that hard.”

“Ugh, for you maybe.  I was pulling weeds all day and digging holes with my hooves!  I ate enough greens to make me fart and of course I did it when this flank-tastic mare was walking by.  I had to fly and chase a flock of crows away and they kept coming back, then I switched and hauled dirt, yes dirt across her farm for replanting, or something.

“I need a new job.”

“Now, Quill.  A day on the farm isn’t a reason ta quit.  Ya gotta keep at it and yer gonna get great at it.”

Quill raised her hooves and made Applejack wince. “If I don’t go to the spa tomorrow to fix these I’ll tear holes in my bed after tomorrow,” she commented showing off her cracked and chipped hooves.

“Why didn’t ya wear yer shoes?” Applejack asked, shaking her head.

“I didn’t know I needed them!  It was supposed to be harvesting, or something.  Not free weed salad and heavy chores!”

“Now, don’t yell at me, ya green hoof.  Ya gotta job and ya gotta see it though until a new one comes along.”

“Yeah, well I don’t see this as a career.  I’m a pegasus, not an earth pony.  I’m not built for hard labor.”

“She’s right,” Rainbow added, “remember when I bucked trees and nearly broke my leg?  Yer a giant almost twice my size, you’re made for that stuff.  We’re made for speed,” Rainbow moved her leg through the water quickly.

“And whinin’,” Applejack retorted, “ya done?”

“No, almost.  Just gotta wash the vagies.”

“Well, don’t ferget this time-”

“Yeah, yeah; up, not down.  Sheesh, one doctor visit and she never lets me forget,” Rainbow grumbled.

“AJ, I’m gonna get a job doing something that won’t kill me before the day’s done and leave me looking like a dog after a mud roll.”

“If’n ya feel that way,” Applejack said, “but farmin’ isn’t easy work and ya should’a expected that.”

“Now I know,” Quill grunted as she took to her hooves and ruffled her wings, dropping dirt to the floor.

“And that’s some good quality dirt yer droppin’.  Try’n save some, we can use it fer the garden.”

“We don’t have a garden,” Quill said as she arched her back.

“Yeah we do, behind the house.”

“...That was a garden?  Uh oh.”

“What happened?” Rainbow asked.

“I, thought it was wild so I ate them while you were gone.”

The mares sighed.  Quill spoke first. “Yeah, I’m gonna get outta the farmin’ trade.”

Fruit Falls Abridged (spoilers for the entire story)

And One Makes Four

“Ow!  Eep.  Ah, ah, ah, nah!  Okay!  That’s it,” Rainbow shouted and threw the covers off the three. “This is so not happening tonight,” she huffed.  “Both of you are gonna draw blood if ya keep scratchin’ at me like that.”

Quill and Applejack tucked their forehooves under themselves and  blushed, looking to each other.

“We’re sorry, Rainbow.  We know how much you need it lately and wanted to surprise you-”

“But we didn’t think our hooves’d be so rough on ya.”

“Girls,” Rainbow sighed and settled into a seating position, “it’s not only that… it’s the two of you.” The Quill looked at Applejack. “I, kinda feel like the love’s going around too easy.  I mean, I know I’m awesome,” Rainbow started but stopped when Applejack began to give her a look, “and so are the two of you, but, I dunno, shouldn’t we be doing more than just,” she paused.

“Rollin’ in the hay?  Sugarplum, yer right,” Applejack said looking to Quill. “Ya ain’t really a part’a the relationship Rainbow’n me have.  So, Rainbow’n I were talkin’ about what ta do ‘bout it.  Ah didn’t think this’d be the time,” Applejack looked to Rainbow who shrugged and smirked, taking flight to the dresser.

“AJ and me were talkin’, Quill, that’s for sure,” she chuckled as she rummaged through a drawer.

Applejack climbed off the bed and went to Rainbow, sitting next to her while she rummaged through what sounded like random junk and items.  “Quill,” Applejack said in a firm, demanding tone, “C’mere.”

“Uh, is this one of those weird kinky things?  Because,” she cleared her throat and left the bed, flying the couple lengths to stand before the mare, “ya know I’m totally into that stuff,” she grinned.

“Quill, sit.”

Quill sat quickly and gulped as she looked at Applejack.  Rainbow hissed in surprise and turned around, her hooves behind her back.

”Do ya know why yer here, now, in front’a me’n Rainbow?”

“Uhm,” Quill looked around the room, then back to the cyan pegasus and the orange mare with her mane frazzled and limp, almost resembling Rainbow Dash’s, “is it because I’m great in bed?” she smiled awkwardly.

Rainbow giggled while Applejack rolled her eyes. “Yes, but besides that, Quill.  Yer a true friend.  A great roll model for Scoots, a savior to Rainbow when she was at her worst and ya gave us a reason to remember each other at our best.  Quill,” Applejack looked to Rainbow as she paused.  Rainbow began to beam a smile.

“W-what?  Am I gonna have some massive-”

“Will ya marry us?!” Rainbow shouted, holding a gilded hoof ring out on her left hoof, aimed at Quill.

Quill gasped and clamored back, landing on her flank she placed a hoof to her chest. “Gosh, I thought you were going to stab me for what happened before, Rainbow,” Quill exhaled harshly.  “Wait... What!?”

“Quill, you’re almost awesome and that makes you and Applejack perfect for me,” she started before she coughed a laugh and toppled over in a slight giggle fit, dropping the ring with a clatter on the floor.

Applejack looked at Rainbow after she had given the cyan mare a little to hard of a love tap and picked up the ring and held it between her hooves. “Quill, it wasn’t an easy road fer any of us ta get this far.  Ya don’t hafta, but we’d be honored ta have ya as a part’a our family.  Ah’d be honored ta have ya as part’a our family.”

“Yeah, as long as ya don’t farm anymore,” Rainbow sat up with a daring smile, “or Ah’ll give ya some chores ya won’t ever finish.”

Quill looked between the two and waited.  Seconds passed before she began to shake her head slowly.

“No,” she whispered, “way I can say no!  Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it,” she thrust her hoof into the ring and looked at it on her.  “Wow, this’ really beautiful,” she blushed as she was hugged and nuzzled.

“Hmm, it was Princess Luna’s,” Rainbow cooed as her wings enveloped the other two mares, “and she’s okay with us sharing it with you.”

Quill fell silent as she gazed into her reflection in the polished quicksilver that adorned her hoof and didn’t notice Rainbow’s hoof gliding down her belly until a nip on her neck brought her aroused body back to the moment. “Oh… my… gosh,” Quill fell back onto the floor, a blush covering her head now.

Her ears burning and body aching as she felt her fiance’s nipping across her body.  Her legs fell limp as her mind went blank and Rainbow descended her body while Applejack mounted her muzzle.

“Welcome to the herd, Quill.”

After the Proposal

Applejack and Rainbow Dash laid on a bale of hay in the barn looking at the ceiling.  "AJ, I can't believe that just happened."

Applejack smiled and closed her eyes for a moment before opening them and turning her head to Rainbow.  "We proposed at the same time and got engagement anklets for each other from the princesses."

"Yeah, it was pretty awesome.  I'm just surprised that you said yes."  Applejack turned to Rainbow with a confused look.  "AJ, I'm best when I'm with you, but it's not like I'm perfect.  I'm arrogant and brash and cocky, I know."

"Rainbow, ain't no reason I'd ever say no to that question if you asked it.  You're more amazing than you give yourself credit for, just be you."

Applejack returned to her back and smiled as Rainbow moved and laid on Applejacks chest.

"Hey you two!  I'm so glad it worked out so good, I totally thought it'd get confusing but it was all great and you both said yes!"

"Hi, Pinkie Pie.  Thanks for setting it up, we had no idea we were doing it together.  You did great."

"I know, when I got both your letters at the same time I had to run and tell Fluttershy and Rarity to get the Pegasus to write in the clouds while Twilight and me talked to every pony in Ponyville.  Most of them showed up too.  Your kiss was sooooo sweet I almost tasted candy, and I have some here for you to say congratulations!"  Pinkie pulled a bag of various treats from behind her and dropped them in front of her.

"I'll just leave them here by the door, you can get them when you're done.  I guess I can't pop up in your room anymore now that you're gonna be married," Pinkie squeaked in joy, "see ya later, alligators."  With that Pinkie turned and pranced away, off to some other event.

Applejack and Rainbow laid back down and resumed their positions as Twilight cleared her throat.  "Hey, Twi.  I heard ya helped Pinkie set up my proposal, thanks a bunch."

"It was nothing.  I'm so happy you're both engaged!  I'm going to read up on interracial marriages and weddings to make sure you have the best wedding possible.  I am going to need a list of ponies you want to invite and another with ones you want to be denied entry into the palace.  You're having your wedding in the palace, right?"

"Twilight, Twilight, Twilight.  Stop before your head explodes, sheesh.  We're not that far into planning, we're just trying to have a moment, okay?  Relax."

"Okay, sorry girls.  I'm gonna go back to the library and do some light reading, congratulations again!"  Twilight turned and galloped away before they could say anything.

"Honey, I don't understand her most of the time, but now I don't understand her at all."

"Dashing, I love when you call me that.  Ah think she's just excited for us, is all.  Don't pay her any mind, you know she's just, busy."

"Busy?  If she could she'd stop time and read every book in Equestria a dozen times just because she could!  Total egghead," Rainbow said with a wave of her hoof as she fell back into the hay, slightly annoyed at the interruptions.  "All we need is Rarity and Fluttershy to come and waste our time with each other before we can enjoy a few minutes to rebel in pieces at our...  I don't even know what I'm talking about.  Just lay down, AJ."

Applejack slid off the hay bale.  "Dashing, I'm gonna go home and relax and eat something, you coming?"

"Fine, this' getting lame anyway.  Let's see if there's a pie ready."

Exiting the barn they saw Rarity and Fluttershy walking away.  "Hey y'all, where ya goin'?  Ain't ya gonna congratulate us?" Applejack asked as she trotted to them.  They turned around and forced smiles onto their muzzles that Applejack knew were fake right away.  "What's wrong you two?  You look upset."

"Oh, Applejack, we're so happy for you both, we just, well, we heard Rainbow say you both wanted some alone time so-"

"So we decided we'd congratulate you later.  We're sorry for disturbing you."

"Rarity, Fluttershy.  You can always talk with us, Rainbow gets upset easy, you know that.  Rainbow, what do you...  Well Ah'll be, she left for the kitchen.  Girls, thank you from the both of us, I haveta talk with Rainbow about her manners to our friends."

"Oh, you don't have to do that.  We understand her feelings.  Next time we'll come by later."

"Heavens, Fluttershy.  You don't apologize for me, I can do that myself and I see nothing to apologize for.  Rainbow is having a moment like she always does and we aren't going to put up with it."  Rarity galloped past the mildly surprised Applejack for the house.  "Rainbow Dash.  How dare you avoid us like that?"

"Oh hey Rare, want some fritters?"

"Don't you 'fritters' me, Fluttershy and I came to congratulate you and Applejack and you leave."

"Well, you and 'Shy left first," Rainbow shrugged as she took a bite of an apple fritter while grabbing a cobbler from the shelf, "If you wanted to say it, you shoulda said it, not tried to sneak away.  It's your fault you didn't say it, not mine."

"Ooo, Rainbow Dash.  You're impossible, how can you think that way?  We heard you complain about us showing up so we were leaving you in peace and you ditched us and made Applejack apologize for you."

"AJ did that for me?  I know, isn't she nice."  Rainbow finished her fritter and sat at the table ready to take a spoon in her primary feathers to the pie.  "Thanks Rarity for helping make the proposal happen.  I loved it," Rainbow swallowed the last of the fritter in her mouth and smiled at Rarity with food bits in her teeth, "You should plan proposals.  It's way more cool than those clothes you make."

"'More cool' than my couture!?  Rainbow Dash, if you had any idea the effort it takes to make a dress for any pony, especially you."

"Woah, Nelly.  Calm yerself.  You're getting too excited, she's thankful and that's that.  Rarity, let's talk about colors for the wedding, 'kay?"

Rarity was almost grinding her teeth as she turned and walked out the door with Applejack behind her.  Fluttershy walked in the room and sat opposite Rainbow at the table.  "Um, congratulations Rainbow Dash.  That was a very nice moment for you both.  You were very happy, I could tell.  Did you enjoy my birds singing for you?"

"I didn't even know you were there and birds were the last thing on my mind.  I was sappy over Applejack and everything was so cool.  You did a great job with the other Pegasus.  The letters were perfect and the spelling was right on, so thanks 'Shy."

"Actually they misspelled 'marry'.  But, thank you Rainbow Dash."

"Hey, want some of this, it looks really good and I'm starving.  We haven't eaten for like, eight hours.  Well, three technically," she giggled as she remembered the train ride back, "First bite?"  She offered.

"Oh, no thank you.  I'm not hungry.  I'm going to go now," Fluttershy said a little down, "congratulations again and I'll see you later."  Fluttershy excused herself from the table and left the room as Rainbow dug into the pie.

"Rarity, you gotta calm down over Rainbow Dashes attitude, you know after all this time how she is."

"Oh, Applejack, I wish I could but her brazen assaults on my destiny are like daggers, I can't understand why any pony would hate design so much."

"Because Sugarcube, you're bossy and just as proud of your destiny as she is of hers.  You can't get mad at her for being your opposite in life, she's your friend and you're hers.  We'll always be there for each other, even if the elements disappeared one day.  That's what friendship is, right?"

Rarity sighed and stopped walking the path out of Sweet Apple Acres.  "I know.  I just don't understand why we're so different, she's a hot head flier and cloudbuster, I'm a focused trend setting fashionista.  I guess that is pretty different," she resigned, "but, but she doesn't have to be so difficult."

"Rare, you can be just as bad, if not worse.  Why don't we just walk to town and you can fill me in on what I've missed over the last week, okay?"

Rarity started walking again and began to talk about gossip and the events of the past week, her exuberance and joy returning with every new tale.

A night with the girls

"Rainbow, you have to land and take your punishment," Lime scolded the cyan mare who was in the upstairs bathroom practically attached to the ceiling as Applejack and Quill were preparing in the other room.

"No!  I don't wanna play that stupid game!  It's lame and I am not letting you," Rainbow replied.

The bathroom was expanded by Quill for extra space and to have a luxurious shower installed.  Someday she'll get to it but, until then the bathroom is just a wider than average room with basic amenities; toilet, sink, mirror, window with a light curtain and a shower-bath with a rain cloud hovering over it, a simple punch or kick from a Pegasus would turn it on or off.  A joke played on Applejack taught her a ceiling isn't as forgiving as an apple tree and the cost to repair a plaster ceiling is more than some ponies would expect.

"You found the stallion, you know what that means and this time you're going to go through with it."

"NO," Rainbow replied making Lime shy away for a second at the rainbow maned ponies outburst.

"Now, Dashing ya know that ya gotta play once so c'mon down.  This is our celebration night, let's just have fun," Applejack called from the other room as bottles clanked around her.  Rainbow shuddered as she imagined what Applejack was gathering in preparation.

"Fine, I'll come get you.  Quill, come here please."

Rainbow groaned and slowed her flapping.  "You don't have to treat me like a foal.  If I needed that treatment I'd be hanging with 'Shy," landing softly rainbow folded her wings to her side and frowned at Lime as Quill knocked on the door.

"Lime, you need me to help you get her down?"

"No babe, she's a big mare and is ready to play," Lime turned her attention back to Rainbow, "isn't that right, widdle Wainbow is gonna pway wif us?"

"Shut up," Rainbow groaned as Lime giggled.

"We're opening up, you ready?"  Quill asked through the door.

"The victim is prepared for her torture," Lime hissed as the door opened slowly.  "Take your seat child," Lime cackled lightly like a witch.

"Lime," Applejack half smiled at the mare as she cocked her head with a silly look, "stop teasing our victim."

"Oh, c'mon.  You too AJ?  Why can't we play that kissing game again?"

"Because you always win and we have to wait hours to take care of our arousal sometimes."

"Well, maybe you have to wait." Quill snickered into her hoof as Lime placed a hoof against her chest mocking pain.

"I can't believe it, my love.  The mare of my dreams, scandalously sneaking away to use the restroom and relieving herself while the others listen from below in the hall closet at a small fee!  Gasp," she feigned surprise as Quill lept toward her with a flap of her wings and landed a good shove against the now laughing Lime.

"You knew and you charge... Wait, you can hear it!  Oh my gosh.  Oh my gosh!  Oh, you're so dead," Quill shouted as she giggled and chased Lime out of the room.  Both of them filling the house with laughter and the flapping of wings as Rainbow and Applejack smiled and could almost touch the love and fun in the air.  Before too long the duo flew back into the bathroom and shoved Rainbow onto the toilet before landing.  The toilet being centered against the wall it gave them all the space they needed to begin.

Holding a stiff brush Lime nodded to Applejack to hold Rainbow still as she began brushing the matted and crazy mane while Quill poured water with soap and conditioner mixed across her mane lightly wetting the colorful mess.

"OW!  Stop, ah ah ah.  Eep!"  Applejack and the others giggled as Rainbow protested her mane being combed in even the slightest way at home, now to have two of her friends and her lover doing it for her.  "ACK!  That hurt," Rainbow protested as Lime pulled an extra tough tangle loose without slowing or stopping.  The protests continued until Lime finally stopped to admire her work.

"Well, that takes care of your head.  Now," she grinned wickedly with the others, Rainbow gasped as she felt Applejack and Quill wrap their legs around her head mid section, "for your neck."

Twenty minutes had passed before the Rainbow mane was as soft and smooth as it could be.  "Even Rarity would be impressed and we've only just started.  Ready Quill?" Lime asked warmly as she and the others released Rainbow.  Her panting was heavy and she felt sore all along her mane and tail from the extensive work they had to do to untangle the colorful mess from root to tip.  Her mane now laid against her side in a smooth wave of red orange yellow purple and blue, each segmented in their own areas, often they looked to blend together when they got messy but now even Applejack smiled to see Rainbow in the first stages of a makeover.

"Are we done?  Can I go now?"

"Now Sugarplum, ya know what comes next?"

Rainbow reached and touched her mane and winced for the stinging sensation that greeted her hoof.  "You almost pulled out my hair, isn't that enough?"

"EEnope," Applejack teased as the mares grabbed Rainbow and pulled her, reluctantly, to the shower.  Quill punched a spot on the wall and the cloud rumbled lightly and a rain shower began.  Hot water from a rain cloud may have been a surprising thing to most earth ponies but Applejack knew better now.  Pegasus and their weather magic.  Ah'm never gonna figure it out but I want a hot shower once in a while too.

Applejack was quite envious since the farm house only got water from a water tower which was usually tepid, at best, while most Pegasi got hot showers from clouds in their own homes.

With a final pull Applejack and Quill were with Rainbow in the shower and wasted no time beginning to scrub the cyan mares coat every place they could get to without getting too personal.  That was Applejack's job.  Once they had scrubbed and shampooed the cyan coat to a glorious luster that almost gleamed in the electric lights of the room Quill left and nodded to Applejack to preen Rainbows wings.  A sensual act for a Pegasi of even the mightiest constitution and if it wasn't done by ones self it was only done by a mate.

Each feather was lightly kissed as Applejack stood under the hot shower emanating from above as Rainbow fulled extended her right wing.  Quill and Lime turned their backs but their efforts to keep their own wings from flaring in excitement was failing miserably.  As Applejack moved each feather around so it would be coated in fresh water and be realigned with it's neighbor she used her left foreleg to wrap around Rainbow and massage her closed wing, even as it slowly opened under it's own control.

A kiss along the primaries to her leading edges was enough to make Rainbow slowly move her head up, a slow kiss to her wrist made the cyan mare tremble.  As Applejack flicked her tongue and went to her axillars Rainbows tail swished heavily like a happy dog as she fell forward, only Applejack holding her up.  Slowly Applejack began kissing her way to the other wing and from the base where the wing met the shining cyan body to its tip every feather received a light touch and brush by Applejack.

The sensual torture finally over Rainbow shuddered heavily as she forced her body back to a sitting position and looked at her lover.  "That was so hot, and you have a feather in your teeth."

Lime and Quill laughed and spun around.  "Uh oh, some pony got feathered!  A name!  A name!"

Applejack blushed deeply as Rainbow crossed her forelegs and huffed, rain water spraying across Applejack who was on the edge of the shower now.

"Ah, Ah don't know!"

"A colt!  A name.  Now."  Lime smiled widely.  Applejack looked at Quill to see a smile beaming at her that could almost rival Pinkie Pie on a good day.

"Apple Dash.  There, ya happy?"  Applejack fell to her belly and covered her face as she turned beet red.

"Apple Dash?  Ooo.  I like it, what about you Rainbow?"

Rainbow smirked again and nodded her head flinging water across the blushing mares side.  "Yeah, I think I'd like our first to be named that.  But I think-"

"NO," Lime and Quill shouted.  "It's not your turn," they giggled and leaned close to Applejack and Quill spoke softly.  "It's just part of the house rules, now c'mon.  We have to get her ready for the stallion."

Applejack took a deep breath in and exhaled through her mouth in a loud huff, water from under her face splashing on the now mostly dry Quill as she pulled back.  "Fine, but ya tell anypony and I swear I'll deny it."

Helping Applejack up with a hoof Rainbow shook heavily to dry herself as the others shouted for her to stop.  All four were wet and the room was lightly sprayed with water as Quill leapt and turned off the shower.  The cloud slowly stopped its dripping as Rainbow shook again, much to the dismay of the others.  "There, now Ah'm ready for whatever ya got next," she stood tall and flared her wings proudly.

The others looked at Rainbow with growing smiles as Rainbow looked back on them her own smile fading.

"Rainbow, how much time have you been spending on the acres, again?"  The room filled with laughter as Rainbow landed to all four and looked at the others in confusion.

A few minutes later the laughter had stopped and they towels were rubbing all over Rainbow as the mares dried her body, leaving her wings since she had flapped them dry leaving the shower.  "Now that you're groomed and you smell so pretty it's time for, dum dum dumm; makeup!"

Rainbow's eyes widened as she tried to gallop to the door only to have three mares wrap her in their towels and pick her up bucking and fighting, shouting obscenities and cursing the creator of eye shadow.

"Now, ya sit tight and this'll be over in a jif."  Rainbow locked eyes on Applejack and after a short glaring contest Quill popped in between the two with a powder puff and slapped it against Rainbows face.  A dust of light blue smoke appeared and filled Rainbows vision for a second, a brief coughing fit later she was being assaulted with foundation, blush, lipstick and eye liner faster than Rarity could imagine.  A few minutes after the initial puff the mares stood back and admired their work.

Nodding to each other as they sat and stared at Rainbow, forelegs crossed and firm scrutinizing looks on their faces they all shouted together.  "She's ready to get dressed!"

"Oh flock no she isn't," Rainbow replied opening her wings and throwing the towels off as she took to the air briefly.  Applejack grabbed Rainbows tail in her teeth and shouted.

"Woah Nellie, down here or I hog tie ya."

"It's not Monday, ya flirt- EEP." Rainbow squeaked as Applejack yanked her to the floor before getting nose to nose with Rainbow.

"That's private and you know it."

"Ooo, tell us!"

"Well ya see," Rainbow started, "we have different techniques for different times of day and day of the week."  Applejack started to blush again as she kissed Rainbow passionately.  Finally she came up for air and the broke their lips apart from each other and looked into each others eyes and Applejack giggled.  "So, Mondays she'll tie me up and-"

Applejack punched Rainbow below the ribs knocking the wind out of her as she laughed and fell over.  "Ah said that's private and that's that.  Ya okay Rainbow?"

Picking the laughing mare up they pulled her hair lightly and sprayed hair spray across her mane and pulled it into a more steady flat against her right side.

Rainbow had caught her breath and was coughing from the mist entering her mouth and lungs when Quill and Lime smiled darkly at each other and grabbed one of each rear leg and dragged Rainbow, laughing, out of the room to the bedroom.  Two outfits laid on the bed.

"Lime, your turn.  What's she wearing  on her date?"

Lime smiled at the options.  A red skin tight dress that was designed to show off the form of the wearer but it would clash with Rainbows coat, or a black dress with white trim along the bottom that was more fit for foreplay than a dinner party but would also clash with the colorful mares coat and mane making her look like she was going to a funeral.

"Ick, those are awful choices.  Let me pick one."  She pranced to the closet and opened it up, scanned and shuffled through a huge assortment of dresses, shirts, body suits and even a couple nurse outfits for special nights before exclaiming 'Aha' and spinning around.  In her possession was a light blue dinner dress that had a green strip going along its back.  "Perfect!  Now hold her still."

Rainbow shook her head and protested as the dress was forced over her head, neck and back.  With a little help from Quill her wings went through the slits and she immediately folded them back to her body tightly.  A playful bite on Rainbows flank made her wings flare again giving Quill and Lime just enough time to slip jewels over her wing tips making them shimmer in the light as she pulled them closed again in frustration.

"Now, you can't go out without shoes!  I have these silver ones that would go great with that.  I'll be right back," Lime darted from the room as Rainbow was pulled to a mirror.

"Oh Celestia I look, fancy."  Rainbow faked a heave as Applejack nuzzled her.

"Oh, you're more adorable than ever."

A bright flash filled the room twice.  Once when Applejack was nuzzling Rainbow and again when Rainbow turned to look at Lime holding a camera.  "No pony will believe this any other way!"  She laughed and bolted from the room taking to the air and flying around the house keeping the camera just out of the embarrassed Rainbow's reach as laughter filled the home again.

"So Rainbow.  Tell us about when you first felt feelings for AJ here."  Lime asked as the mares laid on the bed looking at the ceiling.  They had turned off the lights and switched to two lanterns on opposite sides of the room so the shadows danced against and through each other.

"What's to tell?"

"Dashing?"  Applejack asked cautiously,

"It was her freckles,"  The mares on the bed stirred a little trying to turn so they could listen better even though they were perfectly fine where they were.  "I crashed when I was trying a new move to I was gonna use to impress the Wonderbolts and it was just outside Sweet Apple Acres.  I was knocked out for a minute and the first thing I see when I come to is this amazing mare galloping to me.  Adorable freckles, glowing mane under that stetson hat and sweat beading across her whole body; the whole nine yards.  I didn't know it then but I got my first flutter."

"Flutter?  What's that?" Lime asked.

"Like, my heart was all budumppa-dumpa-dummmpa.  Ya know.  Flutter."

Quill and Lime sighed in reverence and remembrance of the feeling.  "So, she helps me up and shakes my hoof until I think it's gonna fall off and I feel my brain getting all scrambled like eggs and that was when I knew I had a little crush but..."  she trailed off for a moment, "then I met Soarin for real and he was my dream Wonderbolt.  It was kinda awesome at the time; meeting your idol and then after a while him wanting to date you then those thoughts of the rest of your life soaring with him through the skies as a Wonderbolt until you're old.  Then he started taking things farther and farther," she began rubbing her hooves together in small circles as the others rolled over to look at her.

"One night he's relaxing with you at his house and he pours you another glass of wine and places a hoof on your leg and kisses you for the first time and it's not magical or special.  It almost feels like kissing your dad, just meh and nothing to it.  But, you can't say no to free wine and the repuation of dating a Wonderbolt so you follow him to the bedroom and let him mount you, without protection because he doesn't like it," the others gasped as their wings opened slightly and Applejack pushed herself up to her front knees in antiscipation for the next part of the story.

Oblivious Rainbow continued her recollection.  "Then you feel him go inside and it's good and all but there's no magic.  No passion, just him grunting and you moaning like a ghost hoping he'll touch a good spot or you'll get a real awesome fantasy going then bang, he's done."  The others looked on in stunned silence.  "It wasn't even a usual release for a few minutes before bang and hold.  I mean it was like pow, over.  I've heard critters that finish like that, all in one shot but never a pony, much less a stallion in the Wonderbolts.  He was done faster than I could even think of a fantasy, girls.  What do you say to that?  I just rolled to my back and looked at the clouds in his ceiling for an hour while he snored in my ear before I left."

"So, what if you were, you know-"

"In heat." Lime finished for Quill.

"Then I'd have a little Soarin to remind me of the best 6 minutes we had.  And that was the longest, girls.  It was awful," Rainbow sighed.  No pony wanted to joke or make fun of her, they could tell it was devastating to her; to have an idol seduce you than disappoint you in so many ways.

"Well, Ah guess I'll go next..."

"No, wait.  I'm not done.  I just got side tracked.  So, Applejack was up in my cloud house and we were eating dinner and she rolls whatever I made into a burrito and eats it like it was nothing, then drinks the soup and juice I made -by hoof- and is all 'When's dinner?'"  Rainbow giggled briefly, "it was right then I got another flutter but the moment I was really fighting myself was when we were walking into my room the first time."

"First time?  How many times did you go in there that night?"  Quill asked as they all laid back on the bed to watch the shadows dance again.

"Twice.  The first time there was a fire because some stupid colts from Appleblooms class were casting fire with their tiny horns," Applejack groaned as she remembered the events and a certain talk with her brother later, "so after that I ran away to my bed and was all crying and crazy.  Don't really remember but for once in my life, and the only time I'll admit to, I was a lame cry baby.  Then she walks into my room and I felt my heart stop when I heard her voice.  Then yeah, we totally did it and it was awesome," Rainbow said in almost a high singing voice.

Now the others giggled and laughed.  "Oh, my turn."  Lime called.

"I fell for Quill when she fell on me."

"Oh, you have to explain that one," Rainbow chimed in resting her legs behind her head.

"I was walking from the market and I was carrying groceries for a couple meals worth of, well, meals.  I turned the corner to my house and 'oof!' This mare falls onto me from a cloud, she was spying on me all day apparently and was obsessed with my flank rump combo."

"Oh holy Celestia, Quill?  You're a peeper?"

Quill cleared her throat in a sigh of discomfort.  "Yeah, I would hide in clouds and watch mares go by, stare at their wings or horns but when I saw Lime I couldn't stop staring at her face.  Every curve and feature called to me.  It wasn't her back half I fell for, by the way it was a crappy cloud and it gave away when I tried to turn it.  Sorry, it was her eyes and smile.  They was she trotted so happily like there wasn't a problem in the world.  If the cloud didn't bust and I wasn't so enraptured by the mare I was falling to I wouldn't have had the guts to even approach her."

Quill and Lime looked at each other and kissed lightly.  "Okay, your turn AJ."

"Well, it ain't as romantic but what they hay," Applejack closed her eyes tightly and groaned, "well, I remember meeting Dashing a few times and helpin' her outta the crash she talked about but I didn't really have feelings for her then.  It was when we were introduced to Nightmare Moon, she boldly jumped into action and was 'bout ta buck that evil mares helmet off but I suddenly had to stop her.  I felt my heart jump as soon as she flapped them pretty wings and my heart made me jump and grab her tail faster than a snake on a frog.  I didn't know what to say so all I could do was shout 'whoa Nellie.'"

Rainbow sighed.  "I remember that.  It really hurt but I guess it makes sense now.  So, any good gossip?"

All the mares sighed and declined.  "Nothing's been happening since you left really.  Cherilee and Big Mac are dating but, that's old news.  Fluttershy found Scootaloo sleeping in her chicken coup-"

"Wait, what?  Why was Scoots there?"

Lime shrugged.  "Dunno, 'Shy said she said she fell asleep counting their feathers for a counting cutie mark.  I think it's horse hockey but it's all we have."

"Wait, Scoots can't count past 18 so why would she try to count chicken feathers?"

"18?  How do you know that?"

"I asked her to count how many laps I could do in ten minutes.  She only counted to 18 then said 18-12.  Next time it was 18-10-10. I'm not good with math but I know she's really bad at math."

"Guys, what if," Quill hesitated, "she's a orphan?  A homeless orphan at that?"  There was a long silence in the room and only breathing was heard.

"I think I'll tail her someday, I mean, I've never met her parents or family.  She never talks about them or her past, only how awesome I am.  She may be right but that's still kinda, I don't know, creepy."

"Well, I think it'd be just as creepy for you to follow her.  A cloud drifting around would get the attention of several ponies not to mention the creepy factor of an adult stalking a filly."

"Yeah, I guess that'd be more creepy and lame.  Not to mention a whole day wasted when I could be practicing my moves or helping AJ."

"Or, just for the hell of it, working."  Quill mused.

"Yeah, but that's sometimes the last thing I wanna do.  I'm so tired of seeing Diamond Wing around, especially since he got all moody."

"Well, he only got moody after you yelled at him and got fired," Quill replied as she watched two shadows fight over a spot on the ceiling, one winning easily but the other putting up a good fight.

"This is so relaxing, girls.  I could almost fall asleep," Lime said as she scooted against Quill.

"Yeah, it's really cool.  I'm not being sappy, I'm being relaxed by the way.  Huge difference.  And I yelled at him because I was mad, I apologized and he hired me back."

"Yeah," Quill's smile was easily heard through her answer, "with enough tears to flood his office."

"Hey," Rainbow replied calmly, "I poured my heart out and wasn't even trying to get my job back but he gave it to me.  I owe him that much but it doesn't make him a better pony."

"Well, can you keep a secret?" Quill asked.  The shadows had shifted and were now floating in different areas of the ceiling having given up on their tiny war.

"You know no pony is better at keeping secrets than us," Lime said nudging Applejack who was by her side who in turn elbowed Rainbow a little to hard.

"Ugh, what the hay!  I totally keep secrets all the time."

The others giggled as Quill continued.  "He's retiring.  Corporate's sending a new branch manager next week."

Rainbow sat up jostling the others.  "What?  But he's awesome at his job, he can't retire.  What if his replacement sucks or is a total plot hole?"

"For a mare who hates him you sure do like him."

"I don't really like him," Rainbow sighed laying back down, "I just, I guess, I'm used to him.  He's been there for like, four years.  I've been there for seven and a manager for five of them before he bucked me out of there.  Then I guess, I dunno.  I guess I like him when he's intense but not towards other ponies.  Like when he yelled at Flutter Wing when we got into a scuffle my first week back."

"Scuffle?  She couldn't touch you and," Quill laughed loudly, "you stood on her head and she was furious."

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that," Rainbow said to the ceiling trying to see animals in the shadows, "we're cool now though and I spar with her sometimes.  She's still hella awesome at the fighting part but I'm better at dodging her attacks and getting in light strikes."

"Hey, whats your favorite food?"  Lime said changing the subject, "mine has to be between pizza or burritos."

"Yeah, stay away from the bean ones please," Quill said loudly eliciting an elbow to her side from Lime before she continued.  "Well, mine is a nice daisy, daffodil and cucumber sandwich with extra mayonnaise and sprouts all over the top."

"On top?  Why like that?" Applejack asked, she had closed her eyes and moved a foreleg under Rainbows head a moment before and was savoring the closeness of an all female moment.

"Its about the texture and aroma of almost fresh cut grass filling your nose, only it doesn't taste like crap."

The others exclaimed in unison.  "True," followed by a giggle.

"Have any of y'all eaten grass or dandilions?"

The others thought back and nodded, all except Rainbow.

"I was a filly and a colt dared me," Lime said.

"I was just curious when I first came here after flight school," Quill said.

"I do once in a while on the acres.    It's awful and I don't see how sheep and cows can eat the stuff but, it's easy water and I don't have to eat rotten apples or the money makers."

"You eat rotten apples?  And grass?  I kiss that mouth," Rainbow said sticking out her tongue.

"Now Dashing ya know I don't eat rotten apples.  Not for years and then it was just more cuz I didn't know.  Kept getting sick til Granny taught me why they're bad.  Grass though, yeah."

"Eew.  Now I'm totally gonna bring a toothbrush with me everywhere," Rainbow giggled.

"Rainbow, I really like this you.  You're way sillier and more relaxed, it's more fun than that always gotta win and be the best attitude," Lime commented.

Rainbow smiled outwardly but inside she wondered if drinking made her who she was.  Who was she if she had changed so much her closest friends had noticed already?  How would she cope with a new personality and would she still be a super athlete on par with the Wonderbolts?  Thoughts she'd have to think about in her spare time.

"Me too.  Rainbow, honestly even though it's only been a couple hours I feel like this is a new you and I like the mare I see.  I can't wait to see what you do next, maybe you'll become a Wonderbolt finally."

"Quill, AJ, Lime...  Can I tell you a secret I'm not okay with telling?"  Rainbow asked as she began fidgeting with her hair.

"Of course, Sugarplum."  "Yeah."  "You know everything that happens in this house stays in this house."

"Okay," Rainbow sighed in a resigned tone, "I got a message from the Wonderbolts that since I was in a relasionship with a member of the team I'm not gonna be let in."

"What!?  That's horse hockey!  Can't you write a letter or do a sonic rainboom at a show and make them eat their words?"

"Nope.  It was officially delivered to my by Derpy from the military.  I even had to sign and give it a stamp before I got the letter.  I was so excited I almost screamed, then," she sighed, "I opened it in my living room and I can't remember the last time I cried that hard.  I missed my shift at work and made some excuse that I was practicing on a mountain to get used to the rushing air."

"I remember that excuse, no pony believed you but you were the boss.  What could we do?"

"I don't know or care anymore.  Out there," Rainbow pointed at the closed window, "I have to keep it up like I'm a shoo-in to get a position but so far only top brass and me, and now you three know.  I did write a letter and asked them to seal my file, only if a war breaks out are they gonna be able to tell about my failure."

"Oh, Rainbow Dash.  You're not a failure, everything about you has been great and it sounds more like it's that plot hole Soarin's fault, not yours."

"Gals, I have a serious question," Applejack said.

"What's that?" Lime asked.

"About kids and if we should have 'em.  I mean, I know we can cuz we're mares and all and it's our choice but, given our lifestyles should we?"

"I don't know AJ.  I mean I can see a little Dashie Jack flying around the house but I don't know if I'm ready.  Are you?"

"That's...  Dashing," Applejack turned to face the mare at the edge of the bed beside her, "I don't know how to tell you this."

"Just say it AJ."

"I want to have one.  I wanna feel it inside me and know I have a piece of you inside me," Applejack said softly and blushed looking into Rainbows ruby eyes.

"BWAHAHAHAHAHA," Rainbow laughed as she rolled off the bed holding her sides.  Her mane and dress flowing after her as she thudded on the floor.  "You are such a joker, AJ!  Oh my gosh, I was, totally fooled," she said between laughs and gasps.

Applejack laid back down and closed her eyes tightly as Lime and Quill turned and laid a foreleg across Applejack comforting her.  The sound of Rainbow laughing filling the room and aching Applejacks heart.  Lime and Quill gazed at Applejack as a single tear left her right eye in front of them, a sigh left her lips and that was it.  A moment later Rainbow sat up and wiped tears from her face as her laughter slowed down to a chuckle.

"Ah, thanks AJ.  I was really upset over that whole Wonderbolt thing until now.  You're awesome," Rainbow smiled then with a flap she was in the air and landed on the bed sitting cross legged and smiling wide.  "So, what's next?  Who's up for a game of cards?  I'll get them ready downstairs!  Don't take too long cuddle bugs, I wanna totally whip ya.  5 bits a hand!"  Opening her wings she flapped and hovered then flew through the open door arcing fast and away.

"Oh, AJ.  I'm so sorry, she'll get it someday."  Quill sat up and looked at Applejack who was turning over, her body shaking lightly as she stifled the crying she was doing very well.

"Honey, I don't know what to say except you'll make an excellent mother someday."

Quill crawled over the two and took Rainbows spot opposite Applejack then she and Lime held Applejack as the orange mare sobbed lightly into Quills chest.  A few minutes later Rainbow called for the game to start and commented on her excitement to buy a gift for her special somepony.

The mares collected themselves and quietly got up, left the room and went to join Rainbow.

"Heya slow pokes, all set.  One game before we call it a night.  Why the long faces?  Did you talk about something after I left?  Whatever it is I can fix it or AJ can if I can't," Rainbow was shuffling cards smiling wide as the others took seats around the table and counted their bits before putting them on the table.

"Rainbow, you're goin' down," Applejack said grinning putting on the best fake smile she could as the others followed suit and challenged the rainbow maned mare in a staring contest before cards were dealt and bets were placed.

"Wow, I can't believe Lime cleaned us all out.  I was totally gonna save those bits too."

"Yeah Dashing, ya thought ya had it but she got us good.  I think she's a counter."

"Card counting should be illegal, punishable by forfeiture of all bits and a few extra for the trouble."

"Dashing, I can't wait to get home with you.  I wanna hold you so close that we'll just melt into each other," Applejack said as she bumped the naked cyan to her left.  The cool air of night was refreshing and almost invigorating to them both as Rainbow let her wings hang slightly by her sides.  The hat was back on its proper owners head and Applejacks mane had been braided before they left while Rainbow made a big deal about fussing hers into the mess she was used to.  She forgot about her tail and didn't notice the random looks the few ponies out at night gave her.  The usual crazy tail was curled in a style that Pinkie would love to compare herself to.

"Ya know, even though you were totally joking earlier to make me feel better... Applejack I'd love to have a few kids with you.  Well, maybe not a few but a couple," Rainbow said as she pulled her wings to her body and lowered her ears expecting a laugh back from her lover.

Instead she looked to her right and didn't see Applejack.  Turning her head she saw Applejack a few paces behind with the biggest grin plastered on her face as she suddenly jumped in the air with a 'Whoop' to a height Pinkie would be proud of as she clacked her rear hooves together and galloped ahead.  "Race ya home, slow poke!"

Rainbow took in a deep breath before exhaling and opening her wings.  With a confident grin herself she bolted after Applejack determined to get to the barn first.

15 minutes of challenging each other later, barely holding the lead they both took their turned Rainbow spotted the barn and arced to enter but noticed Applejack heading back to the house.  I thought we were gonna...  I guess she was serious about just sleeping tonight.  One more turn and Rainbow aimed at the window that signaled their room.  Landing and opening it she hopped in and posed proudly waiting for Applejack to burst into the room out of breath.

Two minutes passed before Rainbow grunted and trotted to the door, opening it she went to the stairs and heard Applejack talking with Big Mac.

"...So I asked if she wanted to have a foal with me and she laughed in my face but then left and well, Ah guess I cried for a bit.  Don't interrupt Big Mac, this is the best part.  On the way home she was up for it!  Ah may be a mommy, can ya believe it?  First we gotta get that house cuz, no offense or none, but this place isn't where I wanna start my life with her.  I'm gonna need your help fixin' up Davenports old home before I tell Dash I bought it without her knowing.  Oh Big Mac, you're the best brother ever, thanks for listening."

"Eeyup."

A few seconds passed before the sound of hooves clopping was heard and Rainbow flew back to the room and gently closed the door.

Oh my gosh Oh my gosh Oh my gosh.  I don't, I can't.  What!?!?!  Rainbow was panting as she tried to figure out what she heard.  The door opened and Applejack entered and tossed her stetson to the side landing it perfectly on the dresser as she approached Rainbow.

"Heya lover.  You won, congrats.  You're out of breath still?  That shoulda been nothing to ya."

"Ah-Ahm fine... Just, ya know.  Not used to flying that fast after a week in bed.  Give me a day and I'll be back to 150%."

"Well, if ya say so.  C'mon, lets get to bed.  Monday in two days so let's rest up and get a real home cooked meal made by Big Mac in ya tomorrow."

"Yeah, sounds great AJ.  Thanks."

Taking out her pony tails and unbraiding her hair Applejack couldn't stop smiling.  Turning and going to the bed she opened the blanket and sheets Applejack climbed in and gestured for Rainbow to join her.  The cyan mare wasted no time jumping onto the bed and looking at Applejack.

"Let's have a great day tomorrow, 'kay?"

Applejack nodded and turned to face the window as Rainbow laid behind her and pulled the covers over them to their necks and slid one foreleg under Applejack's head and let the other drape over her abdomen.  Relaxing her wings they both sighed and Rainbow nuzzled Applejack as she whispered.  "Good night, my love.  I can't wait to see you everyday for the rest of my life."

"Mmm, I love you too Dashing.  Sweet dreams."

Talk with Loyalty

        “Sugarcube, time ta wake up.”

        Rainbow moved deeper into Applejack’s embrace, safety, and warmth.

        “Sugarplum, my little rainbow?”

        Rainbow trilled as she moved her rear legs, curling into a tighter ball.

        “Rainbow Dash,” Applejack said firmly.

        Rainbow grumbled and pulled back, yawning softly.  “Why’d ya wake me?  Ah was fightin’ a manticore and just suplexed it.  The wonderbolts were so impressed,” she chuckled before she rolled to her hooves and stretched like a cat, groaning in pleasure.

        “Well, somepony’s feelin’ goo- umph.”

        Rainbow turned and jumped onto Applejack and rolled with her off the carpet, bumping into the table with a kiss.

        “Heh, thanks.  I so needed that.  Now, your turn!” She grinned and licked her lips.

        “N-no, just, wait a sec.  Ah, well, ya told me a lot before ya slept in my forelimbs so, Ah’ve gotta admit somethin’.”

        “Oh?  Is it how awesome-” Rainbow saw the look in Applejack’s eyes and stopped her gloating, “and what would that be?” She asked climbing off and sitting, watching, waiting for Applejack to speak.

        “Ah really wanted to be the mama first.  Ah prayed ta the spirits, ancestors, even Celestia and Luna… then ta find out Ah’m nearly infertile.  Ah…”

        She lay on her back and looked at the flat wooden ceiling, remembering her youth.

        “I really wanna carry the Apple name with a filly of my own.  Any tribe’s fine with me, Ah just wanted help on the farm,” she sighed and rolled to her side facing Rainbow, “now with the orchard workin’ so much all Ah’ve gotta do is help buck a few trees and do a couple chores.

        “I never thought I’d say it, but I’m gettin’ bored of farmin…”

        “Wait, woah, woah, woah, wait… so I’m not gonna get you to shake until we’re done with this?”

        Applejack growled.

        “Woah, okay… fine, sorry,” Rainbow winced, “just fire ‘em and have the farm back.  Or, have ‘em work only on Tuesdays to harvest zappers.  Maybe they can help with the far parts of the orchard?  I think all those work, do ‘em all!”

        “It ain’t that easy; plenty’a ponies are workin’ full time-”

        “There’s always work in town.  They didn’t come from Canterlot to pick zappers, let ‘em get a part time job like every other pony.”

        “Ah have a full time job-”

        “But,” Rainbow interjected, “I love you and you have a farm!” She gestured to the window. “Reckon- er, I mean you have to be here, it’s your life.  Like I belong in the air.  C’mon, Fritter, Ah know you’re stressed, but it’s your farm; take charge!  Grab the cloud by the cumulus and snap it away, own it,” she shouted proudly as she crossed her forelegs and forced her wings as open as she could.

        “Rainbow, Ah dunno…”

        “Look, it’s easy.  What ya do is have ‘em work part time and rotate their sections into sectors in a grid.  Using even the most basic system you can have them rotate around you and end up on zappers once a week, even give ‘em all a couple days off a week.”

        “...That’s actually a great idea,” Applejack said, “you’re gonna weather manage the farm too?”

        “Yeah, about that…”

        “What?” Applejack asked sceptically.

        “I, I don’t know if I wanna be full time weather manager.  I mean, I still spend my time sleeping and exercising on shift.  Not to mention that Flutterwing’s been a great helper and she’s ready to take over…  I could just weather a couple days a week and when major stuff happens.  I mean, with our zap apples savings we’ve got enough for me to not have to worry about makin’ the bits.”

        “Sugarplum, yer life’s your own, but think it over before ya quit yer job… I mean, what’d you do if you weren’t in weather?”

        “...Be a mom to Scootaloo and our new baby.”

        Applejack stared for a few seconds and sighed. “This’ a big change for us, Rainbow.  Ah love the idea of you bein’ a stay at home mom but, won’t ya get bored?”

        “Psh,” Rainbow said as she stood and began to pace quickly, “I’m always gonna be busy and flying is going to make it more awesome than ever!  Imagine taking our baby earth pony on a sonic rainboom!”

        “You are not takin’ any of our children on a Rainboom.”

        Rainbow giggled. “Gotcha.  So~?”

        “Dash, that ain’t how ya get me hot’n bothered.”

        Rainbow smirked and leaned in to nuzzle Applejack. “Ah wanna buck every apple from yer trees,” Applejack inhaled slowly, “then I’m gonna pick ‘em all up with my teeth on their stems,” Applejack shuddered, “then I’m gonna take ‘em and sort ‘em for you,” Rainbow said climbing on top of Applejack.

        “After that I’m gonna take one and roll it between my forelegs and make sure it’s nice’n shiny and quickly take a juicy bite,” Applejack nodded as she began to pant.  “And I thought you hated apples,” Rainbow teased.

        “Not when they’re with you,” she said breathily.

        Rainbow slowly made her way down Applejack’s body.  “I’ll lick my lips and take another bite, then another… so sweet, so soft,” she could smell the sweet aroma wafting up, “then I’m gonna start doing chores without being told…”

        “Oh shut up and start, Celestia please,” she begged as she felt an ache run through her entire pussy.

        Rainbow finally lowered enough to look at her goal. “This’ gonna be so awesome,” she said softly as she slid her forelegs under Applejack’s rump, raising Applejack to a better angle.

Caught in the Act

        The fillies and colts were shivering and laughing as they called a truce, stopping the most epic snowball fight of the day.  “Well, reckon Ah’m bout as cold as a fish in a freezer,” Apple Bloom joked as she shook some snow from her ear, “who’s interested in seein’ the clubhouse?”

        The colts hopped up and down shouting their approval and excitement.

        “Well,” Scootaloo said pushing Rumble’s side lightly, “we’ve got a warmer there so we can… warm up,” she chuckled as she looked at Rumble.

        “Feathering awesome!” Rumble shouted.

        They all fell in line behind Apple Bloom and followed her, giggling and talking the whole way.

        “...Wait up, y’all.  Ain’t no pony s’posed ta be here, right, Scootaloo?”

        “Heh, yeah, duh.  Unless Sweetie Bell came back and didn’t tell… us,” she stopped and looked at the ramp and the adult sized hoofprints leading up it.

        “Well, Ah better not find squatters,” Apple Bloom grunted as she galloped to the base of the ramp and stopped, holding a foreleg out and stopping Scootaloo and the others. “Let’s move slow’n catch’m, so when we tell the police who it is.”

        “The police?” Gallop said softly and took a step back, “I don’t know if we need to go that far.”

        “Don’t worry,” Rumble reassured Gallop, “it isn’t like the city, here.  C’mon, let’s just be quiet.  I wanna see what’s going on.”

        Without a word, Apple Bloom began creeping ahead with the others following, restraining humorous giggles and fighting whispers amongst each other.  When they got closer to the top Apple Bloom turned to whisper. “Ah see they found the light.”

        “Hey,” Scootaloo frowned, “that was expensive,” she hissed as she moved faster and past Apple Bloom, peeking into the window she froze and held her breath.

        The others approached her and looked in and cocked their heads.

        Applejack was wiping her muzzle while Rainbow rolled to her side, beginning to weep, facing the children outside the window.

        With pensive breaths Scootaloo watched as Applejack walked around Rainbow and lay on her belly, facing the crying mare before she turned away and shook her head.  “C’mon, my mom’s are just having some alone time.  We’ll show you the clubhouse later,” she said as she took quick steps ahead and down the ramp.

        “Well,” she looked back and forced a smile, “I’ll show ya the area, I guess.  There’s a spot where I leave my snowboard, we can slide around for a bit,” she said in a quieter tone, but confident.

        Looking amongst themselves they nodded and left the clubhouse and the mares to themselves.

        Scootaloo swore to herself she’d never bring up the fact she’d seen Applejack’s tongue inside Rainbow, just before the others looked in.  And she smiled to herself, knowing her parents were truly happy.

Bonding Time

Goin' Away

“Now, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle?  Gimme a hug and Auntie Rainbow, too,” Applejack said as she was embraced from all sides first.  Rainbow landed and received her hugs as Quill stood back, a small bag on her wing.

        “Look,” Quill started as the fillies lined up and sat like the good, patient fillies they were, “I know you’ve gotta go to this Crystal Empire and all that, but take these scarves and stay warm, alright?  I’ll miss you both, and the others and I Pinkie Promise that I’ll watch the fillies and all your stuff while you’re gone.”

        “Scarves?  I was hoping it was a sandwich,” Rainbow pouted as she took the bag and sniffed it.  Applejack gave Quill a friendly hug before Rainbow got her turn. “Okay, it’s not food, but I’ll try to use it.  I heard that place is warm and I’ve got some magic in me to fight the cold,” she shrugged.

        “Well, whatever that means, I’m sure it’s going to keep you three safe.”

        Rainbow blushed while she ruffled her wings and flexed them. “Oh yeah, the three of us’ll be fine.  We’re just going into a country that vanished a thousand years ago and was ruled by a nightmare smoke monster and with Twilight.”

        “Sugarplum, we’ve gotta go.  The train’s waitin’ on us,” she said as she turned to the train, “we’ll see y’all in a few weeks at the worst.”

        “That’s right,” Quill chirped, “the worst part of all this is going to be the two weeks on a train to the north, not some cool ice city full of crystal ponies.  Bring us back something cool,” she forced a smile as she pressed a hoof to Rainbow’s side. “And don’t forget to use your awesome when you can.  You’ve got a whole nation to show why you’re the best in Equestria.”

        Rainbow beamed with pride as she opened her wings and zoomed into the air, doing a loop and landing with a pose. “Awe yeah, I’m gonna show ‘em what awesome looks like in pony form.”

        “That’s my Mom!”

        “Go Rainbow Dash!”

        “You can do it, for Equestria!” the fillies cheered at once.

        Rainbow turned and pranced into the train car after Applejack and took her seat by Fluttershy while Applejack sat next to Rarity.

        “Hey, Auntie Quill?  Why aren’t they sittin’ with each other?” Apple Bloom asked.

        Quill giggled softly. “I’m not your auntie, just a friend.  And they’re going to be on that train for two weeks with only a few stops.  They know they’re all gonna get tired of each other.”

        “Why don’t they just take a nap, then?” Sweetie asked.

        Quill couldn’t help but laugh.