One Night (a.k.a A taste of an Apple)

Dash's eyes opened slowly that morning.

She could feel the sunlight of dawn spread through the room, warming her head with the heat of the new day… but last night had felt like too much, everything coming together and forcing her to spill her feelings. Knowing now, with Applejack discovering everything… that things could only get worse.

But maybe what she did was for the best, maybe she had to tell her even though it terrified her, for keeping it in so long was what had killed her most, she just hoped things would change… things become happy again. A wish for a future that might not come to pass, but a wish she held tight.

She felt a little weight on the end of the bed, blinking her eyes weakly as she sat up and saw Applejack sitting quietly down the other end. She looked at her confused, as in the middle of them was a box… and her heart beat suddenly afraid, was she going to give back the necklace?

"You're finally up," the orange mare said quietly, looking at Dash's pink eyes with awake ones of her own and the Pegasus stirred slightly scared of what she knew this was about… what spilling her guts had gotten her.

"I'm sorry Applejack," Dash only said with wet eyes, tears forming in sadness of what she knew this was about, "I didn't mean what I said,"

"But you did," Applejack said softly, looking at Dash with a warm face, "And it's okay that you did."

"Are you returning the n-necklace…?" Dash asked, feeling so pitiful and Applejack just smiled, shaking her head… before falling completely silent for a few seconds.

And then she finally spoke,

"I didn't know how you felt," she said softly, being careful with her words, "I didn't understand why you stayed with me. It just… I couldn't understand."

She took a breath in, her own body still tired from the dawn, "I thought I was keeping ya here, that you felt like ya had ta stay… but I just couldn't admit the truth."

Dash looked at her confused, until the words were said so quietly,

"That I was afraid of you loving me… when I was so sure I didn't deserve it."

"AJ…?" the Pegasus said sadly.

"I'm sorry," Applejack only muttered, her voice becoming weak as she looked into those pink eyes, "I'm so sorry for what I did… f-for how I acted… what I put you through."

"You were sad…" Dash replied in a shaky voice, "You were too lost to see,"

"I thought that if you left me… it'd be better for you," Applejack admitted finally, her eyes becoming watery from tears of denial, "But I know now… I can never let you go,"

Dash watched slowly as AJ opened up the box, seeing a silver necklace with a pearl as it's pendulum and she looked up at Applejack confused, before the orange pony continued with a soft scared voice,

"My father gave my mother this when he told her he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her."

Applejack looked slowly up from it to Dash, the Pegasus so quiet.

"I know that this might not be the best time… but I don't know what the future holds, and I want you to have it… if you still want me."

Rainbowdash didn't know how to get any words out. She just looked at the white pearl as it shimmered so brightly… not believing that Applejack had just given her this… that AJ had just said that she wanted to stay with her forever and she smiled, smiled in such happiness as she looked back up into those green eyes and muttered,

"You know I'll always want you, as long as I can breathe."

"Then can I ask you something," Applejack asked afraid and Dash looked at her quietly,

"Can I still marry you?"

The Pegasus gave a small smile, feeling her heart flutter in her chest like the first time she realized she loved her and she nodded her head, laughing and crying at the same time as she just lunged over the bed, hugging AJ so tight and said in happiness,

"Y-yes!"

Applejack smiled back in tears as she hugged Rainbow back tightly, never wanting to let her go but when the two both finally looked back into the other's eyes, she said.

"There's one thing I really want but,"

"What?" Dash asked as she pressed her face against hers in love… a feeling of joy of just being this close after so long and Applejack looked at her nervous as she said,

"I want your parents to be at the wedding… I want them to be there for you, like my family has been there for me."

Rainbow Dash grew silent… and only closed her eyes before finally saying,

"Okay… but on one condition."

"What?"

She smiled,

"The wedding is in a month."

XXXXX

It had been a week since the funeral.

Twilight walked around her house frustrated. Everything was so pointless now. Her magic was gone, her friends were gone. All the lessons she had learned meant nothing now when it felt like she had no one to turn too… Spike too young to understand fully how she felt and all her girlfriends just vanishing from her life.

It was like she was back in Canterlot, but there was no alternative now for her studies. For without magic… she could never be who she was… and never move forward, just stay put.

There was a knock on her door and she turned to it confused, saying,

"Come in,"

The door opened with magic and she shut her eyes quietly… she hated seeing any as it only reminded her of what she lost.

When she looked back up she saw Rarity and smiled bravely… but lost and frustration was all that plagued her mind these days and it always showed in her presence.

"Hey Rarity," she said tiredly and Rarity smiled a little shy… seeming unsure of herself before the white unicorn said,

"Hello Twilight… I just had a free day of work, and wanted to call in… I know I haven't been the best to keep in touch lately."

"It's fine…" Twilight said mannerly "we all haven't been the best for it."

"How are things with you? How's the studies been-" Rarity cut herself off quickly, smiling awkwardly and Twilight just sighed.

"No studies remember… these days I'm just trying to find a new calling, a new place."

"Well, I'd love for you to help me out sometime," Rarity said helpfully, "I do need a pony to do some research on the old fashion of Ponyville for me,"

"I can do that," Twilight said but didn't seem very enthusiastic about it and Rarity panted weakly adding,

"I feel like you've been avoiding us lately Twilight dear, if you'd like to ever talk… I'm only down the road."

"Yeah I know," Twilight said unhelpfully and Rarity gave a fake smile of calm as she added.

"I'd really like it if you came to a small dinner I'm having with the girls in a couple of days; we haven't all been together properly in so long."

Twilight looked at Rarity's big hoping eyes in silence… giving a sigh as she nodded her head… but still felt so empty in her friends' presence.

Yes, they had been trying to get back to how they used to be but it just seemed like whenever she was with any of them… all she felt was nothing… a connection that seemed to have been cut off from them… and hated to admit it was because she had cut it off.

She just couldn't feel that spark of friendship… as if once her magic had gone… her motivation to be with them had also dissipated. There was no more lessons to be learned, they were just five normal ponies to her.

"Yeah…" she said quietly as she looked in Rarity's eyes, "Yeah I'll be there."

"It's on Friday at seven." The white unicorn said with a smile "thank you, Twilight."

"It's fine, I'll see you then."

Rarity looked at her one more time before leaving the house and walking through town. It was a beautiful day, the weather so warm and calm and she stopped when she saw Pinkie coming her direction, smiling nervously as the pink pony caught a sight of her back and the two greeted each other awkwardly.

"Hello Pinkie, how are you?"

"Me, oh I'm fine." The pink mare said indifferent really to the question but smiled a little bigger as she added, "Actually… things have been pretty good."

"Why's that?"

"I've been seeing someone recently… and I feel like things are starting to look up,"

"Oh that's wonderful darling, who is it?"

"Lyra…" Pinkie said with a nervous grin and Rarity blinked her eyes a little worried.

"Well I hope you're taking it slow."

"We are, but I do want to tell others."

"Just be careful this time, Pinkie," Rarity said quietly with a little worry, "I just don't want you to be rushing into things and then getting heart broken."

Pinkie looked at her slowly when she heard this… she knew ponies were always a little more cautious around her, like she was a loose cannon and it made her feel angry that even her friends couldn't treat her like a competent pony.

"I'm not as stupid as I used to be, Rarity. I will be careful this time."

"Thank you," Rarity said with a soft voice and added a little unsure, "Will I be seeing you at my dinner?"

"Yeah, I'll be there," Pinkie said with a reassuring smile, "did the other girls agree to come?"

"All I have to ask now is Applejack and Rainbowdash… though I know things might be hard on them with Granny Smith gone now."

"I'm sure they'll come." Pinkie said with a happy smile, "I have to head back to Sugarcube Corner, see you soon,"

"Yes, bye dear," Rarity said and waved her hoof as the pink pony left her. Her blue eyes turned in the direction of the country side as she smiled nervously for the ponies she was next to visit.

XXXXX

She knocked on the door awkwardly, and when it opened she saw a tired Big Mac.

"Oh hello, Big Mac… how has it been?"

"Different…" he muttered and she nodded her head.

"Again I'm so sorry for your loss," she said trying to be kind to this family and the red stallion just nodded his head.

"Thank ya Rarity… but at least she lived to a good age."

"Can I see Applejack and Rainbowdash?" she asked hopefully and he nodded again, letting her in and she walked into the kitchen where Applejack was flattening doe with a rolling pin, the white unicorn blinking her eyes startled.

"You're able to cook again?"

AJ just smiled as she turned to Rarity.

"Well, I'm tryin'"

"How has the family been?"

"Applebloom's been quiet, Big Mac a little out of it… I've been fine the last few days."

"I can't imagine how it feels."

"All pain is imaginable…" Applejack just said with a weak smile and put the rolling pin down as she looked at her, "So why ya here?"

"I'd like it if you and Raindbowdash could attend a dinner I'm having with the other girls on Friday, a get together for us all."

"Sure we can make it," Applejack said warmly and Rarity gleamed delighted,

"Oh that would be so nice… it's not too soon for you? You know, with the mourning period?"

"Granny Smith would want me to be happy not sad," Applejack said with a smile, "anyway, me and Rainbow have somethin' we have ta tell you girls."

"What?" Rarity asked enticed by the news.

"We'll see you on Friday," Applejack said with a small laugh and flipped the doe over to roll the other side, Rarity given her a confused look and prepared to leave adding,

"Seven o clock."

"Alright," Applejack agreed and watched as the unicorn left. She smiled, looking back down to the doe and continued rolling…

Things were changing, and this time it might be for the better.