Rarity and Applejack - Rarity is usually the one to get Applejack all flustered and embarrassed, but this wasn't always the case. AJ was the one who made the first move, to Rarity's total surprise. Rarity thought her feelings for Applejack were unrequited, like, completely, 100% one-sided. She's glad she was wrong about that. - It's not like Applejack knew Rarity liked her, but she was very open about her admiration for Rarity, and didn't shy from making sweet little heartfelt compliments.
Cadence and Chrysalis - It was Chrysalis who first came to Cadence, years after the Royal Wedding. Her hive was starving, she'd lost thousands of her children, and she knew her people would not survive without outside help. She approached Cadence in secret, deeply ashamed, but genuinely desperate at this point, and she practically begged Cadence to save her people. They had an extremely messy past, and Chrys knew there was a huge chance Cadence would turn her down- she honestly had no reason to care. - But Cadence was her friend once. And she saw the sincerity in Chrys' eyes, the way she practically cowered in front of her, and she knew it wasn't a trick. Reluctantly, Cadence accepted her proposal, and they agreed on a political marriage to unite the Crystal Ponies and the Changelings. They shared true love once, decades ago, and over time, very slowly, their love for each other returns. - Chrysalis was using the last of her stored love to feed literal crumbs to her people, and in the process, her body became thin, and her hair started to fall off. The damage is pretty much irreversible, and she's stuck with a very skeletal appearance complete with what looks like bags under her eyes. She has the capability to reform and assume a new appearance, but it'll take her years to realize she's worthy of it. - She tries not to cry when Cadence calls her beautiful, because she's never felt like she is. But she can tell Cadence means it, and somehow that completely melts her. - Chrys is much taller than her, and Cadence is obviously way fluffier than her. Chrys is cold-blooded, and she doesn't have any fur. She has more of an exoskeleton, or reptilian scales, but she's still smooth to touch. Cadence keeps her warm with her wings. - Chrysalis' bone structure makes it physically hard for her to smile- her mouth just isn't built that way. But she tries for Cadence.