“Twilight, is she gone?” Applejack asked, cowering under the window of her house at Sweet Apple Acres.

        “I can’t tell if I’m crouched down next to you,” she said flatly.

        “Well, could you check?” Applejack pleaded, teeth chattering and eyes shifting back and forth.

        Twilight huffed and rose from the floor to look out the window. There was nothing outside but the bright blue summer sky and a grove of healthy apple trees, their leaves rustling in the warm breeze.

        “I think she’s gone,” Twilight reported, and Applejack heaved a huge sigh of relief.

        “What’s gotten into you, Applejack?” Twilight asked as Applejack rose from the floor, adjusting her Stetson. “You’re acting like a filly about all of this.”

        “I know, but I’m so embarrassed! I don’t think I can show my face to Rainbow Dash ever again!”

        “So you got a little drunk at Pinkie’s party last night,” Twilight recounted with a casual grin. “That’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

        “You know it was more than that, Twilight,” Applejack said sternly, staring Twilight down. Twilight grinned sheepishly and looked away.

        “Applejack, ponies have done sillier things when they’ve been intoxicated. Do you remember Berry Punch dancing on the table before it collapsed from under her hooves?”

        “That was a relief. At least that got the attention off of me and Dash.”

        “But Applejack, don’t you understand why she’s been looking for you all day?” Twilight insisted. “Isn’t it obvious how she feels about you?”

        “Oh, what was I thinking? I was talkin’ to you and told you I had a thing for Dash, and you convinced me to go over to her and talk to her. That makes this your fault!” Applejack jabbed at Twilight with her hoof.

        “My fault? You’re the one that started making out with her!”

        “What are you talkin’ about?” came Apple Bloom’s voice from the kitchen. Twilight and Applejack stared at her blankly, Applejack’s hoof still prodding Twilight’s chest. She lowered her hoof and smiled at Apple Bloom.

        “Never mind, sis, ain’t nothin’ wrong.”

        “I heard somethin’ about makin’ out,” Apple Bloom said, rubbing her chin with her hoof.

        “This is really a private matter between me and Applejack,” Twilight reasoned.

        “Oh, so you were makin’ out with Twilight?” Apple Bloom asked.

        “No!” Applejack shouted. “I mean, heh...no, Bloom. But it really ain’t your business, as Twilight said.”

        “Fine…” Apple Bloom said with a sigh. “I’ll just go outside.”

        “Thank ya kindly,” Applejack said, before giving Twilight a dirty look.

        “Did you really have to blab like that?” she asked.

        “Sorry,” Twilight said. “I got a bit carried away.”

        “Well, she was gonna find out sooner or later… But Twilight, what am I supposed to do? I can’t face Dash after...after all that!”

        “Sure you can,” Twilight said. “You’re one of the bravest ponies I know. We both know it wasn’t a mistake. You have genuine feelings for her. And she’s been looking for you all day, so what does that tell you?”

        “She probably just wants to make fun of me…” Applejack said gloomily, covering her eyes with the brim of her Stetson.

        “Applejack, I promised Rainbow Dash I would help her look for you, and now that I’ve found you, I have an obligation to bring you to her.”

        Applejack raised the brim of her Stetson back and glared at Twilight. “That’s real low, Twilight. Real low.”

        “It’s the truth. We stuck cupcakes in our eyes and everything. Now, come on, are you going to be a foal about this? You’re worse than Rarity the first time she saw Trenderhoof.”

        “I thought I told you to never speak of that pony ever again.”

        “But the comparison is valid. Look, you and Rainbow Dash have been friends for years. Look at all you’ve been through together! All those competitions, all those adventures. It was almost like it was destined to happen.”

        “Pfft,” Applejack sputtered. “By that logic, I could've fallen in love with you.”

        “And if I felt the same way, I would be more than happy to tell you. Now are you going to go after what you really want, or are you going to let her slip you by?”

        “I’m...but Twilight―”

        “No buts! You deserve to go after what makes you happy. Does Rainbow Dash make you happy?”

        Applejack’s cheeks turned rosy and she chuckled. “I guess she does.”

        “I could tell. You wouldn’t be this much of a softie if you weren’t really in love. So stop twiddling your hooves and go get her!”

        “Well okay then! I’ll talk to her and we’ll see if we can’t work something out.”

        “There you go!” Twilight cheered with a smile that Applejack happily returned. “Now we just have to find her.”

        Twilight and Applejack headed for the front door. Twilight swung it open with her magic and nearly hit Rainbow Dash in the muzzle.

        “Rainbow Dash! What’re you doin’ at my doorstep?” Applejack asked.

        “Um…” Dash stammered, blushing fiercely. “I was just about to knock and...heh, I don’t know really. Why’s Twilight here?”

        “Dash, that’s rude,” Applejack said. “Twilight’s my guest.”

        “Actually, she has a point,” Twilight declared. “I should really be getting home. I left poor Spike all alone at the library.”

        “But I thought Rarity was with him,” Dash said.

        “Bye!” Twilight called loudly and pranced out the door, leaving Applejack and Rainbow Dash alone. Dash looked at Applejack sheepishly, and Applejack was staring off into space. She shook herself out of it.

        “I’m sorry, I’m being rude. Do you want to come in?”

        “Uh, sure,” Dash said. Applejack stepped away from the entranceway, and Dash flew in and took a seat on the couch in the living room. Applejack headed off for the kitchen.

        “Do you want something to drink? Apple juice? Lemonade?”

        “I’m not thirsty,” Dash said.

        “Come on, now, Dash. It’s a hot summer’s day. You must be dyin’ for a drink.”

        “Applejack, you know why I’m here,” Dash said. Applejack nearly tripped as she made her way back to the living room.

        “Dammit, Dash, do you have to be so quick to the punch?”

        “I think last night you were quicker to the punch. You drank like five cups of it, and you know how strong Pinkie makes it.”

        “Oh, Dash, you’re right. I was wasted last night. I, uh, don’t even remember half the stuff I did.”

        “Do you remember kissing me?” Dash asked, and there was a hint of malice in her voice. Applejack coughed and glanced around the room.

        “Uh, that don’t really ring a bell,” Applejack said a bit loudly. “Musta been really plowed if I don’t remember that.”

        “Then why have you been avoiding me all day?” Dash asked. “Look, if you’re ashamed of it and wish it hadn’t happened, you could have just told me. I’m a big mare, I can handle a little disappointment.”

        “Hold on a sec,” Applejack said. “You’re sayin’ you’d be disappointed if I didn’t enjoy it.”

        “Uh, yeah, what’s your point?” Dash asked, now feeling more nervous than Applejack. Next Chapter: The Letdown Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 7 Minutes