//------------------------------// // Act 1 Chapter VI // Story: The Farmer & The Mermaid // by TheOneAJ //------------------------------// “So you really don’t have any games like this where you’re from?” Applejack asked with suspicion as she guided Rarity’s arm for the seventh time. “Oh yes,” Rarity added a finger to her chin as a new set of ski balls rolled down the ramp. “I could still very mush use some help. Maybe a few more time?” Applejack rolled her eyes and smiled. “Alright then.” She stood behind Rarity and took her hand. After their little incident in the truck, the two continued on with their little human world date. One which Applejack was finding increasingly difficult to call elsewise. It started when she showed Rarity around some of the other stores and places her world had to offer. From electronics, to even more clothing, although they didn’t buy anything else. Treating Rarity to pizza, the look upon her face was one Applejack would never forget, to the arcade and all of its choices. The whole while, Rarity remaining as close and she could to Applejack. And not just so she wouldn’t get lost, Applejack had been noticing. Always doing what she could to have the farmer stand as close as possible to herself. Enough so that they had even gotten rotten looks from some local church youth group kids once or twice. If that didn’t enforce it, Rarity needing ‘help’ on how to play ski ball just adding to Applejack’s feelings on the mater. “First, you line yourself up,” Applejack chuckled, resting her chin on Rarity’s shoulders and closed her left eye. “Then you real back,” she pulled Rarity’s warm, smooth, and beautiful right backwards. Holding her there, in the moment, as her purple hair tickled her skin, she thought to herself; If there is a heaven, then it’s got a lot to live up to if it wants to trump this moment. “And then you," Applejack continued, ready to fire, when a familiar broke her concentration. “Aj?” a familiar voice broke her concentration. Causing the ski ball to shoot out of their hands and land in the adjacent land. “Rainbow Dash!” Applejack gulped, turning to face her school friend. A bead of sweat forming on her forehead. “What a surprise to see you here.” “Oh, Applejack! What’s this? A friend of yours?” Rarity asked with an innocent smile. Prior to this moment, Rainbow Dash had honestly been doing nothing, and had no intentions of thinking she’d run into Applejack or her mystery date at the mall. Let alone in the arcade. It had simply been that she wasn’t doing anything that afternoon when Applejack sent her that text asking for help. To which, she thought to herself; I wonder who might I run into at the mall or other places teens liked to go on dates, kind of deal. Honestly, if she ran into Applejack like she did now, it would have simply been a happy accident. Given a few minutes more, she might have felt like going for a skateboard ride at the park or see what movies were playing that week. Grinning ear to ear her not planned had work, Rainbow Dash started to say something, when Applejack said, rather quickly, “Say, Rarity! Why don’t you go pick out a prize with the tickets we’ve won, while I have a talk with my friend here.” She stuffed the tickets into a puzzled Rarity’s arms and pushed her towards the prize booth, then grabbed Rainbow Dash by the wrist and dragged her out of sight behind a road fighter game. “But I,” Rarity started with a blank face. “Trust me and I’ll explain later.” Applejack whispered. Not sure of what was going on, but decided to go along with it. Her eyes already drawn to serval sparkly objects in the prize booth. As stared at all of the human toys, Applejack grabbed Rainbow Dash by the shoulder and dragged her out of sight behind shooter game. “So a girl, huh?” Rainbow Dash’s grin widening. “I mean, I already suspected. Although,” she looked over the machine to glance again at Applejack’s date. “Sure, she’s hot, but,” turning back to her friend, she started to make a clearly mockingly pouting face. “You fall in love with a complete stranger you just meet, and not someone you known for years like me?” “Now cut that out!” Applejack said, swatting Rainbow Dash with her hat. “What happened to staying out of my business?” Rainbow Dash threw up her hands. “Hey, I just, happened, to be at the mall. Hardly my fault- “Oh don’t even.” Applejack fumed. After Dash was done with her laughing fit, she let out a cough before continuing. “Okay, you got me. Still, don’t think I’m not happy for you.” She leaned against the machine. “Still, how did this all end up happening? What with you being asexual and all.” Rainbow flinched as Applejack’s advance. “Hey, hey! I’m legit curious. You know that, right? Plus, you can either tell me know, or my imagination is just going to make up its own, exaggerated, story later.” Applejack sighed. Knowing her friend could be a butt, but she was still her butt friend at the end of the day. Plus, maybe talking about it would help herself sort out her own feelings while she was at it. Which meant, she had to find a way to tell the story, leaving out the mermaid bit. She blinked upon realizing that. “Um,” Applejack started, quickly thinking of the best lie she could have come up with. “Well, I… Her name is Rarity. Found her snooping around the farm. Poor thing was hurt after running away from home.” For on the spot, she thought it wasn’t half bad. Then again, being sprinkled with truth didn’t hurt either. She continued on that train of thought. “So I offered her up a place to sleep and… Well one thing led to another, and she had nothing on her,” Applejack fought back a blush with ho literal ‘nothing on Rarity’ had been. “Then I brought her to the mall to get her some clothes and… Yeah, that about brings us up to the present.” Rainbow Dash crossed her arms. Not buying that being the whole truth, but happy enough to drop it for the moment. “Alright,” Rainbow nodded. “Alright. Actually, that sounds pretty rad. Still, wouldn’t take you as the type to let squatters onto the farm. Much less them turning out to be gorgeous babes that you go goo-goo eye over.” “Don’t call her that!” Applejack snap. Rainbow Dash flipped her hair. “Case and point.” Applejack deflated and sighed. “Fine. Been a hell of an experience though. To be honest, I was just getting use to the idea that I’d be single and not having a problem with it.” “Hey,” Dashie protested, “I’m still not sure I fully got my head around this this ace and demi concept. However, with that in mind, let me make this simple.” She wrapped an arm around Applejack’s shoulder. “Do you like her? In a any kind of romantic sense.” Applejack gulped. “Well, I mean- “No no!” Rainbow Dash waved her fingers. “I’m not even asking if you’d want to have sex with her. Oh don’t give me that look, we’re adults here.” She still snickered at Applejacks reaction. “But I mean it. On whatever level, however you view romance, in any sense possible, I don’t need to know why; Do you like this girl?” Her next words, were the most difficult Applejack ever had to let out. “I, well… Okay.” She took a breath of relief as she was about to just say how she felt in the simplest of sense. Which she never got a chance to. They heard a scream from the prize booth. Both girls jumped. When they looked, Applejack recalled thinking Rainbow Dash was the worse person she could have bumped to in at the mall. This reminded her that Dashie, was only the second worse. ****** “- go pick out a prize, while I talk with my friend here!” Applejack said pushing rarity towards a colorful display of human objects behind a glass window. “But- “Just trust me and I’ll explain later.” Applejack leaned into whisper. Blushing, Rarity nodded and walked towards the booth as Applejack pulled her friend out of view. A possible girlfriend? Not that she cared! Well, maybe. It was likely just because she had to make sure the rainbow haired one didn’t figure out that she was a mermaid. That was it. Yet, as she looked down at her right hand full of these tickets, Rarity tightly clenched her fist. “Why dose that stupid human make her feel this way?” she sighed. “Anyways.” She took in a breath and ran a finger along the glass at all the human knickknacks for trade. Many of which would of made great accessories to her outfits back home. But for right now, she wanted something for herself. A memento that she could keep to remember this day, and off Applejack. Something like- “Oh perfect!” Rarity pointed at a gold looking pendent with a green outline and purple apple represented in the center. “Excuse me!” The booth attendant, a teen boy with the name tag, Trender, turned to attention. “What can I get ya?” He offered with a wide smile at the pretty lady who asked for his assistance. Rarity put the tickets on the table. “Would this be enough for that pendent? The one with the apple on it.” “Um,” Trender eyed the tickets and the price of the pendent. “Sorry there. You’re short a few hundred.” “Oh.” Rarity deflated. “Now hold on there, missy!” The boy started to look around. “It’s a… Well,” he pulled the tickets aside and reached for the pendent. "I think I can give you an employee discount.” Rarity started to back away, but eased up. Surly, humans could just give gifts to be nice. “Why, thank you, kind sir.” “Oh yeah.” He smiled, and circled around the table. “I can see this looking good on you. May I?” He offered, unhooking the pendent and holding it out for her. “A lovely lady such as yourself shouldn’t trouble herself. Rarity fidgeted. “Um, sure, I guess.” ‘Calm down. This may just be a human thing.’ She turned her back on him. However, as the pendent was placed on her chest, his hands resting on her shoulders, she was reminded of another pair of hands that had, not so long ago- “You know what?” Rarity pushed him and the pendent away. “I really don’t want it anymore!” “What!” Tender frown. “Come on!” He grabbed onto Rarity’s arm. “I’m just trying to be nice.” Rarity’s eyes widened as her skin began to shiver. “No! Stop! Please!” To which, Trender did as instructed, although he looked no less pleased. “Gezz! You try to make a chick happy.” “Hey!” Both Rarity and Trender jumped at the voice and he and Rarity turned to see Applejack marching towards them. The anger in her eyes making the rainbow haired one to shrink back in fear. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” Applejack said, pushing him away and took Rarity by the shoulders. “You okay?” Rarity blinked, too dazed to really do anything else but stare, lost in thought. “Yo!” both girls attention were drawn to Rainbow Dash as she got over the shock of her friends rage to confront Trender. The poor guy looking just as confused as the rest of them. "You “ot some kind of problem, bud?” she said while tapping his chest. “Hey!” Tender groaned. Now, would it of been wiser if Trender had simply apologized? Most defiantly. However, it’s worth pointing out that he was still a teenage boy. Which dosn’t justify how he ended up acting, but after constant rejections mixed in with said hormones and working at his thankless job all day, well… “No,” he sneered. “I was just being nice when this bitch screamed like she was being raped.” Let’s just say to the boys watching the crowd that had started to form, quickly learned what not to do and say if they were even in such a situation one day. “Excuse me!” Applejack exploded. Defensively pulling the shell shocked Rarity behind herself. “You care to repeat that, partner?” For a brief moment, the stern glare had almost brough him to his sense. Almost, and only for a brief moment. Before he could say the smart thing, however, his brain clicked that this was the same Applejack who had always turned him down no matter how nice he had been to her. No mater what he’d do or how much he spent to try and impress. Worse still, was when he noticed how defensive Applejack had been over this. And even though he had guessed correctly, it was still only an uneducated guess which, if he were smarter, wouldn’t have jumped to. Unfortunately; “Oh, this is rich!” Trender mockingly laughed. “What? Ace little Aj found herself a girlfriend?” “What, I,” Applejack felt her breath leave her body. “What’s that supposed to mean? You got some problem with that if I do?” Rarity’s jaw dropped. “Oh not at all.” Trender sneered. And I’d like to remind you all again about everything said above, and please, for the love of god, if you’re a guy, I don’t care how worked up you are, but don’t say this to a girl, especially if you did know what he had; “I mean, what would your parents think of you?” Trender crossed his arms and tisked. All at once, Applejack’s world went cold. Everything came to a standstill. She let go of Rarity’s arm. However, as her mind began to dive into a sea of misery and self-loathing on how crushing on Rarity might have been a spit in her parents face, Rainbow Dash slugged Trender Hoof in the face. The blow coming so fast, he didn’t scream in pain until he was on the floor. Rarity and Applejack blinked as Rainbow Dash pushed them away from Trender and the growing crowd. She motioned for the pair of them to get out of here, to which Rarity took the innovative. The mermaid leading Applejack away as the mall cops started to notice the commotion. When they reached the truck, Rairty opened the car door for her silent friend. When Applejack didn’t respond, Rarity gave her a little push inside, and then took her own seat adjacent. However, when Applejack didn’t budge, Rarity began to reach her arm outwards. To which, Applejack flinched backwards from the touch. “Oh!” Rarity squeaked. “I’m sorry.” It was enough to bring Applejack out of her trance. “What? No! You didn’t do anything wrong.” She sighed. “I’m sorry! It’s just,” she clicked her lips. Rarity fidgeted her fingers. “So, what that boy said. About your parents?” “It’s nothing important.” Applejack turned her head towards her window. “I have a feeling it is.” Rarity protested. Through gritted teeth, Applejack said, “Let it go, Rarity.” “No,” Rarity narrowed her eyes. “No I will not! Something is very wrong here” “No shit.” Applejack huffed. “Well then, what is it?” “Rarity…” “Applejack, please. I just want to help- “What good can you do about dead parents who are ashamed of their daughter?!” Applejack cringed. “Oh.” Something inside of Rarity’s mind clicked. “OH! I’m, sorry to hear that.” “It’s alright.” Applejack crossed her arms. “Can’t be helped.” “Still, what was that about them being, disappointed?” Rarity lightly smiled. “About, perhaps… who you love?” Applejack’s face started to heat up. “I mean!” Rarity stammered. “You human also have, strict, mating customs?” Applejack’s eyes widened and she took in a deep breath. “Don’t put it like that! Er, well, I mean, I guess. Depends. Legally, it’s nothing you can get in trouble for anymore. Still sort of a cultural thing as it wasn’t, that, long ago.” Rarity nodded in understanding. “Ah. Well then.” She started to tap her foot. “And, you’re parents would have problems if you feel in love with… The wrong person?” “I…” Applejacks eyes looked upwards. “Well, I mean, I guess I wouldn’t know. For that matter, I’m not even sure what my family as a whole would think.” “And,” Rarity added as a finger began to play with her hair, “if, you knew for sure they wouldn’t care who you made-eh, feel in love with it.” She chuckled. “Well, what would you do?” Applejack shallowed hard. “It’s… Complicated.” Enough the truth. Rarity raised an eyebrow. “Well I mean…” She figured at this point Rarity wan’t stupid, and it wouldn’t do her good to try and act supid and where this might of gone. With that in mind. “I, well, I thought I knew.” She scratched her chin. “See, not to long ago, I’ve learned there’s a whole range of different types of love. More than just straiht and gay. One of which being ace.” When Rarity looked at her blankly, she added, “Meaning not attracted to either sex.” “Oh.” Rarity slumped. “No no!” Applejac raised her hand. “Well I mean… While I found it fit me, somewhat, only somewhat. Then I learned there’s different ranges of that too. I can fall in love, just only in… certain cases. Like, if I know the well or have a likable personality.” “Is that so?” Rarity said, looking rather moved. Applejack mentally slapped herself. “Er, well… Yeah.” She added with a boost of confidence. “Although what gender I might have been more attracted to has never been on the forefront of my mind. Guess I kind of figured romance wasn’t for me and just kept focusing on the farm.” “Mhh,” Rarity scooted closer to her friend, her eyes in a daze. “Perhaps, maybe it’s not any kind of, person, you’d be attracted too.” “Um,” Applejack’s breathing tightened as Rarity’s hand inched towards her own. “Miss Applejack,” Rarity aid mater-of-factly. “How about we simplify thing so we may get past this awkward phase we seem to be in. If not for our cultures, confusing and trying to clarify your preferences, and I offered, would you kiss me?” Applejack tried to form words, but failed. Rarity scooted herself closer and took Applejack’s hand. Applejack didn’t resist. “If,” Rarity stammered. “If not, I’m sorry then.” She took in a breath. “Maybe I’m being silly. It’s alright. I probably over-“ “Yes.” Rarity stared. “Yes?” No way to take it back, Applejack nodded. “Yes. That is,” she used her thumb to rub at Rarity’s palm. “If, you were actually offering and not being hypothetical.” “It’s not.” Face aglow and leaning in, Rarity affirmed. “If you want, you may kiss me right here, right now.” Heart racing, Applejack didn’t immediately rush in as she might of wanted. Instead, the two girls locked eyes. Their beautiful, gleaming eyes, unsure if this was really happening. To be sure of this, she reached out her other hand onto Rarity’s hair. Sure felt real when Rarity placed a hand onto her own shoulder. Soon enough, neither of them wanting to wait any longer, they broke the distance and brought their lips together. Upon pulling away, their faces fixed with goofy grins. “How was that, dear?” Rarity beamed. “I,” Applejack took in a deep breath. “I can get use to it.” And she was sure her parent would understand and want her to be happy, when she brought the mermaid in for another kiss.