It would be impossible to find the exact moment when the misunderstanding began.
There were many points along the way when this could have been remedied, when things could have simply been worked out with concise communication. There were those who understood, but, for their own reasons, chose not to intervene. There were times when the wrong word was spoken in the wrong sentence; there were times when meaning was lost in translation. There were lovers scorned by friends and friends scorned by lovers, and an entire relationship dynamic was teetering in the balance.
This is not a love story. It is, purely and whole-heartedly, a tale of cognitive dissonance.
“...Are you sure you can?” Twilight wasn’t entirely certain what to make of the suggestion.
“Sure I can! I could probably use a break from training anyway,” Rainbow Dash was surprisingly enthusiastic, considering. “And I don’t mind the work, really.”
She fluttered around in what might have been (had it been any other pony) nervousness.
“Well, I’m sure Spike and I can definitely use the help, then.” Twilight agreed cheerfully. There was something seriously off about it, but she decided to place her faith in Rainbow’s emerging work ethic; it was one that needed nurturing, to be sure.
“Great! I’ll be by on Monday!” She clapped her hooves decisively. “I gotta go...practice some more.” And with a flapping of wings and flash of color, she was gone.
Twilight stood there for a moment, then shrugged and went about her business.
“Hey, Twilight,” Spike piped up from where he’d been crammed in next to a particularly thick tome. “Don’t you think Rainbow Dash was acting really...”
“Helpful? Considerate?” Twilight offered distractedly. The historical volumes had to be handled with the utmost care, and required most of her concentration.
“Well, yeah, but also kinda weird.” he extricated himself from the shelf, “Not that it isn’t weird enough in the first place.” Twilight cantered past, a plethora of glowing books swarming around her, and stopped to ruffle Spike’s spines.
“Oh, Spike, shouldn’t you take it as Rainbow actually picking up slack for once? Besides, it means less work for you.” She added with a wink.
“I guess so,” Spike conceded, “but I’m just not sure if she’s being helpful or--”
The little bell above the door rang in punctuation, and in stepped another visitor.
“Howdy, Twi, what’re ya up to?” Applejack tipped her hat cordially.
“Hello, Applejack!” Twilight looked up from her work, and a stack of books promptly tumbled towards the floor. Applejack leapt up and slipped under the falling pile just before it hit the ground. She grunted slightly in exertion, and one or two fell past her with a light smack on the floorboards.
“The Canterlot historical files!” Twilight cried, leaving a pile of lesser books as she tended to the documents. Having made sure they were not irrevocably damaged, she looked up at Applejack, who stood silently under her burden, eyes crossed and sweat beading on her snout.
“Uh, sorry about that, Applejack, I’ll take care of those now.” A little magic and the books were rearranged into smaller, more stable piles on the rather crowded floor.
“S’alright, sugarcube, no harm done,” She chuckled, “Shoot, I’ve carried apple carts twice that size before.” She flexed her back legs to see if they still worked. Her ankle creaked.
“So...Is there something you needed?” Twilight asked pleasantly.
“Er,” Applejack looked sheepish, “I was wonderin’ if you could help me out with somethin’ in the orchard.”
“Do you need something with magic?” Twilight was intrigued, albeit wary of any kind of physical labor. That kind of thing assuredly fell on Rainbow’s shoulders.
“No...Actually, I was hoping to get yer advice on it ‘cuz you’re so smart and all.”
Rainbow Dash being helpful and Applejack being ambiguous all in one day. She agreed.
“Okey-doke, then, I’ll see you tomorrow Twi!” Applejack called after her as she left, sounding strangely pleased with herself.
“You see? Applejack’s got it too!” Spike popped up from the pile of books, trying to free himself from his literary prison.
“Got what, exactly?” Twilight vacantly continued sorting, lost in thought.
“They weren’t acting like themselves,” Spike sounded mildly insidious, “They were all nervous, they got happy for no reason...” he trailed off theatrically.
“Go on, Spike,” Twilight rolled her eyes, “We’re all dying to hear what you think the trouble is.”
“They must be...” he paused, “aliens! Aliens pretending to be Applejack and Rainbow Dash!” His teeth chattered and he wrung his hands. Twilight sighed irritably.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Spike, they’re probably just both having off-days.” She returned to her duties, but the symptoms lay heavy on her mind.
“Nervous, sheepish, erratic, both of them...”
It might be impossible to figure out where the misunderstanding began, but this wouldn’t be too far off.
Rainbow Dash did not like the look on Applejack’s face as she left the library.
That was the smirk she had when she won at horseshoes, or outdid her in rodeos, or any other time she beat her at something. Rainbow had grown to despise that look. It stung, especially when it was something like this that really mattered; more than winning some stupid game, or proving her worth, this was life or death. She had to know what she’d done to-
“Howdy there, RD! Nice day we’re havin’, huh?” Applejack called up to where she sat on a cloud, sulking.
“Oh, really nice. How’s Twilight doing?” They both knew. Although animosity was rather out of character for both of them.
“I just asked her for some help in the orchard tomorrow,” Applejack was not one to gloat. At least not with any other pony. “Alone.” Rainbow leapt off her cloud and landed right smack in front of her, inches away from her face. Her eyes were fiery.
“I volunteered to help her out at the library every day.” She faltered slightly. “With, uh, Spike there. Though not all the time.” She glared when Applejack started to laugh.
“Good luck with that, Dash, I hope the three of ya have fun with your work.” She brushed past her quite deliberately.
“Oh, and, Rainbow Dash?” she called, “May the best pony win.”
