I stopped a few feet from Pinkie Pie’s door, feeling the bass vibrate the ground beneath my hooves. There was an uneasiness in my stomach that I couldn’t seem to shake. I paused a few seconds more, preened my mane once more before opening the door and held my breath as I stepped inside. The room was dark, lights were flashing and towards the middle of the floor, there was a mass of ponies dancing. To the left side of the room I spotted a few ponies from my group of friends, but one pony seemed to be missing! I felt the pressure in my chest reside at the thought of this. Good, she’s not here. Nothing to worry about then. I stretched my wings, feeling my body relax more as I trotted to the group of ponies chatting in the corner.
“Hey, Rainbow Dash!” Twilight Sparkle yelled above the booming music that filled the air.
“Hey guys.” I smiled and glanced at Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Spike as they all greeted me simultaneously.
My eyes drifted over the sea of ponies once more, nervously expecting to see her there.
“Well, dear. What IS the matter?” Rarity questioned, while also glancing over the crowd.
“I…It’s nothing, really. I just feel a little out of whack...” my eyes trailed to the floor.
“Aw! Come on Dashie! Have a cupcake! Or TWO cupcakes! Or NINE cupcakes! Cupcakes ALWAYS make me feel better!” Pinkie continued spouting her nonsense. I realized that she was only trying to help, but in my state of mind, I couldn’t help but snap
“No Pinkie! Cupcakes aren’t the answer to everything! Not everything is as simple as you are! So just leave me alone!” I snapped my jaws shut and immediately regretted letting my anger get the best of me.
Everypony’s eyes were fixed on me and a penetrating silence fell over the ponies in the corner of the room. I stared at Pinkie apologetically and watched as she suppressed the tears that had already begun to flow.
“I’m sorry Pinkie, I just…I’ve had a lot going on lately…I shouldn’t have taken it out on you…”
Pinkie sniffled as she wiped away one stray tear that had found its way down her cheek.
“It’s okay Rainbow Dash…I’m just gonna…go back to the punch table now”
My heart filled with disgust for my behavior as I watched pinkie walk away, her gait missing its usual hopping quality and her tail drooping towards the ground.
I stared back at my group of friends, searching their eyes for understanding. Rarity glanced at me with disdain, Spike seemed to have missed the outburst entirely, he was huddled over a bowl of gemstones. Fluttershy was completely taken aback, I stared at her for a moment longer than anypony else and felt my heart sink. Her eyes were fixated on a small piece of confetti on the floor and she seemed very content to keep them there. The only one of the group who didn’t seem completely aghast at my behavior was Twilight. She had seen more than her share of my outbursts over our few years of friendship. She placed a hoof on my shoulder and smiled reassuringly.
“You know Pinkie; she’ll be fine as soon as she consumes enough cupcakes to fuel her next sugar rush”
I rolled my eyes and smiled weakly at Twilight. She was a good friend. And apparently her kind words to me had assured everyone else that it was okay to speak again. As the uncomfortable silence slowly began to reside, I heard her.
“Hey y’all! What’s everypony bein’ so quiet about? This here’s a party, aint it?”
I felt the fur on my back bristle as her hoof brushed my flank before she gingerly placed it on my back. I quickly sidestepped her advance as the rest of the group greeted her happily. She shrugged nonchalantly and shuffled one step closer to me as the other ponies dispersed to get drinks, food and use the stall. Shit! This was what I had been afraid of! Being alone with her. I wasn’t going to let it happen, not again! Okay, calm down Rainbow Dash. We’re in a crowded place, not technically alone.
I glanced at her for just a second, only to find her squinting across the dance floor at Pinkie.
“Well, what the hay is wrong with Pinkie Pie?!” she said as her eyes trailed over the room and back to me.
I glanced at her nervously and made eye contact for the first time. She looked genuinely concerned for Pinkie.
“I...uh...” I had a lump in my throat that made it nearly impossible for Applejack to hear me over all of the surrounding noise. She took another step closer.
I pinned my ears back and cleared my throat, looking anywhere but where Applejack was. “I got mad….I yelled at her…I feel like shit about it…” My eyes dropped to the floor and I was filled with disgust again for my earlier behavior. A wisp of hair fell in front of my eyes…I looked up through the red strand of mane that only partially obstructed my vision and saw Applejack smiling at me. She placed a hoof under my chin and tilted my head until my eyes were level with hers. At first I dismissed the thumping in my chest as the bass from the song that was on at the moment before realizing that my pounding was completely off beat and steadily growing faster. I panicked, my chest grew tight, and my knees shook. I looked directly into those big, beautiful green eyes and felt my body relax inch by inch as I felt the warmth of her lips pressing against mine. I lingered there for a few seconds before I realized what had happened. My eyes grew wide as I stared at her with bewilderment, her eyes were not wide, they were relaxed, almost smug. Shit! The lump in my throat became apparent again and my lungs felt as if they couldn’t expand. The heat of all of the dancing ponies became inescapable and it seemed like years before I finally weaved my way to the door and stole one last glance at the room to see Applejack still standing there, she looked upset.