Basic plot: the Fall Formal is coming up, and Rainbow Dash asks Applejack. However, she receives a message that makes her heart sink.

......

"Will you go to the Fall Formal with me?" Rainbow Dash rehearsed. "No! No...do you want to-- nope...are you free this Saturday--? No, no..." Rainbow let a growl of frustration escape her lips as her hand hovered by the door, poised to knock.

She breathed in, then out, and knocked. A few seconds later, Applejack opened the door and smiled at her nervous friend. "Howdy Dash!"

"Uh- hi, hey, hello Applejack." Rainbow stuttered, fumbling slightly and her face turning red.

"Uhh...ya alright, sugarcube?" Applejack asked, tilting her head to the side gently, her hands on her hips.

Rainbow blushed slightly, suddenly unsure of where to begin, despite rehearsing beforehand. "Uh- right, right...um..." Rainbow inhaled deeply and blurted out suddenly, "willyougototheFallFormalwithme?"

Applejack shook her head slightly, not catching a word her rainbow-haired friend had said. "Uhm...s-slower?"

Rainbow breathed deeply again, before gathering the courage to ask, "will you go to the Fall Formal with me?"

Applejack's deep green eyes widened in shock and her orange cheeks flushed a deep red. Rainbow Dash had just asked her to the Fall Formal. "Oh...wow, um..."

Rainbow Dash's eyes widened at the farm girl's reaction. "Oh! Shoot...I-I get if you're already taken..." Rainbow coughed, not wanting to look at Applejack anymore.

Applejack let out a laugh and Rainbow looked over at her in shock. "Ah ain't taken, Dash. Nobody has asked me." Applejack put her hands on Rainbow's shoulders. "Ah'd love to go to the Fall Formal with yah."

Rainbow's cheeks flushed. "Oh! You will? I-I mean- that's cool, yeah." Rainbow crossed her arms coolly. "See ya there, AJ."

Applejack shook her head and smirked as her date zipped away.

......

It was 8pm, a few hours after Rainbow had asked Applejack. Her head was still ringing, her heart still pounding heavily. She felt giddy as she laughed gently, falling backwards onto her bed. Her little celebration was interrupted when her phone made a noise, notifying her of a text.

She picked up her phone and looked at it. It was from Applejack. She siled gently and opened it.

Dash, ah'm afraid I can't go to the Fall Formal with yah, you see- ah'm really ill. Ah think ah've got the flu or somethin'. Ah'm real sorry.

Rainbow's smile fell and she sighed, not sure whether to reply or not. She decided to leave it and put her phone down, suddenly feeling weak and tired, and soon found herself drifting off to sleep.

......

It was the night of the fall formal, and Rainbow was getting ready with Pinkie Pie, Sunset Shimmer and Fluttershy.

The girls could tell Rainbow was sad, and Sunset decided to speak up. "Dash, I know you're upset Applejack couldn't make it, but I'm sure you can still have fun."

"Yeah! You can hang with me and Flutters, we don't have dates!" Pinkie grinned as Fluttershy nodded gently, brushing her hair.

Rainbow sighed. "Thanks."

......

The four girls arrived at the dance, Sunset meeting up with Twilight Sparkle and the pair went to dance together.

"I'm gonna go eat!" Pinkie announced, sprinting over to the food table.

"Just me and you, huh?" Rainbow said gently, slumping onto one of the nearby chairs.

Fluttershy nodded and sat down gently next to her friend. "I'm sorry Applejack couldn't make it." Fluttershy whispered, Rainbow only just catching what she said over the loud music. "Speaking of not making it...where's Rarity?"

Rainbow looked around. "I don't know...no way would she miss this dance."

Fluttershy turned to Rainbow. "Wanna go join Pinkie Pie?"

Rainbow let out another, exasperated sigh and nodded as she and Fluttershy headed for the food table. Rainbow soon stopped as she spied a familiar face.

"A-Applejack?"

Fluttershy turned and gasped. "Oh no."

"Why would she lie?" Rainbow asked, in utter disbelief, almost wanting to cry. Rainbow tried to get past the many dancing couples to reach Applejack. "AJ!" Rainbow's heart stopped as someone's arm made their way around Applejack's neck.

It was Rarity.

[ 685 WORDS ]

I promise the next will be longer akdbwhd