Once Upon A Time

Chapters

That Lingering Feeling
Sleeping with the Enemy
Once Upon a Dream
Memories of Her
The Friend She Never Had

That Lingering Feeling

-That Lingering Feeling

I can see it. I can see her face. The bright twinkle in her eyes when she laughs. The raspy twang in her voice as she talks. The dimples by her freckled cheeks. I can see it. I can see it all. It's such a shame it's only a mere memory. Everything else has been consumed by this life that I am still living. My old weary body can no longer stand to move and yet, I am still here, breathing the very air that left her lungs many years ago. What is this life? What is this life?

I look down from the picture frame that my eyes stare into every night before resting. The floorboards are dreary and worn from all the pacing from my younger years as I always searched my mind for some sort of inspiration to craft into my designs. The manifestation of what was once my home is no more than a wasted space that Ponyville has still standing. There is no more need to this place other than a bed for me to lay in and a door for me to never open unless absolutely necessary. Other than that, my boutique is nothing than a dusty old building that once held so much ambition.

I don't have to stay here, that I know. With my money, I could travel Equestria. I could live anywhere my heart desires, or more like desired. My heart has no desire anymore. I have no desire. This is why I stay where I am. I feel content in this place. I want to die where she did. I want to be in the place where we met. I want to keep her memory alive. Her memory.

That is something I love but hate all at the same time. Memory...or better said....her memory.

I smiled as her face filled my mind once again. Oh that beautiful face. I can almost taste her sweet lips against my own again. If only I could feel those lips. If only I could touch her mane. If only I could embrace her strong body just one last time, then I would be satisfied. Then I could die with content. But I know when I die, the only thing that will be on my mind, is the bitter feeling of loneliness.

I miss her. I miss them. I miss everypony. And no matter how much I would love to see them, I just won't allow myself. Nothing will ever be the same without her there. I can't be with them if she isn't there as well. That is why I am here in the solitude of my home with nothing more than the voices in my head and the memory of my past friendships. Not even Opal is around anymore to keep me company. Oh, how I miss my Opal. Oh, how I miss my little sister who is now grown and married. Oh, how I miss my friends who are settled down like most old mares are. Oh, how I miss her. Oh....how I miss Applejack.

43 years ago

"I'm off!" Rarity shouted to her parents as she headed out the front door.

Her mother turned to her as she held her youngest daughter in her arms as she slept. She smiled at her eldest daughter as she waved.

"Be safe and don't go fooling around, you hear? I don't want to find you holding one of these for a long while..." Rarity's mother moved Sweetie Belle up a bit in Rarity's direction.

It took the young unicorn a moment, but she soon realized what her mother was impling. Rarity stuck out her tongue and scrunched her muzzle up at her mother in disgust.

"Oh, as if! I'm just going out with Fluttershy. You know how she is. It's not like we are going to go party." Rarity took a moment to fluff her mane as she waited for her mother to give her the go.

"I know, I'm only teasing you dearie. Have fun." She waved her hoof one last time and Rarity took this opportunity to rush out before her mother tried to stall any longer. Rarity knew that she said she wasn't going to party, but...well she couldn't be late for the party that she wasn't suppose to go to, but of course was going to anyways. With the accompaniment of her best friend, Fluttershy, Rarity knew her back side would be covered for her parents would never suspect her to go anywhere like a party with Fluttershy.

Fluttershy was like no other filly around. She was the same age as Rarity, but she was much taller and looked more mature. She was also fairly new to Ponyville and extremely shy, but Rarity liked to take this to her advantage at times to throw her friend into uncomfortable situations such as a big party. Not that Rarity was trying to be mean in anyway, she just wanted to try to help Fluttershy out by "breaking her shell". Though, so far she had realized that this shell of Fluttershy's was much stronger than she had first envisioned.

Rarity trotted down the street as she headed towards the outskirts of Ponyville. As mentioned before, Fluttershy was the same age as Rarity. Both of them were only seventeen, but Fluttershy lived by herself in a tiny shed next to the Everfree Forest. It was almost half a year ago that Fluttershy moved to Ponyville from Cloudsdale. Rarity was at first unsure of why she would have moved to such a tiny town from such a famous place, but as they got to know each other through the Ponyville spa, Rarity soon found out why Fluttershy would prefer Ponyville over Cloudsdale. Fluttershy's nature was tender and kind. She loved wildlife for some odd reason that Rarity still didn't know of, considering she was from Cloudsdale, yet Fluttershy still found herself closely familiar with all the woodland creatures of the land. Rarity had never thought to ask, and she wasn't too curious anyway.

Fluttershy and Rarity were almost polar opposites with really only one thing in common: they both enjoyed each others company, and with that being all they had that brought them together as friends, it was good enough for them both. They were both fairly beautiful mares for their age and the two looked like a shining adult couple that any two ponies would fawn over, but in all actuality, they were just a perfect pair for each other. Neither of the two found any romantic feelings for the other, and they never thought of such things anyways. Rarity was more independent than anything, and to have any sort of crush that would put her in the situation of romantic weakness would just go against everything she believed in as a young, basically feminist, mare. She found power in helping herself and she liked it that way. All the relationship she needed was friendship. To her, the two were completely different and not related in anyway. A relationship would make her dependent and weak, but friendship gave her a bond that empowered her further, that is how she felt at her young age and that is how she liked it.

Rarity hummed a soft tune as she closely approached the home of her friend. She was quite pleased to see the yellow pegasus was already waiting for her on the front steps of her tiny home.

"Oh, Rarity, you look wonderful." Fluttershy greeted as Rarity stood in front of her.

The unicorn fluffed her mane again and smiled with content at the compliment. She was never shy of compliments.

"Darling thank you. You look great yourself." Rarity returned the favor and waved for her friend to approach.

Fluttershy walked over to her friend and the two turned on there way. The moon shined over the landscape as the cool breeze wisped by the duo. Rarity's heart was thumping with glee as they were now on there way to the biggest annual party of Ponyville. It was also pumping with anxiety due to the fact that she was well aware that Fluttershy had no idea where they were heading this evening. Rarity thought that Fluttershy assumed they were going to the spa as they would sometimes do during the afternoon for the nightly specials, but of course Rarity let her think whatever it was she was thinking, because if Fluttershy had any earthly idea that they were going to a big party, she would turn down immediately and head back home. Rarity couldn't have that at all. She needed Fluttershy's company. Without Fluttershy, it wouldn't be as fun, and she needed to have fun. She just needed to. She hadn't had fun ever before at this very party. This was the first year she was going to make it her night.

She already felt the ground shaking from the bass coming from Sugarcube Corner. She clenched her teeth and slyly looked over at her oblivious friend.

"Oh dear. What is that?" Fluttershy felt the vibrations herself as they came closer to the sight of the party.

"Ehem. That is music dear..." Rarity smiled as they were now in front of the sweet shop where the party was being held.

"Maybe someponies birthday?" Fluttershy looked away and headed towards the spa. Rarity quickly grabbed her friends flank and steered her back into the direction of the party.

"This way, Fluttershy." Rarity grinned as she pushed her friend though the doors.

"Wait...I thought...oh dear....Rarity..." Fluttershy's eyes grew wide as they walked in. Lights flashed. Music blaired. The ground shook as ponies danced. Fluttershy's heart dropped with the sudden change of atmosphere.

"It's the annual Ponyville Party Ponetastic Ponanza!" Rarity said with slight uncertainty. The name always got her every time as she stumbled over all the repeated "P's". The party pony, Pinkie Pie named it since she was the inventor of this grand party that ponies from all over town attended every year.

"Annual...party...oh dear..." Fluttershy was still withdrawn by all the flashing colors and ground shaking beats. She turned to her left to see a pony chugging down a gallon of what seemed to be cider. To her right was a few dancers with glowsticks. The back corner was surrounded by smoke and coughing smokers. In the opposite corner was a DJ pony. And right in front of her suddenly was a pink poofy mane and a huge smiling face.

"Hiya!!!"

Rarity waved away Pinkie's greeting as she grabbed Fluttershy and brought her over to the food table.

"Are you going to be okay? I didn't tell you and I'm sorry. I wanted it to be a surprise. I want us to have fun." Rarity grabbed Fluttershy's hooves and smiled sincerely.

It took a few moments, but Fluttershy finally nodded her head and returned the smile.

"It's okay. I will make sure you have fun."

"We will have fun together!" Rarity clopped her hooves together and picked up a red plastic cup.

"Let's party!" She raised her cup and then drunk down the contents.

Let's just say, it wasn't cider.

Author's Note

I'm so excited to be back! And back with a new story!
(I placed my other incomplete stories on hiatus as of now. I need to catch up with them before writing more of them)

But I hope that you guys will enjoy this one for now!

Sleeping with the Enemy

-Sleeping with the Enemy

Everything was blurred. Her head, aching. Darkness filled the air. Rarity slowly opened her eyes, finding herself in confusion. She wasn't familiar of her surroundings. She turned to see that she was laying in a homely bed, curtains pulled closed but she could see light seeping through the window in the tiny box room she was residing in. She searched her mind. How did she end up here?

Rarity remembered what she was doing last night. She remembered every bit of it. She knew she was at a party. She knew she was at Sugar Cube Corner. But this place that she was now...she knew this wasn't Sugar Cube Corner. She had no idea where she was. She had never seen this place in her life.

Her heart started pumping as her confusion began to turn into fear. She tried to sit up, but her head started to spin. She laid back down and brought a hoof to her pounding forehead. She had the worst headache. Had she been drinking? Rarity's eyes opened wider as she realized that indeed she had. Now regret started to build up inside her. What was her parents going to think of her when they found out that she had been out at a place she had no business at?

She clinched her eyes tightly together. She felt a hot tear streak down her face. She knew she was done for. Either her parents were going to kill her, or the mystery of this place would.

She leaned up once again, more slowly this time. All the blood rushed to her head as she sat up on the bed. Her bright blue eyes searched the room. She couldn't get her mind off the thought that she was missing something here. She was all alone in a strange place, but...why was she alone? Wasn't she....

"FLUTTERSHY!" Rarity screeched as she realized that her friend was no where to be seen.

Her heart sunk with guilt. She had been drinking last night and probably left Fluttershy in an even more uncomfortable position. Fluttershy probably left when she saw that Rarity was not the pony she thought she was. She was a terrible friend. A horrible friend at that. Fluttershy probably hated her now. She would never want to go anywhere with her anymore, not even for a spa day.

Rarity felt more tears fill her eyes until finally she began to sob. She wanted to scream out at the world. She couldn't believe she was so careless. Rarity, for a moment, forgot that she had a bigger situation to be worried about. Until she heard a banging on the door to the room she was imprisoned in.

Rarity jumped. Heart racing once more.

"W--Who is it?! Who are you!?" Rarity's eyes quivered in complete fright. It felt as if her blood vessels were going to burst; her heart was going to collapse; her breath was going to stop completely.

The door swung open. Entering was a dark figure. Rarity counted silently in her head, trying to find a way to wake up from this nightmare, but to no avail. It was very much a reality.

"Good mornin'."

Rarity screamed. Her heart dropped to the floor. She lost it.

The mare in the doorway ran over to her side.

"Are you okay?!"

Rarity stopped her screaming. The voice she heard wasn't threating in anyway. She felt comfort suddenly. She found her courage rushing back to her and she looked up into the eyes of the mysterious pony that had her kept here.

She looked back down into Rarity's eyes. Her large green iris's glimmered as they watched closely at the frightened unicorn on the bed.

"Are...you okay?" She repeated slowly.

Rarity gulped down as her voice broke her long silent stare.

"W-who are you?"

The pony smiled. Rarity noticed she was a nice shade of orange. Her mane was blonde and when she looked closely she could see the mare had tiny freckles that lined her cheeks.

"Applejack's the name." Her voice was much more comfortable. She began to have a sort of country twang to it now. Rarity found this to be a bit distasteful but she brushed it aside.

"We met last night," Applejack continued. "at Sugar Cube Corner."

Rarity looked straight into the ponies eyes. She tried to look into her mind to find the memory of meeting this mare, but she just couldn't. She was just so....drunk last night. Wait....

"Where am I?"

"Oh, this is my home. Remember?" Applejack smiled again. She gave Rarity a toothy grin that sent shivers down her back. Such a turn off.

"Oh dear Celestia. Did we have sex?!" Rarity's eyes widened. She was on the verge of passing out again. She couldn't take this. In this...earth ponies bed?! She felt so violated. She was drunk!!!

Applejack just stared back at her. Her grin faded and she stood silently for a moment. Then...she bursted out into laughter.

"Pfft!! Oh, shoot! Y'all are too funny. Of course we didn't. You're a girl, ya know?" Applejack continued to cackle. Rarity could feel her cheeks blazing red. She had never felt so embarrassed in her life.

"I brought you here last night. You had passed out and no one claimed ya. I didn't know where ya lived and I just couldn't leave y'all there like that. I brought ya here for the night until you woke up so y'all would be safe." Applejack stopped her laughing and began to talk more seriously again. She still had that dorky smile plastered on her face.

Rarity's anger subsided and she just stared back again into the ponies eyes.

"Oh, and your friend is in the room over. She was in the same predicament." Applejack hoofed over in the opposite direction of the bed, motioning to another room.

"Oh, Fluttershy!" Rarity got up quickly now.

Applejack took a few steps back to give the unicorn her space.

"She's just over there."

"She was passed out too you say?" Rarity turned to the earth pony with concern.

"Sure was. She was a drunk as a sailor. Never seen a pony that giddy in mu life." Applejack chuckled.

Rarity's jaw dropped.

"Her? Drunk?!" She turned away and rushed to the room where Fluttershy apparently was.

There she was. Laying in another homely bed. She looked so adorable the way she was sleeping. Her mouth was slightly open and her face had this priceless expression of irritation and embarrassment. She must be dreaming of last night. That's what Rarity interpreted by it anyway. The unicorn smiled at her resting friend. There was really no need to wake her now. Not yet. Let her sleep off her hangover. This was Rarity's fault anyway. She felt completely guilty for her friend and the best she could do now was to just let her sleep. She turned around and shut the door behind her. Applejack was still standing in the room she had woken up in.

"So...where is this place?" Rarity looked around the room.

"Oh, uh. Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres." Applejack smiled as she motioned Rarity outside of the room and into the main hallway.

"This is mu family farm. I live here with my big brother, little sister, and granny." She pointed to different doors respectively of her family members that she named.

"My parents started this place up back before Big Mac and I was born." Applejack continued walking down some stairs. Rarity followed as she listened to her tour guide. She looked around at the home. It was so tidy and very...country; very homey.

"When they died, I took the place over myself. I want to make them proud." Applejack smiled with pride.

Rarity turned to the pony when she mentioned her parents death. She felt a bit of sorrow in her heart, but Applejack seemed so perky. She didn't seem sad one bit. It must have been a long time ago. Applejack seemed like a strong pony. Very...dependable for somepony that didn't even know her. Rarity saw a whole lot of kindness in this pony. Something about her, Rarity just couldn't keep her mind off.

"You there?"

Rarity snapped out of her dreamland and saw that Applejack was staring her down.

"Oh. Yes. I was just...I'm...I'm just awfully tired. It was...one hell of a night." Rarity tried to laugh off the awkward moment she had caused.

Applejack merely smiled.

The unicorn kicked her hoof softly against the floor and looked around the home once more. She couldn't find anything to say and apparently Applejack couldn't either. They just stood there in silence.

"I...uh....I should probably get Fluttershy and take her home. I do appreciate everything though. I normally don't drink. I'm normally very responsible and as for Fluttershy....I can't even begin to understand how that happened." Rarity giggled softly as she tried to find a way to end this strange encounter. She was thankful for the ponies kindness but she really just wanted to go home and forget any of this ever happened. Besides...she had to go face her parents now before they worried any more than they already definitely were.

"Don't mention it. I'm sure it happens to everypony." Applejack just smiled. She really didn't do much other than smile...that's what Rarity realized. It was so unattractive but Rarity just couldn't help but stare every time.

"Well...I should go get her then...and then I will be out of your mane." Rarity turned around slowly and she headed back up the stairs.

She turned around slowly to see Applejack just smiling still. Rarity tried to make out a grin of her own but she knew it looked fake. She turned back and trotted up the stairs. Her heart was racing with a peculiar beat. She felt as if she was sweating but it was the fall. She wasn't sure why she felt like she needed to get out of this place. She didn't feel threatened in anyway, she just felt so....uncomfortable.

The Next Day

Rarity was grounded. Big time grounded. The kind of grounded where she couldn't even speak without permission or the scolding would commence. Where she didn't even want to eat with her family at dinner because the silence was so unbearable she couldn't sit still. The many awkward silences where family discussions used to be were heartwrenching. Knowing that her parents didn't trust her anymore was just too painful to think about, and the fact that they now didn't even like her best friend was even worse. She couldn't get her parents to reason with her that it had nothing to do with Fluttershy and Rarity took the blame for it all. No. Her parents looked at it from another viewpoint. They were now convinced that Fluttershy was a bad influence on Rarity and she wasn't aloud to hang around her anymore. This of course wouldn't last long. It never did. Her parents always had these sort of accusations about her friends, but it soon passed, so this, Rarity wasn't afraid of. She was just afraid that her parents would never have any trust in her anymore.

When she told them how she woke up in a strangers house, they lost their heads. They were so burnt up about it and scared all at the same time. Even though she pleaded with them that she already knew the mare (which wasn't true), they wouldn't hear it. They were grateful that it was a teenaged mare like Rarity rather than an old creepy stallion, but either way, they were still pretty pissed at the whole situation.

Rarity knew she deserved this mental punishment for the carelessness on her own behalf, but she still wished that they would be a little less harsh on her. Things could have been worse. She could have slept with the mare. That's what she had initially believed anyways, but of course Applejack told her that they hadn't done anything together. But...Rarity didn't remember anything so...how was she so sure.

Her mind was just going in circles. She had been thinking the same things ever since that morning. What if Applejack really had done something to her and she would never know. She was unconscious. She wouldn't have remembered if they did or didn't. Applejack could have just simply lied to her and there would have been no difference. She would never really know and that is was scared her the most. She felt so violated, but as of now...she had no right to be.

"Uggggh." Rarity plopped down on her bed. All she wanted was to forget that any of that ever happened but she just wouldn't allow herself to move on.

There was something about that pony that Rarity just couldn't place her hoof on. She was so...mysterious. She had no idea who she was. She had never seen her before. She had lived in Ponyville all her life and never even knew that huge farm existed! Just who was this pony exactly? Could she even trust her about anything she had said? Or was she simply a hero that was just helping out a stranger in need? Rarity just didn't know and really had no way of knowing for sure which was the real Applejack.

Friend? Or Enemy?

If she wasn't grounded, Rarity had the mind to go back to Sweet Apple Acres and get right down to the knitty gritty, but alas, there was no way she was going to get out of her house and go back to the place where her parents knew she woke up yesterday morning with no knowledge of where she was or how she got there. Her parents would have a heart attack and lock her away forever in her room. Rarity couldn't have that.

There was also no way of her going to Fluttershy's right now. She had to give her parents some time before she could even mention Fluttershy's name. This had happened before so she knew exactly how long it would take them before they would give up on the whole "bad influence" business.

Rarity rolled over on her bed and looked out her window. The sun was starting to set in the direction of Applejack's homely farm.

"Oh, Applejack. Who are you exactly?" Rarity felt as if she had knew her once before, but there was no way she could have. She would have remembered. She would have definitely remembered.

The unicorn looked dreamingly outside. Her blue eyes wavered as she remembered that ponies face. Something about that face. That unattractive smile. Rarity couldn't quit thinking about it.

She turned over on her back and closed her eyes. The image of the earth mare clouded her mind. Who is she? Why does she seem like a distant memory....?

"Oh, Applejack. Who are you exactly...?" Rarity repeated to herself in a soft whisper as she dozed off to sleep.

That night, she dreamed of Applejack. She was smiling the whole time.

Oh, how she hated that ugly smile.

Once Upon a Dream

-Once Upon A Dream

A week had already passed since that morning. Rarity had been doing the same thing for this period of time. She sat in her room. Waited as the hours passed, laying on her back, staring at the clock, hoping this would all be soon over.

She didn't leave her room unless absolutely necessary, which meant if she needed to go to the bathroom or maybe sneak some food from the kitchen when her stomach started to cry out to her. Other than that, Rarity tried to stay put. She knew if she got in any other trouble with her parents at this time, she would be risking a longer punishment.

She hadn't spoken to her family since that day. She could still hear the argument that she came home to after waking up in that strangers home. She winced at the thought of the whole situation. She just couldn't wait until all this would be over and she could forget about everything and go back to her normal everyday life. Hanging out with Fluttershy again and going to the spa. That is what Rarity was dying for the most.

She sighed as she turned her head from the clock. She noticed the time seemed to go by a lot slower when she was constantly checking the time. She tried her best to keep her eyes away, but she couldn't help but glance back every so often to remind herself that she was still being punished.

"Celestia, please..." Rarity moved her head over to the side and brought her hooves to her face. She buried her eyes into her white furry front arms and began to sob.

She didn't really like to cry. Not that anypony enjoyed it, but Rarity detested it just slightly a bit above average. It made her makeup run and quite frankly she felt unattractive while tears filled her eyes and would slowly run down her face. So as much as she could, Rarity avoided crying, but now, she felt like it didn't matter. She had the right to cry, even though she knew she brought most of this on herself. She still felt as though she needed a good cry. Maybe afterwards she would feel slightly better about everything and try to make amends with her parents. Maybe that would speed up the process of her punishment, or at least it would be a good start.

So as for now, Rarity allowed herself to tear up and cry. Everything rushed to her all at once. Lying to Fluttershy. Getting drunk. Waking up, afraid. Being grounded. Not being able to see her friend. Applejack.

The unicorn sniffled as the tears started to slow down. She began to bring her head up and she wiped her face with her makeup stained hoof. She looked out her window as she did everyday now in the direction of that farm.

Her heart began to race with the thought of the pony that lived there. The pony that had truly saved her. The pony that gave her a place to stay when she was in need. That pony. That truly, honest pony.

As the days past, Rarity began to think less that Applejack had raped her and more that she was sincerely a hero that night. She would glance out her window and think of the orange mare, and deep down in her heart, she yearned to go back to that place and thank her for what she had done.

Rarity knew that would never happen if her parents had anything to do with it. They would never let her do such a thing, but even so, she really, really wanted to.

She felt as if she knew her. Once upon a dream.

One Month Later

"Oh, come on. It's not that bad, is it?" Rarity looked over at Fluttershy. She put her hoof in her mane and combed through it as she tried to smile as best she could to reassure Fluttershy that she would be fine.

The yellow mare merely squeaked as she buried her face even deeper into her arms.

"There's nothing scary about it...uh....just..." Rarity couldn't find any words at the moment.

"I...caa...." A mumble escaped the pegasus Rarity was trying to console.

"What was that, dear?"

"I....can....t"

"Come again?" Rarity lifted the pink hairs away from Fluttershy's face as she tried to understand.

"I can't!" Fluttershy looked up. Her aqua eyes were flickering with fear and embarrassment.

"Oh, what do you mean? It's not that hard. Just...talk to him." Rarity smiled. She had knew that Fluttershy had a crush on an old friend that she used to know back in Cloudsdale. She had always knew that. Fluttershy would talk about him all the time. He was so cool, apparently one of the best fliers around, and Fluttershy definitely had a thing for him.

"I...can't do that..." Fluttershy looked up at her friend. She had a bit of guilt hidden on her face.

This pony supposedly just moved from Cloudsdale to Ponyville today. Fluttershy found out about it and called up Rarity immediately seeking advice for the situation. All Rarity could really do is just try to talk her into seeing the stallion. She couldn't really do much, but honestly, Rarity was just glad that she was finally able to hang out with Fluttershy again. It was as if nothing happened a month ago. They were carrying on with little things such as crushes on old friends, not having anxiety being stuck in their rooms all day. They were out. Enjoying life.

"Come on. I will go with you. Just...welcome him to Ponyville. That shouldn't be hard." Rarity smiled harder as those happy thoughts came to her mind. She felt a surge of gratefulness for being alive.

"But...that's...Pinkie's job..." She looked over her bed as the unicorn in front of her grinned uncomfortably at her.

"Give me a break, Fluttershy! Anypony can great someone, and now it's your turn! You know him already! So...introduce yourselves again and maybe you two will hit it off!" Rarity winked and pushed her friend slightly.

"Come on! Let's go! Where does he live? Hm?" Rarity started to the door. She turned around to find her friend trying to cover herself up again.

"Not today....let's...give...um...him time to settle in..." Fluttershy peeked through her blankets with wide eyes.

Rarity merely sighed with disappointment.

"Fine...fine. Well...give me a call when you are ready." Rarity's eyes lowered and she gave a smaller smile this time. Fluttershy seemed relieved though that she stopped pushing her, and that was all that Rarity needed to stay happy.

There wasn't really much to do around Ponyville on an ordinary Sunday, but Rarity definitely wasn't complaining. She got to eat breakfast with her family and she got to see her friend, so that was all she needed to feel accomplished.

She was rather excited to meet this friend of Fluttershy's, but she just needed to give her time first. She knew how shy she could be sometimes, and with something like this, she completely understood. But other than that, Rarity felt like she had nothing else to look forward to other than being able to be free. Which was pretty good in itself. She did have a curfew now though, but that didn't come unexpected with what happened. Ultimately, Rarity had a newfound respect for her parents. She never realized how much they cared about her until that day. It was rather sad really how she never noticed that, but better late then never.

Rarity continued her coffee as she sat at a little table in Sugarcube Corner. Normally she would have Fluttershy with her, but she honestly wanted to come alone for some reason today. It felt so nice just to be able to think and sip the warm beverage down by herself for a change. Not that having a friend around was bad, but she just felt it would be nice. And it was.

She smiled as she peered down at her hooves cupped around the glass that held her drink. She closed her eyes as a breeze came through the open window of the shop. It was mid afternoon, so nopony was really in the store at this hour. They were at home with their families, or going out to the store. Rarity had a nice, quiet diner to herself, as of now. Normally it was crowded and noisy in this place, but on a Sunday afternoon, not so much.

She opened her eyes now and looked over to the other tables. There were a few ponies sitting in, but most were alone like Rarity. Some were reading the paper and others were just stopping in for a quick treat. Total, there were about five customers including herself. She liked this quietness for a change. It was good for her mind she thought.

With her magic, Rarity lifted her cup and took the last sip of her coffee. She set her drink down and reached for a few bits in her sattlebag to leave Pinkie for a tip. Not that she really deserved one. She didn't do anything other then say "Hi!" and leave, but Rarity thought it would be good in her heart to leave one anyways. Pinkie Pie was remotely her friend after all, and she wouldn't feel right doing otherwise.

Rarity turned to her bag that was resting on the back of her chair. As she turned, her bag fell to the ground.

"Celestia..." Rarity grumbled to herself as she reached for the bag with her magic. She pulled it towards her to feel a tug. She turned to see somepony holding up her bag and Rarity quickly let her magic release it letting the bag fall into the other ponies hooves.

"You dropped this, Miss?" The pony motioned the white bag into her direction, but Rarity had no intention of speaking back. She was rather at a loss for words.

The pony stood there confused for a moment, but then she smiled.

"I thought that was you." Her accent rolled through Rarity's ears as her heart started to race. Her world began to spin in all directions as she looked straight into those big green eyes.

"You..." That was all Rarity could find to say.

Memories of Her

-Memories of Her

"You!" Rarity could hear her heart throbbing inside of her small chest. She couldn't believe her eyes as Applejack stood in front of her, bag in hoof.

"Well, it's good to see ya too." Applejack chuckled softly at Rarity's greeting. She continued to reach Rarity's bag out to her in her direction, but the unicorn didn't seem to be interested in taking it from her anytime soon.

Silence filled the room for a few moments. Neither of the two knew what to say in this situation. Rarity was just completely shocked. Out of all the ponies in Ponyville, why was Applejack here now standing before her, holding her bag out to her? It was just too much of a coinsidence. Rarity hadn't seen Applejack in nearly two months. She hadn't seen or heard anything from her since that one morning at that little farm, so why now? When Rarity was finally over the whole thing, why did she have to reappear into her life?

The young mare couldn't find any words to say. She began to stir uncomfortably in her place. All of a sudden she felt the urgent need to pee, but she couldn't make her hooves move. They were glued to the floorboards. Completely stuck in time.

Rarity's ears twitched as the raspy voice began to fill the air suddenly.

"I believe...you dropped this." Applejack slowly began to place the bag on the table Rarity was dining at moments earlier. The unicorn finally was able to look away from the pony in front of her. Her eyes turned toward the saddle bag that was now laying flat on the cafe table. She moved her hoof towards the bag and began to slip it onto her back. Her eyes turned back to her front.

The orange mare had already quietly made her way towards the door of Sugar Cube Corner. Her eyes were heavily staring at the ground beneath her. Her mane softly fell on her built back as she turned her head up to reach for the door nob.

Rarity stood and watched as the mare silently opened the door to exit the awkward situation. Applejack wasn't making any motion that told Rarity that she was leaving. She didn't give any sign that she was departing. She didn't say a word. She just simply left.

Rarity couldn't think straight at the moment, but one word slithered through her lips without warning as she continued to stare in the mares direction.

"Wait."

The earth pony stopped halfway through the entrance of the sweet shop. Her tail swayed gently as a breeze went flowing through the opened door. Rarity stiffly looked at the mare, waiting for a response. If any at all, she just wanted a gesture from the mysterious mare that she had been thinking about since the day she met her.

Then suddenly, her head tilted back and her green eyes met with Rarity's. They twinkled as she gave a smile. And with that, the pony turned away once more and left the dumbfounded unicorn to stand alone.

She never remembered to leave Pinkie a tip.

Rarity's sleep was filled with tossing and turning that following night. Her head was filled with so many questions, she just couldn't put Applejack passed her; she couldn't get her off her mind. Visuals of the mare spiraled through the unicorns thoughts as she grumbled and turned over again to her left side. Her dreams were strange and filled with many more questions that the mare had to ask herself. No answers to be found, nothing. Only Rarity's imagination was all she had to work with.

In Rarity's dreamworld that night, she could see the outline of six ponies. They each had a faint color to them. All six had a different color. There was yellow, pink, blue, orange, white, and purple. She wasn't exactly sure what any of this meant, or if there was any significance at all to the dream itself that linked to Applejack.

Rarity just watched as the six silhouettes danced through her dreamland. They seemed so peaceful. So happy.

The next morning, Rarity was in a complete trance. She waltzed about her house as she did her normal morning routine. She hummed an original tune as she ate breakfast and she trotted out of the front door with a certain pep in her step. Today felt like such a wonderful day.

Rarity wasn't sure where she was going, but she began to take a nice morning walk through Ponyville. She took all the roads she didn't normally take, and she just enjoyed the smells and sights of the scenic route that she didn't travel often. She smiled widely as her hooves took her whereever. She didn't even stop to think really, that she wasn't exactly moving at all, her hooves were. They were trotting themselves and as she began to open her eyes a little wider and wake up a bit more, she finally realized that she wasn't moving at freewill. She had been in some sort of daze while her body was just taking her out of town. She didn't even recognize where she was now.

Rarity looked around her. All she saw now was trees and lots of clear land. Forest, she was dragging herself to the forest. The forbidden forest. The forest where nopony dared travel to. The Everfree Forest.

Rarity's eyes widened as she tried to call out for help, but nopony was around to hear her screams. She turned her head in all directions, searching for somepony, anypony around that she could wave for to get their attention, but alas, she was all alone. It was only her and the forest around. She was completely isolated.

She tried and struggled to stop herself from moving any farther, but she couldn't. She was already in the forest now. She could hear the screeches of distant wildlife and she heard crunches of mysterious creatures that lured around her. She couldn't take this much stress and fear. She was completely out of it.

Rarity screamed out more, not to call for help this time, but to scare away the animals that she felt would bring her harm. She screamed and wailed, trying to keep the predatures away from her.

Her eyes were moving everywhere so quickly she felt like her head was spinning around in circles. Everything was so frightening to her. She couldn't stand to look any longer. The mare clenched her eyes tightly shut as she continued to drag herself further and further into the dark forest.

She had never once been inside the Everfree, it just wasn't something that somepony would willfully do on a normal basis, but Rarity wasn't willfully going, she was being forced...by her own self.

All she could see was the darkness behind her eyelids and she could hear various sounds that she tried to drown out as she suddenly was tossed forward. The mare fell on her face in the dirt. She opened her eyes slowly as she brought her front hooves to the top of her head as if to hide herself. She peeked up to see the unthinkable.

A castle stood before her. It was brightly lit and inviting. Rarity slowly got up from her huddled position and began to stare in awe at the mighty tower above her. It shined with magnificence as it whistled softly while the wind blew through each and every window.

Rarity couldn't move any closer. Her hooves were now glued to where she stood. She forgot about this quickly and looked up again. She saw two huge gates before her. They seemed to be made of gold. They shimmered just by themselves and Rarity was impressed with the craftsmanship of every piece of this amazing palace; however, one thing in particular caught her attention. Rarity saw a statue that stood behind the gates. It was of six ponies. Each were merely silhouettes; however, they were each uniquely crafted as if they were individuals.

Rarity couldn't keep here eyes off of the whole thing. It was all so overwhelming she had forgotten where she was even at and how she got there. She began to smile again. She felt like she was back in her morning trance once more, and without even realizing, she began to hum that same tune from this morning. She wasn't sure where it came from, but she felt as if she had heard it somewhere before, long ago.

As she smiled and sung, she heard a crackle come from the very top of the castle. A single crack ran through the middle and soon the whole palace began to topple over. Rarity's singing and smiling ceased and she began to panic once again as the castle demolished before her eyes. The statue broke into six pieces and soon the whole entire courtyard was nothing more than ruins.

Rarity screamed and with that, she woke up.

Her head was spinning from all the crazy dreams she had been having the passed couple of nights. She wasn't sure what was going on with her, but all of them seemed to be connected in some way. She sat on her couch as her mother next to her cradled her little sister. Rarity smiled at the little white foal softly as she began to stretch.

She turned away and yawned. She was so awfully tired, but she wasn't sure if it was the fact that she was sleepy or just the fact that she was bored out of her mind. She hadn't left the house in a few days. She didn't really have anywhere to be and Fluttershy hadn't spoken to her ever since her friend moved from Cloudsdale, and Rarity was really looking forward to meeting him too.

Rarity began to sigh and pout at the thought. She turned over and flailed her arms to the side in an act of getting some pity from her mother who wasn't even paying her any attention in the first place. Her mom continued to play with Sweetie Belle and Rarity continued to wallow in self pity.

The mare finally gave up all attempts to get her mothers attention away from Sweetie and she left the living room. She trotted upstairs to her bedroom and using her magic, shut her door behind her.

She crawled into her comforting bed and laid down on her stomach. She faced her opened window and sighed once more. She watched as the clouds rolled by slowly through the sky. The pegasi had already placed them accordingly for a storm that was supposed to take place later on in the week. Rarity wasn't looking forward to this. She never was too fond of thunderstorms. The rain would mess up her mane and she was terrified of lightning, but there was really nothing she could do about it. They were due for a storm this week and Rarity knew she would have to deal with it.

Rarity's eyes dazzled as she watched the clouds more. She soon was able to spot out shapes. She used to do that with her dad when she was a filly. They would lie on their backs in the front yard and point out all the objects they could find in the clouds. Her favorite had always been finding diamonds in the sky. They reminded her of herself and Rarity had always been proud of herself.

She smiled at the memory.

She continued to watch the rolling white puff balls through her window. She saw a few bunnies in them and even a little kitten that reminded her of the family cat, Opal. She giggled as the shapes began to slowly drift away and change into new shapes. It was quite nostalgic and frankly entertaining. The mare soon forgot she was ever bored in the first place. She was mesmerized with the clouds and lost herself in the moment.

She spotted six ponies dancing in the sky. They looked so peaceful. So happy.

The Friend She Never Had

-The Friend She Never Had

It wasn't abnormal for for something like this to happen and Rarity was excited by it more than she usually would be. The phone was ringing, however, there was a feeling inside of her that completely screamed "drama". That was something little that Rarity had taken for granted back when she didn't have much of a tight watch from her parents, so when an opportunity arose for her now, she was all for it.

Now, Rarity wasn't one to like to normally take place in petty, little games; but, when it can to excitement, she couldn't pass up the chance. She quickly answered the phone that she knew was an incoming call from a dear friend.

"Fluttershy, darling." Rarity smiled as she picked up the phone that was laying on her bedside table.

She heard a little murmur from the other end, but she didn't even give herself enough time to understand the response before she replied.

"Oh, please tell me it's today! You're ready, are you not?" Rarity squealed into the receiver. She could hear a slight static sound begin to start at her loud question. She quickly back her ear from the phone until it settled down once more. She then brought it back in wait for a reply.

It took a few moments, as it normally did when talking to Fluttershy on a phone or even in person for that matter. Especially in subjects that the yellow pony didn't really find quite easily spoken of. This was one of those conversations, and Rarity respected that and gave her time to answer without question.

"I need to talk to you...about...something important...actually...instead..." Fluttershy finally made out an audible response and Rarity looked around as she took in her friends words.

She tapped her hoof softly on her floorboards as she decided how to respond. This was a bit of a let down to the mare in all honesty, however, it could be even more exciting than what she had in mind. Last time Fluttershy had to talk to her about something, it was pretty juicy and that was actually what Rarity was getting so worked up about now. Fluttershy's old friend that she was madly in love with had recently moved to town.

Okay...she knew that was kind of an exaggeration on what was really the case, but she liked to think that Fluttershy had a deep love for some stallion from her childhood. It was a lot more exciting than just a little crush that she had developed. But nonetheless, Rarity was still happy to help Fluttershy in any way possible. After all, that was her best friend.

"Of course we can talk. Your place, or mine?"

Rarity sat in the quiet little cottage that Fluttershy called home. She was still a little shocked that Fluttershy lived alone and was a few years older than her. She would have never thought that when they first met, but, you get to know a pony she guessed.

Fluttershy walked out of the kitchen with some tea she had promised the unicorn for their little "chat". She set down the cups on a little wooden coffee table in the middle of the den. Rarity lifted her cup after letting it cool for a moment. The blue aura brought it to her lips as she took a quick and delicate sip. She smiled at the taste and set it down until she was ready for more.

She liked to drink her tea slowly but surely. That was one of Rarity's perks.

Fluttershy didn't touch her cup. She let it sit on the table as the steam began to slowly wisp away until it was no longer hot and fresh. She didn't seem interested in this at all. She was looking past Rarity's shoulder towards the back wall. It was a little discomforting to the white mare, but she just let her friend daze for a few more moments before she decided to break the silence.

"Now, Fluttershy dear, what is ever the matter with you. You're not yourself. I can tell. No need to deny." Rarity smiled as the pony instantly looked at her in order to refuse the diagnosis, but Rarity's words were too quick for Fluttershy. The pegasus slowly looked down.

"It such a nice week, don't you agree?" Rarity took another sip of her tea. The flavor was complementing her statement.

"The air is fresh. The weather is lovely. The tea is fantastic, and you have a certain somepony to still welcome to town." Rarity winked at her last remark. Fluttershy quickly looked up again from her daze. She seemed to have winced slightly at the sound of Rarity's words.

Rarity regretted her wording just the slightest bit, but at the same time, she was really ready for Fluttershy to stop being so timid and just talk to her old friend. She wanted a little bit of excitement in her life. Just a little bit even if it didn't exactly include her.

"That's....kind of what I wanted to talk about..." Fluttershy didn't hesitate to long to reply this time. Rarity was proud.

Before she could give the pony any more time to continue, however...Rarity quickly interrupted.

"Great! I was dying to finally hear those words! This is the time. No going back now!" Rarity smiled as she jumped up from her last sip of tea. She wasn't exactly finished with it, but this was much more important. She pulled her friend up with a tug and began towards the door.

"Wait...that's..." Fluttershy struggled to be pulled.

"No, you can't quit now. You already made the first step!" Rarity tried to be encouraging but it didn't seem to be helping the pegasus much. Rarity didn't notice.

The unicorn dropped her hooves from the pony and resorted to using her levitating magic. Fluttershy scurried as her legs left the floor beneath her. Rarity didn't seem to have too much sympathy at this point.

"Now...where does the young fellow reside?" Rarity looked behind her to her squirming friend. She smiled softly at the fearing face of Fluttershy.

"Well...can....you put me down first so we can talk this out...." Fluttershy tried to reason, but Rarity was relentless at this point. She needed some good action before she was to die of boredom which she tended to whine about lately.

"Just tell me where your friend lives, dear?" Rarity looked over with puppy eyes at the yellow mare. Fluttershy sighed and let her legs dangle as she resided her struggle.

"In a cloud towards the town." Fluttershy didn't terry with her reply. Her quivering eyes lowered as Rarity's smile brightened. The two were most definitely a pair.

"I think I know where it is! I've seen it from my house. I guess I didn't notice it was a new addition..." Rarity thought to herself for a moment before she started on her journey again.

"Wait...I didn't actually mean to go there....we...can't do that." Fluttershy began to sound more nervous now than annoyed or afraid. Rarity turned again. This wasn't new either, just like her phone ringing earlier. She knew Fluttershy was beyond nervous, but it had to be done and she definitely didn't want to wait too much longer. Fluttershy didn't need to wait a month or two before welcoming a new member of Ponyville. That would be too delayed for such an occasion. It needed to still be a fresh move to really have the same impact.

"It's going to be okay. I'm coming with you, remember?" Rarity reassured her friend, or at least, she thought she had reassured her. She turned back to her path before noticed Fluttershy was still shaking with anxiety.

The whole trip to their destination was the same. Fluttershy trying to turn back, but Rarity persisting on. Nothing out of the ordinary for the two, and definitely not the last time it would happen; however, like many a time, Rarity won.

"That must be it up there." Rarity looked at the cloud home above their heads. Her eyes glimmered at the sight. It was surely a nice place for somepony who had just moved to a new area by themselves. This stallion must have good family, or be sucessful on his own. She was already jealous that isn't wasn't her instead that knew this pony. But of course, she was happy for Fluttershy.

"I wish I could go up there with you, but alas..." Rarity slowly broke the news to her friend that she wouldn't exactly "be there" with her when she met her old friend like she had said. She would if she could, and she knew this. She really wanted to be there in person when it all went down, but she just accepted that she would merely have to hear about it from her friend after it happens.

Fluttershy looked up at the home. Her eyes were dazzled by the scene herself. She gulped and then looked back at Rarity.

"Look....Rarity....I don't think this is a good idea after all...." Fluttershy tried to reason with her friend, but Rarity wasn't going to have it.

"Oh dear. It's really not going to be all that bad after it's said and done. You just have to make that first leap and go ahead and do it already. No "buts" about it." Rarity put her hoof down this time. She was slightly getting frustrated with her friends shy nature, but she knew she couldn't be mad at her for something like this. It was really none of her business to start with, but she just couldn't admit to that.

"Rarity...I know you want me to do this, but...I have to tell you something....actually I've been trying to tell you the whole time, but I just haven't gotten the chance, but...what I called you about earlier...and what I want to say now is....my old friend...well....they....we...weren't....really..." Fluttershy was cut off by a loud voice coming from overhead. She turned upwards as did Rarity.

A light twinkled from the home above them as a voice called out to them.

"What are you doing standing down there for?"

The voice wasn't really pleasant to Rarity's ears. If this was the friend of Fluttershy, then she was deeply disappointed. Such a let down, and she was only judging by their voice. She couldn't even see them for the glare of the sun in her eyes when she tried to make out the figure, however, his voice was quite squeaky and nonetheless, really unattractive for the stallion she was picturing in her mind this whole time. She wasn't going to let Fluttershy know that though....that would be very rude and not like Rarity at all. She just kept her mouth shut and let Fluttershy handle this.

"I asked you a question. This is technically my property, so I don't really appreciate you standing all over it." The voice continued to ring from up above. Rarity was taken aback by the rudeness of this unknown pony. She was really getting a bad first impression on Fluttershy's love interest.

Fluttershy stood in fear. No words escaped her and Rarity noticed. She looked like a deer stuck in headlights. She was completely frozen. No movement. Nothing. She was out of it.

"Am I going to have to go down there myself and move you? Geez!"

Rarity didn't know if she could take much more of this obnoxious scene. The crude voice was starting to make her angry and she couldn't stand looking at Fluttershy anymore. She wasn't going to sit here and let this newbie talk to her as if she was trash. Rarity was above that. She couldn't take this talk for much longer and she knew she had to step in for Fluttershy. The poor mare was too afraid to budge and Rarity had to come save the day.

Her eyes twinkled at the sunlit glare above. Her brow scruffled as she took one step back to get a better view of the home above her. Her mane glimmered as she brought her neck up and tilted her head ever so lightly to the left. It was totally...ON.

"Pardon me good fellow. We just happened to be walking by when we noticed a new home in town. It was unlike us to just shrug off such an event. We decided to stop by and welcome this new pony to our lovely little town. Could you tell us who this fellow may be so we can greet him and be on our way?" Rarity smirked at her comeback. She really let him have it!

The silence only lasted about three seconds between Rarity's voice and the other one from above. The response was quick and sharp quite like Opal's claws when you pet her in the wrong way. Rarity squinted with anger.

"You really think you are somethin' huh? Well if you came to give somepony a welcome party then go ahead. I'm waiting." The voice crackled with a quiet snicker. They knew they were working up Rarity's nerves.

"I never! This is completely preposterous! You sir have no manners." Rarity jerked her head up with a quick "hmph" as she turned away and continued to leave the embarrassing sight. She almost forgot Fluttershy still standing in disbelief behind her.

Before she could turn around to receive her friend and deep burst of laughter came from the cloud above. It seemed as if the pony was rolling around, hooves to their stomach as they cackled out loud. Rarity clenched her teeth. She would dare not be laughed at by somepony as simple as this!

"I will--"

Rarity was cut off as a figure began to fly towards them quickly. Her mane blew all over as the pony landed between her and her friend. She quickly began to pat her mane down once more as she grumbled in pure anger.

"Don't get so worked up. I was only messing with you. Thanks for stopping by. Really! That was thoughtful." The pony said as Rarity finally looked up at got a good look at the perpetrator from the cloud above.

"Hi. My name is Rainbow Dash." The pony smiled as they held out their hoof towards the dumbfounded unicorn. She could hardly believe what she was seeing. Maybe this was the wrong pony but...this pony was not what she was expecting. Not at all. This pony was definitely not what Fluttershy had ever described and part of that is probably because she never really did describe her old friend. She merely spoke of them. Rarity did most of the visual describing in her own imagination but she didn't really realize that until this very moment as she stood and looked face to face with the pony that Fluttershy had been crushing over since she was a child. Rarity was looking face to face with that mare.

"How...do you do." Rarity didn't say much of anything else. She didn't know exactly where to stand at this point. She wasn't upset, but more...shocked.

"Your name is....?" The pony of the name Dash persisted of Rarity.

"Oh! Of course. Silly me. My name is Rarity." She locked hooves with the stranger and shook only once. She was still in disbelief.

Her eyes traveled to Fluttershy who was still staring with the fear of death. Dash quickly recognized that there was another presence among them and turned her attention towards the silent yellow pony.

"Hello there. I'm Rainbow Dash." She smiled towards Fluttershy with no regards as to recognition of her at all. She didn't seem to know who Fluttershy was, or maybe she was playing another joke on them.

Fluttershy merely brought out her hoof and shook Dash's. She said nothing.

Rarity couldn't speak. She couldn't believe was she was seeing. It appeared that they didn't know each other at all. Was this really the right pony? Had there been a mistake?? There must have been! This was definitely not that old friend Fluttershy used to talk about all the time. This was definitely not the right one!

"Fluttershy, we must be going. It was nice to meet you. Enjoy your stay." Rarity regarded the stranger once more before grabbing her friend and walking off at a quick pace.

The rainbow maned pony didn't reply. At least, Rarity didn't give her time to before she rushed off. Fluttershy merely followed her without question. The two scurried off leaving Rainbow Dash alone. The mare stood there for a few moments before shrugging off the whole situation and flying back up to her home. There were so many strange ponies in Ponyville...

Rarity didn't say much at all on their way back to the yellow ponies cottage on the edge of the forest. Fluttershy said nothing. This was not unusual.

With all the unusual things happening today to Rarity, there were still so many normal things as well...