Applejack considered herself a rather simple girl. Wake up, work the farm, make money by selling apples, see to it that her sister had a happy childhood, go to bed, repeat.
Not to say that was all her life or that she didn’t have friends. Mostly a handful she had since jr high. All of whom, agreed, that said she seriously needed to get laid.
Applejack, however, never had an interest in romance. For you see.... Well, what kind of story teller would I be if I simply expositioned all of this to you right now? No. What you all probably want, is for me to get to how this human version of Applejack, to clarify fell in love with this story worlds Rarity. Who, if you seen the cover art, was a mermaid.
Well, it happened, like so...
*****
‘RING RING!!” Applejacks alarm clock blurted. As was routine, the farm girls hand slammed into the clock. She yawned, got out of bed, and did her routine jumping jacks and push ups before checking her phone.
“29,” she counted, “30, 31, 3-“
Just then, her cell phone buzzed. And as tempting as it was just to finish, she instead reached out for it to see who it was.
Message from, Rainbow Dash. Friend;
RD; Hey AJ! You better be coming to the party on Saturday!
Applejack looked to the calendar on her wall and rolled her eyes. Yes, she hadn’t forgotten about Pinkie Pies start of summer beach party in three days.
AJ; ‘of course not! I’ll be there.’
RD: ‘good! You need a date? Sure I could find someone you’d like ;)’’
Applejack narrowed her eyes.
Aj: no! Not again, never again! Also, I thought you believed me
She sighed and placed the phone down. Minutes passed, to which Applejack was sure there wasn’t going to be a response. So she finished her push-up for the day. Once done, she was about to pick up her phone to apologize, when it buzzed.
RD ‘Okay, Sorry! You know I didn’t mean it like that, J!
Applejack choose not to respond. She hadn’t opened the text, instead seeing the message on her lock screen. While not inevitable, she could act like she hadn’t read it. Slipping on her boots, she headed out of her room for the day.
*****
“Morning, AJ” her oldest brother, Big Mac, greated.
“Howdy,” Applejack nodded, taking a seat at the table. “What’s for-“
“How about some apple oatmeal and bacon?” Granny Smith said, sliding her a bowl. “The perfect meal to start the day, boost your brain power, look into some colleges-“
Applejack turned and raised an eyebrow.
“Eh... Oh and take care of the farm of course.” With that, Granny Smith, innocently, whistled her way out of the room.
Applejack shook her head, and went to her breakfast. Knowing her family meant well, but still...
“You know,” Big Mac added when Granny Smith left the room, “we just have your best interest at heart.”
“I know.” Applejack sighed and pulled her hat down. “But what? There something wrong with just being happy with where you are?”
“Well, Nope. Still, just because you’d be happy with your life now, doesn't mean you shouldn’t not take wild chances. May regret it later.”
Applejack raised an eyebrow at her, older, brother. “Isn’t this conversation supposed to go the other way?”
Big Mac shrugged. “Well that’s my two bitts. Take it or leave it.”
Applejack chose not to answer that. Instead, to finish off her breakfast before doing some chores. Some good, old, not complicated, chores...
*****
“All I’m saying,” Applebloom whined, “is that if Scootaloo can go, why can’t I?”
Applejack rubbed her temples. “For one, I plan to have a word with Dashie about that. Second, this is a high schooler party. So that’s that!”
Applebloom huffed and leaned back into her seat as the truck approached the middle school. “So you get to drink before you’re 21 and I can’t?!”
Applejack raised one of her fingers from the steering wheel. “Now I didn’t say anything about drinking nothing!”
Applebloom raised her left eyebrow.
“Never you mind that!” Applejack said, face going slightly red. “You hear?. If I see you there, you’ll be grounded for a month. Got it?”
Applebloom groaned in defeat as the truck pulled up to the school. “Understood. Sure it be dumb anyways.”
Tapping her fingers on the steering wheel, not wanting to end this chat on such a sour note, Applejack added, “I’ll tell you what, sugarcube! You and your friends promise not to show up to my party Saturday night, and I’ll let you youngins have your own shingdig in the barn on Sunday.”
Applebloom paused. “Seriously?”
Applejack nodded. “E’yup. Sound fair?”
Applebloom looked circled one of her shoes in the ground. “Girls, and boys?”
Applejack gulped, but answered, “Supervised, but yup.”
“How about booze too?!”
Applejack narrowed her eyes, but let up somewhat realizing applebloom meant that, half seriously.
“Fine, but you mean it?” She asked, not wanting to let around she’d be hosting a party only for that not to happen.
“Cross my heart, so long as you and your friends keep up their end.” Applejack promised.
“Deal!” Applebloom reaches over and have her big sister a hug, before exiting the car for another school day.
Applejack smiles and was about to drive off, when she noticed a pamphlet sticking out from the seat. A giant blue U was all she needed to see before grunting. Probably planted there by Granny or Mac. She figured. Not caring who saw, she tossed the piece of paper out the window and drove off.
*****
“My dear, sweet, Applejack!” an irritating voice startled the farmer as she had organized her locker.
Gritting her teeth, she closed it to see, “Trenderhoof! How are you doing today?” She spoke each word painfully.
“Why never better, Miss Apple.” He said, crossing his arms and leaning against the adjacent locker. “Same old same old. Excited for third period when-“
“No.” Spoke plainly.
Trenderhoof lost his balance on the locker. “Huh? What! I mean… I do-“
“If not the beach party, I’m sure you were about to ask me out on a date or something. And the answer, if no.” She turned from her locker and him.
Trender rubbed his neck, before trying to look all confident again. “Well, um, I mean, if you don’t have-“
Applejack sighed, rubbing her head, and turned around to face him. “Trender, you’re a nice guy that I’m sure would make anyone else happy. Just not me.” She tried to make that last part as apologetic as she could. Honestly not having anything against him.
Seeing that he was about to get pouty, Applejack turned face and walked off before he could make her feel bad. Which, to his credit, she could respect, he didn’t try and Perdue, even if she was sure this wouldn’t be the last time he tried to ask her out.
“Another event going stag, huh?” Another annoying voice asked.
Glaring, Applejack replied to her rainbow haired friend, “You know some days I question our friendship.”
Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Hey, it’s high school. What you’d expect? You’ve either had a boyfriend by now, or else you’d be gay.” She threw her hands up in defense. “Just how it goes!”
“And you can’t just be asexual in piece?”
“Hey! You like or not what you like! I’m just saying that’s how-“ Rainbow squinted. “I thought you told me your were demisexual?”
Applejack shrugged. “Meh, same-ish thing. Technically it is a form of asexuality. Besides, does better to keep boys at bay than saying you’re demi.”
“Except Trender it seems.” Rainbow added, sounding more sympathetic this time. “But hey! You’re not the only one who regrets that one time you were nice to a boy you hadn’t realized was starting to like you until it was too late.”
Applejack snickered. “So I guess Shy’s brother just asked you to the party?”
“Yeah yeah,” Rainbow patted her head. “And hey, I’m not saying you have to make a life long commitment. But there’s still nothing wrong with being opened minded while still young. Break a few hearts, if not him give someone a chance if you don’t want to be considered gay. Or he'll kiss a girl if you’d like! That’s all I’m saying.”
Applejack pulled up her backpack. “Or, you can just respect that someone wants to just be happy single,” she lied, surprisingly well.
“Okay, okay. Still, we only got two years left before we hit the real world,” Rainbow said with sincerity. “I just don’t want you to say you had any regrets down the line if you didn’t try.”
Applejack sighed. “It’s fine. And, as much as I hate you, I do appreciate you looking out for me.” The warning bell rang. “I’ll see you later. And I promise; if anyone catches my interest, you’ll be the first to hear!”
“I better!” Rainbow snickered, before heading their separate ways.
****
“Needing a boyfriend, the nerve of some people!” Applejack complained as she harvested some apples into a basket later that afternoon. “Why, that’s the problem with teens nowadays,” she spoke as if she wasn’t a teenager herself. “Always thinking if they’re alone and not sleeping with someone, they’re a problem with them.”
She looked around at the empty orchard and took a breath. “Yeah, and I make a good case for myself.” Climbing down the ladder, she continued to talk to herself. “What? They think just because someone’s ace they don’t think about having a special someone? That the only thing stopping them is because the closest person she finds attractive is her best friend? And even then as hardly someone she’d want to date?”
Once on the ground, she kicked the tree truck. “Or the fear of what would happen when their partner wants to have sex after months and months of dating? Is it wrong that they would want to wait for someone they find attractive? Someone that wouldn’t mind spending the rest of their life on a farm? Or at the very least someone who would-“
“Oh would you stop with the dramatics already?!”
Applejack nearly jumped out of her skin at the unfamiliar voice. “What! Who said that?!” A moment later, she heard a splash from the nearby watering hole. “I heard you!” she called out, racing to the pond. “You’re on private property!”
Reaching the lake, she saw that no one was there. However, the ripple in the water showed someone had just dived in to avoid detection. Looking around, she acted like this wasn’t the case and walked off. Instead, she hid behind a nearby tree, waiting for the culprit to surface. Not that she thought whoever she was, based on what the voice sounded like, could be a threat. Still, instead of diving in blindly, Applejack waited to see who the intruder was before she acted.
When several minutes had gone by with no one surfacing, Applejack was just starting to think of one of two things. Either there was no one in the pound and she had just been imagining things, or that, whoever was in there, was in serious trouble. Before she could make up her mind, a purple haired head popped out of the water. Keeping low, Applejack watched as the girl looked around before swimming back to shore. The farmers plan had been to confront the girl once she got out of the water. Yet, when a good ten minutes passed by, and no person had come out, Applejacks impatience came to an end. So, she creeped over to the place where she saw the girl swimming too. Sure enough, by the waters edge, she saw the girls head and shoulders sticking out of the water as the rest remained submerged.
“I beg your pardon there, missy-“
Before she could finish, the girl turned in surprise. Bright violet eyes that had Applejack mesmerized for half a second, before said eyes widened in horror as the stranger tried to swim away.
“Hey wait!” Applejack called out, being a little bit faster as she jumped into the water, grabbing the mysterious girl before she could get away.
“Let me go this instance, you Ruffin!” The stranger said, fighting back.
“Now hold on there, missy!” Applejack protested, surprised with how much resistance this girl, whom she had guess wasn’t much older than, was putting up. It wasn’t enough for Applejack to be kissing this little tug of war as she dragged the girl back to shore. “Now I don’t know what made you think going for a swim in this here pond was a good idea. But I’m,” she huffed, as they started to come out of the water, “going to have to ask you too... too...”
It started slowly at first. Once the girls lower half was dragged out of the pond, Applejacks first guess to the bright blue was just the bottom half of girls swimwear. The next step her brain took was to assume it was just some kind of costume. Not an unreasonable explanation to anyone in her situation. That theories plausibility diminished as said appendage in question curved upwards in such a way no human legs could of done so to smack her in the face. If Applejack hadn’t been so stunned at what she was seeing, she may have been able to dodge and hold on. Instead, the slap of the tale have the stranger the chance she needed to slip out of Applejacks grip and to dive back into the water.
Applejack, having fallen onto her rear, rubbed at her face before standing up, able to watch the silhouette raced to the other side of the pond. Once as far as she could get, the, mermaid’s, head surfaced to stare back.
Both girls eyes continued to stay firmly locked onto one another’s. Both waiting for the other to make the first move. If only because neither seemed quite sure what to do....
Applejack continued to stare. The girl, mermaid, simply stared back. Eye’s locked, mussels tense, ready to jump at the smallest of movements if it came down to it. Neither of whom seemed very sure of what to make of the situation. Until at last, Applejack spoke when she noticed the faint red that swirled around the girl.
“Um, you alright their… miss?” she asked
The mermaid (whom you probably guessed was the Rarity of this story) responded. Looking down at the blood, and then anywhere but towards Applejack.
“Look I-“ Applejack began, stepping into the water, feet deep. “Well…”
“I’m not… real!” Rarity said. Both girls blinked. “Ye… Yes! Silly little human.” To Applejacks asoinistment, Rarity lifted her arms out of the water and began to wave them in the air. “I am but an image from you working the fields too long. Wooo! Perhaps you should go home, lie down, and not mention this to anyone and- You’re not buying this, are you?”
Arm’s crossed, Applejack shook her head. “Nope. So, we can either keep stalemating until you likely bleed to death, or we can just accept this is really happening and go from there. What do you say? One way or another, I’m not leaving.”
Rarity raised a finger to protest. She held it there for a moment, going between the pros and cons. However, after wincing in pain, she dove back into the water. Only for her backside and tail end, which Applejack could now see was cut, and possible infected, sticking out of the water as Rarity swam slowly forward. Once across the shore, she poked out her head, and Applejack was able to get a good look at her visitors face.
“Um… Hi.” Applejack managed.
“Yes,” Rarity nodded, “I suppose introductions are in order. I am Rarity. Fashion designer, very real marooned distressed mermaid and such.” She said, placing a hand to her chest and bowing her head.
“Eh…” Applejack,” Aj responded. “Er, human, apple farmer and…” she rubbed her chin, smirking, before adding, “not crazy, nor had any reason why I’d be seeing things aside from being hit on the head by a fish’s tail.”
Rarity started to say something, then narrowed her eyes upon realizing Applejack was being funny. “Well I wouldn’t have slapped you if you had let me go when I told you too.”
“And I-“ Applejack shook her head. “First things first, let’s see about fixing that cut-“ As Applejack reached out for the tail, Rarity quickly slammed it back down into the water. Redding the part where she had splashed. “You want my help, or not? Could always go get help. Sure a lot of other humans around here would, love, to meet you and-“
“Oh, fine,” Rarity huffed, lifting her tail back up out of the water.
Applejack nervously chuckled as she went in. “Sorry. I guess tail touching is a sensitive topic?’
“Well, um… No!” Rarity stiffened as Applejack took hold of the tail.
Applejack looked sadly at it. “Dang. What happened? For that matter, how’d you end up all the way out here?” When no response came, Applejack looked down to see Rarity had gone deaf quiet and was looking away. “Oh, um, if you don’t mind-“
“I actually would mind.” Rarity quipped. Which caused Applejack to recoil. “Sorry.”
“That’s okay,” Applejack said, focusing back on the tail. It was clear the problem was the injury was trying to heal itself, only for it to swell back open once submerged. While she couldn’t guess how long it had been like that, she quickly realized if she was going to help, it couldn’t be here. “So, um,” Applejack thought, taking out her sweat band, wrapping it around the bruise. “You say you’re a fashion designer?” Of all the things she could have asked, it seemed like the best/less awkward things to get a conversation going between them.
“Oh, why yes!” Rarity perked up. “I had quite the collection and display back home.” As she went on, Applejack finished wrapping up the tail, and laid back down on the shore next to Rarity. “All kinds of odd ends and nicknacks.” She looked a little saddened. “You know what, never mind. I’m sure it will sound silly if I tried to explain.” Her tail started to go back into the water.
“No, No!” Applejack protested. While something like fashion seemed like one of the most trivial things in the world, she had to get the mermaids respect for what she had in mind. “Sounds interesting… although, living underwater, what do you use as fabric?”
“Ah! Why yes, I suppose when you think about on the mater, it is rather amazing we have anything that would work like your human materials.” She reached out a hand for Applejack’s pant legs, only for the farmer to jerk it away. “Oh! I’m so sorry. I didn’t-“
“No, go ahead,” Applejack, reluctantly, stretched out her leg to her. “I suppose it’s only fair after letting me touch your tail.”
Rarity gave a warm smile. “Why thank you, darling.” She then ran her fingers between Applejack’s pant legs. “Still, while I can, if you mind, use as an opportunity to learn more about your fabrics; The secret to our wears is a combination of things. Mostly seaweed, twigs and leaves, and the occasional fabrics that may drift into the seas. The trick, in those case, are recycling. That and while ‘human trash’ isn’t taboo,” she shook her head, “it isn’t illegal or anything. So then what you’ll need to do for more picky, uptight clientele-“
And so Rarity went on about all the way she could make mermaid clothing, and the types of things she had made. Applejack, meanwhile, listened, bordly at first. Even a little irritated that she was wasting time here on something silly like fashion when there was work she could be doing. In fact, she had planned to only allow her quest to raddle for about five minutes before getting to the more important things. However, as it where, she found herself… If not fully engulfed or mesmerized by what Rarity had to say, kind of intrigued. Perhaps it was watching the fire of passion in Rarity’s eyes as she explained everything you could do with shells. Or maybe it was more just the surrealness of the situation. Still, rather than rushing her on, Applejack even found herself asking questions about Rarity’s work. And as the sun was starting to set down, the farm girl found herself curious enough to be mindful of what everyone at CHS wore the following day.
“Now that doesn’t seem right.” Applejack protested. “I mean, I get mass appeal, but surely not everyone would want the exact same thing.”
Rarity sighed after telling the tale of her ‘famous’ princess dress. “Well what can I say about school mentality.”
“School…” Applejack blinked, before laughing. “I’m sorry, I just got what you were referring too. Although we humans call it; herd mentality. Igive you credit for sticking it out.”
Rarity nodded and smiled again. “Oh yes. Trend’s don’t last forever. And I was able to at last start creating new designs again. A bit more pocket money for the trouble.”
Applejack nodded. “Yeah. So-“ she looked up at the darkening horizon. “Ah, shoot! It’s getting late.” On the inside, she was both cruising herself on how wrapped up she had gotten into the conversation. And yet, she hadn’t felt as if it was all a waste. This Rarity sure seemed like an interesting- A look at the bandaged tail brought Applejack back to reality.
“Oh,” Rarity frowned. “I mean… I didn’t mean to take up so much of your time.”
“I suppose you have to get going?” the mermaid asked, deflating.
Applejack sighed and scratched her neck. “Yeah, about that… I know we just meet, but, um, how much do you trust me?”
Rarity looked up at her in suspicion. “Why?”
Applejack fiddled her thumbs.
“Well… It’s just that, I don’t think leaving you here in this pond with such a bruised tail is the wisest idea. You’ll need to keep the injury dry for a few days to let it heal.”
Rarity started to lower her tail into the water, before placing it on the shore.
“I mean, I’m guessing you need sleep, unless I’m wrong.”
Rarity huffed. “You are correct.” She patted her tail on the shore. “And I can see you concern if a less than generous as you have been human stumbles onto me. That said,” she squinted her eyes forward. “What do you have in mind?”
*****
“Trust me, you wouldn’t have liked it if I had used a wheel barrel.”
Rarity huffed, but continued to hold onto her new friend as she carried her across the fields. “Well in anycase, you better not be taking me to some science lab. Or… Or I’ll haunt you for the rest of your days.”
Applejack chose not to say anything smart as she felt the fear in Rarity’s words. She couldn’t blame the poor dear. Having no choice but to trust her, and no way to make sure she wouldn’t be betrayed. Aj would have been lying to herself if she hadn’t thought of how much revenue she could make for the farm out of this. But the better person, as telling herself that all a scientific find would do was boost her college pro-aquentine’s ego, thought better.
“Well, here we are!” she said as they approached the barn in question. “Give me a,” she used her hand that had been holding onto Rarity’s back to open the door. Causing the mermaid to wrap her arm’s much more tightly around the farmer.
Applejack stiffened at the tight embrace, as she opened the door, and flipped on the lights before holding back onto her friend. “right then,” she smiled warmly as Rarity pulled back from the embrace. “Not as homely as I’d like with the company, but we got what you need.” She was about to set Rarity down into the old tub they had stored in here, before realizing… Well, that it is old and rusty.
“Eh, you mind giving me a sec to clean it out?” Aj asked, noticing the disgusted look on Rarity’s face.
“By all means.”
Applejack then set Rarity down on the floor and proceeded to unwind the hose. Once set up, she turned it on and got to work making the tub acceptable to the quest.
“So,” Rarity inquired as she watched. “I told you a lot about myself, only fair you do the same.”
Applejack paused and looked away. “Oh, um… I’m not a very interesting person, sad to say.” She put a little extra arm power into her next scrub.
“Oh, I don’t believe that,” Rarity puffed. “You seemed to have a lot on your mind from what I heard.”
Applejack stiffened. “Eh… So how many days-“
“Quite a bit. And yes, I heard each and everyone of your rambles when you’re alone working your farm.”
Applejacks hide her reddening face. “Sorry about that! Didn’t mean to annoy you, miss!” she started to scrub hard before a warm hand touched her back. Turning, she saw Rarity with a deep worried look in her eyes.
“Hey, I didn’t mean to be rude. But it dose sound like you have a lot of things bottled up.”
Applejack tried to brush her hand away. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
“No it isn’t!” Rarity protested, clamping onto Applejack’s hand.
“Well, it’s none of your business!” Applejack said, trying to pry her hand apart. “In fact, isn’t it unlady like to be easy dropping?”
“Well excuse me for having no-where else to go!” Rarity huffed. “I’m surprised I didn’t babble yesterday from all the stress in your life I had just been unfortunate enough to be projected on.”
“Say’s the one who won’t tell me why she was in my pond to begin with.”
With that, they both glared at each other. Their anger wore off almost immediately.
“I’m sorry,” Rarity said. She let go of Applejack’s had and slumped against the bathtub. “You’re right.”
“No, I’m sorry.” Applejack sat down the brush to lean against the tub with her. “I mean… Even just a day or two would be enough to let you know I have a lot going on.”
Rarity smiled and looked to her bandage tail. “I suppose this fails to hide I had something traumatic happen.” She raised her tail in emphasis before setting it back down.
Applejack scratched her chin. “Well, she then tapped at the floor for a little bit…. “Maybe we can save that talk for another day.”
Rarity shrugged. “I suppose it’s not like I’m going anywhere.” They both laughed. “But I will tell you what happened.” She playful booped Applejack on the noise. “And, I will not expect you to tell me anything you don’t want to share in return.”
Applejack smiled and blushed. “Oh that’s not fair.”
“Seems fair to me,” Rarity added coly. “Well, what would be fair, is if you did at least tell me something about yourself.” She looked to the barn and all it’s tools with fascination. “I can’t imagine you wouldn’t have a lot to tell about apple farming if you had someone to share it with.”
Applejack chuckled. “Oh, well… I suppose.” She went back to cleaning the tub. “I mean, I guess it’s something during harvest season.” She looked over her shoulder to see she still had Rarity’s full attention. “So once we have all of the apple’s harvest for the year, we naturally have a lot to use for ourselves. There are a lot of things you can do with apples. Personal favorite is apple pie?”
“Pie?” Rarity asked, tilting her head.
“Um… well, I guess I’ll have to get you some samples, bit the best way I can describe it to someone who’s never had land food before-“
And on she went. Much like prior, I believe it, with the parts revised, Rarity listened with great interest. Asking questions (far more as it seemed the cultural gap on that end was wider), and filling Applejack with joy as she found herself giving the tub more detail then it need be to keep talking. Which, if this girl wanted to listen, she was all the more happy to share. Even once she had filled up the tub and placed Rarity inside, she continued to share her wisdom on apple farming, and anything else human that came up, to her enthralled audience. Feeling much more satisfied than… well, than she honestly ever had been in a long time.
“So, you’re able to set a fire, inside a wooden house, without burning the house?” Rarity asked, in a combination of preplexington and interest.
“Well, I mean,” Applejack explained. Having leaned against the tub to be eye level with Rarity. “Accidents can happen. Which is why you should pay attention. However, for the most part-“ a bell started to ring that caused Rarity to jolt back. “Whoa there, missy, it’s alright!” Applejack assured as she pulled out her cell phone.
New message from, Big Mac, Brother
BM: You okay? You’re never late for dinner. Finally meet somebody ;) <3
She then noticed the time. “Yikes! It’s getting late,” she turned to Rarity, who seemed just about to ask what that was. “I’ll explain it later.” She started to stand up.
AJ: I’m okay! Just, working hard as always. Be right there, tell granny not to worry.
She started to slide her phone into her pocket. “Will you be okay?”
“I, suppose so.” Rarity answered, leaning into the tub. “You… Won’t tell anyone else, will you.”
“Of course not,” Applejack said, a lot less hesitantly than she would have thought. Which seemed to put the mermaid at ease. “I’ll come back either later tonight or in the morning with some magazines or something to keep you entertained while you heal.” She thought for a moment to possible leave her cell phone to keep Rarity’s boredom at bay, before shutting that idea out at all the possible ways that could go wrong.
“That’ okay,” Rarity insisted. “I’ll be fine.”
“Okay then.” Applejack gave a reassuring smile as she headed towards the door. “I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to turn off the lights. Last thing either of us needs is one of my kin coming out here to turn them off.”
“Oh. Oh! No, no! It’s fine, I’ll be fine, dear. Now run along before they come out here looking for you.”
Applejack nodded before shutting off the lights, and leaving the mermaid alone in the dark. Nowhere to go, nowhere to swim if need be. Fortunately, being a creature that lives underwater, it didn’t take her eyes too long to adjust. The moon being half full outside, she was able to see somewhat the same if applejack had left the lights on. It didn’t stop her anxiety as her tail end continued to hang outside of the bathtub.
“Won’t do you any good, if you don’t get your beauty sleep.” She told herself. Lowering her head under the water, she soon found a comfortable enough position to sleep in. Still, it took her awhile to actually fall asleep. Staring upwards, mind racing, but for the first time with awhile, they were of peaceful, and happy thoughts to occupy her dreams.
Applejack sat at the table, food suntouched, as everyone in her family seemed to be staring at her.
“What?” She finally asked her family. “I can’t be late for dinner for the first time in...” When had she even been?
“No, no!” Applebloom shook her head and went straight for her peas.
Granny Smith just chuckled. “Well it’s about time you shook things up a little, girl.” She paused to stab a piece of pork. “That said, what’s got you to break your, oh so precious, routine for the first time in years? Must be something really special.”
Applejack lowered her face. “Eh... Nothing. I was just... Just,” she swallowed at all of the attention. “Just... Was thinking about the party I promised Applebloom on Sunday.”
Grannies eyes widen. “What now?!”
Applebloom coughed. “What? No! You’re not going to make me cancel?!” She batted her puppy dog eyes at her grannie.
“Oh put those away,” Granny Smith waved off. “Just surprised me. A little fun and stepping out there,” she eyed the older sister, “is just what a girl your age should be doing.”
For once, Applejack found herself pleased to have her grandma hints being brought up. If at the very least it would direct her away from saying she had meet a mermaid, who was camped out in the barn. All alone, so pretty-
“Maybe I should look over it,” Applebloom said, referring to said building. “Get some ideas, go in and-“
“NO!” Applejack shouted as she realized where the conversation had drifted off too. “I mean,” thinking quickly, she came up with a lie that would buy her, hopefully, some time with that problem she now realized she had. “You got me! That’s what I’ve been doing all day. I’m fixing up the place, but I wanted it to be a surprise. Really messy. Even have a family of skunks that are probably still there. So just let me deal with it for a few days? You’ll still get your party.”
The idea of getting skunked seemed good enough to sway all of their interest in investing. Although for good measures;
“So, Granny,” Applejack swallowed a lump in her throat. “You... Really think college be right for me?”
At that, everyone dropped their forks.
“Just as a curiosity. Never said I would!”
With that, Granny Smith rambled on about the days of her father and son going to college. All it could offer, why she should go, and all the other things Applejack hated thinking about. At least it didn’t lead to any questions about her meeting anyone or lead to suspicion. Except for her brother. All through the rest of the evening, he kept giving her a look she couldn’t shake off. A look that she confirmed later that said, I don’t know what, but you’re hiding something else big.
“What?” Applejack asked, ready for bed, brushing her teeth after dinner, as he stood behind her. Waiting his turn.
He simply shrugged. “I didn’t say nothing.”
“Well I don’t know what you’re thinking, but whatever it is, it isn’t.”
“E’yup.” He said. “I bet you had a fun day, all by yourself.”
The way he empathized, self, made Applejack’s skin shiver. “Yeah, just me, myself, I!”
This time, he chuckled at her attempt of lying. “Sure thing, sis.”
She pushed him aside and made her way to her bedroom.
*****
3:02 on the clock, unable to sleep, Applejack continued to look at her ceiling, constantly thinking about the mermaid in the bathtub.
“Sure that would make for one hell of a saying,” she mused to herself. Looking to her clock, she saw that it was now 3:04.
“That’s it!” she declared, sitting up from her bag. Her morning routine be damned. If she couldn’t sleep, she’d make sure she’d catch up on chores Rarity had put her behind on. She threw on her work clothes, grabbed a flashlight, and stuffed her backpack with some books, magazines, as well as sewing needles for Rarity. While she doubted the mermaid would be awake, she figured it would do to make sure the poor girl had a way to entertain herself when she woke up. She then climbed out her window, not wanting to trouble her family, and made her way towards the barn. Opening the door, she saw the lights were still off, and Rarity;s tail still hung out from the side of the tub. She nodded, and quietly made her way over to the tub. She set her present next to the tub, not saying a word, expecting that to be that, when a hand shot out of the water and grabbed her by her shirt collar.
“Who are-“ Rarity started, only to pause as she looked into Applejack’s startled face. “Oh, AJ! Is it morning already.”
“Well, um, I, um, er,” she stammered, staring deep into Rarity’s bright blue eyes as she held her in place.
Rarity soon realized this, and released Applejack from her grip. “I’m terribly sorry, dear! I heard someone come in and may have acted rash.” She looked over Applejack’s shoulder before continuing. “So, how’d you sleep?”
“Um,” Applejack blinked, once her face wasn’t inches apart from Rarity’s. “Oh, um. Couldn’t sleep.” She bit her lip. “Wanted to make sure you were fine.”
Rarity giggled. “Oh. Aren’t you caring one? What’s in the bag?”
“Huh? Oh! I was thinking you were still asleep, so I was going to leave these for ya to avoid cabin fever.” She rummaged through the bag. “Couldn’t sleep either?”
“No, I slept fine. Until I was woken up.”
Applejack flinched. “Sorry about that. I was trying not to wake you.”
“Well,’ she smiled, looking at the magazines, “I’m certainly not going back to sleep now.”
Applejack smiled. “Yeah… I don’t suppose you can read English thou?”
“Afraid not,” Rarity sighed. “Hard to have paper underwater. Although these pictures are more than I could ask for.” She rubbed her chin. “Actually, the more I think about it, the more surprised I am we even speak the same language.”
“Huh.” Applejack pondered that for only a minute. “Guess I can't complain. Inmagine what a headache that would have been to get around!” She chuckled of asking her friend Twilight if she would know. Not that she planed to, but it was sure to leave the bookworm scratching her head.
With that, Applejack was about to get up, leaving it at that. However, clenching her fist, her mind screaming at her all she had to get done, she said, “I could, maybe, read for ya out loud what you want. Maybe even get you started on how to read human while at it.”
Rarity’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
Applejack smiled. “Sure. Least I could do for having the luck of not needing either of us to learn a new speech.
With the fate of Applejack’s morning sealed, she settled back down, reading magazines with her new friend. Once again, even as the sun had risen, minutes before she had to leave for school, she found her time had hardly been wasted. While it would take more than a morning, she found Rarity to be a fast learner. Or perhaps it was just a mermaid who was fascinated with humans type thing.
“So that word is…” Rarity squinted her eyes at the word.
“Is-“ Applejack started.
“No no! Give me just a second. I think I actually got this one.” She rubbed her chin for a bit, before saying. “The… fishion line?”
Applejack laughed. “Fashion. Still, give it a day or two, and you could probably pass for a regular teenage girl.” She eye’d Rarity’s tail. “Few other details aside.” It was then Applejack noticed the sun reflecting off of Rarity’s purple scales. “Oh shoot!” She cursed herself. Pulling out her cell phone, she mouthed, “I gotta get going! Will you be okay without me?”
Rarity lowered her eyes. “Do I have any other choice?”
“Eh, hehe… Right.” She shook her head. “Well, I’ll be back. See ya then!” With a wave and a smile, Applejack raced out the barn door, leaving Rarity to her thoughts, magazines, and fabrics to experiment with as she waited.
For the first hour or two, things were fine. Although she soon realized that she hadn't had anything to eat since yesterday. Which she could understand because of all the excitement, but couldn’t really do anything about it until Applejack came back.
“Should of offered me something,” she muttered, flipping through her current magazine page. Not that she minded with all Applejack had done for her so far.
‘More than anyone back home would of.’ She thought bitterly.
However, it was upon her next turning of the page that she realized that the water she was sitting in had grown increasingly dirty. Another oversight she couldn’t blame Applejack for, but still. How many hours did Applejack say she would be gone for? She couldn’t recall. Just as she was about to groan about having to stay in dirty water for the rest of the day, she happened to noticed the hose Applejack had used to fill the tub with wasn’t that far away. Thinking she could reach it to get some fresh water, she started to stretch her arm out as far as it could go. Which still wasn’t quite enough. Licking her lips, and being too stubborn to give up, she pushed herself right over the edge, and all her troubles began. The weight of her body caused the tub to fall onto its side, emptying I’s entire content within moments. Rarity flopping to the floor as she and the water raced towards the center of the room, where a drain pipe took all of the liquid away.
“Uh-oh,” Rarity mouthed, pushing herself up. “Well at least that takes care of the dirty water problem.” She made a beeline for the hose, and while slow going, she was able to reach it. However, she then realized one very important detail she hadn’t considered when she was just trying to reach the hose while she still had, while very dirty water, some water all the same; she didn’t know how the thing worked. Let alone how to turn it on. For lack of a better word she tried. Tried twisting it, shouting at it, even breaking it, but no water came out as hard as she tried. Finally, with a frustrated grunt, she gave up, and tossed the human contraption to the side, and laid on her back.
As she laid there, the minutes ticking by, she could feel her tail ever so slowly drying up.
“Oh well,” she sighed as the last droplets of water started to evaporate. “Maybe death won’t be so bad. Can’t be any worse than what I left behind.” She smirked evilly. “They’ll probably dissect my body. Then, once those land dwellers know mermaids are real, they’ll tear up the entire ocean to find those brutes- Oh wait, then there’s my sister.” She frowned. “I mean… I’m sure she’ll be fine. She’s good at hide and seek. Still,” she closed her eyes, picturing Applejack, “wish I could of at least said thank you and goodbye too-“ She let out a high pitch scream, back arching, as if her tail was currently on fire as it dried out completely…
*****
Applejack continued to stare at her lunch as her friends chatted around her. Ham and cheese, peas, and a chocolate chip cookie. She narrowed her eyes as it crossed her mind that she hadn’t given Rarity any food at all since she found her. In that case, she’d have to prepare something extra special for when they next meet. Maybe lobster? Nah, too expensive. Well, she did mentioned something about baked good earlier. Wouldn’t that be something to see the-
“Hey!” Applejack shoot out of her stupor as Rainbow Dash attempted to still her cookie. “What do ya think your doing?!”
Rainbow pulled her hand back and raised her arms up. “Whoa there! You just said I could have it when I asked you.”
The devilish smirk made Applejack uncomfortable, as all eyes were on here. “Eh… did I?”
“Told ya she wasn’t paying attention,” Rainbow retorted with a snort.
“Yeah,” her other friend, Pinkie Pie, nodded. “You totally missed out all about the plans I had for the cookoutI’m planning for the beach party. I thought there was something wrong when you just keep saying, uh-huh, sure, at everything recommended.”
Applejack blinked twice at that. “Well, sorry there… What you offering?”
Next to her, her friend, Twilight Spakel, has lifted her head from her book to see what was going on.
“You okay, AJ?” Twilight asked, closing her book. “Cause even I noticed that you’ve see to be out of it a lot today.”
“Gezz,” Rainbow commented. If the eggheads noticed, something must me be up.
“Actually,” Pinkie Pie added, cutting off any remark Twilight was about to make. “She has been like this all day.” She went on, unaware of Applejack’s growing discomforts. “Now that you mention it.”
Rainbow Dash patted her Pink friend’s shoulders and shook her head. “Oh, Pinkie, Pinkie, Pinkie. I know what’s going on.”
“You do?” Applejack asked, beads of sweat running down her neck.
“Yes,” she frowned. “You’ve meet someone, and didn’t tell me first like you promised!”
At first, Applejack eased up at the fact that, somehow, Rainbow Dash hadn’t figured out that she was hiding a mermaid in her barn. On the other hand-
“Wait, what?! I-“ she looked around at her wide-eyed friends. The implications sinking into them, and to her as well. If not the way they may of inmagined. “I… don’t know what you’re talking about.” She took a forkful of peas.
“Right.” Rainbow nodded, hands on her chins.
No one spoke for a moment, but then Pinkie broke the awkward silence by asking, “So, who is he?”
“Pinkie!” Twilight hissed, as Applejack coughed on her sandwich. “That is none of our business if she doesn’t want to tell us.”
“There ain’t nothing to tell!” Applejack protested, after gulping down some juice.
“Sure,” Rainbow mouth, going back to her own lunch. “But you promised you’d tell me if you meet anyone. Don’t forget!”
Applejack rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah.” Needing to change the subject, she added, “So Zephy ask you to the party yet? Or he just waiting for the right moment to pounce?”
Rainbow’s eyes widened. “What! No! He would-“
“He would!” Pinkie sang merrily.
“Shut it!”
“Aw,” Pinkie moaned as Twilight laughed loudly. “I think you two would make a great couple.
“What, no, neigh, never!” Rainbow shuttered.
“Sure,” Twilight placed a hand on Rainbows shoulder, and took her revenge for the ‘egghead’ remark. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure your wedding runs smoothly.”
As Rainbow Dash fumed, Applejack let out a breath, and distracted herself with teasing for the rest of the lunch period. However, once that distraction was over with, her mind was on Rarity more than ever. Which was hard enough when she was just thinking about her interesting friend as… Well, just that. She had a mermaid in her barn. Anyone would only have their mind on that all day if they were her! Why wouldn’t anyone have their minds on a girl like Rarity? They way she rescued her, hadn’t judged her despite, accidently, hearing all her yard ramblings. Or the way she smiled… The more she thought about all the thoughts she had about Rarity that say, and from how she acted when they called her out on it, she thought. She thought a lot throughout most of her classes. Trying her best not to be too noticeable distracted as before. It was hard when she eventually had to ask herself; ‘Do I actually like this girl?’
Applejack shook her head as the bell rang for the last class of the day. Making her way to her truck without any trouble.
The honest answer, she had to admit, was yes. Not that she paid no mind to if she either liked boys, or girls. Once she discovered, quite by accident, what asexuality was. She had thought that would be the end. It sure made a lot of sense to her. As all the girls in class were saying how hot an actor who played a vampire was, but she just couldn’t see it. Yet, being full asexual or such still didn’t quite fit. Because she did from time to time find herself aroused. Usually thou, it was for a brief period with a friend, and especially with romantic couples she may read about. Although only if they seemed to have a good, and believable, chemistry. It was then she stumbled onto the word, Demisexual. Which short version; no sexual attraction without romantic or strong connection. Ever since, she just didn’t bother with romance. Or figuring out if she may have had found one gender more attractive over the other. And yet, now she found Rarity as just that! Plus only after a few conversations.
“Figures the first person I’d fall for not be either a boy, or girl.” She laughed to herself as she pulled up to the barn. “Still doesn’t explain how come I can just have a few conversations with her, and fall almost immediately in love. Yet all the years I’ve known Rainbow, Pie, and Twi; nothing? And I should probably stop talking before a unicorn or something hears me.” She turned from heading straight to the barn, to head towards the house. “Speaking of which.”
Heading inside to get some food first, she took those last couple of minutes to figure things out. What she was supposed to do now? It was clear she was developing some romantic feelings towards her guest, but...
Okay! She wasn’t going to fight it, as she figured she’d start out with some bread and sweets, and go from there on what Rarity would like, or just couldn’t eat. Being a mermaid and all. Which also brought up the issues of being different species. Or rather, the issues of them being the same gender. Could mermaids even be gay? Before she headed out, a thought crossed her mind as she fiddled with her phone. On one hand, she had promised to tell Rainbow if she meets, or feel for anybody. Then again, she hadn’t specified mermaids. Still, she really wasn’t sure what to-
“Oh would you snap out of it!” she told herself. Removing her hand from her phone. “So I think she’s pretty? So what?” She picked up the food and headed towards the barn. “You’ve been getting along just fine as it is. Why should it be any different now?” The short answer was she may of said she had a crush on Rarity, and she didn’t like her back.
“So…” she took a deep breath, and moved forward. “You just got to be yourself. Relax.” Before she opened the door, she said, “Just act like everything’s normal. Maybe inquire if she’s dating anyone? No, to per- Nope!” she mentally slapped herself. “Just, let what happens happen. Just got to not think about it like everything else.” That thought in mind, she freed one of her hands to open the door. “Hey, Rare. I got some-“
Her words, and the food she had been carrying, dropped to the floor. Standing (yes, standing!) in front of her, on a pair of wobbling legs, was Rarity. She had currently been looking down at her feet, arms swaying, trying to get a balance. When the door opened, she stood as upright as she could, in full display, nothing covering herself from her belly button down, and the now very red faced Applejack.
“Oh thank goodness you-“ Before she could finish, Applejack had slammed the door shut.
Breathing much more heavily than before, she leaned against the door. Mind racing a mile a second as the only thing her brain could think of was the half naked, human form, of her, previously, possible crushing on, mermaid friend.
“Applejack ,” said friend responded. Her voice causing Applejack’s heart to beat faster. “Are you still there? Applejack. Jackie! What are you doing!”
“Just give me a sec, Rares!” Applejack answered, her body, mostly her face and core, suddenly feeling very warm.
Rarity continued pounding the door. “Applejack I’ve been waiting all day. You Can’t leave just me!”
“I said just give me a minute, Rarity!” Looking around, she saw the outhouse where it always was, not to far from the barn. “Just, I… Let me process this, okay!” with that, she raced off to the toilet as Rarity continued to protest.
*****
Six minutes later, Applejack emerged from the stall, much more relaxed. Straightening her hair, she made her way back to the, thankfully, silent barn.
“Right,” she told herself, trying to seem professional, and tried to say, as casually as possible, “she’s a human now. Alright. Just… Take it as it comes.” Laughing to herself, she wouldn’t have been surprised if she walked into the barn and Rarity had become a centaur. As she was about to open the door, the, half naked part, which had been the breaking point, flashed in her mind. A part of her had just wanted to open it, in the prevented hopes that she hadn’t cover up. The more decent part of her won out.
“Hey, Rarity?” she knocked.
Rarity gasped, and answered through sniffles, “Aj?”
Applejack gulped. “I’m sorry, just a lot to take in. Course, I figure this is probably just as much a surprise to you?”
“What gave that away?!” Rarity said with a huff.
Applejack cringed. “I’m sorry, alright? Let’s just move on. You decent?”
“Decent?” Rarity asked.
“Yeah, De-“ A thought crossed Applejack’s mind. “Um, by chance are all mermaids modest when it comes to nudity? Or is clothing on your human half just an optional thing where you come from?” She had thought they had been with Rarity having worn what could best be described as a strapless shirt the whole time. Still, now that she thought about it-
“Is it different for you? You know, I was actually just thinking that sometime ago when going through those magazines. All the humans always had something on.”
Applejack slapped her face. “Er… Yeah. Kind of is.”
“Oh…. OH! Oh my.” She heard Rarity stand up and look around. “I’m terribly sorry! I hadn’t realized. I didn’t mean to offend you with these hideous things!”
As Rarity looked for something to cover up, Applejack paused to think on what she meant by, ugly things. It made her wonder if, Rarity had thought her legs made her look ugly. Far from it, of course! Still, if that had been the reason why she thought she had run away-
“Alright,” Rarity said. “I’m decent now.”
Applejack chuckled. “Well now, I didn’t mean to say-“ she paused to see Rarity had only covered up her feet with a pair of towels. Sitting on the floor, her legs were spread, still leaving everything else below exposed. Applejack, wide eyed, started to close the door again, when she noticed Rarity’s distraught face. Sucking it in, she pulled back open the door, walked inside, and did her best not to stare. “Um, that’s not quite what I meant. But good effort!”
They spent the next ten minutes sitting down talking about the birds and bees before she got Rarity to understand the human definition of modesty. Blushing bright red as she figured it out, she quickly used her towel to cover her waist as Applejack tried to lighten the mood by comforting. Rarity, for her part, tried to stick her nose up in disapproval. Which made her look more funny, which made Applejack laugh harder, which eventually broke down rarity as well.
Once the laughter and awkwardness had passed, Applejack got down to business. “Right then.” She looked down at Rarity’s gorgeous feet. “I didn’t know you could do that!”
“Oh believe me,” Rarity answered, examining her own feet. “This was just a surprise to me as it is to you.”
“Well, what happened?” she asked, just noticing the tangled up hose and tipped over bathtub.
“Um,” Rarity hesitated. “I was thinking I could use the hose to get some clean water. Ended up falling out and unable to work your contraption. After that, I just laid on the floor for a while, drying out. Once my tail had completely dried out, I felt a sharp pain, and there was a flash of white light. Next thing I knew,” she wiggled her outstretched toes, “this happened. I spent the rest of time seeing if I could stand before you showed up.”
“Huh,” Applejack rubbed her chin, before noticing something. “Hey!” She reached down to Rarity’s ankle. “Looks like your injury didn’t come with the change.” She commented, and started to run over it before rarity jerked her leg away.
“How rude!”
“What? Oh! This coming from the girl who didn’t know what modesty was!”
“Well that doesn’t mean you can just-“ Rarity blinked and looked away. “Never mind.”
Applejack frowned. “Oh, um, sorry there. Sensitive topic I guess?”
Rarity had crossed her arms, but turned back to face her. “It’s nothing.” She looked to her own ankle now. “You suppose it’s all healed up? The mermaid part too? Or is that just a transformation thing?”
Applejack shrugged. “Could be.” She pulled herself up. “One way to find out.”
She started to walk towards the hose, only for Rarity to grab her wrist and shout, “NO!”
Applejack flinched in surprise.
Rarity chuckled nervously, before adding. “I mean… who’s to say this isn’t a one time deal.” She started to play with her hair. “Um, by that I…. Well, this could be a once in a lifetime opportunity for me.” Still holding onto Applejack, she flashed her eyes. “And, before we find out if I can change back, maybe… You could, maybe, show me around your world?” She let go to fiddle her fingers. “I mean, if you’d want to, of course?”
As if Applejack’s mind wasn’t in overload enough. Was this, mermaid, trying to get her to take her out on a date? No! Any mermaid in her situation would be curious of the human world, Applejack reasoned. Not that she didn’t think the transformation could only work once. Still, aside from the fact Rarity’s reaction seemed out of fear, if it turned out she was still injured as a mermaid, it would also be easier to keep her hidden as such.
No, wait, there was also the chance she was being, possible, asked out. “Well, I- suppose so. If you don’t mind me getting caught up on my chores and-“ she paused as Rarity went from happy to sad. “Um… Ah hell! The farm can survive if I take a day off. Sure thing?”
“Really? Oh, I mean! I’d hate to be a bother.”
“Nah, it’s okay,” she offered a hand to help Rarity up. “It ain’t the busy season yet, and it might make my family bug me less if I took a day off to show such a pretty girl around town.” Her eyes shrunk as she realized what she called Rarity.
Although, however she took the compliment, To Applejack’s relief, Rarity replied with a giggle. “You’re too kind, my dear.” Slowly, she started to rise. “Now let us, whoa!” she shrieked as she toppled forward, landing into Applejack’s arms. Looking up, she came, once again, inches from Applejack’s face.
To keep things from getting awkward, Applejack nodded to the towel that had fallen to the floor. “First, maybe we should get you into some human clothing?”
“There we go,” Applejack said, by the time they reached her room, they had gone from having to support Rarity by walking right alongside each other, to just having to hold hands. “Think you got this walking thing down?”
“Not so hard once you got the concept of balancing.” Rarity said, hesitantly letting go of Applejack’s hand. She stumbled for a bit, to which Applejack reached out, ready to catch. Rarity, however, soon found her footing and was standing up straight.
The mermaid let out a joyful squee, only catching onto the towel around her waist before it feel to the ground.
“Right,” Applejack smiled, blushing brightly. “I have a closet there, and my draws over there.” She said, pointing at the various locations. “It’s, um… Probably far from what you would consider, fashionable, but just pick out something for now. Then we’ll get you something more fitting when we get to town.”
Rarity beamed. “Why thank you, darling.”
Applejack smiled warmly. “I just got to take care of a few small things around the house before we can head out. If that’s okay. Then, we’ll have the whole day!” With that, Applejack closed the door behind her, leaving the little once mermaid to her companion’s room.
Indeed, Rarity thought, as she looked through Applejack’s wardrobe. She felt that, if she had been a human her whole life, some of Applejack’s clothing be garments that she would normally never be caught dead. Still, it wasn’t all horrible. At least she thought. However, just as she was about to select a nice looking shirt with an apple on it, she noticed something on the floor. Picking it up, she saw that it was a crudely (probably homemade) picture frame. On the picture was, as she assumed, was a much younger Applejack, standing in between - if she had to guess - her mother and father. Along the top of the frame, read,
Our Little Farmer.
Rarity looked at the photo in happy silence for a while. Imagining what it must be like to have a pair of loving and happy parents. What kind of day was it like for them as this particular picture was taken? She could only imagine her mother and father looking so carefree for something like a family portrait. They also wouldn’t have kept anything that was crudely made by herself.
“I wonder why it was on the floor?” she thought to herself. So, moving on next to the draw, she placed the photo on it’s top and began looking for pants that would do. When, instead of pants, the first thing she saw were two sheets of paper. The first looked handwritten, she read;
I heard CUA has a terrific farming course as well.
Rarity blinked and picked up the other paper. She couldn’t make out the smaller text, as only the giant letters ‘CUA’ stood out in the center. Thinking it was none of her business, she laid them back and opened the next draw. Only to be met with another handwritten note. This one read:
If I get one more college application in my underwear-
“Draw,” Rarity read out loud. Confident she got that one right.
-I will-
- she couldn’t read any further words, but got the gist of Applejack’s anger in them.
Rarity sighed and looked at the photo again. “Guess that’s why you ended up in the closet then?” She asked it, before glaring at the parents in the photo. “Now you listen here, Mr and Mrs apple! Your daughter is a wonderful young lady who’s happy with who she is. She’s nice, caring and kind, and I will not see you two push her around.”
With that, she scoffed at her own silliness and cringed at the thought. She would never have sounded that confident in front of her own parents, and was perplexed at her sudden emotional outburst. Especially since it was in appreciation of her new friend. Figuring it was best not to bring up anything so sore for their date, Rarity slipped the paper and photo into the drawer, and continued browsing for the most acceptable accessories.
****
Applejack backed out of her room, but held for just a second as she saw the towel drop. Only then, did she close the door. Shaming herself for demanding such a look. It almost made her want to race towards the bathroom again. Except, she did have a handful of things she wanted to get done before they headed out on their date-
’Not a date!’
Just showing her mermaid gone human friend around the city.
Still, as Applejack swept, she couldn’t help not thinking that this could - and was going to be - such a thing. After she dusted a little, her hand finally reached for her phone. Sure that she was going to regret this later, the fact that she no longer had to hide Rarity being mermaid if Rainbow Dash got too curious won her conscious over. She typed into Rainbow’s text box;
AJ: Alright, so, let’s say I did end up meeting someone. Hypothetically! And I didn’t know if she-
Applejack quickly deleted that last part.
AJ: Alright, so, let’s say I did end up meeting someone. Hypothetically! And I liked them, like that. What should I do? And how would I find out if they liked me back?
On the surface, it still seemed like a bad idea to tell that to Rainbow. On the other hand, when it comes to sensitive matters like this... Well, there was a reason why Rainbow knew she was demisexual, and her family still did not.
A minute later, the phone buzzed.
RD: THAT’S SO AWESOME! Plus, I know it anyways ;p so no offense you didn’t tell me today. Who is he? Does he go to our school!
Applejack nervously chuckled as she typed an honest enough response.
AJ: I never said that! It wouldn’t be anyone you know, and-
She grunted and realized that if she held back on everything but the mermaid and (for now) girl part, she wouldn’t get anywhere.
AJ: Fine, I’ve met someone. I’ll tell you how we met if, 1) you promise not to stalk our date. 2) tell me how I find out if what we’re going on a date/how would I find out if they like me?
She worked for a little more, vacuuming the carpets, before at last getting a reply.
RD: Sure.
Applejack rolled her eyes, knowing that was the best she could get from a promise.
RD: Now, the first thing you want to do, is to find out if the guy in question already has a girlfriend. I mean Ploy’s a thing, but still ;p. Otherwise, hell if I know! Just have a good time, and don’t overthink things. I’m sure that if you two are already at the point where you’re hanging out, then chances are he already likes you back. Now go get that guy! Rainbow Dash out.
“That was helpful.” Applejack muttered. Although she guessed finding out whether Rarity had a boyfriend, whatever a merman and mare called each other back from where she came from, was a good idea. Along with Rainbow’s suggestion to just going with the flow and see how things played out. It wasn’t as if-
The door from her bedroom upstairs opened. Applejack quickly stashed her phone away. Walking to the stairs, she was met halfway as Rarity sported one of her school outfits.
“How do I look?” she asked playfully.
“Amazing,” Applejack said before correcting herself. “I mean, good. Very good.”
“Oh thank you.” She pulled at her jeans. “Although I’m still dying to see what other options are out there.”
“Now don’t you worry,” Applejack said, offering her hand, “We’re sure to have one of the best days of our lives.”
Rarity took the hand, but, somehow, this felt different. It wasn’t as if she needed Applejack to stand anymore. Well, okay, it wouldn't hurt. She had banged her knees while slipping on the pants more than she would admit. Still, as she felt a tingle upon touching the farming’s palm, Rarity couldn’t help but wonder if there was something more to the gesture. More to the fact that, even as they started moving, and once she had let go of Applejack’s hand, so the contraption known as a truck could be started up, Rarity found herself eager to hold Applejack’s hand again. Which her new friend didn’t seem to mind one bit.
“It sure is a beautiful sunny day, is it not?” Rarity asked as she stared at awed of the human world through the truck’s widow.
Indeed it was. As cliché was it was. It was a clear crisp early autumn day in the Canterlot area. Not quite the fall just yet, but to the point where you could wake up the fallowing morning and not be surprised if the summer had come to an official end. Most of the leaves on the trees were still green, but many of them had already started to dry out and were changing colors. The streets and parks where fillied with people who were either dress in jackets and pants already, or a few who felt like it was still warm enough to justify wearing shorts.
“Just wait until they start falling,” Applejack commented to the girl besides her as they drove. The thought of raking and mulching that would need to added to the chore list not even crossing her mind as it usually did when thinking about leaves with the mermaid sitting next to her. Ex-mermaid, she was reminded herself as Rarity’s legs crossed onto her side of the truck as Rarities upper half started to fall out of the window.
“Whoa there, girl!” Applejack said, controlling her blush as she pulled Rarity back into her seat by her helm of her skirt. “Remember what I said about seatbelts?!”
Rarity let out a squeak as she was pulled back into the truck. “Sorry, dear!” she said she while fidgeting with the buckle. “You make it sound easy to contain your excitement. Eh, speaking of, dear.”
“Right,” Applejack shallowed as they pulled up to a stop sign. “You just, take this end,” she pulled onto the strap, and tried not to act nervous as she pulled it across Rarity’s midsection. “Then… Then you click it in… In here.”
Rarity giggled as Applejack clicked in her seatbelt. “Thank you, dearie. Although,” she frowned and fidgeted when the belt met her clothing. “Is this really necessary?”
“Not if you don’t want to get me into trouble.” Applejack answered returning to the wheel and chuckled. “Oh! Don’t stress. It’s not a heavily enforced rule. More just for safety in case something goes wrong.” She frowned as Rarity stared at her.
“Which is highly unlikely! Just in case.”
“I see.” Rarity nodded, looking back out the window. “Oh! What’s that?”
“What’s-
Applejack glanced to where Rarity was pointing. “Oh! That’s a water tower.”
Rarity narrowed her eyes at the massive structure. “So it stores water?”
“Yup.” Applejack nodded.
“Why is it so high up then? Wouldn’t that make getting to the water difficult?”
“Well it,” Applejack paused. “You know, I don’t really know why. Never something I thought to ask.”
“Can’t you look it up on your hand held device?”
“Eh, another thing you can’t do while driving. But I promise I’ll look it up for you later.”
Rarity let out a huff. “So many rules you humans have.”
Applejack raised an eyebrow. “And you mermaids don’t?”
“Well,” Rarity shrugged. “Touché. It’s not that we don’t.” She became unsettling quiet for a moment. Before Applejack could ask if something was wrong, Rarity added, “I suppose it makes sense to have more laws when you have more technology.”
Applejack twitched her lips, but went back to smiling when Rarity jumped at the sound of a train whistle. The burst out laughing when she saw her first train. Much of the trip went this way, right until they pulled up to the mall. “This place sure seems busy.” Rarity commented with wonder at all the cars and humans about.
“Yeah. It’s just about everything a human teenager can want all in one place.” Applejack hoped out of her truck. When Rarity didn’t fallow, she walked over to the passenger’s side and opened the door. “Shall we?” she offered with a coy smile. Rarity held a hand to her chest. “We may. But first,” she shyly pointed to her seatbelt.
Applejack chuckled, reached across, undid Rarity, and took the mermaids hand to guide her safely to the street. Arm’s interlocked, the two girls made their way inside. From there, it was nothing but keeping Rarity from wondering off, while playing a twenty questions from there. All before they even got to the clothing store in question. By that point, their game of twenty questions, had turned into a million.
“How does this one look on me?” Rarity asked, twirling around another skirt on display. “Or, maybe this one! Oh, this one’s cute, and I love this design. Gosh, are those colors actually together?! Well I mean, they work, but still!”
“Looks fine to me,” Applejack grunted under the growing pile of clothing Rarity had tossed her way to hold. Focused more on the bubbly free spirit in front of her than the price tags hanging on her noise. Not quite ready to tell her yet about the price limit they would have to keep too. “Great even.”
It was at this moment that Rarity seemed to realize her friend had become more fabric than girl. “Huh? Gosh! Sorry there, Applejack. Hope I haven’t gone too overboard.”
“Not at all.” Applejack lied as Rarity helped to lighten her load. “I mean, we’ll have to start narrowing our selection down soon, but as long as you’re happy.”
“We can’t- Oh!” Rarity realized. “It just occurred to me this shopping trip will, have to come out of your money.” She fidgeted her fingers. “Unless humans take shells and pearls.”
“Well,” Applejack said perking up, “not directly, but if you do have any pearls on you.”
“Really- Oh, eh, guess I kind of left all that back in the sea anyways.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “Sorry.”
Applejack sighed. “Hey, it’s fine. I want to do this for you. We just can’t get everything. Maybe four or five-” She was cut off as Rarity brought her in for a surprise hug.
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“Eh, you’re welcome.” Applejack warmly said returning the hug. “Now,” she added once she pulled away. “How about you go try a few of these on. Dressing room’s over there.” Awkward pause. “Will you… Need help changing?” Rarity snickered. “I think I’ve got the hang of this. Although,” she added holding up a pair of jeans, “I think I’ll hold off on the pants for the time being.”
They both laughed.
****
Rarity signed as she examined one of the outfit she wished to acquire. It was difficult, but she had at least narrowed herself down to three she absolutely wanted to keep. Although Applejack had insisted that she could have more, she really didn’t want to overstep her boundaries. The human had so far been very generous to her. Something she was sure could crumple apart any second with her luck.
She held a hand to her right chest. Truthfully, this was the nicest thing a stranger had ever done for her. Under the sea, there was hardly any room for charity. Beyond the occasional family or close ally for the most part. It was enough of a shock to her when Applejack had even gone so far as to save her from that pond. In her mind, it wouldn’t have made sense for Applejack to do such a thing unless-
‘Come now, Rarity,’ his cold hand rested on her shoulder, ‘you owe me one.’
“How’s it looking?” Applejack knocked through the dressing room door. Causing Rarity to blink from her stupor. “Oh, um, fine!’ Rarity squeaked. “Just, um, so many choices. Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Applejack let out a grunt. “It’s fine. I don’t mind, honest.” A Pause. “Anyways, got you some water.” She rolled a bottle under the dressing room door. “On the narrowest side, there’s a lid.” She explained. “Hold the bottle and twist the lid to open. If you can’t get it, I’ll help you out once you come out.”
As the bottle rolled towards her, dripping with moisture, Rarity took a step back.
“Eh, thank you, dearie.”
“Something wrong?” Applejack inquired.
“No no!” Rarity nervously answered. “I’ll be done in a second!”
“…Okay.”
Rarity let out a sigh of relief, her eyes glancing back towards the water. “Maybe I will get this fourth one after all.”
****
“Thank you ever so much, darling.” Rarity beamed as they carried her new human clothing through the parking lot.
“Uh-huh.” Applejack said dryly.
Rarity blinked. “Something the matter?”
“Um,” Applejack bit her lips as they reached the truck. “Actually, yes. Just put the clothes in the back and take a seat in the front.”
“Okay.” Taken aback, Rarity did as instructed. “Did I do something wrong?” she asked as she clicked her seatbelt.
“Wha- No!” Applejack held up her hand and gave a reassuring smile. “No. nothing like that. I promise.”
“Oh good.” Rarity let out a breath.
Applejack’s smile dropped. She then put a pair of water bottles in the cup holders between them. “Have a drink of water.” Rarity’s face shrank. “Oh, um, I’m good, darling.”
“It wasn’t an offer.” Narrowing her eyes, Applejack demonstrated to Rarity how to open it and held it outwards. “Drink.”
“Applejack, really!” Rarity began to press up against the door. “What is the meaning of this? I said no thank you.”
Applejack flinched. “I,” she shook her head. “You don’t think I don’t know what’s going on?”
“Huh?” Rarity blinked acting innocent. “Why, whatever do you-
“Do you really expect to go about avoiding water for the rest of your life because you’re scared even touching it will turn you back into a mermaid?” Applejack asked calmly.
Rarity stared blankly at her. “What, I… Well, I mean, it’s not as if humans have to drink water all the time.” She asked. Her dry lips already answering her question.
Applejack answered her question anyways. “Afraid we do.” she sighed. “Look, let’s just find out what happens here in the safety of the truck rather than out in public, okay? Get it over with” She pushed the damp bottle towards Rarity.
“Come now, Applejack!” Rarity responded as she push back. “What’s the rush?! Can’t we wait until the end of the day?”
“Rarity,” Applejack said through gritted teeth.
“Please! Just let-
With that, the bottle slipped out of Applejack’s hands and spilled all over Rarity’s legs. The girl let out a scream and tried to wipe herself off with her hands.
“Hey, hey!” Applejack threw her arms around Rarity to hold her in place. “I’m sorry! I really am, but, let’s just let it happen.” She let out a nervous chuckle. “I mean, you aren’t immediately changing back. That’s good. Right?”
Rarity let out what could only be described as a cross between an indignant huff and a scared snarl at Applejack as the bottled water continued to trickle down her legs. When around thirty seconds passed with no transformation taking place, Rarity let out a breath.
“I… I suppose I may have of been acting a little silly there.” She let out a hiccup and covered her face. “What was that?!”
“What was what?” Applejack questioned, still holding onto Rarity. The realization of that, along with how close to her chest she had been holding onto the mermaid made her face start to reddened.
Rarity let out another hiccup. “That! Is that supposed to be-
She let out another hiccup. “Oh, gods, is it annoying! Dose this happen all the time with you-
Another hiccup escaped her lips.
“Make it stop!”
Perplexed by the situation, Applejack started laughing. “Are you saying mermaids don’t hiccup?
“No,” Rarity moaned between hiccups. She jerked up in alarm as she felt something warm and wet on her face. “Oh what now with my- Hiccup- face?! Did some water spill on my face?” She hiccupped.
“Huh?” Applejack blinked, noticing the tears. “Oh. Eh, not sure I can make since on why humans and not mermaids hiccup, but I can figure why crying isn’t your kinds thing.” She released her grip on rarity and offered her the second water bottle. “Water helps with both.” Looking to Rarity’s still human, and drying, legs, she added. “I think it’s safe to say a little liquid on, or in you, at least fresh water, won’t hurt.”
Rarity glared at her, but another hiccup as serval tears dripped of her chin made her, hesitantly, reach for the bottle. There was silence as she held it in her hands, till at last, she guzzled it down.
“Well, you see,” Applejack started, “I’m not sure if I can explain hiccupping, but crying is when-
“I know what crying and sadness is.” Rarity said blankly as she stared at the bottle in her hands. “At least, it’s something we have words for. If for no reason than to tell myths and legends about it.” She kicked her legs. “Although, even if we could cry, it wouldn’t be something most of my kind would do.”
Applejack frowned. “Oh? Eh, why’s that.”
Rarity fingered the plastic bottle. “To make a long story short, and by comparison with what I’ve seen of your world so far, it’s a very fish eat fish world under the sea.”
“Guess the song was a lie.” Applejack said before she could think. “It’s a… Human view on mermaid thing I’ll explain later.” Rarity let out a sigh. “Why are you being so nice to me?”
Applejack tensed up. “What? A person can’t, just because…
Of course, there was the fact she may or may not have been developing feelings for this girl/mermaid she just meet. Which threw everything she thought she knew about her sexuality on her head. Which of course, wasn’t true! She had done so out of the goodness of her heart before any feelings started to develop.
“I’m not going to expect anything or turn on you if that’s what you’re worried about. You’re more that welcome to stay with me until… Well, for however long you’d like.” Applejack said, not sure of what better way to end that. “I promise.”
“It was on my mind.” Rarity said sheepishly. “Among other things.” She set the crumpled up plastic into the cup holder, and reached across the embrace the farmer. “Thank you.”
Caught off guard, but happy, Applejack returned the hug. “You’re welcome… Boy, this went a lot more dramatically than I pictured.”
“No kidding,” Rarity said sarcastically pulling away. “So, what now?”
“For today you mean? Applejack looked down. “I’d understand if that is enough excitement for you, or,” she smirked, “I can show you some more fun human things.”
Rarity’s face lite up. “I would very much like so. But first,” she pointed down to her seatbelt, which, after being stretched from rarity’s hug, had locked itself in.
“Right away, my lady!” Applejack jumped out of her side and made her way around the truck to help Rarity free.
“So you really don’t have any games like this where you’re from?” Applejack asked with suspicion as she guided Rarity’s arm for the seventh time.
“Oh yes,” Rarity added a finger to her chin as a new set of ski balls rolled down the ramp. “I could still very mush use some help. Maybe a few more time?”
Applejack rolled her eyes and smiled. “Alright then.” She stood behind Rarity and took her hand.
After their little incident in the truck, the two continued on with their little human world date. One which Applejack was finding increasingly difficult to call elsewise. It started when she showed Rarity around some of the other stores and places her world had to offer. From electronics, to even more clothing, although they didn’t buy anything else. Treating Rarity to pizza, the look upon her face was one Applejack would never forget, to the arcade and all of its choices. The whole while, Rarity remaining as close and she could to Applejack. And not just so she wouldn’t get lost, Applejack had been noticing. Always doing what she could to have the farmer stand as close as possible to herself. Enough so that they had even gotten rotten looks from some local church youth group kids once or twice. If that didn’t enforce it, Rarity needing ‘help’ on how to play ski ball just adding to Applejack’s feelings on the mater.
“First, you line yourself up,” Applejack chuckled, resting her chin on Rarity’s shoulders and closed her left eye. “Then you real back,” she pulled Rarity’s warm, smooth, and beautiful right backwards. Holding her there, in the moment, as her purple hair tickled her skin, she thought to herself; If there is a heaven, then it’s got a lot to live up to if it wants to trump this moment.
“And then you," Applejack continued, ready to fire, when a familiar broke her concentration.
“Aj?” a familiar voice broke her concentration. Causing the ski ball to shoot out of their hands and land in the adjacent land.
“Rainbow Dash!” Applejack gulped, turning to face her school friend. A bead of sweat forming on her forehead. “What a surprise to see you here.”
“Oh, Applejack! What’s this? A friend of yours?” Rarity asked with an innocent smile.
Prior to this moment, Rainbow Dash had honestly been doing nothing, and had no intentions of thinking she’d run into Applejack or her mystery date at the mall. Let alone in the arcade. It had simply been that she wasn’t doing anything that afternoon when Applejack sent her that text asking for help. To which, she thought to herself; I wonder who might I run into at the mall or other places teens liked to go on dates, kind of deal. Honestly, if she ran into Applejack like she did now, it would have simply been a happy accident. Given a few minutes more, she might have felt like going for a skateboard ride at the park or see what movies were playing that week.
Grinning ear to ear her not planned had work, Rainbow Dash started to say something, when Applejack said, rather quickly,
“Say, Rarity! Why don’t you go pick out a prize with the tickets we’ve won, while I have a talk with my friend here.” She stuffed the tickets into a puzzled Rarity’s arms and pushed her towards the prize booth, then grabbed Rainbow Dash by the wrist and dragged her out of sight behind a road fighter game.
“But I,” Rarity started with a blank face.
“Trust me and I’ll explain later.” Applejack whispered.
Not sure of what was going on, but decided to go along with it. Her eyes already drawn to serval sparkly objects in the prize booth. As stared at all of the human toys, Applejack grabbed Rainbow Dash by the shoulder and dragged her out of sight behind shooter game.
“So a girl, huh?” Rainbow Dash’s grin widening. “I mean, I already suspected. Although,” she looked over the machine to glance again at Applejack’s date. “Sure, she’s hot, but,” turning back to her friend, she started to make a clearly mockingly pouting face. “You fall in love with a complete stranger you just meet, and not someone you known for years like me?”
“Now cut that out!” Applejack said, swatting Rainbow Dash with her hat. “What happened to staying out of my business?” Rainbow Dash threw up her hands. “Hey, I just, happened, to be at the mall. Hardly my fault-
“Oh don’t even.” Applejack fumed.
After Dash was done with her laughing fit, she let out a cough before continuing. “Okay, you got me. Still, don’t think I’m not happy for you.” She leaned against the machine. “Still, how did this all end up happening? What with you being asexual and all.” Rainbow flinched as Applejack’s advance. “Hey, hey! I’m legit curious. You know that, right? Plus, you can either tell me know, or my imagination is just going to make up its own, exaggerated, story later.”
Applejack sighed. Knowing her friend could be a butt, but she was still her butt friend at the end of the day. Plus, maybe talking about it would help herself sort out her own feelings while she was at it. Which meant, she had to find a way to tell the story, leaving out the mermaid bit. She blinked upon realizing that.
“Um,” Applejack started, quickly thinking of the best lie she could have come up with. “Well, I… Her name is Rarity. Found her snooping around the farm. Poor thing was hurt after running away from home.” For on the spot, she thought it wasn’t half bad. Then again, being sprinkled with truth didn’t hurt either.
She continued on that train of thought. “So I offered her up a place to sleep and… Well one thing led to another, and she had nothing on her,” Applejack fought back a blush with ho literal ‘nothing on Rarity’ had been. “Then I brought her to the mall to get her some clothes and… Yeah, that about brings us up to the present.”
Rainbow Dash crossed her arms. Not buying that being the whole truth, but happy enough to drop it for the moment.
“Alright,” Rainbow nodded. “Alright. Actually, that sounds pretty rad. Still, wouldn’t take you as the type to let squatters onto the farm. Much less them turning out to be gorgeous babes that you go goo-goo eye over.”
“Don’t call her that!” Applejack snap.
Rainbow Dash flipped her hair. “Case and point.”
Applejack deflated and sighed. “Fine. Been a hell of an experience though. To be honest, I was just getting use to the idea that I’d be single and not having a problem with it.”
“Hey,” Dashie protested, “I’m still not sure I fully got my head around this this ace and demi concept. However, with that in mind, let me make this simple.” She wrapped an arm around Applejack’s shoulder. “Do you like her? In a any kind of romantic sense.”
Applejack gulped. “Well, I mean-
“No no!” Rainbow Dash waved her fingers. “I’m not even asking if you’d want to have sex with her. Oh don’t give me that look, we’re adults here.” She still snickered at Applejacks reaction. “But I mean it. On whatever level, however you view romance, in any sense possible, I don’t need to know why; Do you like this girl?”
Her next words, were the most difficult Applejack ever had to let out. “I, well… Okay.” She took a breath of relief as she was about to just say how she felt in the simplest of sense. Which she never got a chance to.
They heard a scream from the prize booth. Both girls jumped. When they looked, Applejack recalled thinking Rainbow Dash was the worse person she could have bumped to in at the mall. This reminded her that Dashie, was only the second worse.
******
“- go pick out a prize, while I talk with my friend here!” Applejack said pushing rarity towards a colorful display of human objects behind a glass window.
“But-
“Just trust me and I’ll explain later.” Applejack leaned into whisper.
Blushing, Rarity nodded and walked towards the booth as Applejack pulled her friend out of view. A possible girlfriend? Not that she cared! Well, maybe. It was likely just because she had to make sure the rainbow haired one didn’t figure out that she was a mermaid. That was it. Yet, as she looked down at her right hand full of these tickets, Rarity tightly clenched her fist.
“Why dose that stupid human make her feel this way?” she sighed. “Anyways.” She took in a breath and ran a finger along the glass at all the human knickknacks for trade. Many of which would of made great accessories to her outfits back home. But for right now, she wanted something for herself. A memento that she could keep to remember this day, and off Applejack. Something like-
“Oh perfect!” Rarity pointed at a gold looking pendent with a green outline and purple apple represented in the center. “Excuse me!”
The booth attendant, a teen boy with the name tag, Trender, turned to attention. “What can I get ya?” He offered with a wide smile at the pretty lady who asked for his assistance.
Rarity put the tickets on the table. “Would this be enough for that pendent? The one with the apple on it.”
“Um,” Trender eyed the tickets and the price of the pendent. “Sorry there. You’re short a few hundred.”
“Oh.” Rarity deflated.
“Now hold on there, missy!” The boy started to look around. “It’s a… Well,” he pulled the tickets aside and reached for the pendent. "I think I can give you an employee discount.”
Rarity started to back away, but eased up. Surly, humans could just give gifts to be nice. “Why, thank you, kind sir.”
“Oh yeah.” He smiled, and circled around the table. “I can see this looking good on you. May I?” He offered, unhooking the pendent and holding it out for her. “A lovely lady such as yourself shouldn’t trouble herself.
Rarity fidgeted. “Um, sure, I guess.” ‘Calm down. This may just be a human thing.’ She turned her back on him. However, as the pendent was placed on her chest, his hands resting on her shoulders, she was reminded of another pair of hands that had, not so long ago-
“You know what?” Rarity pushed him and the pendent away. “I really don’t want it anymore!”
“What!” Tender frown. “Come on!” He grabbed onto Rarity’s arm. “I’m just trying to be nice.”
Rarity’s eyes widened as her skin began to shiver. “No! Stop! Please!”
To which, Trender did as instructed, although he looked no less pleased. “Gezz! You try to make a chick happy.”
“Hey!”
Both Rarity and Trender jumped at the voice and he and Rarity turned to see Applejack marching towards them. The anger in her eyes making the rainbow haired one to shrink back in fear.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” Applejack said, pushing him away and took Rarity by the shoulders. “You okay?” Rarity blinked, too dazed to really do anything else but stare, lost in thought.
“Yo!” both girls attention were drawn to Rainbow Dash as she got over the shock of her friends rage to confront Trender. The poor guy looking just as confused as the rest of them. "You “ot some kind of problem, bud?” she said while tapping his chest.
“Hey!” Tender groaned.
Now, would it of been wiser if Trender had simply apologized? Most defiantly. However, it’s worth pointing out that he was still a teenage boy. Which dosn’t justify how he ended up acting, but after constant rejections mixed in with said hormones and working at his thankless job all day, well…
“No,” he sneered. “I was just being nice when this bitch screamed like she was being raped.”
Let’s just say to the boys watching the crowd that had started to form, quickly learned what not to do and say if they were even in such a situation one day.
“Excuse me!” Applejack exploded. Defensively pulling the shell shocked Rarity behind herself. “You care to repeat that, partner?”
For a brief moment, the stern glare had almost brough him to his sense. Almost, and only for a brief moment. Before he could say the smart thing, however, his brain clicked that this was the same Applejack who had always turned him down no matter how nice he had been to her. No mater what he’d do or how much he spent to try and impress. Worse still, was when he noticed how defensive Applejack had been over this. And even though he had guessed correctly, it was still only an uneducated guess which, if he were smarter, wouldn’t have jumped to. Unfortunately;
“Oh, this is rich!” Trender mockingly laughed. “What? Ace little Aj found herself a girlfriend?”
“What, I,” Applejack felt her breath leave her body. “What’s that supposed to mean? You got some problem with that if I do?”
Rarity’s jaw dropped.
“Oh not at all.” Trender sneered. And I’d like to remind you all again about everything said above, and please, for the love of god, if you’re a guy, I don’t care how worked up you are, but don’t say this to a girl, especially if you did know what he had;
“I mean, what would your parents think of you?” Trender crossed his arms and tisked.
All at once, Applejack’s world went cold. Everything came to a standstill. She let go of Rarity’s arm. However, as her mind began to dive into a sea of misery and self-loathing on how crushing on Rarity might have been a spit in her parents face, Rainbow Dash slugged Trender Hoof in the face. The blow coming so fast, he didn’t scream in pain until he was on the floor.
Rarity and Applejack blinked as Rainbow Dash pushed them away from Trender and the growing crowd. She motioned for the pair of them to get out of here, to which Rarity took the innovative. The mermaid leading Applejack away as the mall cops started to notice the commotion. When they reached the truck, Rairty opened the car door for her silent friend. When Applejack didn’t respond, Rarity gave her a little push inside, and then took her own seat adjacent.
However, when Applejack didn’t budge, Rarity began to reach her arm outwards. To which, Applejack flinched backwards from the touch.
“Oh!” Rarity squeaked. “I’m sorry.”
It was enough to bring Applejack out of her trance. “What? No! You didn’t do anything wrong.” She sighed. “I’m sorry! It’s just,” she clicked her lips.
Rarity fidgeted her fingers. “So, what that boy said. About your parents?”
“It’s nothing important.” Applejack turned her head towards her window.
“I have a feeling it is.” Rarity protested.
Through gritted teeth, Applejack said, “Let it go, Rarity.”
“No,” Rarity narrowed her eyes. “No I will not! Something is very wrong here”
“No shit.” Applejack huffed.
“Well then, what is it?”
“Rarity…”
“Applejack, please. I just want to help-
“What good can you do about dead parents who are ashamed of their daughter?!” Applejack cringed.
“Oh.” Something inside of Rarity’s mind clicked. “OH! I’m, sorry to hear that.”
“It’s alright.” Applejack crossed her arms. “Can’t be helped.”
“Still, what was that about them being, disappointed?” Rarity lightly smiled. “About, perhaps… who you love?”
Applejack’s face started to heat up.
“I mean!” Rarity stammered. “You human also have, strict, mating customs?”
Applejack’s eyes widened and she took in a deep breath. “Don’t put it like that! Er, well, I mean, I guess. Depends. Legally, it’s nothing you can get in trouble for anymore. Still sort of a cultural thing as it wasn’t, that, long ago.”
Rarity nodded in understanding. “Ah. Well then.” She started to tap her foot. “And, you’re parents would have problems if you feel in love with… The wrong person?”
“I…” Applejacks eyes looked upwards. “Well, I mean, I guess I wouldn’t know. For that matter, I’m not even sure what my family as a whole would think.”
“And,” Rarity added as a finger began to play with her hair, “if, you knew for sure they wouldn’t care who you made-eh, feel in love with it.” She chuckled. “Well, what would you do?”
Applejack shallowed hard. “It’s… Complicated.” Enough the truth.
Rarity raised an eyebrow.
“Well I mean…” She figured at this point Rarity wan’t stupid, and it wouldn’t do her good to try and act supid and where this might of gone. With that in mind. “I, well, I thought I knew.” She scratched her chin. “See, not to long ago, I’ve learned there’s a whole range of different types of love. More than just straiht and gay. One of which being ace.” When Rarity looked at her blankly, she added, “Meaning not attracted to either sex.”
“Oh.” Rarity slumped.
“No no!” Applejac raised her hand. “Well I mean… While I found it fit me, somewhat, only somewhat. Then I learned there’s different ranges of that too. I can fall in love, just only in… certain cases. Like, if I know the well or have a likable personality.”
“Is that so?” Rarity said, looking rather moved.
Applejack mentally slapped herself. “Er, well… Yeah.” She added with a boost of confidence. “Although what gender I might have been more attracted to has never been on the forefront of my mind. Guess I kind of figured romance wasn’t for me and just kept focusing on the farm.”
“Mhh,” Rarity scooted closer to her friend, her eyes in a daze. “Perhaps, maybe it’s not any kind of, person, you’d be attracted too.”
“Um,” Applejack’s breathing tightened as Rarity’s hand inched towards her own.
“Miss Applejack,” Rarity aid mater-of-factly. “How about we simplify thing so we may get past this awkward phase we seem to be in. If not for our cultures, confusing and trying to clarify your preferences, and I offered, would you kiss me?”
Applejack tried to form words, but failed. Rarity scooted herself closer and took Applejack’s hand. Applejack didn’t resist. “If,” Rarity stammered. “If not, I’m sorry then.” She took in a breath. “Maybe I’m being silly. It’s alright. I probably over-“
“Yes.”
Rarity stared. “Yes?”
No way to take it back, Applejack nodded. “Yes. That is,” she used her thumb to rub at Rarity’s palm. “If, you were actually offering and not being hypothetical.”
“It’s not.” Face aglow and leaning in, Rarity affirmed. “If you want, you may kiss me right here, right now.”
Heart racing, Applejack didn’t immediately rush in as she might of wanted. Instead, the two girls locked eyes. Their beautiful, gleaming eyes, unsure if this was really happening. To be sure of this, she reached out her other hand onto Rarity’s hair. Sure felt real when Rarity placed a hand onto her own shoulder. Soon enough, neither of them wanting to wait any longer, they broke the distance and brought their lips together. Upon pulling away, their faces fixed with goofy grins.
“How was that, dear?” Rarity beamed.
“I,” Applejack took in a deep breath. “I can get use to it.” And she was sure her parent would understand and want her to be happy, when she brought the mermaid in for another kiss.
The door to the Apple family homestead creaked open. Applejack stuck her head inside, looking left to right once, twice, thrice. Empty, quiet.
“Alright, we’re good,” Applejack assured, leading Rarity inside. While there was certainly more they could have done, in all honesty, it felt good to end their little date that day on the kiss. So all that was left to do was to drive back to the farm, when Applejack realized, with Rarity now having legs that didn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon, it would do the girl better to sleep in the actually house in a bed as opposed to a barn.
“Is this going to be a common thing?” Rarity asked, hand locked into Applejack’s as she fallowed behind.
“Not unless you’d rather sleep in the barn.” Applejack shrugged, giving Rarity a bashful smile. “Figured such a lovely lady as yourself deserves better.”
Rarity blushed to that. “Excellent point.”
“Thought so.” Applejack flustered, leading Rarity to the stairs. “Now, you are going to have to be quiet most of the time when I’m not around. Otherwise, I’ll be sure to-
She was cut off as she came face to face with her brother, Big Mac. Applejack started to tremble, when she noticed that Mac just as scared as she was, and that he wasn’t alone. Standing behind him, trying to make herself look smaller, was a curly purple haired girl Applejack had never seen before.
“Applejack, Big Mac?” Granny Smith called out from outside. “That you? I need a little help with these groceries!”
Nearly jumping out of their skins, Big Mac covered Applejacks mouth. He then motioned to the closet under the stairs. He then swung it open and shoved the girl in, and mouthed for Applejack to do the same with her ‘friend.’
“I guess this isn’t your first rodeo?” Applejack teased as she threw Rarity inside.
“Nope,” he mouthed, putting on a force smile along with his sister as they slammed the door closed as Granny Smith entered the house
“There you are,” Granny said. “Where you’ve been all day? Not like you to not be doing something around her when you’re not in school.”
“Um,” Applejack shallowed. Never being the best at lying. “Well, I,” she took a breath. “Was helping out, um… a friend.”
Granny Smith and Big Mac stared at her.
“Did you now?” Granny said with a warm smile that made Applejacks blood ran cold. “About time! You’ve been wasting too much time around here.”
Applejack’s hands started to clench. “Yes. I… decided, a little break wouldn’t hurt.”
Meanwhile, inside of the closet, completely rattled as she was shoved inside and pressed up against jackets and this mysterious girl, the girl in questioned asked, “So, Mac’s sister finally found someone special too?” She giggled.
Despite herself, Rarity couldn’t stop from smiling. “I guess so.” She pushed the jackets aside to get a better look at the girl. “And you are?”
“Oh, Sugarbelle,” she offered her hand. “A pleasure to meet you, miss…
“Rarity.” Rarity affirmed as she took the hand.
“So what’s your story?” Sugarbelle questioned once she stopped the shake. “You’ve been living in Applejack’s room all this time, or this your first night?”
Rarity blinked. “Pardon? And, um, I suppose this is only my second night. You’ve been here awhile then?”
Sugarbelle sadly nodded. “Yeah. It’s kind of a ridiculous story. I’m not sure if you’d believe it.”
Rarity raised an eyebrow. “Meh, try me, darling.”
“Well, short version, I’m sure we can exchange the fuller one later if we’re going to be roomies; family is part of a rather strict cult, where dating anyone outside of it, among other things, is a big no-no.” she sighed dreamily. “Big Mac helped me out of it when we feel in love, and insisted I move in with him when I was disowned.”
“Oh my,” Rarity gapped. “Sorry to hear that.” Thinking on it, she said, “You can kind of say I’m running from an abusive relationship, and Applejack saved my life.”
Sugarbelles’ eyes sparkled. “Oh you and I are going to get along splendidly!”
Before they could exchange more stories, the door was opened by Big Mac. “Come now. AJ’s got granny distracted. I’ll take you up to her room.” He took his girlfriend’s hand and looked to rarity and offered his other. When she didn’t take it, he titled his head. “Miss?”
Rarity looked nervously at his hand. “Thanks, but, I’ll just fallow.” Rarity said, scooting a step back.
Big Mac and Sugarbelle look at each other in confusion and concern, but made no protest as they led Rarity upstairs
*****
Meanwhile, to distract Granny Smith while Big Mac got their lady ‘friends’ to their bedrooms, Applejack had taken on the painful duty of letting her grandmother know she, might, have been putting, some, thought into college one the day. The results were painful.
“Not to say universes are bad,” Granny rattled on as she handed Applejack a shopping bad, “but community is where it’s at. Same classes, same experience, but lower cost and free popcorn. Of course, with them bigger university comes more prestige. Course, then you have that new, online stuff I’ve been hearing about.”
“Uh-huh.” Applejack plainly nodded. Doing as she always did when granny Smith, or anyone, was trying to be helpful; be emotionless and neutral. Despite popular belief, there’s no actual way to tune anyone you don’t want to listen too out. The best you can hope for is to have zero emotions in a stressful situation and ride it out. Stay stoic so you don’t end up lashing out or say something regretful. Which, is to say, only works if the person you’re trying to zone out isn’t aware.
“Something bothering you, child?” She asked, not that oblivious to her granddaughter’s discomfort.
As stated, it’s impossible to actually zone out of a conversation. However, in her mind, she had learned that all she had to do to get out of these conversations was to answer, “No, gran. Just a lot of options to think about.”
Granny smith snickered. “I just don’t understand why you protest so much about taking my advice to better yourself.”
Tightening the bags she was carrying, Applejack wanted to answer, ‘Because I’m a fricking adult who’s happy with where I am and would you please just leave me alone until I don’t need to be dictated by you anymore.’
“It’s nothing,” Applejack instead. “I’m fine. Thanks for the advice.” With a bit more bit than she wanted to let slip, she added, “As always.”
Despite Applejack’s desire, Granny Smith didn’t believe that for a second. However, thinking she was doing the right thing, she ended the conversation with, “Well think about it next time we have another one of these chats. Okay?”
“Sure.” Applejack mouthed. She then smiled looking up at the second floor where Big Mac gave her a thumbs up.
“I supposing you want to help make dinner?” Granny asked once the put the food down.
“I think I’ll just go to my room for a bit.” Applejack started to sweat when granny eyed her.
“Well… Okay.” Granny said warmly. Personally thinking her ‘help’ might have been taking effect. “Nice little change of pace is always good. You have fun now.”
Applejack very nearly thought to spite her Grandma by forgetting about Rarity and go work on some chores. However, thinking about making sure Rarity was okay after shoving her into a closet was the better idea. Strictly her idea and thought alone, mind you! Once she was out of view, she slapped herself. Why did she have to be so stubborn minded? It wasn’t as if anyone meant her any harm. The opposite actually. Thinking of Rarity waiting for her up in her room, she took in a relaxing breath, only run into her brother at the bottom of the steps.
“Um,” he said, now realizing there was no reason they couldn’t chat more about new events.
As tempting as Applejack was to learn about her brother’s new friend, her head was throbbing a bit too much from all the mental energy she spent listening to her grandmother. So instead, she held up a hand and used the other one to rub her forehead.
“We can share stories later. I’ll let you be for now.” Applejack sighed, patting him on the shoulder as she walked past to her room.
“Um, e’yup.” Big Mac nodded in understanding.
“Great, I… should get going.” she headed up to her room, but couldn’t not stare at the door to her brother’s room and form a few mental pictures. Looking at her own, well, she was going to try not to get too ahead of herself now. Rarity had been sitting on the windowsill, brushing her hair when Applejack walked into the room. Looking as graceful as ever.
“Hey,” Applejack stuttered. Her breath caught in herself as the setting sun reflected off of Rarity in a majestic hew of yellow.
The mermaid smiled back and put the brush down. “Hello yourself, dear.” She picked herself off from the window frame. “Everything go well?”
Applejack sighed and slumped onto the bed. “It’s fine. I’ll make sure to bring you something to eat after dinner.”
“Is it?” Rarity titled her head as she scooted herself off the window to sit next to the farmer.
“Yes, Rarity,” Applejack huffed, lifting her face up. “I’ll be fine, just,” As it happened, Rarity sat in a spot where, when Applejack turned to look at her, she noticed something had been added to the top of her dresser draw.
“Hey. Hey, hey, hey!” Applejack yelled, leaping off of the bed and to the photo. “What the hell is that doing out!” she quickly snatched it up, looking over to thankfully see it hadn’t been damaged. “Did you touch this?!” she fumed, snapping her attention back to Rarity.
“I’m sorry!” Rarity epp’ed, backing herself away from Applejacks glare.
After a second, Applejack came around enough to realize the girl honestly couldn’t have known. She took a breath before saying, “Sorry, sorry.”
“It’s, um,” Rarity started, tapping her fingers together. “I’m guessing they are your parents?”
“Were,” Applejack sighed, taking the photo over to the bed to show a concerned looking Rarity. “This was the last photo taken of them before they,” she grasped the photo tighter, but soften at Rarity’s touch, and motioned for Applejack to sit down next to her.
“Well,” Applejack sniffled as she sat down next to Rarity. "It wasn’t the last time I saw them, mind you. But, I still remember this day.” She fingered around the photo’s frame. “After it was taken, pa said to me; ‘AJ! One of these days, you’re going to grow up big and strong, and carry on the family legacy. Ma then laughed and joked about how I would have kids one day and we’d take the same photograph years from now!’”
“So, back at that mall when that, boy,” her fist clenthed, “made that comment about your parents….
Applejack turned her head away. “Yeah. Yeah…. Of course, I end up liking girls more than boys, if at all.” She chuckled, her face tearing up. “First I’m ace, now I’m gay? I really can’t win and do anything right, can I?”
“Hey!” Rarity protested, taking Applejack’s chin and forcing the girl to look at her. “Applejack, you can’t honestly believe they’d ever be disappointed in you? Do you?”
Applejack took in a breath and looked away. “You can’t know that. And I know!” she cut off as Rarity was about to say something else. “I’m sure whatever you’re about to say has already been said by Granny Smith, or… Or my brother, or anyone. Or that I’m sure anyone would say I’m jus the one acting like a brat. Or that I’m just being stuborn, or maybe I’m not working hard enough, or, or-
Rarity silenced her by wrapping her arms around the farmer. And in that moment, Applejack didn’t really feel like she needed anything more than that. The two of them holding onto each other as rarity let Applejack cry her eyes out.
*****
Sometime after dinner, Applejack made her way back to her room with a plate for her mermaid friend.
Awkward silence fallowed as Rarity ate her meal. Only broken up by Applejack asking, “So, you want the bed? I just can sleep on the floor.”
Rarity blinked at her. “Why would you want to do that?”
Applejack blushed deeply. “Well, I mean-
“Oh.” Rarity frowned. The concept of people sleeping with each other not lost to her. However, for different context. “Well, I mean, I understanding you wanting to figure things out. But I couldn’t let that keep you from your-
“What? No!” Applejack cut off as she realized something. “It’s not that, I don’t, I mean…. If I… If I didn’t have any problems, with us, because, well I wasn’t worried about m parents, and you wanted too, or, maybe-
Rarity shot out of the bed and planted a kiss on the very surprised farmer. It seemed to speak enough for the both of them when Applejack didn’t pull back and wrapped her arms around the mermaid.
“You’re adorable when you ramble,” Rarity teased when they pulled away, “but, if I may; what would make you, not you family, friends, parents, or even myself, but, you, happy? Please be honest with me. Right here, and now, tonight?”
Before Applejack could really protest, she found herself lost in the beauty of the girl she held her arms. Crazy how one moment she considered love a foolish thing, and suddenly, she wanted to answers the girl,
“I want to be with you.”
Rarity beamed. “Good.”
She lead Applejack to the bed, where the two of them crawled under the covers, and resumed their earlier make out session. Their limbs wrapped tightly around each other, fearful this would all be a dream if they let go. They continued one this way, smiling, their heads resting on one another, as the pair of them drifted off to sleep.
The moonlight sparkled on the waves as the crashed upon the canterlot shores. If one was walking about, looking out into the surf, they might have been thinking; What a beautiful night! Or maybe, I’d love to go for a swim, what if there are sharks in the water?! Perhaps a few of them would of gazed out at the stars as well, and pondered the mysterious and deeper questions of the universe. Maybe, if they had been on one partical stretch of beach, they might of seen a curly purples haired head pop out of the water. If they were concerned, upon the head belonged to a little girl, they might have been compleded to make sure she was okay, and in the girl would have dove back into the water, revealing her tail as she did so. Or maybe they would have thought it was none of their business what a girl was doing in the water so later at night and moved on.
Of course, no human had seen the little girl surface. Nor, did they see her drag her tail up onto the shore either, looking upon the land, a look determination in her eyes.
“Rarity,” one Sweetie Belle whispered, as if her sister would somehow hear...
