So, as some people (Rivest) know, I posted a random derpwriting in why u no post moar after like, 6 straight hours of cloud-drunkenly listening to Tenacious D. And suddenly, now I want to write more of it. So, I've worked on it for the equivalent of like, an hour or seven, and this is what I gots so far.

THIS IS WRITTEN BY ME. READ AT OWN RISK TO SOUL.

Here some tags: [Shipping] [Me] (In case you couldn't guess, yes, one of the ships is AppleDash. The other is Vinyl/Octavia. Because yes. Also, Vinyl's eyes are red because shut up.)

That's all I can think of. The rest is up to inerepatations.


Also, there are some risque parts and hints at sex, but nothing 'on screen' I guess. So, I guess that's a kinda tag thing that isn't. So...


TENACIOUS DASH


Rainbow Dash stood before a crowd of screaming ponies. Looking down, she saw not a Wonderbolts uniform, but an electric guitar. Looking across from her, she saw something that made everything fall into place. A smile came to her face as she realized that it didn’t matter what she did, but who she did it with…



Rainbow Dash shot up in bed, looking around apprehensively… hopefully… fearfully… She held a hoof to her head, trying to organize the rush of questions suddenly surfacing. It was a losing fight, as she signified by slamming her face into her headboard with a resounding pomf.

Oh, right, clouds, Rainbow mused. It did result in disrupting her thoughts, at least. She sighed as she regarded the sky outside her window and found it tinted orange. She trotted over to her window to better inspect the anomaly and found that it was sunrise. I never wake up this early.

Rainbow returned to her bed and flopped down on it, but try as she might, sleep would not come. Resigned to an early morning, she gave her pillow a half-hearted punch as she made her way to her bathroom.

Stupid dream…



The sun beat down on Sweet Apple Acres, the heat torturous reminder of how even Princess Celestia herself could be a bitch at times. Or at least, that was the gist of the thoughts harbored by a certain orange farmpony toiling away on an unusually blistering autumn morning.

“Fer Celestia’s sake, Ah’m burnin’ up faster n’ a pig over a bonfire.” Applejack muttered. Before she had time to consider everything wrong with such a statement, she was unceremoniously bowled over by some unknown force. Though, if she had to guess, she was entirely sure who-

“AJ!” Came the scratchy voice of the pegasus responsible. “Hey, AJ, you’re cool right?”

As Applejack shifted to a sitting position, she recalled the last conversation she’d had with Rainbow
Dash that had started along these lines. With a frown, she sighed and grumbled, “What’d ya break this time, Dash?”

“What? No, I didn’t do anything, I swear! This is something completely different!” Rainbow said in a rush.

Applejack was not convinced, and hardened her glare. “Dash…”

“Anyway, you’re cool, right? Of course I’m right, I’m always right. So, I just had the coolest idea and you’re the only pony I trust not to screw it up!”

Applejack tilted her head. “If this is another one a’ yer distractions-“

“Come on, AJ, would you just drop it already? I Pinkie promise I didn’t break anything. Unless we’re talking about records, cuz I break those all the time. So, how would you like to start a band with me?”

The question was met with a long silence as Applejack considered this latest potentially disastrous idea the pegasus had come up with. But those previous ones had usually been some kind of stunt that left Rainbow in the hospital with a broken bone of some sort. This… this was new. She knew Rainbow was rather fond of music in her own right, but this had come entirely out of left field. It still held its risks, but Applejack couldn’t think of any that might lead to physical injury this time, though you could never put anything past the brash Dash.

“AJ?”

Applejack sighed in defeat. No matter how stupid the idea, she could never say no to Rainbow. “Alright, Ah’ll do it. But ya gotta promise me ya won’t run the whole thing.”

“What, me? No, I already got all this figured out. I figured you wouldn’t want to do something awesome, so I’ll let you do what you want with the vocals and I’ll do my thing with the guitars and stuff.

“And just where are ya gonna get a guitar?”

“Way ahead of you!” Rainbow opened a case strapped to her side that had been hidden behind her wings and pulled out a state-of-the-art electric guitar.

Applejack looked the guitar up and down, prodding it a few times to make sure it wasn’t made of paper or some such. But despite her scrutiny, it appeared to be just that, a state-of-the-art electric guitar. “Where exactly did you get-“

“Pinkie.”

“…Okay, where exactly did Pinkie-“

“AJ, she gathered enough instruments for a one-mare band during a parasprite invasion. What makes this so different?”

“Ah suppose so…” Applejack trailed off. “But even Pinkie can’t make things outta nothin, so she musta gotten it somewheres…”



Meanwhile, in Ponyville.



Vinyl Scratch yawned and stretched her limbs, still sore after a night of shenanigans. She regarded the mare sleeping beside her who assisted in said shenanigans with a smile on her face. Not one to wait, Vinyl nuzzled her bedmate incessantly until she began to stir.

“Bwuh… Vinyl-“

“Morning, Tavi!” Vinyl cut her marefriend off.

Octavia had come to expect such antics from the DJ she had become so attached to, rubbing her eyes and accepting her fate of an early rise. She was still exhausted from the previous night and could have admittedly used a couple more hours. “Good morning, Vinyl.”

“Have fun last night?” Vinyl asked, entirely too energetic for having just woken up.

“Yes, I-“ Octavia cut herself off as she noticed something amiss.

“Tavi? Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?”

“Yes,” Octavia answered simply.

Vinyl furrowed her brow, certain Octavia was teasing her. Or at least she was before the movement made her aware of something papery stuck to her forehead. She ripped off the offending object and was about to discard it when she saw that it was in fact a sticky note.

“Hey, Scratchie! I hope you don’t mind, but I borrowed your guitar for a bit. I promise I’ll get it back to you soon! Hugs!

-Pinkie”

Vinyl tossed the note away unceremoniously and rushed over to where she kept her prized Coltson guitar, only to find it conspicuously missing.

“Vinyl?” Octavia’s voice followed the perturbed mare.

“Dammit, Pinkie!”



Rainbow shrugged. “Who knows? Anyway, the thing is I have it and now we can get started!”

Applejack frowned. “In case ya hadn’t noticed, Ah’m still workin, Dash. We can do this later.”

Rainbow sagged, crossing her forelegs and adopting a pout. “You’re no fun,” she groused, flying away slowly.

Applejack sighed, catching the pegasus’ tail before she flew out of reach. Rainbow responded with an exclamation of pain at the tug, followed by a hopeful glance behind her.

“So?”

Applejack sighed again. “Ah guess Ah can come back ta this tomorrow.”

“Yes! This is gonna be so awesome! Come on, let’s get to the barn, it’s way too hot out here.”

For the first time this morning, Applejack had to agree with Rainbow. She shook her head, wondering not for the first time why she put up with the pegasus. Rainbow giddily led Applejack to the barn, imagining the look on her face when she laid down a sick riff.

“Alright, let’s do this!” Rainbow shouted once she had gotten set up, having somehow deposited amps in the barn without Applejack noticing. Before she could question this development, her ears were assaulted by an awkward, screeching riff.

Once her ears had stopped ringing, Applejack accosted her would-be bandmate. “What in tarnation was that?”

Rainbow responded with a nervous smile. “I have no idea how to play the guitar.”

Applejack brought her hoof to her face, unable to dignify any other response. This was going to be a long day. But even with that thought, she couldn’t help the smile that came to her muzzle.

“Well, unless ya learn right quick, this ain’t gonna work,” Applejack stated.

“No, wait, I got this!” Rainbow carefully plucked the strings one at a time, working from the bottom up. The result was akin to a foal attempting a glissando on a piano, minus the falling flat on her face. “Ha, see? Easy peasy!”

“Yeah,” Applejack joked, “that’s a beat Ah can sing to. Ah’m sure everypony in Equestria would pay to see that.”

“Geez, you don’t have to rub it in,” Rainbow mumbled. “Just gimme a sec, I’ll figure it out.”

“Unless ya mean that literally, Ah got a better idea.” With that, Applejack took Rainbow’s guitar, put it back in its case, turned around and walked out of the barn.

Rainbow was quick to follow. “What? Hey, get back here! You can’t just give up!”

Applejack smirked, but kept walking.

“I know you’ve got stuff to do, but this won’t take long. I promise!”

Applejack made no effort to shoo the pegasus away, merely continuing on her path toward town. Rainbow huffed and followed along for a distance. If Applejack was anything, she was stubborn, and Rainbow knew that better than anypony. She began to wonder where exactly Applejack was going without actually paying attention to her surroundings.

Maybe she’s going to Twilight to ask for help. But what does that egghead know about music? I guess Fluttershy knows a little about leading a choir of birds, but that’s not really the same. Oh, maybe she’s going to Rarity to get us some cool band gear! Wait, does Rarity actually make that stuff? Ugh, she’d probably just put us in dresses. That’d really fit the scene. She could also be going to Pinkie to… Rainbow looked again at the guitar case on Applejack’s back. Oh crap, she’s probably going to give the guitar back to Pinkie!


“Come on, AJ, I can do this! Just give me some more time!” Rainbow protested.

Applejack smirked. “No can do, sugarcube. Everypony has her limits.”

“But… but… this was gonna be so awesome,” Rainbow deflated, falling to the ground with a soft thud.

Applejack’s smirk became a genuine smile. “Ah never said Ah was givin’ up.”

At that remark, Rainbow noticed for the first time where they were heading. Sugarcube Corner was on the other side of town. She also noticed whose house they stood before. “What are we doing at Scratch’s place?”

“Ah figure she knows so much about these kinda fancy instruments that she’d be able ta give ya some lessons.” Applejack shifted the guitar case on her back for emphasis. She confidently knocked on the door and packed up a pace.

Inside, they could hear a muffled commotion in response, though neither could make out any words. As the door opened, they could hear the voice of Vinyl cry out, “Tavi, no!”

Before the pair of bemused visitors stood not the expected resident, but the world-renowned cellist, Octavia Philharmonica. While not alien to them, Octavia’s presence at such an hour…

“No way,” Rainbow squeaked. “Way to go, Scratch!”

A very red Vinyl Scratch appeared at the door, shoving her marefriend out of the way. She lacked her trademark glasses, which added a bit more red to her face by way of her eyes. In all, not a very familiar expression adorned the cocky DJ’s face.

“Of all the ponies…” Vinyl mumbled. She shook her head. “Well, at least you won’t hold it over my head as much as Lyra would, Dash.” Vinyl finally took notice of the other pony at her door, and the object on her back. “My Coltson!” Vinyl wrested her guitar off the farmer’s back and cradled it. From off to the side, they could hear Octavia snicker as Vinyl cooed softly to her instrument.

“So it was yours. I thought it looked familiar,” Dash chortled.

“Why did you have it? I thought Pinkie took it.”

“How did y-“

“She left a note on my forehead,” Vinyl her off.

Dash suppressed another giggle. “I bet that was quite a surprise for Octavia.”

Looking back and forth at Rainbow’s mirth and Vinyl’s embarrassment, Applejack spoke up. “I feel like I’m missing something here.”

“Good, I don’t need more ponies to-“

“Don’t you know? Scratch and Octavia finally started going out a few months ago, and now Scratch got her to roll in the hay!”

“-know,” Vinyl finished sheepishly, her blush darkening.

Applejack gained a similar redness to her cheeks as she finally understood the situation. “Oh,” was Applejack’s simple reply.

Vinyl looked over their heads to make sure nopony else was watching before ushering the pair of them inside. “So, what else are you doing here?”

“Well, AJ and I…”

Vinyl and Rainbow were soon lost in a conversation of epic proportions, judging by their wild gesticulations and raucous laughter, but Applejack could only see Rainbow’s half as she found she could look at nothing else. Seeing Rainbow enjoying herself so much always gave Applejack a surge of some emotion she had yet to identify.

“It’s hard to understand those two sometimes,” Octavia mused, finally breaking Applejack’s fixation on Rainbow as she noticed Octavia had been standing beside her for some time.

“Whaddya mean by that?” Applejack asked, flicking her gaze briefly to Octavia before resettling on the conversation before her.

“Have you told her yet?” Octavia answered with her own question.

“Told her what?”

Octavia smiled sadly. “So you still haven’t even figured it out yet? Such a shame.”

Applejack pondered what Octavia was going on about while she fell back into observing Dash’s face and movements. Rainbow’s gaze broke off from Vinyl’s as she offered Applejack a quick smile and wave before returning to her exchange of tales. Applejack felt heat rise to her face at the sentiment, but quickly shook the feeling off. Octavia giggled beside her, shaking her head slowly.



After Rainbow and Vinyl ran out of things to talk about, the four of them went to have breakfast at Sugarcube Corner. Rainbow was quick to relay the goings-on in Vinyl’s bedroom to Pinkie, much to Vinyl’s chagrin. Pinkie thankfully merely offered a wink in lieu of a flood of teasing remarks. They found themselves a booth while Pinkie fetched them breakfast, Vinyl and Octavia on one side and Rainbow and Applejack on the other. Vinyl gave Octavia a subtle squeeze and raised an eyebrow at Rainbow in question. Rainbow merely blushed and shook her head in response.

“Mind if I join you guys?” Pinkie asked after she had returned with food, pulling up a chair. They all naturally acquiesced, and soon more tales were being told from all parties. Applejack caught a few glances of Rainbow through the conversation, though managed to avoid the gazes she was unwittingly receiving in return.

What was it that Octavia was goin’ on about? Does she know somethin’ Ah don’t? Applejack pondered, flicking her gaze between Octavia and Rainbow. She said something about me tellin’ somethin’ ta Rainbow; somethin’ that I don’t even know yet. But she does? Applejack shook her head. No, Ah’m a simple pony, and Ah don’t keep secrets. ‘Specially from mahself.

“So, AJ,” Rainbow started, “you said we weren’t quite through yet, right?”

“Ah’m willing to keep at it as long as you are, sugarcube.”

“Still thinking we can get Vinyl in on this?”

“Ah’m sure she won’t wind.”

“Woah woah woah woah,” Vinyl cut in suddenly. “I never remember agreeing to any of this.”

“Aw, c’mon, Scratch. Who else am I gonna learn guitar from?” Rainbow raised an eyebrow teasingly.

“Wait, what?” Vinyl repeated the exchange in her head. “Oh, right, yeah, sure.” Vinyl offered in response, fighting to keep down her rising blush. Maybe later, Vinyl reminded herself, glancing in Octavia’s direction. Octavia raised a brow at her, a smirk and a playful shove given when she took in Vinyl’s blush.

“Maybe later,” Octavia repeated Vinyl’s thought in a whisper to Vinyl’s perked ear.

I have the greatest marefriend ever, Vinyl thought with a giggle. “So, you wanna learn to play guitar, huh?”

“Yeah, I had this awesome idea for me and AJ to start a band!” Rainbow gushed. “Because, you know, I’m awesome, she’s awesome, and music’s awesome; so that’s like, three awesomes!”

“I never knew you could count that high,” Vinyl teased.

“You’re one to talk, dear,” Octavia cut in before Rainbow could protest. “Though, I must agree with Vinyl. None of Ponyville is unfamiliar with your ‘awesome ideas’ by this point, but this seems… odd.”

“Ah said the same thing,” Applejack mused. “If Ah didn’t know any better, Ah’d say she’s goin’ soft.”

“Hey! This is plenty dangerous! What if I electrocute myself with some wires, or something?”

Vinyl raised an eyebrow. “Then you’ll get a little tingly feeling in your hoof.”

“Who asked you?” Rainbow accused.

“I thought you were asking her for guitar lessons!”

“Shut up, Pinkie!” Rainbow and Vinyl chorused.

In spite of their demands, Pinkie rebelliously erupted into a fit of gigglesnorts, which soon grew infectious. Octavia was left to shake her head at the typical breakfast antics, though unable to keep from chuckling, herself.

“Alright, you got a deal,” Vinyl said, “but no touching my Coltson. That thing’s too damn special to me, okay?”

Pinkie laughed nervously, rubbing the back of her head with a hoof, mostly to hide the redness that had appeared from nowhere at the roundabout accusations.

“Yes! This is gonna be so awesome, AJ!” Rainbow threw a hoof around a bemused Applejack. “We’re gonna be famous for sure! The Wonderbolts will have to notice me!”

“What does music have to do with flying?” Vinyl asked.

“Plenty of stuff. Like awesomeness. And me!”

“Wow, they’re sure to be begging you to join them, then. Ow! Tavi!”

“Behave, Vinyl,” Octavia admonished, lowering her hoof.

Rainbow and Applejack laughed at Vinyl’s expense. Pinkie seemed to have vanished at some point, along with their empty plates and the chair she had pulled up. Vinyl rubbed her cheek, muttering something under her breath, undoubtedly plotting her revenge.

“So, when do I start?”

“I have some free time tomorrow around noon.” Vinyl leaned back in her seat with a cocky smirk. Octavia shook her head, wondering what she was in for this time.

“Sounds good.” Rainbow looked to Applejack. “You free today?”

“Ah can be if ya let me get some work done tomorrow.”

“Awesome!” Applejack narrowed her eyes at Rainbow’s outburst. “I mean, yeah, no problem.” Rainbow smiled hopefully. Applejack met it with a playful shove before climbing out of the booth.

“We’ll see y’all gals later. Ah think Rainbow has somethin’ planned fer me.”

“Later!” Vinyl called, lazing around until Octavia pulled her out of the confectionery shop. “Hey!”

“I have something planned for you, too, dear,” Octavia said in a dangerous whisper that Vinyl met with fearful eyes.

“Be gentle,” Vinyl squeaked.

Edit: Oh god I posted this at 4:20. Brilliant.

Just reading the title, I knew I was in for something special. Where you lack quality in all around description and transition, you excel in characterization and conversation, and it was enough to make me really want to keep reading. I look forward to the next chapter.

Lyra wrote:

Just reading the title, I knew I was in for something special. Where you lack quality in all around description and transition, you excel in characterization and conversation, and it was enough to make me really want to keep reading. I look forward to the next chapter.

Yeah, it's kinda rough right now, but I intend to add more to smooth out transitions and such. Besides, it's not like I'm much of a writer anyway, lol. Just doing this for shits n giggles.

Soooooo, where is the NSFW version?

Derpy wrote:

Soooooo, where is the NSFW version?

Um, nowhere? Unless I get some inspiration to write some clop, but like... Idk

Oh boy, Cloud wrote a fanfic, this oughta be.......



Wait, what the hell? It's surprisingly good!
It needs some very minor editing for spelling and grammar, and it has a bit of a pacing issue, but overall I'm unexpectedly impressed. As someone who usually finds shipping obnoxious, the fact that I'd be willing to read more of this says something.

OH MAH GOD ITS A DATE UP. SEE, IT'S THERE IN THE SKY. WHY IT FLYING. DATES DON'T HAVE WINGS. THEY'RE FRUIT.

BLAAAAGH TENACIOUS DASH TIME MUDDAFUKKAS.

CHAPTER (I guess) 2

“I’ll be right back, gotta get something real quick,” Rainbow said after she and Applejack had walked about three feet, rocketing off into the sky without giving Applejack a chance to protest.

Applejack sighed and sat down. “Okay, Ah’ll wait.” Applejack was at least thankful she wouldn’t have to wait long, because if Rainbow was one thing, she was fast. And mild-mannered, cocky, brash, awesome, cute, loyal, softer than she let on, infuriating at times, highly competitive, a very sore loser… Okay, it was a trick question. She was a lot of things, including being presently sneaking up on Applejack after quickly retrieving the bag of bits she went to fetch. She was waiting for just the right…

“Rainbow, what are ya doin’ on the roof there?”

“Remembering how hard it is to get the jump on you,” Rainbow pouted, flying down next to Applejack. “Stupid earth pony hearing. Anyway, let’s go! I figure we can head over to the music store and stock up on awesome band stuff. And a guitar, since Scratch won’t let me use hers.”

“You sure you brought enough bits?” Applejack asked, regarding the rather large bag Rainbow had slung across her side.

“Yeah, I brought plenty. I was planning on using it on food and stuff, but I figured I could always just head on over to the acres and nab a few free apples, right?”

Applejack shook her head in bemusement. “Ah worry ‘bout ya sometimes, sugarcube.”

“Well quit your worrying and let’s go already!” Rainbow pranced around, eager to be off.

Applejack chuckled and let Rainbow lead her to the local music shop. Being as it was in the same direction as Octavia’s house, Rainbow caught a glimpse of an intimidating-looking Octavia marching a terrified Vinyl back to her house for apparent punishment.

“Heh, looks like Octavia’s ready for round two already,” Rainbow snickered.

“What makes ya say that?” Applejack asked obliviously.

Rainbow turned Applejack’s head to look at the small parade. While Applejack had different thoughts on the matter, she couldn’t help but laugh at the sight.

“Making up for lost time, I guess,” Rainbow said with a waggle of her brow.

Applejack smirked. “Yer terrible, Dash.”

“I know, isn’t it great?” Rainbow reached out a wing to give Applejack a little nudge for emphasis.

Applejack just shook her head, at a loss for words. Thankfully, none needed to be said as Rainbow caught sight of their destination and rocketed ahead, immediately disappearing through the door. Applejack approached and entered at a saner pace, to find Rainbow already darting around the back room, inspecting various electric guitars.

Suddenly, she heard Rainbow gasp dramatically. “This is the one!” Rainbow proclaimed, practically salivating at the sight of a Coltson painted blue with yellow lightning bolts. While it wasn’t necessarily a Wonderbolts pattern, it was close enough for Rainbow. Applejack walked up to inspect the guitar, and the first thing she noticed was the price tag.

“Rainbow, this thing costs over a thousand bits. How’re ya gonna afford this?”

“I can live on apples for a month,” Rainbow shrugged

Applejack raised a brow. “Y’all know Ah can only afford ta give ya so many fer free.”

“Then I’ll pay it off, whatever. I need this guitar!” Rainbow pleaded.

“Wait, yer offerin’ labor now?”

“Yes, I’ll have your babies or whatever, so please let me get this!”

Applejack blinked. “Not that kinda labor, Dash.”

“Well what do you want from me, then?” Rainbow was frantic.

Applejack pondered the possibilities for a few moments before deciding against anything particularly degrading. “Well, ya could spend that month helpin’ out ‘round the farm, for starters.”

“You want me to work two jobs?”

“You want that guitar?”

“Fine!” Rainbow relented. “I’ll do it, just…” Rainbow grabbed the guitar and case from the display and ran over to the counter. She counted out the bits and secured the guitar in the case before slinging it over her back and running out of the store cheering.

Applejack shook her head for the eleventeenth time that day and followed Rainbow outside. No sooner than she had done so was she rammed into and hugged violently by a Rainbow colored blur that promptly began a mantra of thank yous.

“Okay, okay, Rainbow. Yer welcome,” Applejack chuckled, patting Rainbow on the back in an attempt to calm her down. “Now, don’t we have more ta buy?”

Rainbow breathed in to speak, then took in her deflated sack of bits. “I’m gonna need to get more money.”

Applejack laughed at Rainbow’s antics, settling herself down to wait for the pegasus to make another trip home. She thought of the day’s developments and found that she was actually excited about all of it. Rainbow had all sorts of musical shenanigans planned out for them, and in between she’d have her best friend helping out on the farm for a month. They could get so much done around there. She’d finally be able to have an excess of free time, and even when she was working, she could still be hanging out with Rainbow! Things were really looking up for the apple farmer.

Rainbow returned with another bag of bits to find Applejack looking up at the sky away from her. Applejack seemed to have not noticed her approach for once. With a devious grin, Rainbow tensed up and pounced, knocking a very surprised Applejack off her hooves and into a tumble for a few feet, the end of which saw Rainbow pinning Applejack down triumphantly.

“Ha! Can’t let your guard down around me, AJ!” Rainbow boasted.

Applejack suddenly burst out laughing, much to Rainbow’s confusion. Usually this sort of approach was met with resistance in the form of a wrestling match that left only one standing. Rainbow felt herself starting to laugh as well, marveling at the novelty of the moment.

As their laughter died down, Rainbow regarded Applejack and found that she looked happier than when she’d left her. Happier than she’d seen her in a while, actually. Seeing Applejack smiling just made Rainbow want to smile. Rainbow began to giggle again. “Cut that out, AJ.”

“Cut what out, sugarcube?”

“Being cute,” Rainbow giggled. “It’s making me act funny.”

Applejack opened her mouth to respond, only to close it again. Did she just say I’m…? “Pardon?”

“Huh?” Rainbow snapped out of her mirth upon seeing Applejack’s look of bewildered embarrassment. She repeated the exchange in her head, trying to figure out what had prompted the response. Her face began to heat up as she recalled her previous choice of words. “Uh… N-never mind that.”

Despite Rainbow’s commands, Applejack could not dislodge the thought. It just seemed to stick out as something… different. Something she’d never seen from Rainbow before. She knew that Rainbow did have a gentler side, but… This was…

“Um, so… Weren’t we gonna do some uh, shopping?”

“Y-yeah, right,” Applejack muttered, “shoppin’.”



The rest of said shopping was completed mostly in awkward silence with few words exchanged. Many items Rainbow intended to purchase were left untouched; instead they mostly bought some new farming equipment for Rainbow’s stint on the Acres. This was met with yet more awkwardness as they had to ask for each other’s input.

“Does this look alright?” Applejack asked, pulling down a bit for Rainbow to inspect.

“Well, it’s colorful,” Rainbow commented.

“Thought it would go well with yer mane. Since, y’know, it’ll be in yer teeth.”

“I have to put this in my mouth?” Rainbow asked incredulously, inspecting the bit closer. “Wait, this thing’s called a bit? And it costs more than a bit? Isn’t that a rip-off?”

“No, Dash this is… It’s a different kinda bit,” Applejack explained.

“I know that, but you’d think you’d buy a bit for a bit. You know, fair trade and all that.”

“And Ah’m sure that’d be a great sales pitch, but that’s what it costs. Do you like it or not?” Applejack shifted uncomfortably.

“Yeah, it’s fine, just overpriced.”

Applejack rolled her eyes and continued on, registering all their items while Rainbow paid the tab. Once they were outside again, Applejack let out a deep breath. “Now all we need ta get ya is a hat. Applebloom’s too young and Mac’s too stubborn, but that don’t mean you gotta go hatless.”

“Oh! I know the perfect hat!” With that, Rainbow shot off into the sky, towards her house. Again. Applejack sighed. At least it would give her time to sort out her thoughts. Or so she thought.

“Back!” Rainbow declared, coming to a stop before Applejack. On her head was a familiar-looking pith helmet. “See? Now I can be Daring, and you can be Blondie! Except we’ll be bucking apples instead of looking for treasure, but that’s cool too.”

Applejack inspected Rainbow. Even without the jacket, Applejack could clearly see the resemblance between Rainbow and her fictional hero, and she was already told repeatedly by Rainbow that she looked like Daring Do’s rival/love interest. Applejack resolved to humor Rainbow’s future shenanigans.

Applejack smirked. “Well, that’s taken care of, Ah guess. Now, while we’re out here, how’s about we grab some lunch?”

Rainbow perked up at the mention of food. “Sounds good to me!”

Applejack chuckled, marveling again how much power food had over the pegasus. Thinking about it more, she wondered if she could get Rainbow to room on the farm for the month. Rainbow always loved Apple family meals when she could have them, and it’d give Applejack more control over Rainbow’s schedule, not to mention a little extra time together. Their guest room was largely unused, and Applejack decided that this was as good a use as any.

Rainbow quickened her pace as they neared their destination, but didn’t quite run off this time. Café du Mane was moderately populated, so she found no reason to rush overly much. Applejack made no move to keep up as Rainbow claimed a table and sat eagerly. Just as Applejack sat down at the table, a waiter came by to take their orders. Hay fries for Rainbow and an apple salad for Applejack.

As the waiter departed, silence fell over the pair. Applejack looked for a way to strike up a conversation without seeming to awkward or forward. Getting Rainbow to commit a month’s service to the farm was a feat itself. Surely she wouldn’t want to be tied down to the farm, right?

“So, about this whole farm thing… When do I start?” Rainbow asked unexpectedly.

Applejack blinked. “Uh, tomorrow, Ah guess. We could getcha started in the mornin’ ‘fore ya gotta get ta Vinyl’s.” Applejack shifted nervously. “But um, it’d be a might easier if ya could get used ta the schedule…”

“As long as it doesn’t get in the way of my weather duties I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Rainbow said nonchalantly.

“That’s the thing, though. We get started right about the crack o’ dawn, an’ Ah’m not sure how Ah can hold ya to that when ya live up in the clouds,” Applejack tried to hint.

“I’ll be there, don’t worry about it. Never leave my friends hangin’, right?”

Applejack looked away. “If’n yer really gonna help out, Ah’m gonna need more’n yer word, sugarcube.”

Rainbow frowned. “Then what do you want from me?”

“Well, Ah um… Fer this ta work Ah’d need ya to, well, stay at the farm, so’s you can get used ta the uh… schedule. “Applejack finished unconvincingly, blushing sheepishly. She sighed, mentally preparing herself for Rainbow’s protests, which she knew she’d be incapable of dealing with.

“Oh. Yeah, I guess I could do that,” Rainbow said without a hint of fuss in her tone. “I get free meals with this, right?”

Applejack blinked again. “Uh, yeah. ‘S long as ya do the work…. Yer really okay with this?”

“Yeah, why not, I mean it’s only a month, right? Might be kinda fun, and we could hang out some more.” Rainbow tilted her head. “Why?”

“Oh, uh… no reason, no reason whatsoever, heh,” Applejack smiled hopefully. Rainbow eyed her strangely but didn’t comment further as their food was brought out.

“Finally, I’m starving!” Rainbow exclaimed, digging into her meal before the waiter had even set Applejack’s down, earning a raised eyebrow from the waiter and a chuckle from Applejack.

Applejack shook her head once the waiter had departed a second time. What’s goin’ on today? Octavia says somethin’ funny, then Rainbow starts actin’ weird, an’ now Ah’m actin’ all funny too. An’ what was it that Rainbow said? Cute? Does she really think that?

“AJ? You gonna eat or what?”

“Huh?” Applejack shook her head again.

“Yeah, you’re doing that a lot today, huh?” Rainbow observed between bites. I am, too, Rainbow’s subconscious reminded her. “More than usual,” she mumbled.

“What?”

“Nothing, just… Never mind,” Rainbow returned to her meal.

Applejack eyed Rainbow for a moment before her stomach reminded her of her hunger. She hesitantly began to eat, a troubled look on her face. The day kept getting weirder and weirder.



“Ah know it’s just a month, but Ah’m expectin’ yer best, y’hear?” Applejack walked with Rainbow over to the farm to get Rainbow situated. Applejack felt a bit better after eating and found it easier to concentrate on the task at hand.

Rainbow scoffed. “It’s just farm work. How hard could it be?”

“Famous last words, sugarcube,” Applejack admonished.

“Yeah, yeah.” Rainbow took a look around, examining the vast expanses of apple trees she’d be working with for the next month. Weather duties, guitar lessons, and farm work. This is gonna be one crazy month. “You know, we have all this figured out between us, but we haven’t even run it past your family yet. What if they don’t want me around?”

“Yer not getting’ outta this one, Dash; we really could use the help this season,” Applejack warned. “This year’s crop’s lookin’ ta be one a’ the biggest we’ve had since Ah started buckin’.”

“And that’s supposed to reassure me how?”

“It’s not,” Applejack said simply, opening the door to the farmhouse as they stepped up onto the porch. Rainbow couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread despite the usually welcoming air of the quaint abode. This time, she really didn’t know just what she was getting into. She could only wonder at how the month would unfold. But with that dread came some excitement. This was something totally new, just like her band idea. Also just like her band idea, she’d be doing it with her best friend. That thought brought a smile to her face as she entered the house.

“So, do I get a room or something? Or do I have to sleep on the couch?” Rainbow asked as Applejack followed her inside. “And where is everypony?”

Applejack smiled. “We got a guest room we don’t normally use, so that can be yours fer the month. Big Mac’s out in the fields, Applebloom’s still at school, and Granny Smith… Ah don’t know where she is. She’s usually asleep on her rocker this time a’ day.”

“So… do I have to wait for them to come back, or…?”

“Nah, you’ll be fine. C’mon, Ah’ll show ya to the guest room.” Applejack started up the stairs, leaving Rainbow to follow along sheepishly. The room itself, being a guest room, was sparsely furnished, affording Rainbow plenty of room for her stuff. The bed, while not as plush as the clouds she was used to, was comfortable in its own right. Applejack left Rainbow to get settled, sitting down on her own bed and trying to gather her thoughts. This proved fruitless, as she heard a loud thump from the guest room, followed by Rainbow’s voice.

“Stupid clouds!” Rainbow had attempted to set down something made of said clouds only to have it fall through the wood floor, causing her to lose her balance and crash down onto said floor. She stomped downstairs to retrieve the fallen item and compact it to a wood-friendly density. The second time, it cooperated, coming to rest on the floor instead of falling through it. She gave it a kick for good measure, causing the cloud to slip slightly through the floor. This time she caught it, though, and avoided having to make a second trip downstairs. She refrained from kicking it a second time.

Rainbow continued to set up without further outbursts, finally giving Applejack some time to think. For about a minute before Applebloom burst loudly through the front door with another two boisterous fillies in tow. Applejack sighed. She had forgotten that the acres were hosting this week’s Cutie Mark Crusaders sleepover. That explained why Granny Smith was in her room catching up on sleep, because with those three fillies around, the night was sure to be restless. Sweet Celestia, does it ever end?


WILL THINGS EVER STOP BEING AWKWARD? WILL APPLEJACK EVER CATCH A BREAK? FIND OUT NEXT TIME ON HEY THIS IS A FANFIC CALLED TENACIOUS DASH.

Note: For those who don't know (read "everyone but Rivest"), Blondie is a character from another Appledash fanfic called "What Would Daring Do?" And I just had to put it here because... shit, even Tchernobog, the Appledash overlord himself, had a reference to that fic in his latest fic. Which also happened to be in the form of a mention of Blondie. Srsly, that was a good read. Also, hey, I got an update out in less than a week. Cools. And I added a little bit to the first chapter to smooth out a clunky transition after Rainbow's attempt at guitar riff.

Here we gooooooo! I'm thinking of making Tuesday my update day. It just seems to happen that way anyway. But anyway. everyway. ALL THE WAYS. TO THE MOON. IS COLD. PACK SCARF. BECAUSE IS TENACIOUS DASH!

VARIABLE INTEGER 3

“Alright, gals, what are we gonna try first?” Applebloom asked.

“How about cooking? I’m hungry,” Sweetie Belle suggested.

“Haven’t we already tried that before?” Scootaloo shot back.

“We tried bakin’, but that’s different.”

“Yeah! Totally different!” Sweetie Belle pressed, her stomach growling its agreement.

“Yer not thinkin’ a’ doin’ anythin’ destructive down there, are ya?” Applejack asked from the staircase as she descended.

“Sis? Why aren’t you out in the fields?”

“’Cus Ah gotta help Rainbow get settled,” Applejack explained.

“Wha-“

“Rainbow Dash? She’s here?” Scootaloo cut off Applebloom, darting forward to come nose to nose with Applejack.

Applejack blinked. “Uh, yeah; she should be up-“

Scootaloo was off the second she was given a direction, up the stairs before Applejack could finish.

“In the guest room,” Applejack completed a little sheepishly.

“Why’s Rainbow Dash stayin’ in the guest room?” Applebloom inquired. “She decide not to fly off after dinner this time?”

“It’s a might more complicated n’ that, AB. The short of it is Rainbow’s gonna be around fer the next month,” Applejack said distractedly as she searched for something or other in the closet.

“Doin’ what?”

“Helpin’ out, an’ hopefully not complainin’ too much,” Applejack said after pulling out a hat rack for Rainbow. “Where’d Sweetie Belle get off to?”

“Prolly went ta look fer Scoot, so Ah guess that’s where Ah’m goin, too,” Applebloom said, turning to walk up the stairs, muttering. “Ah swear, ya’d think that filly was tryin’a get a rainbow chasin’ cutie mark.”

Applejack chuckled, following her sister up to their impromptu gathering site. Upon entering said site, the atmosphere was decidedly chaotic. Scootaloo was alternating between darting around to look at Rainbow’s stuff and sitting beside Rainbow with a big grin on her face. Sweetie Belle was attempting to help out in setting up and promptly knocking everything over. And Rainbow sat in the middle of her bed with a panicked look on her face as she curled up into a fetal position.

At the sound of the door opening again, Rainbow cast a fearful eye at the intruders and immediately brightened. “Applejack! You’ve gotta help me!” Rainbow pleaded, rushing over to grab Applejack’s hooves. Applejack found herself flung into the fray with a prayer, successfully disrupting both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle’s antics by knocking them over in her flight before coming to rest on the guest bed.

That was less painful than Ah expected, Applejack mused as she sat up to examine the damage done to the room. Apart from a few pieces of wayward furniture, however, the room seemed remarkably intact.

Applebloom quickly moved to right the offending structures and march her fellow crusaders out of the guest room, apologizing for their behavior. In her wake, she left a bewildered pair of mares both wondering when Applebloom had begun taking responsibility.

“Every day gonna be this exciting?” Rainbow asked at length.

Applejack looked up at Rainbow with a critical eye. “Ah sure hope not.”

Rainbow chuckled nervously, rubbing a hoof against the back of her head. “Sorry, I guess I kinda panicked.”

“So yer first thought was to throw me at them,” Applejack stated flatly.

“Uh… Earth ponies make good weapons?” Rainbow offered. “Besides, it worked, didn’t it?”

Applejack shook her head in disapproval, though she couldn’t stop the traitorous smile coming to her lips. “Stop makin’ it so hard to be mad at ya.”

“Uh, no thanks, I like my wings where they are.”

Applejack chuckled, moving to give Rainbow a playful shove which was answered with what Rainbow deemed to be appropriate response; tackling Applejack onto the bed and instigating a wrestling match.

Applejack managed to pin Rainbow Dash, declaring, “Ha! Ah’ve got you right where Ah want ya!”

“You’ll never take me alive!” Rainbow said, using her wings to tickle Applejack.

“Ya dirty little cheater!” Applejack giggled as she lost her grip and found herself pinned in turn.

“Only for you, AJ,” Rainbow said, flashing a grin.

“Well two can play at that game! C’mere you!”

Outside the room, the Cutie Mark Crusaders sat uneasily at the door, privy to Rainbow’s squeaks of terror between giggles, accompanied by the same from Applejack. The door remained closed, and none of the fillies could muster the courage to open it.

“You think they’re alright?” Scootaloo asked.

“Ah think so. Whaddya think they’re doin’?”

“Well, whatever it is sounds fun!” Sweetie Belle piped up, confidently sitting up to enter the room.

“Sweetie Belle, no!” Applebloom and Scootaloo chorused, but the door swung open to reveal Applejack pinning Rainbow’s wings to the headboard with her forelegs, nose inches from Rainbow’s. Both wore an expression similar to that of a deer caught in the headlights. Without moving her head, Applejack looked to see who had intruded on their compromising position. She didn’t know whether to be relieved or panicked when she saw the curious gazes of Applebloom and her friends on them.

Okay, at least it’s not Big Mac or Granny Smith. Ah can explain this one away, Applejack thought, before the rough squeak that Rainbow’s voice had become broke her contemplation.

“It’s not what it looks like!” Rainbow blurted out, face flushed.

Applejack nearly facehoofed as Rainbow succeeded in planting the thought in her sister’s young mind.

Applebloom’s brain worked infuriatingly quickly as she spoke. “But Ah thought that stuff was just fer a filly and a colt.”

“No way, Rainbow Dash told me about this stuff!” Scootaloo began to explain, to the combined horror of the two mares. Rainbow very much regretted this conversation. “She called it fillyfooling, and she said it’s perfectly normal and awesome, and that it had to be awesome because she does it herself!”

Applejack froze, looking down at the pegasus she had pinned to the bed. Rainbow offered a nervous smile, chuckling weakly. “Girls,” Applejack said calmly, “Ah’d like to speak with Rainbow Dash alone.”

Applebloom’s eyes widened at Applejack’s tone, quickly ushering her friends all the way downstairs, leaving the two mares alone.

Once the door had closed, Applejack lifted herself off of Rainbow Dash and sat with an odd look on her face Rainbow could not decipher. “Why didn’t ya tell me?” Applejack asked.

Rainbow tucked her hooves in modestly and hung her head. “You hate me now, don’t you?”

Applejack studied Rainbow for a second before responding. “Ah’m a little hurt ya would keep somethin’ like that a secret… but Ah don’t hate ya, Dash.”

“What?” was all Rainbow could muster in response for a long while.

Applejack gave Rainbow time to process the situation, using the time to sort out her own thoughts.

Rainbow spoke up after a few minutes, “I thought you farmponies didn’t like that kind of stuff.”

“Where’d ya get a silly idea like that?” Applejack asked.

“Well, you’re all about work and family. And, well, two mares can’t exactly… you know.”

“Rainbow,” Applejack said, turning the pegasus’ head to face her, “Ah’ve never been one to judge a pony if Ah can see she has a good heart. And Ah’m not usually wrong about that sorta stuff. Ah know you’ve got a good heart, Rainbow, and there’s no way Ah’d let somethin’ like this change how Ah look at ya, or anythin’ between us. Ah’m still yer friend, and Ah always will be, and that’s the honest truth, sugarcube.”

“Really?” Rainbow asked tentatively.

“Mhmm. And while Ah can’t say mah barn door swings that way,” Applejack blushed, “Ah can’t say Ah have a problem with it.”

Rainbow smiled, looking at Applejack with a certain degree of reverence. “You’re too damn good to me, Applejack.”

“Only as good as ya deserve, Rainbow.” Applejack smiled back.

Rainbow donned a blush and drew circles in the quilt with a hoof. “You know, you’re the first pony I’ve told… sorta.”

“Quite a way to come out,” Applejack chuckled in response, before becoming more serious. “There isn’t anythin’ else yer not tellin’ me, is there?”

“What? No, of course not, AJ.” Rainbow averted her gaze briefly. “And the only reason I didn’t tell you this was because I thought you’d think less of me.”

“Well we can’t have that, now. Then ya wouldn’ be the coolest mare in Ponyville,” Applejack said.

Rainbow blushed more heavily. “You really think that?”

“Always,” Applejack assured. “Though Ah am curious where all this humility’s comin’ from.”

Rainbow smiled. “Only for you, AJ.”

Applejack chuckled and pulled Rainbow into a brief hug before slipping off of the bed. “Now, we ain’t quite done settin’ you up yet, are we?”

“I guess not.” Rainbow got up off the bed after a few more seconds, reaching into her box of stuff to sort through what was left. Most were just small knickknacks that she put on her dresser, but there was one more treasure that she had yet to unpack.

Applejack watched in awe as Rainbow pulled out a framed photograph and set it on her nightstand. It was of the two of them after their second Running of the Leaves, where they had inevitably tied for first. The two of them were surrounded by falling leaves; Rainbow had a hoof over Applejack’s withers as they stood proudly with their matching first place medals.

“It’s the only award that I’ve won with somepony I really care about,” Rainbow said, pulling the medal itself out of her box to hold reverently in her hooves.

Deeply touched by the unexpected sentiment from the normally rowdy pegasus, Applejack had to excuse herself while she retrieved her own medal from the occasion from where it rested below a matching photograph on the wall over her bed. Rainbow smiled as Applejack returned with it around her neck, donning her own in response.

“Ya haven’t even been here a whole day an’ yer already goin’ soft on me,” Applejack joked. “What am Ah gonna do with a sap of a pegasus like you?”

Rainbow thought of a few things that she decided to keep to herself, answering instead with, “Hey, I’m still the fastest pegasus alive, and don’t you forget it.”

“Never plan to, sugarcube,” Applejack said, coming to sit next to Rainbow as she sorted the last few items she had brought.

Unknown to them, Granny Smith had risen during the commotion and saw Applejack’s transit between her room and the guest room. She had followed behind to witness the scene of closeness between the two friends, a smile on her face. Before she could be noticed, she slipped downstairs to get dinner started.

Ah think she’s finally startin’ ta get it.



“Soup’s on, y’all! Come n’ get it!” Granny Smith called from the kitchen. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were the first to the table, followed closely by Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Big Macintosh came in moments later, mildly surprised to see the flighty pegasus at the table.

“Howdy, Miss Rainbow Dash,” Big Mac said as he sat down. “Y’all joinin’ us fer supper?”

“She’s doin’ a bit more n’ that, Mac,” Applejack responded. “Rainbow’s gonna be stayin’ over ta help ‘round the farm fer the next month.”

“Really?” Big Mac asked skeptically. “Well, Celestia knows we need the help this year.”

“Yeah, I guess I picked a bad time to be in debt,” Rainbow joked, earning a good-natured eye roll from Applejack.

“Any particular reason yer wearin’ yer medals from the Runnin’ o’ the Leaves?” Big Mac inquired.

Applejack shared a glance with Rainbow. “There is, but Ah’d like ta keep that between us.”

“Oh, that reminds me! You guys won’t believe me, but Applejack and Rainbow Dash are totally-“

Applebloom barely managed to stick a hoof in Scootaloo’s mouth before she could drop the ball.

Big Mac raised a brow. “Totally what?”

“Totally awesome?” Rainbow suggested.

That seemed to be enough for Big Mac as he didn’t comment further, though Applejack fretted that her brother had gotten the wrong idea. Rainbow merely offered a shrug in response to Applejack’s worried gaze.

Food came to the table as a welcome distraction, and the meal went over without any further outbursts from the crusaders. Or at least not any about the scene they had stumbled upon in the guest room.

“You’re lucky, Applebloom. You get to have Rainbow Dash staying at your house for a whole month!” Scootaloo said with a mixture of adoration and jealousy.

“Ah’m not gonna have to raise the fence ‘round the farm, am Ah?” Applebloom asked in between bites as though it was a regular occurrence.

“You know that’ll only work for so long, Applebloom,” Scootaloo grumbled. “Rainbow Dash promised she’d help me learn how to fly!”

“I did?” Rainbow asked.

“Yeah, after that camping trip, remember?” Scootaloo prodded.

Rainbow furrowed her brow. “I guess. I’ve kinda got a lot to do right now, though, Scoot. I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to find the time between weather duties, farm work and guitar lessons.”

“Guitar lessons?” Scootaloo asked.

“It’s a long story,” Rainbow said.

“No it’s not,” Applejack asserted. “Ya came up to me with the idea to start a band, then remembered ya couldn’ play the guitar, so now yer takin’ lessons from Vinyl.”

“You’re making a band?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Yep! And it’s gonna be the most awesome, metal band ever!” Rainbow gushed.

Applejack quirked a brow. “Ah thought y’all said Ah could do what Ah wanted with the vocals.”

“Okay, well, like… country metal or something like that then. But it’s still metal!” Rainbow whipped her hair back dramatically and played the air guitar for emphasis.

“If you say so, sugarcube,” Applejack said.

“It’s gonna be awesome and you know it!” Rainbow pointed an accusing hoof at Applejack.

Applejack chuckled. “Ah never said it wasn’t.”

“Well, then, stop messing with my head!” Rainbow ordered.

“No promises, sugarcube.”



Applejack and Rainbow Dash were cleaning up after dinner at Applejack’s insistence. The work was done mostly in silence, but near the end Applejack spoke up. “Ya think yer gonna be alright teachin’ Scoot how ta fly?”

“I think so,” Rainbow said. “She’s made a lot of progress on her own, so it shouldn’t take too long. And I can’t count on Vinyl having time for lessons every day, so that should give me some time then.”

“Speakin’ a’ yer schedule, how’re we gonna do this?” Applejack asked as she finished washing the last plate.

“Well, it usually doesn’t matter too much when I get my weather stuff done so long as it gets done, so I have a bit of flexibility there. Probably hold off on that ‘till we’re done with most of the farm stuff.”

“Sure you’ll have enough left in ya? Farm work can get pretty exhausting,” Applejack advised.

“Yeah, cloud busting’s no problem and that’s the most demanding thing I’d have to do. We’ll just have to work around noon for my guitar lessons. I guess I could teach Scoot around that time just to keep it consistent.”

“That’d be fer the best,” Applejack agreed. She looked out the window to regard the position of the sun. “We still got a couple hours ‘fore we gotta hit the hay. Anythin’ ya wanna do?”

“Aside from sleep? Not much I can think of. Tomorrow’s gonna be pretty busy, so we should probably rest up, right?”

“Ah hear ya,” Applejack breathed. “Well, g’night then. Ah’ll be ‘round ta wake ya ‘bout six.”

“Alright,” Rainbow said as they walked upstairs. Coming to the door to her room, Rainbow noticed something different. On the door rested a plate with her name on it. It matched the ones hanging from the rooms of the Apple Family, all of which were crafted by Applebloom. Rainbow smiled at the sentiment. “You think Scoot put her up to this?”

“Ah don’t think she’d a’ needed ta. Applebloom looks up to ya, too, Rainbow,” Applejack said. “And Ah always did think of ya like family, Dash. It’s just a bit more official for a month.”

“Thanks, AJ. That means a lot, especially from you.”

Applejack smiled, pulling Rainbow into a hug. “Welcome to the family, Rainbow.”

Rainbow Dash released her at length, whispering, “Good night, Applejack.”

“G’night, Rainbow,” Applejack returned, walking to her room across the hall. Rainbow entered hers to fall heavily onto the mattress and just look up at the ceiling for a time. Applejack did the same a room away. The day had been busy and filled with many emotions, and the next promised more. Neither mare knew what lay ahead of them, but both were excited to find out. They each tucked themselves under their covers and fell asleep.



It's... so... FLUFFY! There will be much action next chapter, don't worry I GETTIN THAR.

Okay, so while the second chapter kind of went downhill in terms of outright entertainment compared to the first, this one jacked it back up again, and I couldn't take my eyes off of the screen until I read the final "thar". Your writing seems to be improving slightly with each iteration, and while there are still some minor issues I can't help but see, it is great to see you improving. I am glad, and somewhat impressed, to see that you have managed to carry a cohesive and well paced narration across three chapters so far.

Keep it up! Have you thought of putting this on FiM Fiction?

Also, I don't think fillyfooling means what you think it means, but if that was intentional, and with Scoots saying it....then.....

Lyra wrote:

Also, I don't think fillyfooling means what you think it means,

Fillyfooling = lesbian ponies
Foalfiddling = pedo
Get it rite, nub.

I WRITED AGAIN IM SORRY. Also a bit shorter this time, but eh. This is what I gots.

FOUR SCORE AND SEVEN SECONDS AGO


“Up n’ at em, Rainbow!”

Applejack’s sudden proclamation prompted a thrashing of limbs from the startled pegasus. “Bwuh? Applejack?” Rainbow fumbled around as her vision cleared, setting her eyes on the clock on her nightstand. “It’s five thirty! You said you’d wake me up at six!”

“Ah said Ah’d wake ya up around six,” Applejack asserted. “Granny’s started on breakfast, should be ready soon. Don’ bother washin’ up; ya’ll jes’ get dirty again when we start workin’. Harvest season’s not quite here yet, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a heap o’ stuff to do ‘round here.”

“Why do I feel like I’m being forced into slavery?” Rainbow complained.

Applejack smirked. “’S called labor, sugarcube, get used ta it.”

“Yes, master,” Rainbow said with a roll of her eyes.

Applejack chuckled and left Rainbow to get her bearings and find her way downstairs. Rainbow sighed and walked over to the washroom to splash some water on her face to hopefully wake up faster. Alright, Rainbow, you’ve got six hours to prove you can handle this. Gotta make Applejack want me around, not be a liability. She really needs me this year. Haven’t let her down before, and I don’t wanna start now. Rainbow’s thoughts were interrupted by her stomach announcing its emptiness. But that can wait till after breakfast.

Rainbow left the washroom feeling slightly more alert, and much hungrier. A trip downstairs revealed Big Mac browsing a newspaper, Granny Smith working on breakfast, and Applejack… suspiciously absent.

Before she could open her mouth to question this development, a force knocked into her from her side, sending her tumbling across the floor to end up staring up into the face of a deviously grinning Applejack. Rainbow tried to wiggle out of Applejack’s grasp, but she was pinned.

After a few moments more, Applejack let the pegasus up. “That was payback fer yesterday,” Applejack explained. “Can’t let yer guard down ‘round me, either.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Rainbow said, a bit disgruntled but still smiling.

“Now come on, breakfast’s almost done,” Applejack led Rainbow into the kitchen proudly, grinning in response to Big Mac’s raised eyebrow.

“Soup’s on, y’all,” Granny Smith said, producing a stack of apple cinnamon pancakes. “Eat up ya silly fillies.” She rustled Applejack’s hair and offered a smile to Rainbow Dash, who returned it a little sheepishly.

“Crusaders ‘re still asleep,” Mac answered before the question could formulate. “Tired ‘emselves out somethin’ fierce, seems.”

Returning her attention to the table, Rainbow Dash regarded the feast before her. Perhaps ‘stack’ was understating it; it was a tower. Apple cinnamon pancakes were a rare delicacy for Rainbow, where it was standard fare for the Apples. As such, they all watched in amusement as Rainbow helped herself to an oversized portion and promptly began to devour them. The remainder of un-plundered cakes were distributed evenly to the rest assembled, who ate at a more normal pace, except for Applejack, who ate with a good deal more gusto in response to her friend’s unspoken and entirely unintentional challenge.

Applejack slowly caught up to the unsuspecting pegasus’ progress, but despite Applejack’s smaller portion, Rainbow’s lead proved to be too much to overcome, as Rainbow finished while Applejack still had about a quarter of her meal left. Rainbow drank the last of her apple juice before sitting back in her chair to wait for Applejack to finish, only finding that Applejack was already done.

“Oh,” Rainbow observed.

“Ready ta get started?” Applejack asked.

“Yeah, of course,” Rainbow answered half-heartedly, disappointed that she didn’t get a bit more time to laze around. It turned out her subconscious plan had backfired on her, though, and she had to start work earlier than hoped.

Applejack smirked. “Ah’m gonna need a bit more enthusiasm ‘n that, Rainbow.”

“Maybe later,” Rainbow replied, getting up to stretch out her limbs before following Applejack out back.

“Alright, first things first, we still gotta lotta barrels ta take outta storage. They’re a might heavy, so don’ hurt yerself.” Applejack led Rainbow down to the storage cellar.

“Yeah, yeah, watch out for splinters, right? They’re barrels, AJ, they’re as harmless as… well, something else made out of wood. Like a table. I never heard of anypony getting hurt from a table.”

“You’d be surprised, sugarcube,” Applejack chuckled. “Now, we gotta get these over ta the barn. ‘S not a long walk, hardest part’s gettin’ em up the stairs.”

“But isn’t the barn literally just up the stairs?”

“Exactly, piece a’ cake! Now get to it.” With that, Applejack departed up the stairs.

“You’re not even gonna help me?” Rainbow called out.

“They’re barrels, Rainbow, they’re harmless,” Applejack retorted.

Rainbow adopted a frown. “Stupid words.” With a sigh, she heaved a barrel up onto her back. Applejack was right, even empty they were rather heavy, and made the trek up the stairs a bit laborious. Especially considering that the barrel kept slipping off her back.

“Oh come on! Stupid barrel!” Frustrated, Rainbow seized the barrel in her forehooves and attempted to fly out with it, only to bump her head on the low ceiling and lose her grip on the barrel. “Why would you even do this?!”

Rainbow tried a different approach, setting the barrel on its side to attempt to roll it up the stairs. It was working great, until she got to the first step, which the barrel would refuse to roll over. With a snarl, Rainbow worked her hooves under the barrel and lifted it up that first step. “Ha! Nothing to it!”

At her words, gravity worked to spite her, as the barrel rolled back down the single step cleared, of which there were twenty. “Dammit!” Rainbow bent down to repeat her earlier triumph, making sure not to stop after the first step. It was long, taxing, and filled with curses as she on numerous occasions missed the next step and had the barrel punish her by rolling back two, but she made it to the top. She made sure to push it well away from the staircase before gingerly hoisting it up onto her back.

Without gravity pulling it off of her, she was able to keep the barrel in place as she hobbled over to the barn door to drop the barrel heavily and collapse. “Here’s your stupid barrel!” Rainbow shouted.

Applejack looked back from her task of counting the assembled barrels. She cocked a brow upon seeing Rainbow completely spent from getting a single barrel up the stairs. “Took ya long enough. You got that bent outta shape from just one? We’re still missin’ ‘bout fifty more and we gotta get ‘em all up ‘fore noon.”

“What the hell, AJ? I bust my flank for this thing and you tell me it’s not good enough? I don’t know what the hell you’re taking, but this is impossible!”

Applejack looked at Rainbow critically and found something missing. “Where’d ya put the rope?”

Rainbow broke out of her rage at the seemingly random question. “Rope?”

“The one on the wall ta the right of the stairs; yer supposed ta use it ta secure the barrel,” Applejack said slowly.

Rainbow’s eye began to twitch. “Why didn’t you tell me that before I did all that shit?!”

“Ah figured ya knew! Ya’ve helped us out plenty ‘round here before!”

“Yeah, but I’ve never done this!” Rainbow shot back. “It’s always just been bucking apples! I don’t think I’ve even been in your cellar before! That’s kinda why I was expecting some help!”

Applejack sighed. “Ah’m sorry, sugarcube. Ah’m used ta workin’ with the family, n’ they know the farm backwards n’ upside-down. An’ yer around so much, Ah guess Ah plum forgot y’all didn’t.” Applejack looked to her hooves.

Rainbow just sat there, torn between wanting to yell at her friend some more and wanting to comfort her.

“Heh, ain’t even been an hour an’ Ah’ve already screwed somethin’ up,” Applejack mused absently. “Ah figured you mighta, but look at you, gettin’ a barrel all the way up here without even usin’ the rope. Never even known Mac ta do that much. Ah don’ know whether ta be sorry er impressed.”

Rainbow knew this was really getting to her; Applejack wasn’t one to ramble unless she was really upset. She walked over to offer Applejack a one-hoofed hug. “Hey, it’s alright. Honest mistake, right? I’m sorry for blowing up at you; I should have come to you before wearing myself to pieces anyway.”

Applejack cracked a small smile. “Ah shouldn’a expected that of ya. Yer stubborn as an Apple yerself. Tell ya what, Ah’ll give y’all a breather n’ get the rest of the barrels up mahself. Celestia knows ya’ve proven yerself way more n’ capable.”

Rainbow knew better than to decline the help outright, so she did the next best thing. “AJ, I can’t let you do that all by yourself, I’m supposed to be the one helping you. Just… give me a minute to catch my breath and I’ll help you out.”

Applejack smiled a bit wider. “Thanks, sugarcube. Ah owe ya one.”

“I thought the whole point of this was that I owed you,” Rainbow chuckled.

“Heh, guess that makes us even, then?” Applejack supposed.

Loyalty made Rainbow shake her head. “Not even close; I promised you a month of help and damn if I’m not gonna give you the best help you’ve ever gotten.”

Applejack’s smile became sheepish. “Thanks fer stickin’ with me. Means a lot from you.”

“It’s gonna take a lot more than that to drive me away, AJ,” Rainbow said with a squeeze. “Now, we’ve still got some barrels to take care of, right?”

“Right, barrels.”



With the rope Applejack had pointed out, the going was a whole lot easier. Rainbow could practically prance up the stairs without shaking the barrels from her back. Working together, they cut though the barrels in a fraction of the time it would have taken otherwise, finishing hours ahead of schedule. In fact…

“It’s only seven thirty? You said we had to be done by noon!” Rainbow marveled.

Applejack just shrugged. “What can Ah say? Ah guess yer jes that big a help.”

Rainbow grinned at the praise, walking with a bit more of a spring to her step as they moved on to the next task. “So what’s next? Herding stampeding cows? Expanding the acres? Building a new barn?”

“Simmer down there, sally,” Applejack laughed. “’S just maintenance; the barn needs a bit a’ TLC.”

Rainbow eyed the barn in question. “Looks fine to me.”

“You kiddin’? The paint’s startin’ ta peel, nails ‘re comin’ loose, the hay loft’s a mess…”

“Isn’t the hay loft supposed to be a mess anyway?” Rainbow questioned.

“Not like this it ain’t,” Applejack said, indicating the area above them. “The wood’s gotta be replaced er we’re gonna have hay an’ dead wood everywhere.”

“Sounds like a lot of work,” Rainbow observed. “Were you gonna do this all by yourself?”

Applejack shook her head. “Applebloom usually does a lot of this stuff, but Ah figured since we’re ahead of schedule anyway we might as well give her some extra help.”

“And she’s cool with that?”

“’Course; she always is. She’s way too young ta do it all by herself, n’ Ah’m sure she wouldn’t mind a bit more help this year. Definitely in worse shape ‘n it was last year. But Applebloom should have it fixed up in a jiffy. She’s got a gift, Ah tell ya.”

“Maybe you should try telling her that; might be nice to not have her running around looking for her cutie mark in all the wrong places. I tried telling Scoot to work on her scooter skills, but she just got all defensive. And now she’s all hooked up on flying, I’m worried she’ll forget about it.”

Applejack smiled. “We just gotta give ‘em time. They’re bound ta get it eventually.”

“Yeah, hopefully before they get outta school, at least. Can’t imagine getting to that age without a cutie mark. Just think; she gets her first heat thinking it’s some kind of pre-cutie mark sickness.”

“Ah would not wanna be the one ta explain that one.” Applejack shivered. “Even if she does have ‘er cutie mark ‘fore then.”

“Well, I kinda did explain the whole orientation thing to them already, in some weird way. So at least you won’t have to cover that.”

“You don’t think any of ‘em go fer that, do ya?”

Rainbow shrugged. “I dunno, Scoot might be thinking about it. She does take after me a lot.”

Applejack paused. “Ya don’ think she’ll lie ta herself, do ya?”

“Nah, she’s a smart kid. I don’t think I have that much influence over her. And if it does come to that, I’m sure I’d be able to spot it pretty quick. But hey, maybe she turns out to be a legit fillyfooler and she wouldn’t have known about the option if I didn’t tell her?”

Applejack frowned. “That reminds me a’ somethin’ Ah wanted ta ask ya. Why did ya think Ah wouldn’ be okay with you bein’ that way? Ah didn’ have anythin’ wrong with Octavia and Vinyl.”

“Well, yeah, but you don’t see them often so it wouldn’t be up in your face. It’s a bit different when it’s a kinda friend than a best friend.” Rainbow pointed out.

“Ah guess so. Ya also said Ah was the first ya told, but Scootaloo didn’t seem ya buy that.”

“I said kinda the first. The thing with Scoot, well… I kinda got my hoof forced.”

Applejack cocked her head. “By what?”

Rainbow sighed. “There were some… rumors going around town. Stupid rumors, totally not true. And Scoot caught wind of them, so she came to me, of course.”

“Rumors ‘bout you?” Applejack prodded, unsure if she wanted an answer.

“Yeah, about me…” Rainbow blushed, “and… well, about you, too.”

“Me?”

“Yeah, it seems ponies were getting the wrong idea about us and, well…” Rainbow searched for the right words. “It escalated pretty quickly.”

Applejack blushed violently. “T-they thought…”

“Yeah, stupid, right?” Rainbow grinned, though her eyes showed uncertainty. “It’s… totally not like that.”

A very awkward silence stretched between the two, neither knowing what to say, or even think. Things were really starting to pile up on them, and they were getting harder to ignore. Rainbow liked mares; she knew that, but Applejack? Applejack, on the other hoof wasn’t even sure which way her barn door swung; she’d never really given much thought to romance. That was always more Rarity’s territory. And what was more…

“Rainbow?” Applejack tentatively broke the silence.

“Y-yeah?”

“We’re outta paint.” Applejack declared.

Rainbow blinked. “So, we gotta go shopping again?”

“Unless y’all can make paint with that pretty mane a’ yours,” Applejack said without really thinking.

Rainbow blushed, but didn’t make to point out Applejack’s advance. Celestia, why can’t this just be easy?



Applejack and Rainbow made their way over to the market in silence, neither daring to make eye contact. In fact, they would have been quite content to have some time to think without any distractions. But, as life was prone to do, it had other ideas. And this time, it was purple.

“Oh, hey you two, what’s up?” The voice of Twilight startled the two in question. Twilight got her first look at the equal parts dejected, embarrassed, and surprised expressions on her friends’ faces. “Is… everything alright?”

“Everything’s fine,” Rainbow squeaked.

“Yep, jes dandy,” Applejack added in a small voice.

“Why are you whispering? Is it some kind of secret?” Twilight pondered.

“No, no, just… tired,” Rainbow offered.

“Long day,” Applejack agreed.

Twilight glanced upwards to take in the position of the sun. “It’s not even noon yet.”

“Lucky us,” Rainbow joked weakly.

Applejack remained silent.

Twilight frowned. “Are you sure there’s nothing bothering you? I don’t think I’ve ever seen either of you like this.”

Rainbow shrugged. “See something new every day, right?”

“Would be borin’ otherwise.”

Twilight could tell she wasn’t going to be getting any straight answers, but she knew something was up. She decided to ask around, try to find any hints. It was like a mystery! She was getting excited just thinking about it as she ran off without another word.

No words were left spoken by the two mares in search of paint, either, as they collected their plunder in silence.

Twilight, meanwhile, found herself crashing into the biggest information monger in Ponyville. “Oh, hi Twilight!” Pinkie chirped.

“Pinkie! I need your help with a mystery!” Twilight commanded.

“Ooh! Is this like that time on the Friendship Express?”

“Yes, but there’s no cake this time,” Twilight said, much to Pinkie’s disappointment.

“Oh, okay…”

“We need somewhere safe to talk,” Twilight went on. “Somewhere nopony goes.”

“The library?” Pinkie offered.

Twilight’s eye twitched. “Gee, thanks.”

“Don’t mention it!” Pinkie said, bouncing away in the direction of Twilight’s home.

Upon arrival, Twilight shut the door with a little more force than necessary. “Okay, Pinkie, I need to know. Something’s up with Applejack and Rainbow Dash and-“

“Oh! Haven’t you heard? Rumor has it that AJ and Dashie are dating!” Pinkie cheered.

Twilight’s mouth opened, only to close again. She blinked, twice. “I… What?”

“Yep!”

“Wh-where did they get an idea like that?” Twilight stammered.

“You know ponies. Or maybe you don’t. You are still kinda new to this whole ponies thing. But they’re not like books, no siree. They’re much more fun and exciting!”

“I came here for answers, Pinkie, not a life lecture!” Twilight shouted.

“I thought you came here because Princess Celestia wanted you to make friends!”

Twilight grunted, shoving Pinkie out the door unceremoniously. “I swear,” Twilight muttered, “three years later and the ponies in this town are still crazy.”



Contrary to Rainbow's opinion on them, words are not stupid. They are a source of never-ending entertainment. Until you die.

Bit more beef to this one. Also a bit of stuff to add, but I can't really find the inspiration to write it just yet, and I figured this was enough to warrant a post. So...

Fuck I Don't Even Remember What Number This Is


Rainbow crashed down onto a hay bale, sighing heavily. “Can today be over yet?”

Applejack chuckled weakly. “Ah reckon not, sugarcube. Even if we leave the barn ta Applebloom we still got fields ta tend to. An’ don’ forget ‘bout yer guitar lessons er yer weather jobs.”

Rainbow covered her face in her hooves. “Maybe I did take on a bit too much,” she mumbled.

Applejack saw through the ruse immediately. “You know that’s not what’s gettin’ to ya. Ah know ‘cus it’s gettin’ ta me, too. Ah’m sure it’ll blow over soon, sugarcube. This is new ta both a’ us.”

Rainbow wasn’t too sure; if she was honest she’d say it’s been there a while, and that it wasn’t about to leave either of them alone. But she was loyal; honesty was Applejack’s thing, though it seemed it was getting hard to come by. All Rainbow could hope was that it would work itself out and leave them with their sanity at the end.

“Rainbow?” Applejack’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

“Huh?”

“Thought Ah lost you fer a minute there,” Applejack joked nervously before pausing uncertainly. “Well, Ah was thinkin’… Ah know it’s only been a day an’ all, but…”

Rainbow felt her own nerves strangle her, face reddening in semi-comprehension.

“Maybe we could take a bit of a break – just ‘til lunch!” Applejack blurted out.

Rainbow’s blood quickly diverted itself from her face as her mouth hung open slightly in confusion of this new development. Even if her brief half-understood suspicions held no merit, this was still something new from Applejack. She was never one to shirk her duties, even in light of emotional confusion. Given this was a new kind of emotional confusion, but that didn’t make this new any less new. No, this… this was super-new.

“My gosh,” Rainbow said under her breath before clearing her throat. “Uh, yeah, that sounds like… cool.” …You know what else sounds like cool? Fillyfool... Wait, I mean just fool. Get it together, Rainbow! She slapped herself across the face, forgetting that Applejack could see her.

“Are… you okay, sugarcube?” Applejack asked, her concern outweighing her own inner turmoil.

“Yeah, I’m… I’m great.” Rainbow said, suddenly reminded of her earlier fatigue. All she wanted to do was roll around in this hay and fall asleep. Wait, not like that!

Applejack regarded Rainbow strangely for a few moments before asking, “Not like what?”

Rainbow paused. She had said that out loud? Urgh, stupid. Stop it. “I…” Rainbow sat up, shaking hay loose from her coat. “I need a nap.”

Applejack smiled, “Good thing we got a bed for ya, then; must be more comfy than sleepin’ in the trees.”

“Hey, your trees are like, awesome, alright?” Rainbow said, barely registering that she had offered a sorta-compliment. Her balance failed her and almost had her toppling back into the hay, but Applejack showed her great reflexes even when unusually exhausted and caught her pegasus friend and managed not to fall onto the hay herself.

“Maybe… maybe we should get ta bed,” Applejack said breathily.

“But the hay, it’s so… rollable,” Rainbow mumbled.

Applejack walked her friend back to the farmhouse, showing great fortitude despite her own desires to sleep where she stood. But even Applejack had her limits. Leading Rainbow up the stairs to her temporary room, Applejack began to wobble, but she soldiered on, coming all the way to Rainbow’s door. She reached out a hoof to weakly push at it, nearly toppling herself in the process. Righting herself, she resolved to head-butt the door open, the action leaving her with precious little energy. So little, that she barely had enough left to help Rainbow up onto her bed. In a massive tangle of weakly flailing limbs, she found herself lying next to Rainbow on her bed.

“Nice of you to stop by,” Rainbow mumbled, subconsciously throwing a hoof around Applejack’s shoulders.

Applejack groaned in response, accepting the barely-registered touch gratefully. “Mind if I sleep here?”

“Knock yourself ou-“

Neither mare stayed awake long enough to hear whether or not the last letter made it out of Rainbow’s mouth, not that either would have remembered anyway. Shortly after passing out, Applejack’s hoof found its way around Rainbow’s shoulders, mirroring Rainbow’s own in a sort of sleep-hug. Rainbow smiled through her sleep at the touch, mouthing some sentiment or other.

So blissful and pseudo-ignorant were the dreams each mare had that they failed to register each other in their frequent appearances, merely regarding them as cute orange pony and cuddly blue pegasus, though those roles were interchangeable. A number of other adjectives would have come to mind had they been more conscious, though they were very much reflected in their dreams.

Such was the scene Big Macintosh stumbled across; the door to Rainbow’s room carelessly left wide open, with two familiar mares locked in an epic cuddle asleep on the bed. Mac blinked once before smiling. If there was one thing being a big brother taught him, it was that when catching his little sister in an awkward situation, there were two options. One would be to walk away like a good brother and not mention it. The other would be to hold it over her head for eternity and beyond. Needless to say, he chose the more interesting option in light of this particularly embarrassing development. Fer science, as Miss Twilight would say.

Big Mac re-entered the kitchen with that same smile still present on his face. Granny Smith didn’t need to ask to know that the mares he was sent to fetch were occupied. “Think she gets it, yet?”

“Maybe,” Big Mac chuckled, “but Ah doubt it.”


Rainbow slowly woke up, a smile stretching wide across her face. She cracked her eyes open to regard the orange face she held so close. “Mm, morning, AJ.”

Applejack stirred awake, herself, returning Rainbow’s smile. “Mornin’, Rainbow.” Applejack giggled sleepily. This moment was perfect; her muzzle was practically brushing against her bed-mate’s. All she had to do was instigate. She looked into Rainbow’s eyes and-

Both mares cried out in unison, flinging themselves away from the awkward cuddle, looking anywhere but at each other.

“I didn’t do it, I swear!” Rainbow panicked.

“Well Ah sure as hay didn’t!” Applejack’s eyes were the size of dinner plates.

“Well one of us had to have!” Rainbow accused.

“Well it wasn’t me! Ah would never even think a…” Applejack raised her head slowly to find Rainbow staring back at her.

Slowly, through the thoughts racing in each mare’s recently-awoken minds, a pair of smiles won out on their faces, accompanied by heavy blushes.

“It was a nice cuddle,” Rainbow said in a small voice.

Applejack wanted to agree, but something seemed out of place. It wasn’t the fact that they were best friends with no romantic history, or the fact that they were both mares, or even the implications of what might have happened before said cuddle. No, the thing that stuck out in Applejack’s mind-

“You… you like to cuddle, Rainbow?” Applejack questioned, fearful, curious and touched all at once.

Rainbow’s eyes widened again, running her comment by herself again. “N-no! I mean, uh- I meant that it was a nice… huddle!”

Applejack looked at Rainbow with hurt, accusation and disbelief.

Rainbow sighed, seeing no other options than to come clean. “Okay, yeah, I guess. I mean, it’s not like I have before, or anything. But that… with you,” Rainbow blushed, “it was nice.”

Applejack donned a blush of her own, meeting Rainbow’s uncertain eyes with a warmth she didn’t fully understand.

Rainbow smiled at Applejack’s apparent contentment, feeling a little bold. “I don’t suppose… you’d want to do it again sometime?”

Applejack’s blush darkened as she mumbled out, “Ah’d like that.”

As the two looked at each other, their blushes began to fade, but the warmth in their cheeks did not. Neither did the sense of contentment they got from sharing a moment such as this with the pony that mattered most to them. What did happen, however, was an interruption by their stomachs.

With the new motive in mind, an air of awkwardness descended upon the room. Neither mare wanted the moment to end, yet at the same time felt afraid of acknowledging it. At length, Rainbow spoke. “I’m kinda hungry,” she said simply.

Applejack spared a glance at the clock. “We did miss lunch,” she agreed. “’S also past noon; maybe we should head out inta town fer lunch an’ hope we didn’ miss yer lesson, too.”

Despite the innocent request, Rainbow couldn’t shake the sense that she was being asked out. What surprised her, though, was that she didn’t see any problem with the concept, but merely what Applejack would think of it. But if Applejack was the one who asked her… “It’s a date,” Rainbow said, immediately regretting her poor choice of words. “I mean-“

Applejack chuckled. “It’s alright, sugarcube; Ah don’ mind.”

Rainbow looked at Applejack with a sense of awe, which was plainly visible on her face. So visible, that Applejack devolved into stammers herself, trying to explain it away.

“It’s alright, Applejack,” Rainbow said, smiling, “I don’t mind.”


Applejack and Rainbow Dash walked into Ponyville in a companionable silence. Their blushes were still evident, though were paid less mind. Rainbow noted that Applejack was walking closer to her than usual, though refrained from commenting lest Applejack distance herself. The implications were apparently not lost on the ponies of Ponyville; specifically those who knew the two personally. Rainbow caught a few giggles and gestures sent their way, some less decent than others. There was one in particular that Rainbow prayed to Celestia that Applejack missed. If she had caught it, Applejack’s demeanor gave no indication.

“Rainbow,” Applejack started in a hushed tone, catching the pegasus’ attention, “back at the farm, ya said that ya never… Does that mean…?”

“That I’ve never been with anypony before?” Rainbow whispered back. Applejack nodded nervously. “Nope. You?”

“Really? Never? But yer so…” Applejack blinked. “Ah mean… No, Ah haven’t.” Applejack finished with a blush.

Rainbow offered Applejack a small smile before indicating the space before them. They had arrived at their lunchery of choice, Café du Mane. Had Twilight been there, she would have insisted to Rainbow that, for the eleventeeth time, that was not a word. But she wasn’t, so Rainbow was left to bask in her word alone. Or rather, with a pony that wouldn’t judge her based on her vocabulary, not to mention being a good deal more attractive to Rainbow. But then, Applejack was-

“The cutest thing ever!”

Rainbow whipped her head around, but the pink mare to whom the voice belonged to was nowhere to be found. Applejack looked similarly baffled by the random outburst, though recovered far more quickly to lead Rainbow to a table.

Down an alley on a side road, Pinkie Pie was bouncing off to Carousel Boutique to relay her discovery, feeling in an unusually gossipy mood, failing to realize she was making two of her best friends’ lives that much more complicated.

Okay, since when can Pinkie read my thoughts? That’s just creepy. And more than a little bit of a problem. Rainbow glanced around again, hoping to catch a glimpse of the now-dreaded pink mare.

“You alright, sugarcube? Yer lookin’ jumpier than a bean.”

“Jumpier than a what?” Rainbow raised an eyebrow.

“A bean. You know, like those ones down in Mexicolt.”

“I wonder about you sometimes, AJ,” Rainbow said, picking up her largely-unneeded menu as more of a distraction than anything. Both mares had the menu memorized by now, along with the other four in their group, so often did they come here for lunch. It almost left Rainbow craving for something different, more romexotic. Also not a word, Rainbow, reminded a voice in the back of her head. Shut up, egghead, Rainbow shot back.

Applejack swore she heard snickers around her, and not from Rainbow, but every time she looked around, everypony was conspicuously aloof. Applejack sighed. This is what I’d have to deal with, huh? Well, at least they’re not getting’ at our throats about it. If ya ask me, what Ah do with Rainbow is ‘tween me n’ her. Another con to add to her list, she supposed. The concept was far from being considered, though she had to admit it made her feel funny. She could only wonder what Rainbow was thinking of it, having one less hurdle to deal with.

“We’re not usually this quiet over lunch, you know,” Rainbow pointed out idly, nibbling on the meal that Applejack could barely remember being delivered. Her own sat untouched, so at Rainbow’s questioning glance she began to eat. It didn’t do much to ease her stress or fatigue, but it was at least enough to curb her hunger.

“Sorry, sugarcube,” Applejack said between bites, “Ah guess Ah just got a lot ta think on.”

“Yeah. Past couple days haven’t exactly been uneventful,” Rainbow said, running a hoof through her mane. “And this one isn’t even over yet.” Rainbow paused. “But hey, I’ve got my guitar lessons soon, so that should give you some time to think, right? Not much need for a head start, if you ask me.”

“You kiddin’? If Ah asked you Ah’d be shocked ta hear ya wouldn’t take a head start.”

“Well, in racing, yeah. But thinking’s different, you know? Like, it doesn’t matter when or how fast you do it, or even if you do it at all! I can do plenty of awesome things without thinking! Who needs thoughts when you can take actions, right?”

Applejack frowned in puzzlement. “But if ya don’ think about them actions first, an’ ya end up hurtin’ somepony close ta ya…”

Applejack felt a hoof on her wither. “Hey, I’d never do anything to hurt you, Applejack. You know that. I’m loyal to a fault, remember? Besides, you mean way too much to me.”

Applejack sighed. “Ah know that, Rainbow. It’s me Ah’m worried about.”

A second hoof joined the first. “AJ, you’re being too hard on yourself again. I know it seems like a lot right now, but I know you can figure it out. And I’ll be there with you one way or the other.” Rainbow cracked a smirk. “You got me for a whole month, remember?”

That earned a grin from Applejack as she weakly pushed at Rainbow’s hold before abruptly hugging her closer. Elements be damned, if there was one thing Rainbow never failed to get from Applejack it was a smile. They knew each other better than most; sporting a closer bond than most couples, even. And they always had each other’s backs, no matter what life threw at them; even a failed relationship that ended with broken hearts. Not to say that would ever happen, though. Rainbow could never do something so cruel as to break her best friend’s heart, and knew the sentiment was mutual. Just how much else was mutual she had yet to find out.

“And maybe a bit more if you can put up with me,” Rainbow said through their embrace.

“You know me, Dash. Ah can take anythin’ ya throw at me. Even yerself… especially yerself.” Applejack pulled away to wink at Rainbow. She made to resume the hug, but stopped short at the uneasy feeling of a hundred unwelcome eyes on their scene. She whipped her head around, catching the eyes of a few ponies who could not react quickly enough to avert their gazes. Among those were ponies both knew, like Lyra, Bon Bon, even the dentist, Colgate. Were their private lives really so easily intruded upon? Taking another look around, she amended herself. Ain’t really private in a public diner.

Rainbow offered a shrug when Applejack’s gaze returned to her. She looked to the clock tower shortly afterward, noting that it was a bit past noon. “I should probably be over at Vinyl’s soon,” Rainbow said to break the silence.

Applejack smiled. “C’mon then, Ah’ll walk ya over.”

“Don’t want that head start on thinking after all?”

“Guess not. Ya musta convinced me.”

“How’d I do that?”

Applejack chuckled. “By bein’ you.”


“Hey, Scratch, I’m ready for my lessons!” Rainbow called after bursting through the door.

Vinyl blinked from her seat on the couch. “I said I was free, not raidable.”

“Yeah, whatever, same thing,” Rainbow agreed absently, unstrapping her guitar case from her back. “You’ll never guess what kind of sweet guitar I’ve got.”

“The Coltson from the shop that looks like a Wonderbolts guitar?” Vinyl answered easily.

Rainbow blinked. “Lucky guess,” she pouted, showing off her new guitar in a more subdued manner than intended.

“That thing cost quite a lot, I’ve checked. How’d you get the money for it?”

“I subjected myself to a month of labor on Sweet Apple Acres,” Rainbow explained smoothly.

Vinyl quirked a brow. “Anything to spend more time with Applejack, eh?”

“Shut up,” Rainbow mumbled.

“You know you like her, Dash. Why not go for it?”

“Because it’s complicated, alright? I don’t have to explain myself to you,” Rainbow said harshly. “Now are we gonna do this or not?”

Vinyl frowned at Rainbow’s words, but started the lesson regardless. “Alright, show me a hoof-slide,” Vinyl ordered.

Rainbow complied with a sound akin to hooves on a chalkboard.

“That was terrible,” Vinyl scoffed. “Try again.”

The second attempt was, if anything, worse.

“Okay, stop; stop, please for the love of Celestia stop.” Vinyl narrowed her eyes at a sheepish Rainbow. “You’re a piece of work, Rainbow. You know that?”

“So are you gonna help me or ridicule me all day?” Rainbow challenged.

“When we’re through today, you’ll learn that there’s not much of a difference between the two,” Vinyl threatened.

Rainbow braced herself for a long afternoon.


Applejack made her way back to the farm alone, grateful for the respite if nothing else. While Rainbow was great company, she didn’t really leave much time for thought, which was her greatest need right now. So great, in fact, that Big Macintosh deemed it necessary to accost her in her trek through the orchards.

“Hey, AJ. Have a nice nap?” Big Mac asked with a brow quirked deviously.

What he received in return was the greatest death glare Applejack had ever mustered. Big Mac winced visibly; he only ever got that look when he really needed to back off, which usually meant something was really bothering her. And to consider this as the most distraught he had seen her in years really said a lot. In fact, he hadn’t seen her so torn up since…

Big Macintosh dislodged the thought with a vigorous shake of his head. No, that was silly; Applejack would never change because of something as simple as romance. Not to mention she would have changed a lot more had it not been for the very pegasus now plaguing her thoughts. If Rainbow hadn’t come along when she did, Big Mac wasn’t sure Applejack would have ever been the same filly again.

Life has its ways o’ offsettin’ the bad with the good. Big Mac philosophized. An’ this can be one heck of a good if ya let it, AJ. Ah can see how happy she makes ya. Why can’t you?

Applejack crashed heavily on her bed, looking for answers in the smooth painted wood of her ceiling. She sighed, knowing the venture was fruitless as she rolled over to regard the two pictures she kept on her nightstand. One of which was that picture of her and Rainbow with their Running of the Leaves medals. The other brought her sadness at times, hope at others, and longing always. It was a picture of her family taken back when her parents were still alive. Applebloom wasn’t more than a month old, Big Mac wasn’t more than twelve, and she was at the start of her adventurous phase. What better way to push you out the door than something like that, right?

Applejack felt tears come to her eyes as she thought back on those days. If it weren’t for Rainbow, she might never have left Manehattan. And as if that weren’t enough, she herself came into her life just as she started to relapse back into depression in her painfully empty surroundings. It was like Rainbow somehow knew there was something missing in her life after all that the family had been through. What she got was the best friend she’s ever had.

An’ is that really worth riskin’? Applejack asked herself. Element of Loyalty or not, Applejack knew that a failed relationship would leave their friendship a mere shadow of what it was now. And she wasn’t even sure if a relationship was what she wanted. What do I want? The answer was no clearer than it had ever been. That list of pros and cons her subconscious had mustered was little help. What would she really get from a relationship with Rainbow that she didn’t have already? It admittedly wasn’t much, but the thought of it never ceased to drive her crazy.

Ah could never find a better friend, but at the same time Ah might never get another shot like this with anypony who means so much ta me. Applejack sighed. She means more ta me n’ anything. She looked again at the picture of her parents. Whaddya think Ah should do, Ma n’ Pa? This is too much for me ta deal with alone.

But you’re never alone, her subconscious reminded her. Rainbow will be right there with you.

An’ Ah can always count on the family, Applejack agreed. But can they really help with this? She had no reason to believe so other than her own pessimism. But what if they don’ understand? What if they hate me fer it? Ah ain’t ever heard of fillyfoolin’ in the Apple Family. Ah still don’ even know if Ah am one!

Applejack’s sobs were interrupted by a gentle knock on the door. She knew who it was before the door opened to reveal the concerned face of her older brother. “You alright, AJ? Ah heard ya cryin’ all the way outside.”

“Ah’m not cryin’!” Applejack stubbornly shouted, rubbing her eyes. “Ah just…”

Big Mac walked over to offer Applejack his support. Applejack barely hesitated to bawl her eyes out into the crook of his neck as Big Mac stroked her mane and offered quiet reassurance. After a few minutes, Applejack started to calm down. “Feel any better?”

“A little bit,” Applejack sniffed. “What do Ah do, Mac?”

“’Bout Rainbow?”

Applejack just nodded, too upset to question how he knew.

“Ya don’ have ta do anythin’ just yet,” Big Mac saged. “She’s gonna be ‘round fer a whole month, isn’t she? That gives ya plenty o’ time ta figure it out.”

“Ah don’t know if Ah can face her without an answer.”

Big Mac raised an eyebrow. “Did she ask you already?” Applejack shook her head. “Then what’s there ta worry ‘bout?”

“What if she says no? What if Ah change mah mind? How’re y’all gonna react?”

Big Mac hugged her closer. “Ah know Ah speak fer the family when Ah say we’ll support ya no matter what, AJ. And yer a smart mare; Ah think ya know what ya want.” Big Mac paused. “Is there any reason ta think she wouldn’t say yes?”

“Only reasons ta think she would,” Applejack muttered. “That’s the hard part.”

“Well what kinda reasons are those?”

Applejack hesitated. “Well, Ah don’ know if its mah place ta say…”

“Ah won’ tell a soul,” Big Mac promised.

Applejack sighed. “She’s a fillyfooler, Mac. She already done n’ told me that much.”

Big Mac raised an eyebrow. “Can’t say that’s too surprisin’, ta be honest. How’d she get around ta bringin’ it up?”

“She didn’t,” Applejack explained, driving Mac’s brow higher, “Ah’m not even sure she wanted ta. Scootaloo’s the one who outed ‘er. ‘Parently got forced inta that one, too.”

“How?” Big Mac prodded.

Applejack frowned, blood making its way to her cheeks. “It’s just… stupid rumors.”

“Bout you n’ her?”

Applejack nodded sheepishly. “Tha’s what got me thinkin’ about it.” Applejack sighed. “She also told me Ah was the first one she really opened up to ‘bout her uh, orientation.”

“Really now? That’s a good sign, AJ.”

“Huh?”

“That she’s comfortable talkin’ bout that with ya,” Big Mac clarified.

“Well, it weren’t exactly… comfortable, ta be honest,” Applejack said, a blush coming to her cheeks.

Big Mac grinned. “Kinda felt like she was talkin’ bout you, huh?”

Applejack nodded weakly.

“Well Ah think that’s plenty ta go on, AJ,” Big Mac chuckled. “An’ if ya ask me, Ah think ya should go fer it. Y’all could make a mighty fine couple.”

“Even though she’s a mare?” Applejack asked in a small voice.

Big Mac looked behind him unexpectedly. “AJ, Ah’m gonna tell ya somethin’ Ah ain’t never said before-“

Applejack didn’t need him to finish. “You, Mac? You’re a… a coltcuddler?”

“Well, not strictly,” Big Mac clarified, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. “Ah figure mah barn door swings both ways.”

“An’ ya don’ think that’s…?”

“Not at all, AJ,” Big Mac said. “’S normal as any other kinda relationship.”

Applejack chuckled. “Alright, now ya got me curious, so Ah gotta ask; top er bottom?”

Big Mac’s face practically exploded in well-camouflaged blush. “Ah-Ah don’ think that’s appropriate ta-“

“Never woulda guessed, Mac,” Applejack said with a knowing wink.

Big Mac gulped nervously; he needed to get back on top of this conversation.


“So, have you two thought of a name yet?” Vinyl asked as they were finishing up the lesson for the day.

“Not really, no,” Rainbow answered.

“Well, you could just do what me and Tavi did.”

“Maybe, but our names don’t flow together as well as yours do. I mean, Octavinyl is just… perfect.”

“I dunno, I think Appledash sounds pretty good,” Vinyl offered.

Rainbow blushed at the name. “And we’re not even…”

Vinyl raised a brow and smirked, but didn’t comment. “Well, you’ve gotta have a name. Nopony ever heard of the super awesome nameless band. Unless that was your name, but that’s not what I meant.”

“Yeah, I’ll think about it. And hey, maybe we’ll find ourselves collabing one day, huh?”

“As it stands now, you’d have trouble collaborating with a pointed stick,” Vinyl stated plainly.

“Yeah, whatever; I’m gonna be awesome and you know it,” Rainbow bragged despite her minimal progress.

“Whatever you say, Dash,” Vinyl remarked, showing Rainbow out the door once she had gotten her Coltson packed away. It was getting close to dinner time, as evidenced by the sun. Rainbow estimated she had about an hour to deal with her weather shenanigans, which left her plenty of time to be early for dinner. The day was an easy one, anyway; the only work requiring her attention being a stray patch of fog in Carrot Top’s fields and a few clouds buzzing Town Square.

Rainbow Dash completed her tasks swiftly, trotting back to the acres with a good forty-five minutes to spare. Awesome Apple Family dinner, here I come.

If all went well, she and Applejack would be taking over Equestria with their awesomeness by the end of the month. The Wonderbolts couldn’t ignore that, right? Now if I could just talk to Applejack without all the awkwardness.

Sighing, Rainbow made her way through the orchard to the farmhouse at the center. Along the way, Big Mac, who was putting some equipment away, caught her eye and gave her a wink. Confused by the random gesture, Rainbow paused for a second before continuing onward. Mac’s not gonna get all weird on me, too, is he?

Rainbow just wanted a nice, quiet dinner without any drama or awkward moments. Mere days ago, she would have scoffed at the prospect of an Apple Family dinner without jovial conversation and laughter, but now it was the best she could hope for. She really wanted to believe Applejack when she said this would all blow over soon, but something told her this was far too complicated to go away quietly.

I just wish I could know what’s bugging her. Then we could work this all out and go back to how it used to be, Rainbow lamented. Is it really so hard to ask the Element of Honesty to be honest?

Rainbow entered the farmhouse with slumped shoulders, feeling no better than she had this morning. If anything, it was worse now. Looking up upon reaching the dinner table, she found Applejack sitting there looking blankly out the window. Normally in this situation, Rainbow’s first instinct would be to get the jump on her, but now she just wanted to comfort her and make everything better.

But I can’t. I’ve never been good with words. That’s Twilight’s thing. Rainbow mused, perking up shortly afterward. Hey, that’s an idea! Twilight’s smart; she should be able to figure it out! She’s been in super-egghead mode ever since she got those wings.

Applejack finally noticed Rainbow when she sat down triumphantly at the table. “Yer lookin’ better, sugarcube.”

Rainbow diverted her gaze to the table. “Not really. I did get an idea, though!”

“Ain’t that what got us inta this mess in the first place?” Applejack challenged.

“What? No, I…” Rainbow looked up at Applejack sadly. “You don’t trust me anymore, do you?”

“What? No, sugarcube, Ah didn’ mean it like that. Ah just…” Applejack trailed off.

“Don’t want it to get any worse?” Rainbow suggested.

Applejack nodded, remaining silent.

Rainbow sighed. “Me too. But if anyone can help us through this, it’s Twilight. She knows everything.”

“Ya sure it’s worth riskin’ all the tests she might put us through?”

“If it would help.” Rainbow raised her eyes to the window. “You see how she’s getting more responsible with her royal duties, though. And I’m not even sure she has time for all that anymore.”

“But she’s gotten a heap more powerful since becomin’ an Alicorn an’ all,” Applejack stated. “And she’s been spendin’ more n’ more time in Canterlot. “

“Exactly! She doesn’t have the time for us anymore! She-“ Rainbow’s eyes widened. “She’s leaving us behind.”

Applejack rounded the table to rest a hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder. “Don’ say that, sugarcube. Princess er not, she’s still our friend. What Ah meant was, she’s been gettin’ advice from the Princesses. Like you said, she’s a smart pony. She’ll figure out a way ta still have time fer us.”

“Then why don’t you wanna go to her for help?” Rainbow prodded.

“Because Ah… She’s already got so many responsibilities, Rainbow. Ah don’ wanna trouble her with somethin’ silly like-“

“Applejack,” Rainbow cut in, “we’re on the verge of cuddling and you’re telling me this is silly.”

“Ah, what…” Applejack noticed for the first time just how close she had gotten to Rainbow and quickly sat up and backed away. “Ah’m sorry, Ah-“

“Don’t worry about it,” Rainbow said with a smile. “I… actually kinda liked it…” She blushed. “But you can’t tell me that something isn’t happening between us. Don’t you want to figure it out so we can go back to the way things used to be?”

“Ah don’t know, Rainbow,” Applejack said, taking a seat across the table from the pegasus. “Ah’m not even sure Ah want it ta stop.”

Rainbow blinked, face growing redder. “Then don’t you wanna uh… figure it out so we can…”

Applejack donned a furious blush. “Ah didn’ mean it like that! Ah meant that… Ah…” Applejack sighed. “Ah just don’t know anymore, Dash.”

Rainbow felt the need to return the comfort Applejack had given her, but couldn’t work up the courage to make a conscious advance. So she just smiled sheepishly and said, “That’s why we need Twilight, AJ. She knows everything.”

“Ah… Okay.” Applejack relented. “Tomorrow, after we finish our chores, we can go see Twilight.”

Rainbow’s smile became a little less sheepish. “Thanks, AJ. Twilight can help, trust me.”

“Ah really hope yer right, Dash,” Applejack said.

“Am I ever wrong?” Rainbow asked, hoping to lighten the mood.

Applejack rewarded her efforts with a small chuckle and a shake of her head. “We should probably wash up before dinner.”

“You mean you haven’t yet?” Rainbow asked.

“Uh, no, Ah was gonna wait for you,” Applejack explained.

Rainbow looked at Applejack strangely. “So we could… shower together?”

“What? Ah- no! Ah don’…” Applejack looked to the clock over the oven that Granny Smith worked before. With all their shenanigans, they had wasted a good half hour. And if they were late to dinner, Granny Smith would… Applejack gulped, thinking quickly. They only had enough time for one shower. So she could let Rainbow shower and take Granny Smith’s berating, or they could…

Rainbow took in Applejack’s fearfully embarrassed expression with a sigh of resignation. “We have to shower together, don’t we?”

Applejack offered a weak nod in response, cursing her subconscious for its questionable goals. It wasn’t like they hadn’t showered together as foals, but they were mares now, so there was a little more to worry about. Applejack prayed to Celestia for a peaceful shower. This is not what Ah need right now.

Wings, please, please behave, Rainbow pleaded in her own mind, unable to stop a feeling of impending doom. Of all the things about being a pegasus…

Walking into the washroom sporting matching blushes, Rainbow and Applejack quietly prepared the shower. Before long, the water heated up, and steam began to fill the air, causing sweat to bead on their coats. They made sure to not look at each other, lest indecent thoughts surface. Rainbow took extra caution on that regard, willing her wings to stay down and thinking unsexy thoughts. Each mare washed themselves in tense silence, spaced out to the greatest extent the shower could offer. Things were progressing without too much awkwardness, and both were beginning to look optimistically on their chances of escaping the washroom with their sanity. At least until Applejack encountered a multi-faceted problem.

“Uh… Rainbow,” Applejack began sheepishly, “could you get mah back?”

Rainbow turned around, and despite her best efforts, she felt her wings slowly expand. Dammit, wings! Rainbow put on a weak smile in an attempt to ward away any awkwardness, but it was of no use.

Applejack stared at the pegasus before her, trying to think of something, anything to say. If she was having such a hard time keeping calm herself, she could only imagine what Rainbow was thinking right now. All she knew was that Rainbow was looking at her with a mildly creepy smile and her wings in a compromising angle that betrayed her arousal.

“Ah… Ah know y’all have yer wings ta get yer back,” Applejack said after finding her voice, “but Ah’m… Ah…”

Applejack didn’t even need to begin for Rainbow to complete the thought in her head. Unicorns had their magic to help them in the shower, while pegasi had their wings. Both were unassuming, perfectly innocent options. Earth ponies, however… Their prehensile helper in tasks was their tail, and in their current space… Rainbow swore she could feel her cheeks melting.

Applejack fared no better, backed into the corner with her hooves straining feebly to reach her back, her blush looking more like sunburn at this point. Both mares desperately needed reprieve from this explosion of compromising emotions, though their only recourse promised none.

After realizing that putting it off only made it worse, Applejack sighed and detached herself from the wall, presenting her back to Rainbow for her to gingerly begin to wash. Applejack bit her lip as Rainbow’s delicate touch seemed amplified a thousand fold. She didn’t know how long she could last before-

“I’m done!” Rainbow proclaimed, launching herself out of the shower and wrapping herself in a cocoon of towels, no hair or feather left uncovered.

Applejack let out the breath she had been holding, walking over to the faucet to turn off the water. A single towel was left unclaimed by the ball that concealed Rainbow. She began to dry herself off, but paused. “Ah’m sorry, Rainbow. This was mah fault. If Ah had just…”

Rainbow’s still-red face poked out between two towels. “It’s… Let’s just forget this happened. I don’t think I can live much longer at this rate.”

“Not if ya strangle yerself,” Applejack pointed out. “Or suffocate.”

Rainbow sighed, disentangling herself from the towels. She was miraculously dried, but her wings still stuck out to her sides. The two mares shared a mutually apologetic glance before Rainbow grabbed a hairbrush.

Applejack began to dry herself off again, before she caught sight of what Rainbow was doing. “Are you… brushing yer mane?”

“No!” Rainbow responded all too quickly. “I was… Okay, yes, fine. How do you think I get it to look the way it does every day?”

“Ya wake up?” Applejack guessed.

“Well, yeah, but if I don’t brush it properly before that I wake up and my mane looks like… well, Pinkie’s.”

Applejack inspected Rainbow, imagining it. She couldn’t hold back the laugh that came in response to the ridiculous image. Rainbow laughed, too, grateful as she felt a lot of the embarrassment drain away. After the humor died down, Applejack finally dried herself off. Rainbow hoofed her the hairbrush with a teasing wink. Applejack sheepishly began to brush her own mane for much the same reasons Rainbow had just supplied.

Exiting the washroom of horror, Applejack and Rainbow managed to barely make it to the table in time for dinner. They made sure to sit at opposite sides of the table as they began to eat with perhaps a little too much gusto. Applebloom looked on in puzzlement while Granny Smith and Big Macintosh shared a knowing glance.

“Nice shower?”

Applejack nearly choked on her food, coughing and spluttering. “Dammit, Mac!”

Big Mac burst out laughing at his sister’s reaction. Oh yes, it had been a very nice shower.


Rainbow collapsed onto her bed with a groan. The day had been… strange to say the least. All she wanted to do was fall asleep and forget it ever happened, but her whirling thoughts wouldn’t let her.

Rainbow let out a heavy sigh, rolling onto her other side, looking for an impossible degree of comfort to override her restless mind. After several minutes of floundering around, she gave up, rolling off her bed and going to her window. She looked out over the vast expanse of green-topped apple trees. The first apples were beginning to ripen, adding a splash of red to the scene. Above, Luna’s moon was a beacon amongst a gleaming sky of stars. If she tried, Rainbow was confident she could put a question to each. But the most important question was posed to the moon itself:

“What’s been going on these past two days?”

“Ah’m still tryin’a figure that out mahself.” Applejack’s voice came from behind Rainbow.

Rainbow turned to regard the mare she couldn’t get her mind off of. “I have a few ideas, but I don’t know how many I’m comfortable with.”

Applejack walked to sit beside Rainbow. “Any ya are comfortable with?”

“Maybe,” Rainbow said, averting her gaze. “Maybe just one.”

Applejack smiled. “Which one’s that?”

Rainbow sighed. “I wish I could say. I really do.”

“Ya thinkin’ there might be somethin’ to all this?” Applejack prodded.

Rainbow glanced at Applejack briefly. “I think that’s a given at this point.”

Applejack wouldn’t let the subject drop easily. “If there is somethin’ big goin’ on… would that be okay?”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure I can even speak for myself.”

“Ah’m not sure, either,” Applejack said, feeling bold. “But if ya had to go with yer gut?”

Rainbow shifted uncomfortably. “This is too important for that, Applejack,” she murmured.

“Ya sure? Ya said yerself yer not even sure what this is,” Applejack pointed out.

“I said I have ideas. And even the best of those isn’t enough to risk messing this up,” Rainbow said. “I know you want this to all fall neatly into place. I do, too. But if it’s going to do that, we’re both gonna need time to figure things out. And maybe a little outside help. That’s why we’re going to see Twilight tomorrow.”

Applejack sighed. “Okay, Rainbow.”

“I know it hurts to keep in, but it’ll hurt us both a lot more to let it out at the wrong time,” Rainbow continued. “And that kind of hurt won’t go away.”

“Ah know, it’s just…”

“We’ll get through this.” Rainbow placed a hoof on Applejack’s shoulder, “I promise.”

Applejack took a deep breath and nodded. “Try ta get some sleep, okay?”

Rainbow cracked a small smile. “I will if you do.”

Applejack returned the smile. “Apple’s honor.” She got up to depart, casting one last glance to Rainbow before closing the door.

Rainbow sighed, feeling far more tired than before. She stumbled over to her bed and tucked herself in. She looked to her nightstand, where that special picture sat proudly. With a smile, Rainbow finally managed to fall asleep.



*Note, romexotic is not intended to be a word. Also not about rome, obv. It's Rainbow about to think romantic, then throwing exotic on top of it in an effort to ''correct'' herself. Thus, a new word was born. Sorta. ROMEXOTIC. Also fluff. Also, it's five, I think. Also, not even done with the second day and it's looking to be longer than the first. Will this keep up? Nopony knows!

EDIT: Didn't know where else to tack this extra stuff on, so have a expanded chapter that's like 6k words in total or something. 8k first day, 10k second. Will the third be 12k? Mebbe.

I made an account and posted a tidied-up day one on FimFiction. I hate you all. <3

http://www.fimfiction.net/story/105490/tenacious-dash

Also I borked the heart thing.

Edit: Derp, I now have submitted it. Maybe I should have done that before.

Edit Edit: They're watching me

Edit 3: Oh god, I.... *dead* Tcherno called my fic "FUN AS HELL". I just.... *dead*

http://www.fimfiction.net/blog/168889/some-more-shout-outs-and-a-question

MAKE IT STOP. Or actually, mebbe not. Why all the attention? /hide

Edit: Look out, I gots a editor now.

You know, I've kinda got half a day written. Mebbe I should post it.

Mebbe.

OH GOD IT'S SIX

“Come on, Blondie! We’re on a mission!” Rainbow shouted, pouncing on the sleeping form of Applejack and violently awakening her. “There’s treasure out there in that orchard! They say it hides in the trees, and only the most powerful buck can claim it.”

Applejack’s vision focused at last on the strangely eager pegasus. She wore her pith helmet and a cocky grin. Applejack could only wonder where this determination had come from. She turned her head to read her clock. It was 5:30. Applejack was impressed. “Ya seem a might more chipper ‘n last night.”

“Yeah, I mean, why not?” Rainbow explained. “Like, we have all this time alone to think with my job and guitar lessons, so why should we let it bother us while we’re together? I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather enjoy hanging out than pussyhoof around.”

“Ah guess so,” Applejack said with a smile. “We still goin’ ta see Twilight, though?”

Rainbow grinned. “Who better to ask about the secret treasures of the apple trees than Ponyville’s biggest egghead?”

Applejack chuckled. “Maybe the pony with the treasure in her name.”

“Applebloom?” Rainbow teased.

Applejack shoved Rainbow off of her and got to her feet, retrieving her own hat. “Alright, Daring, if’n we’re gonna do this, we’re gonna do it my way, ya hear?”

“Heh, you know that’s what I love about ya, Blondie.” Rainbow began to walk out of Applejack’s room before pausing as something occurred to her. “Uh, I don’t think that came out right.”

“Quit yer worryin’, sugarcube. Ah know what ya meant,” Applejack said, unable to keep a smile off her face. Rainbow returned the smile a bit sheepishly before shaking the thought away.

“We should eat up before we head out,” Rainbow advised. “It’s a long journey from here to that orchard.”

“Ah’m sure ya can handle it,” Applejack chuckled.

“With the awesome food they make around here? I’m sure I’ll manage.”

Applejack followed Rainbow with a new bounce to her step. She was right; they could worry about this at Twilight’s. For now, they could simply enjoy their time together.

“Mornin’ AJ, Rainbow. Yer lookin’ happier today,” Big Mac said from his usual spot on the table behind a newspaper.

“Any leads on the treasure, Mac?” Rainbow asked, sidling up beside him.

Big Mac eyed Rainbow strangely until Applejack caught his eye from behind her. She offered a shrug and a smile. Mac let out a chuckle, resigned to play along. “Ah hear they’re poppin’ up right quick. If’n ya don’ claim em soon, some a’ yer competitors might grab ‘em.”

“What? No way I’m gonna let that happen!” Rainbow turned to Applejack. “Let’s get this breakfast eaten fast; there’s no time to lose!”

“Whatever ya say, Daring,” Applejack giggled.

Over breakfast, Rainbow collected reconnaissance data from the other members of the family. Applebloom provided the most interesting lead. “Ah hear that when the time’s right, there’s some special treasure that pops up outta nowhere. And then zap! Before anypony can claim it, it disappears!”

Rainbow’s eyes widened dramatically. “Blondie, we gotta get our hooves on that stuff!”

Applejack nodded. “Ah reckon with that kinda treasure, ya could start up a whole town.”

“Well what are we waiting for, then? Let’s go get that loot!”

Rainbow burst out of the farmhouse with a determined air about her, Applejack following along happily, pausing to grab her saddle baskets.

“There! Do you see it?” Rainbow indicated a tree with fully-ripened apples. “And it’s all ours!”

At that assertion, a pink blur passed by the tree in question and the apples…

“Where’d they go?” Rainbow shot into the air, scanning her surroundings. That’s when she spotted her arch nemesis making away with her apples. She narrowed her eyes. “Candymane.”

Rainbow was off in pursuit, closing in rapidly. She couldn’t let her get away! Not this time.

Pinkie was bouncing along blissfully unaware of the impending danger headed her way. She had done it; taken treasure right from under Daring’s nose like she always wanted. And now she wasn’t even-

Rainbow bowled Pinkie over, snatching the apples before the pink mare could even hit the ground, and she was off. “Hehe, this is fun!” Pinkie bounced along to the next tree.

“I got her, Blondie! But I don’t think she’s gonna give up that easy. We’ve gotta teach her another lesson about messing with us!”

Applejack deposited their plunder in her saddle baskets, nodding in agreement. “Not even Candymane can stand up against both of us.”

Rainbow managed to intercept Pinkie before she could loot another tree, opening a window for Applejack to harvest the fruit. Pinkie watched in horror as all her hard work amounted to nothing after all.

“This isn’t over, Daring!” Pinkie declared, bouncing away in the direction of Ponyville.

“Yeah, we showed her!” Rainbow cheered.

“Did y’all set that up?” Applejack asked.

“Huh? No, I just kinda rolled with it. To be honest, I didn’t even know Pinkie read any Daring Do books.” Rainbow contemplated.

“Ah don’ suppose ya know how she found out, do ya?”

Rainbow looked at Applejack. “It’s Pinkie; I never know how she does anything.”

Applejack chuckled. “Ah hear ya.”

“We’ve still got a lot of treasure to claim, Blondie,” Rainbow stated. “Let’s get to work!”

The work day proceeded in much the same way, minus the appearance of Pinkie.

“Look over there!”

“Ah’m on it, Daring!”

With Rainbow’s shenanigans to add to the experience, Applejack found herself enjoying herself more than she could ever remember while bucking. Rainbow’s sharp eye was also useful in spotting ripe trees from a distance, and her flying abilities let her scout ahead.

“There’s one! A hundred hooves east!”

While Applejack knew every inch of the orchard by heart, having an airborne apple spotter definitely cut down the time. Before long, Applejack had to make a trip to the barn to empty her baskets. Normally on the first day of harvest, she wouldn’t find more than a dozen or so suitable trees, but Rainbow had already led her to at least twice that number, and the day wasn’t even over yet.

“I think that’s the last of them!” Rainbow called from above, flying down to join Applejack in the barn. The two had managed six bucket loads of apples, far surpassing any first day of Applebuck Season Applejack had ever been a part of.

“Ya sure do work, Rainbow,” Applejack praised. “With yer help, we might even have Applebuck Season done before the month’s through!”

“You know what else? I could probably get the higher ups to let me be assigned to be the full-time weatherpony for Sweet Apple Acres! How’s that for a full package?”

Applejack grinned. “Whatever weather we want on-demand? We just might have ta keep you ‘round, sugarcube.”

“Yeah, this could be awesome! I should stop by the weather station while we’re out. I’m sure they’ll let Equestria’s greatest weatherpony take a special assignment,” Rainbow gushed.

Applejack shook her head in bewilderment. She never could have hoped she’d get this level of commitment from the labor-phobic pegasus. This could mean great things for the farm if she could convince Rainbow to stay on board after the month was over.

“Ah don’t suppose ya’d consider makin’ this here arrangement a bit longer?” Applejack ventured.

Rainbow smiled. “Applejack, if working on the farm can be this much fun, I might have to consider making this permanent.”

Applejack’s breath caught at that. She started to breathe heavily. The implications were just too much; for Rainbow to want to make her stay here long-term…

“Applejack?”

Unable to take it anymore, Applejack collapsed to the ground.

“Applejack!” Rainbow knelt down at her side. “Take it easy! You didn’t overwork yourself, did you?”

Applejack sat up, unable to look Rainbow in the eye. “Ah’m sorry, Rainbow. Ah promised Ah wouldn’t think about it, but…”

Rainbow’s face softened and gained a light blush. “AJ…”

“Ah know, save it for Twilight’s… It’s just so hard ta ignore, Dash.”

Rainbow placed a hoof on Applejack’s shoulder. “Applejack, relax. I’m not going to do anything that would make you uncomfortable.”

“Ah know ya won’t, Rainbow. It’s just-”

“Hey,” Rainbow interrupted, “I promised we’d get through this, didn’t I?”

Applejack opened her mouth to say something, but thought better of it and nodded.

“Now, we still have a couple hours before lunch,” Rainbow reminded. “Do you want to go see Twilight now or later?”

“Ah think Ah’d like a bit more time ta calm mahself down,” Applejack said.

Rainbow smiled. “Of course.” She opened her arms in an offer of a hug, which Applejack accepted.

“Thanks again for all this, Rainbow. Ya really didn’t have ta.”

Rainbow squeezed her tighter. “What are best buds for, right?”

Applejack smiled, nuzzling into Rainbow’s neck contentedly. Rainbow closed her eyes and sighed. Everything seemed to be looking up.



Next on their list of things to accomplish today was…

“Honestly, Ah thought buckin’ would take us all day. Ah… don’ really know what else ta do.” Applejack grinned sheepishly.

“Has Applebloom gotten started on the barn yet?”

Applejack snorted. “Yeah, and she’s refusin’ help. So unless ya wanna deal with a stubborn filly…”

“Eh, maybe not. Anything else need doing around here?”

Applejack thought. “Well, Mac’s out workin’ in the fields, but there’s not much ta do there right now. Ground’s tilled, seeds’re sown…”

“So… nothing, then?”

“Not ‘round the farm, at least,” Applejack confirmed.

Rainbow sat down in the shade of a nearby tree and thought. What now? We’ve got about… Rainbow double-checked the position of the sun, two hours before lunch. And then we’re going to Twilight’s. Actually, we could just cut out the middle mare and have lunch with Twilight. But that doesn’t help me now. Scratch is busy today, so guitar lessons are a no go. Rainbow looked up as Applejack sat next to her. I can’t help but feel I’m forgetting something… And for some reason she started to remember upon seeing her friend.

I’m not forgetting something about Applejack, am I? Rainbow tapped her temple. It’s not her birthday, is it? No, that’s not for another couple months. Rainbow observed that Applejack’s fur had a certain sheen to it despite their earlier activities. It looked… fluffy… and orange… and…

“Scootaloo!”

Applejack jumped at Rainbow’s sudden outburst. “Pardon?”

“Scootaloo; I totally forgot about her flight lessons. I have something to do after all!” Rainbow looked proud of herself.

“Just can’t sit still ta enjoy a nice day, can ya?” Applejack shook her head. To be honest, she was a little disappointed Rainbow had found a reason to not relax with her. She hoped it didn’t show.

“Nope!” Rainbow, on the other hoof, was thankful for the distraction. Sitting around with Applejack all day, while a strangely appealing option, would probably be way too awkward if past experiences were any judge.

But Applejack had an idea. “Ah don’t suppose ya’d mind if Ah tagged along, would ya?”

Rainbow looked at Applejack suspiciously. “Why?”

Applejack shrugged. “Ah don’t got much else ta do, and Ah don’t get ta see ya bond with Scootaloo as much as Ah’d like.”

Rainbow was given pause. She didn’t know how to take that comment, or whether it was creepy, flattering, or just… weird. What? Why would she… Is there something I’m missing?

“Ya’ve been mellowin’ out a bit since ya took ‘er in. Ah figure Ah could learn a couple things from her.”

That… Rainbow sat down again. I don’t… Rainbow blinked as a possibility hit her. Is she coming on to me?

Applejack, of course, had no idea Rainbow was trying to dissect her whim. So when a questioning prod elicited a sudden movement from the brooding pegasus, both mares jumped back in surprise.

“I…” Rainbow stopped herself. “You know what? Let’s just go find Scootaloo.”

Applejack nodded slowly, following Rainbow silently.

Does this qualify as awkward? Rainbow wondered. I don’t even know what this is. I just… Scootaloo. Let’s go with that.

The filly to blame had many haunts Rainbow was familiar with, the closest of which being the Crusaders’ clubhouse, though it was unlikely given that the other Crusaders were occupied. She could be hanging out with Sweetie Belle if Applebloom’s off on her own. It suddenly occurred to Rainbow that she had no idea where Scootaloo’s house was. I should probably ask her some time.

Rainbow approached the clubhouse, intending to just poke her head in the window and be on her way when she spotted the lone figure of Scootaloo lounging around. Cocking her head, Rainbow entered to question the filly’s presence. “Scoot? What are you doing here all alone?”

“Huh?” Scootaloo stirred, rubbing her eyes after an apparent nap. “Oh, hi Rainbow Dash. Sweetie Belle’s grounded for… something about fillyfooling and too many questions. And Applebloom’s not really approachable right now.”

Applejack raised a brow. “Sounds like a good day to stay home.”

Scootaloo shifted slightly, offering no comment.

“Well, how would you like to have your first flight lesson, then?” Rainbow offered.

Scootaloo was nose to nose with Rainbow instantly. “Really?”

“Not such a bad day after all, huh?” Rainbow happily led her minion outside.

Scootaloo followed, giggling all the way.

Applejack watched on with a smile. It never ceased to amaze her how Rainbow could always get Scootaloo worked up so easily. It really spoke to just how much Scootaloo looked up to her. With a chuckle of her own, she followed the two pegasi out to their designated training area in the west fields.

She really is somethin’ else.



Applejack watched in contentment as Rainbow started the lesson.

“Alright, Scoot. I know you’ve probably worked yourself up over this, so show me some of that enthusiasm and show me what you’ve got!” Rainbow commanded.

“Okay!” Scootaloo’s wings started to buzz excitedly, though she didn’t manage to lift more than a hoof off the ground before running out of energy. She collapsed, panting. “That’s as far as I’ve ever gotten,” she said between gasps.

Rainbow studied her critically. “Okay, excitement’s good and all, but maybe you should try toning it down just a bit. You’re just trying to get off the ground here, no need to go all out. We’re pegasi, not hummingbirds.”

Huffing, Scootaloo got to her hooves and listened intently.

“Let’s just start off with the motions. I can see you’ve got the wing part down, but it’s more than just that. Right now your wings aren’t strong enough to provide all the lift you need to get into the air. So this time, try jumping into your first flap and see how long you can stay off the ground.”

Catching her breath, Scootaloo nodded obediently and jumped up as high as she could, timing a wing flap at its peak. Heeding Rainbow’s words, Scootaloo tried to slow down her wing beats, but when she felt herself wobble in the air, she fell back on old habits, falling to the ground shortly after with aching wings.

Rainbow offered a hoof, which Scootaloo used to right herself into a sitting position. “That was a bit better. But don’t be afraid of falling. You’re not gonna be going very high yet, and I’ll be there to catch you when you will. Alright?”

Scootaloo nodded. “Thanks, Rainbow.”

“Give it another shot when you’re up to it. Don’t worry if you can’t stay up very long. I’m just trying to see where you’re at.”

Scootaloo nodded again, shifting her wings into a more comfortable position and waiting for the soreness to subside. She replayed Rainbow’s words in her head, committing them to memory. These were some of the most important things she’d ever been told, and she wasn’t about to forget them. Flying was too important; if she wanted to be anything like Rainbow, she at least needed to be able to fly.

With a deep breath, Scootaloo stood again, coiling her body for another jump. Come on. You can do this. She sprang up into the air, matching her earlier jump in height, but she mistimed her first flap, losing a few inches. Trying not to panic, Scootaloo steadied herself with another measured flap of her wings. Looking down, she noticed that she was still about two hooves off the ground, though that distance was slowly shrinking. Despite her best efforts to develop a steady rhythm of wing beats, Scootaloo found herself on the ground once again, with energy to spare for once.

“That was great, Scoot! Nice job keeping calm there. You managed about five seconds of hovering!” Rainbow gushed; making it seem like a much bigger deal than Scootaloo thought was warranted.

“Five seconds? But you can fly around for like, five hours, at least!” Scootaloo grumbled.

Scootaloo was snapped out of her state by a comforting touch on her shoulder. “Scoot, I don’t know if you quite understand this, but that was a legit five seconds of real hovering. That was the first time I’ve ever seen anything close to hovering from you. This is a huge step, even if you don’t realize it now. Trust me.”

Scootaloo regarded Rainbow with big eyes, not entirely believing, but relishing the praise she was getting from her idol.

“In fact, I think you might be ready for the next step,” Rainbow went on. “You up for it?”
Scootaloo jumped up eagerly. “Of course, Rainbow Dash!”

“Good.” Rainbow turned to lead her protégé up a nearby hill. “Now, this might be a little scary at first, but remember I’m gonna be right here to catch you.”

Scootaloo’s eyes widened a bit in fear. “What do you want me to do?”

Rainbow reached the top of the hill, pausing for a moment before spinning around with a flourish. “Scoot, it’s time to try your first glide.”

Scootaloo gasped. “You mean like what you tried to get Applebloom to do before we met?”

Rainbow frowned, thinking. “Kinda, except without the silly glider.”

Scootaloo gulped. “Are you sure about this?”

Rainbow was quick to her side. “Scoot, I’d never let you do anything I didn’t think you were ready for. But you don’t have to if you’re not up to it.”

At that, Scootaloo took a deep breath. “Okay, I’ll do it.”

“You sure?”

Scootaloo nodded.

“Alright, then get up there. You’re gonna need to take a running start, and then jump off as high as you can, like before, and just hold your wings steady. Give it a few flaps if you feel comfortable, but don’t worry about it too much. I’ll be right below you.”

Scootaloo nodded, taking another steadying breath. Okay, you can do this. Rainbow believes in you. Don’t let her down now. Pushing away her fears and shutting her eyes, Scootaloo took a leap of faith. She flared her wings out as she felt gravity start to pull her down, calming slightly as her descent slowed. She dared to open her eyes, looking out across the treeless fields that stretched before her. Below, Rainbow Dash was ready to react at any second to a sudden decline.

Scootaloo felt a smile come to her face as she felt the air breeze past her. She gave a flap of her wings, cheering silently as she rose ever so slightly. Making sure not to get ahead of herself, she focused on enjoying the remainder of her glide, keeping her wings steady. Before long, she felt a pair of strong hooves catch her as she came to a stop. Looking up, she saw the joy and pride in Rainbow’s eyes.

“That was awesome, Scoot,” Rainbow praised. “You’re really learning quick.”

Scootaloo merely nuzzled into Rainbow’s embrace in response.

Nearby, Applejack’s heart melted at the tender moment. Ya’d think they really are sisters, she mused.

“Thanks, Rainbow. For all of this,” Scootaloo said at length.

Rainbow smirked. “Hey, it’s far from over, Scoot. But with me teaching you, we’ll be sure to have you flying by the end of the month.”

Scootaloo nuzzled closer, marveling again at just how lucky she was to have such an amazing… sister. She smiled at the thought. Yeah, that sounds about right.

Rainbow pulled away from the embrace after a few more moments. “It’s about time we head out for lunch,” she said, more to Scootaloo than to Applejack. “Wanna come along?”

“Of course!” Scootaloo chirped happily.

“Great! Now we just need Twilight.”

“Ya sure ya want Scootaloo ta be around fer our chat with Twilight?” Applejack asked.

Rainbow frowned. “Maybe not, but that doesn’t mean she can’t have lunch with us.” Rainbow turned back to Scootaloo. “You wouldn’t mind giving us a few minutes to talk to Twilight after lunch, would you?”

“No problem… But why do you need to talk to Twilight?”

Rainbow averted her gaze briefly. “It’s complicated. You wouldn’t understand. And I’d like to keep it between me and Applejack for now.” Rainbow ruffled Scootaloo’s mane. “If everything goes well, you’ll be hearing about it soon enough.”

Scootaloo nodded slowly, knowing better than to argue. She was already getting to eat lunch with her hero after her first ever flight lesson. That was enough for one day.

“Now come on, I’m getting hungry.” Rainbow set Scootaloo down and motioned to Applejack. The three of them headed into town for lunch.



“Whaddya think, AJ, you wanna ask Twilight to come with us to lunch? Kinda ease into it?” Rainbow asked, noticing Applejack’s apprehension.

“Ah guess. Might be fer the best.”

“You alright? You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”

Applejack shook her head. “No, Ah’m fine. Ya said it yerself, Rainbow; we can’t figure this out alone.”

Rainbow chuckled. “Well, we probably could, but it’ll be a lot less stressful this way.”

“Ah hope so, Rainbow.”

Scootaloo looked on in confusion. Something was definitely going on here. Is it about that… thing we walked into? What was that anyway? She knew what it looked like, but… I’ll have to call a Crusader meeting later.

Golden Oaks Library slowly came into view, looking very much…

“Applejack! Rainbow Dash! You have to help me!”

A young purple dragon suddenly popped up before them, barely giving them enough time to not knock into him.

“Spike, what?” Rainbow looked curiously at their accoster. Behind them, Golden Oaks Library seemed to be...

“Twilight locked herself inside! I don’t know what’s going on! After she came back from the market yesterday she started acting all crazy. She made all these weird charts and graphs and spreadsheets. Then she asked me to get all sorts of books on psychology and relationships and stuff. And now she’s put the library in total lockdown and I can’t get in!”

Spike’s tale was met with a long, contemplative silence. While not unheard of, Twilight didn’t get this crazy very often. “What’s got her all worked up now?” Applejack asked at length.

“I don’t know!” Spike repeated. “All I know is she’s locked in there and I can’t get in.”

“So… I take it she doesn’t want to come to lunch, then?”

“You kidding, AJ? She’s not getting out of this one that easy.” Rainbow took to the air, grabbing a surprised Applejack by the waist and flying up to Twilight’s balcony. “She never remembers to lock her windows.”

Applejack regarded Rainbow dubiously before looking back down to the normal entrance. Scootaloo and Spike seemed to have devolved into some sort of debate, marked with flailing limbs and comical expressions. Before Applejack could open her mouth, Rainbow was already halfway through the window. Applejack let out a sigh, following her friend inside.

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight’s sudden exclamation made the intruders jump. “You’re here! Is Applejack here, too?”

Applejack walked forward to peer over the ledge that marked Twilight’s upper floor. “Uh, yeah?”

“Great! Maybe you girls could clear up a few things for me!” Twilight ran upstairs to meet them, leaving her independent research behind. “First things first; are you two really dating?”

“Woah woah woah woah,” Rainbow immediately responded. “Woah. Back the buck up.”

“I take that as a no?”

“No, we’re not dating!” Rainbow fervently replied.

Applejack, meanwhile, was backing away slowly, flushed and stuttering.

“Then why is Applejack-“

“Twilight, we can talk about this later, okay?” Rainbow cut her off, taking Twilight’s shoulder and leading her a good distance away before continuing in a hushed voice. “Look, me and Applejack have been going through Tartarus recently, and the last thing we need right now is somepony on our case. Or, maybe that’s the first thing, but not like that.” Rainbow shook her head. “Anyway, we were coming here to ask if you’d like to join us for lunch. And then we wanted to talk to you.”

“What about?” Twilight asked, calming down a bit.

Rainbow blushed. “I think you can guess.”

Twilight beamed, making sure to keep her voice down. “Don’t worry, you can tell me all about your problems.”

“Good, just… Don’t put them in some sort of research paper, alright?”

Twilight’s face scrunched up as she nodded. It wasn’t the most convincing display Rainbow had seen, but she’d take it for now.

“And no weird questions over lunch, alright? Scootaloo’s joining us,” Rainbow pressed.

Twilight smiled, giggling lightly and offering a much more convincing nod. “I wouldn’t want an impressionable filly getting too many questions, either.”

Rainbow frowned. “Actually, it’s more like damage control at this point.”

Twilight laughed at that, marveling at her friends’ misfortune. If there was really so much going on, she’d have to make sure to pay extra attention to detail. Well, more than usual, anyway.

Applejack rejoined the group noticeably less flustered, though still with some color on her cheeks.
Rainbow offered Applejack a quick one-hoofed hug before Twilight unlocked the front door.

“And then Sweetie Belle walked in and Applejack was-“

Rainbow rushed over to clamp a hoof over Scootaloo’s mouth just in time. Perhaps leaving a hyperactive filly with too much information unattended wasn’t the best idea. As she drew looks from everypony present, she could only hope Scootaloo hadn’t said much more.

Sanity, don’t give up on me now.



The group of five made their way over to one of Ponyville’s smaller eateries at insistence of Rainbow and Applejack. Paranoia made them want to avoid Café du Mane and its crowds for a while.

“So you managed to get Rainbow to commit a whole month to the farm?” Twilight asked in disbelief.

“Ah was a bit skeptical at first, too. But she’s been a great help so far.” Applejack shot Rainbow a grin. “She was even thinking we could get her assigned ta be the Acres’ full-time weatherpony.”

Twilight’s eyebrows shot up. “When did you suddenly get Rainbow wrapped around your hoof?”

“Hey!” Rainbow cut in. “I’m not wrapped around her hoof! I’m just… committed!”

Twilight giggled. “You sure that’s the word you’re looking for?”

Rainbow covered her rising blush with a hoof. “Dammit, Twilight.”

“Yeah, I think I can see it,” Spike said, rubbing his chin with a claw.

“See what?” Twilight asked.

“Them together,” Spike clarified.

“I told you we’re not-!” Applejack and Rainbow chorused, before donning matching blushes and averting their gazes.

“Definitely see it,” Spike concluded.

“Dammit,” Rainbow muttered under her breath.

“I saw it, too! All the Crusaders did!” Scootaloo piped up.

“I told you it wasn’t what it looked like,” Rainbow insisted.

Scootaloo looked at Rainbow disbelievingly. “But it looked like you were about to kiss. What else could it have been?”

Rainbow sighed. “We were just getting rowdy. You know, having a bit of a wrestling match. And you just happened to catch us in a bad spot.”

“It wasn’t all bad, sugarcube,” Applejack put in. “If they hadn’t come in when they did, Ah might not a’ found out a little bit about ya.”

Rainbow frowned. “Yeah, and it wouldn’t be half as awkward as it is now.”

“So you’re saying that you’re not dating?” Scootaloo inquired.

“No, we’re not dating,” Rainbow sighed.

“Not yet anyway,” Spike added.

Rainbow shot Spike a death glare. Spike gulped, offering an apologetic smile. Rainbow grunted. “We’re not dating.”

Scootaloo frowned. “I don’t buy it. You’re just saying that because I’m too young to understand, aren’t you?”

Rainbow’s hoof met her face. “There’s no way to get you to believe me, is there?”

Scootaloo and Spike shook their heads in unison.

Rainbow sighed, looking at Applejack for help. Applejack, however, had her face buried in her meal, doing her best to distance herself from the uncomfortable conversation.

“You know we can’t ignore this forever,” Rainbow prodded.

Applejack grunted. “Don’ mean Ah gotta stop now.”

Rainbow sighed again. “Sorry, guys. It’s kinda been getting to us.”

“I noticed,” Twilight giggled. “And she’s right, Applejack. Ignoring it isn’t the best way to deal.”

Applejack answered with a non-committal grunt, not taking her eyes off her food.

“It’s not going anywhere, you know,” Twilight pointed out. “I really can’t see what’s so riveting about a salad.”

“That’s the point.”

“I don’t think we’re gonna be getting much out of her, Twilight,” Rainbow said. “And we’re gonna be talking about this soon, so maybe we should just leave her alone for now.”

Twilight frowned, but nodded nonetheless.

At Rainbow’s insistence, the rest of their meal was eaten in relative silence. Applejack seemed to appreciate the ceasefire as she relaxed visibly. Rainbow shot occasional glances Applejack’s way, mostly to make sure she didn’t wander off. Twilight merely observed the small exchange between the two, taking note of Applejack’s despondent attitude.

Hopefully she’ll be a bit more open than this, Twilight mused before returning her full attention to her meal.



Twilight, Applejack and Rainbow Dash walked through the door of Golden Oaks Library with varying levels of confidence. Twilight practically exuded it as she sat on a rug in the main room. Applejack and Rainbow followed in a far more subdued manner.

“So,” Twilight began, “what can I help you girls with today?”

Rainbow coughed. “Well, me and AJ have been going through some weird stuff lately and we were hoping you could give us some advice on how to deal with it.”

Twilight cocked her head inquisitively. “This wouldn’t happen to be related to those rumors going around about the two of you?”

Applejack averted her gaze quickly, leaving Rainbow to nod sheepishly.

“Alright, then, we’ll do it like this; I’ll speak to each of you alone, then we’ll join back up for a closing statement.”

Applejack looked at Rainbow Dash, who shrugged. “Works for me,” Rainbow said.

“Okay then. Applejack, I’ll start with you. Follow me upstairs for a moment.”

Applejack gulped, looking to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow smiled and waved a hoof in encouragement. Sighing, Applejack followed Twilight upstairs, uncertainty slowing her steps.

Twilight entered her bedroom to pull up a chair next to her bed, offering the latter to Applejack. Applejack accepted the reprieve gratefully, laying herself out on her back and staring up at the ceiling.

“So, Applejack, what are some of the problems you’re dealing with? Any that you’d like to talk about?”

“Ah just don’t know, Twilight. What am Ah supposed to do? It seems everypony’s convinced that Rainbow and Ah are dating, and Ah’m not sure how I feel about it.”

“How you feel about the fact that everypony came to that conclusion? Or how you feel about the concept and its implications?”

Applejack sighed. “More o’ the second lately; Ah figure it’s gettin’ me nowheres tryina guess what other ponies‘re thinkin’ if Ah can’t even get mahself thinkin’ straight.”

Twilight paused, thinking. “Is there anything in particular that stands out as a problem point?”

“Ah talked ta Mac about it a bit. He helped a bit with dealin’ with, well, her bein’ a mare n’ all.” Applejack snorted. “But it’s not all simple as that, Twi. ‘Round the farm, there’s a way things gotta be. It don’ matter how Ah feel if we can’t keep the family line goin’, an’ Ah can do that with nopony but a stallion. Even if Ah don’ feel nothin’ fer any of ‘em. Ah can’t trust Mac n’ Applebloom ta do it for me, and Ah can’t say Ah’ve never thought about raisin’ a foal o’ mah own someday.”

Applejack sighed wistfully. “Ah remember helpin’ raisin’ Applebloom, after, well, the accident. An’ it was somethin’ special ta be sure. But she’s mah sister, an’ Ah knew there was somethin’ missin’ in it all.” Applejack shook away a stray tear. “Ah just can’t let the Apple Family end with me, Twilight. An’ Ah need ta face it.”

Twilight let out a long sigh, folding her hooves and setting her eyes firmly upon Applejack’s quivering form. “You’ve put a lot of thought into this, I see.”

Applejack answered with a meek nod.

Twilight sighed again. “Applejack… what if I told you… there was another way to bear foals?”

Applejack blinked. “Ya mean like adoption?” Applejack shook her head. “It’s not as simple as that, Twilight. It’s more n’ just havin’ ponies carry on the farm. It’s about heritage, an’ blood.”

“Are your traditions really so important to you, Applejack?” Twilight asked heavily.

Applejack opened her mouth, shutting it soon afterwards and averting her gaze. “It’s one a’ the only things ya can count on, bein’ farm folk. We ain’t got your fancy magic, er pretty wings. All we got is the earth an’ what we make ourselves.”

Twilight leaned back in her chair, studying the ceiling. Applejack held her tongue, fearing she had upset her friend in some way. Just as she was about to apologize, however, Twilight cut her off.

“I didn’t want to do this, but it seems there’s not much other choice,” Twilight grunted. “You’re nothing if not stubborn, AJ.” Twilight took a steadying breath. “A long time ago, before the time of Nightmare Moon, Princess Luna was more than just Princess of the Night. She also held dominion over all that transpired in her night, and all their intricacies. So it came that consecutive generations produced a major imbalance of the sexes, and it seemed that population had reached an impasse. There simply weren’t enough stallions to ensure the normal quota for conception.

“So Princess Luna had an idea. What if she could create another way to ensure her little ponies lived on in the face of such an anomaly? There were plenty of mares to carry the foals, and what few stallions there were couldn’t hope to mate with them all, nor would that ensure the diversity that makes us a people. If only there was a way for two mares to conceive a foal, without the need for a stallion.” Twilight smiled.

Applejack stared ahead, focused on nothing and everything at once. There’s another way? “Twilight, are you sayin’-“

“Yes. Princess Luna, after years of scientific study, crafted a spell to suit the needs of the populace. It could combine the essences of the two mares and implant a foal in each.” Twilight paused. “Naturally, this wasn’t an optimal solution, as it added to the already significant imbalance of the sexes, as two mares cannot conceive a colt, but the stallions of Equestria endured. There was certainly no shortage of potential mates, and hardly a stallion left unpaired. And as chance would have it, following generations would see a resurgence of colts from the minority pairs, and the scales slowly began to level.

“Some came to brand the era as a dark time, prime for scorn and unfair judgment, for as time passed, the need for such a spell was lessened, until it abruptly ceased in application.” Twilight smiled sadly. “Not long after, Nightmare Moon made her first appearance in Equestria. And as Princess Celestia was forced to banish her sister to the moon, the spell was lost for a thousand years, and all but the oldest history books forgot its existence.”

Twilight quickly ducked out of the room, leaving behind a blank-faced Applejack. She returned shortly after with a tome she laid on the bed before the farmer. The book was encased in a pitch black cover, with shadowy purple patterns spread across the front. In golden letters, it read, “The Dark Ages.”

Applejack reached a hoof out to touch the book gingerly for some fear of backlash. “Ah… Ah don’t understand.”

“This is one of the few remaining documentations of the so-called Dark Ages.” Twilight explained, regarding the book fondly. “It was one that Princess Celestia had hidden away when ponies decided it would be best to erase all evidence of it ever happening.” Twilight chuckled. “Of course, she could have relayed the tale to me personally, but it’s always nice to have a reference at hoof. As the book says, it wasn’t such a dark time as ponies came to view it as. It was actually the greatest time of acceptance for what we now call fillyfoolers. Even now, we have not yet made strides to match the level we once had, but with Princess Luna’s return, we have made progress. She’s even managed to bring coltcuddling into acceptance where it never in recorded history was considered socially acceptable.

Applejack made to reach out for the book again, but hesitated.

Twilight giggled. “You can borrow it if you’d like. It might do you some good to consider your possibilities.”

“Y-yeah…” Applejack still seemed dazed.

“I can see it’s a lot to take in. So if you’d like to end here-“

“No, no, Ah just… thank you.”

Twilight smiled. “You’re my friend, Applejack. I’m always here to help if you need me.”

Applejack smiled, running a hoof across the book’s surface, pondering how she’d transport the sizable tome without prompting unwanted questions. She wished she’d thought to bring her saddlebags with her.

“You can use mine,” Twilight offered. “Just make sure to return them once you’ve got the book in a good hiding spot.”

“Thanks, Twi,” Applejack repeated.

Twilight grinned. “Hey, what’d I just say?”

“Sorry,” Applejack laughed nervously.

“Now, is there anything else you’d like to talk about?”

“Ah… Y’know, Ah never thought Ah’d ever be considerin’ Rainbow’s offer o’ that other kinda labor ta pay fer her guitar.”

Twilight’s eyebrows shot up. “Whoa, slow down. I did not need that image.”

Applejack burst out laughing at Twilight’s face. She had never seen her friend so flustered before, and she had to admit it was kind of adorable.

“Remind me why I brought this up?” Twilight groaned, hiding her face in her hooves.

Applejack made an effort to calm her giggle fits, slowly devolving into spaced out chuckles before becoming silent once more with a sigh. “Sorry, Twi. Ah just… yer face.” Applejack let out another chuckle.

“Yeah, it’s fine.” Twilight giggled a bit. “Just… try to avoid giving me too much information in the future.”

“Alright.” Applejack sat up. “Well, thanks fer the chat, Twi. Ya’ve given me a lot ta think on.”

“No problem.” Twilight smiled. “Tell Rainbow to come in when she’s ready.”

“Will do.” Applejack made her way out the door and down the stairs to a fidgety Rainbow. “You alright, sugarcube?”

Rainbow jumped. “Oh, uh, yeah. I’m fine. Just… kinda nervous.”

Applejack chuckled, a sound soothing to Rainbow’s ears. “Ah am, too, Rainbow. But ya said it yerself, we’re gonna get through this.”

Rainbow gulped, shaking herself. “You’re right. We can do this.”

“Twilight’s ready fer ya whenever,” Applejack relayed.

“Okay.” Rainbow took a steadying breath before making her way up the stairs.



Twilight’s eyes widened when Rainbow came through the door. “Wow, Rainbow, you look worse than Applejack did. Everything alright?”

Rainbow scoffed. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.” She continued before Twilight could apologize. “I’ve just got a lot on my mind.”

“Like what?” Twilight prodded.

Rainbow sighed. “Well, this whole thing with Applejack for starters. I’m not really sure how far it can go, or if I even want it to go anywhere.”

Twilight smirked, jotting down some witty comment or other.

“I mean, I like her and everything. But I’m just… not how far it goes yet.”

“Well, what’s stopping you from finding out?” Twilight asked.

“You kidding? Everything! Applejack said herself she doesn’t even know if she’s into mares, she’s kinda got a whole farm to take care of, and I’ve got responsibilities, too.”

“Well you have been helping Applejack with that farm work the past couple days, haven’t you?”

“I… yeah, I guess so.”

“And how has that been going?”

Rainbow lowered her head bashfully. “It’s been… fun. A whole lot of fun. Applejack’s been telling me how good a help I am. And I might have put some thought into extending it past the month.”

Twilight smiled. “What’s been the fun part? The work or spending time with Applejack?”

Rainbow blushed. “Do you really have to ask?”

Twilight giggled. “Just making sure. Anything else you might be thinking about it?”

“Yeah, kinda. I was thinking that, well, the Acres is a good chunk of Ponyville on its own, and it takes some of the most work to maintain weather-wise. But if I could have some better access to inside information, I could, you know, probably do it all myself.”

“Are you sure you’re up to that?” Twilight asked.

“Well, yeah! It’d make balancing everything a whole lot easier. I’d never have to go far for my weather duties, so I’d always be around and-“

“Have more time to spend with Applejack,” Twilight finished.

“Not everything’s about Applejack!” Rainbow shot back stubbornly.

Twilight smirked and raised a brow. “Oh? Name one thing.”

“Clouds!” Rainbow quickly responded.

“Actually, from what you just told me, you’d be handling the clouds over Applejack’s farm…”

“Rainbows then!”

“Need I remind you of how Applejack got her cutie mark, or the resemblance between you and a Zap Apple?”

“Luna dammit! Uh… crap.”

Twilight grinned victoriously.

“It doesn’t matter! Even if I can’t name anything, there’s bound to be something.”

“But the fact that none of those things come to mind…”

“I know, I’ve been thinking about her a lot recently, okay? It’s kinda hard not to when you can’t even say hello to her without it being awkward.”

“It’s only as awkward as you make it,” Twilight pointed out.

“What are you trying to tell me?” Rainbow demanded, face flushed from equal parts frustration and embarrassment.

“I’m not trying to tell you anything. I’m trying to understand why you’re so averse to the idea of dating Applejack.”

“I just gave you a list! What more do you want?”

“For you to answer the one thing you haven’t given a solution to yet.”

“I…“ Rainbow paused. “I did just solve like half my problems, didn’t I?”

“Which leaves you with just one; Applejack’s uncertain orientation.”

“Smaller words, please.”

“Whether Applejack goes for mares or not,” Twilight giggled. “I assume that you do?”

Rainbow averted her gaze. “Yeah.”

“Any interest in stallions?”

Rainbow shook her head slowly. “What does that have to do with anything we’re talking about?”

“Just curious,” Twilight teased. “You’ve known Applejack longer than I have; have you ever seen her show romantic interest in anypony before?”

“Never. She’s always too busy with work and family. Which is kinda why I’m not sure she’d be that way. Can’t really be family oriented with another mare.”

Twilight smiled, but said nothing. Rainbow looked at her critically.

“Is there something you know that I don’t?”

“Perhaps.”

Rainbow bowled Twilight over. “If there’s a way to do this, you have to tell me!”

“You really think it would help your chances with Applejack?”

Rainbow nodded fervently.

“Well, then I’ll tell you as much as there is a way. I won’t get into specifics just yet,” Twilight said, carefully sidestepping the issue.

“I should tell Applejack! She-“ Rainbow paused. “Wait, how do I bring that up without sounding really creepy?”

“You let her bring it up instead,” Twilight answered easily.

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “And how am I supposed to do that?”

Twilight grinned. “You’ll figure it out.”

“Tease,” Rainbow grouched.

Twilight giggled. “Well I can see this is clearly getting you worked up. So I’m pretty sure I know how you feel.”

“What about Applejack?”

Twilight frowned. “I can’t answer that, Rainbow.”

“Why not?”

“Because I can only give you advice. What you do with this is your decision, and if I take out or add a variable, you might take too much time or rush into it. And that can only end badly.”

“So you’re telling me I’m on my own?”

Twilight shook her head. “You’re forgetting Applejack. She’ll be there with you the whole way.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Rainbow groaned.

“So, assuming that’s all your problems answered…”

Rainbow fidgeted. “Actually, there is one more thing.”

Twilight listened quietly.

“I’m not really sure what it is, but it feels like something big that I’m missing. Like something’s gonna come along and change things between me and AJ.”

“So something in the future?” Twilight asked.

Rainbow nodded. “And I feel really stupid for not knowing what.”

“Well, then answer me this; where do you see yourself five years from now?”

“Captain of the Wonderbolts,” Rainbow answered without missing a beat.

Twilight smiled sadly. “And where does that leave Applejack?”

“She…” Rainbow’s ears splayed back. “Alone back at the Acres. You guys, too.”

“That doesn’t mean you can’t come back and visit,” Twilight pointed out.

“Yeah, on the holidays maybe. Do you know how much time you have to put in to be a Wonderbolt? How far you have to travel?”

“Only what I’ve heard from my time in Canterlot.”

Rainbow sighed. “I’d have a month off every year at best. I… I can’t do that to her.”

Twilight closed her eyes. “Well, you’re going to have to figure it out. What’s more important to you, Applejack or the Wonderbolts?”

“I don’t know.” Rainbow sighed. “I’ll have to think about it.”

“You can do that,” Twilight said. “Just don’t take too long.”

Rainbow nodded. “Right.”

“Now come on. We’ll go get Applejack and wrap things up.”

Rainbow followed Twilight back down the stairs, taking care to measure her wing beats lest her thoughts derail her. Applejack was waiting patiently in the main room, flipping idly through a book.

Twilight prodded Applejack gently to get her attention. “As a closing statement, I’d like to say that this clearly means a lot to both of you. Don’t be afraid of things you can’t control, and don’t get down on yourselves. You can work this out and take it wherever you want.”

Applejack and Rainbow Dash’s eyes met. The contact was quickly broken as their faces betrayed their thoughts. Slowly, though, their eyes met again, and they shared a smile. Everything was going to work out if they let it. They just had to figure out how to initiate. And they had plenty of time to do so.



“Why are you wearing Twilight’s saddlebags?” Rainbow asked after shooting periodic looks at Applejack over a minute’s span.

“She gave me somethin’, an Ah wanted it ta be a secret,” Applejack answered.

Rainbow frowned. “Even from me?”

Applejack chuckled. “’Specially from you.”

Rainbow’s frown deepened, though she couldn’t sustain it for long as the nondescript happiness she had been feeling bubbled to the surface again. Rainbow laughed, taking to the air and attempting to wrest Twilight’s saddlebags from Applejack’s back while cartwheeling over her. Applejack responded by whipping her tail around and whapping Rainbow in the face, disrupting her vision and causing her to crash ineffectually to the ground. Applejack was quick to jump at Rainbow in an attempt to pin her down, but Rainbow was quicker to dart out of the way.

“Get back here, ya thievin’ varmint!” Applejack called out playfully.

“No!” Rainbow shot back, punctuating the single syllable with giggles.

Rainbow made for another run to steal Applejack’s secret treasure; evading Applejack’s tail, but unable to grasp the tightly-drawn straps. Rainbow decided it was time for a change of tactics. If she couldn’t get the saddlebags, she’d just have to get the treasure directly. Rainbow made adjustments to her flying before diving in again. But in her excitement, she failed to notice that they had made it back to the orchards, and impacted a branch, throwing her wobbling off-course. She tried desperately to correct her path, but she crashed headlong into Applejack, throwing them both off balance and tumbling forward a good few yards before coming to rest in a tangle of limbs.

Through her aching everything, Rainbow was vaguely aware of something soft against her lips. It tasted vaguely of apples, though it was far more delicate. Curious, she shifted her position, opening her eyes to get a better view of-

Rainbow shot up from where she lay entangled in the limbs of her best friend. No, I did not just…

“What the hay was that?!” Applejack shouted in an abnormally high-pitched voice.

Rainbow’s eyes widened in fear, offering a squeak in apology as she rocketed off to her cloud home in search of sanctuary.

Applejack panted heavily, raising a hoof to gingerly touch her lips. She could still taste, still feel, Rainbow’s unexpected contact. She developed a heavy blush as she considered whether or not she enjoyed it. Looking up, she saw that she had chased Rainbow away in her shock, eliminating any possibility for reconciliation. Applejack sighed. Smooth, AJ. She got to her feet, gathered Twilight’s saddlebags and the book contained within, and continued on her path home alone.

Just as it was getting’ good, too.



Rainbow locked her front door with quivering hooves, shaking all over as she ran to her room to throw herself on her bed and create a den of sheets.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. Rainbow berated herself. How could you kiss Applejack? She shook her head as her mind began to rattle off reasons that were becoming painfully obvious. I blew it, she thought sadly. She’ll never look at me the same now. How could I not have noticed the damn trees?

Rainbow proceeded to bash her head unsatisfyingly against her plush cloud pillow. Frustrated, Rainbow couldn’t help but wish for a more solid bedroom to beat herself in. Her whole house was made of clouds, and what few solid items she had were much too soft to work.

What the buck is wrong with me? Rainbow ranted internally. Am I in love with her house now, too? Am I-

Rainbow paused, processing her question again. She cried out in frustration, burying her head under her pillow and falling into a fitful sleep.



Applejack entered her house tiredly, feeling some immense depression in light of her most recent encounter and subsequent rejection of Rainbow Dash.

“Hey, sis, everythin’ alright?” Applebloom’s voice carried from the living room.

“Jes’ dandy,” Applejack responded, barely able to project her voice five feet.

Before she could make it to the stairs, Applejack was met with her little sister blocking her path. “AJ, Ah know somethin’s been goin’ on. An’ now yer comin’ home all mopey an’ that just ain’t like you.”

Applejack averted her gaze. “It’s complicated, AB. And yer-“

“Too young ta understand, right?” Applebloom cut her off irritably. “Ah’m growin’ up, AJ. Ah know Ah don’t have mah cutie mark yet, but that don’ mean Ah’m not worried about ya.”

Applejack sighed, hanging her head. “Tell ya what. Let me just put this in mah room an’ we’ll talk, alright?”

Applebloom eyed her sister suspiciously, stepping aside and following closely. Applejack, however, managed to slip inside her room and lock her door before Applebloom could enter. Applebloom banged on the door. “Dammit, sis! Open the door!”

“Words ain’t gonna make this okay!” Applejack shot back, slipping off Twilight’s saddlebags and collapsing onto her bed, feeling her eyes start to tear up.

At her words, Applejack was relieved to hear the banging cease, and small hoofsteps move down the stairs. Applejack tucked herself under her covers and tried to fall asleep, but was interrupted by more powerful knocks on her door.

“AJ, Applebloom says her shuttin’ yerself away again,” Big Macintosh’s voice came through her door.

“Leave me alone,” Applejack said with barely enough force to be heard.

Applejack heard Big Mac sigh from the other side of the door. “Ya can’t keep doin’ this ta yerself, AJ. We can talk about this.”

“Ah already done talked enough today. Just leave me alone, Ah just wanna go to sleep and ferget today ever happened.”

Big Mac turned to Applebloom with a frown. He placed a hoof on her shoulder. “We’ll get her outta this, AB. She just needs some time right now.”

Applebloom sighed. “Ah hate bein’ left outta things all the time.”

Big Mac smiled. “Ah’ll make sure she talks to ya ‘bout this. She’ll talk ta all’a us.”

“Ah really hope yer right, Mac.”



Big Mac, Granny Smith and Applebloom sat around the dinner table, eyeing the two conspicuously unoccupied seats.

“Ya think AJ’ll be alright, Mac?” Applebloom piped up.

Big Mac shifted. “Ah think that’ll depend on Rainbow Dash.”

“Rainbow Dash? Is she the one makin’ AJ act all funny?” Applebloom frowned. “She ain’t pullin’ one o’ her pranks again, is she?”

“Were it only that simple, child,” Granny Smith mused.

“Then what is goin’ on?” Applebloom demanded.

“Ain’t our place ta say, Applebloom,” Big Mac answered sadly. “AJ’s gotta handle this herself.”

“So we can’t help her?”

Big Mac sighed. “No, not this time, AB.”



Applejack lay on her back, staring up at the ceiling, unable to sleep. How am I supposed to talk ta her now? Applejack was wondering how it all fell apart. Everything seemed to be going great; she almost had everything figured out. But that one kiss…

She did like it, she had decided. And going on a date with Rainbow seemed to get more appealing each time she thought about it. But she chased Rainbow away at the first sign of affection, however accidental it may have been. She had hurt Rainbow. And now she was supposed to be able to walk up to her and ask her out and have everything be okay?

Applejack sighed. She’d have to sit down and talk to her, and definitely apologize for overreacting. She could only hope Rainbow would hear her out.

Why did Ah have ta be so stupid? Ah coulda just been honest with mahself an’ kept on kissin’ her. Applejack groaned. And now Ah understand, it might already be too late.

Applejack buried her face in her pillow, lamenting her potentially missed opportunity with the mare she cared about like family. If she was going to fix this, she had to pour her heart out, and leave nothing unsaid. That shouldn’t be so hard, being the Element of Honesty, right?

Applejack fell asleep at last with a glimmer of hope.



Rainbow Dash stood before a crowd of screaming ponies. Looking down, she saw not a Wonderbolts uniform, but an electric guitar. Looking across from her, she saw herself, looking at her with disappointment. When she reached out to touch the phantom, everything faded to black, and she was alone. Somewhere in the blackness, she saw a vague green blur leaking some kind of liquid before-

Rainbow woke up from her sleep with a start. She rubbed her temples gingerly, painfully aware of a throbbing in her skull. It’s that dream again. But it was different this time. What is it supposed to mean?

Looking out the window, Rainbow determined it was around midnight. She felt an emptiness in her stomach, but couldn’t bring herself to consider eating anything. With a sigh, Rainbow rose to open her closet, where a mannequine stood bearing her uniform from the Wonderbolts Academy.

Twilight’s words echoed in Rainbow’s mind. Who’s more important to you, Applejack or the Wonderbolts? Rainbow felt a tear come to her eye, which she was quick to wipe away. She posed herself another question. Which is the more reachable goal now?

Another tear came to Rainbow’s eyes, and another. They came faster than she could wipe them away. She barely managed to make it back to her bed before she devolved into a fit of sobbing. Sleep seemed so close, but it wouldn’t come. She felt like her mind was punishing her. None of this would have happened if you had been more careful.

“Shut up. Just shut up!” Rainbow shouted.

After a few more minutes of self-deprecation, sleep finally saved her sanity at the last possible second. Suddenly, things weren’t turning out so great.






Also, have what I posted on fimfiction as a blog post: http://www.fimfiction.net/blog/172107/backccidental-wall-of-text

Edit: The Dark Ages. Yes. I don't even know anymore.

Rest of the day is up. Have a third of the next day, too. Because shipping.

Edit: Also, #9 on EQD's Drawfriend. Squee! The AppleDash!

SEVEN AND SHIPPING START WITH THE SAME LETTER
(so do same and start. and so.)



Rainbow Dash woke the next morning feeling miserable. A brief reflection reminded her of why. She’d upset her friend, over-stepped her boundaries, and made a foal of herself. On top of that, she was hungry, and unable to bring herself to brave Applejack’s home just yet.

She sighed heavily, getting up to scrounge around for what food still remained at her house. Her efforts were rewarded by a bowl of cereal, which was just as well, as she doubted she could stomach much else.

Rainbow looked around her empty home as she nibbled on her cereal. Normally at this time she would be feeding Tank and, more recently, sitting down at the Apple family table for a hearty breakfast. But both lay amongst a vast orchard of apple trees on the outskirts of Ponyville. One, she remembered, she had pledged a month’s service to.

Rainbow groaned as she considered her options. She couldn’t hope to assist Applejack today, and she couldn’t just sit today out. Maybe Big Mac needed some help.

Swallowing her last bite of cereal, Rainbow resolved to do whatever she could to help out at the orchard that didn’t involve direct contact with Applejack. Why did this have to happen?

---

Applejack was awoken by an object colliding with her stomach. Rainbow Dash? But upon sitting up, she determined that the yelp of surprise and small body rolling off of her did not belong to the pegasus.

“Sorry, Winona.” Applejack reached out to give her canine companion a chin scratch. Winona barked excitedly in response, wagging her tail and darting out of her room.

What’s gotten her all worked up today? Applejack thought back on recent events, soon wishing she hadn’t. Oh, right.

Significantly less cheerful than when she had woken up, Applejack made her way downstairs to an empty-feeling kitchen table where breakfast sat, extravagant as ever.

“Ya feelin’ alright, sis?” Big Mac asked once Applejack had taken her seat.

“Ah’ll manage,” Applejack mumbled in response, taking only a single pancake from the stack. Forgoing syrup, Applejack immediately began her incredibly slow consumption of the normally-tasty treat.

Before she could make more than a visible mark on the pancake, she felt her throat clench as her stomach refused further nourishment. Applejack released her meal with a sigh, rising from her seat and heading outside without a word.

Big Mac shared glances with Applebloom and Granny Smith before excusing himself from the table to follow his remarkably depressed sister. Ah gotta know what’s makin’ her this way.

Mac found Applejack sitting at the base of a tree, trying to work up the strength to give it a proper buck. “AJ, this is gettin’ silly. Why don’t ya tell me what’s wrong?”

“Don’ wanna,” Applejack replied curtly, walking off to find another suitable tree.

Big Mac followed. “Sometimes ya gotta do things ya don’ wanna do.”

Applejack snorted. “Don’ care.”

“C’mon, AJ, yer startin’ ta worry me here. This ain’t like you. Whatever it is, Ah promise Ah won’ judge; Apple’s honor.”

Applejack turned to face her brother, exasperated. “Yer not gonna leave me alone, are ya?”

Big Mac shook his head stubbornly, a wry smile gracing his lips.

Applejack sighed heavily, plopping down into a sitting position. “Alright, if ya gotta know, things got outta hoof with Rainbow an’ me.”

Big Mac urged her on with a hoof, unsatisfied.

Applejack scowled. “She kissed me.”

Big Mac’s eyes widened. “Yer kiddin’? That’s great!”

“No it’s not great! It was awkward, an’ weird, an’…” Applejack sighed, losing her will to argue. “An’ Ah liked it.”

Big Mac advanced on Applejack, offering a hoof in support, placed soothingly across her shoulders. “So why’s that got ya down? Sounds like things are goin’ great.”

“They were,” Applejack insisted, “but Ah messed it up.”

Big Mac squeezed Applejack tighter when her voice faltered.

“Ah… Ah yelled at her, an’ chased her away. Ah’m not even sure it was on purpose. It was just so…”

“Unexpected?” Big Mac suggested.

“Yeah.” Applejack leaned against Mac’s side. “An’ now she probably don’ want anything ta do with me.”

“Sounds ta me like yer makin’ this bigger ‘n it is, AJ. Ya said ya weren’t sure she kissed ya on purpose?”

“Probably not,” Applejack admitted.

“Then she’s probably just as shaken up ‘bout it as you.” Big Mac focused on some distant spot in the sky. Applejack tried to follow his gaze, but whatever he had seen was no longer in sight. “Ah won’ make ya do anythin’ ya don’ wanna. But ya really should talk to her.”

“Ah’ll try,” Applejack promised.

With nothing left to say, Big Mac gave Applejack a hug, which she returned gratefully. He offered his sister a reassuring smile before heading back inside to finish his meal. Applejack merely sat where she was, collecting her thoughts for another attempt to buck the tree before her.

After a few more minutes offered no more conviction, Applejack righted herself, taking a deep breath. She spun in place to deliver a buck to the tree only to scuff it with a single hoof before collapsing in a heap. While such a failure usually frustrated her and emboldened her to try again, she found it now only made her feel worse.

“What chance do Ah got with Rainbow if Ah can’t even buck a tree right?”

---

Rainbow Dash circled high above Sweet Apple Acres, searching for a big red stallion amongst trees that had developed a frustrating number of red fruit. “How am I gonna do this if I can’t even find him?” Rainbow didn’t dare fly any lower for risk of being spotted, but she was getting impatient.

Just as she was about ready to fly off, she caught sight of a red shape emerging from the tree-line, headed for the fields. Rainbow didn’t need more of a lead than that to rush down to investigate.

Big Macintosh turned as Rainbow landed behind him. “Thought Ah saw ya up there.”

“Hey, Mac. I was wondering if you needed any help today, since…” Rainbow struggled to come up with a convincing lie.

Big Macintosh smiled sadly. “Ah heard what happened with you an’ AJ. She’s pretty broken up ‘bout it herself.”

Rainbow sighed. “I just don’t know how it all went so wrong.”

“It might not be as bad as ya think,” Big Mac pointed out.

“Are you kidding? I kissed her, totally by accident, and she yelled at me! I don’t know how you’re supposed to send a clearer message.”

“Way Ah heard it she was just surprised.”

“I would be, too, if Applejack suddenly decided to kiss me. But I wouldn’t have yelled at her for that.”

“Applejack handles things different than you do,” Big Mac insisted.

“Yeah, and she only ever yells when I screw something up.”

“Ah ain’t debatin’ that. But yer missin’ the point here.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Oh, so there’s a point to being yelled at by your best friend.”

“Are y’all gonna listen or not?” Big Mac demanded.

“Are we gonna do anything else but lecture me all day?”

“Ah ain’t tryin’a lecture ya!”

“And I’m not listening.” Rainbow shot back before Mac could continue. “So if you don’t need my help, and I don’t need this, then I’m out.”

With that, she was gone, and Big Mac sagged. If he could barely get his sister to listen, why did he think he could convince her flighty friend? He could only hope that they’d work this out on their own.

Rainbow touched down at Ponyville’s weather headquarters in a huff. A quick glance at the bulletin board told her her assignment, and for once she was glad it wasn’t Sweet Apple Acres. Ignoring the curious glances from her co-workers, she set off towards Ponyville’s park, thankfully one of the more quiet areas the town offered.

Upon her arrival, Rainbow was baffled to see that the park was almost completely overcast. It seemed that she was the one to pick up the slack today. With a cocky grin, Rainbow set about clearing the skies, grateful for the outlet for her frustrations. Fueled by a need for distraction, she pushed herself harder, losing herself completely in her conquest. While not as entertaining as her previous days on the farm, it was certainly satisfying.

So caught up was she in her destruction of all things white, it didn’t strike her as odd when she spotted a cloud near the ground. With a battle cry, she hurtled after the stray cloud, preparing to give it a firm kick in the-

“Ah!” the cloud cried out in pain. “What in Equestria- Rainbow Dash! Would you care to explain why you are assaulting me?”

That wasn’t right. Clouds couldn’t talk. And they certainly didn’t know her name, or speak in such a high-class accent. In fact, Rainbow could only think of two ponies who fit both of those specifications. And only one of them was white.

“Rainbow Dash, I don’t have time for your games. Now are you going to apologize or not?”

“I…” Rainbow shook her head. “Sorry, Rarity.” She took off without another word, leaving behind a very confused, and slightly bruised, fashionista.

“Well, that was certainly… different,” Rarity said, rubbing the sensitive part of her flank where she had been kicked. “I wonder if Twilight would know what’s gotten into her.” Rarity changed her course to the Golden Oaks Library. Breakfast could wait.

---

“C’mon you damned apples. Fall already!” Applejack was trying everything in her power, but no matter what she did, she still couldn’t get a single apple for her efforts.

Applejack collapsed after another failed attempt to connect a buck to a trunk. Panting, she wondered, not for the first time, why she had been so stupid. Her stomach gurgled as if to taunt her, as every attempt to fill it ended in pain. Why can’t Ah do nothin’ right?

As Applejack scanned the trees for another suitable tree to attempt to harvest, something yellow caught her eye. Curious, she got up on shaky legs to investigate. The figure was in the direction of the farmhouse, sparking some vague worry in Applejack that made her quicken her pace.

Applejack burst out into the clearing to find Fluttershy waiting patiently by the barn. Intrigued, Applejack approached her. “Fluttershy?”

Fluttershy turned to face her. “Oh, hello Applejack.”

“What are you doin’ here?”

“Well, Big Macintosh told me that one of your animals had come down with a fever, so I’m here to take him over to my cottage to treat him.” Fluttershy inspected Applejack closer. “You don’t look so good either. Is something wrong?”

Applejack sighed. “It’s a long story. Ah wouldn’t want ta trouble ya.”

“Oh, it’s no trouble at all. If you want to talk about it, you can come with me back to my cottage. I’ll just have to get him settled first.”

“Ah think Ah will,” Applejack said, falling onto her haunches.

Fluttershy smiled. “Oh, good. I’ll make tea, and we can have a nice chat.”

“Ah hope so,” Applejack muttered.

---

Rarity composed herself before knocking on Twilight’s door. It was answered promptly by Spike.

“Oh, hi, Rarity.” Spike greeted her nervously. “It’s not time to go hunting for gems again already is it?”

Rarity smiled. “Not yet, Spike. I’m simply here to talk to Twilight about a… troubling encounter with Rainbow Dash.”

“She’s not hitting on you, too, is she?” Spike demanded.

Rarity blinked. “What? Heavens, no. Not unless you mean physically.” Rarity paused. “Why? Is she getting into relationship troubles, now? With whom?”

Spike stepped back to let her inside. “Twilight knows more than I do. She’s up on the balcony.”

Rarity halted to place a gentle kiss on Spike’s forehead. “Thank you, Spike.”

“Any time,” Spike said, wobbling in place before inevitably crashing to the floor.

Rarity shook her head and giggled, continuing on to where Twilight was said to be. She was indeed found where Spike had told her to look, gazing up into the sky absently.

“Good morning, Twilight,” Rarity began, gaining Twilight’s attention. “Apologies if I’m interrupting anything. But I just had an odd run-in with Rainbow Dash at the park, and Spike told me that she’d been having problems you would know about.”

“Why, what did she do?” Twilight asked, hoping her first suspicion was invalid.

“Well, I was merely walking along to my favorite breakfast location, when Rainbow Dash flew down and… well, kicked my flank,” Rarity turned to show Twilight the bruise, just below her cutie mark.

“I… I don’t understand. Why would Rainbow just suddenly decide to kick you?”

Rarity turned her gaze to the sky. “I thought about it, and it seemed that she was on one of her weather jobs early. Clearing clouds, I believe.”

Twilight frowned. “So… she thought you were a cloud?”

“It’s the only possibility I dare consider, though she must be terribly disconcerted to make such an error.”

“Well, I talked to her yesterday.” Twilight thought. “I didn’t think I’d given her that much to think about.”

“What about? Spike seemed to think it was something to do with a relationship.”

Twilight sighed. “Well, if he’s already said that much, I guess it can’t hurt to tell you she’s been having an awkward time with Applejack.”

Rarity gasped. “So the rumors are true, then?”

“Not quite, though they may be soon.” Twilight frowned. “You said she was out at the park?”

Rarity nodded.

“She’s supposed to be helping Applejack at the farm. Something must have happened. Do you have any idea where she might have gone?”

“Not in the slightest. Did she mention anything else she’d gotten herself involved with?”

Twilight shook her head. “She wouldn’t talk about anything except Applejack.”

“Then if something bad happened between them…” Rarity paused.

“I just hope she doesn’t do anything stupid.” Twilight hung her head.

“If our only lead on Rainbow Dash is Applejack, do you think it would be a good idea to look for her instead?” Rarity inquired.

“Possibly. She’d probably still be at the acres somewhere.” Twilight flinched. “But are we sure we should be meddling in their relationship? It might just be something small that was blown out of proportion, and we’d only be making it worse. Neither of them have any prior experience, and you know how stubborn they can be.”

Rarity sighed. “Perhaps you’re right, Twilight. But if something happens…”

Twilight stepped forward. “Then we’ll be there to support them.” Twilight offered Rarity a hug, which was accepted. “They might be stubborn, but they’re also very close. I’m sure they can work out whatever it is that’s happened. I know it’s hard to stand by and do nothing, but we have to give them their space.”

Rarity sighed again. “Why do you always have to be right, Twilight?”

Twilight smiled. “Because in this town, somepony has to be.”

---

Fluttershy brought tea to her guest as soon as she had her patient settled. It smelled of apples, and Applejack was able to drink a few invigorating gulps.

“Now, tell me what’s wrong,” Fluttershy commanded.

Applejack smiled weakly. “Yes, ma’am.” She took a deep breath. “It’s about Rainbow. Me n’ her have been goin’ through a time together. It’s been all kinds o’ awkward, fun, n’ more ‘n a little confusin’. Rainbow went an’ got it in her head ta start a band together, an’ that’s been a bit of a hoot. She done bought some fancy expensive guitar. Damn well left her broke. So we agreed she would spend a month workin’ the farm in exchange fer food.”

“And how’s that been going?” Fluttershy prodded.

Applejack smiled. “It’s been a great time. She’s a real big help ‘round the acres, an’ she helps make it fun in her own way. She even got the idea ta ask ta be assigned as the orchard’s sole weatherpony. Never exactly got around to it.

“She’d come up with the idea ta go see Twilight fer advice after a… an incident in the shower.” Applejack blushed. “She was a great help. Let me in on some long lost spell that let mares have foals together. Gave me a book on it an’ all. Everythin’ was goin’ great. But then Ah did somethin’ stupid.

“We were headin’ home from talkin’ ta Twilight. She was gettin’ all rowdy tryin’a figure out what Twilight gave me. And then somethin’ happened an’ she crashed inta me. ‘Fore Ah knew what was goin’ on, our lips were touchin’ an’ she was leanin’ in all sexy like.”

“Oh my,” Fluttershy murmured.

“Ah didn’ know what ta do, so Ah panicked. Chased her right away like a damn fool.” Applejack sighed. “Stupidest judgment call Ah ever done made.”

“You didn’t say anything hurtful, did you?” Fluttershy fretted.

Applejack thought. “No, ah just asked her what she was doin’ all frantic-like.”

Fluttershy sighed. “Oh, good.”

“Pardon?”

“Applejack, you didn’t do anything wrong. You were just confused and needed more time to think.” Fluttershy took a deep breath. “This is easy to fix. All you need to do is talk to her, apologize for overreacting, and tell her how you really feel.”

Applejack frowned. “Is it really that easy?”

Fluttershy nodded. “It seems like more than it is because you care about her so much. But you’re forgetting how much she cares about you. She’s not going to give up on you so easily. That’s not the Rainbow Dash I grew up with. Just give her time and she’ll come to you, probably to tell you it was her fault. But don’t let her take the blame. She can be just as hard on herself as you.”

“Don’ Ah know it,” Applejack sighed. “Ya sure ‘bout this now? Ah don’ wanna make this worse ‘n it is.”

“Positive,” Fluttershy insisted. “Now you should get on back to the farm. Rainbow Dash could show up any minute.”

“Thanks fer the help, Fluttershy. Ah really appreciate it.” Applejack smiled.

Fluttershy wrapped her in a hug. “Don’t mention it. Get out there and win her back.”

“Yes ma’am.”

---

Rainbow Dash was wandering around the city, looking for nothing in particular when she found herself in front of Vinyl Scratch’s residence. That’s right. I have guitar lessons today. Rainbow groaned, letting herself in. “I’m here for my lessons, Scratch!”

Just inside the room, Octavia and Vinyl froze mid-make out session on the living room couch. They quickly moved to compose themselves for their sudden guest. “Oh, uh, hey Rainbow. You’re here early.”

Rainbow looked for a clock dubiously. It read… “It’s only 10?”

“Yeah. Long day?” Vinyl asked.

“You could say that.” Rainbow sighed.

Vinyl shifted on the couch. “Where’s your guitar?”

Rainbow opened her mouth before closing it again, feeling along her back. She sighed again. “It’s back at Applejack’s.”

“Is everything alright?” Octavia asked.

“I…” Rainbow stopped herself short. “No, I can’t do this. Go back to what you were doing. I’m sorry for disturbing you.”

Before Rainbow could more than turn around, Vinyl had locked the door with her magic. “The hell is wrong with you, mare? You’re never polite.”

Octavia glared at her marefriend. “That’s Vinyl’s way of expressing concern. We can both tell something’s bothering you.”

Rainbow sighed, turning back around and seating herself on a chair. “I screwed up with Applejack. She hates me now.”

Vinyl cocked an eyebrow. “What’d you do, kill her sister?”

“Vinyl!” Octavia scolded. “I’m sure it’s nothing so bad, Rainbow.”

“But I kissed her!” Rainbow blurted.

“So? I kiss Tavi all the time, and we’re still going strong.”

“But she doesn’t yell at you!”

Vinyl laughed. “Are you kidding? She yells at me every day.”

“Only because I love you, Vinyl,” Octavia assured.

“So, let’s get this straight. You kissed her, so she yelled at you, and now you think your life is over?” Vinyl summarized.

Rainbow’s face became contemplative. That… didn’t sound quite right stated so plainly.

Vinyl laughed again. “You really are new at this, aren’t you?”

Rainbow averted her gaze, face reddening in embarrassment.

“Tell ya what; all you need to do is go talk to her. She’ll understand, I’m sure.” Vinyl smirked.

Rainbow nodded, feeling very sheepish and more than a little stupid. “I…”

“Don’t mention it,” Vinyl cut her off. “Just let me know when you’ve got your awesome new marefriend.”

Rainbow smiled. “Sure thing. Thanks, Scratch.” She stood up and saw herself out. “Be sure to use protection!”

Vinyl rolled her eyes. “Now, where were we?”

“Kissing, I believe,” Octavia said before re-instigating.

“Awesome.”

Alright. I just have to get to Sweet Apple Acres and apologize to Applejack. I can do this. Rainbow Dash strode confidently out Vinyl’s front door, closing it behind her. She took to the sky, angling for Applejack’s farm, and rocketed off. The wind in her face offered her comforting familiarity. If all went well, she’d be-

“Hey, Rainbow Dash! What’s up?” A pink mare burst out of a nearby cloud.

“Not now, Pinkie. I’m on a mission.”

“Ooh, what kind of mission?” Pinkie put a hoof to her chin. “Is it some kind of super-secret spy mission from Princess Celestia?”

“No, it’s a mission to…” Rainbow shook her head. “No, it’s not that. And it’s not something you would guess, so don’t.”

“Not something I would guess, huh?” Pinkie thought harder. “Does it have to do with flying pigs?”

“No.”

“Evil bananas?”

“No!”

“Applejack?”

“No-“ Rainbow stopped.

“Aha! I knew it! You’re going to go ask Applejack on a date, aren’t you?”

“No, and I’d like to do it on my own if you wouldn’t mind.” Rainbow narrowed her eyes at Pinkie.

“Oh, I get it.” Pinkie winked. “Good luck getting Applejack to not go on a date with you!”

“Pinkie!” Rainbow tried to explain, but she was already gone. “I swear it’s always at the worst times.”

With no other recourse, she continued on to Sweet Apple Acres, slightly more flustered than before.

---

Applejack sat out on the porch of the farmhouse, waiting patiently for Rainbow to make her appearance. It only took a few minutes before she saw that rainbow trail she knew so well dart into her view. She stepped down from the porch to make herself seen and called out. “Hey, Rainbow!”

Above, Rainbow Dash froze. Oh Luna I’m not ready! She made to dart off again, but was stopped by another call from Applejack.

“Rainbow, wait! Ah need ta talk to ya. It’s important.”

Sighing, Rainbow accepted her fate, coming to land in front of Applejack. “Alright, just let it out. Don’t hold back.” Rainbow stood rigid, eyes firmly closed as she braced herself for a tongue-lashing.

Applejack couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight. And the more she looked at her, the harder it was to resist doing something potentially stupid. In a streak of boldness, Applejack made sure not to hold back as she planted a kiss firmly upon Rainbow’s unsuspecting lips.

Rainbow’s eyes bugged out at the touch. “I… Applejack?” Rainbow managed.

Applejack giggled. “That makes us even, right?”

Rainbow’s face fell. “Oh, yeah. I guess.”

Applejack panicked when she realized her misstep. Her subconscious told her it had worked before, so she reached her head down to kiss Rainbow again. “Now you owe me!” Applejack squeaked.

A smile grew on Rainbow’s face as she started up in snorts. She soon devolved into full-blown laughter as she gripped Applejack in a vice.

“Can’t breathe,” Applejack wheezed, causing Rainbow to release her entirely. Before Applejack could miss the contact, Rainbow’s lips were on hers. Applejack giddily kissed her back, cherishing the moment that made the last few days worth it.

Rainbow pulled away from the kiss with a gasp. “AJ, I thought-“

“Ah thought Ah messed up, too,” Applejack cut in. “Ah wanted to apologize fer yellin’ at ya. It was stupid o’ me.”

Rainbow giggled. “Yeah, that wouldn’t have even happened if I had noticed that tree branch.”

“Was that what happened?”

Rainbow nodded. “I was so caught up I didn’t even notice we made it into the orchard.”

“Well, Ah didn’t even know ‘till just now.”

“Wait a minute.” Rainbow frowned. “You… You just kissed me, right?”

Applejack blushed, nodding.

“So, that means…?”

Applejack took a steadying breath, blush deepening. “Ah like you, Rainbow. And Ah’d be honored if ya’d go out with me sometime.”

“Yes!” Rainbow answered instantly. “Oh, this is so awesome! So I guess you don’t really care about the whole family thing after all?”

Applejack chuckled. “Let’s not get ahead o’ ourselves, now. But yeah, Ah guess you could say Ah don’ have much to worry about anymore.”

“Did Twilight tell you about that ‘other way’, too?”

Applejack smirked. “She did more ‘n that, sugarcube. That thing Ah was carryin’ in Twilight’s saddlebags? It’s a book all about the spell that makes it work.”

Rainbow’s eyes lit up. “How does it work, then? Is it, like, kinky?”

Applejack pulled her head back. “Ah don’ know, Ah haven’t even read it yet!”

“Well what’s stopping you?” Rainbow prodded.

Applejack frowned. “Ah… kinda spent alla the time since ya kissed me thinkin’ Ah’d messed everythin’ up. It never really crossed mah mind.”

“Right. Sorry,” Rainbow apologized, nuzzling Applejack’s cheek.

“It’s alright, sugarcube. We got it all worked out now, don’t we?”

Rainbow put a hoof to her chin. “Well, we still have to figure out who’s top and who’s bottom.”

“Rainbow!” Applejack pushed Rainbow off of her, blushing and giggling.

“I know, I know, there’s time for that later, geez,” Rainbow placated. Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t restrain her wings as they flared open. “Look at what you do to me, AJ.”

Applejack grinned deviously, crawling up to whisper sensually in Rainbow’s ear, “Only fer you, Rainbow.”

“Dammit, AJ,” Rainbow giggled. “Now I’ll never get my wings folded.”

“Good, ‘cuz in case y’all fergot, we still got apples ta buck!” Applejack declared.

“Actually, I’ve got an Apple to buck, you’ve got a Rainbow,” Rainbow snickered.

Applejack blushed heavily. “Dammit, Rainbow!” She tackled Rainbow in retaliation, pinning her to the ground.

“Eager, are we?” Rainbow countered.

Applejack frowned. “Ah’m gonna kill you one day.”

“You know you love it.” Rainbow gave Applejack a placating peck on the nose.

Applejack, suddenly feeling weak, collapsed on top of Rainbow.

“You alright?”

A growling stomach answered Rainbow’s question. “Late breakfast?” Applejack offered.

“Yes please.” Rainbow felt her own stomach growl in agreement.

Applejack stood up shakily, having to lean on Rainbow for support once she had stood as well. “Sorry, Ah never had dinner last night.”

“Me neither,” Rainbow chuckled. “But I did have a bowl of cereal earlier.”

Applejack chuckled along. “Tha’s not ‘nough.” She wobbled.

“Enough to keep you walking straight,” Rainbow chided.

“Shut up,” Applejack muttered.

Rainbow merely giggled in response.

Rainbow managed to heave the door open while ensuring Applejack didn’t fall, though the effort left her shaky. Together, the two mares hobbled into the kitchen, leaning against each other for support. As luck would have it, freshly-made pancakes awaited them. “Good ta see ya back,” Granny Smith greeted them.

Rainbow grinned sheepishly. “Um…”

The knowing glint in Granny Smith’s eye was hard to ignore. Both mares sat and busied themselves in their meals to hide their embarrassment. Across the table, they could hear Granny Smith chuckling good-naturedly.

Well, that could have gone worse, Rainbow decided. She and Applejack tore through their pancakes with ravenous abandon, each bite lending them strength. Both were thankful that Granny Smith had set aside extra-large portions for them.

Soon, their meal was devoured, and their limbs could support them again. Their throats were wet, and their stomachs were full. They were ready to start this awesome new day. They shared a glance, grinning before rushing out the door with simple good-byes and thank yous to Granny Smith.

“Don’ get too carried away now, y’hear?” Granny Smith called after them.

Rainbow paused mid-stride, falling down the steps of the short porch and landing in a confused heap.

“You alright there, sugarcube?” Applejack asked, fighting giggles.

Rainbow stood up sheepishly. “Yeah, great.”

“Y’know Applebloom’s gonna wanna know ‘bout us,” Applejack sighed.

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “I thought she already convinced herself.”

“Maybe, but Ah’d feel better if we talked to her.” Applejack averted her gaze guiltily. “She’s feelin’ a little unimportant right now.”

Rainbow frowned. “AJ, you told me you’d stop doing this.”

“Well Ah am now,” Applejack assured. “An’ Ah promise ta ask yer permission ‘fore Ah get down on mahself again.”

Rainbow laughed, shaking her head. “You know I’m never gonna give you that.”

“Maybe that’s why Ah need ya in mah life.” Applejack smiled. “Still thinkin’ ‘bout that whole weather thing?”

Rainbow smiled, too. “You kidding? At this rate I’ll have to move my house over yours.”

“What, and have a place Ah can’t get to ya so’s you can start usin’ hit n’ run tactics?” Applejack challenged.

“Maybe.” Rainbow grinned deviously.

Applejack sighed. “What am Ah gonna do with ya?”

“Buck some apples?” Rainbow suggested.

“We’re already doin’ that.”

Rainbow grinned. “Then how about a kiss?”

Applejack laughed, unable to resist giving Rainbow a peck on the nose. “Yer impossible.”

“Well, if anypony can do the impossible, it’s you,” Rainbow waggled her brow.

Applejack snorted in mirth. “That was terrible.”

“Well then which is it?”

Applejack swatted at Rainbow playfully. “Both.”

Rainbow caught Applejack’s hoof, giving it a quick kiss. “Awesome.”

“We gonna start buckin’ or not?”

“Not even gonna set the mood first?”

Applejack snorted. “Ah meant the apples.”

“So did I,” Rainbow snickered.

Applejack’s hoof met her face, unable to grace Rainbow’s antics with a response. She decided that she’d have to start choosing her words more carefully around her new marefriend. Applejack paused, considering the word. Did it really describe what she now had with Rainbow? Or was it too early to use the term? She figured she’d ask Twilight when she-

“Oh, ponyfeathers, Ah fergot ta give Twilight her saddlebags back,” Applejack blurted.

Rainbow rolled her eyes, chuckling. “We’ll stop by when we head out for lunch.” She paused. “Does that count as a date now?”

“Ah guess it would.” Applejack shrugged. “Don’ mean we gotta make a big deal of it.”

A thought occurred to Rainbow. “Oh Celestia, imagine the gossip if the town finds out we really are dating now. And I have lessons with Scratch today.”

“Want me ta come with?” Applejack offered.

Rainbow shrugged. “She did say to let her know when I got my awesome new marefriend.”

“When was that?” Applejack asked, unable to contain her blush at the new title.

“Earlier today. Like, half an hour ago actually.”

“Was Octavia there?” Applejack asked.

“Yeah, but something seemed off.” Rainbow thought

Applejack cocked her head. “Off how?”

“She was really going at it with Scratch. I think she was using her super sexy earth pony seduction powers.”

“Ah thought she just had super earth pony cello powers.”

“That’s what she wants us to think!” Rainbow insisted, starting up another one of her tangents. “Maybe she’s actually some super badass superhero with crazy powers, and that’s what she uses to play the cello like that!”

Applejack paused. “No, Ah think she just practices a lot.”

“But you don’t know that!”

“Ya can ask her yerself if we see her.”

Rainbow huffed. “I don’t think you realize how serious this could be.”

Applejack eyed Rainbow. “Ah don’t think you understand how ta be serious.”

“Sure I do!” Rainbow pecked Applejack on the cheek. “See?”

Applejack blushed. “Yeah.”

“You know, we should probably get to applebucking.”

“That’s what Ah said ‘fore ya muddied the issue with yer…” Applejack searched for the word, “shenanigans.”

“But you love my shenanigans,” Rainbow pointed out.

“That’s not the point! Now are we gonna do this or not?”

Rainbow laughed. “Sure, why not.”

Applejack let out a heavy sigh, leading the tangential pegasus to the barn for saddle basket equipment. Somehow, the day was getting dragged out even more than before. Applejack hoped she still had her sanity at the end of the month.

“Just be sure to be gentle if you use your super sexy earth pony seduction powers on me,” Rainbow quipped.

Not likely, Applejack decided.

So... a bit in the future, but this happened and I feel I need to put it here now. Writing this just made me really like Rarity for the first time. I think I'm keeping this headcanon.

---

“Big Macintosh?” Rarity’s voice startled the stallion in question, who was busying himself counting apples in the barn after failed attempts to sleep that night.

“Rare? What-“

Rarity stepped forward, placing a hoof to Big Mac’s lips. “Please, Mac. I… I can’t lie anymore.”

Big Mac’s eyes widened, tearing up as his mind came to a conclusion. “You… Ya don’ wanna see me anymore, do ya?”

Rarity jumped in alarm. “What? No, Mac, it’s not that at all!”

Big Mac regarded her dubiously. “It’s alright, Rare. Ah understand, ya don’ have ta-“

Rarity silenced Big Macintosh with a gentle kiss on the lips. He instantly softened at the touch, his fears calming. “Not that, Big Mac. Never that.” Rarity averted her gaze briefly. “Unless you don’t want to see me again.”

“What? Why would Ah not wanna see ya?” Big Mac asked sadly.

“Because I…” Rarity gulped. “I have something I need to confess.”

Big Macintosh waited quietly, mind racing with possibilities. But it certainly never occurred to him that-

“I’m not really a mare,” Rarity squeaked out.

Big Mac paused; face draining of emotion, his mind drawing a blank. “Ah… Ah don’…”

“I was born a colt,” Rarity continued, voice barely above a whisper. “But mother and father wanted a daughter. They did all they could to change me, to hide who I really am. On my first birthday they paid a professional for reconstructive magical surgery for my face. It was obviously a remarkable success. But there is one thing that magic cannot change, nor conceal but temporarily…”

Big Macintosh opened his mouth, but found no words to speak.

“They called me Rarity, for one I certainly was. They raised me as a proper filly, doing their utmost to ensure I could still be the daughter they had wanted.” Rarity sighed. “They asked a tutor to teach me a concealment spell for my… abnormality. It’s helped me out of many a tight situation, and allowed me a little more… leniency in my gait. Nopony was ever the wiser of my true disposition, even now. But my parents eventually grew dissatisfied of me. They wanted a real daughter, and got one in Sweetie Belle.”

Rarity averted her gaze. “I grew jealous of her. She was everything mother and father wanted, while I was forced to the side. More than ever, I worked to make them believe I was a real mare. I slowly worked my way back into their favor by being as marely as I could. I used everything I had been taught, I truly became what they had made me. More than them, I convinced myself. Being a mare was something I had always embraced, but it became more than that, almost an obsession. But the more attention they paid to me, the less was left for Sweetie Belle. It broke my heart to see her neglected in any way. So I did the most generous thing I’ve ever done. I left, set off to make it on my own.

“I bought Carousel Boutique at the age of fourteen and began to sell dresses to support myself. It came naturally, of course. I had made all my own dresses since I was five, custom made for myself. For while the concealment spell did make my abnormality invisible, it was still there, and showed through fabric.” Rarity laughed half-heartedly. “It’s funny when you come to think that it was all because my parents couldn’t find dresses that would allow me proper concealment. They got so frustrated one day that I thought to try my own hoof at dressmaking. And you can clearly see where that’s taken me.

“I looked back on those days, of course, but I knew things were better without me. Sweetie Belle got all the attention she deserved, and I was off doing what I loved, free of judgment. Left to myself, I dreamt of what life could be like if I was successful. I was always taken by the fashion scene of Canterlot, and the sophistication was something to be craved. I eventually heard tell of Prince Blueblood, and his availability. But we all know how that turned out. That’s what made me think that perhaps I was looking for love in the wrong places.

“It didn’t take long for me to develop feelings for you, though you were the brother of one of my long-time friends. It almost felt like I’d had them all along, but was always too afraid to act on them. I still was afraid. I still am, more than ever. I thought that, perhaps if I got close to you before I revealed my true self that you would accept me and give me a chance, but now I…” Rarity trailed off, tears forming in her eyes as she contemplated her failure.

But Big Macintosh would have none of that. He gently kissed away Rarity’s tears before they could fall, feeling closer to her than ever before. He wrapped her in a tender embrace once her tears had been dried. Rarity leaned into the hug in a daze, scarcely believing her luck.

“Y’know, ya coulda just told me from the start,” Big Mac rumbled. “Ah figure yer just the mare Ah’ve been lookin’ fer.”

“What? How can you-“

“Mah barn door swings both ways,” Big Mac said through a heavy blush. “Ah tend ta prefer a mare’s figure and lack o’ judgment Ah’d get from bein’ with one, but… well, yer a stallion where it counts.”

Rarity’s eyes widened, blushing profusely. “So you’re saying you… like the fact that I have a…”

Big Mac nodded. “Ah know ya like bein’ the mare, but… maybe we could take it in turns?”

Rarity nodded emphatically. “Whatever you want, Mac, I’ll be happy to oblige. But right now I… I don’t know if I can make it back home like this.”

Big Mac’s eyes widened as he became aware of something stiff against his stomach. “I, uh…”

Rarity giggled, blushing. “Sorry. I’m just so excited.” She yawned. “And also very sleepy.”

Big Mac let out a chuckle that ended in a yawn. “Ah hear ya, Rare.” He gave her a peck on the nose. “There’s time fer that later. But fer now…”

Rarity squeaked as Big Macintosh heaved her up onto his back. “Ya don’ mind if Ah still call ya mah marefriend, right?”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way, Mac.” Rarity smiled, wrapping her hooves around Mac’s neck.

Big Mac walked over to the front porch, sneaking in the door and moving quietly upstairs. They reached his room without incident, where Big Mac lowered Rarity onto his bed, shortly joining her. Rarity embraced him again when he lay down, nuzzling into his broad chest.

“Ya know, we’re probably gonna have ta tell the family ‘fore they start askin’ why we ain’t havin’ no foals,” Big Mac said.

Rarity giggled. “We haven’t even had sex yet!”

Big Mac blushed. “Ah know, but with the way things are run on the farm…”

“Your last hope for foals is Apple Bloom,” Rarity finished, smiling sadly.

Big Mac chuckled. “Nah, t’aint that. Applejack done told me she’s got a way ta get foals with Rainbow. She got a book on it an’ everythin’.”

Rarity giggled. “I wonder where they got it.”

Big Mac grinned. “Beats me.”

Rarity yawned. “Well I don’t know about you, but I am exhausted.” She kissed Mac on the nose. “Good night, Mac.”

“Night, Rare.” Big Mac returned the gesture, cradling Rarity’s head as they drifted off to sleep.

---