Chapter 9

Rainbow Dash happily dodged several clouds as she flew through the sky toward Sweet Apple Acres to see Applejack. Weather patrol had been relatively simple and laid back that day, only calling for Rainbow Dash, Cloud Kicker and a few others to keep watch on the clouds, making sure to bump a straggler in the right direction when it separated from the main body of clouds. It had been a relatively short run, but it felt like an entire day to Rainbow Dash. Every second that passed seemed to multiply by three when she was thinking about Applejack and how she'd rather have been spending time with her.

Now that she was currently on her way to see Applejack, she was extremely excited. Flying forward at insane speeds, she flipped and jumped off of a cloud, spinning as she plummeted toward the ground. Just seconds before her body slammed into the dirt, she unfurled her wings and caught the air beneath them, sparing herself from death's grip. Rainbow Dash thought nothing of it. She lived to fly like this. Dangerously, irresponsibly...no matter what happened to her. Accidents for Rainbow Dash were quite rare, anyway.

She beamed as Sweet Apple Acres came into her view, one of the most beautiful places the rainbow-maned mare had ever seen. Truly, she could not think of a better place to be than at that farm with her lover. She touched down at the entrance and ambled along the path, eventually coming to the point outside the barn where Applejack was most likely working. The pegasus lightly pushed the door open and slowly walked in.

"Applejack?" She called, receiving no reply. The barn was quite dark, despite the time of day. "Applejack?" Still no reply was heard. She shrugged. "Eh, must be inside..." A sudden scurrying noise reverberated through the barn, immediately catching Rainbow Dash's attention. Narrowing her eyes suspiciously, Rainbow Dash moved silently further into the barn to investigate the noise. A knocking sound hit her ears next.

"Who's there?" Rainbow called. There was no answer.

Out of the darkness came a bounding shadow, moving extremely quickly. Rainbow screamed as it bellowed and grabbed a hold of her...

And proceeded to tickle her.

Rainbow Dash couldn't help but break out into a fit of giggles, rolling around as the shadow, now revealed to be Applejack, bent over her and continued to poke and scratch at her sides.

"APPLEJACK!!! Hehe- Stop it!" Rainbow said in between peals of side-splitting laughter. "Pleeease!"

"Say uncle!" Applejack said with a smirk. Rainbow's face straightened momentarily as she looked, stunned, at Applejack.

"Never!" She said before breaking down again. Applejack upped her tickling game and moved her mouth down onto Rainbow's belly and blowing into it. Rainbow's eyes widened as she struggled to fight Applejack's merciless assault. This was a battle she was losing and she knew it. "Okay! Okay!" She inhaled deeply. "UNCLE!"

"Now say aunt!" Applejack said before blowing into Rainbow's belly again.

"AUNT!" Rainbow exclaimed, convulsing on the floor with laughter.

"Now say second cousin twice removed!" Applejack said, her smile growing.

"What?!" Rainbow exclaimed, struggling to speak clearly. Applejack finally stopped tickling the cyan mare and moved her face closer to Rainbow's.

"Close enough." Applejack said before kissing Rainbow on the lips. Rainbow smiled and kissed her love back. Before quickly disconnecting from the kiss, looking up at Applejack and raising an eyebrow.

"What the hay...was all...that for?" Rainbow inquired earnestly.

"That was for scarin' me so bad the night we saw the 'Bone Muncher' movie, or whatever it was." Applejack replied.

"Well, you did buck me in the chest. I'm still a little sore from that." Rainbow said, smirking.

"Ah know, but that was a reflex." Applejack said before poking Rainbow in the side, making the pegasus jump slightly. "Gotcha good, didn't Ah?" Rainbow rolled her eyes before moving to get up. When they were both standing, the two mares walked out of the barn and sat down on the soft grass, feeling the cool air kiss their skin.

"How did you even know I was coming?" Rainbow Dash asked Applejack. Applejack chuckled.

"It's kinda hard not to notice a moving streak of Rainbow in the sky." Applejack responded. Rainbow rubbed the back of her head.

"Yeah...I guess that sounds about right." Rainbow said.

"You're off awful early, ain't ya?" Applejack said.

"Yeah...There wasn't much controlling to do. We just had to point the clouds in a direction and supervise them." Rainbow replied. "Soooo boring. Especially remembering every waking minute that I could be down here, talking to you."

"Well, we wouldn't really be talkin' much, Dash." Applejack responded. "All Ah've really done all day is sort the apples. The Red Deliciouses, the Honeycrisps...it goes on and on. Ah've been pretty bored myself. The fun part doesn't begin again until next spring."

"Well, yeah, but boring work would be better with you than doing it by myself." Rainbow said before nuzzling Applejack quickly. "So, how have things been here since I left seventeen hours ago?"

"They've been fine. Nopony's said anything bad about you an' me since you've left, if that's what your askin'." Applejack said.

"No, that's not it at all." Rainbow said. "I was kidding more than anything." Applejack nodded.

"Alright, then." She said. "So...Ah've been thinkin'...when should we tell the Twilight and the others?"

"Well, Fluttershy already knows...Whenever you would really feel like it, I guess. I'm good with anything." Rainbow replied. Applejack pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow.

"How about tonight?" Applejack asked. Rainbow raised her eyebrows and nodded.

"Yeah." Rainbow said. "But what're we gonna do? Go from door to door and be saying 'Oh, hey guys, were a couple.', or what?"

"Maybe we could all get together someplace under the pretense that we're just hangin' out." Applejack said, rubbing her chin. "We could tell 'em when everypony gets there."

"Sounds great." Rainbow responded. "But where exactly would we get together?"

"How 'bout Sugarcube Corner?" Applejack asked.

"Aren't they kinda anti-fillyfooler over there?" Rainbow asked. "Are you sure you don't wanna go somewhere else?"

"Ah ain't afraid of what they think anymore, Dash. Landsakes, we told my family last night. If Ah can take tellin' them, I can take tellin' anypony!" Applejack spouted confidently. Rainbow Dash smiled warmly as she nodded.

"Alright, then." Rainbow said. "We'll get together tonight at Sugarcube Corner with the girls and we'll tell them all then!"

"Sounds like a plan Dash." Applejack said happily as she scooted over until her body was in contact with Rainbow's. The pegasus sighed happily as she layed her head on Applejack's shoulder. Applejack smiled as the cool breeze lightly blew her golden mane, slightly intertwining it with Rainbow's multi-colored one.

"Ah gotta get back to work, sugarcube. The sooner Ah get done, the sooner we can actually have some time together." Applejack said. Rainbow frowned and looked over at her.

"Oh, okay." She said. "I guess so. I'll go home and feed Tank. Then I'll tell all the girls to come hang out at Sugarcube Corner tonight. We'll tell them together." Applejack nodded and kissed Rainbow before she stood up.

"See you tonight, AJ!" Rainbow exclaimed happily before she took off into the blue skies. Applejack nodded.

"Lookin' forward to it."

"So, what's this all about, Rainbow Dash?" Twilight Sparkle asked Rainbow Dash as she, Fluttershy, Rarity and Rainbow Dash walked down the street to Sugarcube corner. Rainbow scoffed lightly.

"Whaaat, friends can't just get together anymore? They have to have some kind of reason?" Rainbow Dash asked rhetorically. Twilight rolled her eyes.

"You know what I mean, Rainbow." Twilight said. "I thought that you and Applejack were mad at each other."

"We were." Rainbow Dash said with a smile. "But we're all better now." Rainbow sent a quick wink in Fluttershy's direction. Fluttershy smiled at her.

"Well, that's so good to hear, darling." Rarity said happily. "I always hate it when two of us get into fights."

"No more of that." Rainbow responded. "We hashed it out. It's no big deal anymore."

"So, where is Applejack?" Twilight asked.

"Oh, she's meeting us at Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie's already there, so you know, it's kinda already set up for all of us to get there." Rainbow explained. "We figured that we'd get the gang back together to...how do I put it?...Celebrate us making up, y'know?"

"As good a reason as any." Twilight said. The four mares arrived at Sugarcube Corner and entered the eatery. Applejack and Pinkie Pie had been happily chatting in the lounge area when the rest of the group walked in. Applejack hurriedly walked to Rainbow Dash and wrapped her in a hug. Pinkie Pie took the oppurtunity to jump onto the two of them and squeal.

"I'm so happy you two are friends again!" Pinkie exclaimed.

"Yeah...alrighty then, Pinkie." Rainbow said. "Your hooves are kinda digging into my wings, though."

"Oop! Sorry." Pinkie said, jumping off of Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

"So, what was your little tiff all about, eh?" Rarity inquired. "Don't spare any details, you both know how much I love drama." Rarity sat on the lounge couch and batted her eyes expectantly.

"Ah'd rather not talk about it, Rarity. If ya don't mind. Ah'm pretty sure Rainbow doesn't wanna talk about it either." Applejack put a hoof around the cyan pegasus' shoulders. "All that matters in that we're friends again." Rainbow smirked and nodded. Rarity shrugged.

"Well, if it's really that uncomfortablee for you two...then I won't pry." Rarity said sweetly.

"Do I lose points if I say I was about to ask what it was about too?" Twilight asked half-heartedly.

"Don't worry about it, Twi." Rainbow said. "It's just kind of an uncomfortable subject for both of us."

As the fire in the louge roared, the six friends became more and more comfortable. They began chatting merrily about memories of times when they all went on different adventures and had several different mishaps along the way. Pinkie Pie rolled on the ground with laughter as she recalled how Rainbow Dash's face looked when she was fooled by their "Mare-Do-Well" fiasco.

"Alright, alright. Laugh it up, Pinkie Pie." Rainbow said, her eyebrows furrowing in slight annoyance.

"I'm...I'm sorry, Dashie!" Pinkie said. "It's just the way your eyes went-" The party pony make an exorbitant gesture in front of her eyes. "BLEUGH!!!" She continued to laugh heartily.

"It...It wasn't that funny!" Rainbow said, becoming flustered and crossing her front legs. Applejack gently placed a hoof on her shoulder.

"It's okay, Dash." She said quietly. "We all know it wasn't that funny. Just...let her have her fun." Rainbow sighed heavily and nodded. Pinkie Pie's laughter continued for a few seconds before she calmed down and sat down next to Rarity.

"Shouldn't you be working, dear?" Rarity asked. "I don't want you to get in trouble for leaving work early."

"Oh, I talked to the Cakes about it." Pinkie said. "They heard the situation and agreed to let me off early. Aaaaannnd..." Pinkie raised an eyebrow and smiled suspiciously before running out of the room and quickly returning with a plate of cupcakes and a pot of tea with six small teacups. "They let me make cupcakes for all of you!" The group marveled at the delicious-looking treats. Each of the five cupcakes was made with colors matching their respective owners. The cake bodies were made in the color of their coats, and the frosting was made in the color of their manes. Drawn in icing on the top of each were their cutie marks. Twilight marveled at the treat, picking up hers happily.

"Pinkie Pie...these are amazing!" Twilight said happily before taking a small whiff of her cupcake. "And they smell heavenly!"

"Yeah, it took me a while to get all of them just right. Not too long though." Pinkie said happily.

"How long, Pinkie?" Rarity asked her.

"Oh, just five and a half hours." Pinkie said. "They're still warm." Each mare's jaw dropped in utter suprise.

"Pinkie Pie, that's so thoughtful!" Rainbow Dash said happily.

"It's gonna be pretty hard to eat mine, it's so pretty." Applejack said.

"I'm trying to watch my weight..." Rarity said before earning the diapproving glare of every mare in the room save for Pinkie Pie, who looked at her with a hint of hurt in her eyes. "...But what the hay! This is too good to pass up!" Rarity took a massive bite of her cupcake. Her eyes widened heavily before glazing over as she sunk in her seat. "Ooooohhhh...goddesses...so good..." Rarity spoke with her mouth full. She never spoke with her mouth full. Pinkie Pie giggled sweetly.

"Pinkie, this is so good!" Twilight said after swallowing her first bite. "You didn't have to do this."

"But I wanted to!" Pinkie said happily. "And there's nothing you can say now. I already made them." Pinkie smiled widely as she watched her friends eat the treats, marveling at the taste and texture, making different comments on how incredibly amazing they were. They finished and all sat back, still amazed at the cupcakes.

"Seriously, Pinkie Pie, those were awesome." Rainbow Dash said. "How did you make my icing rainbow?"

"Oh, I just put a whole bunch of different flavors into it and stirred out very slowly making sure the velocity and trajectory of the whisk was juuust perfectly-"

"Alright, alright, Pinkie I get it..." Rainbow said, stopping Pinkie before she got too far into her exorbitant explanation. "Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. It was like a masterpiece artwork...that I could eat." Rainbow sat back next to Applejack and looked at her love. "So awesome." Something seemed to ignite inside Applejack as she smiled and stood up.

"C'mon, Dash." Applejack said quietly. "Now." Rainbow's eyes widened slightly.

"Oh!...Well, okay...it's kinda sudden." Rainbow said. Applejack nodded as Rainbow stood. The two mares walked to stand in front of their friends together.

"Girls," Applejack said. "We actually have gathered here tonight for a reason other than just hangin' out. We've got something to tell y'all." She smiled at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow gulped silently and nodded.

"Me and Applejack..." Rainbow said before rubbing the back of her head and blushing heavily. "We're in love!"

The two mares surveyed their spellbound friends. Twilight's eyebrows were raised and she was smiling. Rarity was purely astonished, her eyes widened, placing a hoof over her mouth. Fluttershy smiled sweetly at the two of them, being the only one of the other four mares who had previously known about the two of them. Pinkie's smile began small, but slowly turned to a face-encompassing grin as her eyes widened heavily.

All four of their friends erupted into various forms of response to the announcement. Not a word of it was negative or contradictory. Applejack looked at Rainbow and smiled happily. Their friends now knew about the two of them being together. Things finally began to quiet down slightly before Twilight spoke up.

"I'm honestly quite suprised, but I'm so happy for you two!" Twilight said. "Did your fight have to do with this?

"Yeeeah..." Rainbow said. "But we're past that, so let's not talk about it, okay?" Twilight nodded and smiled.

"I agree with Twilight." Rarity said. "I would most certainly be lying if I said I wasn't utterly astonished, but I couldn't be more excited for the two of you. I mean, you truly do make the perfect couple."

"Thanks, Rarity." Applejack said.

"I am very happy for the both of you." Fluttershy simply said. Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked at her appreciatively before being jumped on again by Pinkie Pie.

"Oh. My. GODDESSES! You're so cute together! I mean, ohmygosh you have that cute little 'friendly rivals' thing going on and you have this whole 'don't mess with us' dynamic! And...wait...Rainbow Dash..." Rainbow Dash looked up at Pinkie Pie, who was still on her back.

"Yes, Pinkie?" She said.

"Is Applejack...the pony you bought that...chocolate...heart...for?" Pinkie's eyes grew wider with every word she uttered. Rainbow slowly nodded with a smile. Pinkie Pie exploded into an excited scream as she jumped off of Applejack's and Rainbow's backs and wrapped the two of them into an enormous hug.

"We've gotta stop standing so close together when Pinkie's around." Rainbow said, strained from the embrace. Applejack nodded an affirmative. Finally, after Rainbow Dash and Applejack felt as if they were going to faint from asphyxiation, Pinkie Pie let go and bounced backwards, beaming at the newly revealed couple, who couldn't help but smile back.

"Honesty and Loyalty...I couldn't say that there's a better match." Twilight said with a smile. "How long have you guys been together, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Well, we've been together for a month and a half, but we've known each other for so long, it's like we've been together for a lot longer than that." Applejack said looking over at Rainbow.

"Yeah!" Rainbow spouted happily. "You guys know me and Applejack. We're not really ones to beat around the bush."

"That's some pretty sound logic." Twilight said. Rainbow Dash sighed with contentment. The next step was complete. She and Applejack were now established as a couple within their group of friends, and nothing could have made the pegasus happier. She and Applejack ambled back ot the lounge couch together and sat side-by-side.

"Applejack...Now that you have a..." Rarity said before clearing her throat and blushing. "Clearer power of persuasion over Rainbow Dash-

"What's that supposed to mean?" Rainbow Dash inquired incredulously. Rarity ignored her.

"You simply must get her to go to the spa more often!" Rarity said.

"Hey! I look just fine." Rainbow Dash said, quickly looking over herself with insecurity before straightening back up again.

"Of course, dear." Rarity reassured. "But you'd look so much better if you went to the spa perhaps...once a month."

"Once a month?!" Rainbow Dash said, already sure of what her answer was going to be to the ridiculous sounding request. "Maybe once every six months."

"Ah sure wouldn't mind it." Applejack said. "You're already darn good lookin', and somethin' that would make ya look even prettier..." Rainbow Dash blushed heavily as their friends giggled. "Oh, relax, Dash. Ah'm just givin' ya a hard time."

"Applejack, you-" The pegasus stopped mid-sentence, for something she witnessed completely stopped her train of thought. At the opposite side of the lounge, Mr. Carrot Cake looked around the corner at the group. He had been eavesdropping on them. When he noticed Rainbow Dash was looking straight at him, he instantly fled his post.

"Rainbow Dash?" Applejack said. "Rainbow, come on, don't tell me you're that sensitive. Ah was just foolin'-"

"Of course I'm not." Rainbow said, smirking at Applejack. "You could call me an ugly stump, and it wouldn't mean anything to me."

"Well, it's a good thing that you're about the farthest thing away from an ugly stump." Applejack countered sweetly. Rainbow blushed and giggled before realizing what she looked like and quickly straightening up and smiling confidently.

"Oh, come on, Rainbow Dash." Twilight said, half giggling. "You don't have to put up your little act. We all know what you're really feeling right now. Just let it out." Rainbow looked at the alicorn princess, then at Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and finally Applejack, who nodded. Rainbow Dash sighed and nodded. She immediately planted a kiss on Applejack's lips, suprising her lover, but not taking it too far. Applejack recieved the kiss happily before they disconnected.

"There." Rainbow said with a true, organic, confident smirk. "You happy, Twi?" Their friends cheered and applauded. Pinkie Pie burst into tears, grabbing Fluttershy tightly. Fluttershy smiled happily at the pair. Rarity fawned in adoration before falling over and Twilight nodded. Twilight poured some tea for each of them before raising her glass.

"A toast!" She announced. "To the new couple!" Everypony raised their teacups and smiled. "I wish you two the best." They all began sipping their tea before they all heard Mr. Cake's voice calling from the lobby.

"Pinkie Pie! Could you come in here for a moment?" He said, in a voice that seemed to be masked to sound pleasant. Pinkie Pie's ears immediately perked up as she hopped up happily and replied with a smile.

"Sure thing, Mr. Cake!" She looked at her friends and smiled. "Be right back!" Pinkie Pie bounced out of the room to speak with her employers. Rainbow Dash gulped silently and pulled Applejack closer to her.

"Mr. Cake was listening in on us the whole time, AJ..." Rainbow Dash whispered. Applejack's eyes widened slightly.

"You don't think this has somethin' to do with it, do ya?" Applejack replied, a hush to her voice as well.

"What's the matter?" Fluttershy asked them.

"Oh, nothing." Rainbow said with a small smile. "Nothing at all. We were just...uh..."

"Discussin' somethin' we heard the Cakes say earlier. It doesn't really mean anything." Applejack picked up Rainbow Dash's broken sentence. Applejack played off the potentially serious moment and had told the truth in the process.

"I wonder what he wanted with Pinkie Pie..." Rarity said. "I hope nothing's wrong."

"Oh, it'll be fine." Twilight said. "If something did go wrong, I doubt Pinkie's in very much trouble over it. The cakes are very understanding ponies." Rainbow Dash barely supressed a scoff.

"So..." Rarity said. "How did you two end up getting together?"

"Well," Applejack began, adjusting her stetson. "It all began that day when Ah invited all of you to that get together with my family, which y'all sadly couldn't attend, for your own reasons. Well, just when Ah thought nopony was gonna arrive, Ah see Rainbow Dash walk in. Ah was just so overjoyed to see her."

"A normal reaction to my awesomeness." Rainbow interjected. Applejack playfully slugged her shoulder.

"We ended up dancin' a little bit...and somethin' just clicked. There was a connection. Ah knew in my gut that Ah wanted to be with her." Applejack said.

"Yeah." Rainbow said. "When we danced...I felt like I could have done it forever. There was nowhere that I'd have rather been." At that moment, Pinkie Pie burst into the room, a look of pure hurt and despair in her eyes.

"We're leaving." Pinkie Pie said through tears.

"Pinkie, dear, what's wrong?" Rarity asked in concern.

"I don't work here anymore." Pinkie stated plainly. The other five mares were astonished. Speechless, they all struggled to get words out before Rainbow Dash finally spoke.

"What happened?" Rainbow Dash asked. "What did they say to you?"

"They..." Pinkie said. "They said that you...and Applejack...were disgusting...they asked me why I'm a friend of two fillyfoolers, and that the two of you are wrong and sick and they wouldn't serve either of you anymore...and...and..." Pinkie Pie could not finish her sentence. She broke down in front of her five friends, who watched Pinkie Pie cry. It was not wailing or sobbing. It was simply quiet sobs and sniffles. "I couldn't listen to them talk about you guys like that anymore...I quit, and I'm never coming back here again." Rainbow Dash stood up, her teeth clenched in rage. She began to exit the room as Applejack caught her and held her back.

"I think that it would be best if we all left." Twilight said. All in agreement, the six mares walked out of the eatery. Mr. and Mrs. Cake were standing behind the front counter, as if to take shelter from a potential assault. Rainbow Dash glared daggers at the Cakes. Neither of them could sustain eye contact with her for more than a few seconds. As they exited the restaurant, the anger and tension among the friends was palpable.

"Why the very nerve..." Rarity said in fury. "Those deplorable....awful..." Rarity could not supress a growl of anger leaving her throat. "I elect that none of us ever do business with the Cakes or Sugarcube Corner again!"

"I second that motion." Fluttershy said. "Those two are just...horrible..." The yellow pegasus managed to get what she meant out as she struggled to say bad things about the two ponies that had insulted her friends. Saying anything bad about anypony was certainly a difficult task for Fluttershy, but this was unexcusable.

"I should go back in there!" Rainbow yelled, still seething. "I should go back in there and destroy everything they have!"

"What would that accomplish, Rainbow?" Applejack asked her love. "What would that solve? It would just do nothin' but spread more hate. We've got to let it go." Rainbow frowned sadly at Pinkie Pie.

"Pinkie Pie..." Rainbow said. "I'm so...sorry that happened...I know the Cakes were like second parents to you..."

"Yeah...they were." Pinkie said. "But you and Applejack are like sisters to me! I would never listen to them talk about you like that!" Rainbow Dash and Applejack hugged Pinkie Pie, quickly joined by Rarity, Fluttershy and Twilight. Applejack lightly squeezed Pinkie Pie.

"If you need some money, sugarcube..." Applejack said. "You can always swing by the farm."

"Thanks, Applejack." Pinkie said.

"I wish you could fly." Rainbow said sweetly. "Weather patrol with you would be awesome!" Pinkie Pie giggled and hugged her friends.

"I'd be glad to pay you for some help around the boutique, Pinkie Pie." Rarity said.

"And you'd probably be good at rounding up critters." Fluttershy added sweetly.

"You can stay at the library with me and Spike until you find a place, Pinkie. Okay?" Twilight said. Pinkie nodded.

"Thank you all..." Pinkie Pie said happily. "I don't know what I'd do without you..."

The six friends separated from their hug and stepped back, looking at each other.

"So..." Applejack said. "What do we do now?"

"You know..." Rainbow Dash said. "I think Cafe Du Mane is still open. You guys wanna swing by there for something to eat?"

"Sure." Twilight said. "Why not? But I'm not sure how much I can actually eat thanks to Pinkie Pie's amazing cupcakes."

They all laughed. In agreement, the six friends all agreed as they headed for Cafe Du Mane.

"Pinkie Pie. There's somethin' Ah noticed." Applejack said.

"What's that?" Pinkie responded with a smile.

"You made cupcakes for all of us, but not one for yourself. Why?" Applejack asked.

"Well...I've kinda been off sweets for a while." Pinkie said, trailing off slightly. "Mostly chocolate." Rainbow Dash looked at Pinkie Pie, who winked at her. Rainbow chuckled as Cafe Du Mane came into their view.

After a nice, light meal at Cafe Du Mane, the group parted ways, saying sweet goodbyes. It actually felt difficult for Applejack and Rainbow Dash to leave the company of their friends. Walking back toward Sweet Apple Acres side by side, Applejack and Rainbow Dash both looked at each other.

"What a night, huh?" Rainbow said. Applejack nodded.

"Most definitely." The farm mare responded. "It had it's bad points, sure, but overall, Ah'd say it was very nice."

"I can't really argue with that." Rainbow said, looking down momentarily. Applejack nodded in agreement, continuing to walk on. The cold was striking, but it was not debilitating. There was no wind to speak of, and the sky was quite clear, revealing all the millions of stars accompanying Luna's moon to illumiate the land, even in the darkness of night. It was beautiful to Rainbow Dash. She looked up at the sky and sighed heavily. Applejack looked over at Rainbow Dash in slight worry.

"Somethin' wrong, sugarcube?" She asked. Rainbow shook her head.

"No." Rainbow said with a smile. "Absolutely nothing is wrong. I'm the happiest I've been in a long, long time. I get to share this moon with you, and not watch it from my room alone. Tank was my company for so many nights before now. I love him, but he's not exactly the best partner for conversation." Applejack chuckled.

"Well, he's a tortoise..." Applejack said. "Ya can't exactly expect him to talk to ya."

"I feel like he would if he could, though." Rainbow said. "Sometimes, I can just read him...I can kinda...tell what he's thinking. He's always been there for me."

"He's a good tortoise." Applejack said sweetly before sighing herself.

"You know, I knew the Cakes were bigots, but I never knew they'd be that bad." Rainbow said, frowning and furrowing her brow. Applejack frowned as well.

"There's gonna be ponies like that out there." Applejack responded. "Hey, Dash?"

"Hmm?" Rainbow responded, looking at Applejack and smiling.

"What the Cakes said tonight...What they did..." Applejack trailed off, frowning and looking down.

"Yeah." Rainbow said. "Go on."

"What they did...it was exactly what Ah was afraid of when Ah let you go." Applejack said. "Ah was terrified of havin' somepony judge me for who Ah am so harshly...and that it would come down on our friends. Ah guess, in a sense, I knew it would happen." Rainbow Dash's heart sank as her ears splayed back.

'No....' Rainbow Dash thought to herself in despair. 'Please, no...not again...'

"Ah didn't know what Ah would do..." Applejack said.

"W-what are you saying?" Rainbow asked. Applejack stopped at turned to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow's heart began to break as she tried to come to terms with what Applejack was most likely going to say next.

"Ah'm sayin..." Applejack said. "That you changed me. You gave me the courage to face what those two, or anyone else thinks of me. Now, thanks to you...Ah can truly be happy, and nopony is gonna tell me different." Applejack placed a hoof on Rainbow Dash's cheek. Rainbow's eyes moistened as she placed a hoof on Applejack's. "Ah love you, Dash."

"I love you too, AJ." Rainbow responded before kissing Applejack, wrapping her into a loving, passionate embrace. Applejack smiled into the kiss and moved her lips on Rainbow's, taking Dash's bottom lip between her own. Applejack slowly stroked Rainbow's mane as they separated and placed their foreheads against each other's, both of their ears splayed back in affection. They smiled contentedly at each other.

"Come stay with me tonight, Rainbow." Applejack said. "That bed's gonna be mighty cold without ya there."

"Sounds awesome." Rainbow replied, giving Applejack a small nuzzle. The two mares then walked back to Sweet Apple Acres together. However present the air of the Winter cold was, it did not matter to Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Their love for each other made it feel like a clear summer's night..

Obligatory End-of-Chapter Author's Note: Allllrightly, then. There is that chapter. The reason it took me so long is I was scared of that yellow message that says to not count on FIMFiction to save anything important right now. Well, eventually, I couldn't take it anymore and I JUST...HAD TO WRITE!!! I discovered that it still saves fine. I figured that the Cakes were going to be EXTREMELY mean in this...so, yeah. Expect the next chapter soon! Cheers!