Gold

“What’s that sugar cube?” Applejack asked.

“I said I have a ‘strange feeling’ towards you” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“Really?” said AJ. “What kind of feeling?”

“Well…” said Rainbow Dash in a flirty tone, “The ‘feeling’.”

Applejack didn't understand what Rainbow Dash said, but she just pretended she did just so that Rainbow could end this conversation.

“Say, Applejack, what’ wrong? You haven’t been smiling lately.”

“It’s just…” sighed Applejack. “It’s just that I’ve been living without parents for a long time now, and I managed to survive without parents, but…”

“But what?”

“But how ‘bout Applebloom?” AJ said with tears rolling down her cheeks. “She never had a chance to see what mom and dad’s faces were like. She keeps nagging me every day when she sees other fillies with parents, asking me if we have parents. I just can’t explain what happened. She’s still a filly, and she may not understand yet.”

Rainbow Dash can’t help but cry a bit also, especially with a tragedy like that. Applejack felt like she’s the only one in her six friends who doesn't have parents (I don’t know about Fluttershy, but whatever). It hurts to see her parents die at her young age.

“Hey, don’t cry” whispered Rainbow “I’m here for you, no matter what. And besides, we’re not just your friends, we’re your family.”

“Thanks” said AJ as Rainbow wiped the tears from her eyes. “Mind if I hug?”

Rainbow just responded by hugging Applejack. Suddenly, the ‘embers’ inside Rainbow started to spark more. In fact, it’s now as if Rainbow’s heartbeat was in sync with AJ’s. The hug felt like it lasted for hours, though it was only 3 minutes.

“Thanks again for the comfort Rainbow” she smiled “I’d better go home now. Granny Smith must be beginning to worry.”

Rainbow Dash saw Applejack ran off.

“Bye Applejack” shouted Rainbow. “I love you!” But it was too late. Applejack’s now too far for her to hear what Rainbow said.

“Duh, why did I say that!?” said Rainbow as she slapped herself. “Well, at least I got a hug from her. That’s enough for me.”

Rainbow Dash flew off to the nearest cloud, happy with the hug she received from Applejack, although deep inside her, she wanted more than a hug from Applejack.