Rarity stirred as golden light touched her face, making her blink and slowly open her eyes. She smiled at the sight before her - golden locks flowing over her nose, reflecting the light of the sun into her eyes. Leaning forward, she gave Applejack a gentle kiss on the back of her head, breathing in the scent of her mane as she squeezed her lover with her hooves. Applejack snuggled back into Rarity's chest, pressing the top of her head up against the unicorn's jaw.
"Mornin'," she said sleepily, a smile coming to her own lips as she began to slowly roll over to return the kiss that Rarity had given her. Their eyes met, and Rarity leaned forward to give Applejack another kiss on the nose.
"Did you sleep well?" Rarity whispered, her hooves slowly traveling down her lover's back, feeling lean muscle under orange fur.
Applejack nodded. "Mmhmm." She gave Rarity another kiss, the pair using their hooves to pull themselves closer to one another, savoring the shared warmth of their bodies as they lay tangled beneath the sheets. Time passed - neither knew how long - as they lay there, simply enjoying each other's company.
It was Applejack who finally broke the silence. "I guess I should go make breakfast," she said, moving to disentangle herself from her lover before Rarity gave her a squeeze.
"You made dinner last night," Rarity said quietly, leaning forward to rub her snout against Applejack's. "I'll make breakfast, and bring it to you."
Applejack chuckled. "If you insist," she said, relaxing back into the mattress as she let her eyes rest on the beautiful unicorn.
Rarity shifted, moving slowly as to avoid accidentally kicking her bedmate before slowly sliding herself down to the floor, stretching her legs as she hobbled forward several steps, swishing her tail before walking over to Applejack's mirror. "Oh, I'm a mess," the unicorn fussed, using her magic to pull open Applejack's drawers, pulling out her marefriend's brush before Applejack's voice interrupted her.
"Aw, you don't have to do that," Applejack said from the bed, sitting up slightly. "Ain't no one here but me to see, and I'm just gonna muss it up again after breakfast. 'Sides, I kinda like it when you ain't all fancy."
Rarity's cheeks flushed at her lover's comment, but hesitated. She loved to be neat and tidy, but... after several seconds of indecision, the unicorn returned the brush to the drawer, drawing a quiet chuckle from Applejack.
"Thatta girl," she said, grinning.
Rarity smiled back over her shoulder at the reclining pony before opening the door, slowly strutting out of the room, swishing her tail as she vanished out into the hallway. Taking a deep breath, Rarity began walking downstairs - she could practically smell breakfast cooking already.
"Mornin'," Big Mac said to Rarity as she stepped into the kitchen, drawing a nod and a smile from the unicorn before she froze, her eyes wide as realization paralyzed her - she could smell breakfast cooking. Granny Smith was standing by the stove, holding a skillet in her mouth as she cooked eggs over the burner, while Apple Bloom was sitting at the table with her older brother, eagerly awaiting breakfast.
"Mornin' Rarity!" the filly chirped cheerfully, the friendly smile on her face turning to an expression of confusion. "What are you doin' here? Did Applejack have a sleepover last night?"
Rarity's mouth worked, her face crimson. "Applejack said you weren't going to be back from Appleoosa until this evening!"
"We got the cannin' done early," Granny Smith said from the stove, before grabbing a spatula and poking at the eggs. "Thought we'd give her a little surprise and make breakfast for her as a way of sayin' thanks for lookin' after the farm all by her lonesome. Guess she weren't so lonesome after all." The elderly pony winked at Rarity, making her cheeks burn all the more.
"B-b-but..."
"Now don't fret your head none. We ain't judging ya for keepin' Applejack company. But it mighta been nice for her to tell us before she got hitched."
Rarity's mouth hung open. She tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come.
"You should close that mouth of yours before y'all catch some flies."
Apple Bloom's squeaky voice rose. "Y'all are married?"
"No!" Rarity said, a bit more forcefully than she had intended.
"What? Y'all are sleepin' together and ya ain't even married yet? What were you young'un's thinkin'?" As Rarity opened her voice to answer, Granny Smith cut her off again. "No, I know what y'all are thinkin', but it just ain't right. Big Macintosh, you think you and your sister can get a wedding together this mornin'?"
"Eyup," the big stallion said placidly before leaning down to sip at his coffee.
Rarity was flabbergasted. "A wedding takes weeks to properly plan for! You have to send invitations! Dresses! Flowers! Rings!"
"Now don't you worry your pretty little head. Your family lives right here in Ponyville, right? We'll just have Big Mac swing by their house and pick 'em up. I'm sure we could get 'em here by this afternoon." Granny Smith paused for a moment. "As for the rest of it, I'm sure I've still got my old weddin' dress up in the attic somewhere. Apple Bloom, why don't you go see if you can find it."
"Sure thing, Granny!" the little filly said, speeding off towards the stairs as Rarity began to back out of the room.
"But my wedding is supposed to be perfect!" The unicorn wailed.
"Well it ain't our fault y'all jumped the gun. Or into bed. Or whatever it is you kids call it these days."
"Eyup," Big Mac repeated from his seat before taking another slow drink of his coffee.
Stumbling backwards into the hall, Rarity turned and galloped up the stairs, flinging herself into Applejack's room, her eyes wide.
"Did I just see Apple Bloom trot by the door?" Applejack asked the unicorn as Rarity frantically cast her eyes around the room, as if trying to look for some way to escape.
"They're back!" Rarity said in the most dramatic tone of voice she could muster, drawing a chuckle from Applejack.
"I guess they were tryin' to surprise me with breakfast in bed too."
Rarity trembled. "But you don't understand! Granny Smith wants us to get married!"
Applejack smiled. "That's right sweet of her, but I'm not sure either of us are ready for that quite yet."
"Today!"
Applejack blinked. "Come again?"
"She wants us to get married this afternoon!" Rarity swooned, but all her declaration earned from Applejack was laughter. "I don't see what's so funny about this."
"Aw, don't you worry," Applejack said, rising from her bed to walk over and nuzzle at the unicorn. "Granny Smith was just teasin'."
"Teasing?" Rarity asked, her voice trembling.
"Yup! Granny Smith has quite the sense of humor. She didn't mean it." Applejack lifted her head to give Rarity a kiss on top of her snout, bringing a small but warm smile to the unicorn's face.
"I found it!" Came Apple Bloom's voice from upstairs, followed by the sound of trotting hooves, then a crash.
"What in tarnation?" Applejack asked, before her sister leaped down the stairs from the attic carrying an old, moth-eaten dress in her mouth. Upon spying her sister, the filly dropped the dress.
"Oh hi Applejack! How do y'all like your dress?" she asked, holding it up for a moment before Granny Smith's voice came from downstairs.
"Apple Bloom?"
"Comin' Granny!" the little filly said, grasping the dress firmly in her mouth once more before trotting downstairs. Applejack and Rarity looked at each other for a moment before Applejack started walking towards the door.
"On second thought, maybe I'd better have a talk with Granny Smith."
Oh, God. This won't end well.
This may end up getting featured. It's fantastic.
This has all the makings to be a fantastic story!
Yay, a good old fashioned marriage. I like stories about these kinds of arrangements. Into the favorites you go.
Yes....I approve of this....
I notice that Rarity had no problems with the idea of marrying Applejack, I wonder how long this relationship has been going on?
Applejack trying to get Rarity to loosen up instead of Rarity trying to beautify Applejack. I approve.
So, where is the shotgun? I was promised Granny wielding a shotgun.
3319012 I concur! I was promised shotguns! I WANT A SHOTGUN! I WANT A SHOTGUN! I WANT A SHOTGUN!
(Do I sound like a whiny kid yet? I can keep on going!)
In all seriousness, this looks good! Can't wait to see where it's taken!
3318322 I disagree. This will end fantastically! This is hilarious, can't wait for more.
3319043 I think he/she meant that it won't end well for Rarijack
Its funnier because this actually happens in real life
Oh yes... This will be awesome.
~Skeeter The Lurker
Sweet, short, simple and lovely. I wish I can write like this.
Tracking for my RariJack collection...
fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2012/006/f/a/shotgun_wedding_by_rannva-d4lig7k.png
Another shotgun wedding
This this is going to get interesting
Definitely looking forward to more from this
And the saucy AJ pic is in the top banner: WIN.
I can only see fantastic things in the future here.
I knew it.Stories this good can't stay out of the spotlight for long.
This will only end well.
Aw yeah. I'm diggin.
This is good start.
I saw an Apple with a shotgun for a cute mark in the Apple Family Reunion so this make scene.
Well welcome for my favorites #121
Good start! I'll be checking in to see where you take it!
3318738
since before episode one?
Think I'll watch this one...pretty clever so far. Keep it up!
... Well, NOW YOU HAVE MY ATTENTION
*reads*
So, the premise is pretty funny in and of itself, but I think the writing could be done better. The thing with farce like this is a sense of timing. Its like a song, you have to build up expectation, and hit all the notes just right.
For instance, I would have had more build-up. You certainly could have spent more time setting up the scene, and Rarity and Applejack's relationship. Help build up that nice sense of peace and rightness before you smash it to pieces. That said, the scene in the bed was nice as a sort of stand alone piece. You really captured a lot of warmth and affection between the two of them. I bought it pretty quick that they were really in love. Like I said though, you could take some time to build up their characters a little more, flesh things out. It's mostly to lull the reader into a false sense of security before the rug is ripped out from under them. Also, I would have had either a chapter or page break after Granny Smith announces the two must be wed. Leave it on that note and let the implications speak for themsleves. Then, say, cut to Rarity running into Applejack's bedroom, or Applejack waking up to see Apple Bloom walking down the hall with a wedding dress in her mouth. Furthermore you need to emphasize the lack of control Rarity has over the situation. Things need to get out of hand -quickly- and the reader has to buy that the two of them can't just say no.
Alternatively you could wrap it up pretty quickly and focus more on the contrast of reasonable seeming character in an absurd situation instead of the more black comedy you seem to be aiming for, but the story needs to be tight for that to work. This story comes to mind as an example.
It definitely needs some polish and some design consideration, but is a good start. You definitely have some real talent with romance.
Also, 'grats on the feature.
I will keep watch and nag you more as more is written.
~Nyronus
I like it. :D
Sweet Celestia, I was not expecting this kind of reaction to this story! I'm glad you folks are interested! First story I've ever written to make the featured story box, and more likes than... oh... everything else I've ever written. Put together.
Hopefully I don't mess it up.
3318373
I think it is safe to say that you called it. I... did not.
3319476
Oh dear. Better hope that baby comes out looking like Spike, Apple Bloom.
3321300
I only had your interest before, eh?
Well, this is my first actual comedy story... ever, really. I don't really have all that much experience in the genre at all, so this is going to be quite the adventure. I have told jokes before, and read a fair bit of comedic fiction, but writing a comedic story is outside of my comfort zone.
Which I suppose is a good reason to write this. Hopefully it will be good; the response to the first chapter has been strong, at least.
I really do appreciate the feedback. Admittedly, this was originally written, as noted in the story description, for a forum game. It ended up as an actual short story, and before I actually posted it as a stand-alone thing, one of my friends pointed out that this worked not only as a little short story, but as the start of a longer comedy. I thought about this, and realized that yes, the rest of this story could indeed be funny, so I plotted out the rest of it.
The next chapter has been written but is presently being poked and prodded at to see if it can be made better. I might end up posting the next two chapters together, I'm not quite sure yet.
3322232
Good old Fallout 2. That game got away with a lot.
... wait, that wasn't literal? Granny Smith isn't blocking the door with a shotgun until they've finished the vows?
I am disappoint!
3319278 She - I am a Princess, after all.
3319043 But yeah, that's what I meant, lol.
...I totally wasn't stalking these comments.Gotta love OTP in the morning.
3318738
More concerned about having a perfect, fabulous wedding that the fact of being wedding to her marefriend because her family´s coercion? that´s Rarity for you.
3322647
Applejack hasn´t gone to tell Granny she is not ready for marriage... yet.
I imagine the entire Apple Family putting AJ and Rares under domiciliary arrest ultil the wedding (with cartoonish-impossible-defying-logic-Pinkie Pie style measures) , and the brides-to-be trying (and failing) to escape.
Let the Madness Begin!
This definitely has my interest. This is getting a favorite, hopefully you can attract my attention with the next chapter.
You know the term "Shotgun Wedding" is used to describe the family of a girl/woman forcing her lover to marry her because he got her pregnant, right? It's to avoid having a child out of wedlock.
3323663 PLOT TWIST
3323663 Dear, it might be a different situation, but the general idea is the same. Besides knowing Equestria I'm pretty sure theres a way for two mares to have children, particularly when theres a unicorn involved. Even more so when you start to realize Twilight probably got curious about the subject herself and researched the hell out of it. What I want to know is how a shot gun works for ponies, you know, with no fingers and all
3324064
Sorry, I was not implying context, I was stating the actual definition for the term, since the author of this story seems to not use it correctly.
And magic lesbian babies is stupid.
And ponies should have no problem using a shotgun with a modified trigger and guard, considering what else they do with hooves.
3323747 I read this and thought of more than just a twist in the story line.
Is that bad?
Good story. I look forward to reading more.
Star!
Oh
What will you two get into next?
3325065 It depends. What did you think of?
3325482
Plots
3325785
Think that's unfair? Mules are sterile.
3323663
I am indeed aware of this fact. However:
1) The term is funny.
2) There isn't a term of which I am aware for this particular scenario (and really, let's face it, a lot of forced weddings are because of beddings Gotta preserve the purity and sanctity of youth and all that).
3) CENSORED
Finally got back to this one - I'd read the first chapter when it had come out, but I felt it was a good idea to reread it now. If nothing else, it was worth it for the hilarity. Now, on to the next chapter!