She couldn't believe it, how could this have happened? Rara was her best friend, and she just got back in touch with her. Applejack wanted so badly to tell her, but what if she didn't swing that way? What if it ruined her relationship with her? What if she never spoke to her again? She couldn't. She just couldn't...
All these thoughts and more ran through A.J.'s head as she in front of the curtain. Behind which stood the pony that made the heat rise in her face. Rara was a famous, beautiful, talented pony. She and A.J. were friends, but there was no way she felt the same as the apple farmer. She couldn't tell her. But then, this would be her last chance for a while. She finally worked up the courage to pull back the curtain a bit.
"Rara?" she called, uncertainly.
"A.J.!" an elegant voice replied. "I was hoping to see you! Come on in!"
A.J. slowly pulled open the curtain a bit more and stepped backstage. She kept her eyes on the ground and her ears were flattened against her head. She couldn't see her face, but she was sure it was red. She noticed neat stacks of suitcases. Oh boy, if she was going to tell her, it had to be now.
"Is everything alright?" Rara asked, concern in her voice. For the first time that night, A.J. lifted her head and looked at the light blue mare. Golly, she was pretty...
"Uh, y-yeah, everything's f-fine," she stuttered.
"I'm just packing up, heading back to Manehattan." she stopped and turned to A.J. "Come here, I wanna show you something."
A.J. walked over in front of the vanity and stood next to Rara. The mare pointed a hoof at a picture in the corner of the mirror. It was a picture of them at camp. A.J. remembered the day that was taken, that was the day of the talent show.
"I'll be," she whispered, more to herself than anything.
"Look at how much we've changed," Rara said, lifting Applejack's chin to look in the mirror.
"You got so pretty," Applejack said, looking at the light blue mare's reflection.
"So did you!" she chuckled, looking at A.J.'s freckled face in the mirror.
"Aw, shucks," she said, looking away and blushing. She then remembered why she had come.
"Hey, Rara? I ah, wanted to, a-ask ya somethin'," she felt the heat in her face rise, at this point she was sure she could cook breakfast on it.
"Sure, you wanna sit out on the stage? It's a really pretty night,"
"Uh, yeah, sure," she followed the mare out onto the stage, she was right. The sky looked like someone had spread orange, pink, and purple paint onto a canvas and covered it in sparkling stars. Rara sat down near the edge, looked back at Applejack, then patted the stage next to her. A.J. obliged, feeling as though her heart was going to break through her chest.
"So," said Rara expectantly.
"So, uhm, whoowie, I didn't think this would be so hard..." she sighed and turned to face the mare. "I'm gonna tell you sumthin', but, before I do, I need you to promise me something,"
"Alright,"
"I need you to promise that no matter what I say, that you won't quit talkin' to me, won't stop bein' my friend."
"As long as you're not an axe-murderer," she said jokingly, nuzzling Applejack's neck, "I don't think that'll be a problem."
"Alright, here goes..." she took a deep breath in, and began to speak, turning to look back at the floor. "When I saw you singin' up on this stage the other night, I realized something," her heartbeat increased slightly. She was really doing this! "I realized that I wanted to be a bigger part of your life, not just a friend. I'm sure you hear that kinda thing from a lot of ponies, but, I don't want your money or fame, I want you. You're beautiful, and talented, and, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to be the first one you see when you wake up and the last one you see before driftin' off to sleep..." she looked up at Rara. Her cheeks were pink, her eyes wide, and A.J. could've sworn there was a tear in the corner of her eye. "I, shouldn't have done this, this was a terrible idea, I'm sorry, I just..." she stood to leave, but felt a hoof on top of her own. Looked down to see Rara smiling.
"A.J., I can't believe it, I should've told you sooner, but when I first realized who you were, I noticed how beautiful you had become, even with the dust all over your coat from your work." A.J. blushed even more. "I wanted to tell you, but I was worried you would hate me,"
"I thought you would hate me!" Applejack said, laughing lightly. She then felt a kiss planted on her cheek and her eyes widened. She turned to Rara, who smiled, and then nestled herself underneath A.J.'s head.
"I want to spend the rest of my life with you, A.J. I'm staying here. No way I'm losing touch with you again." A.J. smiled and playfully nibbled her ear. They sat there for a while, thinking about how happy they both were. They weren't worried about being alone anymore.