//------------------------------// // Hair care // Story: Tales of Rarijack // by Gowak //------------------------------// Applejack should have seen it coming, but she didn’t. All the signs had been there, all the little hints that this moment was coming. She had had a rough couple of weeks, between the preparation for the summer storms, the storms themselves and the summer race in the Everfree Rainbow had dragged her in… She had had little time to take care of herself and the time she had, she had dedicated to other stuff. She had been warned many times about the consequences but she had paid no heed. Her friend’s had told her to be careful. She had told her to be careful. But she had not listened. The moment Granny Smith, deaf-as-a-post-and-a-half Granny Smith, had told her to check the noise in the barn, she should have guessed something was wrong. But there she was. The door of the barn closed ominously, slowly behind her, its rusty hinges pained whines adding to the drama. She wouldn’t escape there, that was for sure. She sent a glance to the roof, maybe she could reach the hole in the… “It has been repaired last week, Darling,” a voice, her voice, said victoriously. She quickly shifted toward the trap leading to the cellar, hidden from view by crates and boxes. From there she could… “Your granny locked it because someone told her that Rainbow might have suspicions about your cider cache.” The situation was dire but it was just a lock maybe she could… “Oh come on! You would let Rainbow have access to your cider rather than let me win?” Applejack sighed, then smiled. “Nah. You won this one, fair and square.” Rarity hugged her from behind. “You will not regret this!” “I know, babe.” “Now, we have lost enough time. Let me take care of this glorious blond mane of yours.” An hour had passed. Half of it had been Rarity applying shampoos, conditioners, and various scented products that Applejack could not differentiate from each other. The other half had been mainly them waiting for her hair to dry. Now Rarity was combing them with utmost care. Applejack didn’t know she did it, but she always knew which angle would get rid of the knots in a painless and efficient way, making the experience highly relaxing. “Are you having fun, darling?” Applejack hummed in approval. “Good.” There was more to it, Applejack could feel it, so she waited in silence for the fashionista to let it out. “Tell me Applejack,” she let out seriously. “I am not bothering you with this, am I?” “What brought that out?” “You honestly have to ask?” she retorted with an odd mix of sarcasm and honest curiosity. “Well… To tell the honest truth I love it when you take care of my hair.” “Why do you have to make it so difficult, then?” “Well… it’s not so much the fact that you’d take care of my hair that poses a problem. It’s just that it takes so much time… And you’ve got the worst sense of timing and priority I’ve ever seen. If I let you have it your way, you’d do my hair in the middle of a harvest… or during a storm.” “Oh darling, you’re exage-” Applejack moved her head, slowly and cautiously so her gaze could meet Rarity’s. “- Okay, I admit I might not be the best at assessing priorities. But if that is the problem why did you try to flee earlier?” Applejack blushed slightly. She could tell her that “Let-me-take-care-of-your-glorious-blond-mane” Rarity brought some kind of fight or flight response, which was true enough. But she knew that the true reason was different: she simply loved that Rarity chased after her. In the same way a child loved playing tag. The way her girlfriend tried to catch her, made sure she could get her and take care of her showed some real drive. It was definitely childish but it always made her feel warm inside. “I like it when you chase me.” The comb faltered slightly, just the tiniest nudge in Applejack’s scalp. She probably wouldn’t have noticed, if not for Rarity’s usual expertise. Rarity finally spoke, slowly, choosing her words carefully. “Well… I admit that despite the frustration of seeing you actively avoid taking care of your coiffure, I admit that there’s something quite… exhilarating about the thrill of the chase.” Applejack smiled. “However, I’d love if we could share that moment a bit more often? I really like taking care of your hair.” Applejack’s smile grew wider. “I like it too.” “So do we have a deal?” “I’ll let you into my hair more often.” “And I will keep chasing you for it.” They kept silent for a moment, Rarity brushing, Applejack being brushed. Granny had told her once to find a partner who “keep up with her shenanigans”. Maybe that wasn’t exactly what she had in mind but it was not that bad. “Love ya, babe.” “I love you too, darling.”