Rainbow Dash pulled her light blue motorcycle to a halt outside of Sweet Apple Acres. Killing the engine, she removed her helmet and shook her short rainbow hair out around her shoulders. Blinking her magenta eyes rapidly at the sudden sunlight, she quickly flung herself off of her bike and ran up the dirt path into the familiar apple orchard. Taking her time to inhale the sweet smell of apples, Rainbow stuck her hands into the pockets of her jeans and let the peaceful atmosphere wash over her. Dash’s mind was so relaxed, she almost didn't notice the abandoned wheelbarrow sitting idly in the middle of her path. Seeing it was filled with fresh apples, she grabbed one at random. Crunching down on her snack, Dash started off in the direction towards the barn house in search of her best friend Applejack.
"Applejack!” She shouted as she looked around for the farmer. “Hello? Anybody home?”
As she approached the Apples family home, she noticed three young girls inside. She jogged up to the door and lightly rapped her knuckles against it. She smirked when all three girls jumped at the sound and turned to face the door, their faces smeared in a sloppy, red substance.
”Hey Rainbow! What’s up?” asked the purpled haired tomboy named Scootaloo who quickly ran up to Dash and engulfed her in a hug.
Returning the embrace, Rainbow grinned down at the rough-and-tumble girl before releasing her and shrugging her shoulders.
“Not much, just looking for Applejack. You girls seen her anywhere?” Rainbow Dash addressed the other two girls in the room; the younger siblings of her friends Applejack and Rarity.
"Ah think she’s in the hay barn. Ah saw her headin’ in that direction when ah went to get some raspberries. We’re making raspberry jelly!" proclaimed the red-headed sibling of Applejack, her sweet friend nodding in agreement.
Rainbow Dash raised an eye brow before thanking the three girls and jogging towards the hay barn. Rainbow Dash had been saving Applejack for last; her being her best friend. She wanted to say an extra special goodbye to her. As the old barn came into view, Rainbow Dash couldn't help but feel a little sad that she would be leaving AJ for so long. Taking a deep breath, Rainbow Dash slowed her steps and prepared herself for the final goodbye of the day.
However, on approaching the barn; Dash came to a halt as a distinct sound reached her ears, making her do a double take. It sounded like Applejack, but she appeared to be begging. Dash couldn’t make out any words, but the obvious desperation in the blonde farmers’ voice made Rainbow Dash curious. Quietly advancing on the wooden door, Dash leaned the side of her head against it to listen in on the conversation taking place inside.
"…Please, yah promised me we didn’ have tah say anything! Ah just don’t think it’s ah good idea to tell ‘em yet. It’s nobody else’s business what goes on in mah life anyways!"
‘Is AJ hiding something from us? From me? Dash pushed her ear further against the door. The thought of the usually honest farmer keeping secrets was enough to make Dash's blood boil.
“Alright, we don’t have to say anything if you really don’t want to, AJ. I just thought it might make you feel better if you weren’t keeping secrets from your friends,” proposed a soft yet manly voice. So Applejack was keeping secrets! Before she knew what was happening, Dash had burst through the door, demanding to know why Applejack was keeping secrets from her.
“Rainbow?!” sputtered the surprised apple picker. “What are yah doin’, burstin’ in on me like that?!” she yelled, getting to her feet.
Applejack bit the inside of her lip as she studied the fuming flight jockey in front of her. She wasn't too sure how Dash was feeling. Usually she pretty easy to read, but now... well, clearly she was angry! ‘Oh... what're you doin going 'round keeping secrets for, Applejack? Dishonesty is never good! Well, you've done it now...’ Suddenly something occurred to her.
“Wait, Rainbow, were yah eavesdroppin' on me?”
“No! Maybe. Alright, yeah, I was but whatever! What’s this about secrets? And who’s this?” Rainbow Dash pointed an accusing finger to the tall, muscular man who stood nervously behind the flustered farmer.
“Er…well, this is Caramel. He’s…he’s, uh…”
“I’m her boyfriend,” interrupted Caramel, receiving a piercing look from Applejack for his trouble.
“Aw land sakes, Caramel, why'd ya have to go an tell ‘er that?” the farmer retorted.
Taken back by the confession, Rainbow Dash blinked a few times before raising an eyebrow at her friend.
“Boyfriend? That’s your secret?” Admittedly, Dash was hurt that her friend wouldn't tell her something like this.
However, she was more hurt by the fact that she had a boyfriend. More than once Rainbow Dash had felt feelings for Applejack. Feelings which she wasn't comfortable with, and was afraid to admit. So she had shaken them off, passed them off as nothing. But there was no denying the twinge she felt in her chest at the thought of AJ being in the arms of another. Applejack nodded in response before approaching the colourful haired jet flier and slinging an arm over her shoulder, hoping this would calm her obvious anger.
“Ah’m sorry ah didn’t tell ya, Rainbow. Ah just didn’t want to cause a kabuffle over somethin’ that didn’ need any extra attention.” Rainbow Dash huffed at this before locking eyes with the blonde farmer.
“Well, how long have you been a thing with him?” Applejack bit down hard on her lip as she averted her eyes to Caramel, who stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, looking from Applejack to Rainbow Dash, then back to Applejack.
He signaled to Applejack to tell her friend the truth. Applejack removed her arm from Rainbow and knotted her hands together.
“Five…”
“Weeks?” prompted Dash, a small wave of relief washing over her at the short amount of time.
Applejack shook her head solemnly. “…Months…” She sheepishly looked Rainbow Dash in the eye, begging Dash to forgive her for not saying something before.
“Five MONTHS?! Seriously?! That long and it never occurred to you that… Why wouldn’t you…you never thought to say anything?!” Anger and sadness flooded through Dash as she stared straight at Applejack, making her flinch under her friends gaze. “I thought we were meant to be best friends, AJ! You don’t just keep something like this a secret from your best friend! I always tell you everything! Always!” Rainbow Dash growled as she pushed her face into Applejack's, locking eyes with her friend, who was starting to get angry.
“Well now, is it such a crime to keep mah own personal life to mahself? We may be best friends, Rainbow, but that doesn’t mean you should have an insight on everything ah do! It ain’t any of yer business who ah do and do not date.” Applejack nodded her head and turned her face away from the enraged pilot; ferociously biting her lip, the taste of blood lingering in her mouth from the continuous chewing.
Applejack folded her arms as to hide her hands, which shook from both anger and nerves. She didn't want to lose Rainbow as a friend, but she wasn't going to just stand there and let herself be yelled at without standing up for herself. Rainbow Dash was taken aback by Applejack’s sudden defense. She hadn't expected her to put up an argument. Rainbow knew she herself was right, it wasn't right of Applejack to hide this from her, it was her business! Wasn't it? Rainbow turned and started to pace the length of the hay barn, eyes still locked on the farmer. Repeating the words Applejack had spoken to her moments ago; she stopped and faced the farmer once more.
“Well maybe I want it to be my business! It should be!”
“Why should it be?" countered Applejack, coming nose to nose with her frustrated friend. Rainbow Dash stuttered for a moment, she hadn’t meant for those words to leave her mouth. As she was about to respond, Caramel interject with a slight cough. Raising his hand in a slight wave, he smiled weakly at the arguing pair.
“Should I go? I-I can come back later if you want?”
“Yes! No!” Both girls barked, leaving Caramel in no better position than before.
“You stay right there, Sugarcube! Rainbow Dash was just leaving, weren't you, Rainbow?” Applejack looked right into the pilot’s eyes; daring her to argue.
Rainbow Dash wiped a hand across her sweaty brow before stepping away from the farmer and pulling out a piece of folded paper from her leather jacket.
“Yeah, I’m leaving alright.” Rainbow Dash pushed the piece of paper into Applejack’s hand before taking another step back and turning to leave. “See you later, pal.” Rainbow pushed her hands into her jeans before walking out of the barn and to her waiting motorbike.
Applejack looked after the pilot, sadness, anger and regret washing over her. She hated to fight with her friends, especially Rainbow Dash. She was her best friend. Yet sometimes, an argument was necessary and in this case, vital. Actually, she had expected the high flier to put up more of a fight. Applejack knew how much Dash hated losing, even an argument.
Sighing, Applejack looked down at the scrunched up piece of paper in her hand. As she folded it out, she felt Caramel’s strong arms encircle her waist and place a soft kiss on her cheek. Leaning back into the strong hold, she started to read the letter.
Anger soon turned to confusion, which in turn devolved into panic. Her heart skipped a beat as she ripped herself from Caramel’s embrace and ran out the hay barn after her friend. Applejack didn’t turn back when Caramel’s startled cry inquired where she was going. She heard the familiar roar of Dash’s bike as she rounded the corner, making her pick up speed, trying to reach Dash before she left. She reached the edge of her apple orchard just in time to see Dash zoom off, leaving a cloud of dust behind her. Realizing she was too late, Applejack leaned up against one of her trees and slid down, pulling in her knees tight against her chest and leaning her head back against the familiar bark.
Applejack realized that somewhere in her run she had lost her Stetson. Unable to shield her face, Applejack placed her head in her arms, her fingers digging into her muscular upper arms as the first of many silent tears rolled down her cheeks. Silently cursing herself, Applejack sniffled. Realizing she still held the letter in her hand. Lifting her head, she angrily screwed it up into a ball and threw it away from her before flopping her head back into her arms in defeat.
Countless hours passed before Big Macintosh found her, beaten and shattered. Tear stains covered her face, her messy hair hanging loose around her, tangled and muddy. The sun had set long ago, and the crisp night air sent shivers over Applejack's bare arms. Noticing her shaking from both the cold and her sadness, Big Mac pulled her into a loving embrace and kissed the top of his sisters’ head before turning around and bending down. Applejack accepted the offer and jumped up onto her brothers’ back, wrapping her arms around his strong neck and laying her head against his warm back. Straightening up, Big Mac held onto Applejack's calves and started towards their home, saying no words, simply allowing his younger sister to rest against him.
Once they had reached the house, he carried Applejack up to her room. He pushed the door open with his foot and placed her onto her bed. He removed her work boots and pulled back the covers before tucking her in and kissing her forehead. Wiping away her tears, Applejack smiled gratefully at her older brother. Allowing the warmth of the bed to surround and comfort her for a moment, she closed her eyes and went through the actions in her head of the day now gone. Taking a shaky breath, she looked to her brother and bit her lip again.
“Ah… Ah’m an awful friend, Big Mac. Ah didn’t even get to say goodbye…” Applejack’s voice trailed off as more tears sprung from her eyes. Big Mac cooed softly to her before placing a strong hand on her cheek. Forcing his younger sibling to look him in the eye, he smiled softly and caressed her cheek with his thumb, the soft touch calming her.
“Never mind that now. We’ll talk about it at breakfast.” Applejack nodded at her brother’s words and turned over to sleep. Feeling him leave the bed, she wiped her nose on the covers and wished him a good night. But sleep didn’t come. Guilt, sadness, and regret flowed through her that night, keeping her from sleeping.
“Be safe, Rainbow,” she whispered into the darkness, “please be safe.”