Applejack dropped a large pile of pillows and blankets to her bedroom floor, Winona ran around sniffing at them and barking a little at dust motes that escaped the folds of wool. “Easy there girl, they’re just dust!” She laughed “This should be ok for all the girls. Rarity can have the bed if she’s bothered.” Taking one last appraising look at the makeshift sleeping arrangements Applejack nodded sharply. “C’mon girl, we got to get the card table set up in the barn.” Woman and dog bounded from the room and down the stairs.
*
The fireflies and moths flittered around, just out of their hiding places. Dusk was settling across Ponyville as the girls made their way to the barn. Fluttershy had arrived first, finishing off her day’s work by checking a horse with what looked like a nasty thorn in its leg. Rarity was along a little later with Pinkie Pie and her younger sister in tow. Finally a familiar blue car arrived at the farm and the final guests. With Spike deposited with the crusaders in the family room, Twilight and Rainbow made their way to the barn.
A warm light illuminated the card table; Pinkie already had her dealing gear and visor on, doling out chips and opening the new card packet with ceremony. “Hello ladies, nice of you pair to join us.” Rarity called out. Twilight and Rainbow sat on seats beside each other and accepted their chips. Rainbow produced a six-pack of beer and handed it over to Applejack.
“Ah thought as much.” Was her cryptic reaction.
Pinkie felt a twinge and couldn’t help but smile widely. “How was last night you two?” Rainbow smirked and Twilight blushed at Pinkie’s question. “Gotcha!” She giggled.
“Really Pinkie, this isn’t something one discusses over a card game.” Rarity paused for breath and forestalled any thanks from Twilight, “It’s for the spa or a nice cup of tea darlings.” A flash of caught light on her spectacles gave her a dangerous look. “Oh Twilight, you look mortified!”
Twilight was doing her very best Fluttershy impression, the original giving her friend a worried look. “We’re all just joking Twilight. We won’t make you talk about anything you don’t want to.”
“It’s not that... I just know how entirely inappropriate it is to spill my guts here and now...” Twilight was blushing as red as any apple from the farm and Rainbow was struck dumb by the admission. No one was really quite sure what to say.
“Well ladies, the game is Texas Hold ‘em. I’m dealing cards out now!” Pinkie diffused the situation perfectly, doling out cards to each of the players.
*
“Well, Ah fold.” Applejack placed her cards on the table. She was too honest for poker by her own admission. The night had drawn deeper and the game had gone through several hands. It was now a grudge match between Rainbow and Pinkie, two determined players.
“All in.” Pinkie smiled her biggest smile. Rainbow twitched a little.
“Ok Pinks, all in for me too. This is certified the most awesome hand I got yet.” She played it cool as she pushed a pile of chips across the table.
Sat around the barn were the girls least interested in playing. Twilight couldn’t bluff very well, Fluttershy was too timid to advance very far and Rarity found it a bore when there wasn’t the associate glitz of a casino and some gullible men with large wallets to cunningly defeat. “So Twilight darling, do tell.” The designer said, taking another sip of her cider.
“Uh, tell what Rarity... I have um, nothing to tell about.”
“Darling, you are positively glowing and spent the pre-game chatter sat on Rainbow’s lap. It’s quite obvious that everything went according to plan last night.” She gave a small smile. Fluttershy realised the implications and leaned in closer.
“Oh... oh, um. It went great.” Twilight was flustered and blushed. “I never even thought it would be like that.”
“Darling, you are so adorably naive. Never change that outlook.” Rarity threw a companionable arm around Twilight and Fluttershy. “We shall have to have a full catch up at the spa. If I know that Rainbow, she’ll come over and start boasting and ruin all the romance.”
Fluttershy gave a reluctant nod. She was one more mug of cider off talkative, at the moment she was even more silent than usual.
“Well, I think I’m about to ruin it anyway.” Twilight stretched out of her sitting position on the floor. “My parents wanted to meet Rainbow next weekend and I already got her to agree to going.”
“Darling, I am so sorry. Though I am sure it will all go fine.” Rarity gave a lady-like giggle and drained her mug. “Really dear, your parents seemed lovely.”
“Ugh! Pinkie! You bluff too good!” Rainbow yelled from the card table.
“It’s not them I’m worried about. Well, ok it is. I don’t know, I kind of had the impression that they expected me to end up with some super intellectual bore...” Was Twilight’s whispered reply. Fluttershy gave another nod and slid sideways with a cute little sound. Pinkie launched into her winning song and Twilight decided to comfort Rainbow on her loss. “It was only chocolate Dashie...”
“Yeah, but it was winning chocolate. I like winning.”
Rarity was having trouble getting Fluttershy up again until Applejack appeared at her side and lifted the girl in one movement. “It’s late folks. Ah think it’s time to turn in. Fluttershy here is out for the count.”
“Oooh Mackie, you’re so strong...” The intoxicated Fluttershy mumbled as her head lolled. Applejack groaned
.
“We def’nitely need to get her to bed now, ‘fore she makes too much of a scene.”
*
A merry Fluttershy was guided by the more sober members of the group to Applejack’s bedroom. She had moved from raucous and raunchy singing on the way back from the barn to plaintive requests to visit Macintosh. “Jus’... jus’ a quick one girls... Mackie wouldn’t really mind.” She slurred with a grin.
“Rarity sugarcube?”
“Yes Applejack?”
“Remind me to never let that girl near the strong stuff again.”
“Undoubtedly darling.”
The last few steps were navigated and Fluttershy wilted onto a pile of blankets. “I’lljusthavealittleresthere...” She whispered in her usual volume and began to snore gently.
“Phew. Ah ain’t ever doin’ that again.” Applejack removed her hat and dropped it onto the corner of her bedstead. Rarity smiled and began to arrange some blankets and mattress for herself.
“I have to admit, drunk Fluttershy is much more forward. Poor thing would be mortified to discover what her behaviour was like.” Rarity folded her glasses and placed them on a shelf. “Are the others coming too or did we lose them on the way?” As she spoke a dishevelled pair stumbled through the door, attention consumed by each other’s eyes. “Never mind.” Rarity arched an eyebrow and made her way to the bathroom for evening ablutions.
“No funny business in my room girls. Are we clear?” Applejack set a firm look at Rainbow and Twilight. It wasn’t quite the stare but said look had been known to cow even Big Macintosh.
“Relax AJ... We’ll be all respectful and junk.” Rainbow chuckled.
“Maybe a bit of snuggling...” A giggling Twilight chimed in. Applejack sighed and rolled her eyes. She sat on her bed and pulled off her boots while the new arrivals sorted out a space for themselves.
“I set the remedy a’brewing!” Pinkie said as she walked in to join her friends, stretching and bending into odd shapes as she moved through the room. “It’ll be all ready for ‘Shy and anyone else who needs it in the morning.” She smiled her Cheshire cat smile and landed with a feathery thump on the leftover bedding.
Eventually Rarity finished her evening rituals and the less fussy of the group sorted themselves out quickly. “G’night all.” Applejack said from her bed.
“Goodnight.” Was the multi-voiced reply.