Right or Wrong, I'll Always...

by Davidism

Right or Wrong, I'll Always...

This was absolutely the last straw! As she paced her barn, Applejack didn't only see red from the apples, she was seeing it from the anger that was welling up in her. The sacks of red apples sat there unmoving, no closer to being squared away for the day, and despite her needing to get the work done, Applejack could only pace about furiously and seethe with near unbridled rage at the audacity of her friend.
No, friend was too strong of a word. Now, she was on the shit list.
"Ah, can't believe she's do this ta me, of all ponies!"
Hoisting the sack of apples up, Applejack stomped to the other end of the barn, and slung the sack in the general direction of where it needed to go. It made no difference that several of the red delicious apples fell from the top of the open sack and rolled onto the floor.
"Oh, sure. If it was her idea, she'd a-been there with bells on; but when I ask er, she stands me up!" That no-good Rainbow Dash, it had taken Applejack a week to scrounge up enough time for the two of them to go out and have dinner, and then she was a no-show.
"Well, I'll show her."
The next sack of apples was a bit on the hefty side. A twinge of discomfort raced along Applejack's back as soon as she lifted it, bear hugging the bag and walking it two-leg style.
"Whoa, you're a heavy one, ain'tcha?" Applejack said as she struggled with the load. "Too bad you ain't Rainbow Dash; I'd sling ya from one end of this barn to tha other."
The stinging in her back was growing, and seemed to pulsate along with the stinging of her feelings. Unfortunately, she was ill prepared for the stray apple under her hoof, and as soon as she squished it, Applejack's eyes took on a look of shock. It was too late; the slippery mush sent her back hoof in a different direction than it was wanting to go, and no sooner did she sprawl out of control, than the heavy sack of apples came down on her full force.

When Twilight heard the news that Applejack was in the hospital, she raced from the library to be with her friend as soon as she could. A thousand an one possible scenarios raced through her head, and she resisted the urge to panic at the most dangerous and life-threatening of them.
It was unusual for Applejack to get injured. She was just too strong of a mare.
Maybe she was in a competition with her brother to see who could buck the most apple trees? No that wasn't it. She had learned her lesson from the time he was injured himself, and she had tried to buck the whole apple orchard.
It could be that she was chasing Apple Bloom and cornered her, and Apple Bloom used her karate on her in self-defense and Applejack was hospitalized as a result of her sister's uncontrollable rage. No! That was wrong too. Apple Bloom wasn't seething with rage, and it was ridiculous that she would unleash any deadly combo attacks on her big sister. Wait... did Apple Bloom even know karate?
Walking into the hospital room, Twilight was shocked to see that Applejack was conscious, and sitting upright in her bed. She didn't look to be in any sort of life threatening condition, though with her back leg in a sling, and the sad frown on her face, Twilight didn't have to guess that she had wounded her pride thoroughly.
"Hey, Applejack. How are you doing? I got here as soon as I heard about your accident."
"That's mighty kind of you, Twilight; but it was my own dern fault."
"How in Equestria did you manage to do this to yourself?"
Letting out a long sigh, Applejack regarded her hooves that were laying across her stomach, and started rubbing them together. "Well, it's kind of a long complicated story, Twilight. S'pose I aught to just say that I was not feelin' m'self, and shouldn't-a-been doin' chores."
"That's so unlike you, Applejack. To think that you'd hurt yourself like this." Catching sight of movement from the doorway to Applejack's room, Twilight looked up to see Rainbow Dash's muzzle inching around the side of the frame. When her whole face was in view, she looked worried, and scared.
"Hey, Applejack, good news, Dash is here to—"
Making sudden slicing motions with her hoof across her throat, Rainbow Dash tried to instruct Twilight to say nothing; but the damage was done.
"Rainbow Dash!" AJ shouted; cutting her eyes to the door suddenly, her mood instantly shifting from forlorn to anger. "You can just tell, Rainbow Dash, that I don't want to see her. Not now, or ever!" Folding her forearms over her chest, Applejack turned her head to look out the window.
Unsure what was going on, Twilight watched as Rainbow Dash's muzzle fell with a look of grief, and then watched as she slowly inched away from the door to leave. That was too harsh for Applejack, something was going on, and she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to know what it was. The two of them had been friends for a lot longer than Twilight was, and they had a way of working it out.
On the other hoof, Applejack was rather quick to forgive, and her attitude was almost cruel.
"Is there something going on, Applejack? Why are you so angry with Rainbow Dash?"
Still looking out the window, Applejack shrugged. "I really don't want to talk about it, Twilight."
"Hey, I'm your friend. You know if something is bothering you, you can always come to me, right?"
Jerking her head back to face Twilight, Applejack frowned. "I really appreciate you coming for a visit, and all that, Twilight. But, I think I'm gonna get me some shut-eye now. So, kindly close the door on your way out."

When Twilight left Applejack's room, she felt as if she were missing something important. Inside her she had to resist the urge to tamper with things; she'd been trying to do better at that, and given AJ's attitude, she figured that if she tampered with this, she'd make things worse in the long run.
Passing a few of the hospital rooms, Twilight was surprised to find Rainbow Dash sitting quietly in the waiting area. She was looking down, and resting her chin on her folded arms.
"Rainbow Dash?"
Looking up slowly, Dash regarded Twilight, and then drooped her head down again. "Hey, Twilight."
"Rainbow Dash, are you alright? What's going on with Applejack?"
Looking back up slightly, Rainbow Dash offered a small weak smile. "I messed up, bad."
"What do you mean? Are you saying that you did this to Applejack?"
Sinking lower into her seat, Rainbow groaned. "I might as well have."
Twilight wanted to help, she needed to help, but as she grew older, and as she learned more and more about friendship, she knew that there were times when two ponies would have to work out there own problems between themselves, and no pony else.
"Rainbow Dash, I don't know what it is that's happened between you two, but I know that what ever it is, is certainly not as big a deal as you probably think it is. You and AJ are friends, and have been friends since before I ever came to Ponyville."
"That's all well and good, Twilight, But I don't think any amount of apologizing will help this time."
Shaking her head, Twilight grabbed Rainbow Dash by her muzzle and gave it a comical up and down shake. "You'll never know unless you try. I know how stubborn Applejack can be, and there's only one pony in all of Equestria that can match her pound for pound in that department."
"Do you think that she will listen to me?" Rainbow Dash had a pleading look in her eyes. One that saught some sort of comfort, and expecting none.
"I know that she will." Twilight reassured her. "You just have to do what you do best."
"Yeah, what's that?"
"Be persistent."
From out of the corner of her eye, Twilight saw their friends coming up from down the hallway, and decided that if she couldn't interfere with Rainbow Dash and Applejack's issue, then she could at least interfere enough to give them time to work it out amongst themselves.
"I'm gonna go head them off at the pass," she said to Dash, giving her a wink. "You go make friends with Applejack again."
Rainbow Dash watched her trot off down the hallway toward Rarity and Pinkie Pie, and let out deep held breath. She didn't want to be yelled at by Applejack anymore, but she knew that she deserved it. She really did want to make that dinner date, but things happened, and there were unforeseen circumstances.
"Oh, where did it all go so wrong?" she groaned, as she writhed in the seat.
"Guess there's nothing to do, but go in there and face her wrath."
As she left the chair in the waiting area, she could hear Twilight's words in the back of her mind. She was of course, the only one as equally stubborn as Applejack, and the only one that could get through to her when it was needed most.
Cautiously approaching the door to Applejack's room, Rainbow Dash hesitated for a long while before she allowed herself to knock. The first knock was almost muffled, it was so light; the second was more assertive, but the third knock came as a loud blam that left a scuff mark on the wood from her hoof.
"For the love of Celestia, come in, and quit all that racket!"
Swallowing hard, Rainbow Dash fought against her feelings, and eased the door open. When she did, she saw Applejack sitting up in her bed looking expectantly at her new guest, only to appear crestfallen when she discovered it was Dash on the other side of the door.
"Oh, it's you!" she said, twisting her head the opposite way, only to cringe suddenly at the flair of pain that coursed through her spine. Not only had AJ torn a muscle in her leg, she had hurt her back in the accident as well. The fresh surge of pain caused her to focus on it, and its originator.
"Uh... hey Applejack. I, uh... "
"In case y'all can't see, I'm not up to company right now. So y'all go on and just git! Shoo!"
Receding back toward the door some, Rainbow Dash had her ears back and looked as if she would well up with tears at any moment. She really was sorry that she had been the cause of all this misfortune, but she wasn't sure how she could get through to Applejack when she was being so stubborn and pig headed.
"Is there anything that I can get you?"
"Uh, yeah. Y'all can git gone!"
"Look, Applejack. I'm really sorry about last night—"
"Just save it, Rainbow Dash. This isn't the first time that y'all've stood me up. When I think back to all the times before when I was depending on you, and you let me down: why I could damn near fill an applecart with 'em!"
"Would you just listen to me for one minute, I really can explain."
"Rainbow Dash, y'all don't get it. I don't want you to explain. I already know every excuse y'all are gonna use." Letting out a sigh, Applejack eased back into her bed. "I worked so hard to get last night away from home, and to be able to go out with you; I even bought a pretty frilly dress, which I never do, and I was going to... to, tell you something important."
Tears were in Rainbow Dash's eyes at this point. It was more than she could stand. Launching herself at AJ's bedside, Rainbow Dash grabbed both of Applejack's hooves in hers and brought her face as close to AJ's as she could. "I swear to you, I didn't leave you there last night because I wanted to. I tried to leave Cloudsdale; I tried to get a message back to you to wait up for me; but it was a nightmare, AJ—the whole system blew, and I was the only supervisor on duty at the time to help. You think I wanted to hurt you, that I wanted to stand you up... I had important things to say too you know. I had looked forward to being with you all week, and now, you're just going to treat me like this?"
Burying her face in the bed next to Applejack, Rainbow Dash started sobbing. "I swear, I didn't want this to happen. You're my friend! I love you AJ! Please, give me one more chance, I'll do anything!"
"Why didn't you tell me this when you got back?"
"I didn't come back... I was there till dawn, and then by the time I went home, I collapsed on the bed. I didn't even wake up until this afternoon, and by then I found out you had hurt yourself."
It was a miserable sight. Rainbow Dash had never looked so pathetic, and Applejack never felt so relieved. Deep down, she knew that she had no right to expect Rainbow Dash to leave in the middle of a catastrophe at her workplace, even for a date. But it wasn't often that Applejack allowed herself to be selfish either.
"Please, Applejack..."
"Alright, enough, Rainbow Dash. I can't take no more of your crying. Seeing you go on like this is enough to make an onion start weeping."
"Does... does that mean that you forgive me?"
"Forgive you, yes. But I'm still angry because my dinner date was ruined."
"What can I do? I'll do anything to make it up to you!" Rainbow Dash had stopped crying, and was instantly on all four hooves ready to spring into action. "Just give me an order, ma'am!"
"Alright, here's what's what. I want my dress from last night that's hanging in my closet. I was gonna show it off to you, and I'll be derned if you ain't gonna get to see it on me."
"Pretty dress: check!"
"Then I want you to bring me Granny Smith's apple cobbler that she has setting on the window sill. She usually makes one about this time; and I don't want a piece of it. I want the whole cobbler."
"Steal cobbler from Granny: check!"
"Then after you've done those things, and brought 'em back here, I'll tell you what to do after that."
"Roger!"
Before Applejack could take a breath, Rainbow Dash was out the hospital door, and speeding away like a multicolored streak.
Once Rainbow was gone, Applejack lay in her hospital bed looking at the sling her leg was wrapped in. She felt like a louse. She should have trusted in Rainbow Dash; but her stupid pride was always getting in her way, and if she let it, it would rob her of her most precious things.
"No more," she said. "No more will I do this to m'self!" Looking at the condition of her leg, and the sore throbbing in her back, it wasn't anyone's fault but her own.

It took no time at all, and Rainbow Dash had returned from her errands. In one arm she held the fancy dress that was in Applejack's closet, and in the other hoof she balanced Granny's fresh apple cobbler. Rainbow Dash was breathing heavy, and there was perspiration on her forehead.
"As... requested, madam."
Setting the items on the over the bed table, Rainbow Dash gave Applejack a wary grin and waited for her final instructions. Applejack could tell that she was more or less putty in her hooves.
"Well, that's mighty swift of you, there, Rainbow Dash. And, now that you've done this; I want you to drop and give me fifty push ups."
"Push ups?"
"Are you sassing me?"
Trembling with anxiety, Rainbow Dash saluted, and shouted, "No ma'am!"
Hitting the floor, Rainbow Dash launched herself into her workout, but that wasn't good enough.
"Oh, that won't do at all. You have to call them out. I'm afraid y'all are gonna have to start over."
Looking up momentarily, Rainbow Dash saw the beginnings of a small smile working its way around the corners of Applejack's mouth. Her eyes were flashing, and Rainbow Dash knew that lusty look, all too well.
"One!" she shouted as she performed the first push up. "Two! Three!"
Applejack watched Rainbow Dash go up and down on the floor. The sweat was starting to pour from her face, and back; clinging to every curve of her body. Applejack could see the way the muscles in her shoulders and back rippled with each thrust toward the floor, and then back up again.
"Twenty-three!"
Her eyelids felt heavy. Applejack gazed from the dress laying in front of her to the hard body on the floor, and a pang of pleasure elevated in her, sending a wave of giddy excitement through her whole frame. She could only look on as Rainbow Dash finished the set, and then slowly stood up from the floor, panting and dripping with moisture.
"Fifty, Ma'am."
"Rainbow Dash... I want you to now go over yonder and lock the door. Then come help me get into this dress.
Letting out a ragged breath, Rainbow Dash complied; going to the door, and locking it firmly. When she turned back, Applejack already had the dress laid out over her upper half. It was an amazingly beautiful red dress with sparkles and white and pink lace at the ends. Even Rainbow Dash, who normally didn't appreciate girly wardrobe thought it looked beautiful.
"Alright, now. Don't just stand there looking at me like a lump on a log. Help me into this get-up."
It took some doing, but they were able to get Applejack lifted up enough that the dress could be slid over her from the top down, and then smoothed out. She looked a little funny with one back leg raised up, but with some maneuvering, they were able to hide most of the white sling.
"What now?" Rainbow asked, looking around sheepishly.
"Scoot that table over here, and then climb up here with me."
"Really? Will we both fit?"
"What'd I say about sassing me?"
"Uh... you didn't."
"Well don't. You just do as your told."
To her amazement, the bed was big enough to fit the both. Rainbow Dash had to scoot close to Applejack, and lay mostly on her side. But it was her warmth that made Rainbow Dash want to melt into an infinity of bliss.
"This is not the ideal dinner date, but I hope you like it," Applejack said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It's amazing. You're amazing, Applejack."
Moving her face close to Rainbow, she gave her a small kiss on the side of her cheek. "Oh, I'm sorry Rainbow Dash. I should have trusted you. I let my pride and my feelings do this to me all the time, and when it mattered, I nearly ruined everything. I got m'self hurt, and I blamed you for everything!"
"I have no pony to blame but myself for my horrible track record. I should have been there for you more, AJ. I promise that I'll try harder."
"Rainbow Dash?"
"Yeah, Applejack?"
"Can I tell you what I wanted to tell you last night?"
"Sure."
"Okay... here goes." Moving her face back enough to take in the whole sight of Rainbow Dash's expression, Applejack took a deep breath. "I know that you and me have been friends for a long time. Heck, we've been through a lot, and we've shared a lot of great memories. But, Rainbow Dash... I know I once told you about how we was each expected to go off and grow up and marry a nice colt, and settle down... I just can't lie to myself anymore. I don't want to marry a colt! I don't want to have a bunch of foals, and wither away my life on the farm. I want to be with you! I love you, Rainbow Dash! When I'm with you, I don't need anyone else to fill my heart; I don't need no pony, colt or mare... just you."
Rainbow Dash had tears in her eyes. She closed them tightly, and then allowed her muzzle to fall a bit. "Why, Applejack?"
Worried, Applejack frowned and placed a hoof on her friend's cheek. "What's wrong sugar?"
"Why do you always have to say exactly what I'm wanting to say?!"
Without any warning, Rainbow Dash, launched her muzzle at AJ, and planted her lips to her friend's. Applejack had been everything to her, from the beginning. She was the first pony to call her out. The first pony to stand up for her, and have her back. The first pony to share a kiss. Her first sexual encounter. Her first everything.
After the kiss was over, Applejack wrapped her arms around her friend. No... her marefriend. Her very special somepony. "You never said, what you thought of the dress."
"Aww, come on AJ... you know I hate that girly froo-froo junk."
"Say it, or I will make you do another fifty push ups."
For a moment, Rainbow Dash thought over her options, then reluctantly, she said, "It's very pretty."
"I'm sorry, sweetie, but I couldn't quite hear you over the thumpin' of y'all's heart."
"I said, it's very pretty."
Running her hoof gently along the side of Dash's neck, Applejack asked, "And what about me?"
"You," Rainbow Dash said, leaning close, "are gorgeous."