Chapter 20

Rainbow Dash and Applejack happily walked together toward Braeburn's still-lit house. Since this obviously signified that at least some of the others was still awake, the two mares knew that they would be telling their family of their engagement that night. Applejack shuddered subtly, but it still did not escape the attention of Rainbow.

"You okay, hun?" Rainbow asked the farm mare who walked so closely beside her. Applejack giggled and nodded.

"Yeah. Ah'm just excited..." Applejack replied. "And Ah'm still reelin' from the surprise a little." Rainbow laughed quietly and rubbed the back of her head.

"Yeah. That was probably on account of my poor planning skills." Rainbow said. "I'll try not to do that kind of thing anymore."

"Did Ah say that Ah'm unhappy ya did?" Applejack asked. "That was nothing short of a fantastic and glorious surprise. Keep doin' it. Please." Applejack said before giving Rainbow a kiss on the cheek. Rainbow blushed, smiled and nodded happily.

"Will do!" She said. The house, which was now only a couple hundred feet from the mares, served as a beacon of warmth and hospitality. The cool air had begun to get to the two of them, and a nice, warm bed seemed to fit the bill perfectly for what they needed. But there was still the matter of telling everyone.

"You know, AJ," Rainbow said. "We don't have to tell the family tonight if you don't want to. We can wait until we get back to Sweet Apple Acres."

"Now why would we wanna do that?" Applejack asked in reply.

"I'm not saying that I necessarily want to wait." Rainbow said with a small shrug. "It's just...y'know...if you're not ready."

"Ah'm ready, Dash." Applejack said. "Ah'm so happy about this, Ah couldn't possibly want to not share it with everypony Ah know and love. Especially since you're livin' with us."

"Okay." Rainbow said with a smile. "Let's do it." A cool air blew, pleasantly chilling the two mares as they walked. This night was remarkably similar to their first night together, just significantly...drier. The sky was completely clear of any clouds, and the moon shone brightly among the millions of stars. They continued to walk for a few more minutes until they finally reached the doorstep. Applejack gave a few curt raps to the door. After a short period, the door swung open to reveal Braeburn, who smiled at the two of them.

"Hey there, y'all." He said. "Have fun?"

"More than you know." Rainbow said, earning raised eyebrows, widened eyes, a blush and a smirk from Braeburn. Rainbow immediately turned beat red.

"Oh, n-no, you don't understand it w-wasn't like that!" Rainbow stuttered before clearing her throat. "It was just a nice time..." Braeburn nodded.

"Okay, okay. Ah was about to turn in the 'ol TMI card!" The yellow stallion said with a chuckle. "Come on in. You both must be freezin'."

"We're actually okay, Braeburn." Applejack said as she stepped into the house, followed by Rainbow. She put down her saddlebags by the door and removed the food containers which housed the leftovers saved from their dinner. "We've seen a lot worse."

"Well, it's only early Autumn." Braeburn said. "You should see Appleloosa in the dead of Winter."

"Ah don't doubt that it's plenty cold, cuz." Applejack said. "Would you happen to have a fire goin'?" Applejack's cousin nodded.

"Sure do! Everypony else is in there relaxin'. We were all about to hit the hay, actually." He said. "Looks like y'all got here just in time."

"Yep." Rainbow Dash said as she looked at Applejack. "Looks like we did." Braeburn happily led the two of them into the living room where they were happily greeted by their family. The fire that currently blazed had the temperature up around the whole room, which was expansive compared to the moderately sized living space of the farmhouse back at Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack quickly moved into the kitchen and stored the leftover food in the refrigerator before moving back to the family.

"Well, now, lookee here." Granny Smith piped up. "Looks like y'all had a nice time."

"We did, Granny." Applejack said. "It was perfect."

"That's a mighty beautiful necklace ya have on, sis." Big Mac said. "Rainbow give that to ya?" Appleajck nodded.

"Yeah, she did." Applejack said. "Ah couldn't have asked for a better anniversary gift."

"Neither could I." Rainbow said with a smile. "That was awesome, guys." Everypony nodded. "But, me and Applejack have something to tell you." This gained the attention of everyone in the room, who looked at them expectantly. Applejack struggled with the words for a moment.

"Well, come on, Applejack." Applebloom piped up. "Out with it. What did ya wanna tell us?" Applejack furrowed her eyebrows at her sister and smirked.

"Simmer down, filly." Applejack said. "Ah'm gettin' to it. Ah just gotta find the right words to say." She thought for a moment more before finally sighing in satsifaction. "Ya see, this here necklace was more than an anniversary gift from Rainbow. It came with somethin'."

"What was it?" Granny Smith asked.

"Ah'm gonna-" Applejack said.

"Is it a new hat?" Big Mac asked. Applejack shook her head slowly.

"Tickets to the spa?" Applebloom chimed. Applejack, once again, shook her head.

"Alla those are good guesses, but you're all wrong." Applejack said before smiling widely. "It came...with a proposal." The room fell silent for a minute as everypony attempted to process this new information. Granny Smith looked up at Applejack.

"A proposal...Applejack...are you and Rainbow..." Granny said. "Engaged?" Applejack let out a small, happy laugh and nodded, a huge smile on her face. Granny Smith jumped from the rocking chair she had occupied and cheered.

"Yee-Haw, Ah knew it! My baby Applejack's gettin' married!" Granny Smith yelled in happiness, jumping out of the chair and throwing a hoof up into the air before throwing out her back. "Oh! Oh, dagnabbit...son of a...lemme get back to my chair."

"Sis, Ah can't believe this!" Applebloom said happily, jumping up and down with excitement. "This is just...wow!"

"Couldn't be more happy for you two." Big Macintosh said, smiling happily at them. "You two were made for each other."

"If Ah could give my input." Braeburn said, raising an eyebrow. Applejack and Rainbow nodded. They smiled, but the smiles were not without slight apprehension as to what he might say. "Ah've seen my fair share of fillyfooler couples, but none of them had the...oh, how do Ah put this...spark, that you two seem to have whenever you look at each other. Ah can just see how much you gals love each other, so Ah'm really happy for you."

"Thanks, Braeburn." Applejack said.

"So when are y'all plannin' on havin' the wedding?" Granny Smith asked with a wide smile. " Before new years, maybe? And where, that's important too."

"Granny, Rainbow just proposed almost an hour ago!" Applejack said with a small laugh. "We haven't exactly locked anything in but the fact that we're gonna get married."

"Never too early to start plannin', child." Granny Smith said with a wink.

The train screeched to a halt at the Ponyville Train Station after a three hour long trip from Appleloosa. Applejack smiled widely as she looked out of the window she sat next to to see the town she called home. The two and a half days she had spent away from Ponyville felt like five. That was not to say that she didn't enjoy her time in Appleloosa. The rest of their time with Braeburn at his quaint house was entertaining and fun for the rest of the time they were there. They had discussed exciting wedding ideas and plans, coming closer to deciding on when it was to be held and who exactly they would invite. Rainbow Dash, jarred from her usual slumber by the loud noise, woke up on Applejack's lap and stretched.

"We home?" Rainbow asked, recovering from her stretch. Applejack nodded happily.

"Yeah, Dash." Applejack said. "We're home."

"Thank Celestia." Rainbow said. "I can sleep in our bed again."

"Hold up, hun." Applejack said. "We still gotta go get Winona and Tank from Rarity." Rainbow groaned and put her forehooves on her forehead.

"Why can't we just get her to bring them by?" Rainbow asked in clearly exaggerated anguish. Applejack chuckled.

"She's already been watchin' 'em all weekend." Applejack said. "Ah don't think it's too much effort to go get 'em."

"That's the responsibility ya take when ya get a pet, sweetie." Granny Smith said. "Ah would hope that ya know that right now." Rainbow sighed.

"Well then, let's get the hay off this train and go get them." Rainbow said. "I just wanna lay back down and continue my nap." They all stood and exited the train before turning to the baggage claim section of the wooden deck.

"Now Dash, remember, we're gonna arrange a meetin' at the lake with the girls so that we can tell 'em." Applejack said. "We're gonna go around and invite everypony else, and then after that we can go back to the house and nap until we have to be there."

"But Applejack, I'm so tired." Rainbow said.

"You slept the whole way back!" Applejack said, taking her saddlebag from one of the stallion attendents.

"I need a lot of sleep." Rainbow said. "I have a fast metabolism."

"Oh, that ain't no excuse." Applejack said, raising an incredulous eyebrow at Rainbow.

"Alright, fine. How about this..." Rainbow said enticingly, dropping her voice down to a whisper and moving her mouth next to Applejack's ear. "If you don't give me any grief for going home and napping after we get Tank and Winona, next time we get some...alone time, you don't have to do anything to me....I'll just do stuff to you." Applejack smiled and raised an eyebrow at her.

"You really want to sleep that bad?" Applejack asked her. Rainbow nodded, a happy smile on her face. Applejack sighed and shook her head. "Alright, fine. Ah'll do all the invitin'." Rainbow smiled and nodded.

"Sweet! Let's go get them, then." Rainbow said. The group retrieved their baggage and began to walk toward Ponyville and Sweet Apple Acres. Idle conversation floated around the group as they cantered along. Granny Smith looked down from Big Macintosh's back upon her three grandchildren and one surrogate grandchild as they continued to move onward.

"So how's the Wonderbolt academy been Rainbow?" Applebloom asked the daredevil pegasus. "Ah'm sure Applejack asks ya all the time."

"We don't really talk about it much, Applebloom." Rainbow said. "Weather Patrol's been so hectic, I don't really have much time to attend a lot of the classes. But since Spitfire respects me so much, she lets it slide. She knows I have stuff to do, and she knows I have priorities...like you guys."

"We're a priority for ya?" Big Mac asked Rainbow as he smiled, who nodded.

"Of course you are! You guys are my family, and..." Rainbow said. "Soon to be in-laws." Rainbow smiled as she looked around at each member of the group.

"Well, here's our turn to get to the boutique." Applejack said. "Y'all go on ahead home. Rainbow'll be there in a flash with Winona and Tank, and Ah'll be home soon after. Ah got stuff to take care of." Granny Smith nodded at her as she and Rainbow turned toward Rarity's boutique.

"Alright. Y'all be safe!" Granny Smith said, sending the couple a wave as they parted. Applejack and Rainbow Dash continued to walk for a while before seeing Rarity's boutique come into their field of vision. Applejack sighed and looked over at Rainbow.

"It feels like it's been forever." Applejack said. "Ah've been missin' Winona somethin' terrible." Rainbow nodded in agreement.

"Same here for Tank. That little smile of his gets me every time." Rainbow said. "Before I got him, I would never have thought that a tortoise could show so much affection."

"Well, he does seem to be different, even among animals like dogs and cats." Applejack mused. "Ah'd say he's one of a kind." They reached Rarity's doorstep before Rainbow delivered three knocks to the door. They waited for what seemed like a minute and a half before Rarity finally answered the door.

The white unicorn that usually looked so prim and beautified looked exhausted and disheveled. Her mane was frizzled and unstyled, and bags under her half-lidded, bloodshot eyes told of a weekend lacking sleep or relaxation. She smiled widely, her eyes brightening up significantly.

"Oh, thank Celestia!" She cried before clearing her throat. "I mean, Rainbow, Applejack! You're back! How was your trip? I take it that you both had a..." She yawned loudly. "...great time?" Rainbow nodded.

"Yeah...it was great." Rainbow said, raising an eyebrow in concern. "Are you okay, Rarity?"

"Who, me? Pssh, don't be silly! I'm fine...just..." She yawned again, more lightly. "Fine. Winona and Tank are an absolute...pleasure to have around."

"Rarity, are you sure you're okay?" Applejack asked. "Ah mean, no offense, but you look terrible. Did Tank and Winona cause that much trouble for ya?" Applejack and Rainbow looked past Rarity into her house to see that it was an absolute mess. Books lay upon the floor, papers were strewn about wildly, seat cusions and pillows were terribly and horribly out of place, fabric was thrown about the boutique and a teakettle in the kitchen whistled loudly, adding a general sense of chaos to the scene.

"Oh, Goddeses!" Rainbow said. "Rarity, your house!" The fashionista looked back at the boutique and saw the shape it was in before going even whiter in the face than she usually was, her pupils shrinking to pinpricks.

"Oh...I-I just had a r-rather large dress order!" Rarity said, seemingly coming up with an excuse on the spot. "Just come in for a moment and I'll go get your pets." Tears subtly flooded Rarity's eyes, before she turned around, leading Applejack and Rainbow into the warzone that was Carousel Boutique.

"Did Tank and Winona do this?" Rainbow Dash whispered to Applejack.

"Ah think so." Applejack replied. "Ah mean think about it. Rarity's place has never looked this messed up. Makes the mess she made with that dress order three months ago look like Celestia's palace."

Rarity moved to a room that the door was shut on, before opening it to reveal Winona and Tank. The dog, upon seeing Applejack and Rainbow, barked happily before picking up Tank's shell in her mouth and running toward her owner. Tank retreated into his shell by instinct.

"Hey Winona!" Applejack said with a large smile, hugging her dog happily. Rainbow picked tank up with one forhoof and held him to her face, smiling.

"How ya doing, buddy?" Rainbow said before nuzzling the tortoise.

"It's been an absolute joy having them here, I'll say." Rarity said, putting on a fake smile. "They were perfectly...courteous and well-behaved."

"Well, that's good." Applejack said, not believing a word the unicorn said. "Well, look, Rarity. Would you wanna come to the lake later on this evenin'? It's been a while since we've all hung out." Rarity smiled and nodded.

"Applejack, I would be happy to come to the lake tonight." Rarity said. "I'll have to...freshen up a bit first."

"Well, it's not gonna be for at least a couple hours." Applejack said, smiling. "So you can take a bath, lay down for a nap..." The suggestions seemed to entrance Rarity as she nodded dreamily.

"Yes..." She said, a smile forming on her face. She snapped out of her stupor and immediately nodded. "Alright! I'll meet you there at..."

"Let's call it six thirty." Applejack said. "That gives you around five hours."

"Splendid!" Rarity said. "I can hardly wait."

"And Rarity, one more thing, before we leave." Rainbow offered with a small smile.

"Yes, what is it?" Rarity said.

"All of...this." Rainbow continued, gesturing to the general mess of the room they stood in. "Would it happen to be on account of Tank and Winona?"

"What? No, of course not!" Rarity said. "They were well behaved, I already told you."

"Rarity, we've never seen your place looking this bad." Applejack said. "And we both know how rowdy Winona can get when she's cooped up."

"Winona was fine, Applejack, I-"

"Rarity, we all know that that's bull." Rainbow said, raising an eyebrow. "I mean, look at this mess!"

"Well, I-"

"Just let us give you some money for your effort." Applejack offered, pulling a sack of bits from her saddlebag.

"Oh, I couldn't-"

"Oh, come on, Rarity." Rainbow said, giving a small smile. "We both feel really bad that our pets did this to your place. It'd make us feel a whole lot better."

"Nonsense!" Rarity said, a determined look taking over her facial features. "I will not accept your money! This was a favor to the two of you, and that is it. Neither of you owe me anything!" The unicorn's horn lit up with a blue aura, which surrounded Applejack, Rainbow Dash and their pets. Rarity began to lift them from the ground, straining heavily, before putting them both back down on the ground and fainting.

"Oh, poor girl." Applejack said. "Come on, Dash. Help me get her to bed." Rainbow nodded as they moved to the unconcious unicorn and picked her up. They draped each one of her forehooves around their shoulders before moving her to her lavish bedroom, which had remained untouched. They put her in the bed and draped the covers over her. Applejack made sure to leave the bag of bits on her nightstand before they exited the bedroom and closed the door behind them.

"Geez, Tank and Winona must have done a number on her." Rainbow said.

"Yeah, Ah know." Applejack said, looking at their pets, who sat patiently in the living room, waiting for them.

"If she doesn't show up tonight, let's not be too disappointed. She needs rest." Rainbow said.

"You know, we have to at least straighten up this room." Applejack said. Rainbow groaned.

"Oh, come on." Rainbow said. "I'm tired."

"Not as tired as Rarity, Ah'll bet." Applejack said. "Now come on. We'll get it done faster if it's the two of us."

The cleanup of the room was relatively simple. Rainbow focused on the replacement of cusions and pillows on the sofas and the repositioning of books back where they belonged, and Applejack wrapped up the strewn-about fabric and reorganized all the papers that were loose. The entire task merely took half an hour, and once they were done, they ushered their pets outside and began to head back to Sweet Apple Acres. Upon reaching the turnoff for the farm, Applejack hooked Winona onto a leash and gave it to Rainbow Dash, who wrapped the loop around her left forehoof.

"Alright, now that ya got Winona, Ah'm gonna go ahead and go invite the rest of the girls to the lake tonight." Applejack said. "Enjoy your nap, sugar." Rainbow giggled.

"Oh, I will," The pegasus said. "But I won't enjoy it completely until you're laying in that bed with me." Rainbow then kissed Applejack on the cheek before heading toward Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack looked on after her soon-to-be wife with fondness before sighing to herself and turning toward Ponyville.

"YES!!!" Pinkie Pie screamed in near ecstacy. "Yes, I'd love to come to the lake with you guys!"

"That's great, Pinkie Pie." Applejack said. "Ah can't wait to see you there."

"Oh, Goddesses, this is gonna be so much fun! I'm going to bring Cupcakes! And cake! Cupcakes and cake! But not coffee cakes, well, unless you like coffee. Then I'd have to bring Cupcakes, cake, coffee cakes and coffee, and that would be kinda hard. I guess I could, though. I've done way weirder stuff, you know. Remember that time I-"

"Alright!" Applejack interrupted Pinkie Pie's mad ramble. "Alrighty then, Ah'll see ya there." Applejack turned and began to walk away from the party pony.

"Okay! Bye, Applejack!" Pinkie Pie said before turning back into Sugarcube Corner and shutting the door. Applejack sighed heavily and chuckled to herself.

"Well, now that the hard part's done..." She muttered to herself under her breath. She loved Pinkie Pie like a sister, but the sweet mare could be incredibly overbearing sometimes. She turned toward Golden Oaks Library and spied her next target, Twilight Sparkle, laying underneath the tree that was her home on a blanket reading a book. Her companion, Spike, was laying down next to her slumbering happily. The alicorn smiled at Applejack happily and stood to greet her.

"Applejack! Hello! What brings you here?" Twilight asked with a happy smile.

"Howdy, Twilight." Applejack replied. "Ah just wanted to ask you if you wanted to come to the lake tonight at around six to six-thirty to relax and hang around with the girls. It's been a while since we've had time together. If ya don't have any princess-y duties to attend to or anything." Twilight Sparkle nodded and brightened up significantly.

"That actually sounds perfect." Twilight said. "I can't wait!"

"Alright!" Applejack said, smiling back at her friend. "Ah'm gonna go invite Fluttershy."

"And you said six?" Twilight asked.

"Yep!" Applejack said. "Ah'll see ya then, Twilight!" Twilight waved after Applejack and layed back down on her blanket to continue reading her book. The princess laughed when she noticed that Spike was still fast asleep.

Applejack merrily ambled through Ponyville, turning in the direction of Fluttershy's small, quaint cottage. Rarity, Pinkie and Twilight had all agreed to the meeting, so Applejack's step increased slightly in merriment at the prospect of having only one more friend to invite. She knew that Fluttershy would, in all likelihood, say yes to the meeting. Applejack passed Roseluck on the way out of Ponyville, who waved sweetly at her. Returning the wave, Applejack could not wipe the ever present smile from her face. She didn't want to.

Upon approaching Fluttershy's cottage, she witnessed the meek yellow pegasus feeding some woodland creatures in her garden. The critters gladly gobbled the food up and showed their appreciation in different ways. Fluttershy nodded to them.

"Oh, anytime. Don't hesitate to ask me next time. Goodbye!" She said happily.

"Howdy, Fluttershy!" Applejack said happily, making her friend jump slightly.

"Oh, Applejack. You startled me." She said. "What can I do for you?"

"Ah would just like to extend your way an invitation to the lake tonight to hang out at around six thirty. Ah already got Pinkie, Twilight and Rarity to come along." Applejack said. "And ya know Dash is gonna be there."

"Oh, I'd love to, Applejack!" Fluttershy said happily. "It's just..." She struggled to get the words out as she shuffled in place.

"Just what?" Applejack asked.

"I don't know if Angel wants me to make him that carrot stew he's so fond of tonight." Fluttershy said, obviously worried over such a trivial matter. "He's had a rough day..."

"Oh, Fluttershy, you spoil him too much!" Applejack said. "He's gettin' to be too demanding. Sometimes ya just gotta put your hoof down, ya know?"

"I...guess so..." Fluttershy said, still unsure.

"Fluttershy, you know how Rainbow Dash is so self-centered?" Applejack asked her friend, who nodded slowly. "Well, change that 'is' to 'was'. Since Rainbow has been livin' with me, she's learned to let the wants of others go first before her own sometimes. And if'n they do, it doesn't kill her."

"You think I can teach Angel to think like that?" Fluttershy asked, hope filling her eyes. Applejack nodded.

"Ah know ya can." Applejack said. "Ah ain't gonna pressure ya to come, sugarcube, but if ya do decide to, Ah'll be behind ya with reformin' Angel and whatnot, should that be the path you choose to take with him." Fluttershy looked at Applejack and nodded, smiling at her.

"Thanks, Applejack." Fluttershy said. "Expect me to be there tonight."

"Can't wait to see ya." Applejack said with a smile before turning around to leave. She turned her head as she began to walk away and waved. "Bye!"

"Bye, Applejack." Fluttershy responded, returning the wave. Applejack moved back through Ponyville, tossing a friendly wave to Mrs. Cake, who had grown much more fond of them in recent months. Her husband, while thankful for their financial aid in restoring Sugarcube Corner, remained slightly detached from them. However, Carrot Cake did not spare them any courtesy or nicety when they came in to visit Pinkie or buy sweets.

As Sweet Apple Acres came into Applejack's field of view, the farm mare anticipated a nice afternoon nap in her fiancee's embrace and felt her stomach go light for a moment.

"Here Ah come, sugar." She muttered under her breath with a smile.

*Thirty Minutes Earlier*

At Sweet Apple Acres, Rainbow entered the farmhouse and sighed as she let Winona loose. The dog scurried throughout the different rooms, most likely searching for Applejack. When she didn't find her owner, Winona settled for sitting in the living room. Granny Smith looked up at Rainbow Dash from her rocking chair and smiled happily.

"Well, hello there, sweetie." Granny Smith said. "Applejack still out?" Rainbow nodded.

"Yeah. She'll probably be back in a few minutes." Rainbow said. "Where are Big Mac and Applebloom?"

"Oh, he took Applebloom to pick up Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo to take 'em back to that treehouse of theirs for a sleepover." Granny Smith said with a smile. "Ah suspect he'll be back soon. There's some reheated Apple Pie on the stove if ya want it."

"I'm actually just gonna go to bed." Rainbow said with a nod. "I'm kinda tired. Thank you for the offer, though. I might take you up on it later. "

"Anytime, dear." Granny Smith replied, going back to her knitting. Rainbow felt exhausted even though she was positive she was completely caught up on sleep. Her eyelids drooped as she walked to the bedroom and collapsed onto the bed. She sighed with contentment and smiled as she closed her eyes. The bed pulled her in, the sheets protecting her from the outside world, the pillow offering comfort among everything else, nearly completing the package. Only one thing was missing from the situation to make it perfect, and it would soon be replaced.

She lay there for minutes, idle in her quest for slumber. It came moderately quickly, enveloping her in sweet darkness. But before the cyan mare knew it, this darkness was interrupted by something sweeter.

"Move over, darlin'." Applejack said sweetly. Rainbow looked up from her pillow to behold her future wife and smiled widely.

"Where have you been?" Rainbow asked, stretching slightly. "I..." She yawned. "Missed you." Applejack chuckled as she climbed into the bed with her lover.

"You know where Ah've been, Dash." Applejack said with a giggle. " And Ah've only been gone half an hour." Applejack took Rainbow into an embrace. Rainbow lightly squeezed her and giggled quietly.

"Half an hour too long..." Rainbow said before nodding off once more. Applejack kissed Rainbow's forehead lightly and closed her eyes, letting sleep take her away for a while as well. Rainbow's snoring helped lull her with it's constant droning rhythm. The pegasus had gotten better about snoring, somehow decreasing in volume and frequency since she had moved in. It now sounded more cute than anything. Applejack's slumber was one of peace, feeling nothing but Rainbow Dash's forelegs wrapped around her body and the sheets wrapped around them...

"WAKE UP!" Granny Smith screamed into the bedroom, completely shocking Applejack awake. Had Rainbow's forelegs not been around her, she most likely would have jumped out of the bed.

"Goddesses, Granny!" Applejack exclaimed. "Ya could've just nudged me." Granny Smith laughed.

"Ya told me to wake ya up at six o'clock, so that's what Ah did!" Granny Smith said. "So up 'n at 'em, sleepyheads!" Applejack groaned, rubbing her forehead lightly. Rainbow Dash still slept peacefully on her chest.

"Rainbow, wake up." Applejack said, lightly shaking her marefriend. The pegasus did not stir. "Come on, get up." Applejack continued. Still no movement. Applejack sighed and pushed Rainbow out of the bed, earning a surprised yelp from her. "Bet that woke ya up, didn't it?" Rainbow's head poked up from the side of the bed.

"What the hay, Applejack?" Rainbow said. "You could've killed me!" Applejack chuckled.

"Ooh, the scary 'ol floor's gonna getcha!" Applejack exclaimed. "Come on, we've gotta go meet the girls now."

"What time is it?" Rainbow asked, walking around the bed and groaning.

"Six." Applejack said after looking at the clock hanging on their wall. "So let's get ready and get movin'." Rainbow rubbed her head and frowned at Applejack.

"You know, my head is still pretty sore from that suitcase." Rainbow said, furrowing her brows. Applejack cringed slightly.

"Oh, geez...yeah, Ah forgot about that." Applejack said. "Ah'm sorry, darlin'." Applejack sent an overly apologetic look Rainbow's way, to which the pegasus scoffed.

"What, you think you can just send me the old 'Puppy Dog Eyes' and expect for me to forget about it?" Rainbow asked. Applejack did not change her expression. Rainbow rolled her eyes and sighed. "Oh, whatever. Doesn't even hurt that bad anyway." Applejack smiled and kissed Rainbow on the cheek.

"Ah'll make it up to ya later." Applejack said with a small wink. Rainbow smirked and shoved her.

"Come on, let's get a shower so we can get moving." Rainbow said, moving to the bathroom.

"Alright." Applejack said. "Ah'll get mine after you."

"I said 'a shower', not 'our showers'." Rainbow said, looking back at Applejack and raising an eyebrow. Applejack blushed heavily and smiled, following Rainbow into the bathroom. Rainbow closed and locked the door as Applejack turned on the hot water. She turned to see Rainbow moving toward her, moving her flank back and forth saucily, her eyes half lidded.

"Let's make this quick, huh?" Rainbow whispered, just before locking her lips with Applejack's.

When Rainbow Dash and Applejack reached the lake, Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle were already there, having fun and talking together. Twilight watched Pinkie Pie fly off of the swing attaced to the tree and do two flips before making a rather large splash in the water. Pinkie Pie surfaced and shivered slightly.

"Ooh, that's chilly!" Pinkie said before giggling. "How was that, Twilight?"

"Oh, I'd say an eight point five." Twilight said, clapping her hooves together for a moment. "Not bad at all!"

"Betcha I can do better!" Rainbow Dash piped up as she and Applejack approached the two ponies. Twilight smiled widely at the sight of the couple.

"Rainbow, Applejack! You're here." Twilight said. "Pinkie and I thought that you would be waiting for us."

"It's pretty much six o'clock right now." Applejack said.

"Well, we thought you guys would be early." Pinkie said, exiting the water and shaking herself off.

"Pfft! Me? Early? Pinkie Pie, it's like you don't know me at all." Rainbow said, smirking as she approached the swing.

"It's true, y'all. Rainbow does like to waste time." Applejack said with a small sigh. "And to be honest, Ah've grown to like it on occasion as well." Rainbow turned to Applejack and smiled at this comment. Applejack sent a subtle wink toward the pegasus, unbeknownst to Twilight and Pinkie. Rainbow blushed and turned back toward the swing and prepared herself.

"Don't use your wings, Rainbow." Twilight said. "That's cheating when you're going against an earth pony."

"I know that, Twilight." Rainbow said. "I've come to accept that, what with living with Applejack and all." Applejack chuckled at this comment and nodded.

"Remember, Dashie! It's a little chilly!" Pinkie said, smiling.

"Oh, please. How bad could it be?" Rainbow asked. Pinkie Pie thought for a moment before shrugging.

"Oh, I don't know. I don't think that there's any dangerous creatures in the water...and it's not cold enough for you to get hypothermia..."

"Uh, Pinkie?" Twilight piped in quietly.

"Yeah? What is it, Twilight?" Pinkie responded cheerfully.

"I'm pretty sure that it was a rhetorical question." Twilight said, trying not to sound like a know-it-all. Pinkie giggled quietly and leaned in close to Twilight and Applejack.

"I know that, silly filly!" Pinkie whispered. "I'm trying to throw off her focus, you know?" Twilight frowned.

"But Pinkie, that's cheating." Twilight said.

"Twilight, Rainbow's done worse. Besides, it's just a little friendly competition." Applejack said.

"Uh, hello? Dive of the century going on right now!" Rainbow called toward the three of them.

"Alright, alright. Cool down, now." Applejack said. "Make your dive." Satisfied, Rainbow pulled herself back as far as she could on the swing and jumped onto it, being propelled forward. Rainbow Dash then jumped off and did a complete three hundred and sixty degree horizontal spin before doing a full front flip and landing in the water. Rainbow resurfaced and gasped deeply.

"GAH! Oooohh, goddesses, that water is cold!" Rainbow nearly screamed, struggling to get out of the freezing water. Cringing, Rainbow walked up to the other three mares waiting for her.

"You got an eight point five." Twilight said.

"What?" Rainbow cried in outrage. "That was at least a nine!"

"It would have been, if you had completed that last flip before hitting the water." Twilight said, smirking at Rainbow, who proceeded to get flustered. Pinkie Pie knowingly nodded and smiled.

"B-But, you...S-she...I....I did...Ugh..." Rainbow said before plopping her flank down on the ground.

"Ya didn't lose, Rainbow." Applejack said. "Ya went and tied with Pinkie."

"But I didn't win." Rainbow said, raising an eyebrow. "And I'm freezing now."

"Oh, look at Pinkie, ya wimp." Applejack said. "She's hangin'."

"Actually, it is kinda chilly-" Pinkie piped in.

"Oh, nonsense." Applejack said. "Ah betcha that Ah can beat both of y'all and come out of that water like Ah just got out of a warm shower."

"Beat them in what?" Rarity asked, approaching the group with Fluttershy. Rarity looked refreshed and beautiful again, in stark contrast to earlier that day. Fluttershy seemed to be carrying something in her saddlebags. The group greeted them happily before Applejack began to explain.

"Oh, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow just got into some divin' contest in the river, and Ah'm thinkin' that Ah can show 'em a thing or two." Applejack said with a confident smile.

"Getting in the water during autumn?" Fluttershy asked. "That's kind of unsafe."

"It's warm out here." Applejack said as she handed her hat to Rainbow Dash, turned to the swing and began to trot toward it. "Ah'll be fine."

"That's what she thinks." Rainbow said before rolling her eyes and putting Applejack's hat on her head.

"Oh, this ought to be good." Rarity said, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm still kind of worried." Fluttershy said. "What if she catches a cold?"

"I really don't think that it's quite cold enough for that, Fluttershy." Twilight said. "For now, we're in direct sunlight, so Pinkie, Rainbow and Applejack should be okay."

Applejack got onto the swing and pulled herself back before letting herself loose, flying forward. As she attempted to jump, she slipped forward, flying off the swing ungracefully and flipping forward once before hitting the water. Everypony, namely Rainbow Dash, burst into exorbitant laughter. A second or two passed before Applejack surfaced with a bigger exclamation than Rainbow's.

"Applebuckin' Ponyfeathers!" Applejack yelled before making a frenzied beeline toward the shore of the lake. Wide-eyed and shaken, Applejack trembled where she stood before sitting down.

"Five." Twilight said with a small frown. "Sorry Applejack." Rainbow leaned in closer to the shivering Applejack, furrowing her eyebrows, narrowing her eyes and smirking knowingly. Applejack, upon noticing this, sighed and nodded.

"Okay, okay." Applejack said. "It's really cold. Ah just thought...y'know, since Pinkie's not cold..."

"I never said I wasn't cold." Pinkie said. "I guess I just have a high tolerance for it."

"I'd say that you're taking it worse than Rainbow is, dear." Rarity said to Applejack. "I thought Earth ponies were supposed to be tougher than pegasi." The statement burrowed deep underneath Applejack's skin and Rarity knew it.

"Oh, she knows that I'm tougher than her." Rainbow said, smirking toward Applejack, who turned and raised an eyebrow at her. "She's just trying to get used to the fact of it all." Applejack furrowed her eyebrows and smiled.

"Alright." Applejack said. "C'mere, you!" Applejack tackled Rainbow, taking her by surprise and began to wrestle with her. They rolled for about a minute, one on top of the other at some point or another. Their friends looked on in silent amusement, with the exception of Fluttershy, who was rummaging throught the saddlebags she brought. Rainbow was a powerful opponent, and her struggles were valiant, but Applejack ended up sitting on top of the pegasus as she fumed.

"That should settle it." Applejack said, smirking. The farm mare then removed her stetson from Rainbow's head and replaced it on her own.

"No fair!" Rainbow said before blowing some of her mane from her face. "You didn't even give me a warning!"

"Life doesn't give warnings, sugarcube." Applejack responded.

"Oh, really?" Rainbow asked. Applejack nodded in confirmation. "Well then, I'm about to flip you off of me and pin you." Applejack chuckled.

"Rainbow, hun, ain't no way that you're gonna lift me offa you an-woah!" Applejack said as Rainbow stood up quickly, employing her deceptively powerful limbs, throwing Applejack off of her. Rainbow immediately flew forward and pinned Applejack to the ground, smirking down at her lover as she struggled to escape.

"Now...what was that about life not giving warning?" Rainbow asked. "Well, I warned you, didn't I?"

"I brought things for a picnic!" Fluttershy suddenly exclaimed from behind the whole group. They all turned to see Fluttershy standing before a setup of food and drinks, enough for all of them.

"Why did you yell, Fluttershy?" Rarity asked.

"Well, I've been saying it for the past three minutes, and none of you answered me..." Fluttershy said nervously. "I'm sorry."

"No, don't be sorry." Twilight said. "Fluttershy, this is phenominal!"

"Well, thank you." Fluttershy said. "I sure hope that there's enough for everypony. I brought as much as I could fit in my saddlebags." Rainbow got off of Applejack and let her stand up.

"It looks to be plenty." Rainbow said with a smile. "It's fitting, too. I'm starving!" They all agreed and sat on the blanket to eat. After serving themselves and sitting back with their food, they began eating. The spread was a simple but elegant one, consisting of a cheesy casserole of some sort that smelled amazing, some vegetables such as carrots and spinach, and some canteens of juice of differing kinds, neatly labeled with some sort of tape.

"This food is simply wonderful, Fluttershy!" Rarity raved. "But I should't have expected anything less from you."

"Oh...thank you, Rarity." Fluttershy said. "I wanted to bring something."

"Well, I'm glad you did." Rarity said with a smile and a nod.

"It's so deliciously fantastically awesometactular!" Pinkie Pie nearly yelled. "I just can't get enough!"

"She's speakin' the truth, sugarcube." Applejack said after swallowing a bite of casserole. "Ah don't think Ah've ever had casserole this good."

"This is better than the food they serve at Princess Celestia's palace." Twilight added. "And I am not exaggerating, I swear."

"Oh, it can't be that good, Twilight." Fluttershy said. "I don't think I'm as good as the chefs up at the castle."

"Fluttershy, I wouldn't lie to you." Twilight said.

"Seriously, Flutters, this is delicious." Rainbow said. "Let yourself have some credit for once!" Fluttershy merely blushed and fidgeted with her hooves for a moment. They all continued eating for a few moments before Rainbow Dash spoke up.

"Alright, well now that we're done raving about Fluttershy's food, Twilight, Rarity..." Rainbow said, gaining the attention of the two mares she was addressing. "Who won the wrestling match a few minutes ago? Me, or Applejack?"

"I'd say Applejack." Rarity responded. "She was sitting on you at one point." Rarity giggled lightly as she remembered the comedic image.

"Well, I would say that Applejack won because she had you down first." Twilight said. "But technically, since she wasn't actually pinning you, and you pinned her, I'd say you won...technically."

"Well, what about you two?" Applejack asked Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. Fluttershy blushed and looked down at her food.

"I prefer not to get involved..." Fluttershy said. Rainbow sighed in minor exasperation.

"Well, Pinkie, you're the tie-breaker it looks like." Rainbow said. "Who do you think won?" Pinkie Pie looked between the two competitive lovers several times before rubbing her chin thoughtfully. She observed them both, leaning in and squinting heavily at them.

"Weeeellll..." Pinkie said. "Applejack."

"What?" Rainbow said, standing up. "Oh, come on! I'm the only one of us who actually pinned the other. Tell her, Twilight!" Rainbow turned toward Twilight Sparkle, who shrugged nonchalantly.

"Sorry, Rainbow." The alicorn said. "Majority rules."

"Sorry, darlin'." Applejack said, looking at Rainbow smartly. "Looks like Ah win this one." Rainbow sat and grumbled, beginning to play with her food.

"Oh, Applejack, I forgot to thank you and Rainbow Dash for helping me to tidy the house before you left." Rarity said. "You made my life much easier, even though there's still work to be done."

"Wait, what we cleaned, that wasn't all of it?" Rainbow asked, her eyes going wide in disbelief.

"No, not all." Rarity said. "But it was a decent chunk of it. Sweetie Belle and I can get the rest."

"Rarity, seriously, it was our pets that did it, wasn't it?" Applejack said.

"Well...now that it's over and done with, yes, it was them." Rarity said. "That's not to say that they're not sweet creatures. Winona and Tank were very loving. They were just....a little hyper. You'd be surprised at the mayhem a tortoise can cause when he's feeling cooped up." Rainbow Dash blushed and rubbed the back of her head.

"Wait, why were Winona and Tank at Rarity's place?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Well, me 'n Rainbow wanted to go to the Harvest Celebration Hoedown over the weekend and we didn't have anywhere to put our pets other than Rarity's. And seein' as how she owed us a bit for helpin' her out once, we figured it was fair." Applejack said. "And we're more than even now. But speakin' of the Harvest Celebration Hoedown, there's somethin' me 'n Rainbow wanna tell y'all." Applejack motioned for Rainbow to stand up next to her.

"Already? Dang, okay." Rainbow said as she stood beside Applejack.

"There's a reason Ah invited alla y'all out here." Applejack said with a wide smile before turning to Rainbow Dash. "You wanna tell 'em or do ya want me to?"

"You go ahead." Rainbow said with a smile. Applejack turned to their friends, who were now expecting some sort of good news. And by Celestia, she was going to give them some.

"Rainbow Dash and Ah are gettin' married!" Applejack exclaimed excitedly. The reaction of all of their friends was virtually the same. Pure, unadulterated joy. Pinkie Pie merely screamed and jumped at the two of them, wrapping them both in an abnormally tight hug.

"Oh, my goddesses!" Rarity shouted. "Applejack, Rainbow, that's so wonderful!"

"I'm so happy for the two of you!" Twilight said happily. "Oh, I just can't believe it!" Fluttershy clapped her hooves together happily, tears falling from her eyes.

"Who proposed?" Fluttershy asked, her eyes full of stars.

"Why don't you guys guess?" Rainbow said.

"It was Applejack." Rarity said. "She seems like the one."

"I agree." Twilight said to Rarity. "Applejack."

"I don't know." Pinkie Pie said. "Rainbow Dash looks more proud and Applejack looks more excited...it was Rainbow."

"Rainbow Dash." Fluttershy said. "I can see it in her eyes."

"Well, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy are right." Rainbow said. "It was me."

"How did you do it?" Rarity asked Rainbow, leaning forward like a foal preparing to hear a story of adventure. "Don't spare any details." Rainbow sighed and nodded.

"Okay, okay, I'll tell you." Rainbow said with a smile. "It was pretty much our one-year anniversary and we were at the hoedown, and we had just gotten done dancing. Like, a lot. So, Applejack asked me if I wanted to go on a walk with her. Naturally, I went. Well, she surprised me with a beautiful, lantern-lit moonlight dinner of spaghetti and wine. See, it was her anniversary gift, and she couldn't have picked a better one." Rainbow Dash kissed Applejack on the cheek after saying this. Applejack blushed. "I figured that I'd break out my anniversary gift at that point. See, I got her this diamond necklace-"

"It's beautiful." Applejack said, smiling at Rainbow.

"But it wasn't just the necklace I wanted to give her. I wanted to ask her to marry me." Rainbow said. "I was gonna do it at the hoedown, but when Applejack asked me to go for a walk, I figured the moonlight proposal would be more romantic." Rainbow Dash uttered the word without any kind of disdain or disgust. This did not escape the attention of anypony present, and this only added to the sweetness of the story. "And the dinner just really made it perfect."

"So when are you guys going to have the wedding?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Probably sometime in the Spring." Applejack said with a wide smile. "Heck you're all bridesmares."

"But who is Mare of Honor?" Rarity asked, a tinge of hope in her voice.

"That's gonna be Applebloom." Applejack said.

"We understand." Twilight said with a smile.

"Actually, Twilight, there's something we'd like to ask you." Rainbow said. Twilight looked at Rainbow and nodded. "Since you're a princess now and all, we'd like you to preside over the ceremony." Twilight looked completely spellbound by the request.

"I...I...I don't know what to say." Twilight said, placing a hoof on her chest and smiling widely.

"Yes or no will do." Rainbow Dash said with a smirk.

"Yes!" Twilight said, losing her composure for a moment before regaining it. "Yes, I'd love to. It'd be an honor."

"One more question...If you don't mind." Fluttershy said.

"We're all ears, sugarcube." Applejack said. "Shoot."

"Which one of you will we be being bridesmares to?" Fluttershy asked. "If you don't know quite yet, that's okay too."

"Well, shoot, Ah hadn't thought of that." Applejack said. "Rainbow, Ah suppose since you proposed to me, that makes me the bride and you the groom." Rainbow shrugged.

"That's fine with me." Rainbow said with a smile. "That actually makes a lot of sense."

"So where are you guys having the wedding?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"We agreed that it would be best to have the wedding in the fields outside Ponyville, where we've had so many good times together." Applejack said. "And where we'll have many more."

The group split up about an hour later, all the friends headed back to their homes to sleep for the night. Rainbow Dash and Applejack walked slowly through the night, taking in the beautiful sights of the night and the wonderful breeze blowing against them. Rainbow Dash sighed in contentment, nuzzling Applejack as they walked.

"I'm so happy that I'm going to marry you." Rainbow Dash said. "There's nopony that I'd rather be with."

"Ah feel the same way about you, Rainbow Dash." Applejack responded. "Though a year and a half ago, Ah had no idea at all that Ah'd be here, gettin' ready to marry you."

"Yeah..." Rainbow said. "Hey, this looks familiar."

"How so, hun?" Applejack asked her.

"I recognize that weird looking tree." Rainbow said. "This is where you bucked me after I scared you when you were on your way home from that 'Bone Eater' movie, or whatever it was."

"You have a good memory." Applejack said. "Ah wouldn't have recalled that if you hadn't mentioned it."

"I remember every time I ever had with you." Rainbow said. Rainbow stopped and turned to Applejack, moving her lips to where they were inches away from Applejack's. "All the time I spend with you...is just so special to me." She whispered, smiling.

"Rainbow, you're gettin' all sappy." Applejack said, dropping the tone of her voice as well. "This ain't like you..."

"So sue me." Rainbow said before planting her lips on Applejack's in a heated kiss. Applejack smiled into the kiss, feeling her cheeks go hot. Rainbow slipped her tongue into Applejack's mouth, intensifying the kiss and stimulating Applejack to reciprocate the motion. Rainbow's ear caught in Applejack's stetson and pulled it from the farm mare's head. Applejack did not seem to mind. After a half a minute of the kiss, they separated and embraced each other.

"I love you so much, Applejack." Rainbow said. "If I don't say that to you at least once every day, I want you to slap me." Applejack chuckled at this comment and nodded.

"Will do, sugarcube. And same for me." Applejack said as they separated. The farm mare swiped her hat up from the ground and replaced it on her head. "Let's go home."

"And do what? Sleep?" Rainbow asked as they continued to walk. "I'm not tired."

"Well, me neither...We could do the other thing." Applejack suggested, raising an eyebrow at Rainbow Dash, making her smile and nod.

"Sounds good to me." Rainbow said. "But I'm still a little hungry."

"Well, how about this, Dash." Applejack said. "We'll go home and make up an Apple Pie. Then we'll take it and lay out in the Apple Orchard...On a blanket...With sheets and pillows..."

"I'm liking the sound of that." Rainbow said, kissing Applejack on the cheek. "But I do know one thing."

"And what's that, Dash?" Applejack asked her.

"We're gonna need a lot of sleep tomorrow night."

Obligatory End-Of-Chapter Author's Note: Well,guys, I'd like to announce that I am completely and utterly tired. I've gotten about three hours of sleep in the past two days, so I'm gonna go lay down in my bed and die now. Cheers!