That's how long it's been since Rainbow Dash admitted to herself that she had a crush on Applejack. It was only a few days, but they were more than enough to agonize over her self-confession.

And the more Rainbow thought about it, the more she knew that 'crush' didn't do justice to her feelings. 'In love' was too corny, but 'crush' was too simple. Somewhere between those two is where Rainbow Dash was. Or, at least, that was the extent to which she currently admitted her feelings.

Questions like How long have I liked Applejack? Was it since we first met? Since we got to know each other better after Twilight came to Ponyville? Was it before or after... were constantly running through her mind. Her attempt to pinpoint the exact moment she developed feelings reminded Rainbow Dash of that dinner conversation at Sweet Apple Acres. All those moments she and AJ have shared...

And somewhere in between those moments in time, Rainbow Dash crashed from the sky and fell head over hooves with the cowgirl.

After her sonic rainboom on Monday, Spitfire had relented and given Rainbow Dash the day off to go into Ponyville. But instead of searching for Applejack as she had originally intended, Rainbow Dash searched for a newspaper. Once she found one, her heart broke just a little.

Dubbed the 'cutie mark connection madness,' it was a temporary spell that allowed ponies to share cutiemarks. Ponies had their original cutie mark on one side of their flank, and their partner's on the other. A picture of every couple who got the spell was provided. Rainbow Dash skimmed the pages, looking for the one mare she cared for.

Applejack's trademark Stetson was missing, letting her hair fall in loose waves. She was wearing a figure-fitting, shimmering green dress that matched her eyes perfectly. In the photo, she was standing besides Rara on the red carpet, the two mares turned away from the cameras and facing each other. Applejack was laughing, and Rara's face was partially hidden as she whispered in Applejack's ear. Beneath the image was a caption:

"Rara, previously known as Countess Coloratura, hit the red carpet with long-time friend, Applejack. Applejack is best known as a hero of Equestria and for serving on Princess Twilight Sparkle's Council of Friendship.

The hero and pop star were among those to get the cutie mark connection spell. Equestria wishes the powerful pony pair all the best in their budding romance!

To see more of the couple, reserve your tickets for their upcoming performance in Canterlot."

The idea of Applejack with somepony else (and not just any pony, but a super famous, super rich, admittedly pretty mare who AJ's known since fillyhood) tormented Rainbow Dash.

Since reading that article, Rainbow Dash hid at the Wonderbolts compound, unwilling to risk seeing Applejack or Rara. If she saw the former, Rainbow would be unable to hide her feelings from the perceptive mare. If she saw the latter, Rainbow would be unable to hold herself back from physically hurting the pop star.

But Rainbow Dash couldn't avoid them forever. Thursday morning, Derpy dropped off two elegant invitations. One was addressed to the general Wonderbolts team, inviting them to the School of Friendship's ballroom for the goodbye party. The other was the exact invitation, but directly addressed to Rainbow Dash. Written in Applejack's hoofwriting, it read,

"RD,

That sonic rainboom on Monday sure was something special.

I miss you. Hope to see you at tomorrow's party.

Lots of love,

P. S. This is me keeping my Pinkie Promise. I expect you to keep your's."

The note was a callback to Rainbow Dash's promise to spend more time with AJ. But, with Rara around, Rainbow hadn't exactly been keeping her end of the bargain.

In any case, the party was unavoidable. Rainbow Dash had shivers all day, nauseous as the hour for the party approached.

If Rara wasn't in the picture, it would have been simple. Rainbow Dash would have rashly told Applejack how she felt, and maybe done the normal thing like ask her on a date.

But everything was so complicated now. There was Rara and the dating rumors and the possible tour...

The invitations called for formal wear so, in true team fashion, the Wonderbolts wore matching but individualized suits. Rainbow's customizations were cufflinks and a bow tie in the shape of her cutiemark. Her blazer's tail was long like a dress, but elegantly ripped at the end. She tried to smooth out her hair, but it was too late to do anything fancy with it. She let it be, and joined the rest of the team to fly down to the school.

Spitfire snickered. "Speaking as your friend and captain... Do us all a favor and talk to Applejack. And please," Spitfire looked at Rainbow Dash pointedly, "Don't do it in a way that embarrasses us."

Despite her discomfort in having somepony know her secret, Rainbow Dash was glad it was Spitfire. Besides that comment on Monday, Spitfire hadn't mentioned nor try to push Rainbow Dash to talk about her feelings. She respected Dash's privacy, something the latter was grateful for.

The Wonderbolts soon reached the entrance of the school. Muffled music poured out, and beautiful streamers decorated the inside. The elegance but festiveness of the night was surely a combination of Rarity and Pinkie Pie's work.

Applejack and Rara were at the door, greeting ponies and creatures as they arrived. Upon seeing Applejack, Rainbow Dash's eyes bulged.

Her eyelids had a lightly applied dark eyeshadow, causing her green eyes to shine like emeralds. A choker with a red apple pendant on it and matching earrings gave color to her face. Her hair was swept loose to one side, her Stetson missing again. And like the one she wore to the Las Pegasus party, AJ was wearing another form-fitting dress. This time, it was black with a slight V neckline. Her long dress went a little below her hooves, but had a slit on her side to reveal Rara's cutie mark on her flank.

Rainbow Dash heard snickering around her, and a quick glance revealed it was Spitfire and Fleetfoot.

"I'll give you this Dash," Fleetfoot nudged her shoulder. "Your cowgirl sure can clean up."

Rainbow Dash chuckled nervously. Does every pony know about how I feel? Am I that obvious?

Giving Rainbow Dash a wink, Spitfire and Fleetfoot flew down first, saluting the pair at the door. They were followed by Soarin, who eagerly shook hooves with Rara. Then the rest of the team went as a group.

"It's good to see you, Rainbow Dash," Rara said earnestly. Rainbow Dash involuntarily glanced at Rara, giving her a cool look and no response. Rainbow noticed that the pony was wearing a matching dress to AJ's, but her's was white.

Rara looked from Rainbow Dash to Applejack, giving them a not-so-convincing casual smile.

"I think Rainbow Dash is one of the last ponies to arrive, so I'll just head inside let you two catch up."

For a moment, Applejack and Rainbow Dash just stood (or flew, in in Rainbow's case) in silence, not-so-subtly appraising the other.

"You look good, Dash," Applejack finally broke the silence, moving forward a bit to flick Rainbow's bangs.

What the hay was that? Rainbow thought in horror. I'm Rainbow Dash, for crying out loud! If I'm going to have a crush, I gotta be cool about it.

Finding her voice, Rainbow Dash quickly added, "So do you, AJ. I mean, you always look good. But you look especially good right now."

"Aw, shucks, Rainbow," she smacked the pegasus' hoof with a twinkle in her eye. Rainbow gave her a goofy smile, nudging her back.

"I missed you, ya know," Applejack commented, her smile falling a bit. She got a determined look in her eyes, seemingly finding the courage to say what was on her mind. "Ya know, it is a little strange. One second, you're pestering my family and askin' 'round where I am all the time. And the next you just... Disappear."

Rainbow Dash opened her mouth and closed it. If she answered this question honestly, she would have to admit that she stayed away because she was upset about the Las Pegasus party. And then she'd have to explain she was upset because of her feelings...

"Oh, so once I wasn't around is when you started to miss me?" Rainbow Dash asked flippantly.

Rainbow Dash felt a knot in her stomach tighten. It would be so much easier to simply lie and say the Wonderbolts kept her busy. But her knot of anger was finally unraveling.

"You had said at the gym that I never make time for you anymore, so I did. Almost every day after that, I went to find you. But you just wanted to be with Rara," Rainbow had a mocking tone when she said Rara's name, her face twisted in a slight scowl.

"So you know what, yeah! I didn't come to Ponyville this week. I'm not going to go somewhere where my presence isn't as important as somepony else's."

Okay, that wasn't the total truth, bjt it was partially. Rainbow Dash had felt neglected these last few weeks, like she had been replaced.

Applejack glowered. "And every time you came by, I invited you to hang out with us. I invited you to join us for breakfast, for lunch, for dinner, for a work out, for a hike, even to our trip out to Appleoosa. And you said 'no.' You said no every time." Applejack's nostril flared. "If you were just gonna say 'no' every time I invited you, why'd you even come looking for me?"

Applejack laughed without humor. "Seemed like you only came around for appearances. You kept your promise of making time: you just didn't spend it with me."

Rainbow Dash's wings shot out, flapping harder to keep her from falling straight to the ground.

"Of course I wanted to spend time with you!" Rainbow Dash declared hotly. "But you were always with Rara! And I didn't wanna hang out with her, I wanted to hang out with you!"

Applejack spluttered. "Rainbow Dash, you know she's visiting. What was I supposed to do, leave her waiting on the farm to hang out with you? You, who could have hung out with me whenever you wanted those last few weeks before Rara came, but you didn't. You, who only started to make time for me once Rara did come."

Applejack scowled. "Tell me, is that what's got your mane in a twist? Because Rara showed you up as a better friend by actually spending time with me?"

A silence fell between the two mares as the question sat in the air. Clearly, Applejack had wanted to get that off her chest for a while.

And Rainbow Dash knew she had a point. She had treated Rara and her visit as some sort of weird competition over who's the better friend. The right thing to do would be to admit that and apologize.

"Applejack, why is it so hard to understand that once I started to make time, it was for you, not you and Rara!"

"If you had truly wanted to spend time with me, you'd have done it even if Rara was around! All the other girls joined us," Applejack pushed back. "So what's really your problem, Rainbow Dash?"

"My problem is Rara!" Rainbow Dash finally exploded. "And the fact that you're dating her!"

Without thinking, Rainbow lunged forward and pressed her nose against AJ's in similar fashion to when they competed.

Applejack's eyes narrowed, and she stepped forward to press her nose harder against Rainbow's.

Her tone slightly offended, Applejack replied, "Let me guess, you read that from one of those gossip magazines you yourself have said are a lot of huey?"

"No!" Rainbow Dash verbally denied. "It's because you and her got that cutie mark... couple... connection... curse... Ugh, whatever that spell is called! How am I not supposed to think you're a couple?"

"Is that why you avoided me this week? 'Cause you thought we were dating and didn't want to third-wheel?"

By then, both ponies were fuming, a deep scowl etched in their faces. Before Applejack could interject again, Rainbow threw out another question.

"Well, obviously not!" Rainbow shouted in disgust. Finally, a question I don't mind answering honestly. "She's not a good friend to you, AJ! She's selfish for asking you to leave everything behind to go with her on your. And she took advantage of the fact you'd literally do anything for anypony and made you train her with the dumb excuse that you were going to have soo much 'earth pony fun.'"

Applejack stepped back from Rainbow Dash, breaking their physical contact. Her expression was colder, and it was very clear she was trying to remain calm.

After a few deep breaths, Applejack swallowed hard. "Look RD, I understand your concerns, but you were there when Rara apologized."

"Nuh-uh," Rainbow Dash pointed out. "She apologized for taking advantage, but not for being selfish."

Moving on, she quickly accused, "Okay, I already answered one question. You still haven't answered me about the dating thing."

Exasperated, Applejack rolled her eyes. "Rainbow, why does some rumor about me dating Rara have you more upset than a chicken who missed feeding?"

"Well of course it's a darn rumor!" AJ exclaimed as if it wasn't important news. "So why does it matter?"

Even though they were in the middle of a small screaming match, Rainbow Dash felt a little better knowing that.

"Is that why you're mad? Because I'm performing?" Applejack seemed to reach an understanding, one that flushed her face in anger again. She moved closer to Rainbow Dash to press her nose against hers. "I'll have you know, Rainbow Dash, you're not the only one talented enough to be performing for folks. I—"

"Applejack, I know that. I know you're amazing," Rainbow Dash cut her off. "That's not my problem. My problem is, well—"

Rainbow Dash's mind raced. She couldn't tell AJ that her problem was she was practically in love with her.

"It's the whole tour thing!" She settled on. Her friends had advised her to talk to AJ about it. And now seemed as good a time as any. "Why in Equestria would you be performing with Rara if not to kick off some magical friendship tour or whatever?"

"So that's what this has all about," Applejack said dryly. "You're upset because Rara offered me a long-term solution for us to spend time together."

"That's just it!" Rainbow Dash flailed her hooves. "It's not a solution, AJ! If you choose to go with her, you'd be choosing wrong!"

"Oh, and since you're so clever," Applejack said with a raised eyebrow, "Then what in tarnation is the right choice?"

Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to reply, her answer most likely involving choosing her. But before she could—

Rarity's voice startled the arguing friends. She and Applejack had still been nose to nose, but the sudden apparition of an audience made them jump back.

Rarity, Rara, Fluttershy, and Starlight Glimmer were standing in the foyer with varying looks of concern.

"Um. We could all hear you inside," Starlight Glimmer said uncomfortably. "Just wanted to let you two know that before... Other things were said."

Rainbow Dash felt the color leave her face. Replaying the conversation quickly in her head, she realized in horror what it sounded like. On the surface, it was a heated fight between two friends. But anypony with suspicions like Soarin's or Fleetfoot's would take it as the ultimate proof of Rainbow Dash's feelings.

"Well, thank y'all for interrupting us," Applejack said stiffly, her cheeks still flushed. "We were just about done here anyways."

With a last glare at Dash, Applejack walked inside. Starlight looked hesitantly at Rainbow, but decided against whatever she wanted to ask and lead the way inside. Rarity and Fluttershy rushed to Applejack, each putting a hoof around her and bowing their heads to converse in whispers. Once the small group walked away, only one pony stayed.

"I don't want to talk to you," Rainbow Dash snapped at Rara, turning to fly away.

"Rainbow Dash, wait!" Rara blurted out in desperation. "You should know she would never date anypony else! Not if the pony isn't you."

"What?" Rainbow Dash swirled around, returning to fly right in front of Rara. "What did you say?"

Rara's eyes widened as she realized what she said. But it was too late. She couldn't take it back.

"It's not my place to say any more besides that. But you should know that after meeting you," Rara offered Rainbow Dash a small smile. "I doubt any creature has a chance with AJ."

"You're saying she likes me!" She exclaimed, a smug grin on face. "Not you, me. Ha!"

Days of worrying had been for nothing. Rainbow Dash had feared AJ had chosen Rara.

"Hold your horses," Rara scoffed, annoyed at the gloating but ignoring it for the sake of the conversation. "I heard the fight. Every creature heard. And I don't think AJ is going to be too keen on having a heart-to-heart after that."

Rainbow Dash's spark extinguished, her throat dry. She had behaved terribly tonight.

But not just tonight. She'd been a bad friend since before Rara arrived. Hiding her fears about her friend group collapsing without Twilight, spending 24/7 with the Wonderbolts, getting jealous (because that's truly what it had been all along: jealousy) when Applejack was suddenly unavailable. And it was true— Applejack had been willing to include Rainbow Dash in her activities with Rara, but Rainbow had selfishly wanted to be alone with Applejack.

And here I had called Rara selfish, Rainbow thought glumly. When I've been selfish, too.

And tonight, her jealousy had been revealed for all to see. Furthermore, if AJ did like Rainbow Dash in a romantic way, the accusation of dating Rara would definitely have been hurtful.

Rainbow Dash questioned, "If you two aren't dating, why did you get that cutie mark spell?"

Rara explained, "We got it in commemoration of the first ever concert Applejack and I will do together... And probably the last." Rara kept a focus on Rainbow's expression, trying to gage her reaction. "Last Monday, she told me she couldn't go on tour with me. Something about... A rainbow pointing her home again."

It must have reminded AJ of the time she was a filly, searching for another life in Manehattan. Rainbow Dash's first ever sonic rainboom had pointed AJ home back then, and resulted in both ponies getting their cutie marks. If anything could convince AJ to stay in Ponyville, it would be a sign like that.

If I had just gone to see AJ on Monday instead of looking for some magazine with silly gossip, I would have saved myself a lot of trouble, she thought to herself. And now look what happened. Did I ruin our chances?

"But you're right, Rainbow Dash." Rara was looking at the ground in shame. "It was selfish of me to ask AJ to leave everything she loves to go on a tour, just so I could have her company. I have been a bad friend, and all I can do now is make it up to her." Rara looked back up at Rainbow Dash with steely resolve. "So I'm going to share one more thing, not because I want to break AJ's trust, but because you both deserve a win."

"On Monday, she told me that she's known she wanted to say no since my very first night here. But she didn't want to break it to me because I was so excited." Rara looked away again in embarrassment, but she took a deep breath and looked back up. "She said she's known since then what she wanted, but really, I think she meant to say that she had figured out who she wanted."

If AJ had known since Rara's first night in Ponyville, then she must have decided after our conversation on the hammock, Rainbow pieced together. She had asked me what I would do, and then made that weird comment.

'I was wrong... You and Rara aren't alike. Similar, maybe. But not alike. Not alike at all.'

Earlier that same day at the gym, AJ had compared Rainbow Dash and Rara as two mares "busy chasing a dream." But after hearing Rainbow Dash's advice, Applejack took back that observation.

AJ had meant that as a hint! Rainbow Dash started to fly a little higher. She never wanted to go on tour with Rara, prioritizes singing above everything. She was always going to stay in Ponyville.

And, if Rainbow Dash was right, it was to stay near the mare who prioritized Applejack above everything.

The logistics didn't matter. It was perfect. It was all perfect. Everything was perfect. Even Rara was perfect.

"I've got to talk to her," Rainbow Dash muttered, her voice growing decisive. "I gotta talk to Applejack right now!"

"I know you want to, but trust me," Rara moved to block the entrance inside. "That fight isn't going away in Applejack's mind. You know her— she's stubborn. She won't listen to a thing you'll say."

Rainbow Dash's face fell. She did know Applejack. And an angry Applejack was never an easy pony to have a conversation with.

"You're going to have to tell her how you feel in a way that will make her listen." A sly smile spread on Rara's face.

The Magic of Love

by ashley-luv

not if the pony isn’t you