//------------------------------// // I'm Looking Through You // Story: Not So Quiet on the Set // by IDigAPony //------------------------------// A soft knock sounded on the door to Rarity’s dressing room. “Come in” she said over her shoulder as she combed her mane. The door opened and the large red Clydesdale entered. “Big Macintosh! To what do I owe the pleasure?" She turned and looked at him seductively "And speaking of pleasure, how about a quickie, darling?” Big Mac froze for a moment. “Did you just say what I think I heard? A quickie? You and me? Rarity, just what in tarnation are you talkin' about? Do you know how crazy you sound?  How crazy all of us sound?  I said it before," he paused then continued "and I’ll say it again - this whole idea is bad.” “And what idea would that be?” “Our actin' like a bunch of idiots.” “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Rarity said, primping her mane. “Really?” “Yes Mac, really.  Our behavior is perfectly normal for young stars on the rise. We are jaded young ponies who live in the moment and grab all the sex, drugs, and fun that we can.” “Come on Rarity. You know the two of us were not going to have a quickie, even though you pretended to ask me to, but that is what I wanted to warn you about. 10 minutes ago Applejack told me she has had it and she’s coming for you.  She’s putting on that Applejewel getup and the makeup and is on her way here.  She said not to bother showering, she’s going to dive right in.” The large stallion said, rolling his eyes. “Oh excellent - finally I’ll get that hot blonde pony!  It’s like a dream come true!”  She winked at Mac “Get it?  I must say I’m getting all, well you know, excited just thinking about her and me frolicking...” “Easy there, you’re talkin about my little sister.” “You’re hot little sister!  Was I being too graphic?  I’m told that being graphic in your daily discussion in Ponywood is “tres chic.” “It’s the whole thing.” “My dear Big Macintosh, I know this seems quite strange, but face it, we are stars, and when we arrive in Ponywood, we really have to hit the ground running.” “Well that’s good, because AJ is really on her way over here in that getup expecting you to deliver on all the hot sex talk. I ain’t kidding Rarity.  She said to tell you…” he paused and looked up, struggling with the words.  He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “that she’s been... “ he paused again. “Mmmm- oh the hay with it.  gettin warmed up.”  Big Mac shivered as though he’d seen something vile. “Oh that’s marvelous!  I-” “You still ain't gettin' it are you?  She really is on her way here to have sex with you. Honestly.  In about 2 minutes she is going to come through that door and she said you had better to be ready to deliver.” “No," Rarity giggled uncertainly "she’s just getting into character as we all have, doing her best to please me and ensure our welcome in Ponywood as the new hot young starlets.” “Nope.  She means to have real hot sex with you.” “Y-you’re not kidding are you?” Rarity asked nervously. “Uh nope, I ain’t.  She said if we’re going to talk the talk we better be ready to walk the walk, so she’s hot and bothered and expects you to be the same.” “You mean that Applejack - your sister, sweet little Apple Bloom’s sister, one of my dearest friends really want’s to…” she swallowed hard before squeaking out the words.  ...have sex with me?!   Oh for goodness sake, why? That’s simply ridiculous!  I refuse to believe it.  Thi-this is not part of the plan.  We’re only supposed to talk about it!  Not actually do it!!”  The milk white pony began to pace nervously.  “Whatever has gotten into that sweet pony’s head?  She hasn’t actually been taking real drugs has she?  Please tell me that she hasn’t.”  Tears started to form in Rarity’s eyes as she looked up at the big Clydesdale.  “Wait!”  she sniffed,  “...the safe word!  I-I just have to say the safe word that we all agreed on and everything is fine!  Oh but that blows the whole charade!  I simply must remind her that once we get behind closed doors, we can relax” BANG BANG BANG came the sound of a hoof hard against the door. “Ahhhh!” screamed the fashionista. Applejack, standing outside of the dressing room, yelled at the door. “RARITY?!!”  Came the voice from outside. “I’m hoping you’re ready, bitch, cause here comes AJ!!”  Applejack yelled from outside the dressing room. “You best be, cause I’m dressed up and I got that thing you sent me...” Applejack stood outside, staring at the dressing room door. Suddenly the door flew open and a white hoof reached out, grabbed the honey blonde pony and yanked her inside. The door slammed shut behind her. “Oh that was great!” Rarity said nervously,  “Wouldn’t the Ponywood tabloids have a field day?  That was splendid Applejack, simply first-rate!”  Rarity’s smile was weak and trembling.  Applejack’s was firm, her eyes full of desire and purpose. The young blonde earth pony stood there looking absolutely stunning, though her manner and words seemed a bit incongruous with her wardrobe.. “Rarity, I reckon you know why I’m here.” “Well, I understand the purpose of your visit and your objective was well met, but sweetie you’re starting to scare me.  You’re a little too believable.” “Well you best believe it ‘cause I’m only here for one reason, to make good on my word. To do it!” “But of course darling, you’re the element of honesty.”  Rarity sighed in relief.  “You would never say things that are not true.  You’ve said you’re going to make me happy,  and to, as you say, ‘do it.’”  Rarity whispered “You are so clever with your wordplay, I’ll have to remember that”  Then she returned to her normal speaking voice. “I suppose you’d say you’re here to please me and to make me happy in all sorts of ways.  I know you will my darling, as I will please you.” “Oh, I get it...”  Applejack said with an air of realization  “...you think that I’m saying how I’m gonna fool around with you in a clever way so that I don’t have to really have sex with you while technically not be tellin’ a lie.  Is that about right?” Rarity glared at her for divulging the clever plan. “Well, yes, I suppose…” “Then let me put it another way -”  Applejack closed her eyes in concentration, preparing for her recitation, clearly determined to get the words right.  After a moment she opened them, looked at the somewhat puzzled face of her friend and spoke. “I’m...I’m hot for your curt, baby!”  Applejack started, slowly moving toward her.  At first Rarity blushed but that was quickly followed by an expression of confusion.  After a moment the confusion cleared. “Cunt darling, the word is cunt.” Rarity said, kindly. “No, I’m pretty sure it’s curt. Leastways  that’s the word on them sheets you handed out.”  Applejack reached into her saddlebag and pulled out two dog-eared well-worn pieces of paper that were stapled together and had been rolled up lengthwise. “See for yourself, sugarcube.”  she said, handing them to her friend.   Rarity took them and scanned the sheet. “Oh great!” Rarity swore. “Derpy!  Rrrr! What else is wrong?” she scanned the paper. Applejack swatted the sheets out of her hoof, and slowly closed in, “I'll tell you what else is wrong, you and I are still gabbing and ain't makin' hot animal love, that our muzzles ain't buried between each other's..." "Th-that's quite enough darling, I, uh..." Rarity said trembling as she retreated backwards.         “And sweetcheeks,”  Applejack went on, “... that’s just for starters.  After that I’m gonna take this here ding-dong you sent over and…” Rarity rolled her eyes. “Dill-doh darling, it’s called a dildo.  I know I spelled that right!” Applejack, reaching into her saddle bag, trying to stifle a laugh. “I can’t say that word without laughing.  Anyway round two is gonna be playtime with THIS!”  Applejack said as she slammed a rather impressive pink rubber phallus on the table with a solid whap.. It's base was rather large and it was completely equipped. This allowed it to remain upright as it waved back and forth on the tabletop. Big Mac blushed as much as a red stallion could, and turned, unable to look upon the scene before him.  Rarity’s mouth dropped open, her eyes bulged wide and a funny noise came out of the back of her throat as she watched the thing wave back and forth on the table. “Oh my!” Rarity said, her head recoiling slightly.  “I-I’d forgotten just how large that was..." she said, her head swaying in a kind of hypnotic synchonization as she watched the flesh colored metronome move back and forth.  "In, uh, any event It was, uh, meant to be left surreptitiously around your bungalow in case you had a visit from one of your new Ponywood movie stars friends." She forced herself to look away from it and back toward her friend. "That way they’ll know that you, and by extension us, belong.” “Oh, I’ll show them I belong all right.  Now do you want to do me first or should I do you?  Applejack said trying to picking up the impressive phallus. It's base was slightly concave and so it had stuck to the glass table top. Finally with a great sucking POP, it came free. She turned and began approaching the trembling unicorn. The head of the long rubbery dildo waved randomly in the air as though sniffing for a target.  Rarity’s eyes flew open even wider and she continued backing away.  Big Mac, knowing his sister, just stood and stared, smiling at her antics. Applejack brought the weaving pink head right up to Rarity’s face, causing her to go cross-eyed. Then she tipped it forward and ran it up and down her friends horn, an organ with a high concentration of nerve endings. Rarity’s eyes rolled back in her head and she shuddered in pleasure.  Her eyes opened suddenly in fear and she called out the safe word. “Tom!!” Applejack stopped and let out a huge sigh. “Thank Celestia! That was sure scary. You sure waited long enough!” “I cannot believe you were really going to do those things!  Whatever for?” “‘Cause I’m hungry for you!” Applejack said sarcastically.   “Why the hay do you think so?!  Because I HATE this!  I wanted to teach you a lesson.”   Rarity stood, looking at her.  The expression on her face was one that was vaguely familiar to  Applejack, but she couldn’t remember from where. "What?” the farm pony asked, puzzled. “Nothing, I’d just forgotten how amazing you are in that gown and with your makeup.” Rarity said with a smile. Applejack suddenly looked worried, then held the swaying phallus up between their faces. “Don’t make me use this!” After a moment, all three ponies suddenly burst out laughing. “Look Rarity I know you read up on all the crazy things the big stars do in Ponywood, but that just ain’t us!!  I mean telling Pinkie to pretend she’s having an imaginary affair with me?  Pretending to have an affair with somepony as a gag I get.  Imagining you’re having an affair because you’re just not right in the head, I kinda get.  But pretending to have an imaginary affair?  Even Twilight’s confused by that one. And making us all pretend to hate each other, especially Twilight because she’s the star?  I love Twilight and I love you.  Why are you making us do this?!”  Applejack was getting worked up again.. “Because we are major stars all over Equestria and beyond!  If Derpy hadn’t discovered that all our fan mail was going to Poneville instead of Ponyville, we might never have known, bless her. There was tons of it Applejack, TONS I tell you!!  And now we are about to go to Ponywood make a MOVIE!!”  Rarity yelled back.  “We are going to Ponywood to shoot a full length multi-million bit feature film!  We simply have to act the part.  When I presented this idea to all of you, I thought we all agreed!  We want to fit into our roles as major celebrities!”         “I think I oughta be telling Princess Celestia about all this nonsense!”         “Don’t you DARE!”  Rarity growled. Then she drew a breath and calmed herself. “Darling, I agree that it’s awful behavior, but from all those the magazines that I asked Coco to send me from Manehattan, it’s clear that the really big stars out there behave abominably.  You do want to be a big star and not have them laughing at us, don’t you?  And if you don’t, then don’t deny those of us who do want to belong!” “I ain’t sure I do.  I told you that Fluttershy won’t even come out of her cottage.” “Well… yes.  She is playing her part as the quiet one  the press love that sort of thing. Oh, we simply must remember to spread lots of rumors about her struggles with drugs.” “This is crazy!”,yelled Big Mac. “I told you Rarity, that I did NOT support that part of your plan. If anypony upsets Fluttershy…”  He glared at Rarity.   “And you’ve got Pinkie saying she’s taking those drugs?  What is that stuff anyway?”,  asked Applejack “Ponywood Exposed says it’s a fashionable drug that all the rich housemares take, not to mention the big starlets.” “And Scoltch?  Pinkie gets looped on day old cider!  How the hay you ever gonna convince them folks in Ponywood that she drinks Scoltch?” “Don’t you understand?  She is supposed to be bipolar!  Up one minute and down the next.” “BUT SHE’S NEVER DOWN!!  How you gonna explain that?” “Easy - with some kind of crytsal.” “Crystal?  Like a magical crystal?  Twilight says those things are outlawed.” “No, no it’s a drug - crystal something, I don’t remember.  In any case it’s supposed to make you quite hyperactive.” “HYPERACTIVE?!! Sweet mother of Celestia!  Are you out of your trendsetting mind?!  She’ll explode!  Twice!”  Applejack ranted, breathing hard and glaring. “Do you really think I’m trendsetting?” “RARITY!” brother and sister yelled. “Sorry.  Anyway, she isn’t really going to take them.” “And what happens when they find out?” “That’s the best part - we all go into something called rehab!  It’s supposed to make you look fabulous when you come out.  It’s a like a spa -a makeover.of sorts.” “Look,” Applejack said, her voice adopting a more reasonable tone, “those ponies out there can’t be all that different from us.  We’ve been as far as Dodge Junction and Appaloosa and I didn’t notice any difference ‘tween them and us.  - And what about Manehattan?  We were fine there.” “Don’t tell me you’re comparing those two little cow towns to Ponywood!  And as far Manehattan, face it, we were just tourists, nothing more.  We didn't get to really know the ponies that live there, just the other tourists. The only Manehattan ponies we met were the cab driver and the bellhop. Who knows what they’re really like?  We simply cannot act like rubes when we arrive in Ponywood.  It’s a fast crowd that will leave us in the dust if we arrive clueless.  And then they’ll write about it, - and take it from me darling, once you establish a reputation as a goody four-hooves, you really need to start acting like a sex-crazed, drug addicted, alcohol-swilling non-stop party-pony spoiled brat, to get any respect.” “Well what happens when Princess Celestia and Luna find out?” “As I explained darling - what happens in Ponywood, stays in Ponywood.” “But I thought you said that we need to get our faces, not to mention other parts, in the tabloids.  What do you reckon will happen when Celestia or Luna go to Manehattan?   We just finished the season, they’re bound to go on a vacation!  You know how Celestia loves musicals and how excited Luna about that Comic-Con thingy.  She couldn’t stop talking about it when we were shooting the "Magical Sheep" episode.  I don’t recollect the date, but if it’s after we get to Ponywood, and the tabloids start writing them things about us and she sees a copy on a newsstand…  Well, things could get a might ugly.” Rarity froze and her eyes opened wide.. “Oh…I hadn’t considered that.” “Yeah, well neither did I until a second ago. I reckon my brain is racing something fierce.  I don’t mind saying I was a might scared that I was really gonna hafta have sex with you.  My head was goin just as fast so I was just babbling and all the ideas about what could happen just came a-pourin out.”   Applejack sat down, closed her eyes and let out an enormous sigh. She glanced at Rarity.  “Aww, don’t look so sad sugarcube, it was a good idea and I know you were just trying to help us.” Rarity’s eyes had welled with tears and she looked down at the ground.  She was silent, but Applejack could see she was about to cry.. “Uh, AJ?”  Big Mac’s voice was soft. “Yeah Mac?” “I don’t think us cancelling the crazy ways behavior idea is what Rarity is upset about.”  He looked over at the white unicorn.  “That right Rarity?” Rarity didn’t look up, she just nodded. “Well what in tarnation is she upset about?!  All I said was I was babbling because I was so terrified at the thought of…”  Applejack stopped, her mouth hanging open.  Her eyes slowly got wider and then she closed them, lowered her head and shook it slowly at her own stupid insensitivity. She walked over to her friend, put her hoof under the snow white chin and lifted it slowly.  She looked into Rarity’s tear-filled eyes and felt her heart sink.  She spoke to her friend softly.. “Rarity, I am so sorry.  I didn’t mean that.  Truth is, I reckon part of of the reason my racing heart was because I was afraid how much I wanted to, you know...” “No you didn’t, you’re just saying that.” Rarity said, her voice strained with emotion. “You think I’m ugly.” she said dramatically, pulling her head away and staring back down at the ground.  Her shoulders shook as she started to cry. Applejack looked wordlessly at her big brother, her expression desperate on her face.  He gave her a look of reproach, turned away and left, pulling the door closed behind him. Applejack stared angrily at the closed door. She sighed. “Rarity, you know you are gorgeous, you’re the prettiest one of the mane 6 for corn sakes!” “But you don’t think so!  You were terrified you might have to have sex with me!” She bawled, turning her head away. “I was just saying that for Mac’s sake. Actually, I’d love to have sex with you!  I-I  think about it all the time!”   Applejack looked up at the ceiling, bit down hard on her lip and grimaced.  Then she looked back down at the back of Rarity’s head and tried to grin. “Come on - I got my outfit on.  What do you say?”   “Are you crazy??  The two of us have sex?  That’s insane!” Rarity suddenly exclaimed. Applejack just stood.  She was utterly dumbfounded. “Wait - I told you I don’t wanna have sex with you and you cry. Then I tell you I do wanna have sex with you and you act like I’m crazy!  Which is it?!” Rarity turned back to Applejack and rolled her eyes as though it were the easiest thing in the world to understand. “I want you to want to have sex with me but to be repulsed by the idea of it.” “Well then that’s exactly how I feel!!” “No you donnn’t!!” Rarity wailed again,  “You’re just saying that!” Applejack slapped her forehead with her hoof.  Then suddenly she smiled. “Uh Rares?” “Yes?” she sniffed. “Sometimes, I mean only once in awhile, I, I…”  Applejack lowered her voice “...I do think of you like, you know, like that.  But I ain’t never gonna do anything like that. EVER!” “Really?!!”  The unicorn brightened right up. Applejack smiled and nodded. “Oh APPLEJACK!!”  Rarity threw her arms around her friend and hugged her. “I love you too!  And you know what?  I think about you too, you know, like that.  But I’ll never do anything of that sort!” Applejack blushed. ”So, are we good now?” “Yes, of course darling.” Rarity said with a sniff,  “I’m all better.” "So all this 'Bitchitude’?.  Are we calling it off?” “Well I did call the safe word, so I suppose it is, but then what are we to do?  If we get to Ponywood and don’t have the proper attitude, they’ll surely think we’re, well, not in their league!” Rarity’s voice became desperate as she considered the consequences. “They’ll make mincemeat of us!  We’ll be a laughing sto-ho-hock!”  Rarity started to cry again. “Why don’t we have another meeting and talk about it?  See what we can do” “Oh, I suppose.” Rarity sniffed again. “do you suppose we can at least get a drink first?” “‘Course we can!  I’ll tell you what, first round’s on me.” “It’s an open bar darling.  Very funny.” “I thought so.”  Applejack said. “Let’s go.”  She leaned over and spontaneously surprised Rarity with a sweet, soft kiss on the lips. Rarity froze. Applejack leaned back from her, “Uh, you okay sugarcube?” “Mm-hmm” Rarity said, still staring forward, with the slightest nod of her head. “Was I out of line?” “Mmm-mhh” came the negative response. “Was it nice?” “MM_HMMM!!” “Nicer than you wanted it to be?” “m-hm.” came the tiny reply. Applejack paused, and with a cute smile said, “Want another one?  The second one comes with tongue…” Rarity was unable to keep a straight face and burst out laughing.  Applejack, chuckling, took off the gown and pulled out the pin holding her hair up. It tumbled down around her shoulders and she shook her head to settle it. She was glad that Big Mac had the foresight to bring her hat with him and leave it for her.  Rarity just watched with a sad little smile as Applejack brushed her hair from her face and put on her hat. . “Applejack?” “Yeah?”  Applejack said, turning to look at her and smiling. “I-I just want you to know…” As Rarity started to speak,  Applejack’s mouth slowly opened in stunned surprise.  In all the time she’d known her, Applejack had never heard Rarity speak plainly, in her own natural voice, without her ‘proper’ accent. “...that if I were like that, you know…” Applejack instantly felt the heat rise from her neck to her face. She looked down in embarrassment and pawed the floor softly. “...that you would be the one.”   Rarity then went quietly to her and in a moment of profound intimacy, bowed her head and touched Applejack’s forehead with her own. For a moment or two, neither of them moved.   Applejack looked up, her eyes full of tears. Before she could say anything, Rarity spoke. “You don’t have to say anything.  I see it in your eyes.  Maybe it was better left unsaid.” “No sweetheart,”  Applejack said, leaning forward and kissing the soft white cheek.  “It was sweet, and it was very brave  Just like you.  And, uh  you should know that I love you too.” “Just not like that...”  Rarity said quietly, bowing her head again. Applejack said nothing for a moment. “That’s not true either,  it’s just… I don’t know.  I reckon, after all we’ve been through together, I’ve had feelings for each and every one.  I can’t say they’re all romantic, but after somepony saves your life a few times, it’s kinda hard to feel the same way about them.” Rarity looked up, puzzled. She looked at Applejack closely, looked deep into her eyes as though searching out the answer to some riddle. Slowly a look of realization came over Rarity’s face as she thought over the past years together. It was followed gradually by a sad little smile.  She let her gaze drop and when she finally spoke, it was barely a whisper and said more to herself than to Applejack. “Of course. How could I have been so blind?”  Now it was Applejack’s turn to be puzzled. Rarity just smiled at her.  Applejack could see the old Rarity was back. “What?” asked the earth pony “Nothing darling, only the sweet mystery of life.” “The sweet what of what now?” “Come, let’s go have that drink, and tell the girls about the change in plans” “But what sweet mystery did you see?”   “You’ll find out one day.” “When?” “When you hear it from the only pony who will make you believe it.” “And who might that be?” “You.”