Applejack felt heat rise to her cheeks as she stared into Rarity’s eyes. Those royal blue pools always had a mesmerizing effect on her. They were so goldarn pretty, she–

“What?” Rarity asked, looking at Applejack. “Oh, there’s something on my face, isn’t there?” She levitated a kerchief up to her cheeks and began to rub her fur.

“Oh, no,” the other mare stammered. “There ain’t nothin’. I was just, ah, thinkin’ bout… farm stuff.”

With a chuckle, Rarity lowered the kerchief. “You’re so single-minded, Applejack. Shouldn’t you be relaxing? That’s what this party is about, after all.”

Applejack nodded, still flushed. The party was a small one – well, small for Pinkie Pie – and so far had lasted several hours into the night. There was plenty to eat, as always, and the weather was nice enough to permit it being outside.

Rarity giggled again, taking a sip of cider. As happened often, the musical chime of the giggle made Applejack’s heart skip a beat. Her heart always felt strange and heavy around the beautiful mare, except during moments like that.

The moment shattered when Rarity paused in her sip, looking up at the clock tower. “Oh, dear. I must be heading home.”

Applejack followed her gaze. The clock read half-past eleven. “Dreadful late,” she said. Then, almost of its own accord, her mouth kept moving. “Would ya mind terrible if I walked ya home?”

Another lovely giggle. “I wouldn’t mind at all!”

Taking in a deep breath, Applejack walked her friend home through the chilly night.


Their hooves beat a steady rhythm in the silent streets of Ponyville. They didn’t speak to each other; they just enjoyed each other’s company. Several times Applejack opened her mouth only to close it again. What could she possibly say to her? What words could possibly hold any interest to somepony like Rarity?

Finally, they reached the Carousel Boutique, and Applejack breathed a sigh of relief. She loved Rarity, and liked being around her. It was just that weight she felt around the other mare was unbearable at times.

Rarity fumbled around at the door a few moments, and opened it with an embarrassed glance back.

AJ doffed her hat with a smile. “G’night, Rarity. Always swell to see ya.”

The other mare was already through the door when she said that, so Rarity paused and turned around. “Yes, good to see you too, Applejack.” Her tail swayed a little in the breeze. “I…” She broke off, looking to her side. “I did not leave a window open.”

She trotted off in the direction she was looking. Curiosity swelled in AJ and she replaced her hat and entered the Carousel Boutique, following Rarity.

The room she stopped in looked to be in order – mannequins to one side, rolls of fabric on the other. The only thing that seemed out of place was the overturned table. Well, that and the shards of glass sprinkled around one of the large windows.

“My crystal!” Rarity cried, jumping to the table. A glass case lay shattered by the table.

A brief memory rose to the front of AJ’s mind: her and her friends receiving a special crystal from the crystal ponies as a thank-you for saving them from King Somber, or Sombra, or whoever Twi said it was that threatened ’em. Rarity had especially treasured hers, calling it her future. She’d put it in that special case even.

And now it was gone.

AJ laid an apologetic hoof on Rarity’s shoulder. “I’m awful sorry, Rarity.”

She looked up, deep blue eyes blazing with anger. “Who could have done such an awful thing?”

AJ trotted over to the broken window, leaning out carefully. There had been some rain earlier that day, so the ground was still wet. Squinting she could make out the faint impressions of a paw. With a hmph, she turned away from the window.

“Looks like a diamond dog, sugarcube.”

“A diamond dog!” The shriek of indignation stung AJ’s ears. She stomped over and leaned out the window, looking at the ground for a moment. She popped back in with a sheepish grin. “I don’t see anything.”

“That’s on account you ain’t been around dogs that much, Rarity. Now look, it’s obvious you’re a mite upset.” At Rarity’s look of indignation, she continued. “Maybe more than a mite. If it makes ya feel any better, I can bring Winona out in the mornin’ and we can go off and look fer the diamond dog what stole yer crystal, alright?”

Rarity sighed, looking down. “I suppose. It’s just…” She looked back up, lovely eyes welling up with tears. “What if that awful creature comes back?”

AJ froze in terror. She hadn’t thought of that. What if Rarity were to be put in danger? She needed somepony there with her, right?

“Yer right, actually,” she said automatically. “I’ll jes’ set myself on th’ couch and you can go on and sleep. I’ll take care’a ya.” She smiled.

Rarity nodded, that stricken face dissolving into one of happiness. “That’d be marvelous, Applejack! Stay there and I’ll fetch you some blankets.”

Crisis forgotten, Rarity practically skipped out of the room. AJ took in a deep breath, surprised at herself. She hadn’t expected to be able to suggest something like that.

Blinking suddenly weary eyes, she left the room, heading for the den. Once there, she collapsed on the couch and was asleep by the time Rarity returned with the blankets.

---

A happy “Woof!” and hot, wet lapping at her face woke AJ. Squinting, she saw Winona’s snout barely an inch from her own.

“What in the hay are you doin’ here?” she asked. Another happy, dumb “Woof!” was her response.

“Oh, I sent for Big Macintosh to bring her while you were still asleep.” Rarity popped her head over the back of the couch with a smile. “Now hurry up, we’ve got to get going.”

“No breakfast?” Applejack asked, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

Rarity paused. “Oh, well. I suppose we should eat. Ah, we will be out for a while.”

AJ rolled off the couch, Winona hopping down alongside her. Hat askew, she followed Rarity into the kitchen.

“I think I have some wheat biscuits left over, somewhere.” Rarity dug through a cupboard, finally pulling out a bag with a few brown, plump biscuits.

Applejack took one, and began to eat. Rarity did as well, taking cute, dainty nibbles. They ate in silence and when they were done, Rarity slipped the bag of biscuits into her saddlebag. “For later,” she explained, and Applejack nodded.


The sun shone through the low morning clouds, bathing the world in a murky grey light.

AJ led Winona around the building to where the diamond dog print was. She sniffed the ground, and began loping off in one direction. Applejack and Rarity exchanged determined glances before following.

---

Winona would pause occasionally to sniff or bark at something that caught her attention, but AJ was able to prod her back onto the trail of the diamond dog. The weather was nice though, once the sun came out from its hiding place behind the clouds. A slight breeze blew, cooling the ponies from the sun’s heat.

The sun was slowly beginning its descent when Winona slowed in her pace. They were in a grey, rocky field. Few plants grew there, the only ones being scraggly brown weeds.

Rarity paused. “This place looks dreadfully familiar.”

The ground swelled, and a blue-furred, lanky creature popped out. His back was to them as he sniffed the air. The animal was clad in a red vest, tattered and dirty. He turned, and slapped a paw to his forehead.

“Ohhhh no,” he said in a wheedly voice. Raising its paws in a plaintive gesture, he began to back up. “No, Mees Rari-tee. Pleese. No whining.”

“You!” Rarity’s voice was a sharp bark. “You stole my crystal, didn’t you!”

The diamond dog froze, panic in his green eyes. “What crystal?” His eyes darted back and forth.

“Don’t lie,” AJ said, walking up to the dog and placing a hoof on his shoulder. “Tell her the truth.”

“Uh… Maybe we stole it. Hard to say,” he added with a shrug. “Steal many many gems.”

AJ leaned in with a dark expression.

“Okay okay,” the diamond dog said, shrinking back. “Rover stole the gem. You understand Mees Rari-tee! Rover needs gems very very bad. Rover’s family so hungry.” He fell to his knees. “Rover wanted to help family.”

Rarity stared at him. Her eyes began to water. “No, no, Mees- er, I mean, I understand perfectly. Really I do.”

AJ frowned. The dog’s story sounded like a bunch’a horseapples to her. But maybe he was telling the truth. It was hard to tell – she may have been the Element of Honesty but it wasn’t like she could tell if somepony was being honest to her or not all the time.

“Look,” Rarity said softly. “Just keep the crystal. You need it more than I.” She giggled, that musical, beautiful giggle that always made AJ’s heart soar. “I was just going to keep it on a shelf and look at it occasionally!”

“What?” the dog asked. “You give Rover gem, just like that?” He frowned quizzically. “Mees Rari-tee, you are strange strange pony.”

Another of those heart-breaking giggles. “Just go on. ‘Mees Rari-tee’ wants you to have it.” She looked at AJ, her long eyelashes fluttering. “Isn’t that right, dear?”

“Uh…” AJ’s heart beat fast, trying to figure out what her… friend wanted of her. “Uh, sure is, sugarcube. Good ol’ Miss Rarity. Always thinkin’a others over herself.”

Rover flicked his eyes between the two mares. “You no trick Rover?”

“We no trick Rover,” Rarity agreed.

The dog smiled sadly. “Then Rover thank you. You help hees family. Thank you.”

Applejack leaned in close to the diamond dog again. “Y’know, ya didn’t need to break in and steal that gem. I’m sure if’n ya asked, she woulda given it to ya.”

Rover looked down, kicking the dirt at his feet. “Sorree,” he muttered. Then he pulled his head up with a twinkle in his eye. “Know what to do to repay Mees Rari-tee.” He grabbed his vest and began to pull it upward.

Rarity waved her hooves in panic. “Oh, heavens no! Please don’t-”

It was too late. The diamond dog was now naked, holding out his tattered red vest to Rarity. She enveloped it in a royal blue magic aura, and it drifted over to her.

“Ah, yes,” she stammered. “Er, I’ll treasure it. Forever.” She forced a smile.

Winona barked at her larger sibling. Rover bent down to look at her. “You keep Mees Rari-tee safe,” he said, scratching her behind the ears. Winona panted happily, looking back at AJ with a smug-looking expression.

The diamond dog leapt back into his burrow, legs kicking at the air comically as if he were trying to swim through the dirt. After a few abortive kicks, he finally disappeared into the ground.

AJ stared after him a moment before turning to Rarity. “Mighty generous’a ya, Rarity.”

She just smiled, making her even more beautiful. “Yes, I am, aren’t I?” She turned and began to trot off. “Come along now, let’s go home.”

---

The return trip was just as pleasant as the trip to the diamond dog encampment. They could hear birds singing love songs as they flitted about. The sun was sinking low when Rarity called for a stop.

They had reached a lovely little meadow, the tall grass blowing in the wind. It was at the top of a hill, allowing them a perfect view of the sunset. Below the horizon was the town of Ponyville, lights twinkling in the distance.

“What’s up, Rarity?” Applejack asked, slowing to her side.

“Oh, nothing,” she said quietly. “I just wanted to stop and enjoy the sunset.”

She sat down, and AJ followed suit. Winona padded over and laid her head on Applejack’s legs.

The final rays of the sun blossomed, turning the clouds lovely shades of pink. The pink fingers caressed the dark blue sky.

“It sure is pretty,” AJ said.

“Yes it is.” Rarity leaned over, placing her head on AJ’s shoulder.

Applejack’s eyes widened and she reflexively shrugged Rarity away.

Rarity toppled over with a grunt. “Oh,” she said as she picked herself up. “I’m sorry, Applejack. I didn’t-”

“Oh, no,” Applejack interrupted. “I jus’ wasn’t expectin’ you to uh…” She pushed her hat down to hide her bright red cheeks. “Uh, what I’m tryin’ to say is, uh…”

Rarity giggled. “No, no, it’s entirely my fault, I, er…” She looked away. “Oh, I knew you didn’t feel that way.”

“No, sugarcube, I…” Applejack made a strangled sound. Her guts had twisted in a tight knot and stuck in her throat.

Rarity got back up and put her hoof under AJ’s front leg. “You know what, Applejack? Just hush and enjoy the sunset.”

And so they did.