Chapter 3: Cracks.

Rarity was by herself at a party yet again, or at least that was the way it looked to any pony passersby.  She was sitting next to a darkened curtain, humming a soft tune that by this point had become so familiar to her as she waited patiently for somepony. Within an hour, the tune was repeated, and a sudden brush of silk upon her forehoof told her that her partner was here.

"It's so nice to see you here," came a soft voice from behind the dark curtain. The sudden silhouette of another pony. Rarity stepped into the silk and nuzzled the mysterious visitor softly.

The two of them were used to this by now, one would be out in the open, and the other would take up the role of some mysterious stranger coming to them in the night.  It was a wonder to the two lovers why they had not been caught by the others.  

Though they supposed some had their suspicions, the sweet maker for instance. She seemed to be keen on their little ploy, though that mattered not to them, they knew their secret would be safe in her hoofs.

"This is all so terrible," the soft voice spoke through the silk much later in the night,"having to stay hidden away like this." The statement troubled Rarity, she knew where this was going, and she'd been hoping to avoid it. She nuzzled into the silk once more, trying her best to relieve her lover's troubled thought.

After a time of silence between the two however, she knew that she could not hide from the conversation for long. "I'm sorry, but you know I can't." She felt her heart drop to the pit of her stomach. She wanted so badly to show her affections publicly, it was true, but she wasn't sure how the reactions would affect her lover; sure, the mare behind the curtain had tried to assure her many a time that her heart was steeled and ready, but still Rarity was hesitant to reveal their love.

The mare behind the silk nuzzled Rarity closely, and she felt the silk surround her as she was wrapped in a quick hug from her mystery lover.

"I know Rarity, and I'm sorry for bringing it up, we'll do this when you're ready. . .I hope."

The protection of the silk surrounding her left as the hug ended, and her heart fell even further. How was it that she was the weak one. She was so unused to this, but then, she supposed that love played with a mare's mind like no other emotion could.

Her hidden lover pulled back the silk just enough to reveal her maw, which was unrecognizable in the darkness of night, and placed a kiss upon Rarity's lips. "I don't want to have what happened to AJ happen to us, I don't want to lose you, so I'll wait until the time is right. If that's OK with you?"

Rarity nuzzled into the silk one final time, she was perfectly fine with whatever came next.

Twilight and Rainbow Dash sat in the were standing at the buffet table that Pinkie had set up for the festival, smiling and nuzzling each other as Pinkie danced up to them, her eternal smile bright upon her face. Their Pink compatriot hopped around the two, her mouth running faster than a bullet as she spoke ecstatically. "Omigosh, omigosh, omigosh, this is so awesome, you two look so cute together right now, I should throw a party for you to, oh wait, we're at a party right now, but that's OK, we can have another."

"Hey Pinkie," Rainbow responded, watching the party pony prance around in glee. She and Twilight couldn't help but giggle at their friends almost foal-like behavior sometimes. In fact, if they hadn't known better, they could swear that there was probably never a time where that silly filly was unhappy.

"Look Pinkie, we kinda want to be by ourselves for a moment if that would be OK with you," Twilight told their bubbly friend as she wrapped her foreleg around Dash's and pulling her towards the dance floor.

"Okie dokie lokie," the party pony responded, dancing in place to the music resounding throughout the room.

"Thanks," Rainbow Dash said, kissing Twilight upon her cheek as they moved through the throng of the crowd. They were almost at their destination, an open space among the crowd of dancing ponies, when they were stopped by a very familiar earth pony.

"What in tarnation are you two doing," Applejack slurred, the alcohol thick on her breath as she stumbled slightly.

"I was just about to dance with my lovely marefriend AJ," Rainbow responded, her eyes narrowing at the drunk pony. Rainbow Dash took Twilight's hoof and started to sidestep the farm pony, but Applejack stepped the same direction, impeding their path.

"What, you found some new toy to play around with Dashie," Applejack snorted, the venom in her voice evident even in her overly-intoxicated state.

Rainbow Dash's scowl deepened and she used her free hoof to gently push Applejack out of her way as she continued to lead Twilight toward the dance floor.

"What's wrong Dashie," Applejack yelled over the crowding sounds of music and elated laughter,"can't face up to your old marefriend now that you got yerself a new playmate? Doesn't she know you're nothin' but trouble." At that, Rainbow Dash lost it, she turned on the spot and stomped toward the drunken earth pony.

"OK Applejack, you're starting to get on my last nerve," Rainbow Dash yelled, staring down the drunk pony. "I don't care if you used to be my marefriend or not, what was between us was over. You were a coward when I needed you to be brave, I didn't need someone like that."

"Oh really," Applejack yelled, stepping up towards Rainbow Dash, snarling.

"Yeah, really."

"Stop it," Twilight squealed, tears in her eyes as she spoke. She hated to see her friends fight like this, it killed her inside watching them go at each other like this, and for what. Was being with Rainbow Dash really worth losing a friend like this.

"Twilight," Rainbow started, stepping towards the violet unicorn.  Twilight turned away and ran, not caring who saw the tears in her eyes. She didn't know what to do, all she could do was run.

"Hah, looks like she's seen right through you," Applejack snorted at Rainbow Dash. The cyan pegasus gritted her teeth at the words as tears fell from her eyes as she watched the spot where Twilight used to be.

"Applejack," came a soft voice from behind the two, causing them both to turn around. Suddenly an off-white hoof fell across AJ's face, throwing her to the floor. Rarity, who no pony had seen move from next to those dark curtains, stood over the fallen earth pony, anger painted upon her face. "I ask kindly that you please quit acting like a bitch."