Time for a change

  The streets were almost empty as most ponies were asleep for the night and the few that were out were stumbling home from the bar or from their own dates.  Rainbow Dash was walking Applejack home while gloating about how great it was to win a contest against some other mares that were supposed to be the best.  "It was so great to show those uptight mares who's the best in the business.  I mean I knew we were gonna win but, that was an epic win.  No pony'll top that for years I bet.  I didn't know I was such a natural at kissing but I think we should try to break our record next time."

"Yeah, it was a good time and I was glad you were there with me this time.  Ah hope you go again with me, but, Dashing, those are my friends and you didn't treat 'em very kindly.  You gotta calm down sometimes when you're with new ponies Dashing."

"I did awesome and they loved me!"

"Dashing, do you wanna be in a relationship with me?"  Rainbow looked confused for a second then answered.

"Well, you're my best friend and now you're my," Rainbow paused as she thought of what to say, "fillyfriend.  We've done things and you've made me feel feelings I never had before, awesome ones.  I want to be with you, but, I guess I don't really know how to be anything but me.  If you want me to change for you I can't do that.  All this awesome can't change.  I don't want you to change for me either."

"Rainbow Ah won't ask you to change yourself for me or for us to be together.  I just need you to be nicer to my friends and to the ponies you work with.  The way you were talkin to Flutterwing was down right rude and everypony saw it.  If ya treat others like that at work then you'll never get your flocks respect and Ah think ya'll regret it."

"AJ, I know what I need to do to get them to do what I say and bein a push over isn't gonna work.  I've gotta wow 'em with my actions."

"Dashing, Ah didn't say that.  You can be you, the Rainbow Dash I fell in love with.  But-"

"Another 'but,'" Rainbow said as she roller her eyes and then looked at the sky.

"But, I want everypony else to love you too.  Not like I do, but to see you the way I do.  As a wonderful mare that takes the challenge of life and can inspire others to do the same.  Not the Rainbow Dash that tells everypony that they're lame and won't measure up."

"I never say they're lame!  And if they try harder they can measure up in no time.  Not all the way to my level, but, they can get close."

"That's what makes my heart ache Dashing,"  Rainbow looked at Applejack as she said that and began listening, "you make every other pony, from foals to elders, feel like they're nothing to ya.  Always spoutin' you're the best at everythin' and they can't match ya.  Ya even make me feel like Ahm not worthy to be around you.  That's not what anypony needs in life, work or love."

"I don't make you feel that way, AJ."

"Ya don't know how I feel," Applejack snapped as she stopped and looked at Rainbow with a scowl, "and ya can't know unless you feel the same way others do.  No pony'll talk to you the way you talk to them cuz it's down right rude and mean to make others feel bad about themselves."

"Applejack, I, I didn't know I made you feel that way," Rainbow replied as she felt her heart getting heavy, "I'm sorry."

"Dashing you don't have to do anything different to be with me," Applejack said calmer, "Ah said I love you and I do, but Ah want you to be friends with my friends and they ain't gonna be okay with you if you act like yer better than them."

"I-I didn't know.  I just thought they," Rainbow stopped talking and lowered her head.

Placing a hoof on Rainbows back Applejack  leaned in close to Rainbow.  "They don't, Dashing.  They don't like the way you treat them.  Ah want them to love you and respect you the way I do.  You're the most beautiful mare in Ponyville everyday and right now you rival Celestia.  You just have to get everypony else to see it."

Rainbow looked up and took a deep breath in then leaned close to Applejack.  Expecting a kiss Applejack turned her cheek to Rainbow and smiled in anticipation then giggled as Rainbow chomped one of the flowers out of her mane.  "AJ," Rainbow said as she swallowed the flower, "you're the most beautiful mare I've ever seen and I never would have realized it if you didn't kiss me that first night.  You opened my heart in a way no pony ever has and I like getting sappy with you in the cellar.  But, I don't know how to be not me.  What if-"

"No Dashing.  No what ifs.  You're Rainbow Flocking Dash and you can do everything and anything.  You can make them love you by being the mare I love.  The Rainbow Dash that Ahm looking at right now."  Rainbow was without words as she started into Applejacks green eyes, then she broke eye contact and started walking again.  "Rainbow, ya okay?"  Rainbow opened her wings and flew away suddenly surprising Applejack who couldn't even call to her before she was out of range.

What was that about?  Ah thought we were havin' a good moment.  Ah guess she ain't gonna change, it was worth a shot.

Rainbow arrived to work Monday on time and went right to work filing her paperwork to the surprise of everypony.  She didn't delegate her work and still got the first part of her paperwork done by 10 and then held a meeting with the three other Pegasi on duty that day about the current weather patterns and where they had to work that day.

"Flutterwing, I need you to get the rain showers in order for 5, 7 and 8 tonight over grid 17, 31 and 11 in that order.  Edge, you need to get clouds out of the sky over town hall but move a few together to make a type 4 nimbus over the market street for the sales ponies today and Watch.  I need you to check the reservoir and ambient humidity around it then I need you all to go about filling your order requests that I put in your boxes.  Any questions?"  Edge raised her hand.

"Yes, Edge?"

"Who are you and where's Rainbow Dash?"  Watch stifled a chuckle and Flutterwing smiled.

"You're dismissed," Rainbow said to the group as she stood tall and looked at them sternly.  Filing out of the office into the bustling office floor they all dispersed into the loud crowd to complete various tasks as Rainbow hovered and floated out of her office and smiled at herself proudly.  This is one of the best days I've had in a while here.  Time to gloat...  No, relax.

Flying as quick as she could she went to her bosses office and rapped on his office door.

"Mr. Diamond can I have a minute?" Diamond raised his eyebrow and nodded gesturing for her to take a seat without a word. "Diamond, I know I have a bad attitude and I wanted to tell you I'm going to work on it.  I went on a date over the weekend and my date and me had a talk so I'm ready to be a real manager.  I won't let you down."

"Miss Dash, there are rumors that you're dating another mare, is this true?"  Dash gulped and tensed as she was at a loss for words.  "Miss Dash, I can't condone a manager to behave in a way that would cast a negative light on the company."

"Mister Diamond-" Rainbow started but was cut off.

"You will not be punished for your personal relationships, however if you let this affect your work negatively; if you are dating a mare that works here and it ends badly; if you return to your previous attitude I will fire you without notice or severance.  Do you understand?"

"No I don't.  You're saying if I date another mare I'll be fired for making the flocking company look bad?  There are laws about that!  I remember from that pile of papers I had to sign when I started here!"

"You are mistaken, Miss Dash.  You will not be fired for being in a personal relationship with anypony, male or female.  You will be fired for being rude, insulting and derogatory to the other members of the flock, especially your subordinates."  Rainbow straightened her back as the words sank in.  Diamond is saying I'm a jerk.

"Diamond," she started, "I know I'm a lot of awesome things but being sappy isn't usually one of them, but, I can't live without the company.  It's all I've ever known."

"Then I strongly suggest you stay your course and glide true north or you'll wings will fail you."  Rainbow felt her eyes starting to water as he finished the old saying as she got up and left his office without further arguement.  The sounds of him returning to work like nothing just happened hurt just as much to her.

"Rainbow, what's wrong?  Why are you upset?" Quill asked as she landed next to Rainbow as she left Diamond's office.

"Can we talk in my office?  Please?"

"Sure, let's go."  They walked side by side as Rainbow chocked back her sobs, her eyes said it all though.  Many ponies noticed but didn't know what to say and didn't dare laugh at the 'great Rainbow Dash.'  Entering her office she waited for Quill to close the door and Rainbow began to cry as Quill held her close.  "What happened in there?  Did he do something?"

"I'm-I'm a jerk."  Quill didn't know what to say as she held the crying Rainbow Dash in her arms.  "Applejack said I was a jerk and now Diamond did and I'm gonna get fired and lose Applejack if I don't change but I can't because all I've ever known is how to be the best and gloating and talking about how many brashchness I have."

"What?!  Applejack wouldn't leave you over that and I know she didn't call you that.  You're the only mare she's talked about for months, Rainbow.  She loves you for you."

"But I AM a jerk.  I treat everypony like they're nothing and I was rude at your party and then I ditched AJ when she told me my attitude sucked but she was right," Rainbow said as she chocked back sobs.

"Oh, sweetie.  Applejack loves you.  Now, look at me.  Come on, let me see those eyes.  That's better.  Listen to what I'm going to say and understand that everypony agrees.  Rainbow Dash, you are a jerk," Rainbow's eyes were already making enough tears to run down her cheeks and hearing Quill say that made her entire body feel like it was twice as heavy as she fell to the floor wrapping her wings around her head bawling.  "Now that you know that, what are you going to change to act like a mare and not like a filly?" Quill was talking calmly as she stroked Rainbows messy mane, "Rainbow Dash I'm here for you and so is every other pony that knows you.  Anything you need just ask and I'll make it happen, okay sweetie?"

After a few minutes Rainbow began to compose herself and sat up.  Wiping her eyes dry she looked at Quill.  "I need AJ."  Quill smiled and nodded as she went and opened the window then stepped back.  "I'll tell everypony you're checking on a report of unscheduled precipitation by the Everfree.  You don't have all day but you can do this."

"Thank you, Quill.  I owe you one," Rainbow ran fast and jumped out the window feeling gravity tug at her body she opened her wings and began to fly to the orchard.

Flying at a relaxing speed she flew over the trees until she saw Applejack bucking a tree.  Hovering in place she watched as Applejack picked the apples off the ground that didn't land in the bushels then move to the next tree.  After four trees Applejack looked up and saw Rainbow above then smiled as she wiped her head with a cloth.  "Dashing, what're ya doin here?  Ain't ya supposed to be at work?"

Landing a few feet away from her friend Rainbow spoke confidently to Applejack.  "AJ, you're right.  I'm a jerk and I need your help."

"Rainbow, I never said you were a jerk," Applejack said with surprise, almost defensive.

"You didn't have to.  My attitude almost got me fired today and I realized that everypony was right," Rainbow looked at Applejack intently as she spoke, "I treat others like losers.  I might be the best at a lot of things but I have to learn to not rub it in their muzzles."

"Dashing, that might be the best thing you've said in a while, and that's sayin' a lot.  Ya gotta work on your humbleness.  Now, Ah don't want you ta think ya gotta be different all at once but ya gotta change."

"Well, today I was nice.  I don't think I've ever been so nice to my flock.  But, I went to talk to Diamond, my boss, and he said if I act like.  Well, like me, then I'll be fired.  I don't know what I'd do without my job at the weather control office, AJ.  It's all I've ever been good at."

"Dashing, you're a great mare and I know you can get everypony else to see it," Applejack nuzzled Rainbow as she spoke, "and when you do you'll really be the best."  Rainbow sat up proud and smiled at the thought of her being the best at something else, "You could always work here on the farm with me."  Then they shared a laugh.

"No," Rainbow said as she relaxed, "I don't want to be the best; I just want to be the mare you want me to be."  Applejack pulled her head back and looked at Rainbow again with a respect she hadn't felt for a long time and leaned in and hugged her.

"Dashing you will the best and I wanna be right there with you when you get there.  Now, I gotta lotta work to do and I forgive ya for leavin' me after the party and ignoring me all Sunday."

Rainbow gulped.  "Yeah, sorry about that.  I didn't know what to say and I kinda felt hurt.  Then I spent the next day hangin' out at my house and all.  Hey!  I haven't seen any of the others for a while, wanna ditch work and see Fluttershy with me?"  Applejack gave Rainbow a look that said 'no.'  "Okay, okay.  I'm done at work for a while so I'm gonna see Fluttershy and I'll swing by later.  Ya gonna be done round 6?

"Sugarplum, I'm done when the work is done or sunset."

"Oh fine, I'll come back before sunset then."

"Fly safe lover."  Rainbow smiled and flew in the direction of Fluttershy's cottage.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were in Sweetie Belles room talking as Applebloom began to vent.

  "I don't get why Applejack wants Rainbow Dash as her special somepony.  She can have any stallion in town and she goes for her!"

"I don't believe it.  I've been with Rainbow Dash a lot and I haven't seen her even looking at another mare like that," Scootaloo said.

"Like what?"  Sweetie asked.

"Like when Cherilee and Big Mac were in love that hearts and hooves day.  There was something in her eyes that was special.  I saw that look when Rainbow was with Soarin a lot."

"Yeah, but they broke up and she's with your sister now Applebloom."

"No she ain't!  She's just messin' with me to see how I'd react."

"If your sister's a fillyfooler then she could choose better than Rainbow Dash."

"Hey, no pony is better than Rainbow Dash and if she likes Applejack then it's the best thing to ever happen to her."

No she ain't and no they ain't.  It's just a phase.  She's gonna find a stallion and give me a niece in no time.

"Girls, time for lunch," Rarity called from downstairs.  The CMC went and sat to eat their sandwiches and drink their iced tea while they continued they conversation.

"Applebloom, if your sister and Rainbow Dash have a foal what'd it look like?"

Rarity gasped as her magic faded and she dropped a cup into the sink she was washing.  "What did you just say Scootaloo?  About Applejack and Rainbow Dash?"

"Well Applebloom thinks they're fillyfoolers and Scootaloo says they don't have the spark and Applebloom said they're kissing."  All the CMC said 'Eewww' at the same time then giggled as they went back to eating.  Applebloom scrunched her muzzle as she thought of them kissing.

"They also spend the night together sometimes and I peeked once and they was all cuddlin' with Rainbows wings all over Applejack."  The other two giggled as Rarity walked out of the kitchen in surprised shock.