Chapter 24

"Thank you for staying at Canterlot Gardens for your honeymoon." The same unicorn attendant that checked Rainbow Dash and Applejack into the hotel said to the married couple as they checked out of the hotel. "We hope to see you again soon!" Rainbow and Applejack nodded at him before moving toward the exit of the hotel.

"Yeeeah, Ah don't think that's gonna be happenin' anytime soon." Applejack said quietly to Rainbow with a small chuckle. They had both found out the exorbitant price of their getaway together had been completely shocked by it. Rainbow nodded.

"All the same..." Rainbow said with a wistful sigh as she looked back at the huge, beautiful lobby they were leaving behind. "I'm gonna miss this place. If we get the opportunity to come here again at a reduced price or something, we definitely should.

"Ah agree." Applejack said. "This was an awful lot of fun." The automatic doors shut behind them.

"The thing I'll miss the most though..." Rainbow said before giving Applejack a swift kiss on the cheek. "Is the privacy." Applejack felt weak in the knees as she remembered all the things she and Rainbow did behind the closed doors of their honeymoon suite, among other places seeing as how Rainbow had won her little challenge.

"Dash, we can find plenty of private places back in Ponyville." Applejack said. "We have before."

"Good point." Rainbow said as she opened the door to the carriage that waited for them. "After you, my dear." Applejack giggled.

"Why thank you, my sweet." Applejack responded before entering the carriage. Rainbow Dash sighed happily as she entered the carriage and shut the door behind her.

"Even though Canterlot Gardens is pretty much the definition of awesome, I've got to admit, I've missed Ponyville." Rainbow said. "Mostly for our friends. I miss Pinkie Pie's ridiculously powerful hugs...Don't tell anyone I said that." Applejack laughed.

"Ah won't, hun." Applejack said. "Ah miss all our friends too. But Ah also miss our family a lot. Ah miss Big Mac's 'Eeeyup'." Applejack put an extra deep tone on her voice to attempt to match her brother's bass voice. She didn't even come close.

"I miss that little cute look on Applebloom's face anytime you joke around with her." Rainbow said. "She's so adorable!...Don't tell anyone I said that." Applejack laughed heartily and shook her head as the carriage began moving toward Ponyville.

"Well looks like we're off." Applejack said.

"And if these guys are as fast as the first guys, we'll be touching down in about twenty minutes." Rainbow said with a wide smile. The pegasus' eyes widened suddenly before she groaned and threw her head back.

"What's wrong, Dash?" Applejack asked as she wrapped a foreleg around her wife.

"I just remembered that I have Weather Patrol tomorrow..." Rainbow said.

"You don't usually mind weather patrol." Applejack said as she raised an eyebrow.

"Applejack, tomorrow's calling for straight sunshine." Rainbow explained. "Don't you get it?"

"No." Applejack responded. Rainbow rolled her eyes.

"Look out the window, AJ." Rainbow said. Applejack did and saw exactly why the pegaus was so dreading the next day. An overcast of dark clouds was moving straight toward Ponyville. It would rain that night and the pegasi on Weather Patrol, including Rainbow Dash, would have to destroy every single one of the puffy nightmares the next morning.

"Ah see what ya mean." Applejack said, a frown forming on her face.

"Yeah, talk about your rude awakening." Rainbow said, crossing her forehooves.

"How about Ah give ya a massage when ya get home tomorrow, hmm?" Applejack asked, bringing Rainbow Dash closer to her.

"AJ, you don't have to do that." Rainbow said. "Seriously. I'll be okay. Odds are that Mr. Storm will let me come home early after we clear out all the clouds."

"Ah want to, Rainbow." Applejack asked. "Ah want to do everything Ah can to make ya feel as good as possible." Rainbow smiled at Applejack and kissed her on the lips lovingly before giving her a small nuzzle.

"Thanks, Applejack." Rainbow said before wrapping a foreleg around the earth pony. "Why are you so ridiculously sweet?"

"Just how Ah'm made." Applejack said. "Don't be sellin' yourself short, either."

"Oh, you're never going to have to worry about that." Rainbow said with a small laugh. Applejack giggled and snuggled in close to Rainbow. They laid back together and sat in relative silence for the rest of the ride back to Ponyville. Applejack idly stroked Rainbow Dash's mane and Rainbow fell asleep, not surprising Applejack at all. When the carriage flew above Ponyville, Applejack happily gave Rainbow Dash a small shake to wake her up.

"We're home, Dash." Applejack said with a smile. "We'll be landin' back at Sweet Apple Acres in a few minutes."

"Hmm?" Rainbow groaned as she sat up. "How long was I out?"

"About fifteen minutes." Applejack said. "So what do you wanna do when we get home?"

"Sleep." Rainbow said groggily.

"Other than that, ya nut." Applejack said with a giggle. "We need to get together with the girls. Ya know, since we haven't seen them in four days."

"We should go to Sugarcube Corner." Rainbow said with a sigh. "They have a couch there."

"Rainbow Dash, if ya fall asleep while we're with the girls, Ah can't guarantee what'll happen to your face." Applejack said with a smirk.

"What the hay do you mean by that?" Rainbow asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Ah dunno." Applejack said. "Markers may be involved, though." Rainbow groaned once more and put a hoof on her forehead.

"Okay, okay. Fine." Rainbow said. "But I'm going to take you up on that massage tomorrow." Applejack smiled at her.

"Ah'd be happy to."

The Carriage landed in front of the farmhouse and came to a stop. Applejack and Rainbow Dash quickly gathered their things and exited the carriage before turning around to address the drivers. They nodded in their direction.

"Once again, thank you for staying at Canterlot Gardens." The burly pegasus said with a smile. "Have a great day."

"Thanks." Rainbow said. "You too."

Both stallions quickly pulled the carriage up into the sky with carefully trained speed and turned back toward Canterlot to await their new assignment. Rainbow sighed, looked at Applejack and smiled.

"Home sweet home." Rainbow said. "I just wish it were a little brighter." Both mares looked up into the sky to see that the overcast of rain clouds had gotten closer to Ponyville and was now blocking out the bright rays of the sun.

"It will be tomorrow." Applejack said before giving Rainbow a quick kiss on the cheek. They ambled to the front door and opened it. "Strange. Ah don't see Big Mac, Applebloom or Granny Smith anywhere. Ah'd have thought that they would have been out there to greet us." As she finished the sentence, Big Mac, Applebloom, Granny Smith, Rarity, Fluttershy, Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Spike, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo jumped out from behind various pieces of furniture and surprised Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

"Welcome home!" They all cried in unison. Applejack and Rainbow Dash moved further into the house, happy smiles present on both of their faces. The living room was lined with happy little decorations and a banner that read- "WELCOME HOME!"

"How's that for a greetin'?" Granny Smith said with a small laugh.

"Oh, y'all, this is so sweet!" Applejack said. "Ah wasn't expectin' this."

"Yeah, me neither." Rainbow said. "How long have you guys been working on this?"

"We stayed up late last night!" Applebloom said happily. "We got the idea to have a big 'ol Welcome Home surprise party!"

"We were just going to surprise the two of you," Rarity said. "But Pinkie Pie got the idea to decorate the place."

"Are you surprised?!" Pinkie Pie cried happily. "Because if you weren't, we can do it again."

"No, Pinkie." Rainbow said. "We were really surprised." Winona came bounding up to Applejack happily with Tank riding her back. Rainbow Dash picked Tank up and gave him a small nuzzle and Applejack wrapped Winona in a bear hug.

"Ah went ahead and made a whole buncha fixin's for early dinner!" Granny Smith said, showing a table to be full of Apple Family classics such as Apple Pie, Apple Fritters, Cowpony Stew and of course, Apple Cider.

"We all brought something of our own along, too." Twilight said with a smile.

"You see that big cake there?" Pinkie Pie asked, suddenly throwing her forelegs around Rainbow Dash and Applejack's shoulders. The two mares nodded slowly as Pinkie Pie's voice dropped down to a whisper. "I made it."

"And you have simply got to try the mushroom and cheese quiche. It's a family recipe." Rarity said. "And it is to die for."

"So much celebratin' in the past week!" Applejack said. "Ah think Ah could get used to this!"

"Well, what are we doin' just standin' here?" Granny Smith asked the group. "Let's go chow down!"

The group moved into the dining room and began serving themselves some food. Rainbow and Applejack, of course, got healthy servings of nearly everything and proceeded to sit down together in the dining room. Fluttershy, feeling self-conscious, served herself minuscule portions and jumped when she turned and saw Granny Smith, scowling at her.

"You just put some of that back, young filly!" Granny Smith said angrily. "There ain't enough for everypony what with you hoggin' it all!" Fluttershy's eyes widened, looking heartbroken and embarrassed, as she blushed heavily and turned around.

"I-I'm sorry." Fluttershy said as tears leaked from her eyes. "I didn't mean to. I'll p-put it back. I'm so sorry." Granny Smith laughed heartily and threw a foreleg around Fluttershy's shoulders.

"Ah'm just messin' with ya, sweet pea! Ya-" Granny Smith stopped herself when she noticed that Fluttershy was crying. "Oh, Fluttershy, Ah'm sorry! Ah didn't know Ah'd hurt your feelings that bad! Ah just saw ya servin' up such small portions for yourself, and Ah thought Ah'd mess with ya a bit. Really, Ah'm sorry. Take all ya want, there's plenty for everypony."

"It's okay, Granny Smith." Fluttershy said, wiping her eyes. "It was a funny joke."

"Not to you, Apparently." Granny Smith said, putting a forehoof on Fluttershy's cheek. "Ah'll never do anything like that to ya again." Fluttershy nodded and put what food she got back into their containers. Rarity, having already dished her food up, walked beside Fluttershy to where Rainbow Dash and Applejack sat.

"I actually thought she was serious at first." Rarity said with a small laugh. "Apparently, you did too." Fluttershy sniffled and nodded.

"Yeah." Fluttershy said. "Granny Smith has always been so sweet to me and it just surprised me a lot when she suddenly yelled at me like that."

Back at the table, Pinkie Pie was piling on everything sweet at the table and serving herself the bare minimum of regular foods. Twilight raised an eyebrow at the mountain of sweets coming from Pinkie Pie's plate.

"Uh, Pinkie?" Twilight asked.

"Yes?" Pinkie Pie responded before taking an apple fritter in her mouth and chewing happily as they walked.

"Don't you think you should hold back on the sweets?" Twilight asked. "The older you get, the more it's going to catch up with you."

"Yeah." Pinkie Pie responded. Twilight smiled to herself, seeing as how she had just talked sense into Pinkie Pie, the one pony in the room who made the least of it. "But this is a special occasion! I'm going to gorge myself!" Twilight Shook her head and sighed as they all approached the table where Rainbow Dash and Applejack sat. Applebloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Spike all sat at a smaller table in the room.

"About time everypony showed up!" Rainbow Dash said with a smile. "Applejack here's been making me wait for all of you!" Fluttershy looked down.

"I'm sorry." She said, barely audible to anypony around.

"I'm just kidding with you guys." Rainbow said with a small laugh. "But still, I'm starving! Let's eat!"

Everypony began to eat their food happily, chatting with each other. Rarity turned to Rainbow Dash before wiping her mouth daintily with a napkin.

"Rainbow, it is proper dining room etiquette to wait for everyone present to have their food before beginning to eat, you know." Rarity said.

"That's what Ah was tryin' to tell her." Applejack said. "Finally kept her from stuffin' her face for about a minute." This earned a laugh from everypony present.

"You're hilarious." Rainbow said with a sigh. "I haven't eaten since dinner last night."

"Ya still could wait a few more minutes while everypony got their food dished up." Applejack said, lightly patting Rainbow's head, much to the the pegasus' annoyance.

"Did ya get everything ya need, Fluttershy?" Granny Smith asked the yellow pegasus. Fluttershy smiled and nodded. "Are you okay?" Fluttershy nodded once more.

"I'm alright, Granny Smith." Fluttershy said. "Thank you for your concern."

"Yeah, so what's that all about?" Rainbow asked, gesturing a hoof between Fluttershy and Granny Smith.

"I'll tell you later, Rainbow Dash." Rarity said. "I don't believe now is the time or the place."

"It's okay, Rarity. I don't mind." Fluttershy said. "Well, I was, um...serving my food and Granny Smith saw that I was...well, serving myself small portions and so she pretended to be mad at me and made me think that I was getting too much. She told me to put it back. I took the joke a little too hard." Rainbow nodded.

"Well, I learned that lesson with Fluttershy long ago, Granny Smith." Rainbow said to the old mare.

"Ya learn somethin' new every day." Granny Smith responded. "So how's the Princess life treatin' ya, Twilight?"

"Oh, it's been alright, I suppose." Twilight said. "It's actually a lot like my old life. Just...a lot busier. And sometimes I don't exactly feel like a true princess. I mean, look at me! Compared to Princess Celestia, I look like a dog with mange."

"Nonsense, Twilight." Rarity said. "You have gotten much more beautiful since you attained your mantle of princess."

"Yeah." Rainbow responded. "But your flying still needs a lot of work." Twilight raised an eyebrow at the pegasus who, smirked at her.

"But enough about all of us, Rainbow Dash! You and Applejack have simply got to tell us everything about the honeymoon!" Rarity continued smiling until she realized what was included in a description of 'everything'. "Except...the parts you don't want to tell us." Rarity said, blushing heavily in embarrassment of her complete and unusual lack of tact.

"Nice save, Rarity." Rainbow Dash said, making everyone at the table except Fluttershy laugh again. Fluttershy placed a comforting hoof on Rarity's shoulder, understanding her complete embarrassment.

Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Spike all sat at the smaller table to the side.

"So what's it like bein' the assistant to a princess?" Applebloom asked with a wide smile.

"It's actually a lot like what Twilight just said." Spike responded. "It's not that different. I mean, sure, we can be a lot busier sometimes, but that's really it. She still acts like herself. The only thing different about her is that she has wings."

"Has she learned to fly yet?" Scootaloo asked, mentally stopping herself from looking at her own, small wings.

"Not very well." Spike said. "She can fly about thirty feet before falling on her face. She practices a lot so she'll get there."

"That's awesome." Scootaloo said with a smile.

"So what about you guys?" Spike asked the three fillies who sat with him.

"Oh, we've been fine." Applebloom responded. "Ya know, school and stuff. Nothin' really excitin' has happened."

"Oh, I know that feel." Spike said as he took a bite of apple fritter. The conversation and merriment went on for what seemed like hours as family and friends enjoyed a happy feast together.

"So, what's the object of this game again?" Twilight Sparkle asked, earning groans from half the ponies in the living room. "Well, I'm sorry that I've never played charades before." The alicorn princess said.

"Okay, Twi." Rainbow said. "Listen up, because I'm only gonna say this one more time. The object of charades... Goddesses, I can't believe you've never played this before." Rainbow said before putting a fore hoof on her head. Twilight blushed.

"Go on, Dash." Applejack said with a small laugh. "Explain it to the poor girl."

"Okay." Rainbow said. "The object is, are you listening? Because you might miss this. Is to act something out for everyone else and have them try to guess what you are." Rainbow said. Twilight sighed.

"Yeah, I got it." Twilight said, unamused at Rainbow sarcasm.

"Lighten up, Twilight." Rainbow said with a cheeky grin. "Because you're going first!" The alicorn princess sighed before standing up and walking out in front of the group.

"Twilight, I really am surprised you haven't played this." Spike said with a small laugh. "I've played this."

"Oh yeah?" Twilight asked. "Who'd you play it with? Because you've lived with me pretty much your whole life." Spike gestured a thumb over to Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. Everypony in the room laughed and Twilight's blush reddened.

"We don't just sit there and do nothing when we hang out." Spike said, throwing a smirk Twilight's way. The princess furrowed her eyebrows.

"Fine." Twilight said before sighing deeply and closing her eyes. Blushing deeply, she began moving around awkwardly, bobbing her head and making a clucking noise with a few small hisses thrown in. Everypony laughed at how ridiculous the normally stately princess looked. After a seconds of watching her, Applebloom spoke up.

"Oh, oh! Rooster!" The filly said. Twilight shook her head and continued to act.

"Oh, I know." Fluttershy said in the spur of the moment. She immediately regretted speaking up as everyone looked at her. She immediately shrunk down and mumbled something incoherent.

"You're going to have to speak up, my dear." Rarity said with a giggle. Fluttershy mumbled the answer again, slightly louder, but still too quiet under the scrutiny of the group.

"A...c..ka...ce."

"Fluttershy, louder!" Rainbow said, raising an eyebrow. Fluttershy closed her eyes, inhaled deeply and finally spoke.

"A cockatrice." Fluttershy finally uttered quickly and quietly, looking down. Twilight nodded and smiled.

"That's it." The alicorn said with a smile. "Come on up, Fluttershy." The yellow pegasus reluctantly stood up and slowly moved to the area in front of the group.

"That was awful." Twilight said quietly as she sat down.

"You weren't that bad." Pinkie said back with a giggle. "It's supposed to be funny!"

Fluttershy hunkered close to the ground and positioned her wings in an arc above her back. She began to move her legs and walk at an incredibly slow pace, occasionally looking around slowly to reveal her heavily blushing face.

"Tank." Spike said confidently, crossing his arms. "You're Tank." Fluttershy quickly nodded and sped back to where she sat, her blush still burning on her face. Rainbow Dash sat wide-eyed in surprise.

"I can't believe I didn't get that..." Rainbow uttered, earning a pat on the head by Applejack.

"You'll get the next one, Dash." Applejack said as Spike made his way up to the front. He hunkered down and began stomping everywhere on all fours and pretending to use his tail as a stinger.

"Manticore." Scootaloo said almost immediately, a smirk present on her face.

"Aww..." Spike said, dropping character. "How'd you get that one?"

"You did it last time we played." Scootaloo said, replacing Spike at the front.

"I'll get the next one, huh?" Rainbow asked Applejack with a raised eyebrow and a small smile.

Rainbow Dash didn't get a single guess correctly in the entire game. The disdain the pegasus had for losing was showing on her face when the game ended. As they were wrapping it up, a crash of thunder sounded from outside the farm house and as if on cue, it began to rain heavily.

"Oh, yeah..." Rainbow said, looking out the window. "Forgot about that."

"Oh, I need to get home, immediately!" Fluttershy said in fright. "Angel is probably so scared right now!"

"Fluttershy, it's lightnin' out there." Applejack said. "Even if you fly over the clouds, you could still get struck by it."

"It's true." Rainbow added. "It's happened before in weather patrol. If you don't know what you're doing, you could get a really nasty shock. Effects have ranged from simple burns to death, depending on the lightning itself." Fear showed on Fluttershy's face before a look of half-hearted determination took it over.

"Well, it's a risk I'm willing to take." Fluttershy said. "I can't just let Angel sit alone through all this." Rainbow sighed heavily.

"Fluttershy." The cyan mare said. "Just wait a minute and I'll escort you, okay? I know what to look for." Fluttershy nodded and smiled at her. Rainbow turned to the group.

"I guess this is where I thank you guys for coming and stuff." Rainbow said with a sigh. She and Fluttershy began to say their goodbyes. One by one, Rainbow gave Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle hugs. She turned to Spike, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.

"See you guys." Rainbow rustled Scootaloo's mane, smiling at the filly, earning a smile from Scootaloo as well. Rainbow gave Spike a small sock in the shoulder. The baby dragon laughed and rubbed the point of contact.

"In about fifty years, you're gonna regret that." Spike said with a smile. "See ya, Rainbow." Applejack approached Rainbow Dash.

"Geez, Ah feel like you're goin' on some perilous journey." Applejack said with a small laugh. "Be careful, okay?"

"I will." Rainbow said. "I mean, come on, AJ. It's me! I deal with this stuff every day." Applejack giggled and gave Rainbow a light kiss on the cheek. Rainbow then turned to Applebloom, Big Mac and Granny Smith.

"See you guys in a bit."

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy both stepped out into the rain. A strong wind blew as they were assaulted by the heavy raindrops. Darkness enveloped Ponyville, as the storm clouds blocked out the sun. Rainbow turned to Fluttershy.

"Follow me!" Rainbow said before she began to fly up toward the clouds. Filled with fear, Fluttershy followed Rainbow Dash, trusting her judgment with the lightning and the clouds. The clouds offered token resistance for the two pegasi, but they continued to push through, the moisture completely matting their manes and tails. After a short upward flight, Rainbow Dash successfully led Fluttershy through the clouds and above them. The sun was in the latter phase of setting and darkness mostly blanketed the sky. They both hovered in place.

"Whoo! That'll get your blood pumping, huh?" Rainbow said with a smile. Fluttershy, shaking, nodded in agreement. "Let's go ahead and get to your house." Rainbow and Fluttershy then flew above the clouds toward the small cottage, arriving after a short while.

"Alright." Rainbow said with a sigh. "Your cottage should be straight down."

"Thank you for escorting me." Fluttershy said with a smile. "It looks like the storm is getting worse. Would you like to come in for a bit and have some tea?" Rainbow thought for a moment and nodded, seeing no reason why not.

"Sure." Rainbow said. "I could use some of that awesome stuff." Both pegasi flew down to Fluttershy's cottage and walked inside. The darkness encompassed nearly everything before Fluttershy turned on one of the lamps.

"Have a seat and I'll put the tea on." Fluttershy said. "Angel! Come here, Angel!" Fluttershy called out to her pet rabbit who had been cowering under the couch Rainbow sat on. The cyan mare cried out in surprise when the little rabbit's cotton tail brushed against her hind leg. Angel ran up to Fluttershy and cuddled up to her leg.

"It's okay." Fluttershy said, lightly stroking Angel's head. "It's alright, now. You're okay." Fluttershy then moved into the kitchen and put the tea on before returning with a food bowl holding several chopped carrots for Angel. Fluttershy placed the food before her pet, only to have him turn away from it and cross his arms.

"Angel, I can't make your stew today." Fluttershy said. "I'd have to go to the market to get the supplies." Angel shook his head and pointed toward the door.

"I said I can't go." Fluttershy said, furrowing her eyebrows and frowning. Angel shook his head once more defiantly. Fluttershy leaned down closer to Angel and said with a scowl, "Eat it. Right now." Now more terrified of Fluttershy than the storm, Angel nodded enthusiastically and proceeded to dine on the carrots Fluttershy had given him. Rainbow, surprised by Fluttershy's change in guidance for her rabbit, applauded her as she came and sat down next to her.

"Nicely done, Fluttershy!" Rainbow said with a smirk. "I didn't think you had it in you."

"Well, I decided to take your advice from that day." Fluttershy said to Rainbow Dash. "It's actually been working really well. Angel has been being much more compliant."

"That's really good." Rainbow said as the teapot in the kitchen began to whistle loudly.

"I'll be back in a moment." Fluttershy said as she stood to go make their tea, returning shortly afterward with a tray that held two teacups full of steaming, delicious tea.

"I swear, you've gotten me addicted to this stuff." Rainbow said, taking her tea cup from the tray.

"That's good." Fluttershy said. "It's full of antioxidants that boost your immune system."

"And my immune system was already pretty awesome to start with." Rainbow said. "Look at you, supercharging me." Fluttershy giggled.

"So, what's it like?" Fluttershy asked Rainbow, who looked at her, slightly confused.

"My immune system? I actually don't know." Rainbow said, earning a giggle from Fluttershy.

"No, silly. Being married." The timid mare elaborated.

"Oh." Rainbow said. "Well, can I be honest with you?" Fluttershy nodded. "Being married to Applejack is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I actually have a real family now. I mean, it's official. But...I'm terrified."

"Well that's unlike you." Fluttershy said with a smile.

"I know, right?" Rainbow responded. "Being married can do that to a pony. Anyways, I just don't know what the future holds, you know? Like, what if me and Applejack get into a big fight? You know how we can butt heads. There could be complications with our jobs, I just...don't want anything to go wrong." Rainbow took a swallow of her tea.

"Well that's understandable, given what happened a year ago." Fluttershy said. "But there is one crucial detail that you're missing about that awful time in both of your lives."

"Yeah? And what's that?" Rainbow asked her friend before taking a sip of tea.

"Things went just about as wrong as they ever could back then." Fluttershy said. "But you both pulled through it. Your love endured. It may have been beaten down and weakened, but it persevered and showed you both just how much you loved each other." Rainbow smiled widely at Fluttershy.

"That's true." Rainbow said.

"I honestly don't think things will go wrong in your marriage." Fluttershy said. "I see a happy union between the two of you." Rainbow smiled, quickly finished her tea and stood up.

"You're right, Fluttershy." Rainbow Dash said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go home to my wife." Fluttershy nodded, stood and gave Rainbow a hug.

"Be safe." Fluttershy said.

"Bye, Flutters." Rainbow said before taking off out the door. Fluttershy sighed and sat on the couch, continuing to sip her tea. Angel, penitent for his previous actions, walked over to Fluttershy and looked up at her from the floor asking to be let up onto the couch. Fluttershy smiled, picked him up from the floor and held him with her. Snuggling with her pet rabbit was nice, but a feeling of loneliness slowly spread through her like a corrosive acid.

"I'm not lonely." Fluttershy affirmed to herself with a small sigh. "Not as long as I have you, Angel."

Rainbow walked through the doorway of the farmhouse she called home and smiled at Granny Smith, who was in the midst of knitting what looked like yet another washcloth.

"Well hello, there." Granny Smith said. "Took ya a while, didn't it?"

"Yeah. It kinda got a lot worse before I left Fluttershy's place, so I stayed for a bit and had some tea." Rainbow said. "Where's Applejack?"

"She walked Rarity home. Figured it would be the proper thing to do, seein' as how Twilight was able to make some sorta magic umbrella for her and Pinkie Pie since Pinkie Pie's place is on the way to Twilight's." Granny Smith said with a small chuckle. "Ah reckon it won't be too long before she returns. Probably stopped for a bit like you did." Rainbow nodded before giving out a small sigh and sitting on the couch.

"Whatcha plannin' on doin' for the rest of the night, anyways?" Granny Smith asked as she resumed her knitting.

"Oh, I'll probably just go to bed when Applejack gets back." Rainbow said. "I've got to get out really early tomorrow to take care of those storm clouds."

"That's gonna be rough." Granny Smith said. "Ah feel for ya."

"Yeah, I know." Rainbow said. "But you know, it puts food on the table."

"And ya have done that." Granny Smith said. "Ah don't think any of us need to worry about you pullin' your weight around here anymore, sweetie."

"You did before?" Rainbow asked.

"Well...yeah, Ah suppose." Granny Smith said. "What, with your track record and how ya used to act..."

"I've been trying." Rainbow said, slightly hurt.

"Oh, Ah know ya have, Rainbow." Granny Smith said. "That's my point. You've changed while you've been here. You've become more responsible and more dependable by miles. Ah'm just tyrin' to tell ya it's been a pleasure havin' ya livin' here." Rainbow blushed and smiled. "Even If Ah've had to put up with hearin' you and Applejack...ya know..." Rainbow's blush intensified and her ears layed back as she looked at Granny Smith, who couldn't hold in a hearty laugh.

"Ah'm just kiddin' with ya, baby." Granny Smith said. "Everypony knows Ah'm as deaf as a rock." Rainbow's embarrassment was alleviated somewhat as she relaxed.

They continued to talk for a while, throwing around jokes to each other. Granny Smith always enjoyed conversing with Rainbow Dash, because the cyan pegasus was one of the only ponies who could keep up with her razor-sharp wit.

"Okay. Here's one." Granny Smith said. "A magician at a carnival says that he can stay under water for a really long time. Six minutes. Well this little colt comes out of nowhere and says 'That's nothin'! Ah can stay under water for ten minutes with no equipment or nothin'.' The magician says that if the colt can do it, he'll give him five thousand bits. The colt ends up winnin' the money. How did he do it?" Rainbow Dash sat back and thought for a moment before smirking at Granny Smith.

"He filled a glass of water and held it above his head for ten minutes." Rainbow said confidently. Granny Smith smiled wryly and nodded.

"You're good." Granny Smith said with a small laugh.

"So what are you guys gonna do tomorrow while I'm gone?" Rainbow asked the old mare.

"Oh, probably just clean up a little bit." Granny Smith said. "Big Mac's workin' at the stand at the market tomorrow."

"Oh okay." Rainbow said. "So Applejack will be here when I get back?" The old mare nodded before sitting back in her rocking chair.

"Ya know, Rainbow Dash..." Granny Smith said before pausing in her speech. "Oh, it's nothin'. Forget about it."

"Wait, what is it?" Rainbow asked.

"Never mind, Rainbow." Granny Smith said. "It's not that important."

"Oh, come on." Rainbow said. "Just tell me." Granny Smith sighed and nodded.

"Well, Applejack probably wouldn't want me tellin' ya this, what with how competitive y'all get..." Granny Smith said. "But...Ah...When you and Applejack started datin'...Ah mean really started datin', with all of us knowin' and stuff..."

"Yeah..." Rainbow said.

"She couldn't stop ravin' about how much she loved you. When she would be gettin' ready for a date with you she'd get all peppy and happy. Well, one day, while Ah was doin' her hair, she actually told me somethin'."

"Okay." Rainbow said. "What did she say?"

"She told me that she wanted to marry you." Granny Smith said. Rainbow gasped silently. "Now, this was about a month before ya proposed to her. She told me that the feelin' ya give her whenever she's around ya is unlike anything else she ever felt with anypony else she ever dated. She talked about how sweet and loving and loyal ya are, and that if you weren't gonna propose at some point, she was gonna eventually. Even found a necklace for ya a week before we left for Appleloosa for the Harvest Celebration hoedown. She seemed so sure that you were the one. So goin' offa that, the way Ah figure it...you and my granddaughter were destined to be mates." Granny Smith sighed and looked forward, stopping her knitting altogether. Pure emotion shot through Rainbow Dash as she sat and comprehended what her surrogate grandmother had just told her. Applejack had been planning to propose to her. Rainbow's eyes filled with tears at the thought. Rainbow opened her mouth to say something to Granny Smith as Applejack walked through the front door.

"Whoo-whee!" Applejack said with a small laugh. "Might as well hadn't taken an umbrella. It's pretty nasty out there." Rainbow immediately raced to Applejack and wrapped her in a loving embrace, giving her a squeeze.

"Oof! Hey, Dash." Applejack said, returning the hug and bringing herself back to look at Rainbow's face. "What brought this o- Rainbow, are you cryin'?" Applejack's tone changed when she noticed the tears falling from Rainbow's eyes. The pegasus nodded.

"They're happy tears, okay?" Rainbow said before pulling her wife close once more. "I'm just...happy you're alright."

Rainbow disconnected from the hug and let Applejack move to Granny Smith. As Applejack leaned in to kiss her grandmother on the head, Granny Smith shot Rainbow a quick wink.

"Where's Big Mac and Applebloom?" Applejack asked Granny Smith.

"Big Mac went to see Cheerilee." Granny Smith said.

"Gee, Ah wonder what's goin' on over there. Applejack said, earning a laugh from Rainbow and Granny Smith.

"And Applebloom's gone to bed." Granny Smith finished.

"I'm probably gonna hit the sack too." Applejack said. "Get up bright and early so Ah can see Rainbow off to work."

"Well, Ah certainly ain't gonna stop ya." Granny Smith said. "Ah suppose Ah'll finish this cloth and get to bed myself."

"Alright, Granny." Applejack said. "Don't forget to leave the door unlocked for Big Mac. You remember what happened last time." They all snickered at remembering the time when Granny Smith locked Big Mac outside one night after he went to visit Cheerilee. He had to climb through a window.

"Good night, y'all." Granny Smith said with a smile. "Sleep sweet."

"Good night, Granny." Rainbow said.

"Night, Granny." Applejack said with a smile.

Rainbow and Applejack moved into the bedroom and got into the bed. Applejack layed back on a pillow and looked at Rainbow.

"Well, here we are." Applejack said to Rainbow with a smile. "The night before we start back at our normal lives as a married couple." Rainbow snickered.

"You're not gonna worry about me too much tomorrow right?" Rainbow asked.

"Naah, you'll be fine." Applejack said before taking Rainbow into an embrace and laying back with her.

"Stroke my mane." Rainbow said. "You're so good at it." Applejack chuckled softly and kissed the top of Rainbow's head.

"Not a problem." Applejack said as she began fulfilling Rainbow's request. They sat in silence for what seemed like ten minutes before Applejack spoke up. "It's been a journey, hasn't it?"

"...Yeah." Rainbow said. "One worth all the effort...But...don't do that."

"Do what?" Applejack asked.

"Don't talk like it's the end of something." Rainbow said before moving up to come face to face with her wife. "Because it's not. It's the beginning." Rainbow said before kissing Applejack on the lips. Applejack smiled.

"Laaaame..." Applejack said, earning a giggle from Rainbow.

"What, I'm trying here!" Rainbow said. "You know I'm not good at all that sappy stuff." With that, Rainbow Dash and Applejack snuggled in and let sleep take them together, losing all the concerns and cares of the world. They fell asleep happily, unafraid of the future. Because whatever life threw at them, whatever bad things may come...

They would always get through them.

Together.

And attempt to look better than each other doing it.

Obligatory End-of-Story Author's Note: Well, that is it, my friends! I've loved every second of it. I'll post a small epilogue and afterward in the coming days with a sappier message. Cheers!