Chapter 13

"Applejack, come here, quickly!" Nurse Redheart exclaimed, shocking Applejack awake. The nurse's eyes were widened and fearful, indicating a situation of urgency. "It's Rainbow Dash." Applejack immediately stood up as Nurse Redheart sprinted out of the room. Running at top speed, Applejack followed her down the hallway. The white walls were no less intimidating than they had been the previous night. The fluorescent lights beat down on her mercilessly. Doctor Life Pulse stood outside the room Rainbow Dash was housed in. He shook his head hopelessly at her. Applejack's heart dropped and the feeling seemed to drain out of her legs. The doctor opened his mouth to speak.

"She's not doing too well." He said. "Her body couldn't keep up with the blood loss. She doesn't have much time left."

"No." Applejack said, completely heartbroken. "Please, no." The doctor shook his head one more time.

"I'm sorry." He said as he walked away from Applejack down the hallway.

"It's time to say goodbye, Applejack." Nurse Redheart said. Her face was uncharacteristically straight and seemingly emotionless. Applejack sobbed as she entered the room, finding Rainbow Dash on the bed, breathing heavily.

"Rainbow...Ah...Ah..." Applejack struggled to speak, putting her hoof on Rainbow Dash's shoulder.

"Applejack." Rainbow said weakly as the EKG slowed down with every passing second. "You did all you could. I'm so proud of you."

"It wasn't enough, baby." Applejack sobbed, her body wracked with sorrow at what she knew was coming. Rainbow widened her eyes and smiled at Applejack, making her jump slightly.

"DJ PON-3's tunes were pretty sweet, weren't they?" Rainbow asked randomly, slightly shocking Applejack. But nonetheless, the farm mare nodded.

"They sure were, Dash." Applejack said. Nurse Redheart quickly poked her head in the room, making Applejack turn around to see her.

"I'm sorry, but you only have five more minutes." She said. Applejack raised an eyebrow at the nurse.

"What?" She said before the EKG began to flatline. The single-toned sound brought Applejack back around to lay eyes upon Rainbow Dash's lifeless body. She was dead. Rainbow Dash was dead. Applejack sobbed over Rainbow Dash's passing, but something else also caught her attention. At the window, scratching and clawing, attempting to get in, was a timber wolf. It slavered and snarled in an attempt to reach it's prey....

"Rainbow Dash!" Applejack shrieked as she woke up from her nightmare.

She struggled to catch her breath as she looked around to get her bearings on where she was at that moment. The pleasantly painted walls of the waiting room reassured her that everything that had just taken place was purely a dream and nothing more. She sighed heavily before placing a hoof on her forehead. The waiting room was still completely empty, devoid of anypony but herself to occupy it. Applejack looked at the clock and frowned. It was eleven thirty in the morning.

Applejack layed back upon the pillow that Nurse Redheart had so graciously provided for her the previous night and attempted to get back to sleep. Sleep never came, and the ever increasing weight she felt on her chest did not lessen. So, resigning herself to the fact that she was not gettting any more sleep for at least some amount of hours, she sat up in the chair and replaced her stetson, sighing once more. Applejack prepared herself to spend more hours waiting for the next bit of news from the hospital officials on Rainbow Dash's condition.

This turned out to be a gross overestimation as Nurse Redheart opened the door and walked into the room. Applejack straightened up and looked at her. The nurse mare had an unmistakable smile on her face. It did not seem to be one of solace however, rather, it was one of happiness.

"Any news, Nurse Redheart?" Applejack asked with bated breath, worry lacing her facial features. Nurse Redheart nodded.

"Applejack..." Nurse Redheart said. "Rainbow Dash has made a full recovery from her blood loss." A spark ignited within Applejack at the utterance of the words. Applejack's eyes widened as she stumbled for a moment, before being caught by Nurse Redheart just as it seemed she was about to fall on her side.

"So...so that means..." Applejack said, tears brimming in her eyes. Nurse Redheart nodded happily.

"Yes. She's going to be fine." The nurse said, tearing up as well. Applejack sat back as the tears fell down her cheeks. She laughed slightly as intense relief flooded through her body. She quickly stood and looked at the nurse.

"Ah gotta...Ah gotta..." Applejack said, the tears not ceasing their flow. Nurse Redheart simply smiled and nodded, moving away from the doorway, letting Applejack race out of the waiting room in the direction of the hospital room Rainbow Dash occupied. Applejack nearly collided with a doctor, who she dodged and let out a quick-

"Sorry!" Applejack finally arrived at the door to Rainbow's room and stepped inside. She layed eyes upon Rainbow Dash, who layed in the bed, chatting with Doctor Pulse as he returned his stethoscope back around his neck. Rainbow, upon seeing Applejack smiled widely and snickered.

"Hey, AJ!" Rainbow said happily, albeit raspily and quietly. She looked remarkably better than the previous night, but she still seemed slightly frail. Applejack sobbed as she darted across the room to Rainbow's bed.

"Rainbow, you're okay...You're okay!" Applejack cried as she gingerly wrapped her front legs around Rainbow Dash's upper body, where no bandages were present. Rainbow smiled contentedly as she returned Applejack's hug and nuzzled her. Applejack gently placed her forehead on Rainbow's and laughed as tears continued to fall from her eyes.

"Of course I am. There's no way I was gonna leave you." Rainbow retorted.

"Ah'm just so...so..." Applejack sobbed again as Rainbow looked into her teary eyes. "Relieved." Rainbow smiled as she hugged Applejack once more. The doctor raised his eyebrows at the scene before him.

"Who are you exactly to Rainbow Dash, Applejack, if you don't mind me asking?" He asked the farm mare. She turned to him and smiled.

"No, Ah don't mind." Applejack said before wiping her tears and turning back to Rainbow Dash before uttering proudly- "She's my marefriend." The doctor chuckled and nodded, smiling widely.

"Ah. The paper just says 'partner' so I was was just wondering. I am extremely happy that it worked out for the both of you. I suppose you've heard the news about Rainbow's recovery from the blood loss?" He said. Applejack nodded. "If you could come outside with me momentarily, we can discuss further arrangements to do with Rainbow's recovery." Applejack nodded again.

"Alright." Applejack said before turning back to Rainbow. "Ah'll be back in a minute." Applejack kissed Rainbow on the forehead.

"Don't be long." Rainbow said, smiling at her love. Applejack followed the doctor outside the room and smiled at him.

"Alright. What's gonna happen now?" Applejack asked the unicorn Doctor. The happy look had faded from his face, replaced with a more serious expression.

"Well, I would just like to tell you that we're not quite out of the woods yet." He said. Applejack raised an eyebrow and her heart skipped a beat.

"W-What do ya mean?" Applejack asked him. "Is she not gonna be okay?" The doctor shook his head.

"No, I never said that she won't be alright. But there are several conditions we must discuss before we continue on with her treatment." The doctor said. Applejack nodded and gulped silently.

"Go on." The farm mare said. The doctor sighed and closed his eyes before looking at Applejack.

"Rainbow Dash will be in severe pain within the next three hours. Shortly after your visit, she began to feel acute pain in her sides where her lacerations are. I gave her a pain killer that seemed to work nicely, and it should be wearing off soon." The doctor said. "Just the slightest movements of her body irritate her lacerations and cause her a very significant amount of discomfort." Applejack frowned.

"Well, what are we gonna do?" Applejack said. "Ah don't want her suffering."

"Well, the drug I gave her worked like a charm. But it can only be used in small doses, because it is addictive." He said.

"You gave her an addictive drug?!" Applejack said in outrage, narrowing her eyes and raising an eyebrow.

"As long as it is used within the correct dosage limits, she won't develop an addiction, I assure you." He said. "I would like to prescribe some to her, if I could have your permission. Her pain can get so severe, it is the best action to take at this point if we don't want her to just take the pain."

"Well, what are the details?" Applejack said.

"The pain-killer I want for Rainbow Dash is remarkable in it's ability to dull intense pain due to broken bones and lacerations. Both being the case with Rainbow. However, it can only be taken when needed and within the doseage parameters, because as I said before, it is addictive." He said. "There are several common side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness among others, but they're not too serious." Applejack looked at the doctor and considered what he had just told her. Rainbow Dash could take pain quite well, but if the pain truly was as severe as the doctor had said, she didn't see any other option.

"Are you sure it's the only drug we can give her?" Applejack asked the doctor.

"No, there are others. But they're not nearly as effective. They're usually used for sprains and headaches." The doctor said. Applejack sighed, nodded and looked him in the eyes.

"Alright, then." Applejack said. "You're absolutely sure she won't get addicted?" The doctor nodded.

"As long as you use the correct dosage, yes, I am certain." He said.

"And those side effects?" Applejack asked him.

"Side effects of these kinds of medications are more common in Pegasi due to their natural light weight and thin body frames. Rainbow is in extremely good health, however, and that usually points to a possibility that the side effects won't happen. The nausea and vomiting, should they occur, will be quite unpleasant for her. But they will be nothing compared to the pain she'll suffer if she is not on the medication." The doctor said. "Please, Miss Applejack. I only want what is best for Rainbow Dash. I wouldn't have prescribed the drug if there was a better option." Applejack nodded.

"Okay, doctor." Applejack said. "How long until she can come home?"

"At this point, I would say that she can go home in two days, four days at the most. She needs to recover a bit more before we can let her go." He said. "With your help and the drugs, Rainbow Dash will make a full recovery within three months. She can't fly until the lacerations heal, and that could take up to a month and a half. You'll have to change the bandages every day and apply the antibiotic ointment that I have prescribed. She'll have to wear the cast for two months for the bone to heal completely. The cast is waterproof, though, so she can get a shower."

"Okay, doctor." Applejack said. "Thank you so much for all of your help." He nodded.

"Applejack, I actually want to apologize to you." The doctor said. Applejack raised an eyebrow.

"Apologize?" Applejack said. "What for?"

"Last night...when I described Rainbow's condition to you, it appears now that I had made an overestimation of her chances to survive." He said.

"What do you mean?" Applejack asked, confused.

"Well, before we performed the transfusion, she had lost a lot of blood." He continued. "So much blood, in fact, that her chances of surviving were not actually fifty-fifty. They were much closer to thirty-seventy." Applejack's eyes widened at this news.

"Ah...don't know what to say." Applejack uttered. "She looks so much better now than she did last night." The doctor nodded.

"That's exactly what I'm trying to say." The doctor said. "I don't think Rainbow Dash pulled through so well just because of what we've done. She had a low chance of survival after we did what we could. She's got so much strength and so much willpower... She pulled through, despite the poor chances that she would...you're lucky to have her." Applejack smiled at him.

"Thank you, Doctor." Applejack said. "Ah know Ah am." The doctor nodded.

"If you'll excuse me, I have some other matters to attend to." The doctor said. "Feel free to stay in there with her for as long as you please." As the doctor walked down the white hallway that once was so intimidating, Applejack walked back into Rainbow Dash's hospital room. The pegasus smiled at her.

"Took you long enough." Rainbow said.

"Oh, you hush up." Applejack said. "Ah was just talkin' to the doctor about some stuff."

"Such as?" Rainbow inquired, raising an eyebrow. Applejack smirked.

"Well, first of all, no flying and nothing but bedrest for at least a month and a half." Applejack said. "You can only get up when ya need me to help ya to the restroom or to get a shower." Rainbow's eyes widened and her jaw dropped.

"What? Seriously?!" Rainbow exclaimed in complete disappointment. Applejack chuckled.

"Rainbow, ya got serious lacerations going all down your body. Do ya really wanna risk reopening them by flying?" Applejack said. Rainbow raised an eyebrow at her.

"Well, you've always been a pretty heavy sleeper." Rainbow said. Applejack furrowed her brows at Rainbow. "I'm kidding, okay? Sheesh, so serious. Just trying to lighten the mood here." Applejack smiled and sat down next to the bed, looking Rainbow Dash straight in her eyes.

"The doc says that you can leave in two days." Applejack said. "They just wanna fix you up a little more." Rainbow groaned.

"I hate hospitals." Rainbow said. "I'm fine now. Really, I am." Applejack nodded.

"Ah know, sweetie, Ah know. It's just to be on the safe side." Applejack said. "You'll be stayin' at the farm house with me so that Ah can keep an eye on ya, change your bandages and such." Rainbow nodded and sighed as Applejack stroked her mane. Rainbow nuzzled Applejack's hoof.

"Ah treasure you so much." Applejack said. "Do you know that?" Rainbow Dash looked back at Applejack and smiled sweetly, holding Applejack's hoof against her cheek. The pegasus nodded.

"I know." Rainbow said. Applejack stood and leaned over Rainbow and softly connected her lips to Rainbow's in a tender kiss, making both their hearts flutter in their chests. The kiss was soft and loving and went on for some time before Applejack disconnected from it, earning a small disappointed whine from Rainbow Dash.

"Why'd we stop?" Rainbow Dash asked her lover longingly. "That was so nice." Applejack smiled and kissed Rainbow's forehead.

"Ah think Ah'm gonna go and get my room all ready for ya." Applejack said sweetly. Rainbow frowned.

"Aww...Come on." Rainbow said. Applejack smiled as she began to walk out of the room.

"Ah'll only be gone for about an hour or so. Then Ah'll be right back here with you, okay? If the nurses'll let me, Ah'll even sleep in here with you." Applejack said. "Ah'm just gonna go and make it a little more...homey." Rainbow Dash sighed and nodded.

"Okay." Rainbow said. "But I'm timing you!" Applejack laughed.

"With what stopwatch, sugarcube?" The farm mare inquired. Rainbow's eyes widened slightly as she pressed the assistance button on her bed remote. Applejack smiled widely as she left the room.

"Is everything alright, Miss Rainbow?" A nurse asked over the small speaker.

"Yeah, I'm alright. But could you bring me a stopwatch?" Rainbow's voice began to fade as Applejack walked further and further down the hallway.

"But Miss Rainbow, I don't belie-" The nurse responded, her voice fading to unhearable conditions as Applejack passed the waiting room and left the hospital. Applejack happily walked down the path away from Ponyville General toward the cottage of a certain yellow pegasus. Unexpectedly, Applejack passed Derpy Hooves, who was struggling in her daily task of delivering mail to all the different ponies of Ponyville.

"Hey, Derpy!" Applejack called the dim-witted but sweet pegasus. Applejack smiled as Derpy shot her wall-eyed face in her direction. "Need some help?" Derpy nodded quickly.

"Heya, there, Applejack. I sure do!" Derpy said galloping toward the farm mare, coming to a stop just in front of her. "Could you tell me who this pony is? I don't really even know her." Applejack, not bothering to point out to Derpy that she could just read the mailing address, looked at the envelope.

"That's Roseluck, Derpy." Applejack said. "She has a flower shop down the street from Sugarcube Corner." Applejack's spine tingled at the mention of the place owned by such hateful ponies. Derpy, appreciating the tip off, smiled at Applejack.

"Okey dokey then, Applejack. Thanks!" Derpy took off into the air and flew towards Ponyville. Applejack wished safety over the pony that would undoubtedly be in Derpy's landing trajectory. Applejack continued to make her way to Fluttershy's cottage on the outskirts of Ponyville. The walk was a decent one, but nothing the well-conditioned farm mare couldn't handle. Upon arriving, Applejack delivered the standard, polite three knocks to Fluttershy's door. The pegasus opened it almost immediately and smiled at the sight of her friend.

"Oh, Applejack." Fluttershy said. "It's good to see you. How is Rainbow Dash?" Applejack smiled and nodded, tipping her stetson at the timid pegasus.

"She's on the straight and narrow road to recovery." Applejack said. Fluttershy stepped to the side, offering entrance to Applejack.

"Would you like to come in for some tea?" Fluttershy asked her. Applejack politely shook her head.

"Maybe some other time, Fluttershy." Applejack said. "Ah was actually wanting to ask a favor of ya." Fluttershy's ears perked up at the mention of a proposition.

"Oh?" Fluttershy said. "What kind of favor?"

"Well, the hospital is gonna let Rainbow Dash go in a couple of days, and so she's gonna be stayin' in my room until she recovers enough to fly home for herself. And Ah was thinkin' Ah'd do a little decoratin' for her, since she's gonna be in there for quite a while." Applejack explained as Fluttershy nodded.

"That's understandable." Fluttershy said. "What can I do to help?"

"Ah was wonderin' if you could come with me and fly up to Rainbow's house for a couple of things."

"Oh, I'm so excited!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed happily, jumping up and down, an enormous smile covering her face. "Dashie's finally getting out of the hospital!" Rainbow Dash's friends and newfound family waited outside the front doors of Ponyville General as the sun set over Ponyville, relieving Celestia of her duty.

"I think we're all very happy, Pinkie." Twilight said to her friend. "Rainbow Dash always pulls through in these kinds of situations. This time is no different."

"Ah'm still tryin' to wrap my head around it!" Applebloom said to her friends, who smiled back at her.

"I know! It's crazy how tough she is." Sweetie Belle said.

"Rainbow Dash is so cool!" Scootaloo said. "She beats a timber wolf with her bare hooves, escapes death and gets out of the hospital two days later!"

"Y'all calm down now." Granny Smith said to the three fillies who were sitting inside the wagon Rainbow Dash would ride back to the farm in. "Ah don't mean to put a damper on your good time, but Ah doubt Rainbow's gonna wanna listen to three yellin' fillies on the way home."

"Eeeyup." Big Macintosh added. The fillies nodded at the old mare.

"There really was no time for me to find the proper hat for the occasion, so I had to improvise." Rarity said as she flashed the enormous diamond necklace she wore around her neck with a fashionable smile.

"Uhm, Rarity?" Fluttershy asked her fasionable friend. "Is that really necessary?"

"But of course, dear!" Rarity said with a small scoff. "Rainbow Dash is finally leaving the hospital and the occasion simply demands that I look my best for her."

"I don't think Rainbow Dash will appreciate it as much as you think she will, Rarity." Twilight said. Rarity furrowed her brows and stuck her nose up into the air.

"Well, if I had anticipated that I would get such negative reception from my friends, I wouldn't have even-"

"Y'all hush up, now!" Granny Smith said atop the wagon Big Macintosh was connected to. "Here they come!" All the friends watched the hospital doors with bated breath as they opened to reveal Applejack, helping Rainbow Dash walk out of the large medical building, accompanied by Nurse Redheart. Rainbow Dash had her good front leg wrapped around Applejack's shoulder as they walked out the doors. They were greeted by the happy cheers of their friends and family.

"Oh my gosh, Rainbow! I'm so happy you're okay!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "How have you been?"

"Pinkie, you guys visited me yesterday." Rainbow said with a smile. "I'm alright, thanks for asking."

"I want to hug you right now, but I don't wanna hurt you..." Pinkie said sounding slightly disappointed.

"You can hug me, Pinkie. Just, uh...be gentle." Rainbow said, raising an eyebrow and letting go of Applejack for a moment. Pinkie Pie giggled as she gingerly wrapped her front legs around Rainbow. Pinkie let go and made way for Rarity, who happily approached her.

"It's so great to see you back in your old spirits again, dear." Rarity said, offering a hug to Rainbow which she accepted.

"Thanks, Rares." Rainbow said. Twilight smiled sweetly and hugged her.

"I knew you'd make it." Twilight said. Fluttershy flitted up to her and looked to the side.

"Rainbow...uh...I...um..." The shy pegasus said.

"Come here, Fluttershy." Rainbow said. Fluttershy happily hugged Rainbow Dash before letting Applejack help her over to the wagon.

"Alright, Dash. Ah'm gonna lift ya up into the wagon. Get ready." Rainbow nodded as Applejack lifted the lightweight pegasus and placed her upon a cushion they had set up for her. Applejack then walked over to Nurse Redheart and gave her a hug, slightly suprising the mare.

"Thank you so much for all you've done." Applejack said. "Really, you helped us out so much." Nurse Redheart smiled and nodded at Applejack.

"I was all too happy to do it." Nurse Redheart responded. "Have a safe trip home." Applejack nodded at her and turned back toward the wagon.

"Alrighty, then. We all set to head home?" Applejack said as she approached the wagon. Rainbow nodded at her. Applejack hopped up into the wagon and held Rainbow in place as Big Macintosh began to pull them all back in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres.

"I love you guys! And I'm gonna be waiting for you guys to come visit me. Have you heard? Two months in bed! It's ridiculous!" Rainbow exclaimed to her friends making them laugh as they all waved goodbye.

"I just cannot believe she didn't notice my necklace..." Rarity pouted as she watched them ride away. Twilight sent a disapproving look in the prim white unicorn's way, which she pretended not to notice.

The wagon that Rainbow Dash rode in bumped mutely as Big Macintosh pulled it briskly down the path to Sweet Apple Acres. Rainbow Dash sighed happily as she looked at the gorgeous scenery of the fields outside Ponyville, the Spring breeze blowing the grass just enough to create mesmerizing patterns in the millions of green blades, illuminated by the pale moonlight. Rainbow Dash looked to her side momentarily, laying eyes upon Applejack, who layed in the wagon bed beside her. Applejack nuzzled Rainbow Dash sweetly. Rainbow Dash, after returning the sign of affection, looked to her other side to behold Scootaloo sitting in front of her two friends, an abnormally large grin on her face.

"Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo said. Rainbow, smirking at the beaming filly, slowly ruffled her purple mane.

"Hey there, squirt." Rainbow said. "I'm guessing that you, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom are all gonna meet in your treehouse tonight." Scootaloo nodded.

"Yeah, we are, but that's not as important as what's happening now." Scootaloo said.

"And what exactly is happening now?" Rainbow Dash asked her number one fan. Scootaloo cleared her throat and looked to the side as Applebloom and Sweetie Belle joined her in front of Rainbow Dash.

"Could you...uh...tell us how it went that night?" Scootaloo asked. "Y'know...how you fought the Timber Wolf with your bare hooves?" Rainbow Dash raised her eyebrows and looked over at Applejack momentarily who shrugged. Rainbow smiled and looked back at her admirers.

"Yeah. I guess I could tell you all." Rainbow said before clearing her throat. "Just know that I am telling you the Celestia's honest truth." The three fillies all nodded excitedly before laying down on their bellies in front of Rainbow Dash. The tone of Rainbow's voice dropped to a menacing narration of an adventure.

"Now, it was a dark knight, just like this one. Applejack and I were out walking in the pale moonlight completely oblivious to the world around us. Little did we know...we were being followed. Hunted. As we're passing the Everfree Forest, I hear a growl behind us. I try to turn around to see what it is when BAM!" The sudden onomatopoeia shocked the listening fillies, making them jump. "A timber wolf comes out of nowhere and tackles Applejack to the ground! 'Help me, Rainbow!' she said. 'Help me, please!'" A very audible chuckle was heard from Granny Smith at Rainbow's awful imitation of Applejack.

"Hey, wait a minute! Ah never said-" Applejack began to say.

"So I had to think fast! I bucked the timber wolf off of Applejack, giving her the opportunity to get up. I charge in, hooves blazing and I collide with the timber wolf. I flied into the Everfree Forest fighting it, getting my good licks in. But the beast was quick to strike back, which is why I have these bandages on here." Rainbow Dash gestured to the bandages that currently covered her lacerations. "So, we hit a tree and I broke my front leg, but I was still able to fight. I bucked it in the chin as it charged for me and WHAP! I crushed it with a final double-stomp to it's body!" Rainbow threw her chin into the air triumphantly as she spinned her extravagant yarn. "The beast was no more and I was..." Rainbow looked over at Applejack momentarily, who had an eyebrow raised. Rainbow Dash sighed.

"I was pretty beat up. If it wasn't for Applejack coming to save me...I probably would have died out there." Rainbow said. Applejack smiled and nodded at Rainbow, who nodded back. The pegasus quickly looked over at the three fillies and added- "But I did take a timber wolf apart with my bare hooves!" Scootaloo whooped and threw a hoof into the air as her friends cheered as well.

"Rainbow Dash, this just proves once again that you are the most awesome pegasus in Equestria!" Scootaloo said with a gigantic smile. Rainbow snickered.

"Thanks, squirt. I appreciate that." Rainbow said before looking out of the wagon to see that they were already passing through the Sweet Apple Acres orchard. After they parked at the front of the farmhouse, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom hopped out of the cart, ready for a night of crusading.

"Now y'all stay in that treehouse! Ah don't want to have to send Big Mac out after ya!" Granny Smith said.

"Don't worry, Granny. We'll stay in the treehouse." Applebloom said. Scootaloo looked up at Rainbow Dash who was still laying up in the wagon bed, shuffling from side to side, blushing. Quickly, Scootaloo gave Rainbow a gentle hug.

"Bye, Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo said.

"Glad you're feelin' better, Rainbow!" Applebloom said as the three friends charged in the direction of their treehouse. Applejack stepped down out of the wagon and began helping Rainbow out of the bed.

"Go check on 'em in about an hour or two." Granny Smith said to Big Macintosh. "Ah don't want 'em gettin' too crazy with tryin' to get their cutie marks." Big Mac nodded.

"Need any help with Rainbow, Applejack?" Big Mac asked his sister. Applejack, who had Rainbow's front leg around her shoulders shook her head.

"Naah, Ah got it." Applejack said. "She only weighs about forty pounds."

"Hey!" Rainbow said before the apple family cracked up. The three ponies moved inside, Applejack gently kicking the door closed behind them.

"Alrighty, then, Rainbow." Applejack said. "Time to get ya to your new room for the next two months." Rainbow groaned and closed her eyes in despair.

"Don't remind me." Rainbow said as they walked down the hallway to Applejack's bedroom door which was closed. Applejack had a seemingly stationary smile on her face as they approached the bedroom, making Rainbow raise an eyebrow questioningly. Rainbow saw why Applejack smiled as the farm mare pushed open the door to her room. Applejack's room had been completely overhauled with materials from Rainbow Dash's bedroom in her cloud home. The bed was adorned with her rainbow lightning strike comforter, several Daring Do novels lay on the nightstand, waiting to be read, the curtains from her room hung on the window and even one of the rugs graced the floor. A poster of the Wonderbolts added the final touch to this awesome menagerie of items from Rainbow Dash's room. Rainbow's jaw dropped and she smiled widely.

"Applejack, I...I..." Rainbow said.

"Seein' as how you're gonna be stayin' a while, Ah want ya to feel at home as much as possible." Applejack said. "Ah just figured you'd like it, is all."

"Like it? Applejack, I love it!" Rainbow exclaimed happily, placing a kiss on Applejack's lips. "I just don't know how you managed to get up to my house and get all this stuff."

"Fluttershy was kinda an instrumental part of my plan." Applejack retorted. "And now ya know why Ah couldn't tell ya exactly why I was three hours late back to the hospital. And there's actually one part of the room you're not quite seein' yet anywho." Rainbow surveyed the room, looking over the dressers and the remade bed before she saw what she had missed. Upon the bed, looking at her happily, was Tank.

"Tank!" Rainbow exclaimed ecstatically. "Oh, Tank, I missed you, buddy!" Applejack helped Rainbow to the bed. Rainbow looked at Tank as they moved slowly towards the bed. "Y'know, Tank. I'm actually starting to get how you feel." Applejack chuckled and let Rainbow go at the bedside. The pegasus nuzzled her pet tortoise lovingly. Rainbow stood and turned to Applejack and smiled happily.

"Ah take it you're not too disappointed with your livin' arrangements?" Applejack said, raising an eyebrow.

"Thank you." Rainbow said, moving her head forward and placing a kiss upon Applejack's lips. "Thank you so much. I love it." Applejack smiled back at her.

"Now, let's get you into bed." Applejack said. "You need your bedrest."

"Are you kidding?" Rainbow asked her. "It's only nine!"

"Yeah, but ya didn't sleep at all last night." Applejack said. "Good health is important for your recovery. That includes a good amount of sleep each night." Rainbow groaned and looked at Applejack.

"I guess I'm not in any position to deny that, am I?" Rainbow said before looking out at Granny Smith who was walking down the hall. The old mare entered the doorway and approached the two mares. She promptly placed a kiss upon Applejack's forehead before turning to Rainbow and doing the same to her, slightly suprising the cyan mare.

"Goodnight, y'all." Granny Smith said. "Ah'm off to bed. Blast this old age. Ah can't stay up worth a dang anymore!" Rainbow Dash and Applejack giggled as Granny Smith made her way out of the bedroom and began to move back down the hallway. Applejack walked to the door and shut it, the room only illuminated by the light of Luna's moon.

"Alright, now. Come on, Dash. Time to get you to sleep." Rainbow Dash sighed and nodded before moving her comforter to the side and allowing Applejack to help her up onto the bed. Applejack pulled the covers over Rainbow and sat, looking down at her with adoration. Tank moved to the foot of the bed and retreated into his shell to sleep.

"Where are you gonna sleep?" Rainbow asked Applejack. The farm mare looked down to the floor.

"Oh, Ah'll just make a little pallet. Ah'll be fine." Applejack said. "There's no way Ah'm leavin' ya in here alone."

"You know I'd want you in here with me." Rainbow said before smiling at her. "I just want to thank you again. Everything you've done...it just really means a lot to me." Applejack began to stroke Rainbow's mane.

"Rainbow, Ah should be thankin' you." Applejack said. "If it wasn't for you, Ah would probably be dead right now. You saved my life." Rainbow Dash smirked.

"Well, seeing as how I couldn't live without you...it was something I just had to do." Rainbow said with a smile. "Applejack, I love you." Applejack teared up and smiled down at her.

"Ah love you too, Rainbow. So much." Applejack said, her voice breaking. Applejack leaned down and placed her lips upon Rainbow's lovingly, kissing her and showing her affection. Rainbow was quick to reciprocate the kiss as a fire of passion and contentment blazed within the two mares. Applejack moved her lips upon Rainbows, taking one of her lips between hers before she disconnected.

"Lay up here with me." Rainbow said quietly, full of need. "Please."

"Rainbow, Ah don't think so." Applejack said. "Ah don't wanna hurt you. Your wounds..."

"Hang the wounds, AJ, I don't care." Rainbow said. "You gave me the stupid little pill. I can't really feel much pain."

"Rainbow...Ah-"

"Please, AJ." Rainbow said. "I need you here with me." Applejack looked at Rainbow Dash and smiled before climbing up into the bed. Applejack's added weight to the bed made Rainbow's body shift, causing a small flare-up of pain in her sides. Ignoring this, Rainbow pulled Applejack into her with her good front hoof and kissed her again, much more longingly. Applejack removed her stetson and placed it on the bedpost, falling deeper and deeper into the passion of their kiss.

Rainbow Dash gently slid her tongue into Applejack's mouth, Applejack mimicking her, sliding her tongue against Rainbow's. Both their ears splayed back as they let the kiss overpower them and take control of their situation. Rainbow Dash moaned and continued to kiss Applejack, a significant feeling of elation flowing through her. Suddenly, due to some unprecedented motion, a significant amount of pain erupted in Rainbow Dash's sides. Rainbow's eyes leaked tears from the pure magnitude of the flare-up. Rainbow did not care, however, and continued kissing her lover. She did not show any sign of suffering, nor did she tell Applejack. Applejack would only stop their loving liplock and worry some more. Moments later, Applejack disconnected from the kiss and lovingly nuzzled Rainbow.

"Ah haven't gotten to do that since that night." Applejack said. "How Ah've missed it." Rainbow giggled and pecked Applejack on the lips once more before laying her head on Applejack's chest.

"You're the best thing that's ever happened to me." Rainbow said as Applejack stroked her hair. Applejack kissed her on top of her head and smiled. "As long as you're here, this won't be so bad."

"Ah'll never let anything like this happen to you again." Applejack said. "Goodnight, Dash."

Obligatory End-of-Chapter Author's Note: There's a nice chapter of D'AWWWW. I felt like I had to make up for the previous chapter's overwhelming sense of despair and hopelessness. So, there you have it! I'm pretty tired, so I'm gonna end it here. Cheers!