An Unexpected Proposal

Chapters

The Proposal
Logic?
The Answer

The Proposal

Rarity had absconded with not one, not two, but three of the gyms towels. One for her hair, one for her body, and one for toweling off. She had taken so long that both Rainbow Dash and Applejack has dried off and dressed by the time she came out of the showers. "Oh, darlings, were you two waiting for me?"

Applejack shook her head but Rainbow Dash nodded. The two shot glares at each other as Rarity giggled, undoing the lock to her locker as Rainbow Dash decided to try and stop any protests from her farm companion by speaking first. "Yeah, we had a question to ask you."

Applejack groused as she was beaten to the punch. "I think it can wait a bit."

Rarity was the one who answered that one. "Oh, come now, darling. It's nothing to be embarrassed by, we all have the same parts after all." Though she hadn't removed her towel yet, Rarity's meaning was obvious.

Applejack threw her arms in the air and turned. "Fine, you want to do this now you do this!"

Rainbow Dash frowned as Applejack walked away. "Hey AJ! We agree..."

"You pushed it!" Applejack grumbled as she walked to the other end of locker room and leaned against the wall, crossing her arms and watching.

Rainbow Dash grimaced a bit. That was Applejack. If there was a way she thought something was supposed to be done, she nigh refused to do it any other way. Though as Rainbow Dash looked back at Rarity she had to snicker. "What a supportive girlfriend I have, eh?" Rarity pressed her fingers to her lips as she snickered. Applejack scowled at her girlfriend. She knew it was a joke, but Applejack had an idea of things that shouldn't be joked about. As Rainbow Dash opened her mouth again Rarity waved her fingers in AJ's direction. Tilting her head in question Rainbow Dash asked without speaking.

Rarity rolled her eyes and turned away from Rainbow Dash, saying in a low voice, obviously to keep others from hearing. "Go apologize darling. Funny or not, it was still mean."

Rainbow Dash grumbled but turned as Rarity leaned up to the little mirror in her locker, examining herself closely after the shower. Grinning a bit sheepishly at Applejack, Rainbow Dash stuffed her hands in her pockets. "Hey."

"Hey."

Rainbow Dash grimaced a bit, why was she listening to Rarity? Applejack was her girlfriend, not Rarity's! Still... "You know I was kidding about that girlfriend thing, right."

"I know."

"So... We're cool, right?" Rainbow Dash raised a fist for a first bump. Applejack grimaced but raised her own fist to return the fist bump. After a few moments of silence Rainbow Dash sighed. "That really bothered you that much?"

"Mhmm."

Rainbow Dash puffed up for a moment before blowing out her breath and shaking her head, her shoulders slumped. "Ahh jeeze... Applejack..."

Applejack nodded. "You're sorry?"

Rainbow Dash frowned in annoyance. "You could at least let me say it."

Applejack smiled gently and leaned in, giving her sporty girlfriend a soft kiss on the cheek. One that Rainbow Dash was legitimately surprised by, Applejack didn't tend to go for public displays of affection. "Well to be honest, just you havin' the idea to apologize is nice. And rare."

The smile had turned into a smirk as Rainbow Dash grunted in irritation. "Yeah, wasn't exactly my idea..."

Applejack's eyes wandered over to Rarity and she smirked a bit herself. "Having a buffer wouldn't be the worst idea ya know."

Rainbow Dash grinned a bit wickedly. "A buffer for fighting... And f..." Applejack made a chopping motion with her hand and glared at Rainbow Dash who raised her hands defensively. "Okay, okay, sorry. No more dirty jokes for the day."

"The weekend." Applejack grinned, Rainbow Dash usually noticed when she pushed the jokes a little too far for Applejack's comfort.

Rainbow Dash shook her head. "Keep dreaming farm girl."

Applejack chuckled a bit. "I'll take what I can get."

"So we going to wait for her to finish? We should get our last creeping in."

"Speak for yourself."

Rainbow Dash was surprised to notice that an unknown time ago Applejack had closed her eyes. Not that that was truly required. Rarity was an expert in dressing while shielding her self with her towel, despite her earlier teasing, she was very particular about her privacy. "So, after she's finished?"

Applejack nodded, eyes still closed as she waited. Rainbow Dash shrugged and watched Rarity out of the corner of her eye. Mostly to know when she was finished... Mostly. An annoyingly long wait, at least for Rainbow Dash. She didn't care for all that make up stuff that Rarity liked. At least Rarity went easy on it at the gym. "She's done."

As Applejack opened her eyes as Rarity approached, smiling happily at her two friends. "So, darlings, what can I do for you two?"

Applejack looked at Rainbow Dash and raised an eyebrow. Rainbow Dash grinned and shook her head. "Well me and AJ wanted to talk to you about our relationship."

Rarity's eyes widened and she shook her head. "Oh dear! I'll help however I can! What's the problem? Is it Rainbow Dash being mean?"

Rainbow Dash scowled and Applejack couldn't keep herself from shaking with, mostly, suppressed laughter. "No. No. It's not that Rarity..." the rest of Applejacks sentence was cut off by more chuckling.

Rainbow Dash glared at both of them and shook her head. "Sheesh, what do you say about me when I'm not here?"

While Applejack kept laughing Rarify nodded, looking apologetic. "You're right, darling, I'm sorry. What is it?"

Rainbow Dash tried to start again. She was bold, and awesome, but asking your longtime friend to date you and your girlfriend was a step... "Well... We were wondering, Rarity..." Rarity nodded attentively, waiting for the request. "If you would... Be interested in taking our relationship to the next level...?"

Applejack grinned as Rainbow Dash was about as vague as possible. But Rarity gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "You're getting married!?" Both Rainbow Dash and Applejack jerked back at that conclusion. "And you want me to be your wedding planner!? Oh dar...!"

"We ain't gettin' married!" Applejack cut in before Rarity could get any further down that rabbit hole. She grumbled, she was planning on leaving this to Rainbow Dash as Applejack was less than subtle about most things... But apparently Rainbow Dash wanted to beat around the bush... And Applejack could only guess where Rarity's third guess would lead her. "Rainbow Dash and I talked, ok?" Rarity nodded, now frowning as she tried to puzzle out where the entire conversation was going. "After some..." Applejack glances at Rainbow Dash who, remembering the trigger had the decency to look abashed. "Less than subtle hints Dash dropped that she knew I used to have a crush on you."

Rarity giggled gently. "Oh that's perfectly normal dar..." She gasped and covered her mouth, again. "Oh no! Did I cause you two to fight!? I'm sorry dar..."

"Can ya let me finish!?" Rarity nodded and made the zipping your mouth shut and throwing away the key gesture. "Well first I thought she was just teasin'. Then she suggested maybe inviting you over for a... 'sleep over'" Rarity started to blush as she covered her mouth for the third time. "But I said no." Rarity nodded. "Then after some digging I kinda got her to admit she liked ya too..."

Rarity's eyes flicked between her two friends. Her cheeks almost crimson and even Rainbow Dash knew to take a moment and let Rarity adjust. And after a moment Applejack continues. "So with Dash's clumsy phrasin' earlier..."

"Hey!" Rainbow Dash cut in. "It wasn't clumsy! It meant exactly what we're asking!"

"It wasn't clear! That's why I had t..." Applejack shot an annoyed glare at her girlfriend.

"I had it under control and you interru... Woah Rarity!" Rainbow Dash and Applejack both lunged forward to catch the fainting violet that was Rarity. Rainbow Dash grimaced. "We really should have seen this coming."

Applejack grimaced and nodded. "Let's get her over to the bench." They rather easily carried her over to the bench. "So... Uh... Should we get someone? Is this dangerous?" Rainbow Dash started to shake her head until someone else answered for her, at least indirectly.

"I better not be on the floor..." both Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked down at Rarity. "Before I put my foot in my mouth were we talking right before I fainted or was that all a part of a dream?"

Applejack cleared her throat, a little self conscious about saying it again, concerned that Rarity might react poorly, again. But Rainbow Dash had no such convictions as she grinned. "We were talking about the three of us maybe shacking up."

Rarity flushed again and Applejack looked up angrily. "Rainbow Dash!"

"What!? I was just saying..."

"Darlings, please!" They both looked down at Rarity as she started to sit up. Rarity couldn't stop her cheshire grin as both her friends bent down to help her. She could get used to this. She shook her head a bit. "Goodness you two. I didn't pay it much mind before but are you always this bad."

Applejack snickered and shook her head. "Nah, Rainbow Dash just likes puttin' on a show is all. She doesn't want everyone to know she's downright sweet at times."

Rainbow Dash glared at the farm girl. "Hey! I am not!"

Rarity giggled but raised a hand to stop Applejack from responding. "Darlings, please, fighting isn't really helping your case."

Applejack frowned a bit. "Our case?"

Rainbow Dash shook her head, smirking. "She means her joining our little ménage à tro..."

"Rainbow Dash! Dirty jokes ain't helpin' either!" Applejack scowled at her sporty friend who almost started another fight. Thankfully Rarity was sitting right between them so that took a few moments for her to consider before just dropping it.

Rarity giggled as she glanced between the two. "You know, a stick just keeping you two at a certain distance might work just as well." She stood up, brushing herself off. While normally they would have taken exception at the statement, both Rainbow Dash and Applejack let it slide while waiting for an answer, looking at Rarity expectantly. Rarity noticed and snickered slightly. "Darlings, you really don't expect me to give you an answer immediately do you?"

Rainbow Dash nodded and even Applejack looked expectant, though she was quick to wipe that off her face. "Ahh... No, of course not sugar cube..."

Rainbow Dash frowned at her girlfriend before the elbow to her ribs made her take the hint. "Oh! Right! Yeah, we were just... Uh... Telling you. You can take as long as you need." Rainbow Dash faltered for a moment before grinning, bringing her fingers up and doing finger guns to Rarity. Which elicited a groan and facepalm from Applejack, and a cascade of giggles from Rarity.

"You two are just terrible liars." Rarity shook her head, still giggling slightly as she turned on the spot. "But really, darlings, it's flattering. And I'm not by default opposed to the concept. And as you know I do have a certain... Predilection that you both fit."

Rainbow Dash grinned and nodded. "Hah! That's right!"

Applejack on the other hand stared dumbfounded. "Uh... I thought you liked guys and girls?" It was Rainbow Dash's turn to groan and facepalm, and again Rarity started to giggle.

"AJ! She means she likes people with muscles." To make her point Rainbow Dash flexed, grinning at her farm friend who nodded, that did make sense.

Rarity shrugged and grinned. "Well, it's less so the muscles, and more the strength. Which is why I still go for girls more often than guys. I like to think that my girlfriend could protect fragile ol' me!"

While Rainbow Dash was busy posing both Rarity and Applejack snickered. Rainbow Dash frowned. "Hey, what's so funny?"

Applejack grinned and flicked a finger between them in turn, starting at Rainbow Dash. "Speed."

"Yeah?"

Applejack flicked her finger at herself. "Strength."

"Yeah?"

Applejack flicked her finger at Rarity. "Impenetrable diamond things."

"Ah!" Rainbow Dash started to chuckle too. "Well I still like to think we could protect her. I'd kick their butts and you'd get her to safety!" As Applejack and Rarity started to laugh again Rainbow Dash sighed. "What is it this time?"

It was Rarity's turn to point at things, this time Rainbow Dash. "Speed..."

"Ok! Ok! I got it!" Rainbow Dash huffed and crossed her arms, mumbling to herself. "I'm awesome at protecting people..."

Applejack grinned a bit and punched her girlfriend lightly in the arm. "You have all that experience guarding things don't you?" Rainbow Dash laughed, but only at how bad the sport reference was.

Rarity smiled as she walked over and picked up her bag. She smiled to herself as she put the strap over her shoulder. Pretty soon she might have someone to carry the bag for her! If they were going to the same gym after a... Wait a minute... Rarity turned violently on her two friends who were gently jostling each other. "You perverts!" Both of them froze as Rarity stormed towards them, her face contorted in anger. "You two have been coming all the way out here to peek at me haven't you!?"

"N-Nah! Rarity! We were just..." Applejack put her hands up placatingly as Rarity shoved her finger right into her friends face... And Applejack thought she had it handled until Rainbow Dash felt the need to 'help'.

"Only in the gym!" Both the girls stared turned their heads to stare. Applejack in disbelief, and Rarity still looking furious. "We weren't spying in the showers of locker room. I swear. I mean, I'm a sports player, if I did that, I wouldn't be on any teams...! What?" She had now noticed Applejacks glowering at her and Rarity glaring.

But a few moments later Rarity giggled and shook her head. "Do you really think I look that good?" She leaned back and gave herself a once over. "I have been hoping that working out's been paying off... It's hard to do without getting all... Disgusting." When she noticed her two friends staring at her she snickered as she turned again. "I am an actress darlings. If I couldn't pretend to be angry I wouldn't be a very good one." She grinned and walked towards the door, deciding to give them one last shot before leaving. "Besides, it's be quite hypocritical for me to be angry with you over that."

The two echoed their question. "Huh?"

Rarity grinned over her shoulder at her two friends. "Really darlings, you don't think I watch your games or help granny during the apple seasons just because we're friends, do you?"

The two girls started at the closed locker room door for longer than either would have admitted.

Logic?

"Fluttershy! Darling! You won't believe the news I have!" Rarity smiled as she laid back on her large, plush bed, sinking a good inch into its soft embrace.

"Rarity..." Fluttershy sounded even more timid over the phone, if that was somehow possible. "Y-You know I don't really like to gossip..."

Rarity giggled and shook her head, even though Fluttershy couldn't see her. "It's not gossip darling, I promise. It's about me! Well, me and Applejack and Rainbow Dash."

Fluttershy, on her side of the phone call, sighed in relief. "Oh! Goody! What is it?"

Rarity smiled, she felt like being dramatic, and cliché. "Are you sitting down dear? It'd probably be a good idea."

Fluttershy giggled, but then after a moment of Rarity not talking she realized that the suggestion was serious. "Oh, you're serious?" At an affirmative sound from Rarity Fluttershy sought out a chair. After a lot of meows, chirps, and other animals sounds of protest Fluttershy was ready. "Ok, I'm sitting down."

Rarity smiled as she took a deep breath. "Rainbow Dash and Applejack asked me to be a thruple with them."

"Uh... That's... Great Rarity...?" Fluttershy had no idea what she had just been told. "I'm... Not sure what that means..."

Rarity rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Darling, we really need to get you dating." The meep from the other side was audible and Rarity hastened to assure Fluttershy. "But that's not what this call is about! A thruple is like a couple, only with three people."

Rarity could veritably hear the frown in Fluttershy's voice as she processed the information. "You... Rainbow Dash... And Applejack all... Dating each other?"

Rarity giggled and nodded. "Oh yes. They asked me at the gym today."

"What did you say? Did you...? I mean are you three now?"

Rarity shook her head, then remembered she was on the phone. "I haven't decided anything darling. It is an interesting idea I must say. But there are... Risks, also those two aren't the most... Hm... Stable of relationships I could get myself into."

"Don't say that Rarity! They're really good for each other!" Fluttershy would always defend her friends... Even if she had to stretch her definitions.

"I'm not trying to be mean darling. But even you must admit they've had their rough patches over the years. Remember one month after they started dating? They had that yelling match and half the school started taking sides?"

Fluttershy paused for a long moment, obviously unsure if she should point out the next part. But she eventually came to a decision. Though it took long enough for Rarity to check her phone to make sure she hadn't accidentally hung up. "Uh... But Rarity, aren't you the one that got them to make peace?"

Rarity frowned at her phone. She would have accused Fluttershy of purposely leading the conversation except that Rarity had bright the fight up. And, except, well... It was Fluttershy. "Mmm... True. Though I'm not sure it'd be good for anyone if I was just the referee."

Fluttershy giggled on the other side of the phone line. "Is that all you'd be?" Rarity frowned in confusion before Fluttershy continued. "Don't you find them pretty?"

Rarity snorted a bit through her nose. "Well of course I do, darling. Well, I'm not so sure 'pretty' would be right there dear. You and Twilight are pretty." She could only grin as she imagined Fluttershy's blush at that. "Pinkie's a... Very special form of cute. But Rainbow Dash and Applejack... Well and Sunset. They're... I'd put them closer to sexy than pretty."

The silence was longer this time, but now Rarity knew the exact reason. She did like to tease Fluttershy a bit, but she didn't usually purposely put her friend out, unless she went poking, then turn about was fair play. Though Fluttershy was trying to help so Rarity wouldn't poke too hard. "Are you ok over there, darling? Do I need to call your mom?" Fluttershy snorted at that, she had just moved out of her parents home a month ago and having her mom called to check on her would be quite insulting... Though that wasn't Rarity's only idea... "You know... I think Trixie lives around you... I could call he..."

"Don't you dare!" Rarity snickered at the desperate tone in Fluttershy's voice, only she could sound commanding and pleading at the same time.

Rarity took pity on her friend. "Ok, ok, I'll stop teasing. But really, it's a wonder Trixie hasn't noticed with how obvious you are." She waved a hand dismissively, even if Fluttershy couldn't see her it was still a habit. "But anyway, I'd be all for talking about getting you a date, but I don't think that's where you want this conversation going, do you?" The quiet sound of agreement was about all Rarity would get, she knew. "Well, you seem to be a mark on the "for it" list?"

"Mhmm." Though after a moment Fluttershy had to ask. "Wait... You're not actually making a list are you?"

Rarity giggled gently. "Oh, no darling. At least not literally, I just wanted to... Feel out the rest of the group. I know it's my slash their lives but we are a group, and I wouldn't want to make anyone uncomfortable. Or maybe... Stepp on anyone's toes..."

Fluttershy sighed. "For the... I'm not into Rainbow Dash! We're friends!" Fluttershy was exasperated and Rarity could only giggle. While she was sure that Fluttershy had at one time had a crush on her main protector she knew that Fluttershy didn't actually have a thing for Rainbow Dash, it was still fun to tease her about though. Fluttershy had calmed down from her little outburst. "That was mean Rarity..."

"I'm sorry Fluttershy, but it's just so funny to hear you blow up like that!" Rarity was still snickering when Fluttershy decided to get a little revenge. But only a little, she was still Fluttershy.

"So since you know I'm not going to object, are you going to say yes?"

The simple act of moving the conversation back onto Rarity's own drama made her groan gently. "Ugh, I really am just using this call to avoid making a decision aren't I?" Rarity could outright imagine Fluttershy's smile, nod, and accompanied agreement as it came through the phone. "I don't suppose talking to you abut it more will help me will it?"

"Probably not too much... I'd help if I could Rarity..."

"Yes, yes, but you really can't make this decision for me. Thank you darling, but this falls to me it seems." Rarity sat up, smiling and looking over towards her desk. "I suppose that I could start by making a list. A real one about the good and bad..."

Fluttershy whined gently. "But what about love Rarity...?"

Rarity smiled but shook her head. "Fluttershy, darling, you have a crush on Trixie, have you confessed?" The silence was all the answer she needed. "I'm not trying to be pokey here, dear. I just meant hat love is... Love is important, but compatibility is too. I mean, I love both of them already." The gasp made Rarity roll her eyes. "Not like that! I mean that I love them both as friends. And that could be romantic if I allowed it. But if I allowed it to grow and it had to die... That would hurt a lot more than if I just went somewhere else..."

"I understand Rarity..."

Rarity smiled" But thanks for the talk. It helped." Rarity hung up after Fluttershy's own goodbyes. Sighing she bit her bottom lip and rubbed her temples in annoyance. She had, of course, had those thoughts about her friends. She was a healthy young woman, but she hadn't ever thought that they might go this far. Well that wasn't fair, she'd always considered if a relationship between her and one of her friends might work, but currently they were all taken save for Fluttershy, who was at the same time hiding from any possible relationship and pining over her high school crush, Trixie. She shook her head as she made a throwing away gesture with her hand. That wasn't the concern right now, she could fairly easily find another possible girlfriend, or boyfriend.

Admittedly it could be a rocky road, but she had many friends that would probably be interested. She knew Octavia was recently single, and while not physically to Rarity's exact preferences she was still extremely pretty. Rarity tapped her lips absently as her mind started to wander down that road, Aloe, Lotus, Moon Dancer, Muffins... She shook her head, hard, trying to clear it of those thoughts. They weren't bad thoughts, but she was again just distracting herself from her current issue. If she decided against joining in on Rainbow Dash and Applejack's relationship then she could come back to this, but right now she was obviously just avoiding the issue. She sighed as she sat down at her desk. She pulled out a notebook and smirked as she made a pros and cons list. Not the most romantic thing in the world, but she didn't have supremely strong romantic feelings for her friends. But that was because she hadn't let herself more than that they couldn't exist.

A short time later Rarity tapped her lips with her pen and looked at her list. She had managed to come up with numerous reasons on both sides, but the cons were a couple ahead of the pros. As she sat back, tacking her mind one last time before shaking her head. She couldn't think of another pro or another con. She took a long moment and sighed as she looked down at the list. Biting her bottom lip as she shifted in her seat. Wells, she was five ahead in the cons, she really should take her plan seriously and not accept. She was sure the two would be a bit put out for a while, then accept it happily and they'd all be friends. After taking a moment, and accepting that, she reached out and knocked the entire notebook off her desk and into her garbage bin. "Whoopsie, clumsy me." As she leaned over she flipped it to a new page, a blank page. Frowning down at her notebook she shook her head. "Well, that's odd, I could have sworn I filled out a list..." She snickered as she picked her pen up again, and made the list again, pros and cons.

A short time Rarity she just sighed again, flipping back through the pages of her notebook, they had a little pros and cons list on each page, she had filled up ten pages with the damn things. And while they fluctuated between one and five, they all came out with the cons winning. She shook her head slowly and sighed. "Ok Rarity, you've tried to cheat enough. That's definitely not worth the risk." She closed her notebook and checked the time. It was too late to call her friends, she could text them, but something like this deserved at least a call. She would have said it deserved a meeting for most people, but Rainbow Dash didn't like other's seeing her being sad and Rarity thought that the news might upset her. And Applejack didn't like others seeing her being emotional at all. So calling the two would probably be kinder than meeting them in person, even in private.

Rarity did pick up her sketch pad up as she walked over to her bed, yawning widely as she laid down to do some absently sketching before she fell asleep. She smiled as she looked about her room. She had her own apartment, a promising career in fashion and she was hot. She was a good catch, she'd be able to find someone. She really should start looking. She'd give it a week or two after she told Rainbow Dash and Applejack no, of course. But after that... Well, Octavia, Aloe, or some others. She'd have to start scouting her choices. Spitfire was quite athletic too... Rarity grinned a wicked grin and started to sketch a few dresses. They were designed for the more sporty amongst women. Still feminine, but not too much so, she knew that Spitfire preferred less frill and more... Function. not that a dress really was functional but still.

After spending a half an hour or so on designs that could be for Spitfire, or any sporty girl, Rarity remembered that she promised Sweetie Belle she'd design a dress for her and her friends. She considered for a long moment before deciding to start on the simplest dress, Apple Bloom's. She started to sketch something a bit more plain. Apple Bloom was more into fashion than her sister, but she still wasn't deep into fashion like Sweetie Belle and Rarity were. Something functional and pretty. A color that matched that cute blonde hair of hers, those green eyes. She kept on sketching, noting colors because she didn't have any colored pencils with her. After another half an hour she yawned widely and had to accept that it was time for her to sleep. She put her sketchpad aside to deal with in the morning and went to sleep.

Rarity woke up a bit irritated, remembering her decision from last night but she knew, logically, it was the better one. Not to risk their friendship over something more likely to fail than succeed. She picked up her sketch pad and flipped through it to see what she'd worked on the previous night, it got a little fuzzy at the end there when she was extra tired. As she did she frowned. Flipping back a few pages she realized that she'd drawn a few dresses more for Rainbow Dash than Spitfire... Actually they were all for rainbow Dash. She flipped ahead and again as she looked at the dresses for Apple Bloom they were actually Applejack... Not even the colors were for Apple Bloom! Let alone the styles! Rarity groaned loudly. "Come on brain, you know this isn't a good idea!"

Flipping to the last filled out page Rarity frowned at it for a long, long moment. "Well, I'm overstating it, but I'm not wrong." She tossed the sketchpad aside and grabbed her phone. Taking her night gown off and throwing it at her hamper, not even checking that it got in she walked towards her shower. She stopped just long enough to make two calls. One to Applejack, and one to Rainbow Dash. They had to talk face to face, in an hour.

Rarity's sketchpad teetered where it had been carelessly thrown before flopping to the ground. Still open to the last page from the previous evening. Another pros and cons table had been started, but neither side had any tallies in them. The pros side was circled to indicate that it was the winner, and written over the entire thing was the phrase. "Because I love them."

The Answer

Rarity tapped her coffee impatiently as she looked around. She was a bit irritated that her two friends weren't here already. It really wasn't their fault, she had picked her favorite coffee place, a stupidly overpriced little waste of money that she should never come back to! Rarity took a deep breath, shaking her head. She was just feeling nervous and taking it out on the lovely little bistro. She also couldn't be mad at her friends. Well, at least not Applejack, she lived half an hour away from the shop. But Rainbow Dash could have been here two minutes after getting Rarity's call! Where did that girl get off making her wait!

Tapping her foot as she took a drink she checked her phone for the fifth time that minute. No new messages, no missed calls, and not even the minute number had risen. She shook her head with a low growl. She really should calm, but she was nervous that she was about to make a huge mistake. She had decided, against all logic to say yes. But if she was honest she didn't want to follow logic! She wanted to... Well, she wanted to see both her friends flourish in their relationship, and she'd love to be a part of that.

As much as the two annoyed each other at times they really did care for each other. Rarity snickered as she remembered the times she or their other friends had played referee between the two. Though after thinking about it, Fluttershy wasn't wrong, Rarity was quite often the one playing referee. Though that was more just chance. Twilight (their Twilight) was too socially inept to help, Fluttershy was too shy and Pinkie Pie was too... Pinkie Pie to help when it was serious. When it wasn't a cupcake here and there worked just as well. Sunset... Where had Sunset been during those fights. She had often helped too. But... Mostly when Rarity wasn't around and... Rarity's eyes widened before she scowled. "Oh you tricky, tricky girl... We're going to be having a talk about this Sunset..."

Though tempted to call Sunset immediately she didn't for two reasons. One that she knew she should wait a bit, and stop being annoyed by her friends maneuvering. And she obviously couldn't be on the phone when Rainbow Dash and Applejack arrived! Though Rarity did like that she had given herself home game play advantage... That was what Rainbow Dash called it anyway, or at least, something like that. But now she was realizing that she really shouldn't have, it made her wait for so long!... And it did come off a little rude, but she was the one that had been ambushed the other day so it was her right to be a bit demanding! Especially when... She sighed to herself. She was giving them exactly what they wanted. Rarity wanted it too but she wouldn't have ever thought of broaching the subject so they obviously wanted it more so she was doing them a favor! Rarity nodded at the thoughts, it made sense.

Rarity grinned as she saw a flash of rainbow colors outside the shop. Rainbow Dash was here first, of course. Rarity sat up a little straighter and straightened her dress. She'd put on her most alluring outfit on. Well, most alluring outfit that was for every day use, she had some magnificent dresses, but going to a coffee shop in one... So she had chosen a relatively simple, conservative dress. Well, maybe a little less conservative than she normally would have chosen... She did believe there was an art to being alluring, and it didn't have to do with revealing a lot of skin. Well, in private that was a perfectly viable option, and in certain situations yes, it was the proffered way. But in public, and especially when you hadn't yet reached a serious and stable stage in a relationship it was the teasing that was the best way to be alluring. A nice dress that hugged more than it revealed, that... Rarity frowned as she realized her plan kind of was ruined... They'd gone to school together. She'd never have accused Rainbow Dash of purposefully peeking, and Applejack was so conservative that she changed in the bathroom stalls and wore her suit in the showers. She would never have peeked, purposefully or not. Rarity sighed and shrugged a little, well she still knew she was alluring enough but that did put a damper on her plans. Not much of one but still... She blinked as she realized her mind had been wandering and she looked around quickly, starting to stand to wave Rainbow Dash over to her.

Only to find that Rainbow Dash wasn't in the shop. Rarity frowned as she sat back down and looked about. "Is she in the bathroom?" After a moment though Rarity caught a glimpse of Rainbow Dash leaning against one of the parking signs, waiting outside. For a moment Rarity could only frown, but then she grinned as she realized what was going on. She couldn't help but giggle in delight at that. Rainbow Dash was waiting for Applejack before going in. If the two had done something so cute in front of her before they invited her to joined she would have given them their most hated sound, an "awwwwwww." But now it was a lot more touching than cute. Rarity smiled and mentally added a little tick in the pro columns from last night. Not that those really mattered as she had decided to ignore them all and just do what she wanted no matter if it was logical or not, but still, it was nice to have the column's more even. And even tied in one of her lists, though she couldn't really remember how that one came out so close.

Rarity was, mostly calmly, playing with her fancy coffee as her mind wandered, waiting for Applejack. A coffee drink that would have made the other two girls groan if they had been there for her order. She liked the fancy rinks, they liked simple coffee. Admittedly at least Rainbow Dash had the the taste to sweeten her coffee with sugar and cream. And would once and a while let Rarity order one of those fancier coffees she wouldn't admit to liking publicly. But Applejack... Rarity shuddered as she could almost hear Applejack say "Black." Rarity frowned a little, that was a bit too realistic to... She looked up and grinned, there were Rainbow Dash and Applejack ordering their coffee at the counter before coming over to her. Rarity nodded her approval, you didn't come into a store without giving them business, that was just rude. She waved them over and caught Rainbow Dash's eye. She tugged on Applejack's sleeve and motioned with her head. Applejack, even from the distance nodded as she glanced over, then did a double take as she saw Rarity. Rarity could only smile in a self satisfied manner as her dress got the desired result.

Rainbow Dash pulled out the chair across from her sharply, flipping it around and sitting down, resting her arms over the back of the chair. Applejack, for her part, pulled out the other one, calmly, and sitting in it the traditional way. Rainbow Dash couldn't stop grinning as she eyed Rarity up and down. "Well, how do you do miss fancy pants?"

Rarity stuck her tongue out at her friend as Applejack spoke. "It's real pretty, Rarity."

Rarity favored her farm friend with a wide smile and bobbed her head in thanks. "Well thank you, darling. At least someone here knows the proper way to treat a lady." That brought snickers from Rainbow Dash and Rarity gave her a small smirk. "Do be careful, darling." Rainbow Dash cocked an eyebrow and Rarity gave an elegant shrug, as if she was completely unconcerned. "Well, you're still hoping for an affirmative answer to your question..."

Rainbow Dash snorted out of her nose. "Don't try to feed me that crap Rarity." Rarity blinked at the reaction and Applejack gave her girlfriend a sidelong glance. "You wouldn't ask us to meet you in public in that pretty little number only to turn us down. And you wouldn't let me teasing you over it make up your mind. I mean you're petty but you're not that..."

Rarity threw her arms up, indignantly. "Fine! Sheesh, but did you really have to call me petty? And you ruined my entire reveal! I had an entire speech worked out and everything!"

Rainbow Dash smiled and Applejack tried to cut in to make peace. "Well, I'd still really like to hear your speech, Rarity." The genuine smile that Applejack favored her with made Rarity just sigh.

"I was... Exaggerating, darling." Rarity groused as Rainbow Dash shook with suppressed laughter. It was all the funnier because Applejack had just taken Rarity at her word and believed that she actually had a speech, she wasn't trying to catch Rarity out in a lie.

Applejack had to grin too, though she didn't find it as funny, it was still amusing to watch the two compete like that. "Ahh, well sugar cube, do you want to say it proper like then? I'd really like to hear it."

Rarity frowned for a moment as she had jut said she didn't have a speech, but then she realized what Applejack must have meant. "Oh, right!" She straightened herself up and smiled at her two friends. "I would love to be in a relationship with you two. Provided we take it slow and talk about it first."

The whoop from Rainbow Dash interrupted all the other diners and Applejack rolled her eyes. "Now really, did ya have to be so loud, Rainbow Dash?"

Rarity was also scowling at the speedster. "Darling, I wish you wouldn't call attention to us."

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. "So what?"

Rarity wrinkled her nose slightly. "What if people saw us and made assumptions?"

"So what?" Rainbow Dash repeated.

Rarity blinked and then frowned as she wondered exactly what the issue would've been. "Huh..." Rarity hadn't ever before worried about someone thinking she was more than friends with her friends. And now that it was true she worried... She shook her head to clear it, grinning. Just one of the things to get used to she guessed.

Applejack grinned as she leaned back. "I agree with Rarity." She raised a hand to stop any protests. "I just mean about you bein' so loud."

Rainbow Dash shrugged and leaned back in her chair. "Fine, if you two want to be wet blankets I'll quiet down. Though we should go out and celebrate tonight!"

Applejack chuckled a little as Rarity shifted. "Dash, sugar cube, remember taking it slow?"

Rainbow Dash wrinkled her nose and Rarity giggled gently at the distaste of the word slow. "Ugh, fine. How about we celebrate in tonight then?" As the other two opened their mouths, Applejack looking irritated and Rarity blushing Rainbow Dash cut them both off. "I meant with dinner!"

Rarity smiled gently though Applejack continued to scowl. "I wouldn't believe her, sugar cube. Rainbow Dash constantly makes dirty jokes. She gets worse when the rest of the girls aren't around."

Rarity's smile turned into a smaller grin as she looked over to Rainbow Dash. "You'll behave, right darling?"

Rainbow Dash grinned and nodded. "Oh, I'll behave. I'll..." Rainbow Dash leaned forwards. "Behave." The way Rainbow Dash said the last word made it filthy... Kind of. Though neither Rarity or Applejack could have guessed what exactly Rainbow Dash was trying to suggest with it.

"Uh..." Applejack and Rarity both glanced at each other.

Rainbow Dash chuckled, shrugging. "Well I didn't have much to work with. So I work with what I have."

Rarity couldn't help but giggle gently. "Ok, darling, that's adorable. But if you could really behave...?"

Rainbow Dash crossed her arms and nodded, though she gave a small harrumph. "Yeah, yeah, fine. Sheesh, you two as the like I'm doing something wrong... And I'm not adorable, by the way. I'm hot."

AJ scowled a little. "Well, sugar cube... it's just..."

Rarity started at the same time. "You didn't darling, I mean it's just..." the two glanced at Each other and Applejack smiled, Rarity giggled, and Rarity made a small go on gesture.

Applejack smiled at Rainbow Dash. "Just not everyone is so... Open about private times Dash, we talked about this."

Rainbow Dash gave another small harrumph but nodded. "Yeah... Yeah... I get it, I just..." Rainbow Dash Gabe a small shrug and grinned at her friends, her girlfriends. "I just think it's funny, ok?"

Rarity smiled and nodded, though AJ still rolled her eyes, she was obviously ok with letting it lie. Rarity clapped her hand happily, causing her two companions to raise their eyebrows. Applejack asking, "what's got you so perky sugar cube?"

"We just had our first fight! Kinda. But I like how it ended so I'm calling it that!" Rarity bounced absently one her seat. Though Rainbow Dash and Applejack obviously thought Rarity was acting slightly crazy, they were both happy with the fact that she was happy.

Applejack leaned forward. "So, you free tonight, sugar cube? In a normal, calm," she grinned and glanced over at Rainbow Dash, "fully clothed," Rainbow Dash snickered loudly and Rarity blushed gently, but smirked too, "dinner at our place tonight?"

Rarity nodded as she grinned, leaning back. "Yes, I think I might be able to find some time... If you two are planning on behaving."

Applejack grinned and glanced at Rainbow Dash. "She's talking about you, sugar cube."

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out. "Yeah, yeah. I'll be good."

Rarity grinned as she pulled out her phone and furiously started to type into it. "When? What'll we have? Should I bring something? Oh! When should we tell the girls? I mean... I half told Fluttershy already but..." She looked up at the other two staring at her and she grinned, putting her phone down for the moment. "Perhaps we should calmly discuss these things over dinner after you two... And I... Have had a time to think about everything more thoroughly?"

The two smiled and nodded, and Rarity stood up with her coffee, surprising them. Rainbow Dash held up a hand. "Rares? Doesn't mean we can't finish our coffee."

Rarity shook her head, smiling. "Oh, I'm sorry, darlings. I just spent so much time fretting last night I have some work I have to get done if I don't have this evening free!" The two nodded, and they both stood up, with hugs being exchanged all around Rarity considered, before leaving a quick kiss on each of her two companions cheeks, and quickly running out.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack both grinned as they watched her run out, glancing at each other. "This is going to be interesting." Rainbow Dash observed.

Applejack nodded agreement. "Yep."