I found the happy couple on the Corner pavillion, right where they said they’d be, bathed in the soft glow from the dozens of lanterns strung overhead. Even among the herd scattered around the tables, they weren’t hard to miss. Rarity, with her elegant coiffure and not-quite-too-urban scarf; Fluttershy with the kind of natural beauty that some mares would kill for, the tips of her mane and tail tied up with petite bows.

I didn’t waste any time getting close enough to draw their attention.

“Applejack!” beamed Rarity, followed immediately by Fluttershy’s quieter welcome.

“Howdy, strangers! Glad to see you two back!”

We hugged, naturally, and I found a bench pushed up against me.

“Oh, it’s so good to be back, darling. I tell you, Fillydelphia is fantastic for a home, but Ponyville will always be special. You know that, of course you do, what am I saying!” Rarity chuckled at herself.

“Ain’t no problem, Rares. Good to see you still excited about the place.” It was true, we’d all been a bit concerned when the announced they were actually moving away, but it seems they’d kept Ponyville as their second home.

“The decorations are lovely,” chimed Fluttershy, gazing serenely at the lanterns.

“Oh, simply delightful,” Rarity added. “Charming, rustic, individualized. Pinkie’s handiwork, I presume? I must say, quite subdued from what I would have anticipated from her. . .”

“Nah, Pinkie didn’t have a hoof in it. Well, not much of one. That there’s Applebloom’s idea.”

“Is that so?”

“You betcha.” I couldn’t help but beam with sibling pride. “Every pony in ponyville got their color and mark on one o’them lanterns. See. . . Heh, there’s Big Macintosh’s, over there.”

I pointed a hoof, drawing their gaze.

“Right next to Miss Cheerilee, I see?” Rarity gave a lilt in her voice, digging for more.

“Yep. Still ‘Miss,’ but we’ll see how much longer that lasts. Believe you me, you’ll be the first to know.” I thought about what I said for a second. “Well, after Pinkie Pie.”

“How true,” said Rarity, wistfully, “how true.”

“I noticed you don’t have as much of your family here this year, is everything okay?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah.” Usually the whole apple clan congregates on the farm for the Summer Sun Celebration, almost like an unofficial reunion. “I guess we don’t talk much about it, Fluttershy, but last year might’ve been the last of the big Apple shindigs. Without granny, well, ‘tjust ain’t the same.”

“I can certainly understand that,” Rarity agreed. “Last year did seem a bit strained. Not that it was a bad party, but definitely strained.”

A moment passed, and we listened to the noise of conversations around us. What do you say after something like that?

“Well,” I finally said, “Heard y’all had something to see me about?”

They shared a glance before Fluttershy answered.

“Yes, Applejack, we do. It’s kind of a surprise, actually. . .”

She trailed off, almost uncertain. It took me only a heartbeat to put two and two together. They’d been planning to have a foal next year, but if something had come up, well, it couldn’t happen soon enough for the two of them, I say.

“Boy howdy, y’all don’t mean you’re expecting already? Congratulations!”

“No, oh no, nothing like that,” Fluttershy quickly interrupted.

“Indeed,” said Rarity. “We’re still on-schedule, I assure you, but we are being very certain to ‘get all our ducks in a row,’ as it were, first. Our dear Time Turner has been very understanding. And, as you said, you’ll be the first to know - after Pinkie Pie, I’m sure.”

“Right. Got a bit ahead of myself, I suppose. What’s the surprise then? Y’aint’t moving back, are ya?”

“No, Applejack.” Fluttershy was being all delicate with me all of a sudden, I started getting nervous. “We love Fillydelphia dearly, you know that, and that’s where we’re going to raise our foal - don’t ask about names yet, that’s our secret for now.”

“M’kay. . .”

They shared another one of those looks.

“Applejack, darling. . . Well, we brought somepony we thought you should meet.”

“Oh,” I said. “I thought we went over this I don’t--”

“We know you don’t and we didn’t,” Rarity was quick to clarify.

The last time I heard those words out of her mouth, ‘we brought somepony we thought you should meet,’ was one of the most awkward two hours of my life. The poor stallion tried so hard, he really did, and there wasn’t really anything wrong with him. . . He just didn’t, well, fit. Cherries? Well, okay. Honest, powerful, sensitive? Sure. But it was like his life goals were work and more work. Now I’m a workin’ pony, don’t let anypony tell you otherwise, but that’s for ME. If he wants to help out, fine, but there’s gotta be something more.

“No more playing the matchmaker for Applejack. But, well. . . Oh, Fluttershy dear, why don’t you go find her?”

“I think I know where she’ll be.” Fluttershy stood, an otherwise mundane action that she filled wihn unconscious grace, and gave me a soft, hesitant smile. “Be back in a minute.”

We watched her leave for a moment, surrounded by the murmur of other voices.

“‘She?’” I said, incredulous.

“Yes, ‘she,’ Applejack.” Rarity was being oddly sincere about this. “And this isn’t a match-make, Pinkie Promise. But, are you seeing anypony?”

I harrumphed.

“No, I ain’t seeing anypony, and no I ain’t looking or looking to look. I’m fine with my life without nopony getting in the way right now, and the Acres is probably better for it right now, what with Granny--”

“It’s been almost two years, now, Applejack.”

“--And Big Macintosh getting sweet with his schoolteacher - don’t get me wrong, I’m all for it, it’s about time they got wise about their feelings for each other. Applebloom is doing her part, but it’s not the kind of thing I can help her with, y’know?”

Rarity watched me closely for a breath before responding.

“Perhaps, but that’s not the whole story. Don’t shake your head, and I say this as a friend. I saw that look when you thought dear Shy was pregnant. I know that look, and there’s no shame in it. Are you absolutely certain that you aren’t hoping for somepony? I mean, you only. . .”

She trailed off, suddenly apprehensive. I thought I knew where she was going with this. If she wanted to talk about HER, that was her business, but better she just out and say it.

“Only, what?” The words came out more harsh than I intended. “Only what, Rares?”

“Applejack, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean anything. It’s just… have you two even talked since, is it three years now?”

Three years, three months, fourteen days and this afternoon.

“I don’t know,” I said.

A silence descended for a bit again, this one a bit less welcome than the last. Rarity took a sip of her drink.

“I’m sorry Rares. I just don’t want to think about her right now.”

The look she gave me was almost one of pity.

“I was afraid of that.”

“Huh?”

Afraid? What in tarnation would she have reason to be afraid of a buck-up from a lifetime ago? Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to ask, because about that moment, somepony was brought back from the dead.

“O-o-okay, and. . . here.” Fluttershy returned from behind me, with an extra set of hooves. “You can open your eyes now.”

I began to say, ‘Open what now,’ but as I turned I realized that it wasn’t directed at me.

With her was a pegasus mare, about our age. Her coat was a vibrant blue, like the sky on a summer day; anypony else would call her eyes - oh her eyes! - ‘rose,’ but I knew better and labeled them ‘cerise;’ the best set of wings ever made; a mane and tail that would smell of ozone and - of all things - chamomile if I were close enough, colored the same as her name.

“Rainbow,” I breathed.

I was too stunned to be stunned. I felt my ears flush, and my heart suddenly decided I’d just run across Equestria. I didn’t remember getting to my hooves, but I found myself standing. The only conscious thought in my mind was, ‘I know every curve under those wings.’

It’s amazing how ponies can convince themselves of things. Like wow I always imagined that if we ever saw each other again, only one thing would happen: I would finally make good on my promise to buck her face in.

But that didn’t happen. It didn’t even occur to me. I was too busy raking my eyes over her, exploring every feather, every cord of muscle, every strand of mane and tail, every hope, dream, fear, and memory hidden in that unequaled face. An eternity could have passed and it wouldn’t be long enough to take her all in.

“Uh, hey, AJ.” That voice…! “Long time.”

Zero seconds.

I disengaged my lip from my teeth so I could answer.

“Yeah. Uh, yeah it has.”

Fluttershy and Rarity said something then, I don’t remember. Some form of excusing themselves. Maybe something about Pinkie Pie and Rarity’s wardrobe. I just remember Fluttershy whispering something to Rainbow as she left, me standing there stupid like a fencepost.

I mean, what could you say after everything?

“You look good, Rainbow.” So original.

She did look good. Real good. She did look tired, the kind you’d expect from a professional athlete. Older, sure, three years won’t fail to leave some mark. Her hair was cut different, but I found I liked it - shorter, but still lively and rebellious.

“Uh, thanks.”

We managed to sit down across from each other.

“So,” she finally said, “Summer Sun Celebration in Ponyville.”

“Eeyup.” The word stretched for a while before the emptiness snapped it. “We-- Well, we all make a point to come back at least once a year for this. You know, Nightmare Moon and all.”

“Yeah, I know. I got the letters.” She shifted a bit. “And Flutters reminded me.”

I wanted to say ‘took you long enough to show up,’ but that would’ve been mean. Well, meaner. Instead I just gave another ‘eeyup.’

“She talked me into coming back, you know. Fluttershy did, I mean.”

“No, I didn’t know.”

“Yeah.”

Another silence came. Her eyes mostly avoided me, only flickering to me off and on. I don’t think I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. She took a sip of a drink I hadn’t yet realized she had brought. She slurped.

“You’re slurping,” I said.

She looked at me with an unreadable gaze, turned it to the direction Fluttershy left, then looked away.

“Smaller than I expected,” she said, her voice neutral, almost amiable. “I mean, I know Ponyville - well, I did. Just seems like there are fewer ponies here.”

“Yeah, there aren’t as many. Having only the local Apples will do that.”

“Huh? Oh, you, Mac, Granny, an’ Bloo--” she visibly deflated a little. “Right, Granny Smith.”

“Yeah,” I agreed.

“Look, AJ… For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I should’ve come back for that. I meant to, honest I did. But the schedule had me fully booked, then when I finally had a break. . .”

Probably the bit about my promise to buck in her face.

“Y’don’t have to explain, Rainbow.”

“It’s just, Granny, she…”

I didn’t ever find out what she, as Rainbow cut herself off very quickly. I had a few guesses, and I didn’t like the memories that came with them.

“Applebloom got her cutie mark.”

“Yeah, heard about that, too. Good for her. Mechanics?”

“Yup.” I pulled down my stetson and gestured to a clean rip along the brim. “Casualty of her ‘rotary seeder, mark three.’ Think she’s up to eight, now, they work pretty well. We’ll see if Mister Rich can find a way to retail them to the plains ponies.”

“Yeah, Stootaloo told me about her seeders. And the juicers, and the pneumatics, and the trolleys.”

I bristled a bit at that, that Rainbow still had that kind of connection to my little sister. She was MY little sister, not hers. It was petty of me, but there it is. Suppose I can’t control how she lives her life, or her friends.

“She still--”

“How--”

We began talking at the same time, and stopped abruptly. We both looked away from each other for a bit. She slurped again.

“The ‘Bolts treating you right?” It’s a bland question, but it’s something, right?

“Pretty awesome, yeah.”

“Captain?”

“Nah. Not yet.”

“‘Yet’?”

“Nah.” She slurped again. “Soarin has it pretty well managed. I’m still near the top of my game, I don’t want to deal with all that paperwork while the sky is still mine.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

“Do…” I paused as the words formed, and I noticed how tight my chest felt. “Did you and he ever…?”

“What?” She seemed almost surprised at the implication that they had been together, her answer very quick. “No! Nah, never really clicked. Made a few passes though, I remember now. The press made such a big deal out of it.” Another slurp. “Don’t get me wrong, ponies are free to think I’m awesome, but that’s just dumb. Beyond-Rarity senselessness.”

Beside myself, I giggled at that.

“Don’t let her hear you say that.”

“Yeah, probably not,” she agreed with a chuckle of her own.

Then the silence was back.

“What’s up with these lanterns, anyway? I recognize some of them… cutie marks? Yeah, that’s Cloud Kicker’s there… DT, the Cakes…”

“Applebloom’s idea,” I said, rather clipped.

“Heh, that filly. You know, the way Scootaloo and she get on, I wonder if they’ll ever be something more than friends.”

Now that idea didn’t sit right with me at all for some reason.

“I don’t think so,” is what I said.

“Huh? You gotta admit, there’s something going on there. It’s like Sweetie’s a third wheel half the time!”

“And I think you and I turned her off of such notions long ago.”

I felt my ears getting hot again.

Rainbow seemed nonplussed for a moment, then chuckled to herself.

“Heh, probably. Hey, remember that time when you chewed me out--” nopenopenope “--for tornado-picking the wrong orchard?”

Of course I remembered. I remembered everything. Rainbow continued, as if revisiting the memories for the first time.

“Ha, or when I accidentally let the hogs and the cows loose at the same time, and we had to get half of Ponyville to wrangle them all back in?”

“Rainbow...” I growled in warning, but she continued.

“No, hee, when I ruined those barrels and you got so mad you bucked them to pieces?”

“Rainbow, stop talki--”

“Or when you split the bedframe, that was epic!”

“Rainbow, SHUT UP!”

or her part, Rainbow did shut up, recoiling in some shock.

It was a few breaths before she spoke again.

“I’m sorry, AJ, I just thought it was funny--”

“T’ain’t funny, so leave it!”

She cast a desperate look away again before assuming a stiff pose and taking a severe interest in the color of her drink.

I finally caught myself standing over half the table, so I pulled back and sat down again. Then I realized her glance had been towards Fluttershy again.

“Rainbow,” I said, sullen, “What did Flutershy say to you?”

“D’sn’t mtr,” she muttered.

“Don’t ‘doesn’t matter’ me, RD, spit it out.”

Rainbow glowered at me for a moment.

“She said, ‘be nice.’”

‘’Be nice’? What does that mean?”

“She didn’t explain it for me, AJ, so why don’t you go find her and ask her!”

“Well excuse me if I have trouble understanding a mare who doesn’t write for thirteen seasons!”

“Thir-- You could’ve written if, it was so important to you!”

“I didn’t think I had to make the first gesture to the ‘Element of Loyalty!’”

“Excuse me, Miss Honesty, but I remember somepony vowing on the blood of her dead parents that if I so much as showed my face again she’d buck my face off and pin my dismembered wings in Ghastly Gorge!”

“And what did you say about me just before that? Something about an ‘ego-centric, manipulative, jealous clod with an apple tree stuffed up her plot,’ and don’t get me started on your insinuations about my cousins!”

“It was a joke!”

“It wasn’t ever funny!”

“I said I was sorry!”

“Y’always say you’re sorry, but it never sticks! Everything’s a game to y--”

“Oh, because tutoring wasn’t serious enou--”

“--could never listen for five seconds with cracki--”

“--than being stuck in your claustrophobic think--”

“--had NO! RIGHT! AT ALL t’take my place with my sister!”

“You said it yourself, AJ, you didn’t know where I ‘fit’! If you’d pull your head out of your plot and think for two seconds, you’ll remember that I TRIED! We both did! But YOU didn’t want me here, and YOU didn’t want me there, you, you, you, you, YOU! Applebloom called me her sister once, and I know you heard it and I bet you couldn’t stand it, could you?!”

I did remember that conversation. It was the proudest moment I had those last months. Even as everything was falling apart, a sign that maybe we were doing something right. That maybe Rainbow actually had a place with me. With my family.

I don’t remember doing it; I don’t remember why I did it; but the next instant I was across the table again, my muzzle buried in hers, kissing her. Kissing each other. Kissing like we had three years ago; like we should have been doing every day for three years, three months, fourteen days and this afternoon.

A heartbeat later, she was gone; gone so quickly that I had to catch myself from toppling forward.

“Don’t--” Her voice was shaking.

I was opening my eyes, when a blur of a wing snapped forward and my cheek exploded. I didn’t fall - it takes more than that to send me over - but it stung like nothing I’d ever felt before. I sucked in a pained breath and found her with my eyes again.

Framed by her defiant mane was a face that made my heart break. Those cerise eyes held every bit of pain I’d heaped upon myself: anger, want, loss, doubt; yes, fear.

“Don’t...” she repeated, “Just… Don’t.”

With another snap of her wings, she erupted into the night sky, a few of the lantern covers tumbling down in her wake. For I don’t know how long, I just stood there, looking up. Then I felt the stares.

“And what’re y’all looking at?!”

Rarity and Fluttershy raced towards me, cutting through the scene, Fluttershy with her wings flared in wild concern. Close in tow was my brother and Cheerilee.

“Whatever happened? Darling! We heard yelling, where’s Rainb--”

“You!” I roared - Celestia’s day, I roared  - at poor, well-meaning Fluttershy. “You brought her here, and, and… Ponyfeathers!” I slammed my hoof down, splintering the table beneath me. Rarity stood before her, protective. It was impossible for me to have cared less.

“What’s the matter,” Cheerilee asked, “What’s going on? Applejack?”

“Nothing. Y’hear me, nothing’s going on, and y’all should just git, find somewhere you can wait alone together for the clodding Sun to rise for all I care. Go on, GIT!”

To their credit, many quickly filtered away. I just stood there, shaking, looking past my hooves and the dirt, replaying the scene in my mind.

“AJ,” I felt my brother beside me. “C’mon, let’s get you cleaned up.”

“Go away.”

“That’s no way to talk to your brother, now c’mon.” He put his hoof under my chin. “Looks like you got clobbered pretty good, there shug--”

“DON’T YOU TOUCH IT!”

Without even realizing it, I slapped his hoof away.

“Don’t… don’t touch it.”

Cheerilee was saying something, berating me for that. I didn’t listen. I just put a hoof to my cheek, where it still stung. It felt more alive than my lips had.

I didn’t regret what I did, I decided. Not really. My only regret was that the sting would soon fade and there would be nothing.

Cheerilee and my friends - ha! - went away, leaving my brother alone with me, looking at me with those sad eyes of his.

“Y’all made a mess, AJ.”

I didn’t speak, I just nodded numbly.

He tromped up to me again, and I soon found myself on the ground, propped up on his barrel. I found thrust into my hooves a small paper lantern cover, peach and red, with a familiar cutie mark on it: apple petals and a cog.

Until that moment, finding my sides heaving with gulps for air between howling sobs, I hadn’t been aware that I had been fighting back tears.

While pops and crinkles of fireworks blossomed to the delight of ponies elsewhere, I bawled my eyes out like a foal.