Dashing Apples

Chapter Three
The Lunch

Rainbow Dash huffed and walked over to Table 7, tray tilting in her hands. She was still confused about why Pinkie Pie, who was so excited to admit her sexuality, was her girlfriend, this person, sitting before her. Was Rainbow really lesbian? Or did she just like Pinkie? Sure, she checked girls out from time to time. Girls were always pretty. But Rainbow had never thought about boys. They were nice and all, but they didn't understand girls like other girls did. And Rainbow was not ready to admit to being a lesbian, not yet anyways.

"Dashie!" Pinkie cried and hugged her girlfriend from across the table. Rainbow laughed nervously, pulling away. The last thing she needed was any form of contact right now, especially from the person she was so confused about being with.

"Uh... Hey, Pinkie," Rainbow rubbed the back of her neck with her hand. What was she going to say now? Oh, Pinkie, I'm probably not a lesbian, I've just got the hots for you? God, she sounded like an idiot. Maybe now wasn't the right time to think about it.

"Dashie, I'm so so so so so so so SO excited for tonight! Aren't you? I love love! It's just the greatest thing ever! I mean, obviously I don't love other people, I mean, you're the only one of course, but this one time I was at Rarity's house and..." Rainbow started tuning Pinkie out. Rainbow loved her, but Pinkie's rants were really annoying sometimes.

Twenty long sentences and thirty seconds later, Fluttershy appeared behind Pinkie Pie. "Um, hi, everyone," Fluttershy looked down at her food. "I'm not, um, interrupting, am I?"

Rainbow cut her girlfriend off. "Nope! Not at all! Not in the least!" she smiled awkwardly.

"Oh, good, because I have big news," Fluttershy's eyes lit up. "The people down at the animal shelter might be closing down in a few weeks, and they asked if I could help out, since I volunteer so often. But I'll need your help with the adoptions. There's a lot to get done for just one person." Fluttershy looked expectantly at her two friends, but when no reply came, she continued, "If you, you know, want to, of course. No pressure..."

"What's this about pressure? There's no pop quiz coming up that I'm not aware of, is there?" said a voice from behind them. Rainbow turned around to see none other than Twilight and Rarity coming towards them. Twilight was always worried about a test, but she was on 4.0 honor roll anyways. She was the only other person Rainbow knew that attended Ponyville Crest on a scholarship as well. Rainbow had to admit, Twilight was pretty impressive, but she was just as afraid of losing that scholarship as Rainbow was.

"No, there's no pop quiz. Don't be such a worry-wart, Twi!" Pinkie giggled. Twilight laughed it off, but Rainbow knew she was relieved.

"Oh, good. And scientifically, warts can't actually worry." Twilight pointed out and took a seat.

Rarity remained standing, waving vigorously at someone. "Who are you waving at, Rarity?" Pinkie asked before Rainbow got a chance to.

"Oh, I invited my old kindergarten pal to sit here. I hope you don't mind," Rarity continued waving.

"No problem. I can't wait to hear about what you were like in kindergarten," Rainbow smirked.

"Shut up. Oh! Here she comes now!" Rarity finally took a seat, smiling.

"...and yer sure it's okay for me to sit here?" came a familiar Southern accent. Rainbow almost choked on her mandarin oranges.

Fuck! Applejack?!

"Oh, of course, darling. Why would we exclude you from a lunch table? Don't be silly." Rarity smiled and Applejack sat down, looking unsure. Her eyes flew around the table, settling for a moment on Rainbow. Applejack looked a bit panicked, as if she was afraid something was going to happen to her.

"Hey, wait a minute..." Pinkie glared suspiciously at Applejack before brightening up again. "You're my new neighbor! Welcome to Ponyville Crest! It's great here, but the food kinda smells sometimes..." Pinkie trailed off and Rainbow rolled her eyes.

"Anyway, Applejack, you know Rarity from kindergarten?" Fluttershy took an uncanny bite of mashed potatoes.

"Yeah. Actually, she was a riot back then. Goin' on 'bout guys." Rarity's cheeks started to flush, "She had pictures of her boyfriends 'round her room," Rarity turned a deep shade of maroon, "She was actually the one I learned about se-" Applejack started.

"Well, now! We should eat, then, shouldn't we?" Rarity burst out loudly, while the others snickered.

"God, Rarity, don't be so serious, it was a joke," Rainbow laughed, but then quickly stopped after looking at Applejack.

"Well, I didn't find it very funny," Rarity huffed and started scarfing her food down.

"Sorry, she's a bit-" Rainbow began.

"Sensitive. Ah know," Applejack blushed and looked away. Rainbow did the same. What was it about Applejack that made her feel so... weird?

"Hey, Dashie, can I stay over tonight? My parents are out so that means I'm in!" Pinkie beamed.

"Oh, sure. I have a volleyball meeting tonight and then work, so I'll be a little late. Make yourself at home while I'm gone," Rainbow smirked and wiggled her eyebrows. Pinkie giggled and turned back to her lunch.

"Pinkie... stays at yer house? At night?" Applejack looked panicked.

"Mm-hmm! You wanna know what happens when I do?" Pinkie snickered. Rainbow started laughing uncontrollably.

"Uh... no thanks. I'm good." Applejack's fearful expression turned to disgust.

"Well, since you begged me," Pinkie laughed alongside Rainbow. "Dashie always comes home late, so we're always really tired during it. We kinda just fall asleep on top of each other,"

"Um, really, Pinkie, Ah don't wanna know," Applejack looked almost green.

"Do you have something against lesbians?" Twilight asked defensively.

"No! No, of course not. Ah just ain't one mahself." Applejack turned her head and blushed. Rainbow had to wonder what she was hiding. That was definitely a lie. What was Applejack's real problem with gay people?

"Well, okay then. So... uh, when did you move here?" Rainbow asked casually.

"A couple days ago. Granny got a new job in the city, an' so we moved here." Applejack picked at her food with her fork.

"Oh. Nice." Rainbow said, picking at an emptied tray.

There was an awkward silence for a while, until Rarity spoke up, "Girls, I just had the most fabulous idea. Why don't we all have a slumber party at my house? Scootaloo is having Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom over, so we'll have the house to ourselves. Won't that be fun?"

"That's the bestest idea ever!" Pinkie clopped - erm, clapped - her hands excitedly. "And I can bring a bunch of snacks! It'll be so much fun,"

Everyone agreed it was a great idea, and they all offered to contribute something - Rarity would make pajamas, Pinkie would bring the snacks, Rainbow had a bunch of extra sleeping bags and blankets, Fluttershy would bring some movies, Twilight would supply flashlights and books in case someone got bored, and Applejack was going to sneak a little liquor in. It was the perfect plan.

Right up until that moment.

* * *

Rainbow excitedly vented to Fluttershy about the party as they drove together to Rarity's house - she was so happy she'd be able to have fun with Pinkie again. It was already ten at night, seeing as Rainbow had just gotten off work, so Rainbow hoped they wouldn't immediately be tired. Twilight was always the first to go to bed, being a strict, no-nonsense kind of girl. But that was right up until a week ago, before Twilight admitted her sexuality. Maybe this sleepover was going to be different.

"Dash! Flutters! You made it!" Rarity beamed and let the pair in. Looking around, you could tell Rarity had cleaned the place up all nicely for their new guest. Usually she only picked up the floor and dusted, but Rarity had really gone all out. Like she always said, first impressions were everything.

"Well, no shit. Of course we made it," Rainbow smirked and hefted the sleeping bags in. Two were larger, for her and Pinkie and Rarity and Twilight, and two were smaller, one for Fluttershy and one for Applejack. She had also thrown in two extra small ones in case someone got in a fight.

"Hello, Rarity. Thank you for inviting us," Fluttershy smiled awkwardly, carrying a thick stack of movie cases as she walked in.

"Yes, darling, of course! Pinkie's already here, and Twilight and Applejack are on their way. I believe Twilight said something about lots of homework, so she might be a little late." Rarity looked genuinely disappointed.

"Aw, that's okay, Rarity. Don't you worry, she'll be here before you know it," Fluttershy comforted her friend, patting her shoulder.

"I know. I just wish she wasn't so caught up in her studies that she didn't have time to come to our events," Rarity looked resentful, but quickly brightened. "Anyways, Rainbow, Pinkie's in the living room. I'm sure you two want to... hang, for a bit."

"You know me too well. Alright, Flutters, let's set up before the other girls get here." Rainbow and Fluttershy marched their way to the living room; or in Fluttershy's case, cowered her way.

"Dashie! You're here!" A giant smile spread across Pinkie's face as she jumped up and hugged her girlfriend. Rainbow did hug her back this time. Tonight wasn't the time to worry about confessing, it was the time to have fun with her girlfriend, and her other friends, too.

Just as they were done setting up the snacks and DVDs, there were three soft knocks on the front door.

Perfect timing, cowgirl, Rainbow thought. I hope she's up for a little fun.