Applejack wasn't up when Galen left for Canterlot, but that was just fine by her. She didn't want him seeing the smarmy smile she wore when she woke up. Everypony who saw her that morning knew something was up and didn't want any part of what it was she was doing. She ate her breakfast with a few low chuckles here and there while looking off into the middle distance every so often. It worried her brother and sister, though when they asked Granny if they should be worried, she only laughed and told them to not worry about it. They still worried.

After breakfast, she dispatched her most import chores quickly and let Granny know that she was heading into town to take care of something. She took a hoof full of bits from their repository in their “office” and put them in the little pouch inside her hat before heading out. Once in town, she made her way to the Boutique and went around the back to the kitchen so she wouldn't have to hear Rarity's usual spiel. Luckily for her, Rarity was there herself enjoying a cup of tea and smiled as she caught her friends attention. Rarity let her in with a welcoming smile and invited her to sit down and join her.

“So, what brings you here so early, Applejack?” she asked with a little smile after she took a sip of her tea. “It's barely even ten o'clock and you're normally so busy that it's uncommon for you to be here apart from market days.”

“Just though you could help me with a little payback,” she replied with the same smarmy smile she wore to breakfast.

“Oh?” Rarity said as her interest and excitement surged. “And who might you be paying back?”

“Galen,” she said simply.

“Really?” she said in confusion. “What has he done that you need to pay him back for it with my assistance?”

“Well, he's too generous and hard headed for his own good,” she replied with a huff and looked away with a little flush to her cheeks. “You know about how he's starting up his own forge out to the farm, right?” Rarity nodded as she had heard about it from Twilight last week over tea. “Well, anyway, he bought that little hill that got demolished for four hundred bits.”

Rarity's eyes widened and she looked like she had swallowed one of her precious gems. “F-four hundred bits?”

“Yeah,” she replied dully. “Ah told 'im he'd regret it, so here Ah am to ask you for a bit of help.”

“But... what can I do to help you get revenge on him?” Rarity asked in confusion. “I only make clothes and if you're asking me to make anything he asks me for at a substandard quality, then you're barking up the wrong tree as it were. It's a matter of pride for me to make anything with as much skill as I can bring to bear and I shall do no such thing.”

“Ain't askin' you to do that,” Applejack assured her with a wave of her hoof. “Ah'm askin' you to make somethin' for me and Ah'll pay for it with the same bits he gave me.”

Rarity looked back at Applejack in confusion. “But, how would that be getting revenge on him? Besides, you know I'd gladly make it for you for free.”

“Wouldn't be the same,” she replied. “So Ah'm gonna pay you and you're going to accept it. Ah want him to know he brought this on himself.”

“Alright,” Rarity said with an odd look. “So, what would you like me to make you?”

“One of those Prench maid outfits that Ah've seen in Canterlot Castle with a few extra frilly frills,” Applejack said levelly.

Rarity made a few choking noises and blushed a deep red. “W-what?!”

Applejack blushed at her reaction and chuckled herself. “Since he gave us so much, it made me feel indebted to him. As Ah fumed and thought it over, it reminded me of a few stories Ah've read about indentured servants from the past and it suddenly clicked. So here Ah am, askin' you to do this for me.”

Rarity spluttered and blustered incoherently, a look of incredulity plastered all over her face before she suddenly stopped, took a deep breath and laughed. She laughed and laughed her high, clear laugh of pure enjoyment that Applejack only heard when she finally let loose and enjoyed herself. Applejack joined her, cutting loose with her own laugh that echoed in the room. “Oh, Applejack! That's so decidedly clever that I never even would have though to do that myself!” Rarity finally said as her laughter died down and wiped a tear of merriment away from the corner of her eye.

Applejack grinned widely. “So you'll do it?”

“Do it?” Rarity asked with a look of pure joy. “Of course I'll do it! Oh, this is going to be so deliciously daring that I know he's going to be dumbstruck at the sight of you wearing this!” She laughed joyously and hopped off of her chair, completely ignoring her tea and motioned Applejack to follow her as she practically pranced out of the kitchen. Applejack grinned and chuckled as she followed at a slower pace. Rarity led her upstairs to her work area and took her measurements efficiently before moving over to one of her mannequins and adjusted it slightly to match Applejack's measurements.

“Should Ah come back later?” Applejack asked slightly nervously as Rarity began levitating a veritable storm of materials and tools around that were decidedly sharp and pointy.

“Nonsense,” Rarity replied. “You can wait downstairs if you would like, but I shan't be long in making your outfits.”

“Alright,” she replied as she carefully edged her way around the circumference of her friends artistic chaos. When she was safely out of the room, she let out a happy little sigh and grinned. “Teach you to do things without considering tha feelings of others, even if it's something wonderful.”

She was giggling madly as she went down the stairs and into the lounge like living room and basically rolled herself onto Rarity's chaise sofa, settling onto her back and pulled her forelegs up to her chest as she wiggled a bit to scratch her back. This was turning out to be a great day for her and knew that Galen was going to choke on his own generosity. With that, she felt herself relaxing at an alarming rate and didn't fight it as she fell asleep for an unexpected nap.

She woke up around noon when Rarity nudged her shoulder, a smirk hidden behind her hoof as Applejack looked around dazedly. She had been snoring and drooling into her mane, which Rarity normally would have been aghast at, but seemed to find it hugely amusing this time. “Wha'? Wha' time is it?” she asked, mumbling as both lingering drowsiness and a sticky mouth mangled her words. “Wha' you laughin' at?”

“Nothing!” Rarity squeaked as a case of the giggles took over. “I just thought you should know that I'm done with your outfit.”

Applejack closed her eyes again and smacked her lips together as she worked the sleep from her mouth. Rarity's giggles started turning into snorts which made her laugh all the harder. Applejack just grunted as her friend was apparently having a mental breakdown. She opened her eyes and looked over to see Rarity winding down from her bout of insanity, sighing and wiping tears of laughter from the corners of her eyes. She sighed and grunted gently as she rolled off the sofa and back onto her hooves, replacing her hat and tried her best to work her drool matted mane apart with a few strokes of her hoof.

When she was certain she could do no more, she looked expectantly to Rarity and raised an eyebrow to see if her friend was going to have another episode. She didn't. Instead she gave a happy sigh and led Applejack back upstairs to see her efforts. With a little fanfare, Rarity opened the door and led her in and Applejack was pleased. It turned out that Rarity had made three uniforms and they were exactly what she had wanted. They were made from an incredibly black cotton with pristine white lace accents. The skirt was modest but cut slightly short so that it was the perfect balance between professional and flirtatious. It even came with a pair of socks for her rear legs with similar lace trim along the top that was just short of reaching the bottom of the skirt. The bonnet on the head was made of the same black cotton with a central white section and lace patterning to provide an accent, though it had Applejack's cutie mark embroidered in the center of the white section, a splash of color that not only drew attention to the head but made the whole ensemble come to life.

“This is perfect, Rarity,” Applejack said gleefully. “How much do Ah owe you?”

“Well, since you want to pay, I would have to charge you seven bits per uniform,” she replied grudgingly.

“Perfect,” Applejack said with a grin as she doffed her hat and shook out the bits to pay her friend.

“Why don't you try one on?” Rarity asked as she levitated the money over to a table and removed one of the uniforms from the form. That was when Applejack noticed one small detail about the uniform. It even came with black cotton panties, complete with white lace trim. By the sun, Applejack thought her face was going to burst into flame. Wearing a maids uniform was one thing, but panties was another. Then again, she shouldn't mind it so much, especially if she could taunt Galen with an “accidental” flip of her skirt. Her blush faded a bit as she felt its heat move under her tail a bit. Hopefully she wouldn't ruin the dainties before she even got them out of the door.

“May as well,” she replied. “Even though Ah know it'll fit perfectly.”

“Wonderful!” Rarity said with a wide grin. With that, she passed the clothes to Applejack who moved behind the dressing screen in the room and went about putting everything on. She went about the delicate task of putting the panties on first. She swallowed her reservations about it and slipped her rear hooves through the holes and balanced herself precariously as she used her forehooves to slide them up to cover herself. Just as she was about to slip them around her hips, she pulled them so the dock of her tail fed the base of her tail through the small hole that would help keep them in place and worked her tail through it with a little bit of effort with one hoof while the other helped her keep her balance. She felt herself heat up as the delicate fabric caressed and pressed gently against her delicate parts.

With that done, she sat down and went about the slow process of slipping the socks up her hind legs. That took a bit of work, but she finally got them both on and felt herself heating up a bit more at the thought of Galen seeing her this way. She shook her head to clear it of messy thoughts and quickly slipped on the uniform which settled over her exactly like she thought it would. It was snug but not confining, easily letting air flow through it so it wouldn't be uncomfortable in the least. Last was the bonnet which had a pair of little dull hooks that would secure it in her mane. She removed her hat and settled the bonnet over her forehead. When finished, she took on an innocent expression and lowered herself slightly to make herself look submissive. Then she walked out from behind the divider.

Now Rarity normally thought herself as being mostly a straight mare, having only rarely shared her bed with other mares during excessively heavy heats, so when Applejack revealed herself in the manner she did Rarity's heart stuttered briefly before pumping far more quickly than her excitement at the moment called for. She flushed and brought a hoof up to the side of cheek in wonder at seeing such a decidedly feminine side to her usually tomboyish friend. “My, my,” she said a touch breathlessly.

“Why, whatever is the matter, miss Rarity?” Applejack asked in the very accent she had mastered years ago as a foal while she lived with her Aunt and Uncle Orange. “You seem flushed! Are you running a fever?” Applejack looked on at Rarity with false concern and worry, her mannerisms flawless as she raised a forehoof out to comfort her without moving forward in an unseemly manner. Oh, that devilish mare.

“Eve-” Rarity's voice cracked suddenly as she went to reply and coughed to clear her throat. “Everything is fine, Applejack. I must say that it looks quite marvelous on you.”

“Heh,” Applejack chuckled with a wry smirk as she reverted to her usual self. “Maybe you made this outfit a little too well.”

Rarity fanned herself with a hoof and looked away with a very obvious flush to her face, “Perhaps I did, but you certainly pulled it all together. I must say though, Applejack, that you make a mare question herself in certain areas where she had always been confident before.”

Applejack blushed and grinned at Rarity, knowing exactly what she was talking about from past conversations. “What can I say? Must still have some of that Manehatten charm.”

“I would have to agree with you on that.” Rarity glanced aside so that she could reassemble some of her composure before looking back a couple moments later. “So, might I ask if payback was all you intended this for?” Rarity asked in her most innocent voice. Applejack's throat tightened up and she glanced away as her face flushed with a vibrant blush. Rarity chuckled throatily, making Applejack's embarrassment at being found out so easily redouble itself.

“How'd you guess?” she asked, looking back without turning to look at her.

“Pinkie Pie came by asking for romantic advice and quickly spilled the metaphorical beans when I prodded a bit,” Rarity replied with a self satisfied smile. “I think it's absolutely darling that the two of you are building a relationship even before the two of you turn your attentions to the stallion you both have your eye on.” She paused as she let Applejack squirm a bit since it was so very often she got to see this side of her friend, however she cut it mercifully short with a change of topic. “So, did you enjoy your little lunch on the meadow the other day?”

“That was your doing?” Applejack asked incredulously.

“I merely pointed her in the right direction,” Rarity replied with a mischievous smile. “Though she did tell me the juicy, melon flavored details.”

Applejack wondered if somepony could die of embarrassment, and sincerely hoped she didn't find out at that moment. “Okay, okay... So maybe Ah have a thing for Galen and maybe thought about a thing or two Ah'd like to do to rile him up a bit with this get up,” she replied, answering Rarity's first question with a mortified blush. “Pinkie and Ah both do as far as that goes, so we've been getting to know each other a bit better while he gets himself established.”

“There's nothing wrong with that as long as you share the details,” Rarity said with a mischievous expression, a wide grin splitting her face at having the rough and tumble mare out of her element for a change. “Just so you know, Pinkie seems as though she's quite smitten with you as well. You've helped her overcome some of the major hangups she's been struggling with for the past few years, though she's still quite fragile.”

“You of all ponies should know Ah'd never do a thing to hurt her if Ah have any say in the matter,” Applejack said with a bit of heat in her voice as she turned to look at Rarity, a little fire evident in her eyes.

“And it seems that you're more than merely fond of our dear Pinkie Pie as well,” Rarity replied with a satisfied smile. “It's good to know that the feeling seems to be mutual between the two of you. I must say that I pity poor Galen when you two set your sights on him. He won't stand a chance with not one, but two stunningly beautiful mares vying for his attention.”

Applejack blushed a bit deeper, however she smiled in gratitude at her friend. She may pour on the flattery with customers, but she was always honest with her friends. She may go about it delicately sometimes, but she was still honest and that really made Applejack swell with pride at her friends words. “You think so?” she asked even though she knew what her friend was going to say.

“Why not?” Rarity responded. Applejack certainly wasn't expecting that for a reply.

“Well Ah've always been told that Ah'm unreasonable, wanting a stallion that Ah can work beside on the farm,” she replied in a slightly melancholic tone. This was a long standing hangup of hers, always being told of how her own mother and father did much the same. She knew she was a mare following in the hoof prints of her mother and wanted a stallion that could at least be a match to her. One who neither pushed nor dallied. A stallion who she could lean on and who could lean on her as well, knowing that the strength and character of the other would hold the other up if they stumbled along the way.

Rarity picked up on Applejack's unsaid words immediately. She knew what her friend wanted because it was what she wanted as well. “I don't think it's unreasonable at all,” she said quietly, a slightly sad smile on her face before it turned happier. “But from what I've seen, I do believe that Galen could simply pick you up and carry you if it came to it.”

Applejack started, Rarity providing a response to words only spoken in her heart. “What?” she asked in complete astonishment.

“We're not quite as different as you would believe,” Rarity supplied in what she hoped was a sufficiently mystical manner. Applejack snorted in amusement, shook her head ruefully and smiled at her friend.

“Guess so,” she said with a little smile. “So how about Ah get out of this and you can wrap it up with the others?”

“What?” Rarity asked with a tilt of her head. “You don't want to wear it out?”

Applejack's eyes widened comically with a look of disbelief at the very thought of being seen in town wearing her outfit and Rarity found herself laughing again, leaning against one of her sewing machines for support. “Oh! You should have seen your face! It was absolutely priceless!”

“Yeah, yeah...” Applejack grumbled with a little smirk. “Laugh it up.” With that, she retreated back behind the divider and went about stripping back down. This went much faster and she was pleased that she hadn't gotten excited enough to leave any traces on the dark fabric. That certainly would have been more than embarrassing if Rarity would have noticed that.

When she came back out, Rarity had already wrapped up the other uniforms in heavy brown paper and tied them up with a bit of coarse twine. The clothes floated away from Applejack with a blue glow, folded up in a neat manner and quickly wrapped up similarly before all three bundles were wrapped up with a loop left for Applejack to use to carry it in her mouth. With that taken care of, Rarity led her back downstairs and paused at the foyer. “Just to let you know, I'm here if you need to talk about anything at all. Even if it's just to hear yourself get everything out and work it out on your own, I'd be more than happy to be that pony for you.”

“Ah may just take you up on that offer,” Applejack replied with a warm smile. “Ah'll see you around. Been away from the farm for a while now and they're probably wondering where Ah'm at about now.”

“I'm sure you still have much to do in any case and I shan't keep you any longer,” Rarity said as she opened the door for Applejack. “However, I might recommend dropping by Sugar Cube Corner for a surprise lunch with Pinkie Pie. I know she'd absolutely love the spontaneity of your visit.”

“Ah'm sure she would,” Applejack said with a smile. “Thanks for the idea.”

“Not a problem in the slightest,” Rarity replied warmly. “Don't forget some flowers either.”

“Good idea,” Applejack said as she took her bundle with a smile of thanks and nodded goodbye as she walked out. She hooked a left and made her way over to Roseluck's stall and picked up a modest bouquet of assorted flowers for a bit and made a beeline for Sugar Cube Corner. At the peak of the lunch rush. Applejack was stopped dead in her tracks by a line leading out through the front door of the bakery and sighed as she watched another pony join the end of the line. Since she didn't want to abuse her growing relationship with Pinkie Pie, Applejack joined the queue and settled in for a wait. Chores would just have to wait for a bit longer.

The line moved at a fairly good pace though it felt like it was taking forever for Applejack. It gave her some time at least to think about a few things. Like how she wanted Pinkie to be the one to make all the decisions for their second date. Rarity's comments about Pinkie really stuck with her and she wanted to make sure the mare knew that her happiness was truly important to Applejack. The sooner she made that apparent the better she felt about the way they would grow as a couple. With herself lost in thought and moving with the line it was a surprise when she finally looked up and found herself face to face with Pinkie Pie herself.

“Heya, Applejack!” she exclaimed happily beaming at seeing her. “What're you doing here?”

Applejack dropped both the bouquet and her package before presenting Pinkie with the flowers. Pinkie's grin turned significantly warmer as she took them and Applejack finally replied, “Came in to town to take care of something and figured that we could have lunch if you're not too busy.” Applejack wasn't quite ready to admit to her marefriend that she was getting some advice from Rarity as well.

“It looks like you're the last one in line to me, so I think I can spare some time for lunch with my marefriend,” Pinkie replied with a giggle as Applejack looked around and saw that she was indeed the last pony in line. “Come on back and we can eat in the kitchen. That way I can still be near in case somepony needs help.”

“Alright,” Applejack said as she took her package and rounded the large, mostly empty display as she followed Pinkie into the kitchen. Pinkie was busy putting together a plate filled with a veritable cornucopia of treats, so Applejack slid a short chair over to the table and took a seat, setting her package down beside her. A short time later and Pinkie was sitting across the table from her with a cupcake balanced on her hoof, a ponderous expression on her face as she looked discerningly at it for some reason. “Everything alright there, sugar?”

“Yeah...” Pinkie replied absentmindedly as she narrowed her eyes at the pastry. Applejack was used to Pinkie's odd behavior by this point and decided to just let her get it out of her system. She'd tell her if something was going on if it was important. With a mental shrug, Applejack picked up a sugar cookie and took a healthy bite out of it when Pinkie finally spoke up, “You think we should start turning our attention to Galen in a week or two?”

“I don't see why not,” Applejack replied after she swallowed. “He's getting everything in order with his forge, so construction should start in a couple weeks and then it'll be out of his hands unless something comes up.”

“Alright,” Pinkie replied. Applejack took another bite of her cookie. “Because I'd like to get enough dates in so that we can have a stallion for when we come into season.”

Applejack spluttered and coughed as her latest bite when down the wrong pipe. “You seem pretty sure about this,” she wheezed.

“Call it a hunch,” Pinkie said as she finally ate her cupcake. “But for some reason, I've got this feeling that Galen will look past our physical differences. Not to mention we can ask Dashie about how Galen probably thinks so there shouldn't be too many misunderstandings. Remember how Lero took care of himself with Chuck Wagon and Shimmer? Galen probably won't take too much guff from anypony either and if we step in, it'll hurt his feelings, especially if he feels that we need protecting.”

“Ah see your point,” Applejack replied with an introspective expression. “Ah did say Ah wanted a strong stallion after all.”

Pinkie Pie giggled at that before she tossed another pastry in her mouth and ate it in short order. “So, what's with the package?”

Applejack flushed with a little smile. “Just a little payback for Galen,” she replied smugly.

“Oh?”

“Yep,” she said. “Maybe you can drop by the farm sometime tomorrow in the afternoon to see how it's working out?”

“Oh!” Pinkie said excitedly bouncing in place. “That sounds like fun!”

Applejack snorted in amusement, “Oh yeah. To be honest, Ah kinda thought about using this payback as a chance to kinda flirt with him as well. If you're interested, drop by Rarity's and ask her about what she made me. If you want, ask her to make you a set of uniforms like Ah got and tell her that Ah'll be pay her back when Ah come into town for market. We can pay him back together and maybe ruffle his feathers a bit.” Pinkie Pike giggled at that.

“You said 'uniform,' right?” Pinkie asked with a look of unbridled curiosity, her cheeks flushing a bit. “It's not something naughty, is it?”

“Maybe just a touch,” Applejack said with a small but fiery blush. “Ah feel indebted to Galen, so Ah thought Ah'd be cute with how Ah pay him back. Gettin' to be flirty with it is a bonus.”

“You're cute anyway,” Pinkie said with a little smile. Applejack chuckled at that.

“So, anyway, Ah was thinkin' about our next date and Ah'd like you to take the lead this time,” she said as she reached for a double glazed apple fritter.

“Are you sure?” she asked timidly, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. “I mean, I don't mind you taking the lead for the most part.”

“Of course Ah'm sure,” Applejack replied confidently and with a reassuring smile. “Weren't you the one talkin' to me about how we're in this together? Well, you'll probably end up alone with Galen on a date of your own at some point so let's see if we can't get you over your nervousness before then.”

Pinkie flushed at the thought of a date between just her and Galen. It didn't help that she had been daydreaming about just such a possibility a couple days ago either. “I guess that should be something I need to work on.”

“Just remember that Ah'm gonna be with you every step of the way,” she reassured her.

“Thanks, Applejack,” Pinkie replied, an affectionate smile growing on her face. “So... Since I guess I'm taking the lead here, do you have anything going on Friday evening?”

“Not that Ah can think of right away,” she replied after she polished off her fritter.

“Great!” Pinkie said happily. “In that case, I'll get everything planned out. Don't you worry, Applejack. I got this.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Applejack said warmly. She was glad Pinkie was so willing to give it a go again after all the trouble she had in the past. “Ah look forward to it.”

With plans for their next date in the works, Applejack and Pinkie Pie turned the conversation to how their days had been since they last saw one another and silly or odd things that had happened to them. They finished the plate without being interrupted and Pinkie Pie stood with Applejack beside the back door and opened it for as she sat her package down.

“So Ah'll see you soon?” she asked with a tilt of her head.

“Oh yeah,” Pinkie replied enthusiastically, a bright smile on her face. “I'll be over as soon as I get everything planned.”

Applejack smiled warmly and leaned in for a gentle kiss that lasted for a couple moments. They parted a couple moments later, faintly flushed and chuckled. “Ah look forward to it,” Applejack said before she took her package and walked out the door. Pinkie Pie watched her go and shut the door behind her. She stood in place for a moment as everything cemented itself in her mind and her smile faded, replaced with one of worried uncertainty. Hopefully she could break her bad luck with Applejack. Their first date turned out alright thanks to the farm mare, but she still worried about herself. She would just have to make sure to keep her cool and not try to overcompensate for anything too much.