//------------------------------// // 4 - Growing Unease // Story: Rarity Reads a Trashy Romance Novel // by vamparity //------------------------------// Rarity woke up with a sneeze. She placed her hooves above her head to feel something warm and furry. With her magic, she moved her cat off her mane and raised her sleeping mask. She turned her head, feeling the heat from her satin pillow, to see light glowing around her windows' curtains. She thought about getting up. Turning her head back to look at her nightstand, she considered the book that was resting there. It was only one of many romance novels, by no means the first or the last one she would read. There was a growing unease in her body. She closed her eyes. She visited the spa yesterday. Why did it feel like weeks? Her gaze returned to the book. The book, it was responsible. She winced. The book had lied to her. She had expected it to be another romance where the heroine and prince fell in love. It was such a simple and easy formula to follow. She rubbed between her eyes. Not with the rouge, she thought, not the dirty rouge who was also another mare. She found herself out of bed and staring at herself in the mirror already having gone through half of her morning rituals, her eyelashes and makeup having been placed without her remembering she had done so. Another mare, she thought. Her mind played back the events from yesterday while her hooves busied themselves with their tasks. Rainbow Dash had found a lover--before her--and, before Applejack. Applejack, who was looking into dating other mares, or was it a single mare? Who was this mystery mare? She had to find out. She could feel the unease continue to grow in her body. With one last tug of her curls to see them give a satisfying bounce, Rarity found herself downstairs. She looked through her schedule, making some marks to move a few tasks to a later date. She took in a calming breath, centering herself, before she opened the front door to walk her sister to school. "Hi, sis!" Sweetie Belle squeaked. She quickly trotted in front of Apple Bloom and Applejack, who were walking her way, to give her a hug. "Hi, Sweetie Belle. You look marvelous today." Rarity looked up to wave at her walking companions. Applejack wasn't looking at her, but at Apple Bloom. She noticed a slight sheen on Applejack's freckled cheek and blond hair that ran down her back to curve around her… Rarity considered the etiquette and phrasing involved to describe another mare's cutie mark, among other features. It was like the pleasant gloss on a hard, chiseled statue in Canterlot. "Did you get enough sleep?" Sweetie Belle asked. Rarity checked her face with a hoof. "Why do you ask?" "I don't know," Sweetie Belle dug through her school saddlebag. "Cheerilee asked me to give you this. What does she mean?" "Let me read it first." Rarity eyed the small piece of paper. Rarity, Today in class Sweetie Belle told me that she would be reviewing "Wicked Desire", a book released very recently, for an assignment on classical literature. I asked her who had given her the idea, and she told me it was you. Please keep your adult novels out of reach of children. Thank you. P. S. Were you surprised at the pairing and ending as much as I was? Rarity took another calming breath, centering herself, and took out a pencil from Sweetie Belle's saddlebag to write a reply on the back of the paper. "So, what does she mean? Are classical books not adult books?" Sweetie Belle asked. A distant memory crept into Rarity's head of her father and mother having to talk to her about a similar situation, when her teacher had discovered her reading such a book. Her mother had come to her room later, after she was grounded, to tell her that she would take the blame for her, claiming she was reading it and that Rarity had been merely curious. She gave the book back to her in secret trust, telling her to keep it better hidden next time. She loved her mother. "You can tell me later," Sweetie Belle all but groaned. "Come on, you're going to make me late for school!" Rarity felt Applejack looking at her. "Would you care to join me in escorting these little ladies to class, madam?" Applejack offered her arm. Rarity couldn't help but smirk, turning her nose upward. "I would love to," she walked past Applejack, making a show of refusing to accept her arm, "But apparently they think I did not sleep well and that I look hideous." "Oh, come on! I didn't say that," Sweetie Belle said. "And I didn't say anything!" Apple Bloom added. Applejack motioned for the two fillies to follow. "Well, I think you look mighty pretty today," she said, after catching up next to her. Rarity felt the unease from earlier return. She slowly turned to face Applejack with a brow raised in question. "I mean, uh," Applejack stumbled as if she had said something improper, "I'm always surprised at the effort you put into making yourself look good. I know I never could, so I gave up." "Oh, Applejack," Rarity fawned as they walked together, "I am sure you put in enough effort with your farm and having to wake up so early every day." She paused, in thought. With her own parents fresh in memory, it crossed her mind that she could have just as well included a comment about Applejack's family, and her having to take the place of her parents for her sister. Another memory followed, where Applejack had helped her reconnect to her own sister. It was like baking apple pie, she vaguely remembered her explaining it. The unease came back to her, tightening her throat. "Your work ethic has been an inspiration in my own affairs, for sure." Applejack smiled in reply, keeping an eye on their sisters as if they were their children. The sun's warmth touched Rarity. Peeking through trees and between houses, it gently touched the rest of Ponyville as well. She could hear the gentle sounds of the sun slowly waking up the town, behind the excited chatter and giggles of their sisters as they skipped passed them. She turned to face her walking companion again. Applejack looked happy, as if this were some rare treat, she thought. They did this enough to make it quite common. This was a day like any other before it or that would come after it. The sun shouldn't feel so warm this early in the morning, she thought. There was nothing special about walking their sisters to school. Did Applejack always smile like that, she wondered. She looked at her freckles and the crystal-like shine that still covered her cheeks. They had been crystal ponies, once upon a time. Things are better when they're a rarity, she recalled Applejack's harmless comment about it. The growing unease tightened further, causing Rarity to cough several times. "You okay?" "Yes, fine dear." An exchange that could have just as well come from an old married couple, Rarity cursed herself in thought. This was a day like any other. She repeated this mantra, still searching for her center. "Something on your mind, sugarcube?" "Hm? Oh, nothing." Applejack eyed her as if she were about to faint. She knew Applejack would catch her. She sometimes secretly thought of her best friend as her second fainting couch. Before she could giggle at the thought, she heard Lyra say hi from across the street, to see Lyra's best friend, Bon Bon, give her a suspicious smile and wave from beside her. Applejack waved back, oblivious. Rarity gave a nod, clenched her teeth, and strained her eyes, looking down at her hooves. She recently had visited Bon Bon to purchase some sweets. And, while there, she had listened to her talk about her best friend, Lyra. By the way she could not talk about anything besides Lyra, she could tell they were very close friends. They were the best of friends, practically inseparable. The subtext was not lost on Rarity. She has read many romance novels, after all. "So, I read the note from Cheerilee." Rarity gave Applejack her full attention. "And?" "I didn't mean to, if that's what you're thinking." She kicked the dirt road as they walked, Rarity frowning at the action. "Just that your sister was making a fuss about it with Apple Bloom and they kind of showed it to me." "I see." Rarity said with unease. "Don't worry, I won't think any less of ya." Applejack's smile turned into one of concern. "It's easy to get your head lost in the clouds, getting caught up in how you wish things would happen, or how you wish people would see you, like in them stories." A gentle breeze ran through her hair. "I know you read a lot of those trashy romance novels." "They're not," Rarity coughed, and continued in a calmer tone, "How did you know?" "Talking with your father." "Ah, yes. My father," Rarity grumbled. A thought struck her, "When did you find time to talk with him? It must have been an odd conversation for such a thing to have come up." "It was an easy-going talk," Applejack bit her lips, a remembrance of panic clear on her face, "Just found him walking around with your mother. It wasn't about anything important." Applejack let out a long breath, and relaxed. "He loves you very much. Your mom, too." "Well, I'm glad you had a talk with them to clear that up." "One of the hardest talks of my life." "Applejack, I thought you said…" Rarity let the question hang in the air between them, suddenly very curious of Applejack's face and wanting to rid herself of the strangling unease that was defining her day. "I noticed you have a bit of sweat on you," Rarity continued. "Is it apple bucking season already?" "No, I just thought to take a shower before I came by." "Didn't you think to dry off before leaving?" "Well," Applejack looked at something far in the distance, "It was a long shower." "That's no excuse." Rarity was locked onto her face. She began to count the freckles. "Before I knew it, Apple Bloom came a hollering about being late for class, so I did a rushed job. It's not like I'm that wet. Figure it'll rub off soon enough." Rarity's mind wandered into places she knew were far from proper. If Applejack would accompany her to the spa without getting sidetracked fixing everyone else's plumbing, she could show the silly mare how to properly shower and dry herself. It's not like she hasn't had her magic all over her body when fitting and dressing her at her shop. It was something she did with everypony. It was all so very common. "You sure you're okay, sugarcube? I can tell when you've got something on your mind." "What gives me away, darling?" "I don't know," Applejack considered the question. "I can just tell." "It's nothing." Rarity felt the unease choke her. "Does it have something to do with them romance novels of yours?" Rarity didn't reply. She noticed the school quickly approaching. So did Applejack, and she let out a frustrated grunt. "Darn it, Rares! I hate seeing you get like this. You get so worked up and sweet on somepony that ain't good for you." Applejack stomped a hoof, making a minor dust cloud on impact. "I'm beginning to think it's those books' fault. They're doing some kind of number with your head." Without hesitation, Rarity levitated a napkin to wipe the fresh dirt off of Applejack's hoof. Before Applejack could protest, she answered, "Keep it up and we'll march right back to your house for another shower." She made to put the napkin away, but on a whim, brushed it across Applejack's flank to speed along the drying process. Applejack's eyes went wide and her mouth opened as if she would have objected. "Besides," Rarity noted in such a way to remind herself that this was a day like any other, "If it wasn't for those books, I would have no romance in my life at all." "That ain't true!" "How so, dear heart?" Rarity asked. Applejack stopped. "Hey, we're here! How about that?" She waved at their sisters as they waved back, running to meet with their friends outside the schoolhouse. "Y'all be good now!" Rarity waited. "Well, I guess that's that. It was nice walking with you and all, but I got to get back to the farm." Rarity shifted her weight on her hooves, and continued to wait for an answer. The unease had become something else and prevented her from any other course of action. "Okay, was nice seeing you," Applejack left with a nod. "Jacqueline Apple! You turn around right this instant!" Applejack did so. "You," Rarity scowled. "You stupid, stupid pony!" "Hey now, let's not argue, sugarcube. I can't take it again." Applejack paused. "I'm sorry about yesterday. I figured we could let bygones be bygones. I didn't want to bring it up cause I don't like seeing you upset. Still don't know what caused it, but I'm sorry for whatever it was." A bell struck the schoolyard followed by the sound of fillies and colts scurrying up steps and through a door. They found themselves alone. "Who is she?" Rarity asked. "Who is what now?" "The mystery mare." "I don't know what you're talking about." Applejack thought for a moment. "Oh, you mean that getup we did to get back at Rainbow Dash, right? What about it?" Rarity didn't answer. Applejack wiped her forehead under her hat. "You sure you're okay?" Rarity turned her lips into a smile and forced a laugh, "Yes, darling, I'm quite alright. Thanks for asking." She tried to remember a pose or mannerism, but gave up, opting for what she hoped was a sincere smile. "It is a lovely day. A shame that we must both go back to work and can't enjoy it more." "I enjoyed it plenty," Applejack drawled. "I work outside everyday. It's nothing rare to me, not without you." She winked. Rarity closed her eyes. She wanted to punch Applejack, and then herself. She wanted the sun to stop its rise and to stop burning her cheeks. She wanted to run away, but instead, she slowly turned to leave and waved goodbye. You stupid, stupid book, she thought. This was a simple day. It was the book's fault for making it seem as if it were something strange and queer. She did not look back, but knew Applejack stood where she had left her, her eyes never leaving her, regardless the distance, until she had softly closed the door of her home, her back against it. She slid down into her arms, weeping alone.