//------------------------------//
// Definitions 
// Story: Fables From Equestria 
// by Shingo 
//------------------------------//

Two ponies were walking through the fields of Sweet Apple Acres. One was the proprietor of the estate, and the other was a dress maker. The two were having a… rather animated conversation.

“No,” Applejack said. “No way am I going to agree to that.”

“But Applejack,” Rarity replied. “With a little work, you could let out all that potential beauty you have.” Applejack turned to her friend. Her eyes narrowed.

“Run that by me again.”

“Underneath your exterior is beauty just waiting to shine in the world. With my help (and possibly the help of the Spa twins), we could unleash it and dazzle everypony in the country. Why, you could even outshine the princesses if we…”

THWACK!

The two of them stopped. One of Applejack’s hooves was in the body of a nearby apple tree. All of its fruit fell to the ground.

“Applejack?”

“I don’t want beauty.” A gasp left Rarity’s lips.

“Why ever not? Every filly, nay, everypony wants beauty.”

“Do you want to know why I don’t want it?” Rarity nodded. “It’s because of the nature of beauty itself. Beauty is the first present that nature gives; it’s also the first to be taken away. Beauty is unbearable, drives us to despair. It offers us a minute to take a glimpse of eternity, and it makes us stretch that glimpse over the whole of time.” Applejack picked up one of the fallen fruits from the ground. She tossed it to Rarity who caught it with her magic.

“There’s another reason too,” she continued. “Beauty isn’t enough, there must be something more. Take that apple for instance. It’s awfully pretty ain’t it? While it’s pretty, it’s not fit to eat. Not only that, other farmers work to make their product beautiful. But even if their product is pretty, it may not be of good quality. Beauty is unimportant without quality.” The two stood in silence. Rarity dropped the apple and shook her head.

“You’re wrong,” she said.

“Pardon me?”

“Beauty is not unimportant. Beauty is our weapon against nature; with it we make objects giving them limit, symmetry, proportion. Beauty halts and freezes the melting flow of time.” Rarity slowly approached Applejack.

“Beauty is the promise of happiness. Beauty is power, and a smile is its sword. Beauty tells the soul to act.” The two of them stood face to face.

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever: as its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness.” Rarity’s nose touched Applejack's.

“And you seem to have forgotten two things,” she said.

“Enlighten me.”

“Beauty is everywhere a welcome guest.” Her lips locked themselves with Applejack’s. They stood there for a few moments. When Rarity broke the kiss, a smile was on her face.

“And beauty is whatever gives us joy,” she said. Applejack smiled. “Now, will you let me do a little work to make you a true beauty?” Applejack walked past Rarity to a nearby bush.

“No,” Rarity turned around and glared at the orange pony. Said pony was pulling something from the bush.

“Why not? You are one, even if no other pony sees it. I want them to see what I see!” Applejack turned around. She placed a rose in the ivory pony’s mane. Her foreleg gently brushed Rarity’s cheek.

“Because a beauty is one you notice,” she answered. “And a charmer is one who notices you.” A blush appeared on Rarity’s face.

“Out of the two, which one do you think I am?”