//------------------------------// // Friendly Hostess // Story: Roommates // by SoarinDash //------------------------------// "Thank you girls for coming." Rarity said softly towards all her friends. They were gathered on a picnic blanket, taking in the warm afternoon sun. Even from here, you could smell the faint scent of smoke coming from the burnt up boutique in the town square. "No problem. It's mighty unfortunate that this had to happen to ya." Applejack sighed, looking over at Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie who were rummaging through a picnic basket filled with apple tarts. "Have you worked out any plans for you two to stay with your parents?" Twilight Sparkle asked, using her magic to flip through a book. "Not yet." Rarity responded, looking down at her hooves. "Sweetie Belle is going to be so disappointed when she finds out we have to move to Fillydelphia for a few years.. I'll have to get a job to pay for a new shop, and--" Tears gathered in her eyes. How was she ever going to find a decent job in Fillydephia? How was she going to survive without her friends? "Oh Rarity.." Twilight frowned, moving closer and wrapping a hoof around her friend. "Maybe you could stay in Canterlot with Princess Celestia!" Pinkie Pie gasped, smiling sheepishly. She was obviously trying to make Rarity feel better, but it wasn't exactly working. "I wish." She responded, sighing. "I would offer you a place to stay, but.." Rainbow Dash chuckled a bit. "You can't really live on a cloud." She looked around the circle, raising her eyebrow. "Why don't one of you girls offer her a place to stay?" "Oh, I wish I could! It'd just be too cramped in such a small library." Twilight frowned. "Spike and I barely have enough space!" She turned her head towards Applejack, who was stuffing her face with a fritter. "What about you Applejack?" "Me?" Applejack swallowed shallowly, suddenly sweating nervously. Rarity at Sweet Apple Acres? Applejack would never hear the end of her whining and complaints! "Oh, Rarity wouldn't like it at Sweet Apple Acres.. Its so.." "Rustic?" Fluttershy asked. "Yeah, rustic!" Applejack agreed, laughing sheepishly. "Besides, I know she likes having her own space, and uh.. Granny Smith turned the spare bedroom into an office for the farm!" Rarity frowned a bit, making Applejack's eyes grow soft. "But uh.." She bit down on her lip, wincing a little bit. "I guess we could make room.." Rarity's eyes widened, a smile spreading across her face. She leapt up onto her hooves. "Oh Applejack!" She said, linking hooves with the pony and spinning her around. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" "Uh, yer welcome.." Applejack grinned. It made her happy to see Rarity so excited, and it would save her and Sweetie Belle from needing to move away from Ponyville.. It had to be worth it.. Right? - - - "Well, here we are!" Applejack exclaimed, as she lead Rarity and Sweetie Belle into her dusty old farmhouse. "Home sweet home." She turned towards the two. "You can go ahead and make yourselves comfortable." The old fashion wall paper, old creaky wood floors, and dusty rotten apple scented atmosphere made Rarity shutter in absolute disgust. "You have a-- um--" She cleared her throat. "Lovely home, Applejack." Just saying the words made her gag a little bit. "Where's Applebloom?" Sweetie Belle asked, bouncing in her spot. "Well she should be in her--" AJ was interrupted. "SWEETIE BELLE!" Applebloom shrieked from the hallway, making Rarity jump. Applebloom came galloping out before tackling her best friend in a hug. "This is SO excitin'! We're going to be like sisters, and we get to share a room togeder!" "I know!" Sweetie squeaked, as they ran off to Applebloom's bedroom together giggling. "Oh, I'm so happy for them." Rarity smiled softly. "Sweetie Belle is beyond thrilled to be here." "Well that's just fine and dandy!" Applejack said pleasantly, she looked over at her friend who had saddle bags strapped around her stomach. "What do you have in those?" She asked curiously. "Just a couple small things that were recovered in the fire." She said, unlatching one of the hooks. "Oh, and Opal." The cat pounced from the bag hissing. She went running over to the couch, hopping up onto it, and curling up in a fluffy white ball. "Hope you don't mind." "Oh, no, not at all." Applejack winced again. "Make sure to keep her away from Winona.. She's never really been around other small critters before." "Certainly." Rarity walked over to the couch, latching onto the cat with her magic. Opal immediately dug her claws into the couch, ripping some of the fabric as she was forced from it. "Oh dear! I'm sorry, AJ.. I'll stitch it up for you.." "No, don't worry about it Rar. We really don't mind if there's a few scratches and bumps here and there!" AJ responded, throwing a blanket over the rip. "There, problem solved! I can take yer bag for ya, if ya'd like. The bathroom is just down the hall if ya want to freshen up before dinner." "Oh, alright." Rarity responded, unlatching her saddle bags, and handing them to AJ. They walked down the hall together, parting ways as one went in the bedroom, and the other went into the bathroom. Rarity was craving a hot bath, filled with lavender scented bubbles, and a soft satan towel.. She sighed heavily, staring at the tub shower with a disgusted expression. She was supposed to use that? "Oh well.. I suppose I'll have to make due.." She whispered to herself, shutting the bathroom door and turning on the water fossett. She waited several minutes to let the water warm up, but found herself plunging into an icy cold shower. She shrieked, tumbling back out onto the bath mat in a shivering wet mess. This was going to be a long stay..