//------------------------------// // Discovery // Story: Honesty and Loyalty // by theirishbrony //------------------------------// The eyes of the two mares went as wide as Luna's moon and their cheeks went as red as the apples they were bucking when they realized what they were doing. "I'm kissing Applejack! I'm. Kissing. Apple. jack! Rainbow Dash what are you doing?! She's your friend and you're kissing her? But why does the kiss seem so… Nice? So… Right? No! She's a mare and this is wrong!" Rainbow Dash continued to fight a losing battle with herself while the earth pony was almost at the same situation. "Oh no this isn't happening, Applejack why are y'all kissing yer best friend? But… y'all like it don't you? Applejack c'mon, y'all know y'all have had a small crush on'er fer a while! That's.. That's not true! It is, n' y'all know it! B-but anyways, Ah can't do this, it's immoral!" Both mares broke the kiss and returned to reality. Rainbow Dash slowly climbed off of Applejack, her cheeks were getting warmer and almost as red as the lock in her mane. Applejack just stayed there; unable to stand up, her face resembled her cutie mark. It was Applejack who was the first to speak. "A-Ah'm mighty sorry fer that Rainbow, I-It w-was an accident." "N-no AJ it was my fault, I fell and didn't catch myself and landed on... well you." Both Rainbow Dash and Applejack just stood there, their eyes wandering aimlessly into the twilight sky, unable to meet eyes, as they tried to forget what just happened. "Well I uh… I better be going; I got to do the thing with the um… other thing." With that said, Rainbow Dash took off into the dimming sky, leaving a dazed Applejack in her wake. "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, why did I kiss Applejack? Why did I like it? What is wrong with me?" The questions raced in Rainbow Dash's head as she flew through the clouds over Ponyville. She flew past some of her fellow weather pony's creating a storm. She didn't have time to talk and the receding light didn't make it much better, she needed help. And she knew exactly who was the indicated to do so. "I need to see Fluttershy; she'll help me out of this, I know it." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By the time Rainbow Dash arrived at Fluttershy's cottage, the last slimmer of sunlight had disappeared. The smell of moist air hit Dash's nose indicating a storm was near; after all she was a weather pony. "Fluttershy!" She yelled, banging her hoof on the door roughly. After some seconds the yellow pegasus opened the door. "O-oh, it's you R-rainbow Dash. What are you doing here at this hour? W-why are you banging the door so loud?" Asked Fluttershy nervously. "I need your help Fluttershy. Now" she said, her eyes filled with panic. "Oh my, this sounds serious, please come in and tell me all about it… that is if you want to, of course." "I do, I need to." The two walked into the cottage, the smell of forest and woodland creatures combined with the leaf roof and animal homes made it a perfect home for Fluttershy. Fluttershy sat on the red couch in the middle of the room while Rainbow Dash took the opposite side. "Ok… here it goes; I'll make it quick so it won't hurt that much. I kissed Applejack and I liked it." Rainbow winced and expected a shock of horror or for Fluttershy to faint, but what happened was not exactly what she expected. "Oh Rainbow Dash this is just wonderful!" screamed Fluttershy as she jumped up in excitement and hovered in the air for a bit. "I know its wrong and- wait wonderful?" "Oh yes it's wonderful that you and Applejack have confessed your feelings for one another. You two seem so perfect for each other." "Wait, no, that wasn't what happened, I accidentally kissed her. I haven't told her that I love her because I don't even know if I love her! Wait, perfect for each other?" "Oh please, think about it Dash, you two are best friends and have so much in common. The way you always look at her and the way she looks at you! It was obvious for everypony that one day this would happen." "Maybe, but I don't know if I even feel that way about her. And what do you mean 'the way I look at her'?" "When you look at her you always have that silly face… Well anyways, how did you feel when you kissed her?" The cyan Pegasus recounted the memory at Sweet Apple Acres that happened only twenty minutes ago. "It was… amazing; it felt like I did my first sonic rainboom all over again, it felt like I did the best prank ever. I felt happy and didn't want it to end" said Rainbow as she started to drift off into thought. "Well I never kissed anypony before, but that sounds a lot like the spark everypony talks about when they kiss their true love." "True love… That could be it!" Rainbow yelped as she snapped back to the conversation. "But… how can I be sure? I got nothing to compare it to; Applejack was my first kiss ever." "Ever? Not even a kiss on the head from your mom?" "Fluttershy I told you the story about my parents already…" "Oh… yeah, sorry." Said Fluttershy as she remembered the story of how Rainbow's parents died in a fire when she was just a filly. Both mares sat in silence as they remembered the story while the sound of lightning sprang outside; filling the room with it's light. "He-he." "What?" Rainbow questioned. "Oh nothing…" "No, you were thinking something! Tell me!" "No… it was just a silly idea. I don't even know why did I thought about it." "Tell me! Every option is better than nothing." "I just thought that one way to tell if Applejack was your true love is... that y-you kiss m-me. S-silly right?" Said Fluttershy blushing lightly. But Rainbow Dash thought otherwise. As quick as a flash she leaped over and locked lips with her. The yellow Pegasus's eyes instantly grew three times their size and her cheeks glowed pink. "Oh sweet Celestia, that's the second time I have kissed one of my friends today! Why do I keep doing this? No, but this one it's not the same… this is just a test" thought the cyan pegasus. As she broke away from the stunned Fluttershy, only one word came to Rainbow Dash. "Nothing." "Wh-what?" Fluttershy said, trying her hardest not to faint. "I felt nothing, no spark, no fire running through my body. That means I really do love Applejack. Oh thank you Fluttershy" she said as she leaped over once more for a hug. "Y-you're welcome and m-might I say you're a really good kisser Dash." "Hey let's not get carried away here, remember that I love Applejack alright?" "I know, I know. I haven't felt anything neither… But, does this mean that you will confess your feelings to Applejack?" "What? Oh no, I can't! What if she doesn't have the same feelings for me and stops being my friend? I couldn't bare that." "Rainbow, she is one of the Elements of Harmony and your best friend. Do you really think that she would stop being your friend because of this?" "Yes! Well… no, but it's just too risky Fluttershy, I don't want to lose her." "I find that ironic coming from the pony who loves risks" said Fluttershy giggling. Rainbow herself couldn't help but laugh too at the thought of her not taking a risk. "Well I can't force you to tell her how you feel, but please Rainbow will you think about it at least?" "Okay… I will, and thank you for your help; you're always the pony to come to if I need answers." Rainbow Dash got up off the couch, exchanged a final hug with Fluttershy and headed for the door. She opened the door to her bad luck and found a ravaging storm outside. "Rainbow it's raining, you'll catch a cold." "But Fluttershy, I have to go home somehow." "No buts Rainbow." Her voice was beginning to sound motherly. "You're more than welcome to stay here the night." "Fluttershy I really need to get home" "I said you were more than welcome to stay here the night." Repeated the yellow mare with a stern voice. Rainbow Dash knew better than to argue with her when she was like this. "Thank you Fluttershy. Your kindness and watchful eye over me is like the one of the mother I never had" Rainbow said as she flew up the stairs leading to the bedroom. Before joining her, Fluttershy couldn't help but to sigh and shed a single tear. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meanwhile, immediately after seeing Rainbow Dash fly off, Applejack knew she had to speak to somepony, but who? "Rarity?" No, she knew a lot about love and that kind of things, but she needed somepony wiser. Besides she didn't want to hear Rarity mock her about it. "Big mac?" no she wouldn't dare speak to her kin about this. "Of course" Applejack thought as the perfect pony came to her mind. "Twilight! She's a wise good friend n' will know what to do". Applejack then dashed off towards Twilight's library. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Applejack could see the weather ponies moving storm clouds into position for a nighttime storm by the time she arrived. It was nearly dark, the last shimmer of light last just a speck in the distance. "Twilight! Ah need yer help!" Yelled Applejack as she banged on the library's door. "Oh, hey Applejack, what can I help you with?" Twilight said as she opened the door. "Ah need to talk to y'all 'bout sumthin', sumthin' personal." "Alright, come on in and make yourself at home." Applejack came inside the huge tree that was Twilight's library and home. She rested herself on the chair in the center of the room; the smell of parchment both old and new flooded her nose. "Can I get you something? Tea? Muffins?" "No, no thank y'all. But all Ah need right now is sumpony to talk to." "Alright" said Twilight as she sat down next to Applejack "Let's talk then." "Are we alone?" "Yes, Spike is away in Canterlot on royal business and Owloysius is sleeping upstairs." "Y'all must promise not to tell anypony." "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye" Twilight said performing the Pinkie promise. "Ok… here goes" nervously said Applejack, her face starting to sweat. "A-Ah kissed Rainbow Dash, b-but Ah liked it." Applejack felt relived having told somepony about the kiss while Twilight just sat on the chair with a look of surprise. The sound of thunder and lightning seemed to set the mood perfectly. "He he he." "Wha- Twilight why are y'all laughing? This ain't funny!" "I'm sorry Applejack" said Twilight as she tried to contain herself. "It's just that I knew you two would kiss someday. It was meant to happen." "Wait, y'all knew this would happen?" "Well I only guessed that you two would end up together, it's just that you two are such good friends and have so much in common. The fact that you're always together, side to side. It would only make sense right?" "Me n' Rainbow? Well Ah must admit that Ah kind of had a small crush on her since the Running of the Leaves… but she's a mare!" "So? Love is love isn't it? No matter the gender. Look at Lyra and Bon-Bon for example." "But Ah don't know if Ah like mares that way, or Rainbow Dash fer that matter. Ah have never had feelings like this for anypony before." "Well… Then I guess you should have a second experience." "What fer?" "Analyze and compare." "N' how do y'all expect that to happen?" "Well… Looking at the circumstances, I only deduce there is only one way to find out" said Twilight, as she started to blush. "What do y'all have in mind?" "I'm Sorry about this Applejack." "Sorry fer wha-" Applejack was then cut off as Twilight lunged over and pressed her lips against hers. "What the buck is this crazy unicorn doin'?" thought Applejack as the feeling of the sweet kiss returned to her. The kiss was however, not the same. "She couldn't have feelings for me too? This is nice, but feels so wrong; it's not like the kiss from... Rainbow Dash." The kissed last only a second before Twilight broke away leaving Applejack dazed and lost for words. "Now, how did that feel?" "A-Ah liked it, but it was not right. When you kissed me, it was nice, but coming from you felt so wrong… no offence." "It's ok." "But why did y'all do that? Y-y'all don't have a crush on me do y'all?" "Oh no, but it was the only way I thought that could help you, I'm not one for romance and I would do anything for my friends. Did it help?" "Ah think it did actually, it wasn't the same… But it helped me to realize Ah do like mares, but also that Ah do love Rainbow Dash. Oh thank y'all so much Twilight!" said Applejack as she hugged her friend. "Anytime, so does this mean you're going to tell her that you love her?" "Are y'all out of yer little crazy mind? Ah can't tell'er about this. What if she doesn't feel the same way and leaves me? Ah can't live mah life without her as mah friend!" "Applejack" Twilight said, giving her stern look. "She is the element of loyalty, why would she ever abandon you?" "Yeah, y'all are right, but that doesn't mean that it couldn't damage our relationship to be..... Un-repairable." "Well if you don't want to tell her, that's your business, but I hope you change your mind." "Thanks for yer help Twilight; y'all are a really good friend." Applejack hugged her one final time and made her way to the door. She opened the door to find the nighttime storm. "Are you sure you want to head home in the rain? You're welcome to stay here tonight." "I'll be fine, bye Twilight" and with that said, the orange pony dashed out the door. The flash of lightning filled the library and the sound of hoof steps became louder as the door burst open to reveal Applejack again. "On second thought Ah think Ah'll take yer offer of staying here the night" said Applejack, the tip of her tail burned by the lightning. "He-he, come on I'll set up the bed." Both mares headed up the stairs to Twilights bedroom, waiting for whatever tomorrow would hold.