//------------------------------// // Sighting Ropes // Story: Bonding Marks // by booksmart //------------------------------// Applejack limped around the kitchen happily humming a tune to herself. Her plan last week had certainly been misguided but that wasn’t going to stop her from spending time with Rainbow Dash. No, she wasn’t letting something like that get her down again. Especially now that her hooves where on the mend. Dash had agreed to meet her after she finished a few errands she had to do today and Applejack was going to make sure they both enjoyed themselves. She was making all of Dash’s favorite dishes and they would have a nice dinner in the hay loft juts like they use to before the mare joined the Wonderbolts. She was in the middle of packing up the apple fritters when she caught Granny Smith watching her from the door. The old green mare held a large grin on her face. “Get’in ready for yer date?” Granny Smith asked. Applejack nodded, her smile growing, “That ah am.” “Are y’all ever going t’a tie that pegasus down?” Granny asked suddenly. Applejack reeled back dropping the plate she was carrying sending fritters flying everywhere. “What!?” “Are ya ever gone ask her to marry yah? Ah, mean seems like that mare is just head o’ver hooves for ya. And ya could hog tie and brand me if you didn't feel the same.” Applejack felt the blood rush to her cheeks. Desperately trying to push that image from her mind. She had never considered asking Dash to marry her. It certainly seemed like they would do well but at the same time, Applejack resented the idea of tying Rainbow Dash down. That pegasus loved the sky, she didn’t deserve to be tethered the ground by an earth pony wife. She already sticks around for you though, Applejack thought. Before Applejack could respond though a knock came at the door, “Ah’ll get it.” Applejack quickly made her way to the door. When she opened the door she was surprised by a stallion with a dark blue coat. She would have asked his name if not for the trademark rainbow mane along his neck. Applejack’s eyes widen as she stood in front of her marefriend’s father, Rainbow Blaze. Ah, horse apples, from what Dash had told her about her parents Applejack knew this wasn’t going to end well. Rainbow had estranged herself from her parents quite a few years ago, the two ponies had only inserted themselves back into Dash’s life after she made it as a Wonderbolts. They also didn’t know of their daughter’s sexual preferences, and therefor they didn’t know about her and Applejack. “Well howdy Mr. What can I do fer ya?” Applejack asked. Trying to play it as if she didn’t know who the stallion was. Rainbow Blaze craned his neck to look at Applejack’s cutie mark before smiling, “Applejack is it?” Applejack nodded, “It’s nice to finally meet you. My name is Rainbow Blaze. Proud father of Rainbow Dash,” Rainbow Blaze extended his hoof, which Applejack shook easily. Was this the father Rainbow Dash had warned her about? Certainly didn’t seem like it. She had expected lighting to crack behind the man after what Rainbow had described her childhood as. “Well, Mr. Blaze welcome to Sweet Apple Acers. What brings ya by?” Applejack asked. “I was looking for Rainbow Dash but she wasn’t home. I asked around and just about every pony I ask told me I would find her here.” Blaze responded. Applejack nodded slowly, so he didn’t know yet. That was good. “If I may…” Blaze began, “Were did you get that necklace. I have never seen one outside of Cloudsdale.” Horse apples, Applejack thought again as she quickly tucked the pendant that held hers and Dash’s cutie mark on it out of sight. She had forgotten she still had the thing on. She looked to Rainbow Blaze who was clearly expecting an explanation. Applejack sighed, “Ah got it from Dash.” The Element of Honesty preventing a lie. There was no response form, Rainbow Blaze, as that was when Granny Smith piped up. “Are ya going t’a leave him outside all day or are ya…oh hello handsome!” Oh Celestia no, Applejack thought as Granny shoved her out of the way. “Name’s Granny Smith,” the old mare said smiling. Rainbow Blaze smiled back, “Rainbow Blaze.” “Rainbow,” Granny said thoughtfully. Applejack prayed to both Celestia, Luna, she even went so far as to pray to Candace that Granny would not call Dash her marefriend, “Y’all must be looking for that pesky blue pegasus that hangs around these parts.” Applejack let out a sigh of relieve. “That I am. You haven’t seen her lately have you?” Rainbow Blaze asked. “She’ll be around later, ah’m sure,” Granny replied casting a glance towards Applejack, “Why don’t y’all come on in and wait for her.” Rainbow Blaze accepted and soon he and Granny were laughing away in the kitchen. Applejack listen for the first little while but eventually had to leave. One could only listen to their grandmother flirting for so long. “Can’t ya tell he’s married,” Applejack grumbled as she looked at the sky. Common Dash where are yah? As if she heard her name a blur of blue and landed by the barn. Rainbow Dash quickly trotted up to Applejack and gave her a quick peck on the cheek, “Hey babe.” Applejack chuckled and gave Dash a quick kiss before looking over her shoulder, “Dash we got a problem.” “Only problem I have is that we aren’t making out in the barn with some of those fritters you know I love,” Rainbow Dash responded playfully putting on her best puppy dog eyes before tackling Applejack to the ground like she had so many other times locking them in a passionate kiss. When the kiss finally broke Dash murmured, “Sweet revenge.” Applejack struggled to catch her breath. She didn’t think Dash would like her father walking in on them in this position let alone knowing about them at all, “Dash Granny’s in the kitchen–” “I’ve told you, she doesn’t really care about it,” Dash interrupted running her hoof through Applejack’s mane, “I thought you we were going spend time together today?” “Dash I–” “Rainbow Dash!” a stallion's voice boomed behind them. The weight on top of Dash quickly vanished as the pegasus flew up and banged her head on the ceiling. “DAD!?” she shrieked. Smooth Dash. Real Smooth. Rarity lay in bed, eyes fixed to the ceiling of her room. It was still mid-day and she should really be working but she had no motivation. Well, that wasn’t entirely true she had the wrong motivation. She sighed wistfully as she thought about her talk with Sweetie Belle last week. The filly had proven rather knowledgeable and despite her methods being...unorthodox, they helped Rarity figure somethings out. First and foremost she was indeed still attracted to stallions, the exception being Twilight. Much to Rarity's relief it was not because of the princesses crown. Twilight was the only mare that Rarity found appealing even if her figure was on another mare Rarity wouldn’t give it a second thought but that lavender color, with that beautiful mane coupled with her bookish nature and those wings…Rarity shuddered at the thought of those wings lovingly caressing her side, her flank even. Rarity closed her eyes once again and let her imagination run wild. She imagined her and Twilight by the fireplace on a cold winter’s night cuddled together. Twilight would make an innocent advance trying to be subtle about it and then check a book or something to make sure she had done it right. The mare would probably treat making love as an experiment. Rarity would silence her with a kiss, trailing her hoof ever lower until… A knock sounded at the door shattering Rarity’s daydream like a piece of hail through glass. Of all the times, Rarity fumed as she made her way down the stairs. She took a moment to compose herself, fix her mane and so on before opening the door. “Welcome to the Cas…Spike?” Rarity looked at the young drake. He looked quite nervous and also as though he had been in a recent tussle. “H-Hi Rarity,” the Drake greeted. “What happened to you, Spike?” Rarity asked. “Uhm…I fell…yeah I fell,” Spike put on an obviously fake smile to go with his hastily made lie. Rarity cocked an eyebrow, “Very well then darling. What can I do for you?” Spike shifted on his feet but remained silent. He then looked to Rarity took a deep breath and blurted out “Willyougoonadatewithme?” Rarity blinked, “Pardon.” “Would you like to…uhm…go on a date with me?” Spike asked again. Rarity stared at the drake wide-eyed, she knew this day would come but she had no way to let the dragon down easy, oh if she had only prepared, “Spike you know I value you as a friend,” Spike face fell, “But I am afraid that I cannot take you up on that offer.” Spike sighed, “I understand. Can I ask why?” Rarity’s eye twitched, “Let’s just saw my heart is taken by another. I’m so sorry Spike.” Much too Rarity’s surprise, Spike did not cry, yell or anything, he simply stood they're stunned, his left eye twitching slightly. Rarity was about to ask why when a purple flash of light nearly blinded her. When she reopened her eyes she saw a rather angry looking Twilight standing in her doorway, horn glowing, wings flared out and mane a mess. She had what looked like…rope around her hooves? As she stood in the doorway holding a terrified Spike in her magical grasp. Her entire body seemed to radiate aggression. Someone ticked her off, Rarity mused. Then became shocked, afraid and aroused once when Twilight called the name of her aggressor. “SPIKE!” she yelled. Oh that commanding voice, Rarity shuddered. “How dare you tie me to my own bed!” Rarity’s eyes widened in shock. She quickly turned her face to hide the growing blush that spread across her face. Now that’s an image, she thought. Twilight meanwhile had slammed Spike into the boutique’s wall. “I’m sorry, please I just wanted to–” Spike pleaded. “I gave you my word I would not make a move!” Twilight continued, “But nooo don’t believe the mare who raised you!” “I didn’t think–” Spike tried but was cut off and thrown to the ground. “No, you didn’t!” Twilight snapped, “Do know how embarrassing it was to be found like that? By Fluttershy none the less! The poor mare will never look at me the same way.” “Twilight dear,” Rarity called, trying to end the scene that was attracting a few spectators. Twilight then seemed to take note of where she was. Her face lit up in an adorable blush but the anger behind her eyes was still clear. The Princess of Friendship looked at her assistant, “Enjoy your marefriend Spike,” she spat, “You can find somewhere else to sleep till I cool off.” With that, Twilight vanished.