Chapter 7

"Ohh...my achin' heeaad..."

Rainbow Dash barely managed to utter the quintessential hangover phrase as she stirred in the spare bed in Fluttershy's quaint little cottage. She blinked slowly as the sunlight beat throught the blindless window seemingly right on Rainbow's eyes, rudely awakening the pegasus. Like all other times the pegasus had had a hangover, she was regretting drinking the previous night very much. Strangely absent of the usual nausea, the cyan mare slowly began to exit the bed. She accomplished this by mutely scooting her body inches at a time. Each movement of her body making her more and more used to the miniature atomic bomb currently going off in her head.

With a mighty grunt that rivaled one from Celestia's royal guard fighting a battalion of changelings, Rainbow Dash stood and managed to gain her footing. She felt a noticeable tinge of annoyance shoot through her being as she wished that Fluttershy had actually taken time to purchase some blinds for her windows. Rainbow tromped from the spare bedroom down the hallway, eyes half-lidded, mane most likely a horrid mess. Angel Bunny hopped across the exit of the hallway, taking a brief moment to look at Rainbow Dash before continuing on his present course. The smell of hotcakes filled Rainbow Dash's nostrils which, strangely enough, appetized her instead of making her vomit.

Fluttershy smiled warmly at Rainbow Dash's entrance into the main atrium of the cottage.

"Good morning." She said sweetly, closing her eyes and offering a pleasant little giggle. "Sleep well?" Rainbow rubbed her forehead and sighed heavily.

"Right about until the sunlight woke me up." She moaned. "What time is it?"

"About 10:30." Fluttershy said. "Thankfully, you woke up right around the time I estimated you would."

"That's nice..." Rainbow uttered as she plopped down at Fluttershy's dining room table.

"I made you hotcakes." Fluttershy said as she placed a plate of three of the small pastries in front of the pegasus. "And a special herbal tea that will stop that hangover you've got." The word "hangover" sent nervous chills down Rainbow Dash's spine. She closed her eyes for a moment before she looked up at Fluttershy, who was in the process of placing a small tray with a teapot and teacup in front of her. The sweet yellow pegasus poured some tea into the cup for Rainbow and placed it next to her plate.

"Yeeeah, about that..." Rainbow said, rubbing the back of her head and taking a sip of the tea. It tasted sweet and satisfying, and it slightly alleviated the massive headache she had. She brought the small mug back and looked at it in approval. "Mmm. Good tea." Fluttershy smiled shyly and blushed.

"Thank you." She said. "Now you were saying something about your hangover?"

"Oh, yeah. Look, uh...about last night..." Rainbow began, blushing heavily.

"Rainbow Dash, don't worry about it. It's okay." Fluttershy replied, a purely understanding look on her face. A wave of relief washed over Rainbow Dash.

"Ok. Thanks." Rainbow said. "I know I kissed you. But I can't exactly remember everything I said..."

"Well..." Fluttershy said. "You...kind of told me everything about you and Applejack..." Rainbow dropped her face into her two front hooves, only serving to make her headache explode.

"Okay..." Rainbow breathed, not looking up from her hooves. Her heart pounded in her chest, seemingly threatening to break through her ribs. "Now you know everything..."

"Yes, I do..." Fluttershy said calmly. "Including what she said to you last night." Rainbow Dash looked up at Fluttershy, tears suddenly flooding her eyes. She quickly wiped the away with a sniffle.

"Yeah..." Rainbow choked out, getting the words past the lump in her throat. "What she said last night..."

"Why did she say that, Dashie?" Fluttershy asked her friend as Rainbow began eating her hotcakes.

"Well..." Rainbow said after swallowing her food. "She had been hiding her feelings from everypony...pretty much ashamed of me. After she broke up with me because of this, I could tell she was lying to me when she said that she didn't love me anymore. So...I tried a whole bunch of different things to try and get back together with her. Nothing worked...she's just so darn stubborn, y'know?" Fluttershy nodded.

"And so...I figured I'd give it one last try. Confront her directly and demand that she tell me the truth. Well, it got out of hand and...." Rainbow stopped after her voice broke, tears streaming down her cheeks. She could still hear Applejack's declaration of hate for her as well as she did when she first heard it uttered. Rainbow Dash quickly wiped her tears away. "She told me..." She lost control again and sobbed once. Quietly.

"That she hates you." Fluttershy said, tears coming from her eyes at this point as well. Rainbow quickly slammed a hoof down on the table, making an extremely loud noise. Fluttershy jumped and flinched in fear. Rainbow quickly stood up, tears falling from her eyes, but her teeth were clenched and her eyes were filled with an unmistakeable fury.

"You know what?!" Rainbow screamed. Fluttershy trembled. "I hate her too!" Fluttershy slowly walked to Rainbow Dash and brought her into a small hug. Rainbow did nothing, only breathing heavily and shedding more tears. Fluttershy registered the pure negative energy that radiated from her cyan friend as they sat, locked in their embrace. Suddenly, Rainbow pulled Fluttershy closer and sobbed into her shoulder. Fluttershy simply began stroking her mane slowly, shedding silent tears. Fluttershy had rarely seen Rainbow Dash cry like this, and it had never even been this bad. Rainbow held onto Fluttershy as tight as she could, desperate for someone to hold onto.

"I would never do that to you." Fluttershy said to Rainbow before kissing her cheek. Rainbow opened her eyes in slight suprise. "I would never hurt you in such a way." Rainbow Dash came back from her hug with Fluttershy. Fluttershy looked into her eyes, undeniably nervous.

"Fluttershy..." Rainbow muttered.

"I know that when you kissed me last night...it was out of want and desperation...and if you truly need sompony that will be there for you..." Fluttershy closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. "Perhaps...it should be me." Fluttershy then kissed Rainbow Dash, making the cyan pegasus gasp slightly. Their kiss continued for a moment before Rainbow finally gave in and began to kiss her timid friend back. Rainbow needed this. She needed somepony to be with her. She couldn't take the feeling of truly being without someone. Fluttershy smelled delightful, something like wild daisies with a hint of strawberry thrown in. Most likely a perfume. This smell was suddenly overtaken by the smell of burning batter. Rainbow Dash quickly disconnected from the kiss and looked over toward the source. The hotcake that Fluttershy had put on for herself was now on fire.

"Fluttershy!" Rainbow shouted. "F-Fire!" Fluttershy let out a small 'eep!' and ran to her sink and poured a glass of water and quickly threw the liquid on the flaming pastry, extinguishing the flame. Her heart racing, Fluttershy turned off the burner and breathed heavily, looking over at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash looked at the stove and then at her friend, and collapsed into a fit of spontaneous laughter. Fluttershy blushed heavily, but began to laugh as well.

Goddesses, it felt so good to laugh. It was one of the many things that Rainbow Dash sorely needed at this moment. For a brief moment in time, everything seemed to be alright. Here she was, with one of her best friends who may have had become something more in a humorously awkward situation. She actually had someone now, and she was actually happy. As they laughed, however, Fluttershy still noticed that Rainbow's eyes were still brimming with tears. After the laughter subsided, Fluttershy began moving toward Rainbow Dash again, a warm smile on her face.

"Well, that was awkward, wasn't it?" Rainbow said, wiping her tears and rubbing the back of her head, smiling with her eyes closed.

"When I was in danger of being burned, I was scared, but I had you here." Fluttershy stated. "And I knew I would be alright. Would you like to come sit in the living room with me?" Rainbow Dash looked at her and nodded happily. They entered the living room area and both took a seat on the couch next to each other.

"Rainbow Dash?" Fluttershy said, looking over at Rainbow and blushing.

"Yeah?" Rainbow responded, blushing as well. Her heart beat heavily in her chest.

"Can I tell you something?" Fluttershy said.

"Sure, Flutters." Rainbow said with a smile.

"I um..." Fluttershy said, her blush deepening. "I...I...I feel safe when I have you a-around...ever since flight s-school, really." Rainbow smiled and nodded slowly.

"You always protected me...and...I always felt just a little bit more brave when I had you around me. Because I knew you'd protect me..." Fluttershy continued, scooting a little closer to Rainbow Dash. "Now, I want to be there for you."

And with that, Fluttershy kissed Rainbow Dash again, a little more confidently. Rainbow was much more receptive to the kiss this time and began to kiss back. The kiss escalated and Fluttershy moaned adorably as Rainbow began to push her onto her back. Rainbow, despite the fact that she was kissing one of her best friends, didn't feel very much besides the desire to be with someone, and this was enough to spur her on in the kiss.

'AH HATE YOU!!!' Rainbow Dash heard again in her head, the statement pounding down on her like a massive mallet, making her stomach turn. Rainbow began to rub her body on Fluttershy's desperate for someone to love. Desperate for someone to hold.

'Ah appreciate you.' Rainbow heard Applejack's smooth, calm voice echo through her head, the polar opposite of the statement that was currently ailing her emotionally. The pegasus tried desperately to rid her mind of the much-loved voice and focus on the sweet, caring mare she was kissing now. Fluttershy smiled into the kiss and put her front hooves and Rainbow's shoulders.

'Don't think that since Ah'm sweet on ya now that I'll go easy on ya!' Rainbow heard Applejack's playful voice again in her mind. It tortured her so, bringing painful memories to mind and filling her body with dread when it should have been alive with a spark of affection.

Applejack was always so loving. She always cared so much when they were together, and even behind her seemingly cold eyes recently, Rainbow could tell that she still cared. She remembered Applejack's beautiful green eyes, her flowing golden mane and that adorable little way that she'd adjust her stetson when she was embarrassed. Rainbow slowly opened her eyes and remembered one thing that she had forgotten.

She was kissing Fluttershy.

Rainbow Dash slowly disconnected from the kiss.

"Fluttershy..." Rainbow said, closing her eyes in slight shame.

"Hmm?" Fluttershy responded happily.

"I'm sorry...But I can't...I can't do this..." Rainbow said. "I...I..."

"You still have feelings for Applejack, don't you?" Fluttershy said quietly, sitting up next to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow looked down, feeling guilt shoot through her like a razor-sharp spear. "Don't worry, Dashie...I'm not hurt and I'm not mad. This was awful timing. I shouldn't have kissed you like that. Especially after what happened last night. I'm sorry...I just...thought you needed somepony." Fluttershy said.

"So...You're really not mad at me?" Rainbow asked, her rose eyes beginning to brim with tears once more. Fluttershy slowly shook her head.

"How could I be?" The yellow pegasus said. Rainbow quickly pulled Fluttershy into another hug which Fluttershy happily returned. Fluttershy was actually quite relieved. She knew Rainbow Dash needed somepony to ease the pain, and she was just trying to be there for her friend. She loved Rainbow Dash, truly she did, but as a friend. After a while, Fluttershy began to break the embrace before Rainbow pulled on her slightly.

"Don't let go...please..." Rainbow said, looking up at Fluttershy with tear-soaked eyes. "Please...I just...I need somepony to hold me..." Fluttershy nodded and continued to hug Rainbow Dash as she cried, stroking her prismatic mane softly, Rainbow's face buried into her chest. Occasionally, barely audible to Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash would moan through her tears-

"I love her..."

One Week Later

Applejack wiped a tear from her eye as she ambled through Ponyville, the dark clouds blocking out the sun and seemingly any good emotions the farm mare could have. She kept a vigil eye on the sky, looking for any kind of sign of Rainbow Dash. Since the awful incident that had taken place a week previously, Applejack had been trying to find Rainbow Dash and make amends...to right the wrong she had done, so to speak. But Applejack rarely saw Rainbow Dash anywhere, and when she did, Rainbow usually noticed and sped away, keeping to her word to stay out of Applejack's life.

Obviously, Applejack hadn't meant a word of what she had said that night. Applejack was incredibly stressed, and to be completely truthful, frightened. She was backed into a corner and spouted out the first thing that came to her mind in pure defense. Everything Rainbow Dash was saying to her had at least some semblance of truth, and it got to her that night. She did lie and she did play with Rainbow's heart. (Although not intentionally.) Every day that had passed since then without seeing Rainbow Dash was another proverbial thorn in Applejack's side.

Golden Oaks Library was in viewing distance to the farm mare, and with her objective in mind, she quickened her pace toward the tree building. She saw Spike in the upper window, apparently organizing things for Twilight. Upon reaching the door, Applejack delivered three polite, curt knocks to the wood and waited patiently.

"Spike! Get that, please!" Applejack barely registered Twilight Sparkle say from the upper floor. Applejack blew some of her golden mane out of her eye and put on a pleasant smile to greet Spike when he answered. Surely enough, after nearly half a minute, the door opened and Spike smiled up at Applejack.

"Hey, Applejack! Come on in!" He spouted. "You wanna see Twilight?"

"If it ain't too much trouble for her, sugarcube. She sounds mighty busy." Applejack responded, following the baby dragon inside.

"Oh, she's just organizing some of her personal books. I'm sure she'd love to see you." Spike responded. Applejack nodded and followed Spike up the staircase. Entering the room, she looked upon Twilight, doing exactly what Spike said she was doing.

"Twilight, Applejack's here." Spike said. "I can finish that up for you if you wanna talk to her."

"No need, Spike. I'm already almost done." Twilight said to him. "Hey, Applejack! Let's go into the parlor so we can chat." Applejack nodded.

"Sounds good, Twi." Applejack said with a small nod, following Twilight out of the bedroom and down the staircase again. They reached the parlor and Twilight motioned toward a seat for Applejack to sit in. Applejack nodded with a smile and sat at the small table.

"Tea?" Twilight asked her friend, pouring a cup using her magic. Applejack shook her head.

"None for me, thanks." She said. Twilight nodded and sat down across from Applejack, taking a small sip. She closed her eyes, smiling to herself with a small sigh. She looked across the table at Applejack.

"So, how are you, Applejack?" She asked, smiling at her friend.

"Oh, Ah've been fine. Just...y'know...workin' on the farm. All that stuff..." Applejack said, rubbing the back of her head. She looked around. "Looks like you've been keepin' this place pretty clean."

"Yep." Twilight said before taking another sip of her tea. "All the perks of magic." Applejack smiled and cleared her throat, adjusting her stetson slightly.

"Yeah, so listen. There was somethin' Ah came here to talk to ya about, actually." Applejack said.

"Oh?" Twilight mused, curious about what Applejack needed to speak to her about.

"Have you uh...seen...Rainbow Dash, lately?" Applejack asked, a small blush appearing on her face. Twilight didn't look suprised in the slightest.

"Oh. I should have known that this was what it was going to be about." Twilight said.

"Wha-?" Applejack replied, confused.

"Well, I understand that you two have been fighting as of late." Twilight said.

"It ain't like that. Ah..." Applejack said, looking down toward the ground. "Ah hurt her feelings really bad, and Ah'm trying to find her so Ah can apoligize." Twilight nodded.

"What did you say to her?" Twilight asked.

"That ain't important. But what is important, is that Ah can't get that darn pegasus to stay still long enough for me to apoligize to her!" Applejack said, frustration evident in her voice.

"Is it really that bad?" Twilight said, raising her eyebrows in concern.

"It's worse..." Applejack said, dropping her face into her hooves. "Ah wanna apoligize so bad..."

"Well, I can get her together with the girls and invite you too." Twilight offered with a small smile. "We're all the elements of harmony, after all..."

"Thanks for offerin' Twi..." Applejack said, looking at her. "But Ah'm not feelin' too right about my element...y'know...honesty and such."

"What do you mean?" Twilight inquired.

"Well...it's...it's complicated." Applejack said. "Ah mean really complicated."

"Alright. I'm not going to pry." Twilight said. "If you must know, I saw Rainbow Dash two days ago. She seemed really out of sorts, so when I asked her what was wrong, she told me that the two of you 'Were done.' and that was it. I just assumed she was angry about some little spat the two of you had and that it would be okay."

"Well, it ain't." Applejack stated, her brow furrowing. "Do ya have any earthly idea where she could be?"

"I'm sorry, Applejack." Twilight said. "I haven't seen her since then." Applejack sighed and nodded before standing up.

"Thanks for your help, Twilight. Ah'll see ya later." Applejack said. She turned and headed for the exit of the library.

"If I see her, I'll tell her you're looking for her." Twilight said.

"Don't bother. Ah'm sure she already knows." Applejack said, tipping her stetson to the purple unicorn before leaving, shutting the door behind her. She walked through the streets of Ponyville once more, but in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres, giving up on her search for her cyan friend for the day. Her mind reverberated with something over and over again that filled her with dread, that made her want to lay in bed and pretend she was sick.

She had a date that night, and everypony knew that Applejack had a great immune system.

Applejack knocked on the door to Caramel's house her customary three times and waited on the stallion's front porch for him. She looked to the side to see Rarity smiling exorbitantly at her.

"You look beautiful!" She squealed before quickly retreating into her home, just in time for Caramel to open the door. Applejack offered up a tired smile.

"Hey, Applejack!" Caramel said happily. "Come on in! I've got a nice fire going."

"Sounds great, Caramel." Applejack said, ambling inside the house behind Caramel. He looked over his shoulder

"I'm really glad you could come tonight." Caramel said happily, stoking the flame that was raging in his fireplace.

"Well, Ah'm glad to be here." Applejack said with a small sigh.

"You can take your scarf and hat off, if you want." He said, gesturing to the small coat rack in front of his door. Applejack nodded and removed her scarf and her stetson, placing them upon the rack and turning to face Caramel. He sat upon the couch in the living area, in front of the fire, patting the spot next to him. Applejack smiled at Caramel, walked to the couch and sat next to him.

"Ah'm havin' a little bit of an easier time believin' that story of yours, now. This place is huge!" Applejack said. "Really fancy, too."

"What, this old place?" Caramel said to her. "You should have seen my place back in Las Pegasus. Dirty carpet, roaches in the walls and light brown water from the faucets. It was a regular paradise. Much better than this shack." Applejack giggled slightly and smiled at him.

"So, how are things goin' at the carrot farm?" Applejack asked him. "Carrot top treatin' ya alright?"

"Oh, yeah. She's really nice and understanding." He said. "Sometimes I'll forget things, y'know, because that's me, and she'll just...well...She'd just tell me not to do it again, or something. She's really cool."

"Well, that's nice." Applejack said. "Ah wonder what it's like havin' a boss..."

"What do you mean?" Caramel responded, leaning a little bit closer to Applejack.

"Well, Ah've been workin' at Sweet Apple Acres for a long, long time, and it's my home pretty much. Ah'm my own boss and everything." Applejack said. "Ah'm just wonderin' what it would be like to have someone to tell ya what to do."

"You have your Granny." Caramel said. "She's kinda like your boss."

"She's more of an advisor." Applejack said, flipping her golden mane to the side, not meaning to draw Caramel's eye any more than she already had. "Ah'm a free spirit. Ain't nothin' gonna tie me down."

"Is that a fact?" Caramel asked her. Applejack nodded. "Well, I guess I'm doomed then, because I'd really like to have you all to myself." Applejack raised an eyebrow at him.

"Is that a fact?" Applejack asked him, smiling. He shrugged as he leaned closer to her.

"Depends on what you make of it." He responded before placing a small kiss on her lips. Applejack waited for a moment before she began to kiss him back. Their lips moved against each other's as they moved closer to one another.

'He really is a good kisser...' Applejack thought.

'Just kiss me.' Rainbow Dash's voice echoed in Applejack's mind. She disconnected from the kiss for a moment. Caramel opened his eyes and looked into Applejack's

"Everything okay?" He asked her. Applejack nodded.

"Yeah...Ah'm fine..." Applejack said with a small smile. "Just rememberin' what a good kisser you are." Caramel blushed heavily and laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head.

"Thanks." He said. "Speaking of kissing, this is escalating kind of quickly. We have all night. I made us dinner." He stood up and walked into the kitchen. He returned seconds later with an amazingly delicious-looking platter of small sandwiches and grapes clutched between his teeth. He placed it down on the table.

"Two seconds..." He said, racing back to the kitchen. He quickly returned with a bottle of wine. Applejack raised her eyebrows, impressed that Caramel was going this far on their fourth date. She smiled at the platter before her. "You like what you see?" He asked her.

"Yeah, Ah really do." Applejack said to him. "Caramel, you shouldn't have." Caramel chuckled as he placed two wine glasses down on the table.

"Well...y'know...you're worth it." He said to her.

"You're sweet." Applejack said with a smile.

"Guilty as charged." He responded before pouring wine into the two glasses. After taking a seat next to Applejack, he grabbed his glass of wine and held it toward Applejack. She smiled back at him and grabbed her glass.

"To good health," Caramel said, assuming a facetious stately look. "and good fortune." Applejack touched his glass with hers, producing a pleasing noise that soothed Applejack and helped calm her frayed nerves. Both taking sips, Caramel smiled as he put the glass down and removed a sandwich from the platter. He took a small bite and marveled at the taste.

"How is it?" Applejack asked, half chuckling.

"Well, I hate to boast, but..." He held the small sandwich up and sang a small angelic tune. Applejack laughed before taking a bite. The pleasant-sounding little melody was not for nothing. The sandwich was quite delicious, a grilled combination of mozzarella cheese and what tasted like peppers and tomatoes with olive oil sprinkled on the top.

"Oh, wow. This..." Applejack took another bite, savoring the flavor. "Mmmmm....This is amazin'!"

"I know, right?" Caramel responded. Applejack supressed a small scoff.

"Well, how did ya make it?" She asked him. He cleared his throat and seemed to scour his mind for possible responses.

"Oh, I uh..." He put on a show of bravado momentarily, only for it to falter. "I...got it from...Cafe Du Mane...Truth is, I'm a pretty awful cook." He looked down to the side, sporting a small blush to show for his embarrasment.

"Aw, don't worry about it, Caramel. It's the thought that counts..." Applejack mentally kicked herself for not being able to come up with anything better than the grossly overused cliche. Caramel smiled at her before reclaiming his sandwich. The two of them ate in relative silence. Caramel, in his romantic stupor, keep tossing looks Applejack's way, expecting to get a look back from the farm mare at some point.

Applejack, however, was currently in the realm of her mind and absentmindedly eating on this date with Caramel. The mere mention of Cafe Du Mane brought back unwanted thoughts of Rainbow Dash, shooting through her mind like comets, filling her with dread and remorse that she had not yet apoligized for her spur-of-the-moment stupidity outside Cafe Du Mane that night. The mental image of Rainbow Dash, broken in the wake of her outburst nearly brought tears to her eyes as she imagined what Rainbow Dash could possibly be doing at that moment. Perhaps she was at her home, laying in her bed alone and unwanted, longing for somepony to lay in her bed with. Maybe she had moved on and was simply not talking to Applejack on general principle.

Applejack remembered what it was like to actually be with Rainbow Dash. She remembered what it felt like to hold her and stroke her soft mane in the fields outside Ponyville. She remembered the exhilaration of racing with Rainbow Dash, the wind in her face and the mare she loved beside her. She remembered what her lips felt like as they lightly touched her own in a gentle kiss.

"Applejack?" She barely heard Caramel say. Shaken from her deep thought, Applejack looked toward him slowly.

"Yes, Rai-Caramel?" Applejack responded, quickly catching herself as her mind struggled to adapt from thinking of the past to functioning in the present.

"Are you alright?" He asked her, a small look of concern on his face.

"Yeah, sugarcube. Ah'm fine. Don't you worry none. Ah'm just thinkin' about how good this food is." Applejack said, holding up her sandwich.

"Oh. Well, Cafe Du Mane is the best eatery in Ponyville..." He said to her. "The only eatery in Ponyville."

"There's Sugarcube Corner." Applejack offered before taking another bite of her sandwich.

"Well, I wouldn't really consider that place an actual 'restaurant'." He countered, raising an eyebrow. "Sure, they'll make you a sandwich or something, but the place is made to satisfy a pony's sweet tooth." Applejack nodded.

"Ya got a point there. They're food ain't really all that good anyway." Applejack said.

"I know!" Caramel said. "I mean, I realize that the cakes' purpose in life is to bake and all, and I'm not saying that they're food is bad...but I've tasted better."

"They're kinda rude, too, once ya get to know 'em." Applejack stated.

"Really? They've always seemed to be pretty nice to me." Caramel said, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, yeah, because you don't really hang around with 'em that much. Ah'm good friends with Pinkie Pie, so Ah've been around the cakes for a good while. Sure, they're nice until ya disagree with 'em. Then they get all ornery and...well...disagreeable." Applejack explained.

"I never would have known that." Caramel said.

"Why don't we just stop talkin' about 'em? It's kinda stressin' me out." Applejack spouted quickly.

"Fine with me." Caramel responded. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Ah dunno...stuff..." Applejack said, shrugging. Caramel raised an eyebrow.

"Care to be a little more specific?" He asked her. She sighed and looked to the side.

"Ah dunno...we can uh..." Applejack said, scooting closer to Caramel. "Not talk." Caramel scooted closer to her, further closing the distance between the two of them.

"Oh?" He said. "And what would you do, rather than talk?" Applejack smiled at him.

"Let me give ya one guess..." Applejack said, beginning to inch her face closer to Caramel's. Caramel smiled and closed the distance, meeting Applejack's lips with his in a kiss. The kiss felt slightly...off to Applejack, but his lips were warm and inviting so Applejack decided to lean into him, pushing him back on the couch. This, coupled with the warmth from the fireplace really helped Applejack enter into a calm state of mind. Caramel certainly wasn't the best kisser, but he had heart, and Applejack admired that abouth him.

She felt Caramel's tongue graze her bottom lip, essentially asking for entry.

'Eager, aren't we?' Applejack thought as she opened her mouth, allowing Caramel entance. He slid his tongue inside and proceeded to swirl it around. The gesture was noticeable for sure, but there was no style...no technique. Applejack moved her tongue against his sensually, trying to show him the ropes. She wasn't used to this because she was so used to Rainbow Dash taking the lead whenever they kissed.

'He's definitely not as good as Dash.' She thought to herself. The thought of Rainbow Dash sent feelings of despair shooting through her body. Her mind was wracked with questions about what she was doing and why she was doing it. The voice in the back of her head that had been so small and insignificant previously seemed to grow in volume and power at this moment.

'What are you doing?!' It screamed. 'You should be with Rainbow Dash!' Applejack struggled to keep the thought under control, to ingore it and focus on the current situation.

'Caramel's a nice stallion.' Applejack thought to herself. 'Ah could see a nice, quiet life with him.'

'Yeah, a life in the closet.' Applejack's thoughts changed. 'Rainbow Dash loves you! You love her! And you betrayed her! You broke her heart!'

'He's attractive...'

'She's adorable!'

'He's funny...'

'She's hilarious!'

Applejack's heart beat faster and faster as the thoughts fought an enormous battle inside the confines of her brain. Her guilt went toe-to-toe with her pride, and her guilt seemed to be winning. Unbeknownst to her, her kissing had increased in intensity with each passing second, further confusing Caramel. His eyes opened and widened slightly.

'Forget about her!' She finally thought. 'You've got to forget!!!' At that moment, Caramel disconnected from the kiss.

"Whoa, whoa there, Applejack. Moving a little fast there, aren't ya?" He said.

"Ah wanna go all the way!" Applejack quickly spouted at him, eyebrows raised and eyes closed. "Tonight!" Caramel was spellbound. The request had completely taken him by suprise and he was quite speechless. Applejack couldn't believe the words as they came out of her mouth. He searched his mind for the correct words as a bead of sweat formed on his temple he finally gulped and looked back up at her.

"A-are you sure?" He asked, blushing heavily. "Maybe you need a good night's sleep. You look a little tired."

"A-Ah'm sure." Applejack said. "Ah just f-feel...this connection with you. Like Ah'm...destined to be here." The statement tasted a lie above all else, but Applejack wanted...needed to forget her guilt.

"Applejack..." He said, bringing a hoof to her shoulder. "I feel the same way about you!" He kissed her again, more fervently and lovingly. He put everything he had into it as he rolled the two of them over and began to kiss Applejack's neck. Applejack closed her eyes and moaned, breathing heavily as she closed her eyes. He slowly dropped his body onto hers, moving it sensually in an attempt to make Applejack feel good.

The warmth of another...the presence of another was nice. It was enticing...but the passion, the heart...it wasn't there. At least not for Applejack. Caramel was most definitely in love with her, but she didn't feel for him the way she felt for her.

'Rainbow Dash...She was always there for me...whenever Ah needed her...And Ah threw her aside like a piece of trash...' She thought to herself. Tears flooded her eyes as she sobbed quietly. Caramel noticed this and immediately stopped his loving gestures.

"Applejack, are you okay?" He asked her worriedly. She looked at him and sniffled, smiling.

"Yeah...Ah just always saw my first time bein' this romantic..." She lied. This was not her first time, of course, but she lied about that anyway, making her feel even more rotten inside. Caramel smiled.

"Well just lay back and enjoy yourself." He said to her before kissing her on the nose. "Tonight is all about you." A new wave of tears found their way down Applejack's cheeks as Caramel went back to pleasuring her. His hoof rubbed up and down the side of her body.

'He's so sweet! Why are you doing this?!' Applejack thought to herself as Caramel gave her a peck on the lips. 'Stop leading him on for your own selfish reasons!' Caramel continued to rub his body on Applejack's, increasing his own arousal and increasing Applejack's shame. His engorged tool stood at the ready as he gently began to prod Applejack's entrance. The sensation, while providing raw pleasure for Applejack was devoid of any love. Applejack might as well have felt nothing.

"Are you ready?" He asked her, breathing heavily, ready to penetrate her. Applejack slowly nodded. He began to push his member against her lower lips, slowly gaining access. Applejack bit her lip as her heartbeat increased dramatically, pounding in her chest like a heavy reverberating drum.

'Buck up, you little coward...' She thought to herself. 'It's time to stop lying.'

Caramel's tool pushed slightly further into her, making the stallion groan in anticipation.

'You. Love. Rainbow Dash.'

"Stop." Applejack suddenly said. Caramel's eyes opened as he looked down at her. More tears streaked down her cheeks as she frowned up at him. "We...can't do this. You and me can't do this." Caramel slowly nodded and got off of her, sitting next to her.

"I knew something was wrong." Caramel said. "Please tell me so we can work on it together." The request sent a spear of guilt through Applejack's being as she closed her eyes.

"Caramel..." Applejack said. "Ah have a confession to make." Caramel's ears perked up and he looked at her, concerned.

"Okay..." He responded with a frown. Applejack sniffled and wiped her tears.

"Ah'm...Ah'm..." Applejack's heart pounded in her chest and her mind raced.

'Just do it!' She thought.

"Ah'm in love with somepony else." Applejack stated, finally looking at Caramel and furrowing her brow. Caramel's heart broke as his ears splayed back.

"I-I-I..." He gulped. "I don't understand..."

"Ah'm in love with somepony else and Ah've been too ashamed to admit it." Applejack said. "Ah love her with all my heart and Ah threw her away and dated you as a cover up..." She hung her head.

"B-but...why would you..." He said, a tear falling down his cheek. Applejack wiped her tears away.

"Because Ah'm a selfish coward, that's why." Applejack said. "Ah decieved you for my own personal benefit. Ah betrayed the mare Ah truly love, only to betray you as well." Applejack sniffled. "Ah'm so sorry..."

"Y-you..." Caramel started. He could barely speak. All this time, he had been falling in love with this mare, who never loved him back. He felt angry and betrayed as he looked down.

"So..." He said. "You're a fillyfooler?" Applejack sighed before looking at him.

"Not completely..." Applejack said. "Ah figure Ah'm bisexual because Ah've had coltfriends...And...she's the only mare Ah've ever loved...But Ah do love her."

"Well...I wish I could say that she stole you away from me..." He said somberly. "Get some of this anger out by having somepony to blame... But I suppose you were never mine to lose, huh?" He furrowed his brow, making Applejack close her eyes in pure shame.

"Ah'm aware of my crime." Applejack said. "It's only fair that you call me what I really am. Don't hold back. Ah deserve it."

"Okay..." Caramel said before standing up in front of her. Applejack furrowed her brow, ready for the verbal bombardment she was sure to receive from Caramel. "You really want me to call you what I think you are?" Applejack nodded.

"Yes." She said. He nodded.

"You're confused." He said simply. Applejack's eyes widened as she looked up at him from the couch. "That's what you are."

"Ah don't..." Applejack said, dumbfounded by his suprisingly understanding observation.

"I may be forgetful...but I'm not stupid." He said. "I went through the same thing...well, not quite the same thing, a while ago with the love of my life. Berry Punch. You know her, right?" Applejack nodded. "Well, I thought I could have any mare I wanted. I was awful. We had an argument one day and I seriously broke her heart. Little did I know I had lost the mare of my dreams. She won't even look at me now."

"Ah'm sorry..." Applejack said through tears. He looked down at her.

"Now, what's the deal with yours?" He asked. "Tell me. Because you lied to me this whole time. That's my price." Applejack gulped.

"Well...her name is Rainbow Dash." She said.

"Rainbow Dash, huh? I've seen her with stallions too." He responded.

"Well, we were together for some time. But Ah was ashamed to even be seen huggin' her in public. We got into an argument and broke up. After that is when I first started dating you. Ah ignored my feelings and pushed her aside. She won't even talk to me now..." Applejack explained. Caramel nodded his head and sat back on a chair in front of the fire. "Now, Ah've gotta go find her and tell her how Ah really feel!"

"Well, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hurt...and I certainly think you need to do some self-examining...I can't force you to love anyone." He looked up at her. "Now go find her." Applejack walked to him from across the room and placed a kiss on his cheek.

"Thank you." She said, shedding more tears. "Ah'll never forget you." He nodded as she turned around and walked to the coat rack beside his front door. She donned her stetson and put on her scarf before opening the door. She looked back at Caramel. He offered a single hoof as a goodbye as he sat in front of the fire, not bothering to look back. Applejack smiled as she closed the door behind her. A cold wind blew and Applejack shivered as she set out into the night.

She sprinted through the cold air, wind assaulting her face and wind chilling her to the bone. Any pony in their right mind would be indoors, either in front of a fire or under a thick warm blanket with the pony they loved. Applejack yearned to see the pony she loved, and she would scower Ponyville in the cold all night to find her.

She had to find Rainbow Dash. Now.

Half an Hour Earlier

Fluttershy smiled as she opened the front door to her cottage to find Rainbow Dash standing there, scarf wrapped around her neck.

"Hey, Fluttershy. Wanna hang out?" Rainbow Dash said. Despite her confident tone of voice, Fluttershy could tell that Rainbow was shivering. Fluttershy nodded happily.

"Of course, Rainbow. Come in and warm up." Fluttershy said. "I just made a fire."

"Awesome." Rainbow said, removing her scarf. She looked at it, and then at Fluttershy. "Uh..."

"Oh, just put it on that chair. It'll be fine." Fluttershy said, gesturing to a small chair that Fluttershy's pet bunny, Angel was sleeping in. Rainbow shrugged and dropped the scarf on a chair handle before joining Fluttershy in her living room.

"Do you have any of that tea left?" Rainbow asked. Fluttershy nodded.

"Would you like some?" She asked, prompting Rainbow Dash to nod eagerly. Fluttershy giggled as she moved to the kitchen and put on some water to boil. Upon returning to the living room, she discovered Rainbow Dash splayed out in front of the fireplace in her usual fashion. Fluttershy smiled as she also sat down in front fo the fire.

"So, how was your day?" Fluttershy asked the cyan pegasus. Rainbow's ears perked up.

"Oh, it was okay." Rainbow said. "Weather patrol is always harder during winter, though. The clouds are so much thicker." Fluttershy nodded.

"What about you? Did you tame any bears with 'The stare?'" Fluttershy smiled.

"Oh, no...I would prefer not to come into contact with an untamed bear if I can help it. Their strength matches that of a manticore and their wit matches that of a cockatrice." Fluttershy explained. "In fact, there are three distinct subspecies of bear. There is the black-"

"Fluttershy, that's really interesting and all, but will I really need to know that at any time in my life?" Rainbow asked, looking up at Fluttershy.

"I guess not..." Fluttershy said. "So how is Wonderbolts training?"

"Awesome as usual. Lightning Dust has gotten her act together, so Spitfire has pretty much forgiven her for all that reckless behavior. Took long enough." Rainbow said before sitting up. "But neither of them have forgotten who the leader of the two of us is." Rainbow touched a hoof to her chest and smirked, making Fluttershy giggle lightly. The teapot in the kitchen began to scream as the water inside boiled, signifying that the tea was ready to be made.

"I'll be right back." Fluttershy said before standing up and ambling into the kitchen. Rainbow Dash nodded before laying back down in front of the fire.

'Maybe being with Fluttershy wouldn't be so bad after all...' Rainbow thought. She sighed as she layed down on her belly, resting her chin on her front hooves. Before long, Fluttershy returned with a tray and a teapot, two strings falling over the upper rim, a small tag attached to each.

"Tea is served." Fluttershy said with a smile. Rainbow Dash smiled as she took a cup and let Fluttershy pour the tea in. She licked her lips before taking a sip. She exclaimed in pain as the searing hot liquid splashed over her tongue. She barely managed to avoid spilling it all over herself as she put it down upon the coffee table. Fluttershy supressed a laugh.

"You should wait for it to cool down." She said. Rainbow raised an eyebrow at her yellow friend.

"You don't say?" Rainbow sarcastically stated. Before letting her tongue drop out of her mouth. The scalded appendage gaining immediate relief from the cool air. "Ow. This really hurts..."

"You look tired." Fluttershy said, noticing Rainbow Dash's worn appearance.

"Who me? Naah." Rainbow said, throwing a hoof in the air. "Just got done with a good days..." She yawned. "Work."

"I've seen you after a long day's work." Fluttershy said. "Please, tell me what's wrong."

"Nothing's wrong, Fluttershy." Rainbow said suddenly, taking a stern tone of voice. Fluttershy faltered under Rainbow's tone of voice. Rainbow sighed. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay..." Fluttershy said.

"I guess..." Rainbow began. "I guess I'm so tired because I spend a lot of nights wondering what would have happened by now if Applejack and I were still together."

"Rainbow Dash, you need to forget about her." Fluttershy stated worriedly. Rainbow Dash puffed out her chest and smirked.

"I already have. I don't need her. The thoughts just cross my mind at night and sometimes make it hard for me to sleep." Rainbow said before her bravado faltered and her ears splayed back as she looked down. "I want to forget her...I really do...but I can't..." Tears formed in her eyes. Rainbow wiped them and clenched her teeth in anger. "Goddesses! Why does this always happen?" Fluttershy stood and walked to Rainbow Dash, putting a hoof on her shoulder.

"You were just hurt badly by her recently. Sometimes these things take a long time to heal." Fluttershy offered.

"I know!" Rainbow yelled, her voice catching as more tears flowed. "I know that! But I don't feel any better! The more and more I think about her, the more it hurts! And I can't bucking stop thinking about her!" She began to cry, hanging her head as she sat in front of the fire. Fluttershy wrapped her front legs around Rainbow Dash in a heartfelt hug. Rainbow's tears dampened the fur on Fluttershy's shoulder as she held Rainbow in front of the fire.

"Goddesses, I hate crying!" Rainbow exclaimed before a sob leaped from her throat. "I never cry!" Fluttershy nodded as she continued to hold Rainbow Dash, offering all she could to make her friend feel better.

"I know, Dashie. I know. It'll be okay."

"Fluttershy..." Rainbow said to her. "Do you think I could stay here tonight? Please? I really don't want to be alone."

"Of course, Rainbow Dash." She said.

"Thank you..." Rainbow said before sniffling and laying her head on Fluttershy's shoulder. Fluttershy had rarely heard Rainbow Dash speak so sincerely before. She usually was so obsessed with looking cool or hip to her friends, but the pegasus seemed to really open up to Fluttershy recently. Rainbow Dash sat in front of the fire with Fluttershy, staring into the crackling embers as they slowly lulled her into a stupor. The tears had stopped flowing and Rainbow Dash's eyes began to slowly close.

Hearing Rainbow Dash begin to snore lightly, Fluttershy gently laid her friend in front of the fire before fetching some pillows. The sleeping Rainbow Dash took little notice as Fluttershy inched the pillow underneath her chin. Angel hopped into the room and curled up next to Fluttershy. She giggled as she layed down in front of the fire next to Rainbow, taking a deep breath before closing her eyes to sleep.

A loud knocking came from the front door, rousing Rainbow and Fluttershy from their respective slumbers.

"Don't worry. I'll get it." Fluttershy said as she stood and walked to the door. She opened it to find Applejack standing there, shivering.

"Howdy, Fluttershy." Applejack said, offering a weak smile.

The sound of Applejack's voice made Rainbow's stomach turn as she jumped up, eyes wide and her ears splayed back. She panicked as she looked for a way out, finally laying her eyes upon the staircase leading to the second floor of the cottage where a window undoubtedly was. Rainbow Dash ran up the staircase.

Fluttershy looked upon Applejack with nothing but a disapproving glare, which made Applejack even more nervous than she already was. Fluttershy barely registered a window upstairs being opened. She said nothing about it.

"Hello, Applejack." She said, struggling not to scream at the farm mare due to all she had heard about her.

"Mind if Ah come in for a sec? It's a might chilly out here..." Applejack said. Fluttershy's ears splayed back as she struggled internally for what to do. On one hoof, Applejack was her friend too and she looked absolutely freezing. On the other, she had broken Rainbow Dash's heart with a string of lies and fear. Fluttershy finally planted her hooves firm and looked Applejack square in the eyes.

"N-No." Fluttershy said, struggling not to break down where she stood. Applejack's eyes widened as she stepped back slightly.

"What?" She said, hurt at Fluttershy's coldness.

"Normally, I would let you in, Applejack. But I have heard many things about you. They weren't good things." Fluttershy stated, furrowing her brow. Applejack flinched slightly.

"W-What did ya hear?" She asked nervously.

"Everything." Fluttershy said. "Everything about you and Rainbow Dash. She's been confiding in me because you hurt her so badly. She's not herself, Applejack!" The sinking feeling Applejack experienced at that moment chilled her worse than the cold weather.

"Who else knows?" Applejack asked.

"No one but me." Fluttershy said. "And I plan to keep it that way. It isn't my place to tell everypony."

"Well, Fluttershy..." Applejack said. "That's actually the precise reason Ah came to ya. Ah've realized my mistake! Ah love Rainbow Dash, and Ah'm tryin' to find her so that Ah can actually tell her!" Fluttershy brightened up significantly before raising an eyebrow at the farm mare.

"Are you really?" She asked.

"Fluttershy, If Ah wasn't, Ah wouldn't be standin' here out in the freezin' weather." Applejack said. Fluttershy looked at her for a moment before stepping aside.

"Come in and warm up." Fluttershy said. Applejack nodded and walked inside, sitting in front of the fire. Fluttershy closed the door and sat across from Applejack as she rubbed her hooves together.

"So..." Applejack said. "Have ya seen her anywhere?"

"Yes." Fluttershy said. "I passed her in town earlier and we talked for a bit. She said she's going to be staying at her house for the rest of the night." Applejack quickly stood up and nodded, tightening her scarf.

"Thank ya, Fluttershy. Ah appreciate you lettin' me in to warm up." She said.

"I think it's a lost cause at this point, Applejack." Fluttershy stated. "She's angry. Hurt and angry and I'm not sure that you can get her to forgive you." Applejack sighed before looking at her, eyes watering.

"Ah know that, Fluttershy." Applejack responded. "But Ah've got to find her, apoligize and tell her how Ah feel." Applejack looked down. "Ah love her." Fluttershy gestured to the door.

"I don't mean to tell you to get out, but..." Fluttershy sighed. "Go and tell her!" Applejack nodded before walking out of the cottage back into the cold. She adjusted her stetson before taking off in a dead sprint in the direction of Rainbow Dash's cloud home. It was quite a walk, but Applejack was dead-set on her goal. This was it. The final rush.

And damned is she was going to give up now.

Every thirty seconds or so, a strong, frigid wind attacked Applejack with a devastating debilitating wave of cold. She payed no heed to her numbing hooves as she thundered through the fields toward Rainbow Dash's house. As the luxurious cloud dwelling came into her view, she doubled the speed at which she was running. She breathed heavily in a final, last ditch effort to gain some stamina for the rest of the run. This payed off as she finally reached her destination. She adjusted her stetson as she called her love's name.

"Rainbow Dash!"

No answer. Not even a sound. No lights turned on, and no movement was detected. Applejack stood still, catching her breath for a moment, the cold air burning her lungs. She gathered her breath and screamed again-

"Rainbow Dash!!!"

Still no answer came. No sign of any kind of reponse came for the orange mare standing in the cold. She stood firm however. If she had to get hypothermia, she would stand there with the affliction, waiting for Rainbow Dash to come flying down. Nothing would stop her. Nothing would hinder her. The only thing that could end her efforts to reclaim what she had lost was death. She stood, repeatedly calling Rainbow Dash's name every thirty seconds or so, making sure that her presence was established. After what seemed like hours, Applejack yelled again-

"Rainbow Dash, please come down!" A cry of anger and frustration came from the house, lighting a happy spark within Applejack. She brightened up significantly seeing Rainbow Dash flying down from her home. She touched down in front of Applejack, a look of anger on her face.

"What do you want?!" She said. "You've been down here half an hour screaming! I can't hear myself think!" Applejack smiled and scuffed her hoof on the ground lightly as she shivered from the constant cold.

"Hey, Dash. Ah haven't seen ya in a while." Applejack said, blushing heavily.

"That's because the last time I saw you, you told me that you hate me and that you want me out of your life." Rainbow said before going into a hover. "Now let me honor that request." Applejack grabbed Rainbow's tail between her teeth before she flew back into her home. Applejack pulled Rainbow back onto the ground before spitting her tail out.

"Now, Rainbow Dash, you know Ah didn't mean that! Ah was just caught up in the moment!" Applejack said.

"Sure okay." Rainbow said, lowering her brow and looking away.

"Ah'm bein' honest, Rainbow!" Applejack said.

"Yeah, because you've been so truthful lately." Rainbow said to her. "How's it going with Caramel by the way?"

"Ah broke it off with him." Applejack said. "And now Ah have somethin' Ah need to tell you." Rainbow continued to scowl at Applejack.

"Go on, then." Rainbow said.

"Ah...Ah love you, Rainbow Dash. Ah always have." Applejack said. "Ah just...didn't see it until tonight..." Rainbow looked at her, continuing to scowl.

"Are you bucking kidding me?" The pegasus narrowed her eyes in rage.

"Uh..." Was all Applejack could reply with.

"You think you can play with me like I'm some kind of love toy, then break my heart, ignore me and rebuke me, lie to me and poor Caramel, and come back and apoligize, tell me that you just didn't see it and that it'd be all hunkey-dorey?" She said. "You make me sick, do you know that?! You make me sick!!!" Applejack flinched slightly at Rainbow Dash's verbal assault, her ears splaying back.

"Ah made a mistake, Dash. Ah'm sorry." She said.

"Oh, you're sorry." Rainbow said, dropping her tone to mock Applejack's sincerity. "Yeah, well sorry isn't really gonna cut it at this point! Do you have any idea what you've done? Not just to me, but Caramel?! Did you even see that you'd have to break his heart when you got with him? Do you even have any consideration?! "

"Yes, Ah do!" Applejack said, tears beginning to fall from her eyes. She looked at Rainbow and planted her hooves firmly to the ground. "And Ah'm tryin' to end all of it now! Ah'm sorry! What Ah did was wrong! Ah'm sorry Ah lied to you! Ah'm sorry Ah decieved Caramel for my own personal gain!" Applejack's voice softened considerably. "Ah'm sorry Ah never told you how much Ah love you..." Rainbow Dash shook her head. Fear spread within Applejack as she teared up. "Ah love you, Rainbow Dash."

"Well, Applejack," Rainbow said, softly. Her tone filled Applejack with hope as she listened. "I don't love you...not anymore. It's over. You've lost your chance."

Despair coursed within Applejack. She had lost the mare she loved. The mare that had loved her so dearly, that had not given up on her, was giving up on her now. Honestly, could she be blamed? Applejack had treated her like dirt and halfway expected to get out of it scot-free. She finally understood how Rainbow had felt that cold night outside Cafe Du Mane, the absolute feeling of hopelessness that crashed down on her like a warhammer. Her ears splayed back as her eyes flooded with tears. Her legs shook, not from the cold, but from the true feeling of losing somepony so precious to her. At this point, she would've been blessed to have any kind of a friendship with the pegasus from that point on. In all likelyhood, she and Rainbow Dash were done. Applejack sat down and sobbed, tears soaking and chilling her cheeks.

"Rainbow, Ah-"

"You should have thought of this before you did what you did." Rainbow said. Applejack broke down and cried. She cried harder than she ever had.

"Rainbow, Ah'm sorry!" She said with a sob. "Ah was a stupid fool for leavin' you! Ah'm so sorry!"

"I know you are..." Rainbow replied.

"Please take me back! You're the best thing to ever happen to me! Please! Ah'm beggin' you!" Applejack yelled.

"No." Rainbow Dash plainly stated before turning around and flexing her wings for takeoff.

"Ah don't wanna lose you!" Applejack continued.

"You already have." Rainbow stated, looking back at Applejack one final time before walking back toward her house. Applejack began to run after her, but in her frantic stupor, tripped over a rock. She fell to the ground roughly but made no effort to get up. She couldn't get up. She couldn't stand anymore.

"Rainbow Dash!!!" She sobbed, reaching for the pegasus from the ground, blinded by her tears. "Ah need you!!!" Rainbow continued walking, paying no heed to the hysterical Applejack. Applejack sobbed again.

"Rainbow, Ah'm sorry..." She muttered, struggling to speak. "Ah love you. Ah love you...Ah know Ah deserve this." Rainbow stopped in her tracks, catching Applejack's notice. The pegasus slowly turned around to reveal her face streaked with tears as well. However, instead of matching Applejack's look of despair, her face had an expression of rage. Her eyes were narrowed and her ears were splayed back. She stomped toward Applejack. She looked like she wanted to hit her. Applejack accepted this and stood slowly, struggling to support herself.

"Are ya gonna hit me?" Applejack asked Rainbow. She recieved no answer from the pegasus as she neared. "Alright. Hit me as hard as you can. Ah deserve it." Applejack said as she wiped her eyes, closed them and turned her cheek. She waited to feel Rainbow Dash's hoof strike her face. "Ah love you."

Applejack felt Rainbow's hoof against her face, but it wasn't a slap or a punch. Rather, it was placed gently on her cheek before the pegasus moved Applejack's face to meet hers.

Rainbow Dash kissed Applejack.

Applejack's eyes widened before they filled with tears. Applejack closed her eyes and returned the kiss happily, wrapping her front legs around Rainbow Dash, pulling her closer. Rainbow disconnected from the kiss and looked into Applejack's teary green eyes with her own.

"I love you too." The reunion of their lips was one to remember as warmth flooded through the two of them. Rainbow escalated the kiss passionately, slipping her tongue into Applejack's mouth. Applejack moaned lightly as Rainbow slowly pushed her onto her back. Applejack slid her tongue along Rainbow's, taking in the pure love and passion of their kiss as it sent electricity flowing through her. The spark that had been missing with Caramel was back in full force, except now it was a supernova of pure emotion, shown in the love the two mares shared. Time around them seemed to screech to a halt. To Applejack and Rainbow Dash, the only thing that mattered in the world at that moment was their love. The two mares stopped occasionally to get a well-needed breath to continue the kiss. Applejack wrapped her legs around Rainbow Dash and pulled her down onto her.

The kiss was a breath of fresh air to Rainbow Dash. She was back with the mare she loved, and she couldn't have been happier. She stroked Applejack's golden mane, knocking the stetson from her head. Applejack payed it no heed, however, as they continued to kiss. Enjoying the feeling of Rainbow Dash's lips and her tongue in her mouth, Applejack moaned again. They continued to kiss for five minutes before they stopped, touching their foreheads together, both of their ears splayed back. They held each other as they never once broke eye contact.

"Ah've missed your beautiful eyes." Applejack said happily, looking up into Rainbow Dash's rose irises.

"I could say the same to you." Rainbow said, nuzzling Applejack's cheek.

"Ah'm so sorry, Rainbow Dash..." Applejack said. "For everything."

"You've been saying that for the past thirty minutes." Rainbow responded. "I think it's pretty safe to say that I forgive you at this point."

"Ah know, Ah know..." Applejack said. "Ah just can't get over how awful Ah was. Ah mean, Ah always did love you, even though Ah lied to myself about it. Ah always knew Ah did."

"Well, I never stopped loving you." Rainbow said with a smirk. "I loved you even when you showed up tonight."

"You really are the element of loyalty, aren't you?" Applejack said. "But why did you tell me that you didn't anymore?"

"Well...I'll admit that I was pretty angry at you...so I decided to give you a taste of your own medicine." Rainbow responded. "I figure we're square now." Applejack nodded.

"Amen." She said before placing a small peck on Rainbow's lips. She shivered. "It's so cold..."

"Oh, geez! I completely forgot!" Rainbow said, letting Applejack stand up. "I wish you could come inside..."

"Ah'll just come by tomorrow." Applejack responded, placing her stetson on her head. "We can spend the whole day together."

"I really don't want to go to sleep without you tonight..." Rainbow said with a frown. Applejack brightened up and smiled at her.

"Maybe you don't have to." Applejack said. Rainbow raised an eyebrow at her. "Come stay with me tonight. Ah got a nice, soft warm bed that'll take the two of us just right." Rainbow smiled.

"Well...Tank is already asleep..." Rainbow said. "Let's go." The two mares, rekindled in their ever-burning love for one another, walked through Ponyville, their bodies pressed together affectionately. Several late-night ponies saw them, but Applejack didn't care. Not anymore. Thankfully, when they arrived at the farmhouse, every other member of the household was asleep, so they snuck through the house into Applejack's room. Rainbow walked around the side of the bed and lifted the covers, climbing into the bed happily. Applejack joined her and wrapped her front legs around the pegasus. Rainbow Dash snuggled into Applejack as she kissed her on the lips and whispered into her ear-

"Don't you forget...Ah love you."

Obligatory End-of-Chapter Author's Note: HOOOOOO-WHEE!!! YEAH, BABY! I'VE KNOWN THAT THAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS AND I'M STILL F*CKING HAPPY ABOUT IT!!! I only hope that you're as happy as I am right now. Long chapter, I know, but a chapter with events of this magnitude demands it! I adore this couple and there is no way in hell that I'd end this story with the two of them breaking up! Now, it may seem like the end, my friends, but it is NOT! Far from it, in fact! You can expect another chapter sometime next week! I'm so happy to have you guys as my readers! Cheers!