//------------------------------//
// March: Dancing 
// Story: Learning 
// by Magatsu Orpheus 
//------------------------------//

March 14, Sunday

Rarity entered the Apple Family house, the creak of the old wooden door audible. As it was a Sunday (the only day that the entire Apple Family almost always wasn't working), Big Mac was sitting on the couch reading a novel, and Apple Bloom was lying on the floor drawing something. Rarity approached them, and asked, "Do you know where Applejack is?"

Apple Bloom looked up from her drawing and replied, "Probably upstairs in her bedroom."

Rarity nodded and said "Thank you."

She headed up the stairs, and stopped in her tracks when she heard Applejack's voice... singing?

She walked towards the sound, and arrived at the door to Applejack's room. The door was halfway open, enough for Rarity to see inside. And what she saw brought a smile to her face.

Applejack was dancing with a broom and singing along loudly to a record.

"I want to inspire you~! I want to be your rock, and when I talk, it lights a fire in youuuuu!"

As the record played, Rarity entered the room. "Brava! Brava!" She said, giggling.

Applejack's eyes widened, and she fumbled with the rusty old record player, turning it off quickly, blushing and stuttering.





Applejack and Rarity sat on Applejack's bed. "So, Applejack." Rarity said. "Why didn't you tell me you could dance like that?"

"Well, I wouldn't call what I did 'dancing', for one thing." Applejack said. "And even if it were, I wouldn't wanna dance in front of everypony. There's a reason you ain't seen me dance before, is all I'm saying."

Rarity was silent for a moment. "Well, nopony's watching right now."

Applejack looked at her like she'd just said the sky was orange. "Uh, sugarcube... you are."

Rarity blushed, and waved her hoof. "Ah, yes, that is true..." She cleared her throat. "What I meant was..." She levitated a record onto the record player, before getting up from the bed and offering her hoof. "Dance with me."

Applejack stared at Rarity's hoof for a moment, before grasping it with her own and getting up from the bed as well. 

They stared into each other's eyes as they began dancing. Left hoof, right hoof. Left hoof, right hoof.

Rarity smiled at Applejack, and Applejack smiled back.





They danced for a good while, twirling and stepping around and flailing their hooves. Then suddenly, Applejack tripped and fell. Rarity, being right next to her, caught her in her hooves.

And so they stood there, staring into each other's eyes as Applejack leaned back, Rarity holding her in her hooves. It was funny, in a way. Rarity had long dreamed of being held this way by a charming prince who would sweep her off her hooves. And here it was happening. But Rarity was in the position of the prince, and Applejack of all ponies was the princess. So Rarity laughed. She laughed and laughed, and Applejack just couldn't stop herself from laughing as well.

A few seconds later they fell onto the floor, Applejack not exactly being light as a feather. Yet still they laughed. And they smiled and they blushed, and they wouldn't have traded that moment for anything in the world.

And then they heard hoofsteps coming up the stairs. And then Big Mac came in, and saw Rarity lying on top of Applejack, both of them with faces of utter bliss. Then they noticed his presence. And he turned around and walked down the stairs again.

Rarity rolled off of Applejack quietly. The both of them blushed, averting their gazes from one another.





After composing themselves, the pair sat on Applejack's bed again.

"You know, Applejack," Rarity said."I stand by it that you aren't a bad dancer at all."

Applejack gave a chuckle. "You joking? I was flailing around like a chicken with its head cut off!"

Rarity gave a playful nudge. "I'm serious! You're not bad at all."

Applejack gave her a look. "Really?"

"Really. Just practice a bit and you'll be a regular... well, I can't quite name any famous dancers off the top of my head, but the point is you'll be good at dancing!"

Applejack smiled, and gave Rarity a hug, which she returned gladly.