What Comes Next

"But I don't get it, I thought that's what you wanted. At least you wanted to last night." Said the blue pegasus hovering just at the top of a particularly small apple tree.

"Ya weren't there this mornin', she was about ta cry Dash. She couldn't even look me in tha eyes. An' ah could hear her screamin an' sobbin while talkin ta Twilight too." Applejack had been trying in vain to kick the last of the apples off the small tree for several minutes, getting more frustrated by the second.

"But she said yes, you said it yourself, and from what I saw, neither of you had any reservations with getting all grabby with each other and playing tonsil hockey." Dash wrinkled her nose, "Even after she barfed."

Applejack stopped kicking and shot an angry glare upwards, "You're missin tha point entirely. What if you were ta get drunk an' ask Rarity ta take ya to the spa? Or told me ya were on yer way ta chew out yer boss? Or that ya were goin ta get a tattoo on yer face or somethin else crazy? You'd expect somepony ta stop you wouldn't ya?"

Dash landed gently on the ground beside Applejack. AJ's message had finally clicked in her head. She looked down and kicked at the dirt with a hoof.

"Well, when you put it like that… I still don't get it though, I thought you liked her, what are you gonna do now?"

"Ah don't rightly know Dash. Sure ah like her, an ah'd like ta go after her, but after somethin like this I just don't see how."

"I don't know what ta tell ya AJ, I actually don't have much experience with romance, especially not complicated stuff like this. Have you tried talking to your family about it?"

"NO!" Applejack shouted. A sudden wave of panic hit as the thought occured. "Ah cant tell mah family, if Granny Smith ever found out, ah could never show mah face around the Apple family again."

Rainbow Dash scoffed, "I doubt it would be that bad. Maybe Fluttershy is upset, but I'm sure your family will see your side."

"It's not that, Granny is… old fashioned… if she knew ah even looked at another mare like that she'd disown me. On top of that, ah think Big Macintosh has a thing for Fluttershy, if he knew ah got to her first he'd be crushed, he'd hate me. And it's not like ah can tell Applebloom unless ah want the whole town ta know."

"Well I… I dunno AJ, I wanna help but this whole thing is just too complicated." Rainbow placed a concerned hoof on Applejack's shoulder. "I love you like a sister, so do all of our friends, and Fluttershy isn't going to hate you because of one mistake."

"Ah know you're tryin ta help Rainbow, an don't think ah'm not grateful, but ah reckon this is somethin ah just gotta deal with mahself." Looking out at the orchard and to the apple tree still refusing to relinquish it's fruit she let out an exhausted sigh. "If'n you'll excuse me, ah think just gettin back ta work'll help clear mah head."

The gentle chime of the bell alerted Rarity to a new customer. Her morning was already eventful as inspiration had struck her and she was busy with what was surely going to be the finest creation in her new line. "I'll be with you in just a minute." She sang, as she tossed aside a few scraps of brightly colored wool. She had an extra set of hooves, or claws rather, with Spike visiting, and she was not about to let them go to waste. The tiny dragon diligently went about picking up the stray clippings, being as quiet as he could so he wouldn't interrupt her creative process.

Rarity giggled as Spike waddled, quick as his legs could carry him, after every stray bit of fabric she dropped, a perpetual smile on his face. She held up the square she was working with, floating a large pair of shears over she snipped a tiny piece from the corner. With an innocent whistle she dropped it to the floor beside her, mere inches from her hooves. She smiled watching him run to retrieve the tiny scrap, slowing briefly to brush against her leg, obviously on purpose. She knew she should probably feel bad for toying with him like that. She should, but he was making no effort to conceal that he was, in fact, enjoying it.

The sudden sounds of hoofsteps galloping up the stairs however brought her quickly out of her serene state of creative bliss. Quickly spinning around to view her intruder, she was greeted with a pair of teal eyes and soggy yellow cheeks.

"Fluttershy? What's wrong? Darling you look positively dreadful." Shooing the tiny dragon hovering around her feet into the next room she motioned to a small group of pillows on the floor. "Have a seat, I'll make some tea."

A short time later Spike was on his way back to the library and the two ponies were sitting together around a small tea set.

"Rarity, d-did Spike say anything a-a-about why he was h-here?" Fluttershy stammered over the steaming cup she held.

"He told me that you and Applejack were the reason Twilight sent him here, he didn't say much but it sounded like something happened."

"O-oh good, so you d-don't know what happened?"

Placing a hoof on her chin and tilting her head Rarity replied, "Well, all Spike told me was that you were very loud, he heard strange sounds from your room, and Twilight rushed him out the door towards my boutique." she smirked "Why if I didn't know better I would say something very unladylike was happening."

Fluttershy's heart sank. Of course Rarity knew. "I was j-just hoping we could do something, a-anything, that doesn't involve the library, or alcohol, or… um… Applejack. Can we please go to the spa or something? I'll pay for everything."

Normally Rarity would jump at the chance to be treated to a spa package, but this was different. She may not be the most observant pony around, but she wasn't a Twilight either, she knew something was wrong. "Fluttershy, dear, if you and Applejack had a fight I'm sure you can work it out, she is the element of Honesty after all, I'm sure…"

"It wasn't a fight."

Rarity's eyes widened, a short gasp escaped her lips causing Fluttershy to cringe. There were only two scenarios she could think of that fit Spikes description, fighting, or.… "Oh dear."

Searching for words Rarity could only sit in stunned silence as nothing came to her. Her mouth loosely drawn around half formed syllables as she tried to come to grips with what Fluttershy, her closest friend was telling her.

"I really don't want to talk about it, if that's okay. And if you can't leave work I understand." Fluttershy's gaze never left the teacup but her mind was still back at the library, a place she did not want to be.

The white unicorn composed herself, sitting up straight she remarked, "I understand, not another word on the matter." Allowing herself a small smile she continued, "I suppose I can take an early lunch for a good friend. And of course a spa trip."