FiMFriction

by MyOpinionIsSuperior

Rating: everyone
Tags: Slice of Life, Romance, Comedy
Length: 18297

A bet with Shining Armor pushes Princess Cadence into the ultimate challenge: finding a date for the Elements of Harmony in time for her Hearts and Hooves Gala.

A bet with Shining Armor pushes Princess Cadence into the ultimate challenge: finding a date for the Elements of Harmony in time for her Hearts and Hooves Gala. But Cadance isn't the only one in a bind: can the Elements of Harmony find their way in the horror that is known as the dating scene?

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-07-07 23:24:01 UTC

Out In The Open

Twilight tapped her hoof impatiently on the mahogany table, her eyes darting side to side as she awaited her very special guests. Two empty chairs were arranged between herself and Fluttershy, the rest of her friends completing the circle around the restaurant’s table. She bit her lip, sweat forming at her brow as time continued to crawl by, much too slowly for her tastes. Twilight took a quick turn to her left, meeting the bemused gaze of Applejack, her vibrant green eyes half lidded to compliment the amused smile she wore at the unicorn’s visual paranoia.

“How long has it been?”

“’Bout thirty seconds since the last time you asked us, sugarcube,” Applejack chuckled, shaking her head slowly in practiced rhythm. “Ah think ya’ might be overreacting a tad bit, don’t ya’ll agree?”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes with a groan, her head rested on a bent foreleg.

“It’s just your brother and Cadence, Twilight! You don’t have to panic just because family wants to visit for… whatever reason the letter said. Look, I’m heading out, this is way too boring and I can’t just sit here doing nothing.”

She took off from her chair, gaining altitude at a decelerating speed until she came to a complete stop. Rainbow Dash turned around, noticing with anything but amusement that her tail was glowing with a vibrant indigo flare. The magic aura brought her slowly back into her chair, her forelegs crossed in silent resistance. Rarity dismissed her telekinetic spell, the light vanishing from her opal horn as quickly as she had been to react to the speedster’s self-dismissal.

“Really now, Rainbow Dash! Must you be so insensitive? Cadence may be her family, but she is still a royal princess and a request for audience must surely be unnerving to anypony, no matter what relations they may hold.”

“At the café?” Rainbow Dash grumbled, blowing an angry stream of air upward, lifting her fiery bangs from her face. “Just sounds like a lunch date to me.”

“Cadence is a very busy member of the royal family; she doesn’t have time for lunch dates! The letter says it was of upmost importance that we meet here today!” Twilight shrieked, jabbing the produced document for emphasis. She fiddled nervously with her hooves, rocking back and forth in her chair. “What if she wanted us to come here because there’s a new threat to Equestria? What if Princess Celestia appointed her to train us in the magic of friendship? What if she’s giving us a test?!”

Pinkie Pie bounced up from her seat, her voice as sugary and happy as her excited expression.

“Aw, c’mon Twlight! All those things sound like fun! I hope it’s multiple choice! I’m gonna make a smiley face!”

Twilight shook violently in her chair, her eyes bloodshot and her mane falling out of place with each spasm. “Fun? Fuuuun?! You think a test from royalty is fuuuuun?! Do I need to remind you about Nightmare Moon or Discord?!”

Fluttershy turned her head, raising her voice slightly above an audible whisper. “Uh, Twilight, I think they’re-“

“And the Crystal Empire was just loads of fun, right Pinkie?! What could be more fun than a test to save an entire empire from falling to fear and hatred?!”

“Is Twily having one of her pre-test fits again?”

“Eeyup,” Applejack drawled, the corners of her mouth bent to complete her sly smile. “Glad ya’ll made it, sugarcubes, though Ah think you can see for yourself that ya’ll might wanna explain why you asked us here in the first place.”

Twilight felt the familiar chill of horror as it spread down her spine, prompting her to turn around. Face flushed, she was greeted by a rather amused Shining Armor and a very concerned Princess Cadence. Cadence stepped forward, placing a comforting hoof on the distraught unicorn’s shoulder and pulling her into a close hug. She ran a hoof gently through Twilight’s disheveled mane, coaxing it back into a presentable form.

“There’s no test, Twilight. You’ve got nothing to be afraid of. We just wanted to have a nice lunch with you and your friends, and legal protocol required we format the letter as officially as possible. As I said before,” She paused, giving Twilight a quick wink, “You and I must get together when the fate of Equestria isn’t in imbalance.”

“S-so, it’s just a lunch date?”

“It’s just a lunch date,” Cadence echoed her in confirmation.

“Told you,” Rainbow Dash grumbled, earning a sharp sideways glare from Rarity. Cadence cleared her throat, earning the attention of her entire audience.

“From the looks of it, you ladies have been waiting long enough, and I do apologize. Let’s eat!”

The conversation that took place at the table was fairly casual despite its colorful inhabitants. Rainbow Dash and Applejack discussed the various routines of the royal guard with Shining Armor. He spared the two eager athletes no details, giving them the full rundown on all the physical conditioning a guard had to go through in his or her military training. Pinkie Pie and Rarity took to Cadence immediately, chattering about the many upper society soirees she had attended in her years as a representative of the royal crown. Twilight stayed on the sidelines of either conversation, jumping in with a random related fact or explanation to whatever her family brought up. Fluttershy kept to herself, nibbling quietly at her meal or nodding her head politely when addressed by one of her friends. By the end of their lunch, Cadence gave her husband an informed nod, prompting him to tap the side of his glass with a levitated spoon. The crystalline sound chimed loud and clear, gaining the attention of everypony at the table.

“If I may have everypony’s attention, my wife has told me that she has something she’d like to give you all,” He turned his attention to Cadence, who produced twelve tickets, each a pleasant shade of fuchsia. She guided them with her magic, placing two in front of each pony, who received them with gratitude and confusion. Noticing her company’s puzzled features, Cadence continued the explanation, a slight blush darkening her pink cheeks.

“These are tickets to the annual Hearts and Hooves Gala that takes place in six weeks at the Canterlot Castle. Naturally, my aunt has given you all the option to request admission into any Galas from now on, as your first experience may not have been… pleasant to say the least.” She paused, allowing the six younger mares to grumble some form of agreement.

Cadence gave a sheepish smile, continuing with a nervous crack in her voice. “But! This Gala is much different than the Grand Galloping Gala. The Hearts and Hooves Gala extends its invitations to all happy couples, and the love they all share can be gathered at Canterlot Castle, where I use my magic to spread it across Equestria!”

“That’s amazing,” Twilight gasped, her enthusiasm for the magical mechanics laced within her tone.

“I… will admit to ‘borrowing’ some of the spell’s properties from our stay in the Crystal Empire, but that doesn’t make it any less effective. I do hope that all of you and your special someponies will be able to attend.”

All six mares shuffled uncomfortably in their seats. One by one, each of their eyes shifted to Applejack, silently pleading the honest pony to break the news to the royal couple. The cowpony licked her dry lips awkwardly, forcing them into a small smile.

“Well, uh, Ah think we all greatly appreciate the offer, Cadence. But ya see, the thing is, none of really have any… uh… special someponies.”

The alicorn’s features drooped at the news, though Cadence’s reaction was overshadowed by a poorly timed snicker from Shining Armor. Rainbow Dash scowled at the cheeky stallion and leapt at him from her chair, hovering an inch in front of his face with powerful wing beats that scattered the dishes on the table.

“You think that’s funny, huh?” She growled viciously, rose eyes boring ruthlessly into his blue ones.

Shining Armor shrunk back, a nervous smile matching the inconsistencies in his speech. “N-not at all, Miss Rainbow Dash. I simply won a bet with my wife was all.”

Rarity pouted, her eyebrows drooped at their ends in a depressed manner. “You bet on our relationship standings? Do we really strike you as the type of mares who are unable to find a special somepony of our own?”

“Of course not! You’re all attractive mares in your own right,” He said, his hooves held up in a defensive stance. “It’s just you all seem to be at points in your lives where dating probably isn’t taking priority.”

He turned to his left, placing a brotherly hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “I don’t think Twily has ever been on a date. She didn’t even have friends until she met you guys, so I can’t imagine her in the dating scene. No offense, Twily,” He added with a quick wink.

“Plenty taken, *BBBFF*,” She grumbled dangerously, yanking her shoulder out of his touch. Shining Armor cleared his throat with an uncomfortable cough, turning his gaze to a surprisingly neutral Applejack.

“From what we’ve read from Twily’s letters, your farm life sounds too busy for you to be actively dating, Applejack. It also can’t be easy when you’re practically raising your little sister as well.”

“T’aint easy at all,” Applejack confirmed, shaking her head softly, the years of hard labor and stress showing despite her normally energetic attitude. “And yer darn tootin’ there’s no time for any of that datin’ business. Though Ah know Granny Smith ain’t too happy ‘bout that.”

Shining Armor nodded in sympathy, his eyes drifting beyond Applejack to the pink pony jumping up and down in her seat.

“Me next! Me next!” Pinkie Pie squealed, her enthusiasm genuine, making Shining Armor’s confession all the more awkward.

“Quite frankly… Miss Pinkie Pie,” He paused, visibly flinching as the bubbly mare looked at him with unblinking, happy eyes. “I… don’t think you’re quite ready for a relationship. A committed relationship usually requires two ponies who are more… uh, mature.”

“Oh I totally agree,” Pinkie Pie said, her voice taking a completely serious and understanding tone. The shocked looks from all seven ponies in her present company coaxed a confident eyebrow to rise on Pinkie Pie’s countenance. “What? I’m immature and silly, not completely loco in the coco! Even I know I’ve got a lot of growing up to do before anypony can actually take me seriously.”

Shining Armor gave a hearty chuckle that stopped halfway in his throat as he made eye contact with Rarity. The fashionista pony’s pitiable, morose expression caused the captain of the Royal Guard to choke on whatever words he attempted to form. Clearing his throat, he found his voice and spoke with an apologetic smile.

“Miss Rarity, you shouldn’t look at ponies like that; the doctors have enough patients to worry about without you stopping everypony’s hearts. My assumption of your relationship status was based upon the same reasoning as Applejack’s. You’ve got a busy career, and if what I’ve paid attention to from the noble ponies is true, you’ve expanded quite a bit of your clientele into Canterlot. That’s gotta be a hectic life.”

“Oh yes, it is, and dealing with my sister’s antics doesn’t make it any easier,” She sighed, putting on a small smile to appease her company for the discomfort she caused. Her smile faded quickly as she mulled over everything they had talked about. “Still,” She confessed, “A special somepony to share it with would be marvelous, if I should only be so lucky.”

Nopony except Shining Armor noticed the slight shift in Cadence’s facial expression, a single corner of her mouth bending up as the gears in her mind began to turn. He suppressed the urge to address his wife and pushed the thought into the back of his mind; there would always be time to confront her later. Skipping past Rainbow Dash, he turned to Fluttershy, who let loose an audible ‘eep’ before cowering under the table in a quivering mess. Shining Armor shook his head in pity at the timid mare’s display.

“I think Fluttershy explained that one for herself. You’ve gotta talk to ponies to meet them, let alone date them.” He clopped his hooves together, a nervous smile and cold sweat overtaking his face, betraying his intentions. “Well then, that’s that-“

“Hold it!”

Everypony at the table flinched as the inevitable confrontation broke loose. Rainbow Dash remained hovering in her airspace, glaring down with rose eyes that burned with a mixture of pain and anger at a visibly nervous Shining Armor.

“What, so you think you can just skip me?” She barked, folding her forelegs in visible defiance. She took her seat, puffing her chest out in self-absorbed pride. “I bet plenty of stallions would kill for a chance to go out with someone as radical and awesome as me. I just don’t have time for dating and all that mushy stuff that all those silly fillies like. I’ve got Wonderbolt Academy training and on top of that, I practice outside the Academy so that I can push myself without hurting anypony else.”

“That’s exactly what I was going to say, Miss Rainbow Dash,” Shining Armor lied, his forced smile and fib earning a sharp glare from his wife. Pushing out his chair, he stood up, pulled his wife’s chair out for her, and placed a considerable amount of bits onto the table, more than enough to pay for everypony’s lunch. “Please excuse us for the early departure, ladies, but I believe we must return to Canterlot. Royal duties don’t allow us a lot of time for pleasure, unfortunately.”

“Are you sure you want to pay for the whole thing, Shining?” Twilight flinched, feeling guilty as the large pile of bits reflected the harsh sunlight onto her features.

“Absolutely!” He chirped playfully, trotting away from the table with a slight skip in his step. “Besides, it’s the money Cadence just lost in our bet!” With the flash of a teleportation spell, he was gone.

Cadence released an embarrassed groan at her husband’s display. Shamefaced, she turned to the six mares at the table and spoke out with a flush on her face. “I am so, so sorry about everything, ladies. It was incredibly disrespectful for us to bet on something so personal to you all in the first place, and for that I give you my sincerest apologies. Can you ever forgive me?”

“Don’t you fret none, ya’ here,” Applejack said with a wave of her hoof. “Ah know Ah’ve made my own share off of worse bets than that, so it’d just be darn right hypocritical of me to stay mad at ya’ll for doin’ the same. Now go on. Go chew yer husband out and we’ll see ya’ll in six weeks at the Gala, date or no date.”

Cadence smiled warmly and her own horn lit up in a blue aura, triggering the flash of light that signaled teleportation. The six mares were left in awkward silence, each reflecting on what exactly had just transpired at what was supposed to be a simple, friendly lunch date. Rainbow Dash broke the silence, her eyes never leaving their fixed stare at the ground below.

“Was it… that easy to tell?”

“Oh don’t be silly, Dashie!” Pinkie Pie chirped, her normal bounce full and evident in her voice as much as it was in her mane. “Shining Armor just knows us, that’s all! I doubt anypony else could tell we were single. Princess Cadence didn’t think so!”

“You do raise a valid point,” Rarity said, twirling a lock of hair playfully with a free hoof, her mood changing for the better. “Besides, we’re all still young and there’s plenty of time for dating ahead of us.”

“That’s the spirit, sugarcube,” Applejack said with a quick wink. She pushed her own chair out from the table and plopped down onto all fours, landing with a slight grunt. “Now Ah hate ta’ eat and run, but Ah’ve gotta head on back to the farm. Cousin Braeburn came into town and Ah left Big Macintosh in charge of pickin’ him up and keepin’ him company while Ah was out here on this here lunch.” She chuckled, shaking her head as she pictured the two stallions interacting. “Woowee! Poor Big Mac’s probly ready to tear his ears off. Or Braeburn’s mouth. Whatever comes off easiest.”

She trotted off, and not long after Twilight stood up from the table to excuse herself, an anxious smile stretched across her face. “I have a lot of studying to do if I’m gonna get a date for Cadence’s Hearts and Hooves Day Gala! There’s no time to lose; I’ve only got six weeks!”

With a flash of her horn, she was gone, leaving behind a very amused Rarity. “The poor dear; there’s only so much you can learn in books.” She tapped the base of her horn with a free hoof, producing a steady rhythm of solid beats as keratin made contact with keratin. “ Idea! I’ll make us all new outfits for the Gala and should we be lucky enough, our dates too! Fluttershy dear, could you come along with me to the boutique? Inspiration just struck me for your ensemble and I would greatly appreciate it if I could retake your measurements and perhaps form the basic design of your dress.”

“Oh Rarity, you don’t have to make me a new dress,” Fluttershy protested, a teal eye hidden behind the recesses of her flowing pink mane. “The old one is wonderful and I’m sure it will look just as great at this Gala too. Besides, I haven’t even decided if I want to go.”

Rarity gasped, the intake of air creating a shrill noise of horror that forced a cringe onto the faces of everypony present. “Surely you jest, Fluttershy! Why, with your natural beauty and sweet disposition, you could win the heart of any stallion in town! You will come to the Boutique for your fitting and I won’t take no for an answer!”

“Oh, uhm…. okay,” She squeaked in her characteristic submission, her tail flowing in a smooth curve, it seeming to wave goodbye as she followed Rarity’s huffy exit from the table. Only the two most colorful ponies in the circle of friends remained, one in particular looking much more chipper than her prismatic companion. Pinkie Pie slapped a comforting hoof onto Rainbow Dash’s shoulder in an optimistic half-hug before making her leave from the table.

“Don’t worry, Dashie!” She called back, skipping her way back to Sugarcube Corner, where either the joys of work or playtime awaited her. “We’ll all have a bunch of fun at the Gala and it will be great great great!”

Rainbow Dash pouted her lower lip out, using it to direct an angry stream of air to blow the bangs from her eyes.

“Yeah. Great.”

Week 1: Digging Deeper

“I can’t believe you told them about our bet!”

The Royal Guards on duty flinched slightly at the sound of the Royal Canterlot Voice, fidgeting a bit and exchanging worried glances as they waited outside the royal bedchamber for their captain to finish his ‘private duties’ with the princess of love. Inside the chamber, Shining Armor rubbed the base of his ears delicately with small, circular motions that helped ease the excruciating sensation his eardrums had just endured. Princess Cadence sat at the edge of their bed, her hooves crossed in angry protest. Smiling through the pain, Shining Armor casually approached his wife and took her hooves with his, uncrossing them in the process.

“Hey now, it’s not that big of a deal. Applejack said so herself.”

“It is a big deal, Shining Amor,” She hissed, yanking her hooves out of his admittedly comforting grasp. “Do you know how embarrassing that was? Didn’t you see how uncomfortable they were when they found out we were betting on their personal lives? And you,” She yelled, jabbing him with a denouncing hoof, her temper peaking as she recollected the turning point in what could have been a delightful lunch. “Couldn’t even keep a straight face when you found out you won! As if that wasn’t bad enough, you just had to tell them why! Do you have any idea how a mare feels after somepony says something like that? No matter what they said, there was no way everypony at that table left feeling like they weren’t insulted.”

“T-that wasn’t my fault!” Shining Armor protested, his trembling hooves held up defensively despite every ounce of logic he had going against the idea of his wife physically striking him. “They were gonna ask me after Rainbow Dash called me out, so I thought that I may as well tell them!”

“Then you lie, sweetheart,” Cadence drawled with a groan, her face planted between her front hooves in shame of her husband’s completely direct approach to such a sensitive topic. She shook her head slowly before retracting her thin muzzle from the protective barrier of her appendages. Cadence rolled her eyes at her husband’s demeaner, a combination of surprise and confusion shown on his face that asked her for further explanation. “If a heavy mare asks you ‘Does this make me look fat?’ wha-”

“No!” He responded all too quickly, interrupting his wife. A look of understanding crept over his face. “Oh…”

“And when a mare asks you who the prettiest mare in the world is, you say,” She continued, nodding her head in Shining Armor’s direction for him to complete the statement. He grinned and slid next to her on the edge of the bed, his muzzle less than an inch from her ear.

“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.”

Cadence flushed and shook her head, pushing her flirtatious husband away with an annoyed hoof. “No, I meant if any other mare asks you that question, what do you say?”

“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza,” He repeated, sidling back next to her. Shining Armor delivered a delicate kiss on her cheek, his lips never breaking contact as he moved up to her ear and delivered a breathy whisper. “My answer will never change to that question.”

Cadence closed her eyes and took a deep breath to clear her thoughts, her heart racing beneath her calm composure. She leaned her head against his shoulder and spoke in a firm voice. “We can’t. Not when your guards are right outside and certainly not in the middle of the day when there’s so much work to be done. It would be improper.” She opened her eyes and flashed him a sultry smile that suggested enough to set her husband’s cheeks aglow. Shining Armor hopped off the bed and trotted to the door, his years in the military showing through as he put on a flawless poker face. Opening the door, he addressed the guards professionally, his expression completely stoic and commanding.

“You are all dismissed from your posts; I will see to it that the princess is well protected. In fact, I order you all to use the rest of your day for proper rest and relaxation to recuperate from your efforts.”

“Yes sire,” One of the guards responded blankly, his militant expression juxtaposed heavily by his flushing cheeks, an obvious sign that their captain was anything but subtle with his intentions. Without another word, they all marched down the hallway in a perfect mechanical formation that never hesitated, even as the door slammed shut.

Cadence awoke slowly with a tired yawn, her frazzled hair matted over the bedspread, giving the white sheets a colorful coating. She opened her eyes groggily and smiled warmly as she met the glassy gaze of her beloved husband.

“You make the cutest sounds when you sleep,” He said while playing with a lock of her hair, the pink strands twirling around as he fiddled with his hoof. Cadence wriggled under the sheets towards him until she made complete contact, embracing her husband with her forelegs and resting her head on his sturdy chest. She sighed happily, completely content in her surroundings, but the disappointment she felt nagging at the back of her mind showed on her face and did not go unnoticed by her bedmate.

“What’s wrong?” Shining Armor asked as he placed a hoof under her chin, forcing her to make direct eye contact with him. Cadence bit her lip at her husband’s unwavering blue eyes that searched her with purpose, deep down knowing that she would tell him all of her troubles whether he asked or not. Submitting, she squeezed him tighter, as if the closer contact could alleviate the guilt she felt from her breaching such a personal and sensitive subject of somepony else’s life.

“I just… wish that they could have what we have.”

Shining Armor’s face flushed a deep shade of red and his face cringed in disgust, prompting Cadence to raise an eyebrow as she wondered how such a simple statement could provoke such a dramatic response from her levelheaded husband. She thought he certainly must have kept a straight face under worse conditions in the military. He stammered as he choked on his words.

“C-Cadence! I do not wanna think about Twily doing the things we do! Or her friends, for that matter; they’re barely out of their teen years!”

This time Cadence was the one who found herself flushing, her cheeks burning hotter with every mental image she created under the new context of her words.

“What?! Noooooo! No no no no! Not that!” She spat out, the words feeling vile with the naughty meaning they held. Recollecting herself, she considered her choice of words before saying anything to her husband to prevent another explanation for a possible misinterpretation. “I wish that they could know what it’s like… to be in love. To have a special somepony. To feel… complete.”

“Fat chance that’ll happen,” Shining Armor scoffed, his tone more harsh than he had intended due to his already extensive analysis of the six mares’ personal lives. He knew nopony was perfect and that a special somepony was always out there for anypony, but Twilight and her friends all seemed to have striking obstacles that stood in the way of a serious relationship, whether it was business or their own personality. Cadence drew back from their embrace, obviously taken aback by his cynical outburst about whom she considered six very lovely and eligible mares.

“Fat chance? I’ll bet you they’ll have dates in time for our Hearts and Hooves Gala.”

“Was that a bet I just heard?” Shining Armor asked, drawing his nose to hers as he used his physical size to playfully intimidate his wife. Cadence didn’t budge. She pressed her nose harder against his and gave him a cheeky grin that he would never admit affected his heart rate to reach critical speeds.

“Yeah, it was. I bet I can get them all dates in time for the Gala. What do you say to that, honey?”

“And I say you can’t even get half of them dates. If three of them show up with proper dates, I’ll give you back the money you lost from the last bet and do that… thing you’ve always wanted me to do with you.”

Cadence felt her heart pound at the chance to win her special prize, but the smarmy grin Shining Armor wore pushed these thoughts into the back of her mind as she considered what he would want in exchange for his potential victory. She shuddered, taking a deep breath to face the reality of the situation.

“You want me to do… that, don’t you?”

He nodded quickly, confirming her suspicions and bringing the princess of love into serious reconsideration about her proposal. On one hoof, she could help six lovely young mares explore a new and exciting part of their lives with a special somepony at their side, and win herself the best day of her life on top of that. On the other hoof, Shining Armor may have made a valid point and they really could be at points in their lives where dating simply didn’t take priority. They may not want romance and her assistance would only be an inconvenience to them. Cadence finally considered the repercussions of what she would have to do for her husband if she lost. She tried to swallow the dry lump in her throat as she imagined herself stooping so low to perform an action such as… that. It was so dirty, so improper, so beneath royalty that should anypony find out, she may never be viewed by all of Equestria in the same light. And yet, she could feel the intoxicating pleasure of adrenaline pumping through her veins at the mere prospect of doing something so completely and utterly vulgar by royal standards. She grinned at her husband with full determination.

“Bring it on.”

“They’re all just fake anyways.”

Magazines upon magazines littered the smooth surface of the elegant cloud home’s flooring, evidence to some very uncharacteristic research done by the house’s single inhabitant. Rainbow Dash sat with a springtime ensemble magazine in her hooves and her back propped against the headboard of her bed, a soft pillow cushioning herself from the hard oak. She tossed another of the several magazines onto the soft ground, her thoughts in turmoil with her usual radiating confidence and bravado.

What do they got that I don’t got? She thought bitterly, looking at each of the models with a burning glare as if she could intimidate the static images into submitting under her dominant behavior. Her gaze softened and took on a state of gloom as she let the cold truth sink in. Everything.

Dash flopped belly down onto her covers with a groan, hoping to hide her face and her shame in the safety of the bedspread’s silky embrace. She’d never admit it to her friends- heck, she had a hard enough time admitting it to herself, but Shining Armor’s confrontation about her eligibility, or rather lack of it, had struck a chord in the deepest recesses of her insecurities. She knew what he was thinking, even if he never expressed his thoughts vocally. Rainbow Dash had heard it all before, whether it was from Rarity or the local town gossip chain, though the two often formed the same informational source. She was ‘uncouth’, ‘boorish’, ‘rough’, but undoubtedly ‘awesome’. Dash knew she wasn’t ugly- or at least, she hoped she wasn’t. If Rarity’s ramblings about wasting her true aesthetic potential were anything to go by, she could be very pretty if she actually spent any time investing into her outward appearance. Rainbow Dash snorted indignantly at the idea. She wasn’t some frou-frou filly who flittered hours away trying to get every hair in her mane into order; her stunt flying would ruin it all anyways. Besides, wasn’t the whole point of falling in love to care about the pony under the appearance?

Love. Now that was an idea that really shook Rainbow Dash to the core. Romance did strange things to ponies. How would it affect her? She refused to become the blubbering mess often portrayed in every stereotypical love story, but everypony longs in some way to have companionship. Dash certainly never advertised her interest in the opposite sex, but that didn’t mean she dismissed the idea of a romantic relationship with a special stallion. The gossip chain kept her well informed about the public’s guesses on her… preferences, but she had always ignored it all in favor of seeking their approval over her flight skills. Rainbow Dash was a pony with priorities, and getting full admission into the Wonderbolts was top on her list. Such a busy and radical lifestyle simply wouldn’t allow her time for romance, right?

“Right,” She agreed with herself with an angry grunt, humiliated at her own emotional turmoil. Rainbow Dash flopped over onto her back, staring at the ceiling with an expressionless gaze. Why did she care about all this now of all times? It certainly wasn’t the first time a stallion had alluded to her messy appearance. Thunderlane’s dark coat hid bruises that had testified to some empty-headed remarks made during a very secretive and remarkably short-lived date with the winner of the Best Young Fliers competition. Rainbow Dash grabbed a lock of her mane and examined it with wavering eyes, feeling a slight twinge of embarrassment as she really realized for the first time how raggedy and messy it was. Rarity and Fluttershy, whether the latter would admit it or not, possessed two of the most beautiful and well-kept manes in Ponyville and were often the prospects of many a stallion's fantasies. Applejack definitely wasn’t the most hygienic of ponies, but it wasn’t always possible or practical to keep clean on a farm, and her mane was certainly not as tattered as Rainbow Dash’s was. She kept it tightly packed and well-managed, reflective of her skills for running the apple orchard she loved so much. Pinkie Pie’s poof of a mane and Twilight’s straight-edge cut weren’t exactly what Dash considered stylish or ‘cool’, but they matched the personalities of their respective owners and said a lot about the two ponies before either of them got a chance to run their mouths. What did her mane say about her? That she was sloppy? That she didn’t care? The notion that Rarity may have been right the entire time brought a small chill to the young athlete’s body.

Her eyes slowly shifted over to glance at her hooves, their chipped and dirty appearance evidence towards her ferocious rejection of anypony else touching them. She flared her nostrils and snorted disdainfully, shaking her head to clear it from any more doubts. Hopping off the bed with a graceful flip, Dash felt a small surge of satisfaction as she stuck her landing, her wings tucked in the entire time. Her moment of pride was short-lived, as she couldn’t help but relive her confrontation with Shining Armor yet again. Frowning sharply, she trudged along to the kitchen to fuel up before her self-scheduled flying practice, mumbling the whole way.

“I’ll show him- everypony who’s ‘undatable’ when I show up at the Gala with a special somepony of my own!”

Week 1: Fruit Case

Sunlight struggled to peak through the thick layer of clouds Ponyville’s weather team had scheduled for the small town, creating a gloom that shaded the normally bustling and cheerful local atmosphere. The first drop of rainwater splashing against her orange furred snout was all the evidence Applejack needed to recognize that her hard day of work would be cut short by the precipitation. She sighed heavily, conflicted with her feelings behind the weather team’s decisions to schedule rain during the weekend. She had to admit, the orchard was overdue for a good shower and she would hate to see her precious apple trees wilt. The cowpony shrugged off the mere idea of her orchard losing quality due to neglect of any kind; she would carry water by the buckets on her own back before she let that happen. Applejack kicked a leg out with a grunt, her frustrations leaving a small indent on the tree unfortunate enough to be within bucking range. The fruiting tree relinquished its heavy burden with a groan, showering the ground below with an onslaught of red delicious apples. Applejack swore under her breath for damaging the tree, annoyed that she let something as silly as her own emotions have a negative impact, if literally, on her work.

“Applejack! Get yer hide in here before ya’ catch a cold!”

She could make out the sounds of Granny Smith’s hollering through the increasing volume of the rain’s pitter-patter, the shrill of her voice cutting sharp as a dagger despite the limitations her ancient body forced on her. Applejack snorted angrily, her wild blonde bangs falling as she trotted back to the farmhouse with her nose to the ground. She wasn’t upset with Granny Smith; she didn’t even think she was capable of holding ill will towards her grandmother given that she took the correct action in calling the young farm pony in before the storm got worse. Applejack slowed her speed to a casual walk, the familiar sound of creaking wood reaching her ears as she met the front porch of her home, each step delivering a soft groan from the old floorboards. She was always honest, even to herself, and the truth was that farm work hadn’t been giving her the feeling of complete satisfaction that she had become accustomed to.

Applejack entered the rustic house, ears pinned back at her own dissatisfaction. Was she ungrateful for what she had? She quickly dismissed the idea. She had been through so many hardships, so many trials, and had watched first hoof as the fruits of her labor and sacrifices bore physical form, filling her with a joy that only her toils at Sweet Apple Acres could do. After all, nothing could compare to the rewards that came from an honest hard day of work, right?

Right, Applejack sighed inwardly, confused by the apathy she had begun to feel ever since the girls’ lunch date with Shining Armor and Princess Cadence. Had the prince’s comments made that large of an impression? She considered it a possibility, but being single never really bothered the farmer, even if it did bother Granny Smith. Maybe it was something else he had brought up during his short analysis of her personal life, or maybe another factor had brought about her foul mood. Celestia knows her temper had shortened a might ever since-

“Howdy, cous’!”

Applejack gritted her teeth as the overly cheerful, grating, and particularly loud voice invaded her sense of hearing, triggering the start of yet another sound-induced headache. Wincing through the slight pain that throbbed at the base of her forehead, she forced a practiced smile on her muzzle and turned slowly to address the pony responsible for her minor irritation.

“Howdy, Braeburn. Ya’ll settlin’ in all right ‘round here?” She asked out of obligated hospitality, despite how unnecessary she knew the question was in the first place. Braeburn was situated comfortably at the kitchen table, his chair conveniently located in between Apple Bloom and Granny Smith and across from Big Macintosh, sparing the larger stallion the bulk of his enthusiastic chatter. Granny Smith gave the Appleoosa cowpony a rough pat on the back that tipped his hat, chuckling in her high-pitched drawl as he readjusted the Stetson.

“Yer darn’ tootin’ he is! Why Ah haven’t had such good company since our family reunion, Applejack.” She answered for him, bringing a slight blush to the stallion’s cheeks from his grandmother’s appraisal. “Let me tell you, this boy’s got a million stories an’ one if’n ya’ll wanna know anything there is ta’ know about anything about Appleoosa! No wonder ya’ hogged him up for yerself when fixin’ the barn at our last reunion!”

“That’s just cuz there’s a million an’ two of ‘em to tell, Granny Smith,” He chirped up with a toothy smile, leaning backwards with both forehooves behind his head as he relaxed into the chair to prepare yet another one of his stories from the frontier. Apple Bloom leaned forward in her chair, eagerly awaiting the narrative her charming cousin would soon begin, not noticing Applejack quietly take her place at the table. Braeburn began his tale and a mutual glance was exchanged between Big Macintosh and his irritated sister, prompting the large crimson stallion to lean over to begin a private interrogation.

“Ah know that look, AJ,” He whispered, keeping his tone quiet and firm, a combination Applejack knew all too well would lead to nothing but trouble if she even attempted to avoid the truth. “Ya’ got more daggers ‘n yer eyes than Miss Rainbow Dash on cider day. Now out with it. What’s wrong?”

“Ah think that he just-“ She paused, squirming at the sharp glare of Big Macintosh’s knowing green eyes. Applejack swallowed the lump in her throat with a gulp and exhaled through her nose, releasing a sigh that thinned as it barely left her muzzle. She tapped a forehoof uncomfortably on the side of her wooden chair, trying to think of any excuse that would appease her brother, even if lying wasn’t one of her strengths. It was probably one of her weakest flaws, and knowing this, Applejack took a deep breath and looked Big Macintosh in the eyes, both sets of green wavering as they reflected the anticipation that burdened each pony. “Ah really don’t know what the problem is. Ah mean, Ah haven’t been happy runnin’ the farm like Ah always am, big brother, and Ah’m plum tired of not bein’ happy with it. Ah’ve always been happy with it. Ever since that lunch we all had with the Royalty, Ah just haven’t felt the same ‘round here. At first Ah thought Ah might’ve been longin’ for some… uh,” She paused, flushing heavily as she realized the sensitive topic about her personal life that she was about to diverge on her brother may not be exactly what he wanted to hear. “That is Ah thought at first Ah was maybe upset that Ah didn’t have the time to hit the datin’ scene. Ya’ know, try ‘n make the Apple family grow a little. But that ain’t it; Ah don’t need or want some stallion tryin’ ta’ swoon me off my hooves, and Ah sure as heck ain’t ready for kids of my own.”

Big Macintosh could only nod to try to avoid any awkward silence, though not even his bright red coat could hide the heat he felt on his cheeks as he pictured his sister mingling with the town’s most eligible stallions. “Ah understand ya, AJ. Sometimes, Ah wonder if it’s time for me ta’ find a nice mare and start a family of my own.” He stopped as if expecting his sister to have any objections, but continued as she simply sat and gave him her undivided attention, even as Braeburn entered the climax of his own story. “But Ah reckon that Ah’m still young enough that Ah’ve got time, and the farm needs me more than it needs another baby ‘round here.”

“Ah ain’t so sure about that, Big Macintosh,” Applejack said with a sad smile that couldn’t help but betray her torn feelings on the matter. “As much as Ah love a day in the fields with ya’, you could take a whole year off if ya’ felt the need to. Ah mean, Apple Bloom’s already gone and learned everything we’ve got ta’ teach her ‘round the farm. Ah could make due with her, and if the workload got real rough ‘round here, Ah’ve got the most reliable friends a pony could ask for.”

“What’re you sayin’?” He croaked out. Applejack picked up on his tone immediately, placing a comforting hoof on the stallion’s shoulder.

“Now don’t ya’ ever get to thinkin’ you’re not useful or needed ‘round here, big brother. Ah would never say or think that, but Ah am sayin’ this,” She paused, sliding her hoof from his shoulder to his chin, forcing the anxious stallion to meet her gaze. Applejack looked at her older sibling with a keen eye, taking in deep contemplation about Big Macintosh’s role in Sweet Apple Acres. He always seemed to be working, even when she would sometimes take the day off to herself, whether it was a spa visit with the girls or an emergency in Canterlot. Applejack sifted through her memories, trying remember a day when the sturdy stallion actually had a day off from the hard labor around the farm. Did Nightmare Night count? Big Macintosh seemed to enjoy himself pulling the children around in their cart for a hayride, but even that counted as a form of physical labor. It also made a quick profit for the Apple family, so it didn’t really qualify as vacation time. Applejack felt her heart race as the guilt accumulated. When was the last time he really had a day to himself? To relax? The Apple family reunion sure as hay didn’t count, and Applejack had only herself to blame for that one. Finding no recent memories of the stallion having any time off and nothing else holding her back, Applejack continued, all the more confident in her decision.

“Why don’t you take the next week or two off, sugarcube?”

“A week or two off?!” Big Macintosh hollered in an uncharacteristic volume, drawing the attention of everypony present at the dinner table. Granny Smith shot Applejack a disapproving glare, eying her up and down the whole time with unblinking vermillion eyes that casted false judgment.

“You think ya’ need time off when you take a day now and again to go get them ‘hooficures’ with those friends of yers?”

“T’ain’t for me, Granny,” Applejack protested in defense, her blonde ponytail swishing with a few shakes of her head. “Ah told Big Macintosh here ta’ take the time off. He deserves it! Apple Bloom and Ah can cover for him no problem.”

Granny Smith relaxed her posture and sank into her seat, apparently satisfied for the time being with her granddaughter’s response. Unlike her grandmother, Apple Bloom seemed all but fond of the idea, her eyes welling with tears as she dramatically protested the extra labor expected from her for the next week.

“But Ah’ve got crusadin’ ta’ do!”

“Now now, Applebloom, don’t ya’ think your brother deserves this?” Granny Smith asked calmly, putting an end to the filly’s short-lived temper tantrum, though her quivering bottom lip promised future complaints from the blank flanked child. The matriarch of the Apple family quickly turned to address Applejack with as concerned an expression as her wrinkled face would allow. “Y’sure you can handle it, Applejack?”

“Absolutely, Granny,” She confirmed, a hoof placed over her heart confidently. “And if Ah really need help Ah can ask my friends.”

“Ah’ll help too,” Braeburn piped up, a glass of cider raised to his muzzle before he guzzled its contents down, each gulp making an audible sound as his Adam’s apple shifted along his throat. Setting the drained cup down, he wiped his snout free from any bubbles the sweet drink had left in its frothy wake. “It’s the least Ah can do after ya’ll offered to put me up during my vacation time.”

“Ah’m afraid Ah can’t take you up on that offer, cous’. No way am Ah lettin’ you spend your free time workin’ fer us instead,” Applejack sternly said, though she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy as Braeburn’s face fell into a crestfallen expression, his hat falling forward with his drooping head. “Though Ah wouldn’t say no if you wanted to run a few errands for me to get ta’ know the town better.”

Braeburn nodded with a mock salute and pushed off the ground with his hind legs, the chair letting loose a sharp squeak as it slid back from the dinner table. He hopped off his chair, his hooves creating an audible clop as he landed and began walking in a beeline to the front door, much to the surprise of the Apple family.

“Yer goin’ now?! Can’t ya’ see the weather outside?!” Applejack asked, her jaw slightly slacked at her cousin’s forwardness and gung-ho spirit to go and march out into Ponyville in the middle of a rainstorm.

Braeburn opened the door and nodded cheerfully, “Ain’t no time like the present. ‘Sides, a little rain never hurt nopony, and Ah reckon it’ll be reeeeefreshing! We don’t get much of it in-“ He reared up, giving Applejack enough time to cover her ears and draw curious looks from the rest of her family before he bellowed out, “Aaaaaaaaapleoosa!”

The slam of the front door left the remainder of the Apple family in stunned silence, the only sound in the house coming from the background of rainwater pattering against the shingles of the rooftop. Granny Smith stuck a hoof in her ear, wriggling it around to clear the ringing Braeburn’s theatrical exit had left. Big Macintosh’s eyelids fell halfway, his eyes drifting to the side where they met Applejack’s in a similar gaze as they had both come to the same conclusion. He broke the silence, grunting out in a soft baritone that echoed throughout the house.

“Three, two, one-“

The front door swung open on cue with Braeburn right behind it, his cheeks tinged pink as he scuffed a hoof on the floorboards in obvious embarrassment.

“Ah don’t supposed you have an errand for me to run, do ya’?”

The audible sound of Big Macintosh’s hoof slamming against his own forehead rung through the air, while the female family members at the table could only shake their heads in amusement at their relative’s shortsightedness. Chuckling quietly, Applejack took it upon herself to relieve the stallion of his shame.

“Ah’ve got an envelope upstairs with my measurements for some Gala outfit my friend Rarity wants ta’ make for me. Why don’t you go drop them off ta’ her at Carousel Boutique for me, sugarcube? Fanciest building in town, you can’t miss it.”

Braeburn was upstairs in a flash and the sound of his rummaging through Applejack’s belongings soon accompanied the background noise created by the weather. She rolled her eyes.

“On top of the drawer, sugar!” She yelled up at her cousin, not bothering to conceal the annoyance she felt for the invasion of her privacy in her tone. Not that she had anything to hide from anypony, but she still considered herself a proper mare, and a stallion, family or not, going through her drawers was just down right inappropriate! The clatter stopped instantly, only to be immediately followed by the sound of Braeburn’s hooves clopping against the wood as he galloped at full speed down the stairs. He made his way through the kitchen in three bounds and haulted to a stop as he reattempted his previous exit, shutting the door gently with a sheepish grin.

Big Macintosh shuffled in his seat, ears pinned back and lower lip tucked under his front teeth in a bite as a straying thought passed the eldest Apple sibling’s mind.

“Uhhh, AJ? Ya’ sure it was a good idea sendin’ cousin Braeburn out to deliver yer envelope to Miss Rarity? Ah mean, it’s rainin’ cats ‘n dogs out which means it’ll be sometin’ awful muddy and…” He trailed off, gesturing toward his sister with a rolling motion of his eyes, hoping she understood the implications of Braeburn’s errand.

“Are you suggestin’ that Ah’d pull a little prank on Rarity by sendin’ our loud, hyper, all too willin’ ta’ rush into a fancy building with mud on his hooves cousin’ into her shop?” The orange cowpony’s freckles contracted as a smirk stretched past a single cheek. “Why, Big Macintosh, ya’ make it sound like Ah did somethin’ mischievous on purpose.”

Week 1: Disturbances

For all her complaining on a lovely sunny afternoon being ruined by a planned rainstorm, Rarity reserved a large gratitude for the extended periods of solitude she faced as a result of the extensive precipitation. That solitude took its shape in the form of strategically placed fabrics that curved and dangled over six individual ponyquins, each one with a different color scheme that complimented the natural pigmentation of the six mares they were to become dresses for. The aspiring fashionista sighed proudly, a lock of her violet mane swishing in the gust from her breath. She had truly outdone herself, but then again, didn’t she always? The art of the dress worked together to paint a larger image, to highlight and accentuate the pony herself that was to wear it, and these dresses, she felt, would be able to do just that. Rarity grinned wolfishly as she took a perverse pleasure in the fact that she had strayed from the usual themes her friends’ dresses tended to follow, steeling her nerves and striking out into unexplored territory to push her designs into bringing forth potential traits in her friends that they may not be yet aware of themselves. The unicorn’s smile faltered and she sighed. She did have her doubts about their satisfaction in the designs, and should she have said she was one hundred percent confident that they would go over at least a little better than her Grand Galloping Gala dresses originally had, she would have been lying to herself. In truth, she was more worried that her friends would hate them more than Hoity Toity had hated their commissioned dresses. There was no doubt that the designs were as fabulous and spectacular as they came- she had created them of course, but the most important question was, would her friends agree? Would Fluttershy feel comfortable being a bit flashy and standing out in the crowd? How could Pinkie Pie stand still long enough to look reserved and refined? Was Twilight Sparkle willing to wear attire that flared her spontaneous side? Could Rainbow Dash of all ponies become elegant enough to pull off a feminine gown? How would Applejack react to dressing so classy? Rarity’s eyelashes drooped, her expression becoming glazed as the cynical questions kept rearing around in the back of her mind, continually bringing up the doubts she had originally conquered when sketching the dresses in the first place.

Well, She thought, we shall only know once they see the dresses for themselves, and I must start somewhere. Her purple mane bounced playfully as she perked up and shook her previous agnosticisms from her head, a small smile gracing her snout.

Rarity’s horn ignited in a cerulean glow, her magical telekinesis levitating a large sheet of pale yellow silk into the air, the fabric dancing loosely as it hovered. The aura surrounding it intensified, forcing the refined material to straighten to its edges, giving it a rigid appearance. A pair of scissors joined the silk at its edge, a testimony to Rarity’s skill of multitasking as its steel blades began to cut the delicate fabric into the shapes she would need to begin Fluttershy’s dress.

“Oh Fluttershy,” Rarity spoke, as if her timid friend could hear her from afar. “Your gift at nature will be the star at the Gala once everypony sees-“

~Ding Ding Ding Dong Ding Ding Ding Dong~

The glamorous unicorn’s ears perked at the unmistakable chime of her abode’s melodic doorbell. She shook her head and continued with her work. She must have been mistaken. Surely nopony would be out in such brutal weather, let alone to purchase an outfit that would be ruined on the way out.

~Ding Ding Ding Dong Ding Ding Ding Dong~

Rarity sighed lightly, lowering the buttery shaded fabric gently back onto the ponyquin, the beginning of the dress’ shape completed. She had, without a doubt, heard the doorbell the second time and had conceded that her friends’ outfits would have to wait until she had dealt with her paying customers beforehand. As she trotted down the stairs, the thoughts of Fluttershy’s completed dress kept flittering around in her mind, the entire image a symbol for what she hoped to be the pegasus’ metamorphosis. She grew more confident in her work as she reached the bottom of the staircase and all the more loath to part with it for the time being simply because a client couldn’t wait until more pleasant weather to require her services. Still, she smiled at the indirect compliment. A customer that would traverse such an inconvenient and potentially dangerous obstacle must surely be determined to commission her art of the dress and hers alone. The thought clung to Rarity in the form of a large, welcoming smile as she opened the door to greet the pony behind it.

She couldn’t have been more surprised if she tried as she opened the polished wood to reveal Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Her surprise became Cadence’s as the unicorn struck the alicorn princess with a ray of cerulean magic. The blast sent Cadence hurdling back into the storm, the princess of love landing quite indignantly in the recesses of a large mud puddle. Rarity gasped with more horror than she could ever hope to dramatize, an umbrella grasped in her telekinetic grip as she rushed out to help the princess back on her feet. Cadence coughed lightly, a faint wheeze in her speech.

“What was that for?!”

“I am so sorry, my princess!” Rarity cried, coming to the winded princess’ side to assist her back on her feet. “It’s just so unusual for me to have customers in this kind of weather, so you could imagine my surprise to not only have one but to have you out of any pony in Equestria! With everything that’s been going on in recent times, I… I-“

“Thought I might have been a changeling?” Cadence finished her sentence, her tone changing from flustered to understanding. Rarity solemnly nodded her head in confirmation. Standing tall, the princess regained her noble composure with a small smile gracing her gentle face. “I have to admit- I wasn’t expecting an offensive magical spell to come out of Ponyville’s top fashion designer.”

Rarity blushed slightly at the sideways compliment. “Yes, well after the wedding, Twilight may have taught me a thing or two should such an emergency arise again. Two unicorns able to unmask a changeling are better than one, are they not?”

“Definitely,” Cadence nodded, her horn lighting up as it removed the muddy clumps from her pink fur. “I blame myself for coming unannounced, but I was hoping to lay low and not draw any attention. Now then, is it all right if I come in?”

“Absolutely!” Rarity beamed, relieved that the alicorn bore her no ill will. “I’ll put a kettle on the stove for some tea.”

Following the unicorn into the boutique, Cadence’s eyes went wide at the lavish interior the dress store had to offer. She was expecting the same gaudy fanciness that several dress stores perpetuated, but Carousel Boutique’s interior designing was truly classy. Rarity led her to a stylish red couch, the cushions a bit firm as the design had obviously been meant to look fashionable rather than feel practical. Cadence watched her trot off to the kitchen, a small spring in her step reflecting the genuine excitement she felt for hosting royalty in what would have become a dismal afternoon. Within a few minutes, she returned with two steaming cups of tea held firmly in her telekinetic grasp, the minty scent trailing in the air. She passed the cup to the princess, their magic auras only distinguishable by the slightest variance in shading for their hues of blue.

Cadence blew lightly on the surface of the hot liquid, the steam billowing around the teacup’s edges until it escaped into the air, fading away as it dissipated. She took a sip, relishing in the simple flavor, as well as her company. The décor of Carousel Boutique was… upscale and frilly to say the least, but it retained a homey trait through the practicality of several features the building had to offer. The silky drapes that showered over the window cast a soothing shade of rose in the room, a surprise the princess found quite pleasant after straining her vision to pinpoint the boutique through the violent downpour. Cadence was certainly used to upscale and frilly, but the honesty the building presented was an alien entity to her entirely. There were no guards around the corner, no trap doors to escape an invasion, and no booby traps to activate in a desperate attempt at escaping an assassination. Everything was out in the open and real, and the princess couldn’t help but feel safer than she ever had behind the strict protection royal life had offered her. She snorted quite indignantly for a princess. There were more dangers than those of physical harm, after all. Rarity may hold herself up to a proper noble lady’s standards, but her heart was in the right place and her genuine concern for the wellbeing of other ponies that didn’t help her social status was a scarcity among the royal courts. Cadence’s lavender eyes drifted over to the kitchen as her hostess left the room to join her company.

Rarity flashed a dainty smile. “So! What brings you to my boutique, my princess?”

Cadence took another sip of tea, pausing to focus on the steaming liquid, her present company waiting patiently for a response. “I wanted to apologize-“

A polished white hoof cut her off, gently covering her snout from expelling further lamentations.

“Uh-uh-uh!” Rarity scolded playfully. “I shall not hear any more apologies for your previous gambling. We discussed it as a group and unanimously decided you two were simply having some harmless fun.”

“Very well,” Cadence replied submissively. A glint of hope sparked in her eye. “At least allow me to commission a dress. I loved your work at my wedding and I will pay you three times your expected income for the time from now until the Gala.”

“You will pay the discounted price for friends and family and I will hear no other answer,” The fashion pony responded aggressively, much to her company’s surprise. “This work is my passion, Cadence, and to offer me a price greater than I deserve would simply be wrong and I will not allow you to throw bits away simply because you still feel bad.”

“B-but-“ She stuttered, the fierce glare the unicorn shot her silencing any more protests. She had learned from her aunt that Rarity was the embodiment for the Element of Generosity, though the unicorn’s behavior still puzzled her. Cadence felt foolish for not expecting Rarity’s forgiveness to be generous as well, but she certainly had not expected such fervent hospitality after wronging the unicorn the way she had. Would the other Elements be as forgiving? There was no doubt Applejack was honest when she had promised the royal couple’s gambling had not bothered her, and Fluttershy was simply too kind to hold a grudge. Pinkie Pie seemed happy enough and accepting about Shining Armor’s analysis of her, which brought the princess a little solace. That only left Twilight and Rainbow Dash, the two most visibly offended. Cadence knew she had nothing to fear from Twilight; they had too much of a history for the librarian to stay mad at her foalsitter for long. That left Rainbow Dash, and from what Princess Celestia had told her, the princess of love knew a bit about Dash’s ambitions to join Equestria’s elite flying squadron. Cadence’s eyes drifted to the ground. The Wonderbolts were holding a derby in a few days; perhaps she could use that to her advance. And yet, despite her desire to remain in the good graces of the Elements of Harmony, she really wanted to win that bet. What she wouldn’t give to spend the day with Shining Armor having-

“Is something troubling you, darling?” Rarity queried, an opal hoof touching the princess’ in genuine concern. “You’ve been staring at the ground, and while it is not my place to pry, I can’t help but know that something is on your mind. I may have a bit of a reputation as a gossip-lover, but I keep my friends’ secrets close to my heart so that they never touch unwanted ears.”

Cadence bit her lip, wondering if she should take the chance and just tell her. How would Rarity even react? Would she be mad, amused, or disappointed? She certainly seemed to be the most self-aware of the six Elements- her entire appearance and career were based off of outer beauty. That kind of beauty outside of impressing nobleponies, Cadence concluded, was advertisement mostly for members of the opposite sex. Feeling safe in her conclusion and deciding now was as good a time as any for another confession, she sighed, “Should I feel bad for not learning from my mistakes?”

Rarity’s eyelids widened by a margin. “You didn’t.”

Cadence’s cringing confirmed that she had, in fact, ‘did’, prompting further interrogation from the pearly pony. “Oh darling, didn’t you learn your lesson the last time? What in Equestria were the requirements for your victory this time around?”

“That at least half of you would have dates in time for the Hearts and Hooves Gala,” She confessed flatly.

“Another bet on our personal lives?” Rarity asked, sounding somewhat disappointed.

“I know- it’s terrible and I should feel even worse than I do,” Cadence whimpered. “I admit I have a problem, but the prize was just too good for me to say no!”

The fashionista raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Cadence dear, what could you possibly gain that would be worth betting on someponies like us?”

Despite their seclusion from any other company, the alicorn princess pressed her muzzle up to Rarity’s ear, whispering words inaudible past the flesh and cartilage. The alabaster unicorn’s jaw dropped, her eyes constricting towards the black of her pupils.

“You’re joking,” She gasped, receiving shake of Cadence’s head in return. Rarity’s expression quickly changed from a look of surprise to mischievous joy, a cruel grin stretching over her snout. She coughed, forcing a poker face. “Should I be unattended to in the romance department by the time of your Hearts and Hooves Gala, then I will accompany a member of your guard to the dance so that you may win your prize. I will not, however, condone this behavior by throwing myself out into the dating scene and looking like a desperate mare who waited too long to find her chance at true love. Does that sound fair?”

Rarity had very little time to brace for impact as the alicorn threw her hooves around her in a tight embrace.

“Thank you, Rarity! Oh thank you so much!” Cadence squealed. “You have no idea how much this means to me!”

“Oh but I do,” She replied, patting the end of her mane playfully. “Why, to have a stallion do that with me would be a dream come true. Just because I should not be so lucky does not mean that you should not as well. Now go along and return to your husband before he becomes suspicious of foul play and leave everything to yours truly.”

“You really think you can get everypony dates for the Gala?” The princess gaped.

“Oh! Not me, but I do know a certain pony who will be very enthused to do so. After all,” Rarity winked. “Only half of us need dates, and I am already covered as far as your bet is concerned. Finding dates for two out of five mares should be child’s play.”

“I… trust your judgment, Rarity,” Cadence said, getting up to make her way to the door. The clopping sounds of her hooves on the tile floor felt empty, almost as if she was forgetting something…

“Oh! Can you deliver a message for me, Rarity?”

The unicorn smiled. “I most certainly can and will, Cadence.”

The alicorn princess reached for the doorknob, looking back at her hostess. “Could you tell Rainbow Dash that I would be delighted if she would attend the Wonderbolt’s Derby with me in two days time? Tell her to think of it as my apology for our behavior at lunch.”

“It would be my pleasure,” Rarity said cheerfully, waving a forehoof to bid farewell to Princess Cadence as she made her way through the door. The door clicked shut, triggering the mare to slouch onto her rump with a sigh in quite an unlady-like fashion. She had never imagined such a short visit would take so much out of her, but being so generous had its costs and her mental fatigue would put off her work for the time being. Of course she was slightly offended by Cadence’s gambling problem initially, but given the context of her newest bet, Rarity could not fault the princess for her desperate measures. She looked at the tea set, flushing slightly for feeling so exhausted despite the minute amount of actual labor she had done in preparation for her unexpected guest’s comfort. Maybe it was the rainy day forcing a slothful mood on her, or maybe she was simply procrastinating on her outfits because she was afraid of rejection. Whatever the reason, the day had taken a turn from productive to lazy, and Rarity was completely fine with that. Perhaps she would take a page out of Rainbow Dash’s book and nap the afternoon away. Rarity was never one to lie around, but nopony was nearby to judge her, so-

~Ding Ding Ding Dong Ding Ding Ding Dong~

Rarity’s ears folded back in painful irritation. Surely this all had to be some elaborate reuse- one guest appearing on a rainy day was miraculous in itself, and Cadence being that particular guest qualified as an anomaly. But two guests in such weather? The mare shook her head dismissively. Princess Cadence must have forgotten something, though she brought no belongings and her measurements were already on record. Biting a hoof in anticipation, Rarity slowly creaked open the door, awaiting whatever cruel joke the universe had in store for her. That ‘cruel joke’ took its form in a light gold stallion, his wild waterlogged amber mane clinging to his face and neck, rainwater steadily dripping off him as his coat had evidently reached its carrying capacity for liquid. Rarity gawked at his condition, though the chipper stallion merely smiled a wide grin and removed his Stetson with a forehoof, his head following suit in a small, respectful bow.

“Howdy, Miss Rarity,” He said politely. “Nice ta’ see you again.”

“Braeburn, what in the wide world of Equestria are you doing in this weather?” Rarity asked directly, not bothering to reply to his formalities.

“Well Ah came to deliver my cousin’s dress measurements,” He chirped, the happiness and enthusiasm never leaving his tone despite the involuntary spasms his body delivered in response to the cold. He pulled a bagged envelope out of his vest, the paper interior remaining dry inside the plastic. Rarity took the measurements with her telekinesis and held a hoof to her mouth, having more sense to cover her gaping mouth and hide her horror.

“You should have waited until morning! Oh look at you, darling, you’re positively drenched from head to hooves. Now come along and get inside before you catch a cold,” She commanded sternly, a small pang of guilt overcoming her for the stallion’s troubles in delivering such trivial information to her. Braeburn shook his head, sending water droplets scattering, the small congregations of water splattering as they hit the ground, only to join larger puddles.

“Ah can’t,” He replied matter-of-factly, his muzzle pointed down at his hooves. Rarity’s eyes followed his line of vision, two pools of azure widening slightly at the appendages, now coated in mud from their long trek to the boutique from Sweet Apple Acres. “Why, it would just be down right rude of me to walk into a lady’s home with hooves this dirty.”

Rarity grabbed a muddied hoof with her own, the pearly white becoming stained with slushed earth. “My floors can be cleaned with a sponge, but I would never forgive myself if you were to fall ill simply because you offered to deliver your cousin’s dress measurements.”

“Ah’m afraid Ah can’t,” Braeburn said, pulling his hoof away and taking a step back, leaving the protective shelter above Carousel Boutique’s front door. Rainwater battered the western stallion, the mud melting off his hooves. Rarity took a step forward, her tone and expression completely serious.

“See, mud’s all gone. Braeburn, you will come into the boutique or so help me I will drag you in myself!”

“Ah can’t impose on a lady,” He repeated stubbornly, taking another step back. “Ah think Ah’ll head back on ta’ Sweet Apple Acres. It’s only a thirty minute trot, so Ah-“

Braeburn learned very quickly that day that a Unicorn’s magic gave them quite an advantage despite an Earth pony’s physical superiority. He also learned that Rarity was quite the multitasker, a barrage of towels scrubbing him dry as he was forcibly dragged into the dress shop. Placing him on the couch, the unicorn smirked with satisfaction at her small victory, humming a faint tune as she levitated the teapot from the kitchen, filling a spare cup for the stallion with the warm liquid. Braeburn took the cup gingerly from her magical embrace, visibly shaken up by her precise control over her natural skills.

“Thank ya… Rarity.”

“It was no trouble at all, Braeburn,” She lied, her sweet composure not betraying her internal frustration at the stallion’s stubborn behavior. “Now then, I shall fetch you a pillow and some blankets. You will spend the remainder of the storm here and you may as well be comfortable for your duration.”

“Rarity, Ah-“

Whatever he was about to say was cut off by an alabaster hoof, the keratin pressing firmly against his muzzle. Rarity offered a sweet smile, as well as a pillow and two blankets that levitated from another room, her mastery of multitasking once again showing through.

“Think nothing of it, Braeburn. Feel free to make yourself at home while I work upstairs on my friend’s dresses.” She paused, suddenly becoming very serious. “But if you leave before the storm is over, I will personally see to you myself, understand?”

“Ah’ll do what you think is best, Rarity.”

“Excellent,” She half sang, trotting back up the stairs. Looking down, Rarity noticed the stallion already asleep under the blankets, his shift in consciousness almost comical. She let a warm smile grace her lips, slowly making her way to the top, only to pause one more time to take a final look.

"Sleep tight, Braeburn."

Week 1: Chivalry

There weren’t many things Rarity was willing to break a sweat for. She limited her rigorous activities for exercise and her handiwork, the former to keep her pristine looks in check and on occasion help her friends keep Equestria from falling to shambles. The latter, however, was what she lived for, and it was starting to take its toll as she finished the final touches on Fluttershy’s gown for the Hearts and Hooves Day Gala. She ignited her horn with a cerulean light, hovering an embroidered cloth to dab at the base of her brow, the sweat droplets sinking into the soft fabric. With practiced ease, she severed the final thread. It was done. Finally done- although there were five more to left to join it. Rarity sighed heavily, breathing in the stuffy air to take up the scent of her lingering perfumes, the fruity fragrance mingling with the slightest tinge of cinnamon. She sniffed again, confused.

“Well that’s odd,” The unicorn bemused, taking in another whiff. She trotted to her door and creaked it open, the smell of cinnamon overpowering as the barrier continued to open. Curious, she continued down the stairs, the slightest hesitation in her hoofsteps. Reaching the bottom of the stairwell, her azure eyes drifted to her right. A folded blanket and adjusted pillow confirmed her suspicions. Rarity took a few small steps, rounding the corner and entering the kitchen. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of her kitchen, plates stacked with piles of Apple Family fritters, the scent unmistakable. The golden stallion responsible for the excessive baking scrubbed away at a single pot in the sink, a country tune hanging in the air as he hummed in his labors. The dainty clops from Rarity’s pearly hooves caught his attention, ears perking at the sound of keratin against the kitchen’s tile floor. Braeburn placed the spotless kitchenware with the rest on the drying rack, turning around with a guilty smile as he faced his hostess, her boring sapphire eyes demanding an explanation for the culinary recreation. The stallion shuffled his hooves awkwardly.

“Ah-Ah’m sorry, Rarity. Ah just was tryin’ to think of a way to thank ya’ for your hospitality. Ah thought makin’ apple fritters was the way to go, and Ah got so excited by the thought that Ah already had the first batch in the oven before Ah realized Ah shouldn’t have been usin’ yer kitchen or supplies without permission.”

His ears pinned back instinctively and he sighed heavily. “But by then Ah had already kneaded all the dough and didn’t wanna waste any of it. Ah’m awful sor-“

Golden lips met white keratin, Rarity once again silencing the cowpony with the gentle tip of her hoof. The dressmaker smiled sweetly.

“I will hear none of these apologies, Braeburn. I offered my full hospitality to you and commanded you to make yourself at home, and you have done nothing outside of those boundaries. The fritters smell absolutely divine.” She inhaled deeply through her nose, closing her eyes and allowing herself to enjoy the delightful scent. Rarity drifted her eyelids open, an eyebrow raised in surprised pleasure. “Is that a hint of almond extract I detect?”

Braeburn cracked a cocky smile. “Sure is, ma’am. Ah’ve always had a knack for bakin’. Ah’m even better than Cousin Applejack- course she’ll never admit it. Girl’s too prideful and says Ah’m cheatin’ by changin’ family recipes.”

“Oh pony feathers, there’s nothing wrong with a little experimentation,” Rarity dismissed, waving a hoof casually in the air. The unicorn levitated a single fritter from the stacks, biting through the magical blue aura surrounding it. Her eyes widened. “Braeburn! These are simply amazing! I’m surprised you don’t have a baked good on your flank.”

Rarity gave the stallion a teasing look. “Are you sure you have an apple as your cutie mark, or have you been hiding a fritter underneath some makeup?”

“Nope, it’s clear as day an apple right here,” Braeburn said obliviously, turning around and giving his hostess a very clear view of his hindquarters, auburn tail swishing as he swung his flank from side to side. Rarity felt the heat rush to her face at the sudden gesture, the stallion’s ignorance outweighing his modesty. “See? Big red apple. Got it when Ah found out Ah was destined to work with all sorts of apples.”

“O-oh…. yes,” Rarity stuttered, attempting to divert her eyes, the flush returning to her face every time she failed. “There…. it is. Right on your shaking flanks.”

Braeburn blushed furiously as the implications hit him, quickly turning around. “Ah’m so sorry, Miss Rarity! Ah didn’t even realize… Ah horseapples Ah really need to think more before Ah embarrass myself like that.”

Still blushing herself, Rarity trotted past the stallion, muttering under her breath. “Oh trust me, Braeburn. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. Believe me.”

“What was that?”

Looking back, she fluttered her eyelashes, bringing further blush to the stallion’s cheeks. “I said, no worries at all; you were merely trying to explain yourself. No then, would you care to join me in enjoying these fritters in the living room?”

Braeburn nodded dumbly and turned around to grab the nearest plate between his teeth, proceeding to follow the unicorn out to the living room. Rarity smiled as her guest joined her on the couch, his amber mane swaying slightly as he gently placed the plate on her mahogany coffee table. He became very aware of the sapphire eyes tracing his every movement, and turning to face their owner, he matched her smile with his own.

“There a smudge on my cheek?” The stallion raised an eyebrow smugly. “Or maybe ya’ just ain’t keen on my vest. Cousin Applejack did say you were always lookin’ for ways ta’ make a pony look his or her best.”

“Actually, your vest and Stetson combination has quite a bit of Old World charm,” Rarity chuckled, scanning her guest thoroughly, her hoof tapping the base of her chin as the gears in her mind turned. “Though a bit of formalwear would do wonders.”

“Ah ain’t too keen on tuxedos, Rarity.” Braeburn answered flatly. Rarity scoffed, apparently insulted by the statement.

“Oh please! As if I should be so tasteless as to believe a black suit would properly match that golden coat of yours. I was thinking more along the lines of a green sweater-vest overlaying a white dress shirt. It would match your eyes and give you the colors of a blooming flower- perhaps a dandelion or some other variety that reminds us of a child-like innocence. That would match your personality quite splendidly. Bold and impulsive, yet inoffensive.”

Braeburn simply gawked, stammering a bit before he could find the words to speak. “Y…. y… y-ya’ mean you thought of all that just in one gander? Ya’ sure this ain’t something you’ve been mullin’ over for awhile?”

“I’ll admit I gave it a brief thought during our trip to Appleoosa,” Rarity confessed. “But the matters then and there were much more urgent than making sure the Apple Family dressed in style.”

Braeburn whistled, the tone going flat as he cut it off. “Color me impressed. Ah sure as sugar couldn’t think of that.”

“Oh nonsense, Braeburn,” Rarity dismissed, her horn igniting as she turned her attention to the fritters. Blue magic enveloped them, the pastries taking off into the air before diverging their paths, one destined for the baker, the other for the seamstress. “It’s simply a different field of thinking. Put me on an Apple farm and I’ll look like a foal compared to any Apple.”

Both ponies bit down, savoring the sweet treats and good company. Swallowing his, Braeburn smiled happily. Despite all the complaining Applejack had centered around his unicorn host, she always ended the venting in a positive light. The Appleoosan could see why. Rarity was a true lady, chivalrous in her own right and a generous heart behind her pretty face. She held her tongue and kept her patience for the sake of ponies she cared about, yet wasn’t afraid to give them a dash of truth. A true lady-

“Oh look at the time!” Rarity said suddenly, breaking the tranquil mood. “I do apologize Braeburn, but there are five more dresses I need to create- six actually, I almost forgot about Princess Cadence. I am so sorry for this, but once again feel free to make yourse-“

“Ah can help.”

Rarity blinked quickly, taken back by the sudden interruption. “W-what?”

“Ah said Ah can help,” Braeburn repeated himself. “Ah want to help. It’s the least Ah can do. Ah can’t sew or nothin’, but Ah can move the heavy stuff for you. Ah can cook too, so ya’ don’t even have ta’ worry about makin’ time for your next meal ‘til this whole business is good ‘n done with. We’ll have those dresses done lickitty split, long before the Gala.”

“Are you offering your assistance to me for the rest of your duration in Ponyville?” Rarity asked disbelievingly. A simple nod from Braeburn answered her question. “Braeburn, I couldn’t! I could never ask that from you. This is your vacation time- your time to relax!”

“That’s exactly what Applejack said and there ain’t nothin’ relaxin’ ‘bout sittin’ around all day!” He huffed. Smiling again, he gave Rarity a small bow. “Besides, what kinda gentlecolt would Ah be if Ah left a lady all by her lonesome to sew away for weeks without any good company.”

Rarity was speechless as she took time to consider the situation. On one hoof, it would be selfish to allow the stallion to spend the large remainder of his time in Ponyville doing chores for her within Carousel Boutique when he should be spending his vacation time catching up with family. And then there was always the potential he would end up a distraction. Talking to a charming and handsome stallion seemed like a more entertaining alternative to commissioned work, and she couldn’t let anything detain from her deadline or the quality of her dresses. Then again, he had offered- no, insisted to assist around the shop. Rarity had no doubt his intentions were pure, but perhaps there were underlying ideas planted by his subconscious and natural urges. In which case…

“Very well then, Braeburn,” She consented. “Follow me upstairs.”

It was going to be a very interesting six weeks.

Rain pattered on the exterior of Golden Oaks Library, the hollow sound resonating throughout the tree’s interior. Inside the giant structure, Spike tapped a foot impatiently on the wooden floor, his eyes rolled up in obvious annoyance.

“C’mon, Twilight, let’s play a board game. The rain’s no fun if all you’re gonna do is read.”

“I can’t Spike!” The unicorn shrieked, bloodshot eyes tracing the lines of her book. Blush tinged her cheeks and sweat rolled off her brow. “I have to get a date in time for the Gala! I can’t fail Cadence! Six weeks!”

“You’re gonna get a date by reading romance novels? Aren’t those from the restricted section?” Spike asked.

“I don’t know! It’s dirty and gross, but these ponies still managed to get dates!” Twilight said, tossing the book into the pile of erotic literature next to her. Groaning, she flipped over onto her back, hooves covering her eyes partly out of strain from reading and partly out of shame. “Friendship was hard enough to learn. But this? This is impossible!”

“Maybe you’re just not ready for romance yet, Twilight.” Spike said bluntly. Tears streamed down the unicorn’s cheeks in response.

“I have to be ready, Spike. Not just for Cadence, but for myself. Think of how much I’m missing out on! Boys, dates, a first kiss- there’s so much! I’ve read about it all, but to actually prepare myself for it seems so unreal!”

Twilight would never admit it to her draconic assistant, but romance had never crossed her mind until the news of Shining Armor’s wedding had reached her. It had always been the subject of fairy tales- stories meant to entertain and tell her that one day when she was all grown up, she would start her own story. Years of isolation in the archives of Canterlot’s libraries had numbed the unicorn to her physical maturity. Growing as a pony and making friends had been a bumpy process, but she had ultimately overcome it. Yet romance had always eluded her- as it had for her friends, despite Rarity’s initial ambitions with Prince Blueblood. It wasn’t until somepony close to her had taken the step into love’s uncertain holds that she realized the possibility for her would start to fade away. Twilight had never thought much about it originally, but looking back, there were quite a number of couples throughout Ponyville. Caramel and Sassaflash, Written Script and Golden Harvest- heck even Ditzy Doo managed to spend all of Heart and Hooves Day in Ponyville with Time Turner, and they always seemed to vanish without a trace. As the number of couples increased with each revisited memory, Twilight came to the cold conclusion that time was running out. And the worst part about it all was…

“I’m scared, Spike,” She admitted. “I’m really scared. I don’t know many stallions in town, and I trust even less. How can I find a special somepony if I can’t trust them?”

Spike cringed, his toes pointed toward each other as he leaned back and forth awkwardly.

“I… don’t have an answer to that Twilight. But worrying about it will only make you… well worry. Let’s play some games and relax. Maybe when the rain is done we can go talk to Rarity and see if she can help you.”

Twilight looked at her assistant with a knowing smile. “You just want to see if you can be her date to the Gala, don’t you Romeo?”

“What! Pshya, c’mon Twilight, I only have your best interests at heart,” He lied poorly. “Though it wouldn’t hurt to check. Maybe she’ll come around.”

The librarian giggled, bringing out a set of Scrabble from the interior of the library with her telekinetic grasp.

“C’mon, I’ll let you have the first turn. No dictionary this time, Spike.”

Week 1: Rivalry

“And then, as it happened, she really ended up stuck beneath some rocks! And little Spikey Wikey saved her by throwing one of them down the monster’s throat!”

Braeburn laughed heartily, his head shaking slowly at Rarity’s tale. “Poor cous’, she never was cut out for actin’. She’s too dang honest to pretend ta’ be somethin’ she ain’t. Timberwolves though- that’s mighty dangerous.”

“To be fair, we weren’t expecting Rainbow Dash’s imitation to be perfect enough to attract real Timberwolves,” Rarity explained, quickly dabbing at the base of her brow. She took a moment to enjoy her work, feeling satisfied that at least one more dress had been completed. Only five more to go- though Rarity was not one to complain about dressmaking, especially with her new company. Braeburn had been nothing but a perfect gentlecolt, fetching her the supplies she needed, cooking dinner and breakfast for the both of them, and even offering to lift anything heavy despite her ability to do so more efficiently with the use of magic. Not once did the stallion complain about his place on the couch, nor did he have anything negative to say at all about the boutique or Rarity’s lifestyle. He was so similar to Applejack with his rustic and olden ways, and yet so different at the same time. The work ethic, honesty, and reliability were present in both, yet Braeburn was so much different than his cousin in regards to his respect for her dramatically different attitude.

He tolerated the unicorn’s prissy behavior- even going as far as to offer to release a spider outdoors when it had come out from beneath Rarity’s fabrics to terrify her to the point where her windows rattled from her shrieking. He complied when she had insisted he take a shower with only the finest of shampoos she had to offer, as well as using the conditioner that accompanied it. And he did it all with a smile on his face. One might even go as far as to say he was enjoying himself-

“Rarity? Everything okay? You’ve been starin’ at that dress fer a good minute.”

Rarity smiled kindly. “I was simply marveling about being blessed with such good company over the past twenty four hours. Are you sure you don’t need to stretch out your legs? I certainly couldn’t picture any member of the Apple family spending so much time indoors and enjoying it.”

“Ah would admit that some fresh air would do me a world of good,” Braeburn confessed, though the guilty smile he wore left the slightest indication that he quickly regretted his admittance. “But Ah ain’t complainin’! It’s been a hoot and a holler listenin’ to your stories- ‘specially when they’re ones Applejack ain’t willin’ ta tell.”

“Still, I suppose a bit of fresh air could do us both some good. It stopped raining quite some time ago,” Rarity said as she removed her red glasses and placed them onto her sewing table, their removal seeming to lift the weight of her work’s burden, if only for a moment. She turned to the door, motioning for the stallion to follow as she walked to make her leave. “How about a trip to Sugarcube Corner?” She offered We could share a banana split- my treat for all your hard work. And I do have some business to attend to with Pinkie Pie to guarantee Cadance’s victory again her husband.”

“Victory with what now?”

“Oh the silly dear keeps making wagers on the romantic involvements of me and my friends,” The unicorn informed him, eyes rolled as she relived the memory. “She bet him that at least half of us would have proper escorts to her Hearts and Hooves Gala, and let’s just say the conditions of their agreement would make it… rather unfortunate for either of them to lose.” Rarity sighed as she made her way down the stairs, rather embarrassed by the confession she was about to give her present company. “I agreed to help her, but it seems like such a silly promise now. I’m so busy with these dresses that I simply don’t have time to be out there searching for the most eligible stallions in Ponyville.”

“Ya’ mean ta’ tell me a beautiful, proper lady such as yourself don’t have a special somepony ta’ call your own?” Braeburn gaped slightly before cracking a disbelieving smile with a rough chuckle. “Why you’d be the stampede’s lead back in Appleoosa.”

“You’re quite the flatterer,” Rarity smiled, pleased at the compliments thrown her way. She swished her tail, flicking the tip of Braeburn’s golden snout with the last luscious curl of her violet tail, eliciting another satisfying blush from the rural stallion. “But even the taken ones were single at one point. They just don’t always remain that way,” She said with a whisper, intending to come off as coy to the still-blushing stallion. Her intentions were put on hold as she turned head on into Twilight Sparkle, the librarian unfortunately rounding the corner in sync with her flirtatious friend. Twilight’s bundle, in the form of a young dragon child, fell from his perch, the tile smudging as he landed with a groan. Collecting himself, Spike looked down and gasped.

“Ohmygosh! I’m so sorry, Rarity! I’ll clean it up right away!”

“Ah’ll take care of it later, little one,” Braeburn answered him with a wink, his gaze directing towards the stunned pearly unicorn. Reaching out with a hoof, he helped the seamstress up, allowing her to regain her balance as she rested against his vested chest. “Sides, it was an accident, sugar. Ah sure as heck made a bigger mess when Ah first came in here.”

“Wait wait wait!” Twilight interjected, recovering fully on her own with a few quick shakes of her head. “What are you doing here, Braeburn? Aren’t you supposed to be staying with your cousins and grandmother at Sweet Apple Acres?”

“Yeah, what are you doing here?” Spike asked accusingly, his eyes narrowing as he approached the cowpony with locked eyes and his claws at his hips. Braeburn stifled a nervous cough to prepare an answer, though his hostess proved this was unnecessary.

“Why he simply came over to deliver his cousin’s dress measurements,” Rarity replied with practiced ease, the social expectations of Canterlot’s elite shining through with her delivery. Spike relaxed his expression, evidently satisfied with the response the object of his infatuation delivered.

“And she dragged me in outta the rain, mud an’ all!” Braeburn continued, a slight pink beginning to tint his cheeks. He rubbed the back of his head nervously, not daring to make eye contact with the mare still clinging to his clavicles. “Why, Ah didn’t know how ta’ say thanks, so Ah thought maybe a nice home cooked meal would serve as a proper thanks. Only Ah didn’t realize it was plum rude of me to barge into her kitchen-“

Rarity’s polished hoof sealed his lips once again, bringing awkward silence as the Appleoosan realized just how close his fashionista companion was in proximity.

“I thought we agreed that it was an incredibly sweet, gentlecoltly, and thoughtful gesture and to leave it at that, Braeburn,” The dainty unicorn hushed in honeyed words. Twilight gaped in slight shock as she came to the realization of Rarity’s flirtatious behavior. Her purple eyes darted to the side in time to see Spike grinding his teeth in rage before giving the seamstress her full attention.

“The dear cooked for me and offered his assistance during the rest of his stay in Ponyville! Isn’t that wonderfully generous? It seems his dearest cousin wishes for him to relax during his visit here, and… well…”

“And Ah ain’t one for standin’ still, so Ah figure Ah’d make myself useful for somepony,” Braeburn finished with a shake of his head. His golden hoof took her flawless white one in its grasp, green eyes similarly taking ahold of her cerulean pools in a dreamy gaze. “Speakin’ of which, Ah think it’s time we got goin’.”

“O-oh, yes,” Rarity stammered, her face red from the unexpected flirtatious behavior Applejack’s cousin had reversed onto her. She certainly wasn’t used to dealing with her own techniques, much less in front of any observing peers. Her sapphire eyes drifted over back to Twilight and Spike, the former watching with wide eyes and the latter flushed with rage, his teeth and fists clenched. Rarity groaned inwardly- that was definitely something she would have to address in the near future. But for now…

“Twilight, did you need help with something, darling?”

The magician squirmed slightly, her uncomfortable position very conspicuous in answering the fashionista’s question.

“Uhm… nope! Just came by to visit and say hi!” She lied through a forced smile that almost seemed too large for her mouth. Rarity smiled sweetly, approaching her good friend and giving her a light embrace.

“Come find me later. You can tell me all about it, darling.”

Rarity broke the contact, her smile widening as she met Twilight’s eyes. The purple unicorn found herself smiling too, knowing her friend would be there to help her in such… awkward times. Her… interaction with Braeburn only further pacified the raging storm of worry brewing within the student’s mind. If anything, Rarity at least proved she had been successful and would no doubt assist her, as a good friend, to find romance of her own.

Twilight found herself at ease as cowpony and dressmaker walked out side by side, though the opposite couldn’t have been more true for her own companion. Spike quivered in rage, eyes misty with tears he refused to cry.

“I’ll show him!”

Twilight cocked her head slightly, confused by her assistant’s outburst. “Say what now?”

Spike stormed off, feet pounding on the tile. “I’ll be twice as useful and three times as romantic as Braeburn! Just you watch- Rarity will be mine!”

The librarian felt her ears pin back subconsciously. “Oh dear.”

Week 1: Assumptions

Rainbow Dash landed on one of her several napping clouds, the scintillating dew billowing around her toned cerulean body and the contractions of her lungs causing the slightest rippling among the surface. Her wings, normally erect in bold confidence or folded at her sides when relaxed, lay drooping across the cumulus, projecting the pegasus’ dejected spirits for all to see. Which strategically, was nopony, as she often preferred her naps to remain secluded and undisturbed. Dash rolled on her side, unable to find sleep as quickly as she was accustomed to. Her thoughts were haunted by the same questions. Why? What went wrong? She bit her lip, reliving her earlier brunch date.

Rainbow Dash sat across from the grey Earth stallion, his triplet of clovers folding nicely over his well-toned flank. Dash smiled contently, hoping he would play his cards right and earn his namesake, getting Lucky after a few more dates.

“I have to say, Rainbow, I’m surprised you invited me out of the blue for some food,” He said with a warming grin. “Your company usually tends to be more… well female.”

“Hey! I can hang with the guys!” She responded with a wink. “Besides, it’s a nice change from mares, and there’s certain things I can do with a stallion that I can’t with a mare.”

“Oh, I get what you mean,” Lucky suggestively said, an eyebrow confidently raised. Dash felt her heart racing, elated that everything was going according to plan. She’d have a roll in the hay, ask Lucky to the Gala, and show everypony how she didn’t need Rarity’s feminine ways to bag herself a stallion. It didn’t even need to be serious- Dash just wanted proof that she was attractive, and if she had a bit of naughty fun in the process, then all the better. Sure, some of her friends might see any promiscuous behavior as shameful, but Rainbow wasn’t one to let those particular judgments get to her. At least she would be getting-

“It must be awkward talking about mares when all of your friends are straight.”

She felt tears well in the corners of her eyes and quickly wiped them away before they could droop. Red, puffy eyes she could blame on a sleepless night, but tearstains were obvious and nopony got to witness evidence of Rainbow Dash crying and live to tell the tale. Dash sighed, mulling over the fresh, painful memory. In retrospect, she could have reacted better…

“…What?”

Lucky grabbed Dash’s hoof with his own, patting the top of it in what he attempted to be a comforting gesture. “Now now Rainbow Dash, you don’t have to play coy with me. If you wanted company to check out mares, all you had to do was ask. I totally get it-“

“No! You don’t!” Dash yelled, yanking her hoof away. She jumped out of her seat, hovering in the air as she jabbed the hoof to his snout. “Where do you get off making assumptions like that?!”

Lucky swallowed the lump in his throat, trying to rationalize the situation. “So, you just wanted to have brunch and make stallion friends?”

“No!” She said sternly, the words falling like lead. “I wanted a date! A date with you, idiot!”

Lucky felt his jaw drop. “A date with me?! But you’re… I mean everypony knows you like…”

His eyes widened as the realization came full force. “You’re straight?! But you’re so… messy.”

Rainbow Dash turned again on her makeshift cloud bed. The hospital bill came out pretty cheap due to Lucky’s health insurance, though Doctor Stable had commented that he had never seen a nose broken that badly by anypony ‘falling down the stairs’. Lucky promised not to press charges as long as Rainbow Dash promised not to tell everypony how she had broken his nose, but her original problem was ultimately left unresolved. It was always the same problem- Lucky was no outlier in the treatment she had received from stallions. She growled, annoyed by the continuous pattern in her attempts for a love life. The growling continued, surprising the Wonderbolt in training. Looking down, she realized the continuous gurgling sounds were in fact emanating from her stomach and remembered that she had actually never had the chance to order anything during her short-lived brunch date. Deciding her physical needs took priority over her emotions, she leapt from her perch, spreading her wings into a lazy glide. Dash squinted against the glaring sunlight, making out her destination as the tan gingerbread design walls began to fade into view.

Applejack bucked out, scattering leaves and red delicious apples into the waiting buckets. Beads of sweat collected on the farm pony’s brow, forming a larger collection that lost the battle against gravity and fell, tracing the form of her muzzle until it reached her lips. She licked the drop away, taking a bit of dirty pleasure at the salty taste of a hard day’s work and bucked again. Applejack had a lot to think about, but she was thankful that her worries often could be vented out in the form of physical labor. Land sake’s, she knew she needed to be at her most efficient with Big Macintosh on forced vacation.

Her brother wasn’t the only family Applejack had concerns for. She hadn’t seen hide or hair of Braeburn since she sent him off to Rarity’s boutique with her dress measurements, and she’d be lying to herself if she didn’t feel the slightest twinge of guilt gnawing at her conscience for not only the mess the hyperactive stallion probably made at the fashionista’s home and business, but for pawning her cousin off onto one of her friends. She grunted as her leg struck out again. It couldn’t be helped. There was simply too much work to do around the farm, and she couldn’t afford to waste any time entertaining her visiting family. While Applejack slightly begrudged her earlier decision to refuse any help from Braeburn, she knew he was a hard worker despite his cheery antics and shenanigans and deserved- no, needed his time off for rest and relaxation. She certainly couldn’t keep up the hard work around Sweet Apple Acres without a few fun days around her friends, and her family deserved the same. Even Applebloom, although less enthusiastic than herself, agreed that Big Macintosh and Braeburn deserved their rest, and was busy herself bucking apples in the north fields for harvest. Applejack recoiled her leg, preparing for another strike against the timber of the-

“Um, Ajay?”

She froze, looking up with obvious annoyance. Her frown deepened as she looked her brother in the eyes, the stallion’s placid expression unfaltering.

“What is it, Big Mac? Can’t ya’ seem Ah’m in the zone?”

“Eeyup,” He drawled, eyeing her up and down. “Ah still say ya’ let me help out, but Ah’m not willin’ ta’ take the tongue lashin’ ya’d give me for workin’ on… ‘vacation’.”

“Ah can handle it just fine, big brother,” Applejack said calmly, wiping the sweat off her brow. She gave him a confident smile. “It’ll be hard work, but it ain’t nothin’ me and Applebloom can’t handle.”

“Ah know, Ajay. If’n you two couldn’t do it, then nopony could.”

Applejack smiled at the genuine compliment, but still had her reservations. “Then why’re ya’ here? Go on, have some fun.” She said, waving him off. Big Macintosh held his ground, eyes downcast at the ground.

“Ah actually needed your help on a mighty important matter, sis.”

The orange mare sat back on her haunches, patting a hoof on the orchard soil for her brother to do likewise. He sat down with a heavy sigh.

“Ah paid a visit ta’ some of my friends the other day. Ya’ know, typical stuff ta’ do on a… ‘vacation’.” He practically spit the word out. The disdain quickly left his voice and he continued his story in a more somber tone. “Anyways, Ah paid Caramel a visit-“

“An’ he fergot ta’ bring his keys again and locked himself outta his house?” Applejack piped up, slightly smirking. Big Macintosh smiled gently.

“Na, not this time. We had a good chat, caught up with everything. Turns out he proposed to his girlfriend two weeks ago. Ya’ remember Sassaflash?”

“Well no kiddin’?” She said, surprised. “Well, good fer him! Bout time he took an opportunity ta’ improve himself. When’s the big-”

Applejack’s smile began to dissipate under Big Macintosh’s gloomy gaze. She barely croaked out the remainder of her question.

“…day?”

“Applejack, she said no,” The farm stallion began. He pawed uncomfortably at the ground. “Turns out she didn’t see a future ‘tween the two of ‘em. She had actually been datin’ other stallions fer the past few months and was waitin’ til somethin’ better came along before-“

“Enough,” She said coldly. Big Macintosh’s eyebrows raised in shock at the violent tone his sister took. She looked up at him with glazed eyes. “Go help him, big brother. Ah can’t even begin ta’ think of what that stallion must be goin’ through, but if’n there’s anything Ah learned over the years, it’s how important my friends are. He needs you.”

The stallion of the Apple family household coughed uncomfortably, ears pinning back in reflex to his emotions. Applejack took quick notice and was even quicker to berate him.

“Gimme one reason ya’ can’t go help-“

“Cuz it don’t work like that between stallions,” He said suddenly. His sister paused, her mouth slightly agape in shock at Big Macintosh’s uncharacteristic interruption. Her eyes pleaded for an explanation, and the crimson workhorse sighed wearily.

“Stallions don’t go ventin’ ta’ each other about their feelin’s- not to the extent mares do. We distract ourselves with somethin’ else and learn ta’ deal with it so that we can move on. Caramel ain’t no exception- only problem is he was workin’ for Sassaflash’s father and their split up put him outta a job.”

“Poor ‘Mel,” Applejack gasped, her own ears pinned back in empathy. They quickly perked back up as she caught a glance from her brother, his expression almost pleading. “….what?”

“Ya’ know,” He began. “There is an awful lotta’ work ‘round here, and you ‘n Bloom could probably-“

“No!”

Big Macintosh jumped back slightly at his sister’s outburst. Applejack coughed and straightened her Stetson nonchalantly. “Ah mean, Ah don’t think the poor colt is cut out fer farm work. He’s always losin’ things and-“

“Handiwork is his special talent, Ajay,” Big Mac said flatly. “Ah know he can be useful somewhere here.”

“But Ah-“ She paused, choking slightly in response to her brother’s piercing glare. On one hoof, Caramel could be quite useful around the farm. Another pair of strong hooves- well, regular hooves in Caramel’s case, could do a noticeable amount of work in a full day. That didn’t make it an easy decision for the young farm mare. Caramel had a bit of a temper, and it was practically destined that the two would get into a few scuffles along the way. He was always the first to berate her on cider shortages during the winter months- that is until Rainbow Dash moved to town. Applejack also considered the fact that Caramel probably wasn’t emotionally stable after all he had been through, yet these and other worries seemed to flitter away as Big Macintosh’s stare intensified. She lowered her Stetson over her face. “Just make sure Ah don’t regret sayin’ yes…”