Freedom is a Rarity

"Well, I know these Friendship Games haven't been what any of us expected, but given what we've all just been through, I think it's fair to declare us all winners!" Principal Celestia announced, followed by cheers from the crowd of both Crystal Prep and Canterlot High students.

"Okay, this has officially been the best Friendship Games ever!" Pinkie exclaimed, a bright smile on her face.

"Cheers to that! I'm just glad it's finally over! I never want to rollerskate again!" Rarity complained from her spot on the bleachers that were still outside," My ankles are still throbbing!" Applejack only laughed.

"Well, ya did do some pretty hard tricks during the race. I'm sure after you rest you'll go skating again one day." She said sitting beside her girlfriend.

"I'm sure you're right." Rarity giggled.

"Well, why don't we go and talk to some of the CPA students, maybe make some new friends!" Fluttershy suggested suddenly," I'm sure the students will be a bit nicer after the games."

"Fluttershy's right. Come on!" Rainbow smiled, taking the shy teen's hand as the girls begin to walk from the bleachers to the front of the school to talk to the other students.

"Comin' Rarity?" Applejack called, looking back to the teen, who was walking toward the school.

"I'll be back, I need to grab my backpack since we'll be leaving school when the CPA students leave."

"Alright!" Applejack responded with a smile, as she followed her friends to the crowd of students ahead of her.

"Hey AJ," Sour Sweet chimed suddenly, slightly interrupting Sunset Shimmer, who had been discussing future events that could bring the two schools closer together," Don't look now, but I think Trenderhoof is checking you out." She giggled with a small, playful smirk.

"Trender-what-now?" The country teen asked, turning around, to see a tan boy with a CPA uniform on heading in their direction.

"Um, should we tell-" Fluttershy started, but was interrupted by her girlfriend.

"Let's allow her to tell him. Come on girls." Rainbow instructed, the girls walking a few yards away.

"Hey uh, Applejack is it? You were amazing in the Games this year." Trenderhoof spoke gently, a smile on his face.

" Thanks..." Applejack replied with a small, nervous smile, her eyes darting from side to side.

"Could I maybe...take you out on a date? I think I might have a crush on you." He asked, a small blush on his cheeks.

"Look, um, Trenderhoof is it? My heart belongs to somebody else. I'm taken." She replied slowly," Oh look, there she is!"

"Jackie! Uh, who's this?" Applejack knew the look on Rarity's face, a mixture of nervousness, fear, and jealousy. The country teen was able to silently count down from three, before gesturing with her eyes to her hand, which now had Rarity's latched around it.

"Just a...friend from CPA saying hi. Come on, we should head home," AJ responded in a rushed tone, as she quickly pulled Rarity away from him and toward her truck.

"What was that CPA boy talking to you about?" Rarity asked suddenly, pulling Applejack's attention from the movie they were watching, to her girlfriend.

"He asked me on a date. He told me he had a crush on me." AJ replied, knowing that Rarity deserved to know the truth. After a moment of silence, with the exception of the television, Rarity was able to find her voice and respond.

"What did you tell him...?" Tears had formed on the brim of her eyes, threatening to escape. Applejack only smiled as she looked into her icy blue eyes. Wiping her tears, she replied,

"I told him my heart was with you, that I was taken." Rarity smiled, and laid her head on Applejack's chest,"I will never leave you. I promise." Rarity had always had a horrible past when it comes to dating. Her date would always abuse her, leave her for someone else, or both. Knowing this, Applejack vowed to treat Rarity the way she deserved to be treated.

"Thank goodness that it's Friday!" Fluttershy said as both Rainbow and herself approached their friends, which now held a new member, as Twilight had just transferred from Crystal Prep.

"I couldn't agree more! This week has been absolutely crazy!" Sunset responded with a laugh.

"So, any plans for the weekend?" Twilight asked as she sat at the lunch table with the rest of her new friends.

"Fluttershy and I are going on a date for our one-year anniversary!" Rainbow chimed, making the shy-teen blush. The sudden news made everyone at the table gasp, followed by a chorus of,

"Awww!!"

"I have a few plans for Rarity myself." Applejack cut in, a wide smile on her face. Her comment received approving looks from most everyone at the table. With the exception of Twilight, who had not been there long enough to learn about Rarity's 'romantic past," and Rarity of course, who was both confused and interested in the things her girlfriend had planned for the weekend.

"Hey guys, guess what!?" Pinkie exclaimed suddenly as she rushed up to the table and took a seat.

"Pinkie! There you are! We thought you might have gone home!" Rarity said,"What's up?"

"A hot new guy just transferred to CHS! Check it out!" Applejack gasped when she saw the new boy that had just entered the cafeteria,

"Trenderhoof!?" Turning her head away from him, Applejack shrunk back in her seat.

Applejack strolled down the halls of CHS, heading to her final class of the day when a terrifyingly familiar voice approached her,"Hey AJ! Good to see you again!" Trenderhoof said, causing the farm girl to face her acquaintance.

"What are you doin' here?!" Applejack exclaimed in a whisper.

"I told you, I like you, and I want to be closer to you." He responded as he ran his fingers through her hair. Instantly pulling away, she shot him an angry glare.

"And I said I don't love ya back! Just leave me alone! Please!" As she finished her sentence, she noticed a change from soft and gentle, to anger and aggression. Fear coursed through her veins, she couldn't remember the last time she felt truly scared. She gasped when he grabbed her hands and forced her into the boy's bathroom, which fortunately for Trenderhoof, but unfortunately for Applejack, was empty. Pinning her to the wall with his hands, he gave her a dark smile.

"Even if you're a little resistant...I am still going to get what I want." Applejack's legs were shaking as she struggled against his grasp. He was stronger than her however, she was helpless. She teared up as thoughts of what he could do her raced across her mind. Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt his lips press against her. Her eyes widened as she released muffled screams as she struggled. She began to cry when he used his body to press her against the wall as he started lifting her shirt. Glancing down, she noticed that while her legs were shaky, they were free. Thinking fast she gave Trenderhoof a hard "low blow," causing her offender to groan and collapse. She took off running from the bathroom. Racing down the hall she was relieved to run into Rarity. Grabbing her hand she pulled her girlfriend, who was currently confused and scared, out of the school and to the truck.

"Get in the truck," Applejack commanded as she hopped into the driver's seat. Once Rarity was in the vehicle, she took off down the road until the school was out of view. After they reached the country, Applejack pulled over and burst into tears, burying her face in her hands.

"Jackie darling, what's wrong?!" Rarity's concern was growing dramatically,"What happened?"

"Trend...he...he....he came up to me and started runnin' his fingers through my hair, I told him to go away, but when I refused him, he..." Applejack took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down,"He pushed me into the boy's room, and pinned me to the wall. He kissed me, and started to pull my shirt off, I managed to kick him and get away before he did something else...." No words could explain the shock on Rarity's face. Once her mind was able to process the news bestowed upon her, she spoke up.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you..." She said quietly, taking her girlfriend's hand.

"It's not just that...I feel like I c-cheated on you..."

"Sweetie, you did all the right things. You pushed him away and didn't give in to his seduction. There is no way I would accuse you of cheating!" After a moment, AJ had dried her tears and had a smile on her face,"Come on, let's go home, and Monday we will notify Principal Celestia of he actions." Nodding, Applejack drove the rest of the way home.