//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: The magic of the Ferris Wheel // by Akataja //------------------------------// Applejack was part of a great family, she has always been surrounded by cousins, nephews, and nieces and had her big brother, so she never felt lonely and was used to spending time with foals around her age. It was different to have a friend from outside of the family, little AJ was scared that only her family was able to understand her. The other fillies had expensive toys from the store, Applejacks toys were self-made or given down from older ponies for a few generations. Spoiled milk has laughed about the doll that Granny Smith had made for AJ, she doesn’t even want to touch it. But Rarity was not making fun of Applejack or the doll; they even made a dress swap with Rarities dolly. Hearts Warming Eve has always been a very nice time for Applejack, but this one, when she has meet Rarity for the first time, was something truly special. After that day Rarity was visiting the farm very often, she learned from Granny Smith how to sew, learned for school with AJ and Big McIntosh, and spend a lot of time with Applejack in the old treehouse, sometimes playing games or just talking. She became something like family for AJ and maybe even more, something more precious. But time went on. Rarity had to spend more time in magic classes to learn how to use her unicorn magic in a proper way and Applejack had to work more often on the farm. At least they could meet in regular classes and Rarity came over at least once a week. Things changed after AJ got her cutie mark, her body started to change as well as her feelings towards Rarity. She had noticed how other fillies had started to meet with colts, sharing some cuddles or even nuzzles. AJ didn’t feel any urge to get closer to a colt, but she felt more excited when being close to rarity. The scent of her mane was making her heart beat faster and when they cuddled close during a sleepover it gave her exciting feelings and a war heat spreading from under her belly button through her whole body. She felt sick and awesome at the same time and no matter how hard she worked, she couldn’t get Rarities blue eyes and the scent of her mane out of her head. Before Apple Jack realized what happened she was twelve years old and Hearts Warming Eve was right around the next corner. The annual funfair was built close to Ponyville, Apple Jack could see the lights and the Ferris Wheel from her room and gathered all of her courage to ask Rarity out. And Rarity agreed! Apple Jack was really excited that day, she spend at least one hour in the bathroom, cleaning herself very well, using the expensive shampoo and perfume she usual never used, and styling her mane. It was the first time in her life she really wanted to be pretty for someone else. She even got that dress from her wardrobe, the one she got from her mother, Buttercups going out dress. Granny had helped her to fit it into her body. As AJ saw herself in the dress she had to think about that talk she had with her mom, about finding a special somepony and also about the bees and the birds and from where foals came. She blushed as she thought about Rarity, maybe she was her very special somepony? But shouldn’t this somepony be a colt? She still felt very comfortable remembering the hug her mom gave her, that embarrassing warmth only a mother could give, when she told her, that she only wished for her to be happy, regardless of who was her very special somepony. “So, who is it?” asked Granny Smith, as she saw the familiar faint blush on her granddaughter’s cheeks. “Ah mean the lucky colt yah meet’n at the fair. And don’t try to lie to me, we both know yah very bad lying.” Applejack felt like her cheeks were on fire “Ahma… just meet’n a friend, ah guess.” “Awww, that’s so sweet,” Granny said and gave her a hug, it was not like her Buttercup’s hugs, but still full of love, it also made her a bit sad, because her mother was not around anymore to give her that hug. “Just go there and have fun… oh! Yah brother will be there as well, ah don’t know which mare he is dat’n righ’ now, but if y’ see them, tell him to be home before midnight, there is work to do tomorrow!” The day at the funfair was one of the best in Applejack's young life. They’ve met in front of the entrance. Rarity was wearing a nice dress, like Applejack and it looked stunning on her. AJ was not able to take her eyes of the silky fabric and once her sight went down to her flank and how perfectly the color of her clothing matched with her tail it was like she never could look at something else. “Applejack? Is something wrong?” Rarities words got her from trance back to reality. “Sorry sugar cube,” Aj said and blushed “Ah was a bit dreamin’.” Rarity chuckled before she said “You should wear a dress more often, you look really good in it, and this nice little blush makes you look like a princess” she had the sweetest little laugh before she added “my little apple princess.” That made Applejack blush even more, but it made her also feel good, she never felt like a princess herself, and never wanted to be one, but hearing it from Rarity made her feel special and warm. “But y’look so much better!” Applejack was finally able to say “What dress is that? Yah got it from ye mother? Maybe from the store? Ah never saw somethin’ like that. Yah’ beautiful Rarity, ahma feel like a dumb mud-covered rock next to ye.” Rarity smiled “No, no, I made it myself! Granny Smith helped me a bit, but all together, this is the first dress I made myself. Oh! I also helped Granny fix your dress, but I had no idea it would look so good on you.” she had to think a little before she continued “maybe even the best dress can’t compare to a beautiful mare, like you.” AJ felt how her cheeks became hot and she was smiling so wide, she was sure she looked really stupid right now. Rarity hugged her and AJ hugged back, that new dress felt so soft and Rarities scent was mixed up with some kind of nice perfume. It felt just right, it felt too good to be wrong. She hold a bit longer to her friend to inhale some more of her and that was the moment she knew it. Her mom was right, it was not important who she liked, Rarity had to be her very special some pony and AJ would tell her so! She wanted to hug and kiss with Rarity behind the school or in the barn, like other foals they age did. But not here and now! They were standing in line to buy tickets, no, AJ was sure it would be best to have a nice time on the funfair first, she would tell her on the Ferris Wheel. That’s nice and romantic, like in the books Rarity was reading. Everything was like Applejack hope it would be. The two fillies had a lot of fun together, they strolled over the fair, shared a big portion of cotton candy, had nice hot apple juice with cinnamon, and played some games. AJ was really good at the ball-bucking games, especially when it came to tossing the tin. She even managed to crash all three tin pyramids with three balls, thanks to her strong legs and all the experience she made during her work on the farm. She won a real big dragon plushie, it was as big as she was. “Awww, this cutie is beautiful.” Said Rarity, she really liked big plushies “And he is so chubby!” She giggled as she touched the green belly of the violet toy dragon. Applejack blushed as she put the cuddly toy on rarities back “please, take it! Ah won it for yah.” Rarity smiled at AJ “really?” “Really!” She hugged Aj and put a warm little smooch on her cheek “Oh thank you AJ! I love it!” AJ touched the spot where Rarity had given her that kiss and smiled. This was good, this was the way things were supposed to be, right? Now Rarity was sure this would work. She took Raritie’s hoof with her hoof and looked into her big beautiful eyes with a smile. “Rarity, let’s get on the big wheel next.” AJ’s said with a pounding heart. She was so excited as they walked in the direction together. Just a few minutes and she would tell rarity, her whole life would change from here! She would have her very special some pony, she would kiss with her and everything will be perfect! Just a little longer until they get on the wheel and AJ would tell her! “Found you!” This was the voice of Big McIntosh, it was ripping AJ from her formal thoughts. The two fillies turned around and saw the big red colt, he was older than AJ and nearly a stallion, but with this big goofy smile, he seemed like a little colt from AJ’s class. Applejack sighed, she really liked her big brother, but right now he had the worst timing to appear and be the BBBFF he was supposed to be. She doesn’t need him right now. She had to make this quick, but still polite, saying hello and maybe she could tell him to get a snack so she had time to get on the Ferris Wheel with Rarity, alone. “Hi Big Mac, How are yaaaaaa-“ AJ lost her thoughts and words as she saw how Big Mac walked straight to Rarity and they hugged and kissed! On the lips!? For several seconds which felt like the most painful hours in AJ’s young life! “oh, sorry Applejack, I didn’t notice you.” Said Big Mac as he realized that his sister was there too. Rarity blushed a bit “I wanted to tell you about that Darling.” She said with a little blush “you remember that time a month ago when we had this slumber party? And Granny called out for us because a timber wolf had broken the fence? We went out to repair the fence and granny and Big Mac looked for the wolf. You told me to get you the tools from the shed while you got the new wooden planks. But at the shed, there was the wolf! And before he could attack Big Mac was there and he gave that beast such a hard buck it broke to pieces and after that, it run away… he is a hero! And I was still so scared I couldn’t move, he hold to me and made me feel safe… since this day we are… dating… Applejack...I think your big brother could be my very special some pony.” AJ didn’t even understand half of the story, the whole world around became blurry and shaky since the moment she saw Rarity and Big McIntosh kissing, Rarity's words sound like from behind a waterfall or such. The happy warm feeling she had seconds ago was now gone and her heart had stopped beating and it hurt. Her legs felt they had no strength left and she just felt cold. All of a sudden she felt so silly, that she was wearing that dress and thought she could be with some pony like Rarity. She felt how the tears went up to her eyes, but she was strong enough to fight them a little bit longer. “Applejack?” Asked her brother “you need help?” “N-no!” She gasped “Ah mean… ah just remembered Granny tol’ me to ge’ back early… there is some work to do on the farm… the two of ye’ have some fun, L’right? See yah!” And she run, she run away as fast a possible and hoped no pony would see how she was crying. Minutes later the dress of her mom was laying on the floor and AJ was curled up in her bed, crying louder and more than ever before. She had sworn to herself, she would never be mad at her mom for not being here, because she never wanted to leave them, but right now she would need her so much! But she was alone, all alone and it felt like she would be alone forever. Half an hour later Granny Smith came back inside, she was grumbling around because she had two young and strong but lazy grand foals who spend the time on the funfair instead of helping her with the important work here on the farm. But then she could hear the crying from upstairs and walked up to look who was crying there, Apple Bloom was fest asleep, but it was Applejack. The filly was curled up on her bed, shivering and crying. Granny never was good at such things, talking about the problems of the youth, but she knew what she could do. She got on the bed, next to her granddaughter and pulled her into a warm hug. AJ stopped crying and looked at the friendly face of her grandmother, only lighted by the pale moonlight that came through the window. “Granny…?” AJ tried to speak freely, but it felt like her throat was closing itself, she don't wanted to cry, but these darn tears just came again and again. The elder mare stroke the fillies back “it's alright sugar cube” she said “let it all out... no need to talk. Ahma hear, yer not alone.” And so they spend the next hour. Granny knew this kind of pain AJ was going through, but the only thing she could do, was to stay here with her, showing her granddaughter, that she was loved.