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"Yes! I knew it!"
Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow, confused by Pinkie Pie's excited reaction. She'd been expecting a lot of different things when she came here and explained her problem, but this caught her off guard.
It wasn't the fact that Pinkie Pie was so eager, that was just Pinkie being Pinkie. The reason for it, however, really caught her attention.
"What do you mean you knew? How?"
"It was so obvious, silly! You and Applejack were always so close, I knew something was going on. And look at you now! I was right! You have a crush on her!"
Rainbow felt her face heat up at the pink mare's words. There was something deeply terrifying about the rest of the world being aware of her deepest secrets, even the ones she didn't know she was keeping.
If Pinkie could see right through her, did everypony else could? Did Applejack?
"Pinkie! You're making her nervous!" Fluttershy reproached as she set the tea on the table. She gave Pinkie Pie a stern look, making the earth pony smile nervously.
"Uh… Sorry?"
Rainbow Dash just sighed. She took one of the tea cups and sipped from it in hopes that would calm her down. Fluttershy's cottage was nice and comfortable, it was the right place to hold a conversation such as this one. And yet not even the sweet animals or the cute decoration could distract Rainbow from the rising anxiety in her chest. Then again, she was never the type to feel at home with anything soft or cuddly, and Fluttershy's house was exactly that.
But she wouldn't have come here had she not genuinely believed her friends could help her in some way. Pinkie and Fluttershy were one of the happiest love stories Rainbow had the pleasure to witness, so surely they knew a thing or two.
"So you like Applejack," Fluttershy started, sitting right next to her girlfriend. "Where do we come into the picture, exactly?"
"I don't know! I just… I didn't know who else to come to. I needed to tell somepony, at least. And you two know what you're doing, right? Otherwise you wouldn't be doing so good."
"I guess we do make a pretty good couple." Fluttershy smiled, side glancing at Pinkie Pie. "But what worked for us might not work for you, Rainbow. I'm not really sure what we can do."
"Just tell me what to do. You guys will know what's best, right?"
The couple looked at each other, evidently unsure.
"Well, we can tell you what we think but it's still up to you. We really can't decide what's best for you and Applejack," Pinkie Pie replied. Then she grinned from side to side. "Personally, I think this is great! Like I said, I already had my suspicions, because you two are some of my best friends so I know you both so well! I knew for the longest time that you would make a great pair, I was just waiting for you two to realize. It was about time!"
Rainbow Dash groaned at the words.
"Is that supposed to make me feel any better? That's just humiliating! Turns out everypony knew I liked Applejack before I even realized it. That's just…" Rainbow bit her lip, feeling exposed and vulnerable. "It's awful. Do you think she knows?"
The thought made her want to move away and change names. But she wouldn't, because then she wouldn't see Applejack anymore and that would surely make her miserable.
"Oh, Rainbow, no. Pinkie is just getting ahead of herself. If it helps, I wouldn't have figured it out if you hadn't told us. And I don't think Applejack is likely to notice." Fluttershy gave her a reassuring smile. It helped, but only so much. "I think what Pinkie meant is that you two make a really good match and she's just happy for you."
Rainbow sighed, resting her chin on her hoof.
"You really think that?" When both of her friends raised an eyebrow, she elaborated, "That we're a good match, I mean."
"Of course! Why wouldn't we think that? You guys are practically soulmates! You have so much in common and have always been really good friends. You're an unstoppable team! Can you imagine how it would be if you were actually together? You could take on all of Equestria!"
At Pinkie's enthusiastic ramble, Rainbow chuckled.
"We could take on more than just Equestria, I'm sure."
"See? A perfect match."
Rainbow wanted to agree with Pinkie. It sounded logical, after all. She and Applejack were almost inseparable those days and it often felt like they could do anything if they were together. But still… it sounded too good to be true.
"I guess…"
"You don't seem so convinced," Fluttershy pointed out, her voice sounding concerned. "Are you alright, Rainbow?"
"I am. I just… I'm not sure Applejack could like me. Like, yes, I'm awesome and all, but I get on her nerves more than any pony I know. She's so hard working and responsible and I'm… a mess." Rainbow Dash looked up and after being met by her friend's surprised faces she quickly became self conscious. Had she really admitted to all those fears so easily? "I-I mean… it's not a big deal or anything. I'm just thinking."
"Oh, Dashie, don't be ashamed! We all get nervous around the pony we like! I was so anxious about Fluttershy figuring out I liked her I didn't even want to admit to it! If Fluttershy hadn't asked me out I don't know if we would even be dating."
Rainbow Dash blinked, confused. Had she heard that right?
"Fluttershy asked you out?"
"Yeah! Did we never tell you about that?"
"I don't think we ever told anypony, really," Fluttershy reminded her partner. "I guess it makes sense for others to assume it was the other way around. I still can't believe I did that."
Rainbow Dash tilted her head. That was unexpected to say the least.
"It's just… Pinkie has always been so… confident and open. I can't imagine her being nervous." She then pointed her hoof at Fluttershy. "And you're probably the shyest pony in all of Equestria! Seriously, I've known you since we were foals and this is just… not what I would expect. I know you're more assertive now and all but still."
Fluttershy began to giggle, amused by Rainbow's confusion.
"I am pretty shy. But I liked Pinkie Pie a lot and I thought it was worth a try," Fluttershy tried to explain. She then looked at her girlfriend and added, "It was by the way."
"Aww." Pinkie Pie hugged her. "That's so sweet."
Rainbow Dash made a gagging noise.
"You both are disgusting."
"Disgustingly cute?" Pinkie suggested, her partner still wrapped under her.
"Yeah. That."
"I'll take it!" The pink mare giggled. "Anyway, it's okay to feel nervous, Rainbow! And it's normal for you to feel so self conscious. I was too. I don't usually care if other ponies think I'm strange or anything but Fluttershy is so quiet! I was so afraid I would overwhelm her with, well, me."
Rainbow's eyes perked up with curiosity.
"You did?"
"I thought I would get on her nerves or something. Sound familiar?"
"And she does get on my nerves," Fluttershy added, to which Pinkie Pie made a sound of agreement as she eagerly nodded. Rainbow's eyes widened.
"She... does?"
"Well, of course! You said it yourself. I'm the shyest pony in Equestria probably, and I'm dating Pinkie Pie."
Rainbow Dash blinked.
"But you seem perfectly happy. How does that work?"
"We are perfectly happy. I love Pinkie, she's a great partner! But we clash and we don't get along all the time. That happens to everypony. It happens to friends, families and yes, even couples. It doesn't mean we love each other any less."
Rainbow reflected on her friend's words. That did make sense.
"So you think I should ask her out?"
"Yes!" Pinkie Pie practically shouted.
"I didn't say that," Fluttershy said next.
Rainbow groaned. She felt like she was going in circles.
"So you don't think I should tell her, Fluttershy?"
"Well… what do you want to do?" Fluttershy asked her. "Is not that I think it's a bad idea. I agree with Pinkie, you both are lovely! But you keep asking us what we think. What about you? Do you want to?"
Rainbow thought about it. She liked Applejack a lot, obviously. How could she not? But actually being with her? That was more… complicated. Rainbow hated complications.
What if she liked being friends with her more than she liked dating her? What if it didn't work out?
"I don't know," she admitted with a huff. "Applejack is great, obviously, and I like spending time with her. But a relationship? I don't mind going out on casual dates and stuff, I've done that before and it's really fun. But Applejack isn't like that. She's my friend. I can't just take it lightly! I have to be sure this is what's right. What if this ruins our friendship or something?"
"Oh, Dashie, don't be silly," Pinkie laughed, making Rainbow Dash frown. "Applejack will always be your friend, whether it works out or not. She's not the type to give up on somepony for something like that. Remember when you and I dated?"
Rainbow glanced at Fluttershy, trying to make sure if this was okay to talk about. The yellow pegasus seemed unbothered so she nodded.
"That was nice, right?" Pinkie continued. "We had a lot of fun and we made some good memories, but it just wasn't meant to be. That didn't stop us from being friends, did it?"
Rainbow reflected on the words for a second. Yet again, it all made a lot of sense.
How bad did Rainbow have to be for Pinkie Pie of all ponies to sound more rational than her? This was starting to wound her pride.
"I guess it didn't. Huh. Have I been freaking out over nothing all this time?"
"It just means you like her, Rainbow." Fluttershy told her in a gentle tone. "There's nothing wrong with that."
After some seconds of silence, Rainbow managed a thankful smile.
"Thanks for talking with me about this, guys. I've been stressing so much ever since I realized I like her! It feels good to get it all off my chest."
"We're here to help!" Pinkie said with a huge grin, taking a sip from her cup.
"Does this mean you know what you want to do?" Fluttershy asked curiously.
Rainbow Dash thought about it. She was nervous, terrified even (not like she'd ever admit to it), but she had always gone with her gut. And right now her gut was telling her only one thing.
"I'm going to talk to her. Not yet, I don't think I'm ready for that, I'll wait until I feel comfortable enough for it. But I will tell her. I want to ask her out."
"Yes!" Pinkie Pie loudly cheered. Rainbow giggled.
"You seem a little too invested in my relationship."
"What can I say? I'm a huge fan of great love stories. Are you not?"
"I don't care for romance." Rainbow said dismissively. Then, she grinned. "But I do really like Applejack."