Applejack's POV

I was running.

Not away this time.

Toward.

I had to find Rainbow.

I had to fix this.

Because for the first time in my life, I wasn't scared of the truth anymore.

I needed her to know.

And if I had to chase her all the way to Cloudsdale itself, I damn well would.

I searched everywhere.

The house. The barn. The orchard.

Nothing.

"Damn it, Dash," I muttered under my breath.

Then—

Twilight.

Sitting by the porch, reading.

I skidded to a stop. "Twilight."

She blinked. "Applejack? You okay?"

I caught my breath. "Where's Dash?"

Twilight's eyes widened.

She slowly closed her book. "Oh. You're finally doing something about this, huh?"

I gritted my teeth. "Twilight."

She smirked. "She's by the lake."

I bolted.

Twilight called after me. "GOOD LUCK! TRY NOT TO MESS IT UP!!"

Rainbow Dash sat at the edge of the dock, staring at the water, skipping stones.

She looked so lost.

My chest ached.

I took a deep breath. Walked forward.

The wooden planks creaked under my boots.

She tensed.

"I don't wanna talk, AJ."

I didn't stop.

"I don't care," I said.

She turned, finally meeting my eyes.

And for the first time...

I saw it.

The hurt.

The anger.

The part of her that I had broken.

My stomach twisted.

She stood up, crossing her arms. "What do you want?"

I swallowed. "I wanna talk."

She laughed bitterly. "Oh, now you wanna talk?"

I took a step closer. "Rainbow—"

"No." Her voice shook. "You don't get to do this, AJ. You don't get to act like you care when you spent the last week pretending nothing was wrong."

My breath caught.

Because she was right.

I had done that.

I had hurt her.

And I had to make it right.

I exhaled slowly.

"I was scared," I admitted.

She froze.

I looked at the ground, heart pounding. "I—I didn't know how to handle it, Dash. Whatever this is between us, it scared the hell outta me."

Silence.

Then—

Her voice, quiet.

"...And now?"

I took a breath.

And finally looked at her.

"Now? I think I'm even more scared of losin' you."

Rainbow's eyes softened.

And for a moment—

Just a moment—

I thought I had a chance to fix this.

Then she shook her head.

She backed up.

And whispered—

"...It's too late, AJ."

My heart dropped.

And before I could stop her—

She turned.

And started walking away.

For real this time.

And I knew—

This was my last chance.

Applejack's POV

She was walking away.

Again.

And this time, if I let her go...

She wouldn't come back.

I knew it.

I felt it.

And I wasn't about to let that happen.

Not this time.

Not when I finally understood.

So I did the only thing I could.

I ran after her.

And I grabbed her wrist.

"Don't you dare walk away from me again, Rainbow Dash."

She froze.

Her shoulders tensed.

I tightened my grip. "I mean it."

She turned, eyes blazing. "What do you want from me, AJ?!"

I took a breath.

And I finally told her the truth.

"I want you," I said.

Her breath hitched.

I swallowed, my voice raw. "I don't know how to say this right, and I'm probably gonna screw it up, but—I can't let you walk away. Not from me. Not from us."

She stared at me, completely still.

I took a shaky breath.

"I was scared, Dash. I was scared 'cause I didn't know what it meant. Didn't know what I was feelin'. Didn't wanna mess up what we had."

I met her eyes.

"But the truth is—I already messed up. I pushed you away when I shoulda been pullin' you closer."

Rainbow's expression cracked.

She blinked fast, like she didn't trust what she was hearing.

"...Applejack," she whispered.

I stepped closer, not letting go of her wrist.

"I don't care about winnin' against you anymore, Dash. I just—I just wanna be beside you."

Her lips parted slightly, like she wanted to say something—

But I wasn't done.

"And I know it's late. I know I shoulda said all this a long time ago. But it ain't too late, Dash."

I squeezed her hand.

"Not if you don't want it to be."

Her breathing was uneven.

She looked so conflicted.

Like she wanted to believe me.

But she was scared.

And I knew why.

She thought I'd back out again.

She thought I'd run.

So I did the only thing I could.

I proved I wasn't afraid anymore.

I took her face in my hands.

And I kissed her.

Rainbow Dash's POV

Applejack kissed me.

Applejack.

Kissed.

Me.

My mind short-circuited.

Because this wasn't some accident.
This wasn't a mistake.

She was choosing me.

I had spent so long thinking she never would.

I had spent so long trying to let her go.

But I couldn't.

I couldn't—because she was everything.

I didn't even realize my hands had grabbed her waist until I was pulling her closer.

Until I was kissing her back.

And suddenly, everything clicked.

Everything that had been building for years, every moment that had been leading to this—

It all made sense.

Because this was right.

This was us.

And for the first time in my life—

I wasn't running from it.