Author's Notes:

Hey my loyal followers and watchers alike!

So we come to a conclusion of sorts! I want to apologize if this chapter seems a bit... off for some of you. I unfortunately dug myself so deep in a hole I don't think I can ever really get out of it. But I'll do my best for all of you!

(Revised) I did minor revisions to this chapter but I think most of you can see the differences in the story so far, and to all new readers hope you like the story!

Remember to rate comment and tolerate!

Trixie sat back leaning against the house they were under. Twilight was interested in hearing just what the unicorns life was like. Considering her attitude, Twilight didn’t assume it was a good one. Applejack was also interested but mostly in the part about how Trixie was inspired for her ursa story. The three ponies sat in a triangle of sorts each facing the others equally apart.

"So what happened, Trixie?" Applejack asked growing impatient.

Trixie huffed at the mare glaring at her. "Trixie is getting there!" she yelled shuffling a bit. "Now as Trixie was saying this is how she gained the inspiration for her ursa major story. It was many years ago when Trixie was a filly," Trixie trailed off, lighting her horn as an image of a blue unicorn filly was conjured. The filly pranced around happily. "I was an unexpected child but my mother and father loved me very much."

She looked over to Applejack who seemed to be listening keenly.

"Once I was born my mother and father did their best to raise me together. Married and thus was born my family. As I grew older, mother became more... distant from father and I." She thought back to those days, and thought how happy she and her family were then.

"I was happy then. My father was, even mother was," She closed her eyes focusing on an image of her mother in her head. "But as time went on mother's gaze became distant. She wanted to travel and become famous. She didn't want to be tied down. But father was persistent."

"When she said she was leaving it devastated my father. He begged her to stay but the gleam in her eye never faded. She wanted to travel and that never changed." Trixie looked over to Applejack who had a contemplative look on her face.

"So what happened?" The orange mare asked.

"My mother left, or rather she tried to leave. Father begged and made such a fuss she stayed. Until she came along. A traveling actress on her way to Baltamare came to our town where we lived. When she did mother made up her mind then and there to leave. She wanted to take me but father was having none of it. He fought her in the courts for custody. He won in the end. I never knew why, but I did know he loved me more than she did."

Trixie sighed wiping a stray tear from her eye at the sad memory. The other two listening looked to one another one saddened by the story the other with a look of contemplation.

"I remember talking to her one last time before she left. She said, 'Never give up little one. Always love and care for others and you'll go far in life.' I always thought it was rubbish. Now, I can see I was wrong." Trixie turned her attention to Applejack.

The orange mare stared back at her unsure of what to say. "You're a good pony Applejack. You watch out for your family despite what they say to you and what you say to them. Even when they turn against you, you are by their side through the worst of times."

In truth it hurt Applejack to be told this by Trixie of all ponies. Here she was trying to reason with her on family values and how it ties in with her intolerance of same sex relationships. It was hard to hear, but she couldn't deny her honest nature hearing Trixie's words. She didn't want to believe her, but something inside her just stung, a heavy feeling in her chest. *Trixie has suffered as much as ah did. Yet she's moved on. Am I really so far behind?* Applejack thought to herself staring at the ground.

"Trixie wishes she never abandoned her family. She wishes she forgave them for all that happened. My father, my mother, the mare my mother loved. You still have time to change that. Don't waste it. Your family won't be there forever. Nothing lasts forever." Trixie practically spit the words at the orange mare.

"What happened to your father?" Twilight asked scooting closer to Applejack.

"Another time, Trixie is tired and cold. She wants to return home."

As soon as she finished Trixie stood up and began walking off into the storm. Twilight pleaded for her to stay but blew her off. She didn't want to talk to Twilight now. She wanted to get back to Mary. She worked her way through the maelstrom, Twilight and Applejack went back to the farm, leaving Trixie by herself.

She wondered if the others were looking for her, if Mary was looking for her. She thought about how she stood up for her. It made her smile, until a stick flew into her face making her swear. Then she heard a familiar voice off in the distance.

It was very faint, but it was a voice none the less she knew.

"Trixie!"

She turned to see Rainbow Dash flying towards her. Surprising considering the weather. "Rainbow? What are you doing here?"

The cyan pegasus landed near her giving her a raincoat. "Mary and I were worried about you! You ran off into a storm with Applejack!"

Trixie was about to comment when another voice called her. "Trixie! Are you Okay?"

"Mary." She whispered turning to see a familiar tan mare running in the rain towards them. The mare ran up hugging her tightly and pulled her into a passionate kiss. Rainbow rubbed her neck awkwardly as she tried to find something to look at besides the two. Breaking the kiss Mary looked into Trixie's eyes, she gave her a goofy expression.

SLAP!

Trixie shook her head as a hoof ran across her face leaving a stinging sensation behind. She looked bewildered at the older mare who was staring daggers at her.

"Do you have any idea how scared I was!"

"Sorry." Trixie said weakly, rubbing her cheek. She looked over to Rainbow who was staring at the two of them. "Let's get out of the rain."

"Sounds like a plan to me!" Rainbow yelled doing a backflip. "Do you guys want to go back to Rarity's?"

"No Miss Dash, I think we'll head home." Mary took Trixie by the neck pulling her close.

Trixie blushed fro the closeness to the other mare. She pressed her nose against the wet fur and nuzzled Mary in the chest. Rainbow stiffened at the sight thinking about her and Rarity. *Were Trixie and Mary an item?* She wondered. She shrugged it off and flew off heading back to the boutique.

"Okay. Glad to see you made it out alright, Trix! Be safe you two!" The rainbow maned mare shot off heading back to the boutique as the other two mares saw her off and began their march back home too.

The storm raged on and the two ponies held each other close. Each gave the other the strength to go on in the cold rainy night. Like the storm, Mary's mind was a torrent of emotions. She was glad Trixie was safe but didn't deny the fact she could have been seriously hurt fro the confrontation with Applejack.

She should have done something. This wasn't over not by a long shot. Applejack was in a lot of trouble. As mayor, it was her duty to protect her citizens. This night she failed that duty. She was weak. They trudged along against the maelstrom beating against their bodies. Trixie relied on Mary for guidance.

After several long minutes they arrived back home. Mary guided Trixie as she was too sore to walk on her own. She guided her to the bathroom. There the two mares dried off saying nothing to each other the whole time. As soon as they finished Trixie limped over to bed and covered herself up. Mary followed close behind.

Once under the protective covers, Trixie rolled over nuzzling her partner cuddling close to her. Mary's mind once again fell on Derpy and what she told her. *I can't wait. Tomorrow I will confess to her! I have too.*

That was when they had a perfect moment.They both enjoyed the closeness they shared in that moment. All time seemed to come to a halt, the flame became dim and all the rain from outside ceased to echo across the hose as they fell. All they wanted was to look in each other's eyes and forget all their troubles from the past few days.

The two continued to look into their eyes. Neither said a word. All they needed in this moment was each other. Mary placed her hoof gently on Trixie's cheek, running it slowly down her left cheek and down to her lips, where she held it on the tip. Trixie opened her mouth slightly taking hold of Mary's hoof with both of hers kissing it gently. She then leaned into the older mares chest, breathing in her scent.

The blue mare then rubbed her head under Mary's chin, careful not to poke her with her horn.

"Mary?"

Trixie's voice startled her, making her jump slightly. "Wh-what's wrong Trixie?"

"Nothing's wrong." she said rubbing the mares chest. "I was just wondering, I mean- I wanted to thank you for coming to find me tonight. That was sweet of you. Stupid. But sweet." She reached over to her and pulled the tan mare close giving her a quick peck on the lips. Mary blushed looking away from her.

"Thanks Trixie." she said, kindly pushing the mare into her chest.

Neither pony said a word, but they were both torn by emotions they felt for the other, and certain individuals they still had feelings for. For Mary thoughts about Derpy filled her mind, while Trixie thought about Maud.

The Trixie smiled resting her head atop of the tan mare's shoulder. They two soon drifted off to sleep, the long day had tired them both out. For Mary the emotional drama left her drained and Trixie was physically exhausted beyond reason. Regardless the two found comfort in their embrace and not a sound made them stir for the rest of the night.

***

Mean while at Sweet Apple Acres

Twilight and Applejack made their way back to the farm with little trouble. Applejack was deep in thought about what Trixie said. Well, not so much what she said, but what she had implied, and what that translated to in her head. *Family. What does she know about family?* the mare thought stubbornly.

They went inside the house. It was dark. Twilight used her horn bring light to the darkness. AJ was grateful having her friend around, especially at times like this. Every one of the Apples was already asleep by the time they got back. Granny Smiths chair was left unattended and the house was eerily silent without Apple Bloom saying how she was gonna get her cutie mark. In the silence the only sound was the echoing of their hooves clopping along the wooden floors and the howling wind and rain outside.

"Twi, you can go use the bathroom to dry yerself off. I'll go dry off in mah room." she said to the lavender unicorn. "Once yer done we can get you can use mah bed to sleep in. I'll take the couch."

Twilight was at the base of the stairs when Applejack went up. She stood their watching her as she went around the flight and was grateful for the rain. It was easy to hide her tears of disappointment.

"Applejack." Twilight climbed the stairs. Each steps felt like she was carrying a ton of bricks on her shoulders. AJ's hate towards fillyfoolers made her uneasy. How had she missed all the signs until now? Was she really that bad at understanding other ponies?

Twilight was so confused and sad at that moment. So much she didn't notice a large orange blur standing in her way. She came out of her daze when she realized it was Applejack's flank she'd bumped into. "AJ! I'm so sorry- I wasn't paying attention and-"

"Whoa, there sugarcube! It's all right. You had a lot happen today," She cooed rubbing her friends back. "We both are under a lot of stress and could use a good night's rest."

Twilight melted from her back rub. It was nothing big but to Twilight, such contact with her friend was enough to make her feel abashed. *Oh, Aj. Please don't stop.* Twilight begged in her mind. When the orange mare stopped, Twilight pouted causing her to giggle.

"You liked that huh?" The orange mare teased her friend. Twilight gave her an unamused scowl.

"Ah was just teasing, Twi." she said nudging her in the shoulder. "Now, come on let's get dried up and head off to bed."

"OK, AJ."

The two dried off and Applejack lead Twilight to her room. It was a simple room for sure. It had a single bed in the center with a hoof woven quilt on it. There was a dresser and a nightstand on either side of the bed. Various trophies and awards donned her walls of athleticism and farming awards. *I never knew. Then again it doesn't surprise me either considering how she is with Rainbow.* Twilight mused.

Applejack walked over pulling extra blankets from her closet and an extra pillow. "Do ya need anything Twi?"

"No, I got everything AJ." the unicorn said, shaking her head. AJ nodded heading for the door. When she reached for the door knob lightning struck, and a number of things happened. Twilight's mind was rushing with thought of her sleeping in her best friends bed and forcing her to sleep on the couch. At the same time she wanted to use anything as an excuse to stay with her, without her knowing of Twilight's feelings for her. She was desperate. When the lightning struck and the sound of thunder boomed making AJ jump slightly an idea struck her.

She lunged forward screaming as loud as she could, gripping the earth pony with all her might. "AJ. Please don't make me sleep alone. I'm scared." Twilight lied.

A moment of silence followed and Twilight was sure her plan would fail in the end. She never thought about it, but there was a lightning storm during her first sleepover. It was possible Applejack would put two and two together and realize she was lying. To Twilight’s surprise her plan worked. Applejack wrapped her arms around her protectively, pulling her close.

"You afraid of lightning Twi?" she asked raising an inquisitive brow. She nodded looking up to Applejack. "I see. You want me to sleep close by?" She nodded again. "OK Twilight." Applejack sighed, smiling at the unicorn.

She walked over to a closet getting a sleeping bag out she used for camping. She placed the bag near the bed allowing Twilight to sleep on it. As the two got settled in thunder struck again. To keep up on her ruse, Twilight squeaked jumping off the bed and landed near AJ cowering under the blankets with her.

Applejack giggled at the sight of the mare hiding under the covers. Her rear sticking out as she shook under the covers. she slowly got under the covers beside Twilight. Her body pressed against hers making her shudder from the contact. Twilight blushed as she snuggled up beside Applejack but kept some space between them.

"Good night, AJ." Twilight said snuggling in the blanket.

"Good night, Twi."

Applejack fell asleep and left Twilight in contemplation of her situation. *What do I do? I can't keep this charade up for ever. Why did I have to fall in love with you AJ? Why you? Why me? Why must I suffer alone?* A tear rolled down her eye as she reached for Applejack wrapping her arms around her slithering closer to her. However her mind rushed as she thought how close she was and how beautiful the orange mare was. Fearful thoughts of her hating her for liking her in such a way stayed her hooves and she released her from the embrace. That night as the storm raged on, Twilight found no sleep or comfort. All she could think about was Applejack, and thoughts of how no matter how hard she tried Applejack would never love her.