The Dash Diaries Finale: Chapter 9

Wednesday
8:13am - Home
Mom's going home today. She won't be here when I get back from work. I really am going to miss her.
We hugged for ages and ages before I had to leave for work.
"You've dealt with all this stuff pretty well. You hung in there better than I would have, trust me." she told me. I laughed.
"Thanks. I never thought I'd say this, but... you've been a great help."
She grinned. "That's what I'm here for, sweetheart. And hey, you can phone me anytime. I'll be right there."
I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. Oh, not again!!!
"Oh, Dash, don't cry... You couldn't wait to see the back of me three weeks ago!" She giggled, and I just cried harder. She held me tight, and I buried my face in her mane.
"I don't want to live alone anymore, Mom..." I mumbled.
"But you have the power to change that! You need to follow your heart, and it'll take you on the right track. I have a feeling you won't be alone for long."

We shared one last long hug before I made for the door.

"Follow your heart, Dash!" She called from the doorway as I flew out.

11:24am - Work
Passed Dessie whilst working on tonight's sunset coverage. He looked over at me, before gesturing towards Galaxy, a young mare who works in the office. I gave him a perplexed look, before he looked down, and I followed his sight to his hooves. He was clutching a bunch of tulips in them, her favourite flowers. I winked at him, and he floated up to her, before gently giving her the flowers. Her face lit up, and she blushed, leaning forward to nuzzle his nose. He returned the affection, grinning.
I guess Twilight was right when she once told us that there's love out there for everypony. Why is she always right about this stuff??
Egghead.

Ten minutes later
Somepony slipped me a note:

Rainbow Dash,
Meet me in my office as soon as you can.
Silver Flash

Oh nooooooooo. The last thing I need is the boss on my back!!

Five minutes later
On the way to Silver's office, I found myself shaking a little bit. I knocked on the door quietly, and heard a familiar voice within.
"Come in."
I entered, and he looked serious. Oh no. "Rainbow Dash... Take a seat."
I sat down carefully. "Yes, boss?"
"I need to talk to you about something important, so listen carefully."
I nodded, and he continued. "A youngster a few years below you has shown excellent potential in his line of work. Subsequently, I have decided to promote him to Co-Operative Weather Field Operator for Ponyville, which is your position."
My gut dropped. Some rookie was taking my place! I stayed silent, in disbelief.
"Because of this, I need to make a decision to either promote or demote you, too."
I'm getting demoted. I must be getting demoted.
"This, Rainbow, is a difficult decision for me to make. Your attitude towards work has been mixed over the past few weeks, and certain performances have left much to be desired."
I stayed still, holding my breath. "However, you have always been a hard worker, and you redeemed yourself particularly well after that little... incident... you had a couple of weeks ago."
I breathed out slowly.
"For that reason, amongst others, you have proven to me that you are worthy of having me step up your game a little. From tomorrow onwards, you will have the title of Chief Weather Engineering Director for Ponyville and the surrounding area."
...promotion?
Actual promotion??
Naturally, I handled the situation with sophistication that is second to none.
"OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH!!! You actually mean that?? I'm getting promoted?!"
Silver looked at me, before breaking out in a grin and low chuckle. "Yes, Rainbow. I suppose you are getting promoted."

2:54pm
Best day ever! Well, almost. I'm still lost in the maze of luuurve.
"Dash?" It was Decimal!
"Dessie! Hey, guess what? I'm getting promoted! Oh my gosh!"
Decimal grinned. "Well done, pal! I know you can get through anything if you put your mind to it. Hey, I just popped down to Sweet Apple Acres to chat to Big MacIntosh about how the weather is going over that side of town, and Applejack asked me to give this to you."
He gave me a note, neatly folded, with "Rainbow" neatly written on the top. I have well and truly entered Note Central with the amount of messages I've received today.
"Open it!" he laughed, before waving and trotting off.

Two minutes later
My hooves are shaking. What if it's a break-up note? I mean, like, she doesn't want to be friends with me anymore?
Or what if it's the opposite? What if it's a confession of love? Oh, no, it won't be. My life isn't that good.
One minute later
The note read:

Sugarcube,
"Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today."
Meet me by our Memory Tree on the orchard at 7:30pm tonight. Let me know if you can't make it.
~Applejack

What in the hay is that supposed to mean??
Oh well! She wants to meet me tonight!!


4:10pm - Home
When I got in, I yelled "Mom! I'm home!" from the front door.
I'd completely forgotten she wasn't here.
I knew I wouldn't find her, but I still looked around every room in the house for her, just hoping that she might still appear out of nowhere. I even went into the spare room and had a little cry. I never knew I could miss her so much...

Applejack must go through hell without her mom.

5:22pm
Eating dinner. Alone.
I really hope Mom was right about the whole "you won't be alone for long" thing. I think I'm just about being sick of being almost completely on my own all the time. Almost, of course, because of Tank. He's still here. I give him a cuddle every so often when I feel upset. I think he understands why. He sort of cuddles back, putting his little arms over my hooves and such. It's really cute.

7:10pm
I've decided to confess my feelings. It's the only way.
Yawn. This luuuurve stuff is making me so tired...


7:28pm - Sweet Apple Acres
When I got to the orchard, I waited under the tree a little bit, before seeing Applejack arrive.
She trotted across the yard before reaching the tree, and she hugged me tight when she saw me. I hugged her back, and my heart immediately warmed.
She looked me in the eyes for a second, before smiling. "So, you wanna watch the sunset together? It's a real nice view up here, Ah think."
I nodded, and we settled down by the tree, gazing at the horizon where the sun dipped carefully in and out of the clouds. We sat in silence for a few moments, and I looked over at Applejack. The lowering light cascaded down over her coat, and her mane glowed softly.
"Applejack..." I said, my voice quivering.
"Yes, sugar?" she asked quietly.
"I have something... I need to... I mean, I need... uh.."
She suddenly leant over me, and put her hoof to my lips. "Shh, there, Rainbow. Ah know."
She... she.. knew?!
She removed her hoof, and I blushed. "B-but... I never even..."
"Neither did Ah."
"Huh?"
She sighed slowly. "We've both been feelin' somethin' fer a while now, haven't we?"
"Well, I have. I mean-oh, horseapples! You were asking for that!"
AJ chuckled lightly. "Ah have too, sugar."
"You have?"
"Mmhmm..."
We stared at each other, and time slowed down. Everything seemed to stop; the breeze, the sunset, the gentle rustling of the leaves...

And by instinct, we kissed.

A powerful surge of blissful butterflies floated up my stomach, and my head whirled. I had never, ever felt something quite so strange, yet so amazing, and every fibre of my being drew me closer to Applejack. We desperately wrapped hooves around each other, and Applejack pushed me down to the floor, deepening the kiss. She was in complete control... but I didn't care. I wanted to stay like that forever; all my dreams coming true in that one moment as I lay in the arms of the mare I loved the most...

Wow. I never knew I was capable of writing something so sappy. Oh well!

Applejack eventually broke the kiss, and we caught our breath in harmonic silence. I gazed into her brilliant emerald eyes, and my heart skipped another few beats.
Finally, the words that had caught me back for weeks escaped my lips.
"I love you."
Applejack's eyes moistened, and she stroked a hoof down my cheek. "Oh, Rainbow, Ah love you too..."
Something then popped into my mind.
"Applejack!"
"What?"
"Your... your crush! What about..."
"Are y'all completely dumb, sweetie?"
I narrowed my eyes. "Excuse me?"
She laughed, and my confusion melted away. "Oh, Dash..." she smiled, leaning in for another kiss, "You were my crush. Ah had my eyes on you the whole time."
I kissed her again, quickly. "Really?"


"Really, my sugarcube. Really."


~The End.