Within Rarity's Strike Zone
Author's Note
It is important to note that this takes place when the Mane 6 became newly acquainted friends. That means, this idea I had was from the time when they were still getting used to having each other around.
Within Rarity's Strike Zone
Ponyville is a town that's brimming with energy daily. The townsfolk are ever-vigilant and bright. In this town, two ponies were walking together that just became friends. But with new friends comes adjustments. The bigger the differences, the harder the adjustments seem to be...
"Thank you soooo very much for volunteering to bring all of these materials to my boutique for me, Applejack, dear!" Rarity pronounced triumphantly as she walked forward with pride.
Applejack scowled as she rolled her eyes while dragging the chariot that's heavy with Rarity's ordered load. "I didn't volunteer, Rarity. It was more like you wouldn't stop being whinier than a baby swallow that doesn't get its morning grub until I gave in. Couldn't you get somepony else a holler? I was looking forward to planting those veggies on the farm today."
Rarity took Applejack's words into consideration for a moment and then said, "Perhaps I was a bit too insisting and intrusive. However! I thought this would be a good way for us to be come closer!"
Applejack rolled her eyes once more at Rarity. "Suuuuuuuuuuuurrreee you did..."
Rarity gasped as she leered at Applejack. "You dare insist that I am insincere and only came to you because it was convenient for me?"
Applejack whipped her head away from Rarity with a huff. "I ain't said a thing, Rarity."
"Do not test me, Earth pony," Rarity warned. "If we supposedly represent the Elements of Harmony, we ought to start acting like it, shouldn't we?"
"How about stopping by the farm just to chat instead of whining until I do ya a favour?"
Rarity became nervous. "Oh, um, perhaps. But, uh, I'm sure your home is lovely but it isn't exactly up to my standards. No offence."
Applejack felt slightly offended despite Rarity saying that. Her speech patterns and mannerisms reminded her of how she tried to live in the city and with ponies that spoke similar to Rarity but she just couldn't integrate well with them no matter how hard she tried. She had always been content with working on the farm and being friendly to passers who stopped by and said hello. Of all the other friends, she recently made, Applejack felt as though Rarity would be the most...difficult.
After a few more hoofsteps, the two ponies were finally at the Boutique. Applejack sighed in relief, then released herself from the chariot. "There ya go, hun. Your cargo has been delivered. Can I please go back to the barn and tend to my veggies?"
"Ooh. Leaving so soon? I was hoping to give you a tour of my beautiful boutique!" Rarity said boastfully as she looked up admirably at her home.
Applejack gave a hollowed laugh. "Maybe. I'm sure yer home has its fair share of homely touches but it ain't exactly up to my standards, sweetheart. Ain't mean any offence."
Rarity frowned at Applejack, taking offence to her mimicry. "Stealing my lines, eh, Applejack?"
Applejack gave a contemporary look back at her. "What? Just calling it like I see it. Now I'm going home. Veggies need to be planted."
As Applejack turned around to leave, a breeze flew by and blew her hat off to reveal her blonde mane. Applejack panicked a bit but managed to snatch her hat from out of the wind before it got blown away.
"Phew! That was a close one. Back on the head ya go, little ha-"
"WAIT A SECOND! DON'T PUT THAT HAT ON!"
Applejack shook her head as she looked back at Rarity. "What now? Y'all gonna say that my hat isn't nice to wear for you city folks? Huh?!" Applejack failed to notice at first but she saw Rarity looking very enamored and in awe with her mouth gaping. "Uh...you alright, hun?"
"A-Applejack! You're...you're..."
"Y-Yes?"
"...Absolutely gorgeous without your hat on! You should keep it that way!" Rarity said with her eyes beady. "Why! That mane! It's got a great look to it!"
Applejack blushed from sheer embarrassment, still holding her hat in her hoof. "H-Hey, now. Th-Thanks? L-Listen, I'm sure y'all mean the best with what you said but I really oughta get going now."
Rarity quickly blocked Applejack's way back to the barn, still having that expression of adulation. "Darling! I see great potential in you! I can't just let great potential that's right in my strike zone leave!"
The more she spoke, the more Applejack became confused. "Rarity, please... I just wanna go back to the barn..." This pony was really giving her a headache. She really wanted her to stop talking.
Suddenly, Rarity started talking in a more serene manner. "Dear Applejack, you're not getting away from me that easily. You tend to be the pony I see the least around here."
"Well that's because the barn is a bit far from here, ain't it?"
Rarity waved a hoof in front of Applejack. "No, no, no! You're not fooling me! You're embarrassed that you speak differently than the rest of us, aren't you? That country accent, perhaps?"
Once again, Applejack's face became red as she looked down. "Shucks, Rarity. Ya hit the nail on the head. How'd ya know?"
Rarity smiled at her. "When the six of us are socialising together on a different occasion, you tend to speak the least and when you do speak, I can tell you have a bit of a hard time speaking. You try so hard to camouflage your accent but it slips! You're the Element of Honesty, are you not? Why not embrace who you really are, be honest to us, and show us all the true Applejack?"
Applejack frowned sorrowfully at Rarity. "Well, I sure tried a long time ago, but... I just couldn't make it. Let's just leave it at that for now."
"Aww..." Rarity patted Applejack on the back a few times with a single hoof. "The poor darling had a few bad apples in the past, I see. But fear not. Things will be different! I seek to bring out the true beauty that lies within and you are not different, no matter what accent you may harbour! I must insist that you come to my boutique tomorrow! Oh, how the things I'd do to get ponies to admire you!"
Applejack looked up at Rarity's smiling face for a moment. She could tell that she meant well. However, Applejack felt as though something was in order to keep her in check. "I'll make a deal with ya, Rarity."
"A compromise! How exciting!"
"You come over for a day at the barn..."
Rarity tried to restrain herself from shuddering.
Applejack finished, "...and I'll see why you like it so much over here. How's that?"
"Ooh..." Rarity could see that Applejack was a tough one to get. But she was determined to have her way with her yet! "...Alright, dear. You shall have your deal."
"Under one condition."
"Ugh! What?!" Rarity squawked.
"...Y'all gotta ask me questions throughout the day. Ponies like you and me tend to be more opposite than day and night. If y'all really wanted us to be closer, ya gotta play by my rules first. If y'all do that, then we can play by your rules. I want ya to be serious about this, Rarity." With each passing sentence, Applejack's voice and face became sterner.
Rarity giggled sheepishly while looking back and forth to avoid Applejack's piercing stare at her. "O-Oh, y-yes! Of course!"
"Good." Applejack said as her expression softened. "I'll let my family know you're coming tomorrow. Don't worry none about them; we don't bite. Unless you give us a reason to."
The more warnings Applejack gave, the bigger the pit grew at Rarity's stomach. "Y-yes! It would simply be uncouth for a lady of my stature to be disrespectful and an impolite guest!" She felt like she needed to lick her wounds for the night. "I believe the time has come for us to part ways, friend Applejack. We have preparations to make posthaste!"
"Agreed." Applejack nodded. "I'll take this here chariot back with me to the barn. Thing's sure easier to carry when it's not loaded, that's for sure." Applejack gave a light chuckle, then said, "You know, I'm starting to look forward having you around, Rarity. We don't often get city-oriented folks around here. Should be interesting."
"Yes! Yes! Yes! N-Now, we really should get going as this conversation is starting to drone on! I shall make my preparations, now! I bid thee farewell!" Rarity said as she frantically retreated back into her Boutique while quickly taking her stuff with her inside, leaving Applejack outside feeling confused.
Rarity quickly raced back up into her room, slamming the door behind her, and then throwing herself on her large-sized couch. "Darn! How did she turn the tables on me like that? This is not somepony that's willing to get under the microscope, I see... Very well, it would seem like I will have to play her game for a while. Perhaps I might get something out of it!"