You'll Never Know

Applejack and Rainbow lay on their backs in the meadow, watching the night sky and making random, if not awkward, small talk. The third time that moon, the two had been at it for hours, as the stars twinkled overhead.

“Hey AJ, are you okay with this?”

“Whatcha talkin’ about Dashie?”

Rainbow Dash blinked and expressed her concerns.

“This. Sneaking about, like we’re committing some kind of felony.”

“Ah see-”

In a quick motion Applejack rolled over and ended up on top of Rainbow, pinning her to the ground. Before she could say another word, however, Rainbow giggled like a schoolfilly.

“Well, look who’s suddenly in the mood. Usually, this only happens after we stargaze.”

Applejack, however, had a serious expression on her face as she asked Rainbow.

“Ya think we’re sneakin’?”

Rainbow stopped laughing and looked slightly abashed.

“I mean you haven’t told your family about us, even though I took you to meet my mom and dad.”

Applejack’s eyes widened in recognition.

“So ya think Ahm ashamed of ya or somethin’?”

“Erm- Well, yeah.”

The Pony of Honesty paused at this revelation. A big smile graced her face as she told Rainbow what was on her mind as she got off Rainbow.

“Alright then, Sugarcube. Git up an’ we’re gonna go tell ‘em.”

“What, right now?”

“Dern right. Ah ain’t ashamed that you an’ Ah are datin’ Dashie. Frankly Ah just dun see how it’s anypony’s business but ours. Still if ya have any doubts, best ta get ‘em outta th’ way now; otherwise that trip ta Sugarcube Corners termorrow is gonna be no fun. Up an’ at ‘em Dash, let’s go tell mah’ folks.”

“But it’s midnight! Won’t they be mad about being woken up?”

“Nah, they’ll be mad as hornets, but it won’t be fer that. Us’n Apples are light sleepers. C’mon. Let’s go tell ‘em.”

"You're really serious aren't you?"

Applejack nodded.

"About as serious as Ah ken be, Sugarcube."

"Isn't your family, strictly against romantic relations of the same side of the fence, like ours?"

Giving a small laugh, Applejack replied.

"Eeyup. I'll most likely be excommunicated from the family and forbidden from makin' contact with 'em as well."

Rainbow Dash looked at her in sheer bewilderment.

"Then why-"

"Because Sugarcube, Ah dun care about that. It's true mah family means th' world ta me but you an' Ah? We have somethin' I've searched mah entire mare life fer an' Ah ain't about ta let that go. And while Ah dun see the point of flaunting mah colors, so ta speak, Ah'll do it fer you."

Staring into those curious magenta eyes, Applejack heard Rainbow ask her.

"If it's so easy why not do it before, on your own?"

Applejack sat down on her haunches and put a hoof to her chin before replying in an almost wanting tone.

"When Ah was a filly, Ah remember sittin' 'round th' fireplace one Hearth's Warming Eve. Granny Smith had a bit too much Apple Nog and began spinning yarns."

"Is there anything your family doesn't use Apples for AJ?"

Being interrupted was annoying but AJ couldn't hide her smile at the question.

"Oh shush, you. Anyway sh' told meh about a young mare who had a tiny box. It was nothin' special mind you, just an old Apple crate. An' in this box she held something worth more to 'er than any number of bits; her love."

Applejack continued as Rainbow listened; her curiosity piqued.

"Ya see, the young mare had a suitor who had been called away; enlisted. And every day the young mare waited fer his return. When sh' felt sh' couldn't stand waitin' any longer, she would pull out that old crate an' look inside. Inside was th' reason sh' was waitin'. No other pony would ever see what sh' saw when she opened that box. It was between the mare an' her lover. She never showed her family, sh' never told 'er friends about the magic the box held; afraid her love would lose all meaning if she did."

Scuffing a hoof, Applejack blushed slightly and looked down. "Ah guess Ah just had th' same mindset. Our connection is intimate and Ah felt if Ah went and blabbed it ta mah folks, that it would lose it's magic. Kinda stupid, ain't it?"
Rainbow blinked and gave a small smile.

“It really is.”

Then grabbing Applejack, Rainbow gave her a loving kiss. Whispering to her tenderly, Rainbow comforted Applejack.

“It’s also really romantic.”

With a sly look in her eyes, Rainbow kicked out with her front leg; causing Applejack to fall onto her back. Landing with a loud *thud* Applejack stared confusedly into the eyes of her date.

“What in tarnation?”

Rainbow had a hungry gleam in her eyes as she stood over the prone Earthpony. Her voice conveyed her desires and her words removed all confusion.

“I’m gonna show that romantic in you some appreciation.”

***

Applebloom sat on the bed, with a slight blush on her face as Applejack finished her tale. She looked at her sister in disbelief.

“So you an’ Rainbow Dash, huh? Wow sis, never took ya fer some sort of wild mare.”

Applejack gave a short laugh and said softly.

“Yeh, Ah know right? ‘Straight-laced Applejack, always th’ rule abiding pony goin’ off t’ th’ dark side.”

Cocking her head, Applejack continued in the same gentle tone.

“Though, did Ah really? Ahm still th’ same mare. Ah still do mah duties just fine, an’ though Ah might not be so straight in mah lacin’ anymore; Ahm still meh though. Th’ only difference is ah’ve accepted mahself fer who Ah am.”

Applebloom stayed silent for a moment as she considered those words. She’s not wrong, I haven’t noticed anything different about her, and knowing still doesn’t change who she is to me. Then she turned to her sister and asked her something that was bothering her; her accent not nearly as thick as her sister’s.

“Ah ken understand what yore saying’ sis. But why didn’t you tell Granny if you weren’t nervous about it? Also what happened to Rainbow Dash; Ah mean Ah haven’t seen the two of you together. Did it just not work out?”

Applejack nodded.

“Ah can’t say Ah wasn’t nervous. At least at first that was th’ case. Th’ first time Rainbow an Ah snuck away, Ah was terrified. It was a whole new world. It was as if mah whole life I was starin’ at an Apple, that was red; rosy and juicy with sweetness. Then all a sudden, some pony comes up ta meh and goes ‘Ya know that’s a sour apple right?’ Before removin’ a tinted lens from mah eyes an’ revealing it was a green apple all along. Ya kiddin’? Of course Ah was nervous.”

“So that’s why ya never told Granny?”

“No.”

Applejack’s voice picked up a slight tension as she gave her little sister a hug.

“No, that’s not why. At first it was, ta say otherwise would be a lie, but by that time Rainbow and Ah had been enjoyin’ the moonlight in th’ meadow goin’ on a one-year anniversary. Ah was no longer afraid of what Granny or any of th’ Apples in our line would think. Time changes everythin’ Sugarcube. Ponies ya’ despise can become a treasure you’d protect with yer life.”

She gave a sigh as though trying to find the words.

“Ah was in pain for so long Applebloom; denyin’ mah own self fer th’ fears ah had of lettin’ others down. Fer years Ah sank in despair. No matter how Ah tried ta’ hide it, it were still there. Rainbow takin’ mah hoof allowed meh ta’ take those fears an’ just laugh at them. No, th’ reason Ah didn ‘tell ‘er was simple: She wouldn’t have supported it; let alone try ta’ understand it. What point in tellin’ her was there? Ta start drama? Nah, not wurth mah time. Had Rainbow continued askin’ Ah would’ve dun it. Ahm a simple mare; Ah don’t wave mah flag up an down nor do Ah shove it in other pony’s faces."

Applejack Slowly lifted up her mane revealing a set of custom diamond earrings both in the shape of Rainbow Dash’s cutiemark. Applebloom’s eyes went wide seeing the fancy jewelry, while Applejack lowered her mane back into place; hiding them from sight once more.

“As fer Rainbow an’ Ah? Been together fer five years and these beauties represent ‘er proposal ta’ meh. Weddin’s in a couple weeks an’ we couldn’t be happier.”

The clock upon the wall began to chime, twelve times, once for each hour of the day. Applejack glanced at it before reaching over to take her hat back from Applebloom’s head.

“Look at th’ time. Ah got ta get goin’. It’s time fer meh ta go for a moonlit waltz in th’ meadow. Applebloom, Ah ain’t tellin’ ya it’ll be all roses and magic; life simply don’t work that way. Though I will tell ya somethin’ a Kirin once told meh: An Apple won’t grow if a tree ain’t planted. An Rainbows won’t light up th’ sky if it don’t rain. Or somethin’ like that. Anyway, life’s full of heartaches and agony but ya know, Ah guess it comes down ta’ whether or not ya’ feel like going fer it. Regardless of what choice ya make, Big Mac an’ Ah will support ya the entire way. See ya later, Sugarcube.”

With those words Applejack left her sister’s side and headed down the stairs once more; leaving Applebloom alone with her thoughts. Applebloom lay back on her bed mulling over the words of her elder sister. Could it really be so simple? Can I really ask her? What if she says no...But then again, what if Diamond says yes?

She wasn’t sure what it would bring but tomorrow she had decided, she would tell Diamond her feelings. Tomorrow. Tomorrow I’ll...tell...her. Closing her eyes, Applebloom fell into a strangely peaceful sleep. In her dreams she found herself dancing with the Unicorn that haunted her heart, in a orchard of apple blossoms; above them the stars twinkled like diamonds in the sky.