As I tied silver silk ribbon near the base of my tail, thoughts of my encounter yesterday came to mind. The little meeting that I interrupted brought some things to light as well. Such things were trivial, like how Rainbow didn't have a clue what the Racing Divisions were.

One would think that a Wonderbolt Fangirl would know that the Wonderbolts Raced in the Phoenix Cup, but Rainbow? She hasn't even heard of it! She calls herself the best flier of Equestria, but Cloudchaser could race circles around her, and she placed third in the Lightning Cup! Third! Rainbow is supposed to be the best of the best, not an average scrub. She should be racing, performing, and NOT managing Weather for Ponyville and its district! What's worse is that all she knows about the professional flying scene is the Wonderbolt Flight shows. She has never heard of the Shadow Bolts, Blue Ravens, The Falcons, Red Eagles, nor Sky Striders, the Wonderbolts archnemeses!

If Rainbow wasn't the Element of Loyalty, her and I would've had a talk involving my hoof, her flank, and some whipped cream, followed by some serious testing to see if all Pegasi were masochists.

Then there is the issue of her knowledge of Spitfire or lack thereof. Most Fangirls or Guys knew that I was her daughter and would try to get to her through me. Which was nice at first, but using them as my minions got old, and I got grounded. Multiple times. Nowadays, I am the one with Fangirls and Guys. Though not many, plus I'm not well known as the Wonderbolts either.

"Hawkfire, the Azure Comet!" is what they call me on the track. "The White Rose," is what they call me on the stage. "Ruby, the Crimson Death," is what they call me in a fight. All three names related to my talents, but there is one more, however. The one thing I find my solace, my comfort, and I'll never do it again. Not for my mother, not for my lover, not even if my life depended on it.

I. Will. Never. Sing. Or. Play. Music. Again.

End of story.

'Though, I wonder what Rainbow is thinking with all the Griffons around?' I wondered, finishing tying my ribbon. Reaching over to my vanity dresser, I grabbed a black, leather collar and put it on with a little "tingle-ting," of the silver bell attached to it like a dog tag. Putting it on, I began the long, meticulous task of preening my wings.

'I know Cloudsdale has no Griffons living in the city since the locals don't trust them. I hope Rainbow isn't like that. It would be a shame to take her out to dinner where they served meat, but what do I care? Pinkie Pie has probably already forced her to not hate Griffons anyways with a Pinkie Promise, and everyone knows that breaking one of those is a death sentence.'

"Hmm, maybe. I'll check later after practice," I thought out loud with a final pluck of a pesky Primary that finally decided it wanted to come out after bothering me for a few days. Checking myself out in the mirror on my vanity to make sure I was picture perfect, I grabbed my leather jacket and put it on, even though it was late summer, and walked out of my room to begin the day.

Elsewhere in the town of Ponyville, a rainbow-maned Pegasus was trotting down the gravel streets with the enthusiasm of a snail. Her wings sagged in dejection from the little fight with her best friend, Fluttershy.

Rainbow couldn't understand what she did wrong. All she asked was to be Fluttershy's Flight Instructor instead of that nobody in the bunny suit. Even when she made a valid argument that Rose was a horrible teacher by pointing out her lifestyle choices and how she couldn't possibly stay fit by consuming Nuka Cola like water and munching Chips like her life depended on it, or how it was impossible for the mare to have learned directly from Spitfire, Fleetfoot, and Soran themselves. The amount of Brainwashing that Rose did to Fluttershy and her other friends was going to end, starting today.

Though, she will admit that she went too far about stallions when they got involved. How was she supposed to know that Rose was a Lesbipony?! Stallions wouldn't stop gawking at her in the bunny suit when she left! She just doesn't understand any of it, and it frustrates her.

Dragging her hooves behind her, Rainbow walked passed several stalls without realizing it. The scent of fresh produce, baked goods, and horrifically, meat, roused her from her negative thoughts back to the reality. Looking up from her staring contest with the ground, Rainbow found herself in the center of a farmers market. Sturdy, wooden stalls with homegrown or cooked food sat in the open to entice customers everywhere she looked. Ponies and a few Griffons walked to and fro buying, selling, and trading for the delectable treats and the standard fare with cheer.

The far side of the market she saw a stall selling apples. Her stomach grumbled like a dragon, ordering her to eat something to stave off the hunger from missing breakfast. Licking her lips, she twitched her wing where her wallet was hidden and felt that she had a few bits to spare. 'I know I shouldn't eat too much before lunch, but an apple or two wouldn't hurt,' she thought. 'I wasn't going to eat much at breakfast anyway. I got to stick to my diet.' With her stomach dictating her next move, Rainbow walked over the apple stall with more skip to her step.

In a few strides, and a bump or two into a few ponies not looking where they were going, Rainbow found herself standing in front of a well-decorated stall. The wood was painted a clean red with golden trimmings, many different types of apples of various colors, shapes and sizes sat in orderly, overlapping trays on either side of a makeshift counter. And there was a sign in the shape of an apple with the words "Sweet Apple Acres," that glowed in the sunlight. Looking at her choices, she reached for the cheapest-looking apples and placed them on the counter. 'Hmm, where is the pony—?'

"Well, howdy stranger!" greeted a blond, Earth Pony mare, with a slightly darker shade of blond mane with a red ribbon tied at the end. She wore a worn stetson hat that matched her built, farmer's body. Three apples adorned her flank where her cutie marks should be, but those were overshadowed by the sculpted muscles of her backside.

Taking note of the cannons attached to the pony's firm rump, she made sure to never be on the receiving end where those legs have been. She liked her face, and would greatly enjoy not having it reassembled in the hospital.

"Hey," Rainbow replied with a gulp. "How's it hanging? I'm Rainbow Dash."

The mare standing behind the stall gave her a knowing smile, the kind of smile that screamed, "I know where you're looking at," but Rainbow didn't notice. Instead, she grabbed her wallet and placed it on the counter.

"Rainbow Dash, huh? I reckon we've haven't been properly introduced yet," the mare said before sticking her hoof over the counter. "Name's, Applejack."

'Wait...that's Applejack?!' Rainbow screamed within, her eyes going wide for a moment in the realization that the mare she wanted to meet since she moved to Ponyville was right in front of her. Quickly looking over the mare once more, Rainbow couldn't help but feel like she made a grave mistake on sparring partners.

The pure, raw, Earth Pony muscles on the mare made her more sleek build look tiny in comparison. If she raced her without wings, she would loose, if she fought her in a sparring ring, she WILL lose. Any contest of strength was out of the question, while endurance was going to be hard fought. The only way she could beat Applejack in anything involving sports is by upping her workout routine ten-fold for a few months first.

Hesitantly she grabbed her hoof and gave it a firm shake before handing the mare her money for the apples she chose. "Nice to meet you, AJ."

With a thoughtful expression, Applejack took Rainbows Bits and began packing them in a brown paper bag. She wondered who the rainbow-maned Pegasus was, and why she was hanging around Fluttershy yesterday evening, especially during Rose's shift at the Bounding Bunny Cafe.

Normally, she wouldn't have minded. Fluttershy has a few friends that were alright in her books, herself included amongst them, but she has never heard of Rainbow Dash being a part of that group. What worries her about Rainbow Dash was Rose. Just by looking at her, Applejack knew that Rainbow was the type to search for competition. This was all fine and dandy in her eyes, but this trait leads to trouble eventually. The kind of trouble that was the Vixen known as Rose.

Applejack didn't like Rose, not by a long shot. She was a liar, schemer, and downright dangerous. Sure she's helped out a lot around town, helping those who simply asked. The biggest example was her being a flight instructor for the fillies and colts at the school. She has also helped Fluttershy's shyness and confidence in herself over the years as well, along with other ponies that were uncomfortable with who they are, but there was an air floating around her. The kind of air that sent shivers down her spine.

The air of a Killer, a Thief, an Assassin, a Demon. It was like Chaos Incarnate walked amongst them, and the citizens of Ponyville were none the wiser, but Rainbow? She didn't know what happened that day, and as much as she wanted to tell her, she couldn't. Applejack Pinkie Promised, along with the entire town at the time, to never speak of the day Rose got her Cutie Mark. The least she could do to keep the stranger safe from Rose if she were to continue hanging around Fluttershy, was warn her of the danger she possessed. It's just a matter of how she was going to bring it up.

"So tell me about 'yerself. I've never seen ya'll before around these parts," Applejack smiled as she placed the filled bag on the counter.

Taken aback at the sudden friendliness, Rainbow saw this as a chance to learn about her new competition as well as learning what the deal is with Rose and Fluttershy, and about this other mare named Cloudchaser, who apparently placed third in the made up Lightning Cup that all the Pegasi in town were talking about.

Pointing to herself in a boasting manner on her back hooves, she smirked, "So you want to know about the best flier in Equestria is, huh?"

"Yeah, yeah, all Pegasi and Griffons say that," Applejack dismissed with a wave of a hoof. "But until ya'll prove it in one of them flyin' Cups. Ya'll are just spouting hot air."

'Damn it, her too?' Rainbow frowned inwardly. 'Am I the only Pegasus in Equestria that hasn't heard of these Racing Cups?' Placing that thought aside, she rolled her eyes and moved on.

"Well, I've been spending most of my time with work. I don't have time flying in circles for attention."

"Wow, ya'll have my respect," Applejack let out a surprised whistle. "As my ma' always said, 'A hard working mare thrives, while an aloft mare only survives.' Anyway. I've heard ya'll the new Weather Manager. I hope ya' ain't like the old one. I don't remember how many times the rain for our farm was behind schedule. We almost lost our harvest multiple times 'cause of that useless idjit."

"Thanks, though sometimes I wish someponies would see me as a mare that works hard and not a lazy pony that sleeps all day," Rainbow chuckled sheepishly with a light rub of the back of her neck before a frown greeted enveloped her face. "Unlike someponies."

"Someone 'givin 'ya some trouble, Sugarcube?" Applejack inquired. Rainbow gave her a silent nod and sighed.

"I don't know what Fluttershy's problem is! One moment, the mare is quiet, shy and awesome to hang around, the next she turns into a major...a major bitch!"

Applejack blinked in surprise at the sudden harsh words directed at the meek, yellow, Pegasus. She knew Fluttershy if pushed the right way, can be as mean as a Dragon, but a Bitch? The closest that filly has gotten to being classified as one was during those Gaming Tournaments. Applejack had to wonder what Rainbow said to make the quiet mare act so aggressively.

"A female dog, huh? Now what'cha did to bring out tha' Dragon?"

"It was about this pony Fluttershy knows. You've probably heard of her or met her. The white Pegasus Mare with blue and red hair? The pony that claims to be the best flier in Equestria?"

"Rose?" Applejack said, masking her joy for not having to bring that mare up. Reaching behind the counter, Applejack pulled out her thermos and drank the warm contents sloshing within with an open ear.

"Yeah, her," Rainbow hissed, remembering the conversation clearly from a few hours prior, but she shouldn't bring it up just yet. She still had to learn what Applejack thought of her, and if what Pinkie Pie said was true during her Welcome To Ponyville party, then Applejack won't lie about her feelings about the Wonderbolt Wannabe. "I've known Fluttershy for most of my life and this mare just waltz right in lying about everything like it's going out of style. Plus she rubs me the wrong way, and I don't want Fluttershy hanging around her anymore."

"Well. I don't like that mare either," Applejack said sourly, causing Rainbow to perk up with hope for an ally. "That little Harlot lies almost about everything. Her family, her friends, even about herself."

Rainbow's Hope's and Dream's intensifies.

"However, despite that and my own biases, I will admit that little Vixen is one of tha' most lovin' and carin' ponies I've ever met. Rose is a Flight Instructor at the school as well as a math tutor. She volunteers wherever she can, even mah' own farm when I don't want her around my lil' sister."

Rainbow's Hope's and Dream's Dies.

"But, there are three things you must know about her," Applejack said sternly.

"What do you mean?" Rainbow asked with confliction. Her mind finding it hard to deal with the information that her new archnemesis was a paragon of light in the town of Ponyville, but that was put to rest with the dark tone in Applejack's voice.

"Rose is..." Applejack paused to find her words. "...Rose is known for three things; Her flying, her fighting, and her music."

"Without a doubt, Rose is one of tha' best flyers in all of Equestria. She probably has more Racing Ribbons and Trophies than every sports team in Ponyville over the past ten years. Tha' only pony that I know of that comes close to Rose in wins is Cloudchaser. So if you want to talk about racing, talk to Cloud."

'Okay, that I will do. If Cloudchaser is as good as Applejack says she is, then maybe there is some tension between her and Rose that I can use to my advantage,' Rainbow thought as Applejack continued.

"The music she is known for is just plain nasty! I don't know what she did to Octavia and Vinyl, but Rose has her dirty hooves in a lot of their music. What's worse is that I've seen them handing that Fox a flank-load of bits every other month and when I asked them about it. They told me that it's none of mah' business! Like hell it ain't," she grumbled that last part to herself. Taking another sip from her thermos, the coffee within keeping her going for a long day of work, she let out a sigh towards the patiently listening Pegasus, standing in front of the cart.

Rainbow on the other hoof was rethinking everything she has learned about Rose over the past few hours and where she was standing against her. Now that she knows that Rose was a liar, thief and the very definition of a scoundrel, she almost had enough to take her down and show her that all bad ponies don't have happy endings.

Soon, Rose won't be able to hide behind all the so-called "good deeds" that she does from the mob, and with the help of all the ponies that she uses for her own personal gain, Rose will be run out of town and far away from hurting her friends anymore, but why would Rose be known for fighting? That mare was tiny! She couldn't possibly have done anything to send a normal-sized pony to the hospital let alone given them a bruise, right? Rainbow listened to what Applejack had to say on the matter.

Placing her thermos back in its spot underneath the stand, Applejack put on her serious face and leaned over the counter with a hard gaze, and spoke with urgency. Hoping to stop Rainbow Dash from making the biggest mistake of her life.

"Now listen hear, Sugarcube," Applejack began, earning Rainbow's full, if not concerned attention.

"I know ya'll are the type to go picking a fight when trouble rears its head, and I know Rose has rubbed ya' the wrong way, but I must warn you."

"Don't. Fight. Rose," Applejack said slow and harsh like making sure each word was loud and clear, but this only made Rainbow frown in confusion once more.

"Why? You think I can't take her?"

"It's not like that, Rainbow," Applejack shook her head. "Sure that Fox looks weak and fragile and all talk, but she will rip you apart faster than a pack of Timberwolves during a Blood Moon Hunt."

"Pfft...Ya' right," Rainbow scoffed. "I bet I could beat her—"

"Don't say that Rainbow!" Applejack cut her off. "That mare is beyond dangerous when it comes to a fight, and as much as I want to tell ya' why. I can't. If you were here on the day Rose got her cutie mark, then ya'll understand that you don't pick a fight with her."

"—W-Why?" Rainbow gulped, not liking the sudden fear in Applejack's voice. It was like the Lion within her was turned into a kitten about to be eaten by a hungry vulture. If Applejack saw exactly what happened on that specific day, then maybe she should try to avoid learning it by experience, herself.

"Go ask Silver Crest, the former Captain of Ponyville's guard, why. Ya'll can find her in Canterlot's Rehab center. She's been there learning how to walk, talk, and fly again for the past two years after what Rose did to her."

Author's Notes:

So another one is out and I hope you guys don't mind looking through Rainbows eyes through a few chapters. The first part of the story involves her a lot, and let's face it. Most of you don't want to read Rose nibbling Tavi's ears to make samples for Vinyl's music, nor read about her daily problems involving the wind not being in the right place during practice, or even which skirt looks good with her favorite dress shirt and tie.

Oh, wait. That's down the line. Meh, TAVI'S EARS WILL BE NIBBLED! AND THE SOUND SHE MAKES WILL BE FOREVER CUTE AND SEXY!