One Stormy Afternoon

Chapters

Part 1, Chapter 1 -- "All Year Long..."
Part 1, Chapter 2 -- "Rain on Your Parade"
Part 1, Chapter 3 -- "Close Friends"
Part 2, Chapter 1 -- "Under the Bed"
Part 2, Chapter 2 -- "The Filly VS the Mare"
Part 2, Chapter 3 -- "Alternative Expressions"
Part 3, Chapter 1 -- "Through the Storm"
Part 3, Chapter 2 -- "The Turn Around"
Part 3, Chapter 3 -- "Triangle in a Box"
Part 3, Chapter 4 -- "Fun & Games"
Part 4, Chapter 1 -- "After the Storm"
Part 4, Chapter 4 -- "Late Night Chase"
Part 4, Chapter 3 -- "Noble Cause"
Part 4, Chapter 2 -- "Coming Back"

Part 1, Chapter 1 -- "All Year Long..."

Part 1
"Anticipation"

"All Year Long..."
1

"Come on, Rainbow Dash!" Exclaimed Pinkie Pie's jubilant voice. "We're going to be late!"

"Gah..." Rainbow stretched, slowly opening her eyes and looking around the confines of their dark tent. "Pinkie, what time is it?"

"About 5 in the morning!" The pink mare unzipped the tent and bounded outside with some balloons. "Come on, Dashie! Stay in bed and you forfeit your place in line! You don't want to go without Apple Jack's super-duper fantastic tasting cider, do you?"

"No..." Dash rolled over and stretched. "I just... need a moment!"

"Whew!" The hyperactive mare bounded around the tent. "There are some ponies here already, Dashie, but no pony cut in line at least! We're bound to get ours-"

Pinkie was cut short:

"Faster than two shakes of a Pinkie's tail?"

"Uh-huh."

Dash exited the tent and looked around. It was still dark outside, but she could see that there were still only three ponies ahead and at least thirty new ponies behind. She smiled a cocky smile, stopping her mare friend mid-bounce:

"You know what, Pinkie Pie? It was worth it."

"Well, duh! Now you're sure to get your cider, silly!"

Rainbow Dash rubbed her hooves together:

"They'll be opening in a half hour... I don't want to sleep now."

Dash put away the tent while Pinkie entertained those ponies both behind and in front of them. It took Rainbow Dash only seconds to get everything secured. She looked into the sky above and sighed:

I hope Thunderlane knows what he's doing up there. There are lots of other ponies I'd rather have left in charge...

It was Thunderlane's first day being left in charge of the Ponyville Weather Patrol. Unfortunately, no other experienced Pegasai were available that morning (they all liked cider, too) and Rainbow had been up the previous night with these same thoughts... part of her wanted to have skipped today's activities, but it was too late for that now.

* * *

As the sun peeked over the horizon, Dash's taste buds were primed for AJ's cider. She was so excited she could fly laps around the farm house... but if she did, her spot would be forfeited. She'd normally just be getting here by now... it was likely they'd run out before she even tasted it if she couldn't control herself.

First pony she saw was Big Mac, setting up the tables and bringing out the mugs. Setting up was a task he did every year -- he worked with practiced speed, yet at his usual relaxed pace. Dash grew antsy... even antsier than Pinkie Pie.

Apple Jack came out, stretching her hooves, with Granny Smith and Apple Bloom right behind. AJ addressed the crowd with her usual, confident grin:

"Thank you all fer comin'! This year's season produced an especially sweet product. Strong, too!" She looked into the mob, now ninety ponies long, and sat behind the table. "Quite the crowd today! Ah hope everypony gets the chance to enjoy it! In a matter of moments we'll be open for business."

Rainbow Dash could hardly wait. She stomped at the ground, snorting, as she stared with anticipation at the barrels both big and small. One was taken from the stack and placed by the table; her mouth hung open as its spigot was opened. Pinkie was right beside her, looking just as eager.

With the push of a button and the jingle of their register, the cider table was finally open for business. Both ponies nearly fell over.

Never before had a line with just just three ponies ahead seemed like it was taking so long...

"I'm going to buy, like, five things of cider!" Exclaimed Dash, her mouth watering.

"Me, too, at least!"

The first pony bought two containers of cider and left... the second pony, same deal. Just a couple mugs, no more. Third pony... took her time deciding. Rainbow Dash was not amused:

"Come on, already! You should know by now! You've had all year!"

Sighing, the tan mare ignored the impatient Pegasus and made her selection, stepping aside with a mug in both hooves.

After all the wait it was finally their turn, and both ponies couldn't be more excited! Grinning ear-to-ear, Dash turned towards Pinkie, feeling her friend's eyes on her back. The Pegasus's smile quickly faded after she saw the two pleading blue orbs looking right back at her... a set of pink, pouty lips beneath them. In exchange for inviting the cyan Pegasus to wait with her, in her tent, enjoying her games and snacks before hitting the hay in anticipation of this big day... Rainbow reluctantly motioned with a hoof, allowing the pink mare to go first.

"Aww, thanks Dashie!" Exclaimed Pinkie, bouncing up to the counter.

Apple Jack raised an eyebrow in surprise as the impatient cyan pony twiddled her hooves behind the pink Earth Pony... this was completely unlike Rainbow Dash. Especially at cider time. Briefly feeling AJ's eyes on her, Rainbow just shrugged and tried to look indifferent.

Pinkie made her decision very quickly for Dash's sake and placed an order that surprised even the orange farm pony, who knew her well:

"I'll have a small keg and a mug for the road, pretty please," she said, setting a massive fifty Bit shower in front of the register. Apple Jack just stared at her... this was not the usual mountain of mugs she would be ordering. "What?" Pinkie giggled innocently. "This time I wanna be savoring your sweet cider for weeks from now, silly, not all at once!"

Apple Jack, bemused, trotted over to her brother and nodded. He walked over to the stack of kegs and selected one for the pink mare. He pulled a smaller keg from the side, set it on his back, and brought it over to Pinkie with little effort. He set it on the ground and tugged on the back revealing a little rope handle so it could more easily be dragged by the mare like luggage on the ground:

"Thank you kindly fer your business, Miss Pinkie Pie!" He said with a smile, passing the keg and mug to the mare, who immediately drank the latter in one gulp.

"Oh, thank you!" She replied, wiping the froth away from her lips.

As Pinkie pulled the keg out of the way with surprising ease, Dash stepped forward and placed an order:

"I'll take five of your ciders!" She exclaimed, setting down a couple week's savings of fifteen Bits. "I've been waiting all year for this!"

"And it's a high quality cider," Apple Jack added, with her usual smug grin. "Strong, too. I think that might be too much for you in one go, Sugarcube. How 'bout you buy a half small keg for just five Bits more? That way you can take it home!"

"You're talking to Ponyville's greatest athlete," boasted Rainbow Dash. "I've got the metabolism of a cheetah! Downing 5 ciders will be no problem."

"Alright, then, hun, but don't say I didn't warn ya!" AJ found herself gesturing to Big Mac as she got a mug. "We're liable run out shortly after this one... get another while Ah take care'a her."

Dash watched as AJ got a mug, filled it up, and handed it to her. She immediately drank it down in one gulp and was blasted off into the sky with sheer, intense pleasure. It was sweet, tangy, and strong. Very strong. Apple Jack smiled as she handed over another mug which was immediately downed by the enthralled Pegasus. Pacing around and around, she kicked the air in ecstasy, wings fluttering. Lost in the moment, she smashed into the larger red farm pony as he brought out the next keg:

"Woah! Woah! Woah! WOAH!" He exclaimed frantically as he struggled with it in vain, ultimately dropping it to the ground.

The container split open, its contents immediately seeping into the Equestrian soil. Dash froze... slowly looking up at the Apple Family. None of them, not even Apple Jack, looked remotely sympathetic. Big Mac stared sadly into the dirt, whereas every Apple else's eyes were on her.

* * *

"Rainbow Dash!" Hissed Granny Smith, turning bright red. "Look at what your tom foolery did this time! Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

"... sorry?"

Apple Jack sighed:

"Sorry ain't good enough this time, Rainbow... I think maybe it'd be best if you left for right now."

Rainbow's eyes went wide in surprise. She'd never done anything bad enough to get kicked off the Apple farm.

"B-but I can pay for that..." She said, trying to pick up the broken pieces of barrel while Big Mac still stared into it. "J-just gimme a couple of weeks!"

"We certainly appreciate it, Rainbow," Apple Jack began, "but we have ta keep the line--"

Big Mac cut AJ short as he pulled the loose bits of wood from Pegasus's hooves and turned to her, stone-faced as always:

"You've done enough helpin' already! Just git goin' before Ah lose ma temper!"

Big Mac and Granny Smith stared angrily at the pensive Pegasus, and she scowled right back. Even Apple Bloom looked mad. They kept the stare going for a few seconds, until Dash broke the silence, opening her wings:

"Well, fine then! Who needs you?"

Slowly, but surely, she took off. Her face looked angry, but on the inside was a different story... she wanted to cry. She flew quickly, so that if she did... the Apple family wouldn't have seen. As she approached the end of the line, Rainbow heard a little, muffled, high-pitched voice:

"Dashie! Wait!" It was Pinkie Pie, plain as day. From the sound of her voice, she was pulling something while moving very quickly "Slow down! Dashie!"

Rainbow turned around and slowed her pace, but still continued to move far away from the table. Her jaw nearly dropped as, rump-first, the pink mare approached her at an alarming rate of speed.

"Pinkie Pie! You- you're really fast!"

"Well, of course I am, silly! I got the need for speed when it comes pranking!" Pinkie took in some air. "Dashie, can we stop?"

They were a good ten yards from the end of the line. Dash put her hooves into the dirt and sighed, looking up into the sky while shaking her head:

"Could today get any worse? I get kicked off my best friend's farm and her whole family hates me!"

Pinkie did her best to reassure her now ciderless, cyan friend, while still catching her breath:

"They don't hate you! That was an accident! They just need time to cool down. There's lots we can still do today to have fun... and not everypony's here. I know! Let's go pranking! That'll make you feel better."

Dash smirked:

"You know what, Pinkie Pie? That doesn't sound like a bad idea. I'll help you carry that heavy thing while we're at it."

Pinkie smiled back, standing up tall on all hooves:

"Woo-hoo! That's my Dashie!"

Without another word, the two turned away from the line... which was growing longer by the minute. The very back of the line was full of impatient, antsy-looking ponies... they were worried they'd come too late, and the sun was only barely coming up. Dash felt glad she'd come early enough to dodge all that.

They left, heading off into the sunrise... towards Ponyville. Their laughter could be heard in the distance, deep into the line, even over the sound of the dragging keg. As promised, the ponies switched back and forth on their way... whichever one was talking, the other one was dragging the keg. As they approached the road, Dash saw a rolling tumbleweed and got hit by a bit of inspiration:

"Pinkie Pie, this isn't working," she said. "I have an idea... it'll take some careful balance, but I think we can pull it off. Plus it'll be loads of fun."

Pinkie Pie grinned:

"Ohh! What is it? What is it?"

Dash offered her a hoof, putting the handle back into the keg:

"Listen to me very carefully, and we'll really get this thing moving!"

Part 1, Chapter 2 -- "Rain on Your Parade"

"Rain on Your Parade”
2

The streets of Ponyville were quiet, even for early morning. The sound of Carrot Top's watering can could be heard from across the street. The few early birds who didn't go to the Acres welcomed the silence.

Wearing an elegant robe, Rarity slowly cantered out from her Boutique. She looked into the dawn sky and sighed, as a yawning Sweetie Belle came up beside her. Turning to look back at her sleepy-headed little sister, the posh Unicorn grinned.

"We missed the sunrise, Rarity," pouted Sweetie Belle.

"Tomorrow is another day, Sweetie," Rarity assured her sister, putting a foreleg around her. "Cider sales are a Ponyville Holiday, after all... don't stay up late again tonight and perhaps we'll see it then."

As the Unicorn hugged her little sister and kissed her forehead, she thought she heard something... a strange grinding noise in the distance. She perked an ear, now hearing the laughter of two mares along with it. She was most certain she not imagining this -- the sound grew quickly in intensity and volume.

Sweetie Belle turned her head just in time to see something very large -- both round and pony-shaped -- come up over the hill near their home at blistering speeds. Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash passed them in a blur, leaving Rarity shaking her head in disbelief. Sweetie Belle tried to wave, but they were long gone by the time she even put up her hoof.

Pinkie and Rainbow took turns riding the keg like two lumberjacks in competition. Their pace was quick and effortless; Celestia's sun had only barely risen when they made it to the bakery.

The duo was excited to be making the best of the day. All they had to do was drop the keg off in Pinkie's room, then they could put this whole mess at the farm behind themselves...

* * *

Unlocking the bakery door with a big key, Pinkie turned to her cyan friend and smiled.

"Um... where are the Cakes?" Rainbow Dash asked, as she noticed all the lights were all out. "They'd normally just be opening up about now, wouldn't they?

"Oh, they're out at a convention," Pinkie replied, pulling the keg in. "And they won't be back until tomorrow afternoon! They even took the little Cakes with them in case they weren't able to find a sitter. We're completely home alone."

"Why wouldn't they be able to find a sitter?" Rainbow Dash asked, shutting the door and locking it up tight.

"'cause of Cider Season, duh! "No pony's usually available but lil ol' Pinkie... and they wanted to give me the day off so I can go out and enjoy it."

Rainbow helped her to the stairs, grinning at the thought:

"Well, that's pretty cool of them."

They began ascending the stairs with the keg, Pinkie pulling and Dash pushing. They made such a great team that neither of them had to tell the other to push, pull, or stop. They were even able to carry on their conversation without much of a problem:

"They are pretty awesome bosses. The best I've ever had!"

"Pinkie, they're the only bosses you've ever had," Rainbow smirked. "Unless you count your parents back on that rock farm."

"You know I don't like talking about that, Dashie," Pinkie Pie said, her grin quickly turning into a grimace.

They came to a sudden stop. Though Rainbow continued to push, it was too awkward to continue without Pinkie's help. Looking over the side of the keg, Dash could see her friend's face plain as day. Pinkie's expression was unreadable, her eyes glazed over as if daydreaming. Dash then felt her grip start to loosen...

Without thinking, Rainbow Dash put her weight against the bottom of the keg. She knew deep down that she was too low to hold the keg up on her own, and it would probably just topple over her if Pinkie let go. Just as the Pegasus felt the keg begin to tilt, Pinkie snapped back to herself, and began pulling it up the last couple steps on her own.

"And yeah! Now that I think about it, I'd still call them my best bosses ever."

Wide-eyed, Rainbow didn't dare argue this time. She cautiously stepped around the barrel and helped push it to the side of Pinkie's bed.

* * *

At first Dash kept an ear open to hear what Pinkie was going to say next. She was naturally worried she might have struck a nerve, but all the pink mare did was sit down beside the bed and go "whew!" wiping the sweat off her brow. Dash was hot and tired from lifting the keg, too, so she did the same. The cider both ponies had drunk made them feeling light, but far from tipsy. Together they looked out the window at the morning sky.

"Those're pretty pink clouds, Dashie," Pinkie said, looking out as the Pegasai above gathered darker clouds, turning the sky nearly red.

Dash focused on the weather for the first time since her falling out with the Apple family. She couldn't believe what she was seeing on this, of all days, the first cider sale of the Season:

Thunderlane, you feather brain! She thought, looking out into the red skies with Pinkie. Even you should know "Red skies in Morning..." I hope you're not doing what I think you're doing.

One closer look into the clouds confirmed it... Rainbow's eyes grew wide for a split second before she closed them, rubbing her temples in frustration. She then sighed:

"Pinkie, I'm sorry to say... it's going to storm soon."

"How do you know that?" The pink mare responded, giggling. "Did your Dashie Senses tell you?"

"No," Rainbow Dash replied, rolling her eyes. "But my weather pony sense did..." She recited the full adage. "'Red Skies in Morning, Sailors Take Warning.' Red skies mean the weather teams are gathering storm clouds Pinkie... I learned that a long time ago in Weather School."

"Aww... but that'll ruin our fun."

"Yeah, it will, and a lot of other ponies fun, too... but we might be able to make it out for a little while if we hurry." Dash smirked at her pink friend, giving her a noogie. "But I think first I have to go have a heart-to-heart talk with Thunderlane about this."

"Aww, please don't be mean, Dashie. I'd hate to think of you hurting one of your co-worker's feelings over a little rain."

"Oh, I won't..." Dash rubbed her hooves together with an evil smirk. "I just want to know what, in the wide, wide world of Equesteria he thinks he's doing up there."

Without another sound Rainbow got up, opened Pinkie's window, glanced back at her with a smile, then flew out in a flash. Pinkie watched as her rainbow-maned friend trailed up into the wild, blue yonder.

* * *

Rainbow Dash flew higher and higher in no time. She had no clue what Thunderlane was thinking, but she was about to find out. Up, up she went, until she was looking at the largest team in the sky... beside them the dark, cyan-maned stallion leading, holding her clipboard. She approached the team and set her hooves firmly on the cloud, looking their leader right in the eye:

"Thunderlane! What the hay is wrong with you!?!"

"I'm happy to see you, too, Rainbow Dash," Thunderlane replied, looking a bit shaken up from Dash's entrance but still managing to keep his composure. "What brings you to Cloudsdale on this, your one requested day off all year?"

"You're going to make it storm on the first day of cider sales!"

Thunderlane rubbed his face with a hoof.

"I know what I'm doing, Rainbow Dash," he said, calmly, passing her his clipboard. "And we've been setting it up for the past two hours. I have orders... see?"

Rainbow looked at the clipboard. It had on it the usual instructions for her team -- temperature, humidity, wind power, and visibility for the day. She noticed, however, that a few of the words on the clipboard were smudged. She immediately addressed Thunderlane about this:

"Why's it look all smudged and runny in places?"

Again, Thunderlane rubbed his face with a hoof and blushed:

"Derpy volunteered to 'assist' me this morning, instead of being on Cloudbusting Patrol, and was responsible for bringing me my clipboard..." He chuckled nervously. "I think she's got a crush on me. Anywho, she clumsily flew through a cloud and got my instructions all wet. They're still readable, though, so no harm done." He laughed. "Pity the instructions aren't smudge proof!"

Workers gathered around as Dash continued to read the daily plans for weather, flipping through pages. For the most part it was still quite readable, and from the feel of things Thunderlane was interpreting the instructions pretty well. A few letters were smudged, words were a bit hard to read here and there, but any pony with the tiniest bit of knowledge about the weather could easily fill in the blanks, even Apple Jack. Numbers were still legible, and that's what mattered. Dash got to the last page with special instructions for the day. They were wet, but easily readable: Make it storm at 7:00 BM until 2:00 DM.

"Thunderlane," Dash said, smirking at all of her co-workers who had gathered around. "I think you misread this. It says make it rain at 7:00 PM until 2:00 AM. That's tonight... ponies will be at home then so it'll be okay. It's an easy mistake to make..."

Several larger, slower-looking weather Pegasai started laughing at their leader. Thunderlane's name was being whispered by a few others, followed by the words "told ya," and "he so totally doesn't know what he's doing," and "Rainbow Dash set him straight!" Dash ate this up... they wanted her to lead.

Thunderlane looked at his plans, hoofing through them, then up at Dash. His tail twitched in irritation as his eyes flitted in the direction of the whispering, but his head remained facing Rainbow. He sighed deeply... appearing ready to admit the error, but he didn't:

"I am not misunderstanding, Rainbow Dash," he said, confidently, turning the clipboard back towards her. "You are. See? It says 7:00 AM until 2 PM. That's what we're doing."

"Thunderlane," Dash said, trying to keep calm. "This doesn't make any sense! You'll be raining all over ponies and ruining Apple Jack's first cider sale! She'll be furious at us... and I've already made her whole family mad enough for one day, trust me."

"I'm just following orders," he said, turning back to his co-workers and motioning for them to get back to work with a hoof. "Apple Jack can pack up and try again tomorrow..."

"Hey, if you're not sure just message Control and we can-"

"Rainbow Dash, I am completely sure," he said with authority, as he turned towards his Pegasai and resumed directing them with his hooves. "If you message them for me you'll just be going over my head and, you know that's not cool. Your expertise is appreciated, but I can handle it."

Dash heard a roaring screech in her left ear as she face-hoofed in frustration, ready to scream.

"Alright, Thunderlane," she said, turning away. "But if Apple Jack or some other pony writes the Weather Station an angry letter, which I know they're going to... you're going get it. Not me, not Derpy. The best you can hope for is that they just never put you in charge again."

"That's not going to happen," The stallion replied, not bothering to look in Dash's direction any longer. "Or if it does, it won't matter. I'm sure there's a reason they want me to do this today. Have a nice rest of the day!"

Rainbow didn't even hear him wishing her well... she was already gone, headed back towards Pinkie Pie's.

* * *

Rainbow Dash could have screamed at this point as she headed down towards the Sugar Cube Corner at almost full speed. How could Thunderlane possibly be that dense? She didn't know whether or not she was letting him dig his own grave or had just given up trying to reason with him. in a day it would all be over, but she knew at least Apple Jack would be quite unhappy. She stopped in midair:

Apple Jack already hurt me, she thought. She threw me off her farm... Maybe this is good payback for that?

She shook her head, gritting her teeth:

"What am I thinking!?! She's my best friend! I love her!" Dash resumed heading towards Ponyville. "At least I might have half an hour to prank with Pinkie Pie... if I get there soon enough."

Dash was now racing towards the ground below. Once she was low enough to make out the individual ponies' color she slowed down and drifted towards the Corner... where Pinkie's window was still open.

"Pinkie, I'm back!" Rainbow said, floating through the window. "Ready for some pranking?"

"Wow, Dashie!" Exclaimed Pinkie from her bed, holding up the empty mug she must've still had on hoof from earlier. "You took so long I thought I'd try some of my cider." The pink mare belched. "It's really good! I got a keg... so I want you to have few mugs with me to make up for the ones you didn't get filled."

The Pegasus took one look at Pinkie and smirked... she was quite tipsy. Not yet drunk, but closing in on it.

"Uh, no thanks Pinkie... that's your cider." Dash chuckled. "How many have you had?"

"Oh, just three," Pinkie replied, sloppily pouring herself another. "I normally get five, just like you wanted, and might get a little extra silly by the end."

Rainbow Dash had already had two ciders and hardly felt a thing. Pinkie Pie was definitely a light weight by comparison... even though she weighed a good twenty pounds more than her athletic friend.

"You sure you don't want any?" Pinkie asked, looking down at her mug. "You can have this one."

If it'll keep you from drinking it, Dash thought, as she approached and gently took the mug from Pinkie.

"Whew! That's my Dashie!"

Rainbow proceeded to drink the fresh, tangy, strong cider... and moaned in ecstasy. It was the best of Apple Jack's cider since, well... ever.

"It's better than I ever remembered!" exclaimed Pinkie, filling up a different mug she pulled out of nowhere. "One more!"

Rainbow Dash nearly spit her cider everywhere, but managed to gulp it down quickly in a way that really hurt her throat. Pinkie was already drinking her new mug down and by the end was wearing a cider beard. She smiled at Dash as she offered to refill her mug. The Pegasus already knew this was probably the way they were going to spend their morning...

"Pinkie Pie..." Rainbow Dash chuckled, passing her the mug. "You are so random!"

Author's Note

I origionally stopped writing this at the end of Part 1, Chapter 1 for about 6 months. I think the mood shifts a bit due to the time between starting and stopping.

Part 1, Chapter 3 -- "Close Friends"

3
"Close Friends"

The two mares had gulped down so many ciders they were beginning to lose count. Rainbow's throat burned yet again, as she wasn't even used to soda... let alone so many hard drinks back-to-back. This cider was, in fact, quite strong.

“Beat ya again, Dashie!” Pinkie exclaimed, with a hiccup.

The defeated mare finished her drink slowly, wiping the froth away from her mouth. She frowned, now fully regretting ever accepting this challenge. She watched Pinkie clumsily refill her own mug.

“That you did, Pinkie,” Rainbow finally said, passing her mug to her friend, who promptly filled it. “That you di- HEY! I just wanted you to put it away.”

“Opps, sorry!” Pinkie giggled. “Hope you don't mind another one! I can always drink it, if you don't want-”

Rainbow quickly took it:

“No, no. Maybe one more... but only one, okay?”

“Okee!”

By this time almost half the keg was gone, both ponies having drunk their fair share.

Rainbow Dash was grinning ear-to-ear. Maybe it was the cider, maybe it was Pinkie... she felt calm ever since her trip back from Cloudsdale. Her reasons for being mad, which had felt so intense not even an hour before, had melted away. Thunderlane? He was way too far away to care about now. Not going pranking? She might have admitted she was feeling a tiny bit disappointed about that... but it was a certain pink pony she really wanted to spend time with. She was with Pinkie now, so what did it matter? They could always go out some other time.

Though she wouldn't have admitted it... Rainbow Dash was feeling a tiny bit intoxicated. She would definitely have said Pinkie was drunk, if some pony was there to ask. Had Twilight been there, she would have shaken her head and said something along the lines of “alcohol dulls even the most alert pony's senses!”

That Unicorn would have been so right...

Outside it had been pouring for a while, yet despite cool breeze coming through the opened window, neither pony stirred. Thunder rumbled and crashed off in the distance, jarring both ponies out of their warm haze. Now finally hearing the rain, Dash slipped off the bed.

“It's about time!" She said, staring out the window. "I'm surprised it wasn't raining earlier.”

Pinkie Pie nodded, having not heard it up to that point either.

* * *

Other than drinking, the two had been joking and playing games the whole time. The more they drank, the funnier everything seemed... to a point.

Rainbow Dash was feeling a little bit too fuzzy-headed to come up with any jokes on her own, so as she stared out at the falling rain Pinkie Pie resumed telling jokes. Even though Dash wasn't in the mood anymore she pretended to listen. Pinkie told a few knock-knock jokes that she had made up herself a few weeks earlier:

“Hey Dashie?"

"What?"

"Knock-knock!”

“... who's there?”

“Daring.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes, continuing to stare out the window:

“... daring who?”

“It's Daring Do, silly!”

The Pegasus had heard them all before, especially that one. She laughed and humored her friend, though... knowing that Pinkie had probably just forgotten.

Rainbow Dash slipped back on the bed. Both ponies realized they had somehow ended up with another full mug waiting for them.... Pinkie had filled them both without even thinking. At least this time it was mostly froth. The drunk Pegasus swore this would be her last one, while Pinkie downed what little cider was in hers with one gulp.

Appreciating the sweet tang of her drink, Pinkie let out a happy sigh. She felt an odd sensation on her chest and chin, so she looked down and giggled. She was wearing a cider beard big enough to make even her own, yee olde rock farming Papa quite proud. Rainbow took one look and burst into laughter:

“You look just like my grand father!” She exclaimed. Barely able to control herself, Dash looked over at Pinkie... squishing her face with both hooves into a wrinkly shape resembling something not that far off from Granny Smith. “Darling Pegasai of ninety-seven years,” she began slowly, a slight quaver in her voice. “It's raining again. Should'en we batten down the hatches and take count of th' youngin's?”

In response Pinkie stuck her tongue out, licking away the cider mustache. She thought hard, searching for something meaningful to say...

”I dunno!”

The two mares nearly fell over laughing. When Rainbow Dash finally looked over again, she found Pinkie staring at her... motionless as a staute, still wearing that cider beard. She ruffled Pinkie's mane and looked back into her eyes, grinning. Pinkie grinned right back. Both ponies narrowed their eyes, neither having to say "staring contest" for it to begin. Pinkie would almost always win, but how it would pan out now in their drunken state was a mystery to them both.

Dash opened the contest by adding some flare, pulling back the corners of her mouth to reveal her flat teeth and gums. She let her tongue fall loosely to the side, making making slurred nomming sounds as if she was a foal eating something soft and mushy. Pinkie responded by squishing her own face with her hooves, managing somehow to keep the entire beard intact. She looked like she had no mouth and a massive brow.

Given the cider coursing through their veins, it was almost certain one of them would crack... they held still, keeping their silly faces for what felt like eons, but actually was less than a minute.

Pinkie Pie found she couldn't control herself anymore. It started with a tiny twitch and went from there. Much like a mirror, she cracked, then shattered... exploding into laughter, literally laughing her beard off.

Dash may have lost the drinking contest, but she won the staring contest. The score was now 1 to 1. The cyan mare floated up into the air, basking in the cheers of an imaginary audience. She couldn't keep her composure either... and settled back on the bed, laughing.

The room felt like it was spinning. The drunken mares fell off the bed at the same time, their heads colliding with a soft thunk on the way down. Leaning up against the mattress for support, they giggled. It took a moment for their heads to throb, but they were perfectly fine... at least fine enough to laughed about it.

Even though almost nothing had gone to plan the entire morning, it was turning out to be a pretty awesome day. It also turning out to be a pretty fuzzy day, but neither pony minded that.

* * *

Pinkie stretched out beside her cyan gal pal:

“I'm not sad we didn't go pranking today, Dashie,” she said, beaming a grin, while rubbing her head. “I'm just happy to be here with you!”

In response Rainbow put a foreleg around Pinkie's shoulders and sighed:

“Well, the day's not over yet, Pinkie! By mid-afternoon there won't be a cloud in the sky... maybe by that time Thunderlane will be getting chewed out by both AJ and the Weather Station.”

The drunken pink pony looked into her friend's eyes sadly:

“It's really not nice to be happy when your co-worker is in trouble, Dashie. It's actually kind of mean...”

“Hey, he asked for it,” Rainbow replied, without a lick of remorse in her voice. “Twilight would say its 'schada-fraud'... 'shata-freed' ... 'shire-frodo' ... Oh, you know what I mean! No pony up there's going to vouch for him, anyway. Not even Derpy! He sealed his own fate.”

Pinkie giggled, turning towards the window:

“Well, when you put it that way... it does sounds like he made a pretty silly mistake.”

“Did he ever!” Rainbow chuckled as Pinkie fell into her foreleg and sighed. “He ruined the best day of the year!”

Now it was Rainbow's turn to not be entirely understood by Pinkie. She just didn't have the energy or desire to continue this conversation, so she just giggled. Dash rolled her eyes... typical, random Pinkie Pie.

They were content for the time being with just listening to the rain, anyway. It was soothing, the clouds adding an almost bluish cast to the otherwise bright and vibrant room. Even with almost a gallon of cider between them, the weather made the spring morning seem somewhat cold... huddled together they could keep warm.

Pinkie snugged tight into Dash, enjoying her friend's body heat. Both mares looked into each other's eyes and giggled. As thunder rumbled off in the distance, Pinkie Pie got a little more comfortable. Her head was now resting down by Rainbow's heart. The Pegasus patted her tenderly.

Pinkie Pie then nuzzled in and upwards, towards the sensitive nape of Rainbow's neck. Though it tickled her only slightly, Dash received a pretty clear message. Her eyes, which had been previously drawn into relaxed slits, went wide. As Pinkie snuggled in even tighter and let out a sigh, Dash froze...

Did Pinkie just come on to me? She thought. She just nuzzled me like I nuzzle Apple Jack when we have our special, just the two of us sleepovers!

Rainbow wasn't entirely sure what had just happened, and naturally couldn't think straight in her current state.

End of Part 1

Part 2, Chapter 1 -- "Under the Bed"

Part 2
"Fun and Games"

1
“Under the Bed”

Before Rainbow Dash could even begin to process what was happening, Pinkie Pie rose to her hooves and padded off towards her vanity... where she grabbed her pet Gummy.

Gummy the Gator usually gave Dash the creeps, but she never said anything. He was tiny and green, his short legs could move him fast as she could fly, and when he wasn't moving he was still as any other random object in Pinkie's room. She also tended to not see him unless he was right in front of her, and even then... His pale purple, independently blinking eyes always made her skin crawl. He was Pinkie's pet, though, so she had to tolerate him. As Pinkie bent down to get him, Dash got a look at her... mare bits.

Going along with Rainbow's first thoughts, her personal bits were indeed... a bit swollen and moist. With Pinkie by the window, the cool breeze wafting her warm scent in Dash's direction, the Pegasus took in some air through her nose. This was enough for her to be sure. Pinkie Pie was aroused, therefore the only logical conclusion Rainbow could make was that Pinkie Pie was coming on to her.

"Come back here, Pinkie Pie," Rainbow said, patting on the floor. "Sit with me for a while."

Bringing Gummy over and setting him on the bed, Pinkie did just that... again, snuzzling right into Rainbow's side and happily sighing.

"Pinkie Pie," Rainbow began slowly. "Let's talk. I've always kind of liked you..."

Pinkie giggled:

"And I've always liked you!"

Rainbow chuckled, looking down at her friend with a grin. Pinkie looked up, her eyes twinkling innocently in the faint light. Sighing and unable to think straight, the Pegasus thought maybe a more physical demonstration was in order.

She kissed the top of Pinkie's head, gently and slowly at first, barely touching it. Pinkie wriggled on the floor in response, snuggling in tighter. Dash held her securely and kissed her on the side of the face. Pinkie responded, again, by smiling and giggling. This was surely a sign Dash was reading her right... so she started rubbing her back rhythmically, pulling her in even tighter.

"Uh, Dashie... what're you doing?"

"It's okay," Rainbow replied, again rubbing Pinkie's back, this time a bit lower. "You don't have to pretend anymore. Just go with it!"

"Um... okee!"

Dash and Pinkie looked each other in the eyes again, Dash's rubbing now getting a little bit closer to Pinkie's softer parts. She leaned in, lips together, as she rubbed lower and lower... towards Pinkie's tiny, adorable rump. She finally touched it. It was just as squishy as she imagined, but it wasn't to last...

"No!" Pinkie cried, pulling back sharply.

Pinkie looked as though tears could start welling up in her eyes at any moment, instantly pulling Dash out of her trance.

* * *

Rainbow Dash removed her hooves and instinctively put them where they could both be seen.

"Uh,” she said, trying to keep from getting upset herself. "What- what just happened?"

"Did you think I," Pinkie began, smiling uncomfortably. "Wanted to... you know?"

Dash nodded before she could even think to stop herself.

Pinkie's eyes dropped to the floor as she thought about everything in her own drunken, fuzzy way.

"You and AJ,” she began. “You like each other the same way the Cakes like each other... don't you?"

Rainbow put a hoof to the back of her head, searching for the words carefully. They alluded her in the fog... so she just winged it:

"Kind of... We're not, you know, married and everything, but we're an off and on kind of couple. AJ's pretty busy with her farm and everything, so I take what I can get."

Pinkie smiled, looking up at her friend with the same, nearly tear-filled look as she had before:

"You like me that way, too... don't you, Dashie?"

Rainbow smiled uncomfortably:

"I thought you were telling me with your body that you liked me, too, Pinkie. Your personal bits were kind of a dead giveaway."

"My personal bits!?" Pinkie Pie nearly jumped out of her skin, but thankfully sat back down. She sighed deeply, staring at the floor. "Rainbow Dash... I'm sorry."

"Pinkie, you've got nothing to be-"

Pinkie shook her head. Even in her current state, Dash knew enough to listen:

"Dashie, sometimes when I'm around a pony I really like I start thinking about things I really like. I guess you saw that and must've thought..."

Rainbow was nodding already, but puzzled. Though Pinkie trailed off, and both ponies were drunk, she probably would have still been confused at her best.

"What do you mean?"

The pink pony looked up at her, again letting out a sigh:

"If you promise not to tell anypony, can I show you something?"

"Of course, Pinkie Pie! I Pinkie Promise not to tell a soul!" Dash repeated Pinkie's rhyme, “cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!”

Pinkie smiled warmly hearing Rainbow Dash repeat her rhyme. She found herself slowly moving away from the bed, the Pegasus following suit.

Rainbow looked on as Pinkie went under her bed and pulled out a deep, long wooden box. It looked quite old, but clean and sturdy, resembling something that miners used to carry their tools around some 50 years earlier. Despite its ancient appearance, it still had Pinkie's zest -- it was covered in colorful animal stickers and crayon drawings of what Dash guessed was Pinkie's family. There were two mares, a stallion, and a few fillies (one that looked quite a bit like a little Pinkie). The box also had a rather inviting, familiar smell... like perfume. It was warming to the nose, gentle, but pronounced.

"What's all this?" Rainbow asked, feeling Pinkie's eyes on her.

"Dashie, this is really special to me," Pinkie began. "This was my first toy box... Granny Pie gave it to me when I was only 3.” Rainbow just smiled as Pinkie continued, “even with all this liquid confidence in me I'm not sure if I'm brave enough to show you what's inside. Please understand..."

"Well, you don't have to, Pinkie," Dash replied, gently. "But I'm curious now that I see the box. Would it be better if I opened it?"

Pinkie shook her head, pulling open a latch:

"I can do it.”

Rainbow watched as one by one, Pinkie loosened the rest of the latches and opened the box wide. Once opened, the box was set on the floor and Pinkie motioned towards it with her eyes.

Dash pulled herself over and sniffed the air. Up close the smell was overpowering.

Foal Powder?

Rainbow didn't look up to question it... instead she looked further into the box:

Inside was a folded up cyan blanket, a few foal's toys, a white plastic package about the size of a jumbo saddle bag, and a foal's bottle with matching pacifier.

"Pinkie," Rainbow said, looking up at her friend. "What is all this?"

For once, Pinkie Pie looked genuinely embarrassed. She blushed, unable to answer the question fully:

"It's all mine."

Most of the things in the box could be easily identified, except for the white package. Curiously Rainbow Dash picked it up, realizing one of the sides had been ripped open. She looked at the torn side, pulling away shredded bits of plastic to get a better look inside. She took a breath... this was definitely the source of the smell. Peeking in, she saw pink plastic, almost matching Pinkie's coat, along with strong white tapes. If Rainbow didn't know any better, she thought she was looking at...

"Diapers?" She said aloud, taking one out and looking at it. It was roughly the size of one of Twilight's old spell books. "Woah, these are way too big to be for foals!"

Pinkie nodded:

"They're mine."

"Pinkie Pie," Dash looked up at her. "You wear these?"

Again, Pinkie nodded. Gummy had her tongue, as she probably would have said.

"Why?"

"Well, Dashie," Pinkie said, trying to think carefully about the next words she wanted to use, despite the fuzz in her brain. "Sometimes... I just like to. They're super-duper comfy, plus it's fun to pretend sometimes. When I'm all alone with no pony to talk to, I like to put them on sometimes and pretend I'm a foal."

Dash nodded, truly meaning what she was about to say:

"Alright then, Pinkie. I understand."

Pinkie beamed a grin that looked as though she could rocket off the floor in excitement.

"You do?"

Again, Rainbow Dash nodded:

"Sure! We all have our... let's call them our 'special interests'. Even I've got some... but why are you showing me all this?"

Pinkie looked away again and blushed:

"It's silly, Dashie."

"Try me."

"I'm not sure I wanna-"

"You can tell me Pinkie. Come on..." Dash pulled an idea half-jokingly out of the air. "You probably want to ask me to treat you like a foal for a while, don't you?"

Pinkie looked at the ground and sniffed.

"Come on, Pinkie Pie... I was just fooling around. I really didn't mean to hurt your feelings, okay? I can take this seriously."

Pinkie continued to stare at the floor. Dash put a hoof on her shoulder and patted her gently.

"That's really what you want... isn't it?"

The pink mare nodded, weakly smiling up at her friend. Rainbow smiled back, hiccuping:

"Pinkie Pie.... you put so much effort into making me and all our friends happy. Pinkie, I love you for it! Why not?"

Pinkie's eyes went wide:

"Really?"

Dash nodded:

“Really.”

Pinkie hugged her tightly... and Rainbow hugged back, but this time she kept her hooves above her friend's tummy. Pinkie still snuzzled affectionately into Rainbow's neck, causing the mare's rainbow mane to stand up all over the place (even more so than it usually does). When they broke away, Dash straightened her mane and took a breath.

Pinkie could move fast. She was already on the bed, leaving Rainbow Dash rubbing her eyes and blinking in surprise. The earth pony had stuck the pacifier in her mouth and was laying on her back, clutching the blanket... completely exposed, submitting to her cyan marefriend. Dash couldn't help but grin at the sight of Pinkie Pie... legs splayed open, completely relaxed and vulnerable. She shook her head:

Focus you perverted mare!

She was doing this for Pinkie... not herself. She grabbed the diaper she removed from the package and took a breath.

Part 2, Chapter 2 -- "The Filly VS the Mare"

2
“The Filly VS the Mare”

Rainbow Dash sat on the floor, a thin strand of drool trailing from her mouth. She stared at the disposable diaper in her hooves, then up at the pink hooves dangling off the big bed... she couldn't believe what she was about to do.

Maybe it was the cider, maybe it was Pinkie... she normally would have been halfway to Cloudsdale by now. Dash should have left already and she knew it. Things were starting to get weird, but for some reason she stayed.

Only minutes before Pinkie had been upset, almost crying. It was no longer a secret that Dash was fond of her little pink friend in a deep, personal way. She couldn't stand to see any friend upset, especially one she really liked. This had quickly become about making Pinkie Pie feel good.

Rainbow was used to playing games like this with Apple Jack... not that either of them thought much of diapers, but every once and a while... in a private part of the Acres they liked to play rodeo. Having played the part of an out of control steer more times than she could count, Rainbow could almost relate to Pinkie. Both activities were about trust, letting another pony take over... and give love. She got that love so often, but she hardly ever gave it. This was new, this was fun...

Rainbow shook her head again.

She inspected the diaper closely, opening up it wide, discovering its colorful, cyan leak guards. Never in her life had she seen a diaper quite this big before, let alone one that would go so well with her friend's coat. Even though she couldn't think straight, her mind was still sharp enough to be playful. She stuck her tongue out, smiling:

“You really want me to put this on you... don't you, Pinkie Pie?”

“Uh-huh,” Pinkie replied, pulling the pacifier out of her mouth for a second. “I really, really want you to!”

"I don't know, Pinkie... Diapers? On a pony your age? Seriously? You've gotta be pulling my tail!"

Rainbow made sure to wink when she said that. Pinkie ate it up, shutting her eyes and giggling. The Pegasus took that as her que:

The springs softly creaked as she slowly crawled onto the bed, looking up at Pinkie the whole way. Dash found it hard not to focus on the moist part of her friend's anatomy directly in front of her... winking at her. She couldn't help but give it a few glances on the way up... guilty as that made her feel. Another mare, even as drunk as Pinkie, would have probably shouted "Hey! Eyes up here!" Drunk or not... Pinkie was just too innocent for that.

“Have you ever done this before?” Pinkie asked, pulling Dash out of her trance.

Before Rainbow Dash could answer, Pinkie was already raising her rump so that her Pegasus pal could easily slide the thick diaper beneath it. Rainbow took the hint, opening the garment up and slipping it beneath her friend's adorable backside. It crinkled quietly as it was folded over her crotch.

“A few times, Pinkie." Rainbow finally answered. "I've got a cousin who's got a filly named Surprise. She looks a little like you, actually.”

Pinkie cuddled with her blankie:

“Neato!”

Dash found herself looking up at Pinkie, unable to stop the drunken grin from spreading itself across her face. There were things she still wanted to do with her pink friend, to her pink friend... despite the disposable garment covering up the temptation. Celestia would have been ashamed of the ideas creeping in to her mind as the two made eye-contact. These ideas were hard to keep down... but this would have to do. Besides, Pinkie was enjoying it. Even through all the foal powder, Rainbow Dash could smell it.

The Pegasus shook her head again, falling right back into the game:

“I guess you want me to tape it up now... don't you?”

“Uh-huh!” Pinkie replied.

“Say please.”

“Pleeeeaaaase!”

Rainbow continued to smile... she had the reigns. This was a welcome change from her usual experiences on the farm. She wanted to milk this a little bit more...

“Now say 'pretty please'.”

Pinkie's eyes grew wide:

“Pretty please, Dashie, with a cherry on top! Please diaper my bottom!”

Dash beamed at the sight of the pretty pink mare begging her for satisfaction.

“Alright. That works.”

Slowly, Dash began fastening the tapes on the grownup-sized diaper, one by one... This part was easy, but still she did it slowly, savoring the look on Pinkie's face each tape she stuck into place. Pinkie let her mind wander, giving herself to Dash completely.

Behind Rainbow the morning sky had turned a vivid yellow. The rain ceased for a moment as the sun climbed, thunder not too far off in the distance. The Pegasus suddenly belched, even louder than the distant rumbles. Both she and Pinkie shared a giggle.

After just four tapes the diaper was sealed. Pinkie rolled to her side after the tapes were finished, showing off her diapered rump to Rainbow Dash who, despite the fact that Pinkie was wearing a thick disposable diaper... actually found it quite arousing:

"Cute."

Pinkie shook her rump. Dash found herself wanting to stick a hoof down the crinkling undergarment to squeeze her friend's soft hiney, but then she noticed the loose tail tape and fastened it snuggly. Pinkie planted her rump firmly against the mattress and looked down at the finished job, pulling the pacifier out of her mouth once again:

“Aww, thanks Dashie! It's sooo nice of you to do all this for me!”

“Oh, don't mention it, Pinkie,” Dash hiccuped. “Besides, I'm enjoying it too!”

As Pinkie got comfortable on her pillow, Dash turned and plopped herself down right beside her. Pinkie began wriggling under the covers, crinkling softly as her diapered rump disappeared beneath the blankets. Dash followed suit, pulling the blankets up... but then she noticed a weight on the covers...

The Pegasus looked up to see Gummy staring at her with those pale purple eyes of his. She chuckled, pulling the covers up slowly... moving the still gator even closer. As much as she wanted to kick his scaly butt out of the room, she'd just have to ignore him.

Once both ponies were cozy beneath the covers, Dash lazily turned to the left, facing Pinkie... who was looking out the window. She wrapped both forelegs around the earth pony, who let out a happy sigh through the pacifier. Dash felt her warmth, snuggling into the pink mane, taking in air through her nostrils. It smelled wonderful, like cotton candy... and Pinkie's natural scent, of course. She also felt Pinkie's diaper... smooth to the touch, the waistband tickling her tummy.

The sight of the massive rain clouds reforming was something else to see from the ground. As rain began to fall it lulled both ponies into deep relaxation. They shut their eyes and let it take them away...

* * *

Pinkie Pie opened her eyes. She heard Rainbow Dash's snoring and giggled:

Sleepyhead.

She turned over to face her marefriend, pulling herself on top of her lean chest so that they were now snout-to-snout. Dash opened her eyes to see Pinkie's blue eyes looking down at her, drawn into little sleepily slits.

“Urp retty layen ter,” Pinkie mumbled through her pacifier.

“Wha?” Dash mouthed, rubbing her eyes.

Pinkie repeated herself... making about as much sense as before. Without using her hooves, Dash stretched her neck towards Pinkie, grabbing hold of the pacifier with her teeth. It pulled out with a pop, landing beside the two mares.

“Repeat that one more time for me, Pinkie,” Dash said, chuckling. “I can't understand a words you're saying!”

“I said you're really pretty laying there,” Pinkie finally enunciated, snuzzling into the nape of Rainbow's neck again.

At this point, Rainbow wasn't sure whether she wanted to go aww or blow her top.

“Pinkie, you're putting out reeeaaally mixed signals,” she said, turning away. “I'm going to leave if you don't make up your mind.”

“Awww, please don't go, Dashie,” Pinkie said, continuing to snuggle. “This is really nice!”

Dash shook her head. Despite feeling pretty drunk, she still had enough of her facilities to form a good argument (though it was a tiny bit slurred):

“Look Pinkie... I'm totally willing to play thiss game with you and even go to bed without asking for anything in return because you're my friend and I really like you, but pleasse don't go snuggling up against me like that and telling me I'm pretty! It's really... confusing!”

“I'm sorry, Dashie,” Pinkie said, continuing to snuggle. “I kinda just feel... like I really wanna cuddle with you right now. And kiss you and-”

Dash threw up the blanket right over Gummy, having finally heard enough:

“That's it! I'm outta he-”

“Wait!” Pinkie cried. “Please let me finish!”

“With any other mare we wouldn't have gotten this far,” Rainbow said, settling back down. “You'd better make yourself really clear Pinkie... I'm giving you one last chance.”

“You can kiss me if you want to, Dashie,” Pinkie said, smiling. “I'm okay with it. Really! You can touch me anywhere you want to, too, but...”

Pinkie looked out at the rain, sighing as Rainbow turned to her.

“But what, Pinkie?”

“Just please don't touch me under my diaper... okay, Dashie? It makes me feel really funny, and not ha-ha funny." Pinkie shook her head sadly. "I don't like it at all.”

Dash settled back in, pulling up the covers.

“That is pretty clear,” she said, as her Pinkie rolled on top of her into the same position as before. “I'm game.”

“Thought you might like it."

Dash suddenly got hit by a thought:

“Say, this part isn't just for me... is it? You know, 'cause you want to keep everypony happy? You really don't have to.”

Snout-to-snout with Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie licked the tip of her nose. Unsure, Rainbow just stared back into her eyes as she closed them and puckered up. Their lips barely made contact, but the force was explosive.

Dash wrapped both forelegs around Pinkie. The two kissed passionately, Rainbow's tongue finding its way deep into Pinkie's mouth. Both had lost all judgment and just moaned in ecstasy. They touched each other all over – backs, necks, flanks, rumps... it was all up for grabs. Pinkie's rump was diapered and Dash kept her hoof out of it, but not off of it... nor did she keep her hooves off the front end. The only attention Rainbow received from Pinkie in that respect was her thigh rubbing up against Dash's crotch. The Pegasus guessed it was probably an accident, but it helped sooth a persistent itch that had been building the whole time, frusrating her to no end. When they were finished, the smell of mare musk and foal powder was overwhelming. Pinkie was the one to end it, suddenly breaking away:

“Does that answer your question, Dashie? I liked it, too, if you didn't guess!”

Rainbow Dash just nodded... completely breathless. Pinkie snuggled back into her chest, picking up the pacifier and setting it back into its proper place.

Once she got her energy back (which took a few moments), Rainbow Dash had a single question:

“Pinkie... I'm really confused. Are you a filly-fooler or aren't you?”

Pinkie looked back at Dash, pulling the pacifier out of her mouth to utter a few words:

“You know, Dashie... I'm not sure! I always thought I was just Pinkie Pie!”

Rainbow smiled as Pinkie shrugged, going back to her comfortable position by her friend's neck.

“Pinkie Pie,” Rainbow Dash said with much love. “You are so random!”

Author's Note

This chapter in particular gave me a lot of trouble. If anypony has any advice as to how I can spruce it up, I'm all ears and thanks in advance :eeyup:

Part 2, Chapter 3 -- "Alternative Expressions"

3
“Alternative Expressions”

Thump! Thump! ... Thump! Thump! ... Thump! Thump!

Pinkie Pie's eyes were shut as she drifted in and out. Her left ear was pressed against Dash's chest, listening to the relaxed, steady rhythm of her friend's heart. Dash was in-and-out herself, her left forehoof numb form Pinkie's weight, her right gently resting on the mare's padded posterior.

Pinkie felt a need growing in her body as she lay there. She opened her eyes and removed her pacifier, hoping to get her new “mommy's” attention and be understood this time:

“Dashie?”

Rainbow turned to her from the rain, smiling:

“What is it, Pinkie?”

Pinkie bit her lip and grimaced.... looking almost embarrassed to be telling her this:

“I have to tinkle,” she said, bashfully. "Can I go?"

Dash chuckled, removing her hoof from the pink mare's backside. When it came to having to use the toilet, Apple Jack would always untie her. She took the same approach:

“Okay, Pinkie,” she said stretching. “This is your house. You don't have to ask.”

Pinkie smiled, wriggling her rump where she was.

“I really have to go, Dashie,” she said. “It kinda snuck up on me. Wayyy too many ciders earlier for my itty-bitty bladder!”

“So go... don't let me keep you from it.”

Instead of leaving the bed, Pinkie snuggled right back in with Rainbow Dash, brushing up against the nape of her neck. The Pegasus shuttered, and was ready to ask “what's up” when it suddenly became crystal clear...

Dash felt an odd sensation against her left thigh. It grew quickly and spread into warmth... that's what tipped her off. She couldn't believe what was happening:

“Pinkie Pie,” she said, her mouth a gape in shock. “You're not doing what I think you're doing... are you?”

Pinkie blushed in response, biting her lip.

Rainbow Dash looked into her eyes... her face definitely said "I'm peeing!" There was no denying that. The thought horrified the Pegasus all the more that the pink earth pony was doing it on top of her. Quickly the feeling against her thigh became squishy as (little did she know) Pinkie's diaper was reaching its limits. Dash prayed it would stay in the diaper, but if it didn't at least it wasn't her bed.

Pinkie didn't stop smiling even after she heaved a sigh of relief and announced:

“I went!”

As Pinkie snuggled back into her neck, Rainbow Dash remained silent, staring up at the ceiling... eyes wide in surprise and horror. She waited for Pinkie to get settled back in before she even let herself breath.

At least my leg doesn't feel soaking wet...

Despite the good fortune of remaining dry, Dash remained uneasy. She wanted to sneak away, but there was no way to do it without offending Pinkie. She had to make her feelings known, at least in a way that wouldn't upset her friend too, too much:

“Pinkie Pie, that is so...”

“Random?” Pinkie interjected.

“Yeah,” Dash rolled her eyes. “That.”

She placed her hoof on Pinkie's lower back this time... not directly on her diaper. Her thigh was in direct contact with Pinkie's crotch, so there was no escaping it. Even though she was a bit grossed out, that didn't quite stop her from showing Pinkie some affection.

This is just Pinkie's thing... She rationalized. Everypony's got a "thing," ... and there's nothing wrong with that.

“Pinkie...” Dash said, wanting get the wet diaper off her friend as soon as possible. “Do you- ... do you want me to change you? Just so you know, I'm totally cool with it. Well, as long as its not loaded. Horse apples kind of gross me out.”

“Maybe in a bit, Dashie,” Pinkie replied, continuing to snuggle obliviously with her friend. “This is what diapers are made for, silly! It feels really good to be able to just go whenever you want to!”

“But Pinkie... isn't pee-pee kinda icky?”

“Twilight will tell you healthy pony tinkle has no germs. I asked her that same question last year!”

“Good to know...” Dash said, looking out the window. “Good to know.”

“It's not bothering you, is it... Dashie?" Pinkie's smile quickly turned to a frown. "You don't seem happy anymore.”

Rainbow Dash sighed:

“A little, Pinkie... I can handle it though.”

Pinkie looked firmly into Rainbow Dash's eyes, her eyes reflecting the image of her cyan friend... who was clearly uneasy. Pinkie lifted her body with the blankets... the smell of fresh urine permeated Dash's nostrils, causing her nose to wrinkle. Pinkie Pie always knew when somepony was trying to spare her feelings:

“Well, I don't want to make you uncomfortable. I can change myself if it's that big of a deal.”

“No, it's alright, Pinkie!” Dash said, placing her hoof back on Pinkie's rump. “See? It doesn't bother me at all.”

Dash felt the still warm, squishy presence in Pinkie's diaper. It had traveled up almost all of her backside... she was soaked. Dash pushed against it gently and Pinkie smiled, settling back into Dash's foreleg.

Dash continued to squish it for a moment, thinking... pulling up on the wet material then letting it drop. Pinkie had an odd smile on her face, it almost looked like...

“Dashie, you- you're stimulating me!”

The Pegasus immediately stopped, taking her hoof from her friend's backside.

“Well, we don't want that!” Rainbow chuckled nervously.

“Aww, why'd you stop?” Pinkie asked, pouting her lips up at Dash. “That felt really good!”

“You really don't want me doing that, Pinkie,” Dash said calmly, fighting the urge to grit her teeth in frustration. “I'm trying to respect what you told me...”

“I said I don't want to be touched inside my diaper, silly. You can do whatever you want outside of it, though.”

Dash looked down at Pinkie's diaper... its crotch was swollen and distorted; much of the material had clumped together in one spot between the legs. From the back it looked weighty and discolored... like it had been more than just wet.

“You're telling me you want me to play with you... through this thing?” Dash asked, crinkling Pinkie's undergarment.

“Only if you want to, Dashie! I'd really like it.”

Dash watched Pinkie's face closely, her hoof pulled up on the material again and letting fall... Pinkie smiled at the sensation.

“Like that?” Dash asked.

“Uh-huh,” Pinkie replied, putting the pacifier back in her mouth.

Rainbow Dash smiled as Pinkie nodded, giving her permission. She snuggled up tightly, burying her face into Dash's mane and neck once again.

Dash gently proceeded to rub Pinkie's backside, pulling the soaked material up between her legs then letting it drop. Both the vibration, friction, and ammonia of the urine-soaked material made Pinkie's personal bits tingle and become extra engorged.

She kept it up for a good moment, noticing Pinkie's grip tightening. She smiled as she felt her friend grinding against her thigh very gently, stimulating herself through the wet material. Dash prayed it didn't leak... mostly because she was under it.

Rubbing with one hoof, cuddling with the other, Dash looked down at Pinkie Pie. Her eyes were shut, her right ear planted against Dash's heart. It was impossible to kiss her at this angle, as much as Dash fancied the idea. She saw another opportunity:

Affectionately, Rainbow nibbled on Pinkie's left ear. The mare instantly melted, her hooves gently rubbing up and down Dash's body... tenderly near her breasts. Pinkie's thigh rubbed on Dash again incidentally... but she wasn't about to ask her to stop.

Pinkie bit down on the pacifier, nearly making a hole in it. She spit it out, her body jerking forward as Dash stimulated her and she rode against Dash's thigh.

“Dashie! I'm gunna... I'm gunna-”

“Shhh...” Dash said, wrapping her forelegs around Pinkie tightly as her body jerked forward, what was beneath her diaper rhythmically pulsing, winking, and gushing. “It's okay... you're a good girl, Pinkie! Enjoy it. You deserve it.”

Pinkie's face contorted into a smile as Dash stroked her mane and nibbled on her ear. Not only was it the best Pinkie had ever had, it was the first time somepony other than herself brought her there... and knew just the right thing to say at the end. She rode it out completely satisfied. Dash had accomplished her mission.... even if she was a bit grossed out along the way.

* * *

Out of breath, the diapered mare looked up at her rainbow-maned friend. Dash beamed a loving smile, pulling her mane out of her eyes so that they could each get a good look at the other. Pinkie looked so peaceful.

“Dashie... Thank you.”

“Any time, Pinkie,” Dash replied, kissing her on the forehead. “Anytime.”

Pinkie pulled herself up so that their faces were inches from each other. She then kissed her friend on the lips. Dash more than happily returned the affection, patting her diapered backside.

“Pinkie... we can do this again sometime if you like. All of it. I'm up for it.”

Pinkie didn't have to say anything. She looked up at Rainbow Dash and smiled, sticking the pacifier back in her mouth. She snuggled into the chest of her friend, closed her eyes and that was that. Rainbow put a hoof to the back of her head as she quietly dozed off... her only lullaby being Dash's heartbeat.

The Pegasus smiled at her snoozing friend. Though she was happy, she ultimately felt... unsatisfied. That's what happens when a pony puts her loyalty before herself... she felt left out. All this time was for Pinkie. All this energy was for Pinkie... but there was still time for herself and plenty of energy left over. The musk, still fresh in the air, had her feeling especially ready. Pinkie was out cold... and might have been unwilling if she was awake. Dash didn't know... she had one option.

Taking her freehoof, Rainbow Dash put it under the blanket... slowly. She had one final job, and barely room to move without touching Pinkie. The mare looked cute sleeping.

She let her mind wander as the bed gently vibrated. She looked at Pinkie, keeping it up for a bit, but found herself feeling frustrated... what she was expecting to bring her to release did not. Pinkie was cute, pretty, beautiful even... but it didn't work. It wasn't the diaper, she couldn't see that through the covers and could hardly smell it (despite the fact that it was soaked). She shut her eyes and sighed, then thought about her other friends... about Apple Jack.

She pictured her marefriend at home, not in the storm, but out bucking Apples in the hot sun with those two muscular legs of hers. With the apples falling she leaned against the tree, crossing her legs and smiling in her usual confident way... the same smug smile that Rainbow had fallen for so many years before. A grin stretched the folds of her cheeks as she finished herself off in silence, her body jerking forward. Pinkie slept through it, as Rainbow had hoped. It didn't take long, but long enough to make the bedspread only slightly sticky by the end.

Stretching, now even Rainbow Dash was satisfied. She felt bad about the bed, but she could help Pinkie clean it up after they got up...

Putting her clean foreleg around Pinkie, she looked down at the foot of the bed to see Gummy staring at her, still as a statue... blinking one eye, followed by the other. She turned to the window, knowing he must've seen everything:

Just go away, go away, go away...

She looked out at the rain. it would be stopping soon enough. It had to be about 8:30 in the morning by now... a few hours of shut-eye and maybe, when she and Pinkie woke up... they could go do some pranking.

The day was far from over. Even though she was sleepy, Rainbow Dash couldn't wait to tackle the rest of it with her friend by her side. For now, she'd let Pinkie rest and enjoy the light show in the sky. Even with the fighting behind her and Gummy staring at her... this was going to be a great day.

She just had to wait for the rest of it to unfold... for now, she would just rest and enjoy herself.

End of Part 2

Author's Note

Whew! Thus concludes the second part of "One Stormy Afternoon"

It was a blast to write, but unfourtnately I was rather frustrated by writer's block. I don't know what it is about this one, but I plowed through it and had some fun despite the headache. Particularly the last two segments were kinda hard. If anybody wishes to throw some ideas my way, I'll be certain to listen :)

There will be two more parts and a mini epilogue.

If anybody's curious... when I first saw Gummy in the Feeling Pinkie Keen Episode, he kind of creeped me out. Since i've thought of him as adoriable, but there's something about unreadable eyes that makes my skin crawl.

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed reading this little ditty as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Peace! :eeyup:

Part 3, Chapter 1 -- "Through the Storm"

Part 3
"Love and Fantasy"

1
"Through the Storm"

Rainbow Dash felt lighter than air, as though she was outside drifting on a gentle breeze. It made sense to her that she was on a cloud high above Ponyville. She felt so safe and warm, wrapped in cozy confines without a care in the world. She didn't know where she was and couldn't remember how she got there, but all of that didn't matter. Her eyes were closed, and she could hear... but had little interest in listening to the distorted sounds of the world. Her thoughts drifted to recent events:

Sorry just ain't good enough this time, Rainbow. Apple Jack's voice echoed, causing Rainbow to wince. I think maybe it'd be better if you just left...

She perked an ear as the low rumble of thunder resonated through the bakery. She focused on the accompanying steady pitter-patter of rain, hearing Pinkie Pie, right next to her ear, inhale deeply before snoring. She felt the mare's warm breath against her neck and smelled it... it all came back to her. Before she was consciously aware of what she was doing, Rainbow's hoof gently wrapped itself around Pinkie's body. She slowly opened her eyes and tilted her head to the left.

A blurry mass of poofy pink lay beside her -- Pinkie's head. As her eyes began to focus, she looked past Pinkie's mane and through the window. The weather had turned even more gray than before, but the rain had let up some.

Rainbow scanned her body. Aside from the weight of Pinkie, the smell of musk and cold, as well as urine and foal powder... she noticed that she really had to pee:

Six or seven mugs of cider will that to you...

Rainbow's left hoof felt tingly as Pinkie's weight was on top of it. She tried to move, very gently... hoping to keep Pinkie from waking. It didn't work, but at least she got her hoof back. Pinkie turned towards her:

"Hey, Dashie," she said, rubbing her eyes. "Do you know what time it is?"

"I dunno," replied Dash, shifting her weight away from Pinkie. "But I'm thirsty and I really need to go to the bathroom."

Pinkie rolled over and stretched, smiling up at Rainbow Dash:

"I won't stop you, Dashie. Go for it!"

Rainbow smiled playfully as she slipped down off the bed, accidentally pulling the covers (and Gummy) along with her. Pinkie's lower half was now exposed. The cyan mare got a clear view of the soaking wet diaper... and ended up staring at it. Even six feet away the smell was quite strong.

"Oh!" Pinkie blushed, looking at the urine-soaked polymer between her legs. "I must've fallen asleep still wet."

"I'll say." Rainbow replied, setting the blankets and surprisingly heavy gator back on the bed.

Pinkie giggled nervously, no longer feeling as drunk or open as she had been before. She reached for the white package, barely out of her grasp...

"I'll just take care of that while you get something to drink then!"

Rainbow Dash approached, picking up the package and holding it up high:

"If it's alright with you, Pinkie... I'll do it." She smiled. "You don't have to be embarrassed around me."

Pinkie Pie looked up, a friendly grin spreading itself across her face. She relaxed back onto the bed:

"Okay, Dashie... I- I'd really like that."

Rainbow Dash just smirked in response, leaning in and ruffling Pinkie's mane.

Even though Pinkie's diaper was quite soaked and emanating an almost stale odor, like day-old asparagus... Dash was more than up to changing it. This was another chance to excite Pinkie, and briefly see her mare bits... even if only just to clean them.

As Dash got into position, Pinkie found both the cyan blanket and pacifier by her side. The Pegasus popped the tapes on the old diaper while Pinkie stuck the pacifier in her mouth and cuddled with her blanket. Changing her would be a simple task, no sweat for Rainbow Dash... and very fun for both parties involved. She pulled open the used diaper, noticing that it was somewhat stuck to Pinkie's mare bits. It peeled off easily enough and once it did... Pinkie felt the cool air.

The one thing Rainbow Dash didn't remember to do was detach the tape in the back. Instead she simply pulled the old diaper right off Pinkie's backside... it didn't make that much difference, except for the urine-soaked polymer dragging across Pinkie's already damp thighs. She didn't seem phased... though Rainbow was pretty grossed out feeling the cold pee squeeze out of the diaper as she pulled on it.

"There are wipes on the vanity," Pinkie said, pulling the pacifier out for a moment and pointing a hoof behind her friend.

Dash spun around and started to rise to her hooves when she saw something she didn't expect:

Gummy was in the process of scaling Pinkie's vanity with surprising ease. Once he got to the top ledge, he flipped upward and grabbed the wipes in his toothless mouth. He then jumped down from the vanity to the mattress. How a short-legged little lizard with no teeth was able to do that, Dash would never know.

Gummy dropped the small plastic package of wipes by Dash's hip, all the while looking up at her, blinking one eye at a time. He sat there staring as she picked up the package and fished out a single wipe. She turned away and sighed, glancing back over her shoulder to see he was still staring, no trace of emotion in his face.

Dash looked down at Pinkie's mare bits and raised bottom, both glistening in the faint light. With the diaper open, the smell of urine and foal powder permeated the air. Rainbow tried to avoid taking too deep a breath through her nose as she looked down at the job laid out before her:

With clinical precision, Dash wiped Pinkie's rump clean, starting with her moist mare bits and working her way outside. Pinkie giggled, opening her legs and allowing Dash to clean her more throughly. Dash was tempted to clean a little too throughly, but she could picture Pinkie giving her a hoof to the head... either by accident or on purpose.

Soon enough, Pinkie was adequately clean and Rainbow was holding the diaper in her hooves. She didn't have to tell Pinkie to raise her rump again, she did so as Dash opened the diaper wide. It was slipped beneath the pink fanny and tapes were applied... Pinkie was diapered, yet again, by her best friend Rainbow Dash.

"Thanks, Dashie," Pinkie said, blushing and looking down at the job her friend had done.

"What do you want done with the old one?" Rainbow Dash asked, motioning to the still opened diaper on Pinkie's bed.

Pinkie grabbed it and started balling it up.

"I'll take care of it later," she said, taping it tightly. "It can go in my waist paper basket for now!"

Pinkie motioned towards the tiny basket by the walkway to the stairs, some eight feet away.

Rainbow smirked:

"Okay. Give it here."

Pinkie did as Rainbow Dash asked, raising an eyebrow:

"Dashie, what're you doing?"

Rainbow looked down and replied with just one word:

"Watch."

Holding the balled diaper high, she glanced back at the waist paper basket, wound up, and pitched it clear over her shoulder. She didn't have look to be sure... she knew already, and from the look on Pinkie's face (which was excited, not horrified), the ball had found its mark. Rainbow flew a few feet in the air to celebrate:

"She shoots, she scores!"

Pinkie giggled.

"Well," the Pegasus landed on the floor. "I'm going downstairs to use the can and get myself some water... do you want anything?"

Pinkie pulled herself up to the side of the bed, then put her hoof in the box. She pulled up the baby's bottle, two pleading eyes looking up at Dash:

"Some milk from the big 'fridge?"

Rainbow smiled, taking the bottle in her hoof:

"Alright Pinkie. I think I can do that."

Pinkie grinned almost ear-to-ear. Dash ruffled her mane.

Rainbow then turned around and started for the stairs, glancing back at Pinkie and the still staring Gummy before taking the first few steps and disappearing below the floor.

* * *

Downstairs the lights were out, the bakery darkened by the nasty weather. Though the Cakes were away, Rainbow Dash still descended the stairs quietly out of habit. When she got low enough, she let her wings carry her the rest of the way, stopping gently inches before hitting the floor with the bottle in hoof. She gracefully set her hooves down, then stretched, popping her back:

"Grr... what time is it?"

Her eyes hunted for the clock, the bakery seeming gloomy and foreign in the faint light. She could barely make out a clock on the back wall of the kitchen. Squinting her eyes, she could see it was around 11:30 or so. Dash was surprised -- while she loved her naps, she almost never slept that long.

Rainbow still felt a tad tipsy, and her head was beginning to throb... a classic symptom of a hangover. Flying, especially up high, would aggravate it due to the changes in pressure, so she was happy to at least be on the ground.

Dash cantered quietly around the counter and into the kitchen, where she saw the giant, steel refrigerator waiting in back. She'd only seen it a handful of times... and always wanted to see it from the inside. She swung open the door and was hit by a light which seemed more blinding than Celestia's sun in her current state. She winced, covering her eyes:

"Ouch."

It took a moment and a lot of squinting, but her eyes adjusted. As expected, the fridge was filled to the brim with cakes, puddings, gelatins, confections, and sodas. All labeled and organized by type and price. Dash reached out her hoof, tempted to take one particularly nice-looking, rainbow-frosted cupcake...

Who's going to find out?

She shook her head and sighed, retracting her hoof as if it were slapped by Mrs. Cake. Rainbow Dash may have been a lot of things, but she was no thief.

Towards the bottom of the fridge rested some back-up cooking supplies... eggs, distilled water, and four half gallon containers of milk. She grabbed the one opened carton and closed the door.

She then took a cup from the cupboard. At least she knew where that was.

Turning on the light above the counter, she filled her own cup first using the tap and drank it promptly... she filled another, and another. After three glasses she let out a deep sigh, and finally felt sated. The throbbing in her head felt some relief as well. She turned to the bottle:

"Pinkie's really gunna drink outta you, huh?"

This bottle was a lot bigger than one of the Cake twin's. She opened it, twisting off the top. Lifting up the milk, it glugged into the container. She chuckled. It was both silly and fun to be giving a full-grown diapered mare a giant foal's bottle. The bottle filled surprisingly quickly, the carton now empty.

Dash perked an ear as she heard a sound. Not thunder rumbling, not rain falling, not Pinkie getting up... it was the main entrance, shuffling by the knob.

"Bakery's closed!" She bellowed in the direction of the sound. The walls weren't thin, but she had spoken loud enough to be heard.

The sound didn't let up... it anything, it sounded less like knocking and more like fiddling with the knob. She now headed in the direction of the door:

"Hey, I said this place is closed!"

Not that Rainbow Dash knew this, but there was only one customer who would come in the rain and be this pushy -- Vinyl Scratch. She needed her sweetened espresso after getting up each afternoon before recording, and found the Cakes' recipe to be especially good to get her moving. Vinyl's loyalty to both the brew and her routine was unparalleled -- she would come looking for it even if the building had been on fire the night before.

Rainbow tried to look at the pony through the window on the door, but all she could see was a shadow. Whoever it was, this looked like a very big pony.

"Are we being robbed?" She thought aloud, instantly crouching down to get the upper hoof should this be a tough customer... and not just a pushy one. She regretted not using the bathroom first thing, instead drinking an ample amount in hopes to kill her hangover. Peeing would have to wait for now... or it might happen just after she collided with the intruder.

The knob turned completely and the door started to open. Twitching her tail, Rainbow Dash was primed to pounce. The wind blew loudly as the intruder stepped inside, letting the door shut behind once he or she was in the building. Something big and heavy dragged behind the soaking wet pony as it looked up. Whoever it was, they were concealed behind a green raincoat, causing the intruder to appear much larger than it actually was. A hoof, brushing by the head, lowered the hood. The intruder was Apple Jack.

* * *

"Boy, howdy! It sure is cold and rainy out there!" Apple Jack yipped, squinting her eyes in the direction of the shadowy Pegasus. "Rainbow... is that you?"

Rainbow Dash stood up tall and sighed:

"Yeah. It's me."

Apple Jack smiled warmly... not that Rainbow could see her fine features in the faint light:

"Thought you might be here! Well, actually... that ain't true." The farm pony tried nervously to remove her hat, only to remember she'd left it at the farm on account of the hood. Dash stood silent, letting her continue:

"Ah checked the Library for ya, Rainbow... knowing you're into that Darin' Doo series. Twilight hadn't seen you. Her guess was you were somewhere off with Pinkie, but knowing Pinkie... she's just as liable to be with you as she is to be out playin' in this horrible rain. If it weren't for that light comin' on in the kitchen, I'd of just kept walkin'. Maybe even gone home at this point. "Apple Jack shook her head, then pulled the object from behind herself -- a keg the size Pinkie had bought. "Brought you a lil somethin'. It's only half full, but I think it more than makes up for the whole fiasco earlier."

"Apple Jack," Rainbow said, approaching hesitantly with her head down. "I destroyed a whole keg. I destroyed your property. I should be owing you something!"

Apple Jack waved her hoof nonchalantly in the air:

"Oh, Rainbow! That was just an accident."

Dash tried to smirk, look amused... but Apple Jack knew better. She could see the upset, uncomfortable look in Rainbow's eyes.

"One thing I don't get AJ... your family. They were so mad at me."

Apple Jack laughed:

"Oh, they forgive you! Well, they were understandably annoyed, but we didn't lose all that much. Actually, now that Ah think about it... we were gunna lose a bit anyway. The storm's kinda canceled today's events entirely."

Rainbow Dash looked up at Apple Jack. She was smiling, or at least trying to... fighting off a few sentimental tears. She hugged the orange pony:

"Oh, Apple Jack... I made a total foal of myself back there."

"It's quite all right, Rainbow," Apple Jack replied, patting the pensive Pegasus on the back. "Ah get how you must've thought I was mad, too."

Rainbow nodded into Apple Jack's shoulder.

"Ah ain't, sugarcube. You know that deep inside, too, don't ya?"

The cyan pony nodded a second time, now snuggling in to Apple Jack's flank... letting it all go. Hearing the staccato-like rhythm of Rainbow's breathing, AJ felt the wetness of tears against her side. She wouldn't stand for that. The orange pony broke away from the hug and turned around so that they were now face-to-face. She cleaned Rainbow's teary eyes tenderly with her hoof:

"Hey, hey... it's all right. Don't make me cry, too, now!" Dash sniffed, smiling at her marefriend. The two ponies giggled. "Now that's what I wanna see... Ah knew there was a pretty mare underneath all those tears. Now... can Ah have a little sugar? Ah only need a pinch, if you've got that much to spare."

Giggling like a school filly, Rainbow Dash quickly put all the nonsense of the day behind herself. She submitted to Apple Jack as she had many times before... usually in the privacy of the farm house.

Relaxing completely, Rainbow closed her eyes and puckered up. The farm pony did the same, tenderly wrapping a hoof around the mare's head, pulling her in slowly. All was silent as their lips connected, Dash' cheeks still wet from crying. Apple Jack patted her back reassuringly... she didn't need to say anything more. She'd come all this way in the rain, because she was worried about Rainbow Dash. Rainbow knew that, and was weak in the knees... not that she'd have admitted it, openly at least.

They both felt at peace. It seemed like things were going to be okay.

* * *

Both ponies broke from the kiss, smiling... staring into each other's eyes. Apple Jack was the first to open her mouth, speaking softly to her marefriend:

"So, where is Pinkie in all this?"

"She's upstairs," replied Rainbow Dash, taking a sudden interest in her hooves. "AJ, I have to go to the bathroom."

Despite the sudden break in eye-contact, Rainbow Dash still felt the farm pony's loving gaze.

"Oh, don't let me keep ya." The farm pony winked. "You were just up there with her, too, huh?"

"Yeah."

Apple Jack chuckled playfully, looking at Rainbow Dash with a coy smile:

"Rainbow, that's her bedroom and the light is off. What're y'all two doin' up there?"

The Pegasus froze, a look of pure panic on her face. Apple Jack had only been teasing, but Rainbow reacted instinctively... like she had something to hide:

"Apple Jack, I uh..."

Again, Apple Jack smiled... but her smile gradually faded as she read Rainbow's face. The farm pony sighed, shaking her head:

"Oh, boy... you and Pinkie Pie? Really now?"

Dash nodded slowly.

"Woah... woah." Apple Jack shook her head again, biting her lip. "Nope. I ain't mad... we talked about this. You're free to see anypony you want."

Rainbow Dash, feeling awful, spoke trying to comfort her mare friend the best way knew how... by expressing her loyalty:

"I want you."

With those words, Apple Jack felt her blood boiling. She exploded into a flare temper which made the cyan mare's heart sink in her chest (and her bladder almost start to empty):

"Then why did you take Pinkie!?"

Dash remained quiet for a moment... silently crying, but not partially out of sentiment anymore. The farm pony's anger subsided quick as she looked into Raimbow's frightened eyes. The Pegasus spoke, her voice weak at first:

"I don't know, AJ. It just kind of... happened."

Apple Jack sighed. She smiled again, just for her marefriend... even though she didn't feel like it:

"Alright then. What's done is done."

Rainbow raised a brow in surprise. Apple Jack was so quick to let it go... too quick. She wasn't yelling, wasn't cursing, she wasn't even walking away. The cyan mare looked up hesitantly, unsure of what to do next... this was so unlike Apple Jack:

"So... we're cool then?"

"Yeah, Ah guess..." Apple Jack replied coldly, looking at the floor and scowling. She glanced up at Dash long enough to see her ears were flattened and her lip was quivering. "I mean, heck yeah, RD! We're cool."

Rainnbow looked ready to rocket off the ground in excitement. She shut her eyes and hugged the orange farm pony tight... Apple Jack returned the hug, but rolled her eyes:

Glad you're happy at least.

Rainbow Dash had no clue AJ was still angry... or maybe she didn't want to think like that. Not even she knew what she wanted, but she was glad things didn't have to change right away. That was enough for her.

* * *

Once they broke away from each other, the farm pony stretched.

Apple Jack began looking around the room for anything to distract herself with. To say she was angry would be an understatement. After all that time and effort for Rainbow... she wanted to kick the wall in. She knew if she did that the Cakes would be furious at her, and with good cause. She thought about hitting Rainbow, just once, really hard, to prove a point... but as she prepared herself to draw back her hoof, she found she just couldn't do it.

"Uh, Apple Jack," Rainbow Dash said, nervously. "Are you okay?"

The farm pony didn't answer... instead she winked up at Rainbow, who smiled back. Apple Jack grabbed a hold of the rope handle on the keg and started pulling it towards the counter. This kept her hooves busy while she spoke:

"Well, there is this one thing that's been buggin' me, Rainbow."

Dash helped her prop it up against the wall:

"What's that, AJ?"

The orange pony smiled sincerely this time. She didn't know what she was actually going to say, so she decided to make the best of this situation:

"How you could possibly have fun with Pinkie and not invite me along?"

Again, Rainbow Dash froze, looking up at Apple Jack.

The farm pony let out a hardy laugh. The Pegasus laughed, much more hesitantly. They were cool... or so it seemed.

"How 'bout a mug of cider to settle things once you come outta the can, RD?" Apple Jack suggested. Her tone was jovial, but her eyes were unblinking and scowling. "Let bygones be bygones?"

Rainbow looked at her half filled keg, then up at Apple Jack. She still had to pee and her head still throbbed. This wasn't going to be easy:

"Umm... no thanks, AJ."

"Oh, heck, Rainbow! I brought it all the way here... at least enjoy one mug with me."

Rainbow just stared at Apple Jack, unsure of what to say. She was honest:

"I'm sorry... I kinda already had more than I can count with Pinkie."

The orange pony raised an eyebrow:

"Oh...well, I guess that might explain some things, then." Apple Jack turned to the counter in frustration and noticed the plastic container on top of it. "A giant glass of milk? Really now, RD, Ah always thought you hated milk."

Rainbow chuckled:

"Actually it's for Pinkie."

"Oh, alright," Apple Jack examined it closer. "Why's it got a screw on top?"

Rainbow stammered:

"It's 'cause it's, well... kind of a-"

AJ noticed the nipple a few feet away on the counter top and picked it up, screwing it on the top of the plastic container. It fit perfectly:

"You gotta be kidding me," Apple Jack held up the complete bottle, then looked over at Rainbow Dash. "Seriously?"

"It's exactly what it looks like," she said, blushing. "I can say it's not mine at least!"

"That Pinkie Pie sure is random," Apple Jack said, turning to the stairs. "Well, think I'd better go let her know I'm here."

"I can do it," said Rainbow, immediately flying to the stairs and baring the way. "Probably be less awkward that way."

"An' I think it would be better for me to talk to her face-to-face... alone."

Rainbow Dash stood firmly on the stairs, still as a statue, barring the way completely now with her wings. Her eyes were wide:

"You can't go up there."

"Says who?" Apple Jack snorted in Rainbow's face, her tone finally having shifted from soft to very angry. "Me and the Cakes are full-fledged business partners, so I can come and go anywhere in this house as Ah please!" The farm pony grinned in her usual smug way, leaning towards the Pegasus. "You ain't hidin' something up there, RD... are ya? Maybe Pinkie's all tied up?"

"Not exactly." Rainbow sighed. "Pinkie... let's just say she's indecent."

Apple Jack narrowed her eyes:

"Oh, what a load of horse apples... Whatever it is that's goin' on, it ain't gunna phase me. Ah promise." Apple Jack started stretching out her hind legs as Rainbow braced herself against the stairs. "Oh, Ah get it, Rainbow... you wanna tango. You wanna answer to Bucky McGillycuddy and Kicks McGee?"

The farm pony playfully smiled as she began to turn around slowly. Rainbow Dash backed up as she spoke, just in case:

"Apple Jack, before you kick my head in,.. Can I just please have a minute up there first? It's more important to me than peeing is right now."

Rainbow Dash's request seemed to calm her mare friend down just a tiny bit. Maybe it was where it ranked in her priorities:

"Well, you're actually serious." Apple Jack took a breath. "Look, whatever you and Pinkie did, I'll just tell her I'm cool with it and get it out of the way. If you tell her first it just won't be the same. Please understand, Rainbow."

Lowering her head, the Pegasus shut her eyes and nodded slowly. Apple Jack was right, plus... she really didn't have anything more she could say. She had tried. Rainbow Dash stepped aside and pulled in her wings:

"Okay AJ..."

Apple Jack trotted up the stairs at a brisk pace. She was already at the bend near top, right before Pinkie's room. It was surprising Pinkie hadn't heard them coming already, but the bakery was rather stoutly built and the weather quite noisy... especially at the very top of the building.

As AJ turned the corner, Dash made sure to tail her closely. The Pegasus could see past her orange marefriend. Both could see that Pinkie was on top of her blankets, with her back to the door. The pink earth pony looked out the window while kicking her feet idly against the mattress. She had no clue they were there.

"Pinkie," AJ began looking at the mare on the bed. "We gotta tal-" Pinkie looked back at Apple Jack frozen in place as Apple Jack got a load of what she was wearing. "Oh, uh... okay. Pinkie, we gotta talk."

One tiny noise escaped Dash in all this:

"Eep."

Pinkie had almost as much reason to be nervous. For one long, agonizing moment... Gummy had her tongue. She just started at the two ponies behind her.

Apple Jack should have been the most phased by all this... but it as it turned out she was the most focused and hardened. She was just there to tell Pinkie it's okay. It would take a lot of convincing for that now, though. Apple Jack was just trying to keep from laughing after seeing all that, even though the bottle had been a big tip off.

Author's Note

The scene with Apple Jack underwent a lot of editing.

At this point, this is probably going to be one of those stories I end up publishing chapter-by-chapter. We'll see how it goes.

Thanks for reading!

Part 3, Chapter 2 -- "The Turn Around"

2
"The Turn Around"

The falling rain had silenced Apple Jack's approach. Even so, as Pinkie felt the twinge of her Pinkie Sense, telling her some other pony was in the room... her mind drifted to Rainbow Dash. Pinkie's eyes had gone from relaxed to wide very quickly hearing the surreal sound of her friend's deep voice. This was not the right pony, it was as if she had materialized in her place. The exposed mare's eyes were illuminated by the flash of distant lightning as she looked over her shoulder at the pony standing there.

"Apple Jack!?" She squealed, turning around and quickly covering her lower body with a blanket, the pacifier falling from her mouth. "Wha- what're you doing here?"

Apple Jack casually cantered towards the bed. She spoke plainly, eying the pungent diaper in the trash as she passed it, not answering Pinkie's question:

"Pinkie, me an' Rainbow've tried to keep things on the lowdown for quite some time now. I take it you and she had a bit of fun up here." The orange pony glanced back at stairs, seeing Dash's mane just peeking above them. "It's fine by me, Pinkie..."

"I didn't mean for anything to happen, AJ," Pinkie Pie cried, a look of panic on her face. "I just really like Dashie, and it kinda just... well, happened."

Apple Jack chuckled.

"I know what you mean, Pinkie, Ah know all too well. One thing leads to another, you find yourselves smoochin' in bed... then even more stuff happens."

Pinkie heard Rainbow's voice speak up from behind Apple Jack:

"Pinkie, your drink's downstairs." She slipped passed the orange farm pony. "I don't want to play this game anymore."

Pinkie couldn't look either in the eyes without feeling judged. She kept her head down as she answered:

"Me neither, Dashie."

Smiling coyly, Apple Jack's eyes darted between the two remorseful mares. Gears were turning in her head as she spoke:

"Might I ask what game ya two have been playing? I know Pinkie was gettin' ready to drink from a foal's bottle... and I know she's wearin' a diaper. No need to hide it from me, Pinkie Pie, Ah saw it plain as day. Same as the used one in the trash."

Pinkie still kept hidden under the sheets, now wrapping herself in them for extra security.

"Um... that's okay, AJ," Rainbow Dash said. "We're just cleaning up."

"Cleaning up!?" Apple Jack laughed. "Boy, howdy... you're not gunna let me in on this one bit, are ya?"

Looking over at Pinkie, Rainbow nervously forced a smile. Pinkie looked utterly confused as Dash spoke:

"Uh, AJ... what'd you mean?"

Sighing, Apple Jack looked up at her marefriend with a blank expression. She couldn't believe she had to go into this, but Rainbow Dash could actually be that dense sometimes.

"Rainbow," she said, firmly. "Ya got me worried half to death running off like that, so much that I tracked ya down the first moment Ah could get free, which turned out to be in the middle of the greatest down pour since, oh... lemme see, the last three months."

"I'm sorry, AJ," Dash immediately replied, lowering her head and rubbing it with a hoof. "I guess I wasn't thinking..."

Apple Jack approached, nuzzling her marefriend gently.

"You've got nothing to apologize for, sugarcube. I am a might... well, irritated to say the least, but Ah came to find ya just to set the record straight and 'cause... well, I love you. Any other customer would have gotten their stuff tomorrow. Granny Smith and Big Mac'll be fine. If anything, Granny Smith must be holding back Big Mac by now, makin' sure he's not getting too articulate while talkin' with the weather patrol leader about the rain."

"Thunderlane... you nitwit!" Dash laughed, heartily. "I told you!"

"Really, now that does not become you." AJ chided back playfully. "Ain't it his first time?"

"Yeah, well... he didn't listen to me."

Again, Apple Jack rolled her eyes.

"Pride can cause even the best of us to make some pretty silly mistakes, RD." The farm pony laughed, remembering back several years before when she really needed help harvesting apples but told Twilight she didn't want her help again and again... and again. "It ain't kind to kick a pony when he's down."

"She's right, Dashie. It's not nice."

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes:

"Yeah, fine. Whatever."

"That is so like you, Rainbow." AJ chuckled. "Apologizing for the wrong thing and being so gosh darn stubborn about the other!"

Pinkie Pie laughed, nodding her head in agreement. Rainbow furrowed her brow in response.

"Hey! That's not true!"

Pinkie and Apple Jack exchanged glances. Both were grinning in total disbelief while shaking their heads. They knew their cyan friend well, perhaps a little too well, and were annoyed by this behavior. They saw it all too often. While Rainbow Dash scowled and gritted her teeth, Apple Jack spoke:

"Ah don't know, Pinkie Pie," she said, in almost a whisper. "Wager she needs somepony to set her straight?"

Smiling, Pinkie nodded. Feeling a bit brave now that the pressure was off her, she uncovered herself so that both ponies could see what she was wearing, all the while imitating Big Mac:

"Ee-yup!"

Apple Jack had trouble keeping a straight face looking at Pinkie Pie in her pastel pink diaper. She was used to her zaniness so that helped her keep it down to only a grin. She focused on her marefriend instead.

Rainbow Dash had quickly gone from resentful to confused. She looked at both ponies with a wide-eyed expression.

"Wait... what?"

Apple Jack didn't bother explaining. She simply showed the Pegasus what she meant instead...

* * *

When it came to tests of strength, Apple Jack usually had the advantage by a small, but noticeable margin... especially if she got the head start. Granted, Rainbow Dash was pretty strong for a Pegasus, but all AJ needed to do was playfully tackle RD, stop her wings from fluttering, and she was as good as grounded. Everything else was basic physics and raw power, both things Apple Jack was well acquainted with from years of apple bucking.

Together the two ponies wrestled on the floor. Dash knew it was partially in fun, but she was not in the mood... and she still had to pee. She also knew that Apple Jack was probably going to make her shout uncle before she let her go, but by then the only problem she might still have with the playful scuffle was not being in the mood for it.... that and explaining the carpet to Mr. and Mrs. Cake after they got back.

"Get off me, AJ!" Rainbow Dash growled as the two tussled. "Let go!"

"Ain't happening, sugarcube!" Apple Jack laughed, pulling Rainbow in the direction of the bed.

Soon enough, AJ was sitting on top of the bed with RD face down in her lap, kicking and attempting to flap her wings, all to no avail. AJ held them close to her body.

"Now what, Pinkie?" Apple Jack said, smiling slyly down at her captive marefriend. "Do I let her go?"

Dash looked over her shoulder as Pinkie thought for a moment. The pink mare pondered with a furrowed brow, long enough for Dash's mind to begin to wander. When Pinkie finally spoke, her tone was both jarring and joyous: (as usual):

"Oh, don't let her go! Spank her like a filly, silly!"

Dash looked directly up at Pinkie, horrified by her suggestion:

"Really? Et tu, Pinkie?"

Pinkie just giggled in response. This was just one big game to her, after all... and it would take a lot to convince her otherwise.

Rainbow Dash was shocked to find that not only was she unable to get out of this hold Apple Jack had her in, but Pinkie also provided an extra set of hooves to help in the matter. Pinkie held down RD's back legs to keep her from kicking, the one thing that could keep AJ from actually swatting her. Pinkie also raised her tail, which Apple Jack restrained with the hoof holding her wings.

"How many times, Pinkie?" Apple Jack asked in a hushed voice all too familiar to her marefriend Rainbow Dash.

Again, Rainbow watched helplessly as Pinkie thought from behind her. After a moment of contemplation the pink mare whispered something in AJ's ear.

"Boy howdy, Pinkie!" Apple Jack chuckled. "She's gunna have one sore keister by the end of all this!"

"Wait," Rainbow chuckled nervously. "You guys are serious...?"

"This is for running off with Pinkie and drinking way too much, Rainbow," AJ said, coolly. "And for feeling good about your own co-worker's blunders!"

AJ was serious. Rainbow barely had the time to process that thought; her flank stung before she even realized the farm pony had taken her first strike.

"Ow!" Dash cried, looking up. "Not cool!"

"Oh, I'm just gettin' warmed up, RD," Apple Jack said, winding up for another strike.

Rainbow Dash really couldn't move and this proved it. Apple Jack struck her again, her flank stung once more. She was struck again and again, each strike causing the pain to become more concentrated and piercing. Thankfully Apple Jack wasn't hitting her anywhere near full-force, but it was still hard enough to make Rainbow wince. By the 5th whack, tears were beginning to well up in her eyes.

"Stop! Stop!" She cried. "That hurts!"

"Ah know it does, Rainbow!" Apple Jack laughed and smiled. "That's why I'm doing it!"

The farm pony wound up for a much harder strike as Rainbow Dash desperately cried out:

"Wait!"

Being familiar with her marefriend in these scenarios (where she always had reins), and knowing the type of cries she makes and what they usually mean, Apple Jack stopped and listened in:

"What is it, Sugarcube? Ya got ten seconds 'fore I think you're just stallin'."

"AJ, I really have to go to the bathroom! If you keep spanking me, I'm just going to lose control and pee everywhere... all over you, all over the bed, all over Pinkie. I won't be able to help it!"

Dash was now in tears, real tears, looking up into the farm pony's green eyes for any sign of mercy. Apple Jack grinned back in the usual, smug way. Rainbow looked around the room for anything to help her out. She found Gummy staring at her from Pinkie's vanity with seemingly empty eyes. The creepy factor of Gummy, the need to pee, the mild hang over, and the new in her flank made Rainbow Dash start crying less like an adult and more like a foal. Hearing this, Apple Jack's coy grin quickly deflated into a frown.

* * *

"Alright Rainbow." AJ slowly released Dash's wings and allowed her to slip off her knees. "You know Ah'd never do something like that to you, besides... Ah think I'm done. Now, do ya have anything to say for yerself?"

Dash gently hit the floor. She rubbed her flank and backside. She was more focused on her warm, glistening rump, and holding her water than the pony who had just spanked her. Dash said nothing, so Apple Jack kept talking:

"Now I trust you'll stop all that foolishness and come to your senses."

The Pegasus had definitely come to her senses: she looked up and glared. Apple Jack's eyes went wide with surprise and amusement.

"Aw, there's no need to pout, RD," the farm pony cooed. "It's all over now."

Pinkie leaned over whispered something more in AJ's ear, glancing down at the Pegasus on her floor with a mischievous look in her eye. She must've thought Dash was just pretending, Pinkie was never normally this daydreaming. The cyan mare gritted her teeth to think Pinkie was still mentally playing the game.. even after all that.

"Really now?" Apple Jack blinked a few times. "Rainbow, Pinkie still wants to play!"

"Good for her, AJ," Rainbow grumbled, trying to get up. "I'm so done here."

"Oh, come on Rainbow!" The farm pony tenderly offered her a hoof. "It'll be fun... consider it ma way of making it up to you. Again, no more spankins. Ah promise!"

Dash hesitantly took AJ's hoof, looking up into her quixotic green eyes. It was hard not to trust the Element of Honesty.

"Well, maybe... but how exactly do you-"

Apple Jack didn't give her a chance to finish that thought.

"Glad you see things ma way!"

As if doing the do-si-do, Apple Jack used her entire body weight to pull the lighter Pegasus off the floor and fling her onto the bed in one, fluid motion. She nearly clunked heads with Pinkie again, but thankfully Pinkie had enough of her facilities back that her Pinkie Sense was almost in full-swing and she dodged Dash's body with incredible ease.

"Hey! Let me go to the bathroom first!"

Apple Jack grinned again, sitting on top of Dash's hind legs, as Pinkie slipped off the bed.

"Sorry 'bout that, Rainbow." The farm pony rolled her shoulders. "Ah honestly thought you liked it rough, sugarcube."

"Not like this!" Dash whined.

"Oh, come on, Dashie!" Pinkie said, passing Apple Jack the white package from the floor. "We're just having fun... you two looked so cute together, rough housing and having fun on my floor. And then she gave you that spanking and you were crying and everything! Makes me wish I hadn't lent the Cakes my camera!"

Rainbow Dash wasn't focused on what Pinkie was saying. She was more focused on the package Apple Jack held in her hooves.

"Hey, hold on a sec AJ... What're you doing with that package?"

"Oh, this?" Apple Jack smiled devilishly. "Thought I'd make you and Pinkie match. That pink'll go real nice against your cyan coat, afterall."

Rainbow narrowed her eyes:

"If you're thinking of doing what I think you're thinking of doing then the answer is... no."

Apple Jack raised an eyebrow at the Pegasus, flipping her mane gracefully to the side in a way that Dash was known to go crazy over... especially whenever they were alone in the more secluded parts of the acres.

"Come on, now... Don't ya want mama to take care of you?"

Rainbows response was to scowl at the farm pony in a way that reminded Apple Jack of Opalescence.

If looks could kill Ah'd be dead by now.

"Pinkie," said Apple Jack, turning her head in the direction of the diapered mare right beside her. "Can I ask you to do me a small favor?"

"Of course, AJ. Fire away!"

Apple Jack smiled warmly.

"Go and get that bottle from downstairs... warm it up for me, will ya? Make it nice 'n hot."

"Aww, are you gunna give it to Dashie?" Pinkie asked, giggling. "I kinda called dibs on it, but it's okay!"

"When you get back up here we can talk about that. Ah need just a moment to think about what I want to do next."

Pinkie, though in her own house being given painfully transparent instructions, saluted AJ and began carrying out her request. Down the stairs she went without a word, crinkling and clomping the whole way to the bottom. Pinkie was having fun, Apple Jack was having fun... Rainbow Dash, however, was not.

* * *

Rainbow was still pouting even well after Pinkie left the room. All fell silent as the two remaining mares looked at each other.

Apple Jack got more comfortable, pulling herself up by Rainbow's side and grinning, happy to be making the best of this potentially awful situation... on Pinkie's bed, no less. She had started off wanting to physically hurt Rainbow, but instead she found herself snuggling the Pegasus's side tightly, tenderly... looking into those magenta eyes. She was far too forgiving, especially of overly impulsive rainbow-maned Pegasai.

"Come on, Rainbow," she said softly. "We're just having a bit of fun... I ain't gonna hurt ya and no one's mad."

Even though the Dash wasn't looking directly at her, Apple Jack could see the anger in her eyes.

"Well, I'm mad!" She groused, through gritted teeth.

The farm pony sighed and took a moment, as she was known to do in these situations. She thought about telling Rainbow Dash that she owed her. They were gonna do what AJ had in mind, no discussion. After all, she no reason to be mad! Apple Jack just couldn't open her mouth to talk like that, though... as much as she wanted to.

"Lookie here, sugarcube... even Pinkie sees this as just a game. Is there any way Ah can get you to play along?"

"You're not putting diapers on me!" Dash grumbled. "Besides, I'm pretty sure Pinkie sees everything as a game... even brushing her teeth each morning!"

"Well, Ah don't doubt that," Apple Jack laughed, narrowing her eyes. ""There ain't no how about this... is there?"

"No way, no how, Apple Jack. You should know that."

"Alright then." The farm pony sighed, shaking her head. "You know what, Rainbow? You can be so gosh darn stubborn at times it's almost off-puttin'... but, what am Ah sayin'? I still love ya. Afterall, you're my gosh-darn stubborn Pegasus and no one else's." Apple Jack reached down and tenderly squeezed Dash's rump, working the tip of her tongue through her teeth.

Rainbow Dash did not answer right away. She could tell what AJ was trying to do:

"Classy, Apple Jack."

The farm pony scowled. Rainbow Dash actually thought she was trying to butter her up. When AJ thought about it... she kind of was.

AJ thought for a moment of something else to say. She thought hard. Then it suddenly came to her.

Gaging her position, it might actually work. While the Pegasus kept her closed posture, Apple Jack rose up on the bed, looked as though she was getting up, then oh-so-gracefully fell down between Dash' legs... licking her exposed genitals before her body even jerked forward due to reflexes. Rainbow had an immediate reaction, closing her legs:

"Hey!"

Apple Jack grinned, getting up slowly.

"What? I just lost my lost ma balance there. Honest!"

"You're a bad liar, AJ." Rainbow shook her hoof. "You're lucky I didn't lose my bladder while you were down there... or clock you one."

"Well, did it feel good?"

Rainbow Dash hesitated. She answered too softly to be heard for sure by anypony but herself. Apple Jack knew what she said even without hearing it.

"What's that, Rainbow?"

The Pegasus now shouted her answer:

"I SAID YEAH, IT DID!"

The Pegasus was so loud Pinkie actually heard her through the floor over the rain. She giggled, thinking they must be having a lot of fun to be making that type of noise upstairs.

Apple Jack grinned hearing that. She had Dash right where she wanted her.

"Well, in that case come by the farm house this evening and we can spend some quality time together... alone. Right now, Ah wanna spend some time with you and Pinkie but there's only room enough for one mommy, and Gummy here's taken up the one spot for spectator," Apple Jack pointed to the table where Gummy now stood, blending in perfectly with a plant behind him. "Rainbow, Ah love ya to death and all, but... Ah want you to be a baby. My baby." Apple Jack looked into Rainbow's eyes. "It would make me happy... just this one time?"

Apple Jack's pleading green eyes also had a hint of arousal to them. She wanted to be in charge. Rainbow Dash knew that from many, many times before... even though the game could get old, she found herself grinning.

"Fine, but... don't think for one second I'm gunna like it. Or use it, for that matter."

"Oh, you always like it when Ah take care of you, Rainbow. Reins or diapers, it makes no difference! And dun worry... Ah'll let you go to the bathroom once I'm done with you and not before."

Apple Jack was already removing a pink diaper from the package, opening it up wide. She took a good look at the fully opened diaper.

"Sweet mercy, this thing is huge!" She held it up high. "Ah think this thing might be big enough to be worn by you an' Pinkie at the same time!"

Rainbow rolled her eyes, looking at the thing she was going to be wearing.

"Yeah, well... don't get any ideas."

Apple Jack smiled, putting her face near the leak guards and taking a deep sniff.

"Whew! That is strong... your rump's gunna smell like foal powder for a week! Not that Ah'll mind." Rainbow said nothing, so Apple Jack set it on the bed. "What'd ya say we wait for Pinkie first, huh? That way we can all have fun. Sure she'd love to watch... and Ah'd love to have her watch."

Rainbow Dash hesitated before answering, looking towards the one closed window in the room... wishing it was open so she could bolt.

"Not a bad idea."

The orange mare sighed. Now that things were set, she put a foreleg around her cyan marefriend and chuckled.

"Rainbow?"

Dash laughed nervously... what was she gunna say next?

"Yeah AJ?"

"Sorry Ah spanked you so hard, RD." Apple Jack blushed. "Ah took it a little too far."

Dash sighed happily.

"It's okay. I'm over that. My flank's still a lil sore, but it'll feel better in a bit. I still have to go to the bathroom."

"Good to hear, RD... I'll let you go in a bit." Apple Jack stroked her mane. "You always look so cute when ya have ta make a wee."

Rainbow's cheeks turned red.

"Yeah, yeah... I'm still not using that thing, just to let you know."

"Ah promise, once it's on... I'll let you use the toilet. Not before though." She beeped Dash on the nose. "Yeah, I'm mean like that."

"I know, AJ." Rainbow Dash grinned. "I know."

Part 3, Chapter 3 -- "Triangle in a Box"

3
"Triangle in a Box"

Pinkie Pie was standing in the dark bakery. She squinted her eyes and looked around, unsure of what was what.

Thirty minutes had gone by since Rainbow Dash made her descent. The bakery was darker than before, so much that Pinkie could hardly see her hoof in front of her face. The only light she had was from the windows, both washed out and distorted. It seemed to only illuminate the panes of the windows and nothing more, save a bolt of distant lightening... which lit the establishment up like a strobe.

Pinkie took a breath.

You shouldn't be scared of the Cake's bakery, silly! You know there are no monsters down here.

As she moved forward, she relied on her Pinkie Sense to guide her. Beneath the diaper she felt a ripple in her rump, which meant watch out. She stopped just short of walking into the counter top. Feeling the cold surface with her hoof, she walked towards the spot where she knew the light switch was and flicked it on.

There... That's much better!

Everything now looked familiar, yet her Pinkie Sense trembled even after the lights were on... despite having no obvious reason. She didn't see any danger, she didn't feel any danger, so there must have not been any danger there. In the comforting bright light she looked around, and shrugged it off, making her way to the back of the kitchen.

Being up and about Pinkie felt the need to tinkle again. She had drunk more cider than she could remember, much more than she was used to. Like Dash, she knew she had gone too far, especially now... Twilight probably would have called her "paranoid" if she had been there to talk to her in the darkness. Unlike her friend upstairs, however, Pinkie had a diaper on... and had no inhibitions about using it, especially with no pony around. Even without inhibitions, Pinkie had a mission, remembering in her own fuzzy way why she even came down stairs in the first place.

The pink Earth Pony picked up the bottle and stuck it in the microwave. As it slowly rotated on the pristine turn table, Pinkie squatted down and relaxed her bladder. She felt the warmth of her release and smiled, shutting her eyes... allowing the giddy feelings to take her away. The first time it felt so funny, even for Pinkie, but now doing this was second-nature, and it always tickled her in her special place.

So warm and snuggly! Wish I were back upstairs cuddling with Dashie and AJ!

After a minute of standing there with her eyes shut, pressing her legs together in satisfaction of the warm presence in her diaper... the timer went off.

Pinkie opened the microwave and pulled out its contents. The bottle felt warm in her hoof, almost steaming. She wouldn't have told anypony this, but before she got back to the stairs... Pinkie sampled the bottle to make sure it was just right. It was perfect.

As she climbed up to the last step, the stealthy mare listened in... neither pony by the bed seeing her pink locks peeking above the stairwell or hearing her barely precipitable crinkles over the rain.

"I can't believe I'm letting you do this!" Rainbow Dash let out an embarrassed laugh. "Just remember what you promised!"

"Aw, shucks. It's all in good fun, Sugarcube!" Replied Apple Jack in a comforting tone. "And I certainly do remember what Ah promised... ya don't gotta worry about that none."

That was just what Pinkie wanted to hear. To top it off, she could see the hatless farm pony smiling. She took off like a shot for the bed, plopping her flank right next to Rainbow's... her rump now smelling of fresh urine and wet foal powder.

"Heya Pinkie Pie," Apple Jack said, glancing up at the bouncy mare, then down at her diaper. She looked back at Rainbow Dash with a grin. "Ah'd say we're about set now."

Pinkie looked at the two other ponies. She was quite excited -- two of her friends together, ready to play a special game she'd only dreamed of playing with just one pony. This was like a dream come true!

Rainbow wasn't happy, though. She lay sulking on the bed, blushing at the confident farm pony. A combination of Apple Jack's bedroom eyes and Pinkie's warm smile (focused directly on her) made the Pegasus wince in frustration.

"Oh, alright! ...but this doesn't ever leave the room. Okay!?"

"Never." Apple Jack said.

Pinkie made the motion of her patented Pinkie Promise, and that was enough to assure Dash that she took her seriously. The Pegasus started to relax a bit... but not for long.

The orange pony picked up the diaper, eyes darting between the two mares.

"Let's get this started then!"

* * *

The rain fell outside, soothingly... but no pony was relaxed.

Apple Jack had locked eyes with Rainbow. She casually leaned over, unfolding the pink garment... exploring its colorful leak guards with a hoof. Dash felt a bead of sweat run down her cheek; the two other ponies could see that she was clearly blushing. She took a breath and turned away, hoping to find something a little less imposing to look at.

Her eyes drifted to Pinkie, who was happily sucking on the bottle a few feet away. It was already half empty and Apple Jack had shown no interest in it (Dash was quite happy for that). Sprawled out in a supine position, Pinkie held the drink in all four hooves, looking back at Dash upside down. Gummy was nearby, too, standing motionless on the window sill, mouth open... silently cooling himself off. The room had grown surprisingly warm in a short amount of time, even for the time of year.

Apple Jack let out a low whistle, gaining both pony's attention. They turned to see her playfully smiling down at Rainbow, this time raising her eyebrows. Thunder rang out as Dash bit her lip, lowering her head in a manner somewhat reminiscent of Fluttershy. It was time for them to act as they did when all alone on the farm... and Pinkie was there to watch.

The orange mare was no stranger to the idea of diapering a pony's backside (or spanking one, for that matter). She'd done it hundreds of times to Apple Bloom when she was just a foal, and even though she was out of practice, she could still do it in her sleep. Though Rainbow's derrière was about four times bigger than baby Apple Bloom's, the mechanics were all the same.

Apple Jack slipped the slick garment beneath Rainbow's rump, not having to tell the Pegasus to put her legs up as they were already in the air. She grinned at the sight of the cyan mare's quivering leg muscles and exposed, barely winking personal bits. Seeing this, Pinkie pulled the bottle from her mouth:

"D'aww, that's so cute! Dashie totally wants it!"

Though amused, Apple Jack noticed Rainbow's left eye twitch. The recumbent mare gritted her teeth, glaring back at Pinkie with murder in her eye. Dash covered herself up with a hoof and continued to stare; Apple Jack guessed too embarrassed to actually say anything. She knew Dash well enough that she could tell a mile away when she was feeling vulnerable... not that she'd easily admit it.

The farm pony gently reached up and guided Rainbow's forehoof back to her side.

"Shhh. Ah'll take care of it," she whispered in a warm, calming tone. "It's alright."

Without turning to look at Pinkie, Apple Jack reached out and playfully ruffled her pink mane, slowly guiding the nipple right back to where it was before. The sucking resumed the moment it touched her lips, then... silence.

"Let's get this over with." Rainbow Dash said in a forced, monotone voice, looking off to the side. She peered up at her marefriend once, twice... blushing a little more each time. "Come on AJ!"

The orange pony poked Dash's tummy in response, seeing how eager she was to get this started. The two ponies smiled at each other. This was a special moment for just the two of them; Rainbow put a hoof between her face and Pinkie, coughing, so the mare couldn't see her real reaction. She knew from Apple Jack's expression that she wasn't going to waste anymore time.

Rainbow shuttered as she felt the thick material being pulled up between her legs. She looked away and thankfully didn't find Gummy on the window sill anymore. Dash couldn't help glancing down as the diaper was pulled all around her... the sides stretched, tapes readied. She covered her face with both hooves, groaning in defeat as the material was wrapped snuggly around her waist. The tapes were applied rather fastidiously for the farm pony, as if she was enjoying it. Rainbow kept her eyes closed but could still picture Apple Jack making that cute face... the one where she sticks the tip of her tongue just past her teeth and grins. The same face Rainbow liked to see moments before the farm pony tasted her sweet rewards for making Dash submit on the farm.

Despite Apple Jack taking her time, Rainbow was still diapered before she knew it. She uncovered her eyes and looked down just as the orange pony turned her over so that she could fasten one final tape. Dash turned crimson as she felt it being stretched and applied. After that, she was set down for a moment and all was quiet.

* * *

The two ponies looked at each other intensely. One had an awkward grin on her face, the other a smirk. It was so silent that over the rain's soft pitter-patter they could have heard a pin drop on the bottom step.

"We're done!" Yipped Apple Jack. "Move over an' appreciate ma work, RD."

At first Rainbow remained still, looking at her new pink undergarment with a blank expression. Gently but firmly, the farm pony nudged her over with her foreleg... motioning for Pinkie to take her place at the edge of the bed. Pinkie saluted, tumbling in her direction as Dash scooted away, examining her garment yet again at the far end of the bed.

Rainbow was wearing a diaper alright, there was no denying that. She laughed. Twenty-three years old and in diapers again, and to top it off... she still had to pee. She was also mildly hung-over. The water she had drunk was starting to make her feel better at least, but it also made her have to pee even more. She knew that Apple Jack could have easily turned to her after she was done with Pinkie, held her down, and... not let her go until she found out firsthoof how absorbent her diaper really was. Dash was pretty sure that wasn't going to happen; the farm pony had already had her fun and while she respected her enough, but... there always was a certain element of dominance to their play.

While being diapered Rainbow had sat stiller than Gummy, in front of Pinkie no less... all because of the way Apple Jack looked at her. There wasn't a thing Dash wouldn't do for a look from her Special Somepon- ... rather, Apple Jack: the busiest farm pony in Equestia. In truth, she just had seductive eyes. Seductive eyes that Rainbow didn't want to lose. That's really what was under all this.

Deep down, Rainbow wanted to rip the talcum-scented garment off and fly through the window. To say she was embarrassed would be an understatement... she was done with this. Totally done, and feeling more indignant than Rarity on a bad day. She'd have to cool her jets for now, though, as that would just upset Pinkie Pie. Looking at the mare right beside her, getting a diaper check by her orange crush... playing this game meant the world to her. It meant the world to them both, and Rainbow wanted to do right by everypony.

It's just a game.

They'd play a game, then everything would be okay. How much of this was the cider could have been anypony's guess, but Dash wasn't about to share. She'd gone from light and fuzzy to insecure and remorseful quicker than she realized. Having fun with your friends doing something you don't like for them just once... that's true loyalty. For now, Rainbow would just have to keep distracting herself. Laying silently on the bed, staring at her diaper, she found that easier said than done, so she settled on just looking at what she was wearing:

The most unusual thing about the thick garment was how it felt between her legs. It felt oddly familiar, yet like nothing she could even begin to describe -- baggy and loose, yet snug and form-fitting, while thick and stiff in places. Sitting up, she found herself being cushioned by the padding in her seat. She tried to get an even better look, only to hear the sound of crinkling at her slightest movement. Rainbow could also smell her own musk and arousal already mixing with the foalpowder... there was something surprisingly pleasant about that. Then again, she never was a pony for perfume and maybe she was just discovering why some ponies liked it so much.

Looking up at the two other mares on the bed, Dash realized they were already moving on. Apple Jack was now completely focused on Pinkie Pie, and for some reason... Dash didn't feel as good about that as she thought she would.

Pinkie had wet again in the short time she was downstairs and the farm pony was tending to that. While Pinkie was finishing off her bottle, Apple Jack worked with admirable efficiency. She opened the diaper up and pulled it away in one gesture, cleaning off Pinkie's rump without so much as batting an eye. Rainbow noticed Gummy, still as a statue, right beside them with a wipe in his mouth.

"Why thank you kindly, Gummy!" The farm pony said, gingerly taking the wipe.

In response the gator blinked one eye, followed by the other. His expression unreadable, as always.

Apple Jack diapered Pinkie's rump in less than a minute. It had all gone down almost as smoothly as her marefriend's. Before the Pegasus knew it, the orange pony was already balling up the used diaper and asking Pinkie:

"Where?"

"In my wastepaper basket right behind you, pretty please!"

Apple Jack grinned in her usual smug way. She didn't even look back as the diaper was flung behind her head. Rainbow's jaw dropped as it sunk in perfectly, not even bouncing off the wall.

"Ohmygosh, AJ! How did you do that?"

"Years of tossin' apples to AB on the farm." The farm pony looked down at Rainbow's new garment, then up at her face. "Say, you ain't blushin' no more!"

"Yeah, well," Rainbow Dash turned towards the window and forced a chuckle, "Pinkie's in one, too, and all... so I guess that makes it okay. Right?"

Pinkie Pie, who had been admiring the job Apple Jack did changing her, looked up and asked:

"Now what?"

Apple Jack looked out at the gray skies as she tapped her chin, deep in thought. She threw her hooves up and grinned:

"Now Ah come between you two!"

The farm pony somersaulted onto the bed, slipping right between Pinkie and Rainbow Dash. The two ponies on either side pulled back and gave her space to get comfy. Pinkie was on the left near the window, Rainbow on the right. Once Apple Jack got settled in they snuggled on her chest. All three ponies then breathed in... and sighed.

* * *

Rainbow Dash looked up at her marefriend. She had one thing on her mind and it had to do with her body's needs right below the belt.

"AJ?" She whispered, propping herself up.

Apple Jack had shut her eyes, but she opened them to look directly over at her marefriend.

"What is it, Sugarcube?"

"Can I please go to the bathroom already?"

Rainbow could barely see the farm pony's smile as she spoke. It wasn't nearly as devilish as it had been before.

"Alright."

Apple Jack, who had her foreleg wrapped tightly around the Pegasus's shoulders, let go.

Rainbow slowly got up and stretched, her backside crinkling with every move she made. A couple feet from the bed she looked down at her bottom -- thickly diapered in what she would call frou-frou pink -- then up at the two other ponies. Pinkie just stared while Apple Jack had her hoof over her mouth, clearly holding back laughter.

"It's not funny!" Dash grumbled, gritting her teeth.

The smile quickly faded from the farm pony's face.

"Aw, shucks! Ah don't think its funny... but I do find it cute. Lighten up, RD; it's just a simple piece of clothing, and nothin' more!"

Dash shook her head as Pinkie nodded in agreement. She and Apple Jack hoof bumped on the bed while the Pegasus stood there fuming.

"I am so going downstairs," she said in frustration, turning in the direction of the stairs and preparing to take a step.

"Ya are comin' back, right?" The farm pony asked point-blank. "We got some good quality snuggling time ahead of us... you, me, an' of course Pinkie here. You wouldn't want it just to be Pinkie... right?"

Rainbow lowered her head. She was going to have to share her AJ and that was all there was to it. Served her right.

"Fine. I'll be back in five minutes."

The Pegasus could still feel a set of green eyes on her. She knew Apple Jack was grinning, even with her back turned.

"You'll be back in five minutes... what now?"

Dash winced, lowering her head even further than before.

"I'll be back in five minutes... ma'am."

"That's right!" Apple Jack reached out with her hoof and gently poked Dash s crinkly rump. "Ah wanna hear you crinkling all the way back up these stairs now, you adorable blue baby!"

"Okay," Rainbow said in a dejected way, no longer hiding her feelings.

Again, she started in the direction of the stairs... slowly, eyes closed and head down.

"Aww, Dashie," Pinkie's voice rang out. "Don't be sad! Apple Jack still loves you!"

"Quite right, Pinkie," the farm pony said, with sincerity. "Always have, always will... no matter what happens. Honest truth."

Dash looked back, grinning ear to ear. She sniffled.

"Don't you dare start crying on me, RD," Apple Jack said. "You know I ain't good at that sentimental stuff."

"Oh, I know," Rainbow said, taking a few brisk steps in the direction of the stairs while looking back. "Look, I'll be right b-"

As Dash spoke, Pinkie felt a very particular twitch... one she had felt only two times in her life before. This was one twitch she didn't ever like to feel, because it meant someone very special (and very vulnerable) was in danger:

"Dashie, watch out!"

It was too late. A shrill squeal rang out in the room, not unlike one of Pinkie's tiny clown horns. Dash was caught off guard by the noise, and because of that her short chance to react had gone by. The Pegasus's left front hoof grazed Gummy's hind legs -- Gummy, who had been lazing by the door -- and she lost her balance. Her ankle buckled, and came in direct contact with the tiny lizard's scales, scraping her leg just a bit. Naturally, Gummy didn't want to be squished, so he wriggled away, but Dash... given the speed she'd picked up in those few steps, couldn't stop right away. Pinkie and Apple Jack watched her diapered butt and rainbow-colored tail disappear over the stairwell... hearing a thundering noise as she went down to the last step.

The two mares looked at each other in silence, each seeing a horrified expression on the other's face. They bolted down the stairs fast as their legs could carry them, Pinkie grabbing her pet baby gator along the way.

* * *

"Rainbow...?" A familiar, deep southern voice echoed from above. "Rainbow Dash?"

The Pegasus was face down on the cold bakery floor. Going down the carpeted bakery stairs surprisingly hadn't hurt all that much, but it was really jarring to be laying on what felt like hard ice. She groaned, feeling disoriented as she turned over and let out a breath.

"Gah..." Dash rubbed her eyes. "Ouch... wow. I'm okay."

Pinkie had fortunately left the lights on. Dash was able to get good look at Apple Jack standing above her. She saw a pink blur on the steps behind the farm pony, holding and stroking a light green blur that was opening and shutting its mouth. Her eyes had yet to focus, but she knew what that was. She watched Pinkie twitch randomly as she tried to comfort her (probably frightened) pet.

"You sure you didn't break nothin'?" The farm pony asked. "That was a pretty nasty spill."

"Uh-huh!" Pinkie chirped in agreement.

Dash slowly rose to her hooves. She felt the environment swaying a little, but nothing hurt. She stretched out her wings... they were fine. She stretched out her forelegs one by one... they cracked. Except for a minor scratch they were fine. She stretched out her back legs now, and noticed right away something felt off.

She noticed a presence that felt like weight along her backside. It hung there... swollen, contained, and emanating warmth. She noticed then that she didn't have to use the bathroom anymore. It must have happened on her way down and she'd only just realized it. Her eyes went wide in humiliation and surprise as she thought of what to do, what to say... this wasn't anything she was about to talk about, even with Apple Jack. She immediately turned to face the two ponies, hiding her backside from their view.

"What's wrong?" Apple Jack asked. "Ya didn't sprain nothin', did ya? I hope to Celestia that's not the case. You gotta work tomorrow and Ponyville Urgent Care's gunna be a chore to get to in this weather!"

Dash shook her head.

"I'm fine, AJ," she said, trying to play it cool, "and I wouldn't go dressed like this! Just go back upstairs and I'll be right up."

"Well, uh... alright." Apple Jack sat back on the step. "You sure you're fine?

"Totally," Rainbow said with confidence, turning to face the farm pony more directly. "Just need to stretch out... you know how that can be."

Apple Jack was already nodding, ready to reply when Pinkie cut her off.

"Dashie, did you have an accident when you fell?" She asked, nose wrinkling. "I smell tinkle and I know it isn't me. Unless Gummy went." Pinkie looked on the step beside her and under her padded butt. "Nope! ... but now that I think about it, gator tinkle doesn't smell anything like pony tinkle, and this smells a lot like pony tinkle and wet foalpowder!"

Apple Jack attempted to sniff the air along with Pinkie, but ended up shaking her head.

"I don't smell a thing, Pinkie... then again, I was out in the rain fer almost an hour. Could be clogged up." She turned back to Dash, lowering her head and looking up at her. "No shame in admittin' it if you did, RD. I think fallin' down all those steps with a full bladder would've made me have one, too."

Dash froze. Her eyes drifted towards her backside again... her head slowly followed. In the vibrant light, she could clearly see the discolored, saturated polymer. The pink diaper was stained a sort of darkish peach color, almost the same as Apple Jack's cider. Just as Pinkie's had been, it looked like it had been more than just tinkled in. Dash looked back up at her friends, lips sealed and eyes wide.

"You had an accident, didn't you?" Apple Jack asked, matter-of-factly. "S'alright if ya dun wanna tell me."

Rainbow Dash, now standing there in a wet diaper, didn't know how to answer that question without humiliating herself more than she already was. Losing control over her own bladder... in a diaper? That was too much. At first she just stared at the two ponies... then lowered her head. Biting her lip, the Pegasus nodded.

"Yeah... I did."

Apple Jack slowly approached, head down and eyes up. Rainbow was waiting for her start circling her, in order to get a better look at the damage... but instead she stopped right in front of the Pegasus and hugged her. Rainbow returned the affection, wrapping a foreleg around the farm pony.

"Least ya didn't pee all over the Cake's nice wood floors," Apple Jack half-whispered in the mare's ear, patting her back. "That diaper did have its uses after all."

Usually when something went wrong in their games, AJ was supportive. This was no exception. Even though Dash had run off with Pinkie, and they had messed around, Apple Jack was still there for her. Dash sniffed, holding back a tear, as Apple Jack kissed the side of her face. Pinkie sniffled from the stairs, seeing how much the two ponies cared for each other, but she pretended not to see, because this seemed like a moment for just the two of them.

"Well, alright," Apple Jack said, finally breaking away from the hug. "Go upstairs and get cleaned up or end the game here?"

Dash looked over at Pinkie, who had turned her attention over to Gummy... whispering to him and responding, almost as if she could read his invisible body language. The pink mare looked up and smiled. Dash looked back at AJ. She was smiling too. This was no longer about keeping them liking her (or, at least keeping from disliking her). Rainbow found herself smiling, too.

"Let's take it upstairs," Dash said, lowering her head to Apple Jack the same way as she had just before she got diapered. She whispered the rest, just to the farm pony. "You can do whatever you want to me, here or at the farm. Just clear it with Pinkie."

Apple Jack grinned, cocking her head at Dash's boldness as Pinkie took a breath. The farm pony then spoke for them both:

"Alright! Now yer talkin', RD!"

Pinkie almost rocketed off the steps in excitement. With Gummy in hoof she padded up the stairs, crinkling the whole way there.

"Come on!" Pinkie shouted from the tippy-top step.

Apple Jack offered Rainbow a hoof, motioning with her head for the Pegasus to start climbing, too. Dash trotted past her on her own, up a couple steps... and stuck her tongue out at the bemused farm pony.

"I'm a big mare, AJ. I don't need your help up the stairs!"

In response, Apple Jack poked the Pegasus's bottom with a hoof... feeling the squish of her wet diaper. Dash felt it, too, and blushed... grinning awkwardly down at her orange marefriend.

"Uh...okay, maybe I do."

"That's right!" Apple Jack smiled, as she watched Rainbow Dash waddle up the stairs, hearing her crinkling the whole way. The farm pony chuckled at the sight.

* * *

It was just Apple Jack at the bottom steps now. She peered at the bright lights, even brighter than she remembered. She sighed.

This is gunna cost the Cakes a mint!

Slowly she approached the counter where she knew the light switch was, all while looking around the clean and organized establishment. It was impressive. She glanced at the clock on the wall. It read a bit before twelve, which felt about right to her.

This is a mighty nice place, she thought to herself as she turned the lights off.

The light went out and the bakery suddenly grew very cold. It was the type of cold a pony could see her own breath in. Apple Jack's eyes went wide in surprise as she turned it back on. As if by magic it was warm again.

What in the world?

She laughed in the bright light.

"The lights cannot possibly be warmin' this place up that much!" She thought aloud.

Apple Jack flipped the light switch off with the intentions of leaving it off this time. She headed for the stairs, fast, focusing on the dim light reflected off the ceiling... ignoring the bone chilling temperature all around her. She made her way to the first step.

Ah must be comin' down with something. Either that or I'm plum delirious from all this!

She looked back one final time. In the darkness of the storm the bakery looked foreign and distorted. She focused on a few things that she knew were there and as she did, they seemed more familiar and less weird. The farm pony scratched her head with a hoof. Something didn't feel right, yet she knew there was nothing there in the dark that was not already there in the light. Thunder flashed, making everything appear as Apple Jack thought it should be... through black and white from the unnatural brightness.

Ah must've spend too much time out in the storm to be this shook up! Why do Ah do these things for ya RD?

She turned back towards the stairs and quickly climbed them. Each step she took, each breath she drew with the intentions of making it back up there made her smile ear-to-ear. She also felt warmer the higher she went. As she climbed higher and higher, the cold bakery mattered less and less.

"Ah'm a-coming girls!" She laughed as she approached the last few steps beneath where she knew two mares waited for her.

Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie. As much as she loved Rainbow, two mares (diapered or not) in bed was a dream come true for Apple Jack. She couldn't wait to play... even if having the farm to care for meant she might have to leave sooner than she wanted to.

Part 3, Chapter 4 -- "Fun & Games"

4
"Fun & Games"

Everything about the dark bakery had been forgotten. Rainbow's change could wait as well. Right now, this very moment... was bliss.

It was bliss for Apple Jack, it was bliss for Pinkie, and it was even bliss for Rainbow Dash. All the three cuddled on the bed; Apple Jack looking up at the ceiling, Pinkie out the window. Rainbow's eyes were calm, and focused directly on her marefriend.

"Ah can't stay but an hour at best," the farm pony said, listening to the distant thunder. "Even with the weather like this, there's still so much to do 'round the farm. Fun never stops there, Ah suppose."

"But I know when the rain's supposed to stop," said Rainbow, stretching out and yawning. "You can always wait 'til then to leave."

"'round 2 o'clock Thunderlane said." Apple Jack replied. "You know, RD, even though he prolly knows he's done wrong, especially by now, ya kinda have to respect his gumption. He ain't about to give up and admit he's wrong... stubborn in a way, kinda like the first founders of Ponyville. They lead themselves to disaster, too. In that way you're kind a bit like 'em yerself... but only the good parts, of course!"

Dash could see Pinkie nodding out of the corner of her eye. She then heard (and felt) the farm pony playfully crinkle the two diapered rumps on the bed. Pinkie giggled as Dash sat still, thinking about what had just been said.

"Heck, Sugarcube," Apple Jack gently guided Rainbow's face towards her own. "You're prolly feelin' bad about not doin' something more to stop him now, aren't ya?"

Rainbow nodded slowly.

"It's quite alright, you know. Just a minor setback. We can always host another day tomorrow! Pinkie's contribution certainly did help us out."

Rainbow forced a grin as Apple Jack smiled back, tightly snuggling both ponies into either side of her body. Dash noticed Pinkie burring her face into Apple Jack's mane in the same way that had really ruffled her feathers earlier. She watched the farm pony's pupils contract into tiny dots as Pinkie's mane brushed up against the nape of her neck... only to dilate a moment after Pinkie settled in under her chin.

"Woah now! Easy there missy!" Apple Jack laughed. "Pinkie, if I didn't know any better Ah'd say you wanted to go down south on me. Now, I'm more than happily oblige if that's what ya want. You are a very nice-lookin' mare, after all, and it would... how you'd probably say 'tickle me pink'. So, well... if you want it, Pinkie, you can have it."

Rainbow gritted her teeth at the images flashing through her mind as Pinkie looked confused. The farm pony watched both mare's reactions, grinning devilishly at Rainbow's.

"Go... down south?" Pinkie asked.

Apple Jack rolled her eyes:

"Pinkie, do Ah really have to spell it out fer ya?"

Pinkie nodded, surprising neither pony on the bed. Both laughed... Rainbow feeling quite relieved.

"Rainbow Dash," Apple Jack turned so she was now snout-to-snout with her cyan marefriend. "Do me a favor an' handle this one for me. My vocabulary for this kind of stuff lacks subtlety after the first couple... innuendos."

Having already having had this problem with Pinkie, Dash was at least prepared for it. Slipping to Apple Jack's chest, Rainbow put her head up to Pinkie's ear and whispered somewhat of a more clinical definition describing what their friend had in mind. She wasn't happy to be doing this, so at first it came out as more of a grumble. Pinkie's eyes went wide, not in horror, but with further confusion:

"She's saying she's up for cunni-wha?"

Rainbow Dash whispered some more... this time getting a little more specific. Pinkie's eyes went wide, this time not in confusion:

"Eww! Eww!" Pinkie shuttered. "No way, AJ! That's gross!"

"Well, now. That answers that!" Apple Jack ruffed Pinkie's mane with a smile. "Ah still like ya, Pinkie, but don't you dare go snuggling me like that again, unless you want me to bury your face into another part of my body with a different kinda moist lips nearby. We clear on this, Miss Pinkamena Diane Pie?"

Pinkie nodded rapidly in response.

"Crystal!"

Apple Jack laughed, tenderly kissing her pink friend's forehead as Rainbow settled back in next to her.

* * *

Again, Rainbow Dash had something on her mind concerning her state below the belt. The wet diaper she had on squished between her legs as she pulled herself beside Apple Jack. It was still warm at least... well, warmish.

"AJ?"

Apple Jack smiled, her eyes closed again.

"What's on yer mind, Sugarcube?"

Swallowing her pride, Dash gulped.

"Will you change me already?"

Apple Jack let out a single sigh, followed by a snort. She looked at Dash and winked.

"Why don't you just change yourself?"

Dash's weak smile quickly turned into a scowl. She stared for a good solid moment with a frown on her face.

"Oh, alright, alright! I'm just foolin' around." Apple Jack turned to face Rainbow more directly. "I'll change you, but first... you're gunna have to earn it."

Rainbow raised an eyebrow as the orange mare batted her eyes.

"Earn it? In Pinkie's bed? AJ, you can't be serious!" Both ponies laughed as Apple Jack glanced back at Pinkie Pie, who had picked up the pacifier and stuck it back in her mouth. She listened in as Rainbow continued, "well, at least come out and say it, Apple Jack. What exactly did you have in mind? How am I going to 'earn it' in Pinkie's bed?"

Apple Jack slowly stuck her tongue out... in the way Dash liked.

"For a pony who can't believe what she just heard, you seem awful eager to hear the details on how please me, RD... especially considerin' what you said earlier."

Blushing, Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, yeah. Try me, AJ."

Apple Jack glanced back at Pinkie.

"With our gal pal's permission... you can earn your change by disappearing under these covers and goin' down south on me fer a bit. What'd ya say, RD?"

Pinkie voiced her biggest concern through the pacifier:

"Wiwl eyh halfta cit?"

"What's that now?" Apple Jack asked, turning her head towards Pinkie. "Speak a lil more clearly."

Pinkie pulled the rubber end from her mouth and repeated herself:

"Will I have to see it, AJ? ... it sounds like it might be really gross."

"Ah promise you we'll keep it under the covers." Apple Jack looked back at her and smiled. "Might get a lil wet... Pinkie, we don't have to do this here. Me and RD can take a rain check and continue at the farmhouse if you're not comfortable."

Pinkie furrowed her brow... clearly considering the proposition Apple Jack had just laid down. She had a few things to ask:

"This is just so everypony's having fun, right?"

"You've got the idea. It's a type of game Ah think we can all enjoy, if we play the right roles..."

Pinkie tapped her hoof to the side of her face.

"The right roles, hmm... That means no pony gets left out?"

"Exactly!" Apple Jack ruffled Pinkie's mane. "Couldn't have put it better m'self!"

"Then..." Pinkie paused for a moment, furrowing her brow again. "What do you want me to do?"

"Well, Pinkie..." It was Apple Jack's turn to think. "You could always find out how good of a kisser I am. I'd say I'm the best there's ever been in Equestria... but only you can see about that." She glanced back at the Pegasus, sticking her tongue out just past her teeth. "Rainbow's biased! Don't ask her."

"You must really want me to bite you down there, AJ," Rainbow said, gently pounding into Apple Jack's flank with a hoof.

"Is it alright with you if Ah were to kiss Pinkie, then?" Rainbow's eyelid visibly twitched as she took a few breaths. Apple Jack continued, "Well, you did have your fun with her already. S'only right."

"Hey, don't I get first say in this?" Pinkie asked, shaking her head in disbelief. "This is making me feel all funny," her mane deflated slightly, "and kinda mad."

"Well, actually RD does, but ya make a good point. Are you okay with giving me a lil sugar, Pinkie?" The farm pony asked directly. "Ah ain't about to ask you to do something you don't wanna do! Heck, as long as RD's down there you can snuggle against me any-which-way you like, including the more... cuddly ways."

Pinkie's frizz restored itself. She was already feeling better about this.

Dash was almost hyperventilating. A little sugar? That was a word AJ used only to describe what Rainbow did to her, for her! Apple Jack gently rubbed the Pegasus's shoulder, realizing what she had done wrong. Dash fought the urge to bat her hoof away.

"Yes, AJ... I think I might like that." Pinkie said, a warm smile spreading itself across her face.

Apple Jack responded by grinning at Pinkie in way that made her feel kind of funny... almost icky but really tickly. She turned red as Apple Jack rubbed her chest gently with a hoof, gradually going down to her tummy and then over to her boobies sticking just above the diaper's waistband, all the while peering at her with unblinking green eyes.

"Really now? You are... serious, right?"

"Uh-huh!" Pinkie exclaimed, running her hoof through her own mane while giggling like a school filly.

Apple Jack now put her hoof against the front of Pinkie's diaper and pressed firmly, rubbing for a few seconds. The material was quite loose and surprisingly slick, but she could see in Pinkie's eyes that she wasn't about to object. She continued to gaze into Pinkie's eyes, and saw her eyes -- once bright orbs -- drawing into relaxed little slits.

"Lemme ask you something. Do you think I'm pretty, Pinkie? Be honest now."

The Earth Pony's pupils visibly dilated as she took a couple deep breaths. She put a warm foreleg on Apple Jack's shoulder and began rubbing. Pinkie couldn't explain why, but this felt right to touch Apple Jack in this really special way.

"Yes, I do, AJ! I really do!"

"Both me and," she tapped Rainbow's shoulder gently, "Dash here? It's two-for-one, now. You take one, you gotta take the other. That's the rule!"

Pinkie's eyes went wide as Apple Jack pecked her cheek. Her answer caused the farm pony to grin from ear-to-ear:

"Okee-dokie-lokie! I can totally do that!"

Apple Jack turned back to Rainbow, sticking her tongue out again.

"Well? What'd ya think of that?"

Truthfully Dash had more than one thing she could say about that... but even so she still had to play it cool. Apple Jack had reduced Pinkie to a puddle without even trying. The Pegasus was a bit jealous to say the least.

"Oh, alright!" Dash exclaimed, biting her lip in frustration. "I'm all for it, okay?"

Both mare's eyes went wide.

"Ya really don't sound too sure, RD," Apple Jack replied, with a chuckle. "In fact, I'd say you're humorin' me at this point."

Pinkie nodded in agreement.

Dash shook her head and took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry, AJ. It's jut the idea of you kissing another mare... on the lips!"

Apple Jack grinned coyly in response.

"Fair enough, RD. Just think of it this way: I ain't exactly leaving you out. While Pinkie gets the cuddles, you get the pie. How many times did you walk past your own granny without so much as a kiss when you smelled desert coolin' on the counter?"

"But, but- That's not fair!" Rainbow Dash protested. "This is way different, AJ!"

Rainbow's face had quickly gone from upset to angry. Apple Jack smiled weakly, shaking her head..

"Rainbow, that was one of them rick-tor-uh..., or it a was ree- ... oh, daggnabbit, what's that word again? Ah can't remember, but I've heard Twilight use it more times than I can count!"

"Rhetorical?" Pinkie blurted out, hugging on to Apple Jack's back.

"Exactly!" Apple Jack pried Pinkie's hooves off. "RD, it was a question that you're not supposed to actually answer... I'm just pointin' out that there can't be three ponies playing this type of game in bed without all three havin' something to do!" The farm pony glanced back at the padded pink Earth Pony. "Ah could always ask Pinkie to take your place if you'd rather be up here."

"No!" Pinkie quickly squeaked, giggling after Apple Jack glanced back at her smiling. She realized it was just a joke. "I mean, I really, really don't want to do that, Dashie!"

"Alright, alright..." Rainbow Dash nodded, understanding. "I'd better not regret this, AJ."

Apple Jack peeled back the covers.

"Just get under there and trust me!"

Rainbow Dash picked her body up and started pulling herself to the center of the bed. She glanced back at Apple Jack, who smiled smugly and stuck her tongue out in that special way.

"Get to it little missy!"

The springs squeaked as Rainbow rolled towards the center of the bed. Apple Jack threw the covers over her back and the entire room went black for the Pegasus... but she knew about where she was. The smell and the vibration of Apple Jack's enthusiastically winking genitals tipped her off.

Pinkie smiled, snuggling up to the dominant farm pony... respecting her boundaries at first, as not to switch places with Rainbow.

"Any rules, Pinkie?" Apple Jack asked, touching the pink mare beneath her tail on her diaper. "Anything ya really don't like... or really like?"

Pinkie nervously twiddled her hooves and sighed.

"Just please don't touch me inside my diaper.... it makes me feel really funny, but not in a good way. Okay Apple Jack?"

"Ah think I can do that," the farm pony said, ruffling the mare's pink mane as she looked down at the bump getting settled under the covers. "You okay down there? I'm not gunna feel teeth for real, am I?"

"No, Miss Apple Jack."

Pinkie Pie turned red hearing that, eyes wide, as Rainbow's head settled in at just about the point of Apple Jack's stomach.

"Why did she just call you Miss Apple Jack, Apple Jack? You're not her teacher!"

"Oh, I am, Pinkie! I am." Apple Jack ruffled Pinkie's mane. "Seriously, it's 'cause she respects me. I know what she likes, and Ah gave it to her. She'll give me what Ah like in return, and she likes giving me what Ah like as much as I like givin' back. It's called fair-trade, 'cause no pony ever gets gipped. In bed it can be lot of fun, especially to hear your Special Somepony squealin' in delight!"

Pinkie smiled and nodded, understanding completely.

At this point they needed no more words. Apple Jack grabbed the chubbier mare in both forelegs and pulled her in tight. The two ponies smooched, Pinkie melting instantly as she clumsily stuck her legs beneath the covers. Kissing and cuddling with Apple Jack made Pinkie's whole body tingle -- even the special place under her diaper -- with more raw electricity than she had ever felt. The farm pony knew it: she slowly rubbed Pinkie's back and diapered bottom, pulling it out of her, eating up the attention and the fervor she felt. This was a real kiss, and there was something extra special about Apple Jack. Pinkie liked the way she looked and smelled a tinny bit more than she liked Rainbow, but she liked Rainbow more as a pony. She wouldn't tell either that, though, as that would probably just end up hurting somepony's feelings.

Under the covers Rainbow Dash was having issues settling in, as Pinkie Pie had almost clunked Dash into unconsciousness with her back hooves. Like always, Dash was focused on her goal. She had begun around AJ's thighs, licking, and ultimately ended up kissing Apple Jack's navel. She traveled downward from there, listening to the sound of her friends' smooches above, which oddly were fading away as she approached her target. She found the source the warmth and wet she was looking for and poked it with a hoof. It was tight and moist, and yet felt so very firm. It winked at her... she felt it even through the darkness. Oh, how Dash loved doing this. Her first time had surprised her almost as much as her love for reading had... it was curiosity which grew and grew, just like her own swelling mare bits as she was doing it.

Apple Jack parted her legs as Rainbow's tongue approached the spot. She felt the tremble and the softness, kissing it tenderly. The Pegasus was wrapped tightly between the legs of the orange mare. Face-to-face with Apple Jack's bright pink nub, this was it. She began to suckle on it, feeling it pop out as she felt the farm pony's entire body stiffen up.

The warmth of the other two faded, and suddenly Rainbow Dash felt very cold. The secure presence of Apple Jack's toned thighs now felt restrictive. The smell of foal powder, musk, lust, and her own waste faded, replaced with that of dank and chill. She felt as though she was floating, silently in a blue void, very much like night.

* * *

Where was she? What was happening? Where were Apple Jack and Pinkie Pie?

These are the questions that should have been going through Rainbow Dash's head. What was warm and fuzzy had suddenly become so barren and alone, yet Rainbow could hardly open her eyes even in the dark void.

A brilliant blue orb appeared below her, bright and majestic as the moon the seldom times it's blue and full at once. It moved closer... or maybe she did. Dash she could hardly move to tell the difference. Distance was closed, closer and closer, almost as if it was going to collide with her at some barely precipitable speed. It came within feet, Dash's eyes wide watching it as it faded away. For a brief moment in the resulting darkness, she saw the powerful, stern gaze of Luna.

"For the sake of thy love and the Elements of Harmony make haste! Go to her NOW!"

It all faded away once more as if Rainbow Dash felt herself slowly blacking out... jolting forward with newfound awareness.

End of Part 3

Author's Note

These closing sections took a tremendous, tremendous amount of editing. I wanted it to flow at least -somewhat- smoothly, and it took a lot of trial-n-error/rereads to get it to this point. There's a tone shift and a pace shift I don't know if I like. I felt like Scootaloo at the piano in The Show Stoppers -- everything I did to make it better seemed amusingly awkward and tad unfocused (though to be fair, Scootaloo's lyrics were more than a LITTLE unfocused ^^). :scootangel:

I realized I'm not used to working with perspectives like this, and smoothly switching between the three ponies thoughts was surprisingly difficult to do smoothly. I found that was part of why the story felt awkward and the pace a bit funny. It's frustrated me to the point I didn't want to work on it, but I'm so close to done and so into finishing this story that I plowed through the... *a-hem* "editor's block", I guess it's called. I found one of the things that helped was having an understanding of how the character's might think in the situation... not that anything like this ever happens in MLP. I found it to be a bit wordy in places and a bit draggy, but I spent a good deal of time sprucing that up. After a person's read the same section over and over, it can seem draggy to him/her regardless of whether or not it is.

I hope the readers of this story are happy with the twist -- I had two endings in mind when I started with this story and I picked the one I was leaning towards. The other was to have Dash and Pinkie become special friends outside of Apple Jack... that works as a fun idea, but I don't like stories with fetish elements that end on a fantasy note having to do with the fetish. Any additional exploration is killed by that and it becomes quickly forgettable. Anywho, the story's not over, there's another part coming up. Shouldn't take as long (well, hopefully).

Don't hesitate to let me know what you think in the comments.

Also, if anybody's curious the ideas in this part predate the episode " Pinkie Apple Pie." No incestuous curiosity intended.

Hope you've enjoyed this story so far. It's been fun writing it!

Peace :eeyup:

Part 4, Chapter 1 -- "After the Storm"

Part 4
"Not too late"

Chapter 1
"After the Storm"

Rainbow Dash bolted awake, more sweaty and disoriented than she had been after first training on the Wonderbolt's Dizzitron. She shot upright, her muscles tense; it was as if somepony had stuck a firecracker under her pillow and lit it. Had it not been for the weight of Pinkie Pie on her legs, she would have taken clear off and been hovering above the bed before she even knew what was going on.

She took a deep breath and slowly blinked her eyes, then began looking around the room... She was in Pinkie's room. Gummy looked down on her from the vanity with his glass eyes. Dash could remembered why she was there, though the pounding in her head served as an additional reminder... it wasn't as bad as she expected it to be. To her left she saw it was no longer raining outside. She could hear birds singing in the distance, the day was bright and sunny, and she could imagine Fluttershy leading them on in song from the sound of it. Pinkie was asleep by her chest, their hind legs intertwined in some complex web under the covers. Dash shifted her weight to get their legs untangled and Pinkie stirred, yet Dash's eyes went wide for another reason:

The bed was wet.

It was cold and wet. Dash knew the window hadn't leaked, and the wetness was most concentrated right about the place where she and Pinkie were locked together.

Pinkie wet the bed. Dash thought, looking over at the mare sympathetically. Whatever you do, Rainbow, don't laugh after she realizes what's happened.

The sleeping mare's face was scrunched up, not in her usual cute way... but as if she was in pain.

She must be having a nightmare. Dash thought, taking her free hoof and stroking the mane out of Pinkie's face. Pinkie instinctively drew toward the comfort, resting her head on Dash's shoulder. She was silent, yet she bit down hard on her lip, all the while continuing to wince. Dash waited and waited, not sure what to do.

Suddenly Pinkie placed both hooves on the bed (one on the mattress, one on her friend) and propelled herself upwards as if doing a push-up. Her eyes shot open, darting around the room almost in a frenzied panic. They turned to Rainbow and she watched the panic fade away... though Pinkie still cried after she took a breath and realized where she really was.

"Bad dream, Pinkie?" Dash asked, wiping the tear from her friend's eye.

"Un-huh," Pinkie replied, snuggling into her friend. "I'm so sorry, Dashie."

"Hey, you've got nothing to apologize for, Pinkie," Dash said, now rubbing the bruised side where Pinkie had placed her hoof. "Unless you're saying sorry for putting your hoof into my stomach, but... you didn't know what you were doing. It's okay."

Pinkie shook her head.

Dash raised an eyebrow.

"What is it, then?"

Pinkie looked up at her.

"In my dream I was really kind of mean to you. I'm sorry, Dashie..."

Rainbow Dash blinked, confused... thinking carefully about what to say next. She put a hoof to the back of her neck as she slowly spoke:

"Hey, uh... well, I'm here now. Whatever you did or said in your dream was all pretend, so... no hard feelings, okay?"

Pinkie nodded, rolling away from Rainbow and untangling their legs. Dash rolled back, too. As she pulled some of the covers with her, Rainbow heard familiar the crinkle of the garment she had put her friend in, and she also smelled the stale waste it was holding. It smelled like bad hay bits mixed with sour cider; Pinkie could smell it too. That wasn't the worst of it, though. The worst was felt. Pinkie froze, feeling the dampness of the covers.

"Uh-oh." The pink mare looked down at the covers, then up at Rainbow. "Dashie..."

"It's okay, Pinkie," Rainbow Dash said, confidently. "Accidents, err... in this case leaks happen. It's not a problem and I won't tell anypony."

Pinkie smiled, peeling back the covers, revealing not only her soaked diaper but also a heart-shaped wet spot... which only could have been made by two ponies. The two mares looked at each other, then down at the spot again, their mouths agape.

"... uh, guess we had too much cider," Pinkie said, giggling. "Looks like I'll be doing some laundry!"

Rainbow Dash was speechless. She lay there blushing, staring at the wet spot she helped create.

"It still would have happened, Dashie," Pinkie said reassuringly, breaking the silence as she poked her swollen crotch and smiled weakly. "I filled the diaper up all the way!"

"Are you going to want help cleaning all this up?" Rainbow Dash asked, blushing. "I... can't help but feel a teeny bit responsible for this."

Pinkie smiled at her cyan friend.

"Oh, that's so sweet of you to offer, Dashie, but..."

"But what?"

"I can take care of it." Pinkie let out a sigh, her mane losing a tiny bit of its frizz. "It would have happened even if you weren't here... I sometimes have that problem when I drink too much cider. Mrs. Cake won't be very happy about the mattress. I want to have fun with you the next time we see each other... not spend the next hour scrubbing bed sheets and flipping over a mattress. Besides... I really don't want to play this game anymore and it's all I can think about with you around."

The Pegasus's eyes went wide when she realized what Pinkie Pie was saying, but she still nodded at the end.

"You sure you're going to be okay?"

Pinkie nodded confidently.

"Super sure, Dashie." She made the motion of her patented Pinkie Promise, ending on a big (forced) smile. "See?"

"Okay, Pinkie..." Dash stretched, popping her neck. "Then I think I should take off for a while now that it's sunny. It looks like it's still early enough to prank a couple of hours from now. You're not too hung over or bogged down with those sheets... are you?"

Pinkie shook her head, smiling weakly.

"Everything I can do without the Cakes help I'll have done and drying in an hour..."

Dash smiled back, pulling Pinkie in for an affectionate noogie. The pink mare did not laugh, so Dash just hugged her tight and sighed. The Pegasus then turned towards the stairs without a word and stepped over all the stuff -- the chest, keg, and baby items -- and by Gummy. She gave a light pat to him and he blinked his eyes (as a way of saying thank you, Dash guessed). She turned around by the steps one last time to be sure.

"You're sure you're okay, Pinkie?"

Again, Pinkie nodded.

"Positive, Dashie."

"Okay," Dash turned around, preparing to descend the stairs.

"Ohh! Wait!" Pinkie suddenly chirped, causing Dash to stop and nearly stumble on the first step. "I do have one question!"

"About 5:00, by the fountain," Dash replied with a sigh, rolling her eyes. "Be sure to bring your best bag of tricks and we'll set up some good pranks!"

"That's not it, Dashie, but thanks!"

"Well, then..." The Pegasus looked back. "What is it, Pinkie?"

"Dashie..." The pink mare turned crimson the second time that day, looking as though she were ashamed. She bought herself a few seconds and slowly untaped the diaper... hesitating. She swallowed hard and just spat it out: "Dashie, what's cunnilingus?"

* * *

The question had given Rainbow Dash the chills, but she still explained the best she could. She was no Twilight Sparkle, that was for sure. The Unicorn would have given Pinkie a better, more clinical definition... something way less icky. Still, Dash tried, using terms like "partner" and "romantic activity" hoping to soften the vulgarity. Pinkie was far less grossed out than she had been in her dream, but she still turned a lovely shade of green at the thoughts racing through her head. Dash naturally had to ask:

"Pinkie... where did you hear that word?"

"Oh!" Pinkie blushed again, looking out into the blue sky. "I, uh... heard Lyra and Bonbon talking about it a couple days ago. I didn't want to interrupt, because interrupting is not polite and no pony who's good at taking turns interrupts, and... I just suddenly remembered, Dashie."

Rainbow Dash put her hoof on Pinkie's shoulder, rolling her eyes.

"Pinkie Pie... you are so random!"

The pink mare smiled back, feeling guilty as she hadn't exactly told the truth.

* * *

Dash took off shortly after that, not looking back this time. She eyed the clock on the wall before she she bolted from the restaurant (first needing to pick herself up and shake away the stars from having run nearly full speed into a locked door). She even remembered to lock it back up on the way out, though. The clock said it was around 2:30. Plenty of time

Dash had an agenda. Now that the clouds were clear she wanted to make a beeline for Sweet Apple Acres. The Acres and the Corner were reasonably close, and flying would be the fastest way to make it there... but Dash's head was still pounding from the drinking, so she ended up galloping. Even galloping made her squint in discomfort... the bright sun and humid weather didn't help either.

She darted by the library seeing Spike just coming out, wringing water from their doormat. He waved and she nodded, barely perceptible as she sped on in a blur. She passed by Rarity's Boutique -- center of town -- and was half way there. She passed Horte's Cuisine and could actually smell the food... she'd forgotten how much fun galloping through town could be, always preferring to be up high, looking down on everything as it unfolded... she was now a part of it and it felt so different.

She noticed out of the corner of her eye a familiar-looking pony sitting outside the restaurant, towards the very edge of the the property. If she didn't know any better, she would have said it was...

"Thunderlane?" She slowed down and turned in his direction.

She wasn't sure yet, being a good distance away... but the closer she got the more it looked like her mind wasn't playing tricks on her:

Cyan mane... dark coat. Pegasus... stallion.

This was Thunderlane alright. All alone. Had he been sitting just a bit closer to the other ponies he would have blended right in.

Rainbow didn't know why, but she was drawn to him. She guessed she just wanted to see how he was doing, now that it was all over with. The problem was, she wasn't sure she even had anything to say to him (much less wanted to say anything to him), yet her hooves padded in his direction... slowly. Curiosity got the better of her.

* * *

Thunderlane had his head down and was nursing a frothy beverage when Rainbow Dash approached. He didn't look up, but Rainbow could just tell he knew she was there.

"Hey there," she said calmly, despite having just dashed a mile. "Um... how are you doing?"

"Oh, it's Rainbow Dash," Thunderlane said between his teeth, looking up. "Come to further humiliate me, have you?"

Rainbow Dash smiled at Thunderlane, not in a cruel way... but as kindly as she could.

"I really shouldn't have called you out in front of everypony like that," she said. "That was really... unprofessional of me."

Thunderlane could have responded to that in many ways. Dash cocked her head as he sat there and shrugged his shoulders, appearing to be indifferent.

"Mmm."

"Look, I'm sorry... okay?"

Thunderlane turned to face her directly, smiled and raised his mug. Dash could smell the drink... it was cider.

"I know what the note originally said, Rainbow Dash," the dark stallion said with a chuckle. "You think I wanted to be stuck up there today?"

"Wait... what're you saying Are you saying you sabotaged Apple Jack's cider sales?"

Thunderlane laughed heartily, smiling at the mare as if he were a colt caught lying to his parents about spoiling dinner.

"You figured it out, huh?" The dark Pegasus looked up at her, bearing his contrasting white teeth while showing a bit of anger in his yellow eyes. "Instead of just leaving it alone, you had to showboat. I can't forget, you're Rainbow Dash... everypony just loves you."

"That's not true," Dash said, place a hoof behind her head. "Anyways, what you did was wrong. If you wanted to enjoy cider today, you could have just talked to me. I've been down here on the first day many times before because it's the easiest to get cider! Pinkie wouldn't have minded doing it without me... or waiting a day, knowing Pinkie Pie."

"Pinkie Pie just loves to have fun, doesn't she?"

Dash's ears had been perked and listening up to that point. They flattened against her head as she gritted her teeth.

"You know what, Thunderlane? You're making really it hard for me to have any sympathy for you."

"I didn't ask for it, Rainbow Dash." He held his hooves a few inches apart on the table. "This big... I had no idea how articulate Big Mac could be when he gets mad." He looked up at her. "He actually made me feel an inch tall. His Granny had to restrain him, and even then he only gave in because she asked him to."

"Well, you kind of deserved it... I mean, what you did was selfish and disloyal to all of Ponyville! Ponies depend on you to bring them the weather. You're lucky no pony got hurt trying to get home."

"It's for that reason I'm not going to be doing it again."

Rainbow Dash put both her hooves on the table.

"Wait. You didn't get fired, did you?"

"Oh, no... they simply removed me from being in charge and told me in a couple years maybe they'll try me again... if I'm lucky. I'm a lot luckier than you thought I would be, though, aren't I?"

Rainbow Dash wiped the sweat from her brow... even though she didn't like Thunderlane, she felt a little sorry for him.

Thunderlane smiled directly at her, but then looked past her, waving:

"Now if you don't mind, I'm waiting for somepony and it looks like she just arrived." Dash glanced behind herself to see Derpy Hooves coming with a huge smile on her face. "This is the one good thing to come out of today... that and this second-rate cider. Have a good day, Rainbow Dash!"

"Yeah, later," Dash said, quickly turning away and galloping past the incoming gray Pegasus into to the streets. Though talking to Thunderlane had been an exercise in futility and had started up a tiny red-hot flame at the base of her brain (which was aggravated by the pounding) she turned back in time to see her beloved co-worker now on his best behavior. He had gotten up from his seat and was actually pulling a chair out for Derpy, all the while smiling in a much more charming way than he had been. He knew how to act polite and nice... when he needed to.

Shaking her head in disgust she now trotted a little faster, away from the restaurant... with anger towards her destination. She couldn't believe what she'd just seen, but like the dream it was all in the past now.

Part 4, Chapter 4 -- "Late Night Chase"

4
"Late Night Chase"

Three weeks later...

It was the dead of night and the moon was full. Rainbow Dash crept silently about a most secluded part of the Acres, her eyes darting back and forth as she looked around from the shadows. She was alone... or so it seemed.

She set foot into the open, Luna's bright moon shining down on her. She crept, appreciating the stillness of the Acres at that time of night. Normally, she'd be asleep in some cloud above, but tonight... tonight she had plans. She didn't have to be anywhere tomorrow, and neither did her company.

From the shadows of a tree not far off a lasso zipped through the air. Dash narrowly dodged it, only to have it picked up again by the skilled individual behind it, and thrown again. She took off.

The chase is where the fun always is. Rainbow couldn't see the pony stalking her, but she knew she was there. She weaved in and out of the tree line, getting ready to take flight. The lasso came for her again, only to be tangled. She was getting good at evading. The Pegasus took flight, but never above the treetops for this.

At the end of the field, Dash stopped and took a breath. Even though she was chased for a minute at best, it took a lot out of her, but she was ready for more. Having already been out there for two hours, she was sure she'd make sun up this time... a mere three hours away.

She walked in the direction of the neighboring field and took cover again, waiting... for a sound, for movement. Nothing. She waited twenty minutes in the shade, watching... only to be bored. She knew if she fell asleep, she would be found. She took advantage of the echo of the wide orchard:

"Come on! I'm getting bored here!"

Silence was her immediate response, as she expected... but then she heard a voice. Could have been close, could have been far. It uttered a mere three words:

"Just you wait."

The Pegasus smiled once again, taking off like a shot. The sound of her hooves hitting the dirt filled the air. She heard the laughter of the pony with the lasso as once again it was tossed, and she dodged it.

"Maybe I'm getting too good for you!" She yipped, trotting backwards

"We'll have to see..." Replied the thin, deep voice in the shadows.

The lasso was thrown yet again. Rainbow Dash was anticipating it... but she was anticipating seeing it first before reacting. She expected it to come fro the left and it came from the far right, snagging her around the waist as she trotted on her hind legs in perpetration to take off a few feet. All she saw was the rope obscuring the light for one brief flash. She'd been caught in that microscopic moment between defense and action... and there wasn't a thing she could do about it once the lasso was around her waist. The farm pony reeled her in.

"I'm still the best, RD," Apple Jack said, chuckling as Rainbow involuntarily made her descent towards the tree where she was hiding. "You've never lasted the night out here with me huntin' ya, and you never will... unless you're giving up on purpose."

"That was one time, Apple Jack!" Rainbow Dash thundered, objecting to the best of her ability.

It made no difference... foot by foot, Rainbow Dash was pulled in.

"Here we are," Apple Jack said, throwing the rope around Rainbow again to wrap her up like a cocoon. "Now, what do you have to say for yerself?"

"Um..." Rainbow was pulled to the ground and immobilized as she spoke. "Hi...?"

"Ah think I'm gonna first have ma way with ya," Apple Jack said, her shadowy figure straddling over her cyan marefriend so that their personal bits were in direct contact. She began to rock and gyrate her hips in a deliberate, pleasant motion... generating lots of friction. "Ride ya for a bit now that you're down... work off that pent-up energy."

Rainbow Dash just looked up and smiled. Even in the pale moon light, Apple Jack could see her cyan marefriend's red cheeks. The two locked lips, ending up playing swords with their tongues for a solid half minute, before breaking away in a sloppy mess of saliva.

"Ah love ya, RD."

"I know Apple Jack... you've told me like a thousand times this past month."

Apple Jack didn't respond. She kept gyrating her hips and the pleasure kept building between them both.

"Oh, I love you, too!" Rainbow Dash winced, in both pleasure and embarrassment.

It didn't take long for them to share a powerful, passionate, loving moment. Both mares -- one bound, the other in charge -- collapsed on the ground after they found release together. There was quite the sticky mess. Apple Jack reached down with her hoof to Rainbow's depleted nethers, grabbed a hoof-full, and brought it to her lips.

"Now that's what I'm talking about..." The farm pony chuckled. "It's starting to taste like apples... I'm thinking maybe you've been having too much cider."

"Don't you think that would make me easier to--"

Rainbow Dash didn't get to finish her thought. Apple Jack stole a kiss, the taste of Rainbow still fresh on Apple Jack's lips.

* * *

"You're there for the night you know, Rainbow," Apple Jack said, smiling, as she got up.

The farm pony began to walk, glancing back to show Rainbow her teeth one more time in the pale moon light. A moment passed and Apple Jack faded from view, the sound of her hooves began to fade as well. Rainbow Dash began to think she was serious.

"Hey! Don't leave me here!" The Pegasus shouted, trying to turn her body so she could see if Apple Jack was still even in the orchard.

"S'alright, Sugarcube," Apple Jack replied cooly. "I'm coming right back. I promise."

The Pegasus looked down at her bindings. She was tightly lassoed around the waist, her hooves bound to each other in a way that splayed her legs wide open. She was at the mercy of any pony who would come across her, though Apple Jack could be trusted... and always made this fun.

The farm pony reemerged with her saddle bags.

"Can't believe you didn't find this, Rainbow," she said. "It was right next to a tree you were standing by twice!"

"What is it?"

"Let's just call it 'insurance'. You're going to be there for a while now."

"You keep saying that and I'm not so sure I'm gunna like this... Apple Jack, what do you mean?"

"Ah ain't about to tell you.... but I'll show you."

Apple Jack stopped dead in front of Rainbow Dash. Between her shadow and the angle, Dash could hardly see what was going on. The farm pony went into her bag, slowly... pulling out an item the side of one of Twilight's spell books. It was then opened up and Dash heard a familiar sound.

Crinkle!

"Oh no," she said, as the farm pony slid the thick garment beneath her cyan rump. "Is that a diaper?"

"Ee-yup," Apple Jack said, as she pulled it up between her cyan love's legs and began taping it up. "Ah said you're there for the night... and I know bein' an athlete ya gotta go a lot, so this is what we're doing this time about that. Ah ain't lettin' ya up 'til daybreak, so get comfy."

The Pegasus grumbled, as the farm pony propped her up to seal the final tape in the back.

"Fine!" Dash pouted. She would have stamped her hoof if she could. "Where did you get these things anyways?"

"Let's just say Ah've got my sources. A few catalogs I've borrowed from happy and generous ponies we all know who have a... let's say 'penchant' for pretty, personal things. Ah didn't know they actually made diapers for full-grown mares and stallions!"

Yeah, well I did. Thought the bound mare.

Apple Jack stood back and got a good look at the job she'd done. Rainbow looked down at it, too, smelling the foal powder. The diaper looked white and thick, made of heavy-duty plastic. Rainbow didn't know this, but apple Jack had ordered the overnight variety just for her.

"They look white, but they're really pink... and quite absorbent. We're prolly gunna see if they live up to their reputation." With her saddlebag by now their sides, Apple Jack snuggled up to Rainbow Dash. "For now... let us just enjoy this fine evening looking up at the stars."

"I just can't say no to you."

"Ah know." Apple Jack kissed her marefriend on the cheek, as the two looked up and saw a shooting star in the sky.

Above them, Luna looked down from the moon and smiling. She had interfered, but by no means was that a bad thing to have done. She had made things better for them both. They were happy again. Even Pinkie, asleep in her own bed while clutching her blanket and wearing a diaper, with dreams of her family as a mere foal, was content.

The End

Author's Note

We are done! This last chapter was not originally planned, but added on later as a fun way of ending it. The original ending of having Celestia scold Luna was a bit too heavy, and I didn't want it going out on that note.

Thank you everyone for the favs and kind words, and very much for your interest in this story. It was a blast to write, at times frustrating, but I powered through it. Happy I did. Hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed bringing it to you.

On to new projects!

Peace :eeyup:

Part 4, Chapter 3 -- "Noble Cause"

3
"Noble Cause"

Celestia towered above her sister in the dark mare's chamber. The look on her face was the look of pure rage, she illuminated the entire room. Her meek sister bowed before her respectfully, aware she had been caught doing something wrong and was completely guilty of it.

"Luna, I am very disappointed in you!" Thundered Celestia. "We had an agreement that we would never directly interfere in the lives and interpersonal relationships of our subjects, no matter what the cost!"

"But Celestia," cried Luna. "This could have crippled the Elements of Harmony if I didn't do something!"

"Bridging the gap between three dreams is much more than merely doing 'something' Luna... that could have been disastrous. You and I would have to explain to Twilight and her friends why Apple Jack ended up in Pinkie Pie's body."

Luna did not look up:

"My heart was in the right place, sister..."

"Be that as it may, it is not our place to tell our subjects how they live their lives... or scare them on to the right path. If the relationship of the ponies holding the Elements were to be irreparably damaged and each turned sour, we would just have to find new ponies to replace them. Have you not forgotten that I once watched The Element of Generosity plummet and did nothing due to our agreement? Do you think that was easy for me?"

Luna, with tears falling from her eyes, nodded.

"I'm sorry."

Celestia put a foreleg on her sister's back.

"It's alright. If asked I will just have to tell them it was a premonition and nothing more. Past that they acted of their own free will."

Again, Luna nodded as her larger and older sister brought her in for a hug.

"In a while, Luna, it will be your turn to bring out the moon. You do a good job and have grown immensely since you first started. For now, let the subjects enjoy the end of this idyllic, once stormy afternoon."

Part 4, Chapter 2 -- "Coming Back"

2
"Coming Back"

Clip-clop-flap! Clip-clop-flap! Clip-clop-flap!

Dash tore across the outskirts of Ponyville at a phenomenal rate of speed. Her wings fluttered, her hooves hardly touched the ground. She was starting to rise upwards... faster and faster she went. She was almost there, almost in the air.

She passed the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Scootaloo was at the head of the gang on her scooter. Like three lucky pins at a bowling alley, Dash had almost knocked them all over. They only saw a rainbow blur:

"W- was that Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo asked, propping her helmet up while looking back at the other two.

"I think we were just attacked by a Rainbow," Sweetie Belle guessed, her eyes spinning in circles.

Apple Bloom shrugged, shaking away the stars. None of the Crusaders knew for sure what that was.

Dash passed Fluttershy's cottage next, now a few feet off the ground. The yellow mare, who was outside conducting her birds, spun out after she was hit by the wall of energy generated by Dash's wing power.

In less than half a mile Rainbow Dash would be there.

She saw the farmhouse coming up and slowed down... way down. The adrenaline and extra blood pumping made her feel better, ready to deal with Apple Jack and her whole family. She wasn't scared, but it was fear that made her come here as quick as she had. She didn't know whether that was just her imagination or Luna was actually giving her some type of warning... but it was enough to make her come all the way here, mostly by hoof, in less than ten minutes. No easy task, even for her.

Slowly she walked towards the farm house, Apple trees to the left and right shading her from the hot sun. There was no evidence of the cider sales, except a few pieces of broken barrel that she passed... possibly the same barrel she'd broken earlier. She was within a fifteen feet of the farm house when she stopped.

You can do this, Rainbow... just see how she's doing. That's all!

She swallowed, still nervous. The Apple family had been irritated with her earlier, even Apple Jack herself. She didn't feel bad about what she'd done with Pinkie, but she knew her heart wasn't there... it was here. Not all of it had been real, and she wasn't even sure how much of it had, so it really didn't matter... did it?

She cantered up the stairs slowly, looking at the door. The rainbow-maned Pegasus froze again.

"She's upstairs." Said a shaky voice to the right.

She looked over and saw Granny Smith sitting in a rocking chair. The elderly mare smiled warmly at her.

"Go on in!"

"Um... thanks."

Granny Smith just continued rocking and smiling as Dash turned the knob and looked inside. It was dark, almost too dark for the Pegasus to discern the insides of their home.

"Careful now," said Granny Smith. "Power's out and the generator's on the fritz, but AJ's got a candle or two in her room. Once you get to the stairs just follow the light and you'll be fine!"

Dash swallowed hard.

"... okay."

* * *

The door shut tightly behind Rainbow Dash. The house was dark, but her keen eyes could make out what was a few feet in front of her. She knew the layout well enough to find the stairs, and began climbing them... slowly, the floor creaking beneath each step. She stopped near the last stair when she heard the sound of heavy hooves approaching the top steps. She could barely make out the silhouette of a pony.

"Apple Jack?" She asked.

"Eey-nope." Replied a deep, southern voice.

She knew who it was and stepped aside. The red farm pony above her saw her brightly colored body a lot better than she saw his, well enough to pass without a problem. Down the stairs he went. When he got to the bottom step the front door opened wide. He and Granny Smith exchanged words, lighting the aging farm house for one brief moment. He then stepped outside, the door closed and it was dark again.

Up on the top step, now that her view was unobscured by large stallions, she saw a light down the hall.

Apple Jack.

She walked down the hall, up to the door and knocked lightly.

"Come on in," said the husky voice of Apple Jack.

The door creaked open as Rainbow Dash stepped inside.

"Apple Jack," she said, facing in the direction of the farm pony's queen-sized bed.

Apple Jack stirred. She was atop her bed, facing away, folding either a set of sheets, some blankets or some clothes... even with the two candles on her dresser, it was too dark to tell.

"Rainbow?" Said the farm pony, turning around. "Rainbow! Oh, am I glad to see you."

Dash smiled, approaching:

"Likewise, Apple Jack."

Before Dash could get another word in, Apple Jack got up, ran to her and hugged her tightly. Surprisingly tightly... she was about to make a crack about being unable to breath when she felt a wet sensation against her flank... where Apple Jack's face was.

Tears?

She then heard a sniffle. That's exactly what it was... she was feeling her tears.

"Apple Jack! What's gotten into you?"

Apple Jack chuckled weakly, sighing.

"You wouldn't believe me if Ah told ya. Let's just say I'm glad you're here. Very glad."

Rainbow rolled her eyes.

"What? Did you think I got stranded out there or something?"

Apple Jack shook her head.

"It was a might difficult to clean everything up in a hurry... Big Mac was none too pleased about it. Ah knew you were off with Pinkie." Apple Jack pulled away, now face-to-face with Rainbow Dash. "It's kinda silly, Rainbow, but Ah didn't sleep too well last night on account of my nerves! After everything was away and Big Mac was out yellin' at the pony in charge of the weather I took a bit of a well-deserved nap."

This was strangely deja vu, for the second, no third time that day... at least third. Rainbow's pupils were pin pricks as she spoke:

"You drempt I left you for Pinkie, didn't you?"

Apple Jack froze. Dash patted her back as she took a breath.

"Well, not exactly... but, well close. You didn't really? ... did you?"

Rainbow Dash shook her head.

Apple Jack sighed heavily.

"Oh... that's a relief. In ma dream when Ah found out... let's just say it was all messed up. Ah joined y'all and played along... a bit too rough to punish ya for it. Ah had you do some degradin' stuff Rainbow... 'It's all good fun,' Ah said... but Ah was mad. And Ah wanted to hurt you. Even in ma dreams Ah can't seem to do some things right."

"You do everything fine, Apple Jack," Rainbow Dash said, giving her best partner an affectionate kiss. "You'd be understandably mad if you found me in the forelegs of another pony, especially a mare, but we've talked about this... I'll take what you give me and I'll always be there for you. I'm the Element of Loyality for Pete's Sake!"

Apple Jack giggled, snuzzling into Rainbow Dash's mane in the same way Pinkie had snuggled into both of theirs in the dream. The Pegasus's eyes were wide open as they hugged. They went wider as she realized something:

Rainbow Dash wasn't sure if she had really been with Pinkie or not... in that way. It did matter actually, it really did... but she would never know for sure.