Stepping out of the bathroom, Melody released a sigh of contentment. “Well, you can say what you want about rich people, but they sure know how to make life enjoyable.” Applejack, who was lying on her bed and had taken a bath just before her marefriend, couldn’t agree more.

“You said it. I liked our little outdoors shower back home a lot, ‘specially after a hard day’s work, but the bathrooms here in the castle are something else,” she said without looking up from the book she was reading. She had just reached an interesting section about how earth ponies in the past used to graft different plants together to create a new one, an idea she planned to use herself. An apple with the sweetness of a braeburn combined with the size of a royal gala—the thought alone made her mouth water.

“Are you drooling because of me or the book, ‘Twilight’?” Wiping her mouth, Applejack looked up to Melody, who loomed over her, her hair wet and slightly dripping and only covered by a towel that was wrapped around her chest. How it stayed there was a mystery in itself.

“Very funny. It’s just that this here book has given me plenty of ideas. I can’t wait to get back and try some of them. These could give us the boost in sales we need.” Melody bent forward and closed the book between her front hooves. While it was mightily upsetting, the view she got more than made up for it. Also, now that Melody knew she had a little thing for large teats, she didn’t need excuses anymore for sneaking a peak.

“While I can understand that, we’re here to relax and take a break.” Before Applejack could protest, the book was also taken away and thrown onto an armchair that stood next to a small table in the corner of the room. “So, come on and get ready. We’re expected at a royal party, after all.” She knew Melody was right, and her look wandered over to the end of the bed she was lying on. Her dress was hung there, the white and green over-elaborate outfit that Rarity had made for the Gala last year. “Want me to help you?”

“If you don’t mind,” the mare answered and hopped off the bed. Melody had taken the dress in the meantime and held it up for her to slide in. Ponies were social critters, Applejack idly noted. Not only do they strive for friendship and companionship, as Melody said, they really needed each other. Without the help of at least another pony, getting into this dress, of all things, would be a near impossible task. At least for an earth pony. They were the physically strongest of all the races, and one wrong move could end up with a hoof tearing a new hole into their clothes. Therefore, she was cautious as she placed her front legs in the sleeves of the dress as Melody pulled the rest over her body.

“We have to do something with your hair,” the human mused as she smoothed the skirt over her haunches. “Your tail too. Could comb them or we could do a braid. I used to braid the hair of a friend of mine when we were younger and she with mine. I bet I could get it done.” Her hand caressed Applejack’s mane and played with the strands for a bit. “On the other hand, you look good with your mane down like this…” The human looked over to the mirror in the room, and Applejack followed her gaze. There they were, she in her dress and the human next to her on her knees. The mare looking back at her was one she nearly didn’t recognize. In the past, she had always worn her hair in one style or another. Usually it was in her trademark ponytail, or stuck up into a mess of knots when out with her Aunt and Uncle Orange. The only pony who had said the same as Melody had been Rarity, one of her best friends over the years. That Melody could say what looked good on her and was actually something Applejack liked at the same time was a feat in itself, at least for her.

Her marefriend had stated that there wouldn’t be any action until the third date, but in that moment, she had to kiss her. Applejack spun around and pressed her lips gently against the surprised human’s. There wasn’t any tongue, since this wasn’t a messy make-out session in a barn full of hay—this was a token of affection and gratitude. It only took Melody a few seconds to return the gesture and press back.

“That was nice,” the human stated a moment later when they parted to breathe. “But what brought that on?”

Applejack could only smile right now. “For knowing me so well. For being with me and for being you, I guess.” Melody smiled back and for a few seconds they just looked each other in the eyes. “I… I love you, Melody Williams. Loved you for a long time now.”

The woman’s face fell slightly. “I love you too, Applejack. But I’m still coming to terms with a lot of things, about myself and about your world in general. And I’m thankful for you sticking with the mess of feelings that I am.” She took a deep breath. “I really want this to work and I have a plan. I want us all to be happy.” Applejack moved to embrace her, but Melody put her hand on her shoulders and pressed her back. “Whoa there. Not if you want to wear that dress tonight. It will get wrinkled. Even if you don’t care, I do. As an English girl, being invited by a princess is a dream of mine. So, sit down and stay still while I get a comb.” The farmer rolled her eyes. “And if you’ll be a good little pony, I may let you help me get dressed.” With that, Melody stood up and went to the dresser, pulling a little at her towel. She not only had bountiful teats, but a nice butt as well.

The sun was already down when they entered the ballroom, which was heavily decorated in rich pink and light blue. A large banner hung over the buffet table that read “Congratulations!”, and the few ponies that were already there were mingling about. There were around thirty ponies, a large gathering by Ponyville standards, but here it made the room look slightly empty. At least they had no problem finding Twilight. Her friend wore a simple azure-coloured dress and was talking with a greyish mare with purple and white streaks in her mane and an inky-blue stallion next to the bowl of punch.

“I feel even more special now. Look how empty it is. This is really a small party, a close circle.” Applejack looked up to Melody, who walked next to her in a stunning one-piece dress of glittering crimson that hugged her form and left little to the imagination. The thing was held up by two little strings that were connected with a knot just below her neck, leaving her entire back bare. It didn’t even entirely hide her teats, showing off a good part of them. On either side of her haunches was a cut in the fabric that allowed her more mobility and would have also displayed her cutie mark if she had one.

Melody said she had gotten the dress from Rarity only yesterday, hours after the fashionista had asked her about humanity’s formal attire. Applejack had to think back to what Melody said this morning about Twilight—not her being embarrassed about wiggling her rump, but about a little kinky spell. From Melody, she knew that humans usually felt embarrassed without clothes, but if that was normal formal attire for a human mare, she had to laugh. The dress was barely even there. The only other thing Melody wore was the sandals on her feet. Applejack would know—she helped her dress, after all.

“Applejack, Melody!” Twilight called and waved at them before Applejack could say anything in return, which suited her fine. She too was a little lost and over her head with the situation. Why were a farmer and an artist at a royal party? It sounded like the beginning of a bad joke. They followed Twilight’s call over to the other two unicorns with her. More family, Applejack realized after a closer look at them. The mare had to be Twilight’s mother; there was little doubt about that. If the she had been a few years younger, they could be siblings. With the stallion, on the other hoof, she had to guess. Either her father or an uncle.

“Applejack Apple, Melody Williams, these are my parents, Twilight Velvet and Night Light. Mom, Dad, these are two of my friends from Ponyville.” Twilight Velvet, honouring her name, wore a white velvet dress that was nearly indistinguishable with coat. Her husband had simply donned a tuxedo with a white tie.

“It’s nice to finally have a face to all the stories my little Twilight writes about,” the mare said as she greeted Applejack with a smile and a hoofshake.

“It’s nice to meet you too,” Applejack replied. The same routine repeated with Melody while she shook hooves with Twilight’s father.

“To be honest,” Velvet started when she released Melody’s hand. “When Twilight wrote me a week ago about you, I thought you were a griffon. Your name and all. Indulge an old mare’s professional curiosity and tell me a bit about yourself.”

“I’m a human, Miss Velvet. Only one here at the moment.” The eyes of the mare widened slightly. “Something wrong?”

“No, it’s just…” She looked over to her husband, who simply nodded. “A friend of mine, who is an archaeologist, mentioned a species called humans before in one of her… letters to me.”

“While I’m the only one here now, I’m not the first. At least, Princess Celestia told me so. There were others before me.” Velvet nodded. So, the princess wasn’t the only one who knew about humans. If they really had contributed to pony society as much as she claimed, they deserved more recognition.

There was a high-pitched sound and then a stallion could be heard clearing his throat. “Good evening, ladies and gentlestallions, friends and family. It’s nice to have you all here tonight.” All ponies in the room turned to the stairs, where Shining Armor stood together with Princess Cadance. Surprisingly, they both didn’t wear any clothing, only a golden ring on each of their horns. “We have a small announcement to make.” He levitated the microphone over to the princess, who thanked him briefly.

“We’ve been dating for almost a year now, and two days ago, Shining Armor finally managed to ask the question.” She smiled and paused for a moment. “We’re getting married!” she then cried into the hall, and a burst of light blue magic swept over them. The audience erupted into cheering and hoof-stomping for the newly engaged couple. Twilight and her parents rushed past them to the stairs, ponies congratulating and dancing around the two. All Applejack could do was gaze at the spectacle and imagine herself and Melody in the middle of all of that. Her friends happily congratulating her. Her family patting her on the back and wishing them only the best. Her brother hugging her to death, nearly ruining her tux.

“Well, Cadance is happy mare,” Melody stated next to her. “Fine piece of stallion she’s got there,” she added with a chuckle. Applejack nodded. “You with me?”

Blinking, she shook her head and looked up at her marefriend. “Yeah, I’m good.” Melody nodded and started to walk over to the couple. Twilight was still switching between hugging her brother and her soon to be sister-in-law. Twilight Velvet seemed to be talking to both of them while Night Light had a content smile on his face. The other stallions around, as she noticed now since they all stood together, were the muscled, trained sort, most likely friends of Shining Armor from the Royal Guard. The mares in the room were friends of Cadance then. She was surprised to see Lyra Heartstrings, one of Ponyville’s local musicians, among them.

“…and you could have warned us!” she heard Velvet say. “My only son is getting married and the moment I hear about it is as the same as everypony else. A mother could think she’s nothing special, you know.”

“I’m sorry, Velvet.” Cadance hugged the grinning mare, who had tears running down her face.

“Oh, you have nothing to be sorry about, dear.” She shot a brief mock-glare at her son.

“Congratulations,” Melody said to Shining as he looked at them when they approached. “I wish you only the best for your future together.”

“Me too,” Applejack chimed in. “If I had known, I would have brought something. I have a sapling in our room upstairs. It’s an old earth pony tradition to plant a tree together when you’re getting hitched. Maybe you’re interested?”

“That’s sounds like a nice tradition, Miss Apple. I’m sure Cadance would love to do that.” He smiled at her, and she shuddered. Why did she get butterflies with this stallion? “And thanks to you as well, Miss Williams.” It wasn’t an Apple family emergency, but the family would understand if she used the sapling this way.

Next chapter, the aftermath. Clop, for those I have to say it. Also, the last chapter with Applejack in focus.

Thanks to JBL for editing this chapter.