Different

Sometimes, 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.