Applejack made her way towards Pinkie Pie's room for the second time of the day. For some reason, she felt far more nervous this time than she did the first time. Scratch that, she knew exactly why she was nervous. She knew Pinkie Pie wanted to speak with her to deliver her verdict. Although generally an optimistic pony, with all that was happening, Applejack couldn't help but feel pessimistic to the point of paranoia.

The orange earth pony could almost hear the very walls of the corridor she made her way through remind her of what she did to Pinkie Pie, and telling her she don't deserve the pink mares forgiveness. However, her rationality reminded her that it was her mind poking the taunts at her, and that in fact, walls are incapable of communication.

Try as she might, she just could not shake these thoughts off as she approached the door to Pinkie Pie's. In fact, knowing she was only a door away from finding the fate of the friendship between herself and one of her closest friends and fellow element holders only served as fuel go the rapidly growing fire.

For a second, she briefly thought of turning back, running back to the farm and hiding under her bed until everything blows over, before mentally chastising herself. Despite how much she thought it would be easier on her, this wasn't just about her. This was also about Pinkie Pie, and in the long run, even the other elements. In this situation, cowardice would solve absolutely nothing. In fact, cowardice would probably only exacerbate things. Though there was undeniable fear inside the farm mare, there was no alternative option than to face up to her mistakes. again.

Slowly, she nudged the door open before entering the door and closing it behind her. This time, a slight squeak of the doors hinges immediately alerted Pinkie Pie to Applejack's presence. This time, Applejack immediately made her way towards the bedside, allowing Pinkie Pie to see her fully. But there was something Applejack picked up on seeing Pinkie Pie in full. She looked nervous. Though she didn't want to admit it to herself, this helped Applejack felt a modicum of comfort within her nerves. It helped - though very little - to see that feelings were mutual.

After a short moment of silence shared between the two ponies just looking at each other, Pinkie Pie spoke, breaking the tension Applejack felt. "You know Applejack. While I was away, all I could think of was how close we were going to be when I get back. I didn't hate you, but I didn't want to love you any more. I needed to be away, but I went the wrong way about it. But truth be told. I missed you just as much as I missed everypony else." Applejack couldn't help a lone tear from rolling down her cheek. She didn't know what to say, but Pinkie continued, "I did try and return once you know, but I was scared. I was scared of how every pony would react. I was scared the you, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity and Spike might react. I was scared in case you were all mad at me, and didn't want me as a friend any more, but most of all, I was scared of still loving you. I didn't want to come back and still have to be away from you."

Applejack, at this point, was completely lost for words. She was unsure of exactly what was going on, but what she did know is that, whatever it was, it was close to reducing her to a blubbering mass of crying pony. The lump in her throat made it very difficult to speak. All Applejack managed to say is, "Ah'm sorry Pinkie."

Pinkie Pie simply nodded before continuing with her speech, "I was so afraid of how you girls and Spike would react to me. Then Princess Luna took Rainbow Dash into my dream, and I was so scared of her that I pushed her away. I couldn't live with doing that to the single pony who had faith in me being alive. So that's why I tried to end it all. Yet I'm grateful to be alive. So I'm going to try my best to make the most of my life."

Applejack cleared the lump from out of her throat before speaking. Her voice was cracked, but still fairly audible, "ah'm sorry Pinkie Pie. Ah can't say it enough. Ah don't know what gave Dash the drive ta try and find ya. We all thought yer were dead, and Ah knew that it was mah fault. We even had a monument of ya done ta honor ya fer everythin' ya did fer Ponyville an' Equestria." At this point, The dam holding her tears back broke, bringing forth a mighty flood of tears and sobbing. "Ah'm sorry. Ah know ah don't deserve yer forgiveness, but Ah really wish ah'd have jus' told yer the truth. Ah didn't only betray you, ah betrayed mahself. Some element of honesty ah am." Applejack dropped her head, hanging it in shame, only for it - to her surprise - be lifted up bringing her eyes to meet Pinkie's own.

"Applejack, I find it hard to believe that you knew this is how it would end up. I doubt you intended for me to run off, for me to be pronounced dead, or for me to end up trying to take my own life. That was all because of me over reacting. Don't be to hard on yourself," Pinkie Pie thought briefly, "I suppose you know why I wanted to speak with you in private again, don't you?"

For the orange mare, time appeared to come to a complete stand still. For her, it was if all her worst dreams and fears had pushed there selves into reality, "yeah," she simply replied in a volume that could almost match Fluttershy's earlier cough for the quietest sound heard on Equestria.

"I have reached a decision. I have decided I want to forgive you."

There were no two ways about it, Applejack was in a state of absolute disbelief. This was the last thing she expected, as well as the last thing she deserved. "Are ya sure Pinkie? If ya doin' this cus mah sister helped ya, or cus any pony told ya that yer have to, ya don't have to. Ah'd rather ya forgive me cus ya want to, not cus ya feel ya have to."

"Oh Applejack, I do want to. What happened aside, we were best friends, and we still can be. That's what I want. I want to make the most out of this second chance." It was at this point, Pinkie Pie had a strange experience. She remembered the words 'Decision-You will be faced with a decision on an important matter. Do not allow what first enters your head to be your final decision, give it careful consideration.'

She remembered reading them somewhere, but couldn't put her hoof on it. What added to the oddity of the situation, is she then saw the words appear on the wall in bold black letters, this time, with a strike running through. After about five seconds, the struck-out sentence faded into nothingness.

Applejack felt elated by this. She couldn't help it. This had taken a huge weight off of her mind. It was the thing she wanted most, but expected least. For Pinkie Pie to forgive her.

"Now come here you," said Pinkie Pie, with her forelegs wide open. Applejack wasted no time before getting into the opening of Pinkie's fore hooves, and wrapping her own fore hooves around the pink mare the best she could since Pinkie couldn't move much. The pair of ponies only found themselves in each other's embrace for mere seconds before they both broke down in tears.

Both mares had needed that for a while. Though there were no more feelings of love between them any more, there was one thing for sure. One hundred percent undying purely platonic love. Pinkie Pie had finally managed to extinguish her feelings, and her six best friends had forgiven her. "so," Applejack started. "who are ya wantin' ta see next?"

"Actually, Applejack, I feel like I could do with some rest. But first thing in the morning, every pony can come in. I've spoke to you all independently, and said what I needed to say, and done what I needed to do, so you are all free to come in."

Applejack simply nodded, respecting Pinkie Pie's wish to be left to rest before departing the hospital room.

Maybe life can go back to normal when I'm healed after all Thought Pinkie Pie. Not knowing of the impeding events that were fixing to happen very soon.

Author's Notes:

This chapter is set several hours before "The love between generosity and kindness", but just after "The devoid matchmaker part 2". It was pretty tricky to write considering it was set before a previous chapter, and i had to edit it slightly last night to fit around my mess up. I do apologize about the chapter ordering, but at least I've done my best to correct it and tell you.

It was also kind of hard to "personify" (if you will) Applejack's nervousness, but I'm pleased with the outcome, as I hope you will be. I'm going to do my best to make next week's chapter a *groans* hearts and hooves special, where a massive plot twist happens. Look, I'm very negative about v-day, I hate it (with good reason), but I suppose it works as good basis.

Anyway, enjoy.