Sapphires

Chapter 3: Lost

So that's it then. Rainbow Dash thought, throwing her Gala dress and train ticket inside the suitcase. I just...leave. She wiped away a tear and closed the suitcase, clicking shut. Another Cloudsdale incident. She sighed. She no longer cried, because all of her tears were spent. Pull yourself together, Rainbow Dash! Coolest, fastest,strongest pony in Equestria! Legendary stunt woman, pulling off the legendary Sonic Rainboom! Three times! Pull yourself together! Your going to go down there and say goodbye to everyone.They should feel lucky that I stuck around for a week, anyways. I'll just get them together! Yeah...that'll work! Rainbow threw her suitcase to the floor, her hoof now healed. She took off through the window, headed for the post office.

" To the Mane 6,

Your presence is needed at the Sugarcube Corner. Meet at 6."

"Anypony know what this is about?" Twilight asked. They were all sitting around a large table.

"No idea, sugarcube." Applejack snorted. "Rainbow Dash 'aint here yet. I'll bet my bits she's got somethin' to do with all this."

"Rainbow Dash? She's probably just running late, like always silly-billy! She's probably eating cupcakes!Speaking of cupcakes should I name this cupcake Chimmycherry or Cherrychonga? Chimmycheery? Cherrychonga? Chimm-"

"Pinkie!" Twilight said, silencing her with magic. "Why do you think Rainbow Dash is involved?"

" I reckon he's just gonna tell everypony that doesn't already know that she's a-"

"Applejack. That's quite enough." Rarity finally spoke up.

Everypony looked at her, finally noticing her mane.

"Um, what happened to your mane? Did you forget to comb it?" Fluttershy inquired. Rarity's mane was askew, being closer to Rainbow Dash's mane than anything else.

Rarity sighed. "No, darling. Don't you worry about me. Look, there's Rainbow Dash." She said, pointing at the door, where a sad-looking Rainbow Dash walked through the door. She looked like she hadn't slept in days, her mane was slightly greyed, and she slouched.

"Hey, guys," She said, lamely.

"Rainbow Dash! Where have you been?" Twilight asked.

"W-why haven't you gotten any sleep?" Fluttershy whispered.

"Why didn't you get any cupcakes yesterday, Dashie? You always get some on Tuesday!" Pinkie smiled, jumping up and down.

"Why'd ya even show up in the first place?" Applejack spat.

Rarity said nothing, just staring at Rainbow Dash in her terrible state.

"Not important," Rainbow said at no pony in particular. "I'm just making sure you get your final goodbyes in."

Everypony stared at Rainbow Dash, mouths open. Then Applejack snickered.

"Bye." She spat, and walked out of the Sugarcube Corner, pushing Rainbow Dash aside. Everypony watched as Rainbow Dash twisted his face up, an indescribable emotion on his face.

"Rainbow, don't!" Rarity yelled, but it was too late. Rainbow was out the door in a flash, and on top of Applejack.

"What do you have against fillyfoolers!? Why is it wrong to love Rarity!?" Rainbow shouted, directly in Applejack's ear. She had her pinned, Applejack squirming to free herself. "Answer me!" Rainbow screamed, pushing a hoof into Applejack's. "Rainbow, this is insane! Stop it!" Applejack hollered. Rainbow released Applejack, only to encircle her torso and fly straight upwards. Rainbow kept flying upwards, with Applejack screaming. "Applejack," Rainbow whispered in her ear. "Answer me." Applejack, terrified, replied, " I-It's not right! The world intended c-colts and m-m-mares to be together! You can't just decide that it's okay for mares to d-d-d-date! I-it's not right! I-it's not like you can have fillies anyways! W-what's the point?!"Applejack was crying now. Rainbow stopped her ascent. "It's not a choice! You think I chose to be this way?! I would be infinitely happier if I could've just liked colts! I got kicked out of flight school because of that! And you think its a choice?!" Rainbow's fury was now gone, and she slowly lowered herself and Applejack to the ground once more. Just before they touched down, Rainbow whispered, " Shows how much you know.." and she let go of Applejack, who scurried off, towards Sweet Apple Acres.

Rainbow sighed deeply, and turned to the Sugarcube Corner, where her friends had exited the shop and were staring at her. Rainbow had no energy to say anything except, "There, now you know. I'll see you...never, I guess." With that, Rainbow took to the air, but stopped and turned around."Oh, and I'm sorry, Rarity. I really am." Rainbow said, and turned to take off. Except she couldn't. An aura of light blue magic brought her to the ground and towards her friends.

"Rainbow...I won't let you leave us." Rarity said firmly. "What happened to the Element of Loyalty? Or did that disappear when you decided that running away would make all your problems better?" Rainbow said nothing, staring at the floor. " As for you and I... I don't know. I need more thinking time. Now... are you all right with this?" She said, turning to her other friends."About Rainbow Dash and her...sexuality, that is."

"I-I'm fine with it..." Fluttershy squeaked.

"Okey dokie lokie!" Pinkie said, bouncing up and down. " If that's what you want to do, I don't see why not."

"I don't want to!" Rainbow Dash snapped. "I don't just 'decide' my sexuality. It's born with me." She hissed.

"...I don't  get it. I don't see how this is right. All the books I read said that-"

"Forget the books already!" Rainbow yelled, shutting Twilight up. "This is love we're dealing with! You can't just read a book and understand love!

"I..guess. I don't really get it, but I won't treat you any differently for your decis-"

"IT'S NOT A DECISION!" Rainbow roared, stamping her hoof, ready to charge, were it not for Rarity's magic.

"..Right. Sorry, Rainbow." Twilight replied, looking down.

"I will talk to Applejack." Rarity exclaimed, releasing Rainbow Dash.

"Do NOT run away, you hear me, Rainbow Dash?" She said, walking away.

"Yes, ma'am," She whispered, watching Rarity leave.

"Um.." Twilight started, kicking at the dirt below her. " Should I tell Spike about this? His crush on Rarity and all..."

"No, I'll tell him." Rainbow Dash said as she took to the skies towards the library.

"Anybody up for cupcakes?" Pinkie chirped. "They're on the house!"

"Sure, Pinkie. That'd be nice..." Twilight mumbled. Fluttershy only nodded in agreement as they headed inside.