“Are you alright there, Rainbow?” Twilight asked the cyan girl, “You seem a little, absent.”

The two, along with the other girls were hanging out in A.J’s old barn. The disaster that had been the Grand Galloping Gala had passed by, almost a week ago, but today was the first that anypony had seen hide or tail of Dash. Naturally, the girls were worried, but Rainbow seemed alright.

More than that, she seemed happy, even content, staring off into the distance with a vague smile on her face.

“Equestria calling Rainbow Dash. Wake up, Rainbow!” Twilight clicked her fingers in front of Rainbow’s face.

Rainbow’s eyes focused, but instead of snapping at the purple girl, she just smiled dreamily, and replied, “Oh hey, Twi. Sorry, I just lost track.”

The others girls just stared at her, until she replied, a little defensively, “What? I just zoned out. Geez guys, quit eyeballing me!”

“And Rainbow’s back!” Rarity announced from her corner, where she was peering over fashion magazines.

“Haha, very funny, Rares.” Dash just rolled her eyes, but there was still a smile on her face. “You’re a riot.”

“THAT SOUNDS LIKE RAINBOW!” a distant voice shouted from outside, “IS SHE NORMAL NOW!?”

“Brace yerselves!” Applejack replied, moving away from the door, “Here she comes!” A violent explosion of pink flew into the barn, not from the door, but the window directly behind Applejack. A violent explosion of pink and orange flew across the room, ending flat against the wall.

“Horse apples, Pinkie, watch where yer goin’!” came Applejacks exasperated sigh from where she lay under Pinkie.

“Oops. Hehe, sorry, Jackie,” Pinkie replied, bouncing up to her feet, “But is it true!? Has our Dashie come back to us?” She spied Dash and with a loud squee, she jumped into her arms, causing her to wince under the weight.

“Geez girl, for someone that lives on candy, you sure are heavy.”

“Pinkie, where did you come from?” Twilight asked her, still chuckling.

“Oh, I was entertaining the cake twins down at sugarcube corner!”

“But… how… did you... you know what, never mind. I don’t want to know.”

“I’m so glad you’re back Rainbow!” Suddenly Pinkie gasped and fell out of Dash’s arms, “I know what this calls for! A-super-duper-awesome-exciting-welcome-back-Rainbow-Dash PARTY!”

“No, no it doesn’t Pinkie,” Rainbow sighed in frustration, “I’ve been here the whole time, just…” she blushed, “...busy.”

Pinkie leaped up from the floor, and scowled at Rainbow, faces a mere inch apart, then with a satisfied smirk, leaned back and replied, “Ooh, Dashie's got a crush! So! Who is he, and where have you two been?”

Rainbow stepped back, out of sheer surprise, tripped and measured her length on the floor. “W-what are y-you talking about?”

“Oooooh, Rainbow Dash, you didn’t tell us you were going out with somebody!” Rarity sang, throwing her magazine down and approaching Dash. “Whoooo is heee?”

“N-nobody! I’m not g-going out with anyone!”

“What’s he like?” Applejack asked, a trace of something in her tone. Was it, sadness? “He strong, tough, and good lookin?”

All three of them converged upon Dash, who was wildly looking for an escape. Surprisingly, Fluttershy stood up for her. “Leave her alone! If she doesn’t want to talk about it, then who are you guys to pester her!”

As everybody stared at her, she blushed. “I mean, i-if t-that’s ok with e-everyone.” she squeaked.

“So, you’re not going out with anybody?” Twilight asked. Rainbow wildly shook her head.

“But, there is someone you are interested in?” Rarity smiled knowingly.

Flushing a deep red, Rainbow slowly nodded her head.

“Ahah! I knew it! Would you tell us who it is?”

Again, a exaggerated shake. Rarity pursed her lips, looking thoughtful.

“Are they famous?” A nod. “Are they royalty?” No. “Hmmm, not Blueblood then. Are you a fan of them?” A big nod. “Are they a member of the Wonderbolts?” Another big nod.

Rarity stood before Dash, looking puzzled. “But there are no…” She gasped loudly and grasped the front of Dash’s shirt, “You can’t be serious! Not him, anypony but him!”

“What? Who are you talking about?” Twilight demanded.

Rarity pulled herself together, and spoke in a dead calm voice, “Rainbow, is the guy you’re interested in, the only male Wonderbolt...Soarin?”

There was complete silence, as Rainbow smiled, flushed deeper.

And nodded.

There was the simultaneous sound of four girls gasping in horror. Twilight merely looked confused.

“Soarin?” she asked, “Who is he? Is he kinda bad?”

Rarity tried to replied, but couldn’t stop stammering, so Pinkie had to reply for her.

“Soarin, is like, the biggest jerk in Equestria!” she yelped, “He goes through girls like I go through candy!”

Twilight’s eyes widened. “Gee, you do eat a lot of candy, Pinkie.”

“That’s not all darling,” Rarity finally managed to reply, “Rumor has it, he got Cloudkicker pregnant, then dumped her as soon as he got the news.”

Rainbow snorted. “Nobody ever believes what that girl says,” she replied in contempt, “She’s a total slut! She probably got knocked up by one of her many different ‘Friends with benefits’.”

“But still, that’s a big stain on anybody’s record, real or not,” Fluttershy whispered, “Even if it weren’t true, he still gets around, a lot.”

“Are you sure about your feelings Rainbow?” Rarity asked her, “You may just be suffering from extreme fangirl obsession.”

“Uh, excuse me?” Dash spluttered incredulously, “I’ve had enough relationships, good and bad, to know a meaningful relationship when I’m in one, thank you very much!”

“Even so, it sounds like Soarin is a guy to stay away from, Dash,” Twilight replied, concern in her eyes.

Throughout this tense exchange between her friends, Applejack remained silent.

If only I could tell her how I felt. She thought to herself. Let her know that that total sleazeball Soarin is not her only option! She sighed. “Ah’m gonna go outside,” she stated, rising to her hooves, “Need some fresh air.”

Once outside, she breathed heavily, feeling tears slowly trickle down her face. She took off her stetson and leaned up against a wooden fence, staring out at the countryside.

“Sweet Celestia, Ah wish ah could tell her, she’s making a mistake!” she cried, punching the fence, “Chicken that ah am.”

“I don’t think you’re a chicken,” a gentle voice replied behind her, “On the contrary, I think you’re incredibly brave, when it comes to doing some things.”

Applejack whirled around, to see Fluttershy standing behind her. “Tarnations, Shy!” she cried, blushing slightly, “Yeh know it’s bad to sneak up on people like that. Y’all shouldn’ta heard that.”

Fluttershy stepped backwards, and squeaked in fear, “I-I’m so-sorry A-applejack, I-I didn’t m-mean to overhear y-you, I was j-just coming out t-to see if you were al-alright.”

Applejack suddenly realized that she was standing right over the nervous girl, and immediately backed up. “Geez, ah’m sorry Flutters, ah… ah jest…”

She came up to Applejack, and placed a hand on her shoulder. “It’s ok, I understand how you’re feeling. It can really suck, loving someone who is totally clueless. Believe me I know, I’ve been there.”

Applejack roughly wiped her eyes, and sniffed. “Who did ya like?”

Fluttershy gazed across the land, before replying. “Derpy Hooves.”

Applejack stared at her in surprise.

“Oh yes, like you, my barn door swings a different way. I had been interested in her for many a day, but sadly she didn’t share the same feelings and ended up with Time Turner.”

“Doctor Whooves!?”

“Yep. Look, while you are too scared to share your feelings now, why not wait and see what happens?”

Applejack hugged her tightly. “Thanks a lot, sugarcube. Ah really appreciate yer help.”

They broke apart as angry voices thundered in the barn and Rainbow stormed out. “I’ll date whoever I want!” she shouted behind her, “And I’ll thank you to keep your nose out of it Rarity, lest it gets chopped off!”

“Rainbow, wait!” Applejack called out, reaching a hand out to her. It was no use. Rainbow’s wings unfolded and she hurled herself into the air, headed towards Cloudsdale.

“I hope she knows what she’s doing,” Fluttershy murmured.

“So do ah, Shy,” A.J. replied. They looked up towards the clouds, where Dash had vanished. “So do ah.”

Author's Note

Oh boy. Drama!

This chapter was written by my co-writer, TwilightAppleDash, and edited by your's truly.