Bloodymare Rarity

The following morning Applejack was in the fields harvesting apples when Trenderhoof showed up early.

“Mornin’ Ya’ll!” Applejack called, assuming Rarity was with him. She looked around and then realized she wasn’t. “Oh uh, You sure are an early riser.”

Rarity was more of an all-nighter, Applejack thought. She was late again. She figured Rarity must be taking all this extra time to spiffy herself up for Trenderhoof.

“Well I was so excited to be here with you on a real farm that I just couldn’t wait.” Trenderhoof replied.

Applejack struck a tree with her hind hooves causing the apples to fall into a number of baskets placed around the tree. Trenderhoof watched in amazement of how her strength was able to accomplish such feats.

“So um,” Trenderhoof began with a shaky voice. “Do you come here often?”

“I live here.” Applejack answered.

“Oh!” Trenderhoof awkwardly replied.

Applejack Sighed.

“Look,” she began, “Rarity is gonna have to give you a tour of the farm herself. As for me, I have a ton of apple bucking to do. That little trip I had with you yesterday put me behind schedule and as for right now, I’m busier than a funeral home fan in July.”

Applejack dumped the baskets of apples into a wagon and then pulled it towards the next tree. The next tree was fairly large compared to all of the others. Applejack unloaded the wagon straps from her shoulders and positioned her hind hooves under the tree. She raised her hooves and struck the tree. The tree shook but none of the apples fell.

“Need some help?” Trenderhoof asked.

“Nope! This ain’t my first rodeo show,” she answered.

Applejack struck the tree a second time, this time several times harder than the last. With a loud thump, she struck the tree so hard, that she caused a fissure to appear in the trunk. All of the apples fell into the baskets positioned below.

“See?” Applejack stated with confidence, crossing her hooves.

But Trenderhoof had his attention on the fissure that began to grow. The tree began to lean forward towards Applejack and started to snap. Trenderhoof, with his quick reflexes, galloped towards Applejack and with all of his might pushed her out of the way clearing Applejack and himself from the path of the falling tree. The tree came crashing down on top of the wagon filled with apples, completely smashing it into pieces.

Trenderhoof laid on top of Applejack staring into her beautiful green eyes. Applejack broke the silence.

“Why thank you pardner.” Trenderhoof was still on top of Applejack, looking into her eyes.

Applejack spoke again. “uh, that was mighty nice of you to save me like that... you can get off of me now.”

“Um ok.” Trenderhoof replied still on top of Applejack, having not moved.

Applejack stared back into Trenderhoof’s eyes and thought to herself, “What a mighty handsome stallion, and so strong too.”

She tensed up as Trenderhoof brought his lips closer and closer to hers, but soon relaxed and closed her eyes.

“Good heavens! Are you both ok?” Rarity called from afar, galloping towards them. She had seen the tree falling from a distance and started galloping to help.

Applejack quickly pushed Trenderhoof from off of on top of her and replied. “Yes! We’re fine.”

Rarity reached the two ponies out of breath. “I saw the whole thing. Trenderhoof, you were spectacular!” She said still panting.

“Oh, it was nothing” Trenderhoof replied.

Rarity went on “Oh don’t be so modest. You we’re simply amazing.”

The three ponies went on their tour of the farm. Applejack decided that she would show them around just a little bit before getting back to work. After the tour, Applejack went back into the fields to finish her work. Trenderhoof was lost in thought and Rarity noticed. Trenderhoof pulled Rarity aside.

“Do you think she has a date for the ceremony?” Trenderhoof asked

“Who? Applejack?” Rarity unsurprised, answering dishonestly. “Why Yes! I think she does. But I’m not too sure myself.”

“Do you think she might… like me?”

Rarity, responded angrily, “NO! SHE THINKS YOU SMELL LIKE MANURE!”

Trenderhoof gasped and his eyes opened wide in alarm. “…SHE DOES??”

Rarity, angrily marched from the scene, leaving Trenderhoof a tad bit confused of as to what had just happened. “Does she really think I smell like manure?” he thought, sniffing his under parts.

Later that afternoon, after bathing, he found Applejack working in the fields. He straightened his poise, cleared his throat and approached her. “Um Applejack?”

“yes hun?”

In a mild voice, tugging his collar, he asks, “Do you have a dance partner for the gala?”

Applejack’s ears perk as the sound of his question. She knew where this was going, and she had remembered the promise she made with Rarity. But she couldn’t shake the feelings that she had inside.

“Um no? I mean er…” she answered reluctantly. “I ain’t gonna dance at the gala.”

Surprised, he asks. “But why not?”

“Well I uh” Applejack hesitated as she tried to think of an excuse. “Well you see, I really can’t dance, and I have no rhythm. It’s like I have four left hooves.”

“That’s not a reason to not go.” he objected. “I can teach you all that you need to know.”

“Listen here sugar cube, I’m tellin’ you I just ain’t a good dancer.” She went on. “But Rarity on the other hand is a great dancer. You should ask her to go to the gala with you. I’m sure she would love- ”

“But Applejack,” Trenderhoof interrupted. Summoning all of his courage he grabbed onto her shoulders and locked eyes with her causing her to her blush a bit, “I want to take YOU to the gala. Will you go with me?”

Up close, Applejack could smell his overbearing cologne. He stared into her eyes. Applejack could feel her feelings giving way, despite the cologne’s strong smell. “Oh sugarcube.”

She snapped out of her daze and turned her back.

I can’t. I just can’t, she thought. Rarity would hate me for sure.

She then thought of her promise, and whether she was going to keep it. Should I keep it? she thought. “Yes I will” she said, thinking out loud.

“Great! Then it’s settled!” said Trenderhoof.

“Wait. Er what?”

“I’ll come pick you up just before the gala. And don’t you worry your pretty little face. Just follow my lead and you will dance just fine.”

Tenderhoof galloped away, ecstatic about his answer.

“Wait!” Applejack called. “You misunderstood me!”

But Trenderhoof was too far away and exited to hear her call.

Oh phooey, she thought. She felt just a bit guilty about what had just happened. But deep inside, she knew she wanted to go. I should have at least told him to ease up on the cologne, she thought.

Later that evening, Rarity was contemplating the design of her next dress. Still saddened by her crush’s lack of interest, she constantly fought back the tears and started thinking of ways to gain his attention.

Perhaps I could imitate Applejack with her southern accent and terrible sense of fashion. She thought. But would it work? As a fashion designer, I could pull it off. She thought. Or maybe I could dazzle him with my glorious fashion sense. But what if it all doesn’t work?

She kept thinking for a while and then realized something. Since Applejack doesn’t want him, he’ll just have to go to the gala with somepony else.

Rarity smiled at the thought of this new possibility.

That just means this pony is going to have to be me. Her smile became devious, as she thought of the ways that she could capture her prey.

But how will I attract his interest? Perhaps I could ask Applejack to set us up together at a table at the cider tasting part of the ceremony.

A sliver of jealousy began to creep over her. She knew that the odds were against her based on what seemed to be his interests.

She must also know why he’s so into her. If he just likes farm life, then I’ll use my entire competency in fashion to imitate his deepest desires.

Rarity, all too excited to wait until morning to gain confirmation of her thoughts from Applejack, decided to consult with her immediately. It was far past sundown and pretty dark out, but she knew that Applejack would still be out in the fields since she lost so much time as a result of touring. With that, she left for Sweet Apples Acres.

Rarity figured finding her would be easy. Upon arrival at the farm, she entered the gate and followed the sounds of Applejack’s toil. They were a series of loud thuds and shaking of leaves. The distant sounds were faint but clear and she quickly followed thereafter.

The range of the farm was considerably broad, consisting of many hills, cliffs, and valleys all bearing plentiful, fruit bearing apple trees atop.

The way the apples glisten in the moonlight is simply gorgeous, she thought as she treaded past them. Rarity couldn’t remember the last time she visited the farm at night. The moon was full and its light peered through the trees in beautiful beams of bluish-white light.

The sounds of Applejack’s whereabouts’ grew clearer as she approached the bottom of a cliff. However, Applejack was nowhere in sight. Rarity could hear squeaks of a wagon at the top of the cliff.

Ugh! she thought. All of this walking is starting to make my hooves sore.

The steep cliff was very high and much higher than all of the others. She could barely see the trees on top and she wasn’t going to attempt to climb it as it was too rocky, and her hooves were already aching. She proceeded to go around, looking for a more gradual incline until she found a path worn out by wagon trails leading to the top. The path was still quite steep and somewhat rocky but not so much, so she decided to follow it. As she came about the top, she spotted a figure pulling a wagon along the path that disappeared amidst the trees.

That must be Applejack, she thought to herself.

The trail led all around the edges of the plateau with smaller paths from the trail, leading into the trees. The figure disappeared into the trees. She soon followed after, approaching from behind. As she treaded past the wagon to greet the figure at the front, the figure stopped. Rarity reached to tap its shoulder. The figure turned and jumped, letting out a blood chilling scream, startling Rarity and causing her to fall on her rear end.

The figure spoke “RARITY!?!”

“APPLEJACK? IS THAT YOU!?!”

Panting, the two ponies looked upon each other’s moonlit faces. They recognized each other and both gave a sigh of relief.

“Rarity! What in tarnation are you doing sneaking up on people way out here in the middle of the night?” Applejack shouted, still panting.

Rarity stood on her hooves, dusting herself off. “Well I came all of the way out here because I so desperately wanted to talk to you about something...” She went on, “But then you frightened me and-”

“Frightened you?” Applejack interrupted. “I reckon it was YOU who frightened ME!”

“No that’s absurd.” said Rarity. “I assure you that it was YOU who scared ME!”

Applejack sighed. “Well I have work to get back to. If I work through the night, I’ll be back on schedule, and I’ll have just enough time to rest up.”

The wagon squeaked as Applejack continued pulling it towards the next tree. “So what is it you wanted to talk about?”

“Well, I was hoping you could do me another favor.”

“More favors?” Applejack moaned. “What kind?”

“Do you think you could reserve a table for me and Trenderhoof for the cider tasting?”

“Sure I’ll…” Applejack paused. She then remembered that she hadn’t told Rarity about what happened after the tour. Should I tell her about Trenderhoof? Applejack thought. If I do she’ll hate me for sure.

“I’ll understand if you can’t,” said Rarity. “I know that you already have much to do, and I have been asking a lot from you lately, but alas I’ll just have to find another way to be alone with my Trendy,” she whined.

Applejack mumbled incoherently. “Well I uh, Trenderhoof may have of uh, might not be there to um…”

“Could you please speak up?” Rarity interrupted. “I don’t mean to interrupt you. It’s just that you were speaking so softly that I couldn’t hear.”

Rarity paused to await Applejack’s response.

Applejack knew that she couldn’t keep this up. She would have to tell Rarity what’s going on eventually. And besides, Applejack had mixed feelings on whether she wanted to give him up that easily.

It’s obviously me who Trenderhoof wants. Why try to change that? she thought.

Applejack decided to tell her the truth. “Well you see Rarity,” she began, “I can’t. I can’t because… Trenderhoof is already taking somepony else to the ceremony.”

There! Applejack thought. I said it!

Rarity’s eyes grew wide. “WHAT!?!” Rarity responded loudly. “He’s already taking somepony else!?”

“Yea, and they both seem to be quite fond of each other.”

Rarity placed her hooves onto her head. “This… This can’t be! I will not allow it! I demand to know who this pony is.”

Rarity violently shook Applejack “Who is she? Who is she?”

“She’s er, me”

Rarity’s jaw dropped in disbelief. There was silence.

“Surely this is some kind of Joke,” she chuckled “If it is, then it isn’t funny.”

“This ain’t no joke.”

Angered by Applejack’s words, Rarity shouted. “You’re lying! You... you wouldn’t do this to me!”

“I assure you I ain’t fibin’!” said Applejack “I don’t represent the element of honesty for nuthin’.”

At this point Rarity was absolutely livid. She felt betrayed. How could her friend do this behind her back? And after what she promised?

“ELEMENT OF HONESTY?!? HA!” She screamed. “More like element of backstabbing you lying backstabber!!”

Angered, Applejack responded “Now hold on to your horses Rarity!! I ain’t no backstabber and I sure ain’t no liar! Now I just told you the truth didn’t I?”

“Yea the truth about how you lied and backstabbed me!! You promised to help me win over Trenderhoof’s heart! Did you not? Such sincerity.”

“Now I didn’t’ exactly promise that. I said I would TRY to. I didn’t even mean for this to happen but it just sort of… happened!”

“ALL THESE LIES!!” Rarity shouted, circling Applejack. “I bet you had this planned from the start! Isn’t that right?”

“I told you I ain’t lyin’!”

“I told you I ain’t lyin’ ” Rarity parroted, mimicking Applejack’s voice and accent. “Oh? Is that a fact? I presume that would explain why you and Trenderhoof seemed so fond of each other during the tour. You had this planned before I even came into the picture. You made me think it was all just for me. But you were just using me to get what you want. You wanted time with him for yourself and you got it.”

Rarity laughed. “GOSH! How could I have been so blind?”

Rarity applauded “Bravo Applejack. Well played.”

Rarity frowned. “But it won’t be enough. If its war you want. Then its war you’ll get. When I’m finished with him, he’ll be licking off the dirt from the bottom of my hooves like a dog, and when I mention Applejack, he’ll say ‘Apple who?’ ”

Applejack, who’s competitive spirit was aroused by Rarity’s words, decided she would take on this new challenge. “Fine then! Since you’re so confident, bring it on pardner’.” Applejack grinned “You think you’re so high and mighty with your fancy talk and attitude that you think you’re above the rest of us pony folk. But I’ll show you that I too have got the moves Rarity.”

Rarity laughed. “Oh don’t flatter yourself! You’ve only slowed me down. But this time I know what’s really going on.”

Rarity got close to Applejack’s face. “Once he bears witness to the elegance of the illustrious Rarity, you’ll ponder how you EVER thought you could take him from me.”

“But I already have! Trenderhoof likes me and not you. When I told him about you, he said that he would take me over you any day of the week.”

“He said that huh? I believe that’s just another one of your pathetic lies! That or a silly attempt for a comeback line.” Rarity laughed. “Oh wait! Let me try!”

Rarity distorted her face, exposing her two front teeth, and crossing her eyes. “Oh look here ya’ll. I’m Applejack and I’m so much better than Rarity that I had to lie and cheat to get what I want!”

Applejack yawned as Rarity continued to mock her with faces and awkward bodily movements. She had just about enough of Rarity. At this point, there was no way she could convince her that this whole ordeal wasn’t planned but accidental. It had ended up with her accepting a challenge from her that could ruin their friendship. Feeling responsible for today’s turn of events, Applejack decided that it was time to call it a night. If she stayed, she would just end up arguing with Rarity all night. Besides, she couldn’t stay out for too long since Rainbow Dash warned her of a scheduled downpour late that night.

Why do I have these feelings for Trenderhoof? She asked herself. She wanted to apologize to Rarity, but after all of the mean things said to her, she no longer felt obligated.

“Well, I’m off,” said Applejack, yawning. “Don’t want to get caught in tonight’s downpour.”

Applejack loaded the straps from the wagon onto her shoulders and began to pull the wagon, filled with apples, towards the trail located alongside the cliff.

“Leaving so soon? Good! I had just about enough of your lies anyway since that’s all your capable of.”

Rarity taunted but Applejack ignored, continuing on her way.

Really? Nothing to say to that? Rarity thought. How dare that backstabber turn her back on me. I will NOT be ignored.

At that moment, Rarity grinned as a mischievous thought entered her mind. She decided that she would let Applejack have it once more before the challenge was on.

She tried to use me to take something dear to me away from me, and then lied about it. She thought.

Rarity’s horn glowed as she used her magic to levitate an underground tree root to the surface under the wagon, restricting the movement of its wheels. Applejack pulled and pulled but couldn’t get the wagon to budge. Rarity snickered as she watched the vein efforts of her friend fail to move the wagon.

Finally, Applejack gave it one last tug. Just as she did, Rarity quickly removed the inhibiting root, releasing the wagon with so much force, that it speed down the path dropping loads of apples onto the ground, pulling Applejack along the way.

Rarity busted out in laughter, as she watched the wagon spiral out of control down the path.

Applejack, tripping over the falling apples, was dragged by the sheer weight of the wagon. She realized that she was in danger as the wagon was approaching the side of the plateau. She quickly regained her balance galloping alongside the wagon in an attempt to regain its control. But it was too late. The wagon had rolled off the steep cliff and was dragging Applejack down along with it.

“RARITY! HELP ME!!” Applejack frantically called. She had managed to grab hold of the ledge.

Rarity, still laughing, stopped abruptly as she heard the calls of her friend. As she saw her friend hanging from off the edge of the cliff, her giddy face was replaced with fright.

“HELP ME!!” Applejack desperately called once more. She was slipping.

“HOLD ON I’M COMING!!” Rarity rushed towards her friend with all of her might fearing for the worse.

Oh dear, how could I have let this happen? Rarity’s thoughts raced as she ran towards her friend. She was only moments away.

“RARITY! PLEASE HE-“

Applejack slipped and screamed as she fell. Rarity, arriving at the edge, saw her friend fall down the steep incline aligned with large jagged rocks. She watched for what felt like an eternity in horror, as Applejack fell to her doom. Her screams became silence as she slammed against the first rock. Her body became as a rag doll, bouncing off of the rocks, producing loud distinct crackling sounds with each encounter, releasing streams of blood. She then hit the ground with a splat.

When it was all over, Rarity peered down, shocked at all of what had just transpired before her eyes. Applejack laid motionless down at the bottom. As she looked down upon Applejack she began to notice subtle movements in her legs. She was still alive and trying to stand up.

Rarity called. “HOLD ON! DON’T MOVE! I’M COMING!”

Her voice echoed down the valley, and was soon replaced by growing rumbling sounds. Rocks were beginning to dislocate from the shoulders of the cliff down towards Applejack, loosening other rocks in their way.

“APPLEJACK!! GET UP!!” Rarity yelled.

She struggled, but couldn’t. Within seconds, Applejack’s body was completely covered by an avalanche of rocks and large boulders. After the rumbling subsided, Rarity loomed overhead looking down upon the large pile of rocks. Everything became silent.

Rarity dashed down the side of the plateau galloping around the steep incline, following the more gradual one with the tracks. She slipped and rolled halfway down the hill but quickly regained her balance and proceeded down towards the bottom. She then sprinted towards the pile of rocks, galloping as fast as she could.

She arrived at the pile of boulders crushing Applejack. With her heart pounding, and her breathing heavy, she began levitating the rocks one by one to desperately find her flattened friend, hoping that she was somehow still alive.

“Applejack? Can you hear me?” Rarity called, as she removed the rocks.

Of all possible things that could have happened, this is THEE worst possible thing, she thought.

Some of the rocks were large and heavy. She struggled to levitate them but nonetheless was able to move them. After what seemingly took hours of removing rocks, she finally spotted Applejack’s mane. It was dampened with blood. Tears began pouring down from Rarity’s eyes as she removed the last bit of rocks, uncovering Applejack’s body. What she saw appalled her. The body was mangled. Flesh was torn in various places. Her head was penetrated and crushed by the jagged edge of a large boulder. It entered through the back of her cranium forcing brains to protrude from her mouth and ears. Her head rested in an ever-expanding pool of blood of which bits of brains and skull floated about.

She fell onto her rear end, eyes still glued onto her deceased friend.

How could I? Oh how could I have done this? She thought. I… killed her.

She stood there frozen. She was too shocked to move until she felt something cold touch the tip of her hind hooves. The puddle of blood had finally reached her. The blood stirred something deep that had resided within her. Along with its coldness, it brought forth a faint sense of mirth. It drained all of her remorse and fears, dulling all of her senses until she felt nothing else. She dipped her fore hoof into the puddle making circular motions, slowly smiling as the blood slushed between her legs. She raised her hoof and quickly brought it down into the puddle, splashing blood onto her face and mane. A drop reached just below her bottom lip. She reached down with her tongue and lapped it up. She felt herself sinking into a very dark place. She fought against it telling herself that this was wrong. The voice was like a tiny thought within the outreaches of her mind, fading back into existence. The voice eventually became louder and clearer.

Rarity’s eyes widened. Her heart began to race. Remorse and fear flooded her senses as she came back to reality. She looked and shrieked at the sight of the blood on her hooves.

Oh dear. What happened just now? What’s wrong with me? She thought in wonder of how she could allow blood to tarnish her well-groomed hooves, and mane.

She leaped to her feet in panic. I…I must get rid the body, she thought. If anypony were to find out about this, my life will be ruined! My friends would never forgive me after something like this. Nopony would.

She looked around for a means of disposing the body. She spotted the wagon Applejack was pulling. It was a bit damaged due the fall but for the most part intact. The wheel had fallen off but it was mendable with a little magic.

She used her magic to repair the broken wagon. The mended wheel was still a bit wobbly but stayed in place. She then used her magic to levitate the dead body into the wagon.

I know what I’ll do. I’ll take the body to the everfree forest and bury it. Nopony will find it there. Nopony even goes there.

She meticulously picked up as much of the scraps as she could find from Applejack’s remains and levitated them into the wagon. She covered the pool of blood with some of the fallen rocks. She realized that for some reason, it was much easier to lift the heavier boulders then before. There were a few bloody hoofprints under the boulders but since Applejack mentioned a downpour, it didn’t worry her too much.

The rain should wash away the blood, she thought. The boulders are only a temporary cover up.

Rarity found a soft pile of dirt and used it to wipe the blood from her hooves, legs and mane.

Well it’s better than using leaves. She thought. Leaves would only smear the blood around her body. Red blood would easily be recognizable against her pale white skin if anypony happened to see her that night. Dirt would clean it off and cover it up a bit more effectively as her skin would no longer be red but brown. She was a bit dirty but nonetheless satisfied with the results.

“Beggars can’t be choosers now can they?” Rarity exclaimed to herself. “This will just have to do. Now all I have to do is keep calm and play this sensibly and nopony will know a thing.”

She then covered Applejack’s body with the scattered apples just in case she was seen and somepony got curious. After filling the wagon, she strapped up and started for the everfree forest.

Moving along the outskirts of ponyville, she tugged the wagon towards her destination. She had finally arrived at the entrance of the forest. The sound of timber wolves howling in the distance sent chills down her spine. Rarity swallowed hard and hesitated, but nevertheless ventured forward.