Enjoy :)

No one said anything as they drive down the highway, cars and trees and pavement passing by in somewhat of a blur. The early morning sun just barely poked out of the horizon, not quite yet basking the land in its pure golden glow.

Gray clouds loomed overhead, threatening to hide the sun and let all their liquid sadness rain down on the earth. The highway was nearly empty this early in the morning which made it easier.

Rainbow's uncle was behind the wheel of his car. Applejack was sitting next to him in the passenger seat. The rest of the girls were sitting the back rows. The young women had all packed a bag and thrown them into the back. The car was quiet except for the radio that played and the GPS so there wouldn't be the unbearable silence that would've been there.

It was like a road trip. Except this road trip could determine the fate of Rainbow Dash's life.

Applejack stared out the window at the exit signs. Her earbuds were in, music blasting into her ears. But all she could focus on was Rainbow Dash.

Was she okay?? Was she hurt?? Was she hungry?? Did that monster feed her?? Let her use the bathroom?? What was he planning to do to Rainbow Dash once they got to Cloudsdale??

All these questions made her head spin. Applejack was trying not to worry so much, but how can you not worry when your best friend has been kidnapped by her past abuser also known as her dad?? That was hard not to worry about. But why was she this worried about Rainbow Dash??

Maybe it was because she liked her best friend as more than a friend. Applejack hardly ever thought about her intense feelings towards Rainbow Dash. Until now, she had always put them in the back of her mind.

But now she wasn't sure if she could keep them to herself anymore. If anything happened to Rainbow Dash and Applejack didn't get to tell her how she felt, she'd regret it.

Applejack exhaled through her nose, plucking her earbuds out of her ears. All these thoughts made her head hurt. Maybe it was the hunger.

Pausing her music, she looked at Strike.

The man was completely focused on the road. He had a certain look on his face.

"Strike??." She said quietly. "Are you alright??."

"I don't know." The man replied truthfully. "I mean.... my own brother got out of jail for abusing his only child and now he's wanted for the kidnapping of that same daughter."

He sighed. He turned off the highway, onto an exit.

"I'm just really worried. Rainbow means a lot to me. She's like a daughter. I can't imagine how she must feel right now. Poor Rainbow. She must be so afraid all alone."

Applejack had that feeling, too. Rainbow must be scared out of her mind being in the same car as her dad again after all these years. Anyone would.

"I wonder why he took her." She thought out loud.

"Me too." Strike said. "My guess is as good as yours. We're almost at Cloudsdale. About another hour. Let's stop somewhere to eat some breakfast first."

"Guys!." Applejack called over her shoulder.

He looked back to see Pinkie Pie asleep on Fluttershy, who was listening to music, holding a rabbit stuffed animal. Rarity and Twilight were passed out as well. Sunset was wide awake.

She and Fluttershy focused their attention on Applejack. Fluttershy paused her music, nudging Pinkie to wake up. Pinkie snorted and shot up.

"I DIDN'T EAT IT!!."

Her yell woke Twilight and Rarity, who looked around groggily.

"Guys." Applejack said again, getting their attention.

"Yeah??." Sunset asked.

"Y'all hungry??. We're gonna stop somewhere."

The girls nodded.

"I'm starving." Sunset said, rubbing her stomach.

"I'm hungry, too." Pinkie said.

Strike looked at the young women in the rear view mirror, and chuckled.

"Alright then, ladies. Wake up."

The young women talked as Strike and Applejack searched for a good place to have breakfast. It wasn't hard.

"There's a breakfast diner." Applejack said, pointing out her window.

Strike saw it and nodded. "We'll have some breakfast here, use the bathroom if you need to, then we're out."

He pulled off the main road and into the parking lot. There were a few cars there. Strike drive towards the empty part of it. Only one car was parked there.

"Hey, guys." Pinkie suddenly said. "Isn't that Rainbow's dad's car??."

The girls and Strike all froze. Strike slammed on the brake, making them all jerk forward. Strike turned and looked at Pinkie.

"Which car are you looking at??." He asked.

Pinkie pointed out the front windshield. Everyone turned and looked out. They saw a black Toyota Corolla.

"Park the car." Applejack ordered, taking off her seatbelt.

Strike found an empty parking space next to a group of cars to blend in so his brother wouldn't notice it. He turned off the car and they climbed out. The immediately notice it was starting to drizzle. Drops of water dripped from the sky around them.

Applejack took off her Stetson and placed it in the floor of the car. She closed the door and pulled her hoodie up. The girls grabbed their jackets as well and put them on.

"Applejack. Pinkie." Strike said. "You two come with me. The rest of you wait for us by the entrance."

Applejack, Pinkie and Strike strolled over to the black Toyota. They took their time so they wouldn't seem suspicious.

They went to the car.

"Pinkie." Applejack said. "Are ya sure Rainbow's dad has this kind of car??."

Pinkie nodded. "Yeah. It's this car. I recognize the license plate."

Applejack didn't even question her that time. Applejack looked at the car. She peeked inside the car, cupping her hands on the glass. She looked around. She immediately spotted something. A jacket. Her jacket.

"Guys. A see one of mah jackets in there. Ah let Rainbow have it back in high school. This is the car. Call the cops."

Strike immediately dug out his cell phone and dialed 911. He reported the car. The dispatcher told him that police were on their way.

Strike looked at the two young women.

"You girls head inside and try to find Rainbow and her dad. Tell the others that if you see them, don't let them see them and hurry back and tell me."

Pinkie and Applejack nodded. They walked across the parking lot and met up with the others. Applejack told them what Strike instructed her to say. They all nodded.

"Wait." Pinkie groaned. "So we're not gonna eat??."

They all looked at her and gave her a look.

"Don't you think Rainbow is a bit more important than food??." Sunset asked.

Pinkie sighed. "Alright. Yes. Let's find her."

They walked into the diner. The smell of coffee, eggs, freshly made buttered pancakes and hot chocolate filled the air. The place was decent sized. About the size of a small restaurant. Waiters and waitresses walked to and fro, with and without trays of food. Sleepy children whined about being hungry and some people talked way too loud for that hour.

The women looked around for any sign of Rainbow or her dad, trying not to attract any attention.

"Hello ladies." A female voice said, grabbing their attention.

They all turned and saw a middle aged woman standing at the greeting podium, a genuine smile in her hair, her light purple hair tied in a messy bun.

"How many people??."

"Five." Applejack said, walking up to the woman.

"Listen." She said in a low tone. "We're lookin' fir someone."

The woman frowned, hearing the seriousness in her voice.

"Our friend was kidnapped yesterday by her dad and they drove this way. Her dad's car is in the parking lot and we think they're in here. Have you seen a young woman with rainbow colored hair and blue colored skin. She about this tall."

Applejack held up her hand just below her eyes to show Rainbow's height.

"And big magenta eyes. Ya can't miss her. Her dad is tall, buff, has pale lilac colored skin. He also has rainbow colored hair."

The woman's eyes widened.

"Yeah." She said. "I'm their waitress, believe it or not. I was placing their drink orders. They got here not too long ago so you're right in time if it's who you're looking for."

Wow. What a stroke of luck.

"Can you seat us near em without havin' 'em see us??."

The waitress nodded. She grabbed five menus and looked at them. "Follow me, ladies."

She led them through the diner, down a small flight of steps and into another part of the diner. They came to a place where not many people were sitting. Only one or two booths were occupied. The waitress led to the a table near one of the booths where two people were sitting.

"Here you go." The woman said, placing their menus down as they sat down.
"What can I get you to drink?."

Applejack looked at the menu. She glanced behind the lady at the table where the two people sat. Her eyes widened.

Rainbow Dash. Rainbow was sitting, have back facing the wall. She was looking down at the menu, nervously glancing around the table every so often.

Applejack looked back at her menu. Rainbow was only a feet away. Applejack felt like she could cry in relief. Rainbow was alive and okay.

They placed their drink orders and the woman leaned in towards Applejack.

"I saw you look over. Is that her?."

Applejack nodded, looking at her friends whose eyes all widened. Applejack nodded again and smiled.

"Rainbow is right over there." She whispered. "We found her."

"I'll go get your drinks." The waitress said before walking away.

Applejack waited a moment after she left before she took out her phone. She leaned her cheek on her hand, pretending to text something funny. She smiled as she texted Strike.

She's here. We found them.

The girls stayed in their phones, afraid that Rainbow or her dad might hear them if they talked and notice them. They waited for their drinks, occasionally whispering what they were going to order.

Suddenly a crash grabbed their attention. Liquid splashes on to Applejack's lap. She, as if on instinct, raised her phone up to avoid getting her phone wet.

The young women looked up to see a waiter and Rainbow Dash on the floor. The tray of drinks and food were in the floor. Rainbow sat up quickly.

"I am so sorry." She said quickly, getting up. "I wasn't watching-."

"No it's alright," the water said, looking at the spilled food.

He noticed Applejack stand up and looked at her.

"I am so sorry, Miss. Did you get anything on you??."

Applejack looked down at her clothes. Her short and pants were soaked and had butter smeared on her pants. She looked up and nodded.

"Yeah."

"I am so sorry." Rainbow said to her. "God. I-I'm such an idiot. I'm really sorry."

Applejack looked up at her. They made eye contact. Rainbow froze.

"It's fine." Applejack said, her eyes scanning Rainbow. "You got food on ya."

Rainbow stared at her for a moment. She then looked down at herself. She indeed had eggs and pancakes on her. The floor around them was covered in food.

The waiter had gone to to get a janitor to clean up the mess.

Rainbow looked at her dad.

"I'll be right back." She said. "I gotta-."

"Just hurry up, you clumsy idiot."

Applejack had to restrain herself from pouncing on him. How dare he call her that.

"Why don't we go clean ourselves up??." She asked, putting her phone in her back pocket.

Rainbow nodded. The two asked for directions to the bathroom and they walked in that direction. Once they got inside of the girls bathroom, Applejack turned to Rainbow Dash.

The two made sure Rainbow's dad didn't follow them. They hugged. Applejack had one arm around Rainbow's waist and the other hand on the back of her head.

"It's really you." Rainbow said.

"Yeah." Applejack said. "Are you alright?? Did he hurt you??."

They pulled away. Rainbow wiped a tear away, smiling. She shook her head no.

"No. I'm fine. Just a bunch of hot food on my clothes."

"Ah was so worried about you." Applejack said, taking her hands. "We drove here as soon as we could. Thank God we stopped her ta eat. Yir uncle is outside. Pinkie saw yir dad's car and came right in. The police should be on the way."

Applejack grabbed some paper towels.

"Let's get cleaned up."

Rainbow giggled. "Good idea."

They cleaned up/dried their clothes as best they could. Stains and the scent of eggs and pancakes were left on them. After they were done, Applejack took out her phone. She sent Strike a text.

I have her with me in the bathroom. Are the police there??

A text came a minute later.

Yeah. They're coming inside. Be ready, and don't let him take Rainbow.

Applejack put her phone away.

"Police are outside." She said. "They're comin' in ta find ya."

Rainbow smiled. "Am I safe??."

Applejack smiled "Not yet, but soon. C'mon."

They left the bathroom and headed back to their tables. They suddenly saw a few police officers walk in the front door, gun at the ready.

The officers were looking around. Suddenly Rainbow was grabbed by her wrist and pulled away from Applejack who didn't notice since her back was to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow looked up at see her dad. He began to drag her away.

"We're leaving." He said quietly. He walked past the officer, his head down. They got got to the door.

"STOP HIM!"

Next thing Rainbow knew, Rainbow being pulled out of diner and outside. Her dad made her run as they sprinted towards the parking lot.

"STOP!!." They heard an officer yell behind them.

Rainbow tried to yank her hand free, but her dad had an iron grip on her. She pulled and and dug her heels into the ground, but she almost felt into the concrete so she was forced to run, too.
She couldn't believe they were about to get away and her her dad was going to kill her later that stunt she pulled on the waiter.

Suddenly she saw a flash of color pass her and next thing she knew, she was in the ground.

"FREEZE!!." A male voice commanded.

Rainbow felt a pain shoot up her left left. She sat up, hissing in pain. Rainbow looked up to see her dad being held down by two cops.

"Rainbow?."

Rainbow looked up and to her left. A female cop jogged over to her. The cop knelt down beside her.

"Are you Rainbow Dash?."

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah."

The woman looked at the men retaining Rainbow's dad.

"We got her."

The cop looked at Rainbow.

"Are you hurt??."

Rainbow nodded. "My ankle. I think I fell on it wrong."

The cop looked down at Rainbow's ankle. Rainbow was clutching it in her hands.

"Let's get you up. We'll call an ambulance."

The cop helped Rainbow up.

"Rainbow!!."

Rainbow looked up. She saw her uncle and the girls running towards her.

Strike went up to her and hugged her. Rainbow hugged back.

"Uncle Strike." She said in relief.

"I'm so happy you're okay, kiddo." Strike said. "That was the most worried I've ever been in my life."

They pulled apart. Rainbow turned her head. She saw Applejack. Rainbow held out her arms. Applejack immediately embraced her, lifting her up off the ground.

"You're safe now." She whispered. "Are you okay?."

Rainbow nodded. Tears of joy sprang to her eyes. They rolled down her cheeks.

"I was so scared." She sang, her voice breaking. "I thought I was gonna die."

Applejack put her down. She wiped Rainbow's tears away. She smiled.

"Ah'm so sorry it took so long." She said.

Rainbow shook her head. "You're here now. That's all that matters."

"Ladies."

The women turned their heads to see a paramedic standing there.

"Are you alright??."

"I-I think I sprained my ankle." Rainbow spoke up. "I fell and I think I fell on it."

The paramedic nodded. "Lets get cha to a hospital. One person can go with you."

Rainbow was loaded onto a rolling stretcher and was put into the vehicle. Applejack went in with her. She climbed into the ambulance and took a seat. She looked at Rainbow Dash. The EMTs were working on Rainbow injured ankle. It obviously caused pain for Rainbow Dash. The young woman had her hands clenched into fist as one paramedic took off her shoe. She grunted in pain.

Applejack took her right hand.

"Hold mah hand."

Rainbow looked at her. Applejack brushed her bangs out of Rainbow's face. Rainbow smiled at her.

"I'm glad you're here." She whispered, a light blush dusting her cheeks.

Applejack smiled back. She gave her hand a small squeeze.

"Ah'm just glad you're alright. Ah was so worried. Ah couldn't stop until we found ya."

Rainbow and Applejack stared at each other.

"That your girlfriend??."

The two was snapped out of their stare. Rainbow's eyes shifted to one of the EMTs. He looked like he was only in his twenties. He smiled at Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow wasn't sure how to respond. "Um n-no. She's um...."

Rainbow looked at Applejack.

"She's only a friend. Unless you wanna be more than friends."

Rainbow wiggled her eyebrows playfully.
Applejack chuckled but felt her heart sink. Just a friend.

She looked up at the EMT. He gave a pressing look.

"You like her?." He mouthed.

Applejack looked away, blushing. She glanced back up at the guy. He smirked.

"Tell her."

Applejack looked away and took out her phone. She unlocked it and went to her notes app. She hesitated before she typed.

Once she finished, she showed the screen to Rainbow. Rainbow read the message and smiled. She looked up at Applejack.

"I like you, too." She whispered. "I was just was a big chicken as always. I've liked you since high school."

Applejack was in shock.

"Really??."

RD nodded. "Yeah."

Applejack smiled. The two said nothing more the rest of the way to the hospital.

That EMT should be a motivational crush asker outer person.

So yeah. Comment what you think :)