“I suppose I didn’t know her as well as I thought, huh?”

You were staring at the ground, unwilling to let another grown pony see you cry. You were quietly failing to suppress the years-old tears that have been left over from the whole incident. Sobbing and sniffling, you crack a smile as some of the weight on your chest is relieved. Happy to have got it all out, you were eager to see the reaction of your mare friend, Applejack. You looked up, eyes still damp, to gaze upon her.

You think your heart sank a little bit. Not only was she smirking, she was holding back a snicker that could rival that of a hyena. You sigh a little, disappointed in her, and you do your best to show that. That’s what tipped her over the edge. Rolling on the floor, laughing her head off, she wasn’t showing any sympathy. Not in the slightest.

“It’s not that funny, you know. My heart did kind of get broken in that story.”

You gave her half-lidded eyes, and a straight face. Drawing a bit of attention from the hysterical mare, you raised one eyebrow, in a quizzical manner. It did nothing to help your case, causing the mare to begin laughing once again. You wondered if she’d ever run out of breath, as she very rarely inhaled during her moment of frenzy, but you left it up to her for when to stop. Groaning, you just flopped to the floor, lying down to relax. Typically, just as you got comfortable, she released her final chuckle, and took a deep breath.

“Oops, sorry. Ah just didn’t expect that.” Applejack, blushing at her rude display, apologised and moved on as quickly as possible to discuss the story. “Ah’m just wondering. Why did Dash take me to your place for revenge if she dumped you?” AJ, head tilted slightly to the left, just smiled, trying to regain any trust you’d just lost in her.

“I...didn’t apologise. Or even talk to her afterwards. I kind of shunned her.”

Forcing a smile, you remember telling Dash to go away in all sorts of colourful ways, until she never tried again. You’d been slightly upset that she didn’t continue to pester you, but your choice had been made since you’d found out. Applejack just stares on at you, still adorned with a blush and a smirk, but now more than casually interested in what more you had to say. As always, there was more.

“I just ignored her when I saw her.”

Seeing your privacy was going to be invaded anyway, you wanted to see how long you’d hold out before you cracked. A few nights were what it took for AJ to crack, so how long would you last. Maybe two days? A week, perhaps? The stare that Applejack was giving off was the indicator that you wouldn’t even reach a single minute.

“Okay, so maybe I insulted her a little as well...”

The stare wasn’t going away. You stalled a little, but reluctantly continued after a few seconds of silence.

“...and maybe I called her some less-than-couth names...”

Nope, still there. Dear Celestia, that stare is penetrating your soul.

“...involving her being a filly-fooler...”

“You what now?” AJ wasn’t just staring anymore; she had leered forward in an aggressive manner. It was quite intimidating. “What did you say to her?” You stalled, hoping to find a suitable distraction to change the topic. Although, it was bound to come back up eventually, you could have time to prepare a non-insulting non-violent filly-fooler-friendly explanation. If only a certain rainbow-maned pony hadn’t shown up, with ‘perfect’ timing, landing effortlessly by AJ’s side.

“I wouldn’t worry about that. However, I’d be prepare to be worried about what I’m about to do to him.” She advanced with the same flared wings and crazed look in her eye that she’d had the night after you met Applejack. You were going to dance the dance with her once again but you thought better of it. Be the bigger pony. AJ will admire you for it, Dash will get shown up, and joyfully, it will save your flank from a beating.

“Look, I never meant those things. I was hurt. I’m sorry for what I did. I hope we can be friends...”

Rainbow retreated a few steps taken off guard by the out-of-character apology. She blinked a few times, squaring back up to you, to regain some power. She looked slightly fazed, but she’s was going to still have a go.

Or not, as the case may be. She sighed, and her wings drooped. That was not the brash assault you were expecting. She’s changed, like something in her heart has died. She looks up to you with those big magenta eyes, the ones you fell in love with, and wept a single tear. She sniffles and shuffles forward. You didn’t move, paralysed by the vulnerability Rainbow Dash was showing.

So much for the showdown, you think, as you await the mare. She stopped only an inch away from your face, only to rear up. You close your eyes, preparing yourself for the sneak attack she was about to deliver after you let your guard down. You deserved it, and her vulnerability opened you up to that fact. It came as another pleasant surprise when she gently pulled you in for a hug, while she sobbed into your shoulder. You weren’t prepared for that, and were confused at what to do next.

You looked up, past the mare you were embracing, to see AJ lower her hat over her chest, and go glassy eyed. She motioned for you that it was okay to proceed. You didn’t know what she meant until you met a squeeze that choked you a little. It wasn’t painful at all, it was comfortable, and it felt right even. You pulled her in, returning the squeeze, almost tearing up again. You put your head into the rainbow mane of the mare, and started sniffling a little too. She let out a sigh of comfort and so did you.

“It’s all I ever wanted, y’know, just to be friends after what happened,” Dash sobbed into your shoulder, “Just me and you. I didn’t have any friends to hang with, until I met the other elements. Sure, I knew Fluttershy, but she’d moved to Ponyville before I got a chance to say goodbye, with her trouble flying and all. Y’know, I had to give her a piggyback ride for her to get back to Cloudsdale to pick up her stuff she’d left when I found her again.”

Dash chuckled into your shoulder before pushing herself out of the hug and off of you. She looked up into your eyes and the corners of her mouth turned up into a smile. It warmed your heart, and caused you to break out in a smile too.

“I don’t have much to say to that. I can't believe I hurt you like that. Why didn’t you talk to me though? Why wait all this time, with all that’s happened?“

You’d wanted to cry some more but a sudden lack of hydration caused you just to blink. She didn’t even need to think of the answer before she pulled you back in for the hug, even tighter than the last. “That buckin’ rumour.” She began to sob again as you felt instinct take over, and allow you to stroke her mane. “My life was ruined…because of that stupid rumour. I wanted to get back to you but I was worried you wouldn’t b-believe me. I was scared that lost you.”

She gave it an almighty squeeze as she finished that sentence, forcing you to choke a little. You swear you could have heard a rib snap. You were going to say something, if not for the squeak that escaped your lungs. With that, she released you, took a step back and blushed. “Heh, sorry. Didn’t know I was that emotional.” A smile broke onto your lips, despite the paralysis via shock.

“Neither did I.”

The quick witted joke made her laugh, and she hit you softly on the shoulder. That one gesture told you everything was alright now. Well, except one thing. But Rainbow Dash was already off to the start of a conversation. “Y’know, I did realise two things from that rumour,” Leading you on, you raised an eyebrow, the universal symbol for ‘do go on’, “For one, you took that night harder than me…”

“And how so?”

Interested, you wanted to know why she’d made an assumption like that. “Simple, you were teasing me like mad, trying to distance yourself. If I learnt anything, you were doing that to avoid having to confront your feelings for me, as you still do now.” With that, you fell into a few flashbacks of feeling guilty for having teased her so much, you’d felt like you wanted to apologise, just to go back to the way things were. You still want things to return to normal.

“Heh, you zoned out for a second there, I’m guessing you just hit flashback city,” How did she- “I used to do it all the time.” You grinned at little bit, remembering a couple of times she had. But before you zoned out again, she continued. “And second...”

She pounced towards you, and your muzzles meet in mid-air. Your knees buckled, her momentum pushing you over, having her fall on top of you. Time seemed to slow down, the shock of the action bringing about a storm of though, a mix of happy and sad thoughts.

But why? Since when? Why now? What’s wrong with me? Rainbow shouldn’t have forgiven me.

Nought but a groan made it out of your head whilst you landed beneath the mare, your lips still connected to her. Your eyes are larger than the moon, as she continued to lean into the kiss, eyes closed until the very last second. But when they did open, a mixture of emotions could be seen in them; one empowering emotion dominating the others, until it gave way to another more powerful one as she stared into your own eyes. Happiness, then Confusion, next Shock, and lastly, Regret.

She jumped off of your body, wings flared to fly, fully aware that she'd made the same mistake as you had years ago. She began to gallop as readied herself to push off the ground and take off, as tears began to stream from her once again. You had one last thought as she was moments away from beginning her ascent. Don’t go. Your own eyes began to water, as you heard the grunt of her pushing against the floor. Your eyes closed, knowing that you were once again going to witness her leaving without a goodbye. Taking a deep breath, you prepared to cry.

“Ugh...” *thud* “Ow...Get off of me, AJ!” With an odd noise, your eyes open to understand the more-than-curious noises that had just stopped you from beginning to sulk. “I ain’t moving until you stop squirming,” AJ moaned, positioned on top of Dash, “Now, why did ya just try ‘n’ run off like that?” It looked as though Applejack had just tackled and restrained Rainbow before she could get away. Way to go, AJ.

“No reason. Now, get off. I-I have to go somewhere.” Struggling beneath your mare friend, Rainbow lied through her teeth to escape her friend and captor. It hurt you to see her so powerless. Rainbow was always so much better than you.

“AJ, let her go.”

It came to a surprise to all three of you, that you’d just said that. AJ raised a hoof in protest, only for it to sag to her side before she casually shuffled off of the other mare. Rainbow just lay there, looking away from you, burying her face into her side, which was rapidly gaining a wet patch. You approached to sobbing ball of blue pony carefully and cautiously. You want to get her attention, but something else told you what would be better.

Walking around to her front, you lay down on your side next to her, wrapping a hoof around her. To your surprise, AJ did the same around her back, and Dash shifted between the two of you, trying to snuggle in. Now was a better time to say something.

“I’ll guess you still have feelings for me too.”

The first thing that came to mind seemed the best, as she squeeze her head into your chest and took a few deep breathes, before a chuckle could be heard emanating from the blue mass of mare, squeezed between two of her friends. “Ya think?”

It brought about a smile to all three faces and caused you to fall back into thought of whether or not to continue talking. You chose the latter option of pausing for a moment, to stroke her mane as a sign of the comfort and endearment you held for her. She began to rub herself again your hoof, much like a cat would, her tears gradually coming to a stop.

“Y’know, you didn’t exactly tell me what that rumour was.”

Although it broke the mood a bit, it was question that had to be asked, even if you already had an idea of what the answer was. Applejack sighed and giggled as she shuffled into a more comfortable position to listen. Rainbow pushed against your chest a bit, making you roll further onto you back than your side. Her head lying upon your chest, those big eyes open to interpretation, she began to explain. “You know you teased me about being a filly-fooler so much, I didn’t half expect you to either faint or shout at me when I kissed you.”

“Please, I never believed you were a filly-fooler.”

You forced a laugh as any regretting pony would do after such a joke, much to the amusement of the two mares. “Sure you didn’t.” The comment just brought a larger smile to your face. Hopefully, it was all alright now, after that little episode. Closing your eyes, you were joined by Applejack and Rainbow Dash as you let the peace of a otherwise quiet evening flow through you. Now you could relax, with your mare friend and your best friend by your side, all’s well that ends well.

If nothing else, you didn't have to be subtle about trying to get AJ and Dash in the same bed again...

Author's Note

Happy Hearts and Hooves Day!
That last line might have been too much...

I've enjoyed writing this more than most of my other stories.
For what was meant to be a one-shot, this didn't turn out to bad (in my head).
But before I ramble, thank you for reading.
Your support is all I need to write more stories.

I suppose I'll try not to leave as many plot-holes (*snigger* plot hole) in the next stories.