//------------------------------// // Chapter One // Story: Out of Style // by Vv_-Carnelian-_vV //------------------------------// "Hey Rarity, if ah' may ask, if you and Sweets there were gonna have to sell your house and live on dem' streets... How come Sweetie Belle would have to go to a foster home? Don't you fillies got parents to take care of ya'll?" Asked Applejack. The question had been burning in her mind since the three of them had begun their walk back to Sweet Apple Acres. She then wanted to take back her question as soon as she saw the looks on the sister's faces. She had obviously put salt in a open wound... She felt a feeling of guilt come over her for making the mare of her dreams feel so bad... even worse for doing the same to her little sister. "They... passed on... It was during the Manehattan epidemic a few years back... They died a week after they contracted the illness and left a letter saying goodbye to us... We were told by the doctor that they had died in peace and didn't feel any pain..." Rarity sniffed a little as she told Applejack. "Dear Celestia, I'm sorry girls... Ah' never knew... I-" Applejack tried to apologized but Rarity just waved her hoof. "It's fine darling, like you said you never knew... I actually was gonna tell you when it happened but we were both so busy at the time... What with you having to fulfill all those ponies with cider and me trying to find work so we could save our home. But... still... thank you again for taking us in..." Rarity said as she hugged Applejack. The apple farmer's face became redder than any apple that had ever grown on the farm in all the years her family had been there. Sweetie Belle gave Applejack a knowing look, causing the earth pony to avert her eyes and blush even redder. "W-well, I-I suppose we should... continue to the farm?" She asked nervously almost not wanting the hug to end. Sadly, Rarity released Applejack from her amazing grip and picked up her bag again with magic. "Yes, we should..." Said Rarity, completely oblivious to the stutter in Applejack's voice. As they made their way towards the farm, Applejack found entertainment in kicking a decent sized pebble across the road with her hoof. Every now and again, she would take a quick glance at the beautiful white-coated mare. She wondered how long Rarity was planning to stay. She supposed that would depend if she admitted her feelings towards the former-seamstress, but she wouldn't do that now... having just brought up Rarity's dead parents... not so much of a good idea to bring up the deep emotions she refused to share with anypony, even with her family, but she supposed that it must've been obvious if Sweetie Belle and her siblings kept on giving her odd looks. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Soon enough they had arrived at the entrance of Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack noticed her sister on the porch working on her schoolwork while supposedly waiting for Applejack and the unicorn sisters to return. About halfway to the porch Applebloom closed a textbook and put it in her saddlebag along with whatever she was working on then, noticing the group walking up to the house, walked over to Applejack. "Hey sis! I finished my homework like you told me to this morning at breakfast, but why are Rarity and Sweetie Belle here?" asked Applebloom as if she hadn't came up with the idea for them to stay here and help out on the farm. "Well dearie... the fashion industry has been changing and my work isn't appraised anymore which meant we had to file bankruptcy and try to sell our possessions and home, but your older sister here came up with the idea to go ahead to let Sweetie Belle and I stay here on the apple farm and help around the house and farm..." answered Rarity, "Oh, yes! Applejack you must be staving, would you like me to make you something? Oh, who am I kidding of course you are! Allow me to make everypony some splendid supper! I'll be in the kitchen!" giving her no time to reply, Rarity dashed into the house while being greeted by Big Mac and Granny Smith. Applebloom looked at both Applejack and Sweetie Belle with a innocent smile on her face. "Be sure to take good care of my older sister Applejack..." stated Sweetie Belle. In response Applejack blushed wildly. "Ah- ah' not a clue what ya'll talkin' 'bout," then after she was sure Rarity couldn't hear them, she glared at them roughly, "... How ya'll lil' varmits guess?" The two crusaders just glared at Applejack. "Really?" they said in unison. Sweetie Belle just rolled her eyes. "Sis, your more obvious than a dragon in the middle of Ponyville," remarked Applebloom while clapping her hoof over her face in shame of her oblivious sister. Applejack smiled nervously at the reactions of the two crusaders... She had guessed that a few ponies had suspicions but never had she guessed that it had been so obvious. She assumed that if these two knew, it was more than likely the rest of her family and friends knew... The very idea scared her half to death. Inside, the three girls heard Rarity, Mac, and Granny Smith having a polite conversation while the smell of sautéed vegetables filled the air. Going inside, they saw a the apple family's grandmother talking to Rarity as she cooked carrots, potatoes, onions, and various spices in a pan as she poured in a tad bit of a oily liquid from a Ivory bottle, making the vegetables sizzle in the skillet. "Geez, Rarity... Wha' cha have in that there bottle? Smells delightful if ah' do say so myself," said Applejack. Rarity looked up and smiled. "Why, it's a specially mixed cooking oil... family secret... my grandmother showed me it before she passed on... old age... it gets passed on to the next in line of the family, normally the eldest. Each bottle is different and meant for different kinds of cooking... It brings a nice memory of her..." replied Rarity in a dreamy voice. "Oh, Applejack, I know this is rude... but could you set the table for me please? I don't want this to burn while I try to navigate through your kitchen..." "Sure thing, Rarity!" Applejack responded in a excited tone. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After eating dinner, which consisted of the vegetables and a shared loaf of bread and apple slices, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were doing the dishes while Applejack and Big Mac went to the stores to get some things for Rarity for her work on the farm. In the meantime, Rarity and Granny Smith were in the living room telling stories and sharing gossip. "... So then, we ended up giving poor Opal to Fluttershy so she could take care of her and the kittens... I wasn't excited about the idea, but Sweetie Belle said it would be best since they would all need a enormous amount of attention and we were both so busy with me finding work and Sweetie Belle crusading for her cutie mark... Fluttershy assured me they would all be fine but I still visit them from time to time," Rarity said in a exhausted tone. She was happy that Granny Smith was willing to listen to her... She had a way of tolerating anypony and even enjoying the company of others. It was... nice to have somepony to appreciated for their character. "Aww, poor dear Rarity... That must've been hard for you..." Granny Smith was impress of how generous and strong the young mare was... for years since Twilight became an Alicorn, Rarity and the others had become more skilled and closer than they had the first day Twilight arrived in Ponyville. Although... one thing kept burning through her mind about the youthful mare... "Rarity, If you wouldn't mind me askin'... but how did you end up out of bussiness?" She asked the former fashionmatist, who in response frowned at the elderly mare. "Oh... I suppose it would be healthy to tell another soul... well... okay... you see... It all started a few years back..."