Simple Ways

by Panai

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, Romance
Length: 1601

Rarity does all she can to impress Trenderhoof, her longtime crush, but nothing seems to work. When she decides to get down-and-dirty at Sweet Apple Acres she discovers that maybe Trenderhoof isn't the only pony she think of as the "Apple o

Rarity one of Ponyvill, learns what it feels like to have a broken heart when her long-time crush, Trenderhoof, takes a liking to Applejacks a liking to Applejack, the down-to-earth farm pony with a tendency to get her hooves muddy! After Rarity tires her hoof at acting like a country pony tensions rise between her and AJ, which pulls their friendship apart for a while. When Rarity finally talks to Applejack and explains her feelings for Trenderhoof, the farm pony takes some of Rarity's words a little too literally, which puts both of them in a sticky situation.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2014-02-16 16:56:15 UTC

Yocal Yak

Rarity trotted back to her safe haven; Carousel Boutique, her head held high but anger twisting in her chest. 'I can't believe Applejack would do this to ME! Have I ever done anything to upset thatdisgusting mud-covered slob? Not that I can think of! I've been generous with her, making her a FREE dress for the Grand Galloping Gala, helping her keep Sweet Apple Acres from Flim and Flam!' the mare thought, narrowing her eyes, her perfect purple mane glinting in the sunlight as her hooves carried her down the streets of ponyville.

"Rarity! Rarity!" A familiar high-pitched voice shouted. The owner of this happy voice came bouncing down the street, excitement bubbling through her body, "I've been looking for youeverywhere and I'm just so excited to help you with the Ponyville Days Festival! Ohhh, I've been waiting for this day for forever! And it's almost here! I'm so excited and happy; happicited! Isn't that fun to say!? Happicited! Happicited!"

Rarity whirled around, "PINKIE!" she shouted, her voice girtty and filled with annoyance, "This isnt the time for this! Drastic measures must be taken! There's an emergency!"

"Emergency!? Is somepony hurt!?" Pinie lifted her ears, taking a leap into the air and looking around for any signs of danger, "It's okay, Rarity! Lead me to the emergency, I'll make sure we get there safely with my Pinkie sense and then we can help whoever is in trouble!" Before Rarity had time to respond Pinkie Pie began leaping in the air, perfectly imitating the sound of an ambulance; "WEE WOO! WEE WOO! WEE WOO!"

"PINKIE!" Rarity's voice became swollen with anger, "BE QUIET!"

The bouncing Pink pony stopped in her tracks, tilting her head slightly to the side, confused.

"There's no emergency, there's just a problem, and I don't need your help wit it right now." Rarity tried to speak calmly, but her eyebrows were scrunched together in anger and her shining curled tail lashed behind her, "Go back to Sugarcube Corner and help Mr. and Mrs. Cake prepare some of the treats for the festival, I will come and find you if I need anything."

Pinkie Pie nodded, her poofy mane bouncing as she did, "Okie Dokie Lokie!" she said cheerfully, as if she hadn't noticed how angry Rarity seemed. The pink pony trotted away towards Sugarcube Corner, chanting "All you have to do is take a cup of flour, add it to the mix! Now just take something sweet, not sour, and a little salt, just a pinch! Baking these treats is such a cinch..." her voice faded away into the quiet peaceful sounds of Ponyville and Rarity continued trotting forward.

The unicorn pony shook away her thoughts of Pinkie Pie and returned to thinking about Applejack, the friend who had betrayed her, who had stolen the colt who had stolen her heart!

"I'm elegant, beautiful, and regal!" She huffed, her horn alighting in a sparkling blue aura as she approached her boutique, using her magic to open the door and then slam it loudly behind her as she trotted through the main room and into her bedroom, her eyes beginning to swell with tears.

"Well, if he doesn't like fashionable, polite, and mature, I guess I will just have to give myself a new alias, and then win his heart that way!" Rarity began busying herself developing a whole new look for herself, her beautiful voice filling the room with a heart-felt song;

"Trenderhoof, my life I've spent awaiting,

Your arrival, I've been craving,

Dreaming, Doting,

Yearning,

To begin adulating,

You

Now you're here, in Ponyville

I thought it would be, such a thrill

But you're Fawning, Flirting,

Trotting around with

Her"

The mare's tone of voice changed from feminine and saddened to slightly deeper and angry.

"She doesn't deserve you!

She'd never even heard of you!

Why do you want to be with her!

You'd certainly not dreamed of her,

In the way that I dreamed over you..."

Rarity paused for a moment, her eyes narrowed, filled with disgust and discontent as she looked at herself in her mirror.

"Forget Applejack!"

The unicorn's hind hoof kicked a stool behind her, sending it toppling over,

"Forget her brother Mac!"

She slid on a pair of overalls she had crafted with some denim, fastening the buttons with an angry look on her face.

"I'll learn their yocal yak,

I'll buck, and kick, and smack!

Climb to the top of the haystack,

And give AppleJack the payback she deserves!"

"Hmph!" The pony lifted her head, looking away from the mirror which held an image of her, with snarled hair, an old straw hat, and cheaply crafted overalls with an ugly patch over her flank. "We'll see which mare Trenderhoof prefers now!"

A Change in Pace

"Hey, Um... Anypony seen Rarity? I.. Um... Well, I'm supposed to help with the fashion show... and, um.... I... I don't know what to do..." Fluttershy spoke softly, her eyes looking around the crowded streets of ponyville as excited fillies and colts hurried from one location to the next, trying to decide what to wear, who to ask to the Ponyville gala, and take a peek at Pinkie Pie's decorations.

"Fluttershy! Fluttershy!" The voice of a young boy called out, and Fluttershy turned her head, her pink mane blown by the wind in front of her eyes, "You gotta come to Carousel Boutique, we're all waiting for you and Applejack!"

"O-Oh Spike, I'm sorry." The pegasus used her wings to lift herself a foot off of the ground, fluttering over to the small purple dragon, "Why are we going to the boutique?"

The little dragon hurried forward, occasionally glancing back at the yellow pony behind him to make sure she was following, "Rarity's decided to change the festival theme!" He was smiling, but the dragon's voice wasn't entirely joy-filled, as his mind trailed off to thoughts of Rarity he frowned, jealousy of this Trenderhoof stallion she was oh so obsessed with.

"She changed the theme? Oh my..." Fluttershy muttered quietly, glancing back at the busy townsfolk who were talking amongst themselves about the formal dresses they were going to fetch from boutiques in Canterlot and Manehatten, or about elegant clothing Rarity had spun up for them in the past that they would wear again to fir her elegant theme, "I'm sure Rarity has her reasons, and It'll, um, be a great festival, I just hope nopony feels sad about it..."

"Don't worry about them Fluttershy." Spike said blandly, reaching out his claws as the two approached the door of carousel boutique. He pushed it open and led the shy pony inside, where Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbowdash were all already waiting, "I got her!" Spike called, leaping onto Rarity's runway and ducking behind the curtain, heading backstage where Rarity was waiting.

The floor behind the curtain was covered in pieces of hay, mud, and dirt. The clucks of chickens and the oinks of smelly pigs filled the air. Spike used two of his claws to close his nostrils, looking up at Rarity, whose mane was snarled, and whose straw hat was falling apart.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Spike asked wearily, curling his tail around his legs, "I mean, you had a gorgeous dress all ironed out for the festival, and-"

"Spiiiiike, 'Ahm sure this is what I want to, I mean," She paused, clearing her throat, "Wan'tuh dew. Ponae'ville wuz founded bah' 'ard workin' Earth Ponies- ....Ponays, farmers like Applejack and Big Mac..."

"You're gonna need to work on your accent!" Spike said, laughing slightly.

"Oh! Be quiet Spike!" The two heard the loud hoofsteps of Applejack as she trotted through the door, and then the faint sound of Twilight's voice. After Applejack responded Rarity cued the lights to fade and began to speak;

"Firstly, 'ah just whan'na thank you all for comm'in and, second, I know ya'll will all adore my new festival theme!" She lowered her ears from where she stood behind the curtain and whispered quietly, "Spike! Get out there!"

Spike took a few steps out onto the runway, wearing a straw hat to match Rarity's and holding a makeshift ukulele, playing a few noted before the curtain parted, revealing Rarity in her overalls and straw hat, the bright yellow lights showing all the snarls she had put in her hair. She lifted a hoof and loudly shouted the name of her theme; "Simple Waaaays!" After a few moments of silence Rarity took a few steps down the runway, separating herself from the squeaks of the pigs and squaks of the chickens. "Well?" She asked, in her normal voice.

Immediately Applejack burst into laughter, bumping into Fluttershy.

"Whall, what's so funnay?"

The other ponies explained that Rarity's "get up" was a little on the silly side, even Fluttershy found the courage to tell her friend that she thought it was funny, because of course, all of the pretty pony's friendsknew that a fashionista such as Rarity wouldn't be caught dead in a messy outfit like that.

"Funnay?" Rarity repeated, which caused Twilight to giggle and ask if Rarity was serious.

The white unicorn leapt off of the stage, her voice serious, loosing it's false country accent, "Well of course I'm serious!" she cleared her throat and continued; "Whay wouldn't 'Ah be?"

Applejack explained that Rarity would never wear an outfit like that because she liked high society, saying she knew Rarity well enough to know that.

Rarity stormed out of her boutique, telling Applejack that maybe she didn't know her as well as she thought!