One Night (a.k.a A taste of an Apple)

Rainbowdash packed her bags quietly in her bedroom… a little nervous going on this small trip by herself but what could she do? Applejack wouldn't go with her…

She had put on a happy face with what the decision had been but it was a whole night away from the farm, something she hadn't done in months and something which seemed so foreign to her now.

She sighed, and swung her bags around her back, heading downstairs but paused quickly when she saw Applejack struggling to reach for a cup on the shelf and she went over fast, getting it for her.

Applejack didn't say anything, just muttering,

"Thanks."

"Well," Dash said nervously, as she looked at the exit behind her and then back at AJ, "I guess I'm ready to leave for the train."

"You'll have a really good time," AJ said quietly and Dash hated her attitude,

"Well it won't nearly be as fun without you there," she said with shaky smile and Applejack said nothing, her eyes dimming to the ground.

"Ya better get goin'" she muttered but felt Dash suddenly hold her face as she kissed her on the lips deeply… so much tenderness and when they separated Dash said weakly,

"You know I love you more than anything,"

Applejack looked into her dark pink eyes slowly, nodding her head barely and watched as Dash went hesitantly away to the door, sighing when she heard it shut after her.

The train trip was so empty on her own, Rainbow Dash just stared through the window as houses and fields passed her by… why was she even going to this? Because Applejack wanted her to, but why did she want her to do it without her? It didn't make sense.

Lately Applejack hadn't been telling her much of what she was feeling, it just seemed Applejack was hiding things from her, putting on a brave face as if if she did tell her what was wrong it'd hurt her, but it hurt her more that she wasn't saying anything.

Dash closed her eyes in loss as the train after a few hours pulled up at Canterlot station and she got her bags, getting out and heading into the city.

It was a bright afternoon, the show was going to be on in the night though, with the wonderbolts performing in glowing suits.

She hadn't seen a show in so long, she was looking forward to it but it was strange for the first time doing something on her own in so long.

She stopped walking when something glittered in her eye and she turned,

And there it was,

A golden necklace with a small blue heart shaped pendulum and she just stared at it, mesmerised.

That was it. It was the one. She smiled as she went into the shop.

It was expensive though, two hundred bits but she went to the bank and got the money, buying it and watched as it was put in a jewellery box so gently, before being kept safe in her bag.

She couldn't believe she had found it; it was so beautiful, so simple but showed so much. Her heart fluttered in glee… knowing now there was only one thing left to do and she was so eager to do it.

Propose, tomorrow.

XXXXX

Applejack sat in the lounge room, watching through the window the pitch black sky that night, a fire blazing across the room and keeping the house warm.

Granny Smith was telling a story to Applebloom who sat on the ground listening eagerly while Big Mac was away in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner.

She hoped Rainbow was having a good time, she hoped this would make up a little bit for all she had put her through the last year.

She hoped.

XXXXX

Dash headed to the stadium, a smile on her face as she ran quickly in glee but suddenly bumped into someone, tripping on the ground and looked up fast saying,

"Sorry!"

"Hey it's alright Rainbow Dash,"

Her eyes blinked in surprise as before her stood Spitfire, a friendly smile on her face and the yellow Pegasus lifted her hoof to her, Dash accepting it nervously as she helped her up.

"Haven't seen you to one of our shows in a long time," Spitfire said coolly and Dash smiled nervously,

"Oh yeah, things at home have been busy."

"Well it's good seeing you, did you come with anypony? A boyfriend maybe?"

Dash laughed awkwardly… man how was she going to explain this,

"Actually… I'm a fillyfooler."

Spitfire's eyes opened a little with surprise as she saw Dash's awkward face but in response just laughed,

"Oh… well I guess that's not a big surprise."

"Yeah," Dash said with a small laugh back, she couldn't believe she was talking to Spitfire, she always thought she had come off as an annoying fan girl and the yellow Pegasus just said with a smile,

"Well its good seeing you, you should come by the after party tonight, my invite."

"No way? Really!" Dash said in total ecstasy and Spitfire just giggled, handing her an after party pass on a plastic chain.

"Well you are one of our biggest fans," she said and started heading off, "Hope you like the show,"

"I'll love it!" Dash said over the moon and put the pass over her neck, her face bright with exhilaration and she quickly ran into the stadium, handing her ticket and getting a seat near the top so she could watch the show in all its awesomeness.

It started soon, as the lights were dimmed, all ponies watching silently before there was a big boom and the Wonderbolts exploded into the sky, their colourful glowing suits like fireworks as they zoomed, instant florescent patterns being made in the night and Dash's eyes sparkled in amazement,

It had always been her dream to be one of them… a dream from long ago, but her life was perfect the way it was now,

As long as she had AJ in it.

She cheered loudly when Spitfire did back flips in the sky. The show amazing, the night the best night ever.

XXXXX

Applejack looked at the clock slowly, seeing it was past ten and Dash's show would be coming to a close around now, she sighed, as Applebloom and Big Mac headed off to bed, Granny Smith rocking back and forth and AJ looked to her,

"Not goin' to bed Granny?"

"Oh not yet, say, did I tell you about the time of the apple famine?"

AJ giggled a little, nodding her head weakly and Granny looked at her befuddled, asking,

"Is everthin' alright sugarcube?"

Applejack grew quiet, looking at her grandma slowly… and sighed, shaking her head.

"No,"

"Why don't you tell ole' Granny," Granny Smith said with a large crooked smile and AJ smiled back weakly,

"It's nothin' really… I'm just glad Rainbow got to go out tonight, I wanted her to have fun for once,"

"You don't think she's havin' fun here?" Granny said bewildered.

AJ shook her head,

"I don't think this was ever the life she wanted…"

Granny looked at her confused,

"Well I think she's happy,"

"She thinks she's happy," AJ said quietly, looking out to the sky, the same sky Dash was looking out to thousands of miles away, "But maybe she only thinks that because she's never had anythin' else."

"Oh Applejack, your marefriend is very happy here,"

"How can she be?" Applejack said slightly angry, "When all I've done to her is taken… taken her dreams and just given' her mine."

"Applejack," Granny said with a frown, looking at her granddaughter with a sigh, "Your Grandfather Alfred, once asked me if I was happy… and you know what I said to him...'yes'."

Applejack looked at her not getting why she was telling her this,

"He asked, 'how can ya be happy when I can't give ya the world?' and all I said was, 'because I have you'"

Applejack just looked at her quietly listening... Granny Smith continuing weakly,

"Maybe happiness to her is different to happiness to you?"

Her green eyes watered and she shook her head "She only thinks I make her happy… but there are so many ponies that could give her more… more happiness… I'm jus'…" Applejack cried weakly, "I'm just being selfish keepin' her,"

Granny Smith sighed, shaking her head tiredly and got up out of her chair, heading to bed,

"I wish you'd see it through her eyes," she only muttered and Applejack hated how her grandma couldn't see that she was.

Rainbowdash had only ever really been with her, she only thought AJ was the one because she had never seen what it was like with another.

But how could she make Dash happy? When she couldn't even give her freedom…

She tried to give her it tonight… let Dash see the wonderbolts again, let her have something back from her old life… but all Dash was doing now was taking on her role… a life that was never meant for her.

She cried weakly on the lounge... never being what Rainbow deserved… not now, not ever again.

XXXXX

Rainbowdash stood awkwardly at the after party as she watched all her idols talking and laughing, some ponies taking pictures as others hurried themselves to the buffet and she looked around herself with a nervous smile.

"Hey Rainbow dash, good to see you!"

She smiled as she saw Spitfire approach her with Soarin and Spitfire gave her a wink,

"Having fun?"

"There's no words to describe this awesomeness." Dash said with a shaky ecstatic voice and Spitfire just laughed, Soarin looking around confused as if he was looking for something and Spitfire just pointed her eyes to him,

"Soarin has been completely out of the loop all day, a bit slack on his tricks tonight,"

"I thought he did great," Dash said nervously and Soarin just moaned,

"I was only off because I've been hungry all day and all Spitfire's been doing is making me do small talk with everyone,"

"No I haven't," Spitfire said with a smirk,

"Really? Does that mean I can finally eat?" Soarin asked eagerly and Spitfire giggled, nodding and the stallion hurried off with hunger to the buffet. Spitfire looked back at the awkward Dash with a smile,

"You know there's no need to be nervous."

"Oh I know… I just can't believe I'm here," Dash said with a small laugh, and looked at Spitfire's yellow eyes nervously, "You were amazing up there,"

"Aw thanks, well ten hours practice every day is what it takes to be that good,"

"Ten hours? Oh man, that must be so much fun!"

Spitfire giggled, stopping a waiter as he passed with champagne and asked, "You want one?"

"Oh… I don't know..."

"Come on, it's a party!" Spitfire countered and Dash just laughed,

"Oh okay, I guess a few won't hurt."

The two hung out for the rest of the night as Spitfire introduced a slightly tipsy Dash to some of the wonderbolts and Dash found herself laughing so much that night; that she honestly didn't know where the time went until she looked at the clock and saw it was three.

"CRAP!" She said in horror… how the hell was she going to get up tomorrow morning and she said to Spitfire nervously,

"I have to get heading."

"Really?" the yellow Pegasus said surprised, "Oh okay, here, I'll take you to the door." She said with a smile.

When the two reached it Dash just had to say her thanks,

"Thanks a lot for everything tonight, Spitfire. You have no idea what it means to me."

"No thank you," Spitfire said with a warm smile, "This party would've been boring without you,"

Dash nearly felt herself blush at the compliment but froze then and there as she felt Spitfire's lips suddenly push against hers and she pushed her away fast.

Spitfire looked at her confused,

"What's wrong?"

"I have a marefriend…"

All was silent as Spitfire stepped back and said nervously,

"Oh…" Dash couldn't believe this had just happened and the yellow Pegasus asked weakly, "Is she nice?"

"She's amazing," Dash said also nervous… how the hell did this happen.

"Well…" Spitfire said and just looked back at the party, "It was nice seeing you again,"

"Yeah… but I think I better go," Dash said awkwardly and left in stiff steps.

She heard Spitfire shout to her with a nervous voice, "I hope things work out for you two!"

Dash just waved back at her, not knowing what else she could do and went silently back to her hotel.

She lay in her bed, her mind full of so many thoughts but one kept coming to her head…

Should she tell Applejack?

She looked slowly across from her at the empty space beside her... her heart feeling so dead... she was in the bed alone.

She grabbed a pillow, putting it in the empty spot sadly and hugged it tight... imagining it was her love.

Tonight had nearly been perfect… but one little kiss had ruined it all… and now she wished she had never come.