Wet Feathers

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

Chapter 1

Applejack tapped her hoof on the ground impatiently. It was an ordinary day in Ponyville, and she was tending the apple cart at the market. She tried to keep her mind on her work, but customers, or, rather, lack of customers, weren't helping any. Everypony was probably waiting for lunchtime to line up all at once, AJ figured. So all there was to do now was think of the letter that she expected in the mail that evening.

Every week, that letter came from Rainbow Dash, it was one of the promises they made when she left. Since Dash was done with her training, the postmarks were from all over the world, and the stories were about faraway places. The last letter had been from Applewood, talking about the beaches and movie stars and big, wild parties. While AJ loved getting letters from her marefriend, the ones like that worried her.

She'd always been unsure about this part of their relationship. A long distance relationship was going to be hard, and was likely to be even harder when a pony was going to new places and doing different things and getting all of the attention that Dash was, as the latest addition to the Wonderbolts.

Applejack always figured that famous ponies were different from regular ponies, who spent their days in the same old place with the same old friends, and lived a quiet life. She fell in love with Dash when the pegasus was a part of that life too, and one of Dash's other promises was that she'd come back to it in a few years. But the question weighed on AJ's heart, would Dash want to keep that promise?

So AJ hoped that this next letter would be more normal. Stories of practices and silly little things, not glamour and excitement and stuff that might turn Dash's head away from the life they'd talked about.

She was so lost in these thoughts that she was surprised to hear somepony address her.

“Applejack? Have you been by the newsstand?” Twilight walked up to her, looking a little nervous.

“Nah, I usually take a look after lunchtime. Why?”

“Um. . . Well, you see. . .” Twilight blushed and searched for the words. “How about if I watch your cart and you see for yourself?”

Applejack raised an eyebrow at Twilight, but her friend just kept the same nervous smile on her face and glanced around. It was obvious that whatever was going on, Twilight didn't want to be the bearer of bad news.

“Well. . . alright. . .” Applejack said, nodding. She walked over to the newsstand, leaving Twilight to tend to the non-existent customers.

The first thing AJ looked at was the local paper, expecting to see news about new taxes or fruit stand regulations, something that might trouble her. But the headline was just about the new addition to town hall, nothing that she had to worry about. She looked up to see if there was something else Twilight might have been talking about in the magazines or Canterlot papers.

It only took her a second to notice, it certainly drew the eye. The cover of Flyers Illustrated: Wet Feathers Edition showed the back of a beautiful blue pegasus mare flying out of the ocean, wings spread, her wet rainbow mane and tail dripping trails of water down the glistening curves of her muscled body.

Rookie Wonderbolt Rainbow Dash Takes Off, the cover advertised.

Applejack's first thought was that she needed a few minutes alone with that magazine. Her second thought shoved that out of her mind, angrily insisting that that was her pegasus, and she should not be plastered all over a gosh darn magazine for anypony in Equestria to look at like that.

As if on cue, she heard a familiar voice behind her. “Hey Applejack! What's- woah.”

Scootaloo had shoved up next to her. Scootaloo wasn't a full grown pony yet, but she was no longer the chubby cheeked filly Applejack always thought of her as. That was more than apparent from the young pony's stiffly outstretched wings and wide eyed, blushing stare as she caught sight of the cover.

Applejack glared at her, but Scootaloo didn't seem to notice anything but the picture.

“Dash is looking. . . um. . . good,” she squeaked.

“Yeah, she is,” AJ growled slightly.

Scootaloo noticed her then, and blushed harder as she forced her wings down. “I, um, just came to get a magazine.” She turned to the pony behind the stand and laid down some bits. “Flyers Illustrated, please.” Then she turned back to AJ. “I, uh, read it every month, ya' know. The articles, I mean. This one just happens to be the Wet Feathers Edition, but there are still, uh, words and stuff.”

Applejack was still frowning as she raised an eyebrow at the filly. The pony behind the stand handed Scoot the magazine, and Scoot hovered in the air as she opened it.

“Like, this article here about- unh!” The young pegasus whimpered helplessly as she looked at the page. She dropped from the air as her wings stiffened again.

Applejack looked down and caught sight of a picture of Dash crouched in the sand, grinning over her shoulder, her tail carefully positioned to just barely keep the picture decent. There were words on the page, but if Scootaloo ever managed to read them, AJ would eat her hat.

Scootaloo quickly closed the magazine and put it in her saddle bag. “I gotta- great seeing- um, say hi to Dash for me!” she babbled, then took off flying without waiting for AJ to respond.

Applejack took a deep breath and turned back to the pony behind the counter. “Just how many of these have ya’ sold so far?”

“At least fifty. Hometown pony and all.”

So there were already fifty ponies here in town looking at Dash like that. AJ briefly considered buying the rest of the copies, but she knew that would be expensive, and they'd just order more, and there were hundreds of thousands of copies all over Equestria anyway.

She sighed and put down her bits, taking the magazine from the pony behind the stand and carrying it back to her cart. Twilight was waiting for her, and Applejack tossed the magazine down a little forcefully next to the cash box, out of sight. “Thanks, Twilight. You can head out now if ya' want.”

Twilight blushed a little. “I'm sorry, Applejack. I hated to tell you. She does look really pretty.”

Applejack shot her a look, then her face softened. “It ain't your fault. But I'm waitin’ for a letter today, and there'd better be a darn good explanation for all this.”

***

As soon as Applejack got the apple cart put away that evening, she raced to the mailbox. Sure enough, a letter waited inside. She'd never been so desperate to read one of Dash's letters, but still she made herself wait until she got back to the house and closed herself in her room.

She laid the letter on the bed and looked at it for a moment. Then she pulled off her hat, pulled out the magazine, and laid it next to the letter. She looked at them both, and muttered, “Okay, Dash. Get to explainin'.”

Putting her hoof on the letter, she carefully ripped off one end of the envelope then shook out the contents. She unfolded the paper inside and smoothed it on the bed.

“Dear AJ,

Our choreographer is evil. Seriously, he's sent straight from Tartarus. Every feather on my wings hurts from trying to learn this new routine, and feathers can't even hurt! Soarin' and I totally agree that the routine is impossible, but Spitfire can do it so she's kind of proving us wrong.

So did you see the magazine yet? Front cover! Yeah, I'm hot. The photo shoot was a blast. The photographer said I was the best mare he'd ever worked with, a total natural. And the make-up ponies couldn't believe my mane is real. They're saying I should do a calendar, but I don't have time to shoot that until at least August. Wouldn't that be cool, though? Ponies all over the world looking at me every day of the year!

I'm in Manehattan now, and I totally freaked out because the other day I found a store that sold your apples. Spitfire and Fleetfoot were making fun of me because I bought as many as I could carry. I told them they were the best apples in Equestria, but they claimed they were just apples!!! So I bought some other apple (just one) and made them do a taste test. Guess who was right? Me, of course. I told them they better believe I know what apples taste like. Mmmmm.

Ha! I know that made you blush. You're so cute when you blush. I don't have any pictures of you blushing, and I wish I did. I know you hate it, but I might have to figure out a way to get a picture of it someday. Maybe I'll get Pinkie to help. You'll never suspect it, and then I'll be able to look at you blushing whenever I want.

Nah. It wouldn't be the same without you here. I miss you, AJ.

Anyway, got to fly.

Love,
Dash”

Applejack's face was red, but it wasn't from embarrassment. The photo shoot was fun, huh? Dash wanted to do a calendar? To have ponies looking at her every day of the year?!

Anger rose inside of her, and Applejack mentally started preparing a good talking to for Dash. Some things ought to be private, just between them. That made them special, it made AJ her marefriend, not just another pony in the world who thought Rainbow Dash was sexy. Any pony with an ounce of common sense could see that she should at least have checked with her marefriend before showing that sort of thing to all of Equestria!

She cut her thoughts off with a sigh. She wasn't going to get to give Dash that lecture. She could write it, and wait a week for an apology from Dash, but that seemed so harsh after Dash's letter. Dash really and truly didn't see anything wrong with it. She was a famous pony, and famous ponies did things like this. Applejack wasn't a famous pony, she never wanted to be a famous pony. And she never really wanted a marefriend who was a famous pony, either. She just wanted a marefriend who was Rainbow Dash.

Applejack would never forget the day. She and Apple Bloom had been in the orchard bucking apples. Apple Bloom still took a few kicks to get all the apples from a tree, but she could do the work. The sisters were working hard, side by side, when the silence was shattered by a sound louder than thunder, and a shockwave of rainbow colors shooting across the skies above the orchard and Ponyville.

“That your pegasus up there, sis?” Apple Bloom asked with a teasing grin, obviously knowing the answer.

AJ knew that it was. And after a moment’s thought, she knew why Dash was causing all that pretty ruckus without warning. And she answered, “That's my Wonderbolt up there.”

And she knew that the day Dash's life changed, her own life changed, too.

Now the magazine on the bed taunted AJ with Dash's gorgeous body, that she'd held pressed against her own not so long ago. Was that still her Wonderbolt? Or was she everypony's now?

Applejack flipped over the magazine. She was clearly making a big deal out of nothing. Dash would sure think so. So her undeniably vain marefriend got some pictures taken, and was proud when ponies thought she looked sexy. AJ always knew that Dash needed attention like trees needed sunlight, and now she had all she could want. AJ felt like she should have been happy for Dash.

But as she glanced at the paper at her desk, waiting for a letter to be written on it, she had no idea how to do that.

***

Stuck with market duty again the next day, Applejack puzzled over her letter to Dash. She just didn't know how she felt, or how she should feel, so how could she write it to Dash? All AJ knew was that she wasn't happy, that she wanted Dash here with her, like it was before.

She waved at Lucky as he walked up to the cart, almost glad to have something to distract her. The gray stallion laid down his bits, and asked for three apples. Applejack turned to get them for him, when he spoke again.

“Hey, I saw Rainbow Dash in Flyers Illustrated. You're one lucky mare, let me tell you. The one where she's on her back, with her tail between her hind legs. . . wow, huh?”

“Yeah, real lucky.” Applejack sighed as she put the apples in Lucky's bag. When she finished, she raised an eyebrow at the stallion. “Say, what the hay are you doin' readin' a magazine 'bout flyin'? You're an earth pony.”

“You're kidding, right?” he asked, then he chuckled nervously. “Applejack, nopony reads the Wet Feathers Edition. Every stallion has a copy. I bet even Mac keeps one stashed somewhere.”

Applejack's eyes went wide. There was a chance that her brother had seen that magazine, and seen Dash in those poses. Applejack refused to let her mind go any further.

Lucky didn't get the message. “I mean, um, I’m sure he didn't get this year's, 'cause it's your marefriend, and even if that's really, really hot, Mac wouldn't want to-”

“Lucky!” Applejack cut him off sharply. It was taking every ounce of her self-control not to land a hoof across his face.

“Yeah?” Lucky cringed back.

“Shut up and take your apples,” Applejack said slowly, through gritted teeth.

“Right. I was just. . . right.”

Once he was out of sight, Applejack rested her head against the side of her cart. That was one of the most disgusting, humiliating conversations she'd ever had. She had to get this straightened out with Dash.

Applejack quickly closed the stall and walked to the library. She might not know what to say to Dash, but she was sure Twilight could help her figure it out. AJ admired Twilight's steady, analytical approach to problems, and she knew that was just what she needed.

A short walk later, she found that Twilight was at home, and seemed happy to see her as Applejack walked into the library.

“Hi, Applejack. I was just getting ready for a break,” Twilight said, setting down the quill she held in levitation.

“Well, I'm glad,” Applejack said, frowning. “'Cause I need to have a word with ya'. 'Bout Dash.”

“Is it about the magazine? What did she say in her letter?”

Applejack sighed. “Just that it was fun, and she's thinkin' of doin' a calendar.”

“Oh. I'm sorry.” Twilight magically pulled two sitting pillows to the center of the room. She sat on one, and motioned for Applejack to have a seat on the other.

“I know ya' are,” Applejack said as she sat. “'Cause you can think that somethin' like this might worry me. You came and told me soon as ya' saw the magazine, I saw ya' were scared of how I'd take it. Dash, though, she writes me that it was a blast, and all the folks takin' the pictures loved her,” Applejack huffed.

“I know, AJ. But, it's Dash. You know she doesn't always think things through.” Twilight paused. “Actually, she never thinks things through.”

“You can say that again,” Applejack grumbled. Then she sighed. “I'm makin' too big a deal outta this, ain't I? Dash didn't mean no harm. Just, I know ponies everywhere are thinkin' bout my marefriend, and. . . and I guess I ain't all the way sure my marefriend is thinkin' bout me.”

“What do you mean?”

Applejack hesitated. What did she mean? “I. . . I dunno, Twilight. I mean, ya' read stuff ‘bout famous ponies havin' wild parties and leavin' their wives and husbands and cheatin' on each other. Her letter, the rest of it, was all 'bout how much she loves me. But now there's a whole world fulla ponies who know just how hot she is, and. . . Dash don't think things through.”

“But she loves you, AJ,” Twilight said, comfortingly. “She told you so.”

Applejack looked down, avoiding Twilight’s eyes. “I know she does. I feel bad, thinkin' like this. But. . . I been thinkin' like this for a long time. Since before she went away, really. I never been sure we'd last through this, then somethin' like this comes up, and it hit me hard.”

“Did you ever tell Dash about your doubts?”

“Not really. I tried to be happy 'bout the whole thing. I didn't really wanna worry her, she was so happy 'bout bein' a Wonderbolt.”

“Maybe you should, when you write her back,” Twilight suggested, laying a hoof on Applejack’s shoulder. “Dash can be thoughtless, but if she knows you're sensitive about it, it might make her think twice.”

Applejack looked up at her friend, hopefully. “You really think that might fix it?”

Twilight shrugged a little. “Well, that's what's at the heart of this. Stop worrying about the pictures, and other ponies who might see them, but make sure Dash knows how worried you are about her and your relationship. Make sure you let her know what’s important to you.”

“I reckon you're right.” Applejack nodded.

Twilight smiled. “You and Dash love each other. I know this is hard, but I know you can make it work.”

Twilight’s words did make Applejack feel better, and she returned to her apple cart with some hope. She didn’t have to try to explain what she was feeling, just why she felt this way. And that was something she knew.

***

Later that night, Applejack stared at the paper on her desk. She knew what she had to say, but figuring out how to say it was proving more difficult.

She'd always tried to avoid troubling Dash with her doubts and fears. On the day of Dash's going away party, Pinkie had cried buckets, but Applejack never shed a tear that she let her marefriend see.

Dash had walked her home, her wing wrapped tightly around Applejack. She even smiled and said, “I'm glad somepony's not acting like I'm leaving you guys forever.”

And Applejack gave her a nuzzle, and told her, “It ain't right to be sad tonight. Your dream's come true. That's all I've ever wanted for ya', sugarcube.”

Then Dash pulled her into a kiss, and when she pulled away, she was grinning. “That’s why I love you, AJ. You really get me. I mean, I'm gonna miss you, and you're gonna miss me, but this is just too awesome!”

“It really is. You're gonna write me, ain't ya'?”

“Once a week. I promise.”

“And. . . ya' ain't leavin' me forever?”

“I'll be back whenever I can. And I'll be back for good, in a few years. I promise.”

“You're makin' a lotta promises, Dash.”

“And I'm keeping them all! And I have one more. I promise I'll always love you.”

“I promise I'll always love you too, Rainbow Dash.”

That was months ago, and it seemed like even longer than that. It felt like years since Dash had left. The promises still stood, as far as AJ knew. Dash did write every single week, no matter how busy she was. And Dash had been back for a few visits, when she was nearby or got a few days off. And every letter sent her love.

But now, AJ was thinking about the promises she would have asked from Dash, if she’d be able to let her know how worried she really was. What AJ really wanted was a promise that Dash would remember who she was. A promise that she’d remember what was good in life, what she was coming back to. A promise that Dash wouldn’t let her new life change her.

Applejack took the pencil in her mouth, and tried to put her worries to paper, hoping she could make Dash understand.

Dear Rainbow Dash,

I saw the pictures. They were something alright.

Sugarcube, I got to talk to you. I love you. And I'm so proud of you for getting your dream, I know how hard you worked, and I know you deserve all the fame and fortune that comes along with it. I couldn't ever ask you to give that up for me, you need it all like I need my farm.

But, it scares me, Dash. Things like these pictures, they scare me. Because, how can you go to all those places, and do all those things, and have all of those ponies looking at you like that, and still come back to Ponyville someday? How can you have so many ponies thinking you're sexy, and still just be mine? I got a simple life here, one I thought you were coming back to one day. Pictures like these don't say that, and it's all I want to hear right now.

I know you love me, and I know you promised to come back, and I know you think those pictures were nothing. I understand all that. But, could you understand how much it's going to bother me, and maybe give me a heads up? Or better yet, talk to me before you make a decision. Then maybe I won't feel so much like you're flying away from me.

And please, don't you ever fly away from me.

Love,
AJ

Applejack stared at the letter and sighed. It would be too long before she heard back from Dash. They needed a conversation, where she could watch Dash’s face for signs of confusion and explain herself better. But she had the chance for that, before Dash left, and she blew it. Now she only had this, a shot in the dark, hoping it would hit home with Dash.

Applejack folded the paper, slipped it into an envelope, and took the letter down to the mailbox. She sent her pleas on their way with a resigned sigh.

Chapter 2

As the week wound by, Applejack’s thoughts were never far from the letter she sent, or the one she would be getting. She was well aware that she was distracted, which only annoyed her more. She never liked to let personal issues get in the way of things, but she couldn’t deny that her worries and hopes and fears were doing just that.

She left a whole row of bushels out overnight one night. Just plumb forgot to take them to the barn. There was no harm done, of course, Mac helped her finish it up the next morning, but that was no way to do a job. And she had gone to the spa with the girls, and had long conversations with Rarity and Twilight, but she couldn’t for the life of her remember what they had talked about. She knew this wasn’t her, she was a careful worker and a dependable friend. But she knew she wasn’t right now, and wouldn’t be again until things were settled with Dash.

The next Friday, it was all AJ could do not to wait by the mailbox all day. It was Mac’s day at the market, so she made herself do some pruning in the orchards towards the rear of the farm. Otherwise she was sure that no work would get done that day.

When it finally came time to finish up, Applejack double and triple checked to make sure she’d got everything cleaned up. It annoyed her to have to do it, but she knew how her mind had wandered all day. When she’d made sure all the rows were raked, and the tools were put away, and she hadn’t missed any trees in her work, then and only then did she allow herself to walk down to the mailbox.

There was a letter waiting for her. She could feel her heart beating as she wondered what was inside, but once again she forced herself to take it upstairs to her room so she could read it in peace. This time it was just her and the letter, the magazine being hidden safely under her mattress. She glanced at the framed photo of Dash that sat on her nightstand, then she turned that face down. That photo was about what they used to have. This letter was what they had now.

She carefully opened the letter, and read:

“Dear AJ,

Sheesh, what got into you? That shoot was just publicity, whenever there's a hot young mare on the team, she does the Wet Feathers Edition. I used to have that poster of Spitfire's cover, remember? I didn't mention it because it was no big deal. And where are you getting this idea that I'm flying away from you? I write you a letter every single week. I'd write you every day, but that would get kind of boring. Most of them would be:

Dear AJ, Woke up. Practiced. Hid Fleetfoot's flight goggles. Got chewed out for hiding Fleetfoot's flight goggles. Performed. Missed you. Went to bed. Love, Dash.

So yeah, once a week gives me time to come up with something to actually say. Sorry if it's not enough for you.

Look, I love you. I really don't want to fight. I promised you I'd write once a week, and I do. I promised you I'd come back to Ponyville in a few years, and I will. I'm doing everything I promised, and I don't want to hurt you. If other ponies looking at me is going to bug you, I don't know what to do. I'm hot and I'm famous. It's going to happen.

Wait, I have an idea. That photographer wanted to do a shoot in August, right? What if we do it together. We can show Equestria that I don't need other ponies when I have the hottest marefriend around. We can even do it in Ponyville, at Sweet Apple Acres, so I can spend some time with you and the girls.

I’ll talk to the PR ponies tomorrow and see what we can do. Oh gosh, I can’t even tell you how awesome it would be to have you with me on a shoot.

Gotta fly.

Love,
Dash”

Applejack felt tears in her eyes, and tried to fight them back, but the tension was too much. It wasn’t just the tears. Her whole body felt like she was going to explode,

“AARGH!” she yelled as she turned and bucked her bedroom wall. It relieved the tension some, but it let the tears loose as well, and as she opened her mouth to yell again only a sob came out.

A whole week of Tartarus, for that letter. To find out that Dash didn’t understand, or didn’t care. Applejack had poured her heart out, trying to make Dash understand that this was hurting her, and Dash’s letter was nothing but a shrug, and what do you want me to do about it? And the pictures. . . that was just salt in the wound, proof that Dash had no clue what Applejack was feeling, proof that Dash thought like a famous pony. Who wouldn’t want to get hussied up and take pictures so other ponies could see them and think Celestia knew what?

She glared at the letter, wanting nothing more than to tell Dash all the things she was thinking right now. She wasn’t sure she could even hold a pencil without biting it in half, but she mentally composed the letter anyway,

Dear Dash,

I’m gonna buck you in your fool head! I’m your marefriend, and you can’t read my letter and think for a minute that I’m scared and hurtin’ without ya’, and maybe you oughta say somethin’ to make me feel better? You can’t think that some ponies might not like lookin’ like a slut in front of all Equestria? ‘Course not, all that matters is your dumb flyin, and dumb team and dumb magazine! Well y’all can go to Tartarus! I hate-

Her thoughts cut off. She couldn’t even think the words. No matter how angry she was, they were a lie. What came to mind next wasn’t so much a letter as a prayer.

I love you. I love ya’ so much. Please come back, Dash. Please come back and hold me, and tell me everythin’s fine, and tease me ‘til I smile again. Celestia help me, why’d I haveta go and love you? I’m the fool here, for feelin’ like this.

There was a knock at her door, and Applejack quickly wiped her tears away. “Come in.”

Mac opened the door, looking concerned. “You okay?”

Applejack caught her breath for a moment, so she was sure she wouldn’t sob. “Fine. Just fine.”

With a look at her tear-stained face and the wall of her bedroom, Mac made it clear that she wasn’t fooling him. She glanced at the wall herself and saw that the chair-rail separating the wood panels from the plaster on top was broken to splinters where her hooves had landed.

“I’ll fix it,” she said, feeling like a fool for doing so much damage over a letter.

Mac just nodded. “Wanna talk?”

“It won’t do any good, Mac.” Applejack sighed. “There’s only one pony I need to talk to, and I can’t.”

“I understand, sis’.” He glanced at where the picture on her nightstand was turned down. “It’s hard.”

“Ya’ know, ponies keep tellin’ me that. And y’all just don’t know hard it is.” She shook her head. “And it’s gonna go on for years like this, and there’s nothin’ I can do.”

“Maybe it’ll get better,” Mac suggested gently.

“I sure hope so. I dunno how much more of this I can take.” Applejack took a few deep breaths and tried to clear her head. “I gotta get washed up for supper.”

Mac nodded, and turned to head downstairs. Applejack started to follow, but paused. She glanced back at the turned down picture, and considered righting it. But instead she just left it as it was and went to go wash her face.

***

For the next two days, Applejack tried to figure out her letter to Dash. The one she thought of before, in the heat of anger, just wouldn’t do. She was a sensible pony, and thinking about it with a clear mind, she’d known how hard it would be to make Dash understand with nothing but a letter. This was her fault, at least in part, for not being open about her feelings before Dash left.

But she had to send a letter soon, or Dash wouldn’t get it in time to respond. They needed that dependability; if there was nothing else they could depend on in their relationship, they needed to know those letters would be there. But AJ just didn’t know what to write.

Maybe that’s what she should write. That she didn’t know how to respond, and she needed time to work it out. Would Dash understand that? Would she understand how hurt and angry Applejack was, and maybe take another look at the previous letter and try to figure out what she’d done wrong? Or would she shrug and go on like normal, writing AJ a letter full of exciting things she did and plans she was making for that humiliating photoshoot?

Applejack thought bitterly that she’d lay bits on that last one. And she knew she couldn’t take it. Her heart was hanging by a thread right now, and she just needed something, anything, to make her feel close to Dash again.

It was her day at market again, and she was minding the cart as she considered her options. There were wishes; a run through the Whitetail Woods with Dash, a late night in the orchard, looking at the stars. Those were impossible. There were crazy ideas, like finding out where Dash was performing next and taking a train, surprising her with a visit, but Applejack’s practical mind put a stop to those. Spending all of that time and money when she didn’t even know if Dash would have an hour to spend with her, Applejack just wasn’t the kind of pony to do something like that.

Roseluck ran by to join the gossiping ponies at the flower stalls, but Applejack ignored her and moved a few apples around to make the stacks look neater. A letter was the only answer. And it had to be a letter that would make Rainbow Dash take notice. She’d tried to do it before, but this time she had to get it right. Maybe she’d ask Twilight to help her, or Rarity. Somepony who knew more words for feelings, so that even if Dash had to get out a dictionary to figure it out, she’d understand exactly how Applejack felt.

“Applejack?” a pony asked, cautiously, interrupting her thoughts.

AJ blinked, and found herself face to face with Daisy. “Hey. How are ya’ today?”

Daisy glanced back at the other girls, then smiled nervously at Applejack. “We were wondering if it’s true. . . about you and Rainbow Dash?”

That set Applejack’s thought racing. But she calmed herself enough to ask, “What about me an’ Rainbow Dash?”

“Um, nothing! Nothing at all!” Daisy said, her eyes wide.

At this point, Applejack was thoroughly not in the mood for games of any sort. She narrowed her eyes. “Daisy. . .”

“I mean, it must not be true,” Daisy stammered. “The article. Because I’m sure Rainbow Dash wouldn’t do something like that.”

“Like. What?” Applejack growled.

“Um, well, uh. . .”

Daisy pulled a newspaper out of her saddlebag, and thrust it into Applejack’s hooves, then darted back to the safety of the flower stands before Applejack could blink.

Applejack glanced down at the paper, a well known gossip rag, scanning it until she saw a slightly blurry picture of Rainbow Dash in her uniform, laughing and toasting with a fancy looking gray unicorn stallion. The headline underneath read:

Silver Screen’s Newest Girl
Applewood Playboy Falls for Star Flyer

Her heart stopped for a second as she stared at the paper. Lies. It was lies and she knew it. Papers like this. . .

A tear fell on the page, and Applejack quickly brought a hoof to her eyes and bit her lip, swallowing hard. She could not cry here, in the middle of the street. The girls at the flower stands were staring at her from a very safe distance. Just watching her, like she was a character in a movie. Like she wasn’t real, and Dash wasn’t real, and her heart wasn’t really breaking. That was what ponies did with famous ponies, after all, they watched them while their lives fell apart, and they talked to their friends about it.

The tears were threatening to push through, to make way for the pain that seemed to be trying to burst out of her heart. She couldn’t breathe, she knew she would sob. She had to get someplace safe, and fast. So she tucked the paper under one leg, and used the other three to gallop full speed for the nearest pony she could trust.

A few seconds later she burst through the door of the Carousel Boutique, slamming it behind her.

Rarity appeared in the doorway of the shop room, her eyes full of concern as soon as she saw Applejack. “Darling, what’s wrong?”

That was the last straw. She fell to all four knees as tears came, and she thought they’d never stop. She finally dropped the paper as Rarity rushed to her side and wrapped a leg around her.

“Applejack! Oh dear, what is it?”

Applejack didn’t answer and didn’t particularly want to answer. She heard the rustle of paper as Rarity picked it up in her magic.

“Oh, my! Darling, you know that this isn’t true! Rainbow Dash would never do something like this, and these tabloids are nothing but lies. Don’t fret. I know it’s shocking, but-”

“I-it ain’t that. It ain’t just that. I can’t do it. I can’t date a famous pony, and I can’t make Dash see how I feel, and I need her here but she ain’t here when I need her. It hurts so bad, and I just can’t take it!” Applejack knew she was rambling, she wasn’t sure she’d made any sense, but just saying it lightened the load.

“Shhh, there, there.” Rarity nuzzled her. “You’ve just had a cruel joke played on you. Applejack, dear, Rainbow is your marefriend, and very dear friend, not to mention the element of loyalty. There is absolutely no way that this is true.”

“Don’t matter.” Applejack sniffed, finally feeling like she could control her tears. She wiped her eyes and sighed. “I know it ain’t true. But things are bad, Rarity. Well, things are bad for me, and I tried to tell Dash in my last letter. I just couldn’t make ‘er see it. . . a letter just ain’t enough, but it’s all I got.”

“Perhaps she can come home for a visit?” Rarity suggested.

“Ha,” Applejack gave a bitter laugh, thinking about the last letter from Dash. “She wants to come back in August, and. . .”

“And what?” Rarity prompted, but Applejack wasn’t about to reveal Dash’s crazy idea, in case Rarity thought Applejack had considered it for even a second. Besides, it didn’t matter now.

Applejack took a deep breath and shook her head. “It’s over. It ain’t gonna work. I love her too much, and everythin’ ‘bout this hurts.”

Rarity gasped, eyes wide. “You can’t mean that! Just give it a few days, darling. Things may look bleak right now, but you really ought to clear your head before you make any snap judgements.”

“A few days ain’t gonna matter, Rarity,” Applejack said plainly.” A few letters ain’t gonna do nothin’. Maybe if I’d said somethin’ from the start, if I’d got the right promises. . . but I was a fool. There’s nothin’ for it, I’m gettin’ what a pony gets for bein’ a fool. Only thing I can do now is cut my losses.” As much as her heart was breaking, it was a slight comfort to have a course of action. An empty calm settled over her. The decision was made, and the path was set.

“I have an idea. Why don’t you stay here tonight?” Rarity offered. “I can send Sweetie to tell your family, and I can invite Twilight and Fluttershy and Pinkie. You shouldn’t be alone tonight in this wretched mood.”

“I can’t tonight, Rarity. I got a letter to write,” Applejack said, rubbing her face with her hoof, trying to make sure there was no trace of her breakdown.

“Applejack,” Rarity said sternly. Applejack looked at her. Rarity had dropped all pretenses and looked Applejack squarely in the eye. “This is a very bad idea.”

“Sometimes a bad idea’s all ya’ got left,” Applejack answered, turning and leaving the boutique.

She was in a daze as she made her way back to the apple cart and closed it up. She didn’t look at anypony, she didn’t speak to anypony. She wasn’t in danger of crying. She couldn’t feel anything but cold determination. She knew that was just a wall holding back the river of pain waiting to wash over her, but it was a good strong wall, and it would hold at least until she had done what she needed to do.

That same determination let her put one hoof in front of the other, all the way home. It pushed back any memories, any feelings, good or bad. They didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but getting to her room to write the letter.

At home she unhooked her cart and got it put away, then went upstairs to her room. The paper and pencil was still laid out on her desk where she left it that morning, when she was trying to think of some way to pull Dash back to her. Now Applejack sat down, put the pencil to the paper, and let her go.

Dear Rainbow Dash,

We knew it was a longshot. We knew from the start you’d be leaving, and I’d be staying. But we’re both cocky, stubborn ponies, we thought we’d make it.

We ain’t going to.

I guess I’m going to have to give first. I can’t take it anymore. I’m scared, Dash. I’m scared you changed. You’re a famous pony now, and ponies around here talk about you like you’re a famous pony, and you write letters like you’re a famous pony. And I never wanted to be with a famous pony. I just fell in love with you, my best friend, the strongest, most beautiful mare I could find.

But like I said, you’re famous these days. I talk to other ponies about you more than I talk to you. I talk to them about how sexy you are, and if you started running around with some Applewood star. . . those ain’t things I want to be talking to other ponies about. Those are things between you and me.

I ought to laugh it off like you do, but I can’t. Not while I’m getting letters about how much you liked posing sexy, and how you want me to do that with you. I wonder if you even remember what it’s like, being a normal pony. I wonder if you know how that sounds, to say that to your marefriend.

This is my mistake, sugarcube. I thought I could take it, I thought I could be tough enough. I guess my heart ain’t as tough as the rest of me. I’m sorry for hurting you, and I’m sorry for all that I should have said.

I’m sorry. I guess that’s the long and short of it.

Your friend,
Applejack

And that was it. That was all she had to say. Applejack put the letter in an envelope, and took it to the mailbox, and that was the last she saw it.

Chapter 3

As Applejack passed the next day with farm work and chores, the wall of determination started to crack. Once again there was nothing left to do but think, and the feelings that seeped in tore at her already tender heart. Every hope and dream she had for the future included Rainbow Dash. Most of her happy memories included Dash, too. In some thoughts it was a huge, gaping hole, and in some it was just the nagging feeling of some missing detail, but none of her thoughts felt right. And as soon as she remembered why, the pain returned.

She bucked a few rows of trees, no longer looking forward to a few years from now, when Dash would come home to stay, or a few months until her next vacation, or even Friday. There might be a letter Friday, but it wasn’t one to look forward to. Thoughts of cider season or Hearth’s Warming were clouded, knowing that even if Dash wanted to see her by then, things would be awkward. She knew that new dreams would come along someday, but until then the future felt like a blank calendar, page after page of nothing but uncertainty.

The past was worse than that, every beautiful memory turned into a weapon against her. Too many fun parties, or joyful runs, or nights under the stars came back to her painfully. So many times she had done little day-to-day things with her pegasus there, smiling in the background. The greatest victories of her life, Rainbow Dash stood next to her. Even getting her cutie mark was tied to her now ex-marefriend, and Applejack wondered if she’d ever see another rainbow that wasn’t bittersweet.

One memory came back again and again as she worked that day, the first time Dash had said she loved her. It wasn’t exactly romantic. In a way it made her feel justified. But it nagged her more than the others, maybe because it reminded her that when things were different there had been a chance for them.

They’d been dating a few months, and were walking home from a party. It was dark out, but a full moon lit the path. Applejack had been getting slightly uncomfortable, they kissed and went on dates, and had a great time, but she wasn’t sure exactly where they stood.

So that night, at the gate to Sweet Apple Acres, she turned to Rainbow Dash and said, “Dash, I love ya’.”

Applejack stared at Dash, daring her to hesitate. Which she didn’t. She just said, “I know,” and kept walking.

Applejack grabbed Dash’s tail in her teeth and tugged her back. Dash landed on her rear, looking confused.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Applejack challenged.

“What? I just meant, of course you love me.” Dash rolled her eyes. “That’s why we’re dating, AJ.”

“Do you love me?” Applejack asked, almost as confused as Dash now. The pegasus seemed to be oblivious to how a relationship was supposed to go.

“Yeah! I’ve said it, like, a million times.” Dash claimed, but Applejack was absolutely sure that wasn’t true.

Applejack narrowed her eyes. “Name one.”

“I mean, I must have.” Dash stammered. “I brought you those flowers. . .”

“Never said it. ‘Sides you ate most of those.” Applejack smirked.

“They were good! But- but- I said it when you had your mane down last week! I totally said it then!” Dash looked to Applejack for agreement.

She just shook her head. “Nope.”

“I did-” Dash started to argue, then her face fell. “Oh. Yeah. I remember now, I thought it would sound sappy. It was when I wanted to say how pretty you looked.”

Applejack smiled. “You thought I looked pretty?”

Dash’s eyes went wide. “In a totally cool way! Not, like, I thought your mane looked really soft, and your eyes looked all sparkly in the sun. . . ‘Cause that would be lame. Heh.”

Applejack just chuckled. “Ya’ know, Dash, you can tell me this stuff. I ain’t gonna go spreadin’ it around.”

Dash eyed her suspiciously. “Promise?”

“Yup.” Applejack nodded.

“Uh, okay. . .” Dash looked down and rubbed the back of her neck with her hoof. “Well. . . I guess I love you. And you’re pretty. And stuff.”

Applejack kissed Dash on the lips. “I love ya’ too.”

Dash grinned. “That’s kind of cool. Does it always work like that?” she said, and she wrapped her wing around AJ as they finished the walk to the farmhouse. After that night, Dash had said she loved AJ countless times.

And now she wouldn’t, ever again. That was gone.

Applejack hauled a load of apples to the barn, feeling the pain at that fact overwhelm any common sense. If they’d had that conversation by letters, it would’ve taken Dash years to say she loved her. That was why this couldn’t work. They’d been doomed from the start, they just hadn’t realized it.

She knew all of that, but. . . Rainbow Dash would never say she loved her again.

In the barn, she unloaded her apples from the cart into barrels, and put the lids on tight. She was just finishing the last one when she heard a soft sound from the door of the barn.

“Um. . .”

“Hey, Fluttershy.” Applejack said, giving the top of the barrel a good thump, then turning to look at her friend. Fluttershy was looking at her from behind her mane, even more concerned than usual.

“Hello, Applejack. I. . . um. .. thought you might want to talk to somepony today. Unless you don’t.”

Applejack sighed. “Ya’ talked to Rarity?”

“Yes. . .” Fluttershy admitted. “She said, well, that you might. . . need a friend.”

“I did it,” Applejack said, feeling a lump in her throat. “I sent Dash a letter.”

“I’m sorry,” was all Fluttershy said as she gently walked over to Applejack and gave her a nuzzle.

“I am too. I never meant to hurt her.” Applejack looked down at the floor of the barn, not sure what else to say.

“Applejack,” Fluttershy said softly. “Sometimes these things, well. . . they just don’t work out. If that’s what happened, it’s nopony’s fault. You feel bad, and Rainbow Dash will feel bad, but your friends still love both of you.”

“I know y’all will. And I love y’all. Even. . .” Applejack swallowed and cringed a little.

Fluttershy nodded, biting her lip.

Applejack went on, “I had’ta do it, Fluttershy. I was hurtin’, and I was just gonna go on hurtin’. This way. . . it hurts now, but we can get through it.”

“I know. It’s okay,” Fluttershy whispered.

“Thanks. I- I’m just tryin’ to get on with things now.” Applejack nodded to the barn. “Get through it. It hurts, but that’ll go away. Will ya’ let the girls know I’m kinda stayin’ clear of town right now? I ain’t quite ready for ponies askin’ questions.”

“Of course. Take all of the time you need. But. . . maybe in a few days you’d like to get together with us? We want to be there for you.”

Applejack smiled a little. “Tell ya’ what. If you promise ya’ won’t let Pinkie out here before then, I’ll head into town on Friday, and we’ll all have lunch. I just ain’t sure I can stand bein’ cheered up by Pinkie just now, bless ‘er soul.”

“I’ll ask Twilight to help. I’m sure she can keep Pinkie distracted,” Fluttershy agreed. “And, well, you know where my house is, if you need to talk.”

“Thanks. Thanks so much, sugarcube.”

“You’re welcome.” Fluttershy gave Applejack another quick nuzzle, and turned and walked out of the barn.

When she was well out of earshot, Applejack sighed. “I’m sorry,” she said, knowing there was nopony there to hear it.

***

The week went by, the pain dulled to an ache. The belongings Dash kept with AJ were carefully boxed up, and the photo on AJ’s nightstand was moved to the bottom of a chest, along with the magazine from under her mattress. She wanted to throw the magazine away, but the simple fact that it was Rainbow Dash’s picture made it impossible to resign to the trash barrel or the fireplace. Someday she would look at it again, when it didn’t hurt so much.

By that Friday, Applejack almost felt ready to face the town. She trotted to Sugarcube Corner, only feeling the occasional twinge in her heart. She nodded to ponies, who thankfully kept their distance, until she came to the bakery. There she cautiously opened the door and peeked in.

Her friends were already there, so she entered the shop and smiled. “Hey, y’all.”

Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy smiled and greeted her. Pinkie, looking decidedly uncomfortable, was squinting and trying to remember something. Then she gave a huge grin.

“Hello, Applejack! I hope you’re feeling. . . better.” Pinkie turned her head back to Twilight. “It was better, right? Because I wasn’t supposed to say good or okay because she might still be really sad, and it might make her even sadder to have to say she’s okay when she’s sad, and-”

“Pinkie!” Twilight hissed, smacking her own face with her hoof.

“What? I didn’t say anything about Rainbow Da- mmmph!” Pinkie’s mouth was suddenly filled with a cupcake surrounded by a blue glow of magic.

Rarity smiled at Applejack. “How are you feeling, darling?”

“Fine. Just fine,” Applejack said, taking a deep breath.

“Good.” Twilight smiled and seemed to relax a little. “Would you like a cupcake?”

“They’re really yummy!” Pinkie added, having finished the one in her mouth. “I made them myself! Apple cinnamon, your favorite!”

“Well, don’t mind if I do.”

“I have a hundred and twenty more in the back!”

Applejack stopped with her mouth halfway to the cupcake, and raised her eyebrows. “A. . . hundred and twenty?”

“Yup! I wanted to cheer you up, but Twilight said cheering you up wasn’t going to cheer you up, so I asked what would cheer you up, and Twilight said I could bake you some cupcakes! But you’ve been sad a few days, and every time I wanted to go cheer you up I baked more cupcakes. . . I wanted to cheer you up a lot.”

Applejack stared at Pinkie and blinked. Then, for the first time in almost a week, she chuckled. “Well now, thank ya’ Pinkie. That sure does cheer me up.”

Her four friends smiled and relaxed, joining in the laughter and cupcakes. Everything felt normal, it felt good. Twilight talked about a book she’d been reading, Rarity complained about a picky customer, Fluttershy sat next to Applejack, smiling to see her friend smile, and Pinkie was Pinkie. It was exactly what Applejack needed, she could feel herself relaxing.

Until the shop door opened, and she heard a scratchy voice behind her.

“Hey guys, what's the party for?”

Everypony froze, and eyes went wide around the room. Applejack shut her eyes, she couldn’t turn around. But she had to, it was only fair. This had to happen someday, and it might as well be sooner rather than later.

When she opened her eyes again, her friends were glancing around frantically, but none of them had answered Dash. So Applejack took a deep breath and turned around.

Rainbow Dash wasn’t wearing her uniform. She didn’t look angry, which was good. She didn’t look happy, either. A small smirk played at her lips, but her face looked tired and worn.

“Did ya’ get my last letter?” Applejack said softly.

Dash took a shaky breath and nodded. “Yeah.”

“Well, I been down since. . .” Applejack hesitated, but decided there was no sense in beating around the bush. “Since I broke up with ya’. That wasn't how I wanted it to go anymore than you did. The girls were just tryin' to cheer me up.”

Twilight added apologetically, “We, um, would have done the same for you, Dash. But you weren't here, and AJ was. . .”

“I know, guys. I get it.” Dash said with a sad smile towards her friends. Then she turned to Applejack, and her smile turned to a look of determination. “But, I'm not accepting the break up. I'm not breaking up with you.”

“Uh. . .” Applejack just stared. Then she shook her head. “I ain't sure you can do that, Dash.”

“I can at least ask you to talk to me, right? Tell me face to face, if that's what you really want.” Dash looked AJ in the eye, refusing to break eye contact while Applejack felt every bit of pain come rushing back to her.

It was Applejack who finally cringed. “It ain't what I want! But I can't have what I want. I just can't make ya' see things right through the letters, and that's all I get for a good long time. So will ya' please just lemme be?”

“I can see how upset you are. And I can totally see how that's my fault. So just gimme a chance to talk to you.” Dash smiled sadly and shrugged. “I mean, what've we got to lose?”

“I guess I owe ya’ that.” Applejack admitted. She turned to her friends, “Y’all mind if we-”

“Oh no!” Twilight said, “Go talk, you two.”

Fluttershy nodded, as Rarity added, “Take all the time in the world.”

“Take some cupcakes!” Pinkie said frantically to Dash, shoving a bakery box into the hooves of the confused pegasus. “Girls love cupcakes!”

“Uh, okay.” Dash agreed.

“We’ll be-” Applejack hesitated, unsure if both of them would be coming back to Sugarcube Corner that day. “We’ll seeya later.”

She walked out the door, Dash flying after her. Outside, Dash moved to her side. Applejack caught ponies in town staring at them. Most of them had probably heard some version of what happened, or pieced it together between the tabloid article and Applejack’s public breakdown and disappearance.

The two walked towards Sweet Apple Acres. AJ couldn’t help stealing glances at Dash, feeling guilty that she couldn’t think of anything to say. A week ago, just having a walk like this would have been a dream come true, but now it was a private torture, a reminder of how much she’d lost for the decisions she made.

“So, how long are ya’ here for?” Applejack asked, to fill the awkward silence.

“Heh, I’m not technically here. . .” Dash blushed and smiled a little. “I’m in Cloudsdale, for a family emergency. But Spitfire didn’t buy that for a second. She knows about the letter, she’s just giving me a break. I’ll have to get back by tomorrow morning if I don’t want her to call me on it.”

Applejack smiled a little and shook her head at Dash. “Must be hard, to have’ta sneak off to take care’a somethin’ like this.”

“Nah, you do what you have to do for what’s really important,” Dash said with a shrug. “Hard is flying from Fillydelphia to Ponyville and back in a day.”

“You flew all the way from Fillydelphia?” Applejack raised her eyebrows.

“Non-stop,” Dash answered with a sad smile.

Applejack knew a flight like that must have taken hours. Dash would have had to have left before dawn, just to come and have Applejack really tell her it was over. No wonder she looked so tired.

As soon as they started passing apple trees, Applejack spoke up. “This look okay? For a talk, I mean.”

“Yeah, this is good.” Dash nodded. Applejack jumped the fence into the orchard, while Dash flew over and landed next to her. They both settled in under a tree, just out of view of the road.

“So. . .” Applejack sighed. “I wasn’t sure you’d wanna talk about this. I thought ya’d be mad at me.”

“I was. I mean, I think it’s a good thing you sent a letter. I’ve had a day to cool down.” Dash set down the box of cupcakes and leaned back against an apple tree. “Reading that hurt, and sometimes I’m not the smartest pony in Equestria when I’m hurting.”

“I’m sorry,” Applejack said softly. “But, I meant it, Dash.”

“I'm sorry, too, AJ. I messed up.” Dash looked at the grass, and fidgeted with tree root growing through it. “When I got that letter from you, telling me it was over, I was really confused, and hurt, and angry. And I wanted to talk to you, but you weren't there. I broke a lamp in my hotel room, I threw it at the wall, and Spitfire made me tell her what happened. Then, when I was telling her, I kinda realized. . . you were probably feeling the same way when you got those letters from me.”

“I darn near bucked a hole in the wall of my room.” AJ said, but she had to smile a little at Dash finally understanding how she felt.

“Okay, so let's not do this stuff anymore. Do you even know how much hotels charge you for a lamp?” Dash rolled her eyes, and gave a nervous smile. Applejack had to chuckle, and Dash’s smile relaxed. “We're both here, so let's talk. I love you. Do you still love me?”

“Yeah. I do,” Applejack said, not meeting Dash’s eyes. “But that ain't gonna fix everythin', Dash.”

“I know. But it's a start. Now, tell me what's wrong.” Dash said seriously.

Applejack sighed. She thought all of this was behind her. “I already wrote ya’-”

“And that worked really well,” Dash cut in. “So tell me.”

Applejack swallowed, and remembered all of the problems and pain. “Famous ponies. . . they're different, ya' know? Ya' see 'em on a magazine, and ya' never think that's somepony's friend, or marefriend, or somepony who's got a family. And they don't help matters none, by doin' all the crazy stuff they do. So when I see you there, and I get your letters, and I can't talk to ya', I feel like you're different now. And I don't wanna be with somepony different, Dash. I wanna be with you, but you're just. . . not there.”

There was silence for a few moments. Applejack stole a glance at Dash, who seemed to be concentrating, thinking carefully about something. But Dash caught her eye, and nodded.

“I get it. But I'm here now, right?”

“For a bit,” Applejack said sadly.

“I mean, I'm the pony you wanna be with? I’m not a different pony, just me?”

Applejack looked at Dash, with her bright magenta eyes, and her vivid colors, and that sweet, hopeful look on her face. “Yeah. Ya' are.”

“Good.” Dash nodded and smiled. “I'm always this pony, AJ. Really. On photoshoots, or at parties, or wherever. I told you all about the stuff I was doing because it sounds cool, I thought you'd rather hear that than the stuff I think about. But the stuff I think about, that's all about you, and Ponyville, and how much I miss you. Before I got your letter, I spent a whole evening last week at some party, and all I was thinking was, is this really worth it? Is being a Wonderbolt really worth being away from home and the pony I love?”

“What'd ya' decide?” Applejack asked, softly.

Dash frowned and looked down, her ears drooping. “I decided this is a once in a lifetime chance, and that if there was one pony in the whole world that I could count on to wait for me, it was you. And that's what made me feel better, knowing that I had you waiting here, and I didn't have to choose between my dream and my life. 'Cause, this is my life, AJ. Here, with you.” She sighed, and AJ thought she saw the gleam of tears in Dash’s eyes. “At least, I thought it was.”

Applejack felt her heart beating, like it had somehow been stopped and she hadn’t noticed until it started again. She bit her lip, and reached out a hoof to touch Dash’s. “You never did say that.”

“I didn't.” Dash shook her head, still looking at the ground. “I'm sorry. It's just. . . Remember when I said ‘I love you’ for the first time?”

“I was thinkin’ ‘bout that the day I sent that letter.”

“Well, then you should know that sometimes I’m not good at saying stuff like feelings. It feels sappy and corny, so I don’t say it and I figure you’ll know.” Dash gave a snort, still looking at the ground. “We’re gonna call that bad idea number one.”

“I know, and. . .” Applejack hesitated, then dropped her own eyes to look at the grass. “I ain't always been helpin'. I been scared of all this for a while, but I never did say it before ya' left. I just wanted ya' to be happy.”

Dash raised her eyebrows. “How'd you expect me to do that if you're not happy?”

“I was bein' a fool.” Applejack smiled sadly, looking at Dash again. “Guess that was bad idea number two, huh?”

“Yup,” Dash nodded. “And bad idea number three was that I didn’t listen when you tried to tell me. It just seemed to come out of nowhere. I didn’t see that it was a big deal.”

Applejack narrowed her eyes. “When we ain’t face to face those letters are real important, Dash. They’re the only way I can know what you’re thinkin’, and the only way I can try to tell ya’ what I’m thinkin’. If I take the time to write somethin’ like that, you better believe it’s a big deal.”

“I know that now. We can do better at this. I know neither of us is the best at words, but we’re the best at each other. And if staying the best at you means I have to get better at words, I can work on it.” Dash looked to AJ with big, hopeful eyes. “Just, let me work on it.”

Applejack sighed. With Dash looking like that, it was so tempting. And so messy, there would be more waiting, more hoping, more misunderstandings and magazines and stories she’d have to fend off herself, with nothing but trust that she knew her marefriend better than anypony else in the world. She was beginning to think that she did, with Dash here next to her. It was when Dash flew away that things would get hard again.

“It’s still a long week between letters, Dash. And when ponies are askin’ me ‘bout you and somepony in a tabloid-”

“Hold up, that was not my fault!” Dash cut in, anger clouding her face. “I didn’t even know the guy’s name! We were at a party, and he told a joke, and I toasted him. Then all of a sudden, camera flash, and we’re in the paper and I’m his new marefriend? That was so not fair! Soon as I saw it I knew you were gonna freak out.” The anger dropped, replaced by a dejected pout. “I’m so, so sorry, AJ, but there was nothing I could do.”

“I never believed it, sugarcube.” Applejack reached out and patted Dash’s foreleg. “And I never thought those magazine pictures meant you wanted to be messin’ round with other ponies. But you gotta remember that there are lots of other ponies thinkin’ ‘bout you, and they’re gonna make up stories ‘bout who you are. And maybe they don’t talk to you ‘bout it, but they talk to me.”

“I don’t want ponies making up stories about me either, but I can’t stop them,” Dash said with a shrug. “But that’s why I was so excited about doing those pictures with you. I was hoping I could do some stuff that gave them the right idea for once.”

Applejack drew her hoof back quickly and glared, wondering if she was wrong about really knowing Dash. “Rainbow Dash, how in Equestria do ya’ think takin’ sexy pictures so that ponies can look at me like that is gonna help ‘em stop lookin’ at you like that? Not to mention that you must’a lost your mind if ya’ think I’d ever-”

“What?!” Dash’s eyes went wide, then a grin started to cross her face, like she was trying not to laugh. “That’s what you thought I meant? No way, AJ. It's nothing like that. I promise. I talked to the guy, and I talked to the press manager for the team, and I explained stuff. They thought it was cool that I have an earth pony marefriend, and spend my time off on a farm. Ponies magazine was gonna do a little story on us, and the photographer was gonna come out and take some awesome pictures of us just hanging around the farm here. Nothing you wouldn't be proud to show to Granny Smith.”

“Really?” Applejack asked, amazed. While their communication skills needed a lot of work, Dash’s heart really had been in the right place.

“It would be awesome publicity for the farm,” Dash tempted her with a smirk.

Applejack grinned as her eyes lit up. “Darn right, it’s gonna be! Oh, me and Mac are gonna have to get things cleaned up! New coats of paint on everythin', prune all the trees right before. . .”

“They aren’t coming tomorrow.” Dash giggled. “You really thought I was gonna try to get you to take sexy pictures?”

Applejack blushed. “Well. . .”

Dash wrapped a foreleg around her and nuzzled next to her ear, then whispered, “AJ, if I thought I could get you to let somepony take pictures like that, I’d have them already.”

Applejack chuckled and didn’t push her away.

“So, I guess we aren’t broken up?” Dash asked softly.

Applejack still took a moment to consider. She considered the feeling and smell of Dash right next to her and the pain of those times when she was away. If it had just been that, the pain would have won. Dash was going to be gone more often than she’d be there. But there was something else, those hopes and dreams she’d lost when she sent that letter. Her heart felt full right now, and then some.

“No. No we ain’t. We can give this another shot.” Applejack said, wrapping her forelegs around Dash and completing the hug as a grin of pure happiness lit up Dash’s face. “I love you.”

She had never realized how much Dash gave her until she pushed her away, and she needed that like she needed her family and her farm. It brought tears to her eyes thinking that she’d nearly lost it, and that she now had a second chance. It would be hard, but there wasn’t a doubt in her mind that it was worth it. She buried her face in Dash’s shoulder to wipe the tears away.

“You're gonna get all sappy on me now?” Dash teased.

Applejack pulled away, still crying, but she smiled through the tears and punched Dash playfully in the shoulder. “Shut up, you. I had a rough few weeks.”

Dash laughed. “That's more like it. I love you, Applejack.” She leaned in and kissed AJ, and AJ wrapped her forelegs around Dash. They held each other for a long time, sometimes breaking the kiss to nuzzle each other and just enjoy the feeling of being safe and happy and together. But their lips always found their way back to another kiss.

After what somehow managed to be a both long and frustratingly short make out session, AJ noticed it was late afternoon. She broke their latest kiss and smiled.

“Come on, now. Let’s go tell the girls they can stop worryin’.”

Dash nodded. “Good idea. I wanted to see them too.” She smiled sadly. “I miss you guys.”

Applejack nodded and sighed as they got up, and started to walk back to town. “It’s gonna be a long time ‘til August.”

“Yeah, about that. . . I was thinking, AJ. I’m in Manehatten for a week, next month. Maybe you and the girls could come up. You have family there, you could visit with them and see the sights while I’m at practice, and I could bring you to parties, and you guys could all come watch me fly.” Dash grinned and flew over to AJ’s other side to demonstrate.

“Well that’s a great idea!” Applejack grinned back, then raised an eyebrow. “Ya’ know, I got family all over, Dash. Maybe it’s time I got a little more sociable with ‘em.”

“Family’s really important.” Dash smirked.

Applejack chuckled as she spotted an orange blur headed toward them from the other direction, moving quickly towards Sweet Apple Acres.

“Hi, Applejack! Hi Rainbow-” Scootaloo called, then she skidded to a stop. “Rainbow Dash!”

“Hey, squirt!” Dash said with a friendly smile.

Scootaloo just stared and moved her mouth, trying to form words.

“Uh, you okay?” Dash asked, raising an eyebrow as she flew over to the stunned pony and looked at her face.

As Dash got closer, Scootaloo’s cheeks turned bright red. “I- um, you- um, uh, I gotta go!”

Scoot started again towards Sweet Apple Acres even faster, trying to look over her shoulder at Dash in a way that AJ was sure was going to result in an unhealthy meeting with a fencepost. Applejack just chuckled as Dash’s face grew more confused.

“What’s up with her?”

Applejack smirked. “She gets Flyers Illustrated. For the articles.”

Dash’s face went from confusion to understanding to shock. “I, uh, really didn’t wanna know that.”

Applejack laughed. “Welcome to my life, sugarcube.”