Applejack's Dress

"Applebloom! Get down here," Applejack screamed as she saw the tattered remains of her Gala gown.

The young filly slowly made her way down the stairs and was cowering with every step. She had never seen her sister this angry before, and she was terrified.

"What were you thinking? Ya ruined mah dress. Rarity's gonna kill me." Applejack turned her gaze to her baby sister and was stunned to see the filly cowering at the foot of the stairs crying. She suddenly felt disgusted with herself, "Applebloom. C'mere."

The filly just stood there shaking like a leaf, "I'm sorry sis." She could not bring herself to get close to her sister.

"Ah'm sorry, sugarcube. I shouldn' have yelled at ya like that." Applejack walked to her sister and gently hugged the filly.

Applebloom continued to cry, "Scootaloo wanted to practice on a dress, an' ah thought ya wouldn't care if we used it." She looked up to her sister, "Ah'm really sorry. Ah'll take it to Rarity and tell her what happened."

"Don' ya'll worry bout it. Ah'll take it on over to her mahself." Applejack gathered the gown and placed it into a box. "Now don' ya gotta get some soup on over ta Fluttershy's?"

Applebloom wiped her eyes with her hooves and poured some hot apple soup into a pot. After placing it in her pack she said, "Ah wonder why Rainbow offered ta keep an eye on Fluttershy? She could get sick too."

Applejack laughed, "Well it's a lil' more complicated than that."

"Whattaya mean?"

"Ah'll tell ya when you're older."

"Ah'm not a baby," Applebloom pouted.

Applejack sighed, "You're right. Well, ya know how Rainbow and Fluttershy have been friends since they were fillies right?"

Applebloom nodded.

"Well, Rainbow would like for them to become 'more' than friends." Applejack blushed slightly at the thought of her friends being together.

"Oh," Applebloom mused, "That's gross."

"Applebloom," Applejack snapped, "Now we raised ya'll better than that. It's not nice to judge." 'Especially since your sister's like that too,' she thought sadly. Applejack was always worried that her family would not approve of her liking mares, but she took comfort in knowing that Mac wanted her to be happy.

"Sorry sis," Applebloom said, "Ah never knew Fluttershy was like that. Well ah better get goin'." The filly finished packing the soup and various treats and made her way to Fluttershy's cottage.

"Well ah better get to Rarity's," Applejack said. 'Just go and drop off the dress. Short and sweet. No need ta make a fool of yerself.' She nodded as though to cement the intention, and began to walk to Rarity's boutique.

The walk through Ponyville was quiet and serene, and Applejack had no real desire to be in any hurry. She decided to take a quick trip to Sugarcube Corner, and grab a quick treat. Once inside she rang the bell.
"Hey Applejack," Pinkie squealed happily, "What's up?"

"Oh nuthin' much just got a hankerin' fer somethin' sweet." Applejack looked over the treats that Pinkie had just finished making and noticed that some unique looking cupcakes. They were blue and had rainbow sprinkles. "What're those?"

"Oh those are some cupcakes I made for Rainbow, but when I tried to give them to her she just flew off." Pinkie laughed and said, "Would you like to try them?"

"Sure," Applejack said, "I love your cupcakes." There was something about Pinkie's smile that felt off, "Pinkie take a nap."

"Hm, maybe I should," the pink party pony said and made her way up to her room after handing Applejack two Dashie-cakes and a glass of milk.

'These are really good,' Applejack thought and devoured both cupcakes quickly. A quick glance to the clock told her that she wasted enough time. 'Better get this dress to Rarity.'

Carousel Boutique was a large building that was very flashy. Too flashy as far as Applejack was concerned, and she would often complain that looking at it would give her a headache.

She stood before the door for a few minutes and after taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door. The door swung open and Applejack was relieved to hear a small voice.

"Hi Applejack," Sweetie Belle said, "What brings you here?"

"Howdy Sweetie Belle," Applejack replied happily, "Is Rarity home?"

"Sure is! You want her to make you a dress?" Sweetie Belle did not even attempt to hide her laughter.

"Somethin' like that," Applejack replied softly and followed the filly to the sewing room.

The white unicorn was working diligently as usual, and turned when she heard the door open. "Oh, hello there Applejack. What brings you to my shop today?" Her smile was genuine and melted the earth pony's heart. 'Keep it together Applejack. Just drop it off and go home.'

"Oh, um, Ah'm sorry to bother you Rarity, but mah sister got a hold of mah Gala gown, and ah'm afraid it's in a bad way." She pulled the gown out of the box and cringed when Rarity gasped at the sight.

"Applejack this is horrible! I don't think I can save this poor thing." Rarity looked to Applejack, "How could you allow this to happen?"

"Ah'm sorry Rarity," Applejack pleaded, "Ah really am, but ah can't fix it and I know you're the only pony who can. Ah know ya'll can."

Rarity sighed, "I will certainly try, but please Applejack, be more careful in the future."

"Thank ya Rarity. Ah mean it. Ya'll are a great pony for helpin' me like this." Applejack turned and began to leave. 'Almost out of here, and ah didn' make that much of a fool of mahself.'

"Applejack wait. What's bothering you?"

"Uh, nuthin's wrong," Applejack lied vainly.

Rarity's face told the earth pony that she did not believe a word of it. "Applejack, please tell me. I know we may not be very close, but I consider you a dear friend."

"It's nothin'. I promise. I just gotta get home." Applejack tried to run out the door, but it slammed shut. 'Lousy unicorn magic,' she thought.

"I apologize Applejack, but you are not leaving until you tell me what is bothering you." Rarity walked to the panicking earth pony and looked her in the eyes. After what felt like an eternity but was actually a few seconds Rarity began to squeal and hugged Applejack. "Oh my Applejack, I had no idea. You simply must tell me who the lucky colt is." She walked around Applejack and pushed her over to her chairs.

"Uh, sorry Rarity, but ah really gotta get back to the farm." Applejack tried to get down from the chair, but the pleading eyes from Rarity just tore at her heart. 'Dang it Rarity, it's not some colt. It's you.' She tried to give the unicorn a confident smile and remained in her seat.

"Applejack," Rarity said, "I had no idea that you had your eye on somepony. I know that you're direct, but this pony certainly has you in a state of panic." The white unicorn sipped her tea and smiled warmly to the earth pony across from her not knowing the truth. "Would like my advice?"

"Sure Rarity. Ah mean, it can' hurt, but please don' start on the way ah talk." She never told Rarity but every time Rarity commented on the way Applejack spoke hurt.

"Applejack," Rarity began, "I. I never meant anything hurtful by it. I was only teasing you." She looked away from her friend, "I had no idea that I so hurtful to you."

"It's no big deal, sugarcube," Applejack said with a warm smile and blushed when Rarity gave her one in return. "To tell you the truth, there is a pony that ah've really fallen for, and ah don' know when it happened." She was being honest, though she suspected the slumber party played a large part of it.

"Well I have never known you to be subtle but direct, and if I may be so bold, it's a trait that I have always found admirable. I feel that you should simply let this pony know how you feel if only for your own sake."

"Ah know ah should, but this pony is a good friend ah mine, and it scares me to take the chance."

Rarity tapped her hoof to her chin, and said after a few moments, "I'm certain Caramel would be a gentlecolt and remain friends even he doesn't feel the same."

"Ca-Caramel," Applejack stammered, "Uh, yeah ah guess ya'll are right. Well, thank ya kindly Rarity." She quickly got up and began to leave but stopped when Rarity spoke up.

"You really should just follow your instincts Applejack. I know that they will never steer your wrong."

Applejack turned to Rarity and stared into her blue eyes. 'Just follow mah instincts,' she thought to herself. 'No, ah can't.' She turned and before she could leave to the safety of Ponyville her heart took over. She spun around rushed to Rarity and kissed the unicorn deeply.

Rarity was shocked and instantly shoved Applejack away. Her face was mixed with shock and confusion, but Applejack saw anger.

"Ah'm so sorry," Applejack said beginning to cry and ran out of the boutique leaving Rarity standing in the doorway.

'Follow mah instincts, my hoof. Ya stupid foal, now ya ruined things with Rarity, and everypony is gonna know that you like mares.' She stopped running and collapsed, and began to cry. She no longer cared if anypony saw her. It was Rainbow that saw her.

'C'mon Rainbow this is the night. You got everything. A great dinner, a great book to read Fluttershy, and my secret weapon.' Rainbow glanced to her saddlebag and smiled, 'a bouquet of Fluttershy's favorite flowers.' She smiled and looked down. There was Applejack laying down, and Rainbow was about to keep flying but something felt wrong. She flew down and said, "Hey Applejack! I'm sure you have a bed to sleep in." She stopped when she heard Applejack crying. "Hey what's wrong?"

"Oh great, Rainbow," Applejack said, "might as well begin with you. Go ahead and make fun of me. It's not like today could get any worse."

"I'm not going to make fun of you," Rainbow said gently hugging her friend causing the earth pony to cry even harder. "What happened? Is your family alright?"

"They're fine," Applejack said, "Ah'm sorry Rainbow but ah can't talk about it right now."

Rainbow waved her hoof in front of her, "Say no more. I know it's important and you can tell me when you're ready."

"Thank ya Rainbow," Applejack said hugging the blue pegasus.

Rarity came running up to the pair and was sweating greatly, "Applejack!"

"Rarity," Applejack gasped, "Look ah'm sorry. Please just forget it happened, please."

Rainbow looked at Applejack and Rarity and instantly got the wrong idea. "What did you do?" She was glaring at Rarity. "What? You wanted her to model a new dress, and she wouldn't drop her accent? You know some ponies can't be stuck up socialites like you." She finished with an accusing poke of her hoof into Rarity's chest.

"It wasn't like that," Rarity stammered. She looked to Applejack and tried to get closer, but Rainbow would not let her.

"You can explain yourself from there," Rainbow said flatly, "I can't believe you of all ponies would be so hurtful to Applejack. I thought you were friends."

"Rainbow," Applejack said, "Thank you, but this is all mah fault."

Rainbow looked back to Applejack, "I don't understand."

"Well you know why you're takin' care of Fluttershy," Applejack whispered.

Rainbow blushed, "Um, yeah."

"Well ah had a similar idea with Rarity, and it done blew up in mah face."

"Wait," Rainbow said, "You like Rarity?"

With a heavy sigh Applejack said, "Yeah, and ah went and ruined our friendship." She turned to Rarity, "Ah'm so sorry. Please forget it ever happened."

"Applejack," Rarity said slowly making her way around a calmer Rainbow Dash, "you didn't ruin anything. I had no idea you felt that way, and I can't say that I expect you to feel that way for somepony like me. You are a dear friend and I have to say that kiss was the most honest and passionate kiss I have ever received."

"What're ya saying Rarity?"

"Allow me to show you," Rarity walked to the earth pony and gently kissed her. Applejack returned the kiss and both were blushing.

"Thank ya Rarity," Applejack said.

"Let's head back to the boutique," Rarity said, "I think we have much to discuss."

"Ah'd like that," Applejack said. She looked to Rainbow and hugged her, "Thank you Rainbow. You're a great friend."

"It's what I'm here for," she replied proudly, "Well if you'll excuse me, I have a sick 'friend' to take care of." She flew off and Applejack thought, 'Ah hope it goes as well for you as it did for me.'

Applejack hugged Rarity and said, "Sorry sugarcube but ah really wanted to do that."

Rarity laughed, "Oh that's quite alright." She leaned over and kissed Applejack gently on the cheek, "Of course a lady will always be more subtle."

"Yeah, an ah'll always be more direct," Applejack said and kiss the unicorn in the lips.

Both ponies blushed and laughed as they walked to the boutique to discuss the uncertain but exciting future before them.