Labor of Love

By the time you and Applejack finish 'celebrating' your engagement Celestia's sun has long set and Luna's moon is high in the sky. After making sure both of you look presentable and have no stray fluids leaking, you walk back to Sweet Apple Acres with your new fiance. Both of you can't help but smile as you steal glances at one another, acting more like young foals on their first date than grown adult ponies, and though the trip is made in silence both of you know exactly how the other is feeling.

As you finally reach home Applejack gives you a quick kiss on the cheek and nuzzles you. "Ah can't wait to tell Granny Smith, Big Mac an' Apple Bloom, an' all of mah other friends." she says, gazing down again at the gold engagement hooflet.

"Well, Big Mac already knows. I, er... I asked him for permission earlier today." you admit.

Applejack looks at you with surprise. "Really? An' he didn't buck ya halfway 'cross Equestria? Big Mac ain't one to approve of our family marryin' a non-earth pony."

Your face easily reflects the shock and fright of learning that fact but your guard quickly lowers as you see Applejack burst out laughing. "Hahahaha! Ah'm sorry, sugarcube. Couldn't help mahself. Ya'll shoulda seen the look an yer face!" she manages to say.

It takes a few more moments for AJ to finally stop laughing and wipe her eyes. "Ya'll know ah'm jokin', sugarcube. Ya know Big Mac thinks ya'll're a great stallion, 'specially after the way ya saved Apple Bloom. Not to mention what ya'll did to save our home."

Drawing you in, Applejack gives you a romantic kiss, which you're happy to return. As you draw back, you look at Applejack's beautiful face with Luna's bright moon suspended behind her in the star-filled night sky; the perfect way to end such a happy day. You smile, elated that this is the pony you'll be spending the rest of your life with, maybe even having a few foals with her and raising them on the farm you've come to love so much.

You both glance at the house and see that all the lights are off. "Guess we stayed out later than we thought." you comment.

Applejack nods in agreement. "Looks like everypony else went to bed. C'mon, we should also. Early start in the mornin' to get those last few orders filled." she says, flicking your chin with her tail teasingly as she passes you. She keeps her tail raised slightly as she senses you walk behind her, both of you knowing what will happen once you get to her room. You're going to be very tired in the morning, but it will definitely be worth it.

Opening the front door as quietly as possible, you and Applejack slip inside and shut the door, hoping to not wake anypony. However, as soon as you close the door you are both blinded as somepony turns on the lights, and though you can't see you very clearly hear a large group of ponies yell "Surprise!" all together.

You rub your eyes in an attempt to restore your sight as Applejack does the same. However, both of you have a strong feeling that you know exactly who is behind the surprise, as well as who else is in attendance. As your vision finally begins to return, you see that you are indeed correct; bouncing over to hug you and AJ is the hyperactive pink pony Pinkie Pie, and behind her is the suspected gathering of other ponies; Rainbow Dash, Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, Big Mac, Granny Smith, and even Apple Bloom is still awake.

Applejack blinks a few times as Pinkie tightly hugs you both, and once the bouncing mare finally lets go of you she faces you. "Ah thought ya said ya only told Big Mac." she said with an eyebrow raised.

"I did." you reply. Both you and AJ look at the red stallion, but he simply looks around and shrugs. A giggle from Pinkie solves the mystery; it's clear that she somehow caught wind of your plans, but there was no use in trying to pry how she knew out of her. It was very likely even she didn't quite know how.

Congratulations were passed from everypony to you and Applejack, all the mares present 'oohing' and 'aahing' over the engagement hooflet that you gave her. Apple Bloom couldn't help but happily bounce around the living room, excited that she now had another brother to help her earn her and her friends their cutie marks. Big Mac nudged you and winked. "Sure you want to get tangled up in that mess?" he asked jokingly.

"Eeyup." you say, mimicking his voice.

The role reversal caused everypony to laugh and without any further delay Big Mac and Applejack broke out a barrel of aged Apple Cider to celebrate the joyous occasion. "Now be careful, young fellers, this here stuff is fit'y times stronger than our normal hard cider." Granny Smith warns everypony. However, when you take your first sip of the expensive cider your eyes light up as you taste the best. Cider. Ever.

You have no idea how much time has passed since everypony started celebrating your engagement, but before you know it almost everypony is drunk out of their minds. It seems the only ponies left sober are Granny Smith, Apple Bloom, and somehow Pinkie Pie, despite the party pony having downed four mugs of cider herself. Rarity, Twilight, and Fluttershy are a bit tipsy but seem alright enough to walk while Applejack and Big Mac are stumbling around the room. Rainbow Dash, however...

... there really are no words for what Rainbow Dash is right now.

"H-he... hey *hic* hey, you pon... pon- pegasus dude. You... *hic* you- you lucky A-Apple..." Rainbow Dash drunkenly says.

While you're a bit inebriated yourself, you can still tell that what Rainbow Dash just said makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

The mares decide to call it a night, and thankfully Pinkie Pie volunteers to make sure everypony gets home safely, but when Rainbow Dash flies full speed into the floor and momentarily knocks herself out cold from the impact Pinkie suggests that Dash spend the night at the farm to avoid hurting herself any further. Granny Smith agrees, pointing out that the guest room is available since you now spend every night in Applejack's room. Satisfied with the arrangements, Applejack's friends say goodbye and head home while Granny Smith takes the sleepy Apple Bloom up to bed, leaving you, AJ, Rainbow, and Big Mac downstairs to talk a little longer.

Almost immediately Applejack cuddles up next to you and begins to nuzzle you despite Rainbow Dash and her brother being present. Rainbow Dash regains consciousness just in time to see your fiance beginning to heat things up by kissing you on the neck, her tongue clearly giving your coat a small lick that sends a shiver down your spine. "Hey, d-don't ru- *hic* ru-rub it in... so much." Dash says with her slurred speech.

Applejack looks at her with a puzzled look on her face, causing Dash to 'explain' her reasoning. "I... you... I wa- I liked him *hic* too, you knew- know." Dash said, pointing a wavering hoof... kind of in your direction. "I-I-I coulda... I coulda *hic* been special som-somepony too."

When you first moved to Ponyville you learned very quickly that Rainbow Dash was very, VERY competitive, and Applejack was usually eager to take on any challenge Dash set. Despite her intoxicated state you see that glimmer of determination to prove that she is the alpha-mare in Applejack's eyes, and in an attempt to egg Dash on AJ sits herself up more. "Oh yeah? Well, get a gander at this." she says. Without any warning, she pulls you in close and begins kissing you heavily, making sure that Dash can clearly see her tongue seeking out yours.

Rainbow Dash turned red in the face as she watches you both making out. Unsure of what to do herself, she spots Big Mac trying to sneak out of the room unnoticed. "O-oh yeah? Well *hic* two, two of us can... can *hic* make things four!" she declares. Managing to walk in a semi-straight line, Dash throws herself at Big Mac and locks lips with him and attempts to match the forcefulness of your and Applejack's kissing. However, Big Mac's hesitance and resistance cause her to fail, and as soon as she breaks free to gasp for breath the red stallion manages to break free and escape, bolting for his room before things get any more out of hoof.

Applejack finally releases you as well, her face smiling in victory. However, her smile fades slightly as she sees Rainbow Dash sitting in defeat in the middle of the floor, her eyes watering while she sniffs loudly. "It's no- *hic* not fair! I liked... I liked him *hic* t-too!"

You can't help but feel a pang of guilt in your chest. Rainbow Dash really did have quite the crush on you, and it was obvious that when you and Applejack officially announced that you were dating last year the rainbow mare tried her best to put aside her own feelings of jealousy and depression. You of all ponies knew how she felt; to love somepony while they may not love you back. At least in your case Applejack finally admitted to having feelings for you too, but Rainbow Dash didn't have the same luck.

Still acting more like a spoiled filly than a grown mare, Rainbow stomped a hoof on the ground. "And he... *hic* he was m-my first. I di- *hic* didn't wanna give t... that to *hic* just any... anypony."

Applejack touched her lower stomach, remembering how you were her first as well. All hints of her competitive spirit were gone, now replaced with the urge to calm her depressed friend. "Aw, c'mon Rainbow Dash, there are plenty o'stallions out there that ya'll would be happy with." she said.

"Nu-nuh uh, no wa- *hic* way!" Dash replied. "Sides, I *hic* I... I bet if I had m-met him not *hic* second he woulda chosen me"

You face-hoof yourself as Dash's comment rekindled Applejack's competitiveness, both mares staring each other down. Seeing things were going to be going south very quickly, you decide to follow Big Mac's lead and retreat to Applejack's room. Nothing good can come from you hanging around the two drunk mares, not to mention you're wiped out from working the fields all day and partying so late. Thankfully neither mare notices you leaving the room and headed upstairs, and once you reach Applejack's room you quickly jump into bed and yawn as sleep quickly begins to envelope you. As you shut your eyes and start to fall asleep you retain no worries about Applejack and Rainbow Dash still drunkenly arguing. This isn't the first time they've gotten in some pointless drunken 'contest' and they always made up the next morning, IF they even remembered anything about the night before. The last thing you think before you fall asleep is an innocent one;

'AJ and Rainbow Dash will be fine. What's the worst that could happen?'