Chapter 15

Five Months Later

Rainbow Dash cheered loudly as all the apples in a single tree fell into the buckets she had placed after only one buck to it's thick trunk. The pegasus did a small little dance and spun around in the air before landing and looking at Applejack, who was busy with a tree of her own.

"I did it again, Applejack! I'm on a roll!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed throwing a hoof in the air. Applejack smiled and rolled her eyes slightly.

"You've been doin' it all day, Rainbow." Applejack said, softly tossing an apple into its bucket. "What makes this time so different?" Rainbow Dash, in the midst of moving one of her buckets toward the wagon they had brought with them, shrugged at the question.

"I don't know. Nothing really, I guess." Rainbow said. "It was probably built up from all the other times I did it." Rainbow, after loading the bucket onto the wagon bed, sighed and sat for a moment. Rainbow Dash slowly looked down at her foreleg that had been broken previously, then at her sides, where small scars layed on her sides. Every day when she got out of bed or did a chore, she remembered her injuries, how they changed her life, and how they were no more. Even the attack itself seemed to be a distant memory at this point.

"You're supposed to be miserable right now." Applejack said. Rainbow raised an eyebrow at Applejack and scoffed.

"I'm supposed to be miserable? Why?" Rainbow Dash asked her with a smile.

"You lost the race. You're supposed to be my lackey for a day, and here ya are enjoyin' it like it's some game!" Applejack said before leaning in closer to Rainbow, and raising an eyebrow. "Why don't ya give me a cry of anguish or somethin'?" Rainbow laughed and shoved Applejack playfully.

"I'll do your lackey chores however I wanna do them, thank you very much." Rainbow Dash said with a smug smile. "Me not enjoying it was never part of the deal. And I only lost the race because I tripped on a stick." Applejack shook her head and scoffed.

"Yeah, right." The farm mare said as she moved closer to a tree.

"I was ahead of you!" Rainbow said. "If I hadn't tripped on that stick, you'd be using Twilight's cloud walking spell and cleaning my house right now in a skimpy little maid's outfit." Applejack turned to Rainbow Dash and raised an eyebrow. Rainbow Dash looked away from Applejack and began whistling innocently.

"Hmm." Applejack said. "Interestin'."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Rainbow asked her with a small, nervous smile.

"Oh, nothin'." Applejack said. "Don't worry about it...it's nothin' for you to stress over...for now." Rainbow blushed a deep shade of red and followed Applejack as she moved to pick up another bucket of Apples.

"Oh, come on, AJ. Don't be like that!" Rainbow said. Applejack laughed.

"You're a trip, Dash." The farm mare said. "Now go and get those other buckets so we can take the wagon back to the barn." Rainbow sighed and nodded before retrieving the other buckets and loading them into the wagon bed. Since she had begun helping Applejack out on the farm, she had grown to be a lot stronger. "Let's get ya hitched onto the wagon now." Applejack gestured to the front of the wagon. Rainbow Dash breathed and let Applejack hook her up. Rainbow huffed as she began to pull the heavy cart up the large hill to the Apple Family barn.

"How do you make this look so..." Rainbow wiped beads of sweat that were forming on her forehead away. "Easy?"

"Years and years of doin' it tends to make ya a little sturdier." Applejack said. "It's kinda like how you are with flyin'."

"I guess that makes sense...but this is a nightmare." Rainbow said as they came closer and closer to the barn. That sweet wooden building that would alleviate Rainbow's apple-carrying burden. Big Macintosh sat on the front porch, watching the two mares approach the barn. He raised an eyebrow and moved the hay sprig in his mouth at the sight of Rainbow tugging the heavy cart behind her and Applejack. He cantered toward them, nodding at the two of them.

"Howdy, y'all." Big Mac said before gesturing at Rainbow Dash. "What's goin' on here?"

"Oh, Dashie here lost a race yesterday-"

"I tripped on a stick!" Rainbow quickly exclaimed, interrupting Applejack mid-sentence.

"And the loser has to be the other's lackey." Applejack said. "So Ah'm gettin' Rainbow to help me out with the chores...quite a lot." Applejack chuckled before looking over at Rainbow Dash, who grumbled before blowing her mane out of her eyes.

"Y'all get so competitive." Big Macintosh said simply. "Maybe both of you should loosen it up a bit." The large stallion then turned and entered the house, most likely to take a midday nap. Rainbow pulled the wagon into the barn where Applejack unhitched her and smiled.

"You ready to go back, Rainbow?" Applejack said.

"You're going to milk this dry, aren't you?" Rainbow said. "I wouldn't have made you work half this hard."

"True, but you would've made me work twice as long, cleanin' that house of yours...that place is huge." Applejack said.

"Speaking of you walking on clouds, AJ...I've got an idea." Rainbow said with a small, happy smile.

"Oh yeah?" Applejack replied. "Lay it on me. But if this is some stupid joke, you're workin' until nightfall."

"Seriously, Applejack. Hear me out." Rainbow said before sighing. "When was the last time we went on a date?" Applejack thought to herself for a moment before looking back at her.

"Last Ah remember is when we went to Swingin' Manes the night that...that happened.... Wow, has it seriously been that long?" Applejack asked. Rainbow Dash nodded and smirked at her.

"I have a proposition for you, AJ. Why don't we go on a date today...to Cloudsdale?" Rainbow Dash asked. "The last time you were there was when I won the Best Young Flyers Competition, and then you really didn't see all that Cloudsdale has to offer." Applejack nodded slowly and smiled.

"Yep...Yeah, that could be really fun." Applejack said. "We'll have to get Twilight to do that Cloud Walkin' thingy on me, though." Rainbow Dash shrugged nonchalantly.

"Well, yeah. But I don't think she'll mind really." Rainbow replied. "It's just one little spell."

"Well, Ah don't wanna inconvenience her." Applejack said, raising an eyebrow.

"Has she ever inconvenienced you when she's needed a favor?" Rainbow asked the farm mare. "Come on! We should go and ask her now!" Rainbow, in the midst of speeding off, was stopped in her tracks by Applejack taking a hold of her tail. Rainbow looked back at her. "What the hay?"

"Not so fast, Rainbow." Applejack said. "You still got more Apples to buck." Rainbow Dash groaned and threw her head back, making Applejack chuckle.

"Oh, come on, Applejack. Why are you doing this?" Rainbow asked her before flopping down on the floor. "I'm too bushed."

"We both know that's a load of bull, Dash." Applejack said with a smile. "Look, you get this last section of the orchard finished with me, and you get to pick dinner tonight." Rainbow immediately shot up from the floor and ran over to the wagon.

"Well, what are we waiting for?!" Rainbow Dash asked excitedly. "Hitch me up! Let's do this!" Applejack didn't bother to point out that Rainbow was the only one out of the two of them who knew what the restaurants in Cloudsdale were like.

"Alright, y'all!" Applejack called to her family. "We're headin' out! Be back in a little while!" Applebloom came bounding down the hallway and out to hug Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

"Bye, y'all!" Applebloom said with a large smile. "Try to get back in time to come swimmin' in the lake tonight! It's gonna be a hoot!" Rainbow Dash snickered and ruffled the little filly's mane.

"We'll be there. And I'll tell you what." The pegasus slammed five bits down onto the table by the front door. "I'll bet five bits that I can beat you in a swimming race." Applejack quickly put down five of her own.

"Five more says Ah smoke ya both." Applejack added, raising an eyebrow at her sister and her marefriend.

"You're both on!" Applebloom said confidently. "Hold up a second." The yellow filly ran into her room and brought back five bits and placed them down as well. "Ah'll see y'all there!" Applejack and Rainbow Dash smiled at her before leaving. Rainbow shook her freshly washed mane as it dried in the sun. She sighed and looked at Applejack.

"You know...for what it's worth..." Rainbow Dash said to her love with a small smile. "That workload wasn't that bad. I mean, I'm not even sore. I'm actually feeling pretty good." Applejack looked over at her and raised an eyebrow.

"Well, if ya wanna get back to work..."

"NO! I mean....no, I'm good. Let's just keep going." Rainbow Dash said before letting out a small breath that had caught in her throat. The pegasus looked up at the clear sky, thankful that Wonderbolts Academy was currently on break and that it was her day off from the Weather Patrol. The sun sent glorious rays of warmth down upon the couple merrily moving along the pathway to Ponyville. Applejack suddenly and unexpectedly kissed Rainbow Dash on the cheek and giggled to herself.

"Well, what was that for?" Rainbow asked her, smiling widely in suprise, blushing.

"Stolen kisses are always the sweetest." Applejack replied knowingly with a smirk on her face. Rainbow Dash blushed even more as she looked at the ground.

"Goddesses, I swear you are the only pony who has ever made me feel this way so much." Rainbow said, looking on as they entered Ponyville. "No matter how much it happens...it always feels so...unreal." Applejack chuckled.

"No charge." Applejack replied simply. Before moving in for another suprise kiss on the cheek. Rainbow Dash, however, quickly turned her head and met Applejack's lips with her own, suprising Applejack this time.

"I was ready for it that time." Rainbow Dash said with a small wink. It was Applejack's turn to blush. "Oh look, it's the house of bigots." Rainbow Dash looked at Sugarcube Corner.

"Ah wonder how they've been doin' since Pinkie quit." Applejack said. "If Ah remember right, Pinkie made more than half their treats they ever sold."

"Well then, they shouldn't be doing too well." Rainbow Dash said. "Hopefully they're living in a dark hole with only pony-pox infested water to drink."

"Rainbow." Applejack said with a small frown. "Come on. Ain't that a little harsh? Ah mean, at least make the hole in the middle of Saddle Arabia." Rainbow Dash burst into laughter as they left the confectionary behind them and approached Golden Oaks library, where Princess Twilight Sparkle was most likely taking care of some business with her assistant, the baby dragon they all knew as Spike. Roseluck, who was in the process of watering her flowers, waved sweetly at the two mares. With appreciative smiles, Applejack and Rainbow Dash waved back at the flower vendor. It was a gorgeous day in Ponyville, and everypony was out and about in their daily routines. Finally, after a rather drawn-out walk through Ponyville, they arrived at Golden Oaks library. Rainbow Dash cleared her throat as she delivered three curt, polite knocks to the door and stepped back to wait.

"You really think she won't mind us comin' to ask this of her? Ah mean, she's a princess, so she'll probably have a lot to do." Applejack said. "If this doesn't work out-"

"Oh, it'll work." Rainbow Dash said with a smile. "Just a little sh-boom and ka pow you'll be able to walk on clouds. You'll see." The humorous onomatopoeia succeeded in making Applejack smile. The farm mare nodded before the door opened to reveal Twilight Sparkle, in place of Spike, who usually opened the door.

"Oh, hello Rainbow! Applejack!" Twilight said happily. "Come in! Come in and take a seat. I've just finished a pot of Fluttershy's herbal tea." Rainbow Dash brightened up signinficantly and licked her lips at the thought of drinking Fluttershy's delicious tea once again. Twilight folded her wings at her sides since she was in the presence of such close friends. She kept the wings unfurled constantly to appear regal to the rest of the community, but often they developed an extremely uncomfortable ache.

Twilight led them to the parlor of the library, moving with an air about her that projected beauty and grace. Twilight had not changed emotionally since she had become an alicorn, but she had changed physically. Applejack and Rainbow Dash both sat down in the quaint little room before Twilight poured them both a small cup of tea.

"Uh, Ah appreciate the gesture, Twi, but Ah don't really drink tea." Applejack said, smiling at the small cup.

"I didn't drink tea either until I tried this stuff." Rainbow said to her. "Go on, try it." Applejack slowly brought the cup to her lips and looked at Twilight and Rainbow, who both looked at her expectantly. Applejack took a small sip before marveling at the taste.

"Oh, my...wow." Applejack said, looking at the small cup. "If it wasn't so hot, Ah'd guzzle it." Twilight and Rainbow both laughed at the comment before the young princess settle down before her friends.

"So, where's Spike, Twilight?" Rainbow Dash asked the alicorn.

"Oh, he's just getting some extra sleep. He voluntarily stayed up with me last night to help me out on a project." Twilight looked up at the direction of her bedroom, where Spike undoubtedly slumbered. "I'm so proud of him. He's growing up every day."

"Hopefully not too fast." Rainbow replied to Twilight. Twilight, who giggled at the comment, looked back at her two friends.

"So," She said. "What inspired you two to come around here today?"

"Well, Twilight, we're not going to beat around the bush or anything, but-" Rainbow began.

"We actually didn't wanna bother ya, seein' as how ya've proabably got some princess-y thing to do..." Applejack interrupted her pegasus marefriend. Twilight slowly looked down at herself, and then around the room before addressing the couple again.

"I'm actually free for today. Pinkie Pie is running a small errand for me, but that's it." Twilight said. "I honestly have nothing to do." Rainbow Dash smiled at her.

"Well, we were wanting to go on a date today...to Cloudsdale, and we were wondering-"

"If I could place the cloud-walking spell on Applejack so you two could make a day of it?" Twilight asked her with a small smile.

"Yeah. Exactly. How did you know? Some kind of alicorn mind-trick?" Rainbow Dash asked her. Twilight smiled once again at the pegasus before shaking her head.

"No, Rainbow." Twilight replied. "It was pretty easy to figure out." Rainbow's eyes widened slightly as she blushed before bringing a hoof to her forehead in emarrasment. Twilight and Applejack both laughed heartily.

"It seems like a very reasonable request." Twilight said as she stood before them. "Applejack, would you please stand?" Applejack obliged the request and stood before the princess, whose horn lit up with a bright purple aura the surrounded Applejack's physical body momentarily before fading away.

"There." Twilight said. "It's done. The spell I put on her should be potent enough to last until tonight." Applejack nodded appreciatively and sat down once again.

"We really appreciate it, Twilight." Rainbow said. "If you ever need some help taking care of some kind of princess duties, we're here for you."

"Oh, don't worry about it." Twilight replied before sitting down once again. "So, what did you two plan on doing?"

"I'm just gonna show her everything she didn't see last time she was there. There's a lot more to Cloudsdale than the few things I showed you all." Rainbow said. "It's gonna be great."

"No doubt." Twilight replied.

"What about you, Twi?" Applejack asked her. "What do you plan on doin' for the rest of the day?" The princess shrugged rather nonchalantly.

"I'll probably just relax, enjoy myself. Maybe read a book." Twilight said. "If nothing else comes up, this day is completely free for me."

"Speaking of books, Twilight, do you know when the newest Daring Do book is coming in?" Rainbow Dash asked her the alicorn giggled at the inquiry and nodded.

"It should be in sometime next month." Twilight said. "Derpy isn't exactly the most reliable mail mare, but she tries." Rainbow Dash and Applejack both stood before the princess and smiled at her.

"Alright." Rainbow Dash said. "We're going to go ahead and leave, then. It was good to see you, Twilight. We should go flying one day next week."

"That sounds great, Rainbow." Twilight replied. "I'm free Wednesday."

"Perfect coincidence! My day off from weather patrol next week is Wednesday." Rainbow Dash replied. "I'll swing by here that afternoon." Twilight nodded.

"Sounds great." Twilight said. "Bye Applejack." The farm mare politely nodded to Twilight and smiled.

"Bye, Twi." Applejack said. "Enjoy that rest today. You deserve it." Twilight nodded as the two mares turned to leave.

"You two have fun!" She said with a small smile. Rainbow Dash and Applejack both looked back in momentarily and smiled.

"Bye, Twilight." They both said, nearly in unison. Rainbow Dash sighed heavily as they left the library and walked briskly away from the tree building.

"See?" Rainbow Dash said. "I told you it'd go off without a hitch." Applejack looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, excuse me for bein' worried about whether the princess was going to feel like casting a spell on me." Applejack said with a small smile. "But all of this just leaves one final question."

"And what's that, AJ?" Rainbow Dash asked her marefriend.

"How exactly are we gonna get to Cloudsdale?" The farm mare said. Rainbow raised an eyebrow and cocked her head slightly.

"Uh...I'm gonna carry you..." Rainbow said before fluttering her wings briefly, expecting a small reaction from Applejack. The orange mare frowned at her. Rainbow Dash, filled with sudden concern looked worriedly at Applejack.

"What?" She said. Applejack sighed before looking away from Rainbow briefly, a sign that something negative was amiss.

"You...you know...got injured recently-" The farm mare began.

"Five months ago." Rainbow replied flatly, furrowing her eyebrows, making Applejack purse her lips.

"And Ah'm not exactly the lightest mare around..." Applejack continued. Rainbow Dash, feeling slightly hurt, stepped back once.

"Wait, you don't think I can carry you?" Rainbow said. "Are you kidding?"

"Now, Dash, Ah-"

"Don't you trust me?" Rainbow asked her.

"You know Ah do, Rainbow." Applejack said. "Ah just...don't want you reawakenin' anything serious." Rainbow Dash looked down at the scars that were only really noticeable to her and Applejack. The scars that, physically, would go away over time, but would always be there for the two of them. Feeling slightly defeated, she layed her ears back and frowned, making Applejack regret what she had just said intensely. Before the farm mare could apoligize or offer words of encouragement, Rainbow Dash suddenly straightened up and furrowed her eyebrows, her stance eminating determination.

"Applejack." Rainbow Dash said. "I'm not going to hurt myself, and I'm not going to drop you."

"But how do you-"

"How do I know?" Rainbow said. "Because I do. Now come on. We're going to be safe." Applejack nodded slowly and walked toward Rainbow Dash. She climbed onto Rainbow Dash's back and kissed her on the cheek. Rainbow, empowered by her newfound determination, flexed her wings.

"Hold on tight." Rainbow said.

"Why?" Applejack said nervously.

"Because if you hold on loosely, you'll probably fall off." Rainbow said. "Duh." Applejack laughed. The sound of the laugh brought a warm feeling to Rainbow as she smiled and prepared to take off. She started to canter and flap her wings and as soon as she was able, she lifted off the ground and began to fly. She had flown plenty of times since she had recovered from her injuries received from the timber wolf that night, but Applejack was right. It had been so long since she had flown with the weight of another burdening her wings as well. While Applejack was by no means the heaviest mare around, she also was not light as a feather. However, Rainbow Dash was strong and quickly adjusted to the difference and flew with ease, even with the added weight.

"Ah see you've proved me wrong." Applejack said.

"Oh, I'm surprised you haven't figured that out yet." Rainbow said. "It's kinda been happening on a daily basis." Applejack laughed as they got ever closer to Cloudsdale.

As the couple touched down in Cloudsdale, Applejack slowly looked around at the splendor encompassing the pegasus-inhabited city. Rainbow Dash merely smiled widely at the sight of her hometown. Ever since she had moved into her cloud home that was closer to Ponyville than it was to Cloudsdale, Rainbow Dash had come to miss the cloudy city.

"Well, here we are." Rainbow said happily. "What did you want to do first, Applejack?"

"Get used to walkin' on these clouds." Applejack replied, lookind down at her hooves. "It's so...different from the ground."

"Different bad, or different good?" Rainbow asked her lover, to which the farm mare replied,

"Neither, really. Just different." Applejack sighed as she walked back and forth momentarily on the cloud.

"You know, we do have solid surfaces up here, right?" Rainbow Dash said. "It's not all just clouds." Applejack nodded.

"Alrighty, then. Let's go." The two mares walked side-by-side into the beautiful city. The glorious architechture was never once short of stunning to either mare, although Rainbow Dash was much more used to it, as her house's architechture was very reminiscent of Cloudsdale's. Applejack's smile seemed to be cemented on her face as she marveled at the beautiful buildings constructed by clouds. Rainbow Dash looked over at her marefriend and snickered.

"Yeah...it's no wonder that this place produced a pegasus as awesome as me." Rainbow Dash said, snapping Applejack out of her stupor.

"It certainly is somethin'." Applejack said. "Ah know Ah've been here before, but somehow, it just seems so...new." The different vendors stood at their respective stands, trying to hock their inventory to the passing ponies, most of whom simply walked past. Few actually stopped, and when they did, the vendor would begin a desperate bid for their patronage.

"We just have to get through the market here, then we can get to looking for a nice restaurant." Rainbow Dash said. "Everywhere here is pretty moderately priced." Applejack smiled.

"Well, Ah guess that means that Ah can splurge, 'cause Ah brought enough for some fancy restaurant that served those little appetizers that don't really do much but make ya more hungry..." Applejack said as she attempted to remember the name of the food she was speaking of. Rainbow Dash laughed and raised an eyebrow at the farm mare.

"You mean hors d'oeuvres?" Rainbow said.

"That's the stuff! Hors d'oeuvres...Can we not get those? Ah'm actually pretty hungry." Applejack said. Rainbow threw a hoof around Applejack's shoulders as they walked onto a street that seemed to be laden with restaurants.

"Don't worry, babe. We'll find somewhere where we can eat until our stomachs burst." Rainbow said before looking to the side. "If we wanted them to...not that we would want them to..." Applejack giggled as they began to look for a restaurant to dine in. Several places seemed to supply the dining experience they both desired, but they finally settled on a medium-sized restaurant with a quaint little rainbow fountain. They entered and were immediately charmed by the happy atmosphere and warm lighting. Comforting music played and many ponies sat and chatted with each other at their tables while they ate.

"Hello, there." The hostess, a tan pegasus with a dark brown mane and tail, said. "Just the two of you this evening?" Rainbow Dash nodded.

"Yeah. A booth if you have one open." Rainbow Dash said. The hostess consulted the chart on the podium before her and smiled.

"Ah! It seems that one just opened up." She said with a smile before grabbing two menus between her teeth and placing them in the small pouch on her side. "Follow me, please." Applejack and Rainbow Dash followed the hostess through the restaurant, while appraising the look and feel of the place. It had a similar feel to Cafe du Mane, but it felt...different. Pleasantly so. Perhaps it was the different structure, or the music or the lighting, but there was something in this restaurant that made it feel fresh. As they arrived at their booth, Applejack and Rainbow both took a seat before the hostess placed the menus in front of them.

"You two enjoy!" The hostess said sweetly before returning to her post.

"This is a nice place." Applejack said.

"Yeah. It is." Rainbow Dash said. "I don't think I've ever eaten here, though. I'm sure it'll be fine." As she said this, a waiter approached and smiled at them.

"Good evening. Would you like to start out with your drink orders?" He said, placing his small notepad on the table and taking a pen between his teeth to it.

"Yeah, I'll have an apple juice." Applejack said.

"Bring us a bottle of wine, would you? Whatever is the best of the day." Rainbow Dash said. Applejack raised her eyebrows at Rainbow Dash, who winked at her. The waiter returned the pad and the pen to their pocket and nodded.

"I'll be right back." He said before leaving them.

"Apple juice?" Rainbow Dash said, leaning forward slightly.

"What? Ah'm a sucker for the classics." Applejack said. "You're the one who decided to order wine. Was there any sort of specific thinkin' behind that?" Applejack asked the pegasus before raising an eyebrow. Rainbow Dash giggled.

"That is for me to know and for you to find out." Rainbow said.

"Oh, please." Applejack said. "That's been used a million times before." Rainbow raised an eyebrow.

"What's wrong with it?" The pegasus asked. "It fits the situation perfectly."

"Come on, Dash." Applejack said. "Gimme somethin' better." Rainbow Dash sighed and closed her eyes momentarily.

"Fine." She said. "How about 'You'll see'?"

"Hmm..." Applejack said. "Alright, alright...gettin' better." The waiter returned with the drinks and set them down upon the table with a small smile.

"Are we ready to order?" He asked.

"We actually haven't even looked at the menus yet..." Rainbow Dash said before offering up a small, nervous giggle. "Sorry..."

"Don't worry about it." He said. "Take your time. I'll be back in a bit." As he left Applejack and Rainbow Dash picked their respective menus up and looked at them.

"That four-cheese lasagna is soundin' pretty good." Applejack said. "Ah just might have to get some of that."

"Why don't we split the twenty-inch pizza?" Rainbow Dash said. "We'll both probably get more food that way, and we'll save money."

"And it says that for five bits more, we can add an appetizer." Applejack said. "Sounds good to me. But which appetizer?" Rainbow Dash turned to the appetizer list of the menu and looked down one.

"How about the stuffed mushrooms?" Rainbow suggested.

"Ah'm actually feelin' the spinach dip." Applejack said. Rainbow looked up over her menu, as did Applejack. They both made eye contact. Rainbow, raising an eyebrow, said,

"The mushrooms are healthier."

"The spinach dip'll last longer." Applejack countered, laying down her menu on the table. Rainbow did this as well.

"The mushrooms are cheaper." The pegasus quickly said, smiling.

"The spinach dip is easier to share." Applejack said just as quickly, smiling as well. Both mares got a small thrill from this stare-down, both of their natural competitive spirits coming to light.

"Alright, AJ." Rainbow said. "Hoof-wrestle, right here. Whoever wins, we get their appetizer." Applejack nodded and smiled at her, placing the elbow of her right foreleg on the table.

"You're on." Applejack said. Rainbow set up in the same postition and waited for the starting signal from Applejack.

"Okay, before we start, no cheap moves. You tickled me last time." Applejack said.

"Yeah, well before that, you got Applebloom to distract me." Rainbow replied. "But we're both doing this straight up this time. No holds barred." Applejack nodded.

"Begin!" The farm mare said and they both went to work, pitting their strengths against each other's, the hoof-wrestle coming out to a relatively even match. They both strained as they both tried with all their might to put the other over on the table. To Applejack's complete suprise, the competition began to turn in Rainbow's favor, Applejack's hoof slowly moving back toward the table. Applejack strained heavily and brought it back to an even position.

"You've gotten..." Applejack breathed. "a lot stronger!"

"Thanks." Rainbow said. "I'm gonna win this. I can outlast you." Applejack chuckled.

"We'll see about that." Applejack said. In her effort, the farm mare looked up slightly for a moment and layed her eyes upon the waiter who was watching them with an amused look on his face.

"Rainbow..." Applejack said, suddenly timidly.

"What, giving up already?" Rainbow said.

"Rainbow...seriously...we should stop now." Applejack said. Rainbow looked up for a moment.

"Are you kidding? I think that you're...just..." Rainbow Dash trailed off as she looked at the other ponies in the restaurant, including their waiter, who were watching their competition. "...Oh."

"Ah think now's a pretty good time to call it even." Applejack said. Rainbow nodded as they stopped their hoof wrestle."

"Yeah...okay." Rainbow said with a small gulp before she rubbed the back of her head and laughed nervously.

"Am I..." The waiter said with a wide grin on his face. "Interrupting something?" Applejack cleared her thoat and shook her head.

"Oh, no. We were just havin' a little fun. Uh, we're gonna have the twenty inch pizza...and..." Applejack looked over at Rainbow Dash. "Which appetizer did you want to get?" Rainbow shrugged quickly.

"Uh...the spinach dip sounded pretty good." Rainbow said.

"Yeah, but the mushrooms are cheaper..." Applejack said.

"The spinach dip will probably stay warm longer..." Rainbow continued. Applejack looked down at the menu then up at the waiter.

"Ah guess we'll just take both."

The rest of Rainbow Dash's and Applejack's date in Cloudsdale went along fantastically for both of them. After they finished eating their marvelous meal at the restaurant, they simply went for a stroll, watched some different street performers on a particularly wacky street, and wound up on the very edge of Cloudsdale, overlooking the beautiful countryside of Equestria, the stunning landscape going on and on into the horizon, seemingly endless, and amazing in spectacle. The mountains eminated beauty and inspired a sense of tranquility in the two mares. Rainbow Dash looked over at Applejack and smiled.

"This has been really fun." Rainbow said. "I doubt it would've been half as fun if I brought somepony else." Applejack kissed Rainbow Dash on the cheek and stroked her mane.

"Ah feel the exact same way, sugarcube." Applejack said. "Today has been perfect." Rainbow smirked at Applejack and stood slowly.

"Who says it's over?" Rainbow said. Applejack raised an eyebrow at Rainbow Dash and stood as well.

"What do you mean?" Applejack inquired.

"Applejack...do you trust me?" Rainbow asked Applejack. "I mean really...do you trust me?"

"Rainbow, is this about earlier when Ah wasn't feelin' too keen on flyin' on your back?" Applejack asked.

"That's part of it, but that's just my pride. Just answer the question." Rainbow said.

"Rainbow, that was a really stupid thing to say." Applejack said. "Ah should have remembered that you saved Rarity, and three of the Wonderbolts all while doin' a sonic rainboom."

"Answer the question, Applejack." Rainbow said. "Please."

"Rainbow, Ah trust you with my life." Applejack said. Rainbow, smiling widely and furrowing her eyebrows, flexed her wings and stood in front of Applejack.

"Get on." Rainbow said.

"What are ya plannin' to do?" Applejack said. Rainbow snickered and nodded at Applejack.

"Just get on." Rainbow said. Applejack, not seeing another option, approached Rainbow and climbed aboard her back, wrapping her forelegs around Rainbow Dash's chest.

"Okay, Dash." Applejack said. "Whatever it is you're plannin'...Ah'm ready." Rainbow Dash, without saying another word, took off into flight, Applejack securely, albeit nervously, holding onto Rainbow Dash's body. Rainbow Dash turned her trajectory of flight upwards as they ascended further and further into the sky. Applejack's heart pounded against her chest as she looked around apprehensively, but she calmed herself knowing that no matter what happened, Rainbow Dash would keep her safe. The two ponies were thousands of feet above the ground at this point, and Applejack gulped upon looking down at the ground, so far below them.

"Okay, Applejack." Rainbow said. "You may want to hold on a little harder than that." Applejack's stomach jumped as she looked down at Rainbow, her eyes widening.

"Wait, Rainbow, Ah-" Was all Applejack managed to utter before Rainbow began plummeting toward the ground, picking up speed. Applejack's heart began beating faster than a snare drum as they continued to fall faster and faster and faster toward the ground. Applejack screamed in terror. But within this terror lied an exhilaration that grew more and more with every passing second.

"Rainbow, are ya crazy?! What the hay are ya doin'?!" Applejack screamed as they fell faster and faster. Rainbow Dash said nothing, a confident smile taking a seemingly permanent spot on her face. The ground was getting closer and closer, and Applejack gasped, knowing that Rainbow was not stupid enough to kill them both. Just before they hit the ground, not one hundred feet away from the grounds of the grassy field below, Rainbow Dash pulled up in her flight, ending the pulse-pounding plummet. Applejack, after realizing exactly how much fun she was having, let out a massive,

"YEE-HAAAW!!!" Rainbow Dash laughed at the exclaimation. Applejack, cried out when Rainbow unexpectedly threw her into the air, spun around and caught her to where she was looking straight into Rainbow's rose irises.

"Applejack." Rainbow said as they flew straight up vertically, yet noticably lighter than before. "I love you." Rainbow Dash then kissed Applejack, the farm mare melting into the kiss lovingly. She had to give it to Rainbow Dash. This was damned romantic. Rainbow dropped from Applejack's grasp and came back up, catching the farm mare on her back once more. Rainbow then began to fly on a relatively straight path toward a lake. The very lake they were supposed to meet Applebloom and the rest of the family at later that evening.

Applejack smiled as Rainbow Dash flew lower and lower until they were both just above the water. Every flap of Rainbow's wings skimmed the surface of the water, creating ripples in the still lake. Applejack reached down and touched her forehoof to the surface of the water, also tracing a trail along the lakes surface. Applejack let out an adorable laugh as Rainbow ascended once more. The farm mare's stomach dropped however as her hat, which had miraculously stayed put during their plummet, managed to finally come loose from her head and fly in the wind behind them.

"Dash!" Applejack exclaimed. "My hat!" Rainbow Dash swiftly looked back and turned, making a beeline for the falling article of clothing. Rainbow managed to catch the stetson just before it hit the surface of the lake. Handing the hat back to Applejack, who replaced it upon her head, Rainbow Dash could not hold back a smirk of accomplishment.

From the lake, Rainbow Dash flew the relatively short distance back to Sweet Apple Acres before touching down on a large cloud above the apple orchard. Applejack jumped off of Rainbow's back and hooted.

"Rainbow, that was...Ah mean..." Applejack said.

"Yeeess?" Rainbow said, a smile growing ever larger on her face.

"Awesome." Applejack said. "You are awesome." Rainbow Dash smiled and shrugged.

"Yeah, I try." Rainbow said.

"But for future reference..." Applejack said. "Never pull a stunt like that again without telling me first."

"I told you to hold on tight." Rainbow said.

"Yeah, a half a second before ya just dropped." Applejack said.

"You had fun." Rainbow said. "Don't you try and deny it."

"Ah ain't denyin' nothin'." Applejack said. "Ah'm just sayin' that ya nearly gave me a heart attack, that's all." Rainbow Dash's ears layed back as she frowned.

"Oh...well...I'm sorry. I just wanted you to know that you can trust me. With anything." Rainbow said. "I had a plan set aside even as we were falling. If one of my wings just decided to magically stop working, I'd throw you into the branches of a tree before we hit the ground." Applejack giggled and brought her hoof to Rainbow Dash's face.

"Dash, Ah ain't mad. Ah had a great time." Applejack said. "And Ah do trust you." Applejack kissed Rainbow Dash tenderly on the lips before laying back on the cloud, patting the spot next to her for Rainbow to rest as well.

"Ah have to give it to ya." Applejack said. "The way ya got the hat back just before it hit the water was pretty cool."

"Yeah." Rainbow said. "I was actually freaking out a little bit. I really didn't want you to lose your hat on account of something I did." Applejack nodded before sighing.

"Hoo whee! This cloud really is comfortable." Applejack said. "No wonder ya sleep on these so often. Ah'll have to stop chastisin' ya so much about it." Rainbow Dash snickered.

"Well, now you know." Rainbow said, smirking proudly at the farm mare, who turned over onto her side and placed one of her forehooves on Rainbow's chest.

"Ya know, we don't have to meet Applebloom at the lake for another couple hours." Applejack said. Rainbow's heart skipped a beat as she nodded at Applejack.

"Yeah..." Rainbow said simply as Applejack began to rub Rainbow's chest in a circular pattern, exciting the pegasus.

"And Ah'm still..." Applejack said as she neared Rainbow and placed a small kiss on her cheek. "Feelin' the effects of this cloud walkin' spell." Rainbow's breath hitched in her throat as she turned to face Applejack, whose eyes were half lidded. A blush gracing her freckled cheeks.

"Mmmhmm..." Rainbow said, a heavy blush developing on her own face.

"Perhaps we can..." Applejack said quietly as she moved her face closer to Rainbow's. "Utilize it a bit more." Applejack then placed her lips upon Rainbow's in a deep kiss that eminated passion. Applejack moved her lips upon Rainbow's as Rainbow groaned in anticipation of coming events. Applejack slipped her tongue into Rainbow's mouth, moving as far back as she could, stroking the pegasus' tongue with her own. Rainbow let out an uncharacteristically adorable high-pitched moan into the kiss. Applejack separated from the kiss and smiled down at Rainbow, stroking her sides with a forehoof.

"Woah, now, Rainbow. Haven't heard that from you before." Applejack said.

"Just shut up and kiss me!" Rainbow exclaimed, her blush intensifying as she rolled over on top of Applejack, hugrily kissing her mouth, moving her tongue around Applejack's in an interesting fashion. Applejack slowly moved her hooves further and further down Rainbow's sides until they finally ended up on the cyan mare's flank. They began kneading her firm, well rounded hindquarters, deliberately, pleasurably. Rainbow Dash separated from the kiss and moaned loudly, panting at the arousing massage she was currently receiving.

"Oh, Applejack..." Rainbow panted as she rolled over, pulling Applejack over to where they were both on their sides again. Applejack moved a hind leg forward and brought it to Rainbow's wet marehood, making Rainbow Dash gasp. Applejack grinned as she moved her leg against Rainbow's lower folds. Rainbow, in the midst of her ecstacy, also moved a hind leg forward and rubbed it on Applejack's sex, exciting the farm mare so much she cried out. They brought their lips together again and kissed passionately as they moved their legs against each other's marehoods, increasing both of their desires for each other dramatically. A wind blew and took Applejack's stetson with it, making it float downward off of the cloud toward the ground.

"AJ." Rainbow said, disconnecting from the kiss. "Your hat."

"Ah can go get it later." Applejack quickly said as she returned to their kiss. Their kiss didn't continue for long before Rainbow Dash disconnected and began to move down Applejack's body, placing small kisses down her belly as she flashed Applejack a seductive look that, had she been standing, would have made her knees tremble. Rainbow finally came down to Applejack's lower lips and smiled up at Applejack. The cyan pegasus opted to skip the teasing and go straight in for the kill. She brought her tongue to Applejack's marehood at the base and brought it up to the clitoris, swirling her tongue on it momentarily before kissing it. Applejack threw her head back and moaned.

Rainbow Dash, since they had started doing this, had become quite skilled at this action indeed. She shoved her tongue inside and swirled it around momentarily before removing it and torturously licking up Applejack's thigh before returning to the folds. As the pegasus continued in her loving attack, Applejack's breathing patterns became more erratic and frantic as she approached her peak. Rainbow took a moment and sucked on Applejack's clit while applying pressure to the lips with her hoof. With a small popping noise, Rainbow let Applejack's clit out of her lips and removed her hoof, making Applejack cry out loudly.

"Rainbow!" She cried as she felt her walls begin to contract. Rainbow, sensing what was about to happen, took Applejack's entire flower into her mouth and moved her tongue on the lips rapidly, basking in the euphoria of pleasuring her lover. Applejack finally reached her climax, her walls convulsing gloriously as her ejaculate flowed into Rainbow's waiting mouth, which the pegasus swallowed happily. Rainbow Dash sat up, feeling the aching desire in her own lower lips, and sighed.

"Beat that, AJ." Rainbow said as she raised an eyebrow. Applejack shot her head up and smiled at Rainbow wickedly.

"Oh, you're so gonna get it, you fine thing." Applejack said before tackling Rainbow Dash onto her back. The farm mare hurriedly shoved her tongue between Rainbow Dash's folds and moved it up, in between the folds until it eventually came out and landed on Rainbow's engorged clit. Applejack picked Rainbow up by the flank, bringing her marehood to her lips before going to work on the pegasus while massaging her hindquarters. Rainbow dropped her legs on Applejack's shoulders as she smiled up at Applejack and moaned,

"Oh, AJ. You really know how to...get me going." Rainbow said before she closed her eyes and fell deeper into the bliss she was experiencing. Applejack's skilled tongue probed her folds and moved up further and further. Before Rainbow had realized exactly where Applejack's tongue was moving, it was already too late. Applejack's tongue rubbed her G-Spot fleetingly and made Rainbow buck her hips into Applejack's face as she cried out loudly. Applejack worked harder and harder to fully reach Rainbow's G-Spot before finally succeeding in her task. She tongued the smooth area gently, making Rainbow Dash's body writhe in pure pleasure.

"Applejack...Oh Goddesses, Applejack!" Rainbow exclaimed. "I'm getting close...I'm..." Rainbow let out a cry of pure pleasure as her lower lips contracted in an explosion of passion and intimacy. Rainbow Dash rode out the remainder of her orgasm, moving her hips and her lower lips against Applejack's mouth, feeling her fluids leak into the farm mare's mouth. Applejack moved up and kissed Rainbow on the lips, moving her tongue into the pegasus' waiting mouth. Applejack tasted herself on Rainbow's tongue and vice versa. The sensation was undoubtedly arousing. In the middle of the kiss, Rainbow opened her eyes and smiled before turning Applejack onto her back and moving her leg beside her chest, lining both of their marehoods up with each other. Rainbow Dash wasted no time in mashing her flower against Applejack's, both of their residual liquids acting as perfect lubricants for their grinding.

"Rainbow, you're so amazing." Applejack said, leaning up and placing a kiss upon Rainbow's lips. "Ah'm so...lucky to be with you." Applejack breathed heavily in pleasure, a heavy blush covering her face. Rainbow snickered and nuzzled Applejack's cheek as she continued to thrust her lower lips against Applejack's.

"Applejack." Rainbow said. "There's nowhere I'd rather be right now than here with you. That's the way it's always been." Rainbow, to show her love, moved her lips down to Applejack's neck and kissed the sensitive skin, sucking on it slightly. This, in combination with the amazing amount of pleasure she was receiving from their tribadism, sent Applejack over the edge as she climaxed once more, her ears splaying back. She breathed heavily as the liquids produced from her second climax flowed onto Rainbow's groin, allowing her to grind into Applejack with more allowance for friction.

"Hold on for just a couple...more seconds..." Rainbow said as she finally climaxed as well, her juices mixing with Applejack's as they both rode out their orgasms, moaning together as their sexual encounter came to a happy and satisfying close. Rainbow rolled off of Applejack before wrapping her forehooves around the farm mare, Applejack doing the same. They stared into each other's eyes happily and contentedly, both out of breath from their interaction. Applejack happily nuzzled Rainbow Dash's neck and smiled.

"Ah love you so much, Rainbow." Applejack said with a sigh.

"You know, Applejack..." Rainbow said. "Being with you is my favorite thing." Applejack looked up into the cyan pegasus' eyes with a smile. "It's the only thing that's better than flying."

"Y'all are late!" Applebloom exclaimed as she saw Rainbow Dash and Applejack approaching the lake. "It's already almost completely dark! Where were y'all?"

"Dinner ran a little late." Applejack explained.

"Yeah, and the fly back from Cloudsdale is a complete drag." Rainbow said with a small smile. "But we're here now! So let's get this started!" Applebloom jumped for joy and ran toward the water. Rainbow followed, laughing as well. Both began to splash each other happily in the knee-deep water. Applejack sighed as she followed them toward the water.

"Do Ah even have to ask?" Big Macintosh said quietly to his sister, who smirked at him.

"Nope." Applejack said with a wide smile before she sprinted into the water to meet her sister and her lover. Big Macintosh chuckled as he layed back on the chair he was on.

"Okay, y'all! Get ready to lose!" Applebloom exclaimed with a competitive smile.

"Oh, please!" Rainbow responded. "I've got both of you handled!"

"We'll just see then, won't we?" Applejack said as she hunkered down in praparation of the swim. "Ready...Set...GO!" All three ponies jumped into the water and began swimming frantically across the lake. Applebloom, though falling behind, was quite the impressive swimmer for a filly her age. Rainbow Dash and Applejack were in a dead tie before Applejack slowed down dramatically suddenly.

"Oh! Ah got a leg cramp! Oh, darn!" Applejack exclaimed, feigning a loss. Rainbow Dash merely snickered and continued to swim. Applejack furrowed her eyebrows and swam forward enough to grab Rainbow's tail and pull her back.

"Hey! What gi-" The pegasus said before Applejack dunked her. Applebloom neared the end of the lake faster and faster as Rainbow Dash came back up for air.

"Applejack! What the hay?!" Rainbow said with a raised eyebrow.

"Just let her win, Dash. It's only fifteen bits!" Applejack whispered. Rainbow raised her eyebrows and nodded.

"Oh...okay." Rainbow said before exclaiming- "Oh, darn it!" Applebloom finally made it to the end of the lake and looked back at her sister and Rainbow Dash, who were a decent distance behind her.

"Good job, Applebloom! You won!" Applejack said. "All those bits at the house are yours!" Applebloom cheered and swam back to Rainbow and Applejack, slower this time.

"That was awesome!" Applebloom said. "Why'd you guys fall so far behind, though?"

"Oh, Ah got a leg cramp." Applejack explained to her little sister.

"Yeah, and my tail caught on a stick." Rainbow said. "You won, though, it looks like." Applebloom nodded.

"That was great!" Applebloom exclaimed. "What should we play next?" All three ponies sat and thought for a while before Rainbow Dash finally piped up.

"Ooh! How about marco pony?" The pegasus suggested.

"Sounds good to me." Applejack said. Applebloom nodded enthusiastically.

"Alright!" Applebloom said. "Big Mac! Come in and join us."

"Ah don't think so, AB." Big Mac said. "Ah'm a little sore from today."

"You're never sore, Big Mac." Applejack said. "You're always talkin' about how you never are. Now get your red flank in here!" The large red stallion sighed and stood up before walking toward the shore of the lake.

"Alright. One game."

It turned out to be much more than one game as Big Macintosh became very invested in this game of marco pony they played. He turned out to be it most of the time, due to playing the game with much smaller, faster females. The festivities went on for what seemed like two hours before they all had to finally head back to the farm house.

"Goodnight, everypony!" Rainbow Dash said, smiling at the group.

"Night, Rainbow!" Applebloom said sweetly. "Sleep good!"

"G'Night, miss Dash." Big Mac said, nodding at the pegasus.

"Night, Rainbow." Applejack said, before giving Rainbow Dash a quick kiss on the cheek. "Love you."

"I love you too." Rainbow said before beginning to fly away. "See you all later!" Applejack sighed with contentment as she watched Rainbow fly away toward her cloud home, where she would be sleeping...alone. Suddenly, an idea flashed through the farm mare's mind as she walked with her family toward her own home.

'Yeah...' She thought as she continued to consider this new idea. 'That's good...'

Obligatory End-of-Chapter Author's Note: Bada bing! Bada boom! Did you fall for the previous author's note? Huh? Didja, didja, didja? Ah, well. It's late. This chapter's finished. I'm tired. Bye bye until next week...