When the sun hit the skyline, the rooster crooned his good morning call. Awoken first by the rooster was Applejack, cracking tired but ready eyelids to greet the new day with her own eyes. She ran a hand through bedhead and padded over to the window over the wood floor, smiling. Five o’clock a.m. She’d gotten up at this time for years. Today was no different, and she was perfectly fine with that. Familiarity is one of the many themes in Applejack’s life that she could never trade.

“Mornin’ Ma, Pa,” She offered to no one in particular, “Looks like it’s applebuckin’ season.”

She laced her fingers together and stretched, muscles stretched taut over long legs and strong arms. Applejack groans with the movement. These limbs had been stuck lazing around for six hours or more. Time to loosen ‘em up.

The farmgirl headed down the hall, brightening at the sight of her brother and sharing a grin with him. “Morn’n, Mac.”

The large man looking like he was going to burst through his white muscle shirt offered a friendly grunt in return. Big Mac never did talk much during the morning. Or other times really. But the morning especially.

Passing one another, Applejack figured he was going to check on Granny, the lively spring chicken she is. An old woman well into needing a third number on her birthday cake and living as if she was only half that age. She wasn’t impervious to the all-consuming need to sleep at the end of the day though. Or in the middle of the day for that matter.

Applejack trekked down the creaky stairs, noting that the rail on the way down needed to be fixed. Applebloom claimed it wasn’t her fault, and everyone believed her. The girl is just plain clumsy sometimes.

And speaking of Applebloom, there went the preteen sitting at the table, munching happily on a piece of toast covered in jam.

Spotting her sister, she raised a hand in greeting but still very much about to talk with her mouth full.

“Hey there, AB.” The blonde said warmly, ruffling her the redhead’s bedhead on the way to the fridge.

“Mmmph mmmnmphn, Applejack!”

“C’mon now, you know Granny taught ya’ better’n that.” Applejack turned her head and gave Applebloom a firm look.

Applebloom swallowed her food and decided to speak this time, using her words and not letting the toast do the talking. “Morn’n Applejack! Guess what day it is?”

Grabbing a small bottle, she exited the fridge, giving AB a smile. “Applebuck Season, ah’ reckon. Whatcha think, sis?”

“Whoo!” Applebloom crunched up the last of her toast and took a hasty final swig of her milk. She lowered the glass and was completely oblivious to the mustache left behind by the bovine beverage. “Y’all ’re lettin’ me in the buckin’ this time, ain’tcha?”

“Eeyup.”

Applejack’s confirmation preceded taking a swig of her own morning refreshment. For a year, she had kept a remnant of the cider from the season hidden in the fridge in a number of different containers. Glasses, cups and mugs alike held it until this today, which made the drink that much sweeter.

Such a rich, but light flavor. She could have smacked her lips and went, “damn that was good”, if she wasn’t so focused on making sure her little ritual stayed hers. Applejack never lied to others, but she definitely wasn’t above keeping personal matters personal.

“Awesome! I’mma go get ready now!” And grabbing her red ribbon from beside her plate, the energetic little redhead was taking the steps one at a time while a barrel-chest and a strawberry blonde head came into view descending the stairs.

“Woops, sorry Mac!”

“Careful.” He rumbled with a smile, and wincing when he heard the thud near the top. “Ah’m okay!”

Big Mac came down to the kitchen and exchanged looks with Applejack, one of the two chuckling lightly.

“It may not look it sometimes, but our lil’ sis is growin’ fast, Mac.”

“Eeyup.” He grunted in affirmation.

Applejack finished her bottle and brought the glass, along with Applebloom’s plate to the sink and turned on the warm water. “Jus’ hope she’s ready to help us with this fer sure. Family trade ain’t no joke.”
It was Mac’s turn to chuckle. “Don’ go too easy on ‘er, sis.” He absently rubbed his jaw, the action of which AJ had looked up to catch and let out a louder laugh at seeing.

“Ain’t her fault you were distracted, Mac.”

Mac grimaced, “Ain’t a lie that she’ll be hittin’ as hard as you someday.”

“Heh, we’ll find out today, won’t we?”

Applejack placed the dishes in the rack to dry and then went back upstairs to shower up and change.

Half of the shed had been rebuilt in the past year. It was more the size of a second barn than a place for keeping tools was needed for, but it wasn’t just tools being held in there. A long, soft athletic mat had been laid out over the floor over a bed of hay for a little training. Applejack, Applebloom and Big Mac had all made use of it for as long as they could remember, occasionally fixing the space up some when it fell into disrepair.

There were heavy bags, dummies and weights all around. Some were still kept in boxes, and many more were dented, broken, empty or still in good shape.

Applejack sat at the end of one of the dumbbell benches, wrapping her hands up neatly and slipping on her toeless footguards on. Refreshed, ready and waiting, she had changed into a two piece tangelo-orange athletic top and shorts. Applebloom was getting better at the family’s style of boxing, and it was time to bring her further into the spotlight as the next one to master the art.

AJ stood up and made her way to a heavy bag, planting her feet and closing her eyes. Her vision was limited, but felt infinite. She knew nothing but the grey heavy bag hanging in front of her. The concentrated farmgirl’s mind fell into a state of contentment, and her body acted.

A powerful right leg lashed out in a snap kick, extending the limb and impacting the bag heavily, rattling the chain it was hanging from. Then a left, equally devastating, crashed into the bag from the side. AJ repeated this motion a few times, knowing only the solitude of the bag, and the heavy thuds her legs brought.

When Applejack opened her eyes, she was seeing a tree trunk, bark peeling and flying at the sides, and surrendering its fruit to the baskets sitting below.

She knew she wasn’t standing in the sunlight, hot against her dark skin and baking the earth under her boots. And that the soil wasn’t recovering from a glorious rain, the rich smell feeding her nostrils and creating the euphoria that came from being attuned to the dirt, the planet’s essence of beauty.

It was almost time for all of that though, all she needed was--

“Sis!”

Applebloom’s gleeful call did not go unheard. Calmly, she did away with the illusions her mind had set up to better help her loosen up. “There y’are ya little rugrat. Didja make sure n’ stretch a bit?”

“Uh-huh!”

“Then let’s get started,” A grinning AJ replied, turning around to give Applebloom her full attention.

The smaller apple was dressed in a one piece margarine-tinted athletic bodysuit, short in the limbs and big on function. The sleeves stopped at the elbows and knees respectively. She tied her red hair back in a low ponytail, bound at the nape of her neck, and wore more protective gloves and footguards.

The two sisters took ten steps away from one another, backs turned as if ready for a pistol duel.

“One.” Applejack started.

“Two.” Applebloom added.

“Three.”

AJ and AB turned, hands raised and feet planted squarely opposite of one another. Applejack’s stance was more compact, body angled to the side, her left foot dominating the pose in a southpaw styled look. Applebloom on the other hand bounced on the tips of her toes, rocking back and forth in a rhythm unheard to everyone but her.

Seconds passed. They inched toward one another.

Applebloom was the first to attack, leaping at Applejack with an explosive flying knee with a warrior’s cry behind it. Or at least, what Applebloom thought passed for one. The strike missed entirely, all from AJ’s simple sidestep, but was quickly followed up. The younger apple spun, throwing a heel kick that was halted by her sister’s ironclad guard. Applejack smirked and Applebloom kept coming.

Each move was timed right after the next, giving very little room for AJ to try and mount a counterattack. Applebloom planted her feet and tried to come from the right, which was the worst decision she could have possibly made.

A taped fist shot out, nearly knocking her head back if it weren’t for the hasty guard thrown up at the last second. Applebloom yelped as she was pushed back, yet Applejack did not press her advantage.

Things had barely started but Applebloom had come to the realization that she was going to be firing on all cylinders if for nothing she didn’t open up a hole in AJ’s defense.

The younger apple danced toward Applejack, looking intently at her and hoping to find a spot for her to move in on.

“Patience, sis,” Applejack offered kindly, “Buckin’ ain’t just trynna hurt the tree.”

Breathing heavily through her nose, Applebloom closed her eyes and took a deep inhalation for a few seconds. “Right. Gotcha.”

“Good. Lets try that again.”

This time however, it was Applejack that moved, closing the distance between her and Applebloom with just a few steps of her long limbs. Applebloom gasped in surprise and moved back, juking to the side to narrowly avoid another fist tearing its way through the air like a knife through a red gala. “C’mon Bloom, focus!”

“I’m--” Blocked right hook. “--tryin!” Barely dodged left cross.

Dodging more of her sister’s ferocious attacks was getting to be a bit much. She hadn’t seen much in the way of of a window for her to fire back without getting tagged. Applejack made it a point to give her as little room to evade as possible.

Finally, a halt in the sisterly square dance had been reached. Unfortunately, it was by the way of the younger buying a discount feint and getting an ironclad left in her gut for her trouble. Applebloom gasped and hunched, Applejack took advantage and moved in. A harder kick slammed into her chest, flinging her backward and tumbling head over heels until she was sprawled out on her back.

Applebloom panted and took a moment or so to study the ceiling, and the outlines of the additional floors above. “Sis...patience is mighty difficult when you’re comin’ at me like a dang tornado.”

“Gotta focus, AB.” A head of blonde hair and a taped-up hand appear above her. Applebloom takes the hand and Applejack helps her to her feet.

“Ah am!” The little Apple-Boxer in training protests, “But ah ain’t got half your speed or power, Applejack.”

The elder sister puts her hands on her hips for a moment after helping Applebloom up. “It ain’t just about speed and power. Ya think I can overpower Mac, girl?” She tapped her temple sharply with a finger. “It’s ‘bout using yer noggin’ ‘longside yer hands, understand?”

“I...think I get it?” She scratches her head, looking up at AJ with eyes full of frustration, trying to guide her young mind to where she wants it. Applebloom wants to understand what she means, wants her body to be able to act as such…but it’s frustrating her that it isn’t coming just yet. “You sayin’ I gotta headbutt more?”

AJ let a small laugh out, tustling the younger girls hair. “That can be part of it, but…” She snapped her fingers. “Ah. Alright. Ya know ‘bout joints, right sweet pea? Like yer arms an’ legs?”

She nodded, flexing said arms and said legs. “Yep. Wake up with ‘em every day.”

“Well, what happens when ya hit ‘em? When ya crack yer elbow hard on somethin’?”

“Hurts like hell n’ high water.”

“Swear,” Applejack said.

“Sorry!” Applebloom covered her mouth.

She grinned. “It’s alright, sug. I won’t tell granny.” AJ glanced up to the ceiling in thought. “But gettin’ back ta it. Think ‘bout someone bigger comin’ at ya. How ya gonna stop ‘em?”

“That’s easy!” She raises a finger like it’s as plain as day. ‘’Just trip ‘em! Works all the time on the big ‘uns!”

“Can,” AJ mused. “But if yer goin’ after someone that knows a lil’ bit ‘bout fightin’?” She gave a small slap to her elbow. “Ya can’t get joints much stronger than they already are. Knees, elbows, neck, groin. Though groin an’ neck is only if it’s somethin’ serious, most sparrin’ matches ain’t gonna be rough enough ta hit ‘em in the boys.” She nodded. “But hittin’ joints’ll give ya a chance even ‘ginst someone big like me.”

Applebloom sat attentively, sponging all of the information into her head

She flashed back to the few mornings she had either bumped an elbow, or hit a kneecap against that darn dresser in her room. The pain was unexpected, no matter what. And if all joints were only so strong…

“I think I see it.” Applebloom finally said after a few moments of silent contemplation.

The redhead rose to her feet, looking at her sister with almost new eyes. ‘’Lets go again.” She raised her fists, angled her body and spread her legs a bit.

“Alright girl,” AJ adjusted herself as well, angling her own body to mirror Applebloom’s. “Show me what ya got.”

Sliding one foot forward by an inch or so, she followed it up with the other. Her bouncing from earlier wasn’t entirely absent either, but she was less concerned with rushing Applejack down than she was actually landing a hit. A few deliberate seconds passed before she made a feint as if she were coming from the right, and then got low, making her frame smaller and aiming a hard right for AJ’s middle.

AJ snapped her hand forward, grabbing Applebloom’s wrist and pulling the girl towards her. She brought her other hand down, aiming for Applebloom’s head.

She could only watch as AJ’s superior strength took her off balance. The window to strike, she felt wasn’t big enough. Either that or she was much more in favor of not taking a chance on the moment. Applebloom managed to move her head out of the way, but the hammerlike hand still met her flesh, striking a collarbone.

‘Hurts like hell n’ high water.’ She gritted out in her head as she winced, trying to stagger backwards and away.

Applejack took to the offensive, giving Applebloom no quarter. She took a few steps towards her and threw a quick kick her way, testing the girl.

The follow up kick didn’t find its purchase against her this time. Quickly thinking, Applebloom ducked, observing the arc of the kick for the infinitesimal second AJ’s leg was there.

Her fist came up, looking to catch the kneecap, but missed. The smaller fighter bit back a swear, scrambling back to her feet to mount a counterattack. Applebloom came at the blonde with a flying knee once more, not fully cognizant of what her mind was telling her in this moment, but that it was a good idea.

AJ saw the knee coming. Normally she would have used her strength to bat the girl away, but instead decided to absorb the impact of the blow. She lowered her body, predicting where Bloom would hit, then crossing the back of her arms over her breasts in an x pattern and dug her feet hard into the ground.

She wasn’t fast enough to catch her with it before hitting the ground. But what Applebloom hadn’t counted on was AJ simply tanking it on the spot. She saw her moment right after landing, and threw her leg out, aiming for the inside of her stance, the right side of Applejack’s left knee.

It was right on the money, striking the back of AJ’s leg and stumbling the woman. She sank to a knee.

“Good one, sug.” AJ said, rising. After a moment she bent her knee, working the joint. “See what I mean ‘bout usin’ yer noggin’?”

“I get it!” Bloom chirps again, this time full of confidence.

She pantomimes her own move from just moments ago, “At first you were all--” Fwoosh. “And then I was all--” Whoosh. At some point she realizes she’s looking a bit ridiculous and stops, grinning unashamedly.

“I see she tells stories as well as you, Applejack,” a high-cultured voice jokingly lectured. The farmers glanced over to see a woman standing at the barn’s entrance.

Rarity, clad in a white, slitted qipao and comfortable (and definitely) expensive mauve slippers was standing at the barn’s entrance. She raised one dainty long-fingered hand in greeting. “Good morning dear Applejack, Applebloom.”

“Rarity!” Applebloom trod over the mat to give her a big hug.

“Oh my!” Rarity was taken off-guard by the little Apple’s strong arms, returning the hug and running a hand through her red hair. “Goodness, you’re getting stronger by the day, aren’t you?”

“Yup!”

Rarity looked up to Applejack with fond eyes, separating from Applebloom. “I’m sure it has something to do with your trainer.”

Applejack smiled, taking a few steps towards Rarity. “Reckon it’s more ta do with her bein’ a good learner. Ya know I ain’t much fer instructions.” She paused, giving a considering tilt of her head, then decided to go for it, embracing the woman in a hard hug. “Been a while, Rare.”

One Apple’s hug still hadn’t prepared her for the next. But for AJ, she didn’t mind at all. “Indeed it...has, Jaqueline.” She grinned inwardly, aware of the oncoming reaction to the name.

“Watch it, girl,” ‘Jacqueline’ warned, pointing a finger down at the woman. “Jus’ cause I ain’t seen ya in a while don’t mean I’mma let ya push my buttons.”

“Oh Applejack, dear,” Rarity smirked, “We can worry about that later. I came to spend time with best friend and her family.”

“Ooh! It’s time for me to meet up the others!” Applebloom piped up, tugging on her track jacket and rushing to the door. “Later sis!”

“Be careful an’ have fun!” AJ called out to her, waving goodbye. She returned her attention to the woman. “Well shoot, sug. Let’s head ta the house. ’I’ll grab a shower an’ we can have some tea or somethin’.”

“After you.” Came the warm reply. “By the way….”

She examined Applejack briefly. ‘’Very convincing move with the leg back there.”

AJ gave a small smile in return. “Sometimes they need a lil’ more encouragement than instructin’ ‘em can give ‘em, ya know?”

“I keep my hands full with Sweetie Belle. I know exactly what you mean. And for what it’s worth, they all work so hard, trying to be just like us. Truly inspiring.” She chuckles, “And a little frightening.”

“But yes, lead the way. tea sounds fantastic. The trip was rather lengthy.”

After getting changed, Applejack led Rarity upstairs, stopping to greet Granny, who had apparently gotten up between the spar with Applebloom and Rarity arriving. The seamstress made her way into the shower first, wanting very much to rid herself of the scent and sweat of one of the hotter days of the year,

Meanwhile, downstairs, Applejack busied herself heating up some tea, timing the kettle on the stove for for he friend’s eventual emergence from the bathroom. The heat was always set to low because only Rarity could take as much time for tea to warm up at the lowest temp as it did to shower and clean herself up. She also made sure to bring out the remains of the apple pie made earlier in the week. The massive tin took up a whole shelf of space in the fridge, and for good reason--Mac loved himself some pie.

She was slicing lemons for the tea when the gentle scuff of Rarity’s slippers announced her arrival from upstairs. The shorter woman looked highly content, her hair arranged with enough rollers to resemble a creative art project. “Well done on suggesting a change to the decor in the hallway up there! I was beginning to think you were going to keep it that drab shade of brown forever!”

AJ smirked. “Only reason it changed is ‘cause Mac fell one mornin’ and busted a hole in it. We didn’t have that paint color on hand, so…” She gave a small gesture with her hands. “A ‘refurbishment,’ as ya’d say.”

Rarity tittered. “A makeover is a makeover regardless of the name, dear…” At that moment, the kettle begins whistling. “Speaking of which, I’m sure you know that before this month is over that I will have my attempt made on that voluminous hair of yours as well as your wardrobe.’’

“An’ like ya know, ya ain’t touchin’ the hair or the closet, sug,” AJ easily replied, taking the kettle off the burner and pouring each of them a drink into a white porcelain glass. She brought them over to the table Rarity sat it and handed her one. “Had a bit from the last time ya came by. That town north-a here that makes yer brand, uh…”

“Dahlwhinny,” she said, satisfiedly taking the glass and blowing at its contents gently. “Thank you very much.”

Rarity took the smallest of sips and decided against going back for more for a few moments. There was a specific period of time that when tea was fresh, was also perfect all the way. It wasn’t there just yet, but she had the clock ticking in her head from the moment she watched the liquid enter the glass. “So! You and I have much catching up to do. I hadn’t anticipated on getting paired up for the month before Horizon, but it will be a treat indeed.”

“For as much as everything has changed, it’s still been the same, but I wager you know better than I.”

AJ nodded, taking a long drink from her glass. She didn’t have much of a taste for more bitter teas, but knew Rarity loved the stuff, so she went along with it anyway. “Yeah, time… ya jus’ kinda loose track-a it ‘round here, ya know? Get up, take care of yer chores, next thing ya know, yer helpin’ Bloom with homework an’ gettin’ ready fer bed. Not much time fer new things.” She shook her head. “Dunno how Ma and Pa managed it longside raisin’ us. Jus’ ‘bout wears me an’ Mac ragged tryin’ ta take care-a Bloom.” AJ grinned. “An’ ya know I was twice the lil’ hellion she is.”

“Don’t I?” Rarity replied with a small smile. “The caterpillar in my hair still haunts me to this day.” She narrows her eyes, “I’m not quite sure if i’ve forgiven you for that just yet.”

“But I digress. I’ve had my hands full with Carousel, trying to spread my time between Heaven and Earth while helping Sweetie Belle with her studies… So much work, a girl can’t even stretch her legs as often.” Her smile turns into a grin. ‘’A problem I intend to fix while I’m here.”

AJ smiled herself as she took another drink. “That a fact? I reckon I can humor ya there a lil’ later on. Jus’ don’t blame me if ya break a nail or somethin’.”

“Come now, dancing around you is an exercise now. I’ve had a great many years to practice, if you remember well enough.” Rarity’s tone is teasing, hiding behind it a challenge.

“An’ ya can dance well enough. Eventually ya run outta places ta dance to, though. An’ that’s when ya get put down like a fly,” Applejack replied, brushing her nose with a thumb as she met Rarity’s challenge.

And now was the time. Rarity lifted her glass, drinking deeply and relishing in the taste of the dahlwhinny. ‘’We’ll find out soon. But for now...I assume you’ve some work to attend to? I know my arrival wasn’t exactly telegraphed.”

“Might have a thing or two ta take care of,” Jacqueline agreed, then looked at her flatly. “‘Less ya wanna slop the pigs fer me. Ya did bring some galoshes, didn’t ya?” She smiled inwardly already knowing the answer.

“Bring some what now?” Rarity looked positively clueless.

“Hell, yer the tailor, yer the one that should know ‘bout clothes more than me,” AJ replied. “Ya know, boots. Them rubber kind.”

She thinks for a moment. ‘’Nnnnot exactly…” Rarity raised one of her hands, letting the light of her magical energy coalescing over it. “But I’m sure if you’ve a spare pair of boots that I can make dodue.”

AJ paused, blinking. That was an answer she wasn’t expecting. “Well, yeah. Bloom has a pair that’s jus’ yer size. But… ya sure? Last I knew, ya weren’t too keen on, uh, dirt.”

Rarity snuffed haughtily, “Please don’t forget who I am dear, I wouldn’t do this activity in any other circumstance for any other person.” The prideful nose-in-the air came to a halt when she looked over to the blonde. “But for my friend, I can brave the horrors of soil in clothes that belong to others in the fire of tartarus.”

She gave a wistful gaze to one of her feet briefly., “At the very least, I had filed these before now. Oh well.” Her sapphire eyes turned ever so slowly to AJ, an insidious grin spreading on her face. “That’ll make two of us who can use a run to the nail salon after we take care of things.’’

AJ blanched. “Ya ain’t takin’ ‘no’ fer an answer on the nails, are ya, sug?”

“You could include that as my stipulations for me winning our spar later if you like.” Came the cheeky response.

“An’ if I win?” AJ questioned, wordlessly taking Rarity’s cup and refilling at at the kettle, before bringing it back.

Rarity thought very hard about this. Applejack would do her best to match her in the level of discomfort. It was the nature of their relationship in things like these. Sadly, she could not imagine what exactly her friend could have in mind. “...then you may choose the stipulation.” The seamstress conceded reluctantly.

AJ looked over the woman, stirring her drink with a spoon and wolfishly smiling as she thought of the best way to torture her friend. It came to her. “Ya have ta spend a day at yer shop wearin’ a pair of my overalls.”

Rarity’s jaw dropped.

“You...can’t...be… No. No you can’t be serious. You must be joking. You’re having a bit of fun,” She spluttered in horror at the very notion.

“Yer right. This is fun,” she agreed, biting hard at her lip to stop from cackling. “Who knows, hon, maybe you’ll be a trendsetter with that fancy-pants clientele of yers. Some of them high-brows love a lil’ rustic charm.”

“Oh shut up, you know ‘rustic charm’ is a pejorative when anyone else says it but me.” She snapped indignantly. “You have your deal anyway. Unlike your barbaric idea, mine will have you feeling a sense of accomplishment and beauty once you’ve had your toes and fingers brought up to the standard of a lady. You can look forward to it…”

Rarity leaned forward, “...after I’m done teaching you a thing or two.”

AJ shook her head, still holding a lopsided grin. “Shootfire,” she said, taking a sip of her drink. “An’ here I was thinkin’ ya’d be pushin’ my buttons while ya were over. Don’t worry, sug. I’m sure you’ll still look right pretty wearin’ my things. It’s jus’ ‘bout impossible fer ya ta look ugly.”

Rarity chuckled. And then her chuckling grew, and grew, until it climaxed into full blown laughter.

“I’ve been away too long,” She sighs, wiping an errant tear of mirth from the corner of her eye, “I missed you, Applejack.”

“I’ve missed ya too, Rare.” AJ exhaled, then met the tailor’s eyes, smiling fondly at the woman. “I missed ya enough that I even missed ya talkin’ shop ta me, an’ ya know I don’t give a crap ‘bout that kinda junk.”

“As if you could ever imagine going longer without it.” The city slicker unfurled her mauve locks from the rollers binding them and cascading her coiffure over her shoulders while remaining in the elegant swiss roll she was accustomed to setting it in. “Shall we set to the tasks of the day before nightfall?”

“Eyup. I reckon I’ve been jawin’ too long. Let’s get to it.”

The rest of the day that followed was eventful enough, to say the least. Rarity had enchanted Applebloom’s boots with an invisible shield, and still managed to end up covered in dirt. The most unfortunate turn of events came to be when she muttered something about disgusting swine, prompting one of the pigs to bowl her over, running all over and causing a ruckus while Rarity screamed bloody murder for her clothes. While she had a specific outfit for this kind of work, she never wanted it getting...dirty.

All she could do was glare AJ looked at her, passing her a mouthful of words with no lip service. And while the herding of the cows wasn’t nearly as costly to her health and her sanity, Rarity lamented the fate of one of her nails, which had caught a near-imperceptible chip in it.

As the day died down, the pair finally made their way back into the barn’s training area. Rarity had donned her silken white kung-fu uniform, mumbling about evil swine and wasted galoshes.

Now, though, now was the time to stretch her legs. Literally first, actually, as humbling her dear friend couldn’t be done without limber muscles.

“If there’s any pain you’re still feeling after this,” Rarity smiled at AJ, “Let me know where. In my time away, I also became a rather accomplished masseuse.”

AJ tossed her hat to the side and undid her button-up shirt, revealing her one-piece training garb. “Well shoot. Coulda used ya last harvest. Pulled my lower back somethin’ fierce.” She leaned back until a hard pop came singing to hear ears, then rolled her shoulder, looking over the tailor. “I know it’s been a bit since we tangoed; ya still wanna do the rules we had before?”

“I’m afraid so darling,” The smaller woman spread her arms, moving from one direction to the next, coiling one arm to strike one way, and then the other, with two arrow-straight fingers. As if she were wielding a sword, her wrist rolled in a parrying motion. Sliding with petite feet forward, she aimed her fingers at AJ. “It would be bad for business.”

And she gave a very coordinated grin to her, “And I wouldn’t want to mar that wonderful visage of yours too badly, now would I?”

Applejack returned the grin with a wry smile of her own, turning her body to the side and raising her fists eye-level. “Yer lookin’ at the face that launched a thousand applecarts right here. Ya know it’s my money maker.”

“I could think of another, but I’ll be too busy applying my foot to it for now.” Rarity rose from her crouch, but not all the way. She raised her hands as well, in a snake stance.

Her brow furrowed slightly as she locked onto emerald eyes, and a strong, powerful frame. Each sinuous muscle, tensed and ready for action. Rarity contemplated where to move first. If only for the fact that Applejack was good at making her figure that out on the spot.

Naturally however, she also enjoyed the other game the two shared. The one they played on the side, always daring the other, pushing them. It was how they’d learned to exceed their limits, and go farther whether it was training, farming, sewing and so many more things in between. For her first move, Rarity simply turned her right hand upside-down, and gestured with her fingers toward herself.

AJ smirked, breaking stance for a moment to pop her knuckles. She knew not to rush Rarity:, that was a good way to get her ass handed to her. It was like she told Bloom. Sometimes you had to fight with your head. Now, that was usually for fighting against bigger and stronger people, and, well… bigger and stronger? That didn’t happen often for AJ. Especially against her, AJ had almost half a foot on the tailor, and outweighed her by at least fifty pounds. Thing is, that girl knew that, and knew how to work AJ’s own weight against her. Regardless, she took a few cautious steps forward and tested the waters with a quick front kick, gauging Rarity’s reaction.

When Rarity was younger, attacks that had the reach that AJ’s did made fights a nightmare for her. Compensating for her height, her speed brought Rarity a new way to deal with it. Until Applejack started seeing what was going on.

As it was, the kick was a simple move, and though it was strong, Rarity knew exactly what to do, taking a step back.

“Even Opal wouldn’t have taken that bait, dear.” Rarity intoned, nearly chuckling.

“Jus’ makin’ sure yer time away ain’t made ya soft,” Jacquelin replied, returning to stance and slowly circling the tailor, observing her stance, her positioning, waiting for a brief moment to try and spot a chink in her armor.

Opting to remain silent, her friend merely winked at her, adjusting her stance as needed. She looked carefully at AJ, glancing down at the straightforward movements of her legs. More technical. No bounce in them like Applebloom. Planted like the trees she bucked. Or, well, kicked, but semantics meant little to her in the ring.

Rarity, on the other hand...loved semantics. Such as the uneven range AJ’s strafing was giving her. While she was by no means particularly tall, Rarity had legs long enough for her height to draw a customer to Carousel from a mile off.

Her lead foot edged forward, held sideways before her rear launched her at the bigger woman at an angle. She threw herself into a feint, attempting to force a move from AJ with a fake strike before crouching lower and spinning, aiming for the actual back of her left leg. Destroying the balance of the southpaw fighter would come in handy for the final stroke.

The sweep connected with one of her feet. AJ swore, falling backwards from the strike. She twisted her torso as she fell, snapping a leg out blindly towards Rarity and landing on her forearms, rolling away a few feet and rising, instantly in form again.

AJ’s desperation kick met air; the other woman was mobile.

“Having trouble keeping upright, dear?” Rarity tittered, now on the attack. She aimed a low kick at the other leg, and then twisting to throw a rapid-fire barrage of fists against her ribs.

AJ knew Rarity would go for another kick and took a chance, hopping over the sweep, then saw her opening. An important thing she had hounded in her mind from her brother was that when it came to fights, they were different than duels. It wasn’t always about being the first to land a hit. It was about making sure you could take the hits and strike when it mattered. Knowing that, she almost grinned like a wild dog when Rarity got greedy and brought out her fists. She stood like a mountain, flinching at the first jab Rarity threw as it connected hard against her breast, then AJ shot her hand out, parrying the woman’s second strike. Applejack then brought her other fist forward, blasting it like a shotgun aimed for Rarity’s gut.

Taking punches from Applejack always felt like a more...she wouldn’t...openly state it, but the word intimate came to mind. Mostly when because of the infinitesimal moment where she could feel her insides acting up when AJ was smiling at her and touching her. The wording left much to be desired, but the feeling was still there.

And she had gotten good at it; increasing her speed meant the Apple farmer had to increase her patience for it.

The counter forced a wheeze from Rarity, widening her eyes and nearly folding her into the punch. But the difference between this and a full-impact shot was miles apart when Rarity was making use of the proximity. Upon impact, she had one hand left, and made use of it drilling the fingers into the joint on AJ’s arm before staggering away, clutching her middle and trying to collect herself as expediently as possible.

Planting her feet, she forced herself into stance through the pain, huffing calmly. “It would seem...that you haven’t gotten soft in this time either.’’

One last exhalation to pacify the ache in her belly. “Excellent.”

“An’ it looks like yer still up ta yer tricks.” The arm Rarity had struck hung, loosely trembling at AJ’s side. The farmer didn’t know how Rarity did it, but that girl had unnerving grace under fire. The blow Rarity hit on AJ’s joint struck true, so true it had deadened the arm. Applejack knew she’d get feeling to it and it’d be back to normal eventually, but eventually might be too late for the match. Taking a defensive pose with her good arm, AJ narrowed her brow at the tailor. “Hope yer ready fer another jus’ like it.”

“Mmmmm...I’d like that..” Looking at AJ now wasn’t nearly the issue of planning it had been. Now it seemed more like one of opportunity. Idly, she pondered her friend’s reaction time with the few cherry-picked hits she had landed.

Rarity opted to come in head-on this time. The insanity defense was often one of the greater techniques that she had actually learned from Applejack herself. Come from an impossibly suicidal angle a few times before switching it up. She stopped short of attacking range and came low again from the right, where she anticipated a fist flying in her direction. “Can you give me one more of those?” She quipped on the approach.

Applejack reared back and launched a haymaker. Or, at least it appeared to be one. Instead, she feinted, using the inertia of her false strike to turn and drop nearly prone onto her good hand. She launched a mule kick behind her. It was reckless and a gamble, but she knew she had to keep the tailor on her toes, and AJ knew that’d be harder and harder to do as the sparring dragged on.

Though for now, the statement was highly apt, as the only thing that saved Rarity from getting swept away like dust in a storm was the quick guard she raised her arms for. The kick carried her backward, rolling her head over heels once, and through the daze, she found her bearings, planting her feet before the second roll. The battle of attrition was a two-way street for her, and so she opted to jet forward, raising her leg and whipping it forward at Applejack in staccato bursts, aiming to strike any and all of the bigger woman she could reach.

As often as she drilled and lectured Bloom for breaking stance, sometimes in a fight you couldn’t hold it. Rigid thinking is what got your ass beat. Adapting was a necessity. Especially when someone could read you like an open book. AJ rolled with Rarity’s kicks, bracing herself and letting blows hammer her in the abs, the shoulders, the breasts, one blow accidently hit her groin and sent a wave of nausea and pain radiating through her body, but she weathered that storm and leapt forward, pouncing on her and wrapping her thighs around Rarity’s own. Applejack leaned onto the woman, toppling her and pinning Rarity under her weight. She brought the tailor to the floor and lay on top of her, her forearm resting gently at Rarity’s neck.

“Well,” AJ breathed out, sweating, panting desperately for air, but looking smug as she stared down at Rarity, inches away from the woman’s face. “Looks like I won the dance.”

Worse for wear was Rarity, dizzy, dehydrated and done. She could breath at least, what with her friend being so considerate to merely pin her with that oxen strength of hers.

Their proximity and positioning was a point of interest too.

“Dance?” Rarity huffed back, “This pose seems something like one I suppose. I remember overhearing Applebloom mentioning a ‘horizontal monster mash’ once.”

She smirked at the bigger woman, “But for the life of me, I’m having trouble relating the phrase.”

Applejack mouthed ‘horizontal monster mash,’ under her breath, pondering what that could be. As she felt Rarity shift and flex under her body, she realized what it was and pushed herself off the tailor, heat pulsating through her dark skin.

“S-shut up,” AJ stammered out, looking anywhere but at the tailor as she offered her hand down to Rarity.

“Forever the prude.” Rarity laughed breathlessly as she was helped up. “Things truly do stay the same, don’t they, Jacqueline?”

It was nighttime when they finally left the barn, and the sky overhead shone with a sea of glittering stars. AJ took a moment to simply be still, shutting her eyes and holding her breath as a breeze blew through her blonde hair. She exhaled, looking over at Rarity as they walked the dirt path towards the house.

“Pretty,” the farmer said, smiling fondly at the land around her. “Jus’ real nice tonight.”

She walked, or rather, limped, to the wooden fence line by the path, resting a foot on the rail and staring at the land in front of her, taking the lines of trees and fields with a sort of passing acknowledgment of their existence, absorbing the sight like a sponge, willing it into her memories.

“Jus’ real nice,” she repeated.

“A better description would need poets--” Rarity leaned against the fence beside AJ, looking up as well, “--but were you going in the order of me and then the land? Or the land and then me?” She put on an exaggerated pout, “Dear Applejack, you silver tongued devil. You wound me.”

AJ offered a small smile, reaching over to clasp Rarity’s shoulder. “If I say ‘both,’ will that get me outta hot water, sug?”

“Possibly,” The dressmaker replied playfully, setting her own hand upon the one on her shoulder. “But you’d be right either way. By the way, have you been putting lead in your fists while I was gone?” She rubbed her stomach self-consciously. Rarity hadn’t quite subscribed to the idea of her organs seeking different residences in her body.

“When ya ain’t got anythin’ but punches in yer skill lists, ya learn ta make ‘em count.” Applejack looked over, briefly concerned. “Ya gonna live?”

Rarity raised a hand, “I’ll be fine dear, but it’s you and that limp I’m worried about. I can’t help but think I may have hit something when I was, ahem, hitting you.”

“I’m jus’ sayin’, I expect a dinner an’ movie ‘fore ya go that far south again,” AJ quipped, embarrassed at her own joke. She cleared her throat. “But, nah, Rare. Ain’t no worse fer wear.”

They stared for a long moment, neither speaking as the scene washed over them, soothing their bruised bodies more than any sort of mineral bath could. AJ spoke up finally, breaking the silence.

“It’s jus’ like old times,” she said. After another pause, the farmer swallowed, looking at her hands, willing them to do something. “Can I be honest with ya?”

“You are nothing if not that dear...besides bursting with rustic charm, good looks and muscles. Go on.” Rarity looked intently over to AJ, curious to the rather sudden bout of introspection.

Jacqueline laughed quietly. “Dunno ‘bout good looks, but…” She stared at Rarity, collecting her thoughts. “Guess I jus’ mainly wanted ta say ‘thanks.’ Yer a better friend than I deserve.”

For a moment, Rarity couldn’t respond properly. The familiar intimacy of spending time with AJ was back in full force, and she was struck with an entirely less painful feeling in her gut.

She lifted a hand, placing it against Applejack’s face. ‘’I should be thanking you. You’ve been one of the most honorable, dependable, honest, and strongest people to be a part of my life.”

A moist sensation at the corner of one of her eyes made her withdraw the hand, bringing it to brush away the oncoming tear.

AJ noticed the tear. “Aw, come on, Rare,” she said, moving an arm to the tailor’s shoulder and holding the woman. “Don’t cry. I’m jus’ stupid an’ thinkin’ out loud. Tonight jus’ kinda reminded me of a time when we were kids, ya know?”

“Of course I know, don’t be silly,” Her smile was beatific. “It isn’t becoming of a lady to cry so openly. However…”

Rarity leaned against her, for old times sake. “Your best friend might have something in her eye. That time from which we came is so far away...and yet here you are again. And here I am.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, “You used to hold me just like this back then.”

“An’ ya did the same fer me when I lost my folks. Ya were always there fer me, Rare,” AJ gave a serious nod in agreement. She gently squeezed the tailor’s shoulder and gave a lopsided smile her way. “It’s stupid, I know, but ya remember what ya promised me then?”

“There were so many promises.” Rarity didn’t mean to cry, she really didn’t, but she had an unhealthy case of eye water it seemed. “But I do indeed. Maybe I’m still holding onto it to this day. Even if we’re miles and miles apart.”

“There were a few,” she agreed. “But the one I remember most is this: If I ever got hurt. If I ever jus’ couldn’t do it, ya’d show up an’ take care-a me.” She looked at how weepy Rarity was and sniffed herself, blinking away a few tears of her own that threatened to spill. “Hell,” she spat out, her smile twitching, nearly fading from her face. “A-an’ I know it’s dumb, but… I always thought that was right. Ya’d come ridin’ up on a horse like some knight, I guess, I dunno.” Wiping at her nose, she weakly forced a laugh out as her voice cracked. “Guess yer willin’ ta get dirty fer me, an’ I’m willin’ ta get sappy with ya.” AJ took a breath in and exhaled after a beat, calming herself down. “Sorry, sug,” she finally said. “Don’t know where that came from.”

Rarity’s arm found her way over to Applejack’s shoulder. ‘’It came from an honest place.” She said, losing herself in the moment as well. ‘’You had been my knight more times than I can count. And better yet, had shown me…”

She gulped, wiping away another wave of tears with her free hand. “...shown me who I would eventually become in life. Stuck with me through everything…for me, for my sister. For my family.” Rarity actually did laugh, her voice reaching its breaking point as well.

“Look what y-you’ve started,” The sound was between joy, sorrow and hysterics, “Now the both of us are crying.”

And she turned from the moon, wrapping her arms over the taller woman’s neck and pulling her close, holding her as tightly as she would a last lifeline.

AJ wasn’t sure if she should laugh or not. A part of her said yes, the other part felt like it was going to cry again. “We’re alright, sug. Jus’...” she reached a hand to Rarity’s cheek, wiping a tear away with her thumb and rubbing the tailor’s back with her other hand. Jacqueline stared at Rarity’s intelligent, piercing blue eyes. They were red at the rims, but still pure. Still the same ones she remembered looking at for all those years.

“We’re jus’ a coupla idjits gettin’ sappy. That’s all.” She leaned down, getting a closer look at Rarity. At her running mascara and trembling lips. A small part of her that had never really crossed her mind recognized just how beautiful, how painfully beautiful the woman was even when she looked so ragged. AJ realized her hand was still on Rarity’s cheek.

“That’s all,” she repeated quietly to the tailor and to herself.

“Yes...mmm...hah...oh goodness!” Rarity squawked, voice scratching somewhat humorously.

This period of time. This bit of her twenty-four hours of the day, on the earth, is going to be the same she wants to see before leaving this world. Before she takes her last breath, Rarity wants to indulge in the fantasy of time with one of her most precious people in the world. To gaze back at the brilliant emerald eyes full of warmth and strength.

“We’ve...we’ve been through a lot together.” The shorter woman reaches over, dabbing more tears away from Applejack’s face, smiling brightly now. “Do you remember when you prevented those diamond dog gang fools from making off with my things?”

“Heard their leader had ta eat from a straw for months,” AJ replied, grinning. “Not ta mention what I did ta their lil’ hideout.”

“Did it involve arson, returning the things they stole to people, or a combination of both?” Rarity says with a giggle.

“Lil’ of both. Ya know me too well.”

“My hero.”

It was nothing for Rarity to lean forward, and plant a kiss on her cheek.

...until she did it.

“Ah...um...sorry…” Rarity’s face reddened intensely in the cheeks. She attempted to laugh it off, “A brave knight like that deserved a reward of some kind though.”

AJ felt heat radiate through her face at the action. She looked at Rarity, then at how close they still were.

“N-nah,” she stammered out, far from used to anything resembling the action Rarity just performed on her. “That’s alright. I…” Bracing herself, AJ squinted her eyes shut and leaned down, planting a kiss on Rarity’s forehead. Letting out a breath she didn’t know she held, the farmer nodded nervously at her handiwork. “Now we’re even.”

Rarity’s jaw nearly dropped the second time that day. As a lady however, she managed to rein herself in, smiling once more at the farmer. “For a given value of even. I owe you one foot to one posterior. And we’ll both need to work hard to make sure we’re ready for the tournament.”

AJ smirked. “Actually, if we’re talkin’ even, I think ya still owe me a lil’ show in my overalls.”

Though it was uncharacteristic, crass and only fitting of someone of Applejack’s rustic charm, a single word flitted through Rarity’s mind and out of her mouth.

“...shit.”

Applejack followed her morning routine once more, rising at the crack of dawn, stretching, and saying hello to Mac and Bloom after she downed a mouthful of cider. A change for her happened after that, though. Instead of immediately getting to work, she donned halfway decent clothes and made her way to town. It was Mac’s idea, really. He said that there wasn’t much that needed done today, and that she deserved a day off to see Rarity again. AJ took him up on the offer in a heartbeat, not that she wanted to skimp out on work, mind, but she felt she needed to talk to Rarity again, especially after last night. They hadn’t said much after pulling away from one-another’s embrace, which left Applejack wondering what exactly it meant to the tailor. Rarity had always been the more adventurous of the two when it came to stuff like that. Seemed like she knew what she liked, and would routinely cycle boyfriends and girlfriends during their younger years.

Now that ain’t fair, AJ reasoned with herself as she walked down the road leading to town. It wasn’t too far of a drive, so she rarely used the truck. Plus it was a pleasant enough day, slightly overcast and a breeze that stopped the summer heat from penetrating the earth too deeply. She turned back to her thoughts. Rarity wasn’t a floozy by any means. She just had a knack for knowing when a relationship wouldn’t work.

An is that what ya want with her? Applejack thought, biting at her lip and nodding to a man passing by her on the road. She wasn’t used to these hard questions so early in the morning, so she mulled over the answer as she came to the outskirts of the quaint town. AJ didn’t really have much experience with a love life. Boys found her intimidating, most girls she found shallow, add on to the work she had to do around the farm and it wasn’t like she had time for many social calls. But there was something about Rarity that was different. Maybe it was the time they spent together all these years, maybe it was the way Rarity was the most dependable woman she knew outside of her family. Maybe it was the tailors eyes. All Jacqueline knew was that she had an almost desperate feeling about Rarity since last night.

As she passed by familiar stalls selling their wares and the schoolyard, kids already starting to glumly enter the building, AJ realized what could happen if Rarity wasn’t interested. Was AJ willing to possibly make things awkward between them if Rarity didn’t feel the same way? Did Applejack misunderstand last night? Was it just a friendly joke? The thought gave her a sick feeling in her stomach that refused to leave as she stood, looking over the shop and its oval, multi floored design, reminding Applejack of a gazeebo. She hesitantly put her hand on the store’s doorknob, and pushed it open, a bell ringing over the door announcing her arrival.

Carousel was bustling with activity as usual. Summer sales put Rarity on the front line with reinforcements in the way of an overeager little sister who was just as good at making grand cups of tea to take the edge off as she was at tripping over and spilling them everywhere. The busy atmosphere was immensely helpful in taking the edge off of the thoughts clawing desperately at her brain.

Another thing that helped was deflecting remarks over her “dirt chic” look, and how it must’ve been a fortune, despite being more literally, dirt cheap. The little one-eyed boy who came in with his parents from Buckingham was much sharper, noting how no outfit could be that authentic down to the smell. Rarity had the right to be mad but the common sense to dismiss his remarks of pejoratively charming precociousness.

Like a beacon in the night, the tinkling of her door’s bell revealed a knight in plaid armor.

Or maybe it was just Applejack and Rarity went having flights of fancy that could not possibly exist.

“Good morning darling, you’re looking well today,” The tailor greeted as a satisfied (and snickering) customer walked past AJ and the door, “And that’s fantastic, truly! Because you will need to be awake for every special moment for our next ring encounter.” The customer that had left was the last one preceding the lunch hour, giving her some time to recuperate--and to let Applejack know she was gonna get it.

Of course that didn’t mean she wasn’t glad to see her friend in good health, or that she wasn’t glad to see her putting a glorious spin on the way the day would play out from here.

“Good mornin’ ta you too, Rare.” AJ grinned. She held her hand out, palm downward and rolled her finger in a circle. “Come on, girl, give me a lil’ twirl.”

Rarity just gave her a look before it morphed into a nice, delicate, pitiable expression.

“After ya close up shop ya can change. How’s that?” she offered. “An’ that pout ain’t gonna work no-more. Ain’t half as good as Bloom does it nowadays.”

That got the seamstress to laugh. “She’d have to compete with Sweetie Belle. That girl has it refined to a form of art I never had a hold on at that age. It truly can be a little frightening when they learn to take on certain qualities and actions of ours.” Rarity moved out from behind the counter.

Last night had been fresh in her mind for the better part of the day, yet Rarity hadn’t properly allowed herself to accept the experience as anything other than a tearful reunion. Seeing Applejack come in during the middle of the day was more than enough to throw her conscience at the wall of apprehension, desire and guilt mixed up in her heart in the interim of then to now.

At most, she could hold the emotions at bay, more intent on spending time with her friend than ruminating on strong chocolate thighs wrapped over her waist and tear-streaked faces kissing under the moonlight. She beckoned AJ to the small table and two chairs she set up near one of the large window, a hot pot of coffee sitting in the machine, full of hot black java. “I took the liberty of preparing a beverage of your choice as well. While I know you’re more fond of the cider, I do remember you enjoying the coffee I made when we had went to Sweetie Belle’s performance up in Heaven a few years ago.”

How the little girl with a singing voice sweeter than honeyed sugar continued to see her talent in following Rarity through martial arts was well beyond the older sister was beyond reason.

“Oh yeah,” AJ replied, nodding at the memory. “That kind with the almond in it. That was a pretty good blend.” She watched as Rarity poured each of them a cup and brought it to the table. They sat in silence over the hot beverages for a moment, AJ resting her large, calloused hands at the sides of the cup, rolling her eyes a bit at the stylized, intricate floral design around the rim.

“Did ya really need a cup this fancy fer coffee, Rare?” she asked, then continued on in a lecturing tone, “Cheap don’t matter if yer jus’ drinkin’ outta ‘em.”

“Presentation is everything, darling. Besides, how could you not adore such craftsmanship? The design is simply to die for!” She extends a pinky finger as she raises her own steaming cup with its gilded handle and exorbitantly priced material.

“An’ I’m sure the price would kill me,” AJ replied flatly.

Rarity tsked, “An enterprising woman like yourself can’t afford to remain hampered by frugality forever. Sometimes you’ve got to enjoy…” The once-over was unintentional, but hopefully played off as she hummed. “...mmm, the finer things in life.”

The farmer shook her head. “I got good friends, good family, an’ solid earth under my feet. I got all I need ta enjoy myself.” She took a sip of her drink and shrugged. “‘Sides. I can’t spend too much, gotta get Bloom through school.”

“That’s the problem, dear Applejack, it wouldn’t kill you to indulge once in a while.” Her mauve-haired friend took another sip. “Can’t you think of one thing you could throw caution to the wind for?”

You, Applejack thought. She quickly locked that idea deep in the pits of her stomach and away from her mouth, surprised at its appearance. She gave a small rise of her thumbs in uncertainty. “Well, I dunno. What would be somethin’ you’d do like that?”

“Wearing your overalls in my place of work for one,” Rarity pointed one long finger at AJ, “Under any circumstance, I would have defaulted on the agreement and attempted to wear something over them, or simply not worn them at all.” She then smiles. “But I didn’t. There isn’t much in our friendship I’ve never felt the call to do my absolute best for.”

“If it helps any, I think ya look right cute in ‘em,” Applejack offered, smiling kindly at the tailor. “lil’ baggy on ya, but no too bad.”

A devious grin appeared on her face. “From what I gather of last night, I think you’d much rather me out of them.’’

AJ paused, surprised, yet not at Rarity’s bluntness. Deciding to bite the bullet, Applejack took another drink of her coffee, its heat almost too much to handle.

“‘Bout last night…” Applejack started off clumsily, glancing to the side and tapping her finger against the cup. She cleared her throat and took a moment to collect her thoughts. “Guess I wanted ta know what ya thought of it.”

Her composure had held up neatly up until this moment. Rarity choked on her coffee, burning her throat with the hot beverage. Sputtering and grabbing napkins to dab at the places she had inadvertently spilled it on, she coughed, “Thought of...last night?”

Rarity coughed a few more times, unable to quite clear her throat just yet.

AJ half-rose from her chair, debating between slapping the girl on the back or waiting for her to regain her composure. On seeing Rarity finally recover, she sat down again.

“Yeah,” AJ said, looking into Rarity’s eyes. “Don’t be coy with me now, Rare. Ya know what I mean.”

“Well…” She cleared her throat before seeing the glittering emerald irises locked with her own. “Of course I do. It was our reunion. We hadn’t seen each other for so long. It was only natural we spent it sobbing against one another and thinking about the good times.”

There was a really persistent itch in her throat now. The tailor cleared it again. “You certainly were auspicious in how you asked though. What did you think of last night, while we’re on the subject?”

Applejack sighed in annoyance, drumming her fingers alongside the table. “Ya know I was glad ta see ya again. That’s always a fact.” She gave a nervous shake of her head. “An’ ya also know that ain’t what I was talkin’ ‘bout.”

“Then what are you talking about?” Rarity snapped, setting her cup down. “We’ve always had an unorthodox relationship. Last night wasn’t the first time you’ve straddled me in a victory and it was far from the first time we held each other together. What exactly am I to say?”

“How ‘bout the fact ya kissed me?” Applejack shot back, flustered and more than a little angry at Rarity’s evasiveness. “Gotta say that’s a new one. ‘Less that’s how ya treat everyone these days.”

“Not nearly as new as you kissing me back. This is moot either way. Platonic kisses are held in a different esteem for women. You of all people should understand this.” Rarity countered, turning her head away.

“I only did it ‘cause ya did it ta me first,” the farmer said. Letting the rest of Rarity’s words sink in Jack seemed to deflate, cooling down a bit. “An’ that’s what it was? A lil’ ‘jus’ friends’ kiss?”

The smaller woman bit her lip. “O-obviously I wanted to repay your kindness. A kiss from a lady is considered a reward to most.”

“An’ are ya tellin’ me the truth?” Jacqueline asked, throwing her arm over the headrest of the chair and staring evenly at her. “Ya know I got a decent bullshit detector, sug. ‘Specally on a gal I’ve known my whole life.”

Today had become more eventful than Rarity was expecting. And as an extension, the first two days of her month of bonding. Suddenly her entire relationship with her best friend was under question. “Your detector needs tuning, dear. There’s very little in the way of ulterior motive in my actions around you.”

Except that it’s not off. She admitted to herself.

A knock on the glass door put a merciful end to this conversation. ‘’It looks like we’ll have to talk another time, unless you’d like to walk around town a bit until closing, or stay here. I don’t mind either way.”

Applejack swallowed, her mouth cotton. “I got the day off, so, uh, yeah. I’ll find something to do fer a while outside.” She offered a weak, unconvincing smile as she rose from the table. “Gotta make that dollar, huh? No rest fer the weary.”

Or the wicked. “Indeed. Would you please come back later? Things got a bit heated back there…” And I don’t really want to send you away.

“Yeah,” AJ nodded, taking in a breath and exhaling, putting her hands on her hips and looking anywhere but at the tailor. “Yeah, I’ll come back, sug.” AJ moved to the door, opening it for a pretentious-looking man wearing what AJ could only call a silky gown. She nodded at him and left.

The farmer wasn’t sure what hurt worse as she walked through the town, Rarity’s words, or the fact AJ had felt something when there was nothing there.

The sun was coming down when Rarity began turning down the lights, switching the sign from across the shop with a gesture from a hand coated in magic. Carousel was now closed.

And sadly, so was Applejack, it seemed.

Rarity cursed her selfish nature. Telling Applejack about the way her heart would flutter by just being around her sometimes felt like a great way to ruin the relationship. Or how she could imagine alternate versions of the end of every spar they ever had. Or how they felt less like friends in each other’s embrace and more like lovers.

As the hopeless romantic, it was almost Rarity’s duty to be the one to act on these impulses. But her desire not to possible overwhelm and lose Applejack with such information was paramount to keeping her. She felt anyway. Chancing it was something she felt the farmer too precious a person to let her know outright.

Thankfully, she was able to rid herself of those accursed overalls. Not that she was in any hurry to run all the way back to the Acre just to deliver them.

That’s the problem dear Rarity, her reflection tsked at her in the mirror, it would kill you to indulge.

The fashionista decided to at least smooth things over for now. She was to be here for a month, which meant the other twenty-nine days from now didn’t have to be so bloody difficult. And hopefully, AJ would pull through this little discomfort she had caused her.

She entered her walk-in closet. It was a far cry from her masterpiece in Heaven’s Carousel, but it was full of potential. And Rarity was good at making potential shine.

Casting her eyes about, she came to rest them on a particular variation of the white qipao she had arrived with during the day before, and smiled at the forming idea.

Ooh and then I’ll need to work on a mani-pedi then too. She’ll forget all about this afternoon the second she sees this… Rarity tittered to herself, imagining the gawking already. A few alterations here...a few diamond shaped holes there… Fix the heels up to reveal a bit more…

A knocking came from the door.

The dimmed lights rose back to their full brightness when the door swung open, Rarity posing in a cheongsam designed similarly to her qipao from the day before. A trio of diamond shaped holes were stenciled to the mark on her waist, somewhere below the navel. Her nails had been filed down reasonably instead of adding length with acrylics and the paint coating them was sky blue, the same could be said of her toes, a simplistic but attractive shade of blue decorating them. Her cream wedge heels laced small lengths of leather over her ankle, trailing just two over the foot themselves.

Rarity had did little more with her hair than a shampoo and another curling, but semantics demanded she remain “classic Rarity” for tonight. She also decided to forgo too much lipstick, opting for a subtle balm.

Rarity was right on the money. AJ didn’t know what hit her. As soon as the farmer caught glance of her, Applejack’s jaw nearly hit the floor. She pushed her stetson back on her head and took Rarity in like she was a cool drink.

“Wow,” she finally stammered out.

“You can put your eyes back into your head, and a more appropriate outfit on. We’re going to dinner.” The words were spoken with all the confidence and quiet bombast Rarity was known for.

“I ain’t really got any clothes that match that, sug,” AJ said. It took all her willpower, but she forced her eyes upward, past Rarity’s sensual hips, above her beautiful, palm-sized breasts, and was drawn to her eyes. She stared deeply into them, briefly lost for words before she spoke again. “You’re... beautiful. ‘Specally in that dress. Ya know that, right?”

She sauntered back toward her closet, beckoning her with an index finger.

AJ raised a curious brow, but followed her inside.

“Just a moment!”

“Ow! Damn!”

“I know I’m beautiful darling, but you’re about to find out that statement goes as much for you.” Rarity tittered, taking a step back as the fluorescent lights rose back to their original brightness. “Just have a seat while I find you a dress.”

“A dress?” AJ repeated, blinking. She tried to move an arm in protest, but realized quickly they were dead as doornails, Rarity’s magic hands doing every trick in the book on her to paralyze them. “Now, uh, hold on, Rare,” Applejack quickly said, trying to keep her tone from sounding panicked. “I ain’t exactly dress material.”

Rarity leaned down gently taking AJ’s chin between her curled index finger and thumb. She said nothing, but smiled at her briefly before releasing her and walking away, rifling through her collection.

Eventually she came upon a particularly hot number. It was a dull golden piece that Rarity knew would complement AJ’s dark, earthen-toned skin, it was a fairly conservative dress, it would easily reach the tall woman’s lower thigh, which seemed about perfect, considering AJ’s more reserved sensuality regarding her own body. Rarity smiled a bit, however, when she noticed the dresses deep, plunging neckline. It would display the farmer’s oversized bust quite nicely. Applejack wasn’t going to get away with keeping all her assets under wraps, after all. It was important to have a design that called attention to you. In fact, it was Rarity’s duty as her friend, and more importantly at this moment, her tailor, to let Applejack have a piece that screamed to the world, “here I am!” The final realization that this would be the perfect article of clothing was the billowy silken arms, their loose design would hide AJ’s ropey, rock-hard muscles.

She opted for a pair of autumn colored boots, finding they’d highlight her height, reaching up to the knee and no further. After a quick shampoo and a brushing, AJ’s ponytail looked majestic, still tied at the end, still retaining all of the simple charm of the woman herself, but majestic all the same.

“I do apologize for putting you through that,” Rarity apologized gently, pressing the the same spots again with her fingers one by one, “Though if you think me any worse for it, a trip to the mirror might prove you otherwise.”

The farmer offered a wary glare Rarity’s way before stepping forward and looking herself over. She turned her body a few different directions before crossing her arms over her breasts and turning.

“Ya know I ain’t a fan-a this stuff… but ya do know how ta gussy someone up,” she admitted, glancing down at her crossed arms. “Though I ain’t a fan of the gals bein’ out in the open this much.”

“Forever the prude, Jacqueline.” Rarity giggled, picking up her purse. “Our ride should be here any minute now. Do hurry along, darling.”

“Alright, alright,” AJ grumbled. “Don’t blow a gasket.” She looked over at her hat, which had gotten brushed off during Rarity’s… renovation and debated on putting it on. With a defeated sigh, she picked it up and placed it on a nearby chair before meeting Rarity and heading out the door.

AJ rubbed at the white linen table as she looked nervously at Rarity, the candles in glass orbs resting at the center of the table flickering and dancing, showing the tailor in a different light every moment, making her beautiful from hundreds of lights and angles Applejack didn’t think possible. She swallowed, looking away for a brief moment at the other tables around them, at the dozens of men in precise three-piece suits, and women in flowing gowns all enjoying dinner and speaking in low, dreamy tones to one-another. Farther into the open and high-ceilinged room was a live band, playing a soothing violin piece. It’d put Applejack to sleep, if she didn’t have these butterflies in her stomach from being like this in front of the tailor. She glanced once more to the other side, where a large bay window let a scenic view wash over the place, one full of the lowlands of the kingdom and the beautiful, far-away mountains of the countries border.

Applejack looked down at the wine on the table and downed it in one swallow. She grabbed another piece of bread from the basket before them and stuffed it in her mouth, self-conscious when she noticed Rarity’s disapproving glance at her full mouth.

“Soweef,” she said after swallowing the offending object.

“Geshundheit, dear.” Her expression softened. “Don’t worry, the bread isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.”

“Yeah,” AJ agreed, leaning on the table. “Yeah, yer right. Sorry.”

Rarity reached a concerned hand forward, “You seem a bit antsy.” She grinned. “Don’t worry, you only need to worry about your ‘girls’, they’re perfectly fine.” And with any luck? Mine.

“That ain’t why I’m antsy, Rare,” AJ said. Rarity could tell she was embarrassed. “This restaurant seems pretty high-end. How’d ya get a reservation fer it? I didn’t think a place like this did walk-ins.”

“While some aren’t you, I do have friends, darling. And some of those friends may ask for a dress for their daughter receiving a black belt from Heavenbolts Academy.” Rarity said blithely, pouring a glass of wine for AJ and then herself.

“Ya always were good on havin’ connections,” Applejack chuckled, taking another drink and this time leaving at least a bit of the beverage in the glass. She crossed one of her strong, muscled thighs over the other and looked at the tailor, her smile dropping off her face as she took to measuring her. “Though it seems kinda odd invitin’ me here.”

Rarity didn’t bother taking her wine in stride. At least, not nearly as much as she was with the coffee earlier today. Watching Applejack shift across the table like that made her doubt her chances slightly. What if it turned out that the were both fools in love and but couldn’t make it work? Would it ruin their chances of staying friends? Would AJ still want to come by, and spend time? Feel uncomfortable sparring around her?

The wine steadily curbed her inhibitions, By how much, Rarity ventured the rest of this ‘date’ would tell.

She wiped her lips with the thinnest of napkins on the table, waste not want not, after all, “Applejack, if you won’t indulge for your sake, then I will. Honestly, you are an odd one indeed. To think you were the first one I saw drinking from a gilded cup when we met.” Her lips curled upward at the memory of the farmgirl, doing her best to emulate...well...the city girl.

“Yeah, well, ain’t like Manhatten was the best place fer a country girl ta act like she should.” She shut her eyes and seemed to stiffen her body, reliving a brief moment in history before opening them again and smiling. “And I suppose we can assume where a lot of your interest in clothing design came from, my lady,” Applejack said, her accent gone for a brief moment and instead replaced with the high, cultured tongue of the Manhatten elite. “As it were, before my time there, were you not more inclined to jewelry making?” She coughed, the action seeming to dispel the impression. “How that? I still do alright actin’ like them brown-nosers?”

Rarity giggled, unable to stop herself. The wine aided in her giddiness, but she’d be lying if she were to say none of what AJ had just done wasn’t humorous to her. “Close enough, darling! You can’t stop yourself from being so genuine when you do it though. That’s a few points off for authenticity.” The tailor giggled again at the irony. Authenticity in a persona that used a voice to imply intelligence or social grace more than one actually had.

Early on in their friendship, Rarity could recall this being one of the many things she had been called out on. And yet she simply evolved into the actual thing she had always been trying to be because of it.

“Hey Rare?” Applejack quietly asked, once more seeming to draw into her shell. She took another drink.

“Mm?”

“Ya know I’d never say anythin’ ta hurt ya on purpose, right?”

Rarity blinked. “Of course I do…” The tone of voice really clued her in. “...is this about earlier today? I told you, things just got a little heated darling, that’s hardly anything new to us. We’ve been bumping heads since we were five, and we haven’t stopped since. That doesn’t mean we don’t care any less though.”

She gave a small nod in agreement. “An’ that’s the thing. Carin’ ‘bout one-another. I-I mean. I guess what I’m talkin’ ‘bout is earlier today, yeah,” she stammered out, a hand at the end of the table and scrunching up the cloth covering as she tried to speak her mind, her words lost in her nerves. “But there’s another bit ‘bout it I wanted ta talk ta ya ‘bout too. ‘Bout last night.”

“Oh but there were so many bits,” Rarity titters again, her laughter carefree and girlish as one of her legs extended itself under the table, flirting with Applejack’s own. “Those damn pigs leaving tracks all over me, the delicious cup of dahlwhinny, the hot, brown skin pinning my own to the floor…” She purred as she dragged an innocent toe up the calf.

“Take your pick.”

Applejack blushed, tensing up at Rarity’s actions, at her words, but she didn’t retreat. If anything, she let out a weak gasp of surprise at the action and pressed on.

“The kiss?” AJ offered, the drink in her system doing nothing to calm her racing heart and boiling hot face. She took another drink in her shaking hands, refusing to look away from Rarity.

The seamstress “hmhmed” at Applejack, gazing at her friend silently, contemplating her. “And what in the Earth it could possibly mean?”

.”I know ya said it was jus’ this thing… ‘tween friends. But…” AJ swore under her breath. “But ta me? Felt, I dunno. Better than that, I guess. A-an’ I didn’t wanna say that, but it’s how I feel.” Giving it another long pause, she continued. “ An’ that’s why I wanted ta say I’d never hurt ya on purpose, ya know? It’s jus’ that… I know ya, ya can be so damn nonchalant ‘bout that sorta stuff. Well? I can’t.”

She gave a pleading look Rarity’s way. “I ain’t really ever had someone ta teach me the ropes, so what I’m feelin’ fer ya, how I’m feelin’ fer ya? I don’t know if its really the right call or not. Hell,” she spat out. “Sorry, Rare,” she apologized. “I didn’t want ya ta be creeped out or nothin’, ‘specally after ya said earlier today it was a jus’ friends deal. But… I ain’t the best at lyin’, an’ it was killin’ me.”

“Now who said,” The other woman whispered, “That I merely regarded that kiss as purely platonic?” Rarity grinned.

“But I thought—” AJ started.

A slender, pale finger placed itself against her lips. “If you want to understand, you’ll have to humor me again. Another match. And if you win? I’ll tell you. And if I win? ...mmm...well...I still have my previous stipulations to fall back on.” Removing her finger, Rarity polished off the last of her wine.

“Do we have an agreement?”

Applejack nodded, only vaguely realizing she did. “I ain’t gonna lose.”

More tipsy chortling. “We’ll see about that… And if my eyes don’t deceive me, the dear garcon has arrived with our food.”

“Hope ya got somethin’ bigger than a salad. You’ll need a good meal fer later tonight,” the farmer warned, popping her knuckles.

“Aw,” Rarity cooed, “Is someone still sore over being turned into a marionette for a few minutes?”

“‘Bout as sore as you were in my overalls, I’d reckon.”

And Rarity turned red as a beet, sober enough to mutter indignantly as she dug into her meal while Applejack got her laugh out of the moment.

Their dinner was a pleasant one. Rarity had never had roast pheasant before, and after the first bite, she never would again. But she was easily able to settle for the salad on the side and a bite of her dear friend’s alfredo pasta. With a piece of that delicious bread the servers had brought out, Rarity had a decidedly balanced and satisfying meal.

The trip back to Carousel was much longer than the time it took to get to the restaurant. While the two appeared to be merely tired from the wonderful trip out, the silence was more to mask the beating heart of the other. Powerful emotions grappled with Applejack and Rarity, tumbling and twisting as the carriage pulled up to the shop.

The tailor had earned a few kind words from AJ on the way in for the development of a spell that would help with the considerable alcohol consumption. She had rummaged around in her bag for a few aspirin, her hand glowing blue with the light of her magic for a moment before sharing a glass of water with Applejack. They’d be able to operate a bit more soberly, and a lot less likely to wake up with a migraine.

“Did you happen to bring any of your things, darling?” Rarity asked as she walked back into her closet, directing AJ into the backroom, which had been converted into a lounge and a half gym, complete with a four-sided ring the same as her barn. For the most part.

“Honestly? Nah. Wasn’t really expectin’ ta throw down with ya today,” she replied. “Ya wouldn’t happen ta have anythin’ that could fit me, would ya?”

Fishing around in her closet, she was able to find a pair white pants that belonged to a full kung-fu uniform. That, and one of her old sleeveless shirts, which may as well have been a bra for Applejack now. “So long as we’re not being specific with our definition of ‘fit’, I have exactly what you need.”

Rarity herself re-clothed herself in something similar, though much less...highlighted than AJ would be.

Applejack rolled her shoulders, getting used to the clothing she wore now. The plus about her normal wear was it was far more flexible. As it was now, there were a few spots that were tight and stiff. When she was almost positive the tailor was distracted, she stole a glance over at Rarity, who was busy doing her own set of warm-ups. AJ stood, looking at her for a few dumb, blissful moments, before returning to her own ritual, streching her legs and popping her back, then stepping inside the ring.

“I think,” Rarity could feel a good sort of pressure rising within her, “I will take my time.” She raised one palm stretching it outward, and bending the other arm slightly, keeping it more loose. Her feet assumed two different positions. One turned to the left and one forward, slightly turned to the left.

“Jus’ fine with me,” Applejack said, her fists held close to her eyes as she turned at an angle towards Rarity. “I might teach ya a thing or two this way.”

The tailor did nothing but smirk, once again, turning her lead hand, and beckoning her dear friend forward.

AJ did just that, her arms still held defensively in front of her. She feinted just outside of Rarity’s range, feinted again, then dashed towards her, a leg snapping out for a side kick.

She spun in place, redirecting the attack, not so easily carried by the kick as she was when it wasn’t swinging at her in an arc. Rarity chose not to mount a counterattack, backing into place, still smirking, still waiting.

Applejack quickly recovered, closing the distance and striking out with a fist. Being unpredictable was the name of the game when fighting the tailor, so she took to aiming the blow low, towards Rarity’s hip.

Rarity backed up, relying on her speed to carry away from Applejack’s fist, timing a strike at the same time. Two glowing fingers intercepted the blonde’s punch at the wrist before she moved back into stance.

A wet tongue moved over her lips in a predator’s smile.

AJ didn’t even bother to try and flex the hand she struck. Rather, she improvised, continuing the pressure swinging the dead hand down like an improvised club, slashing at the woman’s shoulder as if she was swinging a blade.

The hand caught wind, barely touching Rarity as she spun around the bigger woman, now in her personal space. Her hands flashed in rapid movements, striking her ribs in a quick barrage before spinning once more to kick her away, slamming a foot into that shapely rear before gracefully retaking her stance.

Applejack stumbled forward, glaring hard at Rarity, who replied with a blown kiss as she rubbed her backside.

She took a risk, sprinting at Rarity, only to drop to the floor in a somersault, intending to sweep Rarity with a kick she shot out, up and at an angle, towards the tailor’s gut.

This time, the bait had taken her, Rarity had crouched, sure she was about to deliver some much-needed love to AJ’s bared middle, when instead, a foot nearly smashed into her face, the blow throwing her whole body back into the ropes with a yelp. Rarity managed to recover from the impact enough to grab them and halt herself from bouncing forward into a counter left. This had the unfortunate side effect of making her appear wide open, arms spread to grab either side of the ropes in front of Applejack.

The farmer offered no quarter for Rarity, she righted herself in an instant and shot forward, twisting to the side of Rarity’s legs just on the off chance the entrapped tailor would snap a foot into AJ’s body. She ducked in close, swinging a haymaker with her good hand.

Rarity barely made it away from the attack, twisting her body to the side, yet still catching a glancing blow from the haymaker. She gasped, backpedaling away from Applejack before she could follow that up. The engagement didn’t stop there though, she moved to circle with Applejack, steadying her breathing and keeping her hands raised and ready for action.

AJ rotated with Rarity, neither advancing or retreating.

“Ain’t it borin’ makin’ me lead all the time?” AJ goaded with a tooth-bearing grin, shifting her foot slightly behind her as she spoke. “Seems like ya should take the first step every now an’ again.”

“I couldn’t agree more, darling. It takes two to tango, as they say.”

She followed the reply up, taking one step forward and rolling a hand to the side, advancing with an opposite spinning step in that direction, and then turning around fully. The momentum carried her spin into a leaping kick aimed for AJ’s middle. A blow AJ wasn’t ready for in the slightest.

It knocked her flat on her ass; she landed with a heavy oof, as the wind rushed out of her. She scrambled back, pinwheeling her arms and crabwalking for a moment to desperately get a bit of room between her and the tailor so she could rise fully. Rarity seemed more than willing to accommodate her friend’s need as she didn’t make a move until AJ had gotten up.

“Still don’t mind me taking the lead? I can be a bit rough you know.” She said in that purring voice again.

Rising, Applejack wordlessly got into position and charged forward, leading with a slow, open slap of her foot, trying to feign an opening on her core where there was none.

The problem was that this time, Rarity moved as well, the quick pitter-patter of her own feet heralding her approach. Her hands flashed outward again, stinging Applejack’s arms with her glowing fingers, treating the nerve endings like eighty-eight keys for the second time that night.

As soon as Rarity’s damnable touch sent a spark of pain across both her arms, AJ knew she was done. It was less a desperate gamble and more venting frustration when she snapped a headbutt towards Rarity with every ounce of strength she could conjure from her core and leg muscles.

For as much strength as she had, Rarity matched it in agility, saved by a knee snapping up to meet Applejack’s middle that folded the blonde fighter up close with a gasp.

From there it was a simple matter of moving behind her and putting her on her knees with a kick to the back of the leg. As she did so, one arm wrapped over Applejack’s neck, the other gliding it’s slender fingers down her back while she dug her knee into the muscle of one of her legs from behind.

Leaning forward, she blew in the other woman’s ear with a giggle. And then declared the winner.

“You’ll have to do better next time dear. I however, am forfeiting the victory to you.”

Applejack shivered at the woman’s proximity and the hot breath tickling her ear. Rarity’s words, however, made her curious.

“Forfeit?” AJ panted out.

“Indeed. The victory goes to you, darling. Congratulations.” Rarity planted a kiss on one of her cheeks from behind. and grinned.

“I assume you’re ready to hear the truth now?” She found a pressure point on AJ’s back and twisted her index finger, causing an initial bout of discomfort, but actually removing the tension from Applejack’s body. AJ grunted, clenching her teeth at the sensation, then let a wave of pleasure wash over her as her nerves uncoiled and regained some normalcy in their movement. She weakly clenched and unclenched her hands, willing the feeling to come back faster.

The farmer slowly turned her head to look at Rarity from her peripheral vision, the tailor’s knees dug into the back of her own, but AJ paid it no mind, she barely felt it. “Sug, I’ve been ready ta hear the truth since I walked inta yer damn store this mornin’.”

“Well,” Rarity began, voice light with amusement, “As I said earlier. At no point did I confirm that my actions that night were without meaning.” A finger twisted another point, before the hand gave her back a gentle, deliberate rub down, her thin flingers sliding over the chocolate waist that she had kept eyes on for so long.

AJ groaned, shifting under Rarity’s weight as her hands worked their magic on Applejack’s skin.

“I wish ya hadn’t gave me the runaround,” the farmer said quietly. “I told ya: I ain’t ever done anythin’ like this… so I woulda liked a straight answer.”

“It wasn’t easy for me,” Rarity replied evenly, the hold over the bigger woman’s middle slackening, “If that’s what you’re implying.”

Reaching up, Applejack hesitantly rested her own hand on Rarity’s, entwining their fingers. “I dunno,” she admitted. “The way things happened earlier, I thought maybe ya were jus’... toyin’ with me or somethin’.”

The flat of the palm against the blonde’s middle moved, feeling her way up the taut muscles of exquisite chocolate skin. “That would imply that I knew what in hell I was doing, Applejack.” She bit her lip, but ventured on, “That I wasn’t doing everything I could to get the attention of a very special someone. Or that any of those things progressed beyond arm candy and ravishing glances.”

Her other hand twisted one last time, another pressure point on Applejack’s back. “That for years I did not think and think hard about how I could have my cake, and eat it. And then berating myself for how selfish it all was.”

Jacqueline let out a small, surprisingly girlish moan as Rarity rapped her back, the point making her hand tighten almost painfully around Rarity’s hand as a warmth flooded her lower stomach.

“Years?” AJ managed to say, sweat dotting her forehead. “Why didn’t ya say somethin’ ta me, sug? Ya didn’t have ta keep somethin’ like that ta yerself.”

That noise…

The grip the other woman had over her hand felt good. Desperate.

Wanting.

Needing.

Rarity decided she wanted more of it, her magic fingers touching and torquing once more. “And what’s more, I could ask you the same question. You always had the courage for the things I didn’t.”

Applejack bit her lip, flinching as Rarity’s hand continued exploring her back, making her feel a pleasure she had never even come close to experiencing by herself. “Ya never made the first move. It jus’ never seemed like an option ‘til last night that ya might be interested in an idjit like me.”

“I imagine you’ve been experiencing the same dilemma in regards to me.” Rarity guessed. She trailed her fingers down to the tailbone, and her other hand up, just a bit, a finger reaching into the fabric of her own shirt, which covered Applejack’s succulent breasts.”Either way...there was a line. And if we crossed it…”

The tailor hugged Applejack close. “Nothing would be the same.”

Jacqueline could be impulsive, act before she had all the facts on a situation. But this… she knew was right. This had to be what she was waiting for. There was no other answer Applejack could give. She reached her hand behind her, holding the back of Rarity’s head and pulling the tailor closer.

“It wouldn’t be the same. It’d be better.” She strained her head back, managing to give a gentle peck on top of the shorter woman’s head. “An’ if there’s anyone I wanna cross that line with, it’d be ya.”

A pleased little hum came from the porcelain skinned young woman, now unwrapping from Applejack. “Let me ask you then, Jacqueline, darling… Are you ready to throw caution to the wind?”

AJ wryly smiled, turning to face her. “My hands are shakin’,” she observed. “Hands are shakin’ an’ I can’t catch my breath.” Shrugging her shoulders, she met Rarity’s gaze. “I-is that stupid? Feelin’ like that when I think ‘bout ya?”

“Not at all…” She stands and holds her hand out. “I...I must confess by the way… Though I did have an issue coming to a head on what to say and when… I didn’t have to ask you to this. But our combat comes close to providing a release that…” Rarity falls silent, red-faced and embarrassed too much to finish her statement.

Jacqueline took Rarity’s hand, rising. She stared at the woman for a moment, heat coming to her own face as Rarity trailed off. “So all that time I thought I was hurtin’ ya… ya were jus’...” She rested a hand on her own stomach in thought. “I mean, ya ain’t gotta be embarrassed, I jus’ never thought of ‘em like that.”

“I...I’m sorry…”

“Don’t be,” she said. She moved to Rarity, embracing the woman. “Ya ain’t got nothin’ ta be sorry ‘bout.”

“But I can’t even keep one silly promise… I told myself I’d be your knight over and over and now…” Rarity didn’t bother raising a hand to wipe the tears. Applejack held Rarity tighter, pushing the back of her head towards her collar.

“It’s alright, sug. An’ ya know why?”

“...why?”

“It’s ‘cause yer my knight.” She smiled. “There was nobody ‘round here that gave me half-a look. An’ that was fine with me, I wasn’t wantin’ ta rush inta anythin’. ‘Least that’s how it was ‘till ya came back. Ya ain’t get much more knightly than that.”

The only response her mind, body and even soul could come up with, was to lean forward, pressing her lips against that of the blonde. It wasn’t a practiced motion, like so many of her physical actions. This was raw and unfiltered passion, to where she wasn’t sure if she would come away from this with bruised lips, but she would do her damndest and try. Her arms wrapped tightly over AJ’s neck again, a leg raising on one side of her.

Applejack returned the hard kiss, her mind going a million different directions at once over the sudden action. She leaned in, turning her head and crashing her lips against Rarity’s. She took the tailor’s leg and ran her trembling hand up its soft, giving features, the two briefly resembling a tango of sorts.

“Rare,” Jacqueline growled out, her tone housing both lustful, impulsive want and loving, gentle, innocence. She kissed her once again, repeating the same loving-lust pant.

“Rare.”

“Mmmf….yes, Jack.” Her thigh hooked itself over AJ’s hip.

Running on blind instinct, Applejack’s inexperienced hands found a perch at Rarity’s soft, yielding butt. She cupped a cheek in each hand and easily lifted the tailor into the air, kissing her neck and face all the while.

Her legs locked tightly over AJ’s sides, needing the grounding her strong body provided while she was being ravished. Rarity’s voice became Sweetie Belle’s in the heat of the moment, a squeak being her response to having her own rear grabbed, and the furnace of a mouth working at her body. Her hand came to Applejack’s back, reaching for the shirt covering and holding those delectable melons of breasts, and sliced through the fabric easily, causing them to spill out against Rarity’s chest.

AJ seemed surprised, seeing her own naked flesh pressing against Rarity, and felt her earlier embarrassment briefly rise up, stopping her for a moment. But only a moment. She kissed Rarity again and lowered the tailor’s head just a hair towards a breast, her ebony nipples already standing at full erect attention.

“Honey,” she breathed out, the word drawing an inner strength to her. She dug her hands deeper into Rarity’s ass, squeezing so hard the cheeks briefly spread, not meaning to be forceful with the tailor, but forceful all the same in her passion and in her drive to get Rarity to squeak out just like she did a moment ago. That noise was enough to send a chill of ecstasy through her entire body.

She was barely able to answer the call though, her mouth was occupied with a pair of magnificent orbs of flesh. Circling the nipple of one with an agile tongue, Rarity tended to the other with glowing fingertips, adding to the stimulation.

Applejack groaned, her lips pressing against the top of Rarity’s head in an encouraging kiss. She felt weak, knobby-kneed at the tailor’s touch. Normally she wasn’t so sensitive at her breasts, or, well, anywhere, but the woman’s sensual caress and dancing lips pierced through her callouses and hardened muscles, bringing the womanly side of Applejack front and center.

Finally, unable to take any more, she swallowed her fear and decided to cross to new territory.

“Yer bed?” she asked, still holding tight to Rarity, the words taking every ounce of focus to articulate over Rarity’s experienced, skilled—impossibly skilled—tongue.

“Not soon enough.” The moan came behind swirling her tongue over a nipple and dotting it like the end of a well-endowed sentence, “The lounge couch.” She tilted her head in the direction of the other part of the room.

Unwrapping her legs from Applejack, she took the farmer’s hand, leading her under the ropes and over to the couch before pulling her back into her arms with a single yank, as if they were dancing the flamenco.

“Mmmph...Jacqueline… Tiebreaker…” Her hands flashed, blazing blue blurs, moving expeditiously and slicing the fabrics of their leftover clothing away for easier access. “Right here.”

Applejack started, both embarrassed at her own nakedness and marveling at Rarity’s pure exposed form. She stepped over the tatters of the clothing Rarity had cut away and brought a gentle hand to the side of Rarity’s neck, gazing down at the tailor’s cream skin. She took her other hand and cupped Rarity’s form-fitting breast and let out a pleased hum as it fit her palm perfectly. She gave a small, more gentle squeeze of the breast and leaned down as she rolled Rarity’s pink nipple with a thumb, kissing her on the lips. While Rarity might tease her and see this as a game in a sense, Applejack instead spoke seriously, saying words she had told the tailor before over the countless years, only now they shone in a new, different light.

“I love ya, Rare.”

“And I’ve always loved you, Jacqueline--”

Her declaration was sealed with a high-pitched noise, a mewling completely a result of the blonde’s strong hands. She reached down, trailing a finger over a small patch of curly hair before slipping into Applejack.

Rarity gave her a devious grin, twisting the finger within against her walls.

Applejack winced at the action; a brief, barely noticeable twinge of pain came to her at the new experience someone else’s hand gave her. After a moment, though, a feeling of pleasure overran AJ at the thought of Rarity being inside her. She brought a hand to the back of Rarity’s own, silently urging, encouraging her to explore further. Applejack leaned into Rarity, the farmer’s other hand once more finding perch at the tailor’s shapely asscheek.

“Sug,” Applejack quietly begged, kissing Rarity at her collarbone then traveling up her neck, lovingly peppering the tailor with the gentleness of butterflies as her other hand ground Rarity’s cheek, her fingers flexing and unflexing like a wave across her supple, sensitive flesh. “I want ya. Bad.”

Rarity squeaked again, raising her leg once more, “Then indulge yourself...and take me.”

AJ needed no other words of encouragement. She brought her hand to Rarity’s sex, trailing down her clean shaven mound, then rolling her thumb over the tailor’s sensitive lips, briefly finding purchase at Rarity’s button. She gave a small tap at it, grinning at Rarity.

“This what ya had in mind?” she drawled out, her nervousness still present, but comforted by the fact it was Rarity of all people she held in her arms.

It was the tailors turn to shiver, an excited tremor running through her body as Applejack’s primal strength asserted itself over her. The look in those emerald eyes was all she needed to melt into the other woman. “You’re headed in that direction darling,” She pulled the blonde down on top of her, “but despite my clothing choices, I am not made of china.” Leaning her head close to one chocolate ear, she licked the shell and whispered into a hungry message.

“Now fuck me.”

Applejack felt heat rising through her face at Rarity’s crass words, them coming from the tailor strange, new, and all the more arousing. She felt like electricity, every touch of her hands against Rarity’s creamy skin sending thunderbolts down to her wanting groin. This time, with less tenderness and more beastal lust, she dove a pair of fingers into Rarity, burying them all the way to the knuckles as she took her mouth to Rarity’s nipple, gnawing on it lightly with her sharp canines. Her free hand swarmed with an indecisiveness on where to go; she settled for running her rough hand over the contours of Rarity’s side, a million abstract words and concepts coming to mind to describe the warm euphoria over being like this with the tailor, but none doing the action justice.

Time seemed to halt itself for Rarity in the second AJ had gotten started. Her eyes widened exponentially, and her breathing became immensely difficult. Yet in the moment, all she could feel was an inequitable pleasure, from the digits stuffed into her, from the ravenous mouth attending to her tit.

Her back arched and she let out a whimpering scream, and then another, followed by the cry of her lover’s name. “Oh...aaah...sun and moon--A-ah-applejack!” Rarity’s walls clenched tightly over the strong fingers digging around inside, sending little shocks up the sensitive sides of flesh. Lily-white thighs wrapped over Applejack’s waist once more, and Rarity threw her head back, pupils dilating wildly as she started to convulse. The motions of the other woman drove her into hyperdrive, and her eyes rolled back, threatening to disappear into her skull.

Applejack broke away from Rarity’s breast with her mouth, instead showering her face with hot, urgent, desperate kisses. She increased her tempo into Rarity, adding a third finger to the mix, then reached behind the tailor with her other hand, this time ignoring Rarity’s cheek and instead going for gold, plunging a thumb into Rarity’s backdoor. She thrust it in without hesitation, clashing her lips to Rarity’s and speaking in sputtering, heated pants.

“I love ya,” she said, frantically in between her traveling kisses, her arousal overwhelming her inhibitions. “God, Rare. I love ya. Lemme feel ya.”

All her prose and flowery language failed her. Rarity could barely contain herself, crying out again, writhing against the body over her and curling at the toes. The myriad sensations setting her body aflame with heat redirected all thought from her mind straight to the hand between her legs, front and back. She leaned down, biting, not thinking, marking Applejack’s collarbone fiercely, her well-kept teeth digging fiercely into delicious dark skin.

“Jack,” The shorthand she would use when they were kids was suddenly fresh in her mind. “Jack, I’m about to-.... Aaaaaah…”

Down the hand diving into her ran a viscous secretion, increasing in volume. The seamstress uttered a silent scream, every muscle in her body at the limit, and she was panting and half-speaking sweet nothings and everythings to her dear, dear, dearest Applejack…

Applejack, her own climax sputtering to life a few moments later, looked proudly over her handiwork, giving one last tease of Rarity’s clitoris with her hand as she pulled out and held the tailor tightly against her sweat-soaked skin. Where Rarity bit bled, leaving a few small crimson trails down the contours of her body.

“Well?” she asked with a smirk, licking Rarity’s cheek. “That alright, fer a first-timer?”

It took the other woman a moment to respond. “F-....first-timer?” She stared at Applejack. “...you mean...you….virgin?”

Applejack nodded, the hunger of her lust disappearing from her eyes for a moment as she took in Rarity. “I… Yeah. I was.” She pressed on, flustered. “W-why do ya think I said I didn’t really know ‘bout any-a this relationship stuff? Jus’ knew ‘bout a few things girls were supposed ta like from...” She gave a small bounce of her head. “Ya know. Movies an’ those books ya read.”

“Oh you are just precious…” She shared a chaste kiss with the farmer. “My goodness… How did you, erm, get by?” Rarity realized she was reaching into rather uncouth territory for a lady, but something about lying naked under her childhood friend and crush had a way of forcing her to reevaluate her standards for the moment.

“Ya mean bein’ alone this long with jus’... myself?” She cupped Rarity’s cheek, taking a moment to lovingly kiss her lips..

“Mmm,” she purred out.

“Well… I dunno. I guess I jus’ made due. I wanted my first ta… ya know.” She shrugged, weakly smiling.

What little strength Rarity had left was spent cuddling Applejack, humming gently and running a hand into those glorious golden curls atop her head. “And just when I think otherwise...you prove you’re still every bit the proper lady I always wanted to be.”

She sighed happily, and they sat like that a few moments. “I guess we should sort things out.” Then groaned, stretching her muscles a bit. “Lets do that later, shall we?”

AJ nodded, her own energy wavering after her exploration of the tailor. “Later does sound mighty fine ta me right now.”

And the two lovers fell asleep in each other’s embrace, spent, sore and happier than they had been in a long time.

Ten years ago…

The trip from Heaven to Earth was not a pleasant one. Rarity had never gone down there on her own in fact, but the phone call had left her stomach churning with fear and discomfort. All it took was ten minutes for everything to go from wonderful to awful.

“Rare,” a voice choked out on the line, her tone hesitant, heavy.

“Yes Jack? What’s the matter?”

“Y-ya gotta get down here.” She sucked in a breath. “Now.”

Rarity’s grip on her cellphone tightened, “What’s the matter dear? What’s happening?”

“Rare, I need ya here. It’s, it’s my folks. They’re…” Another shuddering breath. “Gone.”

Silence throttles the call for a few moments. “A-Applejack? Did something happen to them? Surely you don’t mean-”

“What else is there ta mean?” she snapped out. “Rare…”

“I-...I’m on my way.”

Barely an hour and some time had passed, she had already taken what little money she had left in her change jar out after smashing it to get some inter-station transport to the Stairway. The Stairway was an achievement of magical technology consisting of a aether bridge capable of teleportation and able to deliver anyone and anything between Zones 1 through 12 between Heaven and Earth. If asked to compare, many would say it was like riding an elevator. Albeit one traveling at a fraction of faster than light travel. Many eyes turned in the direction of the young girl with the messy mauve hair wandering around in slippers and her pajamas. As she was beamed down the rainbow road from above, she caught sight of many bright lights all converging on one of the largest pieces of land in Zone 1 on Earth.

“Stop it. Mustn’t think like that. No.” Rarity shook her head.

Having touched down, she used the last of her money to secure the fastest magical transport available, which was a direct teleport right outside of Sweet Apple Acres. The providers for much of the crop in Zone 1.

Rarity had walked up this dirt path many times in her life, often with a sense of anticipation. The darker turn the night had taken since the phone call and seeing so many emergency lights over the bright orange spot she desperately hoped wasn’t the place she was heading to had instilled a different kind of anticipation tonight though. As soon as she rounded the corner and came to the hill, a smoldering building came into view.

She screamed, running toward it, and praying for the safety of her friend’s family.

Applejack stood, looking at the ruins of her home. There wasn’t anything else she could do. Mac and her granny somehow had the strength to thank the firemen for putting out the flames before they spread to their livelihood, but she just couldn’t do anything else but stare at the dying embers of the fire that had ravaged the house.

“Applejack!” A voice had called out from the hill. “Hello? Anyone?”

“Rarity?” Applejack heard her brother Mac call out. “She’s down here.”

AJ turned, looking dumbly to Rarity as she made her way down the dirt path that lead to Applejack’s home.

“Rare…” she said, quietly, her shoulders shaking.

Casting a worried glance to the side to Mac, who looked mostly unharmed at a glance, she heard the broken voice as clear as day.

She went over to the crying blonde seated on a tree stump. “Jack…” Rarity was briefly muted more the moment she saw those emerald irises so devoid of light. All she could do was wrap her arms around her friend and squeeze her tightly, mumbling small words of comfort.

“Rare,” she choked out her name again. “...he got ‘Bloom out, a-an’ he went back fer Ma.” She sniffed, clutching Rarity tightly against her. “A-an’ that’s…”

“Oh no…” Rarity whispered, gently rubbing AJ’s back. “No…” Words...proper words, and not platitudes failed her. This was loss on a scale Rarity could never even imagine happening to her own family. The very idea, compounded with the normally headstrong best friend of hers truly despairing spurred Rarity to hold on tighter. She had a cellphone. Her parents had connections. The plan was forming in the back of her head already Something had to be done, but not just yet. Not when she wanted to be here for Applejack and her family.

“Thank you for comin’,” AJ whispered, squinting her eyes shut as she embraced Rarity. “I feel like, like,” She sniffed, squeezing the woman tighter. “I’m goin’ nuts.”

Rarity remained silent, unable to presently offer much more than her warmth. She issued a pleading look to Mac, hoping the giant of a man would pull some idea out of the air. That maybe AJ wasn’t entirely sure. A foolish notion, but one that Rarity clung to for the sake of her best friend, so that she wouldn’t go through this alone.
“I… I’ll give my parents a call. We can find a place for you all for a while.” She held AJ close. “We’ll try and…” Her mouth went dry.

“We’ll try and put this right.”

Mac mercifully came over to join them, their granny and their little sister trailing right behind.

“Ya don’t have ta do that,” Mac said quietly, moving to put a hand on their shoulders. His voice was even, but there were obvious streaks down his soot-coated face, where he had obviously been crying. “I’m… we can get by. Somehow.”

Another small silence pre-empted her outburst. She couldn’t bear to just sit by and let this happen. Watch her friend and her family suffer so unnecessarily. Rarity’s family wasn’t rich, but surely something could be provided.

“Please.” Rarity’s tone was even. “Please let me. It’s not fair. Not when you all have done so much, and given so much of yourselves to me, to everyone.” A hand came up, stroking Applejack’s hair while the blonde wept quietly over her shoulder.

Mac glanced over to his granny. The woman slowly nodded in agreement. Mac followed suit.

“Thank you,” Applejack managed to sputter out. She squeezed Rarity tightly. “I love ya. We all love ya, Rare. Yer always gonna be family ta us.”

“It’s nothing, darling, please,” Tears began to run down her own face.

“It’s everythin’,” AJ replied. “I… we’ll never forget this.”

A pair of small arms did its best to latch around Rarity and Applejack, another tearstreaked face pressing itself into the hug. Little Applebloom in her overalls sniffled and tried to hold back more sobs, trying to be strong like her big sister. Rarity reached out and stroked the redhead’s hair, pulling back just a bit. Mac and Granny joined in short order, saying everything and nothing at the same time.

The sun rose on the skyline, bypassing the horizon. The rooster didn’t crow on that morning.

Applejack shuffled awake with a groan, taking a moment to register she wasn’t in her own bed. The realization, however, didn’t matter much to her; she gave a squeeze to the woman she woke up next to, leaning in to give an appreciative sniff of the scent of her shampoo.

“Mornin’,” AJ said quietly, not sure if the woman was awake yet. A part of her wanted to shake Rarity, but decided against it. She rolled over the woman on the couch and stood, stretching, as naked as the day she was born.

The slender beauty looked to be in slumber even as Applejack spoke to her and disrupted their position. She lay there, snoozing gently, unbeknownst to the blonde, fighting off her stirring consciousness. But much like all good things, the moment had reached it’s end, and it was a new day. Rarity’s toes curled as she mewled awake, stretching her body along the couch in a decidedly feline manner.

“Yes...good.morning…” She yawned and excused herself, “Though last night is rather difficult to compete with.”

“Ain’t ya jus’ lively?” the farmer replied. She sauntered over to the woman and offered her hand down.

Ebony hips drew her eye, and Rarity did indeed find herself more interested in the waking world. “Hmph. I’ll have you know I was getting perfectly good beauty sleep during my stay here…” Then she grinned despite herself, “And then you came along and redefined the term.”

Rarity took the hand, noting the strength in the rough farmhand and on a whole, appreciating it as she pulled her body up and against AJ’s. Standing didn’t seem nearly the issue it would have been after a night of dinner, sparring and sex when it came to the tall woman she was currently leaning against.

Securing one arm over Applejack’s waist, and the other hand currently playing in the immensely lengthy blonde tresses, Rarity breathed deeply, a curious sensation in her gut. “And to think I’m in the presence of an angel when I’m the one from Heaven.”

AJ smiled at that, wrapping her own arms around the tailor. They crept down to her ass and Applejack gave it a small squeeze. “I’m a lil’ more devil, than angel, I reckon.”

“I’m inclined to disagree.” Rarity purrs back at the sensation and leans forward to plant a kiss on the angel. “I can’t think of anyone who’s made me feel as wonderful as I do now.”

She trailed her hands up, wrapping them around the tailor’s waist. Applejack lightly ran her hands over it, a small part of her realizing how delicate Rarity was, briefly forgetting that the woman was an accomplished fighter herself.

“I wasn’t kiddin’ last night. I love ya, sug,” the farmer said, smiling down at her. She kissed the tailor on the lips. “I never thought we’d end up like this. But I’m glad we did.”

Applejack gave a small lift of her hands, easily picking up Rarity and giving her a small twirl in the air, moving the woman like a figure at a formal dance, before setting her down again. She squeaked at the sudden movement before giggling blissfully, girlishly as she was whirled around.

“So what now, hon?” she drawled out, her green eyes sparkling with a new life to them. “It’s like… I feel like I’m a damn kid again. Like the world’s jus’, I dunno, open, an’ everythin’ is excitin’ in it.”

“Now now,” Rarity began, though her tone was far from reprimanding, “We’re grown adults with responsibilities and we cannot simply shirk off our duties for the sake of frivolous merrymaking like two fools in love.”

Rarity’s fingers crawled arachnid-like down a strong ebony back. “...but we’re going to for as much of this month as we can. And we’ll live as we always have. Maybe perhaps a little closer to one another. Maybe with more visits. Massages…stargazing...dinners…”

The hand wrapped over AJ’s waist circled back around and spanked the naked ass she loved so much. “Maybe with more of me handing you your scrumptious behind on a silver platter.”

“That a fact?” Applejack questioned, wincing not from the pain from the slap, but from brief spark of pleasure she got from it being Rarity who was doing it. “‘Cause if I remember right, I think I won the after fight.” She reached down like a moth to a light, cupping Rarity’s ass once more with a hand and squeezing a cheek as her other trailed up to the woman’s neck. “An’ I think that was the more important of the two.”

“Perhaps.” Rarity grinned. “But there’s so much time. So many things to do. And we do need to be using this month to better one another.” She reddened in the cheeks after another once over. “And all the semantics of what we are can be worked out in due time. A great time would be after finding some clothing, as loath as I am to deny myself the sight of your striking figure.”

“Same,” Applejack replied. “I reckon yer birthday suit is the best thing you’ve made here.” She brushed a thumb playfully across Rarity’s collarbone. “An’, yeah. I reckon we do need ta have a sitdown an’ talk ‘bout what… all-a this means, huh?” AJ reluctantly pulled herself away from the tailor. “Since I know you’ll take a coupla years ta find some damn clothes, I’ll get some coffee on fer us.’”

Rarity huffed exasperatedly, “In comparison to waiting for you to give me a pair of worn overalls in five seconds? I’m the saint of these two options.”

“At least mine get me out of the house before noon,” Applejack replied, turning. She gave slow saunter off, sashaying her hips with obvious sensuality in the motions, then when she reached the doorframe, she turned her head to Rarity, a playful smile on her face.

“I got a butt like one of yer runway models, huh?”

The blush did not go away. “Perhaps my subconscious mind had you at the forefront more than I knew.”

Something then occurred to Rarity, “I doubt anyone I know will have much of an issue with...well...us. But… Will your family mind, Applejack?”

The farmer paused. “I… I wouldn’t reckon so. They see ya like family, so it might be a lil’ weird fer a bit. Though Mac’ll wanna talk with ya. He said whenever I first got a boyfriend, he wanted a word with ‘em.”

AJ gave a considering tilt of her head. “Now, ya ain’t exactly boyfriend material, an’ it ain’t like yer a stranger, but the spirit’s the same.”

Rarity blinked. “Shall I expect a shotgun wedding?”

“Well, ya did do yer womanly duty with me last night,” AJ easily replied with a grin.

“...indeed I did.”

Rarity makes her way to her wardrobe. “Just as well. I’m closing up for the day. We’ll head back to the farm after breakfast if you’ve no errands in the foreseeable future.”

“Nah. They’re probably wondering where I ran of too anyway.” Applejack moved to her discarded clothes from last night and donned her jeans, then took to buttoning up her shirt. “Might as well get back home.”

Feeling a bit adventurous, Rarity picked out an outfit that showed a bit more skin than usual. It was sure to be a hot day anyway. The thermostat panel on the wall had told her as much, and to expect it in the nineties today.

Maybe pumps weren’t the best wear for the day. The trip up the dirt road was long and on Rarity’s feet, unforgiving. The lack of a sun hat wasn’t doing her any favors either, and had in fact been the cause of many muttered complaints on the way. The red barn and shed and silo and stables all came into view though, and she felt a little better almost immediately. It was as if the place had never gone up in flames thanks to what had been mostly resolve as a misplaced kerosene light.

They didn’t have to go far. Shirtless and sweating, Mac came into view over the hill, arms full of fertilizer sacks.

“Mac, hello!” Rarity called to him from afar.

He glanced towards the two and offered a small smile.

“Girls,” he addressed with a nod.

“Hot one,” AJ said, glancing around the farm as if to confirm it.

“Eyup,” Mac agreed. He turned, heading to the barn.

Rarity followed, “Mac, do you have a moment? There’s something important we’d like t-... Something I’d like to discuss with you.”

He glanced at her, curious, before nodding, setting the bags down off his powerful shoulders. “We can talk inside the kitchen,” he agreed, lumbering off towards the house. Applejack looked to Rarity.

“Ya want me ta come in with ya?”

From outside, a familiar young voice called out, “Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis!”

“It sounds like Applebloom wants to see you.” She smiled. “Go on, I’ll be around.”

“Alright, sug.” AJ nodded, giving a small touch to Rarity’s shoulder, before turning, heading towards where the call came from.

Rarity smiled over her shoulder before taking a seat in the kitchen. “My apologies I had to have her so long. I know this is an important time of the year for you all.”

He shook his head as he reached into the fridge, pulling out a pitcher of tea. He poured each of them a glass and sat down on the opposite end of the table.

“It’s good for her,” he said, taking a drink and letting out a sigh of contentment, running the cool glass across his brow. “She doesn’t know when ta have a breather. An’ I’m sure ya two had a lot of catchin’ up.”

“About that…” As easygoing as he was, Rarity found the idea of telling Mac that she had whisked his sister away into a lesbian relationship a bit daunting. The chances of their family continuing its strong lineage--the immediate family anyway--had just dwindled by a third with this development, and though Rarity didn’t often put stock into such things, it was a thought born of mild nervousness toward the situation. The Apple Family were as close to her as her own. Rarity couldn’t imagine the idea of inconveniencing or disrespecting them in even the most minimum of ways.

“It would seem that over just the two days that I’ve been around again, that Applejack and I have discovered...a fondness for one another.”

“Well, I’d imagine so. Ya two were like peas in a pod growin’ up,” Mac concluded, taking another drink. “Some time away ain’t gonna break friends that close.”

Rarity’s laugh wavered briefly, but she picked it right back up. “Yes, of course, and that bond remains unbreakable. But recently…”

Deep breath Rarity, deep breath. Inhale, exhale.

“Recently?” Mac repeated, staring at her.

The bass rumble of his voice very nearly made her jump in her seat. “Recently...we…” She stretched the word briefly, desperately fighting her trepidation and laughing at herself at the same time for coming with so much tact to someone as to-the-point as Mac.

“We discovered how strong that bond is.” Rarity concluded lamely.

Mac glanced down at his palms. “Are ya talkin’ like I think ya are, here?” he asked, turning his eyes to once more stare evenly across the table at Rarity, his face still completely indifferent. “If ya are, don’t beat ‘round the bush.”

“I took Applejack’s virginity last night.”

The phrase was uttered with all the subtlety of a brick wall. Rarity had the grace to at least look embarrassed after though.

Mac’s hands tightened around his glass and he flinched, as if struck. His normally passive eyes seemed genuinely hurt.

He stumbled on his words, opening and shutting his mouth for several long, awkward moments, before taking a deep, calming breath. “Rarity,” he addressed, his tone warning. “I… none of us have forgot what ya done ta help over the years. So what I’m ‘bout ta say doesn’t change any of that, alright?”

This wasn’t going well, but Rarity would weather the worst of it. Not much else to do since she was already here. Fold and run away? Perhaps. But… That would be overly dramatic and cowardly. Cowardice was always unbecoming of a lady to her. “Understood, go on.”

Her legs crossed under the table.

Mac took another breath, rising. “You of all people should know what Applejack means to me. Ever since we lost our folks, I’ve had ta take care-a her an’ Bloom. Sometimes it feels more like they’re my kids than my sisters. So fer ya ta jus’ waltz in here—” he stopped himself once he realized his normally docile tone had increased to an almost painful volume. Swallowing, he gestured a thick, calloused finger Rarity’s way. “An’ say ya took her fer yerself? Jus’ like that? An’ fer what, exactly? An’ don’t ya dare say fer a booty call.”

The silence threatened to consume the both of them after Mac finished speaking. Rarity only barely was aware of how much she was trembling. She couldn’t tell which was the bigger mistake, coming in here without Applejack to back her up, or being foolish as to state the one fact he didn’t need to know. The tailor hung her head, hard pressed for a response, unable to articulate for the moment.

“Look at me,” Mac instructed, rapping the table. “Eyes up here. You looked at me when you said ya took my sister, look at me now.”

The order was gruff and none too kind. Rarity did so, steeling herself as much as possible in the face of Mac’s supreme disapproval.

“Do ya love her? An’ don’t ya dare lie ta me.” Mac ordered, his eyes, though angry, seemed to be on the edge of tears. “God help ya if yer jus’ usin’ her.”

If there was a point in this conversation where Rarity could look the upset man in his eyes directly without her vision skirting off to the side, it was now. Sapphire irises burned with determination into Mac’s.

“Yes.” The answer was short, sweet and to the point. There was no prose or pretext to
the immense truth in her words. “I always have.”

And yet, she felt that wasn’t enough. “She’s been one of the most important people in my whole life. I hold no one more precious, more closer to my heart, more dear to me. I would do anything for her. Since a child, Applejack’s served as an infinite inspiration and source of strength for me.”

And then her voice rose in volume, not too much, because high volume was unladylike, but-- “And I made a promise to her, to be there for her whenever she needed me. Knowing now what I do, I want to be beside her for better or worse. She is my knight, and I am hers, and I will not see her hurt,” Her legs uncrossed and she leaned forward slightly, “That includes attempting to separate us.”

Mac sighed, taking a slow step towards the window. He gave a tap to the glass. “It ain’t about seperatin’ ya’ll.” Turning, he gave a small frown to her. “It’s ‘bout makin’ sure ya ain’t gonna hurt her.” He narrowed his brow. “I can’t be ok with ya an’ her doin’ that so fast, but…” He settled down finally, slowly sitting back to his chair and taking a drink. “But ya love her. An’ I don’t think Jack’d do somethin’ like that with ya unless she did too.” Rubbing his temple, Mac bit at his lip in thought. “I don’t think I’d say it if I didn’t know ya already, but ya have my blessin’.” He gave one more measured look her way. “Though if ya ever make her cry…” he let the implication speak for itself.

The silence came back but with a much shorter delay, given that Rarity understood the severity of possible consequences all too easily.

‘I wouldn’t dream of it. And…” Rarity’s expression softened, “I shouldn’t have told you such explicit details first. I apologize for disrespecting you and her like that. It was a moronic decision and I regret it immensely.”

“It’s alright. Jus’... keep it in’ mind our family ain’t exactly built fer news like that.”

The young woman nodded. “Yes, yes of course.” Her body language seemed to say she was still recovering from the rather intense minutes she and Mac had just shared.

“Sorry,” Mac apologized, noticing her discomfort. “Ya know why I said what I did, tho’.”

“Of course. I promise you she’ll see no hurt from me. Not just for her sake.” A smile came to her face suddenly. “I haven’t forgotten who bandaged my knee, or provided me a place when I didn’t want to head off with my parents to their dreadfully boring business trips, or made a little clubhouse for me and their little sister.”

“An’ I know what you’ve done fer her, an’ for the family,” Mac agreed. He finally offered a weak, joking smile, trying to lighten the mood. “Now, when’s the weddin’? Since ya two are such a perfect match.”

Thankful she wasn’t drinking anything, Rarity broke into a coughing fit. “W-w-wedding?”

“I mean, ya already had the milk. What ‘bout the cow? An’ it ain’t like yer a stranger. Ya jus’ ‘bout live here sometimes,” Mac continued to goad, turning the tailor into a sputtering mess and taking another drink of tea.

“Well yes--I mean--but--now see--”

Mac continued, ignoring her distress. “An’ it has ta be pretty good in the bedroom, considerin’ ya came ta tell me ‘bout it so curt-like.” He clapped his hands together. “See? Easy.”

If Rarity had a mirror, she would have fainted from the embarrassment of looking as stupid as she felt. The Apples, all of them, had ways of causing things to bite people in the ass. Young or old, male or female, it was a trait that transcended it all. And was currently busy for Rarity not being able to look at Mac again, let alone his general direction.

Mac polished off his tea and rose. “Jus’ make sure that when ya design AJ’s weddin’ dress ya leave a lil’ wiggle room in the bust. Gal has a hard time finding clothes that ain’t snug there.”

“I, ahem… I won’t have any trouble with that, I assure you.” The image was rather worthy of mentally gawking at for a moment, but certainly not in front of Mac.

“Well good.” He put his glass on the counter. “Guess we got what ya needed ta say out of the way, an’ daylight’s burnin’. If you’ll excuse me, Mrs. Apple.”

She giggled. “Of course, Mac.” Rarity stood up as well. Time to see her...girlfriend? She’d have to speak it. Roll the word around in her mouth and see if she liked it.

She went outside and paused for a moment, catching sight of her deep in conversation with Applebloom, who seemed to be rather excited, if the subject was what Rarity imagined it was.

The month seemed to fly by as they went. Even with duties to their work, Rarity and Applejack had managed to make the the most of their time. It helped when one had an apprentice, and the other, a family to help out in between. Dates to bluegrass jazz clubs, picnics in the east field of the Acre, visits to fancy authentic Japanese grill restaurants and more.

And more moonlit cuddling and nightly physical activity didn’t hurt at all either.

The last week saw the new couple at a cafe in Heaven, the Zone 7 dwelling known as 7th Heaven. Rarity withheld points for creativity regarding the name, but all but begged AJ to come with her. It was a place where her subdued, practical style of dress would allow her to fit right in. The fashonista even toned things down herself, opting for a simple black turtleneck, a pair of white capris and black pumps. And a little red-violet beret, just to retain some sense of style.

7th Heaven didn’t often have live performers, the atmosphere usually simply quiet with chattering of it’s patrons, of people who wanted a little piece. Tonight however, saw the arrival of an azure haired earth-folk carrying a trumpet, a double-note mark on the back of one of his rough-looking hands. Interestingly enough, a few different others arrived with their own instruments, each one joining in the dulcet tones of the trumpeter. The harmony with which they played was such that Rarity couldn’t resist a smile. That, and the woman sitting across from her.

“Ya know…” Applejack drawled out, leaning forward, a hair more dressed up than usual, with small earrings, and a well-tailored dress shirt and pants complementing her figure. She smiled, her crimson lipstick complementing and seeming to plumping her normally thin mouth. “I don’t mind this place too much, hon.”

Rarity’s reply was quiet, but smug. “I told you so, Jack, darling. Do you still plan to round the corner with me over and over when I’ve a place to suggest?”

She shrugged, taking a drink of wine. “Well, yer definition of ‘casual’ sometimes leaves a lil’ ta be desired. Was afraid it’d be like that french restaurant a coupla weeks back.”

“Different cultures have different measurements of what qualifies as casual, you see. If we had done anything less than the spa visit and makeover then, who knows what might have happened!” Rarity stated, as if they’d be committing a heinous crime.

The farmer looked plainly at the woman, then rolled her eyes. “Know somethin’? I think ya still owe me fer puttin’ up with that gunk. How ya gonna pay me back?”

“Oh I could think of a few ways,” Her girlfriend tittered in reply, laying a hand over the earthen-toned skin of AJ’s free hand. “The night is still young.” Rarity squeezed gently.

AJ let out a small laugh. “Ya know how ta appease me, I’ll give ya that.” She took her free hand and laid it on top of Rarity’s, sandwiching it between her meaty palms. “Hey, sug…”

“Mmm, yes?”

“We’ve been puttin’ off a conversation. We both know it.” She rubbed Rarity’s wrist with her thumb and stared deeply into the woman’s blue orbs. “An’... it’s gettin’ close enough that I’m gettin’ anxious.”

“I wouldn’t say putting off, so much as….” The tailor grasped for words. There were none. “...respectfully delaying.”

“‘Respectfully delayin’? That what ya call it?”

Rarity’s tone is shy of being defensive. “A lady uses her words--”

“—uses ‘em ta hide what she’s thinkin’ too damn often,” Applejack interrupted, taking her hand off of Rarity’s to have another drink of wine. “Come on, sug. I… it ain’t always fun, bein’ the one ta start… conversations like this, but it seems like yer always so flippant ‘bout us.”

“And I apologize for not being strong enough to be direct--” The reply came with a slightly raised tone, but Rarity reined herself in and continued. “And to tell you. I’m often afraid to…’stir the hornets nest’ as you say. It took me more than ten years to admit I’ve had eyes for nobody but you. A month, a month before a time where you and I might be facing one another in a squared circle in front of hundreds of thousands of people seems hardly the time to suggest the next step.”

She squeezed again, “That doesn’t mean however, that this isn’t the best month of my life, or that there isn’t a question between us that needs answering.”

AJ seemed to nod at Rarity’s answer. “Hon… I feel the same.” She once more rested her other hand on Rarity’s palm. “But yer makin’ it too damn complicated. Know what those thousands of people mean when it comes ta feelin’ like I do?” She shook her head. “Nothin’. I love ya, hon, an’ I jus’... wanna see where ya see us when it’s said an’ done. I know ya, an’ I’m jus’ afraid you’ll be hittin’ excuse after excuse ta avoid the talk.”

“Jacqueline.” Rarity said abruptly, after looking down at the cold dregs of her beverage, she raised her head, her sapphire irises glittering strangely.

“I never wanted to ask much from you, darling.”

Her hand rose from under the table, a thumb concealed from view and setting itself on top of AJ’s hand.

“Would you do me the infinite pleasure and honor…”

The hand slowly slid away from Jacqueline’s own, revealing a glowing platinum ring with three inlaid diamonds, the same as Rarity’s mark, shining brightly.

“...of becoming my wife?” The tailor finished, her smile hopeful.

The farmer froze, looking down at the ring, then up at Rarity. “Ya…” She wiped at her wet eyes, smiling broadly. “Rare… how long were ya gonna keep in the the dark on this?” Tears rolled down her cheeks as she stared warmly towards the tailor. She sniffed hard, letting out a little choked laugh. “Well, what ya think my answer’ll be, honey?”

“With any luck, Jack?” She leaned toward the blonde, smiling in turn, counting her freckles and drinking in the emerald irises to her full lips, “The answer will be yes.”

“Well…” The farmer smiled, finally brushing away her tears. “Then it’s yer lucky day, Rare. Ya can have me, if ya want me.” She brought the tailor’s hand up and kissed the back. “I, I wanna get old with ya. It’s dumb soundin’, but I can’t think of any better way ta put it.”

In spite of herself, Rarity didn’t use her words. She just leaned forward and pressed her lips against Applejack’s own. It was the kind of chaste, romantic kiss that no book she had ever read could do justice through prose.

Around them, couples from table to table, to the bar and even the impromptu band broke into applause. Though it didn’t look as if either woman could be unglued from the other long enough to acknowledge it.

“So…” AJ began, taking a finger up Rarity’s arm and giving a ghost touch to the inside of Rarity’s elbow. “Who’s last name we usin’ once we… ya know...”

“Could we respectfully delay that until--actually… I’ve a better idea…” Her grin was mischievous, “Whoever should be the one to win in the tournament, whether we’ve the pleasure of facing one another or not, will do the honor of picking the last name.”

Applejack smiled, bringing Rarity’s palm to her own quick-beating heart. “I’m gonna make ya an Apple, sug. You’ve always been family ta me. Ta all-a my kin. I’mma make it official. Yer one-a us, when this tournament’s done.”

“While I couldn’t be more thrilled with the idea, I’m rather curious, even...excited, to imagine the name, Jacqueline Belle.” Rarity drew close enough for another quick kiss, “It really does roll off the tongue, you know.”

“I can think-a a few other things that roll offa yer tongue,” Applejack said coyly. “An’ ya know what? I reckon I’m a lil’, uh, excited too. Maybe we can call dinner early, an’ ya can show yer fiance a nice time?” She winked.

Already having slipped out of one of her pumps beneath the table, she gives the farmer’s leg a teasing stroke with her toes. “There’s a reason I had this paid for before we came.”

“Lets go.”

Jacqueline didn’t need to be told twice. She rose and quickly headed to the door, holding it open for the tailor.

When they stepped out into the night air, or what passed for it in Zone 7, being part of a space station, they were accosted by a woman in a salmon colored dress, a mark of three differently colored buttons visible on her cheek. “Belle? Rarity Belle, is that you?”

The tailor blinked as the woman swept her into a hug, she wore the biggest grin on her face, nearly crushing Rarity as she did so. The embrace clued her into the fact that she was dealing with an earth-folk, strong and sturdy with her hourglass figure. As she drew away, Rarity returned the expression, but looking much more confused.

“I’m sorry, have we met, dear?”

“Ahahaha, you don’t remember? We took classes at the design school on Callisto Avenue back in Nadir!” She gestured to herself, “Suri Polomare?”

Rarity just went with it at this point, “O-oh of course! Yes, um, it’s so good to see you again! How’ve you been doing?”

“Well, I had just been here not too long ago, m’kay, and I left my wallet by accident, m’kay? Someone was nice enough to call my cell and let me know it was still here, but then I ran into you!”

Suri turned her head, noticing Applejack, “Oh. My. Gosh. Is this a special somebody, Rarity?”

Applejack held out her hand. “Jacqueline. Tho’ if ya wanna keep on my good side, call me Applejack.” She looked over at Rarity with a gentle smile. “An’ I hope I’m a lil’ more than a special someone at this point.”

“Oh, you…” Rarity cooed back, planting a smooch on her cheek.

“That’s so amazing, Rarity, I’m really happy for the both of you! Omigosh, can you send me the wedding tickets, m’kay? Wait wait, actually, there were some other things I had meant to ask you, um, Jacqueline? Do you mind if I borrow Rarity here for a sec? I just wanna catch up before I get outta here.”

Suri’s motor mouth ran a mile a minute, and in between, Rarity could very much detect the abhorrent sounds of chewing gum in her mouth. Trying her best not to frown, she looks to her girlfriend as if asking for an opinion. She doesn’t want to be rude after all.

“Well…” Applejack trailed off, giving a shrug of indifference towards Rarity. “I ain’t her keeper. She can go with ya if she wants.”

“Great, thanks Jackie,” Suri took one of Rarity’s hands, pulling her to the side like an excited schoolgirl while the befuddled tailor nearly stumbled in trying to keep up.

“I’ll, uh, jus’ be waitin’ here, then,” the farmer muttered under her breath, stuffing her hands in her pockets and glancing around the street.

Seconds stretched into minutes easily enough, before Suri was leading Rarity back to the farmer, the tailor looking a lot less uncomfortable than before.

“--I had taken so long to learn that spell, m’kay? Being an earth-folk mage isn’t particularly easy--”

“Nonsense, Suri my dear I have absolutely every faith in you--”

“--awwwww. That’s so nice of you to say, m’kay, and I can’t wait to watch you compete in the tournament this year!”

Rarity looked rather pleased and not at all like she didn’t know who Suri even was about ten minutes ago. “Why thank you dear, and may you find greater luck in your lineup! I’ll see you at the Runway this friday night!”

Suri smiled and waved away her old classmate and her new ‘more than special somebody’.

AJ looked at the woman then at Rarity, and quietly asked, “So, what was that all about?

“If I had the faintest clue, I’d tell you dear,” Rarity shook her head, “But she remembers me from my time taking a few classes on creative design, and I can’t doubt her knowledge, we really did attend the same place.”

“Well… I ain’t got a clue ‘bout that kinda crap, so better she to drag you away than me.” She reached over, taking Rarity by the waist with an arm.

“Oh but then who would show you a nice time?” Returned the tailor, reaching to grab one of AJ’s hands.

“Ya know, when ya put it that way…” She smirked, then reached down, lifting Rarity easily into her arms and took to carrying her bridal style down the street. The action, spontaneous and impassioned got a small yelp of surprise from the tailor. She gave a small squeeze to Rarity’s thigh. “I reckon it’d be a lil’ lonely without ya.”

“Good thing I’m here to make sure that doesn’t happen then.” Another kiss, this one much deeper against AJ’s lips than inside the cafe.

Author's Notes:

First and foremost, if you've clicked, I thank you and your curious eye.

This story is more or less a concept that's been in the making for more than a year now. It's a big collaboration, done between myself, LysanderasD, MercTheJerk, Jake the Ginger with contributions from Xl9. We're going back to the drawing board. Consider this a rough of what will, hopefully, in time, gain better shape as we reconvene and plan things out from here on out.