"Something Olde, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, A Sixbit in your Horseshoe.” Applejack repeated.
“What?” Rainbow Dash deadpanned.
“It’s tradition. You want one of each.” Applejack explained, “Each item is a positive symbol to your continued... love.” Applejack hadn’t meant to pause there, but the word was hard to say—even now.
“I guess I can get one of each from my friends. I don’t suppose you can let me borrow something?”
“Well, shucks, Rainbow. I’d be happy to.” Applejack paused again. It felt strange to say, plus, would it really be counted as borrowing? Especially since Rainbow was marrying into the family. But, she supposed it was the thought that counted in the end. “You can borrow my grandpappy’s old bowtie. It’s been in my family for generations.”
“Uhm, cool. I guess?” Rainbow shrugged. “Anyways, thanks for your help. I’ll pick it up tomorrow before the party.”
“You’re welcome.” Applejack nodded. “I’m really hap—”
“I know.” Rainbow cut her off and waved a hoof. “I got to go, thanks for telling me about this tradition of yours, pegasus just go for a suicide dive and call it good.”
“Alrighty then, I’ll see you later.” Applejack waved a hoof, but Rainbow was already gone. A chromatic streak in the evening sky.
Applejack didn’t sleep that night. How could she? She blamed it on the nerves as she tossed and turned in the bed. She spent the better part of the evening hunting down the bowtie. It rested quietly on her nightstand. Everytime she looked at it, her heart ached and sleep eluded her. Not matter how she felt, she told herself: it was the right thing to do. The crowing of the rooster shook her suddenly from her a fitful night’s sleep into an unhappy dawn.
Clambering out of bed, Applejack did her very best to make herself presentable. She cleaned herself, brushed her mane back, and prepared everything a good pony ought to do days such as today. She traded small talk at breakfast, and maybe a grand total of two words with Big Mac, before making her way to Twilight’s Castle.
She found Rainbow already there, dressed, albeit uncomfortably, in a beautiful flowing gown. She smiled brightly and passed the bowtie to Rainbow. Rainbow accepted it wordlessly and strapped it around her back hoof, just above the hem of the dress. She felt words bubbling forth from within, but Rarity shooed her away before she could speak.
So, instead, she sat quietly in the room and waited. Slowly, but surely, music filled the room. The doors opened, and Rainbow walked through them, her head held high. As beautiful as ever, at least in Applejack’s eyes. As Rainbow passed, Applejack swallowed the lump in her throat and turned her head away.
Rainbow stopped at the front of the room, before Twilight, the princess officiating, and next to her brother, the lucky son of a—. Applejack shook her head and sighed. It was all so sudden, hardly anypony was even here. Just her and her friends.
In deliberate fashion, Twilight delivered the vows. But, Applejack wasn’t listening. All she could do was stare at Rainbow. Stare at the bowtie, just hidden behind the hem of that dress. The dress which hid the beautiful colors, the brightest of blue coats, the sheer spunk and energy she would never find in another.
“...let them speak now, or forever hold their peace.”
Applejack’s chair clattered to the ground. She raised herself to her hooves and locked eyes with Rainbow Dash. “I love her!” She declared, loud and clear. Her chest pounding, she sunk down to the floor. Her mind barely registered what she had done. Her friends, her brother, they crowded around her. She held her hooves together over her head, begging for forgiveness, to be spared for her horrible deed.
“I know.” Rainbow chirped out.
“We all know.” Rarity added with a sigh.
“Yup.” Big Mac nodded.
The words boiled in Applejack’s mind. She sprung to her hooves and leveled a glare at each pony present. “So, the lack of guests, the location here in Twilight’s castle, Rainbow’s visit yesterday, the invitation I got not two days ago.”
“How else was I supposed to get you to admit you had feelings for me?” Rainbow grinned and wrapped her forehooves around Applejack’s neck.
“How about just talking to me?” Applejack shuddered in rage, but couldn’t find it in herself to push Rainbow away. “How about not putting together some sham ceremony to make me come—” Applejack growled, kicked at the floor, before finally exhaling.
“Consarnit Rainbow, how do you manage to make me so happy and so angry at the exact same time?”
“That’s just what being in love is like, darling.” Rarity chimed in.
“Yup.” Big Mac nodded, glad his sister hadn’t torn him a new one.