//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7  
// Story: The Eyes of the Beholder 
// by BrinnyTheBrave 
//------------------------------//

"Awe man… hey AJ. I'm totally flattered but… but… I'm actually already going with Elusive." 

"What?"

"Yeah. He just asked me out a few days ago. He actually made me a dress too, customized just to fit a baby dragon. It was really sweet of him… AJ?" 

Apple Jack felt as though he could break. He was not expecting to take the rejection so harshly, he was also confident he had a shot. His ears drooped though he tried to keep his composure. 

"Oh… that's… that's fine." He said sadly. 

"AJ? Are you okay? I-I'm sorry but… " Barbara said, feeling tears well up in her eyes. 

"Ah gotta get back to the farm." Apple Jack said. 

*** 

The dance was just a week away now, and Apple Jack was still giving Barbara the silent treatment. She was hurt, AJ was her friend, and all he was doing now was shutting her out. She knew she had hurt him, and she felt terrible, but what was she supposed to do? She was already going with Elusive, and that wouldn't be fair to him either. She sad on her bed, huddled up. A knock sounded at the door. 

"Barbara? You've been in there a lot! Is everything okay?" Dusk's voice came from the other side. When she didn't answer, he opened the door. The lavender stallion propped himself up on the bed, pulling her in for a comforting hug. "Hey. What happened? Ever since your last visit with Elusive you haven't said anything, you just stay all locked up in here." 

The river of emotion broke through and Barbara cried into Dusk's shoulder. 

"I'm a terrible dragon." She sobbed. 

"What? What makes you say that?" Dusk asked. 

"I… I hurt some pony." She cried. Dusk propped her up. 

"Barbara, what do you mean? What happened?" Dusk asked in confusion. Barbara would never physically hurt someone. She was not like other dragons. Something deeper than that had to have been going on. 

"I hurt Apple Jack." 

Dusk's ears perked. Apple Jack had been here a few weeks ago searching for Barbara. 

"How did you hurt him?" Dusk asked, in a non-judgemental tone. 

"He… he asked me to the Hearth's Warming Prance and I… I told him I can't because I'm already going with Elusive." She sniffled. 

"Oh Barbara. You didn't hurt him, you were being honest. You like Elusive, right?" Barbara nodded. "Then you couldn't have said you like Apple Jack if you don't return his feelings. It just wouldn't be fair to him. You did the right thing. I'm sure he's forgotten all about it by now." Dusk reassured the little dragoness, stroking her back. 

"You think so?" 

"I know so. What do you say we get out of this stinking castle for a day and go to sugar cube corner? I'll get Berry to make you a gem cupcake!" Her eyes lit up at that and she wiped her tears away. 

"S-sure! Thanks Dusk…" She hugged him tightly. 

"For what?" He smiled, returning the hug. 

"For being a great big brother." She said. 

Dusk smiled back, touched by her words.