//------------------------------//
// Preparing for Departure 
// Story: Rainbow Dash's Future 
// by scorpclawFF 
//------------------------------//


Rainbow Dash’s Future
Chapter 4 – Preparing for Departure



Rainbow Dash felt a little tense about her entire situation. She was leaving for the Wonderbolt Academy in a couple of hours, and she was actually worried that they might not accept her to be a Wonderbolt. Although she believed in herself as the best flier in Ponyville, the position is highly-esteemed and is difficult to receive. To clear her mind before that big moment, she ditched her friends up at that academy to be with her closest friends.
She flew down to Ponyville and went to Fluttershy's cottage. She knew that she could confide in her to be a good friend. If she had looked down upon her arrival at the home, she would've noticed a crying Applejack fleeing to Sweet Apple Acres. Though, she was too lost in her own thoughts to really be paying attention to what was below her. Just what was ahead of her.
Rainbow Dash landed herself and knocked on Fluttershy’s door. A few moments later, the door opened and Fluttershy opened the door, expecting Applejack. When she saw Rainbow Dash, she was a little surprised.
“Oh, Rainbow Dash. Don’t you have to leave for the Wonderbolt Academy soon?”
Rainbow tried to keep a slick smile to avoid spreading her discomfort to somepony else. Though, it didn't last long when a frown soon came over her. “I’m actually a little nervous about the whole thing, Fluttershy. I just wanted to be around friends before I go.”
“Oh, well you just missed Applejack.”
“Was she here? I still can’t find the guts to tell her that I’m leaving for the Wonderbolts tonight.”
Fluttershy sighed, knowing that she wasn't allowed to tell Rainbow Dash about Applejack’s feelings for her. “Why can't you tell her,” Fluttershy asked curiously. “Wouldn't it be better if you told all of your friends so that we can help you through this?”
“It’s because Applejack is my best friend. We're both really big competitors. We're both really good at what we do. We're both awesome. I just don't have the guts right now to tell her.”
“Well you’re going to have to tell her eventually. She’ll be upset if you leave without saying good-bye, and I don't want Applejack to be upset.” Fluttershy knew that Applejack already knew everything already, but she wanted Rainbow Dash to tell her face-to-face. That’s the way that it should be.
“I know, I know. I’ll tell her before I leave. I just don't know what to say. If I say something wrong like I do with everypony else, then we may stay friends after this.”
“Just tell her the truth, Rainbow Dash. You’re a good friend, and she’ll love you no matter the choice you make.”
Rainbow Dash lowered her head in shame. “Yeah, you’re right. You may be a little quiet, Fluttershy, but you’re really smart about this kind of stuff.”
Fluttershy smiled sheepishly. “I just like helping my friends.” She continued to smile at Rainbow Dash with a long, drawn-out pause. “Is there anything else that you need Rainbow Dash? You can stay for dinner if you would like to.”
“No thanks, Fluttershy. I have some important things that I need to get done. Besides, you already helped me a lot, so you can't possibly help me much more than you have already. Thanks.”
“You're welcome. Good luck on becoming a Wonderbolt. I know that you will get it.”
Rainbow Dash nodded and smiled. She left the cottage with a little more courage than she did coming in. Though, she was still a little nervous about telling her best friend about her possible departure. Especially after the fun days she’s had, Rainbow Dash has developed quite an attachment to the orange farm mare. Though, it seems that the attachment will soon come to an end. At least, that’s what she thought was going to happen. She still wasn't even entirely sure if she would even get accepted.
Most ponies don't.
Though, Rainbow Dash removed that idea from her mind, because despite her feelings for her friends, she still really wanted to be a Wonderbolt. Those were her main priorities and she planned on sticking with them.
Rainbow Dash took off from the ground, heading for Sweet Apple Acres. Despite everything that she feared, she knew that she had to make everything right with her best friend. Celestia as her witness and guide, she will be successful. No matter what happens.
A couple of minutes later, Rainbow Dash landed herself in front of the Apples’ farm house. Before she knocked, she felt a drop of water drop into her fur. Rainbow looked up to see that it was beginning to rain. She had forgotten about the scheduled rain since she requested a day-off. When she becomes a Wonderbolt, she won't be doing much weather control. She knew she would miss it.
Rainbow Dash knocked on the door and it opened a few moments later, showing Applebloom on the other side.
"Oh, hi Applebloom. Is Applejack home?”
The young filly shook her head. “She said she would be home by now, but I haven't seen her.”
Rainbow Dash sighed. “Alright, I'll come back later.”
Before Rainbow Dash could fly away, Applebloom managed to stop her. “Did you fix your problems with Applejack,” she asked curiously.
“What are you talking about? What problems?”
“She was acting real weird this morning, and she said that you two have been having problems or somethin’. I don't really want to get involved, but she's my big sister.”
“I see." Rainbow Dash tried to avoid getting into a conflict with a filly that may not understand her and Applejack's situation. "No, we're fine. Don't worry about it.”
Applebloom nodded her head and said, “Okay. Well, have a good night.”
Rainbow Dash nodded and Applebloom closed the door. Instead of flying off, Rainbow Dash decided to walk into the large and extensive apple farm. She just wanted to think.
Things are getting weird, Rainbow Dash thought. Applejack is not home and she apparently is having problems with me even though she just had lunch with me and seemed perfectly fine. Well... other than the personal thing that she didn't want to talk about. This is just too confusing.
Rainbow Dash continued to walk around the farm until she saw a familiar sight. She walked over to the tree that she and Applejack knocked over. She was feeling fine then, too, Rainbow Dash thought curiously. She turned around to come back to the farmhouse to see if she could catch Applejack somehow. Though, she stopped, because a hint of orange stood out to her in the rain. She looked over at one of the bigger trees, and saw a familiar hat next to a familiar orange mare.
Rainbow Dash was a little shocked and wondered why Applejack was sitting out in the rain all by herself. Upon a second look, she noticed that Applejack had her eyes closed. Is she sleeping, Rainbow asked herself.
Rainbow Dash went over to the sleeping farm mare and put a hoof on her shoulder. She began to gently shake Applejack and said, “Hey, wake up.”
Without too much effort, Applejack slowly opened her eyes. When they focused on the pony that was shaking her, she immediately went into a fully awake state and stared at Rainbow Dash.
“Oh no, how long was I asleep for? Did you already leave for the Academy? Oh, I should have been there to see you off, but I fell asleep. Are you a Wonderbolt?”
Rainbow Dash raised a hoof in front of Applejack’s mouth in order to calm her down. “Applejack, it’s okay. I don't leave for a bit.”
Applejack slowly calmed herself. “Oh. Sorry for the little freak-out. I don’t normally sleep on an occasion like this.”
“How did you even know about the whole Wonderbolts thing? I don’t remember telling you anything about it.”
“Oh… uh,” Applejack mumbled hesitantly. She didn’t want to rat Fluttershy out or anything, but she felt that she might as well be honest with Rainbow Dash. “I was over at Fluttershy’s cottage earlier today, and she told me about your trip.” She was going to apologize for being nosy about Rainbow Dash’s business, but then she got a little upset by a little detail. “Though, I shouldn’t have had to hear it from her. Why couldn’t you tell me? Apparently everypony else knows.”
Rainbow Dash took a hesitant step back, brushing her wet out of her eyes. “Uh… well.” Rainbow Dash bowed her head in shame. “I guess I was just a little afraid.”
Applejack softened up and acknowledged Rainbow Dash’s shame. “Afraid of what?”
“Well, I didn’t want to ruin our friendship or anything with me leaving. If I just went up to you and told you that I may become a Wonderbolt, then I would probably say something stupid. I would be leaving Ponyville on the wrong hoof with you. I don’t want that. You’re my best friend and I want to be on good terms with you forever.”
Applejack patted Rainbow Dash on the shoulder. “I want all of that, too. But we’re best friends. You should be able to tell me anything, no matter how stupid you make of it. I’ll still accept your decisions no matter what.”
Rainbow Dash pouted and glared at Applejack, getting an awkward glance in return. “Then why don’t you tell me what’s going on, Applejack?”
“I don’t know what you’r—“
“You’ve been acting so strange, lately. On random occasions, you just decided to get depressed around me, and Applebloom even told me that you have so-called “problems” with me. Applejack… I don’t know what you’re being so silent about, but like you said, you can tell me anything. I’d rather leave here with some questions answered, but that’s up to you.”
Applejack tried to devise a plan to make her way around the awkward situation, but she knew that at this point, she would have to be honest with Rainbow Dash. The remainder of their friendship depended on it.
“Alright, you asked for it. I hope we can still be friends after I tell you this.” That statement alone made Rainbow Dash worried. What could Applejack mean by ‘I hope we can still be friends,’ Rainbow Dash thought.
“We’ve been friends for so long, but lately… I’ve been thinking of you more than a friend. I know this may sound strange, Rainbow Dash, but I actually…” Applejack bowed her head in embarrassment. “kind of like you. A lot.”
Rainbow Dash was shocked, but she wasn’t shocked too much. It was almost as if she expected this to happen. “I don’t know what to say to that.”
“I’m not asking you to say anything right now. I want you to do what your heart desires, and I know your heart desires being a Wonderbolt. It’s what you’ve always wanted.” Applejack began to tear up, but to her surprise, Rainbow Dash was doing the same. “Oh, sugarcube. Why are you crying?”
“Because this is all so complicated for me right now. You’re my best friend. How am I supposed to go become a Wonderbolt when I know my best friend ever has feelings for me? I don’t even know why you like me. I’m such a show-off around you.”
“I couldn’t even begin to tell you why I feel this way. I just do.”
Rainbow Dash wiped a tear from her own cheek and replied, “Alright. Well… time is running out for me. I have to go to the Wonderbolt Academy now to see if I become a Wonderbolt. If I do, I will be back later tonight to pack up my stuff and… say my good-byes.”
Despite everything that had just happened in only a few moments, Applejack managed to say, “Good luck. You’re the fastest flyer in Equestria. They would be mighty stupid if they said no to you.”
Without a response or even a nod, Rainbow Dash flew off into the rain, leaving the awkward scenario behind her. She flew slowly, giving her a chance to get her mind cleared before her possible promotion. Though, she was going to need more than just a slow flight to get her mind cleared of every last emotion that she was feeling at that moment.