A rooster’s crow echoed across the acres. Where it started she didn't care, but it reached her ears all the same. They wiggled and moved as she stirred awake. Applejack yawned and opened her eyes as the rooster woke her completely. She felt her sister squeezing tightly to her and groan. "Ah don't wanna wake up yet."

"Apple Bloom, it's time to get up. We gotta big day ahead of us."

"Applejack?" she asked groggily and opened her eyes, "did ya sleep good?"

"Yeah. You're a rough sleeper though. Nearly bucked me outta bed once."

"Whatever," Apple Bloom said as she rolled away from her sister and out of bed, "rooster's crowin' so time to get goin'."

Applejack smiled and rolled off the other side. "Help me make yer bed before ya so," she said as she grabbed half the sheets and pulled them up. Apple Bloom helped make the bed but avoided eye contact with Applejack. "Apple Bloom, everything okay?"

"Ah'm fine, let's just get breakfast," she said bluntly as soon as the bed was made. Applejack let Apple Bloom lead, following her out of her room, giving her space to walk a bit ahead of her. That filly has a lot on her mind, Ahm just gonna let her work it out herself. I got chores to do, after a hearty breakfast.

After a healthy and balanced breakfast, Applejack grabbed a couple sandwiches and bottle of apple juice before she went out out to the orchard to check the trees before tending to the plots of soil and vegetables growing in them.

She had checked a half dozen trees when she saw Big Mac pulling a cart full of bushels to the barn for repair and storage before harvest time. She galloped over and stopped him when he unhitched from the cart. "Big Mac, we gotta have some words."

He looked at her with lazy eyes and nodded. "Big Mac, what was Apple Bloom talkin' about yesterday?" Big Mac straightened up, looking aside nervously.

He hooked up to Applejack then made to walk past her. "Nope."

"Big Mac,” she blocked him with herself and a stern look, “you're gonna tell me what she was talkin' about. Ain't no other way about it, so start spillin' the beans."

Big Mac sighed and resigned himself, raising his head to face Applejack. Already having a red coat his blush was hidden, however it was obvious he was embarrassed about something "Applejack..." he started slowly

"Get talkin' and make it snappy, Ah got chores to catch up and this better be good."

"Applejack, me an Cherilee might’a got carried away at school's all."

"What's that mean Big Mac? How do you get carried away doin' anything?"

"Last Hearts and Hooves Day," he reflected, "those three gave me and Cherilee a love poison, ya recall. Later, she was outta estrus when she asked me to help her give a demonstration at class. I showed up and..."

Applejack cautiously got closer to her brother, ears back and head lowered, looking under the brim of her hat at him. "And what? What did you two do?"

"We lost control when we saw each other, after effect of the potion. She reared up on her desk and moved her tail, then asked me to mount her, and my head got all muddles... I just forgot where I was."

"Big Mac," Applejack gasped, "you, you didn't?"

Big Mac dropped his head and nodded.

"Oh, Big Mac. What the buck? How could you? And Cheerilee? At the school?! Oh horse apples. Apple Bloom said we learnt a lot. The whole class there?"

Big Mac just huffed, the hay and dust beneath his muzzle disturbing slightly. "Ya danged fool!" Applejack raised a hoof and brought it across his face, hard. "What the Tartarus is wrong with you!? Plantin’ yer seen in fertile soil in front’a foals!

"In front of a classroom of fillies and colts," she growled. She was seething with anger, rage, and disgust at her brother as she shouted at him. He stood there and took it all not moving.

"Applejack, I'm sorry," he said roughly, "I don't know how to apologize."

Gritting her teeth her eyes began to water as she spoke at him in a deeper and more threatening voice. "Big Mac, I don't know what to do about this. Yer family, so Ah ain't gonna turn you into the police, same for Cheerilee, cuz it'd come back ta us. You messed up big this time, Big Mac, and there ain't no fixin' it if any pony makes trouble fer us."

"Applejack-"

"No, I ain't hearin' nothin' else. What you done..." Applejack grunted and turned, galloping back into the orchard. She weaved through trees until she found a tree she took her frustrations out on she’d named Sidewinder. She bucked the tree so hard it shook it’s dead branches and swayed slightly, the cracking sound of roots breaking under the ground were audible. "Damn it.DAMN IT." She screamed as she reared and punched the air. Her shout echoed across the orchard. Pacing around the tree she tried to calm down.

As she felt anger, sadness creeped in as she growled and closed her eyes. There's some things young'ns should learn and a way to learn 'em. What those two did... Ain't no excusin' that. Takin' that innocence from them little ones. Love potion or no, they both shoulda known better.

"Applejack?"

Applejack stopped pacing and felt herself tense as Big Mac's voice called her name. "Applejack, I am so sorry, and I know I ain't ever gonna make what I did okay or better. I don't want you to hate me or Cherilee. It was all a big mistake and I regret it more than anything. Mating in class was wrong, but we didn’t know it ‘til after we were done, when the last of the spell faded."

"Brother, Ah don't wanna hear anything else ya gotta say."

"I know. Just, lookit me Applejack," Applejack looked at her brother and gasped at him. He had a slightly bleeding scratch from her previous slap with her rough hooves. Unphased he continued. "We're family, and in the end that's all we have. We’re like perfect Apple Pie. We need a crust, and a pan ta cook it in, but the fillin’s what makes it a pie, us a pie."

"Oh, Big Mac. I'm so sorry," Applejack rushed to him and looked at his injury and felt her anger go, "we're family. You're right. C'mon to the house, Ah gotta fix ya up quick."

He coughed with a laugh and turned to follow her as he stumbled slightly and chuckled. "AJ, you got one strong slap."

"Well... ya deserved it at the time."

He laughed loudly. “Ah reckon I coulda used that before Ah drank that love poison like a danged fool.”

Rainbow Dash stretched as she got out of bed and looked out her window to the cumulus clouds and rainbow falls that made up her home; the blue sky beyond her beckoned. So, another day begins. With a yawn she remade her bed with new sheets, put the old ones in the laundry after breathing them in deeply, then admired herself in the mirror. Her mane was unkempt and wind whipped, just how she liked it. Her eyes were as awesome as ever and her fur was... She sniffed herself and with a wince and vocalization; concluded she needed a shower, badly.

Walking into her bathroom she went to the far end and pulled a cloud into place and punched it. The warm rain washing falling relaxed her as she sat on her flank and closed her eyes, raising her chin so the water cascaded from muzzle to tail in a steady stream.

She could feel her mane getting heavy with water and falling to her back and sides. As the water washed her clean from all the sweat, scents, and saliva from the previous day she let her memory drift back to the events of last night briefly then she shook her head. "Don't get sappy, Rainbow Dash,” she told herself, fighting the warm feeling in her chest and the smile playing across her lips. “You've got a lot to do and you can't let thoughts of how awesome yesterday was get in the way. How awesome AJ is, and being cuddled, and the cider..."

She sighed and hopped into the air. With a jab, she punched the cloud again; stopping the warm water. She shook as dry as she could then went to the mirror above the sink and hovered, looking at herself. Water droplets clung to her reflection as she smiled and pointed at herself. "You got it, mare. Now, go do it to it."

She left her house in a prismatic blur to the local weather office near town hall and landed on the roof. Filing paperwork was Rainbow Dash's least favorite task and she often delegated it to others as often as she could. Today wasn't one of those days. Walking into the office from the employee staircase she garnered a few looks and a group of female Pegasi giggled when she walked past.

Ignoring the stares and comments she went to her mailbox and saw it full. Fuller than it should be for taking two slow days off. "Hey, what the flock? Why am I drowning in paperwork and Flutterwing's box is empty? She's been sick for a week!"

"Well, Miss Dash," a stallion said from behind her. She tensed her jaw. Diamond Wing. "When you took an extra day off, Double and Misty had to cover the edge of the Everfree and the area over the southeast end of town while Flutterwing, who returned yesterday, had to cover the southern valley, all your areas."

"Oh, c'mon, Diamond. Ya know as well as I do that the Everfree weather usually takes care of itself and-"

"No, Rainbow Dash, you listen. As your boss I have to make sure that you, as a weather manager,” he emphasized with a widening of his eyes, “set the best example for every other member of the cloud team. Taking an impromptu vacation and slacking on your work for any reason, personal or professional, is not excusable. Do your paperwork and I want it by three this afternoon or I'll have you do laps until I'm done for the day. That gives you five hours, since you had to be late again, get to it."

Grinding her teeth lightly Rainbow Dash knew she could fight and argue with the stallion before her in front of everypony and win. There were already enough eyes and ears on their conversation. "Yes sir," she said as she saluted sarcastically. She flew to one of the open cubicles to start her work. If I fight him publically there's a chance my love life will come up then that'll turn into a tornado. I don’t want to think about Soarin dumping me or… AJ. I'm better off just letting it go.

Entering the cubicle she sat at the desk and started organizing her paperwork by job type as a mare poked her head in. "Heya Dash, ya got a second?"

Rolling her eyes Rainbow looked at the mare. "What do you want, Quill?"

She spoke softly as to not be heard. "I heard you and Applejack, the farmer, are having a thing and-"

"No! I mean, ugh, whatever. Everypony’s gonna find out eventually and how the heck did you find out? You know what, nevermind. I swear if you make a joke I'll do something that'll get me suspended for a week."

"No, no, no, nothing like that. I’m inviting you two to come to a party at my place Saturday night? It's exclusive and only a few ponies will be there."

Thinking it over for a moment Dash took a smug expression. "Fine, I'll see what I can move around. Now, I have a lot of work to do."

"Okay, have a great day, Dashie." Quill said a little too happily for Rainbow Dash as she trotted away, tail swaying as she left. Rainbow pulled her head back into the cubicle and shook the sight of Quill’s mareparts from her mind. She’d never thought of seeing any pony’s parts, but suddenly a new appreciation for higher tails was worth more than a little teasing.

Dashie? Who the flock does she think she is? And a random invite to a party for me and AJ? Can we say suspicious? I'll talk it over with AJ and see what she thinks. And what’s with her soft tail swishing, like she was flirting with, me? She rolled her eyes and collected her thoughts pushed them aside with thoughts of wearing a Wonderbolt uniform. Rainbow stacked all her paperwork into one pile then grabbed from the top. "Let's get this over with."

Three o’clock came by faster than she wanted and she wasn't even halfway done with her work. She was nudged awake by a yellow wing and a giggle from a mare she didn’t think to look at. She stretched and shook a page stuck to the side of her face loose. "Flock it, I'll start my laps now."

Getting what she considered completed paperwork into the proper boxes took a few minutes and her uncompleted work went back to her mail slot, three pages left. Flying out the nearest window she landed on the roof. She took a deep breath and flew a few hundred feet up, moved the clouds into a formation that was commonly used for exercise, and began her laps.

40 laps in the last three minutes-ish and I'm not even breaking a sweat. Maybe I should speed up? Pumping her wings faster she felt the air rushing by her, pulling against her mane and tugging at her tail as it resisted her efforts to push through it. The sound in her ears was almost blissful. No other noise could bother her at the moment, her thoughts drifted back to laying on the bed with Applejack last night and opening up to her. The closeness she felt had surpassed anything any stallion had ever offered her and felt more fulfilling too.

Then there was the part with her last orgasm. Screaming the name of my best friend; what was that all about? Why her name while I was fantasizing a stalling rutting me? I love her, but is it really that deep?

A light flashing from below her caught her attention and she descended with the same speed she was flying. The roof of the building sped at her at dangerous speeds, adrenaline was pumping through her body and made and world slow down as she neared 50 feet away and looked at the stallion holding a beacon widened his eyes, then open his wings ready, to jump back. She turned her body and banked in a full 360, wrapping her contrail onto itself, as she pulled her wings and skidded to a stop two feet in front of Diamond.

"Sir, taking an early day?" She asked standing and saluting sarcastically.

"No, Rainbow Dash. We need to talk and this isn't the place. Meet me in my office in five minutes."

"Uh, why? I'm doing the laps like you wanted, sir."

"I'm taking three bits from your salary for your language today. Set a better example and see you soon. Get some water and cool off while you can."

Rainbow Dash stuck out her tongue as he went inside. She did have a slightly dry mouth, so she reentered the building and made for the break room.

Applejack had patched Big Mac very well, for a worried sister. He looked silly with bandages across his muzzle and his head had a bandage and tape covering his largest wound, measuring nearly two inches.

"Big Mac, Ah’m sorry ‘bout losing my cool like that. You okay to get back to work?"

He smiled at her and winced from the pain of bandages tugging at his mane and fur. "Eeyup."

"Well, we're an hour behind our chores, so let's get to it."

Granny Smith walked into the kitchen and cocked her head as she saw Big Mac. "What happened to him?"

Applejack and Big Mac chuckled and looked at each other then Granny. "We'll tell ya later. Head on to nap now, less'n ya wanna do our chores?"

Granny smiled and turned back to the den. “Smart alec whippersnappers, just lucky they know Ah’m a might bit tuckered out…” she mumbled as she left.

"Okay, Big Mac, back to your chores."

"Eeyup."

Walking into Diamond’s office, Rainbow Dash looked at the pitch black stallion sitting at his desk. His dark coat almost blended into the brick wall behind him as he pushed a stack of papers aside and gestured for Rainbow Dash to take a seat opposite him at his desk.

"Okay, Diamond," she huffed, "what's the deal now?"

"Rainbow Dash, I'm writing you up."

"What? Why the flock are you writing me up? I'm the best employee the company's ever had! No pony alive is better than me when it comes to weather control! Or anything else for that matter."

"You're a hothead, Rainbow Dash, and it's detrimental to your position as manager. You are arrogant, brash, and cocky; more than any other pegasus in the city. If there were a couple others, maybe we’d let it pass with a few more warnings, but this isn’t a large city."

"But-" Diamond held up a hoof as he continued speaking calmly.

"You are the best at what you put your mind to, Rainbow Dash. You also are your own worst enemy. You are this close to losing your position," he motioned from the desk a short distance up, "or taking an extended unpaid leave."

Rainbow Dash sat in place in front of his desk frowning; waiting for him to finish. "You see, Miss Dash, your personal life and professional life are none of my business or that of any other pony. Let me get that out of the way right now. This is about your attitude and personality, before you start claiming that as a defense.

"Over the past few months you've saved Equestria a half dozen times with your friends and since then you've become so lax in your duties that you've lost your work ethic and the respect of your flock when it comes to the job, nay, obligation of weather control. If you need to take a day off from now on, and it's not about actually saving our world, you have to talk to me or corporate and write us a letter as well."

"But-"

"Do we have an understanding, Miss Dash?"

"Mister Diamond. I know I have branches and confidence and all that,” she waved a hoof dismissively, everypony tells me that all the time. But, I deserve a chance here. I’d love to see your white mane whipping a cloud or two and see what it’s-"

"Miss Dash, I am done speaking with you," he said placing his hooves on his desk loudly, "you are being written up and fined three bits as I stated earlier plus a full half day’s bits because you were half a shift late today,” he narrowed his eyes. “I expect you to be professional in your duties, the same as any other pony in any of their jobs. Two more infractions and I will have a corporate representative here for that meeting. Good evening."

Rainbow Dash growled and stomped out of the room slamming the door behind her startling the few Pegasi that were left on the floor. She rolled her eyes and shrugged, smirking confidently as she flew out of the building she couldn't fight the feeling this was more personal than professional.

Rainbow Dash hovered outside the farmhouse and knocked on the door loudly after running a hoof through her messy mane. From inside she heard Granny shouting. "Apple Bloom, get the door 'fore they break it down."

"Alright, Granny," Apple Bloom shouted as her hoof steps approached the door. "Who is it?"

"Uh, Apple Bloom? It's Rainbow Dash." A few seconds passed before the lock clicked and the door opened slightly, with Apple Bloom peeking out.

"What'dya want now?" Apple Bloom asked flatly.

"I-I wanna see Applejack for a minute, please."

"She ain't here. Go away," she said as she shut the door and locked it.

From inside, Rainbow Dash heard a short conversation.

"Who was it?"

"Some salespony tryin' to get us to buy a toaster."

"Well why'd ya send 'em on their way? We can always use a good toaster."

"I'm goin' upstairs Granny."

"Okay young'n, see ya round three, when Ah wakes up."

"Oh, flock it," Rainbow said as she flew up to Applejack's window and looked in to see if she was there. She isn’t here, Rainbow mumbled. She tried a couple other windows before finding Applejack, in the bathroom. Landing outside the window quietly she perched on the roof peeking in to watch her friend looking at the mirror making faces.

Applejack made a pout, a frown, and a large smile that would impress Pinkie Pie, then let her mane down. Rainbow Dash felt her heart beating faster as she saw the long flowing blonde mane of her lover fall to her sides, past her knees. Even though she couldn't hear what Applejack was saying to the mirror she imagined it was something about her chores or apples.

What happened next surprised Rainbow.

Applejack turned a picture of herself and Rainbow Dash, taken after Rainbow had technically won the Iron Pony contest, kissed it, then set it back on the sink. Grabbing a comb, she started to sing and brush her mane, the sound barely audible, but a country song nonetheless. Normally it would mean nothing to watch another mare brush their mane, but this time Rainbow couldn't stop looking. Applejack began to twist her mane in a few ways before putting one of Apple Bloom's bows in her hair, a giggle into her hoof, then she took it out and leaned her head on her hooves, staring at the photo.

With a snap of her head, Applejack let her hair down and tucked the photo into her mane as she went to the door. Opening it, Rainbow saw Apple Bloom and made the logical guess it was her turn to use the bathroom. Applejack rubbed the back of her head with an awkward look and kicked the out of view bow further under the sink.

The mare left the room and closed the door behind her. The filly went to the toilet, squated, then Apple Bloom stopped and screamed as she looked out the window. Rainbow Dash had been seen and froze in shock, paralyzed with fear at the scream. She waved her hooves and shook her head no, the door flew open and Apple Bloom ran out of the room as Applejack, wearing a loose towel holding her mane went galloping through the bathroom and through the window.

The real world and temporary terror made Rainbow stumble back as Applejack went crashing through the window, forehooves first, tackling the cyan mare before she could fly away.

"...Dash?" They locked eyes as Rainbow tried to smile as they plummeted to the ground. Opening her wings she locked Applejack in her legs and spun around breaking their fall as best she could. They landed with a thud, Rainbow screamed shortly as pain shot through her back and the full weight multiplied thrice over of Applejack landed on her.

Applejack bounced off and landed on her side unharmed, slightly shocked at what she’d done. “Rainbow Dash?” she frowned as she got to her hooves and looked at the pegasus, holding just below her ribs and gasping short breaths. “Ya okay?”

A few seconds passed before Rainbow nodded. Applejack stomped her hoof heavily onto the ground. “What the hay is wrong with you?! Peepin’ on my little sis goin’ potty, Ah thought more’a you,” she shouted as she scolded.

Rainbow sat up, wincing. She flexed her wings and folded them to her sides as she took a better seating position."AJ, I know what you might think, but I wasn't trying to peep on Apple Bloom."

"So you was peepin' on me?"

"No. Well yes... But, I wasn't trying to, I just-"

"Applejack? You okay down there? You catch that peeper?" Apple Bloom called from the damaged window.

"Ahm fine, it’s all taken care of, just unlock the door so Ah can get back inside."

"'Kay," the filly called down, “after just a minute, ya know.”

“Just hurry up and don’t ferget ta wipe.”

“Applejack! Ah know how to go potty!”

Rainbow snickered and mumbled. “Heh, potty.”

Applejack shot the recovering mare a glare. “Just get to it,” she said loudly then turned her attention back to the other mare who opened her wings and started to hover away.

"Rainbow Dash, you come down here right now," Applejack demanded. Landing cautiously Rainbow Dash averted her gaze, looking back she noticed glass on her back and shook, trying to get it all out. "Now, ya done messed up. All the ponies I love are havin' a bad day all around and you owe me a new window. Shatter resistant, ya know"

"I know, and I’m glad you got those enchanted windows,” Rainbow smiled nervously then sighed. “Look, I'm sorry, AJ. I really wanted to see you after the day I had and you can't come to my house so..."

"Yeah, Ah get it. But you coulda just knocked. Flyin’ and peepin’ ain’t a right way ta say hi."

"I did knock, AJ! Apple Bloom said you were gone and I was a toaster salespony, but I knew you weren’t in the orchard or farm."

"She did that? I can't say Ah blame her though, she's going through a lot. That don't make it right, but Ah think yer even. So,” Applejack asked with a smirk, “you wanna come up?"

Rainbow smiled and nodded and then spent the remaining time talking about Applejack flying through the window like a supermare until Apple Bloom unlocked the door and opened it to see Rainbow Dash and Applejack standing outside the doorway looking at her. "Uh, heya Rainbow. Applejack. Ah'm just gonna..." with that she galloped back upstairs.

"C'mon in, Sugarplum," Applejack said as she led Rainbow through the house up to her room. "So, how much did you see when you were peepin' on me?" Dash turned a light shade of purple in her cheeks.

"Well, I saw your mane down and you playing with it."

"Oh, you like my mane down? Should Ah keep it that way?" Applejack asked flirtatiously.

"It's your mane, do whatever you want."

"So, what happened to you today?" Dash filled her in on her less than stellar day so far. Her invitation to go to the party was the highlight, though.

"Rainbow, Ah think it'd be great to go to a party! We don't have to say we're together, if ya don't want."

"Well,” Rainbow hovered over Applejack’s bed, “I think everypony there knows, and if they don't who cares?"

With a giggle, Applejack hopped onto the bed and kissed Rainbow on the cheek, sending a deep purple shade across her face. While Rainbow smirked goofily, Applejack saw onthe edge of the bed and took her turn to fill her in on her day.

"Wow, so, Big Mac and Cheerilee? I never wouldn't taken them for that couple. And in front of a whole class?! Way to go Big Mac!" Rainbow laughed.

"No, Dashing. That's bad."

"What? Why? Everypony's gotta learn someday."

"Not like that! Watchin' my brother rut some mare in heat just cuz of some love poison ain't no excuse."

“‘Some mare’? You know Cheerilee, AJ. She’s not some whorse or tail lifter for bits, she loves her job and wouldn’t do anything to hurt the children. It was the enchantment, not her. You could use a shot of that potion to see what it’s like.”

"Rainbow Dash, Ah am shocked and appalled," Applejack said with a certain amusement, "Ah don't think the world is ready for what I’d do under that kinda spell."

"Well, technically we haven't done much yet. But, we've got time tonight right?"

"Rainbow, Sugarplum. Ah ain't in no mood for foolin' around tonight. It's been one heck of a day and I just wanna rest, hours from now when it’s time ta sleep, we can see if nature wants ta happen."

"Okay, c'mon then." Rainbow flew to the bed and opened the blankets behind Applejack, then patted the mattress.

"Sugarplum, Ah don't think-"

"Good. Then let's take a nap, together," Rainbow said as she lay in bed, snuggling into the pillow with a comfortable smile and trilling hum.

"Sugarplum," Applejack sighed and smiled, "I ain't gonna win am I?"

Using her best Big Mac voice Rainbow replied. "Nope." Then giggled covering her mouth with her hoof.

Applejack climbed next to Rainbow Dash, lay down, and looked at her. "Rainbow Dash?"

"Yeah, AJ?"

"Can you say it again?"

"You mean how great I am?"

"No, you know what I mean."

"I-I'm not ready to say those words right now, Applejack." They smiled at each other and kissed as they moved closer. Rainbow wrapped her free wing around Applejack and they nuzzled each other as the fell asleep.

The sound of a bell ringing startled Applejack awake. She scrambled out of the covers and fell to her chest on the floor with a heavy thump. “Oh no! Ah slept another day away! Dagnabit,” she snorted loudly in frustration as she got to her hooves and gathered her hair ties and hat. She was out the door and stopped quickly, sliding.

Her ears twitched and she turned around, walking back to her doorway and looked it with a confused look. Rainbow Dash was sleeping on her belly, hind knees under her… facing away from Applejack. Applejack gulped and walked softly to the sleeping mare, raised a foreleg, then gently moved the rainbow tail aside. Sucking in a breath sharply she looked at the slightly open vulva of her marefriend.

“Applejack!” Granny called upstairs loudly. Rainbow’s wings flapped and she was in the air as Applejack tumbled backwards with a grunt onto her haunches. “Time ta eat, get yer lazy hindquarters down here, and ya got double chores tonight fer takin’ the day off.”

Rainbow looked down at the other mare. “Why’re you covering your head? Let’s go eat?”

“Ah didn’t know if you were gonna buck me,” she replied and got to her four hooves, adjusting her hat onto her head.

“Why would I buck you? Whatever, let’s get some food, I’m starving to death,” Rainbow stated as she hovered over and past Applejack. “Hurry up, lazy bones, we’ve got stuff to do tonight.”

“Guh, uh! Lazy?! I, but, you…”

“Yeah, when ya learn to talk, send me a letter,” she giggled as she turned down the hall.

”Why you,” Applejack grumbled as she chased after Rainbow.

...

Hours and the evening passed, Rainbow twitched and looked out the windows several dozen times, but stayed by Applejack through the evening, even taking a quiet walk through the orchard. Finally, they went back to Applejack’s room, cuddled up, and went back to sleep.

…

They both groaned and stretched as they heard the rooster crow. "C'mon lover, time to get up." Rainbow didn't move. That mares out to the world. It ain't gonna cut it in this house. “Dashalicious”, Applejack whispered into Dash's ear as she reached around her bed mates body, "Sweetie? Gumdrop?" Rainbow Dash smiled and moved her head a bit. "Sugarplum? Time to wake up," Applejack cooed sweetly as she nuzzled Dash's neck.

"Mmm. I love you so much, AJ," she mumbled with a snore. Applejack pushed herself up in bed and looked at the sleeping cyan mare beside her.

Ah don't believe it. She does! With a giggle she hopped out of bed and bounced like Pinkie Pie for a few hops as she smiled just as wide. Applejack stopped hopping when a she heard snicker.

"Yer up AJ, good. Time for breakfast," Big Mac said through the door. His hooves clopping away in the distance then down stairs with a distant yawn.

Giving a final nudge to Rainbow Dash she left the heavy sleeping mare and went to use the bathroom and eat.

Breakfast was a simple meal of oatmeal and scrambled eggs, mixed vegetables, and orange juice. "OJ, Big Mac? Really?"

"Ya know we can't live off our own product, Applejack," he said knowledgeably, "now eat up."

"Ya gotta make one more plate."

"Apple Bloom doesn't get up for another hour. It'll be cold."

"It's for Dash." Applejack said softly. Big Mac stopped stirring the oatmeal on the stove and looked back at her. His face was unbandaged and the scratch blended into his coat. "She slept over last night. Just slept over."

He chuckled and went back to stirring, then made an extra plate of food, setting it in front of Applejack with a wink. "I'm just gonna-" Applejack motioned upstairs as she picked the extra plate up in her mouth. Big Mac nodded and started eating.

"Rainbow Dash, Spitfire’s here!" Rainbow Dash jumped out of bed wings at the ready and in a position to fly straight ahead as she looked into Applejack’s eyes. She huffed, but relaxed and yawned.

"AJ, what time is it?"

"Celestia just raised the sun."

"Oh my gosh,” she sighed, falling back into the bed, “no pony should even be alive this early. Wake me in an hour or fifteen." She tried to cover herself but Applejack hopped on her and pushed her out of bed with a hard push from her muzzle onto the wooden floor. "Ow, AJ. What the feather was that for?"

"Ya know, Sugarplum, Big Mac went’n made you breakfast. And it'd go a long way to show your appreciation to him and yer boss eat up and get ta work early. Fer once," Applejack said with a smirk.

"Ugh, fine. I'm gonna do it but, only for you. That's what… lovers do for each other, right?" They smiled at each other as Rainbow grabbed her plate and walked to the door. "Ya comin' to bekfusht ur wat?"

Rainbow Dash arrived to work just in time to be an hour early. I swear if I have to be up this early every again I'll go crazy. she yawned loudly. Landing on the building she had to dig into her saddlebags to find the door key. I've never even used this thing. I might have left it at home somewhere. Just as she was about to leave for her house she found it wrapped in an old bundle receipt that she glanced at. This is dated five years ago. I really haven't ever used this key.

Walking into the offices, it was almost peaceful. The opposite of how it would be in a few hours, with a dozen ponies clopping and flying through the area. Turning on the lights and thanking some egghead in Baltimare for making electricity a thing, she gathered her paperwork and started catching up.

An hour later the hustle and bustle of the office was in full swing as Pegasi flew from room to room, others shouted questions at others from across the floor, and Rainbow snored quietly at her desk. Rainbow finally finished her paperwork and got her order sheets from the clerk.

Looking them over she sighed and almost face-hoofed but just smiled. I have more to do than any other pony cuz I'm the boss. Whatever. I can't lose my cool and I need to earn the flocks respect back. Just do it, Rainbow Dash. Show 'em why you're the best in Equestria.

With that, she stuffed her orders into her saddlebag and trotted to the roof. She greeted her co-workers and other Pegasus as she passed worked and didn't mention once how great she was, to show her humbleness. She got to work busting clouds, and didn't take a break or nap at all until she was done.

Admiring her work she did a fly-by to make sure every cloud was in place or dispersed. Nodding at her handiwork she looked at the time and laughed. It only took her two hours.

Time for second breakfast, then the rest of the day free. she made herself a nice cloud and landed on it, laid down, then quickly fell asleep. Waking, refreshed and eager, she went to find Applejack to have an early lunch in town. My first real date with AJ. She smiled with determination as she flew to Sweet Apple Acres.