“You really needed to put these where the sun shines,” Twilight says. She takes the bouquet in her hooves and inspects its flowers.

"A place where the shines? That’s a rarity in this house," I respond. My hooves busy themselves aimlessly on the mannequin ensemble, trying to find a small, miscalculated detail I can pour my attention to. The dress has been finalized since last night.

I watch Twilight work from the corner of my eyes. Her horn glows. She levitates the bouquet from its glass vase, the one she brought me two days ago, and places it in a bowl. Still with her magic, she rinses and fills the vase with clean water before placing the wilting flowers back in place.

"You really shouldn't waste them like this," she says.

"I am not wasting them."

"A few more weeks and they’ll be inedible." She draws open the curtains and places the vase in the ray of light that cuts across the room. "I'm actually surprise you haven't eaten them yet."

"It need not be obligatory that the bridesmaid who catches the bouquet has to consume it."

"But it misses the entire point," she says, stomping her hoof.

"You're a mare of science, Twilight. You ought to know that symbols extends no further than cultural bromide." My eyes remain transfixed on the dress. My horn glows and I untie a ribbon, only to tie it back again.

"But you're actually the one who jumped through the crowd when Cadance threw it."

"Indeed, I did."

"And you were so enthusiastic."

"Indeed, I was."

"And now you're just letting them waste away?"

"Indeed, I am."

“So you are letting them go to waste?”

The question hangs in the air. I try to ignore it, but Twilight Sparkle’s constant presence is a reminder that she awaits, and expects, an answer.

After a minute of silence, I respond with a question of my own. "What do you know of flowers, Twilight?"

"Not much,” she answers honestly, patiently. “Botany isn't really my field."

"The flowers in the bouquet are called Diana’s Moonblossom. It's a very rare and very expensive treat, usually served as a desert. It’s a flower that went extinct long ago but has been re-cultivated in Luna's personal garden since her return. I mentioned this to Sapphire Shores, who made mentioned it to a friend, who made mention of it to a connoisseur willing to buy the entire arrangement for four hundred bits a petal."

"Wait, you actually sold this!?" she says, eyes going wide.

"I could have raised the price to five hundred a petal, but I needed to befriend him. He looks influential enough,” I say, randomly snipping some leftover fabrics. “In addition, it is difficult to find buyers."

"That's not my point. It's a gift. It's from Cadance's wedding. It's special."

"You are absolutely right." An idea dawns on me. "If I tell them that this is the same bouquet from the royal wedding then the price could be doubled, tripled even."

"Rarity!"

Unable to maintain the pretense any longer, my horn flares and the vase jumps towards Twilight’s direction. She captures it with her own magic.

"You eat it if you want to get married that badly!" I shout. "Go on. Take it! I don't need it. I don't want it. Get it out of my house."

Twilight Sparkle does not say anything. She levitates the vase and places it firmly on a nearby drawer.

"If you do not want it then leave it there to wilt,” I say, throwing the scissors and fabrics aside. “Flowers and their meanings, the self-indulgent sentimentalism of it all ruins the sincerity. It’s just the same plant growing out of the same dirt. And I for one would not subscribe to failed romantics and their trites.”

I grit my teeth, resisting the urge to break the glass vase into pieces and trample those flowers beneath my hooves. If only both were not so costly.

I glare at Twilight. “Now, do you still want to talk about flowers— or how Applejack raped me?"

Twilight Sparkle sighs. She does not want me to put it as bluntly as I did, but there is no substitute. No word in my vocabulary preserves the definition while connoting a more despicable implication.

"You two can't keep avoiding each other like this," she says.

"Try me."

"I’d rather not. It's ruining your friendship."

"You honestly expect friendship after what she did?"

"I expect friendship after a civilized discussion."

"What she did to me is beyond civil."

"But not beyond discussion. At least give her a chance to apologize if not to explain herself."

Twilight waited for my response, to which I had none.

"Alright, buck it. Blame it on the drink, blame it on wild anger or the heat of the moment or whatever. You and I both know that Applejack is the loyalest and most dependable of ponies and that nopony is more sorry for what happened than she is."

I remain quiet, suddenly finding the floor very interesting. The truth hurts.

"It's eating her alive. She can't sleep, she barely eats. Yesterday, she collapsed on the farm in the middle of work. She lay there in the heat of the sun for hours. She could've had a heat stroke if Big Mac hadn’t found her.

"Are you trying to appeal to my pity with this morbid invention?"

"What? Do you want to see her lying on a hospital bed before you're convinced? No. I'm not appealing to your pity, but to your understanding. You don't know how many times Applejack has paced back and forth in front of your boutique just so she could apologize, the only thing stopping her is because she doesn't think she deserves a space in your house."

“She wasn’t wrong about that.”

“Look, I’m trying to make this damn thing work! I gave you two enough time to work things out together. I’m not going to let this freak accident ruin our friendship.”

“Freak accident? I don’t think you know what happened but I was almost raped, Twilight. Raped! If you have yourself open to anypony willing to dust off the cobwebs between your legs, I sure as Tartarus do not.” I push her back with my hoof.

“You’re out of line,” she pushes me back. “I tried to be nice and friendly about this, but I guess I’ll have to force the issue. We’ll finish this here and now.”

Twilight’s horn flares and several of the windows shut. The curtains pull together, depriving the room of daylight. The lights flicker on and the bedroom door closes.

“Whatever are you doing?” I look around as every exit in the room closes.

“If we're getting this out into the open we need a closed environment." Her eyes scour the room. "And what you need is to sit down, shut up and listen."

“Y-You can’t possibly bring Applejack here, to my house!”

She glares at me and flares her nostrils. “She’s been here the whole time.”

“What!”

Twilight’s horn glows and the entrance to the boutique opens.

There, standing in the doorway, is Applejack. She holds her Stetson against her chest, revealing her disheveled blonde mane flowing freely. Her coat has lost most of its shine and seems darker than the usual. Her eyes are downcast, avoiding mine at all costs. But I can see the baggy eyes on her worn expression.

My legs move on their own. I step back, knocking down a mannequin. The taste and stench of apples returns to my muzzle.

Applejack looks at me, startled and uneased by my abrupt movement, and turns her head away.

“Is it...uh...alright, if ah come in?” she says.

My head makes the most subtle gesture of denial. Too subtle to be seen. It is Twilight who answers the earth mare’s question. “Come in.”

Applejack looks to me first, then to Twilight, before stepping inside.

“Don’t!” I hiss. Applejack draws back.

“It’s alright, go in,” Twilight assures her, throwing a menacing glance at me.

Applejack hesitates, but resolves to enter.

For every step closer Applejack takes, my instinct propels me to move back. The pressure in my limbs returns as she nears. My heartbeat rises and becomes noticeably painful against my chest.

Twilight’s horn glows and she moves the center table in between the three of us.

“Let’s all first sit down,” she says.

Twilight sits in the middle and beckons me to sit. Applejack sits on one end, an empty chair waiting to be filled opposite of her. Twilight glares at me.

“Sit,” she commands.

“I’d rather stand.”

“This isn’t a debate!” she almost shouts. “Sit down or Celestia help me I’ll force you into that chair myself.”

My hooves are already on the chair before she can finish her sentence. The three of us sit in uncomfortable silence. For all my incrimination and insults moments ago, I cannot not speak a word now. Applejack’s head turns elsewhere, only her physiology stops her from turning around completely. Twilight steeples with her hooves, and throws glances between Applejack and I. She sighs.

“Alright, before anything else, let me ask you both: do you want to fix this by yourselves or do you want me to stay?”

The question hangs in the air. Neither Applejack nor I answers.

“Well?”

Applejack reshuffles in place and stares blankly at the table. “Ah think ah want to talk to Rare in private-like,” she says, barely above a whisper. "If y'all don't mind."

“No, stay!” I scream to Twilight. “Who knows what she could do to me.”

Twilight glares angrily at me. Applejack softly closes her eyes and bites her lower lip.

“Very well. I’ll leave you two alone.” Twilight stands and trots away. “I’ll be out the door.”

Twilight exits. As soon as the door closes behind her, I leap to my feet and look for an exit of my own, but all the doors and windows are sealed by Twilight's magic. Trapped inside my own house with my rapist, I squirm into the farthest corner of the room.

Applejack observes me. She stands and takes her place at the opposite corner.

“Better?” she asks.

I make no reply. I press myself against the wall and cover myself with my hooves. I feel myself more naked than I naturally am when Applejack lays her eyes on me. She notices my gesture and turns away.

“Ah reckon I’ll start with an apology.”

“You–" My voice cracks and I clear my throat. "You ‘reckon’?”

“Look, this ain’t easy for me.” Applejack remains quiet for a while, waiting for my rage to subside. “Awright, ya know ah ain’t good with’em words so ah won’t beat around the bush. Rarity, I apologize for... for assaultin’ you.”

“...Rape,” I say flatly, my eyes closing.

She looks up. She knew the word, but did not think I would say it. “Pardon?”

“That’s the word you should use: Rape.”

“Ah reckon it meant the same thing.”

“Assault could mean that you could have just hit me,” I explain. “Rape means that you forced me... that you forced yourself... sexually... onto me...” My voice trails off.

“Rarity, ah apologize for tryin’ to... tryin’ to...” she stops to breathe. “For tryin’ to rape ya.”

Applejack says it, honestly and sincerely. As straightforward as she can.

It does not ease the pain in my chest.

“Ah don’t have any excuses," she continues, "and ah won’t blame it on the drink. Fault is mine. Ah don’t know what got over me. It was so sudden and ah was so angry and... ah’m so ashamed.”

“You better be.”

“Why are you tryin’ to make this so hard for me?”

“Because it shouldn’t be easy.”

“Ah apologize.”

“Oh, you’re sorry. That’s it?" My hoof make a step forward and my eyes starts to tear up. "Am I supposed to just accept your apology so we can walk hoof-in-hoof together again? You assaulted me. You stole my first kiss.”

Applejack head shoot up, her eyes wide. “Ah didn’t know...”

“I don’t know what kind of rustic debauchery you were brought up in, but I was saving my lips for my stallion on my wedding day. And now, I can’t even sleep at night without remembering how you tried to...”

It is too much. Never in my life had I felt so helpless and despoiled than when I was beneath Applejack’s hooves. Since her attack, a sensation lingers all over me like a stain of mud that cannot be washed away no matter how furiously I scrub my coat. I do not even know why I try. I feel that the stain and vulgarity is beyond flesh, that it has seeped to that where innocence and sanctity ought to be.

I break into sobs, collapsing on the floor.

Applejack takes a step forward but hesitates. She mumbles something, and angrily smashes her hoof against the wall. “Ah’m sorry, Rare. Ah’m sorry. Ah’d say it as many times it takes, ah’m sorry. Ah’d give anything to change the past, but there's no going back. It’s done now. Ah don’t expect ya to forget, but here ah am hoping ya could forgive. Ah don’t want this to ruin our friendship. Ah’d do anything to make it right again.”

I pick myself up from the floor and hid my face from her. “Whatever made you do it, of all things?”

“Ah... dunno.”

“I slapped you," I say, wiping the tears from my eyes. "You could have simply hit me back... It would’ve been less painful.”

“Ah wouldn’t dare hit ya." She shakes her head. "Never.”

“So you forced yourself onto me instead!? What was your intention? What were you trying to prove?”

“I think I thought that was the worst thing I could do.”

“Would you have...” I bite my lip. “If Twilight hadn’t been there to stop you, would you have... gone all the way?”

“Would you believe me if ah said no.”

“I don’t know what to believe anymore.”

“I wouldn’t believe me after what ah did. Some Element of Honesty I turn out to be... but if there’s one thing you can believe it’s that the responsibility is mine... as well as the shame. Not yours.”

“I don’t think there’s anything left in me... Not even disgrace.”

“Ah said ah can’t change the past... but ah reckon ah can do something to ease your pain, to make ya feel less... scared.”

I look to Applejack, who looks at me with a stern expression of confidence found only in a stallion who is sure of what he’s doing. It frightens me.

Applejack takes a step forward and my eyes widen. The sight of her moving towards me propels me further against the immovable wall.

“Stay back!” I shout.

But she is not hindered.

I levitate several obstacles and fling them in her direction: a roll of tape, some fabrics, a pair of scissors.

“Twilight, help!” I shout through the door. There is no response.

Applejack draws closer, and in a desperate attempt I fling a wooden chair towards her face. It hits her directly on the head. The impact stops her for a brief instant. She glares at me, a striking glare, and I see how my struggle only fuels her determination. She inches closer again, closer until she was a manebreadth away; until there is nothing to see but her. I see her hooves close in on my shivering body.

It all comes back to me to in quick flash: the kiss, the musk, the taste of apples. Her hooves gripping me in place as she had her way with me. The feeling of defiance in a state of helplessness.

Oh, Celestia, no more...

Please stop...

My eyes tear up.

Then I feel Applejack’s hooves wrap around me in an embrace.

“Ah promised ah wouldn’t hurt ya, sugarcube,” she says.

My whole body freezes, shocked into place by the unfathomable and inconceivable warmth and protectiveness of that embrace. Her hold tightens around me. It is a powerful hold, yet gentle: the embrace that all mares yearn to lean on. I feel as though these hooves are there to protect me from the ones before and that, as I let her, she would protect me from all that would do me harm.

"Ah swear," she says. “Ah swear on mah grave, on mah parents grave, that ah won’t let anything hurt ya.”

My body eases up, and I make the subtlest of nods. My hooves return her embrace and we share a comfortable sense of safety. Certain, that one will not cause pain upon the other. Not anymore.

"Hey, Rare," she whispers.

"Y-Yes?"

"Ah'm sorry."

"...I know."

The smell of rust tickles my nostrils as I feel Applejack's hooves loosen.

"Applejack?"

There was no reply. I feel her breathing lighten.

"Applejack?" I call a second time.

Slowly, Applejack's body slithers away from me. Her weight shifts and she falls, collapsing to the floor with a loud thud. Over her right eye I see blood flowing profusely.

"Applejack!" I scream; I kneel to her and grab her in my hooves. "Twilight! Help! Call an ambulance!"

"And then... what happened?" Fluttershy squeaks, submerging half of her face beneath the tub’s hot water.

"Twilight and I waited for what seemed like hours," I say, staring at my own deadpan reflection. "Then Nurse Redheart came out of those doors and assured us that she will be fine. All she needs now is plenty of bed rest. The concussion is mild and her current state owes more to the stress of her work."

"Thank goodness.” Fluttershy sighs in relief. “I thought she'd be more hurt after that kind of fall."

"She is an earth pony, dear,” I say, rubbing my hooves together. “They're made of tougher stuff."

"Still, it's not like Applejack to slip in the apple cellar like that. I think that's the first time that’s happened."

"A first for everything, darling. And hopefully the last."

“But what was she so stressed about?”

“My look at the time. We better get out of here before our hooves get all pruney.”

We both exit the hot tub and go straight to the lockers where we return our private bath towels. We proceed to the massage room and pedicure room— the final stage of our weekly ritual.

“Oh, Miss Rarity,” says Aloe, just as I lie down on the massage table, “this came for you a minute ago.”

She hands me a small telegram in a basket and I levitate it to me. “Thank you very much.”

I inspect the letter. It’s perfumed with the smell of what seems to be...

Fleur de Lis.

I turn the letter excitedly. The crimson wax seal is embossed with three crowns.

Surely, I should remind Fancy Pants next time to stop doing that. He’s no Celestia.

I laugh meekly for a moment, imagining how the conversation would turn out. I levitate a letter opener, use it to open the envelope, return it aside, and finally read the letter's contents.

Dearest Rarity,

Fleur and I invite you as the VIP to our quarter-annual cocktail party at the end of this month in the Mare Antoinette tower. More than anypony else, I am sure you know what this occasion truly is for.

Your host,

Fancypants

P.S. Your friends are also invited and will be given a grand reception should you wish to bring them.

Out of control, I make a loud unladylike laugh that draws the attention of Fluttershy and the twins.

“What does it say?” Fluttershy asks, trying hard not to look over my shoulder.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Just an invitation to a party.”

What made me laugh is the thought that this party, hosted by Fancypants, is without a doubt her engagement party with Fleur de Lis. I imagine how the mare, unable to contain her excitement, forces her fiancé to announce the betrothal months ahead of schedule.

Though what catches my eye is the postscript written at the very bottom. It suggest that I specifically bring one of my friend to the party.

It makes me think for a moment. Though Fancypants is charmed by my group of friends here in Ponyville, it does not follow that the rest of the elites share his genuine approval outside mere verbal expression. The blame is not theirs entirely. Two circles of friends does not always form a chain.

I look to Fluttershy who looks at me curiously. “Darling, do you by chance have anything planned at the end of month.”

“What for?”

“The party asks that I bring a friend with me. Though it is not an absolute command, I’d find it very rude if I were to appear their alone. It looks... defiant.”

“Will we be going somewhere?”

“Canterlot.”

“Is it the... party?”

“Indeed.”

“Well, I... I don’t know. I’m not sure...”

“Pretty please,” I hold on to her hoof and bat a few eyelashes, hoping it will have the same effect as it normally does to stallions. “There’s nopony else I could ask to come with me.”

“Well there’s Rain-”

“Rainbow Dash would reject with immediate haste, no doubt.”

“How about Pink–” She stops and catches herself, “How about Twilight?’

“I am afraid to say that Twilight Sparkle and I are not on good terms at the moment.”

“Did something happen?”

“She has a perfectly good reason for hating me as she does.”

“Oh my!” Fluttershy holds her hooves against her mouth.

“It’s none of the extremes that you might be imagining, I assure you. She is perfectly justified. It is the kind of simmering hatred that cools down with the slow passage of time. I simply need to keep my distance from her— say, a few days— and this party would be a great excuse for that.”

“Did you... do something?”

“It is what I didn’t do. My stubbornness and wild passion blinded me to the light of reason. It was my shortcomings.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

"I prefer not to, dear.” I smile to her. "It is that time of the week that we enjoy our afternoon.”

The both of us remain silent for a while. The twins arrive, carrying in their mouths a bottle of massage oil.

I lie face down on the massage table. Fluttershy does the same. Lotus stands by my beside and a moment later I feel the cold, viscous liquid bite into my coat. Then I feel the mare’s gentle hooves spread the lotion all over my back. It is a soothing sensation, as though every pore that breathes in the coolness washes away the strain from my muscles.

I allow myself the absolute surrender and relax, letting Lotus do her work.

Work–heck– this is magic!

My hindleg makes a small jerk, one of those small, weak jerks when one can't help but melt in pleasure.

Then the mare’s hooves increase in pressure. Against my coat and flesh her touch suddenly feels like a hammer that highlights the weakness of my feminine physique— as though those hooves can do whatever they wish with my body. To hold me, to lock me in a death-grip. Those powerful hooves against me, pressure coiling around my hips, a ruthless tongue that slithers across my neck, carrying with it the stench of apples...

“Aaah!!!” I scream and tumble back. The table flips and I fall to the white tiles.

I come to just as quickly as I had gone. In front of me, three mares stare in horror.

“Loti! What did you do?” shrieks Aloe to her sister.

Lotus looks frightened. She offers me her hoof and I take it. The two sister throw nervous glances to me and one another.

“No, no.” I say to Lotus. “You have done nothing wrong, dear. It is me. I... I do not particularly feel like it for today. Do not fret though. I will be back as scheduled.”

“Did I do something wrong, Miss Rarity?” Lotus whispers. “I am so sorry.”

“It is my back, I believe. I should have taken the doctor’s advice when he said that I should not apply too much pressure to my dorsum.”

“You have a back ache?” Fluttershy asks and tilts her head.

“Quite so," I lie. "I thought that a massage would work out the tensions but I guess it only had the reverse effect.”

“If only I knew!” Lotus cries.

“Hush, darling. The fault is mine for the lack of warning. I should have said something.”

“We should get you to the hospital,” says Fluttershy. “I mean, you know, just to make sure that nothing’s wrong.”

“No need. Nothing a good night’s rest can’t heal.”

Fluttershy rises to her hooves, the bath robe sliding off her sleek back. She shakes her head. “I wouldn’t advise that. Let’s go.”

Fluttershy drags me out of the room and into the reception area, where we pay our fees to the twins that keep apologizing profusely. Fluttershy and I assure them that they have not lost our patronage, and that they can expect us next week as scheduled.

I try to lead us back to their homes, but Fluttershy’s worry about my well-being eventually carries us to the hospital. I try to persuade her against it, one small lie over another, but she would always retort with tales of how her injured animal friends with the same symptoms.

“Really, I do not believe that this is necessary.”

“Maybe something bad happened when Lotus massaged you, or when you fell, or you broke a muscle and the pain is so much that you can’t even feel it.” Fluttershy, bless the darling, grimaces at her own thoughts.

“Really now, that last is too much of an exaggeration. Even for you.”

"Oh, we can pay Applejack a visit as well. Wouldn’t that be lovely?”

Fluttershy holds the door open for me before I could respond, and I find the reason that draws me away from the establishment, more so than naturally. I knew, at the back of my mind, that Applejack is there.

Waiting for me.

“We’re here,” she repeats, trying to break me out of my trance.

“D-Darling...” I sigh. “I really, really, do not feel quite up to this at the moment.”

“But...”

But before she could say more, out came the professional visage of Nurse Redheart, opening the door.

“Good afternoon, Miss Rarity,” the nurse says. “I am glad you came today."

"But I didn't—"

"We could use your help calming her down. Follow me.”

Clipboard in hoof, Nurse Redheart beckons me to follow her. Caught between the oblivious nurse and the surprisingly resistant Fluttershy, there is no escape. Fluttershy and I exchange glances and, not without reluctance, follow the nurse. She leads us to the second floor and in front of a door with the label ‘209.’

“Please convince her to take some rest,” Redheart says before departing.

Before I could act, Fluttershy pushes open the door.

It is a small, single room, cozy enough for patients who aren’t expecting many visitors. The large open window blasts a chill of cool air that makes the curtains dance against the wind, and in the middle of the room, parallel to the bed, Applejack is doing some push-ups.

“Ah told you ah don’t need no bed rest.” She looks to us and stops her exercise. “Oh. Pardon. Thought you were Redheart. Very strict nurse, that one.”

Applejack stands properly on all fours, grabs a towel, and uses it to wipe the perspiration off her glistening coat. The room had gathered the smell of apple pheromones.

“Sorry to be unsightly,” she says with a smile. “Was trying to work up a sweat, tryin’ to prove to ‘em doctors ah ain’t about to stay the rest the day all tuckered away in some bed.”

“Oh my, that looks painful.” Fluttershy flies closer to the earth pony to inspect the still-raw, cut over her right eye.

“It ain’t as bad as it looks,” she says, moving away. "Doc made a few stitches and said it'll be fixed like it was never there."

“You should really be more careful in that apple cellar. You can, you know, put pillows.”

“Uh... Apple cellar? Pillows?"

“Rarity told me it’s the stress that made you slip. You should be careful about that too.”

“Excuse me, darling,” I say without thinking. “May I speak with Applejack for a moment.”

Fluttershy looks to me then to Applejack. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you two wanted some privacy. I didn't know you two had something to talk about and I was in the way–"

“You weren’t dear. It’s just that...” I try to explain.

“I’ll... go wait outside now.”

Fluttershy flies out the door, leaving me alone with Applejack.

I look to the cowpony, and she slowly backs away to the other side of the bed, retrieving her hat from the cabinet and placing it on her head.

“So... How are you feeling?” I ask.

“Could be better, could be worse.” She shrugs.

“Anything I should be worried about?”

“Twilight and me already covered the hospital bills, if that’s what yer asking.”

“I... I wasn’t.”

“Sorry... I didn’t mean it to be rude-like.” She looks out the window and sits on the bed, her hind legs dangling inches from the floor. “So... Apple cellar, huh.”

“If you are going to ask me to disclose the truth to Fluttershy then I will.”

“Please. Ah don't want no lies," she says, cradling her hat. "Ah never asked you to lie for me, Rarity. I know ya meant good but ah don’t like it when ponies lie, even for mah sake... What ah did to ya that night was shameful, that ah deserve it; the only thing more shameful is to hide from it, and that ah don’t.”

“I’m sorry if I insulted you.”

“You didn’t mean it..." she says, followed by a small chuckle "Y'know, Rainbow Dash sneaked in to visit me this morning. She asked me where and why ah got hit. Ah told her you threw a chair at me and she got mad. But ah told her ya did that cuz ya were protecting yourself after what ah did to ya. Rainbow Dash got so mad at me she left, slamming the door on her way out. Last thing she said is that she’s gonna buck me in the chest the moment ah get out of the hospital to send me right back in.”

“I’ll speak to her. Tell her that we are on better terms.”

“Are we?”

“We are trying to be.”

“Yeah...”

I shuffle in place and I bow my head to her. “I never had the chance to say it but I truly want to retain our friendship amidst this whole misunderstanding. To forgive and to forget. The former is done; the latter, not easily so.”

Applejack opens her lips to say something. I hold my hoof up.

“Please, let me finish... I will not speak of the weight of our shortcomings. I will only add that I know and admit that a great deal of this mess is due to my insensitivity. If only I was not inconsiderate of your attention. And if I was not so... proud... we could have resolved this long ago. Applejack, I accept your apology. Now, I am begging you to accept mine, as one friend to another. For my crudity... for my harsh words. For my pride and my... temper.”

“Of course ah forgive ya, you silly mare. Ya didn’t even need to ask.”

“Friends?” I offer her my hoof.

“Friends.” She takes my hoof in hers and shakes.

I feel that the hoofshake is too formal for us that I decide to lean in for a hug. But she backs away a step and for a heartbeat I think she wants me nowhere near her. She assures me otherwise, however.

“Woah there, nelly.” she says. “Might not be a good idea.”

I tilt my head.

“Ah smell shampoo on ya since you’ve been in the spa and all. And here ah am all sweaty.”

I laugh. “Oh, don’t be dainty.”

I embrace her, my hooves wrapping firmly around her neck. The sweat does not bother me, it is irrelevant. Neither does the smell of apples that once repelled me.

I guess it is her natural scent.

I pull away and sit beside her on the bed. “Darling, I have a modest idea...”

“Let’s hear it.”

“I have been invited to a party in Canterlot and they would like me to invite one of my friends. I asked Fluttershy to go but the dear was having second thoughts about it, no doubt it is only her timidity that prevents her from declining entirely. So if you have nothing planned at the end of the month...”

“So you want me to go with you to a party... in Canterlot?”

“Indeed.”

“Just the two of us?”

“I believe it’ll give us a chance to make up for lost time. Perhaps even let us forget about the entire incident and have a... fresh start.”

“As friends, right? I mean, just friends.”

“Of course. Whatever else as for?”

Applejack is quiet for a while then laughs meekly.

“I know a Canterlot party is not exactly your idea of a good time,” I say, “but I have no other means of setting apart some time for ourselves in the foreseeable future. I understand if you—”

“Alright, ah’m goin’.”

“You will?”

“Yeah, ah mean... It’s just a party.”

“Oh, thank you. I was frazzled to think you’d say no.”

“How long would we be stayin’ there?”

“As long we wish to.”

“I’ll probably be spendin’ just one night there, if ya don’t mind. Can’t let Big Mac do all the farm work.”

“Completely understandable.” I stare at Applejack with a grin. “Of course, I have to make a new dress you.”

“Come again?”

“Darling, wearing the same dress in succession is a criminal offense.”

“Fine. Just don’t make it’all too frou-frouey.”

“As you wish. Though I would have to retake your measurements for adjustments. Do you mind if I come back tomorrow?”

“Anytime, sugarcube.”

“...sugarcube?”

“Applejack?” I gasp.

“What?” Cadance says, fidgeting with the coffee pot.

“I apologize," I say, remembering where I was. "What was it that you said?”

“I asked if you wanted sugarcubes in your coffee.”

“Uhh, yes. One please.”

Cadance reaches for the sugar bowl with her magic and plucks out a white cube, dropping it into my cup. She levitates a spoon and stirs the coffee as she hands it to me.

“Thank you,” I say, taking a sip. “It is quite an honor to be served coffee by royalty. One of the few more things I can brag about when I get back home.”

Cadance giggles. “It’s the same coffee.”

“Very delicious. Very exquisite.” I take another sip and study the taste. “Let me guess... Columbmare?”

“Yes.” She takes a sip from her own cup. “From the high mountains in the Old Country. They grow the finest beans there.”

“I’ve only had the pleasure of tasting this once. They rarely export this kind of quality to Ponyville.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

I take another sip and the thick taste of the coffee beans melds together with the thin cream. The strong taste rises in the steaming aroma.

I look around Cadance's private chamber. For a princess who has the entire wing of a castle for herself, she settles converting her room into a bungalow of pink. Where there should be a spacious master bedroom, there is an inconvenient place Cadance says one has to "delightfully squeeze" oneself in. The entire chamber is split in half to make room for a tear parlor kitchenette packed with all sorts of implements for private use. Frying pans, cookbooks and expensive spices hangs on the wall, covering the marble tiles of what should have been a splendorous room.

But the utensils, dear Celestia!A tea set made of gold and enamel; spoons, knives and forks of silver. No expense had been spared there.

"You like what I've done with the place?"

"Yes." I lie.

"Thank you," she says, smiling at the small room we confine ourselves in. “I like to think of it as a small cottage for Shining Armor and I.”

She adds more cream to her coffee and, finding the bottle empty, reaches for a new one.

“And of course, for personal friends,” she adds, smiling at me.

“Tell me, do you always serve coffee yourself?”

“Always when I have guests. Most of the time, otherwise.”

“Don’t you have servants... err.. servers to do these things for you?”

“Yes. But I hardly call upon them." She pours a new cup of coffee for herself and places a tray of biscuits on the table. "There’s too little things to do to keep oneself busy.”

“I, for one, could wish to say the same.”

“I don’t. I believe it’s a long days hard work that makes us appreciate the small things in life.” She smiles and sips her drink. "Being a princess isn't always a good thing."

She stops as though waiting for me to ask a question. I simply stare blankly and sip at my coffee.

I’m sure you’d know.

“How long do you plan on staying here in Canterlot?” she asks, trying to keep the conversation going.

“A week if I am lucky. But I would be gone before then.”

“You can stay longer than that.”

“My friend who is with me on this trip cannot afford to stay out of town for too long.”

“Who is it?”

A small smile somehow brightens my face. I take a sugar cube and stir it into my coffee. “Jacqueline.”

“Jacqueline...?”

“Apple... Jaqueline.”

“Oh!” Cadance laughs. "Applejack!"

“Well, Jaqueline sounds more elegant to be honest.”

“Where is she? I want to meet her as well.”

“She’s out buying souvenirs for her sister.”

“I didn’t mean to keep you from her. If I knew I would’ve invited her as well.”

“Oh, it’s perfectly alright. She doesn’t fancy tea parties as much as I. Furthermore, she and I will have all the time for ourselves tonight.”

Cadance blushes, her wings flutters for a moment and it hits a frying pan behind her. “Is it a... date?” she says, more than asks, like an excited school filly.

I almost blow my coffee into her face when she said that. Instead, I burst out in an unladylike guffaw. “Heavens, no! Where in Equestria did you get the idea?”

“Relationships with mares are not that uncommon. As a princess I can, must and do appreciate love in all its forms.”

“Don’t be absurd,” I say, trying to withhold my laughter. “Applejack and I, what a scandal! We are simply here on a recluse. Trying to tie a friendship that we almost severed—"

I try to swallow the words back in. But I have already let on more than I wanted Cadance to put her muzzle in.

“Did something happen?” she asks. She inferred, instantly, the distress. And I see from her eyes how eager she is to help.

“I do not like to speak of it. It is an unpleasant memory to relive.” My eyes remain on those blocks of sweets on the bowl. “I could only say that it is water under the bridge now.”

“But you lived through it, nevertheless.”

“True.”

“Then let bygones be bygones.”

“Though I appreciate delicious gossip as much as the next mare, I am afraid I cannot do so. It is a matter of strict privacy which is greatly controversial for Jacquline, and I, for one, would not disclose it without her consent.”

“I apologize for prying. I didn't think it was as serious as that.”

“The mistake is mine. It’s my usual habit of talking that leaves juicy clues like that to bait the interest of my listeners.”

She nods and smiles again. That smile that never seems to die out. I take another sip in response, and find my cup empty.

“More coffee?” she asks.

“Please.”

We hear the chamber door open followed by heavy controlled footsteps.

“Honey, I’m home,” says a stallion with a voice that chimes of bells. A voice that I could not hear elsewhere, and one I could not dislocate from the buried fantasies of my dreams.

Shining Armor!

My whole body freezes as I hear the footsteps growing closer. Then the prince comes into view, in full armor and standing tall and proud with the sunlight from the open windows gleams over the family crest on his chest.

“Oh, I didn’t realize we have a visitor.” He smiles at me, and my heart threatens to jump out of my chest. “Good afternoon, Miss Rarity.”

“Good after–"

I could not finish. Cadance leaps to her feet and takes her husband in her hooves. Within each other’s embrace, the couple kiss.

My smile stiffens and my grip of the cup tightens.

Cadance tears away from his husband’s embrace and smiles to him. “Honey, Rarity’s here in Canterlot on a business trip. I invited her for lunch if you don’t mind.”

"Not at all.” He turns to me. “Nice of you to pay us a visit."

"Aways a pleasure," I say to him. "Would you like to join m-... us?"

"I don't know if I can,” he says, taking off his helmet and putting it aside. “I wouldn't wanna get in between your chat."

"If ever," I say, "I am the third wheel here."

Shining Armor looks to his wife for approval. Cadance makes a nod.

"Let me make something for you," she says. "I'll go get some fresh ingredients from the garden. Behave yourself now."

"What is that suppose to mean?"

Cadance happily trots outs the room. Shining Armor sits to the table opposite to me and, for the first time in my life, I have him all for myself.

"That mare," Shining Armor sighs with a slight chuckle, "she knows she can order servants around to do the cooking..."

It is a struggle, a complete tortuous struggle, to maintain one’s composure. Seeing him sit within an arm’s reach from where I am, knowing I cannot as much as reach out and touch him. My heart beats like a mad drummer, coercing me to imagine the undoable and do the unimaginable.

“S-S-She...” Stuttering, I lick my dry lips and clear my throat. "She enjoys housework... castlework in this case. Nevertheless, a mark of a good wife."

"You said it."

"Would you like a cup of coffee?"

"Oh please, allow me."

"It's no trouble."

My horn glows and I fill my cup to the brim. I levitate his cup with my horn and pour some from the coffeepot. My magic tenses up, and it takes my full attention to not spill anything.

"Sugar and cream?"

"None, thank you." He levitates his cup to his lips and drinks. The smile he shows me as he places his cup down makes me fidget in place.

"A stallion with a strong tongue, I see."

"I had to. During our training days we didn't have the luxury of sugar or cream. Got use to it, I guess."

"How's everything in Canterlot?" I say, trying to keep the conversation going."No changelings I should be worried about?"

"All's quiet on Canterlot," he says proudly. "Working hard day and night to make your trip as safe as it can be."

"My, all that for me?" I jest. "I should find some way of thanking the whole royal guard."

"Everypony's happiness is all that we ask." He drinks from his cup. "Speaking of everypony, how’s my egghead of a sister?"

"The usual,” I say as casually as I can. “Books."

A painful memory stabs the back of my mind. With all that has happened between Applejack and I, Twilight Sparkle had been the most reliable and equally least charming friend as of late. Still she blames me for everything that happened, including the assault which she believes I instigated.

But after I told her of my plan to make amends, she was quick to ask Princess Celestia to reserve both Applejack and I a suite each in the castle. Her majesty was more than generous to give.

"Any... romantic attachments to anypony lately?" Shining Armor continues to inquire.

I sigh. "The closest Twilight Sparkle has ever gone into romance is borrowing one of my books for her literary studies."

“But there’s nopony... going after her, right? I mean... like... making advances and all that.”

I only giggle in response. If there was, Twilight would have been too oblivious of the intention to notice.

Shining armor sighs, in relief and in disappointment.

"Must be hard looking out for an academic as a sister,” I tell him. “On one hoof, you don't want her taken away from you by other colts or stallion. On the other, you do not want her to live her youth where her touch of romance is limited to the cold pages of papers."

"How did you... That's very considerate of you to notice."

"I have a sister myself. And I am already paranoiac about her love life," I say humbly. "But I assume it is more difficult for you when you are miles apart."

"She's a grown mare now. She can handle herself. And I'm sure she's bound to find her true love in time."

"True love..." I repeat after him, my tone apathetic. That word is painful to say, especially here where I sit in front of him. My eyes set on his, but his sight traveled distant, past me, and to wherever his beloved wife may. “Do you believe in true love?”

"You don't?" he asks as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

There is a sudden moment of silence that neither of us intended to ensue. And when I wanted to talk to him, at least that if anything, I found myself incapable of uttering a single word.

A full minute passed before I answer.

"I didn't," I say, turning away. "Until your marriage with Cadance."

"Cadance and I... now that’s true love, no doubt."

"If I may ask, were you involved with... other mares before Cadance?"

He looks at me, eyes wider than they’re supposed to.

"Oh, I am so sorry. It was rude of me to ask such question." In truth, I do not regret my question. I find myself wishing he will give the most contemptuous answer Cadance would believe.

But then he smiled, a sweet charming smile that lit up my heart and answered with words that broke it.

"Never," he said. "There is nopony else that I ever loved as I did Cadance."

He blushed. Something in my chest sank and if not for decorum's attention I would have dropped my cup.

"I just hope I can give her the life she's always wanted."

"Dear, she lives in a castle in Canterlot. She is a princess. Married to the most charming prince in all of Equestria. I do not know how she, or anypony, could possibly want more."

"Charming, huh?" he blushes at the compliment for a second. "Do you know what Cadance’s dreamhouse is like?"

I do not respond. I regret speaking of Cadance, I wish I could derail the conversation elsewhere.

"Look at what she's done with the place." Shining Armor motions to the closed kitchen. "All she's ever wanted: a small cabin on top of a hill someplace far far away... Being royalty isn't really cut out for her personality. She wants friends instead of servants. She wants to do rather than be done by."

I could not say much more. It feels as though my heart is locking the air in my lungs.

"I'm glad you asked that question, Miss Rarity." He smiles delightfully and emits an embarassed laugh.

"Which question?" I ask meekly.

"Whether...” he says, scratching the back of his head. “I loved anypony else other than Cadance. I just found out how much I care to answer it."

I could only glance at my reflection in the brown liquid in my cup. I lift the cup and down everything in one gulp.

There follows the sound of the knob clicking open and the door opening. Cadance enters the room and walks straight to us.

"Honey, I brought your favorite." She notices the sudden silence and ask. "Was I interrupting?"

“Of course not,” I respond. “Shining Armor was just telling me how much he loves you.”

"That's so sweet."

"What's the grub, honey?" Shining asks.

"I’m gonna make your favorite: asparagus and broccoli."

"C'mon. That again?" he says, wrapping his hooves around his wife.

"Stop complaining." Cadance kisses her husband on the lips, "It's better than the junk food you eat in the barracks."

"Hey those hayfries are great."

I stand up, levitating my hat back on my head. "I best be going."

"You're not staying for lunch?" Cadance asks, still in her husband's hold.

"I couldn't impose any further. Shining Armor just got home, very tired..." I say, rubbing my hooves together, "I don't want to be in your way."

"Will you be back soon?” she asks, trying to squirm her way out of Shining Armor’s embrace. “Can we invite you and Jacqueline for dinner?"

"Now that you mention it, do you know Fancy Pants?"

"I've met him once or twice. Why?"

"He's hosting a party tonight in the Mare Antoinette Tower. Jacqueline and I plan to attend it. If you have the time then I invite you to grace the occasion with your presence. I'm sure Fancy Pants would be more than happy to have you."

“That sounds lovely. We'll think about it."

"Please do,” I say, tipping my hat. “Ta ta."

I leave the couple alone and exit through the main door. I shut the door loud enough to make sure they heard it. I lean my back against the door and close my eyes.

“Very considerate, that Miss Rarity.” I hear Shining Armor say.

“Of course, ever since we met that has been her–” Cadance answer is silenced, then followed by her giggles. “Honey, don’t rush, it’s in the middle of the afternoon.”

A few more squeamish giggles follow.

I tear myself away from the door and walk away, resisting the violent urge to break apart every window I come across through the long narrow hallway.

“Ah’m still not sure about this...”

“Oh, heavens, no. You look great, darling.”

“Ah ain't talking about the dress.”

“Are you nervous?’

“Ah ain’t nervous of nothin’,” she says, her hoof noticeably shaking. “Consarn it.”

“You have nothing to be nervous about, Apple Jacqueline.”

“Not that name again.” She puts a hoof on her head and massages a sore spot. “Ah swear if ya call like me that in Ponyville amma gonna give ya a good smackin’.”

“I Pinkie Promise.” I pledge with my right hoof up. “Though it’ll be a hard promise to keep... Jacqueline.”

“Ohhh... Ah didn’t sign up for this.”

“Yes, you did.”

“You said we’d be making up for lost time.”

“We did, didn’t we? And we will.”

“We’d done nothin’ all afternoon but pick dresses for me.”

“Well, we would’ve finished earlier if you weren’t so stubborn about getting rid of that hat of yours. I swear, I think you grew out of that thing.”

“Hey, this here’s a good hat.”

The carriage stops. One of the stallions pulling the carriage outside announces that we have reached Mare Antoinette Tower.

“Boy howdy... Here we go.”

I place my hoof over hers. “Don’t worry. Just be yourself... just less...”

“Crude? Uncouth? Ruffian?”

“Ruffian isn’t an adjective, dear,” I say. “And I was going to say straightforward.”

“Oh gee, that makes me feel a whole lot better.”

“Hey, if anypony in that party insults you I’ll be the first to buck them in face.” I smile at her. “Nopony hurts my friends.”

She smiles back, encouraged. “Awright, let’s get this over with.”

Next only to the Royal Castle and Luna’s Planetarium, the Mare Antoinette Tower is one of the most regal monuments in all of Equestria, for the sole reason that it is more accessible to the public than the other two. Intricate carvings and sculptures ran up and down the outer marble face, twinkling in the evening glow. All the pomp and ribbons thrown over the tower meant that the whole piece would not look out of place sitting atop a wedding cake, crowning the most elaborate of pastries

Applejack and I stand on a platform where four pegasi butler carry us to the fortieth floor.

We make our way through two giant swinging doors, emerging into the dance hall where the party is already at it’s height. The classical cello and piano echoes through the walls and into our ears as we enter.

“Ah think we’re late.”

“Never arrive early, darling.”

The call of attention ripples throughout the room, and hundreds of eyes turn to Applejack and I.

“Keep your smile on, Jacqueline. You’ll be wearing it for the whole night.”

I hear her gulp in response.

In the next instant two dozen ponies already surround us, all of them competing for my attention.

“Ooh! Rarity, glad you could come,” says a mare whom I do not know. “We’ve heard all about your exploits,” says a filly with dangling earrings that seem too big for her ears. “Love the new dress,” said an aging mare who is desperately trying to hide the wrinkles on her neck beneath a collar.

I try to answer them one by one, giving them my very precious attention. Enough to indulge their queries, but not enough to satisfy it. It is important to maintain their eyes on me, and I have not felt myself more at home than now, swarmed by other ponies.

Applejack, on the other hand, is trying her best to be Jacqueline in front of the colts and stallions fighting for her attention. She wears a long elegant cross between a summer sundress and a cocktail frock. The color is a bright maroon, a splash of crimson and sienna; red, to match her blush, and brown, to match that hat she refuses to remove. Her mane unloosened dangles freely with every hoofstep that becomes the highlight of her movement.

I, on the other hoof, serve as her complement, wearing a black floor-length sleeveless gown with a fitted bodice embellished at the back with distinctive cut-out décolleté. The bodice is slightly open with a neckline that leaves uncovered shoulders. The skirt slightly gathers at the waist and slits to the thigh on one side. Added with it are the right accessories to match the long gown in the form of a pearl choker of many strands, a foot long cigarette holder, a mini tiara and a pair of black elbow-length opera gloves.

Applejack sees me looking at her, and she makes a gesture with her eyes for help to deal with the attention she could not. I playfully smirk at her, indicating that I have no intention of helping her out of the sea of stallions who throw themselves at her feet.

I should probably help her out of that predicament... Perhaps later.

From a distance, I see Fancy Pants and Fleur de Lis looking at me. As much as I love all the attention raining on me, it is improper to hog the audience away from the host and the cause of celebration. I immediately tear myself from the crowd and run to him.

“Fancy Pants! Fleur!” I say to them, loud enough for the other guests to hear.

“Welcome, Rarity. Fashionably late as always. I was hoping you wouldn’t be able to make it this time,” he says with a laugh.

“I tried.” I respond with a laugh of my own. I turn my attention to Fleur de Lis and whisper, “Have you announced your engagement yet?”

“Not yet. We were waiting for you.”

“And your friends,” Fancy Pants added.

“About that... I could only ask one to come. The rest couldn’t make it.”

“Is that her over there?”

Fancy Pants looks towards Applejack. Several stallions are handing her a glass of scotch to which she simply shakes her head and hoof to.

“Isn’t she a marvel,” Fancy Pants says. He does a double take after running a napkin to his monocle. “She looks quite elegant compared to when I last saw her.”

“Thank you. That was my magic, as always.”

“You’ve outdone yourself yet again.” Fancy Pants grabs a drink from the table. “Might as well make her acquaintance.”

I follow him as he trots to Applejack. “I have to warn you that, being a regular country mare, she isn’t the most sophisticated of ponies. And you would have to excuse her candid approach to things.”

“No need to explain yourself dear.”

As Fancy Pants approaches Applejack, the crowd of colts and stallions naturally dissipates to make room for him. Applejack pieces together the scenario and realizes that the unicorn I am with is the host of the party.

“Uhh... Howdy,” she says.

You’d think she’d say Hello or Good Evening,

I try my hardest to prevent my hoof from flying to my face. Fancy Pants, however, sees nothing wrong with the greeting.

“May I have the pleasure of meeting Miss Applejack?” Fancy Pants says, offering her the drink.

“I’m Applejack if that’s what yer asking. But Rarity calls me Jacqueline tonight.” She looks at the glass offered to him and back to Fancy Pants. “And ah’m sorry. But no alcohol for me.”

The crowd around us gasps and Applejack nervously looks around, sweat coming out of her forehead. Our eyes meet for a second and I try to send her a message with my eyes of how rude it is to refuse a drink from a gentlecolt, especially if he’s the host of the party.

Fancy Pants emits a delightful laugh, naturally deaf to the bickering presumptions of his peers.

“Would you do me the honor of getting you a fresh one?” he says.

“Ah... sure ah guess.”

Fancy Pants turns to me and smiles. “You wouldn’t mind if I borrow her for a while now, would you?”

“Not at all.”

Fancy Pants hints to be followed by Applejack, to which the cowpony obeys. As they move to the wine table I can hear Fancy Pants words trailing off. “I must say I have been looking forward to making your acquaintance...”

I sigh. I do not know if I should follow them or not. Applejack is, albeit forcibly, controlling every minute gesture of her body to blend in with a crowd she knows she does not belong to. She does it for my sake, I know, to save me from an embarrassment. I could only imagine what kind of social distress I flung her into.

I hope the dear isn’t too ill at ease.

I feel a hoof lightly tap my shoulder and I briskly turn. Fleur de Lis is there, hoof outstretched and offering me a a glass maretini.

“Nervous about... Jacqueline?” she asks.

“Well... No. Maybe. I don’t know... Yes.”

“She can handle herself.”

“I know. What I am nervous about is that I don’t want to see her fumbling in place, bored out of her wits. This is not the kind of party Jacqueline is quite used to.”

Fleur laughs. “I understand. Though I think boredom would be the least of her concerns.”

The both of us look; a pair of nice looking gentlecolts approach the cowpony and Fancy Pants, hoping to become part of their conversation.

“I think she’ll have no shortage of company for the night.”

I observe how Fancy Pants always leads the conversation to Applejack, to which now she is slowly able to relax. “Fancy Pants aptitude in social gatherings makes him very good at making ponies feel at home.”

“He did the same thing to you, has he not?”

I laugh. “Why yes, I remember he did that when we first met... I could only wonder how many times he did the same to you.”

“Far too many times to count. And it still works everytime.”

“Still, go ahead and announce it now.” I almost squeal. “I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it.”

“In time, dear. Your coming here has livened up the party and we wouldn’t want to distract everypony from you.” She winks. “Time to mingle.”

“Speaking of guests, I just remembered.” I levitate a canapé off the plate of a passing butler. “I have invited Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadance to the party.”

“The royal couple?” Fleur says, her eyes lighting up. “You managed to invite them here?”

“They didn’t promise anything. Though if they did, they should be here any minute now.”

“Ha!” Fleur exasperates like school filly. “If you managed to get them to come, we’ll have to invite you to all our parties from now on.”

“Oh, woe-is-me.” I take a bite off the appetizer. “Whatever shall I do with all the invitations I have to reject.”

We both stop for a moment and share a laugh. Fleur turns to leave to meet up with Fancy Pants and Applejack.

As soon as she is gone, several ponies comes for my attention. First two, then five... six... seven...

It is going to be a long night.

The party is the same as the rest of its kind: a fistful of busy bees buzzing from one company to another, patting shoulders with one hoof and a stinger hidden in the other, playing that social chess where every pawn plays the queen mother. It’s the same jokes, gossip and circle jerking; everypony nodding in mechanical approval. I, admittedly, am no exception.

“...and then I said, ‘Discount? What am I poor?’” I say.

I laugh and then they are forced to laugh with me.

“Oh, Rarity you are such a delight, as always,” a matron says. She wears a fake wig and sports a pearl necklace for a cutie mark. "It is a shame that we don't see you here often."

"I try my best when I pass the city on business trips."

"Very considerate of you to visit us on occasions," says a black-coated stallion whose name I do not know.

"Of course," I say to him. "I would not abandon my Canterlot friends."

This elicits a murmur of delightful agreement.

"I guess we can all agree that you belong here more than anyplace else," says another stallion with a mustache. "Would you care to tell us about your adventures on being an Element of Harmony. I'm sure that's what we're all dying to hear."

“I’m not an Element of Harmony, dear. Just its bearer. But all the same I can share the story.” I force myself not to smile too big. "Of course, be forewarned that I might be a bore."

There is the combined sound of disapproval and eagerness from them.

I walk to the wine table to look as though I desire a drink, only to have the entourage follow my hoofsteps. "Now then... where to begin..."

The party wears on and I find myself with the attention of the majority of the crowd.

“...Past the Everfree Forest, into the ruined castle of the princess, she showed herself: The very of heart of darkness! Nightmare Moon!”

They stomp their hooves in applause when I tell them.

“...He was a powerful god indeed. He corrupted my friends and turned them into the opposites of their former selves...”

They laugh when I laugh.

"...There I was, surrounded by thousands of changelings, armed with nothing but my desire to save the city I so love. I would not dare hand all our glamour to those vile creatures..."

I look around, eyes eager to be seen than to see. I knew what kind of ponies they were. If I were to sing an opera or jump on a pogo stick it would make no difference to them insofar that others could see that I entertain their attention.

It makes no difference to me all the same.

"...and that is how I and my friends saved Canterlot," I concluded, finally, after what seems to be hours of talk.

They stomp their hooves in applause as though my tale was a concerto. Others shower me with their compliments. "We owe it to you, then, that Equestria is saved." "What heroic adventures." "Oh, Rarity. You always have a way of lighting up a party."

Then, at the height of the night, as my mouth opens, ready to return some conjured up reply, the worst of all possible things enters: the great doors open, and from it emerge the royal couple. All eyes turn to look see at the pair, dressed in beautiful ensembles. The excited gasps echo in the room.

The crowd around me breaks apart one by one. They dissipate around the entire room, all focused and eager to wait in line to have the prince and princess’s attention. A few ponies stay by my side for the sole reason that they are too close to tear themselves away from me without appearing improper.

I suddenly lose all desire to speak.

From this distance, I can already see the cowpony meet up the pair. Fancy Pants follows her to welcome his most esteemed guests, and beside him stands Fleur de Lis. They slowly form a circle to which all others orbit and chatter.

And I find myself alone at the outermost circle, my eyes fixed on the royal couple at the center of it all.

The shimmering lights of the room glint and wink to a dress of polished steel and metal. Shining Armor stands amidst the crowds as though he is the only solid entity amidst the mishmash aggregate of the faceless and the fluid. He stands in his captain’s armor, a lavender cuirass with golden plating that runs sharp across his shoulder blades. He spares himself the helm that would otherwise hide the youthful features of his smile. For his sole ornament, the aegis shines with his family’s crest and Canterlot’s coat-of-arms. Too militant for a celebration, yet too svelte for combat, the complete effect projects the refined fierceness of a saint-crusader. A soldier and a gentlecolt, both, when he could be one or the other.

Cadance is wearing some dress.

They must have noticed me looking in their direction, for Cadance looks at me and waves. Her entire company turns and all eyes are on me. I feel my stomach turning as I feel the need to approach them.

My legs moves on their own, carrying me across the floor through an aisle of whispers and glares. I take a deep breath and say the only words I could to Cadance.

Get out of here!

"Darling . . . so glad you could make it," I say, taking her hoof in my own.

“Thank you for inviting us,” she replies.

"So you managed to invite the royal couple," Fancy Pants says to me, then to his fiancé, "this ought to spice things up for the night, wouldn't you say?"

"The more the merrier," adds Fleur de Lis.

"Let me get you a drink, you two," I say to the royal pair. It is a momentary excuse just so I could, even for a moment, expel myself from Cadance’s company.

"Allow me," says Shining Armor. "What would you like?"

He smiles to me, and the fake smile I have worn for the past hour becomes real. The dress I am wearing wanders in his eyes, reflected by those deep, blue orbs.

"A maretini if it's not too much trouble,” I say to him. “Very dry."

Cadance smiles. "A maretini as well. Very dry."

For some time I stood there; part star, part audience—drifting towards the latter. The conversation dies out before I can hear it. I appear to be listening, making the safest answers to inquiries and controversies apt for the party. Natural adaptation takes over and my consciousness is barely present.

All I could think of is whether Shining Armor finds me handsome in my dress.

Does he think I’m overdressed? Too sultry?

As the minutes crawl by, the crowd thickens. I find myself having less and less to say until I am completely absorbed into the herd of retinue. Shining Armor has stopped looking at my direction and I have never found so myself so alone than here, amidst my kind ponies.

“Excuse me, darlings, I have to go the powder room,” I say to anypony who cares to listen.

I squeeze myself out of the crowd and trot straight to the bathroom located on the higher floor.

The swinging door of the bathroom bursts as I run in. I approach the sink and turn on the faucet. I stay there for a minute, hoof on the corners of the basin, eyes deadset on the water racing down the drain. I feel the strong inclination to splash water all over my eyes, ears, and mouth. The only thing stopping me is the cosmetics that would ruin my face in doing so.

The door opens. A surge of panic comes over me. I shake my head and turn the faucet off as I back away to the wall.

An elderly mare walks in. Her cutie mark is a windup toy of chattering teeth.

"Lovely party, wouldn’t you say?" she says. She approaches the mirror and proceeds to powder her muzzle.

"Indeed," I respond, clearing my throat.

"Full of surprises. First you then the royal couple. I could hardly believe it."

"Fancy Pants knows how to show his guests a great time."

"I could only wonder if there's any more room for surprises. It might be too much for us to take, wouldn’t you say?" she says, applying a thick layer of lipstick. "What do you think of Cadance?"

"Me?" I gasp. The question came completely out of nowhere.

"Cadance, dear."

"I don't think of her."

"That's hardly a way to talk of her royal highness.” she says, pressing her lips together. “I for one think we only need more time to get along with her. Might be a good way to connect with royalty, wouldn’t you say?"

"She is a great mare..."

"So you say now. This is her first party with us, yes? I dare to think why won't she spent more time with us."

I realize that her special talent is not shutting up.

"Well...” I lick my lips and a small smile crawls onto my face. “You don't you think it's because she's royalty?"

"What does that have to do with it? Princess Celestia attends our gatherings whenever it’s convenient for her."

"A party is a great way to showcase oneself. Is it not?"

"True."

"You know how the princesses lives in those castles, Cadance especially. The kind of party we have couldn't possibly match what they can conjure by command. Perhaps she is here to... I don't know... humor us?"

"Surely, her highness wouldn't be so vain now..."

"Oh, she isn't. In fact, I was the one who invited her. She said that by coming she's showing us what glamour truly is like, and that hopefully some of her regality would rub off on to us."

"She did not!"

“Well, not in those words.”

“In what words, then?”

“Well, words are meaningless when evidence shows itself in action,” I say bouncing the curls of my mane. “Why don’t you observe her. I mean, it’s not like she’s trotting across the room as though the floor is hers.”

“Well... does she?” She stops for a moment and looks at me with a raise eyebrow. “I mean... does she?”

“That’s for you to evaluate, dear. I for one think she’s just uneasy. I mean, you didn’t hear it from me, but the fact that she started joining us only now that she’s married, means that she feels like showing off her husband. Like some sort of trophy.”

"Well now, I didn't think she was so... conceited." She catches herself and her eyes grows in horror. "Oh please, don't tell anypony I said that."

"I won't."

"Let's keep this conversation to ourselves."

"Of course. Nothing will escape these walls."

As I exit the bathroom, another mare walks in. She is younger than I, with a pair of speech bubbles for a cutie mark. Before the doors could flip close I hear the previous mare say the words to the new one.

“You wouldn’t believe what I heard about Cadance...”

I return to the party with a smile plastered on my face, but the smile vanishes.

Cadance is there beside the punchbowl talking to Applejack, both of them laughing. I look around— Shining Armor is nowhere to be found. I circle around them and make my way to the balcony outside.

The balcony is no bigger than a private booth at an opera house, but, as in the theatre, its treasure lies in the view. Below and afar breathes the living city of Canterlot.The houses and towers all point up to the sky, as though drawn to the heavens where they rightfully belong; the lights of each flickers and twinkles like a mirror to Luna's garden up above.

I hear a knock behind me and I turn. There is no surprise in me when I see him, no startled look—only composure. It is as though I had been waiting for him, and he could not have come at a better time.

"Hi," Shining Armor says. "Mind if I join you?"

"Don't be so formal, darling." I fumble a little to the side so that he can stand beside me.

He leans on the balcony just beside me and hands me a glass of maretini. "I couldn't give it to you earlier."

"Why thank you." I take a sip from the glass. "That's very considerate."

"So why are you out here when the party's inside?"

"For the same reason you are."

"I don't think so. Parties like this are good, but they're not really my cup of tea. On the other hoof, a party fits you like a glove."

"Sometimes a glove suffocates the hoof if worn too long." My horn glows and I slip out of the black handwear and expose my hooficure.

He looks to the vast expanse of Canterlot laid out in front of him and takes a deep breath. "A fresh breeze like this is always nice."

"It can get tiring too. I have too much of it in the countryside of Ponyville."

"I keep hearing from my sis about your hometown. It must be a nice place. Cadance plans to go there sometime."

"It might be a good escape.” I shrug. “But it's not Canterlot," I say, my eyes on the horizons of the city. "Definitely, nothing like Canterlot."

"You sound hopelessly in love with the city."

"Call it love at first sight if you will. Do you believe in stuff like that?"

He makes a delightful laugh. "You bet I do."

“Let me guess...” My eyes remain on the tall spires and warm avenues of the city, reflecting its evening glory. "Cadance?"

"When I first saw her I knew she was the one," he says. There was a moment of silence before he spoke again. "Pardon me for saying so but I always took you more of a pragmatist than a romantic.”

"Excuse me?"

"Earlier this afternoon you asked me whether I believe in true love. Now you're asking me whether I believe in love at first sight."

"I see.” It is heartening to know that at least he took me for something, even if it was a mistake. “You can say I am a romanticist. At least I used to be."

"What stopped you?"

“Are you interested or simply curious?”

“What’s the difference?”

“If you’re just curious I’ll answer you. If you are interested, I won’t.”

“I’m curious then,” he says with a smile.

“Very well,” I answer him. "There were two things. The first came in the form of a prince named Blueblood. Long ago I believed him to be the prince I had yearned and sought for in my romances, tales of courage and valiancy. Born of royalty and knowing of how to treat a lady. But when I met him, on the day of the Grand Galloping Gala, wearing my greatest achievement yet, reality struck me in the face."

“I’m so sorry to hear that.”

“Thank you.”

"My men worked as his guards once. Not really the most pleasant pony to protect."

"He is an atrocity."

“What happened afterwards?”

“The famous Gala fiasco happened, I’m sure you’ve heard of it. The next day I visited my parents for the first time after years of living alone. I still do not know why. I couldn’t remember. It was an impulse. But I do remember crying my eyes out while in my mother’s arms, telling her about my broken fantasy and fairy tale. Then my father told me something I will never forget.”

I stare down into my drink, its blood red contents swirling in an idle whirlpool. My father is there, in that watery reflection, staring back with hard eyes.

“He told me: ‘Save the dreams for when you’re sleeping.’”

Shining Armor looks as though he was slapped. “That’s just...”

“That’s just the most pragmatic line in existence,” I finish. “It’s practical because it’s true. Not everypony can become a princess living in castles.”

Our eyes move to the great castle of Canterlot. The dark silhouette merges with that of the mountain it is affixed to, as though it was stemming out of the earth itself.

I raise my glass to the city and gulp down the entire cocktail. The taste of vermouth dances on the edge of my tongue and lips.

"...Dare I ask what’s the other thing.” Shining Armor, his eyes having not left me.

"Other what, dear?"

"You said that there are two things that stopped you from being a romanticist. Blueblood was one of them, what's the other one?"

“The same thing that stopped me from believing in true love.” I look at him directly in those sapphire eyes. "You."

I approach him, resting one hoof against his.

Is this the first time... we touched?

"Captain of the royal guards, brother to the Element of Magic, a stallion of such refined upbringing and poise. Masculinity and beauty and strength. The stallion to which poems sing their praises, to which sculptors immortalize youth."

“Miss Rarity, keep this up and I’ll think you’re trying to seduce me.” He laughs, but stops when he realizes I do not laugh with him.

I answer him. “I am.”

The foalish blush on his face drains away, and with it his smile and humor. In its place are the bony features of one who refuses to adhere with earnestness short of serenity, a judge removed of emotion seconds before condemning a criminal.

It is unnatural to see a face so devoid of emotion. I stare at him, surprisingly unafraid, composed and calm; either I have complete control of the situation or there is no situation to control. I went on to speak, almost indifferent, almost impartial, as though the matter does not seem to concern us in any way. Like the reading of a list of facts. Not to be judged but accepted.

"But you were taken away from me. A marriage, of all things, before I even had the chance to know you, to meet you. Before I could present myself to you. You pledge your life to another mare. Imagine how I felt. Reality is not without its most painful revelation: 'Here Rarity, the prince of your dreams, suddenly out of nowhere. Married to a mare whom you do not know. To live the life you have sought.’ And if that's wasn't enough I am forced to make the bride's dress. The dress that should have been mine to you.

“It is unfair. I did not even have a chance. It could have been us. It should have been us. Our wedding, our night, our oath, our rings. I don’t deserve that bouquet, cast away into the sidelines. I deserve you.”

“Miss Rarity, I–”

"I want you, Shining Armor. In every way a mare could want a stallion. Even though I know you cannot love me, I want you still. Let there be no masks between us; I want you to make love to me. I want you in my bed, or I in yours. I want your hooves against my coat, your kisses against my lips. I want you to take the purity I have preserved for so long. To be the stallion that will take all of me for himself as his prize and conquest. I want you to make me feel what Cadance felt when you bedded her on your first night.

"No. Don't answer with words. You will answer me at midnight. At the castle suite my chamber door will remain open for you alone. Enter, and that will be your answer."

I levitate the olive to my mouth and exit the balcony, taking my place back in the party.

I see a few mares gathered beside the banquet. The music of the cello returns to my ears. I force a wide smile on my exhausted lips and greet them. "...Now, dears, where were we?"

The ticking of the clock rings painfully in my ears. My hoofsteps resounds in an unsteady rhythm, going faster and faster by the minute, driving me to and fro, from one corner to another only to be stopped by a wall to which I turn and spin and trot once more.

I glance at the wall clock, the minutes passing by like hours. I do not know how many times I have paced across the room, hoof clenched against my teeth, sweat forming on my brow. It is a quarter past midnight.

I curse, cursing myself, cursing Cadance, cursing everypony present in that party.

I feel as though I am at the precipice of collapse. My legs wobble and a pain climbs them, chilling my racing heart.

What if Cadance finds out? What if Fancy Pants and Fleur find out? What if Twilight finds out that I offered myself to her brother.

No, he wouldn't come. Not possibly.

My hoofteps quicken and I come close to crying. Every minute I feel the bed pull me closer, offering its depths for me to wallow in my own despair and shame.

And then, the door creaks opens.

My heart stops. I turn and look.

"Shining Armor!" I exclaim, unable to hide the excitement in my voice.

There, with no illusion, standing by the doorway, stood the proud lone figure of my prince.

I struggle to maintain my posture. I stand still, my neck up and shoulders eased. I lick my crisp lips and clear my throat.

My horn glows and I shut the door behind him. At the sound of the click of the lock, I feel ourselves exclusively isolated. This room, and what happens within it tonight, is our world. A world far from the eyes of those beyond these four walls.

I smile to him, a genuine smile. One that reflects that promises of the night. Such a young, ripe night.

I take him by the hoof and drag him to the side of my perfumed bed.

"It's just us now." I lean forward and kiss his neck. "No need to be so tense."

I turn and remove the black opera gloves from my hooves, the pearl necklace and the small tiara, placing all on the bedside drawer. As I proceed to undo my garment, I feel his hooves stop mine against my shoulder.

"Miss Rarity–"

“Rarity,” I say, savoring his touch against my coat. “Please. Just call me Rarity for tonight.”

“Rarity, I...” he says, replacing the shoulder strap of my dress. “I’m married to Cadance.”

I look up to him, half in fear and half in hope that my fear held no meaning.

"Nopony has to know." I lean in to him for a kiss, but he moves his face away.

"Nopony has to know because nothing will happen."

"B-b-but you came here... to me."

"I came here to make sure you got home safe." His hoof slowly, gently, pushes me away. "And to tell you that I will not cheat on my wife."

"You are tempted. Admit it. For why else would stop pause at my kisses, would you enter my chamber."

"There is only one mare whom I love."

"You do not have to love me." I plead to him. "Damn that Cadance! She doesn't have to know."

Shining Armor looks at me, fury building in his eyes. "After all she's said about you. How much she valued your friendship."

"I did it to get to you. If you knew what kind of self-pitying torment I have to suffer in her company just to get a glimpse of you, just so you would look at me... You would know what kind of courage it takes for me to stand here now and offer myself to you, against my morals and against my ruin."

"I haven't asked you to do such a thing."

"That is why the shame is mine, not yours. Take me without feeling guilty, for all the guilt is mine to take."

"I wouldn't have you burdened with such a thing."

He turns away and proceeds to the door. I panic, my heart racing. I do not feel the tears streaming down my face.

"Shining Armor!" I jump in front of him and grovel under his feet. "Ask of me whatever you want. I'll give you everything I have, my body, my soul. Just take me!"

He does not respond.

"During your wedding night, while you carved your name on the columns of immortality, while you in your carriage closed that historical night with Cadance, I was being raped! A lowly earth mare toppled me to the dirt, and there she forced herself on me and took the first kiss that I had saved for my prince. Since then, I have spent a countless lonely nights with nothing but your mirage to indulge my fantasies, all ending in tears and guilt and loneliness. Take me now, please, and make me forget her touch. Make me forget the pressure of her lips against mine with yours."

He closes his eyes and painfully turns away.

"You want me to beg? Do you need me to utter needless words of how desperate I am for you? Is that it? You want to see the great Rarity lick your hooves? I will do so, if you would only ask me. To you I will drop all masks, I will not pretend to be the sophisticated mare I posit before others. I beg to you as what I truly am: a whore, a seducer, a temptress filled with wanton. Moth to the fires of passion. Would you have me degrade myself to the level of a prostitute to give word to your wishes? No, you wouldn’t, but I will if that is what it takes: I want you to fuck me right now. Rut me mercilessly until I can no longer walk, ravage me until I can no longer speak. Use my body in any way you wish, to any fantasies you may so desire. Strike me with a hoof, but caress me with the other. Violate me as you would a ragdoll. Do to me that which you cannot do to your wife."

He takes me in his hooves and shoves me away. He marches straight to the door.

"For the love of Celestia, Shining Armor!" I scream at the top of my lungs. "In pity or in mercy, in lust or in anger, take me! Take me now!"

Shining Armor looks back once, eyes full of disgust. He makes his exit, slamming the door on his way out.

The monotonous cries that echo throughout the room are disrupted by the mention of my name.

“Rarity, ya alright?”

I did not hear her come in, nor did I see the slash of moonlight that cuts across the room as she enters.

I cease my cries as soon as I hear her voice. But the sobs would not stop. The moans of anguish and pain rises up and traps my throat, choking me. I try to hold on to my tears, but those, of all, could not be withheld.

“Oh consarn it. It’s worst than ah thought.”

Amidst the darkness, Applejack tries to pick me up from the floor of fresh tears. As her hooves touch my coat I turn and press my face against her chest.

Don’t look at me...

I try to speak, but only the choking sobs escape my lips. My hooves wrap around her, seeking refuge in her hold.

“Let’s get ya into bed first.”

Applejack gently cradles me in her hooves and places me on the bed. The mattress and the sheets feels warm in comparison to the frigid hard floor that refuse to soak my tears.

Her coat is the warmest...

My hold of the earth mare grows tighter. As though to press myself against her would render me invisible to everything she could sense in me. But it is impossible. No doubt she can hear my muffled cries, she can feel my teardrops against her chest.

“Ya don’t have to tell me nothin’,” she says, wrapping her hooves around me. “Ah’m here for ya, sugarcube. Ah’m here for ya.”

“D-d-d-don’t... go,” I say, barely above a whisper.

“Ah ain’t goin’ nowhere. Ah’m here just beside you.”

I do not know how long I stayed there in her embrace. I do not care. It seems immaterial now, everything.

Hours seem to pass. The pain in my chest evaporates and spreads across my body. My limbs slowly grows limp, lethargic. I feel my energy leaving. No, not energy, but that which energy is suppose to supply.

I feel dazed, spent and powerless. And for the first time since she held me, I caught a whiff of the scent of apples.

I just don’t care anymore.

I look to Applejack, her eyes set on me like a guardian figure.

I lean forward and press my lips forcefully against hers. My tongue leaps inside her mouth, swirling around like a fan.

The shock stills her body. The sudden sensation causes her to hesitate a second too long. Reason returns to her and she draws back in horror.

“Rarity, what are you–”

What does it matter?

I would have none of it. I grab her by her chest and push her down onto the bed. My body lies on top of her. I force my mouth against hers once more.

What does anything matter?

I push my hooves against hers, my marehood rooted on her stomach, and my hind legs between her sides. I try to hold her down as much as I can, but her strength outmatches my own.

Applejack lifts her hooves from my hold, freeing herself instantly. She breaks away from my kiss, a thin thread of salvation connecting the tip of my tongue to hers. Her hooves take hold of me, and, when I thought that she would take me all for herself, she throws me against the mattress.

She jumps away from the bed and steps away, wiping her mouth with her foreleg. “Rarity, what’s gotten into you!?”

I ignore her. After all, why should I answer. To whom would it concern? What consequence would it bring?

I go after her, leaping from the bed and once again reaches for her mouth with mine.

She grabs me by the shoulders and stops me.

“Get a hold of yerself,” she says as she shakes me. “Or ah swear to Celestia ah’m gonna buck some sense unto you.”

I emit an absentminded laugh. “Go ahead, Jacqueline. Don’t play the good gal. Fuck me to your heart’s content.”

At the sound of a crisp snap, my face flies black and I taste blood at the corner of the mouth. I turn to look at Applejack, her hoof outstretched. I emit another laugh that pains my swelling cheeks.

“Oh, Jacqueline. Don’t deny it,” I say. “Do you think I’m ignorant?’

“Ah don’t know what y’all talkin’ about.”

My body loosens itself free from all motion, and I lie on my back on the floor. “I see how you look at me. How your eyes follow my curves and my body. I can see through your most minimal gestures, your fluttering eyes and filly blushes.”

“That don’t prove nothin’!”

“Course not. The proof is that you raped me, Jacqueline. Rape, rape, rape! How you forced yourself on me in your half-drunken state.”

“Ah wasn’t mahself then.”

“Oh, dear. But you are. You are never fully yourself than when alcohol tears away the mask of social etiquette. What else would propel you to lunge and force your hooves on me. It showed you for what you are. A lusting mare.”

Applejack doesn’t respond.

“Do you deny it, Element of Honesty?’

“Ah’m sorry! Ah’m sorry for what ah did! Ah thought you believed me!”

“Oh, I did. I do.” I crawl to her. “But there is no such thing as redemption, only penance. You want to make amends? Here, take me right now.”

Applejack clears her throat.

“You know you want me. I know it as well. You lust for me, you want to taste me. You want to overpower me, you want me under your hooves.’

“It ain’t... it ain’t like that at all...”

“I don’t care!” I cry out. “Just do it. Or I swear you will never have me again. Take me now, or lose me forever.”

“Ra-Rarity...” she moans in despair, sweat collecting on her forehead. “...I-I want... to... I won’t deny it... Dear Celestia... I want to... But... B-But... Not like this... Not like this...”

She weakens. I make my move. I climb up to her, slowly, my hooves coiling around her body. My kisses make their way from her torso to her mouth. As our tongues touch once again, I push Applejack against the bed.

She feels pliable in my touch. Different from the solid clusters I imagined her to be.

I waste no time. Lying on her back against the bed, I kneel on the floor and lift her hindlimb.

With neither thought nor pause, my muzzle jumps in between her legs. My maw opens and devours her lower lips with the carelessness and reckless abandon of the ruffian I have always accused her of being.

My tongue lapses from one spot to another, shoving its way around the earth pony’s quivering marehood. No rhythm, no rhyme, no reason, no pattern; I continue to gorge on the taste of apples in her sex. Her juices become indistinguishable from that of my slobber in the act of pigging out.

I feel her entire body convulse and I ruthlessly drive my muzzle and the whole of my tongue into her entryway. Her entire body palpitates and shakes as my mouth welcomes the waves of liquid gushing from her.

Her body collapses and her breathing returns to normal. I press her my tongue flatly against her slit, savoring the taste of apples at the roof of my mouth.

I wipe the mixtures of liquid from my muzzle and stand to observe my handiwork of Applejack.

What I see tears my heart.

Applejack lies on her back, breathing slowly. Her mouth is slightly open and I can see a dribble of spit crawl down her cheeks. Her teeth clench against her hat to muffle all the ragged sounds coming from her mouth. Her forelegs shield both her eyes, where a stream of tears flows.

What have I done?

Here is strong Applejack. Crying like a heartbroken filly. The tears that, not an hour ago, I shed; and to which she comforted me.

I stand there in horror, distant from her. I could not touch her without shame gripping my heart.

She stops crying a moment later. She feels that I have stopped, and knows I watch her. She wipes her eyes and looks at me. "If that's what ya want... Ah promished ah wouldn't hurt ya; ah don't plan on breaking it."

I shake my head, but she could not have seen in the darkness.

She sits and takes me by the hoof. My body has lost all form of natural movement. She lifts me and places me on the bed. We bounce on the mattress and she cradles me. She whispers something to me but I am in no condition to hear it. I feel her hooves wrap around me in again and I am, for the moment, frightened. For I know what sheer power and brutality those limbs hold, yet I am surprised to feel the fluid sensual gentility of her touch. My body relaxes and I have never felt myself safer in her careful embrace than in that barbaric hold.

Applejack plants a kiss on my neck, my bosom, my belly button, then on my legs. She gently parts my legs, seeking permission in those pecks of her lips against my inner thigh. I offer no resistance, and allow her entrance to the temple of my femininity.

I feel her hot, impatient breath against my marehood, but patient is all she is. She applies pressure to my loins that reward her with my moan, as her dry lips seek water from my own. She presses her muzzle ever so gently against my entrance, as though to assure it with a kiss. I feel the movement of her lips massage me.

The heat of my body rises, all flowing from my loins, and from Applejack's mouth.

Applejack draws away and draws out her tongue. Again with permissions, she runs her tongue through the whole length my crevice.

She discovers my clitoris and, as soon as her appendage makes the intimate contact, every nerve in my body focuses on that single point. My body arcs, as though shocked by electricity. My eyes fly open and I grit my teeth. Applejack holds me down with a reassuring touch as she continues to nibble on the crowns. My body could not withstand the sudden awakening.

She parts her mouth and my lips. Her tongue finally makes its way inside me. Something in the back of my head snaps. I grab Applejack by the head and hold her in place, pushing her deeper into me. My legs move on their own and close in on her, locking her in place. Her enthusiasm increases and her tongue explores my insides. I feel it inside me, the slick and wet tendril touching the stern walls.

Her tongue retracts and Applejack gives a kiss to my slit. She slowly pulls herself away from me.

"N-No... Don't stop..." I beg. " Please..."

I needed not to. She looms over me, an orange silhouette of nothing but primal hunger. Her half-dazed eyes looks at me, eager and insatiable, still red from the tears she had shed moments ago. She leans forward and presses her lips against mine. I taste myself in her mouth. Lips locked, our tongues meet and fight for control. We taste one another in that oral exchange.

She draws back, a thin thread of saliva dangling between our lips. She reshuffles herself and takes my hindlegs to the air. Her eyes never leaving mine, she moves and adjusts herself over me. Then, with a shock of painful pleasure, I feel our marehoods against one another.

"Gah!" I cry out.

I cover my mouth with my hooves. Applejack parts my hooves with hers. She holds me down against my shoulder. There I lie, fully exposed for her eyes to feast on, as she starts moving.

The pressure of hers against mine ignites a spark. I bite my lip to suppress a moan. She does the same. Applejack moves again, harder this time. The moan escapes my lips. I turn away from her eyes, unable to let her see in me the reflection of pleasure I see in hers.

She moves again, for the third time, applying pressure as hard as she can in an attempt to force my attention on her again. It did not fail. The sensation is too much. I let out another moan and I feel a line of spit slither down the corner of my lips.

Satisfied, she starts moving on a steady rhythm. The heat gathers in our nether regions, the delicious friction of both our most sacred parts coming together as one. Applejack keeps on moving faster and faster. For every moan she utters, I give her two. It’s difficult to maintain one's consciousness, when all one can be conscious of is the pleasure that builds and gathers, seeking an exit from the source.

Applejack redoubles her efforts. The rising temperature of our bodies emanate from the other. Her sweat dribbles down her forehead, her coat, her chin. Her cost glistens. Moisture gathers between our legs.

"R-R-Rarity..." she pants in-between breathes. "Rarity!"

She licks her lips and closes in on me. I desperately open my mouth to welcome her tongue. She just leans there, our face inches apart. Her eyes look at me with such intensity, I cannot help but share it.

Her coat glistens with thick sweat. We reach our limit. “Ah’m comin’!”

I lean forward and kiss her.

The pleasure in our marehoods erupts as we moan into each other's mouths.

"Mmmphm!"

Applejack's body convulses and spasms, before it topples on top my small figure. The messy moisture that connects our bodies soils our legs, slowly dripping down my thighs.

"I-I... I love you, Rarity," she moans in my ear. "I love you..."

As I fade into unconsciousness, I whisper desperately to her ear. "I l-love you too..."

...Shining Armor.