Work Text:
Ever since their performance to save Camp Everfree, other lesser known camping sites have been inviting CHS students to come and see what they have to offer. Principal Celestia agreed, happy to support them as well as offer her students the opportunity of a normal camping experience. Her parents grumbled something along the lines of how this would just be a knock-off of Camp Everfree but Rainbow doesn't mind. Plus, they haven't read the brochure.
Ghyll scrambling, archery, capture the flag, canoeing, and even a treasure hunt! Rainbow can already feel herself shaking in anticipation. Awesome activities, hanging out with her friends, and helping out small camping communities? What's not to like?
Rainbow just wishes that the coach ride here didn't take so long. After their camp counsellor, a guy named Cedar Hemlock, welcomed them, the most they managed to do was set up their tents, which was mainly done by Applejack, who insisted that she knew the best ways to get them steady.
Speaking of Applejack, Rainbow hasn't seen her since they left their belongings in their shared tent, and that was before the sun started to sink into the forest. Frowning, she walks past excited students, weaving her way around the various shades of tents until she reaches one with honey-like fabrics, lined with patterns of swirls and apples.
Rainbow whips the tent flap out of the way, releasing a breath as her gaze finally finds the girl wearing a Stetson hat.
'I've been looking for you everywhere, AJ. Come on, we're starting on s'mores and ghost stories. I don't know about you, but I wanna make it there before Pinkie finishes all the marshmallows,' Rainbow says.
Applejack blinks, eyes snapping to the tent entrance in surprise, as she swiftly folds a piece of paper and tucks it into the pocket of her shorts. 'Right, I'm comin'.'
As she stands up, she grabs an instrument case and slings it across her chest. Rainbow instantly feels herself perk up.
'You brought your bass?'
'Close,' Applejack chuckles, untwisting the bag strap. Afterwards, her hand lingers on the fabric. 'This is my ma's guitar.'
Rainbow's eyes shoot up to the moon as she breathes out a stunned, 'Woah'. As Applejack draws closer, she holds the tent flap open for them.
'No wonder you're so awesome on the bass. It runs in the family,' Rainbow exclaims, only slightly enviously. The most her parents had played when she was younger was an outdated lullaby from a popular children's book. You know, the kind where you press a button and the prerecording drones from a crackly speaker until the battery dies. Not her best memories.
'Inherited talent means nothin' without the hardwork to hone it,' comes Applejack's response, admirable as ever.
'You should write that down, cowgirl. That'd be a killer line for the next time those Flim and Flam guys drop by,' Rainbow teases, closing the tent and following her friend to the campfire.
Applejack snorts. 'Don't remind me of 'em. Granny wouldn't stop goin' on about that day for months.'
'AJ, Dash! Come sit here,' Sunset waves an arm while Fluttershy pats a nearby log, which has a couple of familiar bags placed around it to save the spot.
Raising a hand in response, Rainbow makes her way over. 'Thanks guys. I knew I could count on you.'
'No prob,' Sunset winks, swinging her bag away to make enough space for them. Applejack gently slides her guitar case down, propping it against the makeshift bench.
Unceremoniously, Rainbow plops herself down onto the spare log with Applejack following soon after. Their knees knock together as she shuffles into a more comfortable position. As always, Rainbow nudges her thigh twice as hard.
Wordlessly, Applejack bumps into her leg with an equal amount of strength. Grinning, Rainbow feigns an attack, before jabbing Applejack's knee with a victorious cackle.
'You're so darn childish,' Applejack scowls.
Rainbow smirks, savouring the amusement she experiences only when she pesters Applejack. 'Sounds like the words of a sore loser.'
'You jus' have to make everything a competition, don't you?'
'Who's the one that keeps competing with me?' Rainbow concedes slyly, placing a hand behind Applejack's waist to lean into her typical slouch.
Applejack tilts her hat up, gaze unwavering. 'Someone's gotta put you in your place.'
'Please, everyone knows that the only place to put me in is first place.'
'Speaking of places,' Pinkie Pie chimes in, hauling a body sized bag of marshmallows behind her, 'Can you shimmy along? This big guy loves lounging around, and I'd hate for him to topple over you girls.'
Rainbow blinks as she realises that her friend is referring to the massive sack of sugar. 'Can't you just put it on the ground?'
Her hands flying to the crumpled carrier defensively, Pinkie inhales a gasp so dramatic that it's on par with Rarity's. 'I couldn't do that to him. He'd feel lonely.'
Sunset shakes her head in amusement whilst Rainbow opens her mouth yet again. 'Pinks, I doubt that a literal bag can have emoti-'
A warm hand brushes past her lips, effectively shutting her up. Applejack, whose palm is currently covering Rainbow's mouth, shoots her a look.
'We'll move, Pinkie,' Applejack says, dropping her hand to Rainbow's forearm to guide her along the log. Beaming, Pinkie bounds forwards, somehow adjusting the bag into a sitting position as she does so. A marshmallow escapes from its brim, landing beside Rainbow's boot.
Maybe Rainbow would've noticed if she wasn't occupied with the burning sensation on her lips at the contact. Dazedly, she shuffles without any complaints.
'Rainbow, your marshmallow's on fire!' Applejack exclaims. Before Rainbow can dart away to shove it into a random lake, a firm hand wraps around her own and somehow shakes the flames away.
'Nice save,' Rainbow exhales with a grin. Applejack throws her an unimpressed look.
Standing up, she eases the skewer out of Rainbow's grasp all too naturally. 'I'll put this away.'
Hurriedly, Pinkie Pie scrambles from her seat and slides in front of her. 'Allow me.'
'Uh, okay?' Applejack complies, passing her the stick and raising an eyebrow as Pinkie walks in the opposite direction to the bins. Sitting back into her place with satisfaction, she lifts the smoking abomination to her lips.
Eyes widening, Twilight outstretches her hand. 'Wait!'
Shamelessly, Pinkie Pie stuffs the practically cremated marshmallow into her mouth, chewing with exuberance whilst the girls beside her share similarly concerned expressions. Rainbow winces. Even she wouldn't dare do that.
Licking the burnt flakes off her lips, Pinkie shrugs. 'What? I'm not going to let a perfectly tasty marshmallow go to waste.'
'Pinkie, that'll increase your risk of getting cancer,' Twilight worries, lowering her hand in defeat.
'I'm surprised you're not worried about diabetes with all the sugar this one's been eating,' Sunset counters in amusement, slinging an arm around her shoulders.
'At this point, I'm pretty sure sugar runs through Pinkie's blood,' Rainbow jokes, watching her friend demolish another handful of stacked s'mores.
'Technically, glucose flows through all of our bloodstreams, carried in the plasma,' Twilight follows smoothly. Rainbow thinks she should also know about that, since it was probably one of the questions on her biology paper, but those days are long gone, thank the stars.
Meanwhile, Rarity shudders. 'I'd rather not discuss blood whilst roasting marshmallows.'
'You can try one of these vegan ones if you'd like,' Fluttershy offers, holding up a pink zip-locked bag of homemade marshmallows, likely made by both her and Pinkie.
Rarity shakes her head politely. 'Thank you, but I'm afraid I'll have to decline, darling. You barely have enough for yourself.'
'Don't worry, Rarity. Sharing with you girls is just as satisfying as eating these myself,' Fluttershy reassures, unzipping the bag anyways. Rarity still refuses, so Flutters looks beside her. 'Do any of you other girls want to try? Pinkie says that these taste sweeter than yours.'
Most of their friends respond similarly to Rarity, whilst Rainbow accepts with eagerness. Homemade food by Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy? Count her in.
'Thanks Flutters,' Rainbow says, as the girl shakes a large marshmallow out of the bag. As expected, Rarity chastises her when she stuffs it all in her mouth, which is totally unfair since Applejack does the same thing. Rainbow is about to say this until she glances at Applejack, whose gaze is glued to the fire.
'You good, Apples? You've been pretty quiet,' Rainbow dips her head in an attempt to peek at her friend's eyes from beneath her hat.
'Jus' tryin' to make sure you don't burn our tents down,' Applejack responds, glancing away as she removes her flawlessly toasted marshmallow from the fire.
Deftly, she reaches into the pile of crackers, breaking one in half single-handedly. After balancing a chocolate piece atop one side, she sandwiches the marshmallow in between them and slides the skewer out.
Mesmerised, Rainbow watches her toss the stick into a nearby bin. Then those green eyes meet hers. Weirdly flustered, Rainbow starts rambling about goddess knows what before noticing the s'more in front of her.
'Take it,' Applejack urges, nodding towards the sweet treat sitting atop her open palm. Amusement laces her following sentence. 'Since you clearly don't know how to make one yourself.'
Huffing, Rainbow folds her arms, too stubborn to accept the gesture. 'Wow, rude.'
Applejack hikes up a brow but doesn't drop her arm. And, well, it is a pretty thoughtful action. And that s'more does look better than anything Rainbow's made so far. Grumbling, she snatches the marshmallowy goodness from Applejack's hand, stuffing it into her mouth whole.
Rainbow promptly stops chewing. Stars above, this tastes like magic. That's saying something, considering how often Pinkie brings in her sugary delights for them to enjoy. Maybe it's the way the cracker crumbles onto her tongue, or how the chocolate melts into a divine gooeyness - nope, it's definitely the sweet stickiness of the marshmallow, which has been roasted to perfection.
Applejack just smirks infuriatingly at her dumbstruck reaction, already preparing a second s'more. Irritated, Rainbow seizes another skewer and stabs a marshmallow into it. She's not going to let Applejack outdo her that easily.
It's easier said than done. Rainbow realises this once she reaches her fifth marshmallow.
Roasting it above the fire, Rainbow lets her gaze wander. Her friends are watching Sunset and Fluttershy play "chubby bunny" - Rainbow's betting on Fluttershy - whilst a student from her chemistry class is catching marshmallows in their mouth. Beside her, Applejack has made another criminally delectable s'more, and she leaves to offer it to Rarity.
Rainbow frowns as the freckled girl brushes her palms together to remove any excess crumbs, before making another s'more at Twilight's request, who is too busy keeping track of Sunset and Fluttershy's scores to roast her own.
Apples can act like the parent of the group sometimes, putting others' needs before her own in a way similar to Rarity, but unlike their fashionable friend, Applejack refuses to acknowledge her own requirements. Like how she's made dozens of s'mores yet hasn't eaten a single one.
Rainbow's about to point this out until she smells something burning. Not again! Before Applejack can notice, she rushes to the bins and back with the help of her trusty geode. Unfortunately, once she returns, their camp counsellor decides that now is the best time start on ghost stories and Rainbow's a sucker for campfire tales so she tucks the memory away for later.
⊹₊ | 𖣰 | ₊⊹
'And she was never seen again.'
Thunder strikes as Cedar finishes his story, causing countless students to yelp in fright. Meanwhile, Rainbow rolls her eyes. 'I've heard of that story, like, five times already. I could practically recite it in my sleep.'
'I don't think I'll be getting any sleep,' Fluttershy murmurs, squeezing her eyes shut whilst clutching Rarity's hands, despite the story already being finished.
'How about a campfire song to lighten the mood?' Vice-Principal Luna suggests.
'Great idea! I'll go get my guitar,' Cedar Hemlock stands up, brushing Graham cracker crumbs off his shorts.
'No need. AJ's got hers,' Rainbow pipes up, nudging the girl beside her, who flushes as all gazes fall onto her.
Principal Celestia gives her a warm smile. 'Applejack, would you do the honours?'
The freckled girl pauses in deliberation, before nodding. 'Sure thing.' Cheers erupt around the crackling fire as she pushes herself off the log, unclasping the locks of her guitar case. Peering over her shoulder, Rainbow releases a breath at the uncovered sight.
Laurel leaves are engraved expertly along the rosette. The fretboard is adorned with intricate carvings of some fruit Rainbow can't discern past the flickering shadows, probably apples, which act as stylish fret markers. Overall, the acoustic guitar has a polished gleam, allowing flames to waltz across its chestnut and umber body.
It's obvious that this guitar has been cherished. Each of its embellishments has been whittled in meticulously, yet the ornamentation doesn't overshadow its authenticity. It has a cozy nature. Modest, welcoming, trustworthy. Rainbow can tell that this instrument belongs in Applejack's family.
Once Applejack lifts the acoustic guitar onto her lap, she strokes its body with a sort of nostalgic reverence. After adjusting the tuning pegs and playing a couple notes, she takes a breath. 'Here it goes.'
A sweet melody glides through the night as she strums the opening chords. Rainbow knows this is the first time she's performing the song but it sounds familiar, as if Applejack has carried the tune with her all along, whether humming it on their way to class, or using it as a warm up on her bass before band practice.
Camp counsellors and students alike sway to the soothing song, their previous fears forgotten in place of fascination. Rainbow Dash waits for Applejack to kick-start the lyrics, but she remains silent. She assumes that the bassist is focused on playing the reposeful instrumental. Well, if she's not going to start...
'We used to get caught up in games,' Rainbow begins, smirking as Applejack's gaze snaps up at her voice. 'But we realised something on an autumn day.'
As Rainbow finishes the line, she attempts to lock eyes with someone else from their band. Luckily, Sunset catches on. 'It took a while to discover.'
'What we really needed was each other,' Fluttershy follows with a smile. And just like that, the rest of the campers join in with an improvised line of their own. Somehow, the impromptu role of singing circles back to Applejack, whose strumming almost unnoticeably falters.
'And sure as I breathe the air,' she sings, her voice softer than Rainbow's ever heard it. 'I know you will always be there.'
Straightening up, Rainbow's about to start on the lyrics she prepared seconds ago, when she hears Applejack's strumming slow. Clapping ensues as she strokes one last chord and she can hear their friends whooping amidst the applause. Rainbow herself brings her fingers to her lips to whistle loudly, half expecting Applejack to elbow her good-naturedly, but the girl doesn't react, busying herself with setting her guitar back into its case.
Distantly, Rainbow registers the teachers and other camp counsellors thanking Applejack for her contribution, but all she's focused on is how strangely she's been behaving. Frowning, she twirls her hoodie drawstring around her finger, considering how to bring it up when Applejack speaks.
'How did you know that tune?'
Rainbow shrugs, dropping the lace. 'I've heard you hum something along those lines before. Thought it would fit with your cute instrumental.' Then she halts, guilt gnawing at her. 'Wait, was it something you were working on?'
Applejack turns away. 'No, nothin' of the sort. Thanks for gettin' the song started.'
Rainbow's not entirely convinced by the way she's acting, but decides to let it slide. 'It's no biggie. I probably butchered the original lyrics anyways.'
From the way Applejack hums, Rainbow can tell she isn't really listening. Abruptly, she stands, sliding the guitar case across one shoulder.
'Well, I'm plum tuckered out. See y'all in the mornin',' Applejack declares, stretching and giving a vague wave as she leaves.
The girls say good night, and whilst, yes she has a reputation for being an early bird, AJ doesn't look sleepy; she hasn't even yawned once! She certainly sounds tired, but Rainbow has a feeling it has less to do with the current hour than she's making it out to be. Resolutely, Rainbow braces her palms onto the log.
'I'm going to catch some shut-eye. See you guys later,' Rainbow announces suddenly, shooting upright. Five heads turn to her in confusion. Rarity arches an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. It's then that Rainbow discovers she may have interrupted the flow of her friend's sentence. 'Whoops, heh. My bad.'
Huffing a sigh, Rarity shakes her head, pristine curls bouncing luxuriously. 'Don't fret about it. You've been distracted during the entirety of this conversation.'
'Uh huh, you must be super-duper exhausted, because your eyes were all,' Pinkie Pie widens her eyes before narrowing them as she scrunches her nose up in what she must perceive to be deep contemplation, 'then you were fidgeting with your clothes the way you do when you're worried about something,' Rainbow drops her hoodie string in protest, 'and you've kept glancing at Ap-'
Her tirade is cut off when Sunset swings an arm around her. 'I think we get the point, Pinkie.'
Fluttershy and Twilight share a look.
'Check up on her for us,' Twilight finishes gently.
Rainbow's posture relaxes. 'I will.'
Quietly, by her standards at least, Rainbow pushes the tent flaps to the side, peeking to the right. Applejack is already lying in her sleeping bag, arms just barely splayed out in front of her. Her scarlet scrunchie is still tangled at the tips of her hair, as if she couldn't be bothered to remove it after slumping into her temporary bed.
Rainbow doesn't know if she's changed into her pajamas. It's not like Rainbow's judging, heck, she's done the same thing herself on days when training hits a little too hard and her muscles are begging for reprieve. It's just that this is highly unlike Applejack. But that doesn't mean she hasn't seen her like this before.
Swiftly, Rainbow puts her cloud-themed pajamas on, stuffing her camping clothes in her haversack. As she drops it near the corner, her gaze returns to the dozing cowgirl. Crouching down, Rainbow slides the scrunchie out of her hair and places it onto the brim of her beloved hat. Applejack stirs, making her freeze up for no apparent reason, before she returns to her slumber.
Releasing a breath, Rainbow wriggles into her own sleeping bag. Admittedly, she lets her head fall against her thin pillow too heavily, and she hisses when it pounds in protest. As she rubs her fingers against her scalp to ease the tenderness, she wonders if Applejack experienced the same pain after supposedly collapsing into bed. Sighing, she drops her head again. What am I going to do with you, AJ?
⊹₊ | 𖣰 | ₊⊹
Rainbow blinks awake with a yawn. She doesn't remember her dream, but it was probably something awesome. It's a shame that it was cut short. Turning to rest on her back, she lies there, staring at nothing in particular and just listening. It's refreshing, hearing the wind rustle against the tent.
She should write a song where her backing track includes the breeze. It could be her celebratory anthem for when she's accepted into the Wonderbolts' aviation academy. Rainbow grins at the thought.
Random insects chirp into the night, accompanied by the hooting of distant owls. Some snores are so spectacularly stentorian that they can be heard from nearby tents. Rainbow snorts.
She's lucky that Applejack sleeps relatively softly. Come to think of it, the cowgirl's breathing is virtually silent. For no specific reason, she tilts her head to the side, searching for loose blonde locks.
She blinks again. Harder this time.
Rainbow sits up so quickly she gives herself whiplash. Applejack's sleeping bag is empty. Still in her pajamas, she shoves her untied boots on and stumbles out with a torch in her mouth. Hastily whacking the tent flaps aside, Rainbow grabs onto the torch and flicks it on.
Fortunately for her, the cowgirl hadn't wandered off into the forest. Sitting by the crackling fire is Applejack, mindlessly poking at the embers with a branch.
Shoulders sagging in relief, Rainbow switches the flashlight off, crunching past autumn leaves as she makes her way over. Applejack doesn't look up as she crouches down to sit beside her.
'Didn't anyone teach you not to play with fire?' Rainbow starts, lifting one knee up so she can rest her elbow onto it.
Applejack snorts, the first sign she's shown of acknowledging Rainbow's presence. 'I've been starting fires like this since I was seven, sugarcube. Ain't nobody out there that knows how to have a barbecue better than the Apples.'
'If your barbecues are as good as your cider, then I don't doubt it,' Rainbow grins. The two fall into another silence, this one more comfortable than the last, to Rainbow's relief.
Flicking her gaze away from the fire, Rainbow observes the girl alongside her. Sparks dance in her emerald gaze, reminiscent of glowing fireflies in an open field. However, her eyes are shadowed by the brim of her hat, which has been lowered further than usual.
Rainbow frowns. That only happens when she's flustered or upset, and Rainbow can take a pretty good guess about which one it is. Sighing, she fiddles with her undone shoelaces.
'What gives, AJ? You don't usually run off when something's bothering you, and something clearly is,' Rainbow asks, her tone as blunt as ever.
Applejack turns her head slightly, but doesn't directly face her. 'I'm ten steps away from our tent. Wouldn't exactly call that runnin' away.'
'You know what I mean.'
The freckled hand holding the stick stills, its charred point lingering within the gold and crimson blaze. When Applejack speaks again, her voice is uncharacteristically quiet.
'Today is when my parents died.'
Rainbow's eyes widen. The campfire crackles. Owls hoot. And the girl beside her tugs her hat down even lower. Rainbow has always acted before thinking, and now is no exception.
Forgetting about the fiery branch in her hand, Rainbow launches herself at Applejack, wrapping her arms tightly around her shoulders. Applejack doesn't respond, but Rainbow can feel one arm encircle her waist, whilst the other holds the flaming twig further away.
Eventually, Rainbow's grasp loosens and she withdraws. 'You should have told us.'
Applejack's voice sounds weary. 'Didn't have a reason to.'
Her hand returns to prodding at the flames. Rainbow Dash shuffles closer, letting their knees knock together like before.
'What were they like?'
Reaching into her pocket, Applejack passes Rainbow a small paper envelope. Carefully unfolding it, she discovers that inside is an old fashioned photograph with faded colours.
'Woah,' Rainbow exhales, rubbing her thumb across the slight sheen.
It's a memory captured on film, filled with sunshine and laughter. A freckled woman is mid-laugh, her ginger hair tied loosely over her shoulder, whilst a man tucks a buttercup behind her ear. His hat is tipped back, revealing familiar emerald eyes, wrinkled in joy. Their gazes are captivated by each other.
They look like love.
'That's my ma and pa,' Applejack says fondly. 'Bright Macintosh and Buttercup. I was too young to remember much, but I know that they were the best.'
Rainbow grins, handing the photo back. 'Duh, they made you and your siblings.'
Lips tilting upwards, Applejack returns it to its envelope. 'We've only jus' discovered what we had in common with 'em, alongside other facts like how our ma's real name is Pear Butter.'
'Pear Butter?!' Rainbow splutters in disbelief. Belatedly, she realises that her outburst might be viewed as insensitive. 'I'm sorry but, like, seriously?'
She's not helping her case. Luckily, Applejack chuckles in response. 'That's how I reacted too. Especially since there was a whole feud goin' on between our families 'n' all.'
Rainbow whistles. 'Good thing they managed to make it work.'
'Yeah,' Applejack breathes out. A beat passes. Rainbow's not exactly patient but it sounds like she wants to say more, so she waits. Applejack's fingers tighten around the branch.
'I should be back home with the rest of my family, but Granny insisted that I go on this camp and you know how she gets when she sets her mind to somethin'.'
Rainbow bumps her shoulder playfully. 'Sounds like someone I know.'
That manages to earn the faintest of smiles from Applejack. It vanishes faster than cider bubbles burst. She dips her head.
'I miss them. They were good people. They didn't deserve...' Her words trail off in resignation. Moving by instinct, Rainbow leans closer, cupping her face.
'Hey, you shouldn't look so down when they're up here.' Rainbow tilts Applejack's chin upwards, lifting her downcast gaze to the starry sky above them.
Rainbow can see the constellations swim in Applejack's glassy gaze before she squeezes her eyes shut. A tear trickles down her cheek, glistening beneath the moonlight.
Rainbow isn't sure of whether to hug her again or not, so she settles for wiping the tear from her face. Applejack lets her. Releasing a shaky breath, she leans into Rainbow's touch. Having gotten used to the contact, Rainbow wraps her other arm around Applejack's shoulder, pulling her close.
She doesn't know how long they stay like that for, only that her arms have grown numb, her neck aches, and her bare skin is riddled with goosebumps. Rainbow Dash would've stayed out there for another hour if Applejack hadn't pulled away first.
'Thanks. I think I needed that,' she says, her accent sounding a little clearer than before.
'Anytime. I'll always be here for you,' Rainbow replies honestly, rolling her sore shoulders around. Tipping her hat back, Applejack finally meets her eyes, giving her a sincere smile.
Something swirls in her chest at the sight, so Rainbow pushes herself off the log. 'So, wanna stay out here or should we head back inside?'
Applejack casts one last glance to the sky before facing Rainbow Dash again.
'I'm ready to go back,' Applejack says. Apparently, she takes in Rainbow's haphazard state. 'You look like you're more than ready. What were you thinkin', leaving in your pajamas?'
Applejack scolding her is a sure sign that she's feeling better. Relieved, Rainbow lets her shoulders sink. 'I wasn't.'
It's supposed to come out shameless, like most things she does, but her words are softer than intended. Before she can think better of it, Rainbow grabs Applejack's free hand. Applejack crooks an eyebrow at their clasped palms. Rainbow gives her a lopsided smile.
'Just making sure I don't lose you again.'
Applejack chuckles, the sound as warm as the blazing campfire. She shifts her hand to interlace their fingers together. 'I'm not goin' anywhere, Dash.'
For some reason, those words make Rainbow breathless. She swallows. 'You better not. Let's go.'
She attempts to lead Applejack back to their tent, but the cowgirl tugs her back.
'Wait.'
Applejack tosses the branch into the fire, watching it flare up, sending wisps of smoke swirling into the sparkling sky. She exhales, her breath mingling with the cold night air.
Rainbow gives her hand a reassuring squeeze. 'Ready?'
Nodding, Applejack faces her. 'Whenever you are, sugarcube.'
Applejack doesn't remember to put out the flames. It's okay. She's probably extinguished more than enough in her lifetime. Besides, Rainbow can easily douse them once Applejack is tucked safely in her sleeping bag with Tallulah close by. So Rainbow lets her keep this one burning.
For now, she focuses on the way their shoulders brush as they make their way to their tent, hand in hand, like a flame to kindling, or stars to the moon.