Apples and Affairs

The Griffin’s Gullet.

On the edge of Cloudsdale lay a bar that was a popular destination for ponies out and about at night. Not only did it sell the best brew ‘in all of Equestria,’ but it was also open twenty-four hours! What more could you ask for?

Rainbow Dash was a frequent visitor of this particular bar, coming in every night after practice with the Wonderbolts, often bringing them with her, spending lots of bits on drinks for them all, and getting drunk challenging them to drinking contests. Rainbow Dash was quite popular at this place, being there so often and getting chummy with the other ponies who came by often. Being the first to perform a sonic rainboom helped as well.

When Rainbow Dash started dating Applejack, she started going to the bar less and less, abandoning her fellow Wonderbolts to SOMETIMES spend time with her marefriend. This was the first time Rainbow Dash had been there in a long time. She had a beer in front of her, but in the hour she had been there, she hadn’t taken one sip. Rainbow Dash knew she had to leave soon, otherwise the Wonderbolts would come, and they’d notice her and want to talk to her, and Rainbow Dash didn’t want that. She didn’t want to explain to them how she ruined her relationship. She didn’t need her friends, not to mention her own instructor, to see her so under the weather, especially when this was, after all, all her fault.

She was just about to leave (without paying for her drink once again) when a gust of wind blew into the building as the door opened. Rainbow Dash cringed as she saw five familiar faces fly through in a straight line into the bar. All the patron’s heads turned, and a light cheer began as everypony recognized the wonderbolts, all except for Dash, who gritted her teeth, realizing how much of a mistake coming here was.

“Well well well! If it isn’t the legendary Rainbow Crash!”

Soarin’s voice made Rainbow Dash cringe as the group trotted over to her lonely spot. Now she had done it. She couldn’t leave now and look bad in front of her friends. She bit her tongue, forcing herself to show a somewhat convincing smile, “Hey.”

“Nice to see ‘ya, Crash. It’s been a while.” Said Spitfire, giving Rainbow Dash a little nudge with a wing. Rainbow Dash’s throat tightened as she remembered that night when she and Spitfire bucked. It was about three weeks ago. As an official member of the Wonderbolts, Rainbow Dash was required to take part in a big show at Canterlot, where the princesses would be a part of the audience. The show was a very big hit, and all of the Wonderbolts, including the usually-serious Spitfire, showered Rainbow Dash with kind words and excited phrases. That night, they went to the bar they were at today, and after consuming a lot of alcohol, Rainbow Dash was way too impaired to fly back to Ponyville. So, Spitfire, about as drunk as Rainbow Dash was, offered to fly her home.

One thing led to another, and Spitfire was coming onto Rainbow Dash, offering to ‘congratulate’ Rainbow in a much different way. The following morning, Rainbow awoke with a pounding headache, smelling of shame, and with a mare sleeping next to her. She simply shrugged, figuring that AJ wouldn’t mind what had happened. Boy, was she wrong.

“I thought you had better things to do.” Said Soarin.

“Not today.” Said Rainbow.

“Come on, then,” Soarin said cheerfully, flicking his head as the group disappeared toward their usual spot. With a sigh, Rainbow Dash got up and walked to the table they had sat down around. Rainbow Dash pulled out a stool and sat down, and little by little, she drowned out the noises of the bar. Her friends talking, the smooth jazz playing on a jukebox in the corner, and the smashing of glass as the bartender-in-training fumbled yet another cup.

“Crash?”

Rainbow Dash hardly even heard Spitfire calling to her, remembering her ex-marefriend’s face when she had said those words: “Applejack! You know I love you! I just don’t want to be tied down to one pony all the time, that’s all.”

Why had she said that? Why? Rainbow Dash wasn’t the sharpest knife on the block, but she knew she could have said anything but that. What an idiot she was…

“Rainbow!”

“What!?” Rainbow Dash’s hoof hit the table, and all the Wonderbolts looked up at her with surprise, “U-Uh sorry. What is it?”

“Are you feeling okay?” Spitfire asked suspiciously, “You’re awfully quiet, did something happen?”

She shook her head rapidly, “N-No! I’m just… I think I’m coming down with something.”

Spitfire raised an eye, “I see.” Rainbow Dash gulped. She knew Spitfire didn’t believe her, “You guys go on ahead. I need to speak with our friend Crash here.”

She had heard those words a few times during practice, but oddly enough, it was a lot more scary when she said them when she was off-duty. “Yes, Ma’am.” Rainbow Dash said, unable to refuse. Getting up, Spitfire led Rainbow to the back of the bar towards the restrooms, allowing them to talk in peace.

Spitfire slammed the door behind her and locked it shut, whirling around towards Rainbow Dash, “Alright, Crash. What’s going on? You’re acting real strange.”

Her brain cycled through all of the excuses she had at the ready, but she knew damn well it was no use, Spitfire would see right through her. She sighed, trying to keep tears out of her eyes. She’d rather get kicked off the wonderbolts and cut off her own wings than let Spitfire see her cry, “My marefriend broke up with me.”

Spitfire’s expression softened, unnerving Rainbow Dash, “Oh man. I’m sorry.” She stepped close, wrapping a wing around her. Her breath caught in her throat. Spitfire was hugging her?! Wow… Spitfire stepped away quickly, clearing her throat, going back to her more natural stern expression.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do without her, ma’am.” Rainbow Dash said, looking down at the tiled floor.

“You don’t need her, Rainbow Crash. I’m sure there’s someone better out there for you.” Spitfire said, “And you know you don’t need to call me ‘ma’am’ when I’m off-duty.” She smiled.

Rainbow Dash didn’t think there was anyone out there as cool and as awesome as Applejack, but she appreciated the thought all the same, “Thank you.”

“You know…” Spitfire said, creeping back up to Rainbow Dash, her chest brushing up against hers. Rainbow’s eyes widened, “I’ve been thinking about that night for a while now… How would you like to… Have a private flying lesson~?”

Spitfire’s breath tickled her ear as she whispered her sultry words. Spitfire did the same thing last time as well. Unlike last time, when Rainbow Dash felt flustered and excited, she felt nothing but rage. It was Spitfire who made Rainbow Dash think it would be okay to sleep around. If it wasn’t for her, she wouldn’t have thought it would be okay to sleep with Soarin, and then that Earth pony, whatever his name was, without AJ getting mad about it. It was HER fault that Applejack broke up with her, not Rainbow’s!

“NO!!” Tears spilled from her eyes as Rainbow Dash shoved the pegasus away. She was overzealous with her push, knocking Spitfire down on her rump, “I HATE you, Spitfire!! I hate you!! And I quit the Wonderbolts!! I quit I quit I quit!!” Vision blurry from tears, Rainbow Dash unlocked the bathroom door and stomped back out into the bar, attracting the attention of the other ponies.

She passed Soarin, who saw her tear-streaked face and got up, “Rainbow Dash! What happened?”

“Kill yourself, Soarin!” Rainbow Dash roared, spreading her wings and kicking off the ground, flying through the exit just as another couple of pegasi walked in. Rainbow Dash sobbed hard, thinking of Applejack the whole time as she flew back home. When she finally arrived, she landed not right outside her door, but on the roof, curling up in a ball and crying into her belly, her chest rising and falling as she began to hyperventilate.

Applejack… Rainbow Dash thought I’m so sorry… I’ll never do it again, I promise! She thought as hard as she could, hoping maybe some powerful being could turn back time, letting Rainbow Dash have a second chance to try this relationship all over again from the beginning. She would do better this time, she promised! But life didn’t work like that. Life wasn’t some cartoon…

Lifting her head, she saw five pegasi flying around Cloudsdale, no doubt the Wonderbolts in search of her, or maybe it was just her imagination? Forcing herself up, she flew off of the roof and down through an open window to her bedroom to go to sleep. But sleep wouldn’t come that night, not for a long time…