Rarity was busy at work, creating a new fashion. The familiar shimmer of her baby-blue magic illuminated her pure white horn.
"Hmm, what would look best on this dress?" Rarity thought aloud. She skimmed the room for something fabulous, then stopped in her tracks and magically picked up the pink roll of ribbon she needed. "Perfect!"
The bell above her door rang and Applejack stepped through. "Howdy, Rarity. We still goin' to the park today with the Crusaders?"
Rarity shook her head no as she trotted towards her desk, where her sewing machine was. "The pegasus weather team has scheduled a storm. I don't want to bring them home drenched, and not to mention that my mane will pay the price, too."
"Oh, alright." Applejack looked over at the work set up on Rarity's desk. "What're you makin'?"
"Oh, it's just a casual dress. I plan to wear it tonight."
"Tonight?"
"I'm going speed-dating later, after the storm is over. I've got to look my best, obviously."
Applejack gasped. The very thought of attempting to be in a committed relationship with another pony was shocking. It may be fine for Rarity, but sometimes AJ felt like Rarity had been rather desperate lately. "Rarity, yer better than that. You got a job, you got friends, yer fine on your own. Most colts 'round here are taken or just good-fer-nothin' jerks. Or both."
"I'm going speed-dating in Canterlot, where only the best colts are."
AJ scoffed. "You can't be serious. Canterlot folks are all rich 'n snobby." Applejack tucked her tail under her back legs and took a seat.
"That's just a petty stereotype," Rarity replied, keeping her eyes on the sewing machine. The sound of her voice drowned out the humming of the machine. "I don't really care about money. He has to have a good and generous heart. That's all I need."
She finally lifted her hooves from the fabric and sat down next to Applejack. "Like I was telling you, Applejack, you're only so skeptical of me because you've never been in a relationship yourself. I've been through a lot of bad dates, and I hope to have luck tonight. It's been three weeks of speed-dating and I'm still single. It's an awful lot of commitment," Rarity explained, pouting a bit.
"But while you're speed-datin', you only get about thirty seconds to talk to this guy who may'r may not be your dream colt! How're you gonna know for sure if you only get so long?"
Rarity shrugged. "I guess it just depends on his personality. Like I said, generosity and kindheartedness is key. And if somepony is like that, you'll see it before they even say a word."
"Besides," Applejack continued, raising her voice, "Ah can't imagine havin' my head in the clouds over some new colt when Ah've got work to do! Family to support! If Ah'm always runnin' off with him for dinner dates and movies, Ah'll never have a second to mahself!"
"I never thought about it that way. I guess, as long as he's not insistent on getting in the way of important things, then he's a keeper. If he's getting in the way of chores and work, then he's just selfish and needy. I hate needy colts."
Applejack sighed. "But Ah just don't see the point. Ah'm just not that kind of pony," she explained. "Ah've got an awful lot 'a work to do around the farm, and Ah can't just stop apple-buckin' when he invites me to dinner."
"But you could date on the side," Rarity remarked. She stood up to close her window.
"Ah guess yer right," AJ replied.
"It's raining now." Rarity sighed a bit. "Are you going to stay here? Maybe go speed-dating with me tonight?"
"Alright. Ah mean, it'll give me somethin' to do."
Rarity went back to sewing her dress. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Applejack stand up and head towards one corner of the room. "Are you looking for a dress, too?"
Applejack nodded and stuck her nose in a box.
Rarity smiled. "Well, go ahead, try them on."
Without hesitation, Applejack began to shuffle through the box. She tossed a few garments behind her, some too frilly, others too ordinary. She pulled on a silky brown dress that caught her eye. It didn't really seem like something that Rarity would wear or sell, but Applejack loved how comfortably this dress fit; the style of the dress was almost like pajamas. "Rarity, Ah think Ah've found one!"
Rarity stepped out from behind her purple room divider, wearing the new dress that she had just finished. She looked stunning. She turned her attention towards Applejack, her eyes widening. "That is...absolutely dreadful!"
"Whaddaya mean?" Applejack asked, looking down. "It's really comfy. Nice an' roomy, too. What's wrong with it?"
"Dreadful!" Rarity repeated. She stuck her hoof in the back of the dress and examined the tag. "Thankfully it's not a Carousel Boutique original, or I'd be in deep trouble!"
"It isn't?" AJ asked.
"No. Ah, now I remember. I bought it on sale to use the fabric as a trim," Rarity responded, immediately gaining a calm demeanor. "Take that off and change into something more...you."
"Alright," Applejack said once she was in a more stylish dress. It was unfortunate that she was forced to abandon what could have been the most comfortable thing ever, but this dress looked a lot better on her. "So what're we gonna do 'round here?"
Rarity grinned deviously as she pulled out a container of eyeshadow with her magic. "Makeup time!"
Applejack groaned and dramatically gestured to her face. "No thanks. This face has always been natural."
"Oh, come on, Applejack. You've got to cover those horrible white blotches on your face!" Rarity cried, pointing to Applejack's freckles. "And don't get me started on those huge oily pores!"
Before Applejack could respond, Rarity began to cover Applejack's face in a thin layer of concealer that matched her orange tone. AJ's freckles had been covered completely, as well as her actual blemishes. Her eyelids were soon covered in a dusty layer of orange-brown eyeshadow that matched her new dress to a T.
Applejack turned to see her face in the mirror. "Hey, Ah don't look half bad."
"We should go ahead and catch the train," Rarity said, grabbing her purse. "Romance waits for nopony!"
On the train, Applejack leaned back and played with the split ends of her loose ponytail. Rarity, who was sitting right next to her, could only watch, horrified, as the uneven blonde mane was balanced between two orange hooves. Applejack hardly took care of herself, and if she was willing to commit herself to a relationship, she had to start somewhere.
"Applejack!" Rarity shouted suddenly, startling the orange pony. "Come over here!"
Applejack moved closer. "What is it?"
Rarity pulled out some hair styling tools from her bag: a comb, hairbrush, and a set of scissors.
Applejack gasped. "Rarity, you ain't cuttin' off mah mane. Not today, not ever!" She began to lean against the window of the train nervously, knocking her cowgirl hat from her head.
"It has to be done," Rarity replied, sounding a bit like a serial killer from a horror movie. "I can't have you running around Canterlot with those horrific split ends. Now, this won't hurt one bit."
Rarity loosened Applejack's already-loose side ponytail, pulling on the red ribbon that held it in place. Blonde hair spilled out and Rarity began to snip the split ends off. Applejack screamed, or at least let out a slight sound of discomfort, but soon realized that getting her mane cut didn't hurt. Hair clippings trickled down Applejack's back, tickling her and making her chuckle a bit.
"You see?" Rarity asked, handing Applejack a mirror. "Your mane looks good."
Rarity began to brush Applejack's tangly hair. This time, the farm girl actually let out a scream. Other ponies riding the train turned to see Rarity pulling at AJ's mane painfully.
Rarity let out a nervous giggle. "Hair-mergency, you know," she commented. She then turned back to taming the wild hair-beast with her hairbrush.
After about three minutes of Applejack's suffering, her hair was finally smooth and tangle-free, just like Rarity's. It even shined. Rarity pulled Applejack's mane into a higher ponytail.
"There. Now you look unique and fabulous!" Rarity exclaimed as she put her hair care products back in the bag.
"We're here!" Rarity exclaimed as she led Applejack off the train.
"So where're we goin' for the speed-datin'?" Applejack asked.
Rarity gestured to a small cafe with highly sophisticated ponies entering and exiting. Outdoor dining tables and chairs were outside, many occupied by high-society ponies munching on delicious food.
The two ponies stepped into the cafe and took a seat. A "Speed-Dating Here!" sign appeared with numbered tables for certain speed-dating tables. Rarity seated Applejack at a table by herself, then sat down at a table near her. A timer began, and stallions began sitting down at different tables. A yellow stallion with a reddish-brown mane sat down at Applejack's table.
"Oh, howdy," she greeted.
"Hello," he replied vainly, rubbing a hoof through his gelled, greasy mane and grinning. "I'm a stylist."
Applejack scooted her chair back a bit; she was getting suddenly uncomfortable around him.
"Don't deny your love, baby," he cooed, moving in closer. Applejack noticed his breath smelled like something had died in his mouth, and his teeth were the exact same mustard yellow as his coat. "You're looking fabulous today."
Nervously, Applejack turned to Rarity, who was currently chatting with a kind blue stallion. Rarity made the cutthroat gesture to Applejack, as if to say "Stop the date yourself if you don't like it."
Applejack mimicked a beeping noise. "Your time's up."
The stallion moved back. "I didn't like you that much anyway. Your hair only shines because it's oily," he groaned, trotting away.
The actual timer beeped and Applejack let out a sigh of relief. She leaned back in her seat as the next stallion, a tall unicorn, sat down. He looked kindhearted, with a tousled, shaggy strawberry-blonde mane and sweet brown eyes. "Hi."
There was no need for conversation. Applejack had found her match. "H-howdy." She grinned, still leaning back in her chair.
"So, what's your name?" he asked her. His teeth were perfect and white, and his breath smelled of fresh mint leaves, unlike the last stallion Applejack had talked to.
"Ah'm Applejack," Applejack replied, playing with her mane.
"My name is Heart Cross. So, how'd you end up here?"
"My friend suggested it," AJ replied.
"Ah. My friend brought me here, too. He's right over there." Heart Cross gestured to a finely-dressed purple stallion chatting with a gray pegasus who wore a blue bubble dress. The two looked like they were really in love.
The timer went off, legitimately. Heart Cross stood up. "Looks like I've got to go."
"Wait! Stay, please. Ah think Ah've found my match!"
Heart Cross paid for dinner, despite the insistence of Applejack.
"I'll cover the bill," he had told her. "It's the least I could do for such a beautiful mare." Applejack had, oddly enough, blushed after hearing this.
"Your dinner." A unicorn stallion holding up two plates with his magic set them on the table. Applejack had ordered a salad, Heart Cross a veggie burger.
Applejack took a big bite of her salad. "Mmm, this is really...mmm...good..." she said with a full mouth.
Heart Cross laughed as he picked up his burger with his magic. "You sure eat a lot for such a little filly," Heart Cross commented.
Applejack nodded and swallowed, then shoved another big bite into her mouth. Heart Cross smiled and began to eat his burger.
"So, whaddaya say we order dessert?" Applejack asked after she had swallowed.
"Uh, my wallet's not feeling it tonight," Heart Cross replied sadly. The corners of his mouth immediately turned up. "But I do get my paycheck this weekend. Maybe I'll treat you sometime Saturday. Our second date."
"Oh. Where do you work?"
"I work in the delivery business. You know, shipping and handling. We've got a pegasus worker there who's not so good with boxes, though. She lost five deliveries just this week! Can you believe that?"
Applejack nodded. "Wow. So is she fired?"
Heart Cross shook his head. "No. She's working there for credit to get back in school. Legally she has to stay."
"And Ah imagine it's takin' her a while to get this credit?"
"Right." He grinned. "So, where do you work?"
"Ah work for my family. Sweet Apple Acres, in Ponyville. We sell apples, cider, jam, the list goes on and on and it varies by season," Applejack replied, using the business mantra often repeated by her Granny Smith. "We're a big deal," she added, winking.
"Well, I'll definitely have to check it out sometime. Sounds delicious." Heart Cross chuckled and finished his burger. He looked down at Applejack's nearly-empty salad bowl. "Are we done here?"
"Yup," Applejack replied. "You'll cover the bill?"
Heart Cross nodded and smiled. "Do you mind waiting outside?"
Applejack stood up and trotted out. "See ya later, Heart Cross!"
The waiter trotted up to the table, holding a black book. "The bill."
"The bill?" Heart Cross began. "I know just how to pay for that."
And with that, he pulled out the money he needed, plus a kind tip.
Heart Cross led Applejack to a building.
"So, where're you takin' me again?" Applejack asked.
"We're going home. As in, I would like you to see where I live," Heart Cross replied.
Applejack nodded. "Alright."
A medium-sized cottage, painted blue, with no exterior windows stood before them. Heart Cross opened the door with his magic.
"After you, Applejack." Applejack smiled and trotted through the open door, with her coltfriend following. As soon as they were both inside, Heart Cross locked the door.
Applejack chuckled nervously as she backed away. "Heh, what's goin' on? Ah'm gettin' a little scared here." She stopped trotting backwards once she hit a wall.
Heart Cross cornered her, a solemn expression on his face. "There's something you ought to know," he said finally, turning his head. "I'm a changeling."
"A changelin'? That's crazy! We wiped out those critters durin' the weddin'!" An uneasy feeling manifested in Applejack's gut. She chuckled nervously. "Heh. Right?"
Heart Cross shook his head. Green flames engulfed him. His familiar strawberry-blonde locks turned turquoise in color. He grew tattered, insect-like wings and his horn became gnarled. His cutie mark, two hearts overlapping, turned into a broken heart. His coat turned black as his hooves grew full of holes.
Applejack's jaw dropped. "Whoa. You weren't kiddin'."
"No, I wasn't. I'm the runt of the hive and I promised the queen that I would stay in Equestria to gather excess love. But she limited me three days to complete my quest. And this is just the first of many excellent meals to come!" As he cackled, his mouth opened wider, revealing two rows of white fangs shaped into a devious smile. "I'm sorry it had to end this way, Applejack," he hissed sinisterly, knocking her to the ground. Applejack began to struggle, but it was no use. Heart Cross wasn't going to let go of her at this point. Without hesitating, he began to drain the love from Applejack's body.
Tears rolled down Applejack's face. "No!" she cried weakly. "Please...stop!"
Heart Cross shook his head, unable to speak because he was feeding.
Applejack screamed again as she squirmed. "Let...go!" She began to cough violently.
Heart Cross finally closed his mouth, having drained the love from Applejack's body. He released his grip and Applejack stood up, wobbling a bit. Her green eyes were cold, emotionless. Her head was cloudy, almost like she had a cold.
"Applejack," he asked, having reverted back to his normal pony form, "are you alright?"
Applejack nodded deliriously, and Heart Cross grinned widely in return, having fulfilled his quota for the day. Two more days to go in this relationship, and then maybe, just maybe, Queen Chrysalis would think he was worth something.
Applejack was practically held captive by Heart Cross that night. She wasn't able to catch the train back home, even after regaining her strength from the feeding. The clouds in her head had cleared, and she was able to think, yet she couldn't remember exactly what happened that night. Heart Cross had pinned her to the ground after dinner, and then...what? She spent her night tossing and turning, trying to remember the exact details. But her head only grew cloudier and cloudier, as she somehow forgot every detail of the night before.
She slept a dreamless slumber on the couch, which was stiff and out of style. Rarity would have had a fit, for sure.
Rarity. She was the one who had caused this, by convincing Applejack to speed-date that night. But the pieces still weren't coming together. What was wrong with Heart Cross, to make him snap like that?
"Heart Cross?" Applejack called out, suddenly empathetic towards him. "Heart Cross, are you alright?"
Heart Cross trotted out of his bedroom, looking tired. "What is it, Applejack?" he asked. "It's the middle of the night."
"Ah just wanted to see...if you were alright?"
Heart Cross blinked. "Go back to sleep, Applejack. You've had a long night."
Applejack nodded and settled herself back into the couch. Her dreams were clear as day. She dreamed of a night unlike any other, a night of destroyed and forbidden romance. The dream had seemed oddly familiar to her, but she just couldn't put her hoof on it, unconsciously retracing every memory to find another moment like this. But there was nothing to recall, nothing to relate, nothing to compare. The dream was just so...real to her.
Almost like it had happened to her once before.
Applejack awoke, her back sore from sleeping on the stiff couch. She got up, stretched, and trotted into the kitchen to begin breakfast for Heart Cross and herself. All her shuffling around woke Heart Cross up. He trotted out of his bedroom and into the kitchen, where Applejack was cooking.
"G'mornin," AJ said triumphantly, standing by the stove.
"'Morning," Heart Cross replied. "What's cooking?"
"Grass pancakes."
Heart Cross groaned loudly.
"Somethin' wrong?" Applejack asked.
"It's nothing. I just don't like grass pancakes that much."
"Well, don't you worry your pretty head," Applejack responded. "These'll knock your socks off."
"I don't wear socks," Heart Cross replied.