(Applejack, Twilight Sparkle, Applebloom, and Rainbow Dash are property of Hasbro, Lauren Faust I guess, and whoever else made Friendship is Magic. Now about 20% cooler!)

Chapter Two: A Pegasus in the Hand

"Oh, hi Applejack. What brings you here?" Twilight Sparkle asked the earth pony after she entered the library; its branches swaying slightly in the soft breeze.

"Oh um, nothin'. Just lookin' fer a book…" the orange mare replied, uneasy.

"Well, what kind of book are you looking for? I know where everything is, so just ask me."

"Yeah, um… Do y'all have anythin' about, uh… like, relationships?" Applejack squinted, seemingly unsure.

"Hmm… We should, over there," Twilight gestured towards a shelf about three feet up to her left, Applejack's right. "Any special reason you want that particular kind of book?"

"Um… uh, nope," the blond earth pony smiled. "Jus' wanted to read somethin', and that came to mind."

"Okay, well I'm going to go downstairs for a bit. You can let yourself out. Oh, and Spike should be back soon," the purple unicorn headed to her basement, brain buzzing with anticipation as she thought about the experiment she was going to try.

Applejack perused the section of shelves Twilight had indicated before stumbling across a book titled, 'Inter-pony Relationships: Social Customs and Behaviors of the Modern Times'.

Satisfied, Applejack left a little note for Twilight and left before Spike returned.

…..

Rainbow Dash was clearing some clouds away when she looked down and saw Applejack leaving the library with a book in her bag.

'Since when is that pony a bookworm?' the pegasus wondered, debating whether or not she should follow the cowpony and see what she was up to.

'Hmm…' Rainbow Dash stalked Applejack as she made her way back to Sweet Apple Acres, hiding in a tree at the edge of her orchard when the earth pony went inside.

'I could go ask Twilight… Yeah, that's what I'll do!' the pegasus decided, flying back the way she had come.

…

Applejack settled in, yawning at the hard day of work she had had, and ready to kick back and read her newly-acquired book until she fell quietly asleep in her chair. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. The earth pony sighed, and went to answer it.

Rainbow Dash stood there, fidgeting her wings.

"Oh hey Applejack, uh… Mind if I come in?" she smiled a little awkwardly.

The orange earth pony paused then nodded, stepping aside to allow the pegasus entry.

"Look, um… I know what you're doing," Rainbow Dash said, taking a seat on AJ's couch.

Applejack frowned a little, tilting her head.

"What are you talkin' about, Rainbow?" she asked, going over to stand by the seated pegasus.

"I… Kind of spied on you," the mare with the multi-colored mane blushed lightly. "I saw you go into Twilight's library to get a book. That's something I've never seen you do before, and I thought to myself, 'what kind of book would Applejack need right now?', and then I figured… Maybe it had something to do with what I had said about me and Gilda and how I'm a…"

"Land sakes, Dash," the earth pony forced a short chuckle. "That's quite a train a thought ya got there… Now what kinda book would I be gettin' on account of one a my friends bein' a…"

Before Applejack could finish, Rainbow reached under the couch and pulled out the very book AJ had checked out that morning.

"I don't know," Rainbow Dash shrugged, looking at the cover. "Maybe 'Inter-pony Relationships'?"

Applejack blushed, fidgeting around and not making eye contact.

"U-um, well, that book, um…" she started to sweat.

"Hey AJ, you don't have to be so nervous about it," the pegasus stood, giving a half-smile. "I understand. Really, I get it. You're curious and want to try to figure me out better because you're my friend, right?"

"Y-yeah," the earth pony gulped, trembling slightly. "I jus'… Wanted t' see what it was all about… An' try t' unnerstand you better…"

"Thanks," Rainbow smiled warmly. "That actually means a lot to me, Applejack. I'm really glad you care so much," she said, a tear forming in her left eye. "Does this mean you're… okay with me… being this way?"

"Of course!" the orange mare declared with conviction. "Yer one a my best friends, Dash! I'd be alright with you if you had three wings and no legs, or if you um… H-had…"

Applejack shook and stuttered as Rainbow Dash inched her face closer to the earth pony's; smiling softly with her eyes half-closed.

"AJ," she whispered, her lips almost touching the blond pony's ear. "I'm so glad… I'd hoped… You would be the one to…"

"Applejack! I'm home!" Applebloom hollered from the front door that now stood open, startling both mares.

"A-Applebloom!" Applejack turned quickly to her younger sister. "U-um, yer a little early, ain'tcha?"

"Yep!" the filly smiled wide, obviously elated. "Miss Cheerilee let all of us out early, 'cause she had a date, 'r somethin'! Um… Howdy there, Miss Rainbow Dash."

"Hey kid," the pegasus winked, moving to the door past Applebloom. "I'll see you later, AJ," she grinned before taking off into the sky.

Applejack sighed, a little relieved and confused, even as strange feelings she'd never had for Rainbow before roiled within her.

"Applejack? You okay?" the bow-wearing filly looked at her older sister with blatant concern.

"Hm? Oh, yeah, I'm fine, Applebloom," the orange pony nodded, showing what she hoped would be a reassuring smile; even though she felt anything but.

'What're these feelin's?' she wondered, biting her lip. 'Do I really… Am I…?'

End of Part Two.