Truth

"And whistled for a baboon," Rainbow Dash concluded, landing back on her hooves.

As expected, Pinkie Pie cringed with laughter, though she somehow still managed to keep going without missing a single step. Perhaps they were making a bit too much noise for this time of the night, but neither of them could really care about that, not when they were still technically in their evening together. Perhaps their current intoxication levels also tipped the odds a bit. "Oh Dashie, your stories are just wonderrific! Wished I'd gotten around as much as you," she piped once she'd calmed down a little. "I'm so glad to have you." Despite how tired they both were, she was positively bouncing with excitement, as usual. Somehow, her hooves' impact on the gravel road didn't make the slightest sound, as usual.

"Yeah, this all is just too awesome. Don't know what I'd do without ya, Pinks." As Sugarcube Corner came into sight, Dash released a brief yawn and said, "Guess I'd better get going. This pony really needs some sleep if I don't wanna build strati in the morning again." Upon seeing Pinkie's curious, but obviously puzzled, expression, she added, "Running gag among weather ponies. You really don't want that to happen."

"Okey! See you soon!" Pinkie cheered while her love was stretching her wings to take flight once again.

"Bye!" Rainbow called. After that, she vanished into the star-filled sky, leaving behind only a faint multicoloured trail.

Pinkie was alone, but she could hardly be any happier. Summer laid over Ponyville, to the extent that even in this depth of the night the breeze carried only a slight coolness, too gentle to cause chills of any kind. Vegetation of every kind flourished in this weather, providing ponykind with supplies and unparalleled beauty. Rainbow Dash would outdo herself each day, allowing ponies to marvel in the beauty of Princess Luna's celestial plane. And once she was done with that, she'd come down to to the ground and spend the remains of the day with her, Pinkie Pie, each date more amazing than the former.

This certainly was a life to which she could get used. To think that it had only been going on for two months, with generous rounding, blew her mind away. She had had bliss lying before her all the time while only being too blind to reach out and take it. But she didn't need to bother with such thoughts. The day that had carried lots of red faces and awkward stuttering had long since passed, now she only had to reap the rewards. She kept on bouncing to the front door, more than ready for sleep herself, when she noticed something sticking out of the mailbox.

"Now what's this?" she asked the darkness around her as she approached. It seemed to be multiple sheets of paper, though it was too dark to see anything more specific. Most likely, it was a letter from one of her many friends. Carrying them between her teeth, she squeaked in joy while walking inside and into her room. She intended to read it right away, but once inside her personal chamber, she suddenly lost all will to stay awake. She threw herself on top of the bed and fell asleep in little more than an instant. For the night, the papers could remain on the table, dimly illuminated by the moon's rays invading through the wide windows.

A bit of time and space away, Twilight Sparkle awoke, point eight o'clock in the morning. Not once in years had she failed to follow this goal, at least if she was allowed to have a little leeway of one or two minutes or hours. Aside from not wasting any excess time, such a sleeping schedule allowed her to fully appreciate the sun's blessed warmth as it initially rose to meet Equestria another time.

There was a spectacle without likes hidden within the play of clouds and vegetation all reaching up to receive their fair share of energy. Watching it pleased her incomparably, especially when she could then close the curtains and go back to her collection, as would happen daily within minutes of waking. It certainly was a life which she could be used to.

She continued her morning rituals which eventually culminated in cooking herself a breakfast fit to provide every item on the list of nutrients a mare of her age would need for the day. Fortunately for her, said list contained only one item, caffeine, so it was never long before she could be back buried in books face first. She was just itching to get back on her research about the illusion school of magic. On this morning however, her routine was interrupted by a knock on the main door, or more accurately three followed by a brief pause and then another one. It certainly was unusual, thus it told her exactly who had come to her.

"Ah, wonderful." She magicked open the door from where she sat with her eyes still fixated on the writing before her, "Come in, Pinkie." She was always glad to help out her friends, though there may be more required than she anticipated. When she looked up to see Pinkie's face, she was somewhat shocked as it was pale, hanging, and still moist in places. Nopony should have to look like that, but on Pinkie, it downright heartbreaking. Her mane was falling down in long, straight strands, partially hiding her face. The eye which was visible seemed empty, depleted of the usual sparkling energy within. Not to mention, of course, the swollen skin that surrounded it. "Whoa. What happened between you two?"

Pinkie didn't answer at first but instead reached into her bags and pulled forth a few photographs which she laid onto the table. "Th- those," she muttered in an unsteady voice while Twilight drew them in for closer inspection. All of them showed Rainbow Dash and Applejack, always together, in a more incriminating pose each time. Worse even, none of the timestamps bore a date more than a week ago.

"Well... I'm afraid this is quite pushing evidence." Twilight silently offered the pictures back, but she refused them, weeping quietly.

"I don't get... how could she... with her... I thought we were," Pinkie sobbed, half her words drowning in the tears which flowed forth from her, slowly increasing in count.

"Apparently not." She laid a comforting hoof on Pinkie's shoulder, "You should talk to her about what happened. I know it'll hurt, but confrontation can never be avoided. Ask her why she did it. And, if necessary, I guess so be it."

Within a moment, Pinkie was up and scuffling towards the door. On the doorstep, she turned her head and said, "Thanks, Twilight. Guess I'll go and see her." Hearing her tone was disheartening from the bottom upwards, especially if it was compared to her regular attitude.

"Rainbow Dash! I know you're -" the shrill voice from below made a short pause for inexplicable reasons "- up there!"

No matter where or how, Rainbow would never fail to recognise the one and only pony that voice belonged to. She quickly glid towards the ground and set down, neutralising her velocity with a few powerful wing bursts. "Hey Pinkie," she said, only then opening her eyes. "Uh, you don't look too good."

"Is that why you did it? Not attractive enough?" Pinkie yelled right back, her eyes already welling up with tears again.

Dash took an step backwards. There were no other ponies anywhere nearby, so at least they were free to shout as much as they wanted, which left her with only the problem of figuring out why Pinkie wanted to. "Whoa, did what?"

"Rainbow, I saw it all!" Over time, her speech became increasingly incomprehensible, forcing Dash to move in closer despite being repelled by the volume. "All those things you did with Applejack... why? Why with her?"

"Because she's my friend and sports buddy?" Rainbow was confused to say the least. Her workout sessions with Applejack had been going on for years now, why was she to blame for it now? Suppressing her instincts, she went to wrap her arms around Pinkie's neck, but was instantly pushed off.

"Don't touch me!" her love shrieked. " You kissed her, I saw the pictures! Why?"

"What- I never did anything like that! I'm perfectly happy with you, why wouldn't I be?" At last she'd gotten a clear answer, too bad that it didn't make sense in the slightest.

To Pinkie, however, there was apparently all required proof readily present right before them, even if it was just her word for it. "It's bad enough that you'd betray me like that, but then you're gonna deny it? Confess to it at least!"

"I'm literally the one pony known around Equestria for her loyalty, why should I- ugh." By this point, Dash could figure what the problem was, and it was not with her. "You know what? You're crazy. Come back when you've calmed down. I'll be waiting." She took off and was out of sight within a blink.

"Yeah, get away, I don't need you to tell me what I already know!" Pinkie Pie cried after her. In a desperate whisper, she added, "Don't need you anyway..." She was a broken mare, there was no denying it. Her cheeks turned light red as her liquid flooded over them.