Crossing the Line

“Alright, so first we gotta... Rarity?” Applejack turned to see Rarity struggling behind her.   She had led Rarity to the barn, although she hadn't realized just how far she had been lagging behind. “You're walkin' funnier than a newborn foal.”

“Well, it's these terrible boots!”  Rarity called from several yards away, tripping over herself every other step.

“Ah told ya to get my spare work boots from the closet...”  She could already tell what Rarity was about to say, so she finished with, “Those ain't my work boots. Those are my rodeo boots.”

“Well how was I supposed to know that?”

While the two pairs of boots were obviously different, Applejack decided not to explain, and simply face-palmed and started into the barn.  “Take em off then, you can do this chore barefoot.”

“Barefoot?” Rarity looked disturbed by such a barbaric suggestion,  “I'm fine, thank you for your concern.”

Applejack shook her head.  First, Rarity had expressed great concern over ruining her outfit, so Applejack finally gave her the button-up shirt she had been wearing over her own tank top, so Rarity's brand-name tank top wouldn't get stained.  Before that she had requested sunblock, and Applejack had to search her house top to bottom to find some.  And now, after she sent her back to the house to get some proper footwear, she was wearing the wrong boots and could hardly walk.

“Fine, don't go barefoot,” Applejack suddenly stomped over to Rarity, who tried her best to back away.

“Applejack, what are you...?”  Rarity shrieked as Applejack scooped her up and started to carry her to the barn, bridal style.  “What are you doing?”

“Carryin' ya, princess.”  Her tone was a bit sarcastic, but it was obvious she was just messing around.

Rarity had no idea her friend had the kind of arm strength to pick up a fully grown woman, and she didn't even seem to be struggling with her.  It was surprising, but once the initial shock wore off, she started to protest.

“Put me down!”

“If you say so.”

Applejack tossed her, and Rarity shrieked again, although she landed softly on a hay stack in the barn.  She had to collect herself before glaring up at Applejack.

“Did you just throw me?”

Applejack was smiling now, and responded to the question with a shrug and “I might've.”  Still smiling, she started over towards several barrels of apples in the corner of the barn.  Rarity, on the other hand, didn't look amused by her antics.

“Really, Applejack...”  Rarity stood up and brushed herself off, “I come to help you on your farm out of the kindness of my heart, and-”

“Kindness of your heart?  Didn't you say somethin' about wantin' to repay me for stoppin' your house from burnin' to the ground?”

Rarity glared at Applejack.  That was checkmate, and they both knew it.  Rarity had insisted she help her on the farm, to repay Applejack's act of heroism the day before.  She had been walking by and noticed smoke coming from Rarity's house, and rushed in to find Sweetie Belle struggling with a fire extinguisher, trying to put out a kitchen fire she'd started.  At the thought of Applejack  running in and saving her sister, Rarity's expression softened a bit.

“I am very grateful for that, Applejack.”

“You woulda done the same, Rare.”  Applejack had reached the barrels of apples and waved for Rarity to come over.  “What we're gonna do is empty these barrel of apples into those barrels,”  She nodded towards several empty barrels that stood besides the ones filled with apples, “And separate the good, useable ones from the duds.”

Rarity was getting the hang of walking in the dreadful boots, so she made her way over to AJ, and the two got to work.  Applejack was working a bit faster than Rarity, who examined the apples more closely than necessary.  Plus, she kept glancing up at her companion, waiting for her to say something, but Applejack seemed content to work in silence.  Well, Rarity could enjoy the quiet just as much as the farm girl...

By the time the barrel of good apples was filled, and the bad apple barrel was a little over half way full, Rarity couldn't take it anymore.  Why wasn't Applejack speaking?  Rarity watched as she  pushed the filled apple barrel off to the side, and started onto a new barrel.

“Well, this is rather peaceful.”  Even the sound of her own voice was nice, considering it had to have been at least half an hour of no talking.

“Yep.”

“Is it usually like this on the farm?”

“Yep.”

Rarity wasn't giving up just yet.  “Oh, really?”

“... Yep.”

“Is that all you can say?”

Applejack smiled a little, “Nope.”

“Ugh!” Frustrated, Rarity picked up an apple and threw it at Applejack, hitting her in the shoulder.

“Watch it Rarity,” She cast a playful glare at her assailant and menacingly started tossing the apple she had been holding from one hand to the other, “You don't want an apple chuckin' battle on your hands.”

“Oh?”  Rarity lifted a hand, and the apple that her friend had been tossing froze in mid air as it was engulfed by light blue magic.  “I think I can handle myself.”  The apple suddenly shot up and hit Applejack in the forehead, then fell to the ground.

Applejack looked stunned, but recovered quickly and went to pick up an armful of apples as Rarity started to back away, a smirk on both of their faces.  Rarity had forgotten about the boots though.  She stumbled backwards with a startled scream, and landed flat on her rump.

“Ow...”

“You alright sug'?”

“Yes,”  Rarity said with a smile.  She was honestly surprised Applejack wasn't laughing or doing a victory dance. “It's very noble of you to-”

Applejack cut her off as she burst into laughter, gripping her sides and doubling over with the force of it.

“We Apples have a rule: If they're okay, laugh away!”

Still chuckling a little, she stepped over and offered Rarity a hand, who simply frowned and crossed her arms.

“C'mon Rare, I'll help ya up.  And take off those damn boots.”

With a groan she slipped out of the boots, then grabbed onto Applejack's hand and was hoisted to her feet.

“See?  Dirt don't bite.”

The two returned to their positions by the barrels, Rarity trying her best not to get any dirt on her perfectly pedicured toenails.  The silence returned once again, and Rarity was starting to come to terms with it.  Applejack liked to focus on her work.

“So how was your week, Rare?”

Rarity blinked.  “It was fine, thank you.”

“No problem.  Anythin' excitin' goin' on in town?”

“Oh, not really.  I have a date this Friday with Noteworthy.”

Applejack didn't respond to that, but started tossing apples into the barrel with increased vigor.

“Darling, is something wrong?”

Applejack paused her work, but hesitated to answer.  “That fella who thinks he's a bigshot musician? What are you runnin' around with him for?”

“He is a bigshot musician, Appplejack.” Rarity wasn't sure what was going on with her friend, but she felt the need to defend her date.  “Maybe not a super star, but he is very well known in the music industry.”

“Everyone knows those types of fellas ain't trustworthy.”  Appplejack was practically throwing the apples into the barrel now, and Rarity had stopped her work to watch her curiously.

“Do you even know him?”

“Not personally.”

“Then you shouldn't be so quick to judge him.”

Silence once again, excluding the heavy thud of apples as they were thrown into the barrel.  Rarity was nicely placing them, while Applejack showed no mercy on the fruit.

“Applejack, are you upset?”

Applejack stopped her throwing and blinked, looking bewildered.  “Upset?”

“Don't play dumb with me darling, it's insulting.”

Applejack huffed, “No, Ah ain't upset!  Ah jus' think you're deservin' of someone better than Noteworthy.”

“Well, this is the first time he and I have decided to get together.  It's nothing serious,”  Rarity started to examine apples again,  “There is really nothing for you to get worked up over.”

“Ah ain't worked up.”

She had returned to gently setting apples in the barrel rather than throwing them, but Rarity wasn't letting her off the hook so easily.

“So... who would you consider within my league, Applejack?”

“Ah dunno, does Derpy have a brother?”

Rarity blamed herself for not seeing that one coming from a mile away.

“I don't think so... but I know one challenged woman who has a brother.”  Applejack looked up to see Rarity pointing at her.  She continued, “He is quite the farm boy, isn't he? Strong and handsome... Perhaps he should be my next romantic endeavor?”

Applejack was clenching her fists and giving Rarity a spiteful look.

“What, is your brother not good enough for me either?”

Applejack started to say something, but Rarity spoke over her.  “Look, Applejack, Ms. Element of Honesty... you don't need to hide your feelings from me.” Rarity's tone had changed entirely, she wasn't teasing her anymore.  Applejack looked down at her feet, feeling awkward.  Rarity had caught on to her, and she didn't know what to say right away.

“It's perfectly fine that you feel this way about me...”  Rarity stepped forward and put a hand on Applejack's shoulder.  “Just because there might be a man in my life, doesn't mean I'm going to abandon my friends!”

Applejack's jaw dropped.  “What?  You think...”

“Yes, you're very worried about our friendship being jeopardized, but I assure you, you are very important to me!  Nothing could break such a bond as ours.”

Applejack could feel her eye twitch slightly as Rarity smiled at her.  “Does that make you feel better?”

"No, not a bit.”  Applejack grabbed Rarity's wrist and removed her hand from her shoulder. “Rarity, ya don't get it. Ah ain't upset cuz Ah think you're gonna ditch me.”

“Well, of course you are!  Applejack, dear, you need to come to terms with your feelings.”

“Fine,”  Applejack folded her arms, “Ya really drive me up the wall sometimes.  You're everythin' Ah'm not.  Ya love fashion, ya can't stand dirt or manual labor, everythin' always has to be just so.  It's a pain sometimes, but it's one of those pains that's pretty nice... like, after a good long while of harvestin' apples, Ah'll be sore all over, but I love that feelin'.”

Rarity seemed to be listening intently.  “So... I'm a pain?”

Applejack realized that probably wasn't the best analogy, but she decided to work with it.  “Yeah, you're a pain.  One I love, and couldn't imagine livin' without...  You mean a lot to me, that's what I'm tryin' to say, Rare.  I got jealous when you mentioned your date..."

Rarity stared at Applejack for a moment, a bit in awe.  That was probably one of the most heartfelt confessions Rarity had ever received.  Most of what she heard were either unoriginal or quite fake, and an obvious attempt at getting her into bed.  Even though it was rather amateurish, Applejack had obviously meant every word.  If it had been from a man, she probably wouldn't have hesitated to kiss him. But it wasn't coming from a man.  It was coming from her very good, very female friend.  And her friend was waiting for her to say something, so she managed to stammer out one of the many questions that arose in her mind.

“You're a lesbian?”

Applejack nodded as she rolled an apple around underneath her boot.

“And you're in love with me.”

“Maybe more like a crush.”  Applejack was trying to make it sound more nonchalant, but it didn't seem to be working.

Rarity tapped her chin, looking deep in thought. It would be such a terrible scandal if word got out of the esteemed fashion genius at Carousel Boutique having an affair with a woman.  Of course, there were plenty of gays in the fashion industry, but lesbian, bisexual women who were fashion designers?  That was unheard of to her, unless all of them were in the closet.

Why was she even thinking about this?  Did she want Applejack?  Of course not! Rarity was straight, end of discussion.

Rarity looked at Applejack, and somehow couldn't put the rejection into words.  Fight or flight, was that what they called it?  Right now, Rarity needed to choose flight.

“I... have to go,”  Rarity suddenly turned and practically ran towards the exit of the barn.

“What?”  Applejack was stunned, “Rarity!” She could have easily caught up with her, and she started to, but stopped half way to the exit.  She decided to let her go, and once she was gone, Applejack let a string of curses fly, directed at herself more than anyone else.

The next few days passed by quickly.  Rarity had quite a large order of robes she needed to make for a wizardry convention, which were due for pick-up Thursday evening.  Although it wasn't what she usually specialized in, she had been presented an offer she couldn't refuse.  Robes weren't very complicated, after all, it was simply a time consuming process to make them.  She was very happy to have something to keep her busy though.

Thursday came along, and with her anticipated date with Noteworthy only a day away, Rarity managed to push any thoughts of her encounter with Applejack out of her mind and pump herself up for the date.  It was going to be exciting, since he was something of a celebrity.  One of those musicians that even if you didn't know his name, you had heard a song or two by him before.  And he was handsome, to boot.  He would be on top of the charts in no time.

“Hey, Rarity!”

It was early in the morning, and Rarity had just emerged from the bathroom, with her body wrapped in a towel and her hair wrapped in another.  Sweetie Belle suddenly barged into her room, but that wasn't unusual for her.  “I found this in the laundry pile, but I don't know who it belongs to,”  She tossed a shirt over to Rarity, who managed to catch it and held it up to look over.  “It doesn't look like something you would wear.”

She quickly recognizing the button up, yellow and orange plaid garment as Applejack's. Rarity had been wearing it the day she had gone to help on the orchard... and she had left with it.  Since the two hadn't spoken since then, she hadn't really had an opportunity to return it.  Rarity wasn't holding it far from her face, and she could smell the faint aroma of apples.  As she put the shirt down on her bed, the smell disappeared.

“This is Applejack's, Sweetie Belle.  I'll return it when I get the chance.”

“Okay then.  You want me to wash it?”

“No, no, it's fine.”

“Why not? I'm doing lights.”

“I said no!”  Rarity snapped, and Sweetie Belle backed down.

“Okay, weirdo...” With that, her little sister left the room, closing the door after her.  As soon as she was gone, Rarity picked up the shirt, holding it close enough so she could catch the smell of the orchard again.  She wondered if it smelled that way because she had been working around apples while wearing it, or if the smell was simply ingrained into the shirt from Applejack working the orchard so frequently.  Or, for all she knew, she could have spilled applesauce on it.  No matter the reason, Rarity had to force herself to pull the shirt away, and finally tossed it onto the bed with a frustrated groan.

“Don't lose your sanity, Rarity.”  The deadline for her robes was this evening, and she needed her wits about her if she was going to make it in time.  With no time to spare, she dressed, did her makeup and hair, then got right to work.

The men from the wizardry convention arrived later than they had said they would, but Rarity didn't complain, and used the extra time to make sure her creations were perfect.  They seemed happy with her work, and apologized profusely for picking them up so late at night.  She insisted she didn't mind, but as soon as they were gone, she realized just how tired she was.  Sweetie Belle had already gone to bed, and as Rarity trudged up the stairs to her own room, she wondered if sleeping in the hallway was such a bad idea.  Luckily, she was in front of her bed before she knew it, and practically collapsed onto the soft comforter, quickly falling asleep.

She awoke the next day, and surprisingly, it was already afternoon.  She had a wonderfully restful night, and the best part was waking up to the fragrance of apples.  Or, at least, it was the best part until she realized she was clutching Applejack's shirt to her chest like a teddy bear.