"It's Nice and...pretty?"
"I, Rarity, the authority of both fashion and romance, is proud to present her latest pièce de resistance. Please welcome the Element of Loyalty, the flying sensation, the-"
"Ugh would you introduce me already!" a scratchy voice was heard from the dressing room, eliciting a giggle from three fillies and certain Apple farmer.
"The one and only, Rainbow Dash!"
On cue, the dressing room door burst open, revealing the cyan pegasus and her stunningly designed dress. Sweetie Belle was the first to squeal, followed by Applebloom but Scootaloo just gazed in amazement at her idol.
Taking in the attention, Rainbow left nothing to chance and wowed her audience, however small, by performing a few flying tricks within the boutique. As she finally landed, the three younger ponies crowded her at once.
"Wow Rainbow, that was amazin'!" Applebloom said, while looking over the dress.
"Yea, that was awesome Rainbow Dash!" praised Scootaloo.
"Duh, I'm always awesome!" Rainbow said proudly, but gave the orange filly a little noogie "But it helps that you think so too Squirt!"
"How did Rarity get the golden stars to sparkle as you flew?" Sweetie Belle examined the indigo fabric more closely.
"Ah, ah, ah," Rarity chorused, as she neared. "A dressmaker never reveals her secrets!"
Sweetie Belle frowned. "What about that time you told me about in Manehattan when that fashion designer, Suri-"
Sweetie Belle's words were cut short by a Rarity's hoof. "I thought we agreed never to mention that again. Nevertheless, I was glad somepony caught that small detail. Fashion is all about the details, you know. If you see closely enough you'll see the beauty in everything."
Rainbow rolled her eyes at that sappy comment, but then noticed an orange mare at the corner of her eye.
"Hey Apples!" Rainbow flew over to her best friend.
"What do you think? It's not usually what I'm use to, but you gotta admit it's still pretty awesome."
"It's nice." Applejack said, in a nonchalant way. This made Rainbow furrow her eyebrows.
"It's nice?"
"Yea, it's nice."
Rainbow's eyebrows furrowed even more.
"Just nice?"
"Yup, it's nice."
"And..."
"And what Sugarcube?"
"It's nice and...?" Rainbow hoped her friend would get the hint.
"It's nice and..." Applejack cocked her head. "Pretty?"
Wrong Answer
"Seriously, you can't think of any other words than it's nice?!" Rainbow began to raise her tone.
"Well, what do ya want me to say?" Applejack countered.
"Uh that it's awesome! Fantastic! Cool! The best dress you've ever seen?"
"Doesn't nice say that?" Applejack questioned.
Ok something's wrong with her Rainbow thought. "Of course it doesn't say that. It's just..well.."
"She means," Rarity butt in to clarify, but mostly to prevent the pending squabble, "when you're saying that the dress is nice, you're saying that it's simple. That it has no flair, no classy, that it lacks a certain 'awesomeness' element."
"Yeah, what she said!" Rainbow felt Rarity said what she was trying to convey perfectly.
Applejack looked over Rainbow again "Well I'm sorry RD but I just think it looks nice. Nothing more, nothing less."
Rarity's eye twitched. Was she asking for a fight?
But to everypony's surprise, Rainbow didn't yell. If anything, she deflated like Pinkie pie would if the Ponyville party store was to ever be blown to smithereens. After a long pause, she sighed and spoke up. "Whatever. I'm gonna go for a flight. Be back later Scoots."
"Dash...." Applejack said calmly. "Don't get all sensitive on me no-"
"I'm not sensitive!" Rainbow Dash yelled back. "I just need to clear my head."
With that, the cyan pegasus flew out of the boutique, leaving the dress on the floor.
Needless to say, all eyes were on Applejack.
However, Rarity ushered the three fillies into another room to try on more dresses and to give Applejack some space to think things through.
Two hours later...
"Hey Rarity?" the orange mare approached the famous fashion designer. "I just wanted to apologize to you about earlier."
Rarity sighed. "I think somepony needs that apology more darling. Not only did you insult me, you insulted Rainbow Dash."
"I know, I know. I still wanted to apologize though." Applejack said with all sincerity.
"All is forgiven dear. From me at least." Rarity then gave Applejack a questioning look. "Though I have to ask, it sounded like you were asking for trouble earlier, as if on purpose. Why is that?"
"Well to be honest, I kinda thought it would work."
This answer caught Rarity's attention. "Thought what would work?"
Applejack looked both ways to ensure nopony heard. "Promise not ta say anythin'?"
"Depends what it is darling." Rarity raised an eyebrow but was now overly curious.
Applejack paused a little before going on.
"First time, I saw RD in that dress, I thought she looked beautiful. From the golden accents and the golden lined flames on the tail end. And when she was doin' them tricks, she looked even more amazin' with the indigo fabric. And that gem inspired by your Element necklace tied it all back together perfectly."
"I know! Even though I couldn't possibly give her the original, I thought it would be more suited if-wait just one minute." Rarity paused. "You liked it?"
"Yep." Applejack nodded.
"You thought it was amazing?" Rarity felt both the compliment and confusion.
"Eyup." Applejack nodded again.
"And you pretended not to like it this whole time?"
"Kinda, I just didn't make too big a deal of it...or make it seem like I did." Applejack said as she smiled. " I really did think that she looked beautiful though."
"Ok now you've lost me darling. Why would you do something like that on purpose?"
"Oh Rarity, Rarity, Rarity...." the orange mare shook her head, as if she was keeping a secret nopony knew.
"What?"
"For somepony who claims ta be an authority in romance, I thought you'd be the first to catch on."
Now that Applejack called her out on that claim, Rarity now felt the need to know her game,"Catch on, you say? Catch on to what exactly?"
Just then, the bell to Carousel boutique rang, followed by a voice. "Hey Squirt, time for you flying lesson!"
"Just watch and learn," Applejack whispered to Rarity before making her way to Rainbow.
"Hey RD..." Applejack stood in front of the flighted pegasus. "I'm a might sorry for hurtin' yer feelings earlier."
Rainbow looked at the Apple farmer and flew to her side. She gave her friend a wing nudge. "Don't sweat it AJ. It's cool."
Look closely Rarity. This is their natural habitat. What are you not seeing that could be interpreted as romance?
"So, you do admit I look awesome huh?" Rainbow playfully nudged.
"Now, I didn't say that." Applejack nudged back.
"Well, isn't it obvious?"
"I can't say that it is." Applejack grinned.
"You think I'm sexy, don't you?" Rainbow kept up the assault.
"Now I definitely didn't say that!" Applejack pushed her pegasus friend away with her hoof.
Lots of physical contact. Could that be it? Well, body language does say more than words could ever convey but it seems like they are just being playful. Flirtation perhaps? No, there has to be something more Rarity observed.
"Hey Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo said, as she skidded from the other room. "I'm ready for my lesson!"
Rainbow Dash used her wing to usher her pegasus protégé outside, not without a few choice words for Applejack before. "You listen here AJ. Don't even think this is over. I'm gonna make you admit that I look awesome in that dress if it's the last thing I do."
"And how do you suppose you'll do that RD?" Applejack asked.
"Easy!" Rainbow said, "You just need to hear it enough times to believe it. So, when you're at the Gala tonight, whenever you go get punch, or talk to somepony or even on the dancefloor, I'm gonna be there right by your side, trying to convince you that I look awesome. Or just let my awesomeness speak for itself when you see that I'm clearly the best dressed."
"Rainbow, you can't possibly do that! That means you'll be with me all evenin'! " Applejack exclaimed.
"Oh yes I can. So you better get use to having a rainbow stuck on your flank. I'll convince you all night if I have to!"
With that, the pegasus slammed the door to the boutique at the same time Rarity's jaw unceremoniously hit the floor.
"Heheheh she said it, not me." Applejack smirked. Her smirk grew wider as she saw Rarity's expression. "How do you like them apples?"
Rarity only had one thought in mind. Applejack's got game??!!!!!