Chapter 11

Three Months Later

Rainbow Dash grunted as she delivered a mighty blow to the tall apple tree in Sweet Apple Acres' apple orchard. A heavy amount of apples fell from their branches into their receptacles, but a few still remained steadfast. Rainbow growled subtly as she blew her mane from her face. Applejack winked at her as she walked by, moving on to buck her own tree not too far away. Every single apple fell into the buckets she placed seemingly perfectly. Applejack sighed with satisfaction.

"Show off..." She heard her marefriend grumble. The pegasus then bucked the tree again, making the rest of the red fruit actually fall.

"Oh, come on, Rainbow. Ya got most of 'em on the first try." Applejack said, attempting to reason with the frustrated pegasus. "It's better than ya did last week."

"Yeah, well not by much." Rainbow said. "I just don't get it. Is there a certain angle you have to buck it at to get all of them in one go, or am I not using enough power?..." Applejack walked over to Rainbow Dash and kissed her on the cheek, making Rainbow Dash smile and blush even more than she was.

"You'll get it Dash. Ah know ya will." Applejack said sweetly. "You've been workin' really hard and it's showin' in your results. You got most of 'em. Sooner or later, you're gonna get an even better grip on applebuckin' and you're gonna be gettin' 'em all in one buck. Ain't no doubt in my mind." Applejack smiled at Rainbow as she nodded, furrowing her brows and smiling.

"Okay!" Rainbow said. "I'm officially issuing you a challenge. By the end of this month, I'll be able to buck more apples than you." Applejack raised her eyebrows and smiled.

"Will ya now?" Applejack asked, giggling slightly. "Ya know that almost all the time, Ah get all of 'em in one buck, right?" Rainbow nodded and narrowed her eyelids.

"Yep. I meant the bigger trees! The one's that take even you two bucks to get all the apples." Rainbow replied confidently. Applejack chuckled and pushed Rainbow playfully.

"You're on, sugarcube." Applejack said before walking over to another tree where she had her buckets set up underneath. Applejack stood before it and turned, eyeing Rainbow smartly, eyes half-lidded with an eyebrow raised. After performing a swift, powerful buck to the trunk of the tree, every single last apple fell from it's perch, into the buckets. Rainbow Dash gulped silently, eyes widening slightly before ambling over to a tree of her own.

The pegasus matched Applejack's position perfectly, down to the locations of the hooves in relation to her body. Rainbow Dash swiftly bucked the tree. Expecting a shower of apples, the pegasus' ears splayed back and her brows furrowed as only roughly half the apples fell. The pegasus promptly plopped her flank onto the ground and pouted before being momentarily stunned by an apple falling straight on her head.

"Oh! Ow..." Rainbow said, rubbing her head. "Oh, Goddesses, that hurt!" Applejack couldn't help but laugh at the misfortune of her poor marefriend as she ran toward her. Applejack lovingly grabbed onto Rainbow and brought her down to the ground, to where she stood over the pegasus. Applejack quickly planted a kiss upon Rainbow's lips, slightly surprising the pegasus even more than she already was. After disconnecting from the kiss, Rainbow smiled up at Applejack and raised an eyebrow.

"What was that for?" Rainbow asked her. Applejack merely giggled and nuzzled Rainbow Dash's cheek.

"Ah just couldn't help it. Ya looked so cute just pouting there...Ah had to do it." Applejack explained with a wide smile on her face. Rainbow smiled back up at her.

"Oh, well in that case..." Rainbow said. The pegasus quickly made a pouting face and closed her eyes. Applejack raised an eyebrow.

"Yeeeah, it's not so cute up close." Applejack said. Rainbow opened her eyes and furrowed her brows.

"Oh, go jump in a lake." Rainbow said flatly. Applejack laughed before kissing the pegasus on the cheek.

"Come on, sugarcube. Let's get back to it." Applejack said, helping Rainbow Dash off the ground. The farm mare regarded her love with gratitude. "But hey, listen. Ah'm really grateful that ya chose to come here and help me out on your day off from weather patrol. It means a lot." Rainbow smiled at Applejack and looked over into the orchard.

"Are you kidding? Tank practically begged to come see Winona....well, as much begging as you could expect a tortoise to do." Rainbow Dash said as she watched Tank and Winona playing. Tank had shrunk into his shell either from fear or jovialness, and Winona happily pushed the shell around, jumping back and forth around it energetically, letting loose a happy bark on occasion as the shell rolled back and forth. It was true that the two pets had become thick as thieves. This was confirmed to Rainbow Dash and Applejack as they glimpsed them one night the previous Winter, curled up in front of the fire together.

But Winter was no longer upon Ponyville. Winter had relaxed it's icy-cold grip and given way to the up and coming, much more tender Spring. Over the course of the Winter, Rainbow Dash had spent more and more time at Sweet Apple Acres, spending time with Applejack and her loving family. She brought Tank with her most of the time, allowing him to see Winona whenever he could. She playfully chatted with Big Macintosh and Applebloom as if they were her own siblings, but most of all, she had come to see Granny Smith as the mom she never really had. The old mare would be incredibly kind, generous and welcoming to Rainbow Dash. The entire apple family had come to see Rainbow Dash as one of their own and they treated her as such in any situation.

"Rainbow Dash?" The pegasus heard Applejack say. Rainbow snapped from her train of thought and looked over at Appleajck, who had just bucked another tree free of apples. "Ah'm ahead of ya, sugarcube." She said. Rainbow smirked.

"Not for long!" Rainbow responded before moving into action, quickly bucking the rest of the apples from her current tree and moving on to the next one. From that point on, it had become a sort of racing-relay competition where the bucked the apples into the buckets and quickly took said buckets to the wagon and loaded them up, ready to be taken back to the barn. Rainbow Dash ran to her next tree and bucked to powerfully, making all the apples fall into their buckets. Not one apple remained on the branches. Rainbow saw this and flew into the air momentarily doing a quick spin.

"Yes! Applejack, did you see that?" Rainbow said happily.

"Rainbow..." Applejack said, seemingly fixated on something in the distance.

"I got all of them in one go! I've so got you beat at the end of this month." Rainbow said before beginning to push her first bucket to the cart, not letting fatigue get the best of her.

"Rainbow." Applejack said.

"I'm beating you!" Rainbow said with a confident smile, beginning to run back to the tree for her next bucket.

"Rainbow!" Applejack said, louder than she previously had.

"What?" Rainbow said, raising her eyebrow at Applejack. Applejack nodded toward something in the fields, entering Sweet Apple Acres. Rainbow looked through the trees of the orchard to see none other than Amethyst Star, the pony she had had an altercation with three months prior. The unicorn looked intimidated as she softly stepped through the front gate, entering the orchard.

"No...way..." Rainbow said, her eyes widening slightly. "What do you think she wants?"

"She looks scared." Applejack said. "Maybe she wants to apoligize..."

"Seriously, AJ? Apoligize? Her?" Rainbow said. "I'll be beaten in a sparring match with Fluttershy when that happens."

"Well, why don't we go see?" Applejack asked.

"Or, why don't we let her get lost?" Rainbow retorted. Applejack frowned at her lover before beginning to walk toward the uneasy-looking unicorn through the trees.

"Come on, Dash." Applejack said. Rainbow huffed and blew her mane out of her eyes as she walked after Applejack, catching up to her. When Applejack and Rainbow Dash came into the clearing, Amethyst Star looked at them and immediately began to look even more scared than she previously was. This made Rainbow Dash smile.

"Well, well...look who showed up." Rainbow said, her smile almost immediately turning to a frown.

"Hey, Rainbow...Hey, Applejack..." Amethyst said, looking to the side.

"Don't ya mean country hick?" The farm mare asked, letting some of her inner anger show slightly. The unicorn mare looked away from Applejack nervously.

"What do you want?" Rainbow asked her. Amethyst skidded her hoof on the ground, frowning to herself as she looked away from both the mares currently confronting her.

"I um..." Amethyst Star said. "I...I..."

"Out with it." Applejack said, raising an eyebrow. Amethyst star sighed heavily and looked Rainbow Dash straight in her eyes, furrowing her brows.

"I said some awful things three months ago...Things I don't believe I ever should have said." Amethyst Star said to Applejack and Rainbow Dash. The unicorn frowned heavily. "I know that the last thing either of you want to do is listen to me talk, but please, I'm begging you...hear me out." Applejack looked at Rainbow Dash. The pegasus sighed and nodded toward Amethyst Star.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for what I said to both of you. Rainbow, I've been your friend for a while-"

"Not since that day, Amethyst." Rainbow interrupted her, her eyes narrowing.

"I know, Rainbow. That's what kills me. I never should have said what I did." The unicorn said, penitence detectable in her voice.

"Well then, why'd you say it?" Rainbow asked. The unicorn frowned and looked down.

"A good friend of mine turned out to be a fillyfooler. I supported her through thick and thin. I defended her against ponies like me. We were basically sisters. She ended up falling for the wrong mare, and this mare convinced her to ditch me. We grew up together, and I haven't seen her since that day. From that point on...I don't know, I guess my view of fillyfoolers in general was ruined." Amethyst explained before furrowing her brows and looking at the two mares before her.

"But that's no excuse for what I said. Rainbow, I've known you for a while, and I know you're a sweet and loyal mare. And Applejack, I could not tell you right now how sorry I am for calling you that awful name. I know how you really are, and I know that you're one of the best and most respected ponies in Ponyville. It has taken me three months to work up the courage to come to you two. And if you could find it in your hearts to forgive me...and start fresh...I would appreciate it greatly. But I wouldn't blame you if neither of you ever spoke to me again." Amethyst Star said, looking at the ground, shame ever-present on her face.

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow and looked at Applejack. The farm mare was just as spellbound as she was, a confused look on her face. Rainbow Dash looked at Applejack inquisitorially, and Applejack shrugged, adjusting her stetson.

"It was never my place to judge either of you...I promise you I am aware of that now." Amethyst said, closing her eyes.

"You're right, Amethyst." Rainbow said sternly, her eyebrows furrowing. "It wasn't your place...but it looks like you've learned it." Amethyst's eyes opened and brightened significantly at Rainbow Dash's words. "I forgive you, Amethyst." Rainbow smiled at the unicorn. Amethyst teared up and jumped slightly in joy and threw her front legs around Rainbow Dash.

"Oh, thank you, Rainbow! I promise, I'll be there for both of you guys, no matter what!" Amethyst said, her voice brimming with happiness. Rainbow returned the hug briefly before letting the pink unicorn go. Amethyst turned to Applejack. "Uhmm..." She said unsure of how the farm mare would react.

"Aw, heck! If you've got the humility to apoligize, Ah'll definitely forgive ya!" Applejack said genuinely, slapping Amethyst Star's shoulder, making the unicorn stumble forward slightly. Amethyst Star smiled happily and backed up to where she stood before the two mares again.

"Thank you...both of you. I don't deserve your forgiveness." Amethyst said.

"Don't worry about it, anymore, Amethyst. Let's just put it all behind us." Rainbow said with a small smile. Amethyst Star nodded and stood for a moment, an awkward silence falling over the three ponies standing in Sweet Apple Acres.

"Okay...so I think I'm gonna go. I'll see you guys later." Amethyst Star said before beginning to walk off of the farm. Applejack smiled and waved at her.

"Alrighty then, Amethyst. See ya!" Applejack said sweetly. Amethyst looked back at them for a moment and waved at the two mares, who returned the wave. Applejack looked over at Rainbow and kissed her on the cheek quickly.

"See?" Applejack said. "Ah told ya it'd work out eventually."

"Yeah. I guess you did, didn't you?" Rainbow said, unable to keep from smiling to herself. "I'm not gonna lie, that brightened up my day a little bit."

"Well, Ah'm happy for ya." Applejack said sweetly before the two mares returned to the apple cart. "Go ahead and get that bucket loaded up, Dash, and let's get these apples back to the barn." Rainbow nodded and moved to the bucket that she had pushed halfway to the wagon. After pushing it to the wagon, She lifted the large bucket and loaded it onto the wagon's bed. She then closed the back door, hooked Applejack up to the wagon and slapped Applejack's flank playfully.

"Alright. All set to go." Rainbow said with a smirk.

"And just what was that for?" Applejack asked Rainbow. Rainbow snickered.

"Do I really need a reason?" Rainbow said saucily.

"Oh, wait until Ah get ahold of you...Just you wait." Applejack said, furrowing her brows and smiling at Rainbow Dash.

"I can't." Rainbow whispered into Applejack's ear, making Applejack shiver subtly. Rainbow pecked Applejack on the lips before beginning to amble in the direction of the barn. Applejack followed, tugging the wagon behind her, smiling as her eyes occasionally drifted to Rainbow Dash's flank, swaying back and forth as she walked down the path. Applejack failed to notice Rainbow Dash catch her mid-stare.

"What're you looking at, Applejack?" Rainbow asked her lover, mock-innocently.

"Nothin'." Applejack said, quickly looking away. Rainbow Dash knowingly smirked and slowed down until she was right next to Applejack, walking beside her. The two mares walked in comfortable silence until they reached the barn and began unloading the buckets and putting them down in the corner of the barn.

"Hey, AJ." Rainbow said.

"Whatcha need, Rainbow?" Applejack responded.

"Did you know that DJ PON-3 is DJing at Swingin' Manes tonight?" The pegasus said, letting a basket slide off of her back onto the floor.

"DJ PON-3, huh?" Applejack said.

"Yeah! You've heard about her, right?" Rainbow said happily.

"Yeah, Ah've heard of her." Applejack said.

"Alright! So let's go tonight! It'll be a blast and we haven't really been on a date for a while." Rainbow said. Applejack pursed her lips as she loaded another bucket onto her back.

"Ah dunno, Rainbow...Swingin' Manes ain't really my kinda place..." Applejack said, unsure of how their night would go if she did indeed go that night.

"But Applejack! It's DJ PON-3! Vinyl Scratch! Only the best and most awesome DJ in Equestria! They say that she can read a crowd pretty much as soon as she sees them, and that she'll select the whole night's playlist in a second!" Rainbow said. Applejack smirked.

"She's that awesome, huh?" Applejack said.

"Yeah! Come on, Applejack, pleeease? I'm not gonna go there alone!" Rainbow said before dropping her voice to a sultry, alluring tone as she raised an eyebrow. "She plays some pretty sexy stuff for couples only, too." Applejack blushed at the statement and sighed.

"You really wanna go that bad?" Applejack asked Rainbow, to which the pegasus nodded eagerly. Applejack nodded and raised an eyebrow. "Alright. Fine. Ah suppose it could be really fun." Rainbow threw a hoof into the air.

"Yes! I knew you'd want to go!" Rainbow said before kissing Applejack on the cheek. "This is going to be a night you will never forget." Applejack smiled at her.

"Ah'm already likin' the sound of it." Applejack said. "Let's get this done so we can rest for a little bit, and we'll leave at some time around six or seven, okay?" Rainbow nodded.

"Sounds good to me. With the way we're going to be dancing, we'll need it." Rainbow said with a smirk. The two mares finished unloading the buckets and pulled the cart into its holder.

"Ah'm already feelin' a little tired." Applejack said.

"Ohhh no, AJ. I already got you to say that you're going to Swingin' Manes tonight. I'm holding you to it." Rainbow said. "I'll drag you there tonight, if I have to."

"There'll be no need for that Dash, Ah promise. Ah'm goin' tonight. But for now, a nap is soundin' mighty fine to me." Applejack said with a sigh. "Just think about it, Rainbow...my big, comfy bed...the pillows, the sheets..."

"Okay, okay. I get it. A nap does sound good, especially seeing as how we're going to dance to Vinyl Scratch's tunes tonight!" Rainbow Dash let out a small, excited squeal. Hearing this, the pegasus immediately stopped herself, her ears splaying back and her eyes widening. She looked at Applejack. "If you ever tell a soul..." Applejack laughed and shook her head as they neared the front door of the farm house. Applejack whistled for her dog.

"Winona! Come on, girl! And bring Tank with ya!" Applejack called. Not before long, they spied Winona happily running up the path toward them, Tank's shell clutched in her mouth. The dog reached them and wagged her tail in earnest. "Alright, girl. Drop him...drop him." Winona placed Tank's shell on the ground, allowing the Tortoise to emerge and walk slowly toward Rainbow Dash. Rainbow happily picked her pet tortoise up and nuzzled him affectionately.

"Alright, then." Applejack said, allowing Winona to run into the house. Rainbow placed Tank inside the door. "Let's get in there, take a little nap, then wake up, freshen up, and head for the club." Rianbow Dash nodded happily.

"Sounds like a plan to me!" Rainbow said excitedly. As they entered the house, Granny Smith sat in her usual spot, knitting what seemed to be yet another cloth to add to their already limitless cloth collection.

"Well, that sure was fast! Ah guess the power of two really can't be matched by any one pony." Granny Smith said. "So y'all got a good amount of apples bucked, I gather?" Applejack nodded.

"Six wagonfulls, Granny. This year's lookin' better than last year. Big Mac still watchin' over the girls?" Applejack said with a smile. Granny Smith nodded.

"Ah sure hope Applejack didn't leave ya in the dust too bad, Rainbow." Granny said. Rainbow chuckled.

"Are you kidding? I'm a natural!" Rainbow said with a smirk.

"Yeah, a natural failure." Applejack said, shoving Rainbow lightly.

"Good one, genius. You're just scared that I'm gonna beat you at the end of the month." Rainbow said before leaning close to Granny Smith. "It's a little competition we're having. I've got her shaking in her hat." Granny Smith giggled.

"Y'all just be careful, now." Granny said sweetly. "Ah don't want this to turn into another Iron Pony competition or whatnot."

"Don't worry about us, Granny." Applejack said. "But, Ah was actually just gonna let ya know, me and Rainbow are gonna go into town tonight. There's some performer that Rainbow really wants to see, so Ah'm gonna go with her." Applejack didn't bother to mention that they were going to a dance club where sex would be in the air and the smell of alchohol would be on ponies' breaths.

"Oh alright, sweetie. Any idea when you'll be back? Ah don't want Big Mac attackin' y'all in the middle of the night by mistake." Granny Smith said.

"Uh...probably around 11:30 to 12:00." Applejack said.

"Well, now! That's awful late. But Ah'm not gonna tell ya what to do too much. You are a grown mare after all. When're y'all leavin'?" Granny Smith said.

"We're actually gonna take a little nap and head out at around 7:00." Applejack responded.

"Yeah. There's going to be a lot of dancing and fun, so we're gonna get some rest in preparation." Rainbow said excitedly. The pegasus had to stop herself from literally jumping up and down in pure anticipation of the night ahead.

"Y'all gonna be cuttin' a little rug, eh? Well, y'all go ahead and get to it. Ah'm just gonna go ahead and finish my knittin'." Granny Smith said with a smile. "If y'all get to perpetratin' any heathen acts in there, be sure to shut the door." Applejack's cheeks turned red in a heavy blush. Granny Smith erupted into a fit of laughter.

"Granny!" Applejack said, embarrassed, looking over at Rainbow who was also blushing, her eyes widened.

"Ah'm just kiddin' around with y'all." Granny Smith said sweetly. "Y'all go on, now. Before ya give me cooties." Rainbow walked with Applejack to her room as she listened to Granny Smith laugh heartily at seeing Winona playing with Tank. As they entered the room Rainbow turned and looked at the door, which was standing wide open, before turning to Applejack, who was already approaching the bed.

"Umm...I think we should close the door anyway..." Rainbow said nervously, gesturing toward the doorway. Applejack nodded.

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea." Applejack replied. Rainbow Dash closed the door as quietly as she could before ambling back towards the bed.

"Same position as always?" Rainbow asked Applejack, who nodded and smiled at her as she removed her stetson and hair ties and laid them on the nightstand. Rainbow smiled and allowed Applejack to get into the bed first before she jumped in and snuggled into the upper part of Applejack's chest. Applejack sighed as they finally settled down and began to breath slowly together. Rainbow Dash cleared her throat momentarily before looking up at Applejack.

"Hey uh...AJ?" Rainbow said to her lover.

"Whatcha need, darlin'?" Applejack replied, looking down at the pegasus. Rainbow looked away from the farm mare, blushing, her ears splayed back.

"Will you...will you...uh...I, uh..." Rainbow said before clearing her throat again. "Oh, that spring pollen, huh?"

"Out with it, Rainbow." Applejack said with a smile. Rainbow sighed heavily.

"Will you stroke my mane? You do it a lot and it feels really nice." Rainbow said quickly, her blush intensifying. Applejack giggled and kissed Rainbow on the cheek.

"Oh course, Ah will." Applejack said. "Oh, you're so cute when you get all embarrassed and flustered." Rainbow's eyes narrowed, but she couldn't hold back a smile.

"Oh, be quiet." Rainbow said before laying her head back down on Applejack's chest. The pegasus intertwined her legs with Applejack's, making their embrace even more personal. Just the way they both liked it. Applejack ran her hoof through Rainbow's mane, making her ears lay back on her head almost immediately. Rainbow sighed before closing her eyes and letting sleep overtake her.

"Applejack! Come on, get up! Get up, get up, get up!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed happily, attempting to awaken her slumbering lover. "Time to go!"

"Mmmmm...just...five more minutes..." Applejack said, beginning to roll over in the bed. Rainbow immediately grabbed her and turned her back over, shocking her awake slightly.

"Nope. You said we'd leave at 7:00. It's 7:00 now, and we still have to get ready. So come on! Let's go." Rainbow said. "Do you want to shower first, or do you want me to?" Applejack, still coming out of her sleepy stupor, barely replied.

"You go first." Applejack said. Rainbow turned around and eyed her suspiciously, raising an eyebrow. Applejack raised a hoof and sat up. "Ah'm up, okay? Ah'm up." Rainbow nodded.

"Okay." Rainbow said. "We're gonna have so much fun!" Rainbow closed the door behind her and turned on the shower. Applejack briefly considered doing what Rainbow did almost every morning after they slept together, but decided against it. She was going to stay true to what she said. So Applejack got out of bed and stretched before looking out the window. The sun had set almost completely, and Luna's darkness began to overtake the land. Applejack sighed as she looked upon the freshly revealed moon. She had no trouble believing that this was going to be a night to remember, for one reason or another.

At that moment, Rainbow Dash came out of the bathroom, a towel draped over her midsection. Applejack couldn't help but gawk at the pegasus. Her mane and body were wet, her lithe, appealing frame brought out by the water.

"Geez, that was fast." Applejack said. "Ya couldn't have gotten yourself completely washed." Rainbow nodded.

"You bet I did. I want to be as clean as possible for tonight, seeing as we're gonna be being so close." Rainbow said alluringly. Applejack smiled and raised an eyebrow as she stood, grabbing her stetson and hair ties.

"You do know that Ah have no idea whatsoever of what exactly that kinda dancin' entails, right?" Applejack said, half chuckling.

"I think that's a bit of an overstatement. You'll see what I mean when we get there." Rainbow said, drying off her wings. "But we actually have to get there first." Applejack nodded.

"Okay, okay. Ah'm goin. So impatient." Applejack said as she went into the bathroom. She laid her hairties and hat on the bathroom counter and stepped into the shower, closing the curtain behind her. She went through her routine of washing her mane and tail with shampoo and conditioner, lathering and rinsing thoroughly. Applejack then washed her body and got out of the shower and began to dry herself off. When she finished, she replaced her stetson and her hairties and left the bathroom to find Rainbow waiting for her.

"Ready to go?" The pegasus asked, standing up.

"You're gonna ask me that until Ah really am ready, aren't ya?" Applejack asked Rainbow Dash, who then nodded.

"Yep. Seriously, you'll see why I'm so gung-ho about getting there when we actually get there! Now come on!" Rainbow said happily. Applejack nodded and smiiled.

"Alright, then. Let's get to it." Applejack said. As the two mares began to leave the house, Big Macintosh looked up at them from the dining room while he made a sandwich. He raised an eyebrow slowly.

"Where y'all goin?" He asked them.

"Uh, we're just goin' to see a performer in town. We'll be back later on tonight." Applejack said.

"It's that DJ at Swingin' Manes, ain't it?" Big Mac said, making Rainbow Dash's and Applejack's stomachs jump.

"Yeeeah..." Rainbow said, rubbing the back of her head. "How did you know?"

"Ah ain't deaf. Everypony in town's talkin' 'bout it." Big Mac said. "Don't worry. Ah ain't gonna tell Granny or nothin'. She's sleepin' anyway. Y'all have fun." He said before going back to his sandwich. Applejack and Rainbow looked at each other, confused.

"Uh, okay. Thanks, Big Mac." Applejack said before she and Rainbow left the house. Rainbow jumped up and down excitedly before slowing down to a brisk walk, Applejack watching her with admiration.

"I'm so excited!" Rainbow said. "This is gonna be...so...awesome." Rainbow said. "You're gonna love it!"

"Ah hope so, Dash." Applejack said. "Ah've never really been into the whole 'club thing', so don't get your hopes too high." Rainbow leaned close to Applejack, rubbing her body against the farm mare's affectionately as they walked.

"No, no, no AJ, you don't understand. One night in the club with me," The pegasus said before whispering in Applejack's ear. "And you'll never want to leave."

When Applejack and Rainbow Dash came into view of Swingin' Manes, they could hear the thumping bass coming from inside the building very well. The large, lit up sign with two dancing ponies on it announced that there was most certainly fun to be had in the club. Luckily for the two mares, everypony who was going to be there that night had already arrived, so the line wasn't very long at all. Two or three ponies waited patiently outside the door. Rainbow Dash inhaled deeply and exhaled through her mouth.

"Alright! Let's go!" Rainbow said as she ambled down the pathway to the entrance of the club. Applejack gulped silently and chuckled nervously as she followed Rainbow Dash to the large building, illuminated by spotlights. Applejack could not deny that she was a tad bit intimidated by the unfamiliar grounds of Swingin' Manes, but she was there, and that meant everything to Rainbow Dash.

After a short wait in the line, Rainbow Dash and Applejack entered the club and immediately the music of Vinyl Scratch made itself known to them. The thumping bass vibrated through their bodies as an enormous crowd of ponies danced on the dance floor. Multicolored lights flashed in synchronization with the music and the dance floor seemed to tremble from the pure power of the music. Vinyl Scratch stood on a tall pedestal in front of her turn table, her purple shades and electric blue mane noticeable above all else, bobbing her head to her dance music and smiling widely at the massive party she had orchestrated. Applejack's eyes widened as she turned to Rainbow Dash, who looked at her with an excited expression.

"Come on! Let's go get a drink!" Rainbow said. "Get ourselves a little loose for the dancing!" Applejack nodded as they walked around the dance floor and moved to the bar. Applejack could not wipe the smile from her face. She was a down home country mare, to be certain, but she could not deny that the club, while uncertain and intimidating, made her more excited than anything she had ever seen before.

"So, what do you think?" Rainbow asked, sitting at the bar.

"Ah like it." Applejack said. "It's...different...and loud."

"Isn't it?" Rainbow said. "Just wait until we get out on that dance floor!" The statement sent chills of fear shooting through Applejack. The farm mare had never danced in the way she saw all the other ponies on that dance floor were. She gulped as she smiled at Rainbow Dash.

"Yeah..." Applejack said.

"Two ciders, please." Rainbow said to the bar tender. The red unicorn stallion nodded and went to get the drinks, but stopped in his tracks. He looked back at Rainbow Dash and smiled.

"Well I'll be a...I remember you." He said to Rainbow Dash. "You came in here about three months ago."

"Oh yeah!" Rainbow said, recalling the awful night. "How're you doing?"

"Oh, I'm alright." He said before looking at Applejack and smiling. "Is this..."

"Her? Yep." Rainbow said. "We made up, and we've been happy for the past three months."

"Well, now! I see you didn't take my advice! That's fantastic! I'm really happy for you two." He said to them with a wide smile. Rainbow nodded at him and smiled as well.

"Thanks so much!" She said. He nodded at her and went to get their drinks. Applejack looked at Rainbow, an eyebrow raised in confusion. Rainbow giggled nervously.

"What was that all about?" Applejack asked Rainbow Dash.

"Well uh...remember that night you told me you hated me and to get out of your life?" Rainbow asked. Applejack frowned sadly and looked down to the side.

"Ah'm tryin' to forget, sugarcube." Applejack said. Rainbow immediately put a hoof on Applejack's shoulder.

"No! AJ, please, don't get sad. Not tonight. That's all over, okay? Remember? We're happy now." Rainbow said. Applejack nodded.

"Yeah...You're right, Rainbow. Sorry." Rainbow nodded and kissed Applejack on the cheek.

"Well that night, after that little debacle, I came here in my sadness and got a little more than drunk." Rainbow said. "I kinda told that bartender everything, and he...well, he talked to me." Applejack nodded.

"So that's why he seemed so happy for ya." Applejack said. "He must think Ah'm awful." Rainbow shrugged.

"I didn't really make you sound bad at all. I just pretty much told him you were in denial." Rainbow said, just as the stallion returned. He placed the mugs before the mares and looked at Rainbow.

"Enjoy." He said happily, looking at Applejack momentarily and smiling widely. The look he gave her sent Applejack positive vibes about what he really thought about her. Rainbow picked up her mug and began to drink, as did Applejack. The beverage burned their throats as they drank and made their blood pump in their veins. Rainbow sighed happily.

"Oh, Goddesses...Applejack?!" The two mares heard a familiar voice say from behind them. Applejack turned around quickly to lay eyes upon Caramel. "I can't believe it!" He said with a wide smile. Applejack smiled as well as she got off of the stool and gave Caramel a friendly, one-hoofed hug.

"How ya doin', Caramel?" Applejack asked. He nodded.

"I'm great! I'm back with Berry Punch!" He said happily as he watched Rainbow Dash walk up beside Applejack and smiled.

"Ah'm so happy for you guys!" Applejack said.

"Yeah, I went and found her after you and I split up, and she was willing to take me back." He said. "And I see you got your happy ending too. Hiya, Rainbow Dash." He smiled at Rainbow Dash, who sent a courteous smile back his way.

"Hey, Caramel. Good to see you." The pegasus replied.

"Yep. We've never been happier." Applejack said happily, putting her front leg around Rainbow's shoulders.

"That's great." He said. "Hey listen, Berry Punch is waiting for me on the floor. I'll see you guys later!" He waved at them and entered the dance floor, searching for his date. Rainbow Dash and Applejack returned to the bar to finish their drinks.

"Wow. Didn't expect to see him here." Applejack said. Rainbow Dash looked at her and smiled.

"Looks like we're just reuniting with everypony tonight, aren't we?" Rainbow said. Applejack laughed before taking a swig of her cider. Rainbow Dash followed suit. Before long, both ponies had finished their drinks and had more. They had both polished off two mugs of cider and while they were both far from drunk, the feeling of euphoria was ever present within both mares.

"Alright, ponies! DJ-PON3 here!" Vinyl Scratch said over the microphone, her voice amplifying in the room. "We're coming up on couples dance only after this song! For all you lovers in here, I'm about to turn up the heat!" Seeing as how exactly nopony had gone to the club alone, everypony on the dance floor cheered wildly. Rainbow smiled at Applejack as she got off of the bar stool.

"Shall we?" The pegasus said alluringly, her eyes half lidded. Applejack, while extremely nervous to dance on the dance floor in a way she never really had before, could not say no to the pegasus. Applejack nodded as she followed her love to the main dance floor, Vinyl Scratch presiding proudly over the massive party.

"This is now couples only! Let me spin a little somethin' somethin' to get your bodies moving and your blood pumping!" Vinyl Scratch announced. A song began to reverberate throughout the building, the heavy bass pounding, the groove going along perfectly with it. Rainbow Dash ambled out further onto the dance floor, and began to dance.

Her legs, her body, her flank, all moved in synchronization with each other, to create an arousing display that made Applejack's legs tremble. Rainbow moved her hoof in a "Come Here." gesture toward Applejack. Applejack watched as Rainbow Dash moved her body to the music, alluringly calling to her. The more and more the farm mare observed Rainbow's sensual movements, the more she wanted to put her hooves all over her.

'Well,' Applejack thought to herself. 'Let's do this.' The farm mare walked out onto the floor, braving the unfamiliar conditions and walking up to Rainbow Dash. Applejack began to moved her body awkwardly, trying as hard as she possibly could to match Rainbow Dash's movements. Rainbow noticed this and giggled. Rainbow stood on her back legs and pulled Applejack up with her. Rainbow put her hooves on Applejack's sides.

"Just let your body flow, AJ." Rainbow whispered into Applejack's ear. "There's no set pattern, no instruction. There's just the music..." Rainbow pulled Applejack closer to her to where their bodies touched. "and our bodies." Rainbow then began to move herself on Applejack, making the farm mare blush heavily. Rainbow closed her eyes and began to dance again. Applejack, hopelessly confused, looked around the room to see if any other ponies were dancing in such a vulgar way. And as it turned out, they were. The couplings of mares and stallions, and the few homosexual couples, were all moving to the music, sexual energy completely emanating from the crowd.

Applejack sighed and began to move back and forth with Rainbow Dash, moving their bodies against each other. The beat of the music was definitely pleasant, and before Applejack knew it, she found herself moving her body in synchronization with the thumping rhythms. The more and more Applejack listened to it, the better she got at moving her body to it.

Applejack looked into Rainbow's eyes, blushing heavily as she panted lightly. Rainbow stared right back into her's as they moved their bodies to the beat. Rainbow moved her hooves up Applejack's sides, making the farm mare gasp in suprise and arousal. Rainbow nuzzled Applejack's cheek and moved her mouth up to Applejack's ear, breathing sensually into it. The two ponies lost themselves in the music, feeling each other, moving with each other.

Applejack's mind was in sensory overload. Rainbow Dash rubbed herself against her as they danced, while the hypnotic music thumped through the club and their bodies, and the lights created an amazing display as Applejack moved her head back and looked at Rainbow. Except Rainbow Dash wasn't there. Rainbow had disappeared.

'Oh, Ah am gonna get her for this!' Applejack began to frantically look around for the pegasus, until she felt a pair of hooves slip under her front legs and caress her body. Rainbow moved up behind her and kissed Applejack's neck, making Applejack moan. Applejack felt Rainbow Dash grind into her as the pegasus moved her hooves softly up and down her body.

"Ah thought ya -ah- had left me hangin' for a moment there." Applejack said nearly breathlessly. Rainbow Dash giggled sexily in Applejack's ear and nipped it lovingly.

"Now why do you think I'd do that, when I'm enjoying this almost as much as you are?" Rainbow said before she kissed Applejack's cheek.

Applejack was hard-pressed to disagree with Rainbow Dash on that statement. She was enjoying this immensely. It was reminiscent of their first night together at the Harvest Celebration Hoedown. The connection was the same, there was dancing, this was just much...sexier. Applejack quickly moved her hoof back and held the back of Rainbow's head as she looked back at her lover. Rainbow was breathing arousingly, a thin layer of sweat glistening in the light.

Applejack grinded herself back into Rainbow, moving her tail against her lover's body. Their bodies undulated together to the music, arousing them to no end, making them want to drop down and take what they were doing so much further. Rainbow leaned closer to Applejack's ear and said-

"Consider this a preview of what's coming, AJ." Rainbow said before planting a kiss on Applejack's lips. Applejack moaned as she began to kiss back fervently, moving her tongue into Rainbow's mouth. Rainbow did the same as they danced and kissed, the music doing nothing to calm their complete euphoria. Rainbow grinded into Applejack yet again as Applejack pushed back against her. They separated from their kiss as they once again focused on the music, moving their bodies together.

Rainbow Dash's heart pounded like a drum in her chest, threatening to break free. The pegasus had been in Swingin' Manes several times before, but she had never felt this way when dancing with anypony...ever. Applejack had adapted so well to the situation and was moving her body against Rainbow's in a way that made her sweat. The pegasus, laughed subtly to herself as they continued to dance, the base and groove lines flowing through them, urging their bodies to continue their glorious dance.

WIth one final bass line, the song ended. Without much of a break, another song began, prompting Applejack to turn around and come muzzle to muzzle with Rainbow Dash. Applejack now had her hooves on Rainbow, moving them sensually against the pegasus' body. Rainbow placed her front hooves on Applejack's shoulders and moved them down the earth pony's front legs. As the music commenced yet again with an even faster beat than the previous song, they began to dance again, their faces inches from each others'. The pegasus smiled devilishly, making Applejack weak in the knees yet again.

"Told ya."

"Alright now, everypony! That marks the end of my shift tonight! I hope to see you all here again the next time I come around! Peace!" Vinyl Scratch announced happily into the microphone. The multitude of ponies that were dancing to her music, including Rainbow Dash and Applejack, cheered. Most ponies in the building recognized this as the end to their fun night, and began funneling out of the building through the front door to get their well-deserved night's rests. Rainbow Dash, still panting, recieved a kiss from Applejack. Rainbow smiled into it, leaning forward against her lover before Applejack separated from the kiss, smiling widely.

"That. Was. So. Awesome!" Applejack said happily, adjusting her stetson. Rainbow nodded.

"See? What the hay did I tell ya? I knew you were going to love it here!" Rainbow responded as they both began to walk towards the door.

"It was so...so..." Applejack began, at a pure loss for words at the awesomeness of this glorious place.

"Crazy? Electric? Addictive?" Rainbow said, looking up at a clock momentarily. It was 1:15 in the morning.

"Actually, the word Ah'm lookin' for is sexy." Applejack said, pressing her body into Rainbow's and nuzzling the pegasus. "Ah've actually never had so much fun in my life." Rainbow nodded as they left the club and walked out into the breezy night air. The nights had been far from miserable since Winterhad ended.

"The club...it's a different place." Rainbow Dash said wistfully. "Everypony's letting loose and forgetting about their lives back home for a little while. It's so freeing." Applejack smiled.

"Yep. Ya got that right." Applejack said. "But there's only one thing that's been on my mind since that first dance, Dash." Rainbow looked at Applejack and smiled saucily, raising an eyebrow. Rainbow kissed Applejack on the lips and whispered into her ear.

"Gee, I wonder what that could be?" The pegasus smiled at Applejack.

"Ah'll give ya three guesses." Applejack said with a smile. "It took everything Ah had to not tear into you on that dance floor." Rainbow Dash snickered.

"Well, you got a few little tastes here and there." Rainbow said. "Where did you want to do it?"

"Since Applebloom, Granny Smith and Big Mac are home, Ah'm thinkin' somewhere in the orchard will do just fine." Applejack said. "Maybe go inside real quick and steal a blanket..." Rainbow smiled and sighed just thinking about it. The two mares began to pass the Everfree Forest on the path they were walking on. They were almost back.

"That sounds perfect." Rainbow said. "You know, you still owe me." Rainbow said. Applejack raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"Oh, do Ah? For what?" Applejack asked. Rainbow smiled.

"Remember that day in the shower, and the absolutely awful timing of your little sister?" Rainbow said. "You told me that you'd make up for it." Applejack laughed heartily.

"Ah remember, all right. But why didn't you mention this last time we did it?" Applejack asked. Rainbow smirked.

"I was feeling generous." Rainbow said. "But I'm calling it in tonight." Rainbow nuzzled Applejack's cheek.

"Alright, then. Ah'm a mare of my word. Ah'll be sure to make it up to ya." Applejack said. "I'm gonna make ya feel like a queen." Rainbow giggled as they continued to walk. Suddenly, Rainbow Dash's ears perked up as she registered a sound coming from behind them. It was deep and guttural, and it seemed to creep from seemingly nowhere. It sounded like a growl.

"Applejack-"

A timber wolf pounced from the darkness, colliding with Applejack and delivering a massive blow, knocking the farm mare on her back. She screamed.

"Applejack!" Rainbow screamed as she ran to the confrontation before her.

The timber wolf snapped and snarled at Applejack, attempting to bite her jugular and end her for it's own sustenance. Applejack barely managed to hold off the beast with her front hooves, but it was a losing battle as the timber wolf edged closer and closer to Applejack's neck. Rainbow Dash wasted no time in bucking the timber wolf as hard as she possibly could off of her marefriend, sending the animal reeling, rolling back until it came to a standing position with a bestial snarl. Rainbow, seething with fury, shot forward at amazing speed, and immediately collided with the timber wolf and carried it into the trees in mid flight. Applejack stood up as fast as she could possibly have managed.

"Rainbow Dash!" Applejack yelled in fear as she sprinted in the direction of Rainbow's flight into the forest. Broken tree branches and skid marks in the soil marked the path. Applejack ran as fast as she could, and not before long, she came upon a scene that sent despair through her body.

Scattered around a clearing, were the remains of the timber wolf, destroyed entirely by Rainbow Dash in a fierce struggle. Rainbow Dash layed to the side of the remains, soaked in blood, attempting to get up. Slowly, shakily, the pegasus stood. Her wings hung limply from her sides, no signs of life within them. She stumbled forward slowly and looked up. Blood leaked from her sides.

"A-Applejack..." She said before falling forward onto the ground. Applejack gasped and ran to her lover's side.

"Rainbow Dash!" Applejack said, looking over Rainbow as blood seeped from the pegasus' deep lacerations. "Rainbow, come on. Come on, Rainbow!" Applejack yelled, beginning to pick Rainbow up. The pegasus gritted her teeth and whimpered in pain, making Applejack put her down in concern.

"Rainbow! Are you okay?" Applejack said frantically.

"Applejack...Applejack, you have to...pick me up." Rainbow said, breathing deeply. "I...I can...take it." Tears fell from Applejack's eyes as she sobbed.

"Ah don't wanna hurt you, Rainbow." Applejack said.

"It's okay, AJ...trust...me." Rainbow said, obviously strained through her pain. "You can...do it. I know you can." Applejack cried as she began to slowly lift the pegasus off the ground once more. Rainbow attempted to use her legs to help, but it was no use. One of her front legs looked heinously swollen, most likely broken. Rainbow cried out in agony.

"Ah'm sorry, Rainbow!" Applejack cried, as she let Rainbow Dash get situated on her back. When Rainbow settled down on her back, Applejack looked back at her. "Try to hold on as much as you can." Applejack immediately took off into a dead sprint towards the hospital, Ponyville General. She knew that that place was the only hope for Rainbow Dash's survival at this point. Applejack sobbed again, tears burning her eyes as she felt Rainbow Dash's blood leak down her sides. It flowed copiously.

The path to the hospital seemed to go on forever with no end in sight. Every second that passed for Applejack felt like an eternity as she ran to get Rainbow to the hospital. Applejack's lungs burned and her legs ached completely, but she was not going to give up. She would not stop. She would not slow until she got Rainbow Dash into that hospital. She barely registered the pegasus say something into her ear.

"Save your breath, Rainbow!" Applejack said between heavy breaths. "Don't talk!" Applejack felt Rainbow move slightly to where she could get better access to her ear.

"I...love you, AJ." Rainbow barely managed to say. The pegasus' eyes were closed and she struggled to even speak as her consiousness dwindled. Applejack's breath caught in her throat as a fresh wave of tears began to flow.

Finally, as if it was a gift from Celestia herself, Applejack arrived at Ponyville General. The lights in the lobby glowed like the entrance to Canterlot Castle. Applejack ran to the doors as quickly as she possibly could. Rainbow Dash had now completely lost conciousness at this point. The automatic doors slid open and Applejack continued to sprint until she reached the lobby. A lone pony stood behind the counter, signing different papers. She froze as she looked upon Applejack, and her heavily bleeding cargo.

"Help...Please..." Applejack barely got out. The mare, too stunned to move, looked at Applejack silently.

NOW!!! Applejack screamed, snapping the mare behind the counter out of her stupor. She picked up a phone on the counter and dialed a number extremely quickly. Her voice sounded over the intercom.

"Emergency! Emergency! Get the ER team down to the lobby right away! Emergency!"

Obligatory End-of-Chapter Author's Note: Hello once again, readers! I'm glad that I've been able to churn this chapter out in a week. Pretty crazy surprise at the end ther, huh? Yeah. This chapter was a blast to write, from the club scene to the ending scene that you just finished reading. If you're enjoying the story, leave an upvote and possibly leave me a comment telling me what you think! Cheers!