Mixed Feelings: chapter seven
"I have a date with Fluttershy!" When Applejack realized what Rainbow had said, her heart shattered.
"Th... Tha's... Great, Rainbow!"
"I know! It's so... Unbelievable!" She then looked at AJ's sad face. "Oh, buck!"
"It's fine, Rainbow... I jus' thought you liked me, too!" She felt so guilty, now.
"Applejack... I do like you! I...I just... forgot..."
"Jus' forgot it! I guess a'h came out the closet fer no reason, then!"
"No! That's not what I-" Applejack then threw a book a her, and she fell to the ground.
"No! Ah'm so sorry, Rainbow!" Rainbow then got up, and stared at her.
"Just... Forget it!" Rainbow then flew off in a dash, and went straight to her house.
"Why did I do that...?" Applejack broke down in tears. Out of the blue, Big Macintosh: her older brother came in, and sat next to her.
"Applejack... What was all that yelling? What was Rainbow Dash doin' here?" Big Mac hadn't been told about Applejack's 'situation', so he didn't have a clue on what was happening. "What's been up with y'all, lately?"
"It's... Nothing..."
"Applejack... You were mad at Rainbow 'bout somethin. We're family, so we don't need ta keep secrets from each other..."
"Ah know tha'..." Applejack looked to the floor, and spoke. "I... I'm... I like mares... And Ah'm in love with... Rainbow Dash..."
"Ya like... Mares?"
"Yeah, so what? It's not a problem... Is it?"
"Get out..." Applejack looked at Big Mac in shock.
"E... Exsuse me?" Big Mac repeated himself.
"J... Jus' get out! Ah don't want no filly fooler living in this house!"
"Big Mac... You can't be serious! Y... You can't Jus' kick me out!"
"Pack your things... Ya have till mornin'..." As he left, he didn't even look back.
Applejack couldn't believe what happened. Her big brother; whom she thought would love her, no matter what, just kicked her out for something she couldn't help. She cried softly on her bed.
It was morning at Sweet Apple Acres, and it was breakfast time. Applejack came down with a large suitcase. Applebloom came running up to her.
"Where you goin', big sis?" Applebloom asked worryingly.
"Ask Big Mac... Ah'm sure he'd loovve to explain to you." She stopped and stared at Big Mac.
"Big brother, why is Applejack leavin'? When will she be back?"
"She ain't comin' back."
"What! Why?" Applebloom was using her 'sad eyes', on Big Mac.
"She's a 'filly fooler'..."
"What's that? Is it bad?" She didn't understand.
"It means I'm gay."
"Oh... What's so wrong about that?"
"You'll understand when you're older..."
"Well, goodbye! Good luck tryin' ta keep this farm running without me..." She didn't even look back.
Rainbow dash was staring at her mirror. The collision with the book, gave her a black eye.
"Why would AJ do something like that? She's never struck me like this, before..." Her eye was actually quite swollen. "I can't go out in public, like this! What if somepony notices it?" She went to her freezer, and pulled out a bag of ice. "I heard this numb's the pain, and reduces the swelling..."
"Twilight was out, doing her weekly trip to the market. She noticed Applejack was pulling a heavy suitcase.
"Applejack? What are you doing with that?" Twilight asked, approaching her.
"Big Mac kicked me out." Twilight was surprised at her response.
"Why would he do that?"
"Because he's a good-fer-nothin, homophobic A-hole!"
"Wait, what?"
"He kicked me out, because I'm gay!" Twilight was completely, and utterly shocked.
"Oh my... That's terrible! You can stay at Golden Oaks Library, with me, until you can find a place you can stay.
"Thanks Twi. I hope I'm not a burden..."
"Of course not! You can have the spare bed, like the last time you were over." Applejack gave her a tight hug. She began to cry.
"Thank you... I need some support, right now..."
"Then follow me, to the library."
As they did, they bumped into Fluttershy.
"Oh... I'm sorry... I should just-"
"Don't worry, Fluttershy. Where're you going?"
"Oh, I'm looking for Rainbow Dash. I can't find her anywhere!"
"Have you checked her house?" Fluttershy then just flew off to Rainbow's house.
"Can we hurry up, please?"
" Oh, yes, of course!" Twilight then proceeded to her library.
Rainbow was on her couch when the door knocked. She still had the ice pack on her eye. She got up and answered the door.
"Oh, hi Fluttersh-"
"Oh my! What happened to your eye?!" Fluttershy saw she was holding an ice pack to it.
"Oh, a book just hit it."
"How'd that happen?"
"I... Um... Got a book too low in the pile, and it landed on me. That's all."
"Let me see it. I'm sure it's not that b-" She stopped when she saw it. "It's worse than I thought! Come with me!"
"O... Okay..." She was pulled to her cottage, and placed onto her sofa.
"Just let me get my first aid box." She came back with a rather large white box, with a red cross on it. "This should do it!" She Pulled out a bottle of anti-septic. "This might sting. So close your eye, and don't squirm."
"Oh, fine... Just not too- ah!" Fluttershy giggled and continued applying the solution.
Over at Golden Oaks Library, Twilight and Applejack entered through the door, with AJ's suitcase.
"Thanks again, Twi. Ah really owe ya one!" Applejack thanked Twilight, but stopped in the middle of the room.
"Are you alright, AJ?"
"I just can't believe Big Mac would do that..." She sat on the floor, feeling she wasn't good enough for a seat.
"AJ... I still don't understand, either..." She sighed, and put AJ into a hug. "You WILL make it through this... I promise."
"Ah know, Twi... Ah Jus'... Ah Jus' wish it wasn't true..."
"Me too, AJ... me too..."
Back at Fluttershy's cottage, Fluttershy was trying to put an eyepatch on Rainbow. She was not amused.
"C'mon, Rainbow! It looks cute on you!" Rainbow scoffed.
"I don't wanna look cute! I wanna look fierce, and awesome!" Fluttershy rolled her eyes.
"Would you rather, it was pink and fluffy?" This put Rainbow in defense mode.
"You... Wouldn't... Dare!"
"Try me!" Fluttershy said, pulling a pink eyepatch with pink fluff, and hearts all around it.
"Fine! I'll wear this stupid eyepatch... Just don't make me wear... That monstrosity..." She quivered at the thought of wearing it.
"He he... Works every time!" Fluttershy giggled, as she put the eyepatch on Rainbow.
"So... Now this is over... What do you want to do now?" Rainbow asked, remembering what she said last night.
"I... I don't know... When I was with Speedpaint, we used to just have walks into the fields, and we watched the wildlife. But that's boring for you, isn't it?" Fluttershy sighed.
"It's not that I find it boring... I just like being active, more..."
"Do you still want to do it? You know... If you want..." Rainbow decided to give it a go. She just wanted to spend time with her.
"Sure, Fluttershy. Who knows? It could be fun." Fluttershy smiled.
"That's the spirit! C'mon, let's go!" As they left, Fluttershy locked the door behind them, and they went off.
Back at Golden Oaks Library, Applejack was unpacking, and Spike walked in.
"Hey Applejack! Are you staying over, tonight?" Applejack sighed quite sadly. "Applejack? Are you alright?"
"Spike, ah got kicked out..."
"What for? It must've been pretty bad, if your own fa-" Twilight covered his mouth, and used her magic to bring him out.
"Spike! Not a good topic, right now!" Spike was confused.
"What do you mean, it's 'not a good topic'?"
"It's not my place to say, but you just have to trust me on this one." Just then, Applejack came in.
"It's alright, Twi... I'll tell him..." Twilight nodded.
"W... What's going on?" Spike asked in confusion, as Twilight left the room.
"Ah was kicked out fer somethin' ah couldn't help..."
"What was That? Did you do something bad?"
"Spike... I was kicked out, because... I..."
"You broke something valuable? Injured someon-"
"B... Because... Because I'm gay..." Spike was shocked.
"Oh! Y... You're... That's fine... It's like Tw-" Twilight dragged him of, again.
"Spike! For the last time, I'm not gay, I'm bisexual. And if the word got out that a princess liked-"
"It's fine, Twi... Ah won't tell nopony..." Applejack spoke out loud, which surprised Twilight.
"Now look what you've done! Now AJ knows, and I told you specifically NOT to mention it!"
"Twilight... It's fine. Ah understand if y'all don't want anypony ta know. It won't change anything."
"Spike, can you please finish this list? I need a private chat with Applejack."
"Sure thing, Twi." He took the list and ran out the door. Twilight locked the door behind Spike.
"I need to tell you something..."
"What is it, Twi?" She sat on a seat, that was near them.
"I... I have a crush on Rainbow Dash..."
"Pointless, ain't it?" Twilight nodded. "Rainbow said she has a date with Fluttershy..."
"I'm not even surprised..." Twilight looked down, and spoke. " I'm just so lonely..."
"Ah know how ya feel, Twi..." Applejack let out a light sigh, as the room went quiet.
"Princesses aren't meant to like mares..." Twilight mentioned, sadly. AJ looked over. "I've tried keeping it a secret for years, now... Besides from Spike, you're the only one that knows... I hope..."
Applejack sighed, and looked around. "Ah need ta finish unpackin'..." She was trying to avoid the conversation.
"Okay..."
Over at Sweet Apple Acres, Granny Smith was yelling at Big Mac.
"Wha' do ya mean ya kicked 'er out?!" Granny Smith yelled at Big Mac, annoyed.
"B... But she's... She's a lesbian! Why can't ya see tha' this type of thing is jus' wrong!" Big Mac couldn't see the problem.
"Big Macintosh! She is ya little sister! She told ya somethin' so hard fer 'er ta say, and ya kicked 'er out fer it?! You have NO say on who stays 'ere! Tha' is ma'h decision! So go an' find out where she is, apologise, and say that she can come back!"
"But Gran-"
"No but's! 'cause if ya don't get 'er back, don't think 'bout returning!"
"F... Fine! I'll get 'er back! Ah can't believe y'all r' makin' me do this..." Big Mac left the house, slamming the door behind him.
"Ah thought ya were better than this, Big Mac..." Granny Smith whispered under her breath, disappointed.
As Big Macintosh stormed through the town, he bumped in Fluttershy & Rainbow Dash.
"Sorry, Big Mac... I didn't mean to-" Fluttershy was interrupted by Big Mac.
"It's fine, Fluttershy. Ah'm jus' lookin' fer Applejack. Ya seen er?"
"I think I saw her with Twilight. You could try the tree house..." Fluttershy replied.
"Okay, thanks!" Big Mac ran off, in search for his sister.
"Wonder if it's serious?" Rainbow said to Fluttershy.
"Probably... But we shouldn't talk about it. It's family business, not ours."
"I guess you're right. Let's just go, and walk with the wildlife, or whatever we're doing." Fluttershy smiled at Rainbow, as they started walking again.
Applejack sighed, as she finally finished unpacking her things. "Why me?"
There was a knock at the door, which Twilight answered.
"Big Mac?! You have a lot of nerve coming here, after how you treated Applejack!"
"I... Ah've come ta apologise, after ma'h behavior."
"Well, well well... Would ya look who's come runnin' back?" Applejack said slowly, as she slowly came down the steps.
"Applejack... Ah'm sorry. Ah didn't mean what ah sai-"
"Then why'd ya say it, if ya don't mean it?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Ah... Um... Ah wasn't thinkin'... An' uhh..."
"Ah don't trust ya, no more. Don't try an' lie ta me; honesty is ma'h element."
"If ya don't come back, Granny Smith will kick me out, an'-"
"Why should ah give a buck 'bout what happens ta ya? You kicked me out fer no good reason at all! Ya didn't even give me a chance ta explain! Ah trusted you, when I needed it the most! You ain't ma'h brother, you ain't nothin' ta me, anymore... Ah can't go back ta jus' be picked on again. Ah... Ah jus' can't..."
"What 'bout the farm?" This made Applejack pause.
"Ah'll do ma'h work there, but Ah'm defiantly NOT movin' back their, again." Big Mac couldn't take it anymore. If he didn't return with Applejack, he would be kicked out.
"Just... Forget it! Ah don't care, anyway!" Big Mac turned, and marched off. "Good-fer-nothin' filly fooler..." He spoke under his breath.
"Ah'm goin' ta bed..." Applejack said to Twilight.
"It's only 3pm..."
"Ah said: Ah'm... Going... Ta... Bed!" Repeated, Applejack.
"Okay, do what you want." Applejack grunted, as she furiously rushed upstairs.
Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were laying on a grassy field, staring at the clouds.
"This isn't actually as bad as I thought... It's quite relaxing!" Fluttershy was quieter than she had been earlier. "You alright, Fluttershy?"
"I brought you out here for a reason, Rainbow..." This got her attention.
"Is something wrong, Flutters?" She asked concerned.
"I just wanted to talk about that... Kiss you gave me..." Rainbow went red.
"Yeah, sorry about that..."
"No, it's fine... It's just... I've never kissed another mare, before..." Fluttershy gulped. "I think I liked it... I know I've already told you I might be bi, but... I... I might have gotten new feelings for you, after that..."
"Fluttershy... I understand what you're going through... It happened with me."
"I just want to make sure if this is how I really feel... You're a good friend, Rainbow Dash... I don't want to hurt you..."
"Fluttershy... Nothing you do will ever hurt me, too much."
"Yesterday, you almost hanged yourself, 'cause you could never be with me! I don't want to see you try anything like that, again!"
"Please... Don't remind me of that..." Rainbow's eyes began to water. "I don't want to remember how confused, and upset I was..."
"I'm sorry..."
"I... It's... Fine... I just... Don't want to think... About... How I... Almost... L... Lost..." Rainbow started to think about how Fluttershy saved her from making a huge mistake. "Oh God... I... Almost... And you..." Rainbow burst out crying, and held onto Fluttershy, tight.
"Rainbow Dash... It'll be alright..." She began to sing a comforting song.
"Baby, don't cry, don't cry anymore."
"Things'll get better, don't cry anymore..."
"I know it's tough, but don't cry anymore..."
"Please stay calm, and don't cry anymore..."
"Things will soon be alright,"
"So don't cry, just sleep tight,"
"'Cause when you're with me baby, you'll be safe and sound."
"I just can't see my life, when you're not around."
"When I'm with you, baby, you fill my heart with joy!"
"When I'm with you, baby, I don't want to turn your heart into a toy!"
"'Cause I can't get you outta my head!"
"So please, don't think about being dead"
"I don't understand these feelings I feel."
"They keep coming and going, like a slippery Eel!"
"I just don't want to hurt you, anymore."
"I can't tell if you're the one I'm looking for..."
"So, please stay,"
"Don't go away!"
"I can't see my life if you're not here to be with me!"
"So please... Never leave me..."
"Baby, I think I'm falling for ya!"
"Baby, I can't stop thinking about ya!'
"I want all this to be clear."
"So, please, baby... I need you to stay here..."
"So, please..."
"Baby, don't cry, don't cry anymore..."
"Things'll get better, so don't cry anymore..."
"I know it's tough, but don't cry anymore..."
"Please stay calm, and don't cry anymore..."
"You may not know what to do..."
"But I'm nothing..."
"Nothing... Without you..."
When Fluttershy finished singing, Rainbow stopped crying, and stared at Fluttershy.
"That was so... Beautiful..." Rainbow looked at her, and stared into her eyes.
"Rainbow Dash... I love you." Rainbow was so happy to hear those words come from her mouth, that she started tearing up.
"Y... You really mean it?" Rainbow was so happy, after the next thing Fluttershy did.
"Yes, Rainbow..." She looked deep into Rainbow's eyes. "I'm ready, this time..." Fluttershy brought her head closer to Rainbow's. As she came closer, it became more and more intense. Just then, their lips touched.
Rainbow was knocked to the grassy floor, as Fluttershy was up against her.
"Oh, Fluttershy... I love you so much!" Rainbow exclaimed, as they continued to make-out.
After about 20 seconds, Rainbow opened her eyes, to see someone looking down in horror. It was Big Macintosh.
"Oh, not you two, as well!" Big Mac complained, and Fluttershy went bright red.
"Big Mac?! Were you watching us?!" Rainbow yelled furiously.
"Hardly... Ah was too busy thinking 'bout problems, and next thing ah saw were a pair of filly foolers, goin' at it like there was no tomorrow!" Big Mac yelled annoyingly.
"What is the problem with two mares being together?! It's not hurting anypony, is it?!" Rainbow defended.
"It's... It's jus' not natural! It's sick, that's wha' it is!" Rainbow couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Are you serious!? Why do you even care, anyway? Name ONE GOOD reason it effects you negatively!"
"I... It's just... Ya'know what? Buck all this! Ah'm leavin' ta go somewhere else! Away from all these filly foolers!" Big Mac ran off, away from Ponyville.
"Well that was... Eventful... You alright Fluttershy?"
"I'm fine... I just want to go home..." Rainbow was annoyed at Big Mac, now.
"Fluttershy... Don't let him bother you... He doesn't understand." Fluttershy looked up at Rainbow. "Is something wrong?"
"I'm just feeling sorry for AJ... Living with him... Do you think she told him?" Rainbow shrugged her shoulders.
"Do you wanna see if she's alright?" Fluttershy nodded. "Okay... I hope she's alright, too."
"Twilight... What's this?" Applejack asked, looking at a small chest under Twilight's bed.
"Leave that alone! Those are photographs I want to keep safe..." Applejack looked down at the chest.
"May ah see them?" Applejack asked, politely.
"N... Okay..." When Twilight unlocked the chest, there were lots of photos of strange creatures.
"What the hay are those hideous creatures?"
"Remember when I went through that mirror portal?" Applejack's eyes opened. "It sent me to a world with creatures called 'humans'."
"That's a stupid name..."
"Yeah... Apparently, they evolved from apes..." Applejack raised an eyebrow.
"Apes...? That don't make a lick of sense... How would they be able to speak if tey weren't originally a species of horse?" Twilight shrugged her shoulders.
"Their world is comletely different to ours. They don't even have magic! They rely completely on science, to do things."
"No magic?! How does the sun and the moon rise an' lower?" Applejack didn't understand.
"It just happens... Naturally! I still don't get it, now."
"Ah guess our worlds are jus' too different."
"Applejack...? Do you think I would've ever had a chance with Rainbow?" Twilight sighed, whilst looking down at her bed.
Applejack closed the chest, and slid it under Twilight's bed. "Ah'm sure ya could've had a chance... Ah kinda did... But she said she 'just forgot'! Don't waste ya time with 'er... She ain't worth it..." Applejack winced her eyes, trying to hold back her tears. "Ah turn'd down so many... Jus' 'cause ah was in love with Rainbow..."
"Applejack... It's alright to cry... It doesn't make you any less of a mare..." Twilight gave Applejack a reassuring hug.
"Ah know, Twi..." Applejack held Twilight even harder. "AH LOVED 'ER, SO MUCH!" Applejack burst out in tears. Twilight could tell it was way more than just a simple crush.
"I'm here for you, just remember that." Applejack was full on crying, now. "I don know how to help you, Applejack. Is there anything that I can do?"
"N, n, no... Ah j, just need... Something t... To take my m, m, mind off of Rainbow..." Applejack had just calmed down, now. "Or... Someone..."
"I'm sure you'll find the right pony... Just give it time..." Applejack sighed, as she looked over to Twilight.
"But... Who?" The room was silent, and they were alone... Together...
"Only time will tell... He he..." Just then: there was a knock at the front door. "I... I'll get it!" As she got up, she proceeded to walk down the steps; opening the door, she saw two familiar figures. "Rainbow Dash? Fluttershy? What are you doing here? Why are you wearing an eyepatch, Rainbow?"
"Long story... We just bumped into Big Mac, and he started saying loads of homophobic stuff, so we came to see if Applejack was alright." Rainbow explained, and Twilight let them in.
"Applejack is just upstairs... Big Mac kicked her out, after she came out to him about being gay... I'm really worried, for her..."
"Twilight... Can I speak to Applejack about something? It's really urgent..." Rainbow asked, and Twilight already knew what it was about, and let her past.
"Yes, go ahead..." Rainbow quickly ran up the stairs, approached Applejack.
"A... Applejack?"
"Rainbow Dash!?" Applejack said, excitedly.
"I've just came to talk about last night... I was a jerk, by forgetting that you liked me, too..."
"No... Ah'm sorry fer throwing that book a ya... Ah see it almost took ya eye out..." Applejack looked at Rainbow's eyepatch, and sighed.
"I'm just glad Fluttershy knows first aid... All I was using was an ice pack..."
"Ya didn't tell Fluttershy 'bout what ah did, did ya?" Rainbow shook her head.
"Ah said that a book fell on me, when I reached a book too low in the pile... I know it was an accident..." Applejack sighed, and looked down at her bed.
"Again, ah'm sorry... Ah over reacted..." Applejack looked at Rainbow. "Ah jus' didn't want ta come out the closet, until ah was in a full-time relationship... Ah guess ya didn't love me like ah loved you..." Rainbow felt even more guilty, now.
"I... I'm sorry... I just... I was in a state of confusion and heart-broken, when you told me... I needed to move on... You caught me at a vulnerable moment. I liked you slightly more than a friend... But I was in love with Fluttershy... When she said that she would give me a chance... I couldn't believe it!" Applejack suddenly spoke.
"Rainbow! Ah know how much you love her... Ah understand what ya're feeling..." Applejack placed her hof on Rainbow's. "Ah really love ya, Rainbow... Ah jus' hope Fluttershy is the one fer ya, and you'll be forever happy together."
"I know how hard this is for you, and I'm happy you respect that must stay loyal to Fluttershy... But I need to know... Are you sure you're okay with this?" Rainbow could see a tear in Applejack's eye.
"Ah... Ah'm sh... Sure, R... Rainbow Dash... Ah'm... Al-" Applejack paused, and knew she needed to be truthful with Rainbow... It would be helpful in the long run. "No, ah'm not alright with this..."
Over at Sugar Cube Corner, Pinkie was sweeping the floor, when she saidoticed something on the floor... It was a small pad, along with a pencil.
"Hmm... I wonderful who left his here..." When she picked I up, she opened it up, and started to read the text inside. "Property of Speedpaint. Please return immediately, if lost/misplaced/or just left behind somewhere." As Pinkie read it out, she realised who's it was. "Wait? This is for Speedpaint's sketch book! I guess a little look won't hurt..." At first, they were just the average drawings... You know, things people drew out of boredom... But as she went farther in, there were more and more serious-looking sketches. She stopped at a page where there were a bunch of giant ponies, along with some normal-sized ponies. They were in a the clouds, but it looked nothing like Cloudsdale; a giant palace was in the background. It all looked familiar to her, but couldn't put her hoof on it. "I just KNOW I've seen that place, in a book! but where?"
"What you reading there, Pinkie?" Mr Cake came in, seeing Pinkie looking at something.
"It's just a sketch book somepony left behind. I can't remember if I've seen this place, before... Do you reognize it?" As Mr Cake came over, he looked at it, and recognized it, quickly.
"Oh, that's um... I forgot the name, but it's the land of gods, and those are all the gods that live there... I have book about it, upstairs, if you're interested."
"That explains a lot, then..."
"What do you mea by that? Who's book is this?" Mr Cake looked at the godsfirst page, and gasped. "Speedpaint? But... That only a legend!"
"I already knew he was a god. He's actually really nice!" Mr Cake closed the sketch book and gave it back to Pinkie.
Woo hoo! What do you think of this, so far? This story is onlyoing to be re-written once I've finished, because the start doesn't really make sense with the rest of this story. Anyway.. If y'all liked it, you know the drill, by now...