Dash began undoing the strap-on as fast as she could. It seemed to work against her as it ended up in a knot through the hustle. By the time she pulled out the shaft from inside her and zoomed out of the bar, Applejack was already long gone out of sight but she did leave a trail of confused passersby looking behind they backs and muttering amongst themselves, wondering what happened. Dash followed the direction hoping her speed would now be a great advantage to her.
Applejack, now soaking in the pouring rain, had already boarded the hot air balloon and was half way down when she barely saw the rainbow streak through the thunderous clouds. In a panic, she dropped down the anchor hoping that gravity would work faster that way. The distraught pony hopped out of the basket and slid down the rope onto the anchor.

“Applejack! WAIT!” Dash called spotting her mare friend but Applejack was too eager to get away. Dash zoomed toward the descending Applejack, and would have caught her if Applejack didn’t decide to jump off the anchor twenty feet to the ground below. She landed with a heavy thud into the muddy dirt track and darted off as fast as her powerful legs could go. She galloped straight ahead not thinking of where she was going.

“APPLEJACK!!! PLEASE WAIT!!” Dash called again trying to maneuver through the rain as it beat heavily down on her. Hearing Dash’s voice only made Applejack go faster. Dash’s speed was surely being put to test, one which the thunderstorm played a great handicap. Soon Dash was almost in hoof range of catching Applejack.

“GIT AWAY!” Applejack screamed and bucked hard. Her powerful legs that hit Dash squarely in the chest sent Dash slamming into the tree and fall down into the mud below. Applejack turned and ran off from the dirt track and into the muddy meadow.

“A-Apple-jack...” Rainbow muttered with her eyes rolling and fading out of consciousness.

Applejack ran not caring about where she was going. When she was sure she was not being followed she stopped. She held a tiring stance, legs splayed and trembling and head hung low. Over and over the scene of Dash being with another mare played out in her mind.

“Why? Yer could’ve just said sumthing yer know. It didn’t haveta be like this.” She muttered talking to an imaginary Dash. She reach into her saddlebag and took out the diamond embellished engagement ring that she had purchased earlier. She opened the box and stared at it for a long time. Even in the darkness and the rain, it sparkled like the evening star, as if giving its own light. She closed he box and swung her foreleg back, but somehow she couldn’t bring herself to throw it away.

“WHYYYYYY RAINBOW DASH!! WHYY!!!? WHEN I LOVE YER SO MUCH!” Applejack shouted then broke down in heavy sobs again.

The roaring of the train horn bellowed in Applejack’s ears causing her to be startled and forget her grief for a moment. When she looked around she realized she had ended up close to the Ponyville train station.

“AAAAAAALL ABOARD!!” the conductor shouted. Applejack watched as a few passengers boarded the train. Then as if her mind went into auto pilot Applejack found herself seated in one of the cars, not knowing where the train was headed. She could only hope it would be far away from Ponyville and Cloudsdale.

*****

The next clap of thunder made Dash awake from her concussion. She rubbed her hooves through her mane hoping to calm her pounding head and blinked. It was still pouring hard so she couldn’t have been out for long.

“APPLEJAAAAAACK!” Rainbow took flight once again looking around from above for sight of the gamboge mare. She flew hither throughout the town but it made little sense in the rain. Finally, she gave up, flying back to Cloudsdale to retrieve her saddlebag from room six. She stormed through the bar and went straight to back. Manehatten didn’t even dare to say anything. As Dash walked into the room Flitter was already lapping at another mare she had bagged into bed with her.

“What the!...” Rainbow said in shock.

“Oh you’re back…” Flitter said unfazed. Dash couldn’t say anything as she found herself in an awkward situation. Now she knew what Applejack felt when she had walked in, “your bag is over there, if that is what you’re here for.”

“You were using me?!” Dash exclaimed.

“What? You think it was gonna be serious? It’s sex honey. Nothing more. You’re lucky. I usually don’t keep anypony longer than a week tops. I helped you forget right? And by the looks on your face now, you’re probably single again. Aren’t ya happy? Not bored anymore right?” Flitter said very arrogantly.

Dash felt like she could have bucked Flitter right there and then but she simply retrieved her saddlebag and headed out the room. Flitter was right. She had screwed up big time. Worst pony ever.

*****

“Spike, can you pass me that book on Magical Mysteries please?” the Alicorn said sipping on a cup of hot tea reading the latest journal on New Magical Developments from Canterlot.

”Sure thing Twilight” Spike said running to the bookshelf on the far end of the grand study room. Soon a huge echoing, frantic knock was heard.

“Who could that be this late??” Spike said. He handed the copy of the book over to Twilight and darted to the main door where the knocks grew more and more desperate.

“Yeah?” Spike said opening the door but was instead glomped on by a dirty mess of polychromatic colors. She seem to look as if she was considerably older and down her cheeks, a heavy stream of tears flowed. She was wet, trembling and cold.

“Rainbow!... Sweet Celestia! What happened?!! Come in quickly!!”

“Where’s Twilight, Spike?”

“She’s in her study…” the dragon responded ushering in the weather pony.

“Spike? Who’s there? RAINBOW!!” Twilight said in horror and rushed over to her friend.

“I’ll get another cup of tea!” Spike said and darted off to the kitchen. Twilight held the mare close and escorted her to the study. She levitated a few blankets and helped Rainbow to the fireplace and covered her. Spike meanwhile brought the steaming cup and set it down next to Rainbow.

“I-I screwed up Twi…” Dash started.

“Spike... could you?” Twilight said and Spike knew exactly what she meant. He quickly went out of the study and closed the door.

Twilight sat next to Dash and didn’t speak. Dash began to relay everything to Twilight about her problem with Applejack to meeting Flitter and then what had happened earlier. Twilight face grew wider and wider in shock with each revelation.

“… I’m worst pony ever Twi!” she said breaking down into heavy sobs.

Twilight looked at Dash, “Applejack told me you are behaving suspicious. I-I deduced this might have been the case.”

“What?” Rainbow said and looked at Twilight slightly confused.

“Rainbow… you ready to hear what I have to say?” Twilight’s voice didn’t sound angry but very stern and Dash braced herself. She didn’t expect sympathy for what she had done and with a single nod of the pegasus’ head Twilight let out a deep sigh and began, “Both you and Applejack are my friends and I’m very surprised at you, being the element of loyalty and all.”
Dash’s head drooped lower, “Trust is something, once lost can never be regained or takes a very long time to get back even a little of it… if you’re lucky. You shouldn’t have expected Applejack to just ‘figure out’ the issue here from being vague, you should have told her from the start. To me, a relationship isn’t built on sex alone, it’s all about the pony you’re with. If you truly love her then whether she’s ‘boring’ wouldn’t matter. You could have taken it up on yourself to spice things up between you two.”

Rainbow sank her head in her hooves as Twilight continued, “You guys have been going out for more than a year now and it seemed that you were the one who didn’t trust Applejack in the first place. You committed yourself to her and with this extent of betrayal I wouldn’t be surprised if Applejack never wants to see you again.”

“Do you hate me too now Twi?”

“What I personally think right now doesn’t matter. It’s Applejack you should be concerned about and I don’t even want to think about the rest of the girls’ reaction when they find out about this!”

Dash eyes grew wide and looked at Twilight in horror, “Twilight, please! Don’t let any of the girls know about this!”

“It’s certainly not my place to say anything, but word will get around unless Applejack hasn’t told anypony yet. If asked, I will tell the truth.” Twilight said adamantly. Dash felt that she wanted the earth to swallow her up right now. Dash looked completely stressed.

“How do you feel?” Twilight asked in a soft voice.

Dash took a deep breath. Her tired eyes began watering again, “I-I made a huge mistake. I didn’t see… I was clouded by my own selfishness and lust. I didn’t see the great thing that I had and I wanted more. I didn’t even try to let AJ know my feelings. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me. I love her… I-I really love her Twi…and now I lost her!!”

Twilight looked apathetically at Rainbow Dash, “Rainbow, don’t take this the wrong way but… are you sure you’re not saying all this because you got caught?”

“NO!!” Dash exclaimed adamantly, “I mean, what I did was totally wrong!.... I-I knew it but I c-couldn’t seem to help myself, I-I couldn’t stop... Ooooh Rainbow Dash! You stupid stupid asshole!! IDIOT!” Dash began to smack herself. Twilight in shock froze Dash’s hooves with her magic to prevent further self-abuse.

“STOP IT RAINBOW! This won’t fix anything.”

“I need to fix this Twi... before... before it’s too late. I gotta get her back.”

“Just how will you do that? I don’t think beating yourself up will do that.”

“I-I don’t…. first, I’m gonna find her and talk to her.”

“You sure she’d want to see you?”

“I gotta try,” Dash said, “it’s okay Twi. Lemme go.” Twi released Dash’s hooves and Dash got up from her place and threw the blanket off. She began to make her way back to the front door.

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight called causing the other mare to stop and whip her head back, “you’re really stupid!!!... But I’m still your friend.”

******

Dash sheepishly approached Sweet Apple Acres. The storm has ceased and the mare was exhausted from a search all around town including the local watering hole that Applejack loved to visit. Dash walked up the porch steps and sucked in a deep breath. She gingerly rapped at the door a couple of times. Soon she heard hoof steps approaching. The door unhinged and swung open, revealing the giant red stallion that was Applejack’s brother. Upon seeing Dash, he immediately became confused.

“Rainbow Dash! What in the hay! Come in!” Big mac said and Dash gingerly stepped inside the house. Big Mac closed the door.

“What brings yer by so early? Where’s AJ?” the stallion asked.

“Ummm… I’m also looking for her.” Big Mac face began to show a concerned look.

“She didn’t come back here since yesterday afternoon. Last thang she told me was she was gonna see yer.” Bic Mac said. Dash felt her chest tighten, “di-did sumthang happen between y’all?”

“Y-yeah… it’s a long story,” Dash swallowed a lump, “I uuuh… I sorta umm…. I uhhh ch—” Big Mac held a hoof to Dash’s mouth.

“’member when y’all first started goin’ out an’ I warned ya never tuh hurt her or make her cry?”

“Y-yeah.” Dash said while starting rubbing her forelegs together out of sheer nervousness.

“Eeeeyup. Ah dun wanna know what happened ‘cause ah might not be as calm as ah’m tryin’ tuh be right now. Just know this…. if anything bad happens to her an’ it is yer fault, ah will hunt yer down. Ah will hunt yer down like a timberwolf sees a jackalope on a warm summer’s night, so Luna help me. Yer got that?” Big Mac said very calmly. His muzzle was pushed up against hers and his angry eyes were piercing holes through her skull. Dash saw quite a bit of Applejack in him. She gulped and nodded her head vigorously.

“I-I’m gonna go look for her now so…… yeah.” Dash said and quickly scrambled to get the door open and flew off with great speed once she was in the clear. She sighed in relief but was still shaking all over. She thought about her next move, “Come on AJ where are you?”
Dash decided to fly over Ponyville once again in hopes of spotting the orange mare. At this time, ponies were up and about minding their own business.

“Should I maybe ask a few ponies?” Dash thought, “But they would’ve been sleeping…. it’s worth a try.”

Dash flew down and began asking about Applejack. Everypony shook their heads and trotted off. Dash, too afraid to approach any of her other friends, decided that it was best not to ask them. Instead she snooped around their places for signs of her ~~mare friend~~ ex. Everypony was going about their business like any other normal day.

“Uuugh! Where could she be?!” Dash muttered to herself as she just flew off from spying in Sugar Cube Corner. Dash was really exhausted by now seeing that she hadn’t gotten any sleep during the night. She settled unto a low cloud which had turned gray hoping to get a quick snooze then to resume her search. As she curled up into a ball. A slurred voice was singing.

Why do ah loooove yous
Dun even wan’ to
Why do ah loooove yous liksh ah do *hic*
Liksh ah alwaysh dooooo
You should've told meee
Why did yous haveta be untruuuuu *hic*

Where’d you gooooo apple of me eye *hic*

Dash instantly dove off the cloud and landed on the pony, “Berry Punch!”

“Gerroff!! Oooh shup Daaaash *hic*”

“Ummm, nice song you’re singing.” Dash began.

“Yaaa, ishn’t it *hic*? Came into mah heah lasht niiiight” Berry said tapping the side of her head while grinning.

“Okay, you came up with that on your own? Or did something inspire you to sing it?”

“Oh nuffink much happened. Jush wash on mah way tuh… uhhh… get me a drink when.. whasis her name? *hic* Applejenny? Applejoe?”

“Applejack. You saw her?” Dash questioned.

“Yesh offisher! Ah already had five!”

“Berry, what about Applejack?” Rainbow said and shook Berry anxiously.

“*hic* Oooh, she wash really loud! Shkreamin’ WHY! WHY! WHYYYYYYYYYYYY!...*hic*” Berry said while trying to do a poor impersonation of Applejack. “I wash goona getz her to come wich me to get a beer but she ran *hic*…..away.”

“Where? Where’d she go Berry?”

“Lesh sheee…. It wash….. it wash…. shay... anypony ever told you, you look like shkittles?"

"BERRY!"

"Oooh right... she went on da train, yaaaaaa. I shaw her by the train station…”

“Do you know what time? Where to?”

“Hmmm…. Yesh princhess…. ah like bananash very much… “

“Damn it!” Dash groaned as now she exhausted Berry into falling asleep right there. She wasted no more time and zoomed straight to the train station. She examined the schedule for all the late night and early morning trains.

“There are like ten of them! What time was it? Damn it I don’t even know!!!” Dash tried her best to deduce the time that all the events occurred, “let’s see… 1:47… Manehatten.”
She then looked at the schedule for the next Manehatten train, “11:00. That’s in two hours. Okay.”
Dash bought her ticket and settled on the bench, waiting. Her eyes instantly drooped shut for a long awaited slumber.

******

The blaring of the train whistle roused Applejack from her slumber. She blinked her eyes which were all swollen and puffy from crying. Groggily she slid herself to the window and looked out. She still wasn’t sure where she was or headed.

“’cuse me,” she said, nudging the passenger on the next seat, “where’s this train headed?”

“Dodge City.” responded the passenger.

“Thanks.” Applejack said. She looked out the window and stared into the great wilderness as it passed by. All the events played over and over in her head.

“What the hay are yer gonna do now Applejack?” she said to herself. She once again felt the box inside her saddlebag. She took it out and looked at the ring. A pain surged through her chest and she felt as if she was ready to die. Tears began flowing freely from her eyes again.

“What’s wrong sugar?”
Applejack became startled by a warm voice. She quickly wiped her tears and looked at the source, “Applejack? Is that you?”

“Miss Jubilee!”

“Why ah haven’t seen you since ages now! How have yer been sugar?” Cherry Jubilee said standing at Applejack’s seat.

“Well ah guess everythang’s fine.” Applejack tried to feign.

“Not by the looks of it. Anything ah can do tuh help?” Cherry took a seat next to Applejack. Applejack pondered for a few minutes with uncontrollable tears brimming to her eyes again, “There there. Tell me what’s wrong.”

Applejack began to relate everything to Cherry, about her relationship with Dash, to her planned engagement, her suspicions and the events of last night. During all the time it took to tell the entire sequence of events, the train slowed down coming to a halt.

“DODGE JUNCTION!” announced the conductor.

“Come with me dear. I gots something tuh show yer.” Cherry took Applejack by the hoof and the two mares walked out of the train.

Author's Note

Why do I love you
Don't even want to
Why do I love you like I do
Like I always do
You should've told me
Why did you have to be untrue

Song by Westlife

i used this song because i thought it captured AJ's feelings well.
too bad it's berry singing it.