//------------------------------// // The Special Guest // Story: Apple and The Lucky Horseshoe // by ex2opps //------------------------------// Applejack wiped a bead of sweat off her eyebrow, finishing up washing the last of the dishes. She turned to the vegetables, picking up a garlic clove and setting it down on the cutting board. “Quickly with the cheesecake, Apple, darling.” “‘Ah’m goin’ as fast as ‘Ah can!” she huffed. “Not like ‘Ah can make the oven cook any faster…” she said under her breath. She set down the kitchen knife she was previously holding, rushing over to the oven in a blur. She grabbed the wrung of the oven by her teeth and opened it slowly, inspecting the confection. “Quit it, with the mumbling! You know I absolutely abhor it.” “Yeah, yeah. Proper ladies don’t mumble.“ Applejack rolled her eyes, heading back over to the garlic clove she was chopping. “Yeah, Applejack. How’s it going?” said a tiny voice. Applejack hesitated. “Uhm, actually Apple Bloom, do ya’ think you could lend me a hoof? ‘Ah could really use the help…” She held the knife carefully between her hooves, not wanting to knick her fur. And began chopping the clove into intentional slices. She picked her head up to finally look at her sister, who was standing at her Auntie Orange’s side. “I… I sure would like to. But… well, I just got changed into my dress.” She took a step forward, now standing in front of her aunt, and spun around carefully. Her dress a whirl of blues and purples as she did so. “She got it fitted for me and everything! I… I don’t want to dirty it-“ “Yeah, that’s quite alright hon’,” she sighed. “I’m sure I can manage.” “Apple, once again, quickly now.” “It’s not done yet, ma’am,” she said, rinsing off the green pepper under the tap and proceeding to chop it. “Oh well that won’t do at all!” Aunt Orange threw a hoof over her chest. “Don’t get y’r tail in a twist, it’s only ‘bout another hour ‘r so.” “Our guest is going to be here in half an hour! This simply isn’t befitting.” “Well wut would’ja rather ‘Ah do?” “Nothing,” Her Aunt Orange declared with newfound determination in her stride. She pranced over to the front door, grabbing her peacoat from the coatrack. “I’ll be back shortly.” “Say what now?! Wait just an apple pickin’ min-“ Before Applejack could finish her protest, the stove began to go off. “Consarn it!” She seethed, looking down at the pool of red forming on her hoof. “Oh no! Are you okay, A.J?!” Apple Bloom scurried over to her sister, placing a gentle hoof on her tender wound. She sucked in a lungful. “Ah’ll be fine, sugarcube,” she said turning her attention back to the front door where Madam Orange was. But she was already gone. She ran her hoof under the cold tap for a few seconds before tending back to the stove. “That looks pretty bad… Maybe you should-“ “Y’know,” the orange mare said, turning off the beeping stove. “Y’all don’t have to talk like that when she’s not here.” Apple Bloom frowned. “‘Ah think you should be nicer to her. She’s not all that bad when ya’ get to know her!” Applejack took the hay tenders from off the stove, putting them aside. It had been years since their parents died— and at least three since Granny Smith had sent the Apple siblings off to live with their aunt Orange in Manehattan. Much to the dismay of Applejack, who resented it pretty much everyday of her life. Something about wanting them to make a life for themselves, and that they couldn’t ever do that in Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack knew much better than that, and she went back to visit routinely. But still not nearly as much as she would have liked. And it wasn’t nearly the same around here without their big brother Big Macintosh, who had recently moved out to live with his fiancée. It was Granny’s grief talking. Her regret— that she could have done something to prevent it. About all the things they could have done, only if they had more time. And Applejack was unfortunately caught in the middle of it. “Far be it from me to lie to ya’- ‘Ah don’t want ya’ getting hurt by me tellin’ you this. But our ‘Auntie’ isn’t nearly as nice as she would like ya’ to believe.” “‘Ah don’t wanna be overreachin’… But are you sure y’r not just shutting her out because of-“ “Now, you stop right there.” A.J shot her a glare. “‘Ah know what y’r about to say, and I’m telling ya’ y’r wrong. Hay, the gal won’t even call me by my own name! She calls me ‘Apple’!” Apple Bloom shrunk at her rising voice. “Ah’m- ‘Ah’m sorry. ‘Ah just want y’all to get along, it’s hard seeing y’all like this… Especially lately.” It was true that the two had been more hostile in the past few weeks, with this special visit approaching that much closer. And now that it was here, Applejack about had it up to here with her Aunt’s propriety. “Well, the Grand Gallopin’ Gala is a really big deal here in Manehattan. Especially this year of all years, with Princess Luna’s return. Auntie Orange is just a little stressed, it’s really important to her that we get invited and this visit’ll do that,” Apple Bloom said sadly. “High-strung is more like it,” A.J rolled her eyes. “Listen here little filly, as much as ‘Ah’d like to continue this conversation ‘Ah’m up to my neck in cookin’ for our here guest right about now.” “‘Ah feel like ya’ always got sum’ to do. Whether it be chores or sumthin’ rather,” Apple Bloom said matter of factly. “Really? ‘Ah hadn’t noticed.” she rolled her eyes. Apple Bloom sighed, defeated. “‘Ah’ll get out of y’r mane, but please just think about what ‘Ah said? ‘Ah…” she twiddled her hooves. “‘Ah really care ‘bout both of y’all. It’s important to me that y’all are gettin’ along.” Applejack furrowed her brows apologetically, turning her body around to face her little sister. “‘Ah really wish I could, Apple Bloom. But ya’ just don’t…” her voice wavered. “This is big girl stuff, okay?” she said softly, resting a hoof on her sister’s cheek. “Y’r just so little, ‘Ah- ‘Ah’m afraid you won’t understand.” “You’re just making excuses,” Apple Bloom said sourly, pulling from her and scurrying off back in the direction of her bedroom. She called out to her. “Apple Bloom-! Ugh…” she slapped herself. “Consarn it, Applejack.“ ———————————————————— It had been over forty-five minutes, and Aunt Orange still wasn’t back yet. Applejack took it upon herself to set the table and to clean herself up before the guest arrived. But she was in no way shape or form well-versed enough in fancy innings to greet the guest entirely on her own, and with no prior knowledge as to whom they were. She didn’t even know what they looked like! To be entirely transparent, she didn’t get out all that much. Most of her time was spent cooped up at the house cleaning and doing housework. She was entirely out of her element, and without her Aunt was completely incapable of- Rrrringgg. That was when the doorbell rang. She sighed in relief that her Aunt was finally back, and in due time before the guest arrived. She walked over to the front door and, without asking who it was, opened it. “Thank Celestia y’r here, ‘Ah was worried you wouldn’t get back before the-“ She froze. The pony standing in front of her was arguably not her aunt, but instead a striking mare with a porcelain white coat who looked about her age. She had a loud, wavy purple mane and deep blue eyes. She adjusted the pink scarf that was wrapped around her head, clearing her throat. “Uhm, hello there,” she said in a colorful voice that was more traditional to that of someone from Canterlot. “I’m looking for a Miss Orange? Pardon my tardiness. I suppose my reputation for being fashionably late precedes itself.” “‘Ah- ahem. ‘Ah suppose so.” They both stood there in awkward silence. “Uhm, may I come in?” Applejack physically shook her head back to reality, “Oh! ‘Ah’ma mighty sorry. Of course. Come in.” She gestured a welcoming hoof, stepping aside to make room for guest in the doorway. Applejack shut the door and led the special guest to the dining table, pulling out a chair for her. “Pard’n. ‘Ah’m… ‘Ah probably shouldn’t say this, but ‘Ah’m not all that well versed in these types of things,” she said, walking around to the other side of the table opposite to where the mysterious mare was sitting. “I would have never guessed!” She smiled. Applejack frowned, “Uh, gee thanks...” “Oh, no! Not like that!” she quickly shook her head, realizing what it sounded like. “I mean it! You’re such a gentlepony.” She blushed at the compliment. “Well, shucks. That’s mighty kind of ya’ to say,” they smiled at each other. “Oh, well ‘Ah haven’t asked ya’ anything about y’rself! Uh, well to start… What’s your name? Or your title, ‘Ah guess.” To this, the other mare simply laughed. But upon seeing Applejack’s confused expression, she retaliated. “Oh, you’re being serious!” “…Why wouldn’t ‘Ah be?” “It’s just- I- Well, never mind that.” she waved a dismissive hoof. “You can simply call me, Rarity.” “Rarity,” she said, trying it out for the first time. “Pretty name for a pretty gal.” Rarity’s cheeks went rosy. “Oh, you flatter me.” Just as she said that, the oven went off. “There it is!” Applejack said, walking in the direction of the beeping. Rarity watched as the orange mare grabbed the dish from the oven and set it carefully on top of the stove. “Why, did you make that yourself?” Applejack chuckled heartily. “Well, I didn’t wanna say anything but yeah. I made all of this myself, actually.” Rarity looked down at the plate before her, levitating her spoon using her magic and taking a small bite of her meal. She raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Why, this is lovely! Hay Tender Piquant?” “Yes’m,” she said with a nod. Rarity set her spoon down, and looked at Applejack oddly. “Whatever is your name darling?” Applejack felt her heart stir. “It’s-“ The front door flew open. “Oh dear! Pray tell, I’m not too late?! Apple! Wherever are you?! Why are you not in the-!?” She froze at the pair in front of her, the paper bag she was holding still in hoof. “Oh my, you are here! My sincerest apologies,” Aunt Orange said, shutting the door behind her and setting the paper bag down at the table the two had been sitting at. “I did not mean to be so late, I simply got held up at the bakery. I-“ “Wait a minute, the bakery? That’s where y’all been all this time?” Aunt Orange cringed when she said ‘y’all’, “Yes, Applejack, dearest,” she said. “But… Ya’ told me to make this. It’s ready now.” She gestured to the cheesecake on the stove. Aunt Orange raised her eyebrows. “Oh, I am terribly sorry dear. I had no idea,” she frowned. Applejack furrowed her eyebrows. “‘Ah- had no idea?! Ya’ told me to make it!” “Well, I simply did not think it would be ready by the time the Countess got here. So I took the liberty of going out to the bakery, and I picked up a little something.” She dug into the paper bag and pulled out a container of a smaller, much more decorated Tiramaresu. Rarity beamed. “Oh, you didn’t have to go out of your way!” “Nonsense!” she said. “Only the finest for the ‘Countess’.” Applejack huffed. “But what about the cheesecake? Y’know? The one I made?” “Would you rather me spend my good money all for naught?” “Well, no. But-“ “Brilliant. Then we have both understood one another. Now do try not to embarrass me in front of our guest. If you haven’t already,” she said that last part much more quietly. Applejack let out a sigh of defeat, and dragged her hooves out of the room. “I do apologize on behalf of my niece, she’s not from around here,” Orange said with a strained smile. Rarity just nodded. “Uhm, yes. Don’t… mention it.”