Rainbow Dash lay quietly on the bed in the dark room of Sweet Apple Acre's farm house. She had been thinking long and hard, carefully planning out her words and predicting every possible outcome of the conversation that she could fathom. Finally she felt ready enough and nudged Applejack softly with her muzzle, "Applejack, I've been thinking…"

"Oh Really? Well that's a first!" Applejack said sarcastically with a toothy grin.

Rainbow Dash had actually hoped this would be the first response she received, giving her a chance to lighten the mood. She bonked the orange pony on the head, "Hey, I'm being serious!"

Applejack giggled and turned towards Rainbow Dash, "Sorry, so what is it hon'?"

"It's been what, half a year since we got married?" Rainbow asked.

"Yeah, so?"

Rainbow scooted in a little closer, "Well, I think we are ready to take the next step."

Applejack looked confused, "Uh, the next step?"

"I've been thinking…" Rainbow Dash paused and took in a deep breath, "I… I want to adopt a filly…"

Applejack's eyes widened, still staring at the Pegasus in disbelief, "R-really? Are yah sure?" she asked, "Ah mean, it's just never really thought yah tah be well… the parenting type."

Rainbow Dash's blue cheeks turned bright red, "I know it's sudden, but… I've been thinking about it a lot lately, and it's something I really want to do."

Applejack quietly gazed at Rainbow Dash and studied the glistening magenta eyes that stared back into hers and was still unable to find any indication that she was being played. She couldn't deny that she'd thought about it, but the idea frightened her, "Rainbow… ah don't know."

Rainbow Dash could tell almost instantly what was bothering her, "Applejack, you don't need to be afraid, you aren't anything like your father. I know you would never abandon your own family like he did." She said placing a hoof on Applejack's cheek.

Applejack frowned, "Can ah think about it?"

Rainbow smiled, "Take as long as you need." She then imagined them both old and gray before the decision had been made, "Err, actually, don't take too long, and remember, you aren't anything like he was."

"Ah'll try not to over think it." Applejack gave Rainbow a quick kiss on the lips before shifting back onto her side facing away once again. She tried to take Rainbow's assurances into consideration, but she couldn't help but begin comparing herself to her father once again; he had always been short with her as a filly.

What if she ended up just the same way, nothing more than an ill tempered mare spending her days screaming at the child's every fault and mistake. What if one day Rainbow Dash became seriously ill and instead of caring for both of them, she walked out on them, just like her father had the day her mother died. She repeatedly told herself she would never do the things that he had done, but the feelings continued to linger.

Hours passed, she rolled from side to side restlessly on top of the bed covers, waves of negative thoughts rummaging through her head, she decided to change her approach and focus on the positive. With a single form of paper she could potentially change a pony's life for the better. She could bring them in from a cold and run down building, and raise them in a warm home with a loving family.

In some way, she began to feel she would also be leaving apart of herself in the world when she finally parted it. The new ideas overwhelmed her with a sense of pride and excitement as the feelings of love began to bloom for the filly she had yet to even meet. Applejack took in a deep breath, "Okay…"

Though it had been hours and was well into the night, Rainbow Dash had been unable to fall asleep. The anticipation of the answer, the long wait had made her completely frazzled. At first she thought she had imagined hearing the answer. "What?" Rainbow asked.

Applejack grabbed Rainbow Dash and pulled her close, "Ah said okay, but ah want a girl… Also, where are we going to go?"

"Trotsdale." Rainbow Dash replied instantly. The place held a special spot in her heart. It was where she had been raised for the first few years of her life. Although she didn't exactly look back fondly at the place, in fact it mostly filled her with depression and loneliness, it would always be a part of her, and helped contribute to who she was.

Maybe it was her desire to have a basic connection with the filly of having shared the same home. It could be that she wanted to spare just one pony from having to experience the youngest years of her life in such a lonely environment, either way her mind had been made up. Rainbow Dash rested her head on Applejack's shoulder, "I want to adopt her at Trotsdale Orphanage."

Author's Notes

I don't know why I keep saying I'm going to stop writing these stories. Anyway, I really hope you have read the thirst three parts of the series, as well as 'A search for a home' as it provides a substantial bit of information that you may find being referred to quite a bit.

Also, as many of you will most likely complain, yes, it is a short chapter. It's just for setting the mood though and letting the loyal readers I have know that I'm finally working on something once again.