As I woke up the next morning, it felt like a stone had been dropped in my chest. I looked over at Rainbow. She was still asleep. I quickly got up and quietly left the room. I was going to make breakfast for Rainbow in bed. I decided to make her favorite breakfast... Apple Tart! I made it, made sure everything was perfect and brought it upstairs with tea. As I walked into the bedroom, I put the food tray down and watched Rainbow. I kissed her gently, waking her from her sleep.
"That's a nice way to wake up." she said, stretching. I kissed her again.
"Is that Apple Tart I smell?" She asks, sitting up.
"Yup." I went and grabbed the tray, laying it in front of her. She licked her lips and looked up at me.
"Thanks, Applejack!"
"You are welcome, Rainbow." I said.
She had quickly finished off the tart, and laid down, inviting me to join her, which I did. I suddenly couldn't keep it in me, I started to cry, taking the cyan pony by surprise.
"Oh, Applejack!" she sighed, holding me close.
I cried into her shoulder. She kissed me on the head. "It'll be ok... I'll be home soon!"
"I'll miss you so much, Rainbow! I can't do this without you!" I said, lightly sobbing.
"Sshhhh..." She comforted me, playing with my mane.
"Applejack, I think I know what will make you feel better." She said quietly.
I looked at her curiously.
She smiled at my curiosity and leaned over and kissed me... But this time, it was different. She kissed me gently at first, then turned it into a French kiss, her tongue exploring my mouth. I gasped and closed my eyes, enjoying the moment. We fought for dominance, her tongue wrestling against mine. I gave up, and our mouths moved together in perfect rhythm. Soon, we both needed to breathe. We broke apart, breathing heavily.
"Sugarcube, why hasn't that happened before? Why did you wait until now?" I said, looking at Rainbow with a smile.
"Enjoy it?" She asked, smirking.
"Yes." I said, cuddling with her. "Rainbow, you are an extremely good kisser, you know that?"
"Yep, I could kinda guess that... I am pretty awesome in every single way!" She started boasting.
I laughed. "Rainbow, if there was an Element of Modesty, you wouldn't be the pony to get it."
She playfully swatted me. "I'm so right, though."
All of a sudden my stomach decided to ruin the moment.
"AJ, did you eat?"
I looked at her. "I think I just answered that, Rainbow."
"So wait, you made breakfast for me, but didn't eat yourself?" Rainbow said, stating the obvious.
"I'm fine, Rainbow. I'm not too hungry..." I started to say.
"Applejack, you need to eat." She said, smiling at my efforts to deny it as my stomach rumbled again.
"Fine." I said, "but only after you kiss me again."
She quickly flipped me over so I was on my back, and looked into my eyes. She pressed her lips against mine. Suddenly Applebloom was in the doorway. She blushed.
"Sorry to interrupt... But a guard is here saying that Rainbow needs to go."
"No. No. No." I said quickly.
Rainbow looked at me apologetically. She got up and left the room.
I stayed there for a minute, then jumped up, running after her.
"Rainbow, you can't leave!" I said.
She turned to the guard. "Can you excuse us for a minute?"
The guard nodded, and went outside.
"Applejack, I know this is hard... But I do have to go. I will be back! I'll send you letters through Spike... I'm sure they will have a dragon there..." She said, taking my head in her hooves. "I want you to promise me something."
"Anything."
She kissed me on the lips. "I want you to be the best mom you can to Pretty Princess. No matter what. Bond with her... And don't be working all the time! Applebloom and Big Mac can take care of all that."
I nodded and held her close.
"I love you so much, Applejack."
"Ah love you, Rainbow." I felt like I was about to cry... But I held it in. I didn't want to make this any harder for Rainbow.
She kissed me one last time, then let go. "I'll be back before you know it."
I nodded. "Be awesome!"
"When am I not?" She smiled, then flew outside.
I watched through the window as she flew away.
I decided to hang out with my family. I went upstairs to get Pretty Princess.
"Pretty?" I asked, opening the door.
She was still asleep. I walked over to the bed and sat down. I shook her gently. "Pretty, it's time to wake up."
Pretty sighed and opened her eyes. "Hi, mom."
That one word made me feel so much better. Mom. I like it.
"Did Rainbow leave?" She asked.
Hm. She calls Rainbow by her first name.
"Uh... Mum?"
I snapped out of my daze.
"Yes, she just left."
She looked at me. "She said goodbye last night. She said that she would be gone by the time I woke up... I guess she was right."
I smiled at her. "Are you hungry?"
She was fully awake now.
"What's for breakfast?"
"I don't know... Whatever Big Mac has in store for us."
She nodded. The family had already introduced themselves. That makes things a lot easier.
"Ok. Oh, by the way, what do you want me to call you? Rainbow said I can call her Rainbow... Do you want me to call you Applejack?"
I smiled. "What do you want to call me?"
She shrugged.
There was this silence between us.
"Um..." We both looked at each other.
"I'll call you both, I guess." Pretty said looking at me.
"Ok, Pretty."
We got up and slowly walked downstairs.
"Wha- oh, hello Prizzy Princlet." Granny Smith said, turning to look at us.
"It's Pretty Princess, Granny." I said, trying not to laugh.
"Oh, and Applesmack- I mean, Applejack." Granny said, looking at me.
I sighed.
Applebloom was excited. "Hey, Pretty, sit with me! We can talk about ya joining the Cutie Mark Crusaders!"
Pretty quickly sat down.
I stood against the doorway, watching them.
"Why, Applejack, ain't you hungry?" Applebloom asked.
"Nah, Ah'm alright." I said. "Ah'm just gonna go work on the farm."
Applebloom looked like she was going to protest, but a look from Big Mac shut her up.
I walked outside. The air was extremely warm, a very nice summer day. I went to the first tree. Instead of bucking, I just sat down next to it. I replayed the morning in my head. I felt like I should have been crying, but the tears never came.
"Rainbow will be alright." A voice said, appearing next to me.
"P-princess C-Celestia?" I said, taking off my Stetson.
The princess of the sun smiled.
"I'm so sorry to have to take Rainbow Dash away. She is an amazing strategist and flyer. We need her."
"Ah understand, Princess." I said, "Uh, excuse my rudeness, but what are you doing in Ponyville?"
"It's not rude at all, actually. I came here to talk to you and Pretty Princess."
I stared at her. "Ya know she ain't dangerous, right?"
The princess gave me a strange look. "What do you mean?"
I told her what Twilight told me.
The princess laughed. "That's typical Twilight. I know she isn't dangerous."
I sighed in relief. "Ah'll get Pretty, do you want to come inside?"
Celestia seemed to think for a moment and then said, "I guess I could... I have a little while."
We walked to the barn in silence.
When we went inside, my whole family looked up in surprise.
"Princess Celestia?!" Granny Smith asked.
I sighed. At least she didn't mess up on the princess's name.
"Hello, Apple family." Celestia said. "There has been a change in Rainbow Dash's arrangements..." She paused. "She is no longer in the normal ranking... She is now part of the Dark River Defense team."
I gasped. Then, everything went black.