Chapter 2 - Early Morning

Applejack walked through Ponyville, a very excited Sweetie Belle following her. "And then we can make cookies and cakes, and do some crusading, and hang out at the tree house and play games. It will be so great! Thanks for taking me to the farm, today!"

"Ain't no trouble, sugar cube," Applejack said, watching where she was walking rather than the frantic running the little unicorn was doing around her. "Apple Bloom outta be happy to see you. She didn't think you'd get to hang out 'til later tonight. She's s'posed to be helping Granny Smith this mornin' with bakin', but Ah'm sure we can find somethin' you can do."

"Hey, you know what we should do?" Sweetie Belle said. "We should go pick up Scootaloo! She was going to meet with Apple Bloom this afternoon, anyway!"

"Sure, if that's what you're wantin', Sweetie," Applejack said, looking around the town square as vendors were beginning to set up. She saw a new booth there – a fortune telling booth – that wasn't there last year, and wondered who in town would want to go into one of those. She knew Twilight Sparkle would have a field day talking about how ridiculous the whole thing was if she saw it.

"You wanna get your fortune told, Applejack?" asked the little unicorn. Applejack looked down at the little filly, who looked up at her with big eyes. "Rarity has had her fortune told a couple of times. She thinks it's REALLY fun. She's been told about twelve times before that she is going to meet a handsome unicorn stallion who would sweep her off her hooves. She used to think it meant the Prince, 'of course!'" She said, imitating Rarity's voice.

"No, that's alright," Applejack said, giving a strained smile to the filly. Then she saw a yellow Pegasus walking down the dirt road towards her, a basket balanced on her head filled with something furry and moving. "You go get Scootaloo. Meet me back here." Sweetie Belle nodded and wandered off to do just that. Applejack trotted up to Fluttershy, who seemed to be concentrating on something else as she walked and didn't notice the farmer take step next to her. "Mornin', Fluttershy!" Applejack said, causing the Pegasus to start.

"Oh, Applejack!" said the mare. "Good morning. Happy Heart and Soul's Day!"

"You seem distracted this morning," she said. She thought for a moment, then her eyes widened. "Well, Ah don't s'pose you have somepony in mind to take to the festival tonight, do you?"

"What?" Fluttershy nearly screeched, the basket on top of her head wobbling. "Oh, no! I could never! I'm much too shy to ask anypony to the festival. Not that anyone would even want to ask me."

"Well," Applejack said, "Whatcha got on yer mind, then?"

"I'm taking Angel to the vet," she said, a sad expression on her face. "The medicine I have on hoof doesn't seem to be working, and I can't figure out what's wrong with him! Do you think it could be some new, uncurable disease that's spreading among bunnies?" She looked to Applejack, hoping for answers. Applejack looked up at the basket. At that point, the little white rabbit turned in his basket, leaning out of it, with a pained expression on his face. When he noticed the orange mare looking at him, he lifted his paw to his forehead in a melodramatic fashion, hacking and coughing.

"Ah'm sorry to hear that, Fluttershy. It's prob'ly just a bug. He's a young varmint—er, bunny. Ah'm sure he'll be fine."

"I hope so," Fluttershy said. Another dramatic cough from the bunny made the mare pick up her pace. "Oh! I'm hurrying, Angel Bunny, don't you worry! I'll talk to you later, Applejack." Applejack waved to the mare as she trotted off. Just then, a voice sounded next to her.

"Was Fluttershy wearing a live rabbit on her head, or has Rarity given her a new hat?" Applejack turned to see Rainbow Dash standing next to her, her head to the side, looking quizzical. Seeing the cyan Pegasus put a smile on Applejack's face.

"Mornin', Rainbow. Angel Bunny is sick. She's takin' him to the vet."

"Oh, that explains it," Rainbow Dash said. "Must be really sick for her to take him to the vet, though, rather than take care of him herself." Applejack nodded in agreement. The Pegasus looked over to the orange mare, and she smiled. Applejack got a sense that she was nervous about something. "So, you're finally off the farm, aren't you?"

Applejack sighed. "Mah family MADE me take the day off. Ah'm gunna see if Ah can't worm mah way back in there, though. There's a lot of work to be done."

"Oh, come on, Applejack, its Hearts and Souls Festival. A FESTIVAL! If anypony needs a break for today, it's you!"

"Everypony keeps sayin' that," Applejack said, somewhat surprised by the remark. "But it's a big sellin' day for the Apple Family."

"Right," Rainbow Dash said, "But you took last year off."

"Ah wanted to make Twilight's first Festival in Ponyville special. Ah got a lotta work to finish!"

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "Your family kicked you off the farm, you would think that sent a message into your head that you should take the day off." She used her hoof and knocked it on Applejack's head to make her point. "Imagine my surprise when I couldn't find you there!"

"Well, Ah….you couldn't find me there?" asked the earth pony. "You were lookin' for me?"

"I-uh-er…" Rainbow Dash looked away, taking a moment to compose herself. "Yeah, I was," she said. "I had the same thought as your family. I thought we should…you know…hang out, today. And I don't mean just at the festival, I mean the whole day."

"Like last year?" Applejack asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Ye-well, no," Rainbow Dash said. "The other's are busy. Just…you know, just you and me." Applejack stared at the Pegasus, surprised. She couldn't remember the last time they had spent alone together. Sure, they were together often, but not ALONE together much. "We can even hang out on your farm, if you're not willing to let go of that…" She gave a wry smile.

Applejack smiled back. "Well, Ah don't suppose it would hurt t'actually have fun for a while. It's what mah family was tellin' me to do…"

"There you go!" Rainbow Dash said. Her face flushed upon Applejack accepting, which made the mare question in her mind what the pegasus' intentions were. "I have to pick something up. Can I meet you at your place?"

"Works out," Applejack said. "Ah gotta take Sweetie Belle—" Applejack stopped as she looked down to see Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle silently watching the exchange between the mares. "How long have you two been there?"

"About two minutes!" Scootaloo said. "Hi, Dash! You're gunna be on the farm today, too? Maybe we could hang out together! That would be SO AWESOME!" A huge grin split across her face.

"Yeah!" Sweetie Belle said. "You could help us get our cutie marks!"

Rainbow Dash, who had also not noticed the two fillies arrive, laughed nervously. "I think I'm gunna be busy today, kid, but thanks for the offer." Both the fillies gave a sad, "Aww…" and looked down, punctuating their disappointment.

"Come on, now, you two," Applejack said, waving a hoof. "The sooner we get goin', the sooner you can start crusadin'. Apple Bloom will be happy to see you both." To Rainbow Dash, she said, "I'll see ya on the farm?"

"Yeah, sure. I'll be there in a jiff!" Applejack smiled and walked off with the two fillies prancing around her, talking quickly to each other about the things they were going to do that day. Taking a quick glance back, the earth pony noticed Rainbow Dash wilt in relief. Applejack once again raised an eyebrow, before picking up her pace back home.

Rainbow Dash made her way to Sugar Cube corner. The morning was bustling with excitement as every pony in Ponyville prepared for the night's festival. Already, she could see couples meeting up to spend the day together. Public displays of affection weren't really something she enjoyed seeing, but even she could appreciate how Lyra greeted Bon Bon by pouncing her. She thought it was even more amusing when they ended up on a heap on the ground. And it made her laugh to hear Lyra question the confused earth pony, now sprawled on the ground, as to why Bon Bon didn't catch her.

Seeing that made Rainbow Dash a little nervous. She wondered if she would ever have something like that.

"Psssst. Rainbow!" The Pegasus looked up to see Pinkie Pie leaning out of a window from Sugar Cube Corner. "Rainbow! Come HERE!" she said in a high pitched whisper.

"Uh…hey, Pinkie," Rainbow Dash said, walking up to the pony leaning out the window. "…something wrong with the door?"

"No, of course not!" said the pink mare as though the very idea was absurd, despite the fact that she had about two thirds of her body out the window. She resumed her frenzied whispering. "I had to tell you before you came in. Twilight's here helping out, and she SAW YOUR NAME on the pastries list!"

"Oh," Rainbow Dash said, shrugging. "So she saw my name, so what?"

"She's sus-pi-cious!" said Pinkie Pie in a sing song voice. "She's a really smart cookie, Rainbow. Even smarter being a cookie in a bakery! She's going to ask you a question, and BAM!" Pinkie Pie smacked one hoof into another to emphasize her point. "She'll know what you're up to!"

Rainbow Dash's muscles tightened at the thought. It was one thing that she was already nervous to spend the afternoon with Applejack, but now to have Twilight Sparkle asking questions about it? Maybe even getting in the way, somehow? It was one thing to tell Pinkie Pie, but she knew how powerful a Pinkie Pie promise not to tell was for the pink mare. Twilight Sparkle, on the other hoof…well, Pinkie Pie had mentioned before to Rainbow Dash how horribly the unicorn had failed at not telling a promise. For something like this… "Oh, crud," said the Pegasus. Then, she danced from one hoof to another. "What do I do, Pinkie? Abandon the pastries?"

"No, silly," the pink mare said, smiling and resuming her normal voice. "No need for extreme measures! I paid for them for you. I'll just give them over to you right now. Consider it an investment in your future relationship!"

That comment made Rainbow Dash blush. "Uh…thanks, Pinkie."

"Now, let me just…" Pinkie Pie leaned back into her window and turned around. Then both she and the Pegasus screamed, "YAH!"

Twilight Sparkle was standing there, eyes narrowed, staring at the two, a pastry box floating next to her with her magic elevating it. Upon seeing Rainbow Dash, the mare smiled a knowing smile. "You're up early, Rainbow."

"Er, uh…yeah, good morning, Twilight," Rainbow Dash said, rubbing a hoof on the back of her head. "Fancy seeing you here."

"Yes, Pinkie didn't tell me about the new fly-through window," said the unicorn, eying the nervous pink pony with suspicion. "But how hard is it to tell something is going on when you see half of a pony sticking out of a window?"

"Something going on?" Rainbow Dash asked, trying to wave the subject off with her hoof. "Come on, it's Pinkie Pie. Do you really think leaning out of a window is the weirdest thing she's done?"

Pinkie Pie nodded vigorously in agreement, before adding, "It's actually not that weird for me to be leaning out of a window at all! Just ask the Cakes. It actually happens more often than not," she said, frowning to herself as she thought of it.

Mrs. Cake, who was trotting past the three with a tray of cupcakes balanced on her head, said, "It's true, dears. Half the time, she's not even sure why…" before heading out the swinging doors.

"Um," Twilight Sparkle said, looking to where Mrs. Cake had disappeared, before turning back to Rainbow Dash. "So. Heart-shaped apple tarts?"

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes dramatically and scoffed. "Can't a pony enjoy some pastries in the form of a vital organ without being questioned about it?"

"On a day named after said organ?" Twilight Sparkle said, using her magic to wave the pastry box tantalizingly in front of the mare. "It raises some questions."

Rainbow Dash lunged forward to grab the pastries, but Twilight Sparkle pulled them back, leaving the Pegasus half hanging through the bakery window. "And apple tarts, no less."

Rainbow Dash felt her stomach clench when she heard that, and could do little to hide the shock that registered on her face. "Oh," Pinkie Pie moaned. "I told you her powers would be greater in a bakery!"

"Twilight," Rainbow Dash said, frowning, reaching forward, the box of pastries just out of reach. "Why do you CARE?"

"Why do I care?" she asked, stepping back indignantly. "Because, I can already see where this is going! You've been avoiding me, haven't you? Because you didn't want to make plans for today! What happens when you two start dating?"

"Hey, keep it down!" Rainbow Dash said, looking over to the swinging doors, only wondering how many ponies picking up their early morning goods had heard the unicorn. "You're making a big deal out of nothing! We're just hanging out today!"

"With heart shaped apple tarts?" asked the unicorn, shaking the box accusingly. "I've been trying to put together a day today for all of us. I couldn't find you to make plans, and now I know why! Was Applejack lying to me, too?"

Rainbow Dash sighed, putting her back hoofs on the edge of the window sill, and hopping into the bakery. "No, of course not," said the Pegasus. "You know Applejack wouldn't lie to you. The only reason she'll do anything with me today is because her family is forcing her to take the day off." She leaned forward, grabbed the box, and tossed it onto her back. "You know, we spend a lot of time together as a group," she said. "Why can't you give me one day to enjoy alone with AJ without trying to make me feel guilty?" With that, Rainbow Dash hopped back out the window, put the pastry box in her mouth, and flew away.

Twilight Sparkle continued on with her work even though she had lost all amusement for the holiday. She only needed to finish boxing the last of the day's orders, and after that she could get out of the bakery and try to take her mind off of the morning's events. "Trying to make her feel guilty?" She muttered to herself as she put down a box a little too hard on the work table, and slid it forcefully to the stack of boxes next to her. "She should ALREADY feel guilty, ignoring her friends. Element of loyalty, my eye! Just who is she being loyal to? She could have still had time today with Applejack if we had worked together. Together, we could have had the best day! All we would be missing is Rarity, but maybe we could have gotten her after she came back from Canterlot, but noooo." Another three boxes filled, she shoved them forcefully to the side and looked at the list again. There were no new names.

Flipping the list over incase she missed some, she frowned. During her vehement pastry packing, she had lost track of time and now she had nothing to do. That meant one thing…

She had to go out front and talk to Pinkie Pie.

That normally wasn't so bad of a thing, but she was upset with Pinkie Pie as well for lying to her! Plus embarrassing her that morning with Big Macintosh. 'You're a grown mare, Twilight," she thought to herself. 'You can deal with this. It's just one day.' Twilight Sparkle took in a deep breath, released it, then walked into the sales floor of the bakery.

To her surprise, Pinkie Pie was talking Fluttershy. The yellow mare seemed very despondent, which made Twilight Sparkle concerned. "Fluttershy," said the unicorn, trotting up next to Pinkie Pie.

"Oh. Hello, Twilight," Fluttershy said sadly. "Pinkie told me you were helping out today. I hope I'm not disturbing you from your work."

"Actually, I just finished everything I need to do," the unicorn said. "Is something wrong?"

Fluttershy looked to Pinkie Pie, before looking sadly back to Twilight Sparkle. "I came here to talk to you. I won't be able to make it out today." Twilight Sparkle blinked.

"…what?" She could feel herself seething inside as she began to realize that her friends had all but abandoned, if not disappointed her on such a joyous holiday.

"Well, you see," Fluttershy said, looking panicked at whatever emotion could be read on Twilight Sparkle's face. "Angel Bunny is sick, and I took him to the vet, and the vet said she needs to keep him over night, and I just couldn't leave him. How could I? He's never had to go to the vet before because I've always been able to take good care of him at home. And now that I've failed to do that, I have to be there for him, and…please don't be mad at me…" As she explained, her voice got softer and softer, until she had crouched down low to the floor, trying to hide in the puddle of her own hair that formed on the ground.

Twilight Sparkle let out an exasperated sigh. "It's okay, Fluttershy, I'm not mad at you. You didn't want this to happen. I'm just….I'm just frustrated, is all. I had so many plans, and now no one can come out."

"I can still come out with you, Twilight!" Pinkie Pie said, beaming with a smile.

"No, Pinkie," Twilight Sparkle said, taking a step back. "It…it just wouldn't be the same. I think I'll just huddle up with a good book tonight."

"A book?" Pinkie Pie said. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no. You HAVE to go out tonight! If not during the day, then at least to watch the sunset, tonight! The Pegasus say they're going to perform a doozy of a show this year!"

"Maybe," Twilight Sparkle said. "I might come out with Spike later tonight. He always enjoys the Hearts and Soul's Sunset."

Fluttershy lowered her head sadly. "You're not going to enjoy this day because of me. I've ruined your holiday."

"No, Fluttershy, not at all," Twilight Sparkle said. "You didn't expect Angel to get sick. My day was already shakey. It's probably better this way." To Pinkie Pie, she said, "Tell Mr. and Mrs. Cake the orders are finished and that I said goodbye, okay?" Twilight Sparkle didn't wait for an answer, just started to trot out of the bakery.

She hadn't taken more than a few steps when Pinkie Pie was calling after her. "Twilight! Wait! Wait a second! Twilight!"

"What, Pinkie?" she spun around, annoyed that the pink mare had been running after her, calling for her, when she was just two feet away. Pinkie Pie had a box on her back, which she pulled out and gave over to Twilight Sparkle.

"I promised I would give these to the Apple family today," she said, putting it down in front of the unicorn. "I was going to send it with Rainbow, but she had left before I remembered!"

"Uh-huh," Twilight Sparkle said, suspicion in her tone. "And you couldn't remember this when Big Macintosh was here earlier?"

"Well, they weren't ready then, silly!" said the pink mare, her eyes bright. "And I can't get away for another few hours, so if you could take these over to them? I'd love you forever if you did that!"

"I'm sure you'd love me forever even if I broke a Pinkie Promise," Twilight Sparkle said.

Pinkie Pie's eyes widened. "Twilight," she said in a serious tone. "You NEVER kid about that. Ever."

"Pinkie. You just want me to take these over because you think there is something going on between me and Big Macintosh, and there isn't. So there's not point in going over there!"

"That is sooo not why I'm asking you to do this!" Pinkie Pie said, lifting up her front hoof, indignant. "Just so you know, everypony else is gone for the day, and I thought this could be the last favor you did for me today!" She turned her head to the side with an incensed huff the likes to rival anything Rarity could have done. Pinkie Pie opened an eye to look at Twilight Sparkle. The unicorn wasn't buying it.

Pinkie Pie frowned. "Okay! So, that's a bonus, but I really, really, really did forget when Rainbow came over to give these to her! Really! And I can't ask Fluttershy to do it. She's so sad right now, and needs to be with Angel Bunny. And I don't know if the Cakes are going to ask me to baby sit for tonight or not – they said it depended on how tired they were after the morning rush was over. So, please! Please, please, please, please, please!"

"OKAY!" Twilight Sparkle said. She levitated the box with her magic. "With any luck, they'll be too busy working to pay attention to me dropping them off, anyway."

"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, Twilight!" Pinkie Pie said, hugging the unicorn so hard, she nearly dropped her box of sweets.

Twilight Sparkle trotted along the rose petal lined dirt roads as ponies greeted each other for the morning. Every pony else seemed happy except for the unicorn. Her day was really started to drag, and it wasn't even afternoon, yet. She followed the dirt road that led to Sweet Apple Acres, noticing how slowly the amount of rose petals dissipated until there were none. 'There,' thought the unicorn. 'Maybe now I can get this holiday out of my mind for a while.'

Once past the sign and up near the red farm house she knew so well, she saw Big Macintosh fixing up a cart full of pastries. Considering how many baked goods the Apples had to sell, the box on her back felt superfluous. Now Twilight Sparkle felt silly even being there in the first place. The unicorn looked back, judging her exit, and wondering how swift she could make an exit without being seen. She could even use her magic to pop out of there, but there would be a tell tale noise from it, which would be rude if the stallion realized what it was.

But when she looked back at Big Macintosh, he was looking right at her.

'Okay…' she thought to herself. 'Here we go.' Twilight Sparkle put a smile on her face and trotted up to Big Macintosh. "Good morning…again…Big Macintosh," she said. For some reason, her face felt hot.

"Hello, again, Miss Twilight."

"I'm sorry to bother you," she began, "But Pinkie Pie wanted to bring you and your family some baked goods for the holiday. She said she was going to have Rainbow Dash bring them, but forgot." Big Macintosh nodded as Twilight Sparkle used her magic to give the box of pastries to the stallion. Rather than taking the box, however, Big Macintosh opened it while the mare held it up, and looked inside.

"That's a lotta heart-shaped cookies there…"

"Is that what they are?" asked the unicorn, pulling the box away from the stallion to look inside. She tried to keep the embarrassment off of her face as she felt set up by the pink pony she called her friend. There were plenty of other cookies without a heart theme made in that bakery that morning, and she just happens to give her a box full of heart-shaped cookies? "Well, that's just wonderful," Twilight Sparkle said with a frown.

"Do you not like cookies, Miss Twilight?" asked the stallion.

"No, no," the unicorn smiled, closing the box and giving a nervous smile. "It's not that. It's just…I'm just remembering a conversation we had earlier today." In an attempt to change the subject, Twilight Sparkle looked to the cart. "I'm keeping you from your work."

"It's no problem," the stallion said. "Ah still have to wait for the last batch of pies from Granny Smith. The last one got ruined."

"Really? But Granny Smith is an excellent baker. I can't imagine she would mess up pies."

"Well," Big Macintosh started, leaning on his back legs as he looked up, remembering what had occurred. "When Applejack came back, she had Apple Bloom's friends with her, and they wanted to help Granny Smith with the cookin'. Now, Sweetie Belle might be able to bake up a pie, as she learned from Miss Rarity, but Scootaloo can't bake worth a lick. So Granny Smith told the three to leave her kitchen. In as nice a way as possible, mind you, but she did kick them out in the figurative of senses."

"I see," Twilight Sparkle said, a smile creeping across her face as she thought about the chaos that must have been in the kitchen not too long ago. "I wonder how they'd feel about the cookies."

"I reckon they'd like them just dandy," Big Macintosh said. "Iff'n your wantin' to give it to them, they're at the club house."

"Club house?"

"Applejack's old club house," he said, furrowing his eyebrows a little. "You ain't never…" he stopped what he was saying, going quiet. He seemed concerned at whatever thought interrupted his sentence.

"What?" asked Twilight Sparkle.

"Well, Ah was just mistakin' you fer another filly she used to play with," he said, turning around. "Ah would have Applejack show you where it is, but she just left with that pegasus friend of y'alls. Would you like me to show you?"

"As long as you don't mind giving them the cookies," Twilight Sparkle said, shrugging.

"They'd like sweets more than Ah would," he said. Wordlessly, he started off towards the club house, nodding his head so that Twilight Sparkle would know to follow.

Applejack trotted along under Rainbow Dash, who was hovering in the air. She was unusually quiet as she looked around the orchard, as though she were searching for something. Frowning, the orange mare called up to her, "D'ya need help findin' somethin'? This is MAH farm, after all. Ah would probably know where it is."

"No, no," Rainbow Dash said, landing next to the earth pony and folding up her wings. "Just getting my bearings."

Applejack had to admit – being on the farm for their little get together was comforting. She was close to home if the family needed her, yet there was so much space that they could spend as much time alone as they wanted.

That thought made Applejack wonder just what they would do with so much alone space. She felt her face get red.

"Something wrong?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"No, nothing," Applejack said quickly. She picked up her pace. At this, the Pegasus picked up her pace, pulling just a little ahead of the earth pony. Applejack looked over at Rainbow Dash, then pulled just a little in front of her. When the Pegasus tried to pull forward again, Applejack went into a full sprint. "If it's a race you want!"

"Hey!" Rainbow Dash went running alongside the mare, and the two were sprinting side by side down the dirt roads of the orange mare's orchard. Really, Applejack couldn't think of anything better than sprinting along side Rainbow Dash. At least, for that moment, she couldn't think of anything better. Just being with her company made her feel at ease, not having to think of everything that needed to be done on the farm. Like putting up the new fence after the sheep had knocked it down in a revolt against being herded rather than asked to be put in their pen. Or the Apple tree that needed to be brought down after Big Macintosh bucked it a little too hard. Or catching up on the every day chores that needed to be done around the farm.

"Applejack?"

Or even rooting the garden, so the weeds wouldn't suffocate the carrots. That needed to be done. Oh, and not to forget about the apples that the rabbits kept stealing. They still hadn't figured out how to get those little varmints to stop.

"Hey, Applejack!"

Oh, and the barrels they used for the cider needed to be put away for next season. Of course, there was the mill that Granny Smith was thinking of installing, and—

"Applejack!" Rainbow Dash flew down in front of Applejack and plopped herself a few yards in front of the running earth pony, causing her to startl. She skidded to a stop, but the momentum was more than either of the ponies had expected, and—

SLAM!

The next thing Applejack knew, she was sprawled out on the floor, Rainbow Dash groaning as she lay on top of her. It took the farmer a few moments to realize what happened, seeing as there were stars circling around her head that weren't there before. "What in the HAY was that all about?" Rainbow Dash asked. They lay stomach to stomach, Rainbow Dash laying across the orange mare.

"Wel—Ah…" She cringed at the thought. Here, she was supposed to be spending time with one of her best friends for the day, and all she could think about was work. Maybe she DID need a day off. "Mah mind was just wanderin', is all."

Rainbow Dash got up, then stood over the earth pony, who was still laying on her back. "Well, can we not do that again, please? I don't want to spend Heart's and Soul's Day in the hospital. Or unconscious." Looking up at the cyan Pegasus standing over her, Applejack felt herself starting to blush, though she wasn't exactly sure why. Maybe the slight embarrassment of having to be told to be careful from one of Equestria's most uncareful daredevils. Maybe the fact that the mare was standing over her like that. Maybe it was that moment of realization she had, which she would get every once in a while, that Rainbow Dash, while not usually showing it, actually cared a lot for her.

Noticing Applejack's silence or staring, Rainbow Dash pulled back, looked away, and extended a hoof. Applejack took the hoof and helped herself up. They shared an awkward moment as Rainbow Dash allowed herself to look at the earth pony and smile. Applejack gave a nervous chuckle. "So," said the orange mare.

"Right," Rainbow Dash said, clearing her throat. "I was trying to tell you that we needed to turn. Now, I'm not exactly sure where that was anymore…unless you want to keep running, because we can do that, too."

"Nah, it's alright," Applejack said, trying to play off how she felt at that moment. "Ah'm a might curious where you're takin' me."

"Alright, then," Rainbow Dash said, smiling. "Follow me, this time," she said with a tone of seriousness. Applejack smiled and nodded.

After a few twists and turns in part of the farm Applejack would only see occasionally – mostly during applebuck season – the two mares finally ended up at the top of one of the hills on Sweet Apple Acres. Rainbow Dash took some leaping bounds forward, before extending a hoof and saying, "Ta-da!"

Applejack couldn't help but smile at what she saw. Just past the last two apple trees on top of the hill, near a shallow cliff, a picnic blanket had been laid out, with a basket full of food, some flowers decorating the area, and a box she recognized from Sugar Cube Corner, which most likely contained baked goods in them. "Well, Ah'll be," Applejack said, letting out a soft chuckle. "Ah gotta admit, Rainbow, this seems a little…" She didn't want to say 'romantic', but how else could she describe it?

"Girly?" Rainbow Dash asked, filing in the blank. She squirmed uncomfortable, putting a hoof to her head. "Well, I thought it would be good for the holiday. You know…festive. Is it too much? You don't like it, do you?"

"No, Ah love it!" Applejack said with a conviction that surprised even herself. "Ah mean…" Trying to pull back her excited statement, the pony just hoped she didn't dissolve into stuttering. But really, there was no use trying anymore. "This is wonderful, Rainbow."

"Really?" Rainbow Dash asked, smiling broadly. "I was worried about how you would take to it…I mean, it's like you said, but…" She stopped what she was saying, instead putting out a hoof to invite Applejack to sit down. The orange mare took a seat on the blanket, and looked to Rainbow Dash expectantly. "You know, you work here all the time, but I bet even you don't know how awesome your farm is. Look at this few, for instance!"

Applejack looked at the view. It just looked like her farm….she wasn't sure what she was supposed to be looking at. Rainbow Dash sat near the mare, looking out over the orchard and the valley beyond it. "I know you get mad at me when I sleep in your trees," she said, "or wonder how it can be comfortable, but come on. Look at this view. And you hear that? Aside from the occasional birds, no noise!"

"Rainbow, you live in clouds. In the sky. How noisy can it get?"

"I live near a cloud city. CITY. Things can get noisy up there. But this is my favorite spot. Because just after I get my practice in, or if I've had a hard day, I can come right up here and just…" She trailed off as she looked at Applejack, who raised an eyebrow at her. "What?"

"Ah'm just surprised, is all," she said. "Not like you to get so…"

"Sappy?"

"Nah, that's not sappy," Applejack said. "More like…thoughtful."

"Well, I'm not exactly quoting philosophy, here," Rainbow Dash said, folding her front legs over her chest. "I just thought I'd let you know. I mean, it's your farm, and all, but you don't enjoy it."

"Ah enjoy doin' a hard days work," Applejack said defensively.

"Sure, AJ," Rainbow Dash said dismissively. "But I thought you might want to spend a little less time being the hard working earth pony, and be a little more Pegasus!"

Applejack jerked back at the comparison. "What does bein' a Pegasus have to do with being up here right now?"

"Well," Rainbow Dash said, emphatically spreading her forearms to point to the scene before her. "If you can't appreciate this, there's something wrong with you."

"Well!" Applejack said, getting up, feeling insulted. "Ah can appreciate it just fine! It IS mah farm, afterall! And who are you ta be sayin' that Ah don't appreciate mah own farm."

"I'm not SAYING that you can't appreciate your own farm," Rainbow Dash said, now standing up, herself. "I'm SAYING you can't appreciate it for what it is! It's just a job to you! All you do all day is work here."

Now they were squaring off, practically head butting each other. "It's a FARM! Do you know how much work goes into keepin' a farm runnin'? Of course I work here all day! Ah can't stop and look at the scenery! At…" She looked out over the view they had from where they were. "At all this. See all those apples on those trees? Hard work went into makin' sure they grow up healthy and ripe for pickin'! And you see…" She looked over the scenery some more, trying to find another example of what kind of work went into the farm, but she couldn't see anything. They were facing away from the main part of the farm near the house. Just beyond the dirt roads that helped them to get around, she could see valleys, birds flying around, deer in the plains area, bushes and trees in the distance, all at the base of a purple mountain that jutted up toward the sky, with snow capping its peak. The skies were clear, but for a few Pegasi playing in the open air.

Applejack had lost her original train of thought, and for a moment, looking off in the distance, felt less like an earth pony standing in a farm she worked hard at, and thought she must be seeing what a pony like Rainbow Dash saw every day of her life – pure, unadulterated freedom. It was a nice feeling.

Looking back to Rainbow Dash, the pony was sitting down, smiling to herself as she watched the change in Applejack's demeanor. She was chewing on something from the box she had opened. "You see?" she said after swallowing her bite. She pushed the box towards the mare. "Tart?"

Applejack looked down at the contents of the box. Heart-shaped apple tarts. Seeing those, in combination with the feeling she had from finding a new appreciation for this spot Rainbow Dash had picked out, the orange mare couldn't help herself. "Aw, Rainbow Dash, Ah could just kiss you."

Realizing what she said, Applejack looked over to Rainbow Dash, who's mouth was open, stopped in the middle of taking another bite of her apple tart. Her eyes were wide as she stared at the farmer in disbelief. "Er," Applejack said, looking away. "But ah won't."

They barely said anything to each other for a while. But Applejack noticed that Rainbow Dash put down her pastry, and didn't seem keen on taking another bite any time soon.