10000netherworlds | Honestly, powerful generosity?

Honestly, powerful generosity?

Zetta was determined they were going to do this right.

Step one: arrange for a tasteful yet casual dinner in the castle. Casual, because he expected the farm pony would be either nervous or uncomfortable with anything particularly formal. In the castle to keep her from being nervous that anyone at a restaurant might be side-eyeing the dual company she was keeping.

Step two: a reasonably casual outfit. No problem for the Overlord, who -- absent a formal social occasion -- favored the cape Rarity had made him, for the obvious reason that it was awesome.

~~Step 2.5, keep hooves off Dame Rarity after seeing her outfit for the date.~~

Which brought alicorn and unicorn to step 3 of this glorious plan: show up leg-in-leg at Sweet Apple Acres, the better to pick up their date and escort her to dinner like the lady she was and the gentleman he occasionally played at being. Thus the husband-and-wife pair strolled up to the door, and Zetta lifted one hoof to knock.

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And here was Applejack, fretting and fussing like a little filly. Or...well, like herself, whenever she had a social event to helm. It had to go perfectly---well, maybe not entirely perfectly? Just enough to show the overlord and lady that their faith hadn't been misplaced.

She made to roughly swing open the door, as usual, but this called for a delicate touch, right? She corrected course at the last second, stepping around the opening door.

My, they were certainly something. They looked every bit like the power couple they were, and she...well, for once, Applejack hadn't asked for Rarity's help in a fashion crisis. It was weird to ask someone you were dating for the first time to dress you up, wasn't it?

Nah, she'd just have to do it the old Apple way. Neatly braided mane and tail, simple green sundress, boots that didn't look like they'd walked uphill both ways on a muddy road for once.

"Eheh...howdy, partners!" she grinned, crossing her hooves as she tended to do. "My, aren't you looking like the bee's knees."

Like Zetta, Rarity was determined to do this right. She had advised Zetta on some of the smaller details when it came to setting up the dinner, directing the food choices to better favor Applejack's palette than theirs. Admittedly, Rarity had rather refined tastes when allowed, but, she also didn't mind something more toned down either.

Over all, she was aiming to make this just as comfortable for Applejack as she could. Even opting to go with a simpler dress of her own design than one of her fancier pieces. This one had simple lines and opted for more of a pale blue color accented with sapphires. For her, it was rather down played.

And hopefully Zetta can keep his hooves to himself so nothing gets too awkward during dinner.

On that note, Rarity was a bundle of nerves herself as the door swung open to reveal Applejack, not that she let it show of course. Rarity was a lady after all.

"Thank you darling, you are looking rather charming this evening as well." She smiled as she glanced towards Zetta before turning her attention back to Applejack. Rarity had to admit, there was definitely an appeal in seeing Applejack in a dress. She liked it and hoped they could manage it more often.

"Charming, hell, you look beautiful. Not that you don't normally," he added with a wink.

A year or two of 'don't call me hot, call me beautiful' had worked its way into Zetta's subconscious. At this point the Overlord didn't even intentionally intend to be complimentary and not crude, it just sort of happened.

Rarity might want to pat herself on the back at some point for achieving that.

"Ready to be swept off?"

Zetta could tell he was the one least worked-up by this whole encounter, which was a weird state of affairs considering he was so easy to work up.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Applejack answered, sounding more confident than she felt. She slipped out and closed the door behind her, giving each of her companions a sweet smile.

She walked out between them, feeling surprisingly confident. Yeah, they were looking...mighty appealing, but Applejack almost started to believe she belonged. Zetta had told her as much, hadn't he?

"Can't think of anypony better to be hitting the road with."

Trust her, she was patting herself on the back for that minor accomplishment with Zetta. It had taken a lot of effort and more than a few threats with her sword before it finally sank in.

Rarity smiled as she moved to allow Applejack between them. That seemed like the perfect place for her to be and it did make for a rather appealing image for Rarity. One she was definitely enjoying and knew it would only get better the longer the night went on.

"Neither can I. Now, lets head to the castle shall we? I'm excited to get things underway tonight."

Well, hey now. This was all falling into place just as he'd intended, and he didn't have to do much of anything. Small wonder he loved that unicorn, so much that he even came to admit it openly.

And if the pair of them were both walking just a bit closer to Applejack than a casual stroll would call for, well. Maybe he wouldn't teleport them to the castle after all. The walk might do them good.

"No fancy dining room table a mile long though, I promise." Confident Applejack, or at least pretending-to-be-confident Applejack, was a treat Zetta didn't want to spoil too quickly. "I was never a fan of that sort of thing."

Applejack looked between them. Ah, was she the center? Well, they were ensuring she had her place. Her smile stayed as she walked, a fond gleam in her eye too.

"Yeah, you know the funny thing about tables? Seems like the bigger your table is, the less food you put on it. If it was a mile long we'd probably be eating those fancy little crumbs!"

After a second she corrected herself with a blush.

"Not that I'm just trudging up to the watering hole for a bite. I mean. If you've got the morsels I'm sure they're the tastiest I ever did see---uh, taste. Whatever we're doing...I"m kinda excited, y'know?"

"We all are darling. I'm thrilled you agreed to this in all honesty." Rarity glanced from Applejack to Zetta with a smile. "And don't worry about the food. I made sure nothing was too fancy for our date. Besides, as much as I do enjoy high society affairs, this is something between the three of us. I felt a more personal touch was needed."

And hopefully Applejack would appreciate both of their efforts in making it that way as they continued towards the castle.

'Thrilled' was an accurate word, but also 'amazed'. Zetta had never been shy about flirting with Applejack, but he was surprised it had apparently had an effect -- and that was setting aside Rarity's influence on everything.

"Honestly? I don't think I'll even notice the food," he said, dropping his voice a little for extra effect.

Was he actually in over his head, here? The possibility had begun to occur to him. But hey, if he was, there were worse things to drown in...

"Oh, so you're gonna be doing something else with that there mouth of yours," Applejack snickered. Hopefully that did the slightest bit to hide her reddening face.

"Sure thing, but after we give the table a go. Anything y'all put together for us has to be just fine. And I don't think you should date on an empty stomach."

"I'd say Zetta is talented with his mouth in a variety of ways." Rarity's comment may have sounded offhanded, but, it just goes to show what kind of affect he had on her in their time together as well. Besides, Applejack's blush didn't escape her notice. If anything, she wanted to see more of it.

"I completely agree. Food and pleasant conversation first, pleasure after." The question of what kind of pleasure afterwards was left completely up to Applejack and what she was comfortable with. So yes, Zetta was in completely over his head with two mares potentially working together.

Zetta flashed Rarity a grin over Applejack's back. He didn't know if Applejack had any idea about what she was implying, but he sure knew Rarity did.

"Hey, hey. Food and pleasant conversation with one of you ladies would be pleasure, let alone both of you. Hell, it's way too late to put pleasure off for later and we haven't even got to the castle yet."

What a day, when Zetta found himself being the one to point out that he enjoyed the ladies for more than their admittedly lovely bodies. Of course, he also shifted slightly so that his body pressed that little bit more solidly against Applejack.

This would be perfect with Rarity in the middle, actually, given the earth pony's solid build. They could have her all 'trapped' between them. Zetta filed that away for later consideration.

Applejack didn't fail to notice that, of course, and she found herself just a bit more flustered. Well...if it was going to be like this? She could live. Weird and new, not unpleasant in the slightest. Just what they needed.

"How much further anyhow?" she wondered. "Uh...not that I want to be rushing things, mind. I'm yours all night." She flashed her best smile at each of them in turn.

Zetta wasn't the only one pressing against Applejack's side. Rarity was simply more subtle about it as she glanced ahead of them to think on the distance.

"Not too much. Besides, the walk is rather lovely this time of year, even through the Everfree Forest. It's amazing just how different the one in this world is from mine..." She shrugged before smiling as she glanced over at Zetta.

Part of her wondered just what it might be like to be the mare in the middle, but, tonight was all about Applejack, not her. That would be another night. Besides, a flustered Applejack was a cute Applejack.

"We shall be there before you know it."

Rarity, the more subtle of the pair? Shock and awe!

Zetta let out a low chuckle, which Applejack could feel as well as hear thanks to their contact. "It didn't use to be this lovely. I remember when I first claimed the castle, it was like the whole forest was against me. Rebuilding it and holding it was a fight when the animals and even the plants kept constantly harassing me. Now..."

He looked up at the first trees of the forest with proprietary pride. When had his feelings on the whole place changed?

"Guess the pieces fit together better than they used to."

"We were never really friendly with the forest," Applejack murmured. "Timberwolves, roots taking up places wherever they feel like, enough danger to make a gal's head spin. I'm sure it sees something in you it likes," she nudged him.

Maybe that similar spirit of chaos and adventure.

Rarity was rather sure that Applejack had hit the nail on the head with that comment. A chaotic ruler for a chaotic forest who just so happens to be a rather handsome stallion.

"Both sound rather tame compared to my world." She wasn't going to say much more on it.

"I think I like it here better."

"I'm still not sure I've forgiven you ponies," Zetta continued in a conversational tone, "for all this friendship and love and loyalty stuff you wormed into me. Of course, the more I discover its benefits, the more I think maybe someday I'll be able to."

He grinned at the two mares. Open question how much he actually believe he was still angry about it all, or even how much he was just telling himself that to keep his ego salved. But Zetta was a pony to be judged by his actions, not his words, after all. And they spoke rather clearly, didn't they?

"Oh I don't think you've fooled anypony on that front for a long time, sugar" Applejack chuckled. Was it too early to tease him? Possibly, but she couldn't care too much. She was with two wonderful dates and it was just beginning.

It was never too early to tease Zetta. Rarity could attest to that and would if given the chance. As such, she was rolling her eyes slightly.

"Darling, The day you married me made it rather clear you forgave ponies on that front." She glanced to Applejack with a smile. "Besides, with two lovely mares at your side, how can you deny the power of love and friendship?"

"Finding Applejack a date is friendship," Zetta said to Rarity, before turning a good-natured leer on the earth pony. "Finding Applejack a date with us is a little more selfish."

"Have you heard me complainin'?" Applejack reminded them with a sly grin. She certainly wasn't. She was just getting a little more...eager with every step. Her thumping heart didn't know where it was going, but boy did she kinda like it.

"We're not going to either."

True to his word, the Overlord had kept things low-key. No dramatic entrance to the castle. No red carpet leading up to the doors, with a line of guards on each side to parade them in. Everything seemed perfectly normal as they approached, though the minion guards on duty at the gates might have had some sly smiles as they saluted the alicorn and his two companions.

Rarity was rather proud of him for keeping things low-key without her having to intervene. It meant he was making progress and that was enough for her. Though, she refused to let the guards know that the sly looks they gave them were justified.

Then again... the entire castle may be hearing them later.. if things went according to plan anyway.

Once they were past the guards, Rarity took the lead, heading towards the dinning room they set aside for their use. One of the smaller ones of course, they needed something intimate for this date after all.

Applejack doubted she'd ever get used to the castle entrance thing. She'd walked through as a member of Twilight's entourage a few times, of course, but the personal company of the overlord and dame? Under these circumstances?

She'd be red as a tomato again by the time they reached the dining room, and what a lovely little place it was. She approached the table with all the delicacy she'd learned from her relatives out in Manehattan.

"Gee...this is how you two eat every night?"

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