Do You Love Me?

Rainbowdash tossed and turned in her bed. She was usually comfortable every night, but tonight, she knew there was no way she would ever get to sleep. She thought about the fun day she'd had training with Applejack.

"Alright Dash," Applejack had said. "Put your hooves down like this, and run as fast as ya'll can!"

Rainbowdash and Applejack had races almost every day. They were best friends! But Rainbowdash wanted them to be something more. She knew Applejack probably wouldn't noticed Rainbowdash liked her, yeah, probably not. But she wanted her to notice. She wanted Applejack to like her to, but how would that happen? She decided just to get some rest. So she lay down. And soon fell fast asleep.

"Hey Rainbow!" Applejack called from out of Rainbowdash's window. "Wanna train or race today?"

Rainbowdash was scared, what should she say?

"Um..sure," Rainbowdash answered.

"Alrighty, I'll be waitin' for ya down at the barn. See ya then, Dashie!"

Dashie! Rainbowdash thought. She just called me Dashie! She smiled warmly to herself.

She stood at her mirror, pretending to talk to Applejack.

"Today's the day, Dash. Ahem, hey Applejack! Listen, I really need to tell you something. Ever since our training began..I've kinda sorta..always had a--well, a crush on you, AJ. Always."

She imagined them kissing. Her sweet Apple lips against hers. And she smiled.

Applejack brought out barrels from the barn. Then she brought out pies, buckets of mud, apples, and tree branches. She took the red dye bucket and dipped a quilt in it. Red ink for the finish and start line. She drew a line for the start, and threw the quilt in the trash. Then she took a stick and made a big circle around the yard. She set up the obstacle course. First, she spread all the buckets out. Then, by the chicken coop, she put out a basket to put the eggs in. Afterwards, she sat the pies on a table so they could eat them. Then, she spread tree branches everywhere. If you stepped on one, you'd be out. And lastly, she took a bucket of mud and spread the mud out in a hole, making a big puddle of mud. This was training for the new 'Sister Hooves Social!' And Applejack and Rainbowdash wanted to train for it.

Rainbowdash headed down for Sweet Apple Acers.

"Howdy Dashie, ready to race?" Applejack asked.

"Well, actually-" Rainbowdash began.

"GOO!" Applejack yelled.

Applejack stepped each hoof in one bucket, as Rainbowdash did. Then, it was the chicken coop. Rainbowdash carried her egg out very fast, and placed it in the basket. Applejack carefully placed hers in. Rainbowdash ran to the pies, and gobbled one up. But Applejack ran up to them, and ate seven! Rainbowdash was amazed, but she kept on running. All of a sudden, Applejack jumped right over the mud! Rainbowdash lost. But she was glad Applejack won.

"Great job, Applejack!" Rainbowdash said, blushing.

"You okay, Dash? Com'on, you hate losing!" Applejack said.

"Yeah..I'm fine,"

"Dash, no, you're not, I know you. Tell me what's botherin' you! Please, you know you can trust me!"

"I-I gotta go!" Rainbowdash said, flying away.

"Dash?" Applejack asked. "Hm..somethin' sure is goin' on with 'er."

"Seriously Rainbowdash?!" Rainbowdash said to herself. "You're so dumb! That was your chance! You could've actually SAID IT! I mean, you REHEARSED IT FOR PONY SAKE!!"

"Hello?" Came a sudden voice. "You here Dash?" It was Applejack.

"Oh, hey AJ!" Rainbowdash said, walking into the Living Room.

"H-how'd you get inside?" Rainbowdash studdered. "You can't walk on clouds.."

"Twilight," Applejack said.

And that's all Rainbowdash needed to know.

"Are you okay?" Applejack asked.

"Sure!" Rainbowdash said, elaborately casual.

"Don't lie to me, Dash. You can trust me with anything in the world. You know that, don't you?"

Rainbowdash nodded silently.

"Then tell me, Dash. Please! You no I ain't gunna hurt ya!"

Rainbowdash hugged Applejack tightly and started crying.

Applejack gasped, and hugged her back.

"There, there, sugar cube." Applejack said. "It's alright, I know life's tough."

"You're my best friend," Rainbowdash said, still sobbing.

"I am." Applejack replied.

"You'll always be my best friend," Rainbowdash said again. "You're so calm. How are you-"

Applejack sniffled, and as Rainbowdash looked at her, she saw she was crying, too.

"I thought you only cried on the inside," Rainbowdash said.

"Eh," Applejack sniffled. "You're important to me, 'course it'll be sad when you cry,"

Rainbowdash smiled warmly to herself, and little did she know, Applejack did too.

"Thanks for always being there," Rainbowdash said.

"You're welcome," Applejack answered.

"Would you like to..hang out here? I've got some movies I haven't watched yet,"

"Sure," Applejack said.

And they watched them all. Soon, around 11, Applejack decided to head home.

"I might as well hit the hay," Applejack said.

"You can crash here," Rainbowdash quickly responded. "It's too dark to walk home alone."

"Then can you walk with me?" Applejack asked.

Rainbowdash hesitated, "S-sure!"

And the two walked together, Rainbowdash protecting Applejack, and Applejack protecting Rainbowdash.

"Thanks for coming over," Rainbowdash said, as they reached Sweet Apple Acers.

"If you ever need a shoulder to cry on, I'm right here," Applejack said.

"Goodbye, love you." Rainbowdash said.

The words "love you" weren't intentual, they just slipped out.

"What was that?" Applejack asked.

"Huh? Oh, nothing, goodbye!"

"Bye!" Applejack said.

As Applejack closed the door she whispered, "Love you too,"

Rainbowdash flew home knowing this would all work. They'd take this relationship one step at a time.