Seeming about to reply, Moonsong is caught off-guard by the suggestion that her mother could be as beautiful--and not the other way around.  Having spent so long in thinking of her mother as the pony she'd love to be in terms of appearance, to have it sink in even just a little bit that someone like Rarity doesn't think she's abnormal in a negative sense is almost more overwhelming than the makeover itself.  "I-I'll let her know."

"Complimentary?"  Moonsong nearly squeaks the word in her surprise, and though she's not the sort of pony to normally swoon for a moment the mare feels decidedly lightheaded.  Such a gorgeous, wonderful dress and it's free?  And Miss Rarity wants to be her friend?  "Thank you so much, Miss Rarity."  She doesn't feel like the thanks is enough even though her voice very nearly gushes gratitude, but as she's trying to figure out what more to say to really express herself the knock at the door distracts her.  "I think you have more company,"  Moonsong looks toward the way she'd come in as she speaks, and for a moment she wonders if she should hide or try to shimmy out of the dress before anyone else can see her.  She's not sure what to think about somepony else seeing her so primped and polished, beyond the spreading heat of worried embarrassment.  What if whoever it is thinks she's silly for it?

"Oh! I'll go let them in," Rarity nodded, suddenly alerted to the knocking at the door, "Do make yourself at home, dear. Though, I would avoid Opal, if you see her. She... doesn't much like strangers."

'Or much of anyone else for that matter,' Rarity mused in her mind as she trotted over to the front door. Hopefully, it was a costumer, or one of her friends coming to visit. Could the Princess and Fluttershy be back so soon? Perhaps they forgot something?

Using her magic, Rarity swung the door open with a wide welcoming smile, which quickly changed to a look of surprise when she saw Applejack of all ponies standing at the door of her Boutique. Usually, the farm pony was arriving with someone else, not one for the froo-froo nature of her abode, so the fact that she appeared all alone was quite unusual.

"Applejack! What a surprise," Rarity said, "Won't you come in? I just finished giving Moonsong, you remember the bat-pegasus that sang last night, a wonderful makeover, and-" She took a closer look at Applejack, who didn't look very well at all. Slightly ruffled, huffy, mane in a little bit of a tizzy, but then again it always is.

"-And, is everything alright, darling? You look... ruffly."

Tipping her hat slightly, Applejack instinctively glanced down at her hooves. She'd learned long ago you didn't track anything into Rarity's boutique... Satisfied that her hooves at least were dust free enough, the mare took her up on the invitation. "G'morning... uhh.. Afternoon, Rarity. Ah'm just fine~" she said. "It's everypony else in this crazy town that's losin' it t'day." she  strode in lightly. and perked an ear. "That bat pegasus from last night? Uhh... ah don't wanna get in yer' way, Rarity... If yer busy, ah can come back later."

Applejack - ever more concerned about her friends than about herself. Even if she did seem rather frazzled now, she was still the Applejack Rarity had known since she was little. When she thought about it, she'd heard the word 'date' more in the last two days than she'd heard it in the last two seasons.

"Thank you, Miss Rarity."  Still caught up in fretting over who might see her so uncharacteristically done-up, the warning about Opal manages to get through all the same.  Looking around the room with a bit of worry, Moonsong can't help but wonder what Opal is, and what she might do if she finds a stranger.  "...Opal?"  She hesitantly whispers, lifting a fore- and rearhoof off the floor as if to put herself just that much closer to flight.

"Nonsense! Never too busy for you, Applejack," Rarity smiled as she led one of her oldest inside, closing the door behind them both with her magic, "I just finished anyway."

Letting Applejack go ahead slightly to go wherever in her Boutique she wished, Rarity did a quick visual inspection to make sure Applejack wouldn't track dirt, mud, dust, or any other offending particle into her abode. The unicorn tried her very hardest to keep the shop clean as a whistle, and the farm pony learned long ago not to track dirt onto her floor. Pleased with what she saw, at least mildly, Rarity took the lead again and led them both into the showroom where Moonsong was fidgeting.

"Now, Applejack, you have to tell me what has you so down," Rarity told her, "It's unbecoming! I sincerely doubt that everypony has gone crazy..."

As she paused just before the door into the showroom, Applejack glanced back to Rarity, and raised a hoof slightly. "Uhh... it's... maybe ah shouldn't jus' dump it all on yer hooves. That ain't gone well so far." she said, and then stepped on into the room.

Spotting the fidgeting, awkward bat-pegasus, Applejack took in her attire, and smiled a bit. "Well now. Mighty fine duds, as always, Rarity." she complimented, and stepped into the room, adjusting her hat - it was cleaner than normal Rarity noted, and Applejack didn't smell quite so much of apples and sweat and farm labor. There was a hint of hay, though.  "And ya look lovely in it, Miss Moonsong. Ah enjoyed yer performance with the Princess last night, too." She nodded her head to the mare, and trotted along to take a seat somewhere where she wouldn't bump into anything.

Moonsong is so busy trying to figure out where and what Opal is that she doesn't have time to decide where she could hide before Rarity has returned with a pony she calls Applejack.  Moonsong immediately recognises the name--Applejack was the one who lost her applecart yesterday; she'd learned about it when she and Lyra were sharing breakfast and Rainbow Dash had come through looking for the cart.

Quiet so as not to interrupt the conversation as the two mares enter, she nonetheless reacts to Applejack's direct complement with a blush that darkens her coal-grey coat over her cheeks as she demurely bows her head.  "Th-thank you."

Using her magic, Rarity pulled over her couch that always seemed to be just a telekinetic arm away. Once the couch was pulled over, she climbed onto it and made herself comfortable, fluffing the cushions slightly with her hooves before fully relaxing. She looked over to Moonsong with a bit of a confused look, noting her bit of distress as they both walked in.

As if on cue, Opalescence daintily strolled into the showroom, hoping to find a nice, sunny place to nap near all of the windows. As soon as the unicorn noticed her, she lifted her with her magic and pulled her over to the couch, despite the feline's adamant protests. Once secured on the couch, against her will, Rarity began to pet Opal gently, whispering sweet nothings to her cat, answered by distinctive growls of discontent.

"Well, I'm all ears regardless, Applejack," Rarity assured her, "You simply can't keep me out of the loop for too much longer!" 

Applejack almost flinched upon seeing the cat, but managed not to. It wasn't over near her, right now, after all. That feline could be a nightmare. As Rarity laid plain her intent to get Applejack to talk, the stubborn farm pony would've been expected to set her hooves in for a struggle. Applejack didn't like to lean on other ponies when she didn't need to, after all.

Even so, she seemed to cave easily this time - was that a good or a bad thing? That would be for Rarity to figure out on her own. "Well, it's mighty hard to settle on what to bring up first."  Applejack drawled lightly, and took a glance about the room, taking in the froofy and elegant clothes on display. "Ah dunno if ah should start with Rogue, or Twilight, or Rainbow, or what." she shrugged, a little overwhelmed, and folded her legs, sitting there on the floor comfortably enough. "Ah am glad for ya, though, Rarity. Gettin' ta walk with the Princess's entourage last night."

"Well, just go slowly and easily through each one, Applejack," Rarity nodded, continuing to pet Opal as she listened to her friend, "We're in no hurry. You're welcome to join us, Moonsong!"

Rarity continued to study Applejack quietly, tilting her head to the side. She seemed to be so overwhelmed, bearing the weight of the world on her shoulders. Well, she could support that weight, of course, what with her incredible strength and endurance, but no pony should be lugging that sort of thing around with them. Maybe a trip to the spa would ease her mind? Not Applejack. Hard work seemed to be her answer for everything. Getting all sweaty and dirty seemed to ease her cares away in the same manner that getting cleaned and pampered did for Rarity.

"Oh, yes, the entourage," Rarity gushed, "Oh, it was a dream! Walking next to the Princess herself, while she wore one of my designs! Did you know I'll be designing an ensemble for Celestia herself, as a surprise gift! Oh! Oh... Yes, I'm sorry, too much about myself. Heh. Hmm. Do go on, dear."

Applejack let out a heavy sigh. She wasn't going to get out of this. It felt uncomfortable having Moonsong here, though. She didn't know the bat-pegasus, and didn't want to unload personal baggage with an audience.  So she latched onto the least complicated matter to discuss.

"Uhh.. well..  there's Twilight. Didya know she had a date last night, ta' the Moon Raisin'? She was up on 'er balcony with Widgit. It seems like it went alright, since she went on ta' meet'em at the Cafe this afternoon."

Rarity opened her eyes a little wider at the mention of Twilight's date. Though it was a terrible habit, and it caused quite a mess in Ponyville when her sister and her friends did it too much, this fashionista was always one for gossip. And getting the scoop about Celestia's premiere magical student was having a date, well, there were hardly any better gossip she could imagine!

"Well, good for her!" Rarity smiled, "It was about time that mare found somepony to take a liking to. Widgit would go well with her, I'd imagine! They can talk about... book... things."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:59, Mon 25 June 2012.

As the conversation steers promptly towards what, to Moonsong, looks like might be matters rather personal if Applejack's discomfort is any indication, the bat-winged pegasus tries to discreetly excuse herself to another room.  That she doesn't know where she's going doesn't immediately matter--Moonsong would rather let the private conversation remain private while she takes herself somewhere else, even if that somewhere else is a hallway.

It's impossible not to overhear as she's trying to make an unobtrusive temporary departure, and the notion that someone had a successful date last night makes Moonsong wonder if her luck in all things might change here in Ponyville.  So far she's made friends very quickly, met the Princess Luna, and got to sing for all of her new neighbours.  Who's to say that her special somepony might not also be here?  It's a happy and distracting thought that bolsters the mare as she steps quietly away.

Applejack watched as Moonsong shuffled for a brief exit, and frowned a bit. She didn't want to come in and disrupt, and there went another good excuse not to launch into spilling this mess all over the place. Still, as she left, Applejack sighe dand stepped over toward Rarity's couch, and sat next to it lightly.

"Well, ah guess last night the love bug bit the whole town. Rogue stopped by tha' farm this morning, said he was leavin' ponyville. Ah was the only pony he bothered to tell. Ah already had ta calm Pinkie down over the news this morning." She let out a sigh, and rubbed a hoof up along her face. She still felt a bit annoyed, but she seemed to calm a little as she repeated the issue again, to a new set of ears.  Maybe she was finally dealing with that craziness?

-Entering Day 2 Afternoon-

Moonsong's exit from the boutique's main floor led her to the only other portion of the building that wasn't upstairs -- namely, the home portion where the kitchen and wash room rested.  As she milled in hopes of avoiding any awkwardness from overhearing Applejack's woes she would soon notice a shadow cast over the window as something flew past out of sight.  The familiar flap of broad wings sounded out and, a moment later, the back door opened to allow a particular pony to trot on inside.

"Oh!  Well, hello again, cousin.  You're looking ravishing this afternoon." Silver Crescent offered a literally sharp smile to Moonsong as he closed the door in his wake.  He had saddlebags full of the requested groceries on his flanks.

Moonsong didn't want to poke her nose into anything personal, so finding herself in Rarity's home-proper is a little daunting.  She doesn't think that a kitchen is too dangerous of a prospect, though, at least not until she spots the shadowy motion outside.  Briefly startled, it is the familiar flapping she recognises from her own flight that calms her--Moonsong doesn't have time to dwell on just why that should be so before the guard is inside and speaking.

She's managed to forget just how dudded up she is until Silver reminds her, and with another blush and a rather daintily embarrassed stop of one forehoof the mare bows her head in greeting.  "Hello, Silver Crescent.  And t-thank you."  She pauses to take in his burden, then points with the previously stamped hoof.  "Would you like a hoof with any of that?"

"Thanks, but I've got it." the stallion shook his head as he trotted over to Rarity's icebox and popped it open with a reach of his wing.  Truth be told the Princess had him purchase a few groceries too many... but Luna was generous, if nothing else.  It took a bit of sorting for him to manage to pack away the perishables in a manner that would make sure they all fit and didn't cause an avalanche of goods the next time Rarity opened her fridge up.

"Why are you back here though?  I thought you were supposed to be with Miss Rarity?" he asked curiously as he glanced over his shoulder at Moonsong.  He had a great deal more levity in his tone than when his commanding officer was around, that was for sure.

"What a burden to put on you! Expecting you to trot around Ponyville, spreading the news. Rogue always was uncouth, and a ruffian, and.." Rarity sighed, letting Opal down to explore where she would, "Well, I hope he finds whatever it is he's looking for at least. Personally, I hope it's class."

Rarity didn't mean to sound bitter, but she and Rogue had quite the rivalry over the years. He got all the attention she tried to get without trying. All he had to do was dunk his head in a water basin in all of the mares would woo and all of the stallions would be jealous, and to add insult to injury, he was a lout, laying around, not working. She didn't hate him, nor did she hate anyone. She was just secretly glad that he was gone.

"Now, what do you mean about the love bug hitting the whole town, dear?" Rarity asked.

In reply to Silver Crescent (msg # 146):

Nodding and stepping aside to make sure the stallion has room, Moonsong tries not to fidget as she looks around the kitchen.  The lingering aroma of Rarity's breakfast combined with the abundance of groceries and her own lack of breakfast remind Moonsong that she'll want to have a good and filling lunch when she's done here.  'Wait, lunch...  It's already lunch time...!'  Moonsong realises with a little sigh, but she doesn't consider just walking out.  Besides, there will be plenty of time tomorrow to find work besides weather-shaping, something to supplement her income just a bit better.

"Mm?  Oh, Miss Rarity has a guest, Applejack?  And it sounded like she was upset about something, so I wanted to give them space."  Silver's words bring her out of her own thoughts and she speaks with a little shrug of her shoulders, seeming unbothered by the displacement.  "Where is the other fellow?"  Moonsong looks discreetly about as she asks, as though expecting the captain to pop up out of the shadows of the kitchen table, or to be hanging from the ceiling.

Applejack flushed a bit. "Yeah, ah was pretty upset over it too. But... hmm.. Ah told Twilight, an' had ta' calm Pinkie down over it. Ah dunno where he's goin', but ah hope he's gonna do alright, at least." She glanced up at Rarity awkwardly as she vented her disapproval of him. Then again, Applejack was well aware of it. Even so, she felt that Rarity could be a little too hostile sometimes - just because he was a pain didn't excuse...

She stopped herself, and rubbed her face with a hoof. Why was she sitting here, defending him in her head? She shook her head slightly and looked up to Rarity.

"Ah... well. ah guess ah'm a bit on edge. It's not really everypony." She gave a sheepish smile. "But it is Twilight, and Rainbow's gone a bit crazy too." she said. "She's slapped up a sign in the square advertisin' some kinda contest to compete to be her Special Somepony!" she said, tersely. "It's like she didn't learn a thing from the pet contest, and ah don't wanna see'er get hurt, and she's bein' stupid but she won't listen to Twi or me... An' Pinkie said she was gonna compete, when ah told 'er!" She heaved a sigh, and slumped  down , her back against Rarity's couch. That was perhaps as dramatic as she was going to get.

Silver Crescent couldn't help but snicker as his partner was brought up.  "Last I heard, the Captain was off getting prettied up at the Ponyville Spa by order of the Princess.  He's probably having a hooficure as we speak." the soldier chuckled heartily over the thought of that grim-faced pony being pampered like a filly getting ready for her first date.

"Prettied up...?"  Moonsong replies, then stifles a soft laugh behind a raised hoof.  "That's certainly a...  Well, it's a thought."  She doesn't want to risk being insulting, but the very notion is hilarious.  "Why is he at the spa?  He doesn't really... well...  seem the sort to enjoy that kind of primping?"

The two bat-ponies could enjoy a laugh at their elder's expense since he wasn't around at the moment.  Though, in all honesty, Silver Crescent wasn't so sure he would be able to contain his mirth even if the captain was present.  "Oh no, he's most certainly not!  But Princess Luna asked that we both attend for appointments today.  I think it's a favor to the ladies who run the spa or something, or maybe she thinks we need a break?"

The soldier was still chuckling as he pulled off his helmet and shook his short-cropped mane about, though there was little need to do so in the first place.  He set his helmet onto a latch on the side of his armor to hang out of the way for the time being.  "He'll be tending to the Princess once he's finished -- she's overseeing a race in town right now.  I know this whole visit was pretty much on-the-fly for her, but I'm glad she's having such a good time.  She always works so hard at the castle..." he seemed to mostly be thinking aloud before he looked back up to Moonsong.  "Actually, this is rather opportune.  I'm not expected anywhere at this precise moment.  Didn't you want to speak with me?"

Rarity listened to Applejack carefully, blinking a little bit at the mention of the contest. While the farm pony was absolutely right that Rainbow should have learned her lesson from the pet contest that she held quite a while back, it didn't make sense to see why Applejack was so upset. For one thing, almost everypony in town was at least decent. Rainbow wouldn't choose somepony that would be a bad fit, after-all. And besides, if it didn't work out, she could easily dump the one she picked. That pony wasn't shy about that sort of thing in the least.

Was Applejack taking this personally? It was obvious that she didn't want Rainbow to be hurt, which Rarity could easily understand, but this was something else. As she mulled this over, the unicorn patted the spot next to her on the couch, inviting her friend to join her up on the soft cushions.

"Now, Applejack, you should trust Rainbow," Rarity told her, "While the idea of holding a contest to find a special somepony is rather... silly, I'm sure she'll pick the right one. Were you thinking of entering?"

Applejack accepted the invitation with a moment's hesitation. She didn't want to get any dust all over Rarity's stuff.. but then again, she hadn't been working the farm today, really. She climbed up to sit with Rarity, and folded her front legs. "Well, ah don't think it's a good idea, and neither does Twi." She answered, glancing at her. "An' she's bein' unreasonable when we asked her ta' call it off." she let out a heavy sigh, and lightly bit her lip, glaring out the window at the sound of commotion.

A flash of rainbow light cascading out above the town filled the window as, outside, Rainbow Dash took out all the stops in a dramatic effort in her race. The windows rattled a little with the force, but it wasn't as bad as it usually was... for some value of usual. The sight just seemed to kindle an annoyed look on her face, and she huffed another tense sigh, before glancing at Rarity.

At her question about her potential entry, Applejack's cheeks flushed just a hint as she turned her head away with a shrug of her shoulders. "Twi said there wasn't nothin' stoppin' me. But ponies might get the wrong idea." She sighed and turned back to Rarity. "Ah want to, even if they do. Ah don't want RD ta' get herself hurt."