Chapter 16: More Feelings
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Rainbow Dash flew in the sky over Applejack as the farmer ran through town towards Sweet Apple Acres. The pegasus easily caught up to the distraught earth pony but maintained her speed and altitude above Applejack as she ran. Dash understood her marefriend as she was very much the same way. Whenever Rainbow Dash was upset, she went on a long fly alone, as fast as she could. Applejack was wingless and couldn't fly, but a run was very much the same.

Eventually the blonde mare slowed her run to a gallop, then to a trot, and then a slow walk. Having made it back to her farm, Applejack walked among her apple trees for a few more minutes before laying down under one. She looked towards the soft sound of hooves gently landing on the ground near her and knew Rainbow Dash had been following her closely. She had actually expected it, not bothering to look the skies for her. Applejack knew Rainbow Dash would stay near her.

"Howdy there sugarcube," Applejack said, her voice a little terse.

"I still hate when you call me that," Rainbow Dash said, giving Applejack a slight smile to try and cheer her up. She laid down in the grass beside Applejack and extended one of her wings to wrap around her back. She kissed Applejack on the cheek and rested her head against the side of AJ's neck. She felt a soft lurching and shaking against her cheek as Applejack began to cry.

Rainbow held Applejack under her wing and waited for her to get it all out. She had her own suspicion at what got Applejack so upset and they would talk about it later, but for now she knew her marefriend needed quiet. Applejack had done the same for her months ago. Rainbow Dash had broken down after being raped by someone she had thought was her friend and Applejack held her all through the night and the next day, letting go of her only to help Dash eat. Applejack had spent every minute of the next three days within Rainbow Dash's line of sight.

She kept Dash as a guest in her home for almost a month before Rainbow felt like she could return home and stay there on her own. The time together had been enough of an eye-opener for the both of them to know that they weren't just friends. Nothing had happened during those weeks, nothing physical except hugging and cuddling throughout the night, but inside both of them they had gotten much closer.

While they held each other they talked, and Applejack was a great listener. They talked about their insecurities and dreams, they talked about their private thoughts and opinions, they talked about just about everything possible to talk about, and then some more.

Less than a week after returning home, Rainbow Dash asked Applejack out on their first date. They went to Whitetail Woods for a walk where Rainbow Dash challenged Applejack to a race. The race ended at Horseshoe Lake where they swam together until sunset and shared their first kiss on the bank under the rising moon. They went back to Applejack's and slept in the barn after taking their relationship to a more physically intimate level. They spent hours wrapped up around each other's bodies, but by dawn they were asleep in each other's hooves as they had done back when Dash was a houseguest, and when Big Mac and Applebloom found them in the morning they were none the wiser.

Rainbow Dash was with Applejack when she came out to her family. Well, when she came out to Big Mac and Granny Smith. She didn't want whatever their reaction may be to cause strife in front of her. Mac didn't seem too comfortable, but he didn't say anything against them. Granny Smith had made a big roaring ruckus about it, saying hurtful things such as 'unnatural' and 'yer parents are spin-' That last comment was stopped by a slap across her face by Rainbow Dash. The cyan mare was able to cut to the chase and get Granny Smith to admit that she still loved Applejack, she just didn't like this relationship, which was good enough for Dash, and good enough for now for Applejack.

Since then their relationship had been rather smooth. More than smooth; it had been glorious. They'd spend hours together every day, usually working on the farm. Rainbow Dash pitched in all the time as best she could; her natural athletic spirit and speed being quite useful. Even to the point where now even Granny Smith stopped giving her dirty looks; she was just too dang helpful. She still didn't acknowledge the fact that Rainbow Dash and Applejack were dating, but she did acknowledge that Dash was a welcome member of the farm. Mostly welcome. She always left the room whenever Applejack and Rainbow Dash hugged or kissed.

That was two travesties that the two had gotten through together. Now they had a third obstacle to face; Rarity. Fortunately, Rainbow Dash already suspected what was going through Applejack's mind, because the same thing had gone through Rainbow Dash's mind several times. Unfortunately, it was not the kind of thoughts two committed marefriends should have about a mare that isn't their lover.

"Ahm sorry Dash," Applejack said now that her few minutes of self-indulgent crying had passed.

"Ain't nothing to be sorry about AJ," Rainbow Dash said, kissing Applejack's cheek and earning her a smile from the orange farmer.

"Ah shouldn't be all emotional over someun' other than you." Applejack said after leaning her head to rest against Dash's neck.

"Really AJ, its fine," Rainbow Dash said, lifting her foreleg to wrap around Applejack's shoulders, "You're not the only one who was upset by what Rarity said."

"But ah ain't upset over her pigheadedness," Applejack said, "Well...ah am, but that ain't what got me to cryin'. Ahm upset cuz-"

"Because she was the first pony you ever had a crush on," Rainbow Dash said in an understanding tone, "And it hurts to think that she won't feel that way for you ever."

"Y-yeah." Applejack said, looking with surprise at Rainbow Dash, "How'd ya figure that?"

Rainbow Dash smiled and looked up at the night sky, partially obscured by the trees. "I already told you about my feelings for Fluttershy when I was little. Well, when she accepted Twilight's offer for a date back a few months...that hurt a bit. It hurt more when I saw how happy they were together since then. But...I don't know, it didn't hurt in a...bad way?" She looked a little confused as she spoke to the sky. Applejack looked up as well, thinking about what Dash was saying..

"Cuz it was Twilight she's with?" Applejack offered.

"Yeah," Rainbow Dash said, "It doesn't make a lot of sense, but I guess my heart was always funny that way."

"Still, ah shouldn't be this upset about Rarity and ahm sorry," Applejack said, "Yer mah marefriend and ah couldn't ask fer a better one than you."

Rainbow Dash smiled again then looked at Applejack, a slight blush and a look of discomfort coming over her. "Better? Nah, there are none better." She said "But...a-and tell me if I'm wrong...but could you think of a few marefriends that would be, you know, as good?"

Applejack blinked as her own orange cheeks began to take on a red hue. "W-what?" she asked uncomfortably.

"Listen...AJ...I don't know how to say this without hurting your feelings," Rainbow Dash began, "But you being upset about Rarity not loving you back...I feel the same way as you. I mean...a part of me really...really liked Rarity. I had really thought about...well..."

"Y'all thought about datin' her from time to time?" Applejack asked.

"Please don't be mad Applejack," Rainbow Dash said, looking rather worried.

"Ah aint," Applejack said, kissing Rainbow Dash's cheek, "Ah get what yer feelin' and yer right; its one of them tricky thangs mah heart likes to do." She touched her chest with her hoof, "But look at it this way," she said, reaching over to touch Rainbow Dash's chest, "If both of our hearts are bein' mighty funny 'bout the same thing, then that's just one more thing we've got goin' fer us."

Rainbow Dash smiled and the two leaned in and kissed each other. They closed their eyes when their lips met and they held the kiss for a long time, simply basking in each other's presence and the mutual feelings of love they could feel. It was more than satisfying; it was invigorating.

With no spoken words or physical gestures, the two stood up and hugged each other; both of them knowing that the other was ready to go home and rest.

"Gnight AJ," Rainbow Dash said, flapping her wings to start hovering.

"Night Dash," Applejack said, waving her marefriend goodbye. She stood up on her tiphooves and Dash ducked her head low so they could share another quick goodnight kiss before separating. Applejack watched Rainbow Dash fly into the starry sky before turning and finishing the trek home to the farm house.

She got home at the same time as Applebloom and they both shared notes on how Sweetie Belle and Rarity were holding up. Applejack omitted some of the details of the conversation and just summarized that Rarity was a bit upset but she'd be fine. Applebloom said much the same about Sweetie Belle.

Exhausted from an emotional evening, Applejack had gone right up stairs to her bedroom once she was inside, figuring to take a shower in the morning, when there was a knock at the door. She heard Big Mac's big hooves heading to answer it and sighed, closing her eyes and feeling mighty tired.

"AJ!" Big Mac hollered, forcing Applejack to open her eyes and groan, "Its fer you!" She crawled out of bed and grumbled to herself that if it was Rarity she'd smack her again just for getting her out of bed.

Twilight took her time walking back to the library from Carousel Boutique. She was performing the breathing exercises that Princess Cadance taught her, stopping every few paces to emulate the gesture with her hoof even. Before long she felt a semblance of serenity and decided she was calm enough to cease with the breathing exercise and finished the short wlak to her home.

"Fluttershy?" Twilight said in surprise when she opened the door. She saw her marefriend in the entrance room talking to Spike. Both of them turned to Twilight.

"Oh, hello Twilight," Fluttershy said, "Um, I was just asking Spike if he would be willing to petsit Angel for me when we go to the Gala."

"Oh, aren't you going to the Gala Spike?" Twilight asked.

"Nah," Spike said with a dismissive wave of his claw, "I went to the last two, and the last one was boring since you guys didn't destroy it. Since I doubt you'll do it this year, I'll have more fun dealing with...Angel." he said the rabbit's name with a disgruntled sigh. Twilight suspected that he was just agreeing to it for the sake of helping Fluttershy rather than actually preferring it over going to the Grand Galloping Gala. She would need to get him something nice as a token of appreciation.

"Um," Fluttershy said after a couple of seconds, "I also, kinda, wanted to talk to you too, Twilight. If that's okay."

"That's fine Fluttershy," Twilight said, giving her marefriend a smile to try and ease never had enough confidence to assert herself to her friends unless the matter was beyond urgent. "I actually wanted to talk to you also, but I've been...hesitant. I guess now's better than never. Let's go upstairs so we can talk privately. Er, no offense Spike." Twilight added. She trusted Spike with keeping secrets, but telling Fluttershy that she did not share her feelings the way she had thought was something that should be kept between them. At least at first.

"I'm not washing the sheets this time." Spike grumbled, crossing his arms and walking into the other room. Both of the mares blushed a bit at that comment and Twilight shot Spike a glare that he did not see. They left the main room and went up to the second floor of the library and entered Twilight's bedroom. Twilight entered the room behind Fluttershy, her mind churning with the twenty-seven different versions of what she was going to say.

"Um...you first." Fluttershy said, standing uncertainly in the middle of the room. Twilight had expected Fluttershy to suggest that and was considering insisting on Fluttershy talking first, but decided that she should say what she needed to say now just in case Fluttershy was here to say something too touching and heartfelt for Twilight to be able to bear.

"Alright," Twilight said. She closed her eyes and inhaled slowly. She was feeling nervous now. Fluttershy was too precious to for this. She could feel her heart beating heavily in her stomach. What would she say? Would this ruin their friendship? Would lying about love be better than losing her as a friend?

"Fluttershy...you know that I love you, right?" Twilight said. Fluttershy's eyes widened perceptibly, but she nodded. Twilight could feel heat rising in her face. Her stomach tensed and knotted itself. "Well...I...I...don't..." She closed her eyes for a moment as tears began to well up. She did not want to look at Fluttershy, but she had to. Fluttershy was her friend; she deserved to be acknowledged while Twilight broke her heart. "I don't think that...I'm in love with you."

Twilight bit her bottom lip and looked at Fluttershy, anxiety etched on every feature. Fluttershy stared back, her wide eyes returning to a normal size and, much to Twilight's surprise and confusion, a smile appearing on her face.

"I don't think that I'm in love with you either." She said quietly.

"Huh?" Twilight asked, her head quirking slightly to one side.

"I...I've been talking to Cadance," Fluttershy said, her cheeks getting a little pink, but she did not retreat into her mane. "I love you Twilight. I love you dearly. M-more than family. But...I also love Rainbow Dash and Rarity...and Pinkie Pie and Applejack just as much. I've...I've been really worried about saying 'I love you' to you so often. I do! Really, but...I also love them. And..."

"And my feelings for you are no different from my feelings for them!" Twilight interjected where Fluttershy trailed off. She felt like a weight was removed from her chest and that she could think clearly again for the first time in days.

"Yes." Fluttershy said. She looked uncertain and Twilight smiled. She reached out and touched her hoof to Fluttershy's shoulder to reassure her.

"I feel exactly the same." She said. Twilight let out a breath and chuckled lightly. "I'm so relieved you feel that way too."

"Oh yes," Fluttershy agreed, also looking as though she had just overcome an insurmountable task as well. "I...yes, yes." She repeated softly, closing her eyes and letting out a sigh of relief.

"So..." Twilight said, "No hard feelings?"

"Oh no," Fluttershy said, "Not at all. I...I still love you Twilight."

"Yes," Twilight said. She stepped in closer to Fluttershy and gave her a lingering kiss on her cheek. She embraced Fluttershy, holding her close and hugging her tight. "I still love you too."

They held each other in silence for several minutes, letting their tensions and anxieties flow from their hearts and dissipate. Eventually they released each other and looked into one another's eyes. There was no problem between them. No awkwardness, no bitterness. They were still friends.

Perhaps...still more. Fluttershy thought hopefully. "I need to go home." She said. "The animals need their night snack before bed."

"Alright." Twilight said, giving Fluttershy another quick hug, "I'll walk you out." She opened the door to her room and walked back down into library with Fluttershy at her side. They went to the front door together and Fluttershy exited.

"Bye." She said softly.

"Good night." Twilight said, closing the door after Fluttershy had taken a few strides away. She sighed again and slumped against the wall. "That could not have possibly gone any better." She said happily. Standing up, she went to the back of the library to look for Spike, but before she had gotten far she heard a knocking at the door.

"Spike," she called, "there's someone at the door!"

"I've got it!" The dragon replied, heading for the door.

The entire day was devoted to planning the ultimate party. Though this party would not be the kind most ponies would expect by Pinkie Pie. In fact, most ponies would not even be aware of this party. Only six ponies would be present, including herself. This party was going to be the perfect party, and it was going to be a private party.

Pinkie's realization that she was deeply in love with all five of her friends had come as less of a shock and more of a relief to her. It helped her deal with the odd feelings she had when Twilight and Fluttershy had begun dating, and when Rainbow Dash and Applejack told them all that they were together. However, keeping that realization to herself simply would not do. Nope! She needed to tell each and every one of them that they had captured her heart.

For that reason, Pinkie had left the preparations in Sugarcube Corner- a beautiful surprise for later that night when her friends came over- and headed up the road to the library. Twilight would be the first to receive her invitation because she was the closest and that made the most sense, plus the silly unicorn would probably spend a long time over analyzing what Pinkie's invitation meant, so the more time she had the better!

Knocking on the door to the library, Pinkie Pie glanced over her shoulder to make sure that the lavender and magenta cake was balanced on her back adequately. Whent he door opened she opened her mouth to take a deep breath but stopped herself when she saw it was Spike.

"Hi Pinkie Pie." Spike said.

"Hi Spike!" Pinkie said, "Is Twilight home? I wanna give her this cake." Pinkie Pie had been about to say invitation instead of cake, but managed to switch out the word without any difficulty or stuttering. She felt a little bad not inviting Spike to one of her parties, but this party was special and he really did not belong there. I'll throw another party and invite everypony she thought, deciding that was the fairest thing for her to do.

"Sorry Pinkie," Spike said, "Twilight left a little while ago. She went to Rarity's I think. I can hold onto it and give it to her when she gets back." he added, eying up the cake with a scarcely concealed ravenous look in his eyes, his tongue licking his lips.

"Oh that's okay," Pinkie said, "I'd rather give it to her personally. It's a special friendship cake and I wanna see her face when she sees it."

"Okay, guess." Spike said, frowning in disappointment "Seeya later then."

"Yeppers!" Pinkie said, turning around and heading away, Spike shutting the door behind her. Pinkie Pie headed back to Sugarcube Corner to switch Twilight's cake out for Applejack's. She would have liked to take Rarity and Twilight their cakes at the same time, but Pinkie could only carry one cake at a time, plus if one heard their special song before the other it would ruin the surprise!

With Applejack's cake on her back, she headed up the road out of Ponyville and to the farm, humming the tune she had designed for Applejack's song as she walked. She was excited! She had never pre-written songs individually for each of her friends before; they had always been more spur-of-the-moment to the situation at hand, or song she had known from beforehand. She knew they would all like her songs though; they always loved her normal songs, and these ones were special to each of them.

Lifting her hoof she knocked on the door several times and waited. Fortunately, as she expected, the wait was not long. There were so many friendly ponies in Applejack's family that someone was surely nearby.

"Howdy Pinkie Pie." Big Mac said after looking down at the energetic party pony. "What can I do for you?"
"Hiya Big Mac!" Pinkie said happily, "Is Applejack here? I need to talk to her. Itsreeeeeeaaaaaaaaally important."

"Sure thang." Big Mac said, taking a couple of steps back, turning, and hollering towards the stairs "AJ! Its fer you!"

They both heard hooves coming down the steps and Mac walked out to another room to let Pinkie Pie talk to Applejack in private. Pinkie waved him farwell and beamed at Applejack as she arrived.

"Oh, hey there Pinkie Pie," Applejack said, "Somethin' goin on?" Pinkie Pie opened her mouth and took in a deep breath.

Applejack,
I'd love to have ya,
and all our besties- don't be too dressy!
At my own personal
Gala!
I have to admit
That your freckles are real cute.
And without you at my side
This ho-down just won't be a hoot!

Applejack blinked and looked at Pinkie Pie with a somewhat confused expression. Pinkie Pie had placed the cake on the floor at Applejack's hooves while singing and hopping around. But if the song had been confusing, what followed was even moreso. Applejack stood stock still as Pinkie Pie leaned in and pressed her lips to Applejack's.

The farm pony's eyes shot wide open. Pinkie Pie's lips were clamped firmly on her own, her tongue sliding past the stunned orange lips and caressing the insides of her mouth. Applejack was numb at the moment; all feeling gone save the warm tingle of Pinkie Pie's lips and the tantalizing touches of her tongue. Just as Applejack was coming to terms with the moment and was about to return this surprising display of affection, Pinkie stepped back, still smiling cheerfully.

"I love you Applejack." She said before turning around and walking away with a bounce in her step. Applejack watched her leave, and stayed at the door staring at the empty road for a minute after Pinkie had vanished.

Pinkie Pie had to make a quick stop at Sugarcube Corner to get one of the other cakes, after passing by the library and seeing Twilight just getting back. This time Pinkie grabbed the white cake with dark purple frosting and glittering sugar diamonds. She knew Rarity would love the cake, but she had to make sure Spike didn't see it;the sugar diamonds would probably be too tempting for the young dragon. She knew it was very tempting for her to eat the cake, but the cake wasn't for her, it was for Rarity, so she had to resist.

Carousel Boutique was a short trot away for Pinkie Pie. She was so excited after giving the invitation to Applejack that she was almost jittering with bottled up energy. She couldn't wait to give Rarity the invite! But she had to walk slowly; she was not exactly a 'stable' pony and balancing a cake on her back was tough work, so she took her time with the walk.

Knocking on the door to Rarity's dress shop-slash-home, Pinkie Pie waited, expecting to see Rarity in all of her normal elegant splendor. The pony that opened the door, however, was quite different what Pinkie had expected. It was still Rarity, but she was far from glamorous. Her eyes were puffy and red, her mascara had ran, and her hair was a mess. She was in her fuzzy bathrobe and slippers.

"Oh? Pinkie, wha-*hic*-what is it? Is something wrong?" Rarity asked. Pinkie Pie felt a lump in her stomach. Rarity was upset? But why? This should cheer her up though! she rationalized.

"Nothing is wrong!" Pinkie said with a smile, tossing the cake from her back to land between her and Rarity. Beaming at her, she began her song.

Rarity,
My fair lady.
My damsel in distress.
I do say,
That today,
I really love your dress.
Now come with me,
Fair Rarity,
To my private soiree.
There'll be party games
And expensive champagne
And we'll all have a wonderful time!

"Yay!" Pinkie finished her song. She worked on catching her breath for a moment while Rarity blinked at her. When the unicorn opened her mouth to respond, Pinkie Pie stepped in close and planted the deal-sealer. The kiss she gave to Applejack she also gave to Rarity.

The Unicorn nearly took a step back in surprise, or she would have had her mouth not been caught. It took a few more moments to register that perhaps she should be kissing back, but by then Pinkie had already started her trot back down the short path to the road.

"I love you, Rarity!" Pinkie called over her shoulder.

Rarity stood in shock, watching her friend turn the corner and trot back to Sugarcube Corner. "I love you... too?"

Pinkie bounced happily down the streets back to Sugarcube Corner to make her next pickup. The cake she had for this visit was a nice lavender color, with dark purple icing and pink and magenta flowers. A six-pointed star motif was on the top, with each point resting on one of the flowers.

She picked the cake up and balanced it on her back with a practised ease. The walk to Twilight's was also rather short, and she only had to reposition the cake once. With a hop, skip and a very small jump, she landed on Twilight's doorstep and happily knocked on the door.

"Spike," the Unicorn called from inside, "there's someone at the door!"

"I've got it!" The dragon replied, his footsteps quickly approaching. Pinkie drew in a deep breath.

Spike opened the door.

"I know you're in a hurry
but before you have to part,

"Oh, hi Spike!" Pinkie halted mid-song, smiling down at the little dragon. "Could Twilight come to the door?"

"Uh, yeah. Twilight? Pinkie's here to sing to you." He finished the sentence with a confused lift.

"Coming!" Twilight trotted out from somewhere in the library, absently moving around Spike in the perfect way to move him back into the building. "Uh, hi, Pinkie. What brings you here? I'm kind of in the middle of something, so-"

Twilight was cut off as Pinkie pushed a cake towards her, where it was swiftly caught in a magenta aura. Before Twilight could question Pinkie took a deep breath, her eyes bugging out slightly.

"I know you're in a hurry
but before you have to part,
I'd like to say,
that voice, that mane!
really touches my heart.
You are cordially invited,
if you come, I'd be delighted!
Oh yes, you're cordially invited
To a party for us all!"

Pinkie leaned in and kissed Twilight in the same way she had been doing on her previous deliveries. The aura around the cake vanished for a moment, as Twilight lost focus in shock, and the cake almost collided with the ground. Fortunately, she was able to grab it in another protective aura when Pinkie Pie relented on the kiss. Twilight just stood there with a stunned expression on her face. Pinkie did not know about the recent conversation with Fluttershy or the self revelation Twilight had come to recently. All she knew was how she felt about Twilight.

Lifting her hoof, Pinkie Pie gently pushed Twilight's slack jaw closed. "I love you, Twilight." She said before turning and bouncing away, back to Sugarcube Corner. Two ponies to go and she was running out of time; she couldn't be late to this special party she was inviting them all too, and she also needed to give Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash time to arrive! It would be beyond rude to tell somepony about a super special party and then tell them it starts in five minutes!

Grabbing the yellow and pink cake with butterfly candles from Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie Pie traversed the distance between her residence and Fluttershy's home as fast as she could without toppling the cake off of her back. This was not the first time she wished she were a unicorn, that way she could just hold the cake in place with her magic. Even as a pegasus she could use her wings to keep it level as she ran.

Fortunately, Fluttershy's cottage was not too far away; not nearly as far as Applejack's farm, at least. Panting slightly, Pinkie Pie knocked on the door and shifted her weight from hoof to hoof. She knocked again after a couple of minutes. And again after a couple more.

"Aww, isn't Fluttershy home?" she asked herself, pouting a little. She turned around, thinking to go give Rainbow Dash her cake then come back later, but at the bottom of the path was Fluttershy.

"Um, hi Pinkie Pie," She said, now that Pinkie had noticed her.

"Hi Fluttershy!" Pinkie said, stepping aside from the door, "I was just looking for you! I have a gift!" She turned her profile towards Fluttershy to show her the cake.

"Oh my, that looks very nice." Fluttershy said, smiling at her friend. She unlocked the door and let Pinkie inside. The pink mare went to Fluttershy's kitchen table and put the cake down on it, turning around when she heard the door close. Beaming excitedly at Fluttershy and unable to contain it any longer, she burst into song.

Fluttershy, I came to say
There's something to confess.
How you make me feel,
Well, I really can't express!
You are hereby invited
to a private party!
So we can spend some time together,
but it won't be just you and me!

Fluttershy's cheeks were flushed at the end of the song and she blinked repeatedly. Pinkie Pie did not wait for a response before so she did not wait for one now and she stepped closer to Fluttershy. She did not just kiss her straight off like she had her other friends though; Fluttershy was...shy. Shy, adorable, and precious.

"I love you Fluttershy." Pinkie said softly and sincerely. Fluttershy's eyes widened and seemed to glisten with tears. Pinkie slowly, ever so slowly, leaned forwards. Fluttershy did not recoil or pull away, but instead gave in to what Pinkie Pie was leading towards and met her lips. The kiss was softer than Pinkie had been with the others, but every bit of feeling went into the gentle caresses of her tongue against Fluttershy's, and Pinkie could feel her friend melting into the kiss.

Much to Fluttershy's disappointment, however, Pinkie broke the tender kiss. She hugged Fluttershy then headed for the door.

"Um, Pinkie," Fluttershy said, turning to follow her. Pinkie stopped by the door and smiled at her.

"I...um...I l-love you too." Fluttershy said, her cheeks becoming dark red, akin to Big Mac's in hue.

"I know!" Pinkie replied in her cheery tone, opening the door and leaving the blushing Fluttershy behind. She looked up; the sun was almost completely set and the sky was getting dark. She hurried back to Sugarcube, grabbed the blue cake with multi-colored icing decorations, and went out the back door to pull her flying machine out of the shed. While she was setting it up- she had needed to remove segments in order to fit it into the Cake's shed- she saw Cranky Doodle Donkey walking by with a cart of vegetables.

"Hi Cranky!" she called, waving at him.

"Why hello there Pinkie." The donkey said stopping in his trail and moving towards her. "What is this...uh...contraption?" he asked.

"It's a flying bike." Pinkie explained, "I'm going to visit my friend Rainbow Dash but she lives up on a cloud so I need a way to get up there."

"Huh...I see." Cranky said. "Well then, I will just leave you to that. Have a good evening."

"I will, you too!" Pinkie said, waving farewell to Cranky as he walked away. She caught sight of an odd looking cabbage on his cart and, after a second glance, she saw that it was not a cabbage at all.

"Cranky wait!" She said, hopping over to him and his cart. She reached up and pulled the turtle out of the pile of vegetables, examining it.

"Huh?" Cranky asked, looking back at her, "Where'd ya get that?"

"He was stuck on his back in your cart." Pinkie said, placing the turtle on her head. "Don't worry, I know where he should be so I'll take him."

"Okay then," Cranky said, giving the turtle a confused glance as he continued on his way. Pinkie turned her eyes up to the turtle and smiled.

"Dashie is going to be so excited to see you Tank!" said, returning to her flying machine and picking up the cake on the seat. Buckling in, she held Tank in one hoof and the cake in another, her hindlegs working the pedals that took her into the sky.

The flight to Rainbow Dash's beautiful cloudhouse took only a few minutes because she could fly in a straight line and did not have to follow laid out roads or avoid plantlife in the woods. Rainbow's house was not as bright as it was normally during the day; her rainbow fountains had been turned off and the setting sun had fallen behind the hills to the west, casting the town into shadow.

"Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaash!" Pinkie shouted when her flying gizmo hovered outside her door. She didn't have a spare hoof to ring the doorbell or knock, so she had to shout.

"Yeah Pinkie?" Rainbow Dash's voice sounded from beyond the door just as it opened. There was no look of surprise on her face at Pinkie Pie floating there before her on the crazy contraption she had seen a few times; she was simplyused to pretty much whatever Pinkie was going to do.

"Hey Dashie!" She said, leaning forward to hand her the turtle first, "Look who I f-"

"Tank!?" Rainbow Dash asked, her face now the definition of shock and awe. She slowly reached out her hooves and took the smiling turtle off of Pinkie Pie's hoof, staring into his eyes. "Tank!" she shouted in surprise, pulling her pet into a hug. She thought he was dead! For months now! "Where did you find him?" She asked Pinkie Pie, tears now in her eyes.

"On vegetable cart." Pinkie Pie said, "I saw him and I thought 'Hey that looks like Tank!' so I picked him up and thought 'Hey that is Tank!' and I knew you missed him and since we all thought he was, well, you know, so I brought him back. Oh, I also brought cake!" she added, handing Rainbow Dash the cake. The pegasus took the cake and set it on her own back but was hardly paying attention now; she was gawking at Tank, hardly daring to believe that he was really there, in her hooves, that it was actually him. Her reverie was broken, however, when she heard Pinkie Pie break into song.

Rainbow Dash,
you're the awesomest pony
I have ever known.
Every time I see you soaring -
let's just say
I'm mind-blown!
If you could take a break, I know you are busy.
But I want you to come to a very special party.
And Rainbow, all the other ponies are expecting you
so if you don't show
this party will totally blow!

At the end of her song, Pinkie Pie leaned halfway out of her flying machine and pulled Rainbow Dash towards her, bringing her into the kiss. Dash's wings erupted from her sides and stood rigid on either side of the cake while her eyes widened in surprise. This was the fifth mouth that Pinkie Pie was kissing, and for the fifth time that evening the pony of her attention reciprocated the passion she was showing them.

"Pinkie...I...what..."

"See you in an hour!" Pinkie Pie said with a squeaking smile before flying away, leaving Rainbow Dash stunned in her doorway, a cake on her back and Tank in her hoof.