Friends Can't Always be Friends

The friends giggled and laughed happily as the highest point of the sun came. Rainbow Dash sat beside Applejack, making the pony lift her head. The main reason Dash had gone over was to make sure her friend was alright. Applejack’s eyes were distant and her laugh wasn’t as hearty as usual.
“Hey Applejack, you okay?” Rainbow Dash looked at her.
“Yeah, sorry there Dash. How are ya?” Applejack met her eyes and Rainbow Dash could hardly answer. All she could think about was how Applejack could play off the worst of moments if needed. But something within her green eyes said she was actually okay. Rainbow Dash gazed into her green eyes, never actually stopping to look before.
“I’m pretty good.” Dash mumbled dreamily. “How is those- I mean, how are the apples?”
“Aw, shoot Dash! You’d have a heck of a time harvesting 'em with me.” Applejack grinned. “The season is really good this year.”
“Uh, yeah, well, I’ll talk to you later Applejack.” Rainbow Dash moved away from the pony. Rainbow Dash began talking with Pinkie Pie in a desperate attempt to hide how ruffled she was. How could she have never noticed this about her friend? Why was she noticing now? All Rainbow Dash could do was look and nod trying to laugh with Pinkie Pie while trying to look normal. Her mind was flustered and ruffled and she could hardly make out black from white and down from up.
Rainbow Dash began mentally kicking herself. She didn’t understand why she was behaving like she was. It wasn’t like her normal self. She tried to calm down and analyze why she could possibly be feeling this way. She had spent plenty of time with Applejack and she had never felt anything near what she was feeling now.
Eventually Rainbow Dash calmed down enough to push the episode about Applejack from her mind. Though the shadow lurked in the edge of her mind, she was able to keep it at bay. Rainbow Dash did everything she could, trying to keep the pony from her mind. But finally, their fun day way spinning to a close, and the friends began their long trek home. Rainbow Dash flew high in the clouds, feeling the wind whip her mane and tail back.
“Hey Dash!” Called Applejack’s voice, it seemed to cut through the noise of the wind and the clouds and straight to her un-wanting ears. She groaned a bit and flew down low to the other ponies. “Well howdy. Rainbow, where are ya headin’ after this ‘ere get together?”
“Home.” Rainbow Dash growled. The rainbow pony had fun with her friends but now, she wasn’t feeling too well. She desperately wanted to go to her home within the clouds and rest. She was sorry for not feeling well but something just wasn’t right to her.
“How ‘bout a sleep over at Rarity’s?” Applejack smiled, trotting along beside her.
“No, I just want to go home today. Sorry guys.” Rainbow Dash lifted away from the other ponies trying to get into her safe haven once more.
“Well alrighty.” Applejack sounded disappointed and a bit hurt. “D’ya think you could help me with my cart tomorrow at the Wonderbolts show?”
Rainbow Dash was caught in a panic. She couldn’t say no because she was going to be there and she would be considered a bad friend if she lied to Applejack. She also wanted to spend time away from her and clear her mind. “I don’t know Applejack. I’m really busy tomorrow…” Rainbow Dash began
“Oh come on RD. You ain’t never missed a show by those ponies! Please, fer me?” Applejack smiled a tender smile that on any other day would have made Rainbow Dash cave and agree. However, today wasn’t an average day and that smile seemed bitter sweet.
“No, I haven’t. I just don’t want to get involved Applejack, nothing personal.” Rainbow Dash looked away from her friend and up towards the clouds.
“Oh… I see, nothing personal.” The pain in Applejack’s voice felt like a thousand knives to her ears.
“Ugh, just stop Applejack! I’m so sick of hearing-” Rainbow Dash began
“Rainbow Dash, that wasn’t nice!” Twilight cut in, “Apologize to Applejack!”
“No Twilight, I don’t owe anything to this pony. All she does is get on my nerves, day in and day out all I hear is her asking me to do things.” Rainbow Dash growled
“Rainbow Dash, all I ask to do is hang out and spend time with ya. I’m sorry that you don’t like it.” Applejack cringed, looking away.
“I don’t care how much you apologize Applejack. Hanging out doesn’t involve your farm or working.” Rainbow Dash stood in front of the pony.
“Sorry,” Applejack’s voice was growing heated and sharp. “Some of us ponies have to work for a living. Not Every pony is as perfect as you or has wings to just go and play around all day.”
“Wings have nothing to do with it.” Rainbow Dash defended.
“Fine, then just go away Rainbow. I’m not gonna stand here and be ridiculed by ya. You have no idea what it is like to be me!” Applejack shoved her snout at Rainbow Dash, stopping but an inch away from the other pony.
“You’re right, because I don’t care about you, you stupid hick pony!” Rainbow Dash yelled.
Applejack gasped in horror and drew back, her eyes narrowing. Rainbow Dash flapped her wings in anger. Her heart was aflame with unsettling emotions. She couldn’t stop and apologize now; it was too late for that. She would deal the damage and be done with it. Rainbow Dash moved forward to continue the verbal bombardment.
“Girls, stop it!” Twilight burst in again. “You two are forgetting the basics of friendship. Can’t you two just stop fighting and apologize and talk through it? You two have never acted this bad before!”
“No Twilight, I’m not going to work with her. Nopony has ever insulted me like that and it sure as hay isn’t happening again!” Applejack withdrew and turned away from the other ponies.
“Come on everypony!” Pinkie Pie bounced around and stood up gathering a deep breath and picking a note. “Friendship is grand-”
“Shut up Pinkie Pie, nopony likes your singing!” Rainbow Dash fumed.
“You’re silly Dash!” Pinkie Pie giggled.
“Ugh! I’m so out of here.” Rainbow Dash flew high into the sky ignoring her friends and flying quickly back to her cloud house. She had no idea what she had just done, but she sure wasn’t going back to find out.