"Good heavens, I said we have to win every game, not destroy them!"

Rarity looked in awe at the now fallen over "test your strength" game. Applejack had hit the base so hard with her hooves that it knocked the bell clean off the top and caused the entire thing to topple over. This was the third game of this nature AJ had destroyed at the fair. Applejack laughed awkwardly as she handed some bits to an unhappy looking carnie, who in turn handed her a small stuffed bear. AJ handed the bear to Rarity, who looked it over before tossing it into a small wagon beside her that was overflowing with carnival prizes. Rarity's horn sparked to life with magic as she and Applejack walked toward the next row of games, Rarity telekinetically pulling the prize wagon.

The sun was low in the sky now, casting an orange hue over the entire fair. All around Applejack and Rarity ponies wandered around, talking to their friends and playing carnival games. The duo approached a small shack with a milk bottle toss game on display. They peered inside the shack, but saw nopony there to run the game. AJ and Rarity traded confused looks.

"Um, is anypony running this game?" Rarity called out. The two looked around as they waited for a reply. The middle of the shack had a stack of boxes on which three milk bottles were set up. The top of the shack was overflowing with stuffed animals, a multitude of small stuffed pandas and a few large plush kittens. As the two ponies were busy observing the prizes, a pink figure sprung up from behind the shack's counter.

"Welcome to the bottle toss!" yelled Pinkie, causing AJ and Rarity to scream and jump in unison. Pinkie was wearing a straw hat adorned with a small picture of a milk bottle on the front, a striped vest, and a curly fake mustache. Rarity looked over at Applejack, who was giving her a knowing look regarding their pink friend's insistent silliness. Rarity gave AJ a wink before turning to address the pink pony.

"Thank you darling," said Rarity, "have you been working this game since the race?" Pinkie gave an enthusiastic nod as she reached down and picked up a lead ball.

"Yup, I'm running this game until sundown," Pinkie explained as she placed the ball on the counter. "Then I have to go an-" Pinkie scrunched her mouth up, then shook her head. "Then I have to go help Mrs. Cake sell funnel cakes at the fireworks!" Pinkie gave an awkward laugh as she placed a jar about half full of bits on the counter next to the ball. Rarity looked back at Applejack, raising an eyebrow. AJ just shrugged and removed her hat, taking a couple bits out of it and tossing them into the jar. Pinkie gave a hearty "thank you" as she handed AJ the ball.

"Alright Pinkie," said Applejack, "so what's the difference between the prizes up there?" AJ pointed up at the various stuffed cats and pandas. Pinkie reached up and grabbed a large white plush kitten.

"You get three balls to throw," she explained, "if you knock down all three bottles you get a panda bear." She then pointed to her white kitten. "If you knock down all three bottles three times in a row, then you get a big fluffy cat!" Pinkie smiled, then looked at the cat again. "Hey, this one looks just like Opal!" She looked over to Rarity with an odd grin.

Rarity smiled back, then leaned over to Applejack. "What did that pony put in her punch today?" whispered Rarity.

"I have no idea hun," AJ whispered back, "I'm just gonna play the game. I think that white cat might be our golden goose."

"It's more of a cat than a goose, but whatever floats your boat!" whispered Pinkie, who had seemed to have suddenly appeared between the couple. AJ and Rarity met eyes, both sharing a look of concern. AJ shook her head and began to take aim at the bottles. She closed one eye, holding the lead ball in her right hoof and extending her left hoof out in front of her to aim. Rarity smiled as she quietly observed her friend prepare for her toss.

"Aren't you gonna cheer on your marefriend?" asked Pinkie, now sitting beside Rarity. Rarity placed her hoof over Pinkie's mouth, not moving her gaze from AJ.

"She's getting into the zone," Rarity whispered, "also she isn't officially my marefriend yet, dear." As she said this, a small grin appeared and then faded from AJ's face. Rarity gave a soft "hmm", taking note of this.

AJ tossed the ball, striking the stack of bottles and sending all three flying. Rarity cheered with glee, AJ giving off a proud smile while curtsying to her partner. Pinkie pulled another ball out of her mane and handed it to Applejack. AJ repeated the spectacle twice more, taking time before each throw to line up the perfect shot. As the last set of bottles toppled, she turned around to see not only Rarity cheering for her, but a small crowd of ponies that had amassed as she had been playing the game. AJ gave a gentle tip of her hat.

"Thanks, y'all!" she said to the crowd, before turning back around to a kitten-clad Pinkie.

"That was some good shootin' partner!" said Pinkie, slightly copying AJ's twang. "I do hereby declare that this wonderfully fluff-tastical giant kitten shall be YOURS!" Pinkie tossed AJ the kitten, which nearly smacked her in the face before it was caught midair by Rarity's magic. Rarity pulled the plush over to her and inspected it. After taking a look at the kitten's back, a huge grin grew over her face. With a spark of her horn, a few threads tore themselves out of the back of the stuffed cat. The crowd of ponies gasped in horror. Rarity turned to them with a look of confusion. Her eyes widened, and then closed as she gave off an awkward laugh.

"Fillies and gentlecolts, it's a long story, trust me," she explained to the crowd, still giggling. The crowd seemed to accept this, and watched in awe as Rarity pulled a note card out of the kitten's back. "AHA! FINALLY!" yelled Rarity, betraying her usual poise. Applejack quickly ran up behind her, making sure to be able to read the note this time.

"IT'S AlmOST oveR, yOU'Ve coMe thiS faR! NOW gO AnD fiNd yoUr PReCious DRESs, hiDiNG AmonG the staRS!"

Rarity looked at AJ with concern. "Does this mean we have to wait till the fireworks?" asked Rarity. "I'd love to see them like we planned, but at this point I'm running out of time!" Rarity put her hooves up to the sides of her head. "I've been holding it together this long, but I can't take much more of this Applejack." She looked up at her partner, her hooves still on the sides of her head and her pupils shaking.

Applejack lifted Rarity up into a gentle hug, pulling a soft "aww" out of the crowd. "Actually sweetie," said AJ, "I think I know exactly where the dress is, and we can go there right now." Rarity's eyes sparked to life.

"Do you mean it?" she asked, her whole face glowing with interest. AJ nodded her head and kissed Rarity on the nose.

"Let's go hun." AJ offered Rarity a hoof, who accepted it as they began to exit the bottle toss. Before they left the crowd, Rarity felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around to see Dinky, who was holding the now discarded kitten plush.

"Um, Miss Rarity," said Dinky "would it be okay if I had this toy? If you don't want it that is." Rarity opened her mouth to reply, but stopped as she got an idea. She leaned over and whispered in Applejack's ear, who then gave an affirming nod and smile.

"I've got an even better idea," said Rarity, "how about you take this whole wagon full of stuffed animals to school tomorrow, and share them with your whole class?" Dinky's eyes grew wide, a look of disbelief covering her face.

"You really mean it?" she asked. Rarity nodded with a "yes, darling" and the crowd erupted with cheers. Rarity thanked the crowd before looking over to Applejack, who gave her a wink and nodded her head toward the other side of the fair. Rarity threw her hoof over her partners back as they started walking.

The sun was finally settling down behind some hills in the distance, the shadow of night beginning to crawl over the fair. Applejack and Rarity walked together toward the far north corner of the fair. Around them, they observed some ponies packing up their stands. A few ponies selling food packed their wares into moving carts, most likely to transport them to the fireworks show and continue selling. AJ and Rarity approached the last line of the fair before the perimeter. There was a now-closed cotton candy stand, a big inflatable dome, and what looked like a very large stand that was covered with a black tarp. AJ was guiding her friend toward the dome, but Rarity noted the strange tarp-covered attraction.

"What do you suppose is under there?" she asked, moving her head around to try to see the other side of it. Applejack paused to look over it, scratched her chin, then shrugged.

"Beats me," she replied, "might be something from earlier I guess. Or that might be where they store the fireworks, that could be." Rarity gave an "ah" and a small nod, considering this likely. The two directed their attention back to their destination, which was now right in front of them. It was a large, black inflatable dome, with some kind of mechanical contraption attached to the base which seemed to be keeping it up. There was a large picture of a shooting star above the doorway, and a bearded pony dressed in old robes and a wizard hat standing watch in front of the dome. As the couple approached the entrance, the bearded pony gave an enthusiastic wave.

"Hey girls!" said the bearded pony, which AJ and Rarity immediately identified as Twilight dressed in her Nightmare Night costume from a while back. She looked much more relaxed than earlier, her clipboard now replaced with a wizard-y staff.

"Howdy Starswirl," said AJ, causing Rarity and Twilight to giggle, "is the star dome still open?" Twilight nodded with a smile.

"The planetarium is still open until the fireworks," she explained. "Would you two like to come in?" AJ nodded and took off her hat, reaching into it for some bits to cover their entry. Her face froze, hoof still in her hat. Twilight gave a gentle chuckle.

"The planetarium is no charge, girls," said Twilight. "I covered the cost of setup for this one myself. I didn't want to charge anypony who wanted to learn!" Applejack gave a sigh of relief as she placed her hat back on. Rarity thanked Twilight profusely, AJ adding her own "thank you" afterwards.

As the couple walked into the planetarium, they both gasped at a multitude of stars and constellations on the walls. Rarity looked at the top of the dome, noting a few of the constellations Applejack had shown her at the cabin. Her gaze lowered until it reached eye level, and she spotted something she had not expected.

Fluttershy stood in the middle of the dome. She was holding a gorgeous bouquet of flowers, but Rarity barely noticed them. She was much too focused on what Fluttershy was wearing.

Sapphire's dress.

Rarity walked up to Fluttershy in awe, walking around her and inspecting the garment. It was falling off of her friend a little bit; Sapphire was a larger pony than Fluttershy after all. But the dress was finished, and it completely adhered to Rarity's design. She looked closer, trying to find some kind of flaw in the stitching, some kind of error. But there was none. Fluttershy gave a quiet, awkward laugh while Rarity was staring directly into her side. Rarity stepped back, looking over the dress from afar. She turned to Applejack, a satisfied grin on her face.

"I'm impressed sweetie," said Rarity, "you got all the stitching right and everything. You seriously pulled this off, you could work in one of my boutiques!" Applejack shook her head, looking confused.

"Wait, how did you know it was me?" she asked, while Rarity accepted the bouquet of flowers from Fluttershy with a smile. Rarity hugged Fluttershy, then turned around while smelling her flowers. After a deep sniff of their aroma, she shot Applejack a smug look.

"I didn't," she said, putting her other hoof around AJ. "You just told me." Applejack opened her mouth to speak, but then just laughed.

"Good one Rare, you got me," she said. "That's payback for the geese." Rarity giggled and gave AJ a quick peck on the cheek.

"Yes, I was pretty sure it was you," Rarity explained, "and I knew you would most likely have already taken care of it in some fashion." AJ nodded her head.

"Is that why you didn't really freak out too much?" AJ asked. Rarity nodded, toying with the ends of AJ's hair.

"I figured you had it under control due to your demeanor," said Rarity, "although if you had actually messed up the dress I probably would have killed you." She shot AJ a cold stare, AJ giving off a sheepish grin in response. Rarity hung her head and laughed, Fluttershy chuckling into her hoof next to her. Applejack rolled her eyes as her friends finished laughing and Fluttershy began to walk towards the door.

"Well, I'm going to head back to my cottage now," said Fluttershy. "You two have a nice night, call me next time you want to pull some crazy shenanigans on each other." Fluttershy continued to chuckle to herself as she exited the dome, AJ and Rarity blushing and sharing a pair of sheepish smiles. They quickly regained their composure and sat down together in the middle of the dome. Rarity looked around at the constellations, her bouquet resting in her hooves. She turned to face Applejack, who was looking at her intently.

"Is everything okay, dear?" Rarity asked, placing a hoof over AJ's.

"Oh everything is fine hun," replied Applejack. She took in a big breath and removed her hat, placing it on the floor in front of her. "But I have an important question to ask you." Rarity's eyes grew wide. She sat up on her hind legs and turned to face Applejack. Applejack followed suit, gently taking the flowers from Rarity and placing them by her hat. AJ took Rarity's hooves in hers, taking another deep breath.

"These past few months have been some of the best of my life," Applejack began. "I've always felt a little bit closer to you then a friend, and this Summer I finally found out why. After we started this 'courting' thing, I've just been so happy. Even if we're real busy like we have been lately, it's still a great feeling to know that you're out there thinking about me. And when you are around, heck, everything just seems a little sweeter." Rarity tightened her grip on AJ's hooves, tears making their way down her face. Applejack lifted a hoof and wiped the tears away from her partner's eyes, Rarity sniffing and holding on tight to AJ's other hoof. Rarity gave a smile and nodded, motioning for AJ to continue. "I've wanted to ask you this since that first night at the cabin," Applejack continued, "but I'm glad we waited a bit. Because now I know how amazing we are going to be."

"Will you be my marefriend?"

Applejack hit the floor of the dome as Rarity pounced on her with a hug. Applejack let out a small squeak as Rarity squeezed her in her hooves, crying softly into AJ's shoulder. Applejack wrapped her hooves around the pony who she assumed she was now dating, rubbing her back gently. After sharing an embrace for a moment, Rarity raised her head up. She wiped away a combination of tears and make-up, all the while wearing an enormous smile on her face. Just as Applejack lifted a hoof to say something, Rarity grabbed the back of AJ's neck and pulled AJ towards her. Applejack blushed intensely as Rarity pulled her into a passionate kiss. After recovering from the initial shock, AJ closed her eyes and accepted her mushy fate. She opened her eyes again after Rarity pulled away, still slightly flustered from the kiss. Rarity put a hoof around AJ, sighing affectionately.

"Yes, by the way." said Rarity, giggling afterwards.

As Rarity and Applejack exited the dome, the new marefriends were showered with a massive amount of confetti. They looked ahead to see Twilight and Rainbow Dash jumping and cheering, Pinkie sitting on top of her party cannon and loading more confetti. Rarity looked over to AJ, who gave her a wink and then motioned with her head toward the tarp covered attraction next to the dome. Rarity followed Applejack's motion and gasped. The tarp was now gone, and underneath was a fully decorated pavilion. There was a big banner on the front with the new couple's likenesses painted on it with a heart in-between them, a couple of frilly looking bows tied onto the roof, and a bunch of picnic tables overflowing with food underneath it. Rarity squeaked with delight and hugged her new marefriend. Applejack hugged her back tight and then took her hoof and followed their friends toward the pavilion.

Author's Notes:

Sorry this took forever to update. Had writer's block, am over it now. One more chapter coming soon to finish this fic up, then up next a Winter themed fic to continue Rare and AJ's story.