You're Still the One I'm After (all these years)

chapter 7: the beginning of the end

A/N: hey guys! i just wanted to hop in and tell you that this chapter is like.. way longer than my normal chapters, and 10x heavier. get your tissues ready because it only gets angstier from here.

7 years ago

It had been a couple hours since the funeral.

The sun was just setting on the horizon despite the fact that the whole day had already seemed dark and gloomy.

It had rained during the funeral too- a fitting sentiment: even the sky had wept for them.

"Maybe we should just wait until the morning..." Fluttershy says softly, looking solemnly at the other three girls as they all stood on the porch of the Apple residence. "She might want some space.. Plus, the Apple family said that they didn't really want visitors right now."

Pinkie frowns, staring down at the container of the freshly baked cookies she'd made, "But Applejack loves the food I make for her. She always says that it makes her feel better."

"I say we knock anyways. We're her friends. We should be checking on how she's doing," Rainbow Dash asserts, about to walk forward and knock on the front door when Rarity stops her.

"No, Fluttershy's right. We shouldn't barge in while they're grieving," Rarity says, feeling hypocritical for contradicting Rainbow when she herself felt the exact same way. She watches as the rainbow haired girl grumbles underneath her breath. "We can check on her in the morning, alright?"

"Fine." Rainbow Dash concedes, and Pinkie seems to deflate. "But we show up here bright and early tomorrow morning. Applejack shouldn't be alone right now."

The rest of them nod, turning back and heading towards the exit of Sweet Apple Acres. Pinkie had climbed into Rainbow's car while Fluttershy said she wanted to take the scenic route back home.

On any other occasion, Rarity would have gotten into the car with her two friends, but tonight was different- and she felt so guilty for it.

"Rarity?" Fluttershy calls out softly after Pinkie and Rainbow take off with the vehicle. "Are you walking home too?"

"I.." Rarity trails off, making the mistake of glancing back at the Apple residence and giving away her ulterior motive. She wanted to go back. She was the one who suggested they all go home yet she was the one who wanted to go back. "I'm not sure."

Fluttershy seems to understand after a moment, her eyes lighting up in realization. But all she does is offer the purple haired girl a small smile. "You should go to her."

Rarity is taken aback. She knew Fluttershy wouldn't ridicule her for her hypocrisy, but encourage her to do so?

Almost as if Fluttershy had given her permission, Rarity nods. "Goodnight Fluttershy." 

"Goodnight Rarity."

The purple haired girl makes her way back to Applejack's front porch for the second time that evening, this time with a growing confidence. She knocks twice on the wood of the door and listens as the creaks of the staircase are audible from outside of the house.

The front door opens a few moments later, allowing Rarity to come face to face with Applejack.

The blonde seemed to have aged years in the span of the two weeks since her parents' death. Her eyes no longer had that childlike light in them, and she just looked.. tired.

"Did you need somethin', Rarity?"

Rarity paused, realizing that she never planned out an excuse to come check on Applejack since she'd already done so at the funeral a couple hours earlier. "I wanted to make sure you were alright."