Tryouts, Tears and Truth

Tryouts, Tears and Truth

Applejack really should have been apple bucking. Instead, she stood in the orchard, her green eyes taking in the vast sky, her mind wandering.

She always used to stress that daydreaming during work should be saved for the occasional five-minute breaks. She believed that having her mind on subjects not related to apple bucking would result in a reduction in her work quality and speed or, as she put it, "lolly-gagging".

Normally, the only thing that could get her mind off work was thinking about zap apple pies, which never failed to make her mouth water as she imagined their warm, crispy goodness.

Now, however, she was not thinking about anything relating to apples-regular or zap-or apple bucking.

She was deep in thought about something else entirely.

And even with so much more apple bucking left to do, she found herself unable to concentrate on work for any longer than a minute.

Her strange attention span loss started early that morning, when Rainbow Dash stopped by. She was on her way to the tryouts when she came by to thank Applejack for supporting her over the last couple of days.

Applejack was confident that her friend was a lock. Not only was she faster and better than most of the current Wonderbolts, she also saved three of them- as well as Rarity-and always seemed to leave an impression on Spitfire. Recently, the yellow pegasus had taken quite a liking to Rainbow Dash. She even asked Rainbow Dash to attend her birthday party, something only a handful of ponies outside of the Wonderbolts were invited to.

Applejack stared out at the horizon, a content smile spread across her face. Her mind was focused solely on Rainbow Dash. She could picture her friend rain-nuking the competition. She could imagine her cyan face full of glee after reading her name on the list of ponies that made the cut.

It was the same glee she saw on her face only a few days before, when she first flew to Sweet Apple Acres to tell Applejack of the great news.

---

It was a particularly clear and sunny day. Applejack was in the orchard, hard at work bucking the apple trees.

Suddenly, somepony called her name. She looked up to see the Rainbow Dash flying towards her, a big grin on her face. It was a grin that was both competitive and excited. In her hoof, she held a piece of paper, rolled up so Applejack couldn't tell if it had anything on it, or if it was just scrap.

But she couldn't ponder the mysterious scroll her friend had, for said friend was flying directly at her face without slowing down. Was she too excited to notice her jet-like speed? Did she [i]want[/i] to run into Applejack as some form of rough play, something she often did with her apple-bucking friend?

Rainbow Dash skidded to a halt mere inches from Applejack's face, causing Applejack to rear back in fright, her hat flying off her head and landing on the ground beside her hooves.

"Whoa there speed-demon! Y'all almost took mah head off." Applejack said, picking her hat off the ground and brushing it off before placing it on her head.

Rainbow Dash landed on the ground, her grin wide, her eyes excited. She was acting like a filly that just shared a kiss with the hottest colt in school.

"Sorry AJ, but this is just too cool! I can't hold back! It's too awesome!" Rainbow Dash said, hopping a bit.

"Hold back with what?" Applejack asked, still puzzled by her friend's erratic behavior.

Rainbow Dash unrolled the piece of paper and held it up for Applejack to see. The paper showed the image of three ponies in skin-tight blue suits, their eyes hidden behind goggles and the determined look of athletes on their faces. In the background, similarly dressed ponies flew through the sky in a uniform pattern, smoke trailing behind them as they made their descent.

The bottom of the page read, "CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR THIS YEAR'S ANNUAL WONDERBOLT TRYOUTS!" in big, yellow lettering, some of which had the shape of a lightning-bolt on it, giving the poster some more spice.

Applejack's jaw fell as she read the caption.

"I got this baby in the mail yesterday! Apparently saving the Wonderbolts and filling Cloudsdale's reservoir has its advantages." Rainbow Dash said full of glee. She lowered the poster so Applejack was looking directly into her friend's big, red eyes.

Applejack smiled, "Well boy howdy, ah sure am happy for ya RD."

"Thanks! Only a handful of pegasi get invitations to try out for the Wonderbolts, and fewer make the cut" Rainbow Dash said, rolling the paper back up into a scroll  and holding it in her hoof "And it's in three days, which means I'll have to train extra hard to make sure I'm ready to knock them off their hooves!"

Applejack chuckled, "That's really a great accomplishment. How many pegasi are trying out?"

"Well usually five to ten are invited, and the Wonderbolts usually only take two. Three at most, but that's only if they're losing a member to retirement or injury or something."

"Ah," Applejack nodded, "Well, listen let me know if ya want mah help with anything."

"Actually..." Rainbow Dash said, looking down at her hooves, "I was wondering if you wouldn't mind watching me practice and let me know how I do. You know, so I feel ready for tryouts?"

Applejack smiled, "Shoot, ah'd be more than honored ta be yer audience."

Rainbow Dash looked back up at her friend, grinning euphorically. "Really?"

"Of course."

"Awesome!" Rainbow Dash leapt into the air, pumping her hoof in victory. She then looked down at her friend, her wings gently flapping to keep her hovering, something that made Applejack stare in awe. How the sunlight reflected off of her cyan fur, how her joyful grin glistened and made her look radiant. Applejack couldn't do anything but stare at her friend, who seemed too caught up in the moment to notice.

"Well, I see you've got some work to do. I'll stop by in a couple of hours, sound good?"

"Huh?" Applejack said, snapping out of her trance and looked back up at Rainbow Dash, "Oh, of course RD. Stop by in about two hours and ah should be done bucking for the day."

"Sweet! I'll see ya then!" Rainbow Dash said with a wave. She then flew off, scroll in hoof, leaving a brilliant array of colors in her wake. Applejack continued to stare in the direction she flew off in, she couldn't seem to look away for almost ten minutes, when the sound of Winona barking in the distance brought her back to reality. She finished her work for the day, not able to stop thinking about her friend. To her, Rainbow Dash was more than just a friend. In fact, she saw Rainbow Dash as more than a best friend.

She had feelings for her that she never felt for anypony else, neither mare nor stallion. They did remind her of the feelings she had for colts back when she was a filly. But these were so much more, multiplied to a level she never felt for any colt. It was love. Pure love that she knew would never be anything more than just a dream.

Even as the element of honesty, Applejack found it difficult to admit these feelings to anypony, including herself. She would try to justify them in her mind, telling herself they were simply part of the close friendship she shared with Rainbow Dash.

Nothing more, nothing less.

But she knew this wasn't true, she knew it was true love. Love for her friend, love for the amazingly kind, loyal and beautiful mare she was, love for the mare she wished she had the courage to profess her feelings for.

She wished that she had the bravery to tell her friend how she felt, but feared her friend's reaction. Would she be okay with it? Would she be grossed-out? She didn't want to take this risk, especially when she knew for a fact Rainbow didn't feel the same way about her.

Sighing, Applejack finished her work for the day and waited for her friend to arrive.

Right around three, Rainbow Dash returned to the farm. She was wearing the newest of three replica Wonderbolts uniforms she owned. Applejack couldn't help but chuckle at her friend's appearance, but Rainbow Dash didn't care. She landed and started to strut around like a peacock. A cocky grin was on her face, her eyes on Applejack, it was pure swag and Applejack loved it.

"Don't act like I don't look good in this thing." Rainbow Dash said.

Applejack kept laughing, careful to hide her blush. She kept her face angled towards the ground so the shadows from the surrounding trees were able to conceal the rosy tint in her cheeks.

After all, Rainbow Dash did look cute in her uniform.

The pegasus started her routine by flying around, flipping in the air, zigzagging in-between clouds like they were cones and she was a soccer player. Even when Rainbow Dash was extremely high, Applejack could see the determination on her face. She had the cocky grin of an athlete, the same kind of grin she had whenever she was showing off her skills. She eyed a couple of clouds, licking her lips in anticipation before flying at them, then around them. She kept flying around them until they were able to spin like fluffy, white dreidels.

Rainbow Dash then took to the skies, higher and higher. Applejack had to shield her eyes from the sun to watch her friend. Rainbow Dash stopped, floated in the air for a moment, composing herself, and darted towards the ground, her teeth gritted, tears forming in her eyes as her body began to stretch slightly, a cone forming in front of her. Moments later, she broke through the cone, leaving ripples of rainbow behind her. Applejack was too stunned to do anything.

Much like when Rainbow pulled off the feat at the Young Flyers' Competition, the sonic rainboom stunned Applejack. No matter how many times she'd seen it, which amounted to about four; she couldn't help but gawk at the trick.

Rainbow Dash came to a stop directly above Applejack, her grin even bigger than it was when she started. But this grin wasn't drenched in cockiness like the one she had earlier was. This grin was one of pure joy.

She felt joy at her accomplishment and her impressive flying skills. But she knew it wasn't her who'd be judging her flying. She turned to Applejack.

"Well, what did you think?" Rainbow Dash asked, still panting from her routine. "Did I look good?"

"Ah..." Applejack said, still in shock from what she saw.

Rainbow Dash laughed, her grin once again displaying cockiness in addition to joy.

"Ha! Speechless! I knew it, I'm totally awesome."

"Uh...yeah speechless...ah sure am...speechless." Applejack said, rubbing the back of her head anxiously. While Rainbow Dash's tricks did manage to shock Applejack, they weren't the reason for her sudden inability to speak well. It was caused by how amazing she looked doing them. Rainbow Dash had everything; grace, poise, confidence and skill.

Rainbow Dash tilted her head in confusion.

"Um AJ? Are you okay? Your face is a little red."

Applejack realized her burning cheeks were no longer hidden by the shadows. To throw Rainbow Dash off the trail she quickly formulated an excuse.

"Oh, right. Sorry it was just...ya blew me away RD, ya really did." Applejack said. She grinned nervously, hoping her hasty explanation would be bought by the thick-headed pegasus.

Thankfully, Rainbow Dash was so caught up in her own success, that she didn't ponder her friend's odd behavior any more than she had to.

"Yes! I am truly the best flier in all of Equestria I am great, oh yeah!" Rainbow Dash began to dance in the air, saying "I'm so awesome, I'm so rad." over and over, doing the robot, moonwalk-or "Luna-walk", as many ponies called it-and some other odd dance moves, which could only be described as "the q-tip", "making the pizza", "the bus driver" and "flipping the table".

Applejack laughed, her face turned an even darker shade of red.

"Dang, y'all should consider going into dancing if this whole Wonderbolt thing doesn't play out."

Rainbow Dash stopped dancing and looked down at her friend. Her previously cocky expression suddenly became dubious.

"You think it won't?"

Applejack was initially confused, until she realized the implications of what she said.

"Oh no! Ah know y'all will make it. Sorry, ah didn't mean ta give ya that doubt."

"Oh, okay." Rainbow Dash said, her voice still showing a slight bit of doubt. She landed and looked down. Stricken by guilt, Applejack trotted over and placed her hoof onto her friend's shoulder, slowly rubbing it to make her feel better.

"Rainbow Dash ya listen ta me all right." Applejack took her friend by the shoulders. Rainbow Dash looked up at her. Applejack almost lost herself in the rose-colored eyes of her friend, but quickly snapped out of it so she could make her point, "ya are the most amazing, fastest, best flying pegasus this side of Equestria. Not only do ah think ya will make the Wonderbolts, ah [i]know[/i] ya will."

Rainbow Dash's shoulders relaxed at these comforting words. She gave her friend a small smile.

"He-he, thanks Applejack. I always appreciate your comforting words."

Applejack smiled, "Well ah wouldn't be saying it if it weren't true. Ah'm the element of honesty, and I honestly believe in ya."

Rainbow Dash smiled and gave Applejack a friendly hug, which Applejack returned, though with some more affection than Rainbow Dash. She felt so warm in her embrace, so welcome and safe. Rainbow Dash's chest being so close to her own made their beating hearts sound like one, even with the skin-tight Wonderbolts' uniform acting like a thin barrier between the two..

Sure, Applejack was the element of honesty, but she could never be honest about this. She wanted to be, but deep in her heart she knew this relationship would never go beyond the friendship they had. Not that it was a bad thing. Applejack loved having the relationship she had with Rainbow Dash, even if at times she wanted it to be something more. Something more intimate.

For the rest of the day and into the evening, Applejack watched as her friend did her routine. Each time she praised her, saying "good job" or "yer amazing" and even "yeehaw partner! that's what ah'm talking about!"

Once she was done flying, Rainbow Dash bade her friend a good-night and flew off, having no idea of the thoughts running through Applejack's head involving her.

The next couple of days were much the same. Rainbow Dash would stop by in the last afternoon, wearing her Wonderbolts' uniform, and go through her routine. She even managed to perform some newer tricks she just learned. Tricks she read were especially well-received by the Wonderbolts, tricks that made them take notice. But even as Applejack watched the performance, her mind was only focused on the mare performing them. As the day came to a close and the sun began to set, the chilly night air starting to surround the friends, Rainbow Dash left. Applejack would then spend the rest of the night thinking about her.

Finally, the big day came, and Applejack couldn't feel happier for her friend. Rainbow Dash stopped by early in the morning, a pair of goggles strapped around her neck. She was right and raring to go, but Applejack could tell she was suffering from the pre-performance butterflies that so many athletes talked about having. She rested her hoof onto her friend's shoulder and smiled.

"Yer gonna do great sugarcube."

Rainbow Dash returned the smile, "Yeah, I know. Still, I can't help but feel a little nervous."

"That's normal. Why, before any rodeo I compete in ah feel like mah legs are gonna collapse beneath me. But once ya start, everything will be fine."

"I know." Rainbow Dash giggled, before she gave Applejack another hug, "Thanks for being my cheering section."

"N-no problem, sugarcube." Applejack said, returning the hug. Once again, her blush returned and her heart-rate began to increase. She nuzzled her head against Rainbow Dash's neck, something that most friends would do to comfort each other. Rainbow Dash returned the gesture, sending a tingle through Applejack's spine, before she broke the hug off.

"Wish me luck!" Rainbow Dash said with a grin.

"He-he, good luck RD, not that ya need it."

Rainbow Dash jumped into the air and looked down at Applejack, her eyes brimming with the utmost confidence.

"Next time you see me, I'll be a full-fledged Wonderbolt!"

With that Rainbow Dash flew off, leaving Applejack behind, waving to her as her friend flew further and further away until she was nothing but a speck in the distance, trailed by a brilliant rainbow.

Applejack let out a dreamy sigh and turned to her work. But even with so much work to be done, she found herself less productive. Her mind on Rainbow Dash, mentally wishing her luck and imagining her bright face when she'd return later in the day, a shiny, new Wonderbolt uniform on her toned frame.

It was around four o'clock when Applejack saw the familiar streak of rainbow in the sky. She grinned and prepared for her friend to fly over to her, telling her the good news that she made the Wonderbolts.

Applejack took a few steps away from the trees, looking up and saw Rainbow Dash fly towards her.

But something was wrong.

Normally, Rainbow Dash would be coming in at break-neck speed, only to stop right before she would crash into Applejack.

But this time she was coming in at a normal speed. Not flying like a mini, cyan-colored missile. Applejack was confused, but once Rainbow Dash was in view, her attention changed from her slower flying to her face. It wasn't beaming in joy like she expected it to be, not a glimmer of happiness on the pony's face. The goggles weren't even around her neck anymore.

She was about to ask what was wrong when Rainbow Dash landed in front of her and gave her a weak smile, "'Sup AJ, how was your day."

She looked tired, most likely from whatever she had to do during tryouts.

"It was fine," Applejack said, pretending like she wasn't thinking about her friend's predicament, "how did it go?"

Rainbow Dash shrugged, "Eh, it went okay."

"Did ya make it?"

"I don't know. We find out tomorrow they post a list of the ponies that made the cut outside of the training center."

Applejack nodded, but she could tell Rainbow Dash was holding something back. Rainbow Dash didn't cry often, but that was because she always tried to hide it. Normally other ponies could look at her and not assume anything was wrong. But not Applejack, she could read her friend like an open book. Right now she knew there was something she was trying to conceal. Even giving the best poker face possible couldn't prevent Applejack from seeing past the mask.

"RD, is something wrong? Ya seem...ah don't know, upset or something."

Rainbow Dash scoffed, "Pfft, me? Upset? Why would I be upset, I just got back from trying out for the Wonderbolts, something I've always dreamed of doing! I'm not upset, I'm ecstatic! I'm giddy! I'm...I'm..." Rainbow Dash tried to get out one, last word, but she couldn't. Applejack watched as Rainbow Dash's still stoic demeanor changed into one of complete vulnerability. Her eyes began to water; her lower lip began to tremble.

She buried her face in her hooves.

"I DIDN'T MAKE IT!!!!"

Applejack's jaw fell, watching her friend fall to the ground, hooves still covering her eyes as she bawled and bawled. Applejack wasn't sure how to approach this. Here was her friend, her best friend that she cared about more than anything, and she was on the ground sobbing. This wasn't a normal cry; this was the cry of a pony whose hard work and dreams came crashing down around her.

Applejack walked over to her friend, feeling her own eyes well up with tears. She placed a hoof around Rainbow Dash's neck, and then another, before leaning into her and holding her close. Rainbow returned the hug.

For the longest time, both friends remained in each other's embrace, their eyes moist with tears. Rainbow Dash continued to sob as Applejack tried to console her even as she cried a little.

"It's okay RD, it's okay." Applejack said, sniffling a bit. Tears ran down her cheeks and landed on Rainbow Dash's fur.

"I hate myself." Rainbow Dash whimpered.

"Please don't say that."

"I'm...I'm worthless."

Applejack sighed, rubbing her friend's back. Normally hugging her friend would make her feel good and blush, but not now. Not when her friend was such a mess.

"Okay, come on RD; let's get ya to the house." Slowly, Applejack brought her friend up off the tear-soaked ground, and led her over to the house, leading the depressed pegasus through the orchard.

They reached the house and entered. Applejack closed the door and led Rainbow Dash into the living room. The house was quiet. Big Macintosh was working the cart in town, Apple Bloom was having a play-date with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, and Granny Smith was upstairs sleeping.

Applejack led Rainbow Dash over to the couch, comfortable-looking and made of leather. Slowly, the cyan pegasus climbed up onto the soft cushion and lay herself down and buried her face into the seat cushion, letting out a sad sigh.

"Are ya feeling any better, RD?"

"No." Rainbow Dash answered, her voice somewhat muffled by the couch cushion. She turned her head so she could speak clearly. Applejack now got to see her eyes, her sad, depressed, cloudy eyes that had so much pain behind them it broke her heart. "My dreams are over."

"Now RD, don't be talkin' such nonsense. There's always next year, right?"

Rainbow Dash shook her head, "You don't get it, Applejack."

"What do ya mean?" Applejack asked.

"I...I didn't get cut just because of that...I got cut because...."

"Why?" Applejack asked, putting her hoof onto Rainbow Dash's own, letting her know she was there for her.

"I...I can't say." Rainbow Dash said, looking down. Applejack put her hoof under Rainbow Dash's chin and lifted her face up so they were eye to eye.

"Ya can tell me anything sugar-cube. Ah won't think any less of ya."

Rainbow Dash nodded and looked back down. A small sigh escaped her lips.

"I knew one of those pegasi from flight school. And...and they...they remembered me."

"So, ain't that a good thing? Knowing ponies makes it easier ta make friends, don't it?"

Rainbow Dash shook her head, "No it doesn't...not when they know your secret. Something I've been trying to run from for years."

"Secret?" Applejack asked, "What secret?"

"That I'm..." Rainbow Dash said before trailing off, muttering the last bit so quietly that Applejack couldn't hear.

"Beg yer pardon?"

"I'm..." Rainbow Dash said before, once again, chickening out and mumbling the last bit.

"Ah...ah'm sorry ah can't..."

"I'M GAY! OKAY! I'M GAY!" Rainbow Dash screamed, sitting up in the couch. Her face was beet red, her eyes wide and her body trembling. Realizing what she shouted, she suddenly drew back, her eyes changed from angry to sad again. She looked down, trying to avoid Applejack's eye contact. "I was outed my graduation year by one of the punks at my school. I was teased so much, I was called names. I couldn't take it anymore. You've always wondered why I dropped out of flight school? That's the reason. And one of the pegasi I went to school with was at the tryouts today and told everypony. I was so humiliated I...I..."

Rainbow Dash broke down. Not as much as she did outside, but enough to make the most unemotional being want to shed some form of tear.

Applejack was stunned. This wasn't something she expected to ever hear from her friend. She knew Rainbow Dash often didn't fit into the gender stereotype for most mares she knew, but she never would've guessed she wasn't straight.

Rainbow Dash noticed the long silence. Taking at a sign of rejection, she wiped the tears away from her eyes and prepared to leave.

"I'm sure you're weirded out by me now. I'll just go, and not come back." Rainbow Dash started to push herself off of the couch until Applejack, who was back to reality, put her hoof out to stop her.

She pushed Rainbow Dash back onto the couch and hopped up next to her. Rainbow Dash quickly looked away, too ashamed to look into her friend's eyes.

"Rainbow, look at me."

Rainbow Dash shook her head.

"Please look at me."

Sighing, Rainbow Dash complied and looked up at her friend. Applejack had the most caring look in her luminous, green eyes. She didn't looked freaked out or grossed out, she looked sympathetic. Before Rainbow Dash could say anything, Applejack leaned in and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. Rainbow Dash's eyes shot open, full of shock. As quickly as she kissed Rainbow Dash, Applejack pulled away. Rainbow Dash looked at her in astonishment. Now Applejack was the one to look down.

"Ah'm sorry, RD. It's just that ah really like you and ah..." before she could finish her sentence, she was cut off by Rainbow Dash's lips, pressing against her own. Applejack's eyes quickly opened for a split second, before they fluttered closed. Rainbow Dash pushed Applejack onto her back, taking control of the situation and continuing the kiss. It became more intimate as Rainbow Dash and Applejack's mouths opened and their tongues danced around each other.

Applejack couldn't believe this was happening. Her best friend, the mare she loved in shame for the longest time, was now returning her feelings. Slowly, they broke apart a few inches and looked into each other's eyes again, both much more relieved and less down than they were before.

Rainbow Dash smiled, "I love you."

"Ah love ya too." Applejack said, returning the smile with one of her own. Rainbow Dash pushed herself off of Applejack and sat on the end of the couch as Applejack pushed herself back up into a sitting position.

"So they really kicked ya out because ya were outed?"

Rainbow Dash sighed, "Actually, after that jerk told everypony about my secret, I was too embarrassed to stay and tryout. So I left before the first event."

"Ya didn't even try out?"

"No. But it's not like it matters, right? I'm sure they would've kicked me out anyway. I mean, they kicked me off the flight team at school after I was outed, why would the Wonderbolts be any different."

"But how do ya know?" Applejack asked.

Rainbow Dash shrugged, "I guess I don't. But I can't go back there, not now."

"But it's yer dream."

"True," Rainbow Dash said with a sigh before looking up at Applejack. She took her friend's orange hoof in her own, "then again, I did manage to accomplish one of my dreams today."

Rainbow Dash looked up at Applejack and gave her a small smile. She didn't need to say a word for Applejack to know she meant her. The country pony giggled, her cheeks blushing.

"That's real kind of ya sugar-cube."
The two ponies moved closer to each other and kissed one last time before Rainbow Dash fell forward into Applejack's chest. Applejack then leaned back so they were in basically the same position they were in when they kissed, Rainbow Dash laying atop of Applejack. The earth pony slowly stroking the pegasus' mane as the pegasus kept her ear pressed to the earth pony's chest, listening to her heart-beat.

"Ah'll go with ya ta the Wonderbolts tomorrow." Applejack said.

"You don't have to."

"Ah want to."

"What if they don't take me because...you know?"

Applejack let out a soft laugh, Rainbow Dash adjusting herself so she was looking up at Applejack, her chin pressed down against the orange pony's chest.

"Oh sugarcube, if they don't take ya on account of yer sexuality, ah'll treat 'em like one of mah apple trees."

Rainbow Dash giggled, "Thanks Applejack."

The two ponies kissed one last time before resting, Rainbow Dash started to fall asleep, listening to Applejack hum some soothing, freeing song that made her feel like she was in the skies with the Wonderbolts.

Applejack felt herself slowly start to drift off to sleep as well. The worries she had for her crush were gone, making her feel so weightless and free that she felt like she could fly right alongside Rainbow Dash.  Tomorrow she would help her friend, stand by her side as she returned to the Wonderbolts, hopefully to an open spot or, at the very least, another chance to tryout.

But that was tomorrow.

For now, none of that mattered, because they were together, and both mares felt the most accomplished they had in years.

And with that, they both fell asleep in each other's arms, dreaming of the future they had with each other.