Chapter 4: The Jokes on Us
"I can't believe we made such fools of ourselves!" Rarity shrieks near tears. Fluttershy lies on the bed in Rarity's work room sobbing. "Now Everypony knows-" She was cut off by the door flying open.
"They told us to tell you yes!" The crusaders chime running into the room. They grow silent as they see the mares sobbing.
Sweetie Belle immediately hugs Rarity's legs and the other crusaders hug Fluttershy's legs, "Don't cry! They like you! They like you!" They chant. The mares softly sniffle and smile at the fillies.
"Girls," Rarity starts.
"You can go with Applejack! And Fluttershy can go with Rainbow Dash! And Applebloom can go with Twilight, Scootaloo can go with Pinkie Pie, and I can go with Spike! It all works out!" Sweetie Belle pleads to Rarity. The mares smile widely with tears in their eyes over the kindness of the young fillies.
"Thank you girls, we love your kindness. Are you sure you won't mind not having me as your date Sweetie Belle?" Rarity asks.
"It'll be weird, BUT THEN ME AND APPLEBLOOM WILL GET TO BE SISTERS!" Sweetie Belle chimes loudly. The two mares giggle as the three fillies chant jumping around the boutique. They hop out the boutique to chant to the whole town.
Rarity gets a wide smile as she looks at Fluttershy, "Well since they said yes."
"And the garden party is in two days," Fluttershy adds.
"It's time to design!" The two mares exclaim in unison as they head to Rarity's inspiration room.
Two days later
"I haven't seen them leave the boutique since they asked you!" Sweetie Belle chimes dancing around the group of six ponies.
"Then let's go see their handiwork!" Twilight exclaims happily as the group trots toward the boutique to get ready for the Garden Party. They knock on the door and hear hooves frantically shuffling on the floor. Rarity pulls the door open then runs back to her inspiration room.
"Busy bees?" Pinkie asks bouncing into the shop after Rarity.
"Putting on finishing touches!" Rarity shrieks searching through a drawer then emerges with a balloon pin. She trots over and clips it to the vest of Pinkie's outfit.
"Viola! Magnifique!" Rarity exclaims at the nine dresses in front of her. The girls all awe at the outfits.
"They're gorgeous!" Sweetie Belle shrieks running up to them.
"WAIT!" Rarity yells running in front of her. "DO NOT TOUCH THEM!" She levitates a washcloth over and quickly wipes all the dust off of Sweetie Belle's hooves.
"Oh you big fuss bucket," Applebloom mumbles. Everypony looks at her, knowing she just made a huge mistake.
Rarity slowly turns to look at her. "I have spent the last TWO days in here sleepless with Fluttershy to make sure everyone looks fabulous! I have the right to be a "Fuss bucket" as you put it," She scoffs.
"They're pretty as you," Applejack winks at Rarity. Rarity proudly smiles at the compliment then turns to the dresses.
"Now Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and you are complimenting each other's outfits. You have a rainbow top with black trim around the neck. Then it's decorated with a golden belt with a pink butterfly gem belt buckle. Then, you have a white cloudy skirt to go with your top! Fluttershy on the other hand has a rose pink colored blouse with a small black vest over the top to match your trim, a white piece of fabric acting as a belt to match your skirt, and then she has a pink and black frayed skirt to match her shirt and vest! Aren't they adorable?" Rarity squeals.
"It'll be more adorable on my date," Rainbow playfully teases earning a blush from Fluttershy.
"What about you and Applejack?" Scootaloo asks looking at all the dresses.
Rarity smiles proudly and chimes, "I am quite proud of these! Applejack has a sleeveless, red dress with a jean jacket over it to add to her country flair. Her regular cowboy hat is now decorated in red roses, and she has a necklace of my diamond around her neck! I have a shimmering blue diamonded sequin dress with a rose the same as her hat pinned in my hair. Then I have a charm bracelet decorated with her apples!" The whole group smiles at the gowns happily and Rainbow Dash and Applejack wink at each other in unison.
"They're all lovely Rare, but if we don't get dressed soon we'll be late," AJ says. All the girls nod in unison then start getting themselves and the fillies dressed.
"If we don't hurry we'll miss the train!" Scootaloo whines as they walk to the train station.
"We'll make it right on time sugar cube," Applejack assures her as they see the train still getting loaded. The fillies squeal happily and hop on the train with the mares on their heels.
"I can't believe we're going to the garden party!" Sweetie Belle chimes looking out the train window.
"My sis says we don't actually garden though? So what do we do?" Applebloom asks. The three fillies start suggesting between themselves as the train moves along.
"Maybe we watch other people garden?" Applebloom says to the girls.
"What if it's just a party in a garden?" Scootaloo states thinking.
"I'll guess we'll see when we get there!" Sweetie Belle chimes.
"If you three would come on you could see the garden party," Rainbow Dash yells down the car.
"We stopped?" Applebloom asks looking around, and sure enough, they had stopped in Canterlot.
"GARDEN PARTY!" The fillies cheer almost running off the train.
"Don't mess up your dresses girls!" Rarity quickly yells getting off the train.
"Oh they're fine," Twilight laughs. "You're on a date, have some fun," she teases the starts walking towards the castle. The group follows in pursuit excited for the party, two were excited for their first date, and their dates were excited for revenge.
"It's so pretty!" Sweetie Belle cheers looking around the garden.
"Look at those flowers!" Applebloom says in awe.
"Let's go!" Scootaloo cheers as the group runs off.
"Those three can't sit still for a minute, can they?" Twilight says then laughs.
"That's an understatement Twilight," Rarity giggles.
"As long as they ain't causing no trouble I'm fine!" Applejack hoots happily.
"Trouble is all they cause," Rarity sighs.
"They'll be Angels," Fluttershy whispers assuring ly.
"Let's go grab a bite to get your mind off it," Applejack says lovingly then gently leads Rarity off.
"And let's go see those animals you love in the garden," Rainbow coos at Fluttershy and gently wraps her wings around her date as they walk.
"I'll grab you a plate and you can talk to your friend over there," AJ says referring to Fancy Pants calling over Rarity, who quickly joins him. Applejack collects food on the plate then starts to walk over to Rarity.
"Here ya-" she pretends to trip and sends the plate flying all over Rarity's dress.
"My outfit!" She screeches. "I need a towel!"
"I got it!" Applejack says grabbing napkins and rubbing them on the dress, making the stain worse.
"Stop stop!" Rarity softly snaps jumping back then looks down at her now ruined dress.
"I'm real sorry, here let me go grab you a drink," Applejack says running off.
"Aren't they cute up there in the trees?" Fluttershy says happily looking up at the squirrels as they walk.
"They sure are," Rainbow mumbles then slams face first hard into the tree making the squirrels fall out.
"Oh my," Fluttershy quickly says then dives to catch all the squirrels muddying her dress in the process.
"I'm so sorry Flutters, I wasn't paying attention to where I was walking," Rainbow lies pretending to look sad.
"Oh it's okay, no harm was done," she softly says flying the squirrels back up to the tree.
She joins Rainbow Dash on the ground then smiles politely at her. "Let's go see another animal."
"Here ya go sugar-" Applejack pretends to lose her balance and throws the drink all over Rarity.
"I was just starting to get the stain out!" She starts to snap then it turns into a little sad whine.
"I just can't stay on my feet sugarcube!" AJ lies trying to sound mad at herself.
Rarity sighs, "well I,"
"Spider!" They hear Rainbow yell chasing after Fluttershy through the garden coming towards the pair.
"No Rainbow, don't!" Fluttershy says too quickly. Rainbow hits the spider off her back then starts stomping it.
"Peter," Fluttershy says sadly.
"That was a biggun," Applejack says looking at the spider then pats Rainbow's back.
"What has gotten into you two?" Rarity says angrily.
"We're just being the jokes you wanted to date!" Rainbow yells at the pair making the whole party turn to the scene.
"Jokes?" Fluttershy asks softly.
"Don't y'all start playin' innocent," Applejack snaps, "y'all two asked us as jokes! Y'all were tryin' to make fools of us!"
"Is that what you think Dashie? That I asked you to make fun of you?" Fluttershy whispers quite hurt.
"You know you did! You two asked us as jokes to get back at us for spying on you!" Rainbow yells getting angrier.
Fluttershy squeals looking down then runs off crying.
"You two are truly awful!" Rarity says disappointed then runs off after Fluttershy.
"That was mean!" Sweetie Belle yells at the two ponies.
"You don't know the story Sweetie Belle," Applejack starts.
"No! You don't know the story! They were crying in Rarity's work room until they heard you two said yes! Then they spent two days trying to make sure they looked perfect for their first date ever!"
"This wasn't their first dates ever..." Rainbow trails off.
"Yes it was! You were Rarity's first date Applejack, and you made her feel silly!" Sweetie Belle says sadly. "I'm going to go check on my sister." The crusaders follow her and Applebloom looks at Applejack disappointedly.
"It wasn't a joke? They actually liked us?" Rainbow mumbles wide eyes.
"They thought of us as their real first dates?" Applejack stammers out. "I feel mighty awful."
"Go find them and apologize," Twilight says walking up to the pair.
"She's right! They can't hate us forever if we just tell em the truth!" Applejack says lying to herself. "Let's go Dash." The pair sprint off to where their "dates" had gone.
Fluttershy runs into a closet in the castle and Rarity follows soon after shutting the door. "I can't believe her," Fluttershy sobs breaking down on the floor.
Rarity rubs her back looking at the ground disappointed. "They played us for fools," Rarity mumbles.
A knock came from the door, "ladies?"
The girls freeze. "Y-yes?" Rarity stutters out.
The closet door is soon opened and Princess Celestia stands in front of them. "Why are you crying in the closet?"
"It's a long story dear," Rarity says looking up at her.
"Then you can tell me over of cup of tea," the Princess says leading the pair to her room upstairs.
"You really don't have to do this, I'm sure you're quite busy with the party," Rarity says to the Princess trying to sound happier than she really is.
"Nonsense girls, you're actually saving me from the party, and any friends of my student are welcome in my castle, especially if they're sad. Now tell me girls, what has you in such low spirits?" She pours three cups of tea and levitates them to the table motioning for the girls to sit down.
"We're hiding from our dates," Fluttershy squeaks out.
"Whatever for?" Celestia asks looking at the pair.
Rarity tries to hold her composure but then just breaks, "oh it was just awful!" The whole story starts to spill out of her. Celestia listens intently until she finishes.
"So they spied on you, then said yes to be your dates, just so they could embarrass you here?" The two mares nod sadly. "If they come in the castle looking for you, I'll tell them I haven't seen you," she replies with a smile. "There is a restroom through the hall if you two want to wash up." The princess smiles warmly then heads out her room to make sure their "dates" weren't lurking in the castle.
"This is so nice of the princess," Fluttershy says washing her tear stained face under cold water.
"It is lovely to have someone be caring for the right reasons," Rarity mumbles getting out of her now ruined dress. "I don't even want to see them right now."
Fluttershy stays quiet and gets out of her dress as well. "We'll have to see them when we go home tonight," she softly whispers.
Rarity sighs, "I know."
The pair gets cleaned up then heads back into the princess's room. "I suppose we can just stay in here until we absolutely have to go to the train station," Rarity mumbles.
"You can stay at my castle for the night if you want," Celestia says walking into the room again.
"We wouldn't want to impose," Fluttershy starts.
"Nonsense ladies, I can't possibly force you to go back if you're not ready," she says smiling at the pair. "There are two spare bedrooms down the hall."
"Thank you very much princess. This means the world to us," Rarity softly says smiling thankfully.
"Anytime ladies," she starts to head back out the door.
"Wait princess!" Rarity chimes with realization.
"Yes?" The princess turns to look at her.
"We're going to go to the train station, but we'll be back. I simply must tell my sister where I am so she need not worry!"
"Of course ladies, I'll make an arrangement for you with my guards."
"Pardon?" Rarity inquires.
"You said you didn't want to talk your dates right? My guards will accompany you to the train station, and if they start while you're talking to your sister, then my guards will stop them," Celestia explains with a smile.
"That seems a little extreme," Fluttershy mumbles feeling guilty.
"That sounds absolutely perfect," Rarity chimes still bitter.
"I'll get it set up immediately, just tell Shining Armour when you're about to leave." She walks out of the door to find the captain himself.
"That seems a little extreme Rarity," Fluttershy softly mumbles.
"You just want to forgive Rainbow Dash," Rarity grumbles to the kind mare.
"I also don't have anyone to care for my animals at home, maybe we should just go home," Fluttershy say sadly.
"We'll tell Twilight and Spike to feed them, after all it'll only be one night," she tries to convince her.
"I don't know," she starts looking down.
"Let's just go to the train station and you can decide there," Rarity chimes dragging the girl out the door.
"Oh Shining Armour!" She sings.
"I guess they're not coming?" Scootaloo mumbles looking for her fellow crusader's sister.
"Can you blame them?" Applejack mumbles.
"No here they come!" Rainbow cheers seeing the two mares trot down the way.
"Flutters!" She yells quickly flying towards her.
"Rare!" Applejack cheers running towards her.
Royal guards quickly stop them in their tracks. "That's far enough," Shining Armour states.
"Brother?" Twilight asks surprised.
"I'm sorry Twily, orders of the princess. Your friends are not allowed near our guests."
"Wait what?!" The two screech in unison.
"Sweetie Belle," Rarity starts ignoring the two mares, "tell mother and father that I won't be returning home tonight."
"What?" Sweetie Belle asks sadly.
"I won't be going home with you," she says a little sterner.
"What about you Flutters?" Rainbow mumbles sadly.
She looks at Rainbow Dash and feels a deep pain in her chest. "Twilight, please get Spike to feed my animals for me," she says softly looking down.
"Girls," Twilight says looking at the two upset mares.
"Thank you ladies," Rarity states then looks at Shining Armour nodding. They start back towards the castle leaving the group in shock.
"They're not coming home?" Pinkie asks her mane suddenly straightening out.
"Because of us..." Applejack and Rainbow Dash mutter to themselves sadly.
"We have to bring them home!" Scootaloo yells.
"Come on girls, we can't miss our train," Twilight sternly says getting ready to walk on the train.
"Twilight!" Dash yells. "You have to get them to come home! Squirt is right!"
"Let's not miss our train," she states getting on the train and the group reluctantly follows looking out the windows watching the two mares make their way up the lane.
"I hope you return soon," Twilight mumbles watching them walk off with her brother as the train takes off.