Applejoy

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
It's a (Apple)Joyful Life! (Chapters 4-8)
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 18
Chapter 19 - Finale
Chapter 17

Prologue

Sweet Apple Acres, along with the rest of the countryside surrounding Ponyville, was bathed in the brilliant glow of Celestia’s sun. A light breeze stirred through the treetops of the orchard, bending some branches and blowing loose leaves from them. Each leaf that left a tree fluttered through the blue sky, coming to rest on the ground when the energy imparted upon it by gravity ran out, allowing it to settle peaceful on the grass-covered ground. Each new gust of the breeze brought down more leaves in this way, just as each new gust brought with it another fresh chill in the air. The chill heralded an unwelcome arrival, each breath of cold air was another reminder that the nights were growing colder and longer. Winter was coming, and it was coming entirely too fast.

The idyllic scene was only disrupted by a single sound. As the breeze blew and the trees swayed, a repetitive ringing noise sounded across the landscape. The noise rang out, scattering the peace that had previously hung over the orchard. Such noises had persisted throughout the day, coming and going, increasing and decreasing in tempo and frequency, but always retaining the same sound of an acute strike – the strike of hammer on nail.

On a small, windswept hill adjacent to the Apple Family farm, a little filly played in the long grass. The individual blades of green tickled her light orange pelt as she rolled, giggling happily to herself as such young ponies are apt to do. The same breeze that disturbed the trees also blew through her mane. Strands of pale golden blonde hair, mixed with streaks of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet, were all picked up by currents of moving air as it whipped past the small pegasus filly. Applejoy was unaware of the coming winter and the dangers it posed, her ignorance a product of the youth that older ponies, those more concerned with the world around them, so envied.

Standing on the top of the hill, overlooking their daughter as she played on the slope, Applejack and Rainbow Dash took a break from their work to contemplate that very world as it changed around them. Another chilled breeze whipped through their manes as they gazed out over the farm that stretched before them. The orchard was filled with row after row of fruit-laden apple trees. The whipping wind spun through the orchard and washed over them, causing Applejack to shiver slightly. “Ah’m worried, Rainbow. It’s been gettin’ colder an’ colder earlier this year. Ah hope we can get all the applebuckin’ done in time. Ah think winter’s comin’ early and Applebuck Season’s barely here.”

In a well-practiced move that she had done many times over the past three years, Rainbow Dash lifted a wing and draped it over her wife’s back, pulling her close so that their bodies touched, sharing warmth between them on the unseasonably cold day. “I know, AJ. But we’ll get through it. We’ve been through a lot together.” She turned and gave Applejack a small, light kiss. “Come on. We should get back to the house and help the others.”

Applejack and Rainbow Dash trotted a short distance down the hill before Applejack bent down to scoop Applejoy up and onto her back. “Mommy!” Applejack smiled when she heard her daughter speak. Even though she couldn’t say very many words, it still filled Applejack with a sense of pride and love to hear her speak. Altogether now, the family trotted down the last of the hill, the Apple Family’s farmhouse and the ponies working there coming into view as they approached.

“There you girls are. Come on, let’s get some more work done.” Twilight Sparkle looked cheery as she trotted past them, levitating several boards in front of her as she did so.

“We’re on it!” Applejack gently set her daughter down before she and Rainbow Dash picked up some supplies and tools of their own. “And thanks again for helpin’ us build the new addition, Twi. It sure means a lot to Rainbow and me.”

“No problem, AJ. I’m glad my magic could be of assistance to you.”

“Hey, Big Mac! Do ya have enough nails over there?” Rainbow Dash called over to him as she stumbled across an extra box.

“Eeeyup.” Big macintosh picked up the hammer beside him in his mouth and swung at a nail placed in a board that Twilight had just levitated into place, beginning to secure it firmly to the upright wooden beam that stood to guide the wall he was building. The sound of a hammer striking nails once again began to emanate across the farm.

“Can ah help, Applejack? Oh can Ah can Ah can Ah?”

“Sure, Applebloom. But ya have to wait. Ah told ya, Ah’ll let ya decorate like ya did fer mah old clubhouse once we’re done putin’ up walls.”

“Awwww…” Applebloom sat down and resigned herself to wait until the new addition to the house was ready for her decorating skill. Bored, she sighed and looked around, her wandering eyes finally falling on a small pegasus filly, playing in the grass again. Applebloom smiled. She always thought that her little niece was just the cutest thing she had ever seen. So focused was she on watching the foal play that she never noticed the pony who snuck up behind her.

“Hey, Applebloom. What’s goin’ on?” Applebloom jumped at the sound of the voice and spun around to confront this new arrival.

“Scootaloo? What… what are ya doin’ here?”

“I heard all this racket and thought I’d stop by and see what was happening.”

“Oh. Well, we’re makin’ the house bigger!”

“Well duh, I can see that. But what are you going to be adding?”

“Well, now that we have Fluttershy living here and her new foal due soon, we have to add on to the house and build a couple extra bedrooms to make sure everypony here or visiting has a place to sleep and a nursery to take care of the foals in.” Applebloom grinned at the new level of responsibility she now had. “Just think, Scootaloo, Ah’ll be helpin’ take care of Joy over there, and mah new niece… or nephew… or whatever. Ain’t it excitin’?”

“Taking care of foals? Doesn’t sound very fun to me.”

“Well, Ah think havin’ so many new family members is great. If ya want to, ya can come and visit sometime. Ya can bring yer parents! Ah’m sure they’ll like ta see the new foals and Ah’d sure like ta finally meet them!”

“Uh… yeah…” Scootaloo stammered, suddenly seeming very uneasy, “that’d be great. Uh… I have to run so… see ya later, AB.”

“Bah, Scoots.” Applebloom waved her friend off as she climbed up onto her scooter and zipped away into the distance. When she couldn’t be seen anymore, Applebloom turned back to her friends and family members, just in time to see Rainbow fly up and precariously balance herself on top of the wood-frame construction building with a hammer in her mouth. Pieces of the roof that she was to secure floated up behind her courtesy of Twilight’s magic.

“You be careful up there now, Rainbow. Don’t hurt yerself.”

“I’ll be fine, AJ. Somepony has to do the roof, and it might as well be me. Besides, we have to get this whole thing done before we move Fluttershy to the hospital next week.”

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Rainbow Dash lounged on her back on the provided couch, her wings tucked safely to her sides, and stretched herself out, pressing her head into Applejack’s chest as she did so. For this, she received an affectionate nuzzle from the mare she rested her head on, causing both of them to smile warmly. Rainbow dash felt calm and relaxed. The couch she lay on was comfortable, and the mare she lay on even more so. Even the linoleum tile floors, plain whitewashed walls, harsh dimmed yellow lighting, and lingering stench of antiseptic that had served to irritate her to no ends when she had come to this place previously were now as welcome as an old friend – her experience with them having been repeated so many times that she had grown accustomed to every little annoyance the hospital had to offer. Rainbow Dash gazed down at her own chest, where, rising and falling in time with every breath Rainbow took, Applejoy slept soundly. Rainbow Dash smiled again at her daughter. She loved this little filly more than anypony else in all of Equestria. Well, maybe not everypony else, she decided as she leaned back to look up into the warm green eyes of her wife. ‘No.’ she thought, ‘these two are about equal.’

“Uuggghh… I’m so bored! When do we get to go back and see them!”

“Sweetie Belle, honestly. You can’t rush foalbirth. It’s a beautiful and painful process that can take hours sometimes. Just ask Applejack.”

“Don’t ya even get me started, Rarity.” Everyone shared a laugh at Applejack’s comment, although Rainbow Dash had to stifle the urge just to keep from shaking her daughter awake. “Although, it does seem like this is takin’ longer than Ah did…”

“I agree. I do hope the poor dear is alright. This must be absolute torture for her; she’s just so delicate, after all.”

“Don’t worry, Rarity. Fluttershy has been through a lot, I’m sure she’ll get through this just fine.”

“Thanks, Twilight. I guess I’m just concerned for my best friend.”

“Awwww… I thought I was your best friend.”

“Oh, Pinkie Pie. You girls are all my best friends. Fluttershy and I are just… very close.”

“Ah’m so excited! Ah can’t wait ta see mah new niece, or nephew!”

“I thought you said you were too young to be an aunt?”

“Shut up, Scootaloo. You weren’t here last time. In fact, why are you even here now?”

“Because you and Sweetie Belle are here, and I’ve got nowhere else to be.”

“It’s OK, squirt, the more the merrier. I’m sure Fluttershy won’t mind.”

“Thanks, Rainbow Dash.”

“Oh, Rainbow, speaking of Applebloom’s nieces, how is your own little Darling?”

“You mean Little AJ? She’s doing great.”

“I hear she came down with a cold last week. Is she alright?”

“Yeah. She powered right through that thing in just two days. I’m telling you, she’s as stubborn as her mother.” That earned Rainbow a smack to the head from an orange hoof, but not hard enough that it hurt. It was a light, loving hit.

“She gets a lot o’ her bull-headedness from her father too, ya know.”

“Hey. Don’t call me that.”

“Well it’s what ya are, Sugarcube. Can’t change that.”

“You know I prefer ‘Momma’”

“Ah know. Ah’m just teasin’ ya, Rainbow.” Applejack grabbed the sides of Rainbow Dash’s head in her hooves and pulled her back so her face was pointed towards hers. Their eyes locked and they both smiled.

“I know.” They shared a quick kiss.

“Awwwwwwwwwwwwww” Three voices sang out as Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Pinkie Pie all tilted their heads, watching the happy couple.

“Ew. Gross!”

“Shut up, Scootaloo.”

“Eh-hem.” The sound of somepony clearing their throat caused eight of the nine ponies in the waiting room, Applejoy being the sole exception, to quickly break off their conversation and turn their heads towards the spot where the sound had emanated from. Standing in the open doorway was a white earth pony mare. She had blue eyes that shone with a kind, caring, devotion that came naturally to mares of her profession. Her normally well-groomed pink mane was messy after many hours of work. Her cap was dislodged for the same reason, although her characteristic bun was still drawn up behind her head. Despite appearing tired and overworked, she wore a satisfied smile. Confident that she had everypony’s attention, Nurse Redheart spoke to address the waiting crowd. “They’re ready for you back there. Normally, we only allow direct family members in, but Mrs. Fluttershy and Mr. Macintosh asked me to allow the other Elements of Harmony to see them.”

The assembled ponies began to pull themselves off the provided couches and headed towards the doorway past Nurse Redheart, who stood adjacent to the door. Rarity was held back only briefly as she had to explain how Sweetie Belle was her sister and that she just had to go with her and that no, she wouldn’t cause any problems.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash took some extra time in getting ready. Making sure to be careful, they gently shook Applejoy awake, hoping against hope that pulling her from her nap wouldn’t cause a scene. Blinking the sleep from her pink eyes, Applejoy yawned and stretched herself out against Rainbow’s chest before rolling onto her back with a giggle, a wide smile drawn across her whole face.

“Come on, Little AJ. Let’s go see Auntie Fluttershy and Uncle Macintosh and meet your new cousin!” Rainbow Dash smiled blissfully as she spoke to her daughter, gently placing her onto her back as she got down off the couch.

“Momma!”

“I love you too.” With Applejoy safely lying between her wings, Rainbow Dash smiled at Applejack. Applejack lovingly rubbed her cheek against Rainbow’s and the two of them, followed by Applebloom and Scootaloo, headed towards the door leading out into the corridor where their friends had disappeared not moments before. They began to file past Nurse Redheart, but Scootaloo, bringing up the end of the line, suddenly found her path blocked by a white hoof.

“I’m sorry, but who are you?”

“Um… I’m with them.”

“Then what is your relation to the family?”

“I’m… umm…”

“She’s my little sister.” Rainbow Dash, having overheard the exchange, had turned around in the hallway and returned out the door again. She glared slightly at Nurse Redheart while she used a free hoof to ruffle Scootaloo’s mane. “Come on, Scoots. Let’s go see Fluttershy.” They both made their way past the now silent Nurse Redheart and trotted into the hallway where they met back up with Applejack and Applebloom. “Don’t worry about her kiddo, she’s just doing her job.”

“Thank you so much, Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo hugged her idol’s fore-legs in appreciation.

“No problem, squirt. I couldn’t just let them make you stay behind and miss out on everything. Besides, I think of you like a sister anyway. I did teach you to fly, remember?”

“Yeah! Thanks again!”

“That was a good thing ya did, Sugarcube.”

“Yeah… I guess it was. I couldn’t just leave her hanging all alone, could I? Besides, lying comes easier to me than it does to some ponies.” Rainbow Dash grinned at Applejack, receiving a kiss on the cheek in return. They both started trotting down the darkened hallway, light spilling from an open door on their right telling them just where to go. “Come on, let’s go see the new foal.”

As they approached, Rarity poked her head out of the opened doorway, a wide smile spread across her face. “I think you mean foals, darling.”

“Wait, foals? As in, more than one?” Rainbow and Applejack took off galloping for the lighted entrance, Applejoy giggling as she bounced along for the ride and fillies in hot pursuit. They slowed as they entered the room, not wanting to cause any sort of commotion. At the far side of the room, a metal-framed bed stood. It was flanked by a sink and a few other indiscernible pieces of medical machinery. Pinkie Pie, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, and Sweetie Belle stood around the room, clearing away from the door to let the others in. On a pair of chairs placed next to the wall on the right side of the room, two pegasi, a mare and stallion, an elder couple with wrinkles on their faces and streaks of silver in their manes, looked upon their daughter and new grandchildren with abject love in their eyes. They had flown from Cloudsdale just for this moment.

Fluttershy and her two foals, occupying the center bed, had become the center of everypony’s attention. Her pink, flowing mane had become disheveled and beads of sweat were visible, flickering in the soft light like many sequins strewn across her body. There were bags under her eyes, direct evidence of how tired she was – the struggle had lasted many hours and had only been made longer by the fact that doctors had not anticipated having to deal with the birth of twins. Despite her exhausted, unkempt appearance however, Fluttershy’s blue eyes shone with the love and mirth of a new mother. She looked truly happy as she lay in bed, her lower half tucked underneath the green sheets. Big Macintosh, standing on the left side of his wife’s bed, looked almost as tired as she did and just as happy and proud. He nodded to acknowledge the entrance of his sisters and sister-in-law, stroking Fluttershy’s mane all the while.

Fluttershy looked up when she heard them enter, her eyes still shining with abject happiness. “Hello Rainbow Dash, Applejack.” She smiled weakly as she addressed them, her face seeming to glow as she did so, “I’d like you to meet my son, Honeycrisp…” She pointed a yellow hoof, indicating a small golden earth pony foal with a matted mane of deep orange and freckles under his closed eyes, sleeping soundly with his small head against his mother’s chest. “… and my daughter, Sweet Blossom.” She moved her hoof to point towards her second foal, a little red pegasus with a pink mane and tail which looked stunningly reminiscent of that of her mother, upon whose stomach she was silently curled.

“They’re beautiful, Fluttershy.” Rainbow Dash smiled as she approached the bed, reaching out to lay one of her hooves on that of her oldest friend. “Look, Little AJ, look at your new cousins. Soon you’ll be able to play with them. Won’t that be fun?”

“K… k… k-kuzins. Kuzins. Kuzins kuzins kuzins!” For several moments, Rainbow Dash and Applejack stood in silence, blinking at their daughter as she spoke, and finally grinning at each other when she had finished.

“Well… that’s a new one.” Applejack moved to the other side of the bed, stopping next to her brother. “Nice job, big bro.” She punched his shoulder with a hoof, grinning mischievously at him as siblings are apt to do. Big Macintosh smiled back at her, having lived with her for her entire life, he knew the love behind her joking words and playful actions. “Twins, huh? Wow, Fluttershy. Ah knew ya were gettin’ pretty big, but Ah never thought ya would have twins. Congrats.”

“Twins? How can they be twins? They don’t even look like each other.”

“Sweetie Belle, don’t be so rude.”

“Actually, Sweetie Belle, when twins don’t look perfectly alike, they’re called fraternal twins. That means they were carried and born together, but they don’t look the same.”

“Thank you, Twilight.” Rarity smiled at her friend, who smiled back. Looking around the room, Fluttershy realized that everyone was smiling. Everyone was happy for her. Stifling a yawn, Fluttershy turned her head to look at Big Macintosh, who leaned over to nuzzle the side of her face. Her already warm cheek was comforted and warmed even further by his muzzle, and Fluttershy leaned her head over to rest against her husband’s strong shoulder. She flicked her sparkling eyes downward again, gazing lovingly at her son and daughter before she gradually let her eyelids blink closed. Surrounded by friends and family, supported by the strength of her lover, and worn out after a long and trying day, Fluttershy drifted off to join her children in a blissful world of dreams.

Chapter 1

Sunlight shone through the chilled glass of the window panes in the nursery, casting beams of bright light onto the surfaces of the newly-constructed room and its occupants. The beams shone on the walls – painted in a in a soft, soothing muted blue color. The aura of cool blue surrounding and filling the nursery created a calming atmosphere for the room’s sole conscious occupant accenting her shining blue eyes as she relaxed. Lying against a pile of soft cushions on the comfortable couch set against a side wall was Fluttershy. Supported by the well-used pillows, she took a long deserved rest. Her gaze fell across the room upon the three cribs set near the far wall. Each one was occupied by a sleeping foal, each of their small chests rising and falling in the slow, rhythmic pattern of a deep, unstrained sleep.

Fluttershy smiled, mirth glinting in her dancing blue eyes, at the sight of her children and her niece breathing so softly in their sleep; resting; dreaming; lost in a world of their own mind’s creation – beyond comparison with the outside and beyond comprehension to anypony else. Fluttershy sighed; glad to have this moment of reprieve from taking care of the foals. The young mother leaned her head back against a pillow, allowing herself but a moment’s rest while the children slept. With her eyes closed, she smiled again, but tried not to allow herself to fully fall asleep; keeping herself at the ready at a moment’s notice should one of the foals wake and require her care. Such was the way of Equestria’s foremost caregiver. It was a tiring job, but she was more than willing to do it; to help in any way possible while everypony else was so busy.

As the minutes wore on, however; her mind began to slip closer and closer to the brink of unconsciousness. Her body relaxed and gradually went limp as her senses began to diminish – slipping ever closer towards the edge. Only her sense of hearing remained perked as her rational mind fought a losing battle to keep her alert and focused. Drawing in a deep breath of air, Fluttershy yawned slowly and lightly, allowing herself to relax more and settle even further into the couch. Expecting to be jolted awake by the piercing cry of an awakened foal, she was surprised when the first noticeable sound to reach her still-prying ears was the clopping of hoofsteps against the hardwood floor of the hallway outside. The sound, growing nearer and cutting through her unconscious reverie, finally managed to pique her interest enough for her to abandon her natural desire for slumber.

Opening her eyes, she leaned back and stretched her neck to gain a view of the open doorway and the corridor beyond as the hoofsteps grew ever closer. As she watched, a shadow fell into the room from the hallway beyond – a shadow that preceded the arrival of a tall red stallion. Big Macintosh stepped gingerly into the room, trying to be careful not to make too much noise, but still wincing with every audible step. Thankfully, none of the sleeping ponies were awoken. Fluttershy smiled up at her husband and extended a yellow hoof out towards him, wrapping it around his neck and pulling him closer as he neared. “Good morning, Honey.”

“Good morning, Flutter.” He leaned in even further to kiss her. Fluttershy closed her eyes in blissful delight, sharing a small moment of passion with the one she loved. After a period of time of which neither of them wanted to end, Big Macintosh broke the kiss to rub her cheek with his own, eliciting a small giggle of happiness that he loved to hear. He kissed her cheek once before pulling back to gaze into her shimmering sapphire eyes. “How are the kids?”

“Oh, they’re just wonderful. I even managed to get some rest, as they’ve been sleeping like such little angels.” When the sound of his name perked his sensitive ears, a small white rabbit stretched and yawned in the corner, before getting up and hopping over to his owner. “Oh… I’m sorry… not you, Angel.” Shooting her an annoyed, yet tired look, Angel Bunny hopped his way out of the room and off to parts of the house unknown. “He’s so sweet. I couldn’t bear to leave him alone when I moved.”

“Ah’m glad you’re happy.” Big Macintosh nuzzled his wife some more, taking pleasure from the warm, tender contact. “Can Ah get ya anythin’? Maybe some breakfast?”

“Oh, I can make my own breakfast. You don’t need to go to the trouble.”

“But… but Ah want to, Fluttershy, Ah want ta do somethin’ for ya.”

“Now, Mac. We’ve discussed this. You don’t need to do anything else for me.”

“Ah… Ah just feel so… so bad leavin’ ya in here all day doin’ all this foalsittin’ by yerself. Ah feel like Ah should be doin’ more for you and Honeycrisp and Lil’ Blossom.”

Fluttershy pulled him close and kissed him again before responding with a whisper, “You do more than enough work for us already. I’m more than happy to take care of the kids while you, AJ, and Rainbow work outside. I know you work hard for me, and I want to do what I can too. Watching our foals and Applejoy is the best thing for me to do.”

“Ah still feel like you have too much to do and not enough help.” He put his hoof under her chin, lifting her face so he could gaze into her eyes. He saw, not for the first time, hints of bags under them and signs of weariness in their depths. “Flutter… Have you been getting enough rest?”

“Well… I get woken up during the night sometimes, but I don’t mind. It’s all part of the job. Besides, I get plenty of naps during the day.”

“You need your sleep, Flutter.”

“I could say the same thing to you. You’ve been working out in the orchard very late almost every day since we got home. I’m starting to worry about you.”

“Ah know, Fluttershy… It’s just that winter is comin’ awful early this year, and we’re already behind schedule ‘cause Ah stayed at the hospital with you. Now we have ta work even longer hours ta even have a chance of getting’ all the apples bucked in time before the first frost.”

“Well… make sure you get some rest. I wouldn’t want my Big Mac getting all tired out at the end of the day, would I?”

“Nope. Ah guess ya wouldn’t.” Fluttershy stood up and set her hooves down on the floor, climbing down from the couch which had served as her bed for many a recent night. Smiling, she stood and wrapped her front hooves around her husband’s neck, pulling him into another tight hug and nuzzling his cheek. For a long moment, they both stood still, feeling each other’s heartbeats through their chests and exchanging warmth on the cold day. “Ah love you. Ah love ya so much.”

“I love you too.” Fluttershy pulled away and dropped back down to the floor. “I think it’s time to start the day, Mac. Applejack and Rainbow Dash are probably awake by now.”

“Ah reckon ya’re right.” Careful not the wake the foals, the young parents slipped from the room, side by side, ready to face a new day.

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The sky was cloudless; perfectly clear. The sun had only risen but a few degrees above the horizon, but its piercing rays did nothing to warm the land which had suffered through another night of deep chill. The cool night air – spiked with the icy breath of a frozen season arriving early – had chilled the ground of Sweet Apple Acres and the surrounding countryside to within a hair’s breadth of the freezing point. Throughout the cold night, while the wispy tendrils of unforgiving wind blew at the farmhouse and tried to cool its occupants, the glowing embers of a fire long since burnt-out radiated much-needed heat from the fireplace and the midnight cuddling of ponies in love provided a tender warmth all its own.

By morning, the outside cold had invaded the indoors, hanging throughout the house in the wee morning hours until it was finally warded off by an orange mare with a mane and tail of straw blonde. Applejack stoked the fire, breathing new life into the hearth as she strove to warm the kitchen. Soon, orange flame – fed by a new load of wooden fuel – once again began to emanate throughout the house and drive away the lingering effects of a brisk dawn. Stretching before the flickering flames, Applejack rose to her hooves and basked in the radiating warmth of the glowing fire for several moments before finally turning to trot back across the room. She grinned as she approached the kitchen table; catching sight of a familiar cyan pegasus. Rainbow Dash was standing at the table with her back turned towards her wife, a rising column of thin, wispy fog drifting up from the steaming cup of warm apple cider that sat before her on the table, preoccupied with her drink and her own thoughts, she never saw Applejack sneak up behind her.

Rainbow Dash jolted in surprise for only the briefest of instants when she felt fore-legs wrap around her neck form behind. Recognizing the gesture, she smiled warmly and returned the affectionate nuzzle to her wife. Applejack happily rubbed her cheek against her mare, breathing off of her rainbow mane the same electrifying sensation that never ceased to invigorate her senses. “Good mornin’, Sugarcube.”

“Good morning, AJ. Pretty cold today, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. Don’t you worry none, Ah got a nice fire goin’ again. And Ah think Ah did a fine job o’ keepin’ you warm last night, too.”

“Heh… yeah… I guess you did.” Rainbow Dash turned her head to plant a soft kiss on her lover’s nose, eliciting a small sigh of pleasure. “Too bad we have to go outside, out of the warmth.”

“Rainbow, you and Ah both know that there’s a lot o’ Applebuckin’ ta be done yet, and not much time left.” Applejack got off of her wife with a parting nuzzle and went to the cabinets, removing several ingredients and carrying them to the stove, where she set them down on the counter next to a bucket of apples.

Rainbow Dash looked up from her cider after taking a warming sip. She studied her wife for a while as she put ingredients into a bowl and began stirring. “What’re ya making, AJ?”

“Apple pancakes. We’ll need a good breakfast today.”

Rainbow dash smiled. “My favorites.”

“Ah know.” Applejack continued her cooking, dicing several apples and adding the pieces to the batter mixture before pouring measured amounts into the heated pan on the stove. Almost instantaneously, the pleasing aroma of frying apples began to emanate throughout the house.

“Somethin’ smells mighty good in here, sis.” Big Macintosh and Fluttershy, having left the nursery, strode into the kitchen, walking up to gather around the table.

“Mornin’, Macintosh, mornin’ Fluttershy. ‘Bout time y’all got up.” Applejack turned back to the stove to expertly flip the first few pancakes.

“Come on now, AJ. Fluttershy here musta been up all night.”

“Oh, no. I got some sleep. I’m more than capable of handling the foals, you three just worry about the farm.”

“Thank you so much for taking care of Little AJ for us, Fluttershy.” Rainbow Dash took another sip of her cider before grinning at her oldest friend. “We really appreciate it.”

“Oh, it’s no trouble at all, Rainbow Dash. Applejoy is so well-behaved. She rarely gives me any fuss at all. It’s usually my foals who wake me up in the night.” As the low sizzle of more pancakes being cooked filled the room, the conversation was interrupted by the sound of hoofsteps descending the stairway adjacent to the kitchen. Everypony turned to where the stairs let out, watching and waiting as the sound drew closer.

Emerging from the shadows of the un-lit stairwell, a yellow filly with bouncing red locks of hair for a mane and tail and a pink bow made her way into the kitchen to join the rest of her family. “Mornin’ y’all, somethin’ smells like breakfast!”

“Mornin’ Applebloom, could ya please quiet down, ya don’t want ta wake the foals now, do ya?”

“Sure thing sis!” Applebloom, now at a whisper, totted past the fireplace, intending to join the others at the table. She stopped before the hearth, where something had caught her eye. Before the dancing, crackling flames, a brown and white dog, a white rabbit, and a rather large tortoise had all lain and fallen asleep, basking in the radiating warmth. Applebloom smiled at the display and continued the rest of the way to the table, where the first pancakes were already being stacked.

Once all had been served, the diverse family began to eat. The five ponies did not speak as they devoured their morning meal; all were contemplating the day ahead of them.

By the time they were finished, the house had warmed considerably. Rainbow Dash stood and trotted over to the kitchen window, gazing out at the stark scene before her. Leaves blew past the chilled pane, carried by the invisible currents of a brisk breeze, as even more skittered across the ground, pushed along by the same force but unable to gain enough lift to truly soar. The billowing and dancing patterns of each leaf only added to the knowledge that the scene was a barren, cold one, and the sight of apples hanging on distant trees reminded her why it was necessary to go out. “It’s a shame to have to go out now that the house is so toasty.”

“Come on y’all, the faster we get out there the faster we can get ta work.” Applejack trotted over to the front door, where Rainbow Dash joined her from the window. Reaching up to the hanging rack overhead, Applejack pulled a rainbow patterned scarf down and began wrapping it around her neck.

“You’re using the new scarf I got you?” Rainbow Dash hugged her wife before turning to retrieve a purple one with white stripes for herself.

“O’ course Ah am. Ah love this scarf.” Applejack smiled as she snuggled into the warm, six-colored fabric, “It reminds me o’ mah two favorite ponies.”

From across the room, Fluttershy watched the exchange happily before turning to Macintosh as he stepped towards the door as well. “I’m glad we did get to have breakfast together, Mac.”

“Me too, Flutter.”

“Don’t be out too late, now.”

“Ah’ll try.” He leaned his head down, lowering it so she could kiss him, and bade her an affectionate goodbye as he and Applebloom – saddlebags slung over her back – joined the others at the door. Lifting a hoof to open it, Macintosh turned his head to call to his wife over his shoulder one last time before leaving. “Love you.”

“I love you, too.”

The shock of the brisk, late autumnal air felt like a bucket of ice water to the four ponies who took the brunt of the chilling, tingling wave of air to the face as a portal was opened from their warm, cozy home to the biting, crisp outside world.

“Ah’ll help with the applebuckin’ when ah get back from school, sis.” Applebloom began trotting down the path that led to Ponyville, saddlebags bouncing at her sides as she went. Shutting the door behind him, Big Macintosh turned to follow his sister and sister-in-law on their path towards the barn, scraping at the earth with a hoof and sighing in relief to find it still unfrozen as he went. Once they reached the barn, the three ponies retrieved two carts for hauling apples and various baskets, buckets and barrels. With the supplies loaded onto the carts and Applejack and Macintosh both hitched to one, they set out; walking between the rows of empty apple trees in silence until they reached those that had yet to be bucked.

Unhitching herself from the cart, Applejack trotted up to the nearest fruit-laden tree. Planting her fore-hooves firmly on the ground, she used them as a pivot-point to twist her body around and gather enough momentum to deliver a powerful kick to the trunk behind her with her hind legs. Grinning, she stepped back and watched as the vibrating tree released its entire load into the baskets waiting below. “Now that’s how y’all do it!”

“Like this AJ?” Rainbow Dash turned to the tree next to her and delivered a sharp blow of her own, grunting in annoyance as a few stubborn apples near the top refused to fall.

“Nnnope. More like this.” Big Macintosh proceeded to strike the tree behind him with only one hoof, shaking loose every apple.

“Show-off.” Rainbow Dash muttered good-naturedly as she delivered a second kick to her tree to remove the last few apples, before trotting to the next tree in her row, determined to keep up with her wife, who had just finished her own second tree.

“Years of practice.” Big Macintosh chuckled as he gathered the filled baskets from the first three trees, adding their contents to the cart before he headed for the next trunk.

========================================================================================

The sun had risen high into the midday sky by the time the three working ponies took a break for lunch, but its prolonged presence had done little to improve the temperature on the ground. The unfaltering wind whistled over an opening in the ground; an opening which led underneath the barn into an apple storage cellar. Applejack, having just delivered a load of recently-bucked apples below, trudged up the stairs and frowned at the bitter wind which blew its way down the stairwell. Turning her head skyward, she made her way out of the cellar and shut the doors behind her, sealing the morning’s crop below. She shook her head as she trotted back towards the farmhouse, “We’re not gonna make it. We’re not gonna make it.” She whispered to herself, growing more worried as she thought about the large expanse of orchard they had yet to harvest.

Pushing open the front door, Applejack reveled in the temporary reprieve the warm air allowed her from her thoughts, quickly closing the door behind her so as not to allow any heat to escape. She removed her scarf and hung it on a hook before trotting into the warm kitchen where Big Macintosh, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were already eating and enjoying themselves. “Oh, Applejack. I’m glad you’re here. I made you an apple-lettuce sandwich… I hope you don’t mind, I… I can make you something else if you want…”

“That sounds delicious Fluttershy, thank ya very much.”

“Oh. You’re welcome.” Fluttershy bent down and returned to the salad before her.

“How are the little ones, Fluttershy?”

“Oh, they’re just wonderful, Rainbow Dash. My foals only woke up once to be fed and now they’re sleeping again. Applejoy has just been so cooperative, she woke up a little while after you left so I gave her a toy to play with and she didn’t even make a sound. She’s so well behaved.”

“See AJ? I guess we are good parents after all.” Rainbow Dash smiled and ran a hoof through her wife’s mane.

“Momma! Mommy!” A little voice suddenly filled the room, causing all to turn their heads as a little orange filly stumbled her way into the kitchen.

“There she is!” Rainbow Dash took off into the air, soaring above the table to scoop her daughter up off the ground, setting her onto her chest as she flopped down onto her back. “Momma loves you!” She tickled her daughter, reveling in the shrieks of delight she received as Applejoy bounced and giggled on top of her.

====================================================================================

Shafts of moonlight fell through the window pane and cast a light bluish glow throughout the upstairs bedroom. Celestia’s sun had long since sank beneath the horizon to be replaced by Luna’s moon by the time Rainbow Dash and Applejack, tired and sore from a long day of work, finally climbed into their bed. Applejack lay beneath the heavy blanket, staring up at the ceiling, unable to fall asleep – she had too much on her mind. As if she could subconsciously sense her wife’s restless thoughts, Rainbow Dash rolled over and laid a comforting hoof across the orange mare’s chest. “What’s wrong, honey?”

“Ah don’t know, Sugarcube. Ah’m just worried that we won’t be able to finish this Applebuck season in time.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Didn’t you notice how it barely got any warmer today? The sun was out all day today, but it didn’t seem to help. Ah think the cold is gettin’ worse, Dash. Winter’s comin’, and it’s comin’ early.” She wrapped her hooves around the mare next to her, drawing her in for a tight embrace. “Ah’m really worried, Rainbow. If we don’t buck faster and finish up before the first frost comes, we could lose a lot o’ apples.”

“Come on AJ, laying here worrying isn’t going to help anything. The best thing you can do right now is get some sleep before tomorrow.”

“Ah can’t help it, Rainbow. Ah’m scared. If we don’t get this harvest in before it’s too late, we could lose the farm. The renovation and Fluttershy’s hospital bills cost more than Ah thought they would. If we don’t get all the apples off the trees and ready for sale, we might not have enough money to last the winter.”

“AJ, listen to me,” Rainbow Dash pulled her wife close, kissing her forehead once and stroking her loose mane, “We’re going to be fine. We’ll make it through winter no matter what. We can do anything together. We’ll all be fine.”

“Have Ah ever told you Ah love you, Sugarcube?”

“Only every day.”

“Ah mean it. Ah meant it every time.”

“I know. I love you too, AJ.” Rainbow Dash kissed her again, assuaging her fears as she held her, allowing the both of them to finally close their tired eyes and drift away into a worry-free world of dreams and pleasant rest.

Chapter 2

Streaks of bright, white light breaking over the far-off horizon signaled the rising of a new sun and the beginning of a new day. The beams of sunlight cut through the dense fog of the chilly early morning like a knife through butter. The thin, wispy accumulation of water droplets began to melt away under the onslaught of energy from the newly-risen light source. The vapor gradually returned to its usual invisible form in the early morning light, revealing another clear sky, set to greet the earliest of risers with its wide open vistas of chilled air.

Light, no longer impeded by the wispy fog, now freely found its way to spread across the landscape, falling across building, tree, and mountain alike and bathing them all in the first wondrous illumination of a new day. Striking the frosty panes of a glass window, a beacon shone into the bedroom of a cozy farmhouse – a bedroom where two ponies slept peacefully in each other’s warm embrace. Gradually shifting across the oak-paneled room as the sun began its steady trek across the Equestrian sky, the beam eventually fell onto the closed eyelids of an uneasy orange farmpony. Blinking incredulously at the fluorescent intruder of her dreams, Applejack was thrust into the world once again. Shaking her head to clear the last of the fog of sleep from her mind, Applejack rolled over in bed, moving her hoof off of the cyan pegasus next to her and leaving her lover to remain blissfully asleep. Applejack looked over at Rainbow Dash and sighed. She was so cute when she was asleep – the way her eyes closed, the way her mouth curled into a small smile, everything about her made Applejack’s heart melt. She didn’t have the heart to wake her.

Repositioning herself to set her hind hooves on the hardwood floor beneath the bed, Applejack slid out from underneath the blanket, careful not to disturb her sleeping partner, and set herself gently onto the floor. Carefully, she made her way over to the window, setting her forehooves on the sill and standing to get a better view down and out of the clear pane. Hopes, which had been rising in favor of a warmer day, were dashed immediately as her hoof touched the cold glass. She exhaled a deep sigh, a ring of condensed fog forming on the chilled surface as she did, and turned away from the window.

It was daybreak, a time when most ponies, should they be inadvertently awoken from their slumber, would crawl back into bed to attempt to snatch several hours more rest. Even as she stood in the middle of the room, contemplating her next decision, the warm blankets and sheets and the even warmer pegasus on her bed beckoned Applejack. But, steeling her nerve with a firm shake of her head, she forced herself to ignore the siren call of sleep, and instead strode out the bedroom door and into the hallway, turning to make her way towards the stairwell. Daybreak or not, there were plenty of apples to be bucked, yet little time to do so. In her mind, there was only one pony for the job, and so Applejack rose with the first light of dawn.

She made her way into the kitchen, where the glowing coals of the once-blazing fireplace had reduced to naught but cool ashes, once again allowing the chill of the outside to permeate throughout the house. She passed the hearth by without so much as a second glance, making a beeline straight for the kitchen. ‘No,’ she decided upon arriving, heating up some apple cider to fully wake herself would take too much time. It would be best to skip it and get straight to work. Moving into the front hall, Applejack reached up with her teeth to pull her scarf off the hook above her, wrapping the rainbow fabric around her neck and snuggling against its cozy softness. Once again, her mind was filled with images of the pony who had given the scarf to her – the pony whose mane and tail matched its pattern – and she smiled warmly, bracing herself for the cold that lay just beyond the front door.

Pushing against the wood of the door, Applejack made her first steps out into the chilled world and strode purposefully onto the lawn and towards the barn. Along the way she checked the ground to make sure it remained unfrozen, as had become customary practice for the last few days. It was a sigh of relief that reached her lips next at the realization that the dirt beneath her hooves remained loose and unfrozen. As long as the ground beneath her was not hard, AJ knew that it had not gotten cold enough to ruin the crop – not yet, at least. It was a difficult job, setting up the wagon of supplies and hauling them into the orchard herself, but Applejack strode forward with the strength of a pony invigorated by purpose and perseverance – a strength that was doomed to run out even as she reached an unharvested section of the orchard, loosened the cart from herself, and planted her hooves for her first kick at a ripened tree.

=========================================================================================

Unlike her wife, Rainbow Dash was not thrust into wakefulness by an errant beam of the morning’s first light. With her back turned to the window, she slept through the sunrise and for several hours thereafter – only to be awoken unexpectedly and suddenly by a vigorous shaking. Rolling over onto her stomach form her back at the sensation, Rainbow took a sharp intake of breath which ended in a subconscious snort. “No, Applejack. We can’t tonight. Little AJ is asleep and we might wake her… what was that?... In the barn? Oh you naughty fill-“

“RAINBOW DASH!”

“WAHHH!” Rainbow Dash jolted up suddenly in her bed, having been unceremoniously thrust into the world of consciousness at the sound of her name being yelled. She turned to her right and caught sight of a timid yellow pegasus shrinking back and hiding her face behind the flowing locks of her pink mane. “Ughh… Fluttershy, what in the hay are you doing?”

“Oh… I’m so sorry for waking you up from your… erm… dreams, Rainbow Dash. It’s just that… oh… it’s probably nothing. I’ll just go now, I’m so sorry…”

“No, Fluttershy, it’s Ok. I’m not mad. Just tell me what’s wrong.”

“Oh… Rainbow, it’s just that… it’s Applejoy. She woke up crying this morning and she won’t stop. I’ve tried everything I normally do when they get upset, but it isn’t working. I even had to move her to the living room just so my foals could get some quiet… Oh, Rainbow, I just don’t know what to do.”

Fully awake now, Rainbow Dash quickly scrambled from her bed and stood at her oldest firend’s side to give her a reassuring hug. “Thanks for telling me Fluttershy. Let’s go.” The two left the bedroom and trotted down the hall towards the staircase, bent on quickly getting downstairs to the foal, whose crying was now faintly audible. They had both mounted the stairs and were trotting down when something occurred to Rainbow. “Hey, where’s Applejack?”

“I don’t know. She wasn’t in bed with you when I came up… I haven’t seen her at all today.”

“Well…” Rainbow Dash’s reply was cut off at the foot of the stairs by the sight of Applejoy, lying on her back on the couch with her head thrown back and her mouth opened in what amounted to something somewhere between a wail and a series of sobs. Parental instincts kicking in, Rainbow Dash took to the air and zipped across the room to scoop her daughter into her embrace, the wave of disturbed air left in her wake fluttering her sister-in-law’s mane and rattling several lighter pieces of furniture. She held her daughter to her chest and her soothing heartbeat, hoping that her mere presence would be enough to calm her down. She nuzzled her soflty, rubbing the pale orange fur of her head with her own cyan-coated neck. Although the volume of her wailing went down, the shuddering and sobbing remained evident. “You said you’ve tried everything?”

“Everything I can think to do… besides feeding her, of course, because… well… she isn’t my foal…”

“Wait, feeding? She hasn’t been fed today? Has she?”

“I… I don’t know. I told you I haven’t even seen Applejack today…”

“Applejack… Oh sweet Celestia, she’s out in the fields, isn’t she?” Rainbow Dash stood up, laying her daughter on a soft cushion with a kiss. “Fluttershy, could you watch her for just a little longer? I need to go out and find AJ.”

“Oh, please, Rainbow Dash… hurry back.”

“I promise, Fluttershy.” Rainbow Dash winced as she heard the sniffling of her daughter behind her, and tried as best she could to drive it from her mind as she retrieved her scarf. As much as it pained her to leave Applejoy like this, she knew that it was paramount to find Applejack. With that in mind, she steeled her nerves, opened the door to the biting cold, and stepped out.

========================================================================================

Despite the chill in the air, sweat dripped down the orange back and neck of the hard-working farmpony. Individual glistening beads sparkled in her fur and flew through the air in high arcs as the robust vibrating action of each kick shook droplets from off of the well-toned muscle from whence they came. Each flailing buck of hind legs sent more droplets flying, yet each strike of hoof to tree seemed to bring down less of the targeted fruit than the last. “Come on, apples. FALL OFF!” Applejack, her body deprived of energy, laid into the tree behind her with a succession of four quick, underpowered kicks, the last of which missed the bark of the trunk completely, causing Applejack to lose her balance and come crashing to earth in an orange heap.

Groaning, she picked herself back up onto her hooves and rubbed her throbbing head with a fore-hoof. Opening her eyes, the thicket of green and brown before her seemed to swim before her very eyes, the shapes of trees, apples, and baskets both empty and full of fruit blending into one nonsensical amalgamation of shape and color which grew to dominate Applejack’s entire field of vision until, blinking, she managed to drive her vision back into normal focus. Blinking a few more times, Applejack started to sway gradually back and forth before shaking her head quickly back and forth to regain her sense of balance. Frustrated, Applejack turned her green eyes towards the sky and opened her mouth to cry out her irritation upon the world. “What the hay is wrong with me!”

Standing stock still and breathing through her teeth – seething at her own failure, Applejack did not expect to hear a reply. For several seconds, she heard nothing but the silence exhibited by the orchard on such cold autumn days. Suddenly, though, a cry broke through the still silence, a cry faint from the distance it travelled; a cry that carried a single name on the wind – her name. “Applejack?” Listening intently, she heard it again a few seconds later, then again a few moments after that. Each time she heard her name called, it became louder and louder, as if the epicenter of the cry was moving – moving towards her. From behind a tree down the row from her, Applejack caught sight of a flash of color which then revealed itself to be the rainbow mane of the cyan pegasus who stepped out into the open. Rainbow Dash turned and locked eyes with Applejack before trotting up to her. “AJ, what are you doing out here?”

Applejack broke her prolonged silence, turning her head and shaking herself as her wife approached. “What does it look like Ah’m doin’? Ah’m applebuckin’, it has ta get done.”

“You’re a mess, AJ. What time did you get up?”

“Sunrise.” For several moments, Rainbow stood, absently blinking at her wife in incredulity. Finally, she spoke again, disbelief clearly evident in every word.

“AJ… do you realize how late we got to bed last night? You must have gotten about zero sleep!”

“So? This needs to be done, and if Ah have ta miss sleep ta do it, then so be it.”

“Did you even eat breakfast?”

“Nope. Ah didn’t have time.” Applejack stifled a yawn.

“AJ. Stop this nonsense. Come back inside the house with me. You can’t do this to yourself again. Remember Applebuck season four years ago? When you tried to do everything by yourself and wouldn’t let us help you? Don’t do that again, AJ.”

“Ah know, Sugarcube, but this is different. Back then, Ah ran mahself into the ground because Ah was bein’ stubborn. This year, Ah have ta work hard because winter’s comin’ early. This year, Ah don’t have a choice.”

“Come on. Let’s go. You need rest and something to eat.”

“Nothin’ doin’, Rainbow. Ah’m gonna get this done no matter what, and Ah don’t care what ya-“ Applejack’s words were cut off as she found her mouth blocked and her lips interlocked with those of her partner. She stood blinking in confusion for but a moment before melting into her lover’s embrace, kissing her back as well. The familiar sensation of time standing still came back to her, lingering until Rainbow Dash pulled away to speak.

“AJ, you can’t do this to yourself any more, not now, because you aren’t just hurting yourself anymore.”

“How do ya mean?”

“Fluttershy shook me awake this morning.” She paused, but before Applejack could reply, she started speaking again. “She had to wake me up because Applejoy woke up crying. She woke up crying, AJ. Do you know why? Because she hasn’t been fed today.” Rainbow paused again to let her words sink in, nodding as Applejack’s eyes widened with a sudden realization. “AJ, I love you, and I hate to see you do this to yourself. When you do this, you aren’t just hurting yourself, you’re hurting her. You need to sleep and to eat because you’re still feeding two ponies. Now come on, we need to go inside now.”

Applejack, as she remained standing and not speaking, began to shake. Her knees wobbled underneath her as she stared dead ahead, and then suddenly gave out, leaving Applejack to crash to the ground again in a heap and bury her head into her forelegs, sobbing. Alarmed, Rainbow Dash galloped across the clearing and threw a protective wing over her partner’s back, laying down next to her and snuggling into her as she did so. For a while, she felt her wife shudder with each heavy sob before she finally picked her head up and spoke. “Ah’m so sorry, Rainbow. Ah’m a terrible mother.”

“No. No you’re not.” Rainbow Dash pulled Applejack even closer to her own body and nuzzled her warmly, “You’re an awesome mother, AJ. You just made a mistake. Come on, let’s go home.”

Slowly, and with Rainbow Dash’s mane still draped over her, Applejack stood up and cuddled the pegasus beside her. Then, side-by-side, the two lovers began trotting out of the orchard.

As if of its own accord, Applejack’s tail intertwined itself around Rainbow’s as they left.

========================================================================================

Rainbow Dash smiled in a display of pure inner mirth. After seeing to it that Applejack had been properly fed, she gazed fondly at her wife as she reclined comfortably on the living room couch, their daughter resting against her stomach and nursing gently. “I love you guys.” She whispered. She knew that neither of them could have heard her, but she didn’t care.

Turning from the living room, Rainbow trotted into the kitchen, where she scooped her purple-and-white scarf off the table – where she had left it while eating. Before she could wrap herself in it, however, a timid voice caught her attention. “Oh, hello, Rainbow Dash. How is she doing?”

“She’s doing just great, Fluttershy. Thanks for helping us out.” Rainbow Dash smiled for her as she slung the long scarf around her neck several times.

“Wait, where are you going?”

“Well, seeing as how AJ is done Applebucking for the day and Big Mac is out there all by himself, I think I should fly into town and see if I can get our friends to help again.”

“Oh, I’m sure they will. Be careful, Rainbow. Stay warm.”

“Don’t worry, I will.” Rainbow Dash shot one last look at her wife and daughter through the doorway, beaming as she caught Applejack’s eye, and blew a kiss before she stepped into the foyer. Opening the front door again, she stepped outside into the brisk air and spread her wings, giving them both a few test flaps before her flight. Closing the door behind her, she leapt off the porch and into the sky, flying several wide circles around her home before soaring out over the seemingly endless orchard.

The chilled wind whipped at her mane and filled her with a deep sense of life as she flew. Row upon row of trees, some empty, some fruit-laden, passed beneath her. The faster she went, the colder it seemed to get. Rainbow Dash became glad she had brought her scarf as she powered along through the air, passing the occasional cloud along her route. Finally, the edge of the orchard passed beneath her and she began following the road into Ponyville. The spires, windmills, and thatched roofs of the little town grew closer as she went. In the distance, she spotted the pink and brown roof of her destination and made a beeline towards it. Extending her hooves beneath her as she flew lower and lower, she made a smooth touchdown outside the front door of Sugarcube Corner.

The bell rang as she entered the shop, causing a particular hyper party pony to look up from her work and smile widely as her friend entered. “Hey Dashie! I’m so happy to see you! Are you here to buy something? We have cakes and cookies and muffins and cupcakes and candy and…”

“Sorry Pinkie, but I’m not here to buy anything. I actually need a favor.”

“What is it Dashie?”

“Well, it’s getting cold really soon this year and AJ and I are worried we might not have time to finish Applebuck season by ourselves. I was wondering if you could come out and help us again like you and the girls did a few years ago.”

“Oh, Dashie…” Pinkie’s energy noticeable drained as she leaned against the counter. “I’d love to help, but Mr. and Mrs. Cake are on vacation in Manehatten, so I have to run Sugarcube Corner by myself again. I can’t leave. I’m so super sorry Dashie.”

“Hey, no worries, Pinkie Pie. I understand. I’ll see ya around, I have to go check on the other girls.”

“Bye Dashie!” Rainbow Dash made her way out of the shop again, taking off into the wind once she got back outside. Soaring above city streets and the thatched roofs of houses, she caught site of the high spire of Carousel Boutique – her next destination. Landing, she again stepped through the door to be greeted by a voice.

“I’m in the back! Just a moment, I’ll be right out.”

“No need, Rarity, it’s me.”

“Oh, Rainbow Dash. Come on back then, I’m very busy.” Rainbow Dash stepped into the back room of the shop to find Rarity bent over her sewing machine and hard at work. “I just received an absolutely massive order from a customer in Fillydelphia and I simply can’t stop work if I’m going to reach my deadline.”

“So I take it you don’t have the time to come out to Sweet Apple Acres and help us with applebuck season this year?”

“Oh heavens, no. I’d love to help, but I’m far too busy. May I ask what is wrong?”

“Oh, we’re worried about the weather, we might run out of time if we don’t get some extra help.”

“Yes, I see. It has been getting rather cold lately. Well, I wish you the best of luck in finding help and getting done, and I offer my sincerest apologies that I can be of such little assistance.”

“It’s OK, Rarity. Good luck with your order.”

“Goodbye, Darling. Nice seeing you!” Rarity turned back to her work, using her magic to stich a seam in two pieces of fabric. Rainbow Dash quickly left the boutique, lifting into the sky once more for the short flight to the Library.

‘I hope Twilight is free, her magic would really be useful…’ Rainbow Dash remembered the last time she and her friends had helped the Apple Family with applebuck season, when Twilight Sparkle had been able to clear multiple trees at once of their loads. She continued hoping as she zeroed in on the tree home of her friend and spiraled down to the ground to knock on the front door.

Rainbow Dash heard the pattering of small feet as she stood back. “Just a minute!” Came a voice from inside, before the door swung open and Rainbow Dash was confronted with a small purple dragon. “Hello, Rainbow Dash. What can I do for you?”

“Hi Spike, is Twilight home?”

“Sorry, but no. She left for Canterlot this morning.”

Rainbow Dash was growing flustered and was now quite worried by the news that their most able friend wasn’t even in town. “Canterlot? Why is she there?”

“She started volunteering at this clinic for sick kids. The ‘Royal Sisters’ Children’s Hospice’ I believe she called it.”

“Really? What does she do there?”

“Well, all the kids there have terminal diseases, so she helps out by organizing shows to entertain them every week or so. Usually she helps set up for some sort of musical act. She told me about these regular performers – a DJ pony and mare who plays cello – they perform together as some sort of couple. I thought it was strange, mixing a DJ with classical music, but she says the kids love it.”

“Do you have any idea when she’ll be back?”

“She usually returns around evening when she heads to the city. Why?”

“It doesn’t matter now. Thanks anyway.” Rainbow Dash turned away from the library and launched herself into the air. Frowning at her lack of success, she flew, alone, back to Sweet Apple Acres.

Chapter 3

The thick, green blankets of the master bedroom rose and fell with the rhythmic motion of two ponies softly breathing in their sleep. The warm, insulating material shielded the ponies underneath from the chill that had overtaken the house in the early Equestrian morning, allowing them both to sleep soundly in one another’s embrace. Applejack, with her back to the window and her face buried deep into the crook of Rainbow Dash’s neck, did not wake with the first light as she had previously. She continued to breathe slowly and peacefully, each breathe ruffling the fur of Rainbow Dash’s pelt as it was exhaled, and unconsciously held onto her pegasus with an unwavering grip that served to prompt both of them into dreams of more romantic pursuits. Even in their sleep, both wore wide, giddy smiles on their faces – brought on by thoughts of each other.

The bright rays of sunlight that signaled the start of another new day washed over them, yet they continued to slumber in blissful harmony. Gradually, as the sun rose higher in the morning sky and allowed more and more light to filter down from the heavens and fill the bedroom, the optical assault became too much for even the most resilient of eyelids to understand. Applejack’s eyes, being shielded by the shadow cast by Rainbow Dash’s head, suffered no such provocation. Rainbow, however, found herself blinking awake from the onslaught of celestial rays. Turning her head downwards to stave off the offensive, she was greeted by an unkempt golden crop of straw-blonde hair. As Applejack rested her head against Rainbow’s neck, her untied mane flowed freely across her lover and the bed, creating a glistening sheen on every strand from the sunlight. Rainbow Dash stuck her snout forward to meet the golden curtains before her, nuzzling her partner’s mane and kissing the top of her head until she began to stir. Rainbow Dash thrilled to the sight of Applejack’s head arching back; her eyes fluttering open as her sparkling emerald pools were revealed to the waking world. “Good morning, Beautiful.” Rainbow Dash smiled as she gazed at her lover’s face.

“Aw, hush up, ya big sap.”

“I love you too.” Rainbow leaned forward and the two shared a good-morning kiss, tongues meeting in a lover’s dance that had never lost any passion for the two of them through the multitude of times they had experienced it.

Applejack pulled away with a fake grimace on her face. “Ya know, Sugarcube. You taste a lot worse in the mornings.”

“I guess I tasted better last night, huh?”

“Heh. Yeah. Much better.” Applejack smirked, giving her wife a loving nudge as she climbed out from under the blankets, shifting them ever so much so as to be just enough to let a rush of cold air underneath them.

“Brrr. It sure is cold today. Come on back into bed AJ, we don’t need to go to work just yet.”

“Sorry, Rainbow. Ah had enough rest already. It’s time ta get back ta work.” Applejack grinned as she headed for the window, her untied mane and tail hanging loose and trailing behind her.

“Well I’m cold. You’re going to have to make me get out of bed if you want me to… AJ?... AJ? What’s wrong?” Trepidation gone, Rainbow Dash threw the blankets off of her and flapped across the room, settling at her wife’s side. Applejack, who stared out through the glass pane of the window, stood stock-still with a look of abject horror upon her face. Confused, Rainbow pushed her head in next to Applejack’s and took her own look out the window. The ground below them and seemingly every surface they could see was coated in what appeared to be a thin, white film. “Wha… how… how did this happen? There was no snow scheduled for weeks! This doesn’t make any sense…” Rainbow Dash suddenly felt Applejack leave her presence. She turned to see a golden tail disappearing through their bedroom door, and gave chase.

The sound of their hooves on the staircase might have woken the youngest members of the household had it not been for the intoxicating bliss of deep sleep that held onto the three foals. As such, no sounds of crying children emanated from the nursery, the sounds of a stirring stallion, however, drifted across the house from second upstairs master bedroom. His senses aroused by the thumping of hooves against wooden steps, Big Macintosh begrudgingly pulled himself from slumber, groaning as he sat up in bed. Looking behind him, he saw his wife, blessedly still asleep. Her tired eyes were closed and her equally tired mind was resting – weighed down by the excessive labors of childcare. Blinking the sleep from his own eyes, he had the presence of mind to whisper to her still form before pulling himself from their bed and heading off in the direction from which the sound of hoof-falls now faintly rang. “Rest well, Dearest.”

From the foot of the stairwell, Applejack and Rainbow Dash’s seemingly frantic galloping took them through living room, kitchen, and foyer. Neither the call of morning nourishment nor warming scarves faltering them in their haste as they careened through the front door and into the chilled morning air, skidding to a halt only as their hooves contacted frosty ground.

For a long moment, neither said a word. They stood stock still, hooves chilling to the frozen touch of the ground beneath them. Both were breathing hard; looking right at each other; silent, as if the enormity of the situation they now faced was far too great for words to handle. Eventually, the chill of the frozen ground, the chill of the frozen air, even the chill of frozen time grew to be too much for either to continue to suffer wordlessly.

It was Applejack who broke their unspoken vow of silence. “It’s not snow, Rainbow…. It’s frost. Frost everywhere.”

“Yeah… I see that now…. That means that… that…”

“… the ground froze. The ground froze last night.” Applejack picked up an orange hoof, scraping its leading edge against the solid turf beneath her. “The ground froze.”

“A-AJ? The… the apples. The apples, AJ. Are they… are they alright?”

“No Sugarcube. No they ain’t.”

“Are… are you sure?”

Silently, Applejack led Rainbow Dash through the orchard, finding a white-cached tree with limbs still heavy from the weight of apples they bore. Sighing in resignation, Applejack positioned herself pointing away from the tree and, lifting her well-toned hind legs into the air, delivered a resounding kick to the bark of the tree’s trunk. Quivering from the sharp blow, the tree’s branches shook, releasing from their grasp a shower of frosted, dead leaves and tiny particulates of accumulated ice. The pieces of frozen debris glittered as they fell, creating a sparkling shower around the two ponies as they began their journey towards the ground alongside several apples – which fell straight down after being shaken loose. A dull, resounding clunk broke from each as frozen apple hit frozen ground. Stepping into the glittering shower of loose frost, Applejack kicked one of the hard apples to Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash tapped at the solid apple, rolling it about on the frosty ground before looking back up expectantly at her wife. “They’re as hard as rocks.”

“Ah know!” Applejack snapped, whipping her head around to glare at Rainbow Dash, a scowl suddenly present on her face. Startled, Rainbow Dash stumbled backwards slightly before incredulously staring back. “All the juices inside are frozen solid! They’ll be frostbitten in a few hours’ time and then they’ll just rot right off the trees. These apples are worthless now! That’s almost half the crop – gone!” Applejack once again reared forward on her front legs, lashing out at the tree behind her with multiple strikes from her powerful rear legs, each hit bringing forth another glittering shower and even more dead leaves. “Half… the… entire… orchard… wasted!” She cried, delivering another hit with each word.

“It’s Ok, AJ. We’ll get through this, we’ll think of something.”

“No, Rainbow. This was it.” Applejack turned back towards her partner, shaking her head, “The renovations ta the farmhouse an’ Fluttershy’s hospital bills cost more than we thought they would. We were countin’ on profits from this harvest to pull us through, and now that’s gone. There’s nothin’ left. The farm’ll be bankrupt before winter is even out. We’ll have to sell it.”

“No! Come on AJ, there’s gotta be something we can do. Anything!”

“Oh, Ah don’t know. Maybe ya coulda tried ta keep it warmer just a little longer?”

“What are you saying?”

“Oh, nothin’. Ah just guess the Ponyville Weather Team was too busy this season ta notice that winter was comin’ a little sooner than expected.”

“WE DON’T CONTROL THE TEMPERATURE!” Rainbow Dash leapt into the air, her wings flapping profusely with the sudden outburst of anger and shock at her wife’s unexpected words.

“Really? Then what do you even do?”

“We move clouds into position, we make it rain or snow, and we form storms. We control the weather AJ, not the climate. Didn’t you notice how there hasn’t been a cloud in the sky for the past week? That was us. The best we can do when it gets cold like this is move everything out of the sky and hope the sun warms things up. Newsflash; It didn’t work. What, did you think there was some big dial in the sky I could turn to raise the temperature?”

“Well, considerin' everythin' that y'all showed us in Cloudsdale, Ah would think that there would!”

“Well, too bad, AJ. It doesn’t work like that!”

“Maybe yer just too lazy ta make it work!”

“Lazy? I’ve been helping you applebuck all week, on top of my Weather Team assignments. Don’t tell me I haven’t been doing my fair share. I’ve done everything I can to help you and more!”

Applejack opened her mouth as if to argue further, but no sound came forth. For several moments, both just stared at each other, no further words passing between the two, before Rainbow Dash spoke again. “I think you’re just blaming me because you’re angry with yourself.” Unwilling to press the issue further, Rainbow Dash turned around in the sky and began to fly away, stopping only to hear a voice call out to her from below.

“WAIT! Rainbow!” As she turned back, Rainbow Dash could see tears welling in Applejack’s eyes as she called her. Applejack hung her head and began to sob. “Ah’m sorry, Sugarcube. Ah know this ain’t yer fault…. Ah… Ah just don’t know what ta do.”

Rainbow Dash felt her anger melt away at the sight of her wife looking so downtrodden and beaten. Gathering up one of the significant bursts of speed for which she was known, she flew down towards her wife and embraced her, pulling Applejack’s head close in against her neck. Applejack buried her face into her lover’s mane, her tears beginning to mat the cyan fur they rolled onto. Rainbow Dash stroked her partner gently. “I’m sorry too, you’re under a lot of stress, I shouldn’t have yelled at you.”

“Ah’m scared, Sugarcube. We’re gonna have ta sell the farm. Mah family’s been livin’ here fer years. Ah don’t want ta be the one ta lose it, but Ah don’t see any other option.”

“Actually, AJ, I think I might be able to…”

“You Ok, sis?” Rainbow Dash and Applejack turned to face the direction from whence the new voice had come. Big Macintosh approached them slowly, concern showing in his eyes.

“Ah don’t know Big Mac. Any apples left out on the trees are ruined by now.”

“Eeeyup. Ah saw that.”

“It looks like we might have ta sell the farm.” Applejack sighed, leaning herself against Rainbow Dash for support, “None o’ us wanna do it, but Ah don’t see any way around it. What do ya think we should do, Mac?”

“Ah don’t rightly know, AJ.”

“Wait, AJ. I think I might have something that can help. How much money do we need for the winter?”

“We’ll need a couple thousand more bits just to make it through the winter months and cover the costs of replantin’.”

“Well… I’ve been saving up some bits for a long time now. I’m not exactly sure how much it is now, but I think it may be enough. I’ve been depositing part of each Weather Team salary I get into Ponyville Bank ever since Applejoy was born.”

“Sugarcube… Ah don’t… Ah don’t know what ta say. Why… why didn’t ya tell me about this?”

“I… I was saving it to surprise you by taking you and Little AJ on a vacation. I figured by the time she was old enough to bring her on a long trip, I would have saved enough for a carriage and a fancy hotel – just as a treat for my two favorite ponies. But this… this is more important.”

Applejack turned to look at her wife’s face, Rainbow Dash’s eyes flickering to meet her own as they gazed at each other. Rainbow Dash grinned, her eyes seeming to brighten as she did so, a cloud of condensed breath rolling from her mouth. Applejack, seeing her wife’s smiling face, was overcome with a rising feeling of euphoria. ‘Maybe, just maybe, we’ll get out of this.’ She smiled as well as she thought to herself, before throwing her arms around the cyan pegasus before her. “Ah love you, Subarcube. Ah love you so much.” She brushed a last tear from her eye before leaning in and pressing her lips to Rainbow Dash’s smiling face – their muzzles becoming locked in a warm kiss that made the cold and every other sensory perception melt away.

========================================================================================

The dead leaves had long since fallen. The frozen apples had long since rotted away. Every tree in the orchard stood tall and bare, exposed branches left barren to face the chill. A ghostly silence had fallen over the orchard in the time since the first overnight freeze had heralded the arrival of a cold winter. No ponies worked in the shadow of fruit-laden trees. No birds chirped as they flew to and fro their nest homes. Barren trees stood alone to guard the frozen ground, the only noise the creaking of their stiff limbs as they bent in the bitter wind. From beneath a seamless grey sky of tightly-packed clouds, individual snowflakes rode the frozen breeze downward, dancing and twirling as they made their meandering journey towards the ground below. The few, sporadic falling flakes gave way to thicker and thicker gusts and billows of falling snow as the afternoon gave way to evening.

Tucked away within the cozy farmhouse, enjoying the comforts and the radiating warmth of a roaring fire, a rather large family lounged about their dwelling. In the Living Room, Big Macintosh and Fluttershy slept peacefully in each other’s embrace on the couch – thoroughly exhausted from a long day of catering to the needs of their twin foals. In the nursery, Applejack laid her own head back against the comfortable cushions of her own couch, smiling warmly at her own foal who lay against her chest, feeding. Applejoy had her eyes closed as she nursed at the life source her mother provided, suckling gently and gratefully.

Sitting before a steaming mug of hot apple cider, Rainbow Dash breathed in the delicious fumes, allowing the aroma of the soothing beverage to fill her mind before taking a sip. Lying on her stomach on the kitchen floor, poring over an open book, Applebloom busied herself with the homework she had received in school that day. Upon closing her first book, she pulled herself to her hooves and turned around in place, freezing in place when she saw the open floor behind her. Frantically, she swung her head around the room, her eyes darting back and forth; searching for something that could not be found. Presently, she looked towards her cyan sister-in-law and spoke up. “Rainbow Dash, Ah can’t find one o’ mah workbooks. Ah think Ah left it at mah clubhouse.”

Rainbow Dash sighed, setting her steaming mug down on the table and turning to face Applebloom. “Are you sure?”

“Ah’m positive. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle and Ah were doin’ our homework in the clubhouse this afternoon and Ah left mah workbook there by mistake.”

“Alright.” Rainbow Dash set herself down on all fours and led Applebloom down the back hallway, past the closed doors of two new yet unoccupied guest bedrooms, and towards the nursery at the far end of the new addition. “AJ? Your sister left one of her school books in her clubhouse. Could you take her out there to get it?”

“Gee, Ah don’t know Sugarcube. Ah’m not doin’ anythin’ important right about now. It’s not like Ah’m feedin’ yer daughter or anything like that.”

Rainbow Dash managed to throw her hoof into the air just in time upon catching sight of her wife and daughter through the open doorway. Applebloom suddenly found her vision blocked by a cyan foreleg before she was able to see in. “On second thought, I think I should take you outside, AB.” Turning her around with another hoof, Rainbow Dash led her back down the hallway from whence they had come and back into the kitchen; making their way towards the foyer. “Don’t forget to bundle up.” Rainbow Dash threw her trusty purple and white striped scarf on and waited for Applebloom to apply her own winter gear. Presently, she opened the door and was greeted immediately by a light yet biting breeze.

Bracing themselves against the cold, Rainbow Dash and Applebloom made their way down from the porch and into the shallow layer of snow that covered the yard. With their hooves making telltale tracks in the freshly fallen snow, they made their way across the yard towards the edge of the barren orchard. “Lead on, AB, I don’t know how to get there in the dark.” Scrambling to get ahead of the older mare, Applebloom made a furrow in the snow, which got deeper as they reached the groves of standing bare trees. With their hooves chilling from the frozen blanket, both opted to go faster, Applebloom picking up speed as she led her pegasus sister-in-law along a path she knew by heart.

By the time that they were close enough for the treehouse, partially hidden in the night shadows, to be visible to them, both ponies had grown extremely thankful for the extra warmth afforded to them by the winter protection they wore. Their breath came in thick, billowing clouds as they neared the tree house. Eager to retrieve the book and return to the warm comfort of their cozy home, both wasted no time reaching the balcony that surrounded the clubhouse proper. It was outside the open passageway that led into the clubhouse itself that they halted, however, their ears perking to a sound that neither had expected to hear. Cutting through the absolute stillness and quiet of the orchard, clearly audible against the soundless curtain of falling snow, the low, labored, rattling sound of a pony’s breath emanated from inside.

Applebloom, her eyes spiked with worry, silently glanced up to Rainbow Dash, who nodded down to her before taking an aggressive stance and slinking carefully towards the door. On the cusp of entry, she called out: “Who goes there!” before jumping into the doorway. She froze in shock at the sight before her. Huddled on the floor in the center of the small room, curled into a tight ball against the bitter cold, an orange filly lay, shivering, her purple tail wrapped around her for warmth. For several seconds, Rainbow Dash stood still in the open doorway, blinking in incredulity at what she saw. It was only when Applebloom stuck her head into the open space to gain a view into the room and gasped that the silence of the moment was broken.

“Scootaloo? What are you doing here?”

Scootaloo, lifting her head from beneath her tail, looked up towards her friend and her idol. Seeing the confusion in their gazes, she smiled weakly and began to speak through chattering teeth. “H-hey A-Applebloom… R-Rainbow D-Dash. I got s-s-stuck her by the s-s-snow after s-s-studying t-today. I c-couldn’t g-get home.”

Applebloom rushed forward and hugged her friend, recoiling slightly from the shock of how cold she was. “Come back to the house with us, Scoot. Ah can’t let you freeze yerself out here.”

“Th-thanks A-Applebloom.” Scootaloo stood weakly, walking towards Rainbow Dash as Applebloom grabbed her book, which lay nearby. Rainbow Dash, her face painted with concern, removed her scarf and wrapped it around the shivering filly when she reached her.

“You’re always welcome in our home, Scoots; you should’ve come to us when you realized you couldn’t make it to your place.”

“Th-thanks R-Rainbow D-Dash. I th-thought I was t-trapped.”

Positioning themselves on either side of the freezing filly, Rainbow Dash and Applebloom tried their best to warm her as the three of them stepped down the ramp and back onto the snow-covered ground. They meandered their way through the silent orchard as fast as they could while trying to stay together – all of them eager to return to the house. They strode through the dark, snowy Equestrian night in silence, each contemplating their own thoughts as individual flakes swirled past their snouts. In the distance, the lit windows of a warm farmhouse were visible through the trees; squares of light shining against a dark background; light which beckoned them onward towards the warmth held within. Looking up at the gently swirled snowflakes, crisply painted against a backdrop of dark sky, Rainbow Dash had an idea.

Both fillies sighed in relief when they reached the porch. Excitedly opening the door, they crossed the threshold and headed in the house, their pelts warmed by the heat given off from the roaring fire. Scootaloo brightened visibly as the waves of warmth rolled over her, her shivering stopping even as she removed her borrowed scarf. “Thanks Rainbow Dash!” Both she and Applebloom trotted into the kitchen, where they lay themselves alongside a trio of animals before the fire. The two friends, Angel, Winona, and Tank all basked in the orange glow of the flickering flames that filled the hearth. Rainbow Dash smiled at the heart-warming display, picking up her scarf where Scootaloo had left it and beginning her own journey down the rear hallway.

She was still smiling as she pushed open the nursery door at the end of the hall. “Hey Honey. You’ll never guess who we picked up.”

“Applejack turned to look at her wife as she strode in, a smile breaking out on her face. “Scootaloo? Ah heard you three when you came in.”

“Yeah. She got trapped in their little clubhouse by the snow.” Rainbow Dash crossed the room and leaned down for a kiss from her wife. Applejack happily obliged, both of them closing their eyes for the experience. Rainbow Dash pulled her wife in close for a warm hug as they kissed, before finally pulling apart. “How is she?” Rainbow Dash gestured over to a crib, where Applejoy’s chest rose and fell with every breath of sleep she took.

“She’s sleepin’ like an angel.” Applejack rolled off the couch and onto her four legs to lean against Rainbow Dash, letting her face be tickled by the six-colored strands of her lover’s mane.

“Heh. She does like that, doesn’t she? She must get it from me.” Rainbow Dash turned to nuzzle her wife affectionately, receiving another kiss in return. “I had an idea when I was outside. You up for a little cold air?”

“Depends on what ya have in mind.”

“Let me show you.” Before she had time to protest, Rainbow Dash grabbed her around her torso and pulled her into another hug before leading her quickly out the door to the hallway. Applejack’s half-hearted attempts at protest were defeated before she even spoke them by the excitement and enthusiasm she could see in the eyes of her wife. Instead of question what she was doing, Applejack let Rainbow Dash lead her through the house and out the door, content to see where their little adventure would lead.

Applejack shivered when the two stepped out onto the porch. “Where are we goin’ Sugarcube?”

“Just trust me, AJ.” Rainbow Dash once again grasped her wife around her midsection, although instead of pulling her in for a hug as she had previously, she gripped her tightly and began to beat her wings in rapid succession, lifting the both of them off the ground and into the air alongside the falling snow. Applejack made to protest but Rainbow Dash held her close, nuzzling the top of her head as they rose. Gently, Rainbow set her partner down on top of the roof, settling next to her on the red shingles after having done so.

Applejack shivered again, and without missing a beat, Rainbow Dash took the end of her long scarf and wrapped it around her lover’s neck, pulling her close so they literally pressed against each other, sharing the scarf and body heat as they gazed out across the winter wonderland the orchard had become. Above them, the deep blue and black hues of the night sky formed an all-encompassing dome that stretched to the mountains and forests on every horizon. In the distance, Ponyville could be seen. Behind them, a second-story window stuck out from the red shingles of the roof and the other farm building could be seen over their shoulder. Everything, from the farm to the town to the seemingly endless expanse of empty trees that stretched before them, was shrouded in the darkness left by the clouds which blocked the moon and stars from view.

Applejack snuggled against Rainbow Dash, who did the same in return. Neither spoke as they swept their gazes across the dark scene in front of them. The only illumination came from the few lighted windows in the house, but what little light there was made its presence known by lighting up each individual snowflake that drifted past. Each of the many flakes that floated all around the happy couple sparkled with the light that reflected off of it, creating an animated scene of glittering, dancing, white snowflakes. Each breath exhaled by the two ponies rolled from their mouths in the form of billowing clouds of condensation, floating upwards as wispy fog that intermingled with the falling snow for a short while before fading away. The wonder and majesty of the scene, combined with the warmth of each other’s’ presence, allowed both of them to forget the cold and experience the thrill of the quiet, timeless moment.

“This is beautiful, Sugarcube.”

Rainbow Dash turned to face her lover, “A beautiful night for a beautiful mare.” And on a cold winter’s eve, perched on the roof, sharing a scarf for warmth, and with a ballet of frozen dancers performing all around them, they shared another kiss.

It's a (Apple)Joyful Life! (Chapters 4-8)

Chapter 4

It’s a (Apple)Joyful Life!

“Dear Princess Celestia,

I’m worried about Applejack. She hasn’t been herself lately. I think it’s because of the money problems we’ve been having lately, but whenever I try to talk to her about it, she just brushes it off as if it were nothing. But it isn’t nothing, Princess, I know there’s something wrong – something bothering her. She’s just being too stubborn to admit it. She’s been growing more and more distant and gloomy lately, but I don’t know what to do. I know we don’t normally write to ask favors, but please, help her. She needs help, even if she won’t admit it. She never thinks about herself, Princess, that’s why she’s in trouble. Please, help her. I love her, Princess, I really do.

Your loyal subject,

Rainbow Dash”

A regal, white, alicorn with a long, flowing, blue, green, and pink mane looked up from the parchment scroll which floated before her lazily in a cloud of magical essence. Sitting up on the plush cushion she had laid upon, Princess Celestia frowned. She swung her head left and right, her gaze sweeping around her royal bed chamber. Her view fell upon the ticking clock that graced her far wall. It was nearly time for sunset – she could be expecting her sister’s arrival any moment now.

As if on cue, the double doors to her bed chamber creaked and began to swing open. Princess Celestia stood and strode over to them, ready to great her younger counterpart. “Hello, Luna. I see it is that time of day again.”

“Yes, indeed it is, Dear Sister.” They smiled at one another before turning to stride from the room, opening the fancy double doors that led out onto a balcony overlooking the rest of Canterlot. High above the city streets they stood, side-by-side, a cold winter wind whipping through their already-billowing manes, and both turned their gazes to the evening sky. “Ready when you are.”

Celestia closed her eyes and concentrated, her long, white horn becoming enveloped in an aura of glimmering magic. Seeing her sister begin to focus her power, Princess Luna closed her eyes and did the same, the magical energies of both ponies reaching out far above them into to take full control of two heavenly bodies. From their perch above Equestria’s capitol, the princesses began their evening ritual to change day into night. Gradually, the sun, which had rested near the horizon, began to move – dipping closer and closer to the distant line which divided earth from sky. Simultaneously, the moon began to rise from its day-time hiding place, peeking from above the horizon line opposite the setting sun. The cloudy sky above Equestria became awash in a dazzling display of brilliant hues of color. Reds, oranges, and yellows slowly transitioned into the deep blues and purples which heralded the night’s arrival.

In the darkening space between each cloud, stars, previously hidden by the light of the day, began to wink into wakefulness, gracing the night sky with numerous pinpricks of white light as the last winking rays of the sun slipped out of sight. The moon, now fully visible above the horizon, began its nocturnal trek across the sky. Opening their eyes and stepping back to survey their work, Celestia and Luna gazed in silence across the land and sky that they controlled, seeing the shining lights of the city below and the twinkling of far-off Ponyville in the distance. Satisfied with their efforts, both turned and strode back through the double doors to re-enter the bed chamber.

“I trust you had a good sleep today, sister?”

“Why yes of course. I slept rather soundly this day.”

“That’s good to hear, Luna. Such rest is a luxury I may not be afforded this night.”

“Why ever not?”

“My attention has been brought to a problem with one of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony. It seems Applejack has fallen upon hard times. Her family is growing increasingly worried about her.”

“How serious is this problem? It is unusual for one of the bearers to be involved in a personal problem so great that you are involved so soon.”

“I do not believe that this is a new problem. From the letters I have received, it appears to be something that has been growing within her for a while. I fear the worst, so I believe it prudent to act as quickly as possible.”

“How many letters have you received?”

“Three, so far; one from her wife and the Element of Loyalty, Rainbow Dash; one from her elder brother, Macintosh; and one from the Element of Kindness, Fluttershy. All were sent via dragon’s fire, so I deem them to be of the utmost importance, and all referenced concern over Applejack.”

“What specifically did they entail?”

“They cited a growing coldness, and an increased despondency on the part of Applejack. From the looks of it, it appears this condition has manifested itself over the last few weeks and has been growing steadily, accelerating over just the last few days. I have reason to believe that tonight is her crucial night. If nothing is done to help her now, it may be too late.”

“What do you plan to do?”

“I will sleep, but tonight, I shall dream. Usually, I prefer to go without the distraction, but tonight I shall make an exception. This situation may call for drastic action, Luna. I believe I shall be doing some ‘speaking’ tonight.”

Princess Luna’s eyes lit up at the mention of such an ancient and rarely-used tactic. “Are you sure, dear sister? Such a course of action is certainly not normal; does this situation warrant such communication?”

“I am certain it shall. If ever I saw a necessary time to call upon one of my former subjects, it is now.”

“Very well. I shall make sure that no one disturbs you in your endeavor.” Luna neared her sister, drawing her in for a tender hug before she turned to head towards the hall door, stepping out to leave Celestia to her work.

“Thank you, dear sister. Good night.”

“Good night.” The set of doors clicked shut behind the retreating form of the Princess of the Night, allowing the Princess of the Day leave to remove her golden shoes and crown. After completing her usual routine, Celestia climbed into her large, round, royal bed. Curling herself under a set of comfortable blankets, she allowed her body to relax, her mind began to concentrate as she went limp and her eyes closed. Focused on one specific goal, Celestia began to craft a dreamscape for her nocturnal undertakings, shaping and changing the very fabric of mental space and warping the reality of her dreams to suit her purposes. Satisfied that she had mentally prepared herself thoroughly, Princess Celestia relaxed her mind along with her body, finally slowing sleep to take her. But even as she sank deeper into the invisible folds of slumber, her horn began to glow with the magic necessary to complete her mission.

===========================================================================================

Celestia’s hooves clicked against an unseen surface as she walked. She was surrounded by a billowing, inky blackness – an infinite dark expanse that seemed to shimmer as she strode through it. She stopped her movements, allowing herself to listen to the noises rushing from the black void to all sides of her. Voices, giggles, sobs, songs – sounds made by anypony and everypony; ponies alive and dead; ponies whose memories came here, flowed from the shimmering black emptiness that surrounded the princess.

Celestia smiled to herself. In her dreams, when she chose to have them, she often brought herself here – to the place of memories. Behind the illusion that was the billowing curtain of black; lay the memories of ponies past and present; memories whose whispered words could still be heard flowing from the black void. Coming here, watching, listening, allowed her to connect with the past as much as monitor the present. Experiencing her subjects’ memories allowed her to relate to those of the present and to remember those of the past. She came here to keep silent vigil, she came here to learn, and she came here to reminisce. It was rare, however, that she came here to speak.

Shaking away the assault of whispers, Celestia broke her lapse of concentration and closed her eyes, her horn glowing once again, and allowed her magic to see its way through the sea of memories where her eyes were useless. Pursing through the limitless expanse, her far-reaching magic finally found what it was looking for – a specific memory of one pony. Concentrating hard on the visage of this pony, Celestia whispered a name, her near-silent message travelling along the length of her magic to awaken the memory and bring it forth from beyond the dark void. “Sweet Apple.”

The Princess of the Sun opened her eyes to the approaching sound of clopping hooves. From out of the seemingly endless expanse of darkness, a shadowy figure began to emerge. The pony’s features gradually illuminated as she drew nearer to the princess, finally being immersed in full light as she drew from the shadowy void to bow at the princess’s hooves. “It is an honor, Princess.” The amber-coated mare, even if she was just a reflection of a pony long gone, still kneeled before her ruler, her shock of a red mane draping down over her face.

“Please rise, Sweet Apple. You no longer owe allegiance to me.”

“To what do Ah owe this visit, then?” The mare looked up from the black space below them to gaze at the princess, her soft, caring green eyes showing confusion as she drew to stand on her hooves.

Celestia smiled at the pony who stood a few heads shorter than she, “I have a specific assignment that I require your assistance with. A pony in Equestria needs our help.”

“No offense princess, but wouldn’t it be better to ask the help of another pony; a living pony?”

“In most instances, yes, it would be more prudent to seek a live messenger, but I find this situation calls for your unique position – whether you are alive or relegated to memory.” Celestia turned and began to walk away, leading Sweet Apple to follow in her hoofsteps, their hooves making further clicking sounds as they traversed the swirling blackness below them. Celestia craned her head to look at her companion once more, “Besides. Your daughter can be quite stubborn at times.”

Sweet Apple stopped in her tracks, stammering as this new information washed over her. “Mah… mah daughter?”

“Oh yes. It would seem Applejack has run into quite some difficulties as of lately, which is why I chose you to seek her out and talk with her, so that you may set her straight the way only a mother can.”

“Well… well thank ya kindly, princess, but… but how? Ah can’t just go back to Equestria can Ah? Ah mean… Ah’m… Ah’m…”

“Dead. Yes. And I am afraid that you cannot go back to Equestria. Even in your present form you are but a shadow of memory, and no amount of magic can change that. So, no, you shall not be able to reach out to her in physical form, but we will cross that bridge when we reach it. Right now, I need you to follow me.”

“Where are we going?” Sweet Apple hastened to catch up with the Princess of the Sun as she began to fall behind – not wanting to lose track of her guide as only she seemed to be able to navigate the endless shadowy space.

“If you are going to help her, you must know more about her life since you left. We should be able to view some of her memories if I can find them.” Celestia began turning her head, swinging her long, illuminated horn as if homing in on something. Suddenly, her head abruptly jerked to the side and she stared at the endless black expanse for several seconds before clearing her throat. “Ah. Here we are.”

“Where is here? Ah don’t see anythin’.”

“Patience. All will become clear soon enough.” Turning back to face the dark, shadowy wall before them, Princess Celestia’s horn began to glow. As it did so, the cloudy shadows seemed to begin to move. Lit and given depth by the light of the princess’s horn, he wisp wall of black clouds started to break apart and swirl around itself – individual shadows slowly drawn into a swirling dark vortex, spinning faster and faster as the energy imparted upon it by the princess’s magic grew. As they spun faster, the shadowy clouds began to drift apart, revealing light which shined through the gaps left by parting wisps of smoke. The growing light pushed at the edges of the receding blackness, and individual shining gaps merged and grew to form a round window – offering a view through the black curtain to the memory within.

Gradually, as the swirling of the black clouds around the window slowed to a halt, the bright white light too began to fade, dimming to reveal the full colors of a scene below them. The shapes and colors of a room opened up before them, details of fixtures and ponies gradually becoming apparent as they watched. Sweet Apple gasped as she recognized the room. “This… this is my house! What… what memory is this?”

“It is from a time not a few weeks after your departure. Watch closely. Something very important happens here.”

As they watched, movement began to stir in the living room scene. An elder green mare with a mane and tail white with age sat in a rocking chair, slowly moving back and forth in a rhythmic pattern, a sleeping baby foal, yellow with a short red mane and tail, dozed peacefully on her lap. Crackling flames occupied the fireplace, casting their warm, dim glow across the whole room. The old mare sat straight up, alert, watching the front door as if she expected something to happen.

Suddenly, the front door in the adjacent foyer swung open, letting in a gust of wind that fluttered scarves on the nearby hangers. Through the open portal to the outside stepped another pony. A tall brown stallion, blonde mane and tail whipping in the outside wind, picked his way over the threshold and swayed as he staggered awkwardly into the room, stumbling his way through the foyer and towards the inviting glow of the fireplace.

“And just where have you been? I assume you lost track of time again? That’s the fourth time this week.” The green mare sopped rocking back and forth and focused on the stallion, who froze as he heard her voice, swaying a bit before he finally steadied himself.

“You leave me alone, mare. My bushinesh is my bushinesh.” The stallion’s angry words slurred together as he spoke, most of his concentration remained fixed on keeping what little balance he had.

“Clearly. I see you’ve been out drinking again.”

“Whass it to you?”

“Nothing. Besides you being a danger to yourself and your own children.”

“I’ll do whatever I ruddy well like to myself. Thank-you-very-much. And what are you doing holding that thing? I told you I didn’t want to see it no more.”

“Oh this?” The elder mare glared at the inebriated stallion, indicating the sleeping foal in her lap, “This just happens to be yer youngest daughter. Or have ya drunken yerself past the point o’ remembering her?”

“I remember it, alright. I only wish I didn’t. That thing cosht me the love of my life. I want nothing to do with it.”

“‘The love of yer life’, ta hear you talk. She would never believe the way ya’ve been acting since she left. Why, treatin’ the very child she gave her life to give you in the way that ya do, she would be disgusted with ya.”

“Don’t you shay a word about her. I don’t hafta essplain myshelf to you. You’re jusht my mother-in-law. You can’t bossh me around.”

“She was my daughter, ya no-good, self-centered mule. You don’t deserve to keep her memory, the way you treat her children now.”

“Get outta my way, you old hag.” The stallion wobbled menacingly close to the old mare, swaying back and forth as he struggled to lurch forward. The elder calmy set the child down behind her on the rocker, stepping forward to face the stallion’s wrath. “I’ll teach you to order a shtallion around!”

The drunken pony never expected to take a cane to the face. Unbalanced by the blow, he crumbled to a heap on the living room floor, groaning as the green mare smirked over him. “Get out o’ mah house.”

“You… you… you have no right… to kick… to kick me outta my own home.” The stallion gasped, struggling to even regain his hooves.

“The hay Ah don’t. Ya may have married into this family but this is still mah farm and mah house. Now leave. Ah don’t want ya here endangerin’ me nor the kids anymore.”

“You know… you know what? Fine.” The stallion finally managed to clamber back into a somewhat standing position, swaying more as he took blind, drunken steps backwards towards the door. “I don’t need you. I don’t need anypony. Shure, I’ll leave. But don’t esspect me to come back!”

“Good riddance. Ya’re a bad influence on yer own children. And don’t come back until ya’ve straightened yerslef out.” The old mare saw him out the door, watching as he stumbled out across the dark yard and out of sight. She shut the door behind her. It was only when she turned back around and moved shakily back into the living room that she saw the filly in the doorway; the little orange filly with the straw-blonde mane and tail who had sat watching the entire exchange in silence. “Applejack, sweetie. What are you doing out of bed? It’s late.”

“Granny? Where… where’s… where’s Pa goin’?”

“He’s going to go get help, AJ. He needs help.”

“Why?”

“He’s been very sad ever since yer mother left, AJ. He needs ta leave ta get help and feel better.” The old mare smiled at her elder granddaughter, returning to the rocking chair to scoop the younger onto her back. “Come on, let’s get ya and yer sister up ta bed.”

“When’s he coming back, Granny?”

The old mare’s features feel, her wrinkles becoming more pronounced as she sighed and frowned to herself. She suddenly looked very much her age. “Ah don’t know, AJ. Ah just don’t know.”

Almost as suddenly as they had receded to reveal the scene, the swirling black wisps of smoke grew back to shroud the window into the memory once again. The vision of the living room faded to black, once again leaving Princess Celestia and Sweet Apple standing in silence in the darkness. It took a while for the amber earth pony, blinking away tears, to gain enough composure to address her companion. “P-princess? Ah… Ah had no idea. How… how could he… how could he have done this?”

“Grief can change ponies. Sometimes it changes them very drastically.”

“Has he ever… Ah mean, did he ever…”

“Come back? No. He never did.” Princess Celestia hung her head, allowing a long moment to pass in silence between them before carrying on. “Now. We have more to see.” Her horn began to glow again; wisps of the black shroud once again commenced their characteristic spinning as the withdrew to reveal another window; another memory. Bright light once again shone through the opening, only to dim down to reveal a new scene. Wind blew through the leafy upper branches of row upon row of fruit-laden apple trees. A barn and other farm buildings stood at the center of the grove, tall hillsides behind them. Underneath the leafy archway that served as the gate from the Apple Family Farm to the main road, three ponies stood, talking amongst themselves.

“Are ya sure ya want ta do this, Applejack?” the elderly green mare frowned slightly at her granddaughter as she spoke. “Ya don’t have ta leave if ya don’t want.”

“Ah’m sure, Granny Smith. Ah don’t wanna spend the rest o’ my life on this muddy ol’ apple farm. Besides, everythin’ here just reminds me o’ Ma and Pa, and don’t wanna stay here if all Ah can do is think of them. Ah’ll be better off in Manehatten.”

“Well, Ah suppose Ah can’t stop ya, then. Good luck, Sweetie. We’ll miss ya a whole lot.” Granny Smith stooped to lower her head to her elder granddaughter’s resting her chin against the filly’s forehead for a moment before drawing away, tears just barely brimming in her eyes.

“Bye, Granny Smith, bye Big Mac. Ah promise Ah’ll write when Ah get to the city! Maybe Ah’ll even see Pa again! He might be stayin’ with Aunt and Uncles Orange, too!” The little orange filly shared one last hug with her older brother before scooping up her knapsack and walking down the dirt road, away from her home. Behind her, an aging green mare and a young, red colt shared a glance and a tear as she receded into the distance.

The scene of the farm faded from view, only to be replaced by a new scene – that of a busy city street. Various ponies hurried to and fro and tall buildings of stone, brick, and metal towered above the streets. The orange filly with a blonde mane and tail, looking very small indeed among the taller ponies and even taller structures, walked along the sidewalk. Applejack dodged older ponies as she went, shunted out of the way by several cityfolk as she meandered across town. As she reached the outside of a brick building, the scene began to fade again – once again beginning to change even as she entered the lighted archway of the apartment.

Colors swirled and the scene revealed a posh dinner gathering. Around a central, yellow-clothed table, various well-dressed ponies sat, chatting lightly. Between her aunt and uncle, Applejack, with her mane drawn up high into a tight hairstyle, smiled as she sipped from the drink set in front of her.

“And how are you finding good old Manehatten?”

Applejack turned to address the speaker across the table, answering the question posed of her. “Oh it’s simply divine.”

“Very Well said my dear.” Her aunt leaned in to encourage her.

“Although, I must admit the city noise took some getting used to. Where I’m from, nights are so quiet; you seldom hear a peep until the roosters wake you.”

“A… what?”

“I say my dear, what in the world is a… rooster?” A chorus of laughter caught the filly off guard, laughter that continued to sound until even after the scene had changed, leaving Applejack, gulping nervously, to fade as the image of her face was replaced by that of a bedroom.

“Cock-a-doodle-doo.” Applejack sighed as she gazed out the open window at the new sunrise. “Ah wonder what Granny Smith and Big Macintosh are up to. Ah bet they’re applebuckin’ their way through the Red Delicious trees.” She folded her fore legs under her chin on the windowsill and sighed again, watching as rays of sunlight lit the city skyline for another day away from home. “Oh what Ah wouldn’t give fer just one bite.” Sweet Apple watched helplessly as a tear slid down her daughter’s face, her own eyes beginning to water as she knew she could do nothing to change the memory. Suddenly, the sound of an explosion jolted her to attention, and she watched as a rainbow arced its way across the sky of the memory world, finally crossing the horizon to illuminate a distant farm. The scene once again faded out as Applejack gasped in excitement, mirth sparling in her green eyes.

The tree-lined dirt road leading to the Apple Family farm once again appeared. The filly Applejack raced along its length, galloping happily until she met her family at the gate again, touching heads with her grandmother. For several moments, all were silent. The three ponies basked in the warmth of each other’s presence before a bright flash announced the arrival of three apples to grace Applejack’s flank. Happy to finally be together again, the family, crying tears of joy, slowly walked their way back up to the farmhouse. As they walked, they passed a sign; a sign that had read “Apple Family Farms”, but was now graced with the words “Sweet Apple Acres”.

Princess Celestia spoke as the scene faded once again. “She earned her cutie mark that day because she finally realized that family was the most important thing for her. She realized what it truly meant to be an apple farmer and went back to be with her family, instead of trying to be somepony she was not.” Celestia gestured to the memory window, where another scene had appeared. Applejack, aged slightly from the last vision, now rocked back and forth of the same rocking chair her grandmother had occupied.

Sweet Apple once again found tears in her eyes as she watched her daughter rock her younger daughter, still but a foal, and feed her from a bottle. As she listened, Sweet Apple could hear the crystal clear voice of her elder daughter singing. “Hush now, quiet now, it’s time to lay your sleepy head. Hush now quiet now, it’s time to go to bed.”

“Princess… you don’t… you don’t know happy it makes me to be able to watch my children grow. But… why? Why are you showing me this? Certainly this must be more than the information I will need to help her.”

“Because you deserve it, Sweet Apple. Time came for you too soon, so I wish to at least allow you to experience your daughters’ childhood. And, as you will see, Applejack, over time, became the mother Applebloom never had. She was determined to show her sister the same love that you showed her.”

“Ah know. Ah’m so proud of her. But, Ah wonder, what could have gone wrong?”

“Patience. All will be revealed with time.” Both ponies turned back to face the window, watching as the swirling black shadows parted again to reveal more blinding light, and then a brand new scene. Sweet Apple watched, first in confusion, and then in fascination as her daughter and five mares she had never seen before made their way through a dark forest, overcoming various obstacles on a quest to reach some castle. As the memory unfolded before her eyes, she heard the princess speak up once again. “This event is one of the most important ones you will be seeing, but probably requires the most explanation.”

============================================================================================

Chapter 5

It’s a (Apple)Joyful Life!

“If I am to understand this correctly, these five ponies…”

“Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie.”

“… and mah Applejack are now a group of best friends, who by using this powerful force…”

“The Elements of Harmony.”

“… have saved Equestria from evil at least twice now?”

“Yes. I do believe you understand that well enough now. The important point is that Equestria would not exist as it does today, had it not been for your daughter and her five friends. If it were even habitable, it would likely be chaotic and quite unpleasant. But thanks to your daughter and her friends, this is not the case. This is how I first came to know Applejack. Because my student, Twilight Sparkle, took her as a friend, I have come to know her well and care about her deeply. This is why. Now that she is so troubled, I have come to you for help. And now, my dear Sweet Apple, is when this little story gets very interesting indeed.”

She grinned as she spoke, her horn glowing and setting the swirls of black shadow spiraling again. Once more, the fog split apart to reveal streaks of brilliant light; streaks which faded into nothingness to reveal a forest landscape. It was dark, what little sunlight reached through the forest canopy served to illuminate only a small portion of the dense undergrowth. Shadows were cast all around, and only the sound of rustling leaves broke the perfect quiet of the scene. The rustling sound grew louder and louder, the leaves of the underbrush beginning to shake as an orange earth pony burst through them. Leaves and twigs tangled themselves in Applejack’s mane as she fought her way through the shrubs, seeking out the light of a clearing up ahead.

Bursting through the brush at the edge of the clearing, Applejack startled three small fillies who had been chatting excitedly. Applejack paused midstep as they looked up towards her. “What the hay are you fillies doin’?”

The three looked at each other and smiled deviously before turning tail and charging off into the dense underbrush. "CUTIE MARK CRUSADER FOREST RACERS YAY!!!!" They took off in the opposite direction from Applejack. "Try and catch us, Applejack!" Applebloom shouted backwards.

“Oh, horseapples.” Applejack lowered her head and powered into the forest behind them.

As Sweet Apple watched her daughter push her way through the undergrowth, she heard Celestia’s voice once again cut into her thoughts. “Here is Applebloom, aged several years and playing a game with her friends. The orange pegasus filly is Scootaloo, the white unicorn in Sweetie Belle. Two important things happened on this day to Applejack, so watch carefully.”

The three fillies burst from the forest and gasped as they recognized the edge of a cliff fast approaching. Scootaloo grabbed onto Sweetie Belle’s tail with her mouth and flapped her wings to slow them both to a stop, just barely unable to reach Applebloom, who kept sliding. Applejack broke out of the trees and bounded across the clearing towards he edge and her sliding sister. Just as Applebloom’s rear legs fell over the edge, her fore hooves scrambling for purchase on the edge. Applejack grabbed her, digging her own hind legs into the ground in a desperate effort to stop before they both went over the edge.

Applejack slid to a halt, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo gripping her hind legs and holding her on solid ground while her front half dangled in space, holding onto Applebloom. Applebloom let out a terrifying scream that made Sweet Apple cringe – her eyes focused completely upon the scene before her. A flash of color zoomed into the picture form over the treetops, and a cyan pegasus pony with a rainbow mane slowed to position herself right underneath the dangling ponies. "Applejack!" Rainbow Dash cried, "Applejack, down here, look down here! I'll catch her. Trust me!"

"Applebloom, Ah'm going to let go now. Rainbow Dash is right below me, she's going to catch you. Ah need you to be a big pony and let Rainbow catch you." Applebloom had stopped screaming, but she was shaking now. She shook her head. "Rainbow Dash is the most loyal, trustworthy pony Ah know, she will catch yah. Ah promise. This is the only way to save yerself. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle can't pull us both back up."

"Hey!" Scootaloo interjected, but Applebloom slowly shook her head, the fear and terror prevalent in her eyes. Applejack counted down.

"5… 4… 3… 2… 1…" And she let go. The scream only lasted for a split second before Applebloom landed squarely on Rainbow's shoulders. Rainbow immediately lifted the frightened filly up to the top of the cliff and a set her gently down next to her friends.

"Help me Rainbow Dash, I can't hold on any longer!" Sweetie Belle suddenly cried out. Before Rainbow Dash could do anything, her grip slipped, and Applejack's right hind leg fell over the edge. Scootaloo couldn't hold on for more than a second longer without Sweetie Belle, and she too had to let go.

Rainbow Dash and Sweet Apple gasped simultaneously as Applejack fell. The pegasus darted down into the ravine after her even as Applejack disappeared into the foggy mist below, her last words echoing up against the walls of the canyon. “AH LOVE YOU!”

A few tense seconds passed before the beating of wings disturbed the fog, parting the wisps of gathered condensation to reveal Rainbow Dash, struggling with gritty determination to lift Applejack up and away from the chasm floor. The wind, funneled down the narrow confines of the gorge, whipped at her face, flapping strands of her multicolored mane and drawing tear after tear from her magenta eyes as she and Applejack flew back up towards the ground. “I… I love you, too.” She set Applejack down in the grass a ways form the edge, landing close by herself and nervously pawing the ground for several seconds while Applejack said nothing. “Listen, Applejack, I… uh…”

“No, Sugarcube, you don’t have ta say anything’.” Applejack rushed forward, throwing her fore legs around the pegasus and pressing her muzzle onto Rainbow Dash’s. Rainbow Dash looked shocked for a split second before pressing back to kiss Applejack in full. As the two lovers kissed, forgetting the world around them, the memory faded to black, leaving Sweet Apple to stare in stunned silence.

“She saved her sister’s life that day, and then she fell in love.”

“She fell in love with another mare?”

“Are you surprised?”

“No, actually. Ah can see how it makes sense.”

“You’re taking this better than I would have thought. How could you have known?”

“Even though she was young, Ah saw some signs. Ah never really thought to worry about it, Ah always assumed she would tell us when she was ready, when she was older. Ah never had the chance to know for sure, though. Not until now.”

“She found true happiness with Rainbow Dash. In fact, she was the one who helped your daughter get back on her hooves when she lost her grandmother.”

“Oh dear, Ah always knew Ma was gettin’ on in years. Ah’m glad though. Ah’m glad she was there for my children when Ah couldn’t be.”

“Your composure is remarkable.”

“Ah guess, in death, one gains a new perspective on life.” A now familiar flash of light directed her attention back to the window as another memory made its way into her view. A hospital room materialized before her very eyes. In the hospital bed occupying the center of the room, Applejack lay, looking thoroughly exhausted. Rainbow Dash stood by her side, gently caressing her, and a small bundle lay curled against her chest. Rainbow Dash and Applejack watched as the bundle rolled over, revealing a tiny pegasus filly with a light orange coat and blonde mane and tail streaked with every color of the rainbow. Rainbow Dash smiled as she gazed down at the foal. “Yes. Applejoy is a perfect name.”

“They were married a little over two years ago, they had their foal a few months later.”

“Do Ah even wanna know how?”

“Let’s just say it involves my little sister and some very powerful Alicorn magic. I believe it’s safe to say Rainbow Dash enjoyed her first and only night as a stallion.” Princess Celestia chuckled, noticing for the first time that the pony next to her had tears in her eyes.

“Ah… Ah… Ah have a granddaughter.”

“Three grandchildren, actually. Do you see Fluttershy, that yellow mare next to your son? Those two have married and had twins together since that time. Both Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy now live on your family’s farm.”

As they spoke, the memory began to slip away again. The hospital scene faded to black as the happy, new parents shared an embrace. For a while, there was nothing; no new vision replaced the one that had come before. Sweet Apple was perplexed for a moment, and she looked up to the princess in confusion only to turn back as her ears picked up the faint sound of voices. She watched intently, expecting a new scene to appear, only to be surprised as she heard the voice of her daughter; reaching out to her from the depths of memory even though no image showed.

"Ah know! All the juices inside are frozen solid! They'll be frostbitten in a few hours' time and then they'll just rot right off the trees. These apples are worthless now! That's almost half the crop – gone!” There was a pause as an image finally swam into focus – one of Applejack, looking angry, positioned before a frost-covered apple tree. "Half… the… entire… orchard… wasted!" She cried, delivering a swift kick to the trunk behind her with each word, causing a shower of dead leaves and sparkling frost each time.

“It’s Ok, AJ. We’ll get through this, we’ll think of something.”

“No! Come on AJ, there’s gotta be something we can do. Anything!”

“Oh, Ah don’t know. Maybe ya coulda tried ta keep it warmer just a little longer?”

“What are you saying?”

“Oh, nothin’. Ah just guess the Ponyville Weather Team was too busy this season ta notice that winter was comin’ a little sooner than expected.”

“WE DON’T CONTROL THE TEMPERATURE!”

“Really? Then what do you even do?”

Sweet Apple was taken aback by the argument she was now witnessing. Only half listening to the back and forth between the two ponies, she turned to look up towards Princess Celestia, ready to demand an explanation to assuage her growing confusion. “Princess, what happened? They seemed so happy before, what could have happened to them?”

“It happened just how Applejack stated. Winter came early and devastated their apple crop this year. They were already running low on money, and without the harvest they might not make it through winter without selling the farm to make ends meet. According to a letter I received from Rainbow Dash, Applejack has been growing distant and moody around her own family. I have also received other letters from her friends and family, and all point me towards one conclusion. Applejack is worried about the dwindling state of their finances and is now dreading the possibility of selling the farm. I believe she is blaming herself, and I fear that this remission she is experiencing from her loved ones is a sign of an even greater problem.”

“I have come here to speak with you tonight for a very important reason, and that reason is this: I believe that if she does not receive help, the stress and worry Applejack is now experiencing may drive her over the edge and she might not survive this night. I am trying to see to it that this does not happen, and that is why I have called upon you, Sweet Apple. You must meet with her and you must speak with her in order to save her. Do you understand what it is I ask of you?”

“NO!” Sweet Apple cried as she jumped back in alarm, “How am Ah supposed to do anythin’? Ah’m dead, remember? Ah can’t just go back down to Equestria, you even said not even your magic couldn’t do that. How can ah meet with her? How can Ah speak with her? Ah don’t even exist!

“And yet here we are, Sweet Apple. Here we are. We are speaking, are we not? You may not exist in Equestria any longer, Sweet Apple, but you will always live in the hearts and minds of the ponies who knew you as a memory. As a memory, Sweet Apple, you can never truly die. That is why I can converse with you right now, because living ponies carry your memory with them. Applejack carries your memory, and sometime soon, I suspect tonight, she will fall back upon her memories. She may not know what she is looking for, and she may not know why, but she will become lost in her own memories out of her own frustration and confusion. That is where you will find her. That is where you shall confront her. You must go forth into her mind to show her the way.”

“But what am I to do when I find her? How am I to speak with her; to convince her? How will I know what I should do to save her, if your fears are correct and she does need saving?”

“I have given you the necessary information to complete your task. I chose you for this task because you are her mother. You know your daughter well and you have good instincts. Use them. And above all, know that when you go to save her, you go with my blessing.” Celestia kneelt down in front of the projection of her former subject, bending her head down until her horn touched the crop of red mane on the amber pony’s head. As her horn started to glow, Sweet Apple felt as if she was being invigorated. Her mind electrified with the sensation of magic coursing through her, and even though she knew she was but a memory, she suddenly felt very real.

“With the power I have given you, you shall be able to control and define the contours of your daughter’s mind. Just as she has fallen back upon her memories, you will be able to bend them at your own will. This is the blessing I send you with.”

“Thank you, princess, I shall not fail you.”

“I am confident that you won’t. Now, it should now be just over an hour past sunset in Equestria. I believe your moment shall soon be upon you. Go forth, Sweet Apple.” Celestia watched as the mare nodded and began to trot off into the distance, her form slowly receding into the darkness. “One more thing - if you complete your mission tonight, you may have the chance to save the lives of two ponies, not only your daughter.” As she watched the earth pony finally slip from sight, Celestia let out a sigh of relief. Her work in this realm was complete, and while she had other business to attend to, it was finally time for some well-deserved sleep.

============================================================================================

Tongues of bright orange flame, hissing and crackling as they danced across the logs at the bottom of the hearth, radiated warmth out into the cozy farmhouse. The warm air spread throughout the home, bringing a cheery sense of comfort to ponies and other animals alike. The orange glow of the flames danced across the orange pelts of Applejack and her daughter as they lay before the hearth. Applejoy, stumbling around on her still-wobbly legs, giggled as she played with her mother. she her small snout into Applejack’s neck and body over and over again, each time shrieking with delight as a hoof reached out as if to grab her, only to intentionally miss. Enticed by her daughter’s playful pink eyes, Applejack removed her hat from her head and plopped it down on top of Applejoy, the oversized Stetson obscuring her face and eliciting more bursts of laughter from the foal.

Smiling warmly, Applejack reached out and grabbed her now blinded daughter, pulling the little pegasus up to her chest and holding her there, reveling in the sensation of tiny hooves clutching back. Radiating warmth from the cheery fireplace washed over mother as they hugged one another. The loving scene brought a smile to the lips of a cyan pegasus as she watched from her position on a couch across the room. Rainbow Dash turned to Fluttershy, who lay on her back on the couch adjacent to Rainbow Dash’s with both of her children on her lap. “It’s nice to see her so happy. She hardly ever smiles very much anymore.”

“Oh, Applejack? Yes, I’ve noticed as well. Poor dear. This winter’s really been hard on her, hasn’t it?”

“Yeah. She took that lost harvest really hard.” Rainbow Dash turned to look straight at Fluttershy, concern showing in her usually unreadable eyes. “I’m worried, Fluttershy. She just doesn’t seem herself recently. She seems distant, and she gets upset easily.”

“I’m worried about her too, Rainbow Dash. Sometimes, when she stays up late feeding Applejoy, I’ll see her awake, just walking back and forth; pacing the floor for a long time before going upstairs.”

“She really does that? Oh, Celestia. Maybe I should stay up with her those nights, just so I can fall asleep with her when she’s done. I hate to think she feels lonely or anything like that.”

“How could she feel lonely? The holidays are coming up. The Solstice Celebrations are tomorrow. This time of year is a time for family and happiness. Oh, I hope it cheers her up some.”

“I know, Fluttershy…” Rainbow Dahs paused to wipe a tear from her eye, an action which surprised the yellow pegasus, especially coming from such a usually headstrong pony. “I… I love her so much, Fluttershy. I can’t stand to see her like this.”

“I know how you feel, Rainbow Dash. I know how you… OOH!” Fluttershy jumped slightly as if something had startled her, her eyes immediately flicked back down to the foals on her lap. “Now, now, Sweet Blossom. Please try to be more gentle, OK?”

Rainbow Dash forgot her fears long enough to chuckle lightly at the display. “Behavioral troubles, Fluttershy?”

“Oh, no. They’re usually such sweeties. They can be just a teensy bit rough at times.”

“You’re a great mother, Fluttershy. You remind me of AJ, especially back when Little AJ was even younger.” Fluttershy leaned back to smile at her oldest friend, who smiled back as she reached a hoof out to brush a strand of pick hair from her sister-in-law’s face. “You have the same love in your eyes as she did.”

“Thank you, Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow Dash grinned and trotted across the living room towards the fire and her family. She sidled up behind Applejack, who lay on her side facing the fire, and draped a hoof over her neck, pulling her in close to kiss the top of her head. “How’re my favorite ponies doing?” Rainbow lay down behind Applejack, resting her chin on her partner’s head and stroking Applejack’s exposed side with a hoof.

Applejack sighed, a low, pained sigh; a sigh which caused Rainbow Dash to frown. “Ah’m just fine, Rainbow.”

“You’re a terrible liar, AJ. What’s wrong?”

“Ah don’t know, Sugarcube. Ah’ve been thinkin’ about this season and that harvest. It’s the first year we haven’t been able to make our quota, and Ah feel terrible about it.”

“Don’t get so hung up on that, AJ. The past is the past. It’s the Holiday Season now. Tomorrow’s the day of the Solstice. Isn’t that exciting? It’ll be our first Solstice as one big family. We’ll all exchange gifts and we’ll have a wonderful day – just the eight of us. Then, at night, we’ll meet up with the girls and head into town for the Winter Moon Celebration!”

“Ah know. Ah just… Ah just can’t shake the feeling Ah’ve done somethin’ wrong.”

Rainbow Dash kissed her wife’s forehead again. “You’ve done nothing wrong, AJ. So we messed up one harvest. It’s not the end of the world.” Rainbow Dash rolled her lover over so that their faces met and they stared deep into each other’s eyes. “You’re an awesome pony, AJ, and I don’t like seeing you treat yourself like this.” She wrapped her hooves around her partner’s head, drawing her into her embrace and kissing her deeply. Applejack closed her eyes is accentuated bliss and ran a hoof through her lover’s mane, willing the sensation to continue forever.

Another rare smile crossed Applejack’s face when they pulled their muzzles apart. “You’re too good to me, Rainbow.”

“Well, somepony has to be.” Rainbow Dash gave another quick kiss on the cheek, “Celestia knows you deserve it. Just look how good a mother you are!” Rainbow Dash reached over Applejack to where their daughter sat. Applejoy had managed to prop herself up into a sitting position and was now trying unsuccessfully to see under the rim of the hat which hung off her head, completely dwarfing her. In one smooth motion, Rainbow Dash swept her into the air, eliciting another shriek of delight, before setting her down gently alongside her mother, where she collapsed and curled up gently in Applejack’s hooves. “You’ve done nothing wrong.” Rainbow leaned down to kiss them both.

Applejack’s response was cut off by a voice, which called from the kitchen suddenly at that moment. “Rainbow, could ya come ‘ere fer just a sec’?”

“Sounds like Macintosh. I wonder what he wants.”

“He’s been workin’ in the kitchen for a while on finances or somethin’. Ya know, fancy mathematics and all that.”

“I’ll go and see him.” Rainbow Dash pulled herself up onto her hooves, planting a kiss on her lover’s nose as she stood. “You two stay beautiful.” Rainbow Dash turned from the fire and began trotting away from her loved ones. Just barely audible over the crackling flames and other noises of the house, Rainbow Dash heard another restrained sigh from behind her. She cringed. ‘Oh, AJ. Why can’t you just be happy?’. Rainbow Dash arrived in the kitchen to see Big Macintosh standing by the table – pencil in mouth and head propped on a hoof. A thoughtful expression pursed the red stallion’s lips, and he looked as if he were trying vainly to comprehend something. “Hey, Mac. What’s up?”

“Hello, Rainbow Dash.” Big Macintosh set down his pencil and turned towards his companion, “Ah’m workin’ on th’ annual farm register. We gotta report all our income and make sure we have enough to last us ‘til next harvest season. But… well… somethin’ doesn’t add up.”

Rainbow Dash set her hooves on the table and propped herself up to get a better view of the parchment that lay in front of the stallion. She was confronted with a barrage of various numbers, letters, calculations, and scribbled-out blotches. Utterly confused, she bit her lip, not wanting to admit that she couldn’t’ understand the stallion’s poor pencoltship. Thankfully, the farm pony saved her the trouble.

“Ah’ve run a cost-projection scheme on th’ apples we have down in the cellar based on th’ average profit rates-per-apple we’ve received over th’ last few years. From the numbers Ah’m getting’ now, it looks like we won’t be able to make it ‘til next harvest with what crop we have left.”

“So we’re going to run out of bits sometime before next fall? Don’t we have anything saved for an emergency?”

“That all went into th’ construction, remember? Right now, we’re livin’ off yer savin’s that ya so kindly let us use. And even if we sold every apple in th’ cellar come spring, we still wouldn’t make enough bits to last until fall again.”

At the mention of her own fund, Rainbow Dash bit her lip and pawed at the floor nervously. “Yeah, Mac? About that… turns out I don’t have as much there as I had hoped.”

“Whadd’ya mean?”

“Well… when I started the account, back when Little AJ was just born, I began depositing a portion of my Weather Team salary every month. But a few weeks ago, when I promised to use the money to help the family this year, I misjudged how much I actually had.”

“How much do ya have, then?”

“Not enough. I thought we could make it through winter, but when I made my last withdrawal recently, I noticed I was running out fast…. I’m almost broke now.”

Bog Macintosh set his fore legs on the table and buried his head in his hooves. “How long?”

“If we’re careful, I’ll be able to hold us until just after the new year begins.”

Big Macintosh was silent for a long moment, then he picked his head up out of his hooves and sighed. “That’s only about half th’ winter. This ain’t good.”

“I’m so sorry, Mac. I… I… I thought I had more…”

“Have ya told AJ yet?”

“Well… no. She hasn’t been herself lately… she seems upset… I… I didn’t want to worry her too much.”

“Yeah, Ah noticed she’s been like that. Why didn’t ya tell me, though?”

“I didn’t even realize until a few days ago, and then I was just so worried that
I forgot to tell anyone.... I’m so sorry, Big Mac.”

“It ain’t yer fault. If ya didn’t have th’ bits, ya didn’t have th’ bits.”

“I should’ve told you sooner.”

“Probably wouldn’t’a helped none.” Big Macintosh hung his head in deep thought for a moment before picking himself up and frowning. “We’ll have to call a family meetin’.”

Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement and walked back into the living room to retrieve Applejack and Fluttershy. After a call up the stairs, Applebloom joined them. As the three mares and filly made their way into the kitchen, Big Macintosh turned soberly to face them – his face grim. Applejack’s green eyes swept the room, her gaze falling upon the well-used parchment on the table and the forlorn looks on her wife and brother’s faces. “What’s goin’ on, y’all?”

Big Macintosh looked from his sisters to his wife and back again. Looks of confusion and worry were painted on their faces. Sighing once again, he spoke slowly; steely determination bracing his wavering speech. “Ah’ve been doin’ the income reports. It looks like, from what we harvested this year, that we won’t make enough from sales to last us until next fall.” As he spoke, Fluttershy gasped and Applejack hung her head, shaking it back and forth as if she had known all along. “If we don’t do somethin’ drastic, we may run out of money before spring.”

“Applejack perked her head up in disbelief at this statement. “What? Before spring? But Ah thought… Ah thought…. Rainbow…”

“I overestimated the money I had saved.” Rainbow Dash spoke up, determined to accept her portion of the responsibility for what had become a family crisis. “I don’t have as much as I hoped. I went back to check the balance when I withdrew more bits a few days ago, and I saw that I don’t have enough to last us all until spring.”

“Why… why didn’t ya tell me sooner, Rainbow?”

Rainbow Dash walked over to Applejack and tried to lay a reassuring hoof over her back, only to have it shaken away. “I didn’t want to upset you. I’m worried about you, AJ. You don’t seem yourself lately.”

“Maybe it’s because we’re about t’ run outta money and Ah might lose the farm that’s been in mah family fer generations, Rainbow Dash!” Applejack stomped a hoof into the floor to try and ward off the bitter resignation of defeat. “Big Mac, how many bits do yer fancy mathematics say we’re gonna be short?”

“About 8,000 bits.” Big Macintish watched as his sister froze in shock and began to inhale unnaturally fast. “Calm down, little sis. Don’t be unreasonable.”

“Ah’m not bein; unreasonable, Mac! We could lose the whole farm now, don’t ya see that?”

“Ah never said we’d lose the farm. We just need ta think of a way around this.”

“THERE AIN’T NO WAY AROUND IT!” Big Macintosh and Rainbow Dash startled at the sudden outburst, while Fluttershy backed away from the conflict and pressed herself against the wall, her mane blocking a good portion of her face. “We’ll either have ta sell the farm or come across a whole lotta bits real fast.”

“We’re not selling the farm, AJ.” Rainbow Dash stood in front of her, trying and failing to make her face appear both sympathetic and determined at the same time. “I promise you that.”

“Some good your promises are. You couldn’t even keep us goin’ for the whole winter.” Applejack glared at Rainbow Dash, whose face now bore an expression of genuine surprise.

“Easy, sis. Don’t blame Rainbow, eight ponies is a lot for anypony’s ta pay for. It’s not her fault she didn’t have enough.” Big Macintosh swept his gaze across all the assembled ponies. “We’re not going to sell this farm.” He stated simply.

“Well what do you suggest then, freezing to death?”

“AJ! Don’t talk like that, you’ll scare Applejoy.” Rainbow Dash glanced uneasily at the living room, where she could see her daughter stumbling towards the source of commotion out of curiosity. She tried again in vain to lay a comforting wing over her wife, but was again thrust away. Undeterred, she grabbed her and pulled her close, even as she felt Applejack’s hooves push away from the attempted embrace. As she pulled away reluctantly, Rainbow Dash was surprised to see tears in her wife’s eyes.

Applejack shook her head to clear her cloudy vision, and without another word stormed off towards the foyer and the front door. Rainbow Dash hastened to follow her as she made to pull her scarf down from the hook. “Ah’m headin’ out.”

“Where are you going?”

“We can’t sell the farm, so Ah only have one choice. Ah’m goin’ into town ta ask Mayor Mare for a loan.”

“What? AJ. It’s dark and cold out. Don’t do this tonight. We still have money until at least the new year, we can see the Mayor later.”

“Nothin’ doin’, Rainbow. Ah’m gonna go see her tonight and that’s final.” With the swipe of a hoof, Applejack thrust open the front door and strode out into the bitter cold.

“Come back inside, AJ. It’s too dangerous out there at this time of night. We can do this another time, together.” She craned her neck to get a view of her wife on the porch. “Please come back, AJ. Come be with me and our daughter. It’s Hearth’s Warming Eve; this is supposed to be a time for family and…” Rainbow dash was cut off by a blast of icy wind, blown upon her as the door was slammed shut from the outside. “… love.”

============================================================================================

Chapter 6

It’s a (Apple)Joyful Life!

The walk along the road into town was long and cold. Newly-fallen snow crunched beneath Applejack’s boot-clad hooves as she trotted along the path. Each breath she took condensed into heavy clouds of vapor as it rolled from her mouth. The white-clad branches of each barren tree passed by her on either side as she made her way down the long, winding, lonely path. She gazed skyward, sweeping her vision across the low, unbroken ceiling of cloud that shrouded the wintery world around her in darkness. The only light she could see came from the old lantern she grasped in her mouth. The snow lying on the path before her sparkled as the beams of light shifted from side to side in time with the gentle swaying of the hanging lantern.

A sudden breeze blew through the narrow confines of the tree-lined road. Applejack felt the freezing air lift at her mane and chill her skin as it rolled over her. She stopped, setting down her source of light to grasp at the scarf that had fallen to hang loosely across her shoulders. As she felt the rainbow-colored fabric pull tight against her face and neck, she experienced a wave of warmth. The sensation rolled over her and she was suddenly very glad for the warming properties afforded to her by the snug scarf. She thought of Rainbow Dash, and how considerate she had been in having the kind gift hoof-made just for her. But the idle thought of her wife brought pangs of pain with it. Her partner’s forlorn voice ran through her head as she stood, alone in the road.

“Please come back, AJ. Come be with me and our daughter.”

She remained still, her breath drifting away from her frozen figure in wispy clouds. The voice of Rainbow Dash continued to play in her head – sad, pained, and hurt. She heard her trying to defend herself. She heard her own voice – accusatory, angry, and upset. “Some good your promises are. You couldn’t even keep us goin’ for the whole winter.” The weight of her own failure as a loving wife came crashing down upon her mind, and Applejack hung her head in shame.

She wept. “Ah’m sorry, Rainbow!” Her tears fell to the powdery layer of snow below. “Ah’m sorry. Ah’m so sorry! It ain’t yer fault…” Applejack lifted her face skyward, again gazing at the layer of clouds that held her captive in their frozen world. “IT AIN’T YER FAULT, RAINBOW DASH!” She took several deep breaths, each one rattled by the sobs she struggled to hold back and each one ending in another wispy cloud. Her head dropped, her gaze falling upon the glowing lantern that rested before her where she had left it not moments before. “It’s mine.” Her voice was small, barely above a whisper, and it cracked with the realization of a painful truth.

With a heavy heart, Applejack stooped to pick the lantern back up in her jaw. With light once again swinging before her, she resumed her evening journey. And despite the warmth of her attire, Applejack suddenly felt very cold indeed.

===========================================================================================

The bitter air nipped at her exposed body as she neared the town. The bright lights of numerous festive decorations glowed in the distance as the shops and homes of Ponyville grew near. The perfect quiet of the country road was replaced by a rushing sound – a sound which grew in intensity as she drew closer and closer towards the town. The soft sound of rushing water reached its crescendo just as Applejack made her first cautious steps onto the icy tiled deck of the hoofbridge into town. Her hooves began to slide underneath her as she stepped out onto the slick, icy surface. She struggled to gain traction on the slippery ice, even the rubber soles off her boots were little help in securing balance. Carefully, she managed to pick her way across the frozen sheet.

The ice-choked river rushed on past beneath her. The water moved just fast enough to escape freezing over, yet the chunks of already-frozen ice continued to duck and swirl in the stream’s current. The small stone bridge shook and groaned every time a particularly large ice chunk bumped into it or scraped along its bottom, and Applejack startled and held on for dear life at every small tremor and vibration. Shakily and uneasily, Applejack finally managed to step and slide her way to the other side of the stone edifice, planting her hooves firmly on stable ground again with a sigh of relief.

The happily-decorated buildings of the small town loomed before her. Snow layered the scene, cached on every rooftop and blanketed on the ground, the crisp sheets of pure white created a wintery scene that sparkled in the glow of thousands of tiny candles and lights. Every house, shop, and tree, it seemed, was adorned with the festive glowing dots of light. Tall pine trees, spread about the town, were festooned with seasonal decorations and more lights. Their snow-covered branches creaked and released small showers of flakes with each gust of the breeze. Somewhere in the distance, bells chimed. Their hollow ringing sound carried through the crisp night air as if in a dream.

Lights could be seen glowing in several buildings, and the silhouettes of happy ponies fell across several panes, but nopony else joined Applejack on the streets of the quiet village. The snow in the barren streets had been packed down sufficiently by the day’s activities, and Applejack trudged easily down the town’s main street. Just ahead of her, her destination, Ponyville Town Hall, loomed high above her. The façade of the tall building was brightly lit, candles and lights flickering and glowing up and down the building’s walls. Garlands and pine boughs, accented by ribbons, hung from the rafters and the windows, adding to the holiday spirit that had been aroused for the upcoming Hearth’s Warming celebrations.

She shook herself, dusting latent snow off of her pelt, before she stepped over the threshold of the entryway into the Town Hall. A single tiny bell rang out her arrival as the door brushed past it overhead. Applejack stomped her boots on the provided rug and stood to look about the entry foyer. The reception desk sat abandoned, nopony could be seen. She swept her gaze across the rather large open space, searching for somepony. “Hello? Anypony here?”

“Applejack?” Mayor Mare entered the foyer from around a corner, confusion evident on her face. “I thought I heard that bell ring. What are you doing here? I was just about to close up for the night.”

“If it’s not too much trouble, Miss Mayor, Ah need ta ask you somethin’.”

“I have time. Step inside my office.” The Mayor led Applejack back around the corner and down a hallway. At the end, she produced a key and unlocked the latch of a large, polished wooden door. She pushed it open and led applejack through the entryway and into a modest, yet comfortably lush, office. A large polished wood desk sat at the far end of the room ahead of several high windows. Mayor Mare took a seat on a cushioned bench behind the desk, and motioned for Applejack to make herself comfortable on another bench. She waited politely until Applejack has lain herself down before continuing. “Now, what was it you wished to discuss with me?”

“Well, Miss Mayor, we’ve been havin’ some trouble down on the farm. Ah think ya know how we weren’t able to get the full harvest in this year, so we won’t have as much profit. The trouble is, we’re runnin’ out of money now, and if we don’t get some more soon, we’ll have to sell the farm or we won’t make it through the winter.”

“I’m very sorry to hear that, Applejack, but may I ask what it is you wish me to do about your situation?”

“Th’ farm has been in mah family fer generations, Miss Mayor. Ah can’t sell it. We won’t have anywhere to live or any way to work if we sold th’ farm. But without the funds to make it through the winter, and without the profit to last us until next harvest season, we won’t have a choice. We need a loan, Miss Mayor.”

“Well, I’m sure you know how tight funds are this time of the year. As it stands, the town can barely afford to finance itself. Granting loans to citizens is very risky, especially now that money has been so tight recently.”

“But Miss Mayor, ya’ve got to. Ya just have to. There’s no other way. Mah family could lose the family farm. We could lose our home. We need that loan.”

“You and I both know how little the town has to spare. How large of a sum do you require?”

“To make it through winter and run the farm until next year’s harvest, we’ll need… we’ll… need…” Applejack’s voice grew very quiet, as if she wished not to finish her statement.

“What? How much is it, Applejack?”

“8,000 bits.”

“8,000 bits?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Surely you must be joking.”

“No, ma’am. Ah ain’t. That’s how much my family needs to supplement the profit from what apples we did harvest this year and pay for next year’s harvest.”

“You’re asking me to invest 8,000 bits of the town’s money, money desperately needed for other things, in you farm when your next profit won’t be until fall of next year?”

“Ah know it sounds like a lot, but it’s to save the farm, Miss Mayor.”

“Applejack, I’m afraid I cannot agree to such a move.”

“But… but why not? Ah could lose my home, Miss Mayor.”

“I understand that, and I apologize, but such action is not financially feasible. This town has pressing matters at hand this season and indeed over the next year that require money. I cannot raid the coffers of this town to hand out loans to citizens, no matter how dire the situation. We simply do not have the funds to spare. Especially considering the fact that we would have to wait almost a year for Sweet Apple Acres to become profitable again. It is too risky to make a loan with such a prolonged return on investment when money is needed elsewhere.”

“But… Miss Mayor… there must… there must be some way! Anythin’! Ah can’t lose the farm, it’s all that mah family has had fer generations!”

“Well… I suppose there is one way…”

“Anythn’, Miss Mayor.”

“I could grant you a graduated loan of 8,000 bits, to be paid out over the course of the next year, if you give the town the rights to claim a maximum of 51 percent operating interest in Sweet Apple Acres.”

Applejack was stunned. She remained silent for several moments, her head hanging and tears beginning to form in her eyes, as the sodering reality of her dire situation began to sink its way in. “Ah… Ah… Ah can’t… Ah can’t let you do that. If Ah let the town take over a majority o’ the farm, then Ah’d just be sellin’ out. This is mah parents’ farm, mah grandparents’ farm, and my great grandparents’ farm. Ah can’t let mah family lose it.”

“I thought you would see it that way. In that case, I cannot help you, Applejack. Goodnight.”

“But… But it’s Hearth’s Warming Eve, Miss Mayor. Can’t you make an exception, in the spirit of the holidays? Please?”

“I’m sorry, Applejack. But I cannot let emotion get in the way of running this office effectively. The town has no money for you. Now goodnight.”

“Goodnight… Miss Mayor.” Applejack, dejected, slowly rose from her bench and led herself to the high wooden door. With one last fleeting look at The Mayor, perched upon her cushioned bench with her hooves on the table and a calm expression on her face, she closed the door and ran to the front entrance, her tears staining the carpet.

Snow swirled about her face as she ran from the Town Hall. Her hooves kicked up little explosions of white powder as they pounded off the blanketed ground. The wind howled as she ran, blowing the dancing, sparkling snowflakes every which way in a confusing visual cacophony of erratic movement. Her mane, tail, and scarf were blown into a frenzy by the whistling wind, it’s droning sound rang in her ears as the lights of windows and hanging decorations flashed past her. The silhouettes of merry-making ponies were still visible at this late evening hour; the joy they showed existing in sharp contrast to Applejack’s inner turmoil.

She galloped through the increasingly thickly falling snow, her vision reduced by the swirling patterns of white. She blundered forward, her lantern forgotten and her scarf clinging to her body, not caring where she went. By sheer muscle memory, she soon found herself at the bridge that would lead her home. Forgetting every semblance of safety, she charged out onto the icy, tiled span. Her hooves immediately flew outward from under her. For several seconds, she was afforded the perplexing sensation of weightlessness as balance and support left her body momentarily in midair. The rushing of the water below and the howling of the wind filled her ears as she finally felt herself falling.

She struck the frozen surface of the stone bridge deck with a cry. For several moments, she lay, the chill of the ice drawing itself into her body as she lay upon the cold surface. With a groan, she tried to stand, but the lack of traction afforded to her by her feet on the frozen surface made it difficult. She slipped and fell back down to the deck three more times before she resigned herself to lay still. Breathing heavily, she lay still, allowing her fast-beating heart to slow itself down. Tears still rolled down her face, collecting on the ice before her face. Lifting her face to the sky, she gazed up at the ceiling of clouds and whispered to the wind. “Ah failed. Ah failed. Ah’m gonna lose the farm. Ah’m gonna lose mah home. It’s all mah fault.”

The cold and sound of the wind and the rushing stream – engorged and whipped into frenzy by the growing storm – assaulted her senses as she lay, trapped by the elements and stewing in her own misery. In defeat, she allowed her mint to wander, running through idea after idea, trying to think of a way to save her home and family. Each idea, however, was worse than the lad, and Applejack found herself giving up. With her options and hope gone, she resigned herself to failure, closing her eyes and shaking her head back and forth to try and drive herself from the horrible nightmare her life had become. With her eyes closed, a memory, long since forgotten after several months, slowly crept its way to the forefront of her mind’s eye.

“I just… I just don’t see why you would do this.” Her wife’s voice filled her head, incredulity masking the worry that could be heard in her tone.

“Don’t worry about it, Rainbow. It’s just in case.” She heard herself respond.

“But I… I… I don’t wanna think about… about… something happening to you.”

“Nothin’s gonna happen to me, Dashie. I just want you and our daughter to have somethin’ in case it does.”

“But… life insurance? Isn’t that a little… a little drastic?”

“No it ain’t, Sugarcube. Just think of it like Ah’m protectin’ y’all. That’s all.”

“I don’t want you to ever leave me, AJ.”

“Oh, come here, ya big softie.” Applejack remembered this moment, reaching out and hugging her wife, holding the pegasus close to her body, so close she could feel her beating heart. “Everythin’s gonna be alright.”

“But 15,000 bits, AJ? You’re… you’re worth much more to me than that…”

“15,000 bits.”

In a moment of nearly crystal clear clarity, amidst the conflagration of weather and icy water, Applejack, still lying on her stomach on the frozen bridge, understood everything. Slowly, her tears gone from her eyes, she picked herself up from the bridge deck. She planted her hooves firmly and squarely on the slippery ice and gradually rising to her full height, inch by inch. Once on her hooves, she looked around her. The snow swirled with the blowing wind, and the ice-choked river rushed underneath the bridge, large frozen chunks bobbing and crashing into one another in the chaotic, storm-whipped current.

She made her way to the edge of the bridge that faced downstream. The drifting snow cut through her vision, but the rushing water and ice below were easy to see, and easier to hear. She set her forehooves on the bridge’s stone sidewall, gazing out at the turbulent stream. “Ah might lose the farm, and Ah might’a failed my family, but maybe Ah’m not worthless after all.” Her whispered words were lost to the wind. And in the stormy night, she closed her eyes, leaned out over the edge, propelled herself upward with her strong hind legs, and flew out over the stream and into the snow-filled sky, finally hitting the icy water with a splash.

The water was freezing. She gasped and sputtered as she swallowed it, her head only coming above the surface for a few seconds at a time as she was tumbled in various directions. For a long while, she was jostled around by the ice chunks that bobbed and swirled about her. Gradually, the commotion in the turbulent center of the river forced her to drift closer and closer towards the waters’ edge. Up ahead, a rather large chunk of ice had stuck fast in the shallow water, the current pouring around it and creating a deafening roar every time Applejack’s ears broke the surface. With her scarf and fur plastered to her soaking body, she slipped downstream, closer and closer towards the obstruction, her side scraping against the streambed as she was pushed into shallow water, closer and closer to the aground ice chunk, where a head on collision mercifully knocked her unconscious.

===========================================================================================

“I just don’t understand it, Fluttershy. Why would she run out like that?”

“She’s just scared, Rainbow Dash. She’ll come back. I know she will.”

“I’m scared too, Fluttershy. What if she doesn’t come back? What if something terrible happens?”

“Oh, Rainbow Dash. I’m sure everything will be just fine. Come here.”

Tentatively, Rainbow Dash walked over to the yellow pegasus, who lay on her back upon a couch. Fluttershy gestured to her friend, smiling for her and drawing her into a hug. “Th-thanks… Fluttershy.”

“You don’t have to be so worried. Applejack is a strong pony. She can take care of herself.”

“Yeah… I know… but… but I just can’t stand it. I want to see her. I want to be with her. I can’t stand having her out there alone and not knowing what she’s doing. I love her too much.”

Rainbow Dash lay down next to Fluttershy. Fluttershy looked down at her friend’s face and saw tears in her eyes. She reached out and grabbed her friend, pulling her into an embrace so that all six colors of her mane sprawled out over her yellow chest. Rainbow Dash stared at the ceiling, shaking her head back and forth and sobbing gently, as Fluttershy held her and began stroking her mane. “Everything’s going to be all right.”

“I just keep thinking about what she said to me when she left, the way she ran out the door. I just know she’s mad at me. I’m a terrible wife.”

“No you’re not, Rainbow Dash. Applejack is lucky to have a mare as devoted and caring as you.”

“Th… th-thanks Fluttershy. You’re a great friend.” Rainbow Dash smiled as she felt a hoof run through her mane, “Why do you have to be so perfect?”

Fluttershy just smiled.

============================================================================================

Applejack opened her eyes. She shook herself. Strangely, she didn’t feel pain, or wet, or even cold, for that matter. She gazed about herself. She couldn’t see anything. She shook her head again to see if there was something wrong with her eyes before opening them again. Nothing. The space around her was pitch black save for a single light. The light seemed to emanate from near herself, but she could see no visible source. She took a few tentative steps, noticing with confusion that the light seemed to follow her, as if she herself gave off the light, allowing her to see but a few feet into the nothingness ahead. “Where am Ah?” She called out to the darkness.

She never expected to hear a voice, a mare’s voice, respond. “There you are. Ah was wonderin’ when ya were goin’ ta show up.”, but that voice… it was so familiar… but… but it couldn’t be. It couldn’t possibly be! She stared straight ahead, unable to get her bearings, and continued to stare as a shadowy figure appeared, growing closer every with every step it took. As it drew further into the light, the figure’s feature became more pronounced. Applejack watched in awe as a mare appeared out of the gloom before her. A mare with an amber pelt, kind, soft green eyes, shock of red hair for her mane and tail, and three apple slices – sparkling as if coated with sugar – for a cutie mark. She was a mare Applejack had not seen for years, and had never expected to see again. “Surprised to see me?”

“MAMA!” Applejack rushed forward and threw her fore legs around her mother’s neck.

Sweet Apple smiled. “Oh, how I have missed you, my little AJ.”

“Mama… Ah’ve missed you so much too.” Applejack held onto her mother as if she were but a foal again, afraid to lose her a second time. “Why… how come… why can Ah see you? Mama? Am Ah… am Ah dead?”

Sweet Apple separated from her daughter and stood to look deep into her eyes, not answering for several moments. Finally, she shook her head and spoke. “Of course not. Why would you be dead?”

“Because… because Ah threw mahself into th’ river.” Applejack looked away, as if embarrassed. “Then… then where am Ah? How can Ah be with you if Ah’m not dead like… like… you…”

“I am but a figure of your memory, Applejack. But Ah think the better question is: Why would you jump off a bridge in the first place?”

“Because… because… because Ah’m a failure. Half the apples are dead and the farm is ruined because o’ me. The family’ll run out o’ money before winter is over, and we’ll have to sell the farm because Ah couldn’t even get a simple loan to save th’ farm.”

“Applejack. You are mah daughter. And no matter what happens, you are not a failure.”

“But Ah am! We’re about to lose the farm because of me. The farm our family has had fer generations and Ah’m the one ta lose it. We’ll lose our jobs, our home, we’re gonna lose everythin’ and it’s all because Ah couldn’t get all the apples bucked fer the first time in mah life!”

“But would killing yourself really solve anything?”

“Ah have life insurance. It’s the only way ta save the farm. Now, Macintosh can use the 15,000 bits he and Rainbow with get and he can pay fer th’ farm. It’s about all Ah’m worth, anyway.”

“AJ. Don’t say that.”

“But it’s true! Look what Ah’ve done with mah life. Big Macintosh, Rainbow Dash, Applebloom, Fluttershy, and the three foals. We’d all be homeless because o’ me. Ah lost the farm and Ah’d lose them everythin’, too. Ah don’t deserve to live, Ah’ve only hurt the ones Ah love.”

“But they love you; they would miss you terribly if you left.”

“So? Ah failed them anyway. They’ll all be better off without me, at least they can keep the farm.”

“Applejack, you’re mah daughter. Ah brought ya into this world, and even if Ah am a memory, ah’m not about ta watch ya take yerself out.”

“Well, maybe everypony would just be better off if ya hadn’t brought me into this world!”

“Come now, AJ. You can’t possibly mean that.”

“Well just look what Ah’ve managed ta do with mah life. My whole family is about to be broke and homeless thanks ta me. Rainbow Dash can’t even keep us all fed on her weather-pony salary. We’ll have to sell the farm that’s been in the family since before Ah was born just to get by. Mah own daughter will grow up without money to pay fer food and education thanks ta me. Ah’ve failed everypony in mah whole life. Ah wish Ah’d never been born!”

“Fine. Then there is only one way Ah can help you now.” Sweet Apple turned and began to walk away. Alarmed, Applejack attempted to chase after her, but no matter how fast she made her hooves go, she couldn’t catch up to the receding figure of her mother. Sweet Apple’s figure slipped away into the darkness as Applejack tried in vain to reach out to her.

“MAMA! MAMA!” She shouted into the blackness as her head began to swim. She dropped to her knees, resting her suddenly throbbing head on the floor as her vision left her. She continued to cry out even as all sensations left her.

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Chapter 7

It’s a (Apple)Joyful Life!

Hazily slipping back to consciousness, Applejack was vaguely aware of water flowing over her legs and body. Groaning, she flicked her eyes open, allowing them to adjust to the newfound darkness. She felt cold, extremely cold, and knew if she wasn’t able to do something soon, there would be no reason for doing anything. Her body acting on instinct alone, she picked herself up out of the water. Her hooves, having lost their boots in the conflagration, found secure purchase on the pebbles beneath her. She swayed slightly as she stood, her body beginning to shiver. A gust of wind picked up, blowing over her now-exposed body and heightening the chills brought to her skin through her damp pelt.

The current, still fast but now nearly harmless due to the decreased depth of water, ran over her hooves as she stood. Her vision centered herself, the dim shapes before her finally swimming back into focus, and she became dimly aware that the shoreline lay but a few feet away – a distance easily covering in the swift yet shallow water. Careful not to lose her balance, Applejack struggled towards shore, where she collapsed on the snowy embankment. Her wet fur clung to her body as she lay, gasping for breath, in the newly fallen snow. Unthinking, she became vaguely aware that she could hear nothing but a dull ringing sound. The sharp tone continued to manifest itself in her ears for several moments, before it began to warble and fade away, only to be replaced by the rushing of water behind her.

Groggily, she stood up again, gaining a weak balance on her hooves again in the deeply chilling snow. Turning around, she gulped to see the violent tossing of the ice-choked and wind-whipped stream behind her. Ice chunks jostled with one another as they rushed around a bend in the river. The water was slower and much shallower on the inside of the bend – where Applejack had been deposited. Faintly conscious that she was still freezing and wet, Applejack shook herself vigorously. The violent motion resulted in showers of latent snow and water droplets as they were shaken from her pelt, as well as the full restoration of all her groggy senses. Her mind finally snapped into full clarity, and Applejack, less damp but still freezing, swung her head around to take in her surroundings.

The snow had stopped falling. A pristine blanket of white covered the dark town but no flakes swirled through the air or blew on the intermittent gusts of wind. The ethereal darkness reigned supreme. She looked up to the sky to find the low ceiling of clouds still in place, unmoving. Shaking her head weakly, she gazed out at the town. It was hard to see for several seconds, until her eyes adjusted to the lack of light. Slowly, the black thatched roofs and spires of Ponyville began to stand out against the black sky behind. No festive lights adorned the trees or the facades of shops and houses. The bleak town looked grave in its lonely emptiness. As she stared, trying to pick out some source of light, she saw a lit doorway here, a sputtering streetlamp there. It was a far cry from the festive spread of lights that had previously graced the sleepy village.

Another gust of wind washed over her, sending further chills down her spine and reminding her of her desperate need for warmth. Her stiff joints creaking with the cold, she struggled to walk towards the town. Behind her, a rainbow-colored scarf lay on the snow, forgotten after having been shaken off.

As she sauntered forward, the dim outline of a familiar spire came into her vision. Recognizing Carousel Boutique, she willed her legs to move faster, breaking into a gallop as she neared the residence of her friend and hopefully, her sanctuary. Her eyes widened as she neared the entrance. Her legs locked in place, her hooves sliding over the fresh as she realized that the door, usually inviting and friendly, was crisscrossed with haphazardly nailed boards. She blinked, dumbfounded, at the boarded-up door for several seconds, before resolve hardened her gaze. Drawing upon some of her last bits of energy and strength, she reared back on her hind legs and kicked the door in. It gave way rather easily, stirring up dual clouds of snow and dust as it swung inward.

Applejack stepped into the decrepit boutique cautiously. Dust and cobwebs were everywhere, accentuating the dank, musty smell that hung about the rooms. It was clear nopony had been here for a long time. Applejack spied a mantel in the center of the back room. She felt herself drawn to it. The old hearth was cached with dust and a few pieces of rotting wood sat inside. Applejack did her best to brush them aside, coughing at the clouds of dust that rolled up to meet her.

Turning from the hearth, she rushed to the far wall, where a board, tacked with numerous newspaper clippings, hung above a dusty desk. The paper was crinkled and yellowed with age. Applejack stopped only momentarily to read the headlines before tearing them from the wall.

‘Up-and-Coming Fashion Designer Rarity Announces Plans to Move Business to Manehattan in Preparation for Launch of New ‘Nightmare Line’ of Fashion’

The clippings went into the empty grate, where they were soon joined by pieces of board ripped from the door and several windows. Growing colder by the minute, Applejack searched in desperation through various drawers and boxes before she found what she was looking for. Pulling a forgotten matchbook from a dusty drawer, she dashed over to the hearth and soon had built a roaring fire.

She lay before the flickering flames for a long time, letting the warmth soak into her body and bring her low core temperature up. She held her hooves before the fire, sighing in relief as she felt the last traces of the cold leave her body. In the light of the fire, the unkempt room was even more apparent. Cobwebs lay across discarded dress-pattern figures, figures which created eerie shadows as the flickering light cast itself about the room. “What happened to mah friend?” She asked the still air. “Why did she leave?”

“Because you never were her friend.” Applejack jumped, startled by the voice which seemed to be inside her own head. “Your wish came true, Applejack.”

“Mama? Is that you? What wish?”

“Welcome to Equestria, AJ. Equestria, as it is without you.” Her mother’s voice rang through her head.

“What… what do ya mean, ‘without me’?”

“You wished you had never been born. This is your wish come true. This is your world as it would be without you. You have never existed here.”

“But that’s not possible! You can’t just… you can’t just make that happen.”

“Really? Then explain your surroundings. See how everything has changed without you around. Have you really made everypony’s lives better?”

“Rarity… Rarity is in Manehattan, persuin’ her career. Isn’t that what she always wanted?”

“She is alone in a large city without her friends and with only her work to comfort her. Do you think that is what she would have wanted?”

“This is impossible! This can’t be real!” Applejack jumped up from her spot by the now-fading fire. Without thinking, she found herself charging from the unused shop, kicking up clouds of snow as she raced out into the cold night once more. Her hooves pounded against the powdery streets, and she looked around wildly, desperately searching for some sign of normality. What she saw stopped her in her tracks. She had reached the location of the Ponyville Library, or, at least, where the Library should have been. Before her stood a lonely, forsaken stump. Charred black by the ravaging effects of a long-ago fire. The soot-coated remains stood in stark contrast to the white snow that half buried them. A forlorn looking sign, standing before the ruins at an askew angle, told her all she needed to know.

‘This establishment was burned and its two occupants jailed for their high crimes of treason and sedition. Let this serve as a warning to all rebels: No mercy for those who defy our beloved Queen Nightmare Moon.’

“Queen Nightmare Moon?! What in the hay happened? We defeated Nightmare Moon!”

“How could you have? There was never a pony to bear the Element of Honesty. The bearers of the Elements of Harmony never came together when they needed to because they lacked a sixth member. Twilight Sparkle tried to resist when Nightmare Moon took power, but alone, she was defenseless and was captured.”

“This is impossible! This is just impossible!” Applejack stumbled backwards, away from the offending sign. She stared at the charred remains before her for several more seconds before she shut her eyes. She shook her head back and forth in vain to try and free herself from her nightmare, and then she took off running. She opened her eyes and ran without thinking where she was going. She ran from the town and she ran from the ruined library. She never looked over her shoulder. Soon enough, she found herself on a lonely path. The town fell behind her as she forged ahead, and gradually she slowed down, finally feeling like she had put enough distance between her and the town she no longer knew.

She looked around at the peaceful country lane. She recognized this place. In the distance she could see the faint glow of a light. Hope surging in her heart, she moved towards it. As she neared, she could make out the square of a lit window on a desolate cottage. Her eye’s brightened in recognition. ‘Fluttershy’s cottage! Looks like she’s home, too!’ Her mind became consumed by this one thought. Applejack found herself running again, towards the lit window of the cottage before her . Reaching it, she pressed her face to the glass, straining to se inside.

To her surprise, no animals could be seen inside. For several moments, Applejack stared at an empty living room. A couch sat alongside the far wall, a single flickering candle sat on a nearby table. Very little else sat about the room. A few old chairs and a couple tattered rugs. Applejack was beginning to doubt anyone was home when a shadow fell across the floor. Applejack watched, holding her breath, as the figure approached. She felt her hopes skyrocket as a yellow pegasus with a flowing pink mane came into view through the window. “Fluttershy!” Applejack’s call was lost to the wind, the mare made no indication she had noticed.

Slowly, forlornly, Fluttershy lay herself down on the couch and pulled a well-worn blanket up over her body. Applejack watched, dismayed, as Fluttershy began to cry. Tear after tear rolled from her eyes and down her cheek, dripping down onto the carpet. Finally, the mare inside curled up into herself, drawing into a tight ball, and closed her eyes, although she could still be seen shaking gently as she sobbed into the cushions.

“What… what’s wrong… what’s wrong with her?”

“When the eternal night came, Fluttershy became even more fearful of the world around her. She secluded herself away from the other ponies out of fear. Her few friends eventually left and she became even more isolated and alone. She has never worked up the courage to meet new ponies, and she lives in constant fear of the new Queen. Now, she no longer trusts anypony and leaves her house only when it is absolutely necessary.”

“No… NO!” Applejack shook her head, trying to clear her mother’s voice away. “That can’t be true, it just can’t be!” She ran around the house to the front door and knocked, pounding on the wood of the door in vain to try and will her friend to come out. From inside the cottage, Applejack could hear a muffled “Eeeeep!”, and suddenly, the only light flickered out, leaving Applejack to stand in perfect darkness once again. She waited for several moments, but the door never opened. Finally, she resigned herself to walk away slowly, her head hung low as she turned back towards town.

=======================================================================================

The winter wind whistled in the barren branches of the trees as Applejack walked beneath them. Snow crunched beneath her hooves each time she took a step. The darkness that surrounded her felt overpowering. She longed to see another pony, hoping against hope that she might be able to break free from this nightmare once and for all. But as the moments passed, she began to lose all hope of meeting anypony else. She looked back up to the sky, but no comfort could be found in its dark expanse. She sighed, dejected, and tried to ignore the cold as she continued walking.

“Applejack.”

Applejack whirled around at the sound of her own name being called. She searched behind her to find the source of the voice, and felt overjoyed as a figure made its way towards her out of the darkness. Her elation, however, fell as she came to recognize the amber mare approaching her. “Ah suppose ya’re alive in this world, then?”

Sweet Apple shook her head. “No. Ah am still but a figment of your own memory. But come. There’s something Ah must show you.”

Sighing in defeat, Applejack turned to follow her mother’s image off the main road and onto a path that led deeper into a grove of trees. As they emerged on the other side of the small grove, Applejack gasped. Before her, row upon row of gravestones stretched into the distance. She stood, unmoving, as a flood of unwelcome memories besieged her. She began walking suddenly, as if drawn by the force of her own conscience towards the site she had visited her many times. It’s location was known to her well, and she felt as if she was retracing her own footsteps as she made her way towards the Apple Family plot.

The two gravestones sat side-by-side. She knew them both well. After all, she had come here many times to see her mother and grandmother’s final resting places, but there was something different now; something that perplexed her. Adjacent to the headstones she knew so well, a third, smaller one stood up from its frozen bed. Casting her wariness aside, Applejack reached down to brush the snow that had drifted up against its face away.

‘Here lies Applebloom; beloved granddaughter and sister; taken from life far too soon.’

Applejack’s head swam. She fell to her knees, unwilling to comprehend the sight before her eyes. She took deep, halting breaths as tears began to roll down her face. Through her sobs, she cried to the empty sky. “WHY?!” she lifted a hoof into the air only to slam in back down to the ground. She shook her head, nearly burying herself as she lay in the snow, continuing to strike the frozen ground repeatedly with her hoof. Her tears dripped into the snow, becoming lost in the powder as she sobbed, still moaning her question to the uncaring world. “Why? Why? Why?”

“You were never there to save her when she went over that cliff.” Applejack jumped, having forgotten her companion, and whipped around to confront her. She saw Sweet Apple several rows behind her, looking straight at her and standing directly before another gravestone, one that didn’t look nearly as worn as the others. “Come here, Applejack.”

Without thinking, Applejack obeyed. She made her way through the rows of upright stones towards the image of her mother. Sweet Apple simply pointed at the grave before her as her daughter approached, speaking again only when the young orange mare finally stood abreast of her. “This is the newest grave here.” Applejack gazed down, turning her head to make out the single, simple word carved into the rock face.

‘Scootaloo.’

For several moments, Applejack could only stand, dumbfounded, staring at the chiseled name. The shock was all but too much; she was beyond tears. Finally, she turned back to the image of her mother, struggling to put words together to form a coherent question. “How… how… is this… mah fault?”

“In this world, she froze to death in the streets barely a week ago. In your world, you took her in when she was lost and cold.”

“But… but what about her… parents?”

“Applejack, look.” Sweet Apple lifted a hoof to point just behind the stone, indicating a pair that sat next to each other - two similar gravestones, standing behind that of the filly as if guarding it. “There they are.”

“Are they… are they…”

“Yes. They are dead in your world as well.”

“Ah had no idea.”

“She never told anypony when it happened. She lived on the streets for years. This winter, it just became too much for her.”

“Well. Ah…” Applejack stopped speaking abruptly, her ears cocked to the low sound of another noise. From somewhere in the distance, Applejack heard the faint crunch of hooves on snow. She looked up from the stone, squinting to see into the hazy distance. Out of the darkness, the shadowy figure of a tall pony could be seen approaching. Applejack watched in silence as the pony approached, walking haltingly down a row of gravestones several rows ahead of them. As the figure exited the mist, its features became clear to Applejack. She barely contained her surprise, biting her tongue to keep herself quiet. Ducking down behind the stone before her to remain unseen, she peeked around to watch him as he continued his slow walk.

The stallion’s head was hung, and Applejack could just barely make out tears, glistening just underneath his green eyes. His orange hair billowed in the breeze slightly, and in his mouth he carried a single wilted flower. The snow underneath him crunched with each hoofstep, his gait slow and haling. Each stride he took was short, as if the once powerful pony had simply given up. He stumbled a few times before he stopped, blinking tears from his eyes, just before the gravestone marked with Applebloom’s name.

Big Macintosh stooped to deposit his wilted flower before the stone, scraping snow away to clear a patch of ground. “Happy Hearth’s Warming, little sis.” Without another word, he began to walk, each defeated step carrying him farther and farther away.

Applejack stood, straining to watch her brother as the mist and darkness enveloped him once again. Silently, she began to follow him. Looking back over her shoulder for a fleeting instant, she found the image of her mother was nowhere to be seen. Turning back, she had to hurry to catch back up to her brother, but soon slowed to a walk as she found him again, still sauntering mournfully through the snow. She watched him, being careful not to follow at too close a distance, as he left the cemetery and began walking down the road to town. Wary of being seen, she remained just far enough behind him so that she didn’t lose sight of him in the dark, hoping against hope that he wouldn’t turn around and see her. For some reason she didn’t understand, she felt it best to remain unseen for now.

The largely unlit town stretched before them. Applejack glanced around at the storefronts that lined the street she and her brother moved down. There were no holiday decorations, and only a few doorways were even lit. Most doors and windows were shut, some of them even boarded up. In the dim light of the few flickering candles, Applejack could just make out the signs, some worn and beaten, which hung over street side doors. She was surprised to find that, instead of the shops and cafes she had always known, the unkempt structures of Ponyville now played host to bars, liquor stores, pawn shops, and other unbecoming establishments. Applejack shivered, and not entirely due to the cold.

Applejack returned her gaze to the street before her, startling to see that her brother was no longer in sight. She swung her head around, her eyes sweeping for any sign of him, and was just in time to see a door in one of the few lit entryways swing shut. She walked across the snow-filled street to the dilapidated structure, taking a fleeting glance at the sign before she pushed her way through the creaking door and into the dimly lit building.

The sign hung askew above the doorway, attached by only one bolt, and it swung freely from side to side in another gust of wind. ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ it read.

Applejack found herself in a dim hallway, lit only by the candle burning outside and a light shining through an open doorway at the end of the corridor. The sound of Applejack’s hoofsteps echoed off the corridor walls as she advanced upon the light. Closing in upon the open door, she could make out voices emanating from beyond it. She felt her adrenaline spike as one voice in particular, her brother’s accented drawl, suddenly stood out from the others. “Th’ usual, Caramel. And make it cloppy.”

Applejack stepped through the doorway and blinked as the full force of the light hit her. Her vision quickly adjusted, opening up to reveal a large, rectangular room. Wooden benches and tables, a few occupied by various dejected-looking ponies, lined three of the walls. The fourth wall, the one adjacent to the door she had just came in through, was occupied by a long bar. Applejack recognized the bar tender – Caramel had long been a friend of her brother – but she wondered what he was doing running such an establishment. Scanning the various ponies standing before the bar, Applejack spotted her brother, just as Caramel delivered a small glass filled with a murky brown liquid to him.

Applejack watched as Big Macintosh took the glass to his lips, downing the substance inside in a single gulp and shuddering only slightly as he slammed the vestibule back down to the wooden surface before him. “Macintosh? What in the hay are you doin’ here?”

Big Macintosh looked up and blinked a few times before swinging around to confront the speaker. Caramel stopped his task of wiping down a glass and turned to watch, as well. “An’ just who might ya be? Ah ain’t never seen ya before.”

“How can ya not know me, Mac? Ah’m yer sister!”

Big Macintosh squinted at the ornage mare for a few seconds before shaking his head sadly. “Nope. Ah’m ‘fraid ya’re mistakin’, mah only sister died three years ago. Now, Ah’d be mighty glad if ya’d be so kind as ta take yer leave.”

“But… but… Big Mac! Yah… yah got ta recognize me! Ya’re mah brother!”

“AH AIN’T YER BROTHER! Ya’re startin’ ta scare me. Ah’m not in th’ mood fer some stranger ta come messin’ wit’ me.”

“Ah’m not messin’ with ya, what Ah’m sayin’ is the honest truth.”

“Ya’re lyin’. Ah only know a few ponies, and you ain’t one o’ ‘em.”

“But Ah know everypony you know, Mac!”

“Like who, missy?”

“Like yer wife, Fluttershy!”

“Now what makes ya think Ah’m with that ol’ hermit? Ain’t nopony talked to her in months.”

“There has ta be someone, Rainbow Dash? Rarity? Pinkie Pie?”

“Ya mean Pinkamina? That menace has been locked up ever since th’ sun left. She just snapped when everypony stopped comin’ ta her silly parties.”

Applejack backed up to the door, shaking her head in disbelief. Having witnessed the whole exchange, Caramel leaned on his bar and glared straight at Applejack. “Now look, filly. I don’t know who you are or what you want, but if you keep botherin’ my friend, I might have to throw you out of my saloon. Now I suggest you beat it before you have to take a hoof to the kisser for good measure, see?”

Applejack stumbled as she backed her way through the door. Once out of the room ,she turned tail and fled down the hallway, tears streaming from her face. Behind her, she could just make out her brother’s slow drawl drifting through the smoky air. “Gimme another one. It’s been a long night.”

Applejack tripped over the threshold of the exterior door. Thrown out of balance, she sprawled forward, taking a full impact with the snow in the street. For several moments, she lay there, her front coated with snow, and just cried. Then, the voice of her mother broke through her mourning, piercing her thoughts and filling her mind. “Do ya believe me now, Applejack?”

“Ah… Ah… yes. Ah didn’t want ta believe, but if… if mah own brother doesn’t recognize me then Ah guess there’s nothin’ else ta hope for.” Applejack picked herself up, brushing the snow from her face, and sighed. “After seein’ what happens ta the others, Ah didn’t want ta ask this… but… but Ah gotta know. Mama? Where’s Rainbow Dash? What happens ta her?”

“Are… are you sure you want to see her, AJ?”

Applejack swallowed hard, preparing herself for the worst. “Y-yes.”

“She gets done with her shift late. She should be just leaving the practice fields on the other side of town now.”

“Practice fields? Ya mean she made the Wonderbolts?” Applejack started to trot, quickly breaking into a full gallop as she weaved her way through the streets.

“Not exactly.”

“What do ya mean?”

“Even after Nightmare Moon returned, Rainbow Dash remained loyal to the end to Celestia. When they finally captured her, they punished her the worst way they could think of.”

“P-punished her? H-how?”

“See for yourself.”

In the distance, Applejack spotted a lone figure walking slowly down the street towards her. The pony was covered in a purple and black costume that made her difficult to distinguish from the night sky. Her eyes were covered by a pair of goggles and her cyan wings drooped from the holes cut through the fabric for them, but there was no mistaking that mane and tail. “RAINBOW!”

Rainbow Dash jumped slightly at the sound of her name. She cringed as she spotted some unknown pony racing towards her. “Stay back…” Her weak, raspy voice drifted through the cold air.

“R-Rainbow? Sugarcube? Don’t ya know me?”

“I’ve never seen you in my life. Now… pl-please. Just… just get outta here. Get outta here before they catch us!”

“Whaddya mean, ‘before they catch us’? Who’s…” Applejack stopped as she neared close enough to see the pegasus up close. She looked tired, beaten, and her head and wings slumped as if she had no reason left to hold them up – nothing to live for. Applejack was just about to ask another concerned question when a flash of blinding light and searing sound cut through her train of thought.

Rainbow Dash’s scream ripped through the still night air and made Applejack cringe, stepping backward in horror. She hadn’t noticed the silvery collar around the pegasus’s neck before, but now each brilliant, blue, arcing bolt of electricity that coursed through the collar and into the pagasus’s throat drew her eyes to it, keeping her staring in fixed horror at the torture device strapped onto the pony she loved. After what seemed an eternity, the bolts from the shock collar subsided and Rainbow Dash collapsed to the ground in a heap, panting heavily and whimpering. Before Applejack could rush forward, she saw another pony, dressed in the same purple and black outfit, with the same stitched lightning bolts and the same winged skull on her flank, swoop out of the sky.

“Not having late-night discussions with plotters against our beloved Queen, are you, my captain?” The unknown Shadowbolt smirked at the cowed Rainbow Dash before turning to face Applejack, hatred flashing through her goggles from her eyes. “And just who might you be? Don’t you know that you’re out past curfew?”

“Ah… Ah… Ah was just leavin’…” Applejack found herself stammering, backing up in fear as the menacing pony approached her.

“Of course you were,” The unknown pony sneered before turned back to look up into the sky. “Guards! Arrest this pony and take her in for questioning!” At her words, two more dark ponies, both dressed in deep blue armor, swept down from the sky and hurtled towards Applejack. Without thinking, Applejack took off, galloping at top speed in the opposite direction.

She charged ahead, not knowing or caring where she was going, only concerned with outpacing the guards who followed her every move. The wind whistled through her mane and she continued to push herself, trying to gain as much speed as she could from her powerful legs. After weaving through Ponyville’s streets, she found herself galloping full tilt down the road she was most familiar with – the road home. Just ahead of her, the stone bridge over the rushing creek loomed ahead. In the murky night, Applejack could see the sheet of ice waiting for her on the bridge deck. She swallowed hard. She knew that if she stopped to avoid the ice, she would be captured, but if she slipped, she would be captured as well.

Applejack whipped her head around, searching desperately for a solution. Behind her, the ponies giving chase had begun to gain distance on their quarry, closing in on her little by little. Finally, settling her gaze just to the side of the bridge, Applejack made up her mind. Digging in for an extra burst of speed, she lowered her head and angled off the main road. The rushing sound of the water grew closer, and Applejack cried to the night. “Oh, Sweet Celestia. If this is a dream, take me out of it!”

Her powerful hind legs propelled her from the shoreline into the air. For the second time in her memory, Applejack soared out over the icy current, closing her eyes as she flew. The last sensation she felt was the sting of the freezing water as it hit her body.

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Chapter 8

It’s a (Apple)Joyful Life!

Applejack blinked her eyes open to find them confronted with darkness again. Around her, nothing was visible except for her own body. She picked herself up onto her hooves, noting with some worry that there seemed to be nothing but more darkness beneath her. Taking a few steps, she realized that the aura of light was following her once again. And that she seemed to be walking on nothing. Her mind automatically registered that this seemed to be the same strange dark place she had been in earlier; that everything around her was probably a figment of her own imagination, but such complex thoughts ended abruptly with the intrusion of a familiar voice, echoing from somewhere behind her.

“Honey, Ah’m so proud of you.” Applejack whipped around and found herself face to face with the smiling image of her mother again. Sweet Apple grinned at the perplexed look on her daughter’s face before she embraced her. “You came back. You came back and Ah couldn’t be happier.”

“But… but Ah don’t understand. What was that?”

“That was what Equestria would have been without you. Ya see, Appejack? You really have a wonderful life. But Ah think ya realize that now.”

“Yeah… yeah Ah do… but… how? How could Ah see that? Was it… was it a dream?”

“Yes. It’s very much like a dream. Ah had to show you somehow, didn’t Ah?”

“But… but if this… if this is all just a dream… does that mean… does that mean, when Ah wake up, that Ah won’t see you again?”

“I’m afraid so, Applejack.” Applejack tightened her grip, holding onto her mother as if she were about to be pulled from her right then and there. Despite all the years she had had to cope, tears began rolling down her cheeks once more, tears that soaked Sweet Apple’s red mane. Holding her, feeling her in her embrace, hearing her voice, it all seemed so tantalizingly real to Applejack. She didn’t want to ever let go.

“Ah don’t want ta lose ya again, mama.” Applejack sobbed, gripping the mare before her as if the sheer force of her will alone could bring her back.

“You have to, Applejack. This is just a dream, remember? You have to go back to the real world and see your real family, now.”

“But… but it feels so real.”

“Dreams feel real while you sleep. You need to wake up now, AJ. Your daughter needs you. Your family needs you.”

Applejack sniffed, wiping her eyes with a hoof. “You… you know about Applejoy?”

Sweet Apple smiled. “Of course Ah do. And Ah can’t say how happy and proud Ah am. You’ve lived a wonderful life, AJ, and you’re a wonderful mare, and now you’re a mother too. Ah’m proud of who ya are and who ya’ve become. Never forget that. There are plenty of ponies who love you, even if Ah can only be with you in memory.”

Applejack pulled away to look at her mother’s face, noting with alarm that her vision was getting blurry. Sweet Apple’s face swam, the amber and red blending and mixing as Applejack’s sight slowly faded. Reaching forward again, Applejack tightened her grip for one last embrace, holding on for all she was worth as her other sensations faded. “Ah’ll always love ya, mama. Always.”

Sweet Apple’s reply was nearly lost on Applejack as her body and mind slipped gradually back into consciousness. Her mother’s parting words rang in her head as she finally slipped from the dream world. “Ah know, AJ. Ah love you too.”

========================================================================================

Hazily slipping back to consciousness, Applejack was vaguely aware of water flowing over her legs and body. Groaning, she flicked her eyes open, allowing them to adjust to the swirling sparkles of white that filled the dark space around her. The water flowing over her was cold, but Applejack could not feel it. Inside, she felt a strange warmth envelop her, spreading from her chest to the very tips of her hooves. She stood up easily, allowing the rushing water to swirl around her hooves as she sank lightly into the pebbles and gravel of the shallow streambed. Dripping, she began to walk from the water, setting her hooves upon the snowy bank alongside the river and climbing out of the water.

Snow swirled all around her, billowing in the breeze and beginning to stick to her soaking pelt. She shook herself, allowing flakes of snow and droplets of water to scatter themselves in a cascading shower from her body. In the process, Applejack saw a flash of color out of the corner of her eye. Turning, she laid her eyes upon a soggy piece of rainbow fabric, lying on the ground after having been shaken loose. Smiling, she stooped down to pick the scarf up in her mouth. Even though they were wet, the folds of the scarf still felt warm to her. She laid it back across her shoulders, feeling warmth spread through her despite the conditions. In a flash of understanding, Applejack was reminded of where she should really be.

The snow danced and swirled through her vision. She looked up, peering through the array of falling white flakes at the clouds above her. The low cloud ceiling, however, no longer seemed a suffocating prison, but a majestic backdrop to the billowing clouds of white that defined the wondrous winter landscape. She gazed up, and addressed the sky. “It’s Hearth’s Warming Eve.”

This truth broke through every other idea carried by her mind to become the only thought given focus. Suddenly, she reared up on her hind legs, kicking the air in front of her and shouting in euphoria. “IT’S HEARTH’S WARMING EVE!” She took off galloping, dashing through the blanket of newly fallen snow, kicking up clouds of white dust behind her as she left the river bank and charged into the town. All around her, the lights and decorations of Ponyville were aglow with the warmth of festive joy. No longer were the homes and shops dark and gloomy, but alive and full of light. “Happy Hearth’s Warming, Ponyville!”

She galloped down the empty streets, her scarf billowing behind her, swinging her head from side to side to gaze at the buildings as they flashed past. Up ahead, she caught a glimpse of the familiar spire of Carousel Boutique, lit up cheerily for the season, no boards in sight. “Happy Hearth’s Warming, Rarity!” Farther along the road, a towering tree came into view, snow-laden branches quivering in the breeze; The Ponyville Library. “Happy Hearth’s Warming, Twi!”

Applejack angled down the main street through town, heading right through town center on her way towards the bridge back home. Up ahead, the well-lit façade of town hall loomed before her. Mayor Mare, standing by the front door, was fumbling with her keys, still closing up for the night. “Happy Hearth’s Warming, Mayor Mare!” Applejack smiled in satisfaction as the Mayor jumped, slipping in the snow and falling onto her side. As the tan pony stood up to brush herself off, Applejack galloped past; the road home was now in sight.

As she galloped down the snow-covered road, the sound of rushing water gradually became audible again. Rounding a turn around the corner of a building, the bridge came into view again. Applejack smirked as she caught a glimpse of the glistening ice through the flurries of snow. She leaned her head down into the wind and galloped faster than ever, straining herself to ease every ounce of raw power from her well-toned legs as she could muster. She approached the bridge at an alarming rate – far too fast to be able to stop before she hit the icy surface. Just before her hooves reached the stone surface, she planted them hard in the compact snow at the foot of the bridge and launched herself into the air. She soared out over the bridge deck, clearing the majority of the ice patch, and let her hooves touch a dry spot of the deck before propelling herself upward again. She cleared the bridge deck in two bounds, landing on all fours on the other side and taking off down the road again.

The chilling wind whipped at her mane, tail, and scarf, allowing the moving air to dry them of whatever moisture remained. Her breath rolled from her in billowing clouds as she galloped, her heart beating even faster, for Applejack, it truly felt good to be alive.

The lights of the town gave away to the dim rolling fields and sparse copses of the land immediately outside Ponyville. The road curved and wound its way through the hills, leading Applejack ever onward. Soon, the orderly rows of empty apple tree upon empty apple tree came into view through the darkness and falling snow. Applejack slid to a stop as she approached the edge of her family’s orchard, her heart racing and her breathing hard, she smiled widely at the barren trees that stretched into the dark distance. “Happy Hearth’s Warming ya wonderful ol’ Apple Farm!”

From her years both living and working on the farm, Applejack knew every nook and cranny of the property. She put that knowledge to good use now, ducking and weaving her way through the rows of threes – her trees. She wound her way through the orchard, never stopping until her destination loomed before her. Lights were shining in the windows of the farmhouse, casting a faint glow out into the dark night and beckoning her home. “RAINBOW! RAINBOW!” She cried as she crossed the last bit of land between the edge of the trees and the house. She leapt up onto the porch, tears welling in her eyes, opening the door and bursting into the foyer in a single motion. “RAINBOW!”

“She isn’t here, AJ. She and Macintosh went out looking for you.” Fluttershy gazed at her from her place by the kitchen table, smiling gently as if she had been waiting for her. A steaming mug of warm apple cider sat before her.

“Fluttershy!” Applejack bounded into the kitchen and surprised the yellow pegasus with a tight embrace. “Happy Hearth’s warming, Fluttershy!”

“Happy Hearth’s Warming to you too… Oh dear, you’re so cold, Applejack! Here, have some cider. You need to get warmed up.” Fluttershy pushed the steaming mug up to Applejack face, smiling contentedly as the orange pony took a big sip, shuddering as the heated liquid splashed down her throat.

“Thanks, Fluttershy. Ah’m so happy ta see ya, ya wouldn’t even believe it.” Applejack leaned in to give her sister-in-law another hug, remembering all too well what she had witnessed become of her.

“Mommy?” Applejack released Fluttershy, whipping around in her excitement to see a light orange baby filly with a rainbow-streaked blonde mane and tail stumble into the kitchen.

“Applejoy!” Applejack crossed the kitchen to scoop her daughter up into her hooves. She held the giggling form of the pegasus foal tight up to her chest, kissing her little face over and over again. Tears began to roll down her face once more, and she collapsed onto her side with Applejoy held tight against her. “Ah love you, Sweetie. Ah’m never leavin’ you again.”

“Oh my, I’m so sorry, Applejack. She’s supposed to be asleep, she must have woken up without me knowing.”

“Don’t be silly, Sugarcube. It’s Hearth’s Warming Eve. She can stay up as late as she wants.” Applejack bent back down to kiss her daughter on the forehead once more, pushing her multi-colored mane out of the way with her nose and receiving yet another giggle form the overjoyed foal. “Happy Hearth’s Warming, Joy.”

“Ai wuvs oo, Mommy.”

“You’re the best thin’ that’s ever happened ta me, Applejoy.” Applejack snuggled up against her daughter again, savoring the feeling of her tiny warm body against her chest.

“You mean besides me, of course, right?” Applejack looked up in surprise at the voice, setting her daughter down on her hooves as she stood up to turn and face the direction it had come from. Standing before the still-open front door, with snowflakes sprinkled in her heaxachromatic mane and a sheepish grin on her face, was Rainbow Dash.

“Rainbow!” Applejack wept for joy and trotted towards her wife, Applejoy stumbling after her with a smile on her little face.

“You’ll never believe it, AJ. Macintosh and I-” Rainbow Dash was cut off by a full-force tackle from the orange earth pony. Before she registered what was happening, she found herself sprawled on her back on the floor with Applejack’s muzzle pressed to her own. The feeling of lips pressed against her own got her over her shock quickly. Resigning herself to her fate, she reached her forehooves up over her wife’s back and pulled the earth pony down onto her, kissing her back in full.

The two remained locked in embrace, their tongues dancing to the tune of a lover’s private concert, for a longer time than either could ever hope to measure yet that neither wanted to end. Finally, Applejack pulled her mouth from her lover’s gazing deep into the sparkling magenta eyes she loved, and broke into a huge smile. “Happy Hearth’s Warming, Sugarcube. Ah love you. Ah love you so much.”

“I love you too, AJ.” The couple leaned in, their eyes closing, to share another kiss. Tears of joy rolled from beneath Applejack’s eyelids as she kissed the mare she loved. Droplets slid down onto Rainbow Dash’s cheeks. Rainbow Dash continued to lie on the ground, undeterred, feeling a warmth spreading throughout her body as she held the mare she loved.

“Momma. Mommy!” The two broke their kiss prematurely to turn and stare at their daughter, who sat on the floor next to their heads, smiling at them. Applejack picked herself up off of Rainbow Dash, leaning over her daughter and scooping her up and onto her back. Perched atop the now-warm orange fur of her mother, Applejoy leaned forward to reach her short fore legs around the mare’s neck, nuzzling herself against Applejack’s long tied-back lock of blonde hair. Rainbow Dash stood up, walking up to touch noses with her wife. Both of them then leaned forward so that their foreheads touched. A rainbow forelock blended with a blonde one as green eyes gazed deep into magenta ones, and vice-versa.

“Ah love ya, Sugarcube. Ah love y’all so much. Ah never wanna lose y’all again.”

“I love you, AJ. But what are you talking about?”

“Nothin’, Sugarcube. Nothin’.” She smiled and kissed the mare before her again, savoring the taste of Rainbow Dash’s lips on hers a third time. “So where’s Macintosh?”

“Oh! That’s right!” Rainow Dash grinned at her wife, turning back to the door to open it. “Hey, Mac. Get on in here! She’s waitin’ for you!” The sound of clopping hooves and a strange jingling sound approached, followed by Big Macintosh himself. On his back, a large basket rattled with the clinking of numerous unseen objects.

“Look, sis.” Big Macintosh made his way into the living room and set the basket down in the center of the rug. Applejack peered over the edge. Inside, a large pile of gold bits sparkled back at her. Applejack’s face lit up from a combination of pure joy and the reflection of the shining gold.

She jumped up to throw herself around her brother’s neck. “Big Mac! H.. h-how?”

“We started a collection going around town, AJ. There’s a lot of ponies who love you, well, us, and they were more than willin’ ta donate some bits.” Big Macintosh grinned as his sister pulled away. “Ah think Ah hear some more comin’, now.”

As if on cue, the front door opened again. Applejack watched as Twilight Sparkle, Spike riding on her back, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity, Sweetie Belle in tow, made their way into the house. Applejack looked at all her friends in surprise, turning from smiling face to smiling face. Pinkie Pie, energetic as always, bounced her way across the room. “Hiya, Applejack!” the pink pony greeted her friend before stopping before the basket. Producing a small sack seemingly out of nowhere, she tipped it upside down over the basket, dumping numerous more coins onto the pile, where they clinked into place. “I usually like to spend the bits I get from the Cakes on party supplies, but you need it more than me now!”

Applejack rushed forward to hug her pink friend. As she released the excited pony, Rarity made her way up behind them. She lifted a sizable, bulky pouch into the air with her magic and allowed a considerable amount of bits to fall into the basket. “I’ve made quite a few sales this holiday season, and how unbecoming would it be of me to betray my element? Especially when a friend is in need.” Applejack leaned forward to hug Rarity as well, almost missing Sweetie Belle flip two or three more coins into the basket.

“You can have my allowance, too, Applejack.” The little unicorn filly smiled brightly before rushing off to meet Applebloom, who had just made her way down the stairs. “Hey, AB. Where’s Scoot?”

“Ah dunno. She slept over here the other night but she left. Ah haven’t seen her.”

Applejack turned from watching her sister and Sweetie Belle to see Twilight standing expectantly next to her. “I have some for you too, AJ. Unfortunately, the library doesn’t make much of a profit, but I still have enough to help out friends.” Twilight emptied a smaller bag into the basket and received a hug from Applejack as well.

“Thanks Sugarcube. Thanks all of ya, y’all have no idea how much this means to me. Ah’m so glad to have friends like y’all.” Applejack smiled as she looked between the happy faces of all her friends and family as they gathered around her.

Hold on. It’s not over yet!” Spike clamored down off of Twilight’s back, brandishing a rolled scroll in his claw. Unraveling it, he cleared his throat and began to read. “Dear Applejack and family, Rainbow Dash wrote to me the other day detailing your monetary issues. In the spirit of the season, I have instructed the treasurers of the Royal Coffers to grant the Apple Family access to a maximum of 25,000 bits. Happy Hearth’s Warming to all, and I hope to see you all tomorrow at the Winter Moon Celebration. Princess Celestia.”

For several moments, Applejack could not speak. She stood, tears of joy in her eyes, in the middle of the Living Room. As she looked around the room, her eyes fell upon something that lay next to the fireplace. It was her hat, discarded there earlier when she had been laying with her daughter by the fire before. A slight pressure against her neck told her that she was still with Applejoy as she trotted, silently, over towards the Stetson. She picked it up, catching a glimpse of something unusual poking out of the rim. It was a small piece of parchment. Applejack saw loopy, cursive writing scrawled onto it and craned her head to read it. ‘Applejack- Happy Hearth’s Warming. Remember, nopony is a failure who has friends! -Mom’

Applejack looked up from the hat and the scrap of parchment to stare at her assembled friends and family. Finally, she managed to put words to thought. “Ah… Ah think this calls fer a family hug.” Applejack immediately found Rainbow Dash in front of her, smiling as they embraced. Soon enough, Big Macintosh, Applebloom, and even Fluttershy had joined in. Applejack looked up, craning her head to see Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Sweetie Belle and Spike still standing by the basket, smiling sheepishly. “Come ‘ere y’all, Ah meant the whole family!” The others grinned before trotting over to add themselves to the laughing pile of ponies.

In the center of the pile, her daughter clinging to her neck, Applejack managed to find Rainbow Dash and pin her down onto her back again. “Happy Hearth’s Warming, Sugarcube.”

“Happy Hearth’s Warming, AJ.” Surrounded by their family and the joy of the season, the two leaned in close to one another, eyes glistening, and shared another kiss.

Chapter 9

A stiff, cold wind whipped its way across the rolling hills and fields and through the groups of snow-covered trees, swaying heavily-laden branches and stirring the glistening piles of white snow as it blew. Many latent snowflakes enjoyed a short, triumphant return to the late-morning sky as they were borne upward on each gust, twirling and sparkling in the sun’s brilliant morning light as they soared above grove and plain, only to come drifting lazily back down to earth when the wind died back down. This process repeated itself innumerable times on the crisp winter morning. Despite the sun, it was a cold morning, a condition the biting wind did nothing to remedy, as the air retained its chilly quality even as the time advanced closer to midday. The sun’s light, however, still managed to create a cheery scene as its rays shown down upon the countryside, sending the rolling dunes of pure white ablaze with countless, tiny, glittering reflections.

The only obstructions met by the sun’s light were a few small scattered clouds, lazy drifting through the winter sky as they blew steadily forward on the breeze. The sky had been naturally clear this morning, and had remained largely untouched by pegasus wings, as the town’s weather team had been given the day off to enjoy their Hearth’s Warming Day morning. Most ponies had opted to remain indoors this morning, both to partake in the festivities and to avoid the freezing chill of the outside air. From Ponyville to the surrounding countryside, very few ponies could be found out-of-doors, yet along a lonely snow-covered path on the outskirts of town; a path that meandered its way past groves of trees and through sparkling white clearings, a dual set of hoofprints betrayed the presence of two of these intrepid souls.

They walked side-by-side, their boot-clad hooves sinking slightly into the thick white carpet beneath them with every step. From time to time, they would stop to gaze around at their surroundings, or to simply look at one another, smiling and laughing in the carefree way lovers are apt to do, even as each breath they took turned to steam right before their faces. Occasionally, one of their tails would twitch outwards to flick the other pony in a light-hearted manner, signifying the perfect joy each felt in one another’s company as they trudged through the swirling winter wonderland.

At the onset of a particularly strong gust of wind, the cyan pegasus paused in the road to shiver slightly, turning to address her companion as she stopped beside her. “Come on, AJ. Ya gotta tell me why we’re out here now, I’m freezing!”

The orange earth pony mare grinned at her wife, reached out with a front hoof to give Rainbow Dash a playful nudge on the shoulder. “Sorry, Sugarcube. Ah’m not tellin’ until we get there. Ya’ll just hafta wait an’ see.”

“Come on, just tell me, AJ!”

“Nope. Ah ain’t tellin’.”

Rainbow Dash sidled up close to Applejack, brushing her lover’s flank with her own, bringing them both to a halt. “You know what? You really get on my nerves sometimes.” Rainbow Dash leaned forward to give her wife a quick peck on the lips.

“Ah ain’t the only one who’s guilty o’ that, Sugarcube.” Applejack grinned before returning the gesture in full. Small, billowing clouds of their breath rolled from their noses and intermingled in the rapidly-diminishing space between their faces before their muzzle came completely together, their lips pressing together for a few seconds of bliss before they drew away. “Now, come on, Rainbow! We gotta get there!”

Applejack took off running, stumbling every so often as her boots sank into the light snow surface. Rainbow Dash laughed as she chased after her, kicking up clods of snow behind her as she tried to catch up. Suddenly, a surge of snow – kicked up by Applejack as she ran – caught Rainbow Dash by surprise. She closed her eyes and sputtered as the white powder besieged her face. Rainbow Dash stumbled blindly for several yards, not noticing that Applejack had stopped in front of her. Without warning, Rainbow Dash struck Applejack from behind. Applejack’s legs gave out from underneath her, and with a yelp, she and Rainbow tumbled to the snow on top of one another.

Rainbow Dash opened her eyes and waited a few seconds for her swimming vision to clear. She looked down to see Applejack, her hat knocked askew, pinned underneath her. Applejack shook her head, allowing a few flakes of snow to fall off before she blinked open her eyes and stared up at Rainbow. “Heh. Sorry about that, AJ.”

“That’s alright, Sugarcube.” Rainbow Dash tried to climb off, but found Applejack’s forehooves wrapped around her neck. Without struggling, she allowed the earth pony to pull her head down for another impassioned kiss. Rainbow Dash and Applejack both closed their eyes as their mouths locked together, before they reluctantly pulled apart, grinning at one another. “We’re here, Dashie.”

Rainbow Dash looked up in surprise, carefully picking herself up off of her wife so that Applejack could stand once more. She had to crane her head to read the sign that hung above them, swinging just barely in the slight breeze as it hung over an open gate by the side of the path.

‘Ponyville Cemetery’

“AJ? We’re… here? I’m… I’m so sorry, Applejack. I didn’t know.”

“Didn’t know what, Sugarcube?”

“That we were coming here. You… you probably want to see your mom and Granny Smith…. I… if… if I had known, I… I would have…”

Applejack silenced her stammering wife with a quick kiss to the cheek, smiling brightly when Rainbow Dash turned to look at her. “Yer close, Rainbow. But that’s not why we’re here.” She giggled at the look of confusion on her lover’s face, walking in front of her to lead her forwards. She paused under the gate, looking back to see Rainbow Dash standing behind her. “Come on,” She flicked her tail towards her head, as if egging the pegasus onward, “follow me, and don’t make a peep!”

The two ponies made their way underneath the archway and into the sanctuary. They meandered their way through row upon row of half-buried stones, Applejack walking ahead and Rainbow Dash followed close behind. Applejack kept her head on a swivel, her eyes scanning the seemingly endless sea of white and grey as if she were searching for something. Rainbow Dash stared near fixedly ahead, her attention occupied by the orange rump and swishing golden tail that took up most of her vision.

Without warning, Applejack stopped abruptly in the snow. Rainbow Dash stumbled to avoid colliding with the mare in front of her a second time. Glancing backwards, Applejack had to place a hoof to her mouth to stifle a laugh brought on by her wife’s display and the pink rushing to the pegasus’s cheeks. She reached over to put a fore leg around the embarrassed pony, drawing her up next to her and giving her a quick nuzzle; cheek-to-cheek. She lifted a hoof, directing Rainbow Dash’s attention towards a point off in the distance. “Look, Sugarcube, over there. That’s why we’re here.”

Rainbow Dash squinted against a billowing cloud of wind-swept snow, staring past headstones and snowdrifts, she thought she saw something stick out amongst the nearly endless backdrop of white. Suddenly, the wind died down, affording her a better view as the airborne snow settled briefly. In the distance, a speck of color became visible to Rainbow Dash, orange and purple rose into her vision from the torrent of white. “Is that… is that somepony? AJ?” Dash looked to the earth pony beside her as she felt her leg leave her neck. Standing in place, still blinking confusion from her eyes, she watched as Applejack stepped forward.

Tentatively, Rainbow Dash took a few cautious steps forward. Her boots plunged into the loose surface with every step she took. They passed row upon row of stones, most of them half-buried by the previous night’s storm. All the while, they drew ever closer to their destination. As she stepped forward, the vision before her grew gradually clearer. She blinked several times against the blinding light – the sun’s rays reflected off the glistening pure snow, and the image before her came into focus. Rainbow Dash had to fight the urge to stop in her tracks and blurt out something in her astonishment.

The image revealed itself to be a small filly, orange coat, purple mane, crouching in the snow and shivering slightly. Silently, Rainbow Dash and Applejack crept up behind Scootaloo, not wanting to announce their presence with too much haste. As they drew nearer, Rainbow Dash could hear the muffled sound of small sobs – the cries of a filly nearly lost to the bitter wind and frozen landscape as their owner crouched in a drift. Her head stared fixedly straight forward and down, her gaze directed towards the base of two headstones that lay before her – two headstones where the snow had been lovingly brushed away, revealing the marks on each stone face.

Scootaloo wore nothing, she lay in the snow with her nose held just barely above its icy grip, yet she shivered all the same. She gave no indication of having noticed either of them as Rainbow Dash and Applejack slowly advanced on her, so they were surprised when they heard her speak. Her teeth chattered, chopping her words into small pieces as she struggled to make her voice heard over the winter’s own noise. “H-hap-p-py H-hearth-th’s-s W-warm-ming M-mom and D-dad. I l-love you g-g-guys.”

For several seconds, Rainbow Dash stared with her mouth hanging open slightly. Before her, the sight of the smaller filly, alone in a cemetery, shivering against the cold, and trying to speak to parents she no longer had, triggered something in the mind of the cyan pegasus. Two things happened simultaneously. First, a piece of knowledge clicked into place. She had known this filly for years. She had been idolized by her, she had watched her play with her friends, she had come to think of the little pegasus as a close personal friend, even a sister. But never, not once, had she met the filly’s parents. In this moment, everything made sense to Rainbow Dash. In this moment, she felt as if, after all these years, she finally really knew Scootaloo. And in this moment, an overwhelming tide of emotion crashed through her mind, triggering some internal mechanism that made her leap forward.

Startled, Applejack had no warning and no time to stop her companion in. Rainbow Dash cleared the last few stride lengths ahead of her in what amounted to be but a few heartbeats. Alerted by the sound of rustling behind her, Scootaloo nearly jumped, whipping around just in time to see a pony with a familiar multicolored mane barreling towards her before she found herself engulfed by two cyan legs.

Rainbow Dash embraced Scootaloo and held her to her chest, leaning over her in an attempt to warm the freezing filly’s body. For several seconds, the bewildered filly made no movement – she simply allowed herself to be hugged. Finally, after Scootaloo’s initial shock, Rainbow Dash was rewarded to feel smaller legs grasp around her midsection. She felt the filly squeeze her even tighter, a chilling sensation reaching her chest from both the cold filly’s body and the icy wind. The cold was only intensified by the wet spot formed on Rainbow Dash’s chest – borne of the tears that leaked onto her coat from the filly’s grey eyes as Scootaloo buried her face into her heroine’s cyan fur. Yet still, Rainbow Dash held on.

It did not take long before Applejack worked her way up to the other two ponies. Wordlessly, she embraced the both of them, comfortingly adding her own body heat to the mix. For many long moments, the three of them remained locked in tight embrace. None said a word, yet at times, tears dripped from the eyes of all three. As they held each other, they grew warmer, a heat that lent itself to the strength of love as it emanated from their bodies, wrapping its heated tendrils around until it formed a warming cocoon, shielded against the elements, around the three ponies. Safe and warm in each other’s embrace, it took a while for the three to separate, but even as they did so, each of them returning to all four hooves, Scootaloo kept herself pressed against the elder ponies’ soft fur. The shivers which had racked her body were gone, but the need for comfort remained.

“Ah don’t think this is a very good morning ta be spendin’ by yerself out here, Sugarcube.” Applejack smiled, beaming at the filly as she looked down at her. Scootaloo had grown over the past few years, but she had yet to emerge from her adolescence, and her head barely reached up to Rainbow Dash and Applejack’s necks. “We’re not leavin’ here until ya agree to come home with us.”

Scootaloo did not protest. Still without saying a word, she turned to give one last long look towards the carefully attended headstones before her. She knelt down in the snow before the graves again, and felt a hoof fall across her shoulder. She looked up in silent surprise to see Rainbow dash, her foreleg outstretched to reach the filly, with her eyes closed and her head bowed in respect. Looking to her other side, she saw Applejack with a similar forlorn expression on her face.

Then, wordlessly, they began to walk away. As she struggled through the thick carpet of snow, Scootaloo began to fall behind the two elder ponies. The biting chill of the wind reached her once again, and she found herself floundering and shivering once more as she tried in vain to keep up. Glancing over her shoulder, Applejack spied the struggling filly, and returned to help her onto firmer snow. With a spark of kindness in her eye, Applejack removed her scarf, wrapping the long strand of rainbow fabric around the grateful filly’s body.

They raced to catch back up with Rainbow Dash, who, upon seeing the filly at her side, draped a warm wing over Scootaloo’s back, much like she had done many times with Applejack. Seeing this, Applejack fell into step by Rainbow Dash’s other side. Happily, Rainbow presented her wife with her other wing, grinning as the orange mare, colder now without her scarf, snuggled lovingly up into it. In this way, the three passed underneath the arch of the gates and back out onto the road, each step bringing them closer to a warm house.

Quietly, Rainbow Dash leaned over to whisper in her lover’s ear. “How did you know?”

“It came ta me in a dream.”

============================================================================================

Bright orange tongues of flame leapt from within the hearth, crackling, snapping, and hissing as they devoured the logs which provided them fuel. The fire danced within its stone encasement, every so often sending sparks flying up into the lofty reaches of the chimney above. The orange flames cast their soft, glowing light upon the face of an equally-orange filly. Scootaloo sat before the fireplace, each tongue of flame reflected in her grey eyes as she stared ahead. She hadn’t spoken a word since she sat before the graves of her parents.

Rainbow Dash looked up from her position near the kitchen table. Her eyes passed over Applejack, who was busy explaining the situation to Applebloom on the other side of the kitchen. Applebloom had visibly blanched upon hearing about Scootaloo and her parents, and was now hanging intently on Applejack’s every word. As she looked across the living room, her gaze fell upon her own daughter. Applejoy lay on the floor, her little mouth stretched wide into her charismatic smile as she played, giggling to herself. On the floor next to her were two Wonderbolt dolls, gifts Rainbow Dash smiled upon as she remembered the look in her daughter’s sparkling eyes when she and Applejack had presented Applejoy with the present but a few hours previous. The little filly giggled wildly as she rolled around with a pink stuffed bunny – courtesy of her aunt and uncle – clutched in her small hooves. Rainbow Dash winked at Fluttershy as she caught sight of her keeping a close watch over her niece, her own foals resting in her lap. Big Macintosh slept on a couch nearby.

Her vision crossed the rest of the room, soaring above the pieces of wrapping paper scattered about the floor, and finally fell upon the form of an orange filly, staring blankly into the fire. As she watched, Rainbow Dash could see a tear flow from one of Scootaloo’s eyes and drip onto the floor in front of the roaring blaze. Sighing, Rainbow Dash stood up on her hooves and slowly made her way towards the hearth. She set herself down gently on the floor next to the filly, prompting Scootaloo to look up in surprise when she noticed her presence. Rainbow Dash looked down toward the other pegasus, bringing her own mouth into a half smile as she caught the filly’s attention and began to speak.

“Do you remember, when we were all at the hospital waiting for Fluttershy’s foals, and Nurse Redheart almost didn’t let you in?” She paused, watching as Scootaloo nodded before continuing. “I think you remember that I told her you were my sister. I also told you afterwards that I really thought of you like a little sister.” Rainbow Dash placed a hoof under Scootaloo’s chin, lifting her face so that she could stare directly into her eyes. “That wasn’t a joke, and it wasn’t just some lie to get you back into Fluttershy’s room. I meant it. I meant it then and I still do now. I care a lot about you, Scoot. I think you should know that.”

Rainbow Dash could see tears forming in the younger pony’s eyes once again. Suddenly, without warning, Scootaloo leapt up and threw her forelegs around Rainbow’s neck, drawing her into a tight embrace – which Rainbow Dash quickly reciprocated – and burying her face into her heroine’s rainbow mane, beginning to sob uncontrollably. Rainbow Dash patted her on the back of her head, soothing her with gentle whispers into her ear as she held the crying filly.

She held onto her for several minutes, letting the warmth of both the fire and her beating heart wash over Scootaloo. Finally, the filly pulled away, sniffling slightly and batting at her eyes with a hoof. She backed away from Dash several feet, hanging her head, and finally managed to choke out her first words since she had thought herself alone in the graveyard. “I… I-I’m s-s-sorry, R-Rainbow D-Dash.”

Rainbow Dash stepped forward, laying a comforting hoof to Scootaloo’s cheek. “What do you have to be sorry for?”

“I’m… I’m sorry you have to see me l-like this.”

Rainbow Dash leaned forward just enough to kiss Scootaloo on the top of her head, much like a big sister would do, she reasoned. “You have nothing to feel sorry about, Scoot. We all need to cry sometimes, and it’s best to do it when there are other ponies who care about you around to help.” Rainbow Dash grinned, seeing the beginnings of a smile begin to form on Scootaloo’s face. “Now, follow me, Kiddo. I know two other ponies who care a lot about you too, and they probably have something nice waiting for us.”

Sure enough, when Rainbow Dash led Scootaloo into the kitchen, several steaming mugs of warm apple cider graced the table alongside a fresh-baked apple pie. Upon seeing her friend, Applebloom jumped up and raced across the room to embrace Scootaloo. Even though they had each obtained their cutie marks long ago, the bonds of fellowship between the Cutie Mark Crusaders had never dwindled.

Rainbow Dash crossed the kitchen to where her wife stood, beaming at her. “Ya make a wonderful big sister Sugarcube. Just as good as ya are a mother.”

“I guess that means I learned from the best, doesn’t it?”

Applejack leaned forward to give her a peck on the lips, blushing ever so slightly. “Well now, Rainbow, whenever did ya become so modest? It’s not like you.”

“What can I say, AJ? You just make me want to be a better pony.” She grinned, pressing forward to lock muzzles with her wife.

Chapter 10

For the first time in a long while, Scootaloo felt warm. Long tendrils of pleasing heat radiated pleasure and comfort throughout her body, bringing the filly a level of happiness she had not known for quite some time. Yet, the source of her warmth was not the thick wooden walls of the cozy farmhouse which barred the ponies inside from the raging elements. It was not the fire, roaring and snapping away within the cheery little hearth. It was not the steaming mug of hot apple cider which sat before her, the contents of which had sizzled and nearly scalded her throat when she took her first big, refreshing gulp. It was not the hoof-knitted wool blanket which Fluttershy had draped over the filly’s back. All of these things contributed to the comfortably heated atmosphere of the house, but, in Scootaloo’s mind, they were not the source of her warmth.

She gazed around the crowded kitchen, her eyes lingering on the face of each pony as she went. She looked to Applejack, grinning sheepishly as she prepared to stuff yet another slice of pie into her mouth. Her gaze passed Fluttershy, smiling gently as she watched her sister-in-law, her eyes sparkling with mirth. Applebloom stood next to her, laughing wildly as some joke that Scootaloo had, in her reverie, not heard. She looked up towards Rainbow Dash, who grinned back down to her, playfully running a hoof through her messy purple mane.

No, Scootaloo decided. A cozy kitchen was nice, but her warmth – her happiness – came not from the things that surrounded her, but the ponies that surrounded her. Each of these ponies smiled and laughed, and soon Scootaloo found herself smiling and laughing as well.

It seemed strange to her. She felt as if she was swept up in a roaring tide of good spirits, as if the merry-making and happiness of those around her was somehow rubbing off on her, personally. It was evident in the actions and expressions of every pony there; every smile that was cracked; every laugh that was shared; every sidelong glance thrown in her direction. Scootaloo knew, deep down, that everypony there was there for her. Everypony had gathered in this kitchen for her sake. It felt as if the very air around her head was alive with the tingling sensation of electricity, as if the very spark of life resided in this room, ebbing and flowing on the tide of pony comradely and companionship. Scootaloo felt as if she were being charged, as if she herself had been sparked with new life. She felt wanted. She felt cared for. She felt loved.

It was love, she decided, that she felt. It was not something she had much experience with, and the true nature of love was not something simple enough for the filly to wrap her mind around, but she knew it to be true all the same. She could feel it all around her. She could sense its warmth in the gaze of every pony present as they looked at her, and she felt it rising in herself. To Scootaloo, the warmth and the love were one and the same. As she felt herself getting warmer, so too did she feel the rising sensation of unbridled affection for each and every pony who cared enough about her to join her on a cold winter’s morning, when she might otherwise have still been stuck out in a cemetery. Scootaloo’s smile grew wider, and she felt the pressure building within her. Words, which felt as if they had risen straight from her revived heart, pushed at her lips, and she threatened to burst if she could not exclaim them to the world. “I love you guys! You’re the best friends ever!”

“Friends? We’re more than just friends, Kiddo.” Scootaloo looked up in surprise at Rainbow Dash, who wrapped a foreleg around her and pulled her into a rough hug. So lost had Scootaloo been in her own musings that being spoken to was like being thrust back into reality. She found herself pressed against the cyan pelt of her heroine, and she embraced her in return, glad once again for the contact. “We’re family.” Rainbow Dash grinned, gesturing around the room with her free hoof as the other ponies looked on, smiling. “In fact, I’d say that you’re a part of this family already.”

Scootaloo blinked several times in disbelief, allowing the statement to sink in as she stood in silence, taken slightly aback and not sure how to react. She gazed into Rainbow Dash’s smiling face, finally prodded into saying something when she saw that smile falter. “Do you… do you really mean that, Rainbow Dash?”

“O’ course she does, Sugarcube!” Applejack trotted around from the other side of the table, stooping down behind Scootaloo to administer to her daughter, who had just stumbled her way into the room in her awkward yet unendingly cute way. She whisked Applejoy into the air, nuzzling the giggling foal momentarily before setting her gently onto her back. Applejack turned around again, facing Scootaloo, and smiled. “You’re more than welcome here. We have plenty o’ extra beds.”

“Besides,” Rainbow Dash remained standing next to Scootaloo, beaming down at her, “What kind of a big sister would I be if I left you out in the cold?” She extended her wing, wrapping it across the filly’s back in one of her unique displays of affection. “I would’ve invited you to live here before if I had only known, Scootaloo. You can stay here as long as you like.”

Scootaloo found herself frozen in place one again. For several seconds, the logical part of her brain refused to accept what she was hearing as truth. It was simply too perfect. This situation had long been the stuff of dreams for the pegasus filly. Yet here she was. Rainbow Dash – her idol – was asking her to come live with her and her young family. She looked up into her smiling magenta eyes, and Scootaloo felt her own start to water. In an instant, her temporary paralysis had passed, and Scootaloo, without thinking, threw herself into Rainbow Dash, nearly knocking the cyan pony to the floor as she embraced her.

Scootaloo wrapped her forelegs around the pegasus before her, dropping her head to the level of Rainbow Dash’s chest and burying her face into her pelt. Tears of joy stained her cyan fur, but Rainbow Dash remained smiling all the same as Scootaloo squeezed. “Thank you! Thank you so much Rainbow Dash! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!”

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Beams of moonlight streamed through the uncovered glass panes of the nursery room windows. The soft, pale light fell across every surface in the room, bathing wall and pony alike in a cool shade of blue that just barely cut into the darkness of the night. The slats of two cribs cast many repeating, vertical shadows across the sleeping forms of the young foals within. The faint rising and falling of tiny ponies’ chests could be seen with each breath Honeycrisp and Sweet Blossom took. The soft light of the moon, unable to breach their closed eyes, did not interrupt their slumber.

Across the room, the third crib lay empty; the dim shafts only barely illuminating it and the couch adjacent to it. From the dark hallway, the sound of a pony’s feet clicking gently against the hardwood floor began to slowly emanate into the room, gradually growing in volume as a pony approached. Applejack walked carefully as she came across the threshold of the nursery door. She took each step with caution, going slowly so as to not disturb the sleeping foal on her back. Applejoy had curled herself into a ball and now rocked gently back and forth with every movement of her mother’s shoulders as she rested.

Applejack blinked the sleep from her eyes as she approached the lone empty crib. It had been a long day for her and the night before had taken a toll on her as well. She smiled as she reached the crib, reaching behind her to gently lift her daughter from between her shoulder blades. Applejoy yawned slightly, falling limp as she was carried through the air only very briefly before being set down on the soft enclosed cushion that was her bed. She immediately rolled onto her side, curling up once again into a ball as her tiny body adjusted to the new surface.

Stooping downward, Applejack picked up the stuffed pink bunny in her mouth, lifting it up and over the bars of the crib to set it down gently next to her daughter. She was rewarded to see Applejoy, grasping about unconsciously, scoop the soft pink toy up into her hooves and snuggle into it, pulling it against her small chest. Applejack smiled. She leaned down to pick up the blanket that lay near her daughter’s tail, stretching it out so that the expanse of soft, warm fabric spread itself across the little filly’s body. As she tucked the blanket in around her daughter’s chin, Applejack could not help but be drawn up to her tiny, sleeping face. For a few moments, she just stood there, gazing down at her soft orange skin and light blonde mane. Not for the first time, Applejack was struck by how similar the foal looked to herself. Only the colorful streaks of rainbow hair running through the filly’s mane remained visible as a reminder of Applejack’s life partner. Applejack smiled. That, her beautiful pink eyes, and her stubby little wings, both of which were now unseen, showed more than enough of Rainbow Dash. Applejack had long ago decided that their daughter was nothing less than the best of them both combined. It was a thought that never ceased to thrill her.

Leaning forward again, she placed a light kiss on Applejoy’s cheek. The tiny pegasus slept on, seemingly without notice, but Applejack thought she saw a shadow of a smile creep its way onto her daughter’s face. She was struck by the happy thought that maybe, just maybe, whatever dreams the young filly was having had been brightened by the grace of a loving mother’s kiss. It was a thought she entertained as she bade her sleeping foal good night. “Sweet dreams, little Joy.”

In the next instant, every hair in her coat seemed like it was standing on end. Applejack froze, still looking at the crib, but remaining perfectly still; listening. She thought she had heard a noise, a noise that sounded like a cough, as if something had announced the arrival of somepony else in the room. She spun around, careful not to bump or jostle the crib, to face the doorway. She relaxed at once, the sight before her almost making her giggle at how unfounded her reaction had been.

Rainbow Dash stood in the doorway. She leaned against the side of the frame, sporting a wide grin that Applejack had long since learned to love. Her magenta eyes sparkled in the dim moonlight as she stood herself up straight and began to slowly cross the room, heading towards Applejack. “You look tired, AJ.” The distance between them closed, gradually shrinking as Rainbow Dash neared. Their breath mixed and intermingled between them as they drew together, their lips finally meeting in loving kiss.

Applejack moaned as they pulled away, a quiet, low moan that soon turned into a deep yawn as she drew in more breath. Rainbow Dash brought a hoof to her mouth to stifle her laughter before she woke the foals. “Ah am, Sugarcube.”

“You’ve been awake for a while and it’s getting late. You should get some rest.”

“Ya’ll have to come with me. Ah can’t sleep without mah favorite mare.”

Rainbow Dash leaned over to give her wife a quick kiss on the cheek. Happily, she obliged, and the two of them started making their way towards the door. They both stole a final glance at their pride and joy before they left, however, each sighing in wonder as they gazed upon their daughter’s face. “She looks so beautiful when she’s asleep, AJ. She must get it from you.”

“Yer such a softie, RD. Ah love you.” Rainbow Dash grinned, responding by digging her nose into Applejack’s long blonde mane, kissing and nipping playfully at the sensitive spot behind her ear and receiving coos of bliss in return. They walked side by side, tails swishing together and occasionally intertwining, as they left the nursery. Closing the door behind them, they began to walk down the hallway that would lead into the rest of the house, but both were stopped cold by another noise.

They stood still to listen. In the dark of the night, it was hard to distinguish over the ever-present growing and receding howling of the wind blowing against the house, but as they listened intently, they both heard it again. It was a sniffling, barely audible yet there all the same, and it seemed very close by. Rainbow Dash perked her ears, pressing one against the wood of the closed door they stood by. The sound almost immediately became more pronounced. “I think it’s coming from Scoot’s room.” She spoke in a whisper, neither of them entirely sure of the situation.

Gently, she put a hoof to the latch and opened the door, letting it swing slowly onwards before venturing into the dimly-lit room beyond, Applejack following close behind. Once again, the only light source was the shining moon, but it was enough for them both to see the room and everything within as they entered. The room, having been a spare guest bedroom before, was sparsely decorated. A bed stood against the wall, but other than that, only a bedside table, a lamp, and several storage boxes occupied the previously-unused bedroom. Scootaloo rolled over off her side and looked up when she heard the others entering. She sniffed loudly, trying to maintain her composure in front of Rainbow Dash, but the cyan pegasus could see that she had been crying. Wordlessly, she shot her a wan smile and walked over to the side of the bed.

“The first night in a new place is always tough.” Rainbow Dash climbed into the bed, laying herself down gently next to Scootaloo. They both felt the bed rock and shift again as Applejack climbed into the other side. “Maybe you’d like some company.”

“Th-thanks, R-Rainbow Dash.” Scootaloo shook her head, trying to clear her eyes. Rainbow Dash could still see the tears barely forming in them. She reached her hooves out and grasped the filly, pulling her towards her in a warm hug. Scootaloo rested her head against Rainbow Dash’s shoulder, her tears abated for the moment.

“What’s wrong, Scoot? Anything I can help with?” She lazily stroked the filly’s purple mane, waiting patiently for her to begin.

“I… I haven’t had my own bed in years.” Rainbow Dash nodded as Scootaloo spoke, looking her in the eye and urging her onward. “I only used to get the chance to sleep in a real bed when Applebloom or Sweetie Belle invited me over. I haven’t had my own since… well… not since… they… left.”

Rainbow Dash pulled her closer to her own body, feeling Scootaloo’s rapidly-beating heart through her chest. “You don’t have to continue if you don’t want to.”

“No. I… I want to…. It’s just… hard.”

It’s always hard. It was hard for me too, when I lost my parents.”

“You lost yours too?”

“Yeah. Long long time ago. Right after I got my cutie mark, in fact. House fire. Worst part was, I was in Cloudsdale when it happened. My parents lived outside of a small town, and I had run away to go to flight school. I had to read about it in a newspaper.”

“That’s horrible.”

“I know. It took me a long time to get over it. But I’ll tell you that story some other time. Here, right now, tonight is about you. If you want to talk, I’m willing to listen.”

Scootaloo hugged Rainbow Dash even tighter. “It started as just a cough. I was pretty little, so I didn’t understand what was happening. My mom just started coughing one day, and she didn’t stop. Soon, she would just stay in bed all day. Dad would be with her whenever he could, but he never let me see her. He said she was too weak. She stayed in bed for weeks, and then dad started coughing too. He told me at first that it was fine, that it would pass him over soon, but it never did. I watched him every day, getting weaker, while he tried to take care of me and mom.”

Rainbow Dash felt Scootaloo quiver in her embrace. She was about to tell her that she didn’t have to continue, but Scootaloo opened her mouth again before she could. “Then, the day came when dad couldn’t even get out of bed in the morning any more. That was the day when all the other ponies came to our house. I didn’t know that they were from the hospital, but they kept me out of the way while they took mom and dad out of the house. Then one of them took me, and we all went to the hospital. We had to go all the way to the big one in Canterlot. They put dad and mom in a special room, and told me I couldn’t see them. They said they were ‘contagious’ and ‘infectious’. I didn’t even know what those words meant back then.”

Rainbow Dash pulled the filly into an even tighter embrace. She could see the tears in her eyes, glistening in the moonlight. The top of Scootaloo’s head now brushed Rainbow Dash’s chin, so Rainbow Dash kissed her forehead. Choking down sobs, Scootaloo took a deep breath and continued. “Then… then one day… one day, a nurse told me they were gone. I don’t even remember all her words; she just told me that they were gone. They let me in the room to see them one last time, and they made me wear a mask. I saw them there for the last time. They were each in their own bed, and they were completely still – not even breathing. I wanted to kiss them goodbye, but a nurse told me that I couldn’t. She said I was lucky enough to not be sick myself.”

Scootaloo stopped abruptly, burying her face into Rainbow Dash’s neck, and the floodgates opened. Rainbow Dash lay silent, stroking the filly as she cried into her. For several moments, Rainbow Dash was unsure of what to do, so she just held the orange pegasus in her warm, comforting embrace. “D-does it ever stop, Rainbow Dash? Does the pain ever stop, will it ever stop hurting?”

“I can’t say it does, Scoot. It will get better as you get older, but it will never be gone. I still feel it whenever I think about my parents. I don’t think it ever leaves completely.” She looked down at Scootaloo, surprised to see that she was no longer crying, but looking up at her, her glistening eyes taking in every word. “But I know this helps. It helps to talk with other ponies about it. It’s better than keeping everything shut up inside.”

Scootaloo nodded, laying her head down on Rainbow Dash’s shoulder again. “It does help. Thank you, Rainbow Dash.” She brought a hoof up to wipe a single tear from her cheek before she began speaking again. “I overheard two nurses talking about me. They said that they were going to send me to the orphanage. I didn’t want to go there, so I snuck away. I got out of the hospital and I ran. I ran all day until I got back to Ponyville. I tried to go back home, but the door was locked. So I wandered around until night and fell asleep in an alley. I didn’t even go to the funeral because I was afraid somepony would see me and take me to the orphanage. I went to see the graves the day after, though, and I’ve gone back there whenever I could for the last five years.”

Rainbow Dash blinked in surprise. “Five years? You’ve been living on your own for five years and you never told anypony?”

“Yeah. Sometimes, I felt like telling Sweetie Belle or Applebloom, but it was always too painful to talk about. So I just pretended everything was Ok. I haven’t had my own bed for five years, I haven’t had a home for five years, and I haven’t had a family for five years.”

Rainbow Dash broke the hug only to wipe a few tears from her own eyes. Scootaloo rolled off Rainbow Dash to lay next to her, setting her head down on the pillow next to her heroine’s. The cyan pegasus was left in the middle of the bed between the two other ponies. She turned over to look at Scootaloo, their eyes met, and Rainbow Dash reached out a hoof to touch it to Scootaloo’s chin. “No more, Scoot. I’m won't let you live like that anymore. You have a bed now. You have a home now. You have a family now. I won’t leave you. You’ll never be alone again. Right, AJ?” Rainbow Dash craned her neck to look over at her wife, who had been quiet ever since they left the nursery. Despite herself, she couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of Applejack, lying underneath the blanket with her eyes closed and her chest rising and falling in the rhythm of slumber. “Good night, AJ.” She left a kiss on her wife’s cheek before rolling back over and wrapping a foreleg around Scootaloo. “I guess that means we should get some sleep too.”

For the longest time, the two of them lay still. Neither spoke, but both contemplated similar thoughts. Gradually, Scootaloo began to nod off, and she shifted closer to Rainbow Dash, reveling in the warmth of the other pegasus before slipping into a young filly’s dream world. Rainbow Dash’s eyelids began to droop. She lay between two ponies she was proud to call family, and even as her last thoughts left her mind for the night; she could feel both of them unconsciously snuggle into her. A smile crossed her face before she too fell into the depths of nighttime bliss.

Chapter 11

Rainbow Dash’s nose twitched. This was an involuntary movement, more of a reflex than anything else, brought on by the perceived presence of something bothering her face. To the barely-conscious pegasus, the sensation was strange. If she had been able to think about it, she would have thought that something was brushing against her closed eyelid. As a last-ditch effort to retain her sleep, her hoof lifted to the level of her eyes in a half-conscious attempt to remove the irritant. Unfortunately, this action had little effect as the slowly-waking pony soon found herself waving her hoof around in front of her face in a dazed early-morning stupor, futilely attempting to ward off the encroachments of the sun as its light streamed in through the window, falling across her still-closed eyes. Groggily, Rainbow Dash’s eyelids slowly blinked open, taking in the extent of the bright early-morning light for the first time. She was momentarily confused, groaning and closing her eyes again at the intruder, before she finally gathered the presence of mind to realize that it was time to wake up.

She shook her head, allowing the last drowsiness to leave her mind as her eyes quickly focused themselves to their new, brighter environment through a quick series of blinks. She attempted to sit up, but found herself restrained to the bed somehow. Looking down at herself, she let out a contented sigh to see the two sleeping ponies holding her down. Scootaloo had her forelegs wrapped around Rainbow Dash’s waist and was snoozing happily. Applejack had managed to roll over onto her back in the night, her head having come to rest against her wife’s chest. Sighing in resignation, Rainbow leaned forward to deal with this first problem.

Tenderly, she began to nuzzle the orange farmpony. She brought her muzzle up to Applejack’s check and rubbed it against her, grinning as she began to feel her wife stir beneath her. “Wake up, AJ. It’s morning.”

Applejack responded by half-consciously rolling over onto her stomach and burying her face into the pegasus’s cyan fur. Listening closely, Rainbow Dash could hear the sleepy earth pony mumble into her chest. “Jus’ five more minutes.”

Rainbow Dash smirked. She leaned forward once again, this time opening her mouth only slightly. Using only a slight amount of pressure, just enough to be felt, she nipped at the skin on the back of her wife’s neck, grinning mischievously as the mare awoke with a start.

“Wha…? Buh…. Dash? What in the hay was that for?” Applejack glared at the pegasus as she finally stopped reeling from the jolt of being awoken so suddenly.

“Good morning, beautiful.” Rainbow Dash giggled as she reached out a hoof to stroke her partner’s messy blonde mane. Her hoof became snagged almost immediately. “Looks like somepony woke up on the wrong side of the pig-sty this morning.”

“That isn’t funny, Dash.” Applejack continued her glare at the cyan pegasus, even as she winced at the removal of her hoof from her tangled mane.

“I know,” Rainbow Dash drew the earth pony into a hug, licking Applejack across the cheek as their faces came closer together. She smiled as she watched the orange pony’s expression soften.

Applejack felt her anger falter almost immediately. Rolling her eyes, she turned her head to kiss the pegasus, forcing her to settle back into the pillows as she did so. “Why can’t Ah stay mad at ya, Sugarcube?”

“Because I’m too perfect?”

“Well yer not… ya know what? Ah don’t feel like arguin’ with that right now.” They pressed their lips together again, holding each other in that position until neither could take it any longer and both had to break apart just to breathe. Applejack rolled over onto her back next to Rainbow Dash, taking the opportunity to bury her muzzle into the cyan pony’s neck, receiving an affectionate nuzzle to her cheek in return. “Ah love ya, Dash.” Applejack cooed as she snuggled her head into her lover’s neck.

Rainbow Dash sighed, wrapping a foreleg around her wife and resting her head as well. “I love you too, AJ.” She opened her eyes, having closed them in bliss mere seconds ago. Her vision focused, settling on the filly that still slept before her. Scootaloo’s chest was rising and falling in slumber as she gripped Rainbow Dash, her smaller forelegs wrapped around the elder pegasus’s midsection. Rainbow Dash giggled at the sight of the filly blindly snuggling her. “Hey… hey AJ, look at that. Look.”

Applejack sat up again, still keeping her forelegs wrapped around her partner. “Awww. Ain’t that cute? Ya see? Ah told ya you’d make a great big sister.” Applejack grinned, leaning in to give Rainbow Dash a quick peck on the lips.

Both their heads snapped back to look at Scootaloo as the filly began to shift around in her sleep. She stretched, wrapping her forelegs even tighter around the pegasus she held, causing Rainbow dash to chuckle lightly. Her head came back down to rest on her idol’s stomach, and she unconsciously rubbed her cheek into the cyan pelt. “I love you, mom.”

“Mom? Ya haven’t been messin’ around behind mah back now, have ya, Dash?” Applejack had to cover her mouth with her hooves to stifle an outburst of laughter as the pegasus glared at her.

“Not funny, AJ.” Rainbow Dash reached out a hoof to gently prod the sleeping filly. “Hey… hey Scoot? You awake?” Scootaloo stirred at the gentle touch. Her eyes batted lazily open, giving her a sideways view up Rainbow Dash’s chest at her concerned face.

Her eyelids flew up in a flash. Scootaloo snorted as the shock jolted her awake, jumping up onto her hooves as she realized where she had been laying. Scootaloo looked frantically between Rainbow Dash’s stomach, where a small puddle of drool had begun to form, and her face, her mind buzzing faster than she could keep track of. “OhmygoshRainbowDashI’msosorry.” Scootaloo looked mortified as she fired off apology after apology in quick succession, beginning to back away from Rainbow Dash as if she had offended her. She drew closer and closer to the edge of the bed.

“Scoot, wait!” Rainbow Dash winced as Scootaloo’s back-pedaling hooves suddenly found no purchase, dropping the filly to the floor. Rainbow Dash was up on her own hooves as quick as she could, peering over the bed at the smaller orange pegasus. Scootaloo had managed to fall onto her back, her hooves straight up in the air. She was blinking in confusion, dazed, but unhurt. Dash sighed in relief. “Are you Ok, kiddo? What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I don’t know what I was thinking!” Scootaloo looked like she was panicking, her eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets and her breathing grew rapid.

Rainbow Dash jumped down off the bed and embraced the quivering filly. She held Scootaloo until her breathing subsided and she seemed to calm back down. “What’s wrong, Scoot?”

“I thought… I thought you would be mad.”

“Why would I ever be mad at you?”

“Because I was… I was… sleeping… on you…”

“It’s Ok. It’s Ok, Scoots. I don’t mind.”

“You don’t… but… but you’re married.”

“We’re family now, Scootaloo.” Rainbow Dash smiled as she hoisted the filly back up to the level of the bed, depositing her on the more comfortable mattress before climbing up herself. “If you ever feel like you need somepony to hold, even if you are asleep, I’ll be there for you. I am the element of Loyalty, after all.” Rainbow Dash grinned at the filly. She felt the mattress move underneath her and looked to her side to see Applejack crossing over to her side of the bed, her eyes shining. “You won’t get jealous, right AJ?” Applejack responded by giving the pegasus another peck on the lips. “See, even Applejack agrees with me.”

Rainbow Dash turned back to see that Scootaloo had sat down on her haunches. The filly’s purple eyes shone as she gazed up at her idol. Suddenly, Scootaloo looked down, whispering softly. “You remind me of her.” She paused for a long moment before continuing. “Mom. You remind me of my mom. She was always so nice, just like you. I remember when she would let me sleep in her bed, before she got sick. She was always so warm and soft. I would wake up every morning on her belly.” Scootaloo started shaking her head slightly, as if she was ashamed. “When I woke up today, I felt you. You were so warm, and you were so soft…. I thought… I thought you were my mom.”

Scootaloo looked back up when she felt a hoof fall across her shoulders. Rainbow Dash gazed down into the filly’s shimmering eyes and smiled as lovingly as she could. “If you need a mom, I can be that too.”

“I don’t know what I need. I don’t even know what I want.” Scootaloo shook herself, her gaze was faltering; uncertain. “You’ve both given me so much, I know I should be happy and thankful, but… but I just feel like there’s something… something missing. And I don’t know what.”

Rainbow Dash exchanged a nervous glance with her partner. For several moments, they tried to think, but their eyes kept returning to Scootaloo’s pleading face. They had no idea what to do or say. Thankfully, they were spared when the bedroom door burst open. Applebloom charged into the room, a giddy smile spread across her face. Scootaloo seemed to brighten almost instantly at the sight of her friend.

“Hey, Scoot! Wanna come play today? Ah was just comin’ ta get some breakfast when Ah thought you might like to eat with me!”

“Sure, AB, that sounds great! I’m starving!” As the two fillies raced towards the kitchen, Rainbow Dash and Applejack sighed in relief, looking back over at each other.

“You’d better not be jealous. You’re being very quiet.” Rainbow Dash smiled wanly as she teased her wife, reaching a hoof forward to nudge her playfully.

Applejack grinned mischievously before leaping forward. An unsuspecting Rainbow Dash was thrown helplessly onto her back by the orange missile. Before the pegasus could get a word in edgewise, she found her muzzle occupied by that of her partner. Applejack pressed down into Rainbow Dash in a deep, passionate kiss. Their tongues slipped into one another’s mouths and engaged in a slippery dance, heated by the fiery passion that the two lovers had known for years. Applejack broke the kiss only to speak, her eyes staring hungrily down at the pinned pegasus below her even as she did so. “Ah ain’t jealous so long as Ah get the best parts o’ ya ta mahself.”

============================================================================================

Rainbow Dash blinked as she stared at the small room. The Cutie Mark Crusader’s treetop clubhouse had seen better days, but it was still well-used by the three friends, well after they had each received their cutie marks. Rainbow Dash picked her way around the cluttered room. The floor was littered with toys, used papers, and a myriad of other items the fillies used for their own enjoyment.

She scanned the darkened room, hoping to find something that might belong to Scootaloo. If her suspicions were correct, then this would be the place Scootaloo kept her possessions, whatever possessions she even had.

Finally, in the back of the room, she caught sight of a scooter and helmet, propped against the back wall. Picking her way over to them in the overcast darkness, Rainbow Dash spotted what she was looking for. Sitting on the floor right next to the scooter was a small box marked ‘Scootaloo’. She reached the box, bending down to open it. Whatever trepidation she had about snooping was lost on her. After all, if she was going to help Scootaloo move in, she had to see if this stuff was worth bringing to the filly’s new home.

She opened the box and found it to be largely empty. The space at the top was occupied by a few trinkets, small keepsakes which Rainbow Dash paid no mind to. Underneath, however, a glint caught Rainbow Dash’s eye. Reaching down, she pulled out what turned out to be three framed photographs. The first was of Scootaloo, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle. The three friends were playing in a field, no cutie marks gracing their flanks yet. Rainbow Dash smiled at the old memories of when they were younger, gingerly setting the picture back into its box.

Rainbow Dash didn’t recognize the two ponies in the next picture. The picture was even older than the first one though. After staring for only a few moments, she decided that the mare and stallion featured must have been Scootaloo’s parents. She looked back to the third picture in her hooves, which had been on the bottom of the stack. It was very familiar to her. Rainbow Dash nearly jumped, catching herself just in time to avoid dropping it. She stared at the framed photograph for several moments. As numerous thoughts surfaced in her mind, she voiced one to the empty treehouse. “I had no idea.”

===========================================================================================

As night fell, the overcast cloud bank that had blocked the light of the sun had remained in place over the sleepy community. The quiet, snow-covered farm and the surrounding countryside were bathed in darkness, unabated by the light of the moon, which was lazily tracing its wide arc across the night sky, even unseen as it was. Its light did not shine into the windows of the farmhouse as it had the night previous. This night, however, Rainbow Dash found herself wishing it did as she stared out the window at a night sky only slightly less black than her bedroom. She wished to see the moon; to be able to look upon its bright, kindly face, but her eyes met nothing but darkness.

She sighed; blinking at the darkness, hoping for something to distract her from her thoughts. Suddenly, she felt the bed move underneath her as somepony shifted around behind her. A hoof was lain across her chest, and Rainbow Dash smiled as she felt a wet nose nuzzle affectionately against the back of her neck. “What’cha thinkin’ about, Sugarcube.”

Rainbow Dash sighed again, rolling over to face her wife. Applejack lifted her hoof to stroke the pegasus’s cheek, her green eyes sparkling with mirth. For a while, Rainbow Dash could do nothing but stare into those shining eyes – she could see them even without the aid of light in the darkness. “You’re still awake?”

“Ah’ve been listening to you sigh every few minutes for an hour now. What’s wrong?” Rainbow Dash didn’t answer. She just gazed ahead, letting Applejack answer her own question. “You’re still worried about her, aren’t ya?”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Oh, Dashie.” Applejack reached around the pegasus, drawing her into a tight embrace and kissing her cheek. “Ya have such a big heart, ya know that right?”

“Some good my big heart did Scootaloo.”

“Oh, come on, Dash. Ya said it yerself, she has a home and a family now, Ah’d say she’s better off than ever thanks ta you.”

“That’s just it, AJ!” Dash sat up in bed, leaning against the backboard and resting her head on the wall. “You heard her story. Five years. Five years, AJ. She’s lived alone for five years and I didn’t do anything until now.”

“Aw, Rainbow.” Applejack sat up herself, leaning over to give her wife a tight hug. “Ya didn’t know. You couldn’t possibly have known.”

Rainbow Dash hugged her back, gripping her mare tight and burying her eyes into Applejack’s sweet-smelling mane. “I should’ve done something.” They were both silent for a few moments, just holding each other close in their shared bed. “Look at this.” Rainbow Dash reached over to a side table and lit a candle so they could see easier. Applejack propped herself upright, watching with interest as Rainbow grabbed something off the small table and brought it over to her. “I found this when I was moving some stuff into her room.”

She turned the picture so that the tiny flame shone off the glass, allowing Applejack a view of the picture underneath. It showed Rainbow Dash herself, suspended in the air with her wings flapping and a determined look on her face. Writing was scrawled across the bottom corner in a barely legible scrawl. It was Rainbow Dash’s own hoofwriting. ‘Always follow your dreams! – Rainbow Dash’. Applejack blinked in confusion at the framed autographed picture.

“I gave this to her years ago. She’s kept it all this time. She even got it framed.”

“Ya know how much she cares about ya.”

“That’s exactly it! She looked up to me. She looked up to me and I barely noticed her for five years. Five years, AJ!” Rainbow Dash picked up a pillow and began hitting it. “Five… whole… years…!” She hit the pillow again and again as Applejack stared on in confusion. “Five whole years and I didn’t do anything to help her! She looked up to me! I should’ve been there for her and I wasn’t!” She threw the pillow across the room, watching as it hit a wall and fell to the floor. She stared at it, her breath ratcheting, before she sniffed loudly and grabbed Applejack. Applejack could only pat the pegasus’s head as comfortingly as she could as Rainbow Dash buried her face into her mane and began to sob. “I’m… I’m a terrible pony.”

“No. no yer not, Dash.” Applejack blew the candle out, plunging the room into darkness as she gripped the pegasus tight. “You’ve done so much for her just these past two days, Dash. You’re a wonderful pony, and don’t ya forget it.”

In the darkness, they lay together for longer than either cared to keep track of. Rainbow Dash’s breathing eventually returned to normal and her sobs stopped as she inhaled the sweet scent of apples from her wife’s mane. Applejack held onto her mare as she cried and even after she had stopped. She stroked her Rainbow mane absentmindedly the whole time, silently showing her affection for the pegasus. Finally, Rainbow Dash withdrew from her lover’s mane, leaving a few hairs wet with tears. She gazed into Applejack eyes and sniffed. “You’re the best, AJ.”

“Ah know.”

“I can’t sleep. Not now. I don’t even know what to think anymore.”

“Do ya wanna go downstairs?”

“Don’t you need to sleep?”

“Ah care about you, Sugarcube. If you can’t sleep, Ah can’t sleep. Now come on, Ah’ll make ya some cider.” Applejack gave her wife a quick kiss before they climbed from the bed and silently made their way down the stairs. “Wait, Dash. Stop.” The two ponies paused at the bottom of the stairs. For a few moments, they listened. “Do ya hear that?”

“Yeah… it sounds like… like…”

“… voices. Ah think they’re comin’ from over there.” Wordlessly, the couple crept down the hallway from the stairs. They passed through the kitchen, apple cider forgotten, and advanced upon the hallway leading into the new wing of the house. As they drew closer, the whispered sounds grew louder and suddenly cut off altogether. They kept walking, drawing towards a door which stood ajar. It was Scootaloo’s. As they reached the door, they could no longer hear the voices, but they peered around the open door. It only took a few seconds for them to register what was happening inside.

==========================================================================================

Applebloom couldn’t sleep. She lay awake in her bed, tossing and turning in a vain attempt to find a position comfortable enough to nod off in. The lack of a moon wasn’t helping her. Applebloom had always considered the moon to be a kind of night-light. Sometimes she would lie awake, staring at the moon out her window until she felt the comforting embrace of sleep take her over. Tonight, however, she was afforded no such reprieve.

For what felt like the hundred and first time, Applebloom rolled from one side to the other, sighing as she did so. This wasn’t working; she still felt fully awake. Groaning in frustration, she lifted a pillow above her head and dropped it, allowing it to cover her face. She blinked a few times into the soft surface, finally throwing the pillow off her head as she realized it wouldn’t help her at all.

Her room was dark, excessively so, in her opinion, but her eyes had adjusted to the light well enough that she could still see around. The rest of her room lay dormant. Nothing moved in the grey darkness, nothing except for her as she rolled over again, sighing in exasperation. She wound up lying on her stomach; her face buried into her other pillow. She wanted nothing more than to be able to fall asleep, so why couldn’t she?

She knew the answer before she even asked the question. She couldn’t sleep because her mind was occupied. Her brain was swirling with thoughts about one pony in particular: Scootaloo. It was one thing to find out that her friend had lost her parents. Applebloom had, herself, never even known her own parents, so she was used to the idea. It was another thing entirely to find out that one of her best friends had been living as an orphan for almost the entire time she had known her.

Her breath was warming the pillow. Each time she exhaled, a cushion of hot air was pressed into the fabric of the pillow case. The heat was becoming uncomfortable. She rolled over again. Applebloom was gradually getting uneasy. She stared at the ceiling for several moments before posing her thoughts to the ever-present darkness. “Why didn’t she tell us? We’re her best friends.”

She lay for only a few more minutes before the thoughts and unanswered questions became too much for her. She threw her blankets off and sat up in her bed, making her way to the side of her bed and jumping down onto the floor. She trotted to the door and put a hoof to the latch, slowly opening it to make sure it didn’t squeak. She had made up her mind; she had to talk to her.

Carefully, she made her way down the hallway. She froze as she heard voices coming from her sister’s room. A soft light was visible through the crack underneath the door. She stood still in the middle of the hallway for several seconds, hoping that neither Applejack nor Rainbow Dash would chance to look out into the hallway. She sighed in relief when she realized they weren’t talking about her. She snuck past the closed door and made her way to the head of the staircase. She cautiously picked her way down each step, careful to avoid each step she knew would make a noise if stepped upon.

The first floor of the house was dark, but she knew where to go. Crossing the house, she drew closer to the hallway extending off the kitchen, drawing herself up to the closed door that marked Scootaloo’s room. She put a hoof to the latch and trotted inside. “Scootaloo, you awake?”

===========================================================================================

The darkness was all-encompassing. With no light, there were no shadows, but to Scootaloo, it appeared as if dark shapes moved across her walls and floor of their own accord. She snuggled up further into her bed, drawing the blanket up to her face. She felt alone; utterly alone and scared. She was buried up to her chin and blankets, yet she still felt a chill race through her body. The bed and the room itself seemed entirely too big for her. She felt dwarfed by the pervasive blackness of the night.

She shivered in her blankets, closing her eyes against the imaginary abyss. She had spent many a night alone in the dark, yet for some reason, this night felt different. She didn’t understand it. She knew that her life had taken a massive turn for the better, yet she could not shake the overwhelming feeling of emptiness. She felt alone; small; helpless. She had a room to sleep in, a home to live in, and a family to turn to, yet she still felt alone.

She blamed the oppressive darkness. She felt like it was enveloping her; overpowering her. She lay alone in her new room, and she wanted nothing more than to sleep, to forget the trials of the world and slip away from it all, yet her mind would not allow it. She lay perfectly awake, exposed to the terrors residing in her own mind. Try as she might, she could not stop thinking of them. Images of her parents and fragments of half-remembered conversations from her youth filled her mind, coursing through every waking moment in a terrible ebb and flow of unwanted memories. Deep in the recesses of her mind, a horrible thought emerged and came to the forefront of her consciousness. She tried to fight it, tried to keep it from making its presence known, but her subconscious battle was of no use. In some terrible way, she began to feel as if she was betraying her parents. She could not shake the feeling that by coming to live with Rainbow Dash, she was betraying their love; their memory.

She began to cry.

As her ratcheting sobs were lost upon the empty space of the big room, a new sound appeared. The gentle clopping of hooves sounded from outside the close door, growing louder and louder as it approached her room. Scootaloo cowered into her bed, sniffling in a vain attempt to stop the flow of tears before the approaching pony reached her door. It was no use. The handle rattled and the door was gradually drawn open, a soft creaking filling the room as it swung inward. “Scootaloo, you awake?”

“A… A-Applebloom?”

“Are you Ok, Scoot?”

“I… I don’t know.”

Applebloom trotted over to the bed, jumping up into the folds of fabric and mattress and crossing to lie down next to her friend. “Ah’m sorry, Scoot. Ah hope Ah’m not bothering ya.”

“No… No you’re not.”

“How do ya feel?”

“I’m… I’m glad you’re here. I was getting lonely.”

“Well, now you’re not lonely no more.”

“I guess not.”

“Scootaloo? Have you… have you been crying?”

Scootaloo tried to look away. She didn’t want her friend to see the tears in her eyes. She hated herself for them. “No.”

“Aw, Scoot. It’s Ok.” Applebloom reached out to draw her friend into a hug. “Do ya wanna talk ‘bout it?”

“Th-thanks AB.” Scootaloo squeezed her friend back, letting the softness of Applebloom’s coat comfort her. For a while, the two fillies lay quietly. Finally, Scootaloo began to speak. “I… I just can’t stop thinking about them.”

“Yer parents?”

“Yeah. I haven’t thought this much about them in a long time. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I should be so happy… but… but I’m not.”

“Why didn’t ya tell us, Scoot?”

“What?”

“Why didn’t ya tell us about yer parents? Sweetie Belle and Ah would’a helped ya, ya didn’t hafta keep it a secret.”

“I… I know, AB. I know you would’ve tried to help… it’s just… it’s just so painful to talk about. I never felt comfortable bringing it up.”

“Ah’m so sorry, Scootaloo. Ah’m sorry ya had ta go through that. Ah’m sorry Ah couldn’t help ya before.” Applebloom tried to smile for her friend, but could only watch in dismay as Scootaloo buried her face into her mane. Applebloom felt tears starting to wet her fur. “Scoot? You alright?”

“It… it hurts so much, Applebloom. It won’t… it won’t stop.”

“Oh, Scoot. Ah know. Ah know it hurts. Ah never even knew mah parents. At least you got ta know them. You got ta know what they were like.”

“I think that makes it worse. You never knew your parents, so you never had to lose them. I did… I… it just hurts so much.”

Applebloom hugged her friend a little tighter. “You’re a great friend, Scootaloo. You don’t deserve this.”

“I can’t… I can’t help it. Every time I think of them I feel terrible. I feel like… I feel like I’m betraying them. I don’t even understand it.”

“Don’t ya wanna live with us?”

“I do. I really do. I can’t… I can’t help it, AB. I mean, they loved me. They loved me and now that I’m living here… it feels like… it feels like I’m turning my back on them.” Both fillies were silent for several moments. “You must think I’m such a wimp.”

“No.” Applebloom ran a hoof through her friend’s mane, trying to put on a brave face for her sake. “Yer not a wimp, Scoot. Ah think… Ah think yer parents would want ya here. They would want ya to be happy. They would want ya to be in a good home.”

“Th-thanks, Applebloom.” Scootaloo smiled painfully, prompting another hug. “You’re a great friend.”

“Ah don’t like seein’ ya like this, Scoot… Ah… Ah care a lot about ya.”

Scootaloo looked up. Despite the lack of light, she could see her friend’s face. There was concern there, buried deep within her eyes. For a second, Scootaloo swore she could see a sparkle there, as if some unseen flicker of light had glinted off a stray tear. “I… I care a lot about you too, Applebloom.” Scootaloo saw her friend smile, as if that was just what she wanted to hear. She didn’t know why she had said it, it just felt… right. Suddenly, Scootaloo was very aware of how close they were to each other. They both lay in each other’s embrace. She could feel Applebloom’s soft coat against her own. She could see her friend’s face mere inches from her own.

Applebloom moved so slowly that Scootaloo wasn’t even aware she was moving until it became increasingly obvious. She watched as her face drew even closer; as if she could feel the mere inches between them slowly dropping away. Their breath mingled together between them. Scootaloo could sense it on her nose. Applebloom closed her eyes; she was almost on top of her friend. Applebloom’s face grew to fill Scootaloo’s vision before she too let her eyelids fall.

When they kissed, it felt like the most natural thing in the world.

Chapter 12

There was precious little light coming from the filly's room, but what illumination was still there allowed Applejack and Rainbow Dash a near-perfect view into the guest room that they had given over to Scootaloo. What they saw stunned them into speechlessness for a good moment. Scootaloo lay on her back on the bed, her head pressed deep into the pillow by Applebloom, who had curled her way on top of the other filly. In the dim light, Applejack and Rainbow Dash could only just make out the fact that they seemed to be kissing. Albeit clumsily and completely without regard whatsoever towards the finer aspects of such an experience, their lips were pressed together awkwardly all the same.

Applejack made to protest, but her words were denied entrance at the tip of her lips by a great barrier, that turned out to be one of Rainbow Dash's forelegs. Before she could even register her disapproval with a grunt, or make any sort of noise at all for that matter, Applejack found herself being pulled back further into the hall by her wife swiftly, yet silently. Once there, she spat her lover's limb out of her mouth and whirled around, ready to give her a piece of her mind, only to have Rainbow Dash cover her mouth with the end of her hoof. Applejack glared at her. Rainbow Dash shook her head and spoke in a low whisper: "Come on, we don't want them to know we're spying on them." She removed her hoof.

"That's mah little sister, Dash,'' Applejack hissed, "and Ah don't like this one bit."

"Oh, come on. Let them have their fun."

"Fun?" Applejack quickly glanced back at the door, which still hung slightly ajar, to make sure she wasn't heard. "You saw what they were doin' in there."

"Yeah. I don't see any harm."

"Any harm? But they were… they were… all over each other!"

"I'm not really that surprised, with the way they've been looking at each other these past couple days."

"But they were… they were kissin' and everythin'!"

"Hearing you talk, I'd think this was some sort of strange thing for you."

"Oh, come off it, Dash. They're just fillies!"

"They're not that young anymore, AJ."

"But she's mah little sister!"

"You should let them do what they want."

"Easy fer you to say. You ain't even a blood relation to either o' 'em!"

Rainbow Dash chuckled, throwing a foreleg across Applejack's shoulders and pulling her close for a tight hug. "Oh, AJ, you get so cute when you're all angry." Applejack pursed her lips in mock annoyance, but didn't make any attempt to pull away from her wife's loving squeeze. "You know what? Those two remind me of a certain couple of ponies…"

"Us?" Applejack smiled meekly.

"That's right!" Rainbow Dash kissed her wife on the cheek. "They're not much younger than we were when we started dating."

"They are by a few years, Dash."

"See! That's not much time at all!" Applejack sighed in annoyance, Rainbow Dash smirked. "Tell you what. I'll humor your over-protective big sister side." Applejack glared at her again. "We'll go check on them again." Rainbow Dash planted another kiss on her cheek before releasing her from the one-hoofed hug and trotting back down the hall. Frowning, Applejack followed closely behind.

Rainbow Dash peaked her head around the door, carefully making sure she wasn't spotted. "Aww. Come over here, AJ. Look, isn't that sweet?" In the ensuing minutes, both fillies had fallen asleep. Applebloom lay with her head resting against Scootaloo's chest. The latter lay on her side, facing Applebloom, with a hoof draped over her in a very loose sort of sleep-hug. Applejack joined her wife at the doorway, and couldn't help but smile. "Don't they look happy together? Besides, Scoots needs some more love in her life. Celestia knows she's been through plenty of hurt."

"Fine. Ah guess ya're right, but Ah still don't like it."

"Why not, AJ? What's the worst that could happen?"

"Ah… Ah… Ah don't know. Ah'm just… Ah'm just worried about AB. Ah don't wanna see her hurt."

"And you think Scoots would hurt her?"

"No… Ah just… Ah don't know. What if this doesn't work out? What if she loses her friend because they get into some fight?"

"Well, everything's a risk, AJ. I took a risk once, and I haven't lost you yet, have I?"

"Ah know… it just… it just scares me, Dash. Little Applebloom's growin' up, and Ah can't do a thing 'bout it. Ah can't protect her forever."

"Everypony grows up. I don't think you should be so worried. You know how long those two have been together; and Scoots is a great kid. I think their friendship will survive whatever this turns into."

"Ah hope so, Dashie. Ah hope so. It's just… it's just little AB's growin' up so fast…. And Ah… Ah don't want her to. Ah want her to stay mah little sister forever." Applejack couldn't take her eyes off the sleeping fillies. She edged even closer to her wife, concern etched into her face. "Ah'm… Ah'm scared, Dash."

"Oh, AJ. You're the best." Rainbow Dash pulled her wife into another hug, kissing her forehead. "You always worry about everypony too much. Applebloom, little AJ, me. You spend too much time worrying about us." She pulled back so she could look into her wife's eyes, smiling warmly at her. "But you know what? I love that about you." Rainbow Dash leaned forward, pressing her own lips to Applejack's and keeping the both of them locked there for a long moment.

Applejack was blushing when she pulled away. "Aw, shucks, Sugarcube. Ya love everythin' 'bout me."

"True, true… except for the way you smell in the mornings." Applejack furled her brow, feigning anger. "Actually, I love that too." Rainbow Dash grinned, giving Applejack another quick kiss on the lips before releasing her. "Now come on, let's go have some of that hot apple cider!" She licked her lips exaggeratedly before trotting out towards the kitchen. Applejack shot one last furtive glance at the two sleeping fillies before turning to follow her wife.

The apple cider was stored for the winter in large jugs, and there was almost always one on hoof in the kitchen to suit the family's needs whenever they craved the sweet, satisfying drink during what seemed to be endless winter months. It was especially enjoyable on a cold day, and even more so on a cold night, when warmed up by the fire or stove. Rainbow Dash had become a massive fan of the warming, comforting drink, and while Applejack had always rather enjoyed it herself, she privately admitted that she enjoyed watching the pegasus clamor for it, and subsequently gulp it down with unfailingly flattering gusto, even more so. As such, she quickly had a kettle of the stuff heating up on the warm stove-top. As she stood by the stove, waiting for the cider to reach the proper temperature, Applejack couldn't help but notice Rainbow Dash intently watching the kettle, her eyes occasionally, and rather obviously, shifting to Applejack's rear. The earth pony smirked at this; she was not above giving a little wiggle for her wife.

This seemed to have the desired effect. Rainbow Dash, not a moment later, had crossed the kitchen. She nearly landed on top of Applejack, shifting herself to the side at the last moment to land next to her, just barely brushing up against her substantial flank. Applejack nearly lost her balance, but regained it quickly when Rainbow Dash caught her, hugging her neck from behind. Applejack startled, caught off guard by the pegasus, who had suddenly given her ear a loving nip. "Dash? What the hay?"

"Sorry, AJ. Guess I just couldn't stay off of you!" Rainbow Dash smirked, then planted a large kiss on her mare's cheek. Applejack smiled. Rainbow Dash nuzzled her cheek, leaning a bit too hard against the orange pony in the process. They both crashed to the floor unceremoniously. Rainbow Dash took to the air before she landed on top of her wife, and Applejack quickly rolled onto her back. She opened her mouth to protest, but was immediately cut off by Rainbow Dash, who had leaned down to kiss her from full-hover. Her eyes went wide for a mere split-second, before she acquiesced and let the eager pegasus's tongue into her own mouth, closing her eyes as they pressed closer together.

They could very well have continued like this for quite some time, but for the untimely interruption of a sudden low whistle. Startled, Rainbow Dash sat up, picking herself off of the previously-pinned earth pony, and looked around in confusion. The noise grew to a high-pitched whine, and Applejack bolted upright, both fearing they had woken a baby with their antics. "Aw shoot, Dash! It's the cider kettle!" Applejack jumped over to the stove, grabbing a rag to protect her mouth as she quickly lifted the boiling kettle from the flame. The noise died down instantly.

For several moments, both mares stayed absolutely silent, hoping against hope that the brief, yet loud noise had not woken anypony. After a while, they had heard nothing. Both breathed a sigh of relief, glad they had gotten away with it. Gingerly, Applejack poured a steaming mug of cider for both her and Rainbow Dash. She smiled as she sent them sliding across the table to where the pegasus had chosen a spot. She quickly joined her, sidling up next to her and pressing lovingly against her side, receiving a wing draped over her back in return. Rainbow Dash took a small sip, cringing as the near-scalding liquid met her tongue. Applejack snickered. "Careful there, Sugarcube. It's still hot."

"Really, AJ, you don't say?" Rainbow Dash retorted, grinning at her own foolishness. She leaned over to give Applejack another quick kiss, reveling as Applejack rubbed against her fur even more. "I have an idea."

"What's that, Sugarcube?"

Rainbow Dash teased Applejack's mane with a hoof. "We should go outside; we won't have to worry about waking anypony up out there."

"Dash, it's winter. It's cold outside."

"Come on, AJ. You'll be nice and warm with me."

Applejack hesitated, glancing between her lover and the frosty kitchen window. "Alright, Sugarcube," she finally acquiesced.

Rainbow Dash smiled, scooping her mug into her clenched jaw, she quickly trotted for the door. Applejack followed closely behind, a few drops of cider hitting the floor as they swished over the lip of the vessel she carried. The biting chill of the outside air hit them like a wall as Rainbow Dash opened the front door. Undaunted, she trotted outside, putting her drink down carefully. Applejack joined her moments later, her favorite scarf wrapped tightly around her neck. Rainbow Dash embraced her. Their breath rolled from their mouths in thick, billowy clouds, twisting and fraying outward as they rose high up into the atmosphere above. The steam rising from their mugs of hot cider added to this, creating little wisps of smoky condensation that permeated the deep blue of the night sky as they rose. Tiny stars, pinpricks of light on the seemingly endless black canvas, twinkled down at them, disappearing every time a wisp of breath or steam cut in front of them, only to wink again as they came back into view.

Applejack sighed in amazement. It certainly wasn't the first night she and her wife had shared peaceful time alone outside recently, but she couldn't help but let herself be stunned by the beauty of Equestria's night every time. She could hear a slight wind whispering through the barren trees surrounding her home, blowing up little puffs of snow from the sparkling white ground as it whipped its way through the orchard. Somewhere in the distance, a lonely owl called, sounding its throaty bellow to the otherwise quiet night. Applejack suddenly became aware of a strange warm thing draped over her, and glanced to the side to see Rainbow Dash leaning against her, a wing fully wrapped about her back. Applejack smiled for the pegasus's benefit, snuggling against her happily.

Rainbow Dash now held her sufficiently-cooled drink in a single hoof. She took a sip, smacking her lips as the warming liquid raced its way down the back of her throat. Applejack grabbed her own mug and did the same, gasping as pleasurable warmth washed over her, emanating from her mouth and the deliciously sweet, yet slightly sour, cider. She reveled in the flavor.

They clutched each other close, sharing warmth to ward away the cold as they sat on the porch. The snow-covered yard glistened before them like a sea of diamonds, glinting in the light of the waning silver moon. "Beautiful, ain't it, Sugarcube?"

"Sure is." Dash nodded, taking another sip. She chuckled into her mug.

"What is it?" Applejack looked over towards her lover, "what's so funny?"

"Nothing. I was just thinking."

"About?"

"Oh, just about you and me, Big Mac and Fluttershy, and now Applebloom and Scoots… I mean…" She paused, stifling more laughter with her mug, "What is it with you Apples and pegasi?"

Applejack was caught off-guard. She immediately felt her cheeks growing hot with a spreading redness, despite the chill of the night. She couldn't hide this from Rainbow Dash, who, upon seeing her mare's reddening face, could only laugh slightly louder and squeeze Applejack even tighter against her. Despite herself, Applejack couldn't help but smile. "Now, you hush up, RD."

Rainbow Dash just snickered and kissed her mare. "If I didn't know any better,'' she continued, ignoring Applejack's glare, "I'd say you were all just jealous of these babies." She unfurled her wings, letting them extend to their full glory and flexing them cockily."

"Jealous? Hah."

"I mean, really, cooped up on the ground all the time, I'd sure be jealous if I were you. Haven't you ever wanted to fly AJ?" Applejack didn't humor her with a response. "Ok, that must be a yes!" Before she knew it, Applejack found herself grasped around the waist by the pegasus's fore hooves. She could feel the tell-tale beating of wings sending wave after wave of chilly air to wash over her back. She felt each pulse send a shiver racing down her spine.

"Dash, what's goin' on? What the hay?" Applejack tried to struggle uselessly as she felt her hooves lose contact with the solid surface of the porch. She dangled in mid-air from Rainbow Dash's grasp, wide-eyed and helpless.

"Come on. This'll be fun!" Without any further warning, Dash beat her wings to gain momentum and, securing pulling Applejack up into her chest, rocketed up into the night.

Applejack nearly screamed. She watched the ground as it spiraled down, further and further away from her. The spiraling glint of the white snow beneath her swirled through her vision. Soon, the house, barn, the trees and everything else about the farm was far below. Applejack was awestruck. She pulled her gaze from the ground below and let it wander. She could see for miles. She saw the snow-covered branches at the tops of every one of her orchard's precious apple trees. They stretched out far into the distance. They soared ever higher. There wasn't a cloud in the sky. Rainbow Dash leveled off, holding Applejack below her securely. They flew out over the seemingly endless stretches of farmland. In the distance, a few lights, the last vestiges of but a few late-night ponies, showed them where Ponyville lay.

Like a giant dome, the infinite darkness of the night sky stretched over them and extended to each side. Everywhere she looked, Applejack could see the stars looking back at her. They looked close enough to touch. She reached out a front hoof subconsciously, as if attempting to do just this, only to extend her other fore hoof as well, spreading them both as if she, too, had wings and could enjoy the unparalleled majesty of pushing herself through the sky untethered. She looked up at Dash, her green eyes shimmering in the light of thousands and thousands of pure white pinpricks in the night's dark cloak. Rainbow Dash grinned back.

Despite their speed, their height and the winter air, neither of them felt cold, even as the wind did its best to nip at their faces.

Rainbow Dash flew in lazy circles all around the farm. They soared over snow-covered fields and orchards. Sometimes she followed the roads and paths across the land, sometimes she veered completely off course and flew in a random direction for a while. She soared over the house several times, once taking them low enough for Applejack to brush the roof with a hoof. They both giggled.

Through it all, Applejack loved it. She kept glancing up at her companion, watching the pegasus's strong, yet perfectly graceful body flex with every beat of her wings. She loved the way the air whipped at her lover's mane, blowing it into many waving strands of color. Her chest was held in place by Rainbow Dash's strong fore hooves securely, yet gently. She had hooked her own rear legs over Rainbow Dash's, so they both let their legs trail out behind them, their loose tails flapping incessantly in the wind. Sometimes, the rainbow of colors would mix with the pure gold, merging the two ponies together as literally as they were held together in their hearts. The night seemed to last forever.

All too soon however, Rainbow Dash was sweeping low over the front yard. Applejack could feel her front hooves skimming the drifting snow as they dropped closer and closer to the ground, slowing as they went. All of a sudden, Applejack felt herself catch against a particularly high, unseen drift. Rainbow Dash lost control, and they both found themselves crash-landing in the snow. They both tumbled head over hooves in the cool, wet snow for a good distance. Applejack came to rest in a soft snow bank, Rainbow Dash collapsed next to her. They both found themselves laughing riotously.

Rainbow Dash had landed belly-up, and Applejack quickly rolled over to take advantage of this, landing on top of her wife and kissing her deeply. They were both pressed deeper into the snow, although neither noticed as they continued to express their passion and love in a language only lovers can truly ever understand. They came up gasping for breath, clambering out of the snow bank, moments later.

Applejack smiled hugely, kissing her mare on the snout. "Cold yet, Sugarcube?"

"A little." Rainbow Dash shook herself, letting thousands of tiny ice crystals scatter themselves from her wings and body. Each drifted back down lazily to join its fellows in the blanket that covered the property.

"Let's head inside." Applejack nuzzled her wife briefly, and then both took off galloping across the white-covered yard.

They seemingly couldn't get back inside fast enough. They were both shivering by the time they stripped their scarves off in the entry, although neither had really stopped long enough to notice the cold while outside. They rushed, side-by-side, into the living room, where the remaining embers of the day's fire still gave off a weak, yet comforting glow, emanating from the fireplace. They stacked pieces of firewood as quickly as they could, and soon a full set of healthy flames was licking away at the edges of the hearth. Applejack and Rainbow Dash quickly snuggled into each other's embrace on the floor, lying not a few hoof-lengths from the lapping tongues of flame.

They held each other close, letting their shared space and the heat of the flames remove every last trace of the winter's mark. Showers of sparks flew up into the chimney, spiraling upward in a column of smoke. The fire snapped and hissed, filling the room with comforting sounds and a soothing orange glow as it danced back and forth. There were no other lights in the house. Rainbow Dash and Applejack rested in mutual embrace, letting the curtain of warmth spread over them like a blanket. In the glow of the fire, they kissed, letting waves of passion sweep over them just as easily as the waves of billowing heat.

The wood slowly burned, and the fire diminished even more as the two lovers, exhausted by a long day and an equally draining night spent together, retired to the couch opposite the fire. Applejack laid herself down on her back, allowing Dash to settle in on top of her. There they lay, in the waning glow of the slowly dying flames, wrapped in one another's love. They shared another kiss, just as they had done innumerable times before that night, before finally drifting off to sleep; as one.

Chapter 13

Rainbow Dash was entirely too comfortable to wake up. Nope, she decided she was perfectly fine with continuing to sleep. She was warm, comfortable and content to completely ignore the world for another few hours. She shifted herself, her fur brushing against something very warm and very soft. She snuggled in closer. She rather enjoyed the way the soft, fuzzy surface cushioned her body, the slow, rhythmic up-and-down motion that gently rocked and soothed her, the faint scent of apples…

Even in her drowsy state, and despite her conviction that the morning had arrived far too early for her liking, Rainbow Dash was enjoying herself. Perhaps it was the stubborn determination that was her nature, or, more likely, the excessively late night she had enjoyed previously, but she kept herself groggily determined to stay in bed, snuggling with her warm, fuzzy, apple-smelling thing. Neither the growing light that irritated her right at the edges of her eyelids, nor the seemingly distant sound of a blubbering cry could change that.

It took Rainbow Dash's mind several more seconds to actually process the sound beyond merely registering and attempting to ignore it. It was at this moment that, with a sudden, sickening jolt of understanding, Rainbow Dash's bloodshot, sleep-deprived eyes flew open. It wasn't a split-second later, after a very real and very unexpected actual jolt, that Rainbow Dash found herself thrust to the floor in a confused tangle of limbs and six colors of hair.

She was on all four hooves in an instant, snapped to sudden attention by the wailing even more so than the fall. "Applejoy!" She cried out, turning towards the direction of the sound. It was emanating from the nursery wing, which only confirmed her sinking suspicions. She prepared herself to gallop heroically to her daughter's rescue, but not before casting a sideways glance at her warm, fuzzy, apple-smelling thing. Applejack had only just been roused by the sound of her daughter's cries and, after violently jerking awake, was sitting up and blinking in abject confusion. Her gaze found Rainbow Dash and she fixated on her, her eyes wide and questioning.

Rainbow Dash kissed her forehead. "Don't worry honey, I got this." She flashed a wan smile, then turned and beat a hasty trail to the nursery.

Rainbow Dash's head pounded with every hoof-fall. She wished with every throb and every conscious thought that she hadn't decided to romp around with Applejack the night before. It couldn't have been more than a couple hours ago. She desperately needed more rest. Irritably, she hoped to herself that the cries might belong to one of Fluttershy's babies, if only for the entirely selfish hope that she might not have to deal with a wailing foal and thus be afforded a few more hours of sleep. Such saving grace was not to be, however. She could have recognized her daughter's voice from miles away.

She skidded to an ungraceful halt directly upon reaching the nursery room. Thankfully, neither Honeycrisp nor Sweet Blossom appeared to even be in the room. Rainbow Dash praised Celestia for this fortune subconsciously; she was certainly not prepared to deal with three screaming foals. One was going to task her half-conscience mental capacity more than enough.

"Applejoy? Applejoy? It's Ok. Everything's OK, Applejoy. Momma's here, momma's here." She stumbled over to the crib deftly, reaching in to pull her foal from the base and clutch her to her chest, squeezing her as lovingly as possible and rocking back and forth gently.

To her credit, Applejoy, after sniffling loudly several more times, managed to calm her blubbering enough to actually choke out something partly intelligible. "M… Mom…. Momma…" Rainbow Dash nuzzled her gently, willing her to quiet down completely. "Momma. Momma. Hun… hung-y. Hungie, momma. Hungie."

Rainbow Dash sighed in relief. It hadn't been all that long ago when the little filly couldn't even speak and her mothers would be forced to guess as to what she wanted. Having only recently learned a few simple words, Applejoy could finally communicate adequately when she was hungry. It had been a welcome improvement to their daily lives. Kissing her daughter gently, Rainbow Dash let her settle comfortably just behind her neck, before trotting for the kitchen. Applejoy, still whimpering softly, seemed to find some comfort in her momma's tangled mass of hair, which she gratefully snuggled into as she rode.

From the kitchen, Rainbow Dash had a clear view into the living room. Applejack had seemingly fallen asleep again. Her head rested against the couch's armrest and a hind leg hung limply over the side. Rainbow Dash debated going over to re-awaken her for the purpose of feeding, but decided against it. Applejack clearly needed more sleep.

Content to leave her wife to the shut-eye she herself still so greatly desired, Rainbow Dash trotted over to the fridge instead, from whence she removed a bottle of milk. They had prepared several in advance for precisely this occasion and, now, Rainbow Dash was extremely grateful for their foresight, regardless of how strange and difficult the process of filling the bottles had been. She gripped one in her jaw loosely and made her way back out to the living room, Applejoy still snuggled on her back.

She placed the bottle on a cushion of the room's other couch, and then proceeded to set Applejoy down gently. She soon clambered into the seat to join her daughter as well. She curled herself around her, allowing the small filly to nestle herself comfortably against her chest. The little orange pegasus snuggled herself into her momma's warmth. Satisfied that she was comfortable, Rainbow Dash put the bottle in front of her. Applejoy grabbed at it and sucked its tip into her mouth greedily, beginning to draw the flow of nourishment into her little body eagerly.

Rainbow Dash sighed, allowing herself to relax into the cushions further. With Applejoy's cries abated, the morning was peaceful. The blinds held back the shine of a bright sun reflecting off of crisp white snow. The faded light cast a soft, cool, gray glow throughout the wooden room. Nothing stirred. There was nary a sound save the light suckling noises Applejoy made at the bottle. Rainbow Dash stroked the filly's mane absent-mindedly, letting strands of gold mixed with streaks of her own rainbow pallet smoothly slip over her foreleg's fur. Applejoy's eyes popped open – huge, pink orbs that stared directly into her momma's face. Rainbow Dash stared back, entranced. "I love you, little AJ."

Rainbow Dash lost track of time. The early morning grew older around her as the filly curled against her chest drained her bottle slowly, making joyful noises as she went. Rainbow Dash just kept stroking her, letting her short, soft fur delicately trace its way over her hoof. All too soon, Applejoy was finished and spat the bottle from her mouth with a happy 'pop'. She then tried to smile, but was interrupted by a rather quick succession of hiccups.

Rainbow Dash laughed. "Alright, silly filly. I think you've had enough for now.'' She leaned over, scooping her daughter into her hooves as she did so. She placed her over her shoulder gently and began tapping on her back lightly, just above her wings. It didn't take long for Applejoy to emit a tiny 'urrp'. "Aww, you're just so cute, you silly filly!" Rainbow Dash chuckled, holding her daughter out at fore leg's length. She grinned, and Applejoy smiled back, letting out an excited chirp in the process. "Momma loves you, yes she does, momma loves you!" Rainbow Dash pulled the foal in close, rubbing their noses together briefly. "Phew." She laughed, setting Applejoy down and waving a hoof in front of her nose in exaggeration. "You smell like your mother on a bad morning." She stood up. Applejoy giggled, climbing atop her momma's back.

"Hey!" A rather irritated voice from across the room nearly made Rainbow dash jump. She looked up and laughed.

"Oh, look who's finally awake. I think somepony will be happy to see you!"

"Mommy!" Rainbow dash trotted over to the other couch, where a rather upset looking orange earth pony glared at her from where she lay.

"Ah do not smell bad in the mornings."

"Yeah, yeah, sure you don't. Here, catch!" Without further ado, Rainbow Dash slid a wildly giggling filly down her wing, landing her on Applejack's stomach. The prone mare let out a surprised grunt.

"Mommy!" Applejoy scooted her way happily onto her mother's chest. Applejack couldn't help but smile to see her daughter's bubbly face poke its way into her vision, giggling filling her ears.

"Good mornin', sugar. Ah'm happy ta see ya too!" She accepted a tiny hug and looked up to see Rainbow Dash leaning against the back of the couch, grinning hugely. "Oh, come here. You know Ah can't stay mad at you!"

Rainbow Dash bounded around the couch, stopping where she could only just lean over and accept a good-morning kiss from her wife. Applejoy rolled onto her back, gnawing on a few strands of her mother's hair. They broke the kiss. "You're looking particularly lovely this morning, AJ." Rainbow Dash smirked, noting Applejack's tangled mess of a mane, much of which currently played host to a now equally tangled little pegasus filly.

"Oh quiet, you." Applejack turned her attention to her daughter. "Aww, are you all stuck? You silly filly."

Rainbow Dash bent over to help, gently pulling her daughter out of the blonde mess and setting her back on Applejack's chest. "You know how much I love it when you wear your hair down."

"Oh, hush, Dash. Ah haven't even had mah bath yet."

"So you admit the smell?"

"Ya know, you're lucky you're so cute, or else Ah'd kick ya right outta mah house."

"Oh, come on, AJ. You couldn't last one hour without me."

"That a challenge, Sugarcube?"

"Absolutely." Rainbow Dash kissed her, feeling Applejack melt back into the couch under the touch of her lips. "I'm the only excitement in your life."

"Well ain't you a stuck-up little pegasus." Applejack clambered forward for another kiss. "Ah love ya."

"Pway." Applejack and Rainbow Dash jerked their gazes from one another's faces to see their daughter. Applejoy blinked back at them. "Pway."

"Oh, she wants to play." Rainbow Dash picked her up off of Applejack's chest. "Have we been ignoring you, silly filly?" She kissed her cheek before setting her down.

Stumbling in the way a young, uncoordinated little filly is so apt to do, Applejoy trundled her way over to her toy box.

"Well, now that we have some alone time, how about some breakfast?"

"Ya just read mah mind."

================================================================================

The enticing sizzle and the distinct smell of frying pancakes filled the kitchen. From the adjacent bedroom, two sets of hooves could be heard. Yawning and blinking sleep from their eyes, Scootaloo and Applebloom groggily stumbled into the kitchen.

"Mornin'!" Applejack looked up from the stove. "'Bout time you got up."

The two fillies shot each other a furtive glance, only to quickly break eye contact and pretend to look elsewhere. This quick glance did not go unnoticed by the older mares.

Rainbow Dash did her best to hide her grin. "Hope you two managed to stay warm last night. It got pretty chilly."

"Heh, heh… yeah… we were… fine." Scootaloo looked down, pawing at the ground. Rainbow Dash nodded.

"You girls want some breakfast?" Applejack chimed in as a pancake flipped into the air, spiraling several times before landing once again. "You must be starving!"

"Umm… No thanks, big sis. Ah'm not that hungry. You, Scoot?"

"Nope. I'm not hungry either." Scootaloo tried to force a smile, but wasn't convincing enough. Rainbow Dash and Applejack watched in growing amusement. "Maybe we should go."

"Go? Where are you two going?" Mirth sparkled behind Rainbow Dash's eyes.

"Um… We're late for school! Yeah, school." Scootaloo made a beeline for the door. "Come on, AB."

"You two bundle up! It's still cold outside." Applejack called into the front hall.

"Ok, sis." Applebloom reached up to grab her scarf and hat from a hook.

Scootaloo watched as the other filly wrapped the warm fabric about herself, wondering all the while what she was going to do.

"You can take mine, Scoots. It's the purple and white striped one."

"Won't you need it, Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo looked skeptically up at the scarf, which seemed somewhat longer than she really needed.

"I got all the warmth I need." Applejack, bent over to dig a jar of maple syrup out of the pantry, didn't notice Rainbow Dash sneaking up behind her until the other mare's hoof struck her flank. Startled, she jumped, whirling around in mid-air to glare at her. Rainbow Dash could only grin back. The sound of the front door slamming shut rattled through the house a moment later. Rainbow Dash, who had been holding back, collapsed as soon as she heard it, falling onto her back and laughing hysterically, her hooves waving wildly.

Applejack, despite her indignation at the strike on her rump, couldn't help but chuckle as well.

Trying to calm down, Rainbow Dash rolled onto her side, struggling to speak between deep gasps for air. "Did you… did you see how nervous they were?" she sputtered, trying to contain her hysterics. "They have no idea we know!"

"They don't even have school today. It's still winter break." Applejack shook her head. "They're sure actin' strange."

"I know! This is just too good!" Rainbow Dash wiped a tear from her eye, still fighting to control her urge to giggle like a school filly. "They're so cute together. I hope they decide to tell us soon." She righted herself, swaying as she got back onto her hooves.

"Hey, speakin' o' bein' cute together, where's Fluttershy and mah brother? Ah haven't seen them all mornin', and it's gettin' late."

"I don't know, maybe they're still upstairs? I didn't see the twins when I went to get little AJ either."

"Race ya."

"What?"

"I'll race ya upstairs." Applejack's green eyes twinkled mischievously. "Come on Dash; don't tell me you've gotten soft in your old age."

"HEY! I'm not old! I could still beat you any day!"

"You'll have ta catch me first." Applejack took off running, Rainbow Dash leaping into the air behind her.

The pegasus soon soared over the earth pony's head, rolling onto her back to fly upside-down lazily, barely staying ahead of Applejack. "Easy peasy."

"Get down here, ya cheater!" Applejack jumped up, managing to grab her lover's rainbow tail in her jaw just as she was about to enter the stairwell. Rainbow Dash gave a quick squeak before being pulled down, the two ponies colliding in a tangle of wings and hooves. They finally settled at the base of the stairs, laughing and sprawled across one another. From near the fireplace, Applejoy looked up and giggled, cracking a wide smile. "Just like ol' times eh, Sugarcube?"

"I love you, AJ." Rainbow Dash rolled over, planting a quick kiss on her wife's waiting lips. "But I'm still gonna win!" She jumped up, charging up the stairs, Applejack right behind her.

They skidded to a halt just outside Fluttershy and Big Macintosh's room, stopping to compose themselves before they strode in. Inside, Big Macintosh laid, eyes wide open and a smile on his face, prone on the bed. Fluttershy, her mane a tangled mess, held him in a sleepy hug. Her yellow foreleg hung limply across his chest. Sweet Blossom had somehow managed to fall asleep between the two, her head resting against her mother's stomach. Honeycrisp had curled himself into a ball at his mother's hooves. Big Macintosh glanced up to see his sister and sister-in-law sneak their way in.

"Wow," Rainbow Dash nodded to him, whispering when she realized only Big Macintosh was awake, "Fluttershy really is a heavy sleeper."

"Eeeyup."

"Wow, big bro, Ah know you always get up early, but Ah've never known ya ta stay in bed all mornin'."

Big Macintosh glanced down at his family; asleep around him. He gently bent his head forward to kiss Fluttershy's forehead. A smile slipped its way across the cream-yellow pegasus's face, though she didn't stir otherwise. Big Macintosh looked back up, his eyes shining. "Ah ain't complainin'."

====================================================================================

A brisk wind whipped the fine, powdery snow into billowing, dusty white clouds that restricted vision to but a few yards. Only the barely-visible compacted indentations of previous hoof prints and a slightly wider gap between two rows of trees bore any evidence to the trail that meandered its way through the orchard. If Applebloom didn't know the way by heart, the two fillies may have even gotten lost.

Still, they sauntered on through the lazily drifting piles of snow. The sky was clear and the sun shone down, setting the wintery landscape ablaze in a sea of dazzling sparkles. Their hooves sank into the crisp powder as they went, walking side-by-side for warmth and comfort. Scootaloo scrunched her face against a particularly strong gust, hiding behind the thick layers of her borrowed scarf.

They stopped for a moment behind a particularly dense clump of trees, afforded a lull in the onslaught by the natural windbreak. Applebloom shook her head, letting her own scarf slip down below her mouth. She took a deep, grateful gulp of fresh air. Scootaloo did the same. They turned and smiled at each other, their senses electrified and their awareness heightened by the stinging chill of wind and wind-whipped ice particles. "Makes ya feel alive, doesn't it?" Applebloom's voice was filled with awe and excitement.

Scootaloo shivered slightly, her mind too distracted by the thoughts zipping about her head to notice the beauty of the scene. "Hey… AB? Can I ask you something?"

"Sure thing, Scooty!"

"Wait… what was that?"

"Scooty? That's mah new nickname for ya!"

"Well… please don't…"

Wha? Ya don' like it?"

"Not really."

"Fine." Applebloom chuckled, kicking absent-mindedly at the snow. "So, what were ya gonna ask me?"

"Do you think they know? Rainbow Dash and Applejack?"

"Know what?"

"You know… about… us."

"Oh… well, Ah don't think so. But, if they do, Ah don' see what's so bad about it. Of all ponies, Ah'd think those two would be the most happy fer us."

Scootaloo prodded the snow-covered ground nervously, not looking up to meet Applebloom's concerned gaze. "I… I don't think we should tell anypony. Not yet. I… I'm just not ready."

Applebloom walked over to the other filly. "If it makes ya feel better, we don't need ta tell anypony yet." She kissed her on the cheek. Despite the cold, Scootaloo blushed profusely. "Cheer up, Scoot. There's nothin' ta be scared of."

The branches of the trees above them creaked slightly from a strong gust. Scootaloo and Applebloom both looked up, just in time to be greeted by a falling deluge of more powdered snow, billowing through the air aimlessly as it was shaken from the tree-tops. They were lost for a mere moment, entranced by the swirling torrent as if it was calling for their attention. Their eyes sparkled as much as the spiraling flakes.

"Wow." Scootaloo sighed, her breath turning to steam and lazily drifting away.

"Beautiful, ain't it?"

"Yeah."

"Ah've always loved winter. Ya can be out all day in the cold, but then come home to a nice warm fire at night. It's like the whole world just slows down and tells ya to stop and take a long look at everythin' around you, and everythin's just beautiful."

"I had to spend a lot of winters at the orphanage." Scootaloo looked about the copse, speaking more to the wind than to Applebloom. The other filly listened intently anyway. "I could usually take care of myself, but when it got cold out, I had to go there. I hated that place. It was dark and gloomy and the dark winter nights made it worse. I would always try to get outside during the day, but at night and whenever the weather was bad I was cooped up inside, and I was always cold anyway."

"Oh, Scoot. Ah'm so sorry."

"It's ok," Scootaloo tried to smile. Applebloom wasn't convinced.

"You'll never have ta go back there. You can stay with us forever, if ya like." Applebloom draped a fore leg around the other filly's shoulders, squeezing her gently. "Ah promise."

In the lee of the tiny, protected alcove of the tree grove, Applebloom and Scootaloo stood, their eyes full of wonder, and gazed around at the enchanted scene around them. Their eyes following smoothly billowing snow clouds as they whistled past in the wind. Their heads swayed back and forth, in time with the tree-tops. Their tails flicked back and forth lazily behind them, sometimes brushing up against one another. One filly would glance at the other every so often. If their eyes met, they would quickly look away with a blush and a twinge of embarrassment, though neither really understood why.

They weren't keeping track of time. Neither really knew how long it had been before Applebloom spoke up again. They did know, however, that the cold was starting to get to them, despite the warmth they felt merely from being so close to one another. It was getting time to move on. "Maybe… Maybe we should go see Sweetie Belle."

"Yeah. That's a good idea." The pair started making their way back to the trail. Their hoofprints from earlier had already been filled in. Scootaloo slipped on an unseen patch of ice, barely catching herself in time to prevent a face-full of snow. She looked up to see Applebloom waiting for her, smiling warmly. At that moment, she knew she would never feel the cold again. "Hey, Applebloom? One more thing."

"What is it?"

"Thanks."

Chapter 14

On such a cold, windy day, most residents of Ponyville were more than content to spend their time indoors, holed up in their cozy homes against the bite of frosty wind and blowing snow. The skies had been clear of clouds for a couple days, but the arrival of the brisk wind signaled an end to the clear weather.

At the moment, however, the day was still bright and clear, and the airborne drifts of snow that blew their way down Ponyville's streets did little to dampen the mood of those who did venture outside. A few quickly shuttled themselves to and fro between heated buildings, unwilling to let the cold bother them as they went about their business. Even fewer milled about in the plowed city streets, ignoring the cold for the chance to experience the day and enjoy themselves, marveling at the pristine white beauty that had besieged their town.

With so few outside, a kind of fantastic silence had descended upon the town. The only sound that could be heard was the low, subtle whistling of the wind as it gusted its way down the streets. The beautiful quiet was broken by a pair of fillies, whooping and hollering as they chased each other, their hooves sounding off the cobblestone streets with a fast clapping noise.

"Come on, AB! Give me my scarf back!" Scootaloo laughed as she ran, watching the other filly, who barely managed to stay out of her reach, as she went.

"You'll have ta catch me first!" Applebloom looked back over her shoulder at her pursuer. She spoke around the edges of the fabric she held, clenched tight in her mouth. The striped purple and white ends of Scootaloo's borrowed scarf flapped behind her as she ran.

Scootaloo squinted as she ran, the wind whistling past her ears. Her hooves pounded against the cobblestones as she built up speed. With Applebloom in her sights, she flexed her wings, drawing them out to get the wind under them. With a few flaps, she was airborne. For a few seconds, she felt like she was going to lose her balance and tumble out of the air, before her wings finally caught and she soared upward.

Zeroing in on Applebloom from above, she leaned forward, gaining momentum in the air. Applebloom looked back just in time to catch a fleeting glimpse of her pursuer before Scootaloo collided with her, sending both of them tumbling headfirst into a snow bank. Scootaloo, victorious, had Applebloom pinned underneath her. The yellow filly lay belly-up in the snow. Scootaloo wrenched the scarf from her grasp and set it aside. "Caught you."

From underneath her friend, Applebloom smiled, and then leaned forward to lightly brush her lips against Scootaloo's. Scootaloo's eyes went wide in surprise, and she almost seemed lost in the kiss for a split second, before, reflexes kicking in, she jumped backwards. Applebloom looked up in concern. "Scoot? What's wrong?"

Frantic, Scootaloo swung her head left and right, checking for anyone who could have seen. There weren't many ponies out on the streets and she didn't see any who might have seen them. She sighed in relief. She turned back to Applebloom, who was still shooting her a questioning look. "Please, AB, not here." She breathed quietly, her eyes wide. "Not where ponies can see us."

"What's the big deal? Ah thought ya liked me?"

"I do..." Scootaloo sighed, gathering up her scarf, "I do like you, a lot, but I don't want ponies to see us like that. I'm just not ready."

Applebloom picked herself up out of the snow bank, walking over to the other filly, but refraining from touching her. "It's Ok, Scoot. Ah understand."

Side-by-side, at a much more subdued pace, they made their way towards the Carousel Boutique.

Without thinking about it, Rarity moved the pin from side-to-side in her mouth as she contemplated the dress before her. It was, to anypony else's eye, a beautiful piece. Smooth, flowing lengths of lacey fabric in several shades of maroon and light purple were layered upon one another, shimmering ever so slightly with the sparkle of tiny, hoof-selected gemstones, set in elegant, waving patterns flowing down the back of the gown. The fabric ended in several slight curls, curving up from the bottom hem to end in wispy lace. It was, by all accounts, a beautiful dress, but to Rarity's discerning eye, it just wasn't perfect. Not yet.

It was nearly done. Of course, she had spent most of the morning and a good piece of the previous day getting it this far, but it was the final touch, something truly unique to really set the dress apart, that had Rarity stumped. So focused was she on the dress before her that she didn't notice her sister happily trotting through the door, into her workspace.

"Hiya, sis! Watcha doin'?"

Rarity jumped, very nearly hitting the dress form in front of her, but she caught herself just in time. On her hooves again, she whirled around, her gaze finally settling on Sweetie Belle. She sighed. "Sweetie Belle… please don't interrupt me when I'm working."

"Sorry, sis. I just wanted to talk to you."

Rarity smiled. "That's quite alright, Sweetie. I was having design trouble anyway. I could use a break."

Sweetie Belle stepped around her sister to view the new dress in its entirety. "Who are you making this for, anyway? It's so pretty!"

"Well, actually…" Rarity suddenly found herself blushing, though she couldn't understand why. "This one is a personal piece. I've been working since yesterday to make this dress absolutely perfect."

"Why?" Sweetie Belle admired the glimmering waves of sparkling fabric as she moved around the dress, looking at it from all angles. "What's the special occasion?"

Sweetie Belle looked up, blinking in surprise to see her usually calm and collected sister blushing even harder. "Well…" Rarity started, but couldn't seem to say any more. Instead, she looked up towards the shelf next to her and lifted a small envelope off with her magic, bringing it down to her sister. She levitated it in front of Sweetie Belle's eyes, removing a piece of paper from within and unfolding it so she could read.

They were both silent as Sweetie Belle scanned the page, her eyes flicking from line to line. Finished, she returned to the top, reading it aloud as if she couldn't believe the words on the paper. "Dearest Rarity, I've been doing a lot of thinking recently and I've come to the conclusion that there is something very important I must tell you, or, ask of you, as it were. I will be coming to Ponyville in three days' time. I do hope to meet up with you then, as I have been away so long, and I have the dearest wish to see you and speak with you, my love. I shall be eagerly awaiting my trip and the next time I may look upon your beautiful face. Canterlot does get boring from time to time, anyway…" Sweetie Belle looked up, her eyes meeting her sister's. "Rarity! 'three days' time'? That's today, isn't it? Fancy Pants is coming here? Today?"

"YES! He is!" Rarity gently set the paper down on the shelf again. Beaming, she looked about ready to jump for joy. "He's coming this evening and he has something important to ask me! Sweetie, do you know what this means?"

"Is he gonna ask you? Do you think he's really gonna do it?"

"I think so! Two years of dating ever since that bi-… uh… not-so-nice mare Fleur cheated on him and I think he might finally propose! Oh, Sweetie, everything has to be absolutely perfect!"

"Oh, Rarity, I'm so happy for you!" Sweetie Belle walked forward to give her sister a big hug, feeling Rarity's tight embrace in return. "Any stallion would be so lucky to have you as a wife."

"Oh, thank you so much Sweetie Belle. I-" Rarity was interrupted by the chime of the doorbell. Both sisters stood in place for a moment, waiting, as the ringing of the bell slowly faded to nothing. "That can't be him. He said he'd be here in the evening. I'm not even ready yet!"

"It's ok, Rarity, I'll get the door." Before her elder sister would even think to protest, Sweetie Belle had trotted across the store and reached the door. She reached for the handle and swung it open to reveal her two best friends, standing at the threshold and grinning widely. "Hey Scootaloo, hey Applebloom!"

"Oh thank Celestia," Rarity sighed as she waltzed into the storefront, grateful to see that her visitors were not, in fact, her coltfriend.

"Hey Sweetie Belle!" Scootaloo stepped into the shop, shaking the snow from her pelt. Applebloom followed close behind.

"Sweetie Belle? Could I see you for a minute?" Rarity shifted nervously on her hooves as the two fillies dripped water all over her freshly-mopped floor.

"Sure, Rarity." Sweetie Belle trotted over to her sister, who kneeled down to whisper in her ear. "Sweetie, I really need this night to be perfect, and, well, I can't have…"

"Oh, I get it, sis. Don't worry. We'll be outta her way before he gets here." Sweetie Belle smiled brightly. Rarity hugged her.

"Thank you dear, now go have fun!"

"Hey, Applebloom!" Sweetie Belle trotted over to her friends, about to lead them to her room. "Can we go over to your place this afternoon?"

"Sure, Sweetie." Applebloom glanced at Scootaloo. "You can come over to our house later."

"Wait… 'Our house'? Are you two living together?"

Scootaloo looked away slightly, hiding her blush from her unicorn friend. "Well… it's a long story. We'll tell you everything soon."

Rarity smiled and shook her head as the three friends walked down the hall, their voices receding as they went. She quickly whisked a mop form her broom closet to wipe up the wet patch on the floor before returning to her study. She had a lot of work to do to prepare, after all.

Applejack watched out the window with growing concern as the tall bank of clouds approached from over the Everfree Forest. The storm was building, and it appeared to be headed straight towards Ponyville. "Dash? Hey Dashie?"

"Yeah?" Rainbow Dash looked up from where she had been playing with Applejoy, by the fire. Seeing the look of concern on her wife's face, she stood up and walked over. She lay a wing across her wife's back and looked out the window as well.

"Is that storm planned?"

Rainbow Dash slowly shook her head. "No… that's coming in from the Everfree Forest. Storms happen naturally in there. That's not pegasus-made."

Applejack stared for a few more moments. "Is the weather team gonna stop it?"

Again, Rainbow Dash shook her head. "I haven't gotten any notice on it, so I can only assume Cloudsdale doesn't want to waste pegasi on it. They probably want to just let it hit town, instead of trying to intervene. Everfree storms are hard to stop, especially in winter, but they're usually short. This one shouldn't last past morning."

"Ah'm still worried. It looks strong, and Applebloom and Scootaloo are still out there."

Rainbow Dash kissed her cheek, chuckling lightly. "Oh, AJ. You worry too much about everypony. They're smart fillies. They know how to stay safe. They're probably over at Rarity's right now. They'll be fine."

Applejack leaned against her, taking comfort as Rainbow Dash held her gently. "Ah hope they don't get stuck out there."

"Tell you what: If it makes you feel any better, I'll go out and go to Rarity's to check on them."

"Ah'm comin' with you."

"No. You stay here with our daughter. She might need you, and the last thing we want is for you to be gone if she does."

Applejack opened her mouth to protest, but shut it again, opting instead to bury her face into her lover's mane, breathing in her scent as deeply as she could. "Be safe," She whispered.

"Don't worry. I'd never do anything to risk not coming home to you and Applejoy. I'll be fine. By the way, I need your scarf. I gave mine to Scoot."

"Ah know." Applejack kissed her gently. "Ah love you."

"I love you too, AJ."

"No way! Really? You two are together now? Like, as in, fillyfriends together?" Sweetie Belle blinked in incredulity at her two best friends.

"Yep." Applebloom smiled proudly, Scootaloo only looked off in a different direction, blushing slightly. "Ah guess we are fillyfriends now!"

Sweetie Belle jumped forward to draw them both into a tight hug. "That's so great! You two make such a cute couple!"

"Yeah, yeah." Scootaloo tried to wave her off. "Please don't tell anyone, Ok?"

"Ok, I won't tell. But I still think it's really, really cute!"

"See, Scoot." Applebloom embraced her fillyfriend. "Ah told ya she would be happy fer us."

"I know. I guess you were right, AB." Scootaloo smiled slightly, returning the hug. "So, you're not jealous or anything?" She turned to Sweetie Belle.

"What? Oh, no." Sweetie Belle laughed. "I like colts!" She kept laughing and soon her friends joined her. In seemingly no time at all, the three were rolling on the floor together, whooping up a storm and struggling for breath as they went, having fun with each other as if nothing had ever happened.

In time, Sweetie Belle sat up, panting and wiping a tear from her eye as she struggled to stop giggling, and looked up at the clock. "Oh, dear." She jumped to her feet, realizing the time.

"What's wrong, Sweetie Belle?" Applebloom stood up as well, Scootaloo just behind her.

"We have to go now. It's getting late."

"Why?" Scootaloo, too, glanced at the clock. It didn't seem that late to her.

"Rarity has a big date tonight. We have to be out of here so she can get ready."

Quickly, Sweetie Belle led her friends downstairs and back to the shop's front room. They met Rarity as she was tidying up the room. "Bye sis!" Sweetie Belle called. "Good luck!"

Rarity trotted over to give her sister a quick hug. "Thank you so much, Sweetie." She walked beside them to the door. When she opened it, the wind nearly thrust it open all the way, only a quick application of magic kept the interior wall safe. A small flurry of snow blew into the room as well. Rarity shut the door. "Sweeite, if you're going out, you need to bundle up!" Quickly, she whisked a coat, a scarf, a hat, and a set of boots through the air from a back closet, stuffing Sweetie Belle in, even as the filly tried to protest.

"But Rarity, we're only going to Sweet Apple Acres!"

"I won't have you catching a cold out there. Sweet Apple Acres is too far to go without protection anyway."

"Fine." Sweetie Belle groused as the last button was fastened on her jacket, sealing her in against the cold and driving snow. Rarity once again held the door open, making sure to hold it firmly in her magical grasp to keep the wind from grabbing it once more.

Sweetie Belle wished her luck one more time before they set out. As the door shut behind them, Applebloom and Scootaloo realized the wind had gotten stiffer than it had been before. They scrunched their noses, burying themselves behind their scarves, as they set out. The snow blew into them fiercely, stinging their faces as they walked, making them struggle to make headway. They looked up to see a wall of clouds advancing upon the town. Even more snow could be seen falling in its wake. The wind was blowing even harder and the sun, which had shown from a clear sky for days, was in danger of being blotted out by the advancing clouds.

If there had been few ponies outside before, there were none out in this weather. The gathering ferocity of the nearing storm made going outside for anypony miserable at best. Even the plow-pony, who normally worked diligently to keep Ponyville's streets clear during the winter months, had retired indoors when faced with the stark conditions. Drifting snow was beginning to pile up even higher. One by one, shutters were closed in the windows of the houses and shops lining the town's streets, as residents began to brace for the coming storm. The street grew darker and darker.

By the time the three fillies had reached the other side of town, the only light coming from any building emanated from Sugarcube Corner. Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, walking in a group to share body heat and keep themselves together as best they could, were just passing the colorful storefront when the door was whisked open. They looked up in surprise, shielding their eyes from the nearly blinding glow of the brightly-lit interior. Blinking, they could make out the form of a pink earth pony who seemed to be calling to them. They moved closer, struggling to hear her words over the din of the storm.

"Applebloom! Sweetie Belle! Scootaloo! Come inside! It's super-duper-not-nice out there!"

"Pinkie Pie?" Applebloom stepped into the colorful bakery, grateful for the reprieve granted from the blustery weather. "What's goin' on?"

"What's going on? You three silly fillies are outside in the storm, that's what's wrong! You should come inside, where it's all cozy-wozy!"

"I don't know Pinkie Pie…" Applebloom turned to look back out the door, gesturing in concern to the building mass of clouds. "I think we should try to get to the farm quickly. It looks a-might dangerous out there."

"Come on, AB," Scootaloo walked up next to her as Sweetie Belle struggled to loosen her jacket, "we could use a break. Besides, I'm getting hungry; we could use some snacks, too." Scootaloo eyed the display counter, still lined with nearly every sugary treat imaginable despite the poor weather.

"Oh, alright. But just fer a little while. We need to get home before the storm gets too bad. Ah guess a little break won't hurt nothin'." Applebloom frowned, looking out a window as Pinkie Pie closed the door. The sky boiled with thick, black clouds. The sun had disappeared, and Ponyville lay shrouded in darkness as even more snow, gray against the black backdrop, began to fall. She shivered. "Ah hope."

The storm was about to break. Rainbow Dash fought to keep herself in control in the midst of the swirling wind and snow. Above her, the dense cloud cover rumbled and rolled, seeming to be on the verge of releasing its torrent of pent-up snow at every second. Rainbow Dash pulled Applejack's scarf tighter around her face. It served as her only guard against the stinging bite of the icy wind. Below her, the trees of the orchard whipped past. She ducked and rolled, attempting to pick up speed to outrun the coming deluge, even as every erratic gust threatened to buffet her off course.

Years of serving with the weather service had, of course, given her the vital experience needed to fly through such tumultuous storms. She ignored the cold, concentrating on correcting for every single alteration of her flight path. She opened her wings to catch updrafts, swerving through the air to navigate the crosswinds that constantly seemed prime to throw her off course. On the horizon, the dark buildings of Ponyville loomed before her, a mere silhouette against the white ground. A haze of blowing snow obscured everything below her in what seemed a white fog. It was surreal.

The roaring of the wind and the crashing of the Everfree storm howled in her ears. She tried to shut the deafening noise out. Her eyes never left her target, even as she dipped and rolled through the air, always making sure to keep some semblance of control over her body. A particularly strong gust of headwind hit her. She gritted her teeth and closed her eyes against the icy blast, fighting to keep from being blown backwards. Experience told her that her wings would only act like a sail. She folded them to her sides and dropped like a stone. She fell until she could no longer feel the force of the headwind. She spread her wings again and beat them like mad, clawing her way back up into the sky. Opening her eyes, she found herself in the midst of a nearly blinding swirl of kicked-up snow. An errant treetop flashed by just off to her left.

She fought her way up, finally clearing the top of the trees in front of her. Suddenly, the wind shifted and blew from behind her. Caught off guard, she tumbled head over hooves, the ground flashing through her field of vision several times as she spiraled downwards. She threw her wings out into the wind, angling her body in the opposite direction of her spiral, and began to glide, swooping down towards the ground in a wide, fast arc. Just as she dove through another patch of whirlwind flying snow, she pulled up. Her wings caught more air and she angled upwards, back towards the frothing clouds above her. Just like that, she had cleared the orchard. Before her lay a narrow, sweeping plain that bordered the stream. Just beyond the stream lay Ponyville. Dark, quiet and empty at the late, stormy hour.

Weaving through the slipstream, Rainbow Dash flew over the plain and the stream, angling her way across the darkened streets and houses of Ponyville proper. Her destination came into view. Even as a silhouette, the tall spiral of Carousel Boutique was unmistakable against the backdrop of blowing snow. Rainbow Dash angled herself downward, half falling and half gliding towards the street below. She skimmed above the surface, touching her hooves down lightly on the icy road. She skidded forward, using her wings as airbrakes as she braced herself for a crash, finally coming to a controlled, yet erratic stop in a snow bank. She stood up, shaking herself off. Her head pounded a bit from the crash landing, but a normal one would have been near impossible given the conditions.

Shaking her head to clear the ringing in her ears, she walked briskly towards the boutique, only a dim light in a window of the bottom floor guided her. She reached the front door, the tall façade affording her shelter for a moment as she attempted to compose herself. The snow whirled around her, blowing down the narrow street as if it were in a wind tunnel. She quickly knocked several times on the wooden door.

To her surprise, it opened almost instantly. "Oh, Honey! I'm so glad you could… wait… Rainbow Dash? What are you doing here?"

"Yeah, yeah." Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, forcing her way inside and out of the cold and driving wind. "Great to see you too, Rarity."

"I'm terribly sorry to seem rude, Rainbow Dash, but I was expecting somepony else."

"Who?" Rainbow Dash shook herself, sending a barrage of snowflakes to the freshly-mopped floor. Rarity cringed. "Oh, is it your stallionfriend from Canterlot?"

"Well, yes…" Rarity grabbed her mop again, preparing to wipe down the floor for a third time.

"He's coming here? On a night like this?" Rainbow Dash looked at her, incredulous. Rarity sighed.

"Yes, well, we didn't exactly plan on there being such a storm tonight, but his train arrived almost twenty minutes ago. I should think the weather will make him late, but I am sure he will be here shortly. So, what…"

Rainbow dash cut her off. "What's with the fancy get-up, Rare?"

Rarity blinked in surprise several times before looking down at herself. She wore the dress that she had just completed mere hours ago. She looked back up to meet Rainbow Dash's curious gaze, finding herself blushing slightly. "Oh, right… well, I do have a very big night planned for tonight, and when Fancy Pants wrote me several days ago, he said that he had something very important to tell me. I think… I think he might be ready to propose."

Rainbow Dash stood speechless for several seconds before she jumped up, dragging her friend into a crushing embrace. "Rarity! That's so awesome!"

Rarity took a few deep breaths as she was released, smiling all the same. "Thank you very much Rainbow Dash, now, if you don't mind…"

"I remember when I proposed to AJ, the look on her face and everything, it was almost perfect. In fact, we were…"

"RAINBOW DASH!" The pegasus stopped talking abruptly. Rarity cringed. "I'm terribly sorry for snapping at you, but I must say, I'm expecting him soon and I would rather like for us to be alone. So, could you please tell me the purpose of your visit?"

"Oh, right." Rainbow Dash grinned sheepishly. "AJ wanted me to come here and check on the girls, just to make sure they got here safe."

"The girls? Well, they left some time ago. I should think they would be back at the farm by now."

Rainbow Dash visibly blanched. "You mean they're out there, alone?"

"What? No! Like I said, they left a good while ago, before the storm was even too bad. They've had plenty of time by now, at least over an hour."

"Rarity, listen to me. I just flew here from the farm. I left maybe ten minutes ago. If they left when you said they did, they would have been back before I left. They weren't back yet, Rarity. I haven't seen them."

For several seconds, Rarity couldn't speak. Her mouth opened and shut itself uselessly before she gathered her composure. "You mean they're still out there? Right now?"

"Probably."

"We… we have to find them! They can't be out there… not when it's like this! They…"

"Woah, Rarity. Calm down." Rainbow Dash gripped the mare's shoulders, knowing the signs of an oncoming panic attack just as well as any of the regal unicorn's friends. "You don't have to do anything. I'll find them. You stay here and wait for your stallion. That's pretty important."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I am. I would never leave my friends, especially not the girls, hanging. I'll find them. You can be sure of that." Rainbow Dash hugged her friend gently. "Oh and, Rarity? Good luck." She whispered into her ear, cracking a smile.

Rarity sighed. "Thank you Rainbow Dash." Hot tears traced their way down her cheeks, though she didn't know why. She couldn't help them, really. They pulled apart. Rainbow Dash returned to the door. Cautiously, she eased it open. The wind nearly caught it, but Rainbow Dash held firm. Outside, she could see nothing but a veritable wall of blinding white, as a deluge of snowflakes poured down from the skies above, blanketing the dark town. Rainbow Dash gulped.

The storm had broken.

Chapter 15

Applebloom couldn't see more than a few hooves in front of her. The snow was too thick; it blinded her. She tried to squint through the billowing whiteout in an attempt to see the trail ahead of her, but to no avail. She was growing disoriented. She hadn't been able to see any part of the ground save a featureless, white blanket since they had left the ice-choked river. It had been nothing short of miraculous that they had found the bridge over the stream in the first place, having only just managed to stumble across it after leaving Sugarcube Corner.

Applebloom was thinking more and more that they should have never stopped at the bakery in the first place. Pinkie Pie had, of course, tried to fill them up with as many free sweets as she could, but this was of little comfort to the fillies now. The snow had only started falling when they were inside, and Applebloom knew that they had had enough time to make it home before the blizzard began. The window had been open just enough for them to get through, but now it was closed, and they were stuck in the teeth of the storm.

Applebloom's hooves sank easily into the light blanket of newly-fallen snow. No matter how hard she looked, she couldn't distinguish where the trail was through the obstruction. She sighed in defeat. The only thing guiding them now was her sense of direction and intuition. "C'mon, Applebloom," She kicked at the ground, trying in vain to dig up a patch of snow in the hopes of uncovering a patch of dirt road, whispering to herself as she did so. "Ah can find mah way home in a blizzard." She hit a patch of ice.

There was nothing for it but to keep pushing ahead. They barely made ten paces before a particularly strong gust of headwind hit them, forcing Applebloom's eyes closed against the rushing torrent of sideways-blown snow. All three fillies were forced down into a crouch. The wind howled over their heads as they pushed themselves as low to the ground as possible, Applebloom's and Scootaloo's exposed undersides chilling against the frozen carpet beneath them. Just as Applebloom felt certain they would be picked up and blown away, the wind changed direction again, leaving them free to stand up once more. Applebloom shook herself, trying in vain to keep the chill of ice off her belly. In the meantime, more snow piled itself up on her back. She shook it off as best she could. It was no use. She knew the best way to stave off the cold was to just keep moving.

She glanced behind her, barely able to make out the outlines of her two friends beyond the murky white shroud. She tried to get their attention, shouting over the howling wind. "Are y'all ok back there?"

Sweetie Belle, still bundled tight in multiple layers of winter wear, materialized out of the swirling conflagration. Applebloom could just barely hear the young unicorn speak from behind her tightly-wrapped scarf. The din very nearly drowned her muffled voice out. "I'm fine."

It took longer for Scootaloo to appear. The orange pegasus filly struggled her way forward, finally coming to a shaky stop before her two friends. She shivered. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle stared at her quizzically. "I…" She paused panting for breath. "I…" She choked as she inhaled some snow, coughing violently several times before she was finally able to continue. "I lost… Rainbow Dash's… scarf." She gasped over the howling wind. Her voice sounded faint and weak. "We have to… go back and… find it!" Scootaloo coughed again, her entire body shaking visibly.

Applebloom looked her fillyfriend over, concern growing. "Scootaloo? Are ya ok?"

"I'm…fine." Scootaloo tried to nod. "We have to… go back." She turned, making to plunge back into the storm the way they had come.

"Scootaloo! No!" Applebloom lunged forward, gripping the other's tail in her mouth to hold her in place. Scootaloo turned to face her. She dropped her tail. "We can't go back now! The storm's bad enough already. We need to go home."

"But… Rainbow Dash's scarf."

"It's no use now, Scoot. It's lost." Applebloom reached out and pulled the shivering filly into a hug, wrapping her hooves around her neck and nuzzling her gently. For a moment, the storm around them seemed to dissipate.

The feeling was only temporary, however, as another icy blast caught them from the side. Applebloom looked up. "We need to go."

Huddled in a tight group, the three made their way further along in the direction they thought would lead them home. Applebloom, at least, had walked this route her entire life. She felt confident that she would bring them all home safely. So confident, in fact, that she didn't see the tree in front of her until she walked right into it with a smack. She took a moment to shake herself off before looking up, her vision barely coming into focus to see the blurred outline of ghostly, bare branches above her through the torrent of falling flakes. There could be no doubt about it. This was an apple tree. She could recognize one anywhere, even in winter.

"The orchard! We're almost home!" She exclaimed out loud, her voice ringing out over the din clearly. She soon found a gap between two trees and dove in, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle right behind her. Inside the shelter of the trees, the wind and falling snow were cut down somewhat. Applebloom found she could see further forward, as the billowing snow was much lighter when obstructed by row upon row of silent, vigilant trees. The orchard offered the weary fillies more protection than they had had out in the open. They accepted it gratefully.

Applebloom had spent her entire life in and around this orchard. Her confidence was growing by the minute. She knew now that she would certainly find their way home. She knew this orchard like the back of her hoof, and she led them on through it, exuding confidence along the way.

They wove their way around tree after tree. The wind whistled in the branches above their heads and, every once in a while, a shower of snow would fall from a branch, only adding to the heavy barrage of flakes the Everfree storm was dumping of its own accord. Still, the three friends sauntered along. Scootaloo trailed along at the back, checking over her shoulder every so often. She shivered as she walked. The wind had blown her last remaining protection away, and Scootaloo felt even more exposed without the scarf. She dragged her hooves through the orchard's thick carpet of snow as she walked, moping. Rainbow Dash would certainly be mad at her for losing the scarf. It was all her fault. Rainbow Dash had trusted her to take care of it, and she had lost it. It was probably buried by now. Scootaloo sneezed. She tried to calm her body – just enough to stop shivering, but found it was no use. She kept Applebloom's swishing tail just within sight as she followed the other filly along.

The trio came to a small clearing, a spot where the trees stood far enough part that the wind blew even stronger, funneling its way into the clearing and gusting at high speeds in the confined space. Applebloom gritted her teeth and pushed her way into the high-velocity vortex, her mane whipping about around her face as she walked. Sweetie Belle plodded along beside her. Even though she had protested at the time, she was extremely glad Rarity had wrapped her up so well. Scootaloo followed dejectedly behind them.

At one end of the clearing, the fast winds had piled up snow in a high drift that reached almost halfway up the trunks of the trees it had piled against. The wind-whipped snow was picked up from the forest floor and deposited on these miniature hills, leaving the other side of the clearing with a much thinner sheet. The snow here was not as hard to push through, so Applebloom led her friends across this side of the clearing. Scootaloo trailed behind her absent-mindedly, caught up in her own thoughts. So distracted was she that she failed to see the slick patch of ice, exposed by the wind.

Her front hooves immediately lost traction when she stepped onto the slippery surface. Surprised, she stumbled several times, her hooves finding no purchase and sliding forward, out from under her. She attempted to gain her balance, but just as she got her hooves back under her, she fell forward, her momentum on the low-friction surface far too great for her to stop herself in time. She came down hard, her body careening towards an exposed root. Instinctively, she lashed out, trying to break her fall. It wasn't soon enough. With a sickening crunch, her flailing front leg was pinned between her body and the hard, frozen root.

The ear-splitting cry stopped Applebloom and Sweetie Belle dead in their tracks. They both whipped around to see the vague outline of Scootaloo, collapsed against a tree. Her screeching filled their ears as they struggled towards her. Applebloom skidded to a stop beside her fillyfriend. Her stomach felt as if flipped over on top of itself when she saw the pained grimace on Scootaloo's face. "Scootaloo! What happened?" She slid to a halt by the other filly's side, leaning over her, her eyes wide.

Scootaloo didn't respond. Her breath came in ragged gasps, as if she was choking and couldn't speak. Her eyes were clenched tightly shut, glittering drops of tears forming at the corners where they leaked out and down onto her face, only to freeze on her cheek in the chilling wind. Scootaloo continued whimpering, her head shaking back and forth as she gasped for breath.

"Scootaloo! Scootaloo! Speak to me!" Applebloom tried to reach out to comfort her fillyfriend, but as soon as her hoof touched the filly, Scootaloo shied away from her touch, gasping and sniveling. This only caused the filly's fore leg to press up even harder against the exposed root, setting a fresh scream ripping out of the pegasus's mouth. Even more tears squeezed their way out of her tightly closed eyes, hardening to ice even before they slid down her matted cheeks. Applebloom stumbled backward in horror.

Scootaloo tried to get her weight off her injured hoof, but to no avail. Her teeth chattered as she sucked in air, trying desperately to relieve the pain. She groaned, the pain in her arm and chest spiking even more. She couldn't stop crying, even conscious as she was of the building slick of frozen tears on her face. She tried to cry out, but her voice caught in her chest and she coughed again. "H-help," She croaked weakly.

Applebloom bit her bottom lip, pushing her fear of hurting the other filly out of her mind as she reached forward. Carefully, she grasped around Scootaloo's midsection, turning her over onto her back gently to get her chest off the frozen root. Her fore leg was bent at an awful angle. She nearly jumped at the sight of it. A small trickle of blood wove its way from the wound down to her shoulder. Scootaloo winced, her broken leg hung limply at her side. Her eyes finally opened and locked with Applebloom's. She gasped.

"I can't… I can't… move."

=================================================================================

Sticking close to the façades of buildings along Ponyville's main street allowed Rainbow Dash a slight lee from the fury of the storm. The snow cascaded down into the street in great sheets, tumbling and blowing every which way in the cacophony of wind; blown at high speeds within the narrow confines. She managed to stay out of the worst of the storm by hugging the walls, allowing the sheer size of each building to protect her. Every time she crossed a gap between buildings, however, she was left exposed to an icy blast. She shivered as she walked – her feathers shaking. She found herself wishing more and more that she had brought along something more substantial than Applejack's scarf for her protection. She shook the feeling off, however, and struggled forward. Finding the fillies was the only important thing.

Her ears rang with the oppressive sound of the storm swirling around her. The wind beat down upon the unassuming town with an almighty, ear-splitting roar. She could hear nothing else. The sound seemed to permeate her very subconscious, drowning out everything else. She could barely hear herself think. Still, she kept pushing forward. The snow was piling up in ever-changing drifts; little mountains that would be built up and blown down at the whim of the oppressive wind. The town seemed dead. All around Rainbow Dash, windows were dark and doors were jammed shut. Everything light enough for the wind to pick up that had not been tied down skittered down the street like some sort of tumbleweed. It seemed to compliment the billowing white sand, as if some great, frozen desert had come to reclaim the ghost town that was once Ponyville.

Rainbow Dash couldn't help but think how terrified Scootaloo, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle must have been. As far as she knew, they were trapped, somewhere out in the storm. Their vision would be reduced to nothing in the face of perfect white-out conditions. They would be disoriented, cold and miserable. She only hoped they would be able to find their way home, or at least find some shelter. Her mind kept drifting. She would think about how close to impossible it would be for her to find them, how they were as good as gone if the storm didn't abate. She tried to ignore herself as best she could. But then again, they could have wandered off somewhere, unable to find their way. They could very well be miles off course…

Rainbow Dash was suddenly caught in the face by a particularly strong blast of windblown ice. She sputtered, small bits of ice having managed to find a way into her mouth. She shut her eyes tight against the stinging blast, baring her teeth. 'It just had to be an Everfree storm, didn't it?' She thought bitterly to herself. In a sudden spike of rage and frustration, she kicked a pile of snow that lay in her path. It was quickly lost to the blowing white mass that surrounded her on three sides. Another strong gust nearly knocked her into a wall. She struck her hoof against the structure in anger, screaming to the world. "Why in Celestia's name wasn't I told about this? WHY?" There was no reason this storm should have been such a surprise, she figured. Somepony in the weather bureau should have contacted her. So she foraged ahead bitterly, cursing everything from the Everfree Forest to her bosses in Cloudsdale. Anything to keep her mind off the image of three fillies, lost, cold and terrified.

She battled her way to the edge of town. She paused for a moment, pressing herself up against the wall of the last house on the street. She could barely make out the details of the comfy-looking home in the darkness, but she could see enough to know she would much rather be inside. For a moment, her mind was besieged by comforting images. She sat at the big kitchen table, a steaming mug of warm cider by her hoof. She lay peacefully by the cozy fire, the warmth thrown off by the dancing flames toasting her pelt in all the right places. She snuggled underneath the covers of her soft, warm bed, an equally soft and warm Applejack held in her grasp, breathing softly in her sleep…

She shook herself, trying to clear her head of each pleasant thought. This was no time for that. She had a job to do. Three fillies she cared about deeply were out there, more than likely lonely and freezing. "And darn it if the Element of Loyalty isn't going to find them!" She screamed. Her words were lost to the overpowering roar.

She knew she was at the edge of town. Before her lay a narrow strip of land, across which the path out of town snaked its way towards the stream-bank. The gravel road, and everything around it, was already covered in snow. Rainbow Dash knew she wouldn't be able to follow it if she couldn't distinguish its meandering path underneath a thick, white carpet. She could barely see two hooves in front of her face anyway.

The only thing for it was to charge down blindly. With the wind at her back, she folded her wings against herself tightly and jumped forward. She kept herself as low to the ground as possible, making sure she couldn't be knocked over as she half ran, half slid across the icy surface. She heard the stream before she even had a chance to see it. Her vision was still obscured by the all-pervasive cloud of falling snow when she heard the unmistakable sound of rushing waters over the howling din. She skidded to a halt. The current was the only thing keeping the ice-choked stream flowing at this time of year, and she knew it meant almost certain death to fall into the near-frozen waters in blizzard conditions. Carefully, she picked her way forward, feeling with her hooves where she was rather than seeing. Gradually, the thickly-fallen snow gave way to the icy surface of the rocky riverbank, where the water flowed over the rocks, keeping them free of snow but covered in a sheen of ice. She stopped as soon as her hoof touched one of the slick, black rocks.

She leaned forward ever so slightly, peering into the murk even as the wind threatened to knock her over and into the water. She could hear it just under her nose, and sure enough, she found herself just barely able to see the moving water through the dark and blinding snow. The bridge, she knew from previous winters, acted as a sort of dam when the waters ran high. The largest ice chunks would get trapped by the stone piers and only the smallest pieces managed to slip past, borne on the rapid current. As she watched the water in the dim light, she could see no large chunks of ice. She had to find the bridge, and her best bet was upstream.

Carefully, she began picking her way along the bank, never straying so far away that she might lose it, but never getting close enough to slip on the rocks and accidentally fall in. She moved slowly cautiously watching out for any bad patch of ice or particularly large rock in her path. Even so, she nearly ran right into the bridge when she found it. She only managed to stop herself when the stone archway loomed its way up out of the grey murk, filling her vision but a few inches before her face. She sighed in relief, only to close her mouth when more snowflakes were blown in. She quickly scrambled back up the bank, finding the bridge deck to be covered in a layer of snow in its own right. She carefully picked her way across, making sure to keep well away from the edges. Once over the arch, she charged forward once again into the driving snow, sauntering through deep, windswept piles as she pushed onward.

Even though she could see nothing around her, she knew that the edge of the orchard lay not far from the stream. The distance she needed to cover was the narrow stretch of open ground that marked the end of the Apple Family property. Beyond the open space, the tree line lay, and she knew it would be easier going in there than out in the open. The hundreds of trees would provide a sort of shelter, blocking out the worst of the wind and snow. She could only hope that the sheltered space of the orchard would give her better visibility. If she was going to have any luck finding the fillies, she would need to see well.

She took comfort in the knowledge that the fillies had most likely made it this far, at least. Navigating the town, even in a blizzard, wasn't particularly hard. And if it had been easy enough for her to find the bridge, she hoped they had been able to do so as well. She drove the gut-wrenching possibility that they had fallen into the stream from her mind. She didn't need to think about those three meeting some horrible, frozen fate in an icy-choked stream. It was too much to bear. No, she decided, they had found the bridge. They must have made it. If they were still out in the storm, they had at least gotten this far.

"Scootaloo! Applebloom! Sweetie Belle!" The cold, unforgiving wind drowned out her frantic calls. She could barely hear her own voice, even as she screamed into the night. She kept calling anyway. "Scootaloo! Applebloom! Sweetie Belle!" She knew the orchard lay somewhere ahead of her. She wanted to believe, with every fiber of her being, that they had made it that far, yet, somewhere, in the deep recesses of her mind, she couldn't help but see the futility of her desperate search. Even so, she could not accept that they were lost. She could not accept that she might fail. And so she continued to cry out into the merciless din. "Scoots!"

=================================================================================

Between the two of them, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle had managed to scoot their injured friend behind the tall mound of snow, where the sheer height of the drift blocked them from the wind. It was eerily calm in the lee behind their impromptu shelter. The wind whipped through the branches overhead, but they were blocked from its full force. The sound of the storm raging all around them seemed distant, as if they had found a peaceful, little, isolated pocket to huddle in. Scootaloo, still lying on her back, winced almost constantly as she clutched at her broken leg. Applebloom could barely stand to look at it. Sweetie Belle kept her gaze completely off it.

And so they lay, cut off from the tumultuous world outside, in their alcove. The wind and snow were held at bay. Applebloom kept stealing glances at Scootaloo, growing ever more frightened by her fillyfriend's condition. It had become painfully obvious that Scootaloo could no longer walk, and the pegasus filly remained worryingly quiet. Applebloom reached out to lay her hoof across Scootaloo's forehead. She looked up in surprise, taking her mind off the pain just enough to look up into her fillyfriend's eyes. Applebloom tried her best to give a comforting smile. She faltered, however, as she saw the pained look in Scootaloo's eyes. She leaned in to kiss her forehead. She couldn't think of anything else to do. ""Ah'm so sorry, Scoot."

"Applebloom…" Applebloom leaned in closer to hear her friend, her voice barely registering over the rush of the wind in the trees. "Applebloom… I'm so… cold."

Without hesitation, Applebloom whisked off her scarf and carefully wrapped it around her. "It ain't much, but it's the best Ah can do." She tried to smile, but it didn't come out right. Scootaloo nodded weakly in thanks.

Applebloom felt a tap on her shoulder. She whirled around to see Sweetie Belle. "Can we talk?" The unicorn whispered quietly, just close enough for Applebloom to hear her. She nodded and followed her friend a short ways away to the edge of their snowdrift. "What are we going to do?"

Applebloom sighed. "Ah… Ah don't really know." She kicked at the snow, lost in thought.

Sweetie Belle looked down. "We need to get inside."

Applebloom shook her head. "We can't leave Scootaloo. Not when she's like this."

"I know but… we can't stay here."

"There's no way Ah'm leavin' her, Sweetie. Either Scootaloo gets home with us, or none of us do." Sweetie belle remained silent. "There has to be a way…. We can't move her. We almost hurt her even more just tryin' ta get her here."

"We have to think of something. Anything!"

"Ah'm sorry, Sweetie, but Ah just don't know what to do." Applebloom glanced back over her shoulder. Scootaloo had curled herself up into a ball. She hated to see the other filly so alone. She turned back. Sweetie Belle stared at her expectantly. Applebloom sighed again. "We should at least stay close together, to save body heat." With that, she trotted back over to Scootaloo. Gently, she lay down next to the other filly, reaching her hooves around the young pegasus to bring her into a warm hug. She was vaguely aware of Sweetie Belle settling down on her other side. When Sweetie Belle began calling for help, Applebloom didn't try to stop her. She knew it was unlikely anypony would be out, braving the storm to look for them. She was beginning to think they might not even last the night. But, in a strange way, she was content with that. She held Scootaloo even tighter and closed her eyes.

Sweetie Belle continued to call out into the night, her cries growing weaker with every passing minute. Yet she kept going, desperately hoping that somepony might be able to hear her.

Chapter 16

"Scootaloo! Applebloom! Sweetie Belle!" Rainbow Dash's voice was growing even raspier and strained than usual as she tried calling the girls again and again. She stumbled down the tree-lined path, her hooves struggling to gain traction on the snow-covered surface. She grit her teeth as an icy blast of wind, funneled through the confines of the orchard, hit her head on.

She looked up, squinting against the stinging of the driving snow. All around her, she could see the blinding whiteness and terrible murk of the blizzard. Occasionally, the shelter of the tall trees provided enough of a break in the storm for her to see empty branches, icy and ghostly, creaking in the wind. But then, the vision faded from view as a fresh gust, carrying more snow, covered it anew. She stomped in frustration, compacting the soft layer of snow beneath her hooves. "This is crazy!" she screamed into the night, charging forward with reckless abandon.

She could not even hope to figure out where in the orchard she was. A good time before, she had passed beneath the sheltering arms of the hibernating apple trees, but she had no idea if that was hours, or mere minutes ago. For all she knew, she could have been running around in circles, hemmed in by the trees and blinded by the blizzard that barely allowed her to see which way was up. She ran. The only way she could be sure she was getting somewhere was to keep moving forward.

Her progress, however, came to an abrupt and unpleasant halt when she very nearly ran headfirst into a tree, jerking her forehead out of the way just in time to absorb the blow with her chest. She collapsed to the ground, sinking into the soft snow, the air knocked out of her lungs. Her first few gasps came up empty as she tried to inhale again, and several errant snowflakes found their way into her open mouth. She choked, coughing and sputtering, and somehow found she could finally breathe again. She rolled over onto her side, breathing deeply. After a few seconds of confused fumbling and flailing with her hooves, she was able to right herself, coming dizzily back to her hooves. She shook her head, trying to clear the ringing from her ears.

She padded forward once again, more cautiously than before. Around her, the swirling wind and snow danced, jeering and taunting her. She bit her lip, ducking her head down and out of harm's way. She wanted to scream again, but knew she should save her breath for more important things. "Scootaloo! Applebloom! Sweetie Belle!"

==============================================================================

Applebloom groaned in her sleep. She had managed to get what felt like a few uneasy moments of sleep to herself, and now felt the illusion of that aura begin to fade away. She felt cold. Her fur was cold, her face was cold, everything about her was cold. She could have probably endured this, however, were it not for the thing poking into her side. Still only half-awake, she winced as she felt the prodding again and again. Finally, convinced something was attacking her, her eyes opened wide and she rolled over.

Applebloom choked as she nearly inhaled a mouthful of snow. She coughed and flailed her legs, trying to find purchase in the deep white powder. Finally, sputtering, she managed to right herself, standing shakily on all four legs, her pelt coated in snowflakes picked up in her struggles. She spit out some water that had found its way into her mouth, coughing a couple more times. She blinked, squinting against the dark of the forest and the brilliance of the pure blanket of snow all around her. As her vision came back into focus, the blurry outline of Sweetie Belle materialized against the white backdrop. Applebloom glared at her. "What… what is it?"

"Applebloom… It's Scootaloo. She won't wake up."

Applebloom's pre-planned retort died in her throat as her eyes went wide. In an instant, she had spun around, her gaze falling upon the orange pegasus filly. Scootaloo was curled into a ball, her front leg held awkwardly up to her face. In a sudden flash, everything that had happened came crashing back to Applebloom. The ice patch, the tree root, Scootaloo's screams, falling asleep with the other filly in her grasp, everything. Applebloom gulped. Her mouth, despite the snow she had nearly swallowed not moments before, felt strangely dry. "How long was Ah out?" she mumbled to no one in particular.

Sweetie Belle stepped up alongside her. "Not long. Not even a half-hour, really. Maybe ten minutes."

Applebloom could hardly hear her. She strode forward, approaching Scootaloo. She nudged her side, pressing up against her soft fur with her nose. Nothing. She did the same to her face. Nothing. She leaned in close, pressing her ear up against her fillyfriend's snout. It took a moment, but she was able to make out a slow, ragged pulsing sound. She breathed a sigh of relief. Scootaloo was still breathing, at least she knew that. She turned to look back at Sweetie belle, her face a mask of concern.

"Is she… is she…"

"No, Sweetie. She ain't." Applebloom paused. Her soaking mane clung to her head and neck, drawing in the cold. She shivered. "Ah don't know what to do. She needs help."

"We need to find somepony. We can't do this ourselves, AB." Sweetie Belle gave her a despairing look, her eyes brimming with tears.

Applebloom grimaced, sniffling as she turned to throw another glance back at Scootaloo. The other filly's eyes were tightly squinted shut in pain. Applebloom could feel her eyes watering. "We can't leave her."

"Then I'll go. I'll find somepony. We have to help her."

Applebloom shook her head. "You'll get lost. It… it has to be me. Ah'm an Apple. Ah know this orchard. If Ah can't find mah way home in a blizzard, nopony can." Applebloom trotted back over to Scootaloo. She looked down at her face, framed with purple hair and contorted in pain. She winced at the sight, closing her eyes and leaving the other filly a kiss on the cheek. She turned back to Sweetie Belle. "You keep her safe now, ya hear?"

Sweetie Belle nodded vigorously. "Always."

Applebloom stumbled, floundering as the snow became deeper, and reached Sweetie Belle, drawing her into a hug. She could feel the unicorn filly's fore legs lock around her neck desperately, as if she might never see her again. Applebloom tried not to think about that. She squeezed tighter for a split second before breaking away. Sweetie Belle sniffed, shaking her head to force away the tears that were bound to freeze.

Applebloom swallowed nervously as she poked her head out from around their mound of snow. Beyond their tiny alcove, the storm blew as fiercely as ever, and more and more snow was driven up against the sheer face of the opposite wall. Applebloom cast one last look at her two best friends in all of Equestria before she stumbled out into the fray.

===============================================================================

Snow swirled about the living room window in an unrelenting mass as Applejack stared, straining to catch any sign whatsoever of her returning loved ones. She could feel a knot clench in her stomach. There was no way to see past the veritable curtain that shrouded the entire farmhouse, despite having turned every light on. Even inside the cozy room, Applejack shivered. She couldn't even remember having seen a storm like this one before. Most snowstorms that rolled through were light, more comparable to flurries than any real blizzard. The worst she had seen didn't even compare to this.

The flickering of the flames within the hearth played off the glass window pane as Applejack stared. Try as she might, she couldn't see anything. Finally, she sighed, admitting defeat. She gnashed her teeth as she turned away from the window. Not knowing what was happening outside was tearing at the very fabric of her mind. The knots and lines in the strong timbers and weathered wood paneling that made up the living room walls danced in the firelight. It was late – she knew that. She couldn't imagine anyone else being up, but even as she thought this, she could hear the creaking of floorboards coming from the upstairs. She turned her attention to the stairs as the sound of soft hoofsteps grew louder, resonating off the old stairwell walls. There could be only one pony who left such a light step.

Sure enough, a smooth, but slightly disheveled, pink mane came bobbing into view as Fluttershy appeared. From across the living room, the two mothers locked eyes, and a deep, profound understanding passed between them in the span of a few seconds. Wordlessly, Fluttershy spread her wings and leapt off the staircase, soaring through the air towards Applejack. She came to land daintily on her hooves and trotted the rest of the way to her friend. Fluttershy wrapped her fore hooves around Applejack's neck, laying them softly across her back. Applejack squeezed back even harder, burying her face into Fluttershy's shoulder.

Applejack emitted a few incoherent sounds as Fluttershy held her, nodding, as if to say she understood. She understood everything. Applejack sobbed quietly, withdrawing her face and finally breaking the hug. She sniffed as she set herself back down on her own four hooves, swaying from back to forth slightly. "Th- thanks," she choked.

Fluttershy tried to smile; a small, wan, encouraging smile. "Don't mention it."

"It's just… it's just so hard. Here Ah am, sittin' here with nothing to do, and Ah have no idea where Rainbow is. Ah have no idea where mah own sister is. Ah can't stand the thought that somethin' bad might happen and Ah wouldn't know about it!"

"I know." Fluttershy spoke quietly, her gaze held firm. "I know. I love them too, Applejack. Maybe not as much as you, but I still do. I want them home just as much as you."

Applejack nodded silently, simply letting Fluttershy continue. "I know Rainbow dash is out there doing her very best. And when Rainbow Dash does her very best, she usually wins. You have to believe that, Applejack. You have to believe that Rainbow Dash won't let anything bad happen without a fight. She's the Element of Loyalty for a reason, you know."

"Ah know. Ah know Dash'll do anythin' ta get those fillies home. Ah just… Ah just can't stand bein' outta the loop. Ah need ta know what's happenin'. Ah need to know when Ah'll see my wife again, when Ah'll see them all again."

"I'll wait with you, Applejack. You don't have to be alone."

"Thanks, Fluttershy." Applejack sat down next to her, wiping her damp eyes with a hoof. "That means a lot ta me."

The two mares stared silently into the fire for a long while. Their eyes flickered with the reflection of dancing flames. Suddenly, Applejack stood up, trotting out towards the kitchen. Fluttershy's gaze followed her expectantly. "Ah need somethin'," Applejack offered as her only explanation. Slowly, quietly, she moved past the kitchen and into the hallway, down past the guest rooms and towards the nursery. She could just barely hear the howling of the storm, its fury muffled by the cozy home's thick walls. Gently, she swung the nursery door open, and crept towards the crib that held her sleeping daughter. She smiled when her eyes befell the scene. Applejoy was sleeping peacefully, her little chest rising and falling only slightly with the disturbance of breath. Applejack stooped and carefully lifted her out.

Much to Applejack's relief, when Applejoy awoke, she didn't cry out. Her eyes blinked open in mild surprise. Applejack immediately felt herself calm as she looked upon her daughter's questioning face. Her bright magenta eyes, so much like Rainbow Dash's, Applejack realized for not the first time, had a sedating effect, as if the brash pegasus she had fallen in love with was in the room with her at that very moment. Applejack kissed her daughter's forehead and set her gently onto her back, feeling much more at ease as she left the nursery.

Fluttershy gave her a knowing smile when she arrived back in the living room. She set Applejoy down on the carpet before the fire and lay down next to her, curling her own body around her small form. She held Applejoy tight, and felt her fall back asleep within her embrace as the soothing heat of the crackling fire washed over all three. "Come now," she whispered, stroking the little filly's mane, "Let's wait for momma."

=============================================================================

Applebloom felt like she had hardly taken a few steps. Casting a glance back over her shoulder, she found the swirling conflagration had swallowed her friends and their little alcove from view. She swallowed nervously, turning back around to fight forward into the storm. She passed beneath the dark silhouettes of countless trees, their close proximity being the only thing that kept her away from the worst of the storm. She squeezed her way through gaps between tree trunks, shaking herself every so often to clear away the snow that had built up in her fur.

She emerged from a tight patch of trees into a clearing she instantly recognized. Her face lit up, even in the face of even stronger gusts of wind. She had spent many lazy afternoons playing there as a filly. She could see where she was in perfect clarity. Feeling a sudden surge of newfound energy, she charged out into the clearing, crossing the deep, snowy blanket with a series of leaps. She knew the main path from the orchard into town lay beyond the next stand of trees. She reached the other side of the clearing, and a new line of trees materialized out of the storm ahead of her. She slowed down and plodded her way into the wood. As she shoved into a particularly deep patch of snow, her ear twitched once, and then again.

She stopped cold, listening. She could hear nothing but the whistling of the wind through branches high above her head and the whispering of the snow as it fell into the clearing behind her. For a moment, she thought she might be going crazy. She was about to push forward again when another sound rang out. Her senses piqued instantly. No, she wasn't going crazy. She had definitely heard something. Something faint, barely recognizable, yet distinct. Something high-pitched and undeniably separate from the constant throaty roar of the storm all around her.

She remained stock-still, listening intently, hoping to catch it again. Her ears rang with the ever-present rushing sound of the blizzard, but once again, she heard something ring out, cutting through the din. It seemed louder this time; closer, and it sounded like… like… a pony's voice?

Applebloom took off, stumbling forward, giving no heed to the depth of the snow around her. She shoved her way between two particularly close trees and tumbled into another snow bank, emerging from the grove into a long swath of open space – the road from town. Snow swirled all around her. The trees disappeared from view. The blizzard was worse in this open area, and Applebloom couldn't see anything. Even so, she heard it again: the high-pitched voice cutting through the background noise like a hot knife through apple pie. She could hardly make out words, but in her mind, even though she remained dimly aware she could just be imagining things, she could have sworn she heard her name.

In desperation, she screamed into the murk. "AH'M HERE! HERE!" she kept on shouting, unable to tell if there was any response, until she was hit full force by something solid, tumbling backwards from the blow. She came to a rest on her back in the snow, her head spinning. For a few seconds, her vision drifted in and out of focus, but then something materialized out of the nothingness above her and swam into view. A pair of wide, magenta eyes stared down at her.

Rainbow Dash coughed and wheezed; her throat felt dry and raw. She was sore from crying out so many times. She took a deep breath. "A…" She coughed again. "Applebloom?" Her voice was hoarse and crackly.

Applebloom shook her head, scarcely able to believe her eyes. Rainbow Dash stared down at her in anticipation. When she recognized the cyan pegasus, a wave of relief rolled over the young earth pony. "Rainbow Dash, Ah…. Rainbow Dash! Ya have to come now!" She squirmed, startled, Rainbow Dash jumped up, letting the filly right herself. Applebloom shook the snow from her fur and waved her companion on with a hoof. "Come on. This way. Hurry!"

"What… what's wrong?" Rainbow dash croaked, deftly following the younger pony towards the edge of the path.

"Scootaloo. She's hurt. No time to explain. Come on!"

"Scoots? She's hurt?" Rainbow Dash bounded forward, adrenaline coursing through her as Applebloom led her onward. They passed back into the grove of trees, Applebloom foraging a path forward through the trough of snow she had carved not moments ago. They cut back across the clearing, sauntering through ever-mounting depths. As they reached the other side, Applebloom found her hoofprints again, undisturbed within the tightly-packed copses of trees where the wind could not reach. Picking up speed, she rushed ahead, Rainbow dash following in her wake, her face a mask of concern. Before too long, a towering mound of snow, the size of a small hill, loomed within their sights. Applebloom sighed in relief. They were nearly there.

Sweetie Belle looked up in surprise when she heard shuffling noises returning to their sheltered niche. She blinked as two figures emerged from the billowing snow. A tired voice called out to her. "Where's Scoots?" Wordlessly, Sweetie Belle pointed behind her and a cyan blur rushed past her. Applebloom trotted up to her friend and both turned towards the two pegasi.

Rainbow Dash hurried up to the curled orange ball that was Scootaloo. Her eyes were closed and she was not moving, yet Rainbow Dash could just barely see her chest rise and fall slightly. She reached down and laid a hoof across Scootaloo's cheek. She was cold. Rainbow Dash winced. She reached out, grasping the filly, and shook her gently, but received no response. Even in the chill, Rainbow Dash could feel the blood run from her face. She spun around, looking directly at the two wide-eyed fillies. "Help me get her onto my back," she barked, some confidence returning to her voice.

Applebloom and Sweetie Belle nodded, rushing over. "Wait." Sweetie Belle stopped as they were about to lift. "I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner." She peeled off her hat and scarf, transferring them both to Scootaloo, who already wore Applebloom's scarf. Sweetie belle stepped back. Scootaloo certainly looked warmer, if not any better.

Rainbow dash nodded, "Good idea." She pulled Applejack's scarf off herself and wrapped it around the unconscious filly as well. Then, gently, she lifted Scootaloo's prone form and shimmied her head underneath, so that she rested upon Rainbow Dash's shoulders. "Ok. One… two… three… lift!"

On command, both fillies pushed as Rainbow Dash lifted her neck. Scootaloo slid easily onto the elder pegasus's back. Rainbow dash grunted as her load settled into place atop her. Scootaloo certainly was heavier than the filly she was used to carrying around. Gradually, she got her hooves underneath her and stood up, her legs straining in protest. She took a few deep breaths and shook her head. "Alright… I'm taking her to the hospital."

Applebloom nodded, walking up to the pegasus. "Ok. We'll stick close behind."

Rainbow Dash shook her head. "No," she said sternly. Applebloom made to protest, but Rainbow Dash clapped a hoof over her mouth. "I said no. You both have already been out here for too long. Applebloom, you're not wearing anything, and Sweetie Belle only has her coat."

Applebloom stomped her front hooves against the hard-packed snow. "So? Ah'm not leavin' her."

"Go home. Find AJ. Tell her what happened and where I am. Get yourselves safe. Get yourselves warm. I'll handle this."

"But… Ah have ta be with her." Applebloom stared back up at Rainbow Dash defiantly.

"Applebloom." Rainbow Dash glared right back. "Trust me. I'm not gonna let Scoots down. It's not safe for you to come all the way to the hospital with us, and AJ needs to know what happened. You have to tell her."

"But, Ah…"

"Do you really want AJ to worry? She's probably scared to death for us right now. Go home. Let her know you're safe. Then get help. I'll take good care of Scoots."

For a moment, Applebloom looked ready to argue further, then her face fell and she nodded weakly. "Ok… just… just make sure she's safe… Ah think… Ah think Ah love her." She threw her arms around Rainbow Dash's neck, startling her for a second.

Rainbow Dash wrapped a fore leg around Applebloom and patted her on the back, nuzzling her gently. "I know. I do too… I do too."

They separated. Applebloom wiped a stray tear from her eyes before it froze. Rainbow Dash gave her a half-smile. "Get going. AJ needs to know where we are." Applebloom nodded, and then she and Sweetie belle ran back into the orchard. In a matter of seconds, Rainbow Dash could see neither. She took a deep breath and then turned around, heading for the road, Ponyville, and the hospital. She could only hope she had enough time.

Chapter 18

Rainbow Dash shut her eyes as Nurse Redheart led her and Applejack towards the room Scootaloo had been set up in. Applejack kept glancing back towards her in concern, her face a mask of worry as the Nurse pony pushed open the door for them and stood aside. Gently, Applejack reached out and laid a hoof upon Rainbow Dash's shoulder, carefully guiding her through the doorway. The earth pony gulped as she looked up and saw the hospital bed. She felt like her heart was pounding from within her throat.

The room was sparse, with a few chairs and small tables set against the pristine, whitewashed walls. In the center of the room stood a cold, metal-framed hospital bed, with a clipboard mounted to the silvery footboard. The attached pieces of paper were festooned with so many numbers, strange diagrams and incomprehensible medical terms that Applejack felt her head hurting just looking at it. Sickly, mint green sheets were stretched across the bed, bulging in the middle where they harbored a fitfully sleeping pony. From underneath a loose corner of the blankets, Applejack could see the very edge of a white-wrapped cast where one of Scootaloo's hooves should have been. Her eyes were tightly squinted shut in a pained, unnatural slumber, and several tubes and wires ran to her head, her chest, and her free fore leg, hooking the unconscious young mare up to various pieces of unrecognizable equipment and several drip bottles of different liquids. It was nearly silent save for a quiet, methodic beeping; sounding from one small machine. It did not take long for Applejack to realize it was counting off Scootaloo's heartbeats, and they sounded few and far-between.

"Dash, Honey… ya can open yer eyes now," Applejack whispered, hesitant to break the quiet of the room.

Warily, Rainbow Dash blinked her eyes open, and immediately grimaced at the sight of the younger pegasus. She turned and buried her face into Applejack's mane, muttering something her wife could only catch two words of. "… my fault…"

Applejack did not even realize how warm the room was until she felt a bead of sweat roll down her fur, accompanied by several more. Suddenly, she felt the need to wipe her brow, despite the freezing chill of the night outside. Having Rainbow Dash pressed up against her body was certainly not helping matters.

It was almost uncomfortably hot. Yet before she could even voice her concerns, Nurse Redheart trotted up from behind her and spoke, as if she had read Applejack's mind. "We've turned the heat up in this room to counteract any possible hypothermia. She's still in a fragile state right now, so we're not taking any chances."

Applejack cast another worried glance toward the filly in question. "Is she… is she in pain?"

Well, we treated her leg with a local pain-killer, and she's been on anesthesia since the operation, so she shouldn't be feeling anything. When she does wake up she might very well feel some pain though. She's been through a lot."

"Isn't there… isn't there anythin' else ya migh' do? Could you give her more painkillers when she wakes up?" Applejack shuddered. Scootaloo certainly did not appear to be sleeping soundly to her.

"Well…" Nurse Redheart paused for a long moment. "That's what we're worried about. I'm not quite sure how to say this… but… she seems to be showing signs of… malnourishment, as well. Now, this would of course be a pre-existing condition. Would you mind telling me… has she been… eating well?"

Applejack blinked in surprise for a few moments. "What, well, yes… Ah've been cookin' nice, big meals for her and the whole family. Ah don't see any reason why…" realization dawned on her in an all-too-sudden crash, and her train of thought went screeching to an abrupt halt. "Unless she… oh, no." Applejack swallowed hard, suddenly feeling as if a large rock had settled into the pit of her stomach. Nurse Redheart waited patiently, her eyes wary and concerned. Finally, taking a deep breath, Applejack found her voice once again. "She's… she's only been livin' wit' us fer a few days. Before that she ways… she was on her own. Oh Celestia, Ah never thought she hadn't been eatin' well!"

"She was… 'on her own'? You mean…"

Applejack nodded hastily. "Mmhm. We took her in when we found her outside. Ah suppose she'd been livin' out on the street at times, and she said she'd been in n' out o' the orphanage, but…" Applejack trailed off, her eyes once again tracing their way up the blanketed, sleeping form. "Oh sweet Celestia…" She murmured.

"I see." Nurse Redheart nodded, her own gaze a mask of worry as well. "Thank you… thank you for telling me this, Applejack. I'll put her on a regimen of nutrients straight away." With a curt nod, the nurse trotted out of the room, very nearly breaking into a full gallop when she reached the hallway.

Applejack sighed. "Well, Ah guess there's not much left fer us ta do here, RD." She turned around, freezing when she saw her wife was not behind her. Applejack hastily cast her gaze about the room. She hadn't noticed Rainbow Dash leave. Come to think of it, she hadn't even noticed the pegasus leave her side. Worried once more, Applejack rushed back out into the hall, sliding on the polished tile surface as she turned the corner in the dark passage, heading straight for the double doors that marked the end of the hallway, and the lighted waiting room beyond.

The doors squeaked in protest for but a brief instant as Applejack bolted through them, skidding to a halt in the lobby. Her eyes immediately fell upon the figure of her wife. Rainbow Dash lay belly-up on one of the many couches. Her wings and tail draped over the side, hanging listlessly. A pillow obscured her face. Applejack trotted over to her, stopping just short of the couch, yet Rainbow Dash did not acknowledge her. Gently, Applejack bent down, knocking the pillow off her partner's face with her own nose. As it tumbled away, Applejack could see two distinct damp spots upon the fabric. Rainbow Dash had been crying.

The pegasus looked up at her in surprise. Applejack tried to smile for her, but the mare merely rolled away, displaying her back to the orange mare and burying her face in the back of the couch. Applejack sighed. "Rainbow? Darlin'? What's wrong?"

Rainbow Dash grunted something unintelligible.

"Oh, please, Honey…" With some difficulty, Applejack managed to climb into the couch beside her. She wrapped her hooves around Rainbow Dash's back and hugged her chest, pulling her in close and cooing softly. Rainbow Dash sniffled loudly. Applejack frowned. "Please tell me what's wrong."

"AJ…" Rainbow Dash lifted a hoof to wipe at her eyes. "I… I can't take it. It's my fault AJ. Scoot's here in the hospital and she's hurt… and sick, and she might not even make it. This is all my fault, I just know it."

Applejack squeezed her even tighter. "Hush, Rainbow. How could it be yer fault? You didn't know. You couldn't have known. What happened was a freak storm, t'ain't yer fault at all."

"But, that's just it, AJ. I didn't know. I was supposed to know, for Celestia's sake!" Rainbow Dash sat bolt upright, startling Applejack enough that she stepped back down onto the floor. "I'm the chief weather pony for all of Ponyville! I should have known about that storm! I should've been told, or I should've seen it coming, or… something!" She grabbed another pillow, collapsing so that her face landed in it.

Applejack stood up on her hind hooves, wrapping her fore legs around Rainbow Dash in another hug. "Now, Dash, that doesn't make a lick o' sense. How could you have known about that storm when nopony told ya? Ya may be chief weather pony, but even you need someone ta tell ya when somethin's amiss. That didn't happen, so ya never coulda known. Why, this whole mess is just as much yer fault as it is mine. We couldn't 'a stopped it if we even knew to try."

Rainbow Dash rolled over again. Upright, she returned Applejack's embrace, settling her head into the crook of her wife's shoulder, a place she knew well. "I should've stopped them this morning, AJ. I never should've let them go."

"Ah coulda stopped them, too, Dash. But Ah didn't know Ah needed to, so Ah didn't. This mornin'… this mornin' feels like a lifetime ago, Rainbow. It's almost mornin' again, now, it's a whole, brand new day. Please, Rainbow? Ya know Ah hate ta see ya like this."

"I know… I know. I'm sorry, AJ… I just… I just… I should've done something!"

"But ya did, Dashie. Ya did. You went out into the storm, all by yourself, when they didn't show up, just 'cause Ah was worried. You…" Applejack prodded Rainbow Dash's chest for emphasis, "you saved her, Dash. You went out, and you found her, and you brought her here safely. She has no one ta thank for her life but you."

"I know… but there's… there's something else."

"What is it?"

"When I was bringing her here… I was running too fast… and I got to the bridge, and I slowed down! I really did, and I tried to be careful, but the next thing I know I'm on my back on the ice and she's gone and I couldn't see her… and I was terrified..."

"Woah, slow down there, Sugarcube. Ya lost me. What happened at the bridge?"

"I dropped her, AJ. She fell into the water, and I dove in to catch her, but the current was so fast, and I didn't get to her soon enough. By the time I pulled her out of the water she… she… she wasn't breathing." Rainbow Dash looked up, her eyes met Applejack's and she fell silent for a moment, finding comfort in those beautiful green orbs she loved so much. Finally, she took a deep breath and continued, "She… she was so cold, Applejack. She was so cold, and the water was so cold, and the ice was so cold, and everything was cold, and I was cold. I thought… I thought right there she was gone. What if she was AJ? What if she had drowned, and it was all my fault?"

"But she didn't, did she? Whatever happened then, you didn't give up on her, and she's alive right now 'cause o' you. Isn't she?"

Slowly, Rainbow Dash nodded. "I… I gave her CPR, just like they taught us in first aid class at Flight camp…"

"See? That's what Ah'm takin' about. You didn't let it happen. You saved her. Ya know what that's called, Dash? That's called bein' loyal. And by golly, Ah know you know somethin' about that. And Ah'll tell ya what. Ah know something 'bout that river, and Ah know somethin' about bein' cold. An' let me tell you, Rainbow Dash, no matter how cold it gets, no matter how hopeless it ever seems, there's always a way out."

"Th-thanks AJ."

"So, Ah guess ya could say it's all water under the bridge now?"

Despite herself, Rainbow Dash had to fight back a sudden snort of laughter, shaking her head. "You're not funny, AJ."

"Aw, there! Now there's that smile Ah love so much!" Applejack grinned broadly before reaching out and pulling Rainbow's muzzle up against her own, locking their lips in a tender kiss.

When they broke, Rainbow Dash felt just a little bit better. She sniffed. "I love you, AJ…" As quick as it had appeared, however, her smile vanished. "That… that doesn't change anything, though. She's still here, and she's still sick and hurt, and even Nurse Redheart said she still might not make it."

Applejack shook her head. "She never said that, Dash."

"She said Scootaloo was in 'critical condition', and that's enough." The pegasus flopped down onto the couch once more, looking dejected. "And now I can't even do anything about it!"

"It's ok, Sugarcube." Applejack lay down next to her wife, stroking a hoof along her back as soothingly as she could, "Scoot's a tough little filly, she'll pull through. Ah can imagine she's been through worse before she came to live with us."

"Do you know what she said, AJ?"

"Who said what?"

"Scootaloo, at the riverbank. Right after I got her breathing again. She coughed up a lot of water, and then she rolled over, and she turned to me, and she said 'Mommy.' She said 'Mommy, I'm cold.'…" Rainbow Dash paused, crestfallen. "She's said it before too, once, when she woke up in our bed, she called me 'Mommy', remember? I thought it was just cute back then… I never thought… she needs a mommy, AJ. What am I supposed to be? I thought I was just going to be like a big sister… but she needs a mommy. Everypony needs a mommy."

"Sugarcube, Ah…"

"And I'm a terrible mother!" Rainbow Dash burst out, her voice echoing through the deserted waiting room. "What kind of mother lets their kid get caught in a snowstorm? What kind of mother drops their kid in a freezing river? Oh, Celestia I'm so stupid!" Rainbow Dash grabbed a pillow and slammed her hoof into it, "Stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid!" She punctuated each exclamation with another punch.

Alarmed, Applejack leapt forward, wrapping her lover up in another hug and hauling the struggling mare back down to the couch. She rolled Rainbow Dash over and, before she could protest, grabbed her head, forcing her to look right into her eyes. She could see tears welling up already within Rainbow Dash's twin magenta pools. "Now, you listen to me, Rainbow. Ah'll tell ya somethin' Ah know fer sure: ya are a wonderful mother. Ah knew it that night Ah decided Ah wanted a foal, and Ah wanted ta have it with you. Ah knew it the day we came here, right in this very hospital, and Ah found out Ah was pregnant, and ya proposed ta me. Ah knew it the day Ah married ya. Ah knew it the day Applejoy was born, and Ah've known it for dang near about three years since then! So don't say that you're a terrible mother. Don't ya ever talk about yerself like that, 'cause Ah know the truth, and Ah… Ah love ya too much ta hear ya say things like that."

For Rainbow Dash, the floodgates finally burst. She closed her eyes, tears streaking down her face as she shook her head. "I'm… I'm sorry, AJ. What would I do without you." Without thinking, she launched herself forward, knocking Applejack onto her back and locking her in a tight, heated kiss. Applejack returned the favor gratefully, slipping her mouth open and deepening the kiss with her tongue. She felts tears drip onto her own cheeks, but whether they were from Rainbow Dash or her own eyes, she couldn't tell.

After a long while, the pulled themselves from each other, their passion mitigated only by their need to breathe. Applejack smiled up at Rainbow Dash, who had propped herself above her and was grinning back down as well. Applejack reached up with a hoof to wipe the last vestiges of tears from Rainbow Dash's face. Rainbow Dash nuzzled her hoof. "You're the best, AJ?"

Applejack chuckled. "Ah know."

"No, seriously." Rainbow Dash carefully climbed off of her wife, setting herself down onto the cushions once more. Applejack quickly rolled over, neatly tucking her hooves underneath her body and snuggling up against her Rainbow-maned lover. "You really are." They spent a long time sitting like that, head pressed up against one another, just thinking idle thoughts. Rainbow Dash's mind, however, kept returning to a single, unremovable thought. She gazed at the double doors leading to the corridor. She knew, somewhere beyond there, Scootaloo was resting, alone. The more and more she thought about her, the more she couldn't shake one, captivating idea. "AJ?"

"Hm?"

"Maybe… maybe Scoot doesn't need a mom… maybe she needs two moms."

Applejack giggled slightly, "Ah think we can make that happen."

===========================================================================

Applejack breathed deeply, inhaling the tantalizing aroma of a delicious meal being prepared. A smile crossed her lips and she opened her eyes, surveying the kitchen before her. The delicious spice notes and the smell of caramelizing sugars wafted all around her. She reached for a wooden spoon, taking it carefully in her mouth. Carefully, she placed its head into the pan set upon her stove and stirred the contents a bit to keep them from burning. She grinned to herself as she surveyed her hoofwork. The sautéed vegetable medley looked, and smelled, perfect.

The sudden ding of the oven's timer snapped her back into focus. Quickly dropping the spoon beside the stove, she reached for a hot-pad and carefully took that into her mouth, opening the oven door with it and extracting the laden dish. Her vegetable roast was finally done after slowly cooking for most of the day. She smiled as she placed the hot dish onto the counter, where it would cool. Quickly turning the dial to a higher temperature, she reached for her next oven-bound creation, one of her Equestria-famous apple pies sat on the kitchen table, ready to be baked to a golden-brown crisp with the roast out of the way. She slid it into place and closed the oven door.

Satisfied that the meal was coming along nicely, and that she could leave it to sit and cook for a while, she trotted into the pantry, removing a basket of dinner rolls adorned with a red and white checkered cloth. She set it on the dinner table aside six place settings. Applejack couldn't help but feel proud of herself. Only a few steaming mugs of warm apple cider would complete the veritable feast she was preparing, and that was already simmering away in a kettle upon the stove, right next to the vegetable medley and a pot of boiled potatoes, ready for mashing.

With a turn, she trotted back to the stove and turned the heat down on two burners. The potatoes were probably boiled enough and the medley had finished cooking, all it needed was a cover to keep it warm until dinner time. After placing that over the pan, Applejack was finally done. She shook herself out of her apron and trotted out of the kitchen.

She almost ran right into Big Macintosh. "Somethin' sure smells good, AJ. Can we eat now?"

Applejack chuckled. "Not yet, Big Mac. We still gotta wait for Rainbow and Applebloom to bring Scootaloo home from the hospital. It'll be our first dinner together as one, big family for over two weeks now."

"That's right…" Big Macintosh grinned sheepishly, nodding his head in agreement. "Ah almost forgot how long she's been in there. That storm seems like only yesterday."

"Mmhm…" Applejack paused reflecting on the night she and Rainbow Dash had stayed up late into the morning in the hospital waiting room, unsure of whether Scootaloo would pull through or not. She shuddered at the memory. " Ah know what ya mean, Ah still remember it mighty clearly too. Heh, Ah can still remember Applebloom beggin' us ta take her nearly every day, even when she started school after Winter Break ended. Ah don't think she could wait for this day ta come."

"Eeeyup."

"Hey, by the way, Mac. Where's Fluttershy?"

"Hm? Oh. She's in the nursery, puttin' the twins to bed. Said she wanted a quiet dinner with th' family. Actually, Ah was headed ta see her right now. If you'll excuse me." Big Macintosh dipped his head and trotted forward as Applejack stepped aside, allowing him to pass.

Applejack entered the living room, immediately spotting her daughter playing by the fire. Applejoy's back was to her mother, allowing the earth pony to sneak up behind her, smirking. "There she is!" Applejack cried as she scooped the young filly up into her embrace, lifting her high above her head while the filly shrieked in delight, dropping her Spitfire doll from her mouth while doing so.

Applejack brought her happily giggling child down to her face, lightly brushing muzzles with her. Applejoy squirmed and licked her mother's nose. They both laughed. Applejack set the filly down on her shoulders. "Mommy! Time to play!"

"Oof." Applejack grunted as she felt her daughter clamp onto the back of her neck in a vice-like grip, her face buried in her mother's mane. Applejack smiled, shaking her head up and down and listening to the filly's squeals as she bounced along for the ride. "Oh, Applejoy, you're gettin' so big! Can you believe it's almost yer birthday? You're almost three years old, baby girl!"

"Party!"

"That's right." Applejack grinned hugely, "Auntie Pinkie is gonna throw you a proper Pinkie Pie Party this year, whaddya think about that?"

"Yay!"

Just then, Applejack started suddenly as she heard the creaking hinges of the door swinging open, and the soft rush of a blast of outside air. That could only mean one thing. Quickly, she rushed into the foyer, coming face to face with her wife a wide smile spread upon both their lips. "Hey, AJ!" Rainbow Dash trotted forward, bestowing a kiss upon her forehead. "Hey, Little AJ!" She reached behind Applejack's neck to do the same to her daughter's cheek prompting a cute squeak. "I missed you both so much."

Applejack quickly reached out to capture the rainbow pegasus's lips in a quick peck. "Good ta see ya again, Sugarcube."

"Heh, you too. Hey, something smells awesome!"

"It should. Ah've been cookin' near all day now, Ah wanted ta have a feast ready fer when Scoot finaly got out o' tha hospital. Speakin' o' which, where is she?" Rainbow Dash did not respond, too busy was she tickling her daughter with one of her wings, to uproarious shrieks of laughter. "Dash?"

"Huh, what?"

"Ah said, where's Scootaloo?"

"Oh, she and Applebloom were right behind me." No sooner had the words left the pegasus's mouth than the door swung open again and the two fillies in question trotted inside, their tails swinging happily together. Applejack couldn't help but smile. Everything seemed right in the world. "Hey, AJ." Rainbow Dash leaned forward, whispering in her wife's ear so no one else could hear. "Do you have our little… surprise?"

Applejack nodded. Rainbow Dash grinned broadly. "Hey, Scoots." She called over to the other pegasus, "Come with us for a minute, we've got something to show you."

"What is it?" Scootaloo perked up, hastily following Rainbow Dash and Applejack into the other room. Applejack grabbed something off a side table. Scootaloo eagerly ran to her, hoping it was some sort of present. Applejack turned to face her. It was a scroll. Scootaloo's face fell. Gently, Applejack set it at the filly's hooves.

Rainbow Dash prodded the young pegasus with a hoof. "Come on, aren't you gonna open it? Go ahead, read it aloud. Start at the bottom, there… " She indicated the final paragraph. "That's the good part."

With a loud, exaggerated sigh, Scootaloo opened the scroll, fully expecting it to be something completely boring. "Ok… 'I, Mayor Mare…' wait, what is this?"

Rainbow Dash grinned back down at her. "Just keep reading." She leaned her head against Applejack's, the two of them watching Scootaloo intently.

"Fine… 'I, Mayor Mare, with all the power vested in me by Princess Celestia herself, hereby grant the ponies, Rainbow Dash and Applejack, as stated above, the right to adopt as a child the pony known as Scootaloo, relieving her from the authority of Ponyville Orphanage.'…" Scootaloo looked up from the scroll to Rainbow Dash and Applejack, then back down again, and up again, several times in disbelief. "Is this… I mean, Are you… Are you serious? Did you really adopt me?"

"Only if ya want ta, Sugarcube." Applejack nodded, "But, yeah. We did."

"Are you kidding!" Scootaloo leapt up, hardly able to contain her excitement, "Of course I want to be! That would be awesome! I… I love you guys." The excited filly threw her fore legs around both Applejack and Rainbow Dash. They both leaned in and shared the hug.

Rainbow Dash laughed, nuzzling her newfound daughter's cheek. "Heh, heh. Welcome home, kiddo."

Chapter 19 - Finale

Watching Pinkie Pie bake was like watching an artisan spin an intricate clay pot from scratch, or a master virtuoso ply their craft on a stage in front of a crowd of thousands. Applejack could not help but smile and chuckle lightly, the pink pony reduced to a pink blur as she swept around the kitchen, grabbing at utensils and ingredients, whisking a bowl of brilliant white frosting at near hypersonic speeds, rushing for the oven at the sound of a sharp ‘ding’ and pulling several steaming hot tins from within. She was grinning.

“Alright, Applejack! Your double-fudge, triple-chocolate, quadruple-layer cake is almost ready!”

Applejack groaned. “Pinkie… Ah told ya Ah didn’t want no humongous, fancy cake! This is supposed to be a simple celebration.”

Pinkie Pie giggled, a quick burst of high-pitch static laughter that culminated in a snort. “Oh, Applejack, you silly pony. Even simple celebrations need quadruple-layer cakes!” Her grin threatened to snap her in two. She said it like it was the most logical thing in the world.

“Ah want a small party, Pinkie. Family and friends only. That’s too much cake.”

Pinkie’s laughter stopped. She stared long and hard at her fellow earth pony. Applejack glanced away, feeling the sudden urge to step backwards, out of the kitchen. Then Pinkie’s smile returned. “Applejack, you’re not making any sense. There’s no such thing as too much cake!”

“But…”

“No buts!” The Pink baker held a wooden spoon high in the air, staring at the tip as if at an almighty sword. “Who’s Ponyville’s premiere party pony, the pragmatic, passionate purveyor of perfect parties?”

“Umm… Y’all are?”

“Precisely!”

Applejack sighed. Only sheer force of willpower kept her hooves firmly planted on the ground and away from smacking her face. “Fine… suit yerself.” Applejack couldn’t help but chuckle as she stepped from the kitchen, headed back towards the bakery’s front. Some things never did change. Pinkie was still the same Pinkie, and the farmer could still hardly handle more than a few minutes alone with her.

“Never interrupt an artist at her work, I suppose?”

Applejack nearly jumped. A flash of a cocky grin. Sparkling, carefree, happy, magenta eyes. It couldn’t be… “Rainbow!” The earth pony’s eyes locked with her wife’s. The cyan pegasus stood on the other side of the counter, grinning. Applejack bounded to reach her. They touched foreheads lightly, mindful of other ponies in the shop.

“Thought I might find you here.”

“And Ah thought Ah wouldn’t see you ‘til night, what with all them rain showers you’ve had scheduled since Winter Wrap-Up.”

“Hey, even the new Ponyville District Weather Manager needs a break or two every once in a while.”

Applejack shook her head fondly as the pair strode from the bakery into the lazy afternoon. A few clouds drifted across the sky and a few ponies drifted between shops. It looked to be a mostly boring day. They couldn’t be happier. “Won’t that just make the work pile up for ya?”

“Yeah, well, being my own boss has its advantages. Besides, I wanted to see you.”

“Mmm, Ah Can’t argue with that.”

“So, how’re preparations coming?”

“For the party? They’re comin’ along great. Pinkie’s about done with her cake, then she’ll put a few last touches on the barn. We’ll be all set by tonight.”

Rainbow Dash nodded. “Good to hear.”

“Ah’ll say. Ah guess Ah’m still a might bit worried, is all.”

“Please, AJ, it’s a party. No need to be so high-strung about everything all the time.”

“Ah ain’t high-strung, Ah just don’t want nothin’ bad ta happen.”

“Come on, AJ, when have we ever been disappointed by a Pinkie Pie party?”

“Ah guess, but ya shoulda seen her today, bakin’ up some double-triple-super chocolate cake or somethin’. Ah hardly think we’ll be able ta finish it!”

Rainbow smiled knowingly. “Pinkie will be Pinkie, and nopony ever said it was a bad thing to have leftover cake.”

“Ah suppose…”

“Look, AJ, what are you so worried about? This is Pinkie Pie, for crying out loud. If anypony knows her way around a cake, it’s her. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“Ah don’t know, Sugar. Ah just want everytin’ ta be perfect.”

The cyan pegasus snickered. “I know who you sound like right now.”

“Who?”

“Oh, it’s nothing, just…” Rainbow Dash transitioned into her best, high-pitched, drawn-out voice, “Oh no, Darling. The crystal vase for the bouquet must go between the crystal punch bowl and the fourth ice sculpture. Honestly, must I do everything around here?”

“Come on, Dash. That’s not…” Applejack stumbled over her words, trying to hold back her laughter. “That’s not funny.”

Her partner nudged her teasingly. “You know it is. Miss ‘I want everything to be perfect’, you sound just like Rarity.”

“Ah do not. And besides, don’t tease her. She’s under a lot o’ stress.”

“I got it, I’m only joking.”

“It is her weddin’ day comin’ up, and she deserves it ta be absolutely perfect.”

Rainbow Dash’s smirk disappeared momentarily. “Yeah. If anypony deserves the wedding of their dreams, it’s Rarity. After everything she’s given all of us, she’s earned it.”

“Ah’m glad she and Fancy finally decided ta tie the knot. He’s a right gentlecolt, and Rarity deserves somepony as good as him.”

“Yeah, not every mare gets to land a totally awesome pony like that…” a flash of a grin returned to the pegasus’s face. “… well, except you, of course.”

“And just what is that supposed to mean?”

“Oh, nothing. Just saying you made a pretty good catch with me.”

Applejack shot a mock-glare back at the teasing pegasus. “Hardy har. Ah seem to recall ya were th’ one chasin’ me, right off a cliff, Ah might add.” Rainbow Dash merely laughed.

“Another marital quarrel, you two? What a shame, you seemed like such a happy couple.” Rainbow Dash and Applejack looked up in surprise to see a familiar mint-green unicorn, a wide half-grin spread across her face. Behind her, a cream-coated earth pony slapped a hoof to her own.

Rainbow Dash cracked an even wider smile upon seeing the other couple. “Hey Lyra, Bon-bon, what’s up?” She flew over to the unicorn, sharing a hoof-bump with her.

“It’s so good to see you two,” Bon-bon put on a cheery face and strode over to join the other three. “It’s been so long.”

“I’ll say.” Lyra chimed in. “We haven’t seen you since Hearths’ Warming Eve, Rainbow Dash. And Applejack… it feels like it’s been forever.”

“Well, it’s been a long winter. Ah guess we never really got out too much.” Applejack exchanged hugs with the other two ponies.

“How’s Applejoy?”

Both parents beamed at the mention of their daughter. “She’s doin’ mighty fine. Actually, it was just her third birthday th’ other day.”

“Really?” Lyra perked up, “Our youngest is turning three in a few weeks, too.”

“That’s right.” Applejack suddenly found herself awash with memory. “Ya were in the hospital about the same time as Ah was, Lyra.”

Lyra nodded. “I can remember. Time sure does fly huh?”

“You said it.” Rainbow Dash nodded as well.

Bon-bon cast a quick glance at Ponyville’s clock tower and a slight frown crossed her face. “Oh dear… Lyra, Honey, we have to go. Tootsie Flute’s recital is starting soon, and I promised we’d see her backstage beforehand.”

“Oh, that’s right,” Lyra glanced back towards her friends. “We really should be leaving.”

“That’s quite alright,” Applejack smiled. “Wouldn’t want ta keep ya from yer daughter’s performance.”

“We really should make some plans to see each other more often, a chat over drinks, maybe?” Bon-bon quipped. “There are so few other couples like us here in Ponyville, it would be nice to discuss things from time to time.”

“Well, there is Twilight an’ Cheerilee, but Ah doubt they’ll make that official anytime soon.” Applejack had a short chuckle at the thought of those two. “But Ah agree, that sounds right nice.”

“Well, I guess we’ll see you two later, then.” Lyra said as she and her wife turned away.

Rainbow Dash, who had fallen silent, suddenly spoke up, flapping into the air and calling after the pair before they got more than three paces away. “Hey guys, wait up.” Lyra and Bon-bon both checked back over their shoulders, perplexed. “I know it must seem last minute, but we’re having a party for Little AJ’s birthday down at the Acres tonight. Would you guys and your kids like to come?”

Both the other mares brightened at the idea. “Cool, we’ll be there.” Lyra grinned at her hovering friend.

Bon-bon happily agreed. “We’d love too. Thank you for inviting us. We won’t be able to come until after the recital ends at six, though.”

Rainbow Dash beamed. “Great, we’ll save some cake for ya!”

“Sounds wonderful.” Bon-bon smiled as she and her partner turned and hurried away, towards the schoolhouse and their daughter’s recital. Rainbow Dash and Applejack stood and watched them leave in silence for a moment before the earth pony turned back to look at her wife.

“That seems kinda sudden, comin’ from you, Sugarcube.”

“Yeah, sorry about that. I know you didn’t want a whole lot of people invited over… it just seems like they deserve it.”

“Ah ain’t upset, Dashie, only curious. Why them? Why now?”

“Like Bon-bon said, we don’t see each other very much, and they’re one of the only other couples like us we even know. Besides, they’ve done a lot for us in the past.”

“Really? Like what?”

“Well… you remember I told you about that conversation Bon-bon and I had the day Little AJ was born, right?” Rainbow Dash queried as the two began walking along once more. Applejack nodded silently. “Not to mention, on Hearths’ Warming Eve, when Big Mac and I went out looking for donations, well… they were one of the biggest givers.”

“Really…” Applejack gave pause, her thoughts cast back to that fateful day. She felt herself shiver. “Ah… Ah didn’t know.”

Rainbow Dash noticed her wife’s sudden change in demeanor, and cast a furtive glace her way. “Everything Ok?”

“Wha? No… no. Ah’m fine, Sugarcube. Just… thinkin’, is all.”

They walked a good while in silence. Ponyville that morning was not particularly busy, with many residents out making the most of a rare sunny spring day. A few were out heading for the market, while some simply enjoyed an early stroll through town. Rainbow Dash and Applejack, however, took no heed of those few fellow Ponyvillians. Applejack seemed unable to keep her attention focused. Her gaze flitted from one direction to the next; her silence seemed uncomfortable, wanting of something, stifled, even. Rainbow Dash kept glancing over at her wife, her brows furled with a combination of confusion and concern. Overhead, some birds chirped. It was a perfectly lovely day, but in her mind, it might as well have been overcast grey. In an instant so short as to be perplexing to the normally self-assured pegasus, a pallor had settled over her partner, and she just had to figure out why.

“Me too.”

Applejack looked up in surprise, seemingly lost within the deep, wandering strains of her thoughts. “Hmm?”

Rainbow Dash sighed. “Me too… I’ve been doing some thinking too…”

“Oh…” Applejack gave pause, unsure what to say or even where the conversation was headed. “Ok.”

“You know… what I was saying earlier…” Rainbow Dash walked ever closer to her. Applejack found it trying to hold her piercing gaze. “When Big Mac and I were out collecting donations. I thought… I thought I’d find you somewhere. But we never did. I didn’t see you until we came home. And later Fluttershy told me you’d only gotten back a few minutes before us…”

Applejack swallowed hard. She could tell where they were most likely headed. She finally averted her gaze, choosing instead to fix her eyes firmly on the ground, counting cobblestones as they passed beneath her hooves.

“So… like I said, I’ve been doing some thinking too.” Rainbow Dash fell quiet, studying Applejack’s face as they continued to walk along aimlessly, side-by-side. “And… I really don’t know what to think.” The pair descended into silence once more, Rainbow Dash waiting expectantly for her wife to speak.

Applejack kept her head bowed. Her mind screamed at her to say something – anything – to break the tension, but she held her tongue. She could feel Rainbow Dash’s concerned gaze burning into her, and grimaced. Desperate to look anywhere but at her companion, she glanced up from the ground. Their meandering had brought them into a park. Trees, budding with the clean, fresh greens of a new spring, stood all around them. Eager for the distraction, Applejack gazed around her, taking in the beauty of the park. Why, why did Dash want to talk about that night? Applejack had successfully avoided thinking about her sojourn for a good while, only to have it thrust back to the forefront of her thoughts. She wanted to cry out, to shatter the pervasive, tortuous silence, but she couldn’t. And her day had been going so well before, too.

“Applejack?” Rainbow Dash inched closer to her absent-minded partner. “Applejack!” She lightly nudged her, and the earth pony seemed to jump. “Applejack, please pay attention. This is important. I… I want to know.”

Her mouth was dry, but she felt helpless, a sensation of drowning. “Ya… want ta know what?”

“AJ, what happened? You weren’t like this a minute ago. What’s gotten into you?”

“Ah don’t…” Applejack gulped hard, willing herself to steady her trembling voice. “Ah guess Ah don’t rightly know, Dashie.”

“AJ, please tell me. What happened that night? What’s got you upset?”

“Ah don’t know.”

“Applejack. I can tell when something’s up. I want you to tell me. Was it something that happened that night?” She paused, waiting for an answer, but none was forthcoming. “Well, if it is, we can fix this, whatever it is, together. Isn’t that what we’re supposed to do? Help each other when we’re scared?”

“Ah ain’t scared.”

“Then tell me what’s bothering you.”

“Ah… ah can’t.”

“What?”

“Ah can’t. Ah just can’t, Dashie, Ok?”

“Come on, AJ. You know you can trust me.”

“Ah… Ah know that, RD. Ah just… Ah just can’t right now. Ah can’t talk about it.” Applejack turned away. There were tears in her eyes.

Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to continue, but her words died on her lips. She looked at Applejack. Slowly, she came alongside her and nuzzled her cheek gently with her own. She could feel moisture wick into her own fur. For a long while, neither said anything, simply relishing the comfort borne out of each other’s silent company. A light breeze whistled lazily through the fresh spring trees above them, blowing at their manes as it went. There was no disturbance, just the whispering of leaves high above them and the soft sigh of their own breathing. When Rainbow Dash finally spoke, she spoke slowly. “Ok.” She gave a heavy sigh, nodding almost imperceptibly. “Ok. Let’s just go home.”

There was a long, winding gravel path that led them through the park. The pair exchanged no further words as they traveled along it, instead remaining to stew in their own thoughts. The park was mostly empty, with only a few relaxed ponies enjoying the bright spring morning from the comfort of one of many benches. A few waved as Applejack and Rainbow Dash walked past. After all, after over three years of marriage, they were well regarded and well loved by their community as one of the happiest couples around. On this particular day, however, they did not return any greetings.

The path led them out of the park and eventually joined with the long road home. Gradually, the peaceful sounds of a calm, crisp morning gave way to the gentle rushing of the stream, engorged with melt water and running higher than usual. Before too long, the all-too-familiar bridge came into view. Rainbow Dash, keeping a keen eye on Applejack, watched her companion’s gaze shift suddenly to the rushing water. The river was indeed high; the rolling surface’s crests bare inches below the bridge deck. She saw the pony beside her gulp, but said nothing to her.

She was surprised when they stopped. Applejack stepped out onto the bridge warily, took a few steps, and then halted in the middle of the span, facing downstream. Perplexed, Rainbow Dash sidled up next to her. Applejack gazed down out over the rustling current. Flowers and grasses had sprouted up along its banks, taking advantage of the abundance of water and ample sunlight, ever since spring had seen the thaw of the riverbank. The water moved quickly, but the harshness of winter’s ice was gone. There was a smooth, almost gentle speed about it as it wove its course into Whitetail Wood and out of sight. Eyes wide, unblinking, Applejack stared shakily downward, petrified, as if she could see something everypony else could not.

Warily, Rainbow Dash snuck a hoof across Applejack’s shoulders and gripped her love, holding her close and breaking her concentration. Applejack blinked. She looked up from the comforting embrace. Her green eyes were damp.

Rainbow Dash bit her lip. “Applejack.” She spoke slowly, clearly, deliberately. “You shouldn’t be afraid to tell me anything.”

“Ah know, Sugarcube.”

“You should never be afraid. Not with me.”

“Ah know. Ah… Ah trust you.”

“Something’s bothering you, and I want to know what it is.”

Applejack was silent for a while. Then, she turned away, crossing the rest of the bridge. Rainbow Dash let her hoof fall. Her response was quiet, only barely discernible. “Ah don’t think ya’d understand.”

Rainbow Dash rushed to catch up, brushing warmly against her side as she fell into step alongside her. “I promise I will.” Applejack remained silent. “I promise. Whenever you’re ready.”

“Maybe later. Maybe…”

“Whenever you’re ready.”

“Ah’ll…” Applejack looked at her lover. The same old concern still filled her eyes. Applejack sighed. No matter what, Rainbow Dash deserved to know. One way or the other. “Ah’ll think about it.”

===========================================================

True to her word, Pinkie Pie had made the night a memorable one, and although her massive cake was more than enough to keep all the guests fed by itself, a veritable smorgasbord of treats had also been laid out. The party, as Pinkie Pie Parties are wont to do, ran well into the night, even after the guest of honor had been taken to bed. Finally, with the moon high overhead, the barn was starting to quiet down. Rainbow Dash breathed a deep, contented sigh. She had relished the chance to enjoy herself while surrounded by good friends, and she was glad to see Applejack had managed to unwind as well. And even after noticing Scootaloo and Apple Bloom sneak off during the festivities, she had done nothing about it.

Spike, draped over Twilight’s back, snored loudly as Rainbow Dash bade the unicorn good night. Cheerilee, silent but grinning from ear to ear, stood beside Twilight. The two glanced at each other, blushed, and looked away again. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Alright, have a good night you two, and thanks for coming!”

Twilight smiled. “Thank you for having us, Rainbow. And give Applejack our thanks as well.”

“I’ll be sure to.” Rainbow Dash affirmed as the pair strode away, side by side. She shook her head, bemused. Someday, those two would make it official. Hopefully someday soon, as if everyone in Ponyville didn’t know about them already.

She turned back around and sidled over to where Applejack and Rarity were busily chatting. A somewhat impatient-looking Sweetie Belle stood near them. “Oh, Darling, I can scarcely believe it’s been three years since she was born. It’s simply astounding!”

“Ah know what ya mean, Rares. Ah can’t believe how old mah little girl’s getting’ neither.”

“And I can hardly believe you’ve put up with me that whole time.” Rainbow Dash laughed as she joined them.

“Just barely, Sugarcube. Just barely.”

“Rarity, can we go now? I’m tired!”

“Sweetie Belle! Don’t be so rude!” Rarity gave pause, glancing around the now mostly-empty barn. Big Macintosh and Fluttershy had retired some time before, and Lyra and Bon-bon’s family had left earlier as well. Only Pinkie Pie remained, scarfing up a few remaining sweets from the refreshments table. “I suppose it is getting rather late… Applejack, Rainbow Dash, congratulations once again, though I daresay it’s time to depart.”

Applejack chuckled. “Sure thing, Rarity. Thanks fer stoppin’ by. Ah know how busy y’all’ve been lately, so it means a lot.”

“Oh, think nothing of it.” Rarity smiled as she strode towards the door; Sweetie Belle yawned as she followed in her elder sister’s wake. “And do tell the little dear good night for me.”

“Ah’ll be sure to give her a kiss from Aunt Rarity.”

“That’s the ticket.” Rarity waved as she exited the barn, heading out into the cool, crisp night and back towards town.

A repeated springing sound announced the departure of Pinkie Pie, who bounced happily towards Applejack and Rainbow Dash. “Hey, Pinks. Thanks for the great party.”

“No problem, Dashie! It’s the least I could do!” She quickly hugged both her friends, and with a final happy giggle, bounded away into the night. Applejack let out a deep sigh and leaned against her wife. Rainbow Dash nuzzled her cheek, grateful for her warmth resting against her.

“Alone at last, huh Sugarcube?”

“Yeah.” The pegasus smiled. Applejack’s cheek felt so good against her own… she felt a sudden twinge of guilt. The party had made her so happy, even after all the day’s events. “You know, AJ… I’ve been thinking. If you really don’t want to tell me, you don’t have to.”

“No, Dashie.” Applejack nuzzled her even more, closing her eyes and breathing deeply as she did so. “Ya deserve ta know.”

Rainbow Dash lifted a fore leg to give her wife a quick squeeze. “If you’re sure… maybe we should get comfortable first.”

Applejack smiled, and led her love over to a haystack. She settled down onto the soft pile, patting a space beside her and waiting for her companion to join her. Rainbow Dash snuggled up next to her, and for a moment the pair simply savored each other’s company. Applejack took another deep breath. Somehow, she had to begin. “Sugarcube. The first thing Ah want ta tell ya is… is that Ah love ya, and Ah always have, and nothin’s ever gon’ change that.”

A lazy smile spread across Rainbow Dash’s face. “I already know that, AJ. I’ve known it for years. You don’t have to worry.”

“Just… just promise me, no matter what happens here, that ya won’t forget it.”

“Never.”

“Ok, then… Ah’m ready.”

“AJ, what really did happen that night, after you left?”

“Well, like Ah said, Ah left to see Mayor Mare about securin’ a loan from th’ town. And… well, Ah guess… Ah guess that didn’t go too well.”

“What did she say?”

“She said that money was tight, and that she couldn’t just give out loans like that.”

“Well that doesn’t sound so bad.”

“It gets… it gets worse. She told me she would only give us a loan if the town got a majority stake in th’ farm.”

Rainbow Dash gently stroked her hoof through Applejack’s mane. “I know you’d never do that.”

Slowly, Applejack nodded. “So Ah left, and Ah ran, and Ah got ta that bridge, and it was so cold and icy, Ah slipped and fell.”

Rainbow Dash shuddered, remembering her own all-two recent experience in that same position. She lowered her voice, still caressing that beautiful, straw-colored mane. “This is starting to sound familiar.”

Applejack nodded weakly. A hollow, empty look filled her eyes. She sniffed loudly. “Ah… Ah felt awful. Ah felt sick. Ah wasn’t thinkin’ right.”

“It’s Ok, Honey. Tell me what happened next.”

Applejack clamped her eyes shut, shaking her head back and forth. Tears wicked out from beneath her eyelids. Rainbow resumed her gentle stroking. “Oh, sweet Celestia… Ah’m sorry. Ah’m so sorry, Dash.”

“Woah, woah, AJ, easy there. Easy. You don’t have to be sorry for anything.”

“No, Sugarcube… Ah’m sorry, but ya just, ya don’t understand.”

“Then help me understand.”

“Do ya remember that life insurance policy Ah bought?”

“Yeah, I…” Rainbow Dash trailed off, beginning to put two and two together in her mind. “AJ, no…”

“Ah’m sorry, RD. Ah thought it was the only way.”

“Oh, AJ. You don’t mean… surely you don’t…”

“Ah jumped.”

“You what?”

“Ah jumped. Into the river.”

“Oh, AJ.” Rainbow Dash hugged her tight around her neck. She could feel tears streak onto her chest as Applejack buried herself in it. “What were you thinking?”

“Ah’m sorry. Ah’m sorry. Ah don’t know. Ah just don’t know. It seemed like the only way.”

“The only way to what?”

“To save the farm. To keep you and Applejoy in a house an’ off the streets. To save mah family.”

“Oh, Celestia, AJ.” She held her even tighter then; crying as well. “I’d never want to lose you like that.”

“Ya should be mad at me.”

Rainbow Dash shook her head furiously. "No, Applejack, no. I’m not mad. I’m just… confused. I don’t understand.”

“Well ya should be.”

“What?”

“Ya should be!” Applejack struggled against her partner’s embrace. Surprised, Rainbow Dash fell backwards, sinking slightly into the soft pile of straw. Applejack stood up, shaking herself off and rounding on the perplexed pegasus. “Ya should be!” Her shout reverberated through the barn.

“Applejack?”

“Ya should be mad at me. Ya should be furious. Ah coulda died. Ah coulda died ‘cause Ah was bein’ so stupid.” She was shaking, eyes closed, her voice loud and cracking with each heaving, dry sob; she couldn’t hold her focus together. Rainbow Dash cringed.

“Applejack, listen to me.”

“Ah was stupid, an’ selfish, an’ Ah coulda died. Dammit, Ah shoulda died. You should be furious at me. Don’t ya even care? Don’t ya even…. Oof.”

Applejack didn’t really know what she had been expecting, but whatever it had been, she certainly had not expected Rainbow Dash to leap up and tackle her. She fell onto her back and grabbed at her partner. They scuffled for but a few moments before she fell limp, suddenly exhausted. Rainbow Dash held both her fore legs at her side, pinned against the ground. She caught Applejack’s gaze and held it firm with her bright, shimmering, rose-hued eyes. Her lip was cut, with a bead of blood beginning to form at its apex.

“Dashie, Ah…”

“No, Applejack.” Tears twinkled in her eyes. Her gaze was like fire, holding her in place through sheer force of captivation. Applejack couldn’t look away if she wanted to. Even with a strong pair of hooves holding her pinned, she didn’t even think to struggle. “No. You listen to me now, got it?” Silently, the farmpony nodded. “I’m not mad, AJ. I could never be mad at you. You don’t deserve that. I… I really don’t know what to think right now. I’m confused. I can hardly even believe you’d do something like that, but I’m not mad.” She leaned down and placed a little kiss on Applejack’s forehead. “You’re too important to me, AJ. You know what? Even if Big Mac and I hadn’t gotten any donations, and even if we had lost the farm. I’d still rather have you. Maybe we’d have to live somewhere else, maybe the library, or somewhere. I don’t know. But you know what? It wouldn’t matter, because I’d have you, and I’d have our daughter, and that’d be enough. I never even want to think about losing you, Ok?”

Applejack, her eyes still locked onto those of her wife, seemed stunned into silence, so Rainbow Dash continued. “D’you remember what you said to me in the hospital, the night I brought Scootaloo there? Well, I do. You showed me how to believe in myself again. That’s not a hard lesson to learn. I want you to remember that right now. AJ, this whole silly mess has been eating at you for a while now. I can tell. I may not be the best at comforting anypony, but I want you to tell me everything from now on, Ok? I want to help, Applejack, just like you’ve helped me so much. We’re in this together, and… oh, come here!”

Suddenly, without warning or hesitation, Rainbow Dash scooped Applejack’s head up in her hooves and pulled her muzzle close. They were both crying, tears falling unabated. Their kiss was wet, sloppy, and long, but it felt electric. Both ponies felt as if their every hair stood on end, heat building in their faces and bodies as they let their worries slip away in a flurry of little pecks, deep, gentle ministrations, and a salty mix of tears and a little blood. Finally, they broke apart. Exhausted, Rainbow Dash collapsed onto her back beside her wife. She clutched Applejack’s hoof with one of her own, grinning sheepishly and blushing, the both of them.

For a long time, they stared at the ceiling. Neither moved; dumb grins playing across their faces. Wind whistled in the barn through the open windows. It chilled their faces. Applejack’s grin subsided. Rainbow Dash’s remained, and still she held Applejack’s hoof tight to her chest, as if afraid to let go. “What’re we doin’ here, Dashie?”

Rainbow Dash knew her answer without even giving it much thought. “Raising a family.”

“But we’re so young. We’re barely a few years older than Scootaloo, an’ yet we still call her our daughter, now.”

“Isn’t she, though? I thought we agreed that would be what she needed.”

“Ah know, Sugar… it’s just… isn’t it strange? We’ve got th’ oddest, craziest, most convoluted family… that Ah love.”

Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Promise you won’t keep anything from me any longer, AJ? Especially something this important. I can help. That’s what I’m here for.”

“Ah’m just not so sure either of us is really ready ta be a parent, what if we’re both gonna have emotional breakdowns every few weeks like this.”

“Hey, you can’t blame us. It’s been a long, hard winter. That’s all that’s gotten us down, nothing more. We’re still great parents… well, at least you are.” Rainbow Dash smiled as Applejack finally let herself go. She laughed; a chest-shaking, quivering laugh that finally descended into a crescendo of giggles. They both rolled onto their sides, facing each other, engaged in a hapless staring contest. “You know something, AJ. Whatever it is we’re doing, no matter how weird our family is, and whether or not we’re really good parents, I’m glad I’m doing it with you.”

Applejack cracked a smile. “Me too, Dashie. Me too.”

===========================================================

Princess Celestia could not help but smile as she levitated the scroll down to her bedside table. She laid it down beside a series of three framed photographs. She contemplated each one as her gaze passed across them. There was one of her beloved apprentice Twilight Sparkle at the castle, during some important stage of her magical training, although, which one, Celestia could not quite recollect. The second stood out prominently, from several years past, it showed Twilight standing with her five best friends, then newly met. This had been the first photograph she had received from her student, so many years ago when she had just settled in Ponyville. A third one showed the same group of six, along with Princess Cadence and Shining Armor, from the latters’ wedding reception. Celestia shook her head and suppressed a slight shudder as she remembered that day.

The pictures spread onto the wall of her royal chamber, just above the small table. There were others showing Twilight as a filly, and more showed the group of friends engaged in various activities, always laughing, always happy. There were more weddings; first Applejack and Rainbow Dash’s, then Fluttershy’s. Her newest pictures rested just above the headboard of her bed. One showed Twilight standing next to a purple pony with a cutie mark of three smiling daisies, a pony whose name Celestia had only recently learned was Cheerilee. There was a small heart, drawn with a quick flourish of a quill in black ink, between the two ponies. Celestia grinned at that one, remembering the letter it had arrived with. She also felt a slight welling of pride. It did seem fitting for her to be the first one her student came out to, after all.

The Princess was suddenly distracted form her reverie as the sound of her chamber door opening echoed across the room. She moved to glare at whomever dared interrupt her time of peace, but her face softened as she saw her sister approaching the bed. “Ah, Luna. Done raising the moon tonight, I see?”

“Indeed, sister. I suppose I should wish you a good night.” Luna gave a small smile. Glancing down at the nightstand, she spotted the scroll. “Another note from Miss Sparkle?”

“Not quite. Rainbow Dash and Applejack, this time.”

“Really, and what does it say?”

Celestia levitated the scroll over to her sister, who caught it with her own magic and read, her eyes quickly scanning across the parchment. She began to read aloud when she reached the final few sentences. “Hmm… ‘Marriage is a lot like friendship, only more so. We have to learn to face some pretty big obstacles together. And sometimes, just carrying on can seem near downright impossible, but in the end, we can always be assured to know that we’ll fall asleep next to the pony we love.’ Not a bad lesson to have learned.”

“Seems a little clichéd, don’t you think?”

Luna giggled slightly, and set the scroll back down in its place. “I suppose so. Good night, sister.”

“Good night, Luna.”

The last picture hung on the wall just above Celestia’s bed, almost directly over her pillow. A grassy clearing and a few trees set the scene. On the left, a butter-yellow pegasus by the name of Fluttershy lay on her side, a soft, content smile spread on her face. Big Macintosh, tall and proud, stood behind her, watching over her and his young family. Their children had curled up against their mother’s side, warm and cozy. Their attention was held captive by Pinkie Pie, who stood before them with a silly face and what looked to be an even sillier dance. Rarity and Sweetie Belle stood a little ways away, a golden ring distinct upon the fashionista’s horn. Twilight Sparkle and Spike were near them, on the right of the frame. Sweetie Belle seemed immersed in conversation with both Applebloom and Scootaloo, who stood quite close together, their tails intertwined. Applejack stood behind the two fillies, and Rainbow Dash beside her. Their heads were bowed, their foreheads touching. Applejack carried their daughter upon her shoulders. Bubbly and carefree as ever, smiling as always, there could be no mistaking Applejoy.

Before sending the picture to the princess, Twilight had taken a moment to quickly scrawl a simple, two word caption across the bottom:

‘Our Family.’

~~~Fin~~~

Chapter 17

Even with the flakes swirling all about her head, Rainbow Dash could still see her breath rolling off her face like the smoky haze of a strained steam locomotive at full throttle. Cloud after misty, white cloud rolled from her snout and billowed upwards lazily, only to disappear into the conflagration of white that held the land under siege. Despite the biting wind and the driving snow, however, Rainbow Dash felt as if the storm was beginning to peter out. She could see further through the murk, at least. Without squinting, she was able to keep track of the rows of tall, dark, barren trees that lined the path through the orchard. And so she charged between the lines of trees, her chest heaving up and down with each choppy breath she took. She could hear her heart beating in her chest over the roar of the storm, its rapid rhythm echoed through her head as she struggled to keep moving forward.

She was finding it exceedingly difficult to move. Every step seemed to bring even deeper snow and an even tougher struggle to plow through. The drifts had built up significantly, and Rainbow Dash knew she could become bogged down easily if she sank too far in. Out of necessity, she tried to move as fast as she could, both to reach the hospital as soon as possible and to keep herself skimming lightly across the top of the loose, uncompacted snow. Of course, the extra weight on her back not only made movement more of a strain, but checked her speed as well. In spite of her peak physical condition, Rainbow Dash found herself panting as she tried to keep the combined weight of both herself and Scootaloo moving through the thick blanket of snow. Every few leaps, however, her efforts would prove futile, as she found herself waist-deep again and again.

Rainbow Dash had to pause for a moment to catch her breath, inhaling deep gasps of air as she stood, snow swirling about her. The azure pegasus coughed as she breathed in several snowflakes, sputtering loudly. Her heart thudded in her chest; its sound very nearly drowning out the very wind in Rainbow's mind. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts of the feeling of building exhaustion after being out in the cold and fighting the storm for so long. Her muscles all ached, protesting against pushing a single step further forward. Her fur was plastered against her skin and felt like it was frozen there. Her feathers were hardly any better off. Her wings, still clenched tight against her sides, felt numb, partially due to the cold and partially to having the weight of a whole other pony lie against them.

Panting, Rainbow Dash craned her neck to look over her shoulder at her younger friend. Scootaloo, even though securely wrapped in several layers of fabric, still hardly looked better than she had when Rainbow Dash picked her up. Her face was still frozen in scrunched-up pain, and her mouth hung open, just barely enough for her to breathe. Still, she did not move, she merely shifted with Rainbow Dash's body as the older pegasus swayed back and forth slightly. Rainbow Dash cringed at the sight. She wished, more than anything, that the filly would open her eyes, or at least give some indication that she wasn't too far gone. Finally, Rainbow Dash was forced to pry her gaze from the distraught filly on her back. She gazed forward into the maelstrom, squinting against the cold. Her brow furrowed into a deep 'V' as she stared ahead. She was Rainbow Dash, and she had a mission. No weather was going to keep her down. Summoning her strength, she kicked off the ground with her rear legs and thrust forward, leaping out into the snow.

She could feel Scootaloo's weight shifting around on her back as she bounded along. She gritted her teeth, hardly daring to slow down lest she sink again. Her lungs screamed for air, and her breaths became shorter and more desperate as she pushed herself onward. She watched as the trees to either side of her Gradually grew further and further between, thinning out until she could no longer see them at all. She planted her fore hooves into the snow, skidding to a halt. They had reached the end of the orchard. Rainbow Dash squinted ahead. She could just barely make out the jagged, rocky edge of the curvy, meandering stream through the weather. She took a deep breath, exhaling in a sigh of relief. The Everfree storm was finally letting up. She could see the river from here. Carefully, she picked her way down to the water's edge. It was far less difficult than before for her to find the bridge. The snow was really beginning to let up. At least it was no longer white-out conditions.

Rainbow Dash placed a tentative hoof out onto the bridge deck. For some reason, probably the high winds, all the snow had been blown off of the stone bridge, leaving the deck a very slippery surface. Her hoof slid around some, but eventually found purchase, enabling Rainbow Dash to continue her careful walk out onto the bridge. With all four hooves out on the surface, the pegasus stepped forward once more, nearing the center of the span. Her hoof came down upon a patch of unseen ice and immediately slid forward, throwing her off balance. She scrambled madly with her other three hooves to regain herself, but to no avail. Both her front hooves and one rear hoof slid out from under her, sending her crashing down onto her right side. The sting of the cold bridge deck striking against her side sent a ripple of pain through her body, but she fought to ignore it. She gasped for breath as she struggled back to her hooves. She became dimly aware that she felt significantly lighter, and spun around, her head swinging from side to side in a frantic search for Scootaloo. Rainbow Dash swallowed a nervous lump. Her young friend was nowhere to be seen.

Just as her eyes swept the icy bridge deck once again, an ear-splitting scream broke through the cacophony of the storm and snapped Rainbow Dash to attention. She looked up, her gaze immediately tracing to the source of the sound. Her heart caught in her throat as the cry sounded again, only to be cut off by a short gurgle of inhaled water. Rainbow Dash gulped. One thing was for certain, at least. Scootaloo was awake. Without a second thought, Rainbow Dash gathered her wits about her, charged toward the side of the bridge, planted her hooves against the ice-coated stone, and launched out over the swirling, icy current.

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The storm was beginning to let up by the time Applebloom and Sweetie Belle broke out of the orchard. Both fillies kept their heads down, shivering as each chilled gust of wind washed over them. Applebloom looked up, squinting across the clearing. Despite the cold, a bright smile flashed across her face. She could see a series of lights cutting through the thinning snow. The lit windows of the farmhouse, shining in the night. If she weren't so cold, she could have jumped for joy. At that moment, Applebloom had never seen anything that looked as perfect as the lighted windows of her home, beckoning her out of the cold. "Come, on, Sweetie Belle!" She bounded forward with renewed energy, "There it is! We're almost home."

Wordlessly, Sweetie Belle followed her excited friend. As they plodded through the snow, nearer and near to the lights, the murky silhouette of the farmhouse came into view. Applebloom beamed and Sweetie Belle couldn't help but grin. The two friends stumbled over one another as they made their way up through the front yard and finally huddled together on the porch. They exchanged a smile as Applebloom reached up to open the door. A blast of warm air, roasted by the flames in the living room hearth, hit her square in the chest as she slid through the doorway. Applebloom felt as if every hair on her body stood on end from the sudden wave of heat, and she immediately shook herself, droplets of water and latent snowflakes flying in all directions. She took a deep breath through her nose, inhaling the sweet scent of home. She could never have guessed before just how much she could miss the smell of something, yet she did. The smell of a fire, slowly burning in the hearth, mixed with the lingering scent of apple cider from the stove, and every other tiny nuance that made home smell like home. It was intoxicating. Applebloom might have become lost in it, were it not for one nagging thought it the back of her mind.

"Scootaloo!" Applebloom jumped, suddenly remembering. She rushed from the front foyer, headed towards the living room. Her sister met her halfway there. "Applejack, Ah…"

"Where have ya been? Ah've been so worried about ya!" Applebloom found herself cut off and whisked into the air as Applejack picked her up and held her tight against her chest in a warm, and only slightly suffocating, hug. Applejack looked up and nodded at Sweetie Belle, but a frown crossed her face when she saw no one else at the door. Gently, she set Applebloom, who took a heaving gulp of air, back down on the floor. "Wait, where's Rainbow and Scootaloo?"

"That's what Ah'm tryin' ta tell you. Scootaloo got hurt, and Rainbow Dash is takin' her to the hospital!"

Applejack was silent for several seconds. "What, Scootaloo's hurt? How? How bad is it?" She stared down at her little sister, her face etched with concern.

"Ah don't know. Ah think she broke her leg, but it's real bad and she wasn't even movin' and Ah'm really worried about her! We need to go now!" Applebloom rocked form side to side in agitation, nodding her head towards the door, beckoning Applejack outside. She scampered towards the door, expecting her sister to follow.

"Woah there, little Nelly, you're not goin' out there again." Applejack stepped forward to cut her off with a hoof. Applebloom turned around and frowned at her.

"But…"

"But nothin'. You've just spent Ah don't know how long out in the freezin' cold, and Ah'm not lettin' ya back out there 'til the storm lets up. Ya hear?"

"Applejack, Ah need ta see Scootaloo!" Applebloom stomped her front hooves on the hard wood flooring in frustration. Applejack just shook her head.

"Ah'm sorry, AB. But Ah can't let ya back out there. It just ain't safe. Now, just go sit by the fire and warm up. Look, you're even shiverin' right now." As much as she tried to fight it, Applebloom knew her older sister was right. She was still cold, but she just had to see Scootaloo.

"Please take me to the hospital, AJ. I really need to see her!" Unbidden tears began to leak from Applebloom's eyes. "I… I love her, Applejack. I love her. Please let me see her. Please."

Applejack wrapped her arms around her little sister's neck and held her close, letting the filly rest her face in her shoulder. She could feel the occasional wet drop slip out onto her fur, but she held Applebloom anyway, gently rocking her from side to side. "Ah know. Ah know, Sugarcube. But it just ain't safe." She kissed her sister's cheek. Applebloom broke the hug, sniffling loudly. Applejack held her shoulders, smiling at her gently. "Tell ya what. Ah'll go make sure she's safe mahself. And, in the mornin', if the storm's clear, Fluttershy will take you and Sweetie Belle to the hospital, too. Does that sound alright?"

"But… but… I want to see her."

"Ah know, but ya need to get warmed up first. Get somethin' ta eat, and try ta get some shuteye. Fluttershy'll take care o' ya 'til mornin'. Right?" Applejack looked up at the yellow pegasus, who had silently made her way into the foyer and was watching solemnly. She gave a wan smile back and nodded her agreement. Applejack grinned back at her sister. "Now, go sit by the fire for a while. Look, Sweetie Belle's already there." Applebloom turned to look. Sweetie Belle, her sopping wet winter clothes in a pile next to her, had already sat down in front of the roaring flames, and was holding her fore hooves out to feel the blissful heat. She smiled at Applebloom.

Slowly, Applebloom hung her head and nodded. "Ok. But Ah'm leavin' first thing in the mornin'. She needs me there with her."

Applejack smiled and kissed her forehead. Then, setting her hat firmly in place on her head, she strode towards the door.

"AJ?" Applejack turned to see Applebloom, still rooted in place, staring after her. "Please make sure she's safe."

Applejack chuckled. "Don't worry, if ya can trust anypony ta keep her safe, you can trust Rainbow Dash."

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The shock of striking the freezing water was enough to almost instantly knock the wind out of Rainbow Dash and send her gasping for breath. Despite this and the mind-numbing cold she felt from the ambient air and the near-freezing current, the headstrong pegasus managed to keep her mouth above the water's surface. Fighting back the sensation of chills racing through her body, she gulped down several breaths of air and began paddling, or thrashing about as best she could in the wild, choppy, rushing stream. She struggled to keep her head above the water, and several times found her vision swamped as she inadvertently ducked under. Still, each time, she returned to the surface, gasping, swinging her head around, desperately searching for her fallen friend.

Just as her gaze swept over the ice-choked waters ahead of her once again, she though she saw a glimpse of orange. Unsure, she squinted, ignoring the constant force of rushing water trying to pull her under. Through the wind and the waves, she could just barely see the frothing whitewater of a desperately splashing pony, and through that, a flailing orange hoof. There she was. Rainbow Dash surged forward, flailing her legs for all she was worth and using the current to pick up speed, desperately racing towards the thrashing filly. She fought the stream, yet it seemed she could make no headway. She closed her eyes, struggling to pull herself forward. She briefly reflected on whether or not it would have been easier to just fly out over the stream instead of jumping in, but pushed the thought from her mind and continued her desperate bid to swim. Opening her eyes again, she squinted and saw the soaking wet frame of Scootaloo, caught upon a chunk of ice, mere yards ahead.

Rainbow Dash paddled, her legs and joints straining and screaming in protest. Then, she was right on top of her. Desperately, she reached out, clamping onto Scootaloo's slick fur with her mouth. She very nearly lost her grip, but somehow managed to hang on; reaching out with her fore hooves to grasp the filly's shivering body. She secured the young pegasus in her embrace, biting down onto the scruff of her neck much like a mother cat would do for a kitten. She heaved both their bodies towards shore, desperately fighting the current to try and reach the bank. Her hooves brushed against the slick, rocky bottom and she scrambled to find a hoof-hold. Slowly, but surely, she dragged her way out of the water, lugging Scootaloo from behind her. Rainbow Dash collapsed upon the snow-covered ground as soon as she cleared the rocks. For several seconds, she just lay there, breathing heavily, feeling the absolute, bone-deep chill of the sub-freezing air assault her soaking-wet pelt.

Slowly, she recovered from her daze and stood up, her head pounded and her vision swam. Adrenaline coarsed through her veins. She looked behind her and saw Scootaloo, unmoving, slumped on the ground. A shot of icy fear, colder still than the very water she had just left, surged through her. Rainbow Dash dropped down onto her forehooves, kneeling before Scootaloo's prone body. She leant her ear in next to her, and heard nothing. "Come on, Scoot. Don't do this to me."

Rainbow Dash rolled Scootaloo over, exposing her underside. She placed both fore hooves on the filly's chest and pumped, once, twice, thrice, again, again, again… She bent down once more to listen: still nothing. "Come on, Scoot. Come on, Scootaloo." She checked herself, using a hoof to gently open Scootaloo's mouth. She bent down again and stared at the filly's face, her mind racing. There was nothing else for it. In an instant, she placed her own mouth around Scootaloo's and blew inward, expanding her chest with clean, fresh air. She stopped to listen again: still no sign of breathing. Returning her hooves to the filly's chest, she gasped, feeling the shock of the cold bite at her. She shoved the feeling away, focusing on the task at hoof. "Come on, Scootaloo." She pushed down on the filly's chest again and again, panting and straining for a sign of life. "I'm… not… giving… up… on… you..."

The sound of a wheezing, gasping, gurgling cough echoed through the night air. Rainbow Dash jumped backwards, marveling at the sight of Scootaloo, her eyes straining to open, coughing water up out of her chest. "Scoot!" Rainbow Dash cried out, rushing forward to lend her little friend her support. She held her in her fore legs, watching as the last of the water dribbled from the filly's mouth, and Scootaloo gasped.

"M… mommy?"

Rainbow Dash couldn't help it. In spite of the cold, she felt tears slide down her face. "That's right, I'm here. I'm here. I've got you. I'll be here for you, I promise."

"M-mommy… I'm so c-c-cold…"

Rainbow Dash hugged her tighter, feeling the nearly frozen filly for herself. She felt a twinge of guilt course through her mind. "Come on, Scootaloo. Let's get you warm… let's get you safe." With a sudden surge of strength, Rainbow Dash heaved her up onto her back, stopping for a moment to let her settle there. She looked up. The wind had died down, the snow no longer billowed all around her, and the night was quiet. The storm had broken. The dark shadows of Ponyville lay before them.

Rainbow Dash took off into the night, charging through the cold and leaping over drifts, checking over her shoulder every so often to make sure she didn't lose her friend again. She tore her way through the streets, kicking up thick, white clouds of snow behind her pounding hooves. Droplets of water, some already frozen into tiny, sparkling ice crystals, shook off her body and flapping mane and tail as she ran, full-tilt, for the hospital. Thoughts swirled through her mind. "Please, Princesses, please let it be open. It has to be open. Don't let it be closed." She begged to the still night air.

As she rounded a corner between two shadowy buildings, her gaze fell across the tall, white façade of Ponyville Hospital, lit up like a beacon with lights in the Emergency Room windows, shining in a crisp, glittery wonderland of sparkling, white snow. With a newfound surge of energy, she ran ahead, with Scootaloo, wide-eyed, clamping her fore legs around her idol's neck.

Nurse Redheart jumped up in surprise, very nearly spilling her coffee, and dropping the book she had been reading to the ground, as the glass Emergency Room doors burst open. A swirl of snow blew into the room, drawn in by the suction of the rapidly-opening doors, and a quick blast of chilled air washed over her. Nurse Redheart shook herself looking up from her floor-bound book to come face to face with Rainbow Dash.

The pegasus's chest rose and fell rapidly as she drew in gulp after gulp of air, trying to catch her breath. Nurse Redheart blinked away her confusion before putting on her best smile. "Can I help you."

Rainbow Dash, still breathing hard, stammered in reply. "I… Scootaloo needs… help, doctors… she's hurt and… cold… storm… and wet… river… help." She turned around, exposing the shivering, half-conscious filly on her back and nodding her head at her for emphasis. Nurse Redheart nodded, pressing the button on her desk to ring for assistance. Within moments, wheeling a stretcher, two more nurses and a doctor rushed into the lobby. Rainbow Dash could only nod feebly as they gathered Scootaloo and rushed her off. She tried to run alongside her, but winced in pain as her legs protested any further movement. With a series of deep breaths, she staggered backwards and collapsed into a chair along the waiting room wall.

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Applejack shivered as she walked. The night was cold, but at least the wind was no longer blowing. The snow, which had swirled about for hours, had finally settled, leaving Ponyville to be covered with a pure, glistening blanket of newly-fallen snow. Applejack breathed deeply, taking in the crisp, clean scent. Though she never mentioned it much, she always had liked winter. The world always seemed so peaceful after a heavy snowstorm. The houses and shops of Ponyville were all still dark. For the most part, it was long past bedtime for the citizens of the sleepy town. Applejack stifled a yawn herself. She had been awake for a good while now, but she knew she had to keep trotting. She could sleep later.

The snowdrifts had built up to waist-deep, and Applejack found it a struggle just to keep moving. She wasn't too bothered by it, though. She just kept glancing around the quiet town as she continued her slow trot. The clouds were already starting to thin, and she could see the moon faintly behind a wispy portion of one. Applejack shook her head in wonder. How such a violent storm could spring upon them so quickly, and be gone just as fast, would never cease to amaze her. She chuckled as she rounded a corner, the bright lights of the hospital illuminating the last leg of her journey. A trail of disturbed snow lay before her, leading right up to the big, double glass doors. Somepony had been here before, and Applejack thought she knew who.

The lobby was empty when Applejack pushed open the doors, but she could hear the muffled sound of voices from the corridor beyond. Confused as to why she couldn't see anypony, she pushed open another set of doors and strode out into the linoleum-tiled hallway. Following the sound, she passed several closed doors before spotting an open one up ahead. She made a beeline straight for it. She could hear snippets of the conversation coming from within.

"I'm sorry, Miss Dash. But I cannot allow you to see Scootaloo until I've made absolutely sure that you're suffering no ill effects."

Applejack's ears perked and a smile crossed her face as she heard the next voice. "I'm telling you, I'm fine. Let me see her. She's hurt bad, and I promised her I'd stay with her." Applejack ducked her head through the open doorway, glancing across the bland hospital room to see her wife, sitting upright on the hospital bed, her fore hooves crossed, and glaring at Nurse Redheart, who let out an exasperated sigh.

"Rainbow?" Applejack trotted into the room.

Rainbow Dash looked up as she saw her wife enter out of the corner of her eye. Her face lit up immediately. "AJ!" In one swift motion, she leapt off the bed, and brushed past Nurse Redheart, ignoring the mare's protest. She crossed the room, meeting Applejack in the center, and threw her fore legs around her neck. Applejack immediately leaned forward, catching Rainbow Dash in a quick kiss. Rainbow Dash quickly obliged, pressing back with equal intensity and letting their lips lock together. Their foreheads touched as they kissed, and for a moment, all the troubles and the pain weighing on Rainbow Dash's mind seemed to just melt away. In the loving embrace of her partner, she felt secure.

Finally, she broke the kiss. Applejack, still wrapped up in a hug, gave her a smile. Rainbow Dash chuckled. "You would not believe what I've been through today."

Applejack gave her a quick peck on the cheek before they broke apart, their fore hooves returning to the floor. "Ah believe ya. Where's Scootaloo?"

Nurse Redheart spoke up before Rainbow Dash could answer. "She's in Intensive Care. So far, we know she has a leg broken in several places, she's suffering from prolonged exposure, and she may be showing some signs of early onset hypothermia. There may also be some other complicating factors, so we've had to put her under for the time being. As of right now, she's in critical condition."

Applejack and Rainbow Dash glanced from Nurse Redheart back to each other. Their faces grim, they gazed into one another's eyes for a few seconds. Without saying a word, both knew what the other was thinking. Applejack turned back towards Nurse Redheart, and took a deep breath. "Take us in ta see her. Now."