Applejack's POV

Morning came way too fast. I had barely gotten enough sleep, thanks to all the thoughts rattling around in my head.

Rainbow Dash and I had spent lunch together yesterday. Not just tolerating each other, but actually sitting together, talkin' like we weren't always at each other's throats.

It felt nice.

And that was a problem.

I wasn't supposed to like spending time with Rainbow Dash. I was supposed to get annoyed by her cocky attitude, not start enjoyin' it. I was supposed to feel that usual burn of competition, not... whatever this weird fluttery feeling was.

With a sigh, I threw on my usual flannel shirt and jeans, grabbed my backpack, and headed out.

But my thoughts didn't stop.

They only got worse when I saw her waiting for me outside school, casually leaning against the bike rack like she'd been there all along.

"Applejack!" she called, standing up straight. "What took you so long?"

I blinked. "Uh... I didn't know we were meetin' here."

She shrugged. "Yeah, well... I was gonna head inside, but I figured I'd wait. You are the only person in this school who can keep up with me, after all."

I stared at her for a second. Something about the way she said that made my face heat up.

I quickly looked away. "Well... let's get inside before you start meltin' from all that braggin'."

She snorted, shoving my shoulder as we walked toward the entrance.

And just like that, my whole day was already thrown off.

Rainbow Dash's POV

Okay, so maybe I kinda wanted to wait for Applejack this morning.

Not that it was a big deal or anything. I was just bored. That's it.

But when she walked up, looking all casual and totally clueless that I had been standing there for ten minutes, I felt... I dunno. Something weird.

Like maybe waiting wasn't such a bad idea.

But I wasn't gonna think about it. Nope. Not happening.

Instead, I focused on my real goal of the day—reminding Applejack who the best athlete at Canterlot High was.

Which meant one thing: I had to beat her at something.

The cafeteria was loud as usual, but today, I wasn't paying attention to any of it.

I was too busy watching Applejack struggle with an apple.

Yeah, an apple.

She had been trying to break it in half with her bare hands for the past two minutes, and it was hilarious.

She gritted her teeth, fingers pressing into the skin of the fruit. "Dang it..."

I leaned across the table, chin resting in my hand. "Need help there, farm girl?"

She shot me a glare. "No. Ah got this."

I smirked. "Doesn't look like it."

With one last determined grunt, she finally cracked it open, sending juice splattering across the table.

I blinked. "Whoa."

She grinned, looking way too proud of herself. "Told ya."

I grabbed the other half of the apple and took a bite. "Pfft. Bet I could do it faster."

She raised an eyebrow. "That so?"

I nodded. "Yup."

Then, before she could react, I grabbed another apple from her tray and held it up dramatically. "Witness my power!"

I gripped the fruit as hard as I could, pressing my thumbs into it.

Nothing.

I tried again.

Still nothing.

Applejack was trying so hard not to laugh.

I scowled. "Okay, maybe this one's just—"

Then, suddenly—CRACK.

The apple split apart—and so did my confidence, because in the process, I lost my grip and sent half of it flying across the cafeteria.

It smacked into someone's head.

Dead silence.

Slowly, the victim turned around.

Rarity.

Her perfectly curled hair was now ruined by a streak of apple juice.

I swallowed.

Applejack, to her credit, tried really hard to keep a straight face. But then Rarity gasped, grabbed a napkin, and started dramatically patting her hair like she had just been personally attacked.

"Oh. My. STARS!" she shrieked. "WHO. DID. THIS?!"

Applejack immediately pointed at me.

I whipped around. "WHAT—AJ?! TRAITOR!"

She cracked up laughing.

And that was the moment I knew—

I hated how much I liked her laugh.

Group Chat: "The Squad"

Pinkie Pie: GUYS. GUYS. GUYS.

Twilight: What now?

Pinkie Pie: RD LAUNCHED AN APPLE AT RARITY'S HEAD TODAY!!! 😂😂😂

Rarity: I will never forgive you, Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash: IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

Applejack: Pfft. Yeah. Sure.

Fluttershy: Oh dear...

Pinkie Pie: ALSO ALSO—AJ AND RD SAT TOGETHER AT LUNCH AGAIN. 😏

Rainbow Dash: STOP.

Twilight: This is becoming a pattern.

Rarity: Interesting...

Rainbow Dash: NO. NOTHING IS INTERESTING. WE ARE JUST COMPETITIVE RIVALS. END OF STORY.

Applejack: shrug emoji

Pinkie Pie: competitive rivals who are getting closer and closer every day 👀

Rainbow Dash has left the chat.

Applejack's POV – After School

The sun was starting to dip as I walked out to the bike rack, expecting to head home alone like usual.

But there was Rainbow Dash.

Again.

She leaned against the metal bars, arms crossed, looking way too casual for someone who had been definitely waiting for me.

I raised an eyebrow. "You followin' me now?"

She snorted. "Pfft. As if. I just... happened to be here."

I smirked. "Right. 'Happened to be here.'"

She shrugged, kicking at the dirt. "Yeah."

A moment of silence stretched between us.

It wasn't awkward.

It wasn't tense.

It was just... there.

And maybe that was the weirdest part.

Because for the first time since I'd known her...

It didn't feel like a rivalry anymore.