Broken Wings and Mending Hearts

by Wings of Black Glass

Rating: everyone
Tags: Applejack, Drama, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash, Romance
Length: 6307

An accident forces Dash to slow down, and lets Applejack finally catch up.

During a Wonderbolts exhibition at Mt. Aris, Rainbow Dash accidentally crashes at Sonic Rainboom speeds, nearly killing her. Her recovery is slow and painful, grounding her for months. While land-locked, she learns to appreciate life from the new perspective, as well as the pony caring for her.

At the same time, Applejack watches others form families of their own and starts to wonder if she’ll ever get a special-somepony for herself, or if she’ll end up alone. But she doesn't get any time to ponder that before she's suddenly thrust into a caretaker role for a badly wounded Pegasus...

(Found the cover on EQD, not sure who made it...)

Published 2020-02-15 10:40:01 UTC
Last updated 2020-02-15 10:40:01 UTC

Rainbow Dash's home

Sitting alone in the gazebo, Applejack takes a rare spare moment to relax. The main harvest is still months off, and all today’s chores are done. With nothing else to do, she plays idly with the tassel of her shawl while she thinks and drinks her cider. Her melancholy mood is quite unlike her, she usually can just work right through her problems. But today…

She’d be in town with the others, but they’re all unavailable. Twilight is in Canterlot, and the next council of friendship isn’t due to meet for another couple of weeks. Rarity is in Manehatten, on some fru-fru fashion show or some-such. Rainbow’s down at Mt. Aris for a Wonderbolts exhibition. Fluttershy is off with Discord somewhere, and Pinkie is still on her honeymoon with Cheese Sandwich. Even Apple Bloom isn’t around, teaching at the school of friendship full-time these days.

Movement over by the barn draws her attention. It’s Sugar Belle and Big Mac, heading towards Ponyville, side by side with tails intertwined. Applejack laughs softly.

Judging from their grins, they’ve been hard at work makin’ a foal. It’s about time. They’ve been talking about it a bunch recently. It’s been years since they got hitched, and she’d wondered more than once why they hadn’t got around to it.

Applejack can’t help but watch them as they cross the yard, heading towards Ponyville. When Sugar Belle brushes her head up against Big Mac’s neck, something twinges in her heart. She subconsciously reaches up to her own throat.

How long has it been since I’ve been that close with anypony? She mulls that over while she gulps down her mulled cider. Over the top of her mug, she spots a Pegasus descending towards the farm, wearing the unmistakable blue-and-yellow uniform of the Wonderbolts. Is that Dash? But no, the mare landing by Big Mac and Sugar Belle has a pale green-and-yellow mane. Which one is that? Vapor Trail? Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s Vapor Trail.

The visitor speaks with the other two ponies briefly, and Big Mac points over towards Applejack. Vapor Trail bolts towards her and the married couple share a worried glance. Applejack only has enough time to adjust her hat before the Pegasus reaches her.

“Vapor Trail, good to see you. Can I offer you a drink?” She raises her mug, and Vapor Trail eyes it thirstily.

“I’d love one.” Then she shakes her head, and Applejack studies her worried expression carefully. The Pegasus hasn’t folded her wings yet, they nearly drag on the ground. She’s breathing hard, and it seems she can barely stand. Did she just fly the entire way here from Mt. Aris? “But, I’m not here for pleasantries. It’s about Rainbow Dash.” That twinge in Applejack’s heart jumps to her throat. Wood thunks as she almost drops her mug on the table.

“What’s happened?”

“There’s been an accident, she’s in the hospital.” Vapor’s tone is clear; it’s bad. This can’t be happening.

“Dash’s crashed before.” Applejack’s mind blanks, unwilling to imagine the worst. “She’ll bounce back.”

“Applejack, this isn’t some minor bruise or even a broken bone or two. She hit the mountain at Sonic Rainboom speed.” I can’t breathe. Vapor Trail sets a hoof on her shoulder, and Applejack can’t tell if the shaking is the Pegasus’s exhausted hoof or her own terror. “She’s in a coma, and she might not survive.”

The first thing she becomes aware of is beeping. An even, irritating, constant, beeping. The second thing is the voice.

“… crash landing in the jungle injured her wing and she was grounded for a few days.” Hey, I know that line… Isn’t that Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone? “Few days… it might as well be a few months, or a few years!” Whose voice is that? She can’t really tell, everything is muddled. She tries to lean up and see who it is… they sound familiar.

But something is wrong, her limbs don’t respond. It takes all her effort to even open one eye, the ceiling is blurry and unfamiliar. Slowly she becomes aware of something else, a heavy weight across her arms, legs, and wings. Come on, move! But no matter how hard she struggles, she can’t move even her tail.

What’s going on?? Why can’t I move?!? The beeping accelerates, matching her pulse as it rises into her ears. She tries to call out for help, but her voice is silent.

Help! Somepony! Why can’t she even speak?! … please… A tear rolls down her cheek.

The voice drops silent. She can’t hear any hoofsteps. Is she alone now? Trapped in her own body? The beeping accelerates again as the panic starts to set in.

A shadow blots out the light, barely even a shape in her blurry vision.

“Dash? You awake?” I know that voice… She blinks once, slowly, and the face of the pony above her starts to focus. “Hey! She’s awake!” Applejack? “Try not to panic, OK, Sugarcube? I’m right here. It’s alright now.” Something takes her arm, it feels like another hoof. Wet tears fall like rain onto her face, and the mare above her wipes her eyes. “We weren’t sure you were gonna wake up.” What’s going on??

More ponies enter the room, a cluster of voices she can’t identify. The shadow above her, Applejack and her hat, is pulled aside. The sudden vacancy where she had been holding Dash’s arm burns like ice, more significant than all the poking and prodding she receives from what must undoubtedly be doctors and nurses around her.

Minutes must surely drag into hours as they poke her with needles, run tests, and prod her with tools. Throughout it all, all she can do is struggle to find AJ’s face, catching a glimpse of her now and then when the press of medical staff finally thins. Every touch is agony, sending shocks through her until she wants to scream. But even then, all she can manage is a breathless yelp. Somehow, the eep seems to encourage them.

One of those voices directs itself towards her, instructing her to be calm and not try to move. It tells her there’s a spell on her, it's holding her still, but they’re going to release it gradually.

All she can do, intentionally, is blink once. Slowly the heavy press on her limbs dissipates, and sensation returns. With it comes pain. So much pain, like fire in her bones and a thousand tons of rocks beating down on her. Breath catches in her throat as she tries to scream involuntarily, that incessant beeping goes wild, and she can feel her cheek go wet with tears.

“She’s hurting! Can’t you do anything?” behind all the agony, AJ’s familiar voice is crystalline clear. Somepony else says something about another spell, and a moment later, everything goes black, painless unconsciousness.

She blinks again, some unknown time later. It’s dark, but there’s a faint light somewhere nearby, flicking like a candle. Am I still sleeping? Everything feels numb now, but the pressure is gone. A groan escapes her, and somepony mumbles a response.

“Dash? You awake again?” Even in the darkness, she recognizes Applejack’s orange fur reflecting off the candlelight when she steps into view.

“What…?” the word takes nearly all her willpower, and she coughs. The motion sets off another round of lightning in her bones, and she nearly blacks out again.

“Don’t try to talk yet, just keep on breathing.” AJ shushes her. “You had a nasty crash, we almost lost you. The best doctors in Equestria have been doing their best to keep you kicking.” Even trying to turn her head to look AJ in the face is more than she can manage. But she can still see her out of one eye, and meets her worried green eyes as best she can. “You hit the mountain pretty hard.”

The last thing I remember was pulling out of a dive, accelerating up to Sonic Rainboom speeds… Oh, Celestia, I didn’t see the rock outcropping till it was too late! That rotten beeping quickens again, but then Applejack takes her arm, and she focuses on the sensation of her fur.

“You don’t have to worry, I’m right here. We’ve been takin’ turns staying by your side, hoping you’d wake up.” She blinks, the beep slows back to a steady rhythm. She almost smiles up at her friend’s face, but her cheeks don’t want to work right. “And I’m not leavin’ till you’re better.”

I’m glad you’re here, AJ, I don’t know what I’d do if I woke up alone. Even still unable to speak, somehow, she thinks AJ got the message anyway.

“Well, she’s finally stable enough to move.” Doctor Horse holds up the newest x-rays, showing them the progress of Dash’s recovery. Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy are standing together just outside Dash’s hospital room.

“Thank goodness.” Rarity sighs dramatically.

“So, she’ll heal?” Fluttershy wipes her tears with a wing away for the thousandth time, Rainbow’s crash has hit her really hard. “She’ll get better?”

“Yes, eventually… probably. But it’s going to be a long, difficult recovery.” Still listening to the doctor, Applejack looks in on Dash, the Pegasus lifting her head to try and hear the conversation. “She’s still a long way from being able to stand, let alone walk.” Applejack waves to her and brings her attention back to the others.

“What about her wings?” Rarity brings up the sensitive subject, her voice just shy of being a tad too high. Both of Dash’s wings are still encased in casts. “She’ll be able to fly again, won’t she?”

“That’s still not clear.” The doctor shakes his head. “There was a lot of damage. She’ll be grounded for months, at least, and need physical therapy even after that.”

“I spoke with Spitfire the other day when she came by,” Applejack speaks up. “They’re holding Dash’s place reserved until she gets back in shape. She doesn’t have to worry about being kicked out. Least not till we know if those wings’ll heal.”

“What a relief.” Fluttershy lets out a deep breath.

“Well, what do we do now?” Rarity bites softly at her lower lip. “We need to figure out our next steps.”

“About that.” The doctor speaks up again. “I tried to tell her she needs to kept here, but she was adamant about going home as soon as possible.”

“That doesn’t surprise me, Doc.” Applejack sighs, rubbing at her forehead underneath her hat.

“Well, we can’t force her to stay against her will. If she wants to go, someone’ll need to look after her.”

“I’d do it myself.” Rarity is the first to give the offer. “But I don’t know the first thing about hospice care.”

“I know how to take care of animals in need, but a pony…” Fluttershy’s eyes drop to the floor. Applejack looks from one friend to the other, both downcast and worried. They don’t know what’s ahead for them, anyway. Twilight’d set her up in the hospital, she’s way too busy to handle it herself even though she’d want to. Pinkie Pie… even meaning well she’d only make it worse.

“I’ll do it.” Applejack speaks slowly. Both of them look up to her. She points softly to Rarity. “You’ve got all those shops to worry about.” Her hoof turns towards Fluttershy. “And you’ve got the sanctuary to look after.” She sighs and drops her hoof back down. “It has to be me. I’ve got practice.” She is quiet for a moment. “Back before we… lost Granny Smith…” One of her hooves drifts up to her shawl, Granny’s shawl, tugging gently on the loose end. “Me, Sugar Belle, and Apple Bloom, we all took care of her. We all know what needs to be done, and we’ve got room for her in the house.”

“What about the farm?”

“Don’t you worry about us.” She gives them both a slight smile. “We’ve managed through hardships before. ‘Tween me, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom, we’ll be fine. Even Sugar Belle‘ll lend a hoof.”

“Don’t hesitate to ask me for anything you need.” Rarity puffs up a bit. “I insist.”

“And I’ll be by as often as I can.”

“Thanks, Fluttershy, I know she’ll appreciate that.” A much more sincere smile alights in her heart.

“So, it’s decided?” The doctor pulls their attention again.

“Yeah… yeah, that'll work.” Applejack nods and then jerks her head towards Rainbow’s room. “Let’s give her the good news.” The other two nod and follow her in. Rainbow Dash’s expression brightens the moment she sees them.

“Are you feeling better, Dash?” Fluttershy takes the spot on one side of her bed, and Rarity and Applejack on the other.

“I’ll be fine once I’m out of here.” Dash has to talk slowly, her eyes betraying the difficulty. She must still be in a lot of pain. “I could really use a clear sky around me.”

“Well, You’ll be glad to hear that you’re moving in with me.” Applejack smiles at her, but Rainbow Dash blinks and frowns a bit.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. What do you mean?”

“You can leave the hospital soon.” The doctor takes control. “But you’re still going to need taking care of, I’ve told you this before. Your friend here is willing to take on this responsibility.” He waves the clipboard with the x-rays towards Applejack.

“Really?” Why does she sound so disbelieving?

“Course I will! You know I’d never leave you hanging.” For an instant, Applejack thinks she spots something glisten in Rainbow’s eyes, but it disappears before she’s sure she actually saw it. Then Dash closes her eyes and relaxes against her pillow.

Rainbow Dash looks out the window, sitting up in bed, sighing as she watches a distant Pegasus moving a cloud out of the way. I never thought I’d miss that job. Idly she pats the shell of the turtle beside her. Tank looks up sleepily from his place and nuzzles her arm, and she smiles down at him.

“You know, Tank, I think I’d go more than a little nuts if you weren’t here.” She glances over at the stack of books at her bedside. “I mean, even I can only re-read all the Daring Do books so many times before I’m a bit sick of ‘em.” Then somepony knocks on the door before they enter.

“Time fer lunch, Dash.” Applejack comes in, balancing a salad plate on her back. Rainbow smiles over at her. As much as she hates having to be babied, it always warms her mood to have Applejack nearby. “Are you feeling any better?” AJ passes the plate to her, and after taking one for herself, Rainbow gives a lettuce leaf to Tank.

“You know,” she speaks between bites, “you always ask that.”

“Heh, yeah, I know. Someday, maybe, you’ll say you are.” Rainbow stops chewing, mid-bite, and sets the salad back down. That’s a low blow. Her first instinct is to glare at her caretaker. But… I can’t really say it’s not true.

“…I’m sorry.” As much as she tries, she can’t stop the tears from welling up.

“Hey, hey. No, I shouldn’a said that.” Applejack’s hoof on her shoulder doesn’t really help. “I know it’s been hard.”

“AJ, I can’t even walk without help!” Dash thrusts a hoof out the window at the blurry horizon. “All I can do every day is watch the clouds drift by!” Then her wings start shaking, and she has to hold her arms close and bite her lip to avoid breaking out into weeping. “I should be out there, wind under my wings and the ground way below my hoofs.” Tank rubs up against her, doing his best to help her feel better. “Not… stuck here in bed.” AJ’s hoof is still there, staying firmly attached to her shoulder.

“If you want to cry, I won’t think any less of you. You know that.”

“I’m not…” hiccup. Oh, that’s not fair. “I’m not that much of foal.”

“Dash, you’re lucky to be alive. You’ve been grounded for a couple months. It’s OK if you’re feeling jittery.” Applejack moves the salad plate aside and hops up so she can sit next to her and wrap one arm around her. “I know it hasn’t been going great. I keep seeing the physical therapist leaving with a frown.” Snowballs, she’s seen that? Applejack’s quiet for a little while until Dash gets her tremors under control. I’ve got to say something, or I’ll scream.

“They keep saying I should be able to walk by now.”

“It’s a miracle you’re even alive, you can go slow and take yer time.” But I don’t want to slow down… Applejack’s arm rubs up and down her own, and it helps drive off the chill. Dash sighs again, and her eyes drift up to the sky one more time. She remembers the sensation of a fluffy cloud as she napped on a warm summer day, the bite of a frosty winter storm as she drove it away…

“I miss my clouds.”

“You’ll get ‘em back, eventually.” Despite the warm embrace of AJ’s arm, Dash glances back at her wings. I hope so… A moment later, Applejack drops off the bed and gestures to the door. “If you want, we can head out to the gazebo. If nothin’ else, it’s a warmer spot to sit.”

“AJ… You know I can barely stand.” Dash glances out the window, she can see the gazebo from here, and she’s watched Applejack sitting there many times. “I still can’t get that far.”

“I ain't saying you gotta do it on your own.” She holds out one inviting hoof, and Dash stares at it. “Well?” At last, Dash can’t stop the tears. With her cheeks wet, she still smiles and lets AJ help her out of bed.

Her legs wobble uncertainly, and she has to hang on to the stronger Earth Pony as she takes a few unsteady steps. Slowly and gingerly, she makes it out of the room, and then the house. Each faltering hoofstep is a brutal challenge, drawing a deep breath for each one and leaving her panting before she can even reach the front door. Tank races alongside her, often darting ahead on his stubby little legs only to loop back and follow alongside. Outpaced by a turtle… wow, how low I’ve sunk.

She’s not even half-way to the gazebo when she trips and stumbles to the ground. Yelping from the pain as her wing crumples beneath her. She bites back her anger, determined not to start crying. I’m not gonna make it even that far. Just… lemme lay here.

Without a word, AJ lifts her up, standing her upright again. Then she just stands there, silent and steady, letting Dash lean against her for as long as she needs. For a little while, Dash can’t move, lacking the strength to go on, listening to the wind in the apple trees, and the slow steady breathing of the pony beside her. She can’t ignore the heavy scent of the Earth Pony, not with her nose right up next to AJ’s neck. The other thing she can’t ignore is the strength in those shoulder muscles, toned and firm from many years of hard work. Long ago, she had once bet she was more athletic than Applejack. There’s a bet I’d lose today. Her heckles rise at the thought. Someday… we’ll have to do that again.

Rainbow Dash grits her teeth and puts one hoof forward.

“Hey, Dash, are you awake?” Applejack knocks and enters Dash’s room. She blinks when she sees the bed is empty, Tank isn’t here either. Applejack sighs. “Where’s she gone to now?” Pushing herself too hard again… does she want to end up back in the hospital?

She searches the ground floor, but there’s no sign of the rainbow-maned pony inside. A quick glance out the window tells her Dash isn’t in the gazebo either. Something splashes out behind the kitchen, and Applejack rounds the corner to find Rainbow Dash pulling herself out of the washbasin. A line’s been hung up for the laundry, the tablecloth and sheets have been haphazardly thrown over it. Applejack sighs.

“Rainbow Dash, what’re you doin’ out here?”

“AJ?” The Pegasus sputters, nearly slipping back into the soapy water. “The laundry, obviously.”

“You don’t need to do that. You just focus on getting healthy again.” Applejack tugs on the Pegasus’s tail to fully pull her out of the water, and then turns towards the fabric on the line. Look at this mess. They’re all bunching up, and won’t get dry like this.

“I can’t do nothing all day! I’m going stir-fried crazy!” She pouts, crossing her arms and sitting down, out of the way while Applejack fixes the laundry line. Why is it I can’t help but grin when I see her do that?

“Getting your strength back isn’t doing nothing, Dash.”

“Look, AJ, I can finally walk again without needing to lean on you. I…,” she cringes and looks away, “I just wanted to help out a bit. That’s all.”

“Well, I can appreciate the effort. But you’re doin’ this all wrong.”

“Ah, gimme a break, AJ.” Despite Dash’s continued pouting, Applejack chuckles. While she fixes the line and finishes the wash, Dash sits quietly. On occasion, she glances up at the clouds, or back at her wings. That’s not really like her to be so thoughtful.

“So, feeling better?” But Dash doesn’t quip back for once; she's still quiet. Applejack is fishing the last of the place-mats out of he washbasin when Dash finally speaks again.

“They think I’ve got nerve damage.” Applejack’s ears perk up, twisting towards her friend.

“Come again?”

“That’s why it took me so long to walk again.” Something painful lingers beyond hearing, a dark tone below the words. Applejack drops the place-mat on the dirt, forgotten, as she turns toward Dash. She’s almost in tears, biting her lip and hugging herself tightly and rolling back and forth. Not even Tank, thumping into her leg, seems to have any impact on her. Oh dear, there must be more to it.

“But you’re better now, right?”

“When I hit the mountain… it broke my spine. It took surgeries and spells to fix what they could. Even Twilight doesn’t think she could repair it all. They’re worried I might…” she hiccups, holding back tears. “I might not be able to fly again.” Applejack cringes, and for an instant, she can’t breathe. The chore wholly forgotten, she goes to sit beside Rainbow. She tries to find something to say, but every time she opens her mouth, the words turn to ash. Rainbow slowly lets herself rest against Applejack’s side, and Applejack allows her own head to sit on Dash’s mane.

For some reason, even considering the situation, this is really comfortable. It feels… right.

It’s a long time before either of them finds anything to say.

“What am I going to do?” Dash’s voice nearly cracks.

“Even if you’re grounded, you’re welcome to stay here.”

“I know.”

“But don’t worry.” Applejack tries to sound reassuring. “We’ll find a way to get you back in the air. Maybe one of those flying vest things, According to Scootaloo, they’re starting to get really good.”

“It’s not the same thing, AJ. You know that.”

“Yeah.” She sighs. “I know.” She wraps one arm around the Pegasus, and for once, it really feels like Dash doesn’t want to pull away.

“You see, I told you, you could do it.” Dash looks down at the smiling Ponies below her. Below, as in down. As in, her wings are holding her above the ground.

At first, Dash doesn’t respond. She’s too busy taking in the sensation of the breeze underneath her wings. The fresh air caresses her feathers, tingling the slowly strengthening muscles, giving her goosebumps. Even if she’s only just above the ground, it doesn’t even matter. She looks up at the clouds above. Just you wait, clouds, I’m going home.

“Yeah, yeah, you did.” She tries to ignore the strain she can feel coming on but knows she won’t be able to hold it forever. Lightly, nearly hopping, she sets down next to Applejack. Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie all applaud, and Applejack hugs her tight. Dash’s joyful laughter draws in Pinkie Pie, who grips her nearly hard enough to crack bone. “Ow, ow! Pinkie! My wings work now, and I’d like to keep them that way!”

“Whoopsie! Sorry!” The pink one releases her, still bouncing and laughing, and then its Fluttershy’s turn. The other Pegasus is much more gentle, barely even laying her own wings over Dash’s.

“It’s so good to see you flying again.”

“Yeah, it’ll be fun to surprise Twilight at the next friendship council when I fly in through a window.” Dash grins, but there’s a sudden flash of light and sound nearby.

“Oh, I don’t think you’ll be doing that.” The voice belongs to the purple Alicorn, who appears as the spell fades, taller than any of them by quite the margin.

“Twilight! What’re you doing here?”

“Do you really think I’d miss seeing my friend flying again?” She smiles gently down at Dash. “I found room in my schedule for a quick visit.”

“How long can you stay?”

“Not even until dinner, I’ve got a summit to prepare for.” All the attention has turned towards the Alicorn, and Dash prickles slightly.

“Uh, hello? Pegasus who can fly again over here.” They all laugh, even Dash. Everything is back to normal, at last. “Soon, I’ll be strong enough to stay up in the air all day, no more ground for me! Oh man, I miss my clouds.”

“Don’t forget to take it slow to start with, we don’t want a repeat of this mess.” Rarity’s encouragement causes Applejack’s ear to twitch for some reason.

“I can’t wait to pack. No offense, AJ, but I’m really looking forward to getting back up where I belong.”

“Yeah…” There’s a strange hesitation to Applejack’s voice. “Soon, you’ll get to go home.” What’s with that? I thought she’d be happy she doesn’t have to take care of me anymore. As the sunny day passes, Dash sometimes glances over at Applejack to see something strange in her expression. Eventually, Twilight has to teleport back to Canterlot, and Pinkie’s got-well-soon party winds down. “Alright, it’s been fun, but I don’t want to strain my wings. I should get back to AJ’s and get some sleep.” She glances around, but the Earth pony is nowhere to be seen. “Anyone know where AJ went?” Fluttershy glances around.

“She said she wanted to get a good night’s rest and took off a while ago.”

“Huh. I would'a thought she’d wait for me. Oh well, I’ll see you all around later.” Dash waves goodbye to the remaining party-goers and heads towards Sweet Apple Acres. Before she goes inside, she spots a pony sitting out in the gazebo. It’s Applejack, alone. “Hey.” Applejack glances up at her and then looks away. “You disappeared from the party, anything wrong?”

“No, nothing wrong.” She answers a little too quickly. “I’m just, thinkin’ for a bit.”

“Well, don’t stay out too long. We don’t want to have you get sick, and then I’d have to take care of you.” Dash laughs at her joke and turns to go inside. Applejack is silent. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah… tomorrow.” Dash glances back and finds Applejack looking up at the night sky. There was something odd about her voice back there, then she shrugs and goes inside. Just as she’s falling asleep, her thoughts turn back towards Applejack. I hope she’s alright… maybe that last joke wasn’t funny.

Sitting alone in the gazebo, Applejack takes a rare moment to stop and think. Although the harvest is approaching, and all the chores piling up, she finds herself unwilling to do them. There’s no sense of urgency anymore, no long list that has to be completed before Dash needs something, or she has to re-do a chore for her.

Dash went home a couple weeks ago.

It’s been quiet, and more relaxed, without her around, she can’t deny that. But every time she opens the door, she keeps expecting to hear Dash reading a Daring Do book aloud in her room, or struggling in her exercises to get her stamina back. She keeps finds herself constantly watching for Tank, so he doesn’t get underfoot, but he’s back up with Dash.

Movement over by the barn draws her attention. It’s Big Mac and Sugar Belle, side by side with tails intertwined. It’s just like that day all those months ago… She watches them walk towards Ponyville for a moment and then catches herself, reaching for a Pony that isn’t there.

Dash went home a couple weeks ago.

She sighs and looks up at the sky wistfully. It’s so quiet these days, and simple. There’s nothing to look forward to but the work. That used to be enough… But there’s no special sompony there to greet me home.

Something flutters nearby, and she glances over to see a blue Pegasus standing there, carefully folding her wings.

“Hey, AJ.” Dash steps inside the gazebo and sits down nearby, a few wing-lengths away.

“Dash, what brings you back here? Did you forget something?”

“No, not really.” She sounds… thoughtful… again. The Pegasus fidgets, uncomfortable for some reason, shifting her weight from one hoof to the other. “Hey… can we talk?”

“Course we can. What’s on yer mind?”

“So, I don’t think I ever thanked you properly for taking care of me.” True, but not important.

“You don’t need to. I know.”

“But… thanks, really. Looking back, I don’t think I’d have been OK without you helping me out.”

“You’d have done the same for me.” Dash grins back at her. She must remember that lousy joke she made once she could fly again. Silence lands like a Pegasus with clipped wings, lingering heavy between them. “So… how’s it like being back home alone?”

“That’s… kind of why I’m here.” What’s this about? Rainbow reaches back and scratches at her head. “I mean, it’s been great to fly again. I wouldn’t give that up for anything. But ever since I got back, I’ve been looking for something. It feels… I dunno… hollow somehow.”

“Like something is missing?” Applejack’s heart beats a bit harder in her chest.

“Yeah, exactly!” Her wings flare wide for a second. “You know, I’ve lived on my own since I first moved out of Mom and Dad’s. I haven’t lived with a family for a long time. Even when I stay at the Wonderbolts compound for a while, it’s… not the same.”

“I’ve never lived any other way.” Applejack shrugs. “I don’t really get how you did it, honestly. I’m kind of surprised you can manage to do all those chores on your own.”

“Heh.” Dash giggles a little. “To be perfectly honest, I do kinda let them pile up and then rush through them all at once.”

“And I bet nothing ever quite got done right.”

“Well, you’re not wrong.” They share a laugh, and then both draw quiet again for a while. “I kind of miss it.”

“Hmm, miss what?”

“Being around here, Big Mac and Sugar Belle and Apple Bloom.”

“And someone to do the chores?”

“Hey! I tried to do my part, you wouldn’t let me!” Dash’s face scrunches up, annoyed, but only for an instant.

“I’m just makin’ fun, you know that.”

“Yeah, I know.” They share another laugh, and both look away. The quiet lingers again, thick and heavy. “But… it was nice, feeling like part of a family like that.” Applejack glances over, finding Dash sending a furtive glance back. “I think I’d like…” But she falls silent, squeezing her eyes shut. Is she saying what I think she’s sayin’?

“You think, what?” Dash’s feathers ruffle, and her fur floofs up. Applejack takes half a step towards her. “Well?” Her face scrunches up, trying to hide what might be a blush. “Say what you mean.” Applejack leans in closer. The tension in the Pegasus builds up almost to the point where she can hear the steam escaping. “Dash, are you alri—?!” Dash shuts her up by lurching right into her.

With Dash’s lips planted firmly on Applejacks.

Applejack’s fur stands on end all over her body, and her eyes go wide. A heavy buzz fills her ears, and her mind fills with a pleasing static charge. Dash’s eye flicker open, meeting hers. Neither pony can move.

Something heavy plops onto the ground, shattering the moment, and they break apart to see what it is.

Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie-Pie, Big Mac, Sugar Belle, and Apple Bloom are all standing there with jaws agape. A large cake lying on the ground, having just fallen off Pinkie-pie’s back.

Rainbow Dash yelps and spins away, wings fully extended and face scarlet red. It’s more than Applejack can take in, her mind a mushy mess after the kiss, and all she can do is stare even as her hat falls off.

“Well, it’s about time!” Apple bloom gestures towards Applejack and Rainbow Dash with both forelimbs.

They find themselves jostled and stunned as the entire group descends on them. Somepony, Pinkie-Pie probably, starts excitedly shrieking.

“Congratulations, you two!” Was that Rarity?

“I know you two will be happy together.” Fluttershy? It’s hard to tell as they all push close to be the first to give them both a hug.

“Welcome to the family!” That must be Sugar Belle.

“Eeyup!” Big Mac, undoubtedly.

“Hold on… wait… what’s…?” Applejack can’t quite catch up to everything going on. Her hoof searching blinding for Dash’s in the sudden press of Pony bodies. That shriek of Pinkie’s is still going, like the whistle of a train, drilling a hole in her mind.

“Ow, ow! That’s my wing, it’s still sensitive!” Dash?! Where’d you go?

“OK, that’s enough!” Applejack gets enough breath in to shout, finally driving back all the ponies. For a moment, everything is still and silent, aside from the bouncing Pinkie Pie’s never-ending shriek.

“Pinkie, ow! My ears!” Dash, still nearby, wings still erect, clasps her hooves over her ears. “Don’t you even breathe?!” It’s Fluttershy who manages to get a clampdown on Pinkie’s mouth, finally putting an end to the shill noise.

“What are ya’ll doing here?” Applejack fishes her hat off the ground, trying to out-think the ringing in her ears.

“Oh my Celestia, I can’t believe they saw me do that!” Dash hides her face, still bright red. Pinkie mumbles something unintelligible, bouncing around so much Fluttershy almost loses her grip.

“Darling, you seemed so downhearted when you heard that Dash was finally going to move back to her cloud and needed a pick-me-up.” Rarity helpfully translates. Pinkie finally breaks her bonds, bounding around them in circles.

“So I thought you needed a ‘sorry-Dashy-had-to-move-out-we-hope-you-feel-better-party!’”

“We just didn’ expect to find you two together like that!” Apple Bloom smirks over at them. Dash, still hiding her face, rocks side to side.

“Now it’s an ‘Applejack-and-Dash-finally-admit-their-feelings-party!’” Pinkie’s squee resumes, at least until Fluttershy catches her again.

“What’d you mean by that?!” Applejack finally gets an arm around Dash, holding her close and steady. And it feels right.

“Darling, we aren’t blind.” Rarity flips her mane aside, rolling her eyes.

“It’s been clear for a long time you two care for each other very deeply.” Fluttershy, struggling to keep up with Pinkie, continues the explanation. Slowly, Dash’s breathing, rapid against Applejack’s chest, starts to calm, and she pulls her hooves away from her face. She’s still blushing deeply.

“So, Dash, you’re moving back in?” This from Apple Bloom. “I’ll be getting another sister-in-law?”

“It’ll be like she never left.” Sugar Belle laughs.

“Eeyup.”

“Party! Par-tay!” Pinkie breaks Fluttershy’s grip, but at least she stops with the banshee wail. The yellow Pegasus shrugs and stops chasing the pink pony.

“OK, everypony calm down!” Applejack almost shouts again. “There’ll be no party just yet!” This seems to shut up all the excited ponies. “Do you think, maybe, we could get a few minutes to talk before you jump all over us?”

“Alright, sure.” Apple Bloom starts to push the others away. “We’ll give you two some privacy to ‘talk.’” The smirk she shoots them makes it clear she means more than that. Dash’s wings, finally starting to settle, shoot rigid straight, and she has to hide her face again. There’s well-meaning laughter from the group as Applejack leads Dash away so they can have a moment alone.

“I just did that, I can’t believe I did that.” Dash seems stunned, uncertain if she’s not dreaming. Applejack sits down and faces her, with very little space between them.

“Rainbow Dash, did you really mean to kiss me?” The question shocks then Pegasus.

“I’m sorry! I mean… yes, of course! I mean-” She can’t seem to find her words. “I just felt it was the right way to say-” Her eyes dart around as if looking for an escape, and her wings start to tremble. Applejack spares her the discomfort of trying to explain, putting a hoof on her lips to quiet her. Dash’s eyes finally focus on her.

“Rainbow Dash.” She waits until Dash’s breathing steadies. Applejack smiles softly and then leans forward to return the kiss. This time it’s Rainbow Dash’s turn to freeze into a blissed-out state. They stay locked together for one perfect moment, and then slowly part lips. Applejack smiles again, with Dash returning it with a bashful one of her own. “Welcome home.”

Author's Note

Whoops! Just a few hours too late to get in on Hearts & Hooves day!