Apple Dash

Chapters

ACT ONE: Applejack
ACT TWO: Friendship Castle
ACT THREE: Spirits in the Desert
ACT FOUR: Cherry Hill Ranch
ACT FIVE: Near Misses
FINAL ACT: Confrontation

ACT ONE: Applejack

Author's Note

This is like the first story of my series Bookends in that it is a short (yes and rushed) story to see how it is received. That way I know if any sequels are to be attempted.

ACT ONE: Applejack

Applejack was finishing up the apple bucking for the day. It was a long day because Rainbow had warned that the next several days would be very rainy. It was the end of summer and there was the Fall weather to think of.
As the last of the apples fell into the baskets on her back, AJ started the trek to the barn to put the apples away. Once that had been accomplished, she put the baskets away and went into the house.

“Just in time, sis,” said Apple Bloom. “Granny just put dinner on the table.”
“That’s ‘kay, Sugar Cube,” said AJ to her sister, “Tell Granny that Ah ain’t hungry. Perhaps Ah’ll grab somethin’ later.”

Apple Bloom watched as her big sister walked slowly up the stairs to her room.

Applejack went to the bathroom and took a quick shower. And in spite of it being early evening, she climbed under the covers of her bed and lay there looking out her window. The view was toward town, she could barely make out some details of the rooftops above the trees that were between Sweet Apple Acres and Ponyville. She could see the occasional Pegasus flying above the town or flying off toward Cloudsdale. As she did, she let out a deep sigh.

She reflected on what Pinkie had once said:

‘Applejack cries on the inside, Twilight!’

But from the dampness on her cheeks and pillow, Applejack wished that was true.

“Dagnabit!” said AJ to herself, “why am Ah doin’ this to myself again? Why can’t Ah just be happy with the way things are? Why do Ah have to feel this way?”

Applejack looked out the window again. There by the window was her dresser, and on it was several picture of she and her friends. As she scanned these, she started to cry harder.
Suddenly, there was a knock at her door.

Applejack heroically stopped her sobbing and called out;

“Yeah?”
“Applejack, it’s Granny, can Ah come in?”
“Ah’d rather ya not,” said AJ.
“Too bad,” said the old pony as she entered the room.

Applejack turned away from the door as not to face Granny. Granny sat on the edge of the bed and placed a hoof on AJ’s shoulder.

“What botherin’ ya sweetie?” said the old pony.
“Ah don’t wanna talk ‘bout it,” said AJ.
“Yer gonna have to talk ‘bout it some time. It ain’t gonna get any easier if’n ya wait.”
Applejack thought, she knew Granny was right. So she took a deep breath and let it out.
“Granny,” said AJ, “Ah’m gonna move to Dodge Junction an’ go back to work fer Cherry Jubilee.”
“What in tarnation fer?” said Granny shocked.
“Ah contacted Caramel, an’ he’ll be fillin’ in fer me.”
“That don’t answer my question, Applejack.”
“Sorry Granny,” said Applejack, it could be heard that she was crying again, “but fer now, it’s all Ah wanna say. Ah’m leaving in the mornin’. It’s hard ‘nough. That’s why Ah ain’t said nothin’ to anypony.”
“Applejack, that ain’t fair, ya pulled this after the Equestria Rodeo. It hurt ‘nough then. But ya’ve got a lil’ sis that adores ya. Ya ain’t gonna break her heart like last time.”
Applejack knew Granny was right, it would be hard to do this. But she knew it would be harder on AB. In spite of Granny raising Apple Bloom, Applejack was more a mother figure and the filly’s best friend.

“’Kay Granny, Ah’ll tell her in the mornin’,” said Applejack.
“My hoof ya will,” said Granny, then turning to the door, “get in here Apple Bloom.”

The door opened and there stood Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom had heard most of this, as apparent by the tears on her cheeks.
Granny got up and walked to the door.
“Yer sister has somethin’ to tell ya Apple Bloom.”
Apple Bloom entered the room as Granny left and closed the door. The filly approached as Applejack sat up.

“Don’t ya love us no more,” said the little sister.
“It ain’t that AB, Ah love ya more than ever.”
“Then that’s a funny way of showin’ it. Runnin’ ‘way again. An’ ya weren’t gonna tell anypony. That don’t say Ah love ya in my opinion!”

The sister looked cross and very hurt. Applejack knew her sister was right. It was the reason she was going to just slip away. She wasn’t sure how to say goodbye.

“AB, come up here.”

Apple Bloom climbed on the bed with her sister. Applejack hugged her sister tightly.

“Apple Bloom,” said Applejack, “this ain’t got nothin’ to do with lovin’ or not lovin’ ya or Granny or Big Mac.”
“Then what?”
“Apple Bloom,” continued Applejack, “Ah ain’t getting no younger. When ya get to be an adult, there’s ‘urges’ that come on ya. Urges to be with a special somepony. Urges that Ah can’t take care of here.”

“Is that all? Are ya sayin’ yer horny?” asked AB.

“Where did ya hear that word?” asked the big sister amused.
“Scootaloo says that when a pony is wantin’ to have sex real bad, that they’re horny.”
“Well AB, that’s correct, but it ain’t exactly a polite word to be usin’,” said Applejack. “An’ it might be close to what’s goin’ on with me, but it ain’t the reason.”
“Then what?”
“Sex is ‘portant, when it’s with a special somepony. But there’s more to a relationship than just sex. There comes a time in a pony’s life when they need to be with another pony. More than just friends or family. A pony to be part of. An’ they you.
Ah got a lot of friends here, but what Ah’m lookin’ fer is a pony to be that special somepony.”
“An’ there ain’t nopony here that could be that special somepony fer ya?”

Applejack thought, should she say more? There was a pony she wished was her special somepony. But she’d never said anything to anypony. Or to that pony especially. And Applejack wasn’t sure what her sister would think if she found out who that pony might be.

“Apple Bloom,” said Applejack, “yeah, there’s a pony that Ah might want to be that special somepony. But Ah ain’t never said anythin’ to her…

Ah mean them.”

It was too late to take back. Applejack expected AB to react to this. Strangely enough, she didn’t.

“Do Ah know her,” said Apple Bloom.
“Yes.”
“If’n yer just too shy to say somethin’,” said the little sister, “Ah could tell her.”
“No sis,” said AJ, “the only thin’ worse than not havin’ that special somepony is makin’ a fool of yerself to a friend an’ havin’ that awkward moment between ya fer the rest of yer life.”

It was another clue for AB. The little sister thought she’d play a hunch.

“So she’s one of yer friends,” said Apple Bloom. “Ah don’t think Rainbow Dash would react badly. She’s such a nice pony. She even gives my friends and Ah rides sometimes.”
Applejack was taken aback. How did Apple Bloom know. But too late she realized that without saying a word, she’d answered AB’s question.
“Apple Bloom,” said the big sister, “ya can’t say nothin’ to nopony. Promise me that.”
“Ah wouldn’t say anythin’ to anypony. That’s yer responsibility. But Sweetie Belle said that Rarity had told her that sometimes yer only given one chance to say somethin’ to that special somepony.”

Applejack knew her sister was right. But Applejack wasn’t ready to make such a pronouncement. Maybe it would be losing her ‘only chance’, but she didn’t know if she could live with Rainbow laughing at her.
The mental picture of Rainbow on her back, hooves in the air laughing so hard that there were tears in her eyes. There’d be tears in Applejack’s eyes as well, but not the same type.

“Ah ain’t sayin’ Ah’m goin’ away ferever, Ah just need to get my head straight.”

That was it. Applejack had let it go so far out of hoof that she’d just lied to her sister. Applejack had no intention of returning. She wasn’t even sure that Dodge Junction was where she’d be going.

ACT TWO: Friendship Castle

Apple Bloom had promised her sister, not that she wanted to, not to tell her friends that AJ had left until an hour after she had left on the train.
Now Apple Bloom was sitting on the stoop of Friendship Castle waiting for the clock in Ponyville tower to ring out the hour of 8 o’clock.

“Apple Bloom,” said Rarity coming down the path, “what’re you doing here at this time, Darling. Shouldn’t you be getting ready for school?”

“Ah’m sorry Rarity,” said Apple Bloom, “Ah can’t say nothin’ to anypony fer ‘nother 10 minutes.”

“Then why don’t you come inside with me and wait there.” Said the white Unicorn, “you’ll be more comfortable.”

Apple Bloom followed Rarity into the castle. They went to the dining room. There were Twilight, Spike, Starlight Glimmer, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash. They turned to see Rarity enter along with Apple Bloom. Rarity went to sit down. The friends usually had breakfast together on Wednesday.

“Apple Bloom,” said Twilight, seeing the look on the filly’s face “what’s wrong? Where’s Applejack?”

AB was about to say she couldn’t say anything yet when a clock chimed.

“Applejack has left fer good!” shouted Apple Bloom, tears starting to pour from her eyes.

“What?” was the collective response.

Twilight flew over to the filly.

“What do you mean, ‘Applejack has left for good’?” said Twilight.

“She said she had to go to find a special somepony,” said Apple Bloom, the rest of the friends gathered around her.

“She went to do what?” said the blue Pegasus. She was trying to hide her panic.

Rarity looked at Rainbow and whispered;
“I told you so.”

Rainbow remembered a conversation with Rarity where the Unicorn warned if she didn’t stop acting so coy, she’d one day lose her chance.

“We have to go after her!” said Rainbow. Then turning back to Apple Bloom. “Where did she go?”

“Ah promised not to tell,” said the sister, tears still pouring.

The friends all looked concerned.

“Let me handle this,” said Pinkie Pie. “Apple Bloom, you said you promised Applejack not to tell where she was going?”
“Yes Pinkie.”
“Did you do a Pinkie Promise?”
“No Pinkie.”
“Good,” said Pinkie, “then there’s a chance.”
“A chance of what?” said Fluttershy.
“Did she have you promise not to tell if she was going north?”
“Ah promised not to tell where she was goin’,” said Apple Bloom frustrated.
“Yes, Apple Bloom,” said Pinkie, then with a twist of Pinkie logic, “but did you promise not to tell where she wasn’t going?”
AB’s face lit up, she was seeing the loophole Pinkie was offering.
“No,” said Apple Bloom.
“Good! So, did she have you promise not to tell if she was going north?”
“No,” answered the filly.
“East?”
“No,” said Apple Bloom figuring where this was going.
“South?”
“Ah can’t say.”
“Okay, did you promise not to tell she was going to Appleloosa?”
“No.”
“Dodge Junction?”
“Ah can’t say.”
“Cheery Jubilee’s Cherry Hill Ranch?”
“Sorry Pinkie,” said AB with a wink, “Ah can’t tell ya that.”

“She’s gone to Dodge Junction,” said Rainbow, “we have to go after her!”

“Certainly Rainbow,” said Twilight, “let’s get our things together and we’ll leave right away.”

“No Twilight,” said Rarity, “we aren’t going after her.”

“Why?” asked Twilight.

“Because just Rainbow needs to go,” said the white Unicorn.

“Why just Rainbow,” asked Pinkie.

“Because she’s the only pony that can help Applejack right now,” said Rarity, “you’re going to have to trust me on this one.”

The rest of the friends didn’t understand this, but Rainbow did.

“Thank you Rare,” said Rainbow.
“Don’t thank me,” said Rarity, “go now and take care of that one thing you needed to take care of years ago!”
There was a quick group hug, Fluttershy promised to look after Tank and then Rainbow streaked out an open window.

“What’s that all about,” asked Twilight.
“Now that she’s gone,” said Rarity, “Rainbow has been so unsure of herself…

Unbelievable, I know…

To tell Applejack that she’s had feelings for her for some time.”

“An’ that’s why Applejack left,” said Apple Bloom. Then she realized she said something she promised not to. “Ah wasn’t supposed to say that.”
“It’s okay Darling,” said Rarity, “it’s now all out in the open. You need to get to school now. I’ll walk you there.”
“Ah’m late, so Ah’m gonna have to go and get a note from Granny first.”
“I think Cheerilee will take a note from the Princess of Friendship instead.”

Apple Bloom smiled, Rainbow was going after her sister and Twilight was covering her backside.

Rainbow streaked to her cloud house, gathered a few items in a saddlebag. She was glad that it was between air show seasons so she wouldn’t have to miss Wonderbolt practice. Then she took to the sky. She was going to fly the whole way but she decided that she needed to conserve her strength, no telling how long this was going to take. So she decided to take the train.
Unfortunately, the next train to Appleoosa was six hours behind the morning train that AJ would’ve taken. So Rainbow knew she had to wait another four hours, so she got comfortable and caught a catnap at the platform.

Several hours later…

Rainbow was now halfway between Ponyville and Appleloosa. She’d leaned against the window and was asleep, it was so easy for Rainbow to take another catnap. There was a rough section of track that jostled her awake. Letting the cobwebs clear, she noticed a couple ponies on the train with her. There, on the bench in front of her, holding hooves were Lyra Heartstrings and Sweetie “Bonbon” Drops. Rainbow overheard that they were going to the snack car, so she got up and followed them.

Rainbow approached the two mares sitting at a table.
“Hello ladies,” said Rainbow, “may I join you?”
“Sure Rainbow,” said Bonbon.
“Have a seat,” said Lyra.
“Thank you,” said Rainbow.
The attendant came up and took everypony’s order. Bonbon and Lyra were surprised that Rainbow told them that she was covering the check. They made small talk until their sandwiches and drinks came. After eating, Rainbow brought up the real reason she had approached the two.

“Lyra, Bonbon,” said Rainbow, “I know the two of you have kept it a low profile, but it isn’t hard to figure out your relationship with each other.”
Bonbon and Lyra looked a little skittish.
“What do you mean,” asked Bonbon.
“Girls,” said Rainbow, “I’m not trying to make anything of this and I know it’s basically none of my business. But I’ve a good reason for bringing this up. So relax.
But I know the two of you are more than friends, even more than marefriends.”
Lyra took Bonbon’s hoof and held it on the table.
“Really Rainbow,” said Lyra, “you’re right. Bonnie and I are a couple. I’m not afraid to admit it.”
“I guess I’m not too,” said Bonbon, leaning over and giving Lyra a kiss.
Rainbow smiled, it really didn’t appear too big a deal for two mares to show affection publically.
“Good,” said Rainbow, “and I’m really so happy for the two of you. And because you two are a couple and mares, I need some advice.”
“Rainbow,” said Lyra, “are you having marefriend issues?”
Rainbow blushed brightly, Bonbon and Lyra looked at each other and smiled.
“Not exactly, girls,” said Rainbow, “but I may’ve blown the chance of having a marefriend.”
“Oh Rainbow,” said Bonbon, reaching out a hoof to Rainbow.
Rainbow was surprised at herself. Normally she’d have thought such actions would be too sappy. But she could tell that these two friends were sincere in their concern for herself.
“Applejack?” asked Lyra.
“Does everypony know about this but me?” said Rainbow with a weak smile. “But yes, I found out this morning that AJ left, perhaps for good, because she wanted to find a special somepony. Apple Bloom let me know that she was doing this because she couldn’t bring herself to approach me. Now she’s on her way to Dodge Junction, but that might not be her real destination.
And like the thick headed mare I am, I’ve never tried to say anything to her either. Unfortunately, Rarity has warned me about this, more than once. And now I have to live with her ‘I told you so’ for the rest of my life!”

“Rainbow,” said Lyra, “Bonnie and I’ve known you for some time now. We know that you’ve always kept up a front of having to be cool at all times.”
“But Rainbow, Rarity is right. This isn’t the time for that,” said Bonbon, “you apparently care for Applejack, otherwise you wouldn’t be on a train for Appleloosa. You’re going to have to swallow all of your pride.
You need to decide if your public face is more important than being alone for the rest of your life.”
The two mares moved their chairs by Rainbow and gave her a substantial hug.

There were tears in RD’s eyes, being alone for the rest of your life really stung.

ACT THREE: Spirits in the Desert

It was so hard saying goodbye to her family. She was glad that her friends weren’t there. She didn’t know if she could have said goodbye to Rainbow Dash.

Applejack had packed a saddlebag with enough supplies for an extend trek in the desert. She’d taken the train to Appleloosa, but she was going to walk the several days to Dodge Junction. She’d told Cherry Jubilee that she might be needing a job while she tried to figure where she was going for sure.
It was the second evening out from Appleloosa and the stars were bright out in the middle of nowhere. Applejack hadn’t used the sleeping bag the night before, but here the ground was rocky, so she needed the extra ground cover. As she rolled out her sleeping bag, she saw that there was an emerald that Apple Bloom had placed in there. She’d said that emeralds are a symbol of hope. And that it was her hope that her sister found what she was looking for and her hope that her sister would return soon.

The sight of the stone brought a smile to AJ’s face. Perhaps the first smile since she left Sweet Apple Acres several days ago.
“Thanks Apple Bloom,” said Applejack to nopony there.

Applejack built a small fire and ate some apples and carrots she’d brought with her. After eating, she got in her sleeping bag and looked at the sky. A sky she knew was the home of a very special pony. She was thinking of how many times she’d see RD fly overhead and the feeling in her heart when she did. She thought of all her interactions with this special friend. Perhaps all the adversarial interactions was a way she didn’t have to face the real feelings she had.

No pony knew of the evening walks AJ would take. She’d ‘just happen’ to walk out to where Rainbow’s cloud house was hovering. AJ would sit and look at the lights in the windows, occasionally a shadow would pass across a curtain and her heart would skip a beat. Applejack thought how unfair it was that she couldn’t just drop in on her friend. Knock at her door and spend an evening with her. Perhaps if she could have, she might have been able to tell Rainbow how she really felt. But the whole Earth Pony not walking on clouds and getting up to the cloud house (without Unicorn help) made it next to impossible. She had thought about calling out to Rainbow, but she never could work up the nerve.

“Dagnabit!” said Applejack out loud, noticing she was crying again, “Ah ain’t cried this much since Ah was a foal!”

‘Applejack,’ her inner mind said, ‘ya ain’t gotta put up with this! Get yer chicken self up, grow a set o’ ovaries and get yer flanks home!
An’ don’t even give her a chance. As soon as you see her, give Rainbow the biggest kiss ever! Then tell her how ya feel.
Or do ya really wanna hide in the desert cryin’ fer the rest o’ yer life?’

Applejack didn’t sleep much that night. Variations of the conversation in her head continued. She knew it was the right thing to do. She didn’t know why she was fighting it so much. She didn’t like the feeling of fear and she didn’t like the tears.

As she lay there in the deepest part of the night, the only sounds were crickets, the occasional coyote and once was the faint sound of a train whistle. She saw two shooting stars go overhead. She always had thought when she saw two shooting stars in the sky, that it was the spirits of Bright Mac and Buttercup, her parents.

“Oh ma, pa what do Ah do? Ah need yer help so bad!
Ah get so jealous when Ah see my friends talkin’ to their folks. Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Hearth Warming and Hearts and Hooves Day.
They have their parents to ask the hard questions. Yeah, Ah got Granny, but it ain’t the same. An’ now Ah’m starting to have trouble ‘membering yer voices and faces. Ah can only imagine what it’s like fer Apple Bloom, if’n she can even ’member ya.

What do Ah do? Ah’m in love, an’ Ah know it now. So why am Ah so ‘fraid to admit it to the pony Ah love?”

Applejack suddenly got a slight chill. There sitting on either side of her were ghostly forms of her parents. AJ sat up straight.

“Am Ah goin’ crazy?” said AJ out loud.

“No honey,” said Buttercup. AJ wasn’t sure if she heard it in her mind or with her ears. “Yer not crazy. An’ we’ve always been right beside ya all along.”

“That’s right,” said Bright Mac, “ya can’t believe how proud ya’ve made us feel. Yer friends and ya have done so much fer so many other ponies, fer Equestria and fer the world.”
“So why can’t ya do something fer yerself?” asked Buttercup.

Applejack wiped the tears from her eyes.

“Ah don’t know,” said Applejack.

“Jackie,” said Bright Mac, with a bit of sympathy in his voice, Applejack had goosebumps, she had almost forgotten the nickname her father used to call her, “yer the Element o’ Honesty. Ya can’t be dishonest with us, or ‘specially yerself.”

“Ah’m ’fraid to love,” said Applejack, “because… Because…”

“Because of us,” said Buttercup hugging Applejack. Bright Mac hugged her too.

Now Applejack was really concerned. She really felt her parent’s forelegs around herself. She started crying harder than she ever had. Not since that day of the accident that took her parents away.

“Mommy! Daddy!” said AJ between sobs, “Ah can’t ever go through that again. What if’n something happened to Rainbow during an air show? Or caught in bad weather. Or somethin’ like when she was caught in that avalanche in Ghastly Gorge?”

“So ya wouldn’t feel bad if’n yer closest friend was killed, ’cause ya never told her ya loved her?” asked Bright Mac.

“Of course Ah would,” said AJ.

“So, honey,” said Buttercup, “yer ‘kay with hurtin’ over yer friend. But are ya ‘kay with missin’ all chance of feeling love with her.”

“Yes, Ah… Ah mean no!” said Applejack more confused than ever. “Ah don’t know.”

“Jackie,” said Bright Mac, “we know ya met Grand Pare. Ya know yer mother’s an’ my story o’ how we met. The troubles we went through. And then deciding to step out of our comfort zones, follow our hearts and not do the safe thing and just live as our parents told us.
If’n we hadn’t taken a chance, we would’ve missed the greatest love ever. And missed out on the three foals that made us, and still make us, so proud.
Yes, our lives were short, but we wouldn’t have traded the short time together even if’n if it meant we’d live ferever!”

“But what if’n she don’t love me?”

“Honey,” said Buttercup, “yer still tryin’ to find a reason not to tell her. Instead, ask yerself; what if’n she does love ya?”

“Yer strong, Jackie,” said Bright Mac, “an’ ya need to be strong fer yerself and fer yer sister. But ya need to be strong fer Rainbow Dash as well. An’ if’n she does love ya, imagine what she’s goin’ through right now.”

“She’s probably at home, tryin’ to be cool ‘bout all this,” said AJ.

There were odd looks on her parent’s faces.

“No honey,” said Buttercup, “she’s not.”

“She’s not?”

“What would you be doing if’n ya were her?” asked Buttercup.

“I’d be lookin’ fer her…

So what am Ah doin’ here?” said AJ, but then something struck her, “but…

Ah don’t wanna go…

An’ leave ya, again.”

“Jackie,” said Bright Mac, “yer mother an’ Ah’ll never leave ya. Ya can be certain o’ that.”

“But…”

“Honey,” said Buttercup, “ya have to go. An’ we do too.”

“Will Ah ever see ya again? This side o’ life?”

“We can’t tell ya that,” said Bright Mac, “’cause we don’t know. But when ya feel that slight breeze on yer cheek in a still room. Or that ray o’ sunshine when it’s cloudy. Or you have a warm feeling in yer soul for no apparent reason.”
“That’ll be us lettin’ ya know ya ain’t alone.” Said Buttercup. “But fer now, ya need to sleep, ya’ve got a long trek back to Appleoosa.”

“But…”

“Go to sleep, our darlin’ daughter. ’Member we love ya so much. Tell yer brother an’ sister that.” Said Buttercup.

She and Bright Mac kissed her. Buttercup took the flower from behind her ear and put it in Applejack’s mane. Then the parents, lay AJ back to the sleeping bag and faded from sight as AJ drifted off to a dreamless sleep.

The sun awoke Applejack. She opened her eyes, sat up and saw she was in the desert, alone.

“Just a dream,” said Applejack, a tear running down her cheek.

As she went to put her hat on, something fell from her mane. Looking down, AJ saw it was a buttercup. She quickly looked all around her. No flowers were blooming anywhere near her.

“Sweet mother of Celestia an’ Luna!” said AJ. “Ah need to get goin’!”

Applejack wanted to gallop all the way back to Appleloosa, but it was just too far. So she trotted as much as she could. But it felt as if it was going to take forever. Two days in the desert and another day and a half on the train.

“Hang on Rainbow!” said AJ, “Ah’m a comin’.”

ACT FOUR: Cherry Hill Ranch

Rainbow first went to see AJ’s cousin Braeburn and see if Applejack stopped by there. Unfortunately, Braeburn informed the blue Pegasus that she had not. In fact, he didn’t even know that AJ had been through Appleoosa.
Because of her going to see Braeburn, the train had left. The next train to Dodge Junction wasn’t until tomorrow. So she was able to stay with Braeburn for the evening. She could try to fly, but Braeburn convinced her that she didn’t need to wear herself out over the desert on a what could be a wild goose chase.

The next morning, Rainbow went back to the train station and checked to see if any previous trains to Dodge Junction had Applejack listed as being onboard; they didn’t. The next for Dodge Junction was about to leave, so she climbed on.

Rainbow tried to fight the feeling that everything was falling apart. She’d always told herself that there would be time to tell Applejack how she felt.

She had it planed out. It’d be a Wonderbolt’s Air Show. There’d be the usual ovation and cheering. Rainbow would then swoop down, in front of everypony, she’d produce a bouquet of cornflowers, AJ’s favorite. There, in front of everypony, Rainbow would kneel down and ask her favorite cowpony to be her Very Special Somepony because she was in love with her.
AJ would hug and kiss her and there would be even more applause.

Rainbow sat there watching the almost featureless desert go by. Even with a couple of trips to the snack car, it was wearisome. So much so, she found herself dozing off so many times.
When it was getting dark, she decided to not fight it and try to sleep through the night. It wasn’t like AJ would be by the tracks, waving to train to stop so she could get on.

“Dodge Junction, next stop,” said a conductor coming through the car, “end of the line, Dodge Junction.”

Rainbow woke up, she’d dreamed that Applejack was near in the desert as the train was going through the night. The train’s whistle calling out to her.

Shaking the cobwebs from her head, she made sure her saddlebag was near. Right after the train came to a stop, Rainbow was the first off the train and was immediately headed out of town to the Cherry Hill Ranch.

Even early, Rainbow found the farm abuzz with workers. Rainbow approached one of the workers and asked where Cherry Jubilee might be. She was directed to the main house.

At the door, Rainbow knocked. It wasn’t long when Cherry opened the door.

“Rainbow Dash!” said Cherry, “as I live and breathe! What brings ya by these here parts?”

“Sorry to bother you Cherry,” said Rainbow, “but I’m here to see Applejack.”

“Sorry Rainbow,” said Cherry, “I ain’t seen hide nor hair of Applejack fer a spell now.”

“Cherry, it don’t matter what you promised her. I really need to see her. I have something I need to tell her!”

“I’d really like to help ya, Rainbow. But I got a message that she might come by and need a job fer a short spell. Be she ain’t showed up here yet.”

Cherry could see that Rainbow was distressed.

“Come on in here,” said Cherry, “I was just about to eat. Ya look like ya need to take a load off. It won’t do ya no favors if’n ya have to run around lookin’ fer Applejack with an empty belly.”

“Thank you Cherry,” said Rainbow coming in the house.

As they ate, Rainbow explained about why she was looking for Applejack. She was a little afraid that Cherry might have some aversion to a mare with mare relationship.
“Rainbow, what’s buggin’ ya? Ah mean right now other than Applejack?”
“I was a little afraid that you might not be open to mare-lovers. I’ve found that a lot of country folk are more conservative.”

Cherry chuckled.

“Rainbow!” said Cherry with a sly grin, “what do ya think we all are? Bumpkins and hayseeds? All a pony has to do is take a look at any barn dance in Equestria and see there ain’t enough stallions to dance with all the mares.
“Not all mares are as lucky as I was,” said Cherry, a slight shadow crossed her lovely face, “Mr. Jubilee was a fine stallion, hard worker and handsome as the day is long.
And sister…

He knew what a mare needed in bed! (The two mares snickered.)

But when the fever took him, I was devastated. I must’ve cried fer three moons.
Finally my best friend, Cactus Flower told me I couldn’t grieve the rest of my life. And that my husband would want me to be happy.
I resisted, but she almost dragged me out the house to a local dance. Then she made me get out on the floor and told me if’n I didn’t loosen up she was going to have to make me loosen up.
Not that I really intended to, but I started to have fun. Afterwards, we went to the saloon and had some hard ciders together and laughed the night away. I didn’t remember much else about the night, at that time.

That next morning, I found two things.

I had a hangover.

And I had Cactus Flower in my bed.

And we were snuggled together closer than just two friends sharing a bed.

‘Cactus,’ I said to her waking up. ‘What happened?’
‘What do ya mean,’ asked Cactus.
‘Why are we in bed… Together?’
‘Well after we were kissin’ out on yer sofa, we decided the bed was more comfortable fer sex,’ she said.
‘Sex!’ I exclaimed, ‘I ain’t no mare-lover!’
‘So?’ she said reaching out to me.
I started to say something but Cactus pulled me close and started kissing me. I was trying to push her away, but all I was doing was pulling her closer. All the loneliness and pain was leaving me as I allowed my heart to accept a pony who wanted to fill my needs as she was needing as well.
The sex that followed, with my head clear, was perhaps some of the best I’d ever had, not quite as good as with the Mister, but it was nice.”

Rainbow giggled with Cherry.

“Whatever happened between you and Cactus Flower after that?” asked Rainbow.

At that moment a pale blue mare with red mane and tail and a blooming cactus cutie mark walked into the kitchen.
“’Morning my Sweet Cherry Tart,” said the mare coming close and kissing Cherry a very passionate good morning kiss.
“’Morning my love,” said Cherry after breaking the kiss. She was smiling a sly smile.
“Never mind,” said Rainbow with a smile.

“Well this has been nice catchin’ up, Rainbow.” Said Cherry, “But ya’ve got a mare yer gonna have to wrangle and tell her like it is.”
“I know that now, Cherry.” Said Rainbow giving Cherry a hug, “thank you.”
“Don’t thank me,” said Cherry chuckling, “get yer flanks out of here!”
“Drop by again real soon,” said Cactus.
Rainbow chuckled as she waved and went to the door and took to the sky.

ACT FIVE: Near Misses

Rainbow sat on the train, it was driving her bonkers. Usually when she’d ride the train she’d be with one or all of her friends. Otherwise she’d fly herself. But this was a long trip and she wouldn’t be in any shape to look for AJ, or have the time to collect her thoughts. Rainbow liked to be on the first bench in the front of the first car after the engine. Somehow, it gave her the feeling that she’d get there before anypony else.
Trouble was, the shared lavatory was in the front part of the next car back and the snack car was another car back from that.

AJ made it into town in time to see the train from Dodge Junction pull into the station. By the time she’d purchased her ticket to Ponyville, the conductor was calling:
“All Aboard!”

Applejack climbed on the snack car and walked through to the coach in front of the snack car, not before getting a cup of coffee.

Unfortunately, the coffee ‘went right through her’ and she had to go to the restroom not even an hour into the trip. Luckily, the lavatory was at the front of the car so she went forward.

Rainbow realized that she didn’t have any food with her. And in spite of breakfast with Cherry, she was still a little peckish, so she decided to go to the snack car to get a pastry and coffee. She got up to go back to the snack car.
As she got to the door into the next car, somepony had the lavatory door open blocking her entry. After it closed, Rainbow went into and through the car to the snack car and was soon at a table in the snack car eating a couple of donuts and drinking some coffee.

By now, AJ had returned to her seat on the last bench of the car she was in. She leaned back against the corner of the wall and window, hat slouched over her eyes and was soon asleep, she really didn’t get much sleep since she left Ponyville.

Rainbow was returning from the snack car. The door to the car opened inward and bumped up against the bench AJ was sleeping on and blocked any good view of the occupant. Truthfully, Rainbow’s attention was forward and not on who might be in the car.

There were no more crossing paths for the rest of the trip. Anytime Rainbow had to use the restroom, AJ was still asleep and Rainbow was focused on the lavatory and not who was in the car.

The trip was wearisome for two mares in particular, united in their mission to find the other yet separated by one car.

After a fitful night of sleep for both mares, plagued by dreams of what could go wrong when confronting the object of their affection, the train pulled into Ponyville Station. AJ exited the car, turned left and walked to the steps leading off the platform where she was soon galloping to Rainbow’s cloud house.
Rainbow exited the train and turned right and took off toward Sweet Apple Acres.

In Ponyville, on the way to Rainbow’s place, AJ ran into her friend Muffins.

“Muffins!” said Applejack, realizing she was going to need the Pegasus’ abilities. “Can you please come with me, I need your help.”
“Sure thing Applejack,” replied the blue-gray mare.

They galloped to where Rainbow’s cloud house was hovering. Muffins flew up and looked into several open windows, calling out Rainbow’s name. Finally, she flew back down to AJ.

“I’m sorry Applejack,” said Muffins, “nopony is home. There’s a note on the door saying that she had to leave town and didn’t know when she’d be back.”
“Thanks Muffins,” said Applejack.
Muffins could tell Applejack was very disappointed with the answer. To AJ’s surprise the blue-gray Pegasus hugged Applejack and told her she hoped she found Rainbow soon. Then she flew off.
AJ decided that she should go to Friendship Castle to see if Twilight had any idea where Rainbow had gone.

Rainbow came streaking down to Sweet Apple Acres, she saw Apple Bloom outside so she headed straight to the filly.
“Apple Bloom!” exclaimed Rainbow, before actually landing, “has AJ come back?”
Apple Bloom looked upset at the question.
“No Rainbow,” said the filly, “she ain’t come back yet.”
“Horse-Apples!” said Rainbow, then realizing she shouldn’t be swearing in front of Apple Bloom. “sorry about that Apple Bloom, I’m frustrated, I had a long trip and now very disappointed.”
Rainbow turned away so the filly didn’t see the tears in her eyes. But she heard Apple Bloom sniffling, turning back the filly had a foreleg across her face trying to hide she was crying.
Rainbow thought buck being cool!
Rainbow hugged the filly, they both slumped back to their haunches and cried on the other’s shoulders.
“Rainbow!” said AB, “I miss my sis!”
“I do too,” said Rainbow. “I’m so thick headed I may’ve ruined it for all of us.”
They continued to cry for a bit, then after getting control of themselves Rainbow told AB to tell Granny that she was going to see Twilight with herself.
Soon, Apple Bloom was holding tightly to Rainbow’s back and they were flying to Friendship Castle.

Applejack walked slowly to Friendship Castle. She was afraid, confused and sick at what she’d caused. Her only hope was that Twilight would know exactly where and when Rainbow had left and if there was any hope that she could catch up.

AJ walked slowly up the steps to the door of the castle. Her heart was hurting. The door opened and she walked the familiar halls to the Throne Room. It was empty so she had a seat, she wanted to get herself together before she looked for Twilight.
Unfortunately, she start crying again. She lay her head against the cool stone of the map table and wept uncontrollably. She did this to not be noticed, but a certain baby dragon was walking by and heard the crying. He was going to open the door to see who it was, but decided to get Twilight or Starlight, so he ran off to find them.

FINAL ACT: Confrontation

Apple Bloom was understanding why Scootaloo wanted to fly so badly. In spite of the situation, this was fun. Soon Friendship castle was in view and Rainbow went into a dive. Apple Bloom assumed that Rainbow would land at the front door. But instead she flew around to the back of the castle and headed straight to the open doors of the library balcony.

Twilight and Starlight were doing some morning reading when they were surprised by Rainbow Dash flying into the room from the balcony. Apple Bloom was on her back.

“Twilight!” said Rainbow without preamble, AB climbing off her back, “I went to Dodge Junction, Cherry Jubilee hadn’t see AJ, neither has Braeburn. What do we do Twilight! What do we do?”
“Rainbow,” said Twilight, “calm down. I can ask Celestia to have the Royal Guards stationed throughout Equestria, to look for her…”

Twilight didn’t get to finish. At that moment Spike came running into the library.

“Twi! Starlight,” said the dragon, breathlessly. “Come quick, there’s somepony crying in the Map Room!”
“Who?” asked Starlight.
“I didn’t look,” said Spike.

Everypony exchanged glances and then ran out of the library to go down to the Throne Room.
At the Throne Room door, Twilight opened it and saw Applejack still crying on the table.
“Applejack?” said Twilight.
“Applejack!” exclaimed Rainbow almost trampling Twilight as she forced her way in and running toward AJ.

“Rainbow?” said AJ looking at the ponies at the door. Applejack stood and ran toward AJ.

The stopped just feet from each other looking in the other’s eyes.

“How dare you!” said Rainbow crying, “how dare you run off and not even say goodbye! Do you know how worried you made ponies?”
“Ponies?” said Applejack, hurt at the generalization.
“I was afraid I’d never see you again!” said Rainbow still at an elevated volume level. “I looked for you from here to Dodge Junction and back! I’m sick from worrying!”
“Nopony asked ya to go lookin’.” Said AJ getting cross at Rainbow’s anger.
“Nopony had to ask,” said Rainbow.
“Why?” said Applejack, “Ah have every right to go anyplace I wanna go! What do ya care anyway?”
“What do I care? What do I care!” said Rainbow. “Don’t you know, you thick headed, stubborn flanked mare! Don’t you know?”
“Know what?” said AJ, getting tired of being spoke to like that.

“Know that I love you!” said Rainbow shouting.

“Well Ah love ya too!” said AJ shouting back.

Both mares went silent. Twilight, Starlight, Apple Bloom and Spike, still at the door smiled, backed away and closed the door.

“I love you Applejack,” said Rainbow, her tears starting to come again. “I thought I lost you forever. I thought I’d blown my chance to let you know how much you mean to me.”
“Ah love ya too Rainbow,” said Applejack, tearing up as well. “Ah was ’fraid to tell ya. Ah couldn’t have taken it if’n ya laughed at me or got mad. That’s why Ah left. And to tell the truth, Ah was ’fraid to love, because of my parents. My heart couldn’t take it if’n anything ever happened to ya.”

The two embraced and cried hard.

Soon they had control of themselves.

“Let’s go to Sweet Apple Acres,” said AJ, working up a smile. “We can have some privacy and talk this out.”
“Okay,” said Rainbow, wiping the tears from her eyes. “But first…”

Rainbow put a wing around AJ’s neck and pulled her close. Applejack’s foreleg wrapped around Rainbow’s neck as well. They pulled close and kissed a kiss they both had dreamed of.

Author's Note

This is like the first story of my series Bookends in that it is a short (yes and rushed) story to see how it is received. That way I know if any sequels are to be attempted.