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'But you look splendid, darling. I simply cannot comprehend why you insist on avoiding them.'
'Duh, 'cause they're lame.'
'You used to think that Daring Do was exclusively for "eggheads".'
'I said that about books, Twi, not Daring Do. There's a difference. Plus, I get that reading is awesome now.'
'I think you look good in them.'
'See? At least Fluttershy can appreciate fashion.'
'It's less about style and more about functionality. You need them, Rainbow.'
'Oh, oh, maybe Dash doesn't want to wear them since they'll give her laser eyes and she wouldn't be able to look at any of us without burning our hair off!'
'What?'
'Look, can you guys just drop it? I've been managing just fine without them for most of my life, so why start now?'
Slam.
All of the girls jump as Applejack throws the door to Rarity's boutique open. Dash, in particular, bounces nervously on her heels.
'Sorry I'm late. I was helpin' Big Mac pack a short-notice order.' Straightening up, she pats herself down. 'Now, what are y'all arguin' about?'
'Nothing!' Dash shoots out, blatantly ignoring Rarity and Twilight's unimpressed gazes.
Unconvinced, Applejack counters with, 'I could hear y'all from outside for cryin' out loud.' Looking directly at Dash, she raises a brow. It's the iconic I know that ain't the truth eyebrow raise and, given how Dash swallows, she knows it too.
Obviously fumbling for the fastest comeback she can reach, Dash blurts out, 'Yeah, well, maybe you heard wrong.'
Applejack opens her mouth to respond but Rarity cuts in with impatience. 'Rainbow has shown all of us something besides you, and we're waiting on your opinion.' Once she finishes, she throws Dash a pointed look.
Now intrigued, Applejack faces Dash again, who's wearing a pained expression. She wonders what could be so bad that Dash is adamant on hiding it. 'That so? Well, now that I'm here, y'all don't need to wait any longer.'
From the way her scowl deepens, it's clear that Dash wants to argue but the five stares directed her way seem to convince her. Grumbling, Dash trudges over to where she'd carelessly tossed a small case.
Large, darkly-rimmed glasses sit atop Dash's nose, which is scrunched up in embarrassment. The specs slip down slightly, and she pushes them up in a way she used to make fun of Twilight for doing.
Sighing, Dash glances away.
'Go on, laugh it off.'
The rest of the girls protest, insisting that nobody would make fun of her for wearing glasses.
Meanwhile, Applejack's heart stutters.
Rainbow Dash looks downright adorable.
Fuschia eyes, barely enlarged by the lens, snap to hers.
'What was that?'
'Uh, nothin',' Applejack says, rubbing the back of her suspiciously warm neck. Dash's gaze pierces through her own. It should be intimidating, but that's not the reason why Applejack can't meet her eyes.
'Whatever, can we just go out like we planned?' Annoyance and desperation alike lace Dash's tone as she snaps her specs shut.
The sharp sound manages to stir Applejack's common sense alive. 'Not unless you wear your glasses.'
Dash scoffs. 'Not you too.'
'Jus' this once. Maybe you'll realise that they ain't so bad after all,' Applejack responds. Dash still looks on the verge of refusing so she adds one last sentence for good measure. 'Triple dare ya.'
Finally, Dash rolls her eyes. 'Fine.'
Whooping, Pinkie swings her arms around both of their necks. 'Sunset's slushies, here we come!'
⊹₊ | ⎚-⎚ | ₊⊹
Sunset blinks.
Here it comes.
'Woah, you're wearing-'
'Glasses, yeah, I'm sorta far-sighted,' Rainbow waves a hand dismissively. 'Can I get your biggest cup size?'
Something must've shown on her face because Sunset nods in understanding.
'Got it. What flavours do you have in mind?'
'Do you have anything sour?' Rainbow asks, not bothering to check the menu out of spite since she wouldn't have been able to read it without her glasses.
'Sour cherry and sour blue raspberry,' Sunset responds, skimming through her own version of the menu behind the counter. Those flavours are enough to boost Rainbow's mood alone. 'I'm guessing you want a mix?'
Rainbow grins.
'Absolutely.'
⊹₊ | ⎚-⎚ | ₊⊹
This is the third time Dash has scrunched her nose to push her glasses up. Not that Applejack has been counting. She reckons that Dash has given up on using her hands since one is occupied with holding her massive slushie and the other is, as always, hanging loosely in her pocket.
All of a sudden, Dash bursts out laughing at something Sunset said. Sobering up, she actually fixes her glasses with her hand but scrunches her nose afterwards anyway. It's...it's so darn cute that Applejack can't think straight.
'Hello? Earth to Applejack. Hey!'
Blinking, Applejack looks to see Twilight waving a hand before her face. 'Beg pardon, Twilight. What were you sayin'?'
Twilight gives her an appraising look. 'You've been acting off today. Is anything wrong?'
'Don't you worry, sugarcube. I've jus' been occupied with all the recent orders we've been gettin' but it ain't anything my family can't handle,' Applejack reassures her. It's not exactly a lie but it sure as hell ain't the full truth.
Still dubious, Twilight takes a small sip from her blackberry slushie. 'If you say so. Tell us if you need any more hands at the farm.'
'Will do,' Applejack nods with a smile she hopes comes off as casual.
Applejack's own slushie is still untouched. She doesn't trust herself to drink it without choking. Out of habit, Applejack looks back at Dash, who is sticking her tongue out at Pinkie Pie. It's stained purple from her mixed slushie.
Applejack's mouth is suddenly dry as a bone. She swallows. What's the matter with her? Applejack has always found Dash attractive but now she can't even glimpse at her without having her heart jackhammer against her ribcage.
It hits her when Dash looks back, all grins and glasses.
Her heart leaps.
Applejack likes Rainbow Dash.
She has always liked Rainbow Dash.
All it took was a pair of glasses for her to realise. She would laugh at the absurdity of it all if she was able to breathe.
'Applejack?'
At the concerned tone, she realises that she had stopped walking. Twilight, bless her heart, is waiting anxiously beside her.
'I'm mighty sorry, Twi. I jus'...'
'Have a lot on your mind?' Twilight finishes. Applejack nods, relieved that she doesn't have to scramble for an excuse. 'I always find that rambling about my thoughts helps me so would you like to share?'
'Uh,' Applejack starts, glancing back at Rainbow. She's never been the best hiding her expressions and it shows because Twilight follows her gaze.
'Ah.' Twilight turns back to her with a knowing look. 'You don't have to worry about a thing. Trust me.'
Applejack blinks. What's that supposed to mean? She doesn't get the chance to recover when Rarity calls out to them. 'Come along now. We don't have all day and the spa awaits us.'
'We're coming.' After giving her an encouraging smile, Twilight follows Rarity out of the mall. Somehow, Applejack knows that this won't be the last time she has this conversation.
⊹₊ | ⎚-⎚ | ₊⊹
'YAY! Now we can get free drinks from two shops.'
'Not so loud, Pinkie,' Sunset chides in a hushed voice as she glances back at the mall. Her fear of her boss overhearing at this distance is equal parts ridiculous and comical. 'I'm trying not to get fired on my first week.'
Speaking of their other drink-making friend, AJ is suspiciously quiet.
She also keeps staring at Rainbow.
Rainbow might not be the most observant person, but even she can tell that it's because of the glasses. It's one thing when she finds them weird, but it's definitely another when Applejack does. Rainbow just doesn't know why she cares so much about AJ's opinion.
Rainbow's mildly considering doing some stupid stunt to get her glasses broken when she hears a pattering. Or more like she feels it.
Rarity releases a horrified gasp, hastily protecting her styled hair with a purse. 'It's raining. Quick, we simply must find cover.'
Prepared as always, Twilight brandishes an umbrella, and Rarity latches onto her arm like her life depends on it. Meanwhile, Pinkie dives for the nearest puddle, accidentally drenching Sunset's side. Gasping at the sudden impact, Sunset leaps into the very same puddle, splashing a giggling Pinkie back with competitive stomps.
'Stop it! You're going to splatter us too,' Rarity shrieks, making Twilight wince and Rainbow snort.
'There's a shop down that street. I reckon we should hurry 'fore this rain gets any heavier.'
Instantly, Rainbow's gaze snaps to the source of the Southern drawl. It's hard to tell with the rain, but she sees AJ holding her hat above Fluttershy's head. The sight sparks a weird, unpleasant feeling in Rainbow's chest and she forgets to ask which street AJ means when the girls start hurrying across the road.
Rainbow attempts to run after them but she slips, barely managing to catch herself. Countless droplets blur her vision as she squints, worsened by the fact that the incessant rain is only getting stronger.
Stupid glasses.
Just as Rainbow yanks them off to rub them against her soaked jacket, she hears a car horn blast through the thunder. A hand grabs her own and hauls her to a slick pavement. Her knees scrape the gravel as both of them fall, drawing out a sharp hiss. More water splashes against them as the vehicle drives past, narrowly missing them. Rainbow catches her breath, staring back at the road.
That would have been me.
'You alright, sugar?'
Lifting her head, Rainbow looks at the fuzzy features she's known to make up AJ. Cautiously, she adjusts to a sitting position, grimacing as the now torn fabric of her cargos scrape against her chafed skin. 'I think I banged up my knees but I've had worse. What about you?'
There's a pause. 'I'll be alright. We should focus on gettin' inside.'
Right. Rubbing her palms together to get rid of the muck and pebbles sticking to them, Rainbow pushes herself upright and offers out a hand. After taking something from the pavement, AJ lets her pull her up.
'Thanks sugarcube,' she says, slapping her sopping hat back on.
'No prob,' Rainbow replies, starting to loosen her grasp but AJ just adjusts her hold, leading them to the closest shop. Naturally, she follows, glimpsing back down at their linked hands. Even after getting drenched to the skin, she feels herself grow a little warmer.
A small bell jingles once they step past the threshold and a gust of heated air welcomes them. It's only then that Rainbow remembers. Dropping her hand, she whips her head back towards the entrance.
'Shoot, my glasses!'
Frantically, Rainbow pats her head, her tank top, her pockets, everywhere. Sure, she thinks that they're uncool and a hassle but her anxious parents had bought them for her. A soft chuckling draws her attention back to AJ.
'Why are you laughing? You're supposed to be the reliable one,' Rainbow complains, unable to keep the whine from her voice. Still chuckling, in spite of Rainbow's distress, AJ holds out her hand.
'You wouldn't survive without me, would ya?'
A pair of glasses sit on top of her palm. Their lenses are wiped clean, so AJ must have somehow dried them once they rushed inside.
'You're such a pain,' Rainbow shoots out but she's grinning. Relieved, she reaches for them, but AJ holds them well above her.
'You sure you won't lose 'em again, sugarcube?' Her tone is smug and Rainbow rolls her eyes because of course AJ won't miss a chance to poke fun at her. What surprises her is how AJ's voice softens as she unfolds the glasses. 'Here, let me.'
Taken off guard, Rainbow considers protesting but it's AJ so she ends up agreeing anyway. 'Sure, whatever.'
AJ takes a step closer and Rainbow suddenly doesn't know what to do with her hands. She ends up sticking them in her pockets and hoping she looks natural.
Ever so gently, AJ eases the temples onto Rainbow's face. Her ears burn from her touch. Instantly, AJ's freckles come into focus. There are many more than Rainbow realised. For the first time, she thinks that wearing glasses is worth it.
'There,' AJ says softly. Her bright eyes linger for a heartbeat longer before she focuses her attention outside. 'Guess we better wait it out here.'
⊹₊ | ⎚-⎚ | ₊⊹
Soft indie music hums from the speakers as the two linger by the rain-stained windowpanes. A couple of customers pass by, seeking shelter from the torrents like them or browsing through thrifted clothes and sundry shaped sunglasses.
Subconsciously, Applejack's fingertips graze her elbow and she winces. Her right elbow and hand had taken the brunt of her fall but it was a small price to pay. On the other hand, the memory of Dash standing before those headlights is one which will haunt her for countless nights.
Another glance at Dash's scabbed kneecaps reminds her that she hadn't left unscathed either, but she's here and alive. Worriedly, she notes that she should ask Rarity for cleansing wipes once they meet each other.
Naturally, her eyes raise to where Dash is fiddling with her glasses. If she's being honest, they look a smidge oversized on her, but Dash wears them well. A little too well. Applejack can't stop watching.
Dash must've felt her gaze because she groans.
'Look, I get that it's probably weird seeing me in egghead gear, but can you quit the staring?'
Applejack doesn't think when she responds.
'Ain't my fault you look so cute in glasses.'
Dash whips her head around, rain splattering from her hair. Her mouth drops open, closes, opens.
'What?'
It's too late for Applejack to backtrack now.
'You heard me.'
'I-what, you can't just say that,' Dash splutters, a flush spreading across her cheeks.
'But it's the truth.'
Dash looks like she wants to drop her face into her hands, but apparently, she remembers that she's wearing her glasses. Instead, she settles for squeezing her eyes shut.
'I'm not...' she trails off.
'Cute?' Applejack prompts in amusement.
Snapping her eyes open, Dash protests.
'Stop calling me that. It's...embarrassing.'
Applejack doesn't even try to hold her smirk back. 'Me complimentin' you is embarassin'?'
'Yes!'
Her entire face is practically glowing red now. As she flails her arms, the glasses slip down and she scrunches her nose up again. Dash looks even cuter when she blushes.
Applejack only realises she had let that last part slip out as well when Dash yanks her glasses off and looks pointedly to the side.
'I can't even look at you right now.'
'That's because you ain't wearin' them glasses.'
Dash rolls her eyes. 'Hilarious, AJ.' After a moment, she squints through the window. 'Am I blind or has it stopped raining?'
Peering past her shoulder, Applejack can only see the remnants of the storm, abiding in fading, murky clouds and roads riddled with puddles.
'I reckon we should head out to find the others,' Applejack remarks, giving Dash a sidelong glance. She looks less flustered than before but she's twirling the handle of her glasses between her fingers.
'Yeah.' After hesitating, Dash slides the glasses back on. Applejack perks up once she does so. 'Shut up.'
'I didn't say anythin'.'
'That shit-eating grin is.'
Applejack makes a weak attempt at controlling her smile. Apparently finding that funny, Dash laughs. Shaking her head, she swings the door open.
'Whatever. Let's hit it, lovergirl.'
When the two step outside, Applejack takes one more look because she can. Rainbow Dash really is beautiful, with or without the glasses. And honestly, Applejack is pretty damn sure she won't be able to quit staring any time soon.