Differentby zdashChaptersTraditionsPretendingInhibitionMistakesComfortTraditionsAs long as ah can remember, ah've always been a bit different. Erverypony says we're supposed ta think a certain way, that mares 'er supposed ta like stallions, and stallions 'er supposed ta like mares. But it taint so simply, is it? "Hey Applejack, I haven't seen you for a few days, what have you been up to?" Twilight's words cut through the space between her and the orange pony, authoritative and precise with every syllable she spoke. She trotted closer to her friend and stopped just a few inches away from her. "Do you need any help with the harvest this year?" The trees had taken to their beautiful shades of brown and orange, the beginning of harvest season having been only a couple days before. Ripe red, green and yellow apples dotted the trees and broke the sea of leaves. "Nah, we're way ahead a schedule, even gonna take a break this weekend. How 'er the girls?" Applejack did her best to keep her eyes on the tree directly across from the one she was bucking, though she couldn't help but steal glances at Twilight's lips every now and then. Still, she had to do her job, and began tensing the muscles in her haunch and legs, ready to strike the tree. Thwack! The sound echoed through the orchard, a few birds not yet migrating scattered from their homes near by. "Well, Rarity is just as busy as you are. She got a recent order for several dresses for a store in Canterlot. She was really excited when she first got it, but I think she might have bitten off more than she can chew." As she spoke, a light lavender aura slithered from her horn, surrounding a tree and lifting the apples from it, placing them gently in a bucket. A bead of sweat formed under her mane, rolling down the left side of her face and dripping from her chin to the ground, leaving a dark brown spot on the ground beneath her. "She's all but disappeared into her boutique working on them. Sweetie belle spends a lot of time with Scootaloo when she isn't in school. Rainbow Dash has been busy practicing some new move and teaching Scootaloo to fly when the Cutie Mark Crusaders aren't trying to grow up too fast." She chuckled a bit at that last sentence, but Applejack hardly noticed anything. Her mind had wandered to Rainbow Dash, the majestic spread of her wings behind her, sweat reflecting sun through her coat. Applejack shook her head to clear the thought from her mind. No, Applejack, S' not right. What would Granny think? "...but that's Pinkie Pie for you. And of course, Fluttershy was asked by Celestia to help set up a zoo in Canterlot and train the animal keepers, so it's been a bit lonely lately." She glanced over at Applejack for a moment, checking to see if she was still paying attention. The orange Mare was now picking up a few stray apples and dropping them in nearby buckets. Celestia had started lowering the sun, and bright pink and orange fluttered through the sky as the moon rose. "Applejack, is something wrong? Am I distracting you?" "Nah, but ah'm 'bout finished. Mind if I come along'n we can grab the girls fer a drink at the Cider hut?" It had been a while since she'd made it into town. It wasn't just the harvest, no matter how many times she told herself it was. She just didn't trust herself around the others, but she couldn't keep avoiding them, they were her friends. "Sorry Applejack, but I promised Princess Celestia I would finish a paper on pony transfiguration tonight. She want's to know more about me becoming an alicorn. I really thought that was strange, since she's the one that did it, but I guess..." Applejack's heart sunk, her disappointment much worse than she'd expected. She was really starting to miss them. "And I'm sure that it probably has something to do with the strange place we were in. Oh, I'm sorry, I'm rambling again, aren't I? Anyway, you said you were off this weekend? I'm sure we could all get together some time then, although I think I'll stay away from the hard drinks for a while, especially after last time." "Yeah," Applejack began in a half dishearted effort, half exhausted tone, "that'll be great." With a worried look, Twilight looked her friend over again, then turned and began trotting of to town. Applejack stared silently at her friend, the muscles in her flank flexing with each step and relaxing with the next, her beautiful new wings tucked against her slender sides. She observed the curves of her hips, the natural lay of her mane and simplicity of her tail. "Applejack is... everything okay?" Twilight had turned her neck in an almost unnatural way, so that her eyes met the mares. Applejack could feel her face grow warm and flushed as she quickly shifted her gaze. "Yeah, ah was jus thinking about this weekend.. See yah latter." With that, Applejack tried to clear her mind, returning to her trees. With another worried look, Twilight appeared ready to say something else, but turned and continued down the path to Ponyville. She bucked a few more trees before deciding to call it a day. The sun had nearly set, and bright pink and orange colors danced in the sky above the orchard. She lifted the buckets of apples into her wheelbarrow, and started the trek home. Her thoughts wandered to home, to the same conversation she'd had in her mind several times. "YOU'RE A WHAT!" Big Mac's voice rarely raised, but she could see it now. He had never been shy about what he thought of their kind. He was a stubborn pony, and changing wasn't in his vocabulary. Granny Smith simply left the room in anger, not speaking a word. "You Listen hear lil' missy, taint none a their kind gunna be livin' under this roof. Y'all get yerselff out of her for you twist Applebloom with yer Celestia fersaken ways!" She always imagined arguing with him, but what could she actually say? Nothing would likely change his mind, and she wasn't ready to risk anything like that. She pushed the daydream from her mind, continuing on towards the now visible barn. The bright red paint hadn't faded since the last time they'd rebuilt it, though the Cutie Mark Crusaders adventure in traipsing left a few holes in the side. A couple, boards covered the hole, but their brown color contrasted the red around it. She dropped the apples off inside a large compressor for cider. Keeping her mind clear, she entered the house, sat at the dinner table and munched slowly on the salad. "Sugarcube, wats the matter?" Granny Smithy spoke in her slow, careful words, her tone one of concern as she stared at Applejack's plate, "Yah've barely taken a bite." "Sarry Granny Smith, ah just haven't much of a stomach tanight. Ah think I'll head ta bed." She stood and cleared her plate, then headed off to bed. Granny Smith and Big Mac stared after her, confusion and worry on their face. Ah don't like bein' different. If ah could, ah'd be jus like everypony else, but ah'm not, and ya can't change who ya are. Author's Note Let me know if there's anything you think could have been done better. This stories pretty special to me, so I want it to be perfect. PretendingSometimes, Ah think pretendin' is easier than tellin' ponies. But tha's just lying to mahself. Ya can't be something yur not. No matter how much ya wish ya could. The early rays of sun sneaked through the crack in faded curtains, inching further and further across the room and up the side of Applejack's bed until it reached her eyes. She turned on the mattress, the hard springs creaking as her body moved to escape the reach of the light a few minutes more. Soon enough, it was had reached her there, and she was forced to push the covers from her figure. The clop of her hooves as she slid from the bed shook the remains of a dream from her vision, and she reached one hoof up to rub her eyes, while another pulled the curtain open, revealing a brilliant, clear day. The cool air betrayed the late fall morning, sending a small chill up the orange mare's spine. She lazed about her room for a moment, then descended the staircase to the family room. "Mornin' Sunshine, or, maybe afternoon, heh heh." Granny sat in her rocking chair, crocheting something too new to recognize in a light blue yarn that reminded Applejack not a little of the pond she frequently swam with her friends in. Applejack had never figured out how she had managed to crochet with hooves, it seemed far too complicated to her, and Granny's speed seemed to defy even what little of the process made sense to her. "Breakfast is on the counter darlin', remember to relax and be yourself." The sentence struck Applejack as out of place, and she stopped mid-stride to ask "Wha'd ya say granny?" "Breakfast's on tha counter, and don't cha forget to relax, why?" Applejack couldn't tell if she'd misheard her, or if Granny Smith was just having a forgetful moment. It didn't really matter much, and she pushed the moment from her mind. Crossing the threshold into the kitchen, the smell of apple-pancakes, syrup and fresh milk assaulted her nose and awakened her stomach with a loud growl. She filled a plate and carried it over to the table in her mouth, eating it as quickly as possible to fill her empty tummy. "Applejack, when you go to town taday, could'ya pick up sumore yarn?" Granny called into the kitchen as Applejack finished her meal. "Sure Granny." She washed her plate and laid it on the rack to dry. Before trotting out the door, she lifted her hat from the rack, then stepped into the crisp cool day. Clouds had begun to take shape to the south, threatening a soft rain. Before her was the path into town, and it seemed to call to her in the voice of her friends. It had been too long and she was itching to hang out with them. Still, she was hesitant. Something inside of her had started to fear going out with the girls. It was like they knew, and were just waiting for her to tell them. Or maybe she was just waiting to tell herself. It didn't much matter, she was afraid none the less because of it. It took all the strength in her body to place the first hoof forward, but each following step became easier until she had made it through the orchard without realizing it. Then she reached the bridge at the edge of town. Then she reached the library, and stood in front of the door. She could hear Pinkie Pie's loud, excited voice through the wood entrance, and it brought her to a pause. Are they all here already? Applejack considered turning around and coming back a bit later, after she'd built up her courage more. What're ya'll so scared of, Applejack? It's just yer friends, same as always. She smoothed out her hat, unruffling the edges a bit and bringing it down a little over her eyes, then she rattled a shaking hoof against the door. It made a quite, almost inaudible noise, and Applejack moved to knock again, nearly smacking Twilight in her face as she opened the door. "Hey Applejack, wanna come in and get ready for tonight?" She stepped aside to make room for Applejack. Pinkie pie was bouncing around, her mouth running without stop as she did. Rainbow Dash was hovering just above the floor while Fluttershy stood silently off in the corner. Rarity seemed to be the only one actually getting ready, and she had done little beyond applying a light eyeliner. Applejack's gaze lingered on Rarity just a moment longer than the others, admiring her delicate and well postured frame, but it caught Rainbow Dash's attention. She grinned at Applejack, who had finally stepped across the threshold into the warm library. As soon as she could, Rainbow Dash cornered the orange pony. "So, excited for tonight?" Her smirk was enough to tell Applejack she'd lingered too long. She'd caught the mare before, but seemed to pass it off until now. "A-a course. Haven't been out with ya'll in it feels like ferever. Be good ta get outta the orchard." Applejack could hear her own voice shake, something that didn't happen often. Why am ah so nervous? They're mah friends. "I... Applejack, I never knew." Twilight's look was one more of pity than support or acceptance. "You know it's not allowed, right?" Fluttershy simply shy'ed away from Applejack, and Pinkie Pie bounced around, still stuck in her own little world. But the look of rejection on Rarity's face was what terrified the farm pony the most. It stabbed at her chest, the pressure building like she'd just run through the Everfree forest, a mixture of hurt and fear that she could only describe as hopelessness. She shook the image from her mind. It wasn't like Rainbow Dash would go around telling anyone even if she suspected. "Got any plans for who you'd like to dance with?" She raised her eyebrow and gestured openly at the oblivious white pony fussing over whether she'd put too much eye shadow on. Applejack ran her eyes over the fashionista, her eye's catching on each soft, well defined curve. She stopped at the powder white haunch that held her cutie mark, then glided her eyes back to Rainbow Dash. "What'er you talkin' bout? I jus wanna have a few drinks with my friends and get off my hooves." She recovered a bit, and her voice sounded stronger, more confident. Still, it didn't erase the beads of nervous sweat forming around the brim of her hat. She nudged Applejack and giggled a short "sure" before joining Twilight to read while they waited for Rarity to finish. Author's Note Sorry guys, I rewrote this section several times to get it just right. I hope you like it. (It may still undergo a couple of minor revisions, and suggestions are appreciated.) It's shorter than it was going to be, but I think the way I'm going to do the next two chapters will make more sense. InhibitionSometimes, ya just haf ta go for it. And sometimes, ya really shouldn't. The music in the club was too loud for Applejack's taste. She wasn't a fan of the type either, but from time to time a violent guitar solo made her wince as she sat at the bar, watching her friends dancing with the local colts. Twilight was more awkward than usual, still adapting to the proud set of now outstretched wings. There was no grace in her stumbling around, but the wings seemed to hide this, and she had attracted the attention of a young blue colt with a black quill and tunic cutie mark. He tried to match pace with her steps without being hit by her wings. It wasn't working. Pinkie Pie danced around the room, a sporadic mess that seem devoid of any rhythm or style, and it was doubtful that anyone could keep up long enough to claim to have danced with her. Applejack admired her energy from afar, then turned to Fluttershy, who swayed in a corner, shying back from each of the colts that tried to move with her. It was no surprise that Rarity danced in the middle of the crowd. Despite her lady-like demeanor, she could dance in a way that was enchanting to the orange mare. She flowed to the music as a waterfall passing over a smooth cliff, beckoning anyone with the courage to step forward, her hair laying straight against her coat in a way she would never have allowed anywhere else. The nape of her neck seemed elongated by the way she held her head up. Soft beads of sweat had found their way from her skin into her white coat, giving a twinkle that held Applejack's gaze. She bobbed between colts who all vied for her attention as she seemed to stare off into space. The mare appeared completely oblivious to the colts standing around her, a near trance like concentration marked her face. Applejack's attention was wrapped around the white mare, and she failed to notice the cyan pegasus take a seat next to her. "So, whatcha staring at?" She had a devilish grin and chuckled a bit when the earth pony jumped, then turned to look at the mare with a feigned hate. "Jus' like Rarity ta take the cen'er, ain't it?" She felt confidant that it would be an acceptable cover for Rainbow Dash to drop it. "Yeah, right. She does make it hard to show how awesome my dance moves are, but whatever. You're always bragging about how much you can drink, so let's have at it." "What, now?" Applejack's eyes refocused on Rarity and was watching her hips sway to a beat that had slowly become tolerable to her ears. "Yeah, come on, it's not like you're going to miss anything else, right?" Her voice gave away a knowing tone, rising at the end to punctuate the question with an unspoken I know what you're thinking. "Come on, we can drink what we want. Besides, the others are already gone, especially Rarity. No way she'd dance like THAT sober." Dejectedly, Applejack tore her vision from Rarity and climbed off the bar stool, marching behind Rainbow Dash to a booth in the corner with three bottles of Phillydelphia brandy. "Why do we need three fur?" "What, I thought you were a heavy weight. I know you can drink more than this, right?" "Hee, sure, jus worried you migh not be able ter handle it. Don' over do it again." Applejack's mind was focused now as the pegasus slammed a two rows of shots down on the table. "Yeah, yeah, I'm not worried, just here to have a little fun. Relax, work horse." A couple of drops of the caramel liquid spilled onto the table as she placed the last one. "Ready?" Applejack nodded, "On three then." "One" "Two" "Three" They took a shot each. "So, Applejack, what's going on with you and Rarity? You two have a fight or something?" Rainbow dash wasn't a convincing liar, but Applejack was to busy to notice. While Rainbow sat with her back to the dance floor, Applejack had a perfect view of Rarity's back end, swaying slowly to a less pounding song. She couldn't recall if Rainbow Dash had sat first or if she had. She also didn't care much. "Nah, why d'ya ask?" "Drink" Down went another shot. "You just seem to be staring at one another, and you always seem to be busy when she can come out to hang." "Eh, just a coincidence." "Drink." Rainbow Dash didn't take a drink, but Applejack barely noticed. Her eyes followed Rarity across the floor. A new song had picked up the pace. The music no longer bothered the orange mare. "Drink." Applejack's hind left hoof tapped quietly. "Drink." Applejack could feel a warmth rising into her cheeks. "Drink." Her tongue was numb now. The liqueur slid down her throat. "Drink." She began to develop a tunnel vision. She saw nothing but Rarity. "Drink." It almost seemed to her that Rarity was staring back. "Drink. Ready to quit?" "No, I'ms fffine." The mare never took her eyes off of Rarity. "So, why haven't you stopped staring at Rarity since we sat down? Drink." Down went another gulp. "Ish nahthig." Applejack could tell her head was getting foggy. She couldn't tell who was speaking to her anymore. "She's staring back. Besides, you know, it's easier just to be yourself. Come on, you can tell me." Something in Rainbow Dash's voice surprised Applejack. She wasn't sober enough to know what it was though. "Ish nah imporinen." "Well, hell, you don't have to tell me. Tell her." Huh? It wasn't a sentence. Barely a thought. She slid off the bar stool. Wha mmI doin? Something in her head was trying to make sense of everything. Colored lights flashed around the mare. She stumbled forward a few steps. Rarity seemed to glide closer to her. Rarity never moved. It seemed like a broken movie. Time skipped forward for Applejack. Soon she was half the distance to the white mare. Then she was only ten hoofs away. Then she was swaying next to her. "Rarity, can hI tal to ya hout side?" Rarity nodded. Applejack couldn't remember leaving the club, but as they stood outside, a strong rain falling from the sky, she was vividly aware of her surroundings. No pony else was anywhere within sight. "Yes, darling?" Rarity fluttered her eyelids a bit. "I jush... I" Her tongue tied before she could say anything. The liqueur wasn't enough to loosen them. But it didn't have to. She tried again, only for Rarity to lean in and place their lips together. MistakesSum times, ya get yerself so deep in the muck, yah gotta have some help climb'n back out. An' sumtimes, taint nobuhdy 'round ta help. The first thing Applejack noticed was that the bed she lay on was far softer than her own. The blankets were smooth, silky and didn't feel scratchy. The second thing she noticed was a splitting headache. Damn it Rainbow, why'd I let ya get me drinkin' like that? It took a few seconds after she became conscious before she would risk opening her eyes. The room was clearly not her own, but the quick, blurry glance she took before closing her eyes to shut out the intense light of mid-morning wasn't enough to know whose. Despite being large enough for three or four ponies, she could tell she was the only one resting in it. Neasua crept into her gut, and the orange mare laid as still as possible to try and suppress it. "Applejack... darling? Are you awake yet?" Rarity's voice floated into the room. She sounded nervous and tired, but Applejack's mind was too focused on trying to remember why she was in Rarity's room to notice. Then her mind flashed back to their kiss. "Applejack, I'm going... I'm going to regret this in the morning. I just want to say sorry now." Rain pattered around them as the two mares stared at one another. "Lesh talk about somfin elsh." The orange mare wasn't quite sure she heard her right, but she also want's entirely sure Rarity had spoken at all. "Come, we should get out of the rain." Everything else was covered by a black curtain in her head. Applejack tried to sit up, but her headache was still too strong. "Here, have some tea. We need to talk, when you're up to it." The white mare placed a small cup of tea into Applejack's hooves. "Do be careful not to spill any, pl... Oh, never mind, the blankets, the sheets, they're all ruined anyway." Still, she did her best not to spill. Opening her eyes, the hungover pony saw that the sheets were slightly muddy, wrinkled and extremely dirty. "Did ah do that?" She felt guilty staring at the bed. The tea seemed to be clearing up the hangover well, better than anything she'd ever had before."Wha's in this tea?" "It's a recipe I learned from Zecora. Perfect for hangovers, no? And actually, we did that... I was perhaps less than clear minded enough last night to ensure our hooves were clean." Her white cheeks were accented as a pink blush blossomed across them. "Applejack... This, us, it shouldn't have happened. It's not how a lady should act." Applejack felt like a cow had bucked her in the gut, and she nearly doubled over as the words continued. "It wasn't right of me to lead you on like this, and it wasn't right to do as we have. I'm truly sorry, but what would you're family think? Or mine? I suspect even our friends wouldn't be comfortable with it." She paused, hoping the orange mare would do something to free her from the cinder blocks of guilt piling up with each word, but Applejack seemed unresponsive, nothing but pain showing on her face. "It's not fair, but that's how it is. Ponies... They just don't understand. It's to far beyond what they're used to. I wish so much that things could be different." The words had become to much for Applejack to bare, and she began to drowned them out. Ah new this would happen. I shoulda known. I shoulda never let her do this to me. Rarity continued to speak, but the words no longer broke Applejack's shell. She zoned out, barely noticing that Rarity's lips continued to move. "Ah get it. Somepony like you, it wouldn' be easy, bein' who you are." "Applejack, this isn't who I am. It can't be. It was nothing but a mistake, something that should have never happened." She paused before realizing how it had sounded. "Applejack, I don't mean you were a mistake, just that this was. Please, understand. It's better, for both of us. It can't be this way." Applejack simply stared out the window. The bright sun the peeked through was offensive. She knew it wasn't the hangover that made her hate the happy daylight that made her nauseous. Sliding her hooves out of the bed, she attempted to stand. Weak and wobbly, she attempted to steady herself, ignoring the white mare staring at her with eye's glistening. Had she looked, Applejack may have seen the pain in that rested so openly on Rarity's face, the tears barely contained. She stared instead out the window. "Applejack, I'm sorry..." Her sorry trailed off,and she left the room. Applejack stood in the room, shaking with anger at a rejection she wasn't prepared to handle. How could ah be so stupid? O'course she'd never want ta be with a farm pony like me. Fought as she could to stop it, a single tear rolled down her cheek and onto the wood floor, turning it a slightly deeper brown. As she regained her strength, the mare clambered down the stairs of Rarity's home and out the front entrance of her boutique. It was cooler than she had expected, but the gentle breeze helped relieve her headache a bit, and she made her way slowly out of town along the same path she'd used the night before. Over the small bridge, the soft trickle of the stream an annoying ring in her ears. The smell of apples as she neared the orchard turned her stomach, reminding her of the taste of alcohol from the night before, and she had to rest against an empty tree until her stomach settled enough to move further along. The house moved into view as she shambled along. Through the front door, Applejack began to feel dizzy again, the distance closing faster than she felt it should have. "Have a good night, Applejack?" Granny Smith sat in her same rocking chair, hooves still knitting as if she'd only been gone for a few minutes. "Di'jew remember tha yarn?" She shook her head and stumbled up the stairs to her room. "Well, tha's all right. You go on and rest, big day tomorrah. We'll be finishin' up tha harvest soon. And try not to be too hard on yourself." Applejack flopped into bed, releasing the tears she couldn't hold back any longer. Ah knew better. Ah should'a never been so stupid. She lay in bed, silently crying as she fell asleep. Author's Note I'm not really sure about this one. I know where I'm going, but I don't know if I got Rarity's character right given the situation. As always, I welcome any suggestions or criticisms you have. ComfortSum times, it's easier to pretend everythin'll be okay.. Monday morning came around faster than Applejack was ready for. Her body ached and she felt hollow inside. The sun had yet to rise, and the cool autumn air promised to deflect any warmth it could offer. Her muscles were more sore than she remembered in a long time, and slipping out of bed seemed harder than it had since she was just a filly. Stumbling down the stairs in a dead stupor, she managed to grunt a weak "y'huh" when Granny Smith greeted her for breakfast. She couldn't remember the food she was eating, only that she had eaten it. Standing before her first tree, she could feel every muscle in her legs screaming for more rest. She tightened her flank, her hind legs flexing as she prepared to strike. The pain grew steadily as she set her front hooves. Thwack. The usual sound of apples falling into buckets rung in her ears. Lifting them up, the mare carried the buckets to her wheelbarrel, her back straining against the weight. After dumping them in, she moved on to the next tree. As the sun rose higher into the sky, the work alleviated the aches and pains, limbering her muscles up. Her coat began to glisten softly with sweat and the grogginess lifted slowly. Before lunch she was feeling more relaxed, the only tension in her body the result of her preparing to hit the tree. Applebloom worked quietly near by, picking up any apples that may have fallen before they could be plucked. The wind blew gently, the cold air mocking the sun. Rustling in the leaves of the trees and the work of bucking trees helped keep Applejack's mind clear. By the time lunch rolled around, she felt refreshed, her muscles loose and flexible. A cyan streak rushed past the tree ceiling of the orchard, bringing a flash of Saturday night. Shaking her head, the orange mare pulled the wheelbarrel towards the barn and unloaded the apples in the proper pile with the other red apples. "So, how'd it go?" Without even turning around, Applejack could tell Rainbow Dash was smiling through the sentence. The pegasus floated in air, her wings beating softly to stay aloft. Her mane was less straight than usual, and her tail seemed to have more tangles than Applejack could remember ever seeing before. "Wha'da ya mean?" Pushing past, she hoped Rainbow Dash would get the point and drop it before the conversation went any further. "Don't give me that. The rest of the town might not know, but I watched you leave with Rarity. You CAN'T tell me nothing happened." She was practically begging for more, her eyes shifting to a glazed over pleading expression. She held her hooves out in incredulity and frowned. It looked to Applejack almost like she wanted more than just gossip material. "Nothing happened." "Baloney. So what, after a kiss like that, you just went back to her place and slept? Horsefeathers." She seemed visibly upset, far more invested than Applejack felt was appropriate. "Yup, tha's what I'm sayin. Now, if'n ya don't mind, ah need ta go eat 'for it's to late." They had neared the house, and Dash was left without any other recourse. "Rarity told me what happened." She smirked as Applejack's head snapped back. "She was a mess this s'morning, and I was modeling a dress for her to finish paying off that debt. It didn't take much to get her to let it slip, and after that, I made her tell me the rest." Applejack relaxed a bit. The idea that it wasn't on purpose made the exposition somehow easier for her, like it wasn't so much a betrayal as more a fact of life that can't be avoided. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about you and Rarity. I get it. But I want to hear the details." "Why? That's weird Dash. You need something ta think about later?" The insult came without thinking, and Applejack wished she could pull it back before it even came out. The statement left Rainbow Dash visibly hurt, but she shook it off and simply frowned at her. "Ah'm sorry Dash, it's jus been a lil difficult." "No, it's fine. I know that's what everpony thinks already. Oh, look at Dash, she's such a pervert. Look at Dash, she'll sleep with anypony. Just didn't think you, of all the ponies in this town, would be the one to say it to me first. And no, I didn't want it for that." The hurt pegasus lifted higher, getting ready to fly off. "Rainbow, you know ah didn't mean it. Ah... Ah jus ain't good with stuff like this. It ain't so easy, bein' told yer a mistake by a friend. And I couldn't tell ya anything anyway. Ah don't remember." This seemed to peek the mare's interest, though she turned, a mix of hurt and empathy crossing her face. "A mistake? Rarity didn't say anything about that." The hurt faded quickly as she landed next to Applejack and placed her hoof around the nape of her neck. "Wha'did she say?" "Jus' that you two were drunk, and you slept together, and then you agreed it was best if it never happened again." "Ah... Oh." The mare stared at the ground, unsure why this hurt her more than being told she was a mistake. The dirt beneath her was slowly being speckled by moist, dark brown dots. It took her a few moments to realize they were tears, rolling off her snout. "Tha's wha she told ya? Well, it's probably fer tha best. 'Cept it doesn't feel like it is." The pegasus pulled her closer, into a gentle hug. They stood in near silence, only the soft, quiet sound of Applejack's sniffling and the ambient noise of the orchard to be heard. Eventually the orange mare pulled away. "Thanks, Rainbow. Ah... Ah need to be alone fer awhile though." Her words seemed to hurt Rainbow Dash more than her insult, and it surprised her. "I get it. But don't let you're stubbornness keep you from getting the help you need." She flew away at that, Applejack glancing after her. Author's Note Finals are over for the semester, and I've got an idea of where this story is headed now, so expect a few more to come out before the end of the year. As always, I'd love to here suggestions and criticism. Thanks guys.
TraditionsAs long as ah can remember, ah've always been a bit different. Erverypony says we're supposed ta think a certain way, that mares 'er supposed ta like stallions, and stallions 'er supposed ta like mares. But it taint so simply, is it? "Hey Applejack, I haven't seen you for a few days, what have you been up to?" Twilight's words cut through the space between her and the orange pony, authoritative and precise with every syllable she spoke. She trotted closer to her friend and stopped just a few inches away from her. "Do you need any help with the harvest this year?" The trees had taken to their beautiful shades of brown and orange, the beginning of harvest season having been only a couple days before. Ripe red, green and yellow apples dotted the trees and broke the sea of leaves. "Nah, we're way ahead a schedule, even gonna take a break this weekend. How 'er the girls?" Applejack did her best to keep her eyes on the tree directly across from the one she was bucking, though she couldn't help but steal glances at Twilight's lips every now and then. Still, she had to do her job, and began tensing the muscles in her haunch and legs, ready to strike the tree. Thwack! The sound echoed through the orchard, a few birds not yet migrating scattered from their homes near by. "Well, Rarity is just as busy as you are. She got a recent order for several dresses for a store in Canterlot. She was really excited when she first got it, but I think she might have bitten off more than she can chew." As she spoke, a light lavender aura slithered from her horn, surrounding a tree and lifting the apples from it, placing them gently in a bucket. A bead of sweat formed under her mane, rolling down the left side of her face and dripping from her chin to the ground, leaving a dark brown spot on the ground beneath her. "She's all but disappeared into her boutique working on them. Sweetie belle spends a lot of time with Scootaloo when she isn't in school. Rainbow Dash has been busy practicing some new move and teaching Scootaloo to fly when the Cutie Mark Crusaders aren't trying to grow up too fast." She chuckled a bit at that last sentence, but Applejack hardly noticed anything. Her mind had wandered to Rainbow Dash, the majestic spread of her wings behind her, sweat reflecting sun through her coat. Applejack shook her head to clear the thought from her mind. No, Applejack, S' not right. What would Granny think? "...but that's Pinkie Pie for you. And of course, Fluttershy was asked by Celestia to help set up a zoo in Canterlot and train the animal keepers, so it's been a bit lonely lately." She glanced over at Applejack for a moment, checking to see if she was still paying attention. The orange Mare was now picking up a few stray apples and dropping them in nearby buckets. Celestia had started lowering the sun, and bright pink and orange fluttered through the sky as the moon rose. "Applejack, is something wrong? Am I distracting you?" "Nah, but ah'm 'bout finished. Mind if I come along'n we can grab the girls fer a drink at the Cider hut?" It had been a while since she'd made it into town. It wasn't just the harvest, no matter how many times she told herself it was. She just didn't trust herself around the others, but she couldn't keep avoiding them, they were her friends. "Sorry Applejack, but I promised Princess Celestia I would finish a paper on pony transfiguration tonight. She want's to know more about me becoming an alicorn. I really thought that was strange, since she's the one that did it, but I guess..." Applejack's heart sunk, her disappointment much worse than she'd expected. She was really starting to miss them. "And I'm sure that it probably has something to do with the strange place we were in. Oh, I'm sorry, I'm rambling again, aren't I? Anyway, you said you were off this weekend? I'm sure we could all get together some time then, although I think I'll stay away from the hard drinks for a while, especially after last time." "Yeah," Applejack began in a half dishearted effort, half exhausted tone, "that'll be great." With a worried look, Twilight looked her friend over again, then turned and began trotting of to town. Applejack stared silently at her friend, the muscles in her flank flexing with each step and relaxing with the next, her beautiful new wings tucked against her slender sides. She observed the curves of her hips, the natural lay of her mane and simplicity of her tail. "Applejack is... everything okay?" Twilight had turned her neck in an almost unnatural way, so that her eyes met the mares. Applejack could feel her face grow warm and flushed as she quickly shifted her gaze. "Yeah, ah was jus thinking about this weekend.. See yah latter." With that, Applejack tried to clear her mind, returning to her trees. With another worried look, Twilight appeared ready to say something else, but turned and continued down the path to Ponyville. She bucked a few more trees before deciding to call it a day. The sun had nearly set, and bright pink and orange colors danced in the sky above the orchard. She lifted the buckets of apples into her wheelbarrow, and started the trek home. Her thoughts wandered to home, to the same conversation she'd had in her mind several times. "YOU'RE A WHAT!" Big Mac's voice rarely raised, but she could see it now. He had never been shy about what he thought of their kind. He was a stubborn pony, and changing wasn't in his vocabulary. Granny Smith simply left the room in anger, not speaking a word. "You Listen hear lil' missy, taint none a their kind gunna be livin' under this roof. Y'all get yerselff out of her for you twist Applebloom with yer Celestia fersaken ways!" She always imagined arguing with him, but what could she actually say? Nothing would likely change his mind, and she wasn't ready to risk anything like that. She pushed the daydream from her mind, continuing on towards the now visible barn. The bright red paint hadn't faded since the last time they'd rebuilt it, though the Cutie Mark Crusaders adventure in traipsing left a few holes in the side. A couple, boards covered the hole, but their brown color contrasted the red around it. She dropped the apples off inside a large compressor for cider. Keeping her mind clear, she entered the house, sat at the dinner table and munched slowly on the salad. "Sugarcube, wats the matter?" Granny Smithy spoke in her slow, careful words, her tone one of concern as she stared at Applejack's plate, "Yah've barely taken a bite." "Sarry Granny Smith, ah just haven't much of a stomach tanight. Ah think I'll head ta bed." She stood and cleared her plate, then headed off to bed. Granny Smith and Big Mac stared after her, confusion and worry on their face. Ah don't like bein' different. If ah could, ah'd be jus like everypony else, but ah'm not, and ya can't change who ya are. Author's Note Let me know if there's anything you think could have been done better. This stories pretty special to me, so I want it to be perfect.
PretendingSometimes, Ah think pretendin' is easier than tellin' ponies. But tha's just lying to mahself. Ya can't be something yur not. No matter how much ya wish ya could. The early rays of sun sneaked through the crack in faded curtains, inching further and further across the room and up the side of Applejack's bed until it reached her eyes. She turned on the mattress, the hard springs creaking as her body moved to escape the reach of the light a few minutes more. Soon enough, it was had reached her there, and she was forced to push the covers from her figure. The clop of her hooves as she slid from the bed shook the remains of a dream from her vision, and she reached one hoof up to rub her eyes, while another pulled the curtain open, revealing a brilliant, clear day. The cool air betrayed the late fall morning, sending a small chill up the orange mare's spine. She lazed about her room for a moment, then descended the staircase to the family room. "Mornin' Sunshine, or, maybe afternoon, heh heh." Granny sat in her rocking chair, crocheting something too new to recognize in a light blue yarn that reminded Applejack not a little of the pond she frequently swam with her friends in. Applejack had never figured out how she had managed to crochet with hooves, it seemed far too complicated to her, and Granny's speed seemed to defy even what little of the process made sense to her. "Breakfast is on the counter darlin', remember to relax and be yourself." The sentence struck Applejack as out of place, and she stopped mid-stride to ask "Wha'd ya say granny?" "Breakfast's on tha counter, and don't cha forget to relax, why?" Applejack couldn't tell if she'd misheard her, or if Granny Smith was just having a forgetful moment. It didn't really matter much, and she pushed the moment from her mind. Crossing the threshold into the kitchen, the smell of apple-pancakes, syrup and fresh milk assaulted her nose and awakened her stomach with a loud growl. She filled a plate and carried it over to the table in her mouth, eating it as quickly as possible to fill her empty tummy. "Applejack, when you go to town taday, could'ya pick up sumore yarn?" Granny called into the kitchen as Applejack finished her meal. "Sure Granny." She washed her plate and laid it on the rack to dry. Before trotting out the door, she lifted her hat from the rack, then stepped into the crisp cool day. Clouds had begun to take shape to the south, threatening a soft rain. Before her was the path into town, and it seemed to call to her in the voice of her friends. It had been too long and she was itching to hang out with them. Still, she was hesitant. Something inside of her had started to fear going out with the girls. It was like they knew, and were just waiting for her to tell them. Or maybe she was just waiting to tell herself. It didn't much matter, she was afraid none the less because of it. It took all the strength in her body to place the first hoof forward, but each following step became easier until she had made it through the orchard without realizing it. Then she reached the bridge at the edge of town. Then she reached the library, and stood in front of the door. She could hear Pinkie Pie's loud, excited voice through the wood entrance, and it brought her to a pause. Are they all here already? Applejack considered turning around and coming back a bit later, after she'd built up her courage more. What're ya'll so scared of, Applejack? It's just yer friends, same as always. She smoothed out her hat, unruffling the edges a bit and bringing it down a little over her eyes, then she rattled a shaking hoof against the door. It made a quite, almost inaudible noise, and Applejack moved to knock again, nearly smacking Twilight in her face as she opened the door. "Hey Applejack, wanna come in and get ready for tonight?" She stepped aside to make room for Applejack. Pinkie pie was bouncing around, her mouth running without stop as she did. Rainbow Dash was hovering just above the floor while Fluttershy stood silently off in the corner. Rarity seemed to be the only one actually getting ready, and she had done little beyond applying a light eyeliner. Applejack's gaze lingered on Rarity just a moment longer than the others, admiring her delicate and well postured frame, but it caught Rainbow Dash's attention. She grinned at Applejack, who had finally stepped across the threshold into the warm library. As soon as she could, Rainbow Dash cornered the orange pony. "So, excited for tonight?" Her smirk was enough to tell Applejack she'd lingered too long. She'd caught the mare before, but seemed to pass it off until now. "A-a course. Haven't been out with ya'll in it feels like ferever. Be good ta get outta the orchard." Applejack could hear her own voice shake, something that didn't happen often. Why am ah so nervous? They're mah friends. "I... Applejack, I never knew." Twilight's look was one more of pity than support or acceptance. "You know it's not allowed, right?" Fluttershy simply shy'ed away from Applejack, and Pinkie Pie bounced around, still stuck in her own little world. But the look of rejection on Rarity's face was what terrified the farm pony the most. It stabbed at her chest, the pressure building like she'd just run through the Everfree forest, a mixture of hurt and fear that she could only describe as hopelessness. She shook the image from her mind. It wasn't like Rainbow Dash would go around telling anyone even if she suspected. "Got any plans for who you'd like to dance with?" She raised her eyebrow and gestured openly at the oblivious white pony fussing over whether she'd put too much eye shadow on. Applejack ran her eyes over the fashionista, her eye's catching on each soft, well defined curve. She stopped at the powder white haunch that held her cutie mark, then glided her eyes back to Rainbow Dash. "What'er you talkin' bout? I jus wanna have a few drinks with my friends and get off my hooves." She recovered a bit, and her voice sounded stronger, more confident. Still, it didn't erase the beads of nervous sweat forming around the brim of her hat. She nudged Applejack and giggled a short "sure" before joining Twilight to read while they waited for Rarity to finish. Author's Note Sorry guys, I rewrote this section several times to get it just right. I hope you like it. (It may still undergo a couple of minor revisions, and suggestions are appreciated.) It's shorter than it was going to be, but I think the way I'm going to do the next two chapters will make more sense.
InhibitionSometimes, ya just haf ta go for it. And sometimes, ya really shouldn't. The music in the club was too loud for Applejack's taste. She wasn't a fan of the type either, but from time to time a violent guitar solo made her wince as she sat at the bar, watching her friends dancing with the local colts. Twilight was more awkward than usual, still adapting to the proud set of now outstretched wings. There was no grace in her stumbling around, but the wings seemed to hide this, and she had attracted the attention of a young blue colt with a black quill and tunic cutie mark. He tried to match pace with her steps without being hit by her wings. It wasn't working. Pinkie Pie danced around the room, a sporadic mess that seem devoid of any rhythm or style, and it was doubtful that anyone could keep up long enough to claim to have danced with her. Applejack admired her energy from afar, then turned to Fluttershy, who swayed in a corner, shying back from each of the colts that tried to move with her. It was no surprise that Rarity danced in the middle of the crowd. Despite her lady-like demeanor, she could dance in a way that was enchanting to the orange mare. She flowed to the music as a waterfall passing over a smooth cliff, beckoning anyone with the courage to step forward, her hair laying straight against her coat in a way she would never have allowed anywhere else. The nape of her neck seemed elongated by the way she held her head up. Soft beads of sweat had found their way from her skin into her white coat, giving a twinkle that held Applejack's gaze. She bobbed between colts who all vied for her attention as she seemed to stare off into space. The mare appeared completely oblivious to the colts standing around her, a near trance like concentration marked her face. Applejack's attention was wrapped around the white mare, and she failed to notice the cyan pegasus take a seat next to her. "So, whatcha staring at?" She had a devilish grin and chuckled a bit when the earth pony jumped, then turned to look at the mare with a feigned hate. "Jus' like Rarity ta take the cen'er, ain't it?" She felt confidant that it would be an acceptable cover for Rainbow Dash to drop it. "Yeah, right. She does make it hard to show how awesome my dance moves are, but whatever. You're always bragging about how much you can drink, so let's have at it." "What, now?" Applejack's eyes refocused on Rarity and was watching her hips sway to a beat that had slowly become tolerable to her ears. "Yeah, come on, it's not like you're going to miss anything else, right?" Her voice gave away a knowing tone, rising at the end to punctuate the question with an unspoken I know what you're thinking. "Come on, we can drink what we want. Besides, the others are already gone, especially Rarity. No way she'd dance like THAT sober." Dejectedly, Applejack tore her vision from Rarity and climbed off the bar stool, marching behind Rainbow Dash to a booth in the corner with three bottles of Phillydelphia brandy. "Why do we need three fur?" "What, I thought you were a heavy weight. I know you can drink more than this, right?" "Hee, sure, jus worried you migh not be able ter handle it. Don' over do it again." Applejack's mind was focused now as the pegasus slammed a two rows of shots down on the table. "Yeah, yeah, I'm not worried, just here to have a little fun. Relax, work horse." A couple of drops of the caramel liquid spilled onto the table as she placed the last one. "Ready?" Applejack nodded, "On three then." "One" "Two" "Three" They took a shot each. "So, Applejack, what's going on with you and Rarity? You two have a fight or something?" Rainbow dash wasn't a convincing liar, but Applejack was to busy to notice. While Rainbow sat with her back to the dance floor, Applejack had a perfect view of Rarity's back end, swaying slowly to a less pounding song. She couldn't recall if Rainbow Dash had sat first or if she had. She also didn't care much. "Nah, why d'ya ask?" "Drink" Down went another shot. "You just seem to be staring at one another, and you always seem to be busy when she can come out to hang." "Eh, just a coincidence." "Drink." Rainbow Dash didn't take a drink, but Applejack barely noticed. Her eyes followed Rarity across the floor. A new song had picked up the pace. The music no longer bothered the orange mare. "Drink." Applejack's hind left hoof tapped quietly. "Drink." Applejack could feel a warmth rising into her cheeks. "Drink." Her tongue was numb now. The liqueur slid down her throat. "Drink." She began to develop a tunnel vision. She saw nothing but Rarity. "Drink." It almost seemed to her that Rarity was staring back. "Drink. Ready to quit?" "No, I'ms fffine." The mare never took her eyes off of Rarity. "So, why haven't you stopped staring at Rarity since we sat down? Drink." Down went another gulp. "Ish nahthig." Applejack could tell her head was getting foggy. She couldn't tell who was speaking to her anymore. "She's staring back. Besides, you know, it's easier just to be yourself. Come on, you can tell me." Something in Rainbow Dash's voice surprised Applejack. She wasn't sober enough to know what it was though. "Ish nah imporinen." "Well, hell, you don't have to tell me. Tell her." Huh? It wasn't a sentence. Barely a thought. She slid off the bar stool. Wha mmI doin? Something in her head was trying to make sense of everything. Colored lights flashed around the mare. She stumbled forward a few steps. Rarity seemed to glide closer to her. Rarity never moved. It seemed like a broken movie. Time skipped forward for Applejack. Soon she was half the distance to the white mare. Then she was only ten hoofs away. Then she was swaying next to her. "Rarity, can hI tal to ya hout side?" Rarity nodded. Applejack couldn't remember leaving the club, but as they stood outside, a strong rain falling from the sky, she was vividly aware of her surroundings. No pony else was anywhere within sight. "Yes, darling?" Rarity fluttered her eyelids a bit. "I jush... I" Her tongue tied before she could say anything. The liqueur wasn't enough to loosen them. But it didn't have to. She tried again, only for Rarity to lean in and place their lips together.
MistakesSum times, ya get yerself so deep in the muck, yah gotta have some help climb'n back out. An' sumtimes, taint nobuhdy 'round ta help. The first thing Applejack noticed was that the bed she lay on was far softer than her own. The blankets were smooth, silky and didn't feel scratchy. The second thing she noticed was a splitting headache. Damn it Rainbow, why'd I let ya get me drinkin' like that? It took a few seconds after she became conscious before she would risk opening her eyes. The room was clearly not her own, but the quick, blurry glance she took before closing her eyes to shut out the intense light of mid-morning wasn't enough to know whose. Despite being large enough for three or four ponies, she could tell she was the only one resting in it. Neasua crept into her gut, and the orange mare laid as still as possible to try and suppress it. "Applejack... darling? Are you awake yet?" Rarity's voice floated into the room. She sounded nervous and tired, but Applejack's mind was too focused on trying to remember why she was in Rarity's room to notice. Then her mind flashed back to their kiss. "Applejack, I'm going... I'm going to regret this in the morning. I just want to say sorry now." Rain pattered around them as the two mares stared at one another. "Lesh talk about somfin elsh." The orange mare wasn't quite sure she heard her right, but she also want's entirely sure Rarity had spoken at all. "Come, we should get out of the rain." Everything else was covered by a black curtain in her head. Applejack tried to sit up, but her headache was still too strong. "Here, have some tea. We need to talk, when you're up to it." The white mare placed a small cup of tea into Applejack's hooves. "Do be careful not to spill any, pl... Oh, never mind, the blankets, the sheets, they're all ruined anyway." Still, she did her best not to spill. Opening her eyes, the hungover pony saw that the sheets were slightly muddy, wrinkled and extremely dirty. "Did ah do that?" She felt guilty staring at the bed. The tea seemed to be clearing up the hangover well, better than anything she'd ever had before."Wha's in this tea?" "It's a recipe I learned from Zecora. Perfect for hangovers, no? And actually, we did that... I was perhaps less than clear minded enough last night to ensure our hooves were clean." Her white cheeks were accented as a pink blush blossomed across them. "Applejack... This, us, it shouldn't have happened. It's not how a lady should act." Applejack felt like a cow had bucked her in the gut, and she nearly doubled over as the words continued. "It wasn't right of me to lead you on like this, and it wasn't right to do as we have. I'm truly sorry, but what would you're family think? Or mine? I suspect even our friends wouldn't be comfortable with it." She paused, hoping the orange mare would do something to free her from the cinder blocks of guilt piling up with each word, but Applejack seemed unresponsive, nothing but pain showing on her face. "It's not fair, but that's how it is. Ponies... They just don't understand. It's to far beyond what they're used to. I wish so much that things could be different." The words had become to much for Applejack to bare, and she began to drowned them out. Ah new this would happen. I shoulda known. I shoulda never let her do this to me. Rarity continued to speak, but the words no longer broke Applejack's shell. She zoned out, barely noticing that Rarity's lips continued to move. "Ah get it. Somepony like you, it wouldn' be easy, bein' who you are." "Applejack, this isn't who I am. It can't be. It was nothing but a mistake, something that should have never happened." She paused before realizing how it had sounded. "Applejack, I don't mean you were a mistake, just that this was. Please, understand. It's better, for both of us. It can't be this way." Applejack simply stared out the window. The bright sun the peeked through was offensive. She knew it wasn't the hangover that made her hate the happy daylight that made her nauseous. Sliding her hooves out of the bed, she attempted to stand. Weak and wobbly, she attempted to steady herself, ignoring the white mare staring at her with eye's glistening. Had she looked, Applejack may have seen the pain in that rested so openly on Rarity's face, the tears barely contained. She stared instead out the window. "Applejack, I'm sorry..." Her sorry trailed off,and she left the room. Applejack stood in the room, shaking with anger at a rejection she wasn't prepared to handle. How could ah be so stupid? O'course she'd never want ta be with a farm pony like me. Fought as she could to stop it, a single tear rolled down her cheek and onto the wood floor, turning it a slightly deeper brown. As she regained her strength, the mare clambered down the stairs of Rarity's home and out the front entrance of her boutique. It was cooler than she had expected, but the gentle breeze helped relieve her headache a bit, and she made her way slowly out of town along the same path she'd used the night before. Over the small bridge, the soft trickle of the stream an annoying ring in her ears. The smell of apples as she neared the orchard turned her stomach, reminding her of the taste of alcohol from the night before, and she had to rest against an empty tree until her stomach settled enough to move further along. The house moved into view as she shambled along. Through the front door, Applejack began to feel dizzy again, the distance closing faster than she felt it should have. "Have a good night, Applejack?" Granny Smith sat in her same rocking chair, hooves still knitting as if she'd only been gone for a few minutes. "Di'jew remember tha yarn?" She shook her head and stumbled up the stairs to her room. "Well, tha's all right. You go on and rest, big day tomorrah. We'll be finishin' up tha harvest soon. And try not to be too hard on yourself." Applejack flopped into bed, releasing the tears she couldn't hold back any longer. Ah knew better. Ah should'a never been so stupid. She lay in bed, silently crying as she fell asleep. Author's Note I'm not really sure about this one. I know where I'm going, but I don't know if I got Rarity's character right given the situation. As always, I welcome any suggestions or criticisms you have.
ComfortSum times, it's easier to pretend everythin'll be okay.. Monday morning came around faster than Applejack was ready for. Her body ached and she felt hollow inside. The sun had yet to rise, and the cool autumn air promised to deflect any warmth it could offer. Her muscles were more sore than she remembered in a long time, and slipping out of bed seemed harder than it had since she was just a filly. Stumbling down the stairs in a dead stupor, she managed to grunt a weak "y'huh" when Granny Smith greeted her for breakfast. She couldn't remember the food she was eating, only that she had eaten it. Standing before her first tree, she could feel every muscle in her legs screaming for more rest. She tightened her flank, her hind legs flexing as she prepared to strike. The pain grew steadily as she set her front hooves. Thwack. The usual sound of apples falling into buckets rung in her ears. Lifting them up, the mare carried the buckets to her wheelbarrel, her back straining against the weight. After dumping them in, she moved on to the next tree. As the sun rose higher into the sky, the work alleviated the aches and pains, limbering her muscles up. Her coat began to glisten softly with sweat and the grogginess lifted slowly. Before lunch she was feeling more relaxed, the only tension in her body the result of her preparing to hit the tree. Applebloom worked quietly near by, picking up any apples that may have fallen before they could be plucked. The wind blew gently, the cold air mocking the sun. Rustling in the leaves of the trees and the work of bucking trees helped keep Applejack's mind clear. By the time lunch rolled around, she felt refreshed, her muscles loose and flexible. A cyan streak rushed past the tree ceiling of the orchard, bringing a flash of Saturday night. Shaking her head, the orange mare pulled the wheelbarrel towards the barn and unloaded the apples in the proper pile with the other red apples. "So, how'd it go?" Without even turning around, Applejack could tell Rainbow Dash was smiling through the sentence. The pegasus floated in air, her wings beating softly to stay aloft. Her mane was less straight than usual, and her tail seemed to have more tangles than Applejack could remember ever seeing before. "Wha'da ya mean?" Pushing past, she hoped Rainbow Dash would get the point and drop it before the conversation went any further. "Don't give me that. The rest of the town might not know, but I watched you leave with Rarity. You CAN'T tell me nothing happened." She was practically begging for more, her eyes shifting to a glazed over pleading expression. She held her hooves out in incredulity and frowned. It looked to Applejack almost like she wanted more than just gossip material. "Nothing happened." "Baloney. So what, after a kiss like that, you just went back to her place and slept? Horsefeathers." She seemed visibly upset, far more invested than Applejack felt was appropriate. "Yup, tha's what I'm sayin. Now, if'n ya don't mind, ah need ta go eat 'for it's to late." They had neared the house, and Dash was left without any other recourse. "Rarity told me what happened." She smirked as Applejack's head snapped back. "She was a mess this s'morning, and I was modeling a dress for her to finish paying off that debt. It didn't take much to get her to let it slip, and after that, I made her tell me the rest." Applejack relaxed a bit. The idea that it wasn't on purpose made the exposition somehow easier for her, like it wasn't so much a betrayal as more a fact of life that can't be avoided. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about you and Rarity. I get it. But I want to hear the details." "Why? That's weird Dash. You need something ta think about later?" The insult came without thinking, and Applejack wished she could pull it back before it even came out. The statement left Rainbow Dash visibly hurt, but she shook it off and simply frowned at her. "Ah'm sorry Dash, it's jus been a lil difficult." "No, it's fine. I know that's what everpony thinks already. Oh, look at Dash, she's such a pervert. Look at Dash, she'll sleep with anypony. Just didn't think you, of all the ponies in this town, would be the one to say it to me first. And no, I didn't want it for that." The hurt pegasus lifted higher, getting ready to fly off. "Rainbow, you know ah didn't mean it. Ah... Ah jus ain't good with stuff like this. It ain't so easy, bein' told yer a mistake by a friend. And I couldn't tell ya anything anyway. Ah don't remember." This seemed to peek the mare's interest, though she turned, a mix of hurt and empathy crossing her face. "A mistake? Rarity didn't say anything about that." The hurt faded quickly as she landed next to Applejack and placed her hoof around the nape of her neck. "Wha'did she say?" "Jus' that you two were drunk, and you slept together, and then you agreed it was best if it never happened again." "Ah... Oh." The mare stared at the ground, unsure why this hurt her more than being told she was a mistake. The dirt beneath her was slowly being speckled by moist, dark brown dots. It took her a few moments to realize they were tears, rolling off her snout. "Tha's wha she told ya? Well, it's probably fer tha best. 'Cept it doesn't feel like it is." The pegasus pulled her closer, into a gentle hug. They stood in near silence, only the soft, quiet sound of Applejack's sniffling and the ambient noise of the orchard to be heard. Eventually the orange mare pulled away. "Thanks, Rainbow. Ah... Ah need to be alone fer awhile though." Her words seemed to hurt Rainbow Dash more than her insult, and it surprised her. "I get it. But don't let you're stubbornness keep you from getting the help you need." She flew away at that, Applejack glancing after her. Author's Note Finals are over for the semester, and I've got an idea of where this story is headed now, so expect a few more to come out before the end of the year. As always, I'd love to here suggestions and criticism. Thanks guys.
