Betrayal. Disharmony at its Best

Chapter 3

Settling for Butterflies

Rainbow Dash woke up with a groan. She was wrong, she did not feel any better this morning. In fact, she felt even worse than last night when she was arguing with herself in the mirror. She sat up and put a hoof on her forehead. "Sweet Celestia, it feels like Vinyl's having one of her raves in my head!" she groaned as she pulled herself out of bed.

She went over and drew the curtains on her bedroom window and let out a yelp as the sun hit her eyes, falling down as she tried to shield her eyes from the blinding morning light. She rapidly felt around with one of her hooves for the draw string, the other covering her face. She found the string and pulled hard, making the curtains close once again. She let out a sigh of relief and opened her eyes, pushing herself up onto her hooves.

"Well... I better go down and feed Tank.." she sighed and sluggishly made her way over to the stairs and began down them, her hooves slipping a couple times and threatening to send her stumbling down to the bottom. She was able to hold her ground though, finally hitting the soft surface of the bottom floor. She made her way into her kitchen and reached into an already open cabinet, pulling down a can of tortoise food. She pulled the tab lid off and made her way over to Tanks food bowl, holding the can upside down and letting the 'food' slide out into the bowl.

"Tank!" She called out loudly and moments later the buzzing of a little helicopter could be heard as the tortoise flew into the kitchen. He landed on the ground beside his food bowl and looked up at Rainbow Dash with what looked like a smile on his face, before digging into his breakfast.

Rainbow smiled down at him, her eyes still tired and her headache still pounding. "No problem Tank." she patted his shell and was about to go make her own breakfast when suddenly...

"RAINBOW DASH!" A pony called up to her window, making Rainbow jump up with surprise. She clung to her ceiling but then instantly recognized the voice calling to her. "Applejack?" she asked and flew out of her house. She poked her head over the cloud where her house rested on. Undoubtedly, there was AJ, sitting down and smiling up at her.

"Hi there Sugar Cube!" Applejack called up. "Did ah' wake ya'?" she asked.

Rainbow Dash shook her head. "No, I was just feeding Tank when you called me over." She said and flew down to meet her friend. "What are you doing here so early?"

"Ah' just wanted to see if you could come down to the barn early to help set up fer the ho down tonight." Applejack explained to her. "Big Macintosh was called down to Manehattan for some emergency family business and ah' need and extra set of strong hooves to help me set up."

Rainbow Dash frowned, forgetting all about the party tonight. "Sure thing.." she said with not very much enthusiasm in her voice.

Applejack cocked her head to the side. "Are ya'll all right Sugar Cube?" she asked Rainbow, frowning slightly.

Rainbow's ears flattened. "Yea I'm fine, just have a bit of a headache this morning.." She told her. It wasn't a complete lie, she still did have her pounding headache.

"Oh well I could ask some pony else if you're feelin' sick." Applejack said, concern in her voice.

"No no, it's fine!" Rainbow said quickly. "I'm sure I'll feel better in a little while." She said, smiling softly at Applejack.

Applejack frowned. "Are you absolutely sure?"

Rainbow smirked. "You don't think a little headache could stop me do ya?" she asked.

Applejack smiled, laughing. "No I don't suppose so! Well alrighty then, if you're absolutely sure!"

"Of course I'm sure!" Rainbow said to her, a new brightness in her voice.

"All righty then. Just come 'round the barn at about 3:00 and we can start settin' up. I'll be there waitin' for ya'." Applejack said and then looked at her watch. "Damn nabbit, I'm going to be late! I told Rarity I'd be over at her place for breakfast." She said, annoyance in her voice, then looked up at Rainbow. "I'm mighty sorry Rainbow, but I have to be off!" She said.

"It's no problem AJ, I'll see you at three!" Rainbow said smiling.

Applejack smiled. "Thanks a bunch Rainbow, I'll see you this afternoon!" She said before taking off towards Ponyville.

Rainbow Dash waved. "See ya!" she called. She then flew back up to her house to get ready for this afternoon.

"Wow I feel loads better!" she smiled as she flew back into her kitchen. "I guess a little talk with Applejack alone was all I needed." She told herself as she began preparing for this afternoon. She smiled the entire time. "This whole party thing may not be so bad after all!"

~*~

Rainbow Dash flew into Sweet Apple Acres with a smile on her face. She had felt a lot better after her little chat with AJ and was looking forward to helping her set up for the party. "Just me and Applejack.." she said to herself smiling.

She landed over by the barn and walked over, knocking on the door loudly. She stood back and waited for AJ to open the door, but nothing happened.

"Hmm that's strange.." Rainbow said and knocked louder. Once again their was no reply. She looked down at her watch then back up at the door. "I'm only twenty minutes early.." she said to herself and pushed on the barn door with her hoof, the door slowly creaking open. She peeked inside and looked around. "Hmm... No pony in here.." she whispered and popped her head back out, closing the door back up.

She suddenly heard a loud giggling sound coming from behind the bard and her ears perked with curiosity. She took low flight and slowly flew up to the side of the barn, peeking her head around to see what the noise was.

When she saw what the source was, her face went pale and her ears flattened, a deep sickly feeling erupting in her stomach. She landed on the ground softly, her legs wobbling underneath her. They can't really be... But they are.. she thought to herself, her eyes closing. They're doing it... And I just witnessed it..

She turned to leave but stepped on a twig, her whole body freezing.

"What was that?" Applejack asked, her head shooting up from behind some hay.

Rainbow Dash panicked, shooting off into the air and away from the barn.

Rarity lifted her head up, underneath Applejack still. "Oh it was just a bird probably, come on back down here." she said sweetly, a seducing hint in her voice.

Applejack looked around a bit more and shrugged, kissing Rarity as their heads fell back down behind the hay bales.

Rainbow Dash kept flying and didn't stop, not until she was well a ways from Sweet Apple Acres. When her exhaustion finally caught up her her, she flew up to a cloud and let herself fall onto it, instantly bursting into tears. "How could they-? When she knew I was-?" She couldn't even finish a sentence without breaking out into a new set of tears.

After about ten minutes of purehearted crying, Rainbow Dash was able to take flight up until she reached her home in Cloudsdale. Once she got into her room, she closed the curtains to make it dark before crashing onto her bed, curling herself up into a little ball.

"They'res no way I can go to that party tonight.. Not after.. that.." she sniffed, on the verge of tears again. She couldn't get the image out of her head. She felt like a child who just accidentally caught her parents in bed for the first time.

"How could she do this to me.." She whispered, feeling betrayed and heartbroken, once again starting to cry. But this time she didn't stop until she cried herself to sleep.

~*~

Rainbow Dash's eyes flew open when she heard her doorbell ring. She sat up quickly and began to panic slightly. Is it Applejack?! No of course not stupid, she can't stand on clouds! she growled in her head, calming down. Her mane was crazy from a rough sleep and her eyes were dull and tired.

The doorbell rang again and Rainbow Dash sighed, pulling herself out of bed. She slowly made her way downstairs and opened the door. Fluttershy stood there waiting, her eyes nervous like they always were.

"Oh umm.. Hi Rainbow Dash.." Fluttershy said softly, looking over her friends awful state. "I-is this a bad time?" she asked.

Rainbow shook her head. "No no.. come on in Fluttershy.." she said tiredly, stepping side for her.

Fluttershy nodded. "Thank you.." she whispered, walking inside.

Rainbow closed the door and walked with Fluttershy into the living room, sitting down. "What brings you here..?" she asked, yawning loudly.

Fluttershy's ears flattened, looking down at the ground. "Oh uhm.. I was just wondering why you weren't at Applejack and Rarity's party.. in fact every pony was.." she said nervously.

Rainbow's ears flattened. "Oh uh... I'm just really busy with stuff.." she lied horribly.

Fluttershy looked up. "But you look like you've been sleeping.." she said, looking confused.

A blush appeared on Rainbow's cheeks. "Yea.. I was sleeping.. but that's because.. I've been so busy today it's wiped me out." she smiled nervously, hoping Fluttershy would buy her lame excuses.

Fluttershy frowned and flew over next to Rainbow, gently putting an arm around her friend. "What's really going on?" she asked.

Rainbow grew nervous. "Wh-what are you talking about.. I told you what was going on!" Rainbow insisted quickly.

Fluttershy just raised her eyebrow, giving her the 'I'm not buying it' face.

Rainbow Dash looked at her pleadingly for a moment then sighed, looking down at the ground. "Fine... I didn't go to Applejack's party because.. because I just can't be around her right now.. Not with her and Rarity together like that.." she said sadly, her eyes dull and sad.

Fluttershy looked at her apologetically. She was one of the only ponies who knew about Rainbow's crush on Applejack other than Rainbow Dash herself. "Oh Rainbow.. I didn't know you still felt so strongly about it.. I'm so sorry." she pulled her friend into a tight hug.

Rainbow's eyes filled with tears as she tried to keep herself from crying in front of Fluttershy, not wanting to look weak in front of her friend. Her attempts soon failed and she burst out crying, throwing her hooves around the other pegasus.

"There there... Everything's going to be okay.." Fluttershy cooed softly, rocking Rainbow back and forth.

Rainbow slowly began to cease crying, eventually only sniffling as she held her and Fluttershy's hug. "Thanks Fluttershy.." she said gratefully. "You're a good friend.."

Fluttershy smiled. "Thanks... You're a good friend too Rainbow Dash.."She said softly.

Rainbow pulled back to face Fluttershy, her hooves still around her neck.

Fluttershy's ears grew hot and a small blush appeared on her cheeks. "So um.. are you feeling better..?" she asked her.

Rainbow blushed, smiling. "Yea.. I'm feeling better now.. thanks again Fluttershy..." she said softly, looking into her friends eyes.

Fluttershy's blush grew brighter. "Yea.. No problem.." She whispered, her eyes staring back into Rainbow's.

The two Pegasi looked at each other for a moment before moving in, kissing each other softly without saying another word. They both wrapped their hooves around each other, kissing deeply.

Rainbow pulled back softly, her face inches from Fluttershy's. "Wow.." she smiled.

Fluttershy blushed but said nothing, kissing her again.

Rainbow blushed deeply but kissed her back, pushing Fluttershy onto the couch and kissing her deeply.

Fluttershy smiled and giggled softly, kissing her back.

After a little while of kissing, Rainbow finally pulled back and smiled, letting out another 'wow'.

Fluttershy smiled back. "So.. does this mean we're um.. together? If it was only just a kiss that's fine um.. I'm okay with that.." she said nervously.

Rainbow Dash smiled and kissed her softly. "Yea.. it mean's we're together..."

Fluttershy smiled and blushed, kissing her back. She then pulled away Rainbow and pushed her off of her, standing up. "Are you ready?" she asked.

Rainbow looked up at her blinking. "Ready for what?" she asked, confused.

"Ready to go to the party." Fluttershy said, giving her a soft look.

Rainbow's ears flattened and she gulped, forgetting all about the party. However, she looked at Fluttershy and smiled, standing up. "Yea, I'm ready to go to the party.." she told her softly.

Fluttershy smiled and the two walked out of Rainbows house. They spread their wings and took flight, the two flying towards Sweet Apple Acres, hoof in hoof.

~*~

Rainbow Dash's ears flattened as she and Fluttershy landed at the barn entrance, the memories from earlier today flooding back into her mind. She looked at Fluttershy nervously.

Fluttershy smiled softly at Rainbow dash, giving her a softly nudge on the cheek with her nose.

Rainbow smiled and nodded her thanks before the two walked inside the barn..

~*~

"You two are WHAT?!" Pinkie squeaked loudly when Rainbow announced that her and Fluttershy were together. "THAT'S AWESOME!"

"Congratulations! My my, a lot of ponies seem to be getting together these days!" Twilight laughed softly.

"Oh that's absolutely marvelous!" Rarity smiled brightly. "When did it happen?" she asked eagerly.

"Just this evening actually.." Rainbow said, slightly embarrassed. "And thanks every pony." she smiled softly.

Fluttershy shyly moved her hooves back and forth in the hay. "Thanks everypony.." she whispered.

Applejack walked up and patted Rainbow on the back. "Good job partner! Now you can finally be around somepony besides boring old me!" She said cheerfully.

Rainbow smiled at Applejack, shoving her softly. "Come on now, you know you've always been my best gal pal, and always will be! I'll always have time for my favorite Apple!"

Applejack laughing, shoving her back. "Thanks a lot Rainbow, it makes me glad to hear you say that!" she smiled.

Rainbow gave her a grateful smile before turning back and talking with the rest of her friends, laughing and enjoying herself for the first time in a while.

Applejack smiled brightly and then turned around away from the group, her smile turning into a sad frown as she glanced back at Rainbow Dash and walked away. "Does this mean she isn't interested in me anymore?" she whispered and looked back at her friend once she was a bit a ways. "Or has she just moved on?" she sighed, moving her hoof in the dirt.

"Hey AppleJack! What are you doing all the way over there!" Rainbow Dash called over to her.

Applejack's ears flattened and she smiled nervously. "Uh.. Comin'!" she called and ran back towards the group, not realizing that she had written AJ + RD in the dirt with a heart circled around it.