I was walking towards the Apple Acres when a sudden storm cloud appeared above my head. My heart dropped, and I found myself yanking my head upright to see if it was really true.

As the gray hues answered my question, I sighed, looking down with a rather annoyed expression, “Rainbow Dash.” I mumbled.

She poked her head over the cloud to look at me, “Oh come on! That makes you laugh any other time.” I glared at her, which made her understand, “Oh. Right. Sorry.” She jumped off the cloud, which vanished due to the sudden movement.

I grabbed my hat and wrung out all the water before finally placing it back on my head.

“Where ya off to?” She asked, nudging me with her hoof.

“Home.”

“Aw, come on, you didn’t wanna see me?”

I shrugged, “I don’t know.” I did want to see her, Fluttershy too, but I was already stressed enough and didn’t wanna push that stress onto them.

“You don’t know? But I’m your best friend!” I could tell she was just trying to tease me, but as I kept my eyes forward and my head hung low, she suddenly looked concerned. “You… you alright?” She asked.

“I… I don’t know.” I repeated.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t think that would trigger you.”

I sputtered, “Ah, don’t worry, it ain’t that.”

“Then, what is it? I’m here, you know, if you need to talk.”

“Don’t worry ‘bout me. How have you been doin’?”

“I’m not answering till you do.” It frustrated me, but I sighed and decided to comply.

“I’ve been fine.”

“Fine? Usually when ponies say they’re fine, they don’t mean it.”

“I ain’t talkin’ ‘bout this no more.” I stepped forward, but she got in front of me.

“Please, Apple Jack. I don’t like it when you push me away.”

“I ain’t pushing anypony away. Do you see everypony coming to me asking if I’m okay? No, I go to them. So how is that pushing ponies away?”

“You’re pushing everypony away from how you feel. That’s how. You don’t have to worry about everypony else, you know that. It’s unhealthy and I just— I just want you to open up more.”

I sighed, shrugging my shoulders before sitting down, “It’s just… I was always so tough on ‘m… and I just—“

“You think sometimes it’s your fault? That maybe if you were just… nicer?”

“That he’d be alive. I don’t know, Dash… none of it makes sense.”

She sat down in front of me, “It never does honestly. But when somepony does that, ponies are always quick to blame themselves.”

“Or others…” I said with a rather cold tone as I glanced back at Sugarcube Corner.

“When these situations don’t involve them, ponies like to play detective when things don’t add up to their standards; but sometimes ponies just don’t see the point of it anymore and decide to end it all.” When I didn’t reply, Rainbow Dash took note of my silence and didn’t push me for a reply. She kept quiet, letting her words sink in till I spoke again.

“I miss him. It ain’t easy… none of it is.”

“I know. You have me though, Apple Jack, if you need anything. You can always come over if things get hard; I’m always here to listen.”

“Thanks, Dash. You’re a good… you’re a good friend.”

“I know.” She smirked, playfully smacking my hat down to cover my muzzle. “I always do my best.” I couldn’t help but laugh as well, even if it was just a few chuckles.

Author's Note

Been a while! I put this on hiatus for a while due to personal things, but I should be back now!

Yeah, this one is a little short, and I honestly didn't expect it to be, but I've got a few longer chapters coming out (1k+ chapters!)