“Ah don’t think so” stated Applejack, the sound of frustration obvious in her voice.
“Psht, come on Applesnack, you know I can beat beat you at anything!” argued Rainbow. Rainbow took a step forward, getting uncomfortably close to her.
“Prove it,” said Applejack in a cocky voice.
“Prove it how?” asked Rainbow. As Applejack opened her mouth, she was interrupted by the lavender pony walking in on the scene.
“What are you two arguing about? The whole of Ponyville can hear you!” asked Twilight.
“We’re arguin ‘bout who’s th’ greatest pony,” Applejack replied.
“Obviously it’s me, there is nopony in Ponyville that’s even worth the challenge,” Rainbow boasted. Applejack stared at her angrily.
“You ain't th’ greatest at bein’ modest, tha’s fer sure!” Applejack took a step forward pushing Rainbow back.
“Hey! What was that for?” Rainbow asked angrily, not backing up any further, although Applejack was pushing.
“Fer bein’ so arrogant!” Applejack replied. Twilight stepped between them.
“You are both very athletic and strong, maybe we can organise another competition?” suggested Twilight, looking at them both to see if they approved.
“Come on, sugarcube, y’all know how well that turned out las time,” said Applejack looking worried.
“You’re only saying that because you know I’ll win,” stated Rainbow. Applejack looked at her angrily.
“Will not!” she said, her voice getting gradually louder.
“Prove it! Let’s have a fight!” said Rainbow. Applejack took a step back with a worried look on her face. Twilight pulled the same expression. Rainbow just stood there looking ready.
“Woah woah woah, Rainbow, hold on. Are you sure that’s a good idea?” asked Twilight, looking at her friend, worried.
“Yeah I know it is. Anyway, why wouldn’t I be, Applejack is to chicken to accept!” Applejack didn’t have anger in her face anymore. Instead she looked worried.
“Hold on Rainbow. Y’all might annoy me at times but i don't wanna duke it out with ya! Applejack said. Rainbow put her foreleg around Applejack’s shoulder.
“How about we wrestle then? It’s less brutal and doesn’t need any hitting,” Rainbow said looking at her friend with eyes that knew they were going to win.
“Alright, Rainbow. Yer on!” Applejack said looking at Twilight.
“Egghead, do you think you can organise the event?” Twilight looked at her with a scrunched up lip and slightly shut eyes.
“It’s called being well read. Anyway, yes I’m sure I can. Let me go home and get my quill, we can do it together if you want,” Twilight’s voice seemed to be getting quieter as she mumbled to herself leaving and heading for the library.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Come on Rainbow! Tonight is the night you show them who truly is the best in Ponyville!” Rainbow said to herself, looking in the mirror and punching thin air.
“Rainbow dear, I have taken this act of violence into consideration and I have decided what a perfect time it is to showcase some of my marvelous wares. Do you mind wearing this?” Rarity said, pulling a pony singlet from behind her.
“Rarity it looks so... tight. And I’ll look like such a dork in it,” Rarity looked at her friend very unhappily.
“I have spent a lot of time preparing this. It will mean a lot to me if you would wear it. Applejack agreed to wear hers, and that means she beats you in something if not the fight, tonight,” Rainbow took a deep sigh.
“Fine, give it here...” as she said that, Rarity squealed and gave Rainbow the suit before hugging her and trotting off.
“Thank you dear,” she said leaving the tent.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Applejack, it’s not to late. You can still back out. Who cares who gets the title of best pony?” Twilight said, almost pleading with her friend to back out.
“Ah said no Twilight! Somepony has to show her that she isn't so great and mighty.”
Twilight just walked out, but before she left the tent, she turned back. “Don't be too rough tonight. I don't want to take anypony to the hospital,” she said as she finished her exit. An announcer’s voice was heard from all around the Canterlot arena.
“Fillies and Gentlecolts, welcome to the Canterlot arena! We have a very special match between Rainbow Dash and Applejack that will be starting in ten minutes. Will you all please take your seats and get ready?”
“Well, tha’s ma cue,” Applejack said leaving the tent.
“Hey Applejack, crazy crowd, right?” said Rainbow, walking up to Applejack, who was looking through some curtains.
“Yeah, Ah never seen so many ponies before...” she said, retracting her head from the curtain and looking at Rainbow.
“You look so stupid!” they both exclaimed at the same time.
“Yeah, Rarity made me,” they both replied at the same time again. They both started laughing.
“AJ, no matter what happens in there, we will still be friends won’t we?” asked Rainbow looking slightly worried.
“Ah sure do hope so, but y’all know how competitive we are, and I won’t give up ‘til you do,” said Applejack.
“I don't plan on giving up until you do, so let the best pony win,” Rainbow said, spitting on her hoof and holding it out for a brohoof. Applejack quickly responded with the same treatment as music started playing.
“Well that's my cue... see you in there AJ!” Rainbow said flying through the curtain so quickly it almost fell down. She started flying around the arena doing various tricks, before landing in a square ring. She pulled a dramatic pose with that look of confidence she always had. The music stopped and started again, but this time the music wasn't all guitar and drum heavy. Instead, it was more country music. Applejack walked out, waving at her family, who were standing in the front row cheering loudly. She slowly made her way to the ring, got in and looked at Rainbow who, to her surprise, had some sweat on her brow. The music stopped and the lights went out. The crowd gasped until they saw some headlights focusing on the ring. A pony with a white coat and black mane stepped into the ring.
“Listen, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, have a nice clean fight, alright? I have seen far too many ponies get severely hurt in here.Just fight fair, got it?” he said as he signalled for the bell to be rung.
“Come on Rainbow, time to show ‘em what your made of!” Rainbow said to herself, trying to encourage herself. Applejack was the first to make a move. She ran at Rainbow, put a hoof on her shoulders, and threw herself on the floor, launching Rainbow over her, making her land with a sickening thud. Applejack stood up and ran over to Rainbow, who was getting up. Applejack threw herself at Rainbow, they wrestled on the floor, both trying to get the upper hand, but they were too evenly matched. Rainbow saw an opening and rolled Applejack over on her back, then jumped off her quickly running to the turnbuckle. Applejack didn't even get the chance to stand up, Rainbow was flying towards her too fast. They rolled for a little until Rainbow wrapped her foreleg around Applejack’s neck and squeezed. Applejack stood up with Rainbow on her back, still clenching onto her neck. Applejack leaned back knocking the two of them over, but Rainbow still didn't let go.
“Let go!” She yelled, but knew that it wouldn't work. She grabbed Rainbow’s foreleg and loosened the grip, then slipped out of the hold. She stood up, gasping for air, as Rainbow ran at her.
“Rainbow, givmme a minute, Ah need ta catch mah breath!” she gasped.
Rainbow kept charging, knocked Applejack over, and sat on her, then grabbed her left back leg and started pulling it.
“Come on, AJ don't pull that on me, you know I can’t stop until this is over,” Rainbow said taking it easy on Applejack, loosening her hold. she still held her back leg, but the grip was a lot looser.
“Ok, AJ, slip out and put me in a hold!” Rainbow said, loosening the hold one more time. Applejack slipped out and ran behind rainbow, then knocked her over and wrapped her forelegs around Rainbow’s neck.
“Thanks Rainbow, but y’al just threw away th’ fight,” Applejack said putting a deathgrip on Rainbow.
“Applejack, did you just say that to get me to go easy on you?” Rainbow said looking up at Applejack, who still had a hold that was shortening Rainbows breath.
“Yep, and yall took the bait!” Applejack said. She was feeling very sore. She was sweating and that wasn't helping. Where Rainbow had grabbed her, a rash had begun to develop, and it was burning.
Rainbow threw her hoof up in the air, hitting Applejack in the chin.
“What th’ hay was that fer?” Applejack asked clenching her bloodied lip.
“I can’t believe you did that, AJ! Seriously, what the hell? I pitied you!” Rainbow said weakly trying standing up, but she didn't even close before she was thrown to the ground by the weight that was Applejack’s body. She struggled and just managed to stand up with the extra weight, but as she did she felt hooves wrap around her wings.
“AJ, what are you- AHHHH!” Rainbow sceamed as she collapsed on the floor. Blood was trickling down her body. She looked up at her wings. Both had been twisted and broken, the bone was sticking out of both of them.
“Rainbow, I'm so -” Applejack was too distraught by her own actions to even finish. All of their friends ran into the ring. Rainbow had managed to crawl to the turnbuckle and was resting on it with her eyes closed.
“Applejack, I knew you were a brute, but honestly, how could you!” Rarity had pure judgement in her voice as she looked at Applejack.
“I... uh.. i...” Applejack ran forward and pushed past her friends and gave Rainbow a hug, but Rainbow pushed her off.
“GET OFF ME!” she yelled. Her push was stronger then she had planned for it to be, and Applejack was knocked over on the floor.
“Applejack, you’ve done enough. Ii think it’s best if you leave.” Twilight said pointing towards the exit.
“Oh my gosh, Rainbow your poor wings!” Fluttershy exclaimed, stroking Rainbow’s mane, but Rainbow wasn’t paying attention to Fluttershy. She was watching Applejack leave, but to her surprise, Applejack wasn’t leaving angrily. She was crying.
“Wow... I have never seen Applejack cry like that before...” Rainbow thought to herself. All of Rainbow’s friends were crowded around her. which is why they didn't notice that Pinkie had walked out and followed Applejack.
“Hey Applejack, are you ok?” Pinkie asked at the earth pony that was sitting on the curb of the pavement with her mask off, sobbing.
“Pinkie... what have Ah done? Ah never meant to twist her wings that much, but they were so weak, they jus’ snapped!” Applejack cried as she shuddered at the memory of the snap that sounded so painful.
“It was a fight, Applejack. The aim is to hurt the other pony. Somepony is bound to get hurt...” said Pinkie, trying to comfort her friend.
“Ah know, but not this way, Pinkie, never this way! Twilight told me th’ wing was th’ most sensitive part of a Pegasus’s body... Twilight said that as a last resort Ah should jus’ stroke it and Rainbow would have to submit! WHY DID I HAVE TO DO THAT!” Applejack yelled punching herself in the face. Pinkie jumped on her, stopping her hoof from moving.
“Applejack, stop it! Don't hurt yourself! “ Pinkie said. Applejack quickly gave up.
“Ok, Ahm done Pinkie. Please get off.” Pinkie got off.
“Listen, just apologise. Everything will be fine.” Pinkie said, walking back into the arena.
“Bye Applejack. I’ll see you when I’ve seen Rainbow.” Pinkie said over her shoulder.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A few days passed and nopony has seen Applejack. Twilight had been to see Big mac several times, but she never got any information on AJ’s whereabouts from him. He just said, “EEnope” every time. they just assumed she was working.
“Have ya seen Rainbow Twilight?” asked Applejack at the weekly Pet Play Date.
“Sorry Applejack, I haven't seen her since this morning. Now that I think of it, I haven’t seen Spike either...” Twilight turned around.
“Applejack, where have you been these last few days?” Twilight asked, but as soon as Applejack started talking, Spike ran over the hill yelling “HELP!”
Everypony all turned to look at the dragon.
“Rainbow... Scootaloo... Fight... Gilda... Town,” Spike said, out of breath. Applejack was the first to start sprinting towards town, the others following closely. When they arrived there was a circle and in the middle was Rainbow grappling with Gilda, and Scootaloo was lying down behind her. Gilda easily pushed Rainbow aside, Rainbow formed a circle with her body and quickly covered Scootaloo.
“Ha ha the little orange Pegasus cant even fly, and look at Rainbow Crash over there! She stood up for her! Ha ha how stupid!” Gilda laughed as she turned around and looked at the other two Griffins, who started laughing with her. Applejack ran into the circle and stood in front of Rainbow and Scootaloo.
“What th’ hay are y’all doin’?” She asked ready to fight.
“Haha look another one. I bet this one won’t even take a hit! She can’t be more pathetic than Rainbow Crash over there,” Gilda mocked as she walked over to Applejack, raised her talons and clenched a fist. She hit Applejack square in the cheek but Applejack didn’t even flinch. Applejack cleared her throat.
“Lemme show y’all how ta throw a punch!” She said as she took a swing at Gilda throwing her six feet back. Gilda landed with a thud and quickly got up.
“Let’s get out of here before that psycho tries again!” Gilda cried with a look of sheer fright painted on her face, she flew off with her two friends closely behind her.
“Rainbow, Ahm mighty sor-” Applejack was quickly cut off by Rainbow.
“Don’t talk to me. Scootaloo, let’s get you home,” Rainbow said as she turned around and started walking away.
“Now listen here, Rainbow. Ah know what Ah did was stupid, but you are partially to blame as well! Ahm taking most the blame, but not all of it!”
“YOU BROKE MY CELESTIA DAMNED WINGS! I CAN’T FLY ANYMORE!” yelled Rainbow, turning around and walking towards Applejack furiously. “My dreams of becoming a Wonderbolt, my love of flying, all ruined because of YOU! How about you go ruin somepony else's life instead of mine for a change?”
Applejack stood there, flabbergasted by what had just happened. She just stood there and watched Rainbow and Scootaloo walk off with her head bowed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Come on, dear... she has suffered enough. It’s time to let it go.” Rarity said, sitting inside of Twilight’ library.
“NO! My wounds still hurt, so she can stay the same!” said Rainbow, spiting Applejack
“Rainbow, you’re being unreasonable. Yes, she overreacted, but we all saw you hit her,” said Twilight.
“Yeah, I cheated, but that was no reason for her to do what she did! Look at me Twilight, these wings are unbelievably painful, not to mention the dreams she shattered...” Rainbow said with her head bowed in a sad manner.
“She messed up, Rainbow. It’s not like you never have. I mean, come on, we forgave you before, now it’s time you forgive her,” said Twilight, trying to reason with the stubborn Pegasus.
“Listen, I'm sorry, but I just can’t! She’s hurt me too much!” said Rainbow, getting frustrated.
“Rainbow, dear, don't be immature...”
As Rarity starts talking she is interrupted by Rainbow standing up and storming out. As she opens the door, she sees Applejack with her ear to the door. Applejack quickly stands up, trying to recover from being caught.
“What are you doing?” asked Rainbow inquisitively.
“Ah was... um... listenin to yer conversation...” as she says that, she puts her head down. Rainbow shakes her head in disapproval and starts walking off, but Applejack shouts after her and reaches out her hoof to stop her, but accidentally hits her wing.
“OW!” Rainbow screams with a left hook to Applejack’s face.
“Oh my gosh, AJ, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!” said Rainbow with a look of horror on her face. Was Applejack going to fight back?
“That hurt, Rainbow,” Applejack says as she turns her head to an alleyway and yells “If you sit out any longer she might kill me!”
Rainbow looked at her friend and asked, “What are you doing?”
Rainbow looking at the alleyway and saw two ponies dressed in blue emerge from the alleyway and stand in front of her. Rainbow started sweating.
“OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH! Spitfire! Soarin!”
“We heard from AJ over here that you were in a bad mood and needed some cheering up,” said Spitfire with a little chuckle.
“Yeah, she broke my wings,” said Rainbow, looking at Applejack with anger in her eyes. She walked over to Applejack, who was still on the floor from the punch. Rainbow raised her hooves and wrapped them around Applejack.
“Rainbow, please, let’s not fight!”
But to Applejack’s surprise Rainbow was hugging her, not squeezing her.
“Thank you so much, Applejack. This is the coolest thing ever!” Rainbow said. Applejack looked very confused.
“Does this mean we ain't fightin anymore?” asked Applejack.
“We aren’t fighting anymore,” said Rainbow with a tear in her eye.
Author’s note:
Criticism is greatly appreciated, I have been wondering if I should continue this or just have it as a one off. Comment if you want to see chapter 2.