Applejack's POV

Everything felt off.

It had been two days since the almost conversation on the porch. Two days of avoiding whatever the hell was happening between me and Rainbow Dash.

And I hated it.

She was acting normal. Laughing, cracking jokes, being her usual cocky self.

Too normal.

Which meant she was forcing it.

And that pissed me off more than anything.

Because I was forcing it too.

And I hated that I cared this much.

We were all hanging out by the lake again, pretending nothing was weird.

Pinkie was floating on a giant inflatable duck. Twilight was reading. Rarity was avoiding the water like it was toxic.

And me?

I was watching Rainbow Dash too much.

She was on the dock, messing with Fluttershy, threatening to push her in.

"Dash," Fluttershy giggled nervously. "P-Please don't-"

Rainbow smirked. "C'mon, 'Shy, it's just a little water-"

I scoffed. "You're one to talk. Last time you got dunked, you whined for ten minutes."

Rainbow whipped around. "What? No, I didn't!"

I smirked. "Oh, ya' did."

She huffed. "Okay, AJ. You wanna talk big? Let's settle this."

I raised an eyebrow. "What, you wanna wrestle again?"

Her face turned red for half a second.

Then she scowled. "NO. I mean-race me."

I blinked. "What?"

She grinned. "Swimming race. Across the lake."

I frowned. "Dash, we just ate lunch-"

"Ohhh, so now you're scared?"

I narrowed my eyes.

And just like that, I wasn't avoiding things anymore.

Because I was pissed.

"Oh, you did not just say that."

She smirked. "I did."

"Alright. Fine. You wanna race? Let's race."

The others watched in horror.

Rarity gasped. "Oh dear."

Twilight sighed. "This is going to end horribly."

Pinkie cheered. "LET'S GOOOOO!!"

We stood at the edge of the dock, tension thick in the air.

Rainbow smirked. "First to the other side wins."

I rolled my shoulders. "You sure you wanna do this, sugarcube?"

Her eyes flashed. "I've never been more sure."

I gritted my teeth.

We weren't just racing.

This was something else.

"Three... two... one-GO!"

We dove in.

Water rushed past, cold and sharp.

I kicked hard, arms cutting through the surface, lungs burning.

I didn't think.

I just pushed.

Because this wasn't about winning.

This was about beating her.

I felt her right next to me, matching my speed.

Neither of us gave an inch.

Neither of us backed down.

And then-

I saw the shore.

I put everything into the last few strokes, reaching-

And then-

I hit land.

Rainbow collapsed beside me, gasping for air.

I looked up.

We had tied.

I groaned, rolling onto my back. "Damn it."

Rainbow burst out laughing.

I whipped my head toward her. "What's so funny?"

She grinned, chest still heaving. "You're so dramatic."

I scoffed. "Oh, I'm dramatic?"

She sat up, smirking. "Yeah. You're acting like you're lost."

I scowled. "Maybe I just wanted to beat you."

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

My jaw clenched.

Because I was frustrated.

Because I was tired of this stupid game.

Because she was acting like nothing was wrong, when everything was.

And before I could stop myself-

I said the one thing I shouldn't have.

"Because I'm sick of you actin' like none of this means anything."

The smile on her face vanished.

The air shifted.

My stomach dropped.

Oh no.

Rainbow's expression turned hard. "What the hell does that mean?"

I swallowed. "I-I don't-"

"No, Applejack." She stood up, eyes burning. "You wanna start something? Say it."

I hesitated.

Because this was it.

This was the line.

And if I crossed it-

Everything would change.

She stepped closer, challenging. "Come on. What do you wanna say?"

I took a shaky breath.

And then-

"...Nothin'."

Rainbow's jaw clenched.

For a moment, she looked...

Hurt.

Then-

Her face went blank.

She scoffed. "Figures."

And then she walked away.

And I let her.

Even though every part of me was screaming not to.

Rainbow Dash's POV

I couldn't breathe.

I stormed away from Applejack, hands clenched, jaw tight, heart pounding too fast.

Because I had felt it.

That split-second hesitation.

The way her face changed when she almost said something real.

She had been about to admit something.

And then she had shut it down.

Again.

Like she always did.

Like she was scared.

And I was so tired of it.

Because if I was brave enough to feel this-

Then why the hell wasn't she?

"Dash!"

Her voice cut through the air, but I didn't turn around.

I heard her footsteps catch up.

"Dash, stop-"

I spun, frustration boiling over. "WHAT, AJ?"

She froze.

I took a breath, forcing my voice steady. "What do you want?"

Applejack crossed her arms. "I was just-"

"Just what?" I snapped. "Gonna tell me it's nothing again?"

Her eyes narrowed. "I didn't mean-"

"YES, YOU DID!"

The words exploded out before I could stop them.

Applejack flinched.

I clenched my fists. "You always do this, AJ. You start something, you make me think there's-there's something, and then you back off. Every. Single. Time."

She swallowed, looking away. "Dash-"

"I'm done, AJ." My voice shook. "I'm done pretending this is just some stupid game. I'm done acting like I don't-"

I stopped myself just in time.

Applejack's gaze snapped back to me. "Like you don't what?"

I exhaled sharply. "Forget it."

Her jaw tightened. "No. Say it."

I shook my head. "Why? So you can pretend it didn't happen? Like you always do?"

She stepped closer, too close. "You don't know what you're talkin' about."

I let out a short, bitter laugh. "No, I think I do."

I met her eyes.

Green and magenta.

Tension crackling between us like fire.

"You're scared," I said.

Applejack tensed. "I ain't scared of anything."

I scoffed. "Then prove it."

Her lips parted slightly, breathing shallow.

For a split second, I thought she might-

Then she pulled back.

Her voice barely above a whisper.

"...I can't."

My stomach dropped.

I swallowed, stepping back. "Right. That's what I thought."

She didn't stop me this time.

She just stood there.

Watching.

Letting me go.

And this time?

I wasn't coming back.

Applejack's POV

I messed up.

Bad.

I watched Rainbow Dash walk away, and I did nothing.

Because she was right.

I was scared.

And the worst part?

I didn't even know what I was scared of.

Losing her?

Admitting what this was?

Finally letting myself feel it?

My chest ached, my mind screaming at me to fix it.

But I didn't move.

Because I wasn't sure if it was too late.

The house felt too quiet.

After dinner, the group was sitting around, talking, laughing. Acting like things were normal.

But I could feel Rainbow avoiding me.

Could feel the distance, the tension, the weight of what happened.

She wouldn't look at me.

Wouldn't talk to me.

And for the first time...

I knew I had really, really hurt her.

Pinkie yawned, stretching. "Welp, I'm heading to bed. BIG DAY TOMORROW!"

Twilight smirked. "Oh? What's happening tomorrow?"

Pinkie grinned. "I HAVE NO IDEA!"

Rarity sighed. "Lovely."

One by one, the girls disappeared upstairs.

Until it was just me.

And Rainbow.

Sitting on opposite sides of the room.

She stood up.

And started walking away.

And before I could stop myself-

"...Dash."

She paused.

Didn't turn around.

Didn't say anything.

I swallowed hard.

"I-I didn't mean to hurt you."

A long silence.

Then-

Her voice, quiet.

"Yeah. You did."

And then she was gone.

Leaving me alone with my own damn regret.