//------------------------------// // A Kind of Mental Short // Story: Thirty Minute Express Train to Story Town // by Predhack //------------------------------// “Alright, when we’re done here we’ll send Applejack to get Rarity,” Twilight said flipping through the list, “Could we send Applejack once we get close to finishing?” Twilight turned to where Pinkie was hanging up a Happy Birthday banner with Rarity’s fashion symbol in the center. The pink pony shook her head violently and hung the end of the banner up before answering, “Oh no no no no no. Nothing ruins a surprise party for everyone like the guest of honor just walking in and saying-“ “Hello everypony, oh are you going to throw me a party for my birthday?” Rarity said, walking into sugarcube corner, “I thought we agreed to downplay everypony’s birthdays this year since we were too busy to throw a party for Fluttershy.” “Actually, we just did that said that so that we’d have an excuse NOT to have a party then so we could throw you a surprise party and Rainbow could still take Fluttershy on a romantic date on her birthday,” Twilight explained, “Thus ki-“ Twilight stopped and looked up to where Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were frantically trying to tie up blue and purple streamers while listening to the conversation. “Um… that is, thus hugging two birds with one hoof…” She spoke experimentally. Above her Fluttershy smiled and continued working. “I see,” Rarity replied, looking around at the half decorated store. “I say Pinkie are you alright?” The party pony had slumped down into a sitting position and appeared to be gesticulating wildly between Rarity and the half finished decorating. Her voice unable to sound in the apparent cruelty of the universe that was Rarity showing up early. Applejack stepped up behind Pinkie and lay a reassuring hoof on her shoulder. “Don’t worry I’ll fix it.” Pinkie turned pleading desperate eyes on the farm pony and Applejack smiled at her. “I’m so sorry, Pinkie,” Rarity said consolingly, “Applejack I can hardly think how you’re going to fix me showing up- Applejack what are you doing?” Applejack had walked over to the fussy unicorn and had taken one of Rarity’s hooves in her own, the other being used to remove her hat and place it over her heart. Rarity began to make small confused noises as Applejack looked intently into her eyes. “Rarity, I love you,” Applejack told her in a soft serious voice, “Will you do me the honor of dinner with me later this evening?” Rarity stared and worked her jaw trying to form words until Applejack appeared to take her slack jaw expression as an invitation and leaned in and kissed the unicorn deeply. Rarity froze and then made a gleeful noise before her eyes rolled back in her head and she passed out into Applejack’s waiting hooves. Carefully replacing her hat, Applejack maneuvered the insensate unicorn onto her back and spoke to the others, “That’ll have her out for about ten minutes. I’ll take her down to the park and pretend I found her takin’ a nap and bring her back here again. She’ll wake up thinking she was dreaming and usually forgets the details of what happened.” The other ponies stared in silent amazement at this until one of them found their tongue, “How often does she do that with you?” Applejack sighed and looked wistfully at the pony on her back, “Everytime I try and ask her out.” She let out another heavy sigh and started out the door, “Remember ten minutes tops.” They watched her go and slowly fell back into the motions of getting ready for the party. Twilight and Pinkie worked together to bring out refreshments. Finally Twilight broached the subject, “Do you think she’s just a really good kisser or is it something about Rarity?” Pinkie shook her head as the pegasi shared a shrug, “I have no idea.” Twilight hung her head thinking about it. “But I kinda wanna find out.” Pinkie added. The girls all shared a look and then nodded guiltily, “Yeah.”