Southern Skies

by Jondor

Rating: teen
Tags: Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Romance
Length: 8310

Snapshots of a cowpony and a weather manager.

Snapshots in the life of a cowpony and a weather manager.

Heavily inspired by TheLastBrunnenG's Thirty Minute Ponies collections. Unstarred chapters are edited and expanded from minifics originally posted for the AppleDash group. *Starred* chapters are wholly unique to this collection.

Chapters are arranged in chronological order and new chapters may not always appear last. Going to consider this functionally complete.

Scene change markers scaled down from here.

Published 2013-03-13 02:20:01 UTC
Last updated 2013-11-10 10:38:16 UTC

*Fillyfooler*

*Fillyfooler*

Applejack stood by the trunk of one of her many apple trees, looking up at the blue pegasus napping on a low branch. On any other day, she wouldn’t think twice before whirling around and giving the tree a solid kick with her powerful hind hooves. Today, she was standing perfectly still apart from a slight flick of her tail and shuffle of her hooves, staring up at the pony of her dreams.

Rainbow Dash had been invading her dreams more and more often and it was becoming difficult not to just stare at her when they met up around town. Something had to be done, but that didn’t necessarily mean it was going to be easy. All day she’d been shifting between hope for and dread of this moment. Now that it was here, she took a deep breath, gave her dread a metaphorical buck in the flank and cleared her throat.

“Uh, RD you awake? I got somethin’ ta talk to ya about.”

A magenta eye peeked out through a cracked cyan eyelid. “This isn’t about that hay bale I borrowed last week, is it? Because Big Mac already chewed me out over that.”

Applejack suppressed a smirk, her brother only went into lecture mode if somepony did something really wrong. “Nah, it ain’t that. It’s a bit... It’s somethin’ else.” It’s a bit personal; she was about to say, but she was afraid that might scare Dash away before she got a chance to get this off her chest.

Dash raised her flank in the air, her wings raked back as she stretched, looking not entirely unlike Opalescence or Winona. Applejack felt her mouth go dry as she watched this objectively innocent act, finding it anything but innocent. The feeling was compounded by every allegorical butterfly in her stomach fluttering to life as she watched Dash spread her wings and glide in a lazy spiral to the ground.

“So, what’s up?” Dash landed a few hooves away, folding her wings away and looking AJ in the eye, awaiting whatever this was. Applejack swallowed and licked her lips, fighting against the dry feeling in her mouth so her voice wouldn’t crack. The delay it provided was just a happy coincidence.

“I wanted ta know...” she started, willing herself to keep her voice steady and calm, “if you’d want ta go out with me sometime.” Her eyes closed involuntarily as she spoke the last five words. Slowly they opened again as she awaited an answer.

The response she got was completely unexpected. “You’re a fillyfooler, AJ?” Dash was staring at her as if seeing her for the first time.

“Well, uh yeah. I am.” Applejack blushed a bit, looking down at her hooves as she scuffed the dirt. “Figured it out a long time ago, when I learned the difference between colts an’ fillies. Weren’t never any colts that turned my head, but I was plenty fond of fillies.”

“Wow AJ, I never would have guessed.” Dash’s expression was unreadable, a mix of many different emotions.

“Never had a reason ta bring it up before now.” She shrugged and then winced as an unpleasant thought entered her head. “Shoot, did I get it wrong too? Y’all ain’t a fillyfooler?” Applejack grimaced looking back up at Rainbow.

“Uh, not exactly. Well, kinda I guess. I like mares yeah, but I also like stallions, so I’m uh... both?” Dash gave an uneasy chuckle and shrugged.

“Oh.” Relief fought with trepidation inside her. “Well, what about my question then?” The cowpony suddenly found her hooves fascinating again.

Dash let out a sigh. “AJ, I just don’t know. I need to think about it.”

Applejack’s ears flattened against her head. “If ya don’t want to, y’all can just say so. I can.. I can take it.” She nearly lost the fight to keep her voice steady.

“AJ, it’s not like that.” Dash winced as Applejack turned her head away. “No seriously, hear me out, okay?” She smiled as Applejack turned back and sat down on her haunches.

“That’s better.” Dash sat down herself and started to explain. “We’re really great friends and we’ve got lots in common, right? Heck, I’m closer to you than I am to ‘Shy and I’ve known her longer.”

“Yeah, I reckon so.” Applejack nodded, perking up a bit..

“And, jeez...” Dash blushed a bit and flicked her tail. “I can’t say I’ve never thought about you like that.” Applejack’s ears stood at attention, hearing that confession. She opened her mouth to respond, but Dash continued.

“I didn’t think you were into mares, but there’s more to it than just that.” It was Dash’s turn to scuff her hoof on the ground now. “I know I haven’t been much of a big picture pony, but I gotta think about more than just me when it comes to dating.

“What if it didn’t work out? Would we still be able to be friends? And that’s not just us either, that’s Twi and the girls and the Elements. What if the Elements stopped working for us because we broke up? I mean, the last guy I dated still gives me dirty looks whenever I have to visit the weather factory and that’s been almost a year now.” Dash brought a hoof to her forehead in exasperation.

Applejack thought it over for a long moment, her face a mixture of emotions. “I think I see whatcha mean, Dash. That is a bundle ta think about.” Applejack dropped completely to the ground, laying her chin against her crossed forelegs.

“But part of me still wants to say yes.” Applejack looked up, Dash had moved closer while her head was down and now she was barely two hooves away.

“Ya mean that?” The earth pony sat back up, looking the pegasus in the eye.

“Yeah, I do. I like you a lot AJ, and I think you do understand the stakes.”

“Reckon so.” Applejack nodded, still not taking her eyes from Dash. “I’m kinda ashamed I didn’t think of it myself.”

“Ponies can do some crazy things when it comes to love, believe me.” Dash grinned sheepishly and AJ blushed.

“So?...” Applejack implicitly asked the lingering question.

Dash smirked. “So, you asked me out, where are we going on our date?”

Author's Note

Most stories I've seen put Dash into the lead role in starting the relationship, either having to convince Applejack or finding her willing. I wondered what would happen if their places were reversed, and even more, what if Dash had a legitimate reason to be wary of starting a relationship with her best friend.

Pranks

"Pinkie are you sure about this? It's not in the book." The studious lavender unicorn was frantically consulting her copy of Slumber 101: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Slumber Parties but Were Afraid to Ask. The group had been making heavy use of the last few, and consequently most advanced, chapters in the book.

"Duh, because it's not in that book. It's in this one!" The pink party pony fought to keep her voice low as she pulled a copy of The Big Book of Pranks from out of nowhere, turning immediately to the right page. Having the answer spelled out in a book seemed to settle the matter for the unicorn. A pink hoof strategically covered the author’s name on the cover: By Pinkamena Diane Pie

"I’m still not sure this is such a good idea, it seems kind of mean." The cautious yellow pegasus had no trouble keeping her voice low as she spoke from behind her flowing pink mane. Antagonizing their friends didn’t seem like the best idea under the circumstances.

"Not to worry, darling. Rainbow Dash will see the humor at once. And I'm sure Applejack will enjoy the joke almost as fast." The elegant white unicorn tossed her perfectly styled mane with a chuckle. “Dash is always trying to get the upper hoof on her, I think she’ll enjoy finding she’s on top at the very least.”

In the center of the four friends, two other ponies were asleep on a pile of cushions, cuddled up together thanks to the actions of the pink and white ponies now standing over them with large grins. The purple and yellow ponies had had nothing to do with the prank and now waited with trepidation for the outcome.

The cause of all this mischief stood in the corner. A half empty barrel of Sweet Apple Acres finest hard cider. "I knew Rainbow was a lightweight, pegasi just can't help it, but Applejack passing out after only two mugs... I never would have guessed." Rarity was still sipping her sixth mug and didn’t seem the least bit tipsy.

The situation was too perfect to pass up when she had found both of their tomcolt friends passed out on the sofa together. A quick word with Pinkie set the plan in motion, now all they had to do was wait.

The orange cowpony emitted a low groan and twitched her hooves. "Ooh ooh, they're about to wake up!" Pinkie Pie bounced on the spot with excitement as the other three ponies turned their attention back to the unwitting cuddlebugs.

Rarity shot Pinkie a sideways glance as if to say: “Remember to act surprised”.

Pinkie caught it and gave her a look back that said: “Of course, Surprise is my middle name, well actually it’s Diane, but Surprise is so much cooler than Diane, ooh maybe I should change it, but then I’d have to change it on every copy of my book and...” Pinkie went on making faces to go with her inner monologue, but everypony else was focused on the two ponies just waking up.

Applejack tried to stretch her legs, but found them stopped by a warm body. Imagining nothing wrong with the situation, she cracked open her eyes and smiled as she leaned down to kiss the blurry blue muzzle in front of her face. "Mornin’, Sugarcube." She said in a husky bedroom voice.

The action and especially the sound aroused her blue, winged partner who enthusiastically kissed back. "Best kind of morning waking up to my AJ."

The room was silent except for the comical sound of four jaws hitting the ground at once. Two pairs of eyes, emerald and ruby snapped completely open and looked around with tense horror. This wasn’t exactly how they had planned to tell the girls about their relationship.

A scratchy voice broke the silence with a nervous chuckle as it’s owner tried to salvage the situation. "Nice prank girls, but I guess Opal's out of the bag now, huh?" Applejack covered her face with her hat as she awaited a response.

Pinkie and Rarity shared a sidelong glance and wink before starting to laugh warmly. Twilight and Fluttershy quickly joined in followed finally by Dash and AJ as they gathered for a group hug.

Butterfly

I should move. She thought. This isn’t cool, what if somepony sees? She continued to stand stock still. Maybe a little cool, this never happens to me. Fluttershy, better believe it. Rarity, once or twice. Twilight, if she ever takes her head out of a book. Pinkie, probably does it on purpose. AJ, I bet so, but she’d never admit it.

Okay, that’s long enough. Somepony is definitely going to see me. She still didn’t move a muscle. This kind of tickles. Maybe just a bit longer. I hope nopony sees me. I’d never live it down. Her neck was starting to be a bit sore, but she couldn’t bring herself to break the moment.

“Hey there, pardner.” That sultry southern drawl was unmistakable.

Oh, horseapples. “Hey there AJ, h.. how are you?” Her scratchy voice cracked.

“Jus’ fine, enjoyin’ a lovely spring day. What’re y’all up to?”

“Oh, nothing.” She felt a breeze rustle her mane and tail, but it didn’t change her situation.

“Nothin’, huh? How long ya been standin’ there like that?”

“A while.” Too long, I got caught.

“Y’all look cute.”

“I d.. do not! The Dash doesn’t do cute!” Oh Tartarus not the squeaky voice, AJ loves the squeaky voice. Every fiber of her being was telling her to turn tail and run but still, she remained rooted to the spot.

“Think I’ll jus’ sit a while an’ watch this.”

“Suit yourself.” AJ, I’m so going to get you for this.

She felt the breeze again, stronger. This time her situation did change. Celestia only knew how much time had passed, her neck, legs and back only knew that they were stiff and aching. She blinked and tilted her head down, stretching her sore muscles before she looked up at the pony watching her from a few paces away. AJ stood up with a grin as wide as Pinkie Pie on her best day.

The glare in Dash’s eyes and all animosity melted away as Applejack closed the gap between them and kissed her deeply. Her wings flared like they always did at such times and her knees buckled beneath her.

“I won’t tell a soul, Dashie. But y’all did look cute with a butterfly on yer nose.”

*Games*

*Games*

A sharp metallic clang echoed across the yard as Dash scored a ringer, pumping her hooves in triumph. “Oh, yeah! The Dash is totally in the groove now!” she hollered. “What’s that bring the score to?”

Applejack consulted her list of tally marks in the dirt. “Three kisses an' two backrubs ta four kisses an' one cuddle.” Applejack looked up and grinned. “Too bad ya missed that last throw. You coulda traded five kisses fer a preenin’.” She winked.

Dash’s eyes went wide. “You never said I could trade for a preening! One more game! Anything! I can totally earn another kiss!” Dash pleaded.

Applejack put a hoof to her chin, considering. “Alright, sugarcube. I got one more contest idea.”

Rainbow Dash’s look of elation turned to confusion under the smug grin suddenly plastered on Applejack’s face. “W-what did you have in mind?”

“You’ll see. First we’re gonna need a judge, though.” Applejack turned and motioned for Dash to follow her as she trotted toward the front gate of Sweet Apple Acres. “Come on, I think Fluttershy’s the best choice fer such a cute idea.”

Dash gulped. She had an ominous feeling about the word cute.

Author's Note

I just realized I hardly have any chapters detailing their relationship before the engagement and marriage. Let's fix that.

Butterflies

This wasn’t like their usual competitions. No physical exertion, no sweating and panting, no need for a shower afterwards. This was worse than any of that. Standing still was hard for her to do. And even harder while trying to ignore the tickling sensation of all those little feet against her skin. Rainbow Dash cracked open an eye and peered out toward their officiator. “How much longer?” She hissed, trying hard not to move a muscle beyond her lower jaw.

“Two minutes.” Fluttershy answered, glancing at her stopwatch. Dash grit her teeth and her body quivered. Wings were raised, but she didn’t lose any points.

“Y’all ain’t thinkin’ about quittin’, are ya?” Applejack winked at her marefriend.

“No way! I’m going to win this!” Her body shook slightly causing more quivering wings and causing one butterfly to actually detach and fly away. Rainbow let out a low growl and then took a deep breath, trying to calm herself and stop herself from shaking. All because of that silly butterfly the other day, she had to save face by making it a competition.

Applejack definitely had the upper hoof here. Sure, AJ preferred to be moving; working her fields, towing her cart into town, racing, rodeo, you name it. On the other hoof, she was also always the one who wanted to just sit and watch the sunset or laze around on the blanket after a picnic or cuddle after a brisk roll in the hay. Not that Dash disliked any of those things when AJ was involved, they just never occurred to her on her own. She only liked to stay still to nap.

“One minute.” Fluttershy pointed with her hoof as she made a quick count of the butterflies each of her friends had collected. Tied again, but anything could change in the next 55 seconds.

“And the final count is, Rainbow Dash: 15, Applejack: 15” Fluttershy announced as soon as the stopwatch tinkled it’s bell. Dash’s jaw dropped. “Um, you two were pretty much tied the whole time too.” Fluttershy ducked behind her mane, expecting an outburst from Dash as the bearer of bad news. Applejack caught Dash open mouthed with a kiss that stifled any protest she was about to make as all thirty butterflies took to the sky.

Their kiss broke to the sound of a squeak coming from their officiator. Fluttershy was squirming, covered from head to hoof in butterflies now. “Oh my, that tickles. You didn’t have to—eep!” All thirty butterflies, plus a good number of their friends, family and distant relations had converged on the yellow pegasus.

“Looks like Fluttershy is the real winner here.” Applejack and Rainbow Dash burst out laughing.

Free

“Nothin’ doin’, sugarcube. Ya know the rules.” Applejack groaned. She had answered this same request at least once a day all season. “Cider is big business, it helps keep the farm in the black over the winter time. Only family members get free cider, and only if we got some to spare.”

“But you hardly ever take yours.” Rainbow did her best puppy dog eyes. “Couldn’t I just-”

“Mac don’t get to give his to Cheerilee, Apple Bloom don’t get to give hers to Scootaloo or Sweetie Belle, I can’t give mine to you.” Applejack paused for a moment. “Unless...”

Dash’s downcast eyes brightened considerably. “Unless?”

“Unless ya wanted to become a member of the family.”

The wheels inside Rainbow Dash’s mind slowly turned over that statement. Between Applejack’s words, tone of voice, and body language, there was only one possible meaning to that statement. Dash’s pupils shrank to pinpricks.

“AJ, I know what you’re asking, but I... I just.. I don’t know.” Dash’s ears folded flat against her head. “You have to understand, pegasi don’t often get married. It’s traditional to fly free.” Rainbow bowed her head, fearing the worst.

“I do understand.” Applejack said solemnly. “You ain’t the first pegasus marefriend I’ve had, but ya have stuck around longer’n any of ‘em.” Dash met Applejack’s eyes again, relieved to see no malice in them, only a hint of sadness. “That’s why, I wasn’t askin’.

“It’s up to you, sugarcube. I respect yer pegasus customs; I’ll keep on lovin’ ya an’ bein’ yer marefriend as long as you’ll let me, even if ya don’t wanna tie the knot. I knew what I was gettin’ into when I first asked ya out.

“But, ya gotta respect my customs too. An’ one of ‘em is no free cider except fer full fledged family members.”

“I...” Dash returned her gaze to the floor. “I have to think about it. It’s a big decision.” She gasped softly, feeling Applejack’s forelegs wrap around her in a hug. She returned it.

“I know it is. It’s a big enough decision for us earth ponies. I reckon it’s gotta be ten times as tough fer pegasi foolish enough ta fall in with us groundhogs. Just knowin’ you’re giving it some thought makes me happy.” Applejack held Dash a little tighter. “I love you, sugarcube.”

Dash closed her eyes and stroked Applejack’s long blonde mane. “I love you too, AJ.”

Dash knew it would be a tough decision. Flying free was in her blood, but as she thought about it, memories of old marefriends and coltfriends felt hazy, distant and cold, while memories of dating AJ filled her heart with the kind of warmth, security and solid presence that nopony ever had before.

Marrying AJ might just have perks that went way beyond free cider. Maybe, just maybe, deciding would not quite as tough as she first thought.

Author's Note

It's a rare event that I get an idea to use a prompt in multiple ways. I treasure those times.

Tango

A/N: For full effect, read this blog post first.

Sweet Apple Acres Barn #3 sat on the edge of the south field, well away from any other structure and most importantly right now, well away from anypony who might complain about the noise. It was no DJ-Pon3 affair, but Pinkie Pie still knew how to throw a pretty loud party.

It was currently a dry spell, just after Winter Wrap Up, between birthdays and other party worthy events, so the only reason publicly given for this party was that Pinkie felt a party was in order to break up the monotony. It was seemingly not a very crafty plan and would have been a bit of a non-sequitur coming from anypony else, but it was believed at once coming from the mouth of the Pink Party Pony.

If there was anypony capable of getting the Queen of Secrets herself to break the sort of promise which bore her name, they would know that Dashie had asked her to arrange the party and give everypony the flimsy, but believable excuse she had used. Thankfully, there was nopony in Equestria that could pull off such a feat, and even if they could, Dashie hadn’t even told her the real reason for the party anyway, so nyeh.

Pinkie stood by the gramophone, one eye watching Twilight spazzing out on the dance floor, and the other waiting for a signal from Dashie to enact the cunning plan. Or to put on a Llamantinan dance record Dashie had given her earlier and have a little box ready for later. It was part of the cunning plan, so Dashie had said, but that was all she knew for sure.

Dashie and Applejack had hardly been apart, and knowing Dashie, this plan had to have something to do with her marefriend, so Pinkie started to let all of her attention drift to Twilight when Applejack wandered away from Dashie over to the punch bowl. A knee-wobble, ear-twitch, tail-flick combo stopped her. A friend trying to get my attention? Dashie? Oh no, the signal! Pinkie tore her eye away from Twilight and fumbled with the record, managing to bounce the needle and plonk Dashie’s record down on top of her own dance music album before it landed.

A lively Llamantinan song flowed silkily out of the gramophone’s horn. Pinkie returned Dashie’s salute and watched as her pegasus friend clasped a rose between her teeth and reared up behind Applejack as the earth pony turned at the change of music.

“Care t’ dance, pretty filly?” Pinkie tried to keep from laughing at Dashie’s horrible Llamantinan accent and funny eyebrow wiggle, but it seemed to work pretty well on Applejack who reared up to join her with a grin.

Pinkie, Twilight, Fluttershy and Rarity all watched in awe as the marefriends tangoed. Dashie led first, taking advantage of Applejack’s strong hind legs to trace rather wild patterns across the dance floor, keeping their chests pressed tightly together and eyes locked on each other.

In time with a key change in the music, Applejack snatched the rose away and took the lead which Dashie didn’t seem to mind at all. All four of them, Rarity not the least, ooh’d and aah’d as Applejack led Dashie into some amazing twirls, Dashie fanning out her wings as she spun around as gracefully as Fluttershy.

Finally, both of them took hold of the rose in their teeth, for some rough back and forth hoofwork that almost looked like a fight except for the grins on their faces. All four spectating ponies clopped their hooves together as the pair dropped back to all fours, panting and sweating a bit.

“Whoooeee!” Applejack exclaimed. “After a tango like that, a couple oughta get married.”

Pinkie very nearly missed signal number two after getting lost in all those super duper dance moves, but her knee started to wobble again and she hoofed over the box before the combo got to finish. Instead, a new combo took over, and Pinkie sensed a Doozy was incoming!

“You read my mind, pony girl.” Dashie sank to her haunches and held up the open box in her forehooves. Inside was a pair of red, yellow and blue hair ties, each with a little cloud clasp. “AJ, will you marry me?”

“Darn tootin’, sugarcube!” Applejack leaned in to kiss Dashie like nopony’s business.

Pinkie’s gasp and cheer was matched in volume and enthusiasm by Rarity, with Twilight and Fluttershy holding a close third and fourth. Once they stopped kissing, Pinkie pulled everypony into a group hug that was finally broken by a predictable shout, if somewhat redundant given the circumstances.

“This calls for a party!”

Author's Note

Pinkie! What R U Doin?! Stahp Pinkie! STAHP!

By the way Pinkie, you totally forgot the picture of Dash with a rose.

Oopsie!~

*Tranquility*

*Tranquility*

Rainbow Dash sat on her haunches at the edge of the cloud that made up her front porch. Beside her sat her marefriend and newly proposed fiancée, a pair of ethereal butterfly wings sprouting from her back, glittering in the setting sun. They sat together, forelegs around each other’s shoulders, in the tranquility of the evening as it darkened to twilight.

Dash had made the ultimate leap for a pegasus, in deciding to marry an earth pony. Applejack thought it only fitting to repay her in pegasus fashion. Twilight had been more than happy to supply the farm mare with a pair of wings, and together, they had spent the entire day not once touching the ground.

“Dash,” AJ asked softly, “what made ya decide ta ask fer my hoof in marriage?” Just by her tone, it was clear that Applejack was not questioning the decision, she was merely curious for the reason behind it. She had guessed several that might fit, but could not nail it down to one that seemed certain.

Rainbow Dash was silent for some moments. AJ let her have them. It was a difficult question, and may not have a single clear answer.

“Because,” Dash began, “you’re the only pony who’s made me want to sit still.” Dash leaned a little toward Applejack and squeezed her shoulder softly. “I’ve had lots of fillyfriends and coltfriends. A couple weeks, a couple months, and then it was over. It’s just the way pegasi are; I didn’t really know there was any other way to be.

“I took a chance on you, AJ. I didn’t even really realize it until Pinkie was throwing us that silly six month-iversary party.” She chuckled at the memory. “That’s when I realized it wasn’t silly. I’d been with you longer than anypony else, and I liked that feeling.” AJ turned to smile as the sun finished setting. Dash claimed a kiss that lasted until the sky went fully dark.

“All the rest of you girls have a family. Twi, Rarity, Pinkie, you. Even ‘Shy has all of her animals; they’re practically her children. I didn’t really have a family, until now.

“You remember that crazy butterfly contest, and how hard I tried to sit just as still as you, to prove that I could?” Dash asked, and AJ nodded. “I’m sorry I freaked out at first when you mentioned marriage. I’ll sit still for you forever; I love you, AJ.”

“I love you too, Dash.” For a long moment, they both sat still, AJ’s head resting on Dash’s shoulder, listening as the crickets came out for the night and enjoying the warmth of each other’s coat against the oncoming chill of the evening.

Just before they retired inside, Applejack spoke up once more.

“How about the cider?”

Dash grinned. “Totally worth it.”

“That’s my sugarcube.”

DJ

"Ugh! The reception's going to be totally lame if we can't find any kind of entertainment!" Dash whined as they trotted down the street. "What the hay is everypony's problem with two mares getting married anyway?"

"Ya got me, sugarcube. Maybe it’s just ‘cause we ain’t home town folks here in Canterlot. 'Least Granny Smith didn't make a fuss, an’ we got just about all of Ponyville ta back us up." Applejack gave her a reassuring nuzzle.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. But I wanted some flashy entertainment for the reception and Ponyville just doesn’t really have anything awesome enough.” Rainbow was feeling a little better now, but still sulking for the most part.

"Well, how about that DJ Pinkie recommended?"

"Are you kidding? The last time I listened to Pinkie Pie, my tongue was green for a week!" Dash pulled a grim face with her tongue lolling out.

Applejack chuckled. "Well, we ain't got much choice left. Might as well give ‘em a shot while we’re here, right?"

"I guess so." Rainbow sighed and looked around to get her bearings after checking the address Pinke had given her. "At least the place isn't far." She said, pointing to a small building just down the street sporting neon lights of a cello and several vinyl discs above the entrance.

"So, a wedding reception, huh?" The snow white DJ mare grinned at them from behind her trademark purple glasses and electric blue mane. Dash and AJ recognized her as the DJ from Cadance and Shining Armor’s wedding and their doomed fashion show from ages ago. "No sweat. You guys the bride and the maid of honor?"

Dash huffed and started to speak, but AJ cut her off. "Actually, we're both the brides."

"So, double wedding or..." Vinyl Scratch started to ask, but Dash cut across her.

"No we're marrying each other, so go ahead and kick us out like everypony else has." The pegasus fumed. “Should have stuck with Ponyville ponies, stupid stuck up Canterlotians..” She mumbled, trailing off in anger.

"Whoa! Chill out, dude. Fillyfooler wedding? That's cool with me." Vinyl lowered her glasses and winked her ruby eye. "Heck, I'll even give you a discount."

Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

"Y'all don't have ta do that." Applejack took Rainbow's hoof in her own. "We're just glad ta find somepony ta take the job."

"Nah, I totally do. I know what it's like." Vinyl pointed through the window to the other office in the small building. The grey earth pony mare with the elegant charcoal mane gave a small chaste wave of recognition. As Vinyl blew her a kiss, her eyelids dropped to a very seductive half-mast and she returned it. "Now, let's make this party one to remember." Vinyl clopped a determined hoof on the desk.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash grinned at each other and shared a kiss. Entertainment problem solved.

*Wonderbolt*

*Wonderbolt*

“But, I thought bein’ a Wonderbolt was yer big dream.” Applejack was completely stunned.

“It was, but I’ve been doing some thinking.” Rainbow sighed, feeling Applejack tense a little while cuddled against her back.

“Thinkin’? Ya feelin’ okay?” Rainbow bangs draped over the orange hoof as it pressed against the cyan forehead.

“I’m feeling just fine, thank you!” Dash grumbled. “I do think sometimes, you know.”

Applejack hugged her lover a little tighter. “I know, but it’s too fun ta tease ya.”

“Har har.” The pegasus scoffed. “You want to make fun, or you want to hear why I’ve made this huge and utterly life changing decision?” She put some Rarity-esque dramatic emphasis on those words.

“I’m all ears, sugarcube.” The cowpony nuzzled against her pegasus’ neck, which had an immediate soothing effect on the blue mare.

“Well, have you looked through my pile of Wonderbolts newspaper clippings recently?” Dash inquired.

“Can’t say I have, why?”

“It’s a nightmare. Almost a third of them are some kind of scandal. I used to think that was fun stuff to read and most of them are over stupid little things anyway.” Dash sighed. “But you remember how much trouble we had in Canterlot, trying to find entertainment for our reception.”

Applejack’s ears folded back. “Yeah, I remember. Pinkie really came through on that one.”

“Yeah but the point is, if I made the team, all those scandals in the paper, that would be us. Not just could, but would. Somepony would find out eventually and then bam!” Dash placed her forehooves over AJ’s hugging her chest. “I wouldn’t want to deal with that. I wouldn’t want you to deal with that.”

“Alright, but seems like we’ve been through worse before than some bad press.”

“There’s more.” Dash’s ear flicked as AJ nuzzled against it, she loved that AJ knew all the little tricks to calm her down. “You remember when Twi switched all our cutie marks?”

“Yeah, ain’t likely ta ever forget that mess. An’ if I ever did, one look at Twi’s wings would remind me.”

“Well, Rarity wasn’t using my cutie mark to try and get into the Wonderbolts, or to practice tricks or anything like that. She was managing the weather.” Dash closed her eyes as she felt AJ’s hot breath tickle the soft coat under her mane. “I was all kinds of bummed out about that, until I went on that exchange program in Manehatten. Remember that?”

“I remember Flitter an’ Cloudchaser dang near pulled all their feathers out while your ‘colleague’ was runnin’ the show here.”

Dash brought a hoof to her face. “Don’t remind me. The point is, their team is like ten times the size we have here and they were in bad shape. But, I had them whipped in under two weeks.” Dash nodded towards the largest of the weather factory awards sitting on the nightstand. “I’m the best weather manager in Equestria and I’m already winning awards.”

“Sure are, sugarcube. Makin’ me an’ all of Ponyville proud.”

“And there’s one more reason.” Dash cuddled back against her wife.

“Oh? What’s that?” Applejack suddenly found herself face to face with Rainbow Dash as the latter twisted around in her embrace.

“You.” Dash pressed her muzzle against AJ’s in a kiss that seemed never to end. “Any time I’d spend out touring with the Wonderbolts is time I wouldn’t get to spend here with you.”

Applejack grinned and traced a hoof over a lightning-cloud cutie mark, eliciting a soft moan. “I think that’s the best reason I heard yet.”

Author's Note

I don't know why I like writing mature!Dash so much. I guess I just like the idea that she hides behind a mask of coolness, except where her significant other can see.

*Celebrity*

*Celebrity*

The hot summer sun beat down on the rickety arena just outside the town of Appleloosa. Rainbow Dash sat in the stands beside three fillies, all four ponies nursing their apple slushies to get some relief from the heat. As they waited for the first event to start, a familiar voice caused Dash to turn her head.

“Yo, Dash! You’re a long way from Ponyville!”

Rainbow smiled and waved her over, indicating the empty seat next to her. “Hey, Spitfire! You’re a long way from Cloudsdale!” After several rounds of cadet training at the Academy, Dash had finally gotten over being starstruck over her hero.

Both mares shared a hoof bump and a wing slap as Spitfire sat down. “All those fillies yours?” Spitfire smirked. The three fillies in question sat stunned, not quite able to share Dash’s casual attitude at having a Wonderbolt address them.

“I’m not that old.” Dash scoffed, sticking out her tongue. “Sweetie Belle is the sister of a friend and best friend to these two. Apple Bloom is my sister-in-law and Scoots here is technically my adopted daughter, but we prefer little sister. Right?” Dash finished the introductions by ruffling Scootaloo’s mane playfully.

“Yup.” Scootaloo grinned wide and stuck her tongue out at Apple Bloom. “No way I’m your niece if I’m three months older.” Apple Bloom pulled a grim face in return while Sweetie Belle just facehoofed at both of them. The two older mares let the fillies playfully squabble amongst themselves as they engaged in conversation again.

“Look at you, all responsible family mare now.” Spitfire said with a smile. “I’m guessing you married into the Apple family.” She indicated Dash’s apple cutie mark ear studs with a hoof. “Who’s the lucky pony?”

Before Rainbow could answer, the murmur of the crowd was cut by the magnified voice of the commentator, bellowing into his megaphone.

“Howdy, y’all, and welcome to the 48th annual Equestria Rodeo Competition! Princess Celestia’s given us one doozy of a bright sun today, so don’t forget ta stop by the concession stands for yer complimentary apple juice and apple slushies in between events! Y’all won’t wanna miss any of the rough and tumble action, of course!

“Now, if y’all direct yer attention to the center ring, our first event today is the Bronco Buck. And, our first competitor is trotting out right now! Hailing all the way from Ponyville, stomp your hooves for the Apple family’s very own Applejack!”

Rainbow Dash, Spitfire, and the three fillies next to them all stomped their hooves and whistled louder than any other pony in the crowd.

“I totally forgot, Applejack is one of your friends, isn’t she?” Spitfire asked, once the noise had died down and everypony was watching as one by one, a line of trained armadillos hopped onto Applejack’s back and were given a very rough ride. Each one was thrown off in record time, bouncing roughly on their hard shells before crawling over to a medical pony waiting with ice packs.

“More than that.” Dash grinned and her smile was as bright as any Pinkie could hope to produce as she twitched her ears, making the apple ear studs glint in the bright sun. “She’s my wife.” Dash’s enthusiasm was only marred by a faintly suspicious look in her eye as she awaited Spitfire’s reaction to the news that she had married another mare.

Spitfire positively squealed in delight and Dash breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh my gosh! Applejack is the whole reason I started following rodeo! Congratulations!” Catching the rapidly changing emotions on Dash’s face, she quickly added, “don’t sweat it, Dash. When you’ve been on the road as much as I have, you learn that just about everything is normal somewhere, so long as nopony is getting hurt by it.”

“Awesome!” Dash beamed as the two mares shared a hoof bump.

They watched as the rest of the contestants were introduced. Most of them were earth ponies, mare and stallion alike, but one pegasus mare as well as a unicorn stallion had entered to try their hooves at the sport as well. Each contestant did their best to buck off the armadillos, but even though the critters were still a bit dizzy from the rough ride Applejack gave them, no pony else could quite match her performance.

“Whoooeee! That sure was excitin’! An’ don’t y’all worry none about them armadillos. Ol’ Doc Hoofmeyer’ll have ‘em patched up in no time. Now, it’s time for a short break while we set up fer the hurdlin’ competition! Ye-haw!”

After a short break for fresh drinks, the two mares and three fillies whistled and stomped enthusiastically as Applejack trotted back out to the arena and took her place at the starting line. She pawed the ground, readying her powerful hindquarters for a fast takeoff at the sound of the whistle. Dash was almost surprised not to see a gold contrail behind her wife as Applejack tore around the oval track, leaping each hurdle with practiced ease.

“So, how long have you been a rodeo fan?”

“A long time now, since just before I became captain. Aside from Applejack, I just got hooked by how passionate all the earth ponies are for it.”

More cheers erupted from the stands, especially from one particular group of five, as Applejack finished the course in record time.

“Well, dang if she ain’t givin’ the other contestants a run fer their money! The judges are tellin’ me that Applejack has just set a new track record!”

Applejack beamed and waved to the crowd before trotting off to the competitor’s break area for some water and shade.

“It’s sort of a shame they don’t get much press coverage, but that’s really a double-edged sword.” Spitfire grimaced and couldn’t help notice Dash doing the same. “So, is that why you haven’t been back to the Academy lately?” Her fiery orange eyes peeked sideways as she sipped her apple slushie.

Dash’s ears immediately drooped. “One of them.” She sipped her drink for a moment, trying to steel herself. “Did you know you’re the reason I always wanted to be a Wonderbolt?”

Spitfire shook her head.

“I remember when you joined the team, you looked so cool, so awesome, so radical. I had posters and magazine clippings of you all over my bedroom walls. I even had an action figure that I took everywhere.” Dash smirked at the stupid grin on Spitfire’s face.

“I never believed any of the nasty stuff the tabloids wrote about you. Heck, I got into a few fights at flight camp over it.” Dash shook her head and laughed at herself. “But, I was still really relieved to find out that most of it wasn’t true.”

“What about the stuff that was?” Spitfire smirked.

“Eh, everypony is a little weird.” Dash shrugged and grinned, then frowned again. “But, that’s the thing. Whether it’s true or not, they still print that garbage. I’ve already had one run in with a gossip column, courtesy of those three.” Dash jerked her head at the three fillies still absorbed in the action down on the track. “That’s twice too many for one lifetime. Especially if it spills over onto AJ and her... our family.”

Spitfire was silent for some time, thinking things over while they watched the rest of the competitors finish out the hurdling competition. During the next break, Spitfire finally spoke.

“I understand, Dash. Heck, I’ve lived that life; I know it isn’t easy.” She put a consoling hoof on Dash’s shoulder. “But, I have an idea.”

“Oh, yeah?” Dash’s ears perked up and she looked inquiringly at her idol.

“Keep this to yourself.” Spitfire leaned in to whisper into Dash’s ear. “I’m going to be retiring as captain pretty soon. Oh, don’t look like that; I’ve had a really good run and I’m not leaving the team just yet.” Spitfire grinned at the look of shock on Dash’s face. “I’m actually moving up the chain to be team manager, and maybe do a guest appearance every now and then.

“That also means I’ll be able to schedule guest fliers.” Spitfire grinned even broader. “Can you think of a better guest than the youngest filly to perform a sonic rainboom who just happens to be an Element of Harmony as well?” Dash grinned in return. “As long as we don’t do it too often, the tabloids will leave you alone.”

“Awesome!”

Author's Note

I borrowed a few elements from bookplayer's Celebrity prompt over in the prompt tag game.

*Fire*

*Fire*

Big Mac sat by the door of the barn, waiting for the noise inside to cease. For nearly an hour, he’d listened to the steady, rhythmic thump of hooves against stuffed canvas. He marvelled for a moment that Applejack’s bucking bag hadn’t been kicked down already, when he heard a different kind of thump.

“Oh, fer Luna’s sake!” Applejack’s voice cried out, followed by a resigned sigh and the sound of canvas being dragged across the wooden floor.

Mac continued his silent vigil until Applejack poked her head out of the barn door.

“Thought I might find ya here.” She let out another sigh. “Reckon ya heard, then.”

“Reckon so.” Big Mac acknowledged her in his low, slow drawl. “Tweren’t hard ta miss.”

Applejack snorted, turning away and hiding behind the brim of her hat.

Big Mac let the silence stretch out for a long while before speaking up again. “Ya ever think yer datin’ the wrong type o’ ponies?”

That earned him a hard glare as Applejack turned fierce, narrowed emerald eyes on him. “You mean mares or pegasi?”

“Pegasi,” he answered coolly. “I don’t reckon pegasus stallions’d be any diff’rent.”

Applejack snorted again. “I can’t help what I like.” Her gaze slowly turned to her own hooves and her posture drooped a bit. “It started out so well, I really thought she mighta been the one loyal enough ta stick.”

Big Mac snorted this time, he hadn’t quite been able to completely contain his laughter. “Her name was Flitter, an’ ya thought she’d stick around?”

Applejack’s fierce glare was back. “Oh, yeah?! Well, I’d like ta see you do better, then.”

Mac blinked his eyes once, returning his sister’s angry glare with a cool, impassive look. “Happens I got my eye on a pegasus myself.”

“You, goin’ after a pegasus?!” Applejack’s jaw nearly dropped right in the dirt. “Who?”

“Miss Rainbow Dash.”

Applejack’s jaw really did hit the dirt at his answer. She got shakily back to her haunches after a moment of shock. “Rainbow Dash?! My friend, Rainbow— Hits on jus’ about every filly— She ain’t inta—” Applejack spluttered, unable to form complete sentences.

“S’not the way I hear it.” Mac shrugged. “Even if she ain’t inta stallions, figure it can’t hurt ta ask anyway.”

“Well, of all the— Fine! Just go and ask Rainbow out, but don’t say I didn’t warn ya!” Applejack stomped off, yelling her parting remark over her shoulder.

Big Mac simply smiled to himself. Normally he disliked being sneaky and underhooved, but sometimes his sister did need to have a fire lit under her.

Attire - V2

“What?! You can’t be serious, darling.”

“Sure am.”

“But it’s not proper attire for a wedding.”

“What’re ya talkin’ about? My brother wore a tuxedo when he got hitched, an’ y’all stitched it with yer own hooves.”

“Alright, you have a point. But it’s not proper attire for a lady!”

That earned her a silent, piercing glare.

“Fine, fine. One I can understand, I suppose, but both of you, really?”

“Look Rarity, when you’re the one gettin’ hitched, y’all can wear whatever sort of fancy, frou-frouy dress y’all like. But me an’ RD don’t kin ta none of that. Now, are ya gonna make us two tuxedos or should I go tell RD we’re gettin’ married naked? Either way works fer us.”

“Very well, Applejack. Two tuxedos, but I maintain that it’s a waste of two fine mare-ish figures.”

Applejack’s eyes widened as Rarity sighed deeply and began to take her measurements. “Y’all didn’t never strike me as the type ta appreciate mares like that.”

“‘Didn’t never’?” Rarity scoffed, shaking her head. “Well, no. I quite prefer stallions and their charms. But in my line of work, one does require an appreciation of beauty in either gender, and mares especially, which can lead to acquiring an occasional taste for those charms as well.”

Applejack smirked. “Ya’ll hankerin’ fer a taste, then?”

Rarity blushed a deep red. “I never said that, darling. I simply think that you and Rainbow Dash have very nice figures which should be accentuated, not hidden under stallion’s attire.”

“Why thank ya kindly, I’ll be sure ta tell RD ya’ll said that.” She winked. “Should make her fitting a bit more interestin', don’tcha think?”

Rarity cringed and dropped her measuring tape with a gasp, knowing full well the torrent of jokes and comments about ‘checking out’ Rainbow Dash’s figure she would have to endure if that comment reached the pegasus’ ears. "You wouldn't!"

"I think I might. Fittin' compensation fer that prank ya'll an' Pinkie pulled ta get us ta fess up." Applejack smirked.

“50 bits and you don’t say a word to Rainbow.” Rarity hissed.

“100”

“75”

“Done. Pleasure ta do business with ya.”

Apple - V2

“Don’tcha think this is gonna be kinda weird?” Apple Bloom asked.

“What? No, it’ll be great. We hang out all the time anyway, right?” Scootaloo looked up from the forms she was filling out. “It’ll be like a permanent sleepover!”

“I guess so, but how much longer ya gonna be filling those out?” Apple Bloom was sprawled out on her belly in the middle of the clubhouse floor.

“I dunno. Heck, I dunno what half of them are even for, but Mayor Mare insisted I do them all myself.” Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “Besides, Dash and your sister have a pile twice this big.”

A white unicorn filly hopped through the clubhouse door in the middle of the conversation. “Hey girls, what’s going on?”

Apple Bloom scooted across the floor of the clubhouse on her chin, propelled by her hind legs. “Nothin’. Scoots has all them forms ta fill out, so no crusadin’ today.” Sweetie Belle couldn’t help but recognize boredom when she saw it.

“Forms?” Sweetie loomed up behind her pegasus friend and stared over her shoulder, reading the name Scootaloo Dash Apple printed at the head of the stack of papers. “Oh, you’re making it official? Congratulations, Scootaloo!”

“Heh, thanks.” Scootaloo grinned wide over her shoulder at the unicorn hugging her, but it was cut short by the mischievous look she suddenly caught in Apple Bloom’s eye. “Uh, Apple Bloom?.. What’s that look for?”

“I just thought of something.” The earth filly grinned, standing up straight. “If Applejack is my sister an’ Rainbow Dash is her wife, an’ they’re adoptin’ ya, is that gonna make ya my niece?”

Scootaloo gulped while Sweetie Belle joined in Apple Boom’s cackling laughter. “Okay, now it’s kinda weird.”