Fluttershy and Rarity were already a happy couple, but Fluttershy couldn’t help but fall for Applejack as well. Rarity, ever the worldly mare, saw what was going on and encouraged her marefriend to confess her feelings. Applejack, who was always only marginally concerned with life outside of those closest to her, thought it was the weirdest dang thing she ever heard. But, well… she couldn’t deny she always loved Fluttershy’s visits, and the way she smiled whenever they were together, and how Applejack herself couldn’t help smiling along with her. Still, she held out for a while, until Rarity talked her into it.
Initially, Applejack couldn’t help but walk on eggshells around her new marefriend. Especially whenever Rarity was around. Coupled with Fluttershy’s nervousness, it almost didn’t get very far at all. Rarity had expected this, of course, and she was damned and determined that her marefriend’s new relationship would turn out just like a storybook romance. So she took a trip to Sweet Apple Acres without Fluttershy in order to plan a big romantic outing just between Shy and AJ. Much to her surprise, Applejack was actually quite good at romance once she let go of her needless worrying.
In time, Rarity found that she was growing jealous, but not of Applejack for sharing in her marefriend’s affections. No, she was jealous of Fluttershy. It wasn’t fair. Rarity wanted somepony who would sweep her off her hooves like that. She absolutely adored Fluttershy, who always made her feel loved in so many little day-to-day reminders. But Rarity also wanted her hero, the valiant knight whom would stop at nothing to save the fair maiden.
She didn’t tell anyone, not at first. Things were going so well for Fluttershy and Applejack, she would hate to risk anything between them. If Applejack didn’t feel the same way about her, she would be alright. Well, she’d probably eat a gallon of ice cream while crying as Fluttershy comforted her, but that was pretty much ‘alright’ by her standards. But what if Applejack became uncomfortable around her again? What would that mean for their relationship? And what would Fluttershy think towards somepony who had thrown away a chance at her beloved’s heart? No, it was better to keep this inside.
Until, of course, Fluttershy noticed anyway. Rarity was simply awful at hiding her feelings, and Fluttershy knew her too well. But Fluttershy didn’t say anything to her, and instead talked to Applejack about it. At first, AJ was unsure about the idea. Sure, Fluttershy was dating two ponies, and Applejack was nothing but supportive of Fluttershy’s other relationship. But for herself? She had never thought she’d be in a situation like that.
Then one day, Rarity came home to find a note. It asked her to go into town for a romantic candlelit dinner at a formal restaurant, and was signed by Fluttershy. It seemed that Applejack was rubbing off on Fluttershy, or maybe it had been Applejack’s idea in the first place. Rarity didn’t care, she was more than happy to be receiving some special attention from her special somepony, and dressed in her most seductively stunning apparel.
But when she arrived at the restaurant, she didn’t find Fluttershy at all. Instead, the waiter led her to a table with an orange farm pony, who was dressed in what must have been her best outfit yet was still below the standards of the high-class restaurant, and had her mouth hanging open slightly as she stared at the mare who stood before her.
Fortunately, Rarity still found her exceptionally charming.