A/N: New to the fandom, but not new to MLP in the slightest. I have two daughters so all Equestria Girls movies have been watched, sometimes I'll catch myself watching an episode after they're in bed. I've stepped on my fair share of Rainbow Dashes - both from the show and Equestria girls as that's my oldest's favorite and up until this Christmas, the blankets of choice were both MLP blankets. I'm enough of a fan to feel so very bad for Flash getting the shaft with "his" Twilight. Poor guy. This idea popped into my head and I couldn't get rid of it, so I knew I had to write it. Hopefully everyone enjoys!

Disclaimer: I own nothing of MLP and make no profits off the writing of this fic.

Unexpected

Prologue

She was in the zone - her attention razor focused on every stitch. Though she had no idea what she was creating, Rarity knew enough of her muse to trust it when it took over the way it was. And it's timing couldn't have possibly been better.

For once, Ponyville was quiet, it's constant motion stilled.

It was an extremely busy time of year for most leaving the quaint town nearly vacant as families traveled to neighboring towns for festivals, trade shows and numerous other responsibilities. Both Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were off in their hometown, attending a conference, Twilight had returned to Canterlot to teach a summer college course, taking Spike with her, Pinkiepie had left to stay with her family for a month and Applejack was busy with the mid-summer swing on her farm. It left Rarity with time to herself and minimal to no interruptions.

In the middle of a concentrated stitch, the "little to no" was shattered as the overhead bell rang and the front door of her shop banged against the wall. Startled, Rarity promptly stuck her finger with the needle she was holding. She dropped the needle, clutching her injured finger to her chest and shot a glare at the open doorway where Applejack stood, one fist on her hip.

"Hiya, Rarity!" she called with a bright smile.

Rarity took a deep breath, let it out slowly and forced a smile as she pushed away from her work and stood. "Applejack. Whatever are you doing here? Don't you have...chores that need to be done?"

"It's ten thirty. Chores were done at eight," Applejack answered with a patient smile.

Ignoring the unintentional barb, Rarity inclined her nose ever-so-slightly and looked over the frame of her glasses. "What can I help you with?"

There was never a day that Applejack willingly stepped into the Carousel Boutique without needing something unless she was there to help Rarity specifically and Rarity hadn't required help with anything around the shop in months - not since Applejack and her older brother Big Mac had shown up to fix the roof that the snow had damaged after building up too quickly over the course of several late-season snowstorms. She motioned for Applejack to follow her through the boutique and back to the kitchen where she had a pot of coffee on, suddenly craving a cup liberally doused with creamer. She could already feel her muse fading and, disappointing as it was, they'd had a good enough run that Rarity didn't feel too guilty walking away from her creation.

"Now, what makes ya think I'm just here for somethin'?" Applejack asked with a grin as she fell into step behind Rarity.

Rarity threw a shrewd look over her shoulder. "Oh, here for a new ensemble, then?"

"Uh...no."

"Mhmm. Coffee?"

"Sure."

As Rarity set to filling two mugs, dosing her own with french vanilla creamer and leaving Applejacks black, Applejack took a seat at the kitchen table, hooking her boots around the legs and propping her elbows on the glass surface.

"So?" Rarity prompted as she set one mug down in front of Applejack and took a seat across from her. She could tell that whatever Applejack was here for was making her uncomfortable. Her smiles were a little too wide, her shoulder a little too tense and she seemed to be avoiding outright eye contact.

"Well, see the thing is-." Applejack huffed a sigh, finally meeting Rarity's gaze. "Remember how Big Mac an' me helped fix your roof a while back? How you offered to repay us if we ever needed it? Apple's don't ever ask for that kind of thing - we believe in helpin' our neighbors and that's that - no payback necessary. But...I need a favor."

"Why, Applejack, of course! Whatever you need-."

"What I need," Applejack interrupted, "is for you to take over on the farm for me while I'm gone. I have to bring Granny Smith to Manehattan and we'll be gone for about a week."

Rarity shrank back in her seat, suddenly not feeling quite so generous. "Oh...um-."

"I know it's a lot and if anyone else were around, I'd be askin' them. But helps' scarce and as capable as Big Mac is, he can't handle the farm on his own. Not entirely. I promise, I'll get as much done as I can before we leave."

"When are you leaving?"

"Day after tomorrow. Like I said, if anyone else were around, I'd ask. But ain't nobody comin' back in the near future. And the only person I'd trust enough...is you."

"As flattering as that is, darling-"

"Rarity, please," Applejack pleaded in earnest, her eyes so painfully hopeful that Rarity could feel whatever weak resolve she was attempting to build up crumble easily. "You wouldn't be alone. Big Mac'll be there and he'll take on the brunt of it. But I can't just leave everything to him."

"Does he know you intended on asking me for help?"

Applejack shook her head. "No. I didn't think telling him before I knew if you would or not would help the situation any."

There was no point in denying her friend. She knew that. But farm work...Rarity didn't know the first thing about it. For all she knew, she would only be getting in the way. And as kindhearted as Big Mac was, Rarity couldn't see many hard working men offering much patience for a woman getting in the way of their work.

"I...I really don't know the first thing-," she started, but again Applejack interrupted her.

"I can teach you. Come by tomorrow and I'll show you some basic things I'll need you to do. And Big Mac'll help."

Rarity hedged, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth. "If I ruin-."

"It's farm work, Rarity. As long as you don't go knockin' the barn over, everything'll be fine."

Heaving an exaggerated sigh, Rarity rolled her eyes and leveled a mock glare at her friend. "Oh, alright, fine."

Applejack's smile was genuine this time. She pushed away from the table and came around it, crushing Rarity in a hug. "Thank ya, kindly, Rarity. I appreciate this so much."

"Hmm, let's just hope you don't live to regret it," Rarity muttered.

With a laugh, Applejack straightened. "Doubtful. You'll do just fine. Come by tomorrow around nine and I'll show ya the ropes."

And with that, she breezed out of the kitchen like a tiny tornado, leaving her untouched coffee on the tabletop.