chapter 13

                                    

                                          
OMG TYSM FOR 1K!!! i'll try update more I promise :") -mj
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AJ sat down on a circular couch in the middle of the dress store as her friends swerved around finding what to wear while Twilight was in the changing room trying on a pink dress. Dash who had found a rainbow ensemble was waiting for the girl to finish, slyly staring at the sitting farmer who seemed bored out of her mind. Rainbow was thinking of what to do while waiting as standing idle seemed frivolous and very uncool. Without multitudes of thought, she slowly approached Applejack from behind with the plan of scooting in next to her and starting a conversation. She didn't know what she would say or if it would be awkward or not, but her body was thinking before her brain, dragging her over to the same girl she effortlessly complimented a few minutes ago. Before she reached the sofa however, a bedazzled Rarity jumped in front of Applejack causing the bored girl's eyes to shift upwards. "What do you think of this dress darling? Isn't it gorgeous?"
Dash stopped in her tracks and watched the interaction with wide eyes. Why would Rarity ask APPLEJACK about fashion?
"Ah think you're asking the wrong person, ah don't know much about clothes Rarity..." AJ replied, sitting up a bit straighter, looking the costumed girl up and down.
"But I want your opinion! I was thinking it needs more diamonds? Oooo or maybe a belt!"
"Hmmm...well I guess a belt would look good..." Applejack replied, scratching the back of her neck with a small smile seeming like these fashion decisions were confusing her.
"You're right! A belt would go perfectly." Rarity exclaimed. She placed a hand on AJ's shoulder and slowly stepped around the sofa, rushing away to find the accessory, eyeing Rainbow knowingly as she passed by. Dash didn't know what Rarity was doing but her hand on Applejack's shoulder, even for a split second, made her burn up inside in envy. Not knowing whether it was jealousy of wanting to be the one touching AJ's shoulder or anger from someone else touching her, she swiped away her original plan and stayed put as the sound of a curtain slid across a metal bar.  
"What about this?" Twilight called to her friends as she exited the changing room to reveal a layered short dress with a white bow around the waist.
Rarity appeared at her side holding her belt options and eyes immediately sparkling at the sublimity. "It's PERFECT, the purple matches your eyes and those shoes are so in trend right now, everyone will be talking about those lace ups, and oh the sparkles! Darling this is YOUR dress!" She squealed excitedly.
"The pink matches the streaks in your hair too Twilight." Fluttershy complimented softly, subtly sliding beside Rainbow, admiring the outfit.
"Awh thanks guys. I guess I finally found the right one!" She responded gratefully, looking down at her choice with a substantial smile. Dash turned slowly and looked over her shoulder, narrowing her eyes and seeing Applejack turn around to face Twilight too. "It looks great Twi, now its just Pinkie and you Dash that still need outfits." Rainbow's body once again led and pivoted to face Applejack who had just addressed her. She clumsily held up the dress in her arms and tilted her head towards it as if to say i-have-one-right-here. 
"You go try on your dress now Rainbow, I'm sure it'll look great," Fluttershy said gently, giving her a light nudge in the direction of the changing room. Dash craned her next behind her and looked down at her friend to see her staring at her with enlarged pupils, she looked kind of adorable. "Thanks Flutters."
Rainbow walked over to the room and slowly drew the curtain closed, eyes flicking between Fluttershy who was smiling at her and a laughing AJ, still facing her but was being interrogated by a fashion-distressed Rarity about what colour shoes to wear. She felt jealousy build up inside her wishing she was the one talking to her and making her laugh. She didn't know why she suddenly felt so possessive of Applejack but she just passed it off as insanity and just being ridiculous as she fully closed the curtain and began to change. 
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Rainbow looked at herself in the mirror once the dress was finally on. It matched her hair perfectly, it's exactly why she chose it. It wrapped around her waist and hips perfectly outlining her physique, the red fabric lining sat delicately above her knees and the thick purple straps rolled comfortably over her shoulders. It was loud and colourful, 'I look awesome,' she thought as she excitedly drew back the curtain to show off her new look. She immediately began to glance in Applejacks direction but her eyeline was interrupted by a beaming Fluttershy rushing over to compliment her. "Oh wow..." She mumbled as she stared at Rainbow. "You look so pretty!" She spoke truthfully as an idea came to her mind. "Oh I know what will go well with this, purple gloves! To match the strap!" She commented, gently enveloping a hand around Dash's arm and pulling her away to the accessories. Rainbow took one last look in Applejacks direction to see if she noticed her new wardrobe change, but she was facing Rarity with a makeup brush to her closed lids and palettes of colour open around her. 'Since when does AJ wear makeup?'
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"I'm already gussied up just enough thank you!" Applejack responded with her arms crossed, shaking her head in refusal to Rarity's offer. 
"Oh pft..." She huffed in disappointment, waving her hand. "It's not called the fall IN formal darling." 
"Come on Applejack! It'll be fun!" Pinkie chirped up. 
"Why not, go for it!" Twilight piped in. 
She jokingly glared in their direction as they encouraged her. "...fine...but nothing too fancy you hear?" AJ cautiously agreed as a grin rapidly grew on the pale girls face. 
"Oh of course not darling." She replied too quickly, as a small chuckle exited her lips, swiftly grabbing a bunch of makeup products to use. Applejack heard the sound of an opening curtain and knew Dash probably just came out of the room, she tried to turn to see what the dress looked like on her but a hand stopped her chin mid turn and twisted it back to face the mirror infront of her. "Close your eyes darling," Rarity demanded seemingly kindly. AJ slowly fluttered her eyes closed and felt the makeup brush on her skin from cheeks to eyelids to nose. Her skin started to feel very heavy with foundation and powders, she had a feeling Rarity got carried away again. 
"Oh my I have really outdone myself this time!" She squealed suddenly. Was she done already? Applejack slowly opened her eyes, worried as to what she would see in the mirror. Her eyes were facing the ground and slowly lifted seeing the metal frame of the mirror, then the reflection of her dress and her neck, she finally lifted her head to look at herself wearing makeup for the first time and gasped loudly. A similar sounding gasp echoed from behind her too. She looked up at the mirror to identify who was behind her and her green eyes met a pair of magenta ones staring back at her. 
"AJ...you look-