By the time Applejack walked out of the jewelry store, the sun was already setting. Rarity must have closed her boutique by now, so Applejack, holding her hat in one hand, and the slim box wrapped in purple wrapping paper with a cute bow in the other, headed towards the boutique. Her heart was already pounding as she thought about what she was supposed to say. She didn’t have much time to think, though, since she found herself at the door of the boutique very soon.
“A-awright… You got this, Jackie…”
She murmured to herself, swallowed nervously and knocked on Rarity’s door.
“Comiiiing~!”
Applejack’s heart immediately jumped when she heard Rarity’s heavenly voice. And, after a moment, she saw the person she loved before her very eyes as she opened the door.
“G-good evenin’, Rarity!”
Rarity was looking as beautiful as always. Her beauty made Applejack wonder if differences really didn’t matter, but she remembered Fluttershy’s encouraging words. She knew she couldn’t give up on love.
“Good evening, Jackie! I’ve just finished preparing myself for your visit!”
AJ hid the box with her gift for Rarity behind her back, waiting for the perfect moment.
“Awesome! S-so, uh, what would ya like to do? Think we could chill out or somethin’..?”
“Oh, naturally! I know just the spot! One moment, darling!”
Rarity quickly walked back into her house for a moment. After half a minute, she came back holding a rather large white bag.
“Uh, what’s in that bag ya got?”
“A large, handmade blanket. We are going to need it where we are going.”
“And where are we goin’, exactly?”
“Oh, do not worry, Jackie, it’s not far. I can assure you, you will love this spot. Nobody is going to bother us there.”
Applejack blushed happily. This was perfect!
"Awright, s-sounds good! Let's go!"
And so the two began to walk, with Rarity on the lead. After a little while they walked out of Ponyville and were approaching a big hill with a single large apple tree on the peak.
"This place really looks beautiful, Rarity! Do ya come here often?"
Rarity sighed and gave Applejack a gentle smile.
"This is going to be my first time here, actually. The atmosphere here is so lovely that I wanted to come here with my dearest friend. To make some memories, I suppose."
"W-with.. your dearest…?"
Applejack blushed wildly and gripped the box with her gift harder, but still careful not to damage it. Rarity, seeing AJ blushing so hard, giggled.
"Don't act so surprised, Jackie. You are always here when I need you. It is truly difficult to find words that can express my gratitude."
By the time she finished talking, the two had finally reached the peak of the hill. Rarity hummed softly as she pulled the blanket out of her bag and spread it on the ground, under the apple tree.
"There! Have a seat, darling."
Rarity slowly sat down on the blanket and patted a spot next to her, smiling. Applejack nodded and sat down next to her. Then, the two looked at the beautiful, orange sunset.
"This really is a nice spot, Rarity… The view is amazing…"
Applejack sighed, enjoying the view of the sun slowly setting on the horizon.
"It's really relaxing, isn't it..?"
"Yeah…"
AJ looked down at the ground and swallowed nervously. This was the moment. There wouldn’t be a better occasion to confess, ever.
"Y-ya know, Rarity… I have… something to tell ya…"
"Oh?"
Rarity curiously looked over at Applejack.
"There's… somethin' I haven't realized until today… We both know we're very good friends… But…"
As Applejack talked, she slowly unwrapped the gift box behind her back. She planned to just give the box to Rarity at first, but now she felt like just showing her the necklace would be better.
"..I've always felt somethin'... different… Somethin' special… when it comes to you…"
Rarity's eyes widened a little in shock. She felt like she knew where this was going. Applejack's eyes, however, were tearing up from all the emotions.
"..I've always been subconsciously drawn to you… Always ended up at your boutique or with you… I've always loved spending time with you… I remember every moment we spent together…"
Finally, Applejack gathered the courage to look Rarity in the eyes.
"...And today… I realized… that it wasn't just friendship… I realized that… that I…"
She paused for a moment and finally showed her the opened gift box, with the amethyst-studded necklace inside. Her hands were shaking and she looked like she was about to break down at any moment.
"...I love you… Rarity…"
Rarity gasped quietly in shock and covered her mouth, looking back and forth at Applejack and the necklace. Her eyes fluttered. Her cheeks lit up. She slowly, carefully took the beautiful amethyst necklace from the box and looked at it.
"Jackie…"
Then, she carefully put it on. It was perfect. It complimented her beauty perfectly. Her white fur, her purple mane.. She was amazed, surprised and shocked at the same time. She couldn't believe that AJ had this kind of feelings for her.
"I… I had no idea…"
Applejack smiled sadly, closed the box and put it aside.
"I know… Ya probably don't like me this way… I… just wanted to tell ya… let ya know…"
She murmured quietly and looked down. But just when she was about to start crying, Rarity cupped her face and made AJ look at her face.
"Darling… Look at me."
Applejack sobbed quietly and looked into her beautiful, sapphire eyes.
"You.. have feelings for me.. despite the fact that we are so different…?"
AJ slowly nodded. After she did, Rarity gently caressed Applejack's cheek, making her heart jump.
"And here I thought that this couldn't work out… That the differences would be too much…"
Applejack's eyes sparkled with hope at Rarity's words.
"W-wait… So… D-do ya mean…"
"I've had… thoughts… For a long time now… I thought about how wonderful it would be to… be with someone like you… With someone so honest.. kind.. hard-working… With someone who is always there for me when I need them… But I was afraid it would not work out… I was a coward. I should have told you how I felt sooner."
Rarity slowly stroked Applejack's hair as she talked. Her heart was pounding, just like Jackie's.
“I.. I felt the same, Rarity… But, thankfully, Fluttershy made me realize… Our differences didn’t stop us from being friends… s-so… why would they stop us from… being… girlfriends…?”
Their faces were completely red at this point, their hearts were pounding hard and their hands were shaking.
“Jackie… darling… I’m so glad you were brave enough… to confront your fears… I’m… so thankful… Your heart is so pure…”
Rarity smiled lovingly, looking into her emerald eyes.
"G-gosh… Rarity… I'm… I'm so… I-I dunno what to say…"
"I do…"
Rarity cleared her throat and carefully took Applejack's shaking hands. Her own hands were trembling a little, too.
“Applejack… Would you like to…”
She gently squeezed Applejack’s hands and sniffled quietly.
“Would you like to be my girlfriend…?”
Applejack completely broke down after these words. She grinned widely as happy tears flowed down her cheeks.
“Y-yes…!”
Applejack wrapped her strong arms around Rarity and tightly hugged her, hiding her face in her shoulder as she cried happily. Rarity smiled, closed her eyes and gladly hugged her back, holding Applejack close to her while slowly stroking her soft, blonde hair.
They stayed in each other’s warm embrace for a few minutes. Eventually, though, Applejack pulled back a little to look into Rarity’s eyes.
“I love you.. Rarity…”
She murmured. Rarity grinned dreamily and planted a single, gentle kiss on Applejack’s forehead.
“I love you too, Jackie…”
Then, they just sat there, watching the sunset. Together. Without saying a word. Holding each other. Their hearts beating happily in unison. This was the start of a wonderful, forever-lasting relationship of two ponies, who one might think didn’t fit each other at all. But in the end, their differences didn’t matter.