It's Not Easy Being In Love (Chronological Version)

by Gutovi

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Final Chapter

Chapter 1

Date: Thirteen years prior to Nightmare Moon’s Return.

Two days before the Sonic Rainboom Incident.

Location: Orange Family Residence, Manehattan.

Point of View: Applejack

“Aunt Orange… are y’all sure ‘bout this?” the orange filly asked.

“Most certainly my dear Applejack, a soirée is the best way to test your sophistication lessons,” the pale, yellow mare replied. The filly could notice a certain spark in her eyes when she added, “And I will make you look absolutely stunning, so you give a good impression to our friends. Who knows, one may even find you fitting to present you to his son.”

Applejack was not sure how to feel, she did want to live a good life, and she knew Manehattan had lots of possibilities, but it would be hard to get to the top, and if she couldn’t perform well at a little soirée held by her aunt and uncle, she wouldn’t be able to get anywhere.

“But is it really what Ah want?” She re-played what her aunt just said in her head. “Ah don’t wanna look good so they present me their sons, Ah wanna look like a good girl so Ah can make some friends! That’s the second reason of why Ah came here, nopony in Ponyville wanted to be mah friend.”

“A-Auntie… Ah really don’t wanna ‘meet a colt that’s the son of some important pony.’ Ah wanna make friends! N’ if Ah fall for somepony, Ah want it to be somethin’ special, after years of knowin’ each other…”

“Non-sense my dear, your uncle and I met each other that way, and we live happily together. But never mind that, our biggest problem right now is to make you talk like how a true Manehattanite should.”

“But Ah-”

“I, my dear. I,” the orange-maned mare corrected.

Date: Thirteen years prior to Nightmare Moon’s Return.

The day of the Sonic Rainboom Incident.

Location: Meadow below Summer Flight Camp, Cloudsdale’s surroundings.

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

“Hey, are you out there?” the cyan filly asked.

“R-Rainbow Dash?” the daredevil pegasus heard, somewhere near her.

Rainbow Dash looked around, but found no pony nearby. Just colours, many colours. Dash always loved looking at that part of the world; it was probably because she was one of the most colourful ponies around. She didn’t pay that much attention to the things ponies said, or the objects around her, but their colours.

She was in a meadow full of blue lagoons, very green trees, pink and yellow flowers … but no clue of the pony she was looking for. The smell that invaded her nostrils was also breathtaking; the flower perfume lingered in the air and the breeze carried the scent of what seemed to be a nearby river. She loved feeling the scent of everything too, she always said that everypony had their unique smell, and that it described the pony.

That’s when she realized, that smell was in the air.

“You’re close, aren’t you? Come out, I won’t hurt you!”

From below her, a pink-maned and pale yellow-coated filly with a large but slim body emerged.

“Wow! H-how? Y-you… I couldn’t see you!” the rainbow-maned pony asked, dumbfounded.

“Oh… I-I’m sorry, I’m just… good at hiding,” she heard other pony say, and she notice she was avoiding her gaze.

“But that goes beyond hiding! You’re right here, lying between the flowers! It’s like camouflage, so awesome!”

“I guess I was just lucky these flowers were here and have my same colours?” the weak-flyer pegasus replied blushing.

“Still, pretty awesome…Uh…”

“F-Fluttershy,” the shy pegasus replied in an almost inaudible voice.

“I’m sorry, didn’t quite catch that.”

“Flutter…shy,” she repeated, a bit louder this time.

“Fluttershy huh? I like that name.” Rainbow Dash got closer to the filly and took a deep breath. “And you smell like flowers, I like that.”

Rainbow Dash realized the little pony that she saved from the bullies, was staring at her with a confused face, so she exclaimed.

“Oops, sorry, shouldn’t have said that aloud, forget about it. My name is-”

“Rainbow Dash.”

“H-how did you…?” asked the rose-eyed pegasus.

“I… I’ve seen you several times and you seemed to be… nice… so I asked you your name a week ago. I guess you don’t remember that… i-it’s okay. Ponies never pay me any attention.”

Rainbow Dash cringed and she felt her heart hurt a little “I-I’m sorry okay? I was never good at remembering ponies, heh,” she said, rubbing the back of her head. “But you seem like a nice pony too! We should hang out more often. Is that cool with you?”

“Yeah… I’d like that.”

“Hey! You got your cutie mark!”

“Yeah, it seems I’m good with animals.”

“And I’m the most awesome flyer ever!” the cyan pegasus said, showing her new-found friend her cutie mark.

“I’m happy for you and me. In fact, I’m so happy I could just scream for joy.” She took in air, and then, a barely listenable “Yay!” exited her mouth.

“That… was your ‘scream for joy’?” Rainbow Dash said while holding a snicker.

“I’m sorry, was it too loud?”

Rainbow Dash grinned and answered, “Nah, it’s cool. But I really think we should go back to the camp, they’re probably looking for us.”

Date: Ten years prior to Nightmare Moon’s Return

Rainbow’s first visit to Fluttershy’s house.

Location: Town centre, Ponyville

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

“Gosh, Fluttershy, you’re terrible at giving instructions! I’ll never make it to your house this way… And I don’t know anypony from here, I don’t even know who to ask.”

Rainbow Dash was trying to deduce where her friend’s house was. She re-read the instructions aloud. “‘When you get to the town hall,’ which I suppose is this big building I the middle of the town centre… ‘you have to turn left, towards the Everfree Forest. It’s the only cottage nearby so you won’t get lost’… Well that would be nice if I knew which left is the left you chose when you wrote this letter!”

The cyan pony groaned and inspected the place a little better.

“Well… There are six streets… like the colours of my mane. Today, I feel like orange, so let’s go that way!” So she sped through one of the routes. “Why don’t make this an obstacle training session?” The daredevil pegasus flew and dodged the ponies passing by with grace and ease that is, until she tried to evade a cart full of apples.

She succeeded to evade the cart, but she failed to dodge the filly carrying it.

“Look out!”

“What in Tarnation?”

The fillies collided and the apples flew in every direction.

“Ouch! That hurts a lot! What are you, made of stone?” asked Rainbow Dash while she shook her head, trying to regain focus.

“Ah’m sorry fer being a hard-workin’ filly! Now what’s yer excuse fer crashin’ and making all mah apples fly awa-”

For the first time the two fillies looked at each other.

“Wow… uhm… hi,” Rainbow said. The filly was like nopony she had ever seen before. A certain aura surrounded her, and Dash liked it very much. But the most important thing for the pegasus were the colours of the earth pony. “She looks very pretty with that orange coat, the golden mane, those white freckles… and those emerald eyes. Whoa… maybe today I felt like orange because I was going to meet her! That would be very cool, like destiny’s meddling or something.”

The farmfilly was looking at her without saying a word.

“Oops, guess I should apologize. Sorry for crashing and… destroying your property?”

“I-it’s not a problem, Sugarcube.”

“Whoa. She has a very sweet voice.” “N-no, I feel bad, shouldn’t be dashing around knowing there are ponies walking by, is there anything I can do to help?”

“Well... if y’all wanna, Ah need to gather the apples that aren’t ruined. Ah came here to sell’em to earn sum money fer the family,” she said rubbing her hoof.

“Oh, no! I just ruined the batch you were about to sell? Horseapples. Let me make it up to you. But first... I’m sorry for asking something after what I did but... do you have any idea where the Everfree Forest is? Fluttershy to-”

“Y’all lookin’ fer Fluttershy?” the pony said smiling.

“You know her?” Rainbow Dash asked surprised.

“She buys apples almost everyday, Ah’ve been to her cottage sum times, helpin’ her when she needed a hoof to carry sumthin.” The orange cowfilly seemed to be thinking something and she then continued. “Tell y’all what. Help me gather the good apples left n’ Ah’ll escort y’all to Fluttershy’s house.”

“That sounds like a deal to me.”

Date: Ten years prior to Nightmare Moon’s Return

Rainbow’s first visit to Fluttershy’s house.

Location: Town centre, Ponyville

Point of View: Applejack

“So… you’re from Cloudsdale huh?” Applejack asked the rainbow-maned pony who was walking by her side, towards a certain shy pegasus’ cottage near the Everfree Forest.

“Yeah, born and raised. You’re from here, aren’t you?”

“Eeyup. Where do y’all know Fluttershy from?”

“From flight camp. I met her there and we became friends, but since she lived here I couldn’t see her anymore, but then she sent me a letter and well, here I am.”

“Ah…” Applejack felt the pegasus was friendly, and she liked her, but she was getting short on topics to talk about. Luckily they were getting close to the cottage, but still, it would be a minute until they got there. “Ah won’t take an awkward silence minute, better think of sumthin’” “So… do y’all like sports?”

The filly’s eyes seemed to sparkle when she mentioned sports and a grin appeared on her face. “Like them? I love them! I’m a speedster, my life is a race and my cutie mark proves it!”

“Now that y’all speak of it, Ah haven’t asked y’all ‘bout yer cutie mark, how did y’all got it?”

Well I got in that flight camp I was talking you about. I was doing my usual aero-”

“Sorry to interrupt y’all, but we’re here.”

“Oh, great!” She looked at the door some seconds, then she smirked and asked Applejack.

“Could you knock the door for me? I’ll hide behind you and scare her!”

Applejack rolled her eyes and giggling she knocked the door. Rainbow Dash didn’t know what her plans were.

After a few seconds, the shy filly opened the door and after eyeing Applejack she exclaimed, a little concerned “Oh I’m sorry Applejack, but I can’t hang out today, I have a friend from Cloudsdale coming over. I’m sorry, we can hang out the day after tomorrow, if that’s okay with you…”

“It’s okay Flutters, Ah jes came here to escort yer lil’ friend.” She said, moving aside, revealing a surprised Rainbow Dash. “This sweetie got lost n’ Ah helped her.”

“R-Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy asked.

“Awww, you’re such a buzzkill.” Said Rainbow Dash huffing disappointed and glaring daggers at the emerald-eyed farm-filly.

“Sorry Rainbow, but Ah know Shy gets scared easily, Ah don’t want y’all givin’ her a heart attack.”

“I’m glad you’re finally here Rainbow, but trying to scare me is not very nice… Just saying…”

“It was just a prank! And I didn’t even got the chance… thanks to some pony.”

“Ah’ll make it up to y’all.” She looked at Fluttershy and asked “Would y’all n’ this crazy filly be free for an hour at six?”

“Huh?”

“See, this pegasus in a blue n’ yellow uniform came to the stall yesterday n’ bought an apple pie for his son. He was short on bits, but he gave me three tickets to his show, n’ Ah thought we could go.”

“Wait… pegasus, blue and yellow uniform, show, today at six… THE WONDERBOLTS!” squealed ecstatic.

“The what now?”

“The Wonderbolts! The greatest group of performing pegasai ever! I absolutely love them! I hope I can be one of them when I grow up.”

“Well… y’all could learn watching’em, ever been to one of them shows?”

“Sadly,no. Getting a ticket to their show is almost impossible.”

“Well, can’t wait fer a better opportunity, can y’all? Are y’all comin’?”

“Oh I’m so going to be there!”

“N y’all Flutters?”

“Oh no, no. I don’t like crowds… or shows… or ponies doing dangerous speed stunts. You… you two go together, alone, I’ll wait for you here Rainbow.”

“Hey Fluttershy, not so fast, there’s still a long time until six.”

“Eeyup. Ah still gotta sell those apples… Ah’ll come here n’ get y’all at five thirty, that okay with y’all Rainbow?”

“Sure!”

Fluttershy giggled and said “You two sound like Applejack is asking you on a date.”

Rainbow looked at Applejack, they both grinned and follow the game.

“I must tell you, my dear Applejack, that I don’t give kisses on my first date…”

Applejack tried her best not to laugh and said. “Well Ah’m gonna prove y’all that there’s a first time fer everythin’ Sugarcube!” She then got close to her and rested a hoof on Rainbow’s back.

“Hey, hey! Hooves off the merchandise” Fluttershy said sternly, looking at them with a stare that could freeze the flames of Tartarus.

The two other ponies looked at her surprised, until the pink-maned pony started giggling.

Soon after, the three ponies were rolling on the floor laughing to their hearts content.

“Okay, too much jokin’ fer me. Ah gotta go.”

“See ya later AJ!” replied Rainbow Dash

“Don’t be late for your date!” joked Fluttershy.

“Don’t worry ma’am Shy, Ah’ll be here fer yer daughter at five thirty.” She said, giving an exaggerated bow.

As she walked back to the market she thought “That Rainbow gal sure is sumthin’! Ah never felt so in sync with somepony Ah barely know!

Some hours later, Applejack found herself in front of Fluttershy’s cottage door again. She knocked thrice and waited for an answer.

Some seconds later, Fluttershy appeared looking sternly at Applejack.

“What are you doing here?”

Applejack noticed she was following their silly little play from before, so she followed suit.

“Ah’m here fer yer daughter ma’am. Is she ready fer our date?”

“Rainbow!” Fluttershy yelled.

“Wow, she really got into her character, Ah’ve never seen Fluttershy yell that way”

After a few seconds, Rainbow Dash appeared, wearing a nice blue dress, it was some tones darker than her coat, but she looked really good.

But a question lingered in Applejack’s mind. “Uh… why the dress?”

Rainbow Dash cleared her throat and said, with a silky voice “Well, my dear mother, Fluttershy, had this idea and I totally agree with her because I despise leaving half-baked plans… if they involve fun.” And before the earth-pony could ask she continued “She said ‘If you’re pretending to have a date, why don’t pretend it thoroughly?’. So… here I am, making my mother proud.” She said barely containing her snickers.

“Oh, okay then.” Applejack also cleared her voice, and with a deeper voice she said “May Ah take yer daughter ma’am?”

“Okay, I trust you will take good care of my sweetheart.”

“Ah’ll bring her back before midnight, Ah promise!”

As the two fillies walked towards town giggling about their absurd game, they heard Fluttershy add.

“And don’t get too sweet you too! Keep your distance!”

“Sure thing ma’am!” Applejack said snickering.

After a few more steps, she noticed Dash had stopped and was looking at her worried.

“What’s wrong Sugarcube?”

“I really hope you play your ‘gentlemare’ role really good, because I forgot to bring any bits…”

Date: Ten years prior to Nightmare Moon’s Return

Rainbow’s first Wonderbolts show.

Location: Town centre, Ponyville

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

“Don’t y’all worry Sugarcube, Ah brought bits fer two, jes in case.”

“Cool, I’ll pay you when we get back to Flutters” Rainbow Dash said.

“Nah, don’t mind it”

“Hey, I destroyed your cart, you took me to my friend’s house, then you invited me to watch my heroes with tickets you got AND you’re paying for everything. And we just met!” She smiled and looked at her “I never refuse free stuff, but this is too much, and you said you needed the money for your family.”

“Okay now… where were we supposed to turn?”

“That was amazing! the loop-de-loops, the barrel rolls. And that ending with the ‘Smoke Screw’! Awe-some!”

“Yeah, Ah don’t know that many technical names, but it was sum fancy show.” Her stomach grumbled and she blushed embarrassed “N’ Ah dunno ‘bout y’all but mah stomach is screamin’ fer sum chow.”

Rainbow chuckled but said “Well…”

“Now don’t y’all hold back jes ‘cause Ah’m paying.”

“Okay… let’s go eat something then… but I’ll pay you back later!”

“Hoo-ey gal, that was good don’t y’all think?”

Rainbow Dash tapped slightly her belly “Oh yeah, I’m stuffed”

“Okay we should get goin’. Fluttershy’s probably worried.” Applejack proposed.

“Yeah, you’re right. She’ll probably have a heart attack if we’re not there before midnight.”

The orange filly grinned and winked at her new-found friend “B’sides… Ah promised to bring her daughter back before midnight.”

Rainbow Dash knocked the door and waited for the shy pegasus. While waiting, she looked at her ‘date’ and grinned “You can go now, don’t think if you wait you’ll get rewarded or anything. I already told you I don’t give kisses on the first date.”

Applejack snickered and replied “As a gentlemare Ah gotta make sure y’all get to yer house safe n’ sound.”

Before the speedster pegasus could think of a comeback, Fluttershy opened the door. Only her eyes could be seen in the tiny gap she left open.

“Oh y-you’re back.”

“Yep, it was a blast!”

“Y’all should’ve come too!”

Fluttershy’s eyes darted back and forth and she bitted her lip. “Oh my… I don’t know how to say it Dash but… Y-you can’t sleep here tonight…”

“What!?” Rainbow’s eyes went wide as saucers.

“I am grounded, and my mom said I can’t have visitors, so…” The pink-maned pegasus refused to watch her in the eye.

“B-but what did y’all do to be grounded in the few hours we were gone?” asked Applejack.

“Umm… you see… the dress Dash’s wearing was not mine. It’s actually one of my mom’s dresses. I just cut some parts to make it the size of a filly, and did some little changes when you were napping.”

“Wow… you’re very talented! This looks flawless. B-but why would you do that? Didn’t you realised she would be mad?”

“She never uses it, and it was very, very old. And I thought it would look good on you…” She then started rubbing her left hoof with the other. “Turns out that dress was the one she used on her first date with my dad…”

“Ouch” the two other fillies answered in unison.

“Yeah, she’s very mad at me…”

“Okay, take the dress… maybe if she looks at how pretty it looks, she may forgive you.” She took off the dress and handed it to the shy filly. “Oh, and at least can you give me the bits I left here?”

“Oh yeah, here. And sorry again for this.” The filly said handing Rainbow Dash a bag full of bits.

Rainbow Dash could notice she was at the verge of crying. “It’s okay Shy, don’t worry and please don’t cry. I’ll come back tomorrow to see if you’re still grounded, I’d like to hang out a bit more than just the few hours we shared today”

“Okay… bye, you two.”

“Bye Fluttershy”

After the door was closed, the two ponies looked at each other and started walking down the path towards Ponyville.

“N’ what are y’all gonna do now?”

Rainbow Dash pondered… it was quite a good question. “I guess I’ll have to fly back home.”

Applejack stomped a hoof on the ground “To Cloudsdale? This late in the night? No, y’all aren’t. Not in mah watch.”

“What do you want me to do? Sleep on the floor?”

“Y’all are coming with me to Sweet Apple Acres, you can have mah bed, n’ Ah’ll take the spare mattress on the floor.

“Hey Applejack, you’ve done too much for me for a day… for a lifetime in fact, I can’t ask you to-”

“Ah’m not askin’ if y’all wanna.”

Date: Ten years prior to Nightmare Moon’s Return

Rainbow’s first sleepover at Applejack’s house.

Location: Sweet Apple Acres, Ponyville

Point of View: Applejack

“Y’all are coming with me.”

“AJ, I just met you, I don’t wanna impose by-”

“Ah invited y’all, y’all are not imposing.”

“You just invited me because Shy couldn’t let me stay, and I told you I can fly home.”

“Ah’m invitin’ y’all ‘cause Ah had an unforgettable day with y’all, n’ since Ah’m not sure if Ah’ll ever see y’all again, Ah want it to last a little longer.” Applejack said, looking at Rainbow Dash with a look that showed both loving care, and stern resolution.

The cyan pony smiled tenderly and nuzzled her new friend’s neck “Thanks Apples.”

Applejack just froze in place by the sudden surge of affection showed by the pegasus.

“Oh, sorry! Did you have any personal space issues or something? I’m sorry if I did something that bothered you!” Rainbow Dash asked concerned.

“N-nah, its okay… jes… sudden.”

“Heh… it’s just that I’m not used to be treated this nice by ponies. I mean, I’m not usually treated badly, except the occasional bully, but I don’t see many sudden acts of kindness either.”

“Well get used to it. Mah granny raised me to be a dependable gal, n’ Ah’m gonna try to be the pony that will help every other pony. So if y’all need sumthin’, jes come and ask me. Even if y’all decide to do a giant contraption fer a fancy trick… Ah’ll be there to help y’all!”

“Thanks AJ, I will keep that in mind…”

After some minutes of walking, Dash seemed to be getting a bit nervous.

“We’re almost there Sugarcube, don’t get like that.”

“Where do you live anyways? We’ve left town some time ago… You’re… you’re not taking me to some obscure place to kidnap me or anything… right?” Rainbow Dash seemed genuinely preoccupied.

Applejack couldn’t help but to laugh at her friend’s silliness. “Y’all gotta be kiddin’ me! Haha, kidnap you?” She then stopped laughed and continued “Ah’m a farm-gal… Ah live in a farm, n’ farm aren’t next to town, they are a bit farther.”

“So… how big is your farm?”

“The orchards… Well, y’all tell me, we’ve been walkin in mah family’s lands for a while now.”

“Huh?” asked Rainbow Dash dumbfounded.

“Noticed where the trees became apple trees?”

“Yeah…”

“That’s where our land starts.”

“Wow, you guys have quite the place huh?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed while looking around the place.

“Eyup, n’ next year Ah’ll start working on applebucking.”

“Huh? What’s that?”

“The way we recollect them apples. We buck the trees, apples fall, n’ we sell’em later or use’em in food.” Stated Applejack smiling broadly.

“Cool! So… are we there yet?”

“Actually, yeah!” said Applejack pointing to the Apple Family’s household. “Ah present y’all mah house.”

“It looks… good I guess.” Replied Rainbow Dash with a fake smile on her face.

“What, y’all don’t like it?”

“It’s not that… it’s just that, being used to cloud pegasus houses, I can’t really ‘enjoy’ an earth pony house, they are very different.”

“Oh… Ah understand, Ah guess… well, come on in! Ah’ll check if the spare room is free.”

Date: Ten years prior to Nightmare Moon’s Return

Rainbow’s first sleepover at Applejack’s house.

Location: Sweet Apple Acres, Ponyville

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

Applejack placed her hoof in front of her mouth, signalizing her to be quiet. “Mah family is usually asleep by this time.”

“Isn’t this a bit early to be sleeping?” asked Rainbow Dash, out of pure curiosity.

“We Apples usually wake up with the first sunray, so…”

“Yeah, I get it.”

Applejack got closer to the front door and opened the door as quietly as she could. Luckily they were fillies, so their hoofsteps made little noise. Unluckily, not every member of the family was asleep already.

“So… y’all finally decided to come back from yer lil’ date lil’ filly.”

Both fillies froze in place and looked to their right, and suddenly a lamp was turned on revealing an old pale green mare.

“Uh… h-hi Granny! Yeah… Ah jes came back, n’ Ah… Dashie needs to stay over Granny. Y’all always said we should care fer our friends, n’ Ah don’t want her to fly back to Cloudsdale this late, it’s dangerous fer a lil’ filly.”

The old mare looked at Rainbow Dash sternly “Dashie?”

“Rainbow Dash at your service ma’am! Best flyer to ever come out of Cloudsdale ma’am.” Rainbow instinctively said with a smile.

She noticed Applejack’s eyes widen and shaking her head in disapproval.

“She’s an assertive n’ pretentious one huh?” the mare frowned “Y’all see… in this family we admire humbleness.”

“Horseapples” Rainbow thought, cursing herself.

“Pony-feathers” Applejack said under her breath before looking at her grandmother and with her head held up high, exclaiming. “She’s a good gal Granny, don’t be impolite to a guest. Y’all yerself taught us that!”

“Guess y’all are right Applejack, besides, y’all have a good eye fer ponies, n’ if y’all brought her here, then she’s a good catch.” She said getting up from the armchair she was sitting on, and walking up the stairs.

Rainbow Dash looked at Applejack with a quizzical expression, just to get the same look from the farm-filly in front of her. She got a bit closer and whispered “You told her about the ‘date’ stuff?”

“No Ah didn’t.”

“Then why is she talking to us like we were dating?”

“Ah have no clue, now follow me, Ah’ll take y’all to the guest room.” Applejack said while walking up the same stairs as the old farm mare did some seconds ago.

“You know, I found something funny about us.”

“N’ what is that Sugarcube?”

“You say pony-feathers and I say Horseapples, but you’re the apple one, and I’m the feathered pony. Isn’t that weird?”

The orange pony stopped and smiled at her “Ah guess that jes means we’re meant to meet!”

“That’d be so awesome!”

Date: Seven years prior to Nightmare Moon’s Return

The day Applejack esdefscno 43R olev for Rainbow Dash .

Location: Outside Sweet Apple Acres, Ponyville’s Outskirts

Point of View: Applejack

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Chapter 2

Date: Seven years prior to Nightmare Moon’s Return

Applejack and Rainbow Dash’s StifR ⓢⓈⓘⓀ.

Location: Whitetail Woods, Ponyville’s Outskirts

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

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Date: Seven years prior to Nightmare Moon’s Return

Applejack and Rainbow Dash decide to tell their friends that they aRe ɐʇpbıu.

Location: Town Centre, Ponyville.

Point of View: Applejack

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Date: A year prior to Nightmare Moon’s Return

Rainbow Dash’s first visit to Ghastly Gorge

Location: Ghastly Gorge, Ponyville’s Outskirts.

Point of View: Applejack

“Wow…” the daredevil pegasus exclaimed.

“Breathtakin’ huh?”

“Yeah… How did you find a place as cool as this?”

“Ah used to come here to play when Ah was a filly,” Applejack explained looking at her friend, who she had invited to spend a day in ‘a place she would probably love’.

And here they were, walking next to the cliff, enthralled by the jaw-dropping and, at the same time, bloodcurdling scenery. The orange mare continued her explanation.

“Imagine to be here, alone, being jes a kid n’ listen a wolf’s howl… it was spine-chillin’ but Ah loved it!”

“Aww, how I would have loved to spend my foalhood here.”

“Well RD, y’all still have the mind of one,” said Applejack, grinning.

Rainbow Dash didn’t get angry, and she just pushed her friend affectionately.

“Now don’t take this here place easy, Ah’ve learned to respect it… the hard way,” Applejack said sternly.

“Oh yeah? What happened to you?”

“The rocks near this cliff are not stable y’all know? So Ah was walking, next to the cliff n’ one of’em, the one Ah was walkin’ on, fell. Luckily Ah could jump jes in time to get to safety. After that one fell, others followed and a rockslide started. Y’all don’t wanna be under a rock in the bottom o’ this gorge…”

“Yeah, doesn’t seem so pleasant, gotta remember that,” she said, cringing, but then she smiled and continued, “Though a flight here must be amazing!”

“Don’t go around testin’ yer luck RD… at least not with me here to worry fer y’all. If y’all wanna go ‘round playin’ daredevil, do it alone.”

“You’re such a scaredy cat, Apples.”

Applejack looked at her, trying to deduce if she was being serious or not. “Are y’all kiddin’ me? If Ah’m a scaredy cat, what’ do y’all call Fluttershy?”

“There are no words to describe her.”

“Ah’m not a ‘scaredy cat’ missy, it’s jes y’all are my best friend, n’ Ah worry ‘bout yer safety, that’s all.”

“Well, I’m the best flyer ever, so don’t worry your pretty, little head about me.” She walked towards the edge of the cliff and with a cocky expression she added, “Besides, I’m luckier than you.”

As if by a jinx, a crack was heard and the ground under Dash’s hooves began trembling. Her wings stuck to her body and she froze in fear.

Applejack never saw Rainbow Dash react this way and knew something was wrong.

“Rainbow? Get yer rump outta there!”

But the cyan pony didn’t move an inch. Applejack knew there was one thing to do, it was a long shot but it was the only way, seeing her friend wasn’t moving, so she prepared to do it.

A loud rumble was heard and Dash, along with part of the ground beneath her, fell off the cliff.

As Applejack saw her friend beginning to fall, she jumped towards her “Here goes nuthin’!” Tackling the startled pegasus mid-air, and in the blink of an eye, she threw her lasso around a thick and hard tree root that protruded from the other face of the gorge. Using the momentum to swing, she was able to make it to a stable rock on the other side big enough to support both ponies. Her body took the blow of both her and Rainbow Dash’s hit and it did hurt quite a lot.

“Darn it, Sugarcube, Ah gotta stop bakin’ y’all those apple pies everytime y’all ask me to.”

After noticing her friend was not answering Applejack pushed Rainbow Dash off her and shook her. “Rainbow, are y’all ok? Answer me!”

But it was useless, the daredevil mare was unconscious. “Guess it was too much fer the ‘great’ Rainbow Dash to handle,” the orange farm pony mockingly said.

“Who said I couldn’t handle what?” the rainbow maned pegasus grumbled still unconscious.

“Heh. Looks like her pride is greater than her instincts.” Applejack chuckled but soon became serious. “But what if Ah didn’t catch’er on time. Or if Ah wasn’t here at all... what if Ah lost her forever?” She looked down to the mare laying on the rock. “Can Ah live mah life without y’all Dashie? Jes how much Ah care fer y’all?”

She tried to think exactly how important the pegasus was. “Y’all are jes an airhead, daredevil, lazy, good-fer-nuthin’, sweet, funny, loyal, beautiful pony… Is it... is this L-lo...”

The words couldn’t leave her throat. She wasn’t ready to say them... not yet.

Date: A year prior to Nightmare Moon’s Return

Rainbow Dash’s first visit to Ghastly Gorge

Location: Ghastly Gorge, Ponyville’s Outskirts.

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

“Wa…What the hay happened? My head is spinning…” said Rainbow Dash as she regained consciousness.

Applejack looked at her tenderly, smiled and hugged her. Rainbow Dash thought she even saw a tear run down her cheek before the orange cowpony hugged her.

“Don’t y’all ever scare me like that again! Best flyer of Equestria my flank, getting wing-locked from a lil’ rockslide. Never thought Ah’d live to see the day y’all get wing-locked from fear.”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“Y’all walked next to the cliff even after Ah told y’all not to. A rockslide started under yer hooves n’ yer wing stuck to yer body, n’ y’all froze in place.” She took a deep breath, it seemed to Rainbow Dash, that the blond mare was still quite in shock. “After that Ah had to jump, risking mah life to save yers, luckily fer both, Ah had mah rope, n’ a very good aim. Y’all almost knocked on heaven’s doors n’ left me here all alone. Y’all gotta pay fer that.”

Rainbow Dash was speechless. It was too much information for such a short time.

“I almost died? I got wing-locked? That never happens to me! I mean, I’ve performed the most amazing aerobatic ever, broke the sound barrier... how can I get wing-locked!?” She looked at Applejack. There was a slightly pink aura surrounding her “And AJ… she… she saved my life! And she was crying because she almost lost me… And I haven’t said anything yet! The hay is wrong with me?” “You saved my life?”

“Ain’t much of a big deal RD” she replied blushing while wiping her tears with a hoof.

“Of course it is! How can I ever repay you?”

“How ‘bout never talking of this again n’ lookin’ fer some help… unlike y’all Ah don’t have wings to get mahself up there.”

“Why look for help? I’ll give you a ride!” She turned around and lowered her body and looking over her shoulder she said “Hop on!”

“Ah… Ah rather not do that” Applejack looked nervous and was trying to look away from Dash.

“You’re coming with me, the good way or the hard way.” She stated as she flew in a loop to end up behind Applejack, grabbing her forcefully from the barrel and carrying her to Sweet Apple Acres.

Noticing her friend was frozen she asked snickering “Afraid of heights AJ?”

“Not exactly… but Ah feel a bit uncomfortable, still a bit shocked ‘bout sum recent revelation, n’ y’all aren’t helping.”

“Care to share that ‘recent revelation’?”

“Not the time Dash, but maybe sumtime Ah’ll tell y’all.”

“Fair enough for me. Hey! I can spot the barn! We’re getting closer.”

“N’ its getting mighty dark… I-if y’all feel tired or… Ah dunno, there’s always the guest’s room if y’all wanna… dunno have a sleepover?”

“That’d be awesome! I love waking up in the same room as you…”

“Huh!?”

“Yeah, ‘cause that means you’ll make breakfast, and you make the best breakfasts ever!”

“Oh… y’all meant that.”

Date: A year prior to Nightmare Moon’s Return

The night after Rainbow Dash’s first visit to Ghastly Gorge

Location: Sweet Apple Acres, Ponyville.

Point of View: Applejack

As the two ponies entered the house, they were assaulted by the sweet smell of pie.

“Howdy Applejack, honey. Oh, n’ hello there Rainbow Dash, come on in n’ get a slice of apple pie”

As soon as the pegasus set eyes on the famous Apple Family apple pie, her mouth opened and started watering. She thought she heard AJ say something about ‘digging in’, but she wasn’t paying any attention.

She felt the earth pony nudge her, breaking her trance. “Huh?”

Applejack chuckled and said “Ah said ‘That sounds mighty good, whadda y’all say Dash, we dig in?’ But Ah guess yer face was the best answer Ah could get.” She then sat on a chair and added “C’mon or y’all are gonna end up with no pie!”

“I’m sitting, I’m sitting!” Hastily exclaimed the chromatic mare, anxious for a slice of pie.

After eating they went upstairs and Applejack showed her the guest room.

“…N’ here y’all can fin-”

“I’ve been here several times AJ, I know everything there’s to know about your house.” Rainbow said deadpan. “What’s wrong with you tonight?”

“Don’t mind me.” She turned around and over her shoulder she said “Ah’ll be in mah room if y’all need sumthin’, jes knock n’ Ah’ll be there to help y’all. G’nite.”

“Apples wait!” Before she could go, Rainbow hugged her tightly and whispered into her ear. “Thank you, for everything. You saved my life, today and many other times, in many ways. I’ll never talk about it if you don’t want to, but I’ll always remember it.”

The earth pony never hugged her back, which made Dash worry. She un-wrapped her hooves off Applejack, but as soon as she did so, the blonde cowpony walked away blurting “Ah gotta go, sleep tight.”

Some hours later, the pegasus couldn’t sleep, thinking about her best friend’s attitude earlier. She decided she should talk to her “She said I could knock on her door if I needed something, right? Well, I need to know what’s wrong with her!”

When she was at the corridor heading to Applejack’s room, she noticed the lights inside were on. She got closer and started hearing a clopping noise and her farm-mare friend sigh “Oh Rainbow!”.

“What’s going on in there?”

She walked closer and noticed the door wasn’t entirely closed, so she peeked through the gap and saw the orange mare pacing around the room and talking to herself.

“Oh, what am Ah gonna do with y’all? Ah’m not even sure Ah- Oh who am Ah kiddin’? Ah know it’s true!”

“Huh? Did I do something wrong? Well… she’ll tell me what it is soon. She never lies or hides things to me. I guess she’ll tell me when she’s ready.”

Date: Nightmare Moon’s Return.

Moments after Luna and Celestia re-unite.

Location: Ancient Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters, Everfree Forest.

Point of View: Applejack

“YOU KNOW WHAT THIS CALLS FOR?” Pinkie Pie said.

Applejack, along with the other six ponies, looked at her with expectation, but the answer never came, in fact no sound was made by the pink party pony.

Rainbow Dash walked towards the blond cowpony and whispered close into her ear, “Do you think Pinkie’s gonna snap out of it anytime soon?”

“Don’t think so Sugarcube…” Applejack answered, trying not to look at Rainbow Dash in the eyes. Having her so close made her heart flutter and her cheeks flush. “C’mon not now, don’t get this close with everypony here lookin’ at us, even the princesses are here!”

Rainbow Dash noticed the orange pony was avoiding her, so she started moving in order to make her look straight in the eyes “Applejack, is there something wrong? Why won’t you look at me?” Applejack noticed the cyan pegasus was gulping “D-did I do anything wrong?”

“Not at all Sweetheart… Ah… Uh…”

“Why are you blushing? Are you feeling okay AJ?” asked the cyan filly

“Dang it Rainbow, stop it!” “Umm Ah… No, Ah can’t say Ah’m feelin’ completely okay.” “‘Cause y’all aren’t mine… yet.” “B-but it’s nuthin’ to worry about Dash.”

She wasn’t lying… so she hoped Rainbow Dash to shrug it off and stop checking her out like a fox trying to figure which chicken is the most suitable for his hunger.

She watched the cyan pegasus sigh and walk towards Fluttershy. Applejack let out a breath she didn’t know was holding and walked in the opposite direction, towards Rarity. She wasn’t actually the apple she would usually prefer biting, but still she was a good friend, she needed advice, and she had to get away from Rainbow for a spell.

“I must say dear, that collar really brings out your beauty,” Applejack heard while she was getting close.

“Huh? Thanks, Rare, yers looks uh… mighty fine on y’all too.”

“Now I do not want to sound rude, but darling, we both know you did not come here just to chat. What is worrying you?”

“Well… y’all see…”

Date: Nightmare Moon’s Return.

Moments after Luna and Celestia re-unite

Location: Ancient Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters, Everfree Forest.

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

She learnt as a kid, that she was the only pony that could see these “auras” around each pony, so she never talked about it with others anymore, but she found it quite useful to help her during certain situations.

After all these years Rainbow Dash could partly understand what each colour meant. Orange was confusion, yellow was concern and fear, blue was sadness, red was anger, green was joy... but there was one colour she still couldn’t get, mostly because it was usually mixed with some of the other colours. It was Applejack’s pink. She first noticed it a year ago, and since that day, every time Applejack looked at her, her aura changed, getting slightly pink. Green with pink, red with pink, blue with pink... but she could never get what it meant. She never saw that aura on some of her other friends and if she saw another pony with that colour, she barely knew him or her and Rainbow was not going to ask him or her “What are you feeling right now?” She was inconsiderate sometimes, but not THAT much.

She tried asking Applejack what was her problem, or what was she feeling subtly, but the orange mare never got the hint, or didn’t want to tell her.

She needed to talk to somepony, but not just anypony, the only pony that could always tell her the exact words she needed. Her oldest friend, Fluttershy. Applejack was avoiding her, again, so it was the best moment to talk to the yellow pegasus.

When she was in front of the pink-maned mare, she noticed the yellow around her.

“I know you’re worried, and yes, I am here to talk to you about something, but I’m not dying nor something that tragic, chillax.”

Fluttershy sighed and then said “I still can’t get used to you knowing what I’m going to say, could you... uhm... not tell me next time? If you don’t mind.”

“Okay I’m sorry, won’t do it again.”

“Thank you. Now, what is your problem? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“Uhh... no, I don’t mind, that’s why I came here to talk to you.” Rainbow Dash said trying not to laugh.

“Oh... well, that makes sense.”

“Anyways. I have this little problem with Applejack a-”

“Oh no! You two had a fight?” Fluttershy asked, worry visible in her frown.

“No, no! It’s just that... she’s kind of avoiding me, and she acts all weird whenever I’m around. It’s been like this like... for a year. Ever since that day when...”

“W-when?”

“Uh... sorry, she told me never to told anypony what happened .”

“Oh... it’s okay but... can’t you tell me something about what happened to her or something?”

“Well... she did something very important for me, and she said she had a ‘revelation’, and she has been acting this way since then. I’m not sure, but I think her ‘revelation’ involved me somehow.”

“Oh...” Fluttershy exclaimed, and she seemed to be thinking, but made no other sound.

“You... you got something?”

“I... maybe, but I’m not sure... I-I’m not sure enough, and if it is what I think, is something very important so... I better not risk it.”

“Ok, I trust you Flutters.”

“Well, you read people very well, couldn’t you get anything from her?”

“That’s the thing, I don’t know what is she feeling. She’s not mad or disappointed at me or anything. In fact, since that day she seems to enjoy our get-togethers even more, and we hang out more often, which I thought it wasn’t even possible. And the other thing, is that I can’t find that feeling on any of you guys, so I can’t ask you about it.

“Oh... Oh dear.”

“What is it, are you sure now?”

“Uhm... I think I am... but I can’t tell you, sorry.”

“Huh? Why not?” asked the rose-eyed pegasus.

“It is something really, really important, and I really want to see you two happy. But if I tell you what it is, you may not be ready to hear it and you may act in a way you would regret later. And it could hurt both you and Applejack, and I could never forgive myself if that happens.”

“Wow... it’s that important? Then tell me what can I do!”

“Oops, you know? You should forget what I just said, unnecessary pressure. J-just... keep having get-togethers with Applejack, and spend as much time as you can with her. Oh and... uh... you should pay close attention to her, and how you feel about her. How much do you care for her. Think about what you two are... You may discover things about yourself you don’t even know.”

“Huh? What do you mean? She’s my best friend, I already know that!”

Fluttershy simply walked away, towards Twilight, the new girl.

“That was an strange chat... What did Fluttershy meant by that?”

Chapter 3

Date: The year of Nightmare Moon’s Return.

The second run, after the Running of the Leaves.

Location: White Tail Woods, Ponyville’s Outskirts.

Point of View: Applejack

“What did you say, AJ?”

Applejack’s eyes went wide. She shouldn’t have said that aloud. “W-what did y’all hear?”

“I… seriously didn’t catch anything you said,” said Rainbow Dash, trying to look both at Applejack and at the path she was trying to follow.

Applejack was seriously hoping there were no trees in front of her, because she could just look at her companion. “Great, she didn’t hear me say Ah loved her.” “Well… Ah’m sorry Sugarcube, but Ah ain’t repeating it now.”

“Aww c’mon, AJ! You know I hate being left out! And it was actually kind of your fault, I couldn’t stop looking at your colours. Did I ever tell you your hair looks awesome under the sunset’s light?”

“D-do I really look that good under the… Focus AJ! S-she didn’t mean it that way…” “N-no… Ah think y’all never told me that… thanks sweetheart, that’s really sweet of y’all…”

“Hey AJ… you don’t mind me asking you something a bit personal, do you?”

Applejack tried to notice malice in her face, but finding nothing, she decided to answer, “Nah, shoot out, RD.”

“How come you never had a coltfriend?”

“C-come again?”

“Yeah, I mean, how is it possible that you never had a coltfriend? What’s not to like about you? You’re honest, hard-working, very smart, you have seriously kicking curves… pun not intended, and, if you swear not to tell a soul, I’ll let you know you’re the most awesome pony ever… besides me of course.”

Applejack’s eyes went wide and she lost focus of everything around her. “Ah…” She looked away from the cyan pegasus, just in time to notice a tree an inch from her snout.

Date: The year of Nightmare Moon’s Return.

The second run, after the Running of the Leaves.

Location: White Tail Woods, Ponyville’s Outskirts.

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

“Applejack! Are you okay?” Back came no answer “Applejack?” The rainbow maned pony walked to the orange pony. “Oh no,no,no,no,no,no! Please be alright.” she walked towards her and checked if she was breathing. “Thank Celestia… I still should make sure nothing happened”

Rainbow Dash managed to get the farmpony on her back and flew to Twilight’s house.

After an explanation and a ‘Body check spell she had been working on’ Twilight gave her verdict: “She’ll be fine, just get her a bed to rest and tell the Apples to give her some analgesics to ease the pain when she comes back.”

Rainbow Dash rubbed the back of her head and said “Actually… I kinda feel bad and responsible for this, so I wanna take care of her, can you do something to make her be on clouds? You know only pegasai can walk on them…”

“I believe there is a spell, but I haven’t found it yet, I’d say you should take her home Dash.”

“Darn. Ok, I’ll ask the Apples to let me stay and help her.”

“I don’t think they’ll object to that.” Twilight replied smiling.

After a short flight, both ponies were in front of the Apple family house on Sweet Apple Acres

Rainbow Dash knocked on the door. “Is somepony in?” she asked, trying to get some attention of the ponies inside.

A red coated stallion opened the door soon after.

“Miss Rainbow, have y’all see-” for the look in his face, Rainbow deduced he noticed the orange pony on her back.

“She’s alright, she just needs some rest.”

“Lemme take her to her room.”

“Actually Mac… I wanted to ask you something.”

The green eyed colt looked at her quizzically “What is it Miss Rainbow?”

“I… kinda feel responsible for it, can I stay her and tend to her?”

“Uh… alright, Ah can get the guest room ready in sum mins.” He said turning around.

“Can I just take a mattress to her room? I don’t want to be far if she needs something.”

“Okay, get her there, Ah’ll get the mattress.” He walked up the stairs and turned to the left on the first door.

Rainbow Dash followed up the stairs, but turned on the left on the second door, Applejack’s room.

Dash tuckered Applejack in her bed, and waited patiently for her to wake up.

Big Mac entered the room, laid the mattress next to the bed and said. “Well, Ah’ll leave y’all two alone, Ah’m glad y’all are stayin’ here Miss Rainbow, Applebloom is with her new friends, and Granny Smith is visiting kin on Manehattan. N’ Ah was s’possed to go there n’ look fer her. There’s plenty of stuff in the kitchen to cook, if y’all feel hungry. Please take good care of mah sis, n’ tell’er where we are.”

“No prob Mac, see ya!”

“See y’all too Miss Rainbow”

“Please stop calling me ‘Miss’, I’ve been AJ’s friend for years, you must have seen me a billion times by now.”

“Sorry Miss Rainbow, that’s the way Ah’ve been raised. Goodbye.”

Rainbow Dash shook her head grinning at her friend’s brother’s manners, and went back to the ‘waiting patiently for Applejack to wake up’ mission.

Her patience lasted for five whole minutes, and then she started poking the blonde earth pony with her hoof “AJ… Wake up”

She repeated the whispering and poking, until half a minute later it proved to be a not-at-all useless method, since the orange farmpony woke up, batting her eyelashes.

“Finally!”

Date: The year of Nightmare Moon’s Return.

The second run, after the Running of the Leaves.

Location: Sweet Apple Acres, Ponyville.

Point of View: Applejack

“Finally!”

Applejack’s head was spinning and she couldn’t focus. “H-huh? Wha…what happened?” She started noticing her surroundings “Why am Ah in mah bed?” Then she noticed Rainbow Dash, and her hoof “N’ why are y’all pokin’ me?”

“You hit your head with a tree when we were running and blacked out. Guess it was kind of my fault, shouldn’t have distracted you, sorry.”

Applejack looked deep into Rainbow’s eyes, she could notice the guilt present in those rose pools and smiled tenderly “No problem Sugarcube… How long have Ah been out?”

“Just a couple hours. Oh and I had Twilight check you, she said you will be fine, with some anagel… angale…painkillers to ease your headaches.”

It was in that moment that Applejack felt a sharp pain and she cringed. “Talkin’ ‘bout headaches… Ah feel like that tree avenged all his brothers Ah’ve bucked. N’ Ah think we’re plum out of painkillers.”

Her eyes were closed because of the pain, but she could hear Rainbow Dash trotting out the door and saying “I’ll go look for something to improvise!”

Applejack tried not to think about the pain, so she thought of Dash. It was always a pleasurable thought. “Can’t say it doesn’t feel good to be tended… A girl could get used to this… No, y’all are not a lazy gal. Y’all are an Apple, y’all will get up and continue with yer chores” She tried to get up, but her headache got worse. “Or maybe tomorrow… Ah won’t be able to do no chores this late anyways… N’ Ah shouldn’t miss the chance of bein’ this close to Dash”

Some minutes later she felt hooves walking up the stairs. Each time the hooves touched the floor hear head felt a sharp pain, but her heart fluttered a bit. She looked up to see Dash, but something in her face looked strange.

“Uh… I found something that will ease your pain!”

“What is it Sugarcube?”

Dash showed her a bottle and two glasses.

“Hard Cider! There’s no better painkiller, trust me.”

“Uh… Ah don’t meant to doubt y’all nor yer gut, ‘cause Ah know y’all have experience, but Ah don’t like alcohol… N’ Ah really don’t think drinking hard cider when yer head is killin’ y’all is a blue-ribbon idea.”

Rainbow Dash seemed a bit offended at the comment, but it was most probably just acting. She proceeded to pour some cider in the glasses and give one to Applejack.

She then raised it as in a toast and proclaimed “For your fast recovery!”

And down went the drinks.

“Gah! Ah really don’t like alcohol, Ah prefer regular cider.”

“Meh, don’t be a Fluttershy and drink another glass.

“Hey! That’s rude! Both to me, n’ to Flutters.”

“I’m just kidding… but seriously, have another glass, if we’re going for the ‘painkiller effect’ then one glass won’t do.”

After several glasses were drunk, Applejack was feeling a lot better, maybe a bit dizzy, but no more headaches at least.

Dash was now resting her front hooves and her head on Applejack’s belly, while her flank was still on the floor.

Applejack thoughts weren’t very clear, but she had Dash very close, and suddenly her inhibitions were disappearing.

“Ah… Ah luv ya Dashhh” she slurred.

Dash smiled, closed her eyes and said at a louder volume that was necessary “D’awwww how swe-hic-et… I love you too Applejackie”

Applejack sobered up a bit after hearing those words, shook her head and asked “Y-y’all do?”

“Yur my best fri-hic-end in the whole wide wro… uh… world, Apples!” Rainbow Dash said, with exaggerated hoof motions. “Of course I love you.”

“Oh…” those words hit the blonde cowpony like a bucket of cold water. “Well… it’s get-hic-getting’ mighty late RD, Ah think we should stop drinkin’ n’ go to bed.”

“Yes ma’am!” Said the cyan pegasus trying to do a salute but failing. “I… I’ll just lay here in the mattress.”

“Wait!”

“What’s wrong?”

“Mah bed is big enough, why don’t y’all… uh… sleep here. Ah’d feel better with y’all here.”

Rainbow Dash tried to focus and look into Applejack’s eyes, seemingly pondering what to do. Finally she smiled and got into bed with Applejack scooting close and cuddling with her. “Why not… Most of my nights are lonely, I won’t complain if you want company.”

“Thank y’all Dashie.”

The daredevil mare smiled and gave her a little peck on the forehead. “G’night Sugarcube.”

Applejack froze in place with eyes wide as plates but soon fall asleep.

Date: The year of Nightmare Moon’s Return.

The day after the Running of the Leaves.

Location: Sweet Apple Acres, Ponyville.

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

“Ugh…” Rainbow Dash groaned as she woke up.

“W-wha?” she heard a voice, right in front of her.

She decided to open her eyes to figure out who was it, and found Applejack opening her eyes too. They were very close together, their muzzles touching.

Suddenly, all her sleepiness disappeared, as she moved away from the orange mare, ending on the floor, tangled in the bed sheets.

“Ouch! My head!”

“Don’t tell me about it… y’all can’t realise how much mah head is poundin’. Ah feel terrible! Remember me to murder y’all with a wooden spoon when Ah get better...” hissed Applejack between her teeth. “ ‘Hey Applejack, why don’t get hammered! It’s gonna be great for your headache!’. Why do Ah even considered listenin’ to yer advice regarding health n’ care.”

“Hey, it didn’t hurt last night, did it?”

“Yeah but Ah gotta suffer thrice as much this mornin’. Ain’t no deal!”

“Okay, okay. I’ll be right back.” The cyan pegasus stated, as she flew out the window, just to be greeted by the unforgiving sunlight, and a great difficulty to fly straight.

“Gotta make it to the drugstore… I don’t remember hangovers being this harsh… I must have had a few more than I should last night. Oh, I gotta talk to AJ about it when I get back.”

After some minutes on the drugstore looking for something for Applejack’s pain, she flew back to the acres, a bit less disoriented now.

She entered Applejack’s room through the window, just to find the bed empty, and no sign of the orange mare.

“She shouldn’t be out of bed yet, where is that pony?” “Applejack, where are you?” after looking around for some short time, she realised that they were alone in the house, so any little noise would give away the country pony’s whereabouts.

She decided to test the ninja skills she learned by reading all those comics. “The closest thing to a book I’ll ever read. Let the eggheads like Twilight read the big ones with lots of text.” Sadly for her, she couldn’t get to test them, because as soon as she sneaked out of the room, she heard the shower running in the bathroom.

A sly grin formed on her face as a prank came to her mind “I should be helping her because I got her hurt twice in less than two days… but I can’t let this slip. Pinkie told me that chances to scare a friend in the bathroom are close to none, and the reward is great!”

Once again, the daredevil pony decided to use stealth to accomplish her goal, and finding the door not closed but a bit open, seemed to be the best opportunity she could ask for.

She slowly and silently got next to the door, and turned all of her body to be parallel to the door, she lowered her body and stretched out her neck, trying to quietly open the door just enough to get her head in, and take a look inside.

When she did, she was glad to see that Applejack wasn’t looking at her. In fact, the mare had her eyes closed, probably relaxing under the shower to ease the pain. “Oh this is great, she’s so relaxed and… vulnerable, she’ll jump out of her skin!

She was preparing to yell something and scare her friend when she noticed her a little more. Huh? I never realised, but this is the first time I saw Applejack with her hair loose. It… looks good on her actually, I wonder why she never wears it this way.” she then started noticing other parts of her best friend’s body. “Huh, I never noticed how well her body mixes beautiful features and a strong build, or how good her hind legs look. I suppose is all that applebucking."

Her eyes started tracing Applejack’s hind legs and her flank “ Oh, I’m so jealous, how can you have such a well toned plot? I spend half of my day flying and practicing and I don’t have half the plot you have!” Rainbow Dash was feeling both taken aback and jealous of Applejack’s body but she kept looking, completely forgetting the whole prank. Her eyes moved from the legs to her stomach. “Awww, she’s in the perfect pose for me to give her belly rubs and tickle her! Wait… belly rubs and tickles? That’s cute, not cool, and I should be cool not cute!”

Finally her eyes started wandering lower and lower, until she could look at Applejack’s-

*POMF*

The bathroom door opened suddenly and violently hit the wall.

Rainbow Dash’s eyes went wide at saucers as she realized her wings had decided to spring wide open and getting as rigid as planks, ruining her whole stealth plan and instead leaving her in an awfully embarrassing situation. Applejack had indeed jumped out of her skin, but not for the same reason as she had planned, and obviously not in the situation she had expected.

“Rainbow!?” Applejack yelled as she spotted the polychromatic pegasus while grabbing a towel and covering herself. “W-what are y’all doin’ in mah bathroom!” She then seemed to be realising Dash’s pose and added “W-were y’all peeping when Ah was in the shower!?”

Both ponies had a terrified look in their faces.

“N-no, that’s totally not what I was doing! I swear!” She soon realized her words didn’t sound convincing at all.

“Y’all weren’t sneakily lookin’ at me through a door gap while Ah was havin’ a private shower!?”

Rainbow Dash’s pupils shrank “Th-that’s exactly what I was doing” “Well… Yes, but it’s not what you think! I wasn’t peeping at you to look at your kicking curves!” “Wait… no, that didn’t sound right nor convincing.” She noticed Applejack blush as her eyes went even wider. She was probably not sure if be flattered or crept out by the daredevil mare’s words.

“Uh…”

“W-what I meant was that… it’s not like you usually wear clothes anyways!” “Dammit that sounded even worse! She must be thinking I always check her out! Wait… was I ‘checking her out’?”

Applejack’s blush faded completely and her pupils started shrinking as she clenched at the towel covering her.

“No, sorry I didn’t meant that I uh… I’m just saying that I didn’t even got to see your-”

Applejack’s eyes started twitching and she hastily closed her hind legs and grasping the towel with even more strength.

“WHY DO I KEEP SCREWING UP WORSE AND WORSE? The worst part is that it was a lie, and she knows it, which means I’m looking like a total perv!”

“Okay wait!” she took a deep breath and decided to confess was better than her current situation. “I was looking at you in the shower, but it wasn’t for what you think it was.” she noticed Applejack relaxing a bit, probably noticing it wasn’t a lie.

“I was peeping because I wanted to scare you, because Pinkie told me that pranking a friend in the shower was really funny and having a chance to, was very hard. So when I came back and noticed you were here I tried to scare you, but to do so I had to wait for the exact perfect moment, that’s why I was Uh… ‘spying’ you.”

After some seconds of doubt, Applejack relaxed significantly. “It’s okay Dash. But why didn’t y’all tell me that at first? What’s with the strange excuses that made everythin’ sound worse?”

“It’s ‘cause I didn’t expect to scare you with that! I wanted to jump and yell, or something along those lines” she looked at her wings “But this rebellious little girls decided to spring for a reason I still don’t get, and opened the door.”

“Oh… Okay.”

“I’ll… leave you to finish your shower and I swear I’ll never going to try to do this again.”

“Okay… b-but Rainbow!”

“Yeah?”

Applejack blushed a little bit and asked “D-do y’all really think Ah have… uh, kickin’ curves?”

Rainbow Dash’s eyes went wide as she pondered what to do.

“No matter what y’all say, Ah won’t be mad at y’all.” Applejack assured her.

“Well… yeah… I’m kind of jealous of your body but don’t tell anypony else.” As Rainbow walked out the door, she remembered something “Oh, I brought you some painkillers. Ah, and when you’re done with that, I wanna talk to you about last night.”

“Okay… Ah’ll be ready in a min… wait for me in the kitchen!”

Date: The year of Nightmare Moon’s return.

The day after the Running of the Leaves.

Location: Sweet Apple Acres, Ponyville.

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

Rainbow Dash was waiting for her friend to come down, sitting on the Apple’s kitchen table.

“I can’t believe I did that! I’m not a perv for looking at my best friend showering… r-right? In my defence, her body is too good for me not to watch it…” She surprised herself with that train of thoughts “Wait, do I find her attractive? Well let’s see, there’s that beautiful blonde hair, those cute little freckles, those sexy green eyes, and I have no words to describe her body…”

Rainbow felt a bucket of frozen water fall over her “Oh dear Celestia, I have the hots for AJ.”

“What was that Sugarcube?” a voice behind her asked.

Blushing furiously she turned around to find Applejack, drying her mane with a towel. Once again, she wasn’t wearing her iconic hot, nor the mane ties and part of it fell down her shoulder in a very alluring way, and some beads of water were still dripping down her coat.

“You gotta be kidding me! Darn girl, you can’t tell me it’s my fault now.” “Uhh… nothing.”

“Were y’all thinkin’ ‘bout me?”

Rainbow blushed a bit more and breathed “Maybe…”

“Look Ah’m gonna save y’all from any embarrasin’ moments, so we won’t mention this ever again. A’ight? Now what was that y’all wanted to talk ‘bout?”

“Oh yeah, that. But first you gotta answer a question that’s been lingering since I saw you uh… in the shower.”

“What is it?” asked Applejack smiling.

“Why do you always have your mane tied? It looks really good when loose! I swear you could have any stallion you could want if you do so.”

“Ah can’t, it would be too troublesome when workin’ at the farm. Wearing it loose would mean bits of woods and leaves getting stuck in it, n’ it would be a pain to clean it every day.”

“I guess you’re right.”

“So…”

“Oh yeah” Rainbow Dash remembered the reason she asked the orange pony to talk in the first place. “Look, yesterday we said stuff and did things we shouldn’t. You see, I never cuddled with you and slept in the same bed.”

“N’ Ah never told y’all Ah loved y’all.”

“Me neither.”

“Y’all didn’t kiss me goodnight.”

“And I definitely didn’t call you ‘Sugarcube’.”

“Well… Y’all know Ah can’t lie, so Ah could say it was almost like every other sleepover.”

“Well, that’s not a lie, and since the girls don’t know what we usually do on our sleepovers, that’s like… the best we could ask for to keep our reputation intact.” Rainbow Dash said with a wink.

“Sounds good to me.”

Date: The year after Discord’s return

The day after the Equestria’s Rodeo Competition.

Location: Sweet Apple Acres, Ponyville.

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

“So…What are we waiting for? Let’s go find her!” Rainbow Dash said, dashing out the main door of Sweet Apple Acres’ barn.

“Don’t worry, we will search all of Equestria if we have to. We will bring her back!” said Twilight Sparkle to the Apple family members.

“Y’all are the best,” Applebloom said grateful.

“Thank y’all girls,” said Granny Smith with tears forming in her eyes.

After they left the barn, Rainbow Dash asked, “Why would Applejack stay there?”

“Well… maybe there’s some trouble with the trains and she can’t come back, or… Uhm…” Twilight pondered.

“Or maybe there was certain trouble with the competition, maybe it rained in Canterlot and they had to re-schedule it for another day, or there is a problem with the contest juries or the money. I have been in some contest, of fashion of course, and there is always a problem with the jury or the prize money.”

“I just hope she’s not hurt, in trouble… o-or worse.” The yellow pegasus prayed.

“Maybe she just met a nice stallion and now they are coltfriend and marefriend and they are living together in Canterlot!” Pinkie said.

“NO! I mean… she wouldn’t do that, right?” Rainbow Dash was surprised of her own reaction. “Where did that come from? Since when did I care so much if AJ gets a coltfriend or not… I mean, I have the hots for her… but nothing more right? No, I said it because she couldn’t leave us like that… yeah, that was why. Nothing to do with my feelings for her.”

Rarity smiled nervously and said, “Oh no, no. I am pretty sure that didn’t happen.”

“What, are you saying Applejack’s not good enough to get a colt?” the speedster pegasus stopped mid-air. “Wait, what?” “Seriously, what’s wrong with me today?

“Are you okay, Rainbow?” asked Fluttershy who was flying behind her.

“I… I-Argh, I don’t know! I’m stressed with AJ running away I guess.”

“Anyways,” Twilight said trying to save everypony from the recent awkward moment. “I’m quite sure Applejack didn’t leave us just to be with a colt in Canterlot.”

“Yeah, you’re right, those fancy ponies aren’t good enough for her. I mean… Ugh what is wrong with me!”

“Well, we all know you prefer AJ, Dashie, you’re obviously more worried than us, that’s all,” Pinkie Pie said, smiling at her.

“I-I don’t prefer her over you guys! You’re all my best friends!”

“Oh puh-lease, Rainbow, like you would come help me with my dresses or going to the spa, over going to Sweet Apple Acres to play or even work, with Applejack,” Rarity exclaimed.

“Or going to the library.”

“Or pranking! Oh, wait, you do like pranking… ok, or baking!”

“Hey, it’s not like I choose being with her over you guys, it’s just…” Rainbow tried to say.

“Save it darling, it is not the only reason we know it. Your smile never gets as big when I enter the room as it gets when you see Applejack enter the room.”

“In fact, if I didn’t knew you two better I’d say you two wer-” Twilight Sparkle was stopped by both Rarity and Fluttershy at the same time.

Rarity and Fluttershy stared at each other and Rainbow could notice an orange aura all around, even around her. But soon, the orange in Rarity and Fluttershy disappeared, and as the two looked at Twilight and whispered something, Twilight’s too.

“What? You thought what, Twi?”

“Nothing, don’t mind me, I was just being silly.”

“Oh! I love being silly!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie, but then she asked, “Wait, weren’t we hurrying to get in a train to Canterlot?”

“Right! We should go now!” said the pink-maned pegasus, the purple unicorn, and the blue-eyed unicorn, while running, trying not to look at Rainbow Dash.

“Hey, wait for me!”

Date: The year after Discord’s return

The day after the Equestria’s Rodeo Competition.

Location: Canterlot Rodeo Arena, Canterlot.

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

“Are you absolutely sure you haven’t seen her?”

“I told you I saw her, but I don’t know where Applejack went!”

“Wait… Caramel? What are you doing here?” asked the daredevil pegasus.

“Well… my cousin over there, the one over there talking to Pinkie, works as a Rodeo Clown and he asked me to come along.” He shifted weights and continued “He hates being alone in places he’s not familiar with. Besides, the pay is good for moving these barrels around.”

“Well… thanks anyways, if you get to know something, tell us.”

“Yeah, see you… Rainbow right?”

“Rainbow Dash, yeah.”

The rainbow-maned mare walked back to where the other four ponies were waiting.

Date: The year after Discord’s return

The day after the Equestria’s Rodeo Competition.

Location: Outside the Train Station, Dodge Junction.

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

“Change of scenery! Can you girls believe that!?” Rainbow Dash said sighing angrily.

“I’m sure that’s not the reason, Rainbow. As I said before, she seems to be hiding something.” Twilight exclaimed.

“Well and that just makes me feel even more uncomfortable, why would AJ hide something from us? Why would AJ hide something from me!”

“Well Rainbow, I am sorry to break it to you, but we also are her best friends and the world does not revolve around you so I believe that your last statement was completely uncalled for.” Rarity said, a bit annoyed by the pegasus’ attitude.

“I still believe she just met a nice stallion… maybe he’s from here, so AJ came here!” Pinkie Pie insisted.

“Pinkie, I highly doubt that.”

“I say that we should go to the cherry lady and ask her to work there for today, and while working we ask her if she met a nice stallion… or maybe a mare… who knows.”

“Pinkie, could you stop saying AJ found some special somepony!” Rainbow Dash demanded.

“But Pinkie is right in one thing though, we should go there and ask her during work, it’s our only way to approach her right now.” Twilight stated, it seemed to the cyan pegasus that she was already planning what to do.

Date: The year after Discord’s return.

The day after the Equestria’s Rodeo Competition.

Location: On the Friendship Express, Ponyville’s outskirts.

Point of View: Applejack

“I still can’t believe you did that.”

“Rainbow, Ah told y’all six times now, Ah thought y’all would be ashamed of me, n’ Ah didn’t want to get back empty hooved.”

“You being empty hooved for not having prize money? And what about me? I would be without my eternal friendly rival, my best friend, the best mare I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting, the pony I l…I… the pony I prefer over any other…” Rainbow Dash spurted, tears threatening to roll down her checks. “The mare that saved my life! And all you were worried about was some stupid mon-”

Applejack suddenly tackle-hugged the polychromatic pegasus. “Ah missed y’all too Rainbow.”

And with that, the tears started flowing freely down both mares’ cheeks.

“Thank Luna we had this compartment for just the two of us.”

“Y’all jes started crying ‘cause Ah almost left y’all, but y’all still try to keep yer cool n’ reputation?” Applejack laughed.

“Oh shut up.”

“Are you mad at me?”

“I can’t be mad at you… not anymore.”

Applejack raised her eyebrow at that “N’ why not?”

“I just realised something important.”

“N’ that is?”

“Not telling ya!” Rainbow Dash said while suddenly grabbing Applejack’s head and giving her a noogie.

“Ouch, stop that!” the mare responded between giggles.

The two ponies shared a good laugh and soon they were resting together in the compartment’s floor.

“It’s getting late don’t you think? We should get some sleep.”

“Ah’d like that, but y’all ain’t letting me get up.”

“Oh no, after this little ‘escapade’ you pulled, you’re gonna have to repay me by sleeping here with me.”

“Can’t say no, can Ah?”

Chapter 4

Date: King Sombra’s Attack to the Crystal Empire

The Mane Six and Shining Armour enter the city.

Location: Outside the Crystal Castle, Crystal Empire.

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

“Y’all remember yer line?” Applejack whispered.

“Of course I do, I’m the prank master here, remember?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Now who came up with this here idea we’re ‘bout to pull?”

Rainbow Dash had to admit defeat and flatly told her, “You, Applejack.”

“Now, Ah think she reached critical state, watch this,” the element of Honesty stated as she walked away from Rainbow and next to Rarity, who was having a breakdown just by looking at a whole city made of crystal.

Rainbow Dash couldn’t quite hear what she said, but she knew that when Applejack walked away from Rarity, it was her turn to say, “Ugh, I don’t see what the big deal is. Just looks like another old castle to me…”

Applejack winked at her from her place and they both prepared to hear the fruit of their labour.

Rarity started mumbling and then she said, exasperated, “Pff… Another old? Have you LOST your mind!? Look at all the magni-”

And Rainbow Dash couldn’t hold the laughter anymore, and she started snickering soon followed by Applejack, who held a hoof in the air, waiting for her to bump it. She did just that and walked up the stairs, smiling at the orange mare. The same orange mare who became her very best friend in the past years.

But she was also the mare that made her knees go weak, the mare that put her up when she was feeling down. “Dang… there’s nopony like her in the whole wide world… And that’s why I’m sure she wouldn’t love me back…” her smile suddenly faded. Luckily Applejack wasn’t looking her way by then, or she would have worried and asked a question Rainbow wouldn’t be able to answer.

The speedster pegasus saw Applejack leave her side to go and talk to Rarity. She couldn’t hear what they were saying since they were whispering, but she looked at Rarity’s expressions.

First were feigned indignity and a weak giggle, her expression then went to surprise, then her smile turned sympathetic and her eyes looked worried. Her smile started turning into a frown and she ended up looking at the floor, looking really sorry about something. Lastly, she put a hoof on Applejack’s shoulder and whispered into her ear.

Applejack nodded and looked forward, finally revealing her face to Rainbow, her eyes were teary and she looked sad, really sad. The whole atmosphere around her seemed to reflect her feelings. Rainbow could notice everything seemed to look bathed under a blue light.

“N-no… Tell me what just happened is not what I think just happened,” she thought, shaking her head, trying to shake the images off her head. “Please tell me Applejack didn’t just… TO RARITY!? Of all ponies, I had to lose my mare to Rarity!?”

Date: King Sombra’s Attack to the Crystal Empire

The Mane Six and Shining Armour enter the castle

Location: Inside the Crystal Castle, Crystal Empire.

Point of View: Applejack

“Hey, Rarity, can Ah talk to y’all?”

“Oh, so now that you need me, you come and talk to me after pulling a prank? How rude of you,” the fashionista said, feigning being insulted and giggling.

Applejack sighed and said, “Sorry Rare, Ah’m jes trying to get close to her, but Ah can’t get to her. Ah think it’s a lost cause.”

The white pony gasped and then looked at her with a sympathetic smile. “Do not say such things, darling, never give up on love if you are not completely sure she does not love you back, or love another pony.”

“Ah dunno anymore, Rare. Ah guess Ah’m not good enough fer her… Ah’m not good enough fer nopony...”

Rarity looked at her worried. “No! It is not like that dear! Do not let me ever catch you say something like that again.” She looked down to the floor, it looked like she was pondering what to do next. Then she looked at her again, got really close and whispered.

“I will tell you what we are going to do. It is my last resource, so if this fails, I do not know what else can we try.”

“What is it?”

“Every time you see her around, try to say something flirty to me, compliment me or something. Maybe that could make her feel a bit jealous, and gets her thinking about your relationship.”

“Ah don’t like the idea, Rare, Ah hate deceiving RD. N’ y’all know Ah can’t lie!”

Rarity’s eye cringed and Applejack could swear her curls were frizzing. Between her gritted teeth said, “Are you saying you can not say anything good or pretty about me without lying?”

“Ah didn’t meant that, Rare, it’s jes that Ah don’t feel that way ‘bout y’all, so it makes it harder fer me to say sumthin’ pretty that Ah really feel. Ah ain’t saying yer not pretty.”

“Alright then, but it’s our last resource.”

“Ah guess y’all are right…” Applejack replied while walking sombrely towards the throne chamber, where Cadence was waiting.

Date: After King Sombra’s Failed attempt to take Crystal Empire back.

The Mane Six are on their way back to Ponyville.

Location: On the Friendship Express, Crystal Empire Outskirts.

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

“But good things are better when they are a rarity” mockingly said Rainbow Dash, clearly annoyed. “What. The. Hay.”

“C-come on Rainbow, calm down.” Fluttershy said, trying to keep her friend from doing something stupid. “Y-you’re going to wake the others up. Besides, you don’t want the others to hear you’re jealous of Rarity.”

“I’M NOT JEA-” She lowered her voice and whispered “I’m not jealous of Rarity.”

“Uh… yes, yes you are, that’s why you came to talk to me in the first place… remember?”

The speedster pegasus sighed, she was headstrong, but she knew when she was beat. “You’re right Flutters, I never thought I’d say this but I’m jealous of Rarity.”

“M-maybe she was just being nice… or just tried to avoid a whining Rarity… you know how much AJ hates when she gets like that.” Fluttershy suggested.

“No, no. I’m sure of what I saw!”

“But you couldn’t hear them… you shouldn’t make assumptions, maybe they were talking about… f-fashion?”

Rainbow remained silent, but her glare spoke more than anything she could’ve said.

“M-maybe they were talking about their sisters?”

“Well… the two are part of the crusaders… and I think the girls were having a sleepover that night at AJ’s house.”

“There! Maybe they were worried or… something?”

“I’m still not happy.” Rainbow Dash said crossing her hooves, pursing her lips and looking to the floor angrily.

“Well… why don’t you get closer to Applejack… try asking her subtly, or just be close to her. Maybe she’ll notice you more that way. Or…” Fluttershy’s eyes went wide and she smiled widely “You could go to the orchard and help her with her work! I know it will be tiring, but I assure you she’ll love you if you do! Besides, it would be a good workout.”

“Are you saying I need to workout?”

Fluttershy gulped “Uh… You’ll have a better body to impress her?”

“Huh… that sounds like a good plan… Thanks Shy, I think I’m feeling a lot better now.”

Date: After King Sombra’s Failed attempt to take Crystal Empire back.

The Mane Six are back on Ponyville.

Location: Ponyville’s Train Station, Ponyville.

Point of View: Applejack

“Rarity, Ah think yer lil’ plan jes got her angry.”

“Ah, but have you thought why would she get angry by you ‘hitting on me’?” Rarity said smiling slyly.

“Ah think she jes think Ah’m spendin’ more time with y’all than with her, n’ want that to be the other way ‘round.”

“But was not that what you wanted?”

“But as mah marefriend, not mah best friend!”

“Well...” Rarity pondered. She always bragged about how good she was at match-making and ‘the art of love’, she couldn’t let that reputation fall, and less with two of her best friends. “You could come home this afternoon and we can think of something to do.”

“That sounds good, see y’all later then.” As applejack turned around to walk home, she heard somepony calling her.

“AJ, wait!”

As she turned around, she noticed Rainbow Dash running towards her.

“What is it RD?”

“Hey, I need to talk to you.” She stated.

“Sure, what y’all wanna talk ‘bout?”

“Look… I’ve been thinking, and I wanted to know if I could uh… go to you to the Acres and spend some time with you… working and helping you around the farm.”

Applejack was very surprised about what she heard “Are y’all serious?”

“Yeah! I wanna spend more time with you, and since most of the time you’re not hanging out with us is when you work, I wanted to know if I could work with you!” She then puffed out her chest and grinned. “Besides, applebucking is going to be a great workout! We all can see the wonders it did on your fla-I mean on your health! You’re always in good shape and rarely sick!”

Rarity walked behind Rainbow Dash so she could make signs to Applejack without the pegasus noticing. The first thing she did, was to nod repeatedly.

“W-well, yeah! Ah guess an extra hoof won’t hurt on the farm, at all.”

“So… what do you say if we start today!”

Rarity started pointing herself.

“Well… Actually Ah was gonna hang out with Rarity today… y’all know, jes the two of us.” After she noticed the look Rainbow gave her, she understood what Rarity was after. “But… fer y’all Ah could jes tell her we’ll do it another day.”

“Yes!” Rarity exclaimed.

The two other ponies looked at her surprised, and she quickly explained, though Applejack knew it was a lie “Sorry, I just remembered that uh… tomorrow I receive the new ‘Fashion Weekly’ issue... and uh, you know how much I love fashion!” Her smile started quivering, she then turned around and ran toward the boutique “See you girls later! Have fun at the farm.”

Date: After King Sombra’s failed attempt to take Crystal Empire back.

Rainbow Dash’s first day working at the farm.

Location: Ponyville’s Train Station, Ponyville.

Point of View: Applejack

“So, we’re starting today?”

“Let’s start teachin’ y’all the technique n’ stuff before we start with the applebuckin’.”

“Okay, let’s get going then.”

“Y’all are really excited aren’t y’all?” Applejack asked smiling at the pegasus.

“Isn’t that better?”

“It is, unless y’all are too excited to stay still n’ listen to me tellin’ y’all what to do.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll listen to every word you say, count on that.”

“Well this is mah best chance to make sure y’all don’t do that. Too much for playing the nice way, no more trying to get y’all by showin’ mah fun n’ prankin side, no more trying to get you through yer stomach. Ah’ll be as sensual an inviting as possible n’ try to get through yer eyes n’ yer most feral n’ basic instincts.” she sighed and continued thinking “Ah hope those seduction methods Rarity taught me but Ah didn’t want to use prove to be useful now.”

The blonde mare looked at her friend and decided the best way to start.

“Ah’m glad y’all are so eager. First we’re gonna do sumthin’ y’all won’t like. Y’all are going to get used to be second in the chain of command. N’ to do that, Ah’m gonna walk in front of y’all, n’ y’all can’t complain nor talk, unless Ah ask y’all something, understood?” Applejack said, looking at her sternly trying to look as much of a high-rank member of the royal guard as she could.

“Okay.”

Applejack coughed a bit and stared at her friend.

“Yes ma’am?” Rainbow Dash said inquiringly.

“That’s better.”

Applejack made a little trot to get in front of her new applebucking apprentice and started walking, adding a little swing, a certain sway of the hips that she was told by Rarity ‘will most certainly get her to at least look at your behind, which is, I got to say so myself, positively uh… eye-catching and more than good-looking.’ “Besides, RD liked mah ‘kicking curves’… Ah wonder if she’s still jealous n’ she’s trying to have the same body by applebucking.”

After some minutes of walking, no word came from the pegasus, which make Applejack wonder “Ah’m not sure if she’s a quick-learner, or if she’s too distracted… Guess there’s one way to know.” Apart from the seductive walk, she decided to start swinging her tail with her flank, showing a bit more of her behind. It was imperceptible at first, but she started moving it more and more until with a particularly wide swing she revealed something with the hope of getting a good response.

Her ears perked as she heard a little *POMF* behind her, and a grin appeared on her face. “Rainbow may not know what it means, but Ah knew what that ‘wing springing’ meant. Ah’m getting her! she mentally patted herself on the back and noticed a little rock some hooves away.

“Everything alright Dash?”

“Uh-huh…”

“Ah could tell her to say ‘ma’am’, but knowin’ she’s all distracted is a whole lot better.” “Okay, now be careful, there’s a little rock right here, don’t wanna trip n’ fall do y’all?”

“Uh-huh….WOAH!”

Applejack heard the pegasus say before hearing her whole body hit the floor.”Perfect.. “Y’all alright Sugarcube?”

“Yeah, just tripped over a stupid little rock.”

“Ah told y’all to be careful.” Applejack said, not even looking behind at her friend.

“You did? Sorry, I was distracted by… uh… that strange apple-shaped cloud.”

“What!?” “She’s gotta be lying, don’t tell me Ah did all that n’ she wasn’t even watchin’!” looking up she realized there was in fact, an apple-shaped cloud “N’ now Ah dunno if she was lookin’ at the cloud or if it’s a lie, too late to notice. Consarn it! Anyways the plan is still up, Ah’ll just have to do a better job at the farm.

Date: After King Sombra’s failed attempt to take Crystal Empire back.

Rainbow Dash’s first day working at the farm.

Location: Sweet Apple Acres, Ponyville.

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

“I have no idea who did that apple-shaped cloud, but it saved my flank. I just couldn’t stop staring at her flank... that swing had me drooling all the way here.” she noticed her wings were rigid as planks once again. “And what in the world is wrong with you two? I’m starting to believe this wasn’t my wisest idea, if I can’t even walk to the Acres with her, I won’t be able to work with her everyday.

“We’re here Dash. Come with me, Ah’ll show y’all the applebuckin’ technique.”

Rainbow Dash walked next to Applejack, toward an apple tree that had no apples. “AJ… this one’s empty.”

“Ah know, it’s fer y’all to practice. Now c’mere.”

Rainbow Dash positioned herself as she saw her orange friend do many times.

“Now, the most basic thing is positioning yerself. Applejack said while walking towards Rainbow’s flank. The orange pony swung her tail at Rainbow’s face, a gesture that made the daredevil pegasus feel blessed.

“This is bad…”

“Y’all see, if y’all get yer flank too close to the tree…” the orange mare said as she gently pushed Dash’s flank closer to the tree. “Yer kick won’t be complete, so it will not only end up with the baskets empty, but it also with y’all hurting yerself.”

“Uh-huh…”

“Now, if we get a little farther…” Applejack whispered into her ear as she pushed Rainbow’s flank once again, but this time away from the tree.

“This is definitely bad…”

“Y’all will miss the tree. So y’all need to be at the exact distance from the tree.” She finished, moving her cyan friend once again.

“I can’t do this.”

“Huh?”

“Oops, shouldn’t have said that aloud… but it’s true, I can’t.” “I’m sorry Applejack but I can’t take anymore. It’s too difficult.” She looked away to try to lie and not being busted “A-actually, I’m here because… uh… Pinkie dared me! Yeah… that’s right. B-but I can’t do it, i-it’s not my stuff…”

Applejack seemed a bit pained, but understanding.

“A-ah guess Ah understand… W-well… Ah hope y’all change yer mind one day. Ah’d love to have y’all here.”

“Okay see you later!” With that, Rainbow Dash took off and flew away. “Smooth move Casanova!” she thought, while facehoofing.

Chapter 5

Date: Two years after King Sombra’s Failed attempt to take Crystal Empire back.

First day of the new year.

Location: Sweet Apple Acres, Ponyville.

Point of View: Applejack

“H-hey Applejack!” slurred Rainbow Dash while throwing a hoof over her neck.

Applejack realized the alcohol smell in her breath and decided to carry the pegasus’ weight on her back.

“Easy now cowgirl, don’t try to be a hero n’ come with me to that hay pile.”

“W-why wool…wood…w-why?” the rose-eyed mare asked trying to focus on the earth pony’s eyes.

“ ‘Cause y’all can’t stand on yer own four hooves, let’s jes lay down fer a min.” She noticed the mug on Rainbow’s hoof, and took it from her. “N’ let’s make this one yer last fer tonight”

“Don’t be a Mc Meanie Partypooper Pants AJ!” chirped Pinkie Pie, who was as cheerful and energetic as always in such a way nopony would believe she had downed twelve mugs of hard cider already.

“Pinkie Pie, the fact that you can hold your liquor in an absolutely intriguing and exceptional way does not apply to the rest of our friends, sadly.” Rarity said looking up, probably wishing she had Pinkie’s ability. Rarity’s love for alcohol was no novelty.

Applejack looked at the scenario in front of her. The mane six decided to spend New Year’s Eve together in Applejack’s barn, and it all went well until the clock hit twelve o’ clock and the hard cider was brought for the toast.

The orange farmpony now realised that saving six barrels for six ponies wasn’t the wisest of ideas.

Fluttershy was out for good. She drank four mugs in the first five minutes, blabbered something about how she loved everypony but nopony ever loved her, and then blacked out on a pile of hay.

Rarity had had her fair amount of mugs, but was still ok. Unlike Twilight Sparkle. Pinkie Pie discovered she never drank before and decided to change that. Now the lavender unicorn was dancing in a very embarrassing way, even worse than on her birthday. The pink mare was dancing with her happily, but by the look on her face, a look Applejack knew all too well, was soon going to take her to a bale of hay nearby and put her to sleep. Pinkie Pie loved to party, but she knew when somepony needed her rest.

But not with Rainbow Dash, she thought that since Rainbow Dash was so fearless, active and daring, she was able to drink and party ‘til sunrise.

Luckily, Applejack never liked alcohol and was sober enough to tell when Rainbow Dash was getting more than just tipsy. Another amazing thing was that, despite being sober, Applejack was not worrying about the mess the girls were causing in her barn.

After observing what her friends where doing, she finally got Rainbow Dash to rest on the hay, but only after lying next to her. Soon after, the cyan pegasus cuddled with her. Feeling the daredevil pony’s fur brushing against her neck and chest was pleasing and relaxing, and it seriously helped her forget about the rest.

Sadly, she knew it was just the alcohol, but she would enjoy it while she could.

She looked at the pony by her side and smiled “Ah never took y’all fer a cuddlebug Sugarcube.”

Rainbow looked at her and with half-lidded eyes, she said. “Well… you don’t know eerie-vary thin…uh, all about me. But if you promise not to tell I… I’ll show two oth…er things.”

“Ah won’t tell a soul, sweetheart.”

“Blinkie Prey Miss?”

Applejack guffawed and answered “Ah don’t know ‘bout that, but Ah do Pinkie Promise.”

Dash smiled slyly “I’m also a closet biter, and I always dreamt of doing this.” She whispered and lunged forward.

Applejack’s first reaction was to freeze in surprise, but she soon relaxed and enjoyed the ride. She ended up enjoying it a bit too much and let out a moan.

Everypony stopped doing what they were doing, Pinkie Pie stopped the music and asked “Hey, you heard that too? What was it?”

Applejack hastily blurted “It was nuthin’ important enough to stop the party!”

Pinkie Pie pondered for less than a second before saying “You are right!” and resuming the music.

The rose-eyed pegasus looked at AJ and asked her worried “I’m sor…sorry, was I too rough? Want me to stop?”

“No!” Applejack exclaimed, but soon corrected herself “Ah mean… y’all can continue if y’all wanna…”

Rainbow looked like she was trying to look straight at her. “Y-you sure?”

“Please yerse-” “That may sound weird, won’t push my luck with a drunk Dash” “Do as y’all want.”

“Okay, but I’ll be gentler.”

“But first… Can Ah ask y’all a question?”

“Uh… yeah?”

“Why nibblin’ mah ear?”

“I don’t know… I just gotta tell ya it’s even better in real life.”

Applejack chuckled and said “Ah must say Ah don’t feel bad either.” She then went back to observing the scene in front of her.

Rarity seemed to have decided it was time to summon her trusty divan and pass out ‘in a fashionable and lady-like way.’

Pinkie changed the record into a much slower song and lowered the volume, like setting a mood. It made Applejack suspect if Pinkie had discovered a new combo, because as soon as she did that Twilight got closer to her and started talking. Luckily, the music was low enough to let the orange cowpony get every single word the lavender unicorn slurred.

“You know Pinkie… I kinda always, uh… you know, I kinda feel better whenever you… uh, when you’re around and… and I start having all these symptoms. Weak knees, heart palpitations, I feel uh… short of breath…” She rested her front hooves on Pinkie Pie’s shoulders, probably to get some stability. “I’ve looked those up in my, you know, my medical books, but… but there’s no explanation of why, uh… why I only get like that with you.”

Pinkie Pie giggled and smiling harder than Applejack ever saw her smile said “Awww, that’s very easy Twilie! You’re just in love silly.” The party animal lowered her eye lids and looked at the Canterlotian mare seductively. “Luckily for you, I love you too.”

What happened next surprised Applejack and made her smile. The pink pony tackled her lover into the hay and kissed her quite roughly. Twilight didn’t seem to be complaining or planning on doing so anyways.

“Hey… look at those two go” Applejack heard the pony who was previously gnawing her ear say. She turned to face the cyan mare and found the pony looking at her with sultry eyes and a wolfish smile. “Don’t they give you any ideas?”

“She’s drunk n’ a prankster, Ah know it’s hard but y’all gotta stay strong n’ don’t fall fer it!” Applejack inhaled deeply and said “Ah believe it’s mighty late n’ y’all had one to many mugs o’ cider.”

As she was trying to get up, Rainbow managed to get her back on the bale of hay and pin her, getting on top. “Please don’t leave me! I swear I won’t say that again. Just… stay here please.”

“Now y’all have hit the ‘emotive drunk’ phase? Alright Sugarcube, Ah won’t leave. In fact, if y’all don’t care we can rest right-”

The cyan pony let herself fall on top of the orange farm-mare and drifted off to sleep.

“…here…” a smile formed on the Element of Honesty as she caressed the rainbow mane of her best friend. “One day Rainbow… one day y’all will be mine…

Date: Two years after King Sombra’s failed attempt to take Crystal Empire back.

First day of the New Year.

Location: Sweet Apple Acres, Ponyville.

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

The incoming sunlight assaulted her eyes, and her current state seemed to be totally against it. It stung like a thousand bees, which mixed with the pounding inside her brain, was not a pleasant feeling. She decided the best thing to do was to turn her head and face the other side, but when she was in the middle of it her snout was stopped by something. Something soft, furry and very comfortable.

“Wait… Clouds aren’t furry… Where am I?” She was about to open her eyes, but she felt far too comfortable, she decided to face away from the daylight and rest her head on the unknown pleasant surface, while trying to remember what happened last night.

“Oh, New Years Eve… right. We spent it on AJ’s barn, but last time I checked, hay isn’t furry either, nor the bed in the guest’s room, next to Appleja-”

Her eyes opened wide and she raised her head. She was lying on top of the mare of her dreams, her hind hooves were between Applejack’s in a very intriguing position, to say the least. She decided that waking up Applejack was the best way to clear things out, but as she was about to talk, she heard a cheerful voice.

“Hey Twilie, we had our share of fun last night, but these two seemed to have raised the bar.”

“Shhh!”

Applejack stirred and bated her eyelashes, waking up from her slumber. Apparently the first thing she set eyes on was Rainbow Dash and she calmly said.

“Hello there Sugarcube. Had a fun night, huh?”

“Aha! I knew it! They totally did it!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed behind the Best Young Flyer.

“WHAT!?” both recently awake ponies exclaimed at the same time with eyes wide at saucers.

“Yeah! Having a ‘Fun night’, sleeping together in a very suggestive way… Applejack even has bite-marks!”

Instinctively, the pegasus jumped to the side, and landed in the hay, next to her best friend. “This is totally not what it seems!” “Or is it!?”” Her face went a bit pale as she looked to her side with a worried look and an uneasy smile “R-right?”

“Y’all mean y’all don’t remember?”

“Oh no…”

“Ah thought y’all weren’t drunk enough to forget stuff… No, nuthin’ happened, y’all just tried to prank me or sumthin’ n’ when Ah was about to get up y’all apologised n’ went all mushy thanks to the cider, n’ asked me to sleep here with y‘all.” She then chuckled and continued “N’ before Ah could tell y’all ‘yes’, y‘all collapsed n’ fell asleep.”

Twilight gently hit the back of Pinkie Pie’s head with her hoof. “See! You shouldn’t go around saying what you think that happened. You could, instead, tell me what happened last night! I remember you giving me a mug after I told you I’ve never drank before, I remember there was music in some moment of the night, and the next thing I know is that I’m lying next to you, smiling at me with a too wide smile.”

Pinkie Pie gave Applejack and Rainbow Dash an apologetic smile and then looked at Twilight, inhaled deeply, and started explaining. “Well… we were dancing all night long, and in one moment you confessed you were having these feelings whenever I was around, and then I told you it was love, and that luckily for you, I loved you back.”

Twilight’s eyes went wide as saucers as Pinkie Pie continued telling everypony what happened.

Rainbow Dash could notice how a yellow veil covered the lavender unicorn, while a green aura surrounded the pink earth pony. A third colour surrounded everypony, it was pink “Now the girls too? What is that colour?”

“Then I kinda half tackled you, half hugged you, throwing us both to the hay bale where we slept, and I kissed you, and you kissed me back, and then we made out, and then you traced my back with your hooves, until you reached my cutie mark and the-”

“OKAY!” Twilight exclaimed shoving a hoof into Pinkie’s mouth to shut her up. “I believe this was enough explanation… here, in front of the girls…”

“Listen to Twilight, Pinks, I believe that’s kinda… intimate to tell in detail.”

“Oh no, we didn’t get to that, don’t worry, what I was about to-”

“No Pinkie, stop it. That’s something you should tell in a different place.” Twilight said, suddenly blushing and looking away “Like say… the library, taking advantage of Spike not being there and all… I’ve read in some books that a good way to remember things, is doing them again… So maybe you can make me remember what happened last night…”

“Heh… I won’t complain to that! See you girls later!” Pinkie Pie replied before prancing towards town, quickly followed by the lavender unicorn.

Rainbow Dash looked at Applejack and asked “You… you saw that coming?”

“Well… Not really, though we both saw them last night, even if y’all don’t remember.”

“Yeah… I’m gonna slow down on cider… Only the hard one though.”

Date: Two years after King Sombra’s failed attempt to take Crystal Empire back.

First day of the New Year.

Location: Sweet Apple Acres, Ponyville.

Point of View: Applejack

“So… what happened last night? Why do you have bite marks?

“Y’all should tell me, y’all are the one who told me doing it had been yer dream fer quite a while.” Applejack stated smiling at the pony by her side. They were still lying on the hay.

“Oh… so I guess I told you I’m a biter… You can’t tell anypony about that”

“Ah know, y’all made me Pinkie Pie promise it last night… well, y’all tried.”

“What do you mean I ‘tried’?”

“Y’all were so hammered y’all couldn’t even say the sentence right. Ah believe yer exact words were ‘Blinky Prey Miss’.”

“Yeah… I’m definitely not gonna drink cider anytime soon. So… anything else I said last night?”

“Well… y’all tried to kiss me and get me to sleep with me.”

“WHAT?” Rainbow’s eyes looked like they would pop out of her eye-socks.

“Ah’m jes kiddin’, Ah mean y’all just made what Ah suppose it was a sleep-deprived, intoxicated bad taste prank when we saw the girls making out.”

“Ah… yeah, it was probably just a prank hehe.” Rainbow Dash said giggling worriedly.

“W-why don’t y’all look so convinced when y’all say that?”

“I’m… thinking that I do pretty crazy stuff when drunk. Never touching alcohol again.”

“Why don’t we keep this… ‘under the wing’ like y’all say.” Applejack suggested with a little wink.

“Thanks Apples, you’re the best.” She suddenly started blushing and looked away. “S-say… would it be too weird if I… uh…” she started fidgeting with her front hooves.

“Y’all can if y’all wanna Sugarcube.” Applejack stated simply, opening her hooves and moving her head slightly to the side, presenting her ear to her polychromatic friend and secret love.

Rainbow Dash blushed a bit more but a wholehearted smile full of joy and glee appeared on her face. “You truly are the best AJ.”

Date: Two years after King Sombra’s Failed attempt to take Crystal Empire back.

Two weeks before “The Games”.

Location: Sugarcube Corner, Ponyville.

Point of View: Applejack

“N-no! Y-you can’t go away for that long!” Rainbow Dash frantically said.

Applejack couldn’t make out what was wrong with Rainbow Dash “What’s wrong with her? Ah knew she would be a bit surprised, but this?”

“Why are you so worried, darling?” asked Rarity, there was a certain sparkle in her eyes, like she was expecting something, and she was very happy about it.

“I just... Uh... C’mon aren’t you girls worried, too?”

“Well... maybe a month is a bit of a long time, but she has to do it, Rainbow. And she will come back, it’s not such a big deal,” Twilight replied.

Fluttershy was frozen in place, her gaze frantically moving from Rainbow Dash to Applejack.

“I’m with you, Rainbow. How can you leave us this way, AJ?” the pink mare said, looking at the green-eyed farmpony.

“Ah’m not leavin’ y’all, Pinkie, Ah’m jes goin’ to Canterlot fer a month fer an important Apple Family Meeting. It’s not the same as the other family meetings, there’s some ‘important things to discuss’ n’ Ah gotta go in representation of the Sweet Apple Acres’ part of the family. Don’t y’all be so exaggerated, it’s jes a month.”

She noticed Rainbow Dash was still looking worried so she got closer and hugged her. “Darn it, Ah hope nopony notice how much Ah’m blushin’. What am Ah gonna do without y’all fer a month, Rainbow? Ah hope I get to build up the courage to tell y’all how Ah feel... N’ Ah hope nopony makes the move first.” That thought made her gulp loudly.

She noticed the rose-eyed pony was hugging her back, and judging by the wetness Applejack was feeling in her shoulder, she was crying.

No, it was time. She had wasted too much time building up courage, it was time for actually saying something. She barely moved, just to get her mouth next to Dash’s ear and she whispered so the only pony that could listen her words was the cyan pegasus.

“Ah love y’all Rainbow Dash. Ah’ve always had, n’ Ah always will. Ah cherish every second we’ve spent together. N’ even if Ah’m going fer a spell, Ah believe it’s a good moment to tell y’all. Ah sense this is a new phase in mah life... N’ Ah hope y’all will be part of it, but Ah understand if y’all don’t wanna. Ah must go, don’t forget me in this month, would y’all?”

She un-wrapped her arms off Rainbow Dash, raised her hoof up to her hat, taking it off and resting it on Dash’s head.

“Would y’all take care of this fer me till Ah come back, sweetie?”

She gave her a quick peck on her cheek that luckily, nopony saw. She then walked away from Rainbow and looked up to the rest of her friends, with tears in her eyes.

“Ah love y’all girls, all of y’all. N’ Ah won’t let sumthin’ like the Rodeo episode happen again.” She chuckled at her old mistakes and gathered all of her friends, except Rainbow Dash, in a group hug. “Now Ah must go, the train’s leaving in ten minutes, n’ Ah gotta look fer mah stuff at home. See y’all in a month.”

A choir of “Goodbye and good luck Applejack!” was heard as she walked out the door, with tears in her eyes.

Date: Two years after King Sombra’s Failed attempt to take Crystal Empire back.

Two weeks before “The Games”.

Location: Sugarcube Corner, Ponyville.

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

“If I didn’t know you two better, I’d say that was the cutest, most romantic act I’ve ever seen!”

“Huh?” asked Rainbow Dash, getting out of her trance and searching for the source of those words.

Pinkie Pie was closing the door of Sugarcube Corner and was looking at her over her shoulder. “Yeah, I mean, she hugs you, whispers something into your ear, leaves you her most precious possession and then she walks away into the sunset… In fact, I think I saw her give you a peck, but that must be me imagining things. You know how much I love to do that!”

Rainbow Dash let those words sink in, and she touched her cheek, relishing on the on the sweet memory of that kiss. “It WAS the cutest and most romantic thing anypony ever did for me…” Then her eyes opened wide. “But she also confessed her feelings for me, opened her heart like a book! And I let her walk away just like that!? The hay is wrong with me? I gotta find her now!”

Pinkie Pie started counting her six front hooves, seemingly putting two, and two, and two together and then she looked at Rainbow Dash and said, “Wait… She..? And you..! Awww, that’s so romantic, and sweet, and cool!” She then struck a dramatic pose and said, “Go get her Dashie! In the name of love!”

Dash smiled at her, adjusted her new Stetson and flew out the open window towards the Friendship Express Station.

When she got there she noticed there were no trains on the station. But she did saw Fluttershy sitting there, shedding some tears.

“Shy? You alright?”

Fluttershy noticed her and hugged her strongly. “Oh Dashie! This is so sad! M-many things could happen in this month! W-what if she… And you? What would you do if she… Oh my!” and the dams broke again.

Rainbow Dash let her cry, hugged her back and patted the pony’s back. “Hey, don’t worry Shy… She leaved a long time ago?”

“J-just some minutes ago…”

“Then I gotta go catch that train.”

Fluttershy looked at her and said, “B-but, Rainbow! It was one of those new super fast trains, you won’t make it before she arrives!”

“Well… then I’ll go to Canterlot, how hard can it be to find a huge crowd of members of the Apple family, on a city as classy as Canterlot?”

“Y-you may be right… B-but why are you going anyways?” asked Fluttershy, finally realising what her friend was saying.

“She told me Flutters… She confessed she loved me and I let her go just like that!” Rainbow Dash heart was pounding hard, half with pain, half with excitement. “After all this time? After all my doubts and suffering? After spending so many nights hoping she would tell me those words? HAY NO!”

“S-so you’re going there to tell her?” Fluttershy’s tears ceased falling, and a smile crept in her face.

“No, I’m going there to start spending the rest of my life by her side.”

Fluttershy started crying once again.

“Aww come on, now what?”

“N-no… this ones are tears of joy Rainbow. Please, when you see her, tell her I send you two my best wishes.”

“Sure thing Flutters,” Rainbow Dash said, smiling.

Fluttershy stopped hugging her and pointed a hoof toward the silhouette of Canterlot on the horizon. “Now go! I’ll tell the others the good news… And I’ll tell your bosses on the weather patrol that you’re sick and getting treated on Canterlot, I’ll take your place.” Her face looked stern and she said, “Don’t you dare come back before she has to.”

“No Shy, I can’t ask you to cover me while I-”

“Shush and go.”

Rainbow Dash realised she was one comment away from making the shy pegasus use her infamous Stare. And she knew it was not a pleasurable experience so she decided to just smile and take off, heading towards Twilight’s hometown.

Date: Two years after King Sombra’s Failed attempt to take Crystal Empire back.

Two weeks before “The Games”.

Location: Canterlot’s Train Station, Canterlot.

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

“Where the hay is that mare!? Why is it that every time I search for her in Canterlot, I can’t find her?” Rainbow Dash got to the station a few minutes after the train arrived. “And I can’t even look for her by the hat, because now I’m the one wearing it!”

She decided to take off and search for the Apple reunion. “It can’t be THAT hard to find bazillion cow-ponies with an apple-related cutie mark in a city full of snooty high-class ponies.”

After a while, she was able to find a group of Apple members, and she recognized one among them.

“Hey Braeburn!”

“Howdy Rainbow Dash! Welcome to Caaaaaaanterlot! How are y’a-”

“I don’t have time for that, have you seen AJ? I need to find her.”

“Uh… sure! Ah think mah cuz went to grab a drink right there!” He said, pointing to a bar nearby.

“A bar? I thought AJ hated alcohol! Well, I don’t think Braeburn would lie to me.” “Thanks Braeburn, see ya around.”

“Goodbye Rainbow Dash.”

As Rainbow Dash entered the bar, she noticed it was empty, excepting for the bartender, the band members, who were starting to play an old tango she used to hear as a filly, and an orange mare with a golden mane she knew all too well.

She noticed Applejack was drinking champagne, and decided she could use the song in her advantage.

The band was doing an instrumental version, and the lyrics where perfect for her, even if Rainbow didn’t like it that much, she was going to sing!

“Astonishing,

as if royale…

I found you drinking,

’Belle et Fatale’.” Rainbow Dash started singing.

“You drank the bottle dry

drowning sorrows in champagne,

numbing your brain

so you could laugh and not cry.”

By that time, Applejack’s head started rising off the bar.

“Sorrow,

I felt upon finding you

because as soon as I saw you

I was enthralled by your eyes’ glow

Those beautiful emerald pools,

like two little jewels

filled with lots of love,

more than you could think of.”

Applejack turned around and noticed Rainbow Dash was singing and walking towards her.

“I’ll drink with you, old mate,

until we fall from our chairs

and we can’t walk straight,

I don’t care if they call us ‘The Tipsy Mares’

Tonight, you’ll become a part,

a part of the past I’m leaving behind.

Three things in my heart you can find:

Love, sorrow and hurt.

Tonight you’ll become a part,

a part of the past I’m leaving behind.

I’m breaking loose of this state of mind,

and I’ll start playing smart.”

Applejack looked at her, without saying any words.

“You love me, right?” asked the cyan pegasus, like it was nothing.

“Y-yes.”

“You’ve done for years now.”

“Uh-huh.” Applejack’s answer was short, but carried some sort of force in it.

“Have you ever dreamt of me?”

“Several times.”

Rainbow Dash, still with a deadpan expression continued asking “Have you ever… you know” she raised her front hooves and knock them twice, generating a ‘clop-clop’ sound as a wordless explanation of what she meant. “thinking about me?”

The cowpony’s emerald eyes went wide as saucers and her coat went pale, excepting her cheeks that were sporting a crimson tone, as she looked down and admitted “Eyup…”

“Several times?”

Applejack regained her courage and looked at her. “Yes, several times.”

“Have you ever wished for me to be in your bed with you in many lonely cold nights?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, my answer to all those questions is yes too.”

“Huh?”

“You were right Applejack, this is a new phase for both of us. My Best Friend Applejack is dead and buried deep in my past.”

Applejack’s eyes started watering but she seemed to be holding back the tears.

“Your Friend Rainbow Dash is dead too. But I really hope you have a place in your heart for Marefriend Rainbow Dash.”

“Oh y’all heartless feather-brained pony! Ah almost thought y’all hated me!” Applejack yelled hitting Rainbow Dash’s chest with her hooves, but soon she stopped and hugged her tight. “Of course Ah have a place fer y’all, Ah’ve been savin’ it fer years now.”

“Well, looks like waiting time is over AJ.” Rainbow Dash said before pressing her lips against the farm-mare’s.

Date: Two years after King Sombra’s Failed attempt to take Crystal Empire back.

The night before “The Games”.

Location: Sweet Apple Acres, Ponyville.

Point of View: Applejack

“Can’t say is not cool to be back home AJ, but I still don’t understand why we’re back two weeks before the date you were supposed to come back.”

“Well, Ah don’t know exactly either. Ah was with mah cousins talkin’ ‘bout the apple stuff we were sortin’ out, n’ then they asked me if I was in a relationship or anythin’, Ah suppose they were jes trying to lighten the working mood. So Ah told’em Ah was with the sweetest mare ever, y’all.”

“Aww… You’re so sweet AJ.”

“N’ Ah know y’all are too, y’all jes try to look tough to keep yer ‘badass’ reputation.” Applejack said tickling her marefriend and making her let out cute little squeals to prove it.

“Stop it!”

“Anyways, when Ah told’em that, they all stopped… like frozen, n’ told me at the same time, which was a bit creepy, that they didn’t need the Sweet Apple Acres presence anymore, ‘cause the stuff they’d talk ‘bout later was not related to us.” Applejack shrugged and looked at her marefriend, nuzzling her. “Y’all know Ah usually love spendin’ time with them, so Ah would’ve stayed there a bit more, but this time Ah wanted to come here to tell the girls n’ the family ‘bout us.”

“Well… we’re in your living room’s couch, snuggling together. I believe your family already knows.”

“Well… it ain’t that different from what we used to do when we were jes friends, so maybe they don’t.”

“You know you can’t talk about all the times I’ve snuggled with you and bit your ear.”

“Ah know, Ah’ve sworn secrecy n’ y’all have yer reputation. Don’t y’all worry, Ah won’t tell a soul.”

“Well, we should get some sleep so tomorrow we can go to town and tell the girls.”

“Ah guess y’all are right.” As Applejack tried to lift herself from the couch, she collapsed back on it, trapped by the hooves of a cyan pegasus, needy of love. “We ain’t getting to the bedroom if y’all ain’t letting go.”

“Yes we are”

“Care to explain how, Sugarcube?”

“It’s easy…” Rainbow Dash grinned at her and wrapped her four hooves to her lover’s back. “You carry me.”

“Y’all ain’t a slug, walk up the stairs!”

“I’m not a slug… but I’ve just become a sloth, now carry me while I enjoy my snack.”

“What snack are y’all tal-” she felt her marefriend nibbling her ear, sighed and smiled. “Y’all know… y’all keep doin’ that, n’ y’all are gonna tear mah ear apart.”

Since the rose-eyed mare wasn’t responding, too busy biting Applejack’s ear, the orange farmpony decided to give up and start walking.

Final Chapter

Date: Two years after King Sombra’s failed attempt to take Crystal Empire back.

The day of “The Games”.

Location: Sweet Apple Acres, Ponyville.

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

“Rise n’ shine Sugarcube.” She heard.

“Hey babe…”

“C’mon Dash, get up! We gotta go to town to tell the gals” Applejack whispered.

“Oh yeah… right. Well, wait for me outside, I’ll leave through the window and meet you in a minute.”

“Alrighty then!”

When the mare left the room, Rainbow Dash started rolling in the bed and sniffing the bedsheets.

“We’ve been sleeping together since the day we confessed our love, and I still can’t get enough of her smell. Stupid sexy Applejack…” “Well… no use on delaying it anymore… Might as well go. Besides, what is there to lose? Twi and Pinks are together, they won’t say a thing, and there’s a 90% chance Pinkie will start prancing around and saying ‘I knew it’. Fluttershy knew it for a long time, and I doubt Rarity objects against it. It’s certainly gonna be a good day today.”

She decided to get up, brush her teeth and fly out the window.

“How can y’all spend so much time to get up of the bed?”

The daredevil pegasus gently landed besides her lover, there was no need to show off now that they were together. “It’s your fault, not mine.”

“How in Luna’s name can it be mah fault?”

“It just is, now let’s get walking, I’d like to tell the girls before lunch, so we can have a romantic picnic near the Whitetail Woods.”

Applejack nuzzled her and smiled “Romantic Dash is a secret pony nopony but me knows, isn’t her?”

“She’s a secret pony nopony but you know, and will ever know, get it?”

“As y’all wish Dashie.”

After a little walk, they were in front of the town’s library, knocking on the door.

After some seconds Pinkie Pie opened the door with Twilight by her side. “Hi Dash! How are you in this fine, fine da-” She suddenly froze in place.

“Hey Pinks, ‘sup Twi.”

“You two are back!”

“How come you’re here so early Applejack? And where were you Dash? I haven’t seen you in two weeks!” the lavender unicorn asked.

“Sweet Apple Acres wasn’t needed there anymore, n’ Dash has been with me since the first day. In fact… she’s been with me in more ways than jes one, that’s kinda why we’re here.”

“What do you mean?” Twilight’s area was turning slightly orange.

“Pinks, Egghead… we’re dating!” Rainbow Dash said, smiling at the two mares.

Suddenly, both Twilight’s and Pinkie Pie’s aura disappeared, as well as their facial expressions. Their stance changed as well, getting straighter, and looking blankly to a point in the infinite, behind the new couple.“What the hay?”

“Y’all feelin’ alright gals?”

“You two can not be in love, that is unnatural and illogic. I am ashamed of you, please get out of my front door.”

“Twilight? What are you talking about? This is not some kind of bad taste prank, is it? ‘Cause I’m not laughing.”

“Get out of my sight, sick filly-foolers.” Twilight spitted with such venom in her voice, that made Applejack shed a few tears.

That was the last straw Rainbow Dash would take. “What the hay is wrong with you Twilight? You’re with Pinkie! How is that any different!?”

“It just is. Now, since you will not get out willingly, I will have to do it myself.” Twilight stated before closing the door forcefully.

In less than the blink of an eye, a purple bubble-shaped magic shield was created around the tree, getting bigger in size and hitting the two mares in the process, pushing them some hooves away from the library.

“W-what happened Rainbow? D-did we do sumthin’ wrong?” Said Applejack, looking in the verge of crying.

“No AJ, we did nothing… And I don’t have a single clue what the hay just happened, but we should get the hay out of here, we’ll ask for an apology later.”

“L-let’s go with Rarity, Ah know she’ll be happy ‘bout us, she… she has been helpin’ me since the Nightmare Moon thing.”

“Really? Then I’ll have to thank her when I see her!”

Luckily the Carousel Boutique wasn’t that far away from the library, and Applejack had recovered from the previous encounter, so the couple was somehow happily knocking on the shop’s door.

Soon they were greeted by the white fashionista. “Oh my! Girls you are back, that are some pleasing news! You have certainly brightened my day.”

“N’ prepare to get yer day even brighter Rar, ‘cause we’re here to tell y’all that y’all did it! Well, it was me, but thanks to y’all, we’re together Rarity! We’re a couple!”

Suddenly, Rarity’s aura disappeared along with her facial expression.

“Oh no, not this again.”

“That is unnatural and totally uncouth, you two disgust me.” Rarity said, closing the door.

Applejack’s fragile happiness was destroyed.

“Let’s get outta here Apples, something smells fishy here; we should go ask Fluttershy about it.”

“B-but what is wrong? Ah thought she’d be happy about us!” Applejack said, shivering.

“I don’t know AJ, but we’ll find out, now hop on, I’ll fly us to Flutters’ house.”

After a short flight they were in front of Fluttershy’s cottage.

“Now, you’re not in your best Apples, stay here please, just in case, I’ll go and ask her about what’s going on.”

“O-ok Dashie, Ah’ll wait fer y’all.” The orange mare said while resting on the floor, drying her tears.

Rainbow Dash walked the few hooves to the shy pony’s door and knocked five times. After all this time, Rainbow Dash had decided to create a kind of ‘knocking code’ so Fluttershy could know who was at the door.

The butter-coated pegasus opened the door and smiled at the sight, a green aura creating around her. “Oh you’re back, that is great! How was everything in Canterlot?”

“Great, I could confess to AJ and we’re together no- DARN IT I’M STUPID!”

As she expected, she noticed the same symptoms as the others right before the pink-maned pony looked at her in the eyes and said “I despise you.”

Seconds later, Rainbow noticed Fluttershy’s gaze strengthen as her body moved by its own, walking backwards, until she was next to her lover. Fluttershy closed the door of her cottage and Rainbow regained control of her body.

“W-what happened?” her marefriend asked her

“I accidentally screwed up, she acted all strange like the others and then used The Stare on me…”

“The hay happened to our friends Dashie?”

“I have no clue babe, I have no clue…”

Date: Two years after King Sombra’s failed attempt to take Crystal Empire back.

Before “The Games”.

Location: Ponyville’s outskirts.

Point of View: Applejack

“Y’all know what day is it today Rainbow?” Asked Applejack, lying in the grass with her marefriend.

“The day we suddenly and unexplainably lost our friends and family?”

“Apart from that… it’s the sixteenth anniversary of our first ‘date’.”

“You mean the one when I met you?” inquired the cyan pegasus.

“Eeyup… Who would’ve thought we would actually end up together huh?” Said the orange mare giggling.

“Yeah… I… I don’t want to sound rude with you AJ, but… what for? I mean… we’re together, but we lost everything that we loved and that loved us back.” Said Rainbow Dash, looking away.

“Not everything Sugarcube.” Applejack made her marefriend look at her again and kissed her passionately. “Y’all still have me, n’ Ah swear Ah’ll never leave y’all. No matter the circumstances.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, the place around the two ponies started twisting and bending.

“THE HAY!?” Both ponies exclaimed simultaneously.

Everything started changing, and the two soon found themselves in a very dark cave.

“So… You’re back. I guess I lost my bet” a strange voice was heard. It sounded deep and twisted.

“I told you!” Another voice retorted, it was even deeper, and somehow darker. It was like hearing death itself talking. “You should have killed them like I told you.”

The two mares hugged each other, hoping for some kind of protection against the unknown menaces.

“Well… they had a one-in-a-billion chance to do it, I didn’t expect they would!” The first voice answered the other. “You two little ponies really take the ‘love against all odds’ thing to another level.”

Date: Two years after King Sombra’s failed attempt to take Crystal Empire back.

Before “The Games”.

Location: Unknown

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

“You two little ponies really take the ‘love against all odds’ thing to another level.”

“W-who are you? Or what are you?”

“Hmm…” The strange creature, still hidden in the shadows seemed to be pondering.

Rainbow Dash was feeling blind, because the creatures didn’t show any aura, something was really strange about them

“Are you saying ‘you’ as in me? Or as in us?”

“B-both?”

“Well… we go by many names, but you may call me Amnesia, and my little brother here is Oblivion. And regarding what we are… we could tell you, yeah, but what’s the point in doing so?” the voice asked, it seemed to be slightly maniac.

“So… there’s no point on telling us what y’all two are, but there’s a point in tellin’ us yer names?” Applejack asked, and judging by the look on her face, she regretted it just as the words left her mouth.

“Ah yeah, you’re the complaining and judging one… Applejack was it?”

“Uh, yeah? How did y’all know?”

“Ah, right! You don’t remember us thanks to me! Silly me, I’m sorry but I tend to forget lots of things.”

“Do you mean we met before?”

“Ah yes, it was ten years ago, though you’re supposed not to remember it. I have a certain power over living beings’ minds. I usually don’t mess with anypony, but you two entered our domains, so it was a possibility we couldn’t miss.”

“We entered your domains? Where exactly are we?”

“CLOSE YOUR FILTHY MOUTH, HE’S TELLING YOU THE STORY.” The second creature vociferated. He didn’t talk much, but when he did, it wasn’t good. Both ponies held each other in fear and nodded at the unknown source of the voice, but they remained silent.

“I’m sorry girls; my brother can be a bit… enthusiastic.” Amnesia stated with a hint of apology in his voice. “Anyways, as I was saying, you two weren’t trying to get into our domain. It was more of an accident.”

The creature seemed to be moving around them, because Rainbow Dash could notice the voice circling her.

“For what I can remember and what I understood back then... Applejack was taking the funny colored one on her back to a romantic picnic. To celebrate the anniversary of their first date, and also to make her forget about her parents’ death.”

“S-so… it was exactly ten years from now? Today’s the anniversary of those two things...” Rainbow Dash said, letting a tear fall down her cheek.

“Yes.”

“B-but how come we don’t remember this? N’ what do y’all mean by ‘romantic’? Ah wasn’t in love with her until many years later!” Applejack inquired.

“Well… that’s what I wanted you to believe. You see, you were a couple back then, and were very happy and, even for me, very cute. But sadly, you came to us, and as I said, you were a chance we wouldn’t let pass.” Once again, the creature moved around them while talking, he seemed to be floating, flying or silent as a shadow, because Rainbow couldn’t hear any footsteps.

“You two came in, and… to make things simple, we were in a good mood, and seeing you were just fillies and you wouldn’t be able to defeat us in any possible way, we asked you a single simple question.”

“And that was?”

Oblivion decided to talk this time. “Amnesia has power over ponies’ minds and memories. I have the power to destroy everything I want to, and send it to a dimension of eternal damnation. I believe your ancestors called it Tartarus, I am unaware if you still call it that way.”

“So...?”

“Well… we decided to ask you to choose one of us. Obviously the one that wasn’t chosen would have his little revenge. My brother would destroy both of your hometowns and all of its citizens, while I would make you forget the most precious memory to you and all related to it, and fill it with blank spaces. That memory happened to be you two being a couple. That’s why you don’t remember anything about it.”

Rainbow Dash focused on remembering what happened ten years ago, the day her fathers died in an accident. She could remember going to the acres afterwards, to talk to Applejack, but after that, she couldn’t remember anything.

“So we chose Oblivion?”

“Yes you did. But I was far too generous, so I decided to give you an opportunity to get your memories and everything else back.”

Applejack seemed to be thinking, and soon she said “The one-in-a-billion chance y’all were talkin’ ‘bout some minutes ago.”

“Exactly, the only way to get your memories back, was to be together again, and for Applejack to say the exact same words, in the exact same pose, and in the exact same state of emotion as when I found you two in your little ‘picnic’ ten years ago. So, you see it was almost impossible. Yet you managed to do it! So you’re here, and I shall give you back your memories.”

Suddenly Rainbow Dash started feeling a bit dizzy, and her head started pounding and a strange noise rang in her ears, she later realized they were voices and noises, mostly Applejack’s, of every moment she spent with her as a couple. Wave after wave of images and sounds pierced her brain and she collapsed on the floor.

Date: Two years after King Sombra’s failed attempt to take Crystal Empire back.

Before “The Games”.

Location: Unknown

Point of View: Applejack

Applejack slowly woke up after getting hit by a million forgotten memories.

“The hay was that…”

“I’m sorry ponies, but there’s no way of making the feeling so many things in so little time pleasurable. Your brains aren’t prepared for that.

Applejack woke Rainbow Dash up and looked towards the place where the voice was last heard. “So… it was y’all the one who made our friends n’ family act that way? So we couldn’t win?”

“Well… I didn’t actually cursed your friends, but instead I cursed you and your little marefriend so everyone you told you were together would act against it in their own way. Don’t worry, you’re free of it now, and they don’t even remember what happened, so you can re-tell them you’re together, and they’ll answer naturally this time. If they approve it or are against it it’s not my fault anymore.”

“So… are we free now?”

“I lost my bet, so I don’t have any business with you anymore.” Amnesia said but soon continued “My brother however…”

Oblivion talked again, with his death-like voice. “I never agreed to that bet… so I could crush you right now. But I decide we can have a little race that will decide your fate. We’ll call it ‘The Games’.”

“But if it’s just one, why do you call it ‘The Games’ as if they were more than one?” Once again, as soon as the words left her mouth, Applejack regretted it.

“You are one tough little pony to talk up to me like that. I admire that, but let me explain this. We will call it ‘The Games’ because with that I mean that even if you win the race against me, which is the challenge, you can still loose later. So it’s like if they were two games not just one.”

“And what are this race’s rules? What’s the catch?” Rainbow Dash said, getting back to her senses.

“It’s simple, you’re playing an obstacle race against me. You just need to get to the other side of this course.” With the snap of whatever appendage the beast had, part of the cave started glowing in reddish light and slowly, the rocks started changing and breaking, forming an obstacle course.

Applejack took a few steps towards the edge, and noticed that the reddish glow was generated by a river of lava that flowed under the race track.

“I’ll be chasing you, which means that if you’re not faster than me, you’re dead.” Oblivion said with a sadistic tone in her voice. “And the ‘catch’ as you would say it, is that after you get there, you will have to enter one of these three portals.” with another snap, three portals appeared making a poof sound

Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked at each other worried.

“No wait, this would make things better.” He added. And one of the portals disappeared and two poofs were heard, but there was no new portal, which made Applejack wonder what just happened.

“You see…” Oblivion explained “You take the right portal, the story ends, you two wake up in your little cloud bed and live your happy life. You take the wrong portal, you stay in my dimension, and I show you the rabbit hole, a rabbit hole full of pain, suffering and your worst nightmares.” He said laughing maniacally filling Applejack’s heart with fear.

“Oh, and I forgot.” Oblivion continued.

“C’mon, isn’t this hard enough?”

“There’s going to be a little penalty and advantage. You get to choose. You, rainbow coloured one.”

“Y-yeah?” Rainbow Dash asked puffing her chest, trying to look tough.

“You get to choose, do you prefer to lose your wings… or lose your sight? No matter what you choose, it is until you finish the race… if you do, that is.”

Applejack looked at the course for some seconds and told Dash “Rainbow, there are some parts of the race that can’t be done without wings!”

“S-so… I guess I must go blind for the sake of us winning?”

Applejack kissed her and said “Ah’ll be your eyes.”

Rainbow Dash nodded and gulped. “I-I choose to lose my sight.”

Suddenly Rainbow Dash started shrieking and convulsing.

“RAINBOW! WHAT’S HAPPENIN’!?”

“I’m sorry, I forgot to tell you that it was going to be absurdly painful.” Oblivion said. “And now, orange one, you may choose an object you own, to help you in this race.”

After thinking all of the possibilities, she quickly decided for what she considered the most fitting of her current needs. “Ah want mah rope.”

Date: Two years after King Sombra’s Failed attempt to take Crystal Empire back.

During “The Games”.

Location: Unknown.

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

Rainbow Dash was blind, she couldn’t see a thing, but she knew something very bad was chasing her, so she started flying forward.

“Ah’ll be yer eyes, Dashie, but y’all gotta trust me wholeheartedly.”

“Of course, Applejack, tell me what to do.”

“Okay, the whole place is coming down, so we gotta escape fast, y’all go forward and pay close attention to mah directions.”

Rainbow Dash obliged and flew forward as fast as she could, trying to sense something, anything, but she was completely blind, and since there was such a ruckus around her, she could only listen to Applejack’s voice.

“Okay, go up!”

Rainbow Dash knew they were in a cave, so she knew ‘up’ meant ‘rise a few hooves’, and so she did.

“Up again!”

Rainbow Dash felt a rock brush her belly. “That was close!”

“Now go down! And down again!”

Judging by the sound, a vacuum suddenly generated, Dash considered they were now in a tunnel or something similar.

“Darn it! We’re getting close to a full rockslide! Lean left! Right!”

Dash could feel the rocks brush her primary feathers. “This is bad, if one single tiny rock hits my wing, we’re doomed!”

“Left again! Now Right!”

A loud rumble was heard.

“Beware! Agh!”

Dash felt a slight pressure. “Oh no! A rock hit, AJ!” “Are you alright AJ?”

“Enter!”

“Enter what?”

“The tunnel, just in front of you! He won’t follow us there!”

Date: Two years after King Sombra’s Failed attempt to take Crystal Empire back.

During “The Games”.

Location: Unknown.

Point of View: Applejack

“Where are we?”

“It’s some kind of tunnel. Luckily, he’s too big to fit here, so Ah guess we can make it to the finish line jes fine… but jes to be sure, Ah’d say we should fly a bit faster.”

“Won’t complain, just remember to tell me where to go.”

“Don’t y’all worry, jes fly straight, there’s nuthin’ in between.” After some seconds she regretted saying that, as she head a rumble, and a spike protruding from left to right, in front of them.

“Go up RD!”

Rainbow Dash went up just as told, but since she was deprived of her sight, she couldn’t measure how ‘up’.

“Gah!” Applejack cried as she felt the cave’s roof hitting her back.

“Oh no, are you alright Apples? I’m sorry, I can’t know how far I have to move!”

“Ah’m okay, should’ve been more specific. Stay sharp, there may be more unexpected stuff happening.”

As she finished saying that, a lot of spikes started appearing in front of her. “Y’all gotta be kiddin’… okay listen RD, there’s a big row of spikes, listen carefully!”

“Okay!”

“Left three hooves, right four hooves, down six hooves, left eight hooves n’ up three more, four to the right n’ two down.”

Luckily, they managed to successfully evade every single one, and the tunnel’s end was close.

“We’re near Dash, jes a few more hooves!”

In a jinx-like manner, two solid rock walls started closing in the way out. By the time the two mares get there, the gap would be wide enough for a pony to pass through.

But Rainbow Dash had wings. “RD… when Ah told y’all too, y’all close yer wings.”

“What!? Are you crazy!? We’ll plummet to our death!”

“Have sum faith will y’all? Close yer wings now!”

Her marefriend did as told and they managed to get through the small gap.

“Now fly again!” The orange mare ordered, and the pegasus obeyed. They could soar up once again, and crossed the finish line.

“We did it! And I got my sight back!”

Date: Two years after King Sombra’s failed attempt to take Crystal Empire back.

During “The Games”.

Location: Unknown.

Point of View: Applejack

“We’ve done it AJ! Come on! It’s the one on the right! Jump!”

“DARNIT RAINBOW! DON’T JUMP!” Applejack cried as she instinctively did something that would change the course of hers and her marefriend’s fate.

She couln’t see her beloved chromatic pegasus anymore, but she trusted her aim and skill more than her eyes.

“Y’all ain’t getting rid of me that easily RD! If y’all leave this world it’ll be only after Ah know there’s nothing else fer me to do!”

Date: Unknown.

Unknown.

Location: Unknown.

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

A blinding white light woke Rainbow Dash up. Everything around her was white, except for a pale orange and pale golden blur next to her.

“Ugh… Where am I?” she asked, trying to regain her senses. She felt like waking up after a big accident crash, when she couldn’t tell which way was up.

“In hospital Rainbow.” The blur told her, it sounded distorted, and she couldn’t quite make out who was talking.

Seemed like not only sight and hearing were not completely regained, she couldn’t smell a thing, and she could barely feel her hooves.

“A-Applejack?”

A heavy sigh was heard. “Not this again…” The voice was clear now, it was a stallion’s voice.

Finally, Rainbow Dash regained her senses, and notice she was resting in a hospital bed, and the pony to her side was a doctor. His coat and mane were the same colour as Applejack’s

“W-who are you? What happened?”

Another sigh escaped the doctor’s mouth. “I hate it when this happens. Maybe if I tell you some things, you will remember the rest. I’m doctor Straitjacket, do you remember me now?”

“No…” Rainbow Dash answered.

“I work at the hospital, I’m in charge of the psychiatric rehabilitation wing.”

“And why are you here then?”

“Rainbow… you are in the psychiatric rehabilitation wing. You have been here for two years now.”

“WHAT!?”

“You suffered a strong traumatic experience. When ponies suffer these kind of experiences, their minds tend to use different methods to ‘escape’ and not face their dreaded reality. In your case, your mind decided to self-induce amnesia, and refill those tragic memories with false ones.”

Rainbow Dash’s mind was struggling to process what she was hearing. “D-doctor… you’re kind of creeping me out…”She soon noticed the lack of a certain farm-pony. “W-where’s Applejack? W-where’s my marefriend?”

Doctor Straitjacket sighed once again, but there was so much pain in this last one. He looked at Rainbow Dash with a sympathetic expression and said. “I… I’m so sorry to tell you this Rainbow… but the traumatic experience I was talking about… it was your best friend Applejack’s death.”

The world seemed to twist around the pegasus and everything started to get darker. Her heart stopped beating for some seconds and her chest tightened. “W-what?”

“Applejack died two years ago Rainbow Dash.” The doctor explained. He rested a hoof in Dash’s shoulder. “She… she died while fulfilling her duty in the crystal empire. She gave her life to save you from a dark crystal that protruded out of the ground because of King Sombra’s dark magic.”

“N-no, you’re… you have to be lying. I remember this big Apple family reunion she organized that year.”

“That never happened Rainbow Dash, my wife, Apple Fritter, is a member of the Apple family, and there was a big reunion that year, but was not organized by Applejack, and the purpose of that reunion, was to commemorate both her death, and Granny Smith’s, who passed away a few days after her grand-daughter. She was too old to take a blow like that.”

“N-no, no, No, NO! YOU’RE LYING! I’M GETTING OUT OF HE-” it wasn’t until now that she noticed she was being restrained but a straitjacket, tied to the hospital bed. “L-LET ME GO!”

“I’m sorry Miss Rainbow, but I had to restrain you after last year’s incident. J-just calm down.”

She suddenly started feeling a lot sleepier and relaxed. She noticed an empty syringe being magically taken from her neck. “Wha…what was that…”

“It’s just something to ease your anger, and help you relax. I’ll leave you alone now.”

“N-no… wait, I want you to answer me. I-if all you say is true then who saved Spike from those timberwolves two years ago?”

“Ah… yes, that’s also another anecdote you usually use to try and escape reality. Don’t you wonder why do you know so much about what happened in the forest, if you weren’t there?” the doctor asked her. “I’ll tell you why, it’s because that was you, but you told everypony it was Applejack, you tried to convince Ponyville of that, including you.”

“N-no…”

The stallion took a step forward and asked “Ever wondered why Princess Celestia decided to make Discord an ally? It was because since the Element of Honesty wasn’t here, there was no way to stop him, if he ever escaped his stone prison.”

Rainbow Dash’s brain was screaming for him to stop, to stop this nonsense “T-that never happened, Applejack never died, this guy is trying to fool me!” but slowly… slowly but steadily, she started remembering. Remembering every single painful moment. Every night she spent grieving. Every night she considered killing herself just to meet Applejack again. Every single tear shed. Every rose she left in Applejack’s tombstone. Every caress she gave to her iconic Stetson, which was kept safe in her bedroom’s night stand. Every glance at the picture of the love of her life she had on her bedroom’s wall.

She slowly, steadily and awfully painfully, she realised the sad truth.

Something inside her head clicked, she felt her heart stopped beating, her lungs freezing and everything slowly fading to black.

A final whisper escaped her cold mouth. “See you soon AJ…”

Date: Two years after King Sombra’s failed attempt to take Crystal Empire back.

During “The Games”.

Location: Unknown.

Point of View: Applejack

“Y’all ain’t getting rid of me that easily RD! If y’all leave this world it’ll be only after Ah know there’s nothing else fer me to do!”

She felt the rope grab something, so she planted her hooves on the ground and started pulling.

“Ah. Ain’t. Losing. Y’all! Not. This. Way!” She exclaimed between pulls.

With a final strong pull, she went flying a few hooves, but noticed a poly-chromatic pegasus come out of the portal, filling her heart with glee.

She spitted out the rope, and went to wake up her unconscious lover. “Rainbow! Rainbow wake up!”

“Wha-what..?” the mare answered, slowly waking up.”

“Rainbow come on! Y’all entered the wrong portal, but Ah could take y’all out before it was too late, but if we don’t mover right now, Oblivion will catch up with us n’ we’ll be doomed!”

The mare seemed to have suffered a strong shock when she entered the portal because she seemed to be spacing out. Suddenly she asked “S-so… it’s that portal?” she said, pointing to the other portal in front of the two mares.

“No… it’s actually this way.” Applejack said before carrying the pegasus on her back and jumping off a cliff.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING! WE’RE GONNA DIE!”

“No we ain’t!” she exclaimed as they plummeted towards the ground, where another portal was waiting for them.

Date: Two years after King Sombra’s Failed attempt to take Crystal Empire back.

Midnight, right after Rainbow Dash and Applejack finish “The Games.”

Location: Rainbow Dash’s Cloudhouse, Above Ponyville.

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

Rainbow Dash was laying on her bed, head over the pillow, front part of her body facing up, and a cute orange earth pony on top of her, breathing heavily. The bruises and reddened areas showed the activities the two lovers just shared.

“We… We did it… We actually did it! My awesome Apple marefriend and I just did it! And it was amazing!” Rainbow Dash said squeaking with joy.

“A-amazin’? AMAZIN’!? Dashie we could’ve died jes now n’ y’all say it was amzin’!?” the blond mare growled while her green emerald eyes showed the despair and shock she was feeling a minute ago.

Date: Two years after King Sombra’s failed attempt to take Crystal Empire back.

Midnight, right after Rainbow Dash and Applejack finish “The Games.”

Location: Rainbow Dash’s Cloudhouse, Above Ponyville.

Point of View: Rainbow Dash

“A-amazin’? AMAZIN’!? Dashie we could’ve died jes now n’ y’all say it was amzin’!?”

She knew her marefriend was at the verge of crying because of terror, anxiety, fury and tension, but she couldn’t act any differently. Rainbow Dash’s happiness in that exact moment met no match.

Half a minute ago, she was inside a living nightmare, where Applejack was dead and she was a suicidal psychiatric patient. And now she was laying in her bed with the love of her life on top of her.

Her heart was pounding in her chest while happiness and adrenaline flooded her body. The only pseudo-logical answer, as logical as one in that state could muster, was to smile wider than Pinkie Pie and to hungrily kiss Applejack with all the love and passion her body could give.

The blonde mare refused at first, still in a fragile state, but soon she kissed back with even more strength and hunger, if that was possible, than Rainbow Dash.

The only two purpose of this night were to forget every second of suffering she had to endure in this day and to pleasure Applejack until she couldn’t give her anymore, just in case she couldn’t get any other chance. “I’m not risking the possibility of losing her without showing her all my love.”

But there was one single problem. Applejack couldn’t walk on clouds, so she would plummet to her death.

“A-Applejack” she said between pants as her lover stopped kissing her, moving to lovingly bite her neck. “Y-you can’t support yourself on a cloud, th-this is too dangerous!”

Her lover stopped to look at her and with a wolfish grin she said “Hold my tight fer a second Sugarcube…”

Rainbow Dash obliged, and soon felt Applejack move her hooves around her waist.

“Ah never untied the rope, with a little noose here…” she said as she tied the other end of her trusty rope around her own waist. “N’ voila! Now Ah can’t fall ‘cause we’re not getting separated ‘til tomorrow, now close yer adorable piehole n’ kiss me, ‘cause y’all started a fire it ain’t putting out itself.”

Date: Two years after King Sombra’s failed attempt to take Crystal Empire back.

The day after “The Games”

Location: Ponyville centre, Ponyville.

Point of View: Applejack

“Well… that was better than expected… We defeated two super-powerful villains, had an amazing night, told everypony we were back and together, they were all happy, you’re not dead, I’m not crazy, and now we’re here, in Ponyville finally able to relax and have a good time.” Rainbow Dash said while smiling widely.

“Ah said we deserve this. We’ve suffered more than enough.”

“Though there’s something I still don’t get… How did you know the real portal was down that cliff?”

“Well…” Applejack explained “Before startin’, Ah saw him making one of the portals disappear. At first Ah thought he was jes bein’ nice n’ letting us jes two portals to decide, but when we escaped the tunnel, before we crossed the finish line, Ah noticed something strange below us but Ah had no idea what it was.”

Rainbow Dash went pale and looked at her marefriend. “Wait, you mean you weren’t sure and you just jumped off a ridiculously high cliff towards a lava lake!?”

“It was... Ah leap of faith if y’all like.”

“You’re crazy.”

“Says the pony who jumped through a portal without thinking about it fer a second.” Applejack said gently hitting her marefriend.

“I hate you.”

“Ah love y’all too.”

“Is not easy being in love, is it?”

“Who cares, the reward is more than worth it.” Applejack said kissing her marefriend passionately.