A New Chapter

by RibaBian

Rating: everyone
Tags: Rarity, Romance, Slice of Life, Alternate Universe, Applejack, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 11784

somewhat AU. Rarity is a city pony moving to Ponyville. Can she ever learn to get along? Especially with somepony who is her polar opposite...

somewhat AU. With her career coming to an end and nowhere else to go, city pony Rarity must move to Ponyville. Can she ever learn to get along? Especially with somepony who is her polar opposite like Applejack? Eventual Rarijack.

Published 2013-01-10 12:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2013-02-15 04:38:17 UTC

Chapter 1

Rarity stood on the brink of a volcano, looking out into the thick bubbly lava ready to swallow her whole and end her miserable pony life. Alright alright, so it wasn’t a volcano, it was a train. And to be fair, the lava wasn’t lava so much as the station platform, but it may as well have been.

Just put one hoof in front of the other, Rarity. Good, see? No big deal; it’s not the end of your life, just the end of your career! The pony stifled a sob. No, no. My career is already over. It’s time to move on with my life! Do something new!

As Rarity stepped out onto the platform she already felt out of place. The other passengers around her were obviously from here, being greeted by family and friends as they stepped out. She knew she was getting looks, dressed in a beige-colored, cashmere poncho lined with white crystal and a matching cartwheel hat (all hoof-stitched and well done if she did say so herself).

A city pony like her just couldn’t blend in at a place like this.

“Excuse me, ma’am?”

Rarity glanced over to see one of the attendants from the train, a warm brown coat and a bell cutie mark on his flank, looking nervous. The dangling crystals on her hat made a pleasant jangling sound and shone as she turned to face him.

“D-do you need h-help with anything?” He blushed.

Rarity smiled. “Oh, no thank you, darling. I can handle it. No problem!” She didn’t actually believe the words, but there was nothing this pony, or really anypony could do to help her. For the first time in her life she was all alone. Or maybe she always had been and just never realized; she wasn’t sure.

“A-alrighty then, m-ma’am. Thank you f-for your service!” He gave her an awkward bow before nearly tripping over himself bounding away.

Rarity sighed, smile falling from her face, and used her magic to adjust the single saddlebag on her back. She hadn’t brought anything else. There was no need, as she had sent the rest of her things on ahead of her…to her new home.

Rarity trotted out of the station and began her walk into the town she would likely spend the rest of her miserable life in: Ponyville. The roads were all dirt, and the pony grimaced to think of filth she would have to clean from her hooves. She made a mental note to start wearing shoes regularly.

It wasn’t long until Rarity reached the first buildings, mostly small shops with grinning ponies standing around outside, chatting amongst themselves. As she walked by she heard them go silent and felt their stares on her back, followed by hushed whispers.

“Who is she?”

“Is she famous?”

“What’s somepony like that doing in a place like this?”

Rarity didn’t mind. She had always enjoyed attention for her work, even a simple ensemble like this; the recognition was the most rewarding part. Honestly, dressed like this she wouldn’t get a second glance in Canterlot, or even Manehattan.

The unicorn tried to put on a sweet smile for the admiring masses – although with the size of this town it was more like the admiring few. Even if she had never wanted to be here, there was no point in not at least getting along.

As Rarity rounded a corner she suddenly found herself knocked off her hooves and onto her back. Even through the dizzying sensation her first thought was worry for her wardrobe. It looked as though she would have more to worry about than just dirty hooves if this kept up.

“Ah geez, did I hit somepony again?” What seemed to be an Appleloosian dialect asked before a pair of green eyes appeared from where she was lying on the ground.

“Are ya alright?” The Earth pony held out a hoof to help her up, and Rarity took it, quickly dropping it as soon as she had righted herself.

The pony had an orange hide, a blonde mane that probably hadn’t been brushed in months, if ever, and freckles littered her cheeks. When she turned to pick up Rarity’s discarded saddlebag, she could see a cutie mark of three apples on her flank, which would explain the apple cart that trailed behind her. That must have been what she had knocked her over with.

The other pony trotted back with the saddlebag in her mouth and Rarity used her magic to lift it back onto her back.

“Ah’m awful sorry about that. Ah’m Applejack, by the way.” The mare, now known as Applejack, held out a hoof in greeting.

Rarity ignored it.

She just practically killed me because of her carelessness and now she’s trying to be friendly? She should be begging me for forgiveness!

“Well then, Applejack, I understand it must be hard to see past that…” she grimaced. “…completely out-dated cowpony hat. Maybe if you weren't wearing that ghastly thing you would have seen me.” Rarity huffed.

Applejack frowned, her brow creasing. “Hate to be rude, sugarcube, but this was partially your fault.”

“Me?!”

“Yes, you! Maybe if ya could see past all them there shiny rocks danglin' in front of yur face ya wouldn’t have bumped into mah applecart.” Applejack retorted, scowling.

Rarity gaped. “Why I- These are not rocks!” She pointed her hoof towards her hat. “These are grade-A gemstones, worth more than three carts-full of your stupid apples!”

“Are you calling mah family’s prided apples we work year-round on stupid?”

“Maybe I-!“

Rarity stopped, noticing a crowd of ponies developing around them.

So much for a good first impression.

“I-I don’t have the time for this!” Rarity declared with a huff, quickly galloping around the cart and past its owner to hide her embarrassment. She continued at this pace until she was out of sight of the others.

Rarity gasped for breath as she finally came to a stop. She obviously wasn’t a race pony, and suddenly felt very glad that she hadn’t chosen such a sweaty career.

Dirt on my clothes, dirt on my hooves, and now I’m covered in this disgusting sweat! This is the worst possible thing!

She knew she could often be dramatic, but she truly felt her circumstances warranted it, if just this once. Maybe she had been a tad dramatic when faced with that apple pony; she simply didn’t have the patience right now.

Stifling a sigh, Rarity took a look around her, trying to find her bearing. Everything had happened rather quickly, so she hadn’t had a chance to visit this place before the move. She was already beginning to regret it.

“Fantastic! This day couldn’t possibly be going more swimmingly!”

The mare used her magic to take the map the realtor had given her from her saddlebag and open it. She felt a slight panic rise in her chest when she didn’t recognize anything immediately, but soon she spotted a building on the map: a garishly decorated bakery with a sign reading “Sugarcube Corner” hanging nearby.

Rarity frowned as she realized she’d nearly walked half the town, but at least she wasn’t too far from her new home.

She continued walking along the path, past a few more shops and by the town hall before she stopped to look at her map again. She sighed, this time in relief, as she realized she was only one bridge away.

Rarity quickly trotted over the bridge, nearly breaking into a canter as she finally reached what had once been a death sentence and what was now her salvation.

“Oh, sweet Celestia! Finally!” She exclaimed, barely taking a second to examine the outside of her new home before bursting inside.

As soon as she entered she dropped her saddlebag, and collapsed on the red, velvet chaise in the main room. She could see it didn’t quite go with the color scheme of her new place, but that couldn’t be helped; she had had this furniture moved directly from her old home after all.

It had fit perfectly there.

Deep purples and royal blues would suit this place so much better.

However, everything in the house had already been unpacked and put in its proper place. Well, everything except the supplies from her old boutique. She couldn’t trust the mover ponies to handle her precious materials and mannequins with care, so she had simply told them to leave them boxed and packed away in the biggest room they could find. If she were being honest, she simply couldn’t bring herself to look at those things right now.

Rarity closed her eyes for the first time since she had departed from Canterlot, and let herself sink into the plush of the chaise. She could feel herself drifting away, finally beginning to relax until her thoughts disturbed her again.

Why does the first day of my new life have to turn out so dreadful? She truly wished it would rain just to match her mood. It wasn’t fair for the sun to be out. And that rude cowpony didn’t help my mood any. How uncouth! She didn’t even…

Rarity frowned.

No, that’s not right. She did apologize. I should have just accepted it. She couldn’t have known I was feeling so dour.

She felt sick to her stomach, as she was once again reminded of her situation. “Too late to go back now, Rarity. That’s just one pony you will never get along with, and it’s your own stupid fault.”

A knock on the door stopped her monologue.

“Hello? Is anypony in there?” A high-pitched voice asked. “It’s me-! Well, actually you don’t know me yet, so I should really say ‘its nice to meet you!’ although I haven’t met you yet, since you haven’t opened the door, so maybe it’s like-“

Rarity jumped off her chaise, feeling more irritated than ever as she threw open her door to reveal a bright pink pony with a blinding smile.

“Oh! Hi there!” The bubbly Earth pony giggled. “My name is Pinkie Pie! I saw you in town earlier – actually I saw mover ponies a few days ago, and I wanted to be the first pony in Ponyville to welcome you! I know all the ponies in Ponyville, so I knew it was you because I didn’t recognize you!”

“Right…” Rarity wasn’t sure how to react to this “Pinkie Pie”. She was entirely too much.

“Well, my name is Rarity. So if that’s all, then I really should be-“

“Wait a second, silly!” Pinkie stuck a hoof in the door to stop her from closing it. “It’s not a real welcome without a welcome party!”

“A-a welcome party?”

“Of course!” Pinkie Pie’s seemingly perpetual smile disappeared for a moment as she added. “I didn’t know when you were coming, so I didn’t plan anything, yet.”

She looked guilty - though she had no reason to be, since Rarity hadn’t expected any such thing to begin with - but her grin returned full-force a moment later.

“I’ll throw you the most awesome, spectacular welcome party ever to make up for it!” Pinkie concluded.

“Oh no, darling, that’s quite al-”

“It’s a Pinkie promise! Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!” The pony swore as she went through some strange little routine that went along with it.

“That’s really not-”

“I’m so excited! We can play games and eat cake and we can do presents!” Pinkie was clearly off in her own world at this point. A world probably filled with tacky décor and sugar-induced comas from what Rarity could tell.

“I don’t-”

“Okay then, Rarity! Come to Sugarcube Corner tomorrow! It’ll be great! I Pinkie promise!” The other pony giggled again and was already hopping off before Rarity could even reply. She quickly closed the door for fear that Pinkie might come back.

Exhausted, more than she thought possible in one day, the unicorn trudged up to her new room and settled onto her bed. She hadn’t been this tired since she had made that rush delivery on bridal gowns and had stayed up for three days straight to finish it. However that was possible.

What ever have you gotten yourself into?

Chapter 2

Rarity began the next morning as she would any other morning: with breakfast. She had got a late start and it was nearly noon by the time she awoke, but she would rather have a late start than break her routine entirely. Order was the only stability she had left now.

“Perfect!”

Rarity grinned as she put the final touches on her fruit-filled crepes, carefully drizzling them with a low-fat strawberry syrup in a perfect S-shape. She was happy that nopony was here to see her drool at the sight of it. She hadn’t realized how famished she was until she saw it spread out in front of her.

Picking up her utensils with her magic she prepared to eat, only to be interrupted by a knock on the door.

“RARITY!”

Rarity sighed and glanced at her food wistfully before setting it down and heading to the door. She wasn’t surprised to find Pinkie Pie’s smiling face behind it.

“Hey, Rarity! I’m here to take you to your welcome party!”

“You don’t say.”

Pinkie giggled. “I do say! I just said it, silly!”

Rarity rolled her eyes.

“C’mon, let’s go!”

Rarity hesitated. “I’m not dressed yet. I wouldn’t even know what to wear…”

“There’s no need to wear anything, besides, everypony is waiting to meet you!” Pinkie popped up behind her and nudged her out the door with her head.

The pink pony skipped ahead of her leading the way to Sugarcube Corner, though Rarity could have found her way on her own. Not that she wanted to. She would rather be home enjoying her crepes, which were probably growing cold.

By the time they reached the bakery the place was nearly packed with guests. Of course the place wasn’t very large so packed didn’t mean much, but it was still shocking to see so many ponies eager to meet her.

Rarity could barely keep up as Pinkie began introducing her to everypony within a ten-foot radius.

“And this is Berry Punch and Cherry Berry and Sweetie Drops and Raindrops and-“

“Actually, Pinkie-darling, I appreciate it, but I think I’ll just take a look around on my own for now.” Rarity interrupted.

Pinkie frowned, her ears drooping, and halted her incessant hopping for a moment. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. I’m sure.” The look on the other pony’s face made Rarity hesitate, but she was feeling way too overwhelmed for this. “I’ll come find you later though!” She shouted back as she disappeared into the crowd, relieved to finally have a moment of peace.

“Rarity!”

Rarity groaned, as she turned around expecting to find Pinkie Pie, instead to see another familiar face.

“S-Sweetie Belle?”

The filly had grown up quite a bit since she had last seen her. Since her parents had moved from Manehattan to Ponyville shortly after Sweetie Belle’s birth, and Rarity’s career had picked up soon after, taking her to Canterlot she barely saw her sister. She felt truly awful about it; honestly it was one of the main reasons she had chosen to move to Ponyville in particular. She wanted to expand their relationship beyond the occasional family reunion in Manehattan for the holidays.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were moving to Ponyville?” Sweetie Belle hopped up and down, looking half angry, half excited. “You could have moved in us. It would have been so much fun!”

Rarity grimaced at the idea of moving in with her parents. As supportive as they could be, they had never quite understood her.

“I’m so sorry, Sweetie Belle. To be honest the decision was a last minute one.” Rarity apologized, not expecting forgiveness. It was rude of her to forget her only sister.

“That’s okay. All that matters is that you’re here now and we can hangout all the time. It’ll be so awesome!” Her sister began to guide her further into the crowd as she continued. “You have to meet my friends, Scootaloo couldn’t come, but you can meet her later.”

“Hey, Sweetie Belle! Over here!”

“Applebloom!”

Rarity felt her stomach drop as Sweetie Belle guided her towards her friend. Her friend who was standing next to a familiar pony.

“Rarity, this is my friend Applebloom and her sister Applejack. She lets us play at her orchard sometimes, and she even gave us a tree house!” She spoke excitedly. “We’ve got this club called the Cutie Mark Crusaders and we…”

Rarity’s attention faded as she noticed Applejack studying her. She felt uncomfortable wondering if the Earth pony would say anything about their little encounter the day before. She nearly jumped out of her skin as said pony spoke.

“So, Rarity is it?”

“Wh-what was that?”

Applejack gave her an odd look. “Tha’s yur name, right? Ah didn’t exactly catch it when we…bumped into each other yesterday.”

“You guys know each other?” Applebloom interjected, enthusiastically.

“We’ve met.” Applejack replied.

The two fillies squealed.

“Do you know what this means?” Sweetie Belle asked.

Rarity didn’t, but she had a very bad feeling about what it might entail.

“This means we can have sisterly get-togethers!” Applebloom answered.

“And we can all do the Sister Hooves Social together this year!” Sweetie Belle added.

The two began to leap about excitedly, in a disturbingly Pinkie-like manner, and speak in hushed voices of all sorts of plans the older sisters would evidently have no say in.

The mares stood in awkward silence for a moment, scrutinizing one another before Applejack spoke. “Ah’m surprised a sweet filly like Sweetie Belle has a pony like you for an older sister.”

Rarity knew she probably had that coming for her behavior the day before. Still, it bothered her to hear it, especially from this pony. “I regret to say we haven’t spent much time together up until now. I can only hope that she has been under a good influence.”

“Ah can guarantee ya th’ Apple family are nothin’ but a good influence.” Applejack countered, clearly picking up on Rarity’s insinuation.

“Forgive me if I show concern for my baby sister.”

The Earth pony scoffed.

“Whole lotta concern ya showed her up ‘til now.” Applejack muttered under her breath, though Rarity still managed to just barely hear it above the noise of the party.

Rarity flushed with embarrassment and anger; it made her blood boil that this mare that barely knew her would dare to speak to her in such a manner. She wanted to retort, but she knew it was true. She stuttered for a moment, caught between rage and shame and unsure which to act on.

Luckily she didn’t have to act on either.

“Doesn’t that sound great?” Sweetie Belle asked, as the two fillies turned back towards their older siblings.

“Wha’s that, sugarcube?”

“What was that, darling?”

The girls looked at each other and giggled.

“We were just planning our first ever sisterly get-together for tomorrow.” Sweetie Belle squealed, though the sly look on her face was worrisome.

“We can meet up at th’ farm t’morrow afternoon. Dun worry, we’ll plan all the activities!” Applebloom followed, looking equally devilish.

Applejack gave her sister a sideways grin. “Tha’s what ah’m worried about.” She teased.

“Aren’t you excited?” Sweetie Belle asked, smiling expectantly at Rarity.

Rarity laughed nervously. “I- well…”

To be honest, she had no idea how she could make it through the day without starting an argument with Applejack, and if they had a falling out she had no confidence her sister would take her side. She loathed to even think it, but Applejack had probably been a better older sister to her than she had been up until now.

“I think I need some punch.”

“Um…okay.”

Rarity quickly headed in the direction she was sure she had seen a snack table earlier and was relieved to find it was where she thought it was. She sucked in a few breaths and used her magic to pour herself a glass of punch, finding that she really was quite thirsty.

“You must be Rarity.”

Rarity stifled a groan and set down her punch. Resigned to the fact that she would be getting no peace anytime soon, she turned to face the pony that had addressed her: a unicorn with a lavender coat and pink stripe in her dark mane.

“Pinkie was looking for you earlier, but she got distracted by cake and games. It’s just like her to get preoccupied at her own event.” The other unicorn laughed fondly.

Rarity forced a smile. “It’s fine. This is a lovely…affair.”

“Yeah, Pinkie Pie throws the best parties.” The purple pony suddenly seemed to remember something and looked sheepish for a moment. “Oh, I’m Twilight Sparkle. I just came up and started talking to you without introducing my self.”

“T-Twilight Sparkle?”

“Um…”

“As in apprentice to the Princess, Twilight Sparkle?” Rarity gaped.

Twilight flushed. “Well, yes, I’m something of a novice, at least compared to her, but…well, yes, that’s me! It’s no big deal though. There’s no reason to make a fuss over a pony like me.”

“If I had known my best connection to the Princess Celestia was in Ponyville I would have come here sooner.” If Rarity regretted anything in leaving her career behind, above all it was that she had never had the opportunity to design an ensemble for the beautiful Celestia.

“Actually I used to be from Canterlot, too, up until a year or two ago-”

Rarity perked up. “Finally, a pony who can understand me!”

“-but I never really fit in there. To be honest, as much as I miss my family and the princess I really prefer living here; it’s much simpler.” Twilight finished.

Rarity deflated. She had really hoped to find somepony who enjoyed the glamour of the city as much as she, but clearly she wouldn’t find that in Twilight. Still, this was the first friendly pony she met that was normal.

Maybe Twilight could become someone she could confide in.

“Well, I fit in there. I’m just doubtful that I can ever find my place here.” She sighed, melodramatically.

“Don’t worry, you’ll find your place. There are tons of friendly ponies here to help you fit in.” Twilight reassured her. “I never would have fit in here if it weren’t for the great friends I made.”

Somehow that didn’t make Rarity feel much better. This conversation was the closest thing she’d had to a connection with any of these ponies, and it certainly didn’t constitute an instant friendship.

“Rarity!” Sweetie Belle approached through the now dwindling crowd. “What’s taking so long?”

Rarity was surprised that she had gotten so caught up talking to Twilight she had forgotten all about her punch and why she had stepped away in the first place.

“I just met this charming mare Twilight, and got sidetracked. She knows the Princess, you know!”

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. “Yeah, everyone knows.”

Twilight sighed. “Well, I should be going then. Wouldn’t want to take up more of your time!”

Rarity waved the other unicorn off as she departed, keeping in mind to seek her out later. She wished she had asked where she lived, but it couldn’t be too hard to find one pony in a small town like this.

Rarity focused back on her sister. “Where are your little friend and her…delightful sister?”

“Applejack brought Applebloom home a little after you went to get punch.” Sweetie Belle shrugged. “No idea why they had to leave so soon, we were all having such a good time, too.”

A good time? Sweetie Belle can do a lot of things well, but reading the mood certainly isn't one of them. It's probably better off this way though...

“Honestly, I was planning on heading home soon, as well.”

“Aw! But we barely got to spend anytime together at all!” She pouted.

Rarity felt her stomach quiver at the sight of the sad filly’s face. “Why…why don’t you stay over tonight? That is…if our mother and father don’t mind.”

The next second found a pair of forelegs wrapped tightly around Rarity’s neck.

“Yesyesyesyes! This is going to be so much fun!” Sweetie Belle squealed. “And then tomorrow we get to hang out with Applebloom and Applejack! It’s going to be the best time ever!”

The warm, fuzzy feeling in Rarity’s stomach was abruptly replaced with a sick one at the mention of tomorrow’s get-together. She had nearly forgotten the plans that her sister and her friend had made. Maybe she had just wished that she had been imagining them.

“Right…the best time ever. Splendid.”

Chapter 4

“Found it!” Applebloom shouted as she dug into the hollow of an apple tree, yanking a blue and purple, polka dotted apple out between her teeth. “Ah knew mah sis would hide it in one of her favorite trees.”

“She’s so predictable.” Sweetie Belle snickered.

“Let’s git goin’ then. We can’t have ‘em gettin’ ta th’ barn a’fore us!”

The two fillies took off at breakneck speed, but had to slow down when they tripped over each other’s hooves, nearly tumbled head first into a tree. They paced themselves the rest of the way there, only speeding up slightly when the red rafter of the barn peeked into view.

The girls stopped once they reached a place shady enough and fell back heavily onto their haunches.

“It’s…so…hot!” Sweetie Belle whined.

“Eeyup.” Applebloom bent between them and used her mouth to untie the fabric connecting them. “Ah sure hope they git here soon! I could really go fur some apple juice ‘bout now.”

“Look!” Sweetie Belle jabbed a hoof out towards the left field.

Applebloom squinted and spotted a fast-moving white dot approaching them in the distance.

“Is tha – ?”

“Rarity! We found it! We found the apple!” Sweetie Belle began to leap towards her sister, but stopped abruptly in her tracks when she noticed something missing. “Where’s Appleja – ?” She shut up quick when she saw her sibling’s pained expression and the wetness gathered in her eyes, staining the fur of her cheeks as she sprinted past her.

“Rarity!” Sweetie Belle made a motion to run after her, but Applebloom stomped on her tail, halting her in her tracks.

“What are you doing?” Sweetie Belle shrieked. “I need to go after her!”

Applebloom gave her an apologetic look and gestured out toward the left field, from where Rarity had just come running. Another figure approached from the distance, struggling to speed up. Applejack had followed suit and was galloping hurriedly after Rarity, but she slowed to a trot as she saw that the other mare was already gone.

The orange pony looked about, examining the area until finally noticing her little sister desperately gesturing to her. She approached the little ponies, panting and plopping down in the shade before them.

“That pony runs quicker’n a fox from a hound. Din’t think she had it in ‘er!” Applejack wiped her forehead on the back of her hoof, taking a moment to regain her barrings and recover from the sweltering heat.

Applebloom crossed her forelegs, her gaze sharp. “What in tarnation did ya do ta make Rarity run off like that?”

“Ah didn't do nothin' worth runnin' off like – ” Applejack held her tongue when she saw Sweetie Belle, slumped behind her sister, worried and tearful. The filly stared off in the direction her older sister had just run, ready to bolt at any moment.

“Ah-ah…” Applejack swallowed. “Ah may have said somethin’ jus’ a tad insensitive, but ah didn’ mean ta hurt ‘er. Ah was jus’… ”

Applebloom shook her head. “We went through all the trouble ta set this up an’ ya went an’ messed it all up! And ya’ve gone an’ upset Sweetie Belle! Now ya’d better go an’ apologize ‘r else ah’m tellin’ Big Mac an’ Granny Smith on you!”

Applejack sighed, and then nodded. She didn’t think she had said anything to out-of-line, but she knew better than anypony not to judge a book by its cover. She felt stupid for not noticing anything was wrong, being so caught up in their differences. Even if she didn't underatand her she should have done her best to get along, if not for Rarity's sake, then for the young'uns. Even if it wasn’t on purpose, she knew Applebloom was right.

That filly could be awfully wise when she wanted to be for such a silly little filly.

“When did ya get so smart, Applebloom?”

“Ah learn from the best.” Applebloom gave her sister a curt grin, but quickly put back on her serious face. “Now let’s git goin’!”

Applebloom began sprinting towards the entrance to Sweet Apple Acres, not waiting for a reply.

Applejack turned to Sweetie Belle and ruffled her mane with a hoof. “Dun worry, Sweetie Belle. Ah’ll make ev’rythin’ alright. Ah promise.”

The filly tilted her head up to peek at the mare, looking very much like her sister as she decided between being angry with Applejack and trusting her. The expressions warred across her little face, making Applejack’s heart ache and her remorse deepen.

She was shocked when she felt a little nuzzle against her chest, and she looked down the see a light purple mane. A second later, a pair of wide, light green eyes peeked up at her, making her heart melt.

“I know you will.”

The tender moment was interrupted by an irritated Applebloom, tapping her hoof and waiting impatiently by the gate. “C’mon! We’ll never catch up to 'er like this!”

Sweetie Belle rubbed her eyes and smiled, cantering over to her friend, as Applejack followed the pair, closely behind. Applebloom whispered something to Sweetie Belle and bumped their flanks together. They laughed and began to race each other into Ponyville.

Applejack hurried to follow them, her chest swelling with pride for her sister. Even if the little pony was a troublemaker, the way she supported Sweetie Belle reminded her of herself. She was always willing to do anything to help a friend in need. But now? She felt as though she had failed herself and the Apple family, always prided for their kindness and hospitality. Even if she didn’t consider Rarity a friend, she was still a part of the Ponyville community, no matter how short of a time it had been.

Applejack recalled her short time as a filly in Manehattan. How out of place she had felt. Even surrounded by family, she just couldn’t fit in, try as hard as she might. All she wanted to do was go home to the apples she new and the ponies she loved.

The three ponies walked the rest of the way, the younger chatting and giggling to dispel any anxiety, and Applejack mentally kicking herself. When they reached the door Applejack’s stomach groaned, feeling as though a dozen carnivorous fruit bats were gnawing away at her insides like they were her Auntie Applesauce’s fruit hat.

“Rarity!” Sweetie Belle knocked on the door.

There was a long silence as they all waited for an answer, but none came. Sweetie Belle tapped on the door and it creaked open. She walked into the silent house, flicking on a light as she went.

“Rarity!” Sweetie Belle continued to the kitchen, and finding nothing there, began up the stairs.

Applebloom made a move to help her, but Applejack put a hoof on her shoulder and shook her head. “No point invadin’ a pony’s privacy. Ah’m sure Sweetie Belle will find ‘er.”

The Apple sisters waited outside, and Applebloom began to fidget after a while. Applejack threw a foreleg around her shoulders and pulled her close to settle her.

Not too much later, Sweetie Belle came running from the house in a panic. “She-she…”

The Apples waited with bated breath for Sweetie Belle to calm down and speak.

“She’s gone! She’s not here!”

Applejack felt relieved and anxious in the same breath. She wasn’t sure what exactly she had expected to find here, but she had certainly expected to find Rarity. It made her more apprehensive not knowing.

“What if she decided to go back to Canterlot?” Sweetie Belle moaned, looking ready to cry. “What if she never wants to see me again?” Her shrill voice cracked.

Applebloom moved out from under her sister’s arm and trotted up to nuzzle her fellow Crusader.

“Come now, yur sister loves you. Even ah can see that. Ah’m sure she just…went out for a walk, y’know, to clear her head.” Applejack lied.

She had no idea where Rarity had gone. The way she was acting she wouldn’t be too surprised if she had left Ponyville far behind her, but her gut told her she hadn’t, and she trusted it. It’d never let her down before.

Applebloom had her foreleg wrapped around Sweetie Belle and was saying something to her that Applejack couldn’t hear. She admired their young, yet enduring friendship, reminiscing on her own persevering friendships. She wondered if Rarity had ever had any such relationships, then quickly pushed the thought from her head.

“Why don’t ya girls go on home. Ah’m the one who needs to be apologizin’, an’ ah’ll take responsibility.” Applejack assured.

“But I – ”

“Ah’m sure yur parents will start ta worry if ah keep ya too long anyhow, Sweetie Belle. Ah promise ta let ya know when Rarity gets back from ‘er little walk. Ah’m sure she’ll be back soon enuff.” Applejack ushered the two girls off.

“You promise?” Sweetie Belle fretted as Applebloom nudged her flank to hurry her along.

“Ah Pinkie promise. Cross mah heart.”

/ / /

Rarity sat down to examine her map of Ponyville again. She was relieved to find she was close to her destination, worn down by the running and the heat. The sweat was beginning to make her mane clump and her hide sticky.

She had gone home first, if you could call it that, only to leave again. The sight of the domicile had only made her anxieties worse instead of better. As cliché as it was, the place was more of a house than a home for her. What was worse was having to face Sweetie Belle. She was positive the little pony would come after her, and she would surely be livid with her for ruining their game with the Apples.

“Why do you always have to ruin everything? Why do you have to be so dramatic?”

Rarity closed her eyes and shook her head, rounding the last corner to her destination. She smiled as it came into view. The one place she knew could calm her nerves: the spa.

Even if it wouldn’t be as elegant as the spas in Canterlot, it would still help to escape to a familiar comfort.

As she approached the door, she nearly stepped on a little, hunched-over form. She placed a hoof on the shivering pony’s head, and the pitiful thing leapt in fright, slowly tilting her head up to glimpse at Rarity.

Rarity gasped. “Oh darling! Aren’t you just the most striking creature? Has anypony ever told you that you would make the most remarkable model?”

The delicate mare blushed, and hid her reddening face behind her light pink mane. “G-goodness…I-I don’t think so. I mean, I c-couldn’t p-p-possi…bly…” Her sentence diminished into high-pitched stuttering.

“But of course you could!” Rarity gushed. “I just had the best idea for a dress today. Something organic, like the light coming through a tree, and you could be that light!”

“A t-tree?” the pony muttered, her ears perking up a bit.

“I’m sorry, where are my manners? I am Rarity.”

Fluttershy got to her hooves, staring nervously at the ground. “I know. I s-saw you at P-Pinkie’s welcome party.” She panicked. “I-i-its not like I d-didn’t want to m-meet you then. You just seemed so busy.”

Rarity shook her head, still amazed by the timidity of this pony, so different from herself. “Now is as good a time as any. Why don’t you introduce yourself?”

The mare shrunk back behind her mane, and mumbled something inaudible.

Rarity strained to hear her. “What was that, darling?”

She spoke again, but that sound got muffled by the wall her long hair made around her.

“Once more?”

“F-F-Fluttershy.” She finally answered, so lightly it could have gotten caught up in the breeze.

“Fluttershy?”

The pony, now known as Fluttershy, nodded.

“What a lovely name. It suits you.” Rarity observed, and Fluttershy managed a small, but genuine smile. “May I ask what you’re doing just sitting out here?”

Fluttershy looked embarrassed as she glanced back at the establishment behind her. “Oh…well, I was thinking about going in…but I wouldn’t want to bother them. I think I’ll just go home now.

She made a move to trudge away, but Rarity redirected her towards the spa with a hoof on her shoulder. She got the feeling this wasn’t the first time Fluttershy had sat out here, working up the nerve to enter. She wondered how many times the mare had tried and failed.

“Well, I’m going in, and I would just love to have somepony to keep me company.” Rarity smiled as charmingly as she could manage for her mood. Though she had to say she was feeling much better now.

“Oh my, I don’t know…”

Rarity trotted behind Fluttershy and began to nudge her into the building. The pony resisted a bit, stuck between her anxieties about entering the spa, and not wanting to displease her new acquaintance. In the end she chose the latter.

A blue mare with glossy, pink hair came to greet them, a polite smile on her face. “Welcome to – Fluttershy?” She giggled. “I never thought I’d see you in here!”

Fluttershy squeaked again and would have probably bolted if Rarity weren’t blocking the exit.

“I’m glad you finally decided to drop by, and with a friend!” She nodded towards Rarity. “You must be that new pony Rarity I’ve been hearing about all over town. I’m Lotus Blossom and this is Aloe.” She gestured towards another similar looking mare. “It’s nice to meet you!”

“Likewise.” Rarity replied. “I hope this will be the first of many…satisfying encounters?”

Aloe grinned, smugly. “Of course. We may not be as extravagant as some of the spas in Canterlot, but we can have anypony glowing from the inside out in just one session.”

“Hm. I’ll take your word for it. We’ll have the full treatment. Both of us.” Rarity lead Fluttershy further into the room, the other pony sputtering as they went.

“Oh, n-no, I can’t…I shouldn’t…I n-need my bits f-for feeding Angel, he’s so picky and – ”

“It’s no problem, darling. I’ll cover it. I do still have some bits left to my name.” Rarity waved her off.

“I couldn’t possibly…that’s asking too much.” Fluttershy resisted, shyly.

“Not at all. I’m being selfish, really. I could really use the company…”

Author's Note

I wanted to add the next part to this, but I couldn't think of a way to smoothly transition from this last scene into the next one...I still think it'll be best as the end to a chapter...hmm, I'll have to see how I manage it...getting an idea how I can have it both ways, maybe...

:D ALSO, SWEETIE BELLE IS SO...HNNGGG!

Chapter 5

Twilight Sparkle levitated a test tube in a purple aura over to her assistant Spike, already holding a small collection of vials to the test tube rack he held in his claws. The dragon grimaced at the tubes filled with different shades of greenish-brown muck.

“So, why are we doing this again?”

Twilight laughed. “Oh Spike, I already told you. There has been a five percent increase in pediastrum boryanum in the local ponds. It’s probably nothing, but for all we know it could be a completely new strain of algae. And who would want to miss out on that?” She explained excitedly.

“Who wouldn’t want to miss out on that?” Spike groaned, but Twilight ignored him, hopping over towards another lake.

She repeated the same process she had a half-dozen times earlier that day, tucking down at the edge of the river; she tipped over a few wet logs and rocks, until she was satisfied with the algae she found there. Twilight used her tools to scrape some of the sludge up, placed it into a vial, and added it in with the others.

“Done.” Twilight grinned. “That’s all the lakes in Ponyville!”

Spike sighed, relieved. “Finally! This is seriously boring.”

Twilight looked around, seeming to ponder something. “While we’re over here, why don’t we go visit the new pony, Rarity? I’ve heard she lives around here, and you haven’t met her yet.”

“Whose fault is that?” Spike complained, following Twilight as she trailed the edge of the river, towards the bridge set in the middle of it.

“Hey, don’t blame me!” Twilight countered. “If you had finished your chores you might have been allowed to attend the welcoming party.”

Spike pouted. “Yeah, whatever, lets just meet this pony and go home. I’ve got chores to do.”

Twilight stopped suddenly and the baby dragon nearly ran straight into her. “Hey, watch it!”

“That’s…odd.”

Spike, curiosity now peaked, clambered onto Twilight’s back, careful not to drop the test tubes as he peered over the unicorn’s head towards the source of her confusion. Pacing impatiently in front of a two-story home, reminiscent of a carousel in shape was a familiar blond-maned pony.

“Applejack!” Twilight galloped over towards her friend, her dragon bouncing from his seat on her back.

Applejack nearly jumped out of her skin, and then sighed in relief when she saw it was Twilight. “Oh, Twi. It’s you.” She stopped pacing and sat.

“Expecting somepony?”

Applejack frowned. “S’pose ah am.” She added the next part under her breath. “Fur two hours now.”

Twilight looked around, studying the house behind AJ carefully. She was still thoroughly confused by the whole situation. Whatever it was. “What are you even doing here? Pinkie mentioned that this was where Rarity was living…?”

Even if she hadn’t been informed, everypony knew that this was the only empty house in all of Ponyville. The last pony who lived there was a pony named Acrylic who had run a hooficure salon out of her home, but most ponies preferred the less specialized daytime spa, because it was closer and most weren’t looking to have their hooves painted.

Not to mention the small town didn’t exactly have a booming real estate. Ponyville was an old farming town, so most of the ponies who lived here had family going back decades, besides a few obvious exceptions. Twilight lived in a library for Celestia’s sake!

“Ah reckon ya’ve got the right place.” Applejack sighed.

This revelation only brought up more questions than it answered. “So…then, what exactly are you doing here? Just sitting outside?”

Applejack gave her a half-hearted glare. “Ah’m here ta apologize.”

Twilight made a face and looked back at Spike, who simply shrugged, uninterestedly, playing with the glass vials in a manner that made her flinch for fear that he might break them. For now she decided to forgo scolding Spike in favor of getting to the bottom of this mystery.

“Apologize for what exactly?”

Applejack wrinkled up her snout, looking like she would rather not answer. “Ah may have asked Rarity why she jus’ didn’ stay in Canterlot.”

Twilight gaped at her.

“I-it was jus’ a question! Ah didn’ mean nuthin’ by it!” Applejack groaned. “But there’s gotta be a reason. Why move here? Ah get that she must miss Sweetie Belle, but couldn’ she jus’ visit if she hates it here so much?”

Twilight shook her head. “Applejack! I’m surprised at you!” Twilight placed a hoof on Applejack’s shoulder, smiling gently to soften it. “You are one of the kindest ponies I know. If it weren’t for you I don’t know if I would have found my place here either!”

“Aw shucks, Twi!” Applejack replied, bashfully. “That’s not at all true, ya fit in here like peas in a pod.”

“Not just you, I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for all of you: Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, you…” She narrowed her eyes, looking off as she remembered her own time living in Canterlot. “I never quite blended in with the Canterlot ponies. Princess Celestia knew that, and gave me a guiding hoof in finding where I really belong when she asked me to come here. I just think Rarity could use some guidance.”

Applejack furrowed her brow. “A-ah’m not so sure it’s the same, sugarcube.” She thought for a moment. “Ah understand it can be hard ta fit in someplace unfamiliar ta ya. Still, somethin’ jus’ doesn’ add up. She seemed so…”

Applejack was one of the wisest ponies Twilight had ever known, usually a voice of reason. She didn’t think the mare was wrong. If she hadn’t figured it out there was probably something more to it.

Twilight tapped her chin with a hoof thoughtfully, but was distracted by a sigh from her back.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Spike popped up over Twilight’s head with a yawn.

Applejack and Twilight both looked at him incredulously. “Ah’m sure ya think ya’ve got it all figured out. Well? Let’s hear it.”

Spike rolled his eyes. “Duh, if she didn’t want to come to Ponyville, she obviously wanted to leave Canterlot!”

Twilight stared at him perplexedly. “What do you mean?”

“I mean – ”

“Nah, that’s fine, sugarcube.” Applejack stopped him. “Ah think ah get what yur sayin’.”

Twilight looked between Spike and Applejack, stumped as the two shared an understanding look. The refreshed determination on Applejack’s face though reassured her that her point had got across, even if she hadn’t been the one to get it across.

“What are you going to do?” Twilight asked, curiously.

Applejack’s expression was set with resolve as she answered. “Ah’m goin’ ta wait fur Rarity. An’ then ah’m gonna do what ah do best…after apple buckin’ that is.”

Twilight wanted to ask what that was, though she already knew, however a loud rumbling from Spike’s stomach interrupted her, ruining the serious mood.

“Ugh, I’m so hungry!” The dragon whined. “Can we go now? She’s obviously not here.”

Twilight sighed, and grinned affectionately at him, and then sheepishly towards Applejack. “Sorry AJ. Looks like I have to go feed my baby dragon.”

Spike grumbled at this and Applejack laughed.

“Go ahead, Twilight. Ya’ve dun enuff.” She waved them off.

Twilight hesitated, but she knew Applejack could handle herself; that she would do the right thing. She trotted away from the house, glancing back as she crossed the bridge.

Only when she was finally out of earshot of the other mare did she speak to her companion. “So, Spike…what exactly did you mean about Rarity wanting to leave Canterlot?”

“Geez Twilight, you really haven’t figured it out? It thought you were smart.” Spike teased.

“Spike.” Twilight said his name warningly.

“C’mon this is easy!” He snickered. “If you’re not running to something, aren’t you running from something?”

/ / /

“Oh my!”

“I know, right? Trust me, darling, that isn’t even the half of it!”

Fluttershy and Rarity laughed as they left the sauna, the former a light red from the amount of time they’d spent in the torrid steam. They approached the front desk and Rarity set some bits down.

“Are you sure this is alright?” Fluttershy shifted nervously from hoof to hoof.

“Stop asking; it’s perfectly fine!”

“O-okay…”

They waved to Lotus and Aloe as they left, exchanging goodbyes and promises to return at their next opportunity. It had been a pleasant surprise how fantastic the service had been. Rarity would even go so far as to say better than a few of the Canterlot spas she had been to.

“Goodness!” Fluttershy exclaimed in her whispery tone as they left the establishment. “It’s getting so d-dark already. Maybe we spent to much time in the spa…”

Rarity stared up towards the sky as they walked and frowned. “I suppose you’re right, it is getting rather late. But one can never spend to long getting pampered!” She finished her sentence with a flourish, letting her luscious mane flow around her head and spring back into place.

Fluttershy giggled softly.

Rarity didn’t mind. While she hadn’t meant it as a joke, she assumed her dramatic nature might be seen as such. Plus she was feeling rather relaxed after her treatment, as well as because of the gentle spirit of her current companion. It still bothered her that Fluttershy was obviously a pony-pleaser. Always trying not to step on anypony’s hooves, and quick to agree. It made it hard to tell when she was really enjoying herself, but she liked to believe she was.

They chatted until they reached the bridge when Fluttershy halted suddenly in her tracks.

“I-I should go home soon. Angel will get so worried!”

Rarity pouted. “Well, how soon do you need to be home by? I don’t feel like being alone quite yet.”

Fluttershy examined her new friend guiltily with wide eyes. “I suppose…I could spare another fifteen or so minutes.” She gave in, continuing over the bridge.

“Wonderful! I have the most magnificent herbal tea. It’s imported from Neighpon, of course.” She said proudly, ignorant to the fact that the other mare was trying to get her attention, quietly muttering and gesturing in the direction of Rarity’s home with a confused look about her.

Distracted as she was, Rarity almost tripped over a huddled form for the second time that day.

“Applejack?”

She placed a hoof on the sleeping pony’s form and shook her slightly. She couldn’t believe that anypony could simply fall asleep on the ground. How unsanitary!

The orange mare leapt up, nearly knocking over the two ponies hovering over her. “Ah’m up, Granny! Ready for apple buckin’!” She kicked her hind legs out, just barely missing knocking Fluttershy out with her flailing.

The poor thing leapt away with a squeak and hid under her hooves, shaking profusely.

Applejack came out of her sleepy daze a second later, shaking her head, though she still seemed a bit confused. “Fluttershy?” She looked around and stared at Rarity for a long moment before her eyes widened with realization. “Rarity!”

“Wh-what exactly are you doing here, Applejack?”

“Ah am here ta apologize!”

Rarity blinked. “Apologize?” She huffed. “There’s nothing to be said. I don’t like you, and you don’t like me; there’s nothing to be done about it. So you can leave!”

It didn’t feel right saying it, even though worse things were said between close friends on a daily basis in the city. Living in this town must be doing something to her mind.

“M-maybe I should g-get going.” Fluttershy muttered, but neither pony heard her.

“Gosh darn it, Rarity!” Applejack stepped into the other pony’s personal space, eyes blazing. “Ah know ah’ve messed up, and ah know ah’m not perfect, but ah am a darn good friend. Ah know ah haven’t been showin’ it much…but ah want…ta get along. Not jus’ fur our sisters. Ah want ta get along…as friends.”

Rarity was startled to say the least, and she was doing her very best to suppress a blush. She had never had such an astonishing confession befall her in all her days of life. She had always imagined that if she was ever to receive such a dramatic declaration it would be from a handsome stallion with romantic intentions, prepared to sweep her off her hooves.

If anything this was quite the opposite.

“Th-that’s…kind of you.” Rarity gave an awkward, high-pitched chuckle, quite sure that Applejack had gone hysterical. Such forwardness would be considered entirely uncouth in Canterlot. She was unsure how to respond.

Fluttershy had already begun to slink away as subtly as she could, trying very hard not to alarm either pony to her already small presence. She retreated at a rapidly increasing pace until she was finally gone, not that anypony else noticed.

Applejack placed her hooves on Rarity’s shoulders, only adding to her discomfort. It made it very difficult to avoid her eyes burning bright green with intensity against the dark night.

“Ah dun care what happened ta ya in Canterlot. Ah want ta help ya, ‘cause that’s what ah do fur mah friends!” Applejack stated boldly.

Rarity gawked at her for a long moment – in a rather unlady-like fashion – before her eyes filled with tears. “You foal!" She tried to sound angry, but her voice trembled, taking away from the effect. “Are you touched in the head? Has the summer heat made you go mad?”

Applejack simply stared her down with that unwavering gaze, almost to intense to look at.

“Ho-how long have you been sitting out here anyhow?” Rarity asked, fully taken aback.

“Since after ya ran off from mah orchard.” She said simply.

Rarity shook her head slowly. “That…that’s go to be at least five hours!”

“Ah waited as long as ah had ta.”

Rarity stuttered for a moment, quite unbecomingly, before she burst into tears for the second time that day. “How can you say that? You have no idea who I am! What I’m like!”

“Ya can’t make me change mah mind, Rarity.” Applejack smiled softly to calm her. “Ah dun make decisions lightly, ‘specially not when it comes ta ponies ah call mah friends.”

“You…are the most…stubborn, presumptuous pony I have ever met!” Rarity cried.

Applejack grinned, looking accomplished. “As long as we have an understandin’.” She stood, tipping her hat. “G’night, Rarity. It’s been a long day, so ah’ll let ya get to bed.” She yawned. “An’ ah am getting’ mighty tired mahself. Sleepin’ on the ground ain’t good fur mah bones. Ah’ll see ya tomorrow.”

Rarity sat in shock as Applejack walked off, her blonde tail swaying behind her as she went. She continued to sit there in the place Applejack had left her even after she had gone completely into the distance.

After a while, she remembered her earlier companion and looked around for her. However, Fluttershy had already gone. She felt bad, and knew she would have to apologize to her later for the scene, but right now she could barely bring herself to think about anything except Applejack’s sudden decree of supposed friendship.

Somehow her heart felt lighter for it.

Author's Note

HAPPY HEARTS AND HOOVES DAY EVERYPONY!

Sorry, about the lateness (again), things have been...complicated...I've been writing the chapter in my head all week, and only got the chance to type it all down over these past two days. Also, why are more than 1/4 of the ratings on this story dislikes? I don't think it's the best, but...

eh, whatevs, HATERS GONNA HATE :DDD

EDIT: damn there were a lot of mistakes in the first half of this chapter...lets blame it on stress and be glad that I've fixed it...

Chapter 3

“Come on, Rarity! If you don’t hurry we’re going to be late!” Sweetie Belle complained, loudly.

"Give me a moment more, Sweetie!” Rarity shouted back through the door of her bedroom. “I think I’ve almost got it!”

“No way! I’m not waiting a second longer!” Sweetie Belle burst into the room, her cute face twisted into an angry frown.

“Leave me be! I’m not decent!” Rarity covered herself by pressing her hind legs together and crossing her fore hooves over her bare chest.

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes and pranced to the other side of the room, where her sister was sitting in her closet. She looked around at the dozens of outfits hung up, nearly blinding her as they shone. Each ensemble came with its own hat, bag and shoes to accompany it, usually more than not covered in glittering jewels and made of delicate fabrics, like they might rip or stain at the slightest touch.

Sweetie Belle giggled. “I don’t think you’re going to want to wear any of these for what we have planned today.”

The young pony had left early that morning to meet Applebloom and set up whatever activities they had planned for the day. She had come back two hours later covered in dirt and other debris that had Rarity worried for what was to come.

“And what exactly do you propose I wear that would be appropriate for these…goings-on?” Rarity inquired her.

“Nothing!” Sweetie Belle cried, half-amused, half-irritated. “You don’t need to wear anything!”

Rarity glowered at her sister, reminded of when she had been dragged, unclothed, from her home the day before. This wasn’t the first time, and she figured it wouldn’t be the last time she would be forced to go out undressed. She loathed it. In Canterlot it was all but presumed for a pony to strut about dressed to the nines. Without her clothes she felt positively nude – and was literally so.

“I suppose you’re right.” Rarity sighed, resigned.

Sweetie Belle grinned in triumph and hopped from the room, turning around to face her sister once she reached the doorway. “Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!”

Rarity hung up the clothing she had thrown out, that was now strewn across her bed, on their proper hangers. Then placed them delicately back onto the rack.

Sweetie Belle was tapping a hoof impatiently on the ground as she watched her sister from the doorway.

It didn’t help that they were both still frustrated from the previous night together. After an awkward visit to their parents’ house they had come back to Rarity’s with plans of making a nice meal together. Unfortunately, Rarity’s neurotic nature made the experience much less about bonding and much more about making sure that each dish was completed with the precision of an iron chef.

The rest of the night hadn’t gone any better.

The girls headed out of the house a few minutes later, Sweetie Belle galloping ahead, leading the way to Sweet Apple Acres with Rarity begrudgingly in tow. As they weaved their way through Ponyville Rarity got the occasional wave or smile from a few of the ponies she recognized from her welcome party yesterday, as well as a few shy stares from some of the stallions. She waved back, wondering how many of these ponies had been witness to falling out with Applejack just two days ago. The whole event had been something of a blur, so she couldn’t remember who had been there.

As they climbed the hill towards the orchard the ponies grew scarcer, until they reached their destination.

“We’re here!” Sweetie Belle announced with a flourish then raced through the archway of the gate.

Rarity cautiously followed her, looking around as she went. She was astounded to say the least. Growing up and living in the city all her life she had never seen this many trees before. She briefly wondered if they went on forever, but quickly dismissed the notion for its ridiculousness.

It did, however, give her an idea for a dress design, something that hadn’t happened in a while, and she gratefully accepted the distraction. Fresh natural colors, lush and bright, a large, ample skirt, like the shape of an apple.

“There ya are!”

Speaking of apples…

Applebloom ran up to the sisters, her own sister trailing behind.

“What took y’all so long?”

“We would have been here sooner if somepony – ” Sweetie Belle shot a pointed look towards her older sister. “ – hadn’t decided to hole herself up in her room for nearly an hour looking for something to wear.”

“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity flushed, stomping a hoof. “You should never divulge what a mare does in the privacy of her bedroom. Besides, there’s not a thing wrong with wanting to look presentable from time to time!”

“More like all the time.” Sweetie Belle murmured.

I’m beginning to wonder about the so-called ‘good influence’ of the Apples. She had never remembered her sister being so uncouth before she had come here, not that she had much to go on.

Rarity glanced at Applejack, but the other mare was poking at the ground with her hoof, looking rather like she was ignoring the whole situation. When the two fillies began whispering to each other for a few minutes before she stopped and looked sideways at them.

“Ah’m not waitin’ around all day, sugarcubes, if you’ve got something planned ya’ll better get on to it.” Applejack sounded annoyed as she spoke, but not angry.

Rarity thought that if there was anything they could agree on it was that they didn’t want to participate in whatever activities their troublesome sisters had planned for them. The foreboding sense that this wasn’t going to end well didn’t help.

Especially when the younger siblings giggled, pulling out two badly painted apples from a saddlebag Rarity hadn’t noticed was situated on Applebloom’s back. One was painted blue with purple polka dots and the other looked to be painted green with orange stripes. It looked as though they hadn’t waited long enough for the first colors to dry and the solid colors and the patterns were mixed a bit; the paint had already begun to chip.

“Y’all ‘ad better have a good reason ta be wastin’ perfectly good food.” Applejack warned, jokingly.

“O’ course we do!” Applebloom gestured to Sweetie Belle who plucked a set of white cloths from the sack, thankfully unpainted.

“Rules ‘r easy: there ‘r two sister teams.” Applebloom explained. “Each team gets one o’ these here apples, an’ can hide it anywhere in the orchard. Firs’ sister team tah find th’ other team’s apple wins.”

“But!” Sweetie Belle continued. “We’ve hidden a bunch of other apples all over the orchard, too. So you have to be careful not to pick the wrong one!”

“And! Th’ teams have ta have their back hooves tied together with these.” Applebloom added, lifting the cloths to show the older two.

Rarity stifled a groan as she looked out into the expansive orchard. As beautiful as it was she had no idea how she was to find a singular apple in a field full of them. Especially with Sweetie Belle tied to her leg, it would be difficult to even walk with their differing leg lengths. The filly had grown quite a bit, but she was still only about half her size.

“Alright, Sweetie Belle.” Rarity floated one of the cloths from Applebloom to herself in an aura of her magic. “Come. We might as well get this over with.”

Sweetie Belle bit her lip and exchanged a look with Applebloom.

“About that…you see, Applebloom and I were talking and we thought that it wouldn’t really be fair in two ponies who know the orchard really well were paired together.” She looked sheepish as she dug at the ground with a hoof. “It’s not that I don’t want to be paired with you, sis. It’s just…you’re not really…athletic.”

Rarity frowned, feeling a slight jab in her heart. The singular benefit of coming to this surely muddy farmland was the prospect of spending time with her sister, and Sweetie Belle wasn’t even interested in that.

“We was thinkin’ that since ya two seem to be getting’ along so well – ” Applejack and Rarity shared an appalled look at this, but both quickly schooled their features. “ – we could do big sisters versus li’l sisters this time ‘round.”

“It’ll be fun!”

Applebloom had already begun tying Sweetie Belle’s hind leg to her own using a combination of her hooves and her mouth. Rarity assumed that Sweetie Belle’s magic wasn’t far enough along yet to do it herself.

“Ya’ll ‘d better hurry it up!” Applebloom nudged the polka dotted apple between the mares and picked up the striped one. “Ya only have five minutes.”

The fillies began to trot away, giggling as they weaved their way into the trees.

“Good luck!”

They disappeared a moment later, leaving their estranged older sisters to stand in silence, avoiding each other’s gaze. At least that’s what Rarity supposed was happening. She was doing her very best not to look as Applejack; somehow it seemed like a competition, and she didn’t want to be the first one to crack.

Rarity nearly jumped from her skin when she felt a flank plop heavily down beside her.

“Ah’m sure she didn’ mean ta offend ya ‘r nuthin’. She really is excited ta have ya here. I can tell.” Rarity was surprised at Applejack’s kind words, to say the least, but somehow the reassurance only made her feel more bitter.

“I-I know.” Rarity’s face reddened. “I don’t need you to tell me what I already know. Let’s just go!”

Rarity sat back on her haunches to knot their hind hooves together with her magic, yanking the fabric taut. Perhaps more than necessary. She thought as she felt the fabric chafe her delicate hide. Applejack didn’t seem to mind though, as she got to her hooves, forcing Rarity to stand with her.

“Let’s get this over with.”

/ / /

The mares spent the next five minutes in silence, Rarity allowing Applejack to lead the way, apple in mouth, as she looked for a place to hide it. Rarity thought that it might be better if she chose the place to hide it, only because Applebloom and Sweetie Belle would have a harder time figuring out what she was thinking as opposed to Applejack, but she kept these thoughts to herself. Applejack probably knew the orchard like a back of her hoof, and Rarity couldn’t bring herself to start a fight over something so trivial.

Applejack carefully placed the apple in a hollow at the bottom of a tree, in the right side of the field. Then they met back up with the fillies at the barn about five minutes later to confirm that everypony’s apple had been hidden, where the girls established a few more rules:

“No magic, no leavin’ the farm, and no cheatin’.”

And then the teams split to opposing sides of the orchard in search of the other teams apple.

The mares spent what felt like hours – at least to a pony as social and delicate as a butterfly, like Rarity – wandering through the trees picking up apple after apple, not a single word being exchanged between the two. They were painted all colors and patterns, none of which were the right one. Rarity briefly wondered how the young girls had accomplished all this in such a short period of time.

Rarity stopped walking for a moment and sat back onto her haunches, forcing Applejack to stop. “I can’t go on. I simply can’t! Let’s just give up.”

Applejack snorted. “We ‘ave barely been lookin’ fur a quarter hour now. Them silly fillies went through all the trouble ta set this li’l game up, th’ least ya could do is play along.”

“My legs are sore, it’s hot, and my mane is getting matted from the sweat.” Rarity complained. “It’s hardly civilized.” She breathed deeply, feeling like she might pass out, and doing her best to hide it. It felt as though the apples were trying to swallow her up and make her disappear.

She really needed to get in shape. Sitting in her shop sowing and designing all day had seriously begun to take its toll.

“Civilized?” Applejack scoffed. “Ah’m sorry if playin’ games with yur sister isn’t soph-is-ticated ‘nuff fur ya.”

Rarity gaped. “Don’t twist my words! I love Sweetie Belle; I just don’t see why we can’t all do something more…dignified.”

Applejack eyed Rarity for a long moment, tugging on the fabric binding them together. She stamped her hoof and sat back in irritation when it didn’t get any looser. “Why did ya decide ta come ta Ponyville anyhow? It’s obvious ya dun wanna be here, so why not just stay in th’ city. Ya couldn’t ‘ve come here just ta hang with yur li’l sister.”

Rarity’s felt choked at the other pony’s words. The snickering faces of the ponies that had betrayed her appeared fresh in her mind. The disgusted faces of the Canterlot elite as they swirled around her, leering down at her as she cowered from their prying eyes. In her mind’s eye the faces warped and changed to look like the faces of those she’d seen since coming to Ponyville, the most damning of all her sister. Some were clear, others blurry, all of whom were twisted in abhorrence and chanting:

“Why don’t you just leave?”

“Why are you even here?”

“Nopony wants you here.”

“Nopony want you anywhere!”

Rarity closed her now watering eyes tightly, trying to block out the voices and the faces, all telling her to flee. She knew the heat and the stress was making her delusional. Still she couldn’t bring herself to snap out of it. Each face was another reminder of the failure she had become. Of how she had been built up so high just to get knocked down.

“Hey!” A hoof was on her shoulder, shaking her gently. “Ya alright, sugarcube? You dun look so good.”

She opened her eyes to a pair of green ones hovered in front of her, looking full of worry…but that wasn’t right. Nopony should look at her with pity, it felt worse to her than all of those glaring faces combined. She didn’t want pity; she was strong and independent. Or at least she was.

The tears burning behind her eyes and threatening to spill over spoke another story.

Rarity tried to run only to find herself held back by something.

“Ow!”

She continued tugging for a moment before she remembered, through her haziness, the cloth tying her to her reluctant counterpart. She quickly snapped the fabric with her the sharp part of her horn and ran free, sprinting between the trees.

Rarity finally burst through, her vision blurry and her face wet as she ran past a pair of forms, trying to speak to her, but she couldn’t hear them.

All of her thoughts were consumed by escape.

She just wanted to leave.

She just wanted to go home.

Author's Note

Sorry, I know I said this would get up earlier, but I've been busy all week moving, plus my night classes and color guard competitions starting and all...anyway, I should be done moving by the end of the week! So updates should start coming quicker very soon :D

PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!!