takes place after S7 E6, (Forever Filly.)

“Hey guys!” Dash called, landing on the grass.

Applejack and Rarity turned and waved. “Howdy Rainbow! How’re you doin’?”

“Great, thanks,” she replied, settling next to AJ. She looked around and noticed her pink friend wasn’t there. “Where’s Pinkie Pie?”

“Oh, she had something to take care of at the bakery. She’ll be here soon,” Twilight replied nonchalantly, nose buried in a book.

Dash nudged Applejack. “What’s she obsessed with researching this time?”

AJ shrugged, taking a bite of an apple. “Uh, Ah think she’s obsessed with new constellations this time? Honestly,” her southern accent dropped to a whisper, “Ah just tune it out at this point.”

They both snickered at that, but immediately stopped when Twilight lifted her head, raising a brow. “I’m reading, you guys. That doesn’t mean I can’t hear.”

Dash simply shrugged. “That’s usually what it means.” Her hoof connected with her friend’s orange one as the princess rolled her eyes, turning back to her book. She was used to her friends’ teasing, and knew that it was harmless.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack settled into their own conversation, as well as Fluttershy and Rarity, merely updating each other on their lives and the news going around Ponyville.

“Aloe and Vera just released a line of new candles!” Rarity squealed. “One of you must come with me for a spa day soon. Rainbow Dash, how about you, darling?”

Dash blushed a little. While her friends knew she enjoyed the treatments and treated her no differently, she still felt a little awkward about the subject. “Maybe, I’m pretty busy in the next week. Spitfire finally let us have a day off,” she muttered.

Rarity nodded understandingly. “I understand completely, but if you’re able, let me know,” she said with a bright smile.

“Sure!” She was about to go back to her conversation, but a quick bouncing noise interrupted her, a noise all of her friends knew well.

“Hi guys!” Pinkie called, setting down some cupcakes and sandwiches as she joined them rather quickly. “Sorry I was late, I had to finish an order for Mr. Cake, he’s been so busy lately,” she explained.

Fluttershy smiled. “No worries, Pinkie, we’re glad you could come.”

“Yeah, and we’re glad Rainbow finally to some time off,” Twilight added with a smirk. “Guess she’s too busy for us these days.”

Dash grinned. “For you guys? Never. Now come on, I’m starving, let’s eat,” she decided, picking up a panini styled sandwich and taking a bite.

The others followed, each chewing quietly (save for Pinkie), the only sounds their hums of approval.

Dash set her half eaten meal down and looked around. “Where’s Spike?”

Fluttershy grinned. “You just noticing that, Dashie?”

It wasn’t very often that her teasing, playful side emerged, so Dash took full advantage of it. “You seemed to just be arriving when I got here too, Flutters. I didn’t hear you ask for him.”

Fluttershy flushed a little. “I…”

Dash crossed her arms, brows raised triumphantly. “Gotcha,” she teased. “Nice try.”

The rest of their friends giggled. “Come on, let’s finish our sandwiches and then talk,” Twilight proposed.

Nopony argued, seeing as they were all hungry, and eagerly and mostly politely, finished their lunch.

“So Dashie, how’s the team?” Pinkie asked, already biting into a chocolate cupcake with blue frosting.

“They’re all good. Spitfire has us doing these crazy drills, but she says it’s for some special performance. Everypony’s tired. Well,” she added, “except for Surprise. And High Winds. You know, she’s always the same,” she explained thoughtfully. “Kind of scary.”

“Oh, but she’s so calm and friendly! It’s kind of refreshing,” Rarity said.

“And Blaze is so full of life,” Applejack added. “She’s pretty cool if Ah do say so myself.”

Dash’s raised a brow. “Wow AJ,” she snickered. “Never knew ‘cool’ was in your vocabulary.”

A quiet growl escaped Applejack’s lips as she effortlessly shoved Dash right onto the blanket. “Shush, you,” she scolded.

Dash bounced back up and trotted down to sit beside Twilight. “Gotta reign in that temper there, Applesmack.”

The girls both narrowed her eyes, and as quick as it started, Rarity giggled nervously. “Come on now, darlings, you meant no harm, and we don’t have all day.”

“Yeah, we don’t always wanna hear you argue,” Pinkie chirped. “Although sometimes it’s really fun! Especially when you compete, like in that Iron Pony competition and the Running of The Leaves. That was a blast!”

Dash rolled her eyes, but decided to listen. “Contest next time I’m in town, AJ?”

Applejack grinned wildly. “Ah’ll clear my schedule.”

“Great.”

“I’m glad they all welcomed you with open hooves, Rainbow,” Flutters said softly.

“Fluttershy, you’ve been saying that ever since I joined the team,” Dash protested and took a cupcake, trying her hardest to not get crumbs and icing all over face. She didn’t need Rarity to go over the rules of table manners again.

Her Pegasus friend just shrugged. “I know, but it’s true. Even Angel’s proud of you!”

At that, Rainbow very noticeably rolled her magenta eyes. “Now that, I know, is not true.”

Fluttershy turned pink. “Well… he said he hoped you didn’t completely fail,” she said meekly.

Dash grinned. “That’s something.” She turned to the rest of her friends. “Let’s play a game or something, enough with the small talk.”

“Ooh! Pick me, pick me!” Pinkie shouted, causing Rarity to flinch at the pitch of her voice.

“Uh, yes, Pinkie?”

The pink hoof shot down, replaced with an excited smile and a gleam of excitement in her blue eyes. “Truth or dare! Truth or dare!”

“Sure! You guys in?” Dash asked.

“Sure,” Applejack and Twilight replied.

Rarity nodded her answer.

“Umm…” They all turned to Fluttershy who had a nervous expression on her face. “I don’t—”

“We won’t make you do anything we know you aren’t comfortable with, sugarcube,” AJ reassured.

The rest nodded in agreement, and finally, ‘Shy smiled and nodded, looking more relaxed. “Okay, then.”

Twilight cleared her throat. “Who’s going first?”

Pinkie raised her hoof again. “I will! Okay…” Her eyes squinted as she peered rather intimidatingly at her friends. Pinkie Pie was unpredictable and could be very sneaky, and that was the reason Dash felt unsure about the truths and the dares that were going to happen.

“Rarity,” Pinkie chose, an evil grin spreading across her face. “Truth or dare?”

Rarity studied Pinkie’s facial expression before scoffing. “I am not so gullible darling, I choose truth! No way will I dip my hooves in mud.”

Pinkie shrugged, not giving her face away. “Okie dokie! Hmm… would you rather eat squid covered lollipops or dirt and worm covered apples?”

Everyone’s heads snapped just in time to see the white unicorn scrunch her nose up in absolute disgust. “My, Pinkie, do you have no manners?” she asked, appalled beyond belief.

Pinkie shrugged. “What? I came up with it on the spot. I was really hoping you’d choose dare so you could dip your pretty hooves in mud,” she explained casually.

Applejack chuckled and wrapped an arm around Rarity. “Aw, come on, Rarity. It’s completely hypothetical.” As soon as she said it, she bit her lip and glanced at Pinkie. “Uh, right Pinkie Pie?”

“Yep!”

Rarity sighed. “I suppose… the dirt and worm covered apples,” she said reluctantly.

Pinkie nodded, not at all grossed out by her answer. “Now it’s your turn.”

“Alright.” Dark blue sapphires scanned Dash and the rest, deciding fickly about who to pick. Finally, her eyes settled on Twilight. “Twilight, truth or dare?”

“Hmm,” Twilight tapped her chin.

Dash nudged AJ. “Two bits she says truth.” Two bits wasn’t much, but it was a game that couldn’t really be considered competitive, so why waste money on it?

“Well, just for that, I choose dare.”

Dash nickered as Applejack held her hoof up, and Dash took two gold coins from her bag and placed them in AJ’s hoof.

“Alright, I dare you to… let me give you a makeover tomorrow,” she dared, eyes lighting up.

Twilight bit her lip. “Okay, I guess.” It was only her and Fluttershy who could really stand to do so. Occasionally Pinkie Pie, but Rarity didn’t often pick her as she needed somepony who could stay still for a long period of time. Rainbow Dash and Applejack just straight up refused, with the exception of having to go somewhere, per se the Grand Galloping Gala.

“Oh, this will be wonderful! Fluttershy, what colour dress? I’m thinking a dark blue, but she’d look gorgeous in white or even a—” Rarity stopped talking when she saw the rest of them staring blankly at her and blushed. “Oh, um, go ahead, dear.”

Twilight chuckled lightly, amused and expectant of Rarity’s excitement. “Hmm... Applejack, truth or dare?”

AJ scanned her friend’s eyes, trying to decipher if there was an ulterior motive. When she decided there wasn’t, she gave an answer. “Ah choose truth.”

Twilight grinned. “Why aren’t you and Coloratura talking?”

This was something Applejack had been unwilling to talk about. Things between her and Rara had been going well ever since they had reconnected when she came to Ponyville, and had stayed in close contact, visiting when they had the time. But AJ hadn’t mentioned her in at least a week, and Pinkie Pie had sent Dash a letter explaining her thoughts, which concluded that they were most likely fighting. Usually Pinkie jumped to unreasonable conclusions, but when she was good, she was good.
The widening of Applejack’s eyes and the way her body tensed suggested Twilight had hit a nerve.

“Ah’m not answering that,” she said stubbornly. “Ah choose dare.”

Lucky for AJ and Twilight, the princess didn’t push, respecting her friend’s privacy. “Fine. I dare you to compete with Pinkie in an apple bucking contest on Wednesday.”

If it was anypony else, Applejack would have had it in the bag. One of her specialities was apple bucking, and she did it good and fast. But Pinkie too had the strength of an earth pony, and, well, no explanation needed, she was Pinkie. She could be faster than Dash on land if she pleased. Only on land. She side eyed Applejack, noticing the slight gulp in her throat before nodding determinedly.

“Ah’m up for it. What do you say, Pinkie Pie?”

The pink pony shook her head enthusiastically. “Sure! Can we do it in the morning though? I have to babysit Pound and Pumpkin after lunch.”

“One apple bucking contest at nine on Wednesday,” Twilight exclaimed cheerfully.

“Yay! Okay, Applejack, your turn,” Pinkie cheered.

Immediately the earth pony turned to Rainbow Dash. “RD, truth or dare?”

Everypony knew her answer before it left her lips. “Dare.”

“Knew it,” Pinkie whispered loudly.

AJ rolled her eyes. “Ah dare you to act like that tree’s your boyfriend. Or girlfriend,” she added quickly.

Dash ignored the last comment, only caring for the actual dare. “What? No! That’s ridiculous.”

“What? Too chicken?”

The word on enunciated was even worse for Dash to hear. If there was one thing she wasn’t, it was cowardly. She got scared of course, no matter how much she tried to convince everyone she wasn’t, but she never, ever gave up. “I choose truth instead,” she grumbled.

Applejack neighed her disappointment, crossing her arms. “You can’t really do that,” she mumbled.
“You literally just did it,” Dash deadpanned, matching her look.

“Yeah, but that was ‘cause the question was private! I asked you to kiss a tree! Big differences.”

Dash glared at her. “Oh yeah? Well—”

Fluttershy sighed loudly. “Girls!” They immediately stopped arguing and turned to her. “Let’s say you’re really uncomfortable with whatever you choose first, you get to choose the other, but you have to answer or do the dare if it’s your second choice.” She looked between them sternly, but soon enough, in true Fluttershy fashion, she backed away a little. “If that’s okay?”

Twilight, Rarity and Pinkie all nodded. “That sounds fair,” Twilight said.

“Totally!” Pinkie smiled.

Rarity did as well. “I agree. Are you two able to put aside your ‘differences’ for now?” she questioned with a teasing smile.

Applejack looked at Rarity as she smirked, and Dash saw her shoulders soften slightly. Though they argued quite a bit, it was clear that both Applejack and Rarity had a soft spot for one another. Applejack gave in first. “Fine. Can you reign in your pride there, RD?”

Even though Dash rolled her eyes, she let a small grin appear as she nodded. “I suppose.”

“So truth then?” AJ asked for confirmation.

Dash crossed her arms, a cocky smile forming now. “Lay it on me.” This would be a piece of cake, she was sure.

Applejack grinned evilly. “Rainbow Dash… do you…”

Dash waited impatiently for her answer. “Do I…?”

“Do you have a crush on yer teammate Soarin?”

As soon as the question was out, Dash was one hundred percent positive everything in her body stopped working, including her speech and her neurotransmitters. Did she have a crush on Soarin? No way! The thought was preposterous. They were just super good friends, and just because he made her tingle inside and had her cheeks heating and all the other crap about butterflies and a good feeling did not mean she liked him.

Realizing her friends were staring at her with wide, curious, expectant eyes, she let out a loud scoff. “What? No way! Have you even met me?”

“Of course! We’ve known you for years!” Pinkie said.

Rarity trotted over. “It’s okay, Dashie, I rather think Soarin likes you too.”

“It won’t lower our opinion of you,” Twilight added.

Applejack nodded. “Yeah, you’ll still be the loyal, gutsy friend with an uncontrollable ego.” Everypony glared at her, but AJ merely shrugged. “I’m just being honest.”

“He is very nice,” Fluttershy murmured.

All of these things were true, but combined with the fact that Dash had brushed this idea off already, just to hit her in the face again was annoying. She was Rainbow Dash. She didn’t need anybody, she liked her life with her friends and family and Scootaloo and having platonic relationships with all the Wonderbolts. “Look, Soarin and I are good friends. I don’t like him like that.”

“Darling, the teasing is all in good fun, we aren’t trying to upset you,” Rarity told her kindly. “We all get crushes.”

“Yeah! Like when Twilight liked that guard or when Zephyr liked you or how Applejack probably likes Rara!”

Everyone immediately turned to Applejack, who turned bright red. “Excuse me! Ah do not like her!”

“Sure you do, you’re good friends with her and sometimes you even talk about her, so that must mean you like her,” Dash said sarcastically, trying to make a point.

“This ain’t about me.”

“I don’t like Soarin!”

Rarity huffed. “Seriously dears, just be honest with yourself for once.”

Dash and Applejack both sighed. “We don’t like them,” they said in sync.

The rest of them, excluding Fluttershy, all shared looks one another before shrugging. “Okay, Dash, your turn.”

Finally, enough of this bullshit.

But maybe what really bothered Dash was that it could be true.