Applejack and Rainbow Dash walked (or, in Rainbow Dash's case, flew) back to the larger group.
"Rara and I are cooking dinner for the family tonight. You should join us, Dash," AJ mentioned, glancing at her friend with a smile. It was the ideal situation for Applejack: she would be with her favorite ponies all at once.
Rainbow Dash hesitated, looking over at Coloratura. Now that Applejack had compared the two, Rainbow Dash could think of two other important similarities between herself and Rara. Remembering the scene at the barn, Rainbow guessed that Rara cared for Applejack almost as much as she does. And two, both ponies have both been separated for some period of time from AJ.
If Coloratura cares about AJ even twenty percent as much as I do, being away from her must have totally sucked, Rainbow thought to herself. Even just being away from AJ these last few weeks was torture. Imagine a few moons?
Rainbow Dash mentally cringed at the internal question. Celestia forbid that ever happens.
She sighed heavily. As much as she wanted to spend time with Applejack, she realized Coloratura needed that time more.
"I don't wanna intrude," Rainbow finally replied.
"Wouldn't be no intrusion," Applejack immediately replied.
By then, they had reached the larger group.
"Oh, Crash is always an intrusion," Spitfire smirked, not knowing the context of the conversation but unable to resist the opportunity to insult somepony. "What event is she crashing this time?"
Applejack trotted over to Rara, and nudged the mare with her shoulder softly.
"I was thinking we could have Dash over at dinner," AJ explained.
Rara's face lit up in joy, but somepony spoke up before she could.
"Dinner?" Soarin's ears perked up, flapping his wings vigorously as he looked back and forth between AJ, RD, and Rara. "Is Rainbow Dash not accepting to have dinner with Rara? Because if so, I will happily take her place."
Spitfire flew besides Soarin and put a hoof on the stallion's shoulder.
"I think Applejack wants dinner with close friends," Spitfire explained not unkindly. "She's not hosting a Rara meet-and-greet."
"Dinner with Dash sounds great," Rara beamed before catching herself. She gave Rainbow Dash an apologetic look. "Sorry, Rainbow Dash. Applejack uses your nicknames in her letters, so they stick in my head."
Dash chuckled uncomfortably, shrugging.
"S'all good," she managed to say. The truth was, she felt guilty. Here she had been using Coloratura's full name out of spite, while she had been using Rainbow's nickname out of preconditioned familiarity.
Maybe Soarin is right, Rainbow thought glumly. Maybe Applejack is settling for a friend like me, when she deserves a great friend like Rara.
No. What am I even saying? Rainbow Dash's resolve steadied, banishing the insecure thought. I'm twenty percent cooler than everypony, including Rara (but excluding Applejack). And I'm gonna prove it!
"Dinner sounds good," Rainbow Dash said with renewed gusto. "I'll be there."
Spitfire watched the exchange in amusement. Like Rarity (and anypony who had eyes and some sense), she had long suspected Rainbow Dash to have some sort of different connection with Applejack. But now that she was almost certain Rainbow Dash had romantic feelings for the mare, it was entertaining to watch them interact.
Spitfire's only remaining question was how nopony else noticed.
Remembering that she wasn't just there to watch a live love story, Spitfire said, "Well, we best get out of your manes. These ponies still have aerial practice."
Groans rang throughout the room as the entire Wonderbolts team looked at Spitfire dejectedly. Their last workout had been hard enough, and now they have another one?
"Oh, that's so fun! AJ and I still have some choreography to practice, too," Rara beamed at Spitfire. "It was nice to meet you Spitfire, and your whole team."
"It was great to meet you too, Rara. And to see you again, Applejack," Spitfire saluted to them both in goodbye, flying out of the room. The rest of the Wonderbolts gave various goodbyes, waves, and salutes, following their captain. Soarin sighed, but gave Rara one final handshake in goodbye.
That left Rainbow Dash. Rara gave her a warm smile.
"It was great to finally meet you, Rainbow Dash. I can't wait to get to know you better at dinner." She waved in goodbye and trotted back to the dance floor, moving to adjust the sound system.
Applejack gave Rainbow a huge smile and mock salute. "I'll see you at six p.m. sharp, sugarcube."
Rainbow returned the grin, saluting back. "You got it, AJ."
And with that, Rainbow Dash left the room in a streak of rainbow.
Coloratura is actually nice, Rainbow Dash mused. And I guess I should try to call her Rara. It's only fair.
Once the door closed behind Rainbow Dash, Applejack halted in place when she saw Rara giving her a suggestive grin.
"She's cute."
"Who? Rainbow Dash?"
"Yup."
"Well... I guess so."
"I can see why you'd like her."
"I would hope I like her. She's my friend."
Rara snickered at the word 'friend,' but didn't push the subject. Like Spitfire and Rarity before her, she sensed something deeper between the Applejack and Rainbow Dash. But before she could say with one hundred percent certainty what it was, she was going to need to watch them interact more.
Luckily, she wouldn't have to wait long.