150 Proof

It was a perfect autumn day; the sun was slowly sinking into the horizon, leaving a dazzling display of multi-colored purple and pink hues. The leaves were spectacular as well, consisting of leaves clad in golden color and leaves hot on fire with flaring orange and red. It was an almost too perfect time for the Princess of Equestria to visit. “Sounds to me like an important lesson was learned.” She brightly enhanced the already perfect scenery.

It was the end of the Running of the Leaves contest that year and it was an important lesson that was learned. Applejack and Rainbow Dash wanted to see once and for all who the most athletic pony in all of Equestria was, so they decided to compete against each other in The Running of the Leaves, a racing event which had another purpose, to shake the leaves from the trees. In the heat of competition, both Applejack and Dash tried to inhibit the others ability to perform, trying to get the upper-hand; however, after they both tied for last place, they learned that such un-sportsman like conduct only backfires.

The Princess walked through the rows of spectators. Both Applejack and Rainbow Dash suddenly chimed in surprise, “Princess Celestia!?” Applejack stopped the awkward silence, asking, “What are you doin’ here?” They were all utterly shocked that the Princess would be visiting, but the Princess admitted, “Fall is one of my favorite seasons. So I came to celebrate the running of the leaves!” The two friends felt ashamed that their Princess had to witness their rude actions. Applejack then apologized, “I’m sorry ya had to see us bein’ such poor sports, Princess…” But Princess Celestia was understanding and incredibly forgiving, she replied, “That’s alright Applejack. Anypony can get swept up in the excitement of competition.” Her words were wise, full of intellect. Those words sat on the two friends for a moment. Twilight, Celestia’s personal student and friend to both ponies then said, “It’s important to remember that the friendship is always more important than the competition.” Applejack and Rainbow Dash understood their faults and embraced the kind words. Princess Celestia then added, “Exactly Twilight!”

She paused a moment, catching her breath, then continued, “Now unfortunately, because the two of you were busy tricking each other instead of shaking down leaves, many of the lovely trees in Equestria are still covered.” Applejack understood the words completely, “Why Princess, I bet we could knock those leaves down for ya lickety-split!” She then turned to Dash and said, “Waddaya say, friend?” She then smirked and added, “Ya wanna go for another run?” Dash said in her usual gusto, “I’d love to stretch my legs!” She took off, Applejack close behind, and started the run again. This time it wasn’t a race between rivals, it was a race between friends…if a race at all…

***

They ran, leaving the ember colored leaves in their wake. Neither was interested in the actual race. They ran, side by side, and enjoyed the sweet sound of wind-stirred leaves and gently galloping of hoofs. The didn’t even say a word for the longest time, and when they finally exchanged words, they were simple, even for Applejack.

Dash started the conversation first, apologizing for her behavior, but Applejack wouldn’t hear it, as far as Applejack was concerned, it was her own fault. She told Rainbow that she was just jealous that she had won. Rainbow Dash, mimicking Applejack, insisted it was her own fault. Finally Applejack sighed, “Let’s just agree to disagree alright?” The only response she got was a slight nod from Rainbow Dash. At that slight gesture, Applejack found a new admiration for her friend. She was strong, sure, and accomplished; these traits seemed to be exemplified whenever Applejack was about. Dash felt stronger in Applejacks presence and vice versa. In fact, if it wasn’t for Dash, Applejack wouldn’t have know who she was and what she was truly meant to do. After learning that Dash’s Sonic Rainboom was the same rainbow that led Applejack home from Manehattan, Applejack felt an even stronger connection with her. She lazily let her eyes wander about her friend, watching the toned legs push with incredible precision and strength.

Dash couldn’t help but notice the staring and blushed a little. She turned away and pretended to look at the scenery to hide her face from her best friends prying eyes.

Applejack felt happy, just plain happy. She had never been so content and joyful than she did right now. She wished that the trail would go on forever, locking them in a never-ending run through the beautiful forest.

I could go on forever…

She thought to herself, becoming lost in the deep violet eyes, accentuated by the explosion of purple in the sky. Those eyes spoke to her, they were full of excitement, passion, and utmost determination. She loved those eyes.

She finally broke the trance and looked further behind her running friend to her mane. The hair whipped about in the wind, creating an almost blurry rainbow coming about her head and back. It was so free. The air swept through each strand, creating life in each hair. It was a magnificent sight. She loved that mane.

She then concluded; she loved that pony.

This was truer than anything else in the world. She loved Rainbow Dash more than apple bucking. She was her best friend and she would always be. She was so happy and she could contain it no longer. In pure bliss, she told her friend, “I love you, Rainbow Dash.”

Applejack hadn’t considered the consequences of her words. She didn’t realize them. All she knew in that moment was that she loved her best friend. Rainbow Dash; however, thought a little differently.

The words hit her like a freight train. She could no longer move as her legs started failing her…

What did she just say?

She slowly came to a stop, her mind racing as it tried to process the new information. Little did she know, she was drastically over thinking it.

Did she just say she loved me? What is going on in that pony’s head?!

Applejack meant nothing by it but she didn’t realize what was happening. Dash looked at her dumbly. There’s no other word to describe it. She was dumbfounded. Not only did she not understand, but it’s almost as if her mind didn’t even try to grasp the concept that her friend just threw at her. Through her emotional storm inside her, she spoke indifferently, “You love me?” Dash still wasn’t sure of Applejacks meaning yet, so she braced herself for anything.

“Of course I do, why would you ask something so silly?” Applejack was still oblivious to the underlying meaning of her remark. Dash just stood there, transfixed at her friends words.

“I love you too.” Dash smacked herself for her remark.

That was the best you could do!? You don’t even like her like that, why would you say something like that? Are you nuts! Good luck with this one…

On that thought, it seemed like her sense had just gotten up and left. She turned and was met by a warm embrace from Applejack. It was the happiest moment of her life and yet the most horrible moment. Dash thought Applejack was talking about intimacy; in truth, Applejack meant nothing of the sort. She did love Dash, but as a friend and nothing more. Dash, no matter how hard she wanted to push away, accepted the hug and returned it with renewed strength. However, Dash was a little more than just uneasy at this point. Her heart was beating fast and sweat was starting to form. As the hug was ended, all Dash could do is smile awkwardly at Applejack, who was still blind to the implications before her.

Applejack looked back into those eyes, and in an instant, suddenly understood the gravity of the situation. “Oh no, Rainbow Dash. I meant only as a friend…”

Somehow, Dash was joyful and yet pained at the same time. She knew the happiness, but not understand the pain; she would years later. She felt relieved at the words. Applejack; however, seemed nervous. Her feelings became mixed up without warning, with no cause or justification. Feelings of love, hate, happiness and sadness expertly clouded her judgment; she couldn’t think straight. She started blinking quicker than normal. Dash could feel her heart increase in rate and saw her eyes start to dart back and forth, not really focusing on anything and yet focusing on everything. Dash was curious. Applejack noticed.

“Sugarcube, yall gotta keep this here thing a secret, ya hear? Ya gotta promise.”

“What?!”

“Dash, I know how you feel right now, but you can’t. Just move on before it starts, I’m not interested. I just want to be your friend.” That was the first time Applejack had lied to Rainbow Dash. She didn’t know she lied to Dash, it went against everything she stood for. But all the same, she did. In truth, in that one moment, in that fraction of infinite existence, she did love her friend more than usual; perhaps intimately. She wasn’t quite sure how she felt, or what she felt and she wouldn’t get swept up in confusing feelings and do something she would regret. She couldn’t. Her thoughts immediately switched gears as she saw Dash as a friend; nothing more.

Dash wasn’t sure if she really felt that way about Applejack. She couldn’t discern anything from her jumbled thoughts. The more she thought about it, the more a lingering feeling rose in her. She hadn’t felt it before and was immediately bewildered. She pushed it back, un-accepting of the confusion. After all, Rainbow Dash is always sure.

All she could reply was a simple, “Alright. I promise.”

Dash smiled. She didn’t understand why, but frankly, she didn’t care. She agreed without giving a second thought. They said not another word and went back to running. The sun slowly setting down into the twilight sky.

***

Dash and Applejack had kept up that charade ever since. It was as if nothing had ever happened. They both just pushed the awkward experience into the back of their minds and never talked about it. It never came back into conversation. Time passed by, and years later, Dash had forgotten about that fateful day and that promise.

“Do ya remember now Dash? Huh? Do ya remember? Ya promised me you wouldn’t talk about things like this again. You promised me that day. Then ya came up an’ started this again. You broke that promise Dash!” Applejack spewed the words in between the fits of crying, “I’ll never forgive ya for this. Now get outta my sight. I don’t want to talk to you again.”

Even through Dash’s convictions, the words still stung more than ever. She had come here to try and make amends and instead, only worsened the situation. She couldn’t understand how things had gotten so bad. Here stood her best friend, the person she loved more than anything, and she didn’t want anything to do with her. Some time had passed when Rainbow Dash decided to say it once more, as if to put some concrete down on this crumbling building of friendship, “Applejack, I love you…”

Applejack fought the urge to say it, but she lost. In all her frustration and mixed convictions, she said the unthinkable, “I hate you…”

***

Those words, those three simple words completely destroyed Dash. She was finished, broken-hearted. She was spent, utterly obliterated in the wake of those three words. She never would have expected such a thing to escape Applejacks lips, let alone have them directed to her. She felt all the pain she could that day, and more; so much more. Tears flowed down her cheek; she didn’t even try to stop. She felt alone for the first time in so many years; she was abandoned. With a final sigh and tears roaming freely around her face, she said, nearly inaudible, “I’m sorry, Applejack…” With those last words spoken, Rainbow Dash turned and left, flying at incredible speeds towards the Everfree Forest, never looking back; it was the only place she knew that no ponies would venture. The feeling of the wind flowing past her was the only freedom she could have.

***

Dash had gone but Applejacks crying still ensued. The thought that she could say that to anyone disgusted her more than anything. She hated Dash even more because Dash made her hate.

This is all her fault. She just couldn’t listen.

She just sat there and cried, unable to do anything else. She thought about all that had transpired. From where it all began. Dash was her best friend. And for Dash to make her feel such hatred was horrid. But it made no sense. No matter how she sliced it, she could never truly say it was her friend’s fault. Such anger didn’t arise because of her, it couldn’t. Her eyes grew wide as she started understanding where her hate came from. It came from herself; and was directed toward herself; she was mad…at herself.

At first, it seemed unfeasible, but it gradually started sinking in. Such implications were alien to her. She had never felt hate from anypony; now she was feeling it from herself. She realized her hatred stemmed from her reactions toward her friend. Applejack had lied to her, and hated herself for it. She had just blamed her best friend, her Rainbow Dash, for her feelings of self-loathing. She couldn’t believe she could have been so blind.

Her mind screamed at her, begged her to stop, but her heart continued exploring her true feelings. She loved Rainbow Dash, she always had, but her conscience had kept it tucked away, never letting her experience and indulge in such feelings. That was the last time she listened to her head. Since then, she’s only listened to her heart. And her heart was telling her that she had to go and find Dash, and be honest.

It suddenly hit her. The whole honesty situation. Her mind hadn’t allowed her to be honest. She was an Element of Harmony, the epitome of Honesty, and her mind had clouded her true feelings. She had decided; it was time for her to be honest with herself and be honest with Dash. All her beliefs and convictions melted away at the realization of her love for Rainbow Dash

I gotta find Dash an’ tell her how I really feel. I can’t live another day in this lie!

With her thoughts finally in line, she ran, following the depressed rainbow left in the wake of pure anguish in the night sky.

***

On the other side of the forest, a blue Pegasus rocketed across the bright sky. Dash felt numb as she flew above the forest floor. She could no longer feel the wind as it passed about her blue body; she could no longer feel her wings as they beat rhythmically up and down. She could no longer feel anything; not her usual determination, not her sadness or her anger. She couldn’t feel anything; not even the affection of her acclaimed companion. She felt nothing, no love, no hate, no happiness or sadness, no anger or anguish…nothing…

She no longer felt the need to eat. No longer felt the need to sleep or be awake, drink or rest. She no longer felt the need to love or hate; she no longer felt the need of anything or anypony.

She no longer felt the desire of other ponies, of her friends or enemies. No desire to do anything, or see anypony. She no longer felt the desire of triumph; she had lost the one pony that meant the most to her. Quite frankly, she no longer felt the desire the live at all. Not like this. Rainbow Dash did not want to die, but she could bear this burden no longer; she couldn’t live like this. At least in death, she’d have peace.

Was there anything to feel? Was it pain that made her real? Her heart, her very soul, cried out in protest, but was immediately silenced by her head.

She doesn’t love you! Stop! Enough with the hope! She won’t come back! She hates you; deal with it! It’s over, the person you love HATES you! You have nothing and nopony left!

Forcing her heart into submission, she began her steady climb into the sky. She didn’t want death, but she’d gladly accept it over life; over the pain and suffering. She turned over, no longer feeling the enjoyment of the second of weightlessness, and sped towards the ground. She flew at blinding speeds, faster than she ever had before. The air sharpened to a point in front of her. All the shades of light became fused into one at the tip of her hooves. She went faster and faster. Soon the whole world was a blur as the point of radiance exploded into a fiery and dazzling display of color that erupted forth from her hooves. Spreading over miles and shaking the soil to it’s core. The ground was 100 feet away and closing fast, even through the roar of her Sonic-Rainboom, she was able to scream, “I LOVE YOU APPLEJACK!” She closed her eyes awaiting impact when she heard a distant, “I love you too, Rainbow Dash!” Dash in surprise slowed and looked over to see her beloved racing toward her. Time slowed as she witnessed her admirer close in to help her. She looked down and gasped, meeting the earth with a heavy thud.

***