Rainbow Dash and Applejack sat on the dead tree, still holding each other.
"Rainbow?...What did happen with you and Gilda?..."
Rainbow looked over and let out a sigh.
"No use in putting it off..." She broke the hug and adjusted herself so she could watch the sunset.
"When I was a freshmen, I met Gilda. She was in my athletics class. We talked sometimes and usually spoke about sports or random things. We had that class all year and we also shared the next, when it was her senior year. By then, I got more comfortable with her and saw her as a really cool person. I wanted more then though... One day, she took me down to the basement level and opened a door hidden by a shelf. It opened to a small room filled with drugs and alcohol... It was her sanctuary. I wasn't ready for that kinda stuff, but didn't want to look stupid. All of it was gross and vile, but I didn't show it. She introduced me to every kind of drug she knew: Meth, coke, marihuana, pills, and more... I did them all AJ... And after a while... Loved it... I started getting attached to her and followed her lead. The next year... She asked me out. I of course said yes and it all went downhill from there. She said she got a new place downtown and told me what it was like. I found it cool but didn't think anything wrong of it... That's my mistake AJ... I didn't think straight... All of the drugs and alcohol just killed my head. I started doing terrible in school. Except for math. I guess all of the measuring and ounces shit really helped out..."
A tear began to form in her eye and Rainbow's breathing began to get heavy.
"I-I lived there the whole summer... But after July, I couldn't take it anymore... My life was sleeping, waking, doing a line, taking shots, getting in fights, and sometimes going to jail for an over nighter... That's when I thought of killing myself... Gilda got more abusive thorough out the relationship and took me like nothing serious. That's when I got this.."
Rainbow brushed back her hair and revealed a scar across her neck.
"I was hugging G one day and she took a razor saying 'You need a hair cut!' And sliced it across my neck. It bled pretty bad and hurt like a mother, but I didn't show fear. I simply went back and taped it up, thinking nothing of it. After another week, I tried hanging myself. I slipped though, and hit my head across the tub. After I awoke, blood was on the floor and a gash was on my head. I saw a picture of us and thought back to the good times the six of us had. I cried after that. A lot... That's when I knew I had to go. I grabbed a chair and smashed the window, and climbed out. She tried to find me but couldn't..."
Rainbow looked over at Applejack, who's eyes turned red and began to get watery.
"Rainbow...Ah never knew..."
"I should've told you...It's my fault for not, and it cost me..."
She saw a tear fall from Applejack's eye.
"I did want to ask though... Where in the name of God did you learn to talk like that when we were at my apartment?!"
"Oh. Well a cowgirl has gotta know a thing or two about talkin'.. And I guess bein' round Soarin really changed me..."
"Damn..."
"Rainbow... Since we're askin' all these questions... I did wanna ask..."
"What happened to my parents..."
"Ya.."
"It was gonna be the best night ever. I was about 13, and my parents got tickets to a NASCAR race. I was so excited and loved the day. It was a long race and was dark when we started to leave. My father didn't want to hit the crowd coming out, so we went out back where there was no one. We started walking toward a Main Street but a guy in a large black coat came out of no where. He asked for my fathers wallet and my mother's ring. My dad, being the brute hothead he was, refused and lunged at the man... They tussled and the man pulled the gun away from my dad...but also pulled the trigger. The bullit flew by and hit my mom square in her throat and shattered her necklace. The beads bounced on the ground as my mother fell dead. A pool of blood began to form at my feet. My father was distracted by it and the gunner shot him three times in the chest. He fell next to me and started shaking. Blood seeped out of his wounds and flowed into the puddle..."
Rainbow's breathing started to shake and a year fell from her eye, but she continued.
"I remember screening and kneeling next to my dad, grabbing his chest and crying. He lifted his finger and pointed at my heart, then my legs, and dropped his hand. I looked up and found a barrel of a gun at my face. The stranger knocked the hammer back and placed his finger on the trigger. I said 'Please mister,...Please...'. But he didn't shoot me. He turned and shot my dad's head, splattering blood across my face. He looked at me and pulled the trigger, but only got a click. He scoffed and put the gun in his trench coat pocket and turned. 'See ya around kid...' His deep voice echoed in my ears as he ran from the scene. I tried chasing him, but lost him on a turn into an alleyway. After looking, I quit and ran for help. The police put my parents in bags and took me to the station. He said my parents left me with a place to live and money. Instead of it being the best night ever... It turned into a loss for me..."
Applejack looked over with tears streaming down her face.
"And when he pointed at your heart and legs... Did you think he wanted you to run?.."
"I think so... I always dreamed of running and when he did that... I knew what I was going to do for my life... And for his legacy."
"My God..."
"Applejack... What did happen to your parents?"
"I don't even know... Big Mac spoke of wolves and stuff but I was really young when they 'left'.."
"Did you know them well?..."
"Ya. They were my best friends. I loved them dearly.."
They continued to sit for a while, staring off at the moon as it rose over the dark forest.
" Well we better get back before they put search crews on us..."
Applejack laughed as she hopped off the log. They started their walk back to town as night pure night fell over them. Applejack pulled Rainbow over a fallen branch and helped her onto the pavement.
"Let's try Sugar Cube corner."
The two started down the dimly lit street, kicking rocks down it while they passed.
"Hey AJ?... Do you wanna try this relationship thing again?"
"I thought you'd never ask." Applejack spun the girl around and kissed her.
Rainbow in braced her as their lips touched for the first time in a long time.
They broke and turned, continuing down the long, black river. Rainbow opened the door to the small store and saw her friends at stable drinking sparkling water.
"Rainbow, haven't seen you and AJ since the party!" Twilight stood and went to check on her friend.
"I'm fine Twi... Take a seat."
She walked back over as Applejack entered the room.
Rainbow stepped forward and let out a breathe.
"Listen... We have to tell you something..."
