//------------------------------// // Chapter Seven - One Way to Cap Off An Evening // Story: The Sweetest Cider is Diamond White // by Casper B. Wordsmith //------------------------------// The first streaks of the palest blue and orange tinged the new dawn sky by the time that the shindig inside the dress shop had begun to wind down. The music – once so earsplitting – had descended to a mere hum in the background. Conversations that were previously so lively had now grown quieter and more intimate. Indeed, almost everypony could be considered to have 'coupled up' on first impressions. Not everypony had however found themselves in close quarters with another. The major exception to the rule was that the hostess and the guest of honour were – to all intents and purposes – alone. In spite of both Rarity and AJ's private vows to declare undying love for one another during the course of the evening, both ended the night observing how the successful in the romantic sphere segregated themselves to a minor yet noticeable extent. The nervous tension between the two was palpable – so much so that even Octavia and Bon Bon (the least inclined to inquire into other ponies' private affairs) remarked upon the curious state of affairs. To Pinkie Pie's eternal credit she kept her otherwise over-active mouth firmly shut as she had promised Rarity, a fact which pleased and relieved the anxious unicorn. This oddness was not helped by the fact that both parties persistently seemed to shun the others' company in a room where everypony else was off in a grouping of sorts. Rainbow Dash (still somewhat dazed by the display of desire visited upon her previously) lay in Pinkie Pie's lap drifting in and out of consciousness, almost perfectly mirroring the musical duet of Vinyl Scratch and Octavia across from them. Fluttershy had long since surrendered to slumber and rested her head against Big Macintosh. Lyra and Bon Bon had slunk off into a corner and fully abandoned any sense of etiquette with increasingly nauseating displays of bleary-eyed public affection. Even Twilight Sparkle and Cheerilee were huddled together in one of the corners chatting quietly. It seemed that Spike's dilemma over his oldest friend's apparent interest was simple enough to resolve – it was the mere drunken longing of her libidinous side, seeing how her eye quickly wandered once Spike had keeled over and blacked out following one slammer too far. Both Applejack and Rarity kept active and apart however, constantly wandering around and performing menial tasks such as clearing bottles and glasses away or drinking even more to try and settle the hornets' nests that took the place of the traditional butterflies. Much of their thought at this time was occupied with how to declare their love to one another. Such a process seemed to be made more difficult by the still-lingering preconceptions both held in regards to the other's notions of romance. AJ was inexperienced in affairs of the heart. She had always believed that she had never the time nor patience for such trivial pursuits. Not to mention that romance and all its' supposed trappings seemed infinitely too feminine and phony to her. All she wished she could do was walk up to Rarity, look her in the eye and tell her in the plainest verse possible that she loved her. Simple as that. 'Y'all know ya can't do that,' hissed the increasingly impatient voice in her head. Applejack reluctantly agreed with this thought. It was no secret that Rarity was one of the last of the hopeless romantics. She was well-versed in the works of Immortal Bard. Her music collection consisted mainly of power ballads and songs sung by mares written apparently for the sole purpose of bringing the listener to tears. 'Hay, her favourite damn holiday is Hearts and Hooves Day!' the voice crowed, further consigning any notions of a simple confession to history. Such a simple expression would not win her beloved's heart. This would take something a little more elaborate and idyllic than AJ was used to. Rarity on the other hand knew everything there was to know about romance. Her whole purpose in life was to find the pony of her dreams and live as the princesses in her fillyhood stories had done. Not even her passion for fashion could eclipse the deepest desire burning within her to find that happily ever after. Granted that for the longest time she had believed that only a stallion of such social standing as the loathed Prince Blueblood could ignite that flame, but her necessity to woo (or be wooed by) that one kindred spirit with unbridled affection stood resolute even with the discovery that she loved one of her own gender. 'Don't be absurd,' chuckled her subconscious, 'This is Applejack we are talking about. Applejack!' She sighed as she loathingly accepted this unfortunate truth. If there was one pony in the whole of Equestria that would detest a grandiose announcement of fondness it was Applejack. She was unflinchingly simple – indeed it was one of the aspects of her personality that Rarity loved the most. Unfortunately every scenario that she had conjured up would likely intimidate or alienate AJ. Toning it down would be the only way to convey what she felt and not chase the cowpony off. “How am I going to do that?” both ponies whispered. To the casual observer it could be said that the utterance was in near perfect unison. ********** A loud snore woke the pair of ponies from their troubled thoughts. Indeed, everypony in the room turned to face the source of the unnaturally loud noise – none other than the elegant and graceful Fluttershy who had buried her face even deeper in her coltfriend's shoulder. A low, slow-burning chuckle reverberated around the room. “I would think that now would be an opportune time to head to bed,” Octavia whispered, careful not to wake the drooling DJ soundly asleep in her forelegs. Cheerilee stifled a yawn.“Yeah, I think now would be a good time to head for home,” she said to a barely hidden moan of despondency from Twilight Sparkle. In a typically overblown fashion, Rarity protested. “At this hour? I couldn't possibly allow that! I'm sure I have some spare bedding, and I'd be positively insulted if you were to leave now,” the unicorn pouted. With that expression not a single pony would dare question or refuse her demands – a fact further established by everypony's nods of approval, reluctant or otherwise. As Rarity walked towards the storage cupboards in the back of the shop, she was struck by an idea of such brilliance that she questioned how she couldn't have possibly come across it before. With a little trouble – due to the incalculable number of drinks she had sank that night having a slight effect on her magical ability – Rarity had fetched blankets and pillows galore and doled them out to everyone present who took advantage of the plentiful comfortable spots and lay down for the night. With one omission. “Nothin' fer me Rare?” Applejack questioned jokingly, but with the tiniest noticeable twinge of unease behind it. Rarity delved deep into her reserve of acting skill to imitate a face of sheer remorse. “I'm so sorry AJ, but I seem to have run out of spares...” “That's okay sugarcube. Ah'm sure the walk back ta Sweet Apple Acres ain't too bad this time a' morn.” 'Not the reaction you hoped for, genius,' the voice in Rarity's head stated with sarcastic zest. “Wait!” Rarity exclaimed before Applejack could even take so much as a step towards the door. “We're both somewhat awake, and have experience of sharing a bed if we grow weary enough. How about you come upstairs with me?” A loud, high-pitched laugh rent the rapidly descending awkward silence in two. Rarity and Applejack's faces both shone red as they looked over at the source of the chuckle. Pinkie Pie lay still with her arms around the comatose Rainbow Dash, as if the loud laugh had come from some completely alien source. Both looked at each other a little more relaxedly than before. It seemed that the pink angel of fate had helped to shatter the sheet of ice between them. “Well, AJ?” Rarity said with the tiniest intimation of trepidation. “Ah... ah'd love ta.” AJ said breathlessly, taking the unicorn's offered arm jokingly and marching up the stairs. 'Subtlety certainly ain't ya strong point tonight,' she thought bitterly. Neither noticed the shaking figure of Pinkie Pie struggling to contain her excitement at the sudden potential turn of events. ********** The bedroom of the Carousel Boutique was tidier than usual. The dressmaking supplies and pony mannequins had been cleared away earlier in one of Rarity's fits of supposed brilliance whilst planning another way to tell a certain pony how she longed to be hers. The preparation had naturally faltered and she scrapped the idea. 'Thank Celestia for my natural sense of preparedness,' Rarity gratefully reflected whilst walking slowly into her room. Applejack followed hesitantly, her mind abuzz at the gravity of the situation. Here she was stepping into Rarity's inner sanctum. She had been here before. On that occasion it was with friends, trying their damnedest to comfort the near-hysterical fashionista. Now it was just the two of them, like all of those dress-fitting sessions before... 'Tha's all it is. Like one of them chats from before. Forget the tension,' was the calm voice that expressed her much-needed epiphany. She strode in with a new-found confidence and flounced down onto the couch in the corner. “Would madame care for a nightcap?” Rarity asked, the nerves evident in her voice. It was a little seen quality of hers that Applejack always found rather endearing. “When would ah ever refuse a drink, Marshmallow?” Rarity shivered at the mere mention of that nickname. 'Where in Luna's name did that come from? Where are all the nerves from earlier?!' Rarity thought, every bit the fearful and giddy schoolfilly that had fallen head over heels for the dreaded Blueblood. And yet, the same electricity that pulsed through her when she had recalled that very word earlier crushed any hint of worry. In Applejack she had noticed a new confidence as soon as she had crossed the threshold of her room. Perhaps Pinkie Pie was indeed right – maybe the love of her life reciprocated. Maybe all her worry had been for nothing. No matter how she said what she needed to, the orange pony reclining across the room for her would accept every word. She'd be touched by her declaration, no matter how flowery the prose or dramatic her gestures were. With that thought, the weight of the world was lifted from Rarity's delicate shoulders. “I believe this finest liqueur is around our speed, dear,” the unicorn said, reaching into a small drinks cabinet and retrieving a bottle of Gentlecolt Buck's Single Barrel Special. Applejack's eyes lit up at the sight of the exquisite hoof-blown bottle containing bourbon of the deepest mahogany. “Rarity, how in the hay did ya get this?” Applejack stammered incredulously, “This stuff's near a hundred bits a bottle!” “It's only money, AJ. And I am a pony of the most refined tastes after all.” “But ya'll don't even drink bourbon.” “Everypony should try everything once. Not to mention that it is good to have something when entertaining the most distinguished company,” Rarity said, hardly disguising the innuendo in her voice. Applejack smiled suggestively as she headed back towards the sofa whilst Rarity moved towards her gramophone. Antiquated as it was Rarity felt it possessed more gravitas than the typical modern record player. “How about some music?” the unicorn suggested, looking over at AJ with the slightest hint of seduction in her gaze. It was a look that made Applejack struggle to contain the mildest nerves lurking below her recently acquired confidence. “If ya'll wish it so.” Rarity turned her back to the sofa and rifled through her record collection, grinning as she whipped out albums of Prince Soul and Doctor Love. Music sure to stir even the heart ('and loins,' her conscience muttered in a salacious tone) of even the most emotionless of ponies she speculated, starting up a record and walking slowly to her would-be inamorata. ********** It was just like old times. They chatted of days gone past, of the hilarity of the evening. Particular time and detail was spent on their recollections of Twilight Sparkle and the smooch between Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash. As much as Rarity wished to press the issue, the topic of Fluttershy and Big Macintosh's budding courtship was avoided. Nonetheless the two ponies laughed and gabbed away as if the night's drama were a mere dream. The whiskey was unlike anything Applejack had ever tasted before. Smoky and rich as all bourbon was, but with hints of more refined flavours sneaking through. Vanilla, caramel and chocolate were but a few of the tints that tickled her palate. She also swore she could make out the flavour of a particular campfire treat amidst it all. It was almost as if Celestia had enchanted the bottle to uncover the drinker's profoundest needs. The conversation came to a natural lull around the time that another song had finished. Rarity suddenly recalled a moment from earlier in the night, and felt the time opportune to test a theory she had hoped was true. With a magical flourish the record was changed to a Queenie Rosa album. “Applejack?” Rarity tenderly asked, to which Applejack nodded, “Would you... dance with me?” As the band playing through the horn of the record player started with a bombastic flourish, Rarity held out a hoof. With a hint of reluctance, AJ placed hers in the soft manicured one of her counterpart. She placed a forearm at an acceptable length from the unicorn as Queenie began to sing. “If... it... takes forever, I will wait for you.” Rarity and Applejack began to move delicately across the lilac floor of the boudoir, keeping perfect time with the piano arpeggios underpinning the slightly husky voice emanating from the record player. “So I guess my theory was true then,” Rarity murmured in a smug tone. “And what theory was that, pray tell ma'am?” responded Applejack. “That all Apple family members can dance magnificently.” Applejack blushed lightly, but still enough to illuminate her cheeks. “Yeah, ah guess we... we can,” AJ said, her voice cracking ever so slightly. Rarity felt a disturbance within her dance partner, “Something wrong darling?” A solitary tear ran down Applejack's face. “Nah. Nothin' ah wanna talk about at the moment at least...” “Till you're back beside me, Till I'm holding you...” The unicorn pulled the earth pony ever closer, embracing tenderly but never missing a beat as they drifted around the room. Rarity felt the warm cheeks against hers as she leant on Applejack. Her chin nestled into AJ's shoulders and she nuzzled the warm fur of Applejack's neck gently. The stench of whiskey from their breaths was nothing compared to that familiar, intoxicating aroma of apples that emanated from the farm-mare. The scent that drove Rarity wild. “Anywhere you wander, Anywhere you go. Every day, remember, How I love you so...” Both Applejack and Rarity pulled their heads back slightly and looked again into each others' eyes as they had resolved to do. A spark! That same spark from earlier. There was no mistaking that familiar jolt that rocked each body to its very core. The 'thunderbolt' that had struck Applejack during that fitting session so long ago, the arrow through Rarity's heart when she really looked at her companion for the very first time during that sleepover, the shudder through the two connected souls felt as they lay on the hard dirt of the Ponyville street. Not even Discord could change what they felt, what they knew. “The clock will tick away the hours, One by one.” The two ponies moved tentatively, inch by inch towards each others' muzzles... “And the time will come When all the waiting's done.” The warm, booze-soaked breaths tickled each others' cheeks... “The time when you return And find me here and run,” Their lips brushed softly, each pony trembling slightly... “Straight to my embrace, so safe from harm...” With one final push past the last lingering bastion of doubt, Applejack and Rarity pressed their lips together with equal measures of passion and pure devotion. It wasn't a drunken fumble as anypony could have imagined. Indeed the alcohol in their systems seemed to lose all effect as glee and desire filled every pore. Every nerve ending in their bodies yelled out in triumph. Both ponies rocked slightly as if a tsunami had washed over them at this electric force flowing through them. Only to come together more fiercely in a kiss neither would soon forget.