//------------------------------// // Chapter 23 - Holiday Preparations (Part 2) // Story: The Equestrian Odyssey - A Tale of Two Worlds // by Kamahido //------------------------------// Arc and Applejack finish the dishes and put them away. She grins at him as she closes the cupboard. “Another job well done.” “We work well together.” “That we do, Arc.” Smiling seductively, Applejack continues. “I’m hoping we do this well when making foals together someday.” Arc blushes slightly. “Not sure it would work. But still willing to try.” Applejack appears hopeful. “You are okay with us having sex someday, right? I mean... I think we talked about this on our date, but... just wanted to be sure.” “Yes, Applejack.” “In my human form?” “Either works. I just want you to be comfortable when we do that.” Applejack swishes her tail back and forth to expose her nether regions. “And I will be. With our skin on skin and you inside me, that is.” “I have to admit, I am looking forward to that.” “Really?!” Arc nods. “Yeah.” Applejack blushes slightly as she grins. “I’ll do my best, of course. But please be patient with me. After all, I’ve never done anything like this before.” “Remember, neither have I.” “Ah! Right! Sorry!” “It’s okay.” Bending down, Arc smiles and whispers in her ear. “We’ll figure it out together.” Applejack nods happily. “I’d like that.” “Well, I should probably let you get on with your day.” “And you with yours.” They stare at one another for a long moment. Eventually the pair grins and embraces. “I love you, Applejack.” “And I love you too, sugarcube.” They kiss and step back. Applejack looks to the doorway. “I’ll... go call the girls so you can get moving.” “Thanks.” Walking to the stairs together, Arc waits at the base as Applejack climbs them. A few moments later the sound of little hooves rings out as Dinky and her friends hurry down the steps together. Applejack calls out from the top of the stairs. “Be sure to wear your hats!” Apple Bloom giggles. “We will!” Babs Seed groans. “I can’t find mine!” Dinky holds it up with her magic. “Here it is!” “Thanks!” Applejack chuckles as she walks down the stairs and looks to Arc. “I hope you four have a nice time.” Arc nods. “We’ll try to.” Applejack motions for him to come closer before speaking again. “Arc, I... I just wanted to say... ‘thank you’. For everything.” Arc smiles. “You’re very welcome.” “And that I’m looking forward to us getting together some day.” Nodding, Arc leans forward and kisses Applejack. She closes her eyes and leans into him with a contented smile. As they break off the kiss a few moments later the pair hear the sound of small hooves clapping. Turning, they see Dinky and her friends grinning as they look on. Chuckling, Arc looks Applejack in the eye again. “It appears we had an audience.” “Guess so.” Letting go of Applejack, he turns back to the fillies. “Everyone ready to go?” They nod happily as Arc opens a portal. Motioning for them to step through they charge forward excitedly. Arc grins at Applejack one more time before following them. She waves a hoof as he leaves. “Have a good time!” Emerging outside of Rarity’s shop, Arc spots a light on in an upstairs bedroom. Motioning for the fillies to follow him Arc walks to the front door as they hop through the deepening snow. Knocking, they wait patiently as Sweetie Belle comes to the door. Her eyes light up happily as she sees whom it is. “ARC!” Giggling, she looks to her friends as she steps back. “Come in!” Stepping inside, they shake the snow from their feet/hooves as Arc looks to Sweetie Belle. “Good morning.” “Good to see everypony again!” Apple Bloom looks outside as she closes the door. “It’s really coming down out there!” Babs shakes the snow off her back. “Sure is!” Dinky sits down on her haunches. “At least it’s warm in here though.” Arc turns to Sweetie Belle. “Sorry to drop in like this. But we’re going to be doing some Hearth’s Warming preparations. You want to come with us?” “Sure! But I’ll need to ask Rarity first. Uh... but that might be a problem.” Apple Bloom raises an eyebrow. “How’s that?” “Well... she’s really busy right now. I try to just stay out of her way and let her work when she’s under a deadline. Last minute holiday dresses and all that.” Arc nods. “I’ll go ask her. Where is she?” Sweetie Belle points a hoof. “In the back.” Arc looks to the others. “Why don’t you all go upstairs and play? I’ll try not to take too long.” Dinky giggles. “Okay, dad. But try not to get too distracted.” Sweetie Bell appears confused. “Distracted?” Apple Bloom grins. “Like he did back at the farm with Applejack.” “Oh? What happened?” Babs Seed motions with a hoof. “Come on! We’ll tell you all about it!” Giggling, the fillies run upstairs as Arc heads for the door. Knocking lightly he hears Rarity call out. “Come in, Sweetie Belle!” Shrugging, Arc enters. Spotting Rarity at a sewing machine he slowly and softly walks over to her. Not looking up she calls out. “Did you need something, Sweetie Belle? I’m very busy right now.” Arc smirks. “Too busy even for me?” Gasping, Rarity turns around. Spotting Arc she jumps off her stool and into his arms. Kissing his cheeks happily she giggles. “Arc!” Arc grins. “Hey, Rarity. Miss me?” Rarity nods fervently. “Moreso than you know!” “Sorry for interrupting you work like this though.” “Oh, no, no, no! You are NEVER an interruption! Now, what can I do for you?!” “Considering the situation at hand, it’s kinda more of a matter of how I can help you.” Rarity sighs as she looks over the racks filled with unfinished orders. “Unless you can sew, I don’t really think that’s going to...” “Indirectly then.” “Oh?” “Sweetie Belle told me that you’re really busy. How about I take her out for a day of shopping with us?” Rarity grins. “Oh, yes! That would be quite helpful! It would save me time cooking her lunch and supper!” She grimaces before continuing. “Um... it sounded nicer in my head.” Arc puts a hand on Rarity’s shoulder as he kneels down. “It’s okay. I knew what you meant.” Rarity sighs as she nuzzles his hand. “I just... feel like a bad mother right now though.” “Sweetie Belle didn’t seem upset when I talked to her out there though.” “Considering the season, I really should be spending time with her. Not squirreled away in here.” Arc bows his head. “Well... you’re not alone in being guilty of that, Rarity.” “Oh?” “I... should be spending more time with Dinky AND her friends.” Rarity sighs. “Arc...” “If I’m going to be marrying you, Derpy, and Applejack then I’ll be their father. At absolute best I’m a part timer in that regard.” Rarity nods soberly. “That much I do understand. We both need to be doing more than we are currently.” “That’s part of the reason I’d like to take her and the others out actually. I didn’t really think you’d be this busy though.” “I took on far too much work this year. And all of it needs to be done before Hearth’s Warming.” “Can you get it done in time?” Rarity nods. “Yes, don’t worry about that. I only ask that you do your best to bond with her today.” “I will.” Rarity smiles seductively. “And... if you have time later tonight... you can bond with me as well.” “I’d like that.” “If Derpy’s doing better, I mean!” “She is. But I’ll still run it by her just to make sure it’s okay.” Rarity appears relieved. “Good! After all, considering all the terrible things that have befallen her, she should take top priority.” “I’ll do my best. Um... but is there a particular time you’d like Sweetie Bell home by?” Rarity shakes her head. “As long as she’s with you I’m sure she’ll be fine.” Wrapping her hooves around Arc’s neck, she allows him to pull her into an embrace. Smiling as she nuzzles him, Rarity lowers her voice as she whispers in his ear. “I know you’ll take care of my little one. But I want to be cared for too, you know.” Arc nods happily. “And one day I will. That’s a promise.” The pair kiss as the continue embracing. Arc strokes Rarity’s mane as she kisses him passionately. Eventually she pulls back to look him in the eye happily. “I know that the others have all agreed on you and I... being intimate first.” “That’s true, yes.” Rarity puts a hoof on Arc’s cheek and strokes it lovingly. “I want you to know... that I’m ready to be bred by you at any time, Arc.” “And I am looking forward to it, Rarity. But not until I can put you and the others before my duty to Equestria.” “That’s what makes you such a catch, Arc. That you care about our feelings over your own desires.” “Can I ask you something, Rarity?” “Yes, of course!” “Um... I... ah...” “Take your time, Arc. Whatever it is you want to say, you can trust me to respond honestly.” “Well... I’m just a bit... worried about you?” Rarity appears confused. “About me?” “Maybe that wasn’t the best way to put it. It’s just... I don’t want to hurt you, Rarity.” “But you never have. And never will, Arc.” Arc groans. “I just don’t really know how to word this without sounding like a... I don’t even know what word to use there!” Rarity grabs his face and turns it to look toward her as she looks him in the eye. “Arc, listen to me. Whatever it is you want to say, just go ahead and say it. I can take whatever it is.” “Okay then. Here goes.” Taking a deep breath, Arc continues. “I’m a bit worried about... us having sex.” “Worried that you’ll hurt me?” “Kinda. But there’s more to it than that.” “Then talk to me.” “I’m concerned about you and I being intimate after... um...” Rarity sighs as she finishes his sentence. “...after what was done to me?” Arc nods. “Yeah.” “Arc... I have to be honest with you too.” “Please do.” “I was a bit... frightened about that very prospect for a time.” “If you don’t want to do it, I completely...” Rarity shakes her head fervently. “No, Arc. I really do. But I need to know one thing from you honestly first.” “What’s that?” “Please... promise me that you’ll be completely truthful in your response. Even if it hurts to say.” “I will, yes.” “Promise me.” Arc nods. “I promise, Rarity.” “Alright then. I want you to tell me this...” Looking Arc in the eye, Rarity takes a deep breath before speaking again. “You know exactly what happened to me. How Sweetie Bell was conceived and that I was violated by dozens of stallions that night. I need you to explain to me... how you can even stand to look at me in this way.” Arc raises an eyebrow. “What?” “How can you look at me so lovingly, stroke my mane, kiss my lips so tenderly... all the while knowing that I was little more than a sex toy to so many stallions?” “Because you were forced, Rarity.” “But I didn’t even try to resist!” “You couldn’t. Could you?” Rarity looks away nervously. “I’ve been asking myself that very question more and more these past few months.” “In your condition...” “I could have done something! Scream for them to stop, roll away, even urinating on them would have been a defense! But I didn’t!” “Let me ask you this then, Rarity. Was what you told me about that time in your life the whole truth?” “Yes, Arc. But...” “Then there was nothing you could have realistically done to stop what was happening to you.” He cups his hands on her cheeks and smiles before continuing. “Listen, Rarity. What happened to you that night was terrible. However none of it was your fault.” “Not entirely. Remember, I chose to drink heavily.” Arc sighs. “I admit that you made a mistake there. But that didn’t justify you being gang raped.” He leans forward and kisses her cheek before whispering in her ear. “I don’t hold it against you in the least, Rarity.” Rarity shakes her head. “How though? After all... they deflowered me! Used me! Impregnated me! I’m not pure like the others!” “That doesn’t bother me.” “It should!” “Why though? Because you were forced to do something without consent? Because you had to carry a foal as an unwed mother? Because you decided to have that foal and raise her as best you could?” Arc shakes his head before continuing. “If anything, that proves your strength. That you were willing to keep going. Not just to fulfil your own dreams, but to be able to provide for Sweetie Belle and give her a future. To me... that’s what makes you truly beautiful.” Rarity tears up as she smiles widely. Slowly leaning into Arc’s arms, she rests her head on his shoulder and cries. “I love you so much, Arc!” “And I love you too, Rarity. But please... don’t ever think that you’re somehow less of a woman... less of a mare because of what happened to you.” “That’s not...!” “Please, Rarity. You’ve done so well rising above what happened. Don’t let it claw you back down. Not after you’ve built a home, a successful business, and found love.” “I... I won’t! I’ll be the best mare... the best wife ever for you, Arc!” “And I’ll do my best to be there for you and Sweetie Belle too.” “What about Derpy?” “Derpy?” Rarity nods. “She and I... we’re not really that different.” Arc smiles as he wipes away a tear. “She’s still haunted by the ghosts of her past. But she’s getting better. However now it’s my turn to say something.” “What is it?” “I’m sorry.” Rarity appears confused. “You’re... sorry?” Arc nods. “For not realizing that this was still hurting you. That you needed special attention as well.” “But Derpy...!” “...needs me too, I know. But if something is bothering you, I need to be open and available for you.” Rarity nods as she sniffles. “It... it is nice to have someone to confide in about this.” “And although it’s not the best of circumstances, I too enjoy being here for you, Rarity.” “Will you... always be here for us?” Arc smiles as he nods. “When we all get married, yes.” “Then I promise that I’ll do my best to be open and forthcoming with you, Arc.” “Thanks. If something is on your mind we can talk it out. And if I can’t help you I’ll do my best to find someone whom can.” “That really means a lot to me, Arc. In truth, ever since that night I was raped, I’ve... worried about finding someone to spend my life with. After all, an unwed mare whom has a filly isn’t exactly prime grade wife material.” “Well, I think you are, Rarity. You’re an amazing young mare, and I’m looking forward to spending my life with you.” Rarity smiles widely. “And I with you, Arc.” She looks away nervously before speaking again. “I, um... did want to ask you for a bit of a... special favor though.” “Sure. What is it?” “It’s a bit... unorthodox, really. But at the same time... on my mind constantly. Especially these past few weeks.” “Tell me about it.” “You’ll probably find it a bit silly. If not downright... unladylike though.” “Think about it this way, Rarity. The worst that could happen is that I’ll say no, right?” Rarity puts a hoof to her chin, thoughtfully. “I... suppose that’s true, yes.” Arc smiles at her. “So then... what is it that’s been bothering you?” “Well... here goes...” Taking a deep breath, Rarity begins to speak softly.