“I’m sorry Applejack, but I just can’t make it tonight. I really need to finish this analysis report for the Princess. Maybe we can try again next week?”
“Shucks, Sugarcube. T’ain’t any need t’ worry yerself. Now go on, go finish your work. Ah reckon Ah’ll see ya later.”
Twilight nodded and closed the door to her library, leaving Applejack outside looking more than a little disappointed. She could understand needing to work. Heck, she was the very definition of hard work! But even she knew the benefit of taking a little time off now and then.
And tonight was the night of their monthly sleepover. Oh sure, it might not sound like such a big deal to anypony else, but it mattered a lot to them. Ever since that first failed sleepover almost three years ago, Twilight, Applejack, and Rarity had been getting together once a month to just have a girl’s night in.
They would gossip, tell funny stories and anecdotes, and usually dip into the wine a little bit harder than any of them originally intended. It was something they looked forward to every month. Every now and then, though, one of them would have to cancel for various reasons, leaving the other two alone.
Which was never a bad thing! If anything it gave the two of them more time to grow as friends. This thought crossed Applejack’s mind as she made her way back across town to Rarity’s boutique. While the two of them hadn’t necessarily seen eye to eye once, they were rather close now. Which always seemed a bit strange to the orange mare. How could two ponies with such a huge difference in personal taste have become such good friends?
Being two of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony probably had something to do with it. But Applejack suspected that it went a lot further than that. Her cheeks tinged a little from embarrassment as she remembered that first sleepover the three of them had. They were both going so far out of their way to make sure the other was miserable, all the while trying to make sure Twilight had a good time at her first sleepover.
Images of her in that poofy little dress made her snort in amusement. Why she had even agreed to play Truth or Dare with Rarity was beyond her. She rightly should have known better, because if there was ever a mare in this world that could pinpoint what another pony loathes or feels self conscious about, it was her.
Applejack couldn’t even remember what had gotten them started on fighting that night, anyway. It was such a long time ago. And other than a few select things, the only part of that night that really stuck out in her head was seeing Rarity after she came back in from the rain. Dripping wet, mane and tail plastered around her body…
“Phoo nelly...now’s not the time, AJ.” Looking around as if she suspected that somepony might be prying into her own private thoughts, Applejack decided that it would probably be best to take a small detour before heading over to Rarity’s. They still had a couple hours left before they were supposed to be meeting up, anyway. And she had to get a run and cold shower in before seeing Rarity.
She didn’t know what it was about that mare that got her blood boiling the way she did. But she couldn’t hardly look at her without her entire body feeling like jelly.
Applejack turned and began to trot back to Sweet Apple Acres. If she wanted a quick run and a shower then she would have to really move it. It was almost a twenty minute trip just between Ponyville and her farm. As soon as she hit the dirt road heading out of town, she began to run full tilt.
It only took a couple of seconds before she completely lost herself in the run, her mind freeing up as it always did during strenuous exercise. More images of the seamstress began to float across her eyes. They had known each other for a long time, but only never on a real personal level before a few years ago.
As far as Applejack had known, Rarity had just been another of those Canterlot Elite washouts, coming to Ponyville because they really had nowhere else to go. She had found out rather quickly just how wrong she had been. And all it took was a little purple unicorn moving into town. Well, that and a bunch of other times when Equestria was almost destroyed and their circle of friends had stopped it.
The mare’s mind once again faded back to nothing but Rarity. The soft, musical lilt of her voice. Her soft, perfectly groomed coat. The sweet aroma of her carefully applied lilac perfume. The glimmer of her eyes, and the way they sparkled when she was happy. Applejack became so wrapped up in these thoughts, a fiery blush spreading hastily across her cheeks, that she very nearly bowled over another pony on the road.
She swerved to the side just in time, and wound up tumbling off the path, landing on her side a few feet away. With a soft groan she rolled onto her hooves and looked around, spotting a familiar face trotting over to her. “Oh my gosh! Applejack, are you okay? What happened?”
The mare shook her head and looked around on the ground. Spotting her signature Stetson, she scooped it up and placed it back on her head. “Sorry ‘bout that, Fluttershy. Ah rightly don’t know what came over me.” See the look of concern on her friend’s face, she airly waved a hoof, “And Ah’m fine. Ah’ve taken worse tumbles than that before. Are ya’ll alright?”
Fluttershy nodded and looked away, half hiding behind her pink mane. “O-oh yes, I’m fine.”
Applejack smiled, “Good. Sorry, Fluttershy, but Ah’m in a bit of a hurry. Ya’ll be careful on yer way home.” She took off again at a sprint, berating herself as she raced back to Sweet Apple Acres. Dang it, AJ. Ya coulda hurt the poor girl! Or yerself! What in the hay’s gotten into ya?
She had just run through the open gate to the farm before she finally slowed down, her breathing more than a little strained. Normally a run as short as that wouldn’t have winded her. No, this was something else entirely. She could still almost smell lilacs, and she hadn’t seen Rarity in over a day.
“Alright, dadgummit! This is jus’ gettin’ silly. Ah need t’ shower. Maybe that’ll clear my head a bit.”
She walked through the door of the farmhouse and immediately made her way up the stairs towards the bathroom. She was rather grateful none of her family was around. With the way she’s been acting, questions would have surely cropped up. She shut the door behind her and tossed her hat on the sink, the unbraided her pony tail.
As she looked in the mirror she smiled. Ah actually do look pretty good like this. Even she had to admit that she held a certain appeal. Work pony or not, she had a sleek figure. Sure, she could see the underlying musculature she had built over all her years bucking apples, but they only served to add to her figure, not diminish it. She had seen over muscled ponies before, and they weren’t such a pretty sight. Even the waves in her mane from keeping it constantly braided looked surprisingly good.
“Heh, if only Rarity could hear my thoughts right now.”
She stopped admiring herself as she heard her own words. She had to admit to herself that something was going on. The only question burning in her mind was why hadn’t she noticed sooner? Sure, the two of them were as different as apples and oranges, but didn’t they say that opposites attract?
With a groan she turned on the water and stepped into the shower stall. She closed her eyes and let the warm wash over her, pulling away the dirt and sweat she had built up over the day. Maybe this wasn’t just some passing crush. She’d had those before, and they never once felt like this. She’d never been so wrapped up in another pony before. This felt stronger. The only thing that made her so nervous about this, because she knew there was no way she’d be able to hide her feelings for long, is because of her friendship with Rarity.
Rejection hurt. And somewhere in the back of her mind she knew that telling Rarity would end up as such. And she didn’t want a blemish like this to stain their friendship. Over the past three years all of them had grown especially close. Rainbow Dash, Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rarity, and herself. They were a team, and they were best friends. The only ponies she had ever been closer too was her own family.
After a while, and many long minutes contemplating her situation, she stepped out of the shower and began to towel off. She figured she still had about an hour before she was expected over at Rarity’s. As she looked in the mirror at her still slightly damp mane and fur, she came to a conclusion. “Well, iffin Ah’m gonna do this, Ah might as well go all the way.”
Sighing in resignation, she brought out her mane brush and got to work. This was going to be a night she’d probably never forget, come better or worse. She just hoped that Rarity would appreciate the effort she was going through.
*
Almost an hour later she stood outside of Rarity’s boutique, looking at the door worriedly. “What are ya doin’, girl? Yer here, ya might as well get on with it.” With a shake of her head she looked herself over for what must have been the hundredth time.
Her mane was down, and she had scrunched it enough for it to flow in gentle waves down her back. She had even done the same with her tail. Both shone with a bright luster, making them glimmer in the setting sunlight. She had decided not to go so far as putting on a dress (especially since she didn’t really have one), but she did manage to find some of her old jewelry.
She had tucked her mane behind her left ear and used a pin to keep it held back. On the head of the pen was a ruby cut in the shape of an apple. The mane on the right side of her face fell down in a way similar to Fluttershy’s, just barely hiding her emerald green eyes.
She had even taken the extra time to fully brush out her coat, which held a similar, if not quite as bright, a shine as her mane and tail. She looked great. Heck, she didn’t know she could clean up so good! Turns out the stretched muscles from all that brushing in hard to reach spots could really pay off. Deciding to go ahead with it, she looked back to the door.
“Well, here goes nothin’.”
She reached up a hoof and knocked on the door. A smile pulled at her lips when she heard Rarity calling from inside, “Just a moment!” It only took a few seconds before the door swung open, revealing the smiling face of her crush. “Oh, Applejack! It’s so...wonderful…”
Rarity’s eyes had grown as wide as saucers as she looked over her friend. At first she couldn't think of anything to say. Her normally rough and tumble friend was standing before her, looking anywhere but at her, blushing shyly. "Uh...hey Rarity."
Quickly pulling herself together, Rarity stepped aside to give Applejack room to enter. "Darling, you look simply amazing! My, whatever is the occasion?" As AJ entered, Rarity peaked outside for Twilight. Not seeing her, she closed the door. "And is Twilight not joining us tonight?"
Applejack shook her head, "Nah. She said she's too busy workin' on somethin' for the Princess." The blush on her cheeks deepened as Rarity’s compliment sunk in. Once again she questioned herself for doing all this. All of this just for a crush that she wasn’t even sure would be reciprocated in kind. “And...heh...Ah guess Ah did it for a change of pace. Ah know how you’ve always wanted me t’ try somethin’ like this. And Ah guess...Ah did t’ try’n impress ya, Rarity.”
Rarity tilted her head to the side. While it was sweet that Applejack went through so much trouble just for their little sleepover, she felt that she was missing something. She continued to stare at her friend, AJ looking at her hooves shyly. And then it hit her like a ton of bricks, and a slow smile crept along her lips.
She could honestly say that this was the last thing she had expected from the evening, and now that she knew, at least if she was inferring correctly, she could help Applejack with this little transition. Rarity had never considered her farmer friend as a possible marefriend. To be completely honest, she couldn’t say she’d ever considered another mare before.
But now, seeing Applejack like this, she could definitely see the appeal. Applejack was one that personally hated all things...’froo frooey’. And the fact that she had obviously gone to such great lengths just to show her feelings for Rarity struck a deep chord in the fashionista’s heart. Besides, Applejack was particularly stunning this evening.
With a smirk Rarity nodded and began to make her way into the kitchen, where she had already set up the traditional bottle of wine and light snacks. She paused at the doorway and looked over her shoulder, “I must say, darling, that that is quite the grand gesture. And it has certainly worked.” A small, but genuine, smile spread, “And I think such bravery must be celebrated. It really does mean quite a bit to me that you would go through so much trouble, you know.”
Before Applejack was given the chance to reply, Rarity had walked through the doorway and into the kitchen area. All AJ could do was stand there with big eyes and a confused expression, staring at the spot Rarity had just occupied. Her mind was racing furiously. Was she...nah, she couldn’t have been flirtin’...right?
Determined to find out, she steeled her resolve, and followed after. The scent of lilacs almost making her knees weak. When she made her way into the kitchen she found Rarity standing next to the table, a candle lit in the center, with two glasses of wine poured. When she saw Applejack entering the room, she used her magic to dim the rest of the lights until just the glow of the candle was left. Applejack chuckled, “Ya work fast, don’t ya, Rares?”
Rarity merely rolled her eyes, “Pshaw. Think nothing of it, dear. Merely my way of...adding a little something to the mood of the evening. A bit of ambiance, if you will.” With a small wave of her hoof (and what Applejack swore was a wink, but she couldn’t tell in the half light from the candle), Rarity motioned to the two chairs on either side of the table. “Won’t you join me? It’s hardly a meal fit for this particular evening, but I suppose it’ll do. Besides, I’m sure the food will hardly be the focus, as it were.”
Applejack shook her head and made her way to the offered chair, sliding into it as Rarity did the same opposite of her. She could swear that Rarity was throwing out all the right hints, that she was putting a good deal of effort into this. But the poor farmer just couldn’t tell. She just didn’t have the experience necessary for something like this. She didn’t even know if Rarity had picked up on her own efforts.
When they were both comfortably seated Rarity picked up her glass and held it out a little, “A toast to the ever so thoughtful and honest Applejack, one of my dearest companions and confidants.”
Applejack smiled and picked up her own glass, lightly tinking it to Rarity’s. “And, uh, t’ Rarity. The most generous and givin’ pony any friend could ask for.”
With both of them smiling happily, the pulled back their glasses for a drink. Rarity stopped short, though, and looked to Applejack over the rim of her glass. “Applejack?”
“Hmm?”
“How long have you been attracted to me?”
It was a good thing the orange mare had pulled back from taking a sip of her own wine, because that question caught her so off guard that if she had been drinking, she’d have probably spit it out. She still balked though, her cheeks flaring to life instantly, her eyes refusing to settle on Rarity. “H-h-how long have Ah what now?”
Rarity, on the other hoof, was finding this display to be absolutely adorable. Why, she couldn’t have pictured this any differently! Holding back a small chuckle, she leaned across the table and batted her eyes sweetly at Applejack. “I asked, darling, how long have you been attracted to me?”
With what was either a groan or a sigh (Rarity couldn’t exactly tell which), Applejack resigned herself to just fessing up. She looked down at her wine glass and used a hoof to nudge it around a bit. “Ah guess Ah can’t rightly hide anythin’ from ya, considerin’ how dolled up Ah am an’ what not.”
Rarity, her blue eyes sparkling like sapphires, leaned forward just a bit more, “I don’t think you rightly can, darling.”
“Well, alright. Ah’m not exactly sure when all this started, but Ah got a good guess. Remember that first sleepover, and just how awful everything went? Well, Ah saw ya’ll in a different light, then. Ya weren’t just some Canterlot filly out here for kicks like Ah thought ya were at first. Ah know, Ah shoulda had more faith in ya, considerin’ yer Element ‘n all, but Ah didn’t. Not until that night. We came together for the first time, then. Truly cooperated, like two sour apples on the same twig.”
She sighed and shook her head, looking up to Rarity, as if already half expecting to be turned down. “An’ now Ah can’t hardly get the smell a lilacs outta my brain long enough to get much done. Ah know that’s a heck of a transition, Rares, but hey...it’s three years in the makin’.”
Rarity blushed vibrantly, bringing a hoof to her lips. Oh dear, poor Applejack has it bad. She was still rather unsure of her own feelings, but the way that AJ was staring at her across the table made her really start to wonder. Could she be bent that way? She was certainly starting to think so. Besides, what simple stallion would ever be able to hold a candle to Applejack, of all ponies?
The alabaster mare dropped her hoof back to the table, meeting her friend’s eyes. She saw tears welling up in those emerald pools, and she silently berated herself. Darn it, Rarity! You’ve taken too long, and now she thinks you’re turning her down! Applejack stood up and took a couple hesitant steps towards the door, “Heh, it’s alright Rarity. Ah understand. Ah’m no Prince Charmin’ or nothin’.”
Rarity was instantly up and at her friend’s side, placing a placating hoof on her shoulder. “Now you just shush your mouth right there, Applejack. I’ll have you know that no prince would ever be able to compete with you.” She faltered for a second, and decided to nuzzle against the other mare’s cheek. The smell of freshly baked apple pie filled her nostrils, and she swooned just a bit. “You just...took me by surprise.”
Applejack’s expression took on a hopeful glint, that tiny spark rekindling in her heart. She pulled back from Rarity just a bit, and brought a hoof up to caress her friend’s cheek. Staring into each other’s eyes, AJ whispered out, as if scared of her own voice, “So...does this mean…?”
With a gentle smile Rarity nuzzled against the hoof before meeting Applejack’s eyes. “It took me a moment or two to wrap my head around it, and while I still don’t fully understand your attraction to me…” She shrugged and moved a bit closer, inching her head up just a bit, “I certainly would not be opposed to your suggestion.”
Applejack didn’t know what to say or do. Her heart was racing so hard she thought it just might explode from her chest! One thing she knew for certain, is that Rarity was moving in for a kiss. This moment...this moment is finally happening. It was like everything she had been thinking about and dreaming of was coalescing into this very moment.
Tentatively the farm mare leaned down and brushed her lips against Rarity’s. The spark ignited fully, and Applejack felt a tremor go down her spine. It was like being struck by lightning! She pressed a little harder, letting their lips meld together, and it was only a moment later when she felt a touch of Rarity’s tongue against her still closed lips. She opened them eagerly, and used her own tongue to guide Rarity’s in.
Much to Applejack’s credit, she was a far better kisser than Rarity had originally suspected. But, like all good things, it came to an end. They pulled back away from each other, faces heated, breathing a little rough, and looked into each other’s eyes.
“Darling, that was-”
“Phoo, Ah cain’t-”
They both stopped, waiting for the other to finish. When neither of them said anything, they both grinned and pushed against each other again, this time only in a hug though. Rarity buried her muzzle against Applejack’s sweetly fragranced mane, and breathed a soft sigh. “I think you’ve broken me of my thing for stallions, darling.”
A quiet chuckle came from AJ, who merely hugged a little tighter. “Yeah, well, darlin’ ya did that t’ me about three years ago. Ah suppose it was about time for me to return the favor.”
They stood there for a long while, just holding each other and swaying gently to music that only they could hear. After a bit, Rarity did finally pull back though, and smiled up to AJ. “Well, I certainly think that’s a great way to start the evening.” Applejack rolled her eyes, “Yes, well, I was just thinking that we shouldn’t let this mood go to waste, now should we? Come, come, dear. Let’s crack this bottle of wine and get cozy on the couch.”
As she moved to gather up their glasses and the wine in the light blue field of her magic, Applejack chuckled. “Ah guess we’re gonna have a good bit t’ explain t’ our friends in the mornin’, huh?”
Rarity giggled lightly as she sauntered up beside Applejack, the two of them making their way into the living room. “Indeed. Though we can’t really call it another crazy night, now can we?”
Applejack shook her head and pecked Rarity on the cheek, “Nah, hon. Ah reckon this here is about as good as it gets.”
Author's Note
Phew! One shot RariJack. Told you I was gonna do it. There are probably a hundred other stories out there just like this one, but writing this still made me happy. I think I got both characters personalities down pretty well. What do you guys think?
