It all starts with a heavy rainstorm, one event leading to more... and bringing two friends into a new perspective of one another.
It all started with simple rainy weather, a friendly gesture on a stormy night. Though simple, it soon creates a chain of events that bring two friends closer than either expected. Like dominoes falling, one after the other—even if there are some bumpy obstacles in their path.
My first attempt at writing romance/shipping. Wish me luck. I'm going to need it.
*Due to lack of inspiration to write this fanfic as well as pony fanfiction altogether, this fanfic is cancelled. I'm terribly sorry*
“Ooooh, why didn't Rainbow Dash bother telling us about this beforehoof?”
Silence overcame Ponyville in no time at all, since very few ponies were out in the midst of the rainstorm. While it wasn't too heavy, most ponies preferred to be indoors during wet weather. While she would have been more than happy to be one of the many ponies sitting idly in her home, plans got in the way. Rarity had to head all the way back to the Boutique to grab an umbrella before walking back out, else she find herself drenched head to hoof.
Rarity told herself to find Rainbow later and give her a piece of her mind. Why did Rainbow Dash, of all ponies, not know when it was raining?! That just didn't make sense!
Whatever the case, she stopped complaining to herself as she made her way to the Apples' farm. Rain pattered across Sweet Apple Acres, her umbrella creating a circle of dryness around her. She kept a gentle yet rather fast pace, wanting to not only get there without being outside too long, but also not wanting any water to touch her mane.
She headed down the trail to Applejack's farm, though with the veil of rain steadily becoming heavier, all she could scarcely see was a blur of reds and greens. She let out a breath of relief, knowing she could get out of this mess soon enough.
Just as she came closer to her destination, a sound made her freeze in her tracks. Her ears perked up, and she craned her neck closer to the right. With a gasp, she galloped over a fence. Normally, not just any sound should concern a pony, but it sounded... familiar.
It sounded like somepony was kicked something; specifically, a tree.
Passing several trees, she saw, amongst the flora of the Apple farm, an orange figure with long blond strands under a brown hat. Of course it was Applejack. She just wondered why.
“Applejack?” she called out, only to receive thunder claps in response. Applejack made no acknowledgment of her friend.
Rarity trotted closer, the clicks of her hooves lost in the wet mud. She grumbled to herself, wishing she had brought her boots along with her. Applejack still did not see her, her sight probably lost in the thickening rain. That didn't make Rarity any happier; despite her stubbornness, shouldn't Applejack know better than to work in these conditions? This made Rarity's lips curl down as her voice rose.
“Applejack!"
Applejack flinched and stopped mid-kick. Her hooves fell back onto the squishy ground. She turned to the source of the voice and squinted, taking a closer look at the white pony standing there with a pout to her lips. The farm pony shook the raindrops off her body, but given that it would not stop anytime soon, Rarity was certain it wouldn't matter.
“Rarity? What're ya doin' out here?” she shouted, the rain now stomping viciously around them. Rarity could just barely hear her.
“I was about to ask you the same thing!” Rarity answered. “You don't even have anything to keep you dry.”
“I was workin' on these trees when it started rainin’ cats and dogs, but I'm almost finished,” Applejack answered with another kick, letting out a loud breath. “Don't worry 'bout me, Rare; I'll be done before ya know it. What about you?”
“Don't you remember? I came to pick up Sweetie Belle.”
“Oh, right! Don'tcha think... the rain's too much of a bother to try and walk here for her? We can handle the girls on our own.” Her eyelids sagged ever so slightly.
“Well, then I can handle a little rain,” Rarity defended herself, her stance straightening tensely. Applejack gave her an amused look in response, not even trying to hide her smile. She turned back to one of the trees, her kicks slowing down, less energy put into the force. Rarity rolled her eyes with an exasperated sigh. “Are apples really that important that you need to work in the pouring rain?”
“Just a few... more,” Applejack answered, her voice becoming breathy. She bucked one more tree, only getting two apples to land into the basket. “Shoot," she growled, falling on her butt and bowing her head. Her hat dripped more water in front of her.
The annoyance that shot through Rarity was replaced by sympathy as she smiled down at Applejack, whose determination for her work Rarity admired. Still, with the fatigue visible in her friend's features, Rarity couldn't possibly let her suffer any longer. Applejack was soaked like Rarity would never have wanted herself. She walked to Applejack's side and, waving the umbrella over her, said, “Here.”
Applejack rose her head back up and noticed it wasn't raining above her any longer. Addressing the umbrella, she tilted her hat up as she got onto all four hooves slowly. “Aren't... ya gonna get your mane all wet?” she asked.
Rarity shook her head. “Oh, we're not too far from your house. But let’s hurry. I might get drenched, too. We wouldn't want that, would we?”
Rather than run, Rarity had to keep the umbrella at a perfect position for Applejack. It wasn't big enough for her, and if she tried pressing herself close to Applejack, she could get the edge of her face dry. It was pointless, not to mention awkward for the both of them, so she didn't bother.
Nonetheless, she stayed close to Applejack while heading to the farm, which was still pretty far from where she found Applejack. She shook her mane, which by now fell straight and pressed against her coat. Mixing this in with the dirt sticking to her hooves, she had to remind herself she was helping a friend, to hold back her distress for a few minutes, and that a shower was required the second she could get one.
At last, the farm was in sight, as well as Applejack’s house. “Finally!” Rarity breathed, picking up the pace. Applejack was taken aback but caught up with her. They met at the door, which Applejack opened, letting Rarity in first. She thanked her before entering.
She took in the warm, dry air, relief washing over her. She sighed in content. Only when she realized she was here to pick up Sweetie Belle, her heart sank. If she had to go back out there... she did not want to think about that point.
Once inside, Applejack shook herself like a wet dog. Rarity flinched away from her. Looking at the farm pony, she tsked. “Agh, you're filthy, dear! How long were you working today?” she asked, bring out a strand to demonstrate. It, like most of her hair and coat, was covered in muck, rainfall and some sweat.
Applejack shrugged. “A while,” was her vague answer.
“And how often do you do your mane?” Rarity asked with slight hesitance.
“What I do with my mane and when is nopony's business but mine,” replied the farm pony in a strict voice. She wiped her brow, despite being drenched everywhere else. Perhaps it was just by habit. With a glance over at Rarity, a grin crossed her face as she pointed. “'Sides, you're not lookin' so spotless yourself.”
Rarity gazed down at herself, noticing just how much dirt stained her from helping Applejack. Her pupils constricted to a point where they were almost completely gone. Her worry for Applejack cleaning up was gone. She trembled a little, but enough to catch Applejack's attention, as well as her worry.
“Rar—?”
"Applejack, would you mind me using your shower?"
"Not at all, but - "
Before Applejack could even finish her sentence, the unicorn had burst upstairs to the bathroom, dust appearing her in wake. Applejack waved the dust away with her hat, coughing. She laughed to herself with a shake of her head, only to be interrupted by a tiny group coming into the room. “Hey, girls. Sweetie Belle, Rarity's here for ya, ah think.”
“My sister's here?” Sweetie Belle asked in disbelief, one of her eyebrows raised. Her expression showed how little she thought that to be real.
“Yeah, she's takin' a shower upstairs right now.”
“Now that sounds like Rarity, but still, she walked here in the rain?!” Sweetie Belle exaggerated the last part in a shrill voice, causing her friends to jump. She looked down for a moment, and then squealed, “Wait, does that mean I have to go home already?”
“Rarity'll decide that. Ya know, if she wants to walk back home in this rain or not. Have to say, it's pretty nasty outside. Ah'm glad she helped me get out of there. Otherwise, ah might've come back in worse,” Applejack said with a drifting look, smiling.
“You think Rarity would actually go back out again?”
Applejack looked at Sweetie Belle, knowing she desperately wanted to stay here and not be the one Crusader to miss out on the sleepover. After all, she doubted Scootaloo would go home at this point, not without something to keep her dry while heading there. Applejack just shrugged.
A few minutes later, a door opened upstairs. Glancing up, Applejack and the three fillies saw a white figure head down the stairs as steam rolled out from the bathroom.
“Ah, that's better.” Rarity stepped out, shaking her mane as the towel in her magical grip buried into it. Her coat and tail shined, and she sighed in content as she examined herself. The dirt and messiness gone, she just felt cleaner. She trotted downstairs, her hair sticking to her and smiling - to her not surprise - apples. It still had to be brushed, but that was an easy fix. She reached the bottom to meet the eyes of everypony in the room. “Evening, Sweetie Belle. Girls.” She nodded at each of them.
Rarity glanced around for a mirror. Not seeing one around, she let out a huff. “Well, I don't know for certain, but I still have to finish my hair. Too bad I didn't bring anything with me. Certainly at home, at least.”
“Ya sure you don't want to stay? Still pretty rough out there.” Applejack glanced outside, concerned for her friend.
“I have an umbrella, dear. I think I can handle myself,” Rarity replied, her giggles filling the air as she started to grab it. She looked out the window as it poured mercilessly upon the farm and no doubt Ponyville. She even saw a crack of lightning slash into the dreary sky.
“Oh, right.” Her face fell.
“C'mon, Rarity! Can't we stay for the night? It's raining a lot outside! Please?” pleaded Sweetie Belle with puppy dog eyes to boot. Those usually did it most days.
Today, however, was not the case. “I came here for you, dear. No arguing now. Let's just get home before it somehow gets worse.”
Sweetie opened her mouth, but it shut after a moment of silence. Accepting it, she turned to her friends and said with a pout, “See you guys, later.”
Rarity turned to leave, thanking her one last time for letting her borrow the shower. As she shook her umbrella of any remaining raindrops, she looked at the ponies in the room. Applejack was smiling, but it looked forced. Sweetie Belle's teary eyes were almost too much.
She sighed, earning everypony's attention.
“Oh, why not?” she caved with a wave of her hoof. Her head tilted to Applejack and Sweetie Belle, and she chuckled. “There's no reason to be out there in that mess, now, is there? As long as you wouldn't mind, of course.”
The Cutie Mark Crusaders jumped in the air, cheering for a sleepover. Even though Rarity now slightly feared how much they'd suffer from that, Applejack took her attention away from that. “Just something a friend would do. No biggie,” she said with a shrug, her eyes cast down. She picked up her head and pointed it to the left of her. “In there's a fireplace. Maybe we can warm up there and just hang out for the time bein'.”
“Not until you clean up. I can't have a friend looking like that, not when I have something to say about it.” Rarity put a hoof in front of her friend, almost poking her, but the dirt on her fur made her draw back. Biting her lip, she smiled sheepishly, a hint of blush brushing her cheeks. “I'll just... go in there.”
With a roll of her eyes, Applejack obliged, heading up the stairs while Rarity found a place to sit. Once Applejack left, the three Cutie Mark Crusaders formed a circle, speaking in voices that were attempting to be quiet but most certainly weren't. “What do you think we should do?”
“Super extreme pillow fights, complete with large pillow forts?” Sweetie Belle suggested, her face bright in excitement.
“How about karaoke?” Scootaloo exclaimed. Her tiny wings fluttered.
“We don't have any karaoke machine....”
“We can just do it on the spot!”
Rarity blinked. “Oh dear....”
***
Applejack exited the bathroom, not only feeling cleaner, but not as tired as before. She headed downstairs, the floor creaking. When she got downstairs, only Rarity was down there.
Rarity had turned around, shoving something under a pillow she got. Her hair was now pulled back in a maneholder, only a few curls dangling at her sides. Upon seeing Applejack, whatever she was paying attention to changed instantly. “Applejack! Ooh, you look much better now!”
Applejack squinted. “What're ya doin', Rare?” she asked in a wary tone, taking slow steps towards her. Rarity didn’t fight too hard as Applejack kicked aside the pillow to see an open book. When the writing looked very familiar, it seemed obvious, but she wanted to deny that big time. She shot Rarity a look.
“Oh, I... just couldn't resist. I'm so ashamed. Darling, you never told me you had a diary!” Rarity squealed in delight, giggling at the very idea. She was nearly bouncing in her place with the journal in her sight. “That's so adorable, Applejack!”
Applejack blushed violently, her face tomato red. Her ears were deflated against her head as she walked the rest of the way, leaning down to give Rarity a threatening stare. Rarity received the message with a defeated smile, slinking away from the book. “Right. Terribly sorry.”
“Why is that down here, anyway?” Applejack glared at the book, picking it up. She tapped her face several times before something crossed her mind. It was visible to Rarity as Applejack's face switched from confusion to shock, then to anger, her eyebrows gradually narrowing. Those large green eyes glanced upstairs. “APPLE BLOOM!”
“WE DIDN'T DO IT!” Apple Bloom's voice replied almost instantly. The other two chorused loud laughter.
“What did ah tell ya 'bout invadin’ someone’s privacy?” Applejack yelled.
“Well, you should've kept a lock on it or something. Even I do that with mine.”
“SCOOTALOO!” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle scolded in deafening voices, but the latter added just a second later, far less rough, “Wait, you have a diary? Aww, how cute!”
“Darn it!”
When a few moments passed when the fillies finished screaming at each other, Rarity and Applejack turned to one another. Rarity was the first, but soon Applejack burst into laughter.
***
Sprawled in warm and soft blankets, Rarity and Applejack sat on the carpeted floor downstairs, right beside the fireplace. Rarity held a cup of coffee in her magic, her hooves resting on a pillow, while Applejack's drink sat beside her. The fillies had finally fallen to sleep. Any punishment for invading Applejack's privacy was not bothered. They had a feeling they knew they were doing something bad anyway.
“I can't believe those girls sometimes...” Rarity muttered, sipping her drink and letting the heat warm her up.
Outside, the storms had died down. Only a small trickle remained, and through some clouds at times, they could see the moon glimmering above. The moon's reflection shone down through the window, casting an elegant glow, and alongside the fireplace, they both felt completely at peace.
The mood died, however, when Applejack looked back at the diary hiding under her pillow. “What exactly did you read, by chance?” Applejack's hesitance told Rarity the last thing she wanted was for anypony to read her diary, not that she could blame her. It was a diary, after all. Still, her worry made Rarity curious.
“Mmm, just the part where you confessed your crush on somepony. Doesn't say who, though.” Rarity turned away to conceal her wide smirk, laughter dancing in her eyes. If she didn't turn away, what she was doing would be obvious.
“There isn't...!” Applejack's reaction, how defensive and self-conscious she grew, just drew Rarity in more. It was so cute to see her like this.
“Oh, relax, I only read the beginning when you first started using it,” Rarity interrupted, earning a sharp look. “Why, when I had one of these, I always wrote a bit in there, then.. some things happened that made me not use it so much.” Memories of the time where Sweetie Belle stole her diary for her newspaper came up and brought a frown onto her face.
“Ah haven't used this in a while, either. Dunno when ah will, though. Ah'm glad I didn’t write anythin’ recently.”
“Why?” Rarity asked, leaning closer to her friend with a glow to her eye. Any gossip, she absolutely loved and absorbed. “Is there anythin' secret in particular—”
Applejack’s look was enough to stop Rarity, who just giggled. Clearing her throat, she said, “Well, Sweetie Belle is the same way. I mean, thank Celestia I have my diary hid as best as possible, because no doubt she'd be all over that again!” Rarity sighed at the very idea of more of her innermost thoughts being revealed to her sister, of all ponies.
A chuckle took her out of her stupor. “Well, they're our sisters. It's pretty much their job to cause problems. Now don't get me wrong, ah love my sister, and we get along fine, but sometimes—”
“She can be quite a pain in the flank?” Rarity finished for her, trying to hide her grin behind her cup.
“Well... yeah,” Applejack admitted with a blush. “But we're sisters. We have to watch out for them, right?”
“I suppose. I even feel a little bad, talking so bad about them. But then again, I’m reminded of the diary thing and all.” Rarity drew her head back to laugh, and then yawned. Applejack yawned back.
“My, I'm exhausted. It's been a fairly busy day. You sure you don't mind if I just rest here for the night, do you?”
“'Course not!” Applejack answered, almost chuckling at the idea that sitting there would ever bother her. They both exchanged glancing, smiling at one another.
Rarity then lay her head down, already shutting her eyes and relaxing her muscles to rest for the night. Silence whispered in the air as the fire crackled before them, and Applejack adjusted herself to sit lower. The fire reflected against her friend's face as she slept. She, too, was becoming tired, and thought to go to bed.
However, feeling so comfortable where she lay, Applejack snuggled deeper into the blankets. Her head gently rested on the pillow, which sat right next to Rarity's. Their faces were close to touching, and Applejack could feel her fresh breath against her cheek. With a light breath, she shut her eyes.
“Ooh, might I advise also brushing your teeth?” Rarity whispered with her nose scrunched.
“... Gosh darn it....” Applejack mumbled, turning the other way.
The thin curtains in Applejack’s living room did not shield the morning sunlight from piercing AJ’s shut eyes. The melody from birds outside made the moment all the more peaceful as she awoke with the light beaming down onto her face.
When she tried to get up, though, she failed. Still exhausted, her eyes grew heavy, like they wanted to sleep even more so than she wanted. Despite all the work she had to do that day, her body fought with her mind to stay on the floor and sleep.
Rarity woke up a few minutes later, yawning and stretching. With a gaze outside, she noticed the lack of droplets pressing against the window, replaced with the gleaming sunshine of the early morning. She rose out from her covers, letting the blanket slip off of her back.
Rubbing her eyes, she asked in a mere whisper, “Are you awake, Applejack?” The question always sounded silly, in perspective, but she could not help herself.
In response, Applejack shifted, the blanket tangling around her and Rarity’s question barely registering in her ears. She sniffled and moved so her face was upward. When she did, her head lifted oh so slowly, aching in the process, and turned over to Rarity. She tried to ignore the aches in her head, no matter how relentless they were.
Rarity saw Applejack’s face and froze. “Applejack! Oh my, you look dreadful!” The words escaped her without warning.
The earth pony raised a brow at her in confusion. Not that it mattered, as the details on her face all pointed to the obvious. Her usual bright, orange face paled throughout the night to a duller orange, and her brilliant green eyes were bloodshot, snot dripping down her muzzle.
Applejack attempted a second time to sit up, but was unsuccessful, pain once again creeping into her head - ten fold this time. She cradled her head and groaned. “Must’ve gotten a lil’ cold from last night,” she stated the obvious, but Rarity was more concerned with how she sounded, her timbre hoarse and stuffy.
“Well, you shouldn't have been working so much in the rain like that,” Rarity said in a soft voice, putting her hoof against Applejack’s forehead to check how warm she felt. It took no time for the heat to reach the tip of her hoof, and she drew it back. “Ooh, dear, you’re awfully warm.”
She leaned down towards her. “Come on, a floor is not the best place to rest. I’ll help you upstairs.” Rarity turned and took a blanket in her blue magic. She reached out to help Applejack up, but when she only felt air, her eyes went back to AJ, who forced herself onto her hooves.
“What are you doing?” Rarity asked before Applejack could so much as touch the door she was walking towards.
“Headin’ out to the farm. What’cha think I’m doin’?” Applejack flipped her hat from the floor where she placed it atop her messy mane. It was a simple movement, and despite how slowly she did it, she held her forehead again, forcing back a groan.
Lips pouting out, Rarity glared at her. She expected nothing less from the stubborn pony, but she did not want to fight her about it—not when she was in a weaker condition. After considering what to say, she asked, “But, Applejack, how can you possibly work when you’re... like this? I doubt you can get much done.”
“Better than nothin’,” was Applejack’s simple reply, her eyes stern behind the fog.
“Not when you can barely stand up or do anything without feeling pain!” At her rebuttal, Rarity could hear her voice rising the long Applejack refused. Applejack’s ears fell back at the loud noise.
She shook her head and continued, getting her face in Rarity's with a deep determination in it, “But I still got work to do. Can’t let a dang cold get the best of me.”
"But what if it will?"
"It. Won't."
Rarity grit her teeth. Silence followed, and it became a staring contest for them. However, she stopped and took a step back with her gaze at the floor. With their arguing getting nowhere, she knew another tactic was needed. She took a good huff of air. “If you try to work while you’re sick, it’ll only get worse, and then you definitely can’t work!” she said, her tone now filled with far more concern than harshness it was starting to build. She wrapped the nearest blanket around Applejack, whose annoyance began to slip away when Rarity spoke, her eyes pleading. “I’d hate to see you tire yourself even more for some apples. Please?”
The look Rarity gave her made Applejack ponder for a moment. With a pout, she answered, “... Fine.”
Rarity breathed out in relief. “Good! Here, let me help you upstairs.”
“I can get up there myself,” Applejack argued, already heading up the stairs, albeit at a slow pace. “I have a cold, not a broken hoof.”
Rarity followed AJ up the stairs, deciding not to argue this time. Applejack’s walk was slow and often clumsy, her hooves taking their time to take each step, but Rarity was right behind her, should she need any help.
They got to Applejack’s room, and she welcomed her bed with a content exhale through her nose. The soft blankets draped around her body, the softness relaxing any tension in her muscles. Rarity trotted over, and Applejack lay down against the pillow, eyes shutting for just a moment.
Glancing out the window, though, she saw only the trees atop the hills with apples ready to be bucked. Apples she could not get to today, but her brother would. A frown fell on her face, and she turned away before any more guilt could sneak inside her.
“I just hope my family’ll work okay without me,” she mumbled under my breath, but apparently loud enough for her friend to hear and respond.
“I’m sure the rest of your family can take care of the farm just fine,” she reassured AJ, wrapping the covers around Applejack in a neat way, smoothing out any crinkles. “Big Mac is strong and hardworking, much like yourself, and who knows? Maybe Apple Bloom can help, too—has she ever done work in the Acres yet?”
Distracted by the question, Applejack lay back against the pillow and nodded. “Sometimes, but not really. She’s usually out with her friends doin’ a billion other things to get her Cutie Mark. I could probably ask her to help, if she wants. She’s older now... maybe she’ll join the family tradition.” Her face lit up with that tiny hope. She would have continued rambling on if a sneeze didn't interrupt her.
“If only I could say the same with Sweetie Belle,” Rarity mused, knowing her hope was pointless, considering Sweetie had... different tastes in style. She left her thoughts and said, “I’ll go, and I can get something for you, too. Be right back... and don’t move,” she added with stern tone, her gaze sharpening.
Applejack glared back but curled deeper into the blankets once the unicorn left. As Rarity shut the door with a careful pull, three fillies crossed her path, stopping her.
“What’s goin’ on? Is somethin’ wrong with Applejack?” Apple Bloom asked, her eyes wide and her voice cracking at the second question. The girls leaned aside to peep inside, despite the door not being open for them to look through.
Rarity waved an arm at them, guiding away from said door. “She’s caught a cold from working so hard yesterday, so she needs to rest up for the day. But I’ll be helping take care of her, so don’t worry,” she reassured the filly with a gentle smile.
“Oh, okay.” Apple Bloom, though still holding some worry, breathed easier now. “Maybe I should go ‘n’ tell Big Mac and Granny ‘bout this. It’ll be pretty hard to get all them apples if it’s just my brother doin’ it.”
Scootaloo’s face lit up. “Hey, maybe we can help!” she suggested, beaming widely.
“Exactly how?” Apple Bloom tilted her head.
Sweetie apparently read Scootaloo’s mind and joined in. “Yeah! We can work together and make it easier, too.”
“But haven’t we tried workin’ with my family’s farm before?”
The other fillies pondered that for a moment thinking over the numerous activities they tried out in the past, tapping their chins Scootaloo was the one to answer. “I don’t... think we’ve done it before.”
“Not that I can remember,” Sweetie Belle added, shrugging.
Apple Bloom stood dumbfounded for a moment, blinking. “Okay, then. You know what that means.” Her smile returned, her eyes sparkling.
The three girls, standing side-by-side, joined in a chorus of, “GO CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS APPLE BUCKERS GO!” right in Rarity’s ear. She swore she felt the air push against her face, some of her mane thrown into the air. The next thing she knew, they disappeared, the only sound heard being tiny hooves heading down the stairs.
“Sweetie Belle, do try not to get too dirty out there! I know you don’t like me giving you a bath, but if I must—” Rarity started to call out at the top of the staircase.
“Oh, c’mon, Rarity!” Sweetie whined in the distance while giggling from the other two following not far behind. Once the door shut, silence lingered in the still wind of the house, which sounded like a symphony to her ears now that the girls had left.
A creak cut into the quiet, and Rarity turned to the source of the sound. A sniffling Applejack peeked out from the open door. “I heard the girls.” She rubbed her muzzle, asking, “They doin’ alright?”
“Yes, they’re fine, but why are you out of bed?” Rarity asked, aware of how motherly she sounded, but she did not care. She pointed into the room. “You should stay in your bed for a good majority of the day if you plan to get better.”
“What if I have to go to the bathroom?”
“Do you have to go now?”
“Not... right now.” Blush painted the farmer’s cheeks.
Rarity felt her eye twitch, but she refused to lose. Using the technique Twilight used to calm herself down from any stress, she breathed in and out with a quick gesture of her hoof. “Can you be so kind to just stay in bed?” she requested.
Applejack, despite rolling her eyes, went back inside, Rarity joining suit. She struggled not to make a big deal out of it, but Applejack’s concern about her farm and her family was hard for Rarity to fight against. Already, her patience began to dwindle.
She took a peek at the window that gave her a good glimpse of the hills of the farm as she lay down. “They out there yet? I can’t imagine what they’re doing... considering how they usually do things... differently.”
Rarity giggled in agreement and turned. Instantly an idea flashed in her mind, her eyes flickering with mischief. Oh, it was childish and silly, but she hoped she'd get a response she wanted. She smiled warmly at Applejack when she looked back at her. “Oh, dear, you’re worrying about nothing. I’ll go see.”
The blank expression on AJ’s face showed that she did not notice Rarity’s fake grin before she went over to the window. “What’s the worst that could—” Her smile slipped away. “Sweet Celestia’s crown!”
“What?” Applejack rose from her bed, tossing the blankets away from her body. She flipped so her hooves touched the floor, getting ready to get up, should there be a problem.
“The girls set a whole patch of the farm on fire!”
“They what?!” AJ’s scream was filled with panic, and she began getting out of her bed, on the verge of jumping out. She reached the window before Rarity could stop her, ready to knock her down if she must.
Rarity tried to place a hoof in her way, opening to but Applejack saw the serenity outside. Everything was as it should have been. Big Mac already began his work in the fields, while Apple Bloom and her friends were working on one tree with no signs of flames anywhere. With a sneer at Rarity, Applejack held back any urges to yell, mostly because that would threaten to hurt her voice.
Rarity blushed and smiled weakly. “Sorry, Applejack, I simply couldn’t help myself. But I think it’s for the better. It proves that you have nothing to be concerned about.” She patted AJ’s back. When she saw her shoulders sag, Rarity blinked. "I apologize for upsetting you so much, though."
“It’s okay," Applejack said, the problem nonexistent, but her stress still dangling above her.
With her lips pursed, Rarity watched Applejack lay back down into bed, a frown slipping down. Having tricked her like that made her feel bad. A heavy sadness replaced any other emotion from before. Seeing Applejack’s disappointed face only worsened how she felt, as well as make her realize how worried Applejack was for her farm, more so than she figured.
“I didn't realize how concerned you were. I’m sorry,” she apologized again.
“Of course I am. It’s like you with your work, no doubt. How would you feel if I did the same thing, except with your shop?” Applejack asked, a bit more of a snap to her voice than she planned, which only hurt Rarity even more. She might as well have punched her right in the heart. Applejack paused, mulling over her words before she added, “I know you were tryin’ to help me and all, but—”
“I could have done it in a far more properly manner,” Rarity finished for her, stopping Applejack in a second.
“Yeah...” Applejack tilted her Stetson down over her face.
Rarity turned to the side, head bowing down. “I’ll be right back, then. I still have to get some things.” With a new motivation to have Applejack forgive her, she left the room.
***
Upon Rarity’s return, a few things levitated around her in a blue aura. Applejack couldn’t help but peek back up when she came in. The unicorn wore what seemed similar to surgical mask, which Applejack couldn’t help but stare at the most.
“What’s with the, uh...?” Instead of saying it, she pointed at the cover over Rarity’s mouth. Of all the things she expected Rarity to bring, that wasn’t one of them. Perhaps she should've.
“What? I want to be sure I don’t catch a cold, either! What’s so wrong with that?” said Rarity, her words muffled.
With a huff, Applejack shook her head. “I promise I won’t make ya sick. Will it kill ya to take it off?”
Rarity hesitated. “No, but... oh, fine!” She tore the mask off and placed it aside, trotting over to AJ with the other things in tow. “We still need to take your temperature real quick, just to see how bad you are.” With a flicker of it, she stuck the thermometer into Applejack’s mouth before Applejack could say a word, though the farmer’s knitted eyebrows said a lot that she could not say at the moment.
“Don’t give me that look. Might as well get this over with; no use complaining about it," Rarity said, pointing at her. Applejack grumbled under the thermometer, but thankfully didn't spit it out or anything else Rarity would simply grimace at.
After a minute, she took it out and rose it up to observe it as best as possible, squinting. “104. Still awfully ill, but a little rest and medicine should do the trick,” Rarity announced, putting the thermometer on a nearby table.
“You came prepared,” Applejack noted.
“Why wouldn't I? Don’t you know me better?” she teased, flashing a grin. Searching to her right, she brought forward a bag of ice. “It’ll be pretty cold at first, but it’ll help with how warm you feel.”
Applejack nodded, and Rarity placed the bag on her forehead, but first taking off her hat. She shivered at first, but soon, the trembling ceased. With a warm sigh, AJ could feel some of the strain escaping her. With her hat off, some strands of her mane slipped on her face. Before she could consider tossing them aside, Rarity caught them first with a delicate touch.
Rather than complain about her friend’s help, Applejack shut her eyes and allowed the silence to fill the room. Even Rarity was strangely quiet, which she didn't bother asking. Rather than talk, they let the calm speak for them.
Then a grumbling sound interrupted the hushed tone. Both mares gazed at Applejack’s stomach, with Applejack blushing a light pink.
Rarity’s smirk was impossible to hold back. “I suppose you want something to eat?”
“What was your first clue?” Applejack joked back. When she saw Rarity get up to leave, she held out a hoof. “Are you sure I just can’t get it myse-?”
The unicorn had already left, not a word spoken, and leaving Applejack talking to air.
***
“I usually make some good ‘ol soup for when my kin ain’t feeling well. Always perks ‘em up a little,” Granny Smith explained, stirring the pot as she stood in front of it on her hind legs.
The kitchen competed with Rarity’s when it came to spotlessness. She was almost envious, but her attention went back to Granny Smith, who offered to give her something for Applejack. With a last few clockwise swirls, Granny grabbed a spoon and poured the soup into a bowl. She popped a single tiny thing in there and let Rarity take it.
Rarity glanced down at the bowl. Its contents looked like nothing special, its coloring a dull peach color. Since she was not the one eating it, though, she didn't say anything in that regard. “I’m sure she’ll love it. The poor dear has been so concerned about not being able to work today. I just hope she can relax.”
“Ah, the trees ain’t going anywhere. One day without her workin’ so hard won’t mean much for me. She does enough as it is,” Granny said. “Plus, I know she can’t stand bein’ treated like a filly when she’s sick, so I know it’s a toughie to hold her down.”
I had no idea, Rarity wanted to say, but decided to keep it to herself.
“She’ll come ‘round, though.” Then Granny Smith pointed into the bowl. “By the way, her medicine is in there. Just pretend it isn't, though.”
“Wh-?”
“Stubborn one just can’t stand takin' medicine. We Apples usually handle things ourselves when we have problems, but a little change won’t kill anypony.”
Rarity nodded and headed upstairs, where she found AJ resting exactly where she expected her. Only this time, she was writing in her book.
Rarity sat herself down in a chair and waited for her to realize she was sitting there. She sat there for a moment, watching Applejack work on her writing, deep in thought and concentration painted on her face. When Applejack’s eyes met Rarity’s, she just saw a blinking, curious eyed unicorn. She stopped her writing and placed the book right on her chest. “So, what are you writing about?” Rarity asked.
“What part of ‘diary’ is hard to understand?” AJ asked, sliding it under her mattress.
“Don’t be so defensive, dear. I have one of my own, so I understand.”
“Still. No need to eavesdrop on me."
"Eavesdrop is listening in on a conversation, not writing, silly." She smiled, earning a less amused look from Applejack.
"You know what I - "
“Just eat your soup. Your grandmother made it," Rarity interrupted, holding up the bowl of soup.
Applejack’s eyes lit up. “Great! Granny always makes the best soup for when we’re sick,” she said, her face perking up as if just those words were the cure. She sat up, and Rarity reached to hand it to her.
Her lips pursed and moved around, and when her eyes shut, she let out a few small noises. That alone should have warned Rarity, but it was too late for her to do anything before Applejack let out a loud sneeze. Really loud.
Ah-CHOOOO!
The air from Applejack's largest sneeze flew right in Rarity's direction. While the unicorn did not feel the impact too much, the bowl in front of her did. With not much holding it up, the bowl was forced from Rarity's grasp and into her face, all the soup meeting with her face. She let the bowl drop onto the bed, revealing only her blue eyes behind all the dull peach colored soup that the bowl slipped onto her. Her eyes stared in no particular direction, like she was looking up into space.
“Oh, sorry, Rarity! I didn't mean—”
Rarity poked up a hoof to cut her off. “Excuse me a moment,” she said, still expressionless as she departed from the room and went into the bathroom in the next room.
Running water echoed into the hallways for a good minute or so; in that time, Applejack thought over what Rarity had done just for her. Walking left and right to help her, even when she tried to raise up against it in her stubbornness. And since the Crusaders weren't burning up the acres, she had a feeling they'd get things done today without her. Staring at the ceiling,
When Rarity returned, her white face glowed from the water; even her hair had a glow to it, as well as a good brush. Her smile, too, shined with content. “Much better.”
Applejack's thoughts remained in space, but she turned to Rarity, smiling sheepishly. "You okay?”
Once taking a deep breath, Rarity walked over to her, trying her best to relax herself and not yell about the mess. It was done with, at least, her coat and hair brushed and done. “It could be worse, I suppose. When you're a unicorn, even if you have control over your magic, it can get pretty... out of control, when you're sick.”
“Good thing I ain't a unicorn, then.”
“I suppose so. Sweetie Belle has yet to have that problem, and I just know I'll be the one stuck with her when it does.”
“Can't be that bad, can it?”
Rarity leaned against the bed. “When I last got sick, I remember shattering all of our windows on the first floor. Oh, it was awful; completely embarrassing. Since then, I specifically got magic-proof windows brought in.” She shook her head at the old memories.
A chuckle made her lift her head to Applejack. The expression on Rarity's face made her stop, but she said with a sneeze, “C'mon, now, it's pretty funny.”
Eyes of cobalt glinted. “How about we see how funny it is when I accidentally break all the windows in this room?” Her lips twitched upward into a mischievous look.
“No, ma'am, I like my windows as they are; not scattering all over the house, thank you very much.”
Applejack’s straight face couldn't hold for long, and soon they both started laughing. Once that ended, Applejack thought over something. Before Rarity could ask about it, the blond pony said in a low octave, “I’m sorry.”
Rarity stared at her, surprised. “For what?”
“For snappin’ before. I know you were just tryin’ to help ‘n’ all.”
Rarity rolled her eyes. “Dear, no need to make a big deal out of it now. But you’re forgiven, as long as you can forgive me for starting that whole stupid thing.”
“Ah, it’s no big deal. I just can't believe you're helping me out this much. I mean, don't ya have your own things to do today?”
Rarity's eyes fell to the floor. In the beginning, this was something she thought of when she decided to stay and help her friend. There were already clients to send their dresses to, designs to be sewn and created as it was. With a whole day behind on her work, her mind stressed over how much work that piled up upon her return.
With that in mind, she stared at her sick friend, and all that worry disappeared for a while. “Well, yes, but you're my friend, and when a friend has a problem that I can help with, I'll be there for them.” She put a hoof on Applejack's shoulder, a smile stretching on her lips.
Rarity’s eyes glossed over for a moment before her face lit up. “You know what? I’ll even sing you a little song!”
“... Come again?”
With a giggle, Rarity crossed her hooves in front of her and explained, “Oh, it’s this adorable song my mother sang to me when I was younger whenever I got sick. It was a cute little lullaby, and... well, it certainly didn't make me feel better, but I would usually fall fast asleep to it.”
“Alright.” AJ shrugged, though not certain what to think of this. “Go ahead.”
She immediately began the song, closing her eyes and leaning in to allow her soft melody carry on in Applejack’s ears. “Soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur. Ha—”
“Soft Kitty?” Applejack echoed, still taking the time to understand what was going on. She raised an eyebrow.
“Yes,” Rarity answered simply, her eyes opening but her eyebrows tilted down. “But please, if you will, don’t interrupt me next time. Now I have to start over.”
AJ nearly sat up, sniffing. “Oh, no, Rare. It’s fine. Y-you’ve already done enough for me-”
“But I must!” Rarity’s exclamation made Applejack lay back down to avoid any more damage to her hearing. “I can’t just go on like that when I was cut off.” The exaggeration in her statement displayed a dramatic tone Applejack couldn’t help but grin at. It was something she always found amusing, almost adorable, coming from such a properly mannered mare.
“Okay, go on,” she played along.
Rarity composed and allowed herself to start over. “Soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur...” she sang, reaching out to fluff Applejack’s pillow.
Hearing Rarity’s smooth and lovely voice so close to her ear, Applejack felt the tension on her shoulders loosen up. Although a random and silly sounding song, it was fairly adorable and nice to listen to, something sweet and quiet to settle her down and help her drift to sleep. Content with the peace and falling deeper into the pillows, Applejack drifted to sleep, her eyes shutting.
“Happy kitty, sleepy kitty, purr purr purr.” Once Rarity completed the song, she looked over at her friend. Applejack's eyes were closed, and her breathing showed the rhythm of one who had fallen asleep.
Her laughter was in a small octave, and she spoke in a gentle voice, “And you doubted Soft Kitty. Good night, Applejack.”
With a swift buck, Applejack sent several delicious red fruits raining down onto the basket beside her. She followed with another fluid movement against a tree to the right, energy strengthening her hooves. The last apples of the day filled both baskets right to the top. With a satisfied grin, she brushed a hoof over her forehead, wiping away the sweat dripping down her face.
Her hat shielded the glaring sunlight from her face, and only now did she feel the exhaustion from the hot, working day. She stared at the small section of the farm, the trees stripped of their fruit. Content with her work, she loosened the muscles in her legs and said, “Boy, I’m tired out. Think we can take a break?”
“Eeyup,” said Big Mac, coming up the hill.
She picked up the full baskets and the two of them took off towards the farm, walking beside each other at a slow pace. She fanned herself with her hat as they walked.
“Hoo! Scorchin’ out today.” A moment later her stomach growled. She chuckled and added, “You wouldn’t mind me headin’ out with some of the girls for lunch, would ya?
Big Mac shook his head and took the baskets she had filled. “Thanks!” she called out, trotting away from the farm.
It took no time for her to reach the town after her short walk. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, not a cloud in the sky. That storm two days ago was enough to give the dirt more than enough water, she thought, walking towards the Carousel Boutique. Once she arrived, she knocked three times.
A screech erupted from behind the door, shocking Applejack a few steps back.
“Go away! I’m completely busy at the moment, so nopony bother me!” Rarity yelled from inside, her voice laced with hysteria.
Applejack didn’t leave or so much as step away. Instead, she stared at the door, like it would provide her answers on what was wrong. Eventually, her concern won out her respect for privacy, and she walked over to the door. She put her hoof on it, and with no struggle, opened it with a mild creak.
“If ya were so busy, it’d probably be best to lock the… door…” Applejack’s tease drifted into the air as she took a better look at the room, her face falling at the sight.
Several dozen layers of fabric lay scattered across the room, each bearing a different color or design. Everything was spread messily around the room, no order or neatness in any form, something Rarity would normally “tsk” at. Sketches of ponies in a variety of clothing lay all around a pony whose back faced her.
Said unicorn, however, was sitting in the eye of the mess. Her head bowed down, eyes cast to the cluttered floor, and her glasses tilted sideways on her muzzle. Dark circles rested underneath her eyes.
Rarity glanced up, grimacing. “Would you please—?” she sneered, but when she realized it was Applejack, she stopped mid-sentence. She let out a defeated, worn out sigh. “Applejack! Hello.”
“What happened, Rare?” Applejack asked, approaching her and glancing around the mess. “Looks like a windstorm picked up in here.”
Rarity pulled a smile, one that looked as if it was painful to wear. “Oh, it’s not a mess, dear! It’s... organized chaos!”
“Organized... never mind. ‘Cause it don’t look like it.” Applejack gave her a knowing look, eyebrows narrowed.
“That’s because - ” Rarity struggled to figure out the right words shook her head, strands of her mane falling over her face. “It’s not. Is it that bad?”
Applejack’s eye twitched, and for a moment, she questioned how true she should stay to her Element in moments like this. “Kinda? And, uh, you don’t look so good yourself, Rare.”
Rarity gasped dramatically and grabbed a mirror Applejack bit her lip, immediately regretting that she said anything beyond the first word, especially when Rarity observed her reflection in the mirror. She was still for a moment, and Applejack took a step toward her, hoping she wouldn’t faint.
Instead, she screamed. Loudly. Applejack almost preferred the fainting option. “I look horrible,” Rarity muttered in a cracked voice, her eyes watering. Examining herself more, then exchanging looks with Applejack, she let out another sigh. Her features sobered up, and she ran a hoof through her mane. “Oh, my. I really have let this get to my head.”
“Mind tellin’ me what’s going on?”
Rarity took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes. Applejack stared at her, noticing the exhaustion in her features, how tired she must have felt despite her determination to finish. Applejack understood that all too well.
“Well, I’m certain you’ve never heard of Golden Petals.”
“Got that right,” Applejack laughed just a bit.
For just a quick second, Rarity’s lip rose, but it fell when she turned away. “She’s a wonderful model in Manehattan. One of the best, in my mind. She’s going to an award show, with a red carpet event and everything. And she wants me - me, of all ponies - to make her dress. It’s due tomorrow morning, and what’s worse is that I have ten other outfits due sometime tomorrow!”
Applejack blinked, and green eyes filled with guilt. “Ah, Rare. You know you didn’t have to help me if it meant -”
Rarity threw a hoof in her face to cut her off. “Don’t start, Applejack. It was my choice to help you get better. I was certain I’d have time today, anyway, but…” Her head sank lower to the ground. “Oh, I just don’t know what to do.”
Rarity began sorting through the strewn papers, sniffling occasionally as she held back sob, Applejack watching with disdain. It took not even a minute for her to want to do something, rather than stand there. She fought a grin as an idea popped into her head. She kneeled down to meet Rarity’s gazel.
“Rarity,” she said, her voice quiet and careful. She waited for Rarity to meet her gaze.
When she did, Rarity blinked and sniffled, her nose now running as well as her mascara. The fact she didn’t even bother cleaning up only concerned her more. “What?” the unicorn asked. Her voice sounded tiny and vulnerable.
Frowning, Applejack fought back the urge to hug her. Right now, she had a plan. Extending a hoof, she said, “I have someplace to take ya.”
Rarity rose from her sitting position, and Applejack stepped back. Worry etching her face, she said, “Applejack, the last thing I need to do is leave all my work just sitting here.”
“Pretty sure it’s exactly what you need.” When Rarity refused to budge, Applejack’s nostrils flared, her patience growing thin. “It won’t take long, promise.”
Rarity stared at the ground, not answering immediately. Applejack decided to let her take her time; she didn’t mind at all, especially knowing Rarity did mind the little time she had on her hooves.
At last, Rarity’s face lit up just slightly. “Can I at least clean my face? I’m almost certain I look awful,” she said, touching her cheek. When she pulled her hoof away, smudges of mascara stained it.
“‘Course,” Applejack nodded. “Just meet me outside when you’re done.”
She watched Rarity take a small glance at the mess on the floor, but gradually step away from it and up the stairs. Only when she heard the bathroom door slam, did she take her attention away from Rarity at the staircase.
Once she did, Applejack ran out of the boutique. She had things to do, after all.
***
“Where did you run off to?” Rarity asked upon Applejack’s return.
Applejack huffed and grabbed her Stetson before it fell off her head. Taking steady breaths, she tried to think of a good lie. Now staring at Rarity, polished and raising a suspicious brow at her, well… there was a heavy emphasis on “try.”
“Oh, I, uh, had some chores!” she shouted the last part, wincing and biting her lip. “For Apple Bloom, I mean. I had to give Apple Bloom her chores for the day. Heh.”
When Rarity didn’t respond for a moment, Applejack tried her best to keep her face straight. “Very well,” Rarity answered with a shrug. “So, where are we going?”
“Can’t say. Just… follow me.” Applejack nodded out. Rarity caught up to her side, and they trotted east.
Once they stepped out of Ponyville, Rarity gave a confused look to Applejack. “Are we going to your farm?” she asked.
“Not exactly,” Applejack answered, struggling to fight a large smirk.
Minutes later, Applejack noticed Rarity looking over her back multiple times. She nudged her side to catch her attention. “We’re almost there, promise. You’ll get everythin’ done, I’m sure of it. You just need a break.”
“Coming from you, that sounds rather ironic, don’t you think?” Rarity’s sarcastic tone made Applejack roll her eyes. When the unicorn smirked, though, she smiled back at her.
They walked along the road surrounded by verdant trees. Applejack took a hard left at an opening in the treeline and gestured out with a hoof. “Here we are.”
Applejack led Rarity and stared at the edge of the farm, where the trees ended and a grassy plain stretched several feet in front of them. From the view of the at the edge of the farm, they saw not only Ponyville not too far away, but far beyond that. They saw the Everfree Forest and several mountains roll out miles off.
“Oh, it’s very nice,” Rarity complimented, stepping out from the shadows of the trees. She walked over to where Applejack stood, the wind blowing their manes back lightly. “Wonderful view, I must say.”
“Big Mac would bring me here as a filly. After a long day of work, we’d sit here and talk.”
Applejack sat on the grass, relaxing as the memories came to her. She sighed and turned to Rarity, who continued standing next to her. “And before ya ask, he was a chatty pony when we were younger.”
Rarity scoffed in disbelief, and she sat down beside her. “You’re kidding!”
“Well, actually… yeah. Gotcha,” Applejack said with a wink, catching her off guard.
After a pause to take it in, Rarity burst into loud guffaw, unable to contain herself. “Well, so much for Element of Honesty!”
“Hey, I’ve lied before - and gotten away with it!” Applejack defended herself, crossing her hooves with a confident air about her.
“Have you now?” Rarity leaned toward her friend, staring at her with sparkling eyes of curiosity. “Do tell.”
Applejack laughed at Rarity’s growing comfort. She sat back against a tree, the memories settling her. “When I was a filly, I got into this sorta phase, and when Pa told me to do all these chores, I didn’t wanna do ‘em! So I gave ‘em to Big Mac, told him they were his and just went to Ponyville. Did nothing but walk around and enjoy the break.”
Rarity’s amusement was impossible to miss in her wide beam. She sat herself next to Applejack, choosing to lay herself against the grass. “Really? And you got away with it?” she asked, turning her head up to look at AJ.
“Big Mac isn’t one to talk, so he just gave me a nasty stare afterward. It didn’t phase me, and even now, it doesn’t. But uh…” Applejack’s confidence fell as a sheepish look crossed her face. She scratched the back of her head. “Later that night, I told my dad what I did and got grounded.”
“Wh - I… then you didn’t get away with it, Applejack! You gave yourself away!” Rarity sputtered, again scoffing at Applejack, who bit her lip.
“I almost got away with it, and I did - I just didn’t have it in me to keep the secret for long.”
Rarity shook her head. “Oh Applejack.”
Applejack just shrugged. Rarity directed her eyes back up into the sky.
A sense of comfort rolled over Rarity, the air washing her with gentle, cool brushes. The silence that came afterward sounded like a beautiful song, a distraction from reality.
Her eyes fluttered shut…
...
And they opened again, and she felt grass brushing her cheek and muzzle. Rising her head, she noted two things: Applejack sitting close to her and staring blankly out toward the rolling hills standing before them, and the sun just a little higher than she last saw it. How she noticed that surprised her, but with time very limited in her head, she couldn’t let it go.
“Sweet Celestia, how long was I out?” she asked, her eyes moving just a little to see Applejack’s blink over at her then back to the view. She stretched her hooves.
“No worries; it’s only been… well, not too long,” she said with a shrug. She smiled at Rarity, but it fell when she saw the unicorn’s furrowed brows and pouted lips.
“Applejack, I don’t have all day.”
“It’s early. You’ll have plenty of time.” She took a good, long glances where she believed the Boutique sat, only to turn back to Rarity and nudge her. “Heck, I can help, if ya want.”
Rarity raised a brow, not looking quite that amused. “Dearie, we both know that you just aren’t meant to be a designer. How could you possible help?”
“I have an idea or two,” Applejack answered, only raising suspicion in Rarity even more.
“Which is?”
Applejack shifted away uncomfortably, eyes turning away from Rarity as best as she could. “Can’t we just sit here and relax? Just a bit longer, I promise.”
Rarity rolled her eyes and left the conversation there, turning to look out to the hill again. She couldn’t help but chuckle at Applejack’s sudden tension, and noticing it was still somewhat there, decided to play around with it.
“So, where did you run off to before?” she asked out of nowhere, catching Applejack off guard.
“I-I told ya – ”
Rarity cut her off with a pout and another raised eyebrow, AJ rubbed the back of her head. “Was I really that obvious?”
“Applejack, dear, you’re… well, how should I put this?” She tapped her chin to ponder, though she immediately added, “Not a good actress.”
“I actually thought you’d bought that,” Applejack said.
A giggle escaped Rarity’s lips. “Now that’s acting. Take notes. Now, why lie to me?” She rested her head closer to Applejack, both hooves holding both sides of her face.
“N-nothing, just…” Applejack stuttered, and Rarity noticed a bit of sweat pouring down her face. Rarity doubted it was from the hot day.
However, Rarity laughed aloud and cut her off. “Oh, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, dear. No need to get so flustered - even if it is adorable!”
Applejack chuckled lowly, but her stare on Rarity prolonged.
“What?” Rarity asked, blushing slightly. Applejack blinked, and Rarity added with a little worry in her voice, “Do I still have some old mascara on my face?”
“No, you’re good. You just… I imagine you’re feelin’ a lot better.”
Rarity blinked. “Hmm? Oh.” Her lit up face fell as she took in what she said, though she chuckled a little at some thought. “I actually forgot for a moment.”
“That’s why I brought you up here. Stressin’ ain’t gonna help anypony with getting stuff done. And bein’ up here, I always found it so relaxing as a filly… even when things’d get difficult.”
The relaxed mood lessened, replaced by a more somber air. Rarity stared at Applejack for a long, long minute, eyebrows furrowed. “We all just need a moment to breathe,” she continued for the farm pony, turning away and out toward the faraway view.
Rarity watched over Ponyville down below, very small in their perspective. Distracted, she didn’t notice Applejack staring at her and admiring the sun reflecting off of those purple locks.
With a sigh, she rose onto her hooves. “Thank you, but I really should get back and finish up. I pray I can meet all of those deadlines.”
Applejack nodded, and she and Rarity walked down the hill, letting the silence and the clopping of their hooves talk. Every once in a while, the trees would rustle and rain leaves down around them. They walked in sync for several minutes.
“Let’s take a run, how ‘bout?” Applejack offered, her smile wide.
“I don’t know, Applejack...”
Her hesitance only lasted a second before Rarity smacked her tail against Applejack’s muzzle. Before Applejack could so much as blink, Rarity ran forward to get a good start. “Catch you there, darling!” she shouted with high-pitched laughter.
Not a second later, she heard her friend catching up from behind. She couldn’t stop smiling the whole way.
***
When Rarity approached the door, she cheered for herself and turned around to see Applejack trotting not too far behind. “Hahah! Better luck next time, de-”
She silenced herself, though, when she actually looked inside.
What she first saw was their friends standing before her, eyes directed elsewhere. Then she realized they were standing in a room she most certainly did not leave as she desired. What once was a disorganized pile of papers and cloth had been transformed into a sparkling and clean center. In the course of a hour or two, the room she left was swept away and replaced with someplace she called part of her home.
“Hey!” Rainbow called out, directing their friends’ attention from whatever they were doing. “Took you guys long enough. What were you two doing?”
Rarity glanced around the room, jaw fallen slack. “Wh-what?” she stuttered, approaching the center of the room. Her mind refused to let her speak, instead wanting to take in everything. Applejack appeared by her side Shaking her head multiple times, she managed to let out, “What are you girls doing here?”
“Good to see you, too,” Rainbow teased, mouth rising in a wide smirk. “But a certain friend told us you needed help with some stuff.”
“So we decided to clean up your house for you while you took a little break.” Twilight gestured, beaming with delight, to the tables piled with things once scattered around the room.
Pinkie bounced to Rarity’s side and put a hoof around her neck. “Aaand check these babies out!” She turned them both towards a side of the room Rarity had somehow missed in the midst of everything. Somehow, if possible, her jaw dropped lower.
Two pony mannequins, adorned with lovely dresses, rested in front of her. One dress was slender and pink with gray accents, and the other soft purple with ruffles at the hems and long enough to brush the end of the carpeted floor. Rarity stepped closer to the dresses. She noticed a bit of a sparkle to the pink and gray dress. “Oh my…”
“Are they, um, good?” asked Fluttershy, shying her head away from Rarity’s blank expression. “You didn’t mind we did one or two outfits, do you?”
"It’s…” Rarity took a deep breath, and she turned around to them all, pausing for dramatic effect - only shortly, though, as she noticed Fluttershy growing antsy by the second. However, she couldn’t conceal her lit up face as she added, “Exactly what I needed. Thank you!”
“You know, you could’ve just called us to help you out and everything. I didn’t expect AJ to come screaming up to my house asking to make dresses.” Rainbow cast a look at Applejack. “That was weird.”
Rarity let out another heavy breath and looked at Applejack, who shrugged with a little blush rushing to her cheeks. She nodded at her, but Applejack remained quiet.
“How much more do you have left to do?” Twilight asked, grabbing Rarity’s attention. “We’re still up for joining you, of course.”
Rarity picked up a notebook from the side and flipped it over. After scanning it, she answered, “Eight more to complete.”
“Easy peasy!” Pinkie said. “If we all do it together, we’ll get it done in no time!” She brought the rest of them in for an awkward, squished hug and punched the air. “Friendship!”
A great feeling welcomed Rarity, something that pushed away the tension on her back. Lightly pushing away her friends, she stared at them with an optimistic stance, her eyes glimmering with determination. She brought out her measuring tape and scissors. “Then let’s get to work. First, I need…”
***
Rarity wiped beads of sweat from her forehead. They all stood around in a semicircle, observing their work. The rest of the circle was formed by the eight dresses they had made in the course of several hours of stitching, sewing, the works.
Her eyes constantly shifted over to the most important part of this line; the long, red beaded dress with slits and a dash of sparkles on the bottom. She observed every detail, every stitching, and at last, she took a relieving breath of air. “This… this should do.”
She peeked the girls’ attention, their ears perking up. Applejack smirked, watching Rarity finally finish what she first thought would never get done.
“I think we’re done!” Rarity spread out her hooves in exaggeration. She grabbed her favorite red couch and collapsed onto it. “At last!”
“Wooohooooo!” Pinkie cheered alongside everyone else, tossing confetti from Celestia knows where all over the floor. “We should totally celebrate with some dinner!”
The girls all murmured in agreement. “That new restaurant, Lilly Orchards, just opened. We can go there,” Twilight offered, looking relieved.
Rarity nodded. “You all certainly deserve it. And I’ll pay.”
“Oh, you don’t have to do - “
"No sense arguing, dear.” Rarity tapped Fluttershy’s shoulder. “It’s the least I can do.”
“Finally! I’m starving! Let’s go already!” Rainbow cried out as she flew out the door. The others giggled before catching up with her.
Rarity, however, put a hoof in front of Applejack, who stopped immediately and turned to her. Applejack quirked a brow at her.
“I just wanted to thank you.” She nuzzled Applejack’s cheek. “For everything today. You’ve been wonderful.”
“Just saw that a friend needed help,” Applejack tried to play it off, but Rarity still caught the blush in her cheeks quickly.
Then her stomach growled, only far louder than the last time. She grit her teeth and buried her face in her hat. Rarity hid her laughter behind her hoof. “You know, you could’ve just asked to eat while we were busy working. I could’ve whipped up something really quick.”
Applejack shrugged, brushing away her concern. “No big deal. But, uh, can we get goin’ now?”
