Applejack had decided to take a break from working on the farm today and spend some time with Mariana. She felt kind of bad for not really spending a lot of time with the mare since she had arrived in Appleloosa. The two of ponies were sitting on the front porch of Mariana's house, having a drink of apple cider.

"So, how have ya been Mariana? I know we haven't really talked that much since ah arrived," Applejack said, apologetically. "Let alone spend some quality time together."

"Oh, that's quite alright, Applejack," the red-headed mare respnded. "Ah know that you've been awfully busy back home in Ponyville an' also here, helpin' take care of Braeburn an' all."

"Heh, heh. Yeah..." the orange pony laughed.

"By the way, are ya gonna go to the Appleloosa Country Festival?" she asked her.

"Oh, Mariana, ya know ah would love ta, but most likely ah won't," AJ replied, a sad tone in her voice.

"Applejack, you've jus' gotta go!" the brown earth pony exclaimed. "Ya need ta stop working an' have a little fun once in a while."

The orange country mare took a sip of her apple cider before responding. "Look, Mari, ah know ya mean well, but somepony's gotta help take care of Braeburn. Ah can't risk him getting even more hurt than he already is," she pointed out. "Besides...." she began, looking a little sheepish, "No pony's even asked me..." she said, looking away from her friend embarrassed, covering her face with her Stetson.

Mariana looked at the now shy pony. She figured that she would say that. She knew Applejack long enough to know that she would want somepony to ask her. If Braeburn's did in fact work, she'll sure be asked out by Flim later today. The red-head got up from her seat and put her hoof on orange mare's shoulder.

"Aw, don't ya worry, AJ. Who knows? Today might be the day somepony will ask ya," she told her, squeezing her shoulder a bit.

Applejack gave her a little scoff. "Heh, yeah, right. The only pony that would probably ask me would b-" she stopped right there, not even finishing her sentence as she felt her face become red.

Mariana knew who she was gonna say. It wasn't that difficult to figure out. Applejack had become smitten with Flim. Braeburn had told her about how his dear cousin would always blush whenever he asked her about him. He had also told her about she acted around the unicorn... always trying her hardest not to blush and how she would always give him a little goofy smile. He might as well had just said that his cousin was head over hooves for the stallion.

"C'mon now, Applejack. Why don't we go back ta the farm," she asked her.

The orange mare finally removed her face from her Stetson hat. "Alright, let's go, then."

The two mares finished their glasses of apple cider before heading off ta Braeburn's farm. Mariana just hoped inside that Flim will have the courage to ask her dear friend out to the festival.

Flim had been having one thing pondering his mind all day.... Asking his dear sweet Applejack to the Appleloosa Country Festival. That was it! Absolutely it! Nothing else was on his mind. He was thinking about all the possible things that could happen. Would she say 'yes'? Would she say 'no'? Would she think he was joking? Would she already have a date, even? So many questions were in his mind.

His had been feeding the pigs when all these thoughts came to his mind. He suddenly started thinking out loud. Unknowingly asking the pigs for advice.

"Should I ask her to the festival?" he asked them. The pigs just chomping away on their food. "What if I ask her and she already has a date? What if she flat out rejects me?!" he asked, almost in a panic-y way. "I mean, if she does, she'll probably be really gentle and honest about why she wouldn't want to go with me. She'll probably just say something like," he began to talk in his best impression of the mare, 'Oh ah'm sorry, Flim, but ah jus' don't think that's such a good idea. Me an' ya, together, well, ah jus' find that kinda strange,'" he said, in an attempt to sound like her.

The pigs oinked while some other pigs grunted, showing that they didn't like it. Flim ran his hooves through his mane, giving out a groan of frustration. He than began talking to the pigs once again.

"Yes, I know that doesn't sound anything like her," he responded, putting his head down, his hooves gripping the pig pen fence. The pigs oinked at him once more. "Yes, I know I'm probably over thinking this... Maybe I shouldn't ask her at all," he said, a sad tone in his voice.

All the pigs looked at him, oinking and grunting in his face. He shot his head up to see what the fuss is all about. The unicorn noticed all of them shaking their heads, oinking and grunting with all their might.

"You... really want me to ask her?" he asked them. All the pigs nodded their heads, he gave them all a confused look. "You really think she'll say 'yes'?" They nodded their heads once more. He gave them all a big grin. "Very well, then. I shall ask her when she comes back from Mariana's."

Suddenly, a voice from behind popped out of nowhere. "Ya, um... do know you're talking ta a bunch of pigs, right?" the voice asked him.

Flim turned around to see none other than Braeburn, leaning up against the barn wall, his crossed together. His back hooves crossed together as well. The unicorn looked back and forth between he and the pigs.

"Oh, sorry, about that," he apologized.

"Oh, don't worry about it. Working a farm will do that ta ya," the stallion admitted. "One of AJ's own friends told me that she talked to a tree like she was its own mother. It jus' so happened ta be one of the trees that she brought here to Appleloosa to add ta our orchard. Ah believe she even named it 'Bloomberg'."

The unicorn and the earth pony laughed. Flim didn't find it strange, he found it kind of cute that Applejack would take care of a tree like a child and give it a name. In fact, it's something he believed she would do.

"Well, I guess I'm just a little nervous about asking your cousin to the festival."

"Don't be nervous, fella," Braeburn told him. "Jus'... go on up ta her an' ask."

"But what if she says 'no'", he asked.

He noticed the earth pony look over to the side. The unicorn's ears perked up to hearing the sound of laughter. The unicorn watched as the earth pony faced him once more, giving him a sly smile.

"Well, there's only one way to find out," the stallion told him.

Flim looked over to his right seeing Applejack and Mariana walking up toward the farm, laughing and smiling. He started getting nervous all over again. He looked at Braeburn who tilted his head to the side, gesturing for him to go over there. The unicorn tried his best to stay calm, taking in a deep breath in the process. He began walking toward the two mares.

Applejack and Mariana had just arrived from Mariana's place. The two of them just having a great time chatting and telling jokes. She was having such a great time that she had forgotten about Flim for a while. That is until she saw the unicorn walking toward them. Mariana noticed this and suddenly went quiet as the the stallion came up to them.

"Applejack, so glad that you're back," he greeted her. "And it's nice to see you Mariana."

"Nice ta see ya too, Flim," she greeted in return, giving him a smile. "Um, if ya don't mind, ah'm gonna go on ahead an' talk with Braeburn."

The two of them, let her go on ahead, leaving the two of them alone. The mare and the stallion stood in silence for a few moments. Applejack looking away for a few seconds before looking into his eyes. Flim looked at the ground, poking it with his hoof for a few second before looking her in the eyes as well.

Flim cleared his throat. "So, um, Applejack..." he began, trying not to sound too nervous, "have you heard of the Appleloosa Country Festival coming this upcoming Friday?"

Applejack could feel her heart skip a beat and a lump in her throat. He was asking her about the festival? Why was he asking her about that? Could it be possible that this is going where she thought it was going?

"Oh, um, y-yes. Ah've heard. A lot of the townsfolk are really excited for it," she replied.

"And... you don't.. by any chance... already have a date, do ya?"

Applejack's heart began racing at what felt like a million miles per hour. If this really was going where she thought it was going, she'd better answer quick!

"Um... no. Why do ya ask?"

"Well, I was just wondering, if you didn't already have a date, we could..." he said, trailing off due to how nervous he was, "go... together..." he said, finally.

Applejack couldn't believe her ears. Flim was asking her the festival! Her! She didn't know what to think. More importantly she couldn't figure out why she was so happy. She decided to give him an answer quick, but still staying calm.

"Oh, well, sure. Ah would be honored ta go with ya, Flim."

"You would?!" he asked her enthusiastically. She gave him a soft smile while nodding her head 'yes.' "Great! Well, then I'll pick you up at 7:00 on Friday."

Applejack chuckled. "Alright, then."

Applejack was back in her room, along with Mariana. Mariana was sitting on Applejack's bed while she was pacing around the floor. She was pacing around her room telling her about what just happened. She was finally going to the festival. She always wanted to go there, and now she'll finally be able to.

"Ah've never seen ya so excited before, AJ," the brown earth pony with the red mane said.

"Oh, Mari, ah'm finally gonna go ta the festival. Not to mention, Flim asked me," she said, a goofy smile spreading across her face, not even realizing it.

"Oh, so you're excited for your date with him?"

Applejack stopped in her tracks, turning to face the mare sitting on the bed. "Whoa, there, nellie. Ah am not going on a date with Flim. He an' ah are jus' gonna go ta the dance together which is where we'll be able ta get some time spent together," she said, giving her a smug look.

Mariana raised an eyebrow at her as the orange mare slowly came to realization. Her eyes widened, "Oh my Celestia, ah am going on a date with Flim," she said almost in a panicky way.

"Told ya!"

"Mari, what am ah gonna wear? What am ah gonna do with my mane?" she asked frantically.

Mariana got off the bed, putting both of her hooves on Applejack's shoulders, calming her down. "Now, now, Applejack. Calm down."

Applejack began taking deep, slow breaths, calming herself down. Mariana, then placed her on the bed, still holding her by the shoulders. She looked her in the eye.

"Look, ah happen ta know somepony who's a great hairstylist. She can get your hair taking care of. As for what you're gonna wear, well, ah'm afraid ah don't know any pony who does clothes."

A lightbulb went off above the orange mare's head, giving her a brilliant idea. She began taking out a piece of paper and a pencil and began writing. The red-headed pony looked at her confused.

"What are ya doing?" she asked.

"Ya may not know any pony who works with clothes," she began, "but ah happen to have a friend who design's great clothes," she continued.

Applejack finished writing the letter and put in an envelope. She handed it over to Mariana. "Here take this letter ta the post office an' tell 'em it needs ta get to Ponyville, stat!"

The brown mare nodded her head before trotting out of her sight. Applejack let out a deep sigh as she saw her make her way to the post office. She sure hoped that Rarity would get here as soon as she read what she wrote in that letter.