Rainbow Dash had laid perched upon a lonesome cloud in the sky after a rough and solid day's work while her partner Cloud Kicker was continuing her routine, flying around and sweeping through the clouds, enjoying the wind in her mane. The truth was that Rainbow Dash was just not that interested in her normal routine of showing off for her partner today, as the two would often challenge one another two different shunts that they could display when flying and clearing the skies on sunny days. What many ponies did not know was that Cloud Kicker was a talented flier and an old friend of Rainbow Dash from Flight Academy, a young Pegasus that had earned her spot as Rainbow Dash's partner on the Weather Team of Ponyville after she had proven herself a loyal friend to the cyan colored mare.

However, right now, everyone else was distant in thought compared to Rainbow Dash herself. She drew in a deep breath, and withdrew slowly, flipping onto her backside while she relaxed into the cloud, and stared up in thought at the sky. There never was anything important to do on days where the skies were to be cleared, most of the clouds could be cleared out within ten seconds flat, and otherwise, she was free the rest of the day, or until Cloud Kicker had finally finished her fair share of the clouds. Rainbow sighed, flipped once more onto her stomach while she drew her wings in closer to her body, glancing at how they danced off in the sunlight. Not many people would know, but while Dash was secure about her flying abilities, she also took pride in her personal appearance. She thought herself to be unique, a rather idolize person, compared to prissy mares such as her friend Rarity, a fashionista unicorn that spent most of her time designing dresses and frilly outfits that never interested Rainbow herself.

No, Rainbow preferred speed, the way that the wind ruffled her mane, the feeling of the air currents gliding alongside her movements, the way that the adrenaline would rush through her veins as she pushed herself to the limit. The thrill of flying and winning were two things that Rainbow Dash adored the most out of life, the things that she thrived from as a Pegasus, who would she be without her wings? She shuddered at the thought, closing her eyes and beginning to imagine life as a unicorn or an earth pony. No, that would take too much effort.

Cloud Kicker flew over after several minutes of taking her sweet time, and pressed her hoof gently against Rainbow Dash. The Pegasus jumped slightly in reaction and yawned loudly, stretching out her legs. Cloud Kicker blushed and placed her hooves behind her back, glancing down at the cloud. She didn't mean to startle her partner, but she always seemed to forget that the Pegasus was prone to taking deep naps when on a "break".

"Sorry Rainbow Dash, I didn't know you were asleep. I just wanted to let you know I finished clearing my half of the sky finally, and should be getting back to Ditzy Doo, you know how she can tend to be when left alone for too long." The dark purple Pegasus turned her head towards the sky as Rainbow shrugged and beckoned her off with a hoof, muttering her words lowly.

"Yeah, yeah. Great job, see you later." With that, Dash closed her eyes as Cloud Kicker flew off in a rush, clearly excited to return to her friend. Rainbow, however, didn't seem to notice when she was there as it was. Instead, she was lost in thought. She had a wonderful life, amazing friends, and was potentially going to become a Wonderbolt, she personally did know the Wonderbolts and had managed to impress them tremendously on more then one occasion. Yet, there was something that was absent in her waking life, almost nonexistent. Her eyes slowly opened as she stared at the ground, the reason was Dash had never harbored anypony as her special somepony.

The closest anyone ever came to capturing Rainbow's attention was Soarin, a male Pegasus that was an official Wonderbolt. She enjoyed being semi-friends with the stallion and believed him to be a gifted flyer, but the truth was that stallions never truly appealed to Rainbow Dash. They were too rough around the edges and confusing, and often times tried becoming too dominant in the bedroom. She usually refused anybody that attempted to peruse a relationship with her and in return was hardly saght after, as word spread like a wildfire in the Everfree Forest that the Rainbow Dash was celibate... which was false. She was independent. Trust no pony but yourself and those who prove themselves loyal to you. However, she found that trust in her five best friends, Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Applejack. Each represented an element of Harmony, the very traits of friendship itself. However, out of all her friends, Applejack was the one she harbored the deepest loyalty for.

Ever since coming to Ponyville Dash had expanded her social circle to more select friends (and several fans) then her long time friend Fluttershy. Her loyalties began residing with Applejack when she saw the courage and honesty of the farm pony, not only that, Applejack was a pretty gifted athlete for an earth pony. They always competed, which kept things interesting between the two as friends. You never knew what was to be expected when those two were in the presence of one another. Rainbow Dash sighed and glanced down to the ground, bored, however her magenta eyes became ecstatic as she caught sight of the familiar hat of Applejack. Swooping down from her cloud, she hovered in the air above Applejack, flying beside the trotting mare. She appeared to be troubled, and Dash's face twisted in worry.

"AJ, are you okay?" Rainbow Dash questioned her friend, attempting to hide the nervousness of the pony's answer in her voice, attempting to remain calm and collect as she always would be around her friends. However, the presence of this pony was something that always kept her on her hooves.

Applejack halted and turned around, staring directly into Rainbow Dash's magenta eyes, and began to shake her head side to side, kicking a small rock in the middle of the road."Ah'm not sugarcube, actually, ah'm far from okay. Ah just got word from mah uncle in Manehattan that mah aunt Orange is dyin'.." Her voice was distant, but she remained strong when she spoke. That was always something Dash had admired about Applejack.

Rainbow Dash's ears pressed against her skull, as she stroked her hooves slowly through the mare's mane, attempting to show her best support for her without appearing too awkward. However, the way that the mare flinched away and appeared uncomfortable with her friends petting surprised Rainbow Dash, after all, it had been more comforting then flirtatious. Rainbow's magenta eyes squinted a bit as she watched A.J closely, the mares facial expression had changed from bad to worse.

"Are you alright, Applejack? You usually never turn away when someone touches you."

Applejack appeared to be almost distant from her friend then ever now, and just canted her head to the side, her jade eyes staring directly into the pools of magenta. The farm pony's eyes had hardened, and she slowly moved herself onto her hooves, scowling in anger."Ah don't need your sympathy Rainbow, ah know you only are comfortin' me because ya need a partner to race with. Well this ain't tha time nor place for it." She stamped her hoof onto the ground and challenged Rainbow Dash with her anger filled eyes.

Rainbow Dash flipped into the air, hovering right above Applejack's head, staring at her as the two became incredibly close, close enough to where they could feel each other's unsteady breaths on their faces. Rainbow snorted carbon dioxide from her flare nostrils into Applejack's face, denying to allow the mare to have the upper hand in this argument that had emerged."I was just attempted to be a loyal friend, because you know, that's what my Element of Harmony is, loyalty!"

Applejack narrowed her eyebrows now and turned around, trotting away from Rainbow Dash. She was fed up with the pegasus and how she always attempted to become a better athlete than anyone around her. Rainbow Dash scoffed and returned to her lonesome cloud, mumbling to herself about unloyal and stuck up farm ponies. Sometimes, she hated that earth pony with a passion.

The cyan pegasus turned her head and analyzed the ground once more, the anger had long since boiled down and she stretched out her wings once more, deciding to lay down and take a nap... that was, before an annoying tweeting was ushered in her ear. She grumbled, cupping her hooves over her ears to block it out. However, now something was pulled at her mane. She turned her head around to see a familiar looking falcon attempting to awaken her, it cawed out mightly, and swooped down to the ground below. Rainbow Dash peaked over the cloud and glanced down below to see Fluttershy standing by, waiting for her.

Rainbow flew down to her friend, who jumped in surprise and cowered, her hooves covering her head in defense of whatever creature may be wanting to harm her. The Pegasus tilted her head to the side and cleared her throat, appearing rather annoyed."Er... Fluttershy? What are you doing here?"

Fluttershy relaxed almost instantly at the raspy voice of her longtime friend, and offered a sincere smile as she dusted herself off. Her pink bangs were hiding her right blue eye, and she was speaking in her more then usual quiet voice."Oh, hello Rainbow Dash, I-I'm sorry if I am disturbing you. I just saw Applejack trotting off from this direction and I wanted to make sure everything was okay.

At the thought of the previous argument that spiked between the two, Rainbow Dash scoffed and placed her hooves on her flanks, taking off into the air for a few seconds."It totally is not, that stubborn pony refuses to even allow me to comfort her! Some friend she is." Her magenta eyes found the calm and gentle ones of Fluttershy, who cowered a bit at her friends aggressive attitude. Rainbow Dash came down from the sky, and offered a half-apologetic smile."Sorry Fluttershy, I sometimes forget how sensitive you could be with me being so... wild."

"Oh, it's quite alright Rainbow Dash. What happened anyways?" Fluttershy was now sitting on her haunches, several rabbits, and other various forest creatures were surrounding her. The falcon sat on her head, appearing to be slumbering silently and peacefully.

"Applejack and me got into another argument, and she ran off in a hurry because she couldn't handle me touching her for some reason. Apparently her Aunt Orange in Manehattan is dying." The last part of the sentence made Rainbow Dash wince in guilt, maybe she was over analyzing this a bit.

"Oh my Rainbow Dash! Perhaps you two should talk this over, I am sure that Applejack is just going through a hard time, you know how sensitive she is about her family." Fluttershy was stroking the ears of Angel Bunny, her favorite companion pet who was a snow-white rabbit with a demanding attitude and large appetite.

"You're right, Fluttershy. I should go find her, but she's probably still upset. Was there anything else you needed?" Rainbow Dash felt more soothed now that she had been calmed down by the most gentle natured person she knew, and her eyes were now focused completely on her friend.

"Well," Fluttershy began while she halted her petting of Angel and glanced down to the dirt path nervously, her voice became high pitched once more."There was one thing... however, I don't think I want to tell anypony right now."

"What? Why not?" Rainbow Dash was more allured now and leaned forward, clearly perusing this topic.

"... It has to do with romance, Rainbow."

"What?"

"Yes... romance. Finally, for once Rainbow, someone has captured my heart that isn't one of my lovely little woodland creatures." She smiled bashfully, her yellow cheeks were beginning to blush violently. She drew in a deep breath and turned around to make sure nobody was around, and finally, she spoke once more.

"Rainbow..."

Rainbow Dash was almost about to abruptly shake the yellow Pegasus and plead with her to just put her curiosity to an end, but what came next was enough that brought Rainbow Dash to slouch down to the ground, her jaw dropped slightly open.

"I'm in love with Rarity."

Rainbow Dash had turned her head a few times around to make sure that nopony was looking, and quickly, she cleared her throat, yelling at the top of her lungs,"WHAT!"

Fluttershy cowered in response to the yelling, and the falcon cawed out, ruffling his feathers in defense of the loud noise. The critters surrounded Fluttershy, seeking her for protection. A few bounded off into the woods once more, followed in pursuit after the falcon. Fluttershy was whimpering now, tears filling her eyes."I-I'm sorry R-Rainbow, maybe I-I should just be going now..."

"I'm sorry Fluttershy, but you of all ponies, I'm sorry... I just never saw that coming!"