“It was just a one-time thing. You said so yourself! You said you weren’t looking for commitment anyway, that you had too much to do with the farm and all.” Rainbow stared at Applejack in bewilderment, her plate with the baked potato and mushroom all but forgotten. It was still early in the morning, before Rainbow’s shift in the castle started, and as always after their habitual morning runs Applejack had invited Rainbow Dash over for breakfast at the farm.
“I know what I said,” Applejack said calmly. “I meant it.”
“Then what—“
Applejack put a hoof on Rainbow’s, shutting her up. “Things have changed.” With her other hoof she waved at the nocturnal farmland outside the window. “I’ve got the farm set up for the way things are now… y’know, eternal night… and it’s running just fine. I’d like somepony to go steady with, not just some hot young filly fresh from the military academy who’s just cocky enough to be interesting for a night.” She gave Rainbow a smile. “And you’ve changed too. You’re not that cocky cadet anymore who thinks she’s Princess Nightmare Moon’s gift to ponydom. You got your act together. I appreciate that.” She cleared her throat. “I like you, and I think we’d be a good team. So what do you say? Do you wanna go out with me?”
“AJ…” Rainbow started, then trailed off.
Applejack gave her a meek smile. “I’m guessin’ that’s a no then, huh.”
“AJ, you don’t understand. I’m already raisin’ eyebrows left and right every time we hang out. Your family’s not exactly trustworthy, after what Granny Smith pulled. And now you want me to—no, AJ, I can’t do this. In the palace they’re very careful about ponies. Who they hang out with. What they think. A whole lot of ponies are still hung up on the way things used to be. We gotta watch out.”
Applejack’s eyes narrowed, and she withdrew her hoof. “So you’re sayin’ it ain’t opportune for you to hang out with me? That I might be a danger to your career?”
“Look, AJ,” Rainbow said, her gaze hardening, “I want this position. I want to be at the very top. It’s all I ever wanted. And for that to happen I gotta be loyal to the Princess above all else. Without any doubt. I can’t just duck down and try not to raise any attention and still keep resentin’ the new ways, like you do. I’m not that pony.”
Applejack looked away for a few seconds. She cleared her throat before she spoke. “I see. I guess I was mistaken, then.”
“I’m sorry, AJ. But that’s my life now.”
“Yeah. I’m sorry too.”
“Yeah.” Rainbow got up and uneasily ruffled her wings. “I should get going. Lots to do, y’know. Actually, I don’t think I’m gonna make it for our run on Thursday. There’s, um, a meeting in the castle and…”
“Don’t bother,” Applejack said coolly. “Good luck with your career, Captain.”
As Applejack watched Rainbow leave her kitchen she noticed the first tears streaming down her cheeks.