Operation Hearts and Hooves Day
“Heya Rarity! Gotta minute?” Applejack's cheerful twang called as she walked into the Carousel Boutique.
Rarity's face lit up. It was the day before Hearts and Hooves Day, and Applejack had recently starting going out with Rainbow Dash. After some initial awkwardness the six friends were forced to agree that the stubborn farm pony and the brash pegasus made for a couple that could only be correctly described as adorable. Much to Rarity’s chagrin neither of them had found reason to call upon her extensive expertise in matters of the heart, but this visit gave the unicorn reason to hope.
“Of course, darling. Did you need something stylish to wear for Hearts and Hooves Day? Perhaps ideas for a romantic dinner? It may be hard to get reservations this late, but I’d be happy to pull some strings,” Rarity offered.
“Nah, I was just wonderin' if ya' had a bow I could put on my present for Dash.” Applejack said, taking a blue box out of her saddlebag.
“Why of course dear, any color you’d like, though with that shade of navy I would recommend a nice shade of ivory, or perhaps a lovely apricot hue.” Rarity's face fell as she floated a selection of ribbon in front of Applejack. “Is that the gift?”
“Yup! It's a aino- ana- um, a wing power testin' thingy. She's been wantin' one of her own for a while now but the good ones are a bit pricey, beats me as to why. Anyhows I thought it'd make for a nice surprise.” Applejack nudged the box onto the floor, then grabbed what she would call a white ribbon in her teeth and expertly tied it around the box.
“Oh,” Rarity said, with a distinct lack of enthusiasm.
Applejack's cheerful expression began to waver. “Don't ya think she'll like it? I mean, she was sayin' this one was kinda like the one Wonderbolts use, it might not be tha top of the line, but tha sales pony said it was plenty accurate.”
“I suppose she would like it, but. . . are you sure it's a good Hearts and Hooves day present?” Rarity asked as tactfully as she could manage.
Applejack looked confused. “Ain't any present somepony would like a good present?”
“Well, I suppose that’s one way to look at it.” Rarity conceded. “But a Hearts and Hooves day present should be a little more than that. This is your first Hearts and Hooves day! Your present should reveal the depths of your heart and speak to your ardor and passion for Rainbow Dash. It should whisper promises of the endurance of your love.”
Applejack was beginning to think that she should have just gone to Quills and Sofas to get some ribbon. “Passion and what now?” she asked, a perplexed look on her face.
“Your present should speak to Rainbow Dash. What do you think that machine says?”
“Uh. . . you’re good at flying?” Applejack suggested.
“Not quite ‘the breeze whispers your name when we’re apart’,” Rarity deadpanned.
“Rarity, I'm pretty sure Dash ain't gonna mind that this thing doesn't do much whisperin'. She'll be plenty happy it'll just measure her wing power.”
Rarity rolled her eyes. “I know that Rainbow Dash isn't the most romantic of ponies, however I’m sure that even she must have a soft spot. . . somewhere. Which would you rather give her, a present that makes her happy, or one that truly touches her heart?”
“Dash don't even like it if ya' touch her hooves, and I ain’t here ta talk about any touching we may or may not be doing,” Applejack said, turning a shade of red that Rarity would describe as pantone.
“Applejack, I am trying to keep you from ruining your first Hearts and Hooves day with your marefriend. Rainbow Dash may be uncouth sometimes but she will expect something beautiful and romantic, every mare does. Think of how disappointed she'll be when she sees that all she means to you is flying equipment!”
“Well, when ya' put it that way. . .”Applejack said, finally looked a little worried. “Dash means a lot to me. I reckon maybe you got a point.”
Rarity tapped her hoof for a moment. “I’ll help you! I know Rainbow Dash too. We'll go shopping, and I'll find you a real Hearts and Hooves Day present!”
“I dunno. . .” Applejack hemmed. “I'm kinda short on bits. That doodad wasn't cheap.”
“Don't worry, darling. This present is on me.” Rarity floated her saddlebags onto her back. “I never skimp when it comes to romance!”
***
“Hello, Rainbow.” Fluttershy smiled as her friend flew into her cottage carrying a bulky package.
“Heya Fluttershy. Oof! This thing weighs a ton.” Rainbow Dash grunted, landing in the middle of the room. Her journey complete, she dropped the package she was carrying with a loud clang.
“Um, what is it?” Fluttershy asked, examining the curious item.
“AJ's Hearts and Hooves day present.” Dash grinned proudly. “It's a dutch oven, one of those big old fashioned cast iron ones. None of the shops in town have them, you have to order them from this place in Hoofington, but I totally remembered and it got here just in time! Who's the most awesome special sompony in Equestria?” Rainbow asked, brushing nonexistent dirt off her shoulder.
Numerous thoughts formed in Fluttershy's mind, mostly regarding how disappointed somepony should be to receive a bland piece of cookwear on the most romantic day of the year; it didn’t even have a heart etched in. But Fluttershy would never say something like that.
“A pot?” Fluttershy asked meekly.
“Yup.” Dash said with a prideful nod.
“For Hearts and Hooves day?”
“Yeah, it's great, right? She's been meaning to get a new one for a while now, and this is just like all her other pots and stuff so I know she’ll like it.”
“Oh,” Fluttershy said.
Dash's pride turned to confusion. “What? You don’t think so?”
“Oh no, I mean, I'm sure it's very. . . practical,” Fluttershy hinted, hoping that Rainbow Dash would arrive the appropriate conclusion.
“Yeah, she'll use it all the time!” Dash grinned again, missing Fluttershy’s flashing neon sign of insinuation.
Fluttershy suddenly remembered that the pony in front of her once got her a salad bowl for her birthday, albeit a very practical one that she still used. “It's just...well it’s not very romantic.”
“It's not?”
“No,” Fluttershy said with a little shake of her head.
“Huh.” Dash racked her brain. “I could see if Rarity has a bow for it. . .”
“Maybe you should get her a card to go with it?” Fluttershy suggested. It wouldn’t completely allow Dash to save face with her present, but it would add a more romantic touch that she was sure Applejack would appreciate.
“I'm kinda short on bits, you wouldn't believe the shipping on this thing,” Rainbow said crestfallen. But before Fluttershy could try and make her feel better her face lit up again. “Hey, I know! I could make her a card! Do you have some paper?” Dash asked happily.
Fluttershy smiled warmly. Perhaps Rainbow does understand romance after all. “Of course. That's a lovely idea.”
The yellow pegasus quickly retrieved some paper, lace and a few colored pens that she had for her own stationary. Dash quickly folded the paper in half, scribbled something on the inside, and drew a heart on the front. The heart was crooked, though red, and the card hardly seemed to have been made with care, but when she finished Dash seemed very proud of it.
“Ta-da!”
Fluttershy looked the card over, and decided the card itself was less important than what was inside. She felt a little unsure about reading something so intimate that was meant for another pony, but Rainbow was a dear friend, and she doubted that there was anything too scandalous. She opened it carefully and read:
Dear AJ,
You're totally awesome and you usually don't even get on my nerves that much.
Your Marefriend,
RD
The inscription was not the heartfelt declaration of love she had been hoping for, nor the tawdry promises she had been nervous about. Summoning a resolve that Fluttershy usually reserved for emergencies, she made up her mind to do something, anything, to save her two dear friends from being disappointed on their first Hearts and Hooves day together.
Fluttershy gently handed the card back to Dash. “Hmmm. . . maybe you should buy a card after all. I'll pay for it.”
Rainbow wasn’t sure what was wrong with her card, she drew a heart on it, told AJ she was awesome and referred to herself as AJ’s marefriend, but if Fluttershy thought she should buy a card then maybe she should buy a card.“Okay, cool.”
An idea struck Fluttershy, and she smiled. “I can lend you the money for a different present too, if you want. Maybe something a little more appropriate for Hearts and Hooves day?”
“Sure. That way I won't have to try and wrap that thing. How about something square?”
Fluttershy considered Rainbow’s request that the gift be both heartfelt and easy to wrap. “Oh! I think I know the perfect thing.”
***
“Now Applejack, when I say ‘romantic” what do you think of?”
“Hmm. . . Ah dunno, A walk in the moonlight?”
Rarity blinked a few times in rapid succession. “Why, yes. Yes that’s quite romantic. Rather hard to gift wrap, though,” she mused.
Rarity levitated a pair of similar looking silver bracelets from a display case. “Bracelets are a traditional early in the relationship gift. Not as serious as a necklace, but more serious than a pair of earrings, and of course not a serious as a ring, but we’re a ways away from that aren’t we?” Applejack glared at Rarity and nodded. “This one says 'our love is simple and pure, it will withstand the test of time,'” Rarity said raising an unadorned silver bracelet. “But this one says 'I burn for you from the depths of my soul,” she said raising a different silver bracelet, inlaid with a pair of heart shaped rubies. “What do you want to say, dear?”
Applejack studied the bracelets, then raised an eyebrow. “That burnin' one also says it costs a hundred bits. I reckon I'll go with simple and pure for twenty bits.”
Rarity grimaced at the thought process, but she couldn’t argue with the conclusion. The simpler bracelet was both more representative of Applejack and better suited to the pony who would be wearing it. Besides, it’s not the amount of money spent on a gift, it’s the thought that counts, even if that thought is the result of a timely intervention, Rarity thought as she nudged the bits to the jeweler so that he could box up the purchase.
***
At Ponyville’s bookstall, Rainbow picked up a copy of a book titled “The Pony Sutra” and opened it. Her eyes went wide. “Now this is a Hearts and Hooves day present! I never even thought of putting wings there! Wow, I wonder if AJ could bend like that.” Rainbow wondered out loud as her wings began to puff out.
“Rainbow! Put that down!” Fluttershy hissed. Rainbow reluctantly closed the book after sneaking a glance at the next page and Fluttershy adopted her usual demure tone. “Look, here's a nice book of love poems.”
Rainbow Dash unenthusiastically looked down at the book Fluttershy had open, her wings again folding against her sides. After scanning the page for a moment she turned to her friend. “Um, Fluttershy? I don't even know what most of these words mean.”
“You can look them up, trust me, they're very romantic.”
Rainbow Dashed shrugged, Fluttershy did seem to know more about romance than her. “If you say so.”
Fluttershy smiled and laid her bits on the counter, as Dash hovered over her shoulder “Hold on to that other book for me. I'll be back later,” she whispered to the shop keeper.
***
Holidays in Ponyville inevitably meant a Pinkie Party, and Hearts and Hooves day was no exception. Sugar Cube corner was decorated with hearts, flowers and other assorted puffery. Chocolates and red velvet cupcakes lined the refreshments table next to a bowl of what Pinkie was calling love potion, but was really just pink lemonade.
Amidst the revelry Rainbow and Applejack decided to steal off to a relatively quiet corner so that they could exchange their hearts and hooves day presents free from prying eyes. However as they picked up their presents and furtively snuck off Rarity couldn’t help notice and thusly squealed with delight. “Ooh they're going to exchange presents, how sweet. I have a feeling Rainbow Dash is in for quite a lovely treat,” she said, not at all smugly.
Fluttershy, standing next to her, nodded and giggled. “I think Applejack is in for a treat too.”
The two friends looked at each other, each one refusing to divulge their role in the budding romance, but an understanding passing between them nevertheless.
Rainbow Dash and Applejack sat in the corner, the sounds from Pinkie’s jukebox offering a muted score to their moment. Both ponies placed their presents between them and after a moment Applejack spoke first.
“I... um… well this is our first Hearts and Hooves day together and I, uh, wanted to show you how I feel about ya,” she said shakily pushing her neatly wrapped present towards her marefriend.
Rainbow Dash tore into the packaging, completely disregarding the bow that was the perfect shade of alabaster for the box and flipped it open. “Wow. . . this is really, uh, shiny.”
“So you like it?” Applejack asked with a hopeful wince.
“Sure. Yeah, it's the nicest bracelet I ever got. Thanks. Here, you open yours,” Rainbow replied, a little relieved that her present didn’t need to live up to very high expectations.
Applejack carefully unwrapped the square package and flipped the book open. “Oh my, this is real. . . ..huh. What's a billowing?”
“It's. . . I have no idea. But it's romantic!”
“I'm sure it is, sugarcube. Thanks,” she said offering Rainbow a quick peck on the lips.
Rainbow Dashed recognized that peck, it was an I’m annoyed with ya, but don’t feel like fighting peck. It felt worse than her I told ya so peck.
“You don't like it,” Rainbow Dash said as her face fell, her plans to be romantic falling flatter than an earth pony trying to fly.
Applejack sighed softly, element of honesty and all that. She knew that she was supposed to feign delight, but pretending to love a gift that you didn’t felt a bit like lying. Honesty was important in a relationship, lest Rainbow Dash end up thinking she loved poetry, dooming her to years’ worth of poetry books piling up, unread, in her house.
“It ain't that, it's just. . . I never really read none of that poetry stuff. I’m more into biographies, y’know something more sensible.” Applejack cringed slightly prepared for her crushing rejection to end their all too brief relationship.
But, to Applejacks surprise, Rainbow Dash didn’t yell or cry. Instead she nodded in agreement. “I know. I get it. I mean, this bracelet is nice and all, but I don't wear jewelry, it creates too much wind drag when you’re flying and it can get caught on tree branches and stuff, so I'm not sure what I'll do with it.”
Applejack chuckled softly. “Yeah, that’s what I told Rarity. I had a different present all picked out for ya', but she said it wasn't right for Hearts and Hooves day.”
Rainbow Dash’s ears perked up at the mention of another present. “What did you get me?”
“One of them wing speed measurin' thingies ya' said ya' wanted.”
“An anemometer? Awesome! Do you still have it? Where is it? What kind? Can I see it?”
“Well sure! It’s at the barn. Rarity thought it didn't speak right or somethin'.”
“Are you kidding? It says Rainbow Dash has the most awesome special somepony ever! I wish I had something that cool for you, but Fluttershy didn't think you'd like what I got you.”
“Ya' mind tellin' me?”
“It's one of those iron oven things you wanted. I left it at her cottage; do you know how heavy those things are?”
Applejack blinked in surprise. “Ya' got me a cast iron dutch oven? They only make them in Hoofington, you woulda had to order that weeks ago to get it here on time.”
“Yup!” Rainbow grinned proudly. “I totally remembered that Hearts and Hooves day was coming up, and that this year I had a very special ‘special somepony’ to get something for.”
“Well I'll be a bug on a log. That was awful sweet of ya'.” Applejack leaned in for another kiss, this one longer and tenderer. “I love ya' RD,” she said as the two, somewhat reluctantly broke apart.
“I love you too.” Rainbow Dash whispered back. “And there was one good thing about getting you that poetry. I saw this book at the stall, and. . .” She leaned over and whispered into AJ's ear.
Applejack turned bright red. “Woah Nelly! Can ya' even do that?” she stammered.
“You're talking to the one of the best flyers in Equestria! What about you?” Rainbow asked with a smirk.
“I think I got the muscle for it. What do ya' say we go in half on that book, and I'll bet you we can do anythin' in it ya' don't need a horn for.”
Rainbow Dash’s smirk grew into a fully fledged grin. “You're so on! I think we should give the one I mentioned a test run tonight.”
Applejack grinned slyly, her blush returning. “Y’know I think we’ve been at this party long enough, what you say we give it a test run right now.”
The two lovers bolted out the door, leaving both their presents and a confused Rarity and Fluttershy behind them.
***
A few more party games and dancing later Pinkie pronounced the Hearts and Hooves Day party officially ended and a success. A quick round of goodbye’s later Rarity found herself walking back to the Carousel Boutique with Rainbow’s bracelet. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do with it, but it seemed a shame to leave it to Pinkie’s lost and found box. Maybe she could drop it off at Sweet Apple Acres. She wouldn’t dream of, and didn’t want to, interrupt the young lovers, but surely Granny Smith could deliver the present in the morning. Somewhat reluctantly she turned around and began to walk in the direction of the Apple Family estate. She was so intently thinking of how to explain her presence at Sweet Apple Acres without sounding desperate or creepy that she didn’t notice Fluttershy until she almost bumped into her.
“Oh, hello Fluttershy! I was just. . . walking by! And I noticed that Rainbow Dash seemed to have left her Hearts and Hooves day present behind, so I thought I would…” her voice trailed off as she struggled to finish her sentence.
“Um, yes. I was walking too, and well Applejack must have, um, dropped this. I don't think she'll notice, though.”
Fluttershy was clearly hurt that Applejack didn’t enjoy her idea for a present. Rarity smiled sympathetically and gestured at the bracelet she was holding. “I'm sorry dear, those ponies have no sense of romance. That book is a lovely and thoughtful Hearts and Hooves day present.”
Fluttershy brightened up at the kind words. “Thank you. And that's a beautiful bracelet. If I had a special somepony I would love to get something like that. I'm not sure why Rainbow didn't like it.”
“There is no accounting for taste, darling.” Rarity looked up at Fluttershy, who somehow seemed more nervous than usual, she smiled warmly with just a hint of romantic intent, “Fluttershy? Would you like to keep this bracelet?”
“Um, yes. Very much, but I couldn’t…that’s something you give to your ‘special somepony’.”
Rarity levitated the bracelet across the small gap between the two. “It's yours. I insist. It will look lovely on you.”
Fluttershy tentatively slid the bracelet around her foreleg, marveling at how it reflected the moonlight. “Rarity. . . thank you. It's beautiful.” Fluttershy pawed at the ground “Rarity? I'd, um, like for you to have this book. If you wanted it, that is.”
Rarity levitated the book of poetry over to her and began to sample it. After a few moments her eyes became decidedly misty. “ Oh Fluttershy… This poetry is so romantic.”
“I know,” Fluttershy squeaked.
Rarity's eyes went wide. She just stood there stunned for a moment, and then she blushed and smiled. It was somewhat rare for her to be so flustered and that caused her cheeks to glow a rosy pink. She looked down at the love poem on the page, then at the bushes where the gentle yellow pegasus had disappeared. At least somepony understands romance, she thought as she playfully trotted after her.
From their spot nestled together in one of the trees between Sugar Cube Corner and Sweet Apple Acres, a happily exhausted Rainbow Dash and Applejack lay intertwined, observing the events unfolding down below with amusement.
“Oh shoot, Fluttershy ran away. What do we do?” Rainbow asked, resting her head on that of her marefriend.
“Lemme see. . . Rarity's smilin' and lookin' all dreamy. I think that's part of the romance stuff.”
“I don't get it. Fluttershy got a bracelet, Rarity got a book and then Fluttershy ran away. How is that romantic?”
Applejack shrugged, the gesture causing the leaves of the tree to rustle a bit as the two ponies shifted positions ever so slightly. “I dunno. It ain't no cookware, that’s for sure.”
“You really liked that I got you a pot for Hearts and Hooves day?”
“Well sure! You know what I like, and you were even thinkin' bout me weeks ago. That's a present you got just for me, and it's darn special,” Applejack said, straining her neck a bit so that she could kiss Rainbows cheek.
Rainbow Dash returned the gesture, reasserting her grip, and looked down at the pony resting against her. “AJ, the anemometer is awesome too. Really awesome. I sometimes worry that you aren't really paying attention when I'm talking about flying. Not only were you listening to me, but you remembered and got me a really cool present.”
“Ya' know, come to think it, Rarity's read a whole lotta sappy romance novels but I’ve never heard of her having a real special somepony. I ain't sure she knows that romance is more 'bout thinkin' bout the pony you're with, instead of tryin to find crazy ways to show you love 'em.”
Rainbow Dash nodded. “Fluttershy hasn't had a real special somepony either. And she probably never will if Rarity doesn't take the hint and make a move.” Rainbow let out a playful groan. “Ugh I hope Rarity doesn't try to get all fancy with it, all she has to say is 'Hey, wanna go out?'”
Applejack let out a sharp bark of a laugh. “Ha, that line sounds familiar.”
Rainbow Dash teasingly slugged her marefriend in the shoulder. “Hey, don’t knock it, if I recall, ‘that line’, got me my first date with you.”
Applejack snuggled more firmly into the eager forelegs of Rainbow Dash. “It did work, no doubt about that.”
“Maybe we oughta give the two of them a little advice on romance.”
Author's Note
Like I said in the description this fic largely is the work of Bookplayer, so again if you like it go give her a thumbs up. And if you like ship fics I recommend you check out the rest of her catalouge. My personal favorite is A Fact for Twilight
