"Applejack, oh Applejack, I've got a question here. It's something that's been pestering me for quite a bit my dear."
"Well shoot, Rares, ya'll feel free to ask right away! Celestia knows I'm in a great mood today!"
"It's a little thing I've noticed, about the way you talk. Now don't give me that look, it doesn't make me balk! I'm talking about your habit of shortening our names. Is there a reason for that? Or are you just playing games?"
The crickets chirped, the stars glistened, the lights of the stage shone bright. The answer that she wanted? She'd surly get it tonight!
"Now Rares, Ah can't say Ah rightly know what you mean."
"Your eyes are darting left and right--AJ please come clean!"
"Alright, alright, ya got me, Ah guess I can explain. Sit your tail down right there, it ain't so cut and plain!"
"Very well, darling, you can see that I have sat. Now on with your little story, my eyes are wide and rapt!"
"Ah suppose it all started far and way back when, after mah world took a right crazy spin...."
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The crickets chirped, the stars glistened, the lights of our barn shone bright. The home Ah always wanted? Ah thought Ah'd get it that night!
Ah'd just come from Manehattan, followin' that rainbow back home, and with mah brand new cutie mark Ah didn't want to roam. But tha time Ah spent with them high-class fools had really taken mah voice: Ah was formal and polite with mah words as though Ah had no choice! Ol' Macintosh didn't know how ta act, with his sis acting tosh; Granny Smith, Ah'm pretty sure, thought Ah was actin' too posh. Ma and Pa, well bless them both, weren't around to hear me speak, and mah lil' sis Apple Bloom couldn't do more than squeak.
The crickets chirped, the stars glistened, the kitchen lamplight shone bright. Granny Smith and Macintosh made a decision that night!
They shipped me off to a place where earth pony foals frolic and play: Friendship camp, it was called, and so Ah was sent on my way. Oh we learned so many things, how to rope and swim and craft--though if Ah'm honest, at first Ah thought it was all rather daft.
But then she came, found me as Ah pouted under a tree: Coloratura, pretty lil' filly, wanted to play with me!
At first Ah acted like a lady, habits die hard ya know? But Coloratura, she could see that wasn't how Ah should go.
The crickets chirped, the stars glistened, and the light waking me was bright. Coloratura came to mah tent and pulled me out that night.
She asked why Ah was actin' in a way that I seemed ta be; to her eyes Ah just wasn't comfertable bein' plain ol' me. Ah didn't understand what she said, o' course, but on thinkin' what she said, Ah realized exactly what kind o' thoughts were goin' through mah head. Mah heart was in tha farm, but mah mind in Manehattan lay; with two conflictin' selves mah words would seem ta stray! Ah thanked Coloratura for bringing that to mah eyes, and we lay on our backs as we watched the twinklin' dark night skies.
The crickets chirped, the stars glistened, and mah inner self felt bright. Ah resolved to become whole and change mah act that night.
Of course nothin' comes easy, you and Ah both know it's true, but Coloratura was always there ta try and help me through. Her own name, though, it was so long, and fancy as can be; if e'er Ah were ta speak it, I'd become Manehattan me! So desperate Ah was to change, ta bring that to an end, that very soon twas Rara Ah called mah newfound friend. And that, in part, helped me out, though she liked it as well; tha smile that came to her face was how Ah could tell.
The crickets chirped, the stars glistened, and all tha world was right. Alas, one day camp ended, and we left each other that night.
And so Ah returned to tha farm, vowin' ta write her soon; in fact mah first letter was sent to post at noon. So once a week Ah'd write, and of course she'd write me back, and in those early days they helped keep me on track. Ah started calling my brother Mac, without a thought; and Ah enjoyed it when Ah saw the small smile it brought. As Ah spread out mah heart and mind, and heard every new name, Ah treated each and all mah friends with shortening just tha same.
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The crickets chirped, the stars glistened, the lights of the stage shone bright. And sitting on the grass, two ponies shared the night.
"So, Rares, ya see, when Ah call ya that, it's comin' from tha heart. It's a way of sayin' that in mah life you play an important part."
"Oh Applejack, that's all so sweet! I truly did not see! You've no idea how that gesture means to much to me."
"Heh, well now you know, and Ah hope ya'll don't mind."
"Not at all, my fine mare, your heart is truly kind. But understand, we have sisters, younglings we must keep. I believe we must find them, it's past time for them to sleep."
The crickets chirped, the stars glistened, the lights of the stage shone bright. Rarity and Applejack felt their hearts warm that night.
"Though," said Rarity as she stood, "there's one thing I don't get yet. I don't mean to come across as nosey, though I do I'll bet."
"Rarity," said Applejack, stretching as she stood. "Ah've got a hunch your question is gonna be quite good."
"Why is it that you and I are speaking now in rhyme? Not that it's not lovely, but why now at this time?"
"If Ah had to venture a guess upon the rocks, Ah'd point at Pinkie there and her shining boombox."
The crickets chirped, the stars glistened, the lights of the stage shone bright--And hefting my music with me, I RAN INTO THE NIGHT!