The moment had arrived for Applejack. She must tell Rainbow Dash everything. She had already inadvertently caused Rainbow Dash enough harm as it was. It was unfair to hide it any longer. She saw Twilight land on the ground a couple of hoof lengths away

"mornin' Sugarcube, where you been so early?"

"I stayed at Rainbow Dash's to keep her company last night"

"Is Rainbow in a good mood today Twi?"

"I'm going to pretend you didn't ask that because it's a weird question"

"ain't when you gotta tell 'er what ah gotta tell her"

"you need to speak to her? About what?"

"somethin' I should have done a long time ago. Ah'm gonna tell 'er that Pinkie Disappeared just after ah lied to her"

"Applejack, you really ought to stop blaming yourself"

"well it is mah fault, if not fully, part of it is mah fault, and Ah can tell Rainbow loved Pinkie, but she told me there was another mare while I lied to Pinkie. Now you gonna help me walk on clouds or keep tellin' me to stop bein' guilty for somethin' bad ah did?"

Twilight deflated, she supposed it was best to give Applejack what she wanted, even if, in her mind, there was no need to. She opts instead to play along. "Come back to the library, I will cast the cloud walking spell on you, then we will go and see Rainbow Dash. I'll be there if it gets out of hoof"

"Thanks Twi, means a lot to me"

***

Rainbow Dash had just arrived back home from seeing Pinkie Pie's monument. She made a quiet vow to herself to spend a bit of time each day until Pinkie Pie returned. A matter of minutes later, her door went, informing her that there were guests. She was in surprisingly high spirits and as hopeful as ever. She hoped this wasn't bad news.

She opened the door to see two of her best friends, Applejack and Twilight Sparkle. Applejack looked slightly nervous, Rainbow Dash had no idea why Applejack had need to be nervous, she thought the air was cleared a while back, she thought Applejack no longer had those feelings for her any more. but there she was thinking and forgetting her manners again

"come in, don't stand out there. Make yourself comfortable". Being comfortable was slightly difficult for the orange earth pony. Twilight and Applejack agreed that Twilight would only intervene if things got out of hoof.

"Rainbow there's somethin' ah need to tell ya"

"What's up AJ"

Applejack truly dreaded speaking the next words. However, there was no easy way out now. "Ah think it might be mah fault Pinkie ran off. Ah feel awful, an' now she's dead"

Twilight looked at Rainbow Dash as if to say 'not a word'. She remained strong to her word and didn't mention it, but she didn't know why Applejack was still blaming herself "AJ, no one knows why she disappeared, it is nopony's fault"

"That night at Twi's, where she wanted to speak to us one at a time, ah told her everything, Pinkie Pie said she fell for me, and what did ah do, ah lied to her, ah told her I didn't like mares when ah liked you. Ah told Twi about it, but ah only just recently though it might be Pinkie that you like, the next day, no one had seen her. Ah'm sorry it is mah fault, or at least part of it"

Dash didn't know what to do. She didn't know how that revelation made her feel. Angry? Upset? She didn't know, she needed to think straight. She opted for the solution that always seemed the easiest. Running away from her problems. She didn't think Pinkie Pie would want her doing what she really wanted to do. She wanted to rain fury on Applejack.

Applejack covered her face with her hat and Twilight put a hoof on her.

"It's okay Applejack..."

"It ain't ok Twi. What if Rainbow disappears now. What if everypony disappears because Pinkie Pie was mah fault. Ah need to get outta here, Dash wouldn't want me here no more"

Twilight picked Applejack up and flew her back to the ground before Applejack broke down crying in her forehooves.

***

After a few minutes of intense flying Rainbow Dash had returned home once again. She had guessed without her there, Applejack and Twilight wouldn't stay too long. And she was right. Her home was barren of any ponies. Good, she could now think about what to do.

She seriously considered several options. She considered severing all ties with Applejack, but that would cause disruption between the Elements of Harmony. She considered an attack on her, but decided that wouldn't solve anything. Pinkie Pie would still be missing. It was that thought that brought about the most logical idea she had ever had around.

She knew Applejack thought Pinkie Pie was dead. She was suffering from it. That was judgment enough, it was her fault after all, and Pinkie's disappearance was rightfully on her conscience. That was punishment enough, and would suffice till when Pinkie Pie returned or was found. She had all faith she would see the mare she fell in love with again, in fact she knew it. And when Pinkie Pie returned, maybe Pinkie Pie could choose the fate of Rainbow Dash's friendship with Applejack. This seemed like an excellent solution in deed. She decided she would accept Applejack's apology right away and let her suffering continue. Then after that she would hit the hay. It was late afternoon after all.

***

Applejack was a hard working mare. She took pride in everything she did. However, today, she couldn't even seem to aim her bucks right. She was seriously out of condition for work. She hoped no pony noticed, unaware that her brother was watching her the whole time. And he was worried for his sister.

The hulk of a red stallion approached his younger sister to tell her to take the rest of the day off. He knew he would have to force her, Applejack never took a day off, but with all due respect, she was hardly getting any work done anyway.

"Hey Aj" he said

Applejack jumped out of her hooves "Sorry Big Mac, didn't know ya were there"

"What's up sis? you seem well off"

"nothin' bro, I'm just fine."

"ain't nothin' been watchin' you the past few hours an' you ain't exactly been focusin'. Somethin's distractin' ya an' Ah think it's best you take the rest of the day off."

Ok thought Applejack he's not going to give up easily. "It's okay Mac, Ah told one of mah friends about what happened before Pinkie Disappeared, An she flew off. What if she disappears now, that'll be the second of my friends run away cus of me."

"which one was that then?"

"Rainbow Dash."

"you mean that one?" he pointed his hoof up towards the sky, Applejack followed his point and noticed that indeed Rainbow Dash was landing.

"yeah, would you mind givin' us some space."

"nothin' doin' sis, ah'm staying here in case things go over the top."

Rainbow Dash had just landed in front of the two farm ponies.If she heard any of this discussion, she pretended not to.

Applejack spoke first "ah don't know why your here Dash, but whatever your plannin' to do, ah deserve it."

"I'm here to forgive you."

Applejack's jaw dropped to the floor. Big Mackintosh now walked off, safe in the knowledge his sister wasn't in danger of an angry Rainbow Dash.

"So ah do that to you, To Pinkie Pie, hell to all of Ponyville an' your here to forgive me. Jus' don't add up Dash. Ain't like you forgivin' an' forgettin.'"

"I'm forgiving, not forgetting, and it's not usually like me, but being annoyed, or sad just isn't what she would have wanted."

"what did you really have planned Dash."

"This is what I had planned."

"sure?"

"Yeah, now don't be too hard on yourself." With that, Rainbow Dash and Applejack shared an embrace.

"Now I have to get back home, I'm all good for a nap right now."

"Ok dash, you stay outta trouble now."

"see ya later AJ."

Perfect, it's working thought Rainbow Dash.

Applejack's thoughts were very different. was now living one of those 'what the buck just happened' moments. She honestly didn't believe that was the full extent of Rainbow Dash's plan, but she thought that at least Rainbow Dash didn't react violently. That was a start.

She noticed her brother approaching this time "so how'd it go sis?"

"wen' ok ah guess, but ah just can't help thinkin' she's up to more'n she's lettin' on an' all"

Big Mackintosh thought his reply carefully "Sis, Ah had the pleasure of meetin' Miss Pie an' Miss Dash as well as ya other friends many times. If ah remember right, Miss Dash is the element of loyalty, an' ah'm sure miss Pie wouldn't want anypony bein' mad at anypony round here"

Applejack couldn't help but laugh "yeah, an' you wanted to meet up with one of em more'n the rest"

"Ah don't know what ya mean AJ"

"Ah think ya do Mac"

"No ah dont"

"Fluttershy ring any bells?"

It would have been thought by many that it was impossible to see when Big Mackintosh was blushing, with him being red, but this blush was visible "ah never said ah liked her in that way, ah said ah admire her, an' that she's good lookin'. Ah knew you'd be makin' me regret sayin' that some day"

Applejack continued to tease him "ya know she ain't tied right? Play ya cards right an' you might get er"

"AJ, this really ain't..."

"Ah could set you up with er, when she's feelin' better about Pinkie of course"

"AJ, this really ain't appropriate. Ah'm busy here on the farm, and she's busy carin' for animals. Ah don't fully feel like ah want her in that sense, ah just think she's attractive an' all. Now are ya gonna take the rest of the day off? Not much left of it anyway"

"Oh ah'm only teasin' ya Mac, ya know if ah were bein' serious about it, ah would have set you up already. An' yeah ah think ill take the rest of the day off, ah need to see a friend anyway"

"Which one now?"

"Twi"

"You mean that one there". The pony he pointed to was indeed Twilight. Second time now. She said she needed to see Rainbow Dash, Rainbow Dash appeared, and now she said she needed to see Twilight, and Twilight appeared

"yeah"

"guess ah'll be leavin' ya to it then see ya later sis"

"later Mac"

Twilight now stood right next to her "hello Applejack. I just thought I'd come and see you. After what happened earlier. I hope your ok"

"Twi, tell me honestly, did ya make 'er do it"

"Applejack, I have no idea..."

"RD came here to forgive me, did you make 'er"

"No, I haven't seen her since she stormed off, but it's good that she did. I think it's what Pinkie would have wanted"

"Ya think it might have been Fluttershy or Rarity"

"Look, I know we shouldn't be, but we're all keeping a lot from them. The only ponies who know about everything are me, you and Rainbow Dash" well there was one thing Applejack didn't know, the conversation with Celestia, More specifically Luna's task.

"Ah don't know, maybe it should be the other way round, ah should trust Dash, an' she rightfully shouldn't trust me, and Ah think it's that she seems to trust me that ah think she's only showin' her acceptin'. Maybe ah'm wrong, and it's purely for Pinkie, but ah can't help but think there's other reasons"

"Well, Rainbow Dash loved Pinkie Pie, maybe it's because of that She's forgiving you. Even if it's a bit out of character, at least she hasn't flew you up and dropped you from a high place. May as well be happy she found it in her heart"

"ah guess your right Twi" If Twilight and Big Mackintosh both said it, it was probably right.

"now for the second reason I came here, I had to ask you something, you don't have to answer. But I'm curious. Do you still love Rainbow Dash?"

Applejack's ears dropped and she looked to the ground "ah don't know Twi, ah really dont"

Author's Notes:

And slightly longer part of the chapters I cut into three pieces. Enjoy