A week had passed since that second night in bed when Applejack and Rainbow Dash had acted on their feelings for each other and it had been nothing short of magical. For the three days the storm lasted, the two mares spent just about every waking moment together. They did some cleaning around the Apple family home. They went for walks, while carefully avoiding mailmare infested storm clouds. They had their first date at Ponyville's fanciest restaurant: The Silver Stirrup. Each night they returned to Applejack's bed, held each other in their hooves, and shared a soft conversation as they drifted off to sleep.

The end of the storm coincided with Rainbow Dash's recovery. Her wing was a little stiff, but it no longer pained her. After a short test flight, circling the Apple family house while Applejack watched her admiringly, she flew her marefriend up to the roof and the two of them set to work patching the leak.

"Ah kinda feel bad patchin' up this hole, but I guess it had ta be done." Applejack mused as they finished, half to herself but still loud enough that the blue pegasus beside her could hear.

"What's there to feel bad about, AJ? It looks like you've had to patch this roof quite a bit." Rainbow Dash said, sweeping a hoof across the air toward the rest of the roof.

"Ah know, but If'n it weren't fer this one leak here soakin' all yer pretty feathers the other night, Ah don't reckon Ah'd be half as happy as Ah am today." Applejack blushed a bit as she crossed both her fore and hind legs, her red cheeks making her white freckles stand out even more than usual.

Rainbow Dash giggled, her wings slowly spreading as she took in Applejack's beautiful blushing face. She turned and pointed out toward the south field, Applejack sliding up beside her and looking in the direction of her forehoof. "If we're going to start thanking objects," she began, draping her healed right wing over Applejack's back, "then we should mount that tree branch like a trophy." Rainbow Dash nuzzled her snout against Applejack's cheek. "I've never been so happy to be grounded in all my life."

The two mares sat, enjoying both the view of the brightening sky as the weather pegasi cleared up the clouds and the sheer joy they each felt just being close to one another. Rainbow Dash wrapped a wing around her marefriend while Applejack gently stroked the soft feathers with a forehoof. The only thought that marred such a perfect moment was the unspoken knowledge that Rainbow Dash's healed wing meant that she would have to go back to work the next day.

For the rest of that week, life returned to relative normalcy, but with a few important differences. Applejack resumed working her fields after the mud had a day to dry out and firm up a bit. She didn't mind the mud, but it did make bucking apples slow and tedious. There were plenty of other farm chores to do in the meantime anyway. Rainbow Dash resumed her weather duties, not making top speed quite yet, but her wing was recovering fast. The other pegasi couldn't help noticing though that her lazy streak was a thing of the past.

Before the accident, Rainbow Dash could be counted on to lounge about all day and then rush through her work at the last minute. Though her work was never anything less than perfect, the habit still irked most of the other weather pegasi at least a little. Now however, Rainbow Dash would do the same mad dash work routine except she would do it first thing in the morning and zip off toward the outskirts of town. If anypony was curious enough to follow the rainbow trail she left in her wake, it would have led them straight to Sweet Apple Acres where she would touch down and start helping a certain orange earth pony with the farm chores. Each night after several exhausting, but fun filled hours together, the two marefriends would retire to Applejack's bed and share some intimate conversation.

At the end of that week though, the situation changed.

"Sugarcube," Applejack began with a sigh as she lay her head on the pillow that night, "Ah think we need ta have a little talk."

"I'm not sure I like the sound of that." Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. "You're not having second thoughts about us, are you?" She said with a worried squeak.

Applejack's eyes widened. "No, 'course not, but we may need ta cool our heels a bit with mah family comin' back ta the farm tomorrow."

"So you are having second thoughts!?" Rainbow Dash was doing her best not to tear up. Applejack was the one and only pony she trusted with her innermost emotions, but if their relationship was heading downhill, she'd have to bottle it all up again.

"Ah didn't say that." Applejack stroked the multicolored mane of her marefriend reassuringly. "This has been the happiest week of mah life an' Ah ain't about ta give it up fer nothin', but Ah do have a family ta consider." Applejack pulled Rainbow Dash close, pressing her forehead against her marefriend's. "Ah know ya ain't too big on family, bein' all independent like ya are, but Ah am. Mah family's a big part of mah life here."

Rainbow Dash was quite relieved, wrapping her hooves and wings around Applejack and trying to comfort her now that she understood a little better. "You don't think they'll accept us as marefriends?"

"Ah don't rightly know ta be honest." Applejack said, closing her eyes to try and think. "Apple Bloom's just a filly, Ah think she'll be alright with it with Princess Celestia herself bein' fer it." Applejack tried to think like her brother for a moment. "Big Mac'll probably take the news alright, least I hope he will, he's a might hard ta read sometimes." Applejack sighed. "But Granny Smith is a whole other apple tree."

Applejack pulled back, looking Rainbow Dash in the eye. "If'n Princess Celestia's right about that hundred years ago thing then Granny Smith woulda been born about the same time they was takin' their vows." Applejack closed her eyes. "I jus' don't know if'n she'll be fer it or against it, no matter what the Princess says."

Rainbow Dash stroked Applejack's long blonde mane now that it seemed she was the one needing reassurance. "But we're going to have to tell them sooner or later. It's not like we can keep something like this a secret forever."

"Nah, sugarcube. Ah don't think we could. But it ain't just mah family neither." Applejack's brilliant green eyes opened, looking sharply into Rainbow Dash's tense raspberry ones. "It's other ponies too."

"What do you mean? What other ponies?" Rainbow Dash squeaked again.

"Other ponies around town, them ones that was neigh-sayin' Lyra an' Bon-Bon mostly." Applejack looked pained as she recalled. "Ya know Fresh Stock, the pony that runs the produce stand at the north end of town?"

"Yeah, kinda." Rainbow Dash didn't always have time for fresh produce in her fast-paced lifestyle.

"Well, he's been buyin' Apple Family apples fer years. But when Ah went ta drop off a cartload yesterday, he said it'd be the last one, said he found himself a new supplier." Applejack winced. "Ah was disappointed but not too much, business is business after all, until Ah heard him mutterin' 'damn fillyfoolers' ta himself as Ah was leavin'." Now Applejack's eyes looked positively angry at the memory. "Ah had half a mind ta make a scene, but instead Ah just hitched up mah empty cart an' didn't stop runnin' 'til Ah was back here. He musta seen us comin' back from our date at the restaurant or somethin'."

Rainbow Dash scooted forward, taking Applejack into her hooves again and hugging her close. "I'm sorry dear, I had no idea." Her eyes flashed, reflecting the gleam of the moonlight outside the window. "Do you want me to rough him up?" Her scratchy voice had a dangerous hint of anger in it.

"Nah, sugarcube. That wouldn't do no good, but ta get ya in trouble." Applejack sighed. "But ya see what Ah mean? Fer some ponies it don't matter deep down even what the Princess herself says. Ah wouldn'ta believed it 'til it happened ta me all personal like. Ah don't know which side mah family'll come down on and Ah don't want ta lose them any more'n Ah want ta lose you."

Rainbow Dash frowned, this time pulling back herself to look Applejack in the eye. "I guess this means no more late night pillow talks for a while, huh?"

Applejack frowned as well. "S'pose so." She gently traced a hoof along the feathers of Rainbow Dash's wing. "Shame Ah ain't a pegasus. Bet yer cloud house is pretty private."

Rainbow Dash's eyes lit up. "That's it! We'll go to my place."

"Uh, Dashie? Ain't ya fergettin'?" Applejack flexed her shoulders as the closest muscles she could think of. "No wings. An' that means Ah can't stand on clouds neither."

"We can get Twilight to help!" Rainbow Dash stuck out her tongue as realization dawned on Applejack. "If that wing spell she used on Rarity is still too much for her, there's always the cloud-walking spell. That's good for a whole day, yeah?"

"Ah reckon so, but ain't that a might suspicious askin' Twi ta cast that on me every day? We ain't even told her we're datin' yet."

Rainbow Dash waved a hoof in a horizontal line as if ending any debate. "So we tell her. In fact, we'll tell all four of our closest friends tomorrow. It's going to be hard enough keeping it from them for much longer anyway, right? Heck, if some random shoppony caught on, I bet at least one of them has probably caught on too."

"S'pose yer right, they ain't about ta shun us fer lovin' each other. Maybe we should go have a talk with Lyra an' Bon-Bon too. Ah reckon they might know a thing or two 'bout how ta break the news ta everypony." Applejack was starting to yawn.

"Yeah, we'll do that. We'll work our way up to telling your family, okay?" Rainbow Dash held Applejack close again as they both snuggled into the pillow.

"Alright, Ah think Ah can handle it like that. Night sugarcube, love ya."

Rainbow Dash yawned. "I love you too. Good night, dear."

Both ponies were racked with nervousness and doubt, but despite that they were as always able to sleep soundly in each other's hooves.

The next day, all six friends were gathered in the library. They sat in a wide circle as Spike passed out mugs of tea. Pinkie Pie was her usual bouncy self, eager to hear the mystery news. Rarity was cool and collected as usual, daintily sipping tea from her magically held cup. Fluttershy patiently awaited the news, looking neither excited nor bored. Twilight managed to be all three at once, or at least in turn, barely failing to hide her eagerness under a cracking facade of collected patience.

"Ooh, ooh, ooh, so what's this super-awesome-special news you wanted to tell us? Do I need to start working on party invitations?" Pinkie Pie asked in her high pitched, fast paced, excited manner as they all settled down.

"Yes darlings, you made it sound like quite a juicy item, give us the scoop." Rarity added after a sip of tea.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack looked at each other, each hoping the other would be the one to actually say it now that the time had come. The result was a few seconds of silence before two voices spoke together.

"Rainbow Dash/Applejack and I are dating!" They chorused, blushing. However, only Rainbow Dash continued, the confession proved to be too much for the orange farmpony who seemed determined to turn herself scarlet instead. "Since you four are our best friends, we wanted you guys to know." She slid a wing and a foreleg around Applejack, hoping to steady her marefriend's nerves.

Pinkie Pie gasped comically and Rarity nearly dropped her teacup in surprise, but Fluttershy was the first to get any actual words out.

"Oh, that's wonderful. You make a really cute couple, if you don't mind me saying so." Fluttershy breathed, watching them from behind her mane.

Twilight was right behind her, squealing a bit as she voiced her thoughts. "Oh this is exciting! I'll have to write Princess Celestia a letter right away to tell her what a wonderful effect her speech had!"

Rainbow Dash and Applejack glanced at each other, knowing that things weren't all together wonderful beneath the surface, but not wishing to ruin the moment.

Rarity chimed in as she regained her composure. "I must say I am amazed, but now that I consider it, not altogether surprised. You two dears are quite made for each other."

The relatively subdued excitement of the other ponies was suddenly overpowered by a burst of glee and rapid fire speech from Pinkie Pie. "Oh I thought you two were dating! I saw you walking around town after the storm and it didn't look like a 'just friends' walk, but I didn't want to say anything, but now you have and I'm super excited! How long have you been together? Is it too late for an anniversary party? Does Dashie taste super spicy like rainbows when you kiss her? What about foals, I'd love to foalsit them, I've gotten so good at foalsitting for the Cakes, I bet your foals will be super cute!"

Applejack finally found her voice again after hearing the positive responses from their friends and shushed the manic pink pony with a hoof. "Whoa, slow down there, sugarcube. We've only been datin' fer a week now, so it's a little early ta be talkin' 'bout foals or parties just yet."

"Awwww..." Pinkie Pie looked a little sad and her hair deflated a bit as she tucked her party cannon back into the hammerspace from which it had mysteriously appeared a moment before. "Oh well, that gives me plenty of time to start planning for your monthiversary!" Her mood and hair suddenly perked right back up.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack chuckled a little. "Y'all do that, Pinkie. Bet it'll be a blast."

"Wow, so how'd you two hook up anyway? I mean you've been best friends for as long as I've known you, but I didn't think you were that close." Spike said, finally speaking up with a curious look on his face.

"Well, it might have crossed my mind once or twice, and maybe a few more times after Lyra and Bon-Bon's wedding." Rainbow Dash scratched her mane with a hoof. "I guess it was Applejack talking about how unhappy she was still being single that really made up my mind, then I just had to find the right moment to ask."

"So you asked her out and she said yes?" Spike asked curiously.

"Naw, she didn't get the chance." Applejack grinned, speaking up before Rainbow Dash could answer. "Ah was still feelin' a mite loopy after RD here saved me from gettin' fried by a lightning bolt an' all that talk Ah did 'bout mah future an' startin' a family was in mah head, Ah just took over all giddy like a schoolfilly an' kissed her." Applejack blushed a bit and both mares grinned. "An' RD kissed me right back, an' let me tell you, that is a treat, better'n spicy rainbows." The two shared a soft kiss at the memory. Spike's jaw just dropped while all four mares made approving noises from whistles to sighs of happiness.

The friends all caught up on the other details of their lives for an hour or so before most of them had to go their separate ways. Rarity to her boutique, Fluttershy to her home and her animals, Pinkie Pie to foalsit for the Cakes, Spike to run some errands, and Rainbow Dash to check in at the Weather Office in Cloudsdale.

Soon, only Applejack and Twilight Sparkle remained in the library. "Uh, Twi? There were a couple things Ah wanted ta talk ta ya 'bout in private."

"Well everyone else is gone, so what's up?"

"This is a mite embarrassing, but Pinkie Pie hit pretty close ta the mark earlier. Ah am kinda thinkin' 'bout foals already." Applejack clicked her hooves together nervously. "Ah don't reckon RD is yet, but it couldn't hurt ta know if'n it's at least possible. Ah don't relish the thought of askin' Big Mac ta stand at stud fer mah marefriend an' RD ain't got a brother ta do the same fer me. 'Sides Ah'd much rather our foals were ours, ya know? A little of each of us."

"Oh!" Twilight stifled a giggle as she imagined the implications for a moment. "Well, that's no trouble, or not much. I did some studying on that very subject for Lyra and Bon-Bon." Twilight sat up proudly. "Of course, it's a lot easier if the 'father'" Twilight hoof-quoted "is a unicorn herself, but Princess Celestia wasn't kidding when she said that love was a kind of magic. If you and Rainbow Dash truly love each other when the time comes that you want a foal, then all it takes is one simple spell. Either one of you could be the mother; I think I might even be able to have you both father each other's foal at the same time." Twilight actually giggled this time imagining both of her friends pregnant together.

Applejack chuckled a little at that as well. "Alright, we'll let ya know when the time comes. There's another favor Ah wanted ta ask too, somethin' more fer now."

"Of course, anything for two of my best friends." Twilight said helpfully.

"Ya think ya can manage that wing spell ya used on Rarity? Or maybe that cloud walkin' spell? Not right this second, later in the evening?"

"If not the wings then definitely cloud walking, but why?"

Applejack swallowed, feeling her mouth drying with embarrassment at revealing something so personal. "Well, see RD an' Ah have sorta gotten used ta sharin' the same bed, just cuddlin' an' talk is all, but mah family's back from Appleloosa today an' we ain't sure quite how ta tell them 'bout our relationship yet, so we thought we'd spend our nights at RD's cloud house 'til we got that all figured out." Applejack had turned almost as red as Big Mac.

Twilight frowned. "I don't understand, why can't you just tell them?"

"Ah'm a little scared ta be honest." Applejack sighed. "An' before ya say anythin', Ah know they was at the weddin' an' heard the Princess' speech." Applejack looked levelly at Twilight. "Twi, maybe ya don't see it, but things ain't exactly all hunky-dory out there as ya seem ta think." Applejack related her experience with Fresh Stock again for Twilight's benefit.

When she finished, Twilight looked sad. "That's horrible... And you're worried that your family will react the same way?"

"Ah just don't know, Twi. Granny Smith and maybe Big Mac; Ah'd just like some time ta try an' find out what they think before I wallop them with it. Apple Bloom Ah ain't so worried 'bout, but Ah don't need her blabbin' ta the rest of the family before Ah'm ready."

"That makes sense." Twilight nodded. "I think I'll also ask Princess Celestia for advice when I write to her."

"Me an' Dashie were thinkin' 'bout askin' Lyra an' Bon-Bon fer advice too."

"Good plan." Twilight concluded. "Alright, come back this evening and I'll do my best to give you wings. They'll last three days, as long as you don't destroy them like Rarity did. Otherwise, cloud walking is good for a full day and Dash should have no trouble flying you up there once you're under it's influence."

"Thanks Twi, you're a real pal." Applejack smiled and hugged her.

"I'm glad to help, especially helping out two friends at the same time. It feels twice as good." Twilight Sparkle practically glowed, having the opportunity to express her feelings of friendship still tended to make her a little giddy, as if making up for lost time.

Applejack waved goodbye as she left to arrange a time with Bon-Bon when she and Rainbow Dash could have a talk with the newlyweds, while Twilight got to work on her letter to Princess Celestia.

Later that evening, Rainbow Dash sat on a cushion in the library while Applejack scraped her hooves a little nervously along the floor. Twilight was rereading the temporary wing spell to make sure she pulled it off without a hitch.

"Alright, you may want to shield your eyes, Dash. This spell gets kind of bright." Twilight closed her eyes as her horn began to glow a brilliant lavender. Applejack reared as ribbons of magic cocooned her, lifting her off the ground. Rainbow Dash held a hoof to her forehead, shading her eyes a bit; her curiosity stronger than her fear of being blinded.

Twilight groaned a bit with the effort of the powerful spell before the cocoon around Applejack burst in a brilliant flash of light. Rainbow Dash and Twilight watched as Applejack's hooves touched down. She stepped from hoof to hoof, strangely feeling only about a third of her normal weight. Growing out of her back, a little behind her shoulders were two large feathered wings, brown mottled with white, they cradled either side of her body fully rather than folding tight like normal pegasus wings. The spell gave wings according to the personality and disposition of the recipient. Rarity was concerned with fashion and style, but could be a bit shallow at times. She gained beautiful, but fragile butterfly wings made from gossamer and morning dew. Applejack was a no nonsense farm pony, rugged, dependable. Her wings were practical, durable, made from the salt of the earth and would have looked right at home on a lean wild turkey hen.

Rainbow Dash barely contained a snicker. Part of her wanted to roll on the floor laughing at the sight of Applejack with those big turkey wings, but a bigger part of her wanted Applejack's sleek, toned body cuddled against her own athletic form all night, wings or no. And she was almost certain that she'd have to hold her tongue for that to happen. She settled her face in what she hoped was an encouraging expression. Applejack had wings and she'd be able to fly; that was the important part, she told herself.

Twilight had no such concerns and was a little loopy from the effort of casting the spell, but she was intrigued rather than amused. "Wow, I never would have expected that after seeing Rarity's wings."

"Huh? What, is there somethin' wrong with 'em?" Applejack could turn her head and see her wings were there and that they looked like a bird's wings, but couldn't tell much more. She spread them and instinctively flapped them, taking off and hovering in the middle of the room. "Ah can fly just fine, don't see what the fuss is about."

Rainbow Dash was still doing her stoneface to keep from laughing while Twilight magicked a mirror over so Applejack could see herself. "Take a look."

Applejack landed in front of the mirror and turned this way and that, looking over her shoulder to see the reflection of her wings. "Well, if that ain't just the darn tootinest thing Ah ever did see. Ah look like a big 'ol turkey! Gobble gobble!" Applejack busted up with laughter, and she was a little surprised Rainbow Dash wasn't laughing right along with her. "Come on Dashie, ain't this just hilarious?"

Rainbow Dash's heart swelled with affection for her marefriend. She was afraid for a moment that Applejack would be horrified or disgusted, but this was just another thing she admired about her orange furred love, she could take a joke and laugh with the best of them. "Hehe, yeah you do look pretty funny." Rainbow Dash laughed softly and moved forward to stroke Applejack's temporary wings with a hoof. "Not too soft, but they feel nice and strong." She decided. "Three days, huh? Maybe we can cruise the air waves for a while tomorrow."

"Sounds fun, but we'd better not be late ta Lyra an' Bon-Bon's. They're expectin' us at five o'clock sharp fer dinner an' advice."

The two winged ponies left the library with a wave back to Twilight and a promise to come see her when she got a response from the Princess to her letter. They headed straight for Rainbow Dash's cloud home and her inviting Cumulus Comfort bed. It was late, so they'd save the grand tour of the house for the light of day. Applejack had a few things on her mind in any case; things that she'd only ever share with her marefriend and only when they were snuggled in the private comfort of a soft bed and each other's hooves.