I avoided Applejack for the rest of the day.

Not obviously-I wasn't running away or anything. That would be ridiculous. But I definitely found excuses to keep myself busy. Brushing Winona, helping Granny with the dishes, even offering to help Big Mac move some hay bales-anything to keep my mind off whatever the hell was happening to me.

But Applejack? She was too perceptive.

Every time I passed by, I could feel her eyes on me.

And that wink from earlier? Yeah, I was trying really hard to forget that ever happened.

But my stupid brain wouldn't let me.

I kept replaying the moment over and over-the way her voice had dropped just slightly, the glint in her eye, the way my chest had squeezed so hard I thought I was gonna suffocate-nope. Not thinking about it. Not at all.

I wasn't falling for her.
I couldn't be falling for her.
Right?

Later that evening, as I was leaning against the porch railing, trying to breathe like a normal person, Applejack appeared beside me.

I tensed.

"Yer actin' weird, Dash," she said casually, resting her arms on the railing.

I scoffed. "I always act weird."

She gave me a look. "Yeah, but this is a different kinda weird."

I turned away, pretending to focus on the horizon. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Applejack hummed like she didn't believe me. "Uh-huh. Sure ya don't."

Silence stretched between us, filled only by the distant chirping of crickets and the warm evening breeze rustling the trees.

Then-

"Was it 'cause of the race?" she asked, her tone a little too innocent.

My stomach flipped.

I coughed. "Pfft, as if! You just got lucky, that's all."

She chuckled. "Ain't talkin' 'bout the race, sugarcube."

My body locked up.

Crap.

I forced a laugh. "What else would you be talking about?"

Applejack turned toward me, and I felt it before I saw it-that little smirk tugging at her lips.

She knew.

She totally knew.

My pulse skyrocketed. My brain was screaming at me to run, but my legs wouldn't move.

Then-she leaned in just slightly. Close enough that I could smell that familiar, warm, apple-sweet scent of hers.

"You tell me," she murmured.

I swallowed-hard.

Panic mode: activated.

My brain had officially short-circuited.

Applejack was too close.

Her voice, low and teasing. Her green eyes locked onto mine, searching. Testing. Waiting.

Waiting for what?!

I scrambled for a response-something cool, something casual-but my mouth refused to work.

So instead, I choked out, "Uhhh."

Applejack's smirk widened. "That's what I thought."

Oh no.
Oh hell no.

I was not about to let her win whatever this was.

I straightened up, crossing my arms. "You think you're real funny, don't you?"

She shrugged. "Not thinkin'. Knowin'."

I scowled. "I don't even know what you're talking about."

Applejack just chuckled and gave me that look. The one that made my stomach flip in the stupidest way possible. "Alright, Dash. Whatever ya say."

Then-she patted my head.

Like I was some kid.

Like she wasn't just two seconds ago making my heart implode.

I slapped her hand away, my face on fire. "Quit that!"

She grinned, tipping her hat back. "What? Can't handle a lil' affection?"

My body betrayed me.

I froze.

Applejack noticed.

Her teasing smirk faded just slightly, like she was realizing something new. Like something had just clicked.

I had to get out of here.

"Pfft, whatever," I scoffed, turning on my heel. "I got better things to do."

I stormed off before she could say anything else. Before my brain could explode from how completely insane this was.

But just as I reached the door-

"That's a yes, then," she called after me.

I almost tripped over my own feet.

Nope.
Nope.
NOPE.

I slammed the door behind me.

I threw myself onto Applejack's couch, gripping my head.

WHAT.
THE.
HELL.
JUST.
HAPPENED?!

Was she flirting with me?!
Was I flirting back?!

I mean, I wasn't stupid. I knew what flirting looked like-I'd done it before! When I was less... shy and distant. Just... never with her. Never with Applejack.

And it wasn't like she liked me or anything... right?

Right??

I groaned, shoving a pillow over my face. I needed to stop thinking.

Except my brain was stuck on the way she'd looked at me. The way she'd leaned in, like she was waiting to see how I'd react.

The worst part?

I didn't hate it.

I spent the next ten minutes pacing in the living room, muttering under my breath like an absolute lunatic.

Okay. Okay. I just needed to calm down. Be cool. Act normal.

I took a deep breath.
Straightened my shirt.
Rolled my shoulders.

Yeah. Yeah, I could do this.

I strolled back outside, casual as hell. Totally fine. Definitely not dying inside.

Applejack was leaning against the fence, arms crossed, watching the horses in the pasture. Her hat sat low over her eyes, golden strands of hair catching the sunlight.

She looked... really pretty.

Not the point.

I cleared my throat. "Hey."

She glanced at me, smirking immediately. "Hey, yourself."

Crap.

She was still in that mood. The one where she looked at me like she knew something I didn't.

I forced myself to act like nothing was weird. "So, uh, what's next? Chores? Work? We gotta do something, right?"

Applejack raised an eyebrow. "You sound real eager to get back to work."

"Pfft, no. I just... don't wanna be standing around doing nothing, y'know?"

She pushed off the fence, stretching. "Alright then. If you're feelin' so productive, how 'bout you help me with the south field?"

I nodded. "Cool. Yeah. Let's do that."

And then, because I was so good at acting normal, I blurted-

"Also, that whole thing before? Not weird at all."

Applejack stopped mid-step. Turned.

Her smirk was evil.

"Oh?" she drawled, tilting her head. "What thing?"

I immediately regretted my entire existence.

"N-Nothing," I stammered, waving my hands. "Forget I said anything."

Her eyes sparkled. "You mean how you got all flustered 'cause I patted your head?"

I died.

"Shut up," I muttered.

Applejack laughed. Laughed. Like this was the funniest thing in the world.

I was never going to survive this.

Applejack handed me a basket. "Alright, Rainbow. Let's see if ya can pick apples faster than me."

I scoffed. "Oh, please. This is gonna be easy."

She gave me a look. "Uh-huh. Sure."

I rolled up my sleeves, determined to win something today. "You count us down."

She tipped her hat. "Three, two, one-go!"

I bolted to the first tree, grabbing apples as fast as I could. Applejack was right next to me, quick and steady, tossing them into her basket with practiced ease.

I refused to lose.

I reached up to grab another apple-

And Applejack bumped into me.

On purpose.

I stumbled, nearly dropping my basket. "HEY!"

She grinned, completely unapologetic. "What? Ain't my fault ya got bad balance."

Oh, it was ON.

I narrowed my eyes. "Alright, farm girl. Two can play at that game."

I waited for the right moment-then hip-checked her back.

She let out a surprised laugh, but barely budged.

I, on the other hand?

I bounced off her like an idiot.

"Dang, Dash," she teased. "You tryin' to move a brick wall or somethin'?"

I glared. "Whatever."

We kept picking apples, but now? It was war.

She'd nudge me, I'd nudge her back. She'd try to block me from getting to a tree, and I'd fake her out and grab the apples first.

It was stupid. It was childish.

And I was having fun.

For the first time in forever, I felt light. Like I wasn't carrying so much damn weight on my shoulders.

Applejack, of course, noticed.

"Yer smilin'," she said suddenly.

I blinked. "Huh?"

She nodded toward me. "Haven't seen ya smile like that in a while."

I felt my face heat up. "Uh-well, I mean-you're just fun to mess with."

Applejack's smirk softened into something else. Something warm.

"Right back atcha, sugarcube."

I short-circuited.

Game over.

Applejack didn't even have to try.

That was the worst part.

She wasn't flirting on purpose, she wasn't going out of her way to mess with me-this was just her. Effortless. Natural. Smirking like she knew exactly what she was doing, while my brain was out here glitching like a broken computer.

The way she stood there, grinning after saying something as simple as "Right back atcha, sugarcube."

I was done for.

But I had one job. One very simple mission.

Do. Not. Let. Her. Know.

I cleared my throat, straightening up. "Yeah, well, you're lucky I didn't completely destroy you in that race earlier."

Applejack's smirk widened. "That so?"

Crap. Wrong move.

She took a slow step forward, casually closing the distance between us. My brain went into full alert mode.

"Y'know, Dash," she said, tilting her head, "if I didn't know any better, I'd say you're gettin' a little competitive 'cause yer tryna impress me."

I stopped breathing.

My stomach dropped. "W-What?!"

Applejack just raised an eyebrow. "What?"

I scowled. "I'm not trying to impress you!"

She hummed like she didn't believe me. "Mhm."

"I'm not!"

She leaned slightly closer, studying me. Too closely.

"...You sure 'bout that?"

Panic. Panic.

I took the coward's way out and turned away. "OH WOW LOOK AT THE TIME GOTTA GO HELP GRANNY-"

"Dash."

I froze.

Her voice was softer this time. Not teasing. Not playful.

Just... gentle.

I swallowed hard and forced myself to look back at her.

She wasn't smirking anymore.

Her eyes searched mine, her expression unreadable. For once, Applejack looked like she wasn't sure what I was thinking.

And for some reason... that scared me.

Because I wasn't sure either.

I needed an out.

Something. Anything.

Before my brain could explode from how confusing everything felt.

I forced a laugh and rubbed the back of my neck. "Anyway-uh-I'm gonna go see what the others are up to."

Applejack didn't stop me this time. But as I turned to leave, I felt her eyes on me.

Watching. Thinking.

She knew something was up.

And worse?

I think she was finally starting to understand what it was.

I found the others sitting under a tree near the house, chatting about something that I wasn't listening to because my brain was still rebooting from what just happened. Pinkie wasn't here, since she had a party to organise.

I flopped onto the grass, arms crossed, staring at the sky.

Sunset raised an eyebrow. "You good?"

"Fine."

Twilight looked up from her book. "You don't sound fine."

"I am fine."

Fluttershy blinked. "...Are you sure?"

I groaned. "Yes, I'm sure! Can we drop it?!"

There was a pause.

And then-

"Ohhhh," Rarity gasped dramatically, clasping her hands together.

I immediately regretted everything.

Her eyes sparkled with evil. "Darling... this wouldn't happen to have anything to do with Applejack, would it?"

I choked. "EXCUSE ME?!"

The group erupted.

Sunset smirked. "Wait-what?"

Twilight blinked. "What do you mean?"

Rarity leaned in, gleeful. "Oh, don't play dumb! Look at her-she's flustered!"

I grabbed the nearest object-a leaf. I grabbed a leaf and threw it at her. "I AM NOT FLUSTERED."

Rarity dodged it. "You so are."

Fluttershy giggled behind her hand. Twilight was finally catching on. Sunset just shook her head, grinning.

This was a disaster.

I was trapped.

There was no way out.

Because once Rarity sensed drama, she did not let go.

She leaned forward like a predator that just found its prey. "Rainbow Dash... do you have a crush on Applejack?"

I choked on my own spit.

"WHAT-NO-ARE YOU INSANE?!"

Sunset snorted. Twilight raised an eyebrow. Fluttershy covered her mouth, eyes wide.

Rarity lit up like a Christmas tree. "Ohhh, you so do."

I grabbed another leaf and threw it at her.

It missed.

Sunset laughed. "Dude. That was the worst denial I've ever heard."

I scowled. "I don't have a crush! Applejack is my friend!"

Rarity gasped. "Oh, my stars, it's worse than I thought!"

I glared. "No, it's not!"

She ignored me completely. "You don't just have a crush!" She clutched her chest dramatically. "You have feelings!"

"I DO NOT HAVE-"

Fluttershy, quietly: "You totally do."

I almost died on the spot.

I jumped to my feet, pointing at all of them.

"LISTEN TO ME. I DO NOT HAVE A CRUSH. I DO NOT HAVE FEELINGS. APPLEJACK AND I ARE JUST FRIENDS. END OF DISCUSSION."

Silence.

Then-

Twilight adjusted her glasses. "Rainbow Dash."

"What."

She tilted her head. "If you're so sure... why are you yelling?"

My soul left my body.

Sunset grinned. "Oh my god. She got you."

I whirled on her. "SHUT."

Twilight smiled. "I'm just saying, your reaction is very... telling."

"IT'S NOT TELLING ANYTHING!"

Rarity beamed. "Darling, you're positively glowing with panic."

Fluttershy giggled. "It's actually kinda cute."

I flopped back onto the grass and covered my face.

This was the worst day of my life.

"Hey, y'all."

I froze.

No.

No, no, no, no, NO-

Applejack walked right up to us, holding a basket of apples like some kind of damn movie protagonist, golden hair catching in the sunlight, and I almost ascended to the afterlife.

I yanked my hands away from my face and acted normal.

Totally normal.

Applejack glanced at me. "Y'alright, Dash?"

"I'M FINE."

Sunset bit her lip to stop from laughing.

Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Okaay..."

Rarity was vibrating with excitement.

And then-

She turned to Applejack.

I panicked.

"Oh, Applejack, darling," she said sweetly. Too sweetly. "Do tell-have you noticed anything... different about Rainbow Dash lately?"

I saw my life flash before my eyes.

I snapped my head toward Rarity so fast I almost gave myself whiplash.

I knew that tone.

That was her "I'm about to start problems on purpose" voice.

Applejack tilted her head, chewing a piece of apple. "Different?"

Rarity batted her eyelashes. "Yes, darling. Have you noticed anything... unusual about Rainbow Dash?"

I vibrated with pure, unfiltered panic.

Applejack blinked. "Uh... not really?"

I exhaled.

Rarity gasped dramatically. "Not even the way she-"

I tackled her.

Well. More like I lunged across the blanket and clapped a hand over her mouth.

"HAHA, ANYWAY, HOW ABOUT WE TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE?!"

Rarity made a muffled screech of protest.

Applejack just stared.

Sunset and Twilight? Losing their damn minds.

Fluttershy giggled behind her hands.

I whispered into Rarity's ear. "If you say one more word, I will steal all your makeup and replace it with dollar store knockoffs."

Her eyes widened in horror.

Good.

I slowly removed my hand from Rarity's mouth.

She huffed. "Fine. I'll behave."

Suspicious.

Applejack raised an eyebrow at me. "Alright, what was that about?"

I wiped my palms on my jeans. "Nothing! Just, y'know, Rarity being Rarity."

Applejack hummed. "If ya say so."

She didn't look convinced.

Great.

I thought I was safe.

I thought I had won.

But then.

Rarity smiled. A slow, knowing, evil smile.

And I knew.

I was doomed.

She tilted her head at Applejack. "Well, if Rainbow Dash is so normal, darling, then why don't you tell us..."

My soul left my body.

"...what do you think of her?"

I choked.

Applejack paused mid-bite.

The whole group went dead silent.

Rarity beamed.

And I-

I actually stopped breathing.

Applejack lowered her apple slice.

She squinted at Rarity. "Whaddya mean?"

Rarity gave her an innocent smile. "Oh, just... your opinion, darling! What do you think of Rainbow Dash?"

I was actively malfunctioning.

Abort. ABORT.

My face felt like it was on fire.

Sunset and Twilight were straight-up watching this like it was the best reality show they'd ever seen.

Fluttershy sipped her tea like she already knew the ending.

I sent a desperate plea to the heavens.

Please. Please let her just say 'she's cool' and move on. I am begging you.

Applejack hummed, tilting her head.

"Well..."

Oh no.

"She's-"

I stopped breathing.

Everyone stopped breathing.

"...a pain in my ass."

DID SHE JUST-

I snapped my head toward her.

Applejack was smirking.

She took another bite of her apple. Completely unfazed.

I gawked. "EXCUSE ME?!"

She chuckled, crossing her arms. "What? I ain't wrong."

Rarity giggled behind her hand.

Sunset straight-up wheeze-laughed.

Twilight pushed up her glasses, muttering something about "denial being a fascinating psychological phenomenon."

Fluttershy? She just smiled.

I pointed dramatically. "I am a DELIGHT, thank you very much."

Applejack snorted.

She freaking snorted.

"Oh, sure, sugarcube," she drawled, smirking. "A real ray of sunshine."

I could not believe this.

Rarity pouted.

"Well, that's no fun," she sighed. "I was hoping for a more interesting answer."

Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"

No.

Rarity, don't you dare-

She fluttered her eyelashes.

"Oh, I don't know," she mused. "Something about how close you two have gotten lately?"

Applejack paused.

Rarity, I will end you.

Applejack turned to look at me.

Our eyes met.

And I swear. For a split second.

Her ears turned pink.

Just for a second.

And then she rolled her eyes.

"Yer bein' ridiculous," she muttered, chucking an apple core at Rarity.

Rarity shrieked.

I immediately jumped to my feet.

"WELL, LOOK AT THE TIME, WE SHOULD REALLY-"

Sunset grabbed my wrist, grinning like a devil.

"Oh, no, no, no," she said. "We should stay a little longer."

Twilight nodded. "Yes, this is... fascinating."

Rarity flipped her hair. "Agreed."

Fluttershy?

She just giggled.

I was so doomed.

I should've walked away.

I should've stayed in my room, focused on anything other than the way Applejack looked at me, the way my stomach flipped when she smirked.

But I didn't.

Instead, I found myself standing in the barn, staring at a bucket of apples like it held the answers to my entire existence.

"Thought you were checkin' on Winona."

Applejack's voice was way too close.

I flinched, gripping the bucket tighter. "I did."

"Mm-hm."

I turned around. And instantly regretted it.

Applejack had her arms crossed, leaning against the barn door, watching me like she was figuring out a puzzle.

I swallowed. "What?"

She tilted her head. "You tell me."

I forced a laugh. "You're the one staring at me like I've got something on my face."

She took a step closer.

I did not take a step back. Totally.

Applejack raised an eyebrow. "You've been actin' real funny since this mornin'."

I scoffed. "Me? Funny? Nah, you're just imagining things."

Her smirk was back.

And I was in so much trouble.

She took another step forward.

I could still hear the race in my head, the way we collided, the way she landed on top of me, her breath on my skin, the heat in her eyes-

Nope. Nope. Abort mission.

I grabbed the bucket and practically threw it at her. "You needed apples, right? Here! Gotta go!"

I spun around so fast I nearly tripped over my own feet. But before I could make my great escape-

Her hand grabbed my wrist.

I froze.

Her touch was warm. Steady.

I turned my head slowly, heart hammering.

Applejack's expression had changed. No teasing, no smirk. Just something... searching.

"Dash," she said quietly.

I forgot how to breathe.

She didn't let go.

I should've pulled away.

I didn't.

Her thumb brushed against my skin, barely there, like she wasn't sure if she should.

Like she was waiting for me to stop her.

I didn't.

I couldn't.

Something electric shot through me, and it terrified me just as much as it thrilled me.

I opened my mouth to say something-anything-

And then, the barn door swung open.

"Applejack! Rainbow Dash!"

I yanked my hand away like I'd been caught committing a crime.

Applejack blinked, then turned to the voice. "Rarity?"

I was already halfway to the door. "Great timing! Gotta go, bye!"

I bolted past Rarity, ignoring her confused stare, ignoring the way my hand still tingled where Applejack had touched me.

Ignoring everything.

Because if I didn't?

I wasn't sure what would happen next.

I ran.

Not far, not fast-just enough to escape.

My heart was pounding way too hard. My head was spinning. My hand still felt warm where Applejack had touched it.

What the hell was that?!

I leaned against the side of the barn, pressing my palms against my face. Get it together, Dash. It was nothing. Just Applejack being weird. Just me being weird.

Right?

The barn door creaked open.

I flinched. "I-"

But it wasn't Applejack.

Rarity stood there, arms crossed, smirking.

"Oh, darling," she sang, stepping forward. "You are in so much trouble."

I scowled. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Rarity just grinned. Like a shark.

"I saw what I saw."

I crossed my arms. "You saw nothing."

She gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her chest. "Are you accusing me of lying?"

"Yes."

"Well," she said, grinning even wider, "that's simply incorrect."

I groaned. "Rarity, I swear-"

"Oh, no need to explain." She waved a hand, all smug and knowing. "I'm simply delighted to witness this... development."

I bristled. "There's no development."

Her eyes sparkled. "Mm-hmm."

"I'm serious! Applejack and I-"

"-are ridiculously into each other."

My face burned. "We are not!"

Rarity giggled. "Oh, dear, you're adorable when you're in denial."

I groaned again, gripping my hair. "It's not like that! It's just-ugh! I don't know!"

She tilted her head. "But you felt something."

I opened my mouth-then closed it.

Because the answer was yes.

And that scared me more than anything.

Rarity smiled softly. "You don't have to admit it yet. But, darling... maybe stop running from it."

I swallowed hard. "I'm not running."

She just raised an eyebrow.

I sighed. "Okay. Maybe I'm sprinting."

She laughed, patting my shoulder. "One day, you'll catch up with yourself."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever."

But as she walked away, leaving me alone with my racing heart and my mess of emotions...

I couldn't help but wonder.

What happens if she's right?