Fluttershy held Rainbow Dash as the daredevil trembled in her soft embrace. Her lap was the perfect cushion for Rainbow as she looked on with the worry a mother would have for her child. "Rainbow, please. You must tell me what happened? Was it something bad? I didn't do anything to make you upset after you left, did I?"

"No," Rainbow said as she turned and buried her face in Fluttershy's underbelly, just above her teats, "it wasn't you."

"Was it Applejack? Did she... break up with you?" Rainbow sat up and looked at Fluttershy. Rainbows eyes were welled with tears, but she was doing her best to hold her emotions inside.

Rainbow let a sob leave her lips but stifled it. "Me and AJ are okay. For now. Oh no. What'll she-?" Rainbow began to blubber, letting herself fall back into her friend’s lap. Fluttershy stroked Rainbows back lightly and hummed a relaxing melody. A few minutes passed then Rainbow sat up, her back turned to Fluttershy. "Is AJ is going to hate me?"

"Oh, Rainbow. Applejack will never hate you. What happened to cause all this? You can trust me."

With a shaky sigh, Rainbow explained what had happened to Fluttershy. Fluttershy's expression turned from worry to concern to anger as Rainbow finished. "Rainbow Dash. What happened, I'm sure was an accident. Twilight wouldn't intentionally-"

"The flock she wouldn't. I've never been enchanted before, Fluttershy. Never. And for it to be sexual. And to have it happen by one of my best friends. And for what she made me do to her," Rainbow looked away as her voice became shaky, "...to Applejack."

"Rainbow, I understand you are upset, but I think you should talk about this with Applejack and Twilight, together."

"No, Fluttershy. I can't just go to Applejack and be all 'Hi, AJ. Twilight enchanted me so I'd roll in the hay with her, just to get back at you.' It sounds crazy! I don't even believe me sayin' it! I'm not a great liar, Fluttershy.

“What if AJ gets mad at me? Doesn't want to be with me? It's been a week and all this manure’s happened. Why? Fluttershy, why can't we just be happy and all our friends be happy for us?"

"I know that I'm happy for you. I haven't seen you this happy for a long time, and you have changed for the better, even if you don't notice it.

“You're becoming humble and more respectful, and that's because you have real love. Even if it is a bit untraditional, it is still love. Like what I have for my critters. I love them more than I will any pony, when I'm not around you or the other girls.

“Rainbow, I fell you should trust Applejack to make her own decisions, and then this will resolve itself. If it is good or bad for you, you are Rainbow Dash, and you will always recover."

"Okay. Fine," Rainbow said as she wiped her eyes dry and gave one last sniffle, "I'll talk with AJ as soon as I can. If you hear screaming, it'll be her and me."

Fluttershy shook her head slightly and helped Rainbow to her hooves and walked her to the door. "Good luck, Rainbow Dash." Remember, you will be fine.

Rainbow turned and flew back to town, leaving Fluttershy just outside her cottage. I hope those mares work this out okay. I'll make some tea and bring it to the library right away, for them to talk it over.

"Diamond, sir? I have a personal problem and have to take tomorrow off. I have the request written and ready for you right here," Rainbow asked as she entered his office without knocking and shut the door behind her.

"Miss Dash," he said pressing a hoof to his forehead, "You took an hour and a half out in the field today and I have a report you were not working. Napping or stunt flying isn't part of your job.

“Consider this your last warning, you may take the rest of the week to resolve your personal issues."

"But, Mister Diamond, I don't need all week off, just a day."

"I understand your predicament, however I am offering you a final chance here," his voice was becoming stern and frustrated.

"Mister Diamond, I was-"

"Rainbow Dash,” he growled softly, “if you leave work to pursue personal matters, it does not concern this office or the company. You have a week to decide if you want to work with the flock, or flock off," he shouted.

It was the first time Rainbow had heard him shout and his voice resonated in the office as he stomped his hooves on his desk and raised himself. He suddenly became very imposing and threatening as his brow furrowed and his top lip quivered. "I have sacrificed a lot for this company and the work we do.

“You treat it like it's a feather stuffing playground... it is a wonder to me how you became a manager before I was appointed here. You spoke to me about changing yourself, then you take a personal day, and you act like it's nothing."

"But, Mister Diamond-"

"Rainbow Dash, you are dismissed from my office, or I will terminate you on the spot. And respectfully close the door behind you," he said calmly as he sat down in his seat. Rainbow snorted in frustration but clenched her jaws shut, choosing to say nothing and leave.

She turned and closed his door quietly while she imagined shouting at him until he cried, then she’d watch him fly away limply, leaving a trail of tears. The office was deathly quiet as two dozen ponies looked at her expectantly.

"What?" Rainbow asked openly.

"I've never heard him yell," a random pony said from the back to another.

"He's a jerk, whatever. He won't fire me, I’m too awesome," Rainbow said as she walked away from his office. The door to his office opened and Diamond coughed to get her attention. Stopping, but not turning around, Rainbow stood in place, rolling her eyes and mimicking him.

"Miss Rainbow Dash. For open insubordination immediately following a discussion with your superior, I am permitted to release you from your position as a manager in the Cloudsdale Weather Administration.

“You may stay on as a level two employee, if you choose," he stated with a hint of satisfaction.

A few gasps and a laugh that belonged to Flutterwing were the only noises in the office as everypony else fell silent.

Turning around slowly, Rainbow looked at Diamond. "Mister Diamond Wing. It has been an honor to work for the company but, you can go fuck yourself."

There was a moment of silence before the work floor erupted into shouts and laughter as Rainbow stood in front of the scowling stallion.

Raising the second feather on her right wing to him she took flight out of the building.

Celestia, what did I just do? This sucks. I should have let it go and left, taken my week off. Now I got demoted, she groaned to herself as the air rushed by her head and through her mane. I know it’s sappy, but I need AJ right now.

Finding Applejack was easy while she was high above the farm. Big Mac and Applejack were talking and when Big Mac excused himself, Rainbow lowered herself to the ground, striking a forced grin with a shaky greeting. “Hheeey, Appleja-ack,” she fought the emotions flooding her mind, but she couldn’t stop the tears from welling up in her eyes.

Running up to Rainbow, Applejack embraced her. "Sugarplum, what wrong? You were so happy earlier. What happened to take the color outta my rainbow?"

"AJ, it has been the worst day of my life. I don't know… know how to tell you."

"Sugarplum, you can tell me anything, and I won't be mad at you."

"I did something bad. I did a lot of bad things today," Rainbow blinked, several tears clearing her eyes and running down her cheeks.

"What did you do? I won't get mad, just let me know." Applejack began rubbing Rainbows mane comforting her.

"You, you promise?"

"I promise you, Ah won't get mad," Rainbow buried her face in Applejack’s neck and mumbled something. "What was that sugarplum? I didn't hear you."

"I had sex with Twilight." Applejack pushed Rainbow off of her and jumped up to her hooves, her narrow eyes scanning Rainbow Dash for a sign of humor.

"What the buck are you talkin' about?" Rainbow couldn't look at Applejack, she just laid on the ground and sobbed. "How the buck could you... Why? After everything you said today, and over the weekend! And what about our time alone?!" Applejack shouted at Rainbow as she felt the corners of her eyes betraying her upset feelings. "You lied to me. Ya said you loved me..."

Rainbow sat up, but didn't make eye contact with Applejack. "She cast a spell on me and I couldn't control myself. It was the most scared I’ve ever been, I think, AJ,” Rainbow looked into Applejack eyes and the corners of her mouth tugged, seeing her cry. “I was watching what I was doing, but I couldn't stop. I screamed inside my head and tried to run away, but the magic took over my body.”

Rainbow sighed, sitting up and wiping her eyes with her forelegs. “She stopped enchanting me, but it was too late, and then I ran away. I ran away screaming like the coward I am,” she hung her head. “Applejack, I've never been so scared in my life, and now I’ve let you down because of it." Rainbow fell to the grass and covered her head with her forelegs and fell silent, trembling was the only thing she could do.

Applejack stood still as confusion, anger, and sadness fought inside her. After a long moment, she finally walked to Rainbow, stopped to look down at the trembling mare, and then walked past her.

Lifting her head, Rainbow looked back, saw Applejack walking stoically away from her, shook her head, and flew home.

The moon was low in the sky as Rainbow laid in her bed, looking at the stars in the sky though the window. Only a few stars out tonight. Luna must be having a lot going on. She's not the only one. Here I am, crying and feeling sad for myself all day when I'm the one who made it all happen.

I didn't have to go to Twilight’s, alone. I didn't have to be rude to Diamond. I lost my job and now what do I have? A cloud house that belongs to the company. I'll be homeless, loveless, jobless, and hopeless. I have my friends still. Some of them anyway. What the fluff am I doing with my life? Everypony was right, I do treat everything like it's a game, a joke. Like there aren't any recipocunsions for what I do. Now I'm paying for it all. I’m a coward and I’m losing everything because I can’t do the best for everypony.

There were a few soft knocks at Rainbows front door. Great. Now Fluttershy's here. What else can go wrong today? Maybe Angel ran away and it's my fault too.

Going to the door took almost a minute for the exhausted Rainbow Dash to drag her hooves from the bed to the door. Fluttershy was crouching low to the ground when Rainbow opened the door.. "What's up, Fluttershy?"

"Um, I'm supposed to get you and you're supposed to go to the library, uhm, right now, actually."

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "You have got to be joking. I'm never stepping a hoof in that place again."

Fluttershy backed up a pace, trembling now. "Please. It's kind of really important."

"You do remember what Twilight did to me this afternoon, right? I got demoted today too. I can't handle her horse apples right now. I’ve messed up too much, what if this is the end of the Elements of Harmony?"

"Rainbow, you have to help. We need to go to the library, now. Applejack and Twilight were fighting."

"Wait, AJ went to Twilight? What the heck?" Rainbow placed her hoof on her forehead. "What happened?"

"Well, I was bringing some hot tea to the library when I saw the police outside. I asked to go in, but there was a fight, they told me. They want to talk to you, to ask you a question or two."

"Oh, pluck me. What else can go wrong today? Oh, I know, lets involve the police! Ugh, whatever, let's get this over with." Rainbow flew slightly ahead of Fluttershy as they approached the library. "Hey Fluttershy? Do you have that extra room still open?"

"I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash, but, I have that as a room this month for a traveling family of-"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get it."

"So officers, what can I help with?" Rainbow asked one of the royal guards standing outside the door as she hovered to them, “I thought this was a police thing.”

"Who are you?" Asked the stallion, looking at her with a steady gaze.

"You seriously don't know me? I'm the amazing, awesome, best flier in all of Equestria; Rainbow Dash," she said boxing the air.

"You have permission to enter. Go inside and you'll be debriefed."

"Debriefed? I'm not even wearing clothes, bub.” Putting on her best smile, Rainbow flew through the now open door.

Rainbow felt like giggling at the mess. Books were strewn all over the floor, some were half hanging from the shelves, others were torn, while three had char marks on them. What happened here? Did they really fight it out? Flying to the local sergeant on duty, Rainbow addressed him. He was a strong legged, green coated earth stallion with red hair. He wore gold and silver enchanted body armor denoting his position. "Yo, pops. What's the deal? Ya needed me ta stop a fight?"

Turning around, he looked Rainbow square in the eye with a fierceness that startled the cocky expression she had right away. "Rainbow Dash, I presume?"

"Uh, Yeah?" Rainbow tried to put her confident smile back on her face, but it wouldn't stay. This guy is as scary as a first year flight sergeant. "What of it. Am I under arrest?"

"No. However, your friends are. As you can see there was a fight and neither of them won. There are no winners in fights to begin with, but this was a true stalemate it seems."

"Yeah, so? There was a fight between my friends. What's this gotta do with me?"

"It seems, you are the reason they fought." Rainbow moved back a bit. Still hovering was easy, trying to mask the embarrassment wasn't. "Apparently you are in a love triangle between them and it came to blows. Unicorn magic versus earth pony strength usually is a decisive one sided battle. This one had a different outcome. It so happens that Princess Celestia’s student was involved with the towns strongest pony, it was a close stalemate. I have a couple questions to ask before I take you to the local police department."

"Am I under arrest?” Rainbow asked. When he shook his head she smirked. “Fire away."

"Are you in a sexual relationship with Applejack and Twilight Sparkle?" Rainbow crossed her forelegs with a pout "I need an answer now."

"Yea and no, I guess, mostly."

"Rainbow, I need you to elaborate." Hanging her head Rainbow plopped onto the floor and sighed. "We can't resolve this without your testimony."

"Fine. I just started dating Applejack. I came over here to talk to Twilight about it since her and Applejack used to be going out. I never knew those two were plothu-, uh, marefriends, and I don't think it's a big deal since-"

"Stay on topic, Miss Dash."

"Right, so, I came over here to talk to Twilight and she thought I was a changeling and a demon and cast spells on me-." The sergeant took a step back and quickly asked his next question.

"Are you a changeling, Miss Dash?"

"Uh, no. I was about to tell you that. Anyway, she cast some ‘show me the changeling in disguise’ magic on me a few times. When she let me go I tried to leave and she enchanted me. She made me get all..." Rainbow looked away from him with a frown on her face.

"’All’, what? Miss Dash."

"I-I don't want to say it."

"Either you tell me now, or I can arrest you for withholding information and you can tell me at the station." Rainbow thought of what it would be like spending a few days in jail. Free food. A chance to reread Daring Do. No room to fly. Small cell. Using the toilet in the open.

"Fine," Rainbow resigned, "Twilight made me start to have sex with her. She stopped the spell andI ran away.” Rainbow huffed in frustration. “There, now you know. Laugh it up."

Placing a hoof on Rainbow's shoulder, the sergeant spoke softer than he had earlier. "Rainbow, what happened was not your fault. Attempted rape through magic is a serious crime and is punishable by imprisonment. Not even the student of Princess Celestia is immune to the laws. Do you want to file an official report against Twilight Sparkle?"

"What? No, she's my friend."

"That neither makes her actions excusable or say that she won't do it again."

"I don't think she will, and if she does I'll-I'll," Rainbow felt her voice cracking as she let her false bravado fall and stopped talking so she could hold back her emotions.

"Miss Dash, walk with me to the station and I'll fill you in on what happened." Rainbow nodded and followed him out the door. The royal guard standing outside the door looked and scoffed at Rainbow as she passed. “Miss Dash, something happened during their fight that defies known magic. It turns out you bearers of the elements can't hurt each other the same as normal magic users. Did you know Applejack had casting powers?"

Rainbow stopped and looked at him before hovering and flying after him. "Earth ponies can't cast magic."

"That's what we believed. It seems that when the physical fight began, Twilight attempted a standard hold spell. It's a spell like when they levitate items around them, but this version holds a pony in place."

"Yeah, I know that one pretty well," Rainbow mumbled.

"Well, Applejacks chest began to glow and canceled the spell. That was how the first kicks got thrown."

"Wait, they actually hit each other? Who won?"

"I already told you, neither of them. Spike returned and we were called to the scene to stop it before it became deadly."

"Deadly? I don't think it would've gotten that bad."

"Miss Dash, did you know Applejack is the strongest pony I've ever met? It took six of us just to stop her progress towards Twilight, who was already bleeding from her muzzle,” Rainbow gasped, “even with us holding Applejack back we couldn't restrain her until another unicorn arrived on the scene.

“Twilight Sparkle is well known as one of the best magic users in Equestria, yet she barely kept Applejack at bay with defense spells,” he looked at her and frowned, “I don't know why you're smiling, Rainbow Dash. Applejack broke through Twilight’s shields to get to her, possibly to injure her further."

Rainbow gasped in surprise, covering her mouth with her hooves. "So, they were really fighting to the death?"

"Over you, Rainbow Dash." Rainbow stopped and watched the officer in front of her, mouth agape. “Still feel so awesome?”

Walking into the police station, Rainbow looked around and hummed at how plain it was. It wasn't like in the movies with cubicles full of uniformed stallions marching around shouting orders and holding dangerous convicts against the walls, shouting at them. This office was a large sterile room with three desks setup in a triangle, two offices in the back getting tea, and soft music playing from a radio on a file cabinet. Not what I expected at all.

"This way, Miss Dash." Rainbow snapped out of her gaze and trotted over to him.

"So, what's the deal? Why'm I here?"

"Actually, Applejack has requested to see you. She is very worried about you and she isn't calming down; she's hurting herself trying to see you."

"Hurting herself? Like, biting herself or something?"

"No, she's fighting her restraints and preventing our medical personnel from treating her injuries. She's been in her cell for two hours and hasn't stopped fighting. I've never seen a more tenacious pony in all my life."

"Can't you put her to sleep or something?" Rainbow asked as he took a key from the wall with his teeth and unlocked a large metal door then placed the key back.

"Miss Dash! I'm so glad to see you again," Nurse Redheart smiled at Rainbow and raised her hoof in greeting from inside the room. Bumping hooves together, the nurse continued. "I heard you ask why we couldn't put her to sleep. There is a limit on how much medicine we can give a pony. We reached that limit with her and it relaxed her, but she’s still struggling.”

"Uh, doc, officer-guard-guy, is this normal for a pony to see an inmate like this? In the movies there's always lawyers and judges."

The other two chuckled. "Don't believe everything you see in the movies or read in books. Follow us." The building was a lot larger than it looked from the air or outside. A flight of stairs led down to various halls with offices and interrogation rooms lit by lanterns and a single flickering light in a room with a desk and two opposite chairs in it.

Following the duo, Rainbow was led to the end of a hall where the guard opened the door with his keys. "Be careful and stay clear of her, just in case. We're gonna be right here watching." With a nod, Rainbow entered the room slowly..

The cell itself was painted light pink and was essential bare except for a toilet-sink device and a medical bed with a mare strapped to it.

Applejack stopped tugging her forelegs and sighed. She was panting lightly as she looked down her body to Rainbow Dash.

"Su-Sugarcube? Is that you?"

"Yeah, AJ, it's me. Are you, okay?" Applejack relaxed and laid her head back against the mattress and sighed.

"I love you, Rainbow Dash. I’m sorry about all this nonsense."

"Uh, okay? What brought that on?"

"After you told me what Twi did, AH saw red and marched to her library. I started talkin', then we started yellin', then I swung at her before I knew it and she fell," Applejack pouted, "then she cast magic on me. When I was hovering there, bein' tossed around like a ball at school, all I could think of was what she did to ya. Then Ah felt somethin’. It was the same as when I use my element of magic."

"AJ, that's what I felt when we were kissing at the party!"

"Ah believe it, it was a good time,” she hummed contently. “Well, Ah looked and I was fallin’ from her magic spell to the floor. Then I went back ta tryin’ ta slap some sense inta her, but she put up a shield around herself. Busted ‘em down like an old wall in a barn,” she smirked at the thought, “Got five down, closer each time to her angry face, and I’da got the last one down, but the cops stopped me.

“Ah was glad they did, cuz Ah was feral, Dashing, I lost control and," her breath hitched as her face went blank. Rainbow hovered back. "I wasn't gonna kill her, I just wanted to pin her to the floor and let her know what I thought of what she did, about how wrong it was."

"So, you weren't trying to kill her?" Applejack moved her head up and looked at Rainbow with surprise.

"Sugarplum, there hasn't been a murder in Ponyville history! I'll be darned if Ah'm gonna be the first, and over a lovers quarrel." Applejack let out a single laugh then laid her head back down. "Rainbow, I love you, and I don't blame you for what she did. Ah don't really blame her either. She's just jealous and handled it wrong. She might be a bookworm, but that don’t make her smart."

"That's for sure," Rainbow laughed.

"Well, I don't think it'd gone so bad if she didn't tell me I was a idiot for leaving her for you. Ah’ll be honest, she said a few choice words about me, but when she brought my family into it, I went a swingin'. Ah said a few things and that just made it worse and that was when she went blastin’ and I went at her. Ah’m such a numbskull. Granny’s gonna tan my hide fer this."

"Well, that's what happens when you fight friends, AJ. I’m gonna go, but I forgive you for fighting over me, should I expect this more often?" Applejack laughed.

"That's the last thing I wanna do. Now, this medicine an me 're fighting, and I'm losin'." Rainbow gave Applejack a pat on her leg and left the room to talk to the others.

"So, what's the plan? Throw her in prison to see the judge and jerky?"

With a laugh, Nurse Redheart replied. "You really have to watch less movies, and it's 'jury'. If you're not going to file an official report, and neither of them are willing to, then we'll let them both go with fines and citations. I'm going to have them stay through tomorrow night to calm down, assess their mental state, and consult some professional ponies that deal with these things, but they should be fine. On that note, do you want to see Twilight?"

Rainbow thought hard for a moment then decided with a shrug. "Okay, lead the way." Following the others again, she was led back through hall and down another shorter one with green doors, each with an image of a unicorn horn in a red circle, each with a glass wall facing the hallway, offering full view of the pony inside.

Sitting on a bench built out of the wall inside one cell was Twilight, her legs shakled together, a cloth on her horn, and her face matted from where tears had run down to the bandage that adorned her lower jaw, accented by several varieties of colored patches on her left side.

"Do you want to go in? She is magically locked, but with her power I'll go in with you to suppress her, if she attacks you?"

"She won’t attack me, but sure, I've gotta show her I still care."

The door was opened and Twilight sat up straight, her chains jingling as she adjested herself on the bench, looking intently at the opening to see who was visiting. With a gasp, Twilight covered her mouth with her hooves and turned away.

"Twi? Are you okay? I'm here to check on you." Twilight tried to sniffle, but a whine escaped her. "So, uh, did you get the one about the unicorn chef in jail? It was the worst thyme of her life," Rainbow grinned.

Twilight looked back, red eyes and disheveled mane showing her state of mind.

"I'm really sorry, Rainbow. About everything. What I did to you, and fighting with Applejack... It was all my fault and I deserve whatever punishment I receive. I didn't mean to…” she hiccuped, “ I mean what I did..." Twilight began to cry as Rainbow went to give her a hug. Embracing each other, Rainbow let Twilight cry.

"Twi, I don't understand what went through your head, and don't want to. What you did was wrong and, honestly, almost evil." Twilight began to cry again, pushing Rainbow back and covering her eyes. "But, you're one of the best mares and friends I've ever had, and I forgive you and I love you, as a friend." Twilight looked at Rainbow as she lowered her hooves and sighed shakily. "And if you ever do anything like that again, I won't stop AJ," Rainbow winked.

They shared a cautious laugh and hugged. “Rainbow, I’ll always remember you and the girls, no matter where they send me. I just hope, that you have a good life with Applejack,” Twilight sniffled with a forced smile. “Goodbye, Rainbow Dash. I guess, I’ll see you at court.”

Rainbow smirked. “Yeah, guess so, egghead. I’ll send you some flowers to snack on,” she leaned in to whisper, “with a file in it,” she patted Twilight on the back and flew from the room.

Twilight gawked at Rainbow as the mare left, smiling warmly at Rainbow, who looked back and winked.

“A file in flowers?”

“Hey, just messing with her, and if I did, it’d be a file on books or something,” she elbowed the stallion, “get it? Huh? A file!” she laughed as the others rolled their eyes and led her from the area.