”We’re just two sophisticated mares enjoying each other’s company. Does it have to be more complicated than that?”

Rarity remembered Octavia’s words and smiled. This last week of her life had been nothing short of incredible; perhaps the most invigorating week she’d ever had. While in the past she’d spent her mornings wondering how she would make it through the day without popping a blood vessel, now they were spent reveling in possibility; If she wanted to spend her evening relaxing at home with a glass of wine and a romance novel, there was no pony trying to convince her to come to an impromptu barn raising or a low brow ‘sports game’ or whatever they called them. If she found herself waking up on Friday and realizing that a trip to Canterlot was just what her weekend called for, there was no pony making her feel guilty for going with sad, puppy-dog like eyes, or worse yet insisting that she come along and then complaining about the ‘stuffiness’ of polite society for three days straight. And best-of-all, if she happened to decide that she did feel like company, there was an intelligent, beautiful, and like-minded mare available to spend her time with, no strings attached. It was truly the perfect balance.

“So Rarity, uh, have you, umm, designed any new dresses lately?”

Perhaps the most useful revelation would have been that if she didn’t want to go to the weekly pony-pet-play date because her ex was going to make everything incredibly awkward and her friends were going to ask her increasingly uncomfortable questions for an hour straight, there was no reason she actually had to. Unfortunately, this did not occur to her until it was far too late.

“No Twilight, I never design new dresses. It’s not like designing new dresses is what I do for a living.” Rarity rolled her eyes.

Twilight frowned. “I was just asking, sheesh.”

“... I’m sorry, I’m just… tired,” Rarity said with a deflating breath as she scanned the park around her. Opal sat curled up in a ball against her side, purring softly as she peacefully slipped into and out of sleep. Owlowicious sat atop Twilight’s head, alternating between ruffling through his feathers with his beak and staring – judgingly – at Rarity. Over by the big tree across the way sat Applejack, lazily tossing a stick for an eternally cheerful Winona to fetch over and over, while Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash sat beside her making light conversation. Every few seconds Rarity would catch one of them glancing in her direction before averting her gaze back to Applejack, no doubt offering encouraging, but ultimately empty, tidbits of wisdom. Rarity didn’t know, and quite frankly she didn’t care. This whole morning had been nothing short of exhausting, and she was ready to call it a day and head home.

“I guess I shouldn’t ask how the boutique is either, huh?” Twilight asked, breaking Rarity out of her thoughts.

“The same as it’s always been?” Rarity replied with a raised eyebrow. “Why the sudden interest, Twilight?” she asked, and immediately regretted it.

Twilight shifted uncomfortably, casting her gaze down to the grass underhoof. “I just thought, I don’t know, maybe you were feeling lonely, since the whole–”

“Don’t finish that sentence, dear,” Rarity interrupted, letting far more poison seep into her voice than she had intended. Twilight flinched, and Rarity touched her hoof to her friend’s. “I’m sorry, It’s just that I’ve already been through this with Fluttershy, Rainbow and Pinkie. I know what you’re going to say.”

Twilight continued staring at the grass. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to… Umm… It’s just that, you’re both our friends, and… she really misses you, Rarity.”

Rarity slowly closed her eyes and breathed deeply. She would not lose her composure. “I know. I know, you’re all worried, but these things happen, Twilight. Not every love is meant to be.” Twilight nodded solemnly. Again Rarity caught Fluttershy glancing her way and rolled her eyes. “We’re still going to be friends, Twilight. Applejack is a grown mare, and she’s suffered far worse than this.”

“I know, but… I don’t like seeing my friends upset, and I just thought, if you knew...”

Rarity gritted her teeth and breathed hard, trying to control her mounting frustration. “I know you just want to see everypony happy, Twilight, but you can’t ‘fix’ this.” Rarity watched her friend blanche at her words and shook her head. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be so harsh, I’m just... frustrated. It was not a good relationship, Twilight, and it’s unreasonable to ask me to pretend that it was to spare her feelings. It’s better for both of us that we get this out of the way now instead of years down the line.”

Twilight nodded. “I’m sorry I brought it up.”

Rarity shook her head again. “It’s alright, dear, I know that this has been hard on everyone. It’s an unfortunate circumstance, but it is what it is.” Rarity paused and glanced over to her friends by the old tree. Applejack was now laying prone on the ground, and even though she was turned away enough so as Rarity would not be in her field of view, she could still see the misery etched on the poor mare’s face. Standing, Rarity picked Opal up in a burst of cerulean magic and placed her on her back. “Anyway, I have some things I must attend to. Tell the others I had a delightful time, would you?”

Rarity could see the conflict in Twilight’s face as she no doubt debated asking her to stay a while longer, but finally she hung her head with a sigh and nodded. “Okay, I will. See you later, Rarity.”

“Good bye, Twilight,” Rarity said with a nod and began trotting back to Carousel Boutique.

As Rarity made her way toward Sweet Apple Acres, she honestly didn’t know what was possessing her to go there. Applejack had invited her over to ‘play checkers,’ but she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something else she was up to. Not that Rarity didn’t enjoy checkers just fine, it was a classic game for a reason, but the whole thing was just… odd. She was already standing at the door to the farmhouse, though, so it was a little late to come up with a reason she couldn’t make it.

The door opened before Rarity even had the chance to knock.

“Howdy, Rarity,” Applejack said as she stood in the doorway, smiling much too wide. She had deep circles under her eyes, forcing Rarity to assume she hadn’t been sleeping well. This was exactly the kind of thing make up was created for, but pointing that out would probably be considered bad form.

“Hello, Applejack,” Rarity said with a slight nod. Applejack continued smiling at her for several long seconds before Rarity cleared her throat and gestured toward the door. “May I come in?”

Applejack looked startled for a moment. “Of course! Heh heh,” she gave a clearly forced chuckle as she got out of the doorway. Rarity smiled politely and entered the farmhouse.

“So, where are we playing?” Rarity asked.

“That’s just like you, gettin’ right down t’business, ain’t it?” Applejack chuckled – again, forcedly – as she followed her into the living room. “Y’know, I got a couple barrels of leftover cider down in the apple cellar, and I was thinkin’ maybe we could–”

“I’d really rather just play the game,” Rarity interrupted. Applejack’s face fell for the briefest of moments before her smile reappeared.

“I guess that’s fine then,” she said in a noticeably less chipper tone as she turned towards the closet. Rarity rolled her eyes. After a minute or two of rustling, Applejack returned with a cardboard box. She blew across the top, sending a cloud of dust into the air which Rarity delicately stepped away from. As she began setting up the game on the coffee table, she turned her head back to Rarity. “You want black or red today?”

“Host’s choice,” Rarity said flatly as she moved to the opposite side.

“Well, I guess I’ll be red, then, since it matches my cutie mark an’ all. Heh.” Applejack gave Rarity a look as if searching for approval. She must have expected Rarity to laugh at her joke?

“Hah hah, yes it does,” Rarity indulged her just to put an end to that look.

Applejack looked at the board for a few moments and then shifted one of her pieces forward. “Your move,” she said.

Rarity idly moved one of her pieces, and Applejack tapped a hoof to her chin before moving again. Just when Rarity thought she was going to get to enjoy the game in silence, Applejack spoke again. “So, um, how’ve you been, Rarity? We didn’t really get to talk at the pony-pet-play date.”

Rarity cringed inwardly, but smiled nonetheless. “I’ve been good, Applejack,” she replied curtly as she moved her piece.

“Good. That’s… good,” Applejack said, her gaze falling to the board.

“... How have you been?” Rarity reluctantly asked.

Applejack scrunched up her nose as she moved one of her pieces. “I’ve been just dandy, o’course. Everythin’s comin’ up Applejack,” she mumbled.

Rarity tried to stop it, fought against it with all her might, but pity worked its way across her face nonetheless. Thankfully Applejack was too busy staring at the game board to notice.

“So… Anypony caught yer eye?” Applejack asked meekly.

A knot formed in Rarity’s stomach. When she didn’t answer, Applejack looked up. Rarity closed her eyes and shook her head. “Do you really want me to answer that, Applejack?”

Applejack sat stock still for several long seconds before sighing and dropping her gaze. “No… I guess I don’t.”

Rarity took a deep breath.

This was going to be a long game of checkers.

“And then she actually asked me if I’d met anypony! Gah, it was so awkward,” Rarity lamented.

Octavia had to cover her mouth with a hoof to avoid spraying tea all over Rarity’s table. “Oh my goodness! What did you say?”

“I didn’t say anything,” Rarity shook her head. “I just–”

Rarity was interrupted by the doorbell. She glanced to the door, and then back to Octavia. “Just a second, dear, let me see who it is,” she excused herself.

“Take your time,” Octavia said with a nod and sipped her tea.

Rarity sighed happily as she reached the door. With a smile she threw the door open wide. “Hello and welcome to–”

“Hrph Rrphity!”

Applejack.

Applejack spat the handle of the small decorated bag out of her mouth and giggled. “Uh, I mean, hi Rarity!”

“Uh… hello, Applejack,” Rarity said, pulling the door shut behind her as she stepped outside. “What brings you here?”

“Well, I was in town, and I thought I’d pay ya a visit!” Applejack smiled cheerfully.

Rarity glanced back at the door and cringed, but put on a smile of her own before turning back to her friend. “Well, that’s very thoughtful of you, but–”

“And I got you this,” Applejack interrupted before grabbing the bag’s handle back between her teeth and proffering it to Rarity. Rarity raised an eyebrow before delicately grasping it with her magic.

“Oh, uh, Thank you, Applejack,” she said slowly.

“Well? Open it!” Applejack encouraged her with a gestured hoof.

Rarity opened the bag and looked inside, then gently lifted a long periwinkle and white striped scarf out. She stared at it for a long second before returning her gaze to Applejack, who gave her a disappointed look.

“Don’t ya like it?”

Rarity took a deep breath. “Oh, uh, yes dear, of course I do, it’s lovely. I’m just… a little perplexed. Is there some occasion?”

“It’s for yer birthday,” Applejack said with a meagre smile.

Rarity blinked. “Applejack, my birthday was three months ago.”

“Well… I know, but, you got kinda mad at me when I… forgot,” Applejack mumbled as she rubbed a foreleg with the opposite hoof. “So… I thought I’d get ya somethin’, ya know, to make up for it. And I know how much ya like accessorizin’, so…” she trailed off.

Rarity looked down at the scarf. It wasn’t a terrible scarf, but it certainly wasn’t her. And if Applejack felt that bad about missing her birthday, why get her something now, so long after?

No, Rarity blanched at the thought, please don’t tell me she’s trying to win me back.

“So’s, uh, what’s goin’ on in the boutique today? Got any dresses that need modelin’? Or maybe some help sewin’ somethin’? I know I’m not the best at it, but I been practicin’ in my free time with Granny’s old sewin’ machine, and I think I’m really startin’ t’get the hang of it,” Applejack said with a hopeful smile.

Rarity couldn’t stand to look at it. “No, I’m sorry Applejack, but I don’t need any help today.”

Applejack’s face fell. “Oh.”

The pair stood in silence for several long seconds before Rarity coughed into her hoof. “Actually, I kind of have to get back inside. I’m–”

“Oh, are ya busy?” Applejack asked.

“In a sense, I–”

Applejack nudged her with a shoulder. “I thought ya just said you didn’t need any help? No need t’be embarrassed ‘bout askin’, Rares, I offered, didn’t I?”

“No, Applejack, wait!” Rarity cried as Applejack stepped past her and pushed the door open.

“Really, it’s no trouble at all, I–” Applejack stopped in the doorway as her gaze landed in the kitchen.

Octavia stared back at them, teacup in hoof.

Oh no, no no no no no, Rarity thought as her eyes widened in panic. How am I going to explain this?

“... Howdy, Octavia,” Applejack said breathlessly.

“Hello, Applejack,” Octavia replied before sipping her tea.

“Applejack, I swear, this isn’t what it looks like, I–”

“Really? ‘Cos it looks t’me like I interrupted yer tea party,” Applejack said without turning her head.

“I, uh, I swear–”

“No need t’be embarrassed,” Applejack said suddenly as she twisted her head to look back at Rarity with a smile. “I woulda thought you were a little old for that sorta thing, but hey, who am I t’judge?”

Rarity shot a quick glance to Octavia, who shrugged. Looking back to Applejack, she slowly nodded. “I, uh, yes, it’s exactly what it looks like, ha ha ha… But really, I must get back to it. It’s rude to keep my guest waiting.”

Applejack stared dumbly at Rarity for a long moment. “Well, don’t let me stop ya. Hay, I could even see joinin’ ya’ll!”

Rarity jolted back. “What?”

Applejack seemed to be shocked by Rarity’s reaction, and quickly put on a more humble demeanor. “I mean, if y’got room fer one more, that is. I ain’t got no plans, so… we could hang out?”

Rarity shot another glance to Octavia, who shrugged more exaggeratedly. She then looked back to Applejack and grimaced slightly. “I, uh, I’m sorry dear, but… I’d rather you didn’t?”

Rarity’s conscience would never forgive her for saying those words. If there was any hope of it ever doing so, the pained look on Applejack’s face made certain it was crushed.

“Oh… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to impose or nothin’. I’ll just… Um… I don’t know, I’ll just…” Applejack began mumbling as she turned back to the doorway and walked outside. “Enjoy the scarf,” Rarity heard her say as she closed the door behind her.

Rarity stared at the door and frowned.

“Wow. She’s got it bad for you,” Octavia snickered from the table.

Rarity groaned.