Ethanol, Elements, and Estrogen

"I just can't do it, AJ."

One thing was for sure: after what Rarity did, it was time for some early drinks.

There was still plenty of time in the day to do what Rarity had planned, but for the afternoon, Applejack and Rainbow needed to process exactly, what was going on, again. Rarity's force of will stunned all of them.

Today was truly, a very different day, and it called for different tactics. The ups and downs had begun to drain the both of them, and the solution was simple: mead. What better drink to have with a best friend to wind down and simply enjoy the moment? The two mares trusted each other to the death, despite their exterior grudges. Only the fellow Elements knew how they really ticked. And even then, not quite.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash had returned to the Apple Farm in order to give themselves a bit of a cool down. Even Applejack had to admit that what had happened was a lot to process. It had clearly taken a toll on the pegasus.

Both of the Elements laid on the hay behind the second floor barn door, sipping spiced and sweet Apple mead that oozed of sweet honey. "What's nippin' at your wings, Rainbow?" Applejack said.

Dash shrugged softly, letting out a grunt as she sipped her drink. She didn't even realize that she was leaning into Applejack's side for support. The farmer didn't seem to mind, nor did she.

Applejack wrapped an arm around Rainbow's side, dragging her forehoof smoothly through her friend's thick coat. Alcohol, affection, and shade visibly mellowed out Rainbow, her magenta eyes eyeing her friend with a more mellow glow. "Come on now," Applejack said, "Ya really need to let what Tessie did to ya go. You barrel it all up, Dasha, and it's not good for ya. What ya looked like this morning ain't a mouse fart to a tornado compared ta what ya look like now. Ya might not show it, but I can feel it, girl."

"It's... more than her," Dash said quietly. "But she's part of the problem. I suck that much at hiding when somethings bugging me and I've reached a breaking point, don't I?" She flicked an ear at the revelation.

Applejack smiled, reaching her arm up to ruffle it messily through her friend's chromatic mane. "Come on girl; it's not like what Rarity wants us to do is anything weird. Hay, she musta said five times the new hairdos will be reasonable." She took a firm chug of her own drink, resting her tail idly over Dash's talent tattoo. "If even Fluttershy said she's bein' too kind, I say run with it, and see what happens. Shoot, we can always tease the crap out of her if it screws up."

Rainbow drank down the final drought of her mead, letting the stein of honey spiced apple mead roll and melt on her tongue. That sweet liquor only tugged on her heart even more. Her eyes closed as she constructed the sentence in her head, barely having the strength to say it. She had to. "I lied about Shining Armor. I have a crush on Twilight."

Applejack choked on her last sip of alcohol, grabbing her own throat to force the drink down. "General Patton sent the Shermans where!?"

Dash glared at her best friend, reddish pink eyes a burning flame of emotion at Applejack's reaction. "I have, a crush, on Twilight. You don't have to be a prick about it." Her tail lashed behind herself, smacking on the wood and eventually on Applejack's back, causing her to wince. "And it's not just the 'roses are red, so are my eyes, I want my tongue between your thighs' kind of crush."

Applejack was blinking rapidly in shock, awoken by Dash bopping her on the end of her muzzle. Rainbow sighed deeply, reeling in her temper. "I want to date Twilight,” she continued, cerise orbs tiredly looking into Applejack's own. “The kind of ‘me writing her love notes and whispering in her ear’ kind of date her. Because I... think I might love her. I like so much about her. She really balances me out, even when it doesn’t look like it. I get really... warm around her." She rested her muzzle in her forehooves, staring off blankly into the distance. "I just don't know what to do."

A sharp, resounding whistle escaped from Applejack's lips. "Well, that complicates things, and explains a bunch. We're all thinkin' Rarity just wanted you to mentor her or somethin', and was really tryin’ too hard. Way too hard. Hard to guide a mare when you want her yourself. So you think she’s so forceful because she...?"

“Yeah. She really does want us to hook up." Rainbow snorted dryly. "She thinks I’m stupid, but I’m not. Sure, I didn't think she knew I had the hots for Twilight, but I've been in more relationships than Rares. You think I want to do a one night stand with Twi’ and just say it helped her? Maybe Rarity didn't think of that. Of how I'd feel about it. On being her first. Or finding her a date when I’d rather..." Dash rested her snout in her forehooves with a quiet huff.

Applejack sat up more firmly, squeezing her friend's side supportively. “So why did ya sound so... excited about helpin' her, if this ruffles your coat?”

“You think I’m gonna freakin’ burst everyponies bubble that I don’t feel right helpin’ a mare I’d rather be with myself?" Rainbow nickered away the thought dismissively. "I want her first to be a lot better than mine. A lot better than mine. Or... most of my partners, when I think about it."

“So why don’t you wanna do what Rarity is suggestin’?" Applejack asked. "You got my approval if you're thinkin’ I’m not okay with it. You’d be good to her.”

Rainbow looked up at her friend, and all the farmer saw was fear. Guilty fear and doubt dueled in her eyes. “Because I got issues from Tessie and Cloudsdale I don’t want comin’ out, and... and the last thing I want is to break down in front of her, when she needs someone stable. Cause while I'm here for you all in ten seconds flat, emotionally? I'm pretty screwed up when it comes to physical contact and trust issues. If you haven't noticed,” she chuckled meekly.

“I think this is an easy fix: Damn Tessie, and go with Twilight."

Dash's eyes went wide at the advice, her wings shooting up from her back in shock. "W-w-what?"

Applejack pat Dash gently on the head, stroking through her mane affectionately. "You heard me," she said. "Do I have ta list it for ya, Rainbow? You're loyal, playful, would protect her with yer life, make her leave that damn tree house more, you're both sarcastic twits in different ways, she'll calm ya down a bit, and you'll make her relax too. I can say for certain that if there is anypony I know who would treasure her heart, it's you, Rainbow. Even if nothin' happens, you both will feel better." She winked. "And shoot, if you think we all don't know about you and Pinkie, you're blind, Dasha."

Being caught with both Applejack's heart to heart advice and in knowing that a relationship she used to have that was supposed to be secret wasn't anymore, locked up her wings as if they were glued in place. "What are you talking about!?" Dash's voice cracked.

Applejack rolled over onto her back, cackling in the manner only she could at catching her friend flustered. "Aww, come on, Rainbow, all four of us knew months ago ya two had a roll in the mud, and decided it wasn't healthy for the long plow. I know ya two tried to keep it a secret, but, well, ya notice things."

Dash gagged loudly, sticking out her tongue in disgust. "Holy shit, I like anal but I'm not that gross, eww! Although real mud sex-"

Applejack blinked rapidly at the unexpected comment, until raw horror filled her face in understanding. "Neighty Roosevelt’s mustache, I meant sex, not scat! Jeez girl, you think in the gutter too much."

"Oh go fondle an ash plume, you're the one implying it!" Dash pushed her forehooves into her friend's chest, only to receive a shove back in return. "Hey, quit it!" she chuckled. "I got a life crisis here, stop being stupid! Although when you put it that way, I am totally lookin’ forward to you and Rares wrestling-hey!"

Rainbow let out a soft squeak as she was pulled on top of Applejack by the mare in question, unable to stop a light pink blush from etching itself across her blue muzzle. "Then stop being cute," Applejack said, "and realize that I give sound advice most of the time."

"I'm only cute when you treat me like a pet!" Dash replied, laying herself on top Applejack as if her friend were a cloud.

"Than why on Equestria are ya layin' down on top of me as if you're Winona, Dasha?" Applejack couldn't help but smile a bit sadistically, scratching her forehooves down her friend's sides.

"B-b-because it feels good and I need it? Ya know, stress relief?" Rainbow's frame wiggled itself into the forehooves half massaging her sides, sending a shiver down her spine. "You are the most molesting sister ever. I'm not shocked."

"And you're not complainin'' about it. You're such a switch in the sheets I bet," Applejack laughed, squeezing Rainbow, listening to a faint whinny of protest escape from the pegasus' muzzle. "Don't you make that sound at me, missy! I'm helpin' ya, and givin' ya sound advice, as I said."

"No comment on my positions on clouds, and sound advice? I guess so, except when you fart, then it sounds like my mind is dying." Dash retorted, prodding at her friend's hat.

Applejack swatted at her friend's hoof as if she too, was a feline. "Comin' from the girl who's butthole I now get."

Rainbow's ears folded nearly instantly at the comment, her posture slouching as she laid on top of her friend. Once more, her spirit was broken as quickly as it was healed. "I look as bad as you say I do back there don’t I?" she whimpered. "I bet ponies make fun of it, don't they? That's what I get for trying new things," she huffed, her eyes watering faintly.

"Oh, Dasha, I'm just hounding ya," Applejack replied sweetly, scratching through Rainbow's side coat. "As if I don't have 'Apple Anus Syndrome' as you like to call it." A repressed snort of laughter escaped from Dash's muzzle. "Ya see? Now it's funny isn't it?"

"Okay, I'm paranoid about my plothole," Dash replied, sticking out her tongue as she winked at Applejack. "And you look fine in the rear too, AJ. Never repeat that I said this, but... uhh... the black really compliments the orange down there. I-I-I said nothing, remember?"

"Why thank you, Rainbow Dash," Applejack blushed, her cheeks turning red and soon enough matched equally by the mare on top of her, "I woke up this mornin' and I thought to myself, 'Ya know what I need? I need my crotch color complimented.'"

Both of the mares broke out into gales of united hysterics, clinging to each other as tears began to form around their eyes. It only brought them physically closer to one another, both of them pounding the hay around them in glee.

"I... I don't think you've ever said something that funny and dry before!" Rainbow cackled, letting out a drunken coo in sedated bliss. "Holy, crap, I think I just died a little, and it was an amazing death. So I'm just gonna lay down," she began, settling herself back on top of Applejack, "and use you as a cloud. And maybe suck the warmth out of ya, cause I'm a vampire in disguise like that," she winked.

Applejack stroked through the chromatic mane on top of her deeply, watching her friend relax quickly into the grooming. Whatever snide joke Rainbow was about to make melted the moment she was stroked. "Ya like what ya like in the hay, Rainbow," Applejack continued. "Pinkie and you are the best of friends, you're the most attractive girl I know, and damn it, Twi' deserves you. If ya need an ego boost now, Rainbow, than ya got the nicest rear end I know, and that's comin' from me. Just don't tell anypony I said that, or I swear to Celestia, I'm gonna get a rope, and tie you to a fence with yer tail exposed on a windy day."

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes dismissively at the threat. "Sounds like you just wanna play with me. I'd play with me."

"Damn it, don't you turn my insult around on me," Applejack growled.

"Aww," Dash nickered, squeezing her friend's cheeks, "is the yokel mad I'm smarter-stop... mmm... stroking me there." Her chromatic tail swished contently behind herself as Applejack got her sweet revenge, massaging Rainbow at the base of her neck. "Totally... cheating, you-mmm... bitch."

A shiver went down Applejack’s spine at her friend's reaction. “Winchester’s barrels, Dash, why can you be so adorable that it makes me die on the inside? Why did ya ever tell me you like being pet on the head?”

“Because I was drunk on Neighgerbomb’s and needed somepony to cuddle into me that night?” She smiled brightly down at Applejack, flicking her tail up and down on the barn floor innocently. "And you did it. Sucker," she grinned. "You're a softy too."

Applejack simply sighed, shaking her head with a soft smirk. “Speakin’ of that, why are ya so clingy after Tesla? And what happened with you ‘n Pinkers? Pinkie ‘n you would work as a couple too. Ya both can bounce everywhere, and laugh at just about everything. You’re a tough girl, so why did that rocker mare break ya so hard?”

"Pinkie and I had a fling, ‘n stuff,” Rainbow shrugged. “We learned a lot about pleasing each other. We just realized we don’t work in that way, and pulled back. It's... complicated. Didn't have that spark, I guess. No hard feelings though, and we’re the pals we say we are, honest! I learned stuff from her. Including... yeah," she nervously chuckled. Slowly, Dash exhaled, letting out that final barrier from her mind. "I just can't date Twilight, alright? Trust me on this. I'm gonna be clingy, and I need someone who can pull me back a bit. I need a pony who’s tougher and will toughen me up, too."

Applejack tilted her muzzle to the side "You think you'll really be that pushy, Rainbow?"

“Yeah,” she said. “I started having a crush on Twi’ about a year ago, and it really got big after Tessie and I broke up. Speakin’ of that, I’ll tell you why we really broke up." She adjusted herself on top of her friend, biting her bottom lip. "I didn't dump Tesla Coil because she was a bitch to me when she came back from her concerts. She dumped me, because I wanted something more than just plot. I wanted ya know... love 'n all.”

"I think that's sad, Dash, but that’s her-”

"She cheated on me multiple times," Rainbow whimpered, "and thought my 'awesomeness' just didn't fit with me wanting to maybe cuddle a bit and just be playful. Didn't even bother to say it until the end.”

Applejack shot up onto all four of her hooves with a furious neigh that sent Rainbow crawling onto her back in terror. "That, worthless, fuckin', cunt.”

Dash was in awe of her friend spitting out the one word that she would never say. Or would she, if she was in Applejack's place? Her wings laid limp beside her frame as she stared at the towering behemoth of farm labored muscle and feral rage that pulsated through Applejack's very core.

Applejack slammed a forehoof into the floorboards, completely shattering the board underneath her. Her emerald eyes gleamed venomous poison the likes of which would of made Chrysalis cower. “No skanky, two bit, metal headed shit stain, thinks she can just toy with your heart and-” Rainbow had never seen her friend like this. Applejack was quivering. The pegasus could see every vein and flexing muscle in her friend’s body begging to spring to action until it wore itself out. “Where does she live?" Applejack said it so flatly it scared Rainbow that much more.

It took nearly all of her willpower to simply open her mouth. “N-n-o-”

Rainbow Dash could see those micromovements inside of her friend's legs and calves. Applejack was doing everything she could not to tackle her and milk the information by force. “Dasha, tell me, so I can snap both of her wings, and beat her to an inch of her life. Because nopony, toys with the heart of my friends like that! I swear to Celestia, Rainbow, I’m not gonna regret hurtin’ her, and I mighty well enjoy it. You know damn well you’d be sayin’ the same thing.”

“This is what I’m talking about!” Rainbow cried, hovering in front of her friend. “You think I want to put this on Twilight?”

“That... thing put you through this.”

“And I’m the one who hasn’t got over it yet. This is my crap, not yours. I got enough of it from Flight School and Cloudsdale. You don’t have this nimbus on your shoulders, and you'd defend her like I would! You'd fight for her like that, but you don't have the stupid emo waves like I do."

Rainbow Dash landed on the floor, her legs shaking at the rush of hormones flooding her system. She looked at her friend as if she was about to never say another word ever again. "Twilight doesn’t need my problems," Rainbow whispered. "She needs somepony who doesn’t have any, who doesn’t have a hurricane behind them. Like... you.”

As quickly as the tempest of fury roared over the orange mare’s form, it melted away in a wave of shock. “M-m-me?” Applejack mumbled.

“Yeah,” Dash replied, “you.”

 Rainbow pulled herself up to gently press her muzzle into her friend’s snout, letting a jet of steam exhale from her nose, dancing between their forms. ”AJ, Jackie, I like all of you. Love, all of you.” Dash put a hoof on her friend’s lips to stop her from speaking, her cerise eyes looking up in calm peace into the emerald gems of her friend. “I have for years. It comes with who I am I guess. You’re my girls, my peps’. Maybe that’s what comes with my Element. Twilight’s tough too, but she’s never... dealt with love like this. I can’t put this on her.”

Her wings twitched by the sides of her frame nervously. “Maybe if I got my crap in a cyclone and sent it away, but look at me. I charge into things, and I’d say something that’d hurt her and break her heart when I didn’t mean it, cause I’m still love sick myself. I may be loyal ‘n loving and all, but I’m also sometimes stupid. She needs integrity, somepony like you.”

“P-P-please, Rainbow girl, ya makin’ me hyperventilate,” Applejack panted. “I don’t think anypony has ever complimented me like that. I don’t know what ta-"

She didn't know what had consumed her to do it. Maybe it was the release of so many emotions pouring out of her at once. Maybe it was repressed love. Intimacy, need, stress, fear. All Rainbow Dash knew, was that she went from fearing her friend, to complimenting her, to praising her in the best way she could.

A kiss.

Rainbow's muzzle tilted to the side as her eyes closed, pressing her lips into perhaps her closest friend without realizing she had done it, nor any desire to stop. She had kissed Applejack only in the comical manner to make her friend's cheeks explode before, but never like this. Her forehooves reached up to caress the orange mare's cheeks, holding her muzzle in place while the very tip of her tongue licked over Applejack's lips. The whole world, shut down for Rainbow Dash. It did for Applejack too.

Applejack was left speechless. Aroused from her past anger, softened by the praise, and caught off guard by the pegasus who made her laugh at life and burn of stress, had opened flood gates that even she didn't know fully existed. So much repressed emotion, and it all came out, in one kiss. It was beautiful, sad, and heart warming all at the same time. Her gut thought of the blue mare as a sister, but at the moment, with the ethanol and estrogen pumping through her system, she pushed that choice of word to the back of her mind. Maybe, just maybe, Rainbow needed her.

She kissed back.

Both of their muzzles interlocked, Applejack raising up a forehoof to stroke affectionately through the chest fluff of Rainbow's, the faint crackles of their lips breaking apart and coming back together echoing in their ears. Their tongues teased each others tips, putting nearly four years of friendship aside to take it one step farther. The faintest of gasps escaped both of their muzzles, tasting each other's breath and saliva.

It was too much for Rainbow Dash. She broke the kiss suddenly, tears slowly dripping down her cheeks as she looked up at her friend like a drowned rat, wings limp by the side of her frame. "I can't do this to you," she sniffled. "I can't drag you into me. I... I love you as a best friend. And..."

A furious blush had crossed the face of Applejack as her friend spoke, closing the distance to wrap her forehooves around Rainbow's toned neck. "And maybe, something more," Applejack finished. Her own eyes teared up around their edges, vibrant green staring into the sunset spectrum of Rainbow's orbs. "Rainbow. Stop it. Stop thinkin' of yourself as a pile of rhino crap, damn it. Ya think it doesn't hurt me, seein' you tear yourself apart like this?"

Rainbow sniffled again, shaking her head.

"That's not what you should be thinkin', and I'm not gonna let you keep on thinkin' it. Look here." She lifted up Dash's muzzle. "I... oh buckin' hayseeds and bloody hay, Rainbow Dash, I think you just made me realize I need a piece of my heart filled too." She continued, her ears folding by the side of her snout affectionately as she caressed through her friend's thick and colored mane, giving her a gentle peck on the lips once more. "Listen to me, mare, and listen good. Yer older sister is gonna say something, and you're not gonna like it, but you're gonna have to deal with it like ya do with muscle cramps, ya here?"

Dash nodded meekly. "Good," Applejack said. "Listen. I-Traveler's bitter prostate juice, I think I just solved half of our problems!"

For the first time since her emotional release, Rainbow smiled. "How in Olympus do you come up with those sayings on the top of your head?”

“It’s a trait passed on from my daddie’s side-but that isn’t important! Listen to this. You want me to date Twilight? Or be her first?”

Rainbow shrugged, cracking a faint smile. “I’m not forcin’ ya too, I’m just sayin’ that I’ll most likely start cryin’ if she isn’t with anypony other than you, because she deserves someone as awesome as you."

Applejack's blush wasn't leaving her muzzle anytime soon. "Alright, I'm... oh, damn it, fine I'll give it a shot, because she's as cute, kind, sweet and lovin' as you say she is." Her friend's wings spread in delight. "But," Applejack countered, pressing a forehoof to her friend's lips, "on two conditions."

"Name them," Rainbow said, determination returning to her magenta orbs. With the water that dotted them, they gleamed in the light bouncing off of the barn walls. "Because... I'm not ready for her, but you are. I know this is messed up, but-"

"Can it, cutie pie," Applejack chuckled, forcing a large glow to grace Rainbow's cheeks. "The first: ya trust me with you're life, so trust me, on that as silly as it sounds, there's a pony you don't know as well as you should, who I think could work for ya. They live here in town, and I'm sure we can get them to get to know you better. It'd help everypony in the long run anyways."

"Done," Rainbow nodded. "And the second?"

"That as much as it might scare both of us," Applejack whispered, "that... if Twi' and I just do our think, and what I suggest doesn't work out, but only if both happen-" She swallowed down a ball of saliva budding in her throat. "That... we give each other a shot alright?"

"I can do that."

Applejack raised an eyebrow at the unexpected response Rainbow, flicking her tail to make sure she was still alive. "R-r-really? I thought you'd say no."

Rainbow closed her eyes, inhaling gently through her nose once more. "Because we'd both be happy we gave our ideas a shot, and well, that means you once again, totally took crying-as-a-bitch Rainbow Dash's problems and solved them all. The least I can do is give you something in return. And well..." She scoffed at the ground, averting her gaze. "I'd... really enjoy that. You're my best pal, and I'm happy with you stayin' that way if what you think is gonna work, works. But I'd go farther. Just to see what happens."

"Stop thinkin' you need to go on a crusade just ta get my approval, Rainbow Dash." Applejack huffed, thudding Dash on the muzzle. Rainbow squished her snout into her neck. "This just makes me that much more sure ya need the pony I'm suggestin'. Ya need a Mare-Do-Well every hour it seems." She shook her snout. "Ya silly little thing. Now. You got problems because yer tryin’ to replace Tessie with Twi’, but Twilight is just too good for that hole, so you feel empty.”

Dash flicked an ear in silence, until her eyes started to widen. “W-w-wow I never thought of it in that way. It was right in front of me this whole time!”

“Sometimes, the truth is right in front of ya," Applejack grinned, scratching at her friend's chest. "So you're afraid you’ll hurt her like Tes’ did to you.”

“Y-y-yeah, that pretty much sums it up.”

“So ya don’t wanna damage what ya got with Twi’, so you keep it to you're chest, cause you’d rather hurt yourself than risk even the tiny chance of hurtin’ her.”

Rainbow pulled herself up to a hover with a flutter of her wings, magenta orbs glowing with sudden revelation. “Holy crap yes! I felt that, but I never thought that. I'm a complete idiot!”

Applejack folded her forehooves smugly, unable to keep a confident smile from spreading across her muzzle. “So what that means, is ya want me to be there for her, since you completely trust me to treat her right.”

“Yeah!”

“And that both she ‘n I need a good bit of love ‘n work. I'll admit,” Applejack chuckled, "Sometimes, it feels like Twi' and I are the only sane mares around here sometimes. That is, when Twilight isn't insane herself. We can make sure we both keep each other in line."

“Exactly!” With every lock that Applejack opened, Rainbow's powerful wings flapped that much harder, raw excitement pulsating through her frame.

With a chuckle, AJ blushed. “And I have to admit, it’s been since my teen years since I committed to somethin’. You’ll be happy as long as Twi’s happy, ‘n that’ll fill what’s hurtin’ in your heart.”

“Hay yes!”

“And well, Twilight is kinda cute,” Applejack said, scoffing at the floor.

Rainbow nickered out a titter, unable to stop a softer side of her from exposing itself. “Duh. You've seen her nerd rage, it's adorkable!”

“And a very capable leader," the farmer added. She prodded her friend's toned stomach. "And I could keep her calm when y’all tick her off. And she could keep me from snappin’ a twig when the goin' gets tough.”

“That’s been exactly my point this whole time!” Rainbow beamed, twirling through the air in excitement

Applejack could not stop smiling, more so at the equally grinning pegasus in front of her. “Ya know, I have ta admit, throwing a wrench in Rarity’s plan in a funny way would be kinda funny. She'd never think it'd be from us, and that'd make it that much more... uhh... epic, as ya'd say.”

“Oh my gosh it would be stupidly funny, and are you kidding me, Rarity would gush over you two being a couple!” Dash's wings were pulsating with excitement. She could feel a squee begging to escape from her lips. All of her problems, melted away by the wise advice of her long time friend.

Applejack reached up to poke her friend on the nose. “So speakin' of that, I know just the pony who can handle ya mighty fine when I think about it.” Crossing a forehoof as she scooped up her hat, placing it on top of Rainbow’s head. “By my hat I do.”

“Tell me!” Rainbow pressed her forehooves into Applejack's chest, the squee held in Rainbow’s throat coming out with a childish grin. “By Soarin’s hot plot tell me!”

“They’ve got enough experience to handle ya, can lend an ear, match yer wit, deal with yer energy, calm ya down, pull ya back, be gushy like ya like, deal with yer problems, and could grow a lot from you makin’ them lighten up and stop workin’ themselves to death.”

“You, are, killing me! Please!” Broken and a former shell of who she was, Rainbow Dash stuck out her bottom lip, gleaming red orbs large and begging for mercy.

“That pony,” Applejack said, a smug grin spreading over her lips.

“Yes?”

“Is Rarity.”

All that was heard from Rainbow’s muzzle was a starved, faint gasp as if she was choking on the quietest hiccup.

She turned her head confidently away from Rainbow Dash's frozen face, letting one, wild slap of her blonde tail dance behind herself. “I’m the next General Bray Bragg.”