Blank Slate [Part 4]

>”No, no, no. Anon, you’re doing it all wrong,” Rarity calls out in frustration.
“How is there a wrong way when all you do is in and out?”
>”It’s the technique. You need to be gentle.”
>She uses her magic to guide your hand, making it rotate and move as she instructs you. After a few seconds she releases the spell, leaving you to repeat the movements.
>”Much better, you’re doing very well.”
“I never realised how difficult stitching could be.”
>”I’m going to pretend that wasn’t so sarcastic.”
>As frustrating of a teacher she can be, Rarity is pretty good at it.
>Thanks to her magic she can show you exactly how things are done while using your own hands, which makes it a lot easier to mimic.
>You did however, appear to be a bit of a slow learner.
>It took many tries to get each stitch exactly right.
>Your wrist can thank Rarity for all its cramps, her need for perfection has made these sessions drag on longer than they needed in your opinion.
>The two of you have spent around a week going over the basics of ‘fashion’.
>Rarity seems satisfied with what you’ve learned so far, so you’ll be able to start making clothes tomorrow, but you’re expecting her to get even pickier when you do.
>”Let’s take a break, shall we.”
“Oh god yes,” you say as you drop the needle and fabric on the desk to clutch your sore wrist.
>”Are you still not used to it, darling?”
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this torture.”
>”I would have thought your wrist would be used to a work out like this.”
>You pause for a moment, trying to work out if she implied what you think she did.
>”I’m going to step out for a bit, I’ll bring us back some lunch while I’m out. Anything in particular you’d like?”
“Surprise me,” you shrug.
>”Alright, ta-ta dear,” she calls as the doorbell rings, signalling her departure of the boutique.
>The moment you’re left alone, boredom takes over.
>You don’t exactly want to continue sewing right now but you need to do something.
>So you decide to go over your notes.
>You open up the first draw of the desk Rarity has you work at and pick up the notebook.
>The first few pages have drawings of stitches to remind yourself but the rest are filled with sketches.
>Sketches of pony and human anatomy.
>Sketching your own anatomy was easy, all you needed was a mirror but you didn’t exactly know how to ask Rarity you wanted to study pony bodies so you opted for staring at her from afar.
>Those ’studies’ made quite a few awkward moments with you and Rarity. You’d feel the same if someone spent a day staring at you for a few minutes at a time before scribbling in their book.
>The whole time you felt like some kind of creepy stalker. You doubt Rarity would have had any complaints if you told her what you were doing but it’s too late to look back on that now.
>Every page after the anatomy sketches is filled with different designs for pony and human clothing.
>You open up to a page you have bookmarked with a red ribbon to look over a design you’ve been working on all night.
>As you look over it, “Princess” is the first word that comes to mind. Possibly due to you designing it with Rarity in mind.
>The design features heels and stockings, a tiara, a long dress that layered over itself that lead to three roses on the waist and a ribbon tied with a bow on the back for a belt.
>The boutique’s doorbell chimes, grabbing your attention.
>You place the bookmark back and set the book on a nearby desk to go see who it is at the door.
“Is that you Rarity? That was pretty quick,” you call out.
>”Actually, it ain’t Rarity,” you hear a familiar southern accent reply.
>As you enter the room, you see Applejack looking up at you with a faint smile.
>”Howdy Anon.”
“Hey Applejack, uh, Rarity is out at the moment. She shouldn’t be too long, if you want to wait aro-”
>”Well actually, I can here to see you,” she interrupts as a little tint of red appears on her cheeks.
“Why me?”
>”You see, I was wondering… if you’d might…”
>She keeps looking around the room, trying to avoid looking in your general direction while holding her hat over her chest.
“Are you alright? You’re getting a bit red.”
>She gives a small giggle before taking a deep breath.
>”Would you like to come round to my place for dinner? You see... you used a lot and I thought...”
>She trails off into mutter but you think you understand what she’s trying to say.
>You still clearly remember seeing the apple orchard after Twilight tried that spell so maybe if you go it’ll jog your memory, hopefully.
“Sure. Why not.”
>”That’s great. I’ll come pick you up when everything is ready,” she says with a sigh of relief.
“See you then.”
>As AJ leaves the boutique Rarity enters.
>”Howdy Rarity,” Applejack cheers.
>”Evening Applejack, is everything alright?”
>”Mhm, I’m happier than a pig in fresh mud. I gotta go and get things ready for tonight.”
>Before Rarity can say another word, Applejack makes a dash off to who knows where.
>”I wonder what put her in such a bright mood. Anonymous, did she say anything to you?”
“Not really, she invited me to dinner tonight and that was about it.”
>Rarity is taken aback for a moment before a smile appears.
>”That’s good,” she replies.
>Unknown to you, behind that cheerful expression, she’s biting at her lip to stop her from saying much more.
“So, what did you get?” Your stomach lets out a low growl as you ask, it feels as if it’s asking on its own.
>”Pardon?”
“Food. What did you get?”
>”Oh yes, I got a few bits and pieces for a fruit salad and to make some parfaits for afterwards. If you help me cook then I’ll help you put together an ensemble for tonight.”
>Food and a new outfit, how can you say no?
“Deal,” you eagerly reply.
---
>After an hour of work but you’ve managed get a suit ready for dinner tonight with AJ.
>And by you, you mean Rarity.
>She had an old suit of yours that she fixed up, making it look even better than new.
>You’re standing on a platform as Rarity goes through one final check, making sure it’s all fitting perfectly.
>Rarity uses her magic to grip your tie, adjusting it until you start suffocating for air.
>You manage to cough and splutter the words, “Too tight.”
>”Oh, sorry darling,” she replies as she loosens it a little, “Just making sure you look handsome for your little date tonight and I didn’t notice.”
“It’s not a date, I’m just going for dinner,” you state defensively.
>”Yes, yes dear. Of course,” she replies in a weak tone.
>You feel a hint of guilt, and you’re not sure why. Rarity takes a few steps back to take it all in before a satisfied grin appears.
>”Handsome as always.”
>You’d probably dismiss that compliment if you weren’t so wrapped up in your reflection.
”Thanks to you. I’d never be able to look this good without your help.”
>You mean that too.
>As you admire yourself, and the outfit, in the mirror you can’t help but notice how well made it is. Without Rarity’s help, you really wouldn’t be able to look this good.
>That’s true, whatever would you do without me,” she states in a jokingly, cocky tone.
“I’d rather not find out.”
>”You know, Anonymous--”
>The bell chimes as Applejack walks into the room and you can’t help but stare.
>You remember Rarity telling you she added a few touch ups to Applejack’s ‘gala dress’ for tonight. You had no idea what that meant, until now.
>AJ is wearing something like a green cocktail dress but with brown leather for the trail and heeled boots. She’s still wearing her cowboy hat and there’s an apple stitched to her dress where her flank is.
>A perfect combination of country and city.
>”Ya ready, Anon?”
>Her voice interrupts your train of thought, catching you off guard. You give your head a quick shake before speaking up.
“U-Uh... ye-yeah,” you reply in a stammer.
>Hopefully neither Rarity nor Applejack noticed you staring.
>”You two go have fun, alright,” Rarity says as she nearly pushes the two of you out the door.
“We will, thanks again Rarity.”
>The two of you head outside and start making your way through the silent, empty street over to Sweet Apple Acres.
>It doesn’t take long before that silence becomes awkward and judging by the expression on Applejack’s face, she’s feeling the same.
>Your eyes drift upwards to the stars as you try to think of something to say.
>Eager to end the awkward silence, you say the first question that comes to mind.
“So, how are you?”
>Your poker face hides that inside you’re face palming with the force of a bullet train.
>”Good, good. Yourself?”
“Same.”
>With a slight nod from the both of you, the awkward silence returns for a moment before Applejack nervously speaks up again.
>”If ya don’t mind me asking, how’s your noggin’?”
“My what?”
>”You know, your head, your memory.”
“Oh... Sadly, no memories are back. I think I’m still supposed to be taking it easy after Twilight and I tried some memory jogging. “
>”She told me about that,” her monotone response made you uneasy, “Twi is still feeling pretty guilty about that.”
“It wasn’t her fault. I’m just as much to blame, but there’s not much I can do to convince her of that. Besides It has been about a week since then so it should be fine for me to get back to regaining memory.”
>”If you’d like, I could help,” she excitedly offers.
“That’d be great.”
>Without even realising, you’ve arrived at Sweet Apple Acres during that short talk.
>”Here,” Applejack says as she gives you a long cloth, “cover your eyes.”
>Your stomach lets out a low growl as you put on the blindfold which elicits a giggle from AJ.
>”Heh, don’ you worry, we’re about to go eat now.”
>A soft hoof makes contact with your hand and begins to guide you. You follow AJ as best as you can, keeping your free hand in front of you, just in case.
>After a quick walk AJ tells you to take your blindfold off and when you do, you’re greeted by a picnic rug and basket.
>”Take a seat,” AJ says as she starts to dig into the basket, “We got apple crumble, apple cider stew, caramel apples, apple cider aaand peach ‘n apple jelly.” [spoiler]I think it’s called Jello if you’re American.[/spoilers]
>You’re taken aback how all these things have apples in them but for some reason it doesn’t surprise you.
>Not wanting to wait any longer, you pick up a caramel apple and dig in.
>”Whaddya think?” She looks up at you with a proud, expectant grin as you happily nod.
“Ish good.”
>She gives a little hoof-pump before getting something to eat herself.
>When most of the food is gone the two of you lie down to stare at the stars, talking about whatever comes to mind but this time without the awkwardness.
>You keep feeling this warm, relaxed feeling as you talk to AJ, like you’ve known her for years.
>”Maybe you have,” you think to yourself.
“AJ.”
>”Yeah?”
“How long have we known each other?” You ask stiffly.
>”Uh, few years, I think. Why?”
“I was just wondering how close we are or used to be. I feel pretty relaxed around you so I thought that might be why.”
>AJ sits up and looks over to you, a slight blush on her face.
>You look over to her and catch the right angle for the moonlight to bounce of her face, it draws all your attention to her and you can’t look away.
>”Did you really want to know how close we were?”
>A silence follows her question as you hesitate to answer.
>All you can hear now is the night’s breeze and your thundering heartbeat. It’s echo through your body and ringing loudly in your ears. In just a single second, it’s all you can hear.
“Yeah… How close-” You find yourself nearly fumbling over your words.
>Applejack doesn’t speak, instead she moves closer until her face is hanging just above yours.
>You freeze, knowing exactly what’s about to happen as she leans closer and presses her soft, warm lips against your own.
>This pleasant feeling rings through your lips, it feels foreign but familiar at the same time.
>AJ pulls and gives you a shaky smile, “Ring any bells?”
>Aside from that oddly familiar feeling, it didn’t.
>While you look up at her, her shaky smile quickly fades and you see it in her eyes. Hope.
>She’s hoping really hard for something, anything.
>Now, you don’t want to tell her, you feel like lying to her just you don’t shatter those hopes. If you and Applejack had something before your memory loss then she must be going through a rough part of hell.
“Kinda,” you blurt.
>”You have to tell her,” you think to yourself.
>”I-I don’t… know what you mean.”
>She pulls back to sit down, holding her head in her hooves.
“I still don’t remember but I felt… something.”
>”What’s ‘something’ mean?”
“It was a feeling. Like I felt it before but I don’t remember exactly.”
>Once again, that silence is back but this time it’s painful to hear. You have no idea what to say.
>”Listen Anon, it’s getting late… I’ll, uh, talk to you later.”
>Before you can speak AJ hastily walks away so you decide it’s best to give her some space and let her sort things out.
---
>You’re back at the boutique.
>As you step in, the bell chimes and Rarity rushes into the room.
>”So, how did it go?”
“Uh, not so great.”
>You rub the back of your head as you try to avoid looking at Rarity.
>”I can see it’s not a good time to pry into this, instead I’ll talk about this,” she says as her magic grip lifts your notebook into view.
>”Anonymous it’s-”
“I know,” you interject, “It needs more work.”
>”No, it’s beautifully done. I had no idea you could draw so well, especially this design. It’s my favourite.”
>She lifts up the book once again, showcasing the princess dress design.
>”If you’d like, we could work on it together.”
“Are you sure you’re gonna need my help? You didn’t for this suit,” you state as you gesture to the suit of topic.
>”That was because we were in a rush, but with this we can take our time and it’d be excellent in getting you prepared for when the Gala comes around.”
>”Sounds good.”
>She lets out an excited squee before rushing into the next room.
>”What are you waiting for?” She calls out, “Let’s get a move on, darling.”
>You follow her into the next room, eager to make a start on your first outfit and for something that might take your mind of what happened tonight.