Supper arrived shortly after their talk. The Sweet Apple Acres team (that was present) made idle chatter to take their minds off the dreadful day. A hotel on the raised end of Trotonto overlooking the city made this restaurant a favourite of all kinds of ponies. While the others were chatting, Rainbow stared out the window to the city at night. The lights shone like stars while the large Market Harvest grounds remained illuminated. Just off the edge of the city was the desert border. Her eyes never had a chance to wander; she instantly focused on the Sweet Apple Acres lot.

Laughing off what was probably a joke, Applejack turned to Rainbow and noticed where she was looking. She began staring out the window as well before noticing that Rainbow had barely touched her food. She nudged Rainbow's shoulder, barely catching the Pegasus' attention.

"Ya haven't touched yer food. Lighten up a bit," she said with a smile.

Rainbow Dash looked at Applejack with an emotionless glare before facing forward, resting her head next to her plate.

"I'm not hungry," she replied bitterly.

"If this is 'bout t'day, don't worry 'bout it. We'll be jus' fine," Applejack said, wrapping a hoof around Rainbow and pulling her into a tight hug.

"Hrrk, it's not that," Rainbow squeaked out.

"Oh." Applejack released Rainbow from her bear hug and leaned back in the booth.

Sighing, Rainbow pressed her cheek against the table so she could still face Applejack. "I'm not thinking about the Market Harvest, or at least not directly." Rainbow poked Applejack's shoulder out of boredom. "I'm just thinking about us. Weeks ago, I was sleeping on a cloud, wondering how awesome I'll be after a bit of training. Then I came to the realization that we always get into bitter arguments. That's resolved, but I still feel odd when I think about you. Kind of like..." She hummed while rubbing her temples, closing her eyes in thought. Applejack patiently waited, tuning out the rest of the group. "I dunno, I feel like I don't wanna disappoint you, but not in the usual way. Before, it was just a pride thing. Now? I just want you to be happy. You work so hard and get little recognition. I feel like a narcissist when I stand in the same room as you."

Applejack looked around, shrugging. "Let's go f' a walk," she said.

Groaning, Rainbow sat up as Applejack slid out of the booth. Big Macintosh questioningly looked at Applejack with only a smile as a response. He nodded and continued eating while Applejack and Rainbow left the group. They quickly exited the restaurant and stopped across the street; a fence prevented ponies from falling into the suburbs below while providing an excellent view of the residential area of Trotonto. Like the business section, it also looked like stars yet it was more calm and peaceful. In the distance, the bright city of Canterlot was slightly eclipsed by the mountain while the city eclipsed the moon, giving it a radiant glow. The two ponies stopped to admire the view.

"Y'know, I never really admired the small things before. As a Pegasus, I sniffed at the view I've had since birth. The town below? Tiny," Rainbow said, leaning against the fence. She rested her head on her hooves, staring down at the city. "These days, watching them gives me a sense of empowerment. I'm higher up, watching civilization below run on. Anypony can sniff at it, but these past few weeks, I've noticed how intricate the world is. Simply watching Ponyville from above: ponies buying and selling in the market; going to school; even working the skies. From an Earth Pony perspective, it's incredible to see the workings of your world from afar."

"Rainbow, Ah'm amazed that y'all even took th' time t' look," Applejack said. Rainbow swung a hoof jokingly at Applejack. "'ey, it was meant as a compliment. Calm your horses."

"Eh, either way, I did. Working next to you, I found out how much work grunt work actually is, so when I saw the ponies around Ponyville working, it felt different. I didn't pity the Earth Ponies or Unicorns for being wingless. I felt pity towards the Pegasi that never took the time to admire it. Earth Ponies grow the food, Pegasi control the weather, and the Unicorns handle the sun and moon cycles. None of us are above the other because we all rely on each other."

Rainbow exhaled deeply. "And now it's my turn to repay you for all of that boasting and pity insults I've done in the past. I'm a numbskull-"

"No ya aren't."

"-and a brute-"

"True."

"-so now it's time that I fix that. I'll pay you back in full. This next month, is all about you, and Sweet Apple Acres," Rainbow finished with her head raised.

Applejack nodded, patting Rainbow on the back. "Y'know why Ah let ya run yer mouth lately?" Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "Yer displayin' a high level of intelligence as of late. It's a team game, an' everypony has their role. Remember what Ah said 'bout givin' me yer trust? You've given it an' extra, to boot." Applejack reached a foreleg out and wrapped it around Rainbow. The Pegasus did the same with Applejack and they both looked over the city with smiles.

"You're incredible, Applejack," Rainbow said with gusto. "I'm sorry for flaunting my flank off like a Wonderbolt. I should only brag when I actually accomplished something."

Applejack gave Rainbow a bemused side glance. "Heh, ya might not wanna brag at all. Celebrate with your friends, certainly. Ah think that y'all deserve a celebration for simply reachin' this point."

"I'll celebrate by getting hammered from all that victory wine," Rainbow responded.

"Whatever ya say," Applejack responded.

[*][*][*]

"Mr. Moneybags, sir, you have a visitor."

Fullbody slowly spun around in his chair, tearing his gaze away from the view of Trotonto. He glared at the security guard, placing a glass of wine on the desk as well as a manilla envelope. Sighing, he cleared his desk off with magic, setting various papers in his desk. The guard licked his lips as he waited and after a few seconds, Fullbody stopped.

"Is her name Swift Star, by any chance?" Fullbody asked. The security guard nodded, and Fullbody nodded. "Bring her in."

The guard left, and within a few seconds, returned with the peach-coloured Pegasus in tow. She had a beaming smile to which Fullbody responded with his own. She was escorted to a comfy-looking chair near Fullbody's desk and the guard quickly left. When he closed the door, Fullbody let out a sigh.

"I take it you have your credentials with you? This is much sooner than I expected," he replied.

"Is that a problem?" she responded with a peppy voice.

"Not at all. I'm glad I can help out somepony such as yourself with work. I've got money to burn so I face no loss hiring extra hooves," he said.

He reached out as Spry handed over the envelope and he immediately levitated the contents out of the package. His expression changed several times as he read it: glee, confusion, doubt, and more glee. After, he nodded, smiling at Spry as he placed the papers back into the envelope.

"And these I can keep? Or do you not have extra?" he asked.

"Nope, you can keep those," she replied, bobbing her head back and forth.

"Okay, but before we talk business... you stated that you were involved with a war, correct?" he asked, leaning against his desk.

"Yup! Hooves for hire; mercenary tasks. Small stuff, gathering intel, and it was in Great Caulk; nopony could trace me back here. I've lived off the grid for years, so legal issues shouldn't be a problem," Spry said.

He nodded and looked down at the envelope. He clicked his tongue and looked around the room before moving his wine glass to the side. He pressed down on the corner of his desk and a click sounded followed by the small corner raising up; an intercom system.

"Please call for Merci, please," he said after hitting a switch.

He pushed down on the corner and the intercom retreated back into the desk. Fullbody stared at Spry with a smile and she did the same back. After a few minutes, the doors opened and a plum-coloured Pegasus with a thistle-coloured mane stepped into the room clad in a tan overcoat covering her Cutie Mark while her mane and tail were done up in the same style: a braid.

"Evening, Fullbody," she said in a darker voice than Spry thought. "You called for me?"

"Yes I did, Merci. There is somepony I'd like you to meet," he said, presenting Spry.

Merci walked forward and shook the hoof of a smiling Spry while she wore her own gaze that could be interpreted as sultry.

"Swift Star," Spry said. Celestia, if I have to keep up this act any longer, I'll break somepony's kneecaps.

"Adorn Mercantile, but you may call me 'Merci'," she said. "Now, how may I be of assistance, dear?" They both looked to Fullbody.

"Ms. Star here is in need of work and offered her acrobatic services for the advertisement group and I know you were in need of several more Pegasi," he said. He levitated the envelope to Merci and she quickly took it in her mouth. "Alright, Ms. Star, Merci will deal with your paperwork and is your boss from now on. You don't answer to me, and you don't use my name as your employer. When you speak of your boss and whom you work for, you work for...?"

"Adorn Mercantile," Spry responded with a giddy tone of voice.

"Good girl," he said, waving her off with a smile. "Enjoy your evening."

Spry waved while Merci winked at Fullbody. Fullbody held his smile even as the doors closed. Spry turned to face forward as Merci's walking pace seemingly doubled. She tucked the envelope under her coat, probably behind her wing, and continued.

"You heard the stallion, you work for me. Now that you work for me, you're going to dress for me. You're going to wear what I tell you to wear. If I tell you to jump, you ask how high. If I tell you to kill, you ask how many ponies. My word is absolute and if you don't hear me, tough because I will not repeat words. Time is money and we have to shape you up by tomorrow evening," Merci said without very small pauses.

Spry nodded with a bent brow as Merci led her down different hallways before stopping in a room that seemed to be a dressing room. She had a second to take in the scenery before a coat was thrown over her back.

"This is your temporary jacket until I can craft an overcoat for you. I don't want any Cutie Marks visible on my staff. The ponies doing the stunts aren't the stars so you'll be wearing something to conceal your Cutie Mark at all times," she said. She tossed several more articles of clothing across the room until she pulled out what seemed to be a body suit. "This is what you wear in flight-temporarily-for the duration of the Market Harvest. You have one extra for when it needs to be washed and you take it off only when you're off duty at home."

Spry rolled her eyes since they weren't visible under all the clothes being tossed on her. Merci stopped tossing clothes shortly after and quickly began cleaning them up. Spry sighed until Merci removed the clothes. Merci stopped and stared at Spry.

"Why aren't you putting on your uniform? I have to make sure you fit the blasted thing," she said.

Spry sighed and proceeded to unzip the bodysuit given to her. Quickly, she slipped into it with no hassle and zipped it up. Dressed in five seconds and a perfect fit to boot.

"My, you are agile. I can only imagine the other things you're capable of doing," she said gleefully, clopping her hooves together.

"Well, 'Swift' is a synonym for 'agile'," she beamed.

"Honey, please drop the act. You don't have to pretend in front of me and if you do, you'll merely get the whip," Merci replied with a deadpan voice. Spry looked over at Merci, seeing her glare. "Now, what is your real name?"

"How did you know?" Spry replied with a dull voice, her entire body visibly slumping.

"I think I have amnesia. I was certain I said something about repeating myself?" Merci responded, obnoxiously projecting her voice.

"Spry. My name is Spry," she spat out, fluttering her wings.

"The intel was correct." Merci giggled. "Fullbody never travels without his guards following him, and right after you proposed your services, I quickly checked on who you were. I'm not just the advertisement manager."

Spry's glare deepened as she leaned forward, allowing her hair to droop over her eyes. Merci giggled.

"So you're the head of security? Or do you enjoy spy work?" Spry said.

"I just like having dirt on my employees. It makes them so much more cooperative, and the best part is, I have dirt on Fullbody. I'm the most powerful pony in his precious empire, and all it takes is one bad day for me to spill the beans," Merci responded. "A girl's gotta eat no matter who she drags down."

There was a cold silence between the two with glares being exchanged. Spry twisted her head to the side as if the alternate angle would allow her to stare into Merci's soul. The stare continued for seconds, then a minute.

"You're a stone cold heartless bitch, which makes you the best pony I've met in years," Spry responded with a slight smile.

"Under normal circumstances, I'd buck you to Tatarus and back for that bitch comment, but you're blunt and honest without fear to speak your word. You'll fit in with my staff," Merci said.

"Good. I take it you know why I'm here as well?" Spry asked, tearing off the bodysuit.

"Intelligence on Fullbody as well as a quick buck. You're advertising for another team but since you aren't performing, you're free to roam around," Merci listed off. She sat down on a bench, and sighed. "Deception is something I enjoy. I dress up commercials to look perfectly innocent be it advertisements, products or even company relationships. Anything to make it work, really."

"Why are you telling me this?" Spry asked, kicking at the overcoat.

"Because no matter what I tell you, the condemning material that I have on you is enough to banish you to the moon for six eternities," Merci said in a matter-of-factly voice.

"I'll take your word for that. But still, even if the dirt you have on others is large, it will only wear down on their minds. They'll grow scared that you'll reveal their secrets regardless and more likely to betray anyways," Spry said, sitting down on the small pile of clothes.

"I have a way around that. I just act friendly and treat them nicely, and they'll believe they're perfectly safe," Merci said sweetly, keeping her head held high.

Spry twisted her head to the side, almost glaring at Merci.

"So why explain it to me?"

Chuckling, Merci waved a hoof. "Darling, I know many types of ponies. You're loyal to your boss and dislike the restrictions others put on you. All I merely ask of you is to put your trust in me. I can be a nightmare, but you're one of the few ponies I've actually met that I liked within minutes of knowing. I like your character, and dislike the restrictions. You will fit right in with my staff."

Spry smirked. "Very well, then. I can guarantee my participation, but I cannot guarantee that my other boss won't be asking questions."

Merci raised an eyebrow. "And you'll answer everything she asks you without hesitation?" Spry nodded her head. Merci frowned. "Regardless of the dirt I have on you?"

"Tell me, do you know who my boss is, or did you just search for me with your 'network'?" Spry asked.

"I checked to see who your boss is, and I found nothing. Everything with your documents that I could get my hands on in the past six hours registered you with a dog and a pony, both listed as partners. This boss you speak of either doesn't exist, or is damn good at vanishing," Merci responded, crestfallen. "Which is impressive if it's the truth."

Spry chuckled. "There certainly aren't a lack of magic tricks with her... and trust me. She's a lot worse than you could ever hope to be."

[*][*][*]

Rainbow did a massive leap across the plain white room, landing face first onto pillow atop a soft bed. The moonlight gave the room a dull glow and Rainbow shifted her head so she was looking outside the balcony doors. Pegasi were flying through the skies, managing the weather to suit the Market Harvest.

AJ's trust... if I give her my trust, I trust her to be there for me in every way. I trust her to be my shoulder to cry on and be the pony that I tell everything, Rainbow thought. Applejack is on her way upstairs now, and if I talk to her now, I'll be at a complete loss for what to say. Trust. I gave Applejack my trust, and I have hers.

Rainbow's eyes widened. She rolled out of her bed and ran to the balcony. Unlocking the doors and opening them, she flew out of the room and up five floors to the top of the hotel. She stopped on the roof, letting her hooves sink into the stones.

"Trust. Applejack has my utmost trust. I'd do anything for her, because she deserves it, and I have her trust," Rainbow said out loud, pacing in circles.

"You don't just give that to anypony. You don't just hand out your absolute trust unless you... well, absolutely trust them. That wasn't Applejack asking me to trust her. It was more. And I accepted it. I want it. And I want to give it back."

Rainbow Dash stopped, her groove in the stoned roof disrupted as she walked towards the edge of the building's rooftop. She stared out over the city once more, remembering the talk Applejack and her shared earlier during dinner. She smiled warmly, feeling herself sigh.

"Rainbow Dash?" a tiny, southern voice squeaked out from below.

Rainbow leaned over the edge, spotting her balcony five floors below. She gracefully leaned forward until she flipped over the rails and allowed herself to fall down, her mane and tail flapping in the wind. Her mind was giddy, full of excitement the same way Pinkie Pie would react upon discovering a new pony. Emotions flushing forward in excitement, and Rainbow chuckled.

She spun around in the air with the help of her wings and floated up towards her balcony. There, Applejack walked out and stood on the edge. Rainbow leaned her forehooves against the railing while staying suspended in the air. Applejack had her hair hanging down while her stetson was elsewhere.

"Applejack, you're a silly filly with a head permanently on cloud nine," Rainbow said softly, chuckling.

"Uh, a'ight," Applejack said, chuckling. "You a'ight, sugarcube?"

Giggling, Rainbow closed her eyes, resting her head atop her hooves. She stared at Applejack with half-lidded eyes.

"I'm fine, 'jack. I just realized something, that's all." Rainbow sighed, slowly giggling before breaking out into a full laugh. Applejack laughed in confusion. Halting, Rainbow leaned forward, dangling her forelegs over the railing while balancing her entire body on it. No longer suspended, Rainbow allowed her body to laze out over the railings. She looked up at Applejack, feeling her entire body weaken.

She looks so cute with her hair down, and her sweet little innocent look of confusion now is priceless, Rainbow thought.

The cyan Pegasus pulled herself over the railing entirely, landing on the floor in a heap before jumping to her hooves. She grinned sheepishly at Applejack and just as the farmer turned to go back inside, Rainbow reached over and grabbed her shoulder.

"'ey, what're ya doin'?" Applejack asked as Rainbow yanked her out onto the balcony again.

Rainbow placed Applejack right in front of her with the moon shining down on them from the side. The cyan mare stared into Applejack's eyes, merely inches away from each other. Applejack froze up entirely, her mouth hanging agape.

"You're incredible, you know that, Applejack?" Rainbow asked. A small nod from the farmer made Rainbow chuckle. "I still can't get over this revelation. Something I should have seen years ago I'm seeing for the first time, and it's... it's just incredible. You're many things I couldn't be, and I wouldn't want to know you any other way."

Rainbow Dash leaned in, pressing her forehead against Applejack's. Their heads tilted downward, and both ponies were silenced. Their breaths were caught by each others noses, causing both faces to lighten up with a reddish tint. Both were panting slightly from excitement, and Rainbow grinned.

Applejack raised a hoof up to Rainbow's face, caressing the side. Rainbow's hoof removed itself from Applejack's shoulder and wrapped around your head.

"Your hair looks nice when it's not tied up," Rainbow whispered.

"Yours looks nice when it is," Applejack responded just as quietly.

Their breaths stopped and Rainbow leaned back a mere centimetre. Rainbow's eyes were half-lidded while Applejack's assumed the same status.

I gave her more than my trust. I gave her my love.

Rainbow leaned in, pressing her lips against Applejack's. Both ponies seemed shocked by the motion, but none hated it. Their little hearts fluttered like butterflies, light as can be. Rainbow's wings began to flutter themselves, and she closed her eyes. Her lips, pressed against Applejack's, was such a simple form of contact yet it sent her soaring higher than any cloud she had seen in her life.

This is flying, Rainbow thought. Her lips taste simple. Apples, nothing to extravagant, and yet it's amazing. This is Applejack, laid out bare for me. She gave me her love, and I gave her my own. This is why I enjoy Applejack's embrace and company. I love her, and I want nothing but the best.

After a mere five seconds, their lips parted and they stared at each other with half-lidded eyes. Panting with drooling tongues, they were worked up over such a small act yet felt no shame over it. Rainbow continued staring into Applejack's green eyes.

Those emerald, green eyes...

"Rainbow, Ah don' know what t' say," Applejack said quietly.

"I love you, Applejack. It took me realizing how important you truly are to the world to realize it, and took me realizing how important you are to me. You're one heck of a girl, the only one to hold her own against me in all areas... excluding flying, and know when to smack me into submission when my mouth runs faster than I do," Rainbow said.

Applejack's mouth broke into a smile and her eyes seemed to brighten. Rainbow leaned in forward, pecking her on the head.

"I don't know what your response is to me, and you said you don't know either, so I won't pry. I just want you to know how important you are to me," Rainbow said.

She took a step back, and both ponies exhaled deeply. They turned to go inside and glanced at each other from the side. Rainbow's heart beat a mile a minute in her chest, and so did Applejack's.

"Thank ya for everythin', sugarcube," Applejack responded.

"No thanks necessary. Let's just get some sleep. We've got a big day, tomorrow," Rainbow said.

Closing the balcony door, they quickly hopped into their respective beds, snuggling up into their blankets and allowed sleep to take over.

Chapter Notes: I WILL NO LONGER UPDATE THIS STORY. THIS IS THE OLD DOCUMENT. The NEW story can be found on my profile under the name, "The Story of the Apple Spectrum;" it has the rewrites and will be where I continue this story. Chapter 4-8 will be posted THERE, not in this document.

Thank you.