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// Almost Like Being In Love 
// Story: Appledashery 
// by Just Essay 
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	"So, she's forgiven you, then?" Lancie remarked, squatting on the edge of Rainbow's bed.  "No hard feelings and the like?  No..."  He shrugged.  "...forty lashes from the Queen of Stripes?"

"Seems as though Zecora's figured out that having friends and having a happy life is more important than a silly crush," Rainbow said.

"Ah, well good for her."  Lancie nodded, rubbing his stone goatee.  "Is it... also good for you?"

Rainbow lifted her head from her pillow.  "Huh?"

"You seem to value her wise mystical zebra counsel, so I only figured—"

"Hey.  Zecora's Zecora, and I'm me.  Different strokes and all.  But that's not why I wanted to tell you about today."

"Well, why did you want to tell me about today?" Lancie remarked, folding his limbs.  "Aside from the fact that I've got nopony else besides the dust bunnies to talk to?"

"It's because I wanted to share the fact that... that..."  Rainbow squirmed until she curled up in bed, hugging herself.  Her eyes were distant, but still warm.  "...I felt so happy... so chill... and yet I was still the same mare.  I think I felt it the most when I was sitting on the cloud with Noir."





"Why?" Epcot asked.  "What happened then?"

Both mares sat in a claustrophobic vehicle as it rolled sideways through a magnificent dark ride.

"He was going on and on about how fortunate I was to have friends to be loyal to, not to mention such a swell life and... and..."  Rainbow Dash sighed.  "He was right, y'know?  He was totally right.  I kinda felt silly that I needed him of all ponies to remind me."

"So?  Heehee..." Epcot hugged herself, leaning her head to the side as she gazed gently at the pegasus.  "Reminders are never a bad thing."

"Perhaps."

"Tell me about what you felt."

"Pfft!  I felt awesome!  I felt proud!  It's like everything about the moment and where I am and who I am just lined up like stars and... and it was schnazzy, y'know?"  Rainbow gulped, turning to gaze at the cosmic light show they were gliding past right then.  "And... uhmm..." She fidgeted in her dream seat.  "...I-I only had one thought go through my head.  Once I was absolutely certain that I was happy and content and just... joyful."





"Hmmmm?"  Fluttershy looked up from where she poured food for Angel.  "What thought was that, Rainbow?"

Rainbow gazed across the cottage.  "...that I love Applejack."  She exhaled calmly.  "I love her.  Absolutely love her.  With everything I am."  She smoothed her mane back, speaking in a slow, steady tone.  "And just... knowing that... and feeling that... it's all part of it.  Part of the joy.  Part of being alive."  She let loose a deep breath, her lips curving into a soft grin.  "It's all good.  Even if she doesn't love me back.  Even if we'll never get to do more than talk to each other, buck apples, or protect the Elements of Harmony... as friends... it's all good.  It's just... all... so very good."

Fluttershy smiled back at her best friend.  A glimmer shone in her eyes.  "It's a very good feeling, isn't it, Rainbow Dash?"

Rainbow's gaze tilted up, meeting Fluttershy's eyes full-on from across the cottage.  "Heck yeah."  She half-giggled.  "It's gooder than good."  She slowly shook her head.  "It's almost like... I-I don't know why I ever stressed over it to begin with.  I guess I thought I had to feel lonely.  But now I don't feel lonely."

"What changed, do you think?"





"Just... I dunno... doing stuff," Rainbow said with a shrug.  She laid on her back atop a windswept hill, gazing at the lazy afternoon sky.  "The same as I've always done.  It hasn't been so much distracting myself as... just... slowly reminding myself how awesome I am."  She bore a tranquil smile.  "All these months, it just had to catch up to me.  And... now I think I can move on."  She slowly tilted her head to the side.  "We all gotta move on at some point or another, kiddo, but it doesn't mean we gotta be alone."

"But you'll still be alone with something," I said.  "Isn't that right, Rainbow?"

"Hmmm?"  She cocked her head to the side.  "What do you mean by that, squirt?"

"Well..."  I paced around her on the hillside.  "You obviously feel a lot about this very special somepony, but it sounds like the both of you are still gonna be hanging out together.  So... like... it's gotta be super weird to have to deal with something stuck in between you two."  I shrugged.  "Whenever I hang out with Apple Bloom, she likes to remind Sweetie Belle and I what her sister says: 'honesty is the best policy.'"

"Er... yeah..." Rainbow Dash looked back up at the sky.  Her limbs shuddered.  "Just... not always a painless one."

"Yeah, so?"  I shrugged with a smirk.  "You're Rainbow Dash!"

She looked at me again, blinking.

I giggled.  "You can take it!  Can't you?  I mean... basilisks... diamond dogs... dream freaks."  My wings fluttered victoriously.  "You've faced them all and come out on top!  What's to be afraid of, huh?!"

She stared my way.  Slowly, a devilish smirk formed along her muzzle.  "You know what?  I think you're right, kid."  She sat up, cracking her joints with a weathered sigh.  "What's left to be afraid of anymore...?"