Rainbow Dash had no doubts... Buttercup was awesome! Like Applejack, she owned a business and was all about being confident. Unlike Applejack, however... she had time to be more than just friends. Rainbow was just a few hours from the date, hanging out at the library with her friends and attempting to read the latest Daring Do book to help pass the time... the reason she was "attempting" to was because her friends were giving her the third-degree. They'd surrounded her to do so... she thought nothing of it.

"Please be careful, Rainbow," said Twilight for the fifth time that day. "I know you're a big mare, and all, but I've got a bad feeling about this..."

Applejack, along side her rainbow-maned companion, nodded:

"Remember we're your friends if you need us," she said, patting Rainbow Dash on the back.

"You're just jealous," Rainbow muttered with a smirk.

Even Twilight gritted her teeth.

"What was that, now?" Applejack asked, her voice growing thin with anger.

"N-nothing."

Applejack stared with wide eyes... she still cared, but now she was quite annoyed. Where did Rainbow Dash get off saying a thing like that?

"My Pinkie sense is telling me something's up," Pinkie Pie piped in, "but I don't know what... it could be good or bad. Be careful Dashie!"

"I will, Pinkie," Rainbow said. "Don't worry about me. I'm Ponyville's class athlete, and Buttercup... well, she's as squishy as a marshmallow! If she tries anything... she'll resemble chewed up hay by the time I'm through with her!"

"What glorious imagery," Rarity said, rolling her eyes. "And do be careful, darling, remember what I said..."

Rainbow threw her hoof skyward in acknowledgement. She was getting ready to dash.

"Well, if you do get nervous," said Fluttershy, "just listen to your body! It's what I tell my animal friends... if something looks scary or feels scary, get away!"

"Will do."

"You really think I'm jealous?" Applejack finally said, through gritted teeth. "Seriously?"

Rainbow Dash's eyes stopped scanning the text, her brow flat with annoyance. She looked up at Applejack and crossed her eyes in a goofy way:

"Ee-yup!"

She went back to reading.

Applejack turned red.

Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy all looked at each other and gulped, taking a step back. Pinkie remained, her gaze still fixated on Rainbow. A combination of blue and violet lit up the clueless pony's flank as she was pulled back a couple of steps by her friends' magic:

"Gah!"

"Rainbow Dash," Applejack said, her voice growing low. "I ain't jealous. Ah think you're making a gosh-darn mistake is what I think!"

"Yeah, yeah," Dash replied, waving dismissively. "Who asked you?"

"Why... you...," Applejack took a deep breath. "Ah am seconds from taking this outside with you and wringing your lil neck missy-"

"Why don't you then?" Rainbow looked up, a thin smile spread itself on her lips.

Applejack now saw red. She acted before she could think:

Pulling back her hoof, she threw a punch at Rainbow Dash's shoulder... her entire weight behind this one blow.

Rainbow Dash was fast, but not fast enough. She flinched in enough time to have Applejack strike her face instead. The book spiraled away as the Pegasus saw stars, knocked out of the big, comfy chair she was sitting in. For one brief moment she had no idea where she was, and Applejack's actions had terrified all of their friends... especially herself.

"Rainbow!" Applejack exclaimed, eyes wide, her voice now high with concern. "Ah am so sorry! You can be so gosh-darn stubborn at times, but even you didn't deserve that!"

Shaking away the stars, Rainbow Dash's vision danced and swayed as she looked up into Applejack's concerned, green eyes. The farm pony stuck a hoof out in her direction. Is was then that her nostrils began to pour crimson and her two eyes darken. Even through the awful throbbing sensation, Dash saw (fittingly enough) just red. She took Applejack's invitation, taking both her forelegs and picking herself up off the ground... then flying, with Apple Jack still attached, towards the door.

"Rainbow!" Twilight exclaimed, as the two ponies literally crashed through her door.

Four ponies followed, expecting broken bones and two unconscious friends in the street. They had hit Twilight's solid oak door hard enough to leave a crack in it. Other ponies gawked from a distance, afraid to get too close; Noteworthy so startled he literally began urinating where he stood.

Applejack was on one side of the lawn, Rainbow Dash on the other. When their friends came out the farm pony had just started shaking as she began pulling herself up. Even through all that, she still had her hat, which she very tenderly removed and set aside as she got up. Rainbow Dash followed suit much more slowly. The two ponies were quite bruised, Applejack had a few superficial cuts along her side.

"Now," Applejack wobbled as she spoke. "Ah deserved that. We're even now, 'kay?"

"Like heck we are!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, charging at her best friend.

The two were not at their best state for a fight. Applejack had the presence of mind to at least deflect the attack, and respond with a quick strike using her hind legs. It wasn't intended to hurt Rainbow, just to stand her ground, but Applejack wasn't about to have her flank kicked by anypony.

"Rainbow, we are just tryin' to tell you we think you're making a mistake!" Applejack exclaimed.

Rainbow's response was to drop her elbow towards Applejack's head. She dodged the attack, and Rainbow Dash landed hard on her hat, instantly flattening it. Applejack saw this, her lip quivering as Rainbow Dash got up, looked down, and started giggling. Applejack's prized possession now resembled a pancake.

"All right, then, that's it!" the farm pony thundered.

Again she struck Rainbow Dash, this time in the foreleg. Even though she was angry, (again) it wasn't meant to hurt. Rainbow rapidly shook her leg, crying out in surprise.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!"

Applejack then threw her entire body weight at the pegasus. The two crashed, Rainbow skidding backwards in the soft dirt. The farm pony was on top of her. Dash threw punches, but none of them landed. She may have been able to rival Applejack in strength, but Applejack was heavier than her, and was at just the right angle to make it too awkward to get up.

"Knock it off!" Applejack thundered, as Rainbow futilely struck at her barrel. "This ends now!"

"Lemme go!" Dash growled in reply.

Twilight approached from the side and took a good look at the two, dirty, bruised ponies.

"Applejack, let her go," Twilight said, quietly. "I think you broke her nose."

"Great! Just great, Applejack!" Rainbow Dash still struggled in vain. "I can't go on a date like this!"

"Ya might as well not!" Applejack exclaimed. "She gives Rarity the creeps... she gives all us the creeps!"

"You haven't even met her!"

"Rainbow...," Applejack took a breath. "Ah love you, alright? Ah just don't want to see you get hurt is all."

"Hey! It's my problem if I get hurt," Rainbow exclaimed, now trying to pry the farm pony off her. "Like I said, you're just jealous!"

"I AM NOT!" erupted the farm pony in Rainbow's face.

Again, Dash smirked. Even through her injuries, she could make Applejack's blood boil.

"Well, then, prove it!"

Applejack looked back at Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie. All of her friend's faces showed concern, but it was no longer just for Rainbow Dash. She took a deep breath and sighed.

"All right, do what you want." Applejack rolled over and got up. "Just... try to remember we're all here for you, okay? Ah love you, Rainbow... and if going to see Buttercup's gunna make y'all happy, then go do it. But if you come back more hurt than ya are now... I'm gunna feel just awful."

"We all are," said Twilight. "She's in no way trying to guilt you!"

The other three nodded in unison.

Rainbow Dash got up, wiping away the dirt and grime from her face. She saw blood.

"I'm in no shape to go there now, Applejack," Rainbow Dash said through gritted teeth, her wings fluttering. "And it's all your fault!"

Fortunately for Applejack, Twilight anticipated what was going to happen this time. As Rainbow took off to take a swipe at her friend, her tail glowed violet.

"Rainbow Dash!" four voices exclaimed.

Even Applejack looked hurt.

"So that's how it is, huh?" She turned tail, picking up her hat and pushing the top out. "Well, all right then. Guess Ah've really got no business messin' around in your life anyway." She sighed. "See ya 'round, Rainbow."

It was as if a switch had been flicked. Seeing Applejack sad -- not frustrated (like she was), but really, genuinely hurting -- pushed Rainbow's heart through the dirt. She went from sixty to zero in two seconds. Applejack thought she hated her.

"Applejack," Rainbow said, setting her hooves on the ground. "Look, I'm sorry, okay?"

The farm pony glanced back, a tiny smile on her lips. She was moments from crying.

"It's okay, Rainbow... Ah'd be pretty mad, too, if ya clocked me like that 'fore I went on a date."

"I'm... definitely not going now," Dash said, taking a few steps towards the defeated mare. "Like, I don't even want to anymore."

"I can have Spike write you a telegram and Derpy deliver it post-haste," Twilight said, taking a step back with her friends to give the two space. "I'm sure Butterscotch will understand."

"That's Buttercup," said Applejack, with a slight grin. "Even Ah know that!"

"You'd think an egg-head like you would pay attention more," Dash added, with a chuckle.

Twilight was about to open her mouth to say something, but got her revenge as Dash sneezed, spraying a small amount of blood on her hooves. She didn't feel too good about that for very long as it continued to pour.

"Aww, jeeze!" exclaimed the Pegasus, a combination of blood and mucus covering her forelegs.

"Ah am so sorry, Rainbow," Applejack said, approaching. "We'd best get ya cleaned up!"

"We've got a first-aid kit at the Sugarcube corner," said Pinkie.

"And one at the boutique!" added Rarity, knowing that her shop was a bit closer.

"Ah think the Sugarcube Corner sounds best... we'll just have to go in through the back so we don't scare the foals!"

"Jeeze, do I really look that bad?" Dash asked, looking at her friends through two swollen eyes.

They all nodded.

"Come on, Rainbow..." Applejack said, motioning with a hoof. "Afterwards, I'll buy you an ice cream to make it up to you."

"That's if she hasn't broken her nose," said Twilight. "She might have to go to a doctor."

Looking up at Applejack, Rainbow Dash brought both hooves to either side of her nose. She twisted sharply, wincing.

CRACK!

Everypony, even Applejack, shuttered as that sound resonated through the air.

"Yup, it's broken!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "But I'll be all right... it's happened a few times before."

"You sure?" Twilight asked, raising her eyebrow. "Just a few minutes ago you were about to go to Buttercup's home when we all thought it wasn't a good idea, and-"

"Twilight," Rarity interjected. "Let's not tug on Supermare's cape. If Dash says she's had this problem before, she probably knows how to deal with it best. Right?"

Even through the blood, Rainbow Dash smiled at her friends.

"I think I might need a nose split," Dash said, popping it again. "I'll be totally fine, though!"

"Alright, Rainbow." Twilight forced a smile. "I'm sorry you and Applejack had that fight."

Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy all stood their ground, while Pinkie took off in the direction of the two battered ponies.

Turning towards the Sugarcube Corner, Rainbow Dash and Applejack limped off, with Pinkie bouncing right behind them.

In the back of the Sugarcube Corner, with Mrs. Cake tending to their cuts and bruises, Rainbow Dash got a chance to look at her face before the splint was applied. She looked... hardened to say the least, like she'd been up for a few weeks. Her eyes were black, but she didn't look like an abused mare. She looked much too confident for that, like she had been in a fight.

"It's not okay to beat-up your Special Somepony," Mrs. Cake joked as she disinfected Applejack's deeper cuts. It stung a bit. "But from what Pinkie's been telling me this mare sounds like she's bad news. We carry her iced tea. I never gave much thought to the pony behind it, though."

"And why would you?" Applejack chuckled. "It's just tea, after all, and if it's any good, you're probably gunna keep carrying it."

"Well, we do get some buyers. Mostly older mares. They say it's 'soothing'."

"You're makin' me real curious as to what this tea even tastes like."

Mrs. Cake just smiled in reply, making sure both mares were properly bandaged up and presentable.

Ten minutes later, Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash sat at a table. They looked like they'd just come from the hospital.

Mrs. Cake had taken their order and came out with two ice cream sodas on Pinkie (though Applejack gave her a tip worth a little more than the items for her time), and to Applejack's surprise, Mrs. Cake came back with yet one more item.

"You said you wanted to try this, dear," she said, setting a bottle on the table. "Since you're a regular, it's on the house!"

Applejack looked down at the bottle:

Miss Buttercup's Homegrown Goodness

It had a picture, of all things, buttercups and a honey pot on the front. She looked up at Rainbow Dash.

"Wanna split it?"

"Okay."

Applejack passed it to Rainbow, who opened the lid with a pop. She picked it up, looked inside and shrugged, then took a sip. She let out a light chuckle.

"It's not bad."

Rainbow passed the bottle to Applejack.

She shrugged, lifting it up and tasting its contents. It was sweet, but not in an artificial way... it tasted real, like honey. She took another, deeper drink.

"Well, I like it!"

She offered the bottle to her on-again/off-again special somepony, who shook her head. Applejack took a deep drink, finishing the tea off.

Little did either mare know that on the bottle it said the tea was supposed to be relaxing. That wouldn't have meant much to either pony, but the tea was what would be considered a tension-tamer. By the end of their ice cream Applejack was smiling up at Rainbow Dash.

"I guess you gotta go back to the farm now, huh, Applejack?" she asked, setting down her spoon. "I understand."

Applejack laughed.

"Heck, most've stuff left for the day Ah can do tomorrow," she said. "What'd ya say we go to the movies, maybe bowlin'... then find a secluded patch in the orchard and just... watch the clouds go by? Sounds kinda fun, right?"

Applejack," Rainbow Dash smiled. "You never put your work off!"

"First time for everything, Rainbow. Don't give me enough time to change ma mind, now."

Feeling the nose splint stretching, Rainbow Dash realized she was grinning ear-to-ear.

"Okay!"

Applejack straightened her slightly crumpled hat.

"Then it's settled!"

The two headed out for bowling. Friendly competition (as always) with Applejack winning the first few games, then Rainbow winning the next three. Their's was the only alley open that wasn't broken in some way; the bowling league had come that day, and would have crushed their best games easily. Applejack was paying for a tie breaker game when she noticed the Cutie Mark Crusaders talking to the stallion at the counter, who was shaking his head. All three looked sad.

"Wanna play, too?" she asked the three caped fillies.

"Sure!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, as the two others nodded, Apple Bloom noticing the bandages along Applejack's side.

Applejack came back to the alley with three additional players. They took one look at Rainbow and their eyes went wide. Applejack was too relaxed to notice this.

"The more the merrier!" she exclaimed.

"Rainbow Dash!" exclaimed Scootaloo. "What happened?"

Rainbow Dash looked at Applejack, Applejack right back. The farm pony spoke:

"Grown-up stuff."

Rainbow nodded.

"We'll be alright."

Scootaloo looked at both her friends, who just shrugged.

"Let's just play, Scootaloo," said Apple Bloom, picking up a ball.

"Umm...." she looked up at her idol who, despite her injuries, was smiling. "Uh.. okay!"

They played five games and had fun. Oddly enough, Applejack and Rainbow Dash tied yet again. It was turning into a good day for all.

Not an hour before, however, Buttercup had received a message.

Author's Notes: