Night and Day

Rarity hummed a tune as she ran the soapy sponge around the rim of the dish. In her mind, she ran through her mental checklist. Bedding; freshly laundered. Floors; all swept. Food and wine; bought in. Sweetie Belle; packed off to the parents.

It was not strictly necessary to arrange things in such obsessive detail. But Rarity was a perfectionist. And more importantly than that Applejack was coming home. And nothing but the best was acceptable for her earth pony.

Rarity placed the dish in the drying rack, untied her apron and levitated it into the wash basket. There, all done. Though Applejack was not due for hours at least, she had wanted the satisfaction of knowing everything was finished. She thought she would spend the intervening time in her work room – though she doubted she would be able to get much done. Certain Thoughts would insist on intruding.

And yet – this was all part of the theatre. She wanted to create the illusion that this was just another day at Carousel Boutique – that she hadn't spent half a day crafting the perfect welcome-home experience.

Nothing but the best for her earth pony.

Humming a different tune she crossed to the kitchen table. She had received a number of letters from AJ that she was re-reading – it was important to get herself as accurately as she could into Applejack's mindset. She ran her gaze over the top sheet, written in neat and careful hoof-writing. Rarity smiled. How like AJ. It in no way resembled the elegant copperplate produced by her own horn. Were they not proving the case that opposites attracted?

Rarity (began the letter), I hope you don't object to me writing again so soon (as if I could ever object to that, thought Rarity with a snort of amusement). But I have many thoughts and you are the pony in all of Equestria I wish to share them with.

Rarity sighed. Applejack's way of writing was as distinctive as her way of speaking – even if the peculiarities of her accent were not transliterated. The letter went on: I spent near on four hours preparing for the meeting with Pilem Up and Sellem Cheap. Marketing, with all its ins and outs, is not something which comes naturally to me (that wasn't true. She did wish AJ would stop disparaging her own talents). I had to work hard to overcome this deficiency. You know, Rarity, what it would mean for the Farm if we got this contract. A secure financial future awaits if we can just get our products distributed throughout Equestria. It is why this round of meetings is so important – even if it takes me away from you for so long. I appreciate your offer to accompany me but we did discuss it.

I try to arrange all the details of my life but I find I cannot. There's always something escapes me. On the farm it don't matter so much but here I am a fish out of water (Rarity pursed her lips. What nonsense. Applejack was doing brilliantly!). I am trying to be more like you. Chaos inspires you, you rise above it, it don't ever get you down. It is yet another reason I feel the way I do.

There is another thing. I am thinking a lot about you in a way which I don't need to spell out here...

There was a knock at the door. Drat, thought Rarity. How like Ponyville to come knocking, even though the CLOSED sign was prominently displayed. Even so, it would not to do be rude. She trotted through into the main room, prepared to send whichever pony it was packing in the politest way possible.

'Welcome to Carousel Boutique,' she sang. 'Do come in. However, be advised that the boutique is closed today. We'll be open again tomorrow for all your...'

The door swung open. Applejack stood revealed in the doorway. The saddlebags were still on her back. There was a sheen of sweat on her flanks – it appeared she had galloped all the way from Ponyville Station.

Rarity's eyes widened in surprise and joy. 'Applejack! Darling! This is the best surprise ever! I wasn't expecting you until... goodness me, is anything the matter?'

Applejack had an intense, needful look on her face. The earth pony trotted forward and spread her forelegs wide. Before she knew it Rarity was enveloped in a close and intense embrace. Applejack's scent and the dust of travel enveloped her. The orange muzzle pressed against her ear. 'Rarity...' Applejack's voice was shaking. 'Consarn it, Ah'm sorry...'

'Sorry?' Rarity blinked in astonishment. Reflexively she reached up to embrace Applejack in turn. She noticed the faint trembling in the earth pony's body. 'Sweet Celestia, whatever for?'

'Ah wanted to be with you. Ah couldn't wait.'

'Hush. Hush darling, that's no reason to be sorry.' Rarity ran her hooves up and down the strong back. Slowly the trembling subsided. She unbuckled the saddlebags and tossed them into the corner. At length they separated, though they were still face-to-face. Rarity observed Applejack's features; the anxiety clearly written across the brow, unshed tears in the eyes. After a moment, shame-facedly, Applejack dropped her gaze.

'It's been two weeks, travellin' up and down Equestria wrasslin' varmints and... and you know how Ah can get. Land sakes, I always wanted t'be so strong fer you. Now you probably think I’m all weak and needy...'

'No,' said Rarity firmly. 'Never.'

'Yer so good to me...'

'Applejack, look at me look at me.' Rarity placed a hoof under the chin and raised Applejack's head. 'You are here now and we are together - nothing else matters.' And Rarity leaned forward and kissed the longed-for lips. Applejack responded – and then they were kissing with the deepest, most passionate intensity possible. Rarity felt the lust stir within her – hot and rampant and not to be denied.

Rarity broke the kiss and gazed closely into Applejack's eyes. The earth pony's cheeks were flushed, her nostrils flared with excitement. Curses, it had all been planned out so perfectly. There would have been tea, a debrief, food and wine, hoofsies under the table. It was intended to be a slow and orchestrated build-up to sweet sexual release. Now all that was gone; and good riddance!

'Go to the bedroom,' said Rarity, her voice low and husky with lust.

Applejack gaped at her, wordless. A bird hypnotised by the snake she loved and adored.

'Go to the bedroom,' Rarity ordered. 'Right now. Await me there.'

Applejack gave a jerky nod. Wordlessly she half-walked, half-stumbled to the staircase and up.

'Goodness me.' Rarity fanned herself with a hoof, acutely aware that she was extremely wet and hot in a certain place. Control! She had to get a hold of herself. She walked in a tight circle, working on slowing her breathing. A good dominant never ever let her passion get the better of her. It was the height of irresponsibility, the breaking of a sacred trust – it could end up with ponies hurt or worse.

She glanced at the clock. Five minutes, she would give it. She walked through into the kitchen and began moving about, fussing with things. It was pure illusion. She knew that Applejack could hear her perfectly well, would know that she was doing things in the kitchen. It would increase Applejack's anticipation, it would give the impression she was in control of the situation and more importantly it would help to her to control herself for real.

Five minutes dragged past. It was like that fateful day, when the two of them had finally agreed to be unchaste. Every hour which passed had seemed like a block of stone that had to be chiselled down to nothingness.

Rarity crossed to the staircase and ascended, with a ladylike tread, the stairs. Applejack, she judged, would be in a frenzy of anticipation right now.

Her heart was banging in her chest like a trip hammer. She pushed the bedroom door open. Her nostrils flared, catching the unmistakeable scent of female desire. Applejack had propped her forequarters up on the bed. Her hind legs were spread wide, her tail raised to display her treasures. It was a difficult pose which required strength and suppleness to maintain for any length of time. And Rarity just knew that Applejack had been like that for the full five minutes.

Good girl, she thought. Good, strong, clever girl.

She pushed the bedroom door shut with a hind hoof. This, then, was the secret at the heart of their relationship. In the streets, in the orchard, Sugarcube Corner, the Castle of Friendship, they were no more or less than Ponyville's newest and cutest couple – the delight of their friends and families. But when that bedroom door closed it was a different story.

Rarity was the master. Applejack was her willing submissive. Neither of them wanted it any other way.

Feigning nonchalance, she strolled across the bedroom. Applejack shifted minutely on the bed. She paid it no heed, merely opening the toy cupboard. From its dark wooden insides she withdrew the harness, the gel horsecock, the flogger. With quick and practised movements she drew the harness up around her hips and fastened the straps. Getting the dildo to fit firmly in place was a little trickier – but she'd had plenty of practise.

Applejack's ears twitched. She didn't know exactly what Rarity was doing, and she knew better than to look round.

At last Rarity had the cock sited where it should be – jutting forward from her crotch, bobbing up and down when she walked. It always made her feel special – powerful, even. She gave the flogger a few practice swipes through the air.

Applejack flinched at the sound.

'Well then,' said Rarity in bright tones. 'Let's get you all warmed up, shall we?' Just like that, with no warning, she gave Applejack two meaty thwacks, left and right across the buttocks. With joy she observed the shockwaves from the blows travel through the firm arse-cheeks. The bucking of Applejack's hips as the pain hit home.

The earth pony returned to perfect immobility. A faint groan was the only sign she'd felt anything at all.

Such a good girl, thought Rarity. 'Oh!' She cried. 'Did you like that?'

'Yessss...'

'Would you like some more?'

'Yes please...'

'Then beg for it.' Rarity's voice assumed the tones of warm honey. 'Tell me how much you want me to thrash that exquisite arse of yours.'

'Please, Rares. Rarity.' Applejack sounded like she was on the verge of tears. 'Please give it to me. Hard as ya like.'

'Oh, my darling. Of course I will.' She went at it with a will, then, the flogger moving in a blur, smacking hard left and right. Applejack was trembling now with the effort of keeping to her feet, but keep to them she did.

Applejack's buttocks had brightened to a glorious pinky-orange. Her earth pony lover was flying, now. It was a rare and potentially dangerous state, a sexual nirvana of hyper-suggestibility. Rarity could suggest pretty much anything now. I am going to saw your leg off, is that OK with you darling? And Applejack would be yes Rarity whatever you say...

Very deliberately Rarity left off with the thrashing. Again feigning nonchalance – though her own desire was raging in her loins – she gave Applejack a light love-tap on the dock. 'Dear me. Look at you now. I bet if I smacked you right on the quim I could make you come.'

Applejack gave a faint whimper and shifted again. Poor girl, strong as she was she couldn't take a lot more of this. The love expanded in Rarity's heart. 'Applejack darling, whatever I do to you now, you are not allowed to come unless I tell you so. Do you understand?'

'Y-yes... Ah won't... I promise. But please...'

'Hush, now.' Rarity lowered her head between the exquisite buttocks. She tongued her way all the way from Applejack's thrusting clitoris to the puckered ring of her ass. One, two, three light licks there almost sent AJ over the edge. 'Easy, now,' murmured Rarity. 'Remember what I said.'

'Land sakes, Rares. Ah can't...'

'You can, darling. You can and you will. I believe in you.' Rarity reared up and came down on Applejack's back. She gripped the earth pony's muscular barrel between her forelegs. With a light spark of her magic she lifted the head of the horsecock. Slowly, easily, carefully she guided it between Applejack's swollen lips. She felt AJ's hips tilt beneath her – heard the exquisite wet sound as the dildo buried itself deep. Now to rut – slowly at first, but with gathering speed and consummate skill, riding her lover, taking total possession of her body and soul.

She could see Applejack's hooves pawing at the bed covers. Her head rolling from side to side. Hear the faint rhythmic gasping in time with the smack-smack-smack of her hips...

'Come for me,' she cried. 'Come for me, darling!' And Applejack did so – with a shudder and a heave and a full-throated wail. She rode the bucking bronco until Applejack's ecstasy subsided. They both collapsed to lie at the foot of the bed, with the dildo still buried deep in Applejack.

They gasped hotly together on the carpet, sweaty and exhausted and clasped in each other's hooves. 'Consarn it,' groaned Applejack. 'It ain't fair.'

'What, pray tell, ain't fair?'

'Y'all can make me come. Over and over, whenever you like. I can't do nothin' back to you.'

'You're a silly pony.' Rarity licked Applejack's neck; still with a hint of dust from the day's travel. 'Now come to bed. I want to cuddle with you.' She stood up – the dildo slithered free with a slurp. Her powers of telekinesis had now become quite strong. With little effort she enveloped Applejack in a blue glow, deposited her on the bed and climbed in beside her.

Together again, at last. Peaceful and still on the bed, while afternoon advanced into evening. At some point in the future she'd start getting hungry. She'd need to get up and relieve herself. They could both do with getting cleaned up. But for now it was the best thing, the perfect thing just to lie here and watched the circle of sky through the window change from blue to purple.

'Ah was just thinkin',' murmured Applejack.

Well don't, was the first thing which came to mind. 'Oh? What about?'

'It was th'first time we spent any time apart. Kinda put things inter perspective.'

'It was a complete success, surely. I thought so from your letters, at least.'

'Ah don't mean that.' Applejack shook her head with a frown. 'I guess I just got a new understandin' of us. Rarity, where d'ya think we should live?'

Rarity was about to deliver some humorous brush-off but Applejack had risen to support herself on one hoof. Applejack was gazing at her with a searching expression.

She really thinks it's terribly important, thought Rarity.

'You have been thinkin' about it, like Ah asked, aintcha?'

Rarity had not. She lay there, wondering what to say, thinking this had the potential to turn into an issue. They had never had an issue before. She certainly didn't want one now. But as Applejack watched her the answer came, suddenly and simply.

'Why Applejack. We'll simply have to build somewhere.'

'Build somewhere.' Applejack's voice was carefully neutral.

'It's the perfect solution.' Now Rarity had thought of it her mind was racing. 'I would not be happy in Sweet Apple Acres. Neither would you be happy in Carousel Boutique. This is the only possible compromise.'

'Ah... kinda hoped you'd say that.'

'You hoped? Wait a moment. You thought of the same thing?'

'Uh-huh.' Applejack gave a little nod.

'You thought of it and you didn't say anything? Because you wanted to know if I’d suggest the same...' Rarity's voice trailed off.

'You ain't mad at me, are ya,' said Applejack in a tiny voice.

'No,' sighed Rarity. 'Not really. Not at all in fact.'

Applejack sighed with relief. She lay back down and nuzzled Rarity's neck. 'Ah love you. Everything is because o'that. Don't you ferget it.'

'I love you too.' Applejack did not reply; yet her silence seemed watchful, and tense, as if she was waiting for something.

Rarity lay staring at the ceiling, thinking. The fast few months, everything had felt so right. So easy. The drama-mongering and crises of the past now seemed so pointless. How had her life become so... smoothed out? Like an ironed strip of cloth.

That dream floated into her memory. Applejack's words echoed in her mind. Yer doin' a mighty fine job of pretendin'... Rarity had the sudden, distinct feeling that she was standing at the edge of something. A pool of deep water, an ocean, a precipice. All she had to do was step over. Her life would never be the same again and that was scary, but scary wasn't necessarily bad. That was the whole point of change like that, wasn't it? You couldn't go back to the way you had been.

She turned to look at the orange angel laid beside her, still waiting. A precious soul held in her own two hooves. You would wait a lifetime for the perfect pony to trot into your life. You could yearn to be free. Or you could grasp hold of what was right in front of you.

'Applejack,' she said in a trembling voice. 'Would you do me the honour... um... would you consent to marry me?'

Applejack blinked in shock. 'Whut?'

'Marry me. Please.' Rarity took hold of Applejack's hooves. 'I want us to be truly together.'

Applejack shook her head in wonder. 'Land sakes. You mean it, dontcha?'

'Applejack,' said Rarity in her gentlest, most persuasive tones. 'Do you think I’m trying to deceive you? When have I ever done that?'

'Well there was that one time you said you weren't gonna squirt in mah mouth, and then...'

'For heaven's sake.' Rarity nudged her in the ribs. 'I am trying to be serious.'

'So am I.'

'Well?'

'Rares, Ah belong to you anyway. Ah was yours the moment you kissed me in th'orchard. But this...' and Applejack rolled over and buried her head in the blanket.

'Whatever is the matter? Did I say the wrong thing?' Gently Rarity stroked the strong orange flanks. 'Please, talk to me!'

Applejack lifted her head and Rarity saw the tears in her eyes. 'Ah'm sorry. But this is overwhelming. Rarity, you've given me something Ah thought I could never have. You've made me happy in so many ways. Ah know I ain't your first, but... I will gladly be your last. Ah say yes, a thousand times over, I will marry you.'

'So that's a yes,' said Rarity, feeling dazed and a little stupid.

They held each other then and as Applejack wept against her chest her own tears began to flow. I can't wait, she thought. I can't wait. I have wedding dresses to design and then we're going to build a house and I wish I had my notebook right now and...