"Hold still..."

"A...Applejack easy!"

"If you quit struggling this'll be over before you know it!"

"Do you have to be so rough? I'm tender there!"

"Well if ya quit whinin' ah can make this go over faster!"

"Whatever...you just want more time to have your hooves on me..."

"What was that!?"

"NOTHING! I said you take too much time and your hooves are too rough!"

Rainbow Dash was on her back, wincing as Applejack carefully wrapped bandages around the whining mare's right wing. Applejack scoffed at Rainbow's last comment and gave her a light bonk on her head, speaking to her in a scolding tone

"Now that's just silly, ah have the softest, tender-lovin' hooves out of anypony!" Rainbow Dash simply sighed and tried her best not to wince or cry out as Applejack adjusted her wing. Applejack took the two straightest sticks she could find and placed them evenly on both sides of Rainbow's wing, wrapping bandages around them and making an effective splint. Applejack smiled and stepped back, admiring her hoofwork and said "There! All done ya big filly, how's that fit ya?" Rainbow Dash sat up on her haunches and looked at her bandaged right wing. She felt like her weight was uneven, but she'd get over it. She shrugged, looking towards Applejack with an indifferent expression

"Yeah...it's alright" Rainbow Dash said, leaving Applejack to simply narrow her eyes. Rainbow sighed and waved a hoof in the air "Yeah yeah! It's really great Applejack, thank you...." Applejack nodded and smiled a triumphant grin as she said

"See? Swallowin' your pride ain't to hard after all is it?" Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and poked at her fire with a stick, keeping the flames alive while Applejack simply shook her head with a light chuckle and went back to resorting her supplies.

Applejack grimaced at the mess Rainbow had made, sorting out the bandages from a roll of some kind of tape. "Ya could be a little...ya know...more organized when it comes to usin' mah stuff there Rainbow..." Rainbow Dash scoffed and looked over

"Well it's not my fault you make bandages so impossibly hard to get to! You were bleeding all over the place, it was like, GUSHING! I had to get to your bandages or you would of like...ya know, been more hurt n' stuff!" Applejack burst out laughing, holding her sides tightly as Rainbow shouted "What's so funny!? You were seriously hurt!!!" Applejack wiped a tear from her eye and said

"Yeah, from YOUR tree! And besides, ah gave myself a look over, ah wasn't THAT bad off. Few dings sure but nothing as serious as your ah talkin' bout'" Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and sighed

"Sure...whatever! Just belittle me for doing something RIGHT for once..." Applejack frowned, walking over and sitting on her haunches in front of Rainbow, using a hoof to tilt her chin up and look her in the eyes.

"Rainbow..." She muttered, her eyes sad. "Don't think ah don't appreciate what you've done fer me these past few days, hay, weeks and months even. You helped me buck a few apples, helped with the weather and the harvest, even give me a good show when you got some new tricks to show off..." Rainbow Dash smiled a little as Applejack went on "You even went and saved Winona from the storm...at the cost of your own safety and your right wing. Ah couldn't let all you done be in vain...so ah came lookin' for you." Rainbow Dash frowned and whispered

"I...I don't want to sound, you know...but, why is it only YOU out here? Didn't anypony else come with you?" Applejack shook her head, sighing

"Nope...Twilight said the storm was much to dangerous at the moment, and ah didn't have time to go runnin' around hearin' everypony's excuse not to go out into the storm. Ah don't hold it against Twi', hay ah even caught a portion of her sentence about her goin' and sendin' a letter. We may get help yet Rainbow!" Rainbow Dash smiled and leaned herself forward, pulling Applejack into a soft hug. Applejack blushed as she hugged her back, smiling a little as Rainbow whispered to her

"Well....I'm glad you came for me Applejack...I'm glad it was you..." Applejack blinked a little, her heart throbbing for a moment and her face starting to burn up with a blush

"W...why's that?" She felt Rainbow shrug against her as she muttered

"I don't know..." Rainbow Dash pulled away gently, getting up on her hooves and slowly heading out of the cave, the clouds still black and ominous in the sky. She sat on the cliff-edge and sighed, looking up towards the sky.

She stared blankly at the sky, her heart aching worse then her wing. "Applejack..." she thought, her eyes tilting in sadness "Why can't...why can't you see you've done so much for me too...you caressed me when I fell...held me until I felt better...you listened to me whenever I felt sad...or mad...and....you came for me. You came for me out here...". Applejack sighed from her spot in the cave, her eyes traveling over Rainbow Dash and a sigh escaping her lips. She shook her head as she spoke towards her, as if she were still sitting with her

"Rainbow...what are you thinking about? Are you thinking about me...? Do you even think like that? Ah love you...but ah can't bring myself to say it. Ah'm afraid to lose you like ah nearly lost you today. Am ah a coward...? Am ah scared...? Ah'm so scared of losin' people Rainbow...ah lost my Pappy, ah lost mah parents...ah don't wanna lose you too." She sighed, looking towards the fire for a moment. Her eyes suddenly widened however, as she heard a voice in her head that sounded eerily like Rainbow's

"Why should you be afraid? Look at us...we're the two strongest mares in Ponyville...look at what we've done to survive out here. We've fought a BEAR, and WON! If you were going to lose me...you would have done so already...and if you don't do something...you may lose me still. Don't be scared of the heights or the risks until you've taken a chance, taken a risk. Life is about risks...I know, I'm a Pegasus. Nothing stops me from doing my ultra-cool tricks...because I'm not afraid to fall. I carry my life in my hooves every-time I leap off a cloud...why don't you leap off yours? Believe in yourself Applejack...take a leap of faith...for me."

Applejack sniffed, wiping a tear from her eye and standing up on her hooves. She had made it to the cave entrance when she started to cry, her tears flowing down her cheeks. Rainbow Dash heard a loud sniffle behind her and turned her head, blinking in surprise at a weeping Applejack approaching her. She turned around and asked

"Applejack...are you ok?" Applejack shook her head and kept walking towards her, Rainbow Dash getting to her hooves and moving towards her as well, a concerned look on her face. "Is it your bandages? Are you hurting?" Applejack nodded a little as she approached

"Y...yeah...ah'm hurtin' Rainbow...but it's not about the bandages." Rainbow blinked and gave a tiny yelp of surprise as Applejack put her front hooves on Rainbow's cheeks, the both of them sitting on their haunches. Rainbow whispered, a bit scared

"W...what are you doing Applejack?" Applejack sniffed as she spoke out of tear-stained sadness

"Takin' a leap of faith" She pulled Rainbow's face towards her as she moved her own forward, pressing her lips against Rainbow's and shutting her eyes tight. Tears continued to leak down her face and even washed out onto Rainbow's cheeks. Rainbow's mind was racing a mile a minute, her eyes wide and her left wing shooting outwards with an awkwardly loud 'POOMF!'. She felt heat wash over her as Applejack pulled her tightly against her body, wrapping her hooves around her and holding her lips to her still. It took Rainbow a moment, but finally, she felt her own eyes droop and she wrapped her hooves around Applejack. Closing her eyes, she pressed back, kissing her fully and making Applejack sigh with contentment.

They stayed that was for a good while, the both of them gently moving their lips against one another. They kissed and sighed, tasting one another and holding each other tightly, as if they were afraid that they'd lose one another if they let go. When they finally did pull their lips away from each other, their eyes opened and they stared into one another, the both of them blushing like mad. Rainbow was the first to speak, whispering

"S...so...?" Applejack smiled a little, whispering back

"So..." Rainbow felt like jelly in Applejack's hooves, the feeling of dizziness passing over her. She went partially limp in her arms, Applejack noticing the weight change and she whispered "Are you ok Sugarcube?" Rainbow Dash pressed her head against her shoulder and nodded weakly, a smile etched on her face.

"How...how long have you...thought about me, like this?" Rainbow asked, her eyes looking up towards Applejack. The Apple Mare smiled, looking down at Rainbow and whispering

"Oh...for a little while...started getting a fancy towards ya after all those days of me bandaging you up..." Rainbow smiled and whispered

"Knew it...and those massages felt so good..." Applejack blushed as Rainbow gave her a hug, giggling and snuggling her head into Applejack's bandaged chest.

"Well...it's only fair ta ask but, guessin' from how you went about uh...kissin' me back, how long have you liked me?" Rainbow Dash sighed and nuzzled against her a bit more and whispered

"Oh...about the same time. Everytime you fixed me up...I felt so warm and safe in your hooves. You cared for me Applejack...you've always cared for me every time I fell..." Applejack smiled and kissed the top of her head, holding her tightly

"Well...ah'm a bit tired of carin' for yer wounds...think ah'll care for yer heart instead" She said, smiling as Rainbow Dash lifted her head back up and kissed her again, the both of them enveloped in another blanket of warmth and love.

~~~

"So, we can't really go back on hoof...?" Rainbow Dash asked, sitting across from Applejack , the fire crackling between them.

"Eeyup" Applejack responded, shuffling in her saddlebags for something "With that ravine, and them puppies after us, ah'd say we'll have a purty rough time gettin' back home. Nope, only choice now is ta wait for a rescue..." Rainbow Dash smiled and spoke with a sarcastic tone

"Heh...that's pretty funny when you think about it...my Apple Lover coming to my rescue...and who now needs rescuing herself. Tragic." Applejack frowned and looked up at Rainbow Dash, an eyebrow raised and her tone accusing

"Oh? And just when did ah get upgraded to 'Apple Lover'? If there was any kinda lovin' going on, ah think you'd be hard pressed to take on this mare." It was Rainbow Dash's turn to raise an eyebrow, except on her face a smile rested, smug and victorious

"Heh, moving a little fast aren't we? Didn't know you were so eager to get between my legs." Applejack blushed to a color as red as her cutie mark and she half-shouted

"A...ah just never back down from a challenge is all! How...how did you get over that ravine anyway, your wings are broken!" Rainbow Dash could tell she was trying to change the subject, and she smiled because of it. She was about to say something when she saw Applejack pull out two brown bottles with a green apple stamped on their label. Rainbow suddenly smiled with a great big, mischievous grin, whispering

"Hey...Applejack...is that-"

"Apple Cider? Yes, can you have some? NO!" Applejack said, cutting her off and continuing to rummage through her bags. Rainbow Dash pouted and whined

"Awww! Come on Applejack you're no fun at all! Just a teeny weeny sip?" Applejack gave her a look and Rainbow Dash gave her a pouting look, whispering "I'll tell you how I got over the ravine if you let me...pweaase! Just a weeny teeny sip!!!?" Applejack sighed and rolled her eyes, muttering

"Fine...but you best speak up quick about the ravine before ah go and givin' you any." Rainbow Dash nodded and held up her hoof, opening her mouth to explain.

"It was simple really, I just threw a vine to a tree on the other side, and caught it on a branch. Tied my end to another tree and shimmied on over." Applejack raised an eyebrow, frowning for a moment before shrugging and sighing

"Well...guess that makes sense..." She passed the bottle to Rainbow with a stern warning "JUST, a sip!"

Rainbow smiled and nodded, popping the top as Applejack went back to sorting through her supplies. She gently put her mouth over the bottle and leaned her head back, taking a large mouthful and holding it in. She gently placed the bottle back down, cheeks full of cider. Applejack looked up as Rainbow moved closer to her, noticing her cheeks and sighing, aggravated "Ah said just a si- MMPH!" She was cut off mid-sentence as Rainbow Dash pushed her lips against hers, pushing her toungue past her lips and letting the cider flow from her own mouth to hers. Applejack blushed as she swallowed the cider, the warm mixture coated with Rainbow's taste. She pulled back and gasped a little, panting as Rainbow Dash swallowed her own portion and laughed.

"O...oh man!!! You should see your face! Hahahaha!!!! Oh that's rich!" Applejack felt her limbs grow weak as she stuttered

"W...why did ya...what?!" Rainbow Dash winked and scooted up close to her, nuzzling the side of her face and whispering in her ear

"Cause...my mommy taught me how to share..." Applejack shivered as she felt Rainbow's teeth nibbling at the top of her left ear, her voice coming out weakly

"C...Celestia's sake Rainbow...what's gotten into you?" Rainbow Dash smiled and sat back on her haunches, taking a swig of cider and smiling, whispering

"I...don't know to be honest. Just making up for lost time I guess. I've been falling in love with you for so long...I guess everything just feels right with you." Applejack looked towards her own bottle of cider, popping the top of it and taking her own swig, looking at Rainbow with a worried glance

"Ya don't...think that we're going too fast? Ah mean...we're officially like...um..."

"Marefriends?" Rainbow Dash offered, taking another gulp of cider and shivering from the warmth it spread through her body. Applejack thought about it for a moment and nodded, saying

"Yeah, Marefriends. You don't think we're going too fast for just starting a relationship or anythin'?" Rainbow Dash shrugged, taking another sip

"Dunno...never had a mare before...all the colts I dated back in Weather School never got a chance to be that close with me. I don't really believe in a 'Dating Speed' anyway...too slow-paced for me. I like adventure, excitement, those kinds of things." Applejack nodded and took a huge swig of her cider, her vision blurring for a quick moment before she spoke

"Well...thash alright I guessh...ah mean...ah'd be willing to do or try whatever you want to do, if you wanted..." Rainbow let out a small hiccup and smiled, holding her bottle out towards Applejack accusingly and giggling

"Hey Applejack...it sshhounds like you can't hold your liquor too good! You bessht be careful, a drunk mare is easshy to take advantage of!" Applejack let out a loud hiccup and stared lazily at Rainbow, her head swaying as she spoke

"H..hey! Ah can hold my liquor jussht fine! And what you mean 'take advantage of', if anythin', AH'D be takin' advantage o' YOU!"

Rainbow Dash took a mighty swig of her cider and dropped the bottle, hiccuping and walking sluggishly over towards Applejack, whispering

"Oh yeah..?" Applejack nodded weakly with a smile as she let Rainbow Dash gently push her on her back, her eyes staring up at her marefriend who proceeded to lay her belly against Applejack's, nestling on top of her and giving her a deep kiss. Rainbow pulled her head back slowly, just after taking Applejack's bottom lip between her own and giving it a playful tug. Applejack let out a low moan as Rainbow whispered "You ever been with anyone before Applejack?" The country mare shook her head and smiled weakly, feeling Rainbow putting tender hooves on her sides. Applejack knew they were both drunk, and knew that under different circumstances, this wasn't likely to happen. But...it had been a long time since she had been happy or felt at peace, and right now, laying underneath Rainbow, she could feel that. She wasn't about to cut that feeling short, not after all they'd both been through.

~~~

"Oh...my head!" Applejack wheezed, the fire smoldering and the cave illuminated with the rays of the morning sun. "W...what happened last night?" she groaned, a hoof to her forehead. She tried to move but felt something holding her in place, and when she opened her eyes she squeaked. Rainbow Dash was on top of her, her cheek pressed against her chest and drool dribbling out onto her orange coat. Applejack started to blush, looking around the cave slowly and catching sight of the empty Apple Cider bottles nearby. She blushed even more as she realized that last night may have been...more intimate then she realized. It wasn't till she tried moving her bottom that a blush as red as the morning sun crept over her face. Her legs had been spread wide, along with Rainbow's....the two of them in such a position that...

Applejack took in a sharp breath, the memories of last night flooding back to her. "Oh...mah...stars" she whispered. She tried to deny it at first but no matter what she did, she knew it was true. They kissed, they drank, and they tussled'. Applejack face-hoofed, shaking her head and sighing. "At least it twern't rape or nuttin' like that..." She figured that it being Rainbow...she could deal with it. "Definitely be sober next time...ya dumb filly Applejack you..." she whispered to herself. She put a hoof under her own head, staring up at the ceiling while Rainbow slumbered on. She thought about last night...the warm fire...the heat of them both pressed up against each other, enveloped in love and relief that they were at long last reunited. She actually enjoyed her first time...though wishes of her being sober for it still crept in her mind.

Applejack ended her train of thought with a smile, simply shaking her head and hugging Rainbow too her. A few more hours sleep wouldn't kill them.