//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1: I'm not okay 
// Story: Never Want to Feel Again 
// by HexaVeritais 
//------------------------------//

Applejack sighed, finished with her work for the day.
Harvesting season was going well for her, and she couldn't wait to meet with her friends later that day on their weekly commute.
She skipped away, feeling especially chipper. She chuckled when she thought about how much she must look like Pinkie Pie, skipping down the road to Twilight's house. She sighed and began walking normally.
When Applejack finally reached Twilight's house, Pinkie Pie opened the door for her.
"Hey, Pinkie! I was just thinking about you..." Her voice drifted off when she looked closer at Pinkie's worried expression. Pinkie Pie quickly explained to Applejack with a squeal.
"Rarity's missing!!" Pinkie Pie cried. Her voice reaching an incredibly high pitched whimper.
Applejack furrowed her brow. "Calm down, hun. She's been late to these meetings for a while." Applejack put a hoof on Pinkie Pie's shoulder and walked into Twilight's home.
The rest of the ponies were already sitting there. All of them looking panicked, just like Pinkie Pie. Applejack briefly sighed and sat down with them.
Twilight was tapping her hoof on the floor and flicking her eyes around impatiently. Fluttershy was whimpering and scooting in a square pattern on the floor. Rainbow Dash was pacing in a near-perfect circle with her wings spread angrily. Applejack felt out of place, sitting calmly on the floor. She searched her brain for something to say.
"Rarity's fine. She's jus' takin' time..." Applejack couldn't help but feel a small bit impatient herself, but she could wait.

About ten minutes later, a crash sounded from the door. Everypony immediately whipped their heads around. Applejack smiled as she stood up and walked over to the door. She opened it curiously and let out a happy sigh. She turned around and proudly showed the messy Rarity on the other side of the door. Pinkie Pie launched upwards and dashed over to Rarity to snatch a hug.
Rarity was spun around by Pinkie's attack. Her eyes remained glued on the far wall of Twilight's house. Her mane and tail we completely unstyled, and left nearly straight. She wore a simple necklace, with the pendant swung over her shoulder.
The other ponies gave her worried looks. Fluttershy walked up to her and put a hoof on Rarity's cheek.
"Are you okay, Rarity?"
Rarity continued gazing at the far wall. "Fine." she blurted, as she pushed Fluttershy's hoof down. Fluttershy gazed at her, confused. Rarity briskly shuffled to the other ponies in the circle.
"What are we going to talk about today?" Rarity said. She looked like a zombie, but noticed the odd looks from her friends. Her eyes lit up and she grinned. "Are we going to talk about something interesting? Or something boring again." Rarity's face looked as if she was perfectly happy, as if it wasn't forced. Her facial expression didn't match with her salty remark.
Applejack slowly trotted over to Rarity and sat down next to her. Twilight grew a hurt look on her face because of what Rarity said. Her head swung low. Rarity flicked her eyes over to Twilight, noticing the discomfort.
"Oh! Sorry? I understand I made you feel bad, wanna talk about it?" Rarity said hauntingly. Her eyes had only narrowed and her smile grown awkward. The inflection in her sentence was odd and made it sound like she was extremely forced to be happy. But it seemed out of place, like she was and wasn't okay.
Twilight looked up at her with worry. "Ehm, no. It's okay.. Thank you for the apology."
Applejack tried to look into her friend's eyes, but Rarity had a strange aura around her that was not friendly. Just some kind of feel she gave off that felt like invisible spikes. Applejack was oddly forced to look away from Rarity, quietly staring at the other ponies. Rarity continued to gaze at the wall behind Twilight, studying the books on the shelves. "Haha! Right! So, on with the meeting!" Rarity said.
Twilight scratched at the ground with her hoof awkwardly. "Actually, times up for the meeting.. We all have things to do now..." She looked up at the other unicorn apologetically.
"Oh! Okay!" Rarity stood up extremely quickly and walked out the still-open door. "Haha! Great meeting with you all!" Rarity said as she left in a sing-songy voice.
All of the other ponies looked confusedly around, some of them standing up to leave.
Applejack's brow furrowed and she was the first to run out the door after Rarity. "Rarity! Hold up!" Rarity spun around and looked at the earth pony.
"Yes? Hi! Hello!" she said as if it was a pre-recorded message.
Applejack slowed and tried to give Rarity a comforting look. "Sugarcube... Are you okay? Is there something you need to talk about?"
Rarity giggled. "I'm okay! Anything I need to talk about? Haha- No!"
Rarity danced away, singing some unharmonious tune. Applejack sighed and decided to leave Rarity alone, walking back to the orchard. She couldn't help but ponder what could've been wrong with the unicorn. Nevermind that! What an incredible act. Rarity seemed completely insane! Like a goddamn horror show! I'll visit her tomorrow. Applejack assured herself. She paused then continued thinking to herself. Wait, no! I signed up as a chaperone at Apple Bloom's school trip. Agh. I'll talk to Fluttershy and if she can do it.
Applejack reached her house and tried to calm herself and stop worrying about Rarity. The fashionista had acted strangely before, something like the episode today. So had Twilight under extreme stress. That's it! Rarity was very stressed, nothing more. Nonetheless, Applejack began writing a letter to Fluttershy to let her know that the pegasus ought to check on Rarity the next day. After finishing the letter, Applejack handed it to her brother.
"Can you get that down to the post office, Big Mac?" Applejack calmly asked.
"Eee-yup." the big red earth pony replied, taking the letter into his mouth. He trotted out the Apple's house.
Applejack watched him leave. She sighed and stood up to go find something helpful to do.

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