Enjoy :)

"And over here are the science labs."

Rainbow pointed to said rooms as they walked down the empty school hall. Rainbow was showing Applejack around the school. Rainbow had basically jumped at the opportunity and seemed really eager to be the one that was Applejack's tour guide. Applejack was a bit hesitant, but agreed anyway.

Applejack took a quick peek as they passed by. Her eyes widened at what she saw. Those labs were huge. Desks and tables and sinks and a whole bunch of science-y equipment filled the rooms.

"Wow." She said.

Applejack looked at Rainbow Dash, who was looking at her. Applejack smiled.

"This here school sure is somethin'." She said. "It's much bigger than mah old school."

"What was it like?." Rainbow asked, stuffing her hands into her pockets.

Applejack hummed happily.

"It was pretty ok. The teachers were real nice and nothing much happened. But everyone knew everyone and we were all friends n' got along well."

Rainbow nodded slowly. She looked down  at the ground.

"That's nice." She said, suddenly quiet.

As they walked, Applejack watched Rainbow Dash. She was an observer. She watched people's behavior when she noticed something out of the ordinary for whoever it was. It's how she became a good lie spotter. No one could get away with a lie to Applejack. No one. So when she noticed Rainbow Dash shifting her body around, as if she were in pain or very uncomfortable, she immediately knew something was up.

"You good, RD??." Applejack asked.

Rainbow looked up at her, smiling. She raised an eyebrow.

"RD?."

Applejack blushed. She looked down at the tiled floor.

"Yeah. Ah just thought of that nickname. Yir initials. RD. You don't like it??."

Rainbow nudged Applejack's arm.

"I like it a lot. So that means I get to call you AJ. My nickname for you. Deal?."

Applejack smiled. She held out her hand to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow looked at the hand. She reached out and gripped it in hers. Applejack felt a certain way when Rainbow made contact with her. Her hand felt all tingly and her stomach was filled with butterflies. They shook on it.

"Deal."

They let go and continued down the hall.

"So, RD." Applejack spoke up. "Tell me about yourself."

Rainbow laughed. "I could go on and on. Trust me. You'll come to see just how awesome I am. But sure. I'll give you some details about the amazing, awesome Rainbow Dash."

Applejack rolled her eyes, although she had a smile on her face. Good grief. Rainbow started off on a whole documentary about herself, her achievements, her likes and dislikes, her favorite foods and sports, and even her goals for the future that she was certain would happen.

"One day I'm gonna be part of the world famous track and gymnastics team, The Wonderbolts."

Applejack snorted.

"The wonderbolts?? The most famous team ever??. The one that won the Olympic Games this year??."

Rainbow gave a nod, a proud smile on her face.

"Yup. Once they see my amazing skills, they'll be begging for me to join them in no time. I can try out when I turn 18 in a year."

Applejack chuckled. "That'd be pretty cool. What does yir family think about that??."

Applejack watched as Rainbow went quiet for a moment. Rainbow tensed up a little, going serious. She smiled a little, although Applejack could tell it was forced.

"Um......" Rainbow started. "My dad is okay with it. He doesn't really care what I do for a living as long as I'm happy and not out doing illegal stuff or in jail."

Rainbow chuckled, still looking at the floor.

"Actually. I think he'll be happier when I move out, but at the same time he doesn't want me to go."

Applejack smiled.

"Worried about his little girl growin' up and leavin' him?. Mah dad was the same way when ah moved out of mah house a few months back. Don't worry. He'll get over it when you do leave your house ta live on your own."

Rainbow slowly nodded, not saying anything. Applejack frowned.

"Hey. You ok??. As soon as ah mentioned yir family, you kinda tensed up."

Rainbow shot her a flashy smile, standing up taller.

"Heh. Nah, I'm fine. Just..... um.... I don't really like to talk about my parents.  My mom died when I was young."

Applejack's gasped quietly. She stopped, taking a hold of Rainbow's arm to stop her as well. She gently grabbed Rainbow's upper arm. Rainbow Dash hissed in pain and flinched.

"Ow." She yelped.

"Sorry!." Applejack immediately said, worried she'd hurt Rainbow.

Rainbow cradles her left arm, shaking her head.

"Don't be. You didn't hurt me. I just had a bit of an accident this morning. I slipped and hit the floor and fell on my arm."

She chuckled. "I guess it was a bad idea to slide around the floor with socks, huh?."

Applejack frowned deeper. "Rainbow. Ah know that's a lie. Literally no one can get a lie pass me. I can tell when anyone is lying. No matter how hard they try ta play it off. Can you tell me how ya really got hurt??."

Rainbow's eyes widened. She smiled.

"Do you have a super power or something?? That's so cool. How can you tell a lie??." She gushed.

Applejack shrugged. "Ah don't know. Ah've always had this ability. Mah dad says ah'm special because of it."

Rainbow visibly relaxed.

"What's your dad like??. Is he nice? What about your mom??."

Applejack sighed, a smile on her face.

"Mah dad is awesome. He's big and strong and kind and he's mah best friend. He's so supportive of me n' he accepted me completely when ah came out to him."

"Came out??." Rainbow asked. "You're not straight?."

Applejack shook her head. "Nope. Ah like girls."

Rainbow smiled. "Me too."

Her smile slowly faded into a frown. She looked back down at the floor. Applejack noticed.

"What's wrong, RD??."

Rainbow shook her head. "Doesn't matter." She mumbled.

She turned to walk away. A hand suddenly grabbed her arm. Rainbow immediate flinched in response.

"Rainbow."

Rainbow looked up to see Applejack looking at her, a worried expression on her face.

"Please, Rainbow. Ah know something's botherin' ya. You can tell me. Maybe it'll make ya feel better ta get it off yir chest."

Rainbow sighed and then shook her head. "It's nothing, AJ. Just leave it alone. I don't wanna talk about it. Please."

Rainbow gave Applejack a pleading look. Applejack knew something was bothering her new friend. Something was wrong, but if Rainbow wouldn't tell her, she couldn't force her to. She sighed in defeat.

"Alright." She said. "But if you need to talk to me, just text me or call me."

Rainbow grinned. "No problem, AJ. You'll be the first person I talk if I need anything."

Applejack was happy with at least that. The two girls continued down the hall, just as the bell for dismissal rang.
--------------------

The next Monday, Applejack woke up with a weird feeling in her stomach. She couldn't shake the strange bad feeling like something was wrong. She had gotten out of bed and turned her ceiling fan on, the light filling the whole room. Applejack yawned as she walked over to her dresser. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was a hot mess. Applejack quickly brushed her long, blond hair out. She walked out of her room, to go take a shower.

As she did, her mind wandered to Rainbow Dash. It made her smile. She and Rainbow had quickly hit it off. That whole week the two of them were like peas in a pod. Applejack thought it was safe to say that Rainbow Dash was her best friend. Well, all the girls were her best friends, but Rainbow was special. They were the closest.

They had bonded over their mothers passing away. They both liked sports. Rainbow was a sports fanatic, though. They were her life. She always carried around a soccer ball and always wore her jacket, which Applejack hadn't noticed until the third day of seeing her. That ball was Rainbow's baby. She protected it with her life. Some guy from the football team tried to take it from her and she growled at him, daring him to try that again. The guy had backed off, his hands raised in surrender.

It was quiet a sight. Other than that, Rainbow was also a cocky little thing. Applejack listened to her ramble on and on about herself numerous times. How awesome she was. How great her track and soccer skills were. She and Twilight played a game. Dash won by a long shot and claimed, "of course you lost. I'm awesome." as if it was obvious. Applejack had just rolled her eyes. But she knew Rainbow Dash wasn't a complete air-headed jock that only cared about herself. Rainbow was actually very loyal and trustworthy.

Although, at times, she was overly loud.  Applejack noticed right away. Rainbow talked to get attention. The other girls had confirmed that for her. Rainbow loved to hear herself talk about herself all the time. Awesome and cool and amazing and the best. It somewhat drove Applejack crazy. She didn't exactly like self-centered people. But Rainbow wasn't completely like that, so she let it slide.

Plus, Rainbow was beautiful as heck.

Applejack felt herself blush as she got out of the shower. She shook sighed, shaking her head, trying to get that girl out of her head. After she got dressed and got her school things together, she went down to the kitchen. She made herself a bowl of cereal and devoured it before she left for school. She drove down the street, the radio on. It was a pretty warm early morning. The sun was peeking over the horizon.

The fresh air felt amazing blowing through her hair. But it couldn't get rid of the bad feeling in her stomach. She just knew something was wrong, somewhere.

She slowed down and stopped at a red light. Applejack sighed. She suddenly heard her phone ringing. Applejack looked around for it. She spotted it in the cupholder and quickly picked up and looked at the ID. RD. Rainbow Dash?. What was she calling her so early in the morning??.

"What the heck?."

Applejack pressed the answer button and then the speaker.

"Rainbow?."

"Applejack." Came Rainbow's voice.

The light turned green. Applejack put her phone in her lap. She kept on driving.

"What's up??." She asked. "Ah'm kinda drivin' right now."

"Um....... C-Can you come pick me up??. My dad can't take me today."

From the way Rainbow's voice cracked, Applejack could tell something was wrong.

"You ok?." Applejack questioned, knowing for a fact that something was wrong.

"Yeah. I'm fine. I just need you to pick me up..... please....."

"Alright, RD. Send me yir address and ah'll be there in a few."

"Ok. Thanks, AJ. Bye."

"Bye."

Applejack hung up. She pulled the car over and parked on the side of the road. She picked up her phone. A minute later she got a text from Rainbow Dash. Applejack looked at the address. It wasn't far from where she was, conveniently. Applejack put the address into her phone's GPS app and off she went.

The entire ten minute drive Applejack couldn't help but worry. What was Rainbow hiding?? Why was she lying to her??

Applejack soon pulled up to a two-story baby blue house. It was pretty nice. Plants and small statues out on the porch. The outside of the house was clean. The front lawn was mowed. A stone path way the led to the porch. Stone pillars.

Suddenly the front door opened. Rainbow Dash, with her backpack slung over one shoulder, came rushing out. She all but ran to the car. She looked over her shoulder before opening the door and practically jumping into the passenger seat.

"Thanks." Rainbow said, slightly out of breath. "Let's get out of here."

Rainbow locked the door and looked up at Applejack. Applejack couldn't help the quiet gasp that escaped. Rainbow had a bruise on her left cheek.

"Rainbow." She said.

Rainbow looked down at her lap.

"Can we please not talk about it right now?? Can we please just get away from here??."

Applejack swallowed hard. She nodded.

"Ok."

They drove away from Rainbow's house. The ride was quiet and short. The seven minutes it took to get to school went by fast. Applejack had to restrain herself from asking where the bruises came from. When they got to the student parking lot, Applejack found a parking spot. She parked and locked the doors. She looked over at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow was sitting rigidly, staring at her lap.

"Rainbow." Applejack said. "Please talk ta me. Look me in the face, at least."

Rainbow Dash slowly lifted her head. She looked at Applejack. She had a hard look in her eyes. Applejack knew that look. She'd seen it many times with people trying to shut others out and put up walls to protect themselves. Applejack took off her seatbelt, not breaking eye contact with Rainbow. They sat there in silence for a moment, neither looking away. Finally, Applejack broke eye contact. She noticed that Rainbow Dash's lip was busted as well.

Her eyes continued down. She looked at Rainbow's arms. This was the first time ever seeing Rainbow without her jacket. Her arms were skinny, but toned. She looked like she worked out a little. Nothing too impressive. But the thing that caught Applejack's attention was the hand mark around left arm and the bruise on her right upper arm.

Applejack looked up at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow was staring at her, her jaw clenched, waiting for her to say something.

"Who did this to you?." Applejack asked quietly. "Ah'm not stupid, so don't tell me you fell down some steps, because steps don't leave hand marks. Ah want the truth, RD."

Applejack felt her heart break as she saw Rainbow's eyes water up. Rainbow blinked, the tears slowly streaming down her face. Rainbow looked away.

"I can't tell you. I don't want them to be in trouble with the police again."

"Rainbow." Applejack said a bit more sternly. "How long had this been goin' on?."

Rainbow at her lap. She was fiddling with her phone.

"A few years." She admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

She sniffled and wiped her tears away. She sniffled again.

Applejack finally understood. This is why Rainbow acted so full of herself. To hide the misery she had to endure. This is why she wanted attention, she got hurt by someone who was suppose to love her. This is why she wore her jacket all the time. To hide the evidence of what was going on.

Applejack felt so angry. She couldn't believe someone would hurt Rainbow Dash. Rainbow didn't deserve any of that. Applejack watched Rainbow as she slowly came undone. The tears kept coming, her face twisting in agony and suffering. Rainbow brought her knees up to her chest and rested her head on her knees. Quiet sobs filled the silence.

This wasn't Rainbow Dash. This wasn't the chill, laid back care-free and happy girl Applejack had come to know her as. This girl before her was a broken, lost and afraid person. Applejack couldn't help but reach out to her. Applejack gently placed it on Rainbow's arm. Rainbow lifted her head, sniffling. She wiped her face.

"Um. Sorry."

Applejack shook her head.

"Don't be. It's alright to cry."

Rainbow looked at her. Applejack gently took one of her hands in hers. She squeezed it a little.

"Rainbow." Applejack said. "Tell me everythin'. Please. Ah want you ta be safe and happy. If you need help, ah'm more than willing ta help you. But you need to talk to me. Ok??."

Rainbow nodded.

"Who did this??." Applejack asked.

Rainbow opened her mouth, but closed it immediately. She looked off to the side.

"Look at me, Rainbow." Applejack said quietly.

Rainbow did.

"Who did this??." Applejack asked again.

Rainbow sighed. She swallowed hard, her hands rubbing her skirt in a nervous tick.

"My....... dad."

Applejack wasn't surprised. It all made sense now.

"Why does he do it??."

Rainbow looked down at her lap.

"He didn't take my mom's death very well. He blames me for it. But she was shot during a heist at a store. She died protecting me from the bullet. My dad hates me now. And I'm gay and he hates gays. So that's another reason."

Applejack shook her head slowly in disbelief.

"You don't deserve what he does to you." She said. "You could never deserve this pain."

Rainbow sniffled and shrugged.

"I just want it to stop." She said, her voice cracking. "I hate my life. He's a terrible person and he puts me down all the time and now I can't think of anything good about myself and he just refuses to listen to me. I just want him back."

She shrugged.

"I just want him to love me again."

Applejack felt her heart break again. She squeezed Rainbow's hand.

"Ah can help you, Rainbow. Just let me in."

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah. Please. I want it to stop."

"It will stop." Applejack promised. "Don't worry. You're not alone."

She reached out with her other hand and touched Rainbow's tearstained cheek. She wiped a tear away.

"You're safe now."

Rainbow smiled brokenly. "Thank you."

Applejack pulled her hand away. She missed the contact as soon as it ended. Applejack cleared her throat.

"C'mon. Let's get inside."

They got their stuff and got out. The two walked into the building. As they walked, Rainbow grabbed Applejack's hand. Applejack looked at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow was walking with her head held high, shoulders back, with fake confidence. Applejack squeezed her hand.

The two walked down the hall. Rainbow got a few stares from people that knew her. She and Applejack spotted their friends. The girls noticed them and approached them.

"Hey, girls." Sunset Shimmer greeted with a smile.

The girls gasped when they saw Rainbow.

"What happened to you??." Fluttershy asked, clearly worried.

Rainbow looked away, not wanting to answer the question. She looked to Applejack for help. Applejack understood. She looked at the rest of her friends.

"Rainbow's dad has been abusin' her for a long time now."

The girls gasped. They looked at Rainbow Dash.

"Are you joking??." Twilight asked, shaking her head, horrified at the idea.

Rainbow shook her head. She looked up at the group.

"I'm so sorry I didn't tell you guys. I-."

"No need to explain, darling." Rarity spoke up. "We did need an explanation."

"What do we do?." Fluttershy asked.

"We tell the principal." Applejack said. "They'll call the cops and then we'll se from there. But for now, ah'm takin' Rainbow to Principal Celestia's office."

"You sure we can't come with you??." Twilight asked.

Rainbow nodded. "You'll all only be sent to class. Too many people. Go. I'll be fine with Applejack."

The girls reluctantly gave in and they went to homeroom, not before each of the gave Rainbow a big hug and words of encouragement and support. Afterwards, Rainbow and Applejack walked to the principal's office. Principal Celestia, as soon as she found out about what happened, called the cops and Child services.

They talked to Rainbow Dash and questioned her about her dad. Soon enough, she was being treated for her bruises. Police were sent to Rainbow's dad's job and arrested the man. Rainbow looked beyond relieved when she found out her dad had been arrested.

The child services told her that she had since she couldn't live by herself, she had to be with another relative because of the fact that she was a minor. Rainbow's uncle, Strike, lived in Canterlot as well. He was called and he came immediately. The two hugged when they were reunited.

He was told the situation. Strike immediately agreed to let Rainbow live with him and she could still go to the same school. The girls were relieved. After all that Rainbow was taken to the hospital to get checked out for any other injuries and x-rays. Applejack rode with her in the ambulance. She had given Twilight her car key so the girls could take her car to her house.

Applejack sat there watching Rainbow Dash. The girl's eyes rapidly looked around, almost panicking. Applejack wondered if she'd ever been in an ambulance before. Rainbow looked so small compared to the adults and the giant equipment around them. The EMTs asked her question after question. Where was she hurt? How old is she? What's her name? Did her dad ever hurt her sexually?

After a while, Applejack noticed Rainbow was wandering off in her mind. Applejack took that opportunity.

"Excuse me?." She said to the EMTs, getting their attention.

"Yes?." One woman said.

"Ah think that's enough questions fir now, if ya don't mind." Applejack motioned to Rainbow Dash. "You're kinda overwhelming her."

The EMTs backed off a bit, but continued to do their job. Rainbow Dash relaxed a bit at the space she was given. She looked at Applejack, grateful.

"Thanks." She said.

Applejack smiled. "Anythin' for you."

Applejack noticed Rainbow began to blush. Rainbow cleared her throat, breaking eye contact.

"Sorry you got dragged into this." Rainbow apologized. "You didn't have to come with me to the hospital, you know."

Applejack made a pshh sound.

"And leave you alone?? No way."

Applejack reached out and took Rainbow by the hand.

"You'll always have me, Rainbow. Ah'm sorry ah didn't notice any of this b'fore."

"You couldn't have known." Rainbow shrugged. "I've kept it a secret for so long. I guess today was the day the truth was meant to come out. I knew I couldn't hide it forever, no matter how much I believed I could get through this on my own until I was old enough to move out. Now you know."

She sighed, making Rainbow look worn out.

"I'm sorry. For everything. I should've told you and the others what was going on. I was just-."

"Rainbow." Applejack interrupted gently. "Ya don't have ta explain yourself to me. Ah don't blame ya. This wasn't yir fault."

Rainbow shrugged and looked away.

"It probably is my fault. I brought this upon myself, since I never got help and covered it up for him. I lied to everyone all the time about how I was feeling and everything. I pretended to be happy and cool and whatever, while in reality, I was terrified everyday to go home cuz I knew I'd get beaten that night for no reason. It's my fault it went on for so long."

"No!." Applejack argued. "Rainbow, look at me."

Rainbow slowly turned her head and looked at Applejack. Applejack moved closer.

"This wasn't yir fault, RD. Ah don't know the full story, but ah know that you didn't cause this. It's yir dad's fault. You were afraid and that's why you never spoke up. That's normal. Nothing wrong with bein' scared, RD. We all have secrets and let our fears get the better of us. So don't beat churself up about this, ok??. It's not fair to you. You did nothing to deserve what yir dad has done."

Rainbow grinned a little.

"Alright. Thanks."

Applejack wrapped her arms around Rainbow in a warm, safe embrace. She felt a strong need to protect Rainbow. Rainbow Dash hugged back, burying her face in Applejack's shirt. She sighed, relaxing in Applejack's arms. Applejack felt her relax and rubbed her back. Applejack made a promise to herself. She'd protect Rainbow Dash from anyone hurting her like that again.

So yup. Let me know yir thoughts in the comment section :)