Homeless Sunset Shimmer pt. 14 (final)

>You turn the corner into the living room.
>You see Applejack sitting on the couch, looking sad.
>Poor thing.
>Welp, here goes.
"Applejack?"
>She turns to you and puts on the best smile she can.
>"Howdy, Anon!"
>You'll give her an "A" for effort, but you can see right through that fake smile.
"Can we talk for a sec?"
>"Sure thing! Pop a squat!"
>She pats the space available next to her.
>You grin and sit down.
>"So what's up, Sugarcube?"
>You exhale and look at her.
"Well, um... Sunset and I were talking, and apparently, Rarity told her some stuff... About you."
>Her fake smile fades.
>"...Like what kind of stuff?
>Oh this is so awkward.
>You try to think of th best way to put it.
>Now Anon, look who you're dealing with here.
>Just be honest. Come right out and say it.
"I know about your feelings for me."

>Her eyes widen and her cheeks go bright red.
>"Uh..."
>She twiddles her thumbs and looks down.
>You can see the gears in her mind turn as she desperately tries to search for something to say.
>She gives a nervous laugh and covers her mouth.
>"I- I don't know wh- what you're talkin' about... Ha! That Rarity! Such a kidder, am I right?!"
>Bullshit.
"You're a terrible liar, you know that right?"
>She laughs harder and stands up.
>"Lie?! What?! Haha! Anon, come on! I- I ain't lyin'! I'm j- just-"
"Applejack..."
>She stammers for a few more seconds before sighing and sitting back down.
>"Alright, fine... You got me..."
>She takes her hat off and slouches down, resting her head in her hands.
>"Yes... I... I like you... A lot..."
>Now you feel bad.
>You stay there quiet and put a hand on her shoulder.
>"I have for years... Ever since I met you, pretty much... But I was too shy to say anythin'..."
>She chuckles a little.
>"Imagine that... Me, Applejack, bein' all shy 'n stuff..."
>You smile and rub her shoulder.
"Why didn't you try and get over me?"
>She doesn't say anything.
>"I, uh... I guess I just... Hoped that... One day... Maybe..."
>You hear her sniff.
>Poor girl.
>You put your arm around her and she leans against you.
>She sniffs again.
>"I just... I love you, Anon... I always have..."
"Oh, Applejack..."
>You rock her back and forth in your arms as she cries.

>Neither of you say anything.
>There's nothing you can say to her.
>You just hold your best friend close to you and let her cry.
>It's all you can do.
>"I'm so sorry..."
"No, I'm sorry."
>She sniffs again and looks up at you.
>Her eyes are red and her cheeks are wet with tears.
"I'm sorry I didn't see it sooner... Looking back, it was all so obvious... I should've known, or at least had a hunch, but I didn't..."
>Her lip quivers and she looks down.
"Believe me, if I had known sooner, I would've said something... I hate seeing you like this..."
>You stay silent another moment and raise her chin up, making her look at you.
"You mean too damn much to me, Applejack. You've been the greatest friend anyone could ask for. You're like a sister to me! I don't want this relationship we have to be ruined because I can't return your love."
>She sniffs again and nods.
>"Right... Y- You've got Sunset now..."
>She cries again and hugs you.
>"It hurts, Anon... It hurts so much seein' her with you... She kisses you and hugs you and everythin' and I just... Just-"
>She's now sobbing openly.
>You feel your shirt get wet from her tears, but you don't do anything.
>You softly rub her hair and try to calm her down.
>"Sh- She has n- no idea... How lucky she is... To be with you..."
>You gently rock her back and forth and let her get it all out.
>Nothing can be said right now, all you do is sit and be there for her.
>You both stay there for a long time.

>After a few good minutes, she finally starts breathing slowly again.
>Her sobs have been reduced to sniffles.
>She slowly sits up and wipes some tears away.
>"S- Sorry... About your shirt..."
>You chuckle and shake your head.
"It's okay."
>She grins and sniffs again.
"I'm sorry I can't say that I love you too and mean it."
>She nods slowly, still looking sad.
"But I still love and cherish you as my best friend in the whole world... Nothing and no one will ever change that."
>She stays silent for another moment.
>"O- Okay... I still have that then..."
>You grin.
"And you always will."
>She smiles and hugs you again.
>"Thank you so much, Anonymous."
>You hug her back tight.
"You're more than welcome."
>You stay there hugging for a while.
>You notice some movement coming from the hallway and you look up to see Sunset standing there.
>The look on her face asks you if everything is okay.
>You smile and nod at her slowly.
>She smiles back and gives you a thumbs up before walking back behind the corner.
>Applejack sniffs and sits up again.
>"I just... Need to be strong, I guess..."
>You nod at her.
"You'll always be my friend though, and I'll always be there for you."
>She smiles.
>"Thank you, Anon."
>You smile back.
"You're welcome."
>You pick up her hat off the ground and give it to her.

>You stand up and take a deep breath.
>It's now that you hear the muffled sound of country music being played.
>Right, the hoedown.
"Are you going outside?"
>She shakes her head and wipes her nose, sniffling.
>"No... I kinda need to be alone for a bit."
"Okay."
>You smile and start to turn around.
"So, I guess I'll see you later then?"
>She smiles and nods.
>"Eeyup. See ya later, Sugarcube."
>You smile again and head back down the hallway.
>You take a deep breath and run a hand through your hair.
>You're tired, but you feel like a huge weight has been lifted off your shoulders.
>It feels good.

---

>You're pacing back and forth in your room.
>Anon's been talking to Applejack for a long time.
>It looked like everything was going okay though, so you aren't worried. You're just anxious.
>The door clicks and you turn around to see Anon walk inside.
>You smile at each other and he shuts the door behind him.
>"Oh man..."
>He sighs and sinks down to sit on the floor.
>You walk over and sit down in front of him, resting your chin on his knees.
"Everything okay?"
>He nods.
>"Yeah, all is well. She'll be fine."
"Good."
>You smile and sit down next to him.
>You rest your head on his shoulder and he kisses it before resting his head on yours.
>You grab his hand and hold it tight.
>You both stay quiet as he rubs your hand with his thumb.
>"Sorry this all happened... Here and now."
>You smile and squeeze his hand.
"It's okay."

>You keep yourself against him for another moment.
"Are you going to the dance thingy?"
>"I don't really want to now. I'm kinda tired."
>You nod.
>"Why? Did you want to go?"
"Well, I was planning on it earlier, but then this whole thing happened."
>"We can still go if you want."
"No that's okay."
>You smile at him and give him a kiss.
"I'd rather stay here and snuggle with you anyway."
>"Aww."
>He smiles and kisses you back.
>"Thanks, Sunny."
"You're welcome, Nonny."
>You cuddle against him again.
>...
"I am kinda hungry though."
>"Me too."
"Wanna just make an appearance? Go grab some food then come back up here and watch a movie or something?"
>"Good idea."
>You grin and both of you stand up.
>You walk out into the hallway with his hand in yours and head downstairs.
>You walk outside to see the backyard flooded with people dancing with their respective partners.
>The girl onstage finishes a song and the rest of the people cheer and applaud.
>"Thanks! Thank y'all very very much!"
>Anon gives you a little tug and points to the big table of food.
>"There's the good stuff."
>You look at the food and smile.
"Ooh! Pumpkin pie!"
>He grins and you both head over there.

>The girl onstage continues talking.
>"Now y'all, I know was well as you do that this wouldn't be no good shindig if'n we didn't have a slow song or two."
>You grab a plate and cut yourself a small slice of pie.
>"So, how 'bout you grab that special someone, let's get some mood lighting in here..."
>The white lights fade into red, blue, and purple.
>You look around as dancers and people take their loved ones by the hand and spread out along the dance floor.
>"...and we'll play one of my personal favorites for you here tonight."
>She motions to the band behind her and the music starts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNefNLOHVYk
>Anon stands next to you with a plate of food in his hands.
>He smiles and looks at you.
>You look back at him with a smile.
>He shrugs and sets his plate down on a table before extending an arm out to you.
>"May I have this dance?"
>You smile wide and set your plate next to his before taking his arm.
"It would be my pleasure."
>You both walk out onto the dance floor among the crowd of people.
>Facing him, you put your right hand on his shoulder and take his hand with your left.
>He places his hand on your waist and you both begin to sway to the music.
>This song is beautiful.

---

>You look at Sunset and smile as you both dance together.
>You love her so much.
>As you dance to the music, your eyes catch a glimpse of Applejack standing in the doorway to the house.
>You both lock eyes with each other for a moment.
>Just staring at each other.
>Finally, she smiles.
>A real, genuine smile.
>She gives you a small thumbs up before putting her hands back together.
>You smile back at her and nod in thanks.
>She starts mouthing the words to the song.
>"...but did you ever know, that I had mine on you?"
>With that, she turns around and slowly heads back into the house.
>You exhale and look back at Sunset.
>She smiles at you and you kiss her.
>While you do love her with all your heart, you do feel bad for Applejack.
>You just wish you could've known sooner.
>But this is just one of life's little speedbumps that she has to pass over.
>She'll be okay. She's tough.
>You're sure that she'll find someone someday.
>Your dancing slows as the song starts to end.
"I love you, Sunset."
>She smiles back at you.
>"I love you too, Anon."
>You share a long, loving kiss as the song fades out.