When Applejack returned home that evening, a still angry Miss Harshwhinny was waiting for her. And as part of Applejack's punishment for running away, Miss Harshwhinny had attached Winona to the barn with a short chain. She could barely move.

The reception when Applejack got home did not make her feel any better.

Instead of going inside with Harshwhinny and the Dazzlings, Applejack decided to stay out in the barn.

At dusk, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash came to visit her.

"So, it's a deal," Dash said, walking alongside her friend. "No matter which of us she chooses, you and I will always be best friends."

Fluttershy nodded.

"And remember, not a word about her time in the you-know-what. We don't want to upset her more,"

Fluttershy stopped for a moment, then Dash turned around to coax her.

"Come on!" she whispered.

They cautiously approached the barn and Fluttershy gently rapped on the door, causing it to creak open. They peeked their heads in, but they did not enter.

"AJ!" Dash whispered.

Applejack was so ashamed she could barely speak to them.

"Please, I don't want to see anybody,"

"AJ, don't be like that," said Dash.

"Of course not," Fluttershy added. "Why, some of my best friends wear stripes."

Rainbow Dash elbowed Fluttershy in the side.

"Please, Applejack," Dash began again. "We want to help you."

"Help me?" Applejack asked, stepping out of the barn. "What do you mean?"

"Well, AJ, we're all young adults here," Dash said.

"And we're all best friends," added Fluttershy.

"And we both have very comfortable homes," Dash went on.

"Where we know you'll be welcome and appreciated," Fluttershy continued. "So, if you wanted... That is, if you could find it possible..."

"What we mean is," Dash interrupted, "we'd like to adopt you into one of our families."

"Oh, you're both very kind," Applejack told them, "but-"

Suddenly, they heard a familiar voice call Applejack's name.

They all looked and saw someone at the front gate.

It was Spike, and he was holding Applejack's hat in his hands.

"Well, look who finally decided to show up!" Rainbow Dash said angrily.

"How dare you come here after all that you've done!" Fluttershy added.

Then they all turned their backs on him.

"Applejack..." Spike began.

She continued to ignore him.

"Applejack," he said again.

"If this creature is bothering you, Applejack..." Fluttershy started.

"We'll gladly show it the way out!" Rainbow Dash finished.

"That won't be necessary," she told them. "Thank you."

"Very well," Fluttershy said as she began to leave.

Rainbow Dash turned around and got right in Spike's face.

"You, you, you... Dragon!"

She kicked up some mud, dirtying Spike's shoes, then she followed Fluttershy out the gate.

Spike, ignoring Rainbow Dash's actions, approached Applejack.

"Applejack, I'm sorry. I thought you were right behind me the whole time. Honest! I searched for you all day! And when I heard what'd happened-"

"Don't!" she sobbed. "Don't even start!"

Spike felt awful. He had come to apologize and she wouldn't even give him a chance to. She was so upset that she didn't even want to look at him.

How could he tell her how sorry he felt?

In her mind, he had deserted her.

So, he said the only thing that he could.

"I didn't mean for you to get hurt,"

"Hurt?" she asked. "Hurt!" she repeated. She paused for a moment, and then said, "Just tell me one thing."

"Anything,"

She finally turned to look at him.

"Were you ever going to tell me about you and Rarity?"

"Rarity?"

"Or Moondancer? Or Trixie? Or Twilight Sparkle, the town's librarian?" she demanded.

Spike backed away as Applejack got closer, and Winona, forgetting that she was chained, joined her owner in scolding Spike and nearly choked herself. The fur on her back rose with anger.

"Look at me!" Applejack shouted as her cheeks flushed red. "This is all your fault!"

"AJ, I-" Spike began.

"And don't call me 'AJ'!" she snarled. "Only my friends can call me that! And we are not friends! As far as I'm concerned, we are complete strangers!"

"B-but-"

"You don't have to worry about me! I don't need you to look out for or protect me!" she snapped. "If you grow careless, don't blame me! And I don't care if the guards do take you away!"

"Please, let me explain," he stammered.

"There is nothing to explain! Go away! I never want to see you again!"

She took her hat from him and planted it firmly on her head. Then she grabbed the sundress he had given her and threw it at him.

"And take this with you!"

Spike caught the dress and slouched away with his head hung low.

"She really thinks I'm good-for-nothing," he thought. "How can I show her that I'm sorry? She will never believe that I love her now."