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// Epilogue 
// Story: Dirt and diamonds 
// by Starlitomega 
//------------------------------//

	“Bleugh! Yuck!” Rarity pulled her head out of a large puddle and spat out a mouthful of mud.” What in Equestria do you think you’re doing you mad mare!” She yelled angrily at the pony who had just pushed her out of the comfort of her boutique and into the pouring rain. Her answer came in the form of hoof which pushed her on her side. 

“I’m gonna get you nice and dirty, in fact, ah might not leave a single speck of white showing on yer pampered flank!” Applejack said in a menacing tone. Rarity felt her body move again as the orange mare pushed her onto her back. She stared in horror as the cowpony scooped up a hoof-full of mud and smeared it all over her pristine and white belly. 

“Whhhhhhhy! Why would you do this to meeeeeee?” the unicorn cried out in anguish as the mud stained her beautiful white coat a hideous shade of brown. “I thought we had an understanding, a connection! Whhhhhy!” 

Rarity’s cries of distress ceased as the pony above her reached into her saddlebags and pulled out a bottle with It's label facing outward so she could read it clearly. “ Diva Dee-vine’s Strawberry scented bubble bath. Escape into fruity fields of ecstasy from the comfort of your tub.” 

“Ah got the entire set earlier when ah was in town. Tha bath wash, shampoo, conditioner, bubble bath and even tha frilly spongy thingie. Ah thought we might try it out tonight, but I wanted ta make sure you were nice and dirty.” Applejack said over the rain pattering gently around them. 

“You want to take a bath? With moi?” Rarity asked. 

“Woah nelly!” Applejack yelped out as two mostly white hooves pulled her to the mud caking the orange mare in the runny brown substance. 

“You’re absolutely right darling. We can’t just waste such a wonderful product on a plain old romantic bath. How did you know I liked the smell of strawberries so much anyway?” 

“Cause ah can’t ever keep yer hooves outta mah hair when ah wash with it.”

Rarity smiled, she hadn't realized just how much she played with the rough and tumble pony’s hair. She admired a lot of qualities in her new partner, many of which she was learning for the first time since they made their relationship official three months ago, but her hair still remained in the top five. A distant peal of thunder echoed across the sky announcing to all it’s power and fury. The unicorn glanced back at Applejack looking for any sign of anxiousness or fear and found none. “I must say, you’ve made significant strides since that night I found you hiding under your blanket.”

Applejack continued staring into the sky. “Ah’d be lyin if ah said it don’t scare me. It still makes me wanna run like a filly in a haunted house, but having you by mah side means ah’m not alone anymore, and ah can face anything tha world throws my way.”

Rarity was happy. Really happy. Not like some quick burst of happiness when a Canterlot elite strolled through her door, or after one of Pinkie’s parties, she had found lasting happiness in being a solid foundation for one of the strongest ponies in Equestria, in being a rock that the cowpony could always count on. She had finally found true happiness in the mare beside her. Rising to her hooves, the unicorn pulled Applejack up and wrapped a hoof around the filthy mare. “What say we give that bath set a proper workout darling?”

“Ah thought you’d never ask.”