//------------------------------// // Chapter Four: Compound Defense // Story: Friendship is Giant Robots // by 108Echoes //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie had been assigned to look after the foals. They were gathered in the building that had once been Sugarcube Corner, and was now only another shelter against the nightmares. Pinkie’d found a stash of board games to distract them, so while the foals played in the front room, she and Dash were baking in the back. “Sky-two!” Pinkie called out, before turning back to her mixing bowl. “That’s my bumblebee,” Dash said with a groan. “Go again.” Well, Pinkie was baking. Dash was watching, for the most part. She’d also snagged a Battleclouds set from the front room, and Pinkie called out squares in between mixing ingredients. Dash was growing more and more irritated: even with her attention divided, Pinkie had managed to win six games in a row. Applejack and Twilight walked in. Twilight was staring at the ground, but Applejack at least was cheery. “Hey, you two,” she said, “the Princess was wantin’ to see y’all down at the ANIMa crèches. Twi and me can take over here.” “What?” Rainbow Dash looked up from the game. “Why’d she call for us? Did she seem mad?” Applejack frowned. “Not that I noticed; she’s just got a mission for you. It’s been three weeks and she wants you piloting again. Did I miss somethin’?” Dash rubbed at the back of her head. “Oh, well, of course not,” she said. “There’s nothing for her to be mad about. Did she want us right away? I kinda want to finish this game.” Applejack shrugged. “Wasn’t urgent, I don’t think. Pinkie, care for some help with the baking?” “That’d be great!” Pinkie said. “Rainbow Dash, I pick storm-seven.” Dash glared at the game. “Got my thunderhead. Go again.” She looked up and noticed Applejack limping. “Hey, AJ,” she said, “what’s up with the leg? You okay?” “Oh, this? Just from the ANIMa. Ain’t nothin’ serious.” “Well, that’s good,” Dash said. “Don’t tell me the nightmares are too tough for you! I bet I could’ve taken ‘em.” Applejack rolled her eyes, but didn’t deign to respond. “Um, rain-six!” Pinkie said, and started rolling out some sort of pastry dough. “And that’s my cumulus. Your turn again, Pinkie.” Dash turned back to Applejack. “Come on, I bet my ANIMa’s stronger than yours. We should have them fight! Like, head to head. Twilight, do you think you could set that up? It’d be awesome!” Twilight sighed and finally looked up from the ground. “Rainbow Dash, that’s a terrible idea.” Dash hopped up on the counter, narrowly missing one of Pinkie’s mixing bowls. “You’re just saying that ‘cause you know you can’t beat Spectrum Impact!” she declared, and stamped her hoof proudly. Applejack, Twilight, and Pinkie all looked at her. “What’s ‘Spectrum Impact’?” Twilight asked, a slightly apprehensive look on her face. “That’s what I named my ANIMa!” Dash said. “You know, because, like, rainbows and such. Spectrum. Why, don’t you like it? I’ve got some other names, too. Prism Bolt. Rainbow Smash. Nightmares’ Worst Nightmare! Why, what’ve you named yours?” “Huh,” said Twilight, “I hadn’t really thought about it. I suppose I’ll have to consider a name.” “I don’t much see the point, myself,” Applejack said. “They’re just machines.” “I wouldn’t call them machines, precisely—” Twilight began. Dash hopped down from the counter. “C’mon, Applejack!” she said, flaring her wings. “Why not name it? You name apple trees, for Celestia’s sake. And I know for a fact that you named your hooves. Your hooves!” Applejack bristled. “Well, that’s different, ain’t it? At least apple trees are alive.” Dash and Applejack glared at each other. Applejack was scowling, but Dash couldn’t hold back her grin. It’s so much fun, watching her get riled up, she thought, but Twilight stepped in before Dash could say anything further. “The ANIMa might not be alive in the same way a tree is,” Twilight said, “but it’s not just a machine. It’s a complex system of magic and technology which draws upon emotional connections, allowing us to fight the nightmares on equal terms. Rainbow Dash, if you want to name your ANIMa, there’s nothing wrong with that. Applejack, if you’d rather not, then that’s also fine. “The ANIMa might not be alive, but it represents the spirit of something living: our friendship.” She shoved Applejack and Dash apart. “So stop arguing! We’re supposed to be fighting nightmares, not each other. And arguing won’t strengthen your connections; it’ll make them weaker, and your ANIMa will suffer similarly.” Dash’s smile turned into a scowl to match Applejack’s. “Aw, don’t be so serious, Twilight. I was just playing.” She held up a hoof to Applejack. “We’re friends, aren’t we, AJ?” Applejack’s scowl shrank a little, and she tapped Dash’s hoof with her own. “Course, we’re friends, Dash. I just wish you’d be a little more serious.” “Life’s too short for seriousness. C’mon, Pinkie, we both know I’m not going to win this game. AJ and Twilight can finish the baking here. Let’s go see the Princess.” She turned and walked out. “You got it, Rainbow Dash!” Pinkie said. “Oh, Applejack—there’s a pair of pies in the oven, too. Could you take it out in, say, ten-ish minutes?” “Sure thing,” Applejack said, and Pinkie followed Dash out the door. When Dash and Pinkie reached the ANIMa lab, Princess Celestia was already there, prodding at one of the consoles. She looked up as they entered. “Ah, you’re here. Thank you. I have a mission for you, Rainbow Dash.” Pinkie went over to her console and started making adjustments, while Dash shifted uncomfortably from hoof to hoof. “Thanks, Princess,” Dash said. “With Applejack doing all the piloting, I was worried you wouldn’t need me. Or that you wouldn’t want me to pilot anymore, after... you know.” Her sides were still tender, though all but a few of her feathers had grown back. Princess Celestia smiled indulgently. “I only want you to be at your best. You made a mistake, Rainbow Dash. We all make mistakes, and we should all have a chance to redeem ourselves.” A shadow passed over the Princess’s face, quickly enough that Dash wondered if she’d imagined it. “Besides,” the Princess continued, “I believe this task will be more suited to your predilections, and to your rather singular talents.” “You bet, Princess,” Dash said. “What’s the mission?” “It’s quite simple, really. I need you to go to Sweet Apple Acres. There’s a group of nightmares there, and you’re to find them and destroy them.” Dash grinned. “All right, this seems more my speed,” she said. “Uh, Sweet Apple Acres, though? Like, do we need to roll the Core over there or something? ‘Cause it’s pretty big.” The Princess frowned. “No, I mean the dreamscape’s equivalent. That area of the dreamscape which... overlaps, I suppose, with Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack found it necessary to ask the void for assistance in order to reach her destination; other than that, this mission should be quite straightforward.” “Gotcha. You ready, Pinkie Pie?” “All set!” Pinkie said, and hopped out the door. “Come on, Dashie,” she called back, “I’ll help you get the restraints on.” Dash smiled and shook her head before following Pinkie out of the cottage and over to the crèches, and the Nightmare Core. As she was being strapped in, Dash looked out at the sky. There was a storm brewing over the Everfree Forest. It’d be trouble if it broke past forest limits. Everfree storms were wild and unpredictable, and there wasn’t any more weather patrol to keep everypony safe. Heck, most of the ponies left awake couldn’t even fly—either they weren't pegasi, or they were too young. In weather patrol, Dash had had power. Even at her young age, her raw ability had earned respect. In the space of minutes, she could bust out a job anypony else would have spent hours on. It had been quick and easy work, enjoyable in its own way, and it left Dash time to relax. The present was far less enjoyable. There weren’t enough ponies left awake to do all the work of environmental upkeep; Dash had seen how the land farther away from Ponyville was deteriorating. Equestria was growing wild, like the Everfree Forest writ large. And piloting was harder work than weather patrol had been, even if it didn’t take much time. Piloting consumed her thoughts even when she was away. When she was actually near or in the crèche, as she was now, she could feel the Core. More than just its physical presence, it was a shadow squirming through her head as its buzz and hum caressed her skin. It felt like a bad case of feather-mites, that same parasitic itch and crawl. Dash shifted uncomfortably, and Pinkie, tightening the straps around her belly, noticed her twitching. “What’s wrong, Dashie?” Pinkie asked. Dash shook herself, as much as she could in the half-buckled harness. “Nothing, Pinkie.” “Ooh, I bet I know what it is! Dash, are you ticklish?” “What? No.” “That’s what somepony who was ticklish would say! Tickle-tickle-tickle!” “Stop it, Pinkie,” Dash said with a sigh. “Tickle-tickle-tickle!” Pinkie’s roving hooves poked Dash in her still-tender side, and she hissed in sudden pain. “I told you to cut it out!” Pinkie pulled back, a worried expression on her face. “I’m sorry! Are you okay, Dashie?” Dash took a few breaths and bit back her anger. “Yeah, I’m fine. Absolutely rosy.” Most of her anger, anyway. She took a few more breaths as the flare of pain settled, then looked at Pinkie and smiled sheepishly. “No, I’m sorry, I’m okay. Just—nerves, I guess. The Core, it’s kinda making me jumpy. Not like I’m scared of it—like, itchy or something, you know?” “I get it, Dashie. I’m sorry for the tickles, too.” Pinkie fastened the last of the straps and gave Dash a quick hug. “Good luck, Rainbow Dash!” Why do you fight? Who do you fight for? Who will stand by your side? When you are alone, who will come to your aid? Rainbow Dash sighed. “This again, really? Are you gonna do this every single time?” As with every question she asked, the void didn’t respond. “Fine, be that way,” Dash said. “Last time I was here... last time didn’t work out so well. I’m gonna go simpler this time, just the essentials. Strong. Sleek. Straightforward.” She paused. Essentials... “Pinkie’s anchoring for me, so she’ll be here. Scootaloo’s a little brat sometimes, but she’s a useful brat. And... Applejack. Applejack’ll be here for me. And I’m going to Sweet Apple Acres, if you can take me there—the nightmares need to learn that this is our world, and I’m just the pony to teach ‘em.” Dash watched her ANIMa form. A tough shell, an array of spikes, four powerful wings: its pieces faded into being and locked into place around her. Her ANIMa held her tightly, as both armor and weapon. She stretched out and flapped her wings, feeling the ANIMa move around her. “Let’s go,” she said to the emptiness, and she was gone. Rainbow Dash woke to a storm. The normally mirror-placid ocean thrashed beneath her, and the skies above shook with rage and thunder. Weather at last, Rainbow Dash thought. It’s about time. The dreamscape’s expanse of weatherless ocean had been getting on her nerves. It was good to finally have some excitement. Most pegasi wouldn’t fly even in tame storms. Lightning could be called but not controlled; it struck wherever it wished. And this? This wasn’t a tame storm. This was a fury Dash had never seen before. This storm was a thing of power, and of glory. Dash laughed as the thunder shook the world around her. No pony-crafted storm could match this. It was exhilarating. Lucky I’m not flying alone, though. The ANIMa might be a little fragile, but I’m sure it can take a lightning strike. As if to test her resolve, a bolt of lightning flashed into being at her side, carving a blazing path from sky above to sea below. The lights on her ANIMa flashed as if in greeting. Pinkie’s voice buzzed into life, and Dash struggled to hear over the riot around her. “Are you all right, Dashie? The Core’s all sparkly-flashy here, and—hey, that rhymes. Dashie, flashy... anyway, are you okay?” “I’m better than okay, Pinkie,” Dash said. “But are you sure I’m actually in Sweet Apple Acres? ‘Cause this place doesn’t look anything like Equestria.” “You’re there, Dashie. Go get ‘em!” If she said anything more, the thunder drowned her out. Right, thought Dash, piece of cake. All I have to do is find the nightmares in this storm, rip ‘em to pieces, and get out, all without turning into a crispy pegasus. I can totally do that. Somehow. First order of business was to find the nightmares. In this torrent, it would be like looking for a raindrop in a cloud, almost literally, but it had to be done. Out of sheer defiance, Dash screamed into the storm, “C’mon, nightmares! Think you can take me? I’ll tear you apart!” Much to Dash’s surprise, her challenge drew challengers. Well, she thought, that’s step one dealt with. Easier than I’d expected, too. Looks like it’s my lucky day. Out of the storm they came to her. They took form as birds and beasts, a flock of indistinct screeching shapes, and Dash laughed. “This is for Cloudsdale!” she shouted, and dove toward them. She folded her wings and went into a tight spin, the air around her shrieking at the speed of her passage. She plunged into the center of the flock, and the nightmares squealed again as her blades tore into and through their unreal flesh. Scraps of her enemies, in shreds of cloud and mist, blew away in the gale. Dash laughed in exultant fury as she spun, and the nightmares’ cries were a sweet melodic counterpoint to the thunder’s percussive cracks. She spun faster and wilder, closing her eyes to better appreciate the sounds of battle. The nightmares’ cries faded out and Dash slowed, her eyes still closed. Even the storm seemed to settle around her. They hadn’t even tried to fight. They’d come to her in panicked disarray, and she had torn them into momentary puffs on the breeze. It was too easy. It was fun, yes, and it was what the Princess wanted her to do, but it was unsatisfying. It just wasn’t enough. It wasn’t even a contest anymore; the nightmares couldn’t stand against her strength and speed. It was... boring. “Hey, Pinkie, how many nightmares left?” she asked. “Just the one,” Pinkie said. “You know, the one right in front of you? Look around, silly!” Dash opened her eyes. Hovering before her, gazing at her with star-filled eyes, was the last nightmare of the pack. Its four legs were long and spindly, its wings were ragged, and its flowing mane shone like starlight. In another time and place, it might have passed for an especially gangly pegasus, but in its eyes was nothing equine. It was just another monster, like the ones who filled her beloved Cloudsdale. “Hey, you,” Dash said. “Yeah, you. Nightmare. Wanna race? I’ll even give you a head start.” The lights on her ANIMa blinked faster, and the tips of its spikes gleamed in the pounding rain. The nightmare stared back at her, showing no signs of comprehension. With one wing, she gestured to the last wispy remnants of its fellows. “I’ll race you. You get a head start. If you can outfly me, then you can go free; otherwise, you end up like those guys. Capisce?” Lightning flashed, and the nightmare squealed. With a sudden panicked flutter, it turned and began to fly away from her, as fast as its wings could carry it. Dash grinned. One second passed. Two. Three, and then a crack of thunder. “That’s enough time, I think,” Dash said. “Ready or not, here I come!” She raced after the nightmare as it fled, shrieking, higher and higher into the sky. With a gleeful battle cry she chased it. The clouds grew thicker, and her four wings beat hard against sodden air. The light of the nightmare’s mane grew dim; Dash strained to go faster— and burst out of the water in a sudden spray. Dash looked up at the sky, then down at the sea below as it snapped at her ANIMa with white-capped waves. With a quick curse at the nonsense of the dreamscape, she looked around for her quarry. Almost got you, she thought, as she saw it darting away through the watery peaks. You can’t keep this up forever. She sped in its direction. Where it dodged waves, she smashed into and through them in blasts of seawater, throwing shimmering drops into the night air. She caught up to the nightmare. As if sensing its imminent destruction, it turned to face her. It hovered just above the waves, staring at her with those beautiful, empty eyes. With a shout of triumph, Dash collided with the nightmare. Her ANIMa tore through its body, spikes sinking deep, and its pieces blew away in the storm. She laughed. “That’s the last one taken care of, Pinkie!” Pinkie cheered. “Great job, Rainbow Dash! I’m so proud of you. I’ll start the exit sequence, okay?” “Yeah, go ahead.” Dash shook the rain off her sodden ANIMa and rose above the waves, to look out at the storm. She could feel the ANIMa slipping away. In a breath of wind it dissolved, and out of its protective embrace the cold dream-rain soaked into Dash’s coat. For a fleeting moment she felt small and vulnerable, before she sank into blackness. Dash unfastened the pilot restraints and went back over to the cottage, the buzzing in her head not inhibiting her pride—nor her swagger—in the least. “Who’s awesome? I’m awesome. Did you see me, Pinkie?” “You were awesome, Dash!” Pinkie chirped. “I couldn’t see you fighting nightmares, of course, but you were awesome!” Dash deflated a bit. Just a bit. Right, she thought, Pinkie couldn’t actually see any of that. Well. Still awesome. Just... not as awesome as it would’ve been if somepony had been watching. She looked around the cottage. “Hey, where’d the Princess go?” Pinkie shrugged. “She went off to the Everfree Forest. I said, ‘That’s silly, it’s all stormy! You’ll get all wet!’ but she didn’t pay attention.” “I guess she’s trying to deal with the storm or something?” Dash shook her head. “Whatever, doesn’t matter. What matters is, I did it! I beat the nightmares. I’m awesome.” Pinkie plopped down by her console. “Since I don’t actually get to see you being all awesome, Dashie, how about you tell me? I wanna hear!” Dash chuckled nervously. “I’m not really a great storyteller, Pinkie. Sorry.” “Awwww. Can’t you at least tell me a little?” “I... sure.” Dash sat down in front of her and tried to figure out how to begin. “Well, I suppose I’d better start with my ANIMa. It’s called ‘Spectrum Impact.” What do you think of the name?” “I was there earlier, silly!” Pinkie said. “But it sounds like a good name. I like it!” “Yeah, I thought so. Anyway, it’s got, like, spikes all over it. Those are from Scootaloo. And wings—it’s got four wings.” “Ooh! Who are the wings from? Fluttershy?” “The wings? Heh, this is kind of embarrassing...” Dash rubbed the back of her neck. “They’re from Applejack.” Pinkie cocked her head. “But Applejack doesn’t have wings. Why not Fluttershy? Or Scootaloo! Scootaloo could have been your wings instead.” “Pssh, they’re hardly any better at flying than Applejack is. And Applejack... well, she can’t fly, but flying’s about strength and speed, right? And Applejack’s strong and fast, right? So it makes sense.” Dash paused. “It does make sense, doesn’t it?” Pinkie shrugged. “I guess so, Dash. It’s your ANIMa, after all! But what about me? What am I for you?” She scooted a little closer. “Because you know, you are awesome, Rainbow Dash,” she said. “But it’s not all you.” She nudged Dash’s side. Dash winced at the pain, but Pinkie didn’t seem to notice. “Yeah, Dashie, I was helping too!” Dash nodded, rubbing at her aching side, but managing to keep the grimace off her face. “Yeah, you did. Thanks for anchoring for me, Pinkie. And fighting—you’re strong, Pinkie. You turn into, like, this shell-armor for me, lights flashing all over, it’s great.” Pinkie’s smile got even wider. “That’s because we’re such good friends, Dashie!” Her hoof moved to Dash’s withers and began to stroke up and down. “The ANIMa gets stronger when you get closer to your friends! We’re close, aren’t we, Dashie? We’re close?” Dash shrugged. “Sure, Pinkie, whatever. We’re friends.” She paused for a moment. “Hey, wait a moment. You said, ‘the ANIMa gets stronger when you get closer to your friends.’ And Twilight was talking about that, too. What’s that really mean?” Pinkie shrugged with one arm and kept massaging Dash’s shoulders with the other. “That’s just what Twilight said. She hasn’t done ‘thorough testing’ yet.” She wiggled her free hoof in an attempt at air quotes, while her other hoof traced little loops down Dash’s spine. “You knooo~ow, we could do some testing. Get... closer. Huh, Dashie? You wanna try it?” Dash rubbed her chin with a hoof. “Hmm, closer? And this would make my ANIMa stronger?” “That’s what Twilight thinks,” Pinkie said breathily. “You could test her hypothesis, you know. It’d be all... sciencey.” Dash laughed. “This is great!” she said. “Oh, this is such a great idea!” “You think so?” asked Pinkie Pie. “Oh, good, I was worried—” Dash darted out from under Pinkie’s hooves. “Yeah! Thanks, Pinkie, I’ll see you back in town!” The storm had already broken past the edge of the forest and was quickly spreading across the sky; Rainbow Dash had reached Ponyville barely ahead of the cloud front. And Applejack hadn’t even been in town! Twilight had said that she’d left for Sweet Apple Acres, which meant Rainbow Dash had to go back through the storm to find her. She set down in front of the farmhouse. There were lights on inside, almost certainly Applejack’s doing. So she walked in, shook herself mostly dry, and went looking. She tried to breathe, to keep calm, but her heart fluttered in her chest. Relax, she told herself. It’s just Applejack. And it’s for the ANIMa, too. It’s a good idea for both of us. Dash reached the top of the stairs and found Applejack, walking out of one of the rooms and pulling the door shut behind her. When she saw Dash, she swiped a hoof across her face and smiled. “Heya, Rainbow, I wasn’t expecting to see you here. Everything all right?” Dash sauntered closer and tried not to trip over her own hooves. “Oh, everything is wonderful,” she said. She stood in front of Applejack. “And it’s only going to get better, you know?” Without further hesitation, she stepped forward and pressed her lips against Applejack’s. Applejack pulled away from her kiss. “Rainbow—what do you think you’re doing?” she said, her eyes wide. “What does it feel like I’m doing, AJ?” Dash said. Feeling a little woozy, she moved in for another kiss, but Applejack stumbled back against the door behind her. “Look, Rainbow,” Applejack said, “I’m flattered, really I am. But do you think this is a good time? We’ve both got a lot to deal with—” Dash rubbed up against Applejack, breathing in her scent. She smelled of apples, earth, and sweat, the smells of hard labor done well. “This is a great time, Applejack. I mean, look, you hurt your leg, right? That wouldn’t have happened if you’d been better prepared. C’mon, let’s give our ANIMa a little boost. It’ll be fun.” Applejack pushed Dash away. “What are you talking about?” Dash scooted closer. “Well, Twilight and Pinkie were talking, you know? About how the ANIMa’s powered by friendship, by how close we are. So, d’you want to get, uh, closer? Wink wink?” Applejack pushed Dash away again, harder this time, and her eyes were narrowed. “So wait, this is just about the ANIMa? It’s only about ‘getting a little boost’ for you?” “No, it’s not just that! Like you said, we’re both under a lot of stress. We deserve a little...” Dash licked her lips and tried her best to sound seductive. “A little relaxation, huh? A little fun?” Applejack’s face did not soften. “I think you should leave now, Rainbow Dash,” she said. “Oh, come on, AJ, you know you wa—” Applejack shoved Dash back, hard. “I think it’s time for you to go, Rainbow Dash. Now.” Despite the storm, Dash found herself flying back toward the ANIMa crèches, and the Core. She didn’t know why she was going there, but she didn’t really care. Maybe Pinkie Pie would still be there, and they could talk. She could get back in the ANIMa, hunt around for a bit; smashing nightmares sounded good right now. Or maybe nopony would be there, and she could just hurl rocks at the Core until she calmed down. Stupid Core! she thought. Stupid nightmares. Stupid Applejack. Life was complicated enough before the world ended. Now... Dash reached the cottage, and heard somepony moving around inside. She landed a short distance away and walked the last few feet up to the cottage door, calling, “Pinkie Pie? That you?” The door opened. Rarity stood there. “Rainbow?” she asked. “Why are you here? You look... my word, you look terrible! Quickly, come inside. I’ll make tea.” Once they were inside the cottage, Rarity put on a kettle of tea, then fetched a towel from somewhere and passed it to Dash. As she dried herself off, Dash asked, “So, Rarity, why are you up here? I’d expect you to be back in town, hiding from the weather.” Rarity frowned. “Princess Celestia came by and asked me to take a look at the data we’ve gathered. As I’m sure you’ve heard, Applejack had some trouble with her last run, and... Rainbow? Is something wrong?” Dash rubbed harder at her face. She was muddy, it was getting in her eyes... “No. Nothing’s wrong,” she said. “Shut up.” Rarity clucked her tongue. “Oh dear. Rainbow Dash, did something happen with Applejack?” Dash hurled the muddy towel at Rarity, who caught it before it hit her. “I told you to shut up! Nothing happened. Nothing’s going to happen. Just... I’m leaving. Tea’s stupid anyway.” She turned, but the door locked itself before her eyes. “Open the door, Rarity. I’m leaving, and I don’t want to break a window unless I have to.” Rarity flicked her head, and the curtains swished shut. “Nonsense. Rainbow Dash, you are going to stay here, and you are going to drink your tea, and you are going to tell me what happened.” Dash glared at Rarity, who met her gaze calmly. Finally, Dash flopped down in the middle of the mud-stained carpet. “Whatever, Rarity. Pass me a cup of tea.” Dash sipped absently at the dregs of her now-cold tea. “So that’s how it is. I just don’t understand her! I like her; she likes me. She had some trouble in the ANIMa, and this would give her a nice boost in the cockpit. What’s wrong with that?” Rarity stared blankly at Dash. “You told Applejack you were only interested in her because it would provide you with a mutual advantage?” “What? No! Applejack’s great. She’s strong, she’s pretty, she’s athletic. Come on, I’m not gonna hook up with just anyone.” Rarity sniffed, and her voice got quiet. “Yes,” she said. “I notice you haven’t propositioned me, for instance.” Dash choked on her tea. “I’m not—I didn’t mean—” Rarity burst out laughing. “I’m joking, dear. You’re not my type, and I very much doubt I’m yours. I think you and Applejack might make a very nice couple.” “If that’s true, then why didn’t she just say yes to me?!” Rarity sighed. “Because, darling, you were rather tactless.” She sipped at her tea. “And besides, while I can’t say I’m particularly surprised that you’re interested in mares—no offense intended, dear—I’m not sure Applejack is. Honestly, I’m not sure she’s interested in anypony; she shows a peculiar lack of interest in matters romantic. It rather makes her a dreadful bore when talking at the spa.” She held out the kettle for Dash, but Dash shook her head, so Rarity shrugged and poured herself another cup of tea. “And Rainbow, dear, think,” she continued. “Do you want Applejack because it would be useful to have a relationship with her, or do you want her because she’s... well, because she’s Applejack?” Rainbow Dash looked down into her empty teacup, and didn’t say anything. “Hmm,” Rarity said. “In that case, I would recommend you sort out your own feelings before you talk to Applejack again.” She tilted her head and the curtains slid open. “It’s stopped raining, dear, if you would like to leave. I think I’ve kept you long enough.” “What?” Dash looked up. “Oh... oh, yeah. Yeah. Thanks, Rarity.” She got up and flew out of the cottage, brow furrowed, and Rarity closed the door behind her.