The title of this chapter is dedicated to Fox-Sama, who may or may not want to still throw me off a cliff! :)

Also, congratulations to YOitzGEEZUS, who posted the 69th comment on the story!

"Twilight," whispered Rainbow Dash, "Twilight, wake up."

"Hmmm... uhh, oh Clelestia, is it morning already?" mumbled Twilight, her eyes still sealed shut.

Rainbow Dash leaned in close. "Shhhhhh! It's just me, we need to talk, but we have to be quiet!"

Twilight's once sleepy eyes instinctively sprung open at the realization that Rainbow Dash needed her. "What is it Rainbow?"

The couple, along with Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, were spread about the cozy main room of Rarity's boutique. The boutique was completely dark except for the glowing red embers of the warming fire that once was. These embers were a stern reminder of what the night had once been, and what it had become. Each pony was individually wrapped up blankets, sleeping bags, pillows or any other comfortable object they could find spread across the floor of the room.

Rainbow Dash was wide awake because, compared to the clouds she normally slept on, the accommodations were extremely uncomfortable, well, that is what she planned to use as an excuse. "Can't sleep. I'm too used to clouds."

"Rainbow, you might as well stop lying, we both know that a couple of uncomfortable blankets won't keep 'Equestria's Best Young Sleeper' awake. Now it's... uhh..." Twilight rolled over to take a look at the clock, which was only visible because of the moonlight that shined through the window on the opposite side of the room, "4:30 in the morning, so why don't you tell me what is really bothering you so we can both get back to bed."

Well, I guess we might as well get right to it. “Twilight, they know! They know about—“

"Shhhhh!" interrupted Twilight, "you're going to wake everypony up!"

Rainbow directed her gaze towards Rarity, the fashionista was wearing a blindfold, snoring quite loudly and drooling. Dash could not help but chuckle slightly.

"Right sorry," Rainbow whispered, whose mind had quickly returned to the situation at hand, "they know about us Twilight! They were gonna come right out and say it, in front of all our friends!"

"Now Rainbow Dash, we cannot assume that—"

"Didn't you hear Applejack?" Rainbow interjected, "she knows! She has to know! She brought up Lyra and Bonbon! She went in and talked to Rarity, and then said that they discovered something! What else could they have discovered?"

Twilight let out a long exhale. "Okay, maybe they do know, but what difference will it make? They’re still our friends, and even if they are against us, we still have each other, and nopony can take that away!"

Twilight Sparkle nestled her head into the body of her fillyfriend, giving her a loving nuzzle. Rainbow was caught somewhat off guard. Amongst the commotion of the night, she nearly forgot that Twilight's relationship was more than just an idea.

After a brief delay, Rainbow returned the gesture."I know you'll always be here for me, Twi', but why would Applejack and Rarity feel the need to tell everypony, wouldn't you think that would be something that they would let us do?"

"I think you are the one becoming the egghead, Rainbow!" joked Twilight, "because you are really over thinking this! I don't think that is what they were talking about anyway, but if you want, we can talk to Rarity and Applejack about it sometime tomorrow," she said with a more serious tone.

Rainbow sighed. "Alright, but that would mean that we’re officially coming out, there is no going back."

"Well if they already know, like you said, then it doesn't matter anyway, but if they don't know, like I think, then we will be giving away our secret," reasoned Twilight, "but we are going to have to come out at one point or another, so I say we just talk to them about it anyway, just to be safe. But I'm going to let you decide, Rainbow, whatever you think is best."

"I... I just don't know,” groaned an emotionally drained Rainbow Dash, "I can't decide! Not tonight!"

Twilight had already closed her eyes, wishing to be unconscious. "Well, why don't you sleep on it. You can make a decision tomorrow."

Rainbow let out another long sigh. "Okay, Twilight, good night, I love you." Rainbow's head crashed back down on the pillow.

"I love you too..." responded Twilight, who was already enjoying the relief of sleep.

Twilight Sparkle may have been fast asleep, but Rainbow Dash's eyes were wide open. What the hay am I gonna do?

"Well, Ah gotta do some work 'round here at sometime! I can't be spendin' all mah time with ya."

The early morning sun was shining down brightly upon Sweet Apple Acres. For being autumn, it was a surprisingly warm day. There was not a cloud in the sky, and Applejack's brow was dripping with sweat. She kicked a large tree, and apples of all different colors rained down to the ground below.

"Why don't I help you with your chores?" asked Rarity with a cheesy grin.

Applejack rolled her eyes. "Let's be honest Rar', you are 'bout as usefully on a farm as Ah am in a beauty salon, but ya can follow me 'round and we can talk while Ah finish up this stuff if ya want."

Rarity's eyes lit up. "Alright! What do you have left?"

"Ah just gotta finish buckin' the last of these late bloomin' apples, then Ah'll be done," Applejack stated as she threw her back legs forcefully into one of the trees.

"So what did you do with Applebloom?" asked Rarity casually.

"Grounded 'er," said Applejack as she bucked another tree, "Sweetie Belle?"

"Also grounded," Rarity responded, "and I'm sure Scootaloo's parents did the same, but even if they decided against it, we most certainly will not be seeing the Cutie Mark Crusaders for some time."

"Well, Ah guess justice is served," responded Applejack neutrally, who seemed to be preoccupied with her chores.

"I have to admit, I'm not necessarily mad at them for interrupting us as I should be, because that whole situation was very, well, very awkward," cringed Rarity.

Applejack frowned. "Even if it was real 'awkward,' it don't mean that we shouldn't tell 'em. Don't forget 'bout it, we gotta do it again sometime soon."

"Umm, Applejack...” hesitated Rarity.

Applejack let out a long exasperated sigh, "yes Rarity?" she asked with a forced smile.

"Well, I was doing some thinking," continued Rarity, "and I think that we definitely should not tell our friends all at once."

"Ya don't think?" Applejack retorted sarcastically.

Rarity stomped her forehoof. "Stop it Applejack, I'm serious!"

Applejack's face quickly changed as she suddenly grew serious, "okay Rar', what do ya think then?"

"Well I think that we should take our planned intimate setting, and make it even more, well, intimate," Rarity responded.

"Umm... is that suppos'd to be somethin', uhh... suggestive?" Applejack asked with a confused look on her face.

"No, no, no, no, no, darling," responded Rarity," I was talking about telling each of them individually! But that doesn't mean that I wouldn't be up for some of that later." Rarity approached Applejack.

Applejack stuttered, "well, Ah uhh..."

Rarity giggled. "You're so cute when nervous," she whispered into Applejack's ear.

Applejack was now on the offensive. "Oh yeah?"

Applejack lunged at Rarity, tackling her to the ground below. Applejack found herself in what was becoming a reoccurring position on top of her partner. The tall grass of the farm brushed against their coats, and nearly obscured them from view. A sudden gust of wind blew her hat off of the top of her head and onto the face of Rarity, who brushed it off instinctively.

"Ya don't like my hat?" joked Applejack.

Rarity smirked. "I love your hat, it's just that it was in the way of this."

Rarity then took the initiative by pressing her lips against those of the Applejack, locking the two in a passionate kiss. Rarity, completely lost in the moment, forgot about the context of their situation, and how risky it was to be intimate with each other in the open.

Rarity, however, was eventually able to create a rational thought. Remember what happened at the library a few weeks ago, Rarity! Oh Celestia! "Wait, Applejack, what if someone sees us?"

Applejack, who was breathing heavily, forced her back to the ground and continued kissing her, "Ah don't care," Applejack muttered between kisses.

"Applejack? Applejack? You out here?"

Although Big Macintosh was not visible, Applejack and Rarity still stopped momentarily, frozen in each other’s hooves. The two ponies quickly scrambled up to their feet, both with bright red streaks spread across their cheeks.

Was I right or what!

"Ya Macintosh, Ah'm over here," called out Applejack.

"Are you done with your chores yet?" they heard Big Mac call back.

"Uhh... ya, just finishin' up!" called Applejack back as she looked over at Rarity and smiled a cheesy smile.

"Alrighty, lunch is ready when you're done," they heard his voice call out as it faded away.

Applejack looked at Rarity and blushed, "uhh, maybe we should be more careful."

"You don't say?" playfully mocked Rarity.

Applejack's blush got brighter. "So what were ya sayin' about a more intimate setting?"

Okay Applejack, I'll forget about what just happened if you really want me to... for now "That we should tell each of them individually darling."

"Oh, umm... who do ya think we should tell first?" inquired Applejack, who was still attempting to avoid talking about what had just happened.

"Applejack, are you going to be okay?" asked Rarity genuinely.

"Ah'm fine!" retorted Applejack defensively, "it's just... Ah don't know..."

"Your brother?" Rarity finished for her.

Applejack let out a long sigh as she brought her gaze up from the ground and into the air. "Ta be honest? Ah'm terrified. Ah know him, Granny Smith, and Applebloom will still love me, but Ah'm scared that they won't accept you, or that they won't look at me the same anymore."

Rarity rested a comforting hoof on her partner's back. "Applejack, you know I support you one-hundred percent. If you want to tell them now or wait until later, Im fine with whatever decision you decide to make, but we do have to tell them at some point in the near future."

Applejack nuzzled up against Rarity seeking a source of strength. "Ah know Rar', Ah'm just so scared."

Well, this is most certainly new! Nope, this has most certainly never happened before! It's like I'm the tough earth pony and she's the dainty unicorn! I think I like this! I feel like I have a purpose! Okay, I think that's enough. No! I have to stay steady, for Applejack! As long as she needs me, I'll be here, no matter how sweaty she is!

"It's going to be okay Applejack," reassured Rarity, "we are going to get through this together, we both just have to stay strong."

Applejack, whose eyes were puffy and red, looked up at her partner "Thank ya Rarity. Now, who do ya think we should tell first?" nearly laughed Applejack.

Rarity smirked. "Oh I have somepony in mind..."

"Twilight, let's go!"

Twilight trotted down the staircase. "Alright I'm set, are you all ready to go Rainbow?"

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "Am I ready? I've been waiting here for twenty minutes because somepony had to finish studying.

"Relax." Twilight gestured at Rainbow. "I told you to come back over at 1:00, you were here at least 10 minutes early!"

"I just got anxious, okay?" retorted a defensive Rainbow Dash, "I just want to get it over with!"

Twilight remained optimistic. "Calm done Rainbow, it's nothing that important, just telling Pinkie that we want to throw a party, nothing more."

Rainbow Dash looked terribly confused. "Wait, we don't have to tell Pinkie Pie?"

"No!" Twilight hesitated, "well, we don't have to tell her today, we just have to get her to plan our, uhh... I guess you could call it our 'coming out' party. You should stop worrying so much you know, but if you don’t want to do this, we don’t have to."

"Me? Worry? Pshhhhh! I'm not the least bit worried, just a little anxious is all, but not worried or nervous! There's a difference!" scoffed Rainbow Dash, “besides, if we don’t do it ourselves, Rarity and Applejack will do it for us, so we might as well get it over with!

Twilight's face revealed a sense of disbelief. "You’re not worried! Ha! You were awake at 4:30 last night telling me how worried you were!"

"I wasn't worried! I was, uhh... uhh.." Rainbow hesitated, trying to find any type of excuse.

Twilight smiled smugly. "Oh no, please do go on."

"I was, uhh... I was just letting you know, uhh... letting you know that our friends knew about us, and, umm... yeah..." Rainbow rubbed her hoof along the back of her neck.

"Are you really that bad of a liar, Rainbow?" asked Twilight jokingly, "because that was pretty terrible!"

Rainbow’s face revealed a cheesy smile. "Yeah, well, I try my best!"

Twilight, once again, rolled her eyes. "How in Celestia's name do I even put up with you?"

"Because I'm the Rainbow Dash?" Rainbow suggested scarcastically.

"Well in that case, I think we need to stop seeing each other," Twilight declared.

Rainbow Dash was in complete shock. "Wha... what?"

"I'm joking, Rainbow," clarified Twilight with a warm smile, "jeez, you need to calm down!"

"Okay, maybe I am a little nervous," Rainbow admitted.

"Thank you!" exclaimed Twilight sarcastically.

"So can we go already?" Rainbow changed the subject. "Because you said we were supposed to go at 1:00, and it’s 1:02."

Twilight eyes widened. “Well why didn’t you say so! Let’s get going! We can’t be off schedule!”

As Twilight slowly trotted past Rainbow Dash towards the front door of the library, she stopped and planted a small, loving kiss on Dash's snout. A warm pulse shot throughout Rainbow's body as a result of the unexpected sign of affection. Most of this energy ended up in her cheeks, evident by the streaks of red under each eye.

Twilight casually strolled out of the library. "Are you coming Rainbow?"

Rainbow Dash, still joyfully surprised from Twilight's previous gesture, vigorously shook her head to regain her composure. "Yep, let's... let's go!"

Dash trotted up to Twilight, giving her a playful bump before darting past her. "C'mon, Twi'! I'll race you there!"

"Don't you know, Rainbow?" Twilight inquired, "I retired after I beat you in the running of the leaves!"

This time, it was Rainbow Dash who rolled her eyes. "We both know that was all luck, you would never beat me in a real race!"

"I guess we'll never know then." Twilight smiled. "We'll just have to say that I'm the champion!"

"Oh come on!" Rainbow pleaded, "just a quick race, we won't even count it officially!"

"Well... no! Sorry!" Twilight teased, "besides, I could just teleport there and win easily!"

“But that’s cheating, and I know you wouldn’t cheat, because that means I win by forfeit!” Twilight and Rainbow Dash rounded a corner, bringing Sugarcube Corner into view. "Please please please please Twilight! I'll even give you a head start!"

"Hmm... let me think about it," Twilight contemplated as she continued walking to Sugarcube corner, "I don't know Rainbow, I don't want to embarrass you."

Rainbow Dash, now hovering above Twilight, pointed at Sugarcube Corner, which was just feet in front of them. "Well it's too late now!"

Twilight smiled. "Well, okay, let's race! 123 go!" She darted forward the few remaining feet and reached her hoof out, lightly touching the door of the bakery. "Well look at that! Looks like I'm 2-0!"

"Haha very funny, Twilight." Rainbow Dash lightly landed on the ground. "You know, I think I liked you better when you were a shy little bookworm!"

Rainbow Dash bumped Twilight playfully as she reached up and knocked on the door of Sugarcube corner three times. The couple waited for a few seconds before being greeted, surprisingly, by Rarity.

What the hay is she doing here!? thought Rainbow, this is not going to end well!

While Rainbow Dash may have been incredibly shocked, Twilight remained calm and finally broke the silence. "Umm, hi there Rarity!"

"Oh hello, Twilight!" responded Rarity as she broke eye contact with Rainbow Dash.

"What brings you here?" asked Twilight, attempting to be polite.

"Umm, well, Applejack and I came to see Pinkie Pie." Rarity hesitated. "So, uhh... what brings you two here?"

"Same thing actually!" responded Twilight, trying to be casual about the whole situation.

Rarity's quickly realized what was happening. "Oh I am sorry, Twilight! How could I be so rude! Please do come in!"

Twilight walked around the frozen Rainbow Dash and entered the bakery. "Are you coming, Rainbow?"

Rainbow Dash could not move a muscle. It's over! They know! How could they not know! I was right! They are here to tell Pinkie Pie! They might have already told Fluttershy! I need to leave! I need to—

Dash's thought pattern was cut off by Twilight tugging at her forehoof. "Rainbow, would you like to join us?"

When Rainbow Dash looked up from the floor and into the eyes of Twilight, she saw something she would not soon forget. Twilight did not have to say anything, her look alone was enough.

Twilight's eyes stared right at Rainbow Dash. She was not begging for Rainbow to stay, she was demanding it. For Dash, it was like Twilight had paralyzed her without using magic or words, only using her gaze. Rainbow knew that leaving was not only the wrong choice, but might have actually been impossible.

Rainbow Dash did not break eye contact with Twilight for a second. "Yeah, sorry, I was just zoning out."

Once the ponies were 'comfortable' inside, Twilight addressed the other ponies present. "Hello Applejack, Mrs. Cake."

Applejack seemed nervous. "Hi there Twi', how's it go?"

"I'm okay," muttered Twilight, who was focused on the obvious issue at hand, "so, exactly where is Pinkie Pie?"

"I was just about to ask the same," chimed in Rarity.

Mrs. Cake's eyes lit up, like she had suddenly remembered something of great importance. "Oh yes! She's up in her room!"

"Well ladies, shall we?" Twilight announced.

The other three ponies looked extremely uncomfortable, as if they all wanted to be as far away from Pinkie Pie as possible.

Rainbow was the first to acknowledge Twilight. "Yep! Let's go!"

What the hay are we doing!

Twilight led the way up the staircase, the other three ponies trailing behind her. When they finally reached the closed door to Pinkie's room, she pounded on it four times.

"Pinkie Pie, are you in here?" hollered Twilight.

All three ponies heard the distinct sound of Pinkie's signature giggle coming from the other side of the bedroom door. "She's in there, let's go," reassured Twilight.

Twilight magically turned the knob on the door, revealing the interior of Pinkie's room. Twilight's jaw, in synchronized unison with the other three ponies', hit the floor. In the bed of the room was Fluttershy, who had just noticed the four new ponies in the room. He face was redder than the streak in Rainbow Dash's hair.

Pinkie Pie's head poked up quickly from under the covers.

"Well this is super-dooper awkward!"