//------------------------------//
// Odds are. 
// Story: Odds Are. 
// by overlord-flinx 
//------------------------------//

	The morning sun bared down on the sweet scented orchard of Sweet Apple Acres, much like every bright and beautiful morning on the farm. Each member of the Apple family was already hard at work tending to the daily duties that the farm needed. Plowing the fields, picking the apples from the trees, feeding the chickens, giving last night's dinner to the pigs; like clockwork, the three young Apples were already at work. Applejack herself was up against a tree, reaching up and plucking from the branches before dropping them down into her bucket. It was work that shed had done since she was a 'wee cow-gal', and it only got easier once she grew into a strong, tall woman. Still, straining to stretch those extra few inches on the points of her boots still happened from time to time when reaching for those apples that even the ladder couldn't reach.

As Applejack picked and plucked apples from the trees, she noticed a familiar woman walking down the road leading to the farm house. Applejack gave a small toss of her last apple to a bucket down below before cupping her hands together for a makeshift megaphone. "Rarity!" She shouted over the apple trees, making the girl in the road pause for a second.

Dressed in all white and sporting a clean tie back to her purple hair, Rarity turned to look over at where she heard the sound. For a moment, Rarity scoured looks this way and that, all through the thick orchard acres before her looking for who called for her. With a playful roll of her eyes, Applejack dropped off from the tree she was picking from and brushed herself off before walking over to meet Rarity. The moment Rarity spotted Applejack walking over to her, she clapped her hands together and smiled brightly. "Oh! Applejack. I'm surprised I couldn't manage to put a name to the voice right away," Rarity half-joked while she took a second to study her friend's clothes, "...Those are certainly interesting work clothes."

Applejack had to look at her own clothes after that remark, smiling a little sheepishly when she took them in herself. Her usual orange shirt was covered by a loose brown vest, and she was wearing a rather shoddily put on tie that tucked between her chest. "Ah. Well... Ya' know. Just tryin' somethin' new is all," Applejack scratched at her cheek nervously, "Anyhow... What brings y'all round here so early?"

Rarity pulled up on the bag hanging from her shoulder slightly before continuing her smile at Applejack. "It certainly suits you. And I just thought I would pay a visit. Truth be told, business at the boutique has been slow... The good thing about that is that I have more free time to spend with friends," Rarity's admitted with an offhanded wave.

The news sank awkwardly to Applejack, making her shift from one heel to the other while she bit slightly into her bottom lip. "That so? Well, always glad ta' see ya, y'know?" Applejack gave an anxious scratch to the back of her neck, unsure of what to say, "But hearin' bad business ain't never good to hear... 'Specially from a friend."

Rarity herself allowed a slight somber slip into her expression, but did not let her smile fade. She huffed a small sigh and took a few pacing steps over to a nearby fence, leaned over it, and looked out over Sweet Apple Acres' wide apple orchard. "You're right, of course. I am happy I have more free time... But I do wish the boutique was getting more business. I'm sorry, Applejack. I should head back and see if I can work up some business," Rarity shook her head in an attempt to knock off any of her doubts before standing back up.

Before Rarity could take a step off down the road, Applejack grabbed at her shoulder and held her still. "Ho-now! Let's keep ourselves holstered, Missy!" chuckled Applejack as she reeled her friend back in, "Now I didn' say all that. I said hearin' bout bad business was a shame."

"Technically, you didn't say that either..." Rarity pointed out offhandedly.

"Regardless," Applejack quickly brushed the comment off before turning Rarity around to look her in the eye, "I can think back on time an' time again that Sweet Apple Acres didn't have anyone buyin' anything from us. Hard times... But, ya'know what? Hard times? They happen. Fallin' off a ladder? Sprainin' your tail when you fall flat on yer' ass? Eatin' a wormy apple? All tough on ya'... But they all just happen. Can't rightfully avoid'em without avoidin' life around ya'. So your business ain't doin' so good? Take a few off an' lay back in the hay!" Applejack blinked a moment, studying Rarity up and down before snickering, "Or whatever it is y'all do when you relax. The shop'll be there tomorrow, right? Go ahead an' take the day to hang out with yer' friends. I sure don't mind the company."

What Applejack said sat in Rarity's head for a second, making her smile a bit clearer when it all sank in. Rarity put one of her own hands on Applejack's shoulder in return and shook her head at her farm-grown-friend. "Applejack... Thank you. Maybe I do need to remove myself from a little ugly turn out at the shop and just relax."

"Great ta' hear!" Suddenly, Applejack shoved a bucket into Rarity's chest and began to walk back to the orchard. Rarity fumbled with the bucket for a second, surprise in her eyes before looking very confused at Applejack. Applejack turned a devious look to Rarity and snickered. "If'n you're not too busy at your shop and you're fixin' to spend time here... Maybe you can lend a hand pickin' some apples?"

As Applejack hopped back to work, picking apples and dropping them down to buckets at the foot of the trees, Rarity groaned but kept a pleased smile to her before joining her friend in picking apples.