A steady breeze blew through a grouping of apple trees, pulling a few of their yellow leaves away from their branches. The leaves crinkled as they touched down in a tiny clearing, joining many others that had amassed at the base of one of the trees. In this clearing lay two ponies atop an apple-print blanket. Rarity lay on her back on the left side of the blanket, sporting a pair of fancy sunglasses and a warm smile. Her hoof was outstretched to the middle of the blanket, where Applejack's hoof was placed on top of it. Applejack mirrored her friend's position, with the exception of her hat tipped over her eyes in place of any sporting shades. Her smile, however, was just as big.

As she lay there soaking up the warm autumn sunlight, Applejack thought about the past few months. Ever since she and Rarity began courting, things seemed to fall into place across the board. All of their friends were delighted to hear the news, even if a few of them had to pretend to be hearing it for the first time. Granny Smith and Big Mac had both given Rarity their approval. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were just excited to see two ponies in love, and even more excited at the aspect of them being able to become "Crusader-Cousins". Sweetie Belle even starting calling Applejack "Aunt AJ" EVERY time she came over Rarity's house while Sweetie was visiting, despite the fact that AJ and Rarity weren't even technically Marefriends yet. This seemed to always cause Rarity to blush, so naturally AJ did her best to encourage it.

Unfortunately, the past couple of weeks had been a bit of a struggle for the duo. Rarity had been running all over the place between her stores to keep up with business. She had a Fall Fashion promotion going on at all of her locations, and it turned out to be an even bigger hit than she had anticipated. On top of this, she also personally took in orders from several big name customers over the past two weeks, including a massive group order for Sapphire Shores and her backup dancers. Rarity was handling all of the pressure quite well, but it had unfortunately made it near impossible to see Applejack for more than an hour at a time. That isn't to say that AJ wasn't busy herself, quite the contrary as a matter of fact. Fall is cider season, and the Apples had a longer and more successful cider drive this year than Granny Smith could even remember. All that cider took a mountain of apples to make, and those trees weren't just gonna buck themselves.

A cool breeze rolled over Rarity, giving her chills and causing her to shiver momentarily. This pulled AJ out of her thoughts as she instinctively scooted over and wrapped a hoof around her partner. Rarity placed her head on AJ's shoulder, moving her free hoof to hold AJ's. Both ponies closed their eyes, taking a moment to forget about their responsibilities and just be together.

"I'm really glad I got to see you today, dear."

Rarity's statement broke the silence of her and Applejack's walk back to Ponyville. Applejack responded with a nod and a kiss on the cheek, much to Rarity's delight. As the duo entered Ponyville, they quietly observed as a multitude of ponies scrambled around town. Some of them were setting up tents and displays, some wheeling around carts, and some setting up lighting fixtures. Lines of multi-colored carnival flags danced around in the breeze as ponies staked them into the ground. AJ and Rarity stopped momentarily to assist a young foal in putting up a sign that he couldn't seem to reach. As they started heading for Rarity's Boutique, Rarity turned around to look back at the developing fair.

"You know, I really did want to go to the fair with you," she said, "I know it's been quite some time since our last date." Applejack offered her friend a gentle smile in return.

"I know you did hun," Applejack replied, "I wanted you to be able to come and watch me at the Running of the Leaves too."

Rarity raised an eyebrow at this statement. "Is the Running today as well?" she asked. Applejack nodded with a soft "mhmm" as the two rounded a corner on the path to the Boutique. "And the fireworks are tonight too," Rarity added. "Who thought it was a bright idea to schedule all of this on one day?" she said, putting a hoof to her face in frustration.

"I would reckon somepony who schedules herself no free time, and who thinks everypony works like that," Applejack said, pointing behind Rarity with her hoof. Rarity turned around to see Twilight talking to a group of ponies off in the distance, waving a clipboard around and pointing at one of the other ponies. Rarity and Applejack shared a hearty chuckle as they arrived at Rarity's abode.

Rarity turned and gave her best friend a tight hug. "Thank you very much for walking me home," she said, "and thank you very much for breakfast as well. It was divine as always." The two pulled away from their embrace, but each kept a hoof on the side of the other one's face.

"Are you sure you couldn't take a break at some point today?" Applejack asked. She did her best to emulate the puppy-dog eyes that Rarity frequently used on her, but at the same time couldn't break her smile. Rarity gave her partner an apologetic smile in return, leaning in and adding a quick peck on the lips.

"Unfortunately it is going to take me all day to finish this last order," she explained, "all that's left is Sapphire's main stage dress, but it is quite a doozy of a dress." She squished her cheek against AJ's, motioning in the air with her hoof to illustrate her explanation. "There are tons of gems and sequins that are going to be sewn into the fabric, and there are several different parts to the dress which need stitched together. Sapphire is a fantastic customer, but she is also extremely particular about her orders. I have to make sure it is absolutely perfect." Applejack nodded in understanding. "I should still be able to come see the fireworks with you like we talked about though!" said Rarity, hoping to end their time together on a positive note. "I should be all done by then."

Applejack gave a worried look. "Promise?" she said.

"Promise." Rarity replied. She moved her hoof across her chest in an X, then placed it over her right eye, winking with the other one as she sealed the promise.

Applejack had only made it a couple minutes away from the Boutique when she heard an ear-piercing scream coming from behind her. She spun around so fast that she nearly fell over before sprinting back to Rarity's as fast as possible. The door was open so she ran inside the Boutique, only to be immediately grabbed by Rarity.

"The dress! It's gone!" Rarity said, her hooves shaking as they gripped AJ tightly. Rarity looked like she was about to cry, her eyes opened as wide as possible in panic. Applejack put her hooves on Rarity's shoulders, gave her the calmest look she could muster, and began taking visibly deep breaths. Rarity blinked before closing her eyes and following AJ's example, slowing her breathing. After taking a minute to let her cool down, Applejack put her hooves back down and motioned with her head toward an empty chair a few feet behind them. Rarity nodded before walking over and taking a seat.

"Alright sugarcube, tell me exactly what happened," said Applejack. Rarity took another breath and then pointed her hoof at a mannequin over by the wall.

"Sapphire's dress was right on that mannequin," Rarity explained, "I've been working on it nonstop but I always place it back on there." She shot Applejack a concerned look. "I came in after you walked me home and it seems to have just vanished," said Rarity. "I swear to Celestia I did not touch it. I need to find this dress immediately. "

"Okay hun," Applejack replied, "let's take a look around here first before anything else." Rarity nodded and rose from her seat, her eyes darting around the room. "I'll look down here if you want to check upstairs," said Applejack.

"Good idea, let me know if you find anything," Rarity responded.

Applejack rummaged through some boxes as Rarity trotted upstairs to survey the top floor. AJ recognized a few of the dresses and accessories in the boxes from Rarity wearing them out and about. She pulled out Rarity's overalls from when she had tried to impress Trenderhoof from one of the boxes, grinning and doing her best not to giggle. "That sure is interesting in hindsight now," Applejack thought as she placed the overalls back into their box.

"Applejack! Come quick!" Rarity shouted from upstairs. AJ ran upstairs, and over to Rarity's room. Rarity was inside, sitting on her bed with a horrified look on her face and a piece of paper in her hooves. AJ raised her hoof to enter, but then stopped herself.

"Um, may I come in hun," Applejack asked. She had been in Rarity's room countless times, but not since they had started courting, and she didn't want to come off as rude.

Rarity fell face-first onto her bed sheet. "Dear Celestia please just come here," she said, muffled by the blankets. AJ walked up to her bedside as she sat up and handed AJ the paper.

"YoUR DResS is sAfE ANd SoUnD in my hOOVes, BuT TO GeT it back you muSt hEEd My CLuES. THe fiRst sTEp TO GetTIng yOur prEciOuS goWN baCK Is TO GO to the FoREsT ANd rUN wITh tHE PACk."

The crude note was made up of letters cut out of newspaper and magazines, pasted onto the paper in a messy fashion. AJ looked back to Rarity, who looked confused and upset.

"I don't know if this is supposed to be a practical joke," said Rarity, "or some kind of dress-napping." She raised her hoof to her face. "Either way, I don't have time to be dealing with whatever this is. I need to finish this dress today, I cannot fail Sapphire." Rarity closed her eyes, slumping her head down in defeat. "What do I do..."

Rarity opened her eyes as she felt something touch her head. Applejack was standing at her beside with an encouraging smile. Behind AJ Rarity could see her reflection in the window and saw that AJ had placed her Shadow Spade inspired hat on top of her head. Rarity looked at her friend and smiled.

"If there's anypony I know who can figure this out, it's you dear," said Applejack, placing her hoof on Rarity's chin. "You are amazing at stuff like this. This is gonna be a breeze." Rarity pounced on Applejack with another tight hug, a huge grin on her face.

"Thank you sweetie," Rarity said, letting her friend go from her bear hug. "Honestly, I don't know what I would do without you. I simply could not get by." Applejack gave a sheepish smile and a tip of her hat in response.

Rarity stretched out her hooves and cricked her neck while simultaneously levitating her hat onto her bed. "Now then, we need to get going soon," she stated. "That clue was very obviously referring to the Running of the Leaves, so we will need to head over there." Applejack's eyes lit up.

"Hey, you get to see me run after all!" she said, excitement present on her face. Rarity began laughing, much to AJ's confusion. After a small fit of laughter, Rarity looked at her friend with a mix of amusement and determination.

"Oh darling, somepony broke into my house and stole a customer's garment," said Rarity. "I am going to FIND THEM AND MAKE THEM PAY." Rarity's usual gentle voice dropped to a growl at the end of her declaration, making Applejack jump. This only made Rarity laugh more, before beginning to walk out of the room.

"I am going to be running that race." said Rarity from the hallway.