"C'mon Rainbow Dash, you gotta keep up if ya wanna beat me," Applejack called behind her as she and Rainbow Dash hoof raced through Sweet Apple Acres. Dodging and weaving through trees they kept pace with each other, even though a lack of area knowledge made Rainbow Dash have to hop several times over exposed roots or an errantly placed bushel basket in the path.

"Applejack, no fair!” Rainbow shouted from several lengths behind, “you tied my wings down and it's throwing off my balance. How can I beat you when I can't even keep my balance right?"

"Sugarcube, you're runnin' just fine to me, and I ain't stoppin just cuz you ain't winnin'."

Passing the finish line, Applejack trotted off the path and bucked the air to celebrate as Rainbow Dash was panting at a fast trot trying to pass the finish line with a frown. Catching her breath Rainbow Dash challenged for a rematch. "You only won because I couldn't use my wings for balance, and that's the same as cheating, so you didn't win fairly. I wanna rematch."

Laughing as she pranced over proudly Applejack gloated. "Well looks like you remember as good as you run. It was yer idea to tie yer wings down, not mine.” Rainbow bit the rope and yanked hard, but it didn’t move. She yelped at the sharp pain, though. “You okay? That looked like it hurt."

The binds were too strong to rip and tight enough to pull small feathers from her wings. "Get this offa me," she grumbled. The feeling of her wings being tied down was uncomfortable as it was but being unable to free them was irritating her.

Applejack untied the knot and Rainbow’s wings flew open, smacking Applejack in the chest and knocking her to the ground. "I'll win the next one, so ya better be ready to eat dust!" Rainbow shouted as she stuck her tongue out and flew away.

"That mare is one sore loser," mused Applejack as she got up and went back home to check on dinner’s progress.

"Eh Sugarcube, it's been a couple days, ya ready for another challenge since I whupped ya at racing? And don't go spoutin' none of your flying nonsense; we're playin' on an equal field and you know it. How about tug o' war or hoof wrastlin’?"

Applejack had met Rainbow Dash outside the far end of Sweet Apple Acres where a fence divided their land from nature beyond and she was eager to win.

"Meh, I don't feel like a challenge today, can we just chillax for a while?"

"What? Since when don't you wanna try to beat me? Did my win hurt that bad?"

"No, I just don’t feel like it today. Maybe we can have a snack and nap."

Applejack trotted and sat down on a grassy knoll and patted the ground, beckoning Rainbow Dash to sit next to her. The grass was warm and soft; the air smelt of apples and sweet flowers, and there was a light breeze that ruffled their manes as they sat in silence for a minute enjoying the afternoon sun on their faces.

"Rainbow, can I ask you something?

"You just did," Rainbow smugly replied.

Applejack sighed. "You know what I mean Rainbow Dash. My question is, why are you such a hothead lately?"

"What? I'm not a hothead. I'm the best and everypony should know it."

"Now, that's exactly what I mean. You spout to everyone you're the best but cha ain't, else I wouldn'ta beat you at that race. Ever since Soarin dumped you, you’ve been down in the dumps and hidin’ it."

Gasping and moving away, Rainbow growled. "You don't have any right to bring that up, AJ. You know I dumped him because of, reasons," Rainbow looked at the ground and stomped it before continuing, "and he rebounded onto that filly floozy and it'll end just the way it started. With him crying over me, not the other way around."

Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Now, you know I didn't mean it like that. Ah just mean you gotta admit defeat someday." Applejack said flatly as she poked Rainbow in the ribs. “Lovers like a mare that’s humble, right?”

Rainbow Dash blushed and looked at the ground. Applejack smirked. "You're turning a mite purple. Oh my, did you and Soarin… ya know?”

"Applejack, that’s none of your business. But yes, okay we did it and it was, okay. He said it was the best he ever had and all that," she paused. "He left me, like, every time right after he was done and he always said I was the best he'd ever had, like he got around a lot."

"Well, it's his loss. Now he gets some floozy and we get the great Rainbow Dash. Yer better off without him."

Rainbow Dash punched Applejack in the foreleg then opened her wings and hovered. "Thanks, maybe you're kinda awesome too. I’ve got a few clouds to move around, but I'll see you later? Come by my house and we'll have dinner, my treat.”

Rainbow didn't wait for a reply as she flapped quickly and took off into the sky, leaving her rainbow trail behind her.

Applejack sighed as she watched the trail dissipate then smiled as she reached and touched the spot she was just punched. She smiled thoughtfully.