Canter On

"Hold still Applejack or I'm going to mess it up!” Rarity scolded, “I don’t see the point of this!” Applejack complained.

Rarity stood behind her friend levitating several brushes and hair products about her. Applejack sighed losing the will to fight the fashionista; she gazed longingly out the window. The royal streets of Canterlot were bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun. It had been years since she saw any of her old Ponyville friends, other than Rarity. Twilight had been sent by the Princess past the borders of Equestria to study what lurked outside of the familiar land. She eventually stopped sending letters to her friends, becoming consumed in her research. Rainbow Dash achieved her dreams, becoming a Wonderbolt. Fluttershy had been given a job in the Canterlot gardens, where the animals that had eluded her on the night of the Grand Galloping Gala soon became her best friends. Pinkiepie stayed in Ponyville, but she spent months at a time in various cities coordinating parties of great importance, and wedding receptions. Rarity true to her nature had moved to Canterlot, she opened Carousel Boutique on the east side of Canterlot. She had a small apartment above the store; she now lived and breathed her work. Apart from socializing with the high class ponies and the boutique she had little time to herself, let alone for her friends.

‘AJ don’t think about it,’ she thought to herself, ‘You’re here now with Rarity, nothing to be sad about...’

Unlike her friends Applejack never moved on, she couldn’t Sweet Apple Acres needed her.

‘Who am I kidding? Ever since Granny Smith died the farm hasn't been the same, Big Mackintosh married Cheerile, and Applebloom and her friends have that plan to be roommates after they finish school. If only-'

Applejack stopped herself, and glanced longingly at Rarity; who was busy combing the knots out of the farm pony's tail.

She took another glance about the small one bedroom apartment,there were two dress ponies brought up from the boutique sitting next to the sofa. One wore a simple yet elegant, white sun dress and Rarity's element of harmony necklace. The other was a simple pastel green dress with a brown vest, as well as her own element necklace. Applejack cleared her throat and asked, "So how has things been?It's been awhile since my last visit." "Actually it's been twenty one days since your last visit," Rarity corrected floating over curlers and rolling them into AJ's mane. Applejack gave a nervous laugh, "Sorry about that, it's just-" Rarity cut her off, "It's alright darling, I'm just being selfish wanting you all to my self." she turned to look at her friend with those deep blue eyes. Applejack's cheeks burned red for a short time, but Rarity quickly went back to her work on Applejack's mane. "There, now we just let those curlers sit." Rarity said and stat down in front of Applejack, "So how is Ponyville?" she asked. "Well, mostly the same." Applejack answered part of her wanted to burst out and spill all her worries out onto the floor, she didn't want to put that on her friend so she smiled and said "Ponyville's doing just fine."

Rarity peered into her friends face with a worried gaze, "There's something bothering you." she said quietly. "Oh no, really it's nothing at all." Applejack said shaking her head. "So tell me about this fancy-upper class party your getting me dressed up for." she requested. "Oh well," Rarity stood up and trotted over to her desk to retrieve the invite she'd received. "It's being hosted by Fancypants, I believe you met him at the Canterlot garden party that time on Twilight's birthday." She levitated the invite in front of Applejack, it read:

'I hereby invite a one Miss Rarity and a guest of her choosing to the Canterlot Airship Show, being hosted by a one Mister Fancypants!'

"Doesn't sound to boring!" Applejack remarked with a grin, Rarity gave a chuckle at the farm pony. "I heard the Wonderbolts would be preforming,but one hears rumors like that about everypony's parties." She began removing the curlers from Applejack's mane and tail, "But we may just get to see our Rainbowdash."

Applejack covered up with a small smile, it would be fun to see her old friend, but the parting always hurt. She wondered if it felt the same for Rarity.

"Rarity?" Applejack asked, "Hmm?" the white unicorn responded busying herself with her friend's mane. "Do you miss the old days?"

Rarity stopped what she was doing and was silent for a long while, when she finally spoke her voice was soft. "Of course I do, I wish it could be that way again."

"Me too." Applejack sighed."But hey,we have a party to go to!" Rarity cried picking up her enthusiastic attitude, "Now, put on your dress and we'll go." She levitated the green dress off of the dress horse and laid it over Applejack's back.