Star-Crossed

by Enter Madness

Rating: teen
Tags: Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Rainbow Dash, Romance, Sex, Adventure
Length: 49179

When Lady Rainbow Dash, a young Canterlot noble, meets Applejack, a poor apple farmer, can their love survive corrupt nobles, a dissenting populace, and the class struggle threatening to boil over in Equestria?

Rainbow Dash was born as the daughter to a Duke of Canterlot, who denies her her freedom and keeps her confined to her tower at almost all times. Applejack is a poor apple farmer from Ponyville who goes into Canterlot to sell her wares. When the two ponies meet during the Summer Sun Celebration, they fall in love. But with an Equestrian class struggle threatening to boil over, their fledgling love will face the ultimate test. AppleDash AU ship.

Pre-reading/Editing done by the ridiculously cool and devastatingly good-looking Eldorado.

Published 2012-12-13 05:10:01 UTC
Last updated 2014-02-08 02:05:18 UTC

The Festival

The Summer Sun Celebration in Canterlot was one of the biggest events of the year. Thousands of ponies gathered in the City of Marble to see relatives, mingle with the upper class, and watch their beloved Princess Celestia raise the sun. It was the most important day on the calendar for artisans, salesponies, and the like, but none more so than the Apple family. At least, that’s how it seemed to Applejack.

The orange earth pony with the straw-blonde mane and signature Stetson hat stepped off the train from Ponyville, eyes wide with excitement. There was so much to see, so much to do, so much to sell! There were ponies everywhere with bits lining their pockets, like apples ripe for the picking. Applejack pulled her sales cart behind her. It was closed at the moment, but soon it would yield its treasures to the good citizens of Canterlot, and the young mare from Ponyville would reap all the rewards. She took a few deep breaths to calm her excitement.

“Come on, Applejack,” she said to herself. “Don’t get ahead of yerself. Granny Smith is countin’ on you to bring home the bits, so don’t let her down.”

Applejack left the train station behind for the streets of Canterlot. The air was thick with excitement as ponies buzzed about the celebration. Applejack asked for directions to Canterlot Square, where she figured the bulk of her business would be, and set out on her way. As she got closer and closer to the heart of the city, the crowd grew thicker. There were vendors already set up this far back selling dainty hors d'oeuvres, tiny sandwiches and cakes suited only for the most sophisticated of palettes. Applejack shook her head at the sight. She was determined to show these stuck-up city folk just how good down-home cooking could be.

Or she would, if she could fit her cart into the square. Canterlot Square was enormous, twenty times bigger than Ponyville’s town square, and yet it was absolutely filled with ponies. Applejack could barely hear herself think over the roar of the crowd. Here and there ponies were shouting to be heard over others, vendors lining the outside of the area screaming at passersby in an attempt to peddle their wares. Applejack gulped. How was she supposed to compete with this? Back in Ponyville, there were only ten or fifteen other stands. Here, there were dozens, hundreds even. One thing was for sure: Applejack wasn’t in Ponyville anymore.

The orange pony muscled her way through the crowd, apologizing every time she knocked somepony to the side. No matter how hard she tried, it was slow going. She was sweating and panting after barely making any headway at all when she saw it. There was one open spot, not even twenty feet from where she was standing, where her cart would fit perfectly. She pulled as hard as she could, trudging through the crowd at the speed of molasses, until she was only a few feet away. Then, quick as a whip, another cart flew past her face and parked itself right smack dab in her spot. Standing behind the cart were two ponies with wide-brimmed hats and slicked back, red and white manes. One had a moustache. They smacked the top of their cart and it sprang open, revealing shelves upon shelves full of useless junk and a sign that read “Flim Flam Brother’s Doohickey Sales and Knick-knackeria, Open for Business!”

“Hey!” Applejack shouted. “That’s my spot ya’ll are parked in!”

The brother without the moustache dropped to the ground and started examining it intensely. Applejack raised an eyebrow at the pony, who soon sprang back up into position.

“I don’t see your name on it. Flam, do you see this pony’s name on this spot anywhere?”

This time, the pony with the moustache looked around on the ground. “Why, no, Flim, I don’t see this pony’s name on this spot anywhere.

Applejack glared at the ponies. “That may be,” she said, “but I saw this spot first. Ya’ll got no right comin’ in here before I could stake a claim.”

“Well,” Flim responded, “we got here first, so it’s ours. What’s that saying? ‘Finders keepers, losers weepers?’ Perhaps you can find another locale at which to peddle your, um, wares.”

Applejack looked around. The rest of the square was totally full. “Ain’t no place else to sell!” she said. “Look, I’ll pay ya for it.” She reached into her saddlebags and pulled out the bits she was supposed to use for a hotel room.

“Not interested. Move along, young lady, you’re scaring off our customers.”

Applejack scowled and replaced the bits. She sighed, defeated, and began trekking through the crowd once more. Then, she saw some tough-looking kids hanging out near an alleyway, and an idea struck her. She left her cart and, careful to keep her wares in sight, approached the nogoodnicks.

“Oi, what’s all this, then?” one of them questioned as she approached. “What’s your business ‘ere, stranger?”

Applejack flashed some bits, which the young colts eyed hungrily, and said, “Ya’ll lookin’ to make some money?”

The young ne’er-do-wells nodded eagerly and Applejack leaned down and whispered her plan into their ears. Devilish smiles grew on their faces.

“Got it?” she asked. The children mock-saluted and took off to carry out their objective. Applejack returned to her cart and watched her plan unfold.

The youngest child wandered up to the Flim Flam Brother’s cart and bumped it, falling to the ground and scraping his knee. He started wailing and crying at the top of his lungs. Applejack was impressed; if she hadn’t put the young pony up to it, she would’ve believed his pain was genuine. Then, while the Flim Flam brothers were distracted, the other children ran up and started snatching items from the cart. Half of the knick-knacks were gone before Flam finally noticed what was happening. Then the crying child snatched an item and ran off. Flam took off in pursuit of the older children, while Flim chased the youngest, leaving their cart totally unguarded. Applejack strolled up and pushed the cart out of the way, fitting her own apple-selling wagon into the space and opening it up to the world.

Soon, Flim and Flam returned with fierce scowls on their faces to find their cart replaced by Applejack’s. Their scowls deepened.

“Hey,” Flim whined. “You can’t just take out spot like that!”

“Yeah,” Flam agreed. “That’s our spot!”

Applejack flashed a grin. “I don’t see your name on it nowhere.”

The brothers scoffed. “But we were here first!” they cried in unison.

Applejack’s grin grew wider. “What’s that old sayin’? Oh yeah. ‘Finders keepers, losers weepers.’ Now move along ya’ll, yer scarin’ away my customers.”

Applejack could swear she saw steam come off of the brother’s heads, but they eventually grabbed their cart and went to set up somewhere else. Applejack leaned back and smiled smugly to herself. It was going to be a good day.

(*)

“But father, I’ve never even been to the Summer Sun Celebration! I’m a grown mare now, and I deserve to go!” Lady Rainbow Dash of the Royal Canterlot Household stomped her hoof and flung herself onto her bed in a manner quite ill-befitting her title.

“Rainbow Dash! That is quite enough out of you, young lady. You are not to leave this room until your mother and I have returned from the celebration, and that is final!” Rainbow Dash’s father, Duke Ellington Dash IV, was the foulest sort of royalty. He was squat and fat, with a round, chubby face and a low-set brow, completely in contrast with his daughter’s lithe frame. He was the color of dirt, with a greying mane and tail, and he tended to spit when he talked.

Rainbow Dash glared at her father from her bed, a glare that could melt ice, but Duke Ellington ignored her. He turned and left the room.

“Make sure she doesn’t leave,” he said to the guard at the door on his way out. The guard saluted, and the Duke was gone.

Rainbow Dash sighed a heavy sigh and rolled over onto her back. She looked up at the mural on her ceiling, a watercolor painting of the clearest, brightest blue sky to ever exist in Equestria. All it did was make her sick. Her bed was goose feathers, with the softest silk sheets money could buy, but she didn’t care. She had rare paintings from all around the world in her room, but they were meaningless to her. All her money, her treasures, her art, what were they worth when all they could ever be thought of as were decorations in a prison?

The Lady pulled herself from her bed and walked over to her window. From her view in C, she could see all of the festivities that were happening in Canterlot Square. She slammed the shutters closed. It wasn’t fair! How could her father keep her locked up like this when she was almost of age? She looked back at her wings resentfully, stretching them against the leather belt that bound them. The leather held, as it always did. She just wanted to scream, wanted to fly away and show her father that she could handle herself. Instead, she flung herself back down on her bed.

Rainbow Dash twisted around, trying reach the belt latch with her teeth, but it was no use. She stood up and began pacing, trying to vent some of her energy. She walked up to her vanity and examined her tight athletic frame in the mirror. With nothing to do, she filled her time with exercise. Her light blue coat was lustrous, and her chromatic mane was pulled into a thick braid that ran down her back. Her ears perked up as she heard a muffled voice outside the door.

“May I speak to the Lady Dash?” It was Twilight Sparkle!

“Of course, Miss Sparkle, but it will have to be brief,” the guard responded.

“I understand.”

The door opened and a lavender unicorn strolled in, horn aglow, levitating a stack of books behind her.

“Greetings, Lady Dash,” Twilight said. Rainbow Dash just tackled her friend into a big hug.

“Hello Twilight. Not that I don’t enjoy your company, but why are you here? I don’t have lessons today.”

“I’m more than just your tutor, Lady Dash. It’s my duty to make sure you keep up to date on all your studies, regardless of the day.” Twilight leaned down and whispered in Rainbow Dash’s ear, “Plus, I brought you the newest Daring Do book.”

Rainbow barely contained a squeal of excitement. “I knew I could count on you! I suppose it will keep me occupied for the time being.”

“Your father forbid you from going again, hm?” Twilight asked.

Lady Dash’s face darkened. “I just wish he would stop treating me like such a foal!” She stretched against her bonds again. “And I wish he would take this damn thing off of me!”

Twilight gasped. “You shouldn’t use such language, Lady Dash. It is unbecoming.”

“You sound just like him,” Rainbow Dash said, turning away from her friend.

“Your father only wants what’s best for you, Lady.” Twilight reached a hoof out, but Rainbow pulled away.

“And being a prisoner is what’s best for me?” Rainbow asked

“If you are a prisoner, then you are the world’s luckiest one. Look around you, Lady.”

“Useless trinkets, all of it,” Rainbow Dash dismissed.

“Oh, don’t be such a foal,” Twilight responded.

Rainbow narrowed her eyes at her tutor. “I think you should leave, Twilight.”

“But, Lady Dash—”

“I said begone! Leave me to my misery.” She slumped down on her bed.

Twilight sighed. “I can’t believe I’m about to do this,” she muttered.

“Hmm?” Rainbow sat up, but stopped when she felt a tugging on her back. She looked at the belt and saw that it was engulfed in a purple glow. She watched in fascination as the metal latch slid out of its loops and came undone. The belt fell away, and lady Dash spread her mighty wings. Whenever she got the chance, Rainbow Dash had exercised her wings as much as possible, and it showed. They were toned and muscled, built for speed.

“Alright, now go, Lady,” Twilight said. “Go before they find out what I’ve done.”

Tears started forming in Rainbow’s eyes. She placed a hoof on the unicorn’s shoulder. “Thank you, Twilight. You are a true friend.”

“Go,” Twilight said, smiling and nodding in the direction of the window. Rainbow Dash threw open the shutters and, with one last glance to her friend, took off into the sky.

The rush of flying was something all too foreign to the Lady Dash. She hadn’t flown freely since flight school, but that was changing. She relished the feeling of the wind rushing past her ears as she climbed higher and higher, reveling in weightlessness as she reversed direction into a gut-wrenching dive. At the last possible moment, she opened her wings and pulled up, gliding over the Royal Canterlot Statue Garden and circling her tower. She laughed out loud, pure joy carved into her features. She turned and angled herself toward Canterlot Square, her heart already pounding at the prospect of freedom. She rolled the thought around in her head. Yes, freedom at last.

(*)

The sun was just kissing the horizon when Applejack closed up shop. Her saddlebags, heavy with bits, jingled as she loaded them onto her back. The celebration would continue all night and into the morning, when Princess Celestia would raise the sun, but Applejack had already sold out. She decided to enjoy the rest of the festival with her newly-acquired spending money.

Applejack wandered from stall to stall, carefully managing her bits. She bought a daisy sandwich, a bottle of water, and some fresh tulips for dessert. The crowd was thickest in the middle of the square, so Applejack hung back and sat on a stoop to eat her meal. From her slightly elevated position, she could see that the middle of the square was emptying. The crowd was being ushered back by a group of oddly dressed ponies, until they formed a large circle in the middle of Canterlot Square. Then the show began.

The oddly dressed ponies were wearing sequin jumpsuits of all different colors. Applejack counted six in all; one purple, one blue, one yellow, one orange, one white, and one pink. The pony wearing the pink jumpsuit was pink herself, with an out-of-control mess of a mane atop her head. She was the first to speak.

“Fillies and gentlecolts.” The noise from the crowd was still a dull roar. “Fillies and gentlecolts,” the pink pony repeated. The crowd still didn’t quiet down. “Hey!” the pony screamed. The crowd went silent. “That’s better.”

“Fillies and gentlecolts, I, Pinkie Pie, the Royal Jester to Her Majesty, Princess Celestia herself, do proudly present to you the amazing acrobatics and daring, death-defying deeds of the one, the only, Cirque du Ponè!”

At her cue, fireworks went off, sending sparks high into the air and cascading back down. The crowd let out a chorus of ooooh’s and ahhhh’s. Then the real show started. On the ground, the troupe of ponies stood in the circle in pairs, each partner facing the other, and took low bows. They touched their hooves together and held them there, unmoving. The silence was tangible. Then, in one instant, they acted, one pony in each pair throwing their partner up onto their shoulders. The three pony towers converged in the middle of the circle and then the tower on the left grew one pony higher. Each pony was climbing the tower like it was a ladder, ending up at the top, standing on another pony’s shoulders.

When all six ponies were on the tower, the pink pony on top reached her hoof down to her belt and then up to her mouth. She blew on her hoof and a column of fire spewed forth into the open air. The crowd cheered, the sound deafening. Applejack cheered, too. Then the ponies climbed down from the tower one by one and the pink pony spoke again.

“Thank you, thank you! Alright everypony, let’s party!” The crowd cheered even louder and a band near the edge of the circle struck up a jaunty tune. Ponies grabbed partners and started dancing in the circle. Applejack leaned back, eating her tulips, and scanned the crowd with her eyes. Then she saw her.

There, on the far side of the circle, was the most beautiful creature Applejack had ever seen. The down-to-earth pony had always thought that “love at first sight” was something out of a fairy tale, but it was the only way she could describe how she was feeling right now.

She had a coat the color of the sky, a lustrous light-blue that made Applejack think of warm, sunny days on the farm. Her eyes were a striking magenta, huge, adorable orbs that stared with wide-eyed wonder at the dancing ponies. Her smile was radiant, tugging on the edges of her face and revealing perfect white teeth. She had a mane that was every color of the rainbow; red and blue and yellow and more were all woven together into a tight braid that ran down her back. Just looking at her made Applejack’s heart beat faster. “Perfect” was the word that sprang into Applejack’s mind. She had to know her name.

Applejack moved through the crowd, eyes fixed on her pegasus. The outside world didn’t matter. She felt like she was floating toward the mare, like she was walking on a cloud. The music was gone, the crowd was gone, and only the mare remained.

“Hi there,” she said when she was right next to the pegasus. Applejack was never one for fancy words. The pony either couldn’t hear her over the music or was ignoring her, because she didn’t respond. “Hi there,” Applejack tried again, a little louder. Still no response, so she took a deep breath. “Hi there!” She shouted.

The band finished playing and the square went quiet in the moment before she said the words. Everypony stopped what they were doing and stared at her. The pegasus looked amused. Applejack’s face turned as red as her namesake and she tried to make herself as small as possible. Soon, though, ponies lost interest and the band started playing again.

The pegasus giggled. “Hello,” she said. Her voice surprised Applejack. It was scratchy and boyish, which the earth pony found oddly appealing.

“Uh, hi there. I was watchin’ you from across the way there and, well, I wasn’t stalkin’ you or nothin’, I just, well, um…” Why was it so hard to talk to this mare? Every time Applejack tried to say something, the words just wouldn’t come and she struggled dumbly for something to say. She realized that she had trailed off and the pegasus was looking at her expectantly. Applejack took a deep breath. “Let me start over. I’m Applejack.” She stuck out a hoof. “What’s yer name?”

The pegasus giggled again, covering her mouth with her hoof as she did so. Applejack thought it was adorable. The pegasus daintily shook Applejack’s hoof. It was like shaking hooves with a butterfly. “I’m Lady-er, Rainbow Dash. My name is Rainbow Dash. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Applejack.”

“Pleasure’s all mine, Miss Dash. Now, I know this may seem mighty abrupt of me, on account of our just meetin’, but would you like to dance?” She gestured toward the group of dancing ponies.

Rainbow Dash eyed the dance floor. “I do not believe I know the steps to this dance.”

Applejack followed her gaze. The ponies on the dance floor were dancing a traditional earth pony jig, latching hooves with their partners and spinning madly before switching to dancing circles around each other. Applejack knew the steps well, as the dance was performed often back in Ponyville. She smiled. “Come on,” she said, grabbing Rainbow Dash by the hooves and pulling her onto the dance floor. “I’ll teach ya.”

Rainbow Dash let out a yelp of surprise, but it was too late to resist. In moments the ponies were caught up in the dance, hooves linked as they spun around and around. Rainbow Dash struggled to keep up with the pace. All around her, ponies were twirling and prancing about wildly. There was no pattern she could follow, no steps to speak of, but Applejack seemed perfectly in sync. Rainbow Dash bumped into a pony and lost her grip on Applejack’s hooves. She clambered wildly for her orange refuge, but to no avail. The collision spiraled out of control as the first bump caused another, and another, and another. Rainbow lost sight of Applejack as she was jostled back and forth across the dance floor.

“Hey!” one pony shouted at her.

“Get off the floor!” another said.

Rainbow Dash wanted to speak up about her social stature and the respect she should be treated with, but the vibrant mass around her stunned her. Here she was, dancing with commoners, and for what? Some mare she had just met? She shook herself out of her trance and went to leave the floor, slumping her shoulders. Then, she was in motion again. Applejack had come for her, seized her hooves once again, and gotten her moving. All her doubts vacated her mind when she saw the smile on Applejack’s face.

“Thought I lost ya!” the blonde pony shouted over the noise.

Rainbow Dash spun, watching in all directions for ponies she might hit. She narrowly avoided collisions left and right, attention focused on dodging rather than dancing. Then, one of her hooves collided with the other, sending her tumbling to the ground. She braced for impact, but it never came. She opened her eyes and found Applejack holding her, inches above the ground, their bodies touching. Rainbow could feel the other mare’s tensed muscles, could smell the excited sweat dripping off of her. Rainbow Dash’s breath quickened and her heart raced. Applejack said nothing, instead just smiling at the pegasus before lifting her back to her feet.

They started the dance again. This time, Rainbow Dash didn’t focus on the steps or the crowd. She heard only the music and saw only Applejack. She emulated her partner’s behavior, matching Applejack’s steps as best she could, and soon she was keeping up with the crowd around her.

“That’s it, yer gettin’ it!” Applejack cried.

Rainbow beamed at the praise. Her form wasn’t perfect, but she was keeping up, and that was good enough for her. The music sped up to a furious pace, throwing its melody back and forth across the dance floor with savage intensity, with the ponies following suit.

Rainbow Dash couldn’t keep up. She fell one step behind, then another, and another, until finally her hooves missed the ground and she toppled to the floor on top of Applejack. They knocked down the pair next to them and soon the entire dance crowd was tripping and falling over itself, tumbling like rows of dominoes.The fallen ponies were grumbling and shooting dirty looks at anypony they thought might be to blame. Rainbow Dash removed herself from her partner with an intense blush, expecting to be scolded for her clumsiness. Instead, what she got was a laugh.

Applejack’s laugh rang out across the crowd of grumbling ponies. It infected the ponies around her and spread like a virus until the whole pile of ponies had stopped trying to extract themselves from the mess and instead just laughed. They laughed with friends, with families, and with complete strangers at their situation, but none laughed harder or smiled wider than Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Eventually the laughter died down and the ponies escaped the predicament with grins on their mugs.

“Applejack, that was incredible! I’ve never felt so—so alive in all my life!” The corner’s of Rainbow Dash’s mouth were still turned upward as the mares started picking their way through the crowd.

Applejack laughed. “You don’t get out much, do ya?” she asked.

Rainbow Dash’s smile wilted. “No, I don’t.”

“Well, all the more reason to enjoy it then, right?” Applejack’s positive attitude was contagious, and Rainbow Dash couldn’t help but smile again.

“Right,” she said with a nod.

As the pair picked their way through the crowd, the crowd became decidedly higher class. Then, as they passed a certain square, the nearby band started a softer, gentler piece of music featuring the cello and the harp. Rainbow Dash perked up.

“I love this song!” she said. This time, it was her who was dragging a pony onto the dance floor.

“I don’t know any slow dances,” Applejack said. “What if I make a fool of myself?”

“Don’t worry,” Rainbow Dash said, suddenly bold. She reared up on her hind hooves like the ponies around her and pulled Applejack close. “I’ll teach you.” Their snouts were inches apart when Rainbow started the waltz.

The ponies danced in steps of three, accompanied by the throaty voice of the cello and the light, dainty plucking of the harp. Applejack had never done a waltz before, and it showed. She was always out of step with her partner, her hooves touching the floor long after Rainbow Dash’s had left. Her steps struck the ground like stomps, miles away from the light steps of her companion. Rainbow Dash practically dragged Applejack across the floor behind her, the orange mare’s pathetic attempts at the dance drawing stares and whispers from the other dancers and the ponies in the crowd alike. The final straw came when Applejack stepped on Rainbow Dash’s hoof and fell forward, head first. To her surprise, Rainbow Dash caught her just before she hit the ground, wrapping her in a firm embrace. Applejack felt a foreign warmth in her chest where the two mares were pressed together. She could feel Rainbow’s excited heartbeat the pegasus’s hot breath on her neck.

“I can’t do this,” Applejack whispered.

“Yes you can,” Rainbow responded, pulling Applejack to her hooves. “Just relax and follow my lead.”

Applejack nodded, taking a deep breath and putting on a determined expression. She listened to the music, timing her steps with the soft sound of harp strings that went in groups of three. She stopped resisting the pull of her partner and instead allowed herself to be led, surrendering control of the dance to Rainbow Dash. Her eyes went wide when she felt her steps start to fall in line, no longer behind Rainbow but with her, the two mares moving almost as one. As the steps became easier, Applejack’s attention shifted from keeping time to her companion.

The melody swelled and sunk and the dancing ponies bent to its will, growing and shrinking in passion with the music. The two mares had locked eyes, each not daring to look away for even a second. Their chests were pressed together, and each could feel the other’s rapid heartbeat, almost thumping in unison. Applejack moved with a sureness that betrayed her previous uncertainty. They wove between the other couples as if on instinct, not watching where they were going, not caring even if they were. In that moment, there was only Applejack and Rainbow Dash, together.

Then, with a few mournful plucks and a long chord, the song was over. Couples returned to the crowd, leaning on each other and nuzzling affectionately.

“Wow,” Applejack said when they had returned to the crowd. Both mares were flushed. “If I had known slow-dancin’ could be like that, I sure as heck woulda done it a lot more back in Ponyville.”

“The Suite 6 Sarabande is one of my favorite pieces,” Rainbow responded with a gentle smile. “Something about it just really speaks to me.”

“I can see why you like it so much. It’s beautiful.” Applejack looked at Rainbow Dash. “And it’s not the only thing.”

Rainbow Dash blushed. “Why, Miss Applejack, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were being forward with me.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “I ain’t the one who pulled you closer’n a rattlesnake’s belly to the ground, now am I, Miss Dash?”

Rainbow Dash just shrugged and smiled coyly. “So you’re from Ponyville,” she said, changing the subject. “What’s it like there?” They started walking through the crowd.

“Oh, it ain’t nothin’ much. Just yer typical small little town. Everypony knows everypony there. Ain’t nothin’ like Canterlot. Workin’ on an apple farm’s hard work, but it’s honest work, and I wouldn’t trade it fer all the bits in Canterlot. Look at me, goin’ on about myself. What about you, Miss Dash?”

“Please, just Rainbow.”

“Alright, Rainbow, I assume you live here in Canterlot. What’s it like livin’ here?”

“Oh, it’s nothing special. You know, tutoring, family issues, all that stuff. Do you know of the Wonderbolts?”

“That’s them fancy stunt-fliers, right?”

“Oh, but they’re so much more than that! They’re the very embodiment of speed, of agility, of freedom! They are so awesome! I mean, um, they’re really nice. I’m hoping to join them someday, but my father forbids it. Says it’s ‘unbecoming of a young lady’ to want to do stunt flying.” Rainbow Dash’s expression darkened as she talked about her father. “He’s always trying to control me, my father, you know? Tells me what to do, where to go, how to dress, what to say and when to say it, what to eat, how to act in polite society. He treats me like I’m still a foal, like he still needs to protect me from the world. It’s always, ‘no Rainbow, that’s too dangerous’ or ‘no young lady should deign to do that.’ I’m sick of it! I just wish he would let me do something on my own for once, let me spread my wings and fly.” She sighed. “I just feel… trapped.”

Applejack put her hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder and smiled. It was all Rainbow needed. Shereturned the smile and the two mares resumed walking, their bodies now a little closer. Applejack stopped at a vendor and bought a bouquet of brilliant red roses to snack on. Then they returned to the very stoop Applejack had spied her mare from. When Applejack sat down and leaned back, Rainbow Dash tripped and fell, landing right on top of the orange pony.

“Sorry, sorry!” she said, her face turning the same shade as the roses as she scrambled to get up.

“No, it’s fine, don’t worry about it. I kinda, um, would like it if you, uh, sat this close to me. If’n you don’t mind, I mean.” Applejack looked away. The warmth pressed up against her stopped wriggling and settled down, body delightfully close to Applejack’s, resting her head on her earth pony’s chest. Applejack looked down to find Rainbow Dash looking up at her, but the pegasus looked away shyly as their eyes met. Applejack put her foreleg around Rainbow’s shoulder. The two ponies settled down, Applejack letting out a contented sigh, and munched on their roses.

It was a long while before either of them spoke. Rainbow Dash was the first to break the silence. “Applejack, have you ever been in love?” she asked, looking up at Applejack.

Applejack was quiet for a long moment before meeting Rainbow’s gaze. “I don’t rightly know. I thought I was once, but it turned out to be false. Why?”

“Well, I just… never mind. It’s stupid.” She averted her eyes.

“What is it?” Applejack said, putting her hoof on Rainbow Dash’s chin and guiding her face back toward her own. “I promise I won’t laugh.”

“It’s just, I never really had big ideas for love, you know? I thought it was all fairytale garbage, and that only weak princesses trapped in towers fell in love.”

“Y’know, before tonight, if you had asked me if I believed in ‘love at first sight,’ Id’ve called you a darned fool and bucked you eight ways to Sunday. But now… now I ain’t so sure. I certainly feel somethin’ for ya, Rainbow, an’ the only word I can think to describe it is love. It feels strange, like we’re rushin’ into things, but also... not, like we’ve known each other fer ages an’ this is just the natural progression o’ things. Gosh, look at me babblin’ on like a darned fool ‘bout somethin’ I got no sense talkin’ about.”

Rainbow Dash didn’t respond, instead leaning forward and planting a small peck on Applejack’s lips, only the shadow of a kiss. Applejack was stunned for a moment, but only a moment. She pulled Rainbow a little closer and leaned down, their hot breath mingling for a second before their lips met. Both ponies were pensive at first, neither venturing forward until Rainbow Dash parted her lips and darted her tongue out. Then the dam burst, the kiss becoming a chaotic dance of inexperienced lips and passionate tongues. There was no gentleness, only intense need from both parties. Eventually Applejack pulled away, gasping for breath, both ponies red in the face.

“Wow,” Applejack panted. Rainbow Dash leaned forward and kissed her again, brushing their lips together, before settling back against Applejack’s side.

“You’ll be going back to Ponyville, won’t you?” Rainbow Dash asked after a while. “After the festival?”

“I reckon so,” Applejack responded.

“Will I get to see you again?”

“I don’t know, Rainbow. I hope so, I really do, but I just don’t know. I promise to do my darnedest to come back to Canterlot and see you again as soon as possible.”

Rainbow Dash looked up into Applejack’s eyes. “When?”

“Maybe next year at the Summer Sun Celebration,” Applejack responded.

Rainbow sat up. “A whole year!? I can’t wait that long! I’ve never felt this way before, about anypony, and now you’re telling me I won’t get to see you again for a year?” Tears were starting to form in her eyes. “How could you do this to me?”

Applejack put her hooves on Rainbow’s shoulders and leveled her gaze at the pegasus. “Hey, now I never said I wouldn’t try, did I? I promised to come back again as soon as possible, and I keep my promises. ‘Sides, I can still write letters, can’t I? If’n ya’ll tell me where ya live, I’ll write a letter a week until I can come see you again. Deal?”

Rainbow Dash sniffed and wiped away her tears. “Deal,” she said, sticking her hoof out. Applejack laughed and shook it, sealing the deal. Then, the hoof was gone, pulled away. In an instant, Rainbow Dash was no longer with Applejack, instead replaced by a squat, fat pegasus the color of dirt. Applejack heard Rainbow Dash scream and looked up to see the mare of her dreams being carried off by a tough-looking pony in Canterlot Guard armor. Applejack tried to chase after them, but was stopped by the short pegasus.

“How dare you lay a hoof on my daughter, you filthy peasant!” When he spoke, spittle flew from his mouth.

Applejack narrowed her eyes and lowered her Stetson. “What’d you just call me?”

“You heard me, you heathen!” He turned to the ponies flanking him. “Guards, this is the pony that kidnapped my daughter!” He turned back to Applejack and smirked. “Did you really think you could get away with stealing the child of a Duke?”

“Kidnapping? Duke? What in tarnation are ya’ll talkin’ about? I just met this here mare at the festival a few hours ago! Are you tellin’ me she’s your daughter?”

“Typical criminal lies. Guards! Arrest her!” Two burly earth ponies seized Applejack’s arms and held her in place. She struggled against them, but it was no use. Then, there was a groan of pain from behind the Duke and Applejack looked up to see a guard doubled over and Rainbow Dash running toward them.

“Father, stop, this pony is innocent! She hasn’t done anything wrong.”

“But she kidnapped you, took you from your tower and spirited you away!”

“No father, nopony kidnapped me. I ran away.”

The Duke only huffed and glared at his daughter. “When we get back to the castle,” he said, “you and I are going to have a very serious talk about this. And you,” he said, turning to Applejack. “If I ever catch you near my daughter again, I swear by the might of Celestia that you will rot in the Canterlot Dungeon for the rest of your days!” With that, he seized Lady Rainbow Dash’s hoof and sped off toward the castle, guards in tow.

“Applejack, don’t forget your promise!” Rainbow Dash called over her shoulder. Then she was gone.

Applejack fell back on her haunches. What just happened? Rainbow was a Duke’s daughter? That made her royalty. Applejack thumped herself on the head.

Stupid, stupid! What was ah thinkin’?

Princess Celestia took to the raised platform at the far end of the square to give her pre-dawn speech, but Applejack hardly noticed. She moved as if in a fog, gathering up her cart and heading off for the train station. She had planned on spending the night after the celebration, but that suddenly didn’t seem like such a good idea.

She could hear the crowd behind her erupt into cheers as the sun peeked over the horizon. Applejack, the saddest pony in Canterlot, under the fierce gaze of the rising sun, made her way back home to Ponyville.

Advice and Correspondance

Applejack sat at a writing desk situated in the corner of her room. The sun was setting outside, casting Sweet Apple Acres alight with fiery red and orange hues. There was commotion downstairs as Apple Bloom came home, but Applejack barely noticed. She glanced out the window, the world blurred by the tears in her eyes. She blinked and the salty droplets fell from her face and stained the parchment sitting in front of her. In her mouth she gripped a quill, and there were five words scribbled on the paper.

Dear Rainbow Dash,

I’m sorry.

Applejack crumpled the paper in disgust and threw it onto the ever-growing pile of discarded letters. Why was it so hard to write this letter? Every time Applejack thought of her sky-blue pegasus, her heart started to race and a warm feeling blossomed in her chest. Then, inevitably, she would remember that Rainbow Dash was royalty, and her feelings would go plummeting back down.

Still, Applejack had made a promise, and she kept her promises. She rolled out another piece of parchment, wet her quill with ink, and started writing.

Dear Rainbow Dash,

I’m sorry.

Her quill stopped, refusing to budge any further no matter how hard she glared at it. Applejack flung the quill down and cried out in frustration, sweeping the desk clean with one swift motion of her hooves. The inkwell shattered on the ground, staining the floorboards with the midnight liquid, but Applejack didn’t care. Her head was buried in her hooves and hot tears were starting to flow.

There was a soft knock at her door.

“Go away,” Applejack said. “I don’t wanna see nopony.”

She heard the door creak open and looked to see Granny Smith standing in the threshold.

“Apple Bloom said she heard you cryin,’” the old mare said. “You wanna tell me what’s wrong?”

Applejack wiped the tears from her eyes and adorned a plastic smile. “Nothing’s wrong, Granny. I’m fine.”

“You are the worst liar I ever did see, Applejack. Now come on, come sit down and tell Granny Smith what’s got my grandchild so upset.” The old mare carefully started to make her way to Applejack’s bed at a snail’s pace. Applejack shook her head and helped her grandmother to the bed, sitting down beside her. “Now,” Granny Smith continued. “What’s got my little Jackie so glum?”

“Granny, do you remember how you and Pappy Smith met?” Applejack asked, squeezing her brow with her hoof.

“Your grandpa? Haven’t I told you this story before?”

“Can ah hear it one more time, please?”

“Well, alright. I remember that it was a Tuesday, because I was goin’ into town to buy groceries for the ever-expanding Apple family. It was a number of years after my grandpappy had founded Ponyville, and it had become a right nice little town. Your pappy was new in town, and I’ll never forget the first time I saw him. He was chasin’ after a pig that he had just bought, racin’ this way and that, always one step behind this feisty little hog. Then, when it seemed like he was catchin’ up, the pig took off right as he dove after it. He landed right smack dab in the biggest mud puddle in town!” Granny Smith animated this action wildly, making Applejack giggle despite herself. “I walked right up to him and when he caught sight of me he said, ‘my first day in a new town and I embarrass myself in front of the prettiest mare in the place.’ We was wed not two months later.”

“Two months? Don’t that seem a little, ah dunno, fast?” Applejack asked.

“Child, when you’re in love, ain’t no such thing as too fast. Why the sudden interest in love, Jackie? You met somepony?”

“Yes. No. I don’t know, maybe,” Applejack responded.

“It ain’t that salespony from town, is it? Daven-somethin’-or-other?”

“No Granny, it ain’t Davenport. It’s, uh, a m…” She trailed off.

“What was that? Yer gonna have to speak up, dearie.”

Applejack took a deep breath. “I met a mare,” she said, avoiding Granny Smith’s gaze. She was certain that her elder would frown upon such things, no matter how common it was.

“Jackie, I didn’t know your barn door swung that way,” Granny Smith said.

“Granny!” Applejack could feel her face grow hot.

Granny Smith laughed. “Don’t worry child, I had my fair share of flings with mares when I was your age. Love don’t care what parts ya got; that’s what makes it love.” She paused. “It ain’t that tailor, is it?”

“Rarity!? No, trust me Granny, it ain’t Rarity. I met a mare when ah went to Canterlot fer the Summer Sun Celebration. I promised ah’d write her letters, but when ah try, ah just can’t seem to make myself. She’s royalty, a duke’s daughter, and we just can’t be together.” Applejack cast her eyes down to the ground.

“Do you love her?”

The question caught Applejack off guard, and she thought for a long while. Did she love Rainbow Dash? Or did she feel this way because it was exciting and new and fresh? Did all relationships feel this way, or just the first one? How was she supposed to know what to feel, how to act? Thoughts of the pegasus still made Applejack feel warm and fuzzy and made her heart beat faster. Was that all love was?

“I don’t know,” she answered truthfully. “But ah’ll be darned if ah’m not gonna find out.”

Granny Smith smiled. “I’ll get some more ink,” she said. “You’ve got a letter to write.”

(*)

“It’s not fair, Twilight! Can you believe that monster did that to me in the middle of the festival? And in front of Applejack!? How could he be so cruel?”

Rainbow Dash was sitting on a cushion in front of her vanity, not paying attention to her reflection. Twilight Sparkle sat behind her, levitating a brush with her magic and running it through her friend’s messy, chromatic mane.

Twilight rolled her eyes. The Lady Dash had been talking non-stop of how much of a monster her father was, and how cruel he had been, and about Applejack, whoever that was. Twilight had listened patiently, nodding and agreeing when appropriate, but enough was enough.

“Lady,” she said, “I want to help you, I really do, but it would help if you actually told me what happened instead of just complaining about it.”

Lady Dash sighed. “You’re right, Twilight.” She took a deep breath and told Twilight what had happened at the Summer Sun Celebration, about how she met Applejack, and the talks they shared, and how the earth pony made her feel like she had never felt before, like she could do anything she wanted with Applejack at her side. Whenever she was with Applejack, her father and the castle all seemed so far away, and she could just forget about her troubles, if only for a little while. Then her thoughts turned dark as she recounted how her father had split them apart and threatened Applejack, how he probably scared her off and now Rainbow Dash would never see her again.

“Wow, Lady, I didn’t know. I mean, I’ve never been in love before, but I have read several books on the subject, and what you’re describing does sound identical to the phenomena that most ponies claim to feel when they’re in love.”

“Oh Twilight, you have no idea. Whenever I was with her, everything just seemed brighter. I want desperately to see her again, but ever since the Celebration, my father has kept me under lock and key in my room. He even barred the window,” she said, gesturing toward the iron caging covering her previous escape route. She slammed her forehead down on her vanity. “Now I’ll never see her again.” Rainbow Dash started sobbing softly to herself.

Twilight started rubbing the Lady’s back with her hoof. “Shhhh, it’ll be alright, Lady. I’m sure you’ll get to see her again. Maybe you can write her a letter,” she suggested.

“My father would never allow it,” Rainbow responded, head still on the vanity. “He checks all of my mail, incoming and outgoing. Even if Applejack kept her promise and wrote me a letter a week, I would never get them. Celestia damn him! Why can’t he just keep himself out of my life?”

“I could take the letter to her,” Twilight said suddenly, hoping to cut off another rant about the tyranny of the Lady’s father.

Rainbow Dash perked up. “You would do that for me?”

“Of course I would, Lady. You’re my best friend, and I’ll do anything I can to help this love along.”

Rainbow Dash swept Twilight into a big hug, tears of sadness transforming into tears of joy. “Oh, thank you thank you thank you! You have no idea how much this means to me!”

“Can’t… breathe…”

“Sorry,” Rainbow Dash said, releasing her tutor from her iron grip. Twilight took in a big gulp of air, but she was smiling.

“I’ll get some quills,” she said. “You’ve got a letter to write.”

(*)

“Fer the last time, Rarity, I told ya’ll I don’t wanna go to the spa.”

Applejack was sitting in a small café in Ponyville called The Cup. She didn’t particularly like the place, but the mare sitting across from her loved it, and Applejack usually ended up doing what Rarity wanted. It was a small restaurant run by a friendly enough couple, and it only seated about twenty ponies. The stark-white mare flipped her impeccable purple mane to the side with a wave of her head and looked at Applejack with big doe eyes.

“Applejack, darling, I simply don’t understand why you won’t come to the spa with Fluttershy and me every so often. It would do wonders for your complexion, and it’s tremendously therapeutic. I find it impossible to worry about anything when in Aloe and Lotus’s company.”

Applejack sighed. She hated to admit it, but maybe a day at the spa was what she needed to get her mind off of her troubles. She had sent her letter to Rainbow Dash almost two weeks ago, but had gotten no reply. Every day she checked her mailbox, and every day was another bitter disappointment.

“Alright,” she consented. “I’ll go to the spa with ya’ll, but just this once. And no girly-talk, ya hear?”

Rarity squealed with delight. “I can promise no such thing,” she said.

“Fine,” Applejack said. She narrowed her eyes at her friend. “By the way, what’s wrong with my complexion?”

Rarity put on a fake smile and glanced around nervously. She held her hoof up to her face as if checking a watch. “Oh, would you look at my hoof, I’m late for picking up Fluttershy! Meet us at the spa in one hour, dearie, and please don’t be late!” With that, Rarity dashed out of The Cup, leaving a very confused Applejack in her wake.

Exactly one hour later, Applejack was waiting outside Ponyville Spa, tapping her hoof on the ground, when she saw Rarity approaching with their pegasus friend Fluttershy. She was a butter-yellow color, with a pink mane that hung over her face. The two mares were conversing as they approached.

“Well it’s about time. I thought you said one hour,” Applejack said.

Rarity glanced up at the clock tower, which had just started to chime for one o’clock. “And we’re right on time,” she said. “Shall we?”

Rarity used her magic to hold the door open for her friends and the trio stepped into the spa.

“The usual please, ladies, thank you,” Rarity said to the two mares waiting behind the counter. Applejack reached into her satchel for some bits, but Rarity stopped her. “I ah ah,” she said. “I insist that I pay. After all, I’m the one who invited you.”

“Gee, thanks Rarity. That’s mighty generous of you.” Applejack smiled a genuine smile.

“Think nothing of it dear,” Rarity respoded, returning the expression. “Same for you, Fluttershy.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that Rarity, I—”

Rarity cut the pegasus off. “No, I insist.”

Fluttershy didn’t protest. Soon the mares were led from the lobby to the steam room, where they each received two towels.

“What’re these for?” Applejack asked.

Rarity looked at her like she was dumb. “Why, for covering yourself, of course.”

“Why?” Applejack responded.

“Somepony has to remain modest.”

“But we don’t even wear clothes.”

“Oh Applejack, you have so much to learn about the ways of the spa.” Rarity wrapped a towel around her waist and around her head before entering the sauna. Fluttershy followed her example and Applejack muttered something about “girly nonsense” before going in herself.

Whatever doubts Applejack had about the spa were shattered the moment she sat down in the steam room. She could feel the tension melting off her muscles and bones, and relaxation seeping into every pore on her body. A goofy grin formed on her face as she slouched against the wall, all of her cares disappearing in a puff of steam.

Her thoughts drifted to Rainbow Dash. Normally when she had thought of the pegasus over the last week her thoughts turned sour, but now, in the relaxing atmosphere of the sauna, all she could seem to think about was the things she liked about the mare. Fluttershy and Rarity were carrying on a conversation about something, but Applejack wasn’t paying attention. Then she heard her name.

“Huh, uh, what?” she said, shaking herself from her stupor.

“I was simply asking Fluttershy here if she was interested in anypony around Ponyville when I noticed you were looking a bit flushed. Is everything alright, dear?”

“Yeah Rarity, I’m fine. Everything’s fine.”

“Applejack, you are a terrible liar. I noticed that something was on your mind at the café and decided not to push it, but I am your friend and it is my duty to help my friends in any way I can. Tell me what’s wrong.” It was a command, albeit a gentle one.

Applejack thought for a moment. Maybe advice was what she needed, and who better to give it than Rarity? At the very least, talking about it might help her feel better.

“I, well, I met somepony.”

What followed was the second squeal Applejack had heard from Rarity that day. “Oh, Applejack, that’s nothing to be upset over! Who is it? Is it Davenport?”

“Why does everypony think I’m in love with Davenport?”

“Okay, not Davenport. Well, spill it! Who is it? Do I know him?”

“Uh, her actually. She’s a mare, and no, you don’t know her. I met her up in Canterlot when I went to the Summer Sun Celebration a few weeks back.”

“Applejack, that’s wonderful! It’s about time you met somepony. But why the long face over it, dear?”

“Well, we got separated. Her dad’s a duke, and—”

“You fell in love with royalty!? That’s... that’s so... romantic...” Rarity swooned, trailing off and staring at nothing with an awed look in her eyes.

Applejack waved a hoof in front of her eyes. “Uh, Rarity? You okay?”

“Oh no, not again,” Fluttershy said.

“This’s happened before?” Applejack asked.

Fluttershy nodded. “Whenever something is too romantic, sometimes Rarity just can’t take it and she shuts down. Don’t worry, though, I can usually snap her out of it if I yell loud enough.”

Fluttershy leaned down to Rarity’s ear and let out the most pitiful excuse for a yell that Applejack had ever heard. She’d heard mice yell louder.

“Sorry Applejack, I guess we’ll just have to wait for her to come around on her own,” Fluttershy said.

“How long will that take?”

“Usually about an hour or so.”

Applejack sighed. She couldn’t wait an hour for Rarity to wake up from her romance-induced coma. “I hope this works,” she said before slapping Rarity across the face with her hoof.

“Applejack!” Fluttershy gasped, but nopony heard her, because at that moment Rarity snapped out of her stupor and tackled Applejack, nearly knocking the farmpony over.

“Tell me everything!” she demanded.

Applejack did. Throughout the rest of their spa visit, as the ponies moved to hooficures to mud baths and face masks, the orange pony recounted everything that had occurred while she was in Canterlot. Rarity was mostly silent, Fluttershy completely so, as they listened to the story.

“…and I haven’t heard back from her yet. I’m startin’ to think that she just don’t want no part of me.” Applejack finished her story as the trio was leaving the spa.

“Nonsense,” Rarity said. “You said her father forbid you from coming to see her?”

“That’s right.”

“And that her father is controlling of every aspect of her life.”

“That’s what she told me. Where’r you goin’ with this?”

“Well, it seems obvious to me that dreadful stallion kept your letter from Rainbow Dash, not wishing you to have any contact with her whatsoever.”

Applejack kicked herself. Of course that’s what happened; it made so much sense when Rarity laid it out in front of her like that. But that presented a new problem.

“But if her dad won’t let her see my letters, then how do I talk to her?”

Rarity opened her mouth to say something, but was cut off by the approach of a purple unicorn.

“Are you Applejack?” the unicorn asked.

“Yes I am. And you are?”

“Oh thank goodness, I thought I would never find you. I’m Twilight Sparkle, and I’m here on behalf of Lady Rainbow Dash of the Royal Canterlot household. I have a letter for you.”

Applejack’s heart stopped. She thought she saw Rarity faint out of the corner of her eye, but she didn’t care. This mare had a letter from the Rainbow Dash, and that was all that mattered. The world seemed to slow down as Twilight levitated the opened letter over to Applejack for her to read.

Dearest Applejack,

I miss you. I want to see you again. My heart aches and yearns for your company as it never has for any other pony, but my father keeps me trapped in my tower at all hours of the day. He reads all of my mail, so I do not even know if you sent any letters or not, but I retain hope that you did. I have instructed my good friend Twilight Sparkle to bring you this letter in hopes that you will respond in kind, so that I may know if you have moved on from me or not. Please give your response to Twilight.

Love,

Rainbow

Applejack’s heart was pounding. Now she knew. Rainbow Dash did still want to see her, and even thought that it was Applejack that might’ve lost interest, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Applejack had a letter to write.

(*)

Lady Rainbow Dash glanced at her clock. It was 3:42 p.m.

She returned to pacing in her room in Canterlot Tower, wearing a groove in the floor. She had been pacing like this nearly all day since Twilight had gone to Ponyville to deliver her letter. She had been so sure that Applejack’s love for her was as strong as her love for Applejack, but over the last hours doubt had wormed its way into her mind. What if Applejack had moved on? What if she had written letters and, when Rainbow Dash didn’t respond, thought that Rainbow didn’t want to see her anymore? Twilight was supposed to return from Ponyville any time now, and Rainbow Dash’s anxiety grew with each passing second.

She glanced at the clock again. It was 3:43 p.m.

She cried out in frustration. Where was Twilight? Then, Rainbow heard the approach of a pony and the sound of the guard unlocking the door.

“Finally, Twilight. What did she—” The words died in the Lady’s mouth when the door opened. “Oh,” she said. “It’s you.”

Duchess Persephone Dash walked into her daughter’s room. She was skinny as a rail, to the point of almost looking sickly. She had her hair done up in a bun, strands similar in color to her daughters save for the grey streaks running through it. Her face had more wrinkles than it should’ve at her age.

“Yes, it’s me,” she said with a slight glare.

“What do you want?” Rainbow asked.

“Your father is busy, so I came to check on you,” the Duchess said.

“Well, mission accomplished. I’m fine, thanks, bye.” Rainbow Dash sat down at her vanity, pointedly ignoring her mother.

“You don’t seem fine.”

“Oh, very perceptive, mother. Where should we start?” She tapped her chin with her hoof. “I’m in a prison, for one. My father apparently despises me almost as much as I despise him, else he wouldn’t keep me in this cage. He took me away from the mare I love and threatened her against ever seeing me again. Oh, and now I have somepony who pretends to care about me asking me why I’m so miserable even though it was her husband that made me so. Satisfied?”

“You know your father is only trying to protect you,” Duchess Persephone recited. “He knows what’s best.”

Rainbow Dash scoffed. “How many times are ponies going to tell me that father is trying to help me? What is he trying to protect me from? Love? Friendship? Does he intend to keep me locked away in this Celestia-forsaken Tartarus pit for the rest of my life? How is that good for me?”

The Duchess’s nostrils flared. “You have no idea the suffering that goes on outside these walls, young lady, and I will not have you slander your father for what he does to protect you from it! Your father travels all over Equestria for his work, and he has seen what those peasants have to endure every single day of their lives. Starvation, disease, poverty, and you don’t have to worry about any of it. You should count yourself lucky.”

“Well, forgive me if I don’t feel like I’ve won a lottery.”

“Why can’t you just see reason, Rainbow Dash?”

“I was about to ask you the same thing.”

Duchess Persephone sighed. Talking to her daughter was getting her nowhere, fast. “I don’t like yelling at you, you know. Sometimes I just wish you would come around to our way of thinking for once and see that we keep you here for your own good. I’m sorry you feel this way about your situation.”

“That makes two of us.”

Persephone sighed again and went to leave, but she lingered at the door. Rainbow Dash was still scowling at her reflection in the vanity.

“I love you, Rainbow, I just want you to know that. And although you may not think so, your father loves you too,” The Duchess said.

Rainbow Dash just snorted, not seeing the pained look that flashed across her mother’s face as she left. The Lady glared at her reflection, but her gaze soon softened. She knew her mother had good intentions, but it was difficult to focus on the good when she was surrounded by the bad at all hours of the day.

It was five minutes later when Rainbow Dash heard the door being unlocked again, no doubt her mother returning to exchange more words.

“I’m sorry, mother,” she said turning to the opening door. “I just—Twilight!”

It wasn’t the Duchess, but Twilight Sparkle who was in the doorway. She was levitating a book behind her. Rainbow Dash gave her friend a hug.

“How are you?” she asked.

“I’m doing well, Lady, thank you.” The two mares went and sat on the Lady’s bed.

Rainbow Dash dropped her voice to a whisper. “Well?” she asked.

Twilight didn’t respond, instead levitating the book over to Lady Dash and opening it. An envelope fell out, unmarked save for an ink drawing of a red rose. Rainbow tore it open in a frenzy and started reading.

Dear Rainbow,

I’m not so good with words, but I’ll do my best. I just want to say that I miss you, and I want to see you again more than anything in the world. I think I’m in love with you, and I don’t want to miss the chance to find out for sure. While your friend Twilight was here, we devised a little system so that you and I can keep sending letters to each other. Please get back to me as soon as you can.

Love,

Applejack

Tears of joy started to form in Rainbow Dash’s eyes. The letter was everything she hadn’t dared hope it would be. She pulled Twilight into a big hug and sobbed into her friend’s shoulder.

“Are you okay Lady?” Twilight asked.

Rainbow Dash sniffed. “Never better,” she said.

Now that she knew how things between her and Applejack were, Rainbow Dash had a letter to write.

(*)

Over the next few weeks, the two mares exchanged letters frequently. In order to avoid suspicion, Applejack would have Rarity send letters to Twilight, always unmarked except for the rose. Twilight would then take the letter to Rainbow Dash, and also take Rainbow’s response and mail it back to Rarity.

For weeks the mares sent letters to one another, detailing their lives and their families. Applejack told of her work on the farm, her siblings, and small-town happenings around Ponyville, while Rainbow Dash told of Canterlot high society, and any news that she could get from Twilight. They came to know each other through these letters, know each other’s hopes and dreams, their fears and weaknesses, until one day Applejack received a letter that changed everything.

Dear Applejack,

This isn’t Rainbow Dash, but Twilight Sparkle. I have a surprise for you! A new servant position has opened in the East Wing of Canterlot Castle, near where Lady Rainbow Dash lives. If you come to Canterlot, I believe I can get you the position. You would act as a maid, cleaning up messes and doing laundry and other such chores. You would earn a wage and room and board in the castle would be provided, as would your meals. Duke Ellington will be out of Canterlot on business for the next several weeks, and this would be the perfect opportunity for you and the Lady to reunite. I have not spoken to Lady Dash about it, as I didn’t want to get her hopes up. Please put your response in the envelope with your next letter.

Sincerely,

Twilight Sparkle

It was almost too good to be true. They would get to see each other again after all this time. Then reality struck. Applejack couldn’t just up and leave the farm; her family depended on her. Big Macintosh couldn’t buck the entire fields by himself, and Apple Bloom was too young to start working yet. But how could Applejack pass up an opportunity to see the mare she so loved? She was torn. She had been talking to Granny Smith about Rainbow Dash ever since they started sending the letters, but there was no way the old mare would let her go to Canterlot and leave the farm behind.

Applejack sat in her bed, staring at the letter like it was a snake. She sat up and took a deep breath. What would she do? Should she ask Granny Smith for permission to go to Canterlot? Applejack was certain that she loved Rainbow Dash now, but how much would that love mean to Granny? There was only one way to find out.

“Granny Smith?” Applejack called, knocking softly on the old mare’s bedroom door.

“Come in, child,” was the reply.

Applejack went in. The room was slightly larger than Applejack’s, and it had a fireplace which was currently set ablaze. Granny Smith was sitting in an old, creaky rocking chair, staring into the fire and rocking slowly back and forth

“What’s on yer mind?” she asked.

“Granny, you know how yer always tellin’ me how love’s the most important thing a pony can have? If we have a shot at love we should take it, no matter what?”

“I recall sayin’ somethin of the sort, yes.”

“Well, I got this letter from Canterlot, and Twilight Sparkle said that a servant position just opened up. She could get me the position, but I would have to live there in the castle. I know I shouldn’t leave Sweet Apple Acres, but this might be the only chance to see Rainbow Dash that I get. It’ll only be fer a few weeks, and I’ll be earnin’ a wage that ah can send back to help with expenses, so can I go? Please Granny?”

Granny Smith stopped rocking. “You really love this mare?” she asked.

“With all my heart, Granny, I swear it,” Applejack responded.

“Then of course you can go.”

Applejack was stunned for only a second before enveloping her grandmother in an enormous hug.

“Thank you,” she said through joyful tears.

“Thank me after the wedding, Jackie. You’ve still got a mare to woo.”

Applejack started packing that night. The next day, she told the rest of her family and her friends that she was leaving, but that it would only be for a few weeks. Then she wrote her response to Twilight’s letter and got a message telling her to come see the unicorn at the castle.

Before the week was out, Applejack was on her way to Canterlot.

Reunited

Applejack’s first impression of Canterlot Castle was “wow.” Her second impression was also “wow.” When she had come to Canterlot for the Summer Sun Celebration, the castle had still been a ways off. As she approached it now, it seemed much bigger than it had from Canterlot Square, and it gleamed in the sunlight like a polished mirror. At noon, when the sun was highest in the sky, the angled spires caught the light and reflected brilliant colors across all of Canterlot. Applejack had arrived in the midst of this event.

“Wow,” she said under her breath.

“Halt,” the guard, a clay-red earth pony with two dice for a cutie mark, said as she approached the front gate. “What business have you in the castle?”

Applejack presented the letter from Twilight Sparkle recommending the farmpony for the servant position, which the guard eyed with disinterest. “Is this where I go in?” she asked.

“Depends,” the guard said with a discernible air of nonchalance. Applejack waited for him to continue, but his eyes stayed locked in a forward position.

“On what?” she finally asked.

“What you’re here for,” he said. Applejack eyed him. Was this pony dense? Applejack started slightly when the pony burst out into loud guffaws. “I’m only pulling your leg,” he said, wiping a tear from his eye. “You should’ve seen the look on your face! Don’t worry, Twilight told me you were coming. Name’s Gamble.” He stuck out a hoof, which Applejack shook with obvious reluctance. Gamble seemed not to notice. “Go on in,” he said as he pulled the gate open, still chuckling to himself.

Applejack made her way through the courtyard to find Twilight Sparkle waiting just inside the main doors of the castle. “Had to deal with Gamble, huh?” the unicorn asked, casting a glance past Applejack to the front gate.

“Is there somethin’ wrong with that pony?” Applejack responded.

Twilight laughed a little. “No, Gamble’s a good pony, just a little too fond of jokes. Or what he calls jokes, anyway. He’s been a huge help to Lady Dash and me, though.” Twilight started walking down the hall.

“How?” Applejack asked, following.

“My brother, Shining Armor, is captain of the Royal Guard,” Twilight explained, “and the Royal Guards are the ones assigned to protect the nobles, including Lady Dash. In fact, Shining should be guarding Lady Dash’s room right now.”

“So, you’re tellin’ me that since we know the guards, they’ll just let me see Rainbow whenever?” Applejack’s heart rate sped up. Would it really be that easy?

“Not exactly,” Twilight said. Applejack’s small glimpse of hope disappeared. “Don’t worry! You’ll still get to see her. We just have to careful. It wouldn’t be wise to let too many ponies know about this. The Duke has friends in many places.” She lowered her voice. “But if you go by Lady Dash’s room and either Gamble or my brother is guarding her door, you should be able to get in without a problem.”

“Thank you, Twilight,” Applejack said. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”

Twilight beamed. “No need to thank me, Applejack. Anything for a friend! Now, though, we should probably go over your job details. As long as you’re here, you have to fit in as one of the serving staff. As a maid, you will receive duties every day for you to perform. These will range from cleaning specified areas to taking care of the nobles, and you have to do anything they ask of you.”

Applejack gulped. “Anything?”

“Within reason, of course,” Twilight responded.

Applejack leveled her gaze at Twilight. "Sounds like I'm a slave."

“Oh, it’s not that bad. Besides, you’ll get to see the Lady Dash, so I think it’s worth it.”

Applejack nodded. If it meant seeing Rainbow again, she would do whatever it took.

Twilight led Applejack through the twisting corridors of the castle, past surreal landscape paintings and expensive-looking trinkets. Applejack found herself examining each one, wondering how many bits had been sunken into each one.

"Oh, are you interested in art?" Twilight asked, following Applejack's gaze.

Applejack blushed, caught. "Uh, how much is this stuff worth?" She winced, knowing she sounded like a bumpkin.

Twilight approached the painting, not seeming to mind the question. "Actually, this one is an original Van Gogh, given to Princess Celestia as a gift, valued at twenty-six thousand bits at auction."

Applejack whistled and raised her eyebrows. "Twenty-six thousand? Ya'll could feed Ponyville fer a year with that much."

“Hm, yes,” Twilight said absentmindedly. “Well, we had better get going. I’ll show you around so you’ll know where you’re going when you start your duties.” She started off a little faster than before, with Applejack in tow.

Applejack tried to keep up with the winding corridors and twisting staircases, but trying to remember the directions while listening to Twilight ramble about the history of the palace was making her head spin. It didn’t help that everything they passed was gilded, made of marble, or worth more than Applejack had earned in her entire apple-selling career, and more often than not they were all three.

Twilight pointed out original paintings, goblets and chalices given as peace offerings to Equestria from far-off lands that Applejack wouldn’t attempt to pronounce the names of. There were alcoves containing extravagant sculptures and fountains resting on plush silk carpets.

Everything seemed to remind Applejack of Rainbow Dash. She found herself imagining Dash wearing the gem-encrusted bracelets and tiaras they passed. In certain paintings, her mind replaced the lovers depicted with images of herself and Rainbow, sharing a kiss in this one, an embrace in that one. She felt like she would burst if she didn’t get to see Rainbow Dash soon.

They passed some maids on their knees scrubbing the floors to a spotless shine. A few passing nobles cast curious glances at the two mares, but they just kept their heads down and the trip went largely without incident.

That is, until they passed through the west wing. A sound made both mares’ ears perk up, and it registered an instant later as shouting. It was indistinct at first, but it steadily grew louder as they got further down the hallway, and it became clear that it was emanating from a door on the right.

“...do you intend to do about this!?” came a stallion’s voice. The door burst open and Twilight and Applejack jumped back. A mare wearing a black and white maid’s outfit fell out of the room and tumbled to the floor, followed quickly by a stately unicorn with a dirty blonde mane, a tuxedo and bow tie, and an eight-pointed star adorning his flank. His eyes were flaming with indignation and he had his teeth bared in a wicked snarl.

“I’m sorry, Prince Blueblood, it won’t happen again, I swear it!” the mare said, scrambling backward until she ran out of room, her back bumping against the wall. Prince Blueblood kept advancing, step by step

“Damn right it won’t!” Step. “I should throw you in the dungeon for assaulting royalty, you filth.” Step.

“Assault? But sir, it was an accident, surely you can see that!” The mare looked absolutely terrified. As the stallion passed, Applejack could see that one of his legs had a fresh burn surrounded by brown coffee stains.

“Then you will just have to pay for it right here,” he said, closing the last little distance between himself and the servant. He raised his hoof and the maid shied away, closing her eyes and bracing for the blow.

Before she knew what was happening, Applejack had her hooves around Blueblood’s.

“What in Equestria do you think you’re doing?” he asked, trying to shake her off.

“You can’t just hit a defenseless mare like that!” Applejack exclaimed, not letting go. “What’s wrong with you?”

Blueblood pushed Applejack away and Twilight grabbed the farmpony with her magic before she could lunge at him again.

“Sincerest apologies, Prince Blueblood,” Twilight said. “This is a new servant, and she isn’t quite accustomed to the rules here yet. We beg your forgiveness.”

Applejack looked at Twilight like she was crazy. She was apologizing to this pony for trying to do what was right? It seemed so backwards.

Blueblood huffed and stuck his nose in the air. “Very well, seeing as how she didn’t know better, and I have more important things to do, I accept your apology.” He pointed a hoof at Twilight. “Just don’t let it happen again.” Twilight nodded. “And you,” he continued, turning to face the cowering mare, who flinched when his gaze fell on her. “I’m feeling generous today, so you get off with a warning. But I swear, by the might of Celestia, one more ‘accident’ and I’ll have you rotting in the dungeon for the rest of your days.”

Applejack shuddered. From the matter-of-fact way he spoke, she didn’t doubt that his words were a promise, not a threat. The mare nodded quickly before hurrying away. As she disappeared around the corner at the end of the hall, Applejack saw her turn back and mouth “thank you.” Applejack just nodded.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” Blueblood said. “Go!”

Twilight grabbed Applejack’s hoof and pulled her down the hallway. Once they were out of sight of the prince’s room, she turned to Applejack.

“You’ve got to be more careful!” she said.

Applejack scoffed. “What was I supposed to do, just let him hit that mare?”

Twilight sighed. “I don’t know how things are in Ponyville, but here in Canterlot, the royalty rules. You can’t go around assaulting them, drawing attention to yourself. If you want to see Lady Dash, you have to be invisible.”

That shut Applejack up.

“When can I see her?” Applejack asked once they had started once again down the twisting corridors.

“Actually, Shining Armor is guarding her all day, so as soon as I get you into your uniform you can go see her.”

Applejack beamed. Finally, after all this time sending letters, corresponding with words and paper but not really with feelings, she would get to see Rainbow Dash again. The thought filled her with warmth and she followed Twilight. She would get to see Rainbow Dash’s beautiful eyes, her striking chromatic mane that sparkled when the light hit it, hear her voice once again.

Applejack was so consumed by her thoughts that she barely noticed when they descended one final staircase, coming to a long hallway lined with doors. Torches adorned the walls in their sconces, casting flickering light across the cold cobblestone walls and floor. If the upstairs was a palace, then this seemed like the dungeon.

“Applejack,” Twilight said, “welcome to the servant quarters.”

Twilight led Applejack down the hall to the very end, pushing open the last door on the left and ushering her companion inside.

The room was small and square, barely two full ponies across and twice that distance long, but that didn’t bother Applejack; she was used to having a small room. It was the bunk beds that caught her off guard.

“I have a roommate?” she asked.

Twilight nodded eagerly, a smile slowly forming on her lips until it consumed her entire face. Realization dawned on Applejack and a smile played at her own lips.

“You’re my roommate?”

“Yes!” Twilight said, bouncing around on her hooves as best she could in the small space provided, chanting “yes!” over and over again.

“But aren’t you a little, I don’t know, higher up than a servant?” Applejack asked.

“All members of the serving staff live down here,” Twilight explained when she had calmed down, “tutors included.” She squealed with delight. “Oh, this’ll be so much fun! I’ve never had a roommate before. Come to think of it, before you, Lady Dash and my brother were really the only other ponies I talked to.”

“Speaking of Rainbow Dash...” Applejack said.

“Oh, right, your uniform,” Twilight said. She pulled a flat box out from under the bed with her magic and levitated a maids uniform out of it. It was black and white, with frilly lace adorning the neck and waist and a sash that tied around the middle.

Applejack looked at the uniform, then at Twilight, then back at the uniform. “Do I really have to wear that?” she asked.

Twilight put on a plastic smile. “Sorry, Applejack, it’s required. But hey, anything to see Lady Dash, right?”

Applejack nodded. “Right.”

Applejack didn't like clothes. She didn't have anything against them specifically, as long as they served a purpose, like her hat, but too often she had fallen prey to Rarity's fashion sense and the pitfalls therein. Still, Rainbow Dash awaited, so she grit her teeth and pulled the outfit on.

"I look ridiculous," she said, examining her newly adorned body in the mirror. The outfit was tight around the waist and neck and breezy everywhere else, and it was more revealing than Applejack had expected. She frowned at her reflection and turned around to examine herself from every angle, craning her neck to look over her shoulder at the mirror. She wiggled her exposed flank and her reflection copied the motion, the white lace skirt that framed and emphasized her backside moving lazily with her.

“Do I have to look like such a harlot?” she asked, creasing her brow. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she caught Twilight staring fixedly at her posterior. She turned to face the unicorn and cracked a smile. “Enjoyin’ the show?”

Twilight started, like she had just been woken up from a deep slumber. A fiery blush consumed her face from the neck up. “I wasn’t—I mean, I was, but not in—I would never—”

She was cut off by Applejack’s loud laughter. “Relax, Twilight, I’m only pullin’ your leg,” she said, and Twilight relaxed a little. “It’s okay if’n ya’ll admire the view every once in a while, just make sure to keep your hooves off the merchandise; I’m taken.” She punctuated this point with another wiggle, causing Twilight’s blush to deepen.

“We should get going,” Twilight said, apparently eager to change the subject.

“Lead the way,” Applejack said.

Once they had climbed the stairs out of the servant quarters, Twilight said, “Make sure you pay attention to where we’re going so that you can get there on your own next time.” Applejack nodded.

They went down hallways and climbed stairs, Applejack focused on remembering the route they were taking. She occasionally pulled at the uniform, trying to make it comfortable, but the clothes, with their alien feel, wouldn’t cooperate. Twilight slapped her hoof after one particularly violent tug on the collar.

“Applejack, if you want to look like you fit in, you have to get used to the uniform,” she said.

Applejack huffed. “But does it have to be so doggone itchy?” she asked, scratching at her neck with her hoof. Twilight grabbed the hoof a moment later. “Yeah, yeah, I get it, no scratchin.’” Applejack planted her hooves on the floor, resisting the unbearable itching around her neck. “There, see? No scratchin.’”

Twilight eyed her, but soon turned around and continued down the hallway. As soon as she had her back turned, Applejack went back to furiously scratching and pulling at the outfit.

They ascended one final staircase and came to a long hallway nearly identical to the rest; long red carpet running the length of the hall, ornate chandeliers hanging overhead, and expensive decorations adorning everything in sight. The only difference was the guard stationed outside one of the doors on the left, the third door from where they were. He was a white unicorn stallion with a blue mane, a red and gold guard uniform, and a shield as a cutie mark.

The guard turned to Twilight and Applejack, his face placid as they approached. Applejack saw his eyes glance down the hall both ways then, seeing nopony, his demeanor broke and a smile erupted across his face.

“Twily!” he exclaimed, sweeping Twilight into a big hug.

“Hey, B.B.B.F.F.,” she said. Applejack started to say something, but Twilight cut her off before she could speak. “Big brother best friend forever,” she said. Applejack closed her mouth again.

Shining Armor let go of his sister and approached Applejack, his expression once again emotionless. “Are you the Applejack I’ve heard so much about?” he asked. Applejack gulped and nodded at the towering stallion. He leaned down in her face. “Then I only have one thing to say to you.” He stuck his hoof out and smiled again. Applejack let out a sigh of relief and took the hoof in hers and he shook it, hard. “Welcome to Canterlot!” he said.

Applejack smiled. “It’s mighty fine to be here,” she said. The hoofshake went on for an uncomfortably long time, until Twilight cleared her throat.

“Oh, right,” Shining Armor said, breaking the contact. “You want to see her now?”

“More than anything,” Applejack said.

Shining Armor nodded and fetched a key ring out of his uniform. The keys jingled and clacked together as he searched for the right one and, once he found it, he unlocked the door and pushed it open.

Applejack stepped through the threshold. She didn’t notice her surroundings, couldn’t focus on what the room looked like. She only had eyes for the mare sitting on the bed, reading a book, who in that moment looked to Applejack like the embodiment of perfection. Sunlight streamed through the window and fell across Rainbow Dash, making her mane and coat glow like her namesake. Applejack wished she could bottle the adorable expression on Rainbow’s face, a mixture of shock, confusion, and unbridled happiness.

Then the moment was over, and Applejack found herself with a face full of mane as she was tackled into a hug. She thought she heard the door shut behind her, but she was too far away to care. Rainbow Dash’s lips found hers, and soon their tongues were battling in a fierce dance for dominance, neither caring whether they won or lost, only that they were together. Applejack relished in the taste of her partner, basked in the feel of their hooves around each other, delighted in the softness of Rainbow’s lips on her own.

The kiss went on, fading in intensity until it was a waltz, both parties exchanging the lead and neither complaining. Rainbow Dash pulled Applejack backward until they fell onto the bed, knocking the book to the floor. It was Rainbow Dash who broke the facial contact first, although the couple remained entwined, snouts only inches away.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

Applejack explained all that had happened since the last letter, about how Twilight had gotten her the serving position, how she had come to Canterlot to be with Rainbow Dash, and how now she was staying in the castle.

“Wait, you’re staying in the castle!?” Rainbow Dash asked, jumping up from the bed.

“What’s wrong?” Applejack asked, shocked by the sudden change in demeanor. She stood up and cast her eyes down to the floor. “I thought you’d be happy.”

Rainbow Dash lifted Applejack’s chin with her hoof and kissed her, gently. “Of course I’m happy to see you,” she said, “but if my father were to return from his trip and find you here...” She trailed off. “I don’t think I could take it if he drove us apart again.”

Applejack hugged Rainbow. “I promise I won’t let that happen.”

“But you don’t know what he’s capable of,” Rainbow responded.

Applejack pulled away to look Rainbow Dash in the eyes. “Hey, I said I promise, didn’t I?”

“And you always keep your promises, right?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Applejack nodded. “Right,” she said. Then she noticed the leather band around Rainbow Dash’s wings, securing the appendages in place.

“Did your father put that thing on you?” she asked, incredulous. How could the duke stand to do that to anypony, let alone his own daughter?

“Yes,” came the bitter reply.

Applejack examined the belt. The buckle was made to be easily operated by hooves, and she quickly slipped the rod out of the slot that was keeping it in place, the whole thing falling away a moment later. Applejack had to jump back as Rainbow Dash’s wings sprung open. Rainbow let out a small, relieved laugh.

“You have no idea how good this feels!” she exclaimed, stretching out her feathery appendages. Applejack smiled right along with her, happy as long as she was happy.

Applejack absentmindedly scratched at her neck, pulling at the fabric. “Here,” Rainbow Dash said, “let’s get you out of those clothes.” She advanced toward Applejack.

“Y’know, it’s rude to say that to a mare on the first date,” Applejack said. Rainbow Dash blushed, but she didn’t stop.

She reached past Applejack, their faces centimeters away, and undid the ribbon sash around the new maid’s waist. The black band fell away, Applejack letting out a sigh of relief. Then Rainbow Dash walked around to Applejack’s flank and, pausing just a moment to “admire the view” and blush even harder, she gripped the lace skirt in her teeth. She pulled the whole outfit up Applejack’s body with purposeful slowness, peeling inch by inch until it was completely off, and then she tossed it aside.

Both mares stood, drinking in the other’s body. Applejack’s figure had been built up by years of hard work, powerful leg and chest muscles rippling just below the surface of her skin, betraying the true stamina the mare possessed. Rainbow Dash had also exercised her body, but her frame was lithe, aerodynamic, built for speed and flight. Her wings were masses of muscle and tissue, strong, sturdy, and above all, beautiful.

What followed was another passionate bout of kissing. It started strong, but quickly became less intense than before, both mares moving to the bed and laying against the numerous pillows stacked there. The kiss was softer, gentler, but seemed to stretch on for eternity, neither Applejack nor Rainbow Dash willing to let the other go. They crossed inexperienced tongues and held each other in their hooves.

The two mares spent the rest of the day together in the room, talking and kissing and laying next to each other, content with long stretches of silence where they were simply together.

They watched the sun set, the celestial body slowly dipping below the horizon, transforming the sky from blue to a mixture of red, yellow, and orange hues that made it look like the clouds themselves were on fire. The colors and the light retreated off into the distance, inch by inch, mile by mile, until the sun had hidden itself completely and stars began twinkling in the night sky.

Voices sounded from outside the door. Both mares tensed up and cast worried glances at the other before they recognized it as Twilight. The door opened a moment later and the lavender tutor strode in, took one look at Lady Dash and Applejack lying so close to one another, and immediately started blushing.

“I, um, I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” she said, averting her gaze.

“Of course not, Twilight,” Rainbow said, extracting herself from her partner and standing to face the unicorn, with Applejack soon following her lead. “What do you need?”

“I hate to separate you two, but Applejack must return to the servant quarters with me. It would look suspicious if she stayed anywhere else.” Twilight looked apologetic.

“Of course,” Rainbow Dash said. Then, to Applejack, “When will I get to see you again?”

“I don’t know,” Applejack replied. “Twilight, do ya’ll know when I’ll be able to come back?”

“My brother said that Gamble is set to guard Lady Dash in three days, so once you finish your duties on that day, you’ll be free to visit.”

Both Applejack and Rainbow Dash lingered in an awkward silence, neither knowing how to say goodbye.

“Well, until next time, I guess,” Applejack said. Rainbow Dash responded with a kiss.

“I can’t wait,” she said with a smile.

Applejack reluctantly pulled her outfit back on, much to Rainbow Dash’s amusement, and allowed Twilight to lead her out of the room. Nodding to Shining Armor on the way out, the two made their way through the castle.

“So, how was your visit?” Twilight asked, unable to contain her curiosity.

“It was wonderful, Twilight, more wonderful than I had dared to hope.” She put her hoof on Twilight’s shoulder and smiled with all the joy she had felt that day. “I can’t thank you enough for all that you’ve done for us.”

Twilight returned the expression. “You’re welcome, Applejack. Anything to help a friend.”

The rest of the journey was made in silence, and when they got back to the servant quarters, they found almost everypony to be asleep.

“The serving staff usually have pretty rough days,” Twilight explained, “so most of them go straight to sleep.”

When they reached their room, Applejack took the top bunk, with Twilight occupying the bottom.

“Good night, Applejack,” Twilight said before extinguishing the light.

“Good night, Twilight,” Applejack returned.

That night, Applejack drifted off into a restful slumber with thoughts of her mare on her mind.

In the Garden

The next morning, despite the fact that her room lacked windows, Applejack rose with the sun, drifting out of her pleasant dreams with a smile on her face. Twilight didn’t seem to be awake yet, so Applejack was content to be occupied by her own thoughts for the time being.

It was a while before Applejack felt a stirring on the bunk below. Her suspicions that the unicorn underneath her was awake were confirmed when the lantern hanging from the ceiling sparked to life, illuminating the relatively bare quarters. Applejack had been too concerned with seeing Rainbow Dash the day before to really take in the features of the small room.

The bunk beds were in the furthest corner from the door, and a simple wooden dresser stood next to them. Other than that, there was a mirror on the opposite wall in which Applejack could see her reflection, even while lying on the bed.

“Oh, you’re awake!” Twilight said, looking at Applejack’s reflection and climbing off her own bed.

“Can’t rightly be a farmer if you aren’t up with the roosters,” Applejack responded. She sat up and stretched her legs before hopping down off the top bunk herself.

“Right, roosters,” Twilight said. “Well, since we didn’t really get the chance yesterday, how about I show you the facilities you’ll be using while you’re here?”

Applejack looked at Twilight. “Y’know, Twilight, you don’t have to take care of me like this. I appreciate it an’ all, but I don’t want to be a burden.”

“Oh, no worries, Applejack,” Twilight said, smiling a genuine smile. “I really don’t mind.”

Applejack furrowed her brow. “You’re sure I’m not gettin’ in the way?” Twilight shook her head. “Well,” Applejack said, gesturing toward the door, “in that case, lead the way.”

Twilight raised her eyebrows. “What?” Applejack asked. Twilight’s eyes darted to the dresser and then back to Applejack, who walked over to the piece of furniture and pulled the top drawer open. Applejack let out a loud groan at what she saw: the drawer was full to the brim with maid outfits. Each and every article of clothing was black, white, and lacy.

Twilight giggled at the expression on Applejack’s face, but tried to suppress it after the look the farmpony shot her. She wasn’t successful. “I’m sorry, Applejack,” she said between small laughs, “but every maid has to wear one while they work.”

Applejack glared at the outfits like the drawer was full of snakes, but eventually pulled one out and started putting it on. As she did, a thought occurred to her.

“Do the stallion servants have to wear these things?” she asked.

“There are no maids who are stallions,” Twilight said. “Stallions are used for more labor-intensive work, and as butlers who bring meals and such to the nobles. Also, there are a lot of stallions in the kitchens.”

Applejack finished donning her ensemble and cast one last resentful look in the mirror before turning to Twilight. “Lead the way,” she said, gesturing toward the door.

Twilight’s smile brightened a little before she turned and made her way toward the door, pushing it open with her magic, with Applejack in tow.

The torches in the hall were already lit, illuminating the paths of the few ponies who were out and about. Twilight led Applejack up the stairs, out of the dim oppression of the servant quarters.

“Why do the servants have to live in that place?” Applejack asked once they had completed their ascent.

Twilight shrugged. “We always have. Where else would we live?”

Applejack didn’t have an answer, and they kept walking. Now that they were on the ground floor, early-morning sunlight streamed through the windows, warming Applejack and reminding her of her previous day spent with Rainbow Dash. She already longed for the other mare’s company again, and she wasn’t looking forward to spending two more days without her.

The two ponies soon reached a set of double doors, which Twilight pushed through. The room inside was bare save for a large rack of towels in the left corner and a huge, in-ground bathtub taking up a large chunk of the space.

“This is the washroom,” Twilight said.

“More like a wash house,” Applejack said under her breath. Her “girl-time” with Rarity and Fluttershy had made her no stranger to bathing with other ponies, but the bathtub at the spa in Ponyville wasn’t even half as big as the huge basin in front of them.

Applejack started to step through the threshold, but was stopped by Twilight’s hoof. “What are you doing?” Twilight asked.

Applejack raised her eyebrows. “We’re gonna take a bath, right?”

“We can’t take a bath without water,” Twilight responded, looking at Applejack like she was stupid.

“So we just need to open the faucets, right?” Applejack said slowly.

Twilight laughed. “Oh, I see why you’re confused. Only the nobles get water brought to their rooms through the pipes; we have to get it from the well.” She closed the door and continued in her original direction down the hallway. Applejack sighed and followed.

The trek to the well was a long one, but Applejack didn’t complain. She tuned out Twilight’s excited lecture on the history of the palace and allowed her mind to wander, entertaining herself with thoughts of her mare.

She thought of the smooth sky-blue coat covering the athletic frame, tight muscles flexing as she shifted her weight against Applejack. Then Applejack would move her own hoof across Rainbow Dash’s back, guiding it in small circles further and further down. Rainbow would shudder, spurring Applejack on with her body rather than with her words. Applejack’s lips would find the silky caress of her other’s own and she would push forward with her tongue, Rainbow Dash being only too eager to do the same. Applejack’s hoof would dip lower and lower until...

“Applejack?”

Applejack shook her head. “Uh, yeah, Twilight?” She could feel a fiery blush on her face, burning it from within.

“Are you okay?” Twilight asked. “You seem a little... flushed.”

“Fit as a fiddle!” Applejack said, straining to hide her blush and calm her racing heart.

“If you say so,” Twilight responded. Then she turned and faced the stone circle in front of them. “Well, we’re here.”

They were in a small courtyard contained somewhere in the middle of the castle, cast in shadow by the high walls on all sides. The well was cobblestone, with a crank and rope with bucket attachment to extract water. Twilight forewent the conventional means, opting to pluck a bucket from the pile leaning against the wall with her magic and fill it directly. She repeated this with a few more buckets and soon they were on their way back to the washroom.

“How come the servants don’t get water pumped to the washroom?” Applejack asked once they resumed their journey. “It can’t be that much trouble. I mean, we don’t have plumbing at Sweet Apple Acres, but I always imagined the palace would be all gilded doorknobs and whatnot.”

Twilight, who looked like a mother duck leading her ducklings with the train of water buckets following her, said, “Well, the nobles are much more important than the servants, so they get prioritized. They wouldn’t want to risk running out of warm bathwater, so it’s easier for us to just get our own.”

Applejack leveled her gaze at Twilight. “You’re kidding, right?”

“What?” Twilight asked.

Applejack stopped, and Twilight did the same. “Ya’ll have to wake up early and wait on these ponies every whim, lug these buckets back and forth every day, and they can’t even provide plumbing because they might run out of warm water? No offense, Twilight, but that seems a little...” She searched for the right word. “Dumb,” she finished.

Twilight started walking again. “Of course not, Applejack,” she said, smiling. “That’s the way it’s always been. Why change things now?”

“I suppose,” Applejack whispered.

They made it back to the washroom and filled the tub. Twilight proceeded to heat the water with her magic, filling the room with steam when the liquid reacted to the sudden change in temperature. After Applejack removed her outfit, the two mares slipped into the water and Applejack let out a contented groan, relishing in the warmth, as she hadn’t been able to take a bath since leaving Ponyville.

The other servants started coming in soon, joining Applejack and Twilight in the enormous basin. They cast a few glances toward the pair, but mostly kept their distance. Applejack was too busy relaxing to care, and as she settled into the bath, her thoughts once again wandered to Rainbow Dash.

She found herself wondering how Rainbow’s coat and mane would look wet, her chromatic locks catching sunlight and reflecting it in a dazzling display reminiscent of her beautiful namesake. Applejack could imagine that mane spread out in the water like a spectacular fan as Rainbow Dash leaned her head back. She could see herself coming up behind the pegasus, brushing her own hooves past Rainbow’s powerful wings and running them through her mane, moving from her head to the outer fringe of each strand in a calming, gentle motion.

Applejack would caress her mare’s striking features before holding the wonderful head in front of her steady. Rainbow Dash would open her eyes as Applejack lowered her own head, and Applejack would keep going no matter how much she just wanted to stare into those eyes forever. Her lips would brush Dash’s forehead, and a trail of soft kisses would follow the edge of her face until they met her lips...

Applejack was shaken from her reverie by the feeling of something rubbing against her inner thigh, and she started for a moment before realizing that it was her own hoof. She removed it as quick as the water would allow and glanced over at Twilight, who, thankfully, had her eyes closed.

Applejack lifted her hoof up and held it in front of her face. Nopony had ever given her such vivid fantasies before. She wondered if they could compare to the real thing.

Before long, Twilight prompted Applejack to exit the tub. As the duo went to towel off, Applejack noticed something strange: the other ponies seemed to be actively avoiding them. As they passed, the other servants would cease their conversation and turn their heads away, only to whisper to each other again and glance at Twilight and Applejack after they were out of earshot.

“What’s their problem?” Applejack asked as they toweled off.

Twilight looked around at the other ponies, who avoided her gaze. “I think it’s because I’m so close with the Lady Dash.”

“Why would that matter?” Applejack furiously rubbed a towel on her mane.

Twilight shrugged. “Servants and royalty just don’t mix in their eyes. They’re untrusting of the royals, and they think mine and Lady Dash’s friendship is wrong.”

Applejack scoffed. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Sure, some of the uppers ‘round here ain’t exactly the friendliest bunch, but how could they not like Rainbow?”

“I never really thought about it, to be honest. I’ve never been very interested in making friends,” Twilight said as they finished toweling off, Applejack groaning as she donned the outfit again, and left the washroom.

“So what am I supposed to do now?” Applejack asked right before her stomach let out a low growl.

“Let’s get some breakfast,” Twilight suggested.

(*)

Rainbow Dash sat on a small satin cushion, resting her cheek on her hoof and gazing through the iron bars clamped over her window. Sunlight streamed through in patches, falling upon her face in the pattern of the cage in front of her. Through the spaces between the rods, she could see thick slices of Canterlot on the left and the Royal Gardens, with their luscious green hedges and winding maze, on the right.

Her eyes were pointing out the window, but she wasn’t really looking at the view. Her thoughts were focused on Applejack, on their meeting the day before, and on how perfect it had been. But it hadn’t been nearly enough; it had been like a drop of water while Rainbow was dying of thirst. She wanted to swim in an ocean of Applejack, to grab hold of the farmer and never let go, basking in her scent and feeling the tough, athletic musculature beneath her soft orange fur.

Rainbow Dash’s eyes drifted shut and she could see Applejack in her mind’s eye, as if they were standing only a few feet away from each other. Then a memory of something lacy invaded Rainbow’s mind, and an instant later Applejack’s maid outfit appeared on her. The illusory Applejack blushed, which made Rainbow Dash blush in turn.

Applejack approached with a deliberate wiggle in her walk, shaking her hips as she sauntered toward Rainbow with an agonizing slowness. Rainbow wanted to run and tackle her in a hug, but she was rooted in place, Applejack’s for the taking. Applejack steadily reduced the distance between them, coming close enough to hold her lips just a few inches from Rainbow’s. Rainbow Dash pushed forward with her own mouth, closing the gap between her and the mare she so desperately sought... and in the process, pushed her head off of her hoof and smacked her forehead on the windowsill.

“Ow!” she exclaimed, rubbing her head with her hoof and crossing her eyes in a vain attempt to look at the afflicted area. She glared at the windowsill, in case it was planning on trying anything else, before moving to her bed, just to be safe.

She lie down on her back, staring at the canopy that covered her bed. Her eyes drifted around the room, eventually resting on the clock hanging on the wall. As she watched the second hand tick, it seemed to slow down, taking longer and longer to signify the passing of the next second until it appeared as if the clock had stopped entirely.

“Argh!” Rainbow cried. How was she supposed to stand two more days of waiting to see Applejack? Their time the day before had not been nearly enough, and Rainbow thought that as long as the current arrangement was in place, it never would be. How could they be together when they saw one another so little?

Her thoughts were interrupted by hoofsteps in the hall outside. She sat up, a jolt of hope shooting through her heart as the image of Applejack popped into her head, but the door swung open to reveal her mother.

“Oh,” Rainbow said.

Duchess Persephone crossed the threshold. “You were expecting somepony else?” she asked.

Rainbow Dash stood up. “No, I just wasn’t expecting to see you, that’s all. Was there something you needed?” she asked.

“Can’t a mother show an interest in her daughter’s life?” the Duchess asked, a little too innocently.

Rainbow Dash eyed her matron. “Forgive me if this sounds rude, mother, but what ‘life’ are you speaking of?” She gestured around the room. “This is my life. You and father have guaranteed that.”

Duchess Persephone sighed. “If you must know, I came to talk to you, and it’s important.”

Rainbow was on the verge of a sarcastic comment, but her mother’s somber attitude bit it back. “What about?” she asked instead.

The duchess's eyes wandered around the room before settling back on her daughter. “I’ve been thinking lately, ever since your little adventure during the Summer Sun Celebration.” Rainbow started to defend herself, but Persephone interrupted her. “Please, let me finish. Did you know that I arrived at the celebration before your father? He had some last-minute business to attend to, and I decided to see the festivities instead of simply waiting for him. While I was in Canterlot Square, I saw you dancing with that orange pony.”

Rainbow Dash’s jaw dropped. “Um,” was all that came out of her mouth. Her mother had seen them?

Duchess Persephone looked off to the side and smiled. “You looked happier than I had seen you in years, since you were only a little filly. The smile that other mare put on your face made me question some things, things that I’ve been sure of your entire life.” Now she looked at Rainbow. “You were supposed to marry for convenience, into a more powerful house, like I did with your father. Not to say I don’t love your father, for I do, with all my heart, but I’ve always been afraid that you might not turn out so lucky.”

“I—” Rainbow began.

“Please, Rainbow, I’m afraid that if I don’t get this all out now, I will regret it for the rest of my life.” Rainbow Dash closed her mouth and sat. Duchess Persephone gave a small nod. “Thank you. Seeing you with that mare, the joy that enveloped you, and how you looked at each other, reminded me of your father and I when we were your age.” She let out a small laugh. “It seems so long ago, now.” She looked Rainbow Dash in the eyes. “If somepony had separated us back then, I would’ve stopped at nothing to be with him. Is that how you feel about this mare?”

Rainbow only nodded. When her mother didn’t respond, Rainbow Dash spoke. “I want to be with her more than anything in the world.”

The Duchess smiled. “Come, walk with me.”

With that, Persephone turned and exited the room, a confused Rainbow Dash in tow. They navigated the decorated hallways and staircases in silence, Rainbow simultaneously hopeful and terrified that she would run into Applejack. If her mother found out that Applejack was there, there was no doubt that they would be separated. Luckily, their route didn’t take them past her, and even if it had, Rainbow Dash was certain that her mother’s years as royalty had trained her to ignore all servants, regardless of their similarity to a certain orange mare.

“Where are we going?” Rainbow asked as their journey took them closer and closer to the entrance of the castle.

Duchess Persephone smiled knowingly. “It’s a surprise.” Rainbow Dash didn’t pursue the matter.

The two mares continued through the entryway and out the doors of the castle. Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow, but just continued following her mother. Their path took them to the left, around the corner of the castle and past ornate fountains of golden hydras and silver seaponies. The wide lawn stretched out to the wall, thick with well-kempt emerald grass and lined with expertly landscaped shrubs and flower beds.

Duchess Persephone stopped in the middle of the lawn and turned to her daughter. With a small smile, she reached past Rainbow Dash’s head with her hooves and plucked at the ties that bound the young mare’s wings.

Rainbow’s eyebrows sprung up and a smile broke out on her face as her powerful appendages sprang from their imprisonment, stretching them this way and that to ease the dull ache that resided within them. She rotated them in their sockets, letting out a small sigh of contentment with each satisfying pop.

“I want to see you fly,” Persephone said, beaming at Rainbow Dash.

That was all the encouragement she needed.

Rainbow Dash crouched down and thrust her wings upward, brushing her chest against the grass for only an instant before pushing up with her powerful legs and pulling down with her wings, propelling her with a blinding speed into the air. Her head was aimed straight up at the sun, but the light didn’t bother her through her eyelids. She pumped her wings, moving with such speed as to make her eyes water and steal her breath, and she loved every second.

The air grew colder around her and she slowed her ascent, leveling her wing strokes and angling herself more toward the ground as she drifted into a glide. From her position in the air she could see all of Canterlot and beyond, for miles in every direction, including Ponyville. Her eyes lingered on the distant town, thoughts turning to the prospect of simply flying away. As she circled the gardens, her mind attempted to make an argument for just leaving now that she was free.

She looked down at her mother, whose face was happier than Rainbow Dash had seen in a long time. With all of the usual worry and stress gone, the Duchess looked years younger. Rainbow spun in the air, rolling her body over in a simple display of aerobatics, and Persephone laughed and smiled even larger. The pegasus sighed and angled further toward the ground.

Rainbow Dash dove, speeding toward the ground at a breakneck pace. Her mother’s screams fell on deaf ears, lost in the wind that roared past them. At the last possible instant, Rainbow spread her wings and pulled out of the dive, slowing down in just enough time to land in a gallop and stop just in front of her mother.

“That was incredible, Rainbow Dash!” Duchess Persephone yelled, throwing her hooves around her daughter and pulling her close.

Rainbow Dash just laughed a little, mostly at her mother’s enthusiasm. “Yes, it was pretty cool, wasn’t it?” she said, hesitating for just a moment before returning the hug.

Duchess Persephone pulled back. “Hm. ‘Pretty cool’ indeed. I would love to see you fly more often.”

“I’d love to fly more often, mother,” Rainbow said, looking at the leather belt on the ground.

Persephone followed her gaze. “Well, you simply cannot fly effectively without practice, can you? I suppose the belt will have to stay off, at least for the time being.” She was smiling, but not as much as Rainbow was. “Also,” she continued, “my schedule simply will not allow me to see you fly whenever you wish. It would certainly be prudent to allow you out of your room, under the close eye of a guard, of course, don’t you think?”

Rainbow Dash was speechless. She pulled her mother back into a hug and squeezed, eyes watering with joy. “Thank you,” she said.

“You’re welcome, darling,” Persephone responded before dropping her voice to a whisper. “And if you were to make a surreptitious visit to the servant quarters to see a certain orange mare while my back was turned, well, I suppose I would be none the wiser.”

She pulled away from the hug, leaving Rainbow Dash with her eyes wide and her mouth opening and closing like a fish, searching for something to say. “You know?” finally left her lips.

Persephone laughed. “Of course I know, Rainbow. There’s not a lot that goes on in the castle without me knowing about it. Don’t worry, I won’t say anything to anypony. As far as I’m concerned, the ‘orange mare’ is still in whatever village she came from.”

“Ponyville,” Rainbow Dash said.

Her mother only nodded. The sun was touching the horizon as the pair began the trek back across the lawn and through the castle to Rainbow Dash’s room, Rainbow answering any and all questions that her mother asked about Applejack.

“I’ve let all the guards know about our arrangement,” Persephone said when they had reached Rainbow Dash’s room. “Any time you wish to leave, let the guard at your door know and they will accompany you wherever you wish to go.”

Rainbow Dash nodded. An awkward silence stretched on for a time before Rainbow hugged her mother. “I love you, mother,” she said. “It may not seem like it sometimes, but I need you to know that I do.”

“I love you too, Rainbow,” Persephone said as the hug ended. “As does your father. He’s simply... misguided in his means. And please, be careful. There are some in this castle who would not care for your being with a servant, and not just your father.”

Rainbow swallowed but didn’t say anything. Persephone turned and left, calling back “good night” to Rainbow Dash as she retreated into her room.

The bed gave as Rainbow Dash flopped down onto it, contemplating her day. Her mother had been willing to reconcile, was even willing to help her see Applejack? She could still barely wrap her mind around it.

Then her thoughts went to Applejack. Rainbow wanted to rush to her right then and tell her about the good news, but going down to the servant quarters for any reason would seem suspicious. Applejack wouldn’t have the day off for two more days anyway, and seeing her while she was working was too big of a risk to take.

Despite this, everything seemed to be falling into place for the couple, and now that they could go wherever they wished on the castle grounds, their day together would be that much better.

These thoughts followed her into her slumber, sighs of contentment escaping her lips as she drifted off to sleep.

(*)

Two days later, Applejack’s heart was racing. She stopped pacing in the small room she shared with Twilight and rested on her top bunk, only to jump back down and resume pacing a moment later. A quick glance at the small clock on the dresser told her that only a minute had passed since the last time she had looked. She sighed; she wasn’t usually this impatient, but waiting for Twilight to come and take her to see Rainbow Dash was doing funny things to her head.

Her heart leaped into her throat as the clopping of hooves sounded outside the door. The entrance swung open to reveal the unicorn that was the source of Applejack’s recent anxiety.

“Are you ready?” she asked.

Applejack leaned down and clenched the handle of the picnic basket between her teeth. “Ready,” she mangled around the wicker.

Twilight let out a small giggle and turned around, leaving the room with Applejack close behind. They walked in silence, Applejack’s thoughts focused solely on their destination and the mare she would be meeting there.

Their path took them through the servant quarters and threaded them through a series of hallways that took them straight to the large, gilded entrance hall. Standing beside the entrance was Shining Armor.

“Ready to see her?” he asked. Applejack just nodded, and Shining Armor pushed the doors open with his hooves, the enormous pieces sliding on oiled hinges.

Shining Armor led, with Twilight and Applejack not far behind, around the left side of the castle, taking them past fountains of gold and silver that glittered in the midday sun and across the lawn. Not too far in the distance, the walls of the hedge maze were coming into view, each side more than twice as tall as Applejack. A large tree jutted up from what Applejack guessed was the center of the labyrinth.

They came to the entrance, a gaping hole in the hedges that led to the confusing twists and turns within. Gamble was already waiting for them, remaining still in front of the gap until they were within earshot.

“Are we all set?” he asked, approaching after glancing in both directions. Shining Armor and Twilight looked at Applejack, who nodded.

“Do you remember the directions?” Twilight asked. Another nod from Applejack. “Well, you two enjoy your time. We’ll be back at sundown.”

Shining Armor and Twilight turned and left, and Gamble motioned toward the maze with his hoof. Applejack took a deep breath and went inside, Gamble stepping in front of the entrance behind her.

Left, right, left, straight, left, right, left, right, right, straight, right, left. Applejack repeated these directions in her head over and over, as she had been since Twilight recited them to her the day before.

Her heart was pounding in her chest; before, her meeting with Rainbow Dash had been so sudden to the point of almost being surreal. Now, there was buildup, as Rainbow Dash was waiting for her in the center of the maze. Each hoofstep made her breathing quicker, drowning her heart in nervous anticipation. An anxious, excited feeling had burrowed into her chest and stomach, and it wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

The soft rustling of her hooves as they connected with the grass was deafening to her. She renewed her grip on the picnic basket, barely paying attention to the turns she was taking, having run through the directions in her mind so many times that she was operating on autopilot.

With only a few turns left, a soft breeze blew through the maze, carrying the sound of rustling leaves and the faint bubbling of a stream. As Applejack rounded the final corner, she was greeted with the center of the puzzle.

There was a grove in the middle of the maze. The space was big, much bigger than Applejack had been expecting, and was occupied by an enormous oak tree sprouting from the center. It hadn’t seemed that large from outside the maze, but up close, Applejack could see that it soared high into the air, a tower in its own right, with deep brown spires that were adorned with emerald leaves.

Bubbling up from the ground on the far side of the grove was a spring of clear, blue water. Through the leaves of the oak, sunlight dappled the grass and, where it struck the water, shimmered more brilliantly than any of the fountains in the courtyard could hope to achieve. For Applejack, though, neither of these things were the most beautiful sight.

Rainbow Dash stood by the spring, head bent down as she took a long draught from the crystalline water. Her hair was loose and her wings were free, extending high into the air and catching the golden rays of the sun. Her eyes were closed, her forelegs were bent low, and her back legs were as straight as rods, leaving her rump high in the air.

Applejack stood, eyes fixed on Rainbow Dash and Rainbow Dash alone. The pegasus opened her eyes as she lifted her head from the water and, upon making eye contact, both mares’ faces darkened with blush.

Rainbow Dash moved first, licking her lips as she moved toward the oak tree. Applejack shook herself from her reverie shortly after and made her own way to the tree.

Applejack set the picnic basket down but soon found her mouth occupied again by Rainbow’s. The kiss was sudden and furious, but with a cool tinge to it from the spring water. Applejack returned the intensity, turning the kiss into an unspoken competition between the two mares, a contest in which neither was willing to give up any ground. Any time Applejack would advance, Rainbow Dash would parry her blow and counter with a jab of her tongue, only for Applejack to recover and bite gently on Rainbow’s lip.

Soon, both ponies were red in the face and breathing heavily. Applejack pulled away first.

“Let’s call it a draw,” she said in between breaths.

“A draw?” Rainbow Dash said, raising her eyebrows. “I don’t think so. I was definitely winning.”

It was Applejack’s turn to raise her eyebrows. “Is that so, little missie?” Rainbow Dash nodded, prompting Applejack to take a predatory step forward. “Then I think a rematch is in order.”

Before Rainbow could react, Applejack had tackled her to the ground and pinned her hooves above her head, straddling her right at the base of the tree.

Applejack leaned down and pressed her lips against Rainbow’s, taking every advantage the element of surprise granted her to probe her lover’s mouth with her tongue. Rainbow Dash squirmed but didn’t resist, eventually resigning herself to her fate. Or, at least, that was how it seemed to Applejack. As soon as the farmpony loosened her grip in the slightest, Rainbow flexed her wings and kicked with her hooves, bumping Applejack off of her. Rainbow rolled over and grabbed Applejack’s forehooves with her own, pinning them in the same place her own hooves had been a moment before.

“Wow,” Applejack said. Her lover’s panting form above her was framed by the sunlight, sweat glinting on her coat and heat radiating from her body.

Rainbow Dash wasted no time, planting a few pecks on Applejack’s lips before trailing kisses down to her neck, venturing lower at an agonizing pace. With her hooves planted above her, all Applejack could do was squirm as Rainbow tortured her with the deliberate slowness of her affections.

Applejack’s eyes wandered to the picnic basket, and for some reason the thought crossed her mind that she didn’t want to lose her virginity on an empty stomach.

“Maybe we should eat something,” she suggested.

“That’s just what I was thinking,” Rainbow responded before continuing her ministrations.

Applejack stopped squirming as blush exploded across her face. Rainbow Dash froze, looking up at Applejack before blushing herself.

“That’s not what you meant, is it?” she asked. Applejack shook her head.

Rainbow Dash released her captive and sat back on her haunches, averting her eyes. Applejack sat up, opened her mouth, then closed it again. The silence between the two stretched for miles.

“It’s not that I don’t want—” Applejack started.

“I’m sorry I—” Rainbow said at the same time.

They both stopped. “You first,” Rainbow said.

Applejack sighed. “It’s not that I don’t want to do... that... with you, Rainbow, I just don’t know if I’m ready yet.” She scratched the back of her head with a hoof. “I’m not exactly experienced in this department.”

Rainbow Dash nodded. “I know. I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me.” Now she sighed. “When we’re together, you’re all I can think about, filling my mind with urges and ideas that are unbecoming of a pony of stature. But that’s no excuse, and I beg your apologies for behaving so unladylike.” She gave a small curtsy and bowed her head.

When she lifted her head, she was met with a soft, quick kiss from Applejack. “Ya’ll need to lighten up some, sugar,” Applejack said. “I forgive you, you were just goin’ a little fast for me. Don’t beat yourself up over it, okay?”

Rainbow Dash nodded. “Okay.”

“Right, now I’m starving,” Applejack said, going over to the picnic basket. “Let’s eat.” She leveled her gaze at Rainbow Dash. “Let’s eat food.”

Rainbow Dash blushed all over again, making Applejack laugh. Applejack seized the red-and-white checkered blanket covering the food with her teeth and yanked, spreading it across the grass and smoothing the wrinkles with her hooves. She got the main course out, daisy sandwiches and sliced apples, before revealing a bouquet of ruby red roses, almost identical to the ones they had eaten on the night of the Summer Sun Celebration.

“For dessert,”Applejack said before replacing them.

The two mares lay side-by-side, eating their sandwiches and feeding each other apple slices whenever the urge struck them. Once their meals were gone, they snacked on the roses, nibbling the buds one by one until the bouquet was gone.

Having finished eating, the two mares laid on the checkered blanket together, Applejack with her head leaning against the base of the tree and Rainbow Dash with her head resting on Applejack’s chest. Their soft breathing was accompanied by the chorus of nature, birds chirping and water bubbling, and Rainbow listened to Applejack’s rhythmic breaths and the thumping of her heart. Applejack’s idle hoof wandered along Rainbow’s side, caressing her soft coat.

After a time, Rainbow Dash spoke. “I won,” she said.

“I’m sorry?” Applejack responded.

Rainbow Dash looked up at her. “Before, you said that it was a draw, but it wasn’t. You pulled away first, so I won.”

Applejack raised her eyebrows. “Well that just won’t stand,” she said. “I guess we’ll have to have a rematch, then, now won’t we?” Applejack narrowed her eyes at Rainbow Dash.

Applejack lunged forward, but only managed to grab air, as Rainbow had already darted away. In the next instant, Applejack found herself flat on her back with her hooves pinned at her sides.

“Looks like I win again,” Rainbow said from above her before leaning in for a kiss.

After the kiss had finished, Applejack grinned. “Not quite.” She kicked with her back legs and rolled over on top of Rainbow Dash, securing a dominant position on top.

She didn’t hold this position for long. Rainbow Dash managed to roll over on top of Applejack again, but dominance did not remain on the hooves of only one mare for long. They rolled over and over, each fighting for control over the other and the one on top peppering the other with kisses whenever they got the chance.

Rainbow Dash bucked Applejack off entirely and Applejack took a step back, gasping for air and gulping when Rainbow narrowed her eyes at her like a predator. In a flash, Rainbow Dash charged forward and pushed Applejack up against the oak tree with her body, forcing both mares onto their hind hooves. Rainbow planted her forehooves on either side of Applejack and leaned in, pausing with their mouths only inches apart.

Rainbow Dash forced her lips onto Applejack’s and was met with no resistance, only eagerness. Rainbow started moving her body in a slow, up-and-down motion, rubbing her heated body against Applejack. The musk of athletic sweat blended with the unmistakable scent of arousal and wafted through the air.

Applejack could feel a moisture on her leg, and she wasn’t sure if it was from her or the mare pressed up against her. Rainbow Dash’s lips made it hard for her to focus, and when Rainbow parted the kiss and started nibbling on Applejack’s ear, it only got worse. Her legs turned into jelly and her mind fogged over.

Her previous objections were gone, washed away by her lover’s tongue. Now she was being controlled by her nether region, and it was all she could do to keep from pouncing on Rainbow right then and there. Rainbow stuck her tongue in Applejack’s ear and the farmpony let out an involuntary moan to go with the shiver that ran down her spine.

Applejack seized Rainbow Dash by the shoulders and pushed her back, wondering for a moment if her own eyes looked as hungry as the eyes across from her.

Now that she could think straight again, Applejack hesitated. She wondered if things were moving too fast, if she was ready for what would come next if she allowed it. It seemed so simple in all the romance novels that Rarity had convinced her to read, but now that she was in the moment, what was the right choice?

In a moment of complete lucidity, Applejack’s brain rationalized the situation. She decided that she wanted this and, if Rainbow’s behavior was any indication, she wanted it, too. Applejack had been fantasizing about this moment since they had met, and now that it was finally here, what was she waiting for?

“...Applejack?”

The hurt in Rainbow’s voice snapped Applejack back to reality. Her eyes were cast down and she took a step back. Applejack wondered how long she had been just standing there, thinking. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I lost my head again, and—”

She was cut off by Applejack’s lips. “Blanket. Now.” It wasn’t a request.

“Are you sure ?” Rainbow asked.

Applejack could feel the heat radiating from between her hind legs. “I’m sure,” she said, but Rainbow still seemed unconvinced. Applejack bowed her head. “Lady Rainbow Dash of the Royal Canterlot Household, I love you, and I would like the opportunity to show you just how much. Will you make love to me?” Rainbow smiled and nodded.

(*)

They settled in, breathless and basking in their afterglow, with Rainbow Dash resting her head on Applejack’s chest.
“That was the most amazing thing in the world, Applejack,” Rainbow said. She looked up into Applejack’s eyes. “Thank you.”

Applejack kissed her. “It was my pleasure.” She winked. “And you weren’t half bad yourself.” Rainbow Dash giggled.

They laid still for a while, listening to each other breathe. “I love you,” Rainbow Dash finally said.

“I love you too, Rainbow.”

Soon, Applejack heard a soft snoring. She chuckled a little and, noticing that there were still a few hours until sundown, rested her head on Rainbow’s and closed her eyes, accompanied into her slumber by an immense love for the mare beside her.

Author's Note

The preceding chapter is the "safe" version of the chapter. There is sex in this chapter, but the most explicit parts have been cut out. These parts are not simply for the sake of sexual arousal, but as an emotional investment for Applejack and Rainbow Dash as a couple. If you are offended by that sort of content, then your reading of this chapter is complete. However, if you wish to view the chapter in its entirety, it can be found contained in a separate story here.

Quince

“Applejack.”

Applejack was slow to wake. She ignored the nudging of her hoof and the sound of her name, instead attempting to snuggle closer to the mare in her hooves. She had her forelegs wrapped around Rainbow Dash, who was resting peacefully against her, and she never wanted to let go.

“Applejack!”

With a few slow, heavy blinks, Applejack opened her eyes to see Twilight Sparkle standing above her, framed by a sky alight with the orange of sunset.

Sunset.

Applejack sat up, disturbing Rainbow from her slumber. Sunset meant one thing: they had to go, and her and Rainbow would soon be separated again.

“What...” Rainbow Dash said, sitting up and rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “What’s going on?”

Twilight sighed. “I hate to do this,” she said, “but we have to go. We can’t risk you all staying out here past sunset.”

Applejack stood up, dislodging Rainbow Dash and drawing sleepy complaints from the pegasus. “We understand, Twilight,” Applejack said. “You’re only lookin’ out for us, and we appreciate it.” She elbowed Rainbow, who still looked half-asleep.

“Yeah,” she muttered. “Appreciate...” She trailed off, head slumping down and soft snoring coming from her a moment later.

“Long day?” Twilight asked, looking at Rainbow Dash, who was now successfully sleeping while standing up.

Applejack blushed a little. “Yeah, you could say that.” She grabbed Rainbow by the shoulders and shook her. Then she shook her harder. “Rainbow, time to wake up,” she said, but Rainbow Dash shrugged her off. Applejack smiled at Twilight and then leaned down next to Rainbow’s ear. “If ya’ll ever want a piece of this again,” she whispered, “you’ll wake up right quick.”

“What, what, I’m awake, I swear!” Rainbow Dash said, shaking her head to cast the sleep from her eyes.

“What did you say to her?” Twilight asked, arching her eyebrows.

“Oh, nothing,” Applejack responded, smiling a smug little smile.

“Right...” Twilight said. “Anyway, we need to get going. Come on.” She turned and started walking, gesturing for the other two mares to follow.

The two mares lagged further and further behind and, when they were out of earshot of Twilight, Rainbow leaned over to Applejack.

“You weren’t serious about that, were you?” she asked.

Applejack laughed a little. “Of course not,” she said.

Rainbow let out a sigh of relief. “Good,” she said, which made Applejack laugh even more. Of course she wouldn’t withhold herself; she had had just as much fun as Rainbow, maybe even more.

As they walked through the maze, Rainbow Dash leaned against Applejack, both mares softly nuzzling each other. Their pace became slower and slower, until a concerned look back from Twilight spurred the pair onward. The sun was almost behind the horizon, and they would have to hurry if they wanted to avoid suspicion.

They exited the maze and were greeted by Gamble, who, after making sure they were alone, approached the three mares. Applejack was amazed by just how big he was; he was twice her size, even bigger than Big Macintosh.

“You ladies enjoy your picnic?” he asked, his perpetual grin plastered on his face.

“It was wonderful,” Rainbow responded, locking eyes with Applejack. She leaned in and was met with a kiss.

“From what I was hearin,’” Gamble continued, “dessert was pretty good, too.” He winked at them, causing both mares to blush uncontrollably. Gamble let out a booming guffaw and put a forearm around each of them like they were old friends.

“Huh?” Twilight said, looking confused.

Gamble wiped a tear from his eye and stopped laughing long enough to speak. “It’s nothing, Twilight,” he said. “Don’t worry about it.” He released his captives and suddenly seemed all business again, though he was still smiling. “So, we all set?”

Twilight nodded and turned to Applejack. “I’m going to accompany Lady Dash back to her chambers. Are you okay getting back to the servant quarters by yourself?”

“Don’t worry about me, Twi,” Applejack said. “I’ll find my way there.”

They stood around for a long moment, nopony willing to initiate what would pull Applejack and Rainbow Dash apart once again. Finally, Applejack pulled Rainbow into a hug and gave her a kiss.

“I’ll miss you,” she said.

“We’ll see each other soon,” Rainbow responded.

Applejack reluctantly let the embrace dissolve and turned around, walking across the garden and back toward the front of the castle.

Having committed the route back to the servant quarters to memory, Applejack went on autopilot, thoughts focused on the wonderful day she had just had. The things they had done, not just the sex, but spending the day together, had been better than she could’ve hoped. When she had told Rainbow Dash she loved her, she had meant it, and she knew that Rainbow meant it, too.

The day had just ended, and Applejack already wanted to do it all again. She couldn’t rid her face of the infectious smile that her happiness placed there, and her reflections occupied her all the way back to the hall leading to her and Twilight’s room.

“Hey, wait up,” came a voice from behind her.

Applejack turned and saw a stallion trotting up to her, and she stopped to let him catch up. He was tall and thin, a dull grey coat accented by the little bit of pitch-black mane that stuck out from under his chef hat. His cutie mark was what looked like a silver tongue.

“You’re the new maid,” he stated. “Applejack, right?”

“Yup,” Applejack responded with a nod.

The stallion stuck his hoof out and flashed a winning smile filled to the brim with perfect white teeth. “I’m Quince. Nice to meet you, Applejack.”

Applejack smiled and shook his hoof. “Likewise,” she said.

“Listen, I’m gonna cut right to the chase,” he said, leveling his gaze at Applejack. She regarded him, but allowed him to continue. “A bunch of the serving staff gets together once a week and has a little party. You know, plenty of drinking, sometimes ponies’ll play music, just a fun little shindig to blow off steam and relax after a long day. I was just wondering if you wanted to join us tonight.” His smile had faded a bit in intensity, but Applejack could tell he was used to having mares swoon over that toothy grin.

Applejack glanced toward her room. “I don’t know,” she said. “It’s been a long day, and I wouldn’t want Twilight to worry about me.”

Quince snorted. “Don’t worry about Twilight. She knows we have these little get togethers, and I’m sure she’ll be able to put two and two together. She is the ‘royal tutor,’ after all.” Applejack could hear the quotation marks around “royal tutor.”

“Hey,” Applejack said, narrowing her eyes, “Twilight’s my friend, and I won’t have anypony makin’ sarcastic comments about her.”

Quince held up his hooves in defense. “Sorry, it’s just.... I’ve invited her a few times, but she always ignores me, racing past like she has somewhere more important to be. I guess she does, most of the time, it just seems a little rude, that’s all. Didn’t mean to offend.”

Applejack nodded, but inside, her mind raced. Twilight had said that these ponies didn’t trust the royalty, or even anypony associated with the royalty, and Applejack was about as close to one of the uppers as she could get. But what harm could it do to check it out? If things started to go downhill, she could just leave, and at least she would know not to go anymore.

“Alright,” she relented, and Quince’s smile grew a little larger.

“Great!” he said. “I’ll be right back.” He disappeared into a room and reappeared a moment later, minus one chef hat, and Applejack could now see that his black mane was cut short. He glanced both directions down the hallway, then said, “Follow me.”

Quince walked all the way down to the end of the passageway, right next to Applejack’s room, where two torch sconces hung on the wall. With another glance back, Quince reached up and pulled on one of the sconces.

The cobblestone wall in front of Applejack swung outward to reveal a shallow stone ramp. Quince smiled at Applejack’s wide-mouthed expression, grabbed the other torch off the wall and ventured into the black maw that awaited them.

For a moment Applejack debated not following him, but her brave side won out and she took her first furtive steps into the darkness. She followed the torch light that danced along the walls until she caught up with Quince.

“What is this place?” Applejack asked.

“This passageway connects the servant quarters to the old dungeon,” Quince explained as they walked. “Where we live now used to be the main dungeon, but it was repurposed awhile back. Now the whole thing’s been moved to the other side of the castle and every entrance to the old one’s been sealed up. Every entrance except this one, of course.”

The conversation faded into silence, the clopping of their hooves on the hard stone the only sound accompanying them. The air grew colder as they descended and the torch started to flicker. Applejack could see her breath.

“How far down does it go?” she asked after a while.

“This far,” Quince responded as the staircase ended and they came to a thick wooden door.

He put the torch in a sconce on the wall and grabbed the large ring that hung from the front of the door. He nodded toward the entrance. “A little help, please?” he requested.

Applejack put her front hooves on the door. “On the count of three,” Quince said. “Ready? One, two, three!”

On three, both ponies pushed with all their might. The door moved slowly, swinging on ancient, creaking hinges, but soon it was all the way open.

The room behind the door was big, about as long as the hallway in the servant quarters but five times as wide. The room was well-lit, despite the absence of torches, and Applejack wondered how until she saw the magelights suspended in the corners of the room, no doubt controlled by the unicorns she saw in the crowd gathered a short distance away. From the looks of it, there were at least fifty ponies there.

Quince started forward and Applejack followed. There were dungeon cells lining the sides of the room, and shackles and manacles stuck stuck out from the walls, floor, and ceiling in a seemingly random fashion.

There were several large barrels on tables on the left, and a stack of mugs next to that. Most ponies in the crowd had a drink, and sounds of boisterous conversation and laughter greeted Applejack and Quince.

“Hey, Quince is here!” called one of the ponies in the crowd. As Applejack and Quince passed through, every pony in the room seemed to have a greeting for Quince. Some offered him drinks, some patted him on the back as he passed, and some just said hello, and he took the attention in stride, returning every greeting and shaking every hoof offered to him. He smiled and laughed, politely declining drink offers and making his way through the crowd like a celebrity.

Who is this pony? Applejack wondered.

Applejack stopped once she reached the other side of the crowd, but Quince left the group of ponies behind and approached a small wooden box that rested on the ground. He smiled out at the crowd, seeming to make eye contact with each one of the ponies present. Then, without breaking that contact, he stepped up onto the box, elevating him just high enough to see the entirety of his audience from his vantage point. Everypony went silent.

“Well, here we are again,” he said. “You all know me, and I know all of you. In fact, everypony in this room is a familiar face. That is, everypony except one.” Quince looked down at Applejack, and she could feel the eyes of fifty ponies prodding her from various directions. Despite herself, a hint of blush crept into her face.

“Come on up here and introduce yourself,” Quince said, holding a hoof out to Applejack. She looked around, then looked back at Quince. “Yes, you,” he said. She took his hoof and he pulled her up onto the box at the same time he stepped off, leaving her alone in front of the crowd.

“Uh... howdy,” she said, nodding her head to the large group of ponies who were now staring at her. “I’m Applejack.” Everypony in the crowd returned a “hello Applejack.”

Quince stepped back up onto the box, leaving barely enough room for either of them to stand. “As I’m sure you’ve all heard,” he said with a grand gesture of his hooves, “Applejack here is the pony who stood up for our poor Daisy when she was about to be punished by one of them.” When he said “them,” he looked up and nodded to the ceiling. “Not only is it impressive in and of itself that she stood up to one of the nobles, she did it on her very first day here, without being prompted and with nothing to gain.” Quince leaned forward, and the whole crowd seemed to follow. “Out of the kindness of her heart, out of the goodness of her soul, Applejack helped a pony she had never met, who was about to be beaten and thrown into the dungeon by none other than that pony whom we all despise: Prince Blueblood.” The venom dripping from Quince’s voice as he said the name sent uncomfortable shivers down Applejack’s spine.

The crowd erupted with boos at the mention of the hated prince’s name. Quince, nodding, held his hoof up, and the uproar settled down almost immediately. Applejack marveled at the control this pony had over the rest of the servants.

“I know, I know,” he continued. “Believe me, I feel your hatred, perhaps more than I care to admit.” He started, then smiled. “But, but, my friends, this pony, this simple pony from the charming little hamlet of Ponyville, stood up for what was right. She has shown us that we can do it, it is possible to stand up to them, to stand up for what is right, to stand up, speak up, and finally be counted!” The crowd murmured its assent.

Quince was almost in a frenzy, so much so that he didn’t notice when Applejack stepped off the soapbox. “Isn’t that what we want, in the end? We want equality! We want to be treated the same as they treat each other. Not as inferiors, not as subservient creatures that they can push around and throw out when they’re finished!”

“But what can we do?” came a call from the crowd. Other ponies nodded and looked back at Quince.

“What can we do!” Quince said, gesturing wildly out toward the crowd. “He asks what we can do! I’ll tell you what we can do. We can continue this existence, living under the hooves of other ponies, never reaching our full potential. Or we can be like Applejack, stand up to these oppressors, show them what we are capable of, and take what we deserve! These ponies have taken our pride, have stolen our dignity, have forced us to wait on their every whim with no chance of gaining any social ground, and for what? Power fantasy? That may be part of it, but no. They do it for money.

“That’s right, money! They treat us like dirt, like garbage, doing whatever they want to us, forcing our protests by the wayside, so they can keep their money. Money! That’s all it comes down to! They don’t care about treating all equines equally, they don’t care about being kind, being decent, being friendly! They live in splendor, waited on every moment of every day, and by who? By us! We stand by and let this happen! We let them walk all over us, stealing the very things that make us equine in the first place!”

Applejack stepped back into the crowd, but Quince didn’t seem to notice. In fact, nopony seemed to notice. Every pair of eyes in the room were fixed on the pony speaking from his soapbox.

“When the time comes, what will we do? Will we be servants, like we always have, retreating to our hole in the ground whenever they tell us to? Or will we stand up to them? Will we have the courage to be like Applejack, to be heroes, to be remembered for changing the way things are in Canterlot once and for all? I know I will. Who’s with me?”

Quince, who was now breathing heavily, stuck his hoof into the air. Applejack watched from the back of the crowd. The tension in the air was palpable, the ponies who were hanging on Quince’s every word waiting for him to continue. When he didn’t, the spell he had cast on the crowd with his fervor seemed to dissolve.

“You’re crazy,” somepony yelled, shattering the silence.

“Come on Quince,” said another, “why don’t you have a drink?”

Applejack watched as the fire faded from Quince’s eyes. His shoulders slumped and his jaw clenched, but then he returned almost instantly from his frenzied rally-speaking to his charming, everypony self.

“That sounds great,” he said, his smile diminishing for only a second.

Quince stepped off the box and disappeared into the crowd, which slowly began to return to normal conversation. Applejack felt a little sorry for him, seeing the way the other servants treated something he believed so strongly in, but her sympathy was overruled by her desire to protect Rainbow Dash.

Applejack turned and prepared to leave, but was stopped by a hoof on her shoulder. She turned around to see a pale yellow earth pony mare with an azure mane that flowed freely around her face. Applejack knew she recognized her, and then it clicked: it was Daisy, the mare she had protected from Blueblood on her first day.

“Excuse me, Applejack?” she said, her voice soft and gentle, reminding Applejack af a certain pegasus she knew back in Ponyville.

Applejack smiled. “Howdy. Uh, Daisy, right?”

Daisy nodded. “I just wanted to thank you for standing up to Prince Blueblood for me. I never got the chance before, and I wanted to say that it was one of the bravest things I’ve ever seen.”

“Aw, it ain’t no big deal,” Applejack said, blushing a little and rubbing the back of her neck with her hoof.

Daisy widened her eyes. “I don’t think you understand. It may not be a big deal to you, but nopony in the castle stands up to Blueblood like you did. Even the other nobles fear him. I’m just glad he was in a caring mood that day; I don’t know what I would’ve done if you had been punished on my behalf.”

Applejack gulped. Even the other nobles were scared of Blueblood? Had she just been lucky that day? No wonder Twilight had been so quick to stop her.

“Well, I’m just happy to help,” Applejack said.

Quince appeared in Applejack’s peripheral vision, and he was rapidly approaching the two mares. “I see Daisy has introduced herself at last,” he said, flashing that smile of his and making Daisy blush. Daisy squeaked something like “sorry gotta go bye” before rushing away. Quince gave a small wave before turning back to Applejack.

“So, how are you liking our little gathering?” he asked.

“It’s, uh, nice, I guess,” Applejack said, putting on her trademark plastic smile.

Quince smirked. “Has anypony ever told you you’re a terrible liar?” he asked.

Applejack rolled her eyes, but inside her heart quickened. The last thing she wanted was to be caught in a conversation with a pony with such radical ideas of “change.”

“Are you on board?” Quince asked suddenly.

“What?” Applejack asked, taking a small step backward toward the door.

Quince advanced the same distance. “Don’t play like that. You know exactly what I’m talking about. Will you stand with me against our oppressors when the time comes?”

“What exactly do you mean by ‘stand with you?’” Applejack asked, taking another step back.

Quince matched the step again. “I mean doing whatever needs to be done to achieve equality. Whatever needs to be done. When the time comes, I need your help. The whole thing falls apart without you.”

Applejack stopped retreating and regarded Quince. “What do you mean? How can I be important; I just got here."

"Exactly!" Quince exclaimed, a little of the fire returning to his eyes. “All of the ponies who already live here, who are used to this life, don’t want to change it. They think that nothing will come of standing up to the nobles. But you,” at this he pointed at Applejack, “you don’t think that. You’ve stood up to Blueblood, you are the pony I, we, need, a pony we can rally behind, and a pony we can believe in.”

Applejack was reeling. Quince wanted her to become a symbol to these ponies, and all she wanted was to see Rainbow Dash. Her mind raced. If they did achieve equality, if what Quince was preaching really were possible, would Applejack and Rainbow Dash be able to be together, unimpeded by classist social stigma? She shook her head; Quince was talking treason, and Applejack wanted no part of it. Despite how nice the end goal might be, nothing short of a war would achieve it.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’m the mare you’re lookin’ for,” she said.

Quince just nodded slowly. “I thought you might say that. Before you decide, will you let me tell you a story?”

Applejack chewed on her bottom lip for a moment before nodding. What harm could it do?

“Not here, though,” Quince said. he started toward the door. “Come on.”

Applejack followed. They journeyed back up through the cold passageway and reemerged in the servant quarters. Quince led Applejack to a room on the left and pushed the door open, going in and lighting the lantern before inviting Applejack in.

The room was almost identical to Applejack’s; the same dresser, bed, and mirror stood around the room in the same spots. Quince closed the door behind them, pulled a small stool out from under the bed and offered it to Applejack, who sat down, before taking a seat on one himself. Applejack tried to relax, but the cramped space made it difficult.

He started with a long sigh, leaning back and running a hoof through his hair. “This story starts, like so many others, in the bustling city of Canterlot, capital of the Equestrian Empire. In this city live countless ponies, but I’ll be talking about two orphans, brother and sister, whose parents died while they were still young, too young to remember. These ponies went from foster home to foster home, never staying in one place long enough to make any friends save for each other. All they had in the whole world was each other, and they always stuck together. The brother loved his sister, would’ve done anything for her, protected her from everything life tried to throw at them, and they always came out stronger for it.

“Then, it seemed like they had caught a break. They managed to secure jobs, as servants in Canterlot Castle. It seemed like the perfect gig; it was stable, food and lodging were provided, they could even room together. Everything fell into place, they worked diligently, and life was good for a while.” Quince’s eyes became unfocused.

“But it couldn’t last. The brother made a mistake, a mistake that any other pony could’ve made, a mistake that shouldn’t have mattered. And it wouldn’t have mattered, if it weren’t for who he offended. Prince Blueblood was not a forgiving pony, and when he thought his honor was tarnished, he would go to any lengths to right what he viewed as wrong.

“But simply punishing the brother wasn’t good enough. The brother didn’t mind; he had been getting into fights his entire life to protect his sister, and he could take a beating.” Quince’s face darkened. “So Blueblood found the brother’s weakness, the one thing the brother couldn’t live without and would give his life to protect: his sister.”

Quince started spitting his words. “Blueblood, in his infinite cowardice, started punishing the sister, beating a defenceless mare just because it hurt her brother. But he took it too far. He beat the mare too badly, beat her into unconsciousness, beat her without mercy, without discretion, and she had to be hospitalized.” Tears started forming in Quince’s eyes. “Blueblood said he was sorry, apologized over and over again, but he didn’t mean it. The brother could tell he was just saying it to ease his conscience, so he wouldn’t have to feel guilty.

“The brother visited his sister every day, talked to her, tried to comfort her, but her condition never got better. She slipped into a coma, her brain irreparably damaged by Blueblood’s cruelty. The doctors said they couldn’t do anything for her, but the brother knew it was a lie. If it had been one of the nobles, they would’ve stopped at nothing to make them better, but no, it was just a lowly servant. Then, a few days later, she died. She was buried in a communal grave set aside specifically for servants who passed away. There was no funeral; the brother mourned alone.”

Quince looked up and locked eyes with Applejack. He was trembling. “And do you know what happened to Blueblood, the pony that committed murder, the pony that killed an innocent serving mare for something she didn’t even do? Nothing. He apologized, and the whole thing was swept under the rug. But the brother never forgot. He never forgave Blueblood, or the rest of the ponies who call themselves nobles, for what they did. They took his sister away, and he intends to give them exactly what they deserve.”

The silence left by the end of the story was deafening, the look on Quince’s face making Applejack want to run in fear and comfort him at the same time. She tried to imagine what it would be like to lose one of her siblings, but she couldn’t comprehend that level of pain; it was too much.

“Promise me you’ll think about my offer,” Quince said. “Please.” Applejack nodded, and Quince let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”

Quince stood up and put the stools away before opening the door for Applejack to leave. She put a hoof on his shoulder on her way out, and he just looked at her.

Soon, Applejack was back in her room. It wasn’t five minutes before Twilight showed up, bubbling with energy.

“So,” she began, “tell me everything about your day. Lady Dash wouldn’t say anything, and she told me to ask you.”

Applejack just climbed up onto the top bunk. “Not now, Twi. Maybe tomorrow?”

Twilight’s expression wilted, but she gave a somber nod. “Okay, tomorrow then.”

Once both mares were safely in their beds, Twilight extinguished the lantern and cast the room in darkness. Applejack lay awake, listening to Twilight’s soft breathing and thinking about Quince’s story.

She didn’t get very much sleep that night.

A Rock and a Hard Place

Applejack opened her eyes and immediately closed them again, shielding them from the light of the lamp that hung from the ceiling. It took her a moment to remember where she was, and when she did, the whole previous day came flooding back to her. Rainbow Dash, the gardens, Quince, all of it.

“I thought farmers were always ‘up with the roosters,’” she heard Twilight say with a small laugh.

Applejack only groaned in response. She didn’t want to get up; the joy of her previous day with Rainbow had been tempered by Quince’s story, and Applejack had had tremendous trouble falling asleep.

“Come on, Applejack, time to get up.” Her tone was more serious this time.

Applejack sighed. She opened her eyes, attempted to rub the sleep from them, and hopped off the bed, narrowly avoiding Twilight on the way down. She sighed even harder when she remembered the maid outfit.

Twilight looked at her with concern. “I thought you’d be happy after yesterday,” she said. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothin,’ Twi, don’t worry about it.” Applejack opened the top drawer of the dresser and withdrew one of the lacy things contained within.

“Applejack, you’re a horrible liar,” Twilight stated. “What happened between the garden and here yesterday?”

Applejack stopped dressing and looked at Twilight. “Do you know a pony named Quince?” she asked.

Twilight gasped. “You didn’t talk to him, did you?” Twilight asked. After a moment, Applejack nodded. “Please tell me you didn’t go to one of his ‘parties.’” Applejack nodded again. “He told you his story, didn’t he?” Another nod.

“Did it really happen?” Applejack asked. “Did Blueblood really... you know... kill Quince’s sister?”

“Yes,” Twilight said. “It was terrible. I sympathize with Quince, I really do, but he can’t be trusted.”

“Why not?” Applejack asked.

Twilight sighed again. “He was never the same after Bella died. I wasn’t very close with either of them, but even I could tell that Quince lost more than his sister to Prince Blueblood. Something about him was... off for the longest time. Then the talk of rebellion started.”

“And what’s so bad about that?” Applejack asked. “If’n ya ask me, things could use a change ‘round here.”

Twilight’s mouth hung open. “Don’t tell me you’re thinking about joining him. He’s a radical, and he’s violent, and with your relationship with Lady Dash, do you really think that Quince would let you two off the hook just because you help him? He blames all of the nobles for what happened to Bella, even though most of them are good ponies.” She shivered. “I’ve heard him speak more than once, Applejack, and I promise you that if he gets his way, he won’t stop with just Blueblood.”

Applejack gulped. What could she do? She couldn’t put Rainbow in danger, but how could she stand by while that kind of injustice went on? And if there wasn’t change, she and Rainbow Dash would have to hide their relationship forever.

“I guess you’re right, Twilight,” Applejack relented.

Twilight still didn’t seem convinced. “So you won’t talk to him anymore?”

“I’ll do my best.”

Twilight smiled. “Thank you, Applejack. I believe it’s for the best.”

“No problem, Twilight,” Applejack responded. “Let’s go take a bath.”

(*)

Applejack was on her knees, forehooves wrapped around the grainy wooden handle of a scrub brush. She pushed forward, then pulled back, over and over, scrubbing the floor of the hallway until it shone a glimmering white, clean enough to see her reflection. Her hooves were wet with sudsy water from the bucket next to her. Behind her, the glossy, freshly-cleaned floor stretched the length of the hallway. Her eyes were fixed on the brush, though she wasn’t really seeing it. Her mind was elsewhere, as it always was when she performed a task that required little attention. Specifically, she was dwelling on Quince, and the things Twilight had said about him.

She flip-flopped back and forth as her mind wrestled for an answer to the questions she had. Twilight was her friend, without whom none of what Applejack and Rainbow Dash had would be possible, and Applejack wanted so badly to listen to her and dismiss Quince. The more she thought about it, however, the harder the decision became.

Twilight was so used to this existence, so desensitized to what happened in the castle that she was almost blind to it. Applejack had been raised to know the difference between right and wrong, and some of the things that were going on were definitely wrong. Twilight had lived here much longer than Applejack had, but that only seemed to cloud her judgement.

The cleaned portion of the floor grew larger and larger as Applejack thought.

Then there was Quince. If anypony had a reason to hate the nobles, it was him, and that alone scared Applejack. How far was he planning to go if Applejack helped him? If things got out of hand, if somepony got hurt, she would be to blame. But without him, things would never change. The nobles would continue doing what they were doing unless somepony did something about it.

No.

She pushed the thoughts from her mind. She had no reason not to trust Twilight, and every reason not to trust Quince; it would be too dangerous to help him. Twilight had never let her down, and loyalty was something Applejack valued in a friend.

These thoughts kept her complete attention, at least until she nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt a hoof on her shoulder. She turned to see Daisy, who was looking at her with a frightened look in her eyes.

“I’m sorry!” Daisy exclaimed. “I said your name a few times, but you didn’t respond, so I touched you. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Don’t worry about it, Daisy,” Applejack said, picking herself up. “I was just a little... preoccupied, is all.” They stood in silence for a moment. “Was there something you needed me for?” Applejack asked.

“Oh!” Daisy blushed a little. “Yes, sorry. Quince wants to talk to you again.”

Applejack tensed. “What for?”

“I don’t know, I didn’t ask, but it sounded important. Do you want me to tell him you can’t?”

Applejack regained her composure. What could one more talk hurt? She could explain to Quince that she couldn’t help him. She was sure Twilight wouldn’t mind.

“No, that’s fine. Did he say where?”

Daisy bit her lip. “Um, in his room. He said he’ll be free after dinner.”

“Tell him I’ll be there.” Applejack returned to her scrubbing.

“Applejack?”

Applejack returned her gaze to Daisy. “Yeah?”

“You and Quince aren’t...” She trailed off, blush deepening.

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t what?”

“Nevermind, it’s stupid.” She started to walk away.

Then Applejack remembered how Daisy had acted around Quince at the speech, and it dawned on her. “Are ya’ll askin’ if me and Quince are together?” Daisy averted her eyes. “No, Daisy, I’m seein’ somepony else. Trust me, he’s all yours.”

A dainty smile returned to Daisy’s face. She nodded, turned away, and left.

Now free from distractions, Applejack scrubbed with renewed vigor. The storm in her thoughts was quelled, at least for the time being, by her plans to talk to Quince. Everything would be fine once she explained how things were. It had to be.

(*)

Applejack glanced left, then right, then left again, before venturing out into the hallway. She had just finished her chores for the day and put her outfit away in her and Twilight’s room, feeling an unexpected relief when she found that Twilight was not there. Applejack had found herself hoping that she wouldn’t have to see Twilight until after she had talked to Quince.

Once the coast was clear, Applejack crossed the hall to Quince’s room, lifting her hoof and knocking three times.

“Come in,” came the voice from the other side.

Applejack pushed the door open and went inside. The room looked the same as it had the last time she had been there, as if nopony had even been living in it. The bed was immaculate, everything was in place, and there was even a stool waiting for her to sit on, across from where Quince himself was sitting.

“Applejack,” he said with his toothy grin, “what a pleasant surprise.” He gestured to the stool. “Please, have a seat.”

Applejack closed the door behind her and sat. “I heard ya’ll wanted to talk to me,” she stated.

“Yes,” Quince responded, never taking his eyes off Applejack. “I was wondering if you had given any more thought to my offer.”

“I have,” Applejack said with a nod, “and I don’t think I can help you. I’m sorry, but I just can’t.”

Quince’s smile faded for an instant and a dangerous anger flashed behind his eyes, but he regained his composure in the next second. “Why not, if you don’t mind me asking?”

Applejack sighed. “I just don’t think it’s the right way. I mean, you’re talking about uprising, riots in the streets, but do you really think that’s gonna achieve anything?”

Quince started. “Of course! It’s going to achieve everything!” He took a deep breath. “The only way change is going to happen is if somepony instigates it. The way things are now isn’t working. It’s not just the servants in the castle; I’ve been all around Equestria, and the ruling class overpowers the common pony everywhere. I have contact with ponies in Trottingham, Manehatten, Detrot, and countless other cities, and they all tell me the same thing: things need to change.”

“Well, things aren’t like that in Ponyville,” Applejack offered.

Quince raised his eyebrows. “But you feel the effects!” he exclaimed. “Your mayor doesn’t regulate taxes; the aristocrats in Canterlot do, the ponies you now serve every single day. You may think you’re safe when you’re off the map, but trust me, they still get to you. Think about it. With the harvest you pull in every season, how much do you think you should be making? What about with cider? Do you not think it’s strange that you can be so productive and see so few bits? How is it possible that you run one of the largest apple farms in central Equestria and yet you still live in near-poverty?”

Applejack opened her mouth, but nothing came out. The things he was saying made sense, no matter how much she didn’t want to admit it. Then a thought occurred to her.

“How do ya’ll know so much about me?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.

Quince shrugged. “If I’m going to be working with a pony, I do my research.”

Applejack didn’t know what to believe. On the one hoof, everything Quince was saying made sense, and he said them with such confidence in their truth that she found herself wanting to agree with every word. On the other hoof, her life in Ponyville had seemed just fine before he had made her think about it, and, if she did work with him, what would that mean for Rainbow Dash?

Applejack slumped her shoulder. “I just can’t, Quince,” she said. “I don’t want to be involved with anything like this.” She stood up and moved to the door. “I’m sorry.”

“It doesn’t work without you, Applejack,” Quince said. “If you back out, the whole thing, all these ponies have worked for, all they’re hoping for, falls apart. Please consider that before you make your decision.”

Applejack stopped with the door cracked open. “I’m sorry,” she repeated. Then, she left.

Quince allowed her to go without objection, which Applejack was grateful for; he had already given her enough to think about.

Back in her room, Applejack crawled into bed. She tried to explain Quince’s arguments away, but they tormented her thoughts. How was she supposed to decide what to do? What was right? She knew what Twilight would say, but what about Rainbow Dash? Surely she was discontent enough with the nobles to speak out against them, right? Things seemed to be in a bad way in Canterlot, and, if the things Quince said had any truth to them, in the rest of Equestria as well.

Part of her wanted things to go back to how they were; she had been content on the farm, bucking apples and minding her own business. Why did things have to get so complicated? She had led a simple life, with simple goals, and she had been happy.

But another part knew that that was selfish. If bad things were happening, and Applejack had the power to stop them, shouldn’t she do all she could? She wanted to help these ponies, but how? With Quince? But what would that lead to?

She tossed and turned in her bed, unable to get comfortable. How was she supposed to know what to do? What would be better—to be ignorant and happy, or to suffer for a greater future and risk failure?

She had a lot to think about.

(*)

“Are you okay, Applejack?”

Applejack shook herself back to the present, noticing the other mare wrapped in her hooves for what seemed like the first time. They were lying in the center of the maze again, Applejack’s next day off having finally come.

“What?” Applejack responded.

Rainbow Dash regarded her. “You seem a little... off. Is everything okay?”

Applejack smiled a smile so large that it didn’t seem like her face should be able to fit it on her head. “Of course,” she lied.

“Please don’t lie to me,” Rainbow responded. “If something’s the matter, I want you to tell me.”

Applejack sighed. “I’m sorry, Rainbow, I’ve just had a lot on my mind lately.”

“Like what?”

Applejack shook her head. “I don’t wanna talk about it, okay?”

Rainbow Dash looked into Applejack’s eyes. “You can tell me anything, Applejack. Come on, I want to know.”

Applejack bit her lower lip. “You promise you won’t get mad?”

Rainbow Dash scrunched her face up in a way that Applejack found adorable to no end. “I can’t promise that.”

“Can you promise you’ll try?”

Rainbow Dash nodded. “I promise.”

Applejack paused for a long moment before continuing. “There’s this other servant, a pony named Quince, and he’s been goin’ around trying to start up some kinda rebellion to overthrow the nobles.”

Rainbow Dash nodded again. “Yeah, Twilight’s told me about him. She says that he never gets enough ponies to follow him, so I shouldn’t worry about it.” She eyed Applejack. “You’re not thinking of joining him, are you?”

“Nothin’ of the sort,” Applejack responded, “but I just can’t seem to get his arguments out of my head. He makes some good points about why things ‘round here need to change.”

Rainbow Dash flared her nostrils. “But you’re sure you won’t help him?”

“Well, I considered it, but—” She trailed off.

“What!?” Rainbow interrupted. “I know you probably think he’s trying to help, Applejack, but rebellion is not the way to do it.”

“To be honest,” Applejack responded, “I thought you’d be a little more sympathetic. You don’t seem to have any love for the royals, either; just look at your dad!”

Rainbow Dash shook her head. “Do you really think that if a revolution were started Quince would make that distinction? He’d throw me in with the rest of them, and you’re thinking of joining him?”

Applejack stomped her hoof. “I said ‘but,’ didn’t I? Of course I’m not gonna help him, but that don’t mean certain things he said didn’t make sense.”

Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes. “Like what?” she challenged.

“Like the way servants are treated around here,” Applejack responded. “I doubt you’ve noticed, but we don’t exactly have it great. We live in old dungeons, wait on the royalty’s every whim, and get treated like dirt!”

Rainbow Dash bit her lip. “I know,” she relented. “I know it’s bad, Applejack, but it’s the way things have to be.”

Applejack narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”

“Twilight always explained it to me like a beehive,” Rainbow said. “Without the queen, the worker bees have no purpose, no direction, and without the workers, the queen would die. The upper class and the lower class are both necessary; things are like this for a reason.”

Applejack stood up. “Well, even if I did believe that that was the only way it could be, that still don’t justify murder.”

Rainbow’s eyebrows shot up. “What?”

“Twilight didn’t tell you?” Applejack asked. Rainbow shook her head. “Quince’s sister was killed by Blueblood. Killed, Rainbow! And he wasn’t even punished for it. If that don’t mean things need to change, then I don’t know what does.”

Rainbow Dash was about to say something, but her words caught in her mouth. “She was... killed? Are you sure?”

Applejack nodded. “Twilight said the same thing. And Blueblood wasn’t even punished for it. I won’t help Quince, but you can’t deny that things need to change ‘round here.”

“I suppose,” Rainbow relented. There was an awkward silence. Rainbow Dash kicked the ground.

Applejack swallowed. “I’m sorry I yelled,” she finally said, shattering the quiet.

“I’m sorry, too,” Rainbow responded. “Forgive me?”

Applejack nuzzled her. “Of course.”

The nuzzling quickly became kissing, but it was difficult for Applejack to put Quince out of her mind, and her time with Rainbow Dash suffered because of it. Her doubts were always there, drawing her attention away. She could tell Rainbow Dash was thinking about something as well; both parties were distracted, and they eventually decided on simply lying together in the shade until it was time to return to the castle.

(*)

When they left the maze, only Gamble was waiting for them

“Where’s Twilight?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Gamble shrugged. “Haven’t seen hide nor hair of her all day.”

“She said she would be at the library all day,” Applejack said. “Somethin’ about a new spell, I think.”

Rainbow Dash nodded. Something didn’t sit right with her, but she pushed it out of her mind.

A few minutes later, after the lovers had been reluctantly separated, Rainbow Dash was returning to her room, accompanied by Gamble. The sun dipped to the horizon, bathing the sky in bright oranges and reds.

The things Applejack had spoken of distracted Rainbow from the journey. She knew things were bad, but murder? She could hardly believe that Blueblood had killed a pony and not been punished for it, no matter how important he was.

“Are you alright, Lady Dash?” Gamble asked. “You look like you’ve got a lot on your mind.”

“Hm?” Rainbow responded, drawing herself from her reverie. “Yes, it’s nothing, don’t worry yourself.”

“Aw, come on,” Gamble responded with a smile. “You can tell me if something’s bothering you. I’m a great listener.”

Rainbow Dash regarded the jovial pony, but he seemed sincere. She sighed. “Are things... fair for the servants here in the castle, Gamble?”

Gamble swallowed hard. “Of course! The nobles are fair and just and give the servants the best life they could have.”

“You’re just saying that, aren’t you?”

Gamble glanced back and forth down the hallway, but there was nopony there. “Sadly, yes,” he said, lowering his voice. “Things are typically alright for the guard, and most of you folk are okay, but a few bad apples can spoil the whole bunch.”

Rainbow Dash laughed some despite herself. “That sounds like something Applejack would say.”

Gamble let out a hearty, booming laugh. “Indeed it does, Lady, indeed it does.”

“Could you name a few of the ‘bad apples?’” Rainbow asked. Then, “discretely, of course.”

Gamble looked around again. “Well, that Blueblood fellow, for one.”

“Yes, I’ve heard stories,” Rainbow Dash responded. “Is it true he killed somepony?”

Gamble nodded. “Aye, it is, Lady. Most ponies in the castle avoid the subject. It’s a rather sensitive spot for the prince, so I wouldn’t go spouting the news about.”

“Spouting what news about?”

The voice came from behind them, and gave Rainbow Dash chills. She and Gamble froze just before the stairs and spun around to see Prince Blueblood approaching them.

“Nothing, your highness,” Gamble said. “Just some mindless gossip.”

Blueblood let out an excited shiver. “Oh, I love gossip. Tell me, what’s the latest news around the castle?”

Gamble gulped and glanced to Rainbow Dash, and Blueblood followed his gaze.

“Actually,” the prince continued, “I think I’d rather hear it from the Lady Dash’s mouth.” He leaned in. “I’m dying to know what you two were talking about just now.”

Even at a distance, Rainbow Dash could smell the alcohol on his breath.

“Like Gamble said,” Rainbow Dash said, unconsciously leaning back, “just mindless chatter. Nothing that would be fit for a prince’s ears.”

Gamble nodded furious assent. “She’s right, your highness, it was—”

“You will speak when spoken to,” Blueblood interrupted, choking off Gamble’s words without ever taking his eyes off of Rainbow Dash. “In fact, why don’t you leave us?”

“I’ve been assigned to guard Lady Dash at all daylight hours by Duchess Persephone,” Gamble said, “and I intend to do so.”

Now Blueblood turned to face him. “Did you just disobey a direct order from your prince?” He moved over to Gamble and stuck his snout in the guard’s face. Despite Gamble’s immense size, he seemed dwarfed by Blueblood, the prince’s presence appearing to lend him a volume beyond his own. “May I remind you,” he spat, “that I am your crown prince, and my authority outweighs the Duchess Persephone’s, and certainly outweighs yours, you trained dog.”

Gamble locked eyes with Blueblood, but the fear was evident in his face. “Yes, your highness.”

“Then I advise you to follow my orders and leave us before something... unpleasant... happens.”

After an eternal moment, Gamble bowed his head. “Yes, your highness.”

Blueblood smiled a smug grin. “Off you go, then. I will accompany the Lady Dash back to her quarters.”

“Yes, your highness,” Gamble repeated before departing, casting one last apologetic look back to Rainbow Dash before he disappeared out of sight.

“Now,” Blueblood continued, “allow me to escort you back to your chambers.”

Rainbow Dash wanted nothing more than to say no, but defying Blueblood would mean the dungeon or, if what Applejack and Gamble had said was true, maybe worse.

Rainbow nodded and started walking with Blueblood up the stairs. She could feel his eyes on her as they walked, probing her, wandering up and down her body, sizing her up like a piece of meat. She kept her own eyes facing forward.

“You know,” Blueblood finally said, “you’ve grown into a fine young mare, Rainbow Dash.” Rainbow said nothing, and Blueblood stopped walking, forcing her to do the same. “When I give you a compliment,” he said, all jovial countenance disappearing from his face, “I expect you to accept it with grace.”

Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth. “Thank you, your highness.”

Blueblood smiled again, reminding Rainbow Dash of a snake. “That’s better.” They resumed walking. “In fact, I may even dare to say that you are the most beautiful noblemare in the entirety of Canterlot.”

“Thank you, your highness.”

They reached the floor which housed Rainbow’s room and made their way into the hall.

“Which is why,” Blueblood continued as they reached Rainbow’s quarters, “I plan on taking you as my bride.”

Rainbow’s mouth dropped open, making Blueblood chuckle.

“Yes, I understand that it is an exciting prospect to marry a prince, but please, compose yourself. It is unladylike to behave in such a way.”

Rainbow Dash’s brain stopped working. Of all the things that could happen, this was one of the worst. She couldn’t deny Blueblood and expect to keep her freedom, but what about Applejack? Rainbow couldn’t just leave her.

“I... I don’t...” Words just wouldn’t come to her.

Blueblood chuckled again, and Rainbow Dash wanted to hit him. “Well, I didn’t expect you to be speechless. I believe the words you’re looking for are ‘yes, your highness.’” He leaned down close to her. “That is, unless somepony else had claimed your affections?”

He flashed his teeth and Rainbow’s blood went cold. He couldn’t possibly know about Applejack, could he? No, they had been too careful. Right?

Rainbow Dash swallowed and opened her mouth. “Your highness, I... I’m not sure I’m ready for marriage.” She just had to get away from him, give herself time to figure something out. She took a step toward the door.

Blueblood moved around her and put himself in her way. “I believe you are.”

“Sincerest apologies, your highness,” Rainbow said, “but it is my lowly opinion to disagree. You see, I—”

“I grow tired of your objections,” Blueblood interrupted, furrowing his brow. “You will marry me, is that clear?”

“Your highness, I don’t think—”

Blueblood stomped. “I do not care what you think!” Rainbow Dash froze, afraid to incite Blueblood’s anger further. He gathered his wits. “I will give you a choice: either you marry me and retain your freedom, or you refuse and spend the rest of your days rotting in the palace dungeons. Which will it be?”

“You can’t do that!” Rainbow shouted, indignant.

“I can do whatever I want, and the sooner you learn that, the easier your life will become.”

Rainbow opened her mouth to object further, but the maelstrom of cold fury in the prince’s eyes choked her words off. She slumped her head; there was no other option. “Yes, your highness, I will marry you.”

Blueblood’s grin returned, wider than ever. “Excellent,” he said, the frightening anger within him having completely dissolved.

It was then that Duchess Persephone approached.

“I,” Blueblood said, “the lovely duchess graces us with her presence.”

Persephone didn’t miss a beat. “Your highness, it is I who should feel graced.” She curtsied. “I heard some shouting. Is everything alright?”

“More than alright,” Blueblood said. He stepped over to Rainbow Dash and put his foreleg around her. “I have just proposed marriage to your lovely daughter, and I am happy to report that she accepted.”

The duchess’s eyes went wide, but she quickly composed herself. “Is that so? Well, that is wonderful news indeed.”

Silence reigned.

“Well,” Blueblood said, “I suppose, now that my business has been concluded, I will take my leave of you.”

He held his hoof out and closed his eyes. Duchess Persephone leaned down to kiss it, but stopped midway.

“Your highness, are you alright?” she asked. “There appears to be blood on your hoof.”

Rainbow looked and saw that there was indeed several red speckles on Blueblood’s hoof.

Blueblood cleared his throat and examined the hoof in question. “That is merely sauce from dinner,” he asserted. “I assure you, I am quite alright.”

He resumed the position and Duchess Persephone kissed his hoof. Rainbow Dash eyed the prince’s limb as if it were a snake.

It certainly is attached to one, she thought.

The duchess nodded toward Blueblood’s hoof and widened her eyes at Rainbow, who, with purposeful and complete lack of enthusiasm, planted the shortest possible kiss on the royal appendage.

Blueblood smiled. “Good evening, ladies.” He turned to Rainbow Dash. “I look forward to making the arrangements.”

Rainbow remained aloof, turning the prince’s smile sour as he turned and left.

Once he was gone, Persephone took her daughter by the foreleg and led her into her chambers.

“What is he talking about?” she asked. “Did you truly agree to marry that... that...” She took a deep breath. “Why?”

“I had no choice!” Rainbow shouted. Now that Blueblood was gone, her emotions welled up inside. She fluttered up into the air. “He threatened to lock me up in the dungeon! I had to accept.” Her wings stopped beating and she collapsed onto her bed. “What am I going to do? What will I tell Applejack?” She flopped onto her back.

“I don’t know,” the duchess said, “but I’m sure you will figure something out. Perhaps if we find the prince another bride.”

Rainbow Dash shook her head. “That won’t work. I don’t think he actually wants to marry me; as we spoke, he asked me if my affections had been taken by another pony. The way he said it...” She sat up and looked at Persephone. “Mother, I think he knows about Applejack.”

The duchess gulped. “Well, then there’s nothing we can do.”

“What?” Rainbow stood up. “We have to try something.”

Persephone shook her head. “I’m sorry, Rainbow, but if the prince knows about your activities and has claimed you as his bride, there is nothing we can do. As prince, Blueblood is entitled to marry whomever he chooses; that’s just the way it is. I thought that, as risky as it may seem, you would be able to get Applejack to leave, to protect her, but if Blueblood knows...”

Tears started to form in Rainbow’s eyes as she fell back down on her bed “Could things get any worse?”

As if in answer, the door burst open and a pony wearing a nurse’s outfit came in. She curtsied.

“Lady Dash, your presence is requested in the infirmary.”

Rainbow sat up. “The infirmary? Why?”

“Have you not heard?” the nurse asked. Rainbow shook her head. “Your tutor, Twilight Sparkle, was found quite injured in the east wing a few hours ago.”

Rainbow Dash just stared.

“She has only just woken up,” the nurse continued, “and is requesting to see you. We normally wouldn’t grant a servant’s request, but she insists that you will come see her.”

“Take me to her,” Rainbow Dash said.

The nurse looked stunned that Rainbow was humoring her servant. “Lady?”

“Now!” she commanded.

“Yes, Lady Dash,” the nurse said, curtsying again. “Right this way.”

The nurse turned and left. Rainbow Dash barely noticed anything as she blew past her mother, maintaining just enough connection with the world to keep up with the nurse.

Her outward demeanor was calm, but inside, a tempest raged. How could so many things be going wrong at once? What had happened to Twilight? What would happen to her and Applejack?

Before she knew it, Rainbow Dash had arrived at the infirmary.

Everything was white; the walls were white, the floor was white, the sheets were white, and it seemed like the only things that weren’t white were the ponies. Beds lined the walls, each with a tough-looking pillow and scratchy blanket, but few were occupied. Rainbow Dash had never been to the infirmary; whenever the nobles took ill, they were treated in their rooms. There were cabinets with various medical instruments in them on the walls.

In the back corner, there was a small crowd of servants gathered near a bed.

“She’s in the back,” the nurse said.

Rainbow Dash nodded and made her way there. As she approached, the crowd parted to allow her through. She saw Applejack standing at the bedside, staring intensely at Twilight.

Rainbow Dash followed her gaze and gasped.

Twilight’s face was in ruins. Even with the color her coat was, it was obvious that her face was severely bruised. Large purple splotches covered her head and neck; both of her eyes were swollen shut; there were small, angry cuts on her forehead and jaw, and her breathing was shallow and uneven.

Everything was so surreal. Rainbow Dash felt detached from her body, like she was dreaming. Twilight didn’t have an accident; she had been beaten, and badly. Rainbow Dash thought she could make out hoofmarks at the centers of the bruises.

When she stepped up to the edge of the bed, she got only an eye movement’s worth of acknowledgement from Applejack. Twilight, however, turned to face her.

“Lady Dash,” she said, her voice hoarse and weak. “You came.”

“Of course I did, Twilight,” Rainbow Dash said, reaching deep within herself to pull a smile to the surface. “What happened to you?”

Twilight gulped, wincing with the effort. “I... fell down the stairs.”

“No, Twilight,” Rainbow responded, “I mean, what really happened. Did one of the other nobles beat you? You can tell me; I promise I won’t allow them to get away with this.”

Twilight looked like she was on the verge of saying something, but she stopped. Her eyes flicked past Rainbow Dash.

“What is it, Twilight?” she asked.

The hair on her neck stood on end. She turned around, following Twilight’s gaze. There, standing behind her, was the imposing figure of Prince Blueblood. All the servants groveled before the prince, including Applejack.

“What are you doing here?” Rainbow asked.

“My my,” Blueblood responded, “such fire. That will have to be quelched if we are to be wed, my darling.”

Rainbow Dash could feel Applejack tense up behind her. “You didn’t answer my question.”

Blueblood’s demeanor darkened. “If you must know, I was the one who found this mare in the east wing earlier this afternoon.” He looked past Rainbow Dash at Twilight. “Poor, miserable creature. She waited, broken and battered, at the bottom of the stairs for somepony to find her. What a cruel twist of fate.” Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes. “Rise,” Blueblood commanded the servants. Like trained animals, they all stood as one, all eyes fixed on the ground.

Rainbow Dash turned back to Twilight.

“Now, darling,” Blueblood said, sidling up beside her and making her muscles tense. She suppressed the shiver that tried to run down her spine. “This cold behaviour is no way to treat you betrothed, now is it?”

Rainbow Dash said nothing. How could she? She just stood and stared, trying to figure out where everything went wrong.

Blueblood put his forearm around her in a display of affection, his hoof resting just on the edge of her peripheral vision. It was the same hoof she had been forced to kiss earlier, same red speckles and all.

Then, it all came together.

Twilight becoming wary when Blueblood entered, the red on his hoof, his story about “finding” Twilight. It was all a lie. Blueblood had beaten Twilight. Rainbow didn’t know why, but she was going to find out.

Rainbow Dash turned to Blueblood, who’s toothy grin made her want to hit him. “Can I talk you you out in the hallway, dear.” She spat the last word.

“Of course, darling,” Blueblood responded, his facade not fading for a second. He tried to leave first, but Rainbow Dash cut him off, forcing him to trail behind her. She didn’t know what she was going to say or do, but she was certain of one thing: she couldn’t let Blueblood get away with this.

Once they were out in the hall, Rainbow Dash turned to face Blueblood.

“What’s on your mind, darling?” he asked.

“Stop calling me darling!” Rainbow shouted, her nostrils flaring. It wasn’t what she was really angry about, but she was ready to explode over anything. “I’m not your pet, and I don’t want to marry you!”

Blueblood’s demeanor intensified. “You will do well to watch your tongue.”

“And what if I don’t, huh? Are you going to throw me in the dungeon? Or are you going to beat me,” she gestured to the infirmary, “like you did that innocent mare in there?”

“What are you talking about?” Blueblood asked. “She fell down the stairs.”

Rainbow Dash scoffed. “Those wounds don’t come from falling down stairs! How do you explain the blood on your hoof? I know you did it, and I want to know why.”

Blueblood’s eyes darted to his hoof, then back up to Rainbow Dash. “You want to know why?” She nodded. “I’ve seen you, skulking about the grounds, taking roundabout routes to remote destinations. You gained your freedom from your mother, and with your father gone, you were able to do whatever you wished. I knew you were up to something, soI decided to ask your ever-faithful friend Twilight Sparkle about your... activities.”

“No...” How much had Twilight said?

Blueblood grinned pure malice. “Oh, yes. After a little... coaxing... she let slip that you’ve been romantically involved with one of the servants.” He looked dejected. “It’s a shame she lost consciousness before she revealed who it was.” He recollected himself. “No matter. It’s not as if you’ll be seeing them anymore.”

Rainbow Dash wanted to cry, but she wanted to hit Blueblood even more. “Why?” she asked.

“Why?” Blueblood thought for a moment. “Because I want what I can’t have.” He leaned down and spoke into her ear. “Now I want you, Rainbow Dash, and I’m a pony who gets what he wants.”

“Is that why you killed that mare?” Rainbow asked. “Because you wanted something?”

Blueblood went still. A heavy silence hung in the air like a blanket, seeming to last for an eternity. Blueblood pulled back, his face icy and emotionless.

Rainbow Dash didn’t even have time to register the blow before she was on the ground, reeling from its force. She caught herself with her forelegs. Her face stung and her ears rang; tears began to form in her eyes. She looked up at Blueblood, looming over her like an idol.

“I promise, I will find your precious servant,” he said. “And when I do, I’m going to do things to them that I guarantee will make sure you never step out of line again.”

Without another word, Blueblood turned and left, the empty sound of his hooves on stone the only sound accompanying him.

A crowd of the servants who had been with Twilight stood at the entrance to the infirmary, looking unsure of what to do. Applejack was at the forefront and, when Rainbow Dash saw that she was about to try and help, she made the slightest shake of her head. They couldn’t risk anything, not with Blueblood on their trail.

One of the nurses pushed through the crowd.

“Lady Dash!” she exclaimed, rushing over to help Rainbow up. She had heard the shouts, and had the good sense not to ask what had happened. “Would you like an escort back to your room?”

Rainbow Dash nodded, and the nurse picked a random servant to take Rainbow back to her quarters. It wasn’t Applejack. They were was silent all the way back to her room.

(*)

Applejack couldn’t believe what she had seen. Everything had gotten out of control in so little time. Twilight looked like she had been on the receiving end of a trampling; Rainbow Dash and Blueblood were apparently engaged; and, worst of all, Rainbow couldn’t even explain anything to her until they could meet again.

She didn’t know how to feel. She was worried about Twilight, but what about Rainbow and Blueblood? How long had that been arranged? Had Rainbow Dash been leading her on this whole time, knowing that she was going to marry Blueblood? It was hard not to think so.

All of the servants who had gone to see Twilight heard the end of the argument between Dash and Blueblood, so they all knew what had really happened to the tutor. Did Rainbow really consent to marry such a brute?

Then, Applejack saw Blueblood hit Rainbow Dash, and it all became real.

What he had done to Twilight, what he had done to Rainbow Dash, it all had to stop. There was only one way that Applejack could think of to make that happen.

She left the infirmary shortly after Rainbow Dash. Twilight had fallen asleep again, granting Applejack the chance to leave. She went back to the servant quarters, walking as fast as she could without drawing attention to herself and taking the stairs down two at a time.

She blew past her room, instead making a beeline for the back wall, where she pulled on the sconce that controlled the secret entrance. With a sweeping grab, she seized a torch to light her descent into the old dungeon.

The door at the bottom was open, and the room was buzzing with activity. Applejack saw a crowd of ponies gathered around a table and made purposeful strides toward it, dropping the torch on the ground. As she approached, the idle conversation died down.

The crowd parted to let her pass. The room was completely silent now. As the last few ponies stepped out of the way, Quince came into view, sitting at the table.

“Applejack?” he said, a look of genuine surprise on his face. “What can I do for you?”

“This idea of yours?” she said. “I’m in. Just tell me what I need to do.”

Quince lowered his eyebrows and a grin spread across his face. “Excellent,” he purred. “Let’s get started."

Change is Coming

Applejack fidgeted. It was difficult not to, standing in front of so many ponies. She had no idea that there were so many servants in the castle, and these were only the ones who had that day off.

She stood on the soapbox in the old abandoned Canterlot dungeons, a crowd of over a hundred ponies stretching out before her. She held their rapt attention, despite not having said anything interesting yet. In fact, she had yet to say anything at all. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Quince smiling, watching his newest prospect prepare to deliver a speech. It had only been a few days since Applejack had joined Quince in his cause, but word in the castle spread fast.

Inhaling deeply, Applejack closed her eyes. She focused on why she was here, what had led her to join Quince: the pain inflicted upon those she loved by Prince Blueblood. The thoughts lit a fire inside her, fed by her emotions until it grew into a raging inferno of raw feeling. She exhaled.

“I was raised on an apple farm in the small town of Ponyville,” she started, her calm demeanor not betraying what she felt inside. Her heart was pounding. “The way I was brought up, it was easy to see the difference between what was right and what was wrong. If it was right, you did it, and if it was wrong, you didn’t. It was as simple as that. It still is. I try to do the right thing, and I try to avoid doing the wrong thing. Life should work out, right?” Her face darkened. “Well, it doesn’t.

“Some ponies ain’t like that. Some ponies think that they can do whatever they want, whether it’s right or not, and to Tartarus with the consequences. Some ponies like Prince Blueblood.” There were some hisses from the crowd at the name. “I will admit,” Applejack continued, “I wasn’t too keen on this whole operation at first, but after seein’ what Blueblood’s capable of, I will do anything to stop him.” Twilight’s battered and beaten face ran through Applejack’s mind, spurring her onward.

“Some ponies say that most of the nobles are okay,” she said. “I’m not necessarily disagreein’, but if they’re such good ponies, then why don’t they do something about Blueblood? Wouldn’t that be the right thing to do?” A chorus of assent rose from the crowd. “How can they just stand by if they know about what he’s doin’? I’ll tell you how. It’s because they’re selfish!”

Applejack wasn’t aware of herself. She was almost shouting now, her voice channeling her anger not just at Blueblood, but at Rainbow Dash. It was irrational to be angry at Rainbow before she had a chance to explain everything, but Applejack couldn’t help it. She felt like she was watching herself give the speech; her words were running away from her, and she wasn’t sure if she wanted to reign them in.

“They’re all selfish in the most basic meanin’ of the word,” she continued. “They think that because they’re not the ones bein’ hurt, they don’t have to do anything about it! They think that since there’s no skin off their backs, they can just ignore the problem! But it turns out that they are the problem, whether they want to admit it or not. Blueblood thinks he can get away with this because the rest of the nobles have let him his entire life; he’s just a result of their laziness!”

Quince stood in Applejack’s peripheral vision, smiling. The crowd was watching Applejack intensely, hanging on the edge of her words and waiting for the next ones to come sweep them away.

“Some ponies will argue that Blueblood is responsible for himself, and that he is completely in control of his own actions. That’s true, but why won’t the other nobles do anything about it? This has been going on for far too long. First he killed Quince’s sister, and now he’s hurt Twilight! How many more will suffer at his hoof if we don’t stop him? And how many have already suffered because the nobles won’t do a damn thing about it?

“I haven’t been here long, and I know ya’ll don’t really have a reason to trust me, but all I ask is that you do. The nobles have been in charge this long, and look what happened. If we stand together, we can earn our equality the right way, by doing the right thing, and put a stop to this injustice. They can’t seem to put being decent in front of their desire for wealth and power, so it’s up to us to pick up the slack, it’s up to us do stand up and do something about it, and it’s up to us to make sure nothin’ like this happens ever again! So, are ya’ll on board?”

“Yes!” the crowd exclaimed. Applejack knew they would be.

“What do we do next?” somepony called.

“Yeah, what next?” another shouted.

“What next?” Applejack said. “Well, next we’ll... um, well, we’ll have to... hm.” Her verbal momentum came to a screeching halt. What was next? She hadn’t thought that far ahead.

Then, Quince was on the soapbox, nudging Applejack to the edge. “Next, we spread the word!” he yelled. Applejack stepped off the box. “Tell everypony you see, and write letters to those you don’t, that we are organizing! Not just here in the castle, but throughout Canterlot, throughout Equestria! This is the beginning of a revolution! We are uniting against our common foe, and change is coming. That’s right, change is coming!” He raised his hoof into the air. “Change is coming! Change is coming!” The crowd started chanting with him, hypnotized by his words. “Change is coming! Change is coming!”

Applejack found herself whispering the words under her breath. Quince was grinning as he yelled the words; he was louder than anypony else there. “Change is coming! Change is coming!”

“Alright!” Quince called. “Alright, settle down.” He waited for the shouts to die before continuing. “I do have a few more things to say. First, be cautious. I know this is exciting; I am just as giddy with anticipation as the rest of you, but we must not let our hoof slip. It is imperative that the nobles not know what’s happening until it has already happened, and for that, we will need the utmost silence. Spread the word, yes, but be careful, my friends.

“Second,” he said, gesturing to Applejack, “is our good friend Applejack. Let’s hear a round of applause for the mare who has proven that it is possible to defy Blueblood, and the mare behind whom we all stand!”

Cheers sprang up like wildfire in the crowd, spreading and consuming until it becoming a single mass of applause and commendation. Applejack gulped and smiled with too much teeth. The crowd was going absolutely nuts over her. Quince was looking down at her, framed by a magelight, smiling and stamping a single hoof against the soapbox.

The crowd’s excitement eventually faded, however, and they settled for talking amongst themselves. Applejack caught a few glances that were tossed in her direction, but whenever she made eye contact, the pony would look away.

She walked over to Quince, who was standing separate from the crowd. “Why is everypony treatin’ me like this?” she asked, glancing back at the crowd and seeing at least three ponies staring at her.

Quince followed her eyes. “Like what?” he asked.

“LIke I’m important,” Applejack answered.

Quince laughed out loud. “Because you are important, Applejack. You mean something to these ponies; you’re the answer they never knew they were looking for. I may inspire these ponies with mere words, but you did it with actions, and you,” he put a hoof on her shoulder, “are a pony they can rally behind, a pony they can look up to, and a pony they can adore.”

Applejack shrugged his hoof off. “I don’t want to be adored, Quince, I just want what’s right. You’re turnin’ me into a symbol, and I’m not sure I’m comfortable with that.”

“Well, it’s what you signed up for,” Quince said. “I told you from the beginning what my intentions for you were, and you agreed.” He smiled. “Come on, Applejack, lighten up! Once we get what we deserve, you can go live your quiet life in Ponyville if you want, away from all the celebrity. But until then, all I ask is that you endure, and try to enjoy the attention.” He looked back at the crowd. It was Applejack’s turn to follow his gaze, and she saw more eyes than she could count turned toward them. Quince’s smile grew wider. “After all,” he said, “it’s not every day one gets to be famous.”

Applejack gave a weak wave to the crowd. “But I was only doin’ what was right,” she whispered to Quince. “Is that really so deservin’ of all this?

Quince laughed again, but this time there was a hint of bitterness in it. “You’d be surprised just how rare that is around here, Applejack.”

(*)

Two nurses stood just inside the door to the infirmary, watching a very still Lady Rainbow Dash sit next to Twilight’s bed, holding her friend’s hoof.

“How long has she been here?” one of the nurses, the one who had just arrived for her shift, asked.

The other nurse shrugged. “All day. She was here when I got here this morning and I don’t think I’ve seen her move from that spot. She only just stopped reading to the poor dear.”

The first nurse frowned. “It seems... strange, doesn’t it? For her to have such an attachment to one of her servants?”

“Yes, but I suppose it’s for the best that she take an interest in us.”

“Why is that?” the first nurse asked, furrowing her brow.

“Haven’t you heard? The Lady Dash is engaged to Prince Blueblood,” she explained.

“What does that have to do with it?”

“Can you imagine if both ponies in the most powerful couple in Canterlot were like Blueblood?” She shuddered. “I’d prefer at least one of them to have some compassion.”

“Huh. I never thought to look at it that way.”

The second nurse smiled. “And that’s why you’re on the night shift.” Then she was gone, her delicate laughter following her all the way down the hall.

The remaining nurse started toward Twilight’s bed, muttering under her breath, “I’ll show her a night shift.” When she reached the Lady Dash’s side, she bowed and put on a smile. “Good evening, Lady Dash. Is there anything I can get for you?”

Rainbow Dash looked up. “I know you think you’re helping yourself out by being nice to me,” she said, “but there’s somepony here who needs a lot more attention than I do. Why don’t you ask her if she needs anything.”

The nurse gulped. “Of course, Lady Dash.” She turned to Twilight. “Is there anything I can get you, Twilight?”

Twilight, whose eyes were unfocused from the painkillers, turned to whatever had just spoken to her. “Water,” she whispered, her voice still a little hoarse.

“Of course, right away,” the nurse said, bowing to Rainbow Dash again before making a swift retreat from an awkward conversation.

Rainbow Dash squeezed Twilight’s hoof. “I’m sorry,” she said, staring at the sheets that hung over the bed like a ghost. “I’m so sorry, Twilight.”

“Sorry for what?” Twilight asked. Her words were a little slurred.

“For everything,” Rainbow Dash answered. She gestured toward Twilight’s face, which wasn’t as swollen anymore but which was still dark with bruises and marred by cuts. “This was all my fault,” she said. “You were protecting me, and you had already done so much, and I always took it for granted.” Her voice started to quiver. “We’re friends, Twilight, and I was treating you like a servant, like it was your job to arrange meetings for me and Applejack. I don’t even remember if I ever thanked you for it...”

She looked away, blinking back tears. “I just... I’m sorry, okay? But I promise I’ll make it up to you. I don’t care what it takes, I swear that I’ll make this right.”

There was a long silence. Then, “...Rainbow Dash?”

Rainbow looked up. “Yeah, Twilight?”

“Will you read to me some more?”

Smiling, Rainbow said, “of course.”

She reached down beside her chair and pulled from the top of a stack of books Daring Do and the Curse of the Cobalt Cobra. She opened it to her marked page and began reading.

“Daring Do leapt from the tree, grabbing wildly at every vine she fell passed in an effort to halt her descent. She looked up to see the vicious jaguar who was pursuing her had done the same, and was approaching with alarming speed. In one last desperate bid for safety, Daring reached out and...”

Rainbow Dash’s reading was interrupted by the soft sound of Twilight’s snores. She smiled, shook her head, closed the book, and settled in for the night.

(*)

Everywhere she went, Applejack was recognized by ponies she had never even met. Walking through the halls, almost every servant she passed whispered “change is coming” under their breath. Those three words uttered by Quince during his last speech had transformed into the mantra of the revolution, spoken by those who were not privileged with voices that quivered with excitement.

Applejack didn’t give any more speeches after that first one. Quince had told her that it was enough that she had pledged herself to the cause, and now she just had to be present when he spoke. The servants would get the message, he said. And if not, he would shout it at them until they did.

It was a week since Twilight had been beaten by Blueblood, and Applejack had yet to speak to Rainbow Dash. She had passed her a few times in the halls, but when she did, Rainbow Dash didn’t speak to her or acknowledge her presence, even if they were alone. The last time it had happened, Applejack had said something, but Rainbow Dash had ignored her. Applejack stopped hoping to see her after that.

Applejack wanted to go see Twilight, but between her maid duties and Quince, she barely had time to breathe, let alone go visit her ailing friend.

Although passing servants in the halls of the palace was uncomfortable for Applejack, passing royalty was even worse. Every second she spent within earshot of one of the nobles was one second too long; she felt like guilt was plastered all over her face for what she was doing, and that any second she would be called out on her activities and punished.

These were her thoughts as she scrubbed one of the hallways in the east wing of the palace and she heard the distant clopping of hooves on the floor from behind her. She kept her head down and continued scrubbing; whoever it was, whatever they wanted, it wouldn’t involve her.

The sound grew louder as the pony grew closer. They were walking slowly, taking their time with getting to wherever they were going, and a mounting sense of dread overtook Applejack as they got closer. The fur on the back of her neck stood on end and she suppressed a shudder.

Then, there was no more noise. The pony had stopped right behind her, casting a shadow over her work. Her scrubbing slowed, but she didn’t dare turn around for fear of what she would see.

“Ahem.”

Applejack stopped scrubbing. She stood up, steeled her nerves, and spun around. Then, her blood froze.

It was Prince Blueblood. Applejack dipped into a hasty bow.

He smiled. It was brimming with venom. “You’re Applejack, correct?” he asked.

Applejack gulped, then nodded.

“Excellent,” Blueblood continued, “you’re just the pony I wanted to see. I would like you to come with me to my chambers so that we may have a little... chat.”

“Why me?” Applejack blurted out before she could stop herself.

“Do not question me,” Blueblood responded. “It is not a request.”

He turned and walked away. After a moment of hesitation, Applejack started after him, then stopped. Then Twilight’s face flashed through her mind and she started again. Whatever Blueblood wanted, it couldn’t be worse than what would happen if she disobeyed him.

The walking was done in silence. Blueblood’s chambers were in the east wing, so it didn’t take long for them to arrive. A servant posted outside the door opened it as Blueblood approached, then bowed as they walked in. As Applejack crossed the threshold, she caught the tail end of a “change is coming” aimed at her.

There were two more servants inside. Applejack recognized them from the meetings, but she couldn’t remember their names.

“Sit,” Blueblood commanded, gesturing to a small cushion on the floor. He himself sat in an ornate chair fashioned like a throne. It seemed like everything in the room was made to match the chair, to exude a sophisticated and pretentious air. Applejack thought she would go insane if she had to live in such a place.

“I’m fine with standin’, thanks,” Applejack responded.

Blueblood leveled his gaze at her. “Sit.”

Applejack sat.

“Would you like something to drink, Applejack?” Blueblood suggested. “Some wine, perhaps?”

Applejack gritted her teeth. Why was Blueblood being so cordial? “No, thanks.”

Blueblood shrugged. “Suit yourself,” he said. Then he turned to one of the servants. “Bring me a glass of wine.” The servant bowed and left the room through an entrance in the back.

“So, Applejack,” Blueblood said, leaning forward, “I’m going to cut right to the chase. It has been divulged to me by certain parties that our dear Lady Rainbow Dash has been... cavorting... with one of the serving staff. This action is made even more disgusting by the fact that their rendezvous were romantic in nature. This, obviously, is not acceptable, especially not from a noblepony who is going to be my bride, and I would like to do my best to ensure that nothing of this sort ever happens again. That’s where you come in.”

Applejack frowned. “What do you need me for?” she asked, struggling to keep up a calm facade. All she could think about was Twilight; she had to focus to keep herself in the chair. Half of her wanted to run, and the other half wanted to lunge over and hit Blueblood in the face.

The servant returned from the door in the back, carrying a silver tray with a glass of blood-red liquid on it. He set it on the small end table next to Blueblood’s chair, bowed, and stepped back to join the other servant against the wall.

“Applejack,” Blueblood said, “are you familiar with how interrogation works?” Applejack shook her head, then glanced toward the door, measuring out how many paces it would take to reach it. “You should be,” he continued, “and I will need you to be for what is ahead.

“Most ponies assume that pain is the key to the truth; this is not true. Pain may only make the victim lie further. They may admit to things they haven’t even done, which makes for a rather unreliable source. Not to say pain doesn’t have its applications, just that it doesn’t work on everypony. One other way I enjoy getting the truth is through surprise. If you make the victim uncomfortable, get them off their guard, and then startle them with a sudden accusation, they will often unwittingly reveal their hoof before they have time to cover for themselves.

“Applejack, I know that you are the servant who was seeing the Lady Dash.”

Applejack’s body froze while her mind raced for an answer. How had he found out?

“I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about,” Applejack said, her tone wooden and mechanical.

Blueblood laughed. “Oh come now, Applejack, it wasn’t difficult to figure out. I saw you the day you arrived, so I know you’re new. It was only soon after that that Lady Dash’s mother allowed her to leave her tower and sneak off to Celestia knows where. Then when I heard that Rainbow Dash was seeing an ingrate, it wasn’t difficult to figure out who. Even then, though, I couldn’t be sure, not until your complete inability to lie gave you away.”

Applejack examined Blueblood head to hoof, trying to decide if she would be able to outrun him. Even then, where would she go? There were guards all over the castle, so it wasn’t like she could get away.

“What’re you gonna do to me?” she asked, her voice shaking.

Blueblood leaned back into his throne. “For now, I will throw you in the dungeon. After Lady Dash and I are wed, I will torture you in front of her until you are at your breaking point to ensure that she never disobeys me again, lest the consequences be even more severe.”

Applejack just stared. He was so calm, so collected, like he had just told Applejack what he was going to have for lunch that day. If she weren’t frozen in place, Applejack would have shuddered.

Her eyes darted to the door. It was closed, but she was a few feet closer to it than Blueblood was. If she went now, she might be caught. But if she didn’t... well, she didn’t want to think about that.

Applejack’s heart was beating in her ears, filling her head. She knew she had to move, had to go before Blueblood took her to the dungeon, but she was rooted in place. Then, she caught the looks of the servants standing against the wall; they were looking at Applejack, eyes wide, and gesturing toward the door with their heads.

That did it. Applejack shook herself from her stupor, shot to her hooves, and sprinted for the door.

Blueblood was on her in a second. She couldn’t believe how fast he was; he had caught her before she had even reached the door. He grabbed her back leg with his hoof and held her in place.

“Really, Applejack?” he said, pulling backward. Applejack kicked at him, but missed. “You’re only making things worse for yourself, you know.”

Then there was the sound of shattering glass and his grip loosened enough for Applejack to wriggle out of it and keep running. She got to the door and looked back to see one of the other servants holding a broken wine glass; Blueblood’s head was covered in red liquid, and Applejack couldn’t tell how much was wine and how much was blood.

Blueblood just stood, mouth agape, staring at the servant. The servant stood, holding the glass, dumbfounded by the action he had just committed. In that frozen moment, Applejack remembered that his name was Borro, and he was an immigrant.

“Go!” Borro shouted, breaking the spell.

Applejack nodded, opened the door, and escaped into the hall. Behind her, she heard a furious roar and a thump as something struck a wall inside the room. Then, the door was blown open by the force of Borro crashing through it, the remnants of a pure-white magical aura dissipating around him.

Blueblood slid into the hallway a moment later and turned toward Applejack. Crimson streaks flowed down his face like rivers of blood, and his mane was now in damp strands. Applejack tore her gaze away and continued sprinting down the hall.

She heard his hoofsteps behind her, then saw a guard round the corner ahead of her, coming right toward them.

“Seize her!” Blueblood shouted.

The guard just stared. Applejack raced passed, catching a surprised look from Gamble out of the corner of her eye.

She rounded the corner, narrowly avoiding bumping into the wall, and kept running. She heard Blueblood shout, “are you deaf!?” from behind her, but she barely registered it. Her legs were powerful, her years of work on the farm having built a not-insignificant amount of muscle.

Blueblood was close behind, he had to be, but Applejack didn’t dare look back. She had no destination in mind, but she just had to get away. The maid outfit wasn’t helping; it restricted her movement and made her slower than she would’ve liked, but it would take far too long to stop and take it off.

Just like in every other hallway, the walls were lined with paintings and small tables with ornaments on them. Out of the corner of her eye, Applejack saw movement, but it was too late to get out of the way. One of the tables shot into her path and she collided with it, sending her toppling to the ground.

She threw up her forehooves at the last moment to shield her face, succeeding in bruising her limbs. As she slid along the ground a short distance, her legs chafed against the tile.

After realizing that nothing was broken, Applejack tried to stand back up, but she was stopped by Blueblood. He seized her mane with his hoof and spun her around onto her back. Then he pinned her to the ground with his magic and smiled. With the wine staining red on his white coat, Applejack’s panicked mind thought he looked like a clown. A clown that was most likely about to kill her.

“I’m going to enjoy this,” he said, raising a hoof into the air. Applejack struggled against her magical bonds, but to no avail. She shut her eyes and awaited the blow.

“Stop!”

Applejack opened one eye to see the second shocked expression she had seen on Blueblood’s face that day. He turned around, leaving the bonds on Applejack.

Gamble stood just behind Blueblood. He towered over the prince, who was not a small pony to begin with.

“What did you say to me?” Blueblood asked, his voice like ice.

“By order of the Royal Guard,” Gamble continued, “I command you to stop attempting to hurt this mare.”

Blueblood stuck his snout close to Gamble’s. “Do you know who you’re talking to? I’m the prince of Equestria! You do not give me orders!”

Gamble didn’t flinch. “Assault is illegal in Equestria regardless of rank or station, as I’m sure you’re aware.”

“This filth,” Blueblood said, gesturing to Applejack, “this ingrate, assaulted me first! I was only seeking justice!”

“That’s a dirty lie!” Applejack shouted from her position on the floor. She was ignored.

Gamble drew himself up, making himself seem even taller. “While that may be, it is not your place to dole out justice as you please. That’s for the court to deal with. If you wish to put in a plea, you can take that up with the court and I will escort this lass to the dungeon to be held awaiting trial.”

Blueblood flared his nostrils, and for a long moment, Applejack thought he might hit Gamble. Then he looked away.

“Fine,” he said. Applejack’s restraints dissolved and he turned toward her. “But this is far from over.”

He turned and stomped down the hall back toward his room, disappearing around the corner. Gamble went over and offered a hoof to Applejack.

“You alright, lass?” he asked.

Applejack took the hoof and Gamble pulled her into a standing position. “Yeah, thanks, Gamble.”

“Don’t mention it,” Gamble responded, smiling. He leaned down to Applejack and whispered, “if you ask me, Blueblood needs to get a pike shoved up his arse. But I’ll settle for knocking him down a peg or two.”

There was a long silence. Gamble coughed.

“So,” he said, “I have to take you to the dungeon now. Can’t rightly have you runnin’ round free after a spectacle like that, can we?”

“I suppose not,” Applejack said. It made sense, but that didn’t mean she wanted to hear it.

Gamble laughed and patted Applejack roughly on the shoulder. “Don’t look so down in the dumps, lass! I’ll do my best to see that you have a fair trial. If you didn’t actually hit him, you’ve got nothing to worry about.” He stopped and looked at Applejack. “You didn’t hit him, did you?”

Applejack forced a smile, shook her head, and kept her mouth shut. She didn’t need to burden Gamble with her problems; they were hers to face, and she didn’t need to be dragging anypony else into it. Not after what had happened to Twilight.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Gamble started down the hall with Applejack in tow, leading her down into the depths of the palace, and into the Canterlot Castle dungeon.

(*)

Rainbow Dash had never been to the dungeon before. It was not something she would want to do again.

Gamble lead, and Rainbow Dash followed. It hadn’t been ten minutes since Rainbow Dash was sitting with Twilight in the infirmary, blissfully unaware of what had transpired between Applejack and Blueblood. Then Gamble paid her a visit, and here she was, descending into one of the most feared places in the city.

Canterlot Castle had a proper dungeon. Although it was fairly new, the old one having been abandoned, the designers decided to keep with the medieval theme, in order to discourage crime in Canterlot. The prison was not pleasant, it was not comfortable, and it was certainly not any place one would go if they could avoid it.

And here Rainbow Dash was, descending, traveling away from her world in more ways than one.

They reached a thick wooden door with a round iron handle. Gamble placed a hoof on the door, but stopped. He turned back toward Rainbow Dash.

“Are you sure you want to do this, Lady? The dungeons aren’t a place for royalty. Some of the most dangerous and deranged criminals Canterlot’s ever seen are within these walls. It gives me the willies just thinkin’ about it, and look at me! I’m huge!”

Rainbow Dash took a deep breath. “Yeah, I’m sure. I have to see her.”

Gamble nodded. “Alright, if you’re positive. But you might want to prepare yourself. This is the last door before the dungeon proper, and it’s enchanted so as to not let out the, uh, screams, and frighten the other ponies in the castle.”

Rainbow Dash steeled her resolve. “Do it.”

With a grunt, Gamble pushed the door open. It creaked as it swung on rusty hinges to reveal a steep spiral staircase. As they descended, Gamble spoke.

“Luckily, we don’t have far to go. Applejack’s being held in one of the first cells, so the more unseemly parts of the dungeon will, mercifully, be left to your imagination.”

“Yeah, mercifully,” Rainbow Dash muttered. Being locked in her tower had given her a vivid imagination, and that was one of the few times she found it unpleasant.

They walked in silence after that. The staircase felt like it went on forever, and as they went deeper, Rainbow Dash thought she heard tortured cries from deep within. Then they reached the bottom of the staircase, and she was sure she heard screams.

The first section of the dungeon lay before them. It was a long hallway that was bisected by several other hallways, each one made of a dark cobblestone. Lit torches hung in sconces and cast eerie shadows on the walls, and at the end of the main hall, there was another staircase.

“It goes deeper?” Rainbow asked.

“Aye,” Gamble said with a nod. “The deeper parts of the dungeon are reserved for the more serious offenders and for the criminally insane. I’ve only been down there once, and I don’t intend to go again if I can help it.”

Rainbow Dash shuddered, but she suppressed her dread by focusing on the task at hoof. “Where’s Applejack?” she asked.

“Third cell on the right,” Gamble answered, pointing.

Rainbow Dash rushed over to the indicated cell. Applejack sat on the provided mattress, which was just canvas stuffed with straw, looking toward the bars. Her maid outfit lie balled up in the corner, next to a bucket. Rainbow Dash didn’t want to think about what the bucket was for.

“Rainbow?” Applejack asked, looking up.

Rainbow Dash nodded. “I came as soon as I heard. Are you alright? Blueblood didn’t hurt you, did he?”

“What do you care?” Applejack asked, narrowing her eyes.

Rainbow Dash’s jaw dropped. “What’s that supposed to mean? Why wouldn’t I care about you?”

“I dunno, Rainbow, maybe because you’re marryin’ the brute that did this to me?” Applejack accused. “How could you claim to care about me when you dropped me the second you got the chance to marry up?”

“Th—that is not what happened!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“Then why don’t you enlighten me,” Applejack said, standing up. “Because it looks to me like you agreed to marry Blueblood, and I haven’t seen you since. Why wouldn’t you come and see me to explain everything? How come you ignored me in the halls? The way I see it, there’s only one reason for that: you decided that you were done with me.”

“How could you say that?” Rainbow Dash asked. She was shaking, and her eyes glinted in the torchlight. “How could you possibly think that that is what’s going on? Is that how you see me? As some cheap harlot who would drop the mare she loves just to marry into money?”

“I... uh...”

“Did you ever think,” Rainbow continued, “that maybe Blueblood is forcing me to marry him? That I couldn’t come and see you because I was terrified that if I did, Blueblood would find out about us? Do you have any idea what that would do if he caught you? He told me that if he ever caught the servant I was seeing, he would do horrible things to them to make me obedient. How could I risk losing you to him? What choice did I have?”

The pieces started falling into place. “That,” Applejack said, “that... makes a lot of sense. Consarnit, Rainbow, why’d you have to go and explain everything now? I’ve been mad at you for weeks, and it was all for nothin.’”

“I didn’t have a choice!” Rainbow shouted. “Ignoring you tore me apart, but the other option was even worse.” She grit her teeth and looked down. “I just... I just couldn’t risk losing you.”

“Oh, Rainbow,” Applejack said. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what I was thinkin.’ I know you would never do something like that to me, I just... it was hard not to think so, you know? What with everything that’s been goin’ on, that’s just how it looked from my point of view.” She walked over to the bars where Rainbow Dash stood. “But, that’s no excuse for my behavior just now. I should’ve just heard you out before jumpin’ to conclusions, and I’m sorry.” She leaned forward. “Do you forgive me?”

Rainbow Dash held steady for a moment before taking a step away from the bars. “... I don’t know.”

“Huh?”

Rainbow looked up at Applejack. “How could you just think those things about me? After everything we’ve done together... I don’t know. I think I’m going to need some time.”

Applejack opened her mouth, then closed it again. “Okay,” she said. “If you need time, then take some time. It’s not like I’m goin’ anywhere.”

There was a pause. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?” Rainbow Dash finally asked.

“Nothin’ I can’t recover from,” Applejack responded.

“Good.”

Another pause. “Well,” Rainbow dash said, “I should get back to Twilight. I don’t want Blueblood to know I came down here.”

Applejack nodded. “I understand.”

Rainbow Dash started to walk away, but stopped and turned back. “I’ll come see you again soon.”

Applejack smiled. “I look forward to it.”

“Ready to go?” Gamble asked.

Rainbow Dash nodded, and then they were on their way back to her world.

(*)

Applejack spent the next two weeks in the dungeon. Her days were long, though the ones where Rainbow Dash came to visit seemed to go quicker. She was brought two meals a day by the same servant, and often clamped her pillow around her ears at night to muffle the screams from the second level of the dungeon.

Long stretches of time were spent thinking about her home, wondering if her family would worry about her now that they wouldn’t be receiving the wages she had been sending home. For the first time since she had arrived, Applejack was deeply homesick. She ached to be back on her farm, bucking apple trees all day, content with her simple existence.

How had everything gotten so crazy? She was in a dungeon for loving somepony, there was a revolution in the works, and Rainbow Dash was set to marry Prince Blueblood. Why couldn’t things just be simple?

“Why can’t things just be simple?”

Rainbow Dash looked up. “Hm?”

Applejack sighed. “I’m just wondering why everything has to be so crazy. Why can’t we just go live together and be happy? Is that too much to ask?”

They were sitting on opposite sides of prison bars. It was Rainbow Dash’s fourth visit since Applejack had been put away.

“I don’t know,” Rainbow responded. “Just the way things are, I guess.”

“I know, I just wish they weren’t.” Applejack smiled. “All I want to do is live with you, away from all this craziness, and get some peace and quiet.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Peace and quiet? No thanks; I’ve had peace and quiet my entire life. Come on, Applejack, don’t you want at least a little adventure?”

“Nope,” Applejack said, shaking her head. “Us farm mares don’t really take kindly to adventure. The simple life’s where it’s at.”

“But we should do something to break it up every now and then, right?” Rainbow suggested.

Applejack snickered. “Honestly, Rainbow? I don’t really care what we do, as long as we’re together.”

Rainbow Dash’s slight blush was basically invisible in the low light. “Agreed,” she said.

“So... does that mean you forgive me for sayin’ all those horrible things?”

Rainbow was silent. Then, “It’s a start.”

Applejack smiled. “That’s all I needed to hear.”

She craned her neck, leaning forward through the bars. Rainbow Dash bit her lip, leaned forward, hesitated, then followed through. Life was too short to hold grudges.

The kiss was the first they’d shared in almost a month. The bars made positioning awkward, but they were just glad to be with each other once more. It didn’t last nearly as long Applejack would’ve liked it to, but at least it had happened in the first place.

Rainbow Dash pulled back. “I should be going. I can’t be late for my dress fitting.”

Applejack winced. “So, you’re still going through with it, huh?”

“What choice do I have? While I’m out there, I can at least try to get you pardoned; if I were to defy Blueblood and he threw me in here, there would be no helping either of us.”

“I know, I know.” Applejack sighed. “It just frustrates me, that’s all. Knowin’ that you’re gonna be marryin’ that brute.” She stomped a hoof. “It ain’t right!”

Rainbow Dash shook her head. “Maybe not, but if it’s the only chance I have of getting you out of here, then I’ll take it, no matter what I have to put up with.” She started away, but turned back. “By the way, the wedding’s in three days.”

“Three days!?” Applejack shouted. “That’s way too soon!”

Rainbow shrugged. “Blueblood’s date, not mine. I tried to change his mind, but he’s... well, you know how he is. I’ll come see you again when I can, but for now... bye Applejack.”

“Bye.” What else could she say?

Then, Rainbow Dash was gone.

The days after Rainbow left were always the longest. Applejack knew that she had a while to go before being able to see her again, and the wait was maddening. She had always considered herself patient, but being locked in a cell for weeks with nothing to do was infuriating.

Not to mention the fact that the wedding between the mare she loved and the stallion she hated most in the world was approaching like a freight train. All Applejack could do was wait for the wedding to pass and hope that Rainbow Dash would be able to get her out of the dungeon. If she couldn’t, well... then Applejack would be at Blueblood’s mercy, which is the last place she wanted to be.

So she counted the days until the wedding. One day passed, then another, and finally, the third was here. On that day, Applejack was woken up by the sound of her food arriving. The same servant always brought it, sliding the tray of gruel through a small slot in the bars near the floor.

Applejack went over to retrieve her food, but the pony was still there. When she looked up, she saw that it wasn’t the one who usually brought her her meals.

“Daisy?” Applejack asked, squinting in the low light. “Is that you?”

Daisy nodded and motioned to Applejack’s tray. Applejack looked down and, next to the bowl, saw a metal object glinting in the torchlight.

It was a key.

When Applejack looked up again, Daisy leaned in close to the bars and whispered three words.

“Change is here.”

Coup D'état pt.1: The Wedding

The brush that ran through Rainbow Dash’s mane was undeniably beautiful. It was jade, with gold and silver inlay and jewels encrusted into the handle and on the sides. It was a gift from her mother, for her wedding, but she scarcely noticed it now. All she could focus on was the pony wielding it.

Prince Blueblood stood behind her, brushing out strands of her long, multi-chromatic mane. He wasn’t smiling; he almost never did anymore, unless he was scaring or hurting somepony. He hadn’t hit Rainbow yet, but she knew that her golden protection from his wrath would soon be over. As the lady of the prince, she would be expected to dress extravagantly, when he let her out at all, and enough cloth can hide even the darkest bruises.

Her muscles were tense. Blueblood made slow, mechanical strokes through her hair, brushing it until it shone, but it was not comforting like when Twilight used to do it. She could already smell the wine on his breath, even though the wedding ceremony was still an hour or more away. He was only there to do what was expected of him; it was customary in Canterlot for the groom to brush the bride’s mane one thousand times before the wedding, to signify his devotion.

I know what ceremony he would rather perform, Rainbow Dash thought.

He never hid his lustful stares from her. It was almost as if he wanted her to catch him looking at her with that gleam in his eye, that look that told her that, even though they weren’t wed yet, she was his. Just thinking about lying back and accepting whatever he was going to do made her sick, but what was the other option? Resisting and suffering physically? She still found herself hoping that that look didn’t mean what she thought it meant, but she knew such thoughts were foolish.

The look had grown more frequent in the last three days, as had Blueblood’s cruelty toward his servants. Rainbow Dash protected them as best she could, but it was never enough; they always left Blueblood’s chambers with more bruises than they entered with, and none of the other nobles seemed to take notice. It made Rainbow Dash furious, but as long as Applejack remained in the dungeons, she didn’t dare defy Blueblood.

The silence was heavy. Rainbow Dash had tried to pass the insufferable moments by counting the brush strokes, but her thoughts had drifted, and she had long since lost count.

“How many is that?” she asked.

“How many is that, what?”

Rainbow Dash sighed. She could already smell the wine on his breath. It seemed as if he started drinking earlier and earlier in the day as the wedding approached. “How many is that, my lord?”

“I haven’t the slightest idea. You should have been keeping track.” The brush stopped. “Why, do you want me to stop?”

“No,” Rainbow Dash responded. “It feels good.” She had to force the lie past her lips. She had learned that the best way to get Blueblood to do something was to say she wanted the opposite, almost like a foal.

Blueblood set the brush aside and leaned down until his breath was on her ear. “Oh, does it?” he breathed. “Because I know of something that will feel even better.”

Rainbow Dash shuddered, more from the sensation than anything, but Blueblood still laughed.

“But,” he said, “I suppose that will have to wait until after the ceremony. Make no mistake, Lady Dash, you will be mine tonight. You will struggle, and writhe, and hate every second almost as much as I will enjoy them. And tomorrow, we will pay a visit to that servant you hold so dear to your heart.”

The way he said it, so calm and collected, sent a cold spasm down Rainbow’s spine. She just had to play the part, go along with things, and bide her time, and she could rescue Applejack eventually. She knew she could. She just had to be patient.

Blueblood leaned back. “Would you like to know what I’m going to do to her?” he asked. Rainbow Dash didn’t respond, but he continued anyway. “I’ll start off easy, maybe knock her around a little. Blunt trauma may not be elegant, but I’ll be damned if it isn’t fun. Then I’ll wait a few days, let her think it’s over, give her the slightest glimmer of hope that maybe I forgot about her and she can rot in peace, and then I’ll be back. The next part is great, though. I’m going to... well, maybe I should let that be a surprise.”

Rainbow Dash stood, knocking away her chair. Her wings flared out, and Blueblood recoiled. “Why are you doing this?” she demanded. “What did we ever do to you?”

“What you did with that mare is a perversion of order,” Blueblood said. “We are born when and where we are for a reason. I am a prince, you are a lady, and that servant is a dog, good for nothing more than to take orders. As crown prince, it is my duty to keep the royal lines pure, and I will not have you and that creature defiling that mission. And,” he said, a wide grin spreading across his face, “because it makes me happy.”

Rainbow Dash took a step back. “What about Twilight? If you think Applejack and I are so disgusting, then what did Twilight do?”

Blueblood tapped his hoof against the ground. “Yes, that is a bit more troublesome. You see, she may not have been the source of the problem, but she was facilitating it.”

“You’re a monster,” she said, narrowing her eyes at him.

He paused, then glared at her. “What?”

“You heard me,” Rainbow spat.

A chair crashed into the wall across the room, thrown by Blueblood’s magic. Rainbow flinched, and then Blueblood was right in front of her, nostrils flared like a bull. “I am not a monster,” he declared through gritted teeth. “And I will not have that word follow me around for the rest of my life because of one little mistake!”

Rainbow Dash didn’t know what he was talking about, and she tried her hardest to keep her mouth shut. But her hardest wasn’t good enough.

“Monster.”

Blueblood screamed, his horn sparking to life, as furniture crashed around the room. He turned away from Rainbow Dash as he flung objects against the walls, overturned chairs and tables, and generally turned the room into a wreck. Rainbow ducked under a lamp the smashed against the wall a few moments later. Her heart was an icy lump in her throat; her eyes darted to the door, but there was no way she was going to brave the makeshift hurricane that Blueblood’s temper had conjured.

Then it was over. Everything that was flying through the air dropped to the ground with a thud. Blueblood collapsed into a heap on the floor, burying his head in the rug as a soft, unfamiliar sound emanated from him. Rainbow Dash started when she realized what it was.

Blueblood was sobbing.

The very notion of it startled her into inactivity. She briefly wondered how much he had had to drink that morning, but the thought was soon replaced with a grim satisfaction at seeing him laid so low by one little word. Then she realized he was speaking, and she strained her ears to listen.

“...a mistake. It was a mistake. I didn’t mean to kill her. It was an accident. Why can’t they see that?”

For a moment, Rainbow Dash seized up, convinced that Blueblood was talking about Twilight, and that she had somehow not heard about her friend’s demise. Then she remembered what Applejack had told her, about Blueblood killing Quince’s sister. It didn’t seem like he was talking to her, so what was he doing?

Rainbow Dash took a step forward. Blueblood must have heard her, because he snapped his head around, his eyes glowing with a sort of manic anger, like his brain had done a backflip and turned him from depressed mess to insane antagonist in the span of a heartbeat.

“You’re going to pay for that word,” he said, “you and Applejack.” He stood back up and advanced on her. “After the wedding, I’m going to torture her, and you’re going to watch. You will see every single agony I inflict upon her, and you will know that it is your fault, and you will never disobey me. Then, to teach the rest of those ingrates a lesson, I’m going to parade the whore through the streets, and—”

Even afterward, Rainbow Dash could never recall exactly what happened next. All she knows is that she heard Blueblood call Applejack a “whore” one moment, and the next, she was standing over him, her hoof throbbing, and he was clutching his face, staring up at her in disbelief.

“You stupid bitch!” Blueblood screamed, leaping to his feet. Rainbow Dash stepped back. The prince’s eyes were full of murderous rage. “How dare you strike me! How dare you lay a single hoof on me! You are going to pay for this tonight, well and truly, and it is going to be so much sweeter than I ever could have dreamed.” He pointed a hoof at her and smiled, crazed. “You will regret this, my love. You and your pretty little serving mare.”

He spun around and stomped to the door, throwing it open with his magic and slamming it shut once he was through.

Rainbow Dash sat on her bed, her racing heart pounding in her throat. She wanted to laugh, and scream, and weep, all at the same time. How could she have been so stupid! She had only made things worse, for her and for Applejack. She held her right hoof, the one that had struck Blueblood. Despite everything that she knew was going to come of it, everything was blotted out by a single thought.

Hitting him had felt so good.

It was like, if even for just a moment, she didn’t have to be scared of him. She was the one standing over him for once, not the other way around. She didn’t care about what it would bring, about what was just around the corner. She felt invincible. She had defied him, and he hadn’t done anything about it.

That would change that night, she knew, but even as her hoofmaids came to help her get ready for the ceremony, all Rainbow Dash could picture was hitting Blueblood again.

And again.

And again.

(*)

Applejack’s heart was going to explode.

It was beating too fast for it not to. It thumped in her chest and filled her ears; if her companion had been more talkative, Applejack wasn’t sure she would have even been able to hear her.

Down and down they walked, Daisy in front, Applejack behind, on their way to Quince’s secret meeting place. Apparently he wanted to speak to Applejack, though she wasn’t sure how he had made it possible. She had been rescued from her imprisonment, possibly saved from a grisly fate at the hooves of Prince Blueblood, and now she was going to speak to a pony who may be her only answer to how bad things had gotten. So why wouldn’t the bees in her stomach go away?

Quince had freed her, somehow. Daisy had gotten the dungeon guard’s key, and the guard had pretended not to see them as they walked out. Applejack wondered if he was part of the operation. How far did Quince’s reach spread?

The halls had been nearly empty as they walked them. It was because of the wedding, Applejack knew; all the servants would be busy setting it up in the throne room, where the mare Applejack loved and the stallion whom she despised would be bound together by law.

Blueblood only deserves one thing, Applejack though, and it ain’t Rainbow Dash.

Then Daisy and Applejack had completed their descent. Applejack could hear lots of voices from the other side of the door, and a strange, rasping sound as well; she wondered briefly how many servants were there, and how many were helping with the wedding. She didn’t have to wonder for long.

They had to work together to push open the heavy wooden door, which swung in on ancient, creaking hinges. What Applejack saw made her gasp. The door opened to reveal what might have been the most ponies Applejack had seen gathered in the old dungeon. Everywhere she looked, there were more of them, at least as many as had attended her speech, most likely more.

And at least half of them were armed.

Wherever Applejack’s eyes turned, she saw glints of steel. Edges of swords and spears reflected the blueish glow of the magelights that hung suspended in the air. The rasping sound that Applejack had heard was the sharpening of blades; ponies were focusing, running the stones along the edges of the steel until they became sharp enough to kill. All around, unicorns were casting spells on the weapons, though for what purpose, Applejack didn’t even want to guess. They were ponies she knew, or at least that knew her, but the scowls they wore as they went about their grim business made Applejack almost not even recognize them

As Daisy led her through the throng, Applejack felt as if she were in a dream. Everything was so surreal. Cinnamon, an amiable cook who Applejack remembered was always quick to smile and joke, was bent over a sword, scowling and using her hooves to run a stone over the edges. Hard Knock, one of the maintenance workers, was using his magic to heft one of the hammers used to set stone in the thick walls that surrounded the castle, taking practice swings. What looked like a regiment of servants were practicing swinging weapons in a group, instructed by a pony wearing the armor of a royal guard.

Above it all, the top of what looked like a large tent could be seen. Daisy led Applejack toward it, and as they approached, the flaps were drawn aside by two royal guards. Before she could puzzle out what they were doing down there, she was ushered through the threshold.

The inside of the tent was spacious and well-lit. There was a large wooden table with what looked like blueprints on it, with some other papers scattered around the floor. Quince stood on the opposite side of the table from Applejack, and Shining Armor was to his left, looking grim.

Quince looked up when she entered, and his face lit up in a smile. “Applejack!” He worked his way around the table, taking care to step over the papers on the floor. “I’m so glad you were able to make it. Welcome to headquarters.”

“What is all this?” Applejack asked, gesturing around the tent. “And, uh, no offence, but why are you here, Shining Armor?”

Shining Armor, who hadn’t seemed to notice Applejack until she addressed him, turned to her. “Because Blueblood has to pay for what he did to Twilight,” he stated. Then he turned back to the table.

Applejack mentally kicked herself. Of course he would be upset; Applejack had been, and she wasn’t even related to Twilight.

“We all grieve for what happened to Twilight,” Quince said, “but that is just one of the many injustices at Blueblood’s, and the rest of the nobles’, hooves. That is why we must—”

“Save it, Quince,” Applejack interrupted. “I’m not a crowd of ponies you’re speakin’ to. You can cut it out with the fancy language, and just answer a question: what is goin’ on outside?”

The rasp of steel could be heard even inside the tent, and it cut through the silence like a knife.

“What has to happen, Applejack,” Quince said, as if that answered her question. “This is what always had to happen. These ponies need change, they crave it, and I am providing the opportunity for them to take what they deserve.” He must have seen the apprehension in Applejack’s eyes, because he put his hoof on her shoulder and smiled. “This is a good thing, Applejack, I promise.”

Applejack’s mind was at war. On one side, the soldiers of her conscience lined up, prepared to defend their one true virtue: hurting ponies is wrong. On the other side, her pathos built siege machines and prepared for battle, arguing its powerful idea: they hurt me first.

The chill of the dungeon still felt like it clung to her. Her back had a slight yet deep-seated ache from the lack of bedding, and she was sure it would take at least a week to completely wash the smell out of her coat. Other than the occasional visit from Rainbow Dash, she had been utterly alone in a dark hole for weeks, as the world continued to spin around her. Her letters home had stopped; they wouldn’t give her anything to write with. She could only imagine what was happening at Sweet Apple Acres just then, because she had been locked away by the nobles for something she didn’t do.

Well, it was really Blueblood, but if there were a real justice system in place, the crown prince wouldn’t be able to get away with all of the horrible things that he did. Applejack couldn’t help but feel a little vindictive—she imagined herself crashing the wedding with this militia at her back and rescuing Rainbow Dash from Blueblood, swooping in like a fairytale heroine to vanquish evil, and the pathos side of her brain grew a little stronger.

But there was one nagging thought that kept her from truly enjoying that vision: what would happen next? After Blueblood got whatever justice he deserved, where would it stop? If Quince led this rebellion, with Shining Armor and the royal guard on his side, how many royals would get his idea of “justice?”

Applejack was almost afraid to ask. Almost.

When she did, Quince’s brow darkened. “I respect you too much to lie to you, Applejack; it will not be pleasant. They will get what they deserve for allowing this monster they know as their prince to continue, unabated, for so long. A trial will be held, and those who prove themselves innocent of what they are accused will be pardoned.” His look softened. “I am not an unfair pony, Applejack. Those who did nothing wrong will not be punished.”

Somehow, Applejack wasn’t convinced. “And what about those who did?”

“They will be put to death.”

And there it was. Applejack’s spine turned to ice, and her conscience charged, scattering her inklings that this rebellion would be a good thing. No matter how much she tried to drum up enthusiasm, the image of pony heads rolling off the chopping block made something deep within her cringe. Her enthusiasm for the cause withered, and suddenly it all seemed so crazy.

Had it really come this far? She left her simple life to chase a love story, and now she was part of an open rebellion against the government. A violent rebellion. What happened to her life before? To the time she had with Rainbow Dash in the gardens? Or even further back, to the tireless days on the farm when she would go to bed after a long day working, sweaty, exhausted, and content? Applejack wanted that back, preferably with Rainbow Dash at her side.

Sorry, fillies and gentlecolts, but I’m backing out of the race.

She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Quince, but I can’t help you do this. I can’t condone the killin’ of ponies, no matter the reason. Especially not for a reason as flimsy as the one you’re conjurin’ up.” She took a step back. “I’m sorry,” she said again.

“I’m sorry too,” Quince said. Then he nodded to the guards at the entrance to the tent, and Applejack felt two sets of strong hooves clamp down on either side of her.

“What are you doing?” she asked, too stunned to resist.

It was Quince’s turn to shake his head. “I can’t have you here, Applejack, not if you’re going to go against me. But, ponies respect you, and if they see you dragged out, or even see you leave, they will ask questions. They will wonder why you are not standing with us, and they will begin to doubt me. I can’t risk losing anypony at this point; if you’re not with us, then you’re against us, and I can’t have you taking anypony away from the cause.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that I’m sorry for what I’m about to do, but I hope you see why it must be done.” With that, he swept past her and out into the main room. The guards pulled Applejack along behind him, and, even though she was finally starting to struggle against them, their grip held fast.

The crowd parted before Quince as he made his way through. Ponies all around Applejack whispered as she was half-drug past them. She was looking for a way out, but with so many ponies, and so many guards, Lady Luck was not looking to be on her side.

Quince stepped up onto a large rostrum, which had replaced the dingy soapbox from which he had delivered his speeches at the beginning. Applejack just saw it as another sign of how much time she had lost in the dungeon.

“Excuse me, everypony,” Quince spoke, “I know you’re busy, but if I could just have your attention for one moment!” Applejack found the suddenness of the hush that went through the crowd unsettling. Quince motioned for Applejack to be brought up to the box with him. When the guards started to drag her, she shook them off.

“I can walk,” she growled.

Quince nodded, and they let her go.

“As you have most likely gathered,” Quince started, “our dear friend Applejack has been freed from the dungeon. While a great many of us would like to view this in a positive light, it is not the boon we had hoped it would be.” There was some muttering in the crowd. “It pains me to say it, but Applejack has betrayed us!”

Applejack didn’t say anything. It was like Quince had put a mask on, had switched into another, more charismatic persona than the pony she was just talking to inside the tent. The same old zeal that she had found so intoxicating when she had listened to him speak before just felt... hollow. His words rang out, and the crowd listened with stars in their eyes, but the speech felt empty to Applejack. She knew what he was like behind closed tent-flaps; this is how he was when he needed ponies to do his bidding. Applejack thought she was going to be sick.

“She has turned tail on the very values for which she claimed to stand for! And, what I find most grievous of all: she has been sleeping with one of the nobles!” There was widespread muttering at that, but the crowd didn’t seem entirely convinced.

“How do you know?” somepony shouted.

“Yeah!” another concurred. “Where’s your proof?”

Applejack couldn’t help but smile a little. These ponies still believed in her, at least a little, and there was no way Quince could prove to all of them that she and Rainbow Dash were seeing each other.

“It’s true,” Applejack heard from behind her. A white shape entered her vision on the right, and Shining Armor stepped onto the platform. Applejack could only stare in disbelief.

“I know because I allowed it to happen,” Shining Armor continued. “My sister, Twilight Sparkle, and I, both helped Lady Rainbow Dash and Applejack here carry out their relationship in secret.” He sighed. “Blueblood found out, somehow, and that is how Twilight got injured. She didn’t fall down a flight of stairs; Blueblood beat her half to death!”

The muttering in the crowd turned more concerned.

Quince picked up where he left off. “And not only that, but when Blueblood confronted Applejack about it, it was our dear friend Borro who allowed her to escape from his wrath!” Quince drew himself up. “And what did he get for it? What did he get for defying Blueblood?” He paused, the crowd hanging off the edge of his words. “The axe.”

Like some great beast, the crowd was slow to rouse, but a force to be reckoned with when it was. They seemed to have almost forgotten that Quince didn’t actually have any proof of Applejack’s affair; it didn’t matter any more. Applejack hardly noticed, anyway—she was too busy puzzling out what Quince had just said.

Borro is dead? Because of me?

“And that leads us back to Applejack,” Quince said, gesturing to the mare beside him. “She has been fornicating with the Lady Rainbow Dash, whom we all know is to marry Blueblood later today. It is not known how deep her loyalty to them goes, but she can no longer be trusted with our cause.”

“Then what is she even doing here!” somepony shouted.

“Yeah!” another added. “What if she squeals on us?”

“We gotta protect ourselves!”

Quince waited until they were all finished. “Now, now, I know we are all upset. Trust me, nopony is more hurt by this betrayal than I am. But I simply cannot find it in my heart to injure a pony who, despite her wavering loyalties, did help us in the beginning. That is why we will cast her out to join those nobles she loves so much. She knows nothing of our plan; even if she does warn them, it will be too late. When the time comes, let her be tried for her crimes with the rest of them!”

Cheers went up in the crowd.

“Stop!”

Applejack’s voice was strong, and carried far. She struggled against her guards, and they let her go. Changing the mob’s mind at this point would be nearly impossible, Applejack knew, but she had to try. “Can’t you see that what you’re doing is wrong? If we start fightin’ and killin’ the nobles, how does that make us any better than they are?”

“We do it for justice!” came a cry from somewhere to the left. The rest of the crowd seemed to agree.

“Well, if hurtin’ and killin’ is your idea of justice, then I shudder to think how Canterlot will become if ya’ll succeed.” Applejack spat. “But I want no part of it.”

Quince leaned down to Applejack and whispered, “I harbor no animosity toward you or Lady Rainbow Dash. Find her and get out of Canterlot, and I’ll make sure everypony forgets about you.” He leaned back a little and smiled at her, and Applejack felt like she was looking at the real Quince again, the one she had spoken too in his room about his sister a lifetime ago. “I’m really not a bad pony, Applejack.” Then he nodded.

Applejack was seized from both sides and forced off the platform. “Hey!” she protested, but it was lost in the jeers of the crowd. It seemed Quince wouldn’t even allow her the dignity of walking out on her own four hooves.

The crowd parted before them. On either side, ponies yelled and threw insults at her. “Traitor” was the most common, but she heard “whore” more than a few times. Trying to explain herself was useless; they had all turned against her. The occasional glimpses of steel and iron in the crowd made her blood run cold. Held like this, all it would take was one overzealous revolutionary to spill her blood.

Finally, Applejack saw the thick wooden door that led out of the room ahead.

“Open the door!” one of the guards called.

Several ponies scrambled to obey, dragging the heavy thing across the ground, its ancient hinges squealing like an iron pig. The guards tossed Applejack to the ground on the other side of the door, scraping her legs and side on the rough stone. As the door shut, a glob of spit came sailing through the air and hit her in the neck.

With a small boom, the great wooden behemoth shut Applejack out of the room and left her to the flickering light of a single torch.

(*)

The corset was so tight that it hurt to breathe.

Rainbow Dash had complained about it all the way down to the ceremony, but her hoofmaids had insisted that it needed to be that tight or else it would get in the way of the rest of the dress. Her hair was pulled into a five-strand braid that was draped in front of her right shoulder, with a jade ring holding it together at the bottom.

Her dress was made to Blueblood’s specifications. It was royal and extravagant, the same brilliant white as his coat, with a train that, while it could have probably been carried by only one unicorn, was attended by twelve, just for the spectacle. The back was an explosion of poofs and lace, and the veil was made of a silk so delicate it almost felt like a small waterfall running over Rainbow’s face. Blueblood’s cutie mark was embroidered in the bodice in gold thread, just as the bride’s would be on the groom’s suit to symbolize their bond.

It all made Rainbow Dash sick to her stomach. Wasn’t her wedding supposed to be the best day of her life? She was supposed to shed tears of joy, to promise to be together forever with a pony she loved and cherished so they could live out their years as one. That was how it had always happened in the books.

But, as Blueblood had taught her, life didn’t work out like a fairytale.

Applejack was still in the dungeon, and Rainbow Dash had sealed her fate by striking Blueblood. Tears threatened to form in her eyes at the thought, but she bit down on her lip and forced them back. If she started crying, she wasn’t sure she would be able to stop.

She was just inside one of the doors that led out into the royal garden, where the wedding would take place. When everypony was in their seats, the doors would open and her father would walk her down the aisle to trade her off to that foul, deplorable creature that liked to call itself a prince. Any minute now, the bells would ring on the other side of the door to signal that it was time.

Duchess Persephone was already outside, but the duke was waiting just next to Rainbow. He had been uncharacteristically jovial since hearing about the marriage. The smile he wore now was wide and made him look a little like a smug pig. His snout was smushed in and his jowls were huge, and he was almost a head shorter than Dash was.

Duke Ellington Dash IV turned to meet his daughter’s gaze. He frowned. “You should be smiling. The ponies want to see you smile.” Rainbow Dash noticed that he didn’t say that he wanted to see her smile. “You should be smiling,” he repeated.

Rainbow resisted the urge to lunge at him, mostly because her corset was too tight and the dress would have gotten in the way. Instead, she forced a smile. Duke Ellington’s smile returned.

“You’re going to be very well off with the prince,” he said. “Just like your mother and I have always wanted. Very well off indeed.”

Rainbow Dash sighed, her smile wilting. “I don’t want to be well off. I want to be happy.”

“Happy?” the duke said, scoffing. “Happiness is a myth. You just give yourself the best circumstances to make life tolerable, and hope the happiness finds you. Then, you have to pray that it doesn’t leave.” He got a far-off look in his eye. “We all want to be happy, and we want the ponies we love to be happy. I want you to be happy, just like I want your mother to be happy and she wants me to be happy. But making sure you’re looked after is more important. Making sure you’re safe. And if your happiness is the price I have to pay for that, then so be it.”

Where did that come from?

Rainbow Dash looked at her father like she was seeing him for the first time. Was this the same stallion who had stopped her from going outside to play as a foal? The same pony who, when she had grown rebellious, had locked her in her tower so she couldn’t get away? The same pony who was happy to see her married to Prince Blueblood? She felt like she was catching a glimpse inside him, not just seeing the jailer, but a little bit of the pony behind it.

She cleared her throat, and that seemed to call him back to reality. He looked at her. “Please make sure you smile,” he said.

This is my only chance.

That thought invaded her brain as if catapulted there from an outside source, but she knew it to be true. She turned toward him.

“Father,” she said, “listen to me. You can’t marry me off to Blueblood.”

Her father sighed. “We’ve been over this—”

“No!” Rainbow cut him off. “You have to listen to me! He’s abusive, he’s... he’s crazy! He is not a nice pony!”

The duke raised his eyebrows at her. “Well, he’s always been a little righteous, but... abusive? Did he hurt you?”

Rainbow Dash looked away. “Well, not exactly, but—”

She was interrupted by the opening of the doors. Rainbow Dash had to squint against the sunlight that flooded the small foyer in which they were standing, and she couldn’t see anything outside for a few moment.

Their previous conversation apparently forgotten, her father said, “Please try to smile.”

Rainbow tried her hardest to look the blushing bride as they stepped out into the sunlight. The traditional Equestrian wedding theme floated from somewhere off to the left as Dash and her father took their first steps down the aisle.

Almost every noble in Canterlot was present; there were so many that to accommodate them all, the aisle went out into the garden, then curved around to the left before leading up to the altar. Rainbow Dash was just thankful that she could walk for a bit without having to look at her future in Blueblood.

Off in the distance, a few dark clouds teased the horizon. Rain scheduled on my wedding day, Rainbow Dash thought. Well, I hope it’s scheduled for here. At least then things couldn’t get any worse.

The steps they took were slow and deliberate. Rainbow smiled, but she figured the muscles standing out in her neck must have given away how fake it was. Nopony in the crowd seemed to care. Most of the stallions were watching with little interest, and most of the mares were either glaring at her if they were unmarried or crying tears of joy if they were.

Rainbow Dash felt none of those things. If anything, she was envious of the mares in the crowd. At least none of them were married to Blueblood. There was a knot in the pit of her stomach that wouldn’t go away no matter how hard she tried. She wondered if it would ever uncoil.

They were approaching the bend now. The clouds in the distance had grown slightly more ominous, and looking at them sent a chill down Rainbow’s spine. She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes as they turned. When she opened them again, all she could seem to focus on was Blueblood.

His face was swollen some from where Rainbow had hit him. The darkness of the bruise had been offset by some hastily applied makeup. She smirked; this time, the smile was genuine. But it died on her lips when she saw the look on his face.

He looked like a colt who was just about to scorch and ant with the all-powerful heat of the sun, magnified through a glass. His smile set Rainbow’s teeth on edge, and she briefly wondered how the crowd would react if she just socked him right in the face in the middle of their vows.

I swear to always love you, to cherish your mind, body, and soul, and to beat you to death at the first opportunity presented to me.

Rainbow Dash shook herself out of that thought, a new revelation on the forefront of her mind. A whimsical imagining solidified in her mind as a concrete notion that may have contained the solution she sought. Was that it? Was that the answer?

Could she kill Blueblood?

She tried to imagine it. He would be expecting her to fight for the consummation, so it would need to be either before or after. Maybe when he went to sleep that night? The idea of her hooves coming down and crushing his skull made her heart beat faster, though whether it was with fear, guilt, or exhilaration, she couldn’t tell.

They were close now, almost to the altar. Out of the corner of her eye, Rainbow could see the clouds growing larger. They seemed to be racing toward the wedding with an unfathomable urgency, but she looked away and tried to put them out of her mind.

When Rainbow and her father reached where the seats ended, he veered off to the right, while she kept on course, stepping up onto the altar with Blueblood.

Equestrian weddings were not a very orchestrated affair. There was spectacle, sure, but the binding of the two ponies themselves was very organic. They would say their vows, oftentimes making up the most romantic thing they could think of on the spot, though many followed general guidelines. Then they would kiss, the crowd would stomp and clap, and they would be separated and prepared for their “big night.” The stallions would stay with Blueblood, swapping stories of their weddings and giving him advice—though Rainbow scarcely thought he needed any—while the mares would accompany her to the honeymoon chamber and prepare her for her new husband.

Rainbow Dash took solace in the fact that she wouldn’t have to see Blueblood until the fateful moment, but she didn’t know if the delay would make it easier to bear, or if the anticipation would be torturous. She guessed the latter.

She stepped up onto the altar. Blueblood’s expression had barely changed, and Rainbow Dash had to suppress shivers. He breathed in. The stallion always went first.

“Lady Dash,” he began. “I know that we have our differences, and, in the past, have had trouble sorting them out.”

The glare was almost subconscious, but she fought it all the same. Differences? she thought. You mean when you nearly killed my best friend and imprisoned Applejack? Yeah, we’ve had some “differences.”

“But I think you are the single most beautiful mare I have ever seen,” he continued. “The stars themselves pale in comparison to your radiance. Scholars have searched for centuries to find the most beautiful creature ever created, and yet all they must do is look to the mare standing in front of me now.”

Rainbow seethed as best she could through her plastic smile. He was so sweet, so sickeningly saccharine, that she wanted to vomit. Preferably on him, so maybe he would become angry enough to show his true colors to the public.

But she didn’t dare. Not with Applejack still locked up. She clenched her teeth and kept her mouth shut.

The clouds on the horizon caught her eye again. Almost a third of the sky was dark now, with angry black clouds that would beget one powerful storm, the beginnings of which were already making themselves known. Dresses and manes were being ruffled by the wind, and a few small drops pelted the onlookers. Rainbow didn’t think the prince would allow any rain to be scheduled on his wedding day, and she pitied whatever pony would be caught in his ire for such a mistake.

Blueblood was still talking, but Rainbow Dash noticed some of the ponies in the crowd pointing at the looming weather and whispering.

“This day is the single greatest day of my life,” Blueblood said, “although waking up next to you tomorrow will certainly be a contender. I swear to always love you, to cherish your mind, body, and soul, and to remain ever faithful, until we leave this world to join the herd of the next.”

The wind was picking up. The clouds were filling half of the sky, and growing rapidly. Rainbow’s veil was blown back from her face, and she squinted against the wind. Noblemares in the crowd were standing and holding their clothes against the wind. Then the rain started in force.

It was a drizzle at first, but that was only the front of the storm. Soon it grew into a stinging, torrential downpour, accompanied by near gale-force winds. What had been a wedding a few minutes earlier was quickly transforming into quagmire. Rainbow Dash couldn’t help but feel some kind of twisted pride; as a pegasus, this was one impressive storm to conjure up so quickly. The only question was why?

Blueblood turned to look out at the crowd, then up at the clouds.

“What is the meaning of this?” he demanded of nopony in particular. He spun back around, and Rainbow Dash was unfortunate enough to be the pony nearest to him. “Did you orchestrate this?” he asked.

“What?” Rainbow responded. “Why would I do this?”

Blueblood sputtered. “Because... because you want to get back at me! You think a little rain is going to stop our wedding, hm? Well, think again.” He turned to the crowd. “Everypony inside!” he roared. “Into the Celestial Foyer!”

Some ponies were already en route, and the rest wasted no time. Nobleponies were turning cushions and chairs over left and right in a mad scramble to escape the garment-ruining storm. Blueblood sneered at Rainbow Dash.

“Come with me, my love, or I swear you will regret it.”

A flash of orange further out in the garden caught Rainbow’s eye. Her heart sped up, but she squashed the hope. Applejack was in the dungeon.

Then she saw the cowpony hat bobbing above the heads of the crowd, heading straight toward her.

“Applejack!” she called. She took two steps then nearly choked as she was yanked back by her dress collar. She fell to her side.

“I don’t think so,” Blueblood said a moment later, standing over her. The rain had soaked his hair and stuck it to the side of his face, and he was silhouetted by a lightning flash that transformed him momentarily into a grinning phantom. “You’re coming with me.”

His horn glowed, and Rainbow Dash felt her dress pull tight on her body, binding her in place. She was lifted off the ground, which, without her controlling it, made her heart leap into her throat. She started to float away, accompanying Blueblood as he hurried through the garden, away from the crowd. If Rainbow craned her neck, she could just see over the crowd to the cowpony hat.

It had barely moved.

Applejack was having trouble fighting against the crowd of fleeing ponies. She would never reach them before Blueblood spirited her away. So, Rainbow did the only thing she could.

She fought.

Rainbow Dash, flexing every muscle in her body, struggled. She pushed outward with her arms, tried to spread her legs, tried to extend her wings, anything that might help free her from Blueblood’s telekinetic grasp.

“It won’t help to struggle,” Blueblood said, but his tone said something different. He was breathing a bit heavier, and his steps were a bit more sluggish. Whatever Rainbow Dash was doing, it was working, so she redoubled her efforts.

She stretched against the magical field, feeling it tense up and try to force her back like a net, snapping her back into place. She pushed again, and this time it stretched a little farther. And again, and it stretched farther still.

“Stop that!” Blueblood commanded, but there was little force behind his words. His gait had slowed to a stumbling walk. Rainbow wriggled and writhed and pushed and flexed against the hold.

There was a sensation like she was tearing through fabric as she lashed out once more, but her dress remained intact. She dropped to the ground, which met her side with a dull thud and drove some of the wind from her lungs.

She looked across the ground to see Blueblood holding his head with his hoof, his eyes clenched shut. “What did you do?” he asked, his voice quivering slightly. He winced. “Why can’t I grab you? What did you do!?”

Rainbow Dash stood up, knowing it was only a matter of time before Blueblood recovered his wits. Near the altar, Applejack had broken free of the crowd and was galloping toward her. All Rainbow had to do was run to meet her, and they could escape together.

But Blueblood would still be there. If she knew anything about him, it was that he would never let this go, not after being humiliated and hurt by whatever Rainbow did to his magic. On shaky legs, she walked over to Blueblood’s shaking form, which had fallen to its knees.

He seemed to sense her, for he opened his eyes and lashed out with a hoof. “Stay back!” he shouted. His movements were sluggish; Rainbow Dash remembered Twilight describing magic to her long ago, how it was tied to a unicorn’s physical strength. Like how a pegasus would eventually get tired if they flew too hard or too long, a unicorn would feel the same exhaustion when overextending their magical abilities.

Blueblood was panting, his shoulders sagging and his head drooping. This might be her only chance.

She hit him.

It was a quick blow to the side of the head, knocking him sideways. He worked to scramble backward away from her. “Stay away!”

Rainbow didn’t hear him. All she could think of was Twilight Sparkle, of Applejack, of all the things that she had ever heard about Blueblood or seen him do. She flew into a blind rage, screaming at him as her hooves fell on him again and again, on his face, on his body, anywhere she could reach. He weakly tried to fend her off, but he was no match for her.

Hot tears filled her eyes. She wanted to scream at him, to tell him how much she hated him, and how he was going to kill him, but when she opened her mouth, all that came out was a pained, furious cry. She hit him and felt ribs break. She hit him again crushed something in his stomach. Then she hit something pointy and she winced.

Blueblood screamed. It was a horrible, blood-curdling screech, but Rainbow didn’t stop. When she reared back again, she felt something wrap around her hooves. Without thinking, she turned and struck out.

Applejack stopped the blow with her hoof and pulled Rainbow Dash toward her. Rainbow struggled at first, but soon gave up, sobbing into Applejack’s chest. Hot tears filled her eyes and her teeth clenched.

“It’s not fair!” she cried, stomping. “Why would you stop me?” She sniffed and looked up at the blurry visage of Applejack. “How can you not want him to get what he deserves?”

Applejack nodded behind Rainbow. “I think he already did.” Rainbow Dash turned around and almost gasped at what she had done to him.

Blueblood’s body was in ruins. His face was black, swollen, and bleeding. His torso was dented in some places, and he was lying back on the grass, the rain running over his body and washing away some of the blood. He was reaching up to his horn, where blood was pouring from the base.

His eyes were crossed, staring up at his horn in shock. “What did...” he started. “What did you do... to me? What did you do to me? What did... what...”

Pity welled up in Rainbow for the miserable creature on the ground before her, the quivering, sobbing mass that had only minutes before been trying to kidnap her. For the life of her, she couldn’t figure out where it was coming from, but it gave her a sick, dark feeling in the pit of her stomach. She couldn’t seem to tear her eyes away.

Applejack was there, though, to do it for her. She gently pulled Rainbow’s gaze away from the prince and back to her own.

“Rainbow, I have to go now,” she said. “I hate to do this to ya, but somethin’ real bad is about to happen in the palace, and I’m gonna see if I can stop it.”

“What?” Rainbow asked. She wiped her nose. “What do you mean?” Applejack’s expression was confident, but Rainbow guessed that was just for her benefit, because her eyes were full of fear. “Applejack, what’s wrong?”

Applejack shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. I just want you to fly away from here as quick as you can. Go to Ponyville. You should be able to find it if you fly up high enough; it’s just to the southwest of Canterlot. Sweet Apple Acres is—”

Rainbow Dash stepped back, frowning. “What are you talking about? I’m not going anywhere, not unless you’re with me.”

Applejack sighed. “Please, Rainbow? Just trust me, it’ll be much better for the both of us if you just get outta Canterlot.” She paused, chewing on her thoughts. “I can’t have you here.”

“Well, tough!” Rainbow yelled, stomping. “I’m not just going to leave you, Applejack! Whatever you’re going to do, I’m coming with you, and that’s that!”

Applejack cried out in frustration. “Consarnit, Rainbow! Do ya have to be so damned stubborn? Why can’t you just do this one thing?”

“Because I’m not going to lose you again, Applejack.” Rainbow cast her eyes downward. “It’s not happening. Whatever you’re going to do, I’m going to be there to keep you safe. I couldn’t do it before, but I’ll be damned if I’m not going to do it now.”

Applejack pressed her hoof to her forehead. “It’s like arguin’ with a rock,” she complained. “Alright, you can come with me. Just... promise me you’ll stay close. Please?” She looked into Rainbow’s eyes. “I don’t wanna lose you again, neither.”

“I can handle myself, Applejack,” Rainbow declared. When she saw the look Applejack gave her, though, she said, “Alright. I promise.” She started toward the Celestial Foyer. “Now, can we please get out of this storm so you can tell me what’s wrong?”

She jumped some when Applejack grabbed her shoulder and spun her around. “What about him?” she asked.

Rainbow Dash turned to look at Blueblood. “What... what did you... do to me?” he was still saying, repeating it on an endless loop. She sighed and shook her head.

“We can’t move him. We can’t help him.” She furrowed her brow. “Maybe we could get a nurse out here to look at him, but... he looks in bad shape.” She shook her head again. “I just... Applejack? Can we just go? You said something bad was going to happen.”

After a moment, Applejack nodded. “Yeah, let’s go. I’ll explain on the way.” She started trotting away.

Rainbow Dash followed for a moment, then stopped and tore her dress away. The fine fabric of the dress ripped easily, but the corset laced up the back. It had taken three hoofmaids to get her into it, and no matter how far she reached, there was no way she was going to be able to take it off by herself.

After a moment, Applejack was back. She walked around Rainbow and tugged at the laces of the corset with her teeth, pulling the lace out in one powerful motion. The garment fell away.

“Better?” she asked around the lace in her mouth.

“Better,” Rainbow responded, nodding. “Come on, let’s go.”

Applejack spit the cord out and they started toward the west end of the Gardens. Rainbow Dash didn’t know what she was getting into, but as long as she was with Applejack, she felt like she could do anything.

Bring it on.