//------------------------------// // Interlude - A Morning Detour // Story: Stranger in the Forest // by TrixterCat //------------------------------// “Oh my, the two of them really did? And what did he do?” “Hehehe! Well, the good Doctor hurriedly trotted over to where I was, dancing on the tips of his hooves the entire way, and slammed down his entire bit purse. He told me that the ‘fate of Equestria was in the balance’ and that he ‘needed to borrow one of my finely crafted bouquets’. He didn’t even wait for me to get my mouth open before snatching one after a quick glance, and then running like his tail was on fire after the diminishing form of miss Doo.” “He most certainly could have been correct, a mare’s wrath is a terrible thing to behold, afterall. Although I’m sure he didn’t mean any harm, I’m suspecting it’s going to take a few more bouquets to make up for his little slip of the tongue.” “Oh, I’m sure the two of them will be fine in no time. But, I’ll make sure to keep a few ready at a hoof’s reach from now on, just in case he happens to need another.” Rarity and Junebug both giggled as their gossiping reached its end, and with it, the two of them parted ways after saying goodbyes. Rarity smiled to herself as she trotted down a street. For being an early morning, today was already promising to be yet another splendid and beautiful day in Ponyville. Rarity greeted the many hustling and bustling ponies on her way, who certainly had good reason to make Ponyville feel like the busy streets of Manehattan. The Princesses would make a visit to Ponyville that afternoon and everypony was running head over hooves to get everything ready. Rarity, having had the foresight to see this happening, had already done everything crucial she needed for the day, and was free to help others, as she had just done with Junebug. She and several other mares needed a tiny bit of assistance and an artistic eye to get their assortments of flowers arranged just so. When she spotted a lone apple farmer pulling a cart, she knew she had found the next mare in need of a helping hoof. “Applejack! Good morning,” Rarity greeted enthusiastically over the many ponies scurrying about, causing Applejack to halt and look around. “Oh! Mornin’, Rarity,” she greeted back once she spotted her. “You have the looks of a busy bee, much like everypony else. Would you happen to need any help?” “Well, if you could help with one thing, I would be awfully grateful for it, sugarcube.” “Say nothing of it, I will gladly assist.” Applejack nodded, and they made the short distance to the Apple family stand. Even on a busy day like this, the market was running normally, the ponies getting ready for the impending visit making everything so much more lively. “Here,” Applejack said as she placed a small crate of Apples on the stand. “If you could deliver this to Pinkie, I’d be mighty obliged. I meant to do it earlier, but with how much everypony else is galloping around, I’m running late as it is.” “Of course, darling. I assume these are going straight in to the catering for the visit?” “You betcha.” “And you’ll be staying at the stand?” “Since school is canceled for today, Applebloom is taking care of the chores at Sweet Apple Acres, and Big Mac is taking care of the other things around town. I’ll be staying here for as long as the market stays open.” “Oh, it must be very hard for you,” Rarity said with a devilish smile. “I bet you are dying to meet your winged sweetheart,” she teased. “Urgh...I’m never going to live that down…” Applejack moaned, slumping over her market stand while Rarity giggled. “Oh, Applejack darling. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this is probably going to last for a while longer. Seeing either one of you blush from the simple mention of the others name is too adorable, and when you are in the same room...ah, you two are so precious,” Rarity stated and brushed her friend’s mane with her hoof. “It was just one kiss…” Applejack bemoaned. “One kiss in the right place can make all the difference,” Rarity giggled again and hugged Applejack. “Besides, a little bird told me that you two have been spending some time at her cottage,” Rarity asked, eager to know every detail. “Hmh. I helped her with a few things that needed fixing, and uhh, she had some tea. So, I stayed for a while after,” Applejack explained as she stood up. “Mhmm,” Rarity hummed with a singsong voice, but noticed the unsure demeanor of her friend. “What’s wrong?” “I umm... I need... I could do with some advice,” Applejack rambled, awkwardly twiddling her hooves. “Of course, darling. What’s on your mind?” “It’s...well, Fluttershy…umm, Fluttershy asked if I wanted to go on a picnic with her. Just the two of us,” Applejack disclosed, a slightly pensive look on her face. Rarity smiled warmly. “She’s asking you for a date, darling.” “Yes, uhh, I got that.” Applejack rolled her eyes with a wry smile. “Then what’s the problem?” Applejack’s ears went down, and her posture became more reserved. “I’m not sure how to answer.” Rarity pondered the reply for a while, waiting for Applejack to perhaps add something, but the usually forthcoming mare kept silent. “Don’t you want to? Go with her, I mean,” Rarity finally asked. “Well, that’s just the darndest thing… I-I don’t know. I would like to...but…” “But?” Rarity encouraged. “Rarity… I’m not really looking to, to settle down...with anypony.” “Oh.” “I mean I do like Fluttershy, I really do!” Applejack hastily added. “She is a great mare, and we are very close friends. But I don’t know if I can…’date’ like that,” Applejack explained as she gestured animatedly with her hooves. “I mean, I have the whole Sweet Apple Acres to take care of, for heaven's sake! Not to mention looking after Applebloom and Granny Smith, and on top of that, we are the gosh darn Elements of Harmony, and we have all that business to worry about! It’s just... I don’t know.” Applejack slumped against the stand again after finishing her small tirade. “And you are afraid that if you, hmm, got together, with Fluttershy, it would interfere with everything else?” “With how many irons I already have in the fire, I’m not sure if I’d have the time to date her properly. And if I made the time for that, then something else would have to give. That’s umm, why I never asked her out before.” “But you did consider it?” Rarity wanted to confirm, to which Applejack nodded. “Me and Fluttershy have always done well together, and I think she is...v-very good lookin’,” Applejack blushed slightly, similar to a filly admitting her first crush. “We both work hard to take good care of what’s important to us, me with Sweet Apple Acres, and her with her flock of animals, and we often help each other out. It has bound us together in that regard. But like I said, I never got far with any thoughts about dating her, because I knew it would be hard to balance dating anypony with all the other work I have. That, and I have no need to settle down with anypony when I’m still so young. I didn’t even know she was open to the idea of...uhh, me, I guess.” “Hmm…” Rarity hummed, processing all the information. “Rarity, what do I do?” “How have the two of you been doing otherwise? Have you spent any time with each other beyond having some tea?” “Not more than usual. I reckon we have talked more often. And uhh, Fluttershy smiles more, I guess? We haven’t gone on any ‘dates’ or anything.” Applejack went back to fidgeting with her hooves. “But now she asked you for one.” “Yeah. It took her a minute to gather her courage... Was afraid she was going to fly off, with how nervously her wings were a twitchin’,” Applejack added with a tiny smile. “Still, it was very bold, especially from her, to ask you out. It shows how much effort she’d be willing to put in to the relationship.” “Yeah...and that’s why it makes me feel so bad to even consider turning her down…” Applejack replied, her ears drooping sadly. “Oh, Applejack,” Rarity comforted her friend with another hug. “I know it must be a terrible feeling, but promise me you will not go on a date with her just because you don’t want to make her sad. That will only hurt both of you more in the long run.” “Y-yeah.” “Other than that, I’m afraid that there’s isn’t much help I can give you, Applejack,” Rarity told her friend, and placed her hoof over Applejack’s barrel. “This is a matter of your own heart, and you need to be the one to decide what you are going to do.” “Hmmmh…I know. I just...I just feel so unsure,” Applejack sighed disappointedly. “If you truly are of the opinion that it would be too hard for you to date her because of how much time other things in your life take, then you should decline, and explain this to Fluttershy. She will understand, I’m sure of it, even if it is going to hurt for a while,” Rarity offered with a sympathetic smile. “Hmmh.” “However, if you ask me, I’d hope that you give this a second thought.” “Huh?” “Applejack, love is never an easy affair,” Rarity explained with a gentle smile. “It demands time from you, no matter who you end up going out with. There’s never going to be a perfect time for when you can start dating somepony. It’s only a matter of recognizing when the opportunity presents itself, and taking it.” “...” “I know that you and Fluttershy could be happy together, if you just gave it a chance. And if you are still worried how you will have time for everything, you can support each other, and ease your burdens while spending time together. Dating is not only about going out to do something exciting, but little things as well.” Rarity caressed Applejacks cheek with her hoof, to which Applejack slightly leaned in to. “But if you are feeling unsure, you should talk to Fluttershy about it too. I’m certain you two will be able to talk it out.” Applejack let out a genuine smile. “Thanks, Rarity.” “You’re welcome, darling,” Rarity concluded, and the two of them hugged briefly. “Now, let’s put that to the backs of minds for now, and focus on today. We have an important day ahead of us, after all.” “Yeah. Do you think we’ll get everything ready for the Princesses visit?” Applejack asked, while both of them glanced at the flurry of activity all around them. “I certainly hope so. I know that both of the Princesses have wanted to meet with Scruffy for a long time now, but waited because of the language barrier. It would be terrible if their first meeting would go awry.” Rarity shook her head, remembering one particular visit from princess Celestia and her phoenix. “Let’s hope that Scruffy is not feeling too overwhelmed by all of this. He has been feeling a bit under the weather recently. You stopped by the library this morning, didn’t you? Has Twilight gotten the amulet working properly yet?” “Oh...erm…” “Applejack?” “Ehm...T-Twilight probably has everything under control, heh. I reckon everything’s fine.” ******************** “Everything’s not fine!” Twilight moaned.