//------------------------------// // we are definitely not friends // Story: The Magic of Love // by ashley-luv //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash arrived at the Wonderbolts aerial compound with her mind still on the ground. Try as she might, she couldn't explain to herself why was so annoyed about Rara's visit. What the hay is wrong with me? I should be happy that AJ is happy. Rainbow Dash chided. I haven't seen her in weeks, and look at how much good that did her. Her thoughts shifted to a dejected tone. I guess she made the right choice to hang out with Rara instead of me. "Crash! There you are!" Spitfire called once Rainbow was within earshot. "Practice is on the ground today. We've been waiting for you to head to Ponyville's gym." Rainbow Dash made a face. "Um, aren't we a flying team?" She questioned. "How does practice on the ground make sense?" Spitfire rolled her eyes and explained, "Soarin's celebrity crush-" "RARA IS IN PONYVILLE!" Soarin interrupted, speeding to Spitfire's side. In a gushing voice of an overzealous fan, Soarin exclaimed, "Rara, previously known as Countess Coloratura, is going to be at the Ponyville gym! She rented out a private room, and I got us the room right across from her's." Rainbow Dash let out a loud groan of annoyance. "What is it about Coloratura that everypony wants to spend time with her?" Rainbow Dash crossed her hooves as she glared at Soarin. "She's not even that cool! I can think of soo many ponies that are way more awesome than her." Soarin reciprocated Rainbow Dash's glare. He flew up to her altitude, while the rest of the Wonderbolts watched in amusement. This was something they had to see. "Rara is a huge pop star! And with her upcoming tour, she's going to be an international pop star, since she's going to visit kingdoms outside of Equestria," Soarin defended. "Of all ponies, I would have thought you'd like her, Crash. In all her interviews, Rara gushes about that one mare, one of your fellow Elements of Harmony. I think her name is—" "Wait, wait, wait," Rainbow Dash interrupted. "Do you mean Applejack?" "That's her!" Soarin exclaimed with a pleased expression. "Sorry, the name slipped my mind for a teeny second." Rainbow Dash didn't care that Soarin apologized. She was offended on Applejack's behalf. How could Soarin not know the name of Ponyville's best athlete, of the hero of Equestria? "Well, her name is Applejack, and she's saved the world more times than anypony can count. How many times has Coloratura ever saved the world, huh? Zero! And yet, somehow, you know her name," Rainbow Dash retorted, crossing her hooves. Soarin was dumbfounded. He was too speechless to even defend Rara. He knew Rainbow Dash was loyal to her friends, but this felt strangely different. Meanwhile, Spitfire had taken a keen interest in the conversation. She had a feeling about what Rainbow Dash's real issue might be, but wasn't sure. Yet. Spitfire flew up to Soarin and Dash's, a smirk on her face. "So I'm guessing you and Rara aren't the best of friends?" Spitfire asked Rainbow Dash with the intention of instigating. Rainbow Dash took the bait. She glared at her captain with genuine annoyance. "We are definitely not friends," she grumbled, "And I don't plan on befriending, either." Spitfire snickered. "Well like it or not, we already reserved a room at the gym. So you're coming, Crash." With a pout, Rainbow Dash followed her team to Ponyville. She blocked out their excited chatter, lagging towards the back of the group. This morning, she had been desperate to spy on AJ and Rara. But now, she wanted to do anything but be near them. She remembered AJ and Rara's uncontrollable laughter, their small touches of affection, and constant exchange of childhood memories. The remembrance brought a sour taste to Rainbow's mouth. This was not going to be fun. A unicorn greeted the Wonderbolts when they arrived, leading them upstairs. The private rooms at the Ponyville gym were set up identically. They all had a door that had to be magically opened, and a rectangular window besides said door that gave a view inside. People in the rooms across from each other could, theoretically, watch each other the entire time if they wished. The unicorn stopped at the end of the hall, pressing her horn against the door. A click was heard, and the door opened. "Sweet Celestia, it's HER!" The sudden declaration startled the group. Soarin's face was pressed against the window of the room opposite of their's. He was clearly love struck, and looked a little weird overall. Ugh, Rainbow thought to herself a little embarrassed. Is that how I looked this morning when I spied on AJ? Rainbow Dash tried to keep her cool, but her impulse control wasn't built for that. She shoved past her teammates to peer into the room as well. The room had various exercise equipment placed in an orderly manner. The back was set up like a dance studio, with mirrors covering the wall and a dance floor replacing the regular floor. AJ and Coloratura were stretching in front of the mirrors. Coloratura was spotting AJ as the farmgirl lifted her back hoof onto the ballet pole. Both mares were wearing athletic clothes, outlining their difference in figures. Coloratura was lean, while AJ was toned. "She's so pretty," Soarin sighed. Rainbow Dash, whose gaze was on the orange earth pony, didn't think twice about her reply. "Agreed." The moment she said it, Rainbow's hoof flew to cover her mouth. She flew backwards and away from the window, crashing into the wall behind her. She was met with the questioning eyes of her teammates. "I thought you didn't like Rara," Soarin accused, looking at Rainbow Dash suspiciously. "I don't think Crash was talking about Rara," Spitfire, who had flown to see inside the room, commented. She turned away and smirked, prompting RD's cheeks to burn crimson. "I'll give you this, Applejack sure is built." Fleetfoot peered into the room. She exchanged a sly smile with Spitfire, an unsaid conspiracy between them. "And I gotta say," Fleetfoot said, dramatically staring at Applejack. "She's a looker. Very mare-next-door." "Well I don't think AJ is pretty!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. Her eyes widened in horror as she backtracked because, well, that was a lie. "I mean, she is. But that's objectively speaking, you know? Like I can't think she's pretty, because it's an established fact. It's like... Like saying 'I think the sky is blue'! Everyone knows that, so you can't claim to think it, you know?" Rainbow's babbling was interrupted as her entire team burst into laughter. Spitfire and Fleetfoot hoof bumped, grinning at their success. "Never thought you would fall this hard," Fleetfoot snickered. "Well, crash is more accurate," Spitfire countered. The comment got another round of snickers among the team. Rainbow spluttered, words not managing to form aloud. What the hay are they talking about? "Alright, alright, that's enough for now," Spitfire called the team to attention. "Crash and Soarin can drool over the mares later. Now come on, team!" Spitfire barked, "We still got a work out to complete!" Spitfire led the way into their room, followed by the rest of the team. Soarin was the only one left besides Dash in the hallway. He gave her a sympathetic pat on her head. "Cheer up, Crash. If Applejack has any sense, she'll know to settle for you," he said. "Childhood friend or not, Rara is out of all our leagues." Rainbow Dash growled after Soarin. In this hypothetical situation, AJ would be settling for boring, less cool Coloratura. Being with Rainbow Dash, on the other hand, would mean AJ would be with someone her equal. What? Why am I even thinking about this? Rainbow chided, shaking her head vigorously to clear it. Rainbow Dash gave one final peek into the opposite room. Now, AJ and Rara were on their backs. It was evident that AJ was teaching Rara an exercise, as Rara mimicked whatever AJ did. Rainbow recognized the exercise: it was an ab and hooves exercise that really, really hurt. But AJ made it look easy, her abdomen and hooves flexing obviously in her athletic wear... "CRASH! Get your flank in here!" Rainbow snapped out of it again. For Merlin's sake, this was the millionth time today she got lost in her thoughts about Applejack. What the hay is wrong with me?! "COMING!" Dash shouted back, flying into the practice room and shutting the door. Rainbow Dash silently promised herself that she wouldn't look out the window and into the other practice room. If she doesn't look, she can't see AJ. And if she can't see AJ, she can't get lost in these weird thoughts about her best friend.