Somewhere

West Canterlot was it’s own miniature town. The buildings that touched the sky were apartments, businesses, offices, and even stores. One particular business Fluttershy remembered was Rarity’s Boutique. It wasn’t a boutique per se but more of a general store that sold anything from medicine to sodas. The only thing more interesting that the store’s variety of goods was the mare who ran the store. She was a snow white unicorn with a Indigo mane and eyes.She always kept her mane in a extraordinary fashion that made her even more out of place than she already was. She was probably the only unicorn who actually lived in West Canterlot. Why she was there, nobody knows for certain. All they knew was that she was here to stay. Miss Rarity, as she liked to be called, was one of the most kindest, benevolent ponies that Fluttershy had the pleasure of meeting. Her store was one of the few places that both Earth ponies and Pegasi could go without being discriminated.

After she came home from the dance, Fluttershy overheard Rainbow and a few of her friends talking about the pony she almost kissed. Apparently AJ worked at Rarity’s Boutique as a delivery pony. When Fluttershy asked her friend Flitter about AJ, she said that the mare used to be a leader in the gang of Earth ponies that was now led by Pinkie, but one day she left the group and but has still been seen around Pinkie. Fluttershy would have been lying if she said that she wasn’t a little disheartened by this fact. Could of what Rainbow said be true? Fluttershy remembered walking up the stairs to her apartment after the dance while Rainbow hovered close by.

***

“Fluttershy I don’t do this to ruin your evening.” Rainbow tried reasoning with the yellow pegasus. “I’m only doing what’s for you. I’ve been in this neighborhood a lot longer than you have and I’m telling you, those Earth ponies are nothing but bad news.”

Fluttershy seeing that there was no reasoning with the prism pegasus agreed defeatedly. “Yes, Rainbow,” she whispered. A look of disappointment spread across Fluttershy’s face as she looked away from Rainbow.

Feeling guilty Rainbow let a heavy sigh. “Hey, cheer up. I know this night has been a bit hectic but trust me. Once you learn the rules here, things will get easier. Get some sleep and I’ll see you in the morning.” Rainbow left her room, closed the door’s to Fluttershy’s room and exited her apartment.

The feeling of discouragement still hung in the air. It seemed now that the magical moment she shared with AJ was now nothing but fantasy. The ecstasy and bliss she felt from just being around the pony was gone leaving her in a cold and dismal state of disbelief.

Fluttershy slipped out of her dress, hung it up and got ready for bed. She walked over to the window to close it and draw the curtains, but immediately stopped in her tracks. There was a faint whisper in the distance.

“...fluttershy...”

Her heart skipped a beat. She quickly looked outside her window to see who it was. She saw nopony in the dark, wet alley that neighbored her apartment building.  The moon’s light reflected off the puddles that were collected in the crevices of the cobblestones that made up the street. Steam rose from the sewers creating a hazy atmosphere that was almost eerie. In the midst of the fog, the voice grew louder.

“...Fluttershy...”

Outside of her window were rusty iron staircases that were meant to be used incase of fires. She carefully stepped out of her window onto the metal platform. Looking around she still could not see whose voice it was. She walked onto a nearby catwalk that connected her building with the one next to it. Fluttershy looked over the railing to see a familiar pony trotting down the alley.

“...Fluttershy...”

Below was the orange mare, still in her suit from the dance. Fluttershy became ecstatic once more. Fluttershy beckoned the mare, “AJ” The golden maned mare quickly looked around searching for the voice. Fluttershy continued to call out to her. “Up here.”

AJ looked up to the catwalk to see the yellow pegasus. At that moment her emerald eyes glowed brighter than any star in the sky. Their eyes met just like they did when they first met at the dance. Fluttershy was once again overcome with emotion and expressed it with a smile. AJ smiled back and hollered, “Fluttershy!”

“Shhh!” Fluttershy quickly hushed AJ, “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you!”

“But how did you know where I live?”

“I asked around and a few ponies told me this where you lived.”

“But why are you here?” Fluttershy’s heart still had doubt. Rainbow’s words stuck with her causing her to be cautious. Still, seeing the mare once again brought back the feelings from the gym. She wanted to believe that they were real but the weight of cold reality kept her from doing so.

“I told you! I wanted to see you.” replied the mare on the ground.

“AJ, please, If you don’t be quiet somepony might hear us. If Rainbow were to know...”

“Let her know! I have no problem with her. Nothing is going to stop me from seeing you.”

‘There’s only one thing they want from a Pegasus!’ again those words resonated within Fluttershy’s soul. The words stung like venom. Deep down inside she didn’t want to believe anybody could be so mean spirited, but in the end she just didn’t know.

“Fluttershy, please, come down, just for a minute. I want to talk with you.”

Fluttershy sighed. ‘This mare is persistent’ she thought. ‘Why does she want to talk to me so desperately? Why me? I’m nothing special. Why isn’t she afraid of being ridiculed? Isn't she afraid her friends would ostracize and shun her if they found out? In the end the situation did not make any sense and it wasn’t going if something didn’t give. She decided to give AJ a chance. “But a minute is not enough.” she answered.

“Then an hour!” AJ shouted back. “As long as it takes.”

“Does it have to be now? It is very late” Fluttershy tried not to make it sound like she was making up excuses, but the fact of the matter was AJ that was an Earth pony in “Pegasi Territory”. If she were seen...she didn’t even want to think about what might happen.

The Earth pony kept pursuing  “Yes it does! And I won’t leave until you say yes!”

It seemed that the Fluttershy had no choice but to grant what the mare wanted. She still didn’t know why she was really here and why she was so persistent. As much as she didn’t like to think about it, perhaps Rainbow was right about this Earth pony. Still, what if the Earth pony was sincere? She wouldn’t want to hurt her feelings. She decided that the best thing to do is just to give her a chance. If Rainbow was telling truth then she could easily see through her facade. “I can’t come down, if somepony notices I’m gone....”

“Then I’ll come up!” AJ interrupted. She suddenly galloped towards the bottom of the staircase and began climbing it. Each time she put her hooves down, a clank echoed in the night air. This frightened Fluttershy.

“AJ! Not so loud!” the pegasus cried as she rushed towards the orange mare. “My parents are asleep next door and if they hear you...”

“Flutters!” At the moment a new voice appeared in the night air. It froze Fluttershy in her tracks and stopped AJ from climbing the stairs any further. “Flutters. What are you doing outside?”

The tension in the air increased tenfold. AJ stood perfectly still on the stairs. Fluttershy knew whose voice it was. It was her mother’s; then meant that her father was still asleep, or else it would have been him would called out. Fluttershy walked over to the window and gestured towards AJ to remain silent. “I’m just talking with.... uh...a friend that I met at the dance.”

“Talk to them tomorrow. It’s late, you should be in bed.”

“Okay mom, I’ll go back to bed soon.”

“Alright then good night, my little Flutters.” Both mares waited in silence on the platform making sure that Fluttershy’s parents went back to sleep. Once they knew that the coast was clear, AJ broke the silence.

“‘Flutters’?”

Fluttershy blushed in embarrassment. “That’s my mother’s pet name for me.”

AJ chuckled lightly. “I like it.”

Silence took over the moment for a brief second until Fluttershy asked, “So what is that you wanted to talk about?” Fluttershy tried her best to not sound aggressive, but she couldn’t help but sound a bit pushy. But it seemed to not bother the Earth pony.

“I wanted to talk about what happened at the dance.”

Fluttershy sighed. “I’m sorry about what happened.” She was afraid that this topic would come up. It had been a total mess of an evening that almost ended with the fight.  “I’m sorry that I almost got you beat up by Rainbow and I’m sorry that I almost ki-”

AJ put her hoof gently on Fluttershy’s lips.”There’s nothing to be sorry about, Sugarcube. Although...” AJ chuckled, “I think kissing you might have been jumping the gun a little.”

Fluttershy couldn’t help but giggle as well. “Maybe a little.” Both mares continued to give small laughs that quickly decayed into the night air and once again silence cut in between them. AJ and Fluttershy sat down on the metal platform trying to get comfortable. After a few seconds of silence Fluttershy couldn’t help but notice that AJ’s demeanor had changed. Before she seemed confident, and strong, but now she looked as timid as she was. AJ kept looking away from Fluttershy not uttering a word. She kept taking quick glances at her but darted away. It was hard to notice but Fluttershy could see that she was blushing. ‘There must be something more on her mind’ Fluttershy thought. “So is that all you came to say? That we shouldn’t be sorry for what happened at the dance?”

AJ bit her lip. It looked like she was struggling with in, trying to find the right words or phrase. “Not exactly.” she finally managed to utter. Her tone was a bit dry but still quivered in the night air.

Fluttershy blinked in confusion. “Then what else do you want to talk about?”

Again there was that moment of hesitation. The look on her face was a mixture of panic and anxiety, one that Fluttershy knew too well. AJ finally sighed . The look on her face looked as if she was defeated. “I don’t know if I can say it.”

“Well then why did you want to talk?” Fluttershy grew more and more confused by the second. The mare who so desperately wanted to talk to her now had nothing to say.  ‘What is going on ?’ she thought.

“I thought I had the courage to talk about it, but I guess I was wrong.” Her voice was forlorning and sad. She slowly got up from the platform and stood up. “I’m sorry for wasting your time, Fluttershy.” She slowly made her way to the stairs to climb down. There was a tint of sadness in her voice. Fluttershy stayed silent as she saw the mare began to climb down, but as that happened a new battle took place inside Fluttershy’s heart.  A part of her heart was kind of glad that it was now over and now she could go back to her normal life, but another part clinged on to that sadness in AJ voice. ‘There’s something she ‘s not telling me.’ Fluttershy thought. Somethin deep inside compelled her to stop the mare. “AJ wait!” The mare stopped where she was and turned around and faced Fluttershy. “I know that you are keeping something hidden from me.”

AJ  had a guilty frown on her face.  “It’s not something easy to talk about.”

“Nothing that is worth doing is easy.” Fluttershy tried to comfort the mare. Even though she only met her for a little while, she could tell that she was strong pony. This was probably a rare moment to see her in such a vulnerable state. Especially if she was former leader of a gang.

It looked like the mare was deep in thought. After a few seconds she answered. “Alright. I’ll tell you.” AJ climbed back up the stairs and sat next to Fluttershy. The orange mare was still hesitant to speak. It seemed like she was trying to get her thoughts together, trying to make put them together in the best way. She closed her eyes as if it would make delivering the news much easier. “Fluttershy, I think I......I might be in love with you.”

The phrase hit Fluttershy like cold gust of wind. She was stunned and baffled. ‘She’s..in love with me? How could she love me? They only had just met earlier tonight.’ Fluttershy’s mind was flushed with hundreds of questions. ‘Was she serious or was what Rainbow had said at the Gym true after all?’ Fluttershy thought back to that moment. ‘There’s only one thing they want from a Pegasus!’ Rainbow’s words bounced around in her head. In her heart the pain of doubt returned. She hardly knew this mare and AJ hardly knew anything about Fluttershy, yet that did nothing to stop her from admitting her feelings. Fluttershy tried to answer her but all that she managed to say incoherent jabber. “AJ....I...uh...”

The mare in question continued. “I should probably explain myself.” AJ still had her eyes close; probably so she would not see Fluttershy’s reaction. She took a deep breath in and exhaled. “It all started with a dream. For the past month I had the same dream every night. I’m surrounded by darkness and there’s this... feeling. I find myself reaching out into emptiness, only that feeling is telling me that there’s something out there, something special, a miracle, but I couldn’t see anything. I would then wake up in a cold sweat, panting as if I had a nightmare.” AJ paused again and let out a sigh. “Up until this day I never knew what that dream meant. That is, until I saw you.” She opened her eyes and turned towards Fluttershy, gazing directly into her eyes. “When I first saw you at the dance, that same feeling took over and once again I felt as if I was grasping into the darkness. Only now I knew what I was reaching out for. You, Fluttershy, are my miracle. That something so beautiful, so pure could blossom in a place like this. I never believed in love at first sight, but when I saw you...”

AJ noticed that Fluttershy’s expression was that of disbelief and delusion. Realizing what she had said, she backed off and apologized. “I’m sorry Fluttershy, I shouldn’t be saying all this. You’re probably overwhelmed by this.”

It was true that Fluttershy was overwhelmed by this but there was one thing that she said that stood out the most. She called her beautiful. ‘Beautiful’ The word echoed in Fluttershy’s ears. It was a symphony of syllables; each one a glorious bell that rang in the night. The pegasus had been called pretty and cute but never beautiful. It was a simple word yet it meant so much coming from AJ. Why did she feel this way? It was as if all the doubts that clouded her mind suddenly vanished. Her heart raced just like it did at the dance and that feeling of peace and warmth overcame her once more. All rationale in her mind told her she shouldn’t be feeling this over a silly little word, yet her heart said otherwise.  She hardly knew this mare yet for some reason it didn’t matter anymore. It was only yesterday that Fluttershy felt that the world was this wide open space waiting to be explored and discovered, but now the world was here on a balcony with AJ. Despite it all, she wasn’t sure if this was love or something else. She felt compelled to give AJ an answer.

“AJ”, the yellow pegasus started. AJ turned to face her. Fluttershy looked down at the platform, collecting her thoughts. Like AJ there was a moment of delay. Fluttershy knew this wasn’t a subject to take lightly. She needed to be precise and accurate with her words or she may hurt the mare. “when I met you at the dance, I experienced something that has never happened to me before.” She thought back to the dance. When she first laid eyes on AJ, a warmth overtook her. It was as if feeling a summer breeze in a green pasture. The only word that fit what she felt at that moment was happiness. But was it something more? Maybe. But like everything else that night, she wasn’t sure. But whether it was love or not, it was something she craved. “I don’t know what to call it. I don’t know if it is ‘love’ or something else. All I know is that when I’m around you I feel as if I am seeing sunlight for the first time and I don’t ever want to lose that feeling. I can’t give you answer you want but I can give you this.” Fluttershy leaned over to AJ and gave her small kiss on her cheek. AJ eyes widened and a blush spread all over her face. On her face was a mixture of disbelief and joy. Fluttershy smiled. “I still want to be with you.”

AJ wrapped her hooves around Fluttershy and brought her in for a hug. Fluttershy returned the favor and put her hooves around her. “Thank you, Fluttershy.” AJ’s voice still quivered, only this time from joy. “You have no idea how much it means to me to hear you say that.” AJ let go of Fluttershy. “I promise to you Fluttershy, you won’t regret this. I’m sure once I meet your family and friends and I’m sure they’ll-” AJ didn’t finish her sentence. As she was talking she saw that Fluttershy’s expression grew into one of worry and uneasiness. Fluttershy didn’t need to say anything, AJ already knew what was on her mind. She let out a heavy sigh.

AJ put her hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder. “Fluttershy, please. I’m not one of them.” Her voice burned with compassion and desperation. “I mean, yes, I used to be part of Pinkie’s gang but I moved on. I don’t care about this crummy neighborhood anymore or who claims it as their own. All that I care about now is you.”

“But I’m not one of you. And you not one of us.”

“It doesn’t matter me. To me, you’re just Fluttershy; my miracle.”

Fluttershy’s heart was torn between a reason and passion. It was true that she didn’t care that AJ was an Earth pony for she only saw her and her only. But she knew that everything around them was going to do everything could to stop them from being together. It seemed like an impossible fantasy and a dangerous one at that. She wasn’t concerned for her own safety. If anyone were to find out, nothing would happen to her. If anything she would probably get a stern talking to by Rainbow and be locked in her room for a few months. No she was worried about what might happen to AJ. She couldn’t bear the thought of her getting hurt or worse. “I’m sorry AJ, but I can’t. Now is not the time for us. But someday, we can truly be together. I just know it. We just have to believe.”

“Believe me, Fluttershy, our time will come soon. I just know it.”

“Until that day, I will wait for you.”

AJ smiled warmly and Fluttershy smiled back. After a brief moment of silence. Fluttershy spoke up. “It’s getting late. I really must go.”

AJ responded quickly with a hint of worry in her tone. “But when will I see you again?”

“We can meet again tomorrow. I work at the bridal shop across the street. Be there at closing time and I will let you in.”

AJ came closer to Fluttershy and whispered. “Until tomorrow.” She then leaned in and kissed Fluttershy on the forehead. “Goodnight Fluttershy.” A tint of red spread across Fluttershy’s face. Her forehead burned lightly where AJ had kissed her. It made her body feel warm in the chilly night air.

AJ had begun to descend the stairs when Fluttershy quickly walked over to the edge of the staircase and called out to the Earth pony. “AJ!” The mare in question turned her head to face her. “What does ‘AJ’ stand for?” Fluttershy asked.

AJ smiled wholeheartedly it was a question she had not heard in a while. She answered gaily. “Applejack.”

“Goodnight, Applejack.”

AJ  grinned and turned back to descend the stairs and headed down the alley. Fluttershy watched her disappear into the haze of the night. She was by herself once again but she didn’t feel alone. She let out a dreamy sigh, crawled through her window and went to bed; dreaming of what was to come tomorrow.

***

Fluttershy’s shadow grew as the sun rose above the buildings of West Canterlot. It would not be too long before she would reach the train station to visit her special friend.

As she continued to walk the empty street, Fluttershy came across her old apartment building. Time had seemed to have skipped over  it. It had not changed a single bit since the day she moved out. The brick building glowed with a bright orange red glow. All the windows had drawn curtains, either ponies still sleeping or trying to hide from the sun’s bright glow.  Fluttershy turned her head to see the old bridal shop across the street. The shop was once owned by Madame Couture, a frail white pegasus who had an innate sense when it came to dresses. When Fluttershy moved from Cloudsdale she needed to find a job to start making a living for herself. With a recommendation from Flitter, Fluttershy was hired and began working at the shop full time mainly working with finances and stocking the store.

The shop was now closed permanently. When Madame Couture died, she had no family to leave the store with and no one offered to take over. Eventually it closed and all the pegasi that worked there left and searched for new jobs. It indeed was a sad day, but not as sad as that day.

Fluttershy couldn’t help but walkover to one of the store’s windows and look inside. She didn’t know what to expect when she peered inside. The shop had been abandoned for quite some time and was now home to rodents or bugs. As she glanced inside she saw the old display room. It had once housed hundreds of dresses and tuxedos waiting for customers to walk in a buy them. But there was left now was dust and cobwebs; nothing more than a grey memory.

***

“I’ll close up the shop tonight Flitter, you go on a ahead.”

“I can’t let you do that Fluttershy,” Flitter responded, “I’ll close up the shop.”

“That’s alright, I have some work that needs to be done.”

“Then finish tomorrow. There’s no point in getting ahead in a shop like this...”

At that moment a bell rang indicating that somepony opened the front door to the shop. Flitter and Fluttershy turned around to see a particular orange mare standing in the doorway. ‘Oh, no’ Fluttershy thought. ‘This is bad! I thought I told her to wait for me outside! Flitter knows who AJ is and that means she’ll...” As Fluttershy expected Flitter automatically recognized the pony. But to the yellow pegasus’s surprise Flitter didn’t shout at her or told her to leave. All she did was frown, walk over to AJ and stated calmly. “I’m sorry, Miss. The shop is closed for the day. Please come back tomorrow.”

“I..uh...” AJ was at a loss of words. She didn’t expect anyone to still be in the store when she arrived. “I’m actually here for...”

“She’s here to deliver something for me.” Fluttershy interrupted. ‘This isn’t good,’ she panicked. ‘If Flitter notices anything she might tell Rainbow.’ “She came to drop off some...uh... aspirin!

“Aspirin?” Flitter asked in a deadpan tone.

“Yes, it’s from Rarity’s Boutique. So...It’s... suppose to help migraines!” Fluttershy tried to hide the anxiety in her voice but it was obvious that Flitter knew that there was something more going on. Flitter looked back at the Earth pony and noticed she had no saddle bags. It was clear Fluttershy was lying, but for some odd reason she decided not to bring it to light. She looked back at Fluttershy with a look of annoyance in her eyes, and huffed, “Fine, you can lock up.” Flitter headed towards the door walking past AJ. “But you better be home in 15 minutes.”  Flitter walked out the store leaving the two ponies alone. There was a moment a silence until AJ decided to break the tension.

“She seems...nice.”

Fluttershy walked over to the door to lock it and pulled the blinds down to make sure no one would see them. She walked over to AJ and took a deep breath and exhaled. She wasn’t going to ask why she didn’t wait outside like she asked; giving away their little secret. No. There was a much more important matter at hand. “Why didn’t you tell me about the fight?”

The question came out of nowhere and threw AJ off a little. Fluttershy stared into her eyes with an expression that was a mix of worry and disappointment.

“Well, I uh...” AJ tried to avoid question but failed miserably. “Where did you even hear about the fight?”

The lack of answer upset the pegasus further. After hearing the news, Fluttershy felt hurt and betrayed. She needed reassurance for her heart. “Before she left, Flitter told me about how Rainbow met with the Earth ponies at Rarity’s to set up a fight. She said that you were there with the rest of those Earth ponies. Are you going to fight with those brutes?

“No I’m not!” AJ protested.

“But If you weren’t there to fight then why were you there? Please answer me, AJ. Please tell me you aren’t one of them.”

“Fluttershy, I already told you I’m not one of them. I haven’t lied to you before and I am not going to start now.” The mare’s words soothed the pegasus lessening her stress. But the important question still remained.

“But why were you there in the first place?”

AJ stepped back from Fluttershy and tried to explain everything in calm collective manner. “Before the dance, Pinkie came to me at Rarity’s to ask me to help in a “war council” to set up a fight to end this rivalry once and for all. I told her I didn’t want have anything to do with it, but she convinced me to just attend the council and promised that I wouldn’t  be involved in anyway. I really didn’t care if they beat each other senseless at first but when I met you at the dance and found out that you were Rainbow’s friend, I couldn’t bare the thought of you being devastated by anything that might happen. So I went to go meet up with Pinkie and the gang at Rarity’s, but the pegasi were already there. They were already arguing about what they were going to use in the fight. They named everything from guns to knives. I jumped in and told them how they were all chickens for thinking of using things as cowardly as weapons. I told them if they were going to settle things once and for all, it should be done with their own hooves. They both accepted and decided it should be a 2 on 2 fight a week from now. Pinkie and Caramel versus Rainbow and Thunderlane. A fair fight.”

Fluttershy’s anxiety did not settle. “AJ, any fight, fair or not, isn’t good for us. If something ends in violence then it will never end at all. If you want our time to come the please promise me that you’ll stop the fight.” Fluttershy put her hoof on AJ’s shoulder. “Please. For us?”

AJ paused for moment but then answered. “Of course. Anything for you.”

The timid pegasus let out a sigh of relief and her calm and serene composure returned. “Thank you Applejack.” She leaned in and gave AJ a soft hug, in which the Earth pony returned. The held each other in their warm embrace for a what seemed like forever. Their heart beats seemed to subside and became one continuous pulse. AJ didn’t want break the peace but there was something on her mind that interest her.

“Say, how did you know I worked at Rarity’s?” AJ asked in a joking manner.

“Oh well,” Fluttershy blushed a little. “I was kind of eavesdropping on Rainbow and Flitter last night. They were talking about you and Flitter mentioned that you worked at Rarity’s Boutique. I’m sorry, I didn’t want to seem so nosy.”

“It’s okay Sugarcube.” AJ answered while gently stroking Fluttershy’s mane.

Fluttershy let of go of AJ. “Do you want something to drink or...?”

“Water’s fine.”

“Okay then. There’s a couch in the next room, make yourself comfortable while I go get your drink.” Fluttershy made her way to the kitchen where the workers heated up their meals for lunch and sometimes, on those all nighter projects, dinner. Fluttershy got a mug from the cupboard, put under the faucet and began to fill it up. As she did this, Fluttershy couldn’t help but wonder. ‘I’m almost certain Flitter would have caused a scene or told her to go away. Why didn’t she say anything? Was she going to tell Rainbow after all?’ Fluttershy soon realized that the mug of water was overflowing. She took out of from under the faucet and dried it off with a towel and walked towards the other room. As she entered, she saw AJ looking around at the various dresses and tuxedos. This was also the first time she noticed what AJ was wearing. The tension caused by earlier made her miss something peculiar about the pony: she was wearing a Stetson.  It was a type of hat that she normally did not see in the city. She didn’t wear it at the dance, and only had her mane in a ponytail. She was wearing the ponytail today as well but like the Stetson, it seemed out of place.

Fluttershy walked over to that couch that AJ was sitting on and handed her the mug of water. AJ grabbed graciously. “Thank you, Sugarcube.”

“It’s nothing.” Fluttershy hesitated to ask her question but finally mustered up the courage. “If you don’t mind me asking. Why do you have your mane in a ponytail and why do you wear that hat?”

“Oh this old thing?” AJ took off her hat and held in her hooves. “It’s actually my pa’s. He gave it to me before he passed on.”

Fluttershy was shocked by the answer. “I’m so sorry! I had no idea.”

“It’s alright. It happened a long time ago. As for the ponytail, it’s just the style that I had growing up. I didn’t see any use of changing it. Plus I always liked it. It keeps the hair out of my eyes. Honestly, I don’t know how you put up with it.” AJ jabbed Fluttershy jokingly in which Fluttershy let out a quiet giggle. Fluttershy’s pink mane was always long and often hung in front of her eyesight. Most of the time you could only see one of her eyes peeking out from under her mane.

“It’s not so bad; once you get used to it.”

“Well you don’t have time like that when you are working on a farm.”

The last word confused the pegasus. “Farm? The nearest Farm isn’t for a hundred miles of here.”

“Oh, well, you see I can explain that.” AJ put her hat back on her head and continued. “I’m not actually from Canterlot. I was born in Ponyville but moved to Canterlot when I was 6 or 7. I can’t quite remember. It was around the time my pa died. We couldn’t maintain our apple orchard with him gone. So we had to sell it and move somewhere else.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. But atleast we have that in common. I’m not from Canterlot either. My family is originally from Cloudsdale. Both my parents worked at the Weather Factory but got fired. So like you, we moved to Canterlot in search of a better life.”

AJ snorted. “Some life, huh?” Her tone oozed with sarcasm. “You get treated lower than dirt here and the police always assume you’re up to no good  and constantly harass you. The only person that has shown me an ounce of respect is Ms. Rarity. I don’t know where I’d be without her and her hospitality. Probably still running around the streets with Pinkie.”

“Why did you ever hung around Pinkie?” Fluttershy immediately after realizing what she said clamped her mouth shut with her hooves and muttered frantically. “Oh, sorry. I shouldn’t be asking questions like that.”

“It’s okay” AJ replied trying to calm down Fluttershy. “You don’t have to apologize for your curiosity.” Fluttershy eased up a little. “As for your question, well, when I moved from Ponyville, I was awfully lonely. My big brother was off working most of the time and my little sister was still a foal. I had no one to play with or talk too. I would spend my days just staying at the park, playing in the sand alone. That’s until I met Pinkie. She was so bright and full of energy. The first time I met her she made me smile with a little song and dance. We’ve been best friends ever since. That is until she got awfully mad when the Pegasi began to move in. I don’t know why but one day she changed. She wasn’t the same sweet filly that I knew and loved. I heard from someone else that a Pegasi jumped her and beat her up. I don’t know if that is true or not, but all I know now is she wants nothing more but to dedicate her time trying to pick fights with Pegasi.” AJ sighed. “I just wish things could go back to the way they were. Those carefree days just playing on the playground, or playing catch. But when Pinkie formed that gang of Earth ponies, I felt I had no choice but to join her. I couldn’t abandon my friend.”

“Then why did you leave her and the gang?”

AJ inhaled and exhaled through her nose. “I didn’t leave Pinkie, I just left the gang. She is still my best friend. Nothing is ever going to change that. But one day I just couldn’t go through the routines anymore. I hated being part of that gang. I didn’t care if Pegasi were moving in but I had to pretend to so that Pinkie would be happy. Spending years running away from or running towards Pegasi just got old. When I was younger there was a bit of spark to it but one day, I just grew up and told Pinkie I was done. I looked for a job and was hired by Ms. Rarity. I still hope one day that Pinkie will grow up too and start to live a peaceful and happy life.”

Fluttershy understood where AJ was coming from. Ever since she moved into the neighborhood, Rainbow would spend hours talking about how she hated the Earth ponies and would tell stories about how they ambushed one in an alley or kicked the tail of another in the lot. Like AJ, she had no interest in these quarrels but feigned interest for the sake of her friend. “I hope Rainbow does as well. I can’t stand to see her like this. Back in Cloudsdale she was such a nice filly. She was still had a bit of temper but she wouldn’t pick fights with anypony. It pains me to see her like this. It seems like the only drive she has nowadays is fighting Earth ponies.”

A smirked appeared on AJ face. “I guess we aren’t so different after all. One from the ground and the other from the sky. Brought together by a rivalry. Life is funny sometimes. Isn’t”

“Yes it is.”

They sat in silence, enjoying each other’s company for a while, reflecting on what each other said. Fluttershy couldn’t help but think about Rainbow. She wondered what happened to her to make her hate Earth ponies so much. Was she attacked like Pinkie? If this whole mess started with someone attacking someone, who was to blame? The Pegasi or the Earth ponies? Could this all be settled if they just talked to each other just like how she and AJ just did? Once again the silence was broken by AJ

“As much as I hate it, I think it’s time for me to leave. I wouldn’t want your friend to be worried about you.”

“Are you sure?” Fluttershy asked, trying to get the mare to stay a little longer. “Flitter won’t mind if I was a few minutes late. She’s not like Rainbow.”

“No, I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble over me.” AJ winked at Fluttershy “Besides, we have all the time in the world, right? I'll see you tomorrow.”

Fluttershy couldn’t help but smile. “Alright then, Where can we meet again?"

AJ thought about it, "I can't ask you to meet at Rarity's Boutique. Someone might see us. And I can't meet you here either." AJ searched her mind of places where they possibly could not be seen together for their own safety. "The only place I can think of is the playground but even then someone might see us. Although it's pretty abandoned once the street lights come on."

"Well that doesn't sound too bad." Fluttershy commented. "I guess we can meet there."

"How does tonight sound?"

"It sounds lovely."

“Well then, consider it a date.” AJ trotted over to the door and opened it. “See you tonight, Fluttershy.”

“Goodbye, AJ.” Fluttershy responded and with that the orange mare walked out of the store. Fluttershy flew into the air in a fit of happiness. She trusted AJ fully that she would stop the fight when it came. With that Rainbow and Pinkie would stop fighting each other, and finally there could be peace between the two groups. Most importantly, she could see AJ without fear of Rainbow finding out. There was no reason for her to feel anxious or worried now that it seemed all their problems were going to be solved. It could only get better from here.

***

Fluttershy broke out of her trance. She didn’t realize she had been staring into the store’s window for so long. It was sad to see the store in such disarray. It could have been so much more, if only it had the proper care and attention.It almost brought a tear to Fluttershy’s eyes seeing it in such a condition.  It didn’t have to shut down. The store when Fluttershy arrived was still relatively new. It was so lively in the shop and it had so much potential: to become something greater than it already was. But in the end it wasn’t the store’s fault that it was now closed. The city just wasn’t the right place for it to bloom. The store waited for it’s time to come but when Madame Couture died, the store realized that it’s dream was now an impossible fantasy; fading into the dusts of time. Such a sad sight indeed. Fluttershy made her way away back onto the street and continued walking towards the train station. Her friend was waiting for her.