//------------------------------// // Can't help falling in love with you // Story: Apple Scratch : A summer at the Farm // by Mariacheat-Brony //------------------------------// Vinyl came back in the living room after having a quick shower, a black note book that contained various music sheets in it in her hand. She found Octavia busy tuning her cello. Rarity was gone. She grabbed her guitar and sit down in the coach across from Octavia. "I guess Rarity went to the 'gym'. Am I right?" Vinyl asked with a knowing smile. "Most likely." Octavia chuckled. "I must admit you surprised me yesterday when you gave her pointers on how to possibly 'seduce' your sister." "I don't see what's so surprising." Vinyl shrugged. "My sis' bust herself out with farm work and various competitions, she needs to unwind a bit." "And you think that Rarity is the right person for that?" Octavia asked with skepticism. "I had tried and failed to make AJ wear a dress for years." Vinyl explained. "Rarity spend one evening with her and she manage to do that. I don't think there could be a better person to change my sister's habits in a good way." "Allright, I see your point." Octavia conceded. "So what do you want to play?" Vinyl flipped through her notebook before stopping. "Ha, found it." She extended a sheet to Octavia. "What do you think of this one?" "Sounds nice." Octavia stated as she read the sheet. "Just give me a few moments." "As soon as you're ready. Follow my lead." When Octavia signaled she was ready, Vinyl started to play the first notes of the song. Octavia soon joined the melody with her cello. Like every time she played the guitar, Vinyl closed her eyes, letting the music flow inside her. She has always liked that feeling, it has it's own sort of magic. It enabled her mind to imagine colors, forms or landscape she had never seen before. But this time, it was different. Her mind pictured only two soft amethyst colored eyes that looked at her with tenderness. Soon after, a smile she had already seen somewhere appeared below those eyes. It was not a smirk, nor a mad grin. It was just a simple genuine smile. She realized a face was appearing in front of her mind's eyes. A beautiful nose completed the portrait, followed by cheeks Vinyl had seen becoming bright pink in the past. Piece by piece, the puzzle revealed itself to Vinyl. She had come to recognize the woman's face in front of her as a cascade of silky long black hair surrounded the visage. It was Octavia. Octavia's face bore the same expression the cellist had displayed after kissing the blue haired musician's cheek yesterday night. An expression of pure affection. The perfect combination of kindness, tenderness and warmth. That gaze ignited a spark in Vinyl's very being. Spark that quickly turned itself into a huge blaze. She had already felt something like that in the past. Sixteen years ago to be exact. She had had that same feeling when Ariane Apple took her out of a bath tub before holding her close to her heart. Only today, it was at least twentyfold more powerful. It shook her entire being inside out. Slowly, Vinyl opened her eyes and saw that the beautiful cellist that had occupied her thoughts was sitting across from her, still playing her cello with her eyes closed. Vinyl kept playing. She had no idea about what she was playing right now but it felt right and Octavia kept playing with her. Vinyl took a glimpse at the clock in the living room and noticed that one hour had passed since Octavia and her had started playing. 'One hour of music from a five minutes long song...' Vinyl thought as she played a final note and few seconds afterward Octavia did the same. Octavia put her bow down as she opened her eyes. "Wow." She slowly said in a weak breath. "It's the first time I have ever played like that..." She turned her gaze toward Vinyl who shivered as their eyes met. "That sensation of contentment. It's like you are waking up from a beautiful dream.... Is that how you felt when you improvised at the Wedding?" "Something along those part." Vinyl slowly answered, a bit hypnotized by the cellist's eyes. They kept staring at each other with passion burning in their eyes for a few seconds. Vinyl's mind drowning itself in the ocean of purple wonder that were Octavia's eyes. It was unbeknownst to her that Octavia was feeling the exact same thing. Without one of them realizing it, they both stood up and walked toward each other. They came close to one another, slowly closing the distance between them. Their mouths only a few inches apart. They both leaned in... A loud thud came from outside the house followed by a shouting. "GUYS! GUYS! You're not gonna believe this." Shouted Rainbow Dash. The jupitarian's arrival had snapped the two musicians out of their trance. They both took a few steps backward, blushing madly. They managed to hide their blush just in time as a dirty, scared and excited Rainbow Dash entered the living room. "What happened Rainbow Dash?" Octavia asked in a softly shaking voice. 'Oh my goodness, Did I just almost kiss....' Octavia thought in embarrassment. "What's up RD?" Asked Vinyl in a tone she had hoped casual. 'Holy Sweet Apple Fairy! I was just about to...' "Oh. Vinyl, you're here." Rainbow said sheepishly. "I didn't think you would be here." Vinyl's state of mind went from embarrassment to suspicion. "Well, I do live here, don't I?" Vinyl slowly asked. "So, what got you so excited?" "Well, I'm not sure you should be hearing this in fact..." Said RD scratching the back of her head with her hand. "In that case, you shouldn't have shouted for all the house Rainbow." Octavia chimed in. "I guess it's true." Rainbow sheepishly chuckled. "Well, I was on my way to the 'gym'." "Then what?" Vinyl asked. "I was about to open the door when I heard something." "AND?" Vinyl was getting impatient. "Well I heard Rarity doing...." She grumbled the last part so no one understood her. "What was she doing, Rainbow?' Octavia asked. "Well. hum.. She was doing Applejack." Rainbow finally confessed, a hint of blush appearing on her cheeks. Vinyl stunned at that sentence, while Octavia tilted her head in confusion. "Doing what?" She asked. "I don't get it." "Well you know when two people get together and start...you know." Rainbow tried to explain, rather embarrassed. Octavia finally put two and two together and started blushing as well. "Oh...She didn't waste time ..Right Vinyl?" She awkwardly joked. "Vinyl?" Vinyl recovered from the news. "Hum! What? I blacked out a bit. Could you repeat that Rainbow?" "Hum. Rarity was shagging Applejack in the Gym." "Yeah. That's what I thought I heard the first time." Vinyl slowly said before sitting on the coach. "Well, things between them escalated a lot quicker than I thought they would." "Vinyl!" Shouted a squeaky panting voice from outside. The door opened to let an out of breath Applebloom in. Pinkie Pie bounced in behind the red-haired girl. "What is it Bloom?" Vinyl asked with concern. Pinkie Pie explained the situation, allowing Applebloom to catch her breath. "Well. We were at Applebloom's club house, when a mister wearing a suit and a briefcase asked to see Applejack. Applebloom said that she was at the Gym at that time." "A bit unusual that a business man wants to speak to AJ in particular. No need to run to tell me about it though." Vinyl calmly said. "Well, when I asked him why he wanted to see AJ, he said he was representing Barnyard Bargain. After that he went to the gym, followed by the others." Pinkie continued cheerfully. "What others Pinkie?" Vinyl blinked. "Around five big guys. I mean really big guys. They all had faces that said I'm Big and Ugly and Despicable." "Oh. Damn..." Vinyl sighed as she rubbed her forehead. "What is it Vinyl?" Octavia asked with worry. "Just that Mrs Rich is a lot stupider than I thought she was." Vinyl sighed as she stood up and went outside. "And that AJ might get in jail because of that." "Dang, that was a hellova good massage Rarity." Applejack said as she rose up from the table putting her top back on. "Thanks. Ah don' think Ah've ever been relaxed in years." She smiled widely at the seamstress. "It was a pleasure, Darling." Rarity beamed at the farmer. "It really was." As Applejack passed behind Rarity, she put her hands on the purple haired woman's shoulders. "Maybe Ah should return the favor." She said suggestively as she started softly rubbing Rarity's shoulders. Rarity closed her eyes with contentment. "Hummm. As enticing as that sounds." She softly whispered. "I think it's nearly lunch time, so we might be needed at the house." A firm knock came from the barn's door. A clear and loud masculine voice came from outside. "Miss Jacquelyn Apple, are you in there?" "Drats!" She muttered as she took her hands off Rarity, earning a disappointed sigh from the seamstress. "Yes, Ah am. Ya can come in." The door opened to allow a small middle aged man with short grey hair wearing a dark grey suit to enter. Applejack noticed the group of muscular men standing outside. The man took notice of Rarity and couldn't help but to look at her backside for a short time, before facing Applejack. "I am sorry to disturb you during your physical activities Miss but I am here on behalf of Barnyard Bargain. My name's Caesar Laurel, Juridic Advisor of Mrs Affluent Rich." "Well, Howdy Mr Laurel. What can ah do ya for?" Applejack asked politely. "You see, Mrs Rich came to see me yesterday afternoon because your Orchard didn't do the delivery it was expected to do." Laurel explained with a neutral voice. "She said that your delivery woman came but decided not to give the merchandise and went back here." "Well, ma SISTER did come to Barnyard Bargain yesterday with their daily order." Applejack firmly said. "After an argument with Mrs Rich, she decided to take our merchandise back. A decision that Ah approved after she explain'd what had happened." "You let your ten year old sister do delivery and make decision for the Orchard?" Laurel asked playfully in what he thought was humor. Rarity raised an eyebrow at that comment, Applejack's face remained impassible. "Ya know perfectly Ah'm referring to Vinyl." Applejack said in a unusual stern and cold tone. "Don't you dare play games with me." "Ah, yes! The adopted one." He said with disgust. Rarity was sincerely shocked by the tone he had used and was about to voice her opinion when Applejack spoke. "What did ya come here for?" She asked impatiently. "Let's get it done quickly." "Well I'm here to convince you to reopen trade with Barnyard Bargain." Laurel explained in his neutral tone. "Yeah....Not gonna happen. At least not before Ah have a talk with Filthy Rich." Applejack quickly answered. "By the way, Ah doubt he and his wife would approve of your methods." "I don't understand what do you mean?" He asked with discomfort. "Mrs Rich asked me to talk some sense into this case." "Maybe, but Ah doubt she asked ya to come in here to threaten me." "Nobody is threaten..." Laurel started. "Nobody comes to do business with thugs as a back up, if not for carrying a message without saying it." Applejack interrupted him. "While ah might dislike Mrs Rich, Ah know she does everything by the law. Now, Ah want y'all out of ma property. RIGHT NOW." AJ shouted in anger. One of the thugs took a step inside the barn. "Is there a problem, sir?" "No, there isn't. Thank you, Wallace." Laurel quietly said. "Now, Miss Apple we are both civilized. We can't..." Rarity couldn't help herself. "Civilized? You? Excuse me, but I have seen better behavior on a toothless alligator." Rarity interjected earning a hateful glare from Caesar. "I don't really see what a 'playmate' like you has anything to say in that matter." Laurel asked, causing Rarity to gasp in shock, before being lifted from the ground by the collar by a pissed off Applejack. "The buck did ya just say?" AJ asked coldly as the thugs outside started to enter the gym. "A....Applejack." Said Rarity fearfully. Applejack put Caesar down. Said advisor backed away behind his henchmen. AJ faced the threatening group without blinking. "Ah'll say it one more time, get out of ma property or Ah will tell the guard about this." "Because you think the guard'll side you when I have five witnesses that have seen you threatening me?" Asked Laurel with a confident smirk. "Because you think that guard is going to side against them with One of the member of the Council of Harmony supporting the Apple family?" Snapped Rarity in anger. "Who the hell are you to speak in the name of a Council member?" Asked Laurel not so confident anymore. "I am Rarity Belle, Baroness of Northern Canterlot, Member of the Sun and the Moon Court, Treasurer of the Council of Harmony." Rarity said in an unfamiliar authoritarian tone. Caesar gulped when he realized who was speaking to him, he was clearly out of his league. "My Lady, I'm sorry for my earlier comments, If I had known...." "Enough." Rarity shouted. "Keep your lies for someone that might care about them. Leave this place." "Right away, My Lady." Laurel said as he backed away in fear. His men followed him. Applejack watched them from afar to make sure they left without a hitch. "Ah had no idea ya'd have such a spunk inside ya Rare." Applejack said as she turned to the Council member, only to see she was shaking like a leaf. Applejack moved right next to her. "Are ya ok Rarity?" She asked in a soft worried voice. "I'm fine, Applejack." She said in a small shaking voice. "I hate to outburst like that and I just got bit scared." "Rarity, ya didn't have to be scared, Ah would have defended ya." "It's not that." Rarity softly said. "I was scared that they would have hurt you." "Rarity, ya saw me riding a giant enraged bull and fighting elite warriors ten to one without being injured." AJ chuckled. "Ya really think that they could have hurt me?" "I ...kinda have forgotten about that." Rarity sheepishly admitted as she started to calm down. "Anyway, Ah didn't know ya were a Baroness." Applejack playfully said. "Well, I don't like that title very much." Rarity said. "I would rather be recognized for what I do then for where I was born." "Ah get ya!" Applejack nodded in understanding. "Ah must say that bossy tone of yers was extremely impressive." "Thanks." Rarity chuckled. Applejack moved a bit closer to Rarity's ear. "And incredibly sexy." She whispered in sultry tone causing Rarity's face to become bright red. "Re...Real..ly?" Rarity stammered. "Ah reckon ya might want to be careful with that." Applejack whispered. "Why is that?" Rarity asked in confusion. "Ah might not be able restrain maself 'til Saturday night if ya used that tone again." Rarity pondered with a sly smile. "Sooo. If I were to order you to kiss me right here, right now, you would do it?" "Ah reckon Ah would." Applejack nodded with a knowing smile. "Well then, as a Baroness of Equestria, I command you, Jacquelyn 'Applejack' Apple to kiss me this instant." Rarity playfully ordered in her authoritarian voice. "Ah am most happy to oblige Ma Lady." Applejack replied, genuinely happy, as she closed to the distance between their lips.