[Shipping] [Sad]

Luna's full moon shone brightly in the night sky, casting rays of glistening moonlight across Equestria. A gentle cool breeze blew past, swaying the tall grass in its path. Two best friends lay upon a hill, side by side. Made invisible by the lanky grass surrounding them, lying free from the entire world's worry. Their eyes jumped from star to star, searching the lights of the night for a sign of anything.

"You ever wonder what's up there?" questioned the Pegasus, turning her head to face her friend.

"Like what, sugarcube?" replied the earth pony, repositioning the straw hat that lay upon her head.

Rainbow Dash returned her eyes to the sky, "Maybe there is somepony out there…" she whispered, becoming lost in thought.

"Ah reckon there is." Applejack reassured, as she continued chewing on a piece of hay.

"Do you think they are as fast as me?"

"Hah, ah don't think anypony can match yer speed, Dash."

"Hehe, yeah you're right, AJ," replied Rainbow Dash, slowly releasing her breath through her nostrils.

Time pressed on, transporting the pair deeper into the night. Applejack took note of how quiet the Pegasus had become, glancing to her friend, she found out why. The rainbow-maned Pegasus lay curled into a ball of limbs, her chest rising and falling softly with every sleeping breath she took. Applejack smiled at the peaceful sight, her heart burning with the desire to share its feelings to the Pegasus.

Rainbow Dash
A Pegasus so brash,

A friendly competition
You won my heart,

Became my greatest ambition
Right from the start,

Pour my confession
Soon enough,

An indirect expression
It's getting tough,

Keeping these feelings hidden
Our love feels forbidden

Tell you, ah must
My heart ah trust.

As her heartache subsided, Applejack sighed peacefully; after all, she had all the time in the world to express her feelings to the headstrong pony.

Carefully, Applejack placed the sleeping pony upon her back. Walking slowly back toward the farmhouse, she was careful not to disturb her sleeping friend.

---

Shortly after, Applejack stepped into the farmhouse, closing the door quietly behind her.

"Well, well, well…" Came a deep voice from the kitchen.

Applejack carefully turned towards the voice, glaring daggers at her brother.

"Mac, can ya keep it down," she pleaded, motioning to the sleeping Pegasus on her back.

"Oh, ah'm sorry. Ah didn't see her," whispered Big Mac, laughing softly at his sister.

"Just what in tarnation is so funny."

"Oh, nothin'."

"Well if ya would excuse me, ah need ta put somepony to bed," Applejack indicated, motioning towards the stairs on the far side of the living room.

"Have fun you two," called the stallion, poking his head from the kitchen.

"We're just friends Mac…" Replied Applejack from the stairs, glaring daggers at her brother.

Carefully, Applejack carried the snoozing Pegasus up the stairs to her bedroom. Using one fluid motion, the earth pony slid Rainbow Dash off her back and onto her bed. Pulling up the covers, she tucked the cyan Pegasus in.

"Goodnight, Dash," she whispered, kissing the pony gently on the forehead.

Quietly, the apple farmer crossed the room, closing the door softly behind her. Releasing her pent up breath, the farm pony made her way back towards the stairs.

Once in the kitchen, Applejack poured herself a hot cup of coffee. Sitting down across from her brother, she began drinking greedily, finishing half the cup before returning it to the table.

"Fun night over already?" Questioned Big Mac, laughing quietly at his own joke.

Applejack glared at her brothers remark, "can it Macintosh, we're just friends, and that's all we'll ever be!" She demanded, dropping her gaze back to her cup.

"Fer a pony with a good head, ya sure can be stubborn sometimes, AJ…"

"Beg yer pardon?" She replied, looking up from her cup of Joe.

The red stallion chuckled to himself once again, "it's obvious, ya'll love each other."

The earth pony sighed heavily, giving into her inner feelings. "Ok fine, ah admit it! Ah like her. Big deal."

"So tell her, AJ."

"Ah… Ah can't," Applejack sighed, releasing her pent up breath, wishing that her stresses would go with it.

"Don't tell me yer scared?" Challenged Macintosh, downing the rest of his cup of coffee.

"What! Ah ain't scared of nopony. Ah just…" The earth pony trailed off, a turmoil of thoughts twisted around her head.

"Yer just scared of losing yer best friend," finished Mac, reading his sister's thoughts perfectly.

"Yeah… Ah guess ah am."

"AJ, if Miss Rainbow Dash is anything like ah think she is, then you got nothin' ta worry about," reassured the stallion, placing his mug in the kitchen sink.

Applejack did not respond, instead, she sat there, quietly thinking over the conversation she just had with her brother.

"You should probably get to bed, it's gettin' late," insisted Mac, making his way toward the living room.

Applejack snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of her brothers voice, "yeah ah suppose it is." she replied, following her brother into the living room and up the stairs.

"Goodnight AJ."

"Goodnight Mac."

Returning to her room, Applejack carefully crept under her bed sheets, joining the already sleeping Pegasus.

---

Morning came quickly for Applejack; another day meant more farm work. Like usual, she was up at the crack-of-dawn. Stretching out, the earth pony had forgotten that Dash had spent the night with her. Quickly Applejack retreated her sprawled limbs, figuring that she had woken the Pegasus.

Applejack, glanced across from her, strangely finding no abruptly awoken Pegasus. Instead, a note lay on the roughed up pillow.

Piqued by curiosity, Applejack leaned over to get a better view of the paper.

It read,

Hey Applejack, what happened last night? I remember lying in the field with you and the next thing I know I wake up in your bed. Anyway, I have overstayed my welcome, so I left early. I'll see you around later today, I have weather duty to finish and I know you're busy with the farm.

P.S. I think I saw your brother peaking in the room this morning, what's up with him?

Minutes passed, as Applejack sat quietly re-reading over the note. Applejack sighed, "You missed your shot, AJ…" She scolded herself, as she hopped out of bed and headed for the farmyard, ready to begin the day's chores.

---

After a hard day's work, Applejack stood just outside the farm. Waiting for the Pegasus that she knew would be dropping by any minute now.

"Where in tarnation is that girl…" Applejack questioned aloud, staring off into the distance towards Ponyville.

Celestia's sun
Ah'm waiting hun,

A secret kept from you
Now ah'm ready ta be true,

Three simple words
Ah'll sing like the birds,

Hide from you my feelings no longer
Your love only makes me stronger,

A bright flash
Is that you Dash,

Over the horizon you do fly
Rainbow shining in the sky,

For you, my schoolgirl crush
Ah'll try ta contain this blush.

"Hey Applejack!" Called Dash, touching down in front of the earth pony.

"Howdy."

Applejack fought to keep her nerves calm; she was really going to tell Dash this time. Taking a deep breath, the earth pony began to speak. However, Rainbow Dash had also begun speaking.

"Applejack I-"

"Rainbow Dash-"

"You go ahead Applejack," Dash offered, smiling at the earth pony.

"No it's alright sugarcube, ah'm sure your news is more important."

The Pegasus smiled, "I just got accepted into the Wonderbolts! Can you believe it!" She squealed, doing flips of pure joy.

"Well that's just dandy, Hun. Ah'm so proud of ya!" exclaimed Applejack, pulling the Pegasus into an embrace.

Returning the friendly gesture, Rainbow Dash told the rest of her news, "yeah, I leave tomorrow."

Applejack's heart sunk, "T-tomorrow? Fer how long?" Stammered the earth pony, breaking the hug.

"A couple of months I think, then I get a week to come visit before I have to leave again," answered Rainbow Dash, seeing the sudden change in the earth pony's facial expression, Dash continued. "Don't worry Applejack, it's not like I'm gonna be gone forever," she finished, offering her friend a weak smile.

Applejack's mind was lost, slowly accepting the fact that she was going to lose the love of her life.

"Hello? Earth to AJ." Dash interrupted, waving a hoof in front of the spaced-out earth pony.

"Huh, oh sorry sugarcube." apologized Applejack, returning her full attention to her friend.

The rainbow-maned Pegasus giggled, "So what did you want to tell me?" She questioned, locking eyes with the apple farmer.

Thinking quickly, Applejack decided it would be better to keep her feelings hidden. "Uhh… it was nothin'. Say, why don't we go tell the rest of tha gang, ah'm sure they would love to hear the news, sugarcube," she suggested, motioning for them to start moving.

As the pair trotted towards the town, their minds were alive with thoughts. The mind of the Pegasus experienced thoughts of pure joy, while the mind of the earth pony withered in pure heartbreak. Applejack sighed quietly, 'this was going to be a long couple of months.' she thought, keeping pace with her joyous lover.

---

The day had come and passed quickly, and now the sad moment of saying goodbye to one of their best friends lay upon the five friends. Not only did Applejack have to say goodbye to her best friend, she also had to say goodbye to the pony of her dreams. She thought back on all the great times they had together over the years, as the five friends slowly approached the spot Rainbow Dash had told them to meet.

---

On the outskirts of town, five best friends stood before the newly recruited Wonderbolt, teary-eyed expressions painted upon all their faces.

Rainbow Dash stood confident, saddlebags filled with personal belongings. "Well, I guess this is goodbye."

"Goodbye Rainbow Dash," cried Twilight, wrapping her hooves around the cyan Pegasus.

"Goodbye Twilight, take care of the others for me will ya?" Asked Dash, comforting the crying unicorn.

"I promise."

Breaking the embrace, Twilight wiped the tears from her eyes, watching as her friend moved on down the line of friends.

"G-goodbye, R-Rainbow," stuttered Fluttershy, hold back tears of her own.

"I'll miss you Shy, you were my first real friend. Thank you."

Fluttershy broke down, tears rolling quietly down her cheeks. She pulled Rainbow Dash in tightly, never wanting to let go.

"Shh, Fluttershy, it's ok."

"Oh Dash, please don't leave!" Fluttershy demanded, nuzzling the cyan Pegasus.

"I have to Fluttershy, we all knew it would happen sooner or later," admitted Dash, stroking the back of Fluttershy's head.

After a few minutes Fluttershy had regained enough of her compose to break the embrace. Slowly, Rainbow Dash continued making her way down the line of friends.

"Until we meet again, Rainbow Dash," insisted Rarity, standing confident.

"I'll miss you too Rarity."

Rarity faltered, throwing herself at the cyan Pegasus. "Oh Rainbow Dash, please come back to visit," pleaded Rarity, finding herself unable to hold back tears any longer.

"Of course I'll be back, you don't expect me to just forget you girls do you?" Reassured Dash, returning the embrace.

Regaining herself, Rarity pulled away. "Of course dear, I don't know what came over me."

"Hehe, it's ok Rarity, this is hard on everypony."

Reaching second last pony of the line, Rainbow Dash locked eyes with the pink pony.

"Goodbye, Dashie," exclaimed Pinkie Pie, her tone missing that usual bounce.

"Goodbye Pinkie Pie," Dash replied, hugging the pink pony.

"Have fun Dashie, I know you'll be great!"

The cyan Pegasus found herself in yet another loving embrace, returning the gesture yet again.

"Thanks Pinkie." replied Rainbow Dash, moving to her right one last space.

"Sugarcube..." Applejack choked, holding in her tears.

"I'll miss you Applejack..." Rainbow Dash admitted, as a gust of wind picked up.

"Rainb-" Was all the earth pony could say before breaking down.

Tears exploded from Applejack's eyes, only to roll down her cheeks and dissolve into the ground below.

Rainbow Dash lost control of her own tears, lunging forward, she wrapped the earth pony into a tight embrace. Both ponies shared a moment of blissful comfort, as their shared body heat fought off the invading summer breeze.

Ending the embrace, Rainbow Dash took a few steps back from the group. One last time, she scanned the gentle faces of her friends. She smiled, knowing that they all cared so much for her.

"Well, I really should get going… I don't want to be late for my first day." Rainbow Dash admitted, glancing over her friend's heads towards Cloudsdale.

"Goodbye Rainbow Dash." All her friends said in unison, all sharing the same heartbroken emotions.

Not wanting to prolong the sadness, Rainbow Dash took to the air, starting towards the cloud city.

She cast one glance back towards her friends, who all stood silently, waving her off as tears flowed freely from their eyes.

---

Living the dream, it's now my time
Ahead, a vicious climb,

So sorry I must leave
I did not try to deceive,

They called for me too way soon
But a chance like this comes once a blue moon,

I will live the good life
Free from all strife,

Rocketing to fame, like a racing car
I will become the next, rising star,

Wonderbolts, will be my success
I'll try not to transgress,

And while I make some progress
I shall not be consumed by stress,

I guess it's my time to fly
Looks like this is goodbye,

I won't be gone forever
Please don't think that whatsoever.

---

More tears befell Rainbow Dash as she slowly disappeared from her friend's line of sight.

"Well that's it," Applejack told herself, "She's gone…"