//------------------------------// // Rarijackulation // Story: Appledashery Vol. Two // by Just Essay //------------------------------// "I really hope this ain't no inconvenience, Rares," Applejack said. "Oh, none at all, darling!" Rarity squatted before her table and sewing machine, working on a piece of partially-knitted fabric. "I am always able and willing to work on all-important outfits for my friends!" she sing-song'd. "Or—in this case—active winter wear for my friend's sheep dog... ahem..." Her bifocal'd eyes darted briefly out the sunny window. "...months before the first flake of snow." "Yup. Uh huh." Applejack leaned forward, tilting her hat back. "So you seen Rainbow Dash around at all lately?" "Rainbow... Dash...?" Rarity suddenly went two shades paler. "Now... what... makes you think... that I've seen... our darling athletic companion... lately?" Applejack raised an eyebrow at Rarity's awkwardly mechanical tone. "Isssssss there somethin' yer itchin' to tell me, Rarity?" "Ahem. Whatever gives you that idea, fair Applejack?" "Because you always stiffen up like a cow with rigor mortis whenever yer not-so-secretly dyin' to 'fess up somethang." "Mmmmmmmmmm...!" Rarity bit her lip to contain a bursting smile. The fashionista looked right. Applejack looked right. Rarity looked left. Applejack looked left. At long last, Rarity swiveled around and motioned for Applejack to scoot closer. So... Applejack scooted closer. Rarity shimmied towards her. Once she was in whisper range, she cupped her fetlocks around a pair of marshmallow cheeks and wheezed: "I... have... reason... to... believe... that... our... beloved... Rainbow Dash... is... starting... a... brand... new... exciting... chapter... of... her... young... feminine... life...!" "Y'all dun say?" Applejack marshmallow'd back. "Is she finally joinin' the Wankycoots or somethin'?" "Nothing of the sort! Oh, Applejack, you just won't believe it!" "Believe what?" Applejack groaned breathily. "Consarn it, Rarity. Enough with the melodrama already..." "I have reason to believe..." Rarity's eyes sparkled. "...that Rainbow Dash has finally found the stallion of her dreams!" "... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..." Applejack blinked. "... ... ... ...oh yeah?" "Mmmmmmmmmm!" Rarity was nearly bouncing up and down. "Don't tell anypony. Buttttttttt..." She looked left and right for one final measure, then melodically squealed: "She had me fashion a dress for her! Rainbow Dash! Our Rainbow Dash! And I made her a most smashing ensemble that would absolutely throttle a respectable gentlecolt on his hooves!" "Yer tryin' to tell me that our..." Applejack grimaced in mid-speech. "...that Rainbow Dash wanted a dress? And she wanted you to make her one?" "Indeed! She even posed and modeled it for me! Such commitment! Such intense purpose! I'm telling you, Applejack, the moment has finally come! She's smitten!" "... ... ... ... ...huh..." Applejack's eyes darted off into the pearlescent distance of the boutique. "That seems so... so..." "Wonderful, isn't it!" "Well..." Applejack gulped. "Reckon it is." Her eyes darted back to Rarity. "Assumin' she's happy and all." "Well, you know Rainbow Dash..." "Do I?" "...always so frightened of embarrassment. Quick to deny the most basic of truths. Afraid of revealing her vulnerable side." Rarity laughed. "In so many ways, darling, she's the opposite of you!" "Yeah..." Applejack straightened her hat. "R-Reckon so..." "She wouldn't come out with the truth through her muzzle, but I can tell..." Rarity's eyelashes fluttered. "A true lady can always tell. Her heart has been seized by the love bug. And I haven't seen her since!" "Haven't... seen her...?" "Ever since I fashioned her that dress, she's been missing! I'm telling you, our beloved Rainbow Dash has eloped!" "Eloped? You mean... like them William Flankspeare characters?" "I mean like a happy young blooming mare throwing caution to the wind and embracing the passion and exuberance of a romantic life." Rarity sighed dreamily. "... ... ...but—that's Rainbow's business and not ours, hmm?" She winked as she returned to the sewing job. "Best not to spread rumors... but you and me, Applejack? We're friends. And there's no rumors between friends." "Right." Applejack swallowed dryly. "No secrets either, I reckon." "Whatever happens... when Rainbow Dash comes back... she deserves our love and support." Rarity's cheeks nevertheless puffed out as she smiled to the breaking point. "Mmmmmm! I can just imagine it right now! A candle-lit dinner! A dance beneath the stars! A kiss by the fireplace! Ohhhhhhhh I do hope Rainbow Dash opens up after this! Imagine the stories she has to tell!" "Yeah, I..." Applejack gazed off some more. "...can almost picture it."