An Apple a Day for Hearts and Hooves Day

Chapters

Hearts and Hooves Day
Sore Heart and Tired Hooves
Apples and Calming Lavander
Sugar High
Sunset
Shattered Gems
Friendship

Hearts and Hooves Day

Another early day on Sweet Apple Acres. This wasn't anything new to the middle child of the apple family. The farm always had its early morning chores but today was just a little different. Applejack was up much earlier than she normally would be on any other day, Princess Luna hadn't even begun to lower the moon yet. Applejack set about fervently doing her morning chores, she had the cows milked and the other animals fed and was setting the buckets under the trees for Apple Bucking later on that morning. The orange mare had no problem pushing through the morning set up.

Today was Hearts and Hooves day and Applejack had gotten her brother to cover her chores for the day. After last year's escapades it was easier than it sounds.

“'ey Big Macintosh!” The element of Honesty was known to be a little brash.

The large red lump responded with a tired blend of groans.

“Ah' wanted ta thank ya ag'in for lettin' me get off the farm for the day.” An inaudible mumbling came from the under the blankets but the farm pony knew her brother well enough to know what he said.

Teasingly the mare spoke to the big, covered lump
.

“Ah' figured after last year what with Applebloom an' her friends settin' ya up ya might want ta be busy today.”

The first audible tone from the stallion, “Eeeyup.” As Macintosh rolled out from under his blankets.

“Welp, I'm off then, see ya later Big Mac!”

Applejack galloped towards town. The sun now a minute or two past dawn had just begun to throw warm, golden rays over Ponyville.

“Ah sure hope Pinkie's awake by now.” The mare chuckled as she came closer to Sugarcube Corner,

“Ah know she's gotta busy day an all, hope she don't think it's gonna be quite fer long.” Applejack had lost herself in her thoughts failing to realize that she stood at the door to the Cakes' sweet shop.

The crashing sound of cookware sounded through the early morning, shaking the daydreaming pony out of her daze. Pounding the door open, worried for Pinkie's safety, Applejack stepped inside. A white cloud of flour greeted her coating the farm pony from snout to hoof. Trying to see through the baker's fog she could hear the resounding, high pitched giggling of her friend.

“WAHOOO! That sure was fun! At least now I don't have to worry about getting all the trays out.” Shaking off part of the piled cookery, a snow-white mare bounded up from the ground her mane bouncing long after she landed. Pinkie quickly busied her self setting up all of er ingredients, ignoring the small mountain of things now in the middle of the kitchen.

Shocked, Applejack stood for a minute to calm down.

“How in tarnation has that filly made such a mess this early!” Attempting to brush off the film of flour that had so kindly greeted her, “Ah hope she can pull this together today, honestly.”

Walking closer to the pile in the middle of the room Applejack made a few small coughs, she cleared her throat twice, she tapped the pans and trays in front of her but nothing seemed to grab the other mare's attention. Finally, with little tact an impatient pony spoke.

“Pinkie Pie!” Projecting her voice was easy enough for the farm pony, after all, try calling across an acre or two on an apple orchard.

Pinkie, in her usual, high-energy fashion, sprung up into the air and turned to see her friend.

“HEY THERE! I'm so glad you could make it this morning I have to...” The cascade of tasks and chores and things to bake and ingredients to gather and sales to make made Applejack's head spin as she tried to keep the list straight in her head.

“Has she even remembered to breathe yet?” A slightly shocked voice in the back of Applejack's head sounded.

“... and then you got here, which is fantastic news 'cause now you can help me with all of that!”

The pink mare gasped sharply, she had in fact not taken a breath for almost a full minute explaining her day to her visitor.

Slightly taken back by recent events Applejack simply nodded and added to the pink mare's statement.

“Eeeyup' that'd be why ah'm here Pinkie.” It was difficult to sound excited after hearing Pinkie ramble on about her day, bouncing around the room. Even a sold out cart of apples during her days at the market wouldn't get Applejack as excited as Pinkie Pie normally was.

The morning sun now poured through the windows and morning warmth infused the Cake's bakery with a happiness that only a rainbow could overcome. Pinkie had gone from a rapid-fire day planner and had replaced her bouncing with the single biggest smile that the Element of Honesty had ever seen from the pink mare.

“Pinkie?” The orange mare asked, confused by the antics of the party pony as usual. Still searching the oddly happy pony for some indication , Applejack moved closer and noticed the cyan eyes of her friend tracing over her.

The smiling filly simply turned with a snap of her tail an replied, “ Oh nothing silly filly, I just noticed the sun shine and remembered that you have quite the day ahead of you!”

The pink pony rambled on a bit further, “After all, It is Hearts and Hooves day and I'm sure we both have our special someponies to meet after all this baking!”

Applejack shuddered slightly, “ I'm sure you do Pinkie, I'm just helping a friend out today”

“You mean you don't have anypony to be with on Hearts and Hooves day?” The pink mare exclaimed in her sugary, high pitched voice.

“Nah, you should now better Sugarcube, I ain't nothin' special. Ain't no pony interested in some dirty, farm mare.” The despair faded the sunshine in the room, a dark cloud hung over the the room until Pinkie spoke again.

“Don't be silly a silly filly!” Her voice filled with a sort of humorous outrage, “I know for a fact that there is somepony who thinks you're the sugar to their cupcakes!”

The farm mare raised an eyebrow, “Oh do ya now?” She asked with a doubtful smile

Sore Heart and Tired Hooves

Hearts and Hooves day was always incredibly busy for the Cakes, and of course Pinkie as well. Today, however, was the single most profitable day in the bakery's history. What had started out as simple assistance to a friend became an entirely different and now complicated task.

Brownies, cakes, pies, strudels, cookies and cupcakes all sold faster than the ovens could bake them. Pinkie and Applejack had spent the morning preparing doughs and mixes for hundreds of different desserts and as their supply dwindled the mares realized they had not made enough.

“Heya, AJ!” Pinkie sounded more like a deflating bubble than her usual self.

“Yea, Pinkie?” The farm mare sounded exhausted, the morning had quickly become evening and the late gift rush had just started.

The pink mare finished mixing a leviathan sized vat of brownie mix, pouring it into several dozen trays, “I'm gonna go see if I can round up another pony for help, I'll be superduper quick, I Pinkie-Promise!”

With that the party pony bounded over the counter and bounced through the door leaving Applejack to deal with the customers filling the store.

“Ah need just a minute everypony.” She called out over the crowd, “I know ya'll want yer deserts and whatnot for yer special somponies but Ah'm gonna need to...”

A voice from the crowd spoke and most everypony was stunned. It wasn't often that Ponyville ever experienced a tone quite so elegant, or so pronounced.

“I do believe I heard her say that she needed some time, Everypony.” The suddenly hushed crowd quickly shuffled, letting the speaker through. Some most stallions were visibly distracted by the source of such a refined voice, often looking at their hooves being sure not to make eye contact. Applejack watched even some mares in the audience avert their eyes and some yet still fixated on the graceful movements of her friend's flank as she walked towards the register.

“Ah'll be, you sure do know how ta quiet down a room Rar'.” The stunned farm pony could see why the audience was so... stricken. Rarity was quite done up. She sported a dress fit for the Grand Galloping Galla, if it permitted shorter dresses. Her royal purple tail had white and red ribbon laced through it, accenting the colors of the dress which covered just more than her flank. The themed dress was frilly, obviously made for Hearts and Hooves day but Applejack hadn't known Rarity to be so... revealing.

“Oh darling, you know I simply couldn't stand here and watch my friend be so overwhelmed, I just had to do something.” The purple mare said flicking her tail off to the side, eliciting several gasps from the crowd behind her.

“Well, Ah' appreciate the help, but uh, Ah have a lot to do here right quick. Ah can't really be stuck chattin' like this Rar.” Applejack's tone was a barely audible whisper, in part to hide the slight excitement in her voice and to insure that the audience couldn't hear.

The Element of Generosity looked to the crowd and back to her friend. “I can certainly help manage this crowd for you...” She paused, “If you'd like.” She added with a wink.

Applejack thought to her self, closing her eyes to focus for a minute. She wasn't sure why she was so flustered, whether it had been trying to manage the crowd on her own or if it was just that the mare in front of her happened to be the single most sexual pony in Ponyville. Either way she knew she needed the help, but just what was it that Rarity had in mind?

“Well, Rar, Ah' could use the...” The purple mare quickly interrupted.

“Say no more! I completely understand.” Rarity turned towards the crowd with a twist of a flank.

She started speaking to the crowd, in the same refined voice that nicely demanded the attention of everyone in the room.

“ Evening, Everypony.”

The crowd, still silent, murmured in response to the mare. “As you can see, Sugar Cube Corner is just a slight bit overwhelmed.” Gesturing to the organized chaos of the bakery behind Applejack's register.

The collective response from the group was mixed with nods and groans,

“I would ask you all to come back in half an hour,” Looking back at Applejack with a nod, “So that we can get all of you your desserts for you Coltfriends and Marefriends.”

She stood shoulders broad, showing off her slender frame which her dress hung to, colts and mares bashfully shuffled towards the door. Most waiting until the last possible minute to turn away from the sudden seductress. One poor colt was being scorned as he left the bakery, his Marefriend quiet upset with him over looking at the white and purple horse, though Applejack wondered why she dragged out the “H”.

The room now quite empty, aside from an orange and pink mare, was a relief to both ponies. Applejack sighed in relief that she had a moment or two which weren't filled with whining ponies complaining that their snacks were sold out.

“'Ey Rar,” The orange mare said, slightly more focused than before , “Thank ya' kindly for helpin' me out there.” Another sigh from the farm mare, “Somponies are in just such a rush over this silly,little holiday, actin' like their special-somepony is gonna run away er somthin'”

Applejack's thoughts raced.

“At least ya'll have a special somepony to be with today. I'd be thankful for that much.”

She thought for a while longer, about how she would spend Hearts and Hooves day if she'd have had some special pony. About a pleasant day spent in their company, laughing, joking, cuddling... and, she stopped her self, blushing furiously. How long had it been since she'd been with somepony? Realizing just how much of her time was taken up on the farm Applejack stifled back a small sob. At least she had tried.

“No wonder nopony wants to be with me.” She thought to her self, “I ain't never free to do nothin' Ah live on a farm and Ah'm workin' from sun up to sun down, an even my day off Ah'm sittin' here slavin' away fer a friend.”

She stood with her head bowed, trying to hide tears streaming down her face.

“Why can't Ah just be pretty like Rarity?” Applejack sobbed audibly, leaning back on her hind legs she fell onto the floor head down, sitting behind the cash register. “Ah know Ah'm not a pretty mare, but Ah'm so tired of bein' alone. It seems like everpony else has somepony in their lives, but not me, nah Ah ain't good enough fer that.”

The farm mares sobs turned into broken cries and streaming tears, she couldn't hold it back anymore, it was to much. The whole day had been crazy and yet again she had spent the whole day working and never spent time with anypony. The sound of a hoof hitting the floor and a dull throb cascaded over the distraught mare.

A hoof was thrown over the orange mare's shoulder, a series of soft whispers started though Applejack could only hear parts of them through her tears.

“...okay...we can...don't worry...” Rarity did her best to console her friend. Rubbing a hoof over Applejack's back, pulling the other mare's head against her own shoulder.

“Applejack... sweetie...” Rarity was speaking softly enough to make Fluttershy's voice seem like a roar.

Sobs turned into short, dry heaves as Applejack began reigning her emotions back in.

“Ah'm sorr... Rar'... I just... Alone... nopony...” Her pleading and sad tone, broken up by her still present sobbing said more than enough to Rarity.

“It's okay Sweetie, I know, I know.” she said, finally helping Applejack escape her own emotions. “You are a phenomenal friend and I know you'll find somepony special, but it isn't the worst possible thing, now is it?”

“Easy fer you ta say,” Applejack's tone, quiet indignant. “Especially when ya walk in ta a room and evverypony starts mumblin' and blushin' cause yer so darn gorgeous!” Applejack was angry, but it wasn't Rarity that she was upset with.

“Hey Applejack, I now, let's get you cleaned up a bit.” Rarity helped the heap of a mare up off the floor and stood her by the sink.

Applejack splashed her face with cold water, an attempt to hide swollen eyes and tracks of tears. She turned back towards her friend.

“Rar... I'm sor..”

“I know Applejack, it's okay.” Rarity knew she was going to apologize. It wasn't like the orange pony to be so callous.

“Nah, it ain't Rarity, none o' that was.” Applejack said with a rather stern tone.

“You were upset AJ, I understand, I've been upset too and plenty of times, I assure you.” Rarity ended her sentence with a hint of a smile.

“Ya really are generous Rar'.” A rather obvious complement coming from another Element of Harmony. “Thank ya for bein' here, I obviously needed the help.” AJ bowed her head again, only for it to be met with a gentle hoof.

Lifting Applejack's eyes to hers Rarity spoke softly, “ We still have some work to do here, why don't we take a quick break and let me make you something delicious” Rarity smiled, “After all, we are in a bakery” she added quickly with a wink.

“Ya know what, Ah think I like the sound o' that.”

Apples and Calming Lavander

The ringing of an oven timer filled the now empty Sugar Cube Corner. Rarity, having emptied the building with the shake of a flank and a seductive, authoritative voice, checked to see how her apple pie golden brown. The air in the bakery, usually filled with the aromas of sugars, candies and any other sweet, was now filled with the satisfyingly sweet scent of apples.

Applejack,head against a table, sat up drearily. The pony who was usually fueled by earth pony stamina had lost her vibrancy. Her bright green eyes no longer a bright spring green but a matted, dull dark version of themselves, much like the first Autumn leaves. Her coat no longer the full maize tone had also taken on a darker hue.

“Rare...”

The lavender maned baker hadn't noticed the other pony, much less heard what she had said. Applejack spoke once more, slightly more pronounced.

“Rare..”

Her voice was weak, sad. The absolute epitome of melancholy.

“My apologies darling, I could barely hear you.” Rarity's voice was little more than a whisper but could be heard through the empty bakery as clear as a bell. She brought over the the small pie and sat down next to her distraught friend. Running her hoof over the farm mare's mane, looking deep into Applejack's now shallow and nearly lifeless eyes.

“What seems to be the matter dear?”

Rarity's voice was brimming with concern. She knew better than to think that Applejack was okay in all of this, she had no idea what her friend was upset about though it was obvious that she needed somepony to talk to, even if she wouldn't admit it. Applejack sat in silence, holding on dearly to what she was about to say. She struggled to find the words she wanted, struggled to find a way to explain what she had felt.

The orange pony, tears streaming down her face. “Ah don't have a spec..”

A resounding gasp echoed in the bakery.

“Applejack, darling, you don't need some special pony.”

At which point Applejack interrupted.

“Hay. Seed.” Applejack's words were short, tart and laced with venom, then she continued, “It's easy enough for you ta say, since every pony in Equestria stares when you walk by.”

The hurt in her words only made worse by the tears streaming down her face. Desperately clinging to what little resolve she had left the earth pony managed to keep her words clear enough to be heard, though just barely through her sobs.

“No... pony wants me. Ah'm just a simple mare an don't need nopony special but...”

Her words became inaudible sobs. Slamming her hooves on the candy cane pattern table, she left cracks and chipped paint. While one of her best friends looked on the farm pony was falling apart like an undone seam she quickly unwound and lost her self in reminiscent memories. Rarity walked towards her friend, nuzzling her mane, her own tears running into Applejack's mane. Much more composed than the farm mare, Rarity spoke her kind and gentle words warming the room.

“Applejack, I know there is somepony out there for you.” Her voice took on a motherly tone, “ Shhhhh, it's going to be okay...” Her voice trailing off as she stroked the mare's now dull amber mane.

“Ah'm no pony special.” Applejack spoke softly, “ Ah just wish that for once in mah life Ah could have somepony to really be with. You an the girls are great, Ah love ya'll ta pieces but it just ain't the same as a special somepony.”

Applejack was slowly gaining her composure, looking up at Rarity she drooped her head once again. Having seen the tears streaming down her friend's face, running her makeup and leaving her sapphire eyes red and puffy. The room became silent.

“I had no idea Applejack....” Rarity's voice held it's usual grace, even as tears continued their relentless travel dropping lightly on the bakery's floor.

“Aw hay, Rar.” Applejack lifted her head to look at the fashonista, “Ya shouldn't cry on account a mah problems, Sugarcube.” Applejack said, nearly masking all of her previous sadness and obviously concerned for having upset her best friend.

Rarity was flushed red from holding back her sobs. She put her hooves around her friends neck and squeezed the other mare tight. Applejack was shocked, Rarity was actually shaking. The unexpected embrace lasted for a good ten minutes before either pony tried to move. Helping her friend keep her balance, Applejack leaned against the other mare for a minute. It was nice for Applejack to actually be this close to another pony, it was not something she was usually accustomed to. It wasn't something she had even considered.

Here it was, happening right now. Applejack couldn't move, she was frozen in her place. It was sensory overload. Rarity's soft, white coat leaning against her. Her slow yet stifled breathing pressing against her gently. The warmth, though unexpected, was very welcoming to Applejack knowing how cold some lonely days have been.These little sensations were a small blessing to the farm mare but neither of these things compared to something she had never expected to enjoy.

Rarity's scent.

It was a mixture of exotic aromas, things that Applejack couldn't even begin to name. Two scents, however, stood out starkly against all others. The first was the smell of apples. This was nothing new to Applejack but it still stood out clear as day to her. The other scent took the earth pony a moment to name, it was something that Rarity had sworn by since they had met. Applejack stood a moment longer, enjoying the contact and the scent that she had never before noticed. It calmed her nerves, she was relaxing. Something about the situation, the smell and just being close to this pony calmed Applejack's nerves like never before.

“Lavender...”

“Applejack?” Rarity had barely heard her friends whisper.

“Lavender...” Applejack said again, “Ya smell like lavender.”

The room was quiet again. Each pony leaning into each other, neither moving to separate themselves in anyway. Enjoying the moment as time stood still for a brief period of time. The only audible sound, the breathing of two mares, was faint and unnoticeable.

“a-A-Applejack.” Rarity's voice had lost its usual calm tone, in favor of a hushed and bashful timbre.

Applejack had no idea how to respond to her best friend. She had seen her in many situations over time and had never once seen Rarity stammer like this.

“Something must be wrong...” Applejack's mind raced clearly.

“What's the matter, Sugarcube?” Applejack took a step back and looked up at her friend.

Rarity was blushing. Applejack knew that much was the honest to Celestia's truth. She had just to figure out what in all of Equestria made this mare start blushing like school-filly. She searched her up and down, noticing all of the finer details of her friend. Her bright white coat was rather mussed by the hugging and leaning against one another. Her mane was also a slight tussled mess. Then she noticed. Applejack swallowed nervously when she met Rarity's Sapphire eyes with her own. She had seen that look before, with the same bright red streak across her face.

It was the same look that every other pony had given Rarity when she walked into the bakery. Applejack had never really been the subject of any admiration before, she felt her face heat up, taking on the same flushed expression that the white mare wore.

“I... I wanted to know...” Rarity paused for a moment, “I wanted to know what you think the best part of having a special somepony would be.”

Applejack was a bit stunned, she hadn't expected a question from her friend but she did her best to answer it. She started to speak but it was much louder than the orange mare had intended.

“The best part would be helpin' me make it through those days that er dark an lonely.”
“It would be helping me make it through those days that are dark and lonely.”

Rarity echoed her best friend nearly word for word. The two of them stood there for a minute trying to comprehend what had just happened. Each mare slightly confused, yet still left in a maddening, blushing daze. Locked eye to eye, Applejack's green eyes took on their spring green shine as she peered into the pure blue eyes of Rarity. Stepping closer to her friend, Applejack could feel her cheeks reach a near scalding temperature as her hooves were set down just in front of the other mare. Their snouts just an inch apart, begging for something neither understood.

“What in the world am Ah doin'!” Applejack screamed in her head still unable to break her gaze away from her friend. “This is Rar' infront a me, not some gorgeous stallion, why can't Ah look away?”

“Do Ah want ta look away?” Applejack's thoughts raced again, trying desperately to get a grip on the situation before her. Even if she wanted to, there was no way to break free from this moment.

Applejack felt her tears building up in the corners of her eyes. There was no sobbing this time, no crying or hoof-slamming. Just tears, which had started to roll down her cheeks. A steady rhythm of drops hitting the floor gave this moment its own clock. Time didn't matter anymore, hours, days, months, years. Applejack was here, in this moment. She knew that this mare in front of her was somepony special to her. Her heart fluttered and the burning blush's heat filled her entire body as her dull coat regained it's natural bright orange color. Yet the tears kept rolling down her cheeks.

“Rar...” Applejack spoke, which caused Rarity to shiver as her friend's warm, apple-cinnamon breath brushed her lips.

“Ah just don' wanna be alone anymore...” Applejack leaned in slowly, not quite sure what she was about to do, knowing that this felt to be the best thing that had happened to her in her life. She could feel Rarity's breath passing her lips, it was amazing. She hadn't been this close to another pony in years, reveling in the moment Applejack closed her eyes as Rarity had done the same. It was a surprise now, waiting or the inevitable. Waiting for their lips to meet and absolve the tension, to melt away the despair and fill each other with hope.

“HEY APPLEJACK! I'M BACK!!!” The sugary high-energy voice of the pink party pony filled the bakery.

Slipping forward Applejack landed next to Rarity, missing her goal entirely. Pinkie Pie bounded into the kitchen and saw the farm mare on the ground next to Rarity, who against her will, was still blushing madly.

“Oh hey Rarity!” Pinkie's voice had shattered the mood of the bakery that just seconds ago had everypony's heart a flutter. “When did you get here?” The pony all but squeaked.

Regaining her composure, “Oh, well, Pinkie... Darling... Aj here had seemed a bit overwhelmed with the mid-afternoon rush and I suggested that she take a small break and have a bite to eat. “

“Rarity, are you feeling okay?” Pinkie asked quizzically as she peered at her friend.

“I feel fine, dear, what makes you ask?” Rarity had hidden her blush slightly.

Pinkie waited for a minute, still looking at the fashonista with a detailed eye. While Applejack stood up the party pony finally spoke again.

“Well, silly, you never call Applejack, Aj!” Rarity and Applejack could feel their hearts skip a beat, Applejack quickly interrupted the party pony's conversation.

“Ah know we gotta a lot ta do here Pinkie, after all it's not even dark yet. We still got a lotta ponies needin' chocolates an such, we oughta get busy.”

Pinkie stopped for a second, and knowing that Applejack was telling the truth responded in her usual manner.

“Ohmigosh you're right!” Pinkie Pie bounded over to the counter and started mixing yet another barrel of Brownie mix.

Applejack simply let out a sigh of relief and looked over at Rarity who had since stopped blushing and had completely recovered from the ordeal.

“I will leave you two at it then.” Rarity turned to leave and when she reached the door, she heard Applejack's voice call out.

“Hey Rar'!” Applejack's voice held slight contempt for the departing mare, “Ah was wonderin' if after Ah finished up here that Ah might stop by and discuss somethin' with ya.” She finished her sentence shifting uncomfortably behind the counter.

Rarity responded with a smile, “I don't see why not Dear, I'll have some tea on when you get there. Or would you prefer Cider?” She smiled and winked at Applejack.

“Ah don't rightly care Rar' I just wanted ta stop by...”

Turning to leave again, Rarity opened the door to the bakery and exited make sure to saunter, moving her hips and snapping her tail to the side.

Applejack smiled and turned to Pinkie Pie who simply stared at her friend in disbelief for a moment. The farm mare cleared her throat and spoke to Pinkie.

“Why, might Ah ask, are ya starin' at me for?” Applejack's tone one which was slightly annoyed.

Pinkie smiled her usual grin and said with a slight blush, “Okie dokie loki Aj, I was staring because when Rarity left, you gasped louder than I normally do!”

Sugar High

“What in the hay was that....”

Applejack had spent the rest of her time in the bakery dazed, going through the motions to help Pinkie Pie. She replayed her time with Rarity over in her head, again and again doing her best to sort out the onslaught of thoughts and... emotions?

“Ah've never looked at anypony like that... an certainly not a mare”

Reliving her memories of Rarity's visit forced a red flush across the Earth pony's face.

“Ah don't want things ta be awkward with her.” Applejack chided to her self, “ Not that Ah mind seein' her like that.”

“Don'tmindseein'wholikewhat?” Pinky Pie bounded over to Applejack, pressing her mane against Applejack's head removing all sense of personal space. Pinkie's cyan eyes searching her friend for the slightest hint or clue.

“N-Nopony!” Applejack, the worst liar in all of Equestria, stumbled over her words in surprise.

Pinkie Pie in the midst of a full-blown giggle fit , “ Oh Jackie! You she see the look on your face. I know exactly who you meant!” She ended with a smile.

“What in tar-nation d'ya mean?” A tone of indignation permeating her voice.

“Puh-lease!” The outburst from Pinkie could easily be heard from the library, “Like I wasn't here when you were all blushing and being nervous and being close to Rarity and being cute an..”

“Cute?!” Applejack, flustered again, “What part o' that looked cute t'ya! She probably thinks Ah'm some kinda...”

Looking for the word she wanted to say Applejack quickly became interested in tn her hooves. Tapping nervously on the bakery floor.

“You have nothing to worry about, silly-filly!”

Applejack wasn't as sure as her pink friend. She knew that Rarity expected a certain... posh attitude from ponies. She would never, actually, be interested in some work horse of a mare. Was that even interest? She had been so worked up, still blushing hours later, that she hadn't even thought how Rarity felt about the situation.

“ Ah didn' even think about her...”

Applejack's thoughts raced, pacing back and forth over every little detail, trying to remember the white mare's reaction to all of the events. Every single time she thought back it was to the same exact moment.

“Ah almost kissed her...”

“Applejack!”

The element of honesty spilled over onto her side. Pinkie-Pie waving a hoof in her face frantically, she had a concerned yet sheepish smile plastered on her face. Applejack laid on her side spending a few moments regaining her breath. Looking up at her friend she spoke with an annoyed tone.

“What the hay Pinkie! Why are ya just shovin' yer hoof in mah face?”

“Well, Jackie, you kinda maybe sorta did this thing where you might have...”

The pink party pony was actually blushing a deeper color than her mane and it was obvious that she was nervous. She anxiously looked at the floor. Applejack wasn't a fan of Pinkie's overly drawn out explanation. She walked over to the babbling mare, put a hoof to her shoulder and spoke softly.

“Pinkie, what did I do.”

An emotionless, regulated tone not usually kept by anypony caught the mare off guard. It was plain to see a slight loss of bounce in the pink mare's mane. Pinkie Pie looked as though someone just stole one of the colors of the rainbow from a bright and sunny day. She stared towards Applejack, rather through her, looking much further beyond her as she spoke in a sickeningly sweet yet obviously crossed tone with a hint of callous disregard.

“Applejack, you sat here and made me listen while you moaned her name.”

Pinkie's voice was slightly twisted, instead of sugary it was bitter, cold and uncaring. She looked on waiting for her assistant to reply, waiting to see if she would notice.

“Ah'm sorry sugarcube...”

Wrapping her hooves around her friend,

“Ah didn't even realize I was even sayin' anything.”

Applejack brushed her hoof through her friends mane, reassuring her as Pinkie quickly perked up. She shook her head regaining some of her bounce and her eager attitude.

“I must need another cupcake!” Pinkie bounded over to the counter and quickly inhaled several confectionery treats on the counter.

“Hey Pinkie, what time is it?” Applejack, realizing now that she had lost a large portion of her day to her various thoughts about their mutual friend, had no idea if it even was Hearts and Hooves Day anymore.

“Ohmf, ohhhmm...” Pinkie still scarfing down another cupcake, “Likkeeeeee...” She paused again still catching her breath from her sugar binge, “about time to close down the shop really.”

Applejack ran out of the bakery and Pinkie was left mouth agape. It was entirely unlike her dependable friend to leave her with so much to do.

“Well, at least she might have found somepony special after all.”

Pinkie mused to her self contemplating her next song about Rarity and Applejack as she turned to start cleaning up. The day had left the bakery a complete disaster and had left even more work than the baker had even thought. Brownie mix dripped from the ceiling and flour coated nearly every utensil that had been used.

The front door to the bakery opened and the welcoming bell jingled. Pinkies tail shook twice and coiled into a spring, her eye twitched three times and she sneezed twice. An uncommon combination for her Pinkie Sense.

“Hey Pinks!”

A cyan Pegasus had meandered into the bakery with a tray balanced on her back, balanced between her wings. Covered in her own assortment of flour and other ingredients.

“Is AJ still here? It took me a bit longer to learn how to bake these and I brought her some...”

Pinkie looked at her friend, eyes wide and tears brimming at the edge of her eyes. She had entirely forgotten about Rainbow Dash.

“Oh Dashie... I'm so sorry...” Pinkie said, sniffling as a tear ran down her cheek.

Rainbow stood in shock. The Number one Part Pony of Ponyville was actually crying, in front of her no less.

“Pinks... What are you sorry about.” The cyan mare walked to her friend and set her tray on the counter. Nuzzling her now teary eyed friend's mane.

“I forgot... about you...” She said sobbing to her best friend.

Rainbow looked on quizzically, lost and confused as to why her friends was so upset. She brushed away a tear from her cheek and wrapped her hooves around her saddened friend.

“Pinkie, where did AJ go?” Rainbow said, deducing that the farm mare was no longer in the bakery. Wondering just why this upset the other mare so, Rainbow waited for her response.

“ShewentofftogoseeRaritybecausetheyhadabitofamomentandthenIsawwhathappenedandcouldn'ttellherto...”

Pinkie rambled aimlessly for several minutes, recounting the night in its entirety to her completely aloof friend. Tears and sobs struck through her account as she did her best not to succumb the the saddness she knew would soon engulf her usually confident friend.

Slowly it dawned on Rainbow Dash that her best friend and rival had found something special with another pony. She slumped on to her plot, fluttering her wings trying to wrap her head around the situation. She had spent the whole day making those stupid cookies, much less decorating them and bringing them over to the bakery.

Pinkie had finally finished her ridiculous account of the night and took a look over at the tray that Dash had brought to the bakery.

Little lightning shaped cookies covered the pan. Each perfectly golden brown and decorated with the colors of the rainbow, though the streak of read was a line of bright red apples with single green leaves coming off the stem. Pinkie, admiring the absolute intricacies of the design walked over and took a sniff to see what flavor they were, she could only make out one scent for certain. It was faint, but it was certainly there.

A Dash of Apples.

Sunset

The evening sky was lit with the waning golden light of Celestia's Sun blending flawlessly with the Amber hues of Luna's night. Mares and Stallions all gathered themselves for the night's festivities. Ponyville was awash with the scent of various sweets and the subtle tones of bouquets bought for special Someponies through the town. Vibrant energy pulsed through the streets each happy couple enthusiastically clinging, hugging and spending time with their significant other. High above the houses and businesses sat a single cyan mare among a bundle of clouds floating through the twilight sky.

Hunched over on her flank Rainbow Dash sat solemnly, completely unaware of the holiday fun happening below her, rather ignoring it entirely. It was a little known fact that Dash thoroughly enjoyed this time of the night, watching the sunset, it was the majority of the reason she slept during the day. Tonight was no different. Smiling faintly as the Sun met the horizon she and her addled emotions let herself sink through the cloud. Gently she stretched her wings and began to take off.

“Heya there Rainbow!”, A chipper mare's voice caught her off guard.

Regaining her composure as quickly as she could, Dash settled on the cloud that was floating just underneath hers. Settling her hooves she resumed her slouched position and continued glancing towards the horizon.

“Uhhhh, Rainbow?” The gray mare's voice filling with concern, “Are you feeling okay? I've never seen you like... not awesome before...”

Breaking her gaze from the horizon and looking towards the mail-mare, “It's nothing Derpy, I'm just really relaxed, enjoying the sunset, ya know?” Dash, doing her best to disguise her teary eyes with a well timed yawn, “it's been a pretty long day, I think I'm going to hit the hay..”

“Oh, okay!” Derpy's voice again took a bright tone, “It was nice to watch some of the sunset with you, it's nice to see some other pony who doesn't take it for granted.” She smiled her blonde mane swaying just in front of her eyes, which she promptly removed with a quick breath.

“It'd be swell if we could do this again sometime and chat.” she added as Rainbow turned to take off.

Dash waited for a moment as she fanned her wings in the cool evening air. The chilled breeze furled her feather. Without a response she dove into the air and soared down turning sharply to the right heading towards her cloud home, a dive to the left and a spiral to the right, a small workout at night seemed like a good idea to burn off some energy. Dipping, twisting, turning and flipping herself through the brisk air was quickly taking the edge off of her emotional discomfort.

Leaving Derpy ate at her though, she doesn't leave anypony like that. Flipping herself around in the crisp air, amber light glistening off her coat like golden tear drops, Dash banked left, back down to the cloud where her unexpected company sat solemnly, sullenly looking at the fading light.

Landing quietly next to the other mare, Dash sighed.

“Sorry about that Derpy. I have a lot on my mind.”

“I know the feeling.” She responded in a slightly less chipper tone than usual.

Shattered Gems

“Rarity! Ah said open up!” Applejack shouted, pounding on the door to Carousel Boutique.

On the inside of the boutique sat a single snow-white unicorn. Quite obviously under duress, she sat wide eyed, starring at the door hearing only the muffled demands of her friend.

“I've only known about AJ, excuse me, Applejack being attracted to mares for a few weeks. Why in Equestria was I even so...”

Her thoughts trailed off, searching for the right word to describe how she felt. The connoisseur of all things considered high-society was now bumbling over her own vocabulary. A distorted sound filled the now incredibly crowded space between her ears. Minuscule rivulets of sound pervade her senses as she shakily ran a brush through her mane.

“Honestly I don't know what to do... She came to me as her friend and I completely and irrevocably took advantage of her trust in me, what kind of mare am I!”

In the back of Rarity's mind she could hear the latch of a long-closed door being lifted, something that she had suppressed for so long was coming back to wreak a terrible toll on her as it had done years before. The snapping sound of glass echoed in the ears of Generosity, though her hoof continued its progression sliding itself through the air near to her mane. Looking down she could see herself, many different angles of herself. She could see that in many of these images she was not the mare she believed herself to be. Rarity shook ferociously as a thought probed its way to the forefront of her mind.

“Image... that's what this has all been.”

Another jolt shook the mare, the cool floor a comfort to her now heat laden cheeks. For now, a slight sigh of exhaustion crept between the Unicorn's lips. Her hooves jilted against the floor shaking her still posture. Rarity found herself in a dark, ill-lit hallway, obviously rarely used. The painted walls obviously suffering stress fractures and the tile flooring lost its luster long ago. The hall slid forward under the feet of the mare several meters forward.

Peering down the length of the hall it seemed endless to the young mare. Shadowed silhouettes moved silently through the halls, each conversing with others as they passed. One conversation among the shades was clearly audible among the others however. The tense voice finally made itself distinct enough to be heard well down the hall. Echoing with the strength of an earth pony, the words were obviously terse and certainly not meant with good intent.

“I told you once, that is not our daughter, not anymore...”

The shadows that heard this all seemingly bowed their heads.

A rushing screech filled the hall as it was torn asunder by some unseen force. A blinding light filled the Unicorn's senses as she was ripped back to her own living room. She opened her eyes to the sight of a smaller white Unicorn, tears welling up in her eyes.

“R-Rarity?” Sweetie Belle stammered out, uncontrollably sobbing.

Seeing her sister in shock, Rarity ambled to her feet. A light crystalline tinkering could be heard as she stood. In her best attempt to control herself she spoke as evenly as she could.

“Yes, Sweetie, what's wrong darling?”

The young Unicorn looked up to her sister and the tears kept flowing, doing her best to keep herself from becoming indistinguishable from a fountain, she trembled under the weight of her emotions. A deep breath later she drew her hoof up and gestured towards Rarity's work station.

“Wh- why did you break all those mirrors, sis?”

Rarity surveyed her shop, the boutique was in shambles and the glass glittered the floor like a carpet of false gems. Without giving her a chance to respond Sweetie continued.

“and why was Applejack sounding so upset? She seemed like she needed to talk to you something terrible.”

Thoughts ran rampant through the white mare's mind. She had heard Applejack and had completely ignored her. Why had she been so oblivious to her friend? Why was she even here? Why did she feel like she had finally grown past her fears and understood herself?

“Sweetie Belle.” Rarity deadpanned.

The filly looked up to her older sister, eyes still pandering to the tears that she shed.

“I need to speak with Applejack, could you be a dear and fetch her for me?”

Sweetie Belle looked at her sister, confused as the day Discord turned Ponyville upside down. Obviously trying to process the request when from behind Rarity a voice sounded. Calmly and evenly it spoke with a hint of sweetness.

“Ain't no need ta go fetchin' anypony, Sugarcube.”

Rarity's eyes became saucers as she spun around to meet the farmer.

“We-Well... Sweetie, could you give the two of us some time?” Rarity jerked her and looked at her sister, “we need to have a private discussion, for Mares-only, see if you could go be with the Crusaders for the night.”

Sweetie Belle offered no rebuttal and quickly cantered out of the store, naking sure to shut the door when she left.

“Appleja...”

“Stop, just stop Rarity. Ah'm gonna do the talkin' for a minute.”

The air tense with emotion set Rarity on edge, unsure of her friend's intention.

Author's Note

I know that the story is still "On hiatus" because I'm not entirely sure when I'll be able to post new chapters. I'm really trying to maintain the quality of the story and really pronounce the emotions here. Hopefully this isn't too difficult to follow and y'all are enjoying the ride so far.

Friendship

Golden edges of the sunset, wisps of the day passed, ebbed from the twilight sky. A walleyed mare and a rainbow weather Pegasus had enjoyed the day to its very end. That wasn't the end of their night however. Unbeknownst to them, Hearts and Hooves day lent its hand in creating a maelstrom of emotions for the residents of Ponyville below. A storm in which Rainbow Dash was standing in, the walls of the storm surrounding her while she spent a moment in the eye. However, this did not mean that our rainbow maned friend was without her own deluge of emotions. She had spent the evening laying her head, and her life's sorrows on the shoulder of the town mail-mare.

Leaning up from her resting place, Rainbow Dash rubbed her eyes. Still red and sore from the evening of emotional events. She couldn't remember crying, nor why her mane seemed matted against her forehead but she knew that she was finally able to breath again. Sobbing was not something that anypony would consider, “awesome” or “cool” for that matter, yet the Pegasus felt a weight lifted from her shoulders that nopony, even her, knew she carried. A burden which had time and time again pulled her into an obsessional occupation with overall athletic performance. In her heart she knew she loved doing what she did, working with the weather to brighten other ponies' days was a great way to help the town. On top of that, Celestia knows, Rainbow wanted to fly with the Wonderbolts more than anything in the world. Something has been missing though, some aspect of her life felt empty and she thought that having someone to keep her grounded is what she needed.

Yet, her she was, again with her head in the clouds.

“Rainbow?”

Dash's ears perked up and she drew her eyes to her gray friend.

“Oh, finally, I thought I'd lost ya a minute there.” She said, a small smile returning to her face.

Dash sighed. She hadn't noticed that she wasn't paying attention to Derpy.

“Sorry about that, I guess I just needed a minute to collect myself.”

The other Pegasus nodded in response.

“It's okay Dashie! I know stuff like this is hard but you don't have to do it alone.”

Draping her wing of the cyan mare, Derpy sighed. Knowing that it was getting late and Ditzy Doo was likely up and wreaking havoc for Lyra, who'd only offered because she felt sorry for Derpy being a single parent. She was used to it. Better this way the the snickers she suffered before Twilight had helped showed Ponyville how wrong it was to treat someone differently because of their problems. She had been so relieved the day that Twilight had helped her, it was fairly uncommon for a mare to raise a foal by herself but then again, she never knew when he was coming back, or when for that matter.

“Ya know Dash,” She spoke, startling the other mare, “I know that, sometimes, we feel like everything is against us. But it isn't like we have to do everything on our own.”

Dash looked at her friend, confused but nodding.

“Have ya thought about talking to Twilight, about this?”

Suddenly a renewed vigor found Dash a burst of energy, but of doubting confidence. She sat up quickly only to regret the sudden movement as she was incredibly dizzy.

“What could that egghead possibly do to help me out?”

Ditzy looked confused, not just because of her slightly lopsided eyes. She bit her lip a minute and acted like she had a secret she wasn't supposed to tell.

“Well, I promised I wouldn't say anything.” She said through a slightly parted lips.

This only encouraged Dash into a fervent slough of questions, most of which could only barely understood as speech. When the onslaught of syllables stopped, Derpy looked at Dash and only nodded in vain of her complete lack of understanding.

“Thanks so much Derpy! You really are a great friend!”

Dash went to take off, but a small, stifled sob stopped her speeding off.

“Derpy, what's wrong? What, did I say something wrong?”

The mail mare wiped a stray tear from her cheek. She wrapped her hooves around her friend and sobbed into her shoulder. Dash wasn't sure what to do, part of her was concerned that she'd upset her friend. The sound of sobbing slowly died down as the mare slowly regained her composure. Detaching herself from Rainbow she looked Rainbow in the eye.

“Do you mean it!?” Derpy's face was lit with what seemed like an endless smile.

“What?”

Derpy suddenly dropped her head, tears started to fall again but this time there was no sound. No movement, just tears falling from under a blonde mane.

“I should've known...” She shook her head, only settling once her mane was a frazzled mess of hair.

“Derpy, talk to me. You listened to me drone on for how long?”

Rainbow paused, waiting for a response from her friend. When there wasn't one she continued speaking, trying to help. Knowing that there was no way she would leave a friend like this.

“I'm sorry I started to take off so quickly. I should have at least said good bye.”

Taking a minute to move over, Rainbow draped her wing over the depressed mare.

“You spent so long listening to me...”

The sudden speech caught Dash off guard, though she stayed, holding her friend when she needed her. Waiting, in between sobs to hear what she needed to say.

“I thought that was what friends do?” Rainbow cut in quickly.

The other mare tackled Rainbow, beaming ear to ear with a smile that would make Pinkie Pie look sad. She hugged Rainbow so tightly it was almost impossible to breath. Worming her way out of the mare's strangle hold she was completely dumbfounded by what ever was happening in front of her. Waiting for some kind of explanation she sat and waited for Derpy to come down from what looked like the most intense sugar high of her life.

“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

Derpy was all but screaming at this point, incredibly excited even at this late hour of the night. Still beaming, Rainbow Dash could clearly see that her eyes were sparkling with a kind of happiness she'd only seen a few times in her life. Obviously the mare was thrilled for a reason but Raibow just couldn't figure it out.

“Uh... what did I do... exactly?”

Derpy calmed down, still obviously happy and looked Dash in the eyes.

“You said I was your friend!”

Dash breathed a sigh of relief, glad that nothing terrible had been done and that no feelings were hurt. Laughing a bit she replied the only way she knew how.

“Well, duh!” She paused, “We just spent hours talking about life with each and I'm pretty sure you just gave me the greatest idea ever to solve my problem. If that doesn't make you my friend, I dunno what does!”

Still beaming with happiness, Derpy was no longer teary eyed, but she worried that the smile on her face would be stuck that way for some time.

“Ya know, thank you Rainbow, I'm here for you no matter what. If you ever need anything, just let me know!”

Knowing that things between them were fine, Dash nodded her head in agreement and unfurled her wings. The late night air flowing between her feathers brought a shiver down her spine.

“Good night Rainbow. Thanks again for the chat, we should do this again sometime.”

Smiling, Rainbow replied. “That sounds like a great idea, I can definitely make time to hangout with someone as cool as you are. Just promise not to tell anypony about all this mushy stuff, gotta reputation to keep up.”

With a nod, Dash took off into the night sky leaving on the the smallest trace of a rainbow behind her in the nocturne sky. Derpy shivered and unfolded her wings, eager to get home for the night and take Ditzy off of Lyra's hooves. Besides which, she had something else to take care of now.

___________________________________________________________________________________

The flight to Lyra's only took a few minutes, where she found sleeping Ditzy Doo and Lyra, getting ready for work this coming morning. Then again, playing in a symphony didn't seem like much work to Derpy but who is she to say what's hard in life?

“Good morning Lyra!” Derpy said cheerily, “Hopefully she wasn't to difficult this time...”

Lyra looked up from her coffee mug and smiled, “Actually, she went to sleep just a little while after you dropped her off. I haven't heard anything other than the occasional mumble all night.”

A wave of relief passed over the mare, having been aptly worried that Ditzy might have broken something or caused some other mischief while she was away. She trotted over to her sleeping foal and wrapped her hooves around her. She looked over shoulder and saw Lyra, just watching.

“I know you didn't have to do this, Lyra. I appreciate it though. I really needed tonight and I'm supper glad you watched Ditzy for me tonight.” Stopping for a minute remembering something that had slipped her mind, “Oh! And if there is anything I can do for you, lemme know, I'll need to pay you back some how!”

Lyra sighed, she had known that Derpy would have tried to pay her for foal-sitting. If it hadn't been for Twilight insisting she helped out once in a while, Lyra wouldn't even have offered to watch Ditzy, though at the same time she certainly had felt that she helped. Which, for her was more than enough.

“No, no, no. It was no problem at all, you just be careful on our way home. Okay?”

“Not a problem.” Derpy said with a smile as she took off for her home.

On her way back to her house, Derpy nudged Ditzy awake hearing only muttered refusals and only made out one coherent sentence.

“But ma.... five... mor...” Ditzy sighed and curled up against her mothers hooves.

Arriving to her house just a few minutes after, Derpy unlatched the gate to her house and slipped inside. She set Ditzy down on her bed, covering her quickly while she ran to the kitchen, grabbing a quill, some ink and a piece of parchment. Quickly she trotted over to Ditzy's room and rocked Ditzy slightly until she woke up. Dazed and confused the foal sat up, rubbing her eyes from sleep.

“Morning momma...” She said, followed by a long yawn.

“I know it's really late, but momma needs your help with something.” Derpy surveyed her daughter, who automatically woke up at the thought of helping her Mom.

“Sure momma!” She replied, obviously excited to help out as best she could.

“Here.” Derpy said, sliding the supplies over to her daughter, “I could really use some help writing something, I'll make sure I don't use any big words so you can write okay?”

With the determination of a cockatrice in her eyes, Ditzy looked at her mom and simply said, “Not a problem momma, I can help! I promise I'll do my best!”

Picking up the parchment, quill in her mouth, Ditzy looked as ready as ever to write.

Derpy pulled her self together, trying to quell the exuberant happiness she felt, “Okay, here it goes.”

Dear Princess Celestia,

I know I haven't writen written anything to you in a long time but I have exciting news! For the first time ever, somepony called me their friend...

Ditzy had fallen asleep while she was writing, Derpy just sighed, puling the quill and parchment from Ditzy and throwing the blankets over her sleeping form. She climbed onto the bed next her daughter, nuzzling her neck and whispered as she drifted off to sleep.

“Maybe things will start to get better.”

Author's Note

I certainly hope this chapter is as good, if not better than those prior!

Can't wait to hear what ya'll have to say about this chapter!

To clarify though, this happens in the same time frame as the previous chapter.

Thanks for all of the attention everypony, I'm glad you enjoy my story! :D

Much appreciated,
Silent Echos