Two hours later, the last vestiges of evening had long since bled away, allowing for the deep blue of night to take its spot. Dozens of stars were already twinkling away in the sky, but most found themselves outclassed by the moon, which provided enough light for anypony who happened to be walking about to see. That, combined with the abundance of street lamps, made for a relatively bright night.

Even so, all of the available light didn't mean ponies were still ambling about. Most had already shuffled off to bed, or were at the very least secluded in their homes intent to stay there until morning. Of the few that were still up an active, only two were taking the winding road to a hill on the outside of town.

Applejack and Rainbow walked side by side, the only sounds between them were the clopping of hooves along the dirt path. With each step, Rainbow could feel the nervousness radiating off of her friend grow, and occasionally she glanced over to make sure she hadn’t bolted yet. So far, so good.

“Relax, AJ, everything’s going to be fine,” Rainbow Dash insisted, hoping to ease the tension a little as Applejack broke out of her thought-induced trance once more. Throughout the walk from Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack had only said two words to her, and they rhymed with “duck stew”.

Thankfully, when Applejack opened her mouth to respond, she didn’t repeat the insult. “Ah can’t help it, Rainbow. If even the tiniest thing goes wrong tonight…" She shook her head and came to a stop for a moment, rubbing her temple with her forehoof. "Consarnit, if Ah say anythang stupid to her... “

“Well, that’s what you got me for, right?” Rainbow replied with a cheeky grin, hooking a foreleg around Applejack’s back. “I’ll say all the stupid stuff before you even get a word in.” She let out a small laugh, but Applejack’s face only tightened.

“That don’t make me feel any better, Dash.” Her eyes then darted by to the cyan hoof laying on her back, Rainbow taking a moment before she flashed a sheepish smile towards her friend.

“Er, my bad.” She removed her hoof before speaking again. “I just meant that I’ll, well, take the fall. If Twilight turns out to be furious about the dare, then I’m gonna make sure that I’m the one she goes off on, not you.”

“Well… thanks, Ah guess.” Applejack gave a shaky sigh as their destination came into view, mentally bracing herself for what was to come. Even with the moonlight, it wasn’t possible to see if anypony was on top of the hill yet. Looking over to Dash, she sighed again before hesitantly speaking.“Rainbow… can I, uh, tell ya somethin'?”

“Lay it on me.”

"Ah’m… Well, I gotta say Ah’m kinda glad ya're gonna be there with me.”

Rainbow blinked, coming to a complete stop as she struggled to process the words. “What… really?”

“Don’t git me wrong,” Applejack quickly said. “Ah’m still angry at ya fer what ya did… but, at least Ah know Ah can count on ya. Ya won’t abandon me tonight; ya’re too loyal fer that.”

“A-Abandon you?” Rainbow asked, a cold sweat forming on the back of her neck. “What do you mean?”

“Ah don’t think Ah’d be able ta talk ta Twilight by mahself without throwin’ up. As long as Rarity and ya are there, Ah might be able ta do it.” She gulped. “Talk ta her Ah mean… ‘bout mah feelin’s 'n all.”

Shit. Rainbow forced out a smile. “Yeah, I’ll make sure to stick around if that’s the case.”

“Thanks, Rainbow.”

Double shit.

Her conversation with Rarity not half an hour earlier drudged itself up in her mind.

“Now, if we want anything to happen between these two, it’s important that we give them space as soon as possible. Once you arrive with Applejack, I’ll give them a picnic basket and make up an excuse to leave.”

“Sounds like a plan to me.”

“Good, and the best part is there is no way you can mess it up.”

“Yeah I… hey!”

Rainbow gritted her teeth, pushing the memory down. She had to think fast. “But... uh, are you sure you need me and Rarity there?" Applejack raised an eyebrow. “L-Like, I mean, you're pretty level-headed, I'm sure you can keep your cool."

"That makes one of us, Ah guess."

Chewing the inside of her cheek, Rainbow weighed her options. It was clear to her that Applejack didn’t have the confidence to come clean to Twilight, despite Rarity’s insistence that privacy was what they needed. Yet, at the same time, if she bailed, Applejack probably would never forgive her for it.

As they reached the base of the hill, two ponies on top of the hill became visible. One was scurrying around a telescope, and the other seemed to be anxiously pacing.

“Okay… ready?”

Applejack looked up, and then away quickly. “Eenope.”

“Well too bad.” She slapped Applejack forward, and followed her as they climbed the hill.

“Wait!” Applejack turned around. “Maybe Ah should head home first an’–”

“AJ,” Rainbow said as she gave her a soft, yet serious expression. “You’ve got to at least try. Come on, what have you got to lose?”

“Mah self-respect, mah dignity, mah friendship with Twi, mah lunch.”

“Eh, you’d probably lose all those anyway if you bailed, now come on.” Rainbow turned Applejack around and gave her a slight nudge. They approached the top of the hill just in time to catch the end of rambling Rarity monologue.

“...and I just don’t know what could be keeping them. After all I specifically told Rainbow to–” She paused as their heads poked into view. “There you are.”

Twilight’s head ripped away from the telescope. “Applejack?” She asked, her voice overshadowed by eagerness. Whether it was anticipation for their talk, or gratefulness that Rarity had finally shut up, Rainbow had no idea.

“H-Hello, Twilight.” Applejack studied the blades of grass by her hooves, refusing the make eye contact.

Silence.

Twilight opened her mouth. “So–”

“Ah’m sorry!” Applejack blurted out, leaving no time for Twilight to talk. “T-the kiss. Ah’m sorry ‘bout the kiss. It was just… Dash and Ah… a stupid, stupid daring contest… Ah’m so sorry…” Her head bowed, a bright shade of crimson creeping onto it, barely hidden by the night.

Silence again, as Twilight processed what just happened. “...O-okay then.”

Rarity coughed, levitating a small brown basket into the air. “Well, I packed us all a picnic, but it seems I miscalculated a little bit.” She popped open the lid of the basket. “Yes, it appears there is only enough food – and, ahem, atmosphere – for two.” Her magic slammed the basket shut and she set it in front of Twilight and Applejack. “Have fun you two. Rainbow and I will just have to saunter off for now, I suppose. Ta-ta.”

Fear exploded into Applejack’s eyes as Rarity began to walk away. She turned to Rainbow for assistance, who in turn cringed.

Yep, Rarity’s going to hate me for this. “Hey, Rares?” She stepped in front of Rarity, blocking her path.

“Um… yes?” Her eyebrows furrowed together in confusion.

“We ate earlier, remember? AJ and Twilight can just split the picnic, but why don’t we hang around a little. I mean, there’s going to be that comet coming soon, right?”

“Meteor shower,” Twilight corrected.

“Yeah, some space crap. Why don’t we stick around for it?” She forced a casual grin that was debateably not casual at all and instead immensely awkward.

Rarity flashed her a look that said: What the hell happened to the plan?

“Ya should stay, Rarity,” Applejack chimed in. “It would be just awful ta miss it.”

A bright smile appeared on Rarity’s face. “Sounds delightful.” Shooting daggers at Rainbow, she asked. “Could you just give me a moment to confer with Dash?”

“Uh, sure?” Twilight shrugged.

Rarity grabbed Rainbow’s foreleg tightly and dragged her out of earshot.

“Ow, what the hell?” Rainbow swore she heard the crunching of bones under Rarity’s vice like grip.

“Just what exactly do you think you’re doing?” Rarity hissed. Rainbow opened her mouth to respond, but Rarity wasn’t finished berating her just yet. “I told you we were going to leave at the earliest opportunity! How could you just ignore me like that, and what’s worse, keep us here? What happened?”

“Applejack was getting cold hooves!” Rainbow said, wiggling free of Rarity’s grasp. “I had to say something to keep her from bolting, and she wanted us to stay. What was I supposed to do?”

Rarity sighed. “I don’t know. You should have just lied or something. You realize now it will be that much harder to get these two together?”

“Well, aren’t you the expert on mushy stuff? If we stick around you can probably nudge them in the right direction.”

“Maybe…” Rarity pondered the idea. “But it could just as easily backfire. And I’m not the expert on ‘mushy stuff’, Rainbow.”

“Are y’all done over there?” Came the nervous voice of Applejack.

“Totally,” Rainbow called back. She turned to Rarity. “Just do your best, a’ight? Come on, I believe you can do it.”

Rarity seemed surprised at her words. “Oh… well, thank you Rainbow.”

“Welcome, now come on.”

They trotted back over to Twilight and Applejack, who had been standing around awkwardly without much interaction at all. Rainbow felt confident that would have been the norm for the rest of the night if she and Rarity had decided not to stay.

“Well, even though we’re apparently going to be here for a while, you two can still enjoy the picnic without us. As Rainbow said, we did already eat.” Rarity indicated the basket at their hooves.

“Oh thanks, Rarity.” Twilight bent down to open the basket.

“Sounds fine ta me,” Applejack said at the same time, also reaching.

Their hooves met, Applejack’s landing on Twilight’s. She lingered for a moment, before pulling back as if she’d just touched a priceless artifact in a museum and an uptight guard just gave her the stink eye for it.

“Uh… s-sorry.” Scarlet bathed Applejack’s cheeks, and she looked away to hide it from Twilight.

“You’re fine, Applejack.” Twilight smiled softly.

Weakly smiling, Applejack reached for the picnic basket again, opening it uninterrupted. Igniting her horn, Twilight lifted out the contents. A picnic blanket sprawled over the thin grass, followed closely by a pair of daisy sandwiches, a bottle of sparkling apple cider, and some glasses.

Rainbow's eyes widened at the sight. She leaned over to Rarity. "You brought cider and didn't tell me?"

"Hush!" Rarity scolded.

Twilight removed the last item from the basket, a small, scented candle. "Um, what's this for, Rarity?"

"Oh, it's just for mood lighting." Rarity blinked. "Er... I mean, it's for regular lighting, of course. Silly me, I misspoke."

"Yep, it's not moody at all," Rainbow agreed.

Twilight looked from them to the candle. "Well, I don't think we'll need it; there's plenty of stars out for us to see." She was about to put it up when Rarity rushed over.

"Oh, but Twilight, you must admit that it would make a great centerpiece." Before an argument could be voiced, she levitated it to the center of the cloth and lit it with a quick spark of magic. "See?"

"Well... I guess." She inhaled through her nose. "At least it smells nice."

"Spiced apples," Rarity said, labeling the scent. "I knew you'd like it."

From the corner of her eye, Rainbow saw another blush creep onto Applejack's face. Twilight failed to pick up on the underlying context, however, and took a seat at one edge of the blanket.

"Well, if we're going to eat, we should do it now. The meteor shower will be starting soon." Following her lead, Applejack and Rarity each took a seat. "Uh, are you going to join us, Rainbow?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah." Suddenly realizing how excluded she was, Rainbow trotted over and took the empty spot near Rarity. Silence permeated their little picnic for a little while as Twilight and Applejack ate their sandwiches. The entire time, Rainbow stayed more focused on the bottle of cider opposed to helping Rarity try to jump start a conversation.

“Thirsty?” Twilight asked, noticing her staring.

Rainbow grinned. “Yeah, do you mind?”

In response, Twilight lifted up a spare glass and filled it to the brim. Rainbow greedily grabbed the cup before it finished floating to her, and took a long gulp.

Smiling, Twilight set the bottle down and looked at her. “So Rarity was telling me you went to the spa earlier today.”

It took all of Rainbow’s willpower not to spit out the cider in shock, her eyes bulging out further than she thought possible as she glanced between the three mares each stifling giggles. Swallowing, she looked at Rarity. “You promised you wouldn’t tell!”

“I said no such thing,” she replied, giving the most innocent smirk possible.

“Well… I figured it was implied.” Embarrassed, Rainbow huffed to herself as Applejack and Twilight continued to stifle giggles.

“Oh relax,” Rarity coyly said. She grinned to herself. “It’s not like I told her you actually enjoyed it.”

“Aw, come on!” Rainbow buried her face in her hooves.

Applejack and Twilight erupted into laughter. Rarity could barely hold back a few giggles herself, but was clearly saving the moment for everyone else.

“That’s hilarious!” Applejack choked out between laughs. “Oh Celestia, Ah can’t even picture it!” Rainbow’s face grew hot with embarrassment. “Ya’d have an easier time makin’ cats and dogs like each other, or findin’ a needle in twelve acre’s worth of hay!”

“No wait, I’ve got one!” Twilight calmed down slightly and cleared her throat, both Rarity and Applejack leaning in to hear. “You’d have an easier time getting helium and argon atoms to bond with each other!” She snorted with laughter at her joke, and then fell onto her back in the midst of the fit.

Applejack and Rarity’s laughter receded slightly at Twilight’s awful attempt at comedy, but they still chuckled a little longer. Rainbow just gritted her teeth and stuck it out, especially after she received Rarity’s don’t-you-dare-mess-this-up-Rainbow look.

You know, come to think of it, I’ve been seeing that look a lot today.

Eventually, Twilight sat back up, wiping tears from her eyes. “Oh, that was good.” She checked up at the sky really quick. “Girls, I’ll be right back, I just want to make a few tweaks on the telescope real quick.”

“Uh, yeah, sure thing, Twi.” Applejack watched her leave, sighing to herself when she was out of earshot. “She has the most adorable laugh, doesn’t she?”

Rarity giggled. “My, you are quite smitten, aren’t you?”

Blood rose under Applejack’s cheeks. “S-so what am Ah supposed ta do now?”

“I say just keep doing what you’re doing. It seems to be working,” Rainbow said, thankful that the spa subject was dropped. She reached for what remained of the cider while both Rarity and Applejack gave her a funny look. “What?”

“Well, it’s not that your idea doesn’t hold merit, Rainbow,” Rarity began, clearing her throat. “But, um… Applejack probably won’t advance beyond friendship if she doesn’t do anything more than casual conversation.”

“So what do ya suggest?” Applejack asked. She flashed a glance at Twilight, who was still fine tuning the telescope.

“Compliment her,” Rarity suggested. “Or make a grand gesture of some kind. And be sure to watch her reaction to see if she likes it.”

Applejack didn’t have time to give her thoughts on the idea. Twilight bounded over to them, an excited look on her face.

“Girls, did you see that?” She pointed up to the sky. “The shower is starting!”

All three of their heads turned towards the sky. Rainbow squinted, but couldn’t see anything remotely close to a meteor shower. It was the night sky was as static as it’d always been, and nothing seemed to be changing anytime soon.

“Whoa, there’s one!” Applejack called out. Rainbow shifted her line of sight just in time to catch the tail end of a silver streak dashing out of view. Peeved, she kept her vision fixed on that one position hoping to actually see the next one as the night returned to its quiet stillness.

About ready to give up, Rainbow caught two sudden blips of light flying high in the night sky. “Hey, there they are!” she involuntarily shouted. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Rarity’s ears fold down in annoyance.

They stared up at the sky for a little longer, until Twilight put her head down. “That’s probably all we’re going to get for a little while.”

“What? You mean it’s over?” Rainbow felt slightly cheated even though watching the meteor shower was far from top priority for her.

“Of course not,” Twilight said. “That was just Princess Luna getting warmed up. The real show will begin once she has enough meteors ready.”

“So what do we do till then?” Rainbow asked. Just as she said the words, she saw Rarity nudge Applejack.

“Oh… uh, hey Twi…”

“Yes Applejack?” Twilight turned just in time to see the blood boiling under Applejack’s cheeks.

Clearing her throat, the farmer stuttered out. “A-Ah think ya look real p-pretty in the… er, this here moonlight.” She bit her lip. “Not that ya don’t look pretty in the daytime too! It’s just… right now… it looks almost like ya’re glowin’ or somethin’. Like ya’re a firefly. Not that I think ya’re an insect or anythang like that! But… ergh…” Applejack looked like she wanted to strangle herself.

Twilight blinked. “Uh…"

The sound of Rarity hitting her own forehead rang out through the night.

“Thanks, Applejack… I guess.” Twilight looked away for a moment. “I’m just going to go and look at the telescope some more.” She hastily trotted off.

Applejack looked to the ground, groaning to herself as she face-hoofed herself. “Celestia, that was awful!”

“Like a firefly?” Rainbow asked. “Really?”

“It sounded romantic in mah head!” Applejack softly said for fear that Twilight might overhear.

“No offense, Applejack,” Rarity interjected. “But that shouldn’t have sounded romantic in anypony’s head.”

Applejack buried her face in her hooves. “At least tell me that her reaction means somethin’ good.”

“Sorry, darling.” Rarity patted Applejack on the back. “But I believe she was more confused than anything else.”

“Dangit!”

“Okay, so compliments aren't your strong suit,” Rainbow said. “What is?”

“Makin’ an idiot outta mahself.”

“Noted. Anything else?”

Applejack shot her an irate glance, so Rainbow held up her hooves in mock surrender and took a step back.

“Now wait just a minute,” Rarity spoke up. “Applejack, have just a little bit of self-esteem, won’t you? You’ll never woo Twilight with this attitude.”

“Ah’m startin’ ta think Ah’ll never woo her at all.”

Rainbow gritted her teeth. Seeing her friend so down on herself was agitating to say the least. “Hold on a second,” she told them, turning and walking towards Twilight.

“Rainbow, what are you doing?”

Not stopping to answer Rarity’s question, she marched right up to Twilight, who was adjusting the telescope. “‘Sup.”

“Hello,” Twilight said, her eye looking through the lens. She twisted a tiny knob near the top a little bit with her magic and looked again.

It was then that Rainbow Dash realized she didn’t have a plan. Considering anything short of revealing Applejack’s feelings would be fair game, she decided to go with the first thing that popped into her head.

When that turned out to involve too much Rarity, she modified it.

“So, have you ever noticed Applejack’s flank?”

“What?” Twilight flinched so hard that her eye jutted into the lens of the telescope. “AH!”

“Ooh!” Rainbow cringed as Twilight brought her face away from the telescope. Instinctively, she placed her hoof over her injured eye and rubbed. “Are you all right?”

“Yeah, I think so. My cornea suffered a little irritation, though.” Twilight brought her hoof away from her face and blinked a little.

“Uh… okay, well, while whatever egghead thing you were talking about heals, why don’t you answer my question?”

With one eye slightly watery, Twilight gave Rainbow a look. “Y-you mean… the one about Applejack’s… erm flank?”

Rainbow nodded. “Yeah, I’d like an answer for that one.”

“Do you want me to talk about her... her Cutie Mark?”

Lowering her eyelids, Rainbow shook her head. “No. Twilight, just... describe AJ’s flank for me.”

“I don’t know, Rainbow…” Trace amounts of pink formed in the center of Twilight’s cheeks.

“Come on,” Rainbow nudged her. “You know what, just give me one word to describe it. It can be anything.” Though right now the preferred answer would be either sexy, smokin’, attractive, or literally anything in between.

“Uh… big?”

It took all of Rainbow’s willpower and then some to not burst out laughing. Holding back a snicker, she asked. “Alrighty then… anything else you can say about it? Anything at all?”

“It’s very… orange?”

Okay, this is just kinda pathetic. Resisting the urge to slam her head into the ground, Rainbow settled on a sigh. “Okay, you know what? I want to try an experiment.”

At the word experiment, Twilight perked up slightly. Probably due to the fact that they appeared to be moving away from the uncomfortable subject of their friend’s rear end.

“Sure, okay.”

“Look at Applejack’s plot.” Rainbow pointed to where Applejack was still being consoled by Rarity.

“...What?”

“Just do it... for science.”

Twilight bit her lip, but curiosity over where Rainbow was going with this soon got the better of her. She tilted her head to the right and down, eyes coming to rest on the apple-marked posterior in question. After two seconds, she started to turn back to Rainbow. “Wha–”

“Keep looking!” Rainbow snapped. She grabbed Twilight by her cheeks and forced her head in the direction of Applejacks buttocks. “Okay, take in a good look.”

“Uh... Rainbow Dash, this is making me really uncomfortable.”

“It’s called hormones, Egghead. Now, describe AJ’s flank to me.”

Twilight squirmed, the pink on her cheeks expanding. “I don’t–”

“Come on, just describe it. One adjective is all I'm asking for.”

“Uh… round?”

Rainbow groaned, releasing Twilight’s face. “Oh Celestia, this isn’t working.”

“Working? Rainbow, what are you talking about?”

She started walking back to Applejack and Rarity. “Nothing, Twilight. Don’t worry about it.”

Twilight blinked, watching Rainbow go. “But–”

“I said don’t worry about it.”

Rainbow reached the edge of the picnic blanket, feeling just a little defeated. Rarity seemed to have made Applejack feel a little better

“What was that all about?” Rarity asked, curiosity and anger slipping into her voice.

“I found out what Twilight thought of your flank, AJ. Big, orange, round.”

“Big?” Applejack embarrassedly maneuvered her tail so it covered her flank. “Wait, how did ya do that?”

“I’m assuming bluntly,” Rarity groaned.

“Hey, it’s not like you guys were being all that subtle to begin with,” Rainbow pointed out. “I was just trying to get a little progress.”

“Is your definition of progress one step forward, three steps back?” Rarity asked. “Because now I’m going to have to do damage control for you.”

“Girls,” Applejack attempted to interject.

“Oh come on, Twilight’s smart, but she’s dense too. She probably hasn’t even picked up on what we’ve been trying to do all night.”

“Hey, y’all,” Applejack spoke again, louder this time.

“And clearly you’re denser if you don’t think she’s noticed by now.”

“All right, that’s it!” Applejack shouted, getting their attention. “Girls, Ah appreciate y’all wantin’ ta help, really Ah do, but this is gettin’ ridiculous. Maybe we should just quit while we’re behind.”

“Absolutely not!” Rarity exclaimed, giving the mare a determined look. “Applejack, this might be your one and only chance, do you want to waste it?”

“Ah might’ve wasted it already,” Applejack replied with a sigh. An eerie silence fell over them.

“Can somepony please explain to me what’s going on here?” Twilight shouted from behind. All three of them flinched and turned to her. Twilight’s face was still red, though at this point that was likely from anger. She started pacing. “This day has just been one giant train wreck! First, out of the blue, Applejack kisses me, I almost break my new telescope, then I learn it was just a dare and I’m told we’ll get to talk about it tonight, but instead of that you’ve all been acting like a bunch of crazy ponies!” She stopped pacing and fixed them all with a stare. “Seriously, between making a picnic for only two of us, that weird compliment, Rainbow forcing me to look at Applejack’s plot, and now this? What is going on here?”

The three of them exchanged looks. Applejack’s was a mixture of quivering fear and well… not much else. Rarity’s was trademark don’t-you-dare-mess-this-up-Rainbow look again, mostly aimed at her. She turned to Twilight and cleared her throat.

“Applejack.”

“Yeah?” She tilted her head to face Rarity.

“It’s clear to me that you won’t be getting a perfect opportunity to tell Twilight the truth, so just go ahead. She has a right to know.”

Twilight’s pupils flocked from Rarity to Applejack, her curiosity growing. “Tell me what?”

Applejack swallowed shakily. “W-well T-Twillight… A-Ah kinda…” Immediately fed up with how long it was taking, Rainbow clapped Applejack on the back, forcing the words out of her. “Ah have a crush on ya!”

Twilight blinked. Her lips slowly parted, and she tried to say something. Unfortunately she only seemed able to mouth the words, and the three mares were left standing around awkwardly as she did so.

“Uh, hey Twilight... you’re not actually talking,” Rainbow finally said.

She shook her head, coming out of the daze. “Oh… sorry about that.” Twilight turned to Applejack. “Is… is it true, though? This isn’t a prank or anything?”

“Of course not,” Applejack replied, sounding just a little bit offended. “Ya know Ah always tell the truth.”

“Right, right, sorry. I’m still just trying to come to terms with it.”

“Ah don’t blame ya… Ah’m still kinda doin’ that too.” Applejack blushed and looked at the ground. “If… if ya want me ta leave, then Ah’ll go.”

“What? Applejack, you don’t have to leave,” Twilight quickly said.

“Ah don’t?” Applejack’s head perked up. Rainbow could hear Rarity take in a sharp breath and hold it with anticipation.

“No I… I’d like it if you stayed.” Twilight softly smiled.

“Really? Ah mean, ya don’t mind that Ah have a crush on ya?”

“No, I do mind.” Applejack’s head lowered. Twilight’s eyes widened. “Wait, that came out wrong! I mean, I won’t ignore it if that’s what you worried about.”

“What are ya sayin’ then?” Applejack said, unable to contain the hope that flooded her voice.

“Well… I don’t see a reason why we can’t give it a trial date.”

Applejack’s entire demeanor brightened, and she looked like she might explode. “Really?” she squeaked out. Dash’s jaw almost unhinged at the realization that Applejack had just squeaked. “Ya really mean it?”

Twilight had a grin forming on her face. “Of course. It’ll be like an experiment even! We could test out compatibility with each other, take notes, ooh, would you be willing to form relationship hypotheses with m–” Twilight was cut off as Applejack suddenly wrapped her into a powerful hug.

“Anythang ya want, Twi! Thanks so much!” She squeezed tightly, compressing Twilight’s already-struggling-for-air lungs. “If there’s anythang Ah can do, just let me know.”

“You could… stop strangling me… please…” Twilight wheezed out.

Applejack released Twilight immediately, a sheepish blush coating her face. “Heh… sorry ‘bout that.”

“Don’t worry,” Twilight managed a smile. “I guess I’ll have to get used to those if we start dating.” Applejack’s face brightened at the words.

“Oooh!” Rarity cried. “You two are already so cute together!” Both of them blushed.

“Oh hey, look!” Twilight said, her eyes turned upward. “The meteor shower just went into full swing!”

Everypony else tilted their heads up just in time to catch the early onset of dozens of streaks dancing in the night sky. As soon as they faded from view, a whole new set flew in to take their place. Rainbow watched the meteor’s chase each other’s tails overhead, and briefly wondered what it would be like to fly during a meteor shower.

“Hey, Applejack come with me,” Twilight tugged at her foreleg while pointing to the telescope. “You’ve got to see what the meteors look like up close. They’re beautiful.”

Applejack smiled. “Ah reckon Ah’m already lookin’ at the most beautiful thing Ah’ll see tonight.”

A blush creep onto Twilight’s face. She quickly looked to the ground and back up again. “All right, Cornyjack. Seriously though, you’ve got to see this.”

“Ya go on ahead,” Applejack told her. She shot a quick glance at Rainbow and Rarity. “Ah’ll be right there.”

Twilight gave an understanding nod and dashed over to her telescope. Applejack turned to them. “Dash, Rares… thanks.”

“Aww, you’re welcome, AJ,” Rainbow said.

“It was no trouble at all,” Rarity lied.

Applejack smiled. “Y’all really have no idea what this means ta me, though. Ah never thought Twilight would… and now…”

“Well, quit wasting time then,” Rainbow almost shouted. “You’ve got an egghead and some space crap waiting for you. Go on.” She waved her hoof to shoo her away.

Applejack’s lips didn’t want to stretch any further, but she forced them into a wider grin anyway. “Sure thing.” She turned and ran over to the Twilight, who was already repositioning the telescope.

Rainbow Dash leaned over to Rarity. "So... I take it you're already planning the designs for their wedding dresses?"

"What?" Rarity asked innocently. "No, of course not." Rainbow gave her a look. "Well... maybe just a teensy bit."

Dash laughed a little and sat down on the picnic blanket with a satisfied sigh, followed shortly by Rarity. “You know,” she said to the fashionista. “I think today has been one of the longest days of my life.”

Rarity nodded. “It has seemed to drag, but it was good. We did good… despite your tendency to mess up dramatically.”

“Hey,” Rainbow said. “Not cool.”

“In all honesty though, if it weren’t for you, none of this probably would have happened. I think it’s safe to say I owe you one.”

“Really now?” she grinned.

Rarity groaned, putting her hoof to her forehead. “Oh no. I knew I’d regret saying that.”

“Oh come on, I just have one favor to ask you.”

“What?”

Rainbow Dash smiled wryly. “Well, AJ and I are still in the middle of our most daring pony competition, and she did kind of dare me to give you a hornjob.”

Rarity’s eyes bulged. “Rainbow, the nerve! To even insinuate such a lewd act between you and me is–” She was cut off by the stifled laughter Rainbow could barely contain. “What?”

“I’m just teasing you, Rares.” Rainbow winked.

Opening her mouth to respond, Rarity remembered their earlier conversation and smiled slightly. “Thank you, Dash. ...But wait, if you aren’t going to do the dare, then…”

“Eh, I’ll tell AJ I forfeit.” She shrugged as nonchalantly as possible and hoped that Rarity wouldn’t pick up on her disappointment. “I mean, she’s definitely earned the title of most daring pony at this point. And besides, I think it’s time we stop sexualizing you for dare material.”

There was a heartfelt moment in there, but Rarity apparently refused to pick up on it. Instead, she harrumphed. “You should never have been sexualizing me to begin with!” She gave Rainbow a light slap on the shoulder, causing her to snicker.

“Yeah… you’re right. I’m sorry.”

Rarity sighed. “Well… not much you can do about it now, I suppose.” They each looked up at the meteor shower, which had begun to pick up speed, sending even more bright silver lines across the sky in a dazzling display. A chilling breeze swept over the hill, catching Rarity in the side. She shivered so hard that her teeth chattered.

“Cold?” Rainbow asked.

“No, I'm just dandy,” Rarity sardonically replied, crossing her forelegs to her chest for warmth.

Checking to make sure nopony was watching, Rainbow bit her lip and outstretched her wing, draping it over Rarity’s back. Preparing herself to be hit, she asked, “Better?”

“Actually… yes. Thank you, Rainbow.” Rarity turned up the corners of her mouth, and returned to gazing at the meteor shower.

“Yeah… no prob.” Feeling slightly cold herself, she scooted in ever so slightly. When Rarity didn’t push her away, Dash smiled as she felt some of Rarity's body heat on her.

The hundreds of meteors continued racing across the sky overhead. Not far off, the awestruck gasps of Twilight and Applejack could be heard as they each traded glances through the telescope. After some time, Rarity’s head leaned against Rainbow’s neck, and she realized that her friend had fallen asleep. Not wanting to be rude, Dash let her stay that way, pulling her close, and waiting for the shooting stars to finish dancing.