Chapter 1 - In Which Rarity Works For Free and Applejack Attends a Business Party
Somewhere, on the central west side of the grand kingdom of Equestria, the sun was just finishing it's descent. Slowly merging into the faraway mountains of lands unbeknownst to the simple denizens of a certain, small hamlet so neatly nestled under the watchful eye of the capital. The night began to fill in what the sun left behind; spreading out it's generous banquet of stars, pinning the vast palate of wavering blue, violet and black with points of brilliant light, all of it dancing with twinkling delight about the brilliant spotlight of a full moon, and the cold love of Luna washed over her subjects. As has been the case for time ad infinitum, all the populace of this small hamlet took off their worries and burdens and let the night take them.
All of them that is, except for one.
A frigid gale, rolled it's way across the land, combing through the empty dirt streets spreading it's silence over the town. Billowing it's way through a petite open window of an all but petite dress shop fluttering the thin, silken drapes before dissipating into the room. The clock struck 3am; and it's brass echoed throughout the cluttered boutique. The quiet humming of her faithful sewing machine came to a sudden halt, breaking her trance. Her eyes shot across the room to the ticking face. Her gaze slowly found itself around the room admiring, and shirking at the controlled chaos that had slowly strewn itself about the work space within the last twelve hours. Lost in her work once again. With a gentle sigh the fatigue began to wash over her like a heavy blanket.
She had been flooded with more work than ever, as was common this time of year. As usual, with the Gala quickly approaching she felt as if she had maybe undertaken on more than her fair share of commission. Every year she found herself sewing, altering, embroidering, cutting, and folding to such a high demand that she would often forget if the current garment working beneath her hooves was paid work, or among many of the free regalia she would produce for the denizens of her small hometown. Indeed, being the only seamstress in town came with it's fair share of burden, and elbow grease but to see her work on the form of a mare or stallion, sporting it so sharply whilst twirling about on the grand waxed floors of Canterlot Castle drew forth another sigh, but this time of wary inspiration.
Within another hour her chaos was organized, and the posh young mare sat at her bed side tightening the last roller into her glorious purple mane. Tomorrow was swiftly approaching, and in the scant hours of the night she nestled deeply into her plush veiled bed and pulled down a sumptuously soft eye mask, and as fatigue finally carried her off to the Night Princess's realm she softly murmured
“Good night, Opal.”
And so she slept.
It was in the quiet hours of dawn when she first heard it. The Night's stoic silence shattered in mere moments with the oncoming of the Sun's first light, and a trill crow. With a stretch and a yawn she rose from her bed, joints cracking back to life. For the next hour she stretches her body extensively, all along her firm, faintly sculpted back and arms. Each slow, precise movement bringing new life in, but it wasn't until she had fully stretched her heavy set of rear legs was she ready to start her day.
As she made her way downstairs the first rays of light peek into her windows filling the sizable home with a warm glow. She smiled softly at the oncoming day with a sprig of determination in her eyes. Following a quick breakfast the young Apple found herself out in the brilliant orchards that lent their name to the family farmstead. Neatly filed along the rolling hills of lush, green grass were planted row upon row of firm apple trees. Each row displaying all of nature's bounty in hues of fine Coquelicot to bright waxy Aureolin. From the thick-skinned Delicious to the elusive, unripened Zaps all were hanging, silent yet hopeful that this day the young mare would pick them. So strode the little pony; 23 years of admiring these fields did little to lessen their beauty in her eyes. Yet, despite the many distractions her day proceeded unabated, her hefty hindquarters made short work of any ripe apples begging to fall into her side saddles. Field after field, bucket after bucket, and cart after cart filled with apples. By the time she had finished the sun was high in the sky against a clear blue day. The pony hoofed off the carts to her brother and found herself returning to the house for a break. She took the opportunity to bathe and simply be alone with her thoughts. She was to have that nice mare she met the previous night over this afternoon for a gander at the farm. She had only met her on a few different occasions now, usually in between community events, parties, town meetings, Rarity was her name. After last night, how could she ever forget it? Indeed, where ever there was a crowd there was Rarity glowing in the middle of it. Her flowing violet mane and tail had originally been what caught AJ's attention, but it was her the sparkle in her sterling blue eyes that captivated it. AJ relaxed further into the suds and soap and let her mind wander back to that night.
***
It was a small festival Ponyville held semi-annually. Small, but large enough to attract business ponies from the neighboring city of Canterlot. All coming to hawk their wares and rub elbows with those who dealt in the raw materials they sought. Applejack had brought a simple sack of apples from that morning's harvest, and intended to hoof them out to every city slicker she could catch. That was at least, until she saw a certain curly mane dancing through the crowd. A creature of precise elegance, every accent of her outfit, every stitch seemed to be in place on that fiery cocktail dress; and the mare knew it. Applejack sighed in deep admiration, Rarity always knew how to make an appearance. She watched her schmooze and chat it up with the suits, the artists. It was a sight to behold, so much so Applejack seldom noticed a pink mare going off in her ear till she called out to her...
Once...
Twice...
By the third time AJ found herself jostled from her trance to see Pinkie Pie smiling before her. It didn't take this pony very long to realize what she had been staring at. That sneaky well-trained grin said it all.
Despite Applebutt's flustered protest Pinkie delved into the crowd, swimming and dancing throughout the hoopla with relatively ease her massive pompf of pink hair bouncing further away to that hot red dot in the nearby distance. They exchanged words, and for the first time that evening AJ found herself caught in the sapphire gaze of that stunning white mare. A sharp prick rippled through her body, up her strong legs and across thick back muscles before creeping gently over her neck and face. Each strand of fur stood on end, her legs practically stuck to the floor.
She noticed Pinkie bouncing back with the mare in tow.
“Oh no...”
In what felt like an instant she's there standing in front of AJ. Those distant sapphires now truly upon her, locked with her own green dandies.
The world passed by.
“How do you do, my name's Rarity, I do believe I have seen you about town, have I not?”
“Oh, wh-why yes passed by your shop earlier today in fact. You made my dress.”
“Oooh! That must be why you look positively radiant! I have to admit the workload has been very high lately, and not all my work has been to my liking, but not to toot my own horn, but this came out better than I remember!” Rarity coo'd “Oh, I'm forgetting the most important part! Do you like it...err, I'm sorry I don't quite remember your name just yet...”
“Applejack, my name's Applejack and yes indeedy this here is the nicest lil get up I've ever done received since Granny Smith sewed me one of her special winter scarves!”
Rarity was sent over the moon, chortling giddily “Applejack. Of the Apple family?”
“Sure as sugar, sugarcube.”
“I'll have to make note of it.”
They laugh, and a moment passes
“So, Applejack, what's it like down on the farm?”
“Oh it's just lovely! Now, I know most folks up in Canterlot might not appreciate a good day of hard honest work. But let me tell you lil lady nothing beats waking up at the crack o' dawn to plow a field, or feed the chickens, wrestle the pigs, raise a barn. The cold morning breeze on your back and the warm sunshine in the day, nothing compares to the sweat I feel on my brow after I put up my horseshoes for the day by golly!”
Rarity simply listened, her ears pricked on end hoping to catch every detail of this fascinating mare's day. Yet, as these things go, Rarity found herself inexplicably draw into Applejack's emerald eyes.
“Ahoho; I certainly appreciate a pony who's in love with her work!” she finally chimed in
“Aw shucks, why I could talk about the farm all day I could” admitted AJ, proudly “not that you'd want to hear me blabber on about that all night aha...” she added sheepishly
“Oh no not at all darling, please, do go on; I must say you have quite thoroughly captured my interest...”
“Oh have I now?” AJ smiled, raising an eyebrow.
“...in your farm, that is!” she was quick to add with a flustered giggle
“It's sure nice to meet a city-slicker who appreciates honest to goodness farm work!”
“Oh you flatter me, but I'm from boring old Ponyville I'm afraid.”
AJ laughed “Aw shucks, you could-a fooled me what with your polished hooves and eye shadow!”
Rarity could feel his lower lip instinctively protrude “Why; Applejack are you implying there's something wrong with my polished hooves?”
“Why nothin' of the sort Rarity, nothing of the sort” she grinned sheepishly “And if you're so darn interested why don't you come on over for a little tour sometime? I just finished harvesting all but a few trees, tomorrow would be perfect; and we'd be pleased at punch to have you come on down!”
The very thought of farm work disturbed Rarity deeply. All that sweat ruining her precious skin! Or worse, dirt caught up in her hooves! She would have preferred hoof-stitching thirty yards of Tulle onto some gaudy wedding dress! Yet...Applejack intrigued her so; and if anyone could make a day on a farm seem like anything less than a page out of Kafka, that must mean something.
“Well I do suppose I'm ahead of schedule...”
“Great! I'll see ya at my door tomorrow afternoon then! Pleasure makin' yer acquaintance Ms. Rarity” she smiled and removed her hat “I hope you'll enjoy this soon as well, picked just this morning!” in hindsight AJ felt a bit foolish, but the tiny smile on Rarity's face was all she needed to know giving her that ripe, red apple was the perfect move.
“Why thank you Applejack, I'll be sure to enjoy it before long...I see some business partners of mine I need to speak with...till tomorrow then?”
“Till tomorrow then.”
With what felt like the force of Celestia herself, AJ broke her gaze from the unicorn as Rarity mingled back into the crowd, her soft shapely body and that red hot dress vanished from sight.. She sighed heavily.
“Golly...what a real looker...” she whispered to herself
“OOOOH YEAAAH?” beamed Pinkie, slipping out from behind the nearby fence post
“What in tarnatio- Pinkie Pie! Where you there the whole time!?” she felt the blood rush into her cheeks
“Heheh, whooooo~ meee? I just saw you and Rarity falling all over each other! Heheh and it was soooo adorable!” Pinkie could hardly contain her laughter especially with AJ looking at her like that
“Pinkie! You can't be tellin' anyone consarnit...promise me you won't say anything. I don't need rumors floating around Ponyville!” AJ felt a little strange shaking Pinkie Pie like this, maybe she was embarrassed.
“G-gosh Applejack, of course I won't tell anybody, geez! You act like you've never had a crush before...can you put me down now?” she wiggles her hooves just off the ground.
“Aw geez, sorry Pinkie...Guess I've never been so blindsided before...” AJ gave a quick look around
“...do you think she liked me?” she whispered to the pink mare.
“Oh AJ; of course! You two couldn't keep your eyes off on another!” Pinkie was simply dripping with infatuation. “Now uh...could you put me down? Please?”
“Huh? O-oh right” setting the pudgy pone back onto the ground AJ began to think “..what should I do tomorrow?”
“Oh that's easy! Just what you said you would do, show her around the farm and all that!”
“Hmm...a-alright Pinkie; I think I need to schmooze a bit before I head home though, remember, not a soul. I wanna Pinkie Promise!” she demanded
“Dooone and done!” Pinkie smiled with all her shiny teeth
“Thanks Pinkie.” said AJ, waving her off
“No worries AJ, I got your back! Goooood luck tomorrow!” she chimed, bouncing off into the crowd
***
AJ sunk a bit more into the flittering bubbles of her bath, nervously popping a few before gurgling out a sigh. She did find Rarity to be mighty beautiful, but where would she find time to see her between all her chores on the farm? And what would her family think? Maybe Rarity was just being nice to her. Slowly she rose from the tub and attempted to wipe away any hazarding thoughts along with the bath water. Settling back on her haunches she brushed through her long yellow hair and checked her teeth in the mirror
“Aw come on now Applejack, it's just a lil tour! Nothing to get worked up over; you've made plenty of friends...so why should this feel any different?” she mumbled on to herself, so lost in thought the stern knock on the restroom door gave her a jump of a fright.
“Ah! Goodness gracious, I'm almost done dangit! What is it Mac?”
“Ah don't need to use the washroom sis, just, you got company waitin' on ya is all.”
