Happiness Unraveled Part 2

Chapter Four: Tense Relations

"Rainbow! Hey, Rainbow!"

Rainbow Dash laid on a cloud, lost in her own thoughts. Could it be that Applejack really did want to be with her? But what about Caramel? She couldn't sort it out one way or another. On one hoof, AJ and Dash were always so comfortable around each other. They shared secrets and flirted and cuddled together on their favorite hill. But then there was always Caramel. And what about Fluttershy? The wound of a broken heart was still strong within Rainbow Dash's chest. She knew that she couldn't possibly be in love with Applejack too. It was just a phase. In all reality, she was just using AJ to get over Fluttershy.

"Ah know yer awake Rainbow!"

Broken from her reveries, Rainbow Dash sat upright. She peered over the edge of the cloud and couldn't help but take a second to take in the beauty that was Applejack. Dash smiled to herself.

"Oh, hey AJ. What's up?"

"Can you come down for a sec? I could really use someone to talk to."

Without a second thought, Dash jumped up from the cloud and landed softly next to AJ. She looked like she had been crying recently.

"Woah, what happened?"

AJ sighed. "Me 'n Caramel got in another fight."

Rainbow Dash felt a feeling of immediate protection rise within her. She wanted nothing more than for Applejack to be happy. But at the same time, Caramel and AJ always seemed to be miffed at each other for one reason or another. Just last month he had neglected to get her anything for her birthday. Not a present, not a card, no home-made dinner, and he didn't even show up to the party because he was busy. Or so he said. Dash felt her jaw lock with anger.

Jealous?

Dash could feel a growl in the back of her throat. She was not jealous; she just cared about her friends. Dash was doing a spectacular job of pretending that she didn't like Applejack at all.
"What happened?"

"Well for starters, he musta woke up on the wrong side of the bed 'cause he was justa fulla anger from the get go. So when ah asked if we could talk 'bout gettin' hitched…he just lost it."

A single tear slid down Applejack's face. Dash watched as AJ tried to stifle the tears that were threatening to break free. Dash's skin boiled with anger. AJ deserved so much better than this. Caramel wasn't a bad guy at all, but he wasn't a good fit for Applejack. They fought often and never seemed to be on the same wave length. Things like this happened pretty commonly, but both Caramel and Applejack were convinced they were in love. And for all Dash knew, maybe they were. But it just seemed like there were ponies that would be better for both of them.

"Let's go to our hill so we can talk in private."




Applejack was laying down, looking sullen as ever. Her head lay on her hooves and she showed no sign of wanting to look at anyone at all. The walk to the hill was silent and even after they arrived they said few words to each other. Dash didn't know what to say anymore, she had exhausted most of her patience for Caramel already. It was all she could do to not tell AJ that he wasn't good enough for someone as beautiful and selfless as she. Rainbow Dash sat a few feet away from her, pretending to look up at the moon. More often than not, she would cast a glance at her friend and feel her heart lurch.

If you tell her you love her, you might be able to save her from such despair.

Rainbow Dash shook her head. She could not justify such an action, especially right now. She didn't want to be Applejack's rebound, she just wanted to make sure that AJ was okay and happy.  Dash stared at AJ for a long while, but AJ barely seemed to notice anything. Finally, she could feel Dash's gaze and turned to look at her pegasus friend. Neither of them spoke, but they held each other's gaze for what seemed like hours. Dash could feel her heart melting into her upper abdomen.

"Tell me what I can do right now."

Rainbow Dash's voice was not her own. It was soft and caring. She made a face because she knew her voice was betraying everything her head was trying to hide from her heart. She wanted to put on her face, toughen her voice, steel her eyes…but she couldn't. Her heart was completely Applejack's right now. There isn't anything she wouldn't have done for the tan pony. Applejack sighed and moved closer to Rainbow Dash. Predicting what she wanted, Dash laid on her back and opened her arms. Applejack collapsed into her chest and started sobbing again. Dash nuzzled the top of her head and held her close.

Just be strong for AJ right now. She needs you.

"A-ah know ah p-prob'ly sound like a foal right b-bout now. It's j-just so irritatin' –"

Applejack choked out only those words before she was too overwhelmed by her sadness. Rainbow Dash fought her instinct to leave and go punch Caramel right in the mouth.

"Hey now. Don't apologize for anything, okay? You're my best friend. I couldn't just leave ya hanging there. I'm always around if you need me. "

"T-thank ya, sugarcube."

Rainbow Dash strained to keep her words at bay. She wanted to shout that SHE loved Applejack and would never do anything like that to hurt her. SHE would give her the finest ring in all of Equestria. SHE would give her the most beautiful, most happy marriage…

It's about time.

Dash could have screamed. She didn't want to think those thoughts. Why was she so conflicted? She liked AJ, that much was undeniable. But she wasn't in love with her or anything. Besides, she was a distraction pony. Just a good, attractive friend until Fluttershy and her got back together.

Oh Celestia, you are deluded.


Chapter Five: Fond Memories

Rainbow Dash couldn't sleep. Caramel and Applejack had done nothing but fight for the last week. Part of Rainbow Dash wanted to be the one that Applejack ran to, because Dash cared about her apple-bucking friend. She wanted to see AJ leave Caramel because she was way too awesome to deal with his crap. The other part of Rainbow Dash wanted Applejack to be happy, no matter who she was with.

But everything would be better if she was happy with you.

With a groan Rainbow Dash threw herself out of bed. It was still the dead of night, but there was no way that Dash could possibly sleep now. She pushed the door open and let the crisp air flow over her. Taking in a great breath, she pushed off her cloud and was in the air. She had only just managed to convince herself, yet again, that Applejack was just a rebound before her stomach found itself in her throat.

Even though they had dated for a year, even though they knew everything there was to know about the other, even though she still held her in the highest regard…Rainbow Dash still got butterflies in her stomach when she saw Fluttershy. She couldn't explain it any more than just being in love with somepony she couldn't have. Dash watched Fluttershy for a moment, trying to figure out what she was doing.

"Of course she's tending to animals."

Dash smiled wistfully and watched as Fluttershy was carrying Angel Bunny to her cottage. There was something about her caring nature that made Dash all the more attracted to her. Fluttershy looked up and nearly dove under her house with a loud 'eep!'. Dash laughed heartily; one of the first real laughs she'd had in a long time.

"Sorry Fluttershy!"

Dash lowered herself to the ground to reassure Fluttershy that nothing was going to hurt her. When she landed, she saw a pair of brilliant blue eyes staring at her from under a bush. Trembling still from her fright, Fluttershy pushed herself out from underneath her green canopy.

"Oh, um, hi Rainbow Dash. I was just, um, looking for something under that bush."
Rainbow Dash smiled, genuinely.

"I'm sure you were. Must'a been important with how fast you flew under there."

Fluttershy's cheeks turned a light shade of pink. Dash laughed, feeling completely comfortable.

"What are you doing out so late, Fluttershy?"

"Oh, Angel Bunny has been gone all day and I was so worried! When he didn't come back I just had to go looking for him. He ended up in the Everfree Forest, tangled in some berry bushes."

Again Rainbow Dash smiled whole-heartedly. She looked past Fluttershy and laughed again. Fluttershy gave her an inquisitive look.

"Kind of like he is now?"

Fluttershy turned around and squeaked as she saw Angel Bunny flailing around in the bush she was hiding under. He stopped momentarily and glared at her which caused Rainbow Dash to roar with laughter.

"Oh Angel Bunny…hold still…no…no please just…wait…if I can just…oh dear…"

Dash was on the ground, clutching her sides. She hadn't felt this good since…

Don't even start. Just relax. You know everything is fine.

Fluttershy untangled Angel Bunny who immediately scampered into the house and slammed the door.

"Oh no." Fluttershy muttered to the door.

At this point, though, Fluttershy was smiling as she watched Dash try to compose herself. Dash rolled to her feet and stood up straight, wiping the tears from her eyes. What was so funny exactly, she was unsure of. All Dash knew is that when she was with Fluttershy, everything felt the way it should. Dash noticed Fluttershy staring at her.

"What?"

"You just seem happy now. That makes me happy."

Dash could feel her face turn beet red. Fluttershy giggled.

"It's so easy to make you blush, Rainbow Dash."

Dash gave Fluttershy a playful glare but felt yet more heat rise to her face. Despite this, Dash smiled widely at Fluttershy and received a smile in return. Nothing can ever make Dash understand why she couldn't control her words just then.

"Remember that one time, before we got together, when you accidently nuzzled my wings because Pinkie tried to flank-check you and then you got a face full of erect wing?"

Before Rainbow Dash could calculate the horror of bringing up something so personal between the two, Fluttershy laughed.

"Yeah, I think you wouldn't look at me for a week because you were so embarrassed. Little did YOU know though…"

Fluttershy's voice trailed off as she let Dash remember the rest of the story. Dash knew she should feel sad or even angry, but she felt neither of those things. In fact, Rainbow Dash could say with complete certainty that this was the happiest she had felt in weeks.

No, this is the happiest you've felt since the last time you were hanging out with just Fluttershy.

Rainbow Dash didn't care though. She felt light and happy. She felt like she could take on anything and win. Remembering her times with Fluttershy seemed to release Dash from the prison she had built for herself. Dash felt complete again. She felt free again. And she would give anything to hold onto that feeling.


Chapter Six: The Point of Conflict

If ever Rainbow Dash was confident, it was nothing compared to how she felt after her night with Fluttershy. The two pegesi talked for hours about the good times they shared both before and during their relationship. Dash was more confident than ever that she was destined to get back together with Fluttershy…eventually. She conceded, at the very least, that it might take a bit, but nevertheless, she could not be dissuaded of its happening.

"She said she missed me." Rainbow Dash said lazily to her bedroom walls.

No, she said that she missed cuddling. You're taking it the wrong way. Of course she misses you. But she doesn't actually MISS you. You're foaling yourself.

"Nope…not today masochistic conscious."

Dash smiled and drifted in and out of sleep. She was not sure how long she had been laying in bed when she heard voices streaming into her house. Loud voices.

"I DON'T CARE! JUST DROP IT! I'M SO SICK OF GOING OVER THS WITH YOU EVERYDAY! IF YOU KEEP UP LIKE THIS, YOU'LL NEVER GET YOUR STUPID WISH! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE, APPLEJACK!"

Rainbow Dash sat bolt upright. She felt her blood boil and her nose flair. Somepony was screaming at Applejack. Some COLT was screaming at Applejack. Without so much as another breath, Rainbow Dash burst through her door and sped down the Ponyville's streets. She was going much too fast to pay attention to all the ponies staring at Caramel's screaming and a tear-stained Applejack trying her best to calm him down. All Rainbow Dash knew was that Caramel was raising his voice to Applejack and he was going to walk away with a black eye. Within a second, Dash had slammed into Caramel's side, driving him yards away from the point of conflict. Dash rolled through and snarled at Caramel, who had no idea what just happened.

"Rainbow Dash! Please! Don't!"

Dash froze in her place. Her wild magenta eyes focused on the sweet, southern voice that had just yelled. Seeing Applejack calmed her. She could still feel the adrenaline pumping through her veins and she knew full well that the look in her eyes was nothing short of murderous. Applejack looked so vulnerable. Dash let go of a breath she wasn't aware she was keeping. Caramel scrambled to his feet and shoved Rainbow Dash.

"WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM, YOU PSYCHO?"

Rainbow Dash refocused on Caramel, going head to head with him. She knew that hitting him would make Applejack more upset and it took every single ounce of her barely-there self-restraint to not shut him up for good. Her breath was heavy with anger. She wanted to hit him so badly she could taste it. Her nostrils flared and she spoke gruffly through gritted teeth. Her voice was low and dangerous.

"If I ever catch you…talking to Applejack that way again…I swear by Celestia that they will be the last words to ever come out of your ungrateful mouth. You're a pathetic colt, and you don't deserve to be in the same city as Applejack, let alone be dating her."

Caramel's face was hard but his eyes betrayed his fear. In a huff he spun around and stalked off, shoving past on lookers. Dash looked at a very upset and miserable Applejack surrounded by a bunch of gawking ponies.

"And YOU ALL! There is no show here! Get out of here you nosy ponies!"

The group scattered just as Dash commanded. Dash looked at Applejack and felt her heart sink.

Well, way to go, genius. You just made things with Applejack near impossible. She probably hates you now. What were you thinking, marching in here and trying to save her? You just made it worse. Idiot.

Dash tried to push the thoughts out of her mind, but was worried that AJ was going to be upset with her. She slowly approached the tan pony and lowered her ears. Dash tried to find anything to say, but there was nothing. What was she supposed to say? 'Sorry I beat up your good for nothing boyfriend, let's make out'? Dash sighed and sat in front of Applejack. She opened her mouth to speak but found she didn't need to say anything. AJ had leapt up and wrapped her hooves around Dash's neck. Surprised, it took Dash a second to return the embrace and close her gaping mouth. Applejack was crying harder than Dash had ever seen. All because of that good for nothing Caramel.

Applejack was trying desperately to say something but couldn't form words around her gasps for breath. Finally she was able to stutter something out. Dash couldn't understand her though, so AJ tried for several minutes to say her words loudly.

"W-w-what if he b-b-breaks up w-w-with me? Ah-ah-ah love him!"

Applejack tried to say more but again could not. Rainbow Dash shushed her and held her tighter. She had no idea what to do. She wasn't great at calming crying mares. In fact, had it been just about anypony else, she would have felt awkward to the point of leaving.

"I'm so sorry AJ."

It was all Dash could mutter. Even if she wanted to, she couldn't come up with anything else. Her insides were torn apart. She felt like someone had just stabbed her in the heart. AJ loved Caramel.

You selfish punk. Your friend is crying and all you can think of is yourself.

Dash hung her head in shame and quickly tried to put the thoughts out of her mind. Every guard that Dash had worked on to keep everypony else out, she now put up to be strong for AJ. As Applejack cried and choked out apologies, Dash remained calm and supportive…despite the one tear that betrayed her steely outer core.