"Wow, AJ. This suite is sweet and huge and, oh, look, that view’s awesome, dude! Totally worthy of us, right?" Rainbow shouted as she flew around their luxury hotels livingroom. "I can't believe the Princess hooked us up with this place, the girls are gonna be so jealous."

"Now, Rainbow Dash, ya know it isn't nice ta tease other ponies, especially our friends. Ya come down here and pay the nice pony for carrying up our stuff."

Rainbow turned and flew to her coin bag then to the bellhop and tossed him three bits before flying back to check out the bedrooms. "Three bits? Thanks, ladies," he stated with a forced a smile. Applejack reached into her travel pouch and gave him a few extra.

"Sorry 'bout her, she's excited is all." He smiled honestly and turned, leaving quickly.

"AJ! I can see Cloudsdale! It's right there! I could fly there in ten minutes before I started to sweat, even. And Ponyville’s right over there, we can see your farm! It’s so small, do you think we can see the family? Applejack, aren't you gonna see this sweet view?"

"Ah’m comin'. Hold yer horses, we have all week, yer as impatient as a timberwolf chasin’ a chicken." Rainbow was hovering several feet in the air and not even half the way up the window as Applejack took a look out, her wings fluffed as she looked. "Wow, Ah’ll admit that it is a great view, all right."

“Hey, if you fall from flying again and I catch you, you know what that means, right?” Rainbow smiled.

"That I’m a great catch, you tell that joke every time Ah’m off the ground."

Rainbow did a backflip in the air. "AJ, let's go do something! We didn't come here to look out a window, did you notice this sweet suite is as big as the first floor of home? I know what to do, let's fly to the market and get some dinner. I'm starving, look at me," Rainbow pointed to her belly which was a bit distended from snacking on the train, a sandwich on the taxi ride to the hotel, chips in the elevator up, and a banana when she entered the room from the complimentary gift basket. Applejack rolled her eyes.

Flying up, Rainbow opened a pony sized window above the bedroom window they were looking through. "C'mon, AJ, every hotel has these. Don’t worry, they lock so nopony can get in without the key. C’mon! Lemme see you flap those pretty wings."

Applejack looked back to her slightly lighter than her coat colored wings then opened them, hesitantly. "Ya know, why don't we just walk there? We'll see more sights that way.” Rainbow gave a dismissive look and Applejack sighed. With a couple controlled, well practiced flaps, she was in the air and followed Rainbow out into the skies of Canterlot. The view was astonishing as the full spectrum of the sun setting coated the western sky and the city spread beneath them. Applejack exhaled in awe while Rainbow looked back at her.

"AJ, this view is why it's so great to fly; it's why I almost never touch the ground unless I have to. The earth is so hard and doesn't move right, it’s bad on my hooves, and worse of all it’s freakin’ dirty,” she looked at her hooves and forelegs, “but up here," Rainbow spun like a bullet ahead before arcing and looping back to Applejack's side. "You can't get this freedom on the ground, no offense; the sights and the smells; the air rushing past your body and through your mane and tail… it’s amazing, AJ, right?"

With a giggle into her hoof, Applejack said, "You should write that down, it'd make any earth pony wanna fly at least once, Miss Awesome."

"I just might, migh... " she replied confident as she stared.

"What're you goin’ on about, Dashing?"

"You're why I'm so awesome, AJ. You’re the pony I can be me around, and the reason I’m in love with such a beautiful mare,” she turned and led them west, away from the market, Applejack noted, “compared to you, that sunset is just grey and all, blah, ya know? You’re like, like, the color in my mane cuz you make me me.

“AJ, you're the only pony who makes me happy to be sappy, and I might deny it sometimes, but you're always more awesome than I can pretend to be," Rainbow said thoughtfully as she scanned the sky. Looking down she saw Applejack descending quickly and dove after her. "AJ? Are you okay? Why'd you land? Are you getting a wing cramp again? I can rub it out," Rainbow asked as she glided behind Applejack.

“Rainbow, Ah’m just so lucky to have you. Let’s get ta dinner,” Applejack said as she turned to Rainbow and hovered well above the cityscape. "I'm gonna talk with you about something really important when we get back, somethin’ Ah know I can trust you ta know, okay Sugarplum?"

"Uh, yeah. That's a plan, so, follow me to dinner?" Rainbow guided her to the east and they went to the market. "So, AJ. Lots of fancy ponies here, lots of fancy food wagons, too. What're ya feeling? I kinda wanna try that place, 'Soup de Jour?'"

"Sounds fancy, but what's it mean? I don't wanna pay 30 bits for a leaf of lettuce on some blue soup."

"There's a picture of soup on the side of the wagon, so I think it's a soup and sandwich place. C'mon... Fritter, let's go!" Rainbow flew over as Applejack followed.

Fritter? She's never called me that before. She sounded like she practiced it, I think this is the start of a real change, she smiled, Apple Fritter, she called me that time. It’s gotta be a sign she’s takin’ us to the next level... Maybe she is gonna propose before we leave. Afterall, Ah've never known her to put so much effort into anything outside’a sports and struttin’ around as she has this here trip.

"That was crazy expensive! 60 bits for two soups and salads and who the flock charges five bits for a cup of friggin’ water. I'm never eating in Canterlot Main again,” she frowned as she hovered beside the now trotting Applejack, “thought this was a market, not a freakin’ rip off street. C’mon, Fritter, you totally agree, right? I say we go to the market outside the city next time. We can't afford this crap!" she returned a glare a couple of overdressed locals gave her.

"Them vittles were okay, but the grub in Ponyville's cheaper, tastier, and more fillin’. Now Ah know why there ain’t a pony with a Zebracan rump as far as Ah’ve ever seen,” she mumbled the last part that Rainbow couldn’t help but hear. “Let's just get back to the hotel.”

“AJ, look, a zebra!” Rainbow pointed and watched as Applejack’s wings opened, her ears perked, and her eyes scanned the area where Rainbow was pointing. Rainbow fell to the ground laughing as Applejack realized she was the butt of a joke.

“Rainbow Dash, that was just mean,” she said stomping her hooves as she cantered away, chin held high and fighting her wings to lower.

Rainbow flew after and wiped a tear from her eye. “So, should I talk to Zacora for you?” She received a frown in response. “Stars, that’s awesome. I never would’a thought you had a thing for Zacora, I mean I totally can see it now! How you looked at her from the start, even when you grabbed her ear was kinda-”

Applejack snapped. “Rainbow Dash, shut it! Ah swear if ya make one more joke Ah’ll head home on the next train outta here.”

Rainbow looked around at the ponies that’d stopped to watch. “Uh, dude, you’re like, really sensitive about that, huh?” The fierce glare was a decent answer. “Look, I’m sorry, can we talk about it back at the suite?”

Applejack snorted and returned to a march in silence.

Applejack fumed for a block until she felt her hat leave her head. She looked up at Rainbow’s sly grin. “Got yer hat.”

“Gimme that back, ya rascal!”

“Make me!” she put it on her head and flew higher. “Nya-nya, let’s see you use them wings, or did I ground ya?”

“Ground?!” Applejack jumped and flapped her wings, cutting through the air like a sword in an expert grip.

Rainbow yelped and turned to fly away, easily outpacing her pursuer. She looked back and grinned as she was chased through the sky, spiraling around a building and past a flying guard. “’Scuse me, playing tag!”

“Keep it civil or-” he managed before Applejack passed by him and sent him into a short spin. “Meh,” he waved a hoof, “freakin’ mares.”

“Heh, you’re gonna have to do better than that to get my hat, Fritter!”

“Why you, ya know that’s my hat! Give it back, ya varmint,” she shouted, then smiled when Rainbow turned back to her flight. “Ah’ll make ya eat it with mustard, ya overgrown peacock.”

“Make it hot sauce and I might think about letting you catch my draft!” They started laughing as they flew, after a few minutes they were side by side in the air. “Okay, we’re alone now, why the zebra fetish?”

“Rainbow, it’s not a fetish. Ah just like their size is all, they’re,” she smiled, “well rounded.” Rainbow slowed and pouted. What’s wrong Dash?”

“You, don’t think I’m too skinny, don’t you?”

“Rainbow-”

“Rarity and everypony was right… I’m just a skinny, garish, over muscled, colorful freak!”
She shot up into the sky faster than Applejack could ever hope to keep up with. She saw a cloud the size of a seed high up and gulped as she began to follow her up.

Several minutes later she landed on the cloud, panting heavily and gulping dry breaths. “Rain-Rainbow, what the, hay, are ya,” she felt her legs tremble and give out suddenly. With a yelp she tumbled over the edge and before she could clear the bottom of the cloud she was in Rainbow’s forelegs.

“AJ, my fritter, I know you’re a catch and all, but you really shouldn’t be up this high,” she smiled as Applejack wrapped her hooves around the cyan neck and held on tight. “Let’s get you your breath back.” Landing Applejack in the center of the cloud, Rainbow expanded the cloud and lay next to the exhausted mare. “So why’d you follow me, I would’a been back to the hotel before too late. I mean the moon’s barely up.” Rainbow gathered some cloud between her hooves and held it out to Applejack. “Eat it, it’s almost all water. Not always, but I packed some extra in this one for you.”

She opened her mouth and took a bite, smiling afterwards as she took another and then the final bite with a gulp. “Wow, that’s good eats,” she inhaled air and exhaled some cloud wisps. “Now, why’d ya go and get all ornery?”

“AJ, look, I know I’m not that great to look at, I’m too skinny, I don’t even have a rump cuz I’m so freakin’ muscled up,” Rainbow looked to the cloud they perched on and pouted. “I just wonder why you’re really with me.” Applejack gasped. “I mean, is it cuz I wanna be famous, or to brag to the other ponies at the parties? Are you just trying to get with all of us so you can-” she was silenced by a slap across her face.

“Now ya listen here, Rainbow Dash, Ah swear if ya talk about me bein’ promiscuous Ah’ll have more for ya than the soft part of my hoof across yer face. Now,” she looked up in thought, “Ah’ve known fer a while ya’ve got a scare inside ya about lettin’ us down, but Ah never would’a imagined you were so hard on yerself.

“Rainbow, look into my eyes and ask yerself if you believe I’m only with ya fer some stupid reason like yer future fame.” Rainbow bit her top lip but didn’t say anything. “And as fer that whole skinny business Ah say horseapples. Yer what ya need to be ta fly so fast and be as flexible as ya are,” she smirked and a slight smile replaced the lip biting and pouting. “And muscles? Are ya foolin’ me? Why, I’ve got more muscles than Big Macintosh and no pony complains, but yer not me, Rainbow,” she leaned in and placed her cheek against Rainbow’s, “you have the sexiest flank muscles Ah’ve ever seen.”

Rainbow gulped and nuzzled Applejack slightly. “Do I, really? It’s not too flat? Cuz I know mares that have bigger flanks than me and even before us, I looked.”

“Rainbow, it ain’t the size of yer flanks Ah fell for. Ah told ya before and Ah’ll tell ya til the last day I breathe that I see what’s in yer heart and who ya are as a living creature way before Ah thought about… well, not right after I noticed yer slim, petite, smooth body, but Ah know ya learned quick that yer a pony Ah’d wait forever for.”

“Heh,” Rainbow looked at Applejack, in her eyes and saw herself reflected back, “you noticed my body first and you still wanted to know me?” she playfully shoved the other mare, “you’re too sappy to make fun of. So, what’d you wanna do to my slim body when you saw me?”

“Oh, ya know, feel ya against me in hugs and nuzzles some days, others Ah wanted ta wring yer neck and knock some sense into ya.” Rainbow waggled her eyebrows and smirked sardonically. “Fine, Ah had a thing about you’n me a few times. Okay, fine, a lot. But only when you weren’t bein’ a darned fool.”

Rainbow laughed and pulled Applejack into a hug. “I’m your fool, Fritter. And, I know I have some problems, but can you help me when I get this way?”

“Heh, everyday and every time, darlin’. So, what say we get to a more normal height, like hooves on the ground, and make it back to the hotel?”

“Sounds good to me. I’m better now and… race you to the ground!” she rolled twice and fell over the edge as Applejack gulped and carefully moved to the edge herself and looked over. Her legs trembled as vertigo struck her, her wings closing tighter to her body.

“Rotten apples, Ah might be stuck up here and Ah don’t have a way to call fer help… Stars, what do Ah do now?”

“You could just ask,” Rainbow’s voice shouted from below her. Her head poked from the middle of the cloud with a cocky grin. “Sheesh, you really think I’d leave you up here and all alone with your fear of heights? Have some faith in me, AJ. I’m… here for you, too. Thanks, for before,” Applejack nodded and Rainbow returned it before her head diappeared into the cloud and she reappeared beside it. “Hang on, I’ll still take it slow, but no reason to risk it, right?”

Applejack laid down on her side and relaxed as the cloud was pushed from such heights that she’d never thought they existed to above the cityscape. It’s like ridin’ a wave on a boat. I could just fall asleep, she yawned.

“Hey, we’re as close to the ground as we can get without being fined. Hop off and let’s get back.”

Applejack gladly opened her wings and glided to the street, resisting the urge to kiss the cobblestone when she touched it with her hooves. “Wait, Dashing, I gotta buy somethin' quick, can we meet back in the hotel in an hour?"

"Can't I come with you? I totally wanna spend all week with you, and I like shopping, too. I mean, not as much as Rarity, but I like it."

"It's a surprise, honey. And Ah need to use my legs after so much time lazin’ around. Go buy something, the Princesses'll pay us back, Ahm sure. Just save the receipts and we'll ask 'em before we leave."

"What kinda surprise? Is it big? Shiny? Tasty? Or are you getting something for before bed?"

"Dashing, you'll love it either way. See ya soon!" Applejack said as she turned to gallop off.

Rainbow watched and gulped. What if she’s buying something to make a proposal. What would she get? A shoe, maybe a hoof cover. She doesn’t seem like she’d know about traditional pegasi stuff. Besides, I wouldn’t wear a wreath made of something off her body to show off. She’s an earth pony, what’d it be, tail hair? Rainbow giggled as she took a seat at a bench nearby and waited.

"Dashing, wake up, sleepy head! Let's get back, we got stuff to talk about." She opened ruby eyes and stretched let legs, her wings opened and with a yawn she was hovering. Applejack turned and started walking way the wrong way.

"Wait, AJ. You're gonna get lost again. Follow me," Rainbow grumbled as she turned left and slowly flew up. SHe looked back down below her when Applejack called her name and pointed ahead of herself. Rainbow looked around and shrugged, turning to fly down Applejack’s path. She led them back to the hotel where she became more alert in the elevator.

“Hey, AJ, we totally gotta get one’a these in Ponyville. I know, you’re gonna say ‘but Dayush, where we gunna poot eyut’, and I say city hall is big enough… what?”

“Don’t make fun’a the way I talk, Rainbow Dash. Ah won’t play that game,” Applejack narrowed her eyes and wings ruffled with instinct she didn’t know she had.

Rainbow picked up on the signals and clamped her muzzle shut with a nod. She knew when a unicorn was upset because their horns would glow slightly, earth ponies would tense their hind leg muscles in preparation for a buck that could topple trees in a single strike, and pegasi would ruffle their wing feathers.

Applejack was a combination of two tribes and has one of the strongest earth pony bucks she’d ever seen. Definitely not doing that again, ever, Rainbow landed and lowered her head, keeping her gaze on Applejack in a submissive position. Applejack reached and lifted Rainbow’s chin. “Don’t be like that, Ah’m not gonna hurt ya, just a bit miffed.”

“Yeah, I got that.” The elevator chimed just as the doors opened. She smiled as Applejack nuzzled her and they left the elevator to the door leading into their suite. Applejack opened the door and entered first with Rainbow slowly behind. They split up and Rainbow went into the bathroom while Applejack trotted to the bed and slipped something from under a wing and inside her hat under one of the nine huge bed pillows.

A flush, the running of water, and flap later, Rainbow was hovering over the bed where Applejack sat in the center of the bed. “So, what’s the plan, AJ? We gonna do it, or what?”

“Rainbow, Ah have somethin’ ta tell ya that really, no pony knows outside’a my family.”

“Oh, okay… is this about them?”

Applejack nodded and Rainbow landed, nestling into the bed and giving her attention to the orange mare in front of her.

"Dashing. My parents died... by poison." Rainbow’s ears drooped and she moved to Applejack’s side, draping a wing over her.

"I'm so sorry, AJ. Do you know who or why?"

"That's the thing. They went into the Everfree to look for some seeds to grow some new crops, what was the way we did things back then, and when they came out they said they felt sick. That night they were," Applejack nuzzled her head into Rainbow’s shoulder. "They died at the dinner table at darn near the same time. A.B. was too young to remember but I'll never forget them coughing like mad then poppa fell face first into his stew and mom. Mama," Rainbow felt tears soaking into her coat and Applejack trembled as she continued, "mama was grabbin’ her stomach, cryin’ somethin’ fierce and fell over, throwing up on the floor, then that was it. They were gone just like that."

"Oh, Applejack, I'm so sorry. I didn't know."

"I thought it was Zacora at first, that's why I helped spread rumors that she was an evil witch and enchantress,” she pulled back and looked sadly at Rainbow, “Ah didn’t know her so it just seemed right. When we met her for the first time I guess I realized since A.B. trusted her, she was okay and Ah did my best ta make amends, and even ate supper with her once, leadin’ her on but she turned me down real nice-like and we’ve been on equal ground since.

“My parents though. The thought was they must've eaten some bad food or something in the woods, but it doesn't ever get easier. It's always on my mind whenever I go near that cursed forest and when I think of what happened to ‘em, Ah feel a hate I can't explain, I can't-" Applejack finally started to cry as she tightly grabbed Rainbow into a hug that squeezed the air from her.

"AJ, air… need breathe,” she gasped air in as she was held less tightly, “Applejack, what's happened can't be fixed. You told me that once and… I love you and we, I need you to live with me, now, Applejack. I'm here for you and so are all our friends."

"That's the thing, Dash. I can't tell them how my parents died, Ah just can't, the memory of mama and papa... idea I couldn't get off my mind months; Granny holding me an’ Big Mac when we cried all night and day for a week. Ah couldn't eat stew for years and Ah even tried to move to Manehattan ta get away from the pain, but I saw your rainboom and it reminded me that home is where my heart is. Maybe," she sniffled, “that’s why I love ya now. Yer my home, Rainbow. From the moment I saw that rainboom ya filled my heart with warmth and love,” she leaned in to kiss Rainbow and what started as a soft brushing of lips led to a passionate affair that sent arousing warmth and tingles to both their back ends and their tails swished audibly.

The kiss broke and Rainbow sighed sadly. “I get it now, AJ, I know why you work hard, but I've seen you work yourself sick a few times. You gotta take a break sometimes and I shouldn't have to plan a surprise vacation for you to get away. The world shouldn't have to be in danger and you shouldn't have a family emergency to take a break from work and chores. AJ, when you're gone the farm does just fine, and it will keep doing fine and running if you stop working as hard as you do. I don't want you to get hurt, AJ."

Applejack smirked. “Ah ain’t gettin’ hurt. This’ what Ah do to support the family. If Ah work hard it means Ah can be done early and spend the rest’a my time with y’all and restin’ up."

“You don’t get it, AJ; you’re always tired, even if you don’t show it. AJ… I,” her eyes widened, “you’re my world, AJ, and I can’t live without you in it. Please, stop working so hard, you kinda, ya know, scare me sometimes with how hard you work.”

“Rainbow, Ah had no idea ya felt that way,” she placed a hoof on Rainbow’s cheek, “Ah won’t promise, but Ah’ll try ta take it down a bit. Ah wouldn’t hurt you, and didn’t think that workin’ so hard could scare ya so much.”

“It’s not like I don’t think it’s hot and all that to see you get sweaty and smelly and all that, but then I sometimes think of what’ll happen if you hurt yourself working and it kinda turns off my juice, ya know.”

Applejack hummed a laugh. “Fine by me. Ah’ll slow down on the work a bit, but it’ll take a while ta get used ta it.”

“Deal,” Rainbow leaned in and kissed her softly. “So, can we watch some TV or something? I mean, we’re in Canterlot and should use some of this fancy stuff,” she said changing the topic and scampered down the bed grabbing a remote.

“I dunno, electricity is still kinda weird ta me, Ah don’t know if I can keep up with all this stuff.”

“AJ, it’s the future. Go with it! You have wings, lights work in the dark without bugs or fire that can burn houses down if you forget them, and movies are in bedrooms at fancy places like this! It’ll be all over Equestria before we know it, so let’s just enjoy being the first to use it.” Rainbow held the remote and pressed a button. A loud click sounded and the TV turned on with a loud whistle as electricity shot through the vacuum tubes. “So, four freaking channels on this baby, let’s see what on.”