"Couldn't let your hat get stepped on, partner!" She said, in a country accent, half giggling. Applejack chuckled as the dance continued. Rainbow laughed as they spinned. Applejack smiled widely as they stepped to a fro, moving along to the upbeat music. The song began to come to a close and the couples began to separate. Applejack and Rainbow kept dancing slightly longer than the others, however, finally noticing that the song was coming to a close. After all the couples separated, they ended up in the lines they began in. Finally, the dance ended with a bow to the other line. The music ended and everypony cheered, especially Rainbow Dash, who took to the air momentarily.

"Now, y'all, that was some mighty fine a-dancin'! Enjoy the rest of the night!" The dance floor eventually filled back up with different Apple family members as Rainbow Dash made her way back to the drink table where her cider was. She found Applejack waiting there for her.

"Dear, sweet Celestia, that was awesome!" Rainbow said happily. Applejack chuckled.

"What'd Ah tell ya?" She responded before taking a sip of her cider. "The Apple Family Switch-'em-up Dance is not something to be missed." Rainbow nodded extravagantly.

"I know that now!" Rainbow exhaled and took a swallow of her drink. "I just didn't think it was going to be thisfun! If I'm fired from weather patrol, totally worth it!" Applejack laughed.

"Well, you're comin' to a shindig with pretty much a hundred and fifty Applejacks, so..."

"No I'm not." Rainbow responded.

"Huh?"

"There's not another pony like you. You're one of a kind."

"Well, thanks, Rainbow. That's really sweet of you to say."

"I know it sounds corny, but I mean it." Rainbow said. "I've never met another pony like you, and that's the truth."

"Well," Applejack responded. "Ah've certainly not met anypony like you." Rainbow snickered.

"Yeah, well, that's obvious." She quipped. Applejack smiled as she noticed that Rainbow ws still wearing her hat. She decided to see how long it would take for Rainbow to notice. Perhaps the pegasus just liked to wear it.

"Rainbow Dash?!" They heard a voice call from behind them. They turned to see Scootaloo running at them. She jumped and grabbed Rainbow in a hug, smiling widely. Rainbow hugged her back.

"Hey, Scootaloo. What's up?" She said.

"I'm here with Applebloom." The filly responded.

"Well, it's good to see I'm not the only pegasus here." Rainbow Dash said. Scootaloo smiled at her.

"Hey, Scootaloo! Come on! Babs has something she wants to say!" They heard Applebloom calling.

"That's me. Gotta go!" Scootaloo said before speeding off to her friends. Rainbow nodded.

"See ya, scoots!" She said. Applejack smiled and sat down next to Rainbow.

"That filly really adores ya, doesn't she?" Applejack said. Rainbow nodded.

"Yeah. Can you blame her?" Rainbow said, puffing out her chest. Applejack smiled as she took her hat off of Rainbow's head, earning a "Hey!" from her friend.

"C'mon, Ah wanna introduce you to some of the family." Applejack said, beginning to walk through the barn, being followed closely by Rainbow.

"Well, that's gonna take all night." Rainbow said. Applejack laughed.

_____

The Apple Family Annual Harvest Celebration Hoedown was over. The family was saying their goodbyes to each other, hugging and nodding and shaking hooves. The night had been spectacular for Applejack and Rainbow Dash. They had played a game of horseshoes, which Applejack won, but not by much. Applejack had introduced Rainbow to a lot of the family, who received her warmly. They had danced some more, enjoying the live music, they ate heartily, supplied with all of the specialized dishes of the Apple Family, and they had just sat and talked over cups of warm, delicious cider. But now, the get-together was over and all the ponies were going home. Rainbow sighed as she stood up from the table her and Applejack were sitting at.

"Well, I think I'm gonna head out too." She said. "Thanks for the great time, AJ." Applejack quickly stood up and trotted after her.

"Now, hold on a minute there, Rainbow. What kinda friend would Ah be if Ah didn't walk ya home?" She said. Rainbow shrugged.

"Alright. Cool." They exited the barn into the cool night, no longer burdened by rain or weather conditions. The skies were clear, and Luna's moon shone as clearly as it ever did. Applejack noticed Big Macintosh carrying Applebloom, who was dead asleep, back to the farmhouse. He looked at her and waved, getting the message that Applejack was accompanying her guest home. Applejack waved back as she and Rainbow continued to amble along the path.

"So let me get this straight..." Rainbow said to Applejack. "None of the others could come? Not Twilight or Fluttershy?" Applejack shook her head.

"Nope. You're the only one that showed up." Applejack said with a small smile. Rainbow was frowning, however.

"I mean, I can understand they all had their reasons for not being there, but come on!" She exclaimed. Applejack chuckled. "Who wouldn't want to party with you like that?"

"Ah appreciate that, sugarcube." Applejack responded. They continued to walk in relative, comfortable silence, each mare stealing quick glances at the other when they were sure the other wasn't looking. They failed miserably at one point, making full eye-contact for a moment. They both laughed nervously and continued walking toward Rainbow's home. The wet grass transferring moisture to both of their hooves soothingly. Mist blanketed the fields where the humidity was dropping closer to the ground. When they finally arrived at Rainbow's house, Rainbow sighed and turned to Applejack.

"Well, it's been really fun, Applejack. I hope I can come next year." Rainbow said with a smile.

"Definitely. Ah'm glad you could make it." Applejack responded, also smiling. Rainbow nodded.

"Alright, well, I'll be seeing ya." The pegasus said as the began to fly up to her house. She was stopped in her path by Applejack grabbing her tail between her teeth unexpectedly. She looked back to see Applejack blushing heavily and rubbing the back of her head.

"Wait a minute, Dash...Ah need to talk to ya about somethin'." She said.

"Oh, okay." Rainbow said, touching down in front of Applejack. "What's up?" Applejack skiffed her hoof on the ground, searching for the right words to say. She looked at Rainbow, who had an expectant look on her face. Applejack immediately became nervous as she began.

"Well, today had been a pretty bad day for me. Ah barely got any sleep last night, Ah had to work in the rain all day, my apples spilled everywhere and Ah had to pick 'em up, just...not a good day. The one bright point of it all was the Harvest Celebration Hoedown. Ah could finally invite alla my friends after leavin' you guys in Ponyville so many times. Ah went from house to house, invitin' you all. But none of ya could come. That just made my day even worse. Ah wasn't even enjoyin' the dance, Ah was so down in the dumps. But, outta nowhere,you showed up. And all of a sudden, those bad feelings, they just disappeared, and Ah was just so happy to see ya. You pretty much saved the night for me. You were there for me when everypony else couldn't be, for whatever reason. So...thank you. Ah appreciate it, is all Ah'm tryin' to say." Rainbow smiled warmly and put a hoof on Applejack's shoulder.

"Don't worry about it, AJ. I've always liked you the most." She said happily.

"Ah appreciate you." Applejack said. Rainbow closed her eyes and nodded.

And then Applejack kissed her.

Applejack kissed her square on the lips.

Rainbow Dash's body seized up in suprise. Her eyes shot open and she turned the color of one of Applejack's apples as she sat there, feeling Applejack's soft lips on hers, unsure of what exactly to make of this new development. She had expected this the least out of all the things she ever could have expected Applejack to do then and there. Applejack slowly disconnected from the kiss and moved her head back slowly. She opened her eyes dreamily, expecting to see a happy and satisfied Rainbow Dash. Her eyes widened as she saw Rainbow's expression. Applejack turned beat red as well. They stood there for a few seconds, before either of them made a sound.

"Uh..." Rainbow began. Applejack stumbled back even further.

"Oh, Godesses! Rainbow, Ah'm so sorry! Ah thought we made a connection at the Hoedown. I must've read it wrong...Ah'm sorry. Ah'm so sorry" Applejack's eyes went to the ground. "Ah'll just go, seein' as how your probably disgusted right now." Applejack said, nearly in tears as she turned to leave Rainbow under her home. She stopped as she felt a hoof on her shoulder.

"Am I surprised?" Rainbow said. "Totally. Am Idisgusted?" She turned Applejack to face her. Rainbow was blushing heavily, her eyes half lidded. Applejack's eyes widened slightly. "Hay, no." Rainbow said as she shot her face forward and locked lips with Applejack a second time. Applejack almost immediately returned the kiss as they both moved closer to one another, bathed in the light of Luna's pale moon. They seperated for a moment. Applejack kissed Rainbow on the cheek quickly before they both began kissing again.

As the kiss continued, it became more passionate as the two mares embraced each other and sank to the ground. Their tongues explored each other's mouth as their kiss became more and more fervent. Applejack disconnected from it and began to kiss Rainbow's neck. Rainbow moaned loudly, alerting Applejack that this was one of the pegasus' sweet spots. Applejack moved and rolled Rainbow onto her back, moving on top of her and continuing her loving assault. Rainbow breathed heavily as her wings unfurled at her sides. Applejack began to massage one of the feathered appendages. Rainbow gasped sharply at this motion. She felt herself become wet between her legs as they spread on instinct.

'Sweet spot number two.' Applejack thought to herself as she continued to rub Rainbow's wing.

"Ya like that, sugarcube?" Applejack asked Rainbow. Rainbow merely nodded as she continued to revel in the pure pleasure. Applejack had become quite wet as well at this point. Rainbow sensed this and brought her back leg up, in an attempt to reach Applejack's marehood. She was successful. Applejack moaned and closed her eyes, throwing her head back. Rainbow smirked as she began to move her knee back and forth, further pleasuring the farm mare. Applejack continued to massage Rainbow's wing, making the pegasus throw her head back. That was when Rainbow noticed they were out in the open, pleasuring each other.

"Applejack, wait!" Rainbow said.

"No, Rainbow...Ah'm lovin' this too much..." Applejack responded.

"We're out in the open. It's not even that late. There could still be other ponies out here." Rainbow explained.

"Aw, Dash, don't make us stopnow..." Applejack said, disappointed.

"No...not, stop, just...relocate. Somewhere darker, quieter..." She looked up at Applejack and raised an eyebrow saucily. "Sexier." Applejack's ears raised up and she smiled.

"Lead the way, Dash." She said, Letting Rainbow get up. Rainbow giggled as she looked around for a spot. Her eyes fell upon a group of trees nearby. They seemed dense enough to hide them, yet sparse enough to be comfortable for them both. Rainbow looked back at Applejack and smiled.

"Come on." She said before running to the trees. Once they got inside, they both realized that it was indeed darker within the trees. This excited Applejack, as she followed Rainbow through the trees. They came upon a clearing, blanketed with soft moss. Rainbow turned around to face Applejack and smiled. Her ears splayed back and she blushed, sitting down on the moss. Applejack got the message, moving closer to her, her heart beating into her ribcage.