Rarity laughed. “Applejack taking dance lessons. Now I know I've seen everything.”
Applejack groaned. Last thing that she wanted to have after a long and exhausting day was to be laughed at by one of her friends. At least not by her. She could understand those words coming from Rainbow or Pinkie, but from Rarity?
“What is wrong with knowing how to dance? Everypony else in mah family knows how to do it but me,” Applejack growled.
“Nothing, nothing. I just can't stop imagining you in a skirt.”
Applejack groaned again, turning towards the exit of Carousel Boutique.
“I'm sorry, Applejack. I know I shouldn't be laughing. One of the last things I expected was you taking dance lessons. I really didn’t mean to laugh... It's just a little odd, that's all.”
Applejack sighed and accepted her friend's apology.
“Well? What have you learned by now? Tapdance? Flamenco? Cha-Cha? Which one is it? Maybe it's Foxtrot? I've been dying to learn that for quite some time...”
Applejack tilted her head at her friend’s excitement. “It was just three lessons, Rares. Ah thought it was stupid, and Ah stopped. Don’t have money to waste on dance lessons either.”
“Oh, I know!” Rarity jumped with excitement. “I could teach you how to dance! I do wonder if I still have my costume... Does it even fit me? I should maybe make ano—”
Applejack cleared her throat. “Ya can dance?”
“But of course I can, Applejack. My mom was proclaimed a dance queen in Manehattan, and she taught me as well as Sweetie Belle. I am sure I can still do it, even if it has been a long time since the last time I danced.
“But you still haven't told me what kind of dance you were trying to learn. If it's one of those modern ones, I can't really help you...”
“It's called tango...”
Rarity furrowed her brow. “Tango? The passion dance? Really? Now I know you want to impress somepony. Who is it? Is it somepony I know? Is he from Ponyville? Or maybe from Canterlot? I'd understand if he's from Canterlot.”
Applejack's face was now flushed red, and she was starting to get annoyed by the flood of questions. She groaned. "Ah don't want to impress anypony. Is it that bad if Ah want to learn something just because?"
Rarity knew that her friend was lying. Hay, everypony knew when Applejack was lying, especially when she was under some form of pressure; her muzzle scrunched up, and her voice rose an octave or two.
But Rarity didn’t want to press the subject any further. Not like Applejack was the only pony on this world who had secrets of her own. Especially secrets of those kind. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, Applejack.”
Applejack sighed. “Ah still want to learn it. Could ya teach me? Please?”
“I’ll try... But... Can you please tell me the real reason why you stopped?” Rarity paused for a moment, trying to take a glimpse of Applejack’s legs to see if there’s something visibly wrong with them. “I know you aren’t that poor, and the lessons aren’t that expensive.”
“Ah thought it was stupid is all,” she lied.
“Applejack...”
“Fine.” Applejack sighed. “Mah teacher said that Ah have four left hooves, and that it was a waste of her time and mah money.”
Rarity blinked. The last thing anypony would want to hear was that a student was scolded for not having enough talent without the teacher bothering to check if they were right or not.
“Can you show me what you learned so far? I would like to know what gives you the most problems and see what needs improvement.”
With a slight nod, Applejack got on her hind hooves and took a step towards Rarity, just to lose balance and fall on her back.
It was worse than Rarity thought. A proper balance was one of the crucial elements of this dance, and from the looks of it, Applejack’s former teacher was right. Applejack wasn’t built for this. And yet...
“Are you okay?” she asked in a worried voice.
“Ah’m fine, but that’s as far as Ah got. The teacher said it was best to quit after that.”
“It wasn’t that bad,” Rarity lied as she helped Applejack back on her hooves. “But we need to work on your balance.”
The last part wasn’t a lie. Balance was one of the biggest problems for the ponies who wanted to learn this dance. If it was anypony else, she would flatly deny helping them. It would take a lot of time and dedication just to train them to be able to stand on their hind legs for a longer period of time, let alone move around gracefully.
But she would help her in a heartbeat.
Throughout the years, Rarity had learned to keep her personal life distant even from her closest friends. Sure, she could gossip about other ponies and their relationships, but she was always careful for the topic not to touch her own. And even if it did, she would always admit that she had a crush on somepony from high society.
But never on her.
More than anything, Rarity was afraid that the rumors would reach Applejack, and that it would end their friendship. After the fiasco with Sweetie Belle and the Foal Free Press, she couldn’t confine her feelings to her journal either.
The only thing she could do was to pretend that one of the hooves that slipped between her hind legs during her nightly session of stress relief actually belonged to Applejack.
And now, Applejack was standing right in front of her, asking her for a helping hoof with something that would most likely require close contact.
A little self-indulgence never hurt anypony, she thought, a faint smile forming on her lips.
“Hm.” Rarity tapped her hoof against her nose, her mind quickly escaping the imprisonment of her reverie. “I think I have an idea.” She lifted Applejack onto her hind hooves again, holding her just above her waist. “Now try to walk,” she softly commanded. “I got your back.”
Applejack tried again, still very unsure of her steps. One hoof first, and then the other and— She tipped forward again, and the moment that she thought she'd hit the ground, a gentle hoof pressed against her chest.
“Somepony is eager to kiss the floor, I see,” Rarity mused. “Well, that will have to wait for a while. First, you need a little more practice.”
Applejack chuckled at the commentary and tried again. One step. Another one. And—
A white hoof prevented another fall as she tripped over her tail.
Applejack groaned. This was not really her day.
“Try again,” Rarity repeated her command softly, and once again, Applejack crashed.
“Just forget it, Rarity,” Applejack groaned. “Maybe the teacher was right.”
“Nonsense, Applejack.” Rarity put her front hoof on Applejack’s back and matched the other with the orange counterpart, her eyes now peering directly into Applejack’s. “Let’s try this together, shall we?”
After Applejack’s subtle nod, Rarity took the lead. She slowly and carefully repositioned her every step to accommodate for the extra weight that was now leaning on her. Just as she was confident enough that she had Applejack’s weight under control, Applejack leaned forward a little too much and collapsed on her.
But Rarity didn’t mind. She wasn't hurt. Years of practice taught her how to fall properly without injuring herself. On top of that, Applejack’s muzzle was only a few inches away, emitting intoxicating breaths. It didn’t help much that her hoof was still positioned on Applejack’s back. She could use it to lift herself up and give the mare in front of her a kiss. She closed her eyes and—
“Ah told ya Ah stink.”
Rarity opened her eyes and looked at Applejack in sheer confusion. “W-what?”
“Ah told ya Ah stink,” Applejack repeated herself. “Dancing just isn’t for me.”
Rarity cleared her throat and released her hoof. She had missed her opportunity only by a heartbeat, and now, the magic of the moment was gone. “But that was just a trial, Applejack.” She paused for a moment. “Look. You can’t expect to learn something as complicated as tango in an hour. It’s like teaching me how to do the tricks that Twilight can. Just harder.”
“Oh.” Applejack stood up and helped Rarity back on her hooves. “Can we try this again tomorrow? Maybe Ah’m just a little too tired and cranky...”
“Of course, Applejack. Oh, and don’t forget to bring a skirt!” Rarity added in a teasing voice.
~*~*~
Rarity felt a soft and playful nib on her mouth shortly followed by another. She was looking lovingly into Applejack’s emerald eyes, feeling her friend’s golden mane brush gently against her chest.
Applejack smiled as she leant lower, stealing yet another, longer kiss from the mare below.
But her kisses didn’t end there. She kissed Rarity on her eyebrow and her cheek, slowly moving lower. From time to time, she moved back to plant a kiss on Rarity’s lips and her chest before finally stopping just under her belly.
“L-lower, Applejack,” Rarity moaned.
But instead of going even lower, Applejack’s hoof started to trace her body from her neck and down to her underbelly. Only at that point, she kissed Rarity’s mound before moving her kisses upwards again, a skillful orange hoof making up for the loss with its soft touch.
It didn’t take more than a few brushes from Applejack’s hoof before something snapped in the room, ending all enjoyable activity.
With a gasp, Rarity snapped to attention. “Applejack?”
There was no response.
Rarity sighed, her head now lying back on her pillow. “J-just a dream,” she whispered to the empty room, her heart still racing from excitement induced by her dreams. She took a deep breath in an attempt to calm down. “Applejack...”
Unknowingly, her hoof slid over her damp mound. The dreams did their job, but unfortunately, that meant they left her aroused and itching alone at night. If there was any way to fix the situation, she'd have to do it on her own.
She slouched backwards enough to put her back on the pillows and spread her hind legs. By now, she knew quite well how to play this instrument. After many disastrous dates or failures to get one, this was her only way to relieve herself.
Her hoof started the known dance once again. First, she started slowly. Her breathing calmed down and deepened, and her imagination convinced her that the massaging hoof belonged to her. The circular movements focused mostly on manipulating the hood of her clitoris, slowly increasing the tension in her body as her pleasure built up.
She closed her eyes and enjoyed her little massage, letting her imagination let loose and change the outcome of the earlier events.
Minutes later, her hind leg twitched as the muscles tensed even more, making her body jolt. Instead of slowing down, her hoof picked up the pace. She wasn’t far away now. Just a little bit more. She closed her legs in hopes that she’d be able to finish faster that way, but she knew quite well that’s not how it worked.
With her breaths becoming shorter, she began to gasp, the tempo of her hoof increasing even further.
A moment later, her body shot up and she screamed as wave upon wave of pleasure flooded her body and senses.
As she cooled down and her muscles relaxed, her lower-back fell back onto her bed and curled up, a hoof resting on her still-damp mound. Her breaths were still short, waiting for the rest of her body to calm down.
With a smile, she shifted in bed and curled up in the expensive silk sheets. Maybe one day, the hoof will actually be hers for once, she thought, slowly drifting back to sleep.
~*~*~
“Rarity?” Applejack asked softly as she entered Carousel Boutique, its door adorned with a “Sorry, we’re closed” sign.
There was no reply. She could only hear faint hums and soft taps from a room nearby. Curious, she went to investigate.
The room in the back where the pair tried to dance the previous day was now almost unrecognizable. There was now a huge mirror on the wall which was previously obscured by stacks of clothes, boxes, papers, and various ponyquins. A bright light bathed the room, but was still soft enough not to distract the eyes.
Most importantly, a snow-white pony in the middle of the room was dancing with an invisible partner, humming a tune Applejack wasn’t familiar with. The grace and the posture of the dancing pony made her sit down quietly and watch in awe. It was enthralling.
Rarity twirled around, letting out a gasp as her eyes landed on Applejack. “I-I wasn’t expecting you this early, Applejack,” she stuttered, her face flushed red.
“That was great,” Applejack said softly. “What is it called?”
Rarity cleared her throat. “It really doesn’t have a name. It’s just something I came up when I was little... Oh, I forgot how wonderful this felt...” She cleared her throat again. “So? Feeling any better today? Ready to begin?”
With a nod, Applejack tried to balance herself on her hind legs again and take a few steps. Just like the first time around, it didn’t end up well. It didn’t take more than two steps to trip and crash on her nose again, followed by a groan.
“Haven’t we agreed to practice first?” Rarity mused, but her sarcasm only granted her a grunt from Applejack. “Oh, come on, Applejack. At least try to have some fun. Let’s try again.”
She grabbed Applejack and helped her up on her hind hooves again. One of Rarity’s hooves was now positioned on her chest and the other on her belly to prevent Applejack from losing her balance again and bringing the two of them crashing down.
Applejack’s face flushed red as Rarity’s hind leg stepped forward, nudging her own to do the same. Her leg now trembling, she took a step forward, carefully touching the ground and taking care of the proper weight redistribution.
Another step. And another one. This was easy, she thought. Feeling courageous, she took another step, but she miscalculated. Even with this slip, she was certain that a set of white hooves would prevent her hard contact with the polished floor.
Unfortunately, with Rarity’s hoof positioned a little lower than she expected, Applejack slipped, making the pair crash on the ground.
Rarity’s hoof was now much lower than she wanted it to be. With one hoof laying on one of her inner thighs and the other still on her chest, Applejack shot up like a bullet, her face now burning red.
“Sorry about that,” Rarity said as she got back onto her hooves. “I couldn’t hold your weight. You leaned a little too much and...”
“...we crashed.”
With Rarity nodding, they quickly reset what they were doing. She positioned herself behind Applejack, but this time, Applejack didn’t mind, even though Rarity’s hooves were positioned subtly lower than the previous attempt. She felt safe. As long as she didn’t do anything horribly wrong, they should be fine.
Left leg, right leg, left again and then right again.
Her steps had became much more graceful as the tension in her body decreased. She hardly even noticed that Rarity latched herself to her back and took control over her hind hooves that were now moving with the rhythm to her hum.
Crash.
A misplaced box and a moment of carelessness sent the pair flying onto the ground again, but this time around, there were no grudges, grunts or any other forms of displeasure. Rarity’s simple “oops” made both ponies burst in laughter.
“Ah should be going,” Applejack said after their laughter subsided and the ponies untangled, “but Ah had a great time today. Ah think Ah’m getting the hang of it.”
After a slight nod, Rarity closed her eyes and leaned her head slightly forward as in expectancy of something.
But nothing happened. A sole “goodnight” and “see ya tomorrow” from Applejack left her disappointed. Nevertheless, Rarity bid her friend goodbye with a bittersweet smile.
~*~*~
Rarity was right. Applejack had a secret crush. But it wasn’t on who Rarity hoped it was. One of the most popular tango dancers in Equestria, a young dark-yellow stallion and carrying the name of Caramel, often occupied her mind, especially at times of nightly stress relief.
Applejack had spent a long time fantasizing about the size of his penis, how deep into her it would plunge, and how he would set her on fire with his dirty language. She wanted it rough. She was burning for him. She had even went as far as constructing a pleasuring device, consisting of nothing more than a part of a broom handle nailed on a wooden support. And to prevent the tiny splinters ending in her, she wrapped the rod in some plastic before each use.
If ponies found the toy, they wouldn’t know what it was used for.
Applejack was aroused, but she didn’t know why. She hadn’t fantasized about him throughout the day at all. She was busy with her chores throughout the first part of the day, and throughout the rest of it, she only had managed to spend time with Rarity. The only thing that Rarity had done was to keep her from falling during their exercise.
And all of it was completely platonic, Applejack kept telling to herself. Platonic and way too gentle for me.
And yet, her hoof disagreed as it started to slide down to her underbelly and rested on her mound. It was almost completely dry, but that had never stopped her from going further. She licked her hoof and lubricated her clitoris before she started massaging it for a few seconds before stopping abruptly.
No, no, this is wrong, she thought. I need him inside of me, I need him to pound me as hard as possible. I need his penis. Right now.
She reached for her device, applied some of the vaseline she usually used for her hoof care, and pushed it inside her. Usually, that was the point when her imagination went wild, and she would start pumping the device until she’d reach her climax.
But this time, she felt weird. All the wild and rough sex she usually imagined having with Caramel was now blurred by the occurrences of the day.
She could still feel the warmth that Rarity's hooves had emitted while they were guiding her step and prevented her fall. Combined with soothing hums, it was just the right contrast to the hard work and stress she encountered working in the fields.
Applejack's hoof slipped back onto her mound as she still craved for relief, but rough wasn't an option that she even considered anymore. She looked at the toy only a few inches away from her with a faint smile before kicking it under her bed. She was not going to need it tonight.
Not tonight.
She crawled back onto her bed, positioned herself comfortably, and continued to gently massage her sensitive spot. She closed her eyes and let her mind drift to wherever it wanted.
Within moments, it wandered off to a fictional time, just after one of their possible future lessons. But instead of Applejack departing towards home, she found herself spending some intimate time with Rarity.
A white hoof slowly slid down Applejack’s chest to her underbelly, just to return back to her chest a moment later. Applejack groaned, and the white hoof moved lower again, this time focusing on the area around the clitoris while her muzzle caressed her neck fur.
Her leg twitched as she opened her eyes, her hoof still trying to mimic the movement from her fantasy. Her muscles tensed, her hoof increasing her tempo. She knew quite well where this was going. She stopped with what she was doing just for a moment as she repositioned herself with a pillow behind her back.
She closed her eyes again and let her hoof continue where it left off. It didn’t take long for her to start moaning, her hind hooves hitting the mattress. But she didn’t stop. Instead, she increased the tempo.
She was close. Her body started to thrash around, and her hoof changed its pattern. Suddenly, Applejack took a deep breath, and her lower parts bucked up as she reached the climax.
As her muscles relaxed, her body collapsed back to the bed in exhaustion, leaving Applejack gasping and wheezing. Her hoof slipped down onto her bed.
She was satisfied, and yet confused. On one hoof, she was yearning to thank Rarity for a helping hoof and for one of the most intense climaxes so far, while on the other hoof, all of this left her puzzling about what could it really meant.
However, it felt right.
"Thank ya, Rarity,” she whispered to the empty room anyway. “T-that was amazing.”
~*~*~
Applejack’s night session changed nothing between her and Rarity; not even in the further lessons they had together. Applejack just seemed a little happier and enjoyed their lessons a little bit more as they progressed.
Weeks had passed as Applejack spent much more time with Rarity, trying to master the act of balancing on her hind hooves with varying degrees of success.
She wasn't as successful in her endeavours as much as she would wanted to be, but this was not important anymore. The burden of competing for Caramel's affection was no longer there as she realized he was nothing more than an unreachable crush from long ago. He could have any mare he wanted, but for Applejack, that was now completely meaningless.
She enjoyed spending time with Rarity and learning what her friend set her to do.
It was time for yet another agreed-upon lesson, but something felt different. Applejack scratched her mane and took a few steps forward.
Rarity was standing in the middle of the dimly-lit room. Instead of the cheerful dancer she had managed to stumble upon every day so far, even the day before, Rarity looked like a mare that was lost in deep thought.
“Rarity?”
“A-Applejack?” Rarity looked around in confusion. “I-I’m sorry, but today just isn’t one of my days...”
“Is there something Ah can help ya with?”
Rarity sighed. “No, not really. It’s just... something I need to deal on my own.”
“Rarity...”
“It’s nothing, really, Applejack. Now... Where were we... Oh, yes. Shall we continue?”
With Applejack’s nod and a flicker of Rarity’s horn, the room lit up in all of its glory.
The very first thing she noticed in front of her was Rarity. Or at least her shell. The mare had her voice, her cutie mark, her posture, and her colors, but she felt distant. There was something bothering her, and she couldn’t put her hoof on what that was.
“Well, Applejack? I haven’t got the entire night...”
Applejack rose up to her hind hooves and tried to take a few steps on her own, but because she had no support, she soon crashed to the ground.
“I thought you’ve practiced,” Rarity said flatly.
Applejack blinked. Throughout the years, she got to know Rarity quite well. She was one of the most selfless and most generous ponies she met in her entire life. Even though Rarity was a little snobbish from time to time, she enjoyed her company and respected her deeply. As a friend.
A very close friend.
And yet, this wasn’t her. This wasn’t the mare that had helped her reach the climax a couple of times during these past few weeks. Who was she?
She picked herself off the ground and turned to Rarity. “Rares? What is going on? Ya seem... distant...”
“Distant? Whatever do you—” Rarity abruptly stopped as she met Applejack’s gaze. It wasn’t a condemning one, but rather unimpressed and seeking for answers. She sighed and hung her head. “I... I’m leaving for Canterlot for a while, Applejack. This is the last lesson I can give. I’m sure you’ll be able to continue on your own...”
Applejack looked at Rarity in confusion, seemingly trying to find the missing pieces behind Rarity’s decision. “But... Why? Does anypony else know? Pinkie would—”
“I wish I could tell you, Applejack. I really do. But unfortunately, I can’t... I just can’t...” She sighed. “But I promise you’ll know soon.” She paused for a moment. “And no, nopony else knows. And I would like to keep it that way.”
“But our fri—”
“Applejack, please. I have thought long and hard about this. It’s really hard for me as well. I just don’t want Pinkie making me a departure party.” She paused for a moment. “Not for my reasons. I just need to get away from Ponyville for a while. I just need to get away from—” She suddenly stopped when her gaze met Applejack’s.
“Rarity?”
Rarity cleared her throat, suppressing trembles in her voice. “This may be my last night in Ponyville, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let you be lazy. Let’s try again, shall we?”
Applejack reluctantly hopped on her hind legs, a pair of Rarity’s hooves positioned on her belly and on her chest to prevent their fall.
She closed her eyes. She might not know who the mare before had been, but the mare that was now acting as her support was the mare that she knew quite well. She just wished that her hoof moved a little lower and see if it was as gentle as she imagined.
“Applejack?”
“Hm?”
“You should move your legs now,” Rarity mused. “I don’t remember you asking me to teach you how to stand still.”
Applejack’s face flushed red as she caught her own thoughts. She was lucky that Rarity was behind her, so she didn’t need to explain herself.
She stepped nervously, throwing her out of balance and almost tripping both of them.
“Careful there!”
“Ah’m sorry... Ah was kind of lost in thought.”
“Concentrate, Applejack. One step after another.”
Rarity started to hum rhythmically, and their dance started again. She took the lead again, correcting the position of Applejack’s hind legs to maintain their balance and prevent her fall.
It was long before the pair crashed together again, but this time from exhaustion, leaving both mares laughing. It had taken minutes before the laughter subsided, and the mares got back onto their hooves.
“Ah ain’t much for goodbyes, but Ah’m sorry to see ya leave, Rares. Ah wish ya’d stay, but...” Applejack tightly hugged Rarity. “Thanks for being such a great friend. Ah hope ya come back soon. Ah don’t know about others, but Ah’ll surely miss ya.”
She pulled out a rose from her saddlebags and hoofed it to Rarity. “Ah wanted to give ya this as a thank ya for everything ya done so far...”
Rarity’s eyes focused on the flower, leaving her confused.
“Ah got to go.” Applejack gave her a light hug. “Have a safe trip, and Ah hope to see ya soon.”
Rarity just muttered something in half-agreement. She was still occupied with staring at the levitating rose, now wrapped in the soft glow of her magic.
“Applejack? I—”
But the room was already empty. Her only companion was her own reflection in the mirror on the wall, seemingly put there just to show herself her own desolated state.
Her usually well-groomed mane was a pinnacle of disaster now. She looked exhausted and emotionally distraught, and not just because of the practice earlier. There was just no way she could win this battle with herself and her emotions towards Applejack.
Not anymore.
Devastated, she headed to bed. Another lonely and restless night was ahead of her, accompanied by an early wake-up call.
She had a train to catch.
~*~*~
Applejack sighed and flopped onto her bed. She was exhausted from the chores and the lessons with Rarity which would usually be more than enough for her ascension into the dreamworld. And yet, she couldn’t sleep. Her mind was stuck in a fruitless loop.
Rarity was leaving.
Even though Rarity was still in Ponyville, Applejack already felt like she already lost a good... no, great, friend. But not just her. Ponyville would lose an extremely talented fashion designer and an Element of Harmony. On the other hoof, she would most likely be more successful in Canterlot and come closer to realizing her dream of becoming a world renowned fashion designer.
Why did she stay anyways? She could have easily moved away years ago and started her life anew as a famous fashion designer. And she knew that quite well, but she chose to stay in Ponyville nonetheless.
But something changed.
When they were together, her face radiated with joy, and when they departed, she looked almost disappointed, even though she disguised it quite well. Her eyes, however, couldn't quite hide the sadness.
Applejack blinked.
No. I must be getting silly or something, she thought. There's no way Rarity could have feelings like that for me. We’re both mares, and... and...
She blinked again as she realized where her hoof had wandered off, stopping herself before things went further. “But what if she does? What then?” she whispered to the empty room.
She was hoping that a voice from somewhere would whisper back with an easy solution, but she knew that was not going to happen. But she knew what she had to do.
I need to talk to her before it’s too late.
~*~*~
As alive as Ponyville was during the day, the middle of the night was almost the complete opposite. Only a few ponies could be seen roaming on the deserted streets; some of them in a hurry to get home while others were enjoying the stroll in the middle of a warm summer night.
Applejack stopped and looked up the dark skies, the very last crescent of the waning moon slowly fading away before the new cycle began again. A very fitting time of the month.
She remembered the stories that she was told as a foal about the meaning of a time like this. Even though she hardly believed any of them, she knew that this night was going to be significant.
Myths or no myths, legends or no legends, she was at the crossroad. No matter what, she needed to speak with Rarity. And regardless of the outcome, in the morning, things would have changed. She just wished she didn’t need to do this. Not in the middle of the night. Not like this.
She took a deep breath. All the scary buildings she had visited throughout the years were nothing compared to what Carousel Boutique was right then. She was terrified of what comes next.
With a gulp, she rapped on the wooden door of the parlor.
~*~*~
Rarity turned in her bed. No matter what she tried, she couldn't sleep. Even though her decision was already set in stone, she was still fighting with herself about the weight of what she was going to do in just a few hours. Tired and exhausted, she let her mind drift away.
~*~*~
Ponyville train station. Rarity took a deep breath.
Ponyville.
The place she knew and cared so deeply about, all the friends she grew up with and met anew throughout the years, she would lose them all with time. Even in her worst nightmares, she had never imagined she would leave in silence when hardly any of her friends were awake. At least not for something like this.
But she saw no other option. None of this would have happened if she hadn’t allow her selfishness to get the better of her.
A little self-indulgence never hurt anypony. “What a load of nonsense,” she muttered to nopony. “The pony who said that clearly never had their heart broken afterwards. I just wish I had never got so close. Or that I could say—”
“Last call for Canterlot!” the conductor yelled from the train.
She looked at Ponyville for one last time. She half-hoped that Applejack would come running at the last moment, and that in the heat of the moment, everything would be resolved, just like in one of those cheesy romance novels she loved to read so much.
But that was all the romance novels were. Stories.
In those stories, everything ended on a high note, and the stallion always got his mare or vice versa. And even with the romance novels she read so far, there was hardly any where a mare would end up with a mare. And there was none where a lady would end up with a farmer. She allowed a tear to slide down her cheek and meet with the paved floor.
“Lady Rarity?” An elderly conductor approached Rarity. “This is your last call... We can’t wait for you much longer...”
She lowered her head. Her time had run out and her orange princess in shining armour was nowhere in sight. She sighed again. “I will be right there,” she replied. She kissed her hoof and waved in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres. “I am sorry, Applejack,” she finally whispered to nopony, turning her head towards the train. “But I have no other choice.”
~*~*~
Rarity’s car was luxurious but nowhere near her expectations. All the furniture in there was made of wood that she didn’t recognize; if it was birchwood or pinewood, she couldn’t tell. She wasn’t a woodworker that would recognize every single type of wood, but she knew one thing: It wasn’t mahogany, the only wood that would be adequate enough for the elegance of her boutique.
Only the very best and finest for Rarity.
The saturation of the drapes didn’t match the so called “royal red” either. Everywhere she looked, she could find something that didn’t fit her idea of “luxury.” The only thing that she could do was to think that it was nothing more than a nicely-equipped train car. In most others, there was nothing more than an old bench and a table, and that was it.
“Eh, I’ll just file a complaint tomorrow,” she muttered to herself. The bed, covered with quality cotton sheets instead of silk ones, was her priority as she haven’t had a decent sleep in quite some time now. Her latest attempts in sleeping usually ended up with twisting and turning and eventually staring at nothing in particular until the alarm went off.
And she was well aware of the reason why.
She threw herself onto the bed and closed her eyes, letting herself drift away by the rhythmic sounds of the moving train. Goodbye, Ponyville. At least for a long while.
Knock, knock, knock.
Her ear flicked. With her eyes still closed, she muttered, “Go away.”
Knock, knock, knock.
Rarity’s eyes opened. The sounds of the moving train abruptly stopped and were replaced by the dead silence of the night. A dream. It was just a dream.
“Rarity? Ya awake?”
~*~*~
“Rarity? Ya awake?” Applejack almost whispered onto the door.
Nothing. There was no response; not even the light flicked on in her bedroom. Nothing changed that would indicate that Rarity had heard her or that she’d be interested in coming to greet her. She wanted to knock for one last time, her hoof ready for the impact with the wooden door, but she changed her mind at the very last moment.
Instead, she just stared. She had prepared millions upon millions of questions to ask and millions of answers to the questions Rarity might pose on her, but they all faded away faster than a beat of her heart. What do I say?
She lowered her head and her hoof, turning herself back towards Sweet Apple Acres.
A faint sound of the door being unlocked shortly followed by the familiar ring of the bell made Applejack froze on the spot. “Applejack?”
Say something. Silence.
“Applejack, what are you doing here in the middle of the night?”
Tell her! “Ah. Um... Ah just wanted... Um...” What are you doing? There’s nothing more to it than a few words. “Um, Rarity?”
“Yes?”
I don’t want you to leave. “Been wanting to ask ya, but Ah couldn’t wait for the next time ya come around...”
She’s not... Is she? “Yes?”
“Ya leaving Ponyville... Has nothing to do with me, right?”
Rarity’s heart skipped a beat. Of all the questions she expected, this one didn’t even cross her mind. She lowered her head and sighed. “I-it does...”
Surprised, Applejack tilted her head as she gazed at her friend like she was some sort of an alien. So many questions spawned in her mind, and it would be nearly impossible to find adequate answers for all of them. What did I do? Wasn’t I good enough of a friend? Was I not around when you needed help? Am I terrifying you? She gulped. “Why?”
“Because...” Rarity took a step forward, planting a gentle kiss on her friend’s cheek. “It hurts too much to be around you. I had been struggling with myself ever since we started your lessons. This is the only thing I can do.”
But Applejack disagreed. Her muzzle brushed against her friend’s, their lips meeting for the very first time.
In that moment, fuel met fire. This had been a spark that Rarity longed for far too long, and it was all she needed for her heartache to disappear. A simple kiss. But she didn’t wanted this to be over so quickly. She opened her mouth just a little and stopped a moment later, startled by Applejack’s actions. She was trying to ram her tongue into Rarity’s mouth.
“What are you doing, Applejack?”
“Ah’m trying to kiss ya.”
Rarity smiled. “You never done this before, have you?”
“Of course Ah did,” Applejack lied, causing Rarity to clear her throat. “N-no.”
“There’s always a first time for everypony. There is no need to be ashamed of that,” Rarity mused. “I was no exception either. We— I think it would be a better idea if we continue with this inside...”
Applejack nodded.
~*~*~
“Now, close your eyes,” Rarity instructed softly.
Applejack did so, and a moment later, she could feel a gentle brush of the mare’s lips quickly followed by another. The third one completely covered her mouth.
Rarity brushed Applejack’s mane, stumbling on the ribbon that tied her hair together. Her muzzle still leaning on Applejack’s, she couldn’t help herself but ask, “I never understood why you wear these. You look so much better without them.”
With a flick of Rarity’s magic, the ribbon untangled and landed on the ground, allowing the golden hair to fall on Applejack’s shoulders.
Applejack flinched, and it didn’t go unnoticed.
Rarity looked puzzled. “Applejack? Are you nervous?”
“N-no.”
“Applejack... You really need to learn how to lie better,” Rarity mused.
She positioned herself behind the mare and touched her back. Another flinch, but her hooves didn't jerk away. Instead, she started to massage her friend along the spine, slowly moving her hooves outward towards her hips and back up towards her chest.
Another flinch. This time Rarity chuckled, her hooves continuing their massage. "I really don't bite, Applejack. Well... Unless you really want me to." Her voice was sweet and teasing, aimed to amuse.
It hit the spot. Both mares had burst into a fit of laughter, but Rarity didn't release her grip. Instead, she moved her hooves just a little lower and kissed Applejack's shoulder.
“If you want me to stop...”
“N-no...”
Rarity smiled, their lips touching again, forming yet another kiss. Her hooves traced down the orange belly. She felt it twitch, but that didn’t stop them from getting even lower towards Applejack’s inner thighs.
Applejack moaned. Her hoof automatically wanted to reach her groin as well, but Rarity prevented it from reaching its destination.
“No,” Rarity whispered softly, planting another kiss on her shoulder. “Let me...”
Her hooves slid a little lower, making Applejack’s body stiffen and gasp for a moment when her hooves touched her mound and started their slow, rhythmic massage around it.
She kissed Applejack on the neck again, moving her head lower, planting another kiss on the belly and the next one just above her own hooves.
Another moan.
She repositioned herself between Applejack’s legs, gently spreading them apart just enough for her head to fit in. Her muzzle and her tongue continued with the massage around her mound in a very calculated manner, sending a jolt of ecstasy throughout Applejack’s body every time her tongue passed Applejack's clitoris.
Her hooves didn't stay idle either; they continued with her stimulation of Applejack’s lower body, focusing mostly on her inner thighs, amplifying the sensations caused by her tongue.
“R-Rarity,” Applejack mustered between her gasps. “P-please s-stop.”
Rarity stopped. Confused and worried, she lifted up her head and looked worriedly at her friend. “Applejack? Is something wrong?”
“N-no. Ah just... Ah want to try now...”
Rarity smiled, kissed Applejack’s belly, and moved away, swapping their positions.
Applejack was confident that she could mimic Rarity’s expertise. There was nothing more to it than a few kisses and a few licks, she thought.
Still feeling a little nervous, she gently kissed Rarity on her lips and moved lower, her next kiss landing on Rarity’s belly.
Applejack’s lack of expertise clearly showed. Instead of the quick and gentle brush Rarity gave Applejack, the kiss was filled with anxiety and uncertainty, making her contact sloppy and sluggish. The mare moved lower, kissing Rarity on her mound, only to stop a moment later.
“Applejack? What’s w—” Rarity opened her eyes just to see Applejack cringing and desperately trying to lick the back of her hoof, presumably to get rid of the taste. She couldn’t help herself but laugh.
“What does it taste like?” she mused.
Applejack licked the back of her hoof a few more times and spat out the invisible fur. “Eugh. Horrible. It’s like tasting a spongy and sour pudding. Ah thought—”
“—that it would taste like a fruit?” Rarity chuckled and ran her hoof over her friend’s mane. “I thought that too, but... well... It turned out differently...”
“But in the stories Ah read—” Applejack stopped for a moment, realizing that referencing any story would now be completely irrelevant. “But ya still... ya know...”
“I like the taste. Some ponies don’t. And you can always use your hoof if you don’t want to use your tongue.” She paused for a moment, tracing her hoof down Applejack’s body, making her flinch again. “Do you want me to continue?”
Applejack’s nod was subtle, but clear. She wanted for Rarity to finish what she started, and she was now painfully aware of how clumsy she was at things that seemed so trivial to Rarity.
“Now, lay down,” Rarity said softly. “I’ll show you...”
They positioned themselves as they were in the beginning; Applejack on the floor and Rarity above her, kissing her way to the groin again and focusing there while one of her hooves attended her own clitoris. It didn’t take long before Applejack started to moan, shifting her body erratically as the tension in her body built up.
She took a deep breath as her legs clamped around Rarity’s head, preventing her and her tongue’s escape. “P-please don’t sto—”
It didn’t take more than a few additional licks for Applejack’s body to contort as she reached the climax, flooding her body with pleasure, and cooling down a few seconds later.
“T-that was amazing,” Applejack panted as she tried to catch her breath.
Rarity did not respond. Instead, she quietly moaned as she tried to finish on her own.
Still breathing heavily, Applejack scooted towards Rarity, facing her face to face. “Let me help ya with that,” she whispered. “Ah owe ya that much.”
Rarity smiled. She closed her eyes and made room for Applejack’s hoof.
Unlike Rarity, Applejack didn’t want her friend to finish up that quickly. She wanted to repay at least a portion of what Rarity had done for her. Instead of swift moves, aimed for quickly reaching a climax, Applejack’s massage was slow and gentle, her intent saturated more with curiosity than anything else.
However, Rarity was very close. She didn’t need much more than a minute-long stimulation. She tensed up and kissed Applejack passionately before bucking up and screaming as she reached the climax, collapsing beside Applejack from exhaustion.
“Y-you can stop now, Applejack,” Rarity panted. “T-that was marvelous.” She kissed Applejack again and lay besides her.
“But... Ah didn’t do much... Ya did—”
“You did more than enough, Applejack.” She snuggled herself closer to Applejack’s chest, planting another kiss on her muzzle. “Thank you.”
Applejack removed her hoof from Rarity’s groin, giving her a gentle hug. There was no more doubt in her mind. The conflict between tradition and her own desires had been resolved, and the result was softly snoring in her hooves.
She looked at the hoof that used to reside between Rarity’s legs. Her scent and taste was still on it, and, out of curiosity, she licked it. However, this time she didn’t cringe. It tasted weird, but she didn’t mind it that much. If that was from exhaustion or because it carried Rarity’s scent, she couldn't tell.
Applejack looked towards the sleeping pony and smiled. Exhausted, she couldn’t do much more than plant one last kiss on Rarity’s muzzle before drifting off to well-deserved sleep.
~*~*~
The rays of the morning sun teased Applejack, but she didn’t want to open her eyes or move even an inch. She was afraid that the dream of her and Rarity would fade into oblivion the very moment she would submit herself to reality.
But it felt so real. She could still feel Rarity’s lips and hooves exploring her body inch by inch in a very delicate, loving, and passionate manner. She could still feel the gentle massage starting at her shoulder blades, moving lower and ending it at her most intimate parts with a climax. It hadn't felt like the ones she had experienced before when she had been alone with her fantasies. This one had been stronger. Much stronger. Almost impossibly intense.
It had to be a dream.
There was no way that Rarity could be interested in a pony like her. If anything, she would be interested in a stallion from the upper class society. Or maybe even a mare? Applejack wasn’t sure, but it didn’t matter anyways.
Rarity was just a friend and nothing could ever change that. Just a friend.
After another long minute of lingering over her own fantasies, Applejack felt like there was no need to pretend anymore. Bracing herself for a dosage of reality, she slowly opened her eyes and gasped loudly at what she saw.
Instead of the green walls of her room that she was used to when she woke up, she was now surrounded by various hues of pink and purple, and instead of her old blanket, she was covered with an expensive silk sheet.
On top of that, a set of white hooves was gently wrapped around her hips with a warm head leaning on her chest.
“Mmm... Morning, Applejack,” Rarity murmured into the orange coat, lightly nuzzling the soft fur.
Applejack flinched.
“Applejack? Is something the matter?” Rarity asked in a groggy, but concerned voice.
“Ah’m... Ah thought that... Ah had a dream that we had... um... ya know...” She paused for a moment to look around the room and finally set her gaze on Rarity. “It wasn’t a dream, was it?”
“If it had been a dream, dear Applejack, I hope you enjoyed it just as much as I did,” Rarity replied in a playful and teasing tone.
But Applejack didn’t laugh. She had fantasized about spending a night with Rarity before, but right now, she could no longer remember the details on how it had happened. Rarity had just been her friend and then she was leaving. She still remembered approaching Carousel Boutique in the middle of the night, but after that, everything had gone so fast. It was all just a blur now.
Cautiously, she looked up to Rarity, nothing but a soft "why?" escaping her lips.
"Because I love you," Rarity replied.
Applejack paused, subconsciously running a hoof through her mane. "Ah love ya too, Ah think.” Another pause. “So... what do we do now?"
Rarity's hooves tightened their grip just a little bit more. "I suggest sleeping in. And then some breakfast. That's the most ideal combination I can think of."
Applejack couldn't help herself but smile. Not even in her wildest imagination, or even a couple days ago, she would have thought that she could fall for a mare, let alone with one of her closest friends. And yet, the pony in her hooves had proven her dead wrong.
The question of their future still remained unanswered, but Applejack didn’t mind anymore.
Right now, everything she needed was in her hooves.
