Chapter Eight - One Small Step, One Giant Leap
The fortnightly Ponyville market was in full swing in the heart of the town. From far and wide ponies came to browse the finest foods and produce that the community would offer. Trainloads of goods would be shipped in and out before the day's end. More often than not market days would be blessed by the weather ponies and occur in beautiful conditions, and it was no exception on this day – the square basked in the warm midday glow of early springtime to the delight of consumers and salesponies alike.
One small corner of the town did not revel in this weekend sunshine. Instead a near-funereal pall hung over the two-storey shop just a small distance from the hustle and bustle of the marketplace. Much of the shop was still shrouded in darkness as the occupants trudged around slowly or slept off the dastardly after-effects of a long lively night. Two of said ponies had become very well acquainted with the toilet in the course of the morning – their remorseful groaning 'conversations' echoing round the ground floor and drawing some smug smirks and stifled laughs.
On the upper floor the atmosphere was a little less melancholy than below. The hangover from the previous evening lurked in the air but was diluted compared to downstairs. Instead the powerful aura of new found love filled the room, emanating from the luxurious four-poster bed in the centre. Here Applejack and Rarity lay wrapped in one another's forelegs, their embrace firm as if grasping onto each other lest they be wrenched apart by some merciless supernatural force.
Rarity woke first, her eyes and grin widening at the first glorious sight to grace her view – that of her dearest Applejack. Her hair was dishevelled and slight bags hung underneath her still resting eyes but to Rarity she was a more exquisite vision than any fashion models ever to have strutted their stuff on the runways of Manehattan. Not even the mild thumping in her head could distract her from admiring the beauty of the mare she held close.
As she lay still – not wishing to rock Applejack from her slumber – Rarity cast her mind back on the events of the early morning she already knew that she'd remember forever more.
**********
Those first two kisses were more satisfying than any quick peck or prolonged sloppy smooching session she'd experienced in her entire life, she had thought. Every brush of the lips or caress of the hooves on her torso further drove Rarity into greater depths of wonder. At times Applejack kissed with the passion and force of a leading stallion in one of those overwrought love scenes of the stage, pressing against her firmly and with urgency. At others she gently grazed her lips lightly against the unicorn's like a filly dealing with such things for the very first time (in her reminiscence it occurred to Rarity that this scenario may not have been far from the truth). No matter how AJ kissed her Rarity responded in perfect synergy, never forcing the tempo and savouring every spine-tingling sensation of what she prayed was the first of many such moments.
After what had seemed like an eternity they ceased their breathless display of tenderness. Pulling back to gaze yearningly into the deep green eyes looking at her Rarity could not help but feel that everything had permanently changed. No longer did the rules of 'casual friendship' apply – with that kiss both had taken a sledgehammer to the walls they had for so long hidden their true feelings behind. They couldn't go back to the way things were after giving themselves so completely to each other. This prospect immediately terrified Rarity. She had expressed those worries before to Pinkie but had abandoned them at the sight of the orange pony acting so coolly upon entering her boudoir.
'If this is to be the pinnacle of it all, our only immaculate evening,' her mind stated in a sultry tone, 'Better make every minute worthwhile.'
With that thought resonating in her head, she took Applejack by the hoof and walked slowly towards the bed. In one swift manoeuvre she had wrapped her arms round the cowpony's waist and flopped onto the soft and welcoming mattress, ferociously locking lips with the stunned AJ. She had craved this for the longest time. Every time she had witnessed Applejack performing her gruelling duties on the farm or practising for any number of the physical challenges she enjoyed Rarity's mind could not help but wander. She pictured the muscular forelegs holding her tight as they drove each other to unbridled heights of ecstasy. Her knees went weak at the prospect of being pushed up against the wall by AJ and submitting to every primal desire they wished. The thought that this one night being her one crystal-clear opportunity for such things drove her over the edge of that cliff.
Unlike during that wondrous first embrace it was the unicorn who pressed the issue on this occasion. Every last kiss was wrought with lust. The desperation to take things to that next level – the plateau from which there was most certainly no return – came in the form of pants and moans as each pony explored one another's bodies and mouths once more. Rarity clambered on top of Applejack and buried her head in her shoulder. She pecked at AJ's neck, taking delight in the squeaks of pleasure her companion struggled to contain all while drinking in her always tantalising scent. Her hooves ran along Applejack's sides and came to rest on her tender flank.
“Wait! Rare!” Applejack gasped as she felt the unicorn stroke her behind and thighs.
Rarity neither moved nor halted her carefree groping, “Yes, darling?”she asked between kisses of AJ's neck.
“Ah... Ah don't think ah can go through with this!”
At that precise moment Rarity felt her entire world nearly collapse. She lifted her head, near shaking as a torrent of thoughts washed every hint of her lust from her mind.
“Applejack... I... what?” she queried, voice trembling in fear at the response.
“Ah can't do this right now,” Applejack stated, her tone just as frightened as that of the pony on top of her.
Rarity tried her hardest to hold back what felt like a river of tears, “But why, my dear? What is the matter?”
Applejack blushed lightly, “It's kinda hard ta say...”
“You're not a... a...” Rarity gasped whilst trying to word her question as delicately as possible. AJ naturally caught on to this line of questioning, causing the colour in her cheeks to grow darker.
“That ain't the issue!” she exclaimed, “It's that... it feels... too quick, if ya'll know what ah'm sayin'.”
“I'm not sure I follow,” was the unicorn's perplexed response. Applejack sighed as she steeled herself for what she wished to say.
“It just feels like... if it all happens at once... it's all too fleetin'. Like it was only meant to be fer one night only. And Celestia knows ah can't have that. Ya mean too much to me Marshmallow. Ah want this – whatever this is – ta last a damn sight longer than one hooch-filled night. And ah know from what ah felt that you do too.”
Rarity was taken aback, “But what if this is our one chance for this? What if somepony tries to stop this? Stop us?”
“Then ah'll kick 'em dang near halfway to Cloudsdale!” AJ stated with a fire she'd not often exposed before, “Ain't no pony in all Equestria that's gettin' in the way a' me and you bein' together.”
A single tear escaped from Rarity's eye and ran down her cheek. Not a single stallion she'd ever known before had ever said anything so deeply touching to her. She had dated a few in the past, but they were just young and stupid colts who wouldn't know real feeling if it had bitten them in the flank. Inevitably Rarity would grow quickly weary of them and give them the heave-ho after a week or two. But here in front of her was the real deal – the one pony she'd put all her blind faith into loving, speaking to her as honestly and plainly as she did to any pony but somehow meaning every word even more. These weren't just the empty macho threats of the muscle-bound stallion. This was the genuine feeling of the one pony for whom she'd drop every gnawing urge for instant gratification if it meant a lifetime of dedication just like the last statement intimated. Applejack's hoof wiped away the tear glistening on Rarity's cheek like a gemstone glinting in the sun, rocking her from her meditation.
“Well sugarcube? How'd ya like ta take things slow?”
“For you Applejack, I'd wait until the light of Luna's stars went out for the very last time,” Rarity croaked happily as another tear of joy fell down her face. Even Applejack was desperately trying to contain her tearful glee. For the remainder of the time they were awake the couple snuggled together on the bed in an elated silence (occasionally punctuated by dreamy sighs or brief kisses), watching the sun rise through the windows before falling into a blissful sleep.
**********
Rarity was so lost in her recollections of the previous night's events that she barely noticed the bedroom door open and Fluttershy float in tentatively, carrying a large tray.
“Hello Rarity, good afternoon Applejack,” came the quiet mutter that shattered Rarity's pleasant daydreaming. She couldn't help but squeal loudly – an action that nearly caused Fluttershy to drop the food she was carrying all over the floor.
“Ahhh! Fluttershy! You startled me!” Rarity replied in a somewhat high-pitched squeak.
“The feeling is mutual.” Fluttershy stammered as she flew quickly through the room and lay the tray on the bed. The stirring figure of Applejack caused her once again to nearly send the tray crashing.
“What in the hay is going on?” Applejack murmured groggily as she slowly woke up.
“I was... just bringing you some brunch. If that's okay with you...”
“Brunch?” Applejack said with a start, “What time is it?”
“By my calculations it is half past 12, dear.” Rarity calmly replied having recovered from the initial shock of seeing the pegasus.
“Aw horseapples! Ah'm meant ta be working the apple stall at the market! Granny Smith is gonna kill me!”
Fluttershy moved over to reassure the now-panicking AJ, “It's okay, Applejack. Granny Smith and Applebloom have everything under control. Big Macintosh and I made sure earlier when we went to the market for food.”
“Ah, so the rumours were true! Congratulations darling!” Rarity interrupted in regards to this confirmation of courtship between her spa companion and the brother of her beloved.
“Oh, that's great about the stall. And it's about time that quiet lumbering brother o' mine found himself a nice pony. Good on ya, Shy,” said Applejack, winking knowingly. Fluttershy blushed and smiled, letting out the quietest squee of joy.
“Thanks girls. I'll leave you to enjoy your brunch now.”
A sudden realisation struck both parties still ensconced in the grand bed.
“Shy, wait a minute!” Applejack cried out. The shy pegasus stopped in her tracks and looked around, fear in her eyes as per usual.
“Is... is something wrong? You don't like your meal?” she probed gently.
Applejack was momentarily stumped, “Wha'? Nah, it ain't that. It's just... well...”
“It's in regards to the the scene you encountered upon walking in, dear,” Rarity chimed in – saving the floundering AJ in the process.
“Oh, that,” muttered Fluttershy, her face growing redder, “It seemed like nothing, really.”
“It was nothing essentially,” the unicorn continued, “But I believe it best not to go spreading the word willy-nilly...”
“'Specially not to ma brother!” Applejack yelled, disrupting Rarity and startling Fluttershy once more, “Understand sugarcube?”
Wordlessly and trembling slightly, Fluttershy carried out the actions of the near-unbreakable 'Pinkie Swear' to the gratitude of both parties before leaving quietly. An uneasy air hung between the two ponies as they tucked into the hearty portions of hay bacon, pancakes and apple juice.
**********
AJ was first to break the silence through mouthfuls of the lovingly prepared food, “Ya'll don't think she'll tell anypony, do ya?”
“Of course not. This is Fluttershy we're dealing with here,” Rarity responded coolly through sips on a glass of apple juice that was much needed to combat the awful dryness in her mouth.
“Yeah. If the pleadin' didn't convince her at least the Pinkie swear will prevent...” Applejack trailed off, before muttering her usual cursing response to any bad situation, “Horseapples.”
Rarity looked up at Applejack – whose face resembled that of soldiers coming back from battle, eyes locked in a vacant stare into the distance.
“Pinkie Pie,” AJ murmured, “She surely gotta know.”
Rarity nodded slowly, moving closer to comfort Applejack who now lay her head in her hooves.
“I ain't ready for that hurdle, comin' out and tellin' everypony,”
“Relax sugarcube,” Rarity cooed consolingly, “She took the swear so nopony else shall know. And you know how rigid she is with them.” Applejack shuddered at the terrifying sight of the scorned Pinkie she had encountered in Dodge Junction.
“And as I said last night,” she continued unabated, “I'll wait an eternity for anything you need me to if it means that eternity is spent by your side and in your heart.”
Holding back a girlish squeal, Applejack pecked Rarity on the lips. “I know Rare. But it just dang near terrifies me to think of what the gals might think of us.”
“I'd be lying if I said that the prospect didn't worry me,” Rarity sighed, “But I'm sure we can gauge their reactions through subtle questioning and the occasional hint. Like detectives on a mission.” The unicorn suppressed a giggle at the absurd thought of the two dressed in the garb of Sherlock Hooves and Dr. Trotson.
Applejack nodded with a degree of apprehension, “Ah think ah'm capable of that. I'll bring it up with Dash and Twi in the near-future.”
Rarity smiled as she set about finishing her meal. Both ponies ate in near-silence, lost in worries and planning how to broach the subject of their budding relationship with their nearest and dearest friends. At the same time though prickling feelings of excitement shot through their brains.
Not for the first time in their lives they were set to embark on a journey into the unknown. This time however, they would be striding along hoof-in-hoof with one whom the journey could not be concluded without. One who assured that – for the first real time in each pony's life, regardless of how many friends they were surrounded by in the past – the other never walked alone. A new emotion that electrified and energised both AJ and Rarity.
Nevertheless neither was ignorant to the fact that this was only the first miniscule step in arguably the most arduous quest they'd ever have to face, with their single greatest prize of all balanced on a razor-thin plinth so very far away.
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*sigh*
Oh, Rarijack. Why are you always better written then whatever I ship?
...guess I should think of converting, then...
I didn't need to sleep tonight.
AJ so classy, I kinda thought Aj would be the fast one here!
I'm kind of shocked I haven't stumbled upon more Rarijack. Or at least Rarijack-centric fics. Personally, I think it's personal bias drifting more towards the other ponies' directions rather than Rarity's, but I really don't jump into enough stories about her.
I'm loving where this story is going so far. I had a mental cry of "Called it!" the second it slipped out that one of them developed feelings for the other during the sleepover at the library, but that's not a complaint so much as it is an observation. I really am disappointed I haven't seen this pairing in the spotlight more often, because this fic is a brilliant example of how it can be done so completely right.
Good, take your time sir but I want to see this go somewhere more. Not enough Rarijack!
you set it up so you can pull more chapters out aout how the others react and how they get to the point in which they are open about it didnt you? very well played sir!
also is anyone else having trouble with their tracking tab? its not showing a number anymore so i have no idea when someone updates.
246254 Nope you're not the only one. I've written to Knighty about it.
245737 you nd' me both
245770 nahhh rarity is the one with all the studs i mean comon she got those eyes
That was probably one of the sweetest moments I have ever read in a rarijack fic, when AJ suggested that they take things slow and wiping rarity's tear away. Very well done writing, can't wait to see where this goes next
246269 ok, thought i had messed something up when i logged on last time. hope it gets fixed soon.
Great story! keep up the awesome work!
This was a very good chapter. I am somehow not surprised at all that it was Rarity who made that move, and I'm not at all surprised that AJ wanted to hold back and take things slow.
D'awwww, that was very sweet of AJ. I certainly would hope that ponies like their friends wouldn't be concerned about them being together (I mean, they did see Pinkie land one on Rainbow Dash, right?).
245770 246424
Perhaps there was something in one of Rarity's thoughts from that chapter in regards to part of AJ's reasoning...
246254
No comment.
245861
The lack of Rarity fics surprises me a tad as well. The character seems made for it as the only hopeless romantic, wannabe fairytale princess type. And sometimes you need that 'Called it' moment amidst the plentiful tension-building.
246475
Not to mention the subtle interactions between Tavia and Vinyl - and the less-subtle ones between Lyra and Bon Bon.
251873 ill take that as a yes
251873 Oh, that Lyra.
253762
Not to mention some of the other loose threads I have left dangling throughout that I can eke more out of.
254149
Still not a patch on the mad and mystic magenta mare we all know and love.
255056 and that is why i check daily for updates
PLEASE UPDATE THIS SOON! I SHALL GIVE YOU SOME OF MY VODKA IF YOU DO! please?
LOL @ Katarjin. You're a chapter late.
But still amusing. Hi, nice to meet ya. ;3
255281
Very flattered that you're that into my humble yarn.
255452
Whisky or beer would be preferable - the latter would help me write actually.
I have no Whisky or Beer, Just Vodka. A metric Ton of Vodka
263253
Meh - I can deal with vodka from time to time. It's a deal!
You'll hopefully all be happy to know that I intend to put my head down and get Chapter Nine out this weekend. Stay tuned and thanks to all for your patience.
280182 YES! new chapter on the weekend! if only I wasn't working all weekend...
It's 5:35 am. Why have you done this to me?
*eyes chapter* Bring it up with Twilight and Dash? Dash and Pinkie hooked up AT the party, and Twilight was macking on anything that didn't refuse, if Spike is to be believed.
So Apple Jack is scared what her friends will think?
.
Her brother is making out with Fluttershy
Pinkie probably frenched Rainbow Dash in the middle of the dance floor
and the Lavender Unicorn is as thirsty as a fish out of water