I think it’s refreshing to see Rarity doing the carrying

@Background Pony #B9D5  

 
Yeah, sorry. That one’s on me. I posted that comment before I even got to the most recent page of the comments.  
I did mean to edit that last bit out after I saw your comment saying you’d stopped, but I kinda forgot to.

@Background Pony #0A01  
What the heck are you even talking about? The argument ended more than five days ago. Read the freaken posted date.

From the thumbnail, I thought Hondo and Cookie (Rarity’s & Sweetie’s parents) were having sex in the background there.  
PS @Background Pony #B9D5 Can you please just stop trying to argue with everyone?

@ThePonderPony  
I’d like to be dominated in a loving affectionate way.

@Discordia Gwen  
Wow, I guess I was being a bit forcefull with my idea. Hmm, I guess you make sense. Headcannon or not I still stand by my words. But it’s very clear to me now that actual cannon is not involved in this argument.
 
I will stop now before things go too far.

This picture looks cute.

@Background Pony #B9D5  
It was strongly implied… about as subtle as a fat man trying to hide a wet fart.

@ThePonderPony  
Oh, look somepony not reading. Becuase that is not what I said at all.

Apparently two people in a relationship must decide who is the ‘strong’ one, and that ‘strong’ one must never be the receiver of physical affection or comfort or the little spoon in any situation.

@Background Pony #B9D5  
Picture wise, being stronger has nothing to do with it. Within the picture itself, she is clearly taller- have you ever had a tall person sit in a short persons lap? It’s kinda awkward.  
As far as cannon… you seem to have missed part of my comment about why someone like Applejack would be in someone more fragile and feminine’s lap.  
And even then… your argument is “In actual cannon” when in reality… we don’t know what the actual cannon is- because it’s never happened in cannon. We don’t know how these two would handle that kind of situation.  
Now… given what we do know from what we’ve seen these past seasons, going off cannon… they wouldn’t be sitting in each others laps. They would be sitting beside one another… cause they aren’t in a relationship. They are friends… friends don’t sit in one another laps.  
What you have been describing… is what is called a- and stick with me on this… headcannon of how the situation would go. Cause what you’re saying… is Rarity would be sitting in Applejacks lap… however based on Cannon we know for a fact Rarity is a proper lady, and also- and again… stay with me on this one… Straight as a board.  
Cannon wise, we have never seen her show interest in having a relationship with females… she interacts with them in purely platonic ways- males however, she flits with and manipulates- as well has shrines dedicated to her ‘feelings’ for them.  
As far as Cannon is concerned… your idea of how they would actually be is flawed. You sir… what you have… is a Headcannon.  
Cannon, Applejack has shown no interest in having a relationship- nor has she shown any signs of wanting one with Rarity- nor does Rarity with Applejack. What these two have is a dynamic that bounces off one another that- yeah some might go “THESE TWO ARE PERFECT FOR EACH OTHER!” but that the case. Until we get some sort of proof that either one of these two show any sort of romantic feelings or desires to be more than friends… in Cannon they would do what friends do… sit side by side.  
What you have been saying, good sir… is that it would be the opposite of the pictures, that Applejack would have Rarity in her lap- and calling it “In actual Cannon” when clearly… with all the cannon evidence we have… that is not the case.  
You sir, have a Headcannon, and your entire argument… has been- this whole time: “I don’t agree with your headcannon, this is how I think it should be.”  
Yes you agree in an AU this would be fine- which is how this is based on… but your entire argument… has been nothing, but you screaming and shouting that your headcannon is the correct one.  

@Discordia Gwen  
Wow, your comment actually makes more sense than the other one. Yeah, I agree with Rarity being taller and seeming stronger in this AU she would be the holding Applejack. In actual cannon, things would certainly be different. But in AU it would make perfect sense.

But, to say something other than just that little thing, the picture looks amazing.  
To give what I like about this image, the over all feel of the picture is adorable as shit and I feel like I got about ten cavities from just looking at it. From the kids on the ground to the young adults on the couch… and even the parents in the kitchen.
 
I know you pointed out Hondo isn’t ‘dad bod’ but that is Dad Bod. Dads aren’t perfect, dads are flabby and at Hondo’s age… he isn’t physically fit like he probably once was. I can imagine.. given the way that they are portrayed in the show… Cookie is a cooker, and Hondo is a taste tester… a dynamic in real life that a lot of couples have actually in there golden years. I can see Hondo being the jolly father- with Cookie walking up behind with arms wrapped around his waist as she watched her family enjoy the evening. That… is a Dad Bod.
 
As for Cookie, I don’t know what to say, she looks to be the mother who is cooking up a storm for her family, there isn’t much else to say- hell most people can probably say there own mothers would probably be doing the exact same on the holidays if family was around. She looks right at home and eager to see food be on plates and in mouths.
 
As for Bloom and Belle down there… what is there to say? They’re the kids eager to see what they got- the kind that still have that eager giddy sensation to see what they got from ‘santa’ if they still believed. Odds are probably not, but they look eager as hell to see what’s in the box. And given how we know how they act… it fits them to a T and it makes these two all the more adorable in this picture.
 
And then we have Rhurr and Appul…  
Honestly, I see nothing wrong with this image. As an… anon pointed out down below, and others who corrected them… there is a stereotypical dynamic that is common in these kind of situations.. the more stronger of the pair usually holding the one who is more frail looking, being the one who holds them. However… anyone who works a difficult job that is physically demanding… can tell you they usually don’t want to do that. They’ll do it because they love them, however, most of the time, they will always want to relax, they will always go “Not right now… to sore…” Which then, surprise surprise… there significant other will come to them- have them lay there head in there lap and stroke there head. Have them lay down and give a massage… or… god forbid… hold them.  
Speaking from personal experience, this is a situation that does happen in real life for both occasions. Knowing the character behind Raricorn here… I can honestly say that while she enjoys having Apple on her lap, she’d enjoy it the other way around too- BUT, insists that Apple sit on her lap. Why? Probably cause MAYBE she likes it? Maybe Apple does? Quiet possibly- given the idea of how most relationships go with a hard worker… the one who works the hardest… wants to be the one pampered to make the sores go away.  
Also… and juuuust pointing it out… maybe, just maybe… the reason Apple sits in Raritys lap… IS CAUSE RARITY IS SO MUCH BIGGER THAN APPLE IN THE PICTURE. Given past pictures… and the proportions of the two… Rarity is by far taller than Applejack in this picture- and past pictures commissioned. Normally… and this is if you wanna go the stereotype route… the shorter one sits in the taller ones lap.
 
Over all, those are my thoughts on what is great about this picture. It’s perfect and shows off a wonderful family dynamic. And I can see this happening later down the line with a much bigger family (Probably not but hey I’m a sucker for family pictures)
 
Now the bad… HOW DO THOSE FEET WORK?! Rarity how long are your feet to fit in those shoes?!

Told to come see the comments, was not disappointed.

@Background Pony #B9D5  
Are you still trying to argue your headcanon vs. someone else’s headcanon involving what would be an entirely fictional non-existing relationship between non-existing cartoon horses? Inasmuch as none of these characters actually exist outside of base personalities, you cannot possibly convince someone that in any given moment this scenario isn’t possible or plausible. For that matter you can’t definitively prove two individual characters will act a certain way in a certain setting based on ‘science’ (never even minding that science can’t completely predict human behavior).
 
I hate to be ‘that guy’, but you really need a hobby.

@venomvox  
Okay, that’s your opinion. However, science still supports my claims. And you still aren’t listening. Applejack yes is the protector in the relationship, but it doesn’t mean she can’t be helped. Her stubbornness has been shown many times in the show to be her downfall. Hence the reason Rarity is such a perfect mold for her. She the intelligence to Applejack bronze. She is the flexibility to her strength. Rarity doesn’t need to be the strong one in the relationship.

@Background Pony #B9D5  
I’m reading everything you’re writing, and it’s still all nonsense. But what I’m saying is that the ship isn’t important, who it consists of isn’t important, and finally, what- if any- alternate or Canon universe it exists in isn’t important.
 
Everyone can’t be the top dog all the time. There’s no one person that’s 100% confident every moment of their lives, and in those- maybe rare, yes, but definite- points of weakness, even the biggest and strangest need something, or someone, to keep them going. Nobody fights for nothing.
 
And in that same vein, no two people in a relationship are going to be the strong one, or the one that’s always the backbone of it, all the time. I’m fully certain that Rarity would sit in AJ’s lap and feel safe, because that’s how you feel when you’re with one you love. You don’t really care about anything else in the moment.
 
Maybe AJ is the strong one in this relationship, okay? Maybe I’m wrong, and she’s an immovable force that never needs a shoulder to cry on, or anything like that, because she so strong and stubborn and so forth. But I’m hedging my bets against it.
 
And that’s all I have to say, I have things to do.

@venomvox  
Wow, nonsense, now I know you aren’t listening. I try to bring some actual reasons into the conversation and it’s called nonsense. Look at it this way, I’ve seen many fans use actual science to sink and crush many different ships and their love. I’m not here for that. I’m here to talk about a picture that’s it.
 
I actually enjoy this ship. And I am perfectly fine with this picture being an AU. But not because it’s impossible in the show. You think it can’t happen in the show at all. Well, listen to the news(NOT leak) Scootaloo has lesbian guardians, and they already appeared in a book series. Boom.

@Background Pony #B9D5  
Yes, I am, and it’s pretty tough to wade through so much nonsense. As for the AU, what I’m saying is that the ship itself must, to exist, be in an AU. There is no Canon Rarijack. All your notions of what it should be like are based off of your own desires- because the moment you start bringing up real-world biology is the moment I remind you we’re talking about cartoon ponies and unicorna.

@venomvox  
Are you even reading my comments? I’m perfectly fine with it being an AU. As for your other parts, yes the argument would still be same is AJ was a man, but not because of stereotypes, but because some lesbian relationships are actually built on such ideas.
 
Heck, it actually natural biology for a more fragile mate to be protected by the stronger mate. An evolutionary trait founded to ensure the couple survives and population rise. It’s found in both genders in any species, it’s not stuck to just certian ones. The idea of it being a stereotyped in that way was just created by the usually over zeallist feminist.

@Background Pony #B9D5  
Do me a favor- tell me, would your argument be the same if Applejack was male in this picture?  
Because you’re really just re-hashing the stereotype of ‘men are strong and women are weak, so men must lead the relationship and women follow along dutifully’ but replacing men with AJ and women with Rarity.
 
 
And also your argument is still invalid, because if this was Canon Rarity and AJ, then they wouldn’t be marefriends. Any universe where the two are together is, by definition, AU- unless this kids show suddenly decides to add complex relationships and such, which I’m damn sure it won’t.

@Rhurrs  
Wait Rarity DOESN’T usually display strong traits as publicly as Applejack. Thank you for proving my point. Rarity is a character with an image, that lovely being pampered, served and sophisticatedly treated with class. All these examples including your own perfectly show that cannon Rarity would be the being carried and not Applejack.
 
Heck, there even cannon moments of her falling into the hooves/arms of other, hinting at the attitude that she is always known for.
 
In fact, all of those moments you use where she depends on only her strengths have been because nopony is around to help her or the times that the writers can’t seem to write certain other characters as anything better than stupid and Rarity just happens to be only unharmed by the stupid writing. Don’t know what I’m talking about, go rewatch Honest Apple.
 
I’m not saying Rarity is bad, no, no, far from it. She has always worked best with somepony supporting her. Most often the pony of choice that seems to help her is Applejack. The main reason this ship even exist is because how well these two work off each other. With Applejack being the strong arm yet stubbornly blunt one and Rarity being the brilliant yet fragile one.

@Background Pony #B9D5  
And in the actual show’s canon, Rarity has been shown bold enough to drop kick things that get in her way if she wishes and strong enough to carry a boulder on her back if she wants to. Furthermore you’re talking about a white pony who both manipulated and bossed around a group of diamond dogs. Rarity is plenty stubborn, she just DOESN’T usually display those traits as publicly as Applejack.
 
Furthermore, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but when friends ask her nicely to do things, Applejack tends to be more than willing to just comply, while Rarity is an expert at getting others to do things she wants them to do, friends or no.
 
Your argument is invalid.

@Rhurrs  
Oh wait, this is AU. Okay. I’m fine with the changes then. Becuase in the actual canon of the show Applejack has enough strength to kick down a tree and is the most stubborn pony ever. In actual canon, she would be holding Rarity. But since this is AU she can be whatever the artist wants.

@Background Pony #B9D5  
@Rhurrs  
@venomvox  
Because the larger more physically fit party in a relationship always has to be the one holding/carrying/showing affection, and never the other way around. Boyfriends never lay their heads in their girlfriends’ lap, apparently. No small, slender woman has ever been on top of a large, burly man while lying on the bed, nor has she ever been underneath the larger, heavier guy when they have sex. Physical fitness and size dictates your role in the relationship and determines who gets to sit in who’s lap 100% of the time, don’tchaknow?