//------------------------------// // Applejack's Answer // Story: Clothes make the Mare // by Applefai //------------------------------// Rarity arrives at Sweet Apple Acres just as the sun begins to set, she is greeted by the sight of Big Mac and Apple Bloom taking baskets of Apples into the barn. "Good afternoon, is Applejack around?" Rarity asked as she approached the two apple siblings. "Eeyup," Big Mac replied, giving no further answer being a stallion of few words. "She's out in the orchard, gatherin' the last bit of apples," Apple Bloom added as the two started putting the apples into crates. "Thank you, darling," Rarity said as she went into the orchard, her heart pounding in her chest. Rarity quickly locates Applejack, finding her as she bucks the last tree and gathers its fresh fruit. "A hard worker as always, huh darling?" Rarity said as she approached, "Would you like any help?" The seamstress offered. "If it ain't any trouble, sure, thank ya, partner," Applejack replied as Rarity picked up the basket. "It ain't any trouble at all," Rarity replied, surprising the orange farm pony as she did. "Wow, I didn't expect you to use that word Rare," Applejack replied, walking beside her friend. "What word, ain't?" Rarity asked, prompting Applejack to nod. "I figured you'd be one of those that say it ain't a word," Applejack replied. "I don't use it often, the only other time I used it today was on the train back to Ponyville when talking to Cadance and Shining Armor, but I wouldn't say it's not a word," Rarity replied. "Why not?" Applejack asked, positive she already knew the answer. "Because it is a word, it was actually used by the upper class in the Victorian era of Equestira, but once the lower class started using it, it became controversial," Rarity replied as Applejack nodded. "Yeah, that's true," Applejack said as they reached the barn. Big Mac and Apple Bloom were nowhere to be seen, so Rarity took this opportunity to ask Applejack what she had asked countless ponies already.  "Applejack, mind if I ask you a question?" Rarity asked as she set down the basket. "Not at all, what's on your mind, sugarcube?" Applejack replied. Rarity took a deep breath to prepare herself. "Do you think it's possible to make friends with the changelings, Sweetie Belle is scared and I just thought —------,"  "No," Applejack said, cutting Rarity off. "B-but what if there's a possibility?" Rarity asked, her heart sinking into her chest. "There ain't no possibility, they are cowards and manipulators, they rely on tactics like disguises and attack from behind in a figurative sense, they don't have enough honor just to do it in their true form," Applejack said, getting more and more aggravated at the thought. "But not all changelings are like that, there has to be a---------" Rarity replied, tears forming in her eyes. "YES, ALL OF THEM ARE LIKE THAT!" Applejack snapped at Rarity. Calming down and lowering her voice, Applejack looked at Rarity. "They are deceitful, yellow-bellied cowards that use dishonest tactics just to get close to you, if they have any guts or honor they would just attack rather than disguise themselves as somepony you love. I can understand if they're evil, but I can't stand their methods and can't bring myself to fathom forgiving them for being friends with them, let alone one," Applejack let off a tangent as Rarity started to sniffle. "I-I see," Rarity said as she ran off, her notebook falling out of her saddlebag. "Rarity, I hope you-----" Applejack tried to talk to her, but Rarity couldn't take anymore. "I just wanted to help my sister feel better, but never mind," Rarity replied, running off. Applejack noticed that Rarity's notebook had fallen out and lay open on the ground, she couldn't help but see what was scribbled on the pages, and as she read what little she could her jaw dropped open and she began to tear up as she picked up the book and closed it. Rarity returned home with puffy eyes and locked herself in her room, she hung up her saddlebag and laid on her bed, crying into her pillow. She had hoped to come out to her friends, but now it seems like she has to die with this secret.  Rarity hears a knock on her door accompanied by a voice. "Rarity, are you ok, sis," the little voice called out. Rarity slightly opened the door and peeked through the crack. "Yes Sweetie Belle, I'm ok," Rarity replied. "I just wanted to tell you that I'm headed out to Scootaloo's place for our sleepover, but why are you crying?" she replied as Rarity nodded. "It's nothing to concern yourself, Sweetie, I'll be ok. Thank you for telling me, you just go have fun with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo now," Rarity replied. Rarity comes out of her room and gives her sister a hug and a kiss on the forehead. "Be careful walking over there," Rarity added as Sweetie Belle nodded before trotting off.  Rarity watched her sister trot off as she wiped her tears from her eyes. "I better write down Applejack's reply before I forget," Rarity said to herself as she dug into her saddlebag. As she dug, her heart dropped and her eyes widened, she grabbed the saddlebag with her magic and hastily poured out the contents on the floor. "No no no no," Rarity panicked as she scanned the contents. "Sapphire's song, strong, design blueprints pin cushions, no, it's not here. Oh sweet Celestia I hope I didn't leave it on the train, if anypony were to read it, I would be exposed and hunted down," Rarity says to herself as she lists off what is in there. Rarity starts to hyperventilate as her mind starts to race.  "Hopefully I can go to the train and check, I just don't like flaunting my beauty like that often, but I might need to," Rarity says to herself. Just as Rarity was about to leave, she heard a knock at her door. She takes a deep breath as she goes downstairs and opens the door, her face going pale and her eyes widening as she sees the pony standing before her.