//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: 14 Ways to Confess // by wingbeats //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash and Applejack tumbled into Rarity's boutique, arguing over who won. "Ahem! Darlings, please behave yourselves. I have a guest." Rarity interrupted their playful banter. She used her magic to move the nine chairs around. "Why are there only nine chairs Rarity? Ah thought it was a fashion show." Applejack asked, giving Rarity a quizzical look. Rarity answered quickly. "Well, I've decided to let her do a pre-show on stage, with a smaller audience. It'll help prepare her for the actual show later tonight. Actually dear, you definitely should go see her. You are family after all." "One of the Apples is a trend-settin' fashionista? Well I'll be. Ah've got ta see this!" Applejack ran towards the back of the stage to see which Apple family member had made it in the fashion world. Rainbow Dash just flapped her wings and landed on one of the seats. She hung her head and this sight was enough to catch Rarity's eye. She stopped everything she was doing to see her friend. "Rainbow Dash dear, what ever is the matter? Why, you look sadder than ever." Rainbow Dash merely looked away and sighed deeply. "She likes somepony else Rares. After everything...." "Oh dear. I'm so sorry darling but sometimes things don't always work out. " Rarity put a hoof on her shoulder "It's ok Rarity but I need to ask you something." Rainbow looked at her. "Go on" the purple-maned mare sympathetically replied. "Is it ok if I sit this one out? I really just wanna go home." Rainbow said, with pleading eyes. "Besides you know me. I'll be bored within the first few minutes." As much as the gem-obsessed mare knew the truth of that fact, she needed Rainbow Dash at the pre-show. "I know you really don't want to be here right now Rainbow Dash. And I don't blame you. But I need the support of each one of my friends for this mare model. I'm sure Applejack would appreciate it as well." Rainbow Dash sat on down on her haunches. Her loyalty for her friends was more important than her own feelings. This was going to be a long night. The nine chairs were almost occupied. The six chairs were reserved for the mane six. The other three belonged to the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who needed foalsitting since nopony would be available to watch over them. Spike would be announcing, so he would mainly be backstage or standing. Slowly, all the chairs were filled up as the pre-show was about to start. All except one. "This is so exciting! Isn't this exciting! And look I brought popcorn!" Pinkie enthusiastically said. "You know it's not a movie, right?" Twilight rolled her eyes. "I know silly. But it is a show! It's kind of like a movie". The pink pony dived her face right into the bucket of popcorn she got. "You want some Twilight? You knoooww...you gotta shaaare, you gotta caaar-" "I'll pass. Thank you for the offer Pinkie." Twilight politely declined before Pinkie broke further into the song. "Suit yourself." The pink pony repeated her earlier motion, chomping away on the popcorn. As the Cutie Mark Crusaders played loudly in their seats, Rainbow Dash scanned the room, trying find a certain orange mare. "Hey, have you guys seen Applejack?" Rainbow Dash inquired. Her seat was the only one not taken and the show was about to start. "Maybe she gets stage fright. I get stage fright all the time whenever I'm on stage." Fluttershy said in a faint voice. "But she's not even going on stage! She's supposed to be down here!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "Relax, Rainbow Dash. She's probably still catching up with her kin." Rarity explained. "Oooh the show is starting! Quiet everypony. That means you four." "Awwwww" whined the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Pinkie pie. The room darkened, with the spotlight centering on top of Spike. "Hey everypony. I am so honored to present our model of the night... the one...the only, Miss Apple Jewel!" "Apple Jewel? Who the hay is that?" whispered Rainbow Dash, looking at all her friends. "Just watch" Rarity winked. As the curtains went up, so did Rainbow's wings. "A-A-A-Applejack?" The orange mare had completely been transformed into a model. Her golden mane was in a tight ponytail, held up by a bejeweled hair tie. Her flank was covered with an emerald gown covered in white diamonds, with a pink layer under. Her chest was covered in a jade and magenta extension, which accentuated her eyes perfectly. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom squealed in awe of Applejack's gown, while Scootaloo gave her two friends a curious look. "Come on, show us your walk darling. Ta-ta" Apple Jewel (a.k.a Applejack) walked with extraordinary grace and added an exaggerated sway to her hips. She definitely was possessed both flair and style. Rainbow Dash could do nothing but stare, her eyes never leaving Apple Jewel's flank. The way Apple Jewel walked, stiffened her wings even more and suddenly caused her break out into sweat. Hot. So hot. By that time, Apple Jewel had walked to the front of the stage. Apple Jewel continued her trot as she moved to the back of the stage and swayed her behind at the audience. Then, as the song came to a close, Apple Jewel did one final pose. Her expression was too much for Rainbow Dash to handle. "Bwhahaha Applejack oh my gosh your face. Haha you have a duck-" Suddenly, a crash of lightning bolts resounded through the Boutique which had made Fluttershy and Rainbow yelp in fright. The clouds, magically powered by Rarity, began to open up as different-coloured spotlights shone on Apple Jewel. Then Applejack asked those six words. The words that crossed the line between friendship and something more. She said it to none other than her best friend and loyal rival, Rainbow Dash. "Why'd you lie?" Rainbow Dash said, a bit hurt. "Ah did not lie. I said that Ah was in love with somepony Dash. Somepony 'awesome'. Now who do ya think fits that description nicely." Applejack replied. "Hehe I guess you did give me that hint," Rainbow mentally kicked herself for not knowing the obvious. "But when did you find out?" "Well, I kinda got a hint with that letter y'wrote and when ya wrote that newspaper clippin'. But when you called me 'beautiful' at the firefly show...well, it was kinda a dead giveaway." Applejack said, with a smirk on her face. "And y'all know I couldn't let ya beat me to it." "Oh so now it was a competition huh?" Rainbow smiled, knowing that she would have done the same given the insight. "And you all were helping her?" "And you too Dashie!" Pinkie quickly responded. "When Applejack had found out" Rarity began, "She revealed her feelings about you too and she wanted in. She wanted to see if she could come up with a 'cool' and 'radical" way to ask you out. We simply helped both of you to see which one had possessed both flair and bravery to ask the other out first". "But she knew! That's totally not fair." Rainbow crossed her hooves. "Yes, but we helped you more." Twilight replied back. "And no offense, but you kinda needed it." "But but.." Rainbow Dash was silenced when Applejack nuzzled her cheek. "Why you complainin' Sugar? Ya got the mare." The cyan mare sighed and nuzzled back. "Who...who's complaining? I know I'm not." The rest of their friends looked at the two headstrong and though they were not use to them behaving so affectionately with one another, each gave their own endearing smile. "Oh I almost forgot," Twilight pulled out a bag full of bits, much to the curiosity of Applejack and Rainbow Dash, "You win Rarity. Applejack asked fir-" "Now wait just a second Twi!" Pinkie pie bounced in front of the lavender alicorn. "Rainbow Dash asked her first!" "But it was also for who had the most flair and though Rainbow Dash tried very hard, I believe Applejack's performance was more impressive." Rarity defended her stance. "Besides..." As Rarity and Fluttershy debated with the pink pony, Applejack whispered in Rainbow's ear. "So whad'ya say Sugar. Wanna sneak out the back and paint the town red?" "Eh, I think orange and blue will make it twenty percent cooler." Rainbow grinned. "Well, Sugarcube" Applejack gave her a small kiss, "After you."