Life at Canterlot High

"Miss Rarity? Would you care for some extra towels?" Aloe asked, her usual politeness shining through.

Rarity, who was perfectly relaxed right now, simply smiled and gave a quick wave. "Oh no, that'll be quite alright, Miss Aloe. I have all I need right here." She patted the pile of towels beside her, prompting her host to smile before retreating back outside, making sure to close the door behind her as she did so. Rarity exhaled deeply, her contentment as clear as day. The spa of Canterlot was always one of her favorite places, but this right here, the steam room, was by far her top choice whenever she came here. Clad in a pristine white bath robe and slippers, CHS' resident fashion expert could not have been more relaxed right now, reclining into her side of the room-spanning chair and just letting the heat of the steam pass over her. But even in spite of this, there was one thought that gave her pause, causing a small sigh from her. "Oh, I do wish she'd be here already. I know she has chores to tend to, but still..."

As if to answer her concerns, the door of the steam room opened yet again. But this time, it was not the attentive Aloe, but rather the girl Rarity had been hoping to see from the start. Applejack was here now, and while the two were certainly happy to see one another, the farmer was currently, and rather amusingly, hopping on one foot as she entered. The reason for this was that she was trying to get her other slipper on while she was on the go, and this clearly displayed that she'd been in a hurry to get here. Closing the door, she finally breathed a sigh of relief, taking a seat a short distance from Rarity. "Sorry ah'm late, Rares."

But, much like with Aloe earlier, Rarity was unconcerned. "Think nothing of it, Applejack. I'm just glad you're here." She tapped her chin a couple of times. "In fact, I do believe this is the earliest you've ever managed to join me for our little spa days."

A chuckle from Applejack. "Well, Rainbow popped on over ta the farm earlier, an' with her speed it took no time at all ta get stuff done."

Rarity giggled. "I see. Perhaps you should ask her to help you with your work more often?"

To that, Applejack shook her head. "A fine notion, Rarity, but nah. Ah only said 'yes' to her offer today because ah knew ah had ta be here. Most of the time..." She smiled, flexing an arm and feeling her bicep. "Ah prefer the feel of an honest day's work. Feels right ta do it mahself, ya know?"

Rarity, taking a moment to ensure that the towel wrapped around her head was on properly, looked to her rustic colleague with a smile. "Well, far be it from me to criticize one for preferring to have a direct hand in things. I much prefer such ways myself whenever I work on my outfits."

Applejack snapped her fingers, pointing to her afterwards. "Oh yeah? How's that goin' anyhow?"

Rarity clapped her hands together. "Why it's been going wonderfully, darling! Miss Hemline has been very kind to my work. She even says my latest dress will be going into the front window next week!"

Applejack smiled. "Well, ya deserve it. Nobody there works as hard on them there clothes as you do, Rarity."

A blush crept onto the fashionista's cheeks, and she waved in Applejack's direction. "Oh stop! You're just saying that!"

But her friend shook her head. "Nope! Cross mah heart!"

After pausing for a moment, Rarity again smiled affectionately to her. "Well, I'm, grateful for the compliment. But really it's a group effort over there." Then her face lit up, and she squealed with delight. "Oh, and I almost forgot! I took my dear sister with me to work the other day."

Applejack looked to her with interest. "Sweetie? Didn't know she had an interest in fashion."

Rarity nodded enthusiastically. "I was as surprised as you, but she seemed rather interested in seeing where I work, so I asked Miss Hemline if it was alright to bring her. She was nice enough to agree, and so Sweetie spent the whole afternoon there with me, watching me do what I do."

Applejack chuckled. "Heck, maybe she'll try her hand at makin' dresses herself one day?"

Here, and to Applejack's confusion, Rarity grimaced somewhat. "Um...yes, that would...that would be simply wonderful." After seeing her blonde colleague look to her with increasing intensity, Rarity's shoulder slumped. "Oh, the thing is...she did try making an outfit. I suggested she try and emulate what I'd shown to her using some spare or discarded materials. You know, see how she did?"

Slowly, Applejack arched an eyebrow. "An'...ah'm guessin' it didn't turn out all that well?"

Rarity tried to put on a smile. "It wasn't that bad! She certainly had a fine grasp of...well she definitely displayed a real talent for..." After a while, she realised she couldn't keep it up, and so clasped both hands upon her cheeks. "Oh, who am I kidding, her dress was ghastly!"

In spite of her friend's mood, Applejack couldn't help but laugh. "Well, can't say ah'm surprised. Ask a girl who's never made a dress before ta suddenly make one? Yeah, that was never gonna turn out okay."

Accepting Applejack's words, Rarity sighed. "You're right, of course. I thought she might have the same talent I showed when I was her age, but...it seems her skills need some work."

To that, Applejack again looked to her with curiosity. "Did ya tell her ya didn't like the dress?"

As before, Rarity grimaced. "I didn't want to...but yes, I knew I had no choice but to be honest with her about it."

Applejack nodded, silently agreeing with the choice. "Glad ta hear it. Ah hope she weren't too upset?"

Here, Rarity actually seemed to perk up a little. "Not upset at all actually. Turns out she just enjoyed making it. She said afterwards she knew full well she hadn't made anything spectacular. The girl just had fun being a part of things."

Hearing that, Applejack smiled. "Good girl. She's got the right attitude fer it at least. Havin' fun instead o' bein' disappointed. Wonderful."

Crossing one leg over the other, Rarity nodded in agreement. "Indeed. And yourself? I trust Apple Bloom has been aiding you in your regular work as well?"

If Applejack had been wearing her hat right now, she'd have likely tipped it. "You betcha. There was a funny moment earlier today with it though. Ah wanted ta set mah necklace aside fer a moment an' offered it ta her ta hold onto. She looked downright terrified of it."

Rarity considered that. "Hmmm, well, it is a powerful magical item. Perhaps she was concerned about doing something wrong with it?"

Applejack shrugged. "Maybe..." She smiled again shortly afterwards. "Getting back ta our spa day, anythin' ya wanna do when we're done this here steam?"

Rarity giggled slightly, taking a moment to wave her face with some air. "Certainly, Applejack. I fully intend to enjoy every service the spa has to offer. Facials, massages, you name it."

Applejack chuckled. "Well, ah'd just be happy with a long steam personally."

Thinking on that, Rarity shuddered briefly. "Oh goodness no! I remember what happened the last time I tried having a steam too long. I ended up so pruny it took an entire extra day at this place to get all the crinkles out of me!"

Applejack knew she wasn't going to get a good reaction for doing so, but she still ended up smirking. "That'd be a sight ta see."

As expected, Rarity frowned to that. "Honestly, Applejack, you really need to learn to have a bit more delicacy about such things." Slowly, she developed a smirk of her own. "After all, should you get someone special in your life, you may well need to develop more of a sense of, how shall I say it...sugarcoating?"

This time, it was Applejack's turn to frown. "Apples stay honest, Rarity, an' y'all know it!" Then, she started looking a bit more mischievous, as a knowing smile came to her. "Besides, ah think we both know ah already have 'someone special' in mah life."

Instantly, Rarity looked to her with wide eyes. "Ooooooh! I hadn't expected to hear this kind of gossip today!" She scooted along the seat, bringing herself closer to her steam partner. "Do tell, Applejack! Whoever is this mystery beau of yours?"

Applejack looked her over, as if thinking she was kidding about that. So, after a moment, she elected to play along. "Well, ya really wanna know about her?"

Rarity nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yes indeed, darling!"

Leaning back into her side of the seat again, Applejack considered her words carefully, then smiled again. "Let's see...she's mighty pretty fer one thing. Ain't nobody in town who don't think she's a looker."

Rarity smiled devilishly. "Oh my! The rugged and outdoorsy Applejack falling for a sweet and fair maiden? Do continue!"

Applejack rolled her eyes before doing exactly that. "Ah can't think of anybody who don't like her. She goes out of her way ta help folks when she can. When they're down, she's always willin' ta help lift em up."

Rarity was growing increasingly interested, even scooting along even further. "Sounds like quite the lady. So selfless, so...so altruistic."

Applejack laughed again. "She sure is. Ah couldn't imagine not spendin' time with her. An' ah try an' get ta her as much as ah can these days."

Rarity again nudged herself closer, so she and Applejack were only a foot apart now. "I must confess, this sounds like quite the union. I'm surprised you're able to spend as much time with me if you also have someone that special to be with also."

Here, Applejack blinked a couple of times, looking to her friend carefully. Slowly, the feeling she'd had before, that Rarity knew exactly what she was talking about, began to fade away. Instead, she was given full realisation, and now recognised the complete obliviousness her friend had been displaying this entire time. So exasperated was she that she even slapped her forehead over it, much to Rarity's confusion. Afterwards, and after taking a few deep and calming breaths, Applejack looked to Rarity and spoke softly. "Rarity...allow me ta jus' come out an' say it...y'all already know who ah'm talkin' bout!"

Rarity was taken aback by that announcement, her hand gently placed upon her chest. "I...I do not believe I do, Applejack. In fact, I'm rather shocked at myself for not recognising this about you sooner. With all the time we've spent together, I'm fairly certain I should have at least noticed this special other half of yours. In truth, I'm a little disappointed in myself for failing to do so."

Applejack didn't know if she should be amused or just continue to be frustrated. So, in the end, she decided it was just time to ditch subtlety altogether, and like Rarity she too moved closer. Reaching out, she took Rarity's hand into her own, her thumb gently caressing the palm of the other. "Rarity...ya already know her."

Rarity looked to their holding hands, then to Applejack's face, and back and forth several times, before finally looking Applejack in the eye, her own eyes widening considerably. "Oh...oh!"

At last, Applejack smirked. "Okay, there we go!"

Predictably for a situation such as this, Rarity started to blush fiercely in her cheeks, and while she was certainly willing to close her fingers around the hand Applejack had given her, that didn't mean she wasn't still a little shocked. "Well...um...I must confess...I'm rather surprised you'd think...that."

As befitting a girl like Applejack, she shrugged. "What can ah say? All we've been through...how close we've been lately...guess it jus' kinda happened fer me."

Looking away, Rarity took her free index finger and twirled it through some of her hair. "Well, I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought the same thing. Though...don't think me unwilling, because...well..."

Then Rarity was further taken aback when she felt Applejack's other hand under her chin, slowly guiding her to look back at her, wherein the farm girl stared right into her eyes lovingly. "Ah know, Rarity...ah know."

The two stayed like this in silence for some time, and when it was over, Rarity suddenly started to look slightly worried. "So...how do we tell this to our friends?"

To that, Applejack once more rolled her eyes. "No offence, Rares...but ah think the girls were a bit better pickin' up on it than you were."

Rarity responded with a huff. "Hmph! Had we a couch together, you'd be sleeping on it after that one."