//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Catching Up // Story: True Loyalty & Honesty // by ThePegaKris //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash was left speechless and couldn't even process a word. "I...just...but...what?" Applejack finally stopped crying and had to explain herself. "You okay...buddy? If it makes you feel better, then I'm sorry too..." Inside her mind, she tried to think of what the right thing was. Was it worth admitting her feelings for Rainbow Dash? "Yeah, I'm fine," R.D. said. "But you also don't have to feel sorry for me! Are you...for real right now, A.J.?" "Of course I am! I love you so much as a friend, so I thought it could be more than that... It's getting awkward, isn't it?" "Totally not!" Rainbow replied. "I get what you're trying to say and I appreciate that. I love you too as a friend and I also thought it could be more than that because I thought I'd..." "...make up for lost time," they simultaneously said. Dash was a bit relieved but is now confused as to how Applejack figured out what she said. "How did you know that?" "I was thinking the exact same thing last night, before I slept," A.J. answered. "It just came to me and my heart knew that it was right. Sunset Shimmer's still our best friend, but I still remember the darn grudge I had for her when we were younger. Ever since then, I missed you like there was no hay! And when we started to get mad at each other, I was lonely deep down. It's neither her fault, not yours anymore. I'm sorry!" Rainbow Dash put a hand on her heart. She knew she was about to cry, but couldn't do it. "I'm sorry too and it's all good now! I did the same thing you did a couple of years ago and I still couldn't forget that. My heart was telling me too that it was wrong to get mad at you, whether I was tricked or not. Sunset's definitely a good friend now and we don't want to get mad at her this time!" The two girls were in awe and they started hugging each other. "Remember when we first bought Rarity's Wondercolt merchandise?" as Applejack looked up. "How could I forget?" R.D. considered. "All the students at Canterlot High still adore them today! It was all thanks to our friendship with Twilight, and you know which one it is." "Eeyup, our beloved pony princess friend." A.J. elaborated. Meanwhile, the rest of the friends are looking desperately for the two "lovebirds" as all of them are on the phone speaker. They all had firm looks. "She's not at Sweet Apple Acres!" Rarity confirmed. "No sign of Rainbow Dash in the music store," Sci-Twi checked. "Applejack's definitely not at Flim and Flam's emporium, though I really, really wanted that play horse!" Pinkie Pie confirmed. "They haven't come back to Sugarcube Corner, either," Sunset Shimmer confirmed. "Umm...gym's clear," said Fluttershy. She sees Bulk Biceps lifting barbells without a sweat. "Yeahhhh!!!" "Where could those two girls be?" Rarity worried. However, Spike thought of the obvious and genius. "Twilight, can I get the phone real quick?" She lays it gently on the ground. "Girls, how could you forget the one place that you meet each other at almost everyday?" All of them got Spike's idea. "Canterlot High!" Rarity made a kissing sound on the phone. "Thank you, Spikey-Wikey!" And so, they head off to the school. "What would they be doing at the school around this time?" Sunset asked while running. "Did they finally do it?" "I don't even want to guess," replied Fluttershy. "I just hope nothing bad happened to them!" "Darling, they're absolutely fine!" Rarity reassured. "They're quite possibly the strongest friends we have and they barely get in trouble." Pinkie Pie was skipping and skipping while imagining the future. "I'm so proud of that Dashie! Hopefully she won't forget about me later on, and the same goes for my uncertain cousin but good friend, Applejack! Why do I still cry tears of joy?" Everyone else just scooted over a bit from her, as they all were weirded out. "Almost there!" Sunset said. "I think I can see them from here. Hopefully, we didn't come at the wrong time!" When all the girls and Spike stopped by Canterlot High, they couldn't allow themselves to be noticed, so they stood around a corner of the front. Rainbow Dash and Applejack finally finished their conversation and moved on to something more they consider to be more important. "Hehe, good times, good times!" said Dashie. "Oh my gosh, it's getting late! I also promised Scootaloo that we're having a sleepover. I need to go!" "Oooh, you got that right," replied A.J. "I think my family's pretty worked up after today's business, so it looks like I'm in charge of the pack. I'll see ya tomorrow!" However, to make things more intimate, they turned around and faced each other directly. Instead of a usual hug, they passionately kissed. "I...love you!" they both said. "Hey, do you hear something? Nah!" It turns out that their friends are still right around the corner as they giggled from what they heard. But as the day ends, everyone decided to return home at last. As Rainbow Dash met Scootaloo along the way, they had to share their "awesome" stories. "I just pulled off some of the best tricks of my life!" Scootaloo exclaimed. "I wish you were there to experience them!" "Yeah, I also wish that," Rainbow replied. Scootaloo notices her lips to be wet from Applejack's kiss, still. She doesn't mind it at first, though. "So...what'd you do today?" Rainbow Dash gulped for her life. "Oh, I...uhh...was with my friends, as usual, heh!" She immediately dried her lips. "If you're also curious, I was writing new songs too! You'll be amazed when you hear them!" "Awesome!" Scootaloo yelled. "I can't wait to hear them! I'm really glad that you're my big sister, even though...it's not really true." She frowns to Rainbow. "Oh, don't be sad, squirt! I'm also glad that you're my little sister, even though that's not true either. But nevertheless, I'll always look out for you. Now come here!" They started to hug each other and they finally reached Rainbow Dash's house. "Thanks for letting me spend the night here!" said Scootaloo. "Nice place, by the way!" Rainbow Dash winked. "No problem and yeah, I know! Now you go and make yourself comfortable while I have to go do something upstairs. I'll be back down in a bit! She heads to her bedroom, but realizes she's in a tight situation. She looks out her window and relates back to earlier. "What was I doing? Did I make the right choice and even if it was, was it right enough? Just calm down, Dashie! Applejack's always been a great friend, but I really don't know if I'm ready for this kind of relationship. Maybe she'll understand...but for now, let's just see how this goes." Rainbow suddenly falls asleep. At Sweet Apple Acres, A.J.'s doing the exact same thing. "Shoot! I think my chance was just wasted by a galloping mile! Rainbow...is my best friend, she always has been. What did I possibly do wrong back there? No, it ain't my tears, but I'm still worried about that. So why...am I feeling that this is wrong for me? I don't know anymore..." Applejack suddenly falls asleep.