Why is Romance So Hard?

The first reaction of the yellow Pegasus would to have been to flee or slowly walk away from the situation, but her better instinct told her to stay and face her rejected lover with the same confidence and gracefulness of which she displayed her love with,  so out of all her inner voices arguing against the demands of her to turn away and gallop to her cottage and wallow, she offered a small smile towards Rarity, her teeth showings as she tried to convince herself that this was just an ordinary run in. Rarity bit down onto her lip for a moment, her blue eyes darting back and forth out of unease while Fluttershy approached her.  The white unicorn's large, pink hat,with a variety of tulips on,it shrouded over her head, creating a large shadow on the ground beneath her.

        Rarity stared for several moments in silence while Fluttershy lingered near her, and her lip was beginning to quiver after just a few seconds of the intense confrontation without words.  There was squeaking heard and a small amount of whimpering lost words, but when Rarity glanced upwards, she was surprised to find Fluttershy completely composed and calm, watching her best mare friend nervously. It had been Rarity who was quivering now, scared and timid like a frightened forest animal that had been caught by Applejack on one of her common bad mornings during harvesting season. Tears stung in the ducts of the white unicorn, and she bent down, beginning to usher her soft-voiced apologies to her friend. How could the Element of Generosity reject the advances of the Element of Kindness? Not only did the two stand together hand and hand as equals, they were dependent on one another, much like Rarity and Fluttershy were in their strong and blossoming friendship.

        Fluttershy slowly bent her head down and nuzzled her friends cheek against her own, whispering to her softly, her warm breath tickling Rarity's ear,"Its alright Rarity, there, there.. I promise that nothing is going to ruin this friendship. I will never let you go, not now, not ever." Her words were so graceful that Rarity was sure that Fluttershy had rehearsed this in an attempt to find her wavering walls and to tear them down, to betray her in her hour of need, how could she! Rarity's cheeks flushed a bright red and she gritted her teeth, pulling away from Fluttershy. However, when she saw the sincere look in her friends eyes and on her face, she calmed herself.

        "I thought you despised me, darling. I was wrong, Fluttershy, I was terribly and awfully wrong. Nopony should have to deal with such a backstabbing friend, such as I, Rarity Unicorn!" She raised her hoof and pressed it against her forehead, leaning backwards slightly and rearing up on her hind legs. Fluttershy watched in a small bit of amusement, knowing that this indicated clear signs of regret and guilt from her best friend, which always meant that something fabulous would make their friendship even stronger than before.

        "That never would happen Rarity, I believe you are the kindest and most fabulous pony I know! I should have never pressured you into a situation such as that, I should have instead confronted you myself, in a private and secluded place, and told you that I would accept whatever you want to choose, whether that is to be with me or not." Fluttershy hovered gently into the air, her dainty wings had grown stronger over the past few months since she seemed to be using them more for mobility since Rainbow Dash's constant amount of encouragement. She scooped down and nuzzled her muzzle against Rarity's and her pink mane gently brushed her friends cheek, causing a tickling sensation to grow.

        "Please forgive me for all of this, my dearest friend. Allow me to find someway to make this up to you, perhaps a dress for your next concert with your bird choir, or perhaps a new style for your beautiful mane? Anything! Just let me prove to you that I am capable of being a good friend once more." Rarity landed down onto her front hooves once more, but one was raised and stroking underneath her chin while she stated her brewing ideas, but by the blank expression on Fluttershy's face, there appeared to be no sincere break through into the forgiveness portion of this conversation yet.

        Fluttershy continued to stare blankly at her friend for several long moments, attempting to focus on the words that her friend was rambling on about, but when she heard the word "anything" the wheels in her head began turning. Fluttershy's wings spread and she gave a small squeal of excitement, beginning to trot in place."I just found the most amazing way for us to rekindle this friendship, Rarity! We should go on a..." She drew in a deep breath now and was hiding behind her mane, scuffing her hoof into the dirt below.

        "On a what, darling? You must simply stop this habit of squeaking at the end of your ideas." Rarity leaned forward, one eyebrow raised while Fluttershy drew back further out of fear that she might be scolded further, but Rarity's small smile assured her that the thought would never become reality.

        "O-on a d-date..." Fluttershy softly whispered, and her body was quivering now from a mixture of excitement and nervousness, but she could feel the embarrassment flooding through her veins. Rarity stared at her for a few long moments in return now, but appeared to be debating this in her head heavily, at last, she bowed her head down, but seemed a bit unsure in her answer.

        "If you wish for me to accompany you in an afternoon of courting, perhaps at a quiet restaurant, or on a picnic somewhere, just name the time and location and I shall meet you there." Rarity looked back up to a more than beaming Fluttershy who rushed forward and embraced her friend tightly, hovering a few inches above the ground while she squeaked with excitement once more. When Rarity was released from the embrace, she had to inhale deeply for breath, while Fluttershy apologized timidly.

        "Well, we should be going to Sugarcube Corner Anyways, Rainbow Dash came to my house yesterday and asked for me and the girls to meet her and AJ there this afternoon. I had just came to pick up some fresh veggies for my darling little Angel Bunny, but I suppose that he can snack for a little while on the vegetables that he often steals from the other bunnies." Fluttershy landed down next to Rarity, but gave her some room for movement.

        "Is that so? Applejack came walking solemnly into my shop just earlier this morning with her invitation, Rainbow Dash was next to her and almost seeming to support her every step of the way. I was deeply concerned, but Applejack insisted that she was just feeling a bit ill today." Rarity and Fluttershy began trotting down the market rows, weaving out of them and into Ponyville once more, finding the shortcuts to Sugarcube Corner. At last, they made it to the bright pink door of the building where there friends sat around a table, staring at untouched cupcakes.

        "Hello Rarity and Fluttershy, how are you on this spiffy wiffy day in this fantastic town?!" Pinkie Pie was bouncing up and down around the store, balancing a plate of freshly made and decorated cupcakes on her head and serving them around the shop, but the Pegasus and unicorn noticed automatically that her tail was twitching and her front left leg had a hesitant skip in the step. An indicator of bad news or that someone was ill among the family. Pinkie bounced towards Twilight and offered her another cupcake in a replacement of the hardly bitten one she was levitating with her magic.

        "Uh, thank you Pinkie Pie, but you see I really don't need another cupcake I just began--" She couldn't argue anymore before the cupcake she had been eating was scooped up and thrown into a nearby trash, and was replaced with a lemon flavored one. Pinkie Pie swooped forward and pretended to be searching for crumbs on Twilight's cheek, but gently kissed her instead and galloped away near the kitchen. Twilight blushed furiously and her ears pinned against her skull, her nostrils flaring.

        Rainbow Dash and Applejack sat next to one another across from Twilight Sparkle. AJ held her chin in her hooves, clearly exhausted with dark bags underneath her eyes, while Rainbow Dash had a hoof wrapped around her, beginning to stroke Applejack's hair out of her face and whispering to her. Rainbow Dash held the same features as Applejack, the same exhausted expression that made everyone uneasy, even Pinkie Pie. At last when everyone was seated down, AJ cleared her throat and raised her head, her voice tired and worn.

        "Now everypony here, ya'll know you're mah best friends in this here whole hoofin' an rockin' world, but ah need ta be honest with ya'll. Nothin' is goin' on with me, but ah reckon that won't be for long, since the truth of tha matter is that...  guys..." Her voice faded and she was beginning to sob silently now, and glanced to Rainbow Dash from the corner of her glassy green eyes, who had attempted a small smile but her wings wrapped around Applejack, her own magenta eyes beginning to fill with sorrow-filled tears.

        "Granny Smith has been diagnosed with a medical condition known as cancer." Rainbow Dash hung her head down and she bit onto her quivering lower lip, not wanting to show her friends the stray tears that were beginning to form in the corner of her eyes. All of the mares around them fell silent, Fluttershy squeaked and her eyes were already dripping with tears, and she leaned against Rarity for support of sobs that were breaking out. Rarity was frozen in her own trance, appearing both confused and sympathetic, and tears streaked down her flawless coat. Twilight Sparkle's wings unfurled and covered her face, attempting to shield the tears forming in her eyes. Pinkie Pie's mane had deflated, and her lip twisted in several different direction.

        The first one to speak was Twilight, who had finally managed to choke down her pride and worry, and address this issue headstrong as she always did."AJ, I know that this is going to be very difficult for you. Granny Smith has been in your life since you were a young filly, but you need to remember all the wonderful times that you had with her. Even when she begins going through the remaining stages of her.. time, spend each moment remembering her in the best memories you have with her. We are all here for you."

        Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie nodded their heads and agreement. Rarity had lost her grandfather just a few years before due to a mysterious lake that he had went fishing on, and never returned from. Fluttershy had lost her mother at a rather young age, due to heart failure. Pinkie Pie's oldest sister was deceased from an illness that had impacted her since a young age. Rainbow Dash glanced at Applejack, but AJ didn't seem to notice. However, Twilight Sparkle did seem to catch a small glint of passion form from Rainbow Dash's protective gaze.

        Applejack nodded and moved her way towards the door, having to break free of Rainbow Dash. Yet, instead of walking alone, she heard the scuffing of hooves and the soft sound of wings around her. When she turned around for a brief second, all five of her friends had surrounded her inside of a tight circle. They wrapped together in a group hug, AJ in the center for the first time in a long time.  After several minutes of hugging, the group departed and bid their apologies to Applejack, but each had their own jobs and lives to attend to, yet while completing tasks, the thought of Granny Smith's approaching end was constantly a thought in their mind.

        Applejack turned out of the door and walked down the street, taking routes to avoid other ponies that would question why Ponyville's personal hero and Element of Honesty was walking alone and so depressingly silent. Yet, the fluttering of wings above proved her wrong, Rainbow Dash was following after her and perched down to walk next to AJ. The two stared at each other for several long moments, but AJ drew in a deep sigh."Rainbow, ya don't need tah follow me everywhere.." She began to protest.

        "Yes I do, AJ! You're my best friend in Equestria, and I am afraid that you are going to be so tired that you are going to walk right past the farm and off a cliff. I couldn't bare it if I ever lost you." These words caught Applejack's attention, as she paused and slouched down onto her hindquarters, her facial expression hard to read past the point of utter depression.

        "Ya really mean that, RD? Ya never say that ta anyone else but me, ah don't get why. Ah... ah may be havin' to sell the farm. Ah meant ta tell ya last night, but ya were up all night comfortin' me, ya wouldn't sleep.. ah was worried. Anywho, the operation is goin' ta be takin' place in Manhattan. All our savin's an funds are goin' ta it, an we're goin' ta be movin' in with mah Aunt and Uncle Orange there for awhile.." Applejack stared down at the ground now, beginning to feel not only alone and depressed, but guilty.

        Rainbow Dash's ears flattened down now and her eyes flashed a bit in panic. She was going to lose everything now, her friends were busy with their own lives, she wouldn't have somewhere to nap on spare afternoons, and the mare of her dreams was moving halfway across Equestria."You are sure about this, AJ? I don't want to see you make the wrong choice, but if you are leaving.. I am going with you."

        "That is awfully kind of ya, Rainbow Dash, but really ya don't need ta come with us for a visit, ah'm sure you're plenty busy here in Ponyville-" Applejack was cut off by a hoof in her mouth, and Rainbow Dash leaning forward, her lips almost pressing against AJ's.

        "I will follow you wherever you want to go, I promise you.. I love you, AJ."

        "Really? Ah love ya too, RD! Sisters for life!" Applejack's eyes lightened up for a moments, and Rainbow Dash sighed. Had she just gotten herself placed inside of the relative side of the relationship?