> Hearth to Heart
>  by Mistress Frostflame
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Hearth to Heart
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Why me? Why, why, why?!” came the cry of distress from the Carousel Boutique's open door, the audible sobbing allowing the passing apple mare to catch the call from well down the road. “Of all the worst things that could happen!” Applejack didn't need to hear any more to figure out what was going on: Rarity had found something to be upset about. Halting herself, AJ resisted her instinctual urge to charge in looking to help somepony in need and evaluated the situation. This was Rarity, her good (if not sometimes annoying) friend who was prone to dramatic outbursts over the smallest of inconveniences. For all Applejack knew, this could be something as small as a cobweb in the cellar. On the other hoof, the sobbing told Applejack that this could also be something more serious.
Hazarding a guess as the blonde mare made her approach, Applejack could only assume Rarity had lost something important to making her dresses. Applejack didn't know much of anything about the craft, though. Looking around with a nervous expression beginning to dawn on her freckled features, AJ's green eyes searched to see if anyone else had attempted to help. The passing ponies barely gave the boutique a sideways glance as they passed, well aware of Rarity's... antics. AJ was half inclined to take their approach and go about with her day off. Had it been any other pony, or had one of their other friends been in the area, Applejack would have continued on her way home, but this was Rarity, and Applejack could not bring herself to leave her friend if there was a chance that the dependable Earth pony could help. Taking in a deep breath to prepare her nerves for the nine kinds of hell she might be about to catch, AJ set out from the street corner and toward the ajar door of the Boutique.
As expected, the scene before Applejack when she knocked on the door frame and entered was a pretty and pitiful display. Rarity lay, her body strewn over velvety, crimson cushions of her lounge chair, crocodile tears streaming down her impeccably well kept features. Her foreleg was draped elegantly across her forehead as her other draped itself off the edge of the immaculate furnishing. The boutique itself was a bit of a mess around her, rolls of fabric and scrapped gowns littering the floor. This was far worse looking than AJ would have anticipated, and even though she was out of her league, Applejack knew she had to say something now. Turning back and blowing this off was not an option.
“Rarity? Y'all okay?” Applejack asked, more to stand on ceremony than to actually inquire, “Is there somethin' I can help you with?” She chose her words carefully, not as eager to dive into this mud hole as she may have seemed. Rarity stopped bawling for a second, looking at Applejack with those watery blues before covering her face.
“Don't look at me, Applejack, I've failed! It's over; my career as a designer, my place in the high standing world of fashion, it's all forfeit!” the marshmallow pony cried, returning to her world of hysterics. Applejack didn't know what in Equestria had gotten into Rarity to get her in such a hog-knot, but she wasn't about to run out on the pony.
“C'mon, Rarity, It can't be that bad,” Applejack said, approaching her wailing friend and seating herself next to her distraught friend, “Come now, sugar cube. Tell me all about it. I'm sure we can fix yer problem in a jiffy.”
At that, Rarity once again stopped her bawling, turning to AJ with a look that told the farm-pony she was about to dump the weight of the world on Applejack's shoulders. Prepared for the load, Applejack nodded at her friend to encourage her to let it all out. “Oh Applejack,” Rarity began pulling her friend into an embrace that could snap necks, “ It's terrible, just terrible. I was supposed to have a line of design ideas for the coming season ready this morning and I have nothing! NOTHING! Nothing looks right, the mannequins are all the wrong proportions, and no matter what I do it's all rubbish!”
“R-Rarity!” Applejack gasped, struggling to get the distraught pony to loosen the grip she had around the apple mare's neck, “I hear yer problem, but y-yer chokin' me like a vine snake here.” That seemed to get through the haze of distress and Rarity released Applejack with a start, apologizing profusely. Applejack waved a dismissive hoof as she regained her breath, looking up at Rarity with a reassuring smile. “That's fine, sugar cube. Now I don't know much about all this fashion and the like, but I figure if somepony like you is in trouble, I can't rightly turn my tail. I've a few hours to myself today and, if yer willing, I'd like to help out. Is there a theme or whatever for this season?”  
At the mention of her willingness to help, Rarity looked skeptical, as sweet as she was being, Rarity knew that Applejack was not a mare who put much stock in her appearance, beautiful as the farm-pony still was. Yet, at the mention of the theme for the season, Rarity's eyes lit up as she got an idea. She began scanning over Applejack's body with her eyes, measurements and colors flashing through her mind as she began to work. “Well, now that you mention it, the theme of the season is Athletic Aesthetics,”  Rarity explained, her tears gone, and her face suddenly clear of all signs of distress, “and if you would be so kind as to assist me for the evening, I think I may have an idea...”
~~~~~~~
“Err... Rarity,” Applejack asked, choking back nervous feelings as she looked at her excited friend, “I'm happy to help, n' all, but you don't s'pose I could just... hold some cloth for you, maybe fetch something for the market?” Applejack stood in the middle of Rarity's workroom, her hat set aside on the now vacant lounge chair and her hair let down as per Rarity's request. Her tail had also been undone, so that Rarity could better use her as a canvas. Applejack was going to be Rarity's model for the evening, and the thought alone was terrifying. All of the girly frills and flowery nonsense flashed in her mind and made Applejack regret volunteering to help so easily.
“ Oh, no no no, dear,” Rarity said, pulling forth rolls of fabric and many needles she would need to affix them to her newest mannequin, “There will be no need for you to hold anything, you just sit still and let Rarity work her magic.” The marshmallow pony eyed the orange mare before her with rapt attention. Applejack's build was perfect, not the slim, dainty build of a model like Fluttershy, but not bulging with muscle either, nor was the farm-pony fat. Just looking at her got Rarity eager to work. Had she been less excited, she would have been able to detect the hesitation in Applejack's voice or caught the nervous glances she gave the floating rolls of fabric around her.
“G-go easy on me, Rarity. I ain't never done this before,” AJ said, her plea accompanied by a nervous gulp. Before she could protest, the spools, fabrics and needles were upon her, and the normally brave pony closed her eyes and froze. In the darkness of her thoughts, the experience was even scarier. The sounds of snipping, the constricting of various fabrics around her legs, and her chest, the draping of fabric over her flank and tail. She felt as though she was being devoured by a cloth monster and as a pair of scissors brushed past her ears with an audible snip, she pulled back. Her nerves having bested her, AJ stumbled backwards, misplacing a hoof and falling off of the model dais and onto an unsuspecting Rarity. The resulting crash of bodies and wares shook the boutique.
“Applejack?!” Rarity called, distress apparent in her voice again, as she found herself pinned under her work of art, “What in Equestria are you doing?! Someone could have been hurt, darling!”  AJ pinned her ears back, hot red blush rising to her cheeks she stammered. As she looked into her friend's eyes from atop her, Applejack found herself without words, embarrassed at her momentary loss of composure. Struggling to her hooves from atop her unicorn friend, she then helped the beautiful white pony up.
“I'm sorry, Rarity, I... I don't rightly know what came over me,” Applejack said, an apologetic expression on her face and a quaver in her country drawl, “I guess I'm just not cut out for all this modeling. N-not that I'm gonna quit on you. I just... Take it slow, okay?” With Applejack standing before her, obviously nervous, Rarity finally understood what had come over her poor friend.
“No, Applejack, the one who should apologize is me,” Rarity said, looking over her friend, “I took it too fast for you out of excitement after you'd been so kind as to model for me this evening. I'm truly ashamed of my behavior. Can you ever forgive me?”
“Shucks, Rarity,” Applejack started, kicking a hoof, chuckling to lighten the mood, “'Course I can forgive you. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't? Don't you worry your head about me. You just take it a might slower and we'll be right as rain.”
“Oh, thank you, Applejack, dear. We shall take it at a more comfortable pace,” Rarity assured her friend. Given that she did not want to scare Applejack any more, she decided to switch her methods, moving slowly and paying attention to the details of the current outfit.  Helping her friend back up onto the stand, she planned in her head to pay Applejack back for her sweet sacrifice of time as well as her display of courage.
~~~
“Oh, Applejack, this looks simply fantastic on you,” Rarity noted aloud, marveling at her workponyship. Normally, Rarity's methods took some simple planning and then her magic would do the rest. She rarely even examined the mannequins unless they needed an adjustment. But having been taking her time and checking on occasion to make sure Applejack wasn't too nervous, she found herself entranced by her friend and the curve accentuating outfit.
“Really? What's it look like on me, sugar cube?” AJ asked, turning her head to and fro to get a good look at herself, her voluminous mane swaying back and forth with the motion. Rarity moved one of the body mirrors in front of Applejack with her magic so that the pair of ponies could both marvel at the alluring, yet unfinished, product.
Applejack's orange coat had been partially covered in a  black and green, sport-grade running top that held tight and clung to her barrel and tight tummy. The sides opened at tasteful points along her side to allow her body to breathe and left her withers exposed. The top ran into a matching bottom that curved around her flank and left her tail free to flow out.  Peculiarly enough, it too had tasteful openings, including one that allowed her cutie mark to show on either side of her hips. The legs to the bottom held in a fashion that didn't restrain applejack's haunches from lifting properly. The entire outfit seemed made for AJ to move, and the farm-pony loved it.
“Well now, you've gone and outdone yourself, Rarity. I'm sure anypony'd love to get their hooves on a suit like this,” Applejack commented, turning and giving the air an experimental buck just to see how it felt. Rarity couldn't have agreed more, but as Applejack started to move, a little fire lit in her eyes. “Don't say that just yet, applejack. I've only just begun.”
~~~~~~~
The two ponies were both becoming a bit tired, the outfits and designs were coming along splendidly, but even AJ's stamina was wearing low. Rarity, in spite of her own excitement and enthusiasm, found her concentration waning. It had been hours since they had started, and a break seemed in order, but she'd pleaded with Applejack to bear with her through one last design idea. This, as she was beginning to notice, had been a bit of a mistake. With her tired mind in the state it was, she found herself unable to focus on cloth as... other things had begun to gain her attention. In the well lit room, she'd found that no matter how she looked at the farm-pony, she saw a wild, raw beauty that she burned to refine, to hone. She'd slowed down her dress making more just so she could look at Applejack's rawness more intently.
Applejack had long since gotten over her nervousness from the first outfit and the snipping scissors, but appreciated Rarity's continued gentleness, even if she was beginning to feel a bit self-conscious with all of the stares she'd been receiving before the last half hour. She remained as still as she could, vigilant over the room and her own motions. The way Rarity pressed in close to make little cuts and snips had the apple mare nervous in a different way. The way the seamstress sometimes reared up and gently placed hooves on AJ's back to “examine the back seam and wither opening” brought blushes to the normally confident and unabashed pony's freckled cheeks. The gentle touching to “follow the lines of the cloth” made Applejack stifle little noises she didn't feel she should be making.  Shifting her haunches without meaning to, she apologized and swung her tail to try and get comfortable again. The hot breath running over the fine hairs of her coat hadn't made things much easier for her in the past few minutes, but she didn't want to distract Rarity when the pair were so close to being done.
Rarity had taken to gliding her hoof over the fabric, telling Applejack that it was necessary for the more refined tresses she wanted to layer on the suit. Her hooves trailed over the model's coat from time to time, and little shocks ran up her arms as they did. AJ was soft, over that muscled interior, like pure, pale paper on an iron canvas, just waiting to be colored and shaped. Rarity felt like an artist held back from painting tools. She wanted to grab Applejack and groom her, drag her to a spa and force the mare to get her hooves done. Her eyes traveled over the powerful flanks and rump of her friend as she continued her slow work, her horn glowing softly as she made idle snips and adjustments to disguise her staring. Running a hoof along the curve of Applejack's hip, envisioning it being accentuated by gems and adorned with deep scarlet hues to offset her cutie mark, Rarity made a mistake, groping the hind side of her friend before she caught herself. Looking around, to check for any signs of discomfort, Rarity tried to hide the firm grope  my shifting her hoof to other places as though checking cloth, giving an inward sigh of relief when AJ made no protest, not flinching.
Applejack had pretended not to notice that long, insistent grope to her rear, but she'd been well aware of it. She had wanted to say something to Rarity, but figured that the mare had to have been making a little adjustment. But nothing felt different, at least not with the clothing, and she couldn't find a reason for Rarity to touch there. All of the touching had Applejack feeling quite nervous again. She wanted to lift her hooves, to speak, anything to distract her from the warmth she felt when Rarity's hooves were on her. It was a weird unfamiliar heat welling in her chest. The grazing touches that had started only recently left lingering tingles that made the mare want to either pull away or press herself back into her friend. It was a thought that both scared and, in a dark corner of her mind, intrigued Applejack.  Applejack would be happy when this final outfit had been finished and she could pull away to get a grip on herself.
Luckily for Applejack, Rarity was soon unable to find any more adjustments to make as an excuse, and instead finished off the jogging dress. “Finally, we're done, dear. All that hard work, and now my sports season line is finished! Why, I daresay my name will be very popular among athletes for seasons to come! And all thanks to you, darling!” Rarity said, hugging her friend, “I couldn't possibly thank you enough.”
“All in a day's work,” Applejack replied, tired but happy to have helped her friend and pleased that the cloth modeling was over, “It was no trouble at all. I'm glad I could help.” Returning the pale unicorn's hug, she gave Rarity a friendly little nuzzle before releasing her. Stepping back and beginning to strip out of the new running suit. Normally, Rarity would have protested, but she simply watched this time as Applejack drew her hoof over the thin, tight fabric and up the center of her chest, looking for the tiny clasp and zipper so that she could disrobe. Rarity followed that hoof with her eyes, eagerly looking over her friend as she found the zipper and began to draw it down, revealing inch after inch of orange coat.
Rarity was shifting awkwardly as she watched, the mare very aware of how attractive her friend was. Her desire to tame that beauty only increased the more of her coat AJ exposed. Unaware that she was putting on a little strip show, Applejack pulled the zipper down just enough for her to move the tight suit down and off of her forehooves. Once she had it off of her upper body, she encountered some trouble, unable to pull the suit down her back and off of her. Rarity had a most delectable idea as she watched. “Trouble getting it off, dear? Let me get that for you,” Rarity said, approaching Applejack's round, well toned rear.
“Actually, that'd be nice as apple pie. Could you use that magic of yo-aaah! Hey!” Applejack yelled as she felt a pair of hooves settle on her back, a body over her own. AJ nearly bolted right there, unsure what had brought on the sudden mounting. “Rarity?! What in the hay are you doing?” AJ yelled, obviously very uncomfortable with her current position.
“Why, removing the outfit. Whatever in Equestria else would I be doing?” the smiling unicorn asked, professionally playing innocent. “I would use my magic, but I daresay these long hours of work have left me quite tired,” she explained in a calm tone, pulling the cloth back at a slow, sensual pace, as though carefully unwrapping delicate treasures.
“I...guess you're right. I'm all tuckered out, myself,” Applejack replied, turning back to give her friend a trusting smile. She felt silly for ever doubting her friend's innocence. Rarity was a kind, gentle pony. Not some odd, mare-mounting pony. Even if she was taking her sweet time pulling the running suit off of AJ's behind. Stepping out of the clothes and letting Rarity go and put her new masterpiece away, Applejack moved over to the lounge chair and retrieved her hat and hair tie ready to be on her way. She waited until Rarity had returned from the hanging rack to smile and say. “Well, Rarity, it's been nice seeing you and interesting helping you with your work, but I best be heading back to the barn. Maybe I'll see you tomorrow?”
Rarity who had been planning out the whole evening to spend with her newest canvas stood shocked as she felt her new, uncut gemstone slipping through her hooves.”What? B-but, darling, you can't mean to trudge home now, in the dark. 'Tisn't safe,” Rarity began, her mind working on overdrive to come up with some suitable excuse. Looking outside, she confirmed that is was indeed pitch black outside the boutique's lovely, styled windows. “Come, you must stay the night.”
Applejack smiled at Rarity, pleased at the kind invitation, but ready to go home. “That's alright, Rarity. No one’s gonna jump little ol' me on the way back to the barn. Besides I'm sure you're gonna want some time to yourself to take a bath and have yourself one of those beauty naps. No need for me to get in the way of that,” Applejack said, backing away and waving a dismissive hoof, “I'll be 'A' okay.”
“And I thought I was the element of generosity,” Rarity joked, trying her hardest to tug the farm mare into her trap, “I must insist Applejack, please, humor me tonight? It's dreadful and chilly out, and you must be simply exhausted from all that standing. Let me take care of you for tonight as a show of my gratitude. I'd be ashamed to call myself a friend of yours if couldn't.”
Applejack found herself between a rock and a hard place. All she wanted was to get away from Rarity, to sort out the strange feelings of this last hour and return to her normal, apple bucking self. But she certainly didn't want to turn down her friend's hospitality or possibly offend the generous pony by rejecting such a kind offer. Were Applejack a liar, she could have said she needed to work early in the morning, but she couldn't do that. Her morals wouldn't allow it. She had the day off tomorrow as well, and staying over with a friend was a nice way to spend a day off. As much as she personally wanted to go home, Applejack knew what she had to say. “Well, Rarity... I suppose staying 'til morning couldn't hurt anypony...”
~~~~~~
Tiny, shimmering bubbles and  sweetly-scented water sloshed over the sides of the immaculate tub, the porcelain bowl comfortably housing the entering mare. Applejack groaned loudly as she sank chest first into the hot water, the sheer heat sinking into her bones as the pertness of her rump was also submerged. The relief of the stress she'd been harboring for the last few weeks of apple bucking was enough to nearly knock out AJ on the spot. Applejack had planned on taking a hot bath when she'd returned to the barn, but even the bath at home didn't quite reach this heat. Sweet, mind-melting lava was swirling around her athletic body and filling it with soothing warmth. With the size of the tub, the heat of the water, and the lavish setting it was obvious to the orchard-born mare that Rarity purchased only spa-grade bathing materials.
Applejack took a moment to look around the large bathroom, AJ's large, green eyes taking in the spacious bathing area. The bath was seated in the center of an ellipse shaped room with beautiful black marble floors. The white walls were accentuated with silver towel racks and large pony length mirrors that had Applejack staring at her own content face. Any other time, and she might have found this a little creepy, but AJ felt too good to be unsettled by Rarity's bathing habit. She turned away from the mirrors and simply let herself relax.
Leaning into the side of the overly large porcelain bowl, AJ let her big greens flutter closed and released another long, contented sigh. Even breathing felt good in the hot, steamy water, the sweet smell of the scents filling her senses as the water vapor passed through her nostrils. Every second she let herself recline, another muscle in her body loosened like coaxed lasso and the lower she settled herself into the tub. She was tempted to submerge her whole head and to let the water flood her ears. She didn't flinch or move when rarity also entered the full tub, her soft sigh of contentment only pulling an ear flick out of Applejack. “Enjoying the water, dear?” Rarity asked, sinking in and looking Applejack over. The sister in Rarity could tell that the orange pony needed this bath, the expression on her face was one Rarity had donned only after long, extended periods of work that had left her sore and aching. She could completely empathize with the relief that her friend was currently experiencing.
“Yeah,” Applejack said in a lazy, too-comfortable-to-pronounce-full-sentences voice, “So nice to be soakin', even with the scents 'n all... Y'all have a great taste in baths, Rarity...” She couldn't have cared less about the scenting and suds in the water at the moment. In fact, part of her would have admitted the scents helped her relax a little if she had cared more.
“I know just the thing to top off the heat,” Rarity said, gently wading forth through the water, “How about a nice back rub to help work out all those nasty knots?”
Applejack nodded in agreement before she could formulate enough thought to protest. Once she'd had the time to formulate half a thought, Rarity was already laying hooves on her back. There was a loud, almost startling pop, as weight was rested on Applejack's back, and then a moan of utter delight as AJ found her spine realigned and her back tingling in the pleasant sensation of being rubbed and firmly massaged under the water. Applejack was impressed; she'd known the stylish unicorn visited the spa on a bi-weekly if not weekly basis, but she never had guessed that Rarity had learned to do some spa work herself. This felt like something only a trained masseuse could do.
Smooth, treated hooves ran through her fine fur stroking loose dirt and working loose muscles. Each firm press into the soft, yielding form of the apple mare was a tidal wave of mind numbing release. AJ couldn't squirm, could barely control her vocal cords as she let out squeaks and groans of satisfaction. Rarity watched her gemstone as she “polished” it, stroking Applejack's back and along her neck. Each strong groan and coo her friend let out sent quivers down her spine, and the unicorn loved it. She worked harder, putting every bit of knowledge she'd acquired from Lotus to work as she forced Applejack to make more of those sweet, stimulating sounds. It was fascinating to watch the strong, stubborn farm-pony yield like this. To see her so vulnerable was something... rare.
With all the heat and her body so relaxed, Applejack began to find it hard to stay awake. She was so drowsy that when Rarity moved over her, wrapping her hooves around AppleJack and began to move her she didn't resist, didn't even question it. She found herself draped against the side of the tub, her forelegs dangling off of the side. She wanted to ask Rarity why she'd stopped and raised her head to do so, amazed at how good her neck felt. Then she felt hooves on her head, and all thought left her, running off to play in orchards with little filly friends.
Rarity knew Applejack was asleep. The farm-pony had to be asleep with all of the cute, little sleep noises she was making. “You sleep like a filly, darling,” Rarity whispered, not in the least bit worried with Applejack sleeping on the side of the tub. In fact, Rarity rather preferred it that way. Smiling wide, she let her hooves move from Applejack's head and slid them lower, moving close and hugging herself to Applejack's back as she had to move her. Celestia, she was beautiful all drenched and defenseless like that. Rarity could barely contain her derisive glee at having her living mannequin bathed in scented water. Applejack's drowsy mind may not have noticed, but the scents were of apple and cinnamon, simply perfect for tonight. Rarity buried her face in the crook of Applejack's neck and took a deep breath, careful not to breathe in any water, but basking in the smell.
It was exquisite, the cinnamon accentuating the smell of the apple and the apple scent melding and enriching the scent of Applejack. Apples suited the farm-pony, Rarity had to admit. It made her smell so sweet, so tempting, so... Rarity didn't bother resisting. She licked along Applejack's neck, tasting the mare she had, not thirty seconds ago, been massaging and playing host to. The intoxicating power Rarity felt only enhanced the whole situation. Rarity felt her hips move against Applejack's of their own accord, acting on the arousal she'd been denying so far. Her pelvis bumped into AJ's firm rump, the toned, very developed rear pressing back into Rarity's need. It was Rarity's turn to moan, and she did so softly, controlling her volume just so she could continue to indulge. Her moan was met by a quiet reply from the sleeping Applejack.
Licking AJ again, Rarity allowed herself a moment to further indulge in her moment of lust, and moaned into her slumbering companion, her hips grinding awkwardly against that round, beautifully developed derriere. The water sloshed with Rarity's movements, sweeping around them in choppy waves, as Rarity cooed against Applejack's cheek. It was too good. The power and pleasure stoked fires in Rarity's loins and mind, burning away all thought but her lust and need for the mare against her. She wanted Applejack, romantically, possessively, sexually. She wanted the orange, exhausted mare completely to herself.
The cute sleep noises that Applejack had been making were now interspersed with little moans of her own. Rarity knew in the back of her mind that she should stop, perhaps just help her friend out of the tub. Yet she didn't, unable to stop her hips with AJ's cute little moans ringing back in her ears and off of the walls.  She shifted her hooves to stroke AJ's sides trying to pull more sweet noises from the apple farmer as she pleased herself. Had they not been in the bath, Rarity might have worried about the mess she was sure to have been making on Applejack's haunches.
“M-more,” Rarity said as she ground her friend, more intensely. As good as it all felt, she craved more, yearned to raise Applejack's hips and mount her like a stallion, or to roll the mare over and kiss her face. Rarity let out a soft grunt of frustration as she found the stimulation she got from grinding was no longer satisfactory. Deciding to risk waking her friend, she shifted in the water, sloshing a little over the bowl of the tub again.
Adjusting her grip on the mounted, slumbering mare, Rarity grunted softly, pursing her lips, and shifted AJ's weight, so that she could better ride her sleeping conquest. Her hooves ran along the underside of the freckled mare, as Rarity rolled her hips, kissing the neck of the powerful sleeping beauty she held against her. The shifting in the water and the fashionista's weight upon her caused Applejack to stir, her eyes half-opening just as a pleasant, warm sensation left her neck.
“Wh-wha? Rarity?” Applejack's soft voice called out as she half-heartedly tried to paddle in the water. Rarity froze, cursing her bad luck that Applejack had to wake up right when she was getting to the good part. She put on her sweetest voice, prepping an excuse. “I've got you, dear,” Rarity whispered in her ear, inwardly sighing in frustration, “you fell asleep in the tub. Perhaps we should get out and dry up?”
As she watched Applejack nod, she vowed silently to herself, that tonight she and Applejack both would not go unfulfilled. Helping her friend up, Rarity started moving them both from the bath and sighed, a sly smile spreading over her lips as she watched AJ's rear leave the tub. The night was still young, after all.
~~~~~~
The soft bristles of the textured brush combed through the fine fur of Applejack's coat as she rested atop the red, satin sheets of Rarity's bed. The sweet, white unicorn using her magic to run a 'designer' brush over Applejack as the contented mare rested beside her. “Are you sure it's okay for me to be sleeping here with you, Rarity,” Applejack asked, not really wanting to tell Rarity that she was nervous about sleeping in the same bed as her after all of the touching that had happened that evening. “I'm sure I'd be just fine on your couch...”
“Nonsense,” exclaimed the beautiful unicorn next to her, a smile on her face, “Why should you sleep on the couch when this mattress is so much more spacious? You'll be no trouble if we share. Besides, we've shared a bed plenty a-time  before now. Remember our first slumber party with Twilight?” Rarity leaned in and gave Applejack a concerned look, her wide, vibrant blue eyes staring into the forest green hues of Applejack's. "Is something bothering you?" The brush continued to slide over Applejack's coat as the two stared at one another, a light blush coming to AJ's cheeks as her eyes began to dart between Rarity's lips and her eyes. She wanted to kiss those lips, wanted to get lost in those eyes, wanted to tell Rarity that tonight, she felt more attracted to the snow-white mare than she would normally admit.
“I er... no, Rarity, I'm fine with sleeping here. I just didn't want to be in your way is all,” Applejack managed, looking away. Her eyes roamed as Rarity assured her she would not be in the way, passing over the shelves with rolls of cloth and Rarity's work desk as the pony searched for something to distract her. She didn't really mind letting Rarity do all of the coat-brushing as she might have with another pony. She understood now that Rarity truly enjoyed such things, and so long as she didn't have to put any green goop on her face before sleeping, she'd just allow Rarity to show her form of hospitality.
Rarity hummed as she worked, brushing AJ's mane to divide each long strand of hair until there were no tangles. Back and forth she moved the brush, working and weaving the gold silk that was her friend's mane until she thought it perfect. Only when she was done did she begin braiding the lengthy mane in a complex, comfortable tie before moving to Applejack's tail. This was something like a dream come true to Rarity, a minute, private fantasy she'd harbored for a long time. She had a personal, living doll in front of her that she could style and beautify for the night. A pony who, at least for the moment, didn't mind being her instrument of beauty was laying right in front of her and in no way protesting as Rarity worked her magic.
“You look stunning, Applejack,” Rarity said, striking up a little conversation with her drowsy friend, “I do wish you'd take spa treatments every few weeks, perhaps join Fluttershy and I on occasion.”
“Y'all know I can't-” Applejack began, pausing as she was interrupted by a yawn, “-do that, Rarity. I've got the farm to take care of, and Applebloom to watch over. I'm not into all that girly stuff, anyway.  Besides, I'd rather leave being beautiful to you. Y'all do an excellent job at that.” Applejack's compliment made Rarity halt in the process of braiding the farm-pony's tail, both very flattered, and interested that AJ found her to be beautiful.
“Do you mean that, Applejack? Truly?” Rarity asked, slowly continuing to braid AJ's tail, “Do you really think I'm beautiful?”
Even in her tired state, Applejack had enough energy to scoff at Rarity's sudden lack of self-confidence. “'Course I mean it. There ain't a mare or colt in Ponyville without hay fever who'll tell you any different. You're gorgeous, Rarity. A fashion pony with eyes that make the world sparkle and a heart bigger 'n a barrel of Gala apples,” AJ replied, her drowsy eyes slowly being blinded by her heavy eyelids. Applejack didn't mean to flatter Rarity, and as she rested her head on her forelegs, she thought she'd seal her point with a final, honest, thought. “Anypony'd be lucky to have you for a special somepony.”
Applejack may not have meant to flatter Rarity, but she sure had succeeded in doing so. Rarity was blushing now, her cheeks tinting her lovely features several shades of pink. She could have kissed the apple pony for those kind words. As a matter of fact, she thought to herself, I think that's exactly what I'll do.
Rarity could hear the beginnings of those cute sleeping noises again as Applejack surrendered herself to sleep once more, the comfortable sheets and pleasant stroking of a brush on her coat being more than enough to put her down. Smiling wider, she looked down at her masterpiece, her special pony, and if she had her way, her special somepony. Sure, Applejack's demeanor could be rough, brutish even, but beneath that tough exterior was an exemplary, stunning, beautiful mare. A mare who was just waiting to be cultivated like the apples she so tenderly raised. Rarity would have her, from tonight and onward.
Standing on the bed and setting the brush aside, Rarity looked down at her friend, drinking every detail of the dolled-up pony in. Starting at the tip of her cute muzzle and moving slowly down over her freckled cheeks to that slender neck and the beginning of her athletic torso, Rarity examined her mare from head to hoof. Her horn lit up as she stared down at Applejack, her magic picking up long, scarlet ribbons from her work table and floating them over to the bed. She made short work of wrapping the two around Applejack's four hooves, her magic tying each into tasteful little bows as though AJ was a sexy, bound present.
Pulling Applejack's legs with the ribbons, she turned AJ onto her back, her arms over her head and her lustrous mane flared out beneath her. Leaning down she licked at AJ's chest, getting another taste of her sweet friend. With her so well groomed and taken care of, Rarity could taste and smell nothing but rich sweetness and feel nothing but the soft yielding body of the mare beneath her. She kissed over the slightly wet coat she'd just licked before kissing Applejack's collar bone and nipping it gently. “Oh yes, Applejack,” she whispered  as AJ moaned in her sleep, the poor mare not wanting to awaken, “ make those sweet little sounds, darling.”
Continuing to explore Applejack's body with her mouth, Rarity lifted a hoof and ran it down AJ, stroking her midsection and down to the farm mare's powerful hips and haunches, drawing more sweet noise from her sweet prisoner. Applejack squirmed in her sleep, trying to shift away from whatever was arousing her, but unable to. The undulation made Rarity want her more as she kissed and nibbled along AJ's ribs and  then down to her tummy. Leaning in, she nuzzled her way into that smooth stomach and took a deep breath of sweet cinnamon Applejack. Her hooves pressed insistently into the captive's cutie marks, rubbing firmly as she had rubbed AJ's back in the tub.
A sharp gasp came from above Rarity's head and she looked up at Applejack's face to see her red, burning cheeks and her features contorted into a pleasured moan. Her eyes were beginning to struggle open when Rarity moved up her body, taking note to enforce her control over the ribbons binding AJ. As the mare opened her eyes and then her mouth to ask what was happening, Rarity descended on her, sealing their lips in a deep, passionate kiss. Their first kiss.
Tongues wrestled and struggled against one another, AJ's hips and torso wriggling up against Rarity's body in a panic as Applejack locked her wide eyes onto the beautiful face of Rarity whose eyes were closed. Her mind was blank, unable to properly panic, nor to accept this unforeseen circumstance.
Rarity broke the kiss as AJ went still against her, their lips parting with a small wet pop and her eyes fluttering open to stare down into Applejack's. “Sorry to wake you, Applejack darling, but I simply could no longer resist,” Rarity explained, leaning in and running her tongue over AJ's plump lip for added effect. When she felt the mare move, she locked their lips again, confident her magic could hold the worn-out mare in place.
Applejack's confusion had only intensified at Rarity's explanation. It had told her nothing, and she wanted answers. What was going on? Why was she unable to move? Why was Rarity kissing her like this? Why was it all so arousing? Applejack could not deny the feelings the whole situation engendered, and wouldn't have been honest to herself not to return the deep kiss. Her tongue pressed back to Rarity's again, this time to welcome it, rather than to force it out as she had tried before. Too soon, Rarity pulled away, her gorgeous features enhanced by her arousal, and her excellently kept mane dangling down to brush Applejack's cheek.
“R-Rarity, what's goin'” Applejack began, panting slightly from the shocking awakening, “What's goin' on? Why are you kissin' on me?” She wasn't angry, just terribly confused, and Rarity could see that in her eyes, which made her just smile. She leaned in again, and AJ closed her eyes, expecting another kiss. She received one on the curve of her ear along with a sensual bite that made her gasp and moan.
“I'm claiming you, Applejack,” Rarity whispered, hotly into her ear,  nipping her again just to hear her cute little gasps, “I'm going to love you until you can't lift a hoof. I'm going to tame that wild cowpony in you and keep it all to myself. I'm going to please and fulfill you until your sexy voice is too hoarse to make those hot little moans you've been making. I want you, Applejack, and I will have you.”  She could feel Applejack's heart-rate rising against her, and could tell that the way she was talking aroused AJ by her squirms and half-stifled moans.
“W-wait, Rarity,” Applejack began, cutting herself off with a moan as Rarity bit her sensitive ear in that deliciously arousing way again, “Rarity, untie me and l-let's talk about this.” She had meant it when she said she thought anypony would be lucky to catch Rarity's eye, but she would never have guessed that she would be the pony to do it. Applejack wasn't sure she was comfortable with the thought of being with somepony yet.
She was relieved when Rarity pulled back, staring into her eyes, figuring she may have gotten through to the beautiful unicorn. She smiled with an innocent look, hoping the unicorn would be reasonable. “No, Applejack, I don't think I will,” Rarity said as she evaluated that smile, before leaning down to tease AJ's ears again, “ You can't run from this, Applejack. You're going to stay right here and face every lick of pleasure I give you. You've been such a naughty mare, teasing me with that perfect body of yours all evening. Now, I simply must indulge.”
With that, she moved down and kissed Applejack's neck, nipping and licking to further stimulate her moaning captive. AJ tried to struggle and manage out words, but all that did was rub her smooth coat against the erotic, heated body above her as her protests melted into moans. Rarity began moaning back into her neck as their bodies touched, and the vibrations of sound only turned AJ on more. Nothing she did helped to cool down the situation. Then she felt something else; something grazing over her thighs, trying to slip between them.
AJ's next moan was louder than before as Rarity's hoof found its mark. “Oh my, Applejack,” Rarity cooed, her voice muffled slightly against Applejack's coat, “I knew you loved it, but not quite this much. I daresay a bath couldn't make somepony this wet.”  Rarity giggled and touched Applejack's marehood again, stroking and pressing deeply into the personal wet area.
“Rarity, Rarity please! I'm- Ah! I can't think,” The blonde pony managed between gasps, the perverse situation making her more aroused than she'd ever found herself before. The more she struggled, the more intense everything felt. “Rarity, I need to think about this! I like you! I'll admit it! B-but please give me a moment! All of this is just too much!”
To Applejack's relief, Rarity stopped for a moment, pulling up off of AJ. Looking into those beautiful, blue eyes, Applejack could tell that Rarity was half-lost to her own lust, but  as the white mare nodded, her horn glowing, Applejack knew she was willing to listen. “Look, Rarity. I like you a lot. This whole evening, I've been thinking about it. When you touch me, my heart gets the wobbles, and my back tingles...in a good way,” Applejack confessed, trying to pull herself up the bed a little bit. She managed to roll onto her side and look up at Rarity before continuing, “I'd be honored to be... well, to be your special somepony. I'd just like to go a little slower than this is all.”
Rarity's expression was a haze of emotion, there was relief, love, but mostly, Applejack saw lust, an intimidating lust that ran shivers down AJ's spine. “That's so sweet of you, Applejack, dear.” Rarity said, loosening the ribbon binding AJ's hind legs. Applejack smiled and shifted her weight, moving to get her hind legs under her so that she could hopefully present her forelegs to Rarity after a bit of turning, but just when she had her hooves under her. She felt two ribbons, one for each leg bind her again leaving her with her rump on high and her hinds spread.
“There's just one problem with taking it slow, love,” Rarity said as she mounted Applejack from behind as she had when the farm-pony had been in that coat tight suit, “I'm simply too needy to stop now. Be a dear and make those delectable noises for me again, would you? I do so enjoy hearing them.”
With that, Rarity pressed her hips forward, her pelvis smacking firmly into the rounded haunches of her lover, pushing a moaning gasp from Applejack. Using her magic as she pulled her hips back, she lifted and shifted aside the beautiful tail of her lover before rutting against her again. The farm-pony knew she had lost, her will to resist any longer gone. She wanted this too, and to deny it was a lie. She would have preferred to take things slowly, it was true, but this was with Rarity,  and she knew her generous friend would have stopped if she didn't need this. Hiking up her haunches and mustering power known only to the apple-bucking ponies of Sweet Apple Acres, she flexed and tore the cloth with a grunt, pushing back into the movements of Rarity.
Rarity gasped as her soaked nethers ran against the flexing  plot of her dear companion, the wet slap ringing in her ears and mixing with the moans of Applejack beneath her.  She was enjoying herself too much to notice that the majority of the ribbons she was holding with her magic were torn. Applejack's coos and moans climbed in volume as she took an active role in the lovemaking, pressing back into Rarity's accelerating thrusts. Sharp gasps and moans slipped out of her whenever Rarity hit the protruding swollen pleasure-knob within her soaked love lips.
The two ponies matched the pace of their thrusts as the room became heated with their movements. The feeling of Rarity's weight atop her, pressing her into the sheets as her smooth, hot coat pressed down onto AJ's back. Before long, Rarity had the orange pony leaking onto the bed. Her lover's sweet moans from above only egged her on as she replied with her own sultry vocalizations. Yet it wasn't enough; she needed more. She knew they both needed more. “Harder!” she demanded, pressing back into Rarity.
Rarity gasped, looking down at the pony below her a bit surprised at the sudden command. “Wh-what?” She asked, grinding her hips against AJ with a long drawn out cry.
“I said HARDER, Rarity!” Applejack insisted, pushing back with some considerable force, her strength almost throwing Rarity off. Gripping Applejack tightly for fear of falling backwards, Rarity slammed her hips against her lover with all the power her delicate body could muster. The burst of intense sensation was shocking, and she did so again eagerly.
“Oh, so beastly, Applejack,” Rarity suggested as she felt herself begin to sweat, wanting to slow down and take it at that slower, more comfortable pace as she noticed how disheveled her covers were becoming. Applejack would have none of that, pushing back into her again and once again, nearly throwing her lover off.
“If you're gonna mount me, Rarity, y'all come ready for a wild ride! This 'aint the time to be delicate. I need this, and by Celestia, as my marefriend, you're gonna give it to me nice n' hard or I'm gonna mount you instead!” Rarity got the message loud and clear, gripping Applejack hips and keeping up that vigorous, rough thrusting. The pair of them moaned in chorus to one another. Both of them were nearing that climax they had been struggling toward all evening. Applejack bit her lower lip embracing each powerful slap into her rump and the jolts to her juicy clitoris as she and her lover climbed the ladder of ecstasy.
“Oh yes,” AJ mumbled past her lip, her eyes clamped shut in delight and sweat beginning to mat down her coat as the hot and heavy love making intensified. Rarity squeezed her cutie marks again, swinging her wide, marshmallow hued hips into AJ as she closed in on her own fulfillment as well. “Oh Applejack! I'm so close. Don't stop!”
“No one's stoppin' nothin'” AJ said, her accent in full force as  she reached her peak. The two of them froze, quivering for a full second against one another before the welling pressure between them burst and flooded out. Their moans filled the boutique, resonating like the notes of a grand organ. Their bodies quivered and trembled, their hinds and haunches soaked with physical approval.   The two ponies were lost to words and the world around them, unable to see or hear or feel anything but one another. Then they collapsed,
Rarity falling atop her lover, AJ toppling a second later and landing with Rarity dangling off of her, both of them panting in the lingering heat. The pair of them rested against one another, Rarity's magic fading as she lost interest in maintaining it.
Opal looked into the room as she passed, the puffy white cat looking lividly at the pair of exhausted ponies. The cat was certain it was their shouting that had ruined her nap. Hiking up her nose and tail, the cat continued down to the kitchen, making a note to be extra mean to her owner as punishment in the morning.
~~~~~~
“I... I love you Applejack,” Rarity said as she washed AJ's back, rubbing her shoulders and sides, “I did mean it when I said I wanted you. Honestly. I wasn't trying to use you for a one-time fling. You know I'd never dream of playing with your feelings that way. I know my approach may have been a bit... rash, but I do hope you won't hold it against me?”
Applejack just sighed and enjoyed the hot water, looking at the walls again. Rarity had been apologizing all morning, trying her best to cater to AJ and make sure she wasn't angry. AJ had remained silent, mostly to torture Rarity a little for surprising her in her sleep, but she wasn't actually angry with Rarity. She'd meant all the things she'd said while the two of them were pressed together on that mattress, and she knew she'd have to tell Rarity that eventually. She just wanted a little time before she did so.
After a few more minutes of having Rarity massaging her, Applejack turned around, locking eyes with Rarity, the pale unicorn not looking away, even though there was sorrow in her eyes. “You know what you did was wrong, right?” Applejack asked, her face stern and serious like when she scolded Applebloom. Rarity nodded, her expression solemn and guilt-ridden as she was reprimanded. “And you aren't going to do it again, are you?” Rarity shook her head.
Applejack smiled, leaning in and kissing Rarity on her puffy lips. “Next time, I get to tie you up. Then we're square, darlin'.”