The stallion had fallen for it and his eyes were now stuck on Rarity's flank as he began to follow her outside into Canterlot's private garden. What would happen out there would be a mystery to all but the two ponies in question, although, it wasn't so hard to put two and two together. Especially under the watchful eye of a certain orange mare.
Heheh thatta girl Rares. Applejack thought to herself, with a knowing smirk plastered on her face. Just keep 'em wanting more.
After finding out about Applejack's secret gift, the purple-maned fashionista decided to test the advice for herself and it's validity. The orange mare happily gave her the tips she needed in order to score if she simply played her cards right and the assurance to back it up
Now it's mah turn to score. Speakin' of which...
Applejack scanned the floor and sure enough, Rainbow Dash was hunched over a table. By the looks of it, it was as if her body language was screaming the word 'boredom'. With a mischievous smile and a slow trot, Applejack made her way over to her uninterested friend.
"I take it yer still bummed out 'bout the Wonderbolts not showin' up huh ?"
Rainbow Dash sighed, circling her hoof around a salt shaker. "That was the only reason I came in the first place. I even brought my limited edition goggles for them to sign. Just my luck that the only time I bring them is when they don't show up."
"Now don't feel too bad Rainbow. I'm sure ya'll will get 'em next time," the Apple farmer gave her a warm smile. "Whatcha say we get back into the swing of things n' enjoy the party huh?"
"Pfff yea sure, whatever" the cyan mare replied in an overly sarcastic voice.
Applejack had expected this response and grinned. "Tell ya what, why don't we spice things up a bit with a lil' friendly competition?"
As if something snapped in her brain, Rainbow cleared the table of its contents with a single hoof and held it in a ready position, a smile creeping on her face. "Hoof wrestle. Best two out of three!"
"Now hold on now. I didn't mean that kinda competition." Applejack clarified. Rainbow withdrew her hoof and raised an eyebrow in question.
"Oh? What did you have in mind?" the confident, cyan mare asked curiously. She knew she'd win anything the Earth pony threw at her.
Applejack embraced Rainbow with a one hoof and used the other to point to the crowd of ponies on the dance floor. "What do ya see, RD?"
"Slime."
"Other than slime."
"Ponies?
"Yea, but what kind of ponies?"
"Uhhh" the cyan pegasus looked again. "Mares and stallions?"
"Sure," the orange mare rolled her eyes. "But are they with their special somepony?"
"Well no. I know that from talking to some of them that they just brought family as their plus ones."
Applejack nodded. "Making them...?"
"Single." Rainbow completed the thought. After the gears started kicking in, her mouth then began to form a smile as she knew what Applejack was finally getting at. "You wanna see which one us is the better pick up artist?"
"I was gonna say more intoxicatin' to look at but that 'bout sums it up. Although, I reckon I already know who has more game."
Rainbow chuckled. "Sure Ms. Drapes-do-well."
"Hush now. You in or not?" Applejack challenged.
"Oh I'm in alright! You're goin' down!" Rainbow puffed out her chest. "Call it!"
"Alright," the apple mare stated the rules. "I bet you one dinner that I can get more ponies to buy me a drink than you. Collect them mugs and put it on this table here, on your side." Applejack marked the boundary. "And ya can't just pick 'em off the tables. It has to be bought fer you by another pony. I'll know if n' yer cheatin' or not. Y'got one hour."
"Easy!" Rainbow took to the air. "Make sure you reserve a seat at the Hay Hut. I heard they're serving deep-fried hay burgers and I'm ordering five at least!"
Before the pegasus could fly off, Applejack took hold of the multi-hued tail in her mouth. "Hold on now. This here is a two-part bet. I'm no cheap date and I ain't buyin' nopony anything if I don't raise the stakes a little."
Rainbow widened her smile even more at the thought of her winnings being doubled. "Ok then, cut to the chase! What's the second part?"
"If n' you get more drinks than me..."
"Which I will!"
"IF..." Applejack clearly emphasized "you get more drinks than me, you also have to get the most beautiful pony here at the Gala to go out with you."
"Um sure. But there's one problem?" Rainbow raised a hoof.
"What's that RD?"
"Duh, I can't ask myself out." the cyan mare bursted in laughter while showing off her figure.
"It's gotta be another pony or no deal Rainbow Dash." Applejack gave her a deadpanned look. As tradition went, she spit on her own hoof and held it out.
After an hour....
"Well, well, well. Looks like we tied again RD." Applejack counted both sides and found them to be equal.
"Guess again!" Rainbow snickered as she pulled up a hidden mug from under the table. The apple farmer frowned.
"You cheated! I saw ya ask Maud to buy you that drink."
"Hey, you only said that the drink has to be bought for you. You didn't say I couldn't ask somepony to buy it for me." Rainbow proudly pointed out the loophole in the bet.
"Yea usin' charm and not some cheap move gosh darnnit!" Applejack knew Rainbow would pull something like this. "It don't matter none. Y'all still haven't completed the bet."
"Pshhh, already got that covered." Rainbow waved a hoof. "Hey Princess Celestia, would you come here for a sec?"
Before Applejack could scold her best friend for rudely beckoning the princess like her own personal dog, Celestia appeared before them. Not without Twilight following right behind her.
"Rainbow Dash. Applejack. So nice to see you two having fun this evening," the princess said, eyeing the mug-filled table. "What can I do for you?"
"Well Princess," Rainbow started as Applejack smacked a hoof to her forehead. "I was wondering if your not busy with any boring princessy stuff, that maybe, you know, we could hang out sometime. I got it! We should totally race around Cloudsdale! I've never actually raced an alicorn before. Well, except Twilight but we all know how great a flyer she is."
"Hey!" The lavender alicorn said in annoyance, followed by a little laughter from the Princess of the Sun. Celestia, then spoke up.
"As tempting as that offer sounds, I'm afraid I have to pass as I do have plans with another suitor." Princess Celestia's smile went unwavered. "I hope you two continue to enjoy your evening. And Rainbow Dash, I sense that the company of another will suit you better than mine. After all, the night is still young." With that, Princess Celestia ended the conversation with a wink before heading off with her protégé.
As soon as the rainbow-maned pegasus knew that the Princess was well out of earshot, she pouted. "Darn, I really thought she'd agree to it."
Applejack simply snickered and shook her head at her friend's crazy antics.
Rainbow rubbed a hoof behind her neck. "Well, that was a bust. Would you like to join me for dinner AJ?"
"Shoot, I'd be glad to Rainbow. Seeing as you'd be payin' n' all, I'd think I'll order me one of them nice medium-done haybur-"
"Actually you'll be paying 'cuz I just WON!"
Rainbow flew backwards in a circle and did her winning pose. "Oh yeah, uh-huh, who's awesome?!"
"What-wait how!?" Applejack asked, flabbergasted by her friend's claim.
Rainbow landed in front of her friend with a winning grin. "Well its simple. You said I had to get the most beautiful pony at the Gala to go out with me. I just did."
After a few moments, Applejack blushed faintly. "Y-you really think I'm the most beautiful pony at the Gala?"
"Well aside from me of course." Rainbow said truthfully. She then looked both ways before dropping her voice down. "I mean, you really are pretty, even if you are wearing drapes."
Applejack retaliated with a playful nudge. "I dunno whether to be mad at ya or downright flattered RD."
"Well seeing as you'll be paying for sixty-bits' worth of food, I'd say the first one." Rainbow quickly sped away before Applejack's mind caught up.
"Sixty bits!!!!!!!?????
"I saw what you did there." Rarity walked up to Applejack, after the gala, wearing a sly grin. "Very clever. And bravo on the acting skills. "
"What ever do you mean?" Applejack said innocently, but the smirk on her face revealed more.
"Save it darling. You knew how many mugs she really had and made sure you got less than her. Plus, adding that second part to the bet was a clear giveaway. Thus, she asked you out on a date without even knowing it." Rarity laid out the farm mare's game right in front of her. "I'm surprised you aren't more mad about the bits."
"Eh you win some, you lose some." Applejack shrugged. "Point is I got the mare."
"That you did, dear." Rarity, however, was not done with her inquiry.
"I must say though, weren't you worried when she brought Celestia over? I mean, what if the Princess did agree on that date."
"Nah, I wasn't worried." Applejack said with utmost confidence in her voice.
"And why not?" Rarity pried.
Applejack paused before going on. "Well, remember that move ya did to help you land that stallion in yer room?"
The purple-maned mare blushed slightly. "The butt strut? What about it?"
A grin turned up on the orange mare's face.
"What do you think Princess Celestia's been doin' to Twilight all evenin'? And Fluttershy? Surely, Discord ain't followin' her around fer nothing."
