Chapters Rarity glanced disdainfully at Applejack, rolling her eyes as AJ rolled through the mud, wrestling with Rainbow Dash. Why was she so foalish? Applejack crawled out of the mud, prattling on with her southern drawl about how she had beat Rainbow Dash, and Dash insisting otherwise. Letting out a small grin, she said something about how AJ had won, though she had hardly been watching. Rainbow Dash scoffed, and with a handshake between the two muddied mares, Rainbow Dash flew off, small flecks of mud falling behind her. Rarity shook her head, sighing at how dirty the two mares were. Couldn't they be civilized? Rarity regretted the thought instantly. Applejack and Rainbow Dash were Applejack and Rainbow Dash because they weren't civilized-that was the key. She fluttered her eyelashes, simply for appearance, then followed Applejack up to the barn. She casually mentioned that perhaps they could have a sleepover at the boutique that night, since Sweetie Belle was with her parents' for the month, and the other mare agreed. Rarity ran through a mental checklist of what they should eat as she followed Applejack past the barn and into AJ's home, as she decided on hayfries and sandwiches for dinner.
Rarity led Applejack over to her own private "salon". She set her in the chair and went to work, fixing Applejack's ponytail first. She slid the scrunchie off, setting it to the side, under the hat she had already removed. She lifted a brush, and struggled to pull it through the mare's mane, muttering about how Applejack must not have brushed her mane since her fillyhood in Manehattan. Applejack had scoffed at that, saying she brushed her mane once a week. Rarity giggled despite herself and finally succeeded in brushing Applejack's mane. She began braiding it casually, giving it a loose look and even letting a few hairs loose from it. She slid the scrunchie back on, and then moved on to her tail, when she touched AJ's flank. They said nothing, but Rarity was right about how toned the muscles were. She began braiding her tail, then moved on to the hooves, where a layer of dirt was. Leading Applejack over for a bath, she scrubbed her hooves, removing the dirt. Applejack's mane was slightly more messy and Rarity giggled, loving the "back from work" look. She said goodbye to Applejack, and AJ expressed her thanks as she left.
After AJ had left, Rarity sat down, thinking about her own feelings towards Applejack. Deciding there was no better place to think, she went to the spa, where she got the most complicated and expensive treatment they had. Through the bath, she pondered, in the stream room, she thought. The masseuse commented on her being tense as she reckoned, and the mud bath let her contemplate. Finally, as she was rinsed from the mud bath, she realized. She was in love with Applejack. The white unicorn gasped, letting her fall from her chair. She was a fillyfooler. But that led to why she had wanted the prince. She continued thinking, and realized it was just for title. Worried about the realization, she couldn't relax, even as Aloe came to remove her cucumbers and robe, letting her leave. What was she going to tell Applejack, if she did? She walked home, letting her hooves become slightly dirty as she walked around. Finally, she stopped by Roseluck's and purchased some roses. What says it better than roses, right? She wondered if it was too cheesy, but decided it wasn't and headed home, still debating whether or not to give them to Applejack.
Rarity gave herself a reassuring smile in the mirror before carefully lifting the roses into her saddlebags. She could do this. She began trotting at a rapid pace, patting Opal on the head before leaving. Before she knew it, she was outside Sweet Apple Acres' gates. She could do this. She nosed open the gates, to see the house ahead's lights on, blotting out the stars with their orange glow. She walked carefully up there, slower now, and finally arrived, not after having stepped on several rocks. She flipped her hair, and raised her hoof to knock when she stopped and leaned in to listen. They were presumably done with dinner, so it was safe. She knocked three times, each one barely louder than Fluttershy's normal speaking voice. Somehow, it was Granny Smith out of all of them that heard it, and she was let in. She asked if she could speak with Applejack alone, and the family left the living room, Apple Bloom giving her a suspicious glance before leaving, walking backwards the whole time. Finally, they were alone. Rarity lifted the roses from her bag, Applejack giving her a bemused look when Rarity spoke.
"Applejack, I love you."
Applejack choked, and Rarity saw it. She had been rushing things, like with the dresses she had tried to make last week. Always rushing. She had tried to make dresses with gorgeous gossamer wings attached, but she had ripped the whole roll with her rushing. She dropped the roses and ran, rushing out the door. Rushing through the newly falling rain the pegasi had scheduled, the drops falling with her tears. She rushed to her home, ignoring the mud on her hooves as she collapsed on a psychiatric couch. In all this time, Applejack had exclaimed one sentence, following the lines of her loving Rarity too. But Rarity had rushed off before the words could be thought. She lifted the roses in her mouth, noting their thornless-ness, and set them with the daisies in a vase. Then she slowly walked up the stairs, collapsing onto her own bed, and they simultaneously fell asleep, almost as if planned by the two mares. Granny Smith watched through the door, her lips folding into a knowing smile as she carefully led her creaking bones to her own bedroom, undoing her white hair and letting it fall to her shoulders as she fell asleep.
In the morning, Rarity awoke, confused as to why she wasn't in her bed. Then previous nights' events flooded through her mind, and she frowned, wiping away the dried tears and sleep as she went down to make some breakfast. Her hooves creaked down the stairs, and she sniffed to reveal the smell of hay waffles. Yum. Wait. Waffles? She gasped, this time authentically, and ran down the stairs, turning into the kitchen to reveal Applejack, cooking waffles on the stove. Rarity was shocked, emitting a small squeak. Applejack turned, and upon seeing Rarity, charged towards her, embracing her in a huge hug. What Rarity did next confuses her still, but she mashed her muzzle against Applejack's, and Applejack opened her mouth to let Rarity's tongue in. They stumbled out of the kitchen, still embraced, and collapsed on the couch. They rolled their, only removing their lips from each others' to gasp for air. Rarity was more confused than you can imagine, but she kept it up, enjoying the apple-y taste of the other mare. Applejack was equally shocked, but loved the feel of the other mare's soft pelt, softer than hay.
"I guess we're marefriends now?"
"Sorta-kinda, I s'pose."
Adventure... It's a Wonderful Thing
Applejack groaned as she was dragged out of bed by Rarity and was rushed to be ready. Next thing she knew, they were outside, and she was being carried via magic to Dash's house. Without warning, the Wonderbolts appeared, leaving Applejack speechless. Without warning, Spitfire hoisted AJ on to her back, Rarity grabbing on to Soarin's shoulders, and they were flying in the clouds. At the end, Soarin' and Spitfire flew them together, letting them kiss, before blazing towards the ground. While Applejack was still stunned, she was led to Sweet Apple Acres, where Pinkie had baked the biggest cupcake in the history of Equestria, and they all enjoyed some. After that, they went to a gorgeous restaurant and had the fanciest lunch bits can buy. Without a moments' notice, she was hauled to the train station and let on a train. Then she finally asked what was going on, and she was answered with a grin as they approached Manehattan. The Orange family awaited, and they were led to the family's home. Dinner was mostly oranges, and then they went to bed. Finally, Rarity asked the question she had kept all day.
"Still bored?"
"Not at all, my love."
In the morning, Rarity awoke, confused as to what had happened last night. She saw Applejack, and it all came flooding back to her. Creeping over, she gently kissed the sleeping mare on the cheek, then crawled out of the room silently. Applejack grinned, being fully awake, but remained in bed, letting Rarity be kind and make breakfast. Rarity artfully prepared tons of apple pancakes, shaped like apples themselves. They really were quite impressive to her, and she set them on the table with whipped cream, butter, syrup, and blueberry and apple syrup for good measure. She used her magic to pour two tall glasses of apple j-no, scratch that. Rarity set the apple juice down and lifted the orange juice. Too much apple was bad for anypony, even if they ate it every day. Applejack finally came down the stairs, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. Her hat was already adorning her head, when Rarity realized the tragedy. Applejack's mane was terrible! She gasped theatrically, then insisted on Applejack having a makeover after breakfast. Applejack refused, saying Rarity had done enough, but Rarity persisted, saying she wanted to, and Applejack finally gave in, letting Rarity chatter about makeovers.
The two mares had told their friends, after some debate between the two, and the others accepted it quickly, proud of their friends. Rarity couldn't help notice Fluttershy's glances at Pinkie, far too frequent to be casual, but kept her mouth shut. Soon the Cakes had heard, and within a week they were the news of the town. Bonbon and Lyra even dropped by to offer their appreciation, though they barely knew the two mares. Applejack took a week off work, spending all the week at Rarity's, the last week before Sweetie Belle was back from her parents' home. Rumors spread like wildfire of what was happening in there, though it was honestly only at night when it got that crazy. Otherwise, they shared a love of cooking, and Rarity forced Applejack into plenty of dresses. They were perfect, until Applejack mentioned something offhandedly that literally froze Rarity. She was bored. Rarity was trying to make this an adventure, and Applejack was bored. Rarity set to scheming, and decided there'd be no more boredom for a while now. Within a few quick trips into town, plans were set for the next two days that would be the best thing ever.
Applejack had finally showered and headed to the boutique, where Rarity awaited with dinner and plans. They ate and talked, as Rarity watched the light dance in the orange mare's eyes. If only Rarity knew how Applejack was watching her, how her eyes fluttered and light glimmered in the glitter of the unicorn's eyeshadow. They finished their dinner after thirty minutes, and settled down to watch a movie Rarity thought they could both enjoy-Luna's Secrets. A movie featuring Rarity's favorite subject-romance, as well as plenty of action as Luna turned out to be a spy. Applejack ended up enjoying it, grabbing Rarity in a hug as Luna was about to be captured. Although she should've let go after the scene ended, she continued clinging to an uncaring Rarity. The movie ended as the town clock dinged 11 PM, and she led Applejack up to her room, where a bed had been made for the hay-maned mare. Applejack hung her Stetson hat on the post of the bed, snuggling into the covers which had been sprayed with a light appleish perfume. Rarity followed, curling into her own bed, which had a quilt covering her as she slipped to the land of dreams.
