“Two months hoofing it!” Rainbow Dash bolted across the barn in excitement much like a spry filly on school vacation.
The older pegasus ran a hoof across her short fiery technicolored mane proudly. She adjusted her Wonderbolt coat across her slender shoulders, vibrant violet eyes watched the hay on the upper-level shuffle within the loft.
“Mm-hmm! Yet yer’ still not even packed, you lazy pile of feathers.” Applejack popped her head out of the hay with a warm smile, her hoof lifted up an old nearly broken silver compass.
The tired copper mare had been packing saddlebags all weekend, she was Tartarus bent on making sure they had everything they needed before heading out to the safe house. Even though the cabin upon the horizon would be stocked to the gills, she still rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
"I can get packed though in ten seconds flat!" Rainbow triumphantly puffed her chest out like a ham.
"Perhaps long ago." Applejack rolled her emerald eyes playfully.
A well-earned horse noise escaped Rainbow's snout surprised. Turquoise ears flicked side to side as the pegasus spread her impressive wingspan inside the barn. In a cloud of dust, the mare was off to get her items packed in a flash, Applejack giggling with delight that she still could fool her lover with such ease.
Even after all these years.
Applejack stood waiting outside the gate of her family orchard, a saddlebag packed to perfection slung over her slender backside proudly. Rainbow suddenly exploded out of the sky with her own type of saddlebag, one which was bulged out on the sides and nearly unfastened.
"Time me!" Rainbow gasped for air beside her mare friend with excitement-filled eyes.
Applejack thought it had been around twenty minutes. "I'd say ten seconds flat." She winked playfully to the beaming pegasus, it was a beautiful sight to behold Rainbow so full of energy that she couldn't bring herself to spoil the mood.
Over the current years, Applejack learned that sometimes little white lies could, in fact, bring ponies more joy than bitter truth. As long as nopony would get hurt, she felt at ease to bring a smile to others, when the time called for it.
"I just love Apple Country!" Rainbow galloped next to her lovely copper mare.
"Really? You enjoy two months of surveying the landscape for troublemakers and varmints?" Applejack shook her head to the side in disbelief.
"Well, I more enjoy the time with you." Rainbow blushed a dark pink.
"Har-har! You spend all day with me." Applejack nudged her mare friend with her rump.
"That's work time!" Rainbow blew a raspberry out from her mouth.
Violet eyes looking over the lovely toned frame of Applejack with a glow of appreciation. "I'm talking about our personal time." Rainbow leaned inward to nibble on the earlobe of the earth pony affectionately.
"Even after all these years?" Applejack snorted loudly.
"Forever and ever!" Rainbow laughed as she sped ahead towards the upcoming forest.
Applejack slowly came to a sudden stop on the dirt path. No matter how much changed in her life, the ponies she lost or the new family she created. Rainbow was still the same old spitfire from their youth, a source of constant energy and warmth.
Even as the days became shorter.
The nights' longer.
Rainbow was always her anchor.
The rainbow within her grey world.
Minutes slowly dragged into hours of walking. The landscape of The Apple Country not for the faint of heart, it sprawled far into the horizon for endless miles and twisted into quite a steep mountain path towards the end.
All around both ponies were beautiful towering trees. Their leaves a vibrant green hue, the sound of fresh crystalline springs echoed from far in the distance calm and collected. Nature sang a melody of faith and hope, the world here untouched by destructive hooves.
"Are you happy?" Rainbow quirked a thin brow towards her lover.
"With your company? Of course!" Applejack flashed a warm mature smile.
"I meant more with life?" Rainbow stopped on the forest path to stretch her thin body with a soft squeal.
"Well, it could…" Applejack let her hooves halt a few steps ahead.
"I still miss Granny, she was a huge part of what made growing up on this land fantastic!" Applejack sighed in the slight defeat of her own words.
Big Mac had taken off to make his own homestead closer to Sugar Belle's hometown. In fact, it had been nearly a year since she heard that big goofy voice of his or even seen her beautiful nephew for that matter.
Applejack could feel tears form on the edge of her eyes. She was quick to brush them away, crying over things you couldn't change was just wasting time in her opinion. Rainbow slowly walking ever closer to comfort the saddened mare.
"It's ok to also cry on the outside." Rainbow wrapped a hoof around her mare friend gently.
Both shared a silent embrace in the middle of the quiet forest sanctuary. Applejack letting the memories of her past flood in from the void in her heart, Bloom had left to adventure around Equestria years ago. Being so far from home, she hardly had time to even write nowadays.
The last Applejack had seen her little sister physically must've been about three years ago. It was on a cool summer day, the scent of fresh rain heavy on the air. Bloom had spoken about something important, though for the life of her, she couldn't quite remember what.
"I still miss Bloom." Tears rolled down Applejack's cheeks delicately.
Rainbow softly giving a tender hug in reply.
"As do I." Rainbow locked eyes with her.
"No matter how many ponies leave, you'll always be at my side right?" Applejack felt the lump in her throat tighten painfully.
"Forever and ever!" Rainbow nuzzled Applejack across her wet warm cheek.
"Forever and ever."
"What about you?" Applejack spoke casually as they both drew closer to a long wooden bridge, the surface was a tad out of date but it should hold a pony with ease.
Rainbow, of course, wouldn't have any of that, the cocky pegasus quick to flutter across the forest sky to the opposite side of the bridge. Her muzzle scrunched into a smile of pure satisfaction, stomping her tiny hooves in front of herself proudly.
"Happy!?" Rainbow laughed in a loud reply to the copper mare.
"No! Are you fat!?" Applejack gracefully began to walk across the wobbly little bridge.
"Of course, are you happy!?" Her eye rolled with a genuine little laugh afterward.
"Doesn't take much to make me happy!" Rainbow followed her mare friend with watchful eyes.
"How so?" Applejack paused in the middle of the wooden surface.
"Really? You're going to stop on the deathtrap?" Rainbow groaned before her hoof slapped her face.
"I don't fear some rotten ole bridge!" Applejack smirked bouncing in place a loud creak echoing across the air.
"Please don't taunt fate?" Rainbow growled as both her ears pinned back sarcastically.
"Well, what exactly does the great Rainbow Dash need!?" Applejack kneeled on the weakened surface mockingly.
"Well, you for one!" Rainbow blew an extra big raspberry to her lover annoyed.
"Darn tootin' I'm number one!" Applejack felt her golden tail sway femininely behind herself.
"Good food, friends and of course my flying time!" Rainbow nudged her head behind her for Applejack to please move onward.
"My, you are a simple pony!" Applejack burst into a fit of laughter.
Those emerald eyes gazed forward in a soft loving glow. With a playful skip of the hoof, she danced down the path to the side of her frazzled friend. "You can't live in fear darlin', you just need to have faith." Applejack leaned forward as she planted a kiss on her male friend's lips.
"Easy to say, but hard to do." Rainbow pouted with a shake of her body, the hoofsteps of Applejack fading into the distance.
The bridge creaked one last time, sending an icy chill down the spine of the pegasus.
Everything built with strength would soon break, it was simply nature.
Forever and ever.
The once pastel blue sky was now shifting to a dark orange hue. Leaves from the trees high above were slowly breaking free from their prison, a ballet dance of freedom performed in full view of both mares. Rainbow took a moment to enjoy the serene scene of nature before her, Applejack soon walking ahead down the forest path in a dreamy daze.
The sound of the world slipped further away. Applejack could feel lifted off the ground, carried across the gentle breeze of the wind to a time long ago. The sunset was upon the horizon as Bloom stood ahead of her in silence, her features cast in shadows of doubt from an uncaring world.
Muzzle parted to speak as no words could be heard. Applejack knew she needed to remember this moment, to absorb every little detail of the surrounding area. She took a few steps forward, Bloom suddenly a few miles away.
The scene around her felt faint.
The sky a bright blue?
Or perhaps a dark orange?
Bloom felt so far away, a fleeting memory in a hazy dream.
"Jackie!" Rainbow's voice broke through the base.
Applejack snapped into reality out of her dream. Copper hooves nearly stepping off a ridge of the forest path, in fact, she was actually pretty far off from her needed position. A plummet down a steep incline perfectly in view, with a skip of her heart she felt hind hooves turn to jelly from fear.
"Jackie!" Rainbow placed a stern hoof on her male friend's shoulder, pulling her back from the ledge with a firm yank.
"Sugarcube!?" Applejack shook the mist out of her eyes.
"You don't need to be wandering off around here." Rainbow sighed in slight fear as she plopped her flank atop a large pile of dead leaves.
"I'm sorry, Just had something on my mind." Applejack blushed red embarrassed.
"Want to talk about it?" Rainbow tilted her head off to the side in slight worry.
"Sugarcube, that's all we ever do!" She liked the pegasus playfully on the floof of her chest.
"I'm just worried you're overdoing it?" Rainbow scrunched her muzzle cutely.
"I never put myself in danger, I just felt a tad tired Fluttershy!" Applejack giggled as she trotted ahead back towards the main pathway.
Rainbow watched her lover regain most of her awareness before vanishing off into the distance. This trip was good for both of them, she just couldn't help but wonder if this was indeed the right choice.
Apple Country wasn't for the faint of heart.
Or the weak of will.
The path continued to be pretty uneventful for a few more hours. Both mares suddenly reached the base of a mountain path, the air had become a bit more chill and icy. Nightfall had taken hold with a firm grip of the unknown, Rainbow yawned from a long day of well-enjoyed exercise halting at the base of the next trail.
"Already tired?" Applejack nudged the pegasus with a playful rump bump.
"Phst, I wouldn't say that." She flaunted a limp hoof to the farm pony with sarcasm.
"So you're afraid of the dark? Ooooo!" Applejack lifted onto hind hooves, her front hooves dancing in forward in a spooky melody.
"When one wrong step can be deadly, yes," Rainbow smirked as she pounced her lover with a loud squeal.
Applejack burst into giggles, both ponies rolled along the cool damp soil of the open pathway. The purple hue of the night sky was a truly welcome sight to behold, the glitter of bright twinkling stars giving both mares a sense of safety and protection.
Rainbow made quick work to pin her friend to the ground with a tender grasp, their bodies pressed together softly as violet eyes drunk in the beauty of such a wonderful mare. Rainbow nuzzled the nape of her neck, inhaling to enjoy the sweet scent of apples on copper fur.
"Even after all this time, you're as beautiful as ever." Rainbow gave Applejack a firm nip on the ear tugging it hard.
Applejack feeling herself moan in delight, loving the absolutely confident affection that only her mare friend could offer. The stars high above beginning a dance of serenity as everything seemed to come to a near halt, her breathing slowed to a collected pattern.
This a moment she wished would last for eternity.
The warm kisses of pouting lips across the nape of her neck sent sharp waves of pleasure down her lower back, lower hooves kicked the air as Rainbow ran her warm wet tongue slowly down her chest in a loving manner.
"Ohhh." Applejack could feel her heart start to race faster.
Rainbow giving sharp nips down her belly, scraping teeth across the firm soft skin of Applejack's toned but beautiful thighs. The darkness around both mares crept forward in a sneaky and sinister fashion, Applejack suddenly could feel a jabbing pain in the center of her head.
With eyes full of fright, she gazed forward to the pony atop her. She wasn't somepony of color or vibrance, but of faded grey. Eyes those of emptiness and a sense of dread that oozed out of empty white sockets.
Applejack screamed out in horror, pushing the pony off of her with a loud dull thud. This pony was a blur of confusion and the unknown. Applejack couldn't quite make out any features that were memorable or stood out with this sudden stranger.
"Jackie, are you ok?" Rainbow lifted off the ground with a wince of pain.
The world around the copper mare slowly drifted back to that hot summer day, one where the taste of dry dirt clung to the air thick and suffocating. A place in time where a blonde pony waited for her on the horizon, her name was…
Her name was…
"Please, go away!" Applejack popped her ears roughly with both hooves.
She could feel her mind pulse in her skull painfully. Rainbow quick to rush over to her lover with eyes overflowed with a sense of worry, her pounce cut short as a sharp jab across her muzzle sent her toppling across the moist earth with a thud.
"I said, LEAVE ME ALONE!" Applejack screamed in agony as she darted off into the bleak night horizon quickly vanishing from view.
Rainbow could feel her ears ring from the powerful strike to her head. The world looked a bit off-balance, but she had to stop Applejack before it was too late.
She couldn't lose her now, not after all her hard work.
Big Mac had built his new homestead close to the family orchard. It was a lovely gesture to be completely honest, he did so because Applejack loved to see her niece every day. It filled her with a sense of happiness and joy, yet no matter how fast she pushed through the inky darkness of this night, she couldn't find home.
This place felt beyond unfamiliar with twisted paths and crooked hills.
How far had she walked from the family farm?
Quivering hooves dug into her saddlebag to remove a shattered silver compass. It had a slight glow of light echo from it as if calling to her from a far off place. Applejack knew this item was her salvation to find her home, but quite unsure why?
That one day would return.
The scent of flowers on the wind, a breeze from the south caressed her cheek tenderly. It was a calm day, which she remembered being very welcome after a huge storm. With a glance forward, Applejack could make out her older sister Bloom on the horizon.
She sat atop a sunlit hilltop happily, her dark brunette mane framing her face in such a beautiful and innocent way. For a few moments, Applejack felt that sense of safety creep back in, taking each step forward with care towards the hilltop in the distance.
This was where she needed to be.
Safe, back home on the farm.
Surrounded by those she loved.
Rainbow could feel her lungs burn on fire from the quick darts around this cursed forest. Her old turquoise wings cramped with the pain of extended flight, this nice trip up towards their private cabin had become a nightmare.
She knew Applejack wasn't well enough for the trip, but everypony insisted she did well after a few weeks of relaxation amongst the beauty of nature. It was that selfish desire to see a glimpse of her old friend that drove this whole trip forward.
The pegasus lowered to the ground below in a gasp for air, every passing day she would lose the one pony she loved more. The morning was fine enough and even through the day Rainbow could enjoy the beauty of her lovely apple. Yet the night was never quite as forgiving, sometimes it brought just a few moments of dread.
Others a full-blown attack of fear, fueled by confusion and driven by terror.
If anything happened to Applejack tonight, Rainbow didn't know if she could forgive herself.
Time was ticking by on swift wings of decay.
With a mighty extension of her own, she had to be even more nimble.
Time wasn't on her side.
Not tonight.
"Took you long enough." Bloom giggled on her flank watching the sun high in the lovely blue sky.
"I've felt absolutely lost all day." Applejack sighed in place as she curled up next to the dull pink pony on the hilltop.
"We all seem to get lost at times, but with a little help from those we love…" Bloom turned to face her sister with a playful wink.
"We seem to always find our way back home." The pony placed a tender hoof on Applejack's drooping shoulders.
The copper mare felt an odd sense of familiarity with these current surroundings. Yet even amongst these rolling hills of vibrant green grass and open fields, she couldn't quite make out her home.
"I'm not well aren't I?" Applejack could feel her heart sink deep into her chest.
A sting of uncertainty crawled under her skin as this one memory was full of faux details, those she couldn't help but know deep in her soul were false. The landscape, that of shifting weather or fleeting times of the day.
"I remember this day." Applejack took a deep breath of serenity.
"It was…" Bloom spoke in a near whisper beside her sister.
"Winter, the snow was…" Applejack squinted both eyes carefully across the horizon.
"Fresh and had the wonderful scent of pine trees lingering upon the winds." Bloom smiled happily to her older sister, long dark red mane tied into a bouncy carefree ponytail.
"I came to visit Big Mac on his homestead on the family farm, I just loved to visit my niece and nephew during the holidays." Applejack smiled warmly as snow began to shower across the landscape in a scene of treasured beauty.
"Mm-hmm! He even offered to let…" Bloom nudged her sister on the side tenderly.
"To let me stay with him, so they could look after me." Applejack felt her lips curl into a broken smile, the burning sensation of tears slowly welling up in her dark green eyes.
The moment froze suddenly, everything falling into place around her. The sky completely dark from a frozen bleak night, not a star could be seen on this one particular night, so long ago. Bloom, her little sister, was waiting on the hilltop crying her voice full of fear of what the future would hold.
"Are you sick!?" Bloom turned to face her with pain in those large orange eyes.
"Yes, the doctor called it Alzheimer's." Applejack lifted a copper hoof against her forehead in a sigh of dismay.
"You're going to leave me, aren't you!?" Bloom winced with a chill of sheer terror.
"Never, I'd never leave you!" Applejack hugged her little sister as tight as possible.
"You will, just like Mom and Dad! ~ Granny…" Bloom shivered uncontrollably in place, Applejack embraced the filly with a warm open heart and collected mind.
"Bloom, I'll never let anything keep us apart." She lifted the yellow filly's chin upward with her hoof.
"How?" Bloom sniffled.
"Just have faith." Applejack kissed the forehead of her little sister.
"Just have faith." The copper mare opened her eyes in a silent train of thought, the empty forest of Apple Country all around her like a welcome blanket.
Dark green eyes lowered to the silver compass in her hoof, it was indeed shattered and no longer capable of functioning. Yet true to its nature, it still could lead her back home. Flipping the object over in her hoof, she made out the engraved words given by a wonderful mare.
"No matter where you go, my heart will find you this I know." ~ Rainbow Dash.
"You ole pile of lazy feathers." Applejack hugged the compass close to her heart.
The flapping of guardian wings above echoed much like a wonderful saving grace.
"Found me." Applejack lifted her head upward smiling.
The morning sun caressed over the Apple Country in a loving embrace. An embrace that could only be matched by a pair of ponies in love, the scent of flowers danced across the gentle breeze of a nearby field as the sky was a clear blue hue.
An old wooden cabin built by compassionate hooves was placed dead center amongst this lovely scene of tranquility. Rainbow overjoyed that they had made it to their destination in a little over a day, Applejack curled up into a tiny ball out on the front porch sleeping soundly.
Rainbow smug with newfound confidence, as she trotted out of the tiny cabin full of swagger. The turquoise pegasus could feel an urge to fly build up in her heart, with a sassy flick of her hoof she caressed the golden mane of her mare friend full of compassion.
"Mmm, you rang sugarcube?" Dark green eyes fluttered open with a playful bat of lashes.
"Hee, I thought about going out for a flight?" Rainbow plopped lazily beside the mare of her dreams.
"Well there's the sky, take off!" Applejack sheepishly gave the pegasus a firm slap on the rump.
"But, I need you up there with me!" Rainbow leaned inward to brush the sunkissed bangs away from Applejack's eyes.
The copper mare narrowing her gaze sarcastically.
"C'mon, get up!" Rainbow teased with a loving flick of her hoof.
"Can't I just rest!?" Applejack snorted with a sudden stretch of her lower back, bones popping loud from a well-needed nap.
"We can rest later," Rainbow growled playfully as she helped her mare friend up to a sitting position.
With a tender nuzzle she pressed her muzzle against Applejack's, both snouts scrunched with a warm wave of love. Rainbow folded her ears back as her lips pressed forward, without a moment of hesitation both mares locked lips in a passionate kiss of true love.
Rainbow loved the sweet taste of apples that dripped from those familiar lips, Applejack slowly suckled on the upper lip of her colorful pegasus.
"Mmm, I'm back in the sky. ~ Are you up here with me?" Rainbow smiled towards her lover with large glazed over eyes.
"Forever and ever." Applejack giggled happily.
The world around them a new glowing memory, one that would hopefully lead them both back to safety if they ever were lost again.
Applejack was herself again, for the first time in a long while.
Rainbow knew it might not last forever, but she'd cherish it for the moment.
Each passing year would be another journey to Apple Country.
Sometimes Applejack would think it was for a retreat on creating new strains of Apples.
Others an needed yearly journey into the rolling hills to ensure the landscape stayed under control from various threats.
Very rarely, she'd be happy to remember it was a simple getaway to refresh both her mind and body.
Those were the best trips to be taken.
Surrounded by those she loved, guided by Big Mac some years. Others Bloom was happy to return home and help her sister travel deep into the forest in search of that special place. It was that love that would always guide Applejack back home, no matter how dark some days would become.
As long as Applejack could keep her faith alive, her family would ensure she'd never forget those that loved her unconditionally. Even as the years passed by, Rainbow never left her side, loyal to her mare friend to an absolute fault.
With a few trips alone to add several new additions to the cabin, Rainbow impressively built a home out of a once lonely little slice of paradise. A new wide-open barn built to last amongst the grace of nature, her fountain of youth that never seemed to fail and invigorate the love of her life.
It was this current trip to Apple Country that neither would forget.
The land was covered in flawless pure snow for miles on end. The sky a perfect shade of orange that matched the beauty of Applejack perfectly, birds of every type sung an enchanted melody guided by the ever beautiful Fluttershy joyously.
Discord happy to greet incoming guests from all around Equestria, even offering to perform a few comedy acts for the crowd while ponies got situated for the wedding. Pinkie Pie bounced around the large open field happily, table after table of elegantly crafted sweets were created by her expert hoof.
Rarity was inside the house with Applejack, tending to a few last-minute adjustments to Applejack's lovely white gown, a design of apples and vibrant trees sown delicately onto the Hem of the dress by the fussy unicorn.
After all, a mare should look perfect on her wedding day.
The crowd began to ease into their places, the once empty meadow lined with row after row of bright pastel yellow seats. The alter hosted by none other than Twilight Sparkle, the princess of friendship and ruler of Equestria.
Rainbow fidgeting next to her long time friend in a slight panic. Her usually calm collected confidence invaded by a long line of nervous twitches. Her sleek Wonderbolt jacket was slightly crooked as she pranced in place, droplets of sweat running down her forehead.
"What if she's hurt!?" Rainbow swallowed a massive lump in her throat.
"Dash." Twilight giggled.
"I bet Rarity, somehow talked her out of marrying me!!" Rainbow snorted flustered.
"Dash." Twilight shook her head to the side sweetly.
"What if she's having an episode!?" Rainbow scrunched her muzzle tightly.
"Dash." Twilight tried to speak up politely.
"And I'm out here like a fool, talking to myself!" A loud horse house escaped her snout in fear.
"DASH!" Twilight flicked her hoof forward, Applejack slowly starting her walk up the aisle in the most beautiful gown Rainbow had ever seen.
It was this moment that Rainbow felt guided back to the past of her life, a haze of mist covering her lovely Applejack softly. In a glimpse, she could remember meeting her best friend all those years ago, how full of youth and laughter they were as young mares.
How Applejack lifted her when she had fallen, how Rainbow had never once lost faith in her friend's choices and desires for a simple life amongst their loved ones. Within a few moments, Applejack stood next to her friend, both at the altar with loving gazes and hopeful thoughts for the future still to come.
"You sure about this, Sugarcube?" Applejack lifted her hooves upward in an innocent and genuine manner.
"We've been leading up to this moment from the start, one hell of an awesome journey." Rainbow lifted her hooves up as well, her heart races with excitement and warmth.
"You know this is just the beginning right Dash?" Applejack grinned pressing her hooves against the turquoise grasp, of a certain snarky pegasus.
"Stuck with a stubborn copper mule, sounds like my kind of party." Rainbow felt her hooves intertwine with the mare she loved and lived with for years.
"Somedays might be rough?" Applejack leaned forward with a barely audible whisper in her lover's ear.
"Nothing worthwhile is ever easy." Rainbow gave a nuzzle on the soft copper cheek of her friend.
"Even when I'm lost? Or can't remember your name?" Applejack let tears run down her cheeks silently, the icy touch of the wind calming her panicked soul.
"..." Rainbow held back her words for a bit, collecting the perfect thing to say at this very moment.
Twilight spoke of vows and the importance of friendship in our lives. The snow building upon Rainbow's colorful mane as the words came to her from the abyss, Applejack crying on the outside as Twilight asked if she would take Rainbow as her wife.
"Of course! This lazy pegasus is all mine." Applejack smiled confidently for the first time in forever.
She knew this was right.
In her heart and soul, she only needed to hear Rainbow agree with those thoughts.
"Do you Rainbow Dash, take Applejack to love and cherish for as long as you both shall live?" Twilight let her gaze fall upon the perky pegasus with a joyous smile.
Rainbow Dash locked her gaze with the one pony, who always made her happy to be alive. The perfect words dripping from her lips with a sense of confidence that was a hundred percent honest through and through.
"Forever and ever." Rainbow grinned with an overjoyed smile that nearly matched the radiance of the setting sun.
Applejack and Rainbow kissing each other passionately under the blossoming night sky, whatever the future might hold on the horizon.
They'd face it together.
Through the good, bad, and ugly.
Just as they have done since their youth, and would continue to do till their last few breaths.
Together forever.
