It had almost been eight hours since Applejack had seen Rainbow Dash. "Where is that darn Mare?!" Applejack said with a frustrated tone. A couple hours ago, she had gotten a letter from Rainbow that said,

Dear Applejack,

I’m writing this letter because I’m sorry I have not been home for awhile today.

I have been caught up in important Wonderbolt work. I wish I could tell you and the others what is going on, but I have orders to not tell anyone just yet.

Because I have been absent lately, I have got a surprise for you.

Around 5:00, I will come to the house to pick you up for a special date night. So please look your best and please wear the light purple dress you wore for our first date. Trust me.

Love, Dashie.

It was already 4:30, and Applejack was in her dress. She could just barely fit in it, but luckily she was able to put it on without leaving any tears in it. As she walked down the stairs to the living room, she could hear Applebloom and Scootaloo talking. Scootaloo had come over to talk with Applebloom about some CMC business, so she knew they would be talking for awhile. Granny Smith was out with Big Mac, and they would not be back for a couple of hours.

Just then there was a knock at the door, and Applejack rushed towards the door to open it. When she saw Rainbow there, déjà vu struck her immediately. Just like their first date, she was wearing the same tux as before, and as always, she looked handsome in it.

"You ready to go?" Rainbow asked.

"You still haven’t told me where we’re going yet," Applejack said as she closed the door behind her.

"It’s a surprise," Rainbow said with a smug look on her face.

As Rainbow and Applejack walked towards Ponyville, Applejack was suddenly struck with awe at the sight of their transport. It was a royal chariot, just like the one Twilight had arrived in when she moved to Ponyville all those years ago.

"Rainbow Dash... how can ya even afford this?” asked Applejack, her breath taken away.

"Hay, being in the Wonderbolts has its perks," Rainbow said with a smile on her face.

The royal stallion then asked Rainbow Dash, "Where to, Mrs. Dash?"

"The Royal Castle," Rainbow Dash said, and with that, the chariot took off for the Royal Castle. Unknown to Applejack and Rainbow Dash, this would be a night they would remember for the rest of their lives.

The Royal Castle/Grand Galloping Gala

As the chariot landed on the ground, Applejack was still wondering, "What is she up to?" As they both walked to the door, Applejack immediately had a giant smile on her face. "Rainbow, the Grand Gala--you shouldn't have!"

"It was nothing," Rainbow said. "I wanted this night to be special, so where else to go than the best Gala in all the land?"

As Applejack and Rainbow Dash walked inside, Rainbow noticed that there were more guards than usual, and she also noticed that there were a couple of Wonderbolts at the Gala. But then she remembered what Spitfire had told her at the flight camp before she left.

"Remember Crash," Spitfire said, "since the Grand Galloping Gala is tonight, we're going to have to double the guards and send in some secret Wonderbolts. If Lightning Dust truly has returned and has teamed up with the shadowbolts, I want the Grand Galloping Gala to be perfectly safe."

"Understood Ma’am, but if I may ask something of you?" Rainbow said.

"What is it?" Spitfire said in a curious tone.

"First this is supposed to be a special night for me and Applejack. So I don't want any of the Wonderbolts to intrude on my night," Rainbow said. "Second, can you umm...... personally see to it that I get a royal chariot to pick me and Applejack up?"

Rainbow could still imagine the look on Spitfire’s face when she had asked her that, though she understood Spitfire’s frustration. It had taken a lot of money to get these tickets, and it had probably taken a lot of money to get the chariot, so she was going to make sure this night wasn't wasted. As she and Applejack entered the Grand Galloping Gala, Applejack was in awe of everything that was going on. While it hadn't been the first time Applejack was at the Grand Galloping Gala, it was the first time she was there with a date.

2 Hours Later

So far, the date had been going exactly as Rainbow had planned: Applejack was having the time of her life, and frankly Rainbow was as well. The band had played beautiful music, and the food was as delicious as always. Now all that was missing was the question.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack had been sitting at the table for quite some time now, to the point where Applejack was wondering what else Rainbow was up to. So far the night had been going perfectly and frankly, she wanted to know what was going to happen next. "So... how's it been at the Wonderbolts for you so far?" Applejack said, wanting to start up a conversation.

"Oh... umm, it's going great so far. I've made a lot of friends that are all nice. But to tell you the truth, none of them can really fly as fast as me, frankly, I think I’m probably the fastest flier there, not to brag."

Rainbow Dash was extremely nervous. She didn't really know how to pop the question; she had read plenty of Daring Do books, but she had never actually read any romantic books. The only romantic books she could ever remember reading was that book she had borrowed from Twilight, and the only thing that book helped to do was creating the perfect date for her and Applejack.

Rainbow Dash took a deep breath. "Applejack, there's been something on my mind recently that I had to tell you."

Applejack was curious where this was going. "What is it, Dash?"

"You and I have been dating for some time now, and, well, I kind of want to take it up a notch," Rainbow said nervously she then got up and bent on one wove and ask the question every single stallion had asked in their lifetime.

"Applejack, will you make me the happiest mare of my life and marry me?"

Applejack was in tears. "Yes, Rainbow, I will!"

Everyone in the room was clapping, and Rainbow was just about to put the ring on Applejack’s hoof when the lights all flickered off. Rainbow was confused: she had not asked anyone to turn off the lights or play any kind of music. This worried her.

Then all of a sudden, all the windows in the room broke at once, and a giant tornado started forming in the middle of the room. But that was not what scared Rainbow; it was what was standing in the middle of it was what scared her. There in the middle of the tornado was Lightning Dust! But she wasn't looking her usual self. Instead, she was wearing what appeared to be a Wonderbolts uniform, except the colors were wrong: instead of the casual blue, yellow, and white of the Wonderbolts uniform, they were black, purple, and yellow. She wasn't wearing the casual goggles either; instead, she was wearing what appeared to be fancier versions of them, but more evil-looking.

"All right," Lightning Dust said, "tell me where I can find Rainbow Dash and Princess Celestia, and no one will get hurt!"

Right then and there, Rainbow went from the happiest mare in the room to angriest mare in the room. And she knew if she and Applejack wanted to leave… they would have to fight their way out.

Author's Note

Hope you guys have enjoyed the story so far the next couple chapters are going to have some of the things I warned you about when I created this chapter so be warned and yes there will be death