Princess Twilight Sparkle sighed and slumped forward in her throne, resting one hoof on the Cutie Map. "You'd think if Rainbow Dash and Applejack were the ones who called the meeting, they'd at least be here on time," she said, idly running her hoof in circles around the outskirts of the Dragonlands.

Fluttershy smiled demurely. "I'm curious too, Twilight, but it hasn't been that long."

Spike was sprawled out lengthwise across the armrests of his little throne. He began to snore.

"If we each got a note about a big announcement, then why didn't they just put the announcement in the note?" asked Pinkie Pie, awkwardly bouncing in her seat.

"It must be a remarkably juicy bit of gossip," said Rarity, narrowing her eyes. "But I'm afraid I'm with Twilight on this one, Fluttershy. Twenty minutes is much too—"

The main door to the room burst open. A smug-looking Applejack trotted inside and tipped her hat. Rainbow Dash followed closely behind, wearing a blush and nervously eyeing the floor.

"Yay, they're here!" said Pinkie, grinning with excitement. Twilight Sparkle breathed a sigh of relief. Rarity, however, bit anxiously at her lower lip. Her muzzle was quivering like a teakettle ready to go off at any moment.

"Do we have to do this?" Rainbow Dash grumbled.

"You ain't gonna chicken out on me now, are ya?" said Applejack, with a wink.

Rainbow Dash stood up straight and frowned. "Hay! I'm not afraid of telling anypony, I just... y'know, I didn't want to make a fuss about it."

"Oh, for crying out loud.... Spill!" demanded Rarity, as she stomped her forehooves against the Cutie Map.

"Gah!" yelped Spike, suddenly waking up as he fell off of his chair. He picked himself up and sat back down. "Did I miss anything?" he whispered to Twilight, who shook her head in response.

Applejack nudged Rainbow Dash with a knee. Rainbow sighed and stepped forward, clearing her throat noisily before speaking.

"Okay. Applejack and I are dating. There," she said, staring at the ceiling as a bright red tinge seeped through her cyan cheeks.

"Wow, nice!" said Spike, with a wide grin.

Fluttershy gasped and flapped her wings once, then ran over to hug both of her friends. "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh! I'm so happy for you both!" she squealed. Pinkie Pie leaped up onto the Cutie Map to cover the distance more quickly, then offered a hug of her own.

Rarity clopped her forehooves together and smiled broadly. "Oh, that's delightful news!" she said. "Definitely worth the wait." She stood up and walked the long way around. Spike strategically waited for Rarity to enter the group hug before joining in himself.

Twilight smiled too, though her brow furrowed slightly. "Wow, that is good news!" she said, standing up to partake in the hugging before returning to her seat.

Everypony took their chairs except for Applejack, who stood by Dash's throne. "Eeyup, we think so too," said Applejack. "Course, we dunno how it's gonna work out in the long haul, but it's been goin' on for a few weeks now so we figured it was about time—"

"Wait, aren't you going to tell us whom you're dating?" interrupted Twilight.

Six faces turned toward Twilight, showing varying levels of incredulity. Then Pinkie Pie broke out into peals of laughter. "Oh Twilight, you're so funny!" she giggled.

"No, I'm serious," said Twilight, furrowing her brow. "Do the rest of you already know who it is?"

"Uh, we just told you, Twi," said Rainbow Dash.

"Me and Dash," said Applejack, gesturing toward Rainbow Dash and herself.

Twilight facehoofed. "Okay, let me try again. Whom are AJ and Dash dating?"

Rarity cocked her head. "They're dating Rainbow Dash and Applejack," she answered plainly.

"Who are?!" said Twilight, her voice loud and filled with frustration.

"Oh, for the love of... here," said Rainbow Dash. She jumped out of her throne, grabbed Applejack by the shoulders, and kissed her firmly on the lips. Applejack blushed, but smiled.

"Wait, what?" said Twilight, shaking her head as though to clear out the cobwebs. "What... what in Equestria is going on here?"

"Twilight, they're dating each other," said Fluttershy, firmly but patiently. "Rainbow Dash is dating Applejack."

"Heh, even I figured that one out," added Spike, with a chuckle.

"AJ. Dash. You're both mares," said Twilight, with her forehooves upturned.

"Wait, didn't you know that before?" asked Pinkie Pie, with a look of confusion on her face. "I mean, Applejack is kind of a tomboy but she's pretty obviously a mare. Dashie I can see, though. I actually didn't know Dashie was a mare until a week after I met her! But when she flies it's really easy to look under her tail so—"

"PINKIE!" shouted Rainbow Dash, wide-eyed and blushing.

"Yes, I know they're mares!" said Twilight, rolling her eyes. "I'm saying girls date boys. I can't believe I have to explain this to you."

"Oh my. I think she's serious," whispered Fluttershy.

"Darling, please. You grew up in Canterlot," said Rarity. "Same-sex partners are common there."

"They are?!" said Twilight. "That... that doesn't even make any sense!"

Spike buried his face in his claws and groaned.

"What's to make sense? They're in love," said Pinkie Pie.

"I can't believe I'm hearing this," said Twilight. "This is completely insane."

Rainbow Dash made a sound of exasperation and covered her eyes with a hoof. Applejack briefly hugged her fillyfriend, then walked right up to Twilight Sparkle.

"Listen, hon. This is a thing that happens," Applejack calmly explained, looking directly into Twilight's eyes. "There's a few pairs o' mares here in Ponyville, too. It ain't that unusual."

"Two mares can't have foals, Applejack," said Twilight, in her best lecturing voice. "Biology doesn't work that way."

"That's not the only reason to date someone, Twilight," growled Rainbow Dash, her eyes flashing with anger.

"Besides which, they can," said Rarity. "Two mares can use a donor stallion to become pregnant."

"Or they can adopt a foal," added Fluttershy.

Twilight stood up and backed away from her friends. "This is nuts. I'm sorry, I... I can't handle this right now. I need some time to think." She turned and galloped out the side door to the dining hall, then shut it behind her with magic.

Rainbow Dash sighed dejectedly. "Horsefeathers," she cursed.

"I'm sure she'll come around," said Fluttershy. "It's just... new to her, that's all."

"I grew up on a rock farm and even I knew mares could date!" said Pinkie Pie. "Mostly because Maud dated a filly once."

"Gracious. I suppose we never realized just how oblivious the poor dear is when it comes to matters of the heart," said Rarity.

"Yeah," said Spike, "she didn't pay attention to that kinda stuff back when we lived in Canterlot."

Applejack frowned and knitted her brow. "But ain't she studied history, Spike? Landsakes, she got pretty much everythin' else in the library memorized!"

Spike shook his head. "Twilight only studies ancient history. She never really cared for the modern stuff. And she prefers older books, even if they're outdated. Unless it's for something that gets updated a lot, like science or math."

Rarity pursed her lips. "Well, then I suppose it's good fortune we found out about this now," she said. "Twilight may be an adult, but in many ways she has a lot of growing up to do. When she realizes how important this is to the two of you, she'll have a change of heart."

For a few moments, nopony said anything.

"But... what if she doesn't come around?" Rainbow Dash said, in a voice uncharacteristically soft for the normally-brash pegasus.

"She has to," said Fluttershy, staring down at the edge of the Cutie Map.

Applejack put one leg around Rainbow's withers. "What Fluttershy said, hon. We're two of her best friends, and she's the Princess of Friendship. It won't take her long."

Applejack's voice didn't sound half as certain as the words it carried.