On any normal day Rainbow Dash would love to be shooting through the clouds at high speeds, practicing new tricks, or even just enjoying a leisurely flight over the town. Today, however, was different. Rainbow was not flying with the same joy she usually had when she flew, today she was flying just to get away from it all. Soaring quickly through the skies over Ponyville, Rainbow's mind wandered to what a certain lavender unicorn had said just moments ago.

"Rainbow Dash, I don't even—"

That was all that Rainbow Dash had needed to hear. After months of wondering if she was crazy, months of torture, months of asking herself what the hay she was doing, not to mention the three times before when she chickened out, an extremely nervous Rainbow Dash had finally admitted the feelings she had for her friend Twilight Sparkle. With those five words Rainbow's worst fears had been realized. Dash shot through the nearest window in the Ponyville library, heading anywhere that would get her away from that place. Rainbow did not know where she was going, her instincts just told her that she needed to get far away.

Why can't it ever go right? It's just... it's just not fair! I'm the Rainbow Dash! But, I... I guess someone as smart as Twilight doesn't need me interrupting her life, she has much more important things to take care of than a relationship, she's the protege to the princess for Celestia's sake! Besides, her life is so slow and boring, and mine is so fast and exciting, it would never work. She doesn't need me and I don't need her.

Tears would have been streaking down Rainbow's cheeks under normal circumstances, but because of the high speeds, they dried up before they could even exit her bloodshot red eyes.

You know what, why is she so special? Dash shook her head bitterly. Stupid Twilight! I don't need her anyway, I'm Rainbow Dash! The fastest flyer in all of Equestria! Future Wonderbolt! I don't need some eggheaded unicorn slowing me down, I just need to speed up my life! In accordance with her thoughts, Rainbow's speed increased substantially.

However, a voice protested from the back of Rainbow's mind. No! Twilight is the best thing that's ever happened to you and you know it! How are you going to live without her? She is everything you've ever wanted, and you love her more than anything in the world, even flying. You know that you would give anything for her!

Rainbow Dash closed her eyes. "I know."

Suddenly, Rainbow Dash felt a pulse shoot throughout her body as she approached the sound barrier. Time itself seemed to stop and, for a brief moment, the entire world was quiet. Then it happened.

She had done it! The third ever sonic rainboom! A massive multi-colored ring appeared around her. Soaring gracefully though the air with a bright rainbow colored streak following her every move, Rainbow momentarily forgot what had happened with Twilight just moments ago.

This is amazing! Oh boy, I almost forgot how awesome this was!

Rainbow gave a valiant attempt at letting out a cheer, but could not be sure if anything had actually come out of her mouth. Flying faster than the speed of sound had its advantages, and is disadvantages.

She felt so free! It felt like electricity was shooting throughout her body, she felt so alive! While Rainbow Dash was thoroughly enjoying this moment, the sense of joy was short lived. Her mind turned back to what had happened at the library.

What is Twilight gonna think of me now? She's probably won't even be my friend anymore! Oh Celestia did I screw up! The whole group is at risk now, and that means the Elements of Harmony might split up! I put all of Equestria at risk because I'm so selfish! What am I gonna do!? Rainbow's mind suddenly snapped back to the situation at hand. What they hay, I shouldn't be below these clouds! For the love of Celestia, I was not paying attention at all! Okay, okay, be cool Rainbow, you're not going to crash, you just need to be cool. Alright RD, you got about ten seconds before you hit the ground, you can do this, just remember flight school. Wings out, Lean back, Pull up.

Rainbow Dash attempted step one: wings out, but her feathered limbs were met with so much air resistance that she could not fully extend them.

Okay, desperation time, lean back, pull up.

It was too late. Everything was in slow motion, and mere seconds seemed like hours. Rainbow Dash's mind was flooded with images of Twilight. Then just as suddenly as it began, she hit the ground. The world went black.

"Wha... what the hay, where am I? Looks like a forest, the Everfree forest?" Rainbow said aloud.

Rainbow's forehooves shot up to her temples. "Ahhhhh, well that hurts. A lot."

Dash looked up. What the hay? For the love of Princess Celestia, that cloud is massive! It looks just like the one from when I destroyed Applejack's old barn! Looks like I made a pretty dang big crater in the ground too! Well, I hope I didn't hit Zecora's house!

Rainbow Dash slowly turned her head slowly, looking in all directions for anything that would give her a hint to where she was. The only thing she noticed was how incredibly silent the forest was. Suddenly, a strange noise interrupted the peace. Rainbow Dash turned her head to discover what the disruption was, but, even with her throbbing headache, she already had a pretty good idea what caused the disturbance.

Of course, Twilight. Wow. I... I can't take it! She looks amazing! And look at me, all cut up, dirty, worthless. Rainbow dipped her head in shame. How the hay did she even know where to teleport to? Ahh, whatever, it doesn't matter anyways. I don't even care anymore. A single tear streaked down Rainbow's cheek.

Twilight galloped over to Rainbow Dash, a serious look of concern on her face. "Oh my gosh! Rainbow Dash! Are you okay?"

Rainbow, however, could care less if Twilight was being courteous or not. "Me? I'm fine..." slurred Rainbow Dash, whose headache was preventing her from stringing together completely understandable sentences. "I've just had my heart broken and... and got in the worst crash of my life... How are you, Twilight?" Dash's forehooves shot back up to her head, massaging her temples. Rainbow squeezed her eyes closed tight, cringing at the pain.

"I'm, uhh, alright?" responded Twilight, who obviously did not catch Dash's hint at sarcasm.

Rainbow fought through her headache to make her point clear. "Oh that's nice! So, why exactly are you here again?"

"Rainbow Dash, calm down, you look really hurt. Besides, you didn't even let me finish before you stormed out of the library! I was going to tell you–"

"Tell me what?" screamed Rainbow Dash, who was now no longer facing the unicorn out of pure spite, "tell me that you think I'm crazy? Tell me that you don't want to be my friend anymore? Reject me?" Dash couldn’t even feel her headache anymore.

"No Rainbow, you left before I could finish. I was just shocked to hear it from you because... well because I was kinda thinking the same thing..." admitted Twilight, who was now sitting in the crater next to Rainbow Dash, blushing an extremely bright shade of red.

"Is this some kind of cruel joke?" Rainbow Dash sniffled angrily as she turned back towards Twilight. "Do you think that you can just play games with—"

That was all that Rainbow Dash could get out before Twilight made possibly the most daring move of her entire life. After a moment of shock, Rainbow Dash finally realized what was happening, Twilight was kissing her. Twilight was kissing her! It was the most incredible thing in the world, better than a sonic rainboom. Hay, it was better than all three sonic rainbooms put together! Out of pure instinct, Rainbow Dash returned the kiss. She had never felt so real, so alive! Dash wanted the experience to never end, but after what could have been a few seconds, minutes, hours, or even several days, the two mares broke apart.

"Well that was unexpected," Dash mumbled under her breath.

For a while, nothing else was said. The two ponies just contently smiled in a loving hug and stared deeply into each other's eyes.

Purple really is my favorite color.

After a long while, Twilight finally broke the silence. "So... what does this mean?" She was blushing furiously.

"I don't know," responded Dash neutrally, "I don't want to think about what it means right now, I just know that I'm happy at this moment, and that's all that matters, right? I think that we should just go with the flow, you know?"

"Actually, that sounds great for the time being, but right now I think that we need to get you to the hospital!" said Twilight, referring back to Rainbow's injuries.

"Nah, I'm good," protested Rainbow Dash as she slowly broke away from Twilight, "nothing's broken, just a little sore is all."

Twilight, who was very emotionally attached after the kiss, tried to prolong her time with Rainbow. "Well okay, but I have some books back at the library about dealing with and treating sore muscles, and we can also fix up your cuts and bruises."

"Oh yeah, sure! I bet that's not all you want to fix up back at the library!" Rainbow joked.

Twilight just rolled her eyes, dismissing the notion.

Rainbow Dash stood up, only to find that her body ached from her hooves to ears. Her knees wobbled before collapsing, sending her crashing to the ground.

"Actually, Twilight," whimpered Rainbow wearily, "that sounds like a pretty good idea right about now, and maybe a hot bath too?"

"A bath huh? Now look who's being suggestive!" responded Twilight with a smirk on her face as she bumped Rainbow with her flank.

"Oww!" said Rainbow in a joking tone, even though it did hurt quite a bit, "wow, I didn't know Twilight the book worm would say stuff like that!" Rainbow Dash smirked non-seriously.

"Rainbow Dash, at least wait until we are back at the library!" jokingly scolded Twilight, "but in all seriousness we should go before someone finds this."

"Yeah... that might turn out to be a problem..." Rainbow guiltily rubbed the back of her neck.

"Ready to go?" asked Twilight enthusiastically.

"Ready whenever you are Twi'!" Rainbow Dash assured.

Twilight just shook her head in disbelief as to the previous events. This is going to be interesting.

A purple flash appeared around the two ponies as they teleported away from the site of the crater. Rainbow found that she was standing outside of the large hollowed out tree that was the Ponyville library.

So this is what they mean when they say 'living in the moment!'

Applejack shot straight out of bed, startled. The loud noise had echoed throughout the house, the windows were rattling violently and various objects were strewn across the floor, knocked off of counters or shelves in the room.

What the hay is goin' on out there?

Applejack poked her head out of the window and saw a rainbow streaking across the sky. That ain't no normal rainbow, it's as straight as can be. Plus, it ain't rained here for 'bout a week now. Applejack's slow response time may have been due to the grogginess of just waking up, but it suddenly hit her what the cause of the rainbow was. Rainbow Dash!

"Well would ya look at that!" announced Applejack, "looks like Rainbow did it again, another sonic rainboom!"

"Applejack, darling, come back to bed," groaned Rarity, who was just waking up from a deep sleep.

"How 'bout you get outta bed and see what Rainbow just pulled off, a third sonic rainboom!" Applejack called back.

"Applejack, however impressive our friend Rainbow Dash's trick may have been, the only thing I want to see is you back in this bed right now!" teased Rarity with a seductive look on her face as she motioned towards the bed with her hoof.

Applejack looked somewhat stunned at the unicorn's words and gestures, but quickly recovered into an amused state. "How could Ah say no to that face?"

Applejack jumped into Rarity's bed and planted a loving kiss on the lips of her fillyfriend. Spending long, sleepless nights together at Rarity's house was nothing new for the two mares, being as they had been seeing each other for nearly a month now. It had all started soon after cider season when the Flimflam brothers were run out of town. Considering they had more than enough cider to go around from the contest with the two 'entrepreneures', Pinkie Pie had decided to throw one of her famous impromptu parties which she called the "We-Kicked-Those-Meany-Pants-Flimflam-Brothers-Out-of-Ponyville-and-Now-We-Have-a-Bunch-of-Apple-Cider-So-Let's-Drink-A-Whole-Bunch-of-Apple-Cider Party." During this party, Applejack and Rarity may or may not have paid a visit to the Apple family cider cellar, where they stored the more matured cider. Some events transpired between the two of them that now felt like a distant memory, but they both remembered that they were, to say the least, heated. The next morning they awoke cuddling in the Cutie Mark Crusader's clubhouse on the Apple family farm. At first, it was terribly awkward, but they eventually got together and talked about what had happened, and what they were going to do moving forward. Obviously the two ponies had feelings for one another, even if those feelings were purely physical. As Applejack said, they might as well 'give it a go and see what happens.'

After a couple of semi-secret dates, they ended up spending the night together, just like they had done the night of the party, except for they left out the part where they were they spent the night in a treehouse. That night was a moment of absolute euphoria and passion for both of them. After that night, they fell head-over-hoofs in love with each other, and had been spending almost every day together since.

Applejack was now on top of Rarity in a seductive pose, which left Rarity with a look of want in her eyes. Applejack was ready to claim her prize, but just as she nipped at Rarity's ear, she felt her stomach growl.

"He he," laughed Applejack awkwardly, "Ah just killed the mood, didn't Ah?"

Rarity grinned. "I'm afraid so, darling, but that's quite alright, I am absolutely famished anyway and I can tell that you are too, sweetie."

Applejack's cheeks turned a bright shade of red as she quickly crawled off Rarity and retreated to her side of the bed.

"Ya well least it ain't as bad as the time Twi' almost caught us at the library because somepony couldn't wait 'till we got back to their house!" retorted Applejack.

"Oh Applejack, darling! You know how absolutely wild you can drive me some days, I just can't hope to contain myself!" Rarity fell back into Applejack's forelegs.

Applejack rolled her eyes."Alright Little Miss Dramatic, that's enough. Now let's go get somethin' to eat before Ah starve to death."

"Okay missy, how 'bout we go get some apple pie, or apple strudel, what they hay, how about just plain ole apples!" mocked Rarity in a terrible country accent as she tried, ineffectively, to contain her giggling.

"Ha ha very funny, now let's go, princess, before Ah have to drag you down there myself," commented Applejack sarcastically.

"Ooooo, I don't think I would be opposed to that!" responded Rarity who soon discovered that a pillow had been thrown at her head.

"Oh alright, but do let me have my fun!" she chuckled as she bumped her fillyfriend playfully.

Applejack could not help but smile, "How the hay do Ah put up with ya, Rarity?" the earth pony asked light heartedly but also semi-seriously.

"Well for one there is my amazing personality, dashing good looks, how amazingly talented I am, the fact that I am one of the rising stars in the fashion world, not to mention—"

"Jeez Rarity, Ah didn't ask for you to write no book, but Ah do love ya... but mostly for your body."

"Applejack!" screamed Rarity.

"What? Ah'm only kiddin'. Are you the only one who can have a little fun?" responded the earth pony playfully.

All Rarity could do is smile, and all Applejack could do was smile back. To Applejack, it felt like her and Rarity had been made for each other. Despite their differences, which there sure were a lot of, she felt like their love was meant to be, and would last forever. If anything, their differences made their relationship stronger, not weaker as would be expected.

"Rarity?" asked Applejack with a sense of sincerity in her voice.

"Yes, Darling?" responded Rarity.

Darling. Applejack loved when Rarity called her that, it made her feel special. Even though she commonly used the word before they were seeing each other, and she had probably called everypony in the town darling at some point, Applejack still felt butterflies in her stomach every time Rarity used the word. Maybe it was all in her imagination, but it was like Rarity was saying an entirely different word when she called her darling.

"How the hay did Ah fall in love with a pony that Ah ain't got a thing in common with?" asked Applejack half joking, half sincerely.

"Well you know what they say darling, opposites attract. Plus, I think that we balance each other out. You keep me from being so, as you would say, 'prettied up' and I keep you from being that scruffy little farm pony that you want so much to be." Rarity deduced.

"Well there ain't nothin' wrong with a little honest work, even if ya do get a little 'scruffy'!" retorted Applejack.

"Yes and there also is not a thing wrong with being a little 'prettied up' either," noted Rarity.

"We are good for each other ain't we, Rarity?" asked the earth pony rhetorically.

"Yes we are, Applejack, yes we are," the other pony responded with a smile.

"Ah love ya, Rar’," Applejack announced.

"I love you too," repeated Rarity.

The two ponies shared a kiss. It was not a long kiss, nor was there really anything special about it, but for both of them, every kiss seemed like the first kiss. It felt so real, and it felt so right. For two mares, the spark they experienced every time they kissed was just another sign of how in love they were.

"And Ah always will," Applejack whispered as she planted a quick, smaller kiss on Rarity's lips.

Rarity leaned in, nuzzling her body against Applejack, who gladly returned the loving gesture.

As the two ponies embraced each other, Applejack's stomach violently gurgled again. "Hehe,"Appleajck giggled awkwardly.

"Well Applejack, how about we go actually get some food, otherwise you might starve to death!" joked Rarity.

"Ah know the perfect place for breakfast!" replied Applejack enthusiastically, ignoring Rarity's comments.

"Umm, Applejack..." hesitated Rarity.

"Yeah?"

"It's one in the afternoon..." continued Rarity.

"Oh well then how does lunch to ya?" asked an unfazed Applejack

Rarity smiled. "Lunch sounds absolutely great, Darling!"

The two mares slowly trotted out of Rarity's boutique, heading in the direction of the restaurant that Applejack had in mind with an obvious pep in their step. Both ponies were very much enjoying their stay on cloud nine, and not even Princess Celestia herself could kick them off.