THE APPLE OF MY EYE
CHAPTER 7
Applejack was awoken by the chattering of the birds near her window, the sweet melody ringing in her ears. Applejack sat up and stretched, her mouth open In a yawn. She looked around her, four sleeping ponies one purple one blue one yellow and one pink. She stuffed her hat on her head before exiting the room. She trotted down the hall until she reached the main room, with their thrones surrounding a round table, with a map of equestria in 3D on it. In her spot on her throne Rarity was sitting, flicking through notes and what looked like drawings. "Well, your sure up early!" Applejack told the fashionista who was so busy she hadn't noticed the farm pony enter. "Yes, I had a dream, and I just couldn't sleep! I have so many new ideas!" The white unicorn smiled inspired. "Oh and Applejack darling, what should I wear?" Rarity pulled a clothes rack out form behind her throne, using her magic to pull some cloth off. "Umm, where did ya'll get those sugarcube?" Applejack scanned the rack of clothing. "Oh, while you where working yesterday I went back to my boutique and brought my stuff so I can look my best for Fancypants!" She fantasised dreamily. "Well alrightie then, ah think you should wear the blue one." Applejack pointed a good towards a nice looking blue one. "The one with the purple accents?" Rarity followed Applejack's hoof. "Eyup" AJ clarified. "I did fancy that one, do you think he will to?" She frowned, her long eyelashes fluttering. "Ah'm sure he will like anything you wear sugarcube." The country pony rolled her eyes slightly annoyed. "Yes well, I can only wear the best!" The unicorn got out if her throne. "I am going to try this on, and why I get back I expect feedback!" The diva trotted out, her head held high, her mane bouncing as she moved. Applejack grinned, her white freckles moving upwards. She heard a yawn, and turned her head, staring at a sleepy looking Fluttershy. The timid Pegasus smiled at her friend "good morning Applejack" the butter coloured Pegasus moved softly to sit on her throne. It was then that Rarity came waltzing out, showing off her gorgeous outfit. "So, what do you think?" She posed dramatically. "Wow Rarity you look stunning!" Fluttershy stared at the fancy mare. "Applejack?" Rarity asked. "Ya'll look nice Raritay." Applejack stated, bored. "Nice?!" Rarity's blue eyes widened, "i think that's an understatement!"she clutched her chest with her hoof. "Of course you would Rarity" Applejack smiled, her Green eyes closing half way In a sort of smirk. Rarity smugly smirked back at her though. "Oh but Applejack sweetness, you need to wear one too!" The unicorn called out smugly. Applejack stopped chuckling, her eyes widened in fear, "you wouldn't!" She stood up in her throne, ready to bolt for it. "You weren't so fearful when Rainbowdash told you to put a dress on!" Rarity raised her eyebrow, slowly walking forward towards the orange mare. "Uh, yah but that was a dare..." Her southern accent was laid in even thicker with her uncomfortable state. Rarity took another step forward, almost touching Applejack's nose with her horn, looking up into her eyes deeply. Applejack's ears where pulled back against her head as the unicorn was prepared to use her magic for her advantage. Applejack leapt for it, launching herself out of the side of her seat. She ran down the corridor, before screeching to halt at ka dead end. "Shoot!" The country pony turned back around, about to throw herself into a room, but realised that was Twilight's room, where all the dresses where kept! She threw herself into the room next to it, slamming the door behind her, hearing Rarity's advancing hoofsteps. "Huh, AJ what are you doing?" A certain dragon's voice was heard in the gloom. "Shhh!" Applejack covered a hoof over Spike's mouth before crouching under a desk in the corner that had a couple of comic books on it. The door creaked open with magic, behind it a searching unicorn. "Oh spike, it's just you darling, by the way, have you seen Applejack?" She asked, sounding sweet and not like she was just about to to force Applejack into a dress. Applejack quivered in nervous energy. "Uh no, why do you ask?" He dragon's dark green eyes started wandering to the desk before they stopped and stared back at his crush. " oh doesn't matter!" She smiled sweetly before slamming the door and storming off. "Oh thank ya'll spike, your a great friend!" The earth pony crawled out from under the desk, a smile plastered onto her face once again. She hugged the small reptile, nuzzling his head in a friendly gesture. "See ya'll, ah'ma find a hole to crawl into before Raratay gets back!" She smiled, tipping her hat before racing out of the room. She trotted back and jumped back onto her throne, where Applejack noticed, everypony was up. "Mornin' everypony!" She called cheerful. Rarity glared at her from her seat. Then she realised, everypony else was wearing a dress. "Ummm, well this is awkward..." She chuckled. "Yes, now sweetheart, if you could let me put your dress on!" Rarity growled, frowning. "No way no how!" She shook her head. "Come on, everypony else let me put their dresses on, even Rainbowdash!" She pointed towards the blue Pegasus. "Sorry AJ this dress looked 20% cooler" Rainbowdash explained pointing towards her interesting dress. "so will you let me put it on?"the White unicorn raised her eyebrow. "Neope" the farm pony closed her eyes and crossed her forelegs. "Well all my good friends put on their dresses, so are you a good friend?" Rarity knew she had hit a heartstring. Applejack's stubborn pride faded. "Fine!" She growled, walking up to Rarity and snatching the dress off of her.
Applejack wore a frown as they six waited at the train station, Rarity up the front looking nervous and excited, her dark blue eyes sparkling, matching with her dress. The train skidded to a stop, steam flying outwards form under the wheels. A loud voice rang over a speaker, making the five other than Rarity cringe at the loud noise. "Train to Manehattan train to Manehattan!" Ponies started piling on and off the long train. In the steam was a dark figure, it slowly took a step forward, Rarity's eyes widened with every second. Suddenly the steam cleared and in its wake was the all famous Fancypants grinning charmfully. Applejack stared to the side, realising Rarity disappeared. A small sound was heard from under Twilight. Applejack raised her eyebrow, lifting her head back up to Twilight's. "Crush?" The orange mare guessed easily. "Big one.." Twilight frowned at the hiding fashionista. "Go on, go see him!" The lavender alicorn used her wings and pushed the diva out of her hiding spot. She nervously trotted up to the stallion, Twilight and Applejack urging her on silently. "H-hello Fancypants!" She squeaked, the mares courage returning. "Oh, hello Rarity, nice to see you again!" The White unicorn greeted the elegant pony. "So, your going to tour me around this gorgeous rustic old town?" He glanced at the mare as they started walking over to the rest of the herd. "Yes, when would you like to start?" The beautiful unicorn asked politely. "Now would be fabulous, if you don't mind my dear?" Fancypants looked over his watch, the shiny materials reflecting off and onto the ground. "Well, sure!" Rarity looked around surprised. "Anypony else want to come?" She asked excited. "Sure!" Twilight and Pinkie pie chorused, the mares hopping to stand behind Rarity and Fancypants. "Oh I'm sorry Rarity, I hope you don't mind, I have to wash my animals today..." Fluttershy trailed off smiling apologetically. "Yeah and I have some more cool things to do then to attend a tour of my home." Rainbowdash flapped away after giving her explanation dryly. Everypony turned to face the orange earth pony. Applejack turned to look at the clock on the train station roof. "Sure ah'll join ah have a few hours before work" the mare smiled, joining the group. "Excellent, let's get on the move!" Rarity trotted lightly, her curly purple mane once again bouncing as she moved. The group followed, knowing their was a long road ahead.
Applejack pulled her hat over her eyes, the sun beating down on her back making her sweat. Twilight's wings her slightly unfolded from her body so she could keep cool, whereas Pinkie pie was bouncing like usual, seeming unfazed by the blazing heat. Rarity was pointing out directions, her voice still cheery despite how long they have been walking around for. Spike suddenly collapsed one scaly arm across his chest, the other pointed towards the bright sky. "I can't go on no more!" The purple and green reptile cried, his dark green eyes squinting form the light. Twilight looked annoyed as she bent over to pick him up. "Ah'll do it Twia, ah'm used to carryin' things in the heat" Applejack explained, scooping the dragon onto her back, his slightly warm scales sending a shiver down her spine. With the added weight of the dragon Applejack's strides became longer in her efforts to keep up with the others. Applejack was glad she had convinced the others to dump the dresses,they would have been sweating like pigs in this heat. Rarity suddenly stopped, her mane slightly more frazzled then usual. "And that's it, that was my fabulous tour of ponyville!" The unicorn squealed. "Simply divine my dear, would you mind helping me tomorrow?" Fancypants seemed patient, his blue mane looking like he gelled it into place. "Of course!"the two slowly started walking off, planning. Applejack grinned before looking back at Spike to see his reaction. The farm mare realized he was missing she twirled around, finding the young dragon sitting on the ground looking a might jealous. "It's okay sugarcube, their just gonna work" she patted him gently on the back with a hoof, sensing the male's discomfort. "Yeah I know..." He trailed off watching the two walk further into the distance. Applejack turned to Twilight "do you mind if Spike comes with me, ah have some work on the farm ah need help with" she asked the lavender alicorn. Twilight did a double take, shocked at Applejack's request for help. "Sure!" She eagerly pushed Spike towards the orange mare.
"Thanks for the help Spike." Applejack kicked another tree, the green and red apples tumbling Into the apples. "No problem Applejack, I liking helping out." Spike dropped another full bucket into the cart. "Ya'll sure you don't want any lunch?" The earth pony showed him the last pie she had saved for him. "No thanks, I am going to finish this orchard first." He dragged another bucket closer to the almost full cart. Applejack admired the strength and determination the young dragon showed, she hadn't seen it in many ponies after all. The two continued their work, it being an hour or two after lunch. Spike filled the cart up with the carts, his scales gleaming with sweat. "Alrightie ya'll lets get this cart up the road!" Applejack trotted enthusiastically to the front of the cart, attaching herself into the metal harness. She swiftly pulled the heavy cart up the hill, Spike jogging to keep by her side. "So AJ, do you think I should ask Rarity out?" Applejack screeched to a halt. "Woah there lover boy! Take it nice and easy, Rarity won't like it if you rush it, after all everything's gotta be perfect with her." She gently nudged the reptile with a hoof, while giving her honest advice. "I suppose your right, I just don't want that Fancypants guy to get to her first." Spike looked jealously ahead as he walked by Applejack's side. "It's alright young un' Rarity isn't goin' nowhere" she stopped moving, draping a foreleg around his shoulder. He snorted, a puff of smoke coming out his nostrils before continuing onwards.
"Could I please have some more?" Spike politely asked Granny Smith. "Why sure young un' I have plenty to spare!" The tea green mare turned around to where her pies once stood. "Hey now, where did mah pies go?" The granny whizzed around coming face to face with a messy looking Applejack, crumbs littering her face. "Seriously Applejack, ya'll have the stomach of a full grown stallion." The White maned earth pony grumped at AJ. "Eyup" Big Mac called form the table. "Sorreh ya'll my belly was grumbling louder than a hungry bear in hibernation!" Applejack clarified wiping the crumbs off of her freckles. Spike rolled his eyes taking his pie tin to the sink. Applejack sat down abruptly onto her chair, shielding her eyes as a ray of sunlight burst through the window. The sunlight lit up Spike's scales as he cleaned his pie tin, his shiny skin of purple and green shining as bright as a star in the night sky. Applejack's felt her heart lurch, the mare instantly looking away. Applejack frowned, her chipper mood replaced with one of confusion, she had never felt like that before, it was an odd feeling one of need and joy at the same time, all mixed into a single lightheaded, hair raising moment.
"Thanks for the lunch, but I need to get going, Twilight wanted me to clean out some more books." The small male hopped out of his chair, walking towards the wooden door. "ah'll walk you home" Applejack jumped out of her chair "ya'll could use some company"
"Thanks for walking me home AJ" Spike walked along the road, his chubby legs waddling him along. "No problem Spike, I like helpin'" Applejack trotted by his side, glancing down at him with her luminous green eyes. Suddenly spike tripped on a loose pebble, letting out an "ahhh!" As he fell. AJ grabbed him with one of her forelegs pulling him back up, just before he touched the dirt road. "Hehe sorry, was to busy thinking about Rarity" Spike explained sheepishly before moving onwards. Applejack blinked twice before trotting to catch up. They where crossing the bridge out of town, the sun still shining onto the pair. They both looked up to admire Twilight's Magnificent
Castle,the crystal walls almost to bright to look at. Applejack trotted up to the door and knocked, Spike the dragon at her side. The door opened. "There you are, I was just about to come and get you Spike, these books won't clean themselves." Twilight stated trotting back in, Spike and AJ following. Spike sighed, "I guess I'll see you later Applejack" before running into Twilight's library to start his work. The country mare walked into the room she had slept in the previous night, stuffing her pillow back into her saddlebag. She slung her saddlebags over her back. "See ya Twi, I have to go walk Winona" the orange earth pony called over her shoulder before stepping out the door, hearing a muffled reply from Twilight.