Apple of My Eye- Ch. 19

Party Pony Rock!

AKA- How I Learned To Stop Worrying, and Love the Club.

Applejack was not a happy farmer… Not only was she forced to deal with the Cutie Mark Crusaders latest act of minor vandalism (one of the older trees near the farm boundaries had somehow managed to catch on fire while they were trying to earn their botany cutie marks); but she’d been continuously distracted from her work with images and daydreams about a certain Pegasus popping into her brain, and they both confused her and calmed her down, which just confused her more… Then she’d also had to go hunting for Big Mac in the evening when he’d seemingly disappeared. And she couldn’t even be mad at him when she found him, because he’d been in the barn the whole time giving Fluttershy a tour of the family property! Needless to say, having no outlet for her worsening mood was not something that she enjoyed… So when the opportunity for her to cut loose some of her pent up agitation presented itself, Applejack was glad to meet that opportunity halfway with a smile…

Unfortunately for one grey mare, this opportunity called for group participation… and she was part of the group participating whether she wanted to be or not.

“AURORA!” Applejack yelled, stomping out of the farmhouse and running down the path to the front gate, “What the hay do you think yer doin’ comin’ back here this late?! And lookin’ like a five bit Manehattan Escort?! Don’t you know that the Apple’s have standards, and when yer livin’ with somepony willin’ ta give ya a roof over yer head, that ya abide by THEIR rules?!”

By this point, Granny Smith already had Applebloom’s ears covered, and was joining Big Macintosh in looking out the window at the verbally aggressive spectacle outside. Applejack had managed to not only reach the grey mare by this point in her tirade, but she’d taken off her hat and was fixing Aurora with a look that rivaled The Stare.
Aurora wilted under the look and started shaking like a leaf, having just flown as fast as she could from Carousel Boutique, her heart was already racing. Now, hearing Applejack’s apparent rage directed at her, she didn’t know what else to do besides take a page from Fluttershy’s book and making herself as small as possible.

“And look at me when Ah’m chewin’ ya out!” Applejack said angrily, “Ah can’t believe you have the gall to come flyin’ in here at this time of night! Where were you huh?! Do you know how worried Ah was gettin’ about you?!”

“I’m sorry Applejack…” Aurora mumbled, her voice barely audible but still holding that quavering note of fear and sadness… She hadn’t meant to make AJ worry. She’d meant to come back to the farm sooner, but between the weird thoughts that kept popping into her head when she was at Rarity’s, and the sudden rush of warmth that seemed to envelope her while Rarity was brushing her hair, she ended up camping on a cloud until she cooled off and felt a semblance of normalcy. Looking back on it, she should have just come straight to the farm, but her mind just couldn’t focus today…

“Sorry ain’t gonna cut it Missy!” Applejack shot back, preparing to blast her with another tirade about how worried she’d been when Aurora hadn’t showed up for dinner, when a large red stallion stood between the two mares.

“And just what are you doin’ now Big Mac?” Applejack asked, glaring daggers at her older brother, “Ah’m still plenty mad at you fer runnin’ off this afternoon while Ah was on Crusader’s clean up.”

“That’s enough Applejack…” he said firmly, his brow wrinkling slightly in a frown, “Look at how upset ya got the poor girl.”

AJ followed his hoof, and for the first time that night actually saw Aurora… Her hair was cut and brushed, and her coat was freshly cleaned, she looked amazing… and yet, she looked absolutely pitiful. Her eyes spoke volumes about how sorry she felt, how upset she was, and how scared… Had AJ been that harsh on her that she had scared her own friend? She’d never meant for that to happen… she was worried that something had happened to Aurora, and here she was, safe and sound… she should have been happy to see her friend, and instead, she was yelling…

Applejack’s frustration just seemed to dissipate as she looked at Aurora, a sense of guilt growing in its place.

“Look Aurora… Ah’m not really mad at you… Ah’m sorry Ah yelled, today’s just been really bad here at the farm, an Ah took it out on ya, and that ain’t fair… I’m sorry Aurora…” Applejack said apologizing, but reminding herself that she had no right to expect her friend to forgive her just like that.

“It’s okay AJ, I’m really sorry too…” Aurora said, looking up at the Earth Pony, the swirling sea of emotions inside her mind mirrored in Applejack’s emerald eyes. “It sounds like we’ve both had a long day… do you want to go inside and talk about it?”

AJ smiled softly, her shoulders sagging, “That sounds mighty nice Aurora… Come on, Ah think there’s still some coffee left.”

“Sorry again about bitin’ yer head off back there…” Applejack said uneasily, pouring two cups of coffee, one for Aurora, one for herself.

“It’s alright AJ.” Aurora said, smiling with relief. “I mean, yeah, you scared the crap out of me, but I get that you weren’t really mad… Were you really that worried though?”

“A bit more than Ah care to admit…” she replied, looking into the pitch colored brew in her cup before glancing up to look at the grey mare again. “Now Ah gotta ask, cuz seein’ it in the light is a might different than in the dark, what happened to yer mane? Ya look like Photo Finish got a hold of ya.”

“This is actually Rarity’s hoofwork… And I kind of like it… It’s a lot easier to manage than the long mane I had before too… what do you think?” Aurora asked, looking at Applejack expectantly.

“Well, Ah think it looks really fancy, and Ah sure wouldn’t want it, but it suits ya… makes ya look a might bit prettier too… not that ya weren’t before, just, ya look prettier now than a did before…” Applejack answered, stumbling over her words towards the end, and blushing furiously, which got a giggle from Aurora.

“I think I understand what you meant.” She reassured her friend, stretching her hoof across the table and placing it atop Applejack’s.

After sitting in silence for a little bit, holding hooves no less, Aurora and Applejack blushed simultaneously, placing their hooves in their laps awkwardly, trying to look at anything bu teach other.

“Anyway… Why’d ya go ta Rarity ta get yer hair cut? And what made ya want ta cut it in the first place?” Applejack asked, trying to change the subject.

“Well… promise not to laugh when I tell you?” Aurora responded uncertainly

“Heh… Ah promise not ta make fun of ya if ya lost a bet.” AJ responded, already coming up with a story in her head about why her friend’s hair was suddenly styled like one of those fancy ponies in Las Pegasus.

“Well… I didn’t lose a bet… but it wasn’t exactly by choice… I kind of agreed to go with somepony to this club tomorrow night, and they said that they’d help me find somewhere to live on my own that was cheap enough to afford with what I have already… And then they said I should do something with my mane, I wanted to come find you and get your opinion, then I had a glitterbomb explode in my face and got taken to Rarity’s. She helped me clean up, then I told her I was thinking about doing something with my mane, and then it just kind of snowballed… So what do you think?” Aurora said, trying to sum up her afternoon without sounding like a crazy pony.

AJ, to her credit, didn’t laugh until AFTER her friend was done talking, and even then, she managed to stay in her seat. When she finally regained her composure though, she smiled amicably at Aurora and reassured her that the look actually worked for her.

“Only problem Ah see really is that yer tail doesn’t match the manecut.” Applejack noted, “But don’tcha worry about that, Ah got a pair a clippers upstairs that can help ya out.”

“Thanks for the offer AJ, but does it really matter if the mane and tail don’t match?” Aurora questioned, relieved that her friend approved of her new hairstyle.

“Well, it’s not that it’s important, but ya wanna look put together for this date of yers, right?” she said, cocking an eyebrow at the Pegasus, “Though personally, Ah ain’t too keen on the idea of ya going to a club with somepony just to get a deal on a place ta live... Sounds sketchy at best. Who made the offer anyway?”

“One more time now… almost heard that one.” Applejack teased, secretly amazed that somepony other than Fluttershy was able to talk that quietly.

“RAINBOW DASH!” Aurora barked, her face flushing red with embarrassment. “And it’s not a date, I’m just going with her to a club I don’t know, on couples night! Are you happy now?”

“Calm down there sugar… Ah ain’t gonna tease ya about somethin’ like that. Ah’m just worried. Rainbow’s a nice young mare, but she can be a bit pushy… You sure this is just ya’ll two goin’ as friends?” Applejack responded, smiling and taking a sip of coffee.

“I think so… I mean, I’ve never really been all that big on relationship stuff, but I made it clear that I’m just going as her friend, and because I wanted her to stay safe at this club thing.”

“Aurora, Ah wouldn’t worry none about Rainbow getting’ in trouble… She’s actually managed ta get kicked out of her fair share of bars because she WAS handling herself… Just be careful that ya don’t go hurting anypony’s feelings too much if ya can help it.”

“I think I can do that.” Aurora agreed, nodding at Applejack’s advice, somehow missing the not so secret warning that went along with it. “Besides, I kind of just want to see what the club scene in Equestria is like anyway…”

“If I hear the phrase ‘Dye Job’ from you jerks one more time, I’ll come over there and kick your flank from here to Canterlot!” Dash yelled, glaring at a group of snooty looking Unicorns sitting at a corner table before turning back to Aurora, who was seated across from her. “Sorry about that Rory. I just really hate that joke. I heard it just about every day when I was growing up…”

“It’s okay Dash… I understand. But don’t you think that it was a bit overboard?” Aurora responded, sipping from her glass of soda and looking around at the surprisingly modern club. There was a nice dance floor on a raised platform, a DJ booth set into the wall behind it, and the rest of the club was occupied by tables, a bar, and ponies standing in groups and talking.

“Well, I mean, I usually just try and stop things before they get out of hand. So I kind of get this reputation for overreacting… But if it stops with me, then I’m willing to accept that. Besides, I didn’t like the way they were looking at us.” Dash replied, admiring her date’s new hairstyle. “By the way, I really like your mane.”

“Heh, I gathered that…” Aurora said, laughing at the foalish line. “You’ve told me that at least four times since you picked me up.”

“Well, I’m glad everypony seems to like it so much… It feels really different from having long hair.”

“I guess… I never really grew my mane out to know. It takes way too much effort to keep it out of my face if it gets too long. And the last thing I want when I’m flying is to get distracted by my hair!”

“Heheheh… Well, your mane suits you too.” Aurora answered, draining her soda. “Hey, I’m going to get a refill, you want anything?”

“Um, no, that’s okay…” Dash replied, blushing as she watched Aurora walk away towards the barn. Whether she knew it or not, Rory had changed more than just physically these last couple weeks. She carried herself differently, and even her body language had changed from the loveable socially oblivious new boy, to a mare that was putting out all kinds of signals... (Though Dash was still pretty sure that she didn't have a clue.) Even now, when she was walking, Dash noticed her hips swaying just a bit more than normal, her tail swishing to the side on occasion… and it was hot.

“Daaaaang…” Dash commented, leaning back to keep Aurora’s flank in view, “I am SO glad she said yes to this…”

“Said yes to what?” a voice chimed in from behind Rainbow Dash, causing the weather pony to fall out of her seat in shock.

“P-Pinkie Pie!” Dash exclaimed, scrambling to stand like nothing had happened. “What the hay are you doing here?!”

“Oh silly Dashie… I’m here to make sure that you don’t steal Rory from me!” She replied, giggling, “After all, it’s bad enough that I have to compete with Rarity, but you’re way less subtle, and way more of a threat right now.”

“Uhhh… Okay…” Rainbow replied, looking at her friend uneasily, “Wait, I’m a threat?”

“Well duh. I mean, come on, Aurora was pretty oblivious when she was a stallion, and she didn’t exactly get any more perceptive since then. Besides, My Pinkie Sense says that something big is coming her way, and since you’re the only one around my Rory, then you’re the one I have to look out for.” Pinkie explained, her tone becoming surprisingly serious.

“I gotta say Pinkie, I can respect that you’re willing to face me head on to compete here, but can I just ask for this chance? If you want to make a move, then I promise not to interfere.” Dash suggested, noticing that Aurora was walking back over with her new drink, thankfully too distracted by watching a couple of very… enthusiastic… mares dancing on the floor to notice that Pinkie was there.

“Alright then Dashie, that seems fair. Just so you know, I’d like you to leave me and her alone now though so I can make my move!” Pinkie agreed, smiling warmly at her friend with a malicious gleam in her eye.

“What?! No! Pinkie, I mean, if you want to try and make a move anytime OTHER THAN tonight!”

“Well then you should have said that before making the offer silly!” she answered, bouncing around Rainbow Dash and heading for Aurora, who was still seemingly hypnotized by the dance floor.

“Get back here you!” Dash called out, galloping after Pinkie, intent on keeping Aurora for herself…at least until she could make her move… then she could hang out with anypony she wanted AND be able to brag that her marefriend was the coolest flyer in Equestria!

Aurora had begun to realize something over the last couple weeks as a mare… Being a mare in this town was a lot like being a guy on Earth. Spike had mentioned that stallions tended to garner most of the attention at clubs and bars. And while Aurora had been hesitant to believe him, she was seriously rethinking her position on the matter. It had taken WAY more time than it should have for her to get the bartender to refill her drink. And at least three stallions managed to get served before her when they’d showed up AFTER her!

“Great… I’m turning bitter…” She said, rolling her eyes and frowning at herself. “I swear, after this stupid spell wears off, the first thing I’m doing is going to a club and buying every mare a drink…”

A sudden change in the music caused her to look towards the dance floor, where a couple of Earth Pony mares were dancing… At least, it looked like dancing… but it was a lot more intimate than she’d thought was possible with an equine form… and she wasn't exactly sure it was legal to perform in public…

At least it looks more tame than some of the stuff on Earth… part of her thought, And hey, is it a bit warm in here?

I don’t think so, Another part of her chimed in, But do you feel that? Feels like a draft almost…

Aurora was jolted out of her thoughts by a giant pair of blue eyes taking up the entirety of her perception.

“Ahhh!” she screamed, dropping her drink, the only thing keeping it from shattering on the ground a pink hoof catching it in mid fall.

“What was that about buying mares drinks?” Pinkie asked, smiling as she stood back up eye to eye with Aurora, the drink now somehow balanced on top of her head. “You know, here in Ponyville, we don’t usually make the pony we’re buying the drink for catch it. But this is okay too!”

“Pinkie! You almost gave me a heart attack!” Aurora scolded, torn between anger at being startled, and laughing at the bizarre ease with which her friend was balancing a drink on the wild tangles and curls of her hair…

“Sorry Rory, but I saw you over here and I just thought, ‘gee, she looks like she could use a friend right about now’ and here I am!” Pinkie said, hugging Aurora tightly, and drawing the attention of just about everypony in a twenty foot radius.

“Pinkie Pie!” Rainbow Dash yelled, getting the attention of anypony NOT already staring at the three friends, “I told you to keep your hooves off my date for tonight!”

“Not my fault you left her unattended Dashie!” Pinkie said cheerfully, sweeping Aurora off her hooves and zipping over to the dance floor. Seriously, HOW THE HAY DID THAT DRINK NOT SPILL AT ALL?!

“Uhhh… Pinkie… what are you doing?” Aurora asked, looking around to see almost every eye in the club on them and Rainbow seemingly too stunned to react for a bit.

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m kidnapping you for a dance silly!” the pink ball of energy replied. If it weren’t for the fact that she was always cheerful and meant well, Aurora could swear some of this was malicious…

“I don’t really know how to WOAH!” Aurora began to say, before Pinkie pulled her up onto just her back hooves, pressing their bodies together and almost looking like she was about to start a tango. But that was impossible right?

The music somehow switched over to a distinctly Latin flavor, and Pinkie began taking the lead, spinning and dipping Aurora so quickly and skillfully that she was starting to get dizzy and lightheaded.

“You’re really good at this.” Pinkie commented, her usually energetic voice dropping to a sultry tone as she leaned in and purred in Aurora’s ear. “Most ponies don’t know how to dance like this… but I like it… it’s so intimate. So passionate…”

Before she could say another word, Rainbow swooped in and yanked Pinkie off of her, letting Aurora drop back to all four hooves on the floor.

“Pinkie! Cut it out! I’m the one that asked Aurora out tonight, she said yes, let us have our date in peace okay!” Rainbow said, chewing out the party pony, who kept glancing between Dash and Aurora, who was looking on anxiously.

“But that’s not fair Dashie!” Pinkie whined, her expression getting serious. “Friends share, and it’s no fair keeping Rory all for yourself.”

“I keep telling you Pinkie, if she wants to hang out with you, or you want to invite her on a date YOU set up, go for it. But don’t interrupt MY date with her just because you can’t wait!”

“Is anyone gonna ask how I feel about this?” Aurora chimed in, Rainbow and Pinkie both looking at her for a second before going back to glaring at each other.

“Pinkie, I love you like a sister, you’re practically my best friend, but you’re seriously starting to get on my nerves. Just please, all I’m asking is for a chance to show Aurora a good time.” Rainbow said, trying to reason with the pink baker.

“But that means she might fall for you and then you two will be super special friends that are more than friends and I’ll start to see less of you two like how we never see Fluttershy or Big Mac anymore, and that’s the worst thing that could ever happen!” Pinkie retorted, panicking in that way that made everypony around her wonder if she might have accidentally gotten into any strange powders recently…

“Pinkie, even if me and Dash were dating, which we’re not…” Aurora began to say, putting awing around her friend comfortingly, missing the look of dismay that flitted across Rainbow’s face, “We wouldn’t be hanging out any less...”

Pinkie sniffled for a second, looking up at Aurora, “You- you mean it Rory?”

“Of course I mean it Pinkie. You’re the first pony I really met from Ponyville, even if you did attack me and Luna with a cannon, and that’s a special kind of bond right there. Besides, I work in the same place you do, and if I was going to be dating anypony, they’d obviously have to come by the shop sometime. So don’t worry about seeing any less of anypony.”

“You know, that actually makes some kind of sense…” Rainbow chimed in, prodding the grey and pink ponies off the dance floor and back over towards the bar. “Although, I don’t like how you’re just flat out cutting me off like that Aurora.”

“What do you mean Dash?” Aurora asked, confused, “You invited me here so you could get in the door cheaper, right? It’s not like this is a real date…”

Before Dash could speak up and tell Aurora how she really felt, how she wasn’t just another bit of fun for the aspiring Wonderbolt… How she actually felt a connection, and felt like she could be herself, without all the boastful attitudes and fronts she put on for everypony else… She felt like she could be vulnerable around the grey Pegasus… before she could say any of this, a thick, familiar accent cut through the din of the surrounding atmosphere.

“Now what in tarnation is goin’ on with you three?” Applejack asked, seeming to materialize behind the bar, looking at all three of her friends skeptically. “Ah gotta say Aurora, when ya told me that Dash was takin’ ya to a club, Ah thought she’d at least go somewhere else besides a filly fooler bar… About as subtle as Big Mac comin’ down the stairs there Dash.”
“What? Filly-fooler bar?” Aurora asked before being pushed aside by Rainbow, who was now blushing madly and glaring at the orange Earth Pony.

“Mind your own business Applejack!” Rainbow said, her anger putting her on the defensive immediately. “And what are you doing here anyway? Stalking us? I seem to recall that you were one of the ones that wanted to leave her alone until she got all settled into town. Why the sudden interest?”

“What?! Ah’ll have you know that the Apple family supplies most of the clubs and bars in town with hard cider in the Spring, and Ah was just makin’ a delivery. But Ah suppose other ponies workin’ is something ya don’t know too much about considerin’ that Ah only ever see ya takin’ naps in mah apple trees!” Applejack shot back, blushing at the implication that she was interested in Aurora in more than a friendly sense. “And if Ah were interested in Aurora as more than friends, Ah’d make a move just as easily as yer goin’ about it. But Ah’d have the decency ta treat her to a real date, not just the local ‘fooler’ bar!”

“Oh yeah?! That’s some big talk coming from somepony that’s too afraid to admit that she’s attracted to the new pony on the block, let alone do anything about it!” Dash retaliated, playing on Applejack’s bluff.

“I think it is!” Dash replied, “And I don’t know you’d even bother, because I’m the one that’s gonna swoon her off her hooves! Right Aurora?”

When no answer came, both ponies looked over to see Pinkie Pie staring at the entrance to the club, and no Aurora…

“Buck! Where’d she go?!” Dash exclaimed, jumping into the air to hover and try to spot her somewhere in the bar.

“Ah wouldn’t waste mah time looking around here RD…” Applejack said, her brow furrowing with worry. “Ah wouldn’t be surprised if she decided ta split after seeing us act like that… We gotta learn not ta get competitive over EVERY little thing…”

“Yeah…” Dash admitted, “Sorry about saying some of that stuff AJ… I just really, really like this one, and the last time I went out with anypony, it didn’t end well… I’m really hoping that she’s the one, you know?”

“Ah know Rainbow… Heck, Ah’d be lying if Ah said Ah wasn’t interested in her too… Plus, she goes back to being Orion in a few weeks, and that ain’t exactly a downside… Still, we shouldn’t let anypony get in the way of our friendship. What do ya say Dash, truce?” Applejack replied, holding out her hoof for Rainbow to bump.

“Yeah AJ, we’re cool…” Dash said calmly, before leaning in with that competitive glint in her eye once again, “But I still say that this one’s gonna be mine.”

“Oh yer on missie… But no interfering with each other. We gotta respect Aurora just like any other pony with feelings, and her decision is final. We clear on that?”

“Now we just gotta figure out where in Equestria she went off to!” Applejack said, ending their little parlay and looking around the dimly lit club, which was almost full to capacity at this point. eventually, her eyes were drawn to a certain party pony sitting on the ground and looking back and forth from Rainbow to Applejack, as if waiting for round two to begin...

“Oh! Was she supposed to stay here?” Pinkie asked, noticing Applejack's attentive gaze, and pulling Aurora’s soda off the top of her head and taking a sip.

“That would have been great if she did, yeah.” Dash answered, trying not to get frustrated with the pink pony of antiphysics.

“Whoopsie… I thought we were all done hanging out with her for tonight… She seemed to be getting tired anyway.”

“Now sugarcube, Ah’m not gonna get upset, but what do ya mean ya thought we were done hangin’ out with her?” AJ asked, leaning over the bar and doing her best to stay calm.

“Well, you two were arguing, I was watching you, and Aurora was talking to this other pony that came up, and they were laughing, then the other pony said something about going to bed, which was good, because Aurora seems really tired, so they left. I guess they’re gonna have a sleepover or something. I just remember being really impressed because usually I have to have been friends with somepony for like, at least a week, before we have a sleepover.” Pinkie answered, babbling away as Rainbow Dash and Applejack looked at each other with mutual expressions of shock and worry and horror.

“Pinkie!” Dash exclaimed, “We need to go find Aurora NOW before something bad happens!”

“What could happen Dashie?” Pinkie asked, “They were just gonna go for a sleepover…”

“That probably ain’t the kind of sleepover either you or Aurora have in mind.” Applejack said seriously, jumping the bar and leading her friends through the crowd. “Now we gotta hope we get to em in time… Luna knows what an innocent thing like Aurora’s gonna think when they get to wherever they’re goin’…”

“I’m glad you decided to come with me…” Daisy said, “I have to admit, I’ve been feeling kind of down lately, and I feel like you’re just the mare to help me feel better…”

“Oh it’s no problem at all!” Aurora replied happily, “I was hoping to relax a bit tonight anyway, and that wasn’t gonna happen in that crowd… so it’s kind of like you knew exactly what was on my mind when you said you knew somewhere less crowded.”

“Oh trust me sweetie, my place is nice and quiet… and we can get to know each other a bit better while we’re there too… sound nice?” Daisy asked, twining her tail around Aurora’s, the move not even registering on Aurora’s radar.

“Sounds good to me… I like learning more about others when the chance arises.” Aurora replied, tiredly, the weariness in her voice ringing in Daisy’s ears as an almost lustful tone.

“Oh don’t worry sweetie… you’ll get to learn all kinds of things about me… maybe even yourself too…”

Apple of My Eye

by musicalreader

Plot Development... (HA!)