Applejack, tilling the farm while Big Mac checked the plant growth when Rainbow arrived. "Hey, AJ. It was so great to show those uptight mares who's the best in the business. I mean, yeah, I knew we were gonna win, but that was an epic win. No pony'll top that for years I bet. I didn't know I was such a natural at kissing but I think we should try to break our own record next time."

"Yeah, it was a good time and I was glad you were there with me this time. Ah hope you go again. Dashing, ya gotta understand that those are my friends and you didn't treat 'em very kindly. You gotta calm down, Dashing."

"I did awesome, AJ. I mean, c’mon, and they loved me!"

"Dashing, do you wanna be in a relationship with me?" Rainbow looked confused for a second then answered.

"Well, you're my best friend and now you're my," Rainbow paused as she thought of what to say, "fillyfriend. We've done things as friends and now... you've made me feel feelings I never had before, awesome ones. Of course I wanna be with you, but I guess I don't really know how to be anything but me. I don’t want us to change, cuz you’re cool like you are, and I’m awesome, by nature,” she winked.

"Rainbow, Ah won't ask you to change yourself for us to be together. I just need you to be nicer to my friends, even if they’re the ponies you work with. The way you were talkin to Flutterwing was down right rude, and everypony saw it. If ya treat others like that outside work, then you'll never get your flocks respect."

"AJ, I know what I need to do to get them to do what I say, and bein a pushover isn't gonna work. I've gotta wow 'em with my awesomeness."

Applejack leaned on her hoe with a sigh. "Dashing, Ah’m just sayin that ya have ta be better that awesome, ya gotta be kind. You can be you, the Rainbow Dash I fell in love with. But-"

"Another 'but,'" Rainbow said as she roller her eyes and then looked at the sky.

"But, I want everypony else to love you too. Not like I do, but to see you the way I do. As a wonderful mare that takes the challenges of life, and can inspire others to do the same. Not the Rainbow Dash that tells everypony that they're lame and won't measure up."

"I never say they're lame! Well, almost never, but then they deserve it. And if they try harder they can measure up to about here on me,” she lined her hooves to the bottom of her ribcage. “Not all the way to my level, but they can get close."

"That's what makes my heart ache, Rainbow," Rainbow looked at Applejack, her ears perked, "you make every other pony, from foals to elders, feel like they're nothing to ya. Always spoutin' you're the best at everythin' and they can't match ya,” Applejack scowled, “Ya even make Scootaloo feel like she’s not worthy to be around you. That's not what anypony needs in life, work, or love."

"I don't make her feel that way, AJ."

"Ya don't know how she feels, how I feel!" Applejack snapped as stomped her hoof into the soil and looked at Rainbow, "and ya can't know unless you feel the same way others do. No pony'll talk to you the way you talk to them cuz it's down right rude and mean to make others feel bad about themselves and their faults."

"Applejack, I-I didn't know I made ponies feel that way," Rainbow replied as she felt uneasy, "I'm sorry."

"Rainbow, you don't have to do anything different to be with me," Applejack said calmer, "Ah said I love you as you are, and I do. Ah want you to be friends with my friends and a role model to others. Nopony’s gonna be okay with the way you treat them if you act like yer better than them."

"I-I didn't know. I just thought they," Rainbow stopped talking and lowered her head and landed.

Placing a hoof on Rainbow’s back, Applejack moved close to Rainbow. "They don't, Dashing. They don't like the way you treat them. Ah want, and you need, them ta love you and respect you. You can be better, like you are with the five of your friends, you just have to get everypony else to see it."

Rainbow raised her head and took a deep breath in. "AJ, you’re awesome, too. I’m… well, you opened my heart in a way no pony ever has, and I like getting sappy with you, but I don't know how to be different. What if I let them down, or hurt my image, or maybe what if-"

"No, Rainbow. No more ‘what if’s’. You're Rainbow bucking Dash, and you can be kind to other ponies. You can make them love you by being the mare I know ya can be. The Rainbow Dash that Ah’m lookin’ at right now is what they need to see, even if its just sometimes." Rainbow was without words as she started into Applejack’s green eyes, then she broke eye contact and started hovering again. "Rainbow, ya okay?" Rainbow opened her wings and flew away suddenly, surprising Applejack who couldn't even call to her before she was out of range.

What was that about? Ah thought we were havin' a good moment. Ah guess she ain't gonna change, but it was worth a shot.

Big Mac caught her eye with his gaze and snorted before turning back to his plants.

Rainbow arrived to work on time and went right to work, filling out and filing her paperwork. She didn't delegate her work and still got the first part of her paperwork done before she had to go cloudbusting, then held a meeting with the three other Pegasi on duty before she began her duties about the current weather patterns and where each had to work that day.

"Flutterwing, I need you to get the rain showers in order for 5:00, 7:00, and 8:00 tonight over grid 17, 31, and, uh, 11. In that order. Edge Trimmer, you need to get clouds out of the sky over town hall but move a few together to make six type 4 nimbus’ over the market street for the sales ponies today and Watch Counter, I need you to check the reservoir and ambient humidity around it, then I need you all to go about filling your order requests that I put in your boxes. Any questions?" Edge raised her hand.

"Yes, Edge?"

"Who are you and where's Rainbow Dash?" Watch stifled a chuckle and Flutterwing smriked.

Rainbow rolled her eyes."Everypony needs to change it up, sometimes. You're dismissed," Rainbow said to the group as she stood tall and looked at them sternly. Dispersing into their various tasks, Rainbow hovered and floated to a nearby cloud to push it into place somewhere else. She puffed her chest proudly. This is one of the best days I've had in a while, they’re totally in awe of my... no, relax. It’s time for a change. Awesomely kind Rainbow Dash. Oh, that reminds me, she shoved the cloud and returned to the office and to Diamond’s door.

"Hey, Mister Diamond, can I have a minute?" Diamond raised his eyes from his paperwork and nodded, gesturing for her to take a seat without a word. "Diamond, I know I have a bad attitude sometimes and I wanted to tell you I'm working on it. I went on a date over the weekend and it was awesome and all, but I had a couple talks, and I'm ready to be a real manager. I won't let you down."

"Miss Dash, there are rumors that you're dating another mare, is this true?" Rainbow gulped and tensed, nodding once. "Miss Dash, I can't condone a manager to behave in a way that would cast a negative light on the company."

"Mister Diamond-" Rainbow started but was cut off.

"You will not be punished for your personal relationships, however if you let this affect your work negatively… Look, if you are dating a mare that works here and it ends badly it won’t end well for anypony, do you understand?"

"No I don't. You're saying if I date another mare I'll be fired for making the flocking company look bad? There are laws about that! I remember from that pile of papers I have to sign every year!"

"You are mistaken, Miss Dash. You will not be fired for being in a personal relationship with anypony, male or female. You will be fired for being rude, insulting, and/or derogative to the other members of the flock, especially your subordinates because of an onsite relationship."

Rainbow straightened her back as the words sank in. Diamond is saying I'm a jerk? Well, he’s a bigger one!

"Diamond," she started, "I know I'm a lot of awesome things, but being sappy isn't usually one of them, especially with a coworker."

"Then I strongly suggest you stay your course and glide true north, or you'll wings will fail you before the peak, Miss Dash. Do I make myself clear?" Rainbow felt her eyes starting to narrow as he finished the old saying. She got up and left his office without further argument. The sounds of him returning to work like nothing just happened hurt just as much to her.

"Rainbow, what's wrong? Why are you upset?" Quill asked as she landed next to Rainbow as she left Diamond's office.

"Can we talk in my office? Please?"

"Sure, let's go." They walked side by side as Rainbow choked back her frustrated words, her eyes enough though. Quill readied herself as they entered Rainbow’s office Quill closed the door. She wasn’t prepared for what happened next, as Rainbow began to cry quietly. Quickly, Quill held her close. "What happened in there? Did he do something?"

"I'm, I'm a jerk," Rainbow sniffled as she pressed her face into the gradient purple mare’s neck. Quill didn't know what to say as she held Rainbow Dash in her forelegs. "Applejack said I was a jerk, and now Diamond did, and I'm gonna get fired and lose Applejack because all I've ever known is how to be the pony I show everypony and all I do is brag and gloating and talking about how uch more awesome I am than everypony and,” she hiccupped, “I’m not, Quill. I’m always so scared to let everypony down, now I am.”

"What are you talking about? First of all, Applejack wouldn't leave you that easy, second, you’re right, you’re ego is too big sometimes, but you’re a great inspiration to other ponies,” Quill said softly, rubbing Rainbow’s neck and back. “You’re not a jerk, you’re just confident, is all.”

"But I am a jerk. I treat everypony like they're nothing, and I was rude at your party, and then I ditched AJ when she told me my attitude sucked but she was right," Rainbow said as she choked back sobs, wrapping her forelegs around Quill.

"Oh, sweetie. Applejack loves you, and that’s all that matters. How you were at the party was just fine. Flutterwing can stick a feather in her plot for all I care,” Rainbow chuckled as her noises stopped. “That’s better, now, look at me. Come on, let me see those eyes. That's better. Listen to what I'm going to say, and understand that everypony agrees. Rainbow Dash, you are a filly in a mare’s body."

Rainbow's eyes began to make enough tears to run down her cheeks. "Now that you know that, what are you going to change to act like a mare that’s deserving of respect and love?" Quill was talking calmly as she stroked Rainbows messy mane. "Rainbow Dash, I'm here for you, and so is every other pony that knows and cares about you. We’re here to help you, okay, sweetie?"

After a few minutes, Rainbow began to compose herself as she went around her office, finally stopping to open and lean against the window sil. “Quill, I need AJ."

Quill smiled and nodded as she went and shoved Rainbow playfully partially out the window, then stepped back. "I'll tell everypony you're checking on a report of unscheduled precipitation by the Everfree. You don't have all day, but it’ll buy you time so you can do this, go get her."

"Thank you, Quill. I owe you one," Rainbow jumped out the window, the feeling of gravity as it tugged at her body, she opened her wings and began to fly to Sweet Apple Acres.

Flying at a relaxing speed, she flew over the farm, then the trees in the orchard until she saw Applejack picking up fallen apples around a tree. Hovering in place, she watched Applejack routinely picked the apples off the ground that didn't land in the bushels then move to the next tree. After she finished, Applejack wiped her head with a cloth and Rainbow descended quickly, stopping to hover beside the farm mare. "Dashing, what're ya doin here? Ain't ya supposed to be at work?"

Rainbow rubbed a hoof against the other foreleg and exhaled. "AJ, you're right. I'm a jerk and I need your help."

"Rainbow, I never said you were a jerk," Applejack said with surprise, “did somethin’ happen?”

"You didn't have to, AJ. My attitude almost got me fired today and I realized that everypony was right," Rainbow looked at Applejack intently as she spoke, "I treat others like losers. I might be the best at a lot of things but I have to learn to not rub it in their muzzles."

"Fired? Ugh, okay, we’ll come back ta that. Look, Dashing, ya gotta work on your humbleness. Now, Ah don't want you ta think ya gotta be different all at once, but ya gotta change."

"Well, today I was nice. I don't think I've ever been so nice to my flock. But, I went to talk to Diamond, my boss, and he said if I act like, well, like me; then I'll be fired. I don't know what I'd do without my job at the weather control office, AJ."

"Dashing, you're a great mare and I know you can get everypony else to see it, and worse comes to worse, ya can work on the farm." Rainbow’s chest puffed up proudly, she smiled at the thought of her being the best at something else, then she raised an eyebrow.

"Would I have to work as hard as you do?” Applejack nodded, a noticeable drip of sweat ran down the Applejack’s head. “No," Rainbow said as she relaxed, "I don't want work on the farm, or to be the best at everything. I just want to be the mare you want me to be."

She chuckled with a playful roll of her eyes. "Dashing, you will the best, and Ah wanna be right there ta see it. And fer the record, Ah fergive ya for leavin' me after the party and ignoring me all Sunday."

Rainbow gulped. "Yeah, sorry about that. I didn't know what to say and I kinda felt hurt. Then I spent the next day hangin' out at my house and just workin’ out. Hey! I haven't seen any of the others for a while, wanna ditch work and see Fluttershy with me?" Applejack gave Rainbow a look that answered Rainbow’s question. "Okay, okay. I'm goin’ back to work for a while so I'm gonna see Fluttershy after and I'll swing by later. Ya gonna be done round 6:00?”

"Sugarplum, I'm done when the work is done."

"Oh, fine. I'll come back before sunset then."

"Fly safe, lover." Rainbow blushed and flew in the direction of the Everfree to start and finish her work as quickly as she could.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were in Sweetie Belle’s room talking as Apple Bloom began to vent.

"Ah don't get why Applejack wants Rainbow Dash as her special somepony. She can have any stallion in town, and she goes for her!"

"I don't believe it. I've been with Rainbow Dash a lot and I haven't seen her even looking at another mare like that," Scootaloo said loudly.

"Like what?" Sweetie asked.

"Like when Cheerilee and Big Mac were under the love potion spell. I saw that look when Rainbow was with Soarin a lot, but I think he had it more than she did, now that I think about it."

"Yeah, but they broke up, and she's with your sister now, Applebloom."

"No she ain't, Sweetie Belle! They’re just messin' with me to see how I'd react."

"If your sister's a fillyfooler, then could she another mare?"

"Hey, no pony is better than Rainbow Dash, and if Rainbow likes Applejack, then it's the best thing to ever happen to her."

”No she ain't and no they ain't. It's just a phase. Applejack’s gonna find a stallion and give me a niece in no time.

"Girls, time for lunch," Rarity called from downstairs. The fillies galloped from Sweetie’s room, down the stairs, and sat at the table’s chairs to eat their sandwiches and drink their iced tea.

"Applebloom, if your sister and Rainbow Dash have a foal, what'd it look like?"

Rarity gasped as her magic faltered and she dropped a cup into the sink she was washing. "What did you just say, Scootaloo? About Applejack and Rainbow Dash?"

"Well, Apple Bloom thinks they're special someponies, and Scootaloo says they don't have the spark, and Applebloom said she saw them kissing."

All the fillies said 'eewww' at the same time, then giggled as they went back to eating. Applebloom scrunched her muzzle as she thought of them kissing.

"They also spend the night together sometimes. Ah peeked once and they was all cuddlin' with Rainbows wings all over Applejack." The other two giggled as Rarity walked out of the kitchen in surprised shock.

“Well,” she mumbled, “if I knew they were going on a date... I’d have certainly made sure they matched better. Oh well, next time I’ll be better prepared,” she smiled and went to her inspiration room with ribbons of every color taking on a blue hue, just as she shut the door.