The mares gathered just by the exit door and said their goodbyes. With several passing hugs and warm smiles they opened the door and entered the street.

“Fritter, what’s the plan? I know I’m all nice now, but I don’t wanna go home yet. Maybe we can go skating or… Gah, I don’t know. Without flying this’ the most boring winter ever.”

“Now, now, my blueberry,” she grinned at Rainbow, “don’t fuss. We’ve got a few things ta do-”

“And no chores!”

“Well shucks, ya took the rug from under me… Ah dunno, we can check on the fillies.”

“Nah, they’re out and about. We can try on frilly fru-fru dresses and have a fashion show,” Rainbow said thoughtfully before snickering and bursting into laughter. “Yeah, that’d be the day.” She spoke in a fancy accent. “My name is Rainbow Dress, and my mate here…”

“...Apple Jewel, fashionist to the stars,” she chuckled.

“And together we’re the most fabulous, darling.”

They laughed to each other.

“Nah, so, really Fritter, anything to do? Earth ponies have to do more than chores during winter.”

“Well, save fer goin’ out and about visiting and bein’ neighborly, reckon there ain’t much Ah know of. The farm’s been my life since I was a filly, now I’m a mare and makin’ zap apple jam by the barrel.

“Dash, Ah’m kinda worried,” Applejack confessed, “what if apples become less popular because of your love booms?”

“‘Love booms’? Whatever,” Rainbow blushed and shook her head, “apples are a staple of our diet and you still sell them every week! They’re not going anywhere.”

“That’s somethin’ else… There’s been talk about me hirin’ somepony ta sell apples while the family takes time off durin’ the warm season.”

“Heck no! You’re sellin’ apples ‘til you’re as old as granny, and don’t give up bucking,” Rainbow frowned, “it’s who you are, like I am in the air.”

“Yeah, yer right… sorry, just a lot’s happened since we got together.”

“Seven months, is it?”

“Meh, who’s keepin’ track. It’s been a few and I haven’t been happier… it’s just that the farm’s changed so much.”

“I think I’ll take a vacation to Marestopolis.”

“‘Marestopolis’?”

“It’s a city that’s only allowed to let mares in its borders. Maybe I’ll have a fling and take some time not flying while I’m there. I can try my hoof at painting fruit in a bowl-”

“What’re ya talkin’ about, Sugarplum?”

“Ugh, if I did something crazy what’d happen to us? If I stayed the way I was, what’d happen to us? Change happens and it can be good or bad. As long as Ah’m awesome you’ll be fine, Fritter. Don’t fret- uh, worry about it. I’m here ta catch ya.”

Applejack looked to Rainbow and sighed. “Ah’m so lucky ta have ya in my life.”

“Yeah, I know,” she said smugly. “Oh yeah, you too, but about you, not me… right?”

Applejack chuckled. “Close enough.”

“So…”

“Ugh, I dunno what ta do, let’s just walk and see if anything happens.”

…

An hour later nothing worth noting had happened during their walk sending Rainbow into a bit of a funk. “UGGH, I’m getting into a funk here, I need something to do!”

“What about doin’ some weather stuff! Ya love bossin’ ponies around.”

“When I can fly and show ‘em how it’s done. I’ve done the paperwork for the next day. It’s winter; all we do,” she waved to the clear sky, “is move clouds around and make it snow, which is two days out. Like I said, boring.”

“Look, Ah’m sorry, but Ah just don’t know. Why not race home.”

“...three, two, one, go!” Rainbow shouted rocketing off.

“Heh.” A few seconds later they were galloping through Ponyville, kicking up snow and dusting the roads and ponies on their way out of town.

“Detour!” Rainbow shouted taking a sharp right and heading to Sweet Apple Acres.

A grin spread across Applejack’s panting muzzle.

“Big, Mac… Gonna ask, him stuff.”

…

“So, Big Mac, how’s it goin’?”

“Fine.”

“Okay, glad ta catch up,” Rainbow chirped as she turned and trotted from the farmhouse, followed by Applejack who raised an eyebrow.

“Rainbow, ya went and asked that? I thought ya wanted ta talk.”

“You know he’s not big on words, I just needed a reason to get out here. C’mon, let’s check out the girls’ clubhouse.”

“Ugh, you’re impossible, Dashing.”

Rainbow galloped ahead and through the snow and fell to her back, flailing while laughing. She got up and looked at a rough shape and frowned.

“Sugar, ya can’t make a snow pegasi without your wings. How’re they holdin’ up?”

“Ugh, fine. As long as I keep them to my body they don’t hurt too much. Just, gotta keep ‘em warm, she winked and turned to frolic through the snow and between the hibernating apple trees.

Applejack guffawed and trotted after Rainbow. “Yer actin’ like a filly, ya silly mare.”

“I can be whatever I want cuz I’m all grown up and… you know,” she grinned widely as she made their way through the orchard. The clubhouse loomed ahead, snow covered the roof and the ramp was thick with a layer of snow that hadn’t been disturbed all season.

“C’mon, Fritter, she me what the fillies did in your day.”

Applejack rolled her eyes and followed Rainbow up the slanted ramp.

“Brr,” they shivered as they stepped inside, “Fritter, it’s like, colder in here than outside.”

“Don’t worry, over here,” she replied going to a lantern and turning it on.

“Ahh, I love magic,” she sighed as the lantern radiated warmth around them and slowly warmed the interior as the laid by the lantern and looked at each other.

“...What?”

“Huh? Just, lookin’ at the mother of my children.”

“Ugh, don’t remind me. I already feel hungry again,” she frowned, “I really need to fly this weight off… I’ve never been on the ground so long in my life!”

“It ain’t all bad,” Applejack said as she got up and lay next to Rainbow, “ya got me and the whole Apple family ta help ya.”

Rainbow winced. “Are they gonna be mad that we didn’t tell ‘em right away?”

“Nah, I know they’re gonna be fine. We’ll tell ‘em ‘fore we leave ta Canterlot and have a little party just fer us. Rarity can watch the fillies for the night until we’re done and we’ll take AB right away to the train with us in the mornin’. She’ll find out with the rest and it’ll only be a few weeks before everypony knows.”

“Oh my gosh! I can’t wait to see their reactions, it’s gonna be epic. Like, rainboom epic, but more than that. Like, they’ll be happy for hours,” she sighed and leaned against Applejack, “won’t they”? She asked as her voice cracked.

“Ah now they will be,” Applejack replied as she nuzzled Rainbow. “Sure is warm now,” Applejack sighed.

“Yeah, magic warm stuff. I love it.”

“I think it’s warm enough,” Applejack pulled her head back and took her hat off to look into Rainbow’s ruby eyes, “to relax.”

“Yeah, I know. It’s really cozy right now.”

“No, Sugarplum…”

“...” Rainbow gasped and grinned. “Y-you mean? Here? Now?”

Applejack tossed her hat aside and leaned in, pressing her lips to Rainbow’s. Her tongue was the first to dart out of her mouth and into Rainbow’s sending the blue mare into a panting mess of restrained giggles as she kissed back.

Moaning and mewling into each other they quickly kicked their boots off, stripped from their coats, scarves, and hats before Applejack pounced on Rainbow, pressing her to the floor.

Rainbow winced. “Don’t stop, don’t you dare stop,” she said firmly as she pulled Applejack closer with her forelegs and gasped happily as Applejack’s knee pressed in just the right spot.

Next Chapter: Whispers with Honesty Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 7 Minutes