Stupid. Foolish. Heartbroken.
Those were the only emotions Rainbow Dash could feel as she walked into her cloudhouse home. She carried these emotions for only a short while but knew these feelings would weigh on her mind for days to come. How? How could she have been so stupid? So foolish? Unwilling to listen to that tiny voice that told her not to put her thoughts into action? Yet, she went ahead and did it anyway. Maybe that recent Daring Do book had some truth to it. Love makes you do crazy things; of course Daring Do was referring to her love for adventure not another pony.
Rainbow Dash left the lights off as she closed the door behind her. She didn’t want to wake Tank if he was already sleeping. That and she didn’t want him to see her with the dried blood splattered over her face and her still bleeding nose. She was so scared of somepony else to see her like this she flew miles high in the sky to make sure no pony would see her physical and emotional pain. She managed to control her tears for now but she still had to hide her red, puffy eyes.
Head hung low in shame, Rainbow Dash headed to the bathroom mentally replaying the horrible moments she had just brought upon herself.
The sun was setting low at Sweet Apple Acres as she and Applejack had just finished rinsing the freshly bucked apples off with a good kick from a raincloud.
“Mighty appreciate the help you’ve been giving us the past few weeks, sugarcube,” Applejack said, giving their hard days work an approving nod. “Though Ah said it a thousand times now: your help isn’t really needed round here. Not that we don’t appreciate it.”
“Well, I wanted to help,” Rainbow Dash replied, swooping down from the cloud. “I thought sleeping on clouds all day isn’t the best way to improve my game. Nothing like a little earth pony workout to keep my legs as strong as my wings.”
“Since when do you care about making muscle for your legs?” Applejack inquired.
Ever since I’ve taken the time to notice how good yours look, Rainbow Dash thought to herself. Knowing she couldn’t say that out loud she instead answered with a small shrug and said, “I don’t know… Just thought I could use the workout. So… what’s planned for tomorrow?”
Applejack hooked the applecart up to her harness and began to pull the apples towards the barn. “Well, Ah’m gonna be selling these sweet A’s down at the market. I would say ya could help Big Mac do small repairs around the farm for the oncoming winter but he’s mighty proud of his work so it looks like you earned yourself a vacation.”
That wasn’t what Rainbow Dash wanted to hear. She immediately trotted up beside Applejack with a small grin on her face to begin her offer.
“I’ll help you do the selling tomorrow! With me there you and I can sell these apples in twenty seconds flat! (Or make these apples look ten percent cooler?) Anyways, what time do you open the stall?”
Applejack stopped pulling her cart and slowly turned her head to Rainbow Dash. She totally did not like the stern look she was giving her. She gave a nervous smile in return but Applejack wasn’t buying it.
“Alright, Rainbow,” she began sternly. “Why are y’all so keen on helping me lately? Meaning: what’s the real reason?”
“W- what do you mean, AJ?” Dash asked, trying to look innocent. “Its what I do! Being loyal to all my friends!”
“Really? So you help Twilight organize the castle’s new library?”
“Uhm… No.”
“Help Fluttershy with her animals?”
“Not really…”
“Do entertainment for Pinkie’s parties?”
“I would if she asked!”
“Assist Rarity-“
“We all know the answer to that one!”
“Well, y’all could make deliveries for her, Ah’m sure.”
“She likes to see her customer’s faces when they get their orders! Besides, I don’t handle with care.”
Applejack bowed her head and let out a heavy sigh. Rainbow Dash could only do her best to look innocent on wanting to only help Applejack. There was a nasty silence between them now and Rainbow couldn’t bring herself to break it. She wanted to spread her wings now and fly off but something told her to stay and wait. Maybe this is was the moment she was supposed to say it? The sun was hung low and warm, nopony else was around and she was in the one place she wanted to be right now. That and it looked like her excuses were finally over. Applejack clearly wanted the truth and Rainbow she would eventually have to surrender it.
“Dash…” Applejack started with a rather sharp tone. “Ah don’t want you helping me out anymore if all you’re gonna do is lie to me. You know honesty goes a long way with me. So spill it or beat it.”
The sun was so warm…
“Well…”
Just them…
“Because…”
Even when she looked upset Rainbow could still appreciate the beauty of her eyes…
“It’s…”
“Rainbow Dash!” Applejack barked.
Right at the sound of her name Rainbow Dash sudden;y stepped up to Applejack’s beautiful face, closed her eyes and planted a kiss.
Water close to a boiling temperature poured down over Rainbow as she laid curled up in her shower. More tears than blood swirled down the drain now. She didn’t want to leave the shower tonight. She would rather drown in the shower than in the embarrassment she inflicted upon herself. She couldn’t even bring herself to look at her reflection. She was supposed to be a strong pony and yet here she was crying in the shower like a filly. The worst part of it was knowing she did it all to herself. Rainbow Dash set herself up to be hurt. Rainbow Dash broke her own heart. Some doors are locked and remain locked for good reason. Sometimes it was simply better to stare out in the distance and happily wonder what if? Now she would never feel happy again wondering a certain what if?
As much as she wanted to go down the drain, too, Rainbow knew she had to get out and dry herself off. Tomorrow was going to be a brand new day and the pain had to be fully drained before it arrived. Tomorrow was going to be better. After all, Applejack promised it would be.
Just like the kiss Applejack never saw coming, Rainbow Dash never saw the swift punch of hooves connect with her face. Before she could even register what had just happened Rainbow was sent crashing into the dirt with a throbbing pain to her profusely bleeding nose. At first she believed something like a meteor must have been the cause of it until she heard the angry yells of Applejack.
“HOW DARE YOU!”
Rainbow’s looked up to see three Applejack’s strutting up to her. All wearing a face of epic rage.
“HOW DARE YOU! she repeated. “YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST KISS ME LIKE I’M SOME SORT OF HUSSY?”
“W- what?” Rainbow shakily got up to her feet.
“JUST WHO DO YOU THINK AH AM? AH ALWAYS KNEW YOU LIKED MARES, RAINBOW! BUT YOU LIKING ME? YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW IF I LIKE MARES!”
“B- but I thought if I-“ Rainbow stammered, unable to piece together a good explaination.
“You thought wrong, Rainbow!” Applejack interjected furiously. “You thought wrong! You could have asked me! You could have asked if it was what Ah wanted! If I was okay with it! You’re lucky I got this cart still hooked up to me or I would be doing so much more than tongue lash ya!”
“I thought-“
“Ah don’t want to hear it, Dash!” Applejack snapped, turning her back on her. She took a few steps before stopping and spoke with a more calmer tone. “Ah’m gonna forget this ever happened for the sake of our friendship, ya hear? I love you, Dash, but not in that way… Just not in that way.”
