Chapter 4

Two Weeks Later

Rainbow Dash sighed as she looked into the eyes of her companion, Applejack. Applejack smiled as the cold wind blew her golden locks lightly. She smiled warmly.

"Somethin' on your mind, sugarcube?" The farm mare said. Rainbow shrugged lightly.

"Not really. I'm just happy to be here with you now." Rainbow responded.

"That makes two of us." The two mares had been dating for a while, getting closer and closer with each rondezvous they had. They enjoyed each other's company completely, jumping at the chance to see each other whenever the oppurtunity arose. They had been on several excursions together, including the movies, different restaurants and many others, but the one place the duo always managed to end up in were the fields outside Ponyville. Though both of them enjoyed it there for different reasons. Rainbow Dash enjoyed it because of it's pure scenic beauty. While the pegasus put on a front that she didn't enjoy such things, she honestly did enjoy the natural beauty of places. Applejack loved the fields for the same reasons, but mostly because she could be herself with her lover without very much fear that she would be seen with another mare.

The sun had began to set as the two mares prepared to depart for their homes. Their date had been a fun one, comprising of a nice picnic and a walk along a nature trail. Rainbow Dash had wanted to race more than anything, but Applejack turned down the challenge, much to Dash's suprise. The farm mare had wanted an easygoing day free of excitement for the two of them.

"C'mon, AJ. Just a race back to Ponyville. It'll be quick and fun!" Rainbow said. Rainbow walked up to Applejack and nuzzled her neck. Applejack's stomach tingled. "If you win, you can be on top the next time we-"

"Ah don't think so, Rainbow. Ah'm just not feelin' up to it today. Maybe next time." Applejack said as she began to walk. Rainbow Dash scoffed.

"Seriously? I've never known you to reject a challenge. Especially from me." She said. Applejack shrugged.

"Well, there's a first time for everything." Applejack said. "What's got ya so worked up anyways? Aren't ya content to just have a nice day with me?"

"Well, yeah, of course. But it's been a while since we had anything...how do I put it?...Amazing happen, you know?" Rainbow said.

"You said our time behind that big boulder was Amazing." Applejack quickly said, smirking slyly. Rainbow blushed and rubbed the back of her head.

"Yeeeah...You got a point there..." She said before raising an eyebrow at Applejack. "I guess you're okay with the fact that you're just scared." Applejack's brow furrowed slightly as she continued to walk.

"Ah ain't scared of nothin'." Applejack said, a slight tinge of annoyance in her voice. Rainbow snickered and hovered in front of Applejack as she walked, looking down at her condescendingly.

"I mean, how could you not be scared? I'm only the most awesome pegasus in Equestria." Rainbow said, putting a hoof on her chest, still looking down at Applejack, aware of her annoyance. "It's okay. I won't tell anyone."

"Listen here, Rainbow." Applejack said sternly. "Ah ain't scared of you, or anypony. We both know Ah can whoop ya in a hoof-race, so you have to overcompensate for it by bein' all smart-alecky and such. Ah'm just not feelin' like it right now."

"Geez, Applejack. You're making Fluttershy look brave."

"Alright, that's it!" Applejack exclaimed before jumping up and tackling Rainbow to the ground, earning a suprised cry from the pegasus. Applejack and Rainbow began to wrestle, turning over and over, struggling to see which one of them was physically superior. They both laughed as they competed, having a grand time. Every time Applejack would manage to get Rainbow into an inescapable hold, the pegasus somehow escaped and countered with her own attempted pin or hold. Applejack's raw strength eventually won out over Rainbow's stamina, however, and Applejack ended up on top, a small, confident smile on her face.

"Gotcha." She said.

"Don't think so!" Dash exclaimed before grabbing the back of Applejack's head and pulling her down into a kiss. Applejack's stomach felt as light as air. Suddenly, Rainbow jumped up and put Applejack on her back, successfully subduing her. Applejack struggled to break free of Rainbow's front hooves, but ultimately failed in her attempt. Rainbow Dash's level of strength was similar to Applejack's, so her holds were just as tough to escape when they were successfully executed.

"No fair..." Applejack said to her, blowing her hair out of her eyes. Rainbow smirked.

"We never said we couldn't kiss." Rainbow said, raising an eyebrow.

"Let's keep it that way. If ah'm gonna lose, Ah'd wanna lose like this." Applejack said, looking into Rainbow's eyes. Rainbow let Applejack free of the hold and began to bend her head down for another kiss, her eyes closed. Applejack began to close her eyes as well, before she heard the distant hoofsteps of two ponies on their way out of Ponyville. Applejack immediately got out from underneath Rainbow and stood up, putting her stetson back on. Her stomach sunk when she had noticed that the couple was looking at the both of them in a very peculiar way, perhaps even seeing their earlier kiss. Applejack blushed heavily and looked up into the sky, whistling a small tune, while Rainbow looked up at her, wide-eyed.

"What the hay-" Rainbow began, stopping when she noticed the ponies walking down the path. Rainbow's brow furrowed as she sighed heavily and stood up. Applejack began walking again, followed by Rainbow. She had done it again. They had been dating for two weeks, and Applejack still didn't want to be seen kissing or even hugging Rainbow in public.

Rainbow Dash had understood completely at first. She had supported Applejack and given her sweet words of encouragement when her lover was worried about what others might think. She had even previously asked Applejack if she wanted to stay with her. Applejack was quick to say "Yes." at that point, so she had assumed that Applejack would overcome her fears eventually. It still had not happened. She had understood Applejack's apprehension at first, but now, frankly, she was fed up. When they were clear of the other couple and had ample space for a conversation, Rainbow looked over at Applejack.

"Hey, AJ?" Rainbow asked.

"Whatcha need, sugarcube?" Applejack responded.

"Why did you just freak out back there all of a sudden?" The pegasus asked. Applejack gulped and looked up at the sky, away from Rainbow's gaze.

"What do ya mean?" Applejack said.

"Well, I was about to kiss you, and you just seemed to...well...freak out. You left me hanging back there. Not cool."

"There was a couple comin' down the path. It's indecent to be kissin' in public." Applejack said. Rainbow frowned.

"Really? Because, I see couples kissing around Ponyville all the time. Just, y'know, a kiss on the lips. That's all I was going to do, really. I wasn't going to have sex with you where anyone could just walk outside and see us." Rainbow said, annoyance lacing her words. Applejack put a hoof on her mouth and shushed her, sparking outrage in the cyan pegasus.

"Quiet! They coulda heard you!" Applejack said, looking down the path. Rainbow Dash shoved Applejack away and threw a hoof into the air.

"They're not even close to us!" Rainbow said. "What're you so scared of? What people think? That you might lose business?"

"Ah ain't scared of nothin'." Applejack said flatly, looking forward and continuing walking.

"Then why won't you even hug me or kiss me in public?" Rainbow said. "I've seen Lyra kiss Bon Bon in public, and nopony says anything to them."

"Ah hug you in public." Applejack said, taking a defensive stance.

"Yeah, the one-hoofed friend hug." Rainbow said.

"Look, Rainbow, Ah-" Applejack stopped when she noticed Rainbow Dash was beginning to tear up.

"Why are you so ashamed of me?" Rainbow said, her voice breaking ever so slightly. Applejack's heart beat in her chest as it told her to embrace Rainbow and hold her tight. Her mind told her not to notice. Applejack began walking down the path again.

"Ah'm not ashamed of you." Applejack said. She wanted to hit herself in the face for not comforting Rainbow.

"Yes you are!" Rainbow said, following her.

"No Ah'm not." Applejack said more sternly, stopping and turning toward Rainbow for a second before continuing down the path. Her heart ached.

"Yes, you are, so stop denying it!" Rainbow said, anger welling up inside her. "If you're not, give me a specific reason why you're just seeming to forget that we're together as soon as just anyone walks by, and I'll stop bothering you about this." Applejack thought for a moment. Her mind was racing, trying to find a believable reason for her behavior. Rainbow Dash wasn't very gullible.

"Ah'm..." Applejack said. "Ah'm...not ashamed of you." Rainbow looked down.

"See? I told you." She said. She wiped a tear from her cheek, to her suprise. "Look at this, Applejack!" The farm mare turned and looked at her lover. "See what you're doing to me? I never cry, and you know that!"

"Ya ain't got no reason to cry." Applejack stated plainly, continuing to walk. Rainbow's eyes narrowed as she clenched her teeth. She grabbed Applejack and turned her around, suprising her.

"You can't do that!" Rainbow said in an elevated tone of voice, fury lacing her words, further stunning Applejack. "You can't just kiss me and start all this and then hide me away like a dirty little secret!"

"Ah t-told ya Ah ain't a-ashamed of ya!" Applejack countered, still slightly stunned.

"Bull!" Rainbow yelled, moving up to Applejack. Applejack took a step back. "We both know that's a lie!"

"Ah'm serious, Rainbow..." Applejack began, trailing off.

"You really are an awful liar..." Rainbow said, lowering her voice. "I guess that really could be said...you're the element of honesty..."

"Rainbow, ah-"

"Applejack, this...this whole thing is killing me. It tears me up inside because what we have..." Rainbow stepped toward Applejack, eyes full of hope, a small smile on her face. "I love it so much. I haven't been this happy in a long, long time. Whenever I'm with you...I feel like I can do anything! I feel like I could overcome any obstacle. I want us to be together for the sake of being together, and not be scared of what anypony else thinks..." Rainbow's smile faded and she looked Applejack in the eyes, who looked down at the ground.

"Ah'm..." Applejack said, looking for something to say.

"I'm just...gonna go home." Rainbow said, beginning to fly away, a look of hurt on her face.

"Rainbow..." Applejack said, her stomach sinking with regret.

"I'll see you later." Rainbow said before finally speeding into the orange sky. Applejack looked on after her, wanting so badly to run and find her, to tell her how much she really did mean to her. Applejack sighed as she turned and left the fields outside Ponyville for Sweet Apple Acres. Upon entering Ponyville, Applejack laid her eyes upon Sugarcube corner, the domain of the couple who seemed to hate fillyfooling more than anything. A feeling of dread entered her as she thought about what could possibly happen if they were to know about her and Rainbow. Would they still even talk to Pinkie Pie, knowing she was a friend of two fillyfoolers? What would the general public think about the number one apple vendor in Ponyville if they discovered she was in a relationship with another mare?

Applejack somberly walked back into Sweet Apple Acres to be greeted by Big Macintosh, who was finishing up his load of work for the day.

"Heya, sis. How was your time with Fluttershy? Get all them rabbits rounded up?" He said, happy to see his sister.

"Uhh...yeah. It was pretty easy once the lil' varmits realized I wasn't gonna hurt 'em." Applejack replied, not stopping to make conversation with her brother. She loped up into the farmhouse, looking upon Granny Smith, sitting in front of the fireplace.

"Evenin', honey. Ya don't look so good." Granny Smith said.

"To tell the truth, Granny, Ah'm not feelin' so good right now." Applejack said, the feeling of dread still coursing through her.

"Wanna talk about it?" Granny said. "Ya can tell me anythin'. Applebloom's asleep, and Big Mac is still finishin' up outside." Applejack regarded her grandmother for a moment before subtly nodding. Granny Smith offered a satisfied smile. "So, sweetie, tell me what's wrong." Applejack sighed lightly before she began.

"Well, Ah'm kinda involved with this pony, who'll remain nameless for right now." Granny Smith nodded. "And this pony...well...not many would approve of our relationship, Ah think. And any time we're alone, Ah really just wanna hold this pony and spend all my time with her-him!" Applejack's stomach leaped as she quickly tried to cover herself. Granny Smith didn't seem to notice Applejack say "her", so she continued. "It's a...him. But whenever anypony even comes close to seein' us together, Ah just...kinda...stop lovin' on him."

"Well, does your time with 'im feel ill spent?" Granny Smith asked. "Like your doin' somethin' wrong?" Applejack considered the question for a moment.

"Uh....Ah...maybe?" Was all she offered as a reply.

"What it could possibly be, is that your gettin' excited by bein' with him." Granny Smith elaborated. "An' so that's why whenever you're alone, you're all happy to be with 'im, but ya don't wanna be seen by anyone else lovin' on 'im."

"Maybe..." Applejack said.

"Do ya feel bad or guilty whenever ya shun 'im in public?" Granny Smith asked.

'Yes.' Applejack thought.

"Uhmm...Ah, uh....no..." Applejack said, looking down at the floor.

"Well, then, what Ah'd say is that alla this is just a phase. It'll pass eventually. Sleep on it. Maybe go spend some time tomorrow with Twilight, or Rarity," Granny smith said. "or Rainbow Dash. Talk to 'em about it."

Rainbow Dash...the name reverberated in her head like a raquetball thrown by Iron Will. It made her elated, and yet sick to her stomach. It reminded her why she felt so awful about herself at that moment. She pushed these feelings aside and looked at her grandmother.

"Thanks, Granny." Applejack said. "Ah'm actually pretty tired...Ah think Ah might turn in early tonight."

"Alright. G'night, sweetie. Ah hope Ah helped." Granny Smith said kindly.

"Ya did. Night." Applejack said as she went to her room. She wouldn't be sleeping on this night however. She had entirely too much to think about.

Rainbow Dash woke up the next morning and fed her tortoise. She had returned to her cloud home the previous night after her altercation with Applejack angry and confused. Applejack, as far as she knew, never really cared what other ponies thought of her, provided they were thinking negative things. How was it so different now? No matter the case, Rainbow cared for Applejack deeply and valued her immensely. She knew she had to make things right with her love. She was in love with Applejack and she would do anything for her, including support her, no matter how she felt about revealing their relationship to their friends and family. Rainbow Dash patted Tank's head and left her home, descending upon Ponyville to find Applejack.

When the cyan pegasus arrived in the market, she layed her eyes upon the apple stand, currently being run by Big Macintosh, Applejack's brother. As she approached, Big Mac nodded at her.

"Mornin' Miss Dash." Big Mac said politely. "What'll it be?"

"Hey, Big Mac. I'm not buying anything, but do you know where Applejack is? I have to talk to her about a big project we have coming up." Rainbow said to him.

"She ain't here. She's down at the farm for today. But Ah'm sure she'd be happy to see ya." He replied to her. Rainbow nodded.

"Alright. Thanks, Big Mac!" Rainbow said before flying in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres.

"Eeeyup." Big Mac said, even though he was certain that Rainbow could not hear him anymore.
Rainbow flied over the town before finally coming upon Sweet Apple Acres. She spied Applejack down in front of the barn, moving barrels of apples. Rainbow flew down and landed behind Applejack, who noticed her presence.

"Morning, AJ." Rainbow said. "Working?"

"Yep." Applejack said simply. She set the barrel up and turned to Rainbow, who was walking towards her. Applejack began walking toward the stacks of barrels outside the barn. Rainbow went to hug her, but received no reciprocation from the farm mare.

"Sorry, Rainbow. Gotta get all this stuff done." Applejack said, a slight deadpan tone in her voice.

"Oh...uh...don't worry about it. No problem." Rainbow said before sitting down to watch Applejack work. Back and forth she went, moving the heavy barrels of apples into the barn.

"So...you guys getting all of those ready to be sold at the market?" Rainbow asked her.

"Yep. Things go like candy." Applejack said. "Funny that we're still strugglin' to make ends meet." Rainbow nodded.

"Yeah, that's why it's pretty awesome to live in the clouds. I made my house." Rainbow said proudly, making Applejack roll her eyes slightly as she continued to work. Rainbow rubbed the back of her head nervously as she struggled to talk.

"Uh...um...Look, I'm just going to get to the Ursa Major in the room. Last night..."

"We ain't gotta talk about last night." Applejack said. "Nothin' needs to be said."

"Yeah, it does." Rainbow replied. "We do need to talk about this." Applejack sighed before standing a barrel up and turning to face Rainbow.

"Alright, fine." Applejack said. "Let's talk." Rainbow cleared her throat.

"Okay, look, I...I may have overreacted last night." Rainbow said. Applejack scoffed lightly. "I know you may be nervous about revealing...us to anyone right now. I just got a little impatient with it. I can wait for you." Applejack looked up at the sky for a moment then back to the pegasus, a sweet, genuine, hopeful look on her face. Rainbow moved forward and nuzzled Applejack's cheek, making the farm mare's stomach flutter for a moment. Applejack didn't respond to the nuzzle, however, and let Rainbow step back. Judging from her disappointed look, Applejack knew Rainbow had wanted a kiss. Applejack frowned as she got a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She sighed.

"Okay, Rainbow...Ah appreciate you considerin' me..." Applejack said. "But, uh...there's somethin' Ah gotta tell ya." Rainbow became nervous at this comment, but nodded anyway.

"Alright." Rainbow said, smiling at her sweetly. Applejack frowned and looked down. "I'm all ears, AJ."

"You an' me..." Applejack said, stopping for a moment to gain control of herself. She blinked away tears and adjusted her stetson. She looked to the side, away from Rainbow. "You an' me ain't uh...workin'." Rainbow's eyes widened slightly.

"What?" Rainbow asked.

"Ah think we should...y'know...break up." The pegasus' heart stopped and her mind went numb. The statement took a moment for Rainbow Dash to register. The fire that burned in her chest, created whenever she layed eyes upon Applejack, was extiguished and frozen over. Her bottom lip had begun to quiver. She sat down, losing strength in her back legs, producing a muted thump. Her mouth hung slightly open, astonished at what she had just heard.

Applejack's heart broke at the scene before her, seeing Rainbow like this. Something inside her screamed for her to stop this, to say it was a joke and hold her, to kiss her and reassure her of their love for each other. But what Granny Smith had said the previous night to her, that it was just a phase, and they would both get over it eventually, pushed it aside and took prescedence. Her fear had become dominant.

"Rainbow, look, it's uh...it's not you, it's me. And Ah know that sounds really chiche, but-"

"Why?" Was all Rainbow said, looking at Applejack. Again, the farm mare averted her eyes.

"Well, uh..." Applejack said. "Uhm...well...we're two of the Elements of Harmony."

"So?" Rainbow said, raising and eyebrow.

"So...it's a b-bond between you, me, Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie b-based on friendship. Our l-love could p-potentially change that." Applejack looked to the side and scuffed a hoof on the ground, adjusting her stetson again.

"That's ridiculous." Rainbow said, outraged. "Love is the highest form of friendship."

"Ya don't know that." Applejack said.

"How could it not be?" Rainbow said. She stood. "You're lying to me, aren't you?"

"No, Rainbow, Ah'm not." Applejack said.

"Yes, you are. You know how I can tell?" Applejack said nothing. "Whenever you lie, you stutter and look away from whoever you're talking to." Rainbow said, stepping toward Applejack. "All those times you told me how much you enjoy my company, you were looking me straight in the eyes." Applejack sighed and looked at Rainbow, brows furrowed. Her heart pounded heavily in her chest as she felt a bead of sweat going down her temple.

"Ah ain't lyin' to ya."

"Oh, sure, now you look at me, when I've pointed out your tell." Rainbow said, anger lacing her words like a poison. "Why don't you tell me the real reason you're ending it? Like I don't already know." Rainbow's eyes narrowed. "You're scared."

"Ah ain't scared of nothin'." Applejack said, anger rising in her as well.

"Sure you are. You're terrified of what anypony else would think of you if they found out you were in a relationship with another mare." Rainbow said. "This is disappointing, Applejack. Especially coming from you."

"This was just a phase and you know it." Applejack said, stepping toward Rainbow, further closing the distance. Rainbow, further astonished at this statement yelled-

"Just a phase!? Are you kidding?!"

"No Ah ain't! We've both had coltfriends before, Rainbow!" Applejack said, raising her voice as well.

"And that changes anything how? This is ridiculous." Rainbow said, looking away and shaking her head. She looked back at Applejack. "You're ridiculous. You started all of this when you kissed me the night of your hoedown. I didn't ask you to lay one on me, but you did!"

"You sure as hay didn't reject it!" Applejack said.

"Why didn't you stutter when you raved about how much you love spending time with me, huh?" Rainbow demanded. "Why didn't you look away whenever we made love?!"

"Made love? Never thought Ah'd hear ya say that, Dash." Applejack said, with a sarcastic chuckle.

"Don't bucking change the subject!" Rainbow said to her. "This is all a big lie, and you know it. It all boils down to one simple fact." Rainbow got nearly nose-to-nose with Applejack. Applejack did not move back, instead looking Rainbow Dash in her eyes.

"What's that?" Applejack asked.

"You. Are. Scared." Rainbow said, eyes narrowing. Applejack shoved Rainbow back.

"Ah ain't scared of nothin'!" Applejack yelled. Rainbow laughed lightly.

"Sounds like denial to me." She said, this statement doused the fire that was Applejack's anger with gasoline.

"Oh yeah!?" Applejack said to her. "How about this?" She focused all of her willpower to grab each of Rainbow Dash's shoulders and bring her to look her in the eyes. She poured all of her effort into getting the words out perfectly. "Ah never felt anything but lust for you. You read too much into it." The gesture was like a sword in Rainbow Dash's stomach. Her eyes widened as she looked into Applejack's eyes. Her confident, smirking face morphed into an expression of hurt and heartbreak. If looking away and stuttering was Applejack's tell, it didn't show now. Tears flooded Rainbow's eyes as Applejack's hold softened along with her heart. Applejack's stomach turned as she realized what she had just done. She let go as Rainbow stepped back.

"I..." Rainbow said, a single tear falling down her cheek. "I don't believe it..."

"Rainbow..." Applejack said, tearing up as well. "Ah still want to be your friend..."

"That's what they always say, isn't it?" Rainbow said, wiping her tears and straightening up. "But then, what happens whenever you see your ex? You don't want to talk to them, right?" Applejack adjusted her stetson.

"It doesn't have to be that way, Rainbow Dash..." Applejack said.

"I still don't believe you...just yesterday...the look you had in your eyes was unmistakable. You're still lying to me." Rainbow said, brows furrowing.

"Ah'm not, Dash. It's best w-we just...end it now." Applejack said. "Look, a little while ago, Rarity told me that Caramel likes me. He's still single, so Ah'm gonna talk to him later. Ah'm serious about this." Applejack's head was overflowed with thoughts contradicting the statement. More tears fell from Rainbow Dash's eyes, but she stood firm, she did not sob, falter or break down. Seeing Rainbow like this made Applejack's chest hurt.

'Coward!' The farm mare thought to herself. 'Look what you're doin' to Rainbow Dash! Your sweet Rainbow Dash!' She pushed these thoughts away and sighed, looking at Rainbow. They stared at one another for a while, not moving, only stopping their eye contact to blink.

"Ah gotta get back to work." Applejack said.

"Fine." Rainbow said, unfurling her wings. "The element of honesty can't lie...at least not very well." Applejack merely sighed and returned to rolling the heavy barrel into the barn. Rainbow Dash began to fly away back to her cloud home.

Applejack finished with her work and after she shut the barn door, sat down and looked over Sweet Apple Acres. Her mind was buzzing with constant thoughts of Rainbow Dash and what had just transpired. Her insides felt rotten as she sat, frowning. Big Mac approached her, returning from the market.

"Sold out today." Big Mac said, a small smile on his face. When Applejack didn't reply, he looked at her, slightly worred. "Everythin' alright, sis?" Applejack looked at him for a moment before looking away again.

"Yeah, Big Mac. Ah'm fine." She said, looking down at the ground in front of her. Big Mac sighed.

"Alright, sis. Come inside soon. It's goldurned cold out here." He said. Applejack nodded.

"Ah'll be in in a minute. Just got a lot to think about." She said. Big Mac nodded. Her thoughts were uninterrupted by the small conversation she just had with her brother.

"She'll be okay." Applejack whispered to herself. "Dash is tough. She'll get over it." She turned to go into her house. "It's for the best..." She felt no less disgusted with herself, and no less sorrowful for the partnership she had just lost. A tear formed in her eye before she quickly wiped it away.

"Caramel's a nice stallion."

Rainbow sniffled as another tear fell down the side of her face onto her cloud pillow. She moved slightly on her bed where she had fallen and stayed since she had arrived at her home. Tank was curled up next to her belly, reassuringly resting his chin on her side. Applejack had changed so radically since the day before on their date...well, she hadn't actually changed herself, just her behavior. Rainbow wiped her tear and hugged onto Tank, pulling him closer.

"Thanks, Tank. You're a good friend." Rainbow said. "I needed someone to hug onto." The statement was something she wouldn't want anyone else but her pet to hear her say.

"Maybe that's how Applejack feels..." Rainbow wondered aloud. "No, it's not. I wouldn't really care that much if Twilight heard me say that I like snuggling with you, Tank. Sure, I'd be a little embarrased, but..." Her voice lowered slightly. "I'm not scared like...Applejack." Tank looked up at her and blinked slowly.

"Goddesses, I wish you could talk, Tank." Rainbow said. She fluffed her pillow and layed back down on it. She sighed heavily as she wiped tears from her eye. "I mean, whenever we would go on dates, I could see that Applejack loves me...I could tell it from the way she acted, the way she looked at me, and everything else..." Tank rested his head back down on Rainbow Dash's side. She sighed and adjusted her laying position to where her legs were on the cool part of the bed. She hated it whenever her bed warmed up.

Rainbow's mind was a crass menagerie of different emotions, thoughts and feelings. Betrayal iced her insides and kept them chilled, making her want to stay in bed and not move, which we was currently doing. Hurt burned her mind and made anger contradict fear, which also staked a claim on the pegasus' thought pattern. However, confusion reigned supreme in the pegasus. Applejack had adored Rainbow Dash, that much was undeniable. Her happiness could be felt in the air whenever they were together, and now she was acting so cold toward Rainbow. The immediate contradiction to her previous thoughts drove Rainbow Dash mad with it's pure ridiculousness.

Applejack had been lying to Rainbow and herself the whole time. Even though she had momentarily fooled Rainbow when she purposefully hid her tell, Rainbow knew the truth. She loved Applejack, and Applejack loved her too. But Applejack was scared. She had been since the night of their first date when she overheard what the Cakes had said. Rainbow slowly closed her eyes and sighed.

"I'll get her back, Tank." She said. "I swear I'll get her back."

Obligatory End-of-Chapter Author's Note: Oh, mah GAHD! The plot thickens, yeah? Shit...is...going...down. Or it will later on. So, yeah, I noticed that whenever I'm typing a confrontation or argument, I tend to type really fast and intensely. Hmm. Strange, huh? Anyway, drop a like if you're enjoying the story so far, and I'd love a comment telling me what you guys think so far. Cheers! (Yes, I'm going to say "Cheers!" at the end of every author's note. Deal with it.)