//------------------------------// // Act I Chapter V // Story: The Farmer & The Mermaid // by TheOneAJ //------------------------------// “It sure is a beautiful sunny day, is it not?” Rarity asked as she stared at awed of the human world through the truck’s widow. Indeed it was. As cliché was it was. It was a clear crisp early autumn day in the Canterlot area. Not quite the fall just yet, but to the point where you could wake up the fallowing morning and not be surprised if the summer had come to an official end. Most of the leaves on the trees were still green, but many of them had already started to dry out and were changing colors. The streets and parks where fillied with people who were either dress in jackets and pants already, or a few who felt like it was still warm enough to justify wearing shorts. “Just wait until they start falling,” Applejack commented to the girl besides her as they drove. The thought of raking and mulching that would need to added to the chore list not even crossing her mind as it usually did when thinking about leaves with the mermaid sitting next to her. Ex-mermaid, she was reminded herself as Rarity’s legs crossed onto her side of the truck as Rarities upper half started to fall out of the window. “Whoa there, girl!” Applejack said, controlling her blush as she pulled Rarity back into her seat by her helm of her skirt. “Remember what I said about seatbelts?!” Rarity let out a squeak as she was pulled back into the truck. “Sorry, dear!” she said she while fidgeting with the buckle. “You make it sound easy to contain your excitement. Eh, speaking of, dear.” “Right,” Applejack shallowed as they pulled up to a stop sign. “You just, take this end,” she pulled onto the strap, and tried not to act nervous as she pulled it across Rarity’s midsection. “Then… Then you click it in… In here.” Rarity giggled as Applejack clicked in her seatbelt. “Thank you, dearie. Although,” she frowned and fidgeted when the belt met her clothing. “Is this really necessary?” “Not if you don’t want to get me into trouble.” Applejack answered returning to the wheel and chuckled. “Oh! Don’t stress. It’s not a heavily enforced rule. More just for safety in case something goes wrong.” She frowned as Rarity stared at her. “Which is highly unlikely! Just in case.” “I see.” Rarity nodded, looking back out the window. “Oh! What’s that?” “What’s- Applejack glanced to where Rarity was pointing. “Oh! That’s a water tower.” Rarity narrowed her eyes at the massive structure. “So it stores water?” “Yup.” Applejack nodded. “Why is it so high up then? Wouldn’t that make getting to the water difficult?” “Well it,” Applejack paused. “You know, I don’t really know why. Never something I thought to ask.” “Can’t you look it up on your hand held device?” “Eh, another thing you can’t do while driving. But I promise I’ll look it up for you later.” Rarity let out a huff. “So many rules you humans have.” Applejack raised an eyebrow. “And you mermaids don’t?” “Well,” Rarity shrugged. “Touché. It’s not that we don’t.” She became unsettling quiet for a moment. Before Applejack could ask if something was wrong, Rarity added, “I suppose it makes sense to have more laws when you have more technology.” Applejack twitched her lips, but went back to smiling when Rarity jumped at the sound of a train whistle. The burst out laughing when she saw her first train. Much of the trip went this way, right until they pulled up to the mall. “This place sure seems busy.” Rarity commented with wonder at all the cars and humans about. “Yeah. It’s just about everything a human teenager can want all in one place.” Applejack hoped out of her truck. When Rarity didn’t fallow, she walked over to the passenger’s side and opened the door. “Shall we?” she offered with a coy smile. Rarity held a hand to her chest. “We may. But first,” she shyly pointed to her seatbelt. Applejack chuckled, reached across, undid Rarity, and took the mermaids hand to guide her safely to the street. Arm’s interlocked, the two girls made their way inside. From there, it was nothing but keeping Rarity from wondering off, while playing a twenty questions from there. All before they even got to the clothing store in question. By that point, their game of twenty questions, had turned into a million. “How does this one look on me?” Rarity asked, twirling around another skirt on display. “Or, maybe this one! Oh, this one’s cute, and I love this design. Gosh, are those colors actually together?! Well I mean, they work, but still!” “Looks fine to me,” Applejack grunted under the growing pile of clothing Rarity had tossed her way to hold. Focused more on the bubbly free spirit in front of her than the price tags hanging on her noise. Not quite ready to tell her yet about the price limit they would have to keep too. “Great even.” It was at this moment that Rarity seemed to realize her friend had become more fabric than girl. “Huh? Gosh! Sorry there, Applejack. Hope I haven’t gone too overboard.” “Not at all.” Applejack lied as Rarity helped to lighten her load. “I mean, we’ll have to start narrowing our selection down soon, but as long as you’re happy.” “We can’t- Oh!” Rarity realized. “It just occurred to me this shopping trip will, have to come out of your money.” She fidgeted her fingers. “Unless humans take shells and pearls.” “Well,” Applejack said perking up, “not directly, but if you do have any pearls on you.” “Really- Oh, eh, guess I kind of left all that back in the sea anyways.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “Sorry.” Applejack sighed. “Hey, it’s fine. I want to do this for you. We just can’t get everything. Maybe four or five-” She was cut off as Rarity brought her in for a surprise hug. “Thank you. Thank you so much.” “Eh, you’re welcome.” Applejack warmly said returning the hug. “Now,” she added once she pulled away. “How about you go try a few of these on. Dressing room’s over there.” Awkward pause. “Will you… Need help changing?” Rarity snickered. “I think I’ve got the hang of this. Although,” she added holding up a pair of jeans, “I think I’ll hold off on the pants for the time being.” They both laughed. **** Rarity signed as she examined one of the outfit she wished to acquire. It was difficult, but she had at least narrowed herself down to three she absolutely wanted to keep. Although Applejack had insisted that she could have more, she really didn’t want to overstep her boundaries. The human had so far been very generous to her. Something she was sure could crumple apart any second with her luck. She held a hand to her right chest. Truthfully, this was the nicest thing a stranger had ever done for her. Under the sea, there was hardly any room for charity. Beyond the occasional family or close ally for the most part. It was enough of a shock to her when Applejack had even gone so far as to save her from that pond. In her mind, it wouldn’t have made sense for Applejack to do such a thing unless- ‘Come now, Rarity,’ his cold hand rested on her shoulder, ‘you owe me one.’ “How’s it looking?” Applejack knocked through the dressing room door. Causing Rarity to blink from her stupor. “Oh, um, fine!’ Rarity squeaked. “Just, um, so many choices. Sorry to keep you waiting.” Applejack let out a grunt. “It’s fine. I don’t mind, honest.” A Pause. “Anyways, got you some water.” She rolled a bottle under the dressing room door. “On the narrowest side, there’s a lid.” She explained. “Hold the bottle and twist the lid to open. If you can’t get it, I’ll help you out once you come out.” As the bottle rolled towards her, dripping with moisture, Rarity took a step back. “Eh, thank you, dearie.” “Something wrong?” Applejack inquired. “No no!” Rarity nervously answered. “I’ll be done in a second!” “…Okay.” Rarity let out a sigh of relief, her eyes glancing back towards the water. “Maybe I will get this fourth one after all.” **** “Thank you ever so much, darling.” Rarity beamed as they carried her new human clothing through the parking lot. “Uh-huh.” Applejack said dryly. Rarity blinked. “Something the matter?” “Um,” Applejack bit her lips as they reached the truck. “Actually, yes. Just put the clothes in the back and take a seat in the front.” “Okay.” Taken aback, Rarity did as instructed. “Did I do something wrong?” she asked as she clicked her seatbelt. “Wha- No!” Applejack held up her hand and gave a reassuring smile. “No. nothing like that. I promise.” “Oh good.” Rarity let out a breath. Applejack’s smile dropped. She then put a pair of water bottles in the cup holders between them. “Have a drink of water.” Rarity’s face shrank. “Oh, um, I’m good, darling.” “It wasn’t an offer.” Narrowing her eyes, Applejack demonstrated to Rarity how to open it and held it outwards. “Drink.” “Applejack, really!” Rarity began to press up against the door. “What is the meaning of this? I said no thank you.” Applejack flinched. “I,” she shook her head. “You don’t think I don’t know what’s going on?” “Huh?” Rarity blinked acting innocent. “Why, whatever do you- “Do you really expect to go about avoiding water for the rest of your life because you’re scared even touching it will turn you back into a mermaid?” Applejack asked calmly. Rarity stared blankly at her. “What, I… Well, I mean, it’s not as if humans have to drink water all the time.” She asked. Her dry lips already answering her question. Applejack answered her question anyways. “Afraid we do.” she sighed. “Look, let’s just find out what happens here in the safety of the truck rather than out in public, okay? Get it over with” She pushed the damp bottle towards Rarity. “Come now, Applejack!” Rarity responded as she push back. “What’s the rush?! Can’t we wait until the end of the day?” “Rarity,” Applejack said through gritted teeth. “Please! Just let- With that, the bottle slipped out of Applejack’s hands and spilled all over Rarity’s legs. The girl let out a scream and tried to wipe herself off with her hands. “Hey, hey!” Applejack threw her arms around Rarity to hold her in place. “I’m sorry! I really am, but, let’s just let it happen.” She let out a nervous chuckle. “I mean, you aren’t immediately changing back. That’s good. Right?” Rarity let out what could only be described as a cross between an indignant huff and a scared snarl at Applejack as the bottled water continued to trickle down her legs. When around thirty seconds passed with no transformation taking place, Rarity let out a breath. “I… I suppose I may have of been acting a little silly there.” She let out a hiccup and covered her face. “What was that?!” “What was what?” Applejack questioned, still holding onto Rarity. The realization of that, along with how close to her chest she had been holding onto the mermaid made her face start to reddened. Rarity let out another hiccup. “That! Is that supposed to be- She let out another hiccup. “Oh, gods, is it annoying! Dose this happen all the time with you- Another hiccup escaped her lips. “Make it stop!” Perplexed by the situation, Applejack started laughing. “Are you saying mermaids don’t hiccup? “No,” Rarity moaned between hiccups. She jerked up in alarm as she felt something warm and wet on her face. “Oh what now with my- Hiccup- face?! Did some water spill on my face?” She hiccupped. “Huh?” Applejack blinked, noticing the tears. “Oh. Eh, not sure I can make since on why humans and not mermaids hiccup, but I can figure why crying isn’t your kinds thing.” She released her grip on rarity and offered her the second water bottle. “Water helps with both.” Looking to Rarity’s still human, and drying, legs, she added. “I think it’s safe to say a little liquid on, or in you, at least fresh water, won’t hurt.” Rarity glared at her, but another hiccup as serval tears dripped of her chin made her, hesitantly, reach for the bottle. There was silence as she held it in her hands, till at last, she guzzled it down. “Well, you see,” Applejack started, “I’m not sure if I can explain hiccupping, but crying is when- “I know what crying and sadness is.” Rarity said blankly as she stared at the bottle in her hands. “At least, it’s something we have words for. If for no reason than to tell myths and legends about it.” She kicked her legs. “Although, even if we could cry, it wouldn’t be something most of my kind would do.” Applejack frowned. “Oh? Eh, why’s that.” Rarity fingered the plastic bottle. “To make a long story short, and by comparison with what I’ve seen of your world so far, it’s a very fish eat fish world under the sea.” “Guess the song was a lie.” Applejack said before she could think. “It’s a… Human view on mermaid thing I’ll explain later.” Rarity let out a sigh. “Why are you being so nice to me?” Applejack tensed up. “What? A person can’t, just because… Of course, there was the fact she may or may not have been developing feelings for this girl/mermaid she just meet. Which threw everything she thought she knew about her sexuality on her head. Which of course, wasn’t true! She had done so out of the goodness of her heart before any feelings started to develop. “I’m not going to expect anything or turn on you if that’s what you’re worried about. You’re more that welcome to stay with me until… Well, for however long you’d like.” Applejack said, not sure of what better way to end that. “I promise.” “It was on my mind.” Rarity said sheepishly. “Among other things.” She set the crumpled up plastic into the cup holder, and reached across the embrace the farmer. “Thank you.” Caught off guard, but happy, Applejack returned the hug. “You’re welcome… Boy, this went a lot more dramatically than I pictured.” “No kidding,” Rarity said sarcastically pulling away. “So, what now?” “For today you mean? Applejack looked down. “I’d understand if that is enough excitement for you, or,” she smirked, “I can show you some more fun human things.” Rarity’s face lite up. “I would very much like so. But first,” she pointed down to her seatbelt, which, after being stretched from rarity’s hug, had locked itself in. “Right away, my lady!” Applejack jumped out of her side and made her way around the truck to help Rarity free. Rarity smiled.