//------------------------------//
// Being Themselves 
// Story: Dueling Keyboards 
// by FanOfMostEverything 
//------------------------------//

Applejack smiled as she trotted about the festivities. "Another year, another Sisterhooves Social."

Alongside her, Pinkie Pie beamed. "Yeah! And this year the Crystal Tree Chest Castle Map didn't give us any mystery quests! And my sisters even came!"

"Two of 'em, at least. Shame Limestone had t' stay at the rock farm."

Pinkie scoffed. "Please. A team of Mustangians couldn't drag her away. But at least Marble came."

Applejack chuckled. "Ah know Big Macintosh is happy 'bout that." She blinked and came to a halt. "Actually, come t' think of it, Ah ain't seen either o' them since the Social started."

Pinkie hummed to herself as she moved to face Applejack. "Yeah, me neither."

After a moment, Applejack shook her head and smiled. "They're prob'ly jus' enjoyin' each other's company. Ah mean, Mac's a perfect gentlecolt."

"And Marble would never do her times tables without consulting with the pairing stone first!"

Applejack blinked. "The pairin' what now?"

"It's only one of the bestest rock farming traditions ever! When youuu..." Pinkie trailed off, eyes wide, her gaze directed off to Applejack's side.

"Pinkie?" Applejack waved a hoof in front of Pinkie's eyes, getting no response. She took a deep breath and turned, bracing herself for whatever had stunned Pinkie Pie of all ponies.

Applejack's jaw dropped. She hadn't been prepared. There was no way she could have been.

Before her was... a couple. Definitely a couple. A rather well-appointed pair at that, the stallion in a smart suit and top hat, the mare in a dress that complemented what could only be called a full figure. There was just one minor complication.

"Big Mac?" said Applejack. "Marble?"

The couple traded looks. "I'm afraid you may have us mistaken for somepony else, miss," said the suited pony, grunting out a Trottingham accent about as authentic as a mug of Flimflam cider.

"Indeed," the one in the dress said in a falsetto. "Ah fear Ah find mahself as perplexed as a carnival barker at a silent auction."

Applejack's ears flattened. "Uh, beggin' yer pardon... Cousin Orchard Blossom, Ah presume?"

Orchard Blossom nodded. "You presume correctly. May Ah in turn presume that you are mah dearest cousin Applejack?"

Applejack's mind seized up. The only response she could think of leaked out without any conscious input. "Eeyup."

"Marvelous! Ah am ever so glad to see that circumstances have not kept you from attendin' this year's Sisterhooves Social." Blossom drooped. "Ah must apologize for the spectacle Ah made of mahself last year. Ah fear mah pride got the best o' me."

After a moment, Applejack wrangled her tongue back into obedience. "Uh, no problem. Nothin' that couldn't be fixed. So, could you introduce me to yer... beau?"

Orchard Blossom gasped. "Oh, of course! How unforgivably rude of me. Applejack, this is Quartzite Stratum."

Quartzite tipped his hat. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, my good mare."

Applejack gave an uneasy nod. "Pleasure's all mine. Don't suppose yer a cousin of th' Pies?"

"Indeed. On their mother's side, a few generations removed, you see."

"Ya don't say." Applejack chewed her lip. "So, uh, supposin' a shy pony might've found a way t' come outta his shell a little, and then told his special somepony about it..." She trailed off, not sure how to bring the sentence to a close without jamming her hoof further down her throat.

Orchard Blossom raised an eyebrow. "Well, Ah don't see anythin' unreasonable in the scenario you have postulated, cousin, but Ah fail to see how it is germane to the conversation at hoof."

"Right." Applejack looked down. "Sorry."

"No worry, no worry," said Quartzite. "Interesting thought exercise, that."

"So, uh, you two get those duds at Carousel Boutique?"

Blossom nodded. "Indeed we did. Why, it was simply a privilege to retain the services of Ponyville's premiere couturier."

"Never been my bailiwick, that," said Quartzite, "but even I can tell the mare is a dab hoof with a needle and thread."

"Right. That's our Rarity. We're all real proud of her." Applejack nudged Pinkie.

Pinkie gave a stiff nod. "Mhm."

"Well, uh, we should prob'ly go find our sisters. Singin' competition's comin' up soon. Y'all enjoy yerselves."

Blossom smiled. "Why, thank you, cousin. We have every intention of doin' so. Best of luck in th' events." With that, the two of them walked onward, hoof in hoof. Applejack and Pinkie moved aside to let them pass.

As Applejack watched them go, she said, "You okay, Pinkie?"

"Am I allowed to laugh here? I can't tell."

"Neither can Ah, Pinkie. Neither can Ah."