At times like these, Rainbow would pay attention to the weather. It was what she was used to, after all: she had grown up in the biggest centre of weather in Equestria, she worked with it, she even used to live in it... so sometimes, when nervous, she'd take a minute to look at the clouds, feel the direction of the wind, and gauge how warm the sun was.

It was a beautiful day in Ponyville: the sun was shining, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The weatherponies had probably gotten the hang of working without her, she realized. It was a good thing, too: she had no intention of going back, not for now at any rate.

For that matter, she had a suggestion to pitch to Applejack.

"Hey AJ..." she began, "You know I'm not really working any more, right?"

Applejack glanced over at her, a sly smile on her lips. "You used to work? I never noticed."

"Ha, ha," Rainbow deadpanned. "But, seriously... you also know your chores are several days behind?"

Applejack winced at the comeback. "Yeah..."

"Well... maybe I can work with you? Earn my keep, so to speak."

Rainbow waited a few moments as Applejack mulled it over. "You sure you'd like working on a farm?"

"I dunno, really. I helped with the shed, didn't I? That was okay." She shrugged. "I'd just like to do more than lounge around, and you have way too much work right now. So... why not let me help you get your chores back on track, then we can decide whether that's something we'd like to keep up."

Applejack smiled. "Sure, I don't see why not," she replied. "After all if you don't like it, you can always go back to working weather."

The pair approached Greased Lightning's house. Rainbow gave Applejack a look, causing the farmpony to give her a gentle nudge. "Off you go. I'll be right here."

"You sure I won't come over as pushy?" Rainbow asked. Applejack chuckled.

"You already do, sugar," she told her. "You got nothin' to lose."

Rainbow swallowed. "Yeah... right." She took a deep breath and trotted up to the door. She took a cursory glance at a mess of paint on the floor, and shrugged. It had all mixed together and had become a shade of brown. She then knocked on the door, once, twice, three times.

"Hello?" came Greased Lightning's voice from behind the door. "Wait a sec', I'm coming."

Rainbow waited patiently. Applejack noticed her bounce nervously. She leant against Rainbow, nuzzling her neck as they waited for the door to open. "Don't you worry none," she whispered. Rainbow stopped bouncing.

The door opened. Rainbow stood up straight, and Applejack pulled away from her special somepony. "Oh, it's you. I wanted to talk to you."

"Really? You mean I can—"

Greased nodded. "I'm quite certain Scootaloo has sulked long enough," she said. "I've known her long enough to know when she's just holding a grudge to be stubborn." She shrugged. "Learned it from me, I suppose."

Rainbow chuckled. "...and maybe a bit from me, too," she added. Greased snorted, and rolled her eyes.

"What magnificent role models we are, eh? Come on in. You can bring your marefriend with you, too," she added with a sly look in her eye.

Applejack tensed. "Who told you?" she asked.

"You did... right now," Greased replied. When Applejack narrowed her eyes, she shrugged. "What? You're staying with a friend, emotions are flying left and right... I asked myself, 'what would I do'?" Greased said. "How'd you think I had Scootsie?"

"Need to know, ma'am," Rainbow replied with a mental grimace as she followed the older pony inside. They went through the tight corridors under the pictures of Scootaloo and the miscellaneous junk the family had accumulated over the years.

Scootaloo was waiting in the kitchen, forelegs crossed as she waited for Rainbow. "Hey there," Rainbow said, her voice quieter than usual. "You, uh, been waiting?"

"I heard you at the door," Scootaloo replied. "Mom says I'm just being stubborn."

"I stand by what I said," Greased replied. She turned to Rainbow. "You two got this? I feel I'd just get in the way."

Applejack nodded. "We'll be fine."

The older mare hesitated, then left. Applejack noticed that she was careful to remain within earshot. Rainbow trotted up to the young filly.

"You want to talk?" Scootaloo asked, keeping her expression sullen. Between the attack last night and everything else that had been said, she was determined to be bitter.

Rainbow knew this, and bit her lip before speaking.

"Uh... 'kay. Right, so, I feel I should explain." She put both her hooves on the table. "I was a pretty bad pony when I was younger. I really, really wish I wasn't, but it's true." She chuckled. "I'm pretty fast, but I can't really outrun myself, if y'know what I'm saying."

Scootaloo didn't reply. Rainbow ran her hoof through her mane and continued.

"Anyway... I had a whole load of problems. I felt angry all the time, I didn't understand anypony, and all I wanted was to be better than other kids at school. I guess I still have those problems, really. I just manage to keep them under control." She leaned back. "Thing is, I got... better. And then I started paying for all my mistakes. I had to leave home, I lost my family, I lost all my friends... if I could even call them friends, really... and all the while, I kept thinking I deserved it, and I guess I did... but then everything I had earned honestly was taken away from me too. My home, my job, my best pal... and then I realized... after a little back and forth... that there's a point when you just got to stop punishing somepony for something they've done long ago." Rainbow held her hooves up defensively. "Now, that doesn't mean forgive... that's not really up to me... but I'm done paying for my mistakes. I'm just trying to be a good pony, be a good friend, even sister of sorts. And I can't do that properly without you, squirt."

Rainbow put her hooves down again.

"So... please stop hating me. I don't think I deserve it."

Scootaloo breathed in. "...yeah, I know," Scootaloo replied. "I just... well, you're the best. It hurt to think of you being like Diamond Tiara, or worse, like Nightmare Moon when she came to terrify us. Just another bully."

"I get that," Rainbow replied.

"I don't think so. You've never been bullied, have you?" Scootaloo asked. "You never had other ponies treat you like dirt. I don't even have the worst of it, and I hate it so much." She frowned. "And the fact you did it 'cause ponies didn't have their cutie marks is just wrong."

"If it helps," Applejack chipped in, "Rainbow did much worse than that."

Both ponies eyed Applejack. "Geez, thanks AJ. Way to support me," Rainbow grunted.

"It doesn't matter," Scootaloo said. "It's the same thing, just... bigger. It's just bullying, but with pipes instead of words." She mulled the matter over for a few seconds. "But... I get you're not that pony any more. Or at least, you're trying to be better. But when I saw you in the street, you were..." She trailed off.

"Being myself?" Rainbow replied, letting out a self-deprecating chuckle. "I try to not do that these days. Bullit just knew how to push my buttons, I guess."

The pair went silent for a moment. Eventually, Rainbow spoke up again.

"So... we good?"

Scootaloo shrugged. "I guess so. I'm sorry I ran off."

"It's all good," Rainbow replied. "I don't forgive easily myself, either."

"Heh. I guess." Scootaloo played with her hooves. "So, uh, will you be moving back in? We still have all your stuff."

Rainbow looked over at Applejack. "Uh, thanks for the offer, but I found myself somewhere else to live," she said. "It's got a really big garden, too." She turned back to Scootaloo. "But we can still hang out plenty, 'kay?"

Scootaloo nodded firmly. "Sure thing!"

"Cool!" Rainbow fluttered her wings and got back to her hooves, her smile so wide Applejack swore she could fit a banana in there. "Hey, quick question, though... what's with the paint outside?"

Greased Lightning decided that then was the best time to enter the room again. "We got a few unwelcome guests here last night. Speaking of, you might want to pay one of them a visit... she should be tied up at the Town Hall."

Rainbow leaned over Rattle's bound body, her expression perfectly neutral. Rattle just glared at her, keeping her mouth firmly shut.

Neither spoke. Neither needed to. Rainbow knew Rattle was beaten: she'd be sent to Canterlot to be tried for her crimes by the evening. She might even get reformed. It had happened to Rainbow, after all. Gilda too, from what Rainbow had heard. And after her discussion with Scootaloo, Rainbow knew she couldn't lash out at her. That would be beyond hypocritical.

But Rattle knew she wanted to.

And so they looked at each other. Rainbow Dash, the victor unwilling to finish the job, and Rattle, the defeated pony unable to finish the job.

Somehow, it wasn't as satisfying as Rainbow had expected it to be. She had expected relief, congratulations, maybe even a firework or two... but no. There was nothing: just a broken, injured pegasus who refused to even look sorry.

It just wasn't worth it.

She stepped away from Rattle, as silently as she had come. Maybe she was disatisfied because somewhere out there, Bullit was waiting for her. Stalking her like the vermin he was.

"You good?" Applejack asked. Rainbow nodded.

"I guess. She didn't even blink." She ran her hoof through her mane, feeling the familiar scars on her scalp. "She never blinks. Even when they were holding me down, she never blinked once." Rainbow shuddered. "She really is a snake."

Applejack didn't argue. It sounded accurate enough. Rainbow kept stroking her head thoughtfully.

"Listen, I'm gonna' go say hi to Thunderlane. He'll be glad to know that one of them is captured." She winced. "He's probably wondering what the hay is going on: he's been kept out of the loop pretty bad."

"Sure thing." Applejack nodded. "I'll head home. You know where to find me."

Rainbow grinned, and lunged at Applejack, stealing a quick kiss from her cheek. "Sure I do! Can't wait!"

Still feels strange. Strange, but comfortable.

Rainbow cantered away, their recent contact putting her in high spirits once again. Applejack even noticed a very literal spring in her step: with every third movement, she'd jump, her wings fluttering slightly, like she was skipping. Applejack almost laughed.

"You're hilarious," she whispered to herself.

It took her a minute to realize she had a spring in her step, too.

For the first time in a while, the hospital didn't seem quite as threatening. Rainbow's visits were often either regarding her less sucessful daredevil exploits, or a friend who was hurt. For once, her visit wouldn't be so depressing: she was on her way to deliver good news to an ex-co-worker on the mend. It was refreshing.

She trotted through the doors, announcing her presence quickly. Many ponies still gave her dark looks, but Rainbow didn't even mind. As far as she was concerned, they didn't matter anymore.

She was free.

Thunderlane's room was filled to the brim with girlish flowers, barely leaving the poor stallion room to breathe. Rainbow trotted in, dodging the forest of cards that had been sent.

"Hi there," he said. "You look pretty chipper."

"I am, thanks," Rainbow said. "Y'know the ponies that landed you here?" she said. Thunderlane brightened.

"You got 'em?"

"One," Rainbow corrected. "The other got hit on the head with a wrench."

Thunderlane laughed. "Ha! Serves him right." He nursed his side. "I'll be out of here soon. How's the team going?"

Rainbow shrugged. "No idea. I left."

Thunderlane's jaw dropped. "B-but... what about the weather? Ponyville?"

"A lot changed since you got here. I know it's only been a few days, but... well, stuff happens quickly around here." Rainbow trotted to a chair and sat down, making herself comfortable. "I guess I'd better tell you the whole story, huh?"

"You bet! What happened?"

"Well, first off, I wanted to make you provisional chief of weather," Rainbow said. "I don't intend to be going back, and somepony has to take care of those featherbrains while I'm gone."

Thunderlane shook his head, confused. "Slow down, boss-pony. First off... that's not a 'first off' kind of thing. Secondly, what? Me, chief?"

"Yeah," Rainbow replied. "It'll make sense when I tell you the story."

"See, that, right there, is why that wasn't a 'first off'," Thunderlane argued. "Ugh... just... tell me. Tell me everything."

The path to the farm was clear of witnesses. There weren't any distractions, no stupid Neighbourhood Watch Ponies, no crazy mares with wrenches, and above all, no Rainbow Dash. It was perfect, Bullit thought. There was nothing between him and his prey.

Applejack... that was the name he had heard. The dumb mare... she didn't even look like she could write her own name. She certainly couldn't pronounce anything right, what with that stupid, dumb, ignorant Earth Pony accent of hers. Bullit wrapped his hoof around a knife he had stolen. It wasn't made for fighting... in fact, he was sure it was made for cutting vegetables, but it'd do. Pin her down, and stab her 'till no more blood came out.

That was the plan. Bullit grit his teeth. He hated fighting one-on-one, but what choice did he have? He was livid. His blood was boiling, and his wounded pride would never let him retreat without dealing a significant blow to the defector, the traitor, the wimp, the coward, Rainbow Dash.

He clutched the side of his head. His left eye still wasn't working, and everything felt fuzzy. He didn't care. So what if he couldn't feel anything on one side of his body? That just meant he could withstand more punishment, right? Right?

The earth pony in question was trotting down the dirt road. She looked so happy, Bullit thought. He grinned. He'd be more than glad to turn that smile into a scream.

He stumbled out in front of her, squaring his stance, getting ready for a fight. Damn mare might kick. Applejack took a step back, confused.

"Y-you!" Bullit growled, presenting his knife to her. "You're Dash's squeeze, aren't you?!" His voice was distorted into a scream. His one eye was twitching wildly, his pupil contracted to a needle-point. "You heard of me? You gonna' laugh?!"

"Heard of you?" Applejack asked.

"Oh, you haven't. You... you... I hate you most of all. Every time I say, I say, I'm a gangpony, they laugh, or look at me funny. Such a stupid, stupid town. Stupid. With your wrenches and your Watch." He cackled, feeling his voice begin to crack. "I'm gonna' have a good time carving you a new smile. Or ten."

Applejack's face darkened as realization dawned. "You're Bullit, ain't you?"

"Ah! Ah! So Dashie talked! You're afraid now, I reckon?"

Applejack's frown deepened into a snarl. "You're the one that did that to RD's mane?" she asked. "You're the one who hurt Thunderlane? You're the one who tried to attack Scootaloo an' her mom?"

For the mere fraction of a second, Bullit flinched. This was not the reaction he was expecting. Not fear, not even laughter... just... what was it? Indignation?

"Yeah, that's me!" he growled. "Now come and get some!" He threw the knife expertly towards his victim.

Bullit had always been the sort of pony who'd see his enemies bleed out in front of him. He'd liked using pipes when he fancied hurting a weak victim, but bigger ponies... he preferred knives. Even guards and other gangsters respected knives. It was said that in a knife-fight, losers didn't bleed... they gushed. And no way was Bullit going to risk gushing blood. He was very good at throwing knives, whatever their size and shape.

It hit Applejack in the side, causing her to stop in her tracks. A trickle of blood ran down her coat. Bullit then flared his wings. That was his weak spot. That was where he'd aim to hurt. Ponies that were hurting were ponies that couldn't hurt him.

Then he could take his time.

He lunged forwards, a yell escaping his throat. To his surprise and increasing shock, so did Applejack. Years of flawless training had developed incredible instincts, and he swerved to the side in a wild attempt to dodge the Earth Pony's attack. Something was very wrong. Every pony that was injured by a knife, and saw their own blood, panicked. It was a universal fact.

All of a sudden, his right eye stopped working properly, making him effectively blind. Bullit assumed with remarkable clarity that his dodge must have failed... but surely no pony other than Rainbow could be that quick. His thoughts became a jumbled mess. Gravity went haywire, like he was tumbling around in a washing machine... and then the pain hit him like a firework across his nervous system, and he felt every vein in his eye, every square inch of battered, bruised skin, and every drop of blood that pounded around his injury. He was falling, and he screamed, his voice fuelled by equal parts surprise and agony.

Before he hit the ground, his last thoughts were that he really should have paid more attention to who the second pony he should have avoided was... because he was pretty sure he had just picked a fight with her.

Then he lost conciousness before Applejack could deliver a second punch. She punched anyway.

The three small, wiry, and loutish ponies backed away from the mare stomping towards them. One of them was clutching his ribs, his face screwed up as he tried to blink away the pain. Orchards had a diverse range of tools, they realized, from ploughs to shovels to carts to axes. And the mare in front of them had one.

"This here," she said, "Is my land. Nopony's gonna' come tell me what I can an' can't do on it, 'cause they respect me, and my privacy," Applejack growled, brandishing her weapon. "So now that one of you is in dire need of a hospital, and there ain't one here, how 'bout you get off my land before more of you need Nurse Redheart to put you in stitches?

The ponies all ran, with the exception of the injured pony. He just limped.

Applejack slung the axe after them, where it sank into a tree as they passed. One of the ponies screamed. A foot to the left, and the gangpony would be minus an ear. The farmpony turned to head home, shaking her head.

"Messin' up my trees... threatenin' my granny..."

She heard a rustling sound. More of them? She scanned around her, narrowing her eyes. "Who's there?"

"That was awesome!" came a voice from the trees. Applejack spun around angrily. She was in no mood for games, flattery, or in fact, anything. "You know, you have some serious moves."

A small blue head popped out from one of Applejack's favourite trees. Gerald was the trees name. "Is there a reason you're in my orchard? You want some of that too?" she asked. The pegasus dropped onto the ground, giving Applejack the opportunity to get a good look at her.

Light blue, rainbow tail, and a disturbing looking bandage around her head with tufts of mane sticking out. A pegasus.

"Naw, I was just taking a nap," she said. "But I have to say, I didn't expect to see anypony like me around here."

Applejack growled. "I ain't like you. I don't nap on other ponies property."

The pegasus rolled her eyes. "Relax, will you? I think you'll find we're on the same side," she said. "Like, you know the, uh... Sugarcube Corner?"

Applejack knew. "Yeah."

"Well, it gets bullied a lot. Some ponies left with a few broken bones and squashed snouts earlier." She gestured towards where the three gangponies ran off to. "Ponies like them."

"Are you trying to say you stood up to those thugs?" Applejack asked. The pegasus nodded.

"Yup. The name's Rainbow Dash. I'm new in town." She grinned. "And I happen to really hate gangponies."

Something about Rainbow's eyes caused Applejack to hesitate. She was ready to spring into action at any time, and slam this trespasser into the nearest tree... but she didn't.

"You hate gangponies, huh?" Applejack asked suspiciously. "What'd they ever do to you?"

Rainbow bristled. "What did they ever do to you?" she countered. Applejack harrumphed. Rainbow brushed her mane out of her eyes. "Well, anyway, I was wondering if you knew anywhere else ponies... like that... hang out?" She grinned. "I'd really like to meet them."

"We ain't starting anything," Applejack warned. After a brief wait, she added, "I ain't starting anything. I only do self-defence."

Rainbow gave a sharp cackle. "Boy, it's a good thing you met me, then. I'm awesome at starting things. Also finishing them."

Applejack was about to brush this madpony off, but she remembered. She remembered Mayor Mare, who was the target of attacks. She remembered Rarity's boutique, frequently broken into. She remembered the Barrel Scraper, filled with fighting and insults and crime.

"How 'bout we get a drink? I know a good place where ponies start stuff all the time." She lifted her hat. "The name's Applejack."

"Well, Applejack," Rainbow began, "I think this is the start of a beautiful partnership."

When Rainbow finished, Thunderlane let out a long, withered breath. "That's... a long story."

"Longest I've ever told," Rainbow replied. "So... that's that. I don't think I'll be going back to the weather team: as far as I'm concerned, I work on a farm now."

"How'll you practice being a Wonderbolt?" Thunderlane asked her. "Wonderbolts have a tendency to pick ponies who fly a lot."

"Wonderbolts pick ponies with unique and dazzling flying skills," Rainbow replied. "And as far as I know, I'll be the only pegasus who'll have trained on a farm. Besides, I'll still fly. I'll still fly a lot, even."

Thunderlane shook his head in disbelief. "Well... this'll be a big change. I can't believe Sky High said those things."

"I can't believe a lot of what's happened," Rainbow said. "You know, the biggest surprise for me is that even though everything has changed, I don't think I've ever been happier." She got to her hooves. "I'll see you around, Thunderlane. Take care."

"Likewise, boss-pony."

Rainbow stepped outside, leaving her old co-worker behind. Trotting down the hallway, gave herself a satisfied smile.

"That's that, then."

She began hearing the sound of hooves, and raised voices. "Get a stretcher!" came one of the voices, probably a nurse, or doctor. Rainbow frowned and trotted towards the entrance of the hospital, the source of the commotion.

A group of white-coat wearing ponies were gathered around two ponies. One of them, Rainbow realized with a start, was Applejack. The farmpony gave her a wave.

"Hiya, RD'," she greeted, and gestured at an absolute mess of a stallion. One half of his face was caked with blood, and the other side was bruised black. One of his eyes was shut tight, and the other was only half open. He was quite unconscious. "Look who I found."

Rainbow widened her eyes when she realized that the pony Applejack had dragged to the hospital was none other than Bullit Blaze himself. The doctors were busy attending to a small cut on her side, and worry and anger flared up inside her.

"...laughing... laughing at me..." he muttered incoherently. Rainbow's jaw dropped.

The doctors carried the broken pegasus away on a stretcher. Applejack gave Rainbow a little shrug.

"It's crazy who you meet, huh?" she said. "I found your old partner."

The nearby nurses looked back and forth at Rainbow and Applejack, unsure what to think. Rainbow snorted. "He's not my partner any more. Good riddance." She tilted her head. "Did he try to hurt you?" she looked at Applejack's injury. "Are you..."

"He was aimin' to kill, actually." Applejack beckoned her special somepony follow her, and the pair left the hospital behind. "He was tryin' to get at you through me." She spat. "Typical gangpony behaviour. I'm amazed nopony warned him not to try nothin' around me. Especially after what we did all them years ago."

"And that?" Rainbow said, again gesturing at the wound. Applejack snorted.

"If he thought he could hurt me with that lil' kitchen knife, he was dead wrong. You an' I both had worse."

Rainbow shuddered. "I'm sorry."

"Ain't no problem, sugar'. I'll take whatever trouble your messed up past can throw at me," Applejack told her as the pair trotted back down the beaten earth track. It really was a perfect day, Rainbow thought. "I stick by the ponies close to me."

They distanced themselves from the hospital, and the townscape transformed into countryside.

"Well, maybe you should be the element of Loyalty, huh?" Rainbow joked. "I guess we've all got a bit of everything in us, right?"

Both ponies stopped, and took a moment to stare at the sky for a second. "How do ya' feel?"

"Refreshed," Rainbow said. "It's funny. A lot changed in a week."

"It don't feel that different."

"It is, though," Rainbow said. "I'm living with my special somepony... Actually, I have a special somepony, which is huge... I quit my job to work an orchard, of all things, ponies around town don't trust me, and two ponies I wish I never saw again are going to be spending the rest of their lives in jail." She leant against Applejack's side, nuzzling the mare with as much tenderness as she could muster. "I think it's for the better, though."

Applejack snickered. "You ain't even started chores, yet," she taunted. "You'll sing a different tune when we start harvestin'." She broke away from Rainbow, and began to trot away. "So we better get started, right?"

They cantered towards the farm, Applejack sticking her tongue out at Rainbow. "Oh yeah? I'll just get it done even faster. You'll see!"

Mayor Mare gave herself a satisfied smile. No confession from Rattle, which was a bother... but Bullit had been ranting all day long. That was good: the pony just didn't know when to shut up.

Witnesses left, right, and centre. The doctors and nurses had heard everything, of course. Greased Lightning and the others had seen everything first hand. Rumours had a tendency to spread faster when they were negative and harmful, but evidence cured them just as quick. Of course, she thought, damage had been done, and it was no secret that Rainbow had left the Weather Team for good. Trust was invaluable in a working environment, and neither side had much left. There wouldn't be any going back to normal.

The Mayor heard the door knock. It was a firm knock, loud and forceful. "Come in." The pony who entered was a pegasus. He was very tall, and still looked fit despite his obvious age. His mane was going grey around the edges and his eyes were sagging slightly. Still, his bright magenta eyes looked like they could pierce through anything.

"I'm here to transport one Bullit Blaze to Canterlot, pending trial," he said. The Mayor nodded.

"Of course. I've filled out the forms already," she said. The guardpony didn't smile. "What'll happen to him when he gets there?"

"Canterlot is a big mountain," the guard said. "And the castle dungeons are very deep." The hint of a sneer crossed his face. "I doubt he'll see the light of day again. With the confessions you gave us, we've got him for several years worth of crimes, and now he's out of Canterlot, he won't get much protection from his gang."

The Mayor pulled the papers out of her desk. "You've been on his case for a while, then?"

"I took a break from his case years ago, ma'am," the guard said. "I'm just here to put him away." He took the papers and stored them in his saddlebags. "But it brings me no small amount of pleasure to see him in chains. He's done my family a considerable amount of harm."

"A lot of ponies have been harmed by him and his gang," the Mayor added. The pegasus nodded.

"Of course." He gave the Mayor a curt salute and then left the room. "You won't hear from him again. The E.U.P. thanks you and the Princess for your assistance in this matter."

The guard left, and the Mayor sat back in her chair. Then she finally allowed herself to relax.

There'd probably be some more trouble tomorrow.

Big Macintosh yawned loudly, lumbering into his room, each hoofstep slow and deliberate. It had been a tiring day... ever since Applejack had began running off with Rainbow Dash every other minute he had had to pick up the slack. He shrugged to himself: he didn't mind all that much. Applejack had done a lot for them, and in his opinion, she deserved a little time off.

Of course, he firmly intended to bring the matter up with her tomorrow. This could only go on for so long. He positioned himself in front of his mirror, and ran his hoof through his mane, messing his mane up. Not, he thought, that there was much to mess up in the first place.

He sat down heavily on his bed, and pulled his yoke off, struggling as he dragged it over his head. It crumpled his ears slightly as he removed the heavy accessory, and then, when he was free, he put it next to his bed, like he did every evening.

Then he yawned again.

He pulled his sheets, heavy, comfortable things, over his body and let his head fall down onto his pillows. He closed his eyes once, then opened them again, taking a minute to stare at his room before flicking the switch, turning his bedside lamp off.

He shut his eyes once again.

A thought occurred. He opened his eyes, and looked over at the mattress abandoned on the floor. He sighed with exasperation.

Applejack couldn't even wait more than one night.

Author's Notes:

Well, that's the end of that. I very much enjoyed writing this story. I had wanted to write a story where Rainbow had been a bully for a while, and her dealing with the consequences of changing her ways. What I hadn't expected was Bullit. I didn't anticipate such a... vocal response to him. I doubt I could ever end him properly at this point.

As for the townsponies, well, it strikes me as the most likely outcome. All that's been said will probably mean they'll never be on great terms with Rainbow, but the ones that matter would have forgiven her, and helped her get her life back on track.

This has been my longest story, but it's not the only one I'm really proud of. Like No Words Required, a short AppleDash where I challenged myself to not write a single line of dialogue. If you enjoyed this story or the Gift Shop (where I also challenged myself to do something weird) you'll probably enjoy that.

I hope you enjoyed the story, and have a very good one.

HapHazred