Rarity gasped. “Oh, darling, look!”

Applejack glanced over. The unicorn stood on her hind legs with her front hooves up on the windowsill, and she was leaning forward, so that her interest in the view outside was clear.

“What is it?” Applejack asked. Pointless, in some respects, since she was going to join Rarity at the window anyway whatever the answer.

“It’s snowing,” Rarity said, and then she exclaimed, “Ooh!” with such obvious joy that Applejack couldn’t help but smile.

“That so? Even though it’s spring?”

Rarity looked over her shoulder with a smile of her own. “Perhaps somepony told the local weather team we’re on vacation.”

Applejack nudged the open suitcase on the floor. “You been hiding Rainbow Dash in here somehow? I mean, I did think the case was kinda heavy, even considerin’ all your, er, essentials.”

Rarity shook her head and giggled all at the same time. “Oh, hush, you,” she said. Applejack’s grin grew even wider when she saw Rarity blushing. “Come and see for yourself, if you don’t believe me.”

Quietly, Applejack picked something off the top of the dresser. Rarity’s process of unpacking always involved choosing what to wear as well, and the whole affair inevitably left more clothes on the floor than in wardrobes or drawers.

“Look out there,” Rarity said to her, hearing her hoofsteps against the floor. “What did I tell you?”

“Pretty sight,” Applejack murmured, looking briefly at the white swirling past the window before returning her focus to the real beauty in front of her. “Real pretty.”

“Isn’t it marvellous? We’re so lucky.”

“Yep,” said Applejack, close enough now to feel warmth radiating from Rarity’s body. It’d be a shame to lose any of that lovely heat.

She leaned closer and nuzzled Rarity’s neck. A tiny shiver against her lips made her flush as well.

“Mmm, darling, what are you doing?”

“Well, I think you fancy sorts call this accessorising, sugar.” Applejack began to wrap Rarity’s neck in what she had picked up off the dresser: a scarf of several pastel yarns crocheted together into a pattern that Rarity found pleasing, but Applejack could barely tell from all the others like it. Still, she’d realised that didn’t really matter. “You ain’t exactly gonna come outside with me without a scarf, are you?”

“For you, Applejack, I’d consider anything.”

Rarity sounded quite serious, and thinking about it, wasn’t it great that Applejack knew she was - and that it didn’t need to turn the moment into something heavy?

Applejack chuckled. “Good to know. Still, you don’t have to consider that, at any rate. Scarves are no bad thing in snow.”

Rarity nuzzled Applejack’s cheek, and she met the action halfway. “What do you suppose brought a snowfall on, anyway?” she asked.

Rarity adjusted the scarf and then stepped towards the bed. “I daresay there was leftover snow in the weather factory?” She picked up Applejack’s hat, walked back over to her, and carefully placed it on her head, brushing an errant lock of golden hair away from her mouth to complete the process. “But like I said, I think we’re just lucky.”

“Yeah,” Applejack agreed, catching Rarity’s hoof in her own.

Next prompt: Flowers

82. Flowers - by Novelette Glory

Held in her hoof, Applejack stared at the bouquet of roses. In an attempt to calm her nerves, she took in a deep breath of the morning air, tinged with the scent of fresh, crisp grass. The hammering of her heart drove the adrenaline through her veins and her thoughts erratically tornado-ed around her head.

Hesitantly, she rows a shaky hoof to the door and knock, knock, knocked.

“Coming!” Lilted a regal, soprano voice. The sound was usually heaven to Applejack; after a stressful day, encountering that voice would wash over her like a wave of serenity – but then, it did the complete opposite. Added with clop of cantering hooves, Applejack’s nerves only grew.

The chime of a bell rung through the air. “Welcome to Carousel Boutique–‘’ Rarity suddenly paused at sight of the Earth Pony and her professional expression melted into one of delight. “Applejack! To what do I owe the pleasure, darling?”

A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. So far, so good. “Hiya, sugar cube,” Applejack bashfully presented the flowers to Rarity. “Oh, and, uh… happy Hearts and Hooves day.” She bit her lip and her cheeks glowed crimson.

Rarity’s vision flittered towards the offered gifted and her features quickly morphed into shock. She placed a hoof to her snowy chest. “Applejack?”

“I understand if you don’t feel the same way,” Applejack whispered. “After all, a Unicorn as lady-like and gorgeous as you would expectantly be happiest with some fancy-smancy stallion. But,” She gazed into those beautiful sapphire eyes. “At least give me the chance to ask ‘Rarity would you kindly to the honour of going out on a date?’”

“Why would you ever think that?”

“Huh?” was what incoherently jumped out of Applejack’s vocal cords.

“Don’t just jump to conclusions, darling,” Rarity lightly laughed before grasping the prize in her arctic blue magic and gently sniffing their delicate fragrance. She fluttered her lashes at Applejack. “I would love too.”

All of the previous emotions melted away, replaced by pure elation. The nerves she felt prior were completely and utterly pointless – quoted, as her parents had said to her many times, she was ‘walking on sunshine’.

Next prompt: Jewelry