“So I take that your visit was a success?”

It was approaching evening at Carousel Boutique. Sweetie Belle was already in bed, as so was most of the foals in Ponyville.

“Absolutely! It was wonderful! Me and Fluttershy managed to make so many clothes and accessories for the hospital patients that we ended up making it for the staff as well!” Rarity exclaimed.

“That” good to hear. It’s comforting to know that we can still spread friendship across the town and the rest of Equestria.”

“I guess so! By the way, Applejack, I almost forgot to thank you for taking care of Sweetie Belle and the rest of our little sisters while I was gone.” Rarity praised.

“Nothing to it. Our little sisters are maturing every day, and I’m proud to say that even if they still often spend time in that tree house I built down at Sweet Apple Acres, they are growing as a whole.” She chuckled. “I don’t even have to stop them from jumping off cliffs anymore or hurling themselves into random situations.”

Rarity giggled herself as she poured herself another cup of tea from the table that they were sitting on. “Oh…that really was the worst. Though whatever my sister chooses to be or wants to do in the end, I’ll support her decisions, as long as they’re not that dangerous.”

“Amen to that.” Applejack noted, raising her own teacup before downing it in one swing.

“You do realize that you’re supposed to hold the teacup with two hooves, and not one, right?” Rarity grunted.

“Well…I’m still not as fancy as you want me to be, and you can” really expect me to change in a long time. I tried the city life, and I just don’t like it as much as living in the countryside.” Applejack chirped.

“Hmph.” Rarity pouted before taking her own sip.

“Speaking of which, who won the competition? You did say something about you two having a knit-off, or something like that.”

Rarity moved around on her chair uncomfortably.

“Um…it was a fair game…we all tried our hardest…and we did manage to make a difference! Heh heh…”

Her nervous expression quickly became furious as she noticed Applejack trying not to spit out her tea.

“You lost the competition, didn’t you Rarity?” She laughed, gulping down the liquid to avoid further chaos.

“It was just a difference of ten pieces of clothing! You should have seen her go, Applejack! The girl can weave faster than me during the Canterlot Celebrity Fashion Show!” She complained.

“Alright, alright, calm down. I was just playing around with you.” Applejack reassured, though still hiding a giggle.

She finished her teacup and walked over to the door. “I’m going back to the farm to see if Applebloom’s asleep yet. It’s getting late, and I also need to get some sleep.”

“Wait a second!” Applejack turned around confused as Rarity quickly downed her own cup and rushed towards the earth pony. “Can I tag along? I just don’t feel that tired yet…and since everypony else is asleep I got nothing to do. Even my latest project is already done.”

She watched nervously as Applejack looked at her with curiosity.

“Well…I suppose that there’s nothing wrong with that. Sure, grab anything that you want to bring and follow me.”

The two ponies walked across the dirt path, and soon they arrived at the outside of the house beside the farm. Opening the door, Applejack went over to the kitchen while Rarity quickly accompanied one of the cushions around the wooden table.

“I’m still not sure about you” coming here, Rarity.” Applejack spoke, breaking the long silence that had prolonged from their journey.

“Oh! Well…I don’t know what to think of myself anymore…”

“Huh? Just what in tarnation are you talking about?!” The odd sentence was enough to stop Applejack from washing the dishes.

“Today was the happiest moment I could have ever spent with Fluttershy. There were no arguments, no disagreements, just a plain old friendly competition where we benefited hundreds of ponies, and both of us were enjoying what we did.”

She signed as they stared outside to the left, where the hospital stood, the lights shut and silent.

“I thought that I would need to comfort her. Poor thing…We all knew that she was the most shy and timid of us all…and for something to this extent to happen, and for her to still remain so positive…”

There was a slight sound of thunder in the distance as she continued.

“It was makes me feel horrible. I thought that I would need to maintain a constant happy attitude to everything to cheer her up, because I thought that she would be in depression…or worse. Imagine my guilt when I saw that every smile, every expression, every action…was genuine.” She sniffed. “Unlike mine.”

“……………” Applejack went over to her friend, and sat down beside her. Watching as she slowly broke down with every sentence.

“Did…did you know how hard it was not to cry?” She wailed. “She was having such a good time…making all those scarfs and mittens and wooly hats…and I was just sitting beside her thinking that I would soon never see her again…”

“Now don’t say that…”

“I’m such a mess…since Fluttershy was diagnosed I have been crying in and out of sleep, having nightmares where she would just disappear from all of my memories…I even had to start taking anti-depressants just so I can rest!” She sobbed.

Applejack placed her hoof around Rarity shoulder while grabbing a box of tissues towards them and pulling out one for her, which she took and blew her nose.

“Never did I have to constrain all my emotions so badly…love…anger…happiness…these are feelings that I have been hiding ever since I moved to Ponyville…and it’s slowly killing me.”

Finishing her outburst, she sank on the surface of the table before being helped up by Applejack.

“Sometimes…these things will happen. And you can” always predict when and how…but more importantly why. If Fluttershy is showing joy and happiness, then be happy for her. Don’t feel guilty or ashamed because you thought that she would be depressed. Because I thought the same too.” Applejack admitted.

“But…but…you don’t need to take anti-depressants! You don’t have to cry yourself to sleep every night! I’m so mentally scarred that sometimes even I want to…”

She stopped as she saw the sudden anger in Applejack’s eyes as she increased her grip on Rarity’s shoulder.

“Don’t you ever say that. Never…say that. If you ever even try to commit such an act...I’ll never look at you the same way.”

“But…”

“Do you think that I don’t feel sad or angry towards these recent events? Didn’t I tell you before? I cry on the inside. And don” you forget that. We all have to restrain ourselves one time or another…but make sure that you’re not harming yourself or others by doing so. Do you think that Fluttershy would like somepony suffering for her?”

“No…she wouldn’t.”

“Exactly. What you need is relaxation. Not physical relaxation like from the spa…but mental relaxation. If you can do that…I’m sure that you won’t have a single nightmare ever.”

“Are…are you sure about that, Applejack?”

It was strange, seeing how a teenage adult pony, a professional fashion designer to add, speaking like the little sisters that they shared.

“I’m sure.”

The sky suddenly started to pour rain down on the grounds of Ponyville. A strong wind was blowing through, increasing its vigorousness.

“Well…there” an unexpected storm. Funny that, it seems like this thing happened sometime ago. However…this time we understand each other.” Applejack went back over to the kitchen.

“You need a pick me up? I can make some first-class apple cider right now if you want to.” She smiled, causing Rarity to do the same.

“I’ll love one.” She marveled.

“Now that’s the spirit! Let all your emotions go! Tonight will not be another nightmare, but the start of a new dream!” She said, chopping up the apples and tossing them to the pot.

Soon she was done, and the two ponies celebrated with their jugs of cider as the night came to an end. It was a start of not just a new lifestyle, but also a new form of acceptance.

“CHEERS!”

Author's Note