//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4 
// Story: Balloons and Diamonds 
// by HurricaneSplash 
//------------------------------//

Rainbow Dash groaned. Her head was throbbing and her nostrils were filled with he smell of apples. She looked around and found the she was in Applejack's bedroom. Just then, the orange farmer herself walked in with a hot bowl of spiced apple soup.

"How're ya feelin', sugarcube? You've been out fer 'bout two days." Applejack shot her friend a concerned look.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "Oh, of course I feel fine. Being dropped from, say, sixty feet in the air is perfectly normal for me."

Applejack sighed. "Please tell me how ya are Rainbow. Ah'm a touch worried 'bout you."

Rainbow sighed. "I'm not going to say I feel fine, because I don't, but I think I'll be able to go back home now. Thanks for everything AJ."

Applejack smiled, and then smirked. "Ah'm sure you're fine Rainbow. Especially after how Big Macintosh caught you and ya fainted on th' spot."

Rainbow's eyes went wide, before narrowing. "I didn't faint. Uh... My eyes, they, uh... went into an eye coma! Yeah, that's it! Definitely an eye coma! Heh!"

Applejack rolled her eyes. "Yeah, ah'm sure they did. Now, ah'm goin' out fer some applebuckin'. Drink up yer soup and leave whenever ya want."

Applejack started to walk towards the door when she stopped and winked at Dash.

"Ah'm leavin' mah brother to take care of you. Now, no funny business, y'heer? Even though he's *cough* bein' yer nurse *cough*."

Applejack ran out the door snickering, earning a pillow to the head from an annoyed blue pegasus.





At the Golden Oaks Library, Rarity was raging at a bewildered Twilight Sparkle.

"Oh, you should have seen her! Being so 'kind' and 'sweet' and 'caring'. And then going behind my back after everything we've done together!"

Twilight frowned. "Rarity, for all we know, somepony could have framed Pinkie Pie. She would never do that to anypony on purpose!"

"But–"

"No buts, Rarity. You said that you both fell asleep together during the movie, right? You were on her shoulder and her face was in your mane, I believe. Now, how could she have done something then? We all know you are a light sleeper, so there was no way that she would have been able to do something like that without you noticing."

Rarity looked at Twilight with tears in her eyes.

"I believe you Twilight. There is no possible way that Pinkie could have done such a horrid thing. But then, who did it?"

Twilight thought for a moment. "Rarity, has there been anypony who has become closer friends with you in the past few days?"

Rarity bit her lip. "Well, Berry Punch has, but it couldn't possibly be her, she's such a sweetheart–"

"Rarity!", exclaimed Twilight, "Berry Punch is, well, the most alcoholic pony in Ponyville! We have to observe her for a few days and–"

"Twilight," said Rarity firmly, "First I must find and apologize to Pinkie Pie."





Rainbow Dash was awake and was helping Apple Bloom repaint a part of the barn. She had to admit, that filly was pretty good with tools. Both ponies were chatting idly as they worked, until Apple Bloom asked Dash a question.

"When're you and mah brother gonna git married?"

Rainbow nearly choked on the paintbrush in her mouth. "W-what!"

"Ah said, when're y–"

Rainbow cut her off. "No no, I heard you, it's just, um, we're not getting married..."

Apple Bloom tilted her head to the side. "But ah thought that if two ponies really liked each other, they git married?"

Rainbow Dash sighed. "Yes, yes they do... Apple Bloom, can you keep a secret?"

The yellow filly straightened up "Yis ma'am!"

"Pinkie Promise?"

Apple Bloom did all of the motions. "Cross mah heart an' hope ta fly, stick a cupcake in mah eye!"

Rainbow Dash sighed and leaned closer to the red-maned filly. "I actually do have a crush on your brother. Just please don't tell anypony else."

Apple Bloom squealed. "Ah knew it!"

Rainbow blinked. "It was that obvious?"

Apple Bloom shook her head. "Enope, ya silly filly, we tested out our Cutie Mark Crusaders Telepathy Device on you, remember!"

Dash shook her head. "If you already knew, then why'd you ask me?"

"Ah didn't ask ya. Ya told me." The filly's face got serious. "Besides, that was the Beta Version. Plus, now ah know fer sure."


"An' ah know too," called a deep voice from the far end of the barn.

No way..., thought Rainbow, Oh no...

Slowly, she turned around to come face to face with a large apple red stallion with clear green eyes and a short orange mane.

"Uhhh... H-hey Mac! N-nice weather we're, uh having?"

Mac chuckled. "Yer cute when yer flustered. Ah wouldn't mind tryin' ta date."

He left the barn, leaving Rainbow Dash standing there with her mouth hanging open.

Apple Bloom, tired of this, smacked Rainbow Dash's jaw closed with a flick of her tail.

"Git up an' movin' mah future sister! We've gotta lotta chores left!"

"YEESSS!!! HE SAID YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!"

Rainbow Dash zoomed out of the barn, leaving a disgruntled Apple Bloom to the chores.

"She could'a at least've stayed fer brunch..."





Pinkie Pie sobbed quietly with tears running down her cheeks as Berry Punch yelled at her.

"Don't you dare even go near Rarity! She's mine, and mine alone! A stupid pathetic pink fillyfooler like you shouldn't even be near her!"

Pinkie sniffled and looked up at Berry. "B-but you're a f-fillyfooler t-to?"

Berry huffed in annoyance. "There's a difference between you and me. YOU are just an idiotic fluffy mess up that ruins ponies' lives. I am a model for everypony to follow and love. Also, I love Rarity while YOU just want to use her."

Pinkie protested. "Th-that's n-not true..."

Berry Punch rolled her eyes. "Guess I'll have to hammer this into your tiny head the hard way."

The purple mare walked over to Pinkie Pie when suddenly, an angry voice called out from the door.

"Don't you dare touch one hair on her adorable poofy head or I'll RIP YOU TO PIECES!"

A furious and graceful purple-maned white mare stormed inside, followed by a lavender alicorn mare with a mane the color of dusk. 

The alicorn frowned and looked straight at Berry Punch.

"Berry Punch, stop. I hate using my title, but as a princess of Equestria I order you to leave at once."

Berry panicked frantically and threw a pleading glance at Rarity.

Rarity coldly glared back at her.

"Don't even think about asking."

Twilight marched outside with Berry Punch, leaving Rarity alone with Pinkie Pie, who had fainted.

Suddenly, Rainbow Dash flew in through the window.

"Rarity, guess what? Big–"

"Darling, it can wait. Let's just get Pinkie to the Boutique."

Rainbow Dash looked at Pinkie's unconscious form, held by Rarity's levitation.

"Jeez Rarity, I didn't know mares could go at it that–"

That was how Rainbow Dash earned a lovely bruise on her ribs.





Rarity paced up and down in the room. Her friends had left, all promising to come back later. Only she and Pinkie remained in the room.

It had been hours, and Pinkie still wasn't awake. Rarity was getting worried.

"Pinkie, dear, please wake up. I'm really sorry about everything I said to you. Please, just wake up."

Rarity hugged the unmoving pink pony and started to cry, not caring that her mascara was ruined and her mane messed up.

The pink pony opened one eye. "Aw, it's okay Rarity! We're still the bestest bestest bestest friends!"

"PINKIE!" shrieked Rarity, "You're awake!"

"Well, duh! I'm talking to you, right?"

At that moment, Rarity planted a big kiss on her friend's lips.