Rarity, Fluttershy and Sweetie Belle arrived back at Carousel Boutique chatting merrily, all three of them still at least somewhat energized, despite the lateness of the hour. Rainbow Dash's induction into the Wonderbolts had been high-energy and full of positive feelings, which the three ponies had fed on. The effects of the afterparty hadn't left them.

"Now that was quite the night!" Rarity spouted cheerfully, kissing Fluttershy on the cheek. The pegasus giggled and nuzzled Rarity lovingly.

"And now ponies know about the two of us, and how much I love you." She said, beaming with what Rarity gathered to be elation. "There's something so...freeing about that." Rarity felt like she'd melt under the adorable look Fluttershy gave her. The fashionista couldn't help but plant yet another kiss on her.

"Geez, will the honeymoon phase ever end for you two?" Sweetie Belle asked, earning a scoff from her older sister.

"Well, I think it could be said now that we're truly revealed, it will bring on a...well, a second phase of the honeymoon phase, so just get ready for that, little lady!" Rarity replied cheerfully with just a hint of mischievousness. Sweetie Belle matured more every day, but at least some of that childlike aversion to romanticism remained within her, even if the filly preferred to play it off as a joke. "Now, it is after midnight, and I do believe that means it's more than two hours past your bedtime." Sweetie Belle groaned and hung her head.

"I think someone wants the party to continue." Fluttershy said to Rarity who rolled her eyes.

"She's partied plenty tonight." Rarity replied. Sweetie Belle, hearing this, slowly and somberly turned and began to drag her hooves, heading toward her room. "She needs her beauty sleep!"

"Rarity, come on, let's give her tonight." Fluttershy whispered, making sure Sweetie Belle was out of earshot. "It's kind of a big day, for a lot of reasons. I know neither of us are going to sleep soon anyhow." Rarity raised an eyebrow at Fluttershy suavely, making the Pegasus quickly turn a shade of pink.

"Aren't we?" Rarity asked, having interpreted more from Fluttershy's reasoning than she probably meant for her marefriend to. Fluttershy's wings unfurled and Rarity laughed, pulling Fluttershy into an embrace. "Promise that we'll take some time in the shower before bed?" Fluttershy smiled timidly and nodded.

"I wanted to tonight, anyway." She replied, and Rarity kissed her lovingly, adding a sensual, glancing lick to Fluttershy's bottom lip right at the end. This made her shudder, and Rarity silently congratulated herself.

"Sweetie Belle! Come here!" Rarity said, with a hint of fake urgency. Sweetie Belle groaned from her bedroom, prompting Rarity and Fluttershy to laugh as quietly as they could manage as they heard her hooves dragging back toward their bedroom door.

"What is it?" She deadpanned when she finally reached the doorway.

"Why don't you go grab Hotels and Hovels and go set it up in the living room?" Rarity asked, delighting in seeing her sister brighten up like a light. "We'll be down in a moment." Sweetie Belle cheered and shot downstairs to get to work.

"What did we just get ourselves into?" Rarity asked, and Fluttershy smiled lovingly.

"Well, if Sweetie Belle's record in Hotels and Hovels is any indication, I'd say a sound trouncing." Fluttershy replied, making Rarity laugh.

"Oh, I love you." Rarity sighed.

"I love you, too."

"It still feels so wonderful to say that to you."

"Let's hope it stays that wonderful."

"I'd bet on it."

Rarity and Fluttershy came down the stairs into the living room, and found Sweetie Belle finishing with setting up the gameboard. It was a large assembly and they were impressed with the speed at which Sweetie Belle had arranged all the pieces and cards. Then again, the filly had played the game hundreds of times with Rarity, and more than a few with Fluttershy since Rarity had started dating her. The game involved the creation of a new city as well as investments and the chances of those investments growing or falling through as the city progressed. Really, it was quite the mature game for Sweetie to be so skilled at. It was the reason she'd played it with Rarity so many times: Applebloom and Scootaloo hadn't the patience to play it seriously.

"Goodness, you really have the hang of that game, don't you?" Rarity asked, earning a nod from her sister.

"You two are going to owe me money by the end of this." Sweetie said confidently.

"You mean the in-game money, right?" Fluttershy asked.

"Unless you want to make it more interesting." Sweetie Belle replied coolly, looking at her hoof like the CEO of a company. "I have my piggybank upstairs."

"I think we'll stick to the game money, little sister." Rarity said, sitting down. "Okay, so...I'll be Miss Mares, the weathered and confident former CEO looking to make her way in this new city."

"I'll take Dr. Stallionsense. He's just interested in helping ponies be healthy and happy. All the money he'll make with his investments is just the added bonus." Fluttershy added, taking her piece.

"And I will be Millie Filly, the young entrepreneur who is desperate to escape from her country life to become a self-made, modern mare!" Sweetie Belle chirped, grabbing the piece she always did when they played Hotels and Hovels, as if she was playing the game for the first time.

The game, controlled by Sweetie Belle for the most part, was rather short. Sweetie Belle had a hard lead on the two mares, but Fluttershy wasn't too far behind. This was a change of pace for the three of them playing this game, as it was usually the pink-maned Pegasus who came in last place. That honor belonged to Rarity, at least for this game, and despite her natural competitiveness, she was being a remarkably good sport. Miss Mares wasn't doing too well in the new city, and owed vast sums of money to Dr. Stallionsense and Millie Filly.

"Well, looks like you have two options, Rarity." Sweetie Belle said snidely, narrowing her eyes at her sister. The white Unicorn looked at Fluttershy and raised an eyebrow. Fluttershy could only offer a sweet smile and a shrug. "You could take mine and Fluttershy's buyout offer. Or, Miss Mares can die of hunger in the streets. Your call."

"I distinctly remember the rule book saying your character simply moves into a homeless shelter when they go bankrupt. It says absolutely nothing about them dying in the streets." Rarity said, a surprised look working its way onto her face. "That's really very dark, Sweetie Belle." The filly shrugged and looked at Fluttershy.

"How about it, Fluttershy? You're the tiebreaker, you decide this now and forever. Do they die of hunger or live in a homeless shelter?" Sweetie asked. Fluttershy thought for a moment and giggled.

"They die in the street of hunger." She said simply, and gave Sweetie Belle a hoof-bump. Rarity's eyes went wide and her jaw dropped.

"Fluttershy!" Rarity gasped, prompting Fluttershy and Sweetie Belle to break out into fits of laughter. "How could you do this to me?"

"What can I say? It doesn't have to be sunshine and rainbows all the time, right, Fluttershy?" Sweetie Belle asked, elbowing her sister's marefriend in the ribs. Fluttershy merely laughed and nodded at her. "It's really an easy choice, Rarity."

"I'd rather your character not die, honey." Fluttershy said and Rarity scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"You're the one who decided she'd die in the first place!" Rarity replied, raising a hoof before letting out an exasperated sigh. "I...I guess I'll take the buyout. I mean...look at her! Look at Miss Mares." Rarity held up the game piece, a unicorn pony, that despite the dark blue coat, rather looked like her. "She has such elegance. I couldn't allow her to die in such disgrace."

"That's good, Rarity. Here's your buyout." Sweetie Belle slid the small stack of game money toward her sister before looking at Fluttershy, who looked at Rarity dreamily, having toned the game out. Rarity noticed this and blushed, sending Fluttershy a small wink. This made the pegasus' face warm up, and she had to suppress a girlish giggle. "Fluttershy, your part?"

"Oh! Oh right, sorry." Fluttershy said before sliding her part of the fictional buyout over, looking up at Rarity for a moment, the blush never leaving her face. "Here you go, Rarity."

"I guess Miss Mares could retire to Baltimare...Ooh, to that nice resort! Remember that, Fluttershy?" The question did nothing to remove Fluttershy's blush and she nodded with a smile.

"Alright, so I think we can call it quits now. There aren't enough turns left for Fluttershy to catch up to me. Looks like Millie Filly is running the city!" Said Sweetie Belle, almost congratulating herself.

"Alright, miss mayor. Time for bed." Rarity said with a loving grin, lifting the filly with her magic and moving her up the stairs.

"Aww! Come on! Just one more game?" Sweetie Belle pleaded as her sister lightly placed her down on the upstairs landing.

"I already let you stay up too long with this round! You'll be sleeping past noon now." Rarity retorted. "Maybe we can play again tomorrow, alright?"

"Oh...okay...I had fun. Goodnight! Love you guys!" Sweetie called before shutting her bedroom door.

"Love you too!" Rarity and Fluttershy called back, almost in unison. Their eyes came down from the landing and ended on each other. Without a word, their lips collided in a deep and passionate kiss. Fluttershy wrapped her forhoof around the small of Rarity's back, pulling her closer, and Rarity held Fluttershy's cheek in her hoof. Taking Rarity's bottom lip between hers and sucking for a moment, Fluttershy separated. Rarity was thankful that it wasn't too much, as they breathed heavily through their mouths, their faces inches apart.

"I've been wanting that since we got here." Fluttershy almost gasped, attempting to keep her voice quiet.

"Me too." Rarity whispered before pulling Fluttershy in for another kiss that was relatively quick, but just as deep. "Would you like to go to bed, my sweet?" Fluttershy nodded happily and they both stood.

"That really was something, you and Sweetie Belle teaming up on me like that." Said Rarity with a small chuckle, running a hoof through her mane before they headed for the stairs. "You two were ruthless."

"Well, you always wanted me to be more assertive." Fluttershy replied.

"That's true. I guess I can't complain too much." Rarity said with a jokey shrug. "Even though you two have entirely destroyed poor Miss Mares' sense of self worth."

"Aww...I'm sorry. But...if you'll join me in the bathroom for a shower, I think I have a way to restore poor Miss Mares to her confident and elegant self." Fluttershy cooed, taking Rarity's hoof in hers. The pegasus led Rarity toward the bathroom with a saucy sway in her hips. She looked back at Rarity, her eyelids lowered and biting her bottom lip in a way that made Rarity's heart rate quicken.

The two mares got into the bathroom and quickly shut the door behind them. No words needed to be said, no smart quips or teasing remarks. They both knew what they wanted, and they were going to give it to each other. Their lips clashed in a fervent kiss, one that was sloppy, yet at the same time full of love and lust. Rarity pushed Fluttershy up against the bathroom wall, the cool tile sending a chill up her back. It was a pleasant sensation that heightened her arousal, causing her to let out a small moan.

"Ooh! Wait a moment." Rarity said, separating from her lover to turn the shower on. Closing the shower door, Rarity began to turn around.

"Now, where were-" She was silenced by Fluttershy's lips in a surprise kiss that was entirely welcome. Pushing Rarity into the shower door, the yellow pegasus moved down to Rarity's neck and sucked on it lightly, making Rarity gasp, and bite her lip. Without a word, Fluttershy moved her hoof down to Rarity's sex and began to lightly rub it, staying on the unicorn's clitoris for a few seconds with each movement. Rarity let out a whine and gave more of her neck to Fluttershy, who took advantage by giving it a long, sensuous lick.

"I've been-nya!-wanting you all night." Rarity breathed, a blissful smile on her face. "Ever since we danced at Rainbow's...Induction."

"It's been a little while." Fluttershy whispered into Rarity's ear, giving it a small nip, making her marefriend shiver. "I really...Really want to make you come." As Fluttershy finished her sentence, she applied more pressure to Rarity's marehood, making the white mare close her legs on Fluttershy's hoof and grind her hips on it.

"That sounds...Perfect." Rarity said as she opened her legs once more. Fluttershy removed her hoof and began to move downward, making Rarity giggle. "Wait...In the shower." Fluttershy bit her lip and nodded, and the two mares entered.

"Oh! I forgot about the seat." Fluttershy said almost giddily, and Rarity gave her another kiss, sliding her tongue into the pegasus' mouth for a moment and making her weak in the knees. She supposed it was appropriate considering she wasn't going to be standing for much longer. Rarity moved and sat on the seat, spreading her back legs and giving her marefriend a sexual smile. Fluttershy knelt down and gave Rarity's sex a slow lick. Rarity tensed up for a moment, and relaxed as Fluttershy began more consistent stimulation. Fluttershy kissed Rarity's lower lips the same way she had kissed her upper ones outside the shower, lips, tongue and all. Rarity let out a whine when she sucked on her clitoris, and began to grind her hips into Fluttershy's face.

"Just like that! Oh, goddesses, don't stop." Rarity moaned, placing a hoof on Fluttershy's wet mane. The pegasus was happy to let her lover push her face further into her sex. Fluttershy became lost in the act of pleasuring Rarity, and as she always did, she began to touch herself as she serviced her marefriend. It wasn't long before Rarity, her face red and her hips bucking slightly, came just as Fluttershy said she would. Fluttershy's eyes rolled back for a moment as she was overcome with the bliss of pleasuring her love, and she came herself, silencing her moan with Rarity's groin as she pressed into herself harder. Both of them breathed heavily for a few moments. Rarity sat up, having sunk on the seat slightly as she was being pleasured.

"I see...You're enjoying yourself, too." Rarity breathed, giving her legs a small stretch. Fluttershy, seeing that her orgasm hadn't gone unnoticed to Rarity, blushed and nodded.

"I...I just can't help it. You're so beautiful, and...It feels really good when I'm...doing you too." The pegasus said, not quite bashfully, just completely taken over by her lust.

"You like it that much?" Rarity asked, smirking at her saucily. "Why don't you show me?"

"W-What do you mean?"

"Sit back." Rarity purred, making Fluttershy's heart pound just with the sound of her voice. "Let me watch you."

"You want to watch me...Touch myself?" Fluttershy asked, and Rarity nodded slowly, the smile not leaving her face.

"Don't worry, Ill do it too." Rarity said, moving a hoof to her marehood and beginning to rub. She let out a moan, and Fluttershy, incredibly aroused by the sight before her, sat back and began to do the same, their eyes never leaving each others'. The shower was quite spacious, and allowed for the two of them to spread both their legs freely as they each pleasured themselves. Fluttershy lowered her ears and her mouth hung open, fighting the urge to throw her head back and maintaining her eye contact with her lover. It was torturous and hypnotizing at the same time, and she felt pure devotion to Rarity.

"How long...do we do this?" Fluttershy asked before quickening her pace for a moment, arching her back, yet never breaking their gaze.

"Until we can't stand it anymore, and we simply have to get at each other." Rarity replied before licking her upper lip slowly with a smile. "I'm close, and to be honest, you look quite delicious."

"Okay, well can you come here then? Because I need to touch you again." With a laugh, Rarity stood from her seat and sat before Fluttershy, kissing her for a moment before separating, giving her marefriend's lips a quick, sensuous lick.

"Lay on your side and spread your legs. I have an idea." Rarity said, and Fluttershy did what was asked of her without hesitation, eager to experience what ecstasy her marefriend had in mind for her. The unicorn moved and brought her hips toward Fluttershy's. Rarity held onto her raised leg and pressed their sexes together, grinding her hips slowly and deliberately into the pegasus'. Fluttershy lay back and moaned, smiling as she let her body move with Rarity's thrusts.

"This is...Nice." Fluttershy breathed and Rarity giggled, kissing Fluttershy's leg.

"I read about it in a magazine." Rarity cooed and ground their hips together again. "But that wasn't my idea. This is." Before Fluttershy could ask what this was, Rarity had taken the shower head with her magic, which Fluttershy had never noticed was detachable, and moved it to spray directly on their sexes. Fluttershy's lips gaped in a surprised and elated moan as she began to move her hips as well, falling deeply into the pleasure.

"Oh, goddesses..." Fluttershy moaned with a smile. "Good idea."

They exited the shower once they were both satisfied, and more had been done with the shower head. They dried themselves off, Rarity humming lightly to herself as she usually did after they made love. It was a small quirk of Rarity's that made the pegasus love her more every time she witnessed it. Unable to contain her affection, Fluttershy pulled Rarity in and embraced her, hanging back slightly and giving Rarity a raised eyebrow and a smirk.

"Is Miss Mares feeling any better?" Fluttershy asked, and Rarity laughed.

"A little. I mean you made her come three or four times."

"Three or four?"

"I honestly lost count." Rarity said with a small giggle. "The wounds aren't completely healed, though. It might take a couple more times. Of course, Milly Filly isn't invited, she was entirely too eager to see poor Miss Mares die in a gutter."

"Well yeah, that, and she's your sister." Fluttershy replied with a jokingly incredulous raised eyebrow. Rarity laughed loudly for a moment before covering her mouth. It was a sound that made Fluttershy feel yet another rush of love for the unicorn.

"Seriously, the two of you were utterly ruthless, teaming up on me like that." Rarity said once she had lost the urge to laugh.

"It seems like you're still pretty raw about it." The pegasus said, giving her love a peck on the lips. Rarity chuckled.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding. I love how well you two are getting along. My two favorite mares in the world." Rarity kissed Fluttershy again, and nuzzled her cheek before bringing her head back to look into Fluttershy's eyes. "I love you, Fluttershy. I love you more than anyone." Fluttershy blushed deeply and couldn't help but kiss Rarity yet again.

"I love you too. Where'd this come from?" Fluttershy asked.

"I just felt the need to tell you. I'm never going to let you forget it." Rarity stated before tears began to well up in her eyes. She looked to the side, shame making its way onto her face. "I know...I know that I wasn't good to you...You know...In the begin-" Rarity was silenced by Fluttershy's hoof on her mouth, and the yellow pegasus smiled lovingly at her.

"That's over now, Rarity. What matters is that we're here, right now, you and me, with these towels wrapped around our heads." She said, making Rarity giggle, despite her tears. "And you've made me the happiest mare ever. Yeah, what happened, it hurt, but I have you now. I'm holding you here in my hooves as we speak. So...I think things turned out okay." Rarity let out a small, happy sob, and kissed Fluttershy one more time before pulling her into a tight embrace, resting her chin on her love's shoulder.

"You have me, and you always will." Rarity almost whispered, the tears of shame and regret having transformed into tears of happiness as they flowed down her face to meet her contented smile.

Rainbow Dash groaned pathetically as she raised her head. Her vision blurred for a moment as the blinding pain in her head receded for a moment, then came back full force. She gritted her teeth and held her head for a moment, registering only then that she was laying in the dirt. She didn't care. Accompanying the headache was an intense nausea that simply exacerbated her miserable state. As her mind began to set itself back to rights, the memory of the despicable thing she'd done came back into her head, and she let her head fall down to the ground, the impact sending an intense shock of pain through her head and down her neck. She didn't care. Tears welled up in her eyes as she moved her legs underneath her, and bit by bit, she began to stand. Just as she stood up completely, the pain came back again in an oppressive wave that made her knees buckle. She grunted in pain as her side collided with the post of the archway leading into the orchard. Breathing deeply and slowly in a vain effort to mitigate the many different brands of pain she was feeling, she steadied herself yet again.

"Granny, we don't exactly have to get up at five am every mornin'." Big Mac said, his deep voice carrying through the entire orchard. Feeling her heart jump, Rainbow moved quickly to leave, though all she could manage at that moment was a brisk canter. She looked back at the orchard, wide-eyed and fearful, the despair taking root in her once again. She had lost her home, and looked back at it tearfully as she moved down the pathway. A sob escaped her throat before she felt the burning hot contents of her stomach begin to boil and make its way up her esophagus. Retching heavily, she fell once again, thankfully near the small ditch on the side of the dirt road. Her vomit spewed forward, caustic and painful, burning her throat and mouth. The foul taste seemed to suit her current state perfectly, and as she gave off a couple more painful dry heaves, she welcomed the pain. She welcomed the blinding headache, she welcomed the empty, sick feeling in her stomach, she welcomed the bruise on the side of her head that she'd created the previous night in her hatred of herself.

'You deserve every bit of it, you piece of trash.' She thought to herself as she stood once more and, still shakily, began to walk. The morning air was crisp and refreshing, and was the only thing pleasant about her present situation. The blackness of the night had become the dark blue of the early morning sky, and would soon give way to Celestia's sun. The pegasus began to weigh her options on where to stay, as she was now in the market for a new home, at least for a long while. Pinkie Pie was out of the question, as she was no longer just an employee at Sugarcube Corner, but a part owner, and therefore probably neither had the time or the space for Rainbow. Rarity and Fluttershy had just come out together and were probably still riding the happiness and elation from that event, so Rainbow mentally crossed them off, not wanting to rain on their parade. Twilight was a princess, and almost certainly wouldn't have the time to help her. Feeling utterly lost, Rainbow looked around aimlessly, as if doing so would help her. Surprising herself, she spied a small creek and decided to go for a drink.

Leaning down over the water, she took a few sips that gave her burning mouth and throat an intense wave of relief. She sighed audibly and her back legs collapsed, her flank plopping to the ground ungracefully. She leaned down again and took a couple heavy swallows. Almost gasping when she sat up from the water. With a creeping feeling of horror, she felt it begin to come back up.

"You've got to be bucking-" The water spewed from her mouth roughly and she fell once more, half her body falling into the creek water. Not caring what happened to her anymore, she began to cry again, not moving. She sobbed, her face laying in the dirt, each exhale sending out a small cloud. The tears that fell from her face clumped in the dirt, and she used that as her focal point through all of the misery. Her head still pounded, her legs were still weak and she was sure that if she drank any more water, she'd vomit it back up.

'Oh, well. If I die here, I die.' She thought to herself, as her consciousness began to fade away. 'Maybe Rolling Storm could let me crash on his couch, or something.' Rainbow went completely limp, half-in-half-out-of the creek, dead to the world, and dead inside.

"Rainbow? Rainbow Dash?" A small, inquisitive voice rang out through the blackness that encompassed her. Her body jerked and her eyes began to crack open, receiving a blinding light that made her head hurt all the worse. A dark shape in pure white was all she could make out when it spoke again. "Are you okay? What happened to you? I'll go get Applejack."

"NO!" Rainbow almost screamed, her head shooting up from where she lay. Her eyes, which had opened by instinct upon hearing her probably soon-to-be ex-wife's name, were blinded again momentarily before adjusting. As she began to make out purple and green, she attempted to stand.

"Whoa, Dash, are you sure that's-" The small voice began once again, but stopped when she fell back to the ground. "Yeah, that's about what I thought would happen."

"Spike?" Rainbow rasped, before breaking into a rough fit of coughs. It became so intense that her gag reflex kicked in, and had she anything in her stomach, it would've come up. Almost gasping, she leaned back over the water and took a couple swallows. It went down much easier now.

"Maybe don't guzzle it." Spike said, concern lacing his words. "Seriously, what the heck happened to you?" Rainbow stopped drinking and breathed deeply for a few seconds before regarding Spike in the bright, warm morning sun.

"I...Don't want to talk about it." Rainbow uttered, still feeling woozy.

"Why didn't you want me to go get Applejack?" Spike asked, putting a small hand on Rainbow's foreleg, which she yanked away. She didn't deserve a comforting touch, so to her, his hand was like acid.

"I said I don't want to talk about it!" Rainbow snapped, and Spike recoiled slightly. Rainbow sighed and hung her head. "I'm sorry, Spike. That wasn't right. What happened....What happened doesn't matter, okay? I just can't be there right now." Spike raised his hands.

"Alright then, I won't pry." He replied before letting out a small sigh. "Look, at least come to the castle and get a shower. I promise you'll feel a thousand times better." Rainbow shook her head.

"Spike, I couldn't. Twilight is way too busy for that."

"Rainbow, it's a whole castle. I don't think you'd be getting in her way. I'm sure she wouldn't care if you stopped in to freshen up." Rainbow considered what the small dragon suggested for a moment. "Look, I said I wouldn't pry. Just do me the favor of coming with me, huh? If you don't, I can always get right back to prying." He tried in vain to cheer Rainbow up, and the cyan mare simply gave him a dead-eyed stare. "Not funny, I guess. Okay, sorry to bother you Rainbow." He began to walk down the dirt path once more.

"Wait." Rainbow said, and Spike instantly turned around. Giving off an exasperated sigh, she nodded. "I guess I could come to the castle and freshen up." Spike nodded back to her.

"Yeah, good. You stink like a dog, but I guess you knew that." He jokingly said and Rainbow breathed deeply as she stood.

"Don't I know it." She said. They began walking toward Ponyville, and Rainbow looked around, noticing that it was mid-morning, the sun shining brightly.

"Must've been out for a few hours. What time is it?" Rainbow asked, her voice still raspy from the vomiting.

"Little past ten A.M." The dragon replied. He gave her the quickest of looks, though Rainbow could tell it was a thoughtful one. He could tell something was gravely wrong.

'Celestia and Luna, almost five hours.' She thought. The morning sun's warmth had begun to bear down on Rainbow Dash, and although it was nice to see things illuminated, the heat had picked up and she quickly became uncomfortably hot. The walk back to the castle was mostly silent, with Spike making the odd attempt at small-talk. Each time Rainbow responded with a half-hearted "huh" or "wow". She utterly disliked small-talk, but she couldn't blame Spike. It was his way of dealing with this admittedly awkward situation, and everyone dealt with awkward situations in their own ways. She thanked the two Goddesses that they were getting close. The castle was within eyesight.

"Well, we're almost there. Oh, Goddesses, I totally forgot about what Twilight had sent me out for." He grumbled and slapped his forehead with a sigh.

"What'd she send you out for?" Rainbow asked, the first real sentence she'd spoken since they'd departed from the creek.

"Believe it or not, she was sending me to get apples from Applejack." He said with a small chuckle.

"Well, I guess there's no reason for you to stick with me the rest of the way. I can find my own way from here." She said to him, giving him a small hug. "Thanks, Spike. It means a lot that you stuck by me on the way here anyway."

"No problem. I'll be back soon, maybe the three of us can got get lunch when I get back." Rainbow let out a small "mm." in reply and he turned to leave. "Also, you're welcome. I know you needed my help. You were basically helpless...Almost a damsel, so..." Rainbow smirked and made a mock charge at him, and he ran, laughing.

"Get out of here, ya little jerk." She said, the mirth with which she said it surprising her. He laughed again and went on his way once more. "Oh, and Spike." He turned toward her. "Don't...tell Applejack you saw me, okay?" Her voice broke the slightest bit with the last word. Spike's cheerful expression was replaced by one of confusion and sorrow and he nodded.

"You have my word." He said to her, his voice almost somber, before heading back in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres. Spike wasn't stupid. He knew something awful had happened between Rainbow and her wife. Turning back toward the door to the castle, she exhaled deeply, looking up at its impressive size. Despite having gotten used to it being in Ponyville, it never ceased to be imposing.

"Well, time for your best performance yet, Rainbow." She whispered to herself before delivering three small knocks to the door. It wasn't very long before Twilight, as chipper as ever, opened the door. She smiled widely at seeing her friend.

"Rainbow! Come on in!" She said sweetly. Rainbow, in her constant misery, felt slight annoyance toward her friend, just for being so happy. That was quickly replaced by another bout of hatred for herself. Twilight hadn't done anything wrong, Rainbow Dash was just jealous.

'Misery loves company, I guess.' Rainbow thought to herself as she walked into the massive entrance hall.

"Spike tells me you've been busting your flank with princessy stuff."

"Something like that." Twilight replied before seeming to notice Rainbow's state. "Are...you okay? No offense, but you're filthy."

"Oh, uh...Yeah, I'm okay." Rainbow said with a small chuckle. "Just tripped and fell into some mud on the way here this morning. I'm supposed to pick up some stuff from the market. I just wanted to know if I could use your shower."

'Let's see how many lies we can stack up.' She thought.

"Your voice, it's...so hoarse." Twilight replied, raising an eyebrow. "You can definitely use my shower, but first would you like some tea?" The prospect truthfully sounded wonderful to Rainbow, and she nodded.

"That sounds great, actually. Could I go ahead and use your shower first, though?" Rainbow asked. "I'd hate to go to the market looking and smelling like this." Twilight nodded and gestured to the stairs leading upward before heading for the kitchen. Rainbow moved up the stairs when her princess friend had disappeared to make their beverages. Rainbow silently thanked Celestia that she didn't have to talk about Applejack, as it came with the danger of her bursting into tears again. Even thinking about her wife as she entered the bathroom got them going again. She hurriedly turned on the shower and sobbed, sure she was muffled by the water. Continuing to cry, she washed herself. Being clean was always good, and it certainly made her feel a bit better, even though she never stopped crying. She wanted to sit down in the shower and cry freely. She felt if she did, she might cry herself out finally. Thinking better of it, she turned the shower off when she was clean and dried herself off. Taking a moment to breathe deeply in the steam-filled bathroom, she exited and found Twilight waiting for her just downstairs, the tea still steaming.

"You know, I could smell it from in there!" Rainbow falsely chirped and ambled down the stairs.

"Well, that might just be the scones." Twilight replied with a small smile, though somewhat less chipper than she was before Rainbow's shower. "Fresh baked yesterday morning. I heated them up in the oven, so they might still be hot." Rainbow nodded, and began to reach for one, but stopped when she noticed Twilight's face.

"Uhh Twilight? What's up with your face?" Rainbow asked, and Twilight's expression remained unchanged.

"Rainbow Dash, can you please tell me what's going on?" The alicorn asked with nothing but concern in her words.

"What are you talking about?" Rainbow asked, unable to hide the nervousness on her face as she went to sit on the parlor couch.

"The sound carries here. I heard you crying in there, Dash. It sounded bad." Twilight pressed, raising an eyebrow.

"What? No, I was sneezing. It was all the..." Rainbow began to lie, but trailed off when she realized Twilight wasn't falling for it. It was always hard to fool her. "Steam."

"Rainbow, I'm not stupid." Twilight Sparkle sighed. "Please have the respect for me to not treat me like it." Rainbow looked down and her ears lowered, which made Twilight's stomach sink.

"I...I don't know if I can talk about it..." Rainbow said, her voice sounding uncharacteristically small and fragile. Twilight's observant eye caught a tear or two hitting the couch cushion between Rainbow's legs.

"Rainbow, please. I'm one of your best friends. We're sisters at this point, you know? You could tell me anything and I'd still love you the same as I always have." Twilight reached across the small table separating them and put a hoof on Rainbow's. The pegasus looked up then, and Twilight was shocked to see tears freely flowing down Rainbow's face.

"Twilight...It's...It's really bad." Rainbow said, her voice breaking, a completely foreign sound to the princess. "I don't know if you'd see me the same."

"Try me." Twilight said, a warm smile working its way onto her face.

"Okay, well this is going to be really tough to put to words. You're the first pony I've talked to about this." Rainbow sighed, her breath hitching as she breathed in deeply. "Please just hear me out."

"I'm all ears. Fire away."

"I...I cheated on Applejack last night." Rainbow said, her voice trembling as more tears came. Twilight let out a small gasp and brought a hoof to her mouth. "See? I told you."

"How? Why?" Twilight asked. Rainbow breathed in deeply, beginning to shake. It was about half a minute before she could bring herself to speak.

"I was at Swingin' Manes last night with the Wonderbolts to celebrate, you know, and I had more than a few drinks. I danced with Spitfire, things got heated, and....Well, we kissed and...did....other things..." Rainbow looked down in shame, releasing a couple more quiet sobs. Looking up at Twilight with pleading eyes, eyes that begged to be understood, her trembling lips continued to utter the horrible words. "I stopped it before it got too far, but..." Twilight simply stared at Rainbow Dash wide-eyed, her mouth hanging slightly open. Rainbow waited a moment for a reply, and when she received none, her feelings began to shift to panic.

"We....We hadn't...Applejack hadn't touched me in almost two months! I know that doesn't excuse it, and I'm a horrible pony, and that I don't deserve her. All we really did was kiss and touch a little bit, it never got further than that," As Rainbow talked faster and more frantically through more and more tears, Twilight stood, and approached her. "The whole thing was maybe half a minute! It's like my mind blocked her out and all I could feel was-" She was cut off by Twilight placing her forehooves around Rainbow. The pegasus stopped trying to explain herself and simply collapsed into Twilight Sparkle, sobbing heavily, her tears quickly matting the fur on the alicorn princess' chest. Twilight was taken aback, and for once, lost for words. She'd never expected Rainbow would do something this disloyal, especially to Applejack. Twilight doubted she'd seen any pony as in love with another as Rainbow was with Applejack. It wasn't only this that stunned her, however. She'd never actually seen Rainbow Dash breaking down like this before. Rainbow Dash, normally so boisterous and confident, looked small and terrified now, and it was an uncomfortable sight for her.

"I...I lost her..." Rainbow sobbed, her breaths coming in and going out sharply. Twilight just held her closer and harder, not judging, simply heartbroken and flabbergasted beyond words. "I lost my Applejack..."

Applejack awoke from her patchy, in-and-out sleep angry and heartbroken. Everything she saw in the bedroom had Rainbow Dash attached to it. The window that she'd flown in and out of back when she didn't live at the farm house, the bed, where they'd shared many a passionate night together, everything made her think of Rainbow. It made her sorrowful that the love of her life had done this horrid thing to her, and filled her with fury at the same time. Her rage succumbed to her despair, however, and she simply lay where she was, crying. She held her pregnant stomach, which made her feel somewhat safer, yet at the same time made her want to scream.

"How could you do this to us?" She whispered to Rainbow Dash, looking downward at their developing foal, feeling like a fool. "Ah love you so much...Ah support you, Ah even danced with you at that stupid induction...And you do this to me?"

The farm mare decided talking to Rainbow when she wasn't in the room was a stupid waste of time, and settled for simply laying on the bed as she continued to cry. Crying was cathartic for Applejack, but eventually her can-do attitude compelled her to stand up and go to the bathroom to shower. She felt pathetic, which was just about her least favorite way to feel. She almost recoiled upon seeing herself in the mirror. She looked awful. Bags hung underneath her eyes, her mane was tangled and frazzled, and her lips were cracked and dry. Scoffing at herself in disgust, she turned on the shower. The shower was always Rainbow's favorite place to...

'No! Stop thinkin' about her, consarn it.' She thought to herself, but immediately knew it to be futile. There wasn't a single thing in the farm house that didn't have Rainbow Dash attached to it. She washed herself, her mind constantly switching back and forth between the anger and the sadness, and she attempted to let the hot water relax her. To its credit it did make her feel at least a bit better, but it seemed to her that nothing would make the hurting stop. She let herself cry as she cleaned herself, it wasn't quite sobbing, but a steady, tearful cry. When she'd satisfactorily scrubbed herself and washed her face, mane and tail, she got out, and left a puddle behind her as she dried off. She'd forgotten to put a towel down, and didn't care. After the painful task of brushing out her mane was completed, she left the bathroom. Realizing as she entered the living room that she'd forgotten her hat, she simply grumbled and kept going, utterly apathetic. Granny Smith was knitting, as always, in her rocking chair.

"Mornin' sweetie." Granny greeted, the worry telegraphed on her face. "Rough night?"

"You could say that." Applejack grumbled, her voice a tired monotone. "Big Mac and Applebloom out?"

"Yep. Big Mac's workin' in the orchard and Applebloom's-"

"At school, yeah. Ah could gather that." Applejack almost, but not quite, snapped as she went into the kitchen. Granny, knowing more than she let on, decided not to say anything, and simply returned to her knitting. Applejack sighed and came out of the kitchen, nothing but pure sorrow and exhaustion on her face. "Granny, Ah'm sorry. Ah shouldn't have snapped at you. I'm really tired and-"

"Somethin' happened last night, did it?" Granny sighed, stopping her knitting and putting the kit down on her lap. She looked at her granddaughter and she simply nodded, her lips trembling slightly. "Do ya want to talk about it?"

"Honestly, Granny...No. At least not right now. Ah just want to eat my breakfast and go back to-" She was interrupted by a knock at their front door. Perplexed and definitely not in the mood for company, Applejack sighed and went to the door. She was absolutely shocked and infuriated to see Spitfire standing on her porch, bruises and scrapes going down her body. She appeared penitent from the second Applejack saw her, and even looked to be bashful, looking down at the ground.

"Hi, Applejack." She said simply. Applejack, unable to stop herself, shoved Spitfire backward. Eyes widened, Spitfire stumbled and fell off the porch, catching herself with her wings and breaking her fall somewhat. Applejack shut the door behind her and walked onto the porch, scowling at her.

"What do you want?" Applejack growled quietly.

"I take it...Rainbow Dash told you?" Spitfire said, standing up. "Can't say I blame you for that."

"You have about a minute to say what you're gonna say, because the why of this damnable situation has been eating at me since Rainbow confessed. After that, Ah'm not responsible for what happens to you." Applejack said through her scowl.

"I know you hate me. I can't blame you for that either, but I promise you don't hate me as much as I hate myself right now." Spitfire explained. "We were both incredibly drunk, that's true, but we both know how much she idolizes...Or maybe idolized me...Given that, I acknowledge that I took advantage of her. I have a problem with getting too drunk and sleeping with whoever I want...It's happened before, and I thought I'd kicked that habit. I guess not. Please, Applejack...Don't blame Rainbow Dash for this. Blame me."

"Oh Ah do."

"Good. Just know...I am so sorry for this." Spitfire said, visibly keeping herself from breaking down. She shook, and tears flowed, but she stood tall. "Are you...Are you going to leave her?"

"Ah don't see how that's any of your business. What, you want the chance to move in on her?" Applejack asked, narrowing her eyes, her lip curling up into a sneer.

"NO! Celestia on her throne, no....I'm asking because I'd hate myself for the rest of my life if I destroyed a marriage as beautiful as yours and Rainbow's. You should hear her, Applejack, all she ever talked about at the academy was you. Goddesses, Applejack, she's so in love with you. After she stopped our...well, our thing, she almost immediately had a panic attack." Spitfire's tears continued to flow and Applejack felt love well up in her heart for Rainbow, but it was accompanied by the great pain that came with knowing she could never fully trust her again. The farm mare couldn't help but shed a tear or two as well. "But explaining my horrible actions wasn't the only reason I came here."

"Well, go on." Applejack said, wiping her cheeks.

"I came to let you know that Rainbow has quit the Wonderbolts." Spitfire breathed. Applejack almost gasped. "She said that if it meant losing you, she didn't want it as her dream anymore."

"She...quit?" Applejack uttered, her voice suddenly quiet.

"Just about thirty minutes ago. She was crying the entire time. Applejack, please...Please give her another chance. Please. This is my fault..." Spitfire cried more and more as the sentence left her mouth. She stopped for a moment and composed herself. "She also said that if you want to talk, she's staying at the Castle of Friendship, with the Princess." She turned to leave and unfurled her wings.

"Spitfire." Applejack said, prompting the fiery-maned pegasus to turn around. "Ah still want to break your teeth...But Ah respect your honesty."

"Thanks." Spitfire said, a genuine smile working its way onto her face.

"What happened to you, by the way?" Applejack asked, once again noticing the scrapes and bruises on her face and sides.

"Oh. Well, after it happened, I flew home in a bit of a hurry. I crashed because I was flying drunk." She looked down and chuckled to herself, shaking her head. She looked up at Applejack, her eyes again, filled with tears. "A little justice, right?" She turned again and went into a hover before turning to Applejack one last time. "I'm...I'm so sorry." With that, Spitfire zipped into the sky and out of sight. Still sorrowful, Applejack turned back to the door and walked back into the living room.

"Baby, you're cryin'." Granny Smith said upon seeing her. Applejack had cried on the porch, she knew that, but she supposed a fresh wave of tears had come and she simply hadn't noticed them.

"Ah think...Ah think Ah'm ready to talk about what happened." Applejack sighed.

"Oh Applejack..." Granny Smith sighed, as she stroked Applejack's mane. They'd moved to the couch and Applejack had laid in Granny's lap. It was a cool wet rag on her head in a burning house, but it was better than nothing. The orange mare sobbed, holding on to Granny's leg. "Ah'm so sorry." She'd heard things the previous night and had figured something was wrong, and this had been the scenario she feared the most.

"Ah...Ah love Rainbow...Ah love her so much. But Ah hate her too." Applejack sobbed. "Ah can't believe she did this..."

"What are you gonna do? What with the foal Ah mean." Granny said, and Applejack sat up from her lap, and looked at the old mare with teary eyes.

"Ah...Ah don't know." Applejack uttered before hanging her head again. Her shoulders heaved as she cried, and Granny Smith couldn't help but wrap her into a hug, which Applejack melted into, wrapping her forelegs around her. It was slightly painful, as she was old and her bones frail, but she said nothing.

"Ah assume she's not livin' here anymore?" Granny Smith asked, knowing the answer, as she'd heard Rainbow leaving the previous night, crying the whole way.

"Ah don't know yet." Applejack breathed, separating from the hug and wiping her eyes. "Ah don't know about anything anymore. Ah could barely think straight when she told me."

"So she confessed?"

"Yeah. Immediately after it happened. She was beggin' me not to kick her out, but...Ah just couldn't bear to look at her." Applejack sniffled, and let herself flop back into the couch. She stared forward, her eyes tired and looking ragged, despite the shower she'd just taken.

"How uh...How far did it get? If you feel comfortable answering." Granny asked, prompting Applejack to look over at her. She didn't look angry or surprised, but Granny still became nervous all the same. "Ah-Ah just wanted to get a little insight. Was it a full-blown sexual thing, or just some kissin'?" Applejack sighed and looked forward again.

"The way she talked about it, it was somewhere between the two." Applejack said, her voice flat and deadened.

"Well, at least it didn't get as far as it could've." Granny sighed.

"Thanks, Granny, but that doesn't make me feel any better at all."

"Ah understand. Anything else ya wanna talk about?" Granny asked, placing a hoof on hers. "You know Ah'm always gonna be here for ya if ya do."

"No, Ah think Ah've said all Ah wanna say about it." Applejack deadpanned.

"Well, Ah was thinkin' Ah'd tell ya a story." Granny said. "Ah think it's one that you'd wanna hear-"

"Honestly, Granny, Ah don't think Ah do." Applejack said, standing from the couch. "All Ah can feel right now is pain, and the way Ah see it, sleepin' is the only way to escape it."

"Applejack, Ah really think this story would make you feel better-"

"No thank you, Granny. Ah'm goin' back to sleep. Maybe when Ah wake up or somethin'." Applejack said, moving toward her bedroom. Granny looked on after her and sighed, wiping a tear that fell from her cheek. She knew Applejack was tough, and was confident she'd pull through. More than anything, she felt worry for Rainbow Dash, who she hadn't seen since the previous morning. Grunting as she stood from the couch, she went back to her rocker to continue knitting the small foal's cap.

Applejack closed her bedroom door behind her and immediately bit into her forehoof to muffle the wave of sobs that came. She dropped to her flank and wilted, her neck and shoulders aching from having hung her head so much. She almost dragged herself to the bed and crawled into it, curling up in the mound of blankets. Her eyes drifted to the necklace that Rainbow had proposed to her with in Appleloosa. Her lips began to tremble, and a scream began to well up in her throat, which she muffled with a pillow.

Rainbow returned to the Castle of Friendship from the Wonderbolts Academy, still sniffling. On the balcony of the room Twilight had set her up with, Rainbow looked back to the late afternoon sky and sighed heavily.

"Brought it on yourself, Rainbow." She whispered to herself before entering her room. It had been a stressful day for her. First, she'd gone to the Wonderbolts academy and quit, which had been an emotional gauntlet in itself. Spitfire sinply cried and hadn’t said much of anything, and Soarin desperately pleaded with her to stay with the team, but Rainbow had refused and eventually had to leave prematurely, as it'd become too much to bear. She'd then gone to weather patrol and Rolling Storm gave her her job back without hesitation. Of course, he asked questions, one of which being whether or not he needed to go beat somepony up, which made her love him even more. Rainbow had dodged each subsequent question and left prematurely from there as well, so as to avoid breaking down in front of him. Then she'd gone to the market to get groceries for her stay at Twilight's castle. She felt as though she was imposing, which she knew wasn't true. Still, she got her own food to be as little a drain on her princess friend as she could all the same. It crossed the cyan mare's mind to take a nap, but despite her almost constant crying, she knew she wouldn't have been able to sleep. She decided instead to make herself some tea and begin reading the newest Daring Do novel. Twilight knew Raibow hadn't read it yet, and she was a princess, so it wasn't an issue acquiring the book. She went to the small kitchenette in her room, which was more of a suite, and put the tea water on to boil.

"I guess there's worse ways to spend time estranged from my wife." Rainbow sighed and began to look around, as she'd left for the academy almost as soon as Twilight got her set up. She was especially impressed with the bathroom, which had a spacious walk-in shower, and any amenity she possibly could have needed. This consisted mostly of perfumes, beauty products and implements such as hair curlers, almost none of which Rainbow planned to use. It still was nice they were there. The bed was massive as well. It was so large it called to mind the bed she and Applejack had shared at Canterlot Gardens on their honeymoon. This made her tear up once more, but she did not break down. She had become tired of feeling so weak, and on the way back from the academy, she'd already begun to think about ways she could re unite with her wife.

The tea kettle began to squeal, and Rainbow felt a small rush of excitement, as drinking tea and reading Daring Do was something she enjoyed doing immensely. Ambling to the stove, she picked the tea kettle up in her mouth. She moved it above the teacup she'd set up on a tray to take to the balcony, where she planned on beginning her book. She tilted her head, but in a moment that made her stomach leap, the kettle slipped from her mouth and boiling water spilled on her front right leg. She dropped the tea kettle and it hit the floor with a loud clanging noise. Gritting her teeth, she screamed and fell to her stomach. At that moment, every bit of pain and sorrow she'd been pushing up and away from her over the last hour came falling back down onto her. As tired as she was of breaking down, she broke, and flopped to the floor.

'Who're you kidding, Rainbow? You're not going to get her back. You never will.' Her mind almost taunted her. 'You should just tape your wings down, go to that balcony-'

'No! That would be selfish and cowardly. You still have Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie...' Not knowing whether or not she could still mentally list Applejack, Applebloom, Big Mac or Granny Smith, she broke into sobs once more, loud and full of anguish. She hit herself in the head.

"Stupid! Stupid, stupid, stupid!" With each word, she let her hoof fly into her head again, and the pain exploded with each one, reviving the headache she'd shaken not more than a couple hours prior. Not feeling any satisfaction from physically punishing herself, she simply dropped her head to the ground and continued to cry.

"Rainbow? Rainbow are you okay?" Twilight asked, coming into the suite. She'd clearly heard the crashing of the kettle, and Rainbow wouldn't have been surprised if the princess had heard her sobbing as well.

'Sound carries here, hahaha' She thought manically.

"Rainbow! Oh, goddesses, Rainbow are you alright?" Twilight asked, pulling the almost limp pegasus off the ground. "What the hay happened?"

"It doesn't matter..." Rainbow cried as Twilight helped her back to the couch. "Nothing matters anymore..." This was followed by another wave of heaving sobs. Twilight felt helpless, and tried desperately to help her friend. She settled on holding Rainbow Dash. Rainbow simply lay limply against her, which Twilight didn't mind. Rainbow had always been quite the lightweight. Seeing an opportunity when Rainbow's crying died down, Twilight moved back from Rainbow and was satisfied to see that she was sitting up on her own.

"Rainbow Dash, do you remember your wedding day?" Twilight asked, and Rainbow sniffled, wiping her nose and nodding.

"I don't know how good it is for my sanity right now...But yeah." Rainbow said, wiping the constant tears.

"You remember Applejack's face that day, right? When you were saying your vows?" Twilight asked, and Rainbow simply nodded, her shoulders heaving slightly one more time as she suppressed another sob. "I do. I remember Applejack's face, and I remember her eyes. I was right there officiating, right?"

"Yeah, you were." Rainbow said tearfully, with a smile.

"What I saw in Applejack's eyes, and yours, was pure love in its most powerful form. I don't think I've ever seen somepony look at somepony else with as much love as she did you and you did her." Twilight explained calmly, and this made Rainbow's smile stay. "Now...You have a lot to atone for. You know that. But I'm certain that if you are patient, and that if you give her time and understanding, you can win her back."

"You think so?" Rainbow asked, the slightest hint of hope in her voice.

"I know so." Twilight said. "Seriously, I haven't seen anypony look at anypony else like that before or since. That includes back when Spike was head over heels for Rarity." Rainbow laughed.

"He isn't still, is he? Because Fluttershy might have something to say about that." Rainbow said, her trademark snark showing itself very briefly.

"I don't think so." Twilight said, chuckling, before laying a hoof on Rainbow's shoulder. "What you have with Applejack is special, Dash. You know it and she knows it. You just have to love her, maybe from afar at first, and be patient. I think she'll forgive you." Rainbow wiped a fresh set of tears and smiled, wrapping Twilight in a loving hug. Twilight returned the hug and smiled.

"Thank you, Twilight." Rainbow sighed before separating. "And thank you for letting me stay. It won't be long, and I'll pay you. How much per night?"

"Are you crazy? You have a throne downstairs! This is your home as much as it is mine."

"Now Twilight, I refuse to be a mooch. Tell me."

"No."

"Do it!"

"Nope." Twilight smirked and Rainbow laughed, giving her a small slug in the shoulder. "Oop! You just assaulted a princess. Guards!" She called out in a joking, singsong way. Rainbow laughed full-belly at that, and Twilight smiled happily. "Now come on, let's get this mess cleaned up."

Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle chatted as they cleaned, about different things. Twilight explained her duties as a princess, which were so long and in-depth that Rainbow started to become bored. Still, she was thankful that Twilight was staying with her and keeping her out of her own head. Rainbow told her about quitting the Wonderbolts. Twilight, knowing full well it was always Rainbow's dream to become a Wonderbolt, attempted briefly to convince her otherwise, but Rainbow's steadfastness in her decision deterred her efforts.

"Well, I think that about does it." Twilight sighed. "Good as new! Are you sure you're okay?" The question reminded Rainbow that she'd been scalded and in turn that brought the fiery pain to the front of her mind.

"I uh...I might have dropped boiling water on my leg here." Rainbow showed the leg to Twilight, who gasped.

"Alright, we're going downstairs to get this bandaged right away. Come on." Twilight said and Rainbow nodded, following her.

"Yes ma'am." Rainbow said with a small chuckle before remembering how badly her head hurt as well. Sneaking a peek at herself in a large mirror as they left the suite, she was intensely relieved to see that her mane covered the bruises she'd left on her head. As they descended the steps, a guard approached them with a worried look on his face.

"Princess Twilight, there is a Big Macintosh here to see Rainbow Dash." He said, making Rainbow's stomach jump. "It appears the matter is quite urgent." The two mares unfurled their wings and soared down the steps. Rainbow saw Big Mac waiting in the entrance hall, and his eyes were full of tears. She had the terrifying thought that Applejack had told him and that he was coming to confront her.

"Big Mac? What's going on?" Rainbow asked as they landed before him. A tear dropped down his cheek before he opened his mouth to speak words that terrified Rainbow Dash to her core.

"It's Granny Smith.'

Author's Notes:

AAAAAAAAAAA

I know the chapter is suuuper long, but I have an outline and I want the story to flow a certain way! I figured that since there's a lot of misery in this chapter, I'd put in some Rarishy fluff at the beginning to make it a little easier to deal with. Also, sexytimes. *Makes finger guns and clicks tongue* Also, I'm sorry about the time between updates. I know I said I'd get it to y'all by the end of September, but I had to move, and it's been super stressful, but I'm still working on this! So, what's going on with Granny Smith? Will Applejack take Rainbow back after such a breach of trust? Will I ever stop asking these annoyingly unhelpful questions? Doubt it, since it's what I've done since The Only Thing Better Than Flying! Be sure to tell me what you think so far! Cheers!