//------------------------------// // Any emotion, if it is sincere, is involuntary // Story: Between a Rock and a Hard Place // by goo //------------------------------// Writing this chapter had me in tears. I'm nervous I put too much of myself in the story, rather than the actual characters. Oh well, this is my story. I hope you reader people can get something emotional out of this, too. I'd like to think my problems aren't too uncommon. Also, this chapter is short because the next one is the last one, and I want it to be a longer chapter. Never fear, it should be here soon! Rarity continued to plot while she watched the class react to her classmate's return. Applejack was a bit of an oddity in the bunch. Most other ponies went out after class and had playdates, but the golden filly always went straight home. She wasn't allowed out. The other ponies liked her well enough, but her family's forced isolation always left her on the outside. The thought of such a lonely existence made Rarity feel bad for her. She hated her own family. Maybe now that AJ's parents were gone, she would be allowed out. Applejack's entry wasn't much of a red carpet. The staring and clamoring about her was all there. The part that was missing was the actress's confidence, strutting down the carpet in the latest dress. Instead, the pony was silent and strong. Her face was expressionless. The theory that she had killed her own parents increased in plausibility. Rarity, from her desk, studied the filly's expression carefully. For a few moments, the spotlight in her head had drifted away from herself. There was depth in her eyes. The whole world spun in on them. A deep sadness was set inside their very recesses, but something strong held it all in place. Bright, intricate, green curls danced through the emerald background. She still had hope for the future, in spite of her hardships. The white filly was almost dizzy with the emotions she felt, just by looking at her expression. She looked away, shaking her head. As much as she wanted to, the spotlight wouldn't go back to herself. The young unicorn couldn't stop thinking about the plight of young Applejack. "Ya know, as much as I wish I could live like you do, I am pretty happy with my life." The cowpony's faith in her own words was hampered by her inability to clear her reddened eyes, and the sniff that followed the statement. A proud pony like Rarity could have been insulted. The insinuation that her life was easy and carefree was far from the truth. The thought passed her mind, but it was obliterated by the torrent of disgust with herself for even thinking of that. "Applejack, I don't know how you do all that you do. I am jealous, to be honest. You are so unbelievably strong." The words carried their usual musical air. However, the haughtiness that accompanied the accent was gone. Mascara-covered eyelashes framed eyes that were sincere. A bit of her facade had disappeared to help her friend. The cowpony stared back in disbelief, a good bit of the weight behind the statement floating overhead. "So let me get this straight, you're saying you are jealous of me because I've got more muscle?" She arched an eyebrow and awaited a response. Her tone contained no menace, but it was permeated with doubt. The thought that the image of physical perfection would desire anything about her seemed impossible. Rarity's mind contorted as it struggled to understand the newest turn in the conversation. Coming into the chat, she had expected a teary-eyed description of family problems. How did they end up at self-esteem? "I was talking about your strength in dealing with fa-ahh..." Rarity's ending "ah" was higher in pitch than the rest of the statement. Her mouth grew wider, but then snapped shut. She clipped a hoof to her mouth, realizing she had not allowed Applejack to reach the tender topic on her own. Applejack tilted her head slightly, and then laughed a little. The chuckle was a drawn-out series of chortles that slowed as the cowpony noticed her companion's disapproving, arched eyebrow. She exhaled slowly and let out a quaint whoo-ee, and began to speak. "I think I get it now, you thought I was upset about my parents. It's been a long time, Rare. I won't ever get over it fully, but mourning won't do me any good. I suppose the real reason seems kinda silly looking back on it..." Her voice drawled out, but Rarity's curiosity had not waned a bit. "Then what, pray tell, exactly is it that you were so upset about, Applejack?" She couldn't help but strain her voice slightly. The orange-hued mare's discomfort became obvious as soon as she realized that she would have to spill her thoughts. She rolled over onto her back, staring at the ceiling. Her limbs flopped in the air awkwardly and a blush crept across her face. Rarity couldn't help but feel a smile play at her lips as she watched the uncomfortable being before her. "Working at the fair just gets me. All those couples together, making a scene. I'm just so... lonely." She turned again, her legs falling into a normal, horizontal lying position. The mare refused to make eye contact with the unicorn. She continued, "I mean my family is great, I love them all. I guess I just wish I had a special somepony. There's nobody that loves me that way." Rarity's mouth ran dry. The concept of Applejack wanting that manner of affection had never crossed her mind. She seemed so sturdy - so free of need for the other. Just when they were slightly past the time requirement for the pause in the cowpony's speaking to indicate that it was the unicorn's turn to speak, Applejack started off again. The mare shifted back into a sitting position, and finally found herself able to look into the mare's azure eyes. "I just wish I could be attractive, like you, ya know? I like who I am, but I can't get any stallion to look at me in any way other than a sister." The golden mare found herself gauging her companion's expression, looking carefully for signs of demeaning judgement or poorly hidden mirth. Fortunately, Rarity was clear on both charges. Instead of housing haughty disdain upon her face, both her eyebrows were pulled inwards and her eyes widened slightly. A bitter taste entered her mouth as she remembered her own feelings about being alone. The mare's lips pressed together as she tried to think of something to say. It came out mostly naturally. "I can see why you think that way, but it is entirely untrue. This is not anything that can't be changed - you've got all the right assets." Rarity reached out, tracing the underline of Applejack's jaw and stopping at her chin, lifting it slightly. It tickled a little. Applejack complied, but felt slightly uncomfortable as Rarity's face came in closer. The unicorn's eyes narrowed, and she examined the mare, turning her head side to side. Suddenly, her hoof moved away from the cowpony's chin, allowing Applejack's head to lower down to its natural height. The golden mare moved her head back from Rarity, glad that the personal invasion was over. "You are beautiful. I mean, your eyes are absolutely lovely. I don't know how anypony can resist them. Maybe you should head out some time. We could go to the local night club. A practice date!" The mare clapped her hooves together and closed her eyes, grinning excitedly. Applejack deadpanned at first, prepared to shoot down Rarity's idea. However, the allure of a night out soon captured her. The thought of a night without consequences, the warm swaying in the embrace of a loved one. It all seemed so sweet, so special. "I'll do it, Rare, just this once. Let's make it count." Out of all of the calculated outcomes, this one was absolutely the least expected. The mare felt a warm blush creep along her cheeks. Her companion's comfortable embrace was sweetened by the peck on the cheek that accompanied it. The mare's ear twitched involuntarily. The tingle that resided on her face was so pleasant that she was able to resist her natural urge to wipe the kiss off. It wasn't something she was used to, but as the pony leaned in to the intermingling of limbs, she decided it wouldn't be so bad to get used to it, at least for now. Dash gesticulated wildly while pacing back and forth. Something had slipped in her head, just slightly. Her emotions transformed into pure kinetic motion. Applejack stood patiently, watching at the hurricane-force being flung her legs into the air, whipping her head around all the while. This went on silently for a few moments. These movements began before the words, giving Dash a few practice lines in her head and Applejack a warning for the can of worms she had just opened. Finally, the words began to flow, the pacing continuing as such. Dash turned her head abruptly towards Applejack, nearly yelling, "I'm a filly-fooler! Everypony knows, but I just can't say it. Well, I just did. I mean, did you know that I was, or just assume it? I don't know. So I have to tell you. I know it's good that you don't just assume it, but sometimes it would be nice if you could just read my mind or something." Any chance of a plan from here on out was scrapped, logical Dash was gone and out for the rest of the day. Applejack sat down, as if her calmness would help the tantrum developing in front of her. She could reach out physically, but that hadn't worked a few minutes ago, so it wouldn't help now. Was there anything to say? The sympathy was there, but the empathy was far off. She decided to wait out the storm and see what happened. The important thing was that the pegasus was finally talking. Suddenly, the pegasus lurched towards the patiently listening cowpony. Her stream of words dribbled to a stop. Their faces drew close, but Dash's approach stopped sharply. The blue mare's mouth became set firmly by a clenched jaw, and her eyes narrowed. The two stared intensely, the pegasus breathing heavily as she struggled to control herself. Fight or flight. The stare held. A flicker of fear registered in Applejack's eyes. The usual sense of humor or competitive hunger that set in Dash's face was replaced with fury. For a moment, the cowpony thought her friend might take a swing at her. The pegasus felt overwhelmed with self-hatred. A beast roared inside her chest. The way that her best friend stared at her in terror, when all that she wanted to do was kiss her... it was beyond words. How could Applejack, of all ponies, not understand Dash's feelings? She felt her forelimb's muscles clench to attack the source of such a strong pain. It twitched, but the motion stopped. The image of striking the orange pony filtered though the pegasus's distraught mind. The bruise on her face for the next few days, maybe weeks. The dirty look. The mistrust. The terrible flinch when she raises her hoof for a pat on the back. Slowly, the heat that had flared so abruptly faded from the cyan mare. She felt her cheeks cool, and then jaw unclenched. The mare closed her eyes and shook her head, backing away from her friend, almost tripping over her own legs. The monster in her heart crumpled to the ground, weak and dying again. When she opened her eyes again, she saw tears in her friend's eyes, too. It was pity, but the pity was coupled with sympathetic pain, with the love that only a true friend can feel. The two drew closer, and Applejack hooked an arm around her companion. Whispering again, contrasting with Dash's volume, the cowpony spoke. "Dash, no matter what you do, you'll always be my best friend. If anypony gives you a hard time, you just lemme know, I'll beat the tar out of 'em." Her last statement was marked with venom, but also a brotherly sort of love. Pulling back, Applejack cupped her friend's face gently and gave her a shake. Dash wiped her nose, sniffling. "Come on, Dash, I'll race you to that tree we always race to." A grin broke the pegasus's sad mug. "It's on, AJ." The mare on top leaned in gently. Excitement flushed through Rarity's veins. A tingle ran down her spine and into the tips of her hooves. The tingle lingered there. Dash's magenta eyes closed slowly, her face closing in. Rarity felt the soft, titillating feeling of lips on her lips. There was hardly anything sensual about it, just a powerful surge in heartbeats as a feeling of being completely comfortable melted through her body. The sensation of being so wanted tugged at her emotions. Rarity pulled off her sleeping mask. Her heart was hammering in her chest, as if it could jump out at any second. No use sleeping now. Her eyes glazed over as she stared at the ceiling. Dreams are always unusual, but they have a tendency to mess with heads. Why Rainbow Dash? Why that situation? Sure, she and the pegasus mare had debated love for an extended period of time today, but the unicorn loved Applejack. That was how things worked, right? She loved the quaint cowpony, talked about her all day so that their date at the club would go well, and would dream about her for the whole night before. Dash, the delicious orange mare's best friend, was just a wingmare. A support structure. A second voice in her head chided herself for choosing the word delicious to describe her innocent friend. So that was it. Rarity spent time talking about love with Rainbow Dash today, so the dream reflected love and Dash. Love with Rainbow Dash, ehe... Another internsal slap was applied. And for the rest of the night, she lay awake, trying to unscramble what had seemed so straightforward before.