Betrayal. Disharmony at its Best

Chapter 1

The Announcement

"HAHA! I won!" Rainbow Dash boasted as she smirked in victory at the annoyed looking Applejack. She was sitting on a white line of paint that marked the finish line of a race course the two mares had made a while back.

"You got lucky was all." Applejack countered. "Next time Ah'll beat you, that there's a promise!" she said in a challenging, but playful tone, shaking the dust from the race off of her orange coat.

"Is that a challenge?" Rainbow crouched to the ground, ready to take her friend on for another race, her tail lashing with

excitement.

"Ah'd love to Rainbow, but I best be gettin' back to Sweet Apple Acres" AJ told her friend apologetically. "Ah need to get ready for my big dinner party tonight. You're still comin' right?" she asked her hopefully.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world!" Rainbow smiled brightly, walking alongside her friend back towards Ponyville. "I still wish you would tell me this big secret you've been keeping from me and the rest of the girls." Rainbow said, her voice growing softer as her excitement died down.

"I'll tell everyone tonight, I promise."Apple Jack smiled assuringly. "Trust me though, you're gonna love it!" She said brightly, happiness edging her tone.

"I better! I could be getting some good flight practice in tonight, but instead I get to spend it at a boring dinner party." Rainbow joked with her friend, nudging her playfully.

Applejack laughed. "Just thought you could make it a bit more excitin'."She smiled, nudging her back. She looked at the sun as it started to go down. "Well I better hurry off to the ranch so I can start preparin', I'll see you tonight Rainbow Dash!" She called as she started running off towards Sweet Apple Acres.

Rainbow dash Held out a hoof. "Hey Apple Jack, wait! There's something I've been meaning to tell you!" She called.

Applejack stopped on the hill and turned her head, her mane catching the suns light. "Yea Rainbow, what is it?" she asked curiously.

Rainbow's ears flattened at the sight of Applejack on the hill with the light shining down on her. "Uhm... Uh.. Nothing, It isn't important." she said quickly, shaking her head nervously, a blush forming on her cheeks.

Applejack gave her an odd look before smiling. "Well all righty then, I'll see you tonight!" she said and turned around, running off and disappearing over the hill.

Rainbow Dash watched her go before letting out a deep and disappointed sigh. "Damn it Dash, why won't you just tell her how you feel!" she whispered to herself angerly. Her angry and embarrassed blush disappeared quickly and her scowl turned into a look of sadness as she looked down at the ground. "What if I'm never able to admit it to her.." She whimpered. Her eyes lit up with fire again as her head shot up. "No!" She announced to herself determinedly. "I will not just sit in the corner and admire her for the rest of my life! Tonight's the night I tell her! Tonight's the night she figures it out!" She shot up into the air and soared towards the home in Cloudsdale. "TONIGHTS THE NIGHT THAT I TELL APPLEJACK THAT I LOVE HER!" she called proudly, her words lost in the wind behind her.

~*~

"Wow Applejack, this dinner party turned out great!" Twilight Sparkle complimented, enjoying the apple turnip soup that sat in front of her.

"Aw shucks Twi, I'm mighty thankful for that. Ah'm also thankful that you came all the way from Canterlot just to be here!" Applejack smiled, walking around the table to hand every pony else their dinner.

"Yea! This party is great! I just hoped their would be balloons.. and cake, and confetti!" Pinkie said excitedly then let out a loud gasp. "I could get my party cannon if you want me to!" She squeaked.

Fluttershy looked over at Pinkie. "Uhm.. I don't think it's that kind of party Pinkie. "She said shyly, smiling softly at her overly excited friend.

Pinkie frowned, a bit disappointed. "Awwwwww! Well that's okay, a party's a party!" she smiled brightly as Applejack set her soup in front of her.

Rarity smiled softly but stayed silent, as if hiding something from everyone else.

Rainbow Dash looked across at Rarity. "Is everything all right Rarity? You've been quiet ever since you got here." She asked her friend curiously.

Rarity shook her head, smiling softly. "Oh no no! I'm quite all right dear, just have something on my mind." her smile grew brighter and her eyes lit up like diamonds.

Rainbow Dash looked at her a bit oddly. "Uhm... Okay then..." She said slowly, wondering what was on the happy unicorn's mind.

Applejack suddenly looked nervous as she sat down at the end of the table. "Any who, Enjoy your meals everypony." she said quickly, before digging into her soup, the other five doing the same.

"WOWZA! This tastes great Applejack!" Pinkie said excitedly. "I've never had anything so tasty in my life! Well except cupcakes, and ice cream, and pudding, and candy.." She continued her long list of food items, completely getting off topic from the compliment she tried to make.

"I agree Applejack, this is delicious!" Fluttershy said softly, Smiling brightly at her friend.

"You have to tell me this recipe so I can give it to my cook in Canterlot, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna would absolutely love this!" Twilight complimented brightly.

"It's absolutely marvelous!" Rarity commented happily.

Rainbow Dash didn't say anything, she was lost off into her own world, thinking about how she was going to tell Applejack about how she felt. "Okay... after the party just go up and tell her that you need to speak to her privately, Yea that'll work!

Applejack smiled, looking over at Rainbow Dash. "How do you like it Rainbow?" she asked.

Rainbow dash was too busy thinking to herself to notice she was being talked to. "Applejack, I have a major crush on you! She went through what she would say in her mind.

"Rainbow?" Applejack asked, confusion lacing her words.

"I've always loved you Applejack! She yelled in her mind.

"RAINBOW!" AJ called to her loudly.

"Huh what!?" Rainbow Dash finally snapped back into reality, looking around with a confused and surprised look on her face. She caught onto AJ's confused gaze. "Oh, yea what?" she asked.

"Uh... I was just asking how you liked the soup.." Applejack told her, looking at her friend oddly.

Her ear tips grew pink and a blush formed on Rainbow's face. "Oh! Yea it's delicious!" She smiled nervously, her ears starting to flatten embarrassedly.

"Are you all right darling, you look ever so troubled?" Rarity asked worriedly, her eyes soft with concern.

"Yea of course, I'm fine!" Rainbow said quickly. "Just... thinking about tank!" Her eyes brightened up at her wonderfully thought out excuse. "I've never really left him at home before." she lied out of her teeth, hoping her friends would buy it.

"Oh well I'm sure tank will be fine!" Twilight said brightly. "I'm sure he can't get into that much trouble."

"Yea.. I guess your right. Heh heh..." Rainbow said smiling nervously.

Applejack narrowed her eyes slightly, not thoroughly convinced that was the reason her best friend looked so troubled. It quickly disappeared from her mind as she stood up smiling. "Anyways, I have an announcement to make!" She called.

Every pony's attention turned to Applejack as everything got quiet. Rainbow Dash was once again off in her little world, thinking of how she would talk to Applejack.

"I know I have been hiding something from all of you for some time now, but now's the time I tell you all what I've been keeping from you!" Applejack announced.

I think you are the most gorgeous pony in Equestria Applejack, I've had a crush on you for some time and I just wanted to tell you...Rainbow Dash thought.

"I'm in a relationship with Rarity!" Applejack called proudly.

Are in a relationship with Rarity..wait? WHAT!? Rainbow once again snapped back into reality after realizing what AJ had just said. Her mouth was gaped open as she dropped her spoon, the utensil clattering against the table to break the shocked silence around the room.

Rarity stood up, smiling. She put a hoof around Applejack. "It's been going on for about two weeks now!" She announced happily.

The silence hung a little while longer before the other mares burst with joyed shrieks of joy and excitement, all getting up and crowding around the newly announced couple.

All but Rainbow Dash, who still sat in her seat with her mouth open.

"Oh my gosh I am so happy for you!" Fluttershy said in a louder and more excited tone, hooking her arms around Rarity's neck happily.

"OHMIGOSH WE HAVE TO HAVE A PARTY TO CELEBRATE!" Pinkie shrieked with joy, hopping around them. "Oh wait, this is the party." She stopped, realization masking her face. She shrugged and hopped around them again, giggling and talking excitedly.

"I can't wait to tell Spike and the Princesses back home!" Twilight smiled brightly.

Applejack chuckled, smiling around her friends who crowded her with happiness and compliments. "Thanks every pony! I was actually kinda worried for a bit, wondering how you would all react!" She admitted sheepishly.

Rainbow Dash gulped, masking the sadness in her eyes with a look of fake happiness, getting up and walking over to the two. "I-I'm really happy for you two, congrats.." she forced a smile.

Rarity smiled brightly. "Thank you Rainbow! I'm so glad to hear you say that!"

"COME ON EVERYPONY! LEEEEETS PARTAY!" Pinkie pulled out the party cannon and set it off, everypony beginning to dance and laugh and celebrate AJ and Rarities relationship.

Everyone except Rainbow Dash, who excused herself to the bathroom for most of the rest of the evening in order to hide her pain from the rest of the group.

~*~

AppleJack waved to everyone as they left. "Bye every pony! Thanks for comin' out!" she called to them.

Rarity walked over and gave her a peck on the cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow darling, Maybe I could close up shop tomorrow so you can visit." She winked.

AJ smiled. "That sounds great Apple Drop." She winked and flicked her gently. "I'll see you then!" she said.

Rarity giggled slightly and winked to her one last time before trotting away, back towards her shop in Ponyville.

Rainbow was the last to leave, her ears flattening at the sight of Applejack and Rarity flirting. She masked her pain as she tried to follow Rarity out quickly.

"Hold on there Sugar Cube, I need to talk  to ya!"Applejack called to Rainbow, making the blue Pegasus pony stop in her tracks.

Rainbow Dash turned around, a bit confused. "Yea?" she asked, trotting back inside the barn.

Applejack closed the door and turned around to face Rainbow. "I just wanted to say... thank you." she said softly.

Rainbow Dash was a bit taken aback. "Thank you? For what?" she was genuinely confused.

"For bein' such a good friend.." Applejack said softly. "To tell you the truth, I was afraid of what you would think about me and Rarity the most.." she admitted.

"What! Why?" Rainbow asked, her ears flattening.

"Because I was worried that you would think that I like Rarity more than you, and not want to hang around with me anymore." Applejack said sadly, her ears flattened already. "I just didn't want to make you feel like I was abandoning ya.,"

Rainbow Dash was shocked and touched, the pain in her heart growing stronger as she fought off tears. "I will never feel that way Applejack.." She said softly, a small smile forming and her eyes glistening with tears. "I'll always want to hang out with you, and I'm super happy for you and for Rarity." she said softly, mostly lying about the last part. "All I want is your happiness.."

Applejack smiled, a tear rolling down her cheek. "Oh thank you Rainbow!" she cried with joy, throwing her hooves around her friends neck. "You're the best friend a mare could ever ask for!"

Rainbow Dash's eyes widened with shock, but she wrapped her hooves around Applejack and smiled weakly.. "N-No problem.." she said nervously, breaking away from the hug.There's no way I can tell her how I feel now.. Not after her telling me this!. She thought, flattening her ears. She looked up at AJ. "Anyways, I better get home now.. I still need to feed Tank." She lied once again., having fed her turtle already this afternoon.

Applejack smiled. "Alrighty then!" She said opening the barn door. "Thank you again Rainbow for bein' so supportive!" Applejack said happily.

Rainbow Dash smiled. "Yea, No problem.." she said, holding her smile as she flew out the door. She waved to Applejack before flying off and towards Cloudsdale. Gosh.. I never knew Applejack felt so strongly about my opinion.. I have to be a good friend and be supportive of her and Rarity! Their my friends and they deserve it! She thought to herself determinedly.

Once she got home, we went straight to her bed and curled up, looking at the wall. "I will be supportive!" She whispered to herself proudly. Her gaze softened up and her eyes filled with sadness. "No matter how much it hurts..."

The thought of Rarity and the pony she loved's happiness and the determination to show her support for their relationship was the only thing that allowed Rainbow Dash's broken heart to soften up and let her sleep that night, along with many long nights after that...