Roseluck put the final nails in the boards that blocked all the entries of her house. Then, she picked up her saddlebags. She started to walk away, but something stopped her.
She just couldn’t. She wanted to force herself to believe that she had left something, that she needed to go back and pull down the boards to the door. But she knew that if she did that, she would end up staying until she died.
She didn't want to leave. She had grown up in that house. In fact, she was born there. Her parents didn’t get to the hospital in time.
Her father died in that house. When Rose was but a filly. He had had a terrible sickness at the time. There was nothing anypony could do, despite all the methods they tried.
When she was a teen, Rose had thrown about a hundred parties in that house. She had broken millions of things in that house.
She brought tons of her coltfriends to that house. She had many breakups in that house. She studied for SAT's in that house, and also nearly set that house's kitchen on fire when her mother tried to teach her how to cook. And after that had failed about ten times, her mother let her do what she wanted the most - grow things.
After many years of perfecting her new found skill, she opened her flower shop in that house, along with her two best friends, Daisy and Lily.
And, eight years later, she lost the house due to a terrible star-spider infestation. She would have hired an exterminator, but she couldn’t afford it. Daisy and Lily were able to open another shop further down the road. But she wanted to stay here. Forever.
And then Caramel gave her the money for the exterminator. He said it was because she was a friend. He said he would have done the same for anyone. But he wouldn’t have.
And Rose knew that. To him, she was special. And though she would never admit it, she felt the same about him, too.
When she opened the shop back up, everypony rejoiced.
But, just five months later, a devastating fire wiped through Ponyville. Most of the buildings were spared. Roseluck’s was not one of them.
And now, it’s left Rose boarding up her beloved home, forced to move somewhere else because the Ponyville taxes were so high.
And what happened to Caramel? Didn’t he care about Rose? He would have helped her again, she knew it. So why didn’t he? Where did he go?
Rose didn’t know.
And she didn’t care anymore.
The past is in the past.
But now, he’s left Rose staring in defeat at her once glorious home. Where is he?
Rose could feel the tears dripping down her face, but she didn’t care. She turned and started to walk away, ignoring the the tugging of her soul.
The tug that told her something.
It told her to go back.
It told her to stay forever.
But she had to ignore that tug.
She just had to.
But she turned one last time and gazed at her home, a single tear falling from her eye.
She turned and walked down the dusty road, going for good this time.
***
Caramel ran up the road to Roseluck's house. He had been away in Hoofrica for over a year, searching for a cave that had gems in it so he could make a wedding ring for Roseluck by hoof. He had found the perfect ruby and had spent three months crafting it into the best ring in the world.
She'll be so surprised! Caramel thought giddily. I wonder if she'll say yes...
He stopped running when he caught sight of her house. What...happened?
He took a few more steps towards it. What happened?
He circled the house three times, searching for any signs of life. What happened?!
He dropped to the ground, tears welling up in his eyes. "WHAT HAPPENED?!"
"Caramel?" Daisy ran up the street. "Caramel!"
"What happened?" He whispered in between sobs. "Where is she?"
"I don't know." Daisy said, kneeling down beside him. "All I know is that her house burned down, and she decided to leave Ponyville for good."
Caramel tried to stop crying, but only made himself cry harder. "I...I made her a ring...we were going to get married..."
"I'm sorry, Caramel. I don't know what to tell you."
He felt something warm hit his head. He looked up, and saw that Daisy was crying, too.
"This...can't be happening..." Caramel choked out. "This...has to be a dream, or something...I'll wake up, and I'll still be in Hoofrica. Yes...this is just a dream!"
"It's not." Daisy replied, wiping her eyes. "I've been living with this reality for five months. But, hey...at least she's not dead, probably!"
Caramel, who had finally stopped crying, burst into tears again.
"There will be other mares." Daisy said, her voice shaky. "I'm sorry, but...we can't do anything."
She left him there, walking back down the street silently.
After what seemed like hours, Caramel sat back up. He looked at the ring. I know I didn't make this for nothing. He bared his teeth, fighting back more tears. I will find her. Even if I have to search every inch of Equestria! He stood and looked at the setting sun. Mark my words. I vow that I will not stop for anything until I find her! He looked at the ring again. There will be other mares. But none of them will be for me. There is only one who I knew I would be truly happy with. He smiled as the sun gave way to darkness. I will find you, Roseluck!
Author's Note
Written a year ago. And it's not very good.
