//------------------------------// // 3: A Unicorn Thing [Comedy] [Romance] // Story: Thirty Days, Thirty Twilights // by Esle Ynopemos //------------------------------// ((Prompt: Applejack walks in on a romantic moment between Twilight and Rarity.)) “...So you see, darling, it is utterly impossible for you to have seen what you think you just saw.” Rarity brushed an unusually disheveled lock of her usually impeccable mane out of her face with a hoof. She frowned and looked around herself. “Where did I put my brush?” Twilight Sparkle tapped her on the shoulder from behind with the object. Her cheeks were flushed dark red. “It fell off the bed when we...” “When we were having that completely normal, friendly discussion,” Rarity quickly finished for her, “yes, thank you.” She took the hairbrush in her magic and got to work untangling the snarl her mane had become. Applejack cocked her eyebrows. “Discussion?” she asked incredulously. “I didn't see much of anythin' bein' discussed, 'less y'all were usin' Morse with your tongues or somethin'.” Slung over her shoulders, forgotten, she still had the torn overalls she had brought to Carousel Boutique to see if Rarity was available to mend them. “I have already told you, dear,” said Rarity, wincing as she tugged at a knot. “That was a unicorn thing. Twilight, back me up, please.” Twilight pointedly avoided eye-contact. “Yes,” she said quietly. “It, uh, stimulates bloodflow to the horn.” “I reckon there was blood flowin' to all sorts of parts,” Applejack said. Twilight sank into the bed, burying her face in the pillows. Rarity's mane started to resemble the shape it usually held. “Listen, darling. If, hypothetically, there were any truth at all to these crass assumptions you seem ready to leap to, have you any idea of the scandal it would cause? Twilight is a newly-made member of royalty. I am, as you are as well, one of the mares who helped to get her there. I can only imagine the kinds of nasty rumors that would start flying if word got out!” She leaned in close to Applejack and dropped her voice to a conspiratorial tone. “So you understand that it's better for everypony if you just don't tell anypony about what you saw here, right? Nopony needs to be confused by stories of something that, like I explained, didn't happen.” Her eyes shifted to the overalls and she put on a quick smile. “And in the meantime, I am sure I can get those fixed up for you, completely free of charge.” Applejack's eyes narrowed. “You tryin' to bribe me, Rarity?” She glanced back at the old denim on her shoulders. “Are you tryin' to bribe me with overalls?” Rarity pulled back. “W-why, of course not,” she sputtered. “I was just, you know, implying that since we're all friends here, and friends do things for each other...” Applejack huffed and pushed past her to meet eyes with Twilight. “Twi, hon?” Twilight looked up at her guiltily. Applejack gave her a kind smile. “You don't need to worry, hon. Whatever Rarity was or wasn't gonna offer,” she shot a glare Rarity's way, “I wasn't plannin' on tellin' anypony what I saw. I'm honest, but that don't mean I don't recognize when somethin' ain't my place to tell.” Twilight shook her head. “You can tell if you want, Applejack.” Rarity squeaked. “Twilight, what are you—” Twilight brushed a hoof on Rarity's cheek. “I love you, Rarity,” she said. “I don't want to hide that. Not anymore.” “But the scandal...” Rarity protested. Twilight gave her a sly grin. “Well, maybe we'll just have to do something worth starting a scandal over.” Applejack coughed into her hoof, backing quickly out of the room. “I think I'm gonna go, before I end up witnessin' more, uh, 'unicorn things.'” “Mmh,” responded Rarity. “Leave the overalls on my desk downstairs. I'll get to them in an hour... oh!” Twilight drew a pleased noise from her. “Maybe more like two or three...”