-That Lingering Feeling
I can see it. I can see her face. The bright twinkle in her eyes when she laughs. The raspy twang in her voice as she talks. The dimples by her freckled cheeks. I can see it. I can see it all. It's such a shame it's only a mere memory. Everything else has been consumed by this life that I am still living. My old weary body can no longer stand to move and yet, I am still here, breathing the very air that left her lungs many years ago. What is this life? What is this life?
I look down from the picture frame that my eyes stare into every night before resting. The floorboards are dreary and worn from all the pacing from my younger years as I always searched my mind for some sort of inspiration to craft into my designs. The manifestation of what was once my home is no more than a wasted space that Ponyville has still standing. There is no more need to this place other than a bed for me to lay in and a door for me to never open unless absolutely necessary. Other than that, my boutique is nothing than a dusty old building that once held so much ambition.
I don't have to stay here, that I know. With my money, I could travel Equestria. I could live anywhere my heart desires, or more like desired. My heart has no desire anymore. I have no desire. This is why I stay where I am. I feel content in this place. I want to die where she did. I want to be in the place where we met. I want to keep her memory alive. Her memory.
That is something I love but hate all at the same time. Memory...or better said....her memory.
I smiled as her face filled my mind once again. Oh that beautiful face. I can almost taste her sweet lips against my own again. If only I could feel those lips. If only I could touch her mane. If only I could embrace her strong body just one last time, then I would be satisfied. Then I could die with content. But I know when I die, the only thing that will be on my mind, is the bitter feeling of loneliness.
I miss her. I miss them. I miss everypony. And no matter how much I would love to see them, I just won't allow myself. Nothing will ever be the same without her there. I can't be with them if she isn't there as well. That is why I am here in the solitude of my home with nothing more than the voices in my head and the memory of my past friendships. Not even Opal is around anymore to keep me company. Oh, how I miss my Opal. Oh, how I miss my little sister who is now grown and married. Oh, how I miss my friends who are settled down like most old mares are. Oh, how I miss her. Oh....how I miss Applejack.
43 years ago
"I'm off!" Rarity shouted to her parents as she headed out the front door.
Her mother turned to her as she held her youngest daughter in her arms as she slept. She smiled at her eldest daughter as she waved.
"Be safe and don't go fooling around, you hear? I don't want to find you holding one of these for a long while..." Rarity's mother moved Sweetie Belle up a bit in Rarity's direction.
It took the young unicorn a moment, but she soon realized what her mother was impling. Rarity stuck out her tongue and scrunched her muzzle up at her mother in disgust.
"Oh, as if! I'm just going out with Fluttershy. You know how she is. It's not like we are going to go party." Rarity took a moment to fluff her mane as she waited for her mother to give her the go.
"I know, I'm only teasing you dearie. Have fun." She waved her hoof one last time and Rarity took this opportunity to rush out before her mother tried to stall any longer. Rarity knew that she said she wasn't going to party, but...well she couldn't be late for the party that she wasn't suppose to go to, but of course was going to anyways. With the accompaniment of her best friend, Fluttershy, Rarity knew her back side would be covered for her parents would never suspect her to go anywhere like a party with Fluttershy.
Fluttershy was like no other filly around. She was the same age as Rarity, but she was much taller and looked more mature. She was also fairly new to Ponyville and extremely shy, but Rarity liked to take this to her advantage at times to throw her friend into uncomfortable situations such as a big party. Not that Rarity was trying to be mean in anyway, she just wanted to try to help Fluttershy out by "breaking her shell". Though, so far she had realized that this shell of Fluttershy's was much stronger than she had first envisioned.
Rarity trotted down the street as she headed towards the outskirts of Ponyville. As mentioned before, Fluttershy was the same age as Rarity. Both of them were only seventeen, but Fluttershy lived by herself in a tiny shed next to the Everfree Forest. It was almost half a year ago that Fluttershy moved to Ponyville from Cloudsdale. Rarity was at first unsure of why she would have moved to such a tiny town from such a famous place, but as they got to know each other through the Ponyville spa, Rarity soon found out why Fluttershy would prefer Ponyville over Cloudsdale. Fluttershy's nature was tender and kind. She loved wildlife for some odd reason that Rarity still didn't know of, considering she was from Cloudsdale, yet Fluttershy still found herself closely familiar with all the woodland creatures of the land. Rarity had never thought to ask, and she wasn't too curious anyway.
Fluttershy and Rarity were almost polar opposites with really only one thing in common: they both enjoyed each others company, and with that being all they had that brought them together as friends, it was good enough for them both. They were both fairly beautiful mares for their age and the two looked like a shining adult couple that any two ponies would fawn over, but in all actuality, they were just a perfect pair for each other. Neither of the two found any romantic feelings for the other, and they never thought of such things anyways. Rarity was more independent than anything, and to have any sort of crush that would put her in the situation of romantic weakness would just go against everything she believed in as a young, basically feminist, mare. She found power in helping herself and she liked it that way. All the relationship she needed was friendship. To her, the two were completely different and not related in anyway. A relationship would make her dependent and weak, but friendship gave her a bond that empowered her further, that is how she felt at her young age and that is how she liked it.
Rarity hummed a soft tune as she closely approached the home of her friend. She was quite pleased to see the yellow pegasus was already waiting for her on the front steps of her tiny home.
"Oh, Rarity, you look wonderful." Fluttershy greeted as Rarity stood in front of her.
The unicorn fluffed her mane again and smiled with content at the compliment. She was never shy of compliments.
"Darling thank you. You look great yourself." Rarity returned the favor and waved for her friend to approach.
Fluttershy walked over to her friend and the two turned on there way. The moon shined over the landscape as the cool breeze wisped by the duo. Rarity's heart was thumping with glee as they were now on there way to the biggest annual party of Ponyville. It was also pumping with anxiety due to the fact that she was well aware that Fluttershy had no idea where they were heading this evening. Rarity thought that Fluttershy assumed they were going to the spa as they would sometimes do during the afternoon for the nightly specials, but of course Rarity let her think whatever it was she was thinking, because if Fluttershy had any earthly idea that they were going to a big party, she would turn down immediately and head back home. Rarity couldn't have that at all. She needed Fluttershy's company. Without Fluttershy, it wouldn't be as fun, and she needed to have fun. She just needed to. She hadn't had fun ever before at this very party. This was the first year she was going to make it her night.
She already felt the ground shaking from the bass coming from Sugarcube Corner. She clenched her teeth and slyly looked over at her oblivious friend.
"Oh dear. What is that?" Fluttershy felt the vibrations herself as they came closer to the sight of the party.
"Ehem. That is music dear..." Rarity smiled as they were now in front of the sweet shop where the party was being held.
"Maybe someponies birthday?" Fluttershy looked away and headed towards the spa. Rarity quickly grabbed her friends flank and steered her back into the direction of the party.
"This way, Fluttershy." Rarity grinned as she pushed her friend though the doors.
"Wait...I thought...oh dear....Rarity..." Fluttershy's eyes grew wide as they walked in. Lights flashed. Music blaired. The ground shook as ponies danced. Fluttershy's heart dropped with the sudden change of atmosphere.
"It's the annual Ponyville Party Ponetastic Ponanza!" Rarity said with slight uncertainty. The name always got her every time as she stumbled over all the repeated "P's". The party pony, Pinkie Pie named it since she was the inventor of this grand party that ponies from all over town attended every year.
"Annual...party...oh dear..." Fluttershy was still withdrawn by all the flashing colors and ground shaking beats. She turned to her left to see a pony chugging down a gallon of what seemed to be cider. To her right was a few dancers with glowsticks. The back corner was surrounded by smoke and coughing smokers. In the opposite corner was a DJ pony. And right in front of her suddenly was a pink poofy mane and a huge smiling face.
"Hiya!!!"
Rarity waved away Pinkie's greeting as she grabbed Fluttershy and brought her over to the food table.
"Are you going to be okay? I didn't tell you and I'm sorry. I wanted it to be a surprise. I want us to have fun." Rarity grabbed Fluttershy's hooves and smiled sincerely.
It took a few moments, but Fluttershy finally nodded her head and returned the smile.
"It's okay. I will make sure you have fun."
"We will have fun together!" Rarity clopped her hooves together and picked up a red plastic cup.
"Let's party!" She raised her cup and then drunk down the contents.
Let's just say, it wasn't cider.