> Butter Knows Best
>  by DougtheLoremaster
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1- Temptations and folly (Completely Rewritten)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

With a picnic basket loaded to the brim with baked goodies, Rarity was elated as she made her way down the path to the Sweet Apple Acres farmhouse. This was the night she would look forward to every week; the night when she and Applejack would have some time together. Though the Earthpony never took the time to get gussied up for their dates, Rarity was quite another story.
For hours, she would prepare her mane; not a hair out of place, perfectly coiffed, while taking care to scrub her white alabaster fur with only the fanciest of soaps. After which followed a luxurious facial scrub, and after that she would prepare her outfit.
 As Equestria’s top fashionista, she prided herself on never wearing the same thing twice and all of her outfits were made by her own hooves. Tonight she sported an almost formal pantsuit, that was a rich charcoal gray, though her blouse sparkled and twinkled with the same blue as her triple diamond cutie mark. On her head she wore a sunhat, matching the same color as her pants that had been accented with shiny baby blue rhinestones while a brilliant set of crystal baby blue horseshoes with charcoal gray accents adorned her hind hooves.
Dressed to kill, she would then make her way to the Cakes; having scheduled thirty minutes with Mrs. Cake to bake some special apple-based confectioneries for her marefriend. Like always, she wanted each moment with Applejack to be magical, though lately, Applejack seemed distant quite a bit more often. This made Rarity a bit uneasy at times, though she couldn’t put her hoof on exactly why.
Banishing any doubts or fears from her mind, she now made her way to and knocked on the rustic old oak door. Humming to herself, she was a bit surprised when Pear Butter, Applejack’s mother, answered the door instead of her marefriend.
“Oh hello Rarity, I wondered who was knocking this late. Here for Applejack?”
Rarity stood there, momentarily tongue-tied as she stared back at the mare. She never knew why, but for some reason, she always felt funny around Pear Butter; not in a bad way, but still she felt her face flush with a rosy hue, every time. Her pulse quickened and time itself would seem to stop. Though, with her being the mother of her marefriend, Rarity always chalked these strange sensations up to her being nervous to gain her approval.
“Erm- yes, Mrs. Apple.”
Laughing lightly, Pear Butter reached out her forehoof and used it to lift Rarity’s muzzle, forcing her to look into her eyes. As she did so Rarity couldn’t help but think about how they resembled two perfect orbs of pristine aquamarine crystal; much like the ones, she mines for her dresses. 
“No need to be so formal, Rarity. Just call me Butter.”
Pear Butter’s words were silky, almost playful, or was Rarity just imagining that? Did she even say that at all? She wasn’t sure what exactly had been said, as Pear Butter had swiftly turned around without waiting for an answer. 
The only thing on Rarity’s mind as she watched the mare walk away, was just how much exercise it would take to have such well-toned thighs. Calling over her shoulder, Pear Butter’s gentle voice once more reached her ears.
“Come in, come in, Applejack’s busy at the moment, but she will be back soon; I’m sure.”

***

Ten minutes later, Rarity found herself sitting on an antique loveseat, though how exactly she managed to be sitting next to Pear Butter while both sipped on some warm cider, Rarity wasn’t sure. The only thing she knew was she suddenly felt her body fill with warmth. 
Her blood felt like it was boiling and for all the world she could swear her white fur had turned a shade of bright strawberry red, with the embarrassment she was now feeling. She had watched and now couldn't tear her eyes away from the sight, as Pear Butter leaned back against the loveseat, the matriarch's body splayed at just the right angle for Rarity to see everything.
Noticing this, Pear Butter teasingly asked her.
“See something you like?”
Completely flustered at the sight, Rarity accidentally swallowed the entirety of her cup’s contents; sputtering and coughing as the hot cider hit her stomach. Pear Butter quickly sat up to help her, patting her on the shoulder.
“Hey now, easy girl.”
As Rarity slowly ceased her fit of coughing, Pear Butter sighed and spoke wistfully, now sitting in a much more modest positioning. Crossing her hind hooves she told Rarity.
“I envy you, you know.”
Blinking, Rarity asked her why, in complete surprise.
Pear Butter gave a soft chuckle.
“Not everypony could handle having such a bold relationship with two others, you know.”
Nonplussed, Rarity explained how Applejack was her only somepony and there was no other. Pear Butter shook her head in response.
“My daughter told me all about your agreement for her to see Rainbow Dash, as well. There’s no need to be ashamed, dear. It’s quite the bold choice.”
Rarity, who had begun pouring more cider, had frozen in mid-pour; forgetting what she was doing immediately. What did she just say? Surely, Rarity had heard wrong, right? Seemingly unaware, Pear Butter continued.
“Though I wonder what’s keeping her. Normally her dates with Rainbow Dash don’t last this long; she’s usually back by the time you show up. After all, they only went to Sugarcube Corner for a milkshake. Maybe they went off to have a little fun. Ah, the joys of youth.”
With the sound of smashing glass, the bottle of homemade cider crashed to the floor, causing Pear Butter to turn to face Rarity.
"Are you alright?”
Completely enraged, Rarity’s focus on her levitation spell had failed, causing the bottle to shatter, scattering shards of glass across the old maple flooring. Rarity’s eyes were narrowed, her brow furrowed. She spoke in a voiceless whisper as she stood up, completely ignoring Pear Butter’s inquiries of her well-being. Appearing completely at a loss of this reaction, Pear Butter asked her to repeat what she said.
With a guttural screech that rattled the rafters of the old farmhouse, Rarity snarled.
“I’ll kill her!”
Before Pear Butter could move, Rarity had already raced out the front door, galloping down the path towards Ponyville. 

***

Pear Butter chuckled as Rarity took off. That daughter of mine, so young, so carefree. So foolish, blinded by her youth.

***

Turning down the avenue, Rarity narrowly avoided running into Strawberry Sunrise, the Element of Honesty, walking home from a day of selling her strawberries in the square.

***

Applejack doesn’t realize what she has and thinks she can do anything without any consequences, but she’s about to learn.

***

Rarity’s lungs screamed for air as she raced as fast as her four alabaster hooves could carry her.

***

 It’s just one date, surely Rarity won’t get mad besides she’ll never know, as Applejack told me. After all, the others didn't. Poor Rarity.

***

Rarity’s muscles screamed as she shot past the Old Ponyville Library of Twilight Sparkle, the Element of Magic, who peeked her head out the door, curious at the commotion Strawberry Sunrise was causing with her yelling at nearly being hit.

***

That lovely Unicorn doesn't deserve this. My daughter doesn't deserve her. She needs a mare to treat her right, not some foolish, immature filly.

***

Her body about to give up in protest, Rarity panted as she came to a stop in front of the double doors of Sugarcube Corners, her eyes growing wide at what she saw.

***

No, Applejack has no clue what she has. And she won’t know.

***

Rarity’s heart broke. There at the bar, sat Applejack and Rainbow Dash, the Element of Loyalty, sharing a milkshake and nuzzling each other. Rarity burst through the doors in a rage, screaming at the top of her lungs.
“Applejack! How could you?”
 Jerking her head around, Applejack quickly sputtered as she was caught in the glare of scorned mare.
“It ain’t what it looks like, Rar!”
“Save it! Cheating on me? And with Rainbow, no less!”
“Wait, what?”
 Rainbow Dash blinked in confusion for a moment before smacking Applejack with her hoof angrily.
“You’re already with Rarity? You told me there was nothing between you two!”
“Rainbow, she means nothing to me!”
That was the final straw, Rarity’s voice dropped to a quiet tone.
“What? Actually, you are right, Applejack. There isn’t anything between us. We are through!”
As she punctuated these words with a flip of her mane, Rarity turned up her nose and calmly walked out of the now deathly silent bar. Once outside, she bolted at top speed towards the Boutique. 
Slamming open the door to her home, she tore up the stairs before rushing into and slamming her bedroom door shut. Sobbing uncontrollably she flung herself onto her bed; wailing incoherently, over and over, as she punched her pillow with all the strength she could muster.

***

As soon as Rarity had left, Applejack had quickly turned back to Rainbow, placing her hooves on Rainbow’s thigh.
“So then, Sugarcube, where were we?”
Barely able to prevent herself from raging, and using words that would make even a denizen of Tartarus blush, Rainbow Dash just smiled.
“I believe you were enjoying a nice-”
Dumping a nearly full strawberry milkshake right on top of Applejack’s head, she snorted as her nostrils flared.
“-Strawberry milkshake, you, you, poor excuse for a mare. There's isn't a chance in Tartarus, Applejack! Rarity’s my friend and you would dare betray her by lying to me? You can’t be serious right now. Buck off, AJ. I’m outta here.”
Grabbing her purse, she muttered angrily as she headed towards the door.
"So. Not. Cool."
Watching as her date stormed out, the bartender walked over to Applejack, who was sitting, dumbfounded in silence while strawberry ice cream dripped from her mane onto the floor. Sliding a piece of paper across to her, he smiled, clearly trying to hold back his laughter. Looking down at the paper, Applejack's eyes widened in fear; it was the bill.
"That'll be 32 bits for all the milkshakes, miss."

***

Meanwhile, Pear Butter sat on the love seat, thinking about that pained expression that had been written on Rarity’s face before she stormed out. No, Applejack won’t know what she has. Until it’s gone. Forever.
The mare’s lips curled up in a playful smile as she stretched out on the loveseat and sipped cider straight from the bottle, daydreaming about Rarity. She laughed excitedly, raising the bottle to the sky and, almost hungrily, declaring out loud.
“But don’t worry, my daughter, mommy will take very good care of her.”
> Chapter 2- Her wake-up call
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sun rose outside the Boutique, and the light hit Rarity square in the face as she lay upon her bed. Her eyes were red and puffy, from furious tears and rubbing her eyes with her hooves, with dark circles under them, denoting her lack of sleep. Her head had been resting on the few remaining feathers of her pillow; torn to shreds in her bout of rage. She let out a cry of annoyance, knowing she had to get up, but really not wanting to do anything.
Slowly, she dragged her unkempt form out of her bed, her fur reeking from lack of her normal showers, her mane completely tangled and mussed. She just didn’t care about anything; not Applejack, not outfits, not even her own well-being. It no longer mattered to her. In an almost zombie-like state, she trudged down the stairs where Sweetie Belle had attempted to cheer her sis up, and unfortunately, it had not gone well.
The smoke detector was going crazy and the smell of burnt pancakes fouled the air. A small fire was desperately attempting to spread as Sweetie Belle swatted at it with a wet dishrag, crying out as soon as she saw her sister.
“Hey, Rarity I made you…some...pan...cakes.”
Her words fell on deaf ears as Rarity just slowly walked past her towards the table, seeing nothing, saying nothing. Sweetie Belle fell silent as she managed to finally outmaneuver the stubborn flame, snuffing it out for good. 
Quickly, Sweetie Belle rushed her labor of love over to Rarity, the smell pungent and the pancakes reduced to charred clumps. Yet, Rarity didn’t flinch or hesitate as she bit down on the inedible meal. 
A week had passed since Rarity had caught Applejack cheating on her with Rainbow Dash. Since then, Rarity had been lost in her own head, helplessly going over the scene again and again, desperate to find what caused it. She didn’t understand. Was it something she had done? Maybe it was something she hadn’t? If so, what? If not, then why? She just didn’t know. 
Sweetie Belle stared at her sister in distress as Rarity chewed and swallowed the foul flapjacks, and reaching for the napkin, simply began chewing on that as well. What could she do? She had tried to help her big sister and sure, her cooking skills were sub-par but this? Rarity was starting to worry her. 
That’s when a loud knocking came from the window beside Rarity, causing Sweetie Belle to blink in surprise. It was Rainbow Dash, and the Pegasus was indicating she wanted to come in, however, the instant she saw the smoke she vanished from sight. 
A moment later, the Element of Loyalty was heard smashing through the front door of the Boutique, yelling loudly as she swiftly made her way to the kitchen.
“Don’t worry! I’m-”
Looking around in momentary confusion for the fire, Rainbow finished her thoughts as her eyes fell on the reactionless Rarity, who was still chewing, unknowingly, on her napkin.
“Here? To...Save you?”
Completely at a loss, Rainbow turned from the sight to stare at Sweetie Belle.
“What’s...What’s going on here?”
About to answer, Sweetie Belle was pre-emptively interrupted by the loud sounds of splintering wood and heavy hoof steps approaching the kitchen; slowly, yet deliberately. Moments later, Pear Butter stepped into the kitchen, turning to look at the depressing sight of Rarity, and sighed. Shaking her head in dismay she muttered softly.
“Well, I was wondering where my Unicorn has been lately…”
Her murmurings trailed off as she spoke loud enough for all present to hear.
“I had come to order a custom outfit, but I can see, other things will have to happen first, won’t they?”
Without waiting for an answer to the previous question, the farmpony casually asked if she could take care of this situation. With surprise at the statement, Sweetie Belle just nodded. Immediately, the mare’s hoof flew up and slammed sideways into Rarity’s neck, causing her to fall forward, crashing onto the empty plate. Seeing the now outraged look of shock on the faces of the other two, Pear Butter just shrugged.
“What’s wrong?”
Sweetie Belle squealed at her.
“What did you do to Rarity?”
Just chuckling for a moment, Pear Butter then told her.
“Oh relax, she’s only unconscious. My own daughters weren’t always so keen on body hygiene, though, you ever tried to move a conscious Earthpony? Stubbornness is our specialty after all. It’s almost impossible. So I developed a simple method to ensure they took their showers. Rainbow, dear if you wouldn’t mind, lift her onto my back, I need to carry her to the bathroom. This dirty little mare here is getting a cleaning intervention.”
Speechless, Rainbow helped drape Rarity’s unconscious body over Pear Butter’s back. With a cheerful whistle, the Earthpony casually headed off towards the bathroom, while Sweetie Belle just stood there, unable to say a thing.

***

In the bathroom, and with the door locked, Pear Butter carefully dumped the unconscious Unicorn to rest comfortably within the tub. Slowly, she turned the shower’s cold water on, startling Rarity as the icy water blasted her.
Wildly, she looked around in confusion, her eyes seeing Pear Butter, causing her to stutter.
“W-what? Pear Butt-t-t-er? Why are you in my bathroom?”
Ignoring her, Pear Butter turned the hot water on, creating a soothingly warm shower. Grabbing the curtain in her hooves, she passed Rarity a bar of her frilly soap.
“You are going to scrub yourself clean of all that grime.”
With that, she closed the curtain on the still-stunned Rarity, who shouted at her, still confused.
“W-what?”
Pear Butter, having sat down on the toilet to wait, replied in a firmer, and commanding voice.
“I did not stutter, Rarity. You will scrub yourself fully, and I do mean everywhere, and when you leave that shower I will be making sure you are clean.”
Chuckling, she finished in a honey-sweet voice.
“And make no mistake, if any part of you isn’t, I will personally be scrubbing you down, with my own hooves and you don’t want that. Get to it.”
Rarity was speechless. Slowly, and without a word she lathered up the soap. She wanted to argue, she wanted to yell at her, but still, she continued scrubbing herself, thinking. How dare she tell me what to do, who does she think she is-
She carefully washed up her hooves as she angrily continued her thoughts.
She’s not my mom, she can’t tell me what to...do. Though, her voice was so fierce, so commanding…
Gliding the bar across her fur, she carefully ensured not a speck of dirt or a smote of odor remained. At that moment the curtain slid partly open and Pear Butter, with her eyes closed, passed Rarity a shampoo bottle.
“Your mane and that tail had better be silky smooth as well. You’ll need this. Get to it. Now.”
And here I am, following her demands, without a single argument. Why?
Quietly, Rarity nodded and took the bottle in her levitation magic’s grasp, quickly lathering her mane and tail, making sure every strand was cleansed to the absolute possible degree.
Why am I listening to her? I mean, the way she said that it makes me feel...makes me feel...Happy.
Inspecting literally every angle of her body, just to make sure, a now very awake and strangely excited Rarity, turned off the shower’s hot and cold fixtures. Immediately, Pear Butter’s voice was heard; loud and absolute, yet somehow sweet and encouraging in time.
“Are you ready for inspection?”
But why am I so happy?
Taking herself by complete surprise, Rarity eagerly replied to her.
“Yes Ma’am!”
Pear Butter raised an eyebrow in amusement, as a blush spread over Rarity’s face. That’s when Rarity remembered something that had been on her mind.
“Er- can I ask you something?”

***

As Rarity and Pear Butter silently walked back to where Rainbow Dash and Sweetie Belle sat, still unsure of what was going on, it was clear something was different. This was a completely different Rarity. She wasn’t moping, her eyes were bright.
 Rarity’s mane was perfectly coiffed, her tail styled, and her fur sparkled while smelling of roses and peaches. Pear Butter wore a big smile and pointed at a kitchen chair, onto which Rarity immediately sat, an expression of joy on her face.
In a gentle, yet firm voice, Pear Butter told Rarity.
“Talk to her, ask her what is on your mind, remember what we talked about, and don’t you dare try to lie. Or I will be quite annoyed, and you will not be happy. Got it?”
Rarity meekly nodded, after which Pear Butter walked over to the stove and began fixing up the kitchen, calling back to the table.
“And Rainbow, pay attention. It’s important.”
Completely bemused, Rainbow Dash listened intently to the question that Rarity wanted to ask her.