//------------------------------//
// Exile - bahatumay 
// Story: AppleDash Group Collab 
// by DbzOrDie 
//------------------------------//

I had prepared for the worst, of course. I knew what could come. But even I wasn't ready for this.

"But, dad, I..."

"No buts, Rainbow," my father growled as my mother watched with tears in her eyes. "Either break up with that freak of an earth pony, or you're out of the family."

"It ain't worth it, sugarcube," Applejack whispered. "Stay with your family. Ah'll be fine."

"Yeah? Well, I won't be," I hissed back. I turned back to my father. "I've made my choice. The earth pony it is."

His eyes hardened even as my mother wailed. "Then you are dead to us," he growled. "Go. Leave Cloudsdale in your disgraceful exile, and if you ever come back, you won't be welcome here."

I nodded tersely and turned away, gently taking my crying marefriend with m-

"That ain't how it happened, sugarcube."

Rainbow started and looked up from her journal. "Wha-?"

Applejack sat on the bed next to her, smiling and shaking her head. "Ah said, that ain't how it happened."

Rainbow sighed and set down the quill. "Yeah, but 'my parents accepted my fillyfriend instantly and invited her to stay for dinner that night' just really doesn't have the same ring to it. It's not a good story." Rainbow shook her head. "It's lame that my parents had to be so cool..."

Applejack rolled her eyes. "Ah think everything went better than expected and you should be happy." She grinned. "Wonder what your dad would say if'n he read this."

Both mares jumped as a male voice answered. "Read what?"

"Oh, hey, pops," Rainbow answered, quickly trying to conceal her journal under her pillow.

Unfortunately, her dad was faster, and slid it right back out. He read the latest entry with a perfectly flat poker face. Applejack made a mental note to skip out on the game nights she had been invited to.

Then he grinned. "You forgot the part where I drew my dagger and tried to cut out your cutie mark, but your marefriend jumped in front of my blade and took the hit for you, and that's why she has those scars."

Rainbow laughed. "You're pretty cool, dad."

"Well," he said, brushing a hoof against his chest, "you had to get it from somewhere."